Chapter 8
Cory
We had an influx of customers—even more than the usual college crowd—after halftime when none other than Maddox Campbell came strolling into the bar to watch the last half of the game. Once word got out that the Thorngrove native NFL kicker was back in town, the crowd that usually frequents the more popular bar across town flocked into Ball Busters. Thankfully, Billy offered to man the outside bar with the unexpected early rush.
Once the game ends and everyone starts celebrating the Bears’ first win of the season, I look over to see Livvy staring at her phone. I’ve kept an eye on her all night to make sure none of the guys get handsy—especially after her texted threat to give what’s mine to some jock—but Alexis and Maddox kept her under their wings.
As much as it pissed me off when he got the girl I thought I wanted, Maddox really seems to care about Alexis. Which means he’s acted like a big brother to Livvy all night.
“Give it up, son.” Zack claps me on the shoulder as I put the mugs I just washed in the cooler beneath the bar. “She’s only got eyes for Maddox these days.”
I scoff as I grab a rag to wipe down the bar. “I’m not looking at Alexis.”
“Sure, you’re not.” He laughs. “I know you wanted things to work out with her, but she’s moved on.
Maybe you should, too.”
“Already have,” I say, tossing my rag into the sink. “We weren’t right for each other anyway. I know that. Hell, I’ve always known it.”
“Then, who…” His voice trails off as he looks over to see me staring after Livvy as she makes her way to the bathrooms. “Oh, shit. That girl will have your balls if you mess with her little sister, Cory.”
“It’s none of her business. None of yours either, if we’re being real.” I shrug off his warning as I head to the storeroom to grab the liquor bottles needed to restock the bar.
My phone vibrates in my pocket as I step into the storeroom and I pull it out to see a text from Livvy.
PG: I used to laugh at my mom when she said my dad looked sexy washing the dishes. But now I see what she was talking about. sweating face emoji
Me: If you think washing beer mugs is sexy, wait until you see me washing the dishes after cooking you breakfast. devil face emoji
PG: Will you be shirtless? That would be even better. wide eyes emoji
Me: Only if you’re a good girl. wink emoji
PG: Yes, sir.
My dick jumps at the thought of her finally saying those words to me in person. I’ve never been a Dom, but the idea of someone trusting me enough to submit to me that way stirs something inside of me. I’ve just never found it with any of the women I’ve been with before Livvy.
I slide my phone back into my pocket and grab the bottles I need off the shelf. When I step out of the storeroom, I catch Livvy’s eye and give her a wink. After storing the bottles, I make a fresh Shirly Temple with extra cherries and slide it across the bar.
“I didn’t order another drink,” she says before lifting the glass to take a long sip.
“It’s on me.” I smirk. “You looked thirsty, pretty girl .”
She glances over to make sure her sister is still occupied with her friends before leaning toward me over the bar top. Her mouth opens to say something but then closes again. Her eyes dilate and her cheeks are flushed, but—as usual—she’s having a hard time saying whatever is on her mind.
“Cat got your tongue?” I ask with a raised brow. “You never seem to have a problem with words when you text me.”
“Oh, well…” She takes another sip of her drink before squaring her shoulders. “I was going to say, I’m sure this would taste even better if it were really on you.”
The pink on her cheeks turns a bright red and I can’t resist the urge to lift my hand and run my thumb across her cheekbone, letting the heat sink in.
“You know hot cherry is my favorite flavor.” I drop my hand to the bar and lean closer to her. “I’m going to hunt you down for another taste if you’re not still here at midnight, pretty girl .”
Livvy
“We’re headed to the football house for a celebration party in a few. You want me to ride with you or do you just want to follow us?” Alexis beams with excitement.
“I think I’ll just head back to the dorm room and crash. You know I don’t care about football that much. I don’t want to be a downer,” I tell her.
“Oh. Yeah, I know.” Her lips tip up into a rare grin. “But there will be music and dancing. You like all that stuff. You’ll enjoy the after party as much as I enjoyed the game.”
“Come on, Livvy!” Maddox says excitedly. “ Liv up to your name.” He cackles at his own joke as my sister rolls her eyes so hard I’m surprised they don’t stick in the back of her head. “Come party with us. I’ll even sneak you some booze.”
“The hell you will!” Alexis scowls at him. “She’s not drinking in a house full of jocks.”
Damn. She sounds like Cory, I think as Maddox bats his eyes at her. “At least we can keep an eye on her if she’s at the house with us.”
I appreciate his offer—and the fact that Alexis said no makes me want to go get hammered just to prove to her that I’m capable of drinking at a party without getting into trouble— but what I want more is to get into trouble with the bad boy bartender that’s eyeing me from behind the counter.
“Thanks, Maddox.” I smile at my sister’s boyfriend. “But I really just want to hit the shower and bed after hanging out in a sports bar for the past couple of hours. Maybe next time.”
“Okay,” Alexis says. “Well, we’ll follow you to the dorms before heading to the party if you’re ready to get out of here.”
“I…” I can’t tell her I want to stay here. She’ll never leave me alone in a bar. “I’ll be ready as soon as
I finish my drink.”
When Alexis looked hesitant to leave me alone to go to the party, I promised her that I wouldn’t leave the dorm. Maddox still had to practically drag her to their waiting Uber at a quarter past eleven. As soon as they were gone, I headed to the shower. I washed my hair, shaved, and dried off in record time to be done before midnight.
Cory and I have talked about primal play and CNC before, but neither of us were sure if it was something we’d enjoy in real life. I just hope the idea excites him as much as me after the way my body responded when he said that he would hunt me down if I wasn’t at Ball Busters at midnight.
I’m staring at my phone, trying to decide if I should text him when it vibrates in my hand.
BB: I know you left with your sister. Are you at the football house?
Me: Are you trying to figure out where to start your hunt? Because I feel like it would give you an unfair advantage if I answered that.
My hands are shaking with excitement as I watch the ellipses appear and disappear a few times without a reply before my phone rings.
I count to five and take a deep breath before I answer it. “Hello?”
“If you want me to hunt you, I’m all for it.” I can hear the smirk in his voice, but there’s also an edge to it. “But there’s something I need before we do this and I didn’t want to do it over text.”
“What’s that?” I ask, trying to hide the shakiness of my voice.
“Your safe word,” he says. “Have you picked one?”
“Y…yes,” I stutter.
“Good girl.” The huskiness of his voice in my ear makes my body light up. “We don’t have to play, but if we do I want to make sure you know you’re in control. I need to know that you know you can stop it at any time with a single word. And just so you know, if you decide you’d rather spend time together without the kink, I’m all for that, too.”
“Okay…” I take a deep breath so my voice doesn’t shake when I tell him, “My safe word is grapefruit. I hate grapefruits. They are too sour.”
Cory laughs. “That’s fucking perfect. Now, do you want to play? Do you want me to hunt you? Do you know what will happen when I find you?”
Do I really want to do this? Is this the right way to possibly lose my virginity? My whole body is thrumming in a way I’ve never experienced at the idea. “Yes, I want to play…if you do. Hunt me and do whatever you want to me. I’ll say ‘grapefruit’ if I want you to stop.”
“I’m going to take that one step further. If I ask you for a color, you tell me green if you like what’s happening, yellow if you’re not sure, or red if you don’t like it. We’ll stop and talk about the yellows and reds. Green means keep going.” When I don’t answer, he asks, “Got it?”
“Green is go, yellow is maybe, red is not doing it for me. I feel like I’m in school,” I whine. “Playing is supposed to be fun.”
“Watch that tone, pretty girl ,” he scolds. “I’m officially on the hunt and by the lack of background noise, I’m guessing you’re not at the football house. You answered my original question by answering your phone. I’ll share my location with you so you can track my progress if you want to, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be getting my taste of hot cherry in about ten minutes.”
I pull my phone away from my ear when the call drops and click on the notification that pops up. I can see the pin moving from Ball Busters toward campus. Even though he knows where I am, he can’t get into the dorms without a key unless someone lets him in. Right?