The thought of Pam causes a swell of emotion to settle over me. I miss her terribly. For over three years she stepped in as my second mom. She allowed me to live with her while I attended NYU and did all the things a mother would do for her college-aged daughter. She cooked for me, helped me study, and made sure I had everything I needed.
I hate that I had to leave her the way I did, even though she was the one who encouraged me to go. She is the only person on this planet that knows what happened with Drew. She witnessed first-hand how quickly things spiraled out of control. Even with me keeping some of the worst details a secret from her, she was scared of what might happen if I stayed in New York.
I jump slightly when a voice sounds next me. Looking to my right, I see an impatient looking waitress who has a drink extended in my direction. I can only guess, based on the way she’s looking at me, that she’s been standing here longer than she’d like.
“Sorry.” I shake off the fog that seems to have settled over me and reach for the glass.
It isn’t until the waitress spins on her heel and walks away that I catch sight of Paxton not five feet in front of me. He tilts his head slightly and gives me half smile before closing the distance between us.
“So this is why you’re avoiding my calls.” He says, sliding down onto the stool to my left.
“I’m not avoiding your calls.” I hand him my drink before grabbing the clutch purse in my lap. Pulling out my phone, I see that I have three missed calls, all from Paxton.
“Uh huh.” He chuckles, taking a drink out of my glass before crinkling his nose in disgust. “What the hell is this?”
“Dirty Martini.” I snag the drink out of his hand after dropping my phone back into the purse. “And I wasn’t avoiding your calls, my phone is on silent.” I add.
“Likely story.” He smiles, leaning forward to grab his wallet out of the back pocket of his jeans.
Pulling out a hundred dollar bill, he slips it into the machine and spins the reels before looking back to where I’m still staring curiously at him.
“What?” He laughs, shaking his head.
“What are you doing?”
The alcohol in my veins makes me brave. I like being brave.
“I thought that was obvious.” He gestures to the slot machine in front of him.
“No, I mean, what are you really doing?” I narrow my gaze at him.
“Why don’t you tell me, since you seem to be the one who’s convinced I’m up to something?”
I open my mouth to respond but then snap it closed when the same waitress reappears behind us, extending a beer to Paxton. I glance back to see that the sour face she wore when serving me has now been replaced by a wide smile and sultry voice.
“Anything else I can get for you?” She purrs, her hand lingering on his as she hands him the bottle.
“I’m good thanks.”
He smiles and I can literally see her knees shake.
Good to know I’m not the only one I guess. I shake my head as the now flustered waitress blushes and stumbles slightly as she turns and quickly walks away.
“Wow.” I shake my head, turning back towards my machine.
“Wow, what?” The cocky smile on his face tells me he knows exactly where my mind is.
“Don’t play stupid with me. That waitress practically had drool dripping off her chin.”
“She did not.” He lets out a full belly laugh, the sound so incredible it nearly makes me forget what we’re even talking about.
“Are you kidding me?” I throw my hands up playfully.
“Well shit, maybe I should find out what time she gets off.” He looks behind him before playfully meeting my gaze.
“Ha. Ha.” I dead pan.
“Is someone jealous?” He reaches over, squeezing just above my knee which causes me to jump slightly.
“No.” I turn up my nose and hit the reel on my slot machine, acting completely unaffected.
“Good.” I feel his breath hot on the side of my face as he leans into me, his grip tightening on my leg. “Because there is only one woman in this room I want in my bed, and she’s sitting right next to me.”
Chapter Seven
Paxton
Charlie’s cheeks heat crimson as my words sink in. I watch as her eyes widen and her mouth parts slightly, a soft exhale escaping her lips.
I lean closer, reaching out to turn her face toward mine.
“Let’s get out of here.”
She doesn’t speak, only nods and follows my lead as I cash out my machine and stand, extending my hand to her. Taking it, she walks in silence next to me as we weave in and out of the crowded casino.
We reach the elevators within minutes. I can feel the nervous energy radiating off of her when she steps past me and I can’t help but smile to myself. Squeezing her hand that is still wrapped in mine, the elevator car jerks and then starts to climb.
“Are you sure about this?” Charlie finally speaks just seconds after we exit the elevator and come to a stop in front of the door to my hotel room.
“Are you?” I question playfully, giving her a wink before pushing my way into the room, holding the door open for her.
She hesitates for only a fraction of a second before stepping over the threshold and into the room. I let the door close directly behind her, the echo of it snapping shut filling the thick silence of the room.
Charlie takes a few steps into the room, stopping about half way through, just feet from the bed. Her back is to me but I can tell she’s breathing rapidly. Her shoulders rise and fall with each quick breath she takes.
I let my eyes travel down her bare back; her low cut black dress swooping to just above the top of her ass. Before I even realize what I’m doing, I’m moving toward her. Slowly. One step, then another, until I’m standing directly behind her.
I gently rest my hands on her shoulders before slowly trailing them down her arms, feeling her skin prickle to life under my touch. I can already feel myself straining against the seam of my jeans. I want her so badly it’s fucking painful.
“Paxton.” She whispers.
“Don’t.” I press my lips to the back of her neck before reaching up and pulling the clip from her hair, watching the thick dark strands fall across her back seconds later.
Trailing my hands back up to her shoulders, I gently tug, spinning her toward me. The moment her eyes meet mine, my control slips. I want to be slow, gentle, show her that I’m not just after one thing, but my hunger for her is too great.
My mouth crashes down on top of hers and in an instant the whole room shifts. The two unsure, hesitant people from moments ago morph into a chaos of clattering teeth, twisted tongues, and hands that can’t get clothes off fast enough.
I rip at her dress, not caring if I tear the thin material in my pursuit to strip her bare. I just need to see her, to feel her, to own her. She breaks away from my mouth just long enough to pull my shirt over my head before she is pulling me back to her, begging for me not to stop.
I am so lost, hopeless, completely fucking twisted up in this beautiful fucking girl that nothing, and I mean nothing, is going to stop me from making her mine.
She cries out in surprise when I lift her into the air and deposit her onto the mattress, her body landing with a light swoosh as nearly every inch of her is revealed to me. Her perky tits call out, begging for my mouth and I’m all too happy to oblige.