Across The Hall (3 page)

you planning to do after col ege?”

“I want to teach classical literature at a col ege level. I’m starting the masters program this fal .”

There was a pause in the conversation as the waitress brought over our milk shakes, placing a large glass in front of each of us. She also set

down two silver mixing tumblers with the excess shake in them. Ordering milk shakes on a first date felt so innocent, when nothing about Beau

seemed innocent. I took a long sip of mine. It was good.

Beau must have known that was what I was thinking because he chuckled, “Told you they have the best shakes.”

We talked more about his job. He told me that was why he was at the bar last night. The bartender was a friend of the guy he was looking for.

When I asked if he’d found the guy yet, he said no. But it was just a matter of time. His eyes bored into me, causing me to shiver. It was like he was

sending me a message. I played it off as being cold from the shake. He just had this aura about him, drawing me in, wanting to see how close I

could get, and waiting to see what would happen next.

Our meal came, and we ate while I told him about col ege life. We talked about motorcycles, which I real y didn’t know anything about. He

suggested that I borrow my friend’s so we could take them out together sometime. He laughed when I told him that I would much rather ride holding

on to him.

I was just taking the last sip of my milk shake when he asked if I was ready to go. He stood up and held his hand out to me, pul ing me out of the

booth. He wrapped his arm across my shoulder and we walked up to the counter where he paid for supper.

“So where to next?” I asked, hoping he had more plans.

“I thought we could go have a drink. Maybe play some pool.” We were already back at his bike and he handed me the helmet.

The bar we stopped at was in much the same condition as the diner. It was old and in need of repairs, one of the windows was even boarded up.

I stood, looking it over, and Beau asked in a low voice, “You think you’re up for this place?”

“Yeah I think I can handle it.”

He sent me a lazy smirk “Hmm...we’l see.”

I took a step towards the building and felt Beau place his hand at the lowest part of the smal of my back and lead me to the door. His hand felt

nice there. He opened the door and motioned me in first. It was about what I’d expected. It was dimly lit, with a scattering of tables around a few

pool tables. There were a few booths along the far wal and an old bar taking up most of the near wal . There weren’t many people there. A couple of

old guys on bar stools watched the TV above the bar. Another couple were already playing pool and a handful more were dispersed around the

room in smal groupings. There was an old jukebox against the back wal between a couple of the pool tables that was cranking out what I thought to

be Hank Jr., but I wasn’t sure.

I stood there and looked around awkwardly, not quite knowing what to do. I was thankful when Beau handed me a $20 and said “I’l go grab us a

table. Why don’t you grab us a drink.”

“Sure, what do you want?”

“Whatever you’re having. I’m not picky when it comes to alcohol.” He flashed a little grin at my look of confusion. “Just grab us a beer. I’l be over

here.” He motioned toward the closest table.

I headed up to the bar, not real y sure what to order. I was used to girly drinks, and I never real y paid attention to what Reed and Sloane ordered.

The two guys sitting up at the bar were staring at me, and the bartender seemed amused at my discomfort.

“Um, two Coronas with lime wedges?”

“Don’t have the lime wedge.” He answered in a gruff voice.

“Okay then...” Quick, what was a normal American beer? “Two Buds?” I said the first name that popped into my head. They had to have that,

didn’t they?

He nodded his head and handed me two open bottles. I handed him the $20 and waited for the change, throwing a couple bucks back on the bar

for a tip.

I headed back to Beau with what I hoped was a seductive sway to my hips. But since it was me, I ended up tripping, spil ing half the beer on the

floor and on him as he reached out to steady me. “Are you okay, dol ?”

I felt my face flame up. “Um, yeah. Thanks. I kind of do that a lot,” I mumbled.

I fol owed Beau’s eyes as he looked around the room. “You play pool?” He asked, taking the beers from me.

“I’ve knocked around a few bal s before.”

He quirked an eyebrow at me. “So, a buck a bal then?”

I laughed. “Like I’m gonna fal for that. I may not have much experience, but I’ve seen movies. I know how pool hustlers work. I’m sure you’re a very

skil ed player.” I added, raising my eyebrows up at him, giving him a very pointed look.

“I’ve knocked around a few bal s before.” He threw my earlier statement back at me with a smal smile. “Let me grab a couple more beers. I’l be

right back.”

“I’l rack ’em.”

“I bet you wil ,” he said in a low voice as he brushed against me on his way to the bar.

I watched him walk away, giving a little sigh at the sight of such a perfect ass. I turned back to the table to get the bal s in the plastic triangle. I

knew there was a correct way to place them in there, but I wasn’t sure what it was. So I just alternated stripes and solids with the eight bal at the top.

Beau came back over with a bucket of ice and four beers.

“Thirsty?”

He just shrugged. “It’l save time later. Why keep interrupting this shark game with extra trips to the bar? Besides, I don’t like wasting time.” He set

it al down on the table and walked over to the bal s, switching the eight bal so that it was in the middle. “You break.”

I leaned over the table getting into position to shoot, but he was standing just to the right behind me, watching me. He was so close it made me

so nervous I didn’t hit the cue bal with near enough force to do more than bump a few out of the triangle. I blushed again at the pathetic attempt.

Beau just replaced the rack, gathered the few stray bal s, and put them back in. He looked up at me with a grin. “Here, let’s try that again, only let

me help you a little.”

“Sure.” I repositioned for my shot.

He came up behind me, placing his right hand on my hip, and moved me closer to him. His body was so hard and he smel ed good. Not a

cologne smel , more of a natural musky scent. He grabbed my hand, repositioning it so I was bridging the cue differently. He covered my hand on

the rear of the cue and started moving the stick back and forth smoothly as he softly spoke into my ear, “You need to focus on one spot on the cue

bal . Then with a hard firm stroke, strike the bal and fol ow through.” Then he backed away to let me shoot.

That try was much better. I got a clean break, pocketing two solids. “Looks like you’re stripes.” I took my second turn and this time hit the bal I

was aiming at but knocked it wide of the pocket. “I guess I need another lesson.”

“I’m not so sure you do. I believe that you are baiting me.” He lined up what looked to be a fairly easy shot. “Eleven bal , side pocket.” He bent

over and, in one smooth stroke, put the eleven bal in. He stood up, looking me over. “That was a very nice break and I don’t think you would have

missed that second shot there if you were playing with your girlfriends.”

“Are you saying I’m distracted?”

He lined up the nine bal for the corner and put that one in. “No, I’m saying you’re better than you’re letting on. I’m on to you. You think I’m just going

to let you run me over?”

I smirked back at him. “I think you are more than capable of handling yourself.”

Beau lined up and sunk a difficult shot on the twelve bal with the cue bal in a bad spot.

Final y, it was my turn again. I put my beer down and looked the table over. “I’m not cal ing a pocket. I’m not that experienced of a player.” I lined

up a shot on the four bal .

Beau finished off that game in his next turn. We played a couple more, flirting more and more outrageously with each other. He helped me line up

a few shots and would trail his tongue along the shel of my ear or along my neck. I real y liked the roughness from the stubble along his jaw when he

nuzzled into my neck a couple times. I was definitely feeling it between my legs when he teased like that.

“Okay, final game,” Beau announced. “How about some stakes? Every time I sink a bal I get to ask you one question and you have to answer it

no matter what.”

“Only if I get to do the same for every one I sink.”

“Sure. Why not? My break right?” I nodded. “Rack ’em, baby.”

I leaned in low over the table while I racked them, knowing that the front of my shirt was giving him a good view.

“You trying to use some kind of special warfare there?”

I looked up at him blankly. I knew exactly what I was doing, but I wasn’t about to own up to it.

Beau lined up the cue bal and bent over low to get a better look as he lined up his break. He struck the cue bal firmly. It smacked into the other

bal s, spreading them apart wildly. But none went in. “I guess you’l get first crack at me, dol .”

The bal s were spread evenly over the table with several near the pockets. I lined up and sank an easy shot. “Hmmmm, what do I want to know?” I

looked over at him, taking him al in with my eyes, biting my lip. “What did you plan on doing after this game?” While not an entirely safe or original

question, it was the one top most in my mind.

“I have this vision of taking a beautiful woman home with me,” He purred.

I looked around the room to relieve some of the sexual tension. “Real y? Which one?” As if there were any question to who he was referring to. I

looked back at him giving him an evil smile.

He dropped his chin a little, staring back at me. “It’s stil your shot.”

I pouted, taking my shot and missing. “Your turn.” I gave in and brushed my hand across his ass as he leaned over to shoot. My distraction didn’t

work, as he easily sunk one.

Looking over his shoulder at me I gave him an innocent smile. He asked me, “Do you like what you see?”

I let my gaze linger over his lips before drifting lower. I took a deep breath, letting it out with a quiet, “Yeah, I do.”

He hummed low in his throat, turning back to the table. He sank the next one as wel . “Are you enjoying yourself with your little innocent teasing?”

He growled.

“I would be enjoying it a whole lot more if it were working.”

Beau dropped the cue on the table and moved dangerously close to me, pushing me back against the next table over. He leaned very close to

my face. “Who said it wasn’t?” He pul ed my hips up against him and I could feel just how hard I had made him. He was stil looking into my eyes as

he ground against me. I licked my lips in anticipation of the kiss I hoped was coming. “Let’s go,” he said, grabbing my hand roughly and pul ing me

towards the door.

I fol owed along the best I could, stumbling my way out the door.

Once outside, he spun into me, pushing me back up against the wal . Without a warning he crushed his lips to mine, kissing me hungrily. It was a

rough kiss, he dominated my mouth. His tongue probed in me, hard and demanding. I kissed back wil ingly, giving him al I had. Just as I brought my

arms around to grab that ass that had tempted me al night, he lightened the kiss and pul ed away. “I think I should take you home.”

“I think you should.” I could not wait to get home.

On the ride back, I let my hands roam al over his body. I traced patterns over his hard chest, running my fingers from his pecs to his waist. I

rubbed hard up the inside of his thighs from his knees to his waist. I loved having him stuck there in front of me, not being able to control my

movements. A few blocks from my place, I started rubbing over his crotch, feeling the hardened length beneath his tight jeans. He sped up when I

started to rub harder and I wiggled my hips against him and the seat of the bike, wanting to feel the friction.

We pul ed into the lot and quickly hopped off the bike. I ripped the helmet off my head and he lunged down to me, capturing my mouth with his.

His hands were on my back, pushing me into him. He pul ed back. “You are such a little tease.”

“Come up with me and see if you stil think that.” I knew I wanted him in my bed that night. It would be hard and rough, and I was looking forward to

it. I pul ed him with me into the building and practical y ran up the stairs.

When we got to my door he had me pressed up against it before I could get my keys out. He began to kiss me with even more heat and passion.

I gave just as much back, rubbing against him. His cock was so hard, pressed right against me. His hands slowly moved across my breasts and up

to my cheek, then dropped down to my ass to pul me closer, as if that were even possible. He moaned into my mouth and broke away to move to

my neck. I turned my head to the side, closing my eyes as he softly bit and nibbled along my neck and col ar bone.

I looked back at him sharply when he suddenly stopped. He was looking over his shoulder, so I pushed up to my tip toes to look over his shoulder.

I got a fleeting glimpse of a tal back topped by dark brown hair walking into the apartment across from me before the door shut.

I felt like I had been doused with a glass of ice water. I knew it couldn’t be Quinn, but seeing hair that color was enough to make me lose al

feeling, turning me numb. I had flashes of the previous panic attack I’d had after I’d talked to Kai on the phone. Beau started to kiss me again, but I

pul ed away.

“Are you okay?” He asked. His hands were stil on my hips.

“I have to stop. I’m sorry, I just can’t. Thanks for tonight. I just have to go. I have to get up early.” I was rattled, and I just needed him to leave so I