Page 8 of Bloody Quarter

“One coffee coming right up, and I’ll see what Juan is cooking up in the back that has a sweet edge for you. Unfortunately, the electricity is out, so the selection might be limited today,” I said, laying the menu down even though I knew he wouldn’t use it and walked around him. He moved at the last second, just enough that I bumped into him and had to apologize.

“Yeah, watch where you’re going,” he said and smiled. I forced myself not to shiver in front of him before walking away. Pushing through the saloon-style doors to the back, I wrapped my arms around myself.

“Juan, do you have anything sweet made?”

“Just some cinnamon buns from last night.”

“That’ll work.” I waited until he came back with it and then quickly heated it in the microwave before plastering a smile on my face and walking out front. I poured Thomas’s coffee and wandered to the table with both in my hands. “Here you go,” I said, sitting them down.

His dirt brown eyes lifted to mine. The baseball cap and five o’clock shadow he was sporting added to his dangerous aura. He wore his usual plaid shirt and jeans while his truck outside announced that he owned his own contracting business. I couldn’t help wondering how many girls he lured into his truck, thinking he was a model citizen, only to be driven out of town and down a dark road.

Forcing myself to look away from his eyes, I pulled out my notepad and pen. “Are you ready to order?”

“You know what I want,” he said, and again it was veiled, but my skin crawled.

“So, just the usual, then?” Giving a curt smile, I grabbed the menu and turned to walk away, but Thomas snatched my wrist. His hand was overly hot on my arm, and I tried to yank it away, but he just smiled as if we were old friends joking around.

“What’s your hurry? There is no one in here but us,” he said, looking over his shoulder as if emphasizing just how quiet the diner was and how very little help I had if he wanted to get rough.

I tugged at my wrist again. “I’m sorry, Thomas, but I haven’t had a chance to properly open and set things up the way Miss Harper likes yet. I don’t have time to chat. Kindly let go.”

“Don’t be like that. Just take five minutes with me.”

I wasn’t going to give this guy any chance to say that I led him on and shook my head.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t.”

With a huff, he let go. “Fine, but I wouldn’t expect a tip with that kind of attitude.”

Nodding, I walked away but clearly heard him whisper, “Cock tease,” under his breath. I ground my teeth but moved on. Men like him would never change their stripes. Unlike most, that few bucks he tipped made a real difference for me, but I’d rather eat scraps out of a garbage bin than spend a second longer than I had to with him for a tip.

The rest of my shift ran smoothly, or so I thought, until Miss Harper pulled me aside to talk. Walking behind her felt like being back in prison, following the line to get food, but knowing that something terrible was waiting for me. I’d lost count of how many times I had my meal taken or was threatened with a shiv stuck in my face.

Wandering into the office, Miss Harper closed the door. I swallowed back the worry as I sat. Did Thomas really put in a complaint about me?

“Dear, you know that I love you like family,” she said, sitting down across from me. I nodded. “The thing is, business has been slow, and I hate to do this, but I’m going to have to cut your hours back.” I looked down at my hands in my lap. This had been a worry of mine for the last six months when sales had started to dip. “This is nothing personal. I’ve already had to cut back the other girls, too. I never thought I’d wish for tourist season to begin early, but these are tough times.”

“I really need this job, Miss Harper. If there is anything extra I can do, please tell me, and I will find a way.”

She smoothed back the loose strands of the bun on her head. “I’m hoping it’s temporary, sweetie, I really am. Closing my doors for good seems….” She cleared her throat and wiped away a tear. “Like a nightmare. As soon as things pick up again, I’ll give you full-time hours right away.”

“Thank you, Miss Harper,” I said and left as she reached for a tissue on her desk.

Grabbing my sweater, I headed out the back and sucked in a ragged breath. I’d been through worse. I just needed to find another part-time job. Instead of heading to the shelter, I turned toward the Quarter. I usually avoided the party areas and the crowds of Bourbon Street. It was too much temptation to take a drink, watching everyone else partying and having a good time. Desperate times called for desperate measures. Someone had to be looking for a server, and hell, at this point, I’d do just about anything.

Greyson

With a yell, I finished the heavy deadlift and dropped the bar down on the rubber mats with a thud. Rolling out my shoulders, I swiped my water off the ground and took a swig. The music pounded through my headphones as sweat trailed down my back and stomach from the rigorous workout. Some girls across the room on the ellipticals were watching me in the mirror. They were trying to be discreet, but as soon as I looked over, their faces turned bright red, and they smiled. I was horny as fuck, but had no interest in being approached. Wrapping my towel around my neck, I headed for the showers.

As hard as I tried, I’d only gotten a couple of hours of sleep, and my mood was wavering between toxic and fucking demented. That was a dangerous combo for me. Turning on the shower and stepping in under the hot spray, I closed my eyes and leaned my forehead against the cool tile. The soft scent of iris and cinnamon filled my mind, and my cock hardened. What the hell was it about that smell?

Sliding my hand down, I fisted my cock and stroked. I’d been holding off for the right prey to fuck, but no one had interested me enough to make the effort. No one except for the faceless woman from the cemetery. Her voice was sweet like a summer spring breeze, but I bet it would sound a whole lot sweeter, choking on my dick as tears poured from her eyes. She’d claw at my legs with her nails, begging me to let her breathe. I might, at least this time.

Reaching out, I hit the soap dispenser and smeared a large dollop of soap on my cock. I teased my balls before taking a firm grip once more and stroking faster to the pictures dancing behind my closed eyes.

Pushing her face down on the coffin, I would tie her spread eagle. I could almost feel her pussy welcoming me as I fucked her hard. Picking up my knife, I could carve her back and lick the blood off her skin, drinking down the metallic taste. Eating up what gave her life as I came in her, claiming her as mine before slitting her throat.

I stroked myself faster, the sound of water and soap making a slapping sound, and if any other guy were in the locker room, he’d know exactly what I was doing. I didn’t care. I would jerk off in front of almost anyone. The more eyes that could possibly see what I was doing, the better. I still loved walking the park paths and jerking off at the pond. I found more than one unsuspecting victim back in the day that way, but now there was only one hooded person I was interested in at the moment.