5. Lars

5

LARS

T hat evening, I'm waiting for Alice at the entrance to the Tunnel of Love ride, my arms folded across my chest as I lean against one of the painted scenes of a couple in a rowboat. A few of my coworkers wander by, casting sideways glances in my direction before quickly averting their eyes. I've made it clear this part of the fairgrounds is off-limits tonight.

Alice is a few minutes late, which instantly sparks a flare of anger inside me. Who does she think she is, making me wait for her again? I clench my jaw, struggling to keep my cool because I hate being disrespected. Just as I'm considering leaving, she finally appears, slightly out of breath, with a flustered look on her pretty face.

"You're late," I growl, pushing from the wall to face her fully. My gaze roams over her body, taking in her tight black dress. At least she followed that instruction properly.

Alice meets my glare head-on, lifting her chin defiantly. "Sorry, I got held up at work. If you'd given me your number, I could've told you I was running behind."

Her snippy tone only fuels the flames of my irritation. "Don't get fucking smart with me. I won't stand for being stood up and disrespected like that again."

Alice scoffs, placing her hands on her hips as her green eyes narrow. "Excuse me? You're the one who's being a total jerk right now. I had a legitimate reason for being a few minutes late. Still, obviously, that's too difficult for your controlling ass to comprehend. I literally came here to give you this back." She slams the photo I took of her into my chest, glaring at me. "What the fuck? Did you think I'd stay here after you pulled this?" She turns to walk away.

I tense up at Alice's defiant words, anger threatening to take over. How dare she talk to me like that?

"You're not going anywhere," I snarl, gripping her upper arm tightly and yanking her back to me. Alice tries to pull away, but I'm too strong, easily dragging her toward the entrance of the Tunnel of Love.

"Let go of me!" she cries. "You're hurting me, Lars!"

I ignore her protests, forcing her into the waiting ride. She stumbles inside, whipping around to face me. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Looming over her, I cage her against the boat seat, bracing my hands on either side. "You stood me up on our first date and now you turn up late for the second. It's clear you need to be taught a fucking lesson in respect."

Alice glares up at me defiantly. "This isn't the way to get to know someone. You're acting like a psychotic asshole!"

"Maybe I am," I growl, leaning in so close our noses are almost touching. "But you're going to sit here and be a good fucking girl on this date."

With that, I sit beside her in the boat. Alice's eyes widen as the realization sinks that she's now my prisoner on this ride.

I text Remy quickly, telling him to shut down the ride once Alice and I are halfway through the tunnel. With a jolt, the cart starts moving, plunging us into semi-darkness illuminated only by the cheesy neon hearts and cherubs lining the passage.

Alice glowers at me, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "This is kidnapping, you know. I could have you arrested for this."

I scoff, settling back against the hard plastic seat. "Go ahead and try. Do you think the cops in this shit-hole town are going to take your claim seriously?"

She opens her mouth to retort but snaps it shut again, clearly seeing the truth in my words. We sit in tense silence for a minute until the cart shudders to a halt, the overhead lights flickering out completely. I smirk in the darkness, right on cue.

"What's happening?" Alice demands, a note of panic creeping into her tone. "Why are we stopping?"

"Relax," I drawl, reaching out to trail my fingers up her bare thigh. She flinches away from my touch. "It's just technical difficulties. We can have a little chat about how disrespectful you've been."

"I'm not disrespectful," she snaps, slapping my hand away. "I showed up tonight, didn't I? Even after your creepy stalker stunt with that photo."

I grip her chin roughly, forcing her to look at me in the dim light. "Watch that smart mouth of yours, princess."

Alice glares at me, but I feel her tremble slightly under my touch. "Let me off this damn ride."

"No," I growl, fingers digging into her soft skin. "Not until you understand I'm not the kind of man to mess with. And I'll prove why standing me up, friend in crisis or not, was a big mistake."

I watch her squirm in the faint light, realizing that the fear flickering in her eyes is beginning to turn into something else. It's time to turn up the heat.

With a growl, I drop to my knees in front of her. Her eyes go wide as I grab the hem of her skirt and yank it up, exposing the lacy black panties beneath. Her hips buck as she tries to stop me, but it's too late. With a sharp rip, I tear her panties, baring her pussy to my hungry gaze.

"What the hell—" she starts, but her words turn into a gasp as I lean in and taste her for the first time. She's delicious, her juices flowing freely as I feast on her swollen clit.

"Fucking hell, you taste good," I murmur. I pull her hips closer to the edge of the seat, spreading her thighs wide to give myself better access.

"Stop, this is—" she sputters, her protests growing weaker as my tongue works magic.

I look up at her, my eyes glinting dangerously. "Tell me you don't want this. Tell me you don't want my mouth right here."

Her lips part, but no words come out. Instead, she lets out a low moan as I swirl my tongue around her sensitive bud. Her hips buck involuntarily, grinding against my face.

"That's it, princess," I urge, my hands gripping her thighs tightly. "Let me hear you."

Her resistance is weakening, her body softening against mine. "Fuck you," she spits.

I chuckle. "Tell me to stop, princess," I mutter, my mouth never leaving her hot core. "Tell me you don't want this."

"You're insane," she breathes, her fingers tangling in my hair as she pulls me closer. "Oh God..."

I groan in response, hooking my arms around her thighs to hold her in place as I suck and lap at her hungrily. Her juices are flowing freely now, coating my chin and dripping down her ass. I love how responsive she is.

"You like this, don't you, princess?" I murmur. "You like my mouth right here, tasting that sweet pussy."

"Oh fuck, yes," she moans, her head tossing back as she loses herself in the sensations. "Feels so good..."

Hearing her surrender fuels my fire, making me crave her even more. I want to consume her, brand her as mine, and erase all doubts from that stubborn mind of hers. My fingers work their way inside her, pumping in and out in time with my tongue. She's so damn tight, her inner muscles clenching around my digits as I thrust deep.

Alice's moans fill the tunnel, echoing off the walls and mingling with the cheesy music playing softly in the background. I can feel her getting closer, her hips bucking frantically as she nears the edge. Her taste is driving me wild, making me wish I could rip her clothes off and bury myself inside her. But not yet. I want to draw this out, make her beg for it.

"That's it, princess," I encourage, my mouth never leaving her core. "Come for me. Let me feel that sweet pussy clench around my fingers."

Her breaths come in rapid gasps, her entire body trembling on the edge of the precipice. "Oh God, I'm going to—I'm going?—"

And then she's falling, her walls clench and convulse around my fingers. I groan as her juice coats my tongue and chin. Alice sobs my name, her fingers digging into my scalp as the waves of her orgasm wash over her.

Only then do I finally pull away, satisfied that I've satisfied her more thoroughly than any man could. I watch her struggling to catch her breath, her chest heaving as she stares at me with dazed eyes. "Lars, I—I..."

"You what, princess?" I ask, a smirk playing on my lips as I admire my handiwork. "You going to apologize for standing me up?"

She swallows, her cheeks tinged with a rosy hue as her eyes flicker guiltily away from mine. "I—I'm sorry. I shouldn't have stood you up, even though I had a good reason to."

"You're damn right you shouldn't have because I'm the only man on this goddamn earth who can make you feel the way I just made you feel, aren't I?" I stand and sit beside her on the seat.

I study Alice closely, watching the rise and fall of her chest as she struggles to catch her breath. Her cheeks are flushed, her lips parted, hair tousled from my rough handling. She looks thoroughly debauched, and the sight sends a possessive thrill through me.

"Well?" I prompt, arching an eyebrow. "Are you going to answer me?"

She blinks up at me, momentarily confused. I lean forward, cupping her jaw in my calloused hand. "I asked if I'm the only man who can make you feel that way."

Understanding flickers in her green eyes, quickly followed by a flash of defiance. She opens her mouth, no doubt to offer some sassy retort, but I squeeze her chin warningly.

"Don't try to bullshit me, princess. We both know the truth." My gaze bores into hers. "Say it."

Alice holds my stare for a long moment before finally exhaling a shaky breath. "Yes," she murmurs. "You're the only one."

Satisfaction courses through me at her admission. "That's what I thought."

Releasing her chin, I settle back against the seat, spreading my arms lazily across the back. "Now that we've gotten that little misunderstanding out of the way, why don't we try to enjoy the rest of our date?"

She blinks at me in surprise. "You still want to continue our date? After that?"

I chuckle darkly. "What, you thought making you come like a freight train against my face was the grand finale? Sweetheart, I'm just getting started."

A visible shiver runs through her at my words. I can see the conflict behind her eyes—the desire to stay battling against the instinct to flee. Reaching out, I trail my knuckles lightly down her flushed cheek.

"Come on, Alice," I cajole. "Let's put that little tantrum of yours behind us and get to know each other better. I promise I'll be a perfect gentleman."

The barest hint of a smile ghosts across her lips. "Is that even possible for you?"

"You'll just have to wait and see, won't you?" I tap the tip of her nose playfully. "What do you say? Give me a chance to redeem myself?"

She hesitates a moment longer before giving a slow nod. "Okay. I'm listening."

Grinning, I signal to Remy to get the ride going again. As the cart starts moving again, I focus on Alice, ready to peel back her layers and get to the real woman beneath all that fire and bravado.