by Leah Holt
“How much is it? I don't even know if I have enough to buy it, or if I even should buy it.” Letting my head drape forward, I twirled my fingers together. “I'm trying to get a gallery up and running, the place next door will be perfect. I have a lot of work ahead of me, so this is probably the last thing I should do with my money.”
“Consider it a gift.” Winking, her eyes fell back to the art on my leg. “I see you already received one gift, let me give you another.”
What the hell is going on today? Did I wake up in some weird alternate universe?
“What? No, I can't take that. I'm sorry, I just can't.” Bouncing my palms in the air, I pushed back from the counter.
“Sweetheart, a gift is a gift. Take it, this is for you.” Slipping the handles over my fingertips, the woman cupped her hands together. “Good luck with your gallery, Neighbor.” And just like that, she was gone, disappearing into a door behind the desk.
I stood dumbfounded. My jaw hit my chest, mind wildly racing around what had been happening today.
This is insane. Did Beth call every small shop around my place?
Did she really go out of her way to make me feel like I already made it big?
Stepping back out onto the sidewalk, I couldn't make sense of the people in this city. I had gotten free pizza, a free book, and that wasn't all. I noticed that while I walked today people moved around me, whereas before shoulders would slam into me like I didn't even exist.
The usual ping pong game of bodies against mine had seized, instead eyes drifted over me, stepping out of my way.
People were being overly nice, smiling in my direction, holding doors, and traffic so I could come through.
It was bizarre, crazy, not the city I was living in just a day before.
What the fuck is going on? Am I just imagining this?
No. No this is all happening.
But why?
Chapter Seven
Willow
The resonate ding of my phone caught my ear. Digging through my purse, I pulled it out to see Beth had so kindly sent me another selfie of her in some fancy apparel, holding a glass of sparking crystal champagne.
Dig the knife a little deeper, Beth.
Was I jealous?
Of course I was. Who wouldn't be?
She was living large, traveling the world, enjoying the life she was destined for.
Tapping the keyboard, I sent her a nice little thank you for the loving gesture of her social status.
'Nice pic! Don't spill any on that outfit.'
It really was a great picture of her, but they always were. I didn't like feeling the twinge of angst towards my best friend and her success. But it was hard not to.
She's always had everything. The loving home, the family that turned their world upside down to sidestep life and jump feet first into her career.
While I watched her from a computer screen, listened to her through a speaker, and spent my nights eating boiled oatmeal.
Yuck, that taste will never go away.
We were sixteen when Beth landed her first modeling gig, and I got my first job; one of those Statue of Liberty sidewalk trophies for the local tax office.
We were sixteen when she lost her virginity and I lost... Nothing even close to that. Instead I lived through what the experience might be like from her very detailed account.
A memory I could live without.
Details are good, but too much is sometimes just too much. And that story was the epitome of too much.
I was almost eighteen before I had my first taste of cock. Which let me just say, it wasn't a front page story of my adolescence.
It was spring time, senior year was coming to an end, and my dull life had already begun to spiral into dust balls.
Beth had left school early to travel to California for a photo shoot, and the only guy I ever even felt an ounce of comfort with had been my long time neighbor Dylan.
He wasn't exactly head of the football team, or wrestling team, or any real sports team that required an ounce of pure muscle.
Did he even have muscles? No, definitely no muscle.
Dylan was the head of the year book, head of the science club, and he had braces for longer than any other kid I had ever known. And the freckles... Oh the freckles, they covered more area on his face than skin itself.
Was I desperate?
Yes.
College was going to start in the fall and I didn't want to go there with no experience at all. I figured even the weakest attempt at sex was better than nothing.
But I was wrong. Oh was I so very, very wrong.
Virginity, despair, and no damn patience was the downfall to my summer fling.
Needless to say, he got it in, and that was that. He was done before I even had time to take in a single breath.
Another sad story to my already less than exciting life. But I couldn't blame anyone for that but myself, and maybe him a little.
I mean, I couldn't completely ignore the fact that his two second pumpfest wasn't a shining moment for him either.
He coiled into a ball, snuggled his pillow, and fell asleep. Leaving me discouraged, embarrassed, and cursing sex to hell.
My phone dinged again, an emoji of a smiley face sticking its tongue out glowered at me on the screen. Hitting the pad, I tossed her a little crack at her free pizza and book game.
'Oh and thanks for the pizza, and my new reading material.'
Beth fired back, a single question mark pinging in the speech bubble.
Was she really going to pretend like she didn't know what I was talking about?
'The pizza at Antonio's. What did you pay the guy so I know how many times I can go back?'
Waiting for her retort, I was surprised to see her name across the screen.
“Hey, sugar mama,” I said, giggling. “The food was great, and the book was even better. You know just how to treat me.”
“What are you talking about, Lo? I didn't buy you anything.”
“Come on, stop playing. The owner called me up front, gave me free pizza, and said I'd never have to wait again. What did you pay him to do that? Or did you give him a little something special, you know, so you didn't dry out?”
“Lo, I'm serious, and that's gross. I might be needy, but I wouldn't give it up to just anyone, especially greasy pizza guy.” She made a gagging sound, her voice mimicking the grimace she definitely had plastered on her face. “I have no idea what the hell you're talking about. Look, I can't talk for long, but hey, maybe he thought you were cute. Either way, free pizza is free pizza. But, while I have you on the phone, I need you to do something for me.”
“Sure, what do you need?” Holding the phone to my ear, my arms bowed out in wonder.
“The other night, I left something really important at the tattoo shop. It was my silk scarf, you know, the one my mom bought me after my first shoot. Can you stop by there and grab it?”
“What? Beth, I doubt it's even there anymore. That guy doesn't seem like someone who'd keep shit, he probably threw it out.” Biting my tongue, I wanted to yell 'No,' and tell her I was never going back there and she'd have to deal with it.
The last place I wanted to step back into was that shop. But the idea of going back also sent a surge of hot sparks across my skin, coalescing in my belly, and coming to rest on the new tattoo on my thigh.
The feeling of his fingers on my skin, the gentle and savage touch of his hand as it slid between my legs, entering my body.
Don't make me go there. He does things to me I can't explain.
Clutching my shirt against my chest, I waited for to tell me I was right, and to forget it.
“Please? It's really special to me.” Her voice swept through the phone, pleading eyes buried in her tone.
Ugh, really?
My gut was telling me to stay strong, to tell her to call him and ask him to mail it to her. But I couldn't. My backbone crumbled, washing in her plea. “Alright, I'll go.”
“Thank you s
o much, Lo. Call ya soon.” Her lips smacked through the speaker, sending me a kiss via cell towers.
The empty space of crackling air filled my head as the line went quiet, my lungs picking up pace to wrap around the feelings riding my ribs.
Shit, I have to go back.
And she'd had the nerve to say none of that crazy stuff was her doing.
I couldn't ignore the fact that deep down I still thought it was her, that I was still convinced she had her hand in the strange things that were happening to me.
But if Beth wasn't responsible, then who?
I was just reading too much into it, again. Like usual.
Georgio must have just confused me with someone else. There was no other answer.
And for the book store, she had to just be a kind, old woman. Maybe I reminded her of her granddaughter, or someone close to her.
Shaking my head, I dropped the phone back in my bag.
I had to stop doing that. First with Kash, now this shit.
And now I have to see him again.
My brain was tearing through that night, capturing me all over again.
Maybe I'd get lucky and he wouldn't be there.
Yes, he's not there. It's closed.
I'll be safe.
Chapter Eight
Kash
My appointment was due to show up any minute. The doors don't typically open this early, but for a few regular customers and any of the larger tattoos I had set up; the earlier the better.
A giant piece could take multiple sessions, hours and hours of work would go into every last inch of the picture, depending on the detail and line work.
Setting up my station, I grabbed the colors I'd used two weeks ago when I started the sleeve on a guy named Dirt.
Yes, you heard it right, he went by the name Dirt. I didn't ask why, nor did I care. He was paying cash each session and asked to be kept low profile.
Again... Not my business.
But he knew who I was, and offered me the same respect in return.
The less questions the better.
Besides, it was better to have someone on your side named Dirt, than it was to make enemies with a man of that caliber.
The ding of the front door buzzed through the room, my head flicking up to the monitor. And my eyes widened, the heat flooding my gut and riding my muscles.
To my surprise, there wasn't a large burly man dressed almost in head to toe with leather. It wasn't the face I expected to see, covered in hair; hair that seemed to mix and transform from head to chest like it grew in one layer.
Willow?
She's here.
She looked just as sweet and nervous as that night. Her body swayed, rocking back and forth on her heels, her head ticked around the room with doe eyes.
She came back.
Why am I surprised?
I watched her on the screen, longingly staring at her gorgeous face. The soft features were turned up, brows arched, lip curling to one side.
Her chest was rising anxiously, fingers twining around each other. Every inch of her was fixed on the empty space, eyes wandering around aimlessly. She wasn't calling out to me, she wasn't moving closer to my private space.
She just stood, looking like she hoped I wasn't here, or that a different face might appear from the back. Lucky for her, I'm the only one that worked here.
Still I didn't run right out front, I waited, I watched.
Willow turned to the door, taking a step. Then her shoulders slouched, and she turned back.
So shy, so frail. But why, Willow?
Rubbing my palms over my thighs, I threw a hand into my hair, and headed out front. My chest was beating, lungs driving air in with excited bursts. I wanted to see her again, I just didn't expect it so soon.
Was it possible she needed more? Needed more Kash?
I wanted to leave an impression, I wanted her to think of me and only me. But I never expected it would take mere days for her to find her way back to me. A woman like her, I was certain it would have been a couple weeks, maybe a little longer.
I thought she would torment herself, contemplating, wanting, only to deny herself the pleasure I could bring her.
Until she got to that point. Till her body could no longer suppress its own need to be devoured, to have what it burned for.
Deep down, I knew she'd come back. I knew she'd get to her breaking point, when her body won the war over her mind, and she had no choice but to give it to what it demanded.
If she didn't, if she refused to feed her most ungodly desire; her entire frame would weaken and her world would turn gray. Any color in her life would be sucked out, washed away.
Because I'm worth every last inch of pleasure, pleasure only I could give her.
“Hello there, Doll. You're back sooner than I thought.” Holding a feverish smirk, I puffed my pecs up in the fitted t-shirt.
“It's not by choice, I'm here to get my friend's scarf.”
“Good excuse, but I know why you really came back.” Dragging my fingers under my nose, I inhaled a deep breath. “I know exactly why you came back.”
“There goes your huge head again.”
“You're right, it is huge.” Winking, I leaned against the front desk, crossing a leg over my ankle. “I might have a couple minutes to play if you want. I have an appointment at one, so it'd have to be a quickie, not ideal for me. I wanted to take my time with you.”
Rolling her eyes, her lips parted, nostrils flaring to inhale a deep breath. “Do you have the scarf?”
“That depends, are you free for a few minutes?” Adjusting my cock, I tucked my arms under my ribs, flexing the hardened muscles.
Her eyes shot down, flashing in need. The blue turned bleached like the high-noon sky, her face flushed like she had been touched by the warm sun's fingers.
It took everything I had to not run at her, throw her against the wall and claim her pussy with my cock. My hand had started the fuse, but my dick wanted to ignite the flames.
“Wow...” Willow chuckled, lids closing briefly. “You really are a piece of work. Look what happened the other night was a mistake, it was the heat of the moment. That's it, don't read too much into it.”
“You're not convincing.” Shaking my head, I let my eyes lick her body.
The sundress hugged her curves, hanging just above the mark I left on her thigh. The mark that would last a lifetime, her skin forever changed by my hand.
And in my head I was cumming on her new found image, letting my juice coat the raw skin. My cock throbbed to have her, swelling and ready to make her surrender.
“Can I just have the scarf so I can go?” Her brows knitted with frustration.
“You're not going to slander me about how I know you're not serious? Or the fact that I can read your body, despite what your mouth throws out? Because I can, and it's saying something a lot sexier.” Stepping towards her, Willow lunged back. Every inch I moved closer, she moved away.
You can't run from me.
If you wanted to... You'd be gone already.
“I don't care what you think my body is saying, I said what happened was a mistake. Leave it at that, alright?”
Her back pressed firmly against the wall, shifting the art behind her head. Willow turned her face, eyes flicking between the floor and my body. I was no more than a paper width from her chest. Her small breasts were engorged, nipples firming under the dress. Each supple pearl poked through the fabric, ready for my tongue to flick across.
Lifting my hand to her shoulder, I followed the tremble of her arm down to her wrist. “What if I don't want to?” Her chest sprang to life, breathing shallow and labored. Tickling my fingertips back up her arm, I leaned in a hair closer. “What if I can't?”
Her words floated out on weakened air. “It's not up to you.” Swallowing hard, I watched the lump get forced into her gut.
“Oh, no? Then who is up to?” Teasing the edges of her hair, I gently yanked a few thick cords. “You?”
&nbs
p; She gasped, body jerking in surprise. Her skin broke on the hairline in prickles, eagerly begging me for more.
This was what I wanted, what I waited to see. Her body changed, zealously accepting my offer. Her skin was warm, milky, and aching for my lips. Her hips rolled forward, breasts lifting to meet my chest.
I was ready to drive my hand around her neck, tug her onto my lips, when the front door sprung open.
Gimlet eyed, I cocked my head to the entrance. Willow lurched to the right, breaking the seal I made between us.
Fuck, me. Not now.
Not again.
“Kash, hey man let's get this show on the ro—” Dirt, stopped short, clearing his throat. “Sorry, I didn't realize you were busy.” A deep baritone laugh filled the room.
Willow let out a heavy breath, dragging her hands over her waist. “He's not. The scarf?” She snapped, holding her hand out.
Growling softly under my breath, I walked to the counter and dug out the bright pink silk from beneath. “Here.” Tossing it at her from across the room, I said, “We're not done, Willow, I will see you soon.”
“No. No you won't.” Pushing the front door open, she took one last look over her shoulder before disappearing into the sun's arms.
And like that she was gone.
She had come in unexpectedly twice, only to be yanked away.
Son of a bitch!
My cock hurt, my brain was smothered, and all I wanted to do was run out the door and catch her.
She came back once...
She'll come back again.
Or I'll find her myself.
Chapter Nine
Willow
My fingers tumbled around each other, my stomach was doing flips and turns. I could feel my pores, every single one, ready to launch an attack on my body.
Kash was insatiable, a man with words that were magic, and a body that spoke to me in a deep-seeded language that made it unfurl to his demands.
Thank God that guy showed up.
I was about to break.
My brain was sending spastic pulses down to my sex, forcing it to warm, to melt, to scream his name.
