Page 15 of Daddy's Naughty Bartender
I move to the window, peering out at the street. The Prairie Harbor Inn is directly across from my house, and sure enough, one room on the third floor is lit.
It’s not like he knew he’d be facing my house. Why didn’t I close the curtains? I’ve known for years the person who stays in the executive suite can see directly into my room. I’d put up heavy, light blocking curtains years ago.
Me: Why are you awake?
My phone rings instead of buzzes. I answer without thinking.
"Because I can't stop thinking about you." His voice is rough with exhaustion or something else. "Because I close my eyes and see you in that green dress, looking like every fantasy I've ever had.”
"Jason..."
"Tell me why you're awake, Karen."
I curl up in Mark's chair—my chair. "Josh came to apologize. We talked."
"Good. How are you?"
"Confused. Scared. Aroused." The last word slips out before I can stop it.
His sharp inhale is audible through the phone. "Careful, baby. A man could get ideas."
"Maybe I want you to get ideas." What is wrong with me? One AM honesty is dangerous.
"Karen." My name is a warning and a caress. "You've been drinking."
"Wine. I'm not drunk, just... uninhibited."
"Tell me what you're thinking. Really thinking."
I close my eyes. "I'm thinking I've been dead for five years and you're making me feel alive. I'm thinking about your hands and your voice and the way you take control without taking over. I'm thinking I want things I shouldn't want."
"Like what?"
"You know what."
"I want to hear you say it."
My face burns in the darkness. "I can't."
"Yes, you can." His voice drops to that commanding tone. "Tell me what you want, baby girl."
The endearment undoes me. "I want to let go. Want someone else to make decisions. Want to be soft and taken care of and..." I swallow. "Want to be good for someone. Want to hear you say it again."
"Say what?"
"You know what."
"Good girl." The words pour over me like honey. "There's my brave, beautiful girl. Was that so hard?"
"Yes." My voice is barely a whisper.
"I know." Gentleness now. "I know it was. But you did it anyway. You trusted me with your truth. Do you know how precious that is?"
"I don't do this. I don't have phone sex with strangers at two AM."
His laugh is low, warm. "This isn't phone sex, baby. This is connection. This is two people being honest in the safety of darkness."
"What's your truth then? Fair's fair."
