“Larson!” Ellie hollered over the raucous noise in the bar. “Need another two cases of beer.”
The bar was hopping. Standing room only and the drinks, along with the money, flowed. For the size of the crowd they were behaving, so far.
Night’s still young.
It had been ten days since Bennett had stopped by and they’d fallen asleep. She hadn’t been able to spend time with him and she missed him. Missed how special he made her feel.
The moment Larson returned with the beer, she decided to take a break. “I’ll be back,” she cried out. Her staff was great. Worked hard and had no petty squabbles. None that she knew of, anyway.
My staff—they’re not, really, they’re Dogfish’s staff. As am I.
Her boss meandered around up there, keeping order in his house. She sat down in the small break room and rubbed the nape of her neck. A low moan escaped. She’d been going nonstop since three this afternoon and it was eleven. A few hours left.
Her feet were killing her. Next time there were shoes to be broken in, it wouldn’t happen on a weekend.
Scrunching her toes a few times, she swore. There was pain and she had no doubt there would be blisters. She didn’t have another pair of footwear to change out.
Toeing her shoes off, she padded across the pristine floor to the coffee pot and fixed herself a large mug. She was always up for a serious jolt of caffeine. And some days it was needed more than others. This time was definitely one of them.
After the sugar and creamer were added, she retreated to her seat and put in her earbuds. This was her ten minutes to enjoy her music. Nights like this, she tended to listen to classical, it soothed her nerves.
One minute prior to her break ending, she pulled her shoes back on, wincing as they rubbed against the already raw spots. She bounced on her toes a bit, just to prove she could handle this. Then she rinsed out her mug and left it in the sink. Two more deep breaths and she stepped back out into the organized chaos.
Larson shot her a look she knew all too well. They were getting rowdy. She took her spot at the bar and got to work. A tingle ran down her spine and she glanced up to see Bennett slowly making his way up to her. A good half-head taller than most of the crowd, he stood out. Then again, perhaps it was because she noticed him over everyone else.
Tonight, his charcoal gray shirt spread taut over his impressive torso. She dampened her lips, all her focus going on him. The jigger in her hand slipped a bit before she regained her focus.
“Evening,” he said.
His smile weakened her knees. That flash of white against his darker bronzed skin turned her into a lust-crazed, insane woman.
“What can I get you?” She finished her current drink and passed it off to Courtney.
“Same.”
Ellie smiled. “I could take that to mean you wanted a pink drink.”
He rested against the bar.
“I don’t mind pink.” A wink. “I’d prefer a beer if it’s all the same to you.”
“I suppose it should be.” She grabbed his drink of choice and popped the top. “But I so wanted to see you with something pink on your lips.”
His eyes heated and swirled with both promise and hunger. The noise of the bar faded as it hit her what she’d said.
“It’ll happen.”
Her pussy throbbed and she wanted to touch herself to find relief. Or have him do it.
A young sailor stepped up. “Another round of six.”
“Sure thing.” She gave him his total and began filling mugs after he paid. Bennett barely moved to the side to give him room at the bar.
“You’re an angel from Heaven.” He gathered the drinks. “I could marry you. What do you say, beautiful? Want to be hitched to a sailor?”
“Money up,” Larson yelled.
“Damn.” She tossed five bucks in the jar they had behind the bar on their counter. Bastard never failed to hear when this happened to her. It didn’t ever seem to matter where he happened to be working, if he was in the building he heard, somehow.
Dogfish walked up. “Another one I see.”
Each time they had a marriage proposition, they had to pay money. When the jar got full, Dogfish matched the amount and it went to one of the numerous charities he supported.
She didn’t mind, it was the last tip received or five dollars, and it didn’t ever go over five. So, since the flirt had given her ten, she still got part to take home.
A win-win.
“How much have you contributed since you started here to that jar?” Bennett held the bottle to his lips and she couldn’t tear her lips from the sight.
She lifted one shoulder. “No clue. More than I can remember. But, not as much as others.”
Bennett cocked a brow. How the fuck such a simple act could make a man that much hotter and sexier, she wasn’t sure.
“Larson gets a lot of propositions.”
He nodded sagely. “I’m sure he does.” A blank stare. “I would still proposition you.”
Her belly fluttered. “That’s good to know.”
“Very.” He took a drink. “See you later.”
She needed a moment to regain her sensibility and focus on the job at hand. It didn’t work. She tracked him as he moved through the throng of gathered patrons.
He glanced back over his shoulder and toasted her with his beer.
Bastard knew I was watching.
The night continued and she couldn’t express how relieved she was as she turned the sign in the window to closed. Something low and slow played on the jukebox while they cleaned. They worked hard and fast to finish up. When she was the only one left, she finished writing up the day’s receipts.
“Busy night.”
She jumped, a scream bursting free.
“Holy crap! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
Dogfish rolled the ever-present cigar in his mouth. “You’re jumpy.”
He had a deep rasped smoker’s voice.
“I’m sorry. I’m not a Marine who eats trees and pisses sawdust. As far as I knew I was the only one in here. So, when a person speaks to me when I’d believed I was alone, yes, it freaks me out.”
He shrugged it off and slid his stocky build into the booth seat across from her. After digging in his pocket, he pulled out a lighter and she snatched it from his hand.
“What?”
“Just because the place is empty doesn’t mean you can smoke in here.”
He glared at her. She blinked back, unimpressed.
“Again, not one of your Marines. I’m gonna let you in on a secret. I know you’re a teddy bear and I’m not scared of your bluster.”
He shook his head. “Respect. I had it with the Corps.”
The wistful tone had her glancing up at him, suddenly concerned. The gleam waiting for her had her rolling her eyes.
“We respect you.” She turned over the last stack of receipts. “You just want us quaking in our boots.”
“Speaking of quaking. What’s going on with you and the squid?”
Squid had been said with something akin to that face you make when you step in a pile of dog shit and can’t get it off the bottom of your shoe. And that segue had been poorly done.
“I’m sorry, what?” She blinked tears away from eyes that had gathered from her choking.
“You heard me.”
“I did. I’m not sure I believed I actually heard it coming from your mouth.”
He leaned forward, resting those Popeye-like arms on the clean surface. “Perhaps I wasn’t clear. What’s going on there?”
“I’m past the age of needing permission to see a guy.” Could she call it dating, what she and Bennett were doing? Either way, she didn’t need someone’s judgement. Especially her boss.
She loved him, he was a father figure to her but still, her life was her life.
“He’s a man with a past.” He rolled the cigar around in his mouth.
She thought about her own. “Don’t we all have one?”
“I’m trying to look out for you, Ellie.”
Gripping his arm, she gave him a small smile. “I know, and I can’t thank you enough for protecting me. But it’s not that serious. We’re friends.”
Teach shook his head. “Not serious? Half Pint, if that’s what you think then you’re not as observant as I thought you were and gave you credit for.”
Her heart picked up speed and she resisted the urge to rub her chest. Was Bennett as interested in her as she was him? The very idea made her damn near giddy. She’d been attracted to him since she first witnessed him stroll—swagger would be a better word—into the bar.
“I’m fine, promise.”
Dogfish held her gaze. After a short staring match, he grunted, got out of the booth before walking away, and vanishing into the dark without a word. Much like he’d arrived.
She stared after him, mind a confused mess. Was there a warning there she was being obtuse about, because for the first time since her divorce he was a man who interested her in something other than a platonic way?
Bennett was a big man, and one who knew how to kill, but she only felt safe around him. Shaking off her past memories, she returned her focus to the remaining receipts so she could get out of here and head home.
Dogfish reappeared as she left and walked her home. As usual she was grateful, but there was part of her that filled with disappointment since Bennett wasn’t there.
“Take some days off.”
Pausing outside her building, she stared at him. “What?”
“A week. It’s a forced paid vacation. I don’t want you back at work for seven days. More like nine if you include the two Sundays.”
“Why?”
“Because you need some time off.”
“I like my job and I don’t need a vacation.”
“Fine, consider yourself fired for nine days.” He crossed his arms. “When you come back, your job will be there waiting after this time off. Go on inside.” She didn’t move. “I can’t leave until you are safely inside.”
“Are you trying to keep me away from Bennett?”
He was unimpressed with the ferocity in her tone. “I would ban him from the bar were that the case.” He made a shooing motion.
She held her tongue, waved, and retreated inside. Locking her apartment door behind her, she toed off her evil footwear, hobbled off only to pause and swing back. Shoes in hand, she deposited them in her donation pile. No way she was wearing those again.
After a long, hot shower, she padded to her bed in a t-shirt and panties. She yawned as she crawled underneath the bedding. Exhaustion weighed on her yet as she lay there her body came to life as she thought about Bennett.
Nipples pebbling behind the thin cotton, she slid her hands up beneath the material to tug and pluck on them. Her clit throbbed so she drifted one hand there, pushing between the lips and gasping at the contact with the bundle of nerves.
More! Her body demanded.
With a frustrated groan, she reached for her bedside table, needing far more than what her fingers could provide. Ellie withdrew Big Blue Beast and, as the low hum filled the air, she closed her eyes and conjured up memories of Bennett and his touch on her body.
αβ
This had been a day from hell. Bennett’s mood was south of the border as he strode into Last Call a bit after eight. Familiar people gave him greetings and he scanned the room—as his usual—before he headed for the back corner he typically occupied.
No sign of Ellie. Probably in the back. A thought that stayed with him right up until he spied Dogfish behind the bar taking orders. The last time he saw this was when Ellie wasn’t even in the building.
The place wasn’t overly busy, so he wasn’t sure why the owner would be tending bar, since he was more of the type who stayed off to the side and made sure order reigned.
Rachel brought his beer. “Here you go, hon.”
“Where’s Ellie?”
She shrugged. “No clue, she didn’t come to work today.”
Not what he wanted to hear.
“In fact,” she continued. “She’s out for at least a week.”
Even less what he wanted to hear.
“Thanks.”
She watched him, one eyebrow up.
“Yes?” He sipped his beer, wondering if this was how animals at the zoo felt to have people staring so hard.
“Thought you’d be out the door after her. Maybe you want someone with more experience?”
“I’d like to finish my beer.”
Rachel headed off and he drank, faster than usual but not as swift as he could have.
He played a game of pool then headed out. Although Dogfish made drinks, Bennett swore the crusty old Marine behind the bar watched him closely. Once he reached his truck, he slid behind the wheel and had shut the door when his phone rang.
“Yes?”
“Where are you, man?”
Drummer.
“On my way to Ellie’s. What’s up?”
“So, you’re not going to be home?”
“Not for a bit, no. Feel free to use it, just no women.”
“Roger that. Thanks, man. I need some rest.”
Of that, he had no doubt.
“We’ll do lunch tomorrow.”
“Good idea. Thanks again for the crash pad.”
Disconnecting the call, Bennett began driving. He pulled into a parking space and took a gander around. He didn’t even know which—if any—was her car.
Walking up the stairs to her floor, he tried to slow his brain from assuming the worst about where she stayed. Not to mention why she wasn’t at work.
Before her door, he rubbed a hand over his head. Time for a haircut. More nerves. Bennett knocked.
No answer. He tried three more times, all resulting the same way. No Ellie.
Frustrated, he headed back down the stairs.
As he reached for the handle of his truck, a black SUV pulled up and out she stepped from the back. If his keys had been in hand, he would have dropped them.
Holy fuck.
Ellie bent to speak to the driver and all his blood rushed south to gather in his groin. Her slender body had been covered in a light gauzy material that swayed seductively with the gentle breeze moving around him.
The seafoam green color had been shot through with a dark green metallic thread that sparkled in the lighting. The handkerchief hem gave him flashes of her toned legs. The halter top hooked around her neck and teased him with side glimpses of her breasts. Tasteful and sexy as fuck.
He smiled when he realized she carried her shoes in one hand. God, he loved her legs. She stumbled a bit and held up her hand as if that would balance her out, laughed, and began to walk once more.
Slightly unsteady, her smile beamed at him.
“You are so hot,” she said, reaching him.
“Thank you.”
“I love your eyes. I can’t tell you that though, shhh!”
Definitely drunk. He caught her as she wobbled once more. Bennett shook his head. Turning his back to her, he crouched. “Climb on.”
“Like a horsey.”
She squealed and jumped up, she completely missed the first time and nearly fell on her ass, her laughter bubbling free. He waited for her to try again and she wriggled her ass, tongue out the side of her mouth as she concentrated for this jump. She made it, barely but stayed on by wrapping her limbs around him.
Maybe this wasn’t the best decision he made. Now her heat pressed against him. He cupped her ass in his hands and headed for the door. She wriggled closer.
“Right,” he muttered. “Just like a horsey.”
All he could think about was her straddling him, riding him with reckless abandon.
She nuzzled his neck, reminding him there were other uses for walls aside from holding up the roof. They were there to hold up the woman wrapped around him as he fucked her, hard and fast.
“You smell yummy.” She flicked her tongue along his neck and he shuddered, nearly dropping her. “Taste even better.”
His cock throbbed painfully. Damn, he wanted her on her knees before him, those incredible eyes wide and on him as he sank his dick between her lips. Mind on the task before him, he made the trek up to her floor and readjusted her to pluck her clutch from her hand. After fishing for the keys, he unlocked her door and carried her inside.
She dropped her shoes and giggled as he set her on unsteady limbs.
“Thank you for being so gemmen…gentlo…gimmer… fuck. That word, what is it? Yes, I know. Nice.” She accented that with a sharp shake of her head. “Nice.”
“How much did you have to drink?” He locked her door.
Eyes wide she worked her mouth. “You carried me in here, you’re strong.”
“Not like you weigh a lot, come on, Ellie.” He turned her toward the bedroom. “Right,” he said in a louder voice. “Like a married couple.”
She pursed her lips into an “o” as she removed her earrings. Then she shook her head so hard, she nearly toppled over.
“Not me, been there. Not going back.”
It irked him to know she’d been married. What kind of ass would let this woman go, or what had they one for her to leave the marriage? Then again, now she was single.
She cocked her head to the side once he helped her regain her balance.
“I want to like you. I already do. Dreamed about you too.” A wicked sexy glint filled her gaze. “We do lots of things in the dreams. Dirty fun things.”
Damn, she was killing him.
Forcing back his own lust, he steered her toward the bedroom. “How much did you drink tonight?” Not that he gave a damn, but it was something to keep her from talking about what they did in her dreams.
“Not much. I don’t think. Like a lot of little ones. You know those tiny jiggly ones.” She hummed and scrunched her face up then snapped her fingers. “Jell-O shots, that’s what we call them. They were so yummy. I had some red ones, orange, blue, red, green. Red.” She rubbed her stomach. “I liked the red ones most.”
He was beginning to get the picture. She continued to tell him the colors of her Jell-O shots or if it had been straight tequila. With her tiny stature, he wasn’t shocked she was so wasted.
“You know that song with the naked grandma?”
She flopped back on her bed, testing his weakening resolve once more as her tanned legs fell open, tempting him all over.
“Um, no. No, I’m fairly certain I know nothing about a song with the naked grandma.” Bennett had no fucking clue what she was talking about. His gaze had zeroed in on her spread legs, he was hardly following the conversation.
“No? How don’t you know it?” She gestured wildly with her hands. “It makes her clothes fall off. Hot country singer.”
Finally, her words began to make sense. “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off.”
She clapped. “Yes, that’s it.” Ellie gestured at herself. “That’s me.”
This was another test of that thin control, that’s what it was. “Is it now?”
“Yep.” An overly dramatic sigh. “I had more on when I left. Even my shoes didn’t stay on my tootsies.”
He cocked an eyebrow. Tootsies? Really? “Come on, stand up.”
She wriggled her toes. “Okee dokie.” She wobbled but stood there as he’d directed.
Swallowing hard, he dragged the zipper on her dress down with one hand as he supported her with the other. She shimmied and the cobwebesque material fell to her ankles, leaving him staring at her in a soft peach bra—strapless—and matching hued panties. His pants grew uncomfortably tight.
Reciting a cadence he used to run to, he pulled a shirt on over her head before directing her to the bathroom and instructing her to brush her teeth.
“Who were you out with?”
She spit and rinsed before meeting his gaze.
“It was a bachelorette party for a friend of mine.” A wry expression. “She’s getting married, you know. All excited.” She frowned. “That’ll change.”
Okay, he picked up on the major anger there.
“Why do you say that?”
She shook her head and sucked her lower lip into her mouth briefly, drawing his attention back to that adorable pout.
Ellie left the room and flopped onto the bed seconds after she made it there. “God, it’s all spinning and I have no money. I gave it all to the stripper. All of it.”
He struggled to hide his laughter. Ellie sounded so bloody distraught by that fact.
“Goodnight, Smash.”
She opened her eyes and grinned at him. “I’d really like to fuck you right now.”
Yeah, he’d really like that too.
She ran her hands under her shirt, touching herself. Sweat broke out on his forehead. Christ. He stared unabashedly as she rubbed herself through those sateen panties, the material growing darker as she grew wetter.
“Thick cock. Thrusting. Driving. Pounding.”
She writhed beneath her own touch as her panted words filled his ears. His cock was near bursting.
He rubbed the heel of his hand over his shaft and groaned. Ellie arched and moaned before settling back. The room was full of his harsh breathing and her softer mewls. He undid his pants and stared at her, she watched him, eyes overflowing with lust.
“Yes.”
She flicked her pink tongue over her lips. Ellie pushed her finger into her pussy and a small shudder overtook her. He lost his clothes in record time, his control on the floor with his jeans and shirt.
“Wanna fuck you,” she breathed. “I wanna ride you like a bucking bronco. Need to feel your cock in me.”
God yes, please do.
Seconds later as she lay pressed against him, her entire body sagged deeper into him. A soft snore reached his ear.
His laugh had no humor in it. Figured. Here he was, hard as steel with a woman lying against him, more sprawled on him, who was damp from fingering herself who was asleep.
Not just out but dreaming of sex as she moaned his name, thrust against him, and all around spiraled his life into one of the seven circles of Hell. It was going to be a long night.