Page 56 of Broken

We set the food on the table, and everyone pounces on it like a pack of starving animals. Konrad and Lothar, the owners of Bratz and Cider come over to join us when there is a lull in sales.

As the afternoon turns into early evening, we’ve practically drank the cider barrels dry. The tone of the festival shifts, becoming something rowdier, the families having left. Strings of lights blink on, casting a golden glow over everything and the music gets louder, shifting to a full band on the stage rather than folk tunes.

The weather is holding out, so it’s still warm despite the sun dropping to the horizon. Usually, I bow out before it gets this late, but I’ve stuck around, much to the surprise of my staff. And myself.

A number of times I’ve caught Calli looking in my direction. Good to know she is as affected as I am. And as good at avoidance. Lucky is telling the Germans the tale of the man whose balls she annihilated when Calli heads away to the railing to stare across the bay.

She leans both elbows against the rail, staring out at the sun as the last rays of light vanish to dark blues and purples. I watch her, like there is nothing else around us, knowing I shouldn’t and willing myself to turn away.

Then she turns, her eyes catching mine across the distance. For a moment, I forget to breathe. It makes matters worse when she smiles, a faint curve of those gorgeous lips is enough toset my pulse racing. A quick glance around confirms no one is watching, either her or me.

We should probably talk about what happened. Clarify that it was a one-off.

Fuck it. I grab two glasses of cider and make my way down, hoping no one is paying attention.

Condensation runs down the glasses, wetting and chilling my fingers. I almost want to run one against my brow because I’m getting hot.

“Thirsty?” I ask when I reach her, offering one of the glasses.

She glances at the cider, then me, her expression unreadable. When she takes it, I let out a breath. This woman is bad for me. I shouldn’t have come down here.

There is something in the way she’s looking at me. It makes me feel both at ease and uncertain all at once. She’s bewitched me and I’m not walking away, even with warning sirens blaring in my head.

My brain can’t stop going back to how she felt wrapped around my cock, her slick skin against mine, as she kissed me almost as roughly as the way I was pounding into her sweet, wet pussy.

“Thanks,” she takes a sip of the cider, glancing up at the group then back to me.

The sound of her voice snaps me out of my thoughts with a jolt.

“I didn’t think this would be your kind of scene,” she says.

“I’m not a complete recluse. We come here every year. The cider is worth the socialization.”

Calli lets out a small laugh and my chest aches. What the fuck is wrong with me? Lay down the rules, tell her it won’t happen again. Those aren’t the words that leave my mouth.

“Drawn anything new?”

“No,” she seems as surprised by the question as I am. “Been busy with work. It’s hard being on your feet for seven hours a day.”

I lean an elbow against the rail and stare at her. She fidgets, then drinks more cider. I like making her nervous. Something about that thought is very wrong.

“You have a talent. Seems wasted as a barista.”

Her jaw works and her eyes slip away again. I hit a nerve. “What I do for a living isn’t your business.”

Never one to back down, I lean a little closer. “I call it like I see it. You’re not happy.”

“Takes a miserable person to recognize it in someone else,” she fires back.

“I’m not miserable. I know who I am, I do what I love. My personality might not be to everyone’s taste, but I am happy. Can you say the same?”

“Is this you trying to get to know me, after what happened the other day? You think because we… it entitles you to demand answers about my life?”

“You still can’t say it,” I smirk.

Her eyes narrow. “After wefucked.”

“Shit,” I mutter. She gives me a challenging look. “Is that the first time you’ve said something like that Calli?” My head cocks to one side, studying her. “The first time you’ve been fucked like that?”

---