by A. L Long
“Thanks,” I said, grabbing the warm cup and taking a sip.
I watched as Nikki walked away. She was one of the better coffee servers. She was also the best at making Mocha Lattes. She was always applying for modeling jobs. It surprised me that Cover Girl hadn’t swept her up. She was beautiful in a wholesome kind of way, almost like she was raised on a farm or out in the country. She never wore too much make-up and her skin was absolutely flawless, something I think every girl wished they had.
“Hey,” she said, turning her position as she looked at me. “If you want, I can give you a ride when I get off. I should be done in about thirty minutes.”
“That would be great,” I replied, grateful that she offered.
Nikki and I had become pretty close while we worked together. She told me things about her life that she didn’t want anyone else to know. Even though my life was a shit storm compared to hers, I felt her pain nonetheless. After all, who in their right mind would sell their kids' services for profit? My mother.
~****~
God, how I hated Mondays, especially when I didn’t get enough sleep. Nikki and I ended up ordering a pizza and watching a sappy chick flick after she got off work. It was nice to have someone to do things with. It was late when she finally left. I offered her the couch, but she thought it would be better if she went home. She still had this phobia about not feeling safe. I remember the first time I went to her apartment. I couldn’t believe the security measures she took. There had to be at least five deadbolt locks on her door. She also had bars on her windows, which I felt was kind of silly considering she lived on the third floor with no access to her apartment from the outside, unless you rappelled down from the roof or just so happened to be carrying a forty-foot ladder.
Before I headed out the door, I made sure Oliver had plenty of food and water. He was almost like not even having a pet; the majority of his time was spent laying around. Tucking what I needed in my purse, I grabbed my sweater and left my apartment. I was running a little late and was thankful that the traffic wasn’t too bad. I was able to hail a cab quickly, which allowed me to get to the gallery only ten minutes late.
Since Lilly was away on vacation the gallery was pretty uneventful. Leave it to her to make sure I wouldn’t be swamped with showings or meetings. It wasn’t that Lilly didn’t trust me with those tasks, it was that she preferred knowing all of her clients, present and future. Going to the back room where we kept most of our supplies and where we had a small kitchen set up, I began making a fresh pot of coffee. Just as I was walking back to the front of the gallery, I heard the bell chime letting me know someone had entered the gallery. Straightening my skirt, I looked up to find Nikki standing in the entry looking at one of abstract paintings hanging on the wall.
“Nikki, what are you doing here?” I asked.
“I thought I would stop by before I went to work. I thought that we could grab lunch,” she said, looking at the art on the wall.
“I don’t think I can break away for lunch. How about we have lunch here? I could order something for us,” I said, knowing I wouldn’t be able to leave since I was the only one working.
“That would really be great. I get lunch at one o'clock. Will that work for you?” she asked.
“That would be great.”
When Nikki left, I started my day by going through the invoices from the previous week. Not only was I Lilly’s assistant, I was also the bookkeeper. Lilly said she trusted me to do all the accounting stuff, instead of having someone she didn’t know take care of it. When she offered me a pay increase for the added duty, there was no way I could turn her down.
I was working non-stop on the invoices and I didn’t notice what time it was getting to be, at least not until the chime rang at the door. The delivery order that I placed with a sandwich shop that I knew delivered, had arrived. I handed the delivery guy the owed money along with a healthy tip and grabbed the contents from him. As soon as he walked out the door, Nikki walked in. I thought for sure they were going to plow into each other. Thankfully, Nikki moved to the side of the door so he could exit.
~****~
The rest of the week was pretty uneventful. The handful of people that came in were there only to look and not buy. It was Friday, Lilly and Peter were somewhere over the Atlantic ocean on their way back to the States. When I spoke with her, she suggested we do something fun when she got home. I didn’t have much of a social life so I had her pick what to do. She wanted to do something special for me since I put in so much work while she was away. She suggested going to a night club called Thrive. I had heard about it, but never went. It was for the more elite crowd. I didn’t think jeans and a t-shirt were exactly the acceptable attire for a place like that.
After talking with Lilly it was time to close shop. Making sure all the lights were turned off, I headed to the front of the gallery to set the alarm and lock the doors. It was still light outside, and I could feel the warmth of the air blowing on my face. As I waited for a cab to pull up, I began thinking about how I needed to get out more. Spending my time in the company of an overweight Siamese cat was not my idea of how I wanted to spend my nights. I read somewhere that book clubs and dating sites were good places to meet people. The problem with that was that neither one was my cup of tea. I wasn’t much of a reader, unless smut books counted, and who knows what kind of men you would meet on dating sites. Sure, they could be good guys by their profiles, but when the date came, they were total jerks or much worse.
When I got home, my trustworthy friend was waiting for me by the door. I could always count on Oliver to give me love when I got home. I was glad to see that he was beginning to warm up to me. I wasn’t sure what went on in his little head, but I was pretty sure he knew that I was his new mommy. Placing my things on the counter, I walked over to where his food bowl and water dish were to make sure that he was eating. Even though he could stand to lose a couple of pounds, I was becoming concerned with the small amount of food he ate. Satisfied that he ate at least half of his food, I headed to my bedroom to change out of my clothes and into my comfy pajamas.
Making myself a quick sandwich, I grabbed the romance novel I had been reading and headed to bed. Even though I didn’t get much in the sex department, it didn’t mean that I couldn’t pretend it was me in the book.
‘As he slipped his hands down her curvy body, she began to feel the shivers of excitement run through her. His lips pressed gently against her pert nipple, giving her the pleasure she longed for. Slipping his hand further down her body, she could feel the onset of her orgasm build. Her hips lifted as he took hold of her tight ass and placed her long silky legs over his shoulders. With a deep breath, she felt the push of his impressive cock enter her, stretching her so that she could accommodate his rod.’
“Wow,” was all I could say. My body felt so hot, I thought I was going to spontaneously combust. Placing my book on the other side of the bed, I reached under the covers and continued to fantasize where I left off. Lowering my pajama bottoms and my underwear, I slipped my finger between my slick folds. Finding my swollen nub, I began moving my finger in slow circular movements. Dipping my middle finger inside me, I curved it just enough to find the soft spongy spot in my vagina. God, how I wished it was the alpha-male in the book getting me off. I pictured him in my mind as my fingers dipped further inside. With my other hand, I took hold of my nipple and began rubbing it between my fingers, Within seconds, I was on my way to a satisfying release.
CHAPTER THREE
Sabrina
Even though I had slept like a baby, my body was protesting that it wanted more sleep. I knew I needed to get going if I was going to try and find something to wear. Maybe Lilly could help me pick something out. Pushing up to my feet, I headed to the kitchen to find my cell.
“Hello,” Lilly said, sounding like she might have been sleeping.
“Hey, , Lilly. How was your trip?” I asked.
“It was the best trip ever. You were right,” sh
e confirmed.
“About?” I said, confused.
“Peter popped the question. It was so romantic. He rented this boat. It was perfect. He even had the crew set an area on the top deck with tropical flower arrangements placed everywhere. We even had our own waiter that brought us our meal. I will never forget it,” Lilly explained.
“I knew he would. You two were meant to be together. Anyway, about tonight, I was wondering if you would mind helping me pick out something to wear. My current wardrobe isn’t exactly suitable for a nightclub,” I confessed.
“Well, I can fix that. I’ll just take you shopping. Think of it as a bonus for all the hard work you did while I was gone.”
After, I hung up with Lilly, I was beginning to get excited about going out. I couldn’t remember the last time I went out. Matter of fact, I don’t think I have ever been to a nightclub or even dancing. That was when it hit me: I didn’t know how to dance. What if someone hot asked me to dance? What if I made a fool of myself, or worse, stepped on his toes? I was totally screwed. I guess my only option was to sit and watch. Maybe I could learn a few basic moves.
Lilly showed up at my apartment about an hour later. We decided to make a day of it by grabbing lunch and then heading to the spa for a facial, haircut, and a makeover. After we left the spa, I felt like a different woman. My hair had been highlighted with soft red highlights and cut into layers so that it framed my oval face. My normal style was to wear my hair straight or in a pony. The hair style the cosmetologist picked out for me was perfect and it was also something I could easily manage.
By the time Lilly dropped me back at my apartment, I had five new outfits as well as a perfect dress for tonight. I also purchased a pair of four-inch black heels to go with my perfect little black dress. Thinking that I needed a little relaxation, I decided to delight myself in a bath full of lavender bubbles. Filling the tub, I could hear Oliver meowing in the background. Just as I was ready to go check on him, he was at my feet rubbing his soft body up against my leg. My only conclusion was that he missed me. Picking him up, I gave him a little attention, then set him on the other side of the door and closed him out.
~****~
Lilly and Peter picked me up around seven o’clock. Lilly was wearing a deep blue halter that hung perfectly on her slender frame. When she had tried it on at the dress boutique, I told her it looked perfect on her, like it was made for her. Even though my dress was more conservative, it fit my personality perfectly. It was still very sexy by my standards, given it had thin rhinestone straps that crossed in the back. The neckline was low, but not so low that my girls popped out. I also liked the frilly hemline, which stopped just above the knee. The dress coupled with my black hose and black heels, made the whole ensemble come together like I was ready to walk the runway.
I was in awe as Peter pulled up to Thrive. There was a line outside that wrapped all the way around the block. As soon as we got out of the car, I could hear the beat of the music as the bass echoed from the building. Lilly must have had some pull because when we walked up to the bouncer standing at the entrance, he allowed us to enter without waiting. When we stepped inside, I was amazed at how the energy flowed. The lights were flashing on the dance floor in perfect sync to the music. Everything about the club screamed, “Let me in!” It was no wonder that the line was so long. Evidently this was the place to be.
Lilly shuffled through the crowd like she knew exactly where she was going. Peter was holding onto her hand, while I followed behind. Lilly led us up to the second floor and stopped at the VIP area, where we were shown to our table. Taking our seats, a waiter quickly took our drink order and suggested that we double up since it might be a while before he would be able to get back to us. It was that crazy busy.
“This place is crazy,” I yelled across the table where Lilly was sitting.
“I know. Isn’t it great?” she replied.
“So how were you able to get us in without having to wait?” I asked.
“I know the owner really well. I helped him decorate his penthouse with my artwork. That and the fact that his wife doesn’t know about his little fuck pad. If you know what I mean,” she said with a little giggle.
I looked at her surprised, not knowing why she would even tell me. That was something you just don’t spit out in a casual conversation. When the waiter came back with a tray full of our drinks, I took a long sip before setting my Manhattan on the table. Lilly stood and grabbed Peter by the hand, leading him to the dance floor. God, they looked so happy together. Sipping my drink, I sat alone at our table and watched the patrons bump and grind on the dance floor. Just as I was about to head to the ladies room to freshen up, I felt a light touch on my shoulder. When I looked up, I couldn’t believe who was standing before me.
“Cop, what are you doing here? I thought you were away on a mission,” I said, surprised by his presence.
“I was. I just got back this morning. Peter called to let me know that you would be here,” he said.
As he took a seat next to me, I couldn’t help but stare at him. He was gorgeous, even more so than I remembered. And the black jeans paired with a white button-down shirt and leather jacket were no help in toning down the attraction for him. “So…are you sticking around for a while or are you off on a new assignment?” I wasn’t sure what got into me to ask, but the way he looked, I wouldn’t have minded seeing more of him, if he was going to stick around for a while.
“If you are wondering if I have any immediate plans, the answer is no. It will be nice to relax for a while. This last gig really did a number on me. How about we don’t talk about it?” he said, looking at me intently.
“What?” I asked, wondering why he was looking at me the way he was.
“You look different. Good different. Matter of fact, beautiful,” he said, smiling while taking in the rest of me.
“You look good too,” I replied. “How about you dance with me?” This conversation was going to get heated if I didn’t do something.
“Sure,” he said, standing and taking me by the hand.
As we headed to the dance floor, I could feel his grip tighten. Not in a bad way, more like in a possessive way, like he was letting the male population know that I was taken. When we reached the dance floor the song changed to “See You Again” by Wiz Khalid. As Cop pulled me close to him, I could smell the musky scent of his cologne. It was the sexiest scent I had ever taken in. Even though I wasn’t much of a dancer, moving with him was easy. My body fell into sync with his as he moved first to the right for one beat and then to the left. Leaning my cheek against his broad shoulder, I took him in. There was no mistake, I was thoroughly absorbed by his existence.
He must have been feeling the same because he pulled my body even closer to his. I could feel the warm breath of his mouth on my forehead as he gently placed a chaste kiss near my temple. This man knew exactly what to do. I knew that in a matter of seconds the wetness between my legs would soon have my lacy panties drenched with desire.
It didn’t matter that the song ended, neither one of us could let go. It was only when the next song was more upbeat that we broke out embrace. Looking up at Cop, I confessed, “I’m not much of a dancer, is it okay if we sit this one out?”
Cop didn’t say a word, he only took hold of my hand and led me back to our table. Or so I thought. Instead, he took me to the back exit. Once we were out of the building, I stopped, jolting Cop from moving forward. “Where are we going?” I asked.
“Any place but here,” he said.
“Cop, wait. We have to let Lilly and Peter know that we left,”
Pulling his cell from the pocket on the inside of his leather jacket, he looked up Peter’s number and began typing a message. Raising his head from the screen on his cell phone and looking at me, he said, “Now they know.”
It wasn’t long before we were in Cop’s truck and pulling out of the parking lot. I didn’t know what it was with the alpha-male types needing big trucks, but getting insi
de one wasn’t exactly the easiest thing to do with four-inch heels and a frilly dress. It only took a moment before Cop saw my apprehension as I tried to get in, and he swooped me in his arms and lifted me onto the seat. Reaching across my body, he took hold of the seat belt and secured it.
As he climbed in, I began to wonder where it was that he was going to take me. We were going in the wrong direction to my condo. Unable to keep quiet any longer, I asked, “Can I ask where we are going?”
“No place in particular. I just wanted to spend some alone time with you where there wasn’t any noise,” Cop replied.
We were quite a ways out of the city when Cop turned on a dirt road that led us through some rough terrain. I just sat back and enjoyed the ride as he maneuvered the truck around the sharp turns. We finally came to a stop at a cliff area that overlooked the city of Manhattan. All I could think about was how many people knew of this place and how many kids made out at this very spot.
When Cop turned off the engine and there was dead silence, the moment started to become very awkward. It felt almost like being on a first date and not knowing what to say in fear that it might come out stupid and embarrassing.