Caged

by Shanna Ehrlich

Brax didn’t text back immediately and she sat still on the bed trying to remember what happened. She had flashbacks, one specifically of asking Brax to take her in the bathroom, that’s embarrassing, but didn’t remember ever throwing up. “Trevor, do you remember last night? When did I throw up?”

  “Oh my god I forgot about that! When we were coming back to the room you made the driver pull over, but didn’t make it all the way out before it started and ended up getting it on your pants and a little in the car,” he said in slight disgust and she grabbed a pillow to stifle her groan. “Brax got out to help you and it was actually kind of cute seeing his tatted up arms holding your hair back.”

  “Uhggggg,” she groaned again.

  “It wasn’t that bad Annie, except,” Trevor stopped to laugh out loud. “You didn’t want to get back in the car with your pants puked on so you took them off right on the sidewalk and then used them to wipe off the bit that had gotten in the car. The driver had to get you a plastic bag to put them in so they wouldn’t stink everything up.” Annie was so embarrassed she thought she might die. “On the bright side, Brax gave you his shirt so you would be covered up while walking through the hotel,” he indicated toward the shirt peeking out through her robe.

  She opened the robe and took a minute to look at the shirt. It was his! How had she not noticed? She brought it up to her nose and took a big whiff. It even smelled like him.

  Her phone started vibrating in her hand, but this time it wasn’t a text. He was calling. Probably wanting to ask when he could get his shirt back.

  “Hi,” she said, her face still beat red and was glad he couldn’t see her.

  “Hey. How are you feeling?”

  “Um, embarrassed. Trevor just told me I threw up in your car. I’m really sorry. Are you calling to find out when you can get your shirt back?”

  “No. I don’t give a fuck about my shirt. It actually makes me hard thinking you’re wearing it right now.”

  Annie flushed at his statement.

  “I’m calling to tell you to stop fucking apologizing. My girl does not apologize to anyone, not even me.”

  “But—”

  “No,” he cut her off. “There is nothing you can say right now to defend why you are apologizing for something everyone has done before. It makes you sound weak, and you are definitely not weak. It happened. I’ll either get over it or I won’t, and if I’m such a pussy I can’t handle a little throw up then I’m not worth it.”

  His words oddly made sense. She wasn’t actually sorry. She had a great time last night. She was more embarrassed than apologetic. “Okay, fine, then I’m not sorry.”

  “Good,” he said with finality. “I’m going to send my driver by to get my shirt. Last night was really fucking gross and I don’t think I can see you again.”

  “Ha ha. Shut up. Does that mean I don’t have to worry about you stalking me anymore? I can go out today without seeing you?”

  “Do you want to go out without seeing me?” he asked seriously.

  She thought about it for a minute, knowing her answer all along, but not sure if she wanted him to know. Then she remembered his no lying rule and let the word spring free. “No.”

  “Then tell me you want to see me. I want to hear it.”

  “I want to see you Brax.” Her stomach flipped as she answered.

  “What else do you want?”

  “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I think you do. I can give you anything you want. All you have to do is tell me. Tell me what you want. Just like you did last night. I’ll give it to you this time.” His voice lowered as he continued questioning her. “Are you still wearing my shirt? Are your nipples hard?”

  Her voice was caught in her throat.

  “Do you want me to suck on your nipples? Hmmm? No? Maybe you’re a clit action girl, I can suck you there too. Are your pants still off?”

  “Yes,” she dared a response.

  “Yes what? Your pants are off or you want me to suck on you.”

  Annie looked up at Trevor before averting her eyes back down to the comforter. “All of the above.”

  “Get your ass over here right now.” He was no longer fucking around.

  “I can’t.”

  “You can and you will. I want you to sit on my face.”

  “Brax!”

  “Either come over here or I’m going there. I don’t even care if your friends watch.”

  “Well I do. You’re not coming over here.”

  “Fine. Then come over here. My office is just two buildings down. The blue high rise across the street.”

  “It’s not going to happen Brax. I have to go.” She was serious, but laughing at the same time.

  “Do not hang up on me. I know where you are and I’ll throw you over my shoulder and carry your ass over here if I have to.”

  Annie was at a loss for words, not knowing how to deter him from his current train of thought. “Do you ever take no for an answer?”

  “Never. Not if it’s something I want.”

  “Guess that’s something you’re going to have to work on then. Bye Brax.” She hung up the phone still smiling.

  “What was that about,” asked Trevor.

  “Nothing. Just Brax being Brax. I’m gonna go hop in the shower.”

  Annie spent the next twenty minutes with the hot water flowing down her body. Only five of which was to actually clean herself. The other fifteen she let her hand and mind run wild over what would have happened if she actually decided to go see him.

  Stepping out of the shower she wrapped a large, white towel around herself before dropping it to the floor and dressing in a pair of black shorts and a low cut purple tank. Unlike the past few days when they went out to explore the city, she went overboard with her appearance. Making up her face with eyeliner, mascara and foundation. She even curled her hair so it flowed in wavy strands down her back.

  Finally leaving the bathroom she found Mandy lying on her bed and Trevor in his, also both freshly showered. Trevor must have gotten tired of waiting for her to finish and took a shower in Mandy and Sara’s room. She expected them to give her a hard time about her appearance, but their gazes were currently fixed on a rerun episode of Friends, playing on the flat screen with Monica demonstrating the seven erogenous zones. She sat on the bed with Trevor and couldn’t help herself from laughing out loud when Monica kept repeating the number seven and then yelled it out.

  “Hey we should go there today,” Trevor’s voice piped while he sat up on the bed.

  “Where?”

  “The apartment from Friends or Central Perk.”

  “I don’t think those are real places. Weren’t they just on set somewhere?”

  “Hey buzz killer! Let’s just try.”

  “Okay let’s go then. Where’s Sara?” she asked while standing up from the bed and stretching.

  “Ugh, not back yet. She’s still at that guy’s place from last night,” Mandy complained. “I texted her twenty minutes ago and she said she was on her way. She should be back any minute now.”

  Annie walked over to the end table to get her phone and then plopped back on the bed next to Trevor to wait for Sara to get back. Unlocking the phone, she noticed she had a missed call, but it wasn’t who she was hoping for, as sad as that was.

  “Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. Keith called.” Trevor piped in while looking at the screen over her shoulder.

  “Gee thank you, Captain Obvious.”

  An hour later Sara finally walked in the room and gave a shit box excuse about getting on the wrong subway. Yeah right, unless the subway was just a name for the guy she went home with.

  After another hour of Friends and waiting for Sara to shower and change they were finally on their way to continue with seeing the city. Much to Trevor’s disappointment, Central Perk and the Friends apartment building were not real places, though they had fun looking for them.

  After the Friends excursion they walked around seeing all t
he other sites tourists were supposed to see: Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and Radio City Music Hall. They even caught the evening showing of The Lion King musical. Despite the abundant amount of alcohol consumption the prior night, Annie felt relatively well. Probably due to her Brax induced giddiness. She couldn’t stop thinking about him all day. Un-pure, distasteful thoughts of what it would be like if she gave into him, just a little. And once they started she couldn’t stop them. It was like an avalanche of lust overtook her. She imagined the positions he would do her in. Would he pick her up and do her against the wall? She never had sex that way before, but Brax was surely capable. Or maybe he would bend her over and take her from behind? When they stopped for a snack at a café on 6th Ave, she imagined him showing up and following her into the bathroom where he would take her in one of the stalls just like the main characters in the movie Unfaithful. Shit that was hot.

  By late afternoon he still hadn’t texted or called and she wondered if he was consumed with similar thoughts. As the sun made its way down in the sky and there was still no word from Brax, she worried hanging up on him may have been a mistake and toyed with the idea of texting him, something dirty, or maybe just an innocent hi, but ended up deciding against it. If he wanted her, he wouldn’t let their earlier conversation stop him. That thought only made her more obsessed with why he wasn’t texting, and everywhere they went she found herself more focused on her phone, anxiously awaiting the text chime, than the actual attractions they were there to see.

  During The Lion King, a famous Broadway show that should have captured her utmost attention, had nothing on Brax. She checked her phone six times throughout the show and thought about how Brax reminded her of Scar, and maybe Scar was just misunderstood like him. What was wrong with her? She couldn’t seem to get him out of her head and tried to tell herself it was likely for the best if he just didn’t text. They were going down a dangerous path, both figuratively and literally, but her heart wouldn’t listen.

  Having waited this long to talk to him was miracle enough. She let go of her feminine pride of having him chase her and texted first.

  Hey. You still mad? I’m not sorry ;) 8:36pm

  For dinner they found a posh Brazilian Steakhouse and according to Yelp it was one of the best places to eat in the city. The waitlist wasn’t too long either. They were given a black buzzer and told they could wait at the bar for thirty minutes until their table was ready.

  The bar where they sat was made of thick mahogany wood and behind it, a red, brick accent wall displayed abundant amounts of liquor. Wanting to go easy, Annie ordered a vodka diet while Trevor, Mandy and Sara all asked for Long Islands, thinking it was hilarious given the city they were in. She tried to play it cool and pretend like nothing was bothering her, but Brax still hadn’t messaged back. It was after nine at night. What could he be doing? Unless he was out getting laid by some stupid New York twit because he couldn’t get any from her. The thought made her sick to her stomach. She shouldn’t have been so adamant with him about just being friends. She could never just be friends with a man like him.

  Taking another sip of her drink she tried to focus on what her friends were saying. Blah, blah, blah, laughs… you know what, fuck it, she decided, and texted him again. Maybe he just didn’t hear the first one.

  Eating dinner at Chucaria. You should meet up with us. 9:15pm

  Busy. Can’t tonight. 9:15pm

  Her stomach dropped to the floor. In all of her imagined scenarios throughout the day, never once had she thought he would turn her down. He obviously wasn’t interested anymore and to say she was disappointed would be an understatement.

  The buzzer went off indicating their table was ready and they made their way over to the hostess station to be seated. The salad bar was buffet style and they were immediately told to help themselves. When they returned to the table they were greeted by several different waiters, all displaying large slabs of meat: beef, chicken, pork, lamb. You name it, they had it, and it was all amazing. Not like a regular buffet with the cheap brands of meat, but high-end, melt in your mouth food. It was almost enough to make her completely forget about Brax. Well, not really, but at least she had something good to focus on.

  They continued eating as another waiter approached their table with a tray of glasses and an unopened bottle of wine. “Oh fancy,” Trevor rubbed his palms together. “Yes I would like a taste test.”

  The waiter smiled at him. “You’ll be getting more than a taste test sir. This bottle has been purchased already, compliments of a Mr. Cage.”

  Annie choked on her bite as she heard the name and had to take a drink to clear her throat while the waiter uncorked the bottle. “I’m sorry, what?”

  “He gives his regards for not being here.”

  The waiter poured them each a glass and her friends all focused their eyes on her. “I may have texted and invited him to join us. He said he was busy tonight. That’s why I didn’t mention it.”

  Sara looked proud. “Damn Annie, finally pulling your weight around here. Well some of it,” she added under her breath.

  “Hey, not all of us can be anorexic like you.”

  “Raawr,” Trevor interjected while imitating a cat claw. “Don’t ruin the moment with fighting, we just got free wine bitches!”

  Laughing it off they continued eating and drinking from the fabulous bottle of wine. Annie wasn’t a huge wine drinker, but this bottle was one of the best she had tasted and they went through it quick. When the waiter stopped by to find out how they were doing Trevor decided to ask for a second bottle.

  “Well how much is it?” Mandy smartly brought up before the waiter left.

  “I need to double check, but forty-three I believe.”

  “Oh, well that’s not too bad! I can afford forty-three dollars. Add this bottle to my tab.”

  “No ma’am, not forty-three dollars, forty-three hundred dollars.”

  Mandy’s eyes almost bugged out of her head. “Are you shitting me? Who spends that kind of money on a bottle of wine?”

  “Apparently Annie’s new boy toy.”

  “He’s not my boy toy Trevor. He just has a lot of money.”

  “Yeah, I guess. The bar business must be really lucrative.” She wasn’t going to tell Trevor the money probably came from something other than the bar. “Text him and ask if we can get another.”

  “Seriously? I’m not doing that. I don’t even know how to thank him for the bottle he did buy.”

  “Just do what you did last night,” Sara interjected. “You must have the tightest vagina of all time. That or he’s trying to impress someone else here. No way he buys a bottle that expensive and you didn’t give it up.”

  “I don’t see the guy you gave it up to last night buying us anything so why would you think I gave it up to mine? Maybe try keeping your legs closed and you might get more from them besides the occasional STD.”

  “Annie! Sara! What the fuck is wrong with you guys?” Mandy chastised. “We’re on vacation and supposed to be having fun. Why are you guys bickering?”

  The waiter was standing tableside, listening to the embarrassing conversation, and in an attempt to defuse the situation, Mandy sent him off for a round of shots and beers.

  The dinner went on relatively smooth after that. Sara was always a bitch and over time Annie had learned how to bounce back swiftly from her rude, off-putting comments. By the time dinner ended Brax still hadn’t messaged her and she didn’t know when it would be appropriate to text him since he said he was busy, but when the waiter informed them he paid for the entire meal she couldn’t wait any longer and stepped out front to call him. He answered on the first ring.

  “How was dinner?”

  “Free thanks to you. I feel like I should be saying thank you, but I’m worried about your motives. You just spent five grand on us.”

  “I don’t have any ulterior motives. Well, nothing more than I’ve had since we first met. Five grand is nothing to me. I actually thought it wo
uld be more. Did you not like the wine? You didn’t get another one?”

  “Hell no I didn’t get another one! I wasn’t about to spend that kind of money and at the time I didn’t realize you were paying the whole bill.”

  “So if you knew I was paying you would have?”

  “Honestly? Probably. If you want to spend money like that who am I to stop you? Does that make me a money grubbing whore?”

  “Maybe just money grubbing,” he laughed. “If I remember correctly, whores at least put out.”

  It was technically an insult, but still made her smile. Somehow everything he said made her smile. What the hell was she turning into? “Fine. I’m just a money-grubber.”

  “Good. That’s how my girl should be. I’m a money-grubber too so we’re perfect together.” That was the second time he had called her his girl. She loved the way it sounded, but hated it wasn’t true.

  “I’m still not putting out.” At least she hoped she wouldn’t.

  “Me either. I’m not giving you any until you beg me to.”

  Annie snorted, not believing him one bit. “Guess we’re at a stalemate then Mr. Cage.”

  Brax practically growled over the phone. “I love how my name sounds coming from your mouth.”

  “Good. I can’t wait to tease you with it later.” Her imagination from earlier in the day made it easier for her to be bold.

  “Tease me with my name or your mouth?”

  What she wouldn’t give to tease him with her mouth. Somehow her previous reservations had done a complete 180. “Whatever you want me to tease you with Mr. Cage.”

  “Play nice B. Otherwise I might have to show you how I play.”

  “Ohhh, Mr. Cage. Is that a threat? Do you play rough? I’ve always liked it rough.” She whispered the last sentence and licked her lips at how the statement wasn’t entirely false.

  “Game. On.” His voice lowered by several octaves and gave her chills, the pure tone intimidating. She was out of her league and she knew it.

  “By the way, your ass is so fucking sexy in those shorts.”