Dark Tide, page 6
She leans in a little closer, her small hand tightening around my arm. “The keg is in the back. We’d be all alone, so if you’re not comfortable with that…” A devious smile plays at her lips.
The invitation is clear. I’d have to be blind and deaf not to be picking up the signals she’s throwing out.
We may not have hooked up that first night because I got so stupid wasted—a mistake I don’t plan on repeating anytime soon…as long as we aren’t sent on any more assassination missions—but we’ve been dancing around each other and flirting non-stop since the second I walked in here.
I hadn’t really planned on banging her in the back of the bar—more like her place after her shift so I can take my time and really enjoy it—but if she doesn’t want to wait, my semi-hard cock is more than willing to rise to the occasion fully now.
I grab her hand and let her lead me toward the back of the bar. Nicki watches us from her position near the cash register, a scowl turning down her mouth.
What the hell is her problem?
Women don’t hate me. Women love me. Even after a one-night stand, I’ve never had a woman give me such hostile looks. Yet that one, I can’t seem to win her over.
I wink at her, and she sneers and turns her back, giving me the opportunity to refocus my attention on Gabriella’s incredible ass barely contained in those tiny jean shorts bouncing in front of me.
Fuck. She’s hot. Smokin’ hot.
Smart. Sassy. Funny. Curves in all the right places.
She’s a catch.
What’s she doing bartending in this dump?
Whatever the reason she’s here, I’m not complaining. She’s exactly the kind of distraction I need from everything that’s been going on. And after our conversation the other night when I came in to apologize, I’m confident that despite Cutter’s concerns, I didn’t say or reveal anything to her I shouldn’t have.
The fact that the guys didn’t trust me and thought I would have divulged anything still grates on me, but I’m not going to let it ruin what that look in her eyes promises to be a good time.
She squeezes my hand and leads me through a swinging door to a small storage room, away from the loud music and other noise of the bar. Away from prying eyes and judgmental blondes. Away from whatever else we left out there—like my issue with the guys.
In this tiny room, tucked away at the back of Smitty’s, surrounded by empty kegs and stacked cases of beer, it’s just the two of us.
My cock has no question about what’s about to go down. It presses against the zipper of my jeans, begging to be released. I tug on Gabriella’s hand, halting her, and drag her body back to mine.
She issues a tiny little groan and presses herself against me even harder, grinding her pelvis against my dick. I lean down and stop with my lips a mere hair’s breadth from hers. Her tongue darts out across that pouty bottom lip, and now I’m the one who groans.
I squeeze her ass, hauling her even closer. “You sure you want to do this here, sugar?”
It’s not the most private or romantic of places. But I don’t think romance is really on either of our minds right now. A quick, hot fuck does a body good in my experience. And it seems that’s what we’re both looking for.
She releases a tiny sigh. Her warm breath flutters over me. “Yes.”
That’s all I needed to hear. I crush my mouth to hers and walk her backward until she’s pressed against the rough, wooden-paneled wall. She moans against my lips, and her tongue slips out and runs along the seam, begging for entrance.
Sweet. Like the bourbon she’s been drinking.
Just like I knew she’d taste.
One of my hands finds the button of her jean shorts while the other slides up under her shirt to cup her breast. I pull back her bra and flick my thumb over her erect nipple. She gasps and drops her head back against the wall, exposing the long column of her neck.
I kiss my way up the delicate, tanned flesh as I pop the button on her shorts and lower the zipper. Her small hands fumble with my jeans, but she manages to get them open and push them down my thighs, freeing my aching cock.
It pulses between us, and she wraps her hand around the base and strokes.
“Fuuuuuuck!” I growl low into her ear and nip the lobe between my teeth.
She gasps, and her hand tightens around my length. I slip my hand into the front of her panties and find her wet and ready. My finger glides between her lips and finds her clit. She jerks at my touch and digs the fingers of one hand into the back of my neck while she strokes me even harder with the other.
“Christ, Gabs…” I kiss my way across her cheek and take her mouth as she strokes me from root to tip and brushes precum across the head of my cock. Such a simple motion that sends me into overdrive. I slip two fingers inside her, and she tightens around them.
“Rion, please…” It’s a plea—barely more than a strangled groan, really—but it sends a fire roaring through my body.
Fuck.
There isn’t any need to draw this out, to whisper sweet words or promises we don’t mean. We both know what this and want it.
I roll my hips, practically fucking her tight hand. “Condom. Wallet.”
As badly as I want to be inside her immediately, I’m not going to be a fucking idiot and do it bareback.
She releases my dick long enough to reach into my back pocket and grab what we need. Her hands shake, and I draw my hand away from her long enough to grab the wallet from her, pull out the condom, and hand it to her. She tears it open and slides it along my cock, the brush of her fingers sending jolts of pleasure straight to my balls.
The second she’s done, I grab her by the waist, lift her, and turn to set her on top of a large stack of cases of beer. I grab the waistband of her jean shorts and drag them off her legs, letting them fall to the floor.
Sweet mother of God…
A minuscule black thong barely covers her pussy. I slip a finger under the fabric and draw it to the side, exposing her glistening core, just waiting for me to take her.
She grasps my cock and positions me. I press the head into her, and she groans, contracting around me. An animalistic growl rumbles in my chest, and I grab her hips and plunge inside her warm, welcoming heat.
“Holy fuck!” I bite out the words as she grabs the sides of the case to support herself. I pull out and drive back into her, rocking her backward.
The less than secure surface I’ve chosen to fuck her on might not have been the best choice, but I have to work with what’s available. And this is the ideal height to pound into her and let the head of my cock drag against the perfect spot inside.
Her pussy clenches around me, and a moan falls from her lips.
I tighten my hand on one hip and capture her face with the other, forcing her to tilt it up. “Look at me.”
Warm, lust-soaked, bourbon eyes meet mine. A fire blazes in them. One born of desire and something else. Something more meaningful. Almost like she’s taking charge, even though I’m the one doing her.
She needs this as much as I do, for whatever reason she holds deep inside. I force her upright and press my lips against her as I slam into her again. She rolls her hips in time with my thrusts, moving with perfect rhythm—a tempo designed to get us there fast and hard.
There is no slow and sweet. There hasn’t been for me in a long time. But not everyone needs or wants slow and sweet.
Fast.
Hot.
Hard.
That works for me. And it’s certainly working now.
Every drive of my cock inside her ratchets me higher and builds her up closer to orgasm. Her body trembles. Her feet dig into my lower back. Nails claw at the back of my neck. Tongues tangle.
I find her clit with my thumb and swirl the rough pad around it. She groans and bucks on my dick, squeezing it so tight, I have to clench my teeth to keep from blowing my load.
Get there, sugar.
If she doesn’t come soon, I’m going to embarrass the fuck out of myself. It’s been years since I didn’t get a girl off first, and I don’t want to fail where Gabriella is concerned. Though the fact that she’s able to bring me to the brink so damn fast is a testament to her beauty and skills and should be a huge fucking compliment, I doubt she would take it that way.
I pinch her clit between my fingers, and she bucks. Her mouth falls open, and her head drops back. Her hands tighten around my neck, and I pump into her, rolling my hips and driving as hard and deep as I can.
She cries out, and her pussy ripples along my length. My cock responds like gasoline landing on an already raging inferno. An orgasm slams into me harder than anything that’s ever hit me before, and I drive into her over and over again while she bucks on my cock and I empty my load.
“Oh, Christ. You two couldn’t have waited to fuck until after you hooked up the keg?” Nicki’s voice cuts through the momentary fuzzy bliss of release.
Shit.
I glance over my shoulder at her, my bare ass on full display, and Gabriella leans around me to see her.
Nicki huffs and lets the door swing shut behind her without another word.
Gabriella stares up at me, mischief playing in her gaze. “Whoopsies.”
I laugh and pull her face to mine to give her a long, slow, deep kiss. She clenches around my still-hard dick inside her, and I growl against her lips.
“You better stop that, or we’ll be moving right into round two and never get that damn keg on.”
She shrugs nonchalantly and squeezes my cock again. “It can wait.”
I raise an eyebrow at her and drag her body up against mine. “Oh, really?”
Her head bobs up and down. “Really.”
“Well,” I kiss her, then step back, pulling my cock from inside her. We both groan. “As much as I would love to take you up on that offer, there will be a lot of angry customers out there and an even more pissed off Nicki if you don’t do your job.” I lean down and nip at her lips playfully. “We can always do this again later. Somewhere…a little more private.”
She grins up at me and slides her panties back into place before hopping down. Her tanned skin glows, a pink hue across her cheeks and exposed center of her chest. “As long as later doesn’t mean waiting too long.”
Yeah fucking right. As if I could resist being inside her again the first opportunity I get?
The last few minutes spent with Gabriella in the back room of Smitty’s have given me more of a release than I’ve felt in years. I’m not giving that up or letting that slip away easily. With all the bad happening in our world right now, this is a little piece of good I want to experience again.
8
Gabriella
COME HOME!!!!!!
The shouty caps and half a dozen exclamation points really weren’t necessary. Like, not at all. After seven voice messages and twenty-something other texts, I understand the message loud and clear. And if I don’t respond to him this time, Robert might do something stupid.
Like come looking for me.
It wouldn’t be the first time he did something rash because of his personal feelings instead of maintaining an ounce of professionalism, and it was exactly what I was worried about happening when I came here. He was adamant he would stay out of my way, but deep down, I knew he wouldn’t be able to.
Once he sets his mind to something, he’s like a dog with a bone. And when he has it in his grasp, he won’t let it go. I’m the bone in this equation. He doesn’t want to let me go when that’s all I really need right now. Space and time to figure out where I’m going. It’s the only reason I agreed to come here in the first place—something he just can’t seem to understand.
I release a pent-up scream and scrub my hand over my face before I dial him.
This isn’t going to go well.
I’m all about avoiding drama when possible, and this will be drama.
It doesn’t even take two full rings for him to answer. “Where the hell have you been?”
The same hard, arrogant tone that actually used to get me hot and bothered now only fuels me with rage. I thought this time away from him might calm that, might soften some of the harsh feelings I have, but the way he’s acting, it’s only growing in strength.
Even sucking in a deep breath can’t keep the anger from my tone. “What the hell are you doing texting and calling me so much?”
A low growl slides through the phone, and his lips are undoubtedly twisted into a scowl. “You haven't responded to me in weeks. What the hell was I supposed to do? You could've been dead for all I knew.”
Death might be the only way to escape you, asswad.
“I'm a big girl, Robert. I can take care of myself.” And he should have expected radio silence. I warned him I would need it.
He lets out a mirthless laugh. “Can you? Because history seems to suggest otherwise.”
I push off my bed and pace the room. My annoyance is making it impossible to sit still any longer. “When I left, I told you to leave me alone. I told you that I needed time and space to do this.”
It shouldn’t be so damn hard to understand.
He scoffs. “And what? I'm just supposed to let you disappear? That's not the way this works, Gabs.”
“It works the way I say it works, Robert.”
I’m the one in control here. Whether it’s the freedom from Robert or the newfound enjoyment I’m finding with Rion, I’m not willing to give that up just because this asshole needs to feel like he’s the boss.
His low growl sends ice slicing through my veins. “God, you're impossible.”
I snort-laugh and shake my head as I make my way over to the window.
Late morning light peeks around the blinds, and I pull them back and peer out at the vast expanse of open land beyond the building. Tall grasses blow in the breeze. It’s a beautiful, calm summer morning. One I don’t want to be ruined by this conversation.
“Robert, you really need to take a minute and think about who you’re talking to. I've never been one to take orders from anyone. Especially the likes of you. After what you did—”
“Are we getting into this again?”
The blinds slip from my hand and fall back into place. He has no right to sound so offended when he was the one who cheated and acted like I was disposable until it was convenient for him, then embarrassed me in public to avoid the truth about him coming out. “If you're going to keep acting like you're the one in control of my life, then yeah, we are.”
“You knew the deal when we got together, Gabs. You made your choice.”
I close my eyes and clench my jaw.
He's right.
I did make a choice, and it was a real shitty one. But I couldn’t have anticipated his infidelity or how he would use his position to make my life hell. The problem is, now that I've made my bed, I have to lie in it. And that means having to deal with Robert. The alternative wouldn't be much better, but if he keeps this up, it's going to make my life a lot more difficult than it needs to be right now.
Shitty timing.
Just when I found a way to start enjoying myself a little in this job, Robert has to insert himself and completely throw me off my game.
Last night with Rion was…mind-blowing. Warmth floods between my legs at the memory of his touch. Those big, calloused hands running over my skin, leaving goose bumps over every damn inch of my body they touched. The intense thrust of his hard cock inside me. Stretching me. Filling me. Building me up and letting me drop over that edge into a cataclysmic orgasm.
It would have been amazing to spend today in bed with him, but that just wasn’t in the cards. By the time my shift was over, he had received another phone call and was long gone, and I was too exhausted to bother trying to track him down even though he gave me his number.
Given all the time in the world, I have no doubt that man could do wicked things to me. Who knows if or when it will be possible, but I need Robert off my back if it's ever going to even be on the radar. If it’s not, I may have to seek out a different avenue and source for the information I’m after.
This place is small. Tight-knit. Everyone seems to know everyone else and be up in each other’s business. It can undoubtedly be annoying when you’re trying to lay low, but it also means there’s a good chance Rion can help me find what I’m looking for—in more ways than one.
Enjoying some quality one-on-one time is definitely on my to be done list, but I can’t forget my purpose—or what will happen if I fail. The call from Robert is only reminding me how dire the situation really is. I can’t take any chances, and that means making sure nothing—including Robert—interferes. If that means going to him as soon as I can get away from work, I will—though reluctantly and with every intent to give him a piece of my mind when I see him.
He may call the shots sometimes, but it seems he needs a refresher course on how to treat me. If only every man were like Rion—funny, charming, hot, and aggressive yet somehow still a gentleman. It’s a lethal combination.
I suck in a deep breath and release a heavy sigh. “I need you to back off, Robert. Give me time and space. When I'm ready, we'll talk.”
“You don't get to decide when you're ready. You need to come home. Now.”
My fingers curl into a fist, my nails biting into my palm. Getting ordered around and dominated by a man in bed is one thing. Having him try to do it in my life is another. One I won’t tolerate. “That's not a good idea.”
There’s no other way to say it short of just telling him to fuck off, which is sitting right on the tip of my tongue. But there’s no reason to antagonize him beyond what he already is. The man is volatile enough.
“Gabs, I don't care if you think it's a good idea or not. Get your ass back here. We need to talk in person.”
