Chapter 6 #2
The bar has hit a relative lull, and Mel and Stella are doing their best to get things in ship-shape for an easy close.
As my thoughts wander, they keep circling around to her.
How does a nineteen-year-old that I barely know have such a hold on me?
Is it that she’s forbidden? Is it her unwavering kindness, humour, consideration, or attentiveness?
Is it her ass that’s begging to be grabbed?
Who cares? I’m done fighting it tonight.
When she goes out back to take the trash, I snag a cigarette off of Nick and follow her, much to his amusement. She’s huffing under the weight of the bag without complaining as she lugs it to one of the large, open dumpsters that line the back alley.
Unlit cigarette between my fingers, I lean against the grimy brick wall, which I’m sure used to be red and has now turned into a goopy, greying mess.
Maybe one of those guys from the pressure-washing videos should come down here. I love those videos. They’re so freaking satisfying.
Once her load has been successfully swung into the bin, Stella lets her head slump behind her, pointing her exhaustion to the sky, exhaling heavily.
“Long shift?” I call out, staring at the wall across the alley from me. She jumps at the sudden noise but recovers quickly, smothering her surprise with a blank expression.
“Smoking?”
“Nope.” I wave the unlit cigarette
“You doing that dumb thing where you feel cooler holding it?”
“Sure,” I chuckle. She ambles over to me, leaning against the wall and reaches out for the cigarette. I give her a look as I pass it over and watch her consider it between her two fingers.
“I don’t know about you, but this does make me feel cooler.” Her head lazily turns to me, giving me a smirk.
“Whatever you say, sunshine.”
“It’s my first bar shift,” she admits, “and it’s been kicking my ass. I thought early morning rushes in the café were bad, but this,” she gestures behind her with the cig, “is a whole other ball game.”
“You were doing great in there.”
“What would you know about it, stud?” she mocks.
“Enough, sunshine.”
“You could never work in the service industry,” she declares. “ It’d kill you.”
“I could,” I disagree.
“Nuh-uh.”
“I did. Small diner.” That surprises her, and her eyes narrow in suspicion.
“I call BS”
“Lasted two days.”
“Now that I believe,” she laughs.
“Either way, you did good.”
“Thanks, stud. All I need now is an eighteen-hour nap.”
“Anytime, sunshine.” We fall into a comfortable silence for a moment before she speaks.
“Why’d you follow me out here?” I guess small talk is over.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” Denial is not just a river in Egypt, apparently.
“Liar,” she drawls.
“Why were you jealous of Lacy?” I counter.
“Oh my god, her name is Lacy? I am so not jealous of that.”
“Liar,” I say, throwing her words back at her.
“You think I’m that desperate to be named after a fabric? Get a grip.”
“No,” I say, leaning down over her, being a perfect gentleman by not looking down her shirt at her insanely inviting tits, might I add. “Jealous of her having her hands on me when you can’t.” I hear the catch in her breath as her neck flushes and she licks her lips.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she says haughtily as she moves to go back inside. I gently grab her wrist, the barest touch, and that’s all it takes to stop her in her tracks. I’m done being a gentleman.
“I think you do, sunshine.” I can’t help but tease her when I see how she reacts.
“I think you still need me to make you come. I think you want to know what I look like naked and sweaty on top of you.” I turn us so I’m caging her in against the wall, completely shielding her from the sight of anyone who might wander by.
Her mouth slackens as she stares at me, her neck and cheeks colouring as the pulse in her neck races.
Her pupils widen, and I smirk. Am I pushing this too far?
Maybe. It’s so fun to play with her though.
She’s so innocent, so responsive, and the feeling of being a massive creep is overshadowed by her own arousal, how she’s pushing into my hold, not to get away, but to demand more.
“I think you want to know what my cock tastes like before it’s inside you.
Are you saying you haven’t thought about what it would be like to come, screaming on my cock?
” The way she shivers as I divulge my own fantasies is tantalizing.
I bend so I’m right at her ear, speaking softly.
“Are you saying you’re not jealous that I considered her, even for a moment?
” Her eyes snap to mine, full of fire and venom.
“Screw you, James,” she spits at me, full of rage. I press her into the wall, letting her feel exactly what she’s doing to me as her breath picks up.
“Wouldn’t you like that?” I let my hand roam up the feminine sweep of her waist, curling my fingers around her as my thumb brushes the underside of her breast. She tries to hide the light tremors running through her at my touch, taking deep, gulping breaths, but I feel them nonetheless, how much I affect her.
How much she wants this despite her reasoning.
“You know why we can’t.”
“But do you want it?”
“James…” she whispers right as the door to the rear of the bar bangs open against the wall not too far from us. She jumps, trying to move away from me as I keep her still, hiding her from whoever just came out.
“Hey, James! You coming back in? We’re getting nachos!
” I could pass out in relief that it’s Jill who’s found us and not another employee.
Although, the fact that they’re ordering the nachos is concerning.
Beck has done a great job spiffing the place up, and whoever does their baking is phenomenal, but the food here is downright awful.
I’m hoping they get a new chef in ASAP, and I don’t think I’m the only one who feels that way.
Questionable nachos aside, the interruption brings me sharply into my reality.
“One sec,” I call over, making sure Stella is completely obscured. I wait until I hear the door close before I pull away. “See you later, gorgeous.” With great effort, I pull myself away from her and fight every instinct to turn around for one last look.
No matter how much I want this, Nessa’s right. She’s too young, has too much ahead of her. My future has already been decided for me and I don’t even want it for myself, least of all her.