Chapter 3 #3
He shakes his head and sits back down in the chair. “We can speak. It’s fine.”
I don’t think he knows how fluent I am, but that’s okay. We don’t need to give our life stories here. I mean, he already knows far too much about me. Like I said, I’m a terrible criminal.
I take a deep breath, then slap my hands down on my thighs. “Well. This was fun, but since you’re not going to help me with my Michael problem, and you’re also not going to give me an orgasm, I should get going. I have—”
“Wait.”
I freeze halfway to standing and stare at him.
He stares back for a second. “What if I follow you back to your place? Maybe I can help reason with Michael.”
I burst into laughter. I can’t help it. “Trust me, that’s not happening.”
“You’d be surprised at my negotiation skills,” he says. There’s an odd inflection in his voice when he says that.
I have a weird feeling that if anyone’s going to be a random groundhog whisperer, it’ll be him. But I’m still not bringing him home. “Look, man. I’m sure you have amazing skills, but I’m not taking you to my house.”
His brows lift. “Why not?”
“Because you’re a dark web stranger who asked for a duffel bag full of cash in exchange for explosives?
” He can’t actually be serious thinking I’d invite him to my home.
I mean, I’m pretty ridiculous, but I’m not a complete fool.
“I want to take care of Michael, not die in the process. Since you’re not going to sell me what I came for, and you’re not going to get me off—which you absolutely don’t need to do…
” I stop and feel a rush of weird guilt.
“And I shouldn’t have pounced on you like that, by the way. I’m sorry I jumped you. I’ve never—”
He holds up a hand, cutting me off, and he takes another breath. “It’s fine. You just surprised me, is all.”
“I surprised me too. I promise I don’t normally do that.”
He stares at me for a long time, and I start to feel nervous butterflies inside my stomach.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face?”
“No. Just curious. Why do you want to get off with a total stranger? Don’t you want a connection?”
That is a great question and one I have a completely reasonable answer to.
“Listen, not everyone needs a connection. Sometimes you just need a little relief. And to be honest, all the men in my life aren’t interested in me,” I admit.
I already look pathetic. Why not put the nail in the coffin?
I really have nothing to lose at this point.
“And the last few dates I had walked out before dessert. They didn’t even offer to split the bill. ”
“Oh. That’s fucked.”
“Meh. It is what it is. But,” I wave my hand around, “my wrist is also screwed by carpal tunnel from my former job, so jerking off isn’t as fun as it used to be.”
For a second, it looks like he’s fighting off a smile. Asshole. But I can’t help my lips twitching all the same.
“Welp, now that I’ve thoroughly embarrassed myself, I should get going.” When I push myself to my feet, he does too, but he doesn’t let me get far. He steps toward me, and I take a few steps back on instinct.
“Are you this intense on your dates?” he asks, his head cocking slightly.
“No.” I stop. “Shit, maybe. Okay, that would explain a lot. I tend to overshare, but either way, it doesn’t matter. I need the TNT, you aren’t giving it to me, so I should leave.”
He grazes a look up and down my body, then rolls his lips through his teeth like he did before. It’s a look of absolute contemplation. Like he’s negotiating with himself.
“Look, dude. Echo. Whatever,” I say quickly.
I set my hand on his chest, and his dark eyes flicker down to it, then back up to mine.
His gaze is so intense I drop my hand, my fingers tingling.
“It’s fine that you don’t want me. I’m not offended.
I mean, it is a blow to the ego because—and can I be blunt—shit, of course I can.
I already have.” He huffs a small laugh, as I prattle on.
“You’re one of the hottest men I’ve ever laid eyes on, so yes, the rejection does kind of sting, but I get that you’re way out of my league and—”
He smiles softly and reaches out, setting his hand on my sternum. The weight is powerful and so fucking warm. It cuts my words off, and I shiver slightly when he murmurs, “Hey, Leaf?”
“Mm?”
“Breathe.”
Yeah, I’m not exactly taking in air normally, am I? I must be having a slight panic attack. I inhale and exhale on a five count.
“Good job.”
Oh hell, why does he have to say it like that. My whole body heats up, and my dick perks up behind my zipper. Holy fuck, don’t look down.
“Can I be honest now?”
“I mean, I told you my whole life story, so yes, please. If you did that, I’d feel a little less ridiculous.”
He hesitates a moment and then says, “I wasn’t turning you down. Like I said, you surprised me.”
“I tend to do that. I’m very overeager.”
He grins and swipes a hand over his mouth. “And I don’t think you’re bad-looking.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“I mean, you’re cute. Really cute. In a…different way.”
“Fuck off,” I say with a laugh. “You’re not making me feel any better.”
“I mean it. I just…I walked in here expecting someone completely different. And there you were…kissing me.”
“It was a terrible kiss. I could have done so much better.”
His eyes twinkle at that. “I’m sure you could. The problem is, I’m not sure I would do any better. As you could tell from earlier…I’m not very experienced with…men. I’m not sure anything we do would be any good because of me.”
Is this an opening? Fuck, I would so take it if it is. TNT is off the table, but maybe touching dicks isn’t. Oh god, I’d even go for just a hand job at this point.
Maybe what I need is a good orgasm to fix my broken mind.
“Um, well, it’s not complicated. You know what to do with yourself, right?”
He swallows heavily, his gaze flicking down to my crotch. “Yeah.”
“So, you know, you would just do that to me. Not that I’m saying you should or you will, but…yeah.” I sigh, letting my words trail off.
Echo cocks his head slightly. “What do you like?”
“You really want to know?’
“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t.”
My dick aches behind my zipper. “Well, I like it a little rough. Tight. Wet hand, fast pace.” My cheeks are burning. I tend to be blunt in my everyday life, but this is kind of a new level for me.
At the same time, I’ve also never been in a dingy, pay-by-the-hour sex motel with a dark web stranger, so why the fuck not. I’ve lost all sense of reason. Hopefully, an orgasm will put this Humpty Dumpty back together.
The breath he lets out trembles.
“But, like, I don’t want to force you to do this,” I add, putting my hands over my crotch. “If you feel pressured, I can totally go on with my life just fine. I’m used to rejection, after all. I’ll forget this ever happened in like a year. Ten at most.”
His eyes flick to mine. “Will you though? You look really stressed.”
“I’m always stressed. It’s my most dominant personality trait. My mom used to call me a nervous nugget.”
He lets out a small laugh and then scrubs a hand across his jaw. “Alright, well, nervous nugget, I don’t feel pressured. I’m more curious than anything. You’re…intriguing.”
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
“Yeah, well, I am a man of mystery, but I also don’t want to be creepy. Oh god, I’m not creepy, am I?”
“I mean, this hotel room is creepy. It would be better if we did this at your place.”
I purse my lips and adjust my dick not so subtly. His eyes flash down to it once more, and he inhales. “You’re trying to trick me into inviting you over.”
“Ha, no. Just being honest.”
I roll my eyes and shake my head. “I may be thinking with my dick right now, but you’re not coming to my house. And that’s final. If you want to touch your first dick, it has to be here.”
His head cocks again, and then he nods. “Alright. Show it to me.”
I let out a loud laugh at that. “Way to really turn me on.”
“Just being blunt. You’re used to that though, right?”
“Sure am. I don’t take offense to most things, really.”
He nods and then points to my dick. “Alright then. Take it out.”
Suddenly, I’m incredibly nervous. This dude has never been with a guy before, and he’s also a stranger who is most likely a criminal. So yeah, he may be incredibly hot, but what if he chops me up and sells me for parts?
“You’re not gonna, like, cut my dick off and keep it as a trophy, right?”
His mouth drops open. “Why would I do that?”
“Never mind.” I wave off his question. “Listen, I probably wouldn’t have considered this a year ago, but ever since Michael, I’ve lost hope in the world.”
“In humanity, you mean?”
“No, the entire world. It’s gone to shit, and it started with Michael.
” I sigh and put my hands behind my neck, staring up at the ceiling.
“Actually, maybe what I need isn’t a hand job.
Maybe I need a good therapist. I wonder if they give hand jobs in therapy.
Now, that would be amazing, wouldn’t it? ”
“Think that would be illegal.”
“And so is this meeting, but here we are.”
We stare at each other, almost daring one another to make the move. To break the rules.
Well, to break another rule.
“Fine, you win,” I finally breathe, unable to take it any longer. “And please no comments on the size. It is what it is.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
I begin to pull my cock out, feeling very silly right now, but before it’s able to make its dramatic appearance, my phone trills loudly. I know that sound.
I fucking know that sound.
Michael.
I pull out my phone, and I stare down at it, pulling the video feed up with a swipe of my finger.
That little fucker is trying to get my zucchini. The last one.
“I’m gonna kill him!” I hiss. “I have to go. My zucchini is in danger.”
“Do you mean your dick?” Echo asks, and I roll my eyes.
“No, dude. My fucking zucchini. My last one. I need to call a car.” Thank fuck there’s one a minute away.
I grab my shit from the bed, the duffel bag slung over my shoulder, and brush past the sexy-as-sin man blocking my way.
“Nice meeting you, Echo. Let’s pretend this never happened.”
And with that, I rush out of the door and into the waiting car. I’m disappointed I didn’t get off with the sexy dark criminal, but at the same time, my vegetable needs saving.
Michael better not be hiding when I get home.
This ends today.