by Ruby Forrest
“You’re not going to do that to me,” Selena told him. “If you want to step into the light with me, Tom Sellick, you better be serious about it or else I’m stepping out of your car this very moment. You can keep last night as a memory but I will not let you add me to your list of side dishes.”
Tom gave her a forlorn look and for a second she felt sorry for being so harsh on him.
“Give me a chance,” he told her. “You don’t seem like any of the girls I’ve met and I’m not just saying that so you’ll go out with me. I mean it. You’re real. You’ve seen the real me, as well, when I took you into my attic. Let me show you that that’s the real me and not what you read in the tabloids.”
Selena looked back at him and then pointed a finger at his face, “You’ve got one shot. Just because I liked it last night doesn’t mean I’ll let you get between my legs again for free.”
A smile cracked his face, “So you did like last night?”
“Okay, I kind of set myself up for that one,” she answered with a chuckle. “Yes, yes I did like last night.”
Tom, satisfied and cool, began driving again and said “Well, that’s a relief. I honestly didn’t have anything planned if you said I was horrible last night.”
They both laughed and Selena realized she was indeed having a good time around him. For the rest of the ride they talked a little less about Tom’s promiscuity and more about what they could do together. She wanted to go out during the night to see movies and he wanted to take her out for go-karting.
By the time they arrived at the place Selena was applying at she didn’t really feel like leaving him in his car.
“Hey, I got to do this real quick,” she told him. “I promise it’ll be really fast. I’m not even sure they’ll take me.”
Tom nodded back and gave her a kiss, “Go get ‘em, tiger. I’ll be parked right outside. If I’m not in the car, just go to the coffee shop across the street. I could use some donuts.”
Selena nodded and got out of the car.
Chapter Five
“Selena?” Tom asked the moment he saw her walk into the coffee shop.
She plopped into the seat next to his, crossed her arms over the table and buried her face down, “Fuck.”
Tom took a sip from his cappuccino, “It was that bad, huh?”
“The whole thing started with them asking how old I was. The moment they found out I was over twenty-one they kind of looked at me like I was a freak or something. Like Jesus, what were they expecting? They want someone with experience but they want someone young enough to be their daughter. It’s disgusting.”
He wrapped his arm around her and gave her a pat on the shoulder, “It’s okay. I’m sure we’ll be able to find something else for you. Donut?”
“My rent is due in a week,” she replied with a depressing tone in her voice. She took one of the glazed donuts he had and bit off a large chunk. “I’m fucked. Like, totally fucked. I just had my car up for maintenance and the last of my savings is going to that.”
“You can always borrow from me,” Tom told her as he took another sip. “I wouldn’t mind.”
Selena finally looked up and gave him a frustrated stare, “No way. I’m dating you, not turning you into my financer or anything. I don’t need a sugar daddy.”
“I’m just saying,” he responded and then gave her that wicked smile she had started to grow fond of. “So we really are dating now?”
Selena rolled her eyes and chuckled before she gave him a nod and said, “Okay, fine, yes we are dating. Don’t get any funny ideas though. Don’t think you can turn this around just because we slept together before dating or anything.”
“I can be serious,” he told her as he drank his coffee. “Just because the tabloids say I’m a rich playboy doesn’t mean I’m all bad. Bruce Wayne’s a rich playboy and he saves lives.”
“Bruce Wayne?”
“Batman,” he answered. “You know, from the comic books and movies?”
Selena dipped the rest of her donut in his cup of coffee then continued, “You’re not a superhero in disguise.”
“That’s not what I’m saying,” he said, “but I wouldn’t mind it though. What I mean is you shouldn’t just take me for what the public says I am.”
Selena nodded, “That’s why I agreed to letting you take me out. I want to get to know you, Tom. I just have to tell you that I also don’t want to get hurt.”
“This is a unique situation we’re in, isn’t it?” he asked in response. “Usually people get drunk, sleep together, then go their separate ways or people date, stay together and then start sleeping with one another. We’re kind of in a weird gray area in between.”
“Weird because I’m not your fuck-buddy but also not your girlfriend?”
Tom nodded and finished off his coffee, “So, let’s head off?”
“To the park?” she asked.
He nodded back.
“Sure,” she then answered and they headed out of the shop and back to his car.
On their way they stopped over for a few cans of root beer and hotdogs. Selena had hers in a bun, layered with hot sauce, cheese and ketchup. Tom had his on a stick, topped with just cheese. They ate a bit while on the road and Tom let her play her music from her phone. For the most part, it was the most fun Selena had in a while and the best thing was how unfiltered it was. There was no beer, no sex, no partying and nothing broken about it.
Tom had to park a long way from the park entrance because there was no parking area. Neither of them really minded it though and it gave them a chance to continue talking while walking.
He took her arm and they walked side-by-side, closely, as they went down from the parking lot and towards the park. He then asked, “You got any family here?”
“Hmm? No, I just live by myself,” she answered. “My parents split and they both live out of state. I have a younger sister; she lives all the way in Salt Lake. What about you?”
“Didn’t find that in your research?” he sarcastically shot back.
Selena laughed and shook her head, “Didn’t think to look it up.”
“Well, I have a younger brother who’s in Seattle,” he said. “He’s med-tech and works in a big hospital our uncle owns. As for our parents, well you and I are kind of in the same boat. My mom lives in Boston and she runs pretty much most of our family business. My dad is in Thailand. He retired there.”
Selena looked at him with a grin, “Now I understand where you come from.”
Tom shrugged in reply and then pointed out ahead of them, “Those the swings you were talking about?”
“Yup,” she answered. “I love just sitting there and thinking. They face the see-saws and slides so I get to lose myself watching kids play around.”
They headed over and fortunately enough there were swings still available. The snow had begun to fall but it wasn’t the middle of winter yet so the ground wasn’t fully covered. There were still a few kids running about, with their parents chasing them from behind. Selena pointed to a little girl trying to maneuver a bicycle around the sidewalks and marveled at how young she was to be playing with that kind of ride.
“She must be like four or five,” Selena said.
“That seems right to me though,” Tom told her. “I learned how to ride a bike when I was five.”
Selena gave a sigh then said, “I didn’t learn until I was like twelve or thirteen.”
“I hope it won’t take you that long to trust me,” Tom said.
“I hope so too,” she answered. “It depends on you, actually. I fall in love easily but trust doesn’t come as quickly for me. I’ve been fucked over too many times to be a fool, especially with guys like you.”
“Guys like me?”
Selena nodded as she began to swing a little, “Rich guys who think they own the world and can do whatever they want.”
“What if I’m actually bankrupt and everything you saw in my home is a lie?
What if all that’s due to go?”
Selena shrugged, “If you went poor today it wouldn’t change who you were for the past few decades. We are who we are based on our experiences, memories and mistakes.”
“That’s deep,” he commented. “But I do guess you’re right. What does all this mean for me?”
“The short answer?” she said. “Don’t screw me over.”
“I think we already tackled that,” he pointed out as he began to swing as well, following her pace. “I mean, for us, what’s our status now? You said it yourself: I’m not really your boyfriend yet and we’re not friends with benefits.”
Selena gave him a solemn look and answered, “Let’s just not put a label on it and go with the flow, eh?”
“The flow is telling me to give you a kiss,” he said. He kept his gaze solely glued to hers and Selena could feel sparks beginning to fly between them, in a good way.
“You’re really evil, Tom Sellick,” she replied as she leaned a little to his side and planted a kiss on his lips.
“Well, it is like you said,” Tom said, “guys like me think we can get away with whatever. We can demand anything.”
Selena laughed a little then asked, “So what are you demanding now?”
“You,” he quickly shot an answer back.
“Those lines don’t work on me,” she said as she bit her lip, “but I do have to admit I kind of set myself up for that.”
“You walked right into it,” Tom told her and got off his swing. He walked towards her and hugged her from behind. “Now I’m not going to let you walk out of it, not as easily as you’d think. I like you Selena, I honestly, deeply do.”
She felt a warm tingle in her chest and without saying anything back she snuggled into his arms. It was cozy, comforting and for a moment she felt like everything in the world was right. She knew it was wrong to trust him, given how open he was about his past behavior around women, but Selena had this strange feeling that maybe things could go right if they both played their cards right.
“I don’t think the parents appreciate us snuggling like this in front of their kids,” Tom whispered into her ear.
Selena laughed and nodded. “It is getting a little too cold for comfort.”
“Want to head back to the car?”
“Sure,” she answered. “What do you think of this place though?”
Tom tightened his hug a little, “I love it. Maybe because my first time here was with someone I care about. It’ll sprout good memories.”
“You’re getting cheesy,” she told him as she sprung up to her feet and began walking back to the car. “Come on, let’s go before you start getting a boom-box radio and serenade me while fist-pumping the air.”
“Oh, hey I know that movie,” Tom commented as he gave chase.
Chapter Six
“Tom,” Selena whispered as she got into the car. “I really want to thank you. I had fun today.”
“Really? You’re still broke and jobless,” he answered right as he locked his door.
Selena nodded and said, “Despite that, you still made an effort to make me feel good.”
“We didn’t really do anything but talk, you know,” he reminded her. He still didn’t put in his car keys to start the car.
“Yeah, but I don’t really need us to do anything. I love to just relax and talk,” she replied. “I hate it when people try to date at a bar or club because it’s too noisy to actually talk and get to know each other. Even going to the movies or a restaurant isn’t a good idea, in my opinion, because you’re too busy looking at a screen or a plate to really talk to one another.”
Tom reached out and caressed her face and said, “You’re really deep sometimes, you know that?”
“Maybe I’m just depressed I don’t have a job.”
He pulled her face in and gave her a soft kiss on her lips, “Don’t worry about it. Don’t worry about anything. It’ll all be all right, I promise you.”
“Are you god now?” she whispered back and gave him a kiss as well.
“I just know things,” he answered and this time kissed her a little deeper. He pulled her in closer and began to kiss her passionately. He began to push his tongue between her lips and with a soft moan Selena opened her mouth and they began to tie into each other.
It was getting a little uncomfortable, however, and Tom immediately sought to fix that issue by getting out of his seat and wiggled his way to the rear seats. Selena quickly followed and sat on his lap, facing him as he hugged her in closer to continue their exchange.
“Close the windows,” she said when she was able to catch her breath. Tom quickly followed her request and raised his tinted windows up. Once Selena was sure they had some privacy she took off her top and began to grind her body against his.
Tom marveled at the sight of her body. She was the spitting image of seduction and he couldn’t get his eyes off of her breasts, her neck and her face. “Selena, you are absolutely gorgeous.”
She smiled back and continued to kiss him. His lips began to roam as soon as she was closer, traversing from her lips to her neck. Once she felt his warm breath on her neck Selena began to moan out softly and her voice only seemed to turn him on even more.
Soon his hands were all over her, caressing and squeezing every bit of flesh he could get his hands on. Selena was not one to let down, however, and she quickly undid the zipper of his pants and reached in for his throbbing, anxious member.
The moment her hands clamped down on him Tom looked up into her eyes and once again she could see the fires of the beast coming alive. She began to stroke his cock, watching in excitement as each touch revved him up like an engine ready to explode forward.
“Fuck me,” she cooed into his ear and the words seemed like an explosion, setting him off.
Tom quickly grabbed her and wriggled her out of her jeans. Once she was free she positioned herself on his lap and slowly slid his manhood into her flesh, allowing it to go in gently at first as it pushed past her folds. Selena was already wet and anxious and it didn’t take much effort for Tom to find his way in. Soon enough he had her right where he wanted and he began to thrust his hips upward.
“Shit,” Selena whispered as she felt the full force of his cock rip right into her. She felt his hands wrap around her body and begin to pump her up and down as he thrust in a steady rhythm. The whole car began to sway a little, following the beat of their bodies.
Yet it all felt right. Selena lost herself in the moment and let go of all her inhibitions. She cherished the moment as she felt Tom’s hands grab her and claim her as his own. She reveled in the satisfaction of feeling his cock thrive inside her flesh, pumping like an animal into her with no indication of stopping. Their bodies had melded into one and her mind was spinning in a thousand different directions.
When she came, it took Tom only a matter of seconds to follow. This time, he did not pull out and she felt his warm seed fill her up from the inside. It was an explosion of ecstasy that blew her mind out of her skull and back.
Out of breath, she leaned in forward and rested her head on his shoulder, with his cock still inside her.
“Tom,” she whispered.
“Yes?” he responded as he hugged her and combed her hair with his hand.
“Thank you.”
“Not ‘I love you?’”
Selena grinned, “We’ll get to that in due time. Maybe.”
“You’re tempted to say it though,” he told her with a chuckle.
“I was tempted to say it, Tom Sellick,” she admitted, “but not today.”
Tom kept her in his arms and he let them rest, seated in the back of his car, as the sun went down and the snow began to fall a little thicker than before. He loved the image, picturing himself keeping her in this strange little paradise, and didn’t want to let go so soon.
“Will I see you again?” he had to ask.
“I don’t know, will you see me again?” Se
lena replied and he knew what she meant.
“Tomorrow?”
“I need to apply somewhere else tomorrow,” she told him. “So if you can help me get around town, sure, why not tomorrow. Well, unless you’re busy and all.”
Tom lifted her chin up with his finger and gave her a kiss on the forehead, “Not busy at all. I think this is the start of something really special.”
“Or it could be the beginning of our descent into madness,” she stated.
“Only one way to find out.”
“Only one way to find out,” she said as she closed her eyes and hoped that she made the right choice. For better or worse, she had tied herself to the life of Tom Sellick and only time will tell what would become of her decision. So far, however, she was in euphoria and if it all ended in madness she could still say she had this one good day.
THE END
IN THE WOODS: A Workplace Romance
By Angela Blake
Chapter One
Ashlyn adjusted the settings on the camera one more time. She couldn’t believe that she was about to shoot scenes for the movie Firebird. She had always dreamed of filming, and being here felt surreal. It just seemed as though the preparations were taking forever! Gary Phogot was an up-and-coming director. The tabloids said he had promise, but that he hadn’t produced a movie yet that really grabbed into the public.
Ashlyn looked around and saw that many of the other togs were sitting around. Some were talking; some were eating the drinks provided. They certainly weren’t worried about their cameras flying away. Ashlyn decided she had to do something to relax. Her part in the filming would come soon enough.
“That looks good,” Ashlyn said, approaching one of the togs and commenting on their plate of food.
The man held it up and smiled. “Would you like to try some?”
Ashlyn grabbed a small handful of the trail mix and began eating it piece by piece as she tuned into the man’s conversation with another woman working on set. “. . .badly run. Before, we were very efficient. Now, it’s a lot of sitting, a lot of waiting, and not a lot of working.”
