She stared at me as she stood and made her way out of the room, and I was left alone with a few minutes to pack all of my worldly possessions and get ready to be taken away. I thought about Diablo and the love we never made and now would never make. Life is so short, and I swore from that moment on to never make the same mistake.
The dating game was a pain in the ass to play. So many players, guys who would tell you everything you want to hear just to get between your legs, and the ones who tell you they’re married within minutes of having sex. I couldn’t deny that I had needs, but I wanted more than an hour of fun. And with some guys, I barely even had fun.
After making the mistake of having sex on the night of meeting a new man several times, I decided to stop frequenting the seedy bars and flesh market nightclubs. My new friend suggested a change of scene.
She introduced me to this bar frequented by white-collar types. It looked like a tidy and calm establishment, its clients more inclined to have a relaxing drink rather than a drinking contest, and the music at a level allowing people to converse without yelling.
I sat with my friend by my side on stools near the bar’s main counter, wearing my favourite red dress and doing quick visual scans of potentially datable guys as they walked on by. No matter how hot the guy was, I would do things right and not get into bed within hours of meeting. I would make them wait, possibly until the fourth of fifth date.
They would have to seduce my mind before my body. They would need me to know them from the inside out while they got to know a fabrication I had memorised to pass off as my life. I could look at men and surmise whether they were keepers or casual fuckers.
“Excuse me, lady, but I haven’t seen you here before,” a man in a black suit and tie with a light blue shirt underneath said to me.
I turned and looked at the source of the voice, handsome smiling face looking right at me. He caught my eyes, and I felt glad to have been seated as the smell of his cologne subtly hit my nostrils and made my skin tingle. His eyes stayed level with mine, not lowering to my cleavage or the hem of my skirt sitting squarely with my upper thighs. “Um, I’ve never been here before.” Okay, he had me mentally scattered, and I couldn’t think of something else to say.
“Your glass is nearly empty. Would you care for another drink?” He extended his arm. “By the way, my name’s Terry.”
I accepted his gesture, soft skin on a perfectly manicured hand and his grip firm but not crushing.
“I’m Talissa.”
“Wow, that’s different. But I like it.”
I knew he was worried he said the wrong thing, so I smiled back. “I think it’s Italian for danger.”
His smile grew. He ordered me another glass of red wine, pronouncing a name of a drop I had never heard of before and a glass of scotch for himself, on the rocks. “I like danger,” he said and winked. As our drinks landed on the bar, we each quickly took a sip and our eyes locked onto each others again.
I told myself to settle. My pussy would hate me, but I would not give in to its desires. I hadn’t felt this way upon first meeting a man since…
“Would you care for a dance, Talissa?” Terry asked, cutting off my thoughts.
I had to release some energy somehow, and any sexual tension would have to be fully released via battery-operated means later on. It was time to make sure I did things right, no matter how excited I got being with this Terry guy. One can never meet someone and know it will be happily ever after, but I had a great feeling about this guy.
“Sure, I would love to dance.”
We danced on and off for the next three hours, and amongst it, I learned about his real estate career and his taste in the finest things in life. The way he looked at me on the dance floor, I felt I would surely be one of those in time. At the end of the night, my friend, who I had all but abandoned, left the establishment with Terry’s friend, who seemed a polar opposite to Terry.
“Terry, I want to see you again,” I said.
He smiled, and even though he probably wished it was him and not his friend getting lucky that night, he kissed my hand. “Oh, you will see me again. Same place next week, I will be here. Goodnight.” He waved down a cab for me and told the driver to make sure I got home safe.
For the next few weeks, we met up every Friday night, talked, danced, and drank, and then finally, we shared a cab, and both went to his place. Our first night together was nothing short of spectacular. We didn’t fuck, we went on a sexual journey, followed by another and then another. I woke up in the middle of the night, sat in one of his lounge chairs, and cried. Not sad tears, but the feeling of finding that perfect piece of euphoria.
If this guy truly were the one, I wouldn’t let anything happen to him. He wouldn’t end up like Harry or Diablo. I didn’t think I could ever settle back in a regular life again, but all it took was this one man and a couple of months to make me realise that I could have the dream, to be loved, adored and worshipped, and constantly sexually satisfied as a true goddess deserves to be. There would be no way the Praying Mantassassins would be calling me back to active duty. They just took pity on me for my duty and said what they thought I wanted to hear. But if they did try to bring me back in, I would find a way out of it, even if I had to kill them all.
Coming Soon
7PM — Part 5 — Emily
Erica Steele spent much of her early life growing up in a hippy commune, far away from modern society. One day a woman named Helen enters her life, showing her she doesn’t need to be the plaything of the male elders, and takes her and another young girl under her wing to show them the world.
Meeting a group of three male bikers, Erica doesn’t want anything to ruin her new perfect life, but soon finds that good things don’t always last, and finds herself with Helen heading in the direction of a place that will define her for life, the Praying Mantassassins compound. But how do they find a place that no one but a handful of people know the location to? And will they escape the law when they find themselves on the wrong side of it during their journey?
Acknowledgments
First, my writing journey wouldn’t be where it is without the love and support of my family. Special thanks to my wife, Glenda, for being there from near the start of my writing endeavours, and to my three beautiful children, Ethan, Krystal, and Siobhan.
My parents, Noel and Barbara Heinicke, have always been supportive, encouraging me to chase my dreams and keeping me grounded to stay responsible in the process. My sister, Rachel Foster and her husband, Troy have always cheered me along, and for that, I thank them, too.
My writing wouldn’t be what it is without the hard work of my editor, Rogena Mitchell-Jones. Not only is she great at her work, but a great friend in helping me get over my self-doubts.
Rebecca Berto from Berto Designs has come through with yet another great cover. Thanks so much again to her for her eye-catching design.
Thanks to my beta readers, Kate Annabel, Tracey Hayer-Roberts, and Kathryn Booker. Your input and the time you took to read a yet to be published work is much appreciated. Special mention to Kate Reedwood for going above and beyond for her work on this volume and helping me to think more about the characters’ motivations.
Over my years on Facebook, I’ve met many fellow writers at different stages of their writing careers. A network of support and friendship has helped me learn not only about the craft of writing but marketing and networking as well. With each book, the list increases, but those who have been there and who have never hesitated in giving advice or helping to promote my work, and I promise to return the favour where possible. Special thanks to Laura Hunter, Lili Saint Germain, Jacinta Maree, Melissa Crowe, Stephen Ormsby, Kim Stevens, Hayley Coates, Earl Chessher, Desley Polmear, Samantha A. Cole, and Baer Charlton, just to name a few. Anyone I’ve forgotten, I’m very sorry.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank a local bookstore owner for not only stocking my books but also for allowing me to use his store to launch my boo
k releases. Thanks to Andy Gasson from Magpie Books for his generosity and friendship.
And most of all, where would a writer be without their fans and readers? Thanks to everyone who has supported me, given me feedback, and read my books. Thanks for the words of encouragement and spreading the word about my books. With your help, I know someday I’ll be a full-time writer and able to devote time to releasing more books. Special mention to those I call my cheerleaders, Bianca Lloyd, Tracy Grover, Leesa Barrell, Cooper DMSelector as well as a huge number of my work colleagues with one in particular, Barb Mawby, following this whole series.
About the Author
Chris was born in the town of Port Pire, South Australia in 1971. Growing up in a family who moved a lot, Chris was able to see a lot of Australia as a child and teenager, meeting a broad range of people and living in four of six of the country’s states and the Northern Territory. Although working as a baker, writing has been a passion for some time, starting in high school and reigniting again in 2006. Since then, he has worked on the first part of a science fiction series, The Man In Black, released in 2015, and a short story, which culminated in a 2014 NaNoWriMo project called 5PM.
Apart from writing, Chris enjoys travelling, reading, and watching movies, as well as all things geeky. He resides in the New South Wales beachside town of Coffs Harbour with his wife and three children and is currently working on projects connected with 5PM and The Man In Black.
7PM - Talissa Page 5