Blue Persuasion (15 page)

CHAPTER TEN

Ride

by Somo

O
n Tuesday, I ran home between my lunch shift at The Chart House and the night shift at Tap 42. I showered, pulled my hair back in a ponytail with my long bangs hanging past my eyebrows, lined my eyes, and dressed, choosing a sheer, sexy bra and matching thong.

The Tap 42’s bar didn’t fill up like it did on Saturday nights. I had way too much time to think, and I didn’t like it one bit. By around 8:00 p.m. the distraction himself showed. I felt him before he rounded the corner.

“I couldn’t wait,” Tate said as he took a seat at the bar, empty seats on either side of him, his expression as serious as ever.

“You shouldn’t say stuff like that,” I admonished, flipping a coaster in front of him.

“Another rule?”

“What will it be?” I pulled a frosty mug from the freezer and held it up.

“You, under me as soon as possible.”

I glanced up and our eyes locked. “You’re incorrigible.”

“My pants have been tight all day.”

“Stop it!”

“What?” he said, shrugging as if he didn’t know he was tormenting me. By his stare, I could tell he knew exactly what he was doing.

I turned my back to him and pulled the newest IPA. Setting it in front of him, I asked, “Could you come to Red’s a bit late tomorrow?”

The corners of his mouth turned down even more. “Why?”

“So I can have some time with my girlfriends before you get there.”

“And boyfriends. Who’s the guy over there?” he asked, flipping his head to the left.

I saw Stuart angled against the wall that led into the kitchen.

“My boss. He’s the bar manager, why?”

“He’s watching you just like he was the other night.”

“So?” I rested my arms on the bar top.

Tate wrapped his fingers around my forearm. “Have you—”

“No. I haven’t and wouldn’t. I learned that lesson a while ago.”

“Which was?”

“Judy,” Stuart called. “Can you come here?”

“Sure.” On my way over to him, I wiped the bar and cleared a glass a few seats down from Tate. “What’s up?”

“I thought you said he was no one.” Usual upbeat Stuart didn’t seem so upbeat anymore.

“He wasn’t at the time. He’s since come back around.”

“Be careful,” he warned.

“Why would you say that?”

Stuart glanced from Tate to me. “He looks so serious. He hasn’t smiled once since he sat down.”

“Yeah, that’s how he is. He’s not big on smiles.”

“We could have fun, Judy. It wouldn’t have to be serious.”

“My dance card is all filled. Please don’t take this personally. I like working here and don’t want to lose this job.”

“Rejection is always personal. However, I won’t let it affect us working together.”

I hoped he meant it. I passed by Tate and checked on my other customers. After placing an order for food, I stepped back in front of him.

“What was that about?” he asked.

“What you might guess.”

“Jesus, Blue.” He practically glared at me.

“I assure you, I didn’t ask for it.” I cleared his beer mug away and filled a new one, setting it in front of him.

“Is it always like this?”

“More often than I would like,” I said with a shrug.

“Way more than I’m comfortable with.”

“I don’t know what to say. Why does it bother you?” I filled a glass full of ice and water for myself.

He didn’t answer.

I crashed smack into his wall of steel. Trying to shift the mood, I asked, “Are you hungry?”

“Very.” The flare of his eyes told me food wasn’t on his agenda, eating me for dinner was.

“I sometimes think we should avoid talking altogether. It’s a mine field.”

“I don’t want to talk.” He reached across the bar for my hand. “When does your shift end?”

Not soon enough
, I thought.

As if he read my thoughts, he said, “Definitely not soon enough.”

“A couple of hours. I don’t see Stuart letting me off early. Definitely not while you’re sitting here.”

“You should look for another place to work.”

My mouth dropped open. “Dude, back off. I’m serious. You don’t get to keep me out of your life and control mine.”

He pursed his lips and brushed his hair out of his face. “You’re right, I’m sorry.” After breathing out heavily, he asked, “Do you get a break?”

“Yeah, I have thirty minutes coming to me.”

“Come outside with me.”

I glanced in Stuart’s direction and looked back at Tate. “Give me a few minutes.” I grabbed the plastic ice bin and went to the kitchen. I filled it and then noticed that I had food up. Leaving the ice in the back, I picked up the appetizer and delivered it to the guy at the end of the bar. Catching Tate’s eye, I smiled as I passed by him again. Back in the kitchen, I found Stuart. “Can I go on break as soon as I dump the ice?” I lifted the bin and waited for him to respond.

He looked to be searching for a reason to say no. Apparently, he couldn’t find one. “Okay.” Grabbing the other side of the ice bin to help me carry it, he followed me out to the bar and we poured the ice into the receptacle.

Once Stuart moved away, I said, “I’ll meet you out front.”

“Let me pay—”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Tate had his hands in the pockets of his relaxed-fit jeans as he leaned against his motorcycle. “Let’s go for a ride.”

“I only have a few minutes.”

“I’ll have you back in time. I brought an extra helmet for you.” He handed me a glossy, black, half helmet with a striking graphic of purple and blue feathers.

“Wow, it’s pretty.”

“It’s yours.”

“Mine?” I pulled it over my head and Tate tightened the strap under my chin.

“Very cute,” he said, touching my nose. He slipped on his full helmet and straddled his red Harley.

I climbed on behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Where are we going?”

“For a ride.” He pulled out onto Andrews Avenue and then turned onto AIA following the bridge.

I called out in excitement. I had never been on a motorcycle and laughed over the thrill of it. It felt like we were going really fast, water passing on either side of us. The power of the bike, the vibration, my arms around Tate’s waist, my cheek pressed against his back all turned me on. When we were across the water, he made a U-turn and took me back to the parking lot of Tap 42. Once he stopped, I hopped off the bike.

Unbuckling the helmet, I said, “That was so much fun, but it was way too short.”

“You look gorgeous with your cheeks all red and your eyes sparkling,” he said, his eyes smiling at me.

“Thank you.” I stood on tiptoe so I could kiss him.

He swept me up in his arms, his kiss full of passion.

“I wish I didn’t have to go back inside,” I murmured against his lips.

“You have no idea.”

“Sure I do. Are you coming back in?”

“No, I don’t think I could keep my hands off you, bar be damned.”

“Okay.” I pulled his mouth down to mine and kissed him softly goodbye. As I walked away, I said over my shoulder, “I love my helmet. Thank you.” I thought I saw a slight smile as I headed back into the bar.

The next two hours dragged on like ten. Stuart kept eyeing me as if he wanted to say something, but thankfully, he kept it to himself. Just before the end of my shift, I ordered and ate a half order of grilled chicken avocado salad. I boxed the other half to go and then texted Tate.

Me:
I’m almost out of here. My place?

Although Tap 42 was located closer to Tate’s house, I didn’t want to be tempted to spend the night after a long day of work. I figured it would be easier to kick him out of my place when I got too tired.

I cashed out with Stuart, paying for Tate’s drinks too, and said, “Goodnight.”

“Be safe,” he said.

Safe?
That occupation had fled my DNA. Safety wasn’t in the cards. I still hadn’t heard back from Tate by the time I drove home. I heard my phone chime as I pulled into my apartment complex. I found Tate waiting for me on the steps to my place. “Been waiting long?”

“Way too long, but I’ve only been here a few minutes.”

He didn’t get up, so I sat next to him on the step and rested my hand on his thigh.

He smoothed his hand over my head and tugged at the tie keeping my hair up. “How’d it go?”

I shook my head once my hair was set free. “Endless. It was a slow night, and waiting to see you again made it painfully so.”

“Your boss?”

“He was fine.”

“I want to lock you up like Rapunzel,” he confided, shifting my legs over his lap and drawing me close.

“For someone who doesn’t want a real relationship, you’re very possessive,” I said, touching his face, his stubbly cheek.

“I agree,” he admitted.

Tracing his full lips, I asked, “What are you going to do about it?”

He kissed the tip of my finger and then pushed aside my collar, kissing his way up my neck. His dangerous hands wove their magic against my back, inciting a riot within me. Then his lips found mine and I melted against him. His tongue leisurely explored my mouth, one hand resting on my lower back and the other holding my neck. “Let’s go inside,” he whispered when he pulled his mouth away. He stood and held out his hands for me, lifting me to my feet.

As I fumbled with my keys and unlocked the door, his body pressed against mine. I felt his breath in my hair. Once inside, I asked, “Do you need anything?”

“Just you.” He took my hand and led me to the bedroom, turning on the light and dimming it. We faced each other and I unbuttoned his shirt, pausing so he could lift my shirt over my head. He kissed along my collarbone, lowering my bra strap. As my large breast spilled out, he lifted it to his mouth and swirled his tongue around the nipple before sucking it into his mouth. I arched into him, loving the attention. His other hand found the button on my jeans, and my hands found his and unzipped his pants, pushing them down. We paused in our play and kicked our jeans away.

“Very sexy,” he said, fingering the V in the front of my black, lacy bra. He pivoted me to the side and fondled my ass, the matching lacy thong showing between my butt cheeks. “It’s hard for me to decide which side of you is my favorite.” He turned me back around. “I have to go with front because of that mouth of yours.” His lips came down on my mine as his hands explored all of my exposed flesh, branding me with his touch. He lowered the other strap of the bra, freeing my left breast. “So beautiful,” he murmured as he twisted and tugged both nipples until they were completely aroused.

Then Tate’s hands trailed down my narrow waist, his thumbs looping the sides of my thong, drawing it down my thighs. His mouth followed his hands, breathing against my mound. “I love that you keep your lips smooth but have a path on your mound.” His tongue shot out and I kicked away my panties, spreading my legs for him as I unhooked my bra and tossed it aside. He groaned against me, wrapping his arms around my buttocks. His mouth pressed into me, his tongue seeking my sweet spot.

I held his head against my pussy. “Wonderful...” I uttered. My legs shook when his fingers played at my entrance along with the stroking of his tongue.

He brought me oh so close and said, “I want you to cum with my cock inside you.”

“I want that, too.”

He climbed onto the bed and knelt in the center of it, holding his hand out to me. He drew me against him, sitting me on his lap, my legs on either side of him. As he adjusted himself under me, I lifted up and slid down on his naked cock.

“Oh god,” I cried. “You forgot—”

“I didn’t.”

“That’s so ... oh Tate.” And then, I couldn’t speak.

His mouth kissed my breasts and tugged on my nipples. Then his incredible hands cupped my ass and tilted my hips so my clit ground into him. He shifted his legs out in front of him and I wrapped my legs around his back. The deepened penetration drove me insane. His cock hit all the right spots as we aggressed together.

His mouth sought mine, and neither of us closed our eyes. The taste of him roused and liquefied me as if we were one fused being.

My hands touched his back and shoulders, settling on his face. Our lips hovered close as we both moaned aloud.

“I want you to cum first,” he growled, slowing his pace. “It feels too good.” He shifted our position again, moving us to the side of the bed, where he sat with his right leg on the ground. He placed me on my back, draping my legs over his thighs, pulling me onto his cock. His hands held my sides as he rocked in, back and forth. The trail of his hands caressed my breasts as he continued his incursion. Then his fingers found my center, and I knew it wouldn’t take me much longer.