Craving Sugar

by Elena M. Reyes

  “Is that so?” he laughed and turned to a red-faced Esther. “Can I buy you a drink?”

  “What about the guys waiting on us?” Maya questioned Esther.

  From the tensing of the men around me, I wasn’t the only one unhappy with that bit of news.

  “What boys?” I demanded.

  “Well, caveman,” Bitty huffed, “these are people from school. Not all of them have a penis.”

  “How many?” Simon asked.

  “Three?” Esther answered, yet she sounded unsure of the number.

  I didn’t like this and by the look on Simon’s face, he didn’t either. All I wanted tonight was Maya’s undivided attention.

  “It’s just a few friends. Why are you both acting like jilted lovers?” Maya groused with annoyance dripping from her tone. “I barely know you,” she reminded me in a low mumble.

  “No, reason,” I lied and pulled her just a tad bit closer to me. “Why don’t we go and meet your friends—”

  “No,” Esther and Bitty yelled out, while Lance stood back and watched on with interest. We’d become his amusement for the night it seemed.

  “Why the fuck not?” Simon and I barked.

  “Because you’ll both act like jerks toward the people we go to school with. People we see every day. I’m not in the mood to be peed on by someone I barely know.” Esther snapped and grabbed Maya by the hand, effectively pulling her from me before I could stop it.

  “But you know us,” Simon argued. “Plus, we will be on our best behavior.”

  “You did invite us out tonight,” I added.

  “They’re right, you know,” Bitty reluctantly agreed before turning toward me once more. She poked me in the chest with her delicate, manicured finger and made her demands known.

  “No growling, grunting, or scratching—”

  “What the fuck?” She was making me out to be a pup.

  “In other words . . . behave.”

  “Yeah, that goes for you too, Simon,” Esther declared.

  “How the hell did we go from coming to meet them for a relaxing drink to being scolded like children?”

  “Easy.” Lance laughed.

  Guess I’d said that out loud. I flipped him off while he pushed a perplexed Simon forward.

  Lance just shrugged. “You like them, they know it, and will now play hard to get. Have fun.”

  I wanted to throat punch the fucker for laughing.

  His shit-eating smirk only got bigger. “Yeah, I know . . . you want to punch me, but tough shit. It’ll have to wait. Unless you’d rather have Maya spend more time with them than you.”

  My brow scrunched. “What the hell are you on about now?”

  The grin on his face widened even more as he pointed across the bar. “They already left and Simon is following. I suggest you do the same.”

  “Dammit.” I pushed off the table and stalked after my Bitty.

  They were siting by the stage when I managed to find their group. Simon was off to the side, having a private chat with Esther. His arm rested over her shoulders as they whispered to each other.

  I was happy for the kid. Now, to find the lady that had owned my attention since we’d first met.

  Maya was sitting at the table with her friends. All four guys and two girls were following her animated conversation. I could see that four of the friends were indeed paired off. Two less motherfuckers to fight if necessary.

  The two unmatched were going to be a problem, however. I saw the way they watched her. How their eyes strayed toward her chest and followed the movement of her breasts as they jiggled with her exaggerated moves.

  Since when did I become a jealous asshole?

  “There you are.” Maya said with a smile, answering my question without knowing. Why the fuck does this woman make me feel this way? We’d barely spoken; I didn’t know her past or she mine. I should just walk the fuck away and save myself all these frustrations.

  “Hey, babe,” I crooned.

  Maya’s brow rose at the term of endearment, but she didn’t correct me. Instead, my Bitty introduced me to the group. Everyone was nice, a little intimidated by my artwork, but no one made a move to ask me the stories behind each piece like most people do. Well, everyone but the one douche to her right, the one that thought he had a chance.

  “Since when do you hang with his type, Maya?” His tone was condescending.

  “Excuse me?” I snapped.

  “What the hell is your problem, Brian? Who I do or don’t ‘hang’ with isn’t any of your concern,” Bitty hissed in anger.

  “Maya, it’s just that you’re new in town and I don’t want anyone taking advantage of your sweet demeanor.”

  “Fuck—” I began, but stopped short when her hand squeezed my knee. My eyes snapped to hers and what I saw there made me smile. This spitfire was about to go off, and I was glad it wasn’t on me this time.

  “Brian, let’s make a few things clear . . . shall we?”

  “Don’t be upset with me, sweethe—”

  Maya didn’t let him finish. “I am not your sweetheart, pookie, love muffin, or any of the other ridiculous names you have tried. The name’s Maya, got it?” His face fell. I sat back taking a long pull from my beer, and continued to watch the free entertainment. “Next, who the hell do you think you are to look down on anyone?”

  “It’s not like that. I just worry about you.”

  “I’m going to try and pretend for a minute that it’s a friendly kind of worry?” She hedged and he agreed with a nod. “I can appreciate that, but when I say back off . . . I mean it. He’s not going anywhere,” I smirked at the silently fuming prick when she said that, “so chill out and play nice.”

  “Of course, Maya.” He swallowed hard and turned to me. “Sorry for the hard time. She’s important to me . . . us.”

  “So I see,” I said and pushed back from the table. No more words were said. A slow, sexy song had begun to play on the jukebox and I held my hand out to her. “Come on, babe, let’s dance.”

  Maya took my offered hand with a teeny smirk on her juicy lips. I just wanted one nibble. Bringing her closer to me, I bent a bit while she stood up on the tip of her toes to reach me.

  “Since when do bad boys dance?”

  “Since I need to prove a point.” With her hand in mine, I led her to the middle of the small dance floor. Her enticing hips swayed to the beat while we made our way through the crowd. Every man turned, and even some women, when we passed by. No one could deny her exotic beauty.

  Once we reached the middle of the floor, she turned in my arms. I’d failed to notice the footwear she’d chosen for tonight, and was now glad I had—four inch traps of sex. The delicate white and silver straps wrapped around her foot until reaching her ankle. Her dainty, sexy feet were showcased in the type of heel I wanted to leave imprints on my backside later that night.

  And now I had a foot fetish apparently. What are you doing to me, Bitty?

  Maya wove her delicate fingers through my hair and pulled me closer. My hands automatically found purchase on her hips, anchoring her smaller frame to mine and annihilating any space between us. The hypnotic beat of the bass made her hips move—she was fucking the air, and my sanity. My little Bitty moved like no other.

  In my head I could see us, see how we tangled in perfect tandem: Maya straddling my hips while I manipulated her body for our pleasure. We had the perfect rhythm.

  Bitty turning her back to my front brought me back to the present. Slowly, and oh, so sensual-like, Maya lowered herself toward the floor, her hips and ass grinding against my poor neglected cock.

  If she wasn’t careful I would end up fucking her right there, manners be damned.

  Thank God the song was over when she rose back to her full height; she was only able to rub herself against my weeping cock one more time before the last note was heard.

  “You are going to be very dangerous for my sanity,” I grumbled and willed my cock to behave as she turned around.

&
nbsp; “Why?” She seemed surprised by the comment.

  “Because I see myself wanting to go zero to sixty with you.”

  “Is that a bad thing?”

  “It is for me.” I sighed and rested my forehead against hers.

  “Then why not go sixty to zero, slow?”

  “Slow.” I trailed tiny kisses down the side of her face until my lips ghosted over hers. “Slow could work . . . for now.” One tiny kiss, a single sweet peck was all I allowed myself before pulling her back toward our friends.

  Dangerous indeed.

  4

  Slow.

  Worst motherfucking word in the English dictionary. I wanted to beat my own head into a wall for even thinking that our “get to know you” should be slowed down rather than letting the instinctive lust take over.

  One would think that since it was my idea to move at this horrendous, snail-like pace, that I would be happy. Nope, I was not happy. But I was moody, horny . . . and in need of a stiff drink.

  “For fucks sake, call her. Ask her out already,” Lance’s gruff voice complained when my sad ass walked by.

  Over the last two weeks, I’d been tortured by her sultry voice over the phone. Punished and tempted for my stupidity by the three photos she’d gifted me from her trip to the beach the previous weekend.

  My dick was raw from just how much appreciation those photos had received. Lance was right; if I wanted to spend time with her, then I had to push for it.

  Babe, you free to hang? -TC

  Her reply was quick, but not what I had hoped to hear.

  Can’t . . . wish I could, but I’m heading out now. My class got invited to witness a birthing today at the Seaquarium. - Bitty

  Fuck. Dammit, I need to see you. - TC

  I couldn’t deny how into her I’d gotten. Maya was the whole package for me. Made just for me.

  She was sexy. Bitty was tiny compared to me, but curvaceous and thick where it counted. Her confidence and zest for life made her fun and outgoing; she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind or challenge me if she thought I was wrong. Most of all, she was smart; determined to see her dreams of working with marine animals come true. Bitty lived and breathed her studies and it made her all the more desirable to me.

  Miss me already? - Bitty

  I do. - TC

  Skype tonight? I’m free around 7 and all day tomorrow. :P - Bitty

  Dressed sexy? - TC

  Maybe... - Bitty

  I’m there. - TC

  Lance laughed at my smiling ass.

  My mature reply? I flipped him off.

  “She’s in school, asswipe. If Maya were free, I would’ve gone and kidnapped her already.”

  “So, go surprise her,” he added, “I’m sure your stalker ass knows her schedule inside out.”

  Oh, how fucking true that was.

  It was only due to our constant texting and phone calls—and that one Skype session— that I’d even survived the last two weeks. Every time Bitty was free, I was booked, and vice versa.

  The one good thing about all those interactions was getting to know the sassy woman behind the dangerous eyes. Seeing the expressions flitter across her face made me smile. She looked so innocent and full of happiness when we Skyped—no make-up, bright and freshly showered—explaining her day as a volunteer at the Aquarium. Her excitement and giggles while she spoke of the dolphins and their show made my night. Her voice was filled with a wistful tone of amazement while explaining how the trainers worked the animals. They’d asked her, and the other volunteers from her class, to come in and help feed the mammals after the show.

  “Can’t, she’s on her way out. Plus Clifton is coming in for his consult on that memorial piece at one o’clock. I’ll never make it to her and be back by then,” I grumbled.

  “I’ll take care of Cliff.” Lance offered.

  “Really? You hate the douche.”

  “Only cause he’s Veronica’s ex.” Simon had been right about Lance digging the chick I’d tatted for him on last minute notice.

  “Are you seeing her yet or still pussy footing around?”

  It was his turn to flip me off. “Says the bitch that won’t make a move. One word,” he lowered his voice to a whisper, “slow.”

  “One,” I shook my head at his dramatics while holding up a finger, “Fuck you. And two, I’m out.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “Finally! Call the presses, Talan grew a pair.”

  My mouth opened, but the nasty reply stayed sitting on my tongue when Simon rushed into the room, banging the door against the wall.

  “Talan, get out front now!” Simon yelled, and I was out of the room before he was done. Angered voices grew louder while I neared the front of my parlor. Janice was lighting into someone, but it wasn’t until I stood across, and out of their view, that I saw whom.

  I started fuming.

  “He’s busy,” Janice sneered at the woman who I’d been desperate to see for the last two weeks. “And you aren’t allowed in the back. Employee’s only—”

  “Then call him out here, sweetheart,” Maya interrupted with a huff.

  “What part of busy and you aren’t welcome, didn’t you get? You are nothing more than a dumb groupie who fell for Talan’s charm and he—”

  “He what, bitch?” Bitty crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Sees you as nothing more than easy pussy.”

  Maya took a step closer to the reception desk and laid a bag from the deli down the block on the counter. It was obvious that she was there to surprise me and had encountered the jealous hag instead.

  “So, let me get this straight,” Bitty raged, “he used and chucked your ass to the curb, so now you play the card of jilted ex to anything with a skirt? Are you really that pathetic?”

  “How fucking dare you . . . get the fuck—”

  “Enough, Janice.” Both sets of angry eyes turned my way. “Maya, head on back to my room and wait for me. I’ll deal with you in a minute.”

  Janice smirked at Bitty when she passed, her mouth opening to let her venom flow once more. “He may have you around for now, but I’m the one that always remains.”

  “Fuck this. Maya, you can stay.” I was not about to have the woman I was interested in doubting me. Maya’s unsure eyes looked to me for confirmation in my request, and with one pull of her hand I had her standing next to me for a front row view of what was about to happen.

  “Janice, I’ve put up with your shit for too long. Are you a good employee? Yes. I’ll admit that, but that is all you were going to ever be. I’m sorry if you got the wrong impression, but how many times have I needed to warn you off my dick?”

  “Talan, I don’t understand—”

  “You worked for me.” Her eyes watered, and for a small second I felt bad. “I’ve been patient with your treatment of the female clientele because at times, they can get out of hand. You keep good track of my books and are honest, but what you pulled with my Bitty, I can’t overlook that.”

  “Talan, please, don’t—”

  “Pack your shit and go, Janice. I’ll call Steve from Sun-In Tatts and put in a good word. He’s hiring and you’ll fit right in.”

  “All this shit for her?” Her angry eyes turned to glare at Maya. “Really? Is her younger pussy that good?” Janice yelled.

  “How many complaints have I overlooked since you came to work for me? How many times have you propositioned me, when I’ve been brutally honest?”

  “Does she know you fucked me once?” Her eyes were wild; desperation seemed to claw at her as she grabbed at anything to stop what was happening.

  What the hell was wrong with her and why had I put up with it for so long?

  “And if he did, why would I care?” Maya answered for me. “We are not together,” I didn’t like that answer, “and who he did, or didn’t do, before me is none of my concern.”

  “This is all your fault,” Janice snarled and tried to attack Maya.

  Simon and Lance had followed
me out, but had stayed back. Now, though, they held a struggling and hissing Janice while I pushed an equally ready-to-trade-blows Bitty.

  “Watch your back,” Janice threatened. It was the last straw for me.

  “Get the fuck out of my shop,” I fumed. “Grab your shit and be out before I call the cops on your sorry ass. You have two warnings against you for violence already; this outburst won’t help your case when you see the judge next month.”

  That got her attention.

  “You wouldn’t?” The fight left her body and she relaxed against the boys’ hold.

  “Try me,” I growled. “And Janice,” her sad eyes turned to mine, “if you ever threaten or come near Maya again . . . it will be my wrath you’ll face.”

  “Talan, I’m sorry. Please,” she begged one final time, but it fell on deaf ears.

  Simon and Lance released her, but kept their stance between Maya and Janice, probably afraid her desperation would make her do something stupid.

  “No, now get out.” I stormed from the lobby with a final warning to her, asking Simon to walk her out after she’d collected her shit. Jesus, what a fucking start to the day.

  “Are all your employee’s that insane?” Maya questioned when I closed the door to my office.

  “No, just—”

  “Oh, God.” Bitty laughed uncontrollably. Her hand smacked my desk while she fought to control her amusement.

  Are all women insane?

  “What the hell do you find funny? I just lost a good employee.” That sobered her ass up.

  “Sorry if my surprising you caused this problem. It won’t happen again.” Her arms crossed over her chest, closing her off.

  “Maya, calm your little ass down. I love the fact that you came—and with food. Bonus points by the way, but now I have to find someone new to run the front. Not what I needed this week. I’m booked solid.”

  “You’ll find someone, especially in this economy. Everyone’s out looking for work.” That was true. “You do realize that there are two things you should be thankful for,” she hedged, coming around my desk and then hopping up on it, parking her tight rear right in front of me.

  “And what’s that?” My hands snaked up her calf and squeezed her flesh. Her eyes rolled back while I massaged her legs. So fucking sexy.