he had on women and he relished it. He lapped it up like a dog. His arrogance was beginning to annoy me.
“Of course, sir. Have a wonderful evening.” I turned to leave but he caught me by the arm. I felt the crisp fold of a bill in my palm.
“Drinks are on me tonight, darling.” His gaze flitted over my lips.
“How did you know—”
“It’s tradition. The staff goes out together every Friday night. Unless, of course, you won’t be joining them?” Ozi rested his hand on the blonde’s leg, which delighted her as she was beginning to scowl at the lack of attention.
“It would be rude of me to turn it down. Thank you again.” I shoved the bill without looking at it into my apron pocket and hastened my way back to the bar. The rest of the night was uneventful and I managed to avoid Ozi’s table until they left. I gathered my things and stepped out into the chilly New York City night.
Max was out front, scrolling through his phone. “There you are. The others went on ahead. The bar’s just a few blocks away.” I followed him as he walked.
“Thanks for waiting for me. So what’s the name of the bar?” I asked as if I knew anything about the bars in this city.
Max combed through his dark curls with his gloved fingers. “The Red Apothecary. It used to be an old pharmacy back in the day. The drinks are awesome. They’ve named them after old medicines and ancient remedies. And the décor is gorgeous—dark lighting, velvet drapes, very vintage chic.”
“I can’t wait. We only have two bars in Maplewood.” There was a dirty saloon that was older than the town itself and known to get rowdy on a weeknight, and a wine bar that no one went to because the locals thought it was too bougie for them.
Max laughed and linked his arm in mine. “You’re a long way from home, country girl.”
As we skipped down Fifth Avenue, he couldn’t have been more right. Every corner I turned reminded me of just how strange I must look to all the rest. We were almost to the entrance of the bar when I heard a low whisper against the wind. A chill traveled up my spine and I spun around. No one was there but I had the oddest feeling that someone was watching me.
The music was always too loud at the Red Apothecary. My senses were already heightened enough as it was and with this blonde nibbling on my ear, it was even harder to make out the conversation happening at the bar. Raven had just walked in with Max and I was straining to eavesdrop on them.
She hadn’t noticed me yet. But she will. I sent the blonde off to the dancefloor with a shot of their best whiskey and fixed my gaze on Raven, willing her to turn around. And like clockwork her eyes shifted to the dark corner of the bar that I was lurking in.
The breath caught in her throat. I could tell by the way her chest rose and her lips quivered. There was so much longing in her eyes. So much hunger. I wanted to taste it. She jerked her head away, turning back toward Max and the others. I was left to admire her long dark hair, its ends nearly reaching the top of her tight ass. Watching the curve of her hips sway back and forth to the music made my dick rock hard.
Just once would be okay. It would only be once. I could never fuck the same woman twice anyway. Aside from the fact that they didn’t respond well to being kicked out just minutes after I came all over them, I couldn’t let anyone get too close. More than a one-night stand would lead to expectations and questions and wanting more. Human women always wanted more. They were never satisfied. I was insatiable as well but I could find pleasure in a different one every time.
The problem of late was that they were all starting to feel the same. There was nothing new or exciting about these women. I was just going through the motions. Getting off and sending them out. Some nights I could make myself come better. But Raven…she piqued my interest. Something told me that she would taste different. As tightly wound as she was, she’d be anything but boring.
“Hello, Ozi. It’s been a long time.” The sound of her voice