Chapter 25
25
MALCOLM
I t’s just after the new year and nearly a month since I’ve seen her. We’ve texted back and forth a few times but with her working in marketing, the holidays are one of her busiest times of year. I sent her a text on Christmas morning wishing her a merry Christmas, and she texted me back with a picture of her holding a glass of wine curled up in a blanket, making a kissing face for the camera. In our conversations, she’d told me that she would be celebrating on her own since Bailey would be with Hank at her parents’ house and I wanted nothing more than to bail on my parents and join her on the couch. But I knew how much it meant to my mom to have me home and I didn’t want to disappoint her anymore than I already had.
Now that the holidays are over though, I’m aching to see my girl.
It’s the second Thursday of the year and I’m closing at the bar which is busy but not packed. Charleston is generally only people who live locally during this time of year but the occasional influx of tourists will travel down to escape the harsh winter of their hometowns. The bar still has hints of the New Year’s Eve party we hosted with glittering streamers strung from the ceilings and black and gold balloons floating in the corners. I make a mental note to stay late tomorrow once we’re closed to take it all down so Alice doesn’t need to climb on any chairs to do it herself.
I fill the orders of the people sitting across from me at the bar and when we have a small break in business, I pull my phone out of my back pocket and send a text.
I want to see you.
Little Fox:
I don’t just come at your beck and call pretty boy. The least you could do is say please.
I smirk at my phone because I find her attitude sexy as hell. I love that she isn’t the kind of girl to just jump when asked. She makes you work for that jump and I appreciate that about her.
I want to see you *please*
Little Fox:
What if I don’t want to see you?
I know that’s not true.
Little Fox:
What makes you so confident?
The fact that I know it’s been a minute since I’ve given you an orgasm and since I know you’re just like me, I’m sure you’re missing me something fierce right now.
Little Fox:
A woman doesn’t need a man to have an orgasm you know.
Is this your way of telling me you’ve been using your toys, princess?
I send it off and try to not be distracted by what she is alluding to as I make a few drinks and pass them off. The bar is getting busy again and it takes me a few minutes to get back to my phone. Once I do, I have two new messages from her.
Little Fox:
Maybe once or twice.
Maybe one day you’ll get lucky and I’ll use one of them in front of you. I do have a cock ring I’ve never gotten to use before…
I stare at the screen of my phone for several long seconds as my brain tries to reconnect itself. I’ve never used a cock ring either but suddenly I wanted to. My dick jumps at the thought and I clear my throat loudly before turning away from the people sitting at the stools to rub my hand down my front to try and conceal the growing issue in my jeans.
The hold this woman has on me.
Don’t do this to me. I’m at work.
Little Fox:
You were the one who asked about my toys. I’m just being a good girl and answering your questions honestly
Be a good girl and meet me Saturday at ten at this address. Maybe if you’re really good I’ll make you forget about those toys of yours.
I send her the address of the training center and wait for her to text me back. When she doesn’t, I roll my eyes and realize why she probably hasn’t.
Please.
Little Fox:
I’ll see what I can do
Have a good night at work, think dirty thoughts about me. I love the thought of you being all hot and bothered because of me while you’re working.
Pretty girl, hot and bothered would be an understatement.
* * *
When Saturday morning rolls around, I get up and head for the training center at my usual time. I’ve just finished a six day stretch at the bar and I’m looking forward to my only day off for the next five days. But more importantly, I’m looking forward to getting to see Ophelia again.
I’m in the ring going glove to glove with Harley, a six foot something behemoth of a dude—who outside of the ring is softer than a butterfly. He’s been coming to the training center for a little over a year now and is one of my favorite sparring partners. We’ve been at it for awhile and sweat is dripping down my back and collecting under my practice helmet. Marshall and Reese are set up in their usual spots, watching and barking out commands as if we’re professional athletes.
“Go for his left!”
“Aim for his soft spot!”
I land a heavy hit across Harley’s jaw and he falls, tapping the mat with his glove, indicating that he needs a break. When he looks up at me, I extend my glove for him to take to help him up. As I do, I hear someone start to slowly clap and turn my head to find her standing just behind Marshall and Reese. Her hair is down and shines in the harsh fluorescent light. She’s wearing dark, loose fitted jeans that come just above her bellybutton with a tight white T-shirt underneath a black leather jacket. The way the outfit accentuates her curves makes me wish I had any ounce of artistic ability because the shape of her body deserves to be preserved in a painting forever.
“Well who do we have here?” Marshall exclaims, craning his neck to look at her.
“You must be lost. You’re much too pretty to be in this shithole on purpose,” Reese adds after him.
“Hey there, pretty boy.” She looks at me, only at me, with a smirk as I stand in the ring still holding Harley’s hand because I’m too stunned to do anything else. Sensing my short-circuited brain, Harley smacks me hard in the back with his free hand, jolting me out of my frozen state.
“Hey.”
“ Hey ? You have a beautiful woman like her show up here and all you can say is ‘ hey?’ ” Marshall scoffs from his seat and stands to face her. He offers her his hand, which she takes, and he encloses it between his.
“Excuse him. I promise he’s a bright boy, sometimes he just forgets his manners.” Ophelia laughs and when she does, the entire room is filled with a warmth that I’m sure everyone can feel.
“Trust me, manners are something I’m working on with him. Isn’t that right?” She looks back at me with a smirk and I want nothing more than to leap out of the ring and press my lips to it. Her lavender shampoo can be smelled from where I’m standing and I gladly let it consume my senses.
“There’s a few things we’re working on together, if I remember correctly,” I challenge and walk towards the fence of the boxing ring, leaving Harley behind. I bend over and maneuver myself under the barrier before stepping down to the floor. When I make my way to her side, she scrunches her nose up and presses her lips together.
“You stink,” she announces, causing Marshall and Reese to nearly keel over from how hard they’re laughing.
“Listen here, boy, I don’t know who this pretty lady is, but I like her a lot,” Reese says through his laughs.
“She’s my?—”
“Friend. We’re friends,” she finishes for me.
“This is Ophelia,” I offer, making strong eye contact with Marshall who raises his eyebrows only enough for me to notice.
“Ahh, Ophelia. Pretty name,” he says, nodding his head towards her with a friendly smile.
“I like it a lot,” she hums with a wink which causes Marshall to chuckle again.
“Ophelia, this is Marshall.” I wave my hand between them and watch as her face lights up with knowing.
“The famous Marshall, we meet at last.” She extends her hand towards him and shakes it, formally this time. Watching the two of them meet does something unexpected to my insides.
“A good kind of famous, I hope,” he replies.
“The best kind of famous. You mean a lot to Malcolm, I hope you know that.” She looks at him and then to me. Her smile grows and causes her cheeks to push into her eyes.
Marshall slugs me in the arm, causing me to break my eye contact and shoot a look at him. “Yeah, he’s okay, too, I guess.”
I shake my head at him and look back towards Ophelia again. “Thanks for coming, I wasn’t sure if you were going to show up.”
“You said please, remember? Who am I to turn you down when you’re such a good boy and use your manners?” Her tone is playful and tells me that she’s finding great enjoyment out of busting my balls in front of everyone at the gym. I guess I opened myself up to this when I asked her to meet me here.
“I’m going to shower really quick and then we can go. Do you mind waiting?”
“Not at all. I’ll just hang out here with Marshall and…” she makes eye contact with Reese, unsure of his name.
“Reese,” he answers.
“Marshall and Reese. I’m sure they have some stories they can tell me that I can use against you later.” The two men laugh again and I can only imagine what they might say to her. Because I know she’s finding pleasure in all of this, I do something that I know will piss her off but make me happy.
“Don’t believe anything they say, little fox. They’re two senile old men who make shit up sometimes. They’re confused, be kind to them.” When I loop an arm around her waist and yank her into me, she has to brace herself by placing her hands on my sweaty torso and she grimaces being so close to me pre-shower.
“Eww, you’re gross.” She pushes away from me and wipes her hands down the front of her jeans. “Go shower you nasty ass.”
I chuckle softly next to her and before she can step away, I plant a quick kiss on her cheek. Her cheeks turn the faintest shade of pink at the move. “I’ll be back in a flash.”
As I hurry to grab my gym bag and head for the showers, I feel my heart rate start to pick up again. But this time, it’s because I’m excited to be close to her once more.