Eying him carefully, Steve asked, “You all right? Stuff like this doesn’t normally bug you.”
“Kind of having a rough week, I guess,” Henry muttered before dropping in his chair, thinking about the bottle in the drawer calling his name.
Steve invited himself in and got comfy on the couch. “What’s chapping your ass, boss man?”
Henry chuckled. “Well… You really want to know?”
“Why the hell not?”
“I’ve been dating this girl for about a month.”
“Nice. Is she hot?”
He shot Steve a glare. “Do you really need to ask that question?”
“You never know. You could just be looking for the light switch and enjoying the plunge.”
“Hell, no. Elaina is unreal. She’s perfect to me. Perfect for me.”
“Ohhhh… Boss man is in love.”
“Fuck off.”
“Then what’s the issue? If love makes you miserable, maybe you ought to rethink your stance on one-night stands.”
“I’ve had more one-nights and blow jobs in backrooms than anyone needs.”
“Maybe you should run a test and make sure you’re clean before your dick shrivels up and falls off. That would be tragic.”
“I’m clean. No worries.” He sighed, wondering if he should even be talking about his relationship issues, and deciding it wouldn’t hurt to get it off his chest. “So, her cousin’s wedding is tomorrow. She’s been out shopping this entire week, trying to find a dress. She can’t find a damn thing, leaving her in a shit mood at night, thinking she’s fat and ugly…which leads to no nookie for me.”
“So…no sex all this week?”
“Nope, not even blow job. Nada. Nothing. Zilch.”
“I haven’t had any sort of sex with anyone besides my left hand in almost a year, and you’re whining about a week? Greedy bastard,” Steve muttered.
“Maybe you ought to rethink your stance on one-night stands,” Henry echoed with a smirk.
“Touché.”
“She’s supposed to go shopping with her best friend tonight. I can only pray to all the gods she finds something. Christ, I’ve been telling her how beautiful she is and how amazing her body is all week.”
“Are you being truthful?”
“Of course! Every square inch of her is amazing. Her legs…ass…pussy…the way her long, black hair drags over my body while she’s kissing me down to my… I better stop or it’s going to get awkward in here real fast.” They both laughed. “Mostly, I’m just frustrated and I don’t know what to do to help her.”
“Got nothing for you, boss man. You’re on your own with this one.”
“Not really seeking out advice. Just venting.”
“No problem.” Steve glanced at his watch. “I suppose we should open up shop.”
They both stood. “Let the circus begin,” Henry mumbled.
-Elaina-
Once confirming Claire would pick me up for dress shopping, I spent the morning lounging in sweats, screwing around on social media, and even reading a bit.
But all I could think about was Henry and how sweet he had been to me all week over the dress disaster. Feeling awful about how I treated him, I decided to pay him a visit at work, thinking maybe we could do lunch…or I could be his lunch.
I walked into the blood bank’s front doors, and approached the reception desk, but no one was there. Weird. I looked around, and the waiting room was packed.
With a stack of file folders in his hand, Henry stalked out of the door on the left side of the reception desk, stopping dead in his tracks when his saw me. He looked quite stellar in a lab coat. “‘Laina? What…? Why are you here?”
“I’m feeling guilty about this whole week and about being a crazy bitch, so I thought we could, umm…do lunch.”
His arms lowered a bit, and he smirked. “I wish, love. But Jennifer called out and Sandy has today off. I’m playing receptionist, phlebotomist, manager…” He looked over my shoulder. My gaze followed his. Then he set the folders on the desk and placed his hands on my arms, dragging them down to my hands. “I really want to do lunch with you, but I just can’t. I’m stacked up. Sorry. Go figure, right?”
“Yeah, really. Do you want me to get you some food?”
“Actually, we just ordered for delivery and will eat in between appointments and walk-ins.”
Another employee popped out of the door on the right side of the desk, stopping. “Ready for another, boss man.”
“Thanks. Uhhh… Steve, this is Elaina. Elaina…Steve. He’s a phlebotomist here.”
I watched them exchange a nod, like Steve was giving his approval. I held out my hand and murmured, “Pleased to meet you.”
As he accepted, he said, “Pleasure is all mine, sweetheart.” Henry quirked a brow as his hand lingered. He pulled away and jammed it through his hair. “Right. Well, I should get back to work.” He snatched a file from a bin on the desk, and called out the name.
“Okay, well…I guess I’ll go back home until Claire picks me up.”
“I’m sorry. Wish I had the time.” He wiggled his brows which, in turn, made me laugh. He pulled me into a soft embrace, whispering in my ear, “Later, I’m going to fuck you silly. Love you.”
Suppressing a girlish giggle, I whispered back, “Love you, too.”
Henry pressed his lips to my cheek before I broke the embrace and headed out.
Right on time, Claire picked me up. It was my last chance to find something to wear to Julian’s wedding. If I didn’t find anything, we decided I would raid her closet.
The mall was stupid busy and we had to push through the mindless drones staring at the obnoxious holiday décor. There was so much shiny tinsel shit, I almost went blind from the glare. Not that I was Scrooge or anything, but I prefer to eat my Thanksgiving turkey without choking on the Christmas spirit.
“I cannot believe the holiday decorations are out and the Christmas music is blaring already. It’s not even Thanksgiving yet,” I muttered as we pushed through the crowd waiting in line to see the jolly fat guy in the red suit with all the creepy elves hanging around.
“It’s quite crazy, but you have to admit it is whimsical.” Claire’s sing-song voice made me want to punch something. “Let’s just find you a dress and shoes.”
“Yeah…a dress. Woohoo.”
“I feel your enthusiasm.”
“Oh, look who’s wearing the sarcasm hat today.”
With a smile and a bat of her eyelashes, she said, “I’ve learned from the best.”
I rolled my eyes as we walked into Nordstrom’s. “Why can’t I wear jeans?” I whined.
“It’s a wedding, Elaina, and you know damn well Henry wants to see you in a dress. Plus, he gave you his credit card, so you’re golden.”
“I’m not spending a ton of his money. We’ve only been dating about a month. I intend on paying him back when I get another job.”
“You actually have to look for a job to get one. You can’t just hang out all day, playing Susie Homemaker and being at your boyfriend’s beck and call.”
“Oh, can it, bitch,” I grumbled.
Claire sighed. “If you don’t want to spend too much of his money, be sensible. I’m willing to bet he couldn’t care less if you paid him back.”
“I will someway, somehow.”
When we arrived in the dress department, I was completely lost. And don’t forget grumpy. As I stared at the array of colors and fabrics, my palms sweated. I wiped them on my jeans and asked, “So…what’s the ‘in’ color?”
“Ummm… I believe it’s navy or some darker shade of blue.”
Claire pulled a few hideous pieces from the racks. “How about these?”
I lifted a brow. “Who do you think I am? Holly Glam Whore?”
“What’s wrong with them?”
“One’s a short tank that’ll barely cover my lady bits, and there are more sequins on this dress than at a drag show.”
She threw
me a healthy glare, showing me another dress. “Maybe this then?”
“Do I even need to respond to that?”
“Seriously, Elaina. Stop being like this. You make me not want to help.”
“Sorry,” I whispered. “I would just rather…”
“Do as you please, like everything else,” she snapped.
“PMS?”
“If PMS is Marc, then yes.”
“Yikes. Do you want to talk about it?”
“Nope.”
I mouthed, Okay. Then said, “Well, I guess I’ll take a look myself then.”
Upon glancing around, I found a few dresses which looked acceptable. It seemed as if I was already having better luck than the rest of the week. Maybe because I was with the master of fashion.
I yanked the hangers off the ranks and headed to the fitting room. “Be out in a flash,” I said, closing the door behind me, feeling like nothing would work.
I hung the dresses on the hooks, and took a hard look at myself in the mirror. The cream cable knit fisherman’s sweater and my jeans were not the nicest. They were kind of baggy and worn, but they were the epitome of comfy. I pulled my sunglasses off the top of my head, letting my long black hair hang in my face.
I tugged off my sweater and pulled off my jeans, and took another look at myself in the mirror. I spun a bit, checking out my backside Henry loved so much. I wasn’t skinny, but I wasn’t too overweight, either. Poking at my belly, I shrugged. Just soft, I suppose.
Henry said he loved my body. Maybe someday I would go to the gym with him.
I pulled on the first dress. “Ohhh, no. Nope, not going to work,” I whispered. The deep “V” showed off my nonexistent cleavage.
The next one was a floor-length number. “Oh, hell no.”
With little hope, I murmured a small prayer while glancing up at the ceiling. “Please…oh, please, let this be the one.”
It was short—very short, like I better keep my panties in check short—boho-chic with bell sleeves. The scalloped-edge embroidered fabric shifted and flowed as I moved. The under-dress fit like a fucking glove. However, my knee-high socks covered in neon smiley faces did nothing for the look.
Twisting around several times, I admired my reflection. I felt like I was looking in a funhouse mirror for a moment, but then smiled and whispered, “Okay, this might work.” I opened the door slowly and peeked out, feeling a little self-conscious to walk out and show Claire. “Is there anyone around?”
“No. Come out,” she said anxiously.
I allowed the door to open all the way and watched her face for the telltale signs the dress looked better on the hanger. Her eyes grew as big as baseballs. “It’s horrible, right?”
“No! Elaina… It’s amazing on you. You look unbelievable.”
“Really?”
“Well, the socks leave something to be desired, but wow…” She pulled at my arm, dragging me to the mirrors in the fitting room hall and stood behind me. “Look at yourself. You have amazing legs, and your butt…” She slapped it. “No wonder that hottie boyfriend of yours is always staring at it.”
“Claire!”
“Well, it’s true! Every time you walk away from him, he’s watching your butt.” My cheeks flushed. “Don’t be embarrassed. That man has it big time for you. He always has lust in his eyes and desire in his words. I wish Marc looked at me like Henry does you.”
“He loves you.”
“I’m not saying that. It’s just…” She sighed. “Anyway, go get changed and we can go look at shoes.”
Worried, I stared at Claire for a moment before going back into the fitting room.
After changing back into my homely garb, we headed off to seek out shoes that were as sexy as my dress. We spent an hour trying on ridiculous shoes, laughing at ourselves, and trying to walk in six inch spikes. From the glare the saleswoman threw at us, I think we were pissing her off.
Oh fucking well.
One pair of strappy black heels later, I was outfitted for my cousin’s wedding.
It was about eight pm when Claire dropped me off at my apartment. I opened my door and saw Henry hanging out on the couch with a glass of whisky, feet propped on the arm of the sofa, reading a book. It looked like some sort of history book. Weirdo. He never read fiction, always the boring stuff. He said he liked to learn new things.
“Hey, lover. Whatcha up to?”
He motioned the book at me. “Reading.”
“Thank you, Captain Obvious,” I muttered.
“Did you eat? I ordered a veggie pizza.”
“Nope. I’m starving,” I said while walking past.
“Stop!” he yelled. The dress bag clung to the back of my thighs as I took a couple steps backward. “What did you buy?”
“None of your concern.”
“I do believe it is.”
“Nope.”
He bounded off the couch and I tried to run to the bedroom, but he caught me in the hallway. He marched me right into the wall, pressing his ridiculously fit body against mine. I screamed and laughed at the same time.
He lifted my chin with one finger. “Now…what did you buy?”
“Not telling.”
“Elaina, I will hold you down and lick your heat until you tell me.”
“That sounds lovely, but I want it to be a surprise.” I pouted.
He peered down at the shopping bag. “Okay, the shoes… At least show me those.”
“After dinner. Then I will show you only my shoes.”
His brow lifted, and he smirked. “You drive a hard bargain, my love.” He kissed me on the forehead and walked back into the living room, leaving me smiling in the hallway.
Chapter 5
-Elaina-
Henry had me by the wrists, my arms pinned up against the shower wall. He kissed me with the promise of a quick session of some serious fucking. Wiggling one hand free, I slipped it down between us and grabbed onto his thick length, stroking him.
“Fuck,” he barked against my lips.
He let go of my other wrist and stepped back into the hot stream, allowing me to grab hold with both hands. His head tipped back, the water cascading down his precisely chiseled body. A groan pushed from his chest.
“Feel good, lover?”
“Fuck, yes.” Then he tipped his head back down and our eyes met. The lust flamed up in his emerald green eyes. “Lean against the wall again.”
I let go and stepped back. He picked up one leg and wrapped it around his waist, making me moan when his tip brushed against my heat.
“Henry… We don’t…” He kissed me. “We need…” His thumb grazed my nipple. “Condom…,” I finally managed.
“I’ll pull out.”
“That doesn’t…” He pinched my nipple, making me gasp. “Work,” I squeaked.
Just as he was about to sink in, we heard, “Elaina?”
My eyes bugged out, Henry dropped my leg. Claire? I mouthed. His head fell to my shoulder. “We’re in the shower!”
“Oh… I’m so sorry! Marc and I will wait in the living room.”
“Okay,” I said, as Henry picked up his head and looked at me. “I’m sorry. I should take away her key.”
“Not your fault,” he muttered, and stepped into the spray.
“Don’t be upset.”
“I’m not. I just wanted… Never mind,” he muttered.
“Henry…”
“It’s fine. I’ll get you later. I can promise you that.”
Once we finished showering, we rushed around to get ready. He dressed in the bedroom and I in the bathroom.
-Henry-
Standing in front of the mirror attached to Elaina’s dresser, Henry slipped his white button-down shirt over his muscled shoulders. He paused for a moment and touched the scars on his chest.
He stepped closer to the mirror, gazing into his chemical-laden, emerald green eyes, missing the baby blues with which he was born. Elaina loved them and liked to stare into them on a regular basis, esp
ecially when they made love. Henry, on the other hand, hated them with a passion and sometimes had the urge to gouge them out.
After turning his head to the side, he ran his hand down the five o’clock shadow to the scar on his lip. He chewed it for a second before chastising the reflection with words which were spoken to him on a regular basis. To a fault, he had believed those cruel utterances were true.
“You’re only going fuck this up like everything else,” he whispered. “Lying, deceitful bastard… You’re going to ruin the lives of so many.” Henry pushed the shirt off his shoulders and turned enough to catch a glimpse of the black tribal wings tattooed across his back. The harsh words continued to spill from his lips. “Angel of death without mercy. No forgiveness for inflicting immoral suffering upon the innocent. That is my destiny.”
A shudder ran rampant through his body. He twisted his head on his neck, grinding his teeth together. He knew he needed to keep his head tight, and shook off his feelings while pulling his shirt back on. A slight tremor made it difficult to button the shirt, but he managed.
He bounced three times on the balls of his feet, and shook his arms at his sides. “My mind is tight. Free from restraint. Together and unimpeded. Liberated to love Elaina.”
The sound of her name leaving his mouth made him smile. She was his saving grace and was all he needed.
Henry slipped on his shoes, then his jacket. He faced himself in the mirror once again, adjusting the pocket square to perfection. He nodded, and strode off to collect his love.
-Elaina-
Henry knocked on the door. “You almost ready, love? Time’s a-ticking.”
I swiped the mascara wand over my lashes over and over, making them thick and plump. Henry loved that. “Yeah, sorry. Finishing touches.”
“No need. You’re stunning already.” I opened the bathroom door and his gaze slowly moved from my face to my toes, then back up again. When our eyes met, he murmured, “Suffering fuck, love. Look at… Wow.” He took my hand and spun me around slowly. “That dress… You just…”
“I didn’t know it would make my boyfriend a bumbling fool,” I said with a flush to my cheeks. Henry wrapped his big hands around my face and brushed his lips across mine. The dark gray suit with a white button-down open at the top showed off his amazing physique. The red pocket square set it off nicely. “I must say, you look stunning, as well. That suit is like a glove on your–”
A Little Taste of Naughty (A Shattered Lives Short) Page 2