by Jamie Hill
Misty glanced at him. He was sweating profusely, and looked scared as hell. She wanted to continue to give him crap for all the shit he had given her this morning, but something inside her couldn't be that mean. “We're going to be okay, really,” she said softly. “This happens all the time."
"How can you live in a building where this happens all the time?” He shook his head. “I'd have been out of here so fast, that super's head would have been spinning."
She smiled. “You get what you pay for.” Misty pulled out her cigarettes and started to light one up.
"You're kidding, right?” He stared at her.
She stared back for a moment before shrugging and shoving the cigarettes into her purse. “I suppose Mr. Davis pays you rather well for killing people, or whatever it is you do, but he doesn't pay me squat for serving drinks. Benny made slightly more as a card dealer, but we all know where his money went, and it certainly wasn't for rent."
"Why did you stay with him?” Richmond asked her, and Misty saw something nice in his eyes for the first time. She believed he actually wanted to know.
"I thought I loved him at first. When he's up, he's a pretty great guy, sweet to me and buying me all kinds of stuff. But when he's losing, he turns into another person completely, angry, violent, almost like an alcoholic."
"Gambling is an addiction."
"God, don't I know it! It's been over between us for a while. Neither one of us had enough money to move out, so we just kind of stayed the way we were."
"Your pay is really that crappy?"
She laughed. “Oh yeah, we rely heavily on tips. Some nights we make ‘em, others we don't."
"I guess.” He picked up a scrap of paper and began tearing it into bits.
He's nervous, Misty thought as she watched him. He was really kind of nice when he wasn't threatening her life. He was certainly nice looking. She thought of Benny for a second, and remembered something Richmond mentioned. “Did Benny really come into a windfall, because he never mentioned it to me."
He looked up at her. “Nice guy. Yeah, Joe at the craps table said he won a few thousand. It might not be enough to pay his debt, but it was a start."
"So Benny figures he can use that and go somewhere and make more money, enough to pay off his debt. He never imagines himself losing, which is usually what happens."
"Sounds about right,” Richmond admitted. “Leaving you to take the fall for him."
"Asswipe,” she muttered. “I'm sick of him and I'm sick of gamblers in general."
"So why do you stay?” he asked. “You could waitress anywhere; it wouldn't have to be at a casino."
She smiled at him. “You're full of questions today."
"What else is there to do?” He looked around.
"Another question. Okay, I stay because it's exciting to work in a casino. I always thought I wanted to be a dancer, but I never made the cut.” She glanced down at her breasts. “Guess I wasn't perky enough."
He gave her another irritated look, but this time, Misty could tell he was irritated she put herself down. “They're plenty perky."
She laughed. “Oh yeah? You're the one who called me—what was it?—semi-attractive, and of minimal value. Those were your words, Richmond."
His face reddened slightly and he looked down. “That's a persona I use when I'm interrogating someone. I could never hurt a woman I thought was beautiful, so I have to put her down and degrade her in my mind."
"So then you can—what? Hurt her? Kill her? What exactly do you do for Mr. Davis, Richmond?"
He eyed her levelly. “Whatever needs to be done."
"Wow, that's cold. And scary. How can you live with that?"
He looked around. “Let's put it this way, the elevator in my building never gets stuck."
"Ah, money.” Misty nodded her head. “The root of all evil. It's caused the downfall of many a man, including that poor sap Benny, and I dare to say: you."
He jumped up and paced around. “What downfall? Look at me! I wear five hundred dollar suits and drive a BMW!"
She watched him pace. “You kill people for a living."
"No I don't,” he scoffed. “I threaten to kill people. I've never actually—” He stopped and looked at her with wide eyes.
Misty laughed. “You've never actually killed anybody? Why you tough-talking piece of shit!"
"Stop that right now!” He pointed a finger at her. “That piece of information doesn't leave this room, or I swear to God, I will kill somebody, and your mama isn't going to be happy."
Misty laughed again. “Well, she ain't happy now, so what's the difference?"
Richmond tugged at his necktie to loosen it and pounded on the elevator buttons. “Somebody get us out of here!” he yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Hey, calm down.” Misty patted the floor next to her. “Come over here and sit. You were doing better when we were talking and your mind was occupied."
He dropped to the floor next to her and yanked his tie completely off.
Misty took it from his hands gently and ran it through her fingers. “Five hundred dollar suits, huh? So how much does a tie like this go for?"
He shrugged dejectedly. “Around seventy-five bucks, I suppose."
"Wow.” She ran it over her cheek. “Smooth."
"I guess."
"So, Derek,” she used his first name cautiously. “What did you want to be when you grew up? I doubt there was a spot to check for ‘thug’ on the college application."
He laughed at that, and Misty thought how differently he looked when he was being nice. He was—dare she say it?—quite handsome.
"No, my mama never raised no thug. Actually, I wanted to be a pro baseball player. I had a shot with the Yankees, and blew it when my pitching arm went out. I was devastated."
"I'll bet. That sucks, I'm sorry."
"Yeah. My old man has been a groundskeeper at Yankee Stadium all his life, and he loves it, you know? They make him feel like he's important, a part of the organization, and he takes such pride in his work. When I got hurt, he wanted me to come and work with him, but I couldn't face baseball from that end, I was too pissed. I took off and made my own way."
She watched him as he talked, and could see life in his eyes for the first time. “So,” she chose her words carefully “some time has passed, you're not quite so angry ... have you ever considered going back? Would your father still give you a job?"
He laughed loudly. “Honey, he would love nothing more. But we come from two different worlds. He goes home at night to a cold beer and TV reruns. I rarely go home. I keep a suite at the casino's hotel for when I want to change clothes or ... entertain someone...” He smiled.
"I don't know.” Misty shrugged again. “A cold beer and TV reruns sounds pretty nice to me. I don't think the fast lane is all it's cracked up to be."
He grabbed the necktie from her and draped it around her neck. He tied it into a perfect knot as he spoke. “You just got done telling me you stay at the casino because it's exciting. Now you're telling me you don't care about the excitement, and you'd like to settle down in Podunk, Jersey or somewhere."
Misty drew her ponytail out of the loop of the tie and Derek adjusted it on her neck. “I guess I did,” she admitted. “They're both fine in their own ways. The casino is fun and exciting for a single girl, but ultimately, I'd like to find someone and settle down. I can't envision us living in a hotel suite, so at that point, Podunk is sounding pretty good."
He grinned and reached behind her to release the ponytail. Her straight hair fell to her shoulders. “I'm sorry I pulled your hair.” He ran his hand through it to her scalp and rubbed it gently.
"It wasn't you, it was that other persona,” she said softly, looking in his eyes.
Derek stared back. “This is probably not a good idea."
Misty smiled. “It feels like a pretty good idea. Unless the minute those doors open, you're going to turn me over to your boss. I really don't like the idea of being sold into sla
very to repay Benny's gambling debts."
He touched her cheek gently. “I'm afraid I'm going to have to tell Mr. Davis that nobody was home."
Misty pressed her face against his hand. “This elevator could be stuck for hours. You might want to do something to distract you."
"I've got an idea.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her gently.
She opened her mouth to him and their tongues met in the middle. Misty whimpered and Derek groaned, pulling her body closer to his.
"You're so beautiful. I'm sorry about everything I said earlier."
"I told you, it's okay.” She pressed her mouth against his again and they continued to kiss.
"But I pulled a gun on you,” he murmured guiltily. “I feel like a shit for doing that."
"Speaking of which, do you think you could slide that gun somewhere out of reach? I'd like to run my hands over your chest and I really don't want to feel that."
He pulled the gun out and held it in front of her. “Or you could grab the gun and hold it on me until we're rescued. I wouldn't blame you."
"Not a bad idea.” Misty began unbuttoning his shirt. “But I was hoping to get laid first. Unless of course, you're not up to the task..."
Derek unbuttoned his slacks and let his rigid cock spring free. “Oh, I think I'm up to it. I just can't believe you want to, after everything I've done to you today."
Misty smiled and lowered her head into his lap. “There's so much more that I want you to do to me today. We'll have to see how long the elevator stays stuck."
Derek inhaled as she sucked his length into her mouth. “Uh, yeah, about that ... this is fantastic, don't let me stop you, but what do we do if those doors pop open?"
Misty pulled up to answer him. “We're between floors, so first the lights will come back on, and the elevator will move up or down for a minute before they open. Which will either give us enough time to button up, or it'll give the repairman a damn good show. When I'm coming, I hate to be interrupted."
He laughed and then groaned as she licked his cock thoroughly from base to tip. “Sweet Jesus, Misty. We've been wasting one hell of a lot of time talking, I guarantee you that."
She chuckled and continued her ministrations until he reached under her arms and pulled her up to him. “Don't finish me off yet. There's more to be done here."
Misty kissed his mouth and murmured, “Put your money where your mouth is."
"Excuse me?” He looked confused.
She grinned. “Show me. You know, less talk, more action?"
"Ah ha. That, I understand.” He stripped her sweater over her head and released the clasp of her bra. “Mmmm.” He buried his face between her breasts. “These are perfect."
Misty arched her back as he suckled her. “Benny wanted me to get implants; he said it would probably help me get a dancing job. He was always saying he was going to buy them for me, but he just never got the money together."
"Thank God!” Derek pulled back and looked at her sincerely. “You're beautiful just the way you are. Don't let any man tell you differently."
She kissed him passionately one more time before his mouth traveled lower again. He tugged his jacket off and spread it over the floor before he laid her back on it, removing her jeans and panties. Derek buried his face between her legs and growled with pleasure.
Misty laughed. “This is where it gets tricky. If the lights come back on and I'm close, I'll let you know."
He grinned up at her. “You were serious about that?"
"Damn straight! I take my orgasms very seriously, sir, as you are about to find out. Go ahead."
Derek laughed and dived back into her muff. It wasn't long before she was bucking and shuddering under him, his tongue working her clit and his fingers pumping in and out of her pussy.
"Oh yessss!” she squealed as a delightful orgasm washed over her, and he stayed with her until the quivering stopped.
He climbed up and straddled her body. “That was beautiful,” he kissed her gently.
"Fuck me,” she murmured. “I don't want the good feelings to end."
"I don't have a rubber,” he replied, stroking himself.
"I'm on the pill, and I'm clean. If you're clean—” she began, and felt him ram his cock into her. “Praise the lord! He's clean!” She wrapped her legs around his waist and clutched his back with her hands. “That's it, baby. Fuck me. Fuck me hard!"
Derek thrust into her again and again, and finally began to groan. “I'm close."
"Me too, come on!” she urged, bucking against him with all her might. They shuddered together and landed in a heap on the elevator floor.
"Oh ... my ... God...” he murmured slowly.
"Ditto,” she said from below him.
"Can you breathe?"
"I'm good. Scratch that, I'm fucking great!"
He started laughing and the elevator jerked. Derek leaned up and they looked at each other quickly.
"Five more minutes might have been nice,” Misty muttered as he pulled out of her and they began throwing on their clothes.
The elevator jerked again and then nothing. Misty heard someone from the outside yell, “We've about got it! Give me five more minutes!"
She looked at Derek and they laughed. “Now he tells us.” She straightened her sweater and pulled off the necktie which somehow managed to still be around her neck. She walked over to Derek and began tying it on him.
"You can't tie a necktie,” he teased her.
"I have three little brothers, and we wore uniforms to school. You bet I can tie a necktie."
He laughed and let her finish. “Not bad!"
She gave him a light shove. “Not bad, my ass."
Derek grabbed her and nuzzled her neck. “Yeah, your ass wasn't bad either. In fact, it was as beautiful as the rest of you. Although I wouldn't mind another look just to make sure."
"That could probably be arranged.” She bent down and picked up his gun. They looked at each other for a moment before she handed it to him, and he holstered it. “I guess it all depends on what happens now."
"Well.” He put his hands on her hips. “What I think happens now is that I give you my cell phone, and you go to a restaurant somewhere and wait for me. I'll have a talk with Davis and tell him no one was home. I'm also going to tell him that I need some time off."
"Time off?” She looked into his eyes.
"Yeah. I've got some things to figure out."
"You do?” she asked softly. “What kind of things?"
He shrugged and smiled. “Oh, you know, about Podunk, Jersey and what I really want to do with my life. If you're interested, I could use your help."
"I'm interested.” Misty threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
He hugged her back, and then put her at arm's length to say, “I don't want you anywhere near that casino. We'll let Davis think you and Benny took off together. He'll be on Benny's trail, but he's not really after you."
"He's not?"
"Nah.” Derek shook his head. “The only reason he wanted you was to get at Benny. If you're not together, you hold no value for him."
She looked at him accusingly and he smiled.
"Personally, I think you're tremendously valuable. But that's between you and me; it's nobody else's business."
Misty grinned. “Gee, I've got you wrapped around my little finger, and it's only been half an hour. Imagine what might happen if we spent the night together."
He touched her cheek and said softly, “Many nights."
"Many nights?” she repeated, staring into his eyes.
"Many, many nights. Long nights.” He kissed her and the lights came on.
"Wow!” Misty said. “You light up my life!"
Derek laughed and cupped her face with his hand. “You are the light. All of a sudden, my life doesn't feel so dark and gloomy anymore.” He kissed her again and then said “Let that asswipe Benny keep his cash. I think I'm the one who came into a windfall today."
&nbs
p; Misty smiled, and thought of the jewelry in her pocket. It might make a nice down payment on a place in Podunk. She ran her hands up Derek's chest and clutched his lapels. “We both did."
They smiled at each other as the elevator started to move. “We made it,” he said quietly. “Thank you, Misty. I couldn't have done it without you."
"You're not going to be doing much without me from here on out,” she told him, and they grinned at each other.
"Heaven help me, but I like the sound of that.” He kissed her lightly one last time, and the doors opened.
"Are you all right?” the elevator technician asked. “Sorry you were in there so long, we had trouble locating the problem."
"Were we in there a long time?” Derek put his hand on Misty's lower back as he led her out. “I didn't notice."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jamie Hill was born and raised in the Midwest, where she still lives with her husband and two sons. She has always loved to read, with romance and mysteries being particular favorites. She enjoys writing romantic suspense and short stories with erotic and paranormal elements. Her first story for Whiskey Creek Press Torrid was Far from Ordinary in the Summer Sizzlers Anthology. Other WCPT titles include Sweet Reunion in the Fall Fires Anthology, Moving Day in the Lust Anthology, and Torrid Teasers Volume 19: Dreams of Dani and Love, LeAnn. Visit Jamie's website at www.jamiehill.biz, and sign up for her monthly newsletter with contests and news about upcoming releases.
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