Degradation(48)

"But it's the wrong number," he informed her. She turned back, sauntered up and leaned against her side of the bar.

"And what number should I be wearing?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow up.

"Mine," he replied.

"Ooohhh, and how would I go about getting one of your jerseys?" she asked, lowering her voice.

"You could have it tomorrow, when you wake up wearing it," he suggested. She laughed.

"Sounds like a plan."

They chatted on and off for a while. He was actually pretty funny, and  very nice. He left after about two hours, but came back when the bar was  closing. She chased everyone out, locked up. Didn't even ask to go back  to his fancy hotel room, or penthouse condo, or whatever. Just  straddled him right on his bar stool. Gave him a lap dance. Let him  carry her to a booth and spread her out on the table, like she was  Sunday dinner.         

     



 

It wasn't the most exciting sex she'd ever had, but it wasn't bad,  either. He was different than what she'd been dining on lately, and that  made it fun. He was more than capable and she really put on a show for  him, coming loudly and hard. Then she backed him in to a chair, sat down  on him, made him say her name like it was a swear. Slid under the  table, wrapped her lips around him, and made him whisper her name like  it was prayer.

I still got it.

Afterwards, he asked for her phone number. She laughed and said she  didn't really plan on seeing him again. He shrugged and gave her his  phone number, and then really did give her a jersey. She thought it was  cute and put it on, gave him a lingering kiss goodbye at the door.

"You're a pretty amazing girl," he mumbled, clasping his hands around the back of her neck. She laughed.

"No, just a huge Sox fan," she teased. He rolled his eyes.

"You didn't even know any of my stats, or what my number was," he pointed out.

"Well, I'm a huge fan now. And I will definitely remember your number," she assured him.

"Most girls want to give me their phone numbers, you know. I usually  have trouble getting away. You seem like you're pushing me out the  door," he told her with a laugh.

"I guess tonight's your lucky night. No strings attached, one night  only, totally awesome sex," she said, laughing as well. He raised an  eyebrow.

"One night only, huh. So if I come back, I won't get a repeat?" he asked.

Now that was surprising. This guy really seemed to like her. She didn't  know why. She was a succubus. Couldn't he tell when he was being used?  That they were using each other? But as she let her eyes wander over  him, she bit in to her bottom lip. He was very good looking, and it  hadn't been a bad time at all. He was very nice to her. She wondered if  he'd ever call her a waste of time.

"Not an exact repeat," she started, pressing herself against him as her  voice fell in to a breathy whisper. "I like to change things up, keep  things exciting. There's a pool table in the back that is just the right  height for -,"

He pushed back in to the bar and it was another hour before they said goodbye for real.



*



She could have gone to her apartment, but she took a cab to Jameson's.  She wanted to get it over with, end her suspense. Confess to her sins.  Find out if they even really were sins. It was after four-thirty in the  morning, and she didn't expect anyone to be awake, but as the taxi  rolled up to the porch, Sanders came outside.

"I can get it, Sandy," Tate assured him, hurrying to dig money out of  her bag. But he already had bills in his hand and she hadn't even fished  out one twenty dollar bill before the cab was rolling away. Sanders  turned towards her.

"I was worried," he said very simply. She blinked in surprise.

"Really? I'm sorry. I should have called," she replied quickly. She  never wanted to hurt Sanders. Jameson was fair game, but Sanders was  special.

"May I ask where you were?" he questioned. She turned and started making her way in to the house.

"At the bar, I got stuck behind," she gave an evasive answer.

"A call would have been appreciated, ma'am," he said in a terse voice, holding open the door for her.

"I'm really sorry. I will call you next time, I promise," she assured him, leaning against him as she pulled off her boots.

"He's in the kitchen," Sanders informed her. She stood upright.

"Really? You've both just been awake?" she asked.

"I waited up for you," Sanders replied. She smiled.

"Ah, and he didn't," she finished his statement.

"He has been ..., concerned," was all Sanders would say.

Oooohhh, translation: pissed off.

As Sanders headed upstairs, Tate made her way in to the kitchen. Jameson  was sitting at the island, a coffee mug in front of him. He glanced up  at her entrance but didn't say anything, just went back to looking at  his phone. She looked around the kitchen. A bunch of dishes and cups and  bowls were stacked up next to the sink, sparkling clean. She frowned.

"Have you been cleaning!?" she exclaimed. There was a dishwasher that  she and Sanders usually took turns working. Jameson never touched  anything.

"Yes," he replied.

"You cleaned them all, by hand!? I've never seen you wash anything," she  laughed, heading over to look at them. All white, porcelain dishes, so  clean, they looked polished.

"It calms me down. Where have you been?" Jameson asked, and she turned around to see him setting his phone down.

"At the bar," she replied, grabbing a mug and filling it with water.

"A call would have been nice."
         

     



 
Tate was surprised.

"Aw, Kane, I didn't know you cared," she teased.

"Fuck you, O'Shea," he said back. "Now. The truth, please. Why are you late?"

"I was fucking the first baseman for the Boston Red Sox," she told him bluntly. His eyebrows shot up.

"Really. Wasn't expecting that," his voice was soft.

"Does that bother you?" she asked. He shrugged.

"Hmmm, not sure. Have you ever slept with him before?" Jameson  questioned, standing up and leaning against the fridge behind him.

"Never met him before tonight," she answered, sipping at her water.

"I see. Must have left quite a mark on him  –  that's his jersey, I  presume?" Jameson asked, his eyes wandering over her clothing. She  nodded.

"Yes. He gave me his phone number, too," she told him.

"Are you going to call him?" Jameson continued. Tate smiled. He was  cool, calm, and collected  –  but she could tell, he was actually a little  nervous. Deep down.

Good.

"I told him I probably wouldn't. I don't plan on it," she replied. Jameson nodded.

"Good."

Tate laughed.

"You fuck other girls all the time. You came home the other day from  Miami, with that crazy story about that ribbon dancer," she pointed out.

"You love hearing those stories," he reminded her. She nodded.

"Yeah, but I was under the impression I was allowed to do the same," she said. He nodded as well.

"And so you are. So how was he? I want to hear all the details. Better  than me?" Jameson asked, folding his arms across his chest. She shook  her head.

"I don't want to talk about it right now."

"Well, I want to know about it right now, so -,"

"I want to know about Petrushka Ivanovic," Tate stated. Blunt was apparently the soup du jour that night.

There was a violent kind of silence. The rage that washed over his face;  she was almost a little scared. Definitely a little turned on. Nick had  been a lovely appetizer, but she wanted dinner now. She wondered if  Jameson could get mad enough to actually be turned off.

"How the fuck do you know about her?" he demanded.

"Google is an amazing tool."

"You Googled me!?"

"Ang did."

"Fucker."

"I would have found out sooner or later, Jameson," she pointed out. "You  were with her yesterday. People take your picture. Did you know there's  even a picture of us online?"

He looked surprised.

"No. Where, when?" he asked.

"Don't worry, no one can tell you're with a whore," she assured him. He frowned.

"I wouldn't care if they did. So that's why you slept with the baseball  player? Because you saw pictures of me with Pet?" Jameson asked. She  glared at him.

Pet. Of course that's her nickname. Goddammit.

"No, I fucked him because he was hot and he was there, same reason I fuck anybody," she snapped. Jameson laughed.

"Liar. You're very angry, baby girl. Tonight should be extra fun," he chuckled. Her anger went through the roof.

"Tonight should be extra boring. I'm all full up on good times," she told him. He laughed.

"A baseball player couldn't possibly satisfy you," he said.

"Funny, cause I feel that same way about 'financiers'," she snapped back.

"Watch your mouth, baby girl," Jameson's voice was like ice.

"It said you were engaged," she blurted out. More silence.