by Kara Parker
“What will the boss say?” Joseph asks in mock horror.
“I think,” Rose begins slowly, “that she would say you had better do a good job. Or else.”
“Or else what?” he asks, playing along.
“Or else you will have to keep it up until you do,” she breathes as she moves in close, the thought of finally living out her little fantasy almost making her squirm.
He moves to her office, sitting in her guest chair to remove his boots and pants, before following her through the kitchen and into the large stockroom located next to the freezer. The Goose is a large and busy restaurant and bakery, with an equally large and well-stocked pantry. The room has wire shelving all around the walls, with a freestanding set of shelving down the center that forms the room into a large “U” shape. He follows her around the bottom of the “U” until she stops in the furthest corner.
“You remember what happened the last time we were alone right here?” she asks, sucking on her bottom lip.
“I remember. It’s probably a good thing that Tim came in when he did.”
“Why?” she breathes, her fingers tracing the muscles in his chest.
“You know why.”
“Would you have?”
“I don’t know. By the time Tim came in, I had only one thing on my mind. And it wasn’t busing tables. Would you have let me?”
Rose smiles seductively. “I don’t know. Maybe. By the time Tim came in, I had only one thing on my mind. And it wasn’t waiting tables.” She pauses, already breathing hard in anticipation. “Are you finally going to finish what you started that day?”
“Are you going to let me?”
“Yes,” she murmurs as she flows into his arms, kissing him deeply, rising up into her tiptoes as she pressing her body to his.
Joseph accepts her kiss, pulling her into him, holding her tight as he breathes in her scent mingled with the smells of flour, dried beans, spices and other grocery items. The brief interlude between their romp on the floor outside of her office and now has allowed him to cool his ardor.
“What?” she asks as she feels Joseph’s lips pull back into a smile.
“I was just thinking that the little break will let me keep it up until you are satisfied.”
“Oh God… I hope so,” she giggles. “I’m so turned on right now that I can’t stand still.”
Joseph’s smile widens even more. “Put your hands here,” he says, turning her around and wrapping her fingers around the mesh of the shelving. “Don’t turn loose until tell I tell you to, got it? Don’t turn loose, no matter what.” he commands as he positions her hips, then crouches so he can slowly enter her. “If you turn loose, I’m going stop and leave hanging.”
Rose groans as Joseph enters her. “Shit! I won’t.”
“You had better not,” he warns, slowly pumping his hips, building her up slowly.
“Oh God, that feels good!” she hisses, dancing from one foot to the other, working her hips, trying to get him to pick up the pace.
He smiles, enjoying tormenting her in the most enjoyable way. “You like this?”
“Fuck, yes! Harder. Fuck me harder.”
He doesn’t change his cadence, but reaches around and swipes his finger through her wetness before massaging her clit. “How about this? You like this?”
Rose sags slightly, pumping her hips, trying to drive herself into orgasm. “Oh fuck…” she gasps, straightening and starting to turn.
“Hands back on the fucking shelf!” he barks the moment she starts to release her grip.
‘Fuck! Goddammit!” she whimpers, but complies. “Harder! Please, harder!”
Joseph pulls out, bending over her back and placing his mouth near her ear. “I told you what would happen if you turned loose of the shelf.”
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Please,” she begs, thrusting her hips, squirming her ass into his crotch as she groans in frustration. “Please. Please. Don’t stop,” she keens.
He kisses her on the back of the neck, but makes no move to enter her. “Are you going to do what I say?”
“Yes! Please!” she gasps, well aware that he is playing her, twisting her up. The fuck.
He begins kissing down her back, trailing his hands along her sides as he does, smiling in delight as Rose moans in exquisite agony, unable to stand still, twisting and thrusting… but she holds tightly to the shelf. As he enters her once more, he decides it is time to kick it up a level.
As Joseph enters her again, she damn near comes, her orgasm rushing down on her only to stall at the last moment, leaving her hanging in delicious torture, her skin tingling with the nearness of her release. “Oh fuck, oh fuck… fuck… fuck...” she whimpers softly, thrusting her hips hard, trying to close that last little gap to her orgasm. Then he gently pinches her nipples. With a groaning shudder she sags again, pushing hard back into him until with a gasp she relaxes… just as she feels his hands clamp down on hers.
Rose’s unexpected orgasm catches him off guard, but he grins all the same. Her release will give him more time to work on her. Wanting to let her know the game isn’t up, he places his hands over hers. “Oh… that’s bad,” he whispers into her ear. “I’m not done... and you can’t turn loose until I’m done.”
“Fuck…” she gasps, hanging by her hands as she tries to catch her breath. The orgasm wasn’t as hard as her earlier one, but it was hard enough. “I can’t take anymore.”
“You have to Rose. You have to.”
Rose takes several deep breaths, the strength flowing back into her, enjoying the feeling of him inside of her. “Okay… you think you got what it takes to out fuck me?”
He feels himself flush hot, her challenge setting him on edge. He has never been able to out fuck her, but she obviously responds to his words… and he intends to take every advantage he can. “How long, Rose? How long do you think you can take it?”
She groans, his words amping her up. “Long enough,” she says, straightening as she looks over her shoulder to him and smiles. “First one to come has to cook breakfast?”
“Done,” he says as he begins to thrust, not caring if he has to cook or not, especially if it is a breakfast for two.
“Fuck!” Joseph snarls, gritting his teeth as he tries to hold off his orgasm yet again. He had tried to stop his pistoning hips, but Rose declared that unfair and claimed victory, forcing him to start again. They are both bathed in sweat from their efforts, Rose snarling and thrusting right along with him, but her two orgasms have given her a distinct advantage, and he has been unable to force her into another orgasm.
She has him, and they both know it! “You’re about to come aren’t you? I told you that you couldn’t out fuck me!” Rose sneers. “Come on you bastard! Come!”
Joseph groans, slowing his hips to a near stop, trying once again to push his orgasm away. He is at his limit and he decides it is now or never. Time to play to her fantasy. “You have to come, Rose,” he growls, leaning over her and placing his lips near her ear. “You have to come before your dad catches us,” he snarls before suddenly driving into her hard and fast.
Rose groans at Joseph’s words, their power whipsawing her control as he plunges into her with sweet violence.
“He’s going to come in here and catch us fucking, Rose! You have to come! Hurry!” he snarls again, trying to hold on.
“Fuck!” she whimpers. Her dad is already asleep in his bed in Florida, but knowing that doesn’t diminish the power of Joseph’s words.
“We can’t stop until you come and he is going to catch us! Rose! Hurry! He’s going to be here any minute!” He’s losing it. He can feel himself slipping over the edge. Rose has been a trooper, holding tight to the shelving, but he is desperate to make her come, so he pulls her arms back, her sweat slick fingers slipping easily from the metal mesh. He hauls her up, pressing her back into his chest as he begins to growl in defiance of the orgasm he can no longer stop. “Come, Rose! Before your dad sees us!” he roars as he tumbles into t
he most gut wrenching orgasm of his life.
Rose can’t hold on any longer. As Joseph clasps her to his chest, one hand softly around her neck, the other across her chest, squeezing her breast painfully tight, she wails as her climax takes her. As Joseph jerks and grunts in his own orgasm, she pushes hard back into him, wanting to feel him deep inside of her as she is battered by her orgasm.
With a near simultaneous gasp they relax, their orgasms washing out of them. Joseph staggers as Rose sags briefly before getting her legs under her again, her hand curling behind Joseph’s head, holding him tight. They stand, panting and sweaty from their exertions, not wanting to break the closeness.
“I would call that a tie,” Joseph finally says softly, turning her in his arms so that he can kiss her lips.
“Yes,” she murmurs, melting into the kiss, enjoying being in his arms again.
They kiss, holding each other tight until Rose pulls away. “We have to go.”
“Come with me tonight,” Joseph whispers, kissing her under her chin before moving to under her ear.
“I need some time, Joseph. I have to get my mind straight.”
“I love you, Rose. I can’t bear to lose you a third time.”
“Shhh… it’s okay. I just need to think. I want to be with you but…”
“Then come with me,” he interrupts.
“I have to think, Joseph,” she says, pulling out of his arms. “Please. I just need a little space. Just day or two. I’m all torn up inside. I can’t…” she says before grinding to a stop, her face crinkling as if to cry. “I don’t know what I feel. I need some time to sort it out. Can you to trust me to give me that time? Please?”
He kisses her gently. “Yes. But know that I love you Rose. More than life itself.”
“I wish you wouldn’t say stuff like that,” she says, her eyes becoming bright with tears.
“Why? It’s the truth. I would die to protect you Rose.”
She touches his lips with a finger. “Let’s hope it never comes to that.”
They spend several more minutes kissing and touching, basking in the warmth they feel for each other before leaving the stockroom and dressing. While Joseph removes all evidence of their tryst, wiping the floors outside her office and in the stockroom with paper towels and cleanser, Rose counts out the drawer, secures the safe, and staples the front of her shirt together. The blouse is ruined… filling it with staples isn’t going to hurt it any more and it will preserve a little of her dignity.
“Are you okay?” Joseph asks as she locks the Goose for the night.
“Yes,” she says, kissing him gently. “I’m going back to Vegas tomorrow, to check on Aguilar's, but I will be back in a few days. Come see me then?”
“I’ll be here. I love you, Rose.”
She can feel her mouth twist into an involuntary smile. “I love you too. That’s part of the problem.”
“Just give me a chance to prove I’m not a bad guy, Rose. That’s all I ask,” he says as he opens her car door.
“I know you’re not. But the drugs… that’s something I have to think about.”
“Think hard, Rose,” he says quietly before closing her door and stepping back.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Melina says with a grin as Rose wanders into her kitchen the next morning. “Do you want lunch or breakfast?”
Rose yawns, still trying to shake off the cobwebs. She hadn’t gotten home until almost three this morning. She squints at the clock on the wall. “You eat lunch at eleven?”
Melina smiles. “I eat when the munchkins want to eat. Isn’t that right?” she asks Michael.
Rose smiles as Michael take another bite out of his peanut butter and jelly sandwich before nodding solemnly. “You know, I think I will have what he’s having. I haven’t had a PBJ in years. But I will make it.”
“What time did you get in last night?” Melina asks. “I crashed around midnight and you weren’t home yet.”
“About three.”
“Three?” Melina exclaims. “Why so late?”
“Uncle Joseph stopped by.”
“Ahhh… Anything interesting happen?”
“You might say that.”
“Nap time is about one. Can you fill me in then?” Melina asks, suddenly excited for Rose.
“Sure. I want to talk to you anyway before I leave for Vegas. I need some advice. I have some thinking to do during the drive.”
Melina grins. “I can’t wait.”
***
Michael and Kimberly can be as loud and rambunctious as any three- and one-year-old, but Melina runs a tight ship so they settle into their naps with minimal complaints. Rose smiles after Melina steps out of the kid’s room. She has other friends with little ones, but Tim and Melina’s are the most well-behaved. If she ever has kids, Melina is going to be her go-to source for parenting advice. “So, dish,” Melina says as she settles in a chair across from Rose.
Rose lays it all out—the fight, the making up, and how she is torn over what she wants. Melina listens with rapt attention until Rose finishes.
“Oh… he’s good at that. He would ask me those types of questions and it would piss me off so much that I would just want to just slug him. But I didn’t have such an enjoyable way to work off my anger with him. So what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. My mind is saying run. Run away. That I don’t need that much complication in my life. But my heart…”
“What does it say?”
“To grab him with both hands and never let go. You know the strangest thing happened… when I thought he was gone, before he came back to get the keys, all I could hear was you saying, ‘Life is too short’ and ‘Joseph is the same guy he always was’ and ‘I would give anything to be in his arms again.’ It must be my biological clock ticking.”
“Or… maybe you two are meant for each other,” Melina suggests so quietly that Rose can barely hear her.
“Melina, please don’t cry. If you don’t want to talk about this, I understand.”
“No,” Melina says, rallying herself and blinking away her tears with a sniff. “No. It’s alright. I just miss Tim so much, that’s all. I know you will do what is right for you, but I don’t want to see you throw away something special. I think you and Joseph are perfect for each other. You both have so much passion. When you are around, Joseph still just lights up. I saw it when he brought you home so you could get ready for dinner.”
“I haven’t noticed, but… he says he still loves me.”
“Do you still love him?”
Rose looks at her feet. “Yes.”
Melina waits, saying nothing until Rose looks up, meeting her eyes. “Seems your decision would be an easy one.”
“But, Melina! He sells drugs!”
“I know that. Tim knew it too. We didn’t care. He is still one of the most down-to-earth, level-headed guys I know. So what if he sells drugs? As he says, he is not forcing anyone to buy them.”
“What would you say if it were Tim that was dealing drugs?”
“If we could live like Joseph, where I didn’t have to worry too much about being caught? I would be fine with the idea.”
“You can’t be serious!”
“I am serious. Rose, I was just like you. When I first found out about Joseph I was furious. I didn’t want him in my house anymore. But Tim knew that was what the Nines did before they relocated to Eagle Valley. He and Joseph had stayed in contact over the years. Did you know that the Nines were nothing but a bunch of thugs before? But Joseph changed them. A lot of the members couldn’t adapt and left. But more have joined. Rose, they’re not drug dealers, not the way you think. They’re people living free. It took a while, but Tim, and finally Joseph, brought me around. When the Nines finally pulled up stakes and moved back to Eagle Valley, we agreed to help him. He is buying our house. Pays cash, every month, and has never been late. We let him use the Goose for his phone. All the things he needs, like e
lectricity and the phone, we provide, and he pays us for the product plus a small fee for our trouble.”
Suddenly Rose makes the connection. All the little clues, the strange behavior of the Nines at the funeral, the seeming disregard for finding Tim’s killer, it all slots into place. “Was Tim killed because he was selling drugs?”
“No. Tim was killed because he was supporting Joseph. The Nines’ supplier is trying to squeeze them out. They want to put in their own people. But local distributors, they are pushing back. They like the Nines and how they operate. The Nines don’t do the dirty dealing and underhanded tricks. They provide the product as agreed upon, when it is agreed upon. People like the stability. They like the fact that Joseph runs a clean operation, that they don’t tolerate violence or the sale of drugs to minors.”