Jonesin' For Action(13)
His cock cried out in desperation to be let loose to play. Later, he told it and went to do as bidden.
Chapter Four
Aidan sat awestruck as he watched Marissa and her fellow bartender, Will, dazzle the crowd with their synchronized moves. He had seen bartenders do this kind of thing before, but this was the first time he’d taken the time to really appreciate the intricate moves. It was juggling when all was said and done, and his lady had flair to spare. She smiled broadly as she twirled and tossed bottles and shakers, swizzle sticks and fruit pieces. She laughed, too, showing how happy she truly was performing. Wow, how had he lucked out, finding—being picked up by really—such a smart, sexy, talented woman? Sitting at the bar, nursing his own beer, he could watch her all night.
When she took a break to cheers and applause, she sauntered over to him and rested her arms across the bar. “How’s it going?”
“You were fantastic. Seriously,” he emphasized when she shrugged the compliment off. “Where did you learn it?”
“At bartender’s school. It helps to have extra skills when competing for jobs down here. It allows me to command a higher salary actually, which helps pay the bills. How’s your burger?”
“Great. I’m eating slowly to justify my taking up a seat all night. I’ll order more beer and food in a little while.”
“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m shift manager, so it’s my call having you stay. I like it,” she confessed with a shy grin.
He leaned in and said in a low voice, “I guess I can always make it up to you later.”
“Hmm, sounds interesting.”
“Watch it, asshole!”
They both looked over at the scene unfolding a few feet from where Aidan sat. A middle-aged guy faced a younger man whose beer had obviously spilled down his shirt.
“Sorry, buddy, but you’re taking up too much of the bar. I want to order a drink. You were in my way.”
“Fuck you. I paid for my drink. I have a right to take up whatever room I want. And now you owe me another beer.”
“Fuck you!”
The younger man shoved the older one, causing more of his own beer to spill.
“Uh, oh. Time for the shift manager to bring the peace,” Marissa said with a loud sigh. She headed for the end of the bar to come around front.
“Hey, watch out. Don’t get between those two,” Aidan warned.
Paying no attention to him, she stalked up to the two men who were squaring off. “Okay boys, no fighting in my bar. Break it up or take it outside.”
The words had barely left her mouth when the younger man threw what was left of his beer in the other guy’s face before slamming the mug down on the bar and throwing a punch.
“Hey!” Marissa yelled.
Aidan dropped off the stool, ignored the pain, and hurried over to the confrontation. Fear gave him speed. He wasn’t fast enough, though, and saw red when the belligerent younger man dared to shove Marissa when she whipped her body in front of him. Aidan roared and launched himself at the other guy. As Marissa steadied herself, he grabbed the guy’s arm and twisted it. At the same time, he kicked the back of the asshole’s knee. He followed the momentum of the guy’s fall in order to hold him down by gripping him by the back of his neck and holding his arm up high behind him. The guy howled in anger.
Ignoring his prisoner, Aidan snapped his head around to find Marissa. He saw her standing only a few feet away, staring at him wide-eyed. “Are you okay?” he demanded.
“I’m fine. Is he okay?”
“I haven’t broken anything, yet,” he growled back. He emphasized how quickly that could change by twisting the man’s arm a little harder.
“Okay.” She looked around the bar. Everyone was staring at the spontaneous entertainment. “I guess I should call the cops.”
“Already did,” Will called out.
“Good.” She nodded and then caught sight of the other man who was still lying on the floor where the punch had landed him. She walked closer to him and looking down, asked, “Are you all right, sir?”
There was no answer, just a lot of wheezing, his hand clutched to his chest. Then there was nothing. He stopped making any sound, his eyes closed and he was perfectly still. “Shit!” Aidan said. “I think he’s gone into cardiac arrest.”
“What? No, no.” Marissa dropped down on her knees and gently shook the man. “Sir, sir, can you hear me?”
Aidan cursed. No one was doing a damn thing. Everyone was still just standing and watching. “He needs CPR and I can’t do it because I can’t let this idiot go.” The moron was still cursing and struggling, threatening to tear Aidan apart.