15. Shoddy Craftsmanship
FIFTEEN
SHODDY CRAFTSMANSHIP
Rylee
It’s been three days since my date with Trey. A date that took me completely by surprise, especially the sex. The first time, even in the backseat of his SUV, was amazing. But the second time was earth shattering. Either it’s been too long since I’ve had sex or Trey has all my buttons on speed dial.
After I got home, I crawled into bed and by morning, I felt completely normal. I have no idea what came over me. Maybe it was food poisoning.
My mind drifts to the sweet way he wanted to take care of me. A jolt of warmth spreads through my entire body from the thought. But I know it’s only fleeting, so I shove those thoughts of him wanting to take care of me into a closet and slam the door. Those are feelings I don’t need right now.
Instead, I reminisce about how I surprised him at his office yesterday afternoon. Little did I know, I would be his lunch and not the sandwiches I brought. The best part was him bending me over his desk. I can still feel the way his fingers dug into my waist as he thrust into me over and over. That time the sex wasn’t sweet. It was raw and primal. Like he needed to be inside of me to survive. I loved every second of it. Instinctively, my thighs clench together as I bite back a smile.
* * *
I yank open the front door to Porter’s and stroll inside. Before I’m two steps in, Dessa and Lach swivel their heads in my direction.
I freeze and my gaze drifts between the two. “Um. Good morning.”
“There’s something different about you.” Dessa taps her finger on her lips.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I scurry past them, but Dessa stops me with a hand on my wrist.
“You’re glowing. Wait, you had sex again, didn’t you?” Dessa rests a hand on her waist.
Heat creeps up my neck and settles on my cheeks. I can’t even hide it anymore. Technically, it’s been twice this week, but I keep that information to myself.
“Oh, my god! You did!” Dessa claps her hands.
I roll my eyes. Also, how the hell can she tell? I can’t even lie to her because she’s some kind of human lie sex detector. “That was over twelve hours ago.”
“Damn. And you’re still glowing?” Lach croons “Magic Stick” by Lil Kim, while shimmying his shoulders.
I shoot him a death glare and he holds up his hands in defense. He shuffles backward until he’s standing behind Dessa, using her as a human shield. He’s been on the receiving end of many of my death glares since he likes to push my buttons, and he also knows exactly which ones to push.
“It’s a two-time fling. That’s it.” Shit. Technically three, but they don’t need to know every time I have sex.
“You won’t be able to stop at two.” Her lips spread into an amused smile.
Lach nods along, still behind her.
Of course, I can’t, because I’m already at three.
“Yes. I can.” My tone is defensive.
“I bet you can’t,” Dessa counters.
“I’ll take that bet.” Lach raises his hand.
“Are you two betting on my sex life now?” My gaze flits between them.
A wide grin covers Dessa face. “When you come into work all smiling and giggling, I know you’ve just had sex.” She inches closer to me and sniff my shoulder. “You smell like sex too.”
“I do not.” I discretely twist my head for a sniff to confirm I don’t smell like sex. “And I don’t giggle.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“Like a schoolgirl, especially when Trey’s around,” Lach adds.
I shake my head and continue past the bar and down the hallway to the small break room with Dessa and Lach hot on my heels.
“Why are you fighting this so hard?” Dessa asks from behind me.
I yank open my locker and throw my purse inside. “Because they’re all the same. And the last time I was left to be a single mom.” While Abby is the best thing to have happened to me, everything after that sucked and I’d rather not live it again.
Dessa leans against the lockers next to me. “Not every guy is going to be like Kyle.”
“Or they are. It’s best if I keep my guard up. It’s just sex. That’s all it is.” I slam the door shut.
“Guarded is fine, but you’ve built a fortress equipped with a moat and bloodthirsty alligators around your heart.” Lach raises an eyebrow.
I shrug. “Whatever works.”
As the saying goes, give someone an inch and they’ll take a mile. I know if I give Trey an inch of my heart, he has the ability to take the entire thing. The orgasms are great. Better than great. Mind blowing. Earth shattering. All-consuming. But that’s all they can be, just orgasms. I’m not in the market to have my heart broken again and I know if I let my guard down, that’s exactly what will happen.
“Also, what’s with the double team?” My gaze jumps between them.
“With everything that you’ve been through, you deserve some happiness. You deserve someone who makes you feel like you’ve been struck by lightning.” Dessa rests her hand on my forearm.
“Who said I wasn’t happy? I am perfectly content with my life right now.”
“Content isn’t necessarily happiness.” Dessa purses her lips together, biting back the urge to say more.
She’s been my best friend since we both started working at Porter’s four years ago. She knows everything about my situation with Kyle, so she’s seen me at the lowest of lows, but she hasn’t seen me truly happy. Shit. It’s been so long since I’ve seen myself happy. Maybe she’s taking whatever this is between Trey and me as happiness.
“You two can continue discussing my happiness, but I’m out.” I sidestep the both of them as I strut out to the main bar to take inventory.
Once I’m done restocking the front, I take inventory of the dry storage room and walk-in cooler to give a list to Jake for ordering tomorrow. Ever since Jake passed on the inventory duties to me, I’ve been able to find ways to make it more efficient while also saving money, which Jake was more than excited about.
By mid-afternoon, I’m finished putting away the liquor delivery with Lach’s help. Now, I’m sitting at the bar, waiting for Chad to arrive for his shift. I check the beer bottle shaped clock hanging behind the bar for the tenth time. He’s fifteen minutes late and clearly doesn’t realize other people count on him to show up to work on time. And it’s definitely not the first time.
Finally, Chad strolls through the front door like he’s taking a leisurely walk through the park. His hood is pulled over his head while his hands are shoved into his pockets. He’s the adult version of a moody teenager.
“Good luck with that. I’m out,” I say to Dessa and Lach.
* * *
I’m climbing the stairs to my apartment when my phone vibrates against my butt. I pull it out and Trey’s name flashes with a message.
Trey
I miss you.
Rylee
Barely twenty-four hours have passed.
Trey
Twenty-four long, agonizing hours.
Trey
If I’m being honest, I missed you the second you left my office, but I didn’t want to come off as desperate if I messaged you as soon as you walked out the door.
Rylee
That was a fun afternoon. Now I’m thinking about how you had me bent over your desk. Your long, thick cock stretching me.
Trey
Fuck. Now I am too. Are you at home?
Rylee
Yeah. I just got to my apartment.
Trey
Alone?
Rylee
Yeah. Abby’s at school for another hour and a half.
Trey
I’ll be there in ten.
Eight minutes later, the alarm on my apartment intercom sounds. After I buzz Trey in, he’s knocking on my door thirty-seconds later. When I pull it open, Trey’s hands instantly clasp around my cheeks and he slams his lips to mine. It’s a dizzying kiss, but every kiss from him sends my head to the clouds. He walks me backward as he kicks the door closed with his heel. He pulls away, but he trails kisses over my cheek and up my jaw.
I moan and tilt my head to give him better access. “We can go to the bedroom.”
His warm breath skates over my skin. “No time. I need to be inside you like five minutes ago.” He bends at the knees, wraps his arms around my thighs, and lifts. In three long strides, he lowers me until my butt hits the top of my dining table. His lips meet mine in an all-consuming kiss. My tongue presses at the seam and he opens. Our tongues stroke and caress against one another’s. His lips massage mine as he swallows my moans. Kisses from him make me forget my own name. Without pulling apart, I slide my hands up his chest until I reach his tie. I pull one end through the loop until it loosens. Then I search for the top button of his dress shirt. With deft fingers, I pop each button until the sides fall open.
Before I can undo the button of his slacks, he pulls away. “I’m craving something sweet,” he says with hooded eyes. Then a seductive smile graces his lips.
It’s a look that can turn the driest desert into an ocean. Case in point, my panties are no longer dry.
“Scoot back.”
I do as he says. With the flick of his wrist, he undoes the button of my jeans. As he yanks on the waistband, I lift my butt so he can peel them down my legs, along with my panties. He runs a hand over my knee and up my thigh. “Look at that. Your pussy is glistening for me. Begging to be licked.”
With one hand, he uses his fingers to spread me open. At first, he places a sweet kiss between my legs. Then his mouth is on my clit, licking and sucking. My entire body jolts to life.
“Ah! Yes!” I buck my hips as I thread my fingers through the hair at the back of his head, holding him in place. “That feels so good. Don’t stop.”
“My girl is greedy.”
“Too much talking. Not enough licking.”
I grasp whatever hair I can wrap my fingers around and guide him right where I want him between my legs. With the flat of his tongue, he licks up the entire length of me. Then he does it again and again. My entire body buzzes with electricity just from his tongue. Two of his fingers plunge inside, forcing a sharp gasp out of me. He continues to pump in and out as he takes turns between licking my pussy and sucking on my clit. His fingers curl inside and I gasp.
“Oh! Ah! That feels so good. Don’t. Stop.”
A tingle starts in my lower belly and blasts off like a firework right to my core.
“Fuck Rye. Come for me. Come all over my tongue. I want all your sweetness.”
I snap forward, screaming his name as I do just that. I ride out the wave of ecstasy as he licks me dry. My chest heaves as I work to collect my breath, but I know I won’t have much time.
He rises to his full height and slides the back of his hand over his mouth. “Fuck. I need in you. Now.” He pushes his slacks to the floor. His long, thick cock juts out between us. He yanks me to the edge of the table and in one hard thrust, he’s inside me.
My mouth falls open, words failing me as he stretches me wide.
“Fuck. You feel so amazing. You are so amazing.” He grunts as he continues to pound into me.
I hook my ankles around his waist as he relentlessly continues to slam into me over and over again. The table creaks below us. Each thrust of his hips causes the table to scrape against the linoleum.
“Oh! Oh! Yes!” I pant. “Harder. Harder.” My nails dig into his shoulder muscles as I desperately hold on. “Right there.” Suddenly, a loud snap echoes through the apartment.
“Oh, shit!”
Trey’s arm wraps around me as the top of the table plummets to the floor. As I go down, he pulls out of me, and his body falls with mine. He reaches out with his other hand to brace our fall when both of us slam to the ground on top of the table. We freeze, still in a daze over what happened. Then there’s another snap and we fall another couple of inches. This time we bust out laughing. After several seconds, we’re both still collecting our breaths.
Trey glances up at me. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah. But I don’t think my table is.” I kick the broken leg with my foot.
“What kind of shoddy craftsmanship is this?”
“To be fair, I doubt it was meant to hold two grown adults.”
“That really needs to be the new standard for quality control.”
A quiet laugh shivers out of me. I haven’t been with a guy that’s made me laugh as much as Trey has. It’s oddly refreshing. I reach up and cup his cheek. His five o’clock shadow prickles my fingertips. “I’ll write a strongly worded letter to the manufacturer.”
“I’ll get you something of quality.” He kisses me. Then he rises to his feet and holds out his hand to help me up.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I insist. Since it was kind of my fault that it broke.”
“In that case, I have a rickety couch in the living room that you could try breaking.”
“Challenge accepted.” Without warning, he picks me up and I release a small giggle as he carries me to the couch. “Plus, you’ve only had one orgasm and I like to work in even numbers.” His lips are on mine once again. It’s hot and demanding. Broken table instantly forgotten.
Trey sits down and sets me on his lap. His mouth is on my breast, swirling his tongue around my nipple before taking it into his mouth. I arch into him, loving his mouth on me.
I reach between us and wrap my hand around his cock, stroking him while he sucks and licks on my heated skin.
“Put me in you,” he mumbles around my nipple. The contrast between his hot breath and the cool air sends a delicious shiver up my spine.
I rise to my knees and guide the tip of his cock to my entrance. Slowly, I sink down on him, relishing in the delicious stretch. “Ooo! Yes!”
Before I’m fully seated, he thrusts up, pushing the rest of the way into me. My mouth falls open as a moan escapes me. With his fingers curled around my waist, he continues to push into me from below. I rock my hips in tandem with his.
“Oh, god! Fuck me. Harder. Don’t stop.” My fingers clench his shoulders, my nails millimeters away from breaking skin.
“Rye. Fuck. I’m going to come.”
“Me too. Keep going.”
“Your pussy is gripping me so tight. I can’t hold on much longer,” he grits out.
He wraps his lips around my nipple and bites down. I throw my head back, the stimulation catapulting me over the edge. My pussy clenches as an orgasm rips through me. I gasp as he thrusts up, his hot cum spilling inside me. He continues to pump into me over and over again until his own orgasm subsides.
My head falls to his chest, both of us collecting our breaths. Leisurely, his hands roam up and down my back. He presses a warm kiss to my shoulder. The gesture is sweet. Dammit. This isn’t supposed to be sweet.
I sit up and fall to the cushion beside him. Tugging the blanket off the back of the couch, I wrap it around me. “That was… wow.”
“That’s what I do.” He collects his boxer briefs and tugs them on, followed by his slacks. He strolls into the kitchen and turns on the faucet.
“You can do that to me anytime you want,” I say over my shoulder to his retreating frame.
A few seconds later, he’s returning with a damp paper towel. He holds it out for me and I take it. He bends, resting his hand on the couch, caging me in. “And I fully intend to.” Then he winks. “But it will have to wait.”
“That’s okay. I need some recovery time after today, anyway.” We share a moment of silence, before I ask, “Is this like our fourth date?”
“Well, if we’re counting sex as dates,” he rubs his chin, “This would technically be our fifth. I did walk you to your car. Compared to all the other dates, that one is pretty high on the not as memorable meter.”
“Only because we didn’t have sex.”
“You’re catching on.” His hand tips up my chin as he bends down and presses a gentle kiss to my lips. “From here on out, sex dates only and we should do them more often. Like tomorrow. I’ll add you to my calendar.”
“You’re insatiable,” I smile and shake my head, “but also I have to work tomorrow.”
He shoves his arms through the armholes of his shirt. Starting at the bottom, he slowly buttons his shirt. “Another time then. I hate to fuck and run, but I do have a meeting at the office in an hour.”
“I see how it is. You’re only using me for sex.” I flash him a playful smile.
He bends down so his lips are inches from mine. “With the way your legs were gripping my head like a vise grip, I’d say you’re using me for sex.”
“Fair. We can use each other.” I grip the front of his shirt and pull him the rest of the way to me, pressing my lips to his in a soft and lingering kiss.
He pulls away slightly. “Just so you know, you’re worth more than this. Say the word and I’ll show you.”
All I can do is press my lips together and nod. How can he give me the world's greatest orgasm and then say the sweetest thing ever? My ovaries can’t take it. I rise to my feet and clasp the blanket under my arm. Trey strolls toward the front door and I’m a few steps behind him. He spins around, clasps my cheeks with both hands, and places a kiss on my lips. I fight the urge to deepen the kiss and make him miss his meeting for another round. I guess there will have to be another date. So that’s how he does it. Dammit.
We break apart and he points to the now scrap pieces of flimsy laminate pine wood that was once my table. “Is there a dumpster where I can put that?”
“Off to the right when you exit the door there’s a dumpster. If you can take the big piece, I can get the rest.” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.
He lifts the top piece that somehow managed to stay mostly together and tucks it under his arm like it’s nothing. I hold the door open for him and he strolls down the hallway. I admire his backside as he saunters away until he’s down the stairs and out of sight.
“I was concerned when I heard the loud crash earlier, but the moans that followed soon after told me not to bother you.”
I swivel my head to the left to find Marcie with her head poking out of her doorway, an amused grin covering her face. Warmth covers my cheeks, knowing she heard us. “Yeah. It was my dining room table.”
“May I recommend you buy yourself some sturdier furniture?” She flashes me a wink before retreating into her apartment.
Then I do the same. When the door clicks behind me, I throw myself against the wood and exhale a deep breath, but I can’t fight my own enormous grin.