by Lauren Wood
I looked back to the man of our discussion and I could tell that he didn’t want me there. But it was clear by the way he stayed at his table that he knew a bit about me. I wasn’t one to shy from a fight if a person wanted to bring it my way, but I wouldn’t go looking for one if I didn’t need to. Even now, I knew that it was a bad idea. Maybe after a couple more drinks, I would be ready to start something that would lead to chaos.
***
It wasn’t but a day later that I heard from Marcus. He had the address that I was looking for. “You know that she works for the government?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Well just be careful with a woman like her. She is not the kind of girl that I could be with.”
I didn’t know if I wanted to be with her, but I did know that I wanted to be inside of her again. The long term wasn’t something that I was thinking of. If I just had her once, I was sure that I would fix everything that was wrong with me. Just one more taste of her and I would be cured.
“She is pretty uptight, but she turned freaky with the right mood.”
Marcus grinned and I don’t know why I wanted to hit him. I still hadn’t gotten in a fight and I was ripe for one.
“Got to love the closet freaks. Sometimes I think that they are the best. Mine is just as street as me though. She would be quicker to start something than I would, ride or die kind of chick.”
“Those are hard to come by, one that you would want anyways. Now it is deceit and the best thing to do is just hit it and quit it.”
Marcus agreed and I took a drink of the beer from the fridge. I liked him and I was starting to like the area. I didn’t know if it was enough to stay, but I had promised to meet with Lucas and I would go with an open mind. Carlos knew about it and he told me to do what I must. “I can’t tell you where to go David, but I want you to know that you always have a place here with us.”
That got me thinking that a change for a time might be in the cards. The address in my hand made it easier to imagine, even as I told myself that I was only going to see her once more to get her the rest of the way out of my system. I don’t know if I even believed my own thoughts, but that was the plan. As soon as ii was done meeting with Lucas, Carol was the first person that I was going to go see.
“So when does Lucas want to meet?”
Marcus grinned. He was always smiling and it made him look a little off. The blonde hair and blue eyes were somehow familiar for a moment, but I pushed the idea aside. Was he related to Leo that I had pointed out the day before? He kind of looked like him. I wanted to ask, but there seemed to be an issue between them and I didn’t want to bring it up. It reminded me of how different it was here. Up north I knew everyone and how they connected, here I wasn’t so sure.
“He wants to meet you now.”
“How do I know that the address is legit?”
“It is.”
That was all of the assurance that I was going to get and in truth, that was all that I needed. I had been told that I could trust Marcus and I felt that way the first time I met him. People had vibes about themselves and Marcus was one that I could see being around. He didn’t talk about others and after seeing him in action on a pick-up, I respected him even more. We were enough alike that I had to trust him.
“Well let’s go meet the man.”
“I was hoping you would say that. Lucas doesn’t like to wait.”
I had a feeling that there was more to that statement then what met the eye. It was clear that Marcus looked up to the man and I wanted to meet him just for that reason alone. Carol was just going to have to wait a little bit longer.
Chapter 6
David
“It’s good to finally meet you David. I was wondering if you were going to come around. I hear you bribed Marcus instead.”
I didn’t answer him, just sat back and smiled his way. “I wouldn’t call it bribing, more sweetening the deal is all.”
“Well you got it, but I have to ask what is so important about that girl?”
I wasn’t going to talk about Carol. I didn’t want to and the less people knew about my life, the better. It was never a good idea to have those you care about in the light. I wouldn’t want someone to do something to them, to get back at me.
“Just a girl that I wanted to look up from before. You know how it is sometimes. You have to get another taste.”
“Yeah, I have those women that stuck with me. There is one in the Keys that I always see while I am there. I just can’t help it, the damn siren calls to me.”
I didn’t comment anymore. I wanted him to know nothing about what drove me. “So I hear from Marcus that you wanted to talk?”
“Yes, straight to business. I want you to come work for me. The percentage is good and I will pay twice as much as Carlos.”
“I have been with Carlos since I got into the game ten years ago.”
He shrugged at me like he didn’t care. “Everyone wants a change once in a while. I think you would do well here. You would fit in just fine and I need someone that doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty. Carlos has already told me it was okay to pursue it. I do too much business with him to try and poach you. Why not stay and see what the siren does for you?”
“She is not a siren, just a girl that I knew here.”
Lucas didn’t believe me and I wished that I hadn’t had them look for her. I was terrified that something was going to happen to her now if I didn’t go along with his plans. While many people vouched for him, at the end of the day, I didn’t know these people. I shouldn’t have gotten her involved.
“So what do you think of staying around here for a while? You could help me straighten things up and make a nice little nest egg to take back up north when you feel like it. When I heard that you were coming, I knew that it was the perfect opportunity to get you to do some things for me. You could work with Marcus. The two of you seem to get along good and he is my go-to guy at the moment.”
It was a lot to take on and I needed time to think about it. It was hard to say no to a man like Lucas. I had heard about him too, but I had my mind on something or someone else. I didn’t have time to think about money and what else it was that I needed. All I could think about was getting to the address on the slip of paper in my pocket. After that, I would be able to think straight.
***
When I realized how close Carol was, it felt like it was meant to be. She was right around the corner from where I was staying when I put the address into my phone. Here I was looking for her and she was right here the whole time. It was exasperating and a little funny all at the same time.
I had already knocked a couple of times, but there was no answer. The house was dark and I decided to just wait. She would be home soon and then I would get some answers. Then I would get the touch that I needed to get over this woman.
When I saw a car pull up in the drive, I waited a few minutes to see if it was Carol. I still wasn’t sure if the address was right and I didn’t want to walk up on someone unsuspecting in the middle of the night. I didn’t think that would go over very well. But it was Carol. I could tell by the way she was walking. She was a little tipsy, like she had been at the wedding and I was going to take that as a good sign. It meant that she was in the same mind set where she had said yes before.
After a few minutes, the lights came on in the house and I knew that it was time to see what it was that I had come to see. Really I wanted to know what she had done to me to make me this way. Why did I think about her when I didn’t think about any of the other one night stands that I have had in the past?
I was nervous, something that I tried to ignore. The knock sounded barely audible over the pounding in my ears and it felt like an eternity until I heard the lock on the other side being turned. She didn’t have a peephole, which might have been a good thing for me. I had a feeling if she would have seen me she wouldn’t have answered the door at all.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me.”
“Who?”
“It’s David.”
The lock stopped and I was sure that if I checked it then, it wouldn’t have been unlocked all the way. I wish I could have seen her face. It was clear after a few silent heartbeats that she was mulling it over. She must have known that I was in town, so now it was a matter of if she wanted to see me or not.
“What are you doing here?’
“I came to see you, now open up.”
“I don’t think that is a good idea David.”
“Open the door now or I will make sure that I wake up all of your neighbors. You are not just going to brush me off anymore.”
The lock moved again and I let out a breath of air. At least I was getting in and after that, I had no problem knowing what was going to happen next. All I had to do was get my hands and lips on her and she would be unable to resist me anymore. That was what had happened at the wedding and I knew it could be the same again. I just needed a few moments alone with her.
“What?”
She was looking up at me through a crack in the door. I felt like the big bad wolf and it was hard not to laugh and the way it all had turned out. This was not how I had pictured it with her when I finally got her address. “What do you mean? Are you going to let me in or not?”
There was a part of her that didn’t want to. A big part of her and I was left to wonder if that was going to matter or not. I knew that even if she didn’t want to see me, she would. I wasn’t going to give her a choice.
“Fine, but just for a moment. I can’t be…” Her voice trailed off, but all I heard was that I could come in. All of the rest of it was just filler as far as I was concerned.
I didn’t wait for her to close the door before I was kissing her. I leaned her back against the door, pushing her until it closed and clicked on its own. There was no hesitation in her need for me. It was just like before and I couldn’t have been any happier. It was the reaction that I had wanted and I was already feeling the surge of need go down my body. She felt good, too good and I was immediately in need of her. I needed to be inside of her right then and when I tried to pull her skirt up she stopped me.
“What are you doing?”
“I want to make you scream again, like you did last time at the wedding.”
“That was a long time ago, things have changed.”
She wasn’t quite pulling away, but she wasn’t trying to come any closer either. My body was in front of her and if I would have lean forward a little more, I would have pinned her completely to the door. I needed her and even though she wasn’t ready, she would be soon enough. All I had to do was hold off long enough that she was ready.
“Nothing has changed and it hasn’t been that long. I bet if I checked right now, you would be wet for me.”
Carol shook her head in denial and I had no choice but to prove her wrong. If she wasn’t wet, I wouldn’t have left, I would have made sure that I poured on the temptation a little more. But I had a feeling that it would be soaked as it had been the last time I had touched her. She just had to be or my ego was going to take a hell of a blow.
Her legs moved open slightly as my hand moved up her bare thigh. Carol’s green eyes closed and she sucked in a breath when I covered her mound with my hand. “It is sure feeling warm to me Carol. Do you want me to keep going?”
I asked it because we both knew that I was right. I wanted to know how far she wanted to go for me to call her bluff. When she shook her head that she did want me to continue, I could feel the heat going to my face. She wouldn’t admit it, but it was my hand and touch that she wanted.
Slipping my hand underneath the cotton of her panties, I felt the slight tickle of stubble on her mons and then slid my finger a little lower down to the heat that was emanating off of her. She was scorching hot and when my digit touched the top of her slit, I could tell that she was extremely wet as well. I don’t know who made the whimpering sound. I was going to blame it on her, but it could have very well been me. That’s how turned on I was with her.
I pushed a finger in slightly and felt the incredible grip that she had. It was one that I remembered well and I felt a surge of need go through me. It was overpowering and before I could stop myself, I was pushing a digit all the way in and listening to her moan.
“Does that feel good?”
She nodded her head slowly, her eyes closed and her lips pursed. I leaned down to kiss her as I added another finger to her tightness. I remember how long it took for me to get into her before. This time was different and I was going to make sure that she was as ready as I was.
Moving in deeper, I could tell by the way she clung to me and the sounds that came out of her that she was close. I moved faster as my lips teased her, my teeth nibbling at her tender pouty lips. It was perfect and only when I felt the rush of fluid and the sound that escaped her lips, did I know that I wouldn’t have to wait anymore.
I kept going for several moments, letting her clench and cling to me for dear life. It was all that I could do to stop myself from taking her then. I wanted more of her and I started to pull her away. “Where is a bed so I can take you properly?”
She was about to answer me when there was a phone going off somewhere in the house. It had a strange ring to it and it must have signified a certain caller because her whole demeanor changed. I didn’t know who it was, but the look on Carol’s face was instantly something else. She no longer wanted me like she had before.
“I got to take this.”
I didn’t see a way out of it. Her hands were pushing against my chest and I was sure that it was because of whoever it was on the phone.
“Who is it?”
“My boyfriend.”
I watched her go to the living room and pick it up from a side table. She put her hand over her lips to shush me, but I wasn’t the type of man to be shushed.
“Get off the phone Carol. We have business to take care of.”
She gave me a look that would have melted wax and I just gave her a grin back. There were several moments that she stayed listening to whoever was on the other line. Her boyfriend, huh? She hadn’t seemed too committed a minute ago.
“No one Steve. Just a friend that I met at a wedding. He was just about to leave. I will see you in the morning baby. Can’t wait.”
She hung up and I moved towards her. “Now where were we?”
“You were leaving. I don’t know what I was thinking David, but you have to go.”
I moved to kiss her again and she stopped me with a hand on my chest so I couldn’t get any closer.
“I am not going anywhere.”
“Yes you are. I told you that I have a boyfriend.”
“You were far too wet to care if you have a boyfriend or not.”
She stopped and was about to say something and closed her mouth. “It was a mistake. You were a mistake that I am not going to make again. Please leave. I can’t do this again with you.”
I could tell by her face that she wanted to believe her words. I wasn’t sure if they were really what she wanted, her body was not in agreement, but she said no. That was that. I could have made her see things my way, reminder her again what it was that I could do, but I didn’t. I was still trying to get over the fact that she had a boyfriend. I didn’t like the idea that she had moved on. She wasn’t supposed to be able to, no matter if it was just a one-time thing or not. Was I too late?
Chapter 7
Steve
I had known that something was going to happen. It always did when I got to this place in a relationship. Once I was with a woman physically, everything changed. Now I had feelings of jealousy and distrust. I don’t know what inside of me clicked, but it was happening.
I didn’t trust Carol anymore and when I heard the man’s voice on the phone, I made the few minute drive over to her house. I don’t know what it was that I was going to find, but I wasn’t expecting to see her outside talking to a man. It was clear that they knew each other well. The man was loo
king at her the way that I looked at her. I couldn’t stand the way she looked at him.
The man was tall and wearing a biker’s jacket. I had several friends that were in the same gang and my mind went to Leo. He would be able to tell me more about the man in front of me. I needed information so I followed him for a little while when he left. The man drove fast and I could tell that there was a tension in him. That was the only reason that I could think of for the way he was driving.
What really set me off was the kiss that I had witnessed. While Carol had pushed away after a moment or two, there was still several seconds where she was in his arms. It happened so fast that I didn’t even have time to respond before she was back in the house and the stranger was leaving.
I hadn’t thought it through. The guy was a lot bigger than me and I could tell that I wouldn’t be able to take him by myself. I wasn’t into that kind of work. I was a stock broker and instead of going to blows with him, I was much more comfortable giving someone like him money to take care of it for me.
The man didn’t stay on the bike long. I saw him go into a familiar bar and as I parked on the other side of the street, I thought about what I should do. Everything in me told me to go in and say something. But that thought was quickly stopped. I didn’t know who was in there, who he was and I knew that a guy like me starting something there without my friends was a suicide mission. I had to go in though. I had to see who it was that had just left my girlfriend’s house.
Getting my nerve up, I walked in and instantly felt out of place. I wasn’t a runt by any stretch of the imagination, but I wasn’t as rough looking as anyone in there. My button up and khakis made it even more obvious that I didn’t belong and I didn’t make eye contact with anyone as I made my way to the bar. I wished that Leo was there. I had only come here with him and I was not above dropping a name if things got hairy for me.
