Sunni
Another day another dime, or at least that’s what I keep telling myself. Living a hollow life sucks balls. I have to keep hidden, or my identity will be exposed, but there’s nothing more I want than to shout to the mountaintops who I am. The thing is, my ex-husband made sure that shit would never happen.
“What can I get for you?” I smile politely at the local who always orders a Crown and Coke.
“Crown and Coke,” he replies.
I’m forced not to roll my eyes. The diner is just as bad. I know their orders yet have to ask with all the niceties to ensure I get a hefty tip. It’s what pays the bills, and when you find two business owners who will pay you under the table, then you do what you have to do. It’s a game that grows real old fast.
“Coming right up!” I flash him a smile before spinning around.
I could prepare his drink in my sleep, and that’s no joke. Hell, I even go heavy on the Crown because I know Leo is a heavy drinker. The more Crown I pour, the less he harasses me at the bar. Leo accepts his drink and goes back to his typical table. I continue to pour and sling drinks to familiar patrons and those passersby. I hear the bell above the door ring and ignore it.
After pouring three more vodka and tonics, I turn to the customer I know just waltzed through the door. I keep my eyes down, towel drying a shaker before approaching the customer. When I look up, my jaw drops and everything inside me that I thought was once dead flares back to life.
“No! I’m not serving you.” I hold my hand up as my insides twirl and somersault with the vision of the last time this man was here.
He runs his hand over the long hair on top of his head and grins like a fool. “Not here to drink, Sunni.”
I cock a hand on my hip. “Then why are you here?”
“To take you on a date.” He swivels on the barstool, allowing the light to shine down on his black eye and other bruises on his face.
“I’m working,” I manage to get out as I grip the shaker painfully in my palm. I want nothing more than to kiss all the wounds on his face.
“Yeah, looks like that.” Jag jerks his chin toward me.
Moments of dead silence bounce between us. Everything that needs to be said reflects back in our eyes. I have no idea what this man’s end game is. I do know I’d give anything to be a player in it. I’m playing with fire right now and can’t help it.
“Know your boss, Jerry—he said you can have the night off.”
“Oh really?” I snap, not knowing where this is going.
“Really.” He rises from the barstool and winks at me. “So get your pretty ass out here and let’s go have some fun.”
“Did you miss the part I’m working?”
“Go.” A hand taps the top of my shoulder.
I leap in the air, my heart jumping out of my chest as I scream. “Holy crap, Jerry, you scared the shit out of me.”
“Sorry, Sunni.” Jerry’s white beard moves with his deep chuckles. “Didn’t mean to. Jag here asked if he could steal you for the night. I’m good here alone. Get out of here and have fun.”
“But why?” My brows scrunch in shocked confusion.
“There’s a handsome young fellow here to take you out. Just go with it, Sunni.” Jerry places both hands on my shoulders and ushers me from out behind the bar. He refuses to take no for an answer and keeps his stink eye on me until I walk out the front door with Jag.
I freeze once outside. The sky is a cascade of brilliant yet subtle oranges and pinks as the sunset dances over the horizon. I take it in for a second before turning to Jag. “What is this all about, Jag?”
He shrugs, takes my hand, and tries to tug me along.
“I’m serious.” I plant my feet. “I’m on a budget, and a night without tips is going to hurt.”
Jag turns to me. His shoulders are stiff, and his lip twitches. “I’m taking you on a date. I’ve got you covered. Jerry is one of my biggest fans. All the tips he gets tonight will go to you.”
“What? Why?” I shake my head, none of this shit making sense.
He takes a step closer. The scent of leather and sex washes over me from head to toe. “I owe you an apology for my drunken stupor.”
“You did. Tacos and ice cream mixed in with a few good laughs.”
Jag steps closer, placing his hands on my hips, and pulls me to his front until we are sealed together. “The way I figure it, darlin’, is you gotta damn big dick show which in turn requires a damn big apology. Consider this the other half of the apology.”
“Jag, you are ridiculous.” I plant my palms on his solid chest.
He drops his face to mine, his breath minty as he licks his lips. “I want to kiss you so fucking bad right now.”
I bite my bottom lip in anticipation. I’ve known this man for a short time. I do know what he wants he takes, with no apology. My insides clench and knees go weak with him so close and staring at me as if he wants to eat me for dessert. He’s going to ruin me.
He brushes his lips against mine once then twice, and on the third time, the kiss happens. It’s slow, steady, and delicious. His tongue glides into my mouth, sweeping every inch. Jag’s fingers dig into my hips, pinching the sensitive skin. The action causes me to buck into him, begging for more of him. He gives it to me. I angle my head just right to let Jag devour my mouth. He pulls away slowly, sinking his teeth into my bottom lip before parting.
“Jag,” I whisper, gripping his tight V-neck black t-shirt in my fists. “What are we doing?”
He cups my face, rubbing circles on my cheek with the pad of his thumb. “Sunni, I have no fucking idea. Haven’t been able to get you off my mind since walking into the bar.”
I nod. “Same here.”
“I’m not perfect by any means. I’ve had my manwhoring days, have a temper, and have been told I can be quite annoying. The thing about me though is I’m one loyal motherfucker when I care about someone.”
“This scares me, Jag.”
“The bad memories?” he asks, dipping his head to run his nose along the length of my neck.
“Yeah.” I shudder at his touch. “I have a past that won’t let me have a future. I’m a lost cause, Jag.”
His tongue darts out to lick his lips, connecting with my neck. It’s followed by a shower of light kisses on my delicate skin. “Let me be the judge of that.”
“It will ruin you, Jag, and I can’t let that happen.”
“Let me be the judge of that,” he repeats.
I squeeze my eyes shut, knowing damn well I should walk away from this man right now. The selfish side of me is more powerful. I’m greedy for the love and touch of Jag. He makes me feel like I never have before. I swear he has magical powers to bring out the best in me.
“Just remember I warned you.”
His spine relaxes with my words, but he doesn’t say anything for a long time. He holds me in the middle of the parking lot. In his arms, I’ve never felt safer. It’s an odd state, considering I haven’t embraced the feeling in several years.
“I want to kiss you again so fucking bad, but then we’d never get to where we are going.” He stands straight, grabs my hand again, and begins walking.
“Where are we going?”
“Dancing,” he replies without glancing at me.
I freeze. “Oh hell no. Anything but dancing, Jag.”
He doesn’t hesitate to drag me behind him. The man doesn’t even flinch. He can out power me in every way. That fact should send me running to the hills. The thought has never crossed my mind.
“Jag, stop. Let’s discuss our options here.” I dig in my Converse, gaining a bit more traction to halt his movement.
He stops and turns to me with an evil glint in his eyes and a damn megawatt grin that melts me. “Sunni, don’t make me toss your sweet ass over my shoulder and walk three city blocks.”
“You wouldn’t.” I prop my free hand on my hip.
He raises an eyebrow. “Try me.”
“I have two left feet and no rhythm. How about a movie?”
He reacts so fast I’m unable to process. He bolts toward me in a crouched position. My pelvis connects with his shoulder, and in less than three seconds, I’m up and over his shoulder. I squeal and squirm only to receive a swift swat on my ass.
“Jag!” My palms slap his ass.
The roar of his laughter makes me smile.
“Should’ve listened, Sunni.” He palms my ass that’s saluting the sky.
“You are one of the most infuriating men I’ve ever met.”
“Darling, the term is charismatic with a side of a big cock.”
I don’t even attempt to banter with Jag. He’s the trump, and I’m merely the jack of diamonds in this situation. After a block and a half of Jag eating up long strides of the sidewalk, I give in.
“Put me down. I’m in, even if you’re forcing me to make a fool out of myself.” I tap his ass for good measure.
Jag stops at the next crosswalk and puts me down with ease. My fingers go to the sloppy, messy bun on top of my head, struggling to straighten it out, and then down to the hem of the shorty jean shorts, tugging them down to where they belong.
When I look up to Jag, he’s standing back, one leg cocked out to the side with a hand propped on the top of his head keeping his messy hair in place. I take him in, knowing how amazing it would feel to run my hands over the shaved sides.
“You’ll learn soon, little grasshopper.” He takes a step toward me. “I’m always right, and I always get my way.”
“Shut your mouth when you’re talking to me.” I shove his chest, joining his playful banter.
The light on the stoplight signal alerts us it’s time to cross. I take off sprinting across the zebra stripes on the asphalt-cracked road. My Cons pound as fast as they can. I hear Jag not far behind me. I give it all I have. It doesn’t even compare to Jag.
Hands reach around my waist as I hit the curb on the opposite end of the crosswalk. I’m tugged back into a hard chest. Jag doesn’t let go, keeping me clutched to him.
“Nice try, Grasshopper.” His breath tickles my every sensation.
“You don’t give me many options.” I melt back into him, giving over to the power also known as Jag.
“Good girl.” He nibbles on my neck as he strides forward.
My head relaxes back on his steady shoulder. “I wasn’t lying about not being able to dance.”
“I’m the motherfucking king of the world. I got you.”
Those words weaken my hesitance and heart. This man is a force to be reckoned with. He’s healing me and doesn’t even know it.
“Your face.” It comes out as a statement but blanketed in question.
He continues striding down the sidewalk. His lips are pressed to the nape of my neck when he murmurs, “Bad memories.”
I let it go. I can’t question or badger him when I’ve offered nothing about my past. I pick a card from his deck and banter back with humor.
“Do you need me to kiss your boo-boos better?”
“Fuck yes.” He grumbles into my neck, not missing a beat. “From my face down to my toes, but right between my legs, there’s a major ache. Maybe a massage with both of your hands. Then finish it off with your lips.”
I suck at his own game. I burst out in laughter, not able to come back with anything. It’s clear you can’t give this guy an inch, or he’ll take a mile.
“We are here.” He turns me to the front of the bar with gyrating music streaming from it. “Time to salsa, baby.”
“Like chips and salsa? I can do that!” A spark of hope flares up inside of me. I know the boy can put down the tacos and has a sense of humor, so maybe he was stringing me along the entire time.