by J. M. Paul
It’s mayonnaise.
After I took all the shots I wanted, I lowered my camera and simply took in the scenery. There was a quiet hope that came with the sunrise—a new awakening, a chance to be better, to do better, and an optimism that anything could happen.
When Bax placed his hand around mine and wove our fingers together, I didn’t need the rest of the hours in the day because it was already perfect.
Over the next couple of days, we visited Snoqualmie Falls where we took a Picture of Shutter tour with about ten other people. I knew I would obtain great shots, but I wasn’t excited about seeing more falls.
I had told Bax, “It’s just water falling over rocks.”
Boy, was I wrong.
The size, mass, and mood of the water and boulders were overwhelming.
As we hiked with the group, I enjoyed photographing the gnome’s home, the power plant, the abandoned eerie trestle, and the beautiful trails. Most of all, I loved capturing the expressions of the tourists as they took in the sights and sounds around them. I took a great picture of Milo bending over a rock—almost to the point that he could have fallen in the water—to capture something interesting he found beneath the surface.
From there, we visited a multitude of places. Gas Works Park, the Colombia Center in downtown Seattle, Beacon Hill, and the Seattle Central Library that offered astounding architecture. Then we saw Pioneer Square, the Seattle Center—which was neat but not my favorite. Kerry Park offered breathtaking views of Mt. Rainier, and Chihuly Garden and Glass made us feel like we had stepped into a Dr. Seuss novel. And, of course, we had to experience the infamous Pike Place Market. That was where we were currently shooting.
The energy surrounding Pike Place was unbelievable and like nothing I had experienced before. Back in Michigan, I had been to the Eastern Market in Detroit, and it was awesome, but Pike’s was Eastern Market on steroids. It was loud, bustling, bright, and entertaining. The produce looked out of this world, but I would come here for the amusement factor alone.
Never had I seen so many smiling and laughing faces in one place. When I lifted my camera to snap a woman’s horrified expression as she caught a slimy fish the butcher had thrown her way, I found myself shaking so hard from laughter that I couldn’t get a clear shot. The butcher teased her and then threw another fish at someone else. That man looked almost as appalled as the lady.
I didn’t understand why they’d order fish if they were so disgusted by it.
The younger guy behind the counter spotted me with my camera in hand and made a silly face when I aimed it his way. He lifted a large fish with cold, dark eyes and acted like he was going to throw it in my direction. My eyes went wide, and I vigorously shook my head before I turned to find something less threatening to document.
When I was framing a nauseating display of chewed slimy gum covering what was known as Gum Wall outside the market, a couple’s actions drew my attention. When I looked up, I saw the guy and girl squish their blue and pink pieces of gum onto the wall, trying to make a heart. They laughed at their attempt, and then the guy wearing a beanie wrapped his arms around the girl in combat boots. The smiles on their faces directly reflected the smiles glowing throughout Pike Place’s space, but theirs held something more, something different. There was love, adoration, lust, and an emotion I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but from one look, I could tell they were each other’s world. Their sun rose and set for each other. I envied their peacefulness, the assurance, and the sanctity of their innocence.
“That could be us, Ad Lib. All you have to do is open yourself up to the chance,” Bax’s deep voice said from behind me.
My eyes went wide, and the camera fell from my hands. Thank goodness I always wear the strap around my neck.
“What?” I turned to regard him.
He was looking over my shoulder at the couple united by a chewed-gum heart stuck to a brick wall that was covered in the same nastiness.
Traditions.
Bax’s hazel eyes met mine, and the sincerity I found in them struck me still.
“That could be us.” He jerked his chin in the Gum Couple’s direction. “Happy. Sweet. So pathetically in lust that we’d have to frame our relationship in a gross gum heart.” The smile on his lips was addicting. “Who needs Facebook to update our relationship status when we can solidify it with a tacky substance that never deteriorates?”
“Oh my golly.” I rolled my eyes and playfully smacked his shoulder.
He laughed, pulled me against him, and wrapped his arms around me. At the intimate contact of our bodies, my smile slowly faded. Heat started to build in my stomach and spread throughout my body. I licked my lips at the sensation, and Bax’s focus dropped to my mouth, as mine stayed fixed on his.
“All joking aside, I really do want that to be us, Libby. To have your complete trust, faith, and passion.” He leaned down to press his forehead against mine. “Will you allow me to have it? To show you that not all guys are bad or get taken away or will break your heart? At least not on purpose.”
I closed my eyes and let the warmth of Bax’s body seep into mine. He thawed the parts of me that had been long-since cold, and I shivered at the contact. No one had affected me this way since Jarrod, and I wasn’t even sure he had gotten this deep into the depths of me. I felt Bax everywhere—from my head to my toes. And, despite how intensely I’d tried to protect myself, he swirled around in my chest until he nuzzled his way into my heart. I was doomed, but I hoped it was in the best possible way.
“For years, I’ve tried so hard to protect myself, to keep people out, because all they do is hurt me.” I gazed up at him.
He cupped my face and brushed his thumb over my cheek.
“But I trust you, Bax. Wholeheartedly.” Running my hand through his hair, I pulled his face closer to mine, so I could rest my lips against his. We breathed the same air until I said, “Yes, I want that to be us so much that it scares me, but for the first time in a long time, I’m willing to let go of my fears and have confidence in what my heart is telling me.” I puckered my lips and softly kissed him. “And it wants you.”
Bax released a gush of air and squeezed me tighter to him. We kissed for several minutes, not caring or noticing that we were surrounded by hordes of people and a wall covered in chewed gum.
When Bax eventually pulled away, his hands slowly trailed down my back to grip my hips and pull me flush against him. It was an intimate move, one he hadn’t yet done, and to my surprise—which I wasn’t sure why anything concerning him surprised me anymore—it didn’t make me uncomfortable.
This is good. This is so very good.
“We’ll be great together, Libby. I can promise you that.”
And that was one promise I would let myself believe.
We were lost.
I couldn’t answer the question as to how we had gotten lost in this day and age—with GPS, Google Maps, and the like—but nonetheless, we were still lost.
All our phones had a failed signal, and we had taken several wrong turns, only to end up where we’d started. The sun was smack dab in the middle of the sky, so we couldn’t even tell which way was north, east, south, west, or anything in between. We would never make it to Las Vegas at this rate.
“Dude, pull over.” Bax leaned between the two front seats. “Your balls won’t shrink if we stop to ask for directions.”
“I’m Mexican, tipo. I should know how to take us south.” Milo looked out the window, searching the desert around us. “You would think,” he mumbled to himself.
When Milo pulled into a gas station and claimed he had to pee, I exited the van and started to walk into the building.
Bax jogged up next to me and placed his hand around mine. “Whatcha doin’?” Leaning down, he kissed the side of my head.
“Getting directions. We’ve been driving forever, and I’m ready to strangle Milo.” I pulled the door open and stomped into the store as Bax slid an amused glance, dimple and all, at me. If I wasn’
t so annoyed, the look would have tightened my stomach into knots.
Who am I kidding? It’s totally tied into a constrictor knot.
When it was my turn at the counter, the clerk’s eyes roved up and down my body, and a sneer lifted his mouth to reveal many missing teeth.
“Hi.” I leaned my hip against the edge of the counter.
“Hello to you.” Clerk Guy bent forward and set his elbows on the surface.
His black hair, black eyeliner, and nose and eyebrow rings told me he was trying to battle a few demons—something I was all-too familiar with.
“What can I do to you? I mean, for you.” He winked, and my stomach turned.
Bax’s arm slunk around my waist, and he pulled me to his side. “We seem to be lost and need directions to Las Vegas.” The tone was clipped with warning but nice enough so that the guy would help us.
Clerk Guy gave Bax a once-over and scoffed at him. Then, he addressed me, “Turn right out of here, and take the ramp to US-93 South. That’ll pretty much take you into Vegas.”
“Thanks, man. We appreciate it.” Bax nodded once.
“You looking for some sin, pretty lady?” Clerk Guy watched me. “I can give you a complete load of sin right here.” He flexed his hips and stuck out his tongue, revealing it, too, had a ring.
Bax tensed and started to step toward the jerk, but I placed my hand on his hard chest. Giving Bax’s hard pectoral a squeeze, I hummed and released a sexy grin both guys could see.
“No, thanks. I have all I can handle right here.” I kissed Bax’s chiseled chin and then his dimple. “Don’t I, baby?”
I wasn’t sure what had come over me, but it was fun to play the role of a shameless girlfriend.
Bax’s hazel eyes examined me before he slammed his lips on mine and kissed me with vigor until my knees started to go weak. Tilting back, Bax moved his hands to my butt, squeezed—which caused a squeak to creep up my throat—and pulled me closer.
“I think we both have exactly what we need.” His lips slanted upward, trying to show me he was playing along, but the tone of his voice told me he wasn’t kidding. He meant what he said.
Grabbing my hand, Bax led me out of the store and back to the van. When we opened the door, Milo was in the driver’s seat again, searching his phone. Carly was turned away from him and tapping her bare foot against the dashboard.
“It’s about time, pendejos.” Milo dropped his phone into the cup holder and started the van. “I think, if we turn left out of here, we’ll hit the expressway.”
“Not gonna happen, chico.” I snapped my seat belt into place and adjusted the strap. “We asked for directions. Turn right, and take US-93 South.” Leaning between the two front seats, I tried to make my voice sound stern. “And do not venture off that road, Milo.”
He huffed at me. “Whatever.”
Milo followed directions, and as the van vibrated under me, my eyes grew heavy. Bax scooted closer, pulled my head onto his shoulder, and rested his hand on my knee. Within seconds, I was asleep.
If my parents could see me, they would probably roll over in their graves, but at the moment, I didn’t care. I was having too much fun.
“Give it one more try. I think this will be your lucky pull.” Bax tried to set his drink down next to my slot machine but almost missed. The glass wobbled, and the dark liquid sloshed over the side.
“Whoa there. You okay?” Reaching out my hand, I helped steady him and his drink before they both crashed to the ground and got us kicked out of the casino.
He gave me a sloppy grin, so his dimple made an appearance. Then, he kissed the top of my head and practically fell into the seat next to me. “I’ve never been better.”
I raised an eyebrow at him but couldn’t help the curve of my lips as I smiled at how cute he was—disheveled but adorable.
Suddenly, he reached out and ran an unsteady finger over my cheek and then along my lips. “You’re so pretty, Ad Lib, that, sometimes, it hurts right here.” He pounded his fist against the left side of his chest, over his heart. “And what you do to other parts of my body…mmm.” His tongue darted out to lick the corner of his mouth.
Heat exploded everywhere around me and inside me. I squirmed in my chair right in the middle of the busy Caesars Palace casino.
“I shouldn’t talk about those parts because I know they make you nervous—and for good reason—but, Libby”—it came out on a sighed breath—“oh, Libby, what I would love to do to you.”
And I have no doubt I would love it.
The thought shocked me. Even though I was inexperienced when it came to mutual intimacy—the thought of it frightened me—I suddenly found myself not so scared of the idea when it was with Bax. My feelings for him had grown so deeply, and I knew, if I ever allowed myself to love someone again, I could fall to the ends of the earth in love with Bax.
“What if I wanted to let you do some of those things to me?” The words entered into the air, and my eyes widened with them. Looking around the crowded section, I wondered if it was me who had really said them.
A sobering look took over Bax’s features as he studied me. Maybe he was shocked that I had spewed that question as well.
He leaned forward and came to within an inch of my ear. “I would ask how fast I could get you up to my room.”
I tilted my head toward him, and he nuzzled into my face.
“But we both know that’s not going to happen, Ad Lib, so you’d better bet on this slot machine and see what it has to give you.” He watched me for a long moment until one side of his mouth tipped up, and heat entered into his eyes.
I could only imagine what he saw reflecting back at him, but if the tingling on my skin and in my stomach was any indication, I assumed he saw exactly what he wanted but couldn’t have.
If he pushed a little further, he might be able to have something…
“Pull.” Bax smacked the Bet Max button and put my hand on the lever.
I tugged the handle toward me for only the second time since I had sat down. I watched the wheels of my Lucky 7 machine spin and thought they were a good representation of my heart and head.
As the multicolored sevens circled at a rapid speed, I thought about Bax, what he’d said, and the fact that his hand was on my thigh and how it made rapid fire quickly move north to my nether regions that I hadn’t even known worked. Lowering my eyes to his hand, I sensed his attention on me. When I met his stare, it felt like all the energy in this Las Vegas casino was planted between us.
My lips parted, and I wasn’t sure what I was going to say, but a loud dinging from my machine cut me off.
I looked up, and the winning amount meter started counting off numbers. It went higher and higher and then even higher. When it stopped, I blinked my eyes, thinking I had done something wrong or read the number incorrectly. Security was going to come and cart me away to their casino cell, and I wasn’t sure what I had even done.
“Holy shit, Libby. You won!” Bax’s expression was jubilant, and he planted a wet kiss on my cheek. Then, he jumped from his chair, and the alcohol still coursing through his system caused him to tilt sideways until he caught the side of the chair to steady himself.
“No, I didn’t. There must be some kind of mistake.” As I studied the number on the payout display, my heart started to pound when I noticed the light above the machine was blinking.
Twenty-eight hundred dollars glowed in green lights, and it started to sink in that I really might have won a jackpot of some sort.
“Oh my gosh. I think I did win.” My eyes widened in excitement, and I grabbed Bax’s hand to squeeze.
He pulled me up and wrapped me in his arms for the tightest hug I thought I had ever received from him. Pressing against him, I wrapped my arms around him and started to jump up and down with enthusiasm.
“Uh, excuse me?” a female’s voice said from behind me.
I turned to see a redhead dressed in a Caesars Palace uniform with another uniformed guy standing at her ba
ck.
“Are you the winner?” The lady indicated the flashing machine.
I ardently nodded my head.
“Congratulations.” Her smile actually looked genuine, which I hadn’t expected. “I just need some information from you while Billy works on the machine.” She nodded her head at the guy behind her.
After she thrust a clipboard at me with some paperwork on it, I started filling it out. The ginger lady took the clipboard once I was finished and quickly reviewed it.
“Everything looks good. Give me just a minute, and I’ll get your check ready for the cashier’s desk.” Ginger secured the pen on the clip of the board.
“Okay.” My smile was so huge that I thought it would split my face.
I had never won anything—ever. This was the first time I had been in a casino and the first time I had sat at a slot machine. The best part was, it’d only taken two tries, and I had won.
“Thank you.” I rose up on my tiptoes and pressed a kiss to Bax’s cheek.
“For what?” He brushed back the hair on my face.
I could smell the slight hint of scotch on his breath.
“You’re my lucky charm.” I motioned back toward the winning slot machine.
“Ah, that’s where you’re wrong. I bet someone on one of these cameras”—he pointed up toward the ceiling—“saw how hot you were and wanted to see you jumping up and down.” His lips twisted up into a smirk.
Shaking my head, I said, “You’re ridiculous.”
“But truthful.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
“Here you go, Liberty. Thank you for choosing Caesars Palace.” Ginger handed me a check for twenty-eight hundred dollars.
I wanted to pinch myself to make sure I was awake.
It’s time to celebrate.
“Enjoy the rest of your stay.” Ginger nodded her head at me before she and Billy left.
“Wow. I can’t believe I actually won this much from a slot machine. And on my second try!” I waved the check between me and Bax. “Let’s go cash this sucker and have some fun.”