***
‘Hail to the king, Hail to the one, Kneel to the crown, Stand in the sun.’ My phone sings. I’m sitting in my living room completely engrossed in work. This restaurant shit is no joke.
Pull my phone from the floor beside the beanbag and answer it. “Hello.”
“Hey, dude, we’ve got another night out on the town tonight.”
“Another?” I groan. I’ve got too much work and Andrew’s done nothing to help.
“Yeah, Anne and her friend.”
“Alexis?” I sound hopeful. But, after she ran out last night at the club, I’d be shocked if she wanted to see me again. Although, I’m determined she’s not going to have a choice. I’m going to make her one way or another.
“Naw, man. I tried to get her to come. Anne said she’d bring a different friend tonight.” He explains, and my heart instantly sinks into aching territory. God, I’d give this all up just to see her face again. To touch her soft silky tan skin. Yeah…yeah… I’m totally chicking out!
“I don’t want to go.” I whine, like a two year old whose mom just told him he couldn’t have a piece of candy.
“Dude, you’ve got to. They already made plans. Her friend can’t be stood up.”
I huff frustrated into the phone. “Fine. Pick me up whenever.” I snap and hang up without another word.
***
“So your name is Brad?” Mary asks. She’s apparently my date tonight. Wearing a blue flannel long-sleeved button up shirt tied right under her average breasts. Tight low rise jeans hugging her curveless body. She’s pretty with medium length brown hair and a sweet southern accent. But, she’s no Alexis. I couldn’t be any less interested.
“Yes, it’s Brad.” I respond mechanically. I’m not sure where this is supposed to go. But Andrew and Anne are living in their own little world sitting across from us here at Diner 12, another one of Andrew’s restaurants.
Please come and take our orders already. I need to get out of this place as soon as possible. I don’t want to be rude, but damn.
Andrew has his tongue sloppily shoved down Anne’s throat. This is uncomfortable as hell.
“So what it is a sexy man such as yourself do for work?” Mary inquires with a blatant innuendo that she is interested in getting me between her legs tonight. That’s not going to happen. I’d rip the poor woman in two with my giant snake, and I can’t, under any circumstances, sleep with one woman when I’m madly, hopelessly and stupidly in love with another woman. Oh, my beautiful Alexis, I wonder what you’re doing right now.
“I’m a restaurateur,” I explain in as few words as possible. My face a blank slate. Her body scoots closer to me in this already crowded booth. I spot a waiter standing by the bar and nod him over.
“Sorry, may I take your order?” the waiter in a white dress shirt and black slacks asks.
Andrew pulls his wet lips from Anne. They are both breathing erratically with flushed faces. It’s obvious the pheromones are riding high at this table. Minus mine. Mary slips her hand to the top of my knee. I jerk away. I think she gets the hint because she crosses her hands dejectedly over her chest. Phew, that was a close one.
We all order, and I get a burger and fries. There isn’t much else you should order at a diner except maybe pancakes. There’s some unwritten rule in my book that diners are the place for burgers, and they certainly taste better here than some fancy place. That’s why none of my restaurants serve burgers. Even on the American part of the menu, which all of them have. One of my quirks, I suppose.
“So how’s Alexis?” I ask Anne as she sips on her diet coke through a white and red striped straw.
“She’s wonderful.” She says looking into my eyes.
That’s all, that’s it? Nothing more? What is it going to take to get these people to agree to give me her number?
Fine they want to play it this way. I can play the game. “I want her number. Now, which of the three of you is going to give it to me?” I glare at each of them individually. Paying extra special attention to Anne. I know she’s close with Alexis. I could sense it when we were out. Now, this girl who’s sitting way too close to me, they aren’t friendly at all. I think they’ve exchanged glances a time or two. But, not so much as a word has passed cordially between them.
Andrews’s shoulders slump like he’s hiding something. What, I can’t be certain. Anne ignores my question her eyes dancing around the room. Now Mary, she could care less what I said. I peer at her out of the corner of my eye, and she’s moved her hands between her legs and is rubbing her female parts from the outside of her jeans. Jesus, she much be some crazy nympho. I keep my eye on her, and her face is now a little red as she bites her lip. Oh, fuck! She’s masturbating right here next to me. What the hell is wrong with this woman?
Our food arrives and I scarf it down in record time. Not paying a bit of attention to anyone else at the table. I’m certain the nympho next to me didn’t reach the climatic plateau because she’s slightly flustered and is having a hard time eating her salad without her hand twitching.
I swallow my last bite and gulp down my water. “So are we done?”
Andrew raises his brow at me frustrated. “No, I think Anne and I would love to go for a walk.” He states his tone anything but friendly.
Fine, I’ll go, dammit.
“Uh, okay.” I slump down into my seat on the verge of having an all-out temper tantrum. First, I’m forced to go on this fucking date. Ok, maybe not forced but it was implied. Secondly, I have to sit next to a woman, who if I’d tell her to, would take me home with her. And, she’d probably fuck my brains out. Even if her pussy was shredded thanks to my monster. Thirdly, I can’t get any of these fuckers to give me Alexis’s number.
Ten minutes later, we are out of the booths. Andrew is strolling down the sidewalk with Anne sweetly tucked under his arm. I’m walking next to Mary. We’ve barely spoken tonight.
“Do…” she says and shakes her head. Like she wants to finish the sentence but is forcing herself not to.
“Do... What?” I press, out of politeness. I haven’t been the best date tonight. If anything, I probably scarred the poor nympho because of my rudeness.
“Do you…?” she bites her bottom lip. “Want to…?” she stops and sucks in a deep breath, grabs my arm to keep me from walking. I turn to face her and she leans up, her hands on my shoulders. “Do you want to fuck?” she whispers sexily next to my ear.
A shiver of disgust rolls through my body, and I try not to gag. I take a step back from her.
“No, I’m sorry, Mary, I’m not interested.”
Her mouth drops into a serious pout, and she walks ahead without me to catch up with Anne and Andrew half a block away.
That’s it I’m leaving. They’re in their own little world, and I’m not going to standby as the love of my life is out there, not even knowing, she’s the love of my life. I’ve got to do something.
I pull my cell out of my pocket and make my way back toward the Diner to take a cab home. It’s ten already. Amy should still be awake.
I hail a cab, and once inside I call my sisters private number.
“Hello, dear brother of mine.” She answers enthusiastically.
“Hi, sister of mine.” I tease back. Just hearing her familiar voice makes me feel a hundred times better. I love my sister so much. “Hold on a minute, Amy.” I pull money out of my wallet and hand it to the driver through the little window between the seats, and I scoot out of the back door. I should have taken my BMW to the restaurant. But every damn time we go anywhere Andrew insists on sending a car.
“Ok, sorry.” I apologize sincerely, nodding to Clyde the late night door man on my way into my building.
“So what’s up brother? Something wrong? You don’t normally call so late.” She sounds concerned.
“Well… I need to get that artist’s number from you.” I try to keep calm and even. I don’t want to reveal my feelings quite yet. Not on the phone anyhow.
“You me
an Alexis?”
“Yes, I need some art for my new apartment, and I thought I’d give her a ring to see if she’d do some for me.” I open the door to my apartment, step inside and toss my shoes against the wall.
Home, Sweet Home. Sorta.
“You’re going to talk with her? Brad, if you do you know what’s going to happen.” Her voice is stern. I hate when she gets all big sisterly on me. I’m a grown ass man.
“What’s that, Amy? I promise to be nice.” I plead. I just need her damn number. Give up the fucking goods dear sister of mine.
“When you meet her, you’re going to find her as irresistible. She’s a really great person, Brad. And a talented artist. Get the art. But, if you like her, which I know you will, you need to at least go on a date with the woman. Don’t just use her for art.”
“Why does it matter, Amy? Why can’t I just order art?”
“Because! Somebody I know has to date her. If I can’t. You better. She’s fantastic Brad. I’m not kidding. She’s funny, sweet, loving, sexy as hell, has the most beautiful hair and soft skin. When she stayed here last Christmas, we did the friendly girl cuddling on the couch in the living room. We sipped cocoa. Mama was in bed. I rubbed her sock covered feet. Even though she insisted it wasn’t necessary. I got so turned on…”
“No more…” I cut her off, “I don’t need to know about you and your female fantasies. I get it. She’s wonderful.”
No, shit, she’s wonderful. Truth is I don’t want to hear about my sister touching the woman I love. It makes me insane with jealousy. Even if it is my sister. I want to be the one to rub her feet and make love to her. I can’t wait to tell Amy about it all, when the time is right.
“Okay, I’ll try to be friends with her.” I say evenly.
She exhales loudly into the phone. “That’s a start. If you like her Brad. Woo her. If I can’t have her, you better.”
“I know, I know. You’ve said this for the past year and a half. I will woo her.” I snicker, chuckling into the phone.
“Don’t be a smartass.” She snaps.
Apparently she doesn’t think I’ll try. Not like I’ve given her reason to think otherwise. I’m not exactly Mr. Stud who dates a bunch of women, or one who woos any of the ones I have. It’s never been my sort of thing. Now Alexis, this is different.
We chat a few more minutes, and I hang up with having procured her number. I’m going to call her bright and early tomorrow morning. Hell yes!
Chapter Four
I open my eyes. Damn what time is it?
I roll over on the air mattress and pick my phone off of the floor that’s sitting on top of the jeans I wore last night.
Good, I can call her now.
Shit, I can call her now!
My stomach instantly tightens up at the thought. Thirty-six hours that I haven’t heard her voice. I grab my stomach and roll onto my side taking in a deep cleansing breath. I’m nervous as hell.
You can do this Brad. You can call her. It’s just a phone call.
I slide open the phone and find her number in my contact list and click send.
“What the fuck do you want at nine in the morning, Brian? I need my beauty rest.” She snaps.
Oh, fuck! Bad timing, and who’s Brian?
“Ummmm… I’m not Brian.” I stammer. Smooth Brad. Real smooth. “Hello? Is this Alexis?” Now that’s better.
“Yes, this is she.” She says calmer this time.
“This is Brad.”
I sit up in the bed and scrub the side of my face with my free hand. I can’t believe I have her on the phone! My stomach is in knots.
“Good morning, Brad, how can I help you? Anne is still sleeping, but I can wake her.”
Whoa she lives with Anne? And she still wouldn’t see me? Fuck! She doesn’t like me.
My heart instantly aches. I rub it a little.
“You live with Anne? And you still wouldn’t come to dinner last night? Am I that horrible?” I ask. I can’t keep my voice from sounding hurt even if I tried. I am hurt. I’m in real physical pain over here. This sucks.
“No, no Brad. I’m sorry, I just thought it was a one night thing. I’m not interested in dating at all. I only went along because Anne asked. I’m sorry. I figured Mary would be better suited if you were looking for a girlfriend type of relationship.” She explains with a gentle loving tone. Damn, I love her voice.
I look down and yep, my dick loves it too. He’s fully awake and ready to play. I swipe the pre-come from his head and wipe it on my jeans next to the bed.
So, she thinks I’m looking for a girlfriend? Ha! I’ve never been looking for one.
“Alexis, I didn’t say I wanted a girlfriend, and I never asked you to date me. I thought we could have dinner as friends. I don’t know where the significant other part comes into play because I don’t have the time or want to have any woman in my life that way. I just enjoyed your company strictly as friends.” I state steadily. Keeping each word equal to the rest.
My dick has other ideas, and I have to try to keep it together. She can’t think I need her. That’s too much too soon. I have to work her into my freshly hatched plan.
So I lied to her, sue me. I don’t want to be her friend. I want to be her man. But, I can’t very well come out and tell her now can I? That would sound completely insane. I feel insane enough that I feel how I feel. Even though it’s the truth and I’m not going to hide from it.
“Ok, sorry. I was under the impression from Anne that you were seeking a hookup or a girlfriend.”
I laugh deeply.
A hookup or a girlfriend? What? Those don’t even fall into the same category. And, Mary to be a girlfriend type. Ha! No way. She’s the hookup type of gal. Not the take home to mom type. My mother would eat her alive.
“I don’t need sex from you, trust me. I’m not like Andrew in that way.” I reason with her.
“I still don’t think we should be friends, Brad. It’s not a good idea. Stick with Mary.”
“I don’t like Mary. I like you. You know things about my life that nobody else does. It’s cool to be able to talk about. When I met you the other night, I didn’t want to be set up either. Then in walks, an attractive blonde and her even prettier friend. That was enough to throw me off my game. Then the Amy and my mom stuff came up and… I dunno. It’s kind of cool. Don’t you think so too? I mean you said so yourself, you don’t know anyone who’s heard of that place. Yet, we bump into each other and my sister happens to own it.” I shrug.
Come on throw a guy a bone here. I’m trying to be your friend. Take the bait. Do it, please. Why do you have to be such a challenge?
“Ok, so how’d you get my number?” she asks completely ignoring what I just said to her. Great, now we’re off on a whole different topic. Smooth transition Alexis. Good God, even her name is sexy.
“I tried to get it from Andrew, then from Anne and then from Mary. They wouldn’t give up the goods. So, I called my sister and told her I needed it.”
“You told your sister!” she screeches.
Yes, I got your number. So there. Ha-ha-ha. I chuckle darkly, playing with my goatee. “Simmer down. I told her I wanted to contact you to get some sketches for my new apartment in the city. That’s all. She was fine with handing it over. She even made me sit through a ten minute conversation about how great you are. She loves you more than she loves me, and I’m her flesh and blood.” I try to level out her frustration. I can hear her breathing rapidly into the phone and my dick loves it.
“No, she doesn’t. And Amy is great too. I’ve got to get up there to visit soon. I miss it. And after this long week at work I need the R and R, like yesterday.”
This naive little woman. If she only knew how Amy feels she’d realize Amy would pick her any day over me. I get it. If I didn’t I think I might be a little insulted.
“You should go next weekend. I think I’m heading that way soon too. Maybe we’ll cross paths.” Maybe just maybe she’ll take the bait. A little
Amy and Alexis time. It might do her some good.
“Can’t, I’m busy all night Friday and into Saturday.”
Son of a bitch! Can’t a guy catch a fucking break around here? Is she playing hard to get or what? Does she have a boyfriend? Maybe? Shit, I never asked that. But, I don’t think she would have gone on a date with me in the first place if she had a boyfriend. Although, I’ve heard of women going anyhow. It wasn’t like she appeared to be all that interested when we went out.
I suck in a deep breath. Keep it together. Just ask the damn question.
“Why? Do you have a boyfriend?” I drop my voice down trying to keep calm, breathing in and out slowly.
“Yes, I sort of do. It’s complicated but we see each other a few times a week. Keeping it casual.”
Fuck! Not a boyfriend. Shit, Shit, Shit. This can’t be happening. Maybe keeping it casual is good. Maybe I have an in. I don’t date or try to date taken women, fuck. And, I’ve never pursued a woman before, not like this. I apparently have no game. I need to take a class from Andrew or something, because he’s got enough game for the both of us.
Our conversation continues on another five minutes and she agrees, to my delight, to do some art for me. I couldn’t be happier. That’s the only positive I’ve got going for me today. This fucking sucks. That, and the fact that talking to her has made my dick so hard it’s painful. How is that possible? I just jacked him yesterday.
I drop my iPhone onto my jeans and lay back onto the shitty air mattress.
“Yep, you stupid dick. I’m going to jack you, and you’re going to be a good boy for the rest of the damn day.” I tell my dick out loud. Not sure if my brain signals ever transmit downstairs. He seriously has a mind of his own.
Grasping my dick in my right hand, I use my left to tug on my balls. Fuck. Yes. Clear pre-come is oozing out of my shaft. I pump my long dick and squeeze the head to secrete more of my fluid. I use it to lube my head, and I pinch the sensitive spot under it. Oh my God! I’m so fucking close. Just talking to Alexis on the phone has me ready to burst. I pinch it again. “Fuck, yes!” I moan into the air throwing my head back against the pillow. My other hand twisting my balls lightly. I don’t like it super hard, but I like it to jolt a little bit of electrical pain through my body. It pumps up the testosterone and I come harder. A little pain never hurt anybody. That’s why I have so many tattoos. They felt good when I got them. Didn’t hurt. Although I’d never consider tattooing my dick or anything. That’s just crazy.
Forever Attraction Page 3