"What can I get for you, sir?" Her shy smile sent a bolt of sunshine through his evening and straight to his groin.
He could not contain the grin that spread across his face. He gave his usual reply. "I will have the Blue Plate Special."
She didn't bother to note it on her order pad. "And to drink?"
He always made her ask, just so he could hear her speak a few more words. "Is the sweet tea good today?"
Her succulent mouth curved in a slight smile, as if she knew what he was doing and didn't mind terribly. "It's perfect. And we have some fresh mint leaves for it today. You want some with yours?" Such a long speech from Miya was a veritable feast.
Lesedi fought the urge to adjust his cock as it twitched against the confinement of his pants. "Mint? I have never tried it with tea, sweet or otherwise." He had to settle for stretching one leg out before him to create a bit of space in his jeans.
A genuine smile graced her lips, giving a glimpse of perfect white teeth. "You have to try it. We don't have it often. It was my idea but Mac thinks it's too citified."
Beautiful did not begin to do her justice. Lesedi stared, speechless and transfixed with the graceful sway of her body as she turned back toward the kitchen. He was still watching her when she glanced back over her shoulder toward him and ducked into the kitchen. Did that little smile still curve her lips?
Miya delivered his dinner as a laughing young couple came in, arm in arm. What did couples do in such a little town? No museums or galleries, no orchestra or theater, not even one of the ubiquitous American malls. Would Miya do something with him if he asked? Did he dare?
What the hell was he thinking? Whiling away empty hours dreaming over a white girl, probably a married white girl, was totally unlike him. For a man who never gave a second thought to female companions, beyond ensuring they enjoyed themselves, his recent thoughts were trouble waiting to happen. Perhaps it was the wretched boredom that the town's theme invoked. Mind numbing.
He resolutely pushed Miya's smile from his mind and took a bite of his meatloaf.
****
Kassie sobbed in the darkness, trying to gather her wits. No wonder the person in the next cell had begun to wail when that thunder sound started. It signaled a visit from a lifetime worth of nightmares all at once.
Drawing herself together with sheer willpower, she forced herself to focus. She couldn't break now, not now. She worked her way to a sitting position, stifling whimpers. It was just sex for crying out loud, and not like she hadn't done a whore's duty before. She had thought sure she'd be able to pull it off without a hitch but then they hurt her. A lot. These men apparently didn't like anyone to cooperate. She tried. They hurt her anyway. They seemed to get off on her pain and tears. But she'd managed to not scream. Barely.
Kassie's body throbbed with what they'd done to her. They hadn't hit her in the face, but that was the only mercy they'd shown. Odd. Maybe their boss didn't like damaged goods.
"Y-you o-o-kay ma'am?"
Oh God, the boy. She'd tried her best to be quiet so he wouldn't have to hear what they were doing. Judging by the sob that followed his question, she was pretty sure she hadn't done a very good job. "Oh, I'm alright sweetie."
"I told you they'd come, I told you."
It was the same voice from earlier, and she still couldn't make out for sure whether it was male or female, and no longer cared. Frantic and terrified was the only thing Kassie recognized. She felt the same thing through and through her mind and body. Tears stung her eyes and poured down her cheeks. She covered her mouth with a hand to hold the screams in. All the ones she'd stifled during the brutal rape clawed at her insides to be released. Like if she didn't, the nightmare would be sealed forever in her bones, blood, and mind. Oh God.
The boy kept his cries down to strained sobs, expressing his worry of being heard. "I'm scared, I'm scared, I'm scared," he whispered before his voice broke on a gag.
Kassie's heart clamped in her chest before she hissed with determination, "You stop it! This instant!"
Scolding helped some children regain control but the boy only cried more and Kassie bit her lower lip and put her head against the wall.
A cool draft tickled her face and she gasped, her eyes popping open. A hand clamped over her mouth, stifling her scream. Not again, God, please, not again! Her body went rigid with terror, leaving her paralyzed and unable to fight.
"Shh. You have to be quiet for me. Can you do that sweetheart?" Solid warmth surrounded her, drew her close.
Trembling uncontrollably, she stared frantically into the most beautiful pale-colored eyes. His velvety voice immediately soothed her, evaporating the terror and dissolving her pain. She suddenly found herself focused enough to figure out his proper English accent. Her thoughts cleared, allowing her to absorb the importance of his arrival. Though it was dark, she could see his face, smooth and…holy Montana mud pies, beautiful.