“I don’t think I like you very much.”
Smirking, I bring my mug to my lips, downing the piping hot drink in four big gulps. The liquid singes my tongue, the mint cooling my teeth, and I set it back on the counter with a loud clank.
“Join the club.” Sliding from the stool, I stuff the rest of the bagel in my mouth and pull out my wallet, throwing a couple hundreds on the counter before swiping the notebook and heading out.
“People who tip this much are overcompensating for something,” Jade calls, and I just laugh, waving at her over my shoulder.
The bell chimes as I walk through the front door, chewing slowly. Leaning against the building, I survey the empty streets, tucking the book beneath my armpit.
Headlights flash, blinding me as they cross over to the parking lot. I slip behind a stone pillar a few feet away, slinking to the shadows just in case. There’s never any telling who is going to recognize you in public; even the biggest names can sometimes walk around undetected, depending on where they’re at.
My encounter the other day, though, with Dahlia, makes me nervous about who else in town knew me as more than “Angel’s” boy toy.
Fire scorches down my sternum at the thought of her having any others in the time between when she was still dead to the world, and when I found her.
Guess that’s the kind of thing you’d ask someone before sticking your dick in them.
Snow begins drifting from the night sky; it’s been flurrying on and off for days now, making the sidewalks slushy. The ones on the boardwalk are freshly salted, possibly because this is the most visited part of town in the winter, so when I shuffle back, I don’t have to pay very much attention to where I’m stepping.
I still do, though; caution is a habit at this point.
Two figures exit the vehicle, their silhouettes starting up the road toward the diner. Their voices float to me, but it’s not until they’re bathed in the neon glow that I notice it’s Caleb and Riley; they walk with their arms intertwined and heads huddled together, looking more like lovers than anything else.
If you didn’t know any better.
My teeth grind together, and I step back slowly, ensuring that I’m totally enshrouded in darkness as they stop in front of the building.
“You’re sure you’re okay?” Caleb asks, reaching with his free hand to brush a strand of hair from her face.
I don’t miss the way she flinches, ever so slightly, a crooked smile forming on her lips.
“I promise, I’m fine. I’m really sorry I couldn’t stay, but unfortunately, being a girl waits for no one.”
Caleb sighs, shaking his head as he steps back. “You could’ve stayed at the house. My mother would’ve been glad to get you some shit to make you feel better.”
“I appreciate that, but I think I’ll feel better in my own bed.”
“God, I just fucking hate the idea of you going home in a cab. It’s supposed to start snowing harder really soon, and the roads are already terrible as it is.”
Tipping her head back, Riley laughs. The sound rankles me, reminding me of the night in New York City and how badly I wanted to believe it was something she didn’t do often.
That she’d given me a piece of herself no one else got.
Crushing my notebook to my side, I ignore the anger, letting it simmer in my soul.
“Your cabbies probably drive better in the snow than I do,” she tells him.
“Fair point.” Still, he rocks back on his heels, lingering. “And you’re sure you’re okay to wait here by yourself?”
“Positive. Jade’s inside, anyway, if I need something.” Reaching out, she pushes her palms against his chest. “Go, dude. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Hesitating another moment, Caleb finally takes a step back, shaking his head. He pulls a hat from his coat pocket, tugging it over his hair, and then turns and jogs in the direction he just came.
Neither one of us moves, watching as he climbs into his Jeep, honks twice, and then peels away.
I’m just about to step out and reveal myself when she swivels in my direction, placing her hands on her hips.
“You can come out.”
For a second, I stay hidden, not sure that I like how accustomed to my presence she’s becoming. If we eliminate the element of fear, then what the fuck is the purpose of all of this?
Still, I can’t resist putting myself in her personal space, so I move out from the pillar and prop my shoulder against it.
“You’re terrible at this,” she says, taking a single step closer.
“Oh? Are you well-versed in the art of stalking, Ms. Kelly?”
“I shouldn’t dignify that with a response,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest. “But, for the record, I was the president of your biggest online fan club for two full years before…”
She trails off, casting her eyes to the ground. Her boot kicks at the snow, and she clears her throat.
“Well, regardless, I was the one running it for two years. I tracked down your specific GPS coordinates when you were on tour, down to the hotel room you were staying in. I cataloged what your favorite drinks were in each individual city, so I could arrange to have gift baskets sent to your room before each show.”
Riley exhales, her breath clouding visibly in the chilly air.
“One time, I even thwarted an attempted crazed fan from breaking into your tour bus, just because I happened to know where it was sitting during your Super Bowl halftime show, and some of the girls in the fan club let me know what was being planned.”
Jesus. The girl is a former superfan, and I didn’t even know.
My stomach churns. “I feel violated.”
A grin spreads over her face, a look of rare pride overtaking her features. “Did all of that from the comfort of my home, too. Pays to have a big brother with a wealth of technology at his fingertips.”
“Oh, are we gonna talk about him now?”
Something dark passes over her. It wipes the grin clean off.
“No.” She flips her hair off her shoulder. “I’m just saying, your stalking skills are very amateurish. I always know when you’re around.”
“And yet…” Trailing off, I move in, not stopping until I’m standing right in front of her. Close enough to see the dark blues in her eyes, like frozen tundras waiting to be scoped out. Full of depth and secrets. “You always seem nervous. Like you’re not expecting me.”
She swallows audibly. “I don’t know what you want with me. One second, you’re telling me how much you want me to suffer, and the next, you’re…”
“Making you come?”
Her cheeks darken. “Yeah, that.”
“That.” Another step, so our shoes are touching. “Does sex make you uncomfortable, Riley?”
“You make me uncomfortable.”
“Now that can’t be true. You wouldn’t have come on my fingers… or my tongue… if I made you uncomfortable.”
“Maybe I’m one of those people who likes pain.”
I hum, my free hand coming up to wrap around her throat. Squeezing slightly, just enough to rob her of easy access to air, I arch a brow. “Would you like to find out?”
Her throat ripples beneath my hold, and I imagine it doing the same when she’s swallowing my cum, gagging on me.