The Deal

by Sarah J. Brooks

  I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm as I turned and stepped off the bus into the crowd of people who were trying to figure out what the fuck they were going to do.

  Pulling out my cell phone, I strode away from the crowd to make sure whoever I called would be able to hear me. John. He’d answer, and he would give me a ride home. My stomach twisted.

  I shouldn’t take advantage of him like that. I knew that was true, but who else was I going to call? Rebecca took the bus just like I did.

  “Excuse me.” His voice made my heart skip a beat. I looked up from my phone, my eyes wide.

  “H-hi.”

  Even in the dim light provided by the street lamps, I could see the gray flakes in his hair. My eyes roamed over his body. He wore a leather jacket over his well-fitting suit.

  “You were my waitress today, weren’t you?”

  “I believe I was.” I gave him a smile. “You were my last customer of the day, and you gave a very generous tip. Thank you.”

  The man shrugged. “Are you alright? You look drenched.”

  “I … I was taking the bus home, and they just canceled them.” I tried not to make it sound like a big deal. “I was just over here trying to figure out who I was going to call to rescue me.” I gave a soft laugh. Not that it was funny, but I didn’t want to come off as whiny.

  “That’s dreadful.”

  I glanced at him, then to the building we were standing outside. Why was he here so late? I knew he had a car. “Working late?” I asked, trying to turn the attention away from me.

  “Yup, like most nights.” He paused. “Look, it wouldn’t be much hassle for me to give you a lift.”

  I opened my mouth to object, then paused. What if this was my only chance to get a ride home? I bit my lip.

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to be a hassle.”

  “I can’t leave you in the rain with no hero to rescue you.”

  I swallowed dryly. “So you’re going to be my hero?” My eyes sparkled as I said it.

  He laughed softly. “If you need saving.” Motioning for me to follow him, he said, “Come on.”

  My jaw dropped as he led the way to a small sports car, circled around to the passenger side and held the door open for me. Wow. Before I slipped into the car, I took note of the plate number and emailed it to myself—just in case.

  He circled around the hood and slid into the driver’s seat, gunning the engine as he shook the water off himself. It kind of reminded me of a dog.

  “I know, it’s not the best for a rainstorm,” he said as he backed out of the parking spot. “But it should get us home safely. Where do you live?”

  “There is an apartment complex on Wilson St.”

  He nodded as if he knew where I was talking about, and we headed down the street. He cranked the heat and a shiver ran through my body. I hadn’t realized how cold I was until I got in the car and had the heat blowing at me.

  “I’m Melina, by the way,” I said in case he didn’t remember my name from lunch.

  “Aron.”

  “It’s nice to meet you. And thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome. I’d have felt like a total asshole if I hadn’t at least offered you a ride.”

  At least, he was honest.

  I bit my lip, wondering if I was supposed to make conversation, or if he’d rather I just shut up. I mean, he was going out of his way in a rainstorm to make sure I was okay, that had to count for something—right?

  “My mother really enjoyed breakfast,” he said.

  “I’m glad to hear it.” I wasn’t really sure what I was supposed to say.

  “It’s quite the compliment. She’s a picky eater. For her to say the food was good, much less very good is a big deal.”

  “I’ll be sure to let the chefs know they are doing something right.” I knew they wondered about that. A lot of them were new to it, and Kenny—the head chef—was putting a lot of the recipes together himself. He often worried about if it was any good.

  We made our way out of the downtown core slowly, the rain making the roads slick.

  “Are you close with your mother?” I asked.

  “Yes. My father passed away and since then I try to see her at least a couple times a week, but work makes that hard.”

  “Long hours?”

  “This is my normal quitting time.” I could feel the sad smile in his voice as if he hated it but loved it. I nodded.

  “I get what you mean.” It was hard. I may not know what he did for a living, but I knew it was hard. “I work, go to college and then on my weekends I take on any extra work I can. Babysitting, freelancing.”

  “What do you freelance?” I could hear the wheels turning.

  “Graphics.”

  “I design websites,” he said.

  “Really?” That perked my interest. “That must be exciting.”

  “It can be. I’ve had the chance to work on some amazing websites, with some amazing people, and even better companies.”

  Okay, now he really had my interest.

  We turned onto my street, and my heart sank a little. I wanted to keep talking to him. As we came to a stop in front of my apartment, I bit my lip.

  “You know,” I said. “You should come in and try to wait it out a little.” We got rainstorms like this a lot. They’d be done within the hour, but during that hour it was dreadful. “It’s not safe to be driving out here, and it’s late. Let me at least make you a coffee.”

  He turned to me; I could see the smile across his lips.

  “Alright, you win.” He put the car into park, shut it off and pulled the keys from the ignition as I popped the door open.

  The crash of thunder met me, and my heart skipped a beat. Drops of rain pounded against the pavement. I took a deep breath and bolted from the car, suddenly regretting that I was wearing heels.

  I felt a hand touch my arm, warm and supportive. I glanced at him as we rushed for the door, pulled it open for him, and we both ducked inside as quickly as we could before I pulled open another door, and we headed for the elevator.

  Within a couple of minutes, we had made our way up to my apartment, and I’d unlocked it.

  Compared to Aron’s car, my house was nothing, so I wasn’t even going to start wondering what his house was like.

  I set my purse down on the counter, because I didn’t own a table, and set the kettle on.

  “Thank you,” I said again. “I mean, for bringing me home.”

  I knew I’d never be able to thank him enough.

  “It was my pleasure.” He stepped towards me.

  I raised an eyebrow as I slipped out of my thin jacket; my clothing and hair were soaked. I knew my makeup was probably running, and as silly as it was, my cheeks flushed as I realised what a mess I looked in front of him.

  Doesn’t matter, it’s not like you will ever see him again, I thought. Yea, but that’s what you thought before, I reminded myself.

  “Although …” He paused as he stepped towards me again. “I can think of a way you could thank me.”

  My heart skipped a beat. Really? It took everything I had not to frown at him. He was going to peeve on me? I didn’t care how hot he was; he was older than me, and I was willing to guess it was quite a bit.

  “Really?” I tried to make it sound like I didn’t know what he was about to ask from me while I tried to figure out the best way to tell him to go fuck himself.

  Don’t get me wrong; he was cute, but I never was a fan of men who just jumped right into trying to get down my pants. I mean, where was the romance in that?

  “I’m free tomorrow, something that is very rare for me, are you free?”

  My jaw dropped. He was asking if I was free?

  “I … I’d have to check my schedule.” I forced a tight smile over my lips. I didn’t really have time for dating, but I wanted to say yes. I wanted to go out, despite the fact I had to write 6000 words over the weekend to
stay on schedule with my homework. I took a deep breath, trying to figure out what I was supposed to do as I turned to the kettle—just in time to hear it pop.

  I made two cups of coffee, one for myself and one for him. I turned back to him and handed a cup to him.

  My heart skipped a beat as he took it from me, his eyes sparkling.

  He’d taken his leather jacket off, along with his suit jacket. As he took the coffee from me, I could see his muscles flex. My heart skipped a beat, and I swallowed dryly. I tore my eyes away from him, suddenly wishing that he had tried to get down my pants.

  I couldn’t help the small smirk that spread across my face. Make up your fucking mind, girl, I thought.

  I took a small sip of my coffee, then headed into the bathroom and grabbed two towels. I stared at myself.

  Yup. My mascara was running, and my hair was soaked to the bone. So much for the nice waves I had this morning. It doesn’t matter. I’d have to redo it in the morning anyways.

  I padded out of the bathroom and tossed a towel to Aron. He caught it without batting an eyelash.

  “Nice catch.” I grinned, starting with my hair.

  His eyes roamed over my body as I slipped out of my blouse, revealing a simple white tank top that easily showed my black bra.

  I didn’t mind showing him.

  After he hadn’t tried to get down my pants, I kind of wanted to see his reaction.

  His eyes locked on mine as he set the coffee cup down and toweled off his own hair.

  My heart skipped a beat as I watched him unbutton his shirt, his eyes still locked on mine.

  I tried to hold eye contract—I wasn’t going to break it just to check him out. Now if he broke the eye contact first, I wasn’t going not to check him out. That was for sure.

  I’m not sure how this seemed to turn into some sort of game with her, but it did.

  She wanted me to look away, and I wanted to see if she’d break eye contract.

  I may be a little older, but that didn’t matter. I slipped out of my shirt with ease, revealing probably the best body she had ever seen in person. Her eyes widened, all but confirming it.

  Some people may think I’m old, but I was in better shape than most 20-year-olds.

  I worked out and took care of myself.

  Her eyes lowered to my abs.

  Damn, damn, damn.

  I drank everything in as he carefully folded his shirt and lay it on the back of my couch—yes, I did have one of them.

  His six pack surfboard abs, the way his the muscles in his chest flexed as he stretched. I took a deep breath.

  “Do you work out or something?” I asked, a grin spreading over my face.

  He laughed. “A little.”

  My gazed trailed down those abs, to a small trail of black hair that led down his well-tailored black pants. My heart skipped a beat as I licked my lips. Eyes on his, I reminded myself.

  I forced my gaze up, as much as I wanted nothing more than to just stare at those abs, and a little lower.

  My best flirty grin spread over my face as I slipped out of my tights and sighed.

  “There, much better.” I stretched my arms above my head, pushing my breast out as I took a deep breath.

  As quick as I’d done it, I finished, heading for my coffee. After all, I didn’t want him to think I was easy.

  I’m not sure what he’ll think of me now, I admitted to myself. I’d all but come out and told him he could have me, but still, he stood there.

  “Why don’t you have a table? Or a TV? Or a coffee table? Or ...”

  “I don’t have a lot of stuff.” I cut him off. “I never saw the point in buying furniture I’d never use anyways. I have a bed and a couch. I do all my studying on one of them. There was no point in getting a TV because I decided I wasn’t going to have cable. I don’t have a table because I have a small lap desk I can use instead. Why waste the money on stuff I’d never use?”

  Most people thought it was crazy.

  His smirk widened. “Smart.”

  My heart skipped a beat. No one had ever told me it was smart.

  “I ...” I had no clue how I was supposed to react. “Thank you. No one has ever told me that,” I admitted.

  “Not many people see the wisdom in it.” He shrugged. “I lived in a five-room house for a long time so I could save up to buy something nice.”

  My head tilted to the left.

  No one understood when I tried to explain it. And here this man was thinking it was a good idea. I couldn’t help being taken a little off guard.

  “Thanks,” I said again. I really couldn’t put into words how nice it was to have someone who understood.

  He closed the distance between us in a few short strides, coming to a stop about a foot in front of me.

  “What are you in school for?”

  “I’m going for a degree in computer science.” But I wasn’t very good yet.

  “Really?” His head tilted to the left as he placed the coffee cup down on the counter behind me.

  I hadn’t realized just how close he’d moved to me until I looked up. My lips almost touched his, and my cheeks flushed. I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Instead, I just stared at him, my cheeks growing brighter and brighter. A shiver ran down my spine, though not an unwelcome one.

  He reached out and touched my arm.

  “You’re cold.”

  It was a statement, not a question. I opened my mouth to say something but found myself speechless, staring into those dark eyes.

  I reached out and touched his chest. Heat surged through my body, and I took a deep breath, lust pooling in the pit of my stomach.

  Aron pulled away from me. He cleared his throat and turned away, his muscles flexing as he reached for his shirt.

  “I should be going.” I could take the hint. I’d made him uncomfortable. I’d over-stepped some sort of boundary.

  Thunder cracked, lightning flashing outside of the window.

  “Are you sure?” My voice shook. I took a deep breath and forced myself to move away from him, looking out the window as another flash of lightning lit up the sky. “It doesn’t look safe out there.”

  I turned to see him looking down at his phone. He didn’t look happy.

  I really didn’t want to be stuck with her.

  I wanted her so bad, and she seemed to want me, but what good would come of that? She was a young woman; she wouldn’t want to be with me. This was a game to her; that’s all.

  Breathing deeply, I closed my eyes. It was too bad to be out there, especially in my car. I’d just got her and didn’t want to risk the drive. The winds were bad, and the rain was coming down fast and hard.

  I turned to her. “Looks like you’re right. The city’s strongly suggesting you don’t go anywhere unless you need to for work. So cops, EMTs, that sorta thing.”

  She nodded, refusing to look at me.

  “Well, the spare room doesn’t have a bed in it, but you’re welcome to take the couch for the night.”

  She turned on her heel and headed for a closet. She pulled it open, and I rushed to her side as she grabbed a blanket, reaching up onto her tiptoes. I was just about to take over when she managed to reach it and pull it down. She turned, closing what little distance there was between us.

  My eyes roamed over her body. Over the black lace bra and the short skirt. Her perfect legs. I took a deep inhalation, forcing myself to look away before I tried to reach out and touch her.

  “Here.”

  She handed me the blanket.

  “Thank you,” I said.

  Neither of us moved. I forced myself to look at her, and she looked me in the eye. A soft smile spread across her lips.

  I studied her face. She had gorgeous green eyes that lit up when she’d been flirting with me like she’d actually been enjoying it. I reached out, brushing a strand of her dark brown hair from her face.

  Her ha
ir was still wet from being outside. I couldn’t help wondering how long she had been there before I came out.

  My fingers brushed over her cheeks.

  I’m not sure who moved. All I knew was that we were closer than we had been.

  I knew it was a bad idea. I knew I shouldn’t, but I moved closer to him, wanting to feel him touch me more. I wanted to feel his hands all over me. Not just in dirty places, honestly all over me.

  He pulled away from me as fast as I moved towards him.

  I reached out and grabbed his wrist, pulling him to a stop, closing the distance between us.

  My lips crashed against his.

  My heart skipped a beat. He didn’t react. He didn’t move. He just stood there as I kissed him.

  I pulled away from him, looking down. Of course, he pulled away. What had I really expected from him? I should have known he wouldn’t have had any interest in me. He’d just been trying to be nice when he gave me a ride home. What about earlier? I could have sworn he checked me out.

  Maybe I wasn’t his type.

  I tried not to let that hurt me. After all, I wasn’t going to be everyone’s type. But it hurt.

  His warm fingers reached out and touched my cheek again.

  “Melina,” he whispered softly. “You’re a nice girl.”

  Oh, I heard the speech before.

  His hand traced its way along my jawline to my chin, and he pulled my chin up, my eyes locking on his.

  My cheeks burned and my heart raced, telling me to pull away before he could try to let me down gently, and fail.

  “But … you’re so young,” He paused. “You deserve someone … younger.”

  That’s what this was about? How old was he?

  Did it even matter?

  I bit my lip.

  No, it didn’t matter to me. I wanted him, and it was that simple.

  I took a deep breath, closed what little distance there was between us and kissed him softly. “And what if I want you?” I whispered against his lips. I could see him struggling to speak. “Deep inside me.”

  My hands traced over his chest, making their way lower and lower. My fingers grabbed at the waist of his pants.

  “I want you under me, ass naked and pulling me down onto you. I want you to take me and hold me up against this wall as you touch every part of me.”