The Arrangement Anthology (33 page)

CHAPTER 8

The rest of the week passes slowly. I go to classes and try to focus, but it takes an ungodly amount of coffee. I don’t see Sean. I try not to think about him. I do my work and keep my nose in my books until I get a call from Miss Black. She has a client for me. I have to go in and chat with her before she forks over his name. Black sounds more irritated with me than normal. I tell her that I’ll be in tonight and hang up before I say something stupid.

I’ve been sitting in the diner across the street from the college, working on the outline for my semester project in Psych. I have a textbook open with colored highlighters on the table, and Post-It Notes stuck all over the book. They stick out of the sides like rainbow colored bunny ears. I’m not paying attention to who’s around me. When the waitress comes by, I order more coffee and a slice of apple pie.

“Do you want ice cream with that, hun?” She stares down at me from under a boat-load of blue eye shadow.

Marty appears from behind her and answers for me. “Hell yes. And double that. I’m sick of watching my figure. Today has pie and ice cream written all over it, honey.” The waitress looks at him like he’s smacked his head one to many times. Marty makes a face at her and she leaves. “Long time, no see. Whachya doing, slut?” Marty leans forward and tries to see my notes from across the table.

I smile at him. “Term paper. What’s new with you?” I look him over. He’s not dressed in his normal decade-specific attire. Instead, Marty’s hair is sort of messy and he has a little stubble on his jaw. He’s wearing a button down shirt with a dark brown blazer. It makes his eyes look like chocolates. “Got a new boyfriend?”

He smiles awkwardly and shakes his head. “Nah.”

“What’s with the new threads? Trying to channel GQ?”

Marty tilts his chin up and grins. “Something like that. You like?”

I nod and let my eyes slip over him again, before returning my gaze to his face. “Yeah, actually I do. It’s hot. Sure to turn a lot of heads.” I smile at him and glance back down at my outline. I’m almost done and I’ve been working for hours, so I push the book aside and take a break.

“Mmm. Maybe, but there’s only one head that I’m interested in turning.” He stretches and places one of his arms along the back of the booth.

“Does he notice you?” Marty doesn’t talk much about his love interests. I’d started thinking he was asexual. I’m glad we’re talking. It feels like it used to, before things got weird between us.

“Not so much.” He holds my gaze.

“That’s too bad.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Everything happens for a reason, right? Maybe it’s not time to be noticed, yet. Maybe when I am noticed, things will go better because I waited. At least that’s what I tell myself when I’m crying into my pillow at night.” He winks at me. Before I have a chance to answer, the waitress sets down our plates. Marty sits up and inhales. He sighs, “My God. Ecstasy on a plate.”

The waitress snorts and walks away.

I dig in and shovel the pie into my mouth. The apples are warm and the crust is light and buttery. I think I moaned because Marty’s laughing. “Easy there, Little Miss O. I’m not into that kind of public display.”

I nearly choke on an apple. I sputter for a second. “You’re such an ass. You can make sexual remarks about dessert, but I can’t?”

“Yes.” Marty shovels more pie into his mouth, while watching me with a smirk on his face.

“Why is that?”

“Double-standard, honey. I can do a lot of things you can’t. I don’t have boobs. Get over it.” He glances around and holds up his hand. The waitress comes over. “Can I get a glass of milk? Thanks, hon.” She smiles this time and disappears. A few minutes later there’s a huge glass of milk next to him. I salivate, staring at it. “Go ahead and have some. I don’t have cooties.” Marty shoves the glass toward me. I put the cold cup to my lips and guzzle. When I put it down, there’s hardly any left. “Well, that was sexy.”

“Shut up,” I say, smiling at him. “I can be sexy. I just chose not to be.”

“Who said that wasn’t sexy? A girl tipping back a glass of milk like that? Very alluring.” He waggles his eyebrows at me. “Any girl that can swallow that much milk has gotta be good at—”

I cut him off, pointing my spoon at him. “Don’t say it.” There’s a warning tone in my voice.

But Marty is still smiling. He shakes his head. “You’re such a prude. You can put out and get paid, you little tramp, but we can’t talk about it. I thought I’d hear all about your sexual encounters. I’m starting to think your job is bogus.” Marty leans back in the booth with a self-assured look on his face.

“It is not
bogus
. And who uses that word anymore?”

“Nuns and cool kids. Stop dodging the question, princess.” He leans forward and puts his arms on the table. Marty reaches forward and places both of his hands on top of mine and pats me.

“Uh, there was no question.”

He cocks his head to the side. “Avery, are you seriously going to make me say it. Fine, the blank look on your face is enough. Are you going back to work this weekend?” He slips his hands back.

I nod. “Yeah, Black wants me to come in tonight. I think she’s going to kill me and leave me in the alley. She sounds pissed. I’m not really sure why.”

“You’re a high-maintenance pain in the ass, that’s why. Every time she gives you another chance, you screw it up. It’s like you’re doing it on purpose.”

“I am not! I want this job. I need this job.”

He studies me for a moment. “You really don’t mind the idea of it being some random guy this time?” I mind. I mind a lot, but it’s the best I can do. It’s like he can read my mind. Marty leans forward and lowers his voice, “Then, don’t do it. Quit.”

“What? Did you hit your head? I can’t quit. I’m going to get hit with a ton of hospital bills, plus my regular stuff. My car is totaled. I don’t have enough money to replace it and eat. It’s not like I have a choice, Marty.”

He sighs and watches me for a moment. “Then, tell me how I can help.”

“I don’t think you can, not unless you want to go shopping again. I have to but a slutty outfit tomorrow. No more wholesome girl stuff. Mel isn’t around tonight. She took a midweek client. You want to come?” Marty’s eyes drop to the table. He looks at my hands and seems like he’s lost in his thoughts. “It’ll be the same as last time, well, without Mel calling you names.”

I realize that I want him to come. Marty is one of the people that puts me at ease, and this stuff with Black has me strung out. I don’t want a new client. I want Sean, but I can’t have what I want. Besides, Sean probably had a different girl every day this week. They’re probably all tied up under his bed.

Marty touches the back of my hand. He trails his finger over my smooth skin. The touch pulls me from my thoughts. I look up at his face, into those dark eyes. “I’ll come. Anything for you, Avery. You know that.”

I let out a rush of air. I didn’t realize I was so tense about everything. I slip out of the booth and go around to his side. I slide in next to him and give him a hug. He doesn’t hug me back. Instead he puts his arm behind my neck and rests it along the back of the booth.

Marty pushes the rest of his pie toward me. “Here, finish it.”

I release him and sit up. I devour the rest of the pie like I haven’t eaten in weeks. My life is finally getting under control again.

CHAPTER 9

“What about this one?” Marty asks, pulling out a tiny hanger with a red string on it. Seriously, it’s a string. I don’t even know what it is. A bottom? A bra? A shirt?

I walk over and touch it, then look up at him. Leaning in close, I ask, “What is it?”

He laughs. “I don’t know. I was hoping you knew.”

We both giggle quietly and put it back. I’m in one of the shops that Miss Black said to buy my lingerie in, but I don’t know what I want. It’s weird. Last time I did this, I thought of Sean and bought things that I wanted him to see me in. This time, I don’t even know who I’m going to be with. I guess I should pick out things for me, but I’m not really into it.

Marty wanders away, browsing racks. He picks up something white and I shake my head. I’m not making that mistake again. I tell him about the rules and he nods and wanders off. When I turn around, I see a red satin bra that seems cut so low that it wouldn’t contain my girls. I lift the hanger and hold it up.

A salesgirl comes over. “Do you like it? That’s one of our bestsellers.” I turn around. The salesgirl is a little taller than me, wearing a stunning blue dress that makes her hair look like gold. She’s smiling at me. “Would you like to try it on?”

I nod, “I think so. It seems a little low in front.”

“It’s supposed to be.” She smiles at me and must recognize the blank look on my face, because she explains. “It’s a hybrid shelf and peek-a-boo bra. It holds you up, creates beautiful cleavage, but is still revealing. The panty you had before is the matching bottom.”

“The string?”

She nods and picks up the red string. “It wraps around the side, after you step into it. Then, tie it on the hip.” She selects pieces that are my size. “Is there anything else you’d like to try?”

I glance around. “I don’t know.”
Where’d Marty go?

“Is there something in particular that you’re looking for?” I tell her something sexy and she makes a few more selections for me.

On the way back to the dressing room, I see Marty. He falls in step with me. “Try this one too.” He hands me something blue. I nod and take it.

The salesgirl doesn’t say anything about Marty following me back. I think about that red set and worry about him seeing me in it. I don’t really care about him seeing me in my underwear, but exposed nipples with those bottoms—I don’t know. Gay or not, that’s a little bit overexposed for my preference.

The salesgirl hangs my items in a room and leaves. Marty finds a chair and sits down across from my changing room. “Okay, show me the blue one first.”

That’s the set he picked out. It’s also the one with the most coverage. No problem, although I know Black will shoot down the bottoms. I have to show off my ass from now on. I’m not a virgin anymore.

I slip out of my clothes and pull on a blue satin set. It is pretty, but it’s too plain for this. I crack the door and call Marty over. He slips into the dressing room with me. “Turn around, let me see.” Marty nods as he rubs his chin. “It’s too old school for this, but it is pretty.”

I look at my hips in the mirror. Old school is right. The boobs are kind of pointy. I laugh. “I look like Marilyn Monroe.”

“If they were just a bit pointier, I would have said Madonna.”

“Okay, this one is out.”

Marty cracks the door to step outside. I glance over his shoulder and see a familiar face standing in the store just outside the dressing room. Bright blue eyes catch my gaze. My heart hammers harder.

Sean.

He holds my gaze for a moment and then blinks like he didn’t just see Marty come out of my dressing room. Marty doesn’t notice him, and I don’t want him to. I try to get rid of Marty quickly. The last thing I want is the two of them fighting back here, and since they both seem to hate each other, it’s pretty much a sure thing.

“Marty, would you mind heading to the second floor to scout out a dress? I’m pretty sure I’m going to want the red panty set and I’m not showing you my ass.”

He chuckles. “Sure, babe. What color?”

“Red.” I blurt it out and shut the door. Marty’s feet disappear from sight. I lean against the door. My shoulders tense as I listen for the altercation, but it doesn’t come.

I sigh and push off the door. I don’t know where Sean went, but at least he had the decency to not make a scene. It probably looked like Marty was doing me in the dressing room. My cheeks burn. I wouldn’t want anyone to think that. Then, I realize that everyone probably thinks that. I’m so slow. I palm my face and shake my head.

Damn it. I’m so stupid. I guess it doesn’t matter, but I don’t want word getting back to Black that I was doing some guy in the dressing room. I need to keep my personal life separate. I wonder if that’s possible as I slip out of the panty set and try on another.

I turn and glance at my hips and then my butt. My boobs look okay, but I don’t like it. I try on the last two normal sets of lingerie. I stare at myself in the mirror wondering if it matters what I wear. Who cares if I like it or not?

I glance at the red set still hanging on the wall.

I slip out of my clothes and reach for it. I step into the string bottoms and tie a bow at my hip.

Seriously? A string doesn’t change the fact that this is commando. The guy is going to get an eyeful as soon as I’m out of my dress. As I’m taking the top off the hanger, the door creaks opens slowly.

“I’m in here.” I can’t decide if I should cover myself or stop the door. My hands wave around like I’m dancing and Sean slips into the room.

“I know.” The grin on his face is so wide. I twitch and cover my breasts with my arm. When I catch myself in the mirror, I groan.

He smirks. “You look like you could use some help.”

“I don’t need your help. Go away.” I want to push him out the door, but then I’d have to flash my boobs at him and I don’t want to. “Scat.”

“Scat? Seriously? You’re going to throw me out, but you let him in?” Sean’s tone is light, playful. He glances around the room and walks over to the things that I’ve already tried on. They are in a pile on the padded bench against the wall.

“He’s gay—”

“Keep telling yourself that—”

“Oh my god. You are unbelievable. You’re jealous of a gay guy.” I tilt my head to the side and give him my best are-you-fucking-serious face, but I’m naked—so he laughs.

“Damn, you’re cute.” Sean takes the red bra from where I dropped it on the floor and looks at it. “I’m not jealous. I just don’t like liars and I don’t want anyone to hurt you. Turn around.”

“Sean—” I try to protest but he turns me toward the mirror. I don’t drop my arm.

“I’ve already seen and had them, Avery. Drop your arm.” Sean is standing behind me with the bra in his hands. I’m stubborn. I feel my spine straightening. I don’t want to do it. I don’t want him here, but part of me does. Part of me likes this. Part of me is obviously defective.

“Fine,” I bite back, “but this didn’t happen. My friends hate your guts and I don’t want Black to know I’ve been talking to you.”

Sean gives me a lopsided grin as he reaches around me and slips the bra on. His fingers brush against my skin as he fastens it in back. Involuntarily, I suck in a sharp breath at the light touch. I’m staring at myself in the mirror, with Sean—who is fully dressed and beyond beautiful—standing behind me. My stomach curls and I feel hot. I glance away, hoping he doesn’t notice, but now I’m noticing everything. I’m breathing too much, too loudly. I don’t know where to put my hands, but they feel stupid dangling at my sides. But the worst part is this bra. The front holds me up and adds a cup size, which makes my taut nipples glaringly obvious.

Sean looks up into the mirror, but he doesn’t step back. I feel his breath on my skin and resist the urge to climb on him. Because that’s what I want to do. With him here, looking at me like that, and standing so close—oh God—I want to touch him and feel his skin under my fingertips. I wish he wasn’t so fucked up. Or maybe, I wish I was more messed up so I could let him do what he wanted, but I can’t. I shiver thinking about it.

I see Sean’s gaze in the mirror. It locks with mine. After a moment, he says, “Is this for a client?”

“Yes.” There’s a lump in my throat that won’t go away. My fingers twitch at my sides. I want to touch him. I wish he’d turn me around, but he doesn’t. Sean stands so close that we should be touching, but we aren’t. Every inch of my skin is sensitive, dying for contact.

“It needs something else.” Sean pulls a bag out of his pocket. He must have purchased something before he came back. “This is what I’d want to see you in.” I take the bag. Sean’s fingers brush against mine. My heart pounds harder. I suck in air like I haven’t taken a breath in five minutes. It’s too loud, too raspy. “Open it.”

I look into the bag. There’s a black box at the bottom. I take it out and open it. Inside are two silver rings shaped in a C. There’s a single crystal on each one. I look up at him.

He smiles at me. “Put them on.”

My stomach flips. His voice is so much deeper. It’s that voice that makes me do stupid things. I take one out of the box and look at it. I’m not sure what it is, but it looks like an earring, so I pull my hair back and go to put it on my ear.

Sean smiles and takes my hand. He steps closer to me, pressing his front against my back. Sean moves my hand to my breast and breathes, “It goes here.”

His hand is on top of mine. I’m staring at him in the mirror, frozen. My brain is ringing warning bells, but I can’t move. After a moment, he turns me toward him and takes the jewelry from me. “Allow me.”

Sean leans closer to me and slides his hand up my waist. He cups the bottom of my breast and slips his hand over my nipple. My back goes ram-rod straight. My voice disappears as a bolt of heat shoots between the V of my legs. Sean rolls my nipple between his fingers, teasing it, before putting the silver C on me. Then, he squeezes it gently and the silver pinches me. I gasp silently as my lips make a little O. Sean watches my expression as he does the same thing to my other nipple. Then, he takes my shoulders and turns me back to the mirror.

“There you go, bestie. A totally fuckable outfit for a fun Friday night.”

My chest swells as it fills with air. It forces my breasts out and the little crystals sparkle. I look in the mirror and love this outfit because he likes it. I can’t speak. I can’t think. I stare at my breasts too long. When my eyes lift to see Sean’s in the mirror, I notice the same dark look he had the other morning.

Sean steps closer to me. His lips are so close to my neck. I tip my head to the side, hoping he’ll kiss me. I want him to touch me, but he doesn’t. I refuse to move. I don’t need him. I can control myself. But, Sean doesn’t leave. He doesn’t talk and his eyes remain hooded, as he drinks in my reflection. Every inch of my body is buzzing. I’m wound so tight that I think I’ll snap. That’s when Sean’s hand slowly drifts up my thigh without touching. I sense the heat from his palm. It makes my skin tingle and ache for his touch. Sean stops just above the bow on my hip. His fingers flick the string. I close my eyes and suck in a shaky breath.

“Ask me,” he breathes. Defiance strums through me. Or maybe it’s pride. Or both. Whatever it is, I say nothing which makes Sean give me the most seductive grin I’ve ever seen. “I know you want it. Ask me, Avery… “

I suck my lower lip between my teeth and slowly shake my head,
no
.

Sean doesn’t back away. Instead, he takes hold of the string at my hip and pulls. The red bow comes undone and my indecent bottoms fall to the dressing room floor. Sean watches me in the mirror. His eyes dip to the floor and linger as they climb up my body. They stop at the top of my legs and he leans in close and whispers again, “Ask me.”

I shake my head, liking this game. My heart pounds harder, as Sean looks up at my face. I wonder what he’s going to do. His eyes are so dark, so impossibly blue. Sean moves his hands over my skin without touching me. Slowly he goes up my thigh and then down my belly. His shirt tickles my back as he reaches around me. His warm breath makes me want to melt into his kiss, but I don’t move. I remain silent.

Sean continues to tease me. As his hands move over my body, his lips hoover over my back. His hot breath trails a path down my back, caressing every curve until he’s on his knees. Sean touches my leg lightly and sparks shoot across my body.

I gasp, and turn so that he’s kneeling in front of me. He looks up at me with his eyes burning like blue flames. “Ask me.”

I smile and shake my head so slightly that I’m not sure if I moved. Sean blinks slowly and lowers his gaze. He leans in slow, his lips nearing my thigh, and hesitates. I feel like I’m going to explode. I’ve never wanted to be touched so much in my entire life. Sean’s warm breath hits my bare skin and sparks shoot through me, making me hotter and hotter. My core aches for his touch, for Sean, and he hasn’t even touched me yet. I’m a hot mess, ready to beg him to kiss me there, but I don’t have to. After a heart pounding moment, Sean takes a jagged breath.

This time when he looks up, he says something different. “I’m asking you—may I?” His eyes fall back to the prize right in front of his eyes.

I have no voice. I can’t breathe. I feel myself nod and then my world shifts. Sean’s hands are on me and I moan so loudly that he reaches up and puts his hand over my mouth. He looks me in the eye and shakes his head slowly, telling me to be silent. When Sean releases his hand, he lowers me onto the bench and falls to his knees.