by Mary Abshire
“Oh, she believed me. In fact, she mentioned she’d like to work with me. I think she’s bisexual.”
He lowered his gaze to her moist lips. She tempted him in the worst way. He wanted her so bad he was ready to find a nearby bathroom so he could press her against the wall and have his way with her. Consequences be damned.
A train rolled in from the tunnel and came to a halt. The announcement over the intercom indicated the next stop.
Emily stepped back. “That’s for us. Come on.”
He wanted to come in her more than anything else at the moment. Instead, he followed her to the open doors on the train. She stepped inside and claimed a nearby seat. He took the one across from her and quickly shifted his shirt to cover his erection. The strain seemed ridiculously painful. He spread his legs, but no relief came to him. There was only one way to ease his misery.
She crossed her legs and arms. He couldn’t help gazing at her exposed flesh. If only she’d part her legs and show her more.
“You’re staring,” she said.
He blinked and shifted his attention. He scanned the area as the door closed them inside. A couple sat in the far back.
“I can’t believe you’re a whore,” he said.
The comical look on her face would’ve sparked a laugh from him had he not been suffering from a massive boner.
“I’ve got some money I can pay you with,” he said.
She shook her head while maintaining a playful expression. “Your money is no good.”
“Oh? Can we exchange services? I guarantee you’ll be pleased by mine.” He considered lifting his shirt to show her his tool of trade.
“I have little doubt of that, but this is my game. My rules.”
He pressed his lips together as his rigid erection strained harder against his jeans and begged him for freedom. Perspiration began to form on his head and neck. He inched his knees further apart. Still uncomfortable, he stood. He stopped at the pole slightly behind her and held onto it. Gazing down, he caught a great view of her breasts. What he wouldn’t give to drag his tongue over them, nibble on her flesh, and suck on her nipples.
“You can tie me up for practice. I’m sure you’d like to hone your skills,” he said.
She twisted around. “Maybe I will sometime. Practice helps.”
He shook his head and looked away from her. She’d transformed from an angel to a demon for filling his head with lust. The temptation to touch and kiss her consumed him. Sadly, he feared any move toward her would push her away. He enjoyed their games, but they were also creating a world of agony for him.
“Did you learn anything more while you watched Michael?” she asked.
“No. He stayed at the table with the two black men. I saw another man and two ladies stop to chat with him, but that was it.”
“Did you get close enough to hear anything?”
He gripped the pole firmer after he felt a slight jolt from the train. “No. I tried once, but some ladies decided to flirt with me.”
“I think we should go back tomorrow night. If Jessica is there, I’d like to hang out with her more. Maybe I can get her to introduce me to Michael.”
He fancied the idea of going back to the club with her. At least he could get his hands on her and she wouldn’t mind.
“What if she’s not there?” he asked.
“I still think it’s a good idea to go. I should show my face more, maybe flirt with other guys to get them interested. You know, give the appearance I’m a prostitute. And if Michael’s there, maybe I’ll have a small chat with him.”
The idea of her flirting with others perturbed him. While he understood her reasoning, he couldn’t tolerate the thought of others getting close to her. And they sure as hell better not touch her.
“As your pimp, I need to keep a close eye on you,” he said. “I can’t have anyone thinking you work for free.”
“You’re absolutely right.” She came to stand by him and gripped the pole. “We need to stick together. We need people to believe what we are so we can get closer to Michael. Once we get to know him better, than we can figure out a way for you to—”
“Do my magic,” he finished for her.
“Exactly.”
He found himself staring into her blue eyes. Her bangs touched her lashes. She blinked and gave a slight jerk of her head. He’d seen her do the same act several times to clear the hair threatening her sight.
“I’d say you made progress,” he said, trying to ignore the raging hard-on in his pants.
The train slowed as it entered a station.
“I had a lot of fun tonight too. I really think we can pull this off if we can get closer to him,” she said.
Andrew wanted to get close all right, to her.
The doors parted after the train came to a stop. He followed Emily out to the landing. Walking with a fully loaded weapon in his jeans behind the woman he yearned to ravage wasn’t easy. He tried to focus on their plan. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. And all beginnings eventually led to an end.
Chapter Nine
Emily lifted the window to let the cool breeze into the apartment. The temperature inside seemed warmer than normal, but then again, it could’ve been just her internal climate. As soon as they’d walked through the door, Andrew had headed straight for the bathroom saying he needed a cold shower. Maybe she wasn’t the only one overheated after all.
She picked up the red lawn chair and moved it to face the window. Outside, a car sped down the street. Farther away, she heard a dog barking. She sat in the chair and took her cell phone out of the wristlet. The hour approached two in the morning, but she knew Troy would likely be awake. After dialing his number, she pressed the phone to her ear. The voicemail came alive following the third ring.
“Troy, it’s me. I need a favor. Nothing’s wrong, but I need you to do something for me as soon as possible. Call me back.” She placed the cell on her lap.
Leaning back in the chair, she listened to the water splashing. Her lips curled as she pictured him naked, hard, and with the shower cascading on him. She suspected the man of steel was suffering from a case of erectile stiffness. The needy look in his eyes after she’d told him about her role as a hooker had to inspire his wildest fantasies. Well, maybe not wildest, but the news undoubtedly had given him plenty to visualize. Before the train had arrived, she’d thought he was going to kiss her. Then on the subway, he’d tried to hide his boner with his shirt. He’d even fidgeted in his seat. She could only imagine what he might have done if she’d pulled a Basic Instinct move and spread her legs for him. She should’ve done it.
She couldn’t deny an attraction to him, but then, neither could any other woman. He was a work of art and had a charming personality. His manners, creativity, and sense of humor were additional qualities to admire. Although he was quick and spontaneous, the man showed incredible control. He played along with her story line without hesitation. He’d really seemed to enjoy her dominatrix role. Typical man. Emily finally understood why the council in heaven punished Andrew for his sexual promiscuities. He had a way with women and he’d capitalized on his skills in the perfect environment. Andrew had been doomed since the moment he’d entered the kingdom above.
The flow of water in the bathroom silenced. He’d been in the shower a while, similar to other times. Her eyelids grew heavy as the silence lingered for a few minutes. When the door clicked, the lethargy shot out of her.
“Better now?” she asked without turning around to face him.
“Cleaner,” he answered.
The squeal of the closet doors as they rolled on the tracks collected her attention. She glanced over her shoulder to find him squatting in front of the closet. A towel covered his ass. When he stood, the cloth fell away. Her eyes widened as she gazed at his round buttocks. Even they looked firm. Definitely squeezable. The depressions above his hips from his muscles and bones revealed how dedicated he’d been to fitness. She couldn’t find an ounce of fat on him. He rea
ched for the shelf and the muscles along his arms and back became more defined. Shirt and boxers in hand, he took a step back and then turned around.
She stared at him and he stared back. His front held more glory and strength. Every curve around solid muscle begged to be touched and licked. Oh, how she wanted to do both. She let her gaze wander lower to his groin. His masterpiece seemed bigger from the last time she’d seen it. The possibilities ran through her mind, tempting her. Andrew didn’t move. He stood stiff and still, watching her and waiting. So many times before she’d avoided appraising his nakedness. Now, she marveled at it.
The phone on her lap buzzed and jolted her. In her haste to answer it, she almost dropped the device.
“Hello?” she answered.
“I should start a new business where I charge for each call,” Troy said. “I’d make a killing with you.”
“Did I interrupt anything?”
“No, I’m leaving Queens and I’m about to meet a friend somewhere.”
“Okay, I’ll make this quick,” she said. “I met a prostitute named Jessica at the club Michael owns part of.”
“Please tell me you’re not thinking of whoring yourself out.”
“Well, not exactly, but I said I was a hooker from Florida and I was recently arrested.”
“You’re kidding me, right?” he asked flatly.
“No. She believed me. Michael is her lawyer. I’m sure of it because we saw her with him a couple of times.”
“Maybe she was fucking him. You said she was a prostitute.”
“Yes, but Jessica told me she had a court date coming up and she had a great lawyer. She gave me a card for the club and told me to call and speak to a guy named Frank. They’ll screen me and if I’m clean, they’ll put me on their payroll. The lawyer takes a percentage. Michael has to be her lawyer.”
“That’s fucked up, Emily,” Troy said. “I know what you’re thinking before you even say it. What does angel think?”
She twisted to look at him. He’d donned his boxers and was tugging the t-shirt down his torso.
“He didn’t say, but I gathered he liked the idea of me being a prostitute. He’s volunteered to be my sugar daddy.”
“Oh for fuck’s sake, Emily. I’m going to have to clean my ears out later. I don’t need to hear this. I do not want to vision you as a whore and an angel as a pimp. It’s too fucking scary. “
She almost laughed. “Carrie needs a prostitution charge or some petting crime related to prostitution. Don’t make up anything too harsh. My plan is to meet Michael and get close to him so we can figure out how to get rid of him.”
“Get close to him as in attorney and client way, not him paying for sex.”
“Right. You can do that, can’t you?”
Andrew sat on the inflatable mattress under the window. He put his back to the wall and locked his arms around his legs.
“It shouldn’t be too difficult,” Troy said. “How did you manage to convince this Jessica that you were a prostitute?”
“I’m a good liar. The details aren’t important.”
“Why do I have a feeling you’re hiding something from me?” he asked softly.
Although they’d always been open with each other, she avoided telling him about the involvement of BDSM or multiple partners. He’d already had a sour reaction to Andrew being her business representative. There was no need to provide his creative mind with any more kinky images.
“It’s all a fictitious tale, Troy,” she said.
“Was this your idea?”
“Uh, kind of. Andrew came up with the basic prostitution part. I created the rest.”
“For the record, you two have fucked-up imaginations.”
She chuckled and looked at Andrew. “We make a good team.”
Andrew gave her a kind smile.
“No. You and I make a good team. He makes you crazy with lust,” Troy said.
She shifted her gaze to the floor. She couldn’t deny the truth, so she avoided the subject. “Do you think you can get those charges for Carrie?”
“Did you say you were from Florida?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Any particular part?”
“No.”
“Good. That helps. If I run into any issues, I’ll send you a text. Give me until tomorrow night.”
“That would be great. You’re the best.”
“You better believe it.”
After he ended the call, she lowered the phone. Wind blew inside the apartment and cooled her bare legs.
“Did he say he could do it?” Andrew hadn’t moved from his position on the mattress.
“He said if there was a problem, he’d send me a text.”
He took in a deep breath. “This could work.”
His tone and demeanor seemed rather calm for a change. Had she offended him by looking at his naked body? She didn’t suspect he would mind since he routinely tried to show his bare goods in front of her.
“I should take a bath.” She rose from the mesh chair.
“Emily,” he said, stopping her from walking away. “I had a lot of fun tonight dancing with you.”
“Yeah. I had a good time too.” She turned and headed for the closet.
“You’re right, you know?” He stopped her midway.
“About what?” she asked.
“We make a good team.”
“I agree.”
She continued to the closet. Four dresses hung from the rack and only one of them looked sexy enough to hint at her new profession.
“I think we should go shopping for clothes tomorrow.” She grabbed a pair of shorts and a shirt from the shelf. “I’m going to need a few more outfits if I’m going to play this new role.” She headed for the bathroom.
“I jogged by a second-hand clothing store about a mile and half up the road from here.”
She stopped at the door. “Perfect. We can go there. You can get some extra clothes too.”
He ran his hand over his head. The fact he hadn’t spoken much from the subway gave her pause for concern.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
He lifted his head. “Sure.”
“Look… I’m sorry if it bothered you… That I…” How did she politely phrase ‘stared at your hard body and cock’?
“It’s fine,” he said. “Really. Look as much as you want.”
His response took her by surprise. Worse yet, she had no idea what to say next.
He rose and walked toward her. Seeing that he wasn’t going to stop, she backed up until she bumped into the doorframe of the bathroom. He stopped inches in front of her and raised his arm above her head, leaning it against frame. The heated look in his eyes signaled trouble for her hormones.
“But I think we need to come to an agreement,” he said in a sultry voice that kicked up her temperature.
She clutched her bedtime clothes to her stomach. “What kind of an agreement?”
He placed his finger near her collarbone and then slowly dragged it down. “If you’re going to look at me, then I should be allowed to look at you. Tit for tat in a manner of speaking.”
His touch lowered between her breasts and grazed over her exposed flesh. Tingles raced to her nipples and they pebbled. Her heart accelerated while heat intensified between her legs.
“I think it’s only fair,” he added. “Don’t you?”
Any argument she could conjure seemed invalid. She’d wanted to admire his bare body and had. Why shouldn’t he be able to do the same? She wasn’t a prude.
“Okay, but the agreement starts at noon,” she said.
He lowered his arms and straightened. Then he extended his hand. “Noon.”
She shook it.
“Enjoy your shower,” he said before he released her hand.
She headed into the bathroom. With her back against the closed door, she took several deep breaths in an effort to calm her racing heart. Her entire body had heated up from his soft touch. The deal seemed reasonable, so
she didn’t mind agreeing to his terms. It was the right thing to do. What harm could come from looking anyway? They were adults.
She gazed in the mirror at her reflection and realized she’d probably made a huge mistake.
Chapter Ten
Andrew stood on the fire escape outside the apartment. Cigarette smoke drifted in the air from the overweight man leaning against the railing two floors down and across the alley. A dog barked from one of the apartments underneath him. Two windows to Andrew’s left, a couple argued about where they were going to eat dinner. They’d been shouting and cursing at each other for twenty minutes at least. Most of the people in his building and the one next door had their windows open. A comfortable breeze complemented the night. Andrew felt calm and relaxed, ready to tackle the challenges that waited for him. And right now, he had plenty.
He’d spent most of the day with Emily checking out second-hand clothing shops. She’d found a couple of outfits and shoes while he’d acquired some shorts, two pairs of dark pants, and more shirts. They’d picked up Chinese for dinner and then returned home to wash all the clothes they’d purchased. While Emily had worked on the laundry, he’d jogged four miles. The time had flown by again and he’d enjoyed every minute of it with Emily. But now he had to focus on his task. How was he going to destroy this demon?
Emily had a good start to a plan. If she could get closer to the demon, then they could figure out a way to get him alone so Andrew could kill him. There was no way they could walk into his office or his condo without being seen by someone or a camera. Since those two places were ruled out, that left the club, the spa, or the pizzeria. But all three places were in populated areas. Again, someone would see something. Finding a location for Andrew to kill the demon without being seen was proving to be a big problem.
The method of killing the demon concerned Andrew too. Knives left a mess. Guns made noises. Even if Emily managed to lure the demon down an alley where Andrew would be waiting, he couldn’t do what he needed to do without drawing attention. He needed a quick and quiet way to get rid of the demon. So far, he couldn’t think of an answer to solve the issue.
