10. Patience, Doll

Ipull up to The Dive and gawk at the building. What the fuck is Evie doing here? This place looks like it’d be a favorite of a motorcycle gang. I park my rental, a sports car which does not at all fit in with the other cars in the parking lot, and hurry inside.

The place is somewhat crowded, most of the bar stools full, and tables as well. But I spot Evelyn right away, sitting with two other women around her age. They’re laughing at something, but Evelyn sees me and straightens up, her smile transforming from mirth to seduction.

That smile paired with those innocent blue eyes could knock me right over. She was nearly my undoing at the club on Wednesday. Keeping my hands to myself had nearly been impossible. The way she dances, the way she flicks her gaze up to mine to see my reaction, the way she smiles when she’s lost in the music…captivating. The girl captivates me and there’s not one fucking thing I can do about it.

Her friends whisper as I walk over. They’re probably thinking I’m too old to be here for Evelyn. I am too old for her, but that doesn’t change the way I lust after her, unfortunately.

I’m a dirty old man, I guess…and if Evelyn might like me in spite of that, then I guess I’m okay with it.

When I reach her table, she throws herself into my arms. “Caleb!”

“Hey, Evie.” I squeeze her and help her back into her chair. “Who are your friends?”

“Sawyer and Maya,” she says. “This is Caleb.”

Her friends nod and say hello, giving me curious, scrutinizing looks. Evelyn tugs me to the chair next to her, and I allow it. Even over the alcohol-soaked atmosphere of the bar, I can smell her sweetness. Coconuts and sugar. I wonder if it’s her shampoo, or what. I fucking love it.

She squeezes my knee, leans against my shoulder. She’s a lot touchier than she was on Wednesday night. On Wednesday, she had a good buzz going, but not…not like this.

“How much have you had to drink?” I ask.

She shrugs. “Some.”

Her curly-haired friend, Sawyer, holds up a hand. Five. Five drinks, for a little girl like Evelyn?

“Have you eaten?” I ask.

The friend shrugs and says, “We tried.”

There’s a half-eaten plate of greasy-looking nachos in the middle of the table, but Evelyn shakes her head. “Not hungry.”

“Evie,” I say, shaking my head. “You aren’t making the best choices right now.”

“I know,” she says on a sigh. Sitting up so she can whisper in my ear, she says, “Maybe you can help me make some better ones later?”

Absolutely not. “We’ll see,” I say.

I’m just keeping her happy for now, though. She’s far too drunk to consent to anything.

“I’m glad you’re here,” the dark-haired friend tells me. Mia, I think, or no, Maya. “We didn’t want to put her in a car with a stranger. She could crash with us, but she’s saying she wants to go home with you.” She gives me a good once-over. “Who are you, again?”

“This,” Evelyn says with a flourish, “is Caleb.”

She stops there, as if announcing my first name for a second time will suffice.

“Caleb Swann,” I say. “I work with her dad’s stepbrother.”

“You trust this guy?” Sawyer whispers to Evelyn.

Evelyn nods. “Yep yep.”

“Okay,” Maya says. “We’re going to head out. I’ll be texting you tomorrow, Evelyn, okay?”

We all stand up. Evelyn throws her arms around Maya and Sawyer. “I’m so happy for you two. I’m so happy we met up again. Let’s still be friends okay? Group texts and coming here to The Dive and making new fun memories.”

“Absolutely,” Sawyer’s voice is full of conviction. “And I am happy to provide my services for ruining your sister’s wedding, just let me know the date and how many gallons of red paint to bring. I’ll come down on her ass, Carrie-style.”

Maya and Evelyn cackle, and we finally make our way out of the bar. More tearful goodbyes, and then Evelyn allows me to help her into the car. As I buckle her in, I have to lean past her face.

She plants a kiss on my cheek, startling me.

“Thanks, Caleb,” she says. “I’m so glad you came.”

“Me, too,” I say, but my voice is heavy. She mentioned expectations for the night, and I’m going to have to disappoint her.

“You don’t sound happy. I could get a ride if you don’t wanna hang out,” she says.

“That’s not it at all.”

“You’re mad at me.”

“Not in the slightest.”

She pouts. “Will Daddy be mad?”

If only Lincoln could hear her call him that, outside of a scene. It might just kill him because he’d like it so fucking much. And I want her to call me daddy, too, but not yet. Not without talking about it first.

“He might be mad.”

She toys with the pendant on her necklace. “He’ll be mad when he hears us fucking, won’t he?”

I say, “Not tonight, doll. We aren’t going to fuck. You aren’t sober.”

“You’re…a gentleman,” she says, patting my cheek. “Honorable.”

I pull away, shut the door after her, and walk to my side of the car. It’s not honorable to do the bare fucking minimum in human decency, and it’s sad that she thinks it is.

“We’ll fuck some other time, though,” she says as I climb behind the wheel and start the car. The engine purrs, loud and powerful.

“I hope so,” I say, shooting her a quick smile.

“I’m wet just thinking about it,” she says.

“Fuck, you can’t say things like that, doll. You’re going to kill me.”

She grins wider. “I just like to imagine what it’s going to be like, me and you. We came so close at Vice, that first night. I got to watch you get off.”

While Lincoln fucked her from behind and teased her with a fantasy where I took her ass.

“I’ve never been held down before, during sex,” she says in a thoughtful tone. “I think I might like it. Is that something you like?”

She has no idea.

“Caleb?” she prompts.

“Yeah, it is.”

“Then you could hold me down. Maybe tie my legs so they’re spread wide for you.”

I can picture it. I know I shouldn’t. I should ask her to stop talking, because my cock is hard in my pants and I want nothing more than to pull into a darkened lane and tug her into my lap, fuck her right here in this car. It would be uncomfortable, but the bite of pain would heighten the entire experience.

She’d be trapped between me and the wheel, restrained by the confines of the vehicle.

“You could use me however you wanted. My mouth. My…” She trails off.

“Yes?” I arch an eyebrow and give her a stern look. “You can say it, doll.”

“My pussy,” she whispers, looking both delighted and scandalized.

“That’s right, little one.”

“You could do it right now,” she says, running her fingertip over her knee and up her thigh.

Nope. I gotta shut this down. We’re veering way too close into a scene, and she is compromised. Thank fuck she’s wearing jeans. If she were in a skirt, it would be so tempting to wait and see if she gets herself off in the car right next to me.

“We’re not doing anything tonight,” I remind her.

“But it would be so much fun if we did.” She sighs and drops her hand to her lap. “If I wasn’t drunk, you’d want me?”

“Yes.”

“I regret everything I drank tonight. I’m so turned on, Caleb, it’s gonna kill me.”

She’ll fall asleep fast enough, once I put her to bed. Me, I’m going to be lying awake in the guest room with my aching balls for company.

“You wouldn’t believe how wet my panties are,” she says, sending me a devious look. “If Lincoln won’t be my daddy, maybe you could?”

Fuck. Me. I’m dying for a taste. “Patience, doll.”

Immediate gratification is a construct for the young. Once she’s older, she’ll understand that anticipation is half the fun.

And I’m anticipating the fuck out of being with her.

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