by Marji Spicer
“Really, what’s that?”
“I think I’ll go to the mall and see if some hot guys would be willing to give me a donation. $2.99 for a box of 100 cups. That’s a lot of donations and way cheaper than going to a sperm bank.”
“That is really disgusting,” Krista snickered. “Do you think it would even be legal to do that?” Krista glanced at Denver. His jaw was tightly clenched. She looked at Joy and winked. “What do you think, Denver? Would that be legal?”
“No,” he said with a look of disgust. He stood up, planted his hands on the counter and leaned against Joy. “Honey, I’ll give you a direct deposit anytime you want,” he whispered into her ear. “Just tell me when.” She blushed. Denver straightened back up. “Have a nice day, ladies.”
Chapter Thirty Nine
Denver was almost home after being gone for two weeks. He was exhausted. He’d put in a twelve-hour workday and still decided to drive home. If he were smart, he’d have gone back to the motel room and crashed for a few hours. His cell phone rang. He answered it, hoping it was Joy, but it was Mark.
“What’s up? What do you mean they went out? Did you piss Krista off again?” he joked. “Seems like your wedded bliss should have lasted longer.”
“Very funny asshole,” Mark said.
“Did they do go out to dinner or something?”
“They went to the bar.”
“Just what I need. Another night of dealing with Joy and tequila. You know what that shit does to her. I’m not in the mood for this,” he said tiredly.
“Go home to bed. I’ll keep an eye on her for you.”
“Hell no, I’m not going to bed. It’s going to be a long night. What time are you going up there?”
“I’m leaving in about thirty minutes.”
“Ok, I’m going to go home and clean up. Then I’ll be on my way. Why don’t you do us both a favor and knock your wife up? Put her out of commission for a while.”
Mark laughed. “Don’t you dare say anything stupid like that in front of Krista. You might get us both killed. Why don’t you marry Joy and have some of your own?”
“No way! Do not go there. Don’t bring up relationships or babies around Joy. That’ll really piss her off. She seems dead set against both with me. Give me a half-hour, and I’ll meet you at the bar.”
“Are you going to dress up?” Mark asked.
“Why in the hell would I dress up?”
“Avalon is having their Halloween party tonight.”
“I don’t play dress-up. I plan on spending the least amount of time possible there. Knowing Joy, she’ll be a pain in the ass about it.”
Joy didn’t plan to drink much, but she did feel a little tipsy. She needed to skip the tequila and keep her wits about her. Mark would show up before long. She didn’t know if Denver would be back in town, but if he were, he would show up too. Sure enough, within the hour, they both came in and walked straight to the bar. Joy loved Halloween. It was her favorite holiday. Krista had agreed to go out with her. They both got dressed up in costumes.
She could feel Denver watching her from the bar. He'd placed himself right by the woman’s bathroom. His favorite place to sit.
Denver stopped her as she was walking by. “Nice costume. What are you supposed to be a witch or a hooker?”
“Very funny.”
“You do make one sexy witch, that’s for sure. Keep the hat on so no one gets the wrong idea.”
“What did you dress up as? Let me guess? You came as yourself. Now that’s a very scary costume.” She laughed at her joke as she walked away.
At least she isn’t stumbling. That was a good sign.
Denver wasn’t at the bar when she left the bathroom. He sat at a table with Mark and Krista. His arm snaked out, and he pulled her onto his lap. “I've got a broom you can ride witchy.”
Joy rolled her eyes. She knew he wasn't joking because she was on his lap. “Like I haven't heard that before.”
“Who the hell is saying that to you?” he snarled.
“Let me up. People are starting to stare at us.”
“Hell no, you’re not going anywhere. Do you know how long I've waited for this?” He lowered his head and kissed her. Joy wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him even closer. She kissed him as if they were alone. Denver lifted his head. “Woman keep that up, and I'll be fucking you right here on this table.”
Joy’s face turned red. What am I doing? She'd almost forgotten she was in the middle of a bar. Denver had that much control over her, and she had to get it back.
“Do you two ever stop with the PDA?” Mark asked.
“You jealous?” Denver asked.
“No, I just prefer a bit of privacy. You two act like you’re constantly auditioning for a porno.”
Joy’s face turned even redder, knowing that Mark and Krista had heard what Denver said. She slid off Denver’s lap into her chair.
“You’re home every night. Denver is gone a lot. They miss each other. I think it’s sweet,” Krista said.
Mark shook his head. Krista walked up to the bar with Mark to get another round of drinks.
“How could you do that to me?” Joy snapped.
“You were doing it right along with me,” he drawled.
They ordered food and more drinks.
It might not be such a bad night; after all, Denver thought.
Joy decided they should drink a couple of shots because it was a Saturday night. Mark and Krista agreed. Denver tried to give Mark a warning look, but the dumbass avoided him. Anytime now, the night would go straight to hell. He’d tell her to lay off the tequila, and Joy would get an attitude. In the morning, she would feel like shit.
Lemon drops. At least they weren’t drinking tequila. He wondered how Joy acted when she drank vodka. Hopefully, not any worse than tequila. Krista wouldn’t touch tequila anymore. She had learned her lesson the last time they’d gone out.
The guys were ready to call it a night, but the girls were having fun. After another hour passed, Denver brought up leaving again. Joy was tired of listening to him complain. If he wanted to leave, he could. She saw a look pass between Mark and Krista.
“I am getting a little tired,” Krista said.
Everyone wanted to leave except for her. No one wanted to have fun anymore. Now she was in a bad mood.
“I’ll be right back,” she said. She got up and walked to the bathroom.
Let them all bitch about me when I’m gone.
Joy was right. They stopped talking when she got back to the table. Now she was even more pissed. She was leaving and to hell with them all. She walked past the table towards the door.
“Stop,” Denver said. He grabbed her arm. “Damn it! Didn't you hear me?”
“Of course, I did. I'm sure everyone did.”
“Listen to me next time then.”
“Go to hell.”
“I'm in hell because you're fucking dragging me there,” he snarled.
“I'm going home. Let go of me.”
“I'm going with you.”
“I never invited you,” she snapped.
“When has that ever stopped me before?” he growled. “What in the hell is your problem anyway?”
“Leave me alone.”
“Can't you control your woman?” Mark laughed.
Denver flipped him off. Mark guided Krista towards their truck.
“Great, leave me with the caveman,” Joy yelled.
“Will you fucking stop already. You aren't going to walk home like that. We’re over twenty minutes from home. Besides that, the cops will try to pick you up for hooking,” he muttered.
Joy stopped and made him almost knock her over. That’s all he needed. Cops busting him for lying on a hooker in a parking lot.
“What did you just say?”
“You don’t look like a witch now without your hat.”
“I'm not going anywhere with you.”
“I'm giving you a ride home. I’ll dump your ass at the
door.” Joy got a stubborn tilt to her chin. “I’m tired. Can we just fucking leave?”
Joy started walking away from him. Denver bent down, picked her up, and threw her over his shoulder.
“What the hell are you doing?”
He smacked her ass. “Behave damn it.”
A drunk man stood pissing on the side of a building. “That's right,” he slurred. “Show her who's boss.”
Denver opened his truck door and tossed her in. Her skirt rode up.
“Jesus, do you get off on flashing people?”
“You're the moron who decided to carry me over your shoulder like a Neanderthal.”
He was glad the parking lot was empty. No one saw Joy’s free show. How could he forget she had a thing against underwear?
Denver shut the door and walked around to his side of the truck. He was so damn tired of all this. He used to be a fun guy. Now he was pissed off all the time. He opened the door and got in. They drove home in silence. It was too quiet. Joy started to sober up. She anxiously bit her lip as she looked at Denver. He looked angry and exhausted. He pulled into her driveway and parked. He was ready to go home and go to bed.
“Goodnight.”
“I missed you, baby,” she said. He reached over and grabbed the door handle to let her out. “I'm sorry.”
Denver sighed. Here we go again. Now that they were home, she seemed to have lost the need to fight. “I don’t think…”
Joy unzipped his jeans, wrapped her hand around his erection, and slowly stroked him. She brushed her lips against his ear. “All I can think about now is sitting on your cock,” she whispered.
Denver shoved his jeans off his hips. She climbed onto his lap and slowly eased herself down on him. “You feel so good inside me.” God, her mouth. She made him want to come as soon as she opened it. She made him feel desperate at times. He cradled her head in his hands. “Say you're mine.” Joy closed her eyes. “Open your eyes, damn it.” She slowly opened her eyes. “Now, tell me you’re my woman.”
“I'm yours.”
Denver leaned his forehead against hers. Joy pushed her hands into his hair and tugged until his head rested against the seat. Joy looked into his eyes and smiled. “Don’t worry about me,” she said. “Tonight’s about you.” She leaned forward and whispered against his lips, “It’s all about you. She opened her mouth, and he slipped his tongue inside.
He didn’t feel any better. He couldn’t shake the feeling that disaster was about to happen. He tried his best to ignore the feeling. He would have to face it, but tonight he would try to forget.
Chapter Forty
The following weekend, Denver’s friend Jason called and asked him to meet him at Avalon for a drink. He invited Joy along and hoped he wouldn’t regret it. The bar was packed, but they managed to find a small table. Jason grabbed an empty chair from another table, and they sat down. They ordered a couple of beers from the waitress. Denver knew the night was going to go downhill fast when Joy asked for a shot of tequila. He looked at her sharply and frowned.
“What?”
“Limit yourself, baby. Remember the last time you drank that shit. You puked on my boots and whined the next day about being hungover.
“Excuse me? Haven't we had this discussion before about you not controlling me?”
“Someone needs to do it,” he said under his breath.
Joy glared at him. She stopped the waitress. “Make that two shots.”
“Christ, are we going to go here tonight?”
When the waitress came back, Joy held up her hand to stop her. She drank both the shots and said, “Bring me another one.”
Denver shook his head, leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “At least it'll be an early night,” he muttered.
“Maybe for you,” she snapped. “You can leave now if you want.”
“Damn, control your woman,” Jason laughed.
Joy stuck her tongue out at Jason. Denver’s jaw tightened. Joy knew she shouldn't flirt with his friend, but it was fun. It brought out Denver’s passionate animal side. She liked making him lose control. They had some wild, crazy sex when he was a little pissed off. The three shots of tequila had loosened her up and made her feel reckless.
“Jason, is there a woman in your life?”
“Not right now.”
“That’s hard to believe. You’re a very attractive man,” she winked.
Denver grabbed the leg of her chair and pulled her close to his side. He was getting jealous. The sex would be hot tonight. She couldn’t wait.
“I'll be right back, guys. I need to use the bathroom.”
“I don’t know if I’m jealous or feel sorry for you. I think I'll know more as the night goes on. She sure is a feisty one,” Jason said.
“She’s a handful and a pain in the ass.”
“I've never known you to lose control of a woman. They’re usually all over you.”
“She loves to piss me off.” He looked towards the bar and saw her flirting with a man. “She fucking gets off on it.”
Jason stood up. “Do you want to shoot a game of pool?”
“I’m good for now. I have my hands full keeping an eye on Joy.”
Jason walked over to one of the pool tables.
Joy sauntered back to the table and sat down. “Did you miss me, baby?”
Denver shrugged his shoulders.
“Where's your hot friend?” Joy looked around and spotted Jason at a pool table. “I should go play.”
“I don't think so.”
“You're no fun.”
Denver looked hurt. “I used to be,” he grumbled. She leaned towards him. “Can you keep your hands off my dick tonight? Maybe I don't like walking around with a hard cock all the time.”
Joy dropped something into his lap. “I'm going to get a beer,” she said. “Then I'm playing pool. You can sit here and pout all night for all I care.”
Denver looked down. Shit, a lacy thong. That meant she was bare under her skirt. He got up and hauled her ass back to the table. “Are you hot, baby? Is that why you’re getting undressed? Maybe I should find out.” He leaned over and inched his hand up the inside of her thigh. He slowly eased a finger into her. “Damn, you're soaked. If we were at home right now, I'd spread your legs wide.” Her breath hitched. He eased in another finger. “My face would be between your legs. I’d lick up all the juice that's drenching my fingers right now.”
Joy whimpered when he removed his fingers. Denver quickly crossed his arms over his chest as his neighbor Bruce walked towards their table. Bruce asked Joy to dance. She looked at Denver. He stared straight ahead and ignored her.
Fine.
“Sure, I’d love to dance.” She followed him out onto the dance floor.
Jason returned to the table. “Damn, is this worth it?”
Denver watched Joy flirt with Bruce. His mother used to hang all over his dad’s friends. His dad had been a fool and put up with it for years. His mother had destroyed him and then walked away. Denver learned a lesson about women by watching what his dad went through. He remembered his dad saying—"If she’s beautiful—you love her—and you can’t live without her—stay away from her. She’s poison—she’ll destroy you.” His dad was right. “No, it’s not.”
“I gotta hit the road. It was great seeing you again,” Jason said.
“Don't be a stranger. I have that job waiting for you when you’re ready.”
“I'll be around. Good luck with all of this. I hope it works out for you.”
Joy watched Denver as she danced. He looked as if he were lost in thought. His face changed to a look of disgust. She’d gone too far. Denver tossed her underwear onto the table and stalked out of the bar. He wasn’t a fool like his dad. He could walk away and not look back.
Joy hurried to the table. She grabbed her underwear and stormed out of the bar. “How dare you?” she yelled.
Denver stopped abruptly and turned around. “How dare I what?” he roared.
“How dare I?” He stalked back towards her. “How dare you? You dare to walk around a bar in a skirt without them on, and you’re worried about someone seeing them on the table? Were you worried about someone seeing under your skirt? Or was that your intention?”
“Of course, it wasn’t. I did that for you. To turn you on.”
“Sweetheart, the thought of other men seeing you bare does nothing to turn me on. It fucking pisses me off. And you know it does.”
“I didn’t think—"
“That’s right. You never think. You do this shit to piss me off. What the fuck are you trying to get out of this? Do you get off on driving me crazy? You like it when I try to get you off under the table. And then you hang all over another man. Does he make you as wet as I do?”
Denver turned around and stalked towards his truck. Joy followed him. He opened his truck door and got in. “I'm leaving,” he said. “Get in or stay here. I don't fucking care.” Joy got into the truck and faced him. “Why do you have to screw with my head like this?” he asked.
“Don’t be an ass. None of this means anything.”
“I know. That’s the problem.”
“We’re talking about two different things here. You know what? I'm out of here,” she said. “I’ll find my own ride home.” She opened the door and got out.
Hell. Maybe it's better this way. I can't keep a sane thought in my head when she's around.
Denver started his truck and pulled out of the parking lot. Joy stood there and watched him drive away. She’d never seen him so angry, and he’d never left her behind. Even mad, he always made sure she had a ride home. She took her cell phone out of her purse and called a cab for a ride home.
When she got home, he was sitting on her step.
“Denver—"
“Listen to me for a minute.” Oh, No. “I'm tired of all the games. It’s gone on long enough. I don’t want this.” He stood up and kissed her on the forehead. “I give up. It hurts too much.”
Joy wrapped her arms around his neck and tried to kiss him. “Please come inside.”