Little Kisses

(Mason)

I really had no idea what I was doing behind the bar. But a good smile and a flirty glance went a long way. Lucky for me that Hunter was able to get me the job for the night. And I couldn’t believe that Violet was at the bar with Davis. That fucking point-nose prick. That arrogance of I-used-to-play-baseball-so-kiss-my-ass poured off him. I wanted to smash his head with a beer mug so bad.

I poured two more pink drinks for the two blondes at the bar.

They were Megan and Amy. Both were in town on business. They had one room with two beds but wanted to push those two beds together and invite me up.

Temptation was a beautiful thing, if you played it right.

I glanced at the clock. There was someone coming to help around ten. Then I could sneak off and do whatever I wanted. I just had to be there to see Violet. Truth of it was that I wanted to see if she was happy. To see whether this thing with Davis was real or just a comfort.

Goddammit, if I had to admit to hurting her, then so be it. But I needed to make sure she was managing that hurt before she came back to me. I still couldn’t wrap my head around her. All she wanted was my story. To know about everything that hurt me in my life. Then again, when it got a little bumpy, she ran back to her high school sweetheart that crushed her.

“Mason,” Megan purred. “Tell me about this one.”

She touched my arm at a red rose with petals falling all around.

I leaned forward and grinned, sucking her into my gaze.

“Tell me too,” Amy said.

“It’s a real sad story,” I said.

“Aw, no. What happened?”

“I don’t talk about it.”

“Maybe…” Megan ran her hand up my arm. “Maybe I can get close enough?”

“Maybe, babe,” I whispered.

I winked and broke away from them.

I went down to the two lovebirds as they paid more attention to their drinks than each other. I swallowed my anger, knowing damn well if I had Violet out at a bar, my hands would be protecting her and knowing that not even the most top-shelf whiskey could taste better than sneaking little kisses from her in front of everyone.

“How’s your night?” I asked, lathering up the sarcasm.

“Perfect,” Davis said. He was feeling good. “I have a good job. I have some cash in my pocket. I have my old girl here.”

Old girl? I’m going to knock all your teeth out soon, man. You better be fucking ready.

“And you?” I asked, looking right into Violet’s eyes.

She looked at Davis for a second, making sure he wasn’t looking.

Then she mouthed: What the fuck are you doing?

I grinned and then mouthed back: Checking on you, babe.

“Mason,” Davis snapped.

I looked at him. He was drunk, I could see it in his eyes. Oh yeah, good and drunk.

“What can I get you?”

“What kind of tattoo should I get?” he asked.

“Tattoos again?” Violet asked.

“Hush,” Davis said.

I made fists. Telling a woman to hush was worth a shot to the jaw.

“Tell me, Mason. What kind of ink?”

I envisioned a big dick across his forehead.

I laughed to myself and said, “How about some flames on your neck. Huh? Shooting out of your shirt for work. That’ll get the boss going, I bet.”

Davis burst into laughter and slapped the bar. “That’s funny, man. Ah, goddamn, that’s funny.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “You asked.”

“This guy is good,” Davis said, looking at Violet.

I looked at Violet. “Yes, I am. I’m really fucking good. I’m the fucking best, aren’t I?”

Davis was in his own world as I eye-fucked the shit out of Violet. I saw the way her face went flush, feeling what I was throwing at her with my stare.

I had to be careful, though. If I got myself too revved up there was no hiding my dick. I’d take out everyone’s drink just by turning around.

“We should get going soon,” Violet said.

“Driving?” I asked.

“A room here,” she said, and swallowed hard.

Guilt.

“Yeah?” I asked.

“You’re right,” Davis said. “We can order room service, Violet. Charge the whole fucking thing. You’re rich!”

I nodded.

Davis was after her money.

“Well, you two have a great night,” I said.

I slithered down the bar to the two blondes. From the corner of my eye I saw Violet and Davis standing up. He leaned on her. She clutched the back of his shirt. I thought I was going to have to go and carry the asshole up to his room.

“Babe, you want a kiss from me?” I asked Megan.

“Yes,” she said.

“Come here. Let me see what you can do with that tongue.”

As Violet turned, Megan leaned over the bar and met me halfway. We started to kiss as I stared right at Violet. She jabbed her tongue into my mouth and went crazy with it. Trust me, it was not a pleasant kiss at all. She was drunk, sloppy, and nervous. I put a hand to her cheek and let my tongue take control, slowing things down a little.

Violet looked ready to scream. She took a step and Davis swung his arms like he was going limp.

I broke the kiss from Megan and winked at her. Behind me, I heard another voice. My help was arriving early.

I turned and introduced myself to a guy named Dan. I told him that Davis was really drunk and needed help getting to his room.

I walked around the bar and stood there, staring at Davis and Violet.

“I’ll help him get to a room,” I said to her.

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want you to end up hurt.”

I grabbed Davis and walked him away from the bar. But the second I got him into an elevator I threw him up over my shoulder. I held him there, upside down, riding the elevator with Violet next to me.

When the elevator stopped and we walked down the hall, Violet grabbed my arm to stop me.

“His card is in his pocket.”

“Get it,” I said.

Violet fished the key card out of Davis’s pocket and opened the room.

I carried Davis to the bathroom and plopped him down on the floor. I grabbed a glass of water and forced it into his hand.

“Drink this, man,” I said. “You need to come down a little.”

“I’m fine,” Davis said, swinging his arm at me.

I stood up and backed away.

“He’ll be fine,” Violet said. “He drinks himself stupid and then sobers up an hour later.”

I glanced at her. “Some date night, huh?”

“At least a secret wife didn’t show up.”

I nodded. “Right.” I touched her shoulder. “You have a good night now. Call the front desk if you need anything.”

I left the room and felt Violet chasing me in the hallway.

“What the hell are you trying to prove?” she called out.

I paused and looked back. “What do you mean?”

“You did this all on purpose. To get to me.”

“To check on you, babe. To see if you’re actually happy with him.”

“That’s not your business, Mason.”

“Maybe it isn’t, but I care.”

“You care? Do you say that to all your one night stands? To your wife?”

“I only say it to you, Violet. Because I do care.”

She charged after me. She got right in front of me and put her hands to my chest and pushed. I let her shove me against a wall. Fuck, she was turning me on. Handfuls of my shirt, her eyes wide.

“What are you trying to prove?”

“I just told you,” I said. “I want you happy. Actually happy. Not happy with a memory. I want you happy with reality.”

“Reality? You have no idea what that is.”

“Yes, I do. You have a boyfriend who’s looking for a night of sex,” I said. “And I have two blondes at the bar that have no clue what I can do to them.”

Violet slapped me. “I hate you.”

“I know you do, babe.”

She paused and then jumped at me. Her lips came within a centimeter of touching mine. I grabbed her waist at the last second and put her at arm’s length.

“You sure you want that?” I asked.

Violet bit her lip and looked ready to cry. She grabbed my arms. “Let me the fuck go, Mason. Right now.”

I did.

She stormed away.

She looked at me one last time before shutting the door.

I stood there, looking down.

I felt dead inside. I felt empty.

I hated that Violet made me feel that way. She fucking got through to me in a way that only one other person ever came close to doing.

I took a deep breath and reminded myself of where the night was still about to head.

I had two blondes at the bar waiting for me. They wouldn’t make me forget Violet, not even close.

But they could let me disappear for a night.

The only problem, though?

Violet had come so close to kissing me I could taste and smell her.

My addiction was back… and I wasn’t going to let it go again.