Page 22 of Lust

Aaron

Ruby’slittleperformanceinthe black silk lingerie made it very clear to me that she needs more toys. Despite my pile of carefully wrapped presents, I hurry out the next day and buy the best vibrator necklace I can find. She’ll guess that I’ve been watching her, she’d have to, but part of me wants her to know that I’ve already infiltrated her life.

Once I’ve slipped the new gift into the back of Ruby’s mailbox, I zip back over to Deelite’s Diner. It’s time Delilah knew the truth about her online lover.

My visit coincides with the end of shift. Sure enough, after lurking in my Buick in the parking lot for only seventeen minutes and thirty-five seconds, I spot Delilah blinking against the bright sunlight as she lights up a cigarette behind the low brick building.

She doesn’t look up as I approach her, just sucks in nicotine like a lifeline, trailing out long tendrils of gray smoke that rise like banners in the crisp, cool air.

“You came back,” she says, still not looking at me.

Good powers of observation. Even more reason to like this woman. Even more reason to keep her away from Brent.

“We don’t see a lot of rental cars in this lot,” she adds, “so I was curious. Figured you were here to see me when you didn’t get out of your car.” Finally, she turns to look at me, staring steadily through her cinnamon eyes. “The question is: why?”

I shrug, and she takes a few steps across the pitted asphalt between us, nimbly avoiding the cracks in her low heels.

“If you think I’m going to fuck you just because you gave me a good tip the other day, that’s not how I work.” She laughs, showing rows of pearly white teeth.

“You’re not my type.” I dismiss her with a wave of my hand. “But I believe we have a mutual acquaintance. I’m here to stop you from making a terrible mistake.”

She takes a final drag from her cigarette before grinding out the butt with her heel.

“What are you talking about?” Her eyes narrow and her arms clamp down across her chest.

“You mean whom?” I wink, then pull out my phone. “‘I wish I had two cocks so I could fuck your tight little asshole with one while you choke on the other.’ Sound familiar?”

Her face reddens, and her eyes flash. She stumbles back a step. “I don’t know what kind of sick joke this is, but get the fuck away from me.”

I lift my hands in the air to show I’ve nothing to hide, then I step back, too. “Just had to prove to you that I know what I’m talking about.”

“Did Brent put you up to this?” Her face twists into a grimace of pain. “I knew he was too good to be true.”

Suppressing the urge to comfort her, I shake my head. “Lord, no. He’d never talk to me in a million years. But he is too good to be true. That’s what I came to tell you.”

“And you had to dig through my personal information to do that?” She scowls. “Are you some kind of sick pervert?”

“That’s debatable.” I think about the cameras at Ruby’s, about what I’d give right now to be watching her undress, or change, or bathe.

Delilah shakes her head, a look of disgust twisting her lips.

“Look, I went into your profile. No point pretending I didn’t. But it’s Brent I’m interested in, not you.”

“You’re gay?”

I laugh. “If I were, he’d be my last choice. Come on.” Pointing to my car, I reach for her hand. “Let’s sit and talk.”

“Are you kidding me?” She tucks her hand behind her back. “No way. Pervert. We can sit in my car. I don’t care how nice yours is.”

“Okay.” Can’t argue with that. Smart girl.

She stomps toward a maroon minivan at the end of the parking lot. Small patches of rust rim the bottom edges. She slides open the rear door.

“You can sit there.” She points toward an area next to a booster seat that’s strewn with LEGO bricks. “And I’ll sit in the driver’s seat and decide whether I want to drive you straight to the police for being a massive fucking creep.”

“Yes, mom,” I tease. Clicking two bricks together, I watch her walk around to the front of the vehicle. I hate to burst this single mother’s fantasy, but I have to tell her the truth.

Once she’s settled, I wait until she’s looking at me, then casually add a few more bricks to my design.

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