by A. C. Bextor
Turning around to face him, I put my hand on his chest and push him away slightly. “Go away, Dan.”
“You owe me a drink.”
“I owe you nothing.”
Dismissing my rejection in its entirety, he demands, “Tonight then.”
Dismissing his ridiculous assumption, I return, “Won’t happen, and I’m not in the mood to explain what that means.”
With the refusal on the table, Dan pushes himself against me and I hear Shelby call for Mel over the radio music blaring through the speakers. “This wasn’t a negotiation. It’s a drink, little Lacey.”
Hearing Dan coining me a nickname makes me nauseous. I reject the invite again, adding insult to injury. “I don’t date men.”
It’s a lie and he sees through it.
He starts to lean his face toward my neck, leering down with a smile of a jackal when suddenly he’s violently pulled back. I don’t see who has a hand on him until the crowd moves and Dan falls to the floor after a swift punch to the face. I’ve been around bars enough to know that panicking does nothing to help the situation, so I let it play out.
“Touch her again, you’ll never set foot in this place again.” Trey, the added bouncer who was just hired, sneers down at Dan as he grabs his now bloody nose.
“Fuck, you asshole. We were talking.”
Trey spits on the floor beside him, disregarding his excuse. “Don’t talk to her again.”
Dan gets up and chest-bumps Trey just as Mel makes his way out. “Last warning, Michaels. Keep your hands off the women or you won’t be asked to come back.”
“This is bullshit!” he shouts, walking away and making his way to his crowded table.
Calming down and looking up, I see Travis coming toward me in a rush. “Are you okay?” he asks me, wiping away the tear I didn’t feel falling down my face.
“Yeah, he’s an ass.”
“He is.”
Looking beyond Trav’s shoulder, I see Hayden and Ace making their way over to us. Ace is fuming and Hayden looks lost and confused in the commotion.
“They all are,” I say in reference to men in general. “I’ve got to get to work.”
“Lacey,” Trav says, aiming to get my attention.
“I’m fine, Travis. Let me work. Go set up. I’ll talk to you later.”
When Travis turns around, I watch as he pushes on Ace’s chest as Ace tries to make his way to me. Hayden stands alone behind them, watching me with care, but doesn’t make another move toward me. He missed what had happened; his confusion is evident.
When Devil’s Despair finally takes stage, fifteen minutes late thanks to Dan, the women all make their way up front and center on the stage, leaving the men who brought them to linger around the bar talking amongst themselves. The drinks are flowing and the tips are paying off. Generally having two bands play in one night doesn’t happen, but Mel and Ace both agreed for the need to start mixing things up.
“You’re new?” a gentle voice says beside me as I wait for Shelby to finish making the round of drinks I just ordered.
He’s handsome in a boyish way, nothing I would find to stand out in a crowd. His eyes are green, and his hair is a soft blond. He has an easy and relaxing smile that screams ‘friend zone.’ I find myself summing him up. He seems harmless.
“I am. I’ve been here a couple of weeks.”
“I’m Ryan.” He stretches his hand toward me to shake it.
Yes, he’s sweet. “Lacey.”
He lets my hand go and continues the standard greeting. “Nice to meet you, Lacey.”
Curiously, I ask, “Is your girlfriend enjoying the music?”
He smiles again, looking into the crowd of drunk and crazy women, and replies, “Yeah. She’s a big fan of their singer. Poor girl gets to go home with me, though. I suppose I’m a great disappointment in comparison.”
“Hayden Flynn,” I say with a dramatic sigh, causing him to blush under the lights of the bar. “Well, if it helps, Brad Pitt himself is a disappointment in comparison.” He laughs out loud; his sweet smile is just as endearing as the rest of him. “No, really. Look at him.” I point with dramatic gesture. “I can honestly say even Adam Levine wants to be Hayden Flynn.”
“Maybe.” He nods, taking a drink of his beer. “You know him?”
“Adam Levine? No.”
“No, Hayden.”
“Well. I’m Travis’s sister. I just moved here. So, yes, I know Hayden. They’re shadows of each other.”
He gets up from his stool after finding his woman again in the crowd, “Well, Lacey, Travis’s sister, the girl who knows Hayden, it was nice meeting you. Take care.”
“You, too.”
*****
Hayden
I’ve never witnessed the crowd in such a state of frenzy. I’ll admit the women tonight are here to see both Sheridan, the British dick, and myself. When Ace mentioned setting up both bands to play at the same venue, I was nervous. Generally, the Despair crowd is relaxed and settled. Tonight, coupled with Dragon’s Mansion fans, the crowd’s noise level is off the charts. Mel hired a few temporary bouncers to assist, but I’m still unsure.
Usually our first song up on stage is a laid-back and easy one for me. Tonight, even though the song choice is set up to relax my vocal chords, I feel anything but relaxed.
Lacey is working the section in front of the stage and she’s done everything she can to avoid looking up at me. She’s carrying on with the women and laughing at their overly dramatic party ways. I watch as she floats her way back to the bar for more drinks to deliver, stopping to say hi to the regular customers and smile softly to those she doesn’t know.
Midway through set, after our fourth song, I make my way to Ace who stands side stage with his usual clipboard in hand and pen in ear. “Watch the girls. I can’t see Rae’s table anymore and Marlee’s not standing where she should be.”
“You’re stressing?” he asks, smiling. “That’s new.”
Not wanting to debate my change in mood, I tell him with a stern tone, “Just watch, okay?”
“Yeah, got it. Do you think there’s ever a chance I wouldn’t?”
He’s right. I should’ve known he’d have one eye on Rae for certain. When I follow his line of sight, I see Raegan sitting alone at her table, not drinking. “She still hung over?”
“Fuck yeah. That was a fuckin’ nightmare. That shit won’t happen again.”
“Ace,” I draw out with sarcasm and his eyes narrow, knowing I’m going there. “Drunk sex with Rae is probably good, but the state she was in couldn’t have been epic.”
“Fuck you. Are you ready or not?”
I nod, smiling at his expense, and head back to center stage just as the lights dim. Travis, as always, is to my right and hollers to me as the room goes quiet. “Put some heart into this shit, Hayden. You’re half-assin’ it.”
I ignore his comment but also know he’s right. I’m not into the women of the crowd tonight. The one I’m trying to get to notice me refuses to offer even a glance.
When the lights come on, I train my eyes on Lacey standing at the bar. She’s talking to a man I’ve not seen here before. She’s standing close to him and without realizing what I’m thinking, I feel angry.
I don’t know if I want her talking to anyone. She’s starting to undo me.
Through the verses of “Closer” by Kings of Leon, I grow more agitated as I watch them smile and laugh. For a brief moment, I witness him leaning closer to her before taking a drink of his beer.
“Lose the shirt, Hayden,” the redhead, Melissa, in the front row shouts. The other ladies congratulate her efforts by screaming in turn.
Raising my shirt quickly, I show them my abs as a tease. It’s a practiced move and tonight, unlike the others, it’s only for show. I’ve no interest in any of them. I’m not sizing them up, determining which of these women would fit best under me. This uncertainty and confusion is starting to piss me off.
Once the set is over, I find
Lacey through the crowd and aim my efforts to get to her.
“Where are you rushing off to?” Travis asks, packing up his keyboard.
“To find Lacey.”
“Dan’s gone ’til it’s his time to play. She’s fine.”
Travis saying this in such a casual tone tells me she didn’t let him in on our night together. “No rush,” I lie, hoping he doesn’t prod. Thankfully, that sweet friendly face of Kate is standing by Marlee beneath the stage waiting for him to finish.
“Hot date?” I ask, nodding in her direction.
He smiles shyly, never revealing his true intentions with any woman. He considers it bragging. “Maybe.”
“I’ll go find Lacey and see if she’s okay.”
“She’s fine, I said. Dan got pissed and left. He’ll be back, man. It’s okay.”
I feel Raegan’s hand on my arm before I can respond to Travis. “Are you all right? You looked distracted tonight,” she asks hesitantly.
“I’m fine. It was a long set.”
“It’s crazy in here.”
“Yeah, some people are getting comfortable in the crowd though.” I nod toward Lacey and feel myself tense again. She’s talking to another guy with her hand on the back of his chair. He’s looking up at her with a perverse smirk.
“Who? Lacey?” Rae doesn’t know why I’m pissed off. Fuck, I can’t say I know why I’m pissed, either.
“You and the other girls need to be careful. Especially with Sheridan up later.”
She giggles slightly. “He’ll be singing through his nose tonight, thanks to Trey.”
She’s right. He probably will.
He’s a douche.
“Go find Lacey. Tell her I’ll take another water when she has time. Don’t be an ass; she looks like she’s having a good time and she’s making new friends.”
I look to where Rae is aiming her eyes and find the blond man she was talking with earlier put his hands on her shoulder to gain her attention.
My thoughts of making him talk through his nose are interrupted by Rae. “Did you just growl?”
“What?” I snap, not appreciating the smug look she’s aiming at me.
“Growl, Hayden. You were looking at . . .” She points to the direction of Lacey and her face drops in recognition. “Hayden . . .” she pauses, “are you and Lacey . . . ?” She doesn’t finish; she doesn’t have to.
“No,” I return as I side-step her on my way to the bar.
By the time I reach Lace, she’s standing up front talking to Shelby. Then, by the time I realize what I’m doing, I explain to Shelby what I need from her. “Lacey will be right back. Have Kelly take these out. I just need ten minutes.” I motion to Kelly, the other waitress on tonight, and grab Lacey’s wrist. I don’t wait for her to refuse, and thankfully, she doesn’t. Shelby gives me a wide-eyed stare.
Grabbing Lacey’s hand and pulling her into my side, shielding her from the crowd in order to keep us together, I take her to my quiet spot out back.
Once we make our way out the door, she pulls away from me and takes back her hand in anger. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I want to talk.” I answer her question with the same aggravated tone she’s using.
“Now? You didn’t want to talk all day. I’ve got tables, Hayden. Move.” Grabbing me around the waist, she tries to get by me, but I don’t budge. My tall, broad frame is no match for her small but mighty one.
“Who’s the guy?” Her attempts to move me out of the way stop, and she freezes. Once she looks up at me in surprise at my accusing tone, I prod. “Sitting at the bar, your new buddy? Does he have a name?”
“Ryan?” When she says his name with fluency, the wind in my chest escapes me.
“Ryan,” I repeat through a clenched jaw, not enjoying the replay in my head of their friendly conversation.
“I need to work, Hayden.” She makes a move to walk around me as I stand against the door. I stop her by grabbing her waist, twisting her around and pushing her further out into the darkened porch. She fights me, but soon gives up.
“I wanted to call,” I whisper in her ear, hoping to calm her. She’s looking out into the dark night when she finally settles; the side of her face doesn’t give me any inclination to what she’s thinking. “Lacey?”
“Call for what?”
My hand reaches to the hem of her skirt and my fingers lift it slowly, waiting for her to deny me. I watch from the side as her eyes close and she inhales a deep breath without releasing it. “I should’ve called.”
“Last night didn’t mean anything . . .”
My finger moves her thong to the side and I slide my finger into her. She freezes, stilling in my arms. “Didn’t it? Cause I thought about you all fucking day.”
“Hayden,” she whispers.
“And as ready as you are, I know you’ve thought about me all fucking day, too.”
Moving my arm around her waist and removing my hand from her skirt, I release her quickly and reach for the condom in my back pocket. “Don’t fucking move.”
She starts to turn around when she hears me readying myself behind her, but I grab her face with one hand and kiss her hard while finishing with the condom with the other. Her reaction to my rough hands on her face and my tongue filling her mouth is to whimper quietly.
“Out here?” Her voice rises once I free her mouth and lift her skirt up entirely before pushing my cock into her slowly.
“Here,” I reply, pulling out and sliding myself into her again as she latches on to the handrails in front of her.
“Oh, God,” she moans into the night. I smile into her neck and bite gently. “Hayden.”
“Out. Here,” I repeat, spreading her thighs in front to keep her skirt lifted and grant me further access. Running my hand down her stomach and reaching under the front of her thong, I find her clit swollen and wet. Slow and certain thrusts from behind jolt her forward. “Say my name, Lacey.” She refuses, sticking to her reluctance to what’s happening. “Hayden,” I demand my name as I bite her earlobe. “Say it or I’ll stop.”
Still she says nothing, so I stop. I start to draw out of her when her hands come around my neck as I stand behind her. “Hayden,” she whispers while closing her eyes.
I grab hold of the rail beside her and bend her slightly by pushing at her shoulders to get her to bend down, the position offering deeper penetration.
“Hayden,” she repeats, this time with an increased enthusiasm.
“Fuck, Lacey. I feel you. When you’re ready, take it.”
A feral growl comes from me at the same time a soft moan escapes her. She’s climaxing in the heat of passion, allowing me to give it to her where I want and when I’m ready. I feel her clench around me as she lets go, so I violently pump into her in search of my own release. Before finding what I’m desperate for, I lean in and sink my teeth into her soft flesh.
Gripping her hips, I lose myself inside her. She stills and allows me to finish taking what I need.
I bend over her, resting my head in the middle of her back, and kiss her gently. She tenses under me and starts to stand. “Just wait.” I stop her, wanting to enjoy the quiet moment.
“I really do have to work, Hayden.” Her honest plea is sincere as she starts to stand, this time with more deliberate movements.
I slide myself out of her, pocket the condom and adjust my pants. “What do you do with those?” She smiles, adjusting her skirt and eyeing my hand in my pocket.
“What do you think?” I ask the obvious.
“Do you save them? Souvenirs or something? Are you a condom hoarder?”
I hate her reference. She doesn’t say it outright, but it’s the same shit I hear from the others. “No. I don’t keep them.”
Having realized she may have hurt my feelings with her insinuation, she walks against me and leans up, pressing her lips briefly to mine. “Thanks for making my night more interesting.”
“I want to see you later,” I demand without reason. She�
�s not mine; we’re not exclusive.
I’m not about to commit to her on any level, but I’m being honest when I tell her I want to see her again.
“Okay,” she complies, kissing me again quickly. I grab her waist to deepen the kiss. My tongue slides into her mouth, being easily accepted. Just as I’m about to pull away, the back door to the bar flies open.
Holding her in my arms, we both look to see who’s standing on the other side. When we do, she takes a quick breath and I lose mine completely.
Travis.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Lacey
HAYDEN’S BODY TENSES. All signs of fun and sweetness he was offering seconds before has evaporated with any air I need to breathe. Travis stands glaring at us both with a look of absolute rage and fury. He’s pinning Hayden with so much anger, my mouth opens to speak, but I can’t.
“What the fuck is this shit, Hayden?” Travis doesn’t look or exude his anger toward me at all, only Hayden. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Travis,” I plead, keeping my hands on Hayden’s chest. It’s instinct and a protective gesture in the face of an angered Travis.
“Shut it, Lacey.” Travis points to Hayden with a disgusted glare. His eyebrows furrow together as he talks over me to him. “He knows what the fuck I’m talking about.”
Stepping back from me with a look of shame, Hayden lets go and looks down. “Say it, Travis,” he says, waiting for Travis to continue to unleash.
Travis makes his way out of the door and it slams soon after. “You’re somethin,’ you know that?”
“A man-whore. A user. Nothing more than that, I know,” Hayden answers with hurt and doubt as Travis continues his barrage of insults.
“There are a thousand women in this city I don’t give a flying fuck about you being with.” Travis points to me, standing near Hayden, and continues his rant. “That one, though. Fuck no, man.” Running his hands through his hair, he finishes with a raised voice that echoes in my chest, “Fuck no!”
Hayden says nothing in his own defense. I try to say something, anything to stop this from playing out. “Travis, maybe you should ask . . .”
“No. You have no fucking idea what he’s like, Lacey. You’ve known him a fucking minute; I’ve known him a lifetime.”