by Ava Frost
Pierced straight through to the core of her womanhood by his shaft, Kristina just barely managed to strangle her cry into a tangled whimper against his mouth. His hard body against hers shuddered for a long time, and it seemed like forever until her feet were finally allowed to touch the ground.
Silence fell between them. Kristina knocked his hands away from her and then retreated a little, sliding down the wall to start trying to adjust herself back into the proper orientation befitting a smart, sharp businesswoman. After just having had the best orgasm in her life, it was easier said than done.
Simon coughed awkwardly. “I really enjoyed our date.”
“Best part of the evening,” Kristina replied coolly, hating herself a little for being unable to keep the tremor from her voice. Now that he was coming down from her sexual high, she really just wanted him gone again. What just happened between them had been good –fantastic, really- but this needed to be over and done with now.
“Can I….uh, see you again?” Simon asked hopefully, ruffling his hair with one hand. Though he had tucked himself back into his pants and straightened his clothes a little, Kristina found herself admiring the sexy, disheveled look he wore and had to admit it brought a little warmth to her sensitive sheath again. If only he had been wearing the right style, she might have let him jump on her again.
No, no. It was good. Now it’s done. That’s final.
However, when she shook her head, she deliberately avoided looking at him. “I’m really sorry, Simon. I just don’t have time for that kind of stuff right now.”
He sighed and looked down at the floor beneath his shoes. “Can I at least know your name?”
For a long moment, Kristina hesitated. Revealing that would be giving out a lot more information than she felt comfortable with, but now she felt bad. She stole from strangers for a living, a career criminal living a double life, but she didn’t use people.
“Just this once,” she said aloud, knowing he would have no idea what she meant. “My name is Kristina, Simon.”
“Kristina,” he said huskily, and started for the exit with his head down and his hands shoved in his pockets. “Maybe I’ll see you around sometime.”
Not if I have anything to do with it this time, Kristina thought after him. Neither Harry nor Veronica came back to bother her, for which she was grateful. The Alterations room smelled of sex.
Only when she was sure he was gone and not coming back did she stoop to pick up his wallet from the floor.
Chapter 4
Even though he managed to keep himself firmly occupied for the rest of the week, Simon found himself walking through downtown Cincinnati again on the weekend. This time, he politely brushed away the attention of everyone who recognized his face or the orange of his jacket.
I just want to be alone today he told himself, but he knew it wasn’t true. He lived his life on a grassy, cleat-ripped stage. Attention and admiration were energy for him. What he really meant was he only wanted to be with one person right now. The very sound of her voice in his memories pulled him along through the days, igniting his passion hotter and brighter than it had been since his very first tryout.
“What has she done to me?” he said aloud, wonderingly. Kristina moved like witchcraft. He hadn’t even known what she was doing until the last second! She made him feel intoxicated, like she’d put him under some sort of spell. Was he drunk? Had he gone mad?
Or did he simply love this enchanting stranger?
Only now, as he turned down the Beauty District, did he admit to himself that he wasn’t just wandering for the sake of it. There was a purpose to this and he knew it.
I have to see her again, just one more time.
However, she wasn’t even in the shop. Instead, the pretty man with greying hair stepped out from around the counter and approached with a slender hand out. Simon was surprised by his grip, and the calluses on his fingertips.
“Hi there,” the man said softly. “My name is Harry and I am Amenable Design’s, well, designer.” Harry smiled so infectiously that Simon couldn’t help but to smile back. “Was there anything I could help you with today, sir? Or would you just be needing something adjusted? That jacket…”
Simon laughed inwardly, but at least that part of the puzzle was solved. Sewing all day must have given this man such strong fingers. And they all have the same taste in jackets. I must really be offending people. “No, I was in here the other day but not for anything…clothes-related.”
“Oh!” Simon witnessed the first lightbulb realization moment of his entire life, watching understanding brighten Harry’s eyes. “You were that gentleman caller whom Ms. Holden saw personally. About a week ago. I thought I recognized the jacket. Ugh.”
Kristina Holden. Such a beautiful name.
“Is she here right now?”
“Unfortunately not. Did you have another meeting scheduled with her?”
I bet he knows exactly what’s going on
“I guess not,” Simon said, shrugging one shoulder as though it didn’t really matter. Two could play at this game of talking around corners. “I was just stopping by and thought we could talk.”
“Well, she’s hardly ever in anymore. It must be an awful burden to own a business.” Harry looked sympathetic but vague. “I never had any ambitions for that but Ms. Holden is very dedicated, as I’m sure you know.”
“Sure. So, any idea when I can expect her back?”
“I’m afraid not. She comes and goes as she pleases. That’s fine for Veronica and me, but rather inconvenient for her personal clients, I suppose. Shall I leave her a message?”
God, no. “No. That’s uh, that’s okay. I guess I’ll be going, then.”
“Well, at least allow me to tell her you stopped by so she can know how much of an inconvenience she is.”
Simon waved his hands and started to back away towards the door. “No, that’s fine. I’ll be by again soon. It was nice talking to you, Henry.”
“It’s Harry!”
Simon barely heard. The rejection stung even though he’d really only just come at a bad time. All the same, he needed to see her so badly his chest ached. By the time he had gone a block, the pain solidified into determination.
The next week, he came by again. Harry appeared to be alone again, but he smiled when he saw who it was. “Sir, you’re back! And in luck. She’s just in her office, there. Shall I get her for you?”
Her office was beyond a small black door he hadn’t noticed before, tucked away behind a wall of mannequins so only a person with a slimmer build would be able to navigate through easily. The thought of whom that slim build belonged to made his heart pound. His knees felt weak, like they had done all that dreadful three months where he decided he wanted to be a kicker –and eventually gave it up. No, he couldn’t let someone else do this for him. Kristina would refuse to see him altogether.
At least this way he could see her one last time.
He headed for the office door. Scuffling movement came from behind him. “Wait!” Harry said, reaching for his arm. “You can’t just go in there unannounced!”
Simon juked to the side, dodging as he was trained to do without a second thought. Sidestepping through the line of mannequins, he grabbed the door and ripped it wide open.
Kristina sat huddled over a small desk in a tiny room barely large enough to contain her. The room was otherwise bare but for a dead plant and calendar on the wall. Spread out before her on the desk were a number of dollars in large denominations, a smattering of change, folded receipts, and IDs.
She looked up sharply. “What the hell?” she said, eyes flying wide open. Her arm swept out, knocking everything to the floor, but it was too late. Simon had already seen his own face looking up at him from several laminated cards. His loves truck heart went frozen cold. Ice broken beneath his feet, he plunged into the cold depths without warning.
His lost wallet. Though he had replacements for everything important, he mourned its disappearance but
he had never even thought he would find a trace of it again. Even if it wasn’t stolen, he reasoned someone in a low place would take all the money anyway. Now he knew better.
“Ms. Holden?” Harry said tentatively, trying to look over Simon’s shoulder. “Should I…do something?”
He can’t see what’s going on. How much does he know?
For a moment, Kristina didn’t move. Then, her shoulders slumped. “No, it’s okay. Thank you, Harry. Just close the door behind you. Come in, Simon.”
Simon shut the door himself, then turned and locked it. When he turned around again, his wallet sat on the desk once again with everything tucked neatly in place once more. Kristina raised her chin defiantly.
He walked over and put his hand on his wallet, making a cage with his fingers; looking right into her piercing eyes, he tried to remember who here was larger and more physically intimidating. “Explain to me.”
Kristina shrugged. “What is there to explain? I stole from you. I’m a thief. I’m a career criminal and this is my cover-up. No one has caught me yet. Just you.”
“When I thought you grabbed my butt?”
“Bad timing. You weren’t supposed to feel me getting your wallet.”
“So,” he said, “you got it then?”
“No. I failed that. I got it later, before we had sex.”
“You had sex with me just to steal my wallet?” Simon was incredulous, not even angry. He was too bewildered to feel angry over this yet. All he wanted was to understand.
“No.” Kristina shook her head, spreading her hands. “I may not want anything personal but I do believe in hot sex. I was going to count you as a loss but then you showed up again somehow and how was I to resist?”
“By being a normal person!” he burst out. “This is ridiculous.”
“So call the police,” she said shortly. “But leave my employees out of it. They don’t know anything.”
“Then why was Henry…”
“Harry.”
“Why was Harry acting like he knew what you were doing, if he doesn’t?”
“Harry isn’t an idiot, and he assumed you were here for sex. Isn’t that what you were here for? Newsflash big shot: you aren’t the first guy I’ve had in here.”
Simon shook his head and ran his hand through his hair. If she did this for a living and the shop was just a cover, that meant she had probably started years ago and hit who knew how many people since then. He shouldn’t get involved in this, just turn around and leave, but something held him back from doing it. This woman, this criminal; labels didn’t matter, because she still had his heart.
“You could go on a second date with me.”
Kristina put her hands on her hips. “Are you extorting me?”
“No,” Simon sighed, his mind made up for him. “No matter what, I’m not going to the police. And I’m not telling you what to do. I’m not that kind of guy. No, I’m just asking. I enjoyed our first time, I found out a little more about you, and I’d say a second date is in order.”
Her hands were down to her belt in a second, rapidly unbuckling. This time there was no give and take between them, no teasing banter between gasps. He followed suit, sliding his jeans down to his hips and yanking his underwear out of the way of his member. He was still soft, his body not quite caught up to his mind, but when her slacks drifted to the floor and he saw the polite expanse of soft white cotton covering her womanhood, he immediately began to stiffen in his hand. She was a dangerous type of person but for her to be wearing something so innocent and sweet tweaked at his feelings powerfully.
She’s literally stealing my heart!
Her panties slid down her thighs. There was nothing innocent about the smooth slit between her legs. His mouth went dry, but there was moisture there waiting for him and suddenly he felt very thirsty.
Simon grabbed her wrists and pushed her against her desk while sliding down her body. She sat and her legs spread apart wide, forced apart even further by his hands as he held on to help keep her from shaking away. Taking in her scent, he pressed rough little kisses all over her inner thighs until her muscles trembled and her butt began to squirm with pleasure. Wetness overflowed from deep within her and he lapped at the entrance to her most feminine well with long, agonizing strokes.
“Simon…”
Nails dug into his back, urging him on. He slid forward to hold her knees apart with broad shoulders, and spread the petals of her flower with gentle fingers to expose the inner folds of her softness. She was as a blossom, and he took her stamen into his mouth to suckle her nectar. Her breasts heaved with ragged gulps of air, pleasure taking over her whole body. Her hips moved with every pull of his mouth, thrusting at him.
His swollen shaft lay pressed against his thigh, throbbing but patient. Over and over, he sucked at her, then pressed his mouth closer so she would feel every contour of his lips. Her body was out of control now, her back arching. Kristina’s whimpering, incoherent words told him she was ready.
Tearing his mouth away from her, he nearly emptied himself at her begging cry of disappointment. As it was, his eyes rolled back in his head from how good it felt to be needed.
Sensing what he was about to do, Kristina quickly lay on the desk. The back of her head went straight for the corner of her laptop. Moving quickly, Simon caught her head with his hand and cradled it to keep her from harm while guiding himself deep inside her with the other.
They rocked together on the little desk so hard its feet rose into the air with each collision of their bodies. Simon was reasonably sure he forgot about being quiet but he was far too gone to care when the moment was upon them.
And when it was over, they dressed in silence. Simon finished adjusting himself properly, then tried to catch Kristina’s eyes but the thief just wouldn’t look at him. Not knowing what else to do, he left.
Fifteen minutes later, he was back. Kristina was waiting by the door, a smirk playing around the corners of her mouth. Simon held out his hand, and she gave him his wallet. He knew the next time he stepped out the door it would be the very last, so he summoned the scraps of logical thought still managing to swim around his brain.
“Can I just ask you something?”
She said nothing.
“You had my wallet for days but didn’t do anything with it. Why?”
“I don’t know.” Kristina shrugged. “Why did you keep coming back to my store?”
There was no possible way to put words to it, so he echoed her. “I don’t know.”
“I guess that’s it, then. Don’t come back, Simon.”
Chapter 5
Her office felt suddenly much larger somehow without Simon to fill it, though she still banged her knee on the wall behind her chair when she went to sit down again. Her mind was in turmoil over the consequences of her actions and how close she came to having everything come crashing down upon her.
Lowering into her seat, Kristina leaned forward and put her head in her hands. Why did I do that?
Why had she kept Simon’s wallet for two weeks, when the life of someone like her depended on a fast turnaround? She had all the right connections to shuffle in the amount of his paper money into her personal records, in order to keep the tax people from coming in to question her occasional unexplained boons of hundreds of dollars. Though it wasn’t her style, she could have pawned off his IDs and personal information in a matter of minutes, effectively erasing her involvement. Instead, night after night, nearly every hour, she fished out that ugly thing to take it apart and shuffle through it. Every second it remained in her possession was a second closer she came to prison.
Petty thieves weren’t prosecuted so heavily these days when everyone and their mother dipped into shoplifting for the thrill of it, but she was no mere petty thief. Those days were long behind her, and she never looked back to question her decisions. Now, if Simon didn’t keep his word –and why should he? - She would face dozens of charges, the least of which would be fraud.
I wo
n’t do something so stupid again, she promised herself solemnly, grimacing into her palms. From now on, she would be even better than before. Nothing would keep her from the path she chose, especially not bumbling idiots.
No more sex, no matter how powerful the temptation.
Chapter 6
Two lines. Two lines were all it took to redefine her.
A month gone by and things changed so swiftly but subtly she never saw it coming. The sluggishness came first, a sense of heaviness which dragged at her limbs and her mind. Winter colds were sweeping through the nation, and she reasoned she just wasn’t immune this year; however, a week passed and she felt no better for the passing of time. In addition to that, she started to put on weight and ran through a period of eating far too much, odd things from food trucks she never had a taste for before in her life. After that came crippling nausea, to the point where she took a sick day for the first time in her entire life.
Veronica and Harry took up all her slack. It hardly made a difference where she spent her time outside of the shop, since she already did that anyway. Her fingers developed a twitch out of pure frustration, aching to get out and get back to her passion, but she knew she would have to face her suspicions sooner or later.
Now her fears stared her in the face, two lines on a test she never thought she would have to buy.
I could adapt my style, she thought hopelessly, dropping the test onto the bathroom floor. Despondency took hold, sickness roiling in her stomach. Other thieves deployed a range of tactics and she supposed she could use her pregnancy to her advantage but now she just didn’t know what to do. That didn’t seem right, and giving it up wasn’t an option. No matter what, Kristina couldn’t do that to a child.
And no matter what, she couldn’t do this on her own but who would she go to? Business was business, and her employees were not confidants.
That only left one person.
Chapter 7
Sleet pounded the field, churning up rivers of mud underfoot. The grass was gone beneath waves pouring at a slant toward the road. Cutting wind sliced through Simon’s uniform, which was already plastered to his skin. The sky itself seemed to be in mourning, weeping bitterly on the players practicing their hearts out on the field.
