When she places the opened bottle and filled shot glass in front of me, she asks, “Ace have a good weekend?”
Remembering how she hadn’t been enamoured with Toni, I feel my lip curl as I answer. “The fuckin’ best. Toni is absolutely great with him. She went out of her way to give him a good time.”
Surprising me, she gives a genuine smile. “I’m glad. He deserves it.”
Wondering whether she really means it, but not bothered either way, I take my drinks and turn away. Tempest is playing pool with Woody, so I cross the room to join them.
“The prodigal son returns.” The sergeant-at-arms chuckles.
“I see no fatted cow being slaughtered,” I remark.
“Oh, Trixie will probably make you something if you’re hungry.”
I’d rather throw together something myself if I were. In truth, though, Ace and I had stopped off for something to eat on the way home, and hunger isn’t the appetite I currently have. Eyeing Paint getting a blow job from Star, and seeing far more of Genie’s backside as he pumps into Heaven than I want to, my dick reminds me I’ve had two days of disappointment, where I’d had to resort to my hand instead of the pussy I’d thought I was going to enjoy.
It’s a temptation when Sweetie sexily saunters toward me. “Want me to help you brush off the dirt from the road?”
Fuck yeah,my cock says.Fuck no,my brain says. If I hope to have any chance of getting things back on an even keel with Toni, I’ve got to remain faithful to the woman I’d been considering as a permanent fixture in my life. That’s still the case, isn’t it? Is that still the way the wind is blowing? To be honest, I don’t know. It all depends on her. One thing I do know, if she doesn’t warm up to me soon, my embryonic feeling for her will surely grow cold. I don’t hang around where I’m not wanted.
“Nah, darlin’, not tonight.” I let her down gently. “Gonna drop my pack off in my room. I’ll be back down later.” The excuse is to Tempest, who greets it with a raise of his chin.
Going back to the doorway where I’d left my duffel when I entered, I juggle my drinks as I hoist it onto my shoulder and climb the stairs. Once there, I down the whisky, then take a few swallows of the beer. After I’ve wetted my throat, I take my phone from my pocket, and select the number I want to call.
It rings for a couple of seconds, then is answered. Toni’s voice sounds breathy, as if she’s been…
“I’ve just run down from upstairs.”
Immediately, I accept the explanation. Sitting on my bed, I summon up the words. “Don’t feel we had much time to talk this weekend.”
“We didn’t,” she agrees. “But Freak, I was only thinking of Ace.”
“I know, darlin’.” And I appreciate her for it. “I just wanted to hear your voice.”
“I’m glad you called.” Her voice sounds steadier. “I take it you got back safe?”
“Yeah.” Placing the beer on my nightstand, I ease myself onto the bed and lean back against the pillows. “Dropped Ace with my ma, now I’m back at the club. I’m wishing you were here, darlin’.”
There’s a pause, then she says, “I miss both of you, too.”
“I kinda want to jump on my bike and ride up to visit you. Show you what you were missing over the weekend.”
Another brief silence, then she giggles. “It’s too long a journey. The night will be over by the time you get here. And anyway, I’ve got my vibrator.”
Air leaves my lungs in a rush. “Fuck, did you have to give me that visual?”
And there goes that attractive laugh. “I trust you’ll be using your hand.”
“Ain’t going to be anyone else to get the job done, Toni.” Then, with a sense of insecurity I didn’t know I had, I ask gruffly, “We okay?”
“More than,” she answers. “I liked getting to know you. Without the pressure of sex, I mean. I got to know the man under the exterior.”
“You too, darlin’. But next time, Ace or not, I’m going to be in your bed.”
“But Ace…”
“Is coming up on sixteen, not six. And you know he’s trying to set us up. He’d be over the moon to see signs that we’re together.”
She’s silent for a moment. “I like you, Freak, really like you. But we’ve still got a lot to learn about each other. I don’t want to get Ace’s hopes up only for them to be dashed.”
