Page 2 of Without Me (Men of Inked 5)
“I’m not done with you.” It wasn’t the best line I’d ever given, but I had been thrown by the unexpected zing I’d felt when touching her.
“Well, I’m done with you.”
But the funny thing is, she didn’t pull away. When a woman was truly not interested, they’d try to get away or slap me in the face. It had happened once. Only one time in my life had a woman turned me down. I chalked it up to the fact that she was probably into pussy more than cock. Why else would she have said no?
“No, you’re not.” I brought my lips within an inch of hers. “You know you’re not. Don’t you feel it?”
“You’re delusional as well as an asshole.” Her eyes sparkled. The hint of possibility wasn’t lost on me.
I tightened my grip, but not enough to hurt her. Then I pulled her close enough that I could feel her breath on my face. “Tell me you don’t feel it?”
“I don’t.” She glared at me and lied through her fucking teeth.
“Why aren’t you pulling away then, Kitty?” I asked, knowing she felt it every bit as much as I did. I didn’t want to be with another human being on this planet, and I’d bet neither did she.
As soon as I asked, she tried to tug her arm away, but I kept my hold on her. She didn’t make me believe she meant it.
“I don’t know how you’ll react if I do.”
“Liar,” I teased, releasing her wrist but keeping my body close. “Let me buy you one more drink, and if you still think I’m an asshole, I’ll leave you alone forever.”
She didn’t answer right away, looking between the door and me. When her eyes locked on to mine, she finally answered, “Okay. If that’s what it takes to get you to leave me alone forever.” Then she shrugged, set her purse back on the bar, and sat down on the stool. Raising her hand, she motioned to the bartender, holding up two fingers.
She wasn’t going to make it easy on me. I’d have to work for it. My mother always told me that the best things in life needed to be earned and not given.
“So, what do you do, Kitty?” I asked, genuinely interested in more than her body. I wanted to know the woman. What made her tick? More importantly, why was she so damn pissy when it came to me?
“I’m a personal stylist,” she replied, keeping her eyes focused on the bartender.
“So, like, you pick out clothes for other people?” I asked, surprised at her answer. It wasn’t that she didn’t look the part, but jeans and a T-shirt weren’t the attire I’d think a stylist would be caught dead in.
“Yes. I help with their entire look.”
As the drinks were set in front of us, I slid a twenty across the bar and settled the bill. “You shop for a living?”
“Yes,” she answered as she lifted her drink.
I’d hoped for more than curt answers, but felt that nothing would be easy. Maybe the more liquor I got into her system, the easier it would all become.
I must’ve looked surprised, because she asked, “Shocked?”
I tilted my head and studied her. “Not entirely. You have the look of a fashionista, but I wouldn’t expect you to be caught dead in jeans.”
“Fashionista? I hate that word.” She raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure you’re not gay, Tony?”
I closed my eyes, and inhaled before opening them. I wouldn’t let her get me worked up. She was baiting me, and if I weren’t careful, she’d accomplish her goal.
“Honey, if you give me the chance, I’ll prove how wrong that question is.”
She chuckled. A full-on laugh bubbled out of her as she tipped her head back. The sound was magical. When she let her guard down and showed happiness, she was even more beautiful.
“In your dreams.”
“I think you’re the one who’s gay, Kitty Cat. Maybe you prefer the purr over a good prick any day.”
“You couldn’t be more wrong. I love a beautiful cock more than most women, but I don’t like the ones that are attached to an asshole.”
“You wound me,” I said, laying my hand across my chest. “You don’t even know me.”
“I’ve known many guys like you. You think you’re entitled to everything. You get what you want. Girls fall at your feet. You’ve spent your life drowning in pussy and throwing women away like trash.”
I took a heavy gulp of my Grand Marnier and thought about her response. In all honesty, she wasn’t wrong. Would I admit that to her? Fuck no!
“I’ve never thrown a woman away like a piece of trash.”
“Uh huh,” she snorted as she crossed her legs.
Out of nowhere, I heard a voice call my name. Fuck. Now wasn’t the time for Candy to have found me. Candy wasn’t the best example of how I treated women. She had never been my girlfriend, but I had fucked her a couple of times over the last year. I’d say that it was a lack of judgment or maybe too much alcohol, but the girl sucked a mean dick.
“Anthony,” she sang as she sauntered up to us.
I closed my eyes, praying that I had imagined her. When I felt her fingers tangle in my hair, I froze.
“Anthony, I’ve been looking for you. Where ya been?” Her finger traced my ear.
As I opened my eyes, I saw the cocky “I was so fucking right about you” look on Kitty’s face.
I pulled Candy’s hand away from my face and pushed her backward. “Candy, I’m busy right now.”
“But baby,” she whined, as she zeroed in on Kitty, “I thought we were going to spend the night together.”
I shook my head and let go of my grip on her. “No, Candy. We’re not. I told you that last time. You need to move on.”
“But,” she repeated as her mouth gaped open.
“Move along, Candy. I’m sure one of the other guys would love to spend some time with you,” I said, trying to get her to leave me the fuck alone and find a new victim.
“I don’t want them, though. They’re not as much fun as you.” She pouted, clutching her hands in front of her as she stared at the ground.
“Candy, I said no. I’m busy here with Kitty. Can you please excuse us?” Hey, I had tried to be nice, but I thought I’d just gotten a check mark for being a total dick.
When I glanced at Kitty, she was grinning and giving me the “I told ya so” look. For fuck’s sake, Candy had ruined any headway I’d made.
“You’re a total asshole, Anthony Gallo. Your voice sounded like shit tonight. I’m going to find someone with a dick bigger than a hot dog. You suck,” she hissed before she stormed off.
At that point, Kitty broke into hysterics. She covered her face with her hands and laughed and laughed.
“Hardy, har, har, Kitty,” I said, joining in on the laughter.
It was my curse in life that shit happened at the most inopportune time. Candy was the perfect case in point.
“She proved my point perfectly. You are an asshole.” She chuckled harder, enjoying herself and my misery.
“You’re wrong about me. I’ve been a jerk, but if I were a true asshole, I would’ve gone with Candy and left you here at the bar.”
Her laughter faltered at my response. In the old days, or maybe yesterday, I would’ve walked off with Candy. I would’ve taken her backstage, let her suck me off, and walked away a happy man.
“Well, you should’ve gone with her. She seems like a sure thing. I’m just trying to get through the next ten minutes and then I’m out. Forever.” She smiled, wiping the tears that had formed in her eyes.
“You’ll change your mind, Kitty Cat.” I smiled, moving the stool closer to her and sitting. “So, tell me why you’re so cold?”
“I’m not cold,” she said as she squared her shoulders in a defensive posture.
“Yes, you are. Why do you hate me so much?”
“I told you already. I’ve known too many men like you.”
“Maybe I’m different. Maybe I want to know you. You may be the one who changes my view on women.”
“That’s never going to happen. I’m not the one.” She shook her head and let her bo
dy relax.
