Releasing one of her hands, I run my fingers through my hair and go for it. “I’m sorry.” That wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be, and I have her attention. “Look, I’ve never slept with, dated or wanted a member of staff—until you. When you were going and I said about keeping quiet, I could have phrased it differently or even explained, but you kind of took off.” I smile. “I’m new to this…this whatever it is between us and I handled it wrong. I was trying to protect you when I said about the staff. I didn’t want them to treat you differently because of me.”
Our hands entwine and when I feel a gentle pressure against mine, I feel as though all might be right between us. This woman drives me insane and no matter what I do, she stays in my head.
Placing a kiss on my knuckles she meets my gaze. “I thought you were ashamed to be seen with me. A waitress.”
Is she crazy? I release her hands and rising up, take her face between my hands and tell her, “Rosie,” I kiss her lips, “I could never be ashamed of you. Oh God, babe. Don’t ever think that. I really was just trying to protect you in your work environment.”
I kiss her again. Just small feather light kisses around her lips and nose. “I’m sorry that’s what you thought. I’m sorry I upset you after the most amazing coming together with a woman I’ve ever experienced.”
I’m not ready to talk about the love I’m thinking is behind my obsession with Rosie, but I’m unable to call it sex. It was so much more than just sex.
“Will you forgive me for being an ass and just blurting it out the way I did?” I try to give her the saddest puppy-dog look I can muster but I don’t think it works too well when she bursts out laughing.
“I’ll forgive you, just don’t keep looking at me like that because you look so funny and I could eat more food now.”
“I promise.”
Grinning, I hand Rosie a plate and sitting back, I watch her fill it with all Lorraine’s delicious food. I feel as though the huge lump of lead that was in my stomach has finally lifted now that we have everything cleared up.
Rosie sits back with her plate in her lap and is about to start eating when she notices my lack of movement, and asks, “Is everything, okay?”
“Um, yeah. It’s great actually. I was enjoying watching you, but now you’re sorted with food, it’s my turn.”
I feel giddy as a child being with Rosie. She’s so fresh and young, and just damn gorgeous to look at.
Settling beside her, I eat some seasoned rice with chicken as we both gaze down the valley.
This has been a favorite hangout of mine since I was old enough to drive. Even as a young lad, I used to come here for peace and to think. Until Rosie, I’ve never brought another person out here. I used to bring Rex when he was alive—my Golden Retriever. Not even my brothers know about this spot, or if they do they’ve never mentioned it.
“What were you like as a boy?”
The out of the blue question from Rosie, surprises me, more so because I was lost in the past.
“There is pretty close to two years between each of my brothers, and as you know I’m the middle one. When I was a young boy, I hated being in the middle even though my mom used to try telling me that the middle child is special.” I laugh. “My brothers hated that and would try and beat me up, which only happened once until Lucien taught me how to fight back…Good days.”
I chuckle remembering, and ask, “What about you? Any siblings?” Asking Rosie this question, I realize I hardly know anything at all about her.
She looks out toward the distance before going back to her plate of food. “I was an only child. Both my parents are dead—thank god. So there really is only me. Although I think Liz and Ed who own the diner—Mama E’s—treat at me as a daughter.” Rosie meets my eyes. “Sad, huh? I don’t have a large family like you do.”
She’s alone. That’s all I can think about, and to ask her to be part of my family is on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t—at least not yet—she’d probably run a mile.
With the frown marring her brows, I keep the questions about what happened to her parents to myself because I sense that will take the picnic downhill.
“I’m sorry you don’t have close family Rosie, but at least you have Liz and Ed, right?”
She smiles. “Yeah, I do.”
“And I’ve seen you with Lily and Carla, so they’re becoming your friends, right? I guess we better not forget you’re also a favorite with my brothers, and that guy.”
She starts to laugh, which is music to my ears after looking sad while talking about her family or lack of.
“That guy?”
“Hunter,” I say, grudgingly.
She rolls her eyes and nudges me with her leg. “He’s a nice guy, but lonely. Cute as well,” she teases. “If you gave him a chance instead of giving him a ‘stay clear’ look then you might even have a new friend or employee.”
Hearing her say employee has me sitting up and taking notice. “Employee?” Why would she suggest hiring Hunter?
“He helped the other week at the club. I admit I don’t know anything about him, but he always makes time to chat with me, and your brothers. I feel safe with him around is all.” She shrugs.
I’m an idiot. It’s been a few weeks since she was thumped in the face on the dance floor at Kenza, but the fact that she doesn’t feel safe bothers me. I don’t want her frightened to come to work. But there isn’t too much I can do about staff being caught in the crossfire. How can I make that safer?
Setting my plate down beside me, I remove hers from her hands and place it alongside mine. “Rosie,” I use my hand to tilt her chin up so that our gazes meet. “I don’t ever want you to feel unsafe at Kenza, and if you want me to ask Hunter if he wants a job then I will do. I want you to be safe and to feel safe.”
The night of the fight there were two security guards off because of sickness, or so they said. But I’m going to do my best to make sure she’s safe.
“I don’t want you doing anything just because I’m a bit nervous after being hit. I mean it isn’t the first time I’ve been hit, but, well, it hurt.” She gives a nervous laugh. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore, it’s ruining our time together.”
It isn’t the first time she’s been hit! What the fuck is wrong with that? I’m willing to leave it for now, but I’ll want answers eventually.
With a slight push she falls backwards, laughing. I lie down with her, but rest on my elbow and loom over her. A lock of hair has become loose from her braid, which I wrap around my finger feeling the silky texture.
“You are beautiful,” I lean in and kiss the tip of her nose, grinning, “and you are such a huge distraction that I’m sure I’m behind with the paperwork. All I think about is you. I think about how you tasted spread out before me. I think about how you looked in my bed with your hair on my pillow.”
My breath catches when she reaches up and places her palm against my chest. Her hand burns as she caresses before starting to caress up and down my side. My body hardens having her hands on me.
“Ruben, will you kiss me.”
“I’m yours Rosie. You never need to ask, but I’m going to kiss you slow.” With that warning being spoken, I roll on top of her and pushing her legs open, I settle between. Holding my weight off her with an elbow at either side, I look at her from her slim torso, up along the curve of her breasts toward her neck before finally meeting her gaze.
My hand has a mind of its own as I continue to hold her gaze, and I lightly rub it over her aroused nipples.
Her mouth opens slightly in pleasure as I do the same again. There’s no way she isn’t feeling my growing arousal as I’m pressed up close and personal.
She watches me through heavily lidded eyes as I lower my face to hers, and when our lips are a breath apart, I say, “Don’t let me take this too far. Promise me Rosie. Today is a date that doesn’t end with us getting naked.”
I press a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth and use my tongue
to slide across her sealed lips to the other corner, which I kiss. I love to tease her as I move back to the middle, and dipping my tongue inside, gain entry…and then our tongues meet and all I can think about is her taste, which explodes on my tongue. Cinnamon and my woman.
Deepening the kiss, I take hold of her wrists and bringing them above her head, I hold them in one hand. She arches up against me, rubbing against my hard dick as I use my other hand to caress down her side to her hip. I grip her flesh, trying to stop myself from completely ravishing her.
“God,” I breathe into her neck, “I wish I had something to tie your wrists together so my other hand would be free to touch you.”
She freezes against me, as though she’s suddenly turned to a statue.
“Let me go. Get off me.” She pushes at my chest.
I release her wrists, but it’s taking my brain and lust fueled body a moment to comprehend what’s going on before I start to move. She’s panicked about something.
“Ruben, please get off me. Let me up,” she gasps.
Quickly rolling from her, I get to my knees to try and help her, but she’s up and walking around with her arms wrapped around her stomach in a protective hold.
Jumping to my feet, I go to her, but she stops me by holding a shaking hand out in front of her.
“I can’t be what you want, Ruben. I’m sorry.”
“What…”
She walks away and starts to reseal the tubs, tossing them back into the picnic hamper.
Well, I guess our picnics over with. I just wish she’d talk to me. What the fuck did I do? Then it hits me. I said about tying her up then she mentioned she couldn’t be what I want. She’s running scared.
“Rosie, please stop. Let me speak.”
She shakes her head. “Ruben, please don’t. It’s okay.” She carries on placing everything neatly away. “Well it’s not because I…I want to be with you, but you like things that I don’t like or want. I can’t be that person for you—the person who trusts you to tie them up and to not abuse them. I can’t do it. Please don’t ask me to do that.”
I take the containers from her hands and try to hold on to her. “Rosie, dammit. I’m sorry I’ve frightened you…wait...” I see red. “Who the fuck abused you? I’ll kill the fucker.”
She stops with her back toward me as she’s making her way to the SUV. “My father used to tie me up and leave me sitting in the middle of my room all day when he thought I’d been naughty. The first time had been after I’d left an apple in my lunch bag. The second time was because I’d missed the school bus. I’d missed the bus because he couldn’t find the keys to unlock the door and I’d refused to climb out through the window with all the other kids standing at the bus stop watching. I’ll never relinquish control of my body to anyone. And please don’t ask me to talk about it again because I’d rather leave it where it belongs; in the past.”
I’m not too sure leaving it buried in the past is all that healthy for her. She needs to deal with it before it’s left in the past, not let it fester, but now she sounds exhausted. “Please just take me home. I can’t do this. It isn’t fair to the both of us.”
I’m at a lost as to what to say having never been in this situation before, but I don’t want to take her home at least not until I’ve said something. It would be great if my brain started working again first though.
“Rosie,” I say standing behind her, clenching my fists at my side, itching to comfort her. “I’m sorry I frightened you that’s the last thing I wanted. I want, no I need to see you again. I know the rumors about my appetites, for want of a better word, but I can do without it. I don’t need it. Yes, I like all that and playing with toys for pleasure, but I don’t need it…God, I need you more.”
I’m a pussy begging. I’ve never begged for anything in my life, but I’ll beg for Rosie.
“I hear you. Please just take me home, and I promise to think about what you’ve just said.”
“Okay, I’m not going to let you go so easily. You realize that, right? You’re under my skin, Rosie.” I lean forward and kiss her on the back of her head.
“Let me grab everything and we’ll head back. I’ll give you some time to get this straight in your head, but then we’ll go to the movies or something. I really do want to date you properly.”
Chapter 14 ~ Rosie
I was in two minds as to whether or not to show up at work tonight after my afternoon out with Ruben. He didn’t do anything wrong, it was my fear. Because of how he reacted I was able to tell him why I had such a fear, which had surprised me. It isn’t something I’ve ever told anyone, but he hadn’t flipped and I found the words coming out of my mouth. I feel relief that he knows because now he won’t push me into anything like that.
My heart had fluttered when he’d said he wanted to date me properly. I’d like that as well. More than he could possible know. Today had been wonderful until my fear had hit.
Sighing, I dab at my face with a napkin in the restroom while I try to hide from Simon and the guy who’s sitting with him. I’ve seen them together about five or six times now, and every time the guy stares at me in a totally freaky way. Part of me knows Simon is behind what is happening here and I’ve wondered the past couple of times whether or not the guy with him has something to do with the bad stuff. But I guess I can’t hide in here all night when I’m supposed to be working the bar with Craig.
“Okay, here goes nothing.” I pull the door open and pop my head out to check if the coast is clear, then laugh at myself. I’m glad there isn’t anyone around to witness what I’m doing. Idiot. Too much late night television.
Slipping through the door, I head toward the bar and manage to make it behind without any incident until Craig steps in my way.
“Where’ve you been?” He frowns.
“Restroom.”
“You can’t keep running to the restroom every time Simon and that guy come in.”
What the hell!
“Don’t give me that wide-eyed stare. I’m not stupid regardless of what you might think.” Craig carries on wiping glasses while watching me from the corner of his eye.
I had no idea I was so obvious. I shrug, and say, “He’s weird and freaks me out. I can’t help that.”
He grins. “Sorry. I was teasing. He freaks me out as well, but the guy he arrives with really is freaky. He’s built like the hulk.”
I give him a quizzical look. “I haven’t seen anyone else.”
“That’s because he always stays outside. I saw him once when I’d gone outside for a smoke. I never go outside when Simon’s friend is here anymore.” He shudders. “Talking about friends, Hunter is here.” He nods toward the end of the bar where Hunter is sitting staring down our way.
“Okay, thanks. Let me know when he’s gone.”
“Will do.”
I grab an apron and fasten it while walking toward Hunter who’s frowning at me. “What’s up?”
“You okay?” he asks, ignoring me and glancing at Craig.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
I wave the bottle of whiskey in front of him, which causes a grin to spread across his face.
Pouring him three fingers of the hard liquor, I place it down in front of him and notice he still looks distracted, and I don’t think it has anything to do with me this time.
“What’s wrong?” I lean on the bar toward him. “And don’t tell me nothing. You’re still frowning.”
His eyes meet mine, but the worried look stays. I’m starting to worry now. It can’t be a good sign if Hunter has that look.
“Stay away from the guy with Simon…I’m not telling you anything else. Just stay clear and don’t go outside while he’s here. If you can do that then I’ll be happy.”
“That’s easy to do. He freaks me out and Craig’s already warned me not to go outside because apparently Hulk is out there.” I offer a wry smile, but I should have known he’d see straight through me.
“Rosie,” he takes my hands into his, �
��as long as he’s here I’ll be close to you, okay. Don’t worry about that.”
He does make me feel safe, but I don’t want his evening ruined because he’s babysitting me, which is what it basically comes down to. I’m also wondering whether Ruben’s spoken to him about the security job he mentioned. I wouldn’t put it past him.
“Hey, Babe.”
Hunter releases my hands.
Speaking of the devil.
Ruben wraps his arm around my waist and kisses me on the side of my head before turning to face Hunter, keeping his arm around me. He’s marking me. Regardless of what happened this afternoon, I think I like being marked by him.
“Is this okay?” he whispers into my ear at the same time as he squeezes my waist to let me know what he’s referring to.
His cologne is making my knees weak and he feels so good pressed against me that I’m going to be a puddle at his feet soon.
“Yeah, it’s fine.”
Hunter coughs, dragging my eyes back to him. He’s laughing behind his hand.
I’m lost for words as I glare at him while enjoying Ruben’s presence next to me.
“Hunter doesn’t want to work for me,” Ruben says. “He has other things to do. But he’s promised to make sure nothing happens to you and hang out when he can.”
“Okay. I’m not going to get pissed at you thinking I need a babysitter after what I said earlier, but I think it’s just nerves after what happened, you know? I’ll settle eventually.”
Looking back at Hunter, I say, “But it’s good knowing you’re going to be hanging out around here.” I smile.
Hopefully everyone will think twice about causing trouble when Hunters around. Right now he looks approachable and friendly, but the night I’d gotten in the middle of a fight and ended up punched in the face, he’d looked anything but friendly.
“I’ve got work to do on the computer.” Ruben kisses me again before removing his arm. “Stay safe babe.” And with those words he disappears as quickly as he arrived.
“Hmm. That was cozy,” Hunter observes.
I ignore him and spend the next hour serving drinks and drying glasses. Boring, I know. But I’d rather be doing this with the bar between me and everyone else. Safer.
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