Page 28 of Throttle Me (Men of Inked 1)
“I never asked.” I grabbed my plate and headed for the kitchen. I could hear the giggles from the table as my mother and sister always liked to harp on me most of all. No one was in a relationship in the group, but for some reason I was always the target.
I didn’t know where Suzy and I stood and what the future held for us. She was always so wrapped up in her fucking thoughts and second-guessing our relationship. She couldn’t get beyond the tattooed façade and beat up shack I called home. I needed to know that I was enough for her. I wanted to be liked for me – the good, bad, and the ugly.
Friday Countdown
I could hardly contain my excitement all week. City and I talked every night on the phone and texted during the day. I couldn’t stay away from him and couldn’t get him out of my mind. I tried to keep myself busy and find reasons not to be with him, but it didn’t work. I was falling for the man and falling hard.
Growing up, my mother had drilled in my head that I needed to find a man with a stable job. I needed to settle down, have a family, and live the American dream. I tried for years to find that man, the perfect mold, but all of them were just… boring as hell.
I’d never been willing to settle for anything less than perfect. A picket fence and a beautiful home are worthless if you dread going home to the one you’re supposed to spend your life with. I prefer being single to the doldrums that some of my friends currently dwelled. Sophia and Kayden were the happiest couple I knew and they were complete opposites, they were the ying to the other’s yang.
The students cleared the building as soon as the last bell blared at two in the afternoon on Friday. I had another thirty minutes left and couldn’t seem to function. All I could think of was tonight and what could be – what would be. I couldn’t stare at the clock and watch another minute tick away. I knew Sophia would be tidying up the library and I needed to talk to her. She questioned me all week about City and when I’d see him again, but I hadn’t told her the plan we had. I needed her opinion.
The lights in the library were dimmed but I could see her wandering around, returning books to their rightful spots. I took a deep breath and walked through the door to the torrent of questions I knew I’d face.
“Sophia,” I called out. I didn’t want to scare the hell out of her. I knew most of the staff had snuck out early, but the two of us never took the chance at losing our jobs for a few minutes of our time.
She turned the corner with a stack of books in her hand and a smile on her face, “Hey, Suzy Q, what are you doing up here? Don’t you have any big plans for tonight?” she winked at me. I couldn’t hide the smile on my face. I felt like the electricity and joy radiated off my body. “How many hours until you see him?”
“Maybe I’m not going to see him tonight.” I was so full of shit and I knew I couldn’t fool Sophia, but sometimes I hated that she could read me like an open book.
“Whatever, whore. It’s written all over your face. You’re going to get some cock tonight and by the red creeping across your cheeks, I’d say it’s fucking amazing.”
“Do you hear how you talk in a school?”
“Prude ass. Every child has run away from this place screaming at two. There isn’t a soul within earshot except for us. What time are you meeting him tonight?”
“We’re meeting at seven.” I plopped down on one of the comfy couches as Sophia placed the books on the table, sitting down next to me.
“My feet are freaking killing me in these damn heels.” She kicked off her shoes and rubbed her feet. “What’s the plan tonight?”
“I don’t even know if I can repeat it.” I shrugged. My stomach was a jumbled mess thinking about the possibilities.
“You can and you will. This is me, girl. I know all your darkest secrets. Shit, you used to lie in bed with Kayden and me and grill us on sex life. We have no secrets. I know you’re a kinky bitch underneath that polished veneer.”
“It’s your fault. I was happy with my bland sex life and you had to go and ruin me with all those trashy novels.”
“Stop changing the subject. What’s the plan with the sexy as sin City?” she grinned and wagged her eyebrows up and down.
I always wanted sex that was worthy of girl talk and for years I lived off the stories that Sophia and my other friends had shared with me. City had made sex worth talking about; I’d finally have some wild stories to share.
“I kind of shared one of my fantasies with him and he’s going to make it happen tonight.” I covered my eyes with my hand, avoiding her stare. I was scared to tell her any more, but she knew every fantasy I had and always reassured me that I was normal and that my sanity hadn’t been replaced by impure thoughts.
“Oh my God. Tell me, tell me.” She practically bounced on the couch cushion. “Don’t hold back now, bitch.” She slapped my arm.
br /> “I told him the darkest one.”
“You didn’t?”
I grinned and my cheeks almost hurt from the smile that had been plastered on my face all day. “I did and he said I’d have it.”
“Kidnapping?” she looked shocked but I saw the twinkle in her eye.
“I can’t believe I told him, but yes. Oh my God, it’s happening tonight, Sophia.”
“I’m so proud of you.” She wrapped her arms around me. “My baby’s all grown up.” She squeezed me and ran her palm down the back of my head. “Tell me more. I want to hear about him. Now.”
“We’re going to meet at the Neon Cowboy, that biker bar out in the country. We’re going to have some dinner and drinks before I leave alone and he makes it become a reality.”
“You’re going to chicken out. Oh God, he’s giving you time to change your mind.” She stood up and started pacing the room.
“Calm down, Sophia. I’m not going to chicken out. I’ve wanted someone like him and tonight I’m getting more than I could ever dream of – my fantasy becoming a reality.”
“You’ve never done this shit. You’re like I used to be – Ms. Missionary-Style. I expect details tomorrow and I mean a full report.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll give you a full briefing.”
“I want every last fucking detail too, got me?”
“I got ya, Sophia. I better go get my stuff and head home. I want to rest a bit before I see him.”
“Good luck with resting,” she snickered.
“I know. I could barely sleep last night,” I sighed.
“I used to get that way when I would see Kayden after time apart. There’s no feeling like it.” She smiled and hugged me. “Now, go. I have to finish up and get home to my fantasy man.”
“You still feel that way about Kayden after all this time?”
“I still get butterflies when I see him, Suzy. That’s the difference you know – that feeling has never gone away. I’m still get excited like the first time we met.”
“I envy you, Sophia.”
“You’ll find your Kayden, babe. I think you may already have if you don’t let your stupid OCD checklist get in the way.” She tapped me on the forehead.
“I got to go. We’ll debate my sanity and compulsions another day.” I waved to her as I walked out the door. “Later, Soph.”
“Don’t forget to call me, Suzy, or I’ll hunt your ass down,” she yelled to me as the door closed behind me.
“Hey, Sugar,” his voice filled my car via speakerphone, but he didn’t sound as excited as I felt.
“Hey, City. I’m almost to the bar.”
“I’m going to be fifteen minutes late, fuck, I’m sorry. The tattoo I was working on took longer than I thought. Can you wait for me in the parking lot?”
Damn. That bar gave me the heebie jeebies and I didn’t fit in, not even in the parking lot. “Yeah, City. I wouldn’t dream of walking in there alone.” I felt a sick. “This isn’t part of your plan is it?”
“Hell, no! We’re still having some drinks first. I need you to not overthink everything tonight. I want you a little tipsy for what I have planned,” he laughed.
The excitement took over and all second thoughts vanished. “Okay, City. I’ll be waiting for you.”
“Do not go inside alone. Understand me?”
“I won’t. I promise.”
“See you soon, sugar.”
After tossing my phone on the passenger seat, I rolled down the window welcoming the cool air against my clammy skin. The events of the night played through my mind. City would be my kidnapper. My lungs burned as I screamed the lyrics to the song on the radio, ”Dark Horse” by Katie Perry, the bass causing my windows to rattle with each beat.
Pulling into a spot hidden in the shadows, I turned off the lights and waited for City to arrive. In the rearview mirror my face glistened from the humidity in the air and I wanted to look flawless. City had seen me at my worst, but I wanted to look beautiful for him in front of his friends.
The lighted mirror behind my visor was more forgiving as I blotted my face with an old napkin I found in the glove box. My lips lacked color as I smacked them together, making kissy lips. Slathering on some Buxom lip gloss from my purse, I rubbed my lips together with a pop. They tingled as the peppermint oil
