Page 102 of The Barkeep and the Bro

This wasn’t a complete surprise, but my throat had still managed to get clogged with emotion. “This is my first promotion.”

“It won’t be your last.”

“What about Natasha?”

“I’m still working out how to split your duties. I’d like to have one of you on each night.” That meant I wouldn’t get to see Natasha as much, but we would have to find time to hang out outside of work.

“Does this mean I get to interview for my replacement?”

“You can assist in the hiring process.”

I rubbed my hands together. It was a full circle of life moment. Confidence and bravery swirled within me, making me ask: “What if we ran the bar together someday?”

Mitch’s eyebrows jumped, but he didn’t seem repulsed by the idea. “Someday.”

“It is a family business.” I pressed my lips shut. I was practically proposing marriage. “I can keep learning the business from you. And someday we could do this together, as equals.”

“It won’t happen anytime soon, but for the future, I like that idea.”

How much of that idea did he like? Six months ago, I was into girls and not into relationships. Now I was thinking about having a guy put a ring on it. The world worked in mysterious ways.

“Any other ideas you want to discuss?”

Boldness had not subsided in me. With Mitch, I had an openness where I could be myself and say what I wanted. I circled my finger in his chest hair. “Actually, yes.”

He let out a laugh. “I thought we were going to bed.”

“It can wait until tomorrow.” I turned to go to sleep, but he pulled me back to him, tightening his strong arms around me.

“What is it, Porterfield?”

“Well, as you know, I used to have sex with women.”

“Will I like where this is going?” he asked. I ignored his comment.

“And so I have experience being on top.”

He gave an exaggerated nod.

“I was wondering if we could try switching positions tomorrow morning.” Because of our crazy hours, most of our sex was morning sex. It was a major benefit to waking up with morning wood, which only got harder when I felt his warm body against mine.

The thought of topping Mitch had been eating at me for weeks. He was so big and hot, and I wanted to feel my dick inside him. All of the incredible ways he made my body vibrate when he fucked me, well, I wanted to return the favor.

“Thoughts?” I asked.

“That sounds so fucking hot.” He kissed my neck. “I want to feel you inside me.”

“And I want to fuck you senseless.” I wanted to watch his large body shake with orgasm. I sprouted wood at all times of day while thinking of having Mitch. It was a good thing a solid piece of wood separated me from my customers so they couldn’t see the random tents I pitched.

Mitch pinched my nipple.

“But not tonight,” I said. “I’m exhausted.”

He breathed out a sigh of relief. “Me, too.”

We went to sleep, and as I drifted off, I thought of the twists and turns that brought me to Sourwood, to Stone’s Throw Tavern, and into Mitch’s burly arms. Life was a helluva thing.

I was like a kid on Christmas Eve. I couldn’t wait for morning.

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