2
Ilona
On my day off, I decided to take Bev’s suggestion and check out the park first. I had yet to explore the actual town, and it seemed to make sense to do that first before wandering outward.
One thing this town had going for it was amazing coffee.
Roasterz was right across from Bev’s Books and I’d gone there every morning since I’d arrived.
It was definitely for the coffee and not Stellan, the masculine-presenting woman behind the counter who wore her rainbow pins proudly on her nametag.
She wasn’t my typical type, but I didn’t have many options around here. Although I was avoiding relationships, that didn’t mean I couldn’t look, or at least enjoy a little bit of fun. Today, she was at the register instead of the machines, so I had a chance to talk to her.
My heavy boots squeaked on the pristine tile as I entered the cafe.
The warmth inside immediately sucked me in like a hug, chasing away the chill of the gloomy day.
The decadent scent of coffee drifted through the air and invaded my senses, effortlessly putting me at ease as soft jazz played in the background.
There was something so calming about having a regular spot and a familiar routine.
I fluffed my hand through my flat curls, making sure they sat just right around my head as I approached the counter. Stellan smiled; wide, toothy and symmetrical. Her short, platinum blonde hair was perfectly combed to the side, so light it almost blended into her skin.
“Good morning, what can I get for you?” She rested on her elbows on the counter. I searched my body for a reaction, coming up short. Maybe I was just excited to see another lesbian in town. Maybe I wasn’t into her at all.
“Good morning,” I pushed away the odd disappointment growing in my chest, “just a black coffee, please.”
She chuckled as she scribbled my order onto a paper cup and placed it next to the barista behind her, “Like to keep it simple, huh?”
I nodded and pulled out my wallet, but she held her hand out to stop me.
“Oh, no, it's on the house. You’re new here, right?” Her voice dropped just a bit and was laced with a certain intention.
“Yeah, I’ve been here for about a week. I’m Ilona.” I held my hand out and she grabbed it gently.
Her hands were smooth and soft. I found myself wanting to ask her what hand cream she used instead of wanting her fingers wrapped around my throat.
Oh well, maybe I would find fun somewhere else.
At the very least, I made a mental note to stop at a hardware store for some batteries to stock my nightstand with.
“Ill-own-uh,” she stretched out each syllable like it was an unfamiliar taste on her tongue. “That’s pretty, I like it. I’m Stellan.”
“I know.”
Her brows knit, a proud smile creeping over her lips. “You do?”
I pointed to her colorful nametag. “I do. I work just next door at Bev’s. I’ve been here every morning for the past few days to get coffee.”
Realization dawned on her and her expression dropped just for a moment. “Ah, makes sense. I’m sorry I haven’t introduced myself before. I’ll have to come check out the bookshop sometime.”
“You’ve never been?” From what Bev told me, Bev’s books had been a long-standing business in Cutwood, being passed down from her grandfather.
“Ah,” she dipped her head, rubbing a hand over the short, shorn hair at the back of her neck, “I’m not much of a reader, but I suppose I should be.”
I smiled with a small nod, “Great sale going on these next few weeks.”
“I’ll be there.”
As she turned to grab my coffee, her pale cheeks tinted a deep red. Fuck, I hope she didn’t take that as a date invitation.
I grabbed the warm cup and turned on my heels, “I’ll see you.”
~
Shiver Park was huge, probably the largest part of Cutwood besides the forest. It had three playgrounds, separated by a large, grassy area with tons of huge trees, multiple fountains surrounded by large benches, a pond swimming with ducks and an impressive skatepark off to the side.
I settled under a tree with a clear view of the skatepark. I always loved watching them in my hometown, it was nice to have something familiar here. I smoothed a blanket over the plush, slightly damp grass, pulled out my ereader, and settled my back against the tree’s trunk.
The roll and clack of skateboard wheels on concrete and the smooth warmth of coffee on my tongue grounded me in the moment. The day was gloomy, a gray hue settled over the park and the chill of the air seeped into my bones, just how I liked it. It was the most peace I had felt in months.
I sucked in a few deep, cool breaths before observing some of the skaters. Bev was right, there were a ton of men my age there. If I were straight, a couple of them would absolutely be my type. Tattooed and dressed in black, my minimum requirements.
One of the skaters, a boy who didn’t look a day over 16, wiped out hard across the park, skidding harshly across the concrete.
There were a few laughs and scoffs from the people around him.
I quickly averted my eyes, clicking into my ebook, but still listening.
Apparently, he had been wiping out and pissing people off all morning. I stifled a laugh as they teased him.
Just as I was getting lost in the smutty book in front of me, a deafening shriek broke my focus.
“Hey, watch out!”
My head snapped up just in time to see a skateboard flying right towards me. My limbs froze; even if I did move, it was way too close. I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the impact, but it never came.
I opened my eyes to a large, heavily tattooed and muscled bicep just inches from my face. The rogue skateboard was clutched in an equally giant fist.
I let out a ragged breath. “Oh my god, thank you! I-”
All the air was sucked from my lungs. Words were no longer a thing I knew how to string together. My heart fluttered in my chest. I was half convinced that the skateboard had actually hit me and knocked me out, because I had to be dreaming.
“Are you alright?” Her voice was smooth, low, and firm. As she turned to face me, all I could do was stare.
She was a vision, plucked straight from my deepest fantasies.
She was tan, buff, and completely covered in tattoos.
She wore a worn, black band tee that sat just above her belly button and low, black, baggy jeans that hung off her hips, the waistband of boxer briefs poking through.
Her hair was jet black, long, and shining in choppy, shaggy layers. She was fucking beautiful.
When I didn’t answer, she pushed from her crouched position to her full height, tossing the board to the ground. She towered over me by at least a foot.
“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean t-” The same boy who had wiped out earlier ran up to us, shaking me from the hold the Goddess in front of me had locked me in.
“You should watch what the fuck you’re doing, Dean. Stay on the fucking kiddie ramps if you don’t know how to skate.” Her stern tone shot the flutters from my heart straight to my pussy. I squeezed my knees together as I flashed the boy a sympathetic smile.
“Sorry, Larz.” The boy, Dean, scooped up his board. “I’m done for the day anyway. I’m so sorry, again, ma’am. I didn’t mean to.”
Larz. I rolled the name over in my mind, wondering how it would sound on my tongue. It was edgy, unique, and matched her exterior.
“It’s okay, I’m really fine. I know you didn’t mean to.” I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about it.”
Larz’s gaze shot down to where my hand rested on Dean’s shoulder, the muscles in her angular jaw twitched.
When Dean was gone, she glanced back down at me, her jaw relaxing again. She looked like a God towering above. I couldn’t help the thoughts that ran through my mind as my panties went damp. I could get on my knees and stare up at her all day.
She held her hand out to me, I took it with a shaky grip.
They were rougher than Stellan’s. More sturdy and thick, with long fingers.
A sting of electricity shot through my bones as our hands melted into each other’s, stealing the breath I already didn’t have.
She pulled me up to my feet effortlessly and I had to push the thoughts of what those long fingers could do out of my mind.
Her eyes studied mine. I couldn’t see the color under the shadow cast across her face, but they looked dark. Deep. Full of a mystery that I was dying to uncover.
Her hand lingered, still holding mine as she spoke. “You should probably pick a tree a bit farther away, that unfortunately happens a lot.”
“I-,” there was no moisture left in my mouth, but I managed to croak a few words out.
“Thank you.” Suddenly feeling overheated, I took a step back, my back thudding into the tree trunk behind me.
Our hands parted and she stared at it for a moment, rubbing her fingers together like I had left some sort of delicate residue.
She smirked, pointed canine teeth peeking over her full bottom lip for just a moment before she snapped her mouth shut.
Her expression went black and cold as she looked over my body and I suddenly felt wildly self-conscious.
I looked down at myself, making sure I hadn’t stepped in shit or something.
When I looked back up, she was already walking away. The air was empty and thin without her presence. I twirled my fingers in the space where she once stood as if she’d left some of herself behind.
When she reached the concrete again, she slammed her board down and rode away, pulling her hair up into a messy ponytail as she got further and further away. I took my time to grab my stuff, watching her get back into her rhythm.
She was an amazing skater, fluid and sure in her movements, and I found myself mesmerized.
I didn’t know how I hadn’t noticed her before, but she commanded the whole space.
Her dark hair whipped in the wind, blending gorgeously with the gray overcast of the day.
It’s like she’d been born directly from the fog.
She landed a trick and stopped, resting at the top of a tall ramp. Her gaze landed on me, it was so intense that I let out a small yelp. I turned quickly, walking away from the park and towards home.
When she was out of sight, I took my first deep breath since I’d seen her. My chest felt heavy. Not sorrow, but a pull. Like everything in my body was rejecting the growing space between us. Like the exact place I was meant to be was next to her.