by Mary Abshire
“She’s leaving alone,” Andrew said. “What’s your story?”
Emily rose. “I don’t know. I’ll make something up.”
The prostitute story would be a sure way to talk to the woman in red. Emily might have disliked the idea, but people with a common interest always found a way to chat.
She went to take a step, but he gripped her wrist, stopping her. “You’re from Florida and you moved here to make more money. It will work,” he said.
“Only if she believes I’m whoring. Do I look like a hooker?” She pointed to her hair.
Andrew had seen prostitutes with different shades of hair color before. Why was she so nervous about playing one? She could do it.
“You can convince her. I’m convinced,” he said.
“Only because you want me to be one.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Everything.”
They watched the woman in red go down the back staircase.
“Okay, I’ve got to go.” Emily took a step and he let go of her. “Watch him. I’ll call you later.”
“Be careful.” He stood and watched her walk away from him.
Making up stories on the fly had been fun. Emily’s quick responses kept the conversation lively. Her quick wit was one of many qualities he loved about her. She was smart and if she stuck with his idea, she might be able to befriend the woman in red. The temptation to go after her and observe the two ladies chiseled away at him, but he had a demon behind him to monitor. The fun and games were officially over. Well, more like they were on pause. He’d resume them with Emily later at the apartment.
Chapter Seven
Emily followed the woman in red from the staircase to the side of the bar. Patrons had thinned out, leaving plenty of space at the counter. The lady stopped and placed her small black purse on the counter. One of the servers headed toward her.
Emily paused from several feet away. Her heart raced as she considered how to approach the woman. Although Andrew had a halfway decent idea, she couldn’t walk up to the gal and make any judgments. Any female would get turned off and walk away. Besides, Emily didn’t look like a prostitute. Could she play the role? Probably. Did she want to? Absolutely not. The idea made her uncomfortable. The best thing for her to do was start with small chitchat. From her personal experience, women always loved that shit.
Following a calming breath, she strode to the bar. She stopped next to the dark haired-lady and put her wristlet on the counter. The bartender delivered what looked like a strawberry daiquiri to the gal at her side.
“That looks good.” Emily waited for the bartender to move toward her. “I’ll take one of those.”
While he fixed her drink, she dug into her the purse attached to her wrist. After she fished out a bill, she set it on the counter. Next to her, the woman in red sipped her drink.
“That is one hell of a dress. The color suits you well,” Emily said.
The woman grinned. “Thank you. It seems to catch a lot of attention.” She had beady dark eyes and a small nose. Her youthful appearance led Emily to guess she was in her early to mid-twenties.
“That can be a good thing,” Emily said. “Do you come here often?”
She lifted one of her shoulders. “It depends how you define often.”
The woman’s answers were too damn vague. And Emily’s compliment fizzled out fast. Her game plan was failing.
The lady tapped her long fingernail on the counter. Emily noticed they looked manicured.
“Are those real?” Emily asked.
The woman scrunched her brows at Emily. She glanced at Emily’s chest and then met her gaze. It took two seconds for Emily to realize her mistake.
Heat rushed to Emily’s cheeks. She placed her hand on the woman’s shoulder. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I was referring to your nails. They’re beautiful.”
The woman laughed while the bartender delivered Emily’s drink.
Emily removed her hand from the woman. “That totally came out wrong.”
She nodded while she tried to stop laughing. “That was too funny.”
Emily took a sip of her drink. She needed a good comeback before the lady decided to walk away.
“So…” She held her drink and faced the woman. “Are they real? Because mine need special handling.”
Laughter burst from the woman. Emily drank more liquor. The buzz she’d had earlier had died long ago and if she had to keep up the humor, she was going to need a little help.
“Wow. That was good,” the woman said. “I’m Jessica.” She offered her hand.
“Carrie,” Emily said as she accepted her greeting. “I moved here recently.”
“Oh? Where from?”
Emily hesitated to use the story Andrew had given her, but it seemed like a decent one. “Florida.”
“Why would you move here from the Sunshine State?”
“A couple of reasons…” She quickly drank more booze, hoping Jessica wouldn’t ask for specifics. Since she wouldn’t know how to respond if Jessica would question her, she changed the subject. “I really do like your nails. I need mine done. Guys love it when you rake them down their backs.”
“Don’t I know it,” Jessica said. “I go to a place on East Eleventh. They’re a little pricey, but if you go to some of these other places in Brooklyn you could get an infection. It’s happened to me before.”
“Maybe I’ll hold off on a manicure for a while then. I’m trying to get established first and find decent work.”
“What do you do?” Jessica asked before she took a sip of her drink.
“Oh…” Emily waved her hand. “I work nights mostly.” Panic fueled her heartbeat. She needed a solid story soon, but nothing came to mind that sounded good enough to hold Jessica’s interest. Vague responses wouldn’t work forever.
“I work nights too. There’s more money in it for me.”
Emily faced Jessica with her hand on her hip. “I really like that dress. I bet you catch the interest of many men. Where can I find a hot dress like that?”
She giggled. “Are you looking to get men’s attentions?”
Emily wondered if Jessica would believe she was a working girl. Andrew’s idea wasn’t her favorite, but he seemed to think it would work. Perhaps playing the role was worth a shot. “Maybe. I mean, a girl’s got to work.”
Jessica sipped her drink while she scanned faces. It was as if she was nervous or afraid to respond. She set her cup down and Emily waited for her to reply. When Jessica didn’t, Emily suspected she might have offended her.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply anything about you,” Emily said and then twisted to face the bar. Her comment must have come out the wrong way. She’d intended for it to suggest Emily was the prostitute, not Jessica. Emily had screwed up and she didn’t know how to fix it.
Jessica scooted to the side until her arm touched Emily’s. “I got in trouble a couple of months ago with the law, so I have to be careful. I have a court date coming up and I don’t want to fuck anything up.”
Emily swallowed hard and nodded. She figured out a good way to connect with Jessica. “I totally understand. I was arrested in Florida about a month ago. That’s one reason why I moved here.”
“You’re kidding?” Jessica stared at her with wider eyes, as if she were intrigued with Emily’s story.
“I wish. Do you have a good lawyer? I may need one to help me clear up matters.”
“My lawyer is one of the best. And if you’re willing to work for him at a discount, he might be able to handle your case.”
What a sleazy lawyer. He represented prostitutes while fucking them. He probably thought he was helping them by charging them less. What a corrupt asshole.
“Seriously?” Emily asked, trying to sound interested. “How much of a discount, because I need help, but I also need to earn.”
“It’s a percentage.” She opened her purse and withdrew a business card. “Call the number on this and press five. You’ll h
ave to go through a screening process. He’s very particular with the girls he selects.”
“I’m clean. No drugs or diseases.”
“Good. Make sure you say that, but they’ll still want to check you.” Jessica handed her the card.
“Not a problem. I can give them any urine or blood for testing.”
“Is this your natural hair color?” Jessica asked.
“No. I dyed it so the police wouldn’t find me.”
“Don’t be surprised if they ask you to change it.”
Emily tucked the card into her wristlet. “I don’t mind. But can you tell me first what the earnings are like around here? I don’t want to make a dollar and have to spend half of it to pay for a lawyer. I came to New York because I thought there would be fancy businessmen who could shell out cash for some good pie.”
She burst with laughter for a second time. Emily finished her drink while Jessica tried to calm herself.
“Girl, you are too damn funny,” Jessica said.
“I’ve been told that a time or two before,” Emily said. “But in all seriousness, can I make good money here?”
Jessica twisted to face her. “Well, that depends.”
Emily arched a brow. “On what?”
“Are you into multiple partners?”
Emily’s breath hitched. She hoped this wasn’t the lie detector part because she was about to fail big time.
“I can be. I have, but not often,” Emily said.
Jessica brushed Emily’s hair away from her shoulder. “What about women?” Her gaze lowered to Emily’s lips.
“Women are fine.”
“Any BDSM play?”
“Nothing big. I mean…” She lifted a shoulder.
Jessica tossed her head back as she laughed. Emily had chosen the word big on purpose to keep Jessica in good spirits. If she made a good impression with Jessica, then maybe the woman would say nice things to the lawyer about Emily.
“I can handle restraints and some whips, but nothing that will scar. And everything has to be clean,” Emily said strongly for emphasis. Her knowledge about BDSM was limited, but she probably knew enough to lie well.
“Oh absolutely. The fact that you have experience puts you a step ahead of others. And since you’re open to options, I’d say you have a very good chance of making top dollar.”
Emily didn’t know how to respond. She had actually convinced Jessica she could handle BDSM and sex with women. Holy cow, she couldn’t wait to see the look on Andrew’s face when she informed him. She wouldn’t be surprised if he had an immediate orgasm.
“Call the number tomorrow and press five. You’ll probably speak to Frank. Don’t talk to anyone else,” Jessica said.
“Okay. I’m definitely going to call.”
“Good.” Jessica grabbed her purse from the counter. “Because I’d love to work with you. Your tits look just as real as mine. I think we could have some fun together.”
Emily swallowed hard. Portraying a hooker was one thing, but if Jessica, the lawyer, or anyone else in the business thought they could touch her bare flesh, she’d have to give up the act immediately. Women having sex with women didn’t bother her. But she was against getting naughty with whores and demons regardless of their gender.
“I hope to see you again soon,” Emily said.
“Me too.” Jessica took a step away. “Take care.” She headed for the exit with a gentle sway of her hips.
“Need another drink?” the bartender asked.
Emily shook her head although her mind encouraged her to drink more booze. Excitement flooded her. She couldn’t believe she’d lied so well to Jessica. Andrew would’ve been so impressed. Hell, she was.
She withdrew her phone from her purse and sent him a text. She had no idea if he’d returned to the apartment already or not. The subway was two blocks away. She wasn’t afraid to walk there by herself, but she disliked having to ride the train alone. She hoped he hadn’t left yet.
Leaving the cell on the counter, she began tapping one of her shoes on the floor to the beat of the fast music. The temptation to stay was strong. She’d enjoyed dancing with Andrew earlier. He’d made a good partner and had kept up with her. She especially liked when he had his hands on her and had grooved close to her. The man had one hell of a solid body. Touching him had raised her temperature and brought moisture to other places besides her face and neck. At one point she’d been willing to grind her body against his. Since he was from the 1980s he had to like Dirty Dancing. But he pulled her off the dance floor. The timing had seemed lousy, but if they hadn’t gone upstairs, then she wouldn’t have been able to follow Jessica and meet her. Body bumping with Andrew would have to wait for another night.
Her phone buzzed, capturing her attention. She lifted her cell and found a reply from Andrew. He could meet her at the subway in ten minutes.
Anxious to see him, she shoved her cell into her wristlet. She couldn’t wait to tell him the good news. She was a hooker from Florida with a criminal history and no qualms about BDSM or sex with women. The angel better be ready for her.
Chapter Eight
Cool air brushed over him as he exited the club. He nodded to the big guy sitting on a stool and speaking with a couple of ladies. The night air felt good over his heated skin as he strode down the sidewalk. He passed a long line of people still waiting to get inside Electric City. If Emily had decided to stay and dance more, he would’ve gladly joined her.
Andrew stopped at the crosswalk and waited for the light to change. Traffic on the streets moved at a steady pace. More taxicabs were on the road. He was glad Emily had parked her Jeep and opted for the subway. Driving in big cities was a headache, especially in the early morning hours.
He removed the cell from his back pocket to check the time. The hour showed after one in the morning. The time had flown by while he’d been having fun with Emily. After the stoplight turned, he crossed the road while he returned the phone to his pocket.
The night had been a huge success in his mind. He’d greatly enjoyed dancing with Emily and would love to do it again. She made him feel alive and on top of the world. She made him laugh plenty too. Above all, she made his dick ache. The woman had a superpower that was driving him insane with lust.
He hurried across the next street to get to the subway. Although he hadn’t been gone from Emily long, he missed her. His level of curiosity had increased after he’d received her text saying she had good news. Heart thumping with extra beats, he jogged down the stairs leading to the train.
The buzzard sounded and the doors closed on the railcar. Andrew reached the main floor and scanned for Emily. Not many people were standing around. The train started to disappear into the tunnel. When Emily emerged from behind one of the beams, it was as if fresh air filled his lungs. He met her smile with one of his own.
“Did you talk to her?” he asked as he came to a stop in front of her.
She gave him a jerky nod. “Her name is Jessica and she gave me a card. I’m going to become a client of Michael’s.”
She sounded excited, but the term she’d used bothered him. Brows drawn together, he said, “Define client.”
“I told her I’d been arrested in Florida and it was one of the reasons I left. Michael is her lawyer. She told me he could help me with my case.”
“But he’s going to find out you don’t have one.”
“I’ll call Troy. He can hack into anything and make it appear I have charges filed against me.”
Andrew ran his fingers through his hair. The idea of her acquiring a criminal record seemed risky and dangerous, especially when she was trying to avoid the law. “Are you sure you want to do that?”
“It’ll be fine. He can remove them later.”
Andrew crossed his arms. “Say you do call him and set up a meeting for him to discuss your case, then what?”
“Then we meet with him and check out his place of employment. Maybe there’s a way you can work your magic in his office. He wo
rks late hours, so we could probably set up a late time to meet.”
He lowered his hand and stuck out a finger. “First of all, we’ve walked by his building and it has security including cameras.” He extended his middle digit. “Secondly, even if we meet him at night, there will be a record of it. You can be sure of it.” He released another finger. “Third, he’s going to want to know who I am and what I’m doing with you.” Andrew set free his pinky. “Lastly, what’s my magic?”
She took a deep breath. “I don’t have all the answers. I have a way in and that’s a start.”
“So who am I?” He slid his hands into his front pockets.
“You can be my business partner.”
When her grin widened, he suspected she had some kind of twisted plan.
“What kind of business?” he asked.
“Well…” She tilted to the side to see behind him and then she scanned behind her. She closed the distance between them. “I’m a hooker from Florida. You handle my financial affairs.”
His jaw hung open, but he wanted to laugh more than anything. “I’m your pimp?” He couldn’t believe she’d taken his story and ran with it. Not just ran, but sped away with it.
“Yes, but I didn’t tell Jessica about you.”
“You told her you were a prostitute from Florida and she believed you?” he asked, stunned Emily had pulled off such a feat.
She licked her lips and he wanted to take her tongue into his mouth and suck on it. His cock stiffened.
“Not only that, I told her I can handle BDSM, multiple partners, and women,” Emily said.
“What?” He couldn’t believe what he’d heard. His erection continued to harden.
She placed her hand on his chest. “I’m into chains and whips, baby. Can you handle me?”
His heart went into overdrive while his blood rushed through him and to the one part in his body quickly expanding. He stared deep into her eyes. She looked and sounded convincing. He wanted to beg her to tie him up and have her way with him.
“She believed you?” he asked.
Grinning, she dragged her palm down his chest. He tried to remain still, but his breaths were coming faster. His balls ached while his jeans suddenly felt too tight for his cock. She paused her touch near his navel. A little farther south and she’d feel how hard he was.