Chapter 16
Rafi
I hold the door open for her and she walks in ahead of me. We spot Stetson sitting at a table near the back of the bar near the pool tables. He's sitting with a friend of ours, Mark, who fights with us. Emma doesn't move closer so I grab her hand and walk her to the back. She's still shy and doesn't get out much, a bar might be a little overwhelming for her.
Her hand squeezes mine as we meander through the tables, past all the bodies cloistered in packs. I haven't been to this bar before, but Stetson and Mark come here sometimes. It's a little divey, but I don't really give a shit. I don't go out much since I don't really drink this close to a fight, in the height of my training. But I sometimes join them just to chill.
I leave Emma at the table with the guys and go up to the bar to order her a drink. She wants a lemon drop. I'm comfortable enough with my masculinity to order a lemon drop with a straight face, even if the bartender, who's an acquaintance of Stets's and Mark's, laughs at me.
"Make the drink asshole," I laugh back and he hands it over.
Carrying the martini glass over to the table, I grab a chair closest to Emma and set the drink down in front of her.
"How'd that feel, buddy?" Mark asks, amused.
"Fuck off," I grumble, wrapping my foot around Emma's chair and tugging her closer.
She giggles into her drink, "Thank you for ordering this for me Rafi."
"No problem babe. I'm perfectly fine ordering a lemon drop in public."
The guys laugh and sip their beers.
"So, Emma, what do you do for work?" Mark asks her.
She looks surprised he's talking to her, since she glances at me before answering. "Umm, I work at a coffee shop." She doesn't elaborate and sips her drink.
"That's cool… How did you two meet?" He glances between us.
"Oh, that's easy. This one stalked that one for over a year. Then, thanks to me, he finally asked her out and then they fell in love."
"Yes, Stetson, this is all thanks to you," I roll my eyes at him.
"I'm glad you finally acknowledge. Oh, look what we have here," he rubs his hands together like a creep, and I look behind me to see Alice making her way over to us.
She pulls up a chair between Emma and Mark. They haven't met before and introduce themselves before Stetson takes over the conversation. He has the hots for Alice but she doesn't seem to reciprocate much, which I find hilarious. It seems Emma does too.
We hang out for a while, Emma and I quiet in the background, listening to our friend's banter. She took a while to finish her drink, so I don't expect her to say yes when I ask if she wants another. I get up and head to the bar and get the same shit for ordering a second.
Leaning against the bar waiting for the drink, someone sidles up next to me. I glance over to find a tall buxom redhead smiling at me. I try not to be an asshole to strangers, but fame does bring out an odd side of people and I'm apprehensive to be friendly, especially to attractive women in bars.
"Here's your lemon drop sweet cheeks," the bartender says and I hand him cash.
"A lemon drop? Wow, I can't tell if that's hot or embarrassing for you," the redhead says.
I don't say anything in response, I just give her a half-smile and take the drink back to Emma. The guys are getting ready to play a game of pool. Alice is in, and they're trying to convince Emma to join them.
"I don't know, I've never played before," she says nervously.
"Emma! We've talked about this. You rarely leave your house. Now, come on, try something new. We're not gonna bite," Alice berates her. I'm about to get defensive on her behalf, because Emma is extremely shy, when she surprises me.
"Okay, you're right. Fine. Teach me, Obi-Wan," she takes a big sip of her drink and stands.
"Yaaas!" Alice claps and grabs Emma's wrist, dragging her over to the pool table. I guess that's just how their friendship is. Maybe it's good Emma has someone a little pushy in her life.
I move my chair to face away from the table and lean back to watch them. Alice is actually a good teacher, they team up against Mark and Stetson. The girls are holding their own but ultimately lose their first game. Emma finishes her second drink and Stetson racks the balls for a second, giving the girls a chance to beat them.
Emma looks at me, her smile warm and I point to her drink. She shakes her head no, so I lean back again, resting my elbows on the table behind me and watch them play another round. A few guys that know Mark make their way over, and they're with the redhead from the bar.
The redhead leans in and hugs Mark, and after they all chat, she makes her way over to the empty table I'm sitting at. Emma is distracted by Alice, who's helping her line up her next shot. Her face contorts in concentration, determined to get the ball in. It's cute as hell.
Without asking, the redhead sits down in Emma's unoccupied chair to join me. "I'm Gwen, by the way."
I look at her, before returning my gaze to Emma. "Raze."
"Yeah, I know who you are," she replies, but I simply nod in response.
She doesn't say anything for a while, we just watch our friends play pool and get rowdier the more they refill their drinks. One of Mark's friends keeps eyeing Emma and I debate whether it's overreacting if I get up and stake my claim. She's naive when it comes to guys.
Emma thinks she's plain, because she wears glasses that don't fit and clothes that aren't skin tight. Tonight she's wearing a vintage Elvis t-shirt and a pair of red plaid shorts that are a size or two too big. It's a little ridiculous and definitely not something someone else would wear and call sexy. But somehow she pulls it off.
Her curves are hidden, but her lean smooth legs are on display and the front of her shirt is barely tucked into the waistband, hinting at her small waist, hugging her tits. She hides behind her clothes, but I love it. It's like unwrapping a present when I take everything off her at night.
Definitely more appealing to me than what Gwen is wearing, which is so tight and low cut it leaves nothing to the imagination. Some guys dig that. Honestly, I did too, at one point. Now I'm partial to the hipster-coffee-shop-chic look, as Alice calls it.
"So, you think you'll win against Gonsales?" Gwen asks.
Do I think I'll beat my opponent at Nationals? Yes, I do. Do I feel like discussing my match with a random chick at a bar who I've shown no interest in? No.
Still, I'm not a dick, so I just say, "Yep," in response, hoping she'll take the hint. She doesn't.
"Your last fight against The Judge was insane. I've never seen anyone move so fast."
The guy that's been eyeing Emma asks her a question, and she looks up innocently, pressing her lips together, smiling and nodding sweetly.
I'm about to make my move when Alice interrupts him, tugging Emma back to the table to take her turn at pool. I like her sidekick, it's helpful having her around.
I feel a hand on my bicep and my gaze snaps back to Gwen. "Look, I know I'm being forward, but do you maybe want to get out of here? I don't live far from here." Her voice drops an octave. Yeah, she's pretty. But the idea of being with anyone other than Emma makes me physically ill.
"I'm here with my girlfriend. So no, I'm good." I turn back to watch the game.
"Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't realize. She's cute," she says, and I see her nod toward the girls.
"Yes, she is." Emma finally looks over at us and she doesn't hide her frown. I mouth the words 'I love you,' and she visibly relaxes. Emma does not have claws, but it's nice to see a little bit of jealousy, even if that does make me sound like a caveman.
"Oh! Wait, are you with the blonde or the brunette?" Gwen asks me.
I tilt my head at her and give her an annoyed look.
"Sorry, I thought it was the other one, the blonde. Huh. She's got an interesting style..." Gwen contemplates, and her words do not sound like a compliment.
I continue to ignore her, but she persists. "I guess I'm a little surprised. You could have any girl you wanted."
Still, my silence is somehow interpreted as something else when she pushes closer to me, discreetly tracing her finger at the back of my neck, where no one else can see. I lean forward quickly. "If you ever change your mind and want a woman with a little… stamina, I'll give you my number."
The funny thing is, Emma is such a burning firecracker, that's one of the beautiful things about her. She's got so many hidden layers. Everyone underestimates her, I don't really get it. When I look at her, all I want to do is peel back those layers. Even now, as much time as we've spent together and as long as I've known her, I know I've barely scratched the surface.
Gwen is about to hand me her number she wrote down on a napkin and I stand. "Look. Emma, my girlfriend, is the best fucking thing to ever happen to me. She's amazing, and if I hear you talk trash about her again I'll have you blacklisted from this entire fucking town. I don't know how but I doubt I'll have much trouble, I've got a lot of pull around here. Maybe put a little more effort into being a nice person and quit being such a fucking cunt."
Annoyed, I stalk over to Emma only to see that fucking guy crowding her again. Emma doesn't look worried but a little confused and put off. I make my way up to her and wrap my arm around her stomach, tugging her back a couple feet, putting some distance between them. And, yeah, like a fucking caveman, staking my claim. Emma responds by wrapping her hands around my arms and squeezing me tight.
"Sup, man? Got a problem?" Gwen made me irritable, I'm not usually outright aggressive toward strangers.
"Oh, uh, nope. Didn't realize she was taken."
"She is. She's mine." I tell him and stare him down till he gets the picture and walks away.
"I'm yours, huh?" Emma looks up at me, amused, and I release her just enough so I can look at her eyes.
"Mine. No one else's."
"Men are ridiculous. Mine," she says in a low, growly voice, mocking me. "I didn't know you could be so possessive."
"I'm always possessive of you. You're just oblivious half the time," I chuckle and tug her back in my arms so her back is against my chest.
"Could have fooled me. Weren't you just flirting with that redhead? I saw her slip you her number." She says the last part quietly.
"If by flirting you mean telling her you were my girlfriend and that I wasn't fucking interested, then yes. You know, I think I like this jealousy coming from you. We should get out of the house together more often."
"Very funny. I wasn't jealous. I was… you know. Just keeping an eye on things."
I laugh, leaning down to whisper into her ear. "It's okay if you were jealous, babe. I wanted to rip that fucking guy's eyes out for talking to you. I try to tamper my shit down though, because I know that you're mine and I trust you. You know I'm yours, and I hope you trust me."
"I do, of course I do."
"Yeah? Maybe you should show me how much you trust me. Let me fuck you against the wall in the bathroom." She shivers in my arms.
Unfortunately we don't get a chance to slip away because it's her turn to play, but I do decide to take over Alice's job and show Emma how to aim better. Why I didn't do this in the first place, I don't know, but I'm happy to wrap myself around her and help her win.
The guys grumble when they lose the next game, but we're having fun, so we play another round. Stetson tries to make a bet and I take him up on it, teaming up with Alice and Emma.
It's a good night, and as much as I want to drag Emma out of here, the truth is, she really doesn't get out much and I'm happy to keep my dick in my pants if it means she gets a chance to be more social.
It's late by the time I drag her out of here, and even though we both have to get up early, neither of us resist the pull when we get back to her apartment. I climb on top of her and make love to her and we fall asleep in each other's arms.