by Anthology
“Because the tips are better?”
If looks could have killed, Tempest would have butchered me. I didn’t mean to be sarcastic, but seriously, this girl had me tied in knots.
“No, because I was mugged walking home a month ago and now I feel broken inside. I’m only working at the Dollhouse serving drinks because my rent is behind.” The defeat in her voice gutted me. I would get back to the details of the mugging another time.
“What happened to the audition?” I pulled the car over, carefully gauging her reaction.
She looked up, black makeup streaked down her face like claw marks, marring her pale skin. “My knee was swollen to the size of a grapefruit and I was s-so afraid.”
The stutter did me in. This wasn’t a I’m cold because we’ve been standing in the snow stutter, but a I’m terrified because some asshole attacked me. I didn’t know if I was making it worse by forcing her to talk to me about it or not. Turning my palm up, I left it there for her smaller hand to slip into across the console of the SUV. When her hand joined me, I gave it a gentle, and hopefully a reassuring squeeze.
“You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”
“Can you please just take me home?” She repeated her address which I didn’t need the GPS for since her place was my usual work patrol. I drove on autopilot realizing I brought her to my place and not hers. I felt like an idiot.
“Let’s go inside, Tempest.” She looked up at my building and didn’t question or argue. Instead she followed me inside huddled into the corner of the elevator, trying to compose herself. We were about to be shut inside, when Mrs. Beecham from across the hall followed, holding her Corgi puppy, giving me the eye.
“Late night, Joey?”
“Mrs. Beecham,” I replied politely, praying she would keep her mouth shut and leave Tempest alone.
“He’s a good boy, honey, and if he gets fresh, you can come knock on my door across the hall. I’m in 5B.”
The elevator took us up quickly and Mrs. Beecham walked out first to her apartment. Now I felt like a jerk bringing her here, but there was nothing to be done about it now.
I opened my door, letting Tempest inside, hoping she wouldn’t bolt. Locking the door behind me, I left the keys on the side table and went to the kitchen. Tempest stood in the dark living room, wearing black against the moonlight from the window and looking like some avenging angel from television ready to swoop down and kick ass. And if you didn’t know her, you wouldn’t even see the slight shake of fear she tried so hard to hide from me in the car. I pulled drinks from the refrigerator, a good Spanish beer, handing her an open one when I got the top off. It was either that or we could eat the leftovers my mami sent over. My bachelor pad was barely furnished and work kept me in the depths of unopened Ikea boxes.
“Thanks.”
We both took long drags of the beer, standing awkwardly silent in my living room near the kitchen bar counter, watching each other warily. I figured this was a good time to take a risk and jump off the bridge with my feelings for her. I didn’t know when I might get another opportunity.
“I should probably come clean and tell you that I’ve been hoping we could have met up together for a date, but it didn’t seem to work out before, and now I’m worried you’re going to think I’m an asshole like my brother’s friend tonight.”
Tempest drank the beer down, finishing it and placing the bottle on the counter. She had to step close to dispose of the bottle and the movement had her lush breasts brushing against my arm.
“Joey.”
Our eyes met and I finished my beer, letting the glasses clink together.
“I can’t guess how you feel about me and I won’t push you to do something you aren’t ready for.” I watched her throat bob swallowing whatever words she was going to say and my chest felt heavy.
“So then let me show you.” Tentatively she reached for me, hands on my cheeks and pulling me down to meet her face. Our lips shared a breathy sigh.
“Are you sure about this? I just gave you alcohol.”
“Oh, shut up and kiss me already. I feel like I’ve been waiting forever to have your lips on mine.”
That was all the answer I needed.
“Como quieras, mi niña hermosa.” I wanted to give her anything she wished for, my beautiful girl.
She stepped close to mine and a shiver racked her body.
“I’m so cold, Joey.”
“Come with me.” I took her hand, much smaller in mine, and led her into my bathroom. There would be plenty of time for kissing and exploring, but I was afraid she might be experiencing shock of some kind. I turned the hot water on in the shower and let the room fill with steam, fogging the mirrors.
Tempest turned away, slipping her top off before looking over her shoulder, surprising me. “The shorts have a zipper. Can you help me?” Her hips wiggled drawing my eyes down her curves appreciatively.
I nodded and let my hand cup her waist, pulling her in close for a second to kiss the spot on her neck between her ear and shoulder. A whimper escaped from her lips. I tugged on the zipper and pulled the shorts down with her underwear and stockings. I helped her step out of them as she toed her heels off. Standing up, I let my nose trace up her firm backside. Muscles from years of dancing graced her elegant body. There was strength in her fragility that went deeper than the physical, and I wanted to touch that part of her intimately.
She turned in my arms and silently started unbuttoning my dress shirt, pulling it from my pants and pushing it off my shoulders.
“Tempest…” I tried to put her off. I wanted to care for her not make her feel like a notch on my bedpost.
“Joey, I feel a storm inside me and you’re the only calm for miles. Make it all go away. I promise you, I’m not going to regret this. I want to be with you.” Her hands went back to frantically pulling and tugging my belt off, undoing the button on my dress pants. She helped me step out of mine as I had helped her moments before.
Naked, we stepped into the shower, the hot water pulsating against us, reservations pushed aside. My taller form braced the impact from hitting her directly as she went to work with my body wash. Clean mountain scents permeated my city dwelling, drowning our senses to the world outside of our hot wet cocoon. I tipped her chin up with my fingers and rubbed the makeup from under her eyes and face.
“Mi hermosa muchaha…” Our lips joined, kissing sweetly tasting lips and the faint bite of beer. I was afraid after all this we might slip and fall in the shower. There were far better places we could be adventurous, like my bed. We rinsed off, and I wrapped her up in a towel, hugging her to me.
“Please tell me you at least have a bed in here.” I laughed unexpectedly pushing an unopened box out of our way.
“Of course I have a bed, but I can see why you would think otherwise.”
We walked into my bedroom hand in hand, rolling onto the mattress together. Our towels slipped, no longer wrapped around our bodies, and I held myself up on my forearms to brace my weight from crushing her.
“I’m still cold.” Tempest was anything but cold as I took the cue to gently lower my body to hers, letting us fit together in all the angles and curves our bodies mapped out between us. Hot flesh melded together hard against soft. Her hips cradled my body and my dick rested against her belly, pressing forward. I paused there a minute, feeling our hearts racing to beat together as our chests found a common rhythm.
I reached over to yank on the side table’s drawer and pull out a condom. Half rolling over, I tried to put it on when Tempest took it from my hand, rolling it down my hard dick. She squeezed me in her small hand, a finger pressing on the top, making its way down my length.
“I plan to warm you up.”
She nodded, biting her bottom lip and pressing her hips against mine. I held her in my arms and let one hand skim down her chest and belly until I reached her bright red landing strip. Like a beacon I wanted to race down her runway and fly home, but first I needed to make sure she was ready
for me.
“Joey.” She panted my name as my fingers twirled around her slick opening, teasing the pleasure from her. She was wet and writhing in my arms, calling out my name. It couldn’t get any better than this.
“I want to be inside you.”
She nodded her head yes and moved her legs around my waist, putting me right where I needed to be, pushing inside her slowly, filling her up.
“Yes. Joey, don’t stop.”
I stopped when I could go no further, grinding against her mound as she moved herself over me in short, jerky movements.
“Next time we go at my speed, cariño.” I grabbed her hips as her feet hooked around me at the ankles. We thrust feverishly, crying out at the same time, out of breath.
“How are you going to do that, Officer?” She was shy and bold at the same time, teasing me, so I gave her something to think about.
“I have special handcuffs for that, mi hermosa muchaha.” I might have to use them just to keep us from mauling each other now that we knew how good it could be. Tempest still had a fair amount of explaining to do. We both did, but as the first snowfall blanketed the city that could wait.
The Roommate Pact
By Glenna Maynard
Luck is a very thin wire between survival and disaster, and not many people can keep their balance on it. -Hunter S. Thompson
Fiona
Groaning and stretching, I scrubbed my hands over my eyes, still crusted with last night's makeup.
I often wondered if I pissed on a leprechaun's rainbow at some point in my life. Every day it seemed I was down on my knees begging luck for mercy. Have you ever met someone who appeared to have a black cloud hanging over their head? That would be me—Fiona.
In the kitchen, my coffee pot was ready and waiting but wasn't producing my life juice...my caffeine. Flipping the top open, peering at the filter, my beans sat patiently waiting to be brewed. I flipped the power off and on a few times before giving up and straggling to the shower.
In the bathroom, I realized that not only was there no hot water, but I didn’t have any electricity either.
“Son of a bitch!” I shouted, as I banged my palm against the wall a bit too roughly as tears pricked in my eyes.
I threw on what I hoped were clean clothes and made my way downstairs to the tenant parking. I started out the door when I spotted Bill, the building super, getting in his truck. I lurked a few minutes in the breezeway, avoiding him. I was a week late on rent. I knew he would toss me out on my ass any day now. I didn’t know what in the hell I was going to do. I didn’t have parents who I could call for help. My mom struggled to get by as it was back home in Kentucky. She worked two jobs to take care of my younger siblings, Eva and Evan. Eva was in ninth grade and Evan was graduating that year. He was going places. He was awarded a full scholarship to Ohio State for the wrestling program. He maintained a 4.0 GPA and worked part-time at Taco Bell.
Eva though, that kid had issues. She was manic depressive and always running away. I wished I could do more for them and help mom out with them, but that was the whole point of moving to New York to start with. I went to the city for a better education and a higher paying job.
I snorted as I walked across the small parking lot to my rusted gold Plymouth Horizon; it was a better life all right. I’d be lucky to get another three months out of the damn thing. Though I had to admit, Stella had been good to me. Yes, I named her Stella. Don’t judge me.
The seat squeaked as I got in. Patting the steering wheel lovingly, I coaxed her, “Come on girl, don’t let me down.”
Sticking the key in the ignition, I turned it and nothing happened. Taking a deep breath and trying to keep my cool, I reasoned with her once more. “Alright Stella, I know I’ve been rough on ya girl, but I really need you to get it together.”
I cranked the engine; she was dead. I smacked the wheel. “Damn it Stella! You fucking whore! I’ve got shit to do today!”
Getting out and raising the hood, I discovered her problem. Someone stole my battery! “Are you shitting me, Life? What did I ever do to you? What!” I screamed kicking Stella in full panic mode. I didn’t have the money for a new battery and filing a police report in that neighborhood…forget about it. Devlyn begged me not to move into the area, but I had no choice. The rent was cheap, and I could afford it when I was still working.
And there was Chase. He talked me into moving him in with me. What a disaster that turned out to be. Shaking my head, I focused on the task at hand—getting away from there before Bill came back.
I’d call Dev if my cell wasn’t dead or shut off for non-payment. As I dug in my purse for my phone I’d remembered it was his first day at his new job. He got a huge promotion. If I had cable or the electric to watch it, I’d possibly see his face broadcasted from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade the next morning.
He was the newest member of the Elite Emergency Services Unit and would be working the parade.
I was so proud of him. He was having a get together at his new apartment tonight to celebrate.
Devlyn had been coming to my rescue for years. I wouldn’t ruin his first day. I started trekking to the bus stop. Thankfully my phone wasn’t dead, and I shot April a quick text, asking if she could nab me from the station. I bought Dev a new coffee mug to celebrate his promotion and planned to drop it off to him. It read: I like big bust and I cannot lie.
When we were in college, the three of us became fast friends over a love of the library and a mutual hate of country music. April was my roommate and I had known her forever, so calling her my best friend is an understatement; she was more like my sister. I wouldn’t have made it in the city without her. She was responsible for me meeting Devlyn, he was one of her boyfriend’s roommates, and we all went out together a lot.
Dev and I could go out to clubs, the movies or wherever without our relationship being awkward or feeling like a date. April always had a boyfriend so it was up to him to be my companion everywhere. We were simply two friends having a good time. Then, as our friendship progressed, his feelings for me evolved into more. I did love him, but not in the way lovers did or should.
Despite him knowing my strong feelings on the subject of us giving the whole dating thing a try after many failed relationships, he pushed, and I caved under the pressure and a broken heart. Chase had cheated on me and I had just found out. I gave in and went on a real date with him—Dev. I was so nervous; I took three shots before he came to escort me to dinner. I rarely drank at the time; I had never been a heavy drinker. I knew better, but I was so afraid he would kiss me, and I would or wouldn't feel something, and that it would change the dynamic of our once carefree friendship.
I was right—everything changed that night. Once we arrived at the restaurant, he ordered an expensive wine and I kept consuming it, needing liquid courage to function. I was sloppy drunk and by the end of dinner so was he. I often thought it may have been his plan all along—thinking I would be too drunk to care. The truth is I was, and whether or not he planned the night that way, we slept together. He wasn't a bad lover. Dev was sweet and attentive. He showed me how a man should love a woman.
Everything was about pleasing me. Every kiss, touch, bite, scratch was all for me. It started off magically. His mouth was sweet agony, the way he teased my clit, sucking and humming against my sensitive bundle of nerves…sated bliss. Things didn’t go south until, I started to ride him. When I looked into his eyes, I felt the love he had for me and my guilt kicked into overdrive. I used Dev to get back at Chase and he deserved better.
If we both hadn't been drunk, maybe we could have shared something beautiful, but the night ended with me puking on his bed.
He didn't even care. He put me in the shower and cleaned up after me.
See…perfect, but no butterflies. No heat. No burning desire—at least not on my end. At least that was the lie I told myself. I had to protect my heart. Chase broke me. He cut me to the bone. I wasn’t over that and Dev deserved so much bett
er than me—the disaster.
I wished I could allow myself to fall in love with Dev; he’d be an amazing husband someday. Whoever he married had better fucking be good to him. I would cut a bitch if she ever hurt him. I had kicked ass for Dev before. My junior year of college he had been dating this slut named Toshi and she was such a flake. She always had excuses for not showing up for their dates. She was in a sorority and something always came, up, but she would make an appearance in his life when she needed help on a paper.
I caught onto her game quickly and one night at a party, I saw her with her real boyfriend. The bitch laughed and bragged about using Devlyn to ace her classes. I’m not an overly violent person, but hearing her talk about my best friend that way when I knew how good he was, I snapped. I didn’t say anything at all. I walked over to where she stood and as she threw her head back howling with laughter, I grabbed her by the ear and twisted it like I would my little brother’s when he was in trouble.
At first she was in shock and didn’t understand what was happening. Her friends thought it was some sort of joke until I smacked her across the mouth and split her lip. I dared her to contact Dev again.
To this day he still doesn’t know why Toshi dumped him without a peep.
The rumbling of my stomach interrupted my trip down memory lane. I was in such a rush that morning I’d forgotten to eat. Luckily I had a Snickers bar tucked in the side pocket of my purse. I never left home without an emergency supply of chocolate. I felt a pair of eyes on me as I devoured my sugar laced breakfast of champions. I looked over to the seat across from me finding the wide as saucers starving eyes of a little boy. He licked his lips, staring at the other half of my candy bar. His mom was busy on her cell phone arguing with the electric company about her bill. Smiling softly at him, I gave him the last of my chocolate as my stomach cried in protest.
The small boy blew me a kiss and shoved the small portion in his eager mouth. The rest of the bus ride he sat next to me, and I shared my headphones with him. His mother smiled weakly at us and whispered a silent, “Thank you.”