Page 11 of Desperate Haste
“Malcolm, this is Jason. Jason, this is Malcolm.” Ophelia introduces the two of us. Her smile has hints of unease in it, unsure as to why I’m over here talking to them instead of just dropping the drink and leaving.
“Justin, it’s nice to meet you man,” I exclaim, intentionally getting his name wrong. “You’ve got a good one here. Ophelia is great.” I turn over my shoulder and wink at her which wins me a scowl. “I hope you can handle some pain though.” I pull the corner of my mouth back and grimace, finally releasing his hand.
“What? What do you mean, pain?” He nervously chuckles, trying to keep the mood light.
“Oh, she didn’t tell you?” I act shocked even though what I’m about to say is a complete lie. “This girl has all sorts of kinks. Whips, knives, bondage, she’s into all of it. I hope you’re ready.” I glance back at her and her jaw is practically on the floor at what I’d just said.
Clapping a hard hand down on Jason’s shoulder, the poor guy looks horrified. If he were wearing them, I’m convinced he’d be clutching his pearls. “Well, enjoy your evening.” I nod curtly to them both and walk away quickly before the laughs I’m holding back burst out. Before I’m too far out of earshot I hear her say,‘That is not true. I don’t do those things, I don’t know why he said that.’
Back behind the bar, I fill more orders and smile at myself hoping I put a damper on their evening plans. I don’t know what it was but the thought of Ophelia taking anyone home with her made me feel…something I shouldn’t.
I don’t do feelings.
I hump and dump.
That’s what I do.
It’s what I’ve always done.
A group crowds around the bar and once they’re all taken care of, they leave to find their seats. As they do and the view of the restaurant opens up, I look over at her table and find her glaring at me. She might have a pissed expression on her face but what I care about more is that she’s looking at me and not the man sitting across from her. My lips pull back into a smirk and I wink at her again from across the bar. And even from the opposite side of the room, I swear I can see her subtly shaking her head at me.
8
OPHELIA
When Jason asked me if I wanted to meet him at Butcher and Block for a drink, I’d forgotten that Malcolm worked there. I’d seen him here a couple of times in the past when Bailey and the guys came to hangout while he worked but it hadn’t crossed my mind until he was standing in front of me on the other side of the bar. His long, dark hair fell around his shoulders and his tattooed arms stretched the black polo I assumed he had to wear as his uniform. ‘Butcher and Block’ was embroidered across his heart and with the way the words curved I could easily remember how developed his chest is. My tongue swipes across my bottom lip as I think about the night we shared three weeks ago.
“Ophelia, did you hear me?”
I blink and look back at my suitor for the evening. I’d met Jason at a client function this week and when he asked me to get a drink, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. He’s handsome in the traditional sense: chestnut hair, round face, and wears golf shirts to formal functions. Nice. Fine. A far cry from the muscled up, tattooed body I’d let take me home not so long ago.
“Yes! Yes, that’s so funny. I’m glad everything worked out for you.” Truthfully I had no idea what he had been saying because I was only half paying attention. After Malcolm walked away, nearly scaring Jason off for good with his comment, I quickly told him that Malcolm was an old friend who was also a pathological liar. Things seemed to settle after that and I tried to pay attention to what he was saying. More than a few times though, my eyes would drift to the other side of the room to take in the bartender who was mixing drinks and making people laugh as if it was nothing.
He’s taller than me but not by much and has tattoos littering his body. From what I remember, his skin is covered in them from head to toe with the exception of his face and his manhood. Even his fingers are dotted with them. He’s also strong and muscular in all the right places. Lean in the torso but thick in his arms and legs. I didn’t have to ask to know that he follows some sort of intense workout regimen. Looking at him from across the crowded restaurant, I can see his charming smile that I’m sure gets all the girls to smile back. The crowd around the bar has thinned out over time and he’s leaning over it, talking to a girl. Her face is hidden to me from where I sit but when she throws her head back laughing and he leans in closer to her to say something, I can’t stop my brows from gathering in the center of my face. When she reaches across the bar and grazes his arm, his eyes flicker to me and his smile grows just enough for me to notice. He caught me watching him and he seems to be enjoying the fact that I am.
“Do you wanna get out of here?” I ask suddenly, cutting Jason off mid sentence.
“Uhh, sure, yeah. I got this.” He pulls out his wallet and drops a fifty dollar bill on the table—far more than what we owe—and I smile back at him, impressed by his show of resources. “You ready?”
“More than ready,” I purr, tucking my chin into my shoulder and giving him a sexy smile. He offers me his hand which I take, carefully stepping down from the stool I’m on and hang on to him as we head towards the door. As we walk by the bar, I flick my hair over my shoulder as I pass Malcolm and catch his eyes, smirking at him as I follow Jason out.
And I swear as I’m turning my head back towards my date, I see his nostrils flare and his jaw clench as a scowl grows across his face.
* * *
“Oh. Please. Yes. Just like that.”I sigh, trying to pretend like I’m enjoying myself. I’d offered to take our date back to my place and Jason happily agreed. After a glass of wine and some chatting, we’d managed to find our way into my bedroom. Clothes were strewn across the floor and Jason was on top of me, pulsating in such a way that I’m sure he saw in a porno and thought women enjoyed. When will men learn that porn is a performance and not a good example for what women actually want in real life?
“I think I’m close,” he grunts with his head tucked into my neck. Thanking God that this lackluster night is finally coming to an end, I roll my eyes to myself and put on my best performance. I moan and whine underneath him, and cry out as if he’s the best I’ve ever had. I know there’s something in the girl code that says we shouldn’t fake it but Jason is a nice enough guy that I think if I don’t, it’ll crush his spirits forever. Finally, and with very little time lost, he reaches his finish and collapses on top of me. Sweat has collected on his brow and he’s breathing heavily as if he’s just ran a marathon. Flat on my back, it’s like I just woke up from a nap.
“Did you come?” He presses up on one hand and looks at me hopefully.Oh you sweet poor sap of a man.
“Mmhm,” I lie. My hands meet his shoulders and push him off of me, quickly sliding out from under him and heading for the bathroom. I’m not one for cuddling afterwards because that usually leads people to believing that something more might happen. I clean up quickly and slip on a robe before coming out to find Jason on his back with his hand behind his head with a look of pure ecstasy on his face. I mean, I knew I was pretty good but I didn’t think I wasthatgood. I’d hardly even touched the man let alone contribute anything more than a hole for him to use.
“So, what now?” He looks at me and I try not to groan. I hate when they assume they can stay the night. I never let anyone stay the night if I can avoid it.
“Actually, Jason, I have areallyearly morning,” I draw out my words and hope he gets the hint.
“Oh.” His once satiated expression morphs into one of surprise.
