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The sound of his key in the lock always makes me jump, even though I’m waiting for him. I’ve been expecting him for the past hour. He gets home at the same time most days.
We’ve fallen into a routine that I love. He goes to work, and sometimes he takes me to the gym with him. Most days I hang out at his place, reading, Internet shopping and applying for jobs. In the evenings we go to the Highbar, then come home and make love. And that’s the part of the day I look forward to the most.
‘Hey there, little bird.’
The way his gaze softens when he sees me still sends butterflies to my stomach. The edges of his eyes curve as he smiles at me. His hair is tousled and out of place.
I move to him and throw my arms around his neck, breathing in his smell, so glad to see him again after another day alone.
‘You’re ready to go?’
‘I’ve been ready for an hour,’ I say into his skin.
His hand travels up the back of my thigh, beneath my skirt and to my bottom. I took him up on his offer and have ordered lots of new clothes. I’m experimenting and trying to find my style, wearing tighter, more revealing things. I love having the power to turn him on with what I’m wearing.
‘I’ll take a quick shower then we can head out. Did you eat?’
‘No, I was waiting for you.’
‘We can pick something up on the way.’
He kisses me. I close my eyes and let my hands wander across his muscular back and down his strong arms, but he pulls away from me. He throws his keys on the counter and heads to the bedroom. I follow him and watch as he strips off his top and drops it in the washing basket. My eyes lock onto his stomach, his shorts hanging low on his hips. He turns on the shower, then slides his shorts off and dumps them in the basket, too.
I can’t stop the sigh that escapes my lips at the sight of his naked body. His eyes flick up immediately, locking onto mine. He frowns and steps towards me, the coils of his muscles contracting and releasing with each movement.
‘What’s the matter? My little bird’s been alone too long?’ he murmurs as he approaches, and I feel the familiar swirling heat of excitement descending through my body.
‘Sorry. It’s just...’ My teeth sink into my lip as I stare at his nakedness. He’s hard, his cock thick and ready. I force my eyes away from it and to his face. ‘I’ve missed you, that’s all.’
‘You’re going to make us late.’ His voice is laced with impatience and he steps closer to me.
‘Slater, sorry, I just... I can’t help it.’
‘Neither can I.’ He presses me back against the wall.
‘It’s seeing you like that...’ I can feel his cock between us.
‘I know, Dale. I’ve known since the first moment I saw you.’
In one movement he lifts me, hands beneath my bottom, supporting my weight, and pushes into me. He enters easily and I moan with pleasure at the feeling of his body inside me. I throw my head back, banging it against the wall, and he pins me there, pressing his lips against mine, caressing my tongue with his. I claw his back; he’s so strong, solid and hard like steel. He pumps into me as I cling to him, my arms tight around his neck. I can’t get enough of him; no matter how much he fucks me, I just want more.
When he releases me and I slide down the wall and find my feet again, my forehead rests against his chest.
‘Beautiful?’ he murmurs. ‘We need to go. I told Dylan we’d be there.’ He looks at his watch. ‘In fifteen.’
He moves away from me and I refuse to let go of his hand. He comes back and presses a kiss on my nose.
‘Don’t go,’ I whine.
‘I’m only going to the shower. I’ll be two minutes. I stink, I need to wash.’
‘You don’t stink, you smell nice. Stay here with me a few more minutes. I want to hold you.’ I grip him, loving having him in my arms.
He laughs. ‘You’re going crazy, little bird. It’s time you started getting out more. Come to the shower with me, then.’ He pulls me to the bathroom.
He steps under the water and I watch him rubbing shower gel over his body. When he raises his muscular arms to wash his hair, I sigh and turn away.
‘We don’t have time to do it again, Dale.’ But I can see in his eyes he’s torn. He wants it as much as I do.
He shuts off the water and towels himself dry, then dresses in a grey suit with a white shirt. I don’t know how many suits Slater has, but it’s a lot. He wears one nearly every day and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in the same one twice. The fit is always perfect, smooth over his broad shoulders and tapering at his waist.
He holds out his hand.
‘Let’s get out of here.’
I watch as he drives. There’s something on his mind, I can sense it. He’s focused on the road, his eyes dark.
‘Is everything OK?’ I ask, reaching over and taking his hand. He glances at me.
‘Yeah, sure. Just got something going on at work. We won’t have time to pick up food before my meeting.’
‘I can go. It’s just across the road. I can pick it up and bring it back for you.’
He shakes his head. ‘No one will be able to go with you. All the crew need to be in the meeting and Barney can’t leave the door.’
‘I can go alone. It’s only, like, a hundred metres or so. Barney will be able to watch me pretty much the whole time. Anyway, I’ve got an interview in a few days; if I get the job I’ll have to start going out on my own.’
‘Yeah. I guess so.’
He pulls into the parking space. There’s already a line forming to get into the bar. We walk past it and I follow him through to the back. Dylan’s by the VIP area talking to someone. When he sees Slater, he comes over.
‘The others have gone up already, we’re just waiting for Bram.’
Dylan turns and heads towards the office. Slater looks at me.
‘You want your usual?’ I smile, giving him an I’ve-got-this look.
He brushes a strand of hair from my face. ‘Sure. Extra chicken.’
‘And the others? Should I get them anything?’
He glances at the back room. ‘I’ll go check. I’ll be back in a minute.’
As I slide onto a bar stool to wait I see Bram come in.
‘Hey there, Dale. How’s it going?’
‘Hi, Bram. I’m good. I think they’re waiting for you in the back.’
He grins. ‘Let them wait. They’re used to me being late. You’ve got your graduation tomorrow, right?’
‘Yeah.’ I sigh.
‘What? Aren’t you supposed to be happy about it? I know I’d be celebrating never having to study again if it was me.’ He rests his elbows on the bar.
‘I just wish Slater was coming to watch it,’ I say.
I ordered him a ticket, but he told me he won’t come. He’ll drive me there but doesn’t want to come in and watch. Said it wasn’t his thing.
‘I didn’t invite my father and now I’ve got no one coming to see me.’
‘Ah.’ Bram runs a hand over his face, takes a breath then looks at me. ‘I guess Slater’s got this hang-up about universities. He’s got a chip on his shoulder because he never went. Thinks that makes him an inferior human in some way. As soon as we had enough money, he made a big deal about both Carl and me going to university to get a degree. It was really important to him. I flat out refused. I ain’t no student, I’m a fighter like he is, I don’t need no piece of paper to tell me how good I am. But Carl went and did his accountancy degree.’
‘Why didn’t Slater go if it was so important to him?’
‘We didn’t have any money at first. Then, when we did have enough, he was running the Take Down and fighting competitively, so he didn’t have time. Why the hell he thinks some piece of paper from a university would prove something about him that he hasn’t already proved himself I’ve no idea.’
‘I didn’t realise.’ I look up and see Slater approaching.
‘Don’t mention I said all this. But maybe don’t give him a hard time about it. He doesn’t feel comfortable in those sorts of places.’
‘Everyone’s waiting,’ Slater calls to Bram.
‘Catch ya later, Dale.’ He puts a hand on my shoulder and heads to the back room.
‘No one wants anything, so just get for you and me.’ Slater squeezes my hand and I turn and head out of the bar.
‘Dale?’ Slater stops me.
‘Yeah?’ I turn back.
‘Straight there and back. If anything happens you scream for Barney. OK?’
‘Nothing’s going to happen, Slater.’ I walk back to him, reach up and plant a kiss on his lips, then turn to leave the bar.