by S. C. Adams
I grip her sides, holding tight to the vixen. Water sloshes all around us as we aggressively push and pull with one another. Fuck! Nellie’s so small.
“Jesus Christ!” I mumble against her skin. I inhale her scent. Her body undulates, taking everything I’m giving her, pulling me deeper into whatever this abyss is.
“Nash, I’m getting closer,” she gasps. She pulls me into a kiss, one that I return. Our bodies come together, and I feel her begin to shudder. Her whole being shakes, and her grip tightens in my hair as she screams my name. Hot virility spurts out of the head of my shaft, and Nellie hungrily accepts it, moaning as her interior convulses with pleasure.
My muscles tighten as I spill into her. It’s never been this good before, and I’ve had a lot of sex. Nellie has twisted me in ways that no one has ever managed to.
My ecstasy starts to subside, and I hold on to Nellie as she comes back down to me. I wrap my hand around the side of her neck, passionately kissing her. I part her lips with my tongue, tasting the whiskey we drank earlier. I could feast on her all night, but I feel the tired in her bones as she slumps against me.
I realize as she rests against me that we didn’t use a condom. What the hell? I always protect myself unless I know the girl’s already on birth control, but even with this realization, I don’t feel panicky. I’m barely even worried, come to think of it.
“Let me take you upstairs,” I say against her mouth.
“Okay,” she nods.
I get us both out of the hot tub, wrapping her in a fluffy white towel, and decide to take her upstairs. I don’t usually have women spend the night, and if they do, I’ll put them in the guest room. But Nellie seems so tired, and she’s had a bit to drink. I’m sure it’ll be better and safer if she just stays with me in my king-size bed. That way I can keep an eye on her.
It doesn’t really mean much of anything, or so I tell myself.
3
Nellie
I wake up the next morning with a bit of a headache. I probably shouldn’t have indulged in that last bit of alcohol, but it got me over the hump in my mind when it came to allowing myself to sleep with Nash. He just seemed way out of my league, and I was getting all in my head about the whole thing. I didn’t want to talk myself out of what could be one of the best nights in my life.
Which is what it certainly ended up being.
When we got into the hot tub, the water wasn’t the only thing that was boiling.
Now, I turn over to look at him, and he’s still asleep. He looks a lot less hardened off in dreamland. The blanket isn’t covering his whole body, so I get a nice eyeful of his rock-hard body. His chest is so chiseled, and skin so bronze. He must spend a lot of time outdoors. He probably gets all sweaty doing whatever work he does. I bite my lip thinking about it.
I want to touch him, but I feel like that would be inappropriate. It’s not like we’re a couple or anything. He’s just a one-night stand.
But what a great one! I can’t believe the stuff I let him to do me. I got into a hot tub with a stranger in my panties and bra, which were practically translucent anyways. Oh my god! Amy’s going to totally freak out when I tell her everything that happened. I’m sure she has her own amazing night to tell me about.
Just thinking about last night has my stomach all in tingles. I’ve never done anything so naughty, but I did them, and I don’t regret it one bit.
I look at Nash’s profile, and it’s absolutely perfect with its strong brow, Roman nose and cleft chin. His lips are sensitively sculpted, and I know first hand how they can be both tender and harsh. How can one man look so delicious? It doesn’t make any sense. What confuses me the most is the fact that he wanted me so badly and worked so hard to prove it.
Sometimes life provides for those of us at the bottom, I guess.
Then reality strikes. Though I had fun last night, I don’t think I want to be here when he wakes up. It was a little embarrassing how wanton I was last night with the screaming and cooing, not to mention the positions I took while begging him to take me. I know if he looks at me, I’ll melt into a puddle and be putty in his arms.
Slowly, I scoot out of the bed. I move inch by inch, making sure the mattress doesn’t move too much as I make my escape. My eyes stay trained on the god of a man lying right next to me. I’m just about to get my feet on the ground when he turns from his back onto his chest, his body a mountain of male muscle. His arm flops out and lands on my leg. I cover my mouth to keep from gasping too loudly.
I freeze, waiting for Nash to still. After about a minute, I put my hand under his arm and ever so carefully move it off of my body. He doesn’t stir again, and finally, I’m able to successfully get myself out of Nash’s bed.
Where are my clothes? Quickly, I scan the enormous bedroom. Oh god. I don’t really remember much else after having the craziest world-shattering orgasm of my life in the hot tub. I’m pretty sure that while Nash carried me up here, he was talking to me about spending the night, I think. My clothes must still be outside on the tile.
I don’t really want to walk downstairs in nothing because I’m not comfortable like that, so I look around for something to wear, but then see my skirt and top folded neatly on a chair. My lingerie has been hung on the side, so they’re dry.
Picking them up, I inspect them, and everything looks good. I guess Nash must have brought them up for me. I pull my clothes on and then look behind me. He’s still fast asleep. I had considered saying goodbye, feeling kind of bad that I was just going to bounce, but he looks so peaceful. From his hardened stare, I got the impression he doesn’t get a lot of peaceful moments, so it’s probably best to leave him be.
The last thing I do is slip my shoes on and head for the door. I peek behind me one last time at the man who gave me such a great night. I guess this is the end of that. I’m not sure if he’d even want to see me again. He didn’t make a comment about next time, so I have to assume he doesn’t.
Softly, I close the door behind me and steal out of the house. It really is quite huge. I kind of noticed it last night, but seeing it in the sun, it’s so much more prominent. It honestly astounds me that people manage to live like this.
The amount of money Nash’s boss must have must be astonishing.
I get outside and breathe in the fresh air. I feel like a new person.
Pulling out my phone, I call an Uber. It’s going to be an unexpected expense, but last night was one hundred percent worth it. While I wait for my car to arrive, I check my texts and emails. Nothing important came through. Not even from Amy. She was probably just as busy as I was.
I send her a quick check-in message, letting her know I have a lot of things to tell her and that I am a-okay.
My Uber pulls up shortly, and I hop in, a little sad to go home, but ready to take a shower and snuggle into my bed.
The car gets me back home in no time, and I sneak into my apartment. I don’t know why I’m tiptoeing. Maybe the adrenaline from last night hasn’t totally worn off.
I close the door behind me, and rest my hands on the wood, breathing in and out.
“Home sweet home,” I whisper to myself.
“Nellie?”
“Holy shit!” I scream as I turn around.
I hold my purse up, ready to throw it at whoever has decided to sneak into my apartment and attack me, but then I realize the intruder knows my name, and that it’s my brother.
“God dammit, Brian! Can you warn me next time when you’re going to be hanging out in my apartment? It’s seven a.m. and still dark outside. Jesus Christ!”
I clutch my heart, willing it to slow down. I do not need this much excitement in less than twenty-four hours. Sometimes I really regret giving him that spare key. Brian looks sorrowful.
“I’m sorry, Nells. I just needed somewhere to go. Everything is falling apart.”
I really look at my brother and notice that he is not good shape. He’s plopped down on my couch, slumping into it like he wants to be absorbed by the thing. His clothes
are messy and wrinkled, and it looks like he hasn’t shaved in at least a week.
This isn’t the first time Brian has showed up at my doorstep looking like a hot mess. It’s kind of our routine. He fucks up in one way or another, and then it’s Big Sis to the rescue. And I always come in, guns a-blazing because he’s my younger brother, and I can’t stand to see him hurting like this.
I put my bag on the counter and tamp down on the initial anger I was feeling. Now is not the time to start going off on him.
“How long have you been waiting?”
He smiles morosely. Oh god, are those tears in his watery blue eyes?
“Vivica kicked me out last night. I didn’t know where else to go, so I just came here, and I’ve been on this couch ever since.”
I don’t want my disappointment to show, but I’m feeling it so strongly. It’s not like this is surprising. Brian always manages to do something that pisses his wife off, and then he comes crying to me.
It’s just that it’s exhausting. I’m exhausted by this merry-go-round, but I never turn him away. He’s the only family I got which means protecting him with everything in my power.
“So, you’ve been here the entire time?”
He nods his head.
I stare at him, willing him to have an epiphany and find a way to fix this himself. Like that’s going to happen. Clearly, Brian hasn’t slept at all. The dark circles under his eyes almost extend past his cheeks. He really did just sit on my couch waiting for me all night.
“Do you want to tell me what happened?”
He shrugs.
“Come on, Brian. If you want me to help, you’ve got to tell me what happened.”
He looks up, eyes angry and sad at once.
“I got fired again, okay? I lost my job, and Vivica wasn’t happy or whatever.” Of course she wasn’t happy. He’s the only one bringing money in because she’s at home raising their two young daughters, Mackenzie and Madison. My brother is talented when he puts his mind to it, but the problem is holding down a job and being a reliable breadwinner.
“So, Jaybird let you go.”
He looks miffed.
“That’s one way to put it.”
I’m not surprised. My brother is a mechanic, and a good one at that, which typically, would make him an easy hire. But no, he manages to get fired from every chop shop in Fresno and its surrounding areas. Jaybird Choppers was one of our last efforts at keeping him employed.
“Okay, okay, okay,” I take a seat next to him on the couch. I push my hair back, getting it out of my face. “So, what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know,” he whines. “It’s hopeless. There’s nothing I can do.”
I take a deep breath.
“Well, why did they fire you?”
Brian scoffs, leaning back in the couch. This is the first sign of emotion that isn’t pure sadness, so that’s a good thing, I guess.
“It was some stupid misunderstanding. I was supposed to have a bike ready by yesterday, but I thought I had until Monday, you know a good weekend push to get things done. So when the client came in, and their bike wasn’t finished, they got angry, and then my boss got angry, and then I got fired.”
That sounds like something my brother would do. He’s a mess when it comes to any kind of planning. I’m sure he was told to get the bike finished by Friday, but for whatever reason, he didn’t.
I don’t think firing him was necessary though. Things could have just been explained and renegotiated.
“Do you have any plans to get a new job?”
“No…”
I know he doesn’t have any savings because he and Vivica are living paycheck to paycheck. The “no plan” thing, though, irks me. That should be avoidable because this isn’t the first time Brian’s been around the block. I’m sure there’s something to be done. But then my brother cuts me off.
“My rent is due next week,” he starts, tearfully. “We won’t have enough to give our landlord, and I know he’ll kick us out if we’re late. Is there any way you could spot us the cash, Nell?”
He’s making it out to be a potential loan, but I would never see that money again, that much is certain. Whenever I give Brian any amount of money, it’s gone for good. But I don’t even care about that. The problem is that I don’t have the money to give.
“I’m sorry Bri, I can’t.”
He grows teary again and even swipes at his eyes.
“Why not Nell? You know I’ll pay you back, and I’ve been working hard. I just need a bridge loan. I’ll pay you back, I promise.”
I shake my head firmly.
“I’m sorry, Bri. I just don’t have the money. I would spot you if I could, but my own bank account is practically at zero.”
After all, I’m only a junior accountant at Porter Peabody. I barely make enough to keep myself afloat. Between rent, student loans, and all my other expenses, I’m living just like my brother and his wife, hand to mouth. But while I don’t have enough to pay Brian’s rent, I might have a way to give him a little help.
I get up and go to my room. Closing the door behind me, I go to my secret stash in the corner of my closet, hidden behind my old backpack and a couple of towels. I take out what I have. It’s only three hundred bucks, but hopefully, it’ll do something.
I go back to the living room, and my brother looks at me. I sit back down next to him and sigh.
“So it’s not a lot of money, but I hope it helps.” I pass him the bills, and he takes them tearfully.
“Thank you so much, Nell. I knew you would come through for me.” I smile. I know Brian means it as a compliment, but it kind of stings because it makes me feel like he’s taking advantage of me. I know that’s not what’s going on. He was just in a tight spot, and I helped him out, that’s all. I take a deep breath.
“Of course. I’m always here for you. You know that.”
We both stand up, and Brian brings me into a super tight hug. When we break apart, he stuffs the cash in his pocket.
“Hopefully, my landlord will accept partial payment. I’m sure it’ll work out.” I nod and have my fingers crossed too. My brother says goodbye and then leaves my apartment, shoulders slumped.
Once the door shuts, I’m ensconced in silence. Now that he’s gone, I can fully experience my sadness. I can’t believe Brian lost his job again. It’s the fifth one this year. I never knew one person could be fired so many times, and so frequently.
At this point, Brian must have set some record. Jokes aside, I’m dismayed. I know the three hundred dollars won’t get him very far, even if he does get away with partial payment for his rent. The rest will be due at some point, and then they have to eat on top of everything else.
I love my nieces. They’re so young, and all they need is for their parents to be able to take care of and protect them. They wouldn’t understand anything because Mackenzie is only four, and Madison is three. Suddenly, they wouldn’t have a home, and they might even go hungry for a while.
Imagine that. Hungry children. My nieces.
Oh, I can barely stand the thought.
There has to be something I can do. I’m sure Brian hasn’t exhausted all possibilities. Maybe if I talk to Brian’s boss, I can make him see reason. It does sound a little ridiculous that he was fired for being late on a project once, after all.
Yes, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to Jaybird Choppers, and I’m going to talk to Brian’s boss. I can make this man see reason if I just use a little persuasion. I’ve always taken care of my little brother, and clearly, the time to stop isn’t now. I’ve just got to smooth things over with whoever fired him in order to save my brother’s livelihood.
No big deal.
I let out a very long breath, leaning back on the couch. I was so happy walking into my apartment this morning. The entire car ride, thoughts of Nash and the night we spent together were zooming through my brain. I couldn’t not think of handsome alpha male.
In fact, I was so hot a
nd bothered coming home that I was contemplating a long cold shower, and maybe some private fun of my own, but now, I’m fully upset. Brian’s news was enough to dampen any flames inside of me.
I look down at my outfit and know I’ve got to change. I need this guy, whoever he is, to take me seriously. A cropped halter top and mini skirt definitely won’t get the job done.
I go to my bedroom and check out my closet. I have my work clothes, but I think I should go for something even nicer. After all, you can just wear jeans and a nice top to my job.
I pull out a button-up and a long, flowy skirt. I tuck my shirt into my skirt and give myself a once over in the mirror. My hair could really use a brush, and I should probably take care of this morning breath. I go to the bathroom to clean the rest of myself up, reapplying my makeup. Fine. Clean and well-groomed, but not over the top. I’m satisfied with the way I look.
It’s time to take care of this thing.
I get into my car and then realize I have no idea how to get to this place. There was never any reason for me to visit Brian at work, so why would I have the address?
Thank god for Google Maps.
I type in the name “Jaybird Choppers” and a Fresno address pops up. It isn’t too far away which is nice. I’d have driven hours for Brian, but less than twenty minutes is perfectly fine.
I drive to the place, parking my car right outside. It looks like any other chop shop with a dirt yard out front with a trailer to the side, some sheet metal walls, and then what looks like a huge garage. When Brian first started applying to stuff, I had to drive him to all his interviews, so I’m somewhat familiar with the vibe these types of places give off. This one does seem a little bit more put together than some.
Well, looking at it isn’t going to get anything done, so I take my key out of the ignition and grab my purse to head inside. As I approach, there are a few guys working outside on various bikes. I’m surprised because it’s still pretty early. It took me a while to get ready, but it can’t be more than 9 a.m.
As I get closer, a few of them look up. One of the guys actually stands up, wiping his hands on a washcloth.
