Cake Love: All Things Payne

by Elizabeth Lynx

  And with that, my Brain quits her pacing and gets to work thinking about outfits. Heart limps back to the window and sighs, staring out into an inky and starless night, wordlessly mumbling that nothing could be worse, not even Tiffany.

  Chapter 21 - THE Club ...

  It is Friday night and I don't feel that much better than I did three days ago when the Payne Munting occurred. The loud thumping techno music and flashing lights in the dark room add to my apprehension. Never having been to this club where Aria has worked for a year I look around nervously until I spot her waving at me from behind the bar.

  I saddle up to a stool. Oh, I always wanted to write that. Like I live in nineteenth century Oklahoma and it's a dusty hot day. When the barkeep yells, "What's your poison?" I give my worn cowboy hat a flick, wiping my brow with my kerchief (old school) and in a raspy but firm voice call out, "Sarsaparilla."

  Of course this place is the exact opposite of an old western bar but I choose to walk with a wide gait and hook my thumbs in my belt loops anyway. I ease onto the stool and give Aria a knowing nod. She creases her brow while wiping down a glass.

  "Did you hurt yourself, Morgana?"

  "No just trying out a new walk."

  Aria shakes her head while putting the glass down to grab something from under the bar. She places a beer bottle in front of me.

  "Here this is the lightest beer we have, should last you the night."

  "Hey, bar lady. I'll have what she's having."

  A male voice slurs from a few feet away. We both turn our attention to see a man about six feet tall with dark blonde hair and an average build trying to glance my way. I say trying because his body seems to have other ideas. It's like watching a toddler first learn to walk with a lot of wobbling and gripping of the bar. I think he is attempting to hit on me as he keeps giving me a very cartoonish eye wink.

  Before either of us can respond I see a hand grip his shoulder and a tall man come out from behind him. It's Aria's boss, the one I saw the picture of and I have to admit he is even hotter in person. His hair is doing that messy just out of bed thing mixed with the faint beard all of which is doing things to me. Sexy things.

  "I think you have had enough, Trainer."

  Trainer? The drunk is named Trainer. That is the title of a job not a name. No wonder he's drunk.

  "Oh come on, Jackson. Me and the lady were just hitting it off. It's not cool to cock-block, man."

  Jackson turns to look at me, but he doesn't just glance at me he skims my body with his eyes and I swear it felt like it was his hands moving around me. I suddenly feel hot, like I have to get naked immediately or I will disintegrate.

  When his eyes leave me the warmth goes and there is coldness once again.

  "Nah, Trainer. A woman like that, I'm sure she's taken. You must be mistaken, here let John find you a cab."

  A very large man with a shaved head, tattoos from his skull curving down his neck steps in front of Trainer and helps him away.

  I can hear Trainer calling out from the distance, "I will always churish our brief time too gesser, my lady."

  My head drops in slight embarrassment and I smile shaking my head. I see two black leather shoes come into view and I glance up to Jackson standing right in front of me. His intensely dark brown eyes are radiating heat despite the soft expression on his face.

  "I hope he didn't bother you, miss. Trainer is a regular. Though he can get quite inebriated he is mostly harmless."

  The heat crawls up my neck to flush my cheeks. The way he's looking at me makes me falter.

  "I'm ... uh ... I ... am ... fine. Thhhank you."

  "Jackson, this is Morgana, my roommate. Remember I said she would be stopping by tonight." Aria adds to our conversation, though I don't think Jackson nor I really care that she is there. We seem to be too focused on each other.

  "Oh, Morgana, right. Well, it is lovely to meet you, Morgana. Please, anything you want is on the house. In fact we have private VIP booths on the second floor, why don't I escort you to one."

  My eyes flip between Aria and Jackson unsure of what to do.

  "I ... um came alone. Really only to see Aria, so I would feel weird being in a booth all by myself."

  I give him a quick smile to let him know I appreciate the gesture. His eyes darken and I notice something flash across his face but it's gone before I have time to read it. For some reason whatever it was doesn't sit well with me. He steps closer and grabs my hand pulling me toward him.

  "You won't be alone. You will be with me. Now come, I insist," is all he says before I am tugged away from Aria and the bar, compelled to follow him toward the back stairs and past another large man who gives Jackson a nod.

  "Jackson, I really don't feel comfortable with all this. I was hoping to just gossip with Aria at the bar tonight. I appreciate what you are doing, but it's really not necessary."

  He ignores me but his grip firms making it too painful to pull away. I am getting really nervous now and quickly scan the area to try to find someone to help, but we are walking down a dark hallway of doors. We enter the door at the back. One wall of glass lines the room overlooking the dance floor below while the rest of the walls are black, covered by immense modern paintings. There is a large couch opposite the window and two club chairs on either side of a black metal coffee table in the middle. It's clean, dark and modern. Normally I would love the rich exclusiveness of the place, but right now I just want to leave.

  Jackson finally lets go of my hand but blocks the door so I walk over to the window to notice if anyone can see me. The people are too focused on dancing to detect anything amiss. My gaze flicks to the back to try and find the bar, but it's too far away.

  Jackson's body suddenly presses against me and, yes, he has an erection. God I just met him and he already wants to fuck me. I have a very bad feeling about all this.

  "I would like to leave, Jackson."

  "No." He whispers in my ear before his lips are on my neck and his hands have found my hips keeping me from moving away.

  "Okaaay. What if I told you I have crabs, oh and gonorrhea. It's all very inflamed right now."

  My neck begins to vibrate from his laughter.

  "Aria told me you are feisty but she never mentioned how funny and fucking sexy you are. This is going to be fun."

  "Uh no, not fun. Nothing is going to happen, Jackson. Remember, no means no and I am saying no, no, noey-no, no, no right now. Can't get anymore no than that."

  He flips me around effortlessly so I am facing him. I push my hands to his chest but damn him and his strong arms. His eyes are flashing wildly at me. He is loving this. God, he's getting off by my struggle.

  "Keep it up, Morgana, I really like feisty. Really like it a lot."

  He pushes me against the glass and nuzzles into my neck again. Perhaps if I go limp he might not want me anymore. I relax all my muscles so he is pretty much holding me up with his body but he uses this opportunity to wrap his arms around my waist and grind into me. I can hear him groan as he paws at my breast. Crap, well that didn't work. I start to pull away again and manage to break from his grasp but he is between me and the door.

  "Jackson, you are acting really rapey right now."

  "Rapey is not a word, Morgana."

  We banter back and forth while he tracks my movements as I try to figure out a way around him.

  "It is a word. You plus rape equals rapey. You are rapey."

  Jackson shakes his head and laughs a deep sinister laugh. Ugh, he's like a freaking stereotype.

  "It's not rape if you want it and I know you want it, Morgana."

  "What did I just say earlier, no means no. It doesn't mean yes or maybe or I kinda do but I am saying no because I am a stupid tease. It means no." I stop for a moment and put my hands on my hips in irritation. He makes a break for it and grabs me. Why did I let my guard down?

  We fall to the couch and his hand pins my arms over my head while his other hand tries to unclasp my jeans. Thank God I wore p
ants tonight and not a skirt.

  At that moment I hear the door knob jiggling. Shit he locked it, clever dickhead. But then there is a loud thump at the door as if something large was thrown at it. Then another and still another. Finally I hear something splinter. Jackson's head looks up and I can finally move mine to see the door fly open. A very angry Mr. Payne walks in. What is he doing here?

  "Get the fuck off her now!" Mr. Payne yells.

  Chapter 22 - THE Payne Perspective ...

  The Henrik Payne Guest Post

  "So, my heart right now is bleeding. Not in the literal sense but symbolically! Do you know what I mean?"

  I stare at the blue pillow that lays lifeless on my charcoal couch. Pillow and I have been through a lot together, we have hugged and molested many times in the past. Some things we have done together are best left unsaid.

  "I know what you are thinking, that I, Henrik Payne, wall of steel, let a sexy as sin woman destroy me. That I don't know anything anymore and I'm a fool. And you would be right!"

  I lift my glass filled with amber gold and take a sip and then another and finally gulp it all down. Let's get one thing straight, I don't drink ... normally. It's just being fired from the one job I have loved for over a decade and poured my heart and soul into sort of leads me down a whiskey soaked highway.

  I'm laughing now as I grab the pillow for a little more love and affection.

  "She used me, Pillow. Jesus! How could I let a hot piece of ass like that seduce me like a ... someone who ... I don't know like someone who gets seduced. It's like she must have known all those months ago when she walked in for the interview that she gave me an instant boner."

  I shake my head and rest it back on the couch, rubbing the pillow to my cheek. It's soft, but lifeless. I need something soft but full of life like Morgana's ass cheek rubbing up against my face. Gah! How am I still lusting after her?

  Glancing down at my crotch I see my dick starting to get up. I point to it, "You! Captain Cock, you did this to me. Can't you just let her go? I'll try to picture Betty Rubble. That always worked when we were young."

  Images of a naked and very voluptuous Stone Age raven haired cartoon character dance around in my head. I begin to smile as I make her bend over the granite table but am interrupted by the sound of my cell phone going off.

  I grab it from the coffee table and see it's Morgana. My heart pounds and then I am mad at my heart for caring at all about the caller.

  "Hello, Ms. Drake."

  "Mr. Payne?"

  The voice is lighter than Morgana's and I wonder who this woman is.

  "Who is this?"

  "Mr. Payne, this is Aria, Morgana's roommate. We met at the diner."

  "Yes, I remember. Why are you calling me and on Morg ... Ms. Drake's phone?"

  There is a pause and I can hear loud music in the background.

  "I think Morgana might be in trouble. My boss sort of dragged her away and I think ... God I hope not, but I think he may try to force her to do something she doesn't ..."

  My heart is about to burst out of my chest and I feel my palms beginning to sweat.

  "Just out with it, Aria!"

  "I think my boss might try to rape Morgana."

  I shake my head trying to fit all this together.

  "Why would you think that? Where are you?"

  "Mr. Payne, I work at a club called The Mercer off of Adams in the Loop. Morgana stopped by to hang out and my boss took one look at her and ... well, apparently he takes whatever he wants."

  This right here has caused my fist to hit, no, beat the crap out my friend Pillow. My knuckles are white and the tightness in my jaw makes it hard to form words.

  "I'm on my way. I'll be there in ten minutes."

  That's when I start running and I don't stop. I race out of my place and to the street. It’s bitterly cold but I don't feel it as I dodge people and cars trying to get about fifteen blocks as fast as I can. I hear a lot of "watch it" and "hey, asshole" but I don't care.

  Before I know it I'm outside the club, the blue neon sign a blur as I race past the bouncer to the bar where I see a hand waving at me form the middle of a mass of white blonde hair. I grip the bar trying to catch my breath and she points to stairs in the back.

  "He took her up there. One of the waitresses told me she saw him go in the last door at the end of the hall. I'll distract Gary, the bouncer, just give me a minute."

  Aria grabs something from under the bar and raises a black walkie-talkie to her face.

  "Hey Gary, there is an issue at the bar. A guy is getting a little grabby."

  She widens her brown eyes at me and points to the stairs with her thumb. I head back there and pass, who I presume is Gary, a very large man with a spike through his nose.

  Racing up the stairs I go straight to the back and put my ear to the door. I can hear Morgana's muffled voice, "What did I just say earlier, no means no. It doesn't mean yes or maybe or I kinda do but I am saying no because I am a stupid tease. It means no." There is a yelp and some movement.

  Reaching for the handle I come to find out it's locked. I step back and look around to see if I can find anything to break the door. There is a red fire extinguisher on the wall and I begin to pry it off. After a few tugs it breaks free.

  Racing to the door I begin to bash at the door knob with the extinguisher. Finally, after what feels like forever the handle loosens and I put down the metal extinguisher and use my body for the remaining blows. I don't even feel the pain when the door finally splinters open.

  Looking around the room I see the asshat in question with his hipster douche beard on top of Morgana and she is pinned beneath him on the couch.

  "Get the fuck off her now!" I yell.

  He has the fucking nerve to just smirk at me, so I grab the shit-bag by the pants and toss him aside. Out of the corner of my eye I see Morgana scurry away toward the door. Suddenly I feel several hands grab my arms and someone is punching me. They drag me down the hall and I can see Morgana turn and go back into the room and kick the jerk, still curled up on the floor. This makes me smile, only a little as one of the guys punched me in the face and it hurts to move my lips.

  I won't bore you with the details, but the usual happened in this sort of scenario: I got punched a bit, threw up (due to a good stomach punch) on the sidewalk outside the club where the men deposited me, and listened to them scream at me to stay away from the club. Little do they know I could buy the club and make their lives a living hell. Maybe I will do that on Monday, I need something to do anyway.

  Suddenly I feel warmth on my neck and I look up to see Morgana wrapping her scarf around me. She looks beautiful and I can't help but smile as she puts her arms around me. I nuzzle into her neck, ignoring the stabs of pain from my torso as I move, and realize this is what I need. She's the soft, warm living thing I want to rub my cheek on.

  Chapter 23 - THE Sleepover ...

  So I am still pinned down by Jackson as Mr. Payne storms into the room. Before Jackson can do anything Henrik is lifting him up by his belt loop and tossing him aside into the coffee table. As fast as I can I scoot off the couch and into the doorway to notice two very large men, John from earlier and the man I saw at the bottom of the stairs, barrel down the hall.

  It all happens so fast. I watch as the two men pull Mr. Payne off Jackson and give him a punch in the face and stomach before dragging him away. Glancing back I see Jackson curled up in a ball so I yell at him from the doorway.

  "I told you no means no, but you didn't listen, did you." Yelling at him isn’t enough so I run in and kick him.

  Then I dash down the hall in the direction that Henrik and the two men took, for fear Jackson might get back up. I make it to the bar when I see Aria. She is waving me over and pushing my coat and purse at me.

  "Oh god, Morgana, are you okay?"

  "Yeah, Aria, just a little shook up. Thanks for trying to set me up with a rapist by the way!"

  She flinches at my sarcastic line.

>   "I had no idea. When he dragged you off like that I got nervous and talked to Kelly one of the waitresses here and she told me he has a habit of taking what he wants no matter what. God, I have worked here for a year, how did I not know that?" She nervously looks at her hands as if they hold the answer before continuing, "Anyway, I grabbed your phone and found Mr. Payne's number. I would have called your father or brother but they live too far away."

  "Fuck. I can't believe he came. He hates me. I better go and see if he's all right. Thanks for calling someone, Aria."

  She gives me a sad smile and nods as I walk out the door. I notice Henrik on the curb lying on his side. I scurry over to help him up. Noticing he has no coat I quickly take off my scarf and sit beside him on the sidewalk to wrap him in the little scrap of warmth I can offer. I wonder where his coat is as he just has a cashmere sweater keeping him warm against the bitter winter cold of Chicago.

  I hold him for a while until I feel him relax a bit.

  "Let me help you to your car and I will drive you to the hospital."

  "No I don't need a hospital. Just some bruises and cuts, they'll heal. I didn't bring a car, just ran here."

  I look around and realize we are at least fifteen blocks away from his neighborhood. While that is a short drive it would be at least a ten minute run. Perhaps he is used to running but I can't imagine without a coat in this weather?

  "Let me grab a taxi."

  I hail one down in no time as they swarm the bars at night waiting for a drunken fare. When we get inside I place his head in my lap and ask him his address again as I don't remember it off hand. He just moans in response so I finally give the driver my address.

  After paying the cab I get him out and do my best to open the door and that's when I smell it. He's been drinking. For a man who has rules and does not drink (except the holiday party – which still makes no sense to me) I seem to catch him quite often drunk. The driver must have noticed my struggle because he helps me into my building all the way to my apartment. We make it to my bedroom and place him on my bed. I give the driver an extra ten for the help.