13. TrickTreat
13
Trick or Treat
I didn’t know what kind of candy Victor preferred, so I grabbed a variety out of the happy skull bowl.
Bree frowned. “Are you feeding the creeps?”
Just the one. I shrugged. “Think of it like trick or treating. If we give them a treat, they won’t play any tricks.”
Willow shuffled out of the dressing room. She dragged her hair across her lips and gestured to her blood-spattered Alice in Wonderland dress over striped leggings. “Um, what do you think?”
I’d never seen her in a dress. It was cute. I clasped my hands together. “Oh, I love—”
“I called dibs on Alice,” Bree snapped.
“What?” Willow pulled at the apron. “I didn’t see anyone’s name on the bag.”
Nor would she have heard the claim since she wasn’t in the office. I frowned at Bree. “Why couldn’t you both buy it? You’re wearing the devil outfit for the picture.”
“Because I’m going to wear it later. Maybe even here during a shift.” Bree scowled. “You can’t have two Alices.”
The solution was right there. “So don’t wear it on your shared shifts if it bothers you that much. She’s sixteen. You’re probably not going to the same parties,” I said.
Willow backed into the dressing room. “It’s okay. I can change.”
“Wear whatever you want,” I said. “The world could use more Alices.” And less domineering Red Queens, I almost added, side-eyeing Bree. I understood why she’d take issue with me. But shy little Willow? She was one of the team.
“Try the zombie,” Bree called as soon as I’d walked away.
I’d have to circle back to the costume issue. The Bree issue, really. For now, I had to get Victor his candy.
From where he leaned on the railing, my coworkers wouldn’t be able to see him too easily. I slipped out and offered him the snack. “Thanks for waiting," I said.
“Thanks for sharing.” His cold, long fingers slithered under the back of my hand. A perfect fit.
Electricity pricked my skin as he eased the candy from my claws.
“What are you?” he asked.
Single , I almost answered. But he knew that already. I ran my hands along my outfit. “Mistress of the Dark? Cobweb Courtesan Queen? I just grabbed a bunch of stuff I liked.”
“The widow would approve. It looks great on you,” he purred.
My knees wobbled so suddenly I almost curtseyed. “Thank you.”
“So,” he smiled, edging closer, “You didn’t know my name before this.”
Damn. Was I that obvious? I glanced away and shrugged. “You never gave it.”
“I guess not.” He chuckled. “And you didn’t come by today because you had to organize your party.”
Something about the way he leaned in combined with the abandoned mall aura made my heart pound. Muffled music from the store pulsed through the soles of my boots. I tried to laugh off the urge to run down the aisles with him in search of a dark corner. “I’m not going to spend every lunch break at the movies. Or call a guy the second he gives me his number.”
“Of course not,” he said with that velvet voice.
“It’s only been a day,” I reasoned.
He looked down and rubbed my knuckles. “It felt longer.”
Well, fuck.
My heart skipped a beat.
I didn’t want to fall for him so easily. What if we only hooked up for a few weeks?
He sure was pretty though. And interesting.
I’d be fine with a spine-tingling, hookup in the dark, phone sex kind of fling.
I licked my lips and lightly scratched his palm. “There are still a lot of movies I need to see.”
A shiver ran through him, and he closed his eyes for a moment longer than a blink. “Would you like to see one with me?”
“Maybe.” I grinned and swayed my hips. “When are you working?”
He flipped his bangs. “We can go on my day off. It allows a little more…flexibility.”
Oh, he could definitely fuck me. That rumbling voice filled my mind with dirty possibilities.
“Are you sure you want to go to the theater on your day off?” I asked.
He shrugged and twisted open a candy. “I like movies. And I would like your company. From previews to post-credits scenes.” He sucked the end of a pink taffy, savoring and teasing until I had to cross my arms so my tits didn’t poke my dress in the hopes they’d receive the same treatment.
“Sounds good to me,” I rasped.
“Good. Very good.” He nibbled, then sucked again. His happy moan might as well have reverberated against my clit.
My heart wanted to alien-punch through my chest. I needed to fuck this man.
Thankfully, most of my coworkers were too busy with the party to witness our PG-13 wooing. But eventually, someone would come looking. Hopefully not Bree.
I fanned myself and backed away. “I wish I could stay, but I have a party to get to.”
His lip ticked up against the pink candy. “You’ll text me?”
I opened the door and winked. “Of course. You’re a VIP, Victor Sterling.”
My skirt spun out as I twisted around. It didn’t matter if I flashed him my undies. He’d see them soon enough if things kept going like this. His astonished chuckle warmed my cheeks.
I slipped back into my dark sanctuary, the exposed brick vibrating with triumphant music. Was it safe to dance? I peeked over my shoulder.
Victor yanked on the taffy with his teeth, suckling it as he leaned against the railing once more.
Oh, he wanted to watch me?
I flipped the lock shut and pinned my chest against the glass. It was enough to push the girls up front and center. I rubbed my body up and down as if to polish the window with my tits.
Fingers shaking, he stuffed the rest of the candy in his pocket. His fist could only disguise his growing stiffy so much.
I grinned and pressed the button for the metal grates to close up shop. The iron clanks combined with alternative rock stretched my spine. For a moment, this was our dungeon. Our show. I wiggled my fingers at my spider man as the gates descended.
He smirked and strolled away with the taffy perched at his lip like some bubblegum cigarette. But instead of puffing smoke, he exhaled fantasies.
I wrapped my fingers around the metal grates and lingered in my happy cage. Lucky for him, the rolling door kept me inside. But I wanted out. Soon.
Until next time, Victor Sterling.