by Dawn, P.
I throw the pillow back. “I have to apologize to her.” I sit up and drink the last of my water. “I probably ruined a good night for her.”
“Are you kidding? She said to thank you for saving her from having to tell him no again.” My eyes snap to Sadie’s. “When you fell asleep, Tom lifted you up and carried you to bed. Joss went with him and wouldn’t let him undress you, even though he was just kidding about stripping you down.”
“Well, that was sweet of her,” I mumble.
“She brought you the water and painkillers before she got a cab with Cade.”
I feel a smile tugging at my lips but hold it back. I still think Joss has something against me, and maybe her being nice was all for show? I don’t know, but whatever it is, I don’t fucking like it.
“Are you working today?” I ask, changing the subject.
“I’m on the afternoon shift,” she replies and sits down next to me, smoothing my bird’s-nest hair over my ear. “One until nine. The hotel’s usually busy with new check-ins then, so I’m not looking forward to that. Anyway, Tom’s going to pick me up after to take me to visit my mom and dad, so I’ll be away until Monday night.”
Sadie’s parents live a two-hour drive away and didn’t like that she didn’t want to move with them, instead choosing to stay here after passing her hospitality degree. I’ve no idea how working in a hotel is a desirable occupation, but she loves it. The people coming and going, making sure they have a pleasant stay, catering to every whim and request. She wants to have her own someday, and I truly believe she will because of her pure determination to succeed.
Me, on the other hand, I struggled to find a job after passing my business degree. Not because I lack the knowledge, but because it’s so fucking boring that I fall asleep just listening to the managers go on and on about turnover, projections, and targets. I’d rather watch paint dry.
“How are you getting on with work, Jai?” Sadie asks, getting my attention. “Are you liking it any better?”
I shake my head, regretting it when the roadworks start up again. “It’s okay, but it doesn’t excite me like your job excites you,” I explain. “Reading through countless financial reports is draining. I can’t concentrate properly and because of that, I’ve missed some relevant information. It’s only when I double check that I see it. It’s not fair to the company, Sade. I could fuck up big-time, and it’ll be all my fault because I can’t get out of the funk I’m in.”
Sadie’s rubs her hand up and down my back, and her touch eases me a little. “Why don’t you go and see someone?” she suggests. “Maybe a professional will be able to help you, because I have no other solutions, sweetie.”
She’s been a great friend, listening to me going on about how nothing has ever interested me enough to keep me going back for more. There’s something inside me that tells me that I haven’t found what I’m looking for. That usually happens when I’m being slammed into by a big cock, and I know it’s because I’m not interested in the guy on the other end of it. I put it down to my conscience telling me that I’m just using him to find gratification, but I know that’s what he’s doing too. However, it plays on my mind so much that I can’t focus the day after. Yet I keep searching for the next one to give me what I need.
“Nah, I know what’s wrong with me,” I reply and carefully stand up. “I’m just bored with looking for somebody to please me. God, I sound like a spoilt bitch.”
“No, you don’t,” Sadie laughs. “Everybody deserves to be happy, Jaime. You just need to find what that is for you.”
But what if I can’t? What if it’s not somebody I need to find, but myself?
I walk into the coffee shop a couple of blocks away from our apartment. The dim lights a welcome break from the glaring sun, and I'm able to remove my sunglasses when it’s my turn to be served. I look behind the cashier to see Joss busy making drinks, and I don’t notice the man asking me what I want.
“Oh, sorry, can I just have a cappuccino to go, please?” I reach inside my purse for a ten-dollar bill.
He looks over his shoulder and then back to me. “Three-ninety-five.” I hand him the bill and then wait for my change. “Thanks,” he says when I slip it into the ‘thank you’ jar on the counter.
“Hey, Joss,” I greet her when I move over to where she’s making the drinks. She looks at me, and I swear I see a blush across her cheeks.
Shit, what did I say last night? What did I do?
“Hi, Jaime,” she replies and gets back to moving various pieces around, and I watch closely as her hands work quickly.
Is that it? “I wanted to say thanks for last night.”
Joss freezes for a second, then continues to work. “What for? I didn’t do anything.”
“You made sure I got to bed okay, and that I had water and painkillers, and you wouldn’t let Tom get me naked,” I laugh. The server’s eyes snap to me, and he stares.
“She’s joking, Kyle,” Joss says with a small smile then turns her attention to me. “You’d do the same for me,” she shrugs.
“That’s what friends are for.”
Joss passes a tray loaded with hot drinks and some other variant of cold coffee with cream.
Ugh.
Then she starts on my cappuccino. There’s no need to ask how I like it as she’s been making mine since we first met over a year ago. Sadie and I had just finished college, and we came to this little shop. Sadie introduced us as they’d known each other for a while. I liked Joss immediately but after the first deer-in-headlights I got from her, she never seemed to like me much after that, and I never understood why.
“Here you go.” Joss pushed my cup towards me, the little chocolate dusting in the shape of a heart—just the way I like it.
I remember I asked for the cup to go. “Oh, Joss—”
“I’m taking five, Kyle. Give Ann a shout to work the machine until I get back. Jaime, will you sit with me?”
I’m stunned that Joss has asked me to sit, and even more-so when she walks around the counter and gestures me to a cozy table for two at the back of the shop.
“Is everything okay?” I take a sip of my drink and moan at the caffeinated goodness.
“Uh… yeah, well, no.”
I put down my cup. “What’s wrong?” I lean forward, and she takes a sharp breath.
“I’m sorry.” She looks down at her twitching hands and looks as though she’s making an effort to make the barest eye contact. “I’m going to try harder.”
“I don’t understand,” I say, and I’m wondering where she’s going with this. “I don’t remember much from last night.”
“To talk to you. I… Last night you told me that you think I don’t like you.”
So that’s what I said. “Don’t worry about it,” I say and shake my head. “I know you get uncomfortable sometimes. It’s cool.”
Joss fidgets in her seat and chews her lip. I watch her white teeth dig into the pink flesh then disappear. “Well…you…uh…”
“Yeah, Sadie told me I pulled you into my bosoms and almost suffocated you,” I chuckle, keeping my voice soft. “Apparently, I wanted to save you from Tom.”
Joss snorts a laugh. “Yeah, that was a little shock.”
“Well, I’m sorry about that,” I laugh. “I promise I won’t shove your face into my tits again.
The deep blue of her eyes shoot to mine, and just as quick she looks away, her eyebrows pinch together for a split-second. “Anyway, I should get back to work now. Thanks for sitting with me.” Joss stands, and I join her. “I will make an effort.”
I take a step towards her and lift my arms ready for a goodbye hug, just like I do with all of my friends. She takes a doubtful step towards me, and I don’t give her a chance to change her mind. I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight, letting her know I’m okay with her just the way she is.
What I don’t expect is the way her hands hold my waist, and I feel the heat of her palms through my thin yellow tee. But then just as I
think she’s going to hug me back, she pushes me away.
“I have to get back to work.”
Her face is flushed, and I drop my head back and sigh. I overstepped, again, and now she’s uncomfortable with me like before.
After a shitty night’s sleep, the brain splitting headache I have is the only thing I can concentrate on right now. I look at the computer screen in front of me, but nothing is staying still on the monitor.
“Hey, Jai, do you have those reports from last Tuesday?” Sam, my boss, asks.
I reach into my drawer and pull out the file that took me four long days to complete—a task that should’ve taken four hours. “Here you go, Sam,” I say while rubbing my temple with my other hand.
“Headache?”
I open my eyes and stare at him.
No, I just like looking like I’m sucking on a lemon while being fucked in the ass for the fun of it! I bite my tongue so I don’t say that out loud. Not that I would let anybody in my back door again—gross—trying it once was enough. It hurt like a bitch and did nothing for me in the slightest.
“Yeah, it’s fucking agony,” I reply and open my drawer for the painkillers I keep there. I swallow two and take a sip of my bottled water. “Woke up like this.”
“Actually, you don’t look too good today, and you usually look so fine…”
“Say what?” I glare at him, and he has the audacity to backtrack as though I didn’t just hear him say something that could have him up for sexual harassment.
“I mean, you always look so professional,” he says, and his face reddens. “I didn’t mean to say that—you understand? I’m not in the habit of saying things like that—”
“Sam, just stop. It’s fine, okay? But, could you just leave me to suffer on my own? I’m busy having a pity party, and you’re not invited.”
He has the balls to laugh at me but then gets it that I’m not kidding, and I want him to fuck off. “Okay, see you then.”
He closes the door behind him, and I rest my aching forehead on the cold wooden surface and groan. “Please kill me now.” I glare at my desk phone when the sound of the ringtone assaults my delicate ears. “Yes?” I hiss into the receiver and continue to rub my temple.
“Hi, Jai!” Sadie says so cheerfully I’m tempted to shoot her the finger. “Mom and Dad say hi. Oh, and they’ve asked me to stay over another night, so I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon. Aunt Carol is coming over, and I haven’t seen her in almost ten years.”
“That’s nice,” I mumble. “Have fun.”
“What’s wrong?” I hear the concern in her tone. Sadie should’ve been a nurse, or at the very least she needs to pop out some kids in a few years to fuss over.
“I have a fucking migraine,” I moan. “My head is being torn open from the inside and painkillers aren’t working.”
“It could be left over from the other night,” she suggests, and I can hear the stupid grin in her voice.
“No. I felt okay last night. I didn’t sleep all that great.”
“Are you stressed? How’s work? Is Sam giving you too much to do?”
“Whoa slow down, Lester Brown,” I reply. “I’ll be okay, Sade. I’ll finish up here and go home. I might have an early night tonight.”
“Alone?”
“Yes, Sadie,” I spit. “I’m not in the mood to hook up.”
“Well, okay then, sweetie. Get some rest and I’ll see you tomorrow before I have to work the night shift at the hotel.”
I end the call to my second mom and return my aching head to the desk. I sit up with a start and realize that I’d fallen asleep.
“Shit, I need to get this done,” I say out loud and attempt to get back to work.
I look through the figures on my screen and find they’re a lot clearer than before. I work quickly through the numbers, knowing I don’t need to have it completed for another two days at least. I lift my head to the knock on my door, and Sam pops his head through the gap.
“Hey, Jai,” he smiles. “Ready to head out?”
“One…sec…” I click the save tab and shut down my computer. “I’m all done, let’s get out of here.”
I notice Sam’s eyes give me the quick once over as I approach the door. I round my shoulders and pull out the front of my shirt to hide my lady balls, making it obvious I know what he’s ogling. His face flushes and he moves out of the way so I can pass him with plenty of room between us.
“Bye, Sam, see you tomorrow.” I wave as I walk away, and I don’t have to see him to know he’s watching my ass in my pencil skirt.
“Cade,” I say into my phone when I get in my car and start the engine. “Are you up for Lux tonight?”
Cade is the first person I know to call, apart from Sadie—as we’re roomies—to hit up the bars. She’s great at herding the team together for a good time. But, the person who I know will always be there seems to have the least fun whenever we go out.
Chapter 3
“Why did I ask for this?” I whine before sipping my cocktail. It’s bright blue, and I have no fucking idea what’s in it.
“Because work sucks, your boss wants your ass, and you look fucking hot in that dress!” Cade laughs and raises her glass. “Am I right?”
I look down at the figure-hugging corset style dress with a thigh-length flared skirt. My boobs are sitting proud and with no straps to hold them up, they feel as though they’re going to escape at any moment. And, with my hair pulled back, I feel too exposed, even with my crimson jacket. Why I decided on this outfit, I don’t know. I’m not even looking for any attention but, regardless of that, there’s a churning in my stomach, and I just want to leave. Sadie isn’t here—of course—and neither is Joss. Cade couldn’t get hold of her.
The reason I’m staying? Cade and Mark hit it off after their ‘explosive and orgasm filled sex fest’—her words—and are hooking up again. I promised I wouldn’t leave her alone, even though two of our other friends—Gem and Leah— are with us…somewhere. I look over to the dance floor and see the pair dancing with a couple of cute guys that had approached us.
“Mark!” Cade squeals and she turns in his arms, and they make out right there in front of me, tongues and all.
“Hi, Mark.” I give a little wave even though he’s oblivious to my presence. “So, Cade, I’m gonna go. I’m just not feeling it tonight, I’m sorry.”
“Oh, Jai,” she says, pulling away from Mark’s kiss-swollen mouth. “Don’t go by yourself.”
“Hey, I'll be all right,” I reply waving my hands. “I’ll call a cab and wait at the front by the bouncers.” I give her a quick kiss on the cheek. “See you soon, okay?”
They lock lips again, and I push myself through the bodies until I get to the door. It’s not late, but it’s fairly dark, and the summer evening air brushes over me.
I walk to the taxi firm a couple of blocks away. The streets are busy, and I pull my jacket tight to hide the fact that my ladies are fighting their way out of my dress.
I get just over halfway there, and I begin to cross a small road that runs between two buildings. Not wide enough for a car, but more of an alleyway that links the front and back entrances without circling the entire block.
A noise catches my attention, and I turn my head to see a couple emerge from behind a door that opens outwards. Sensual music thumps rhythmically from inside and the sound intrigues me. I take a quick look around and make a decision right then and there that I want to find out what’s behind door number two.
The door slowly closes as the laughing duo walk away, gripping each other’s asses as though they’ve just enjoyed each other a little too much—or are just about to. It’s only when I get closer that I notice their clothing. All black, shiny, and skin-tight pants that show every nook and cranny below the waist, and I see some Vaseline being required in their near future.
I catch the door just before it latches, my hot-pink fingernails just inside the frame, and I carefully pull back.
The corridor is lin
ed with blood-red walls—fucking creepy as shit—and tiny bright lights in the skirting, allowing me to see where the hell I’m going and not fall over in my heels.
I reach another door, but instead of black iron, I see a silver colored steel looking one with a rectangular plate in the front. I almost scream when it slides back with a metallic squeal and the dark glasses that show no sign of life behind them.
“Name?” The gravelly female voice asks and I look behind me.
“Uh, Jai…Jaime,” I reply.
“First time at House?”
What? House? This doesn’t look like a house.
I know I look like a nervous teen, so I square my shoulders. “It is.”
The woman drops her glasses down her nose and studies me. Her green eyes with heavy makeup and false lashes take in every inch, and I hold my ground. I’m not letting her spook me. Her eyes crinkle up, and I hear a lock turning before the door opens inwards.
I take in her appearance. A shiny red corset cinching her waist and hugging over her round hips. She looks like a pin-up with her curves.
“Now, then.” The stern woman looks me over once more as she closes the door behind me. I’m in another corridor just as eerie as the previous one. “This way, Bunny.”
“Bunny?” I’ve no idea why she calls me that.
“Yes, Bunny. You looked like a lost little rabbit standing out there all on your own. Kudos for having the balls to stay put. Not many do.”
“Okay, so what now?”
The woman laughs. “Patience, Bunny. There’s a lot to do before entering House.”
I follow her to the first door on the right. She turns the handle and swings it inwards, revealing a room that looks to be a simple office—beige walls, dark carpet, and a wooden desk with a huge black leather chair behind it. A smaller version in front, which I assume, is for me.
She sits in the seat, and I notice the nameplate on the desk ‘Madame Plaisir.’ I hold back a smile as I remember high school French class. She gestures for me to sit.