by Jen Luerssen
“Now you know why he is a dick to women he likes romantically. He can’t handle being fucked over again. Our Sebass is a sensitive guy, even more than Joe,” Frank grumbles and Joe starts crying again. “Oh my god, Joe, stop it.”
“Why doesn’t anybody love me?” he asks, then throws his head onto the table dramatically.
“Because you act like this,” Frank says. “Despite that we all love you anyway, you jackwagon.”
The look in Joe’s eyes is something I’ve not witnessed. The pure joy of hearing that Fucking Frank loves him, even though he said it indirectly is something I don’t think even Frank realizes the gravity of.
“Wow, you guys are fun,” Kit says sincerely.
“Okay, birch, now spill the Salty deets,” Lia insists.
She sighs that cute little sigh and I’m curious to hear her version of events. The only person I’ve told about that night is Mikey and I’m not going to live this down. It will be a source of ribbing for a long time to come.
“About two and a half years ago I met him in Vegas at a wine conference. Well, we met in a hotel bar, I didn’t realize he was at the conference,” she says smiling. I’m glad she remembers that night fondly like I do, it would tear me up if she didn’t.
Joe holds his hand up. “Wait, over two years ago?”
She nods and they all turn to me, Lia, Frank, Joe, and Andrew, who’s been silently enjoying the convo to this point.
“Yes, I was meeting someone else and he showed up in a full stag costume. He was there for an anthropomorphic enthusiast convention,” Kit says.
“Say what now?” Andrew asks.
“He was a Furry,” Kit says and everyone nods like that’s a normal thing to have happened. “Salty here was sitting next to me throwing out some serious sexy non-furry signals and so I let Mateo down easy, although we hung out with him for a while. He was cool for a deer.”
“Great, enough quirky details, let’s get to the good parts,” Joe says now completely invested in this talk now that he has requited love from his Fucking Frank.
“We danced, did shots, kissed, basic sloppy Vegas fun,” Kit says. “Then I dragged him to my room and fucked his brains out.”
“There wasn’t much dragging I bet,” Lia pipes in. “You’re a smoke show and Sebastian is not stupid.”
“Thanks, I think, and no, he’s definitely not that.” I smile because I know she’s attracted to me, but I don’t know how she feels about me outside of the physical attraction we have. “We woke up the next day, had some earth-shattering shower sex and then we went our separate ways.”
“Wow, so neither of you looked for the other after? No numbers exchanged?” Lia asks and Kit gets a weird look on her face.
“Nope, we didn’t even know each other’s names,” I chime in.
“It was a perfect anonymous night of sex,” Kit says with a tinge of sadness.
“Man, if this was one of my books, there’d be a secret baby. One of my favorite tropes by the way,” Frank says to no one. He’s one of the most no-nonsense, grumpy asses I know but he reads romance almost exclusively.
Kit’s eyes go wide and then she laughs. “You read romance?”
“He does, but mostly for the kinky sex scenes,” Lia adds.
“Mikey and I like to act some of them out. Don’t knock it,” he says almost wistfully. As much as Frank can be wistful.
“Then I got back from a trip a few weeks ago to find Kit my new employee and she lives in one of the cabins.” The tone of my voice is a tiny bit sarcastic because I still have mixed feelings about all of it.
“So, you’ve been dealing with this intense sexual tension for weeks?” Joe asks and I want to punch him.
“Pretty much,” Kit says, “although, the tension has bubbled over a few times.” She throws a wink at me and I’m done. There’s no resisting her anymore.
“You need a ride home?” I ask her.
“Please,” she says and we both get up from the table to various protests from my friends.
Ignoring them we get in the cart and drive off.
Salty Tease
Kit
This day has been so weird. From the interesting visit to the cellar to the boob touching in my room. Not to mention the grilling I just got, including Frank’s comment about the secret baby. Fuck my life.
I’ve been horny all night after Sebastian’s little titty tease and talking about that night always works me up. So, when he offered to drive me home, I hopped on it, like I’m hoping to hop on him. It’s probably a shitty idea, but I don’t care.
He pulls up and turns the cart off but doesn’t get out. “My friends are a lot to take, I apologize if you felt uncomfortable.”
“I loved them, they’re total freaks in the best way. You are lucky to have them as your family.”
“I agree, I love my actual family, but I’ve known Joe, Andrew and Frank forever and Lia is irresistible,” I say. “My mom loves them like they’re her own children too.”
My heart sinks a little. “You get along with your mom?”
He turns to me and smiles wide. “She’s French, so I don’t have a choice. I’m her ‘mon chou.’”
“Aww, you’re a little bun? You’re mon salé,” I say.
“You speak French?” he asks.
“Just conversational and it’s poor since I haven’t been back in a few years. Did your mom teach you?” I ask and then have a mini-daydream about him speaking French to me while he fucks me. Mon dieu!
“She did but I’m rusty, mon chaton,” he says with a perfect accent and I melt into the cart.
“Your kitten, eh?” I tease.
“I guess I should say mon chaton méchant,” he says and now I’m completely part of the cart at this point I’m so melty.
“I’ll never live the naughty kitten comment down, will I?”
He laughs and I’m transported back to that night by this carefree outburst. I’m nervous to ask him in because there’s so much more to us than this moment that makes things complicated. Instead of asking, I lean in and kiss his sexy jawline that I’ve wanted to take a bite out of all night. He’s perfected that just right stubble that some men can pull off effortlessly. I’ve seen him clean shaven and it’s almost too much pretty. The scruff takes him to another level of sexy. My hand goes to the other side of his jaw so I can run my fingers over the stubble.
“You should smile more,” I say pulling back to run my nose along his neck. He smells really good.
“I smile plenty,” he says leaning a bit to give me more access to his neck.
“Not when I’m around,” I say peppering kisses up to right below his ear.
“I’m smiling now,” he says as I take his earlobe between my teeth.
I lean back. The entire time I was slobbering all over his neck and ear, he has kept his hands in his lap. He is indeed smiling and looks so kind and friendly. Also, a little intense. I lean back in and kiss the corner of his smile. “Do you want to come in?” I ask finally. Fuck the complications.
His hand goes to the roof and he half jumps out of the cart, runs around and grabs my hand to pull me out. “I guess that’s a yes?”
We go inside and my fake candles are still flickering. Fake candles are most likely the best invention of my lifetime. Hear me out...maybe you think a computer that fits in your pocket may be at the top of that list and sure, like number two solidly. The fake flickering candle is innovative in its ability to change your room’s vibe and not light it on fire. I like my ambiance as much as I like my fire safety.
Salty presses me against the bar and kisses me. It’s gentle but not tentative. His tongue is tangling with mine and I’m wrapped around him, my hands in his hair, my legs around his waist. I’m a short gal and he’s about a foot taller than me so climbing him makes sense for our back health. His arms hold me tight. I feel safe in his arms, like he won’t drop me or my heart. This thought startles me out of the kiss. I shouldn’t be thinking about hearts right now, only dicks. Sp
ecifically, his dick, which if memory serves, is both delicious and hard working.
“This okay?” he asks between breaths.
It’s sweet that he cares about me. That he’s checking in. It has the opposite desired effect I suppose because it makes me push him away. I need him to care less.
“It’s all okay,” I say but keep my hand on his chest, keeping him there. “I think we should slow our roll a bit, we’ve had an intense day. Maybe we should be smarter about all of this. You are my boss.”
He rubs his hand over his face, his beautiful, sexy ass face. I’m out of my mind. “I’m not your boss right now. I’m just Sebastian.”
“You say that but it’s impossible to put our roles on the shelf when it’s our reality,” I say. “If it’s just fucking and no feelings, I may be able to handle it. I’m not sure about you.”
This time he takes a full step back out of my arms and it’s not right. Maybe I won’t be able to handle it after all.
“You’re not sure about me how? How I think of nothing but fucking you or how I want to know you too?” He asks with a little bit of ire behind his words. Clearly, I’m pissing him off a little.
He crowds me again against the counter. “Yes,” I say like the brat I am.
A chill runs down my spine when he chuckles in my ear. “How about we just fuck and then see what happens?”
Nope. I push him away again. “Salty, I have enough shit going on just trying to prove myself and get my work done to be wondering what’s going on with you.”
“Are you saying you’re not thinking about me anyway?” He looks at me like I’m full of shit and he’s not wrong. I do spend some significant amounts of time thinking about him and all the positions I’d like to put him in. At the same time, I have a lot of other thoughts, then things get sticky and not in a good way.
I reach out and play with the end of his tie. He’s wearing a white and light blue pinstriped shirt, jeans and a pink tie. His style is very preppy but California style preppy. He’s almost always in khakis, jeans, and button-down shirts and ties but he wears sneakers or shoes with no socks, and never tucks his shirts in. It sounds weird but it works for him.
“I do, you know I do. There’s a very big part of me that wants to sit on your face and call it a day, but there’s the responsible part of me that also wants to resist you and concentrate on my career.” I know, I sound like a flighty weirdo but at least I’m honest--kind of. He does not make it easy to resist him. Despite the dumbass things he says, he is a good man and I like him.
His hands go up and he backs up even more. “I’m not going to pressure you. If you want to explore what is happening with us, then I’m all for it and will do my best to be professional in situations that warrant it. If you are confused, then let’s table it. You are safe with me and my face,” he says and ugh, I’m so not safe with his face.
“I’m sorry I may have led you on by inviting you in and licking your face.” I pretend to wipe my saliva off his chin. “Why don’t we just be co-workers and friends and then see what comes after that?”
“I can work with that,” he says and I sigh in relief. Guys aren’t always this agreeable, unfortunately. I’ve had a few get mad when I suggested being friends in the past, like being friends with me wouldn’t be as awesome as it is.
“I’m a fantastic friend,” I say and kiss his cheek and give him a full body hug.
“Well, friend, know that I’m here for facesitting if you change your mind but until then I’ll cherish your fantastic friendship.”
“Are you being an asshole, Salty?”
“Probably a little,” he admits and gives a half shoulder shrug. “See you tomorrow,” he adds and walks out the door.
Salty Brunch
Sebastian
I don’t see Kit the next day but I do see the back of her car as she rolls out past the tavern and down the drive. Mondays are the official day off for most of the Monkey staff. It’s also brunch day. Since we’ve been open, I’ve hosted brunch every Monday for all of the staff from 10am to noon. It’s not mandatory but it’s an informal staff meeting with free food and booze. It’s usually very well attended. Kit has not shown up once in the few weeks she’s been here. She usually departs Sunday evenings and returns Tuesday mornings every week. I’m not sure where she goes but I assume to visit her parents.
Disappointment at her absence is there, but her mixed feelings about any romantic interaction with me is bigger. Not sure why I thought she’d stay this morning. I figured since she stayed for the party, she’d forgo her usual trip off property. Sadly, my friends weren’t able to stay either. The band was up and out early, having to go to their next stop on their west coast tour.
So, it is just me, Gary, Colette and a few of our production people enjoying stuffed French toast and pumpkin pancakes when Mikey pulls up in her bright red El Camino. She looks like she may have been crying so I wait for her to speak. She greets everyone and piles her plate with pancakes and bacon. After she sets her plate down, she chugs two full glasses of orange juice, burps, and digs in.
Her being here is not unusual. Just because she’s running her parents’ winery now doesn’t mean she’s not always welcome here. I take a sip of my coffee and wait for her to get around to talking. She’s been acting weird lately when I’ve called or texted. I expect her to be busy, but the harried and rushed conversations are out of character for her. Not a lot fazes Mikey, she knows her job and is awesome at it. Never once did I witness her stress out over anything Monkey related. If there was a problem, she would solve it and that would be it. Right now, she looks at the end of her rope, pale and nervous.
Once her plate is clean she leans back and cradles her lower abdomen. “I’m pregnant, it’s Fucking Frank’s baby, I quit my job, and I want to open a satellite winery in the city called City Monkey.”
I laugh. “Is that all?” I ask.
She looks at me with all the seriousness of an executioner. “No, Sebass, that is not all. I also want to train Kit to take over as winemaker, have you design a City Monkey logo, and have another plate of pancakes.”
“Mikey, can we tackle one of these monumental events at a time?” I ask, leaning closer to her and taking her hand. “You’re having a baby with Fucking Frank? That’s amazing.”
She turns to me and bursts into tears. “Right? It’s so great. I’m so excited,” she says in between sobs.
“Aw, sweets, it really is,” I say, knowing that Frank will be over the moon. He was not himself this past weekend and I’m hoping their story will come to a happy end. “When are you going to tell him?”
She shrugs and smiles a little smile. “I’ve got ideas.”
“I’m happy for you,” I say. “Is that why you quit Natale’s?”
“Partly, but it hasn’t felt right since I’ve started there. I thought it was what I wanted, but it really wasn’t. I love our boutique business, the freedom of it. I guess I was just in a rut. Friday, I was in my like, 50th meeting of the day and it all came to me. I want to bring the experience of wine country to the city: tastings, production, crush. I’ve looked into growing grapes too. I spent the weekend letting my parents down and handing the reigns over to Jonah, the head winemaker. He should have gotten the job anyway.” She takes a breath and reloads her plate.
“Wow, too bad you didn’t come yesterday, Frank and those guys were here for the end of season party.”
“I know, I purposefully came once they were gone. Lia texted me once they got to the 101. I need everything to be settled or on its way to being there before I see Frank. What do you think about my idea?”
“You mean you just waltzing in here, assuming I’ll take you back and then agree to almost doubling our company size, in the most expensive city in the country?” I ask, eyes narrowed.
She drops her fork. “Sebastian Raphael Simeon, please tell me you’re kidding because I don’t think I could handle it if you weren’t.”
I throw my head back and laugh. “Michel
ina Aurora Natale, of course, I’m kidding, it’s an awesome idea and I’m sure you’ll rock it. I already have some ideas for a logo too.”
“Already? I mentioned it literally five minutes ago.”
“The minute you said City Monkey I visualized a few ideas, it’s an artist thing,” I say and steal a piece of bacon from her plate as she looks on in horror.
“If you’re looking for a manager, I might know a guy,” Gary pipes in and I give him a surprised look. He shrugs. “I’ve been wanting a change, Slow-noma is getting to me.”
Mikey claps her hands. “Yes, my evil plan is falling into place. Where’s Kit? I want to make sure she’s on board.”
“She took off this morning but usually gets back early Tuesday,” Colette says. “I have a feeling she’ll be cool with your world domination scheme.”
They continue to talk about Kit and how awesome she will be as the head winemaker as I think about how great she will be too, but also how much more complicated everything will be. Or maybe not? If we are on more equal ground then we may have a better chance at being together. Did her friendship talk bother me? A little, but I’m not afraid of being friends with women. My real feelings for her may be stronger than friendship, but that’s not her problem, it’s mine. I get the feeling that she wants to give into our mutual explosive chemistry, but then something keeps her from going forward. She says it’s career-related but I feel like there’s something else. Maybe I’m just making up excuses for why she doesn’t like me.
If could go back to that night in Vegas and change anything, I wouldn’t. It was perfect in its simplicity. Two adults exploring each other in a safe place, with equal parts respect and lust. Even the decision to not exchange names and numbers made it better. Like, we only existed in this one place and time. Two years later, it’s still at the front of my mind, even before Kit started working here. She is here. We now exist in another time and space and I respect her reluctance to create something new with me. Our sexual attraction is undeniable. She’s a stunning woman both on the outside and in. Observing her work ethic these past few weeks, and the warmth and pragmatism with which she deals with all of our employees, matches our culture and mission statement. In all honesty, she’s made my job easier so I can concentrate on art and marketing.