Selling Satisfaction

by Ashley Beale

  "Dammit, I didn't think of that," Everett mentions. "Here, let's going find a base where you can hide behind me. That way the enemies don't spot you so easily. Maybe one of the corners."

  Rolling my eyes, I follow behind Everett. We hunker down, and he starts to explain things again.

  "I get it, Everett," I tell him.

  "What?" He looks over at me. He looks far too serious, even in the black light.

  "The rules. This game. I understand all of it. It's supposed to be fun, so stop acting like we're in war."

  Even through the dark I can see his jaw rock back and forth. "I didn't want to lose, but okay. Sorry." He turns, leaving me to feel guilty. I didn't mean to upset him. I just want to have fun, but now for future reference I know that arcade games of any kind is not to be done with Everett.

  The game starts and despite everything just said, he holds one arm out to protect me, peeking around corners to look for other players coming towards us. Within two minutes he shoots one person, while I stand back frustrated, knowing I'm probably not going to be able to play.

  After another few minutes, what feels like at least ten, he shoots another two people. Getting tired of crouching down in the same spot, not actually playing, I stand up and walk past his arm. "What are you doing?" he whispers loudly.

  "Playing the fucking game," I snap.

  "Whoa." Standing up he starts to follow after me. "What is wrong, Brenna?"

  "I'm not a child, don't treat me like one." Maybe I'm being a little dramatic, but I hate feeling like I can't do things on my own. Walking straight, I spot someone to my left and shoot him, getting him right on the target. I turn around to flash a smile at Everett, and he ends up being a lot closer than I had anticipated.

  He has a demand in his stance, a protectiveness over him I hadn't seen before. His eyes glow against the light, staring down at me hard. "I didn't mean to upset you," he whispers.

  It takes me a second to answer him, distracted by his sudden territorial-alpha-stance. "It's fine, Everett, let's just play."

  "You don't like me to protect you?" His voice has a sharp tone to it I'm not used to. It is kind of... hot.

  Swallowing against the lump forming, I try to shake my head. "Mm... Maybe a little."

  Part of his mouth lifts up. "You do, don't you?"

  I'm not sure what has gotten into Everett, or better yet, what has gotten into me. I shouldn't be succumbing to his dominance, but for some reason nothing else surrounds us except this power pulling me into him. My lip quivers as I try to come up with anything to say, but no words form.

  Stepping towards me, Everett towers over me like never before. "Brenna." The way he says my name drives me into a frenzy. He steps forward again, sending me back a step. We repeat the same motion three times before I'm pressed against something. A wall, or a board, it doesn't matter what it is, all that matters is that I have nowhere to go. Everett presses against me, his body strong. "Brenna…”

  “Yeah?” My voice winded.

  “I'm going to kiss you now."

  Our lips collide, needing to unearth the tension building between us. Everett pulls on my leg, bringing it up to grasp around his, pulling him into me as much as any two clothed bodies can be. The way he pins me brings a flowing feeling of ecstasy throughout my entire body.

  Our passion is interrupted abruptly when the targets we're wearing start to buzz. Separating ourselves from one another, we both look down at the bright red lights flashing, then up to one another, both breaking out in a laugh. Everett runs his hand over his face as I bite down on my thumbnail, looking away from our assailant.

  "I guess it's time to head out," Everett says. He can't expunge the smile from his face, which probably matches with mine.

  Once we've returned our gear, the two of us get in the car ready to head home. Everett turns down the radio before we pull out of the parking lot. "Find an excluded area."

  Glancing in his direction, I ask, "Why?"

  "Trust me."

  Not sure if I like where this is headed, I do as he says, turning down a side street that I know leads to a back alley. Parking between two brick buildings, just before a green dumpster, I place the car in park. Looking at Everett, I ask him if this is okay.

  "Put the top up."

  "Um. Are you going to kill me?"

  His lips spread into a broad smile. "I'm going to fuck you. I've had a hard-on since laser tag. I need to get inside of you, Brenna. I need to feel your tight, wet pussy. I need to kiss you, and touch you all over."

  My legs quench together. I'm seeing a different side of Everett this afternoon, but I'm not complaining. I press the button to put the roof over us, but before it's set into place, I slide my shirt over my head.

  "Sit on me," Everett orders. I gladly obey. Climbing over the middle console, I straddle Everett's legs. He undoes my bra, letting it fall off me, immediately kissing my exposed breasts. He feels my body all over, resting his hands firm against my ass. He pushes and pulls me, moving me side to side, showing me exactly how he wants me to grind against him.

  His lips press against my collar bone, rising up my neck sinfully slow. "Take your shorts off," he whispers when his mouth reaches my ear.

  Although not easy, I manage to get my shorts off while Everett slides his pants down to his ankles. I straddle him once more, lining us up just right. We stare at one another, watching each other’s expressions as I cautiously lower myself over his shaft. He groans happily.

  His eyes never move from my mine. When he's completely in me, a moan of my own escapes, echoing in the car. With Everett's hands on my hips, he moves me up and down. My back arches with pleasure, which only makes Everett go faster. When I can feel the sensation inside of me ready to explode, I take control of my movements, moving my body exactly where I need it to go to feel the intensity building within.

  The volume of my moans multiple as I'm hit with an orgasm. Everett kisses my neck, repeating my name under his breath. I beg him to make me come once more, and he happily grips into my skin, moving me up and down more, this time much harder than before.

  "Fuck, like that," I cry out in pleasure.

  "I'm going to come," Everett states a second later. He makes a moaning sound, as he tries to hold back, waiting for me.

  "Come. Everett, come in me!" My hands grip into his hair, pulling when I'm hit with a second explosion of euphoria. I can feel as he gets off too only a few moments later.

  Our bodies both still, sinking into one another as we try to catch our breath.

  Tightening his hold on me, Everett hugs my body to his. I can feel his dominance turn into romance, the alpha in him disappearing for now. "Can I say it once?" he whispers.

  "Say what?" I ask back. My eyes closed as I try to regain my strength to get dressed. I don't want to leave his arms, not yet.

  "Can I tell you how I feel?"

  Opening my eyes, I move my head to look at Everett. He stares at me with that same sparkle. As if he has nothing except pure adoration towards me. Something I've never in my life seen. I've never felt this way, I never knew something this saccharine could actually exist, especially in my world. Knowing exactly what Everett means, I nod my head, allowing it but too nervous to say anything.

  His palms grace my cheeks, making sure I look at him directly while he tells me how he feels. "Brenna Konners, you are the love of my life. When I first saw you, I knew there was something special about you, but now I know it wasn't one thing. It was everything. I love you, beautiful."

  Without realization, tears start to slide down my cheeks onto Everett's shirt. I know, without a doubt, despite his lies and mine, I'll never feel the way I do about anyone else. He is it for me. I only hope in time we can find a way to be honest with one another, so that we can love every single piece of who the other is, and not just the parts we know.

  I crush my lips against his mouth, wanting to feel his words the same way I heard them.

  Our kiss quickly intensifies and I can feel his cock sl
owly harden inside of me once more. The steam on the windows thicken while we make love in my passenger seat once more.

  *~*~*

  Sunday was life changing for me. Any questions I had about my future got answered, and the love I wasn't entirely positive about shined brighter than a mid-July sun.

  Before falling asleep at night, I decided that I can't ask Everett about his job, not without me having to bring up what I do for a living. Maybe those secrets will have to stay that way, at least for some time. In the meantime, I'm ready to speak with Kandy about taking over for her. I've actually become insanely excited about running the business, rather than being the business.

  Kandy lays out in her hammock when I arrive to her home, beneath two large trees that block out most of the sun. It's over a hundred degrees outside today, so I don't blame her for being in the largest shaded area outside. I walk over to her. There is a platter placed on a table, a glass sitting on top of it next to a bowl of ice, which is housing some prepared sangria. I pour myself a glass before sitting in one of the plastic chairs near Kandy.

  "How are you darling?" She asks, not looking over. Her oversized sunglasses are on, her hair piled into a bun, with a bathing suit she had to have purchased in the juniors section- yet she pulls it off perfectly.

  "I'm great," I answer. "And you?"

  "Been better. We have a lot to discuss today."

  "I assumed."

  Pulling her sunglasses up over her head, she turns her head to look at me. I can tell there is more to it than discussing me taking over for her. "No, we have a lot to discuss."

  "Oh. Okay. Well, what first?"

  With a sigh, she suggests easier discussions first. Beginning with tomorrow, where I meet my newest client. He strictly wants me for someone to speak with, as apparently I'm described to look like his former girlfriend. Mona went on and on about how attractive he was, and how she thoroughly enjoyed being with him last week. I'm at a tossup about it, I'm not a fan of listening to men whine, but at the same time, ever since falling for Everett, I've decided I'm not into the whole sex thing like I was. Not when I can feel what I do whenever Everett and I make love.

  "He wants you to wear a face mask," she states. "And nothing sexy. Apparently Mona made him a little uncomfortable in her attire." We don't question our client's motives, we simply accept them. "But still look nice," she adds in.

  "Okay. Anything else?"

  "I guess just be there before him. He paid upfront for the hour, I have the money for you."

  Every once in a while clients pay upfront. That way it's more intimate. It doesn't seem like a business transaction, but rather an actual friend or date.

  She goes over the things we discussed already about Michael Ranson, before sitting up in the hammock to give me more attention, sipping on her own sangria. "This next part is probably going to be a lot harder than I ever imagined. You know I love you, Brenna, right?"

  "Of course I know," I say- dragging my words. I don't like the feeling it gives me.

  "Sargent Tiggs came over the other day, he gave me some background information. Apparently since I didn't hand over the entire client list, I really upset some people, and they're closing in on us. If it were only myself, I wouldn't care, I'd give myself up if it meant saving you all, but that isn't the case. They want us all. He said it'd be at least a month before they come in to arrest any of us, because they want to collect all the information they possibly can. Therefore, after this week of scheduled Johns, we're no longer going to be doing business."

  I feel like my life has come to a screeching halt. "What do we do?"

  "You're getting all your dues, I'm not keeping any from this remaining week. I also have a nice amount in savings I'm going to transfer over to you. I will help you in any other way I can as well, but by the end of the next week I'm leaving the country."

  "What? Wait! How can you up and leave like that? What about your house and all your belongings?"

  "If I go to jail it'll be taken, too. At least this way I can have my money and my freedom. I'm sorry, Brenna, I never wanted this. In all my years I've always been ahead of the game, I've been able to buy people off or send them my best girls, if not myself. I never imagined this day coming."

  And to think I was coming here to ask advice on taking over her job. This is what I know and what I love, this is what I wanted to do. Maybe it's one of those things, where it's a disguise undercover, but I don't want an office job or to become a house wife. I don't need to be an escort, in fact I was teetering on the side of not being one any longer, but I wanted to still be part of this life.

  "What... what do you suggest me to do?" I ask.

  She shrugs, finishing off her sangria, only to stand up and pour herself one more. "You can come with me," she suggests. "Which is what I was hoping for. We could start up our own business together in a place like Jamaica, split everything fifty-fifty."

  If she had asked me even three weeks ago, I would without a doubt. I wouldn't have to second guess anything. I'd had headed straight home, packed my bags and met her at the airport. Everett has made that impossible. I can't walk away from what might be. We may not work out in the long run, but I have to see where this is all leading to. Because although I don't know what I'll be doing with my life in a week, one thing I do know is that I'll never feel like I do for another person again.

  With a feeling of melancholy, I tell her, "I can't. I would love that, Kandy, but I can't."

  "That man you met?"

  I nod my head to answer.

  "Talk about poor timing." She sighs loudly. "Well, all I can say at this point is find a job and quickly. I'll help you financially." With another pause, she glances over. "Have you told him what you do for a living?"

  "Not yet. Maybe now I don't have to."

  "Then I'm going to say the obvious, which you seem to be avoiding. If you stay here, you will get arrested, Brenna. Whether you're done with the business or not. My assumption is they have enough on you to at least put you in front of a judge. Maybe no jail time if you walk away now, but don't think you won't be taxed or fined... or something. More so than that, you're going to be part of the public eye. Newspapers, news stations, you name it. So if you don't tell him, he'll still find out. Do you think he can stand with you through all that? Do you think he'll be forgiving and love you still?"

  Apparently I needed that wake up call, because I hadn't thought about any of that. When I don't say anything for quite some time, she adds in, "I'm not flying out until next week. I'm buying my ticket last minute so they can't stop me ahead of time. Maybe you should open up and tell him the truth. If he can't accept it, you can come with me."

  "Thank you, Kandy," I tell her. I don't want to tell her I found out yesterday he was a detective, because then she'll say what I already know- he can't accept who I am. He won't be able to, because once I do become part of the public's eye and they connect me with former Johns, Everett isn't going to want to be associated with an escort. He'll walk away for sure. "I'll start packing... just in case."

  Getting home I know that I need a friend, a real friend, which is going to be straight forward with me but isn't biased in the decision. Hillarie. I need Hillarie.

  The phone rings for a long time but she finally answers as I'm about to hang up. "Hey, Brenn."

  "Hey. How are you doing?"

  "Oh, I'm doing good. Real good." Her voice being a complete contradiction.

  "Are you... sure? You don't sound well, Hill."

  There is a small pause, and I don't like the feeling it gives me. "I'm exhausted, that's all. Been doing all this wedding planning. It's getting exhausting."

  "So things are well?"

  "Of course they are." This time her voice lifts in volume. I can't tell if she is forcing herself to sound happy or if she actually is, but I let it go.

  "Glad to hear. I miss you. Do you think we could meet this Saturday?"

  Another pause before she says, "I would love that more than you know."
r />   "Good, me too. Life has been crazy. I need a friend."

  "I know that feeling. Where would you like to meet?"

  "Donnie's Bar and Grill?"

  "Sounds great," she states. "Now what's going on? I have a few spare minutes."

  I tell Hillarie about everything happening in my life right now, about my options and what I found out about Everett. She listens patiently as for once I am in a tossup about my emotions. I explain my options, my confusion, any and everything that has taken over in my life lately. When I'm done, I ask her what her opinion is on it all.

  It takes a second before she can muster up a response. "I guess, I'd say do what your heart tells you. Not your head. Don't overthink it, Brenn. It sounds like you want to be honest with him, and I think that is the best place to start."

  "I don't know how to be honest with him. What do I say?"

  "The truth."

  "I get that, but how? Do I just sit him down and say, hey Everett, so I have been hiding the fact I'm an escort, oh, and I know you're also a detective. Hell, maybe he already knows. Maybe this is all some elaborate undercover scheme." My stomach coils at the thought. I can't imagine that being close to the truth though, mainly for the sake I know by the way he looks me in the eyes that he actually does love me.

  Hillarie softly chuckles. "That could work. Or you could dress sexy and order him to fuck you like the whore you are."

  "You're so funny." The sarcasm bleeds from my mouth. "You're not giving me very good advice. I really don't know what to do." I sit myself down on the couch with a groan.

  More serious this time, Hillarie attempts to give me advice. "I think you should go out to dinner, open up a little more about your past, then when you two go home that evening, you can sit him down and tell him that you want to be honest with him, because you know that if y'all are going to have a future together, you need that foundation for a strong relationship. Explain what got you to where you are, that you're planning on finding a job more suitable to your relationship, and that you're done sleeping with other men. You can wait on the factor of possibly becoming the public's eye. That can all be brought up when it comes to be, for now, figure things out. Figure out if he can accept your past, your present, and the fact that you've been lying up until now. Figure out this together. I know you can do it."