by K. I. Lynn
I pulled open the door, but didn’t get my foot over the threshold before she called me back. She padded into the entryway. “Give me a call if you need a lift, okay?”
I leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Will do.”
A short drive later, I parked my truck in back of the restaurant right next to Dex’s.
As soon as I entered through the back door, eyes landed on me. Granted, if I’d walked into some place in Carmel, it would’ve been worse, but at Union Jack’s, in the heart of Broad Ripple, only my muscles made me stand out.
Not that I normally minded the attention. After all, I covered my skin with art and had a hot body. My full sleeves were highly visible with the short-sleeved shirt I had on.
My problem today was how fucked up I’d been lately. I didn’t want to deal with curious eyes and stupid chicks looking to hook up with a bad boy.
I found Dex at the bar and hopped onto the stool next to him. He cocked his head and pushed a bottle my way.
“Gonna be a few for a table.”
“Always is.”
Union Jack Pub had the best Chicago-style pizza in town. The downside? It took about an hour to cook. Then again, that left us lots of time for drinking, which I desperately needed.
The Reds were on one of the TVs and we sat in silence, watching the game and letting the alcohol work its magic. One or two minutes later, the pager went off, and we headed to the hostess stand. She led us to our seats, which were back in the bar area.
Fine by me—closer to the drinks.
My skin vibrated as we reentered the section, a shudder rolling down my back and through my legs before pulsing into my cock.
“Fuck me.”
It was the same feeling. The one that hit me the moment she walked in the church and never left me. The one that haunted me. She was there. She had to be.
I scanned the room, my eyes transfixed on a curvy figure a few feet away as I slid into the booth seat, and everything slowed down. I began to wonder if I’d really lost it. My torturer from the church pews was parading around in barely-cover-her-ass shorts and a vest that pushed her tits up and out, begging for me to bite them.
I prayed for her to be our waitress. At the same time, I was scared—uncertain if I could control myself with her so close.
Dex waved his hand in front of me. “Yo, Jared, what the fuck? See something you like?” He followed my gaze.
“That’s her.” I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the curve of her tits and ass.
“Her who?”
“The girl from the church.”
“The waitress? That’s the girl?” He glanced back at her. “Girl’s got curves. Definitely different from Monica.”
I rubbed my face and shook my head. “She could be so much trouble.”
“Would it be worth it?”
“I’d probably end up in jail.”
He held his beer up, then took a swig. “Go for it. Like I said, you need to damage a pussy.”
Worst nightmare or heavenly dream, I didn’t know, but she was headed right for us.
Chapter 3
“Hi, I’m Hope, and I’ll be your waitress.” Her voice was sweet and melodic, and I imagined it screaming my name. Her eyes scanned the table, a fake smile plastered on her face, but there was a flicker of recognition when her gaze landed on me.
Her breath hitched, pupils dilated, lips parting as I stared straight at her. The intense feelings that had taken all control at the church came surging back, and I gripped the edge of the table, jaw locked tight.
“Hello, Hope.”
Her eyes fluttered as I said her name, and she no longer seemed to be able to stand still.
“Umm, our s-specials today are the turkey melt, clam chowder, and two-dollar draft beer.” Her cheeks flushed. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
My cock got so hard, begging to be closer. What was it about her?
“You.” I couldn’t help myself. It was the truth.
Her eyes widened, and she nabbed her bottom lip between her teeth just as she’d done the other day.
Dex broke in, reminding us both where we were. “We have a tab going at the bar—can you get us a bucket of Dos Equis and some limes? That’d be great.”
She blinked and looked at Dex, who was trying not to laugh. “Right, will do. Are you r-ready to order?”
“Not yet.”
She stared, stuck for a moment. “Oh, okay, I’ll just… I’ll be back with the beer.”
I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she walked away, and I almost launched out of my seat when she looked back at me.
“Wow. What the fuck was that?”
I turned back to Dex and flexed my hands into fists, attempting to keep myself in place. “That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out for days.” I glanced back over at the bar where she collected our order.
“I’m beginning to believe your talk about deadly sins. You might die if you don’t get your cock in that girl!”
My jaw clenched. “Not funny, man. I’m two dick pulses away from finding her and fucking her right now.”
He held his hands up. “Sorry, sorry. You didn’t see it from my perspective, though. Talk about intense.”
“Let’s change the subject.”
“Okay… So, Monica?”
I twisted my head in an attempt to crack my neck. Even her name couldn’t subdue the fire. It only ignited another kind—hatred.
“She’s doing shit on purpose to piss me off. That boxing class isn’t the beginning, and I don’t see it being the end.”
Even his face dropped. “Yeah. She’s moved some of my clients as well. My girl is threatening my balls if I don’t start bringing in more money.”
An idea I’d been contemplating popped out of my mouth before I even thought about actually saying it. “If I leave, you’re coming with me, right?”
My sudden topic switch stopped him mid-sip. “You thinking about opening your own place?”
The beer arrived, but I didn’t even notice when someone brought it by because she didn’t deliver it. I downed the one I was working on, then popped the top off the next. It was half gone in seconds.
Dex didn’t say anything.
“Thinking. I can’t do it now, but when my mom’s better.”
He grinned. “You’re gonna decimate Monica, aren’t you?”
I finished off the second and pulled out a third. “Yup. I get a large portion of the money from those classes. If she thinks I’m just going to let her push me out, she’s very wrong.”
“You practically built that place. Hell, I was your client when you opened.”
I held my bottle up and smirked. “And look at you now.”
After the third one on an empty stomach, I started to feel good, and my muscles relaxed. That was when she returned—my siren.
She avoided me, looking at Dex instead as he ordered us an appetizer and pizza—the same thing we ate every time. The intense reaction I had to her crashed over me like it had never waned with her farther away. It crippled me. Every muscle tensed to keep me in place.
If she looked at me, there would be no way to stop myself.
From what?
That was the million-dollar question. All answers involved her skin against mine in some capacity—the more, the dirtier, the better.
Her hand shook as she scribbled our order, eyes looking down as they rotated toward me. She didn’t make it past the height of my chest before her lips parted and she stopped.
“The pizza will take about an hour, but I’ll get the appetizer out shortly.”
“Thank you, Hope.” My voice was harsh, thick, my dick twitching when she licked her lips.
I had something for her to lick. In fact, it had her name and hers alone on it.
The thought stopped me cold. Realization took hold, my fever for her burning me from inside.
She had to be the one to get me off. Only her touch, her lips, her pussy would do. Until then, I would continue down my maddenin
g spiral into hell, lust consuming me until there was nothing left but a devil bent on taking her.
“You’re so fucked.”
I leaned forward and slammed my head against the table. “I think I need some air.”
“You need something, but air isn’t gonna help you.”
My eyes were glued to her as she moved around, noticing how she avoided looking in my direction. She recognized me from the church. Was she embarrassed?
Curiosity added to my already-insane attraction, and I wanted to know why.
Why was she avoiding me? Why did I need her so much? Why her?
Why couldn’t I stop wanting her?
By beer six, an appetizer, a passed hour, and my obsession avoiding me, I was pissed in both the British and American sense. I batted the newest empty bottle around the tabletop until Dex’s hand slapped down on it.
“We came here to drink, watch the game, and have a good time. Your moody, hyper sexed-up ass is fucking that up.”
“We also came to take a load off.”
“Not get a load off.”
I flipped him the bird. “Keep it up, and you aren’t coming with me. I’ll leave your ass with the bitch and the prissy boy.”
He smirked and passed me another beer. “Nah, you need me too much. I’m better looking.”
“Hell, no.”
“It’s true. The girls at the gym did a poll.” He flexed his muscles and grinned. Corn-fed Indiana farm boy with blond hair and blue eyes. Add in the body he spent too much time on and the tattoos, along with his ultra-friendly personality—he could be hotter than me. I’d never admit it to his ass though. It amazed me his girl put up with him.
“That’s because you’re always taking your shirt off and flirting with every female that walked in. Monica always got mad when I looked at another woman.”
“I still won.”
I shook my head. “I demand a recount.”
A shudder rippled through me right before Hope arrived at our table with our pizza in hand.
“She’ll settle this.” I pointed to her, shocking her enough to look up at me.
Her fucking doe eyes were a gut punch. I imagined them looking up at me with her mouth around my cock.
Dex shook his head. “Yeah, she’s not a good judge.”
“What?”
“Huh?” Her brow scrunched up, lost to the conversation I’d thrust her into.
Mmm, thrust.
My hips flexed, and I fought the incredible urge to touch her, to lean forward and lick her skin. Losing my inhibitions with her around was a bad combination.
Dex turned to her. “We’re having a debate on who’s hotter, but I already know who you’ll say.”
Her brow scrunched, and a clarity I hadn’t seen moved through her. “What does that mean?”
“Are you going to tell me you’d say me after the eye-humping that’s been going on between you two?”
Her mouth and eyes popped open as she stared at him. I wanted to give him shit for calling us out, but I’d become transfixed by her parted lips. The image of running my cock head against them before pushing into her hot mouth was squashed when she turned to me with an angry pout and attempted glare, then walked away.
“Thanks, man.”
He dished out a piece of pizza, grinning as he eyed it. “Truth is tough sometimes. Just seeing if your little obsession can handle it.”
I looked in the direction she went and sighed. “I don’t know if she can handle me.”
“There is that. You’re gonna have to fuck her before you can get to know her.”
I pulled a piece onto my plate and tossed some crushed red peppers on top. I sighed. “This didn’t turn out to be the relaxing night I’d hoped for.”
He tipped his head back and laughed. “That’s ’cause your dick isn’t being touched by that girl of yours.”
My brow furrowed. “She’s not mine.”
“Yet.” His smile fell, and he let out a hard breath. “In all seriousness, the chemistry is obvious. I wasn’t kidding about you fucking her before seeing if there’s something more permanent than the lust that’s pouring out of you.” He pulled the last beer out of the bucket and popped the top. “And instead of being the third bad thing to happen to you in such a short time, she could be the one good thing.”
Two questions went through my mind with his comments. Was he right about a good thing, and was I capable of handling all of that?
A half hour later, I patted my overly stuffed stomach and had a nice buzz going on. I texted Cassie to pick me up in about thirty minutes. There was no way I was going to attempt to drive. I knew my limit, and I hit it two beers and four pieces of deep-dish pizza ago.
Hope remained scarce while we ate, and refused to even look at us when she dropped off the check. I blamed Dex for embarrassing her.
When she reached for my credit card, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward me to whisper in her ear. “I’ll be back for you.”
A blush spread on her face as she looked at me. She licked her lips as she pulled away.
I continued to stare at her, my body buzzing. “I am so fucked.”
Chapter 4
The morning after seeing Hope at Union Jack’s, I awoke just after eight with a small hangover and dried jizz all over my skin and clothes. The memory of masturbating while thinking about her was clear, but I must have fallen right to sleep after I came.
After a shower, I headed downstairs. Cassie and Mom were playing cards on the dining room table. I smiled, happy to see Mom looking perkier than she had over the last few days.
“Morning.” Cassie smirked at me.
The devious tone in her voice set me on edge, and I narrowed my gaze at her before grunting in return. I poured a cup of coffee and grabbed a protein bar, then headed in to join the girls. Mom looked up at me, and I kissed her head as I walked around the table, making sure to ruffle up Cassie’s hair as I moved to take a seat.
Cassie slapped at my hand, scowling up at me. “Be nice. I left my warm, comfy bed to come pick your drunk ass up last night.”
“It wasn’t that late.” I peeked at the scorecard. The cards told me 500 Rummy, and the paper told me Mom was winning.
Go, Mom.
“No, but I was snuggled in bed with my husband.”
“Oh, you were gettin’ it on.”
She shook her head while Mom’s chuckle danced around the room. “So, you going to tell me about this girl?”
My brow scrunched up. “What girl?”
She rolled her eyes and set down a row of cards before discarding. “I had the unfortunate sight of a bulge in your pants when you got in the car.” She made a yacking sound.
“Hmm, that. Well…it’s complicated.”
“Good to know your equipment still works.” Mom didn’t even look up from her cards as she muttered under her breath.
Cassie and I turned to her with what had to be matching looks of horror on our faces.
“Eww!”
“I…I don’t know what to say to that, Mom. What the hell?”
She shrugged and laid down some cards, ending the hand. “Well, with what happened with Monica, I wondered if she might’ve given you something that made your wiener fall off.”
Cassie howled with laughter, banging her hand on the table and giving no care to the fact that she’d just lost their game. I couldn’t stop staring at my mother, who smiled as she tallied up their scores.
“And on that note, I’m outta here.” Cassie slid her chair back and stood. She leaned over and punched my shoulder. “Tag.”
I nodded and took a sip of my coffee. “Thanks, Cass.”
She mussed up my hair, getting me back for earlier. I glared up at her. She was lucky I hadn’t done anything with it yet.
“Later, cranky.” She hugged Mom and kissed her cheek. “Darren and I will be over for dinner tomorrow night.”
“All right.”
She waved goodbye, and silence filled the room. Mom looked around th
e room for something to do.
“You up for another game?” I motioned to the cards.
She smiled and began shuffling. Guess I had my answer.
--oOo--
Thirty-six hours after seeing her, I still had Hope on the brain. It was accentuated by the three-mile trek back to the parking lot to get my truck. Luckily, Dex checked for me, and it was still there and not towed.
I spent the entire day before with Mom, and completely forgot to have Cassie drop me off on her way to work. After all, her store was a block down Broad Ripple Avenue from Union Jack’s.
My attempt at running the distance was squashed by my hard dick trying to bounce around in my shorts. I should have put on some compression shorts instead of the boxer-briefs I wore. Hindsight was supposed to be twenty-twenty, but all I saw was Hope. I couldn’t stop—thinking about her, wanting her, needing her, and desiring her. It was too much. I knew where to find her, and I planned to see her again.
As I passed my sister’s shop, I banged on the window and stuck my tongue out at her, scaring some of her customers and their furry companions. She screamed “hoodlum” at me, but I pretended not to hear as I continued on.
I thought about going straight to my truck and getting to the gym, but I wanted to see her. When I stepped into Union Jack’s, the hostess perked up, staring a little too hard at me. Her appreciation of me could be used to my advantage.
“Hi, how many?”
I smiled at her. “One in Hope’s section, please.”
Her posture dropped, and she lost the vibrancy she’d shown when I entered. “Hope’s not in today.”
“Do you know when she’s working next?”
She shook her head. “I’m not allowed to say.”
I leaned forward, giving her a good view of my arms. “What’s your name?”
“Adriane.”
“Adriane.” Her name rolled off my tongue, and she shuddered, giving the effect I wanted. “Adriane, it would mean a lot to me if you told me when she’ll be back. I promise I won’t tell anyone you told me. She was a really good waitress, and my friend and I were a bunch of drunk asses the other day. I wanted to apologize.”
She blinked at me. “Oh. Well…” She looked down at a piece of paper. “Looks like she’s scheduled tomorrow.”
