by C. Lymari
I looked at her, then at the clothes she was burning.
Putting my hands on my hips, I sighed. “I wish you would have found another way to purge.”
“Why?”
“Because it violates the rules set by your landlord.”
Freya started to laugh. “My grandfather owns this property. I doubt he called the cops on me. Besides, he isn’t even here.”
After having to give her the awkward explanation that her father sold the trailer, Freya came to the station with me. According to my aunt, she was hostile, and Max and Abigail felt better talking to her in the station. Now that I knew Freya wasn’t a danger to Emma and she was helping her with no pay in return, I was glad she was here. She was Em’s total opposite, and the times I had seen them together, Emma was always smiling. And every time, I wished it was me making her smile that way.
I hated bringing Freya in because I knew my family was being irrational and snobby.
“What happened to your parents, if you don’t mind me asking?” I asked her.
“It’s just my gramps and me. My mother was a drunk who drove herself off the bridge and drowned. From what my grandfather told me; she fell in love with a bad guy. He was a local who wanted an out, leaving her pregnant. No idea who he is… No one has come out to claim me,” she joked.
I turned to look at her, feeling the heaviness. I felt terrible for her. My parents were awesome; I couldn't imagine my life without either of them. My dad had always supported me, from taking me to little league practices and paying for uniforms for whatever sport I wanted, to trying to help me with college tuition. My mom was always around, making sure I had home-cooked meals. I wouldn't have been the man I was today without either of them.
11
Emma
Somehow, in a matter of a few weeks, Freya became my best friend. It was a foreign concept, having a bestie. I’d never had anyone get close enough to me to be called that before. Freya made it easy because she gave and didn’t really expect much in return. I felt guilty for not paying her, but at the same time, it was a godsend. The last year wasn’t all that good for my business. I guessed the novelty of the coffee shop wore off because I wasn’t really making profit—just enough to stay afloat, and it still felt like I was drowning. Not paying Freya and barely paying myself had helped me immensely.
I wished there was a way I could help her for all she’d done for me. I hated watching her watch Max, especially when he was with Abigail. I didn’t say anything, but I could see her heart breaking. Life moved on, and it had for Max. But Freya? She was still stuck in the past. Sometimes I thought Max was too.
Freya was my best friend, and to make her feel better, I agreed to come to the woods with her and a bottle. My drunkenness started going down the moment I submerged myself in pond water. It went completely away when I saw Dex making his way towards us, his eyes blazing when he saw me.
“Damn it, why-y-y did he have to c-c-come?” I cursed.
“But he’s cute to look at,” Freya countered.
“T-that’s the p-problem,” I whispered.
A part of me wished he had never stood me up. A part of me wished I would have been important enough for him not to leave town.
The sun rays were bright and in my eyes. Which was weird since I never slept in late enough for the sun to hit me. Also, on the rare occasion that I did sleep late, I always had my blinds down. Sleep was too precious to let it go to waste. As I opened my eyes, I noticed two things that were not normal at all. One, I had a steel band around my waist. Well, not steel, per se, but a hold strong enough no one would be able to get to me. Two, there was something pointy and hard digging into my bum-bum. Yeah, something was so not right. Blinking a couple of times, I tried to make out where I was. A chill went down my spine when I felt someone’s breath on my ear. I closed my eyes, and last night came rushing back to me.
Vividly, I might add.
-
"When they come for you."
Freya and I were drunk and in the back of Dex I'm-So-Handsome-But-I-Stood-You-Up’s police car. We were singing an awful version of “Bad Boys.” I knew it was terrible because I was not a singer. A baker, sure. Coffee guru, absolutely. But singing? No way, Jose.
“I can’t go home,” I slurred.
"Why the hell not?" Freya answered.
It made me feel better that she was a little drunker than I was. Still, I was drunk enough that I got wet in a pond.
“Because…” I started to say and looked at Dex, who chose that moment to look at the rearview mirror, making our eyes clash. Then he winked at me and gave me a soft smile.
Freya shook me. “Because, why?”
“I live in the garage, the house creaks, I don’t want to wake my parents up.”
“I’m sure my grandfather won’t bat an eyelash. You can stay with me, but you’ll have to stay on the floor.”
I didn’t want to sleep on Freya’s floor, but if it was between that and my parents, I guessed I was going to Freya’s.
“That won’t be necessary,” Dex said.
“And why not?” I leaned and poked his shoulder. Damn, he was F-I-T. Fit.
Dex smiled at me. It wasn’t fair how every time he did that, he woke up parts of me that had no business being awoken.
“Sunshine.” His voice went all soft again.
“That’s not my name,” I said.
“Don’t call me Stacy,” Freya sang in a horrible tone.
“How much did you two drink?”
I looked from Dex to Freya, who had her eyes closed and was nodding her head while she sang the song all wrong.
“Not enough to key Max’s car but enough to forget my heartbreak,” Freya said then began singing “No Broken Hearts” by Bebe Rexha.
When we got to Freya’s trailer, I started to unbuckle my seat belt, but Dex stopped me.
“Emma, stay.”
The only reason I did as he said was because I figured he knew cop stuff and could get me in my room sneakily. I laid my head on the window and watched as he helped Freya walk a straight line and into her house.
It felt like a blink later, but I knew it was more, because now I was in Dex’s arms and he was opening the door to a house that was not mine.
“Where am I?” I asked groggily.
To which he casually responded, “My house.”
What?!
I tried bucking out of his arms, but his hold on me just strengthened, causing my body to become plastered to his.
“Sunshine, stop. You’re going to fall.”
I hated when he called me “sunshine” because, deep down, I loved it. It made no sense, but I was drunk; therefore, this was okay. Next thing I knew, I was in the air like Jordan before a dunk, and down I went. Into the softest bed. Memory foam. It was a dream. Until I remembered whose memory foam bed it was.
“I’m going home,” I stated, trying to get up from the bed.
But Dex was faster, already on me, pinning me down. “Ems, I’m wiped. I had a long day at work. I had to drive twenty minutes out to check some things out. Then when I was about to call it a night, your call came through the line.”
“You didn’t answer me,” I cut him off. Clark did, and he laughed at me, which was way rude of him.
“Everyone knows you’re my business, Ems.”
I didn’t have a response to that, especially since in my inebriated state that caused a reaction. My happy place tingled.
“I’ve. Got. To. Go,” I seethed, wiggling and trying to push him off me.
I kept thrashing and trying to turn until Dex was entirely on top of me. And somehow, my legs were open and he was between them. Hard. He was hard. We both stopped to look down at the position we had ended up in.
Now, how did that happen? Drunk me was trying to get laid.
“You’re ...You’re...” I couldn’t finish the words, but subconsciously I bucked, which made Dex groan.
“You feel that?” he growled. “You do that to me. All. The. Time.”
His face came to my neck. I could feel his heavy breathing causing shivers on my skin. One of his hands came to my curls and fisted my hair. The sensation was so freaking good. More than good. I wanted him right now like I’d never wanted anyone in my life before. Dex still had his head in the crook of my neck, trying to calm down. I turned my head to the side, my hands going to his head. Finally, I got to run my fingers through his hair. It was soft and smooth. Dex pierced me with his gaze, his eyes almost black.
I leaned in to kiss him. He looked at me with wide eyes but didn't make a move. Maybe he was tired of always making them? Perhaps he knew that if he did, I would get scared. My lips met his, unsure and shaky. I kissed him deeper, making his hold on me stronger and fusing our bodies together. His heartbeat matched my own. I kissed him again, wrapping my legs around his waist when he cursed into my mouth. He rose on top while he thrust his hips. Then he kissed me.
The sensation was unlike anything I had ever felt. It was like being submerged into hot water only to be taken out into the cold right away. I was teetering on the edge, and I was close to falling; it terrified me.
“Dex,” I moaned his name when it got to be too much.
“Fuck,” he groaned, sounding like he was in actual pain. He rose, looking down at me, his eyes full of lust. But then he turned to walk away. “I have to go.”
Once again, he’d led me on. He’d made me believe he actually wanted me.
“You don’t want me,” I croaked, voicing aloud what I already knew. I knew it the day he ditched me; it cemented in my head now.
“You’re drunk, Ems. Any other time, you’d already be naked with my cock buried so deep in you, and I’d make you mine.” My drunken state didn’t let me absorb what he said or the ache and regret in his voice.
“You didn’t want me then and you don’t want me now,” I whispered, trying to turn my face away so he wouldn’t see me cry.
He came back to bed in a rush, making me halt my breathing.
“Does this feel like I don’t want you?” he said as he grabbed my hand and put it over his hardness.
I was not me. I was not sober me because I started to caress him through his jeans.
“Sunshine,” he rasped.
“Please,” I pleaded. “I waited for you for an hour. I dressed up. I did my makeup. I…I…"
“You what?” He implored for me to continue.
“I got ready for you,” I hissed.
Dex seemed to know what I was implying because he let out a guttural groan.
“I fucked up.” He spoke low, his head coming towards mine. When he was close enough, I leaned up to kiss him.
“Please,” I said against his lips.
He seemed to have an internal struggle, but then his hand came to my waist, pulling me to him. “You better remember this in the morning.”
“I will,” I assured him right away.
He gave me a slow sensual smile. “I think I like you like this.”
“About to have sex in your bed?”
He shook his head and bent to kiss my head, then my nose, then finally my lips. “Let me take care of you, sunshine.”
I didn’t have a chance to reply because he was finally kissing me. His hands pulling my legs farther apart so he could be nestled between them. His hardness aligning with my neediness. He devoured my mouth like a starved man, the pressure between my legs skyrocketed to another level.
“Dex,” I let go long enough to moan his name.
“You’re killing me Ems…I’d do it all over again,” he muttered.
His hand came to my thighs, giving me small caresses. Every time he got near my center, I shivered or whimpered.
“Dex,” I begged him.
“Not like this, sunshine,” he replied.
His hand stayed over my panties; he just cupped me while the heel of his hand rocked me back and forth. The sensation made my eyes flutter.
“Ohmygod,” I moaned as I came.
“Fuck, Ems. What I wouldn’t give to feel you convulsing around my cock right now,” Dex whispered against my lips.
I smiled while my eyes were still closed. That was an orgasm. Not just any orgasm, but the king of all orgasms.
“You feel better, sunshine?” He sounded amused.
Slowly I opened my eyes. Dex was looking at me while he rubbed my cheek with his thumb.
“Mmmm,” I said, because what was speech?
I guess you could say I was dickmatized. Then I realized that Dex was still hard as a rock and I was here all languid from the best O of my life.
“Do you want me to take care of you?” I asked because it was only fair. “I’m not that experienced with BJs but—”
“Stop.” He cut me off with an annoyed tone.
“I was just saying, it’s not like I haven’t done it before.”
“Emma.” His tone was firm, looking me straight in the eyes. “You’re in my bed, babe. I don’t want to hear of anyone who came before me. Not that they matter, because when I finally get inside that hot little body, the only dick you’ll remember is mine.”
Oh, boy. Somehow my drunk brain knew that was major.
“Sunshine, look at me.” His tone was much gentler now.
I did as he asked. His tone may have been soft, but his gaze was intense.
"This changes everything between us. Tonight was about you. When you get this…" He grabbed my hand and put it over his hardness. "I want you stone-cold sober." With a peck on my lips, he left me alone in his room, surrounded by the smell of his cologne and the remains of my arousal.
-
Calm down. Don't scream. I have hands wrapped around me! Man hands!
I was in bed with Dexter. I was a hussy when I was drunk. I tried to wiggle my way free, but that made it worse, causing me to back my bum against Dex’s hardness. Heat flooded my cheeks, remembering the way he made me orgasm last night.
I needed to get lost, and pronto.
Squirming my way out of his arms was a challenge. I was sure I was finally going to be set free when he spoke.
“Babe?” he questioned, his face coming closer to my neck as if it was something he did every day.
It scared me because I wasn’t used to sleeping with anyone, let alone a man. A man I might have a crush on. I screamed, fisted my hands, and threw them back.
"Shit!" he howled in pain.
I jumped off the bed, picking up my shoes before I turned and saw him holding his nose, a little blood coming out. Oh, my God. I did that. Was that really how I paid the man for giving me an O? By punching him? I sucked.
I had to go.
“Don’t you dare move, Emma.” He pointed a finger at me while he got up and headed for the bathroom.
As soon as the door closed, I ran out, not bothering to put my shoes on. Daylight was barely breaking, and I walked in just my socks trying to get as far away from him. I was a few houses down from Dex’s when a shiny black Audi passed and then braked suddenly. I groaned when the car reversed to where I was still trying to make my getaway.
The window slid down. The driver was wearing dark Ray-Bans, but I felt the judgment in his stare.
“Emma!” Dex shouted as he opened the door to his house, still shirtless.
Just then, I heard the locks from the Audi unlocking, and I ran my way into the passenger seat.
“Your first one-night stand, Goldie?”
I turned to glare at Prescott. “That’s none of your business.”
He gave me a smirk and sped off, giving a small wave towards Dex's house. Now that we were in the car, my heart stopped racing, and I couldn't believe I’d done any of that. Prescott was quiet as he drove me to my house. I should have been embarrassed, but I knew his darkest secrets. It was only fair that he saw me at my worst.
“This never happened,” I said as I stepped out.
“She’s making you fearless,” he said.
I knew who he was talking about, but I stayed quiet.
“She’s also making my
brother restless.”
12
Emma
After I got home, Prescott had to wait around for twenty minutes while I got ready, since my car was parked by the jogging trail. Seriously, why did I think drinking in the woods was a good idea?
I came back out, and Prescott started to laugh as soon as he saw me. Looking down at myself, I tried to figure out what was so funny about me. He was silently shaking when I made my way inside his fancy car.
“A werewolf?” he gasped.
“What?” I asked in an incredulous tone.
I had never seen Prescott laugh. Smirk, sure. But actually laugh? This was a first, and it sent his handsomeness to a whole other level.
He then stopped laughing and picked up his phone and then there it was: my voice. My drunk-off-my-butt voice. Why did I listen to Freya and go with her to the jogging trail at night? I clearly said a werewolf was trying to eat me instead of a coyote. How the hell did I go from coyote to werewolf? I still didn’t know how we got so lost that I had to call the cops. Another thing to add to my embarrassment.
“How?” I managed to get out.
"I called Clark so he could go pick up your car and drop it off at your shop. He couldn't help himself. You know Clark. He has a big mouth."
Well, this sucked. Clark did have a big mouth when Max crashed into his car; it was all he whined about for weeks. The whole town already knew about my little adventure. I should have helped Freya key Abbi's car. Then there wouldn't be any coyotes involved. That would have been less embarrassing. Unless we got caught. Then, maybe not so much. Prescott didn't say anything else. I did ask why Clark would pick up my car. He responded that Clark owed him one.
People kept smiling at me when I got their orders ready or giving me funny looks. Freya was going to pay. The door chimed, and I prepared for more funny looks, but all I got was full-on laughter.
I turned up to look at Jake, who walked in with Clark. Jake was smirking. Clark, however, was howling. Great. Still, I smiled at them because I was a professional and this was my livelihood, and the way things were going, my livelihood couldn’t take a hit.