LUCKY KISS Read online

  “No,” I said.

  I looked around the bar again and my eyes paused at a woman shooting pool. She was in a white shirt that was pulled up just enough to show some skin. Her hips looked delicious and she had a shamrock tattoo on her right hip. A second later a hand slipped over the ink. I moved my eyes up and some guy stared me down.

  I curled my lip, making a mental note of it.

  I looked at Jared. “What do you want, man?”

  “Wanted to talk about that panhead we picked up.”

  “I’m not talking about work,” I said. “I’m here for a drink.”

  “You’re never here just for a drink.”

  “And you’re taking up space,” I said.

  “Who are you waiting for?” Jared asked.

  “Your mom,” I said.

  “Fucking asshole,” he said as he stood up and walked away.

  Anyone that tried to sit down next to me could either walk away on their own or end up on their ass.

  All because of Lauren.

  Who would have thought someone so dorky could have turned into such a beautiful woman. She had been hidden behind that black apron, but there were enough curves showing that my hands had been tingling all morning, day, and now night. One way or another I was going to forget about her. The preferable way would be to have it happen with her. Because I knew how much she hated me. But I also knew there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that she wondered what could have been between us. Not a relationship. But just a thing. It stuck in the back of my mind that I had her living next door all those years and we never took full advantage of it.

  I’d find out.

  Only after I tasted the sweet, naughty honey between her legs.

  * * *

  When I saw her enter the bar, all my attention went to her. That was how you did things. Even if it was just for one night. That one night you better be locked in one hundred percent as though you were promising forever to her.

  The crazy thing about Lauren was that out of anyone in my life, she knew me the best. She had silly little secrets about the past. She had seen one or two moments of weakness too. In a lot of ways, she was the only part of the past that I could look at and maybe smile.

  Maybe.

  She looked at me.

  I didn’t smile.

  I nodded my head at her.

  I wanted to fuck her, but I wasn’t desperate.

  I’d be locked in one hundred percent, but I wasn’t going to rush to her side, hug her and ask her how her day was. Or pat her shoulder and tell her hair looked pretty or bring her to the barstool where a drink would be waiting.

  That was too much. That was the kind of shit that drove women away.

  So, I waited for Lauren to come to me.

  When she got close enough, I swung my foot and kicked the barstool back at her.

  “Have a seat,” I said.

  “Wow. How inviting,” she said.

  “I bought a banner that said Welcome Four Eyes! but the bartender wouldn’t put it up.”

  Lauren pushed the barstool back into place with force. She pointed to her face.

  She used to have chubby cheeks that would get freckles only in the summer. I guess in so many ways you could say she grew into her own body, which was a good thing. But there were still plenty of subtle hints at curves left behind, which was a very good thing.

  Her face was pretty. Her glasses all black, designer frames instead of the thin, cheap, gold frames that took up half her face.

  “Leave me the fuck alone,” she said.

  Everyone near us heard that comment and decided to listen in.

  I turned and slowly stood up.

  I had well over a foot of height on her.

  “Is that what you really wanted to say to me?” I asked her.

  “Actually, yes. I should have said it years ago. You’re an asshole. Everyone always thought you were an asshole. You never had any friends. You probably still don’t.”

  I nodded. “Feel better?”

  “A little,” Lauren said.

  “Sit down and have a drink with me.”

  Lauren actually listened, which surprised me. I figured she was coming to speak her mind, slap me, and leave.

  Which I deserved.

  But the second she sat down, she was signing up for something else.

  Her round ass hitting that barstool was the same as her hand offering a scribbled signature.

  I pointed to the bartender and Rick came rushing over to make sure we had drinks.

  That was another thing in life.

  Take care of the bartender.

  Rick fell behind a little on a debt and I helped him get squared up. That meant now I was the most important person in his life when it came to serving drinks.

  “Rick,” I said. “My dear old friend here, Lauren, is drinking for free. Anything she wants, whenever she wants. Understand?”

  “You got it,” Rick said.

  “Oh, please,” Lauren said with an eye roll. “How many times have you said that line?”

  “Just once.”

  “With a different woman’s name?”

  I grinned. “Too many to count.”

  “Let me let you in on a little secret, Asher. I can see the future.”

  “Can you?” I asked.

  “I can. And here’s how it goes. I have a drink. I order two more, but don’t drink them. Just so you have to pay for them. And eventually by the end of the night you’re home alone, thinking about me. And I’ll be sleeping peacefully.”

  She wanted to play this game, huh?

  I had nothing to lose and no time to waste.

  I leaned toward her and slipped my right arm around her body and made it look like I was going in for a kiss. At that exact moment I thought about all the times we were supposed to kiss and never did.

  It had been a wild joke back then.

  My lips brushed against Lauren’s ear and I felt every muscle in her body tighten up.

  “I can see the future too, sweetheart. And I plan on telling you what that future is with the tip of my tongue cutting between the soft folds of your cunt.”

  8

  (Lauren)

  NOW

  I screwed up by drinking the second the drink.

  That instantly put me in a position where I wasn’t going to be able to drive. But that was okay. I could call for a ride or pay for one.

  I needed the drink.

  Asher was as rough as ever.

  And the way he looked at me just bothered me.

  I kept myself on course though, knowing what I came here to do and that was it.

  Asher put three drinks down and kept looking around the bar.

  “So, dare I ask what you do for a living?” I asked him.

  “I kill people,” he said.

  “Seriously.”

  “What's the allure? What’s the wanting to know going to get you? If I say I’m successful, then I surprise you. If I tell you I’m a bum in trouble with the law all the time, then I match what you think about me.”

  “It’s called a conversation, Asher,” I said.

  “I’m not used to those. I’m more of a direct to the point kind of guy.”

  “Which means you get someone drunk and take them home?”

  “You know, your lip doesn’t have to curl when you ask that,” he said. “You could stand to enjoy yourself a little.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Oh, please, Lauren,” he said.

  It was a rare time he used just my name without something else attached to it.

  And damn him for looking so rough and sexy while saying my name. And damn him for the way he smelled too. Not like some guy doused in cologne, but a guy that smelled like soap, sweat, and work.

  Fuck.

  “Oh, please, what?” I asked.

  “I can probably pinpoint the last time you were fucked.”

  My eyes went wide. “Do you have to say it like that?”

  “Like what? You want me to sa
y sex? Making love? Slamming your pussy?”

  I gasped. “Asher…”

  “It is what it is,” he said. “And the way you’re sitting. The way you look. The way you were working today. You’re so focused on work, you use that as your excuse to not go out and get fucked.”

  “Maybe it’s not about getting fucked,” I said.

  “Of course, it is,” he said. “You want a relationship? Go get fucked first. Figure out what you like and don’t like.”

  “You’re talking to me as though I’ve never…”

  Asher laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” I asked.

  “I’m sure in many ways you’re still a virgin, sweetheart,” he said.

  “Fuck you,” I said. “You know nothing about me. What I’ve done. Who I’ve been with.”

  “You’re right. And I don’t care.”

  “Then why am I here?”

  “I asked you for a drink. You showed up.”

  I growled.

  You know why you’re here, Lauren. Don’t fall for these games. No way.

  “Right,” I said. “I know why I’m here. Sorry I said anything. You can watch me walk away now, Asher. Because you’re the loser now. Not me. You’re doing the same thing as always. Sitting in a bar, drinking. Trying to look cool. You looked like death this morning, hungover from being at a strip club. Oh, god, how cool is that? Take me down, Asher.” I rolled my eyes again. “Please. It’s kind of sad.”

  “You know what’s sadder?” he asked.

  “What?”

  “You, sitting home alone, probably obsessing over your little coffee business as though it’s the most important company in the world.”

  I scoffed. I stood up. “At least I have something to look forward to.”

  “Is this what you want to do? Pick a fight with me?”

  “At least you don’t have a frog to throw at me,” I said.

  Why? Why bring that up? It’s time to leave, Lauren.

  “No. But I sort of feel like punching that guy in the face… the one behind us. At the pool table. He gave me a shit look earlier and I don’t stand for that stuff. So, I held back punching him because I didn’t want to ruin our date.”

  “Date?” I asked. “This isn’t a date. This is a goodbye. I get to do it my way.”

  “Well, you did great, sweetheart. You drank. You tried to flirt. You look flustered and horny. And now you’re going to go home alone.”

  “You’re such an asshole…”

  “Now for me, I’m going to go punch that guy and then head somewhere else where talking isn’t needed.”

  “The world of glitter and one-dollar bills, huh?” I asked.

  Asher reached into his pocket and took out money. He tossed a few dirty one-dollar bills.

  “There. I don’t have any glitter though, but that should be enough to get a look at your tits, right?”

  I laughed. I touched my chest. “You’ll never get a look, Asher. No matter how bad you want it. That’s the best part of tonight. I win no matter what. Now go punch that guy and get on with your life.”

  I had made a big mistake.

  Tempting Asher.

  It was something stupid and risky.

  My mind had been in the world of normal for so long that I slipped and forgot about who Asher was.

  I expected him to keep coming at me. Flirting in his rough way. Or getting mad and walking away.

  Instead, he kept to his word.

  He walked over to the pool game in progress and grabbed the white ball.

  “What the fuck?” a guy growled.

  “What’s going to hit the ground first?” Asher asked. “You? Or the ball?”

  The guy growled then dropped his pool stick as Asher tossed the ball into the air.

  The guy made the mistake of looking at the ball.

  Asher swung, hit the guy in the jaw, and down he went.

  “It’s a tie,” Asher said as the guy and the ball hit the floor at the same time.

  He turned and looked right at me.

  A rush of heat went through my body and that was not okay.

  I had to leave… or I was going to end up in trouble…

  * * *

  I stood at my car and let the good angel on my shoulder take control. Reminding me that I shouldn’t drive. Last thing I needed was to put anyone in danger because I was getting away from stupid Asher.

  I looked forward and saw him approaching me.

  He moved with purpose as he walked to my car.

  “Look, you proved your point,” I said. “You’re as bad and as tough as you’ve ever been. The night is over, Asher. I wish I could go back and never have you walk into-”

  Asher walked right up to me and before I could finish my sentence, he bent his knees and scooped me up off my feet and kissed me.

  It was so shocking, I lost my breath.

  I wanted to gasp but his powerful lips were latched to mine.

  And for the love of everything… I was kissing him back.

  My brain flooded with all those stupid kissing jokes. And all the teasing over kissing. All the things he told me about kissing. And all the times I wanted to kiss him.

  That’s when something snapped in me.

  I could have fought him away and kicked him in the balls.

  Or… just go with it.

  Kiss him back. Use my tongue to fuck with his tongue so bad that he’d mess his jeans. Show him what he had been missing all these years. Tease him the way he teased me.

  I was a damn strong woman and I didn’t need to run away from a guy like Asher.

  And if I was being completely honest, he was fucking sexy. There was no hiding it. His massive shoulders were perfect for holding onto as I kissed him back. His lips were nice and the scruff on his face tickled, but in a good way. He opened his mouth a little more than mine and took control of the kiss, growling as he pinned me against my own car.

  I hated him for being right about everything, even all these years later.

  The last time I… was such a long time ago.

  Such. A. Long. Time. Ago.

  So, I could kind of take care of two things at once here.

  I could finally have a night to enjoy my own pleasure, knowing there would be nothing awkward about the morning.

  And I could finally take care of the nagging fantasy of what Asher was like in bed.

  “Oh, god, no,” I said I broke the kiss.

  Asher put me down and stepped back. “There. Been wanting to know what that was like for a long time, sweetheart.”

  I touched my lips. “Yeah. Now you know. Goodnight.”

  “You’re drunk, Lauren. You can’t drive home. I’ll take you home.”

  I swallowed hard. “Okay.”

  I licked my lips fifty times as I walked to Asher’s motorcycle.

  A motorcycle.

  The last thing I expected to see, but it should have been the first.

  I was in a daze, floating above the clouds in the night sky as he put his helmet over my head and explained to me to hold on tight. I rambled off my address and climbed on the back of his motorcycle. I had never been on a motorcycle before.

  I licked my lips another fifty times as the motorcycle roared, and Asher sped down street after street.

  He pulled up to my apartment building and turned off the motorcycle.

  I climbed off and wrestled to get the helmet off.

  There was nothing graceful about it though. I never took off a motorcycle helmet before and believe me, it wasn’t smooth and easy, and I did not toss my hair side to side like some model.

  I felt like a mess as I handed the helmet back to Asher.

  As he grabbed it from me, I didn’t let it go right away.

  “One time,” I whispered.

  “What?” he asked.

  “You heard me. One time. One night. That’s it. And we never talk about it.”

  What the fuck are you doing, Lauren?

  The angel on my shoulder screamed a
t me.

  The couple drinks of whiskey screamed for something else.

  It was such a stupid thing to do.

  Because Asher’s answer had been there all along.

  But whatever.

  What was one night with the wrong person going to do to me?

  9

  (Asher)

  NOW

  “This is your bedroom, but this is my fucking night,” I said to Lauren as I looked down at her.

  My hands cupped her ass firmly over her jeans, pulling her tight against my body. Her hands dug at my back, through my shirt, as though she has some kind of control in the situation. Which she didn’t.

  “Shut up, Asher,” she said. “Don’t make me regret this anymore than I already do.”

  “I love regret,” I said. “Makes everything taste sweeter.”

  I lowered down and devoured her mouth again. There was no sweet and soft kissing. I kissed her like she should have been kissed a long time ago. I kissed her like a woman about to get fucked was meant to be kissed. So there would be no lines to cross. This was simple. I was going to taste every inch of her body, fill her with my cock, and then move on.

  As I stripped her shirt over her head, I left her to fight it the rest of the way off as I lowered down to one knee before her. My mind flashed to the image of me doing something like that when we were kids. When she set up some dumb wedding for her dumb dolls. And I filled a water balloon and hide it behind my back. And when I dropped to one knee to propose to her and as she got close enough, I showed her the water balloon. Before she knew what was happening, I squeezed it and exploded the water all over me and her.

  My clothes were shitty.

  She was in a nice dress.

  She hated me for it.

  The memory made me grin as my lips touched her soft, bare skin.

  I kissed around her belly button as she tossed her shirt to the floor.

  Her hands grabbed my hair and pulled me away.

  I looked up at her for a second, her glasses making her a geeky kind of beautiful that was what I needed for the moment.

  My hands unbuttoned her jeans and I wasted zero time as I grabbed her jeans against her hips and pulled. When I saw the dark pink panties with the lacy edges, it made my cock throb. Like a waking snake, my cock began to slither and grow, looking for the needed room to get hard and stand tall. That meant I was uncomfortable because there was never enough room in my jeans for my cock.