"Doesn't matter, I'm out," I start for the door as Stan tells Tommy that I better come back here. I can't get out of the place fast enough, and end up with five pitchers of beer drenched down my chest as I run into a bartender …
~~~
Needless to say, the double date was a disaster. The next day at Urban Gardens, it takes some divine intervention for me to listen to Mr. Able's latest love story with his wife.
Aliyah has this sorry look on her face. I just want to go home and crawl under my bed. Yeah, I said it. Not just underneath the covers, but physically get down on all fours, push away the dusty cobwebs and be gone till next November. My day can't get any worse, until I feel Victor's presence. Handing back an Italian customer's his credit card, I allow the mobster to flirt with me, even though he's buying pink roses for his girlfriend.
Victor has toned down his appearance. He's wearing a distressed, dark jean, a polo that allows my eyes to take in each and every ropey aspect of his biceps. He's wearing sunglasses so that is my saving grace from being caught in his selfish spell.
A self-assessment makes me wish I hadn't worn this tweed dress that stops at mid-thigh. My night was awful, so I put on a fair amount of lip-gloss. Damn, I should've put on a little eye shadow or at least some tinted gloss. Wait a minute, what do I care? It's been a few minutes and Victor hasn't even said hello.
He doesn't come straight to me, but then walks to a different set of flowers, and picks one here and there. I roll my eyes, stepping outside and greeting another customer who's looking at lilies on the sidewalk. Aliyah can handle that bastard inside. Every once in a while, I peep inside just to see what he's doing, even as I tell myself that I don't give a damn.
Aliyah is helping an older woman with a bouquet of get-well flowers. Victor is still thoughtfully putting together bright colored flowers, roses, and my favorite Gerbera daisies. Oh God, how I love tulips. Wow, the white tulips provide the eclectic bright bunch of flowers with sophistication. My mind runs away with how much Victor consumes me and I almost shake my head. Maybe the physical act will remove him from my mind. Nope. I continue to glance and tell myself that I don't – shouldn't – care.
"Hey, Trina, how can I help you?" I ask my neighbor from down the street as she approaches me.
Trina has dressed up since our Zumba class. Instead of her dreads being in a haphazard ponytail, she has cucu shells strategically placed at her neck and ears. She's even dressed for black Wall Street.
"Hey, Lux. I need just a few flowers for a party I'm having tonight," she says in her beautiful Jamaican accent. Finally, I lose myself in chatting with her about a new curry style, until we finish going over a blue business party scheme. While gathering hydrangeas, I peep inside since Aliyah is busting up laughing. My heart lurches as he tells her something funny.
Dang, why did he have to ruin it with us? If it weren't for the club scene, hell, I would just about beg Victor to come see me.
Trina asks a question.
"Umm … " I begin, but now she's looking inside of the store also.
"Damn, he is … wow … " Trina can hardly even speak. "Let me get a few of those uhhh … ribbons in the pink, I mean the red … bluuuuuue color?" She forgets the flower scheme that she wanted, and I jog my memory for what she had said a mere minute ago.
I'm putting her cash payment in my apron when Victor steps out with the large display of flowers.
"For the beautiful Lux," he says.
I look Victor up and down in all his sexiness and roll my eyes. "Why would I want flowers from my own shop?" Like I've said from the beginning, never got flowers before, but I won't waste my first time receiving them from this jerk.
Victor gives this I can do what I want to do look.
"You are arrogant," I smirk.
"You are coming with me to dinner."
"No," I snap, doing the snippy talking that he's taught me.
"Lunch, then." Not even waiting for my reply, Victor turns back into the doorway. "Hey, Aliyah, remember that chat we had. Keep the store ‘on lock'," he says. I can just about imagine how she taught him to keep me ‘lock down' during their talk; he finishes, "while I take your beautiful friend to lunch."
With a quick one-two step, I'm away from Victor's forceful touch. He takes off his sunglasses, "Lux, allow me the chance to explain."
I can feel him searching my face, but my eyes rivet every other direction but into those endless aqua blues of his.
I snatch the flowers. "Okay."
"Thank you." Victor's hand takes to the small of my back, and I instinctively remember sex with him. My brain is conjuring up a lie, some form of self-preservation. A way to get out of going to lunch with him, but I consider that it's a lunch hour. There's nothing he can do to me out in the open, with the crowd of people. I set my flowers besides the cash register in the store.
"I got this," Aliyah tells me, pulling out a vase. She winks.
"Um hummm." I turn away as she chuckles.
With the simple act of Victor holding my hand as we walk down the street, my irritation slowly begins to fade.
The Italian Bistro is scented with and array of garlic, seasonings, and tomato sauce that seems to have been cooking for ages. The dim lights have my psyche on alert mode. I can't help but wonder if this cunning man had previously scoped out this place as a potential prospect. It's a lazy, dreary afternoon. The red-and-white stripped walls are cliché; romance lingers. The host seats us at a leather, U-shaped booth. Victor slides in next to me. His arm slips around my shoulders. I try to wiggle away. I snap, "Despite the fact that I can barely see, don't get fresh or I'm out."
"Promise." Victor crosses his fingers, all the while licking his lips. The liar. Then his hand again starts to rub the nape of my neck.
"Hey," I snap.
"You look tense, Luxury."
"Vic, I already told you that … " My voice mellows out as his fingers really get the crick in my neck. Then Victor stops and I whimper. His hands slide to my shoulder, massaging more. His sneaky hands disappears into the collar of my shirt and hefts my breast. His calloused fingertips flick at my hardened nipple. He squeezes, sending pulsations down into my love box.
God, I don't recall being so easy!
Victor stops, but then his large hand claim to my left thigh underneath the table as the waitress heads over.
"What can I get the both of you to drink?" she asks.
"Aaaa … " I begin as Victor's fingers skim up the soft, taut skin of my inner thigh. He sort of gives my thigh a few slaps, so I narrow my eyes and open a little wider for this self-centered prick. All the while the redhead waits to take my drink order.
"What is that sweetie?" Victor asks me. "I know you like to order for yourself." Victor smiles as his fingers dip inside my purple Victoria Secret panties. He coils my silk curls. My legs, unfortunately, can do no less than divide, allowing one of his thick fingers access to slide inside.
My eyes roll back momentarily. Thank God, it's dark. "I www … would liiike … " Oh god, I can't speak.
"Beer import," Victor says for himself. His hand slips from my pants. He taps that sneaky finger against his lips; I'm too embarrassed to speak. "Let's see, Lux would like the Peach tea." He bites his finger, mulling over.
The waitress gives us an odd look and whisks away.
"She knows," my head burrows against his thick arm.
"Ask me do I care." His finger is now wetter from having been in his mouth. He goes back between my thighs, leaning into me. "Luxury, we need to have a talk."
"Wh … what … Nnno we don't. You said you were going to explain the club scene." I sigh once again, arching my back so his two fingers can go deeper. Oh, I need his dick right this very moment. "Please … "
"Please what?" he asks, knowing he holds all the cards.
"Fuck me or leave me the fuck alone, Victor," I snap in a hard whisper.
"Fuck you? Of course. But now for this chat." Victor kisses my lips and continues to stroke my kitty nice and slowly.
"Stop playing me," I moan against his neck as my first orgasm begins to rise. "You d … don't really even … ta … talk to me," I begin in a ridiculous stutter. "You listen well, but you d … .don't talk." I quickly get the words out. "Only make demands."
"Yes, demands." He removes his hand from my panties again and begins to lick his fingers one at a time. "Damn, Lux, you taste so fucking good. But, today I feel like talking, are you ready to oblige?"
I shove at Victor so he can move. The burly beast doesn't even budge. For the moment, I'm stronger than I've ever been. However, I won't go into the fact that I had already nutted, so that might be the reason. I'm placated enough, but still stubborn. Resisting Victor for all but two seconds, I feel like breaking free and telling him to go fuck himself. Yeah, that's exactly what I do. Hell, I even grab a fork for emphasis. "Move out of my way, Victor. I don't want to see you again. Nor will I have sex with you never ever again. Got that, asshole?"