Because of You

by E. L. Todd

  Ward didn’t strike me as the fighting type, but I guess he had a threshold just like everyone else. I decided to change the subject. “What else did you do today?”

  “I had dinner at my sister’s house. She has two children that I spoil as often as I can.”

  “Awe,” I said. “Uncle Ward.”

  “Yep…Uncle Ward.” His voice was full of fondness.

  “You’ll need to show me pictures next time we cross paths.”

  “I will,” he said. “But you shouldn’t have asked. On my phone alone, I have a few hundred.”

  “That’s cute,” I said with a warm heart.

  “Yeah, sometimes I wonder if it’s possible for me to love those kids more than their own parents.”

  “I’m sure it’s a tie.”

  “Yeah, probably,” he said. “So, what have you been doing this week?”

  “Just working and practicing my violin.”

  “Have you gone out or did anything fun?”

  I wondered if he was trying to figure out if I went on a date or met someone. He just didn’t want to ask outright. Admittedly, I was wondering the same thing. A part of me wanted to know if he bumped into a beautiful woman at a coffee shop and had a connection. But another part of me didn’t. The idea of him finding someone serious to date would hurt me no matter how unattached I was. “I hung out with my friends one night. That was about it. What about you?”

  “I went to the races with my mates. I lost a few pounds, unfortunately.”

  “Pounds?” I asked.

  “British money, darling.”

  “Oh.” Now I felt stupid.

  He chuckled. “It’s quite alright. I wouldn’t have known either.”

  I stayed on the phone even though I didn’t have anything more to say. I just listened to him breathe and felt myself miss him more with every passing second.

  His voice came out deeper than usual. “I miss you.”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I miss you too.”

  “I’ll be there in a few days. I hope you’re free.”

  “I am when I’m not working or performing.”

  “Good,” he said. “Because I haven’t stopped thinking about you since we parted.”

  My heart ached at his words. He was so sweet and romantic. “Neither have I.”

  “I’ll see you then, love.”

  I knew we were getting off the phone. “Okay.”

  “Have a good afternoon.”

  “Sweet dreams,” I said.

  “Only if they are of you.” Then he hung up.

  I left the phone on the table and forgot about my nails. All I could think about was Ward. And I couldn’t stop smiling.

  ***

  A few days later, Ward called me.

  My heart accelerated from a slow and steady pace to a zillion miles an hour. Before I even took the call, I was smiling and unable to stop. I answered the phone then spoke. “Hey.” My voice came out too excited but it was too late to change it.

  “Hey,” he said in an amused voice. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m at home. I just got back from the gym.”

  “Hot and sweaty…I like it.”

  “Actually, if you could see me, you wouldn’t like it,” I said with a laugh.

  “I liked it when I slept at your place.”

  “Well, that’s different.”

  “Perhaps,” he said. “I just got off work. I want to see you.”

  I liked his forwardness. He told me what he wanted without hesitation. “What did you have in mind?”

  “Dinner, and some ice cream cones as we walk through Central Park.”

  “Very specific…”

  “I’ve had ten days to think about it.”

  “That sounds nice. When are you going to pick me up?”

  “How about six?”

  “I’ll be ready.”

  “Would it be presumptuous if I brought an overnight bag?”

  He always went about things in a tactful way. “Not at all.”

  “See you soon, darling.” He hung up.

  ***

  When he arrived at my door, he wore a black blazer, gray V-neck, and dark jeans. He definitely looked like a million bucks. His blue eyes were bright and noticeable, and his chin had a shadow like he hadn’t shaved in a few days. The smell of pure masculinity washed over me, and naturally, I became weak at the knees.

  He extended a purple flower to me. It was a kind I’d never seen before. The flowers slanted downwards rather than upwards, but they were fluffy and alive. “For the lady.”

  I smelled it then held it in my hands. “It’s beautiful.”

  “It’s called Foxglove. You can only find them in England.”

  “Awe, that was sweet. Thank you.” I grabbed a glass and filled it with water before I put the flower inside. I left it on the dining table.

  “You’re welcome.” He stared at it for a moment before he returned his look to me. “Are you ready?”

  “Yes.” Seeing him look so handsome made me want to head straight to bed. But I knew he would never leave after that.

  “You look lovely.” He eyed my black dress.

  “Thank you.” I turned around and showed him the rear. It was backless and showed nothing but skin.

  He didn’t say anything, but instead, came close to me and gripped both of my arms. Then he trailed kisses from the back of my neck all the way down until he reached the top of my ass. “I like this.”

  “Why do you think I wore it?”

  “To make dinner excruciating.”

  “We could stay here instead…”

  He looked tempted for a moment. “No. It’s difficult for me to be a gentleman when you’re naked.”

  “I don’t like gentlemen anyway.”

  “Well, you deserve one.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the apartment.

  ***

  After dinner, we got ice cream cones and walked around Central Park in the dark. The streetlamps illuminated our path, and every once in a while a jogger would pass.

  Ward practically inhaled his ice cream cone.

  “We just ate,” I said. “You’re eating like you’re starving.”

  “I like my ice cream cold, not melted.” He finished the ice cream then nibbled on the cone.

  I got a child’s size because it was all I could handle.

  “You know a good job with flexible hours in the evenings?” he asked.

  Where was he going with this?

  “Bartending,” he said. “They make good money in tips.” He kept looking forward, like his sentence was extremely casual.

  “I still make a lot more doing what I do.” I knew he hated the fact I was a stripper but I refused to get angry about it. When I took the job, I knew any man I dated would have a problem with it.

  “But at some point you won’t be able to do it anymore,” he said. “It’s a short career.”

  “Which is why I save ninety percent of it and put it into an IRA or an investment. That way when I do retire from stripping, I have my retirement planned. I just hope by then I have a better paying job in the music industry so I can cash it in.”

  He eyed me and stopped eating his cone. “Smart girl.”

  I kept eating my ice cream.

  “But there are still other things you can do and make good money. The company your father works for, for instance. I’m sure Sean and Mike would—”

  “The company is only open during business hours. There’s nothing they can offer me unless they just give me free money. And I don’t want charity.”

  “You could still do paperwork at night or something,” he reasoned.

  I stopped in my tracks and looked at him. “Ward, you aren’t my boyfriend so what does it matter if I get naked in front of a group of guys?”

  He tossed his cone in the garbage can, clearly not interested in eating it. “It matters because I know you deserve something better. You’re a beautiful woman, and no guy deserves to look at you li
ke that unless you really want them to.”

  “I don’t have a problem with it,” I hissed. “It doesn’t bother me or keep me up in the middle of the night. I told you I wouldn’t change my career for you, or for anybody. You’ll have to deal with that or walk away. Decide now.” I didn’t mean to be so cold with him, but if I weren’t firm about this, he would keep bringing it up.

  “I’m just trying to help,” he said quietly.

  “Well, don’t. I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself.” I started to walk again.

  He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “I’m sorry. I’ve never been in this situation before.”

  “Just don’t bring it up and you’re good.”

  “Easier said than done,” he said quietly.

  I finished my cone and threw it away. “You have to promise me you won’t tell anyone at work about what I do.”

  “I already said I wouldn’t.”

  “But you keep bringing it up, so I’m afraid you’re going to get desperate for me to quit and tell Skye or my father.”

  He shook his head and kept walking. “I would never do that, Clementine.”

  “Promise me?”

  He turned his gaze on me. “Promise.” Then he grabbed my hand.

  “And I think it’s best if we never mention we’re dating to anyone.”

  “Ooh…like a secret?” he asked with a smirk.

  “Exactly.”

  “We’ll have to sneak around and not get caught…that’s hot.”

  “Yeah, it is.” I pulled him off the path and toward a tree.

  “What are you up to?” he asked.

  I pulled him behind a large trunk then wrapped my arms around his neck. I gave him an aggressive kiss, wanting him to take me then and there.

  Ward kissed me back immediately, his tongue dancing with mine. Then he abruptly pulled away. “You’re a vixen.”

  “What?” I said innocently.

  “We aren’t doing that here.”

  “Why not?” My hand moved down his chest to his waist. I felt his hard-on through his jeans and rubbed it the way he liked.

  His breathing increased slightly. “Let’s go home first.”

  “Why not here in the park?”

  “Because men bring their whores to the park. You’re not my whore. You’re my lady.” He stepped away and adjusted his cock in his jeans.

  It was such a sweet thing to say that I wasn’t offended he just rejected me.

  “Now let’s head home.”

  ***

  Ward and I hit my sheets and he gave me a blinding orgasm that radiated through my body long after it ended. My legs squeezed his waist and I was on cloud nine. I’d never been with a man who was so good in bed. He was a godsend. He knew what to do and how to do it.

  We lay in bed, huffing and puffing.

  “See?” he said. “Wouldn’t that have been better instead of against a tree?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t experienced both.” I gave him a pointed look.

  “I don’t want anyone else to look at you.” He rested one hand behind his head and stared at the ceiling. His expansive chest took up most of my bed. With him, I felt smaller than I already was.

  “It was dark and no one was around.”

  “You never know,” he said. “And what with the way smart phones are, someone would have recorded it.”

  “They wouldn’t have been able to identify us.”

  He turned on his side and looked at me. “Was my performance unsatisfactory?”

  “No,” I blurted. “It was great. Five stars.”

  He smiled then lay on his back again. “Then missionary in a private bedroom is pretty good too.”

  “It was very good.” I rubbed his chest then cuddled beside him.

  “What are you doing tomorrow?” he asked.

  “Depends on what time.”

  “How about noon?” he asked.

  “Probably be sleeping.”

  “Why would you be sleeping?”

  “I worked tonight at two.”

  He suddenly tensed. “As in, in a few hours?”

  “Yeah.”

  He sighed into the darkness.

  “You’ll be asleep and I’ll be back before you wake up. You won’t even know I’m gone.”

  He still didn’t speak.

  “Did you have something in mind around noon?”

  “I wanted to see if you’d like to have lunch with me.”

  “Honestly, I’d rather sleep.”

  “That’s fine.” His voice wasn’t as playful as it was before.

  I set my alarm on my phone then cuddled into his side, wanting a nap before work. Judging the stiffness of Ward’s body, he wasn’t tired anymore. I knew he was irritated that I was a stripper, and he was annoyed that I refused to change my mind about it. I decided to let the topic drop since it wouldn’t go anywhere pleasant.

  ***

  I got off work at six. After I changed and wiped off all the whore make up I was wearing, I exited out of the back of the building then headed through the alleyway. Joe was usually there or some other bouncer, so I wasn’t worried about making it to the sidewalk unscathed.

  When my feet hit the uneven pavement, a man approached me from the left. Naturally, I tensed and pulled out my pepper spray. Spraying him in the eye then kicking him in the balls should do the trick.

  “It’s me, darling.” He held up his hand when he saw the pepper spray.

  I sighed in relief then stashed my weapon back in my purse. “What are you doing here?”

  He put his arm around me and walked by my side. “I was awake and thought I’d stop by.” He escorted me to his car then opened the door.

  I eyed it suspiciously. “You were awake at six in the morning?” I asked incredulously.

  “I guess I’m not used to the time change yet,” he said with a smile.

  “I’m calling your bluff, Ward.”

  He dropped his smile. “I don’t like knowing you come out of an alleyway. An obsessed fan would grab you when no one is around, especially in the middle of the night.” His voice was fierce and angry.

  “A bouncer is by the door.”

  “And you think I trust him?” he asked incredulously. “I was leaning against the wall in the darkness and he didn’t even know I was there.”

  “He probably did but he didn’t think you were threatening.”

  “Now I’m more uneasy.” For the first time, Ward genuinely looked pissed off. “Get in the car. I don’t want to have this conversation right now.”

  I didn’t either so I got inside.

  He slammed the door behind me then got into the driver’s seat. He headed back to my apartment, and we didn’t speak on the drive. I had nothing to say and neither did he. When we were back in my apartment, Ward returned with full force. “They should have a bouncer walk you at least a block from the building. Or you should just take a cab.”

  “A cab is unnecessary when I only live a few blocks away.”

  “So?” he said. “Don’t you think safety is more important?” His hair was still messy from sleeping, and the clothes he wore were from the evening before. Somehow, he still looked sexy as hell.

  I was growing irritated with this. Every time I thought he was okay with my job, he pulled something like this. “Ward, I’m a stripper. I’m going to keep stripping. If you can’t handle it, we shouldn’t see each other anymore.”

  He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed in annoyance.

  “I’m just some girl you’re casually seeing,” I reminded him. “What I do is none of your business or concern. You need to back off.”

  “I just think you’re better than this—”

  “I think your opinion is irrelevant. I’m not kidding around, Ward. If you can’t handle my lifestyle, then leave. I’m not going to put up with this anymore.”

  He paced the apartment and rubbed the back of his neck. “I just care about you.”

  “I understand that, but
you need to let it go. No matter how many times you bring it up, I’m not going to change my mind.”

  “There are so many other options—”

  “Ward.” I gave him a threatening look.

  “Fine.” He walked into the bedroom. “I’ll back off.”

  I stood there for a moment before I followed him.

  He grabbed his bag then put it over one shoulder. “I’m going home.”

  I knew he was mad because he wouldn’t look at me. “Okay.”

  He headed to the front door and stepped out without saying goodbye to me.

  I stood there, feeling rejected and hurt. Just because I stripped didn’t mean I was a bad person. I’d been doing it for years and never felt uncomfortable. The few guys I’d dated didn’t care about my profession.

  Ward came back then hugged me aggressively. “I’m sorry…I’ve never been in this situation before.”

  His scent came into my nose, and I forgot why I was mad. “It’s okay…”

  He rested his chin on my head and held me close. “I’ll try to be better from now on.”

  “Okay.”

  He pulled away and looked into my face. “I’ll see you later.” He kissed me gently, letting his lips linger for a long time. “Sweet dreams.”

  I smiled then watched him walk away.

  ***

  Ward didn’t contact me for the rest of the day. I assumed he’d come over after work but he never called or reached out to me. He was probably still upset about the entire thing.

  It irritated me that he had such a problem with my night job. I wasn’t sleeping with men in exchange for cash. I was just dancing on a pole, out of reach. It didn’t make me a bad person. But sometimes Ward made me feel like a terrible human being.

  The following day, he texted me.

  Free for lunch?

  I could go for a bite.

  Want to meet at that deli on 5th?

  Okay. When?

  Noon.

  I’ll be there.

  I wore jeans and a black blouse with red roses imprinted on it. My dark black hair was slightly wavy and thick, and I wore light make up like usual. Since the weather was so nice, I decided to walk from my apartment.

  When I arrived, Ward was standing outside, looking like a Hugo Boss model standing in his powerhouse suit. The muscles of his body were more outlined, and his thick thighs were noticeable. He was looking down at his phone, unaware of my approach.

  A woman walked by and blatantly gawked at his ass like she wanted to squeeze it.