Chapter Five

DRAVEN

I scramble toward the other side of the hall so that it will look as if I am coming back from the restroom. Walking back toward the bar I am met with Bart’s sad, heavy eyes.

In an attempt to pretend I have no idea what is going on, I smile as brightly as my disappointed heart will allow. “What’s wrong boss?”

“Um, Draven – I have to-” he cuts off as someone approaches from behind me.

Gee lemme guess who it is. Eyeroll.

I could be deaf and blind, and I would still know who stood behind me. His heat is pressing against my back again and the hairs on my neck are standing at attention.

If I lean back, just a bit… my ass will push right against his…

No Draven no!

“Bartlett has to renovate the upstairs apartment – so you’ll have to stay somewhere else until it’s complete,” Domonic’s low voice interrupts.

What’s this now?

“Somewhere else?” My questioning eyes meet Bart’s and he shrugs. “Where else?”

Knowing what I do – which is that Domonic is lying – sparks an anger in me and I spin on him with a glare.

He is smirking, that sweet dimple winking enough to make my panties damp. “I can set you up in a place, a small condo at the top of the hill.”

“No thanks. I can’t afford it,” I say evenly, pushing my back against the counter to create distance between us. He is much too close. The mouthwatering smell of him is making me dizzy.

“You can afford it.” His jaw tightens and he glares down at me. “You won’t have to pay rent, because I own it.”

My eyes narrow and I tilt my head at him reproachfully.

I can’t let him know that I was listening to their conversation.

“I don’t want anything from you,” I growl.

He hisses, a muscle in his jaw ticking. Placing his hands on the bar on both sides of me, he cages me in yet again. Pushing in closer, so that we are a mere ifew inches away from each other, he replies, “Then you’ll stay with me. At my house.”

I hear Bart drop a glass behind the bar and curse.

I scoff, “With you? At your house?” Well if that didn’t spark a fit of giggles.”I’d rather sleep on the bar or at the train station,” I retort. “No thanks.”

forward and I freeze. His nose shifts into the long back tendrils of my hair, and his lips barely graze my cheek on their way to my ear. I have to force myself to stand my ground although my instincts have me reeling backward. His breath warms my

of his aftershave filtering through my senses and causing me to tremble within. I can feel his arms closing in on each side of my

catch in my throat as I feel the soft brush

the fuck is he

whispers gently, “Please. Just until we can

he meets my eyes drectly, nodding at me while

at him, and he smirks, crossing his

did all that shit on purpose. He was

He must have seen me hiding back there. That’s why he stopped in the

him in the chest sharply. “But I get to keep

and back toward where Bart stands on the other side of the counter. “That’s not necessary,

– this asshole really is something else. “It is necessary because

back for what?” A thick velvety voice sounds from Domonic’s side

I first thought. Her face is coated in an inch of make-up and her eyes are too close together, strangling the bridge of her pointy little nose. She does have nice tits though. The bitch. But one glance

mine and she snarls,

She’s taller than me.

I can

and bright, then turn my attention back to Domonic. “Can you walk your skank back to

“Skank?!” She fumes.

me, his laughter adding another measure of joy

this is none of your business. Go and get in the car. We’re leaving.” Domonic

Margo huh? Bleh. Boring,,,

way toward the door. She is sure to send me one more bitch face before her

Cunt.

temple. “As I was saying, you won’t be

one finger under my chin as if I were deep in thought. “Well, then no deal. Because I like this job

so you know, the condo is four miles up the hill. So, if you insist on keeping it, you will be spending a good

and its true, I do. “It’s great for my ass,” I supply. “Sounds like

he clenches his teeth. Eyes going heavy as they trace over my hips. “You aren’t going to be walking four miles every night at two

drive her home,” Bart

see? Bart will

Bart as he turns to leave. “I’ll see you both at the condo

you just give me the key now? I’d hate to infringe on your

chuckling

even like this guy! He could be a serial killer for all I

mind, he says, “Don’t worry, kiddo. Domonic’s an asshole, yeah, but he’s a good guy

“Says you.”

the time Bart closes up and I’ve repacked my backpack, it is thirty minutes past two in the morning. We get into his truck and head into the thick fog of the surrounding streets. There aren’t many cars left on the road and the limited streetlighting only adds to the eerie atmosphere. The moon is only a quarter in and partially cloaked, so my view of the landscape around me is suppressed. On our

far do you live from

only live

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255