Chapter 24
Aspen
Work is slow tonight. Even once my set ends, there’s still not more than a handful of people in the bar. Thankfully, the handsy bastard hasn’t been back since Reid scared him off.
I lean against the bar, having polished all the glassware for the evening. Kevin pops out from the back, checking in with one of the regulars at the other end, before moseying on over to me.
“Are you gonna cut me early?” I ask, not really wanting to be done early because of the money, but also excited about seeing Reid.
He sighs heavily, a stain on the front of his old T-shirt. His eyes are sad as he scans the bar. “I just don’t think I’ll need the help until closing tonight, kid.”
I fiddle with the ends of my braid. “That’s been happening a lot lately,” I murmur.
He’s apologetic when he turns to me. “I know. I don’t know what to do. The area just isn’t developing like how they promised it would and we just don’t get enough foot traffic around here for walkbys.”
“Have you thought about moving locations?”
He shakes his head. “Can’t afford it.” He blows out another puff of air and pours himself a drink. He raises it in silent question to me and I wave him off.
He takes a heavy swig. “You know, you’re young, you’re pretty, this city is full of people with too much money and not enough things to spend it on. Surely you could snag someone and you wouldn’t need to work.” He’s teasing, but it hits a nerve.
It reminds me of Nicole’s joke to me the other night, when we were texting after her birthday party. If things work out with the rockstar, you won’t even need a job anyways.
I know she wasn’t serious, but it still didn’t sit right with me. I’d never quit my job to let Reid support me, even if this does end up being something long term. There will never be a time in my life where I allow myself to be dependent on someone else, let alone for finances.
Even though I accepted Reid’s gift of paying off my loans, I’m not going to let him provide for me just so I can sit around and do nothing.
I just need to figure out my next steps.
“I’m happy to have you here,” he adds, throwing a towel over his shoulder and leaning a hip against the counter, “but if there’s something else you want to pursue, I don’t expect you to work here forever. I never did when I hired you.”
“Illegally,” I tease, and he chuckles heartily.
“Well, sometimes it just makes sense to bend the rules.”
I put a hand over my heart and bat my lashes. “Well, how honored I am that you did it for me.”
“Oh, hush.” He wipes the corner of his mouth. “All I’m saying is, when it’s time for you to move on from this place, I’ll understand. You have so much more potential than serving a handful of drinks to the same folks every night.”
My chest squeezes. “Thank you.” This job is comfortable, it’s consistent, everything I yearned for growing up. But he’s right. It’s not where I want to be forever, and looking around at the empty chairs, it’s not going to be here forever anyways.
He gestures toward the door. “Now go on and get out of here. Have a fun rest of your night.”
I toss my apron below the counter in a small cubby and grab my purse. “Thanks, Kev. See you tomorrow.”
“See ya, kiddo.”
I text Reid to let him know I’m done early. I know he was hanging out with Nikolai tonight, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he can’t get here soon. It’s not too dark out yet, and the air is still warm. I could walk, but he responds almost instantly that he’ll be here in ten.
I hang outside, guitar case propped up against the brick wall, and wait.
Just as he says, ten minutes later, his car pulls up and I hop in. The air is tense the moment I get in the car, but Reid leans over the console to give me a kiss. It sends butterflies soaring through my stomach and I can’t help but smile when we break apart. “Hi.”
“Hi. How was your night?”
“Slow. Did you have fun with Nikolai?”
His fists tighten against the steering wheel. “Ah, we’ll talk about it later.”
I study the lines of his face, his shoulders. He doesn’t appear angry, but more so uneasy. He was so excited to go see him tonight. What happened that changed that?
The car ride is pretty quiet, but it’s not uncomfortable silence. He puts his hand on my thigh and I in turn wrap my arm around his. It’s easy. Calming.
We pull up outside my building and I turn to him. “Do you wanna sleep over?”
He arches a brow. “Are your roommates going to be okay with that?”
I step out of the car and sling my bag over my shoulder. Reid grabs our guitar from the backseat. The veins in his forearm strain and I want to lick them.
“They’re not gonna care,” I say, as he follows me upstairs. The apartment is dark when I open the door, and I signal to Reid to go ahead to my bedroom.
Small feet patter their way toward me, and I bend over as Macaroni rushes to brush against my legs, instantly purring and meowing at me. I had to stop back at my place to change quickly before work but didn’t get enough time to love on him like he’s used to.
“Hey, buddy.” I scoop him up and cradle him to my chest, his head fitting into the crook of my neck. The feeling of his soft fur, the kisses he’s brushing against my cheek, brings tears to my eyes.
It doesn’t matter how good or how bad of a day I’m having. Once I’m home with him, all is right in the world.
I peek down the hallway at Marley and Sara’s room. The door is closed and no light shines beneath it. Must already be sleeping.
Still carrying Macaroni, I head over to my room to find Reid already sitting at the edge of my bed, staring at his phone. I give Macaroni one more kiss and deposit him on the top of his cat tree where he immediately flops onto his side. His paws curl in and I rub his chunky belly.
“I’m gonna take a quick shower,” I tell Reid. “You can make yourself comfort—” My words are cut off with a squeal as Reid comes up behind me and picks me up. “What are you doing?” I laugh.
“Joining you,” he says, breath coasting over my ear as he carries me into the bathroom.
My face heats at the thought. He puts me down in front of the sink and I flick on the light.
He’s an imposing, beautiful statue behind me while I look at us in the mirror.
The dark blue of his shirt matches his eyes, which meet mine in our reflection.
Both of his hands sneak around my waist and dip underneath my shirt.
Their warmth against my bare skin causes me to shiver, my head falling back against his chest. Slowly, we both watch as his hands travel up and cup my breasts over my bra.
I whimper, squeezing my thighs together, and the corner of his mouth kicks up.
“That feel good?”
I’m breathless as I answer, “Everything you do to me feels good.” We haven’t had sex, but he’s made me come so many times in the last two days that I’ve lost count. With his fingers, his mouth, once grinding against his thigh while we made out.
It only makes me want more.
Trying not to overthink my inexperience, I push my hips forward to allow some space between our bodies so I can reach between us. My hand finds his cock, hard and straining against his jeans, and his forehead creases the moment I cup him.
He groans softly as I touch him over his pants, hips driving forward, and it’s my turn to smile at him. It feels powerful to watch him chase the feeling I’m creating for him.
I want more of it.
Confusion lines his face momentarily as I abruptly break out of his hold to turn the shower on. The pipes creak, but a few seconds later, water bursts from the head.
Reid frowns at it. “Christ, that sounds like it was about to explode. Does it always do that?”
I shrug and pull my shirt over my head. “Kinda.” Reaching around my back, I unclasp my bra and let my breasts spring free.
Any thoughts Reid has about my apartment’s shitty plumbing seem to go right out the window. His eyes zero in on my exposed chest, piqued nipples. He’s on me in a second, hands exploring, backing me up toward the shower.
I pop the button of his jeans and push them to the floor. His boxers join a moment later. We step under the spray but the hot water barely registers. My skin is on fire already as Reid traces down the curves of my hips to cup my ass and bring our hips flush.
I gasp as his cock presses into my stomach, warm and pulsing between us. Before he can take the lead, I drop to my knees.
He mutters a curse as he stares down at me before him. Looking up at him from this position, he looks like a dark god. Broad shoulders, tattoos carved over rippling muscles, eyes partially hidden behind strands of dark, wet hair.
My fingers dig into his powerful thighs as I adjust. “I want to do this,” I say, voice small but unwavering. He’s made me feel good so many times that I want to do it for him.
“Take your time,” he says.
His cock is eye level, hard and straining. I hold him with one hand while steadying myself against his thigh with the other. His cock seemed huge before, but up this close, it’s intimidating. I give him a few strokes as I build up my courage.
But I don’t want to hesitate. Don’t want to let my inexperience show.
I want to feel him, taste him. I part my lips and suck just the tip into my mouth.
Reid twitches, then lets out a long sigh.
His taste is unlike anything I’ve ever had before.
I flick my tongue in his slit, earning another moan from him.
I do it again, and again, before sucking a few more inches into my mouth.
I lick and suck, trying out whatever feels right and repeating things that pull a reaction from him.
“Here,” he says, grabbing one of my hands.
He brings it to the base of his thick cock and wraps it around.
He covers it with his own, then twists. “Just like this.” He shows me how to stroke him just the way he likes.
Once he’s satisfied I’ve got it, he removes his hand and weaves it into my hair.
“That’s it. Keep going. You’re doing so fucking good. ”