Royal: How’s work, baby? You busy?
SMILING, I SET MY HALF eaten chicken sandwich down and respond to the message that Royal sent about twenty minutes ago.
I wanted to check my phone as soon as I felt it vibrate in my pocket, but Claudette has been around all day watching us all like a hawk. I’m doing my best to stay on her good side so hopefully she will cut her visits down to twice a damn month.
Avalon: It’s been pretty boring. The customers know to stay away on Thursdays when the evil bitch is lurking around. I’m actually ready to pull my hair out from boredom. You?
I pick up my sandwich and continue to eat it, while waiting for his response. This damn sandwich has been the most action that has happened since I walked through the door four hours ago. Madison is lucky she got the morning shift. What I wouldn’t have done to switch with her.
Royal: You know the boys. Never a dull moment here. No windows broken yet, and no one has gotten choked out. Pretty fucking tame compared to some days.
I respond to his message, while laughing to myself. I almost feel sad that I’m not there with them . . . like I’m missing something. I’ve found myself wanting to hang around his friends more and more with each day. I feel like they’re the norm for me now.
Avalon: Yeah, well I’d much rather be there than stuck here for the next three hours. I miss you and the boys. Especially you . . .
It takes about five minutes before his next response comes through.
Royal: Who is this crazy lady with the Ronald Mcdonald hair that is looking at me as if I’ve just robbed a bank?
“Holy shit!” I drop my sandwich and jump to my feet, rushing to the door. “There’s no way . . .”
I open the door and look outside to see Royal sitting at my station, looking at the break room door, as if he’s been waiting for me to appear.
He instantly raises a brow and smiles at me when his eyes meet mine. “Come here, baby,” he demands.
I close the break room door and glance over at Claudette, who is giving me a disapproving look. She’s probably never seen a man that looks like Royal and his friends around here. She almost looks nervous for the first time ever. “Avalon? You know this man?”
“Claudette,” I say with confidence, walking past her to get to Royal. “I do. Very well. He’s pretty amazing to know.”
Royal stands when I reach him. Locking eyes with me, he cups my face in his hands and leans in to press his lips against mine. His kiss feels hard and desperate, as if he’s telling me that he missed me too. “So you miss me?” He questions with a grin.
I laugh against his lips and place my hands over his, not caring what Claudette thinks. I fucking love this man. It’s becoming clearer with each time I see him. The way my heart reacts to him is undeniable. “So damn much. How do you always know the right time to show up? You truly amaze me.”
He leans in closer, intimately brushing his lips over mine. “Because it’s always the same time that I’m needing you,” he answers. “Which is way too fucking much.”
Claudette clears her throat from beside us, looking appalled. “Perhaps you two can take this unwanted show outside.” She looks down at her watch and then looks up, avoiding any eye contact with Royal. “For the last six minutes of your break. You know better than this, Avalon.”
I tilt my head and narrow my eyes at her. I’ve never, and I mean ever, questioned her in the entire time I’ve worked here. “Do I, Claudette?” I grab Royal’s hand and lace my fingers with his, causing her eyes to lower to our hands. “Better than what?”
“To . . .” She swallows hard and looks up at my intense stare. “I would just appreciate it if you would take that outside. We’ll talk later before I leave.”
Her pen accidently falls from her hand, landing next to her feet as she begins to walk away.
Without hesitation, Royal bends down, picks it up, and hands it to her. “Ma’am. I don’t normally bite. Only if you ask nicely.” He winks and lifts a playful brow.
Claudette cautiously grabs the pen and sucks in an uncomfortable breath. “Thank you.” Smiling weakly, she walks away without another word, leaving us with the clicking of her heels.
“Let’s take it outside before Red’s heart stops on her. That’s the last thing I need to add to my list of shit.”
He places his hand on the small of my back and guides me outside to the back of the building.
As soon as we’re out of sight, he wraps my legs around his waist and presses me up against the brick building.
Before I know it, his lips are pressed against mine and he’s reaching in between our bodies to undo the top of his jeans.
“Fuck, I can’t stop thinking about being inside you this way. You do things to me, baby.” Pulling my skirt up and my panties to the side, he sinks me down onto his erection and holds me still, while I adjust to his big size. “You okay?” He asks softly, while brushing my hair out of my face.
I nod my head and lean in to run my lips over his. “More than okay. I’m always more than okay when I’m with you, Royal. Never forget that.”
He places one hand behind my neck and gently kisses me, while rolling his hips and moving inside of me.
It feels so good to have him inside of me that I could care less about the fact that we’re outside of my work right now and that Claudette or anyone else could come around and find us at any second. I need this beautiful man to be with me like this. I’d gladly say goodbye to this job and move on if it meant getting this moment with him.
He moves slowly, being sure to sink in as deep as he can with each thrust. His breath is soft and controlled against my lips, causing me to lean in and taste him.
My heart swells at the thought that this is the gentlest he’s ever been with me. No choking. This is new to me.
“You’re fucking perfection,” he whispers against my lips. “And you’re mine. No other man gets to be inside you this way.” He gently runs his hand up the front of my neck, stopping when he reaches my lips. “You make me want to live again,” he whispers.
I tangle my hands in his hair and gently bite his bottom lip, causing him to growl out in desire. “You’ve made me feel alive from the very first day I walked in on you.” I brush my lips over his. “Let’s help each other live.”
“Fuuuck, Baby.” He runs his hand up the side of my head, before moving to the back and gripping my hair. “Hold on,” he breathes.
I grip his shoulders, digging my nails in as his movements pick up. With each quick thrust, I find myself digging deeper as I get closer to climax.
“Royal . . .” I breathe hard against his lips as I lose myself to him yet again.
Holding me tight, he slams into me three more times, before I feel him releasing himself inside of me.
He presses his forehead to mine and holds my face still. “Why the fuck are you so perfect for me?” His eyes search mine as he rubs his thumb over my face. “I never thought I’d meet someone that could make me fucking feel. You do, and it scares the shit out of me.”
I hold onto him, not ready to let go yet. “Royal . . . I . . .” Stopping myself from possibly making a huge mistake, I bite my tongue and rephrase what I was about to let slip. “You make me feel too. Please don’t ever stop. Please.”
Not saying anything, he presses his lips to mine and gently sets me back down to my feet. Quietly, he yanks his shirt off and cleans me off.
“Royal,” I call out as he turns away. “Are you okay?”
He runs his hands through his hair, but stays facing the other way. “I don’t know yet.”
Balling his shirt up, he turns around and faces me again. “You should get back to work. I’ll be back to pick you up in a bit.” He walks over and gently kisses me on the forehead. “Bye . . .”
“Bye,” I whisper as he walks away.
I wait a couple of minutes after I hear his truck pull off, before I walk around the building and go back inside.
As soon as I walk through the door, Claudette is watching me. “In my office.”
“Just great,” I mumble under my breath, while following her.
She waits for me to walk in first and then closes the door behind us. “You’re late from your break. You’re never late.”
I nod my head. “Well, I needed a few extra minutes to deal with my personal life. It won’t happen again.”
She walks over to her desk and starts gathering up her things. “Can I still trust you to run this salon in the same manner now that you have that man in your life?”
“Are you seriously asking me this right now?” I ask, pissed off that she’s treating Royal as if he’s some kind of dog.
She looks up from gathering her things. “Yes. I am. I’ve seen what men that look like that are capable of.”
“Is that right?” I give her a hard look. “And I’ve seen what men that look like your husband are capable of. That mustache is a bit creepy and suspicious of pedophile activities if you ask me?”
She huffs. “Are you accusing my husband of being a criminal?”
“I don’t know,” I reply. “Are you accusing my boyfriend of being a criminal based on his choice of tattoos and clothing?”
She shakes her head. “This conversation is not going in a direction that is looking well for you, so I suggest that you sleep on whatever else you plan on saying to me and we’ll be talking again next week.”
Grabbing her bag, she heads for the door and reaches to open it, but I slap my hand on the door, stopping her.
She looks over at me in surprise.
“Royal is a good person with a big fucking heart. You don’t know him. I do, so I suggest that you keep your fucking mouth shut before you think of speaking to me about him again. Got it?”
Her mouth opens in shock and for once, she looks stunned speechless. “Consider yourself lucky that you’re well desired here. You only get one second chance, Missy.” She runs her hand over her dress, smoothing it out. “Don’t blow it.”
She waits for me to back away from the door, before she pulls it open and stomps out.
I wait until the bell dings, indicating that she’s left the building, before falling against the door and running my hands over my face.
I was so fucking close to losing my job, yet I didn’t even have to think twice before defending Royal.
I’m beginning to see that Royal comes first to everything else. He’s all that truly matters to me at the moment and I’m not afraid to make that known.
This man completely consumes me and there’s nothing that could make me want to stay away from him. Nothing . . .
“Yo! Woman!” Madison’s voice screams from the front, making me smile. “Get the hell out here.”
Feeling relieved that she’s here to keep me company I pull the door open and walk out.
I’m surprised to see my uncle here as well.
“Well this is weird,” I say awkwardly. “Did you two come together or something?”
Mark laughs and takes a seat in my chair. “Not exactly. We just shared a stoplight together on the way here.”
Madison shrugs. “Close enough.”
“Hi, Officer Knight,” Ellie says while looking up from her phone.
“How’s it going, Ellie? Staying out of trouble?”
Ellie pops her gum and nods her head. “Of course I am. You’d be the first to know if I’m ever in trouble, Gorgeous.”
Rolling my eyes, I toss the apron on Mark and grab for my scissors. “You’re every woman’s favorite officer. How does that feel?”
He looks at me through the mirror. “What can I say? I’ve still got it.”
“So, Mark . . .” Madison says from her chair. “What do you think about Ava over here spending time with Royal? Have you arrested him before? I want the scoop.”
Mark shrugs. “I’m trusting him to take care of her. I’ve known Royal for almost two years now. Doesn’t mean that I won’t be creeping around a damn corner ready to arrest him if he fucks up my trust.”
“So you haven’t arrested him yet?” Madison asks with wide eyes, pushing for an answer.
“Only once,” Mark says stiffly. He sits up and takes the apron off. “Follow me outside real quick.”
“Alright,” I say nervously. I turn around to look at Ellie. “I’m going outside for a minute.”
“All good,” Ellie says while playing on her phone.
I follow Mark outside to stand by his car. “What do you know about Royal and his past?”
I get a bit choked up just thinking about what I’ve learned about him. “I know about him losing his pregnant fiancé. Is that what you’re asking?”
Mark looks up from his phone that starts going off. “Is that all you know? He hasn’t told you how?”
I shake my head. “No, I haven’t asked. I didn’t want to make him feel uncomfortable.”
He holds up his finger and huffs as his phone goes off again. “Give me a sec.”
I watch him as he walks away and takes his call. He returns a few minutes later with a look that tells me he isn’t happy.
“Look. We need to talk later tonight. I’ll come by your house when I get off work.”
“Okay,” I say confused. “What is going on? Is there something that I should know?”
Mark opens the door to his car and gets ready to get inside. “Yeah. I definitely think you need to know this. I don’t have time to explain right now. I hate to tell you this way and I’m sorry, but I can’t hold it in. His fiancé was raped and murdered. You need to know the whole story, and if Royal isn’t going to tell you I am. I’ve given him time.” He pauses and looks down, frustrated. “Gotta go. Be home later and I’ll swing by.”
Before I can stop him, he jumps into his car and slams the door shut behind him.
I stand here and watch him drive off as the information slowly starts to sink in and I piece the puzzle together.
My breath escapes me and I feel sick to my stomach at how stupid I was to not put this together when Blaine told me about his sister the other day.
“Holy fuck. No . . .” I cry.
I cover my mouth as the tears come pouring down. Gagging, I fall to my knees with my hands on the pavement as I empty my stomach in front of me, while fighting to catch my breath.
Royal killed those three men after they murdered Olivia: Blaine’s sister.