Page 6 of Ensnared By Silence
Mathias was handsome with bright blue eyes, blonde hair that resembled a surfer’s carefree style, and was flirty with every woman he saw, insisting a woman deserved to be exalted for dealing with hetero men. He was recently single, and we both needed a reason to celebrate. His boyfriend was a cheating asshole, and he deserved someone better.
We were at the local gathering spot, Falcon’s Tavern, and the handsome owner, Hayden, was pouring drinks behind the giant mahogany bar. The first time I came into the bar for lunch, shortly after I moved here, I felt drawn to him. He had a kindness that called to me, but I was too afraid to make a move, fearful he would see me like I saw myself.
Through the years, I ate here multiple times, and the last time I was here, he was recently single from his breakup with the blonde bartender. Rumor around town was she was doing webcam work and fell for a client. She moved away last year, and Hayden retreated from the bar.
I put no stock in rumors, but to see him happy and chatting up the regulars seemed to elevate the mood. I knew little about him, and I tried not to make my crush on him too obvious. Music played from a jukebox near the pool tables, so Mathias and I settled into a booth on the side away from the loud music.
An older waitress walked up with a tray full of empty beer bottles. “What can I get you?”
“I’ll have whatever you have on tap and she’ll have a vodka cranberry.”
With a nod, she turned and walked away.
“So, when was the last time you got laid?” Mathias asked, and my eyes bugged out at him at the volume of his question.
My gaze swung to the tables near us as I leaned over and harshly whispered, “How is that any of your business?”
The waitress sat our drinks down on the table and I look up at her with a sugary smile. “Another round, please.” She looked at the full untouched drinks then back to me.
I raised my eyebrows in question before picking up and draining the tart cocktail. Placing the glass back onto the table, I looked at Mathias, who was trying to cover a smile by taking a swallow of his beer.
“Another round, coming up.”
Mathias sipped his beer, his brown eyes boring into mine as he waited for his answer. Sighing deeply, I glanced and saw my drink being mixed, then turned my attention back to my best friend and biggest pain in my ass.
“Four months ago,” I finally answered, and he coughed around a swallow. I wiped the droplets from my arm with a napkin.
“Jesus, that’s too long. You’re neglecting your vag and that’s a crime.”
“How is it a crime to go four months without sex?” I asked, curious to whatever crazy response he was brewing up. “And what would you know about a neglected vag?”
“You should give the old girl a workout weekly, if not daily. It will close up or something if it’s not getting dick. And just because I don’t like them doesn’t mean I don’t think they deserve a good pounding on the regular.”
A cackle of laughter broke free from me and a few people turned to watch as I struggled to catch my breath from his ridiculous statement. He looked at me like he had solved the problems of the universe, and finally, I got my giggling under control. Wiping my cheeks from the tears that escaped during my fit of laughter, I composed myself enough to speak.
“For your information, there are toys that can handle whatever needs I have. They go for as long as I want, give me as many orgasms as I can handle, and I don’t have to worry about them getting clingy,” I replied with a smirk.
A fresh drink was placed on the table and I took a sip, letting the flavor burst on my tongue as Mathias cleared his throat and took another swallow of beer, his eyes wide and his shoulders shaking as he fought to contain his laughter.
Looking up, I found Hayden standing there, his warm amber eyes smiling down at me with a barely contained fire. I was speechless at his privy to my statement and wanted to crawl into a hole and die from embarrassment. I was used to talking to Mathias like that, but to have someone as handsome and utterly delicious as Hayden overhear my apparent vibrator addiction was mortifying.
I covered my face with my hands and muttered, “Shoot me now.”
“I just wanted to check on you and make sure you didn’t need anything else,” he explained with a smile on his lips and a twinkle in his eyes as he stared at me. “I’m Hayden.”
“Aubrey.” I finished the second glass with large swallows, hoping the alcohol made me forget him overhearing my comments. The alcohol was hitting me fast as I replied, “And I think we’re good.”
He went to leave, but first, he glanced over his broad shoulder, replying, “You sure as hell are.”
Sauntering back to the bar, I watched as he poured another drink, and his gaze kept swinging to mine. I smiled and felt Mathias kick me under the table, snapping my attention back to him. He looked like the cat that ate the canary with a broad smile and his arms crossed over his chest.
“What?” I asked and leaned back, mirroring his stance.
“That man wants to take you for a ride. You should pay the ticket and hop on his cock.”
“Are you insane? He thinks I’m a sex crazed maniac, thanks to you.”
“I’m not the one bemoaning about vibrators and orgasms. Besides, he seems like the type to enjoy playing with toys.”
