by Kristen Echo
“Carly and me? Hell no. Never together and never will be. I don’t have time for girlfriends. My focus is hockey. Theo on the other hand… it’s only a matter of time before he puts a ring on her finger. He’s whipped. His balls are in a… I won’t finish that thought. Since you’re hungry, we should pick something closer.” They pulled up to a red light, and he finally turned towards her.
“Afraid of being tied down?”
“You could tie me down anytime, baby.” His lips lifted on the side. That cocky grin was her downfall.
His mouth. Those lips. She had to make them hers.
Hailey reached over and gripped his head, planting her mouth against his. She licked over his full lips until they parted. She hadn’t planned to kiss him, but she didn’t regret it. His tongue wrapped around hers and tasted of coffee and cream. He kissed with confidence and she became consumed with desire.
The soft stubble on his face scratched against her cheeks as he deepened the kiss. She closed her eyes when the intensity of his gaze became too much. His fingers dove into her hair, holding her where he wanted. She pulled on his hair as he angled her head to the side, so he could invade more thoroughly. Hailey may have started it, but he controlled the kiss.
A horn blared, and she released the grip on his hair, but he refused to let her go. Her eyes opened, but his had closed, making the moment seem far more intimate than she’d intended. Joe sucked on her lip as she attempted to pull away. He held the back of her head, refusing to separate. The horn continued to honk. She stopped resisting and gave in to him. The light turned from green to yellow and they never stopped kissing. She ran her thumbs over his cheeks as she cupped his face. They went at each other as if the world was about to end and this was their last chance at passion. Her dream came racing back.
She chewed the edge of his lip and he moaned. A deep thundering noise that resonated through her body, drenching her already damp panties. “Pull over at the next parking lot. This way people won’t have to drive around or interrupt.”
Her hand moved down his throat, over his chest and landed on his lap. The bulge she’d noticed earlier, strained even more against his jeans. She licked her lips, knowing exactly what she wanted.
He turned his head towards the road. “No. I’m not pulling over till we find a place to eat. I am serious about getting to know you.” He let her go and his hands returned to the wheel.
He’d said no.
His response surprised and spurred her on even more. Fine. She had no idea what this guy was after, but it seemed like more than a good time.
“Okay,” she said as the car moved forward when the light turned green. “We don’t have to pull over.” Hailey moved her hand over his jeans, unzipped his pants and slipped it inside his briefs.
Hot, smooth skin bounced into her palm. His hand moved over hers as she gripped his shaft. Joe groaned and shifted in his seat. “Hailey,” he breathed her name, but didn’t tell her to stop when she released his cock from the confines of his shorts. “Fuck. I thought we’d talk and learn stuff about each other.”
Impressive. Her eyes drank in every steel-hard inch. She’d forgotten how thick and perfect he was. Hailey placed both hands on him. One hand squeezed the base as the other slipped up and down the smooth skin. “I’m getting to know you better. Isn’t that what you wanted.” Her thumb circled around his tip, collecting the moisture. She let go of his cock and sucked the pearl of pre-ejaculate from her thumb. She moaned her appreciation.
“Damn you’re sexy! That feels great, but I’m serious about—”
Hailey leaned over and swallowed the head of his penis, halting his words. This was so much better than her dream. Catching him by surprise was a bonus. She continued to squeeze and twist her hand around the base as she became acquainted with his girth. She flicked her tongue around the crown. His hips lifted in response. His hand landed on the back of her head as she sealed her lips around his erection. He forced his way deeper into her mouth until he reached the back of her throat. She relaxed her gag reflexes, taking more.
“Holy hell! Your mouth never ends.” He opened his legs wider, allowing her access to his balls which she rolled between her fingers. “I’m not stopping this car until we get to… dammit, I still don’t know where we’re going yet.”
She would have smiled if her lips weren’t busy. Licking, sucking and alternating between. She learned what drove him insane. Joe liked it rough. His teeth gnashed when she grazed him with her teeth. She did it repeatedly. Each time earned a sharp intake of breath and tug against her hair. She loved it.
“I’m turning left. Gonna head towards Corydon Avenue. Lots of options there. You’re very distracting,” he said with a choppy voice. “I’m going to keep talking, so we don’t crash.”
The car was so silent that each slurp resonated through the vehicle. He announced each turn and the details around him as if he needed to say each step to stop himself from exploding. Prolonging the bliss. She continued to bob on his cock. Increasing the tempo as he neared his climax. He let go of her hair, moving his hand into her bra and fondling her breast.
“I wish I could suck on your tits right now. Show you exactly how hard I like it.” He plucked at her nipple, pinching it until she squirmed in her seat. Her core clenched and contracted to his every move. Hailey had never climaxed from breast play, but there was a first time for everything. The harder he teased, the closer he pushed her, but it wasn’t enough. She released his balls and slipped her hand inside her pants, reaching for the tight bundle of nerves.
“Rub it fast, Hailey. Suck me harder. I am going to come all over that wicked tongue.” He pumped his hips as she followed his command. “You’ll be tasting me for days. I’m parking the car now. That’s it. Pinch your clit right now and come with me.”
He tossed his head back and howled her name as he erupted into her mouth. The first slash sent her over. Her climax followed his. A whimper escaped. She swallowed his release and sucked until she claimed every drop. Joe let go of her breast and pulled her hand from between her legs. He sucked on her fingers as the orgasm rolled on. Once the shaking subsided, she slowly removed his penis from her mouth.
She smiled and winked before sitting upright in her seat. He slipped his hand from hers and returned her smile. Hailey adjusted her top and re-zipped her jacket. There was nothing to say. She’d let her hormones rule her decisions and now she was late to meet with Renee.
“Hailey, I like you. You’re different and you keep surprising me. This date will be fun.” He laughed.
Her heart constricted at his words.
They weren’t supposed to like each other. Most of all, she wasn’t supposed to like him. This man was all wrong for her and getting attached to him would be stupid. Fuck. She frantically searched her surroundings, formulating a plan of escape. Her pulse raced. She had to get away from him. He looked away, tucking himself back into his jeans.
What the hell had she been thinking? She hadn’t been. That was the problem. Joe Larson was a huge distraction.
Hailey grabbed her bag by her feet, opened the door, and bolted. She ran as fast as she could. Running away for the second time was embarrassing, but she didn’t want to go on a date. Not after they’d been intimate. More than once. She swore she’d never date again. Her heart wasn’t free, and it never would be.
CHAPTER SIX
S he turned the corner, glanced over her shoulder and watched Joe get out of his car. Her breathing remained even as she hadn’t traveled more than a block yet seeing him caused her pulse to race. From the distance, she saw the crinkles around his eyes as he slammed his hands on the hood. Frustration radiated off him.
A slight cramp emanated from her side, but it paled compared to the throbbing in her foot. All those hours in rehab working her foot couldn’t take away the ache. No amount of therapy would make her whole again, but the pain was manageable without drugs. So many soldiers became hooked after an injury. Drug addiction and suicide were a pandemic for veter
ans. She didn’t want to join those statistics.
Hailey kept her body out of sight and spied on the hockey player, wondering if he’d charge after her or leave her be. A minute passed, he didn’t chase which was good. He’d never catch her. It was best he figured that out now and gave up. Metaphorically, since she had no doubt with his conditioning, he’d keep up physically. Hell, with those long limbs he’d be able to outrun her. Not that it mattered since he did nothing but stand beside his car, staring at the sky.
The day continued its downward progression. It had been a mistake to get in the car in the first place, but her instincts had not thrown any red flags. If anything, she was drawn to him. His presence had thrown her off balance more than her missing pinkie toe. Instead of using her brain, she’d let her hormones dictate her actions. His silky voice and sultry mouth lured her in. Acting on impulse was reckless, and she knew better. Still she found it hard to take her eyes off him.
Her fists clenched, and she exhaled, unable to shake the uneasy feeling inside. Why did she care that he seemed distraught? It’s not like she liked him. She couldn’t. Hailey shoved the urge to return away. Her mistakes and missteps were piling up. Going back would only add more.
In a short amount of time, he’d gotten under her skin. She licked her lips. His salty musk lingered. Hailey rubbed her jean covered thighs together and wished she’d had more time with him. Wish he’d stopped when she’d asked so she could have felt all those rock-hard inches inside her again. It wasn’t the sex that scared her off. She loved sex. She’d welcome another tryst with Joe, but he seemed hell bent on turning it into more. That was a deal breaker. She was an empty shell with nothing left to give. He deserved better.
The clouds covered the sun, casting shadows on the day. Hailey didn’t wait for Joe to change his mind. She turned and left. It was pointless to stare at someone she’d never let herself get close to. Her legs moved quickly, conditioned to move and cover far distances. Hailey ran all the way to the park where she hoped Renee would still be.
Empty. No one was there. She removed her backpack and rested, thinking about all the hot spots where they might be. The day was warm, melting the last remnants of snow. They could be anywhere. She removed her jacket, stuffing it into her bag. Hailey walked through the back-alleys of downtown Winnipeg until she found the crew she sought. The same group of runaways huddled by a nearby dumpster, reminiscent of Easter evening. Litter cluttered the sides of the alleyway and graffiti decorated the facades. Spring had taken the bite out of the cold winter temperatures, but it wasn’t tank-top weather.
She shoved her hands in her pockets and closed the distance between them. Game time.
Her attention moved to Bill and the way his hand pressed against Renee’s backside. The girl wore short jean shorts and a pink, skin tight sleeveless top. She wasn’t doing herself any favors with that outfit in warding off unwanted advances from the surrounding men. It was only a matter of time before Bill’s hands crawled inside her shorts. Hailey knew from previous discussions that Renee wasn’t interested in him. She was nursing a broken heart and wouldn’t give any specifics. Young love was fickle. Hailey suspected she’d been dumped, but she couldn’t get the details from Renee.
“Bill. Have you been in touch with Trevor? I may have stumbled into some cash,” she said, stepping between the pair, giving Renee’s ass a needed break.
“Where you been all morning Miss Thang? You got that money on you?” He stepped back and eyed her bag.
“Wouldn’t you like to know? Once I know where I can buy, I’ll get it.”
He pressed his hand to his chest and snickered. “Don’t you trust me? That hurts.”
“No one trusts you,” Renee added. “I’ve seen you sneak—”
“Keep your mouth shut, girl. You haven’t seen shit.” He reached out to hit her, but Hailey used her body to prevent his reach.
Renee snuck further away and put her head down. Her mangled hair covered her face like a veil. “You’re right. I have seen nothing. But Hailey’s smart.”
“Thanks, Renee.” Hailey winked at her. “I don’t give a shit what you do with other people. Only thing I care about, is getting more of that delicious white gold. I’m tapped for cash so… I need to talk with Trevor and see if we can work something out.”
“You’re lucky you’re hot.” Bill lowered his arm. “You’re not a cop, are you?”
Hailey rolled her eyes, but maybe Bill was smarter than he looked. Smart enough not to get trapped. “I’m not the police. I’m ex-military and could kill you in a heartbeat, but otherwise I’m harmless.” She batted her lashes at him.
“No shit. That explains your tolerance. Been using for a while?”
Hailey assumed her acting skills had allowed her to blend, but obviously she needed to work on them. “You could say that. My doc’s being a dickhead and cut back my pill supply. I need the extra energy to function.” She rubbed her nose and sniffled. “That’s why—”
“Save your sob story.” Bill held up his hands and stared at her chest. “Lucky for you Trevor likes big tits. Don’t worry Renee, your small rack doesn’t mean he wouldn’t fuck you too. He loves em young.” An irritating cackle followed.
After the morning she’d had, her patience ran short. “Bill—”
“Kidding; not kidding. What will you give me for hooking up a meeting? Shit ain’t free.” He puffed his chest and cracked his knuckles. He didn’t scare her.
“What do you think an introduction to someone I’ve already met is worth?”
“Fifty bucks or you can work the dollars off with your mouth. Both suit me fine,” he said, looking smug.
“Fat chance at either. I’ll toss you twenty after I see Trevor, if we’re able to work something out. If,” she reiterated.
“Deal. Follow me bitches.” He stomped down the alley, and they followed.
They walked for a while before catching a bus towards the north end. The houses got progressively worse and more derelict. The apartment block they entered reeked of piss and cigarette smoke. Hailey crinkled her nose. Renee made a gagging sound as the heavy steel, entrance door slammed behind them. This was either a great move or completely insane.
Hailey had been in numerous dangerous situations. This helped her remain calm as she entered the hallway and saw a group of thugs. Half a dozen men dressed in leather with their gang colors prominently displayed stopped talking when they approached.
Renee stayed glued to Hailey’s side. The first sign she wasn’t clueless to the surrounding dangers. Both women kept their heads down, trying not to draw unwanted attention. They kept up with Bill who sauntered in like the top dog. Hailey canvased the area, counting the threats. Two young women were like sheep entering the lion’s den. Hailey didn’t fear for herself, but she never should have let Renee tag along.
One man stuck his boot out, stopping Renee in her tracks.
“Gotta pay the toll, little girl.” He licked his cracked lips and snickered.
“Not yet. These ones are here for Trevor. Business first. Keep your hands to yourself until he says otherwise.” Bill kicked the man’s leg out of the way and Renee rejoined him. The act wasn’t chivalrous. He was staking his claim on them. Hailey didn’t say a word as each man undressed her with their eyes. Disgusting.
At the end of the long hall, they came to apartment 109. Bill knocked in a special sequence and the door opened. Rock music blared, and smoke billowed into the hall as they entered. It was a dump with mismatched furniture and mattresses on the floor. Down the hall, she heard moaning and springs squealing. The air was thick with sex, sweat and marijuana.
She hoped she hadn’t gotten herself into trouble. In her bag she’d stashed a knife, she hoped to never use. Hailey didn’t need the weapon to defend herself, but it never hurt to have the backup. She scanned the area for dangers and weapons. She found the friendlies and the enemies instantly.
The party was in full swing. Half-naked women danced and bounced on the mattresses whi
le men sat around, strategizing and dividing various drugs into containers. There wasn’t a sober person in the room, making the firearms strapped to their bodies even more dangerous.
“Bill, that you?” Someone yelled from another room. The apartment didn’t have a modern layout. Each room was compartmentalized. A quick escape would be more difficult if needed.
“Yeah. Follow me,” he said to them as he grabbed Renee’s hand.
Hailey followed them into the kitchen. A small space with counters coated in grime and dirty dishes. The wallpaper of daisies was covered with stains and had yellowed from age and smoke. Trevor and another two men sat at a large round glass table. Their chests were bared and covered with black ink.
A man in his early thirties with a nest of dreadlocks and a thick beard eyed her. Suspicion and lust rolled off him. She had to fight the urge to stare him down. She had a part to play, and it was easier to catch flies with honey. Asserting her dominance would only get her kicked out or worse. She lowered her eyes and caved her shoulders inward. The other man was native with long black hair tied back, kind eyes and a lopsided smile. He seemed like the friendliest of the bunch, but appearances could be deceiving.
In her peripheral she watched Trevor assess them. “Take a load off and welcome,” he said, nudging his head sideways.
The man to his left stood. Bill took Renee’s bag and set it on the floor next to the stove. Hailey added hers and waited to see who would take the offered seat.
Bill motioned for it, but Trevor shook his head as his eyes fixed on the teenager. “Right, forgot my manners,” he said, pulling the chair out further from the table. “Chicks first. Besides, I gotta jet. I have a stop to make before I can join the fun.” He grabbed two bags off the table and left the room.