Two

 

CARA

 

My arms stretch above my head as I stand up to get ready for my shift. Glancing down at the table, I quickly grab the instructions I was reading from my recent purchase and place it in my locker.

The next toy review should be interesting.

Customers are always wanting to know what the products do, and if they’re good. At first, I stuttered from embarrassment when I was asked these questions. Working at an adult toy shop might have been a way to get out of my shell a bit, but it didn’t mean I'd know if a toy was good, or what it actually was made for.

Especially since I was still a fucking virgin.

It's not that I still wanted to be one. I thought for sure after I graduated high school I would finally find the right person to give myself to. But life happened, and my world crumbled. The summer plans my twin brother, Maddox, and I had changed when our dad passed away . . . our mom following him four months later.

My hand slowly slides over my chest and covers my heart as pain spreads through it. Their absence still affects me like it was yesterday, and not two years ago.

My parents were amazing and never failed to show Maddox and I just how special we were to them.

How special they thought each other were.

How love in a marriage was supposed to be.

Their connection with each other was so strong that Maddox and I knew the coroner was wrong when he reported that she died from a heart attack.

Mom died when Dad did. In a small sense, we all died that day when he lost his battle with cancer.

It didn’t shock me when we found her unresponsive in her bed one morning, only four months after his funeral.

Her heart couldn’t take being away from Dad anymore. Even though it hurts that they’re gone, their love still flows through me. It's something that I want to share with someone one day.

Something that everyone wants.

Maddox joined the Navy shortly after we buried Mom. That wasn’t something I ever thought would happened. Going to college was always a given with me and I thought it was the same for him. At least, that was our plans before losing our parents.

There’s no need for either of us to work. The trust fund that we both were left with is so big that honestly our children won’t have to work if they didn’t want to. However, we were raised that having the privilege of money doesn’t mean we shouldn’t work for it.

Our parents instilled values in us that allowed us to appreciate and earn what we have and what we wanted. Hence why college life was what I expected to happen after we finalized Mom’s funeral. Not having my only living relative leave me for the military.

When he told me he needed space from the changes life handed us, what kind of sister would I be if I didn’t support him and his needs.

When he left . . . I realized just how much of an introvert I really was. I had nobody physically here. Being in college for a year and a half with no real friends, no interaction other than study groups, I knew I needed a change, and it needed to happen quickly.

Six months ago, after another long night alone in my apartment, I decided that maybe I should get a part-time job. I only had a little over a year left of college before I was set to take over the business Dad left Maddox and me. Looking through the classifieds was scary to someone who'd never been employed before. Maddox wasn’t too thrilled with my plans at first, but after explaining why, he was on board with supporting me.

Ping.

The sound of the front door has me rushing out to the floor.

“Welcome to Dirty Players. If you need help finding anything, please just let me know.” I give a kind smile to the man that is currently glancing around.

“Thanks,” he mumbles turning a slight red shade as he walks toward the back of the store.

Shaking my head, I head to the checkout counter.

Actually, checkout box since it’s literally a box in the center of the store.

My eyes take in the display in front of me and I sweep the rest of the displays around the floor, making a mental note of what a customer sees when they first arrive.

The lights are dim to give it that sexy vibe, but not too much to scream porn. Toward the front of the store is the lingerie area and the back part is where the toys, novelty items and even movies are located.

Everything is a mix of sexy, classy and raunchy triple X porn.

It really doesn’t shock me that the guy was slightly embarrassed that he’s in here. If I didn’t see this place almost daily, then I would be nervous about being in here as well.

“Ma’am.”

The customer I was just thinking about is now standing at the register, his selections collected in his hands. Giving him a kind smile to hopefully ease his uncomfortableness, I start to scan his items.

Ping.

Not taking my eyes off my work, I politely yell out my welcome greeting. When I don’t hear a response, I assume the person ignoring me and knows where the item, or items, they’re wanting are located.

“Here you go. Safe travels,” I say smiling at the man in front of me as I hand him his bag.

The confused expression on his face has my smile growing bigger.

I know I threw him off with my last sentence, but there’s a reason why I say safe travels.

The first time and only time I said have a great night to a male customer was one I'd never forget.

He smiled at me and in a creepy voice replied, “If you come over I can guarantee I’d have a great night.”

I’m almost positive that I turned a deep shade of red from embarrassment. That’s also the night that I learned there were security monitors on me with someone always watching them.

To protect us.

“Excuse me.”

Instantly, desire washes over my body when a deep baritone sound hits my ears from off to my right. Goosebumps break out all over my body and the desire to fall into the owner’s arms and melt almost overpowers me. This voice is so smooth it has me wondering for just a brief moment if rolling around on a velvet blanket would produce the same exact feeling that this voice did.

Fuck me.

My blue-grey eyes slowly make their way up the chest that’s in front of me. Muscles tighten under his shirt as I take in just how built he is.

I wonder if he's a gym nut.

He's at least a foot taller than my five foot two of nothingness.

Perfect height for me. Jesus, there is no way my body can get any more turned on. My body burns hotter and hotter as my eyes continue their perusal of him.

His light brown hair is cut short, and I wonder what it would fill like to run my palms over it. Him moaning as my fingers intertwine in the thick strands fills my head and I can’t control the wetness that begins to gather between my legs.

Clenching my thighs together, there's no stopping the gasp that comes from my lips.

My panties are ruined, and I know that after he leaves I’m going to have to buy a new pair. He's the most gorgeous man I’ve ever met in my life. The need to memorize everything there is about this man is something I’ve never experienced before.

There’s only one phrase that comes to mind to describe him.

“Sex on a stick.” My inner self rolls her eyes for saying it out loud, when it’s meant to stay in my head.

Deep brown eyes meet mine and humor is shining bright in them.

I hold my breath in hopes that he didn’t just hear my comment.

Oh, God, he’s turned me into an idiot with one fucking look.

“How are you today—” He glances at my nametag and his lips lift up into a smile that transforms his face and has me clenching my thighs together even tighter.  “Cara?”

And just like I know I’m done for. There’ll never be another man that’ll ever compare to his sexiness. He’s every girl's fantasy.

And he’s standing right in front of me.

“I’m good, thanks,” I squeak and then quickly clear my throat, trying to get out of this fog he put me in. “Did you find everything you need? Is there anything I can do for you?”

Shit.

Cringing, I decide it’s better to not speak again. That last question is another one that I learned not to say that first day. And the smirk on his face tells me that he completely took it the way any male would, when asked by a female in a sex shop.

Fuck my life.

“I’m fine.” He slides the items across to me. “For now.”

The last part is so low that I almost don’t catch it.

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” my voice is nothing but a whisper.

“I said thank you,” he chuckles.

Dropping my eyes quickly, I don’t allow him to see the hurt that I feel. My eyes take in the Mr. and Mrs. novelty item waiting for me to ring up. The thought that he’s probably getting married brings even more pain.

Quickly, I complete the sale and try to reign in my emotions.

“Thank you, Cara,” his voice gently calls out as he takes the bag from me.

And all I can do is keep looking down and nod in response. Turning my back toward him, I start to leave the register area with only one thought going through my mind.

He might be getting married, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be the muse when I try out my newest toy.