Playing With Fire

Chapter 5


Blazier’s was unusually crowded today. Talia had little time to think of anything between the customers and the counter. She spent the morning juggling coffee cups and fixing sandwiches not to mention Jessica’s orders that kept coming back wrong. (and the girl still managed to get a tip from every customer. Talia wondered if she should go blonde as well) It wasn’t until late in the day that she finally found time to prop her swollen feet up on a stool and take a much needed break.

She was watching the floor from behind the counter, sipping a water when the bell over the door rang and she soon spotted Jack perusing through the antiques. He was alone, as always.

“Well, look who’s back.” Becca leaned against the counter near Talia. She twisted her red hair around a finger as she watched him with her lips pursed. “Hmm. Things must not have gone well today.”

“Can I get change?” a young shrimp of a teenage boy asked, annoyed that Becca’s attention had been stolen away for a moment.

“Yeah, hold on kid.”

Talia darted a look at Jack. The way his mouth was drawn in a tight grimace, she guessed Becca was right. He meandered in his slow way, shoulders thrown back but his head was down and he seemed unusually distracted as he glanced in between Blazier’s hoard of junk. A sick need beckoned in her stomach. Maybe he wouldn’t come around the warehouse that afternoon. She couldn’t help but be a little disappointed at the thought, even though she told herself she shouldn’t be since their playtime was about to end anyway. His glance threw in their direction and Talia was annoyed to find it didn’t rest on her but the menu above the counter.

She rolled her eyes, stalking to the back room.

“Where are you going?” Becca asked from over her shoulder as she dished out change.

“I got bathroom duty today.” Talia pulled out a mop and bucket. “Better get it done and over with.”

“Well, don’t you pick the perfect times?” Becca huffed, looking flustered at her growing line.

Talia didn’t take much notice. She ambled through the shop to the small corridor that led to the bathroom, carefully avoiding Jack, where she hung a yellow maintenance sign outside the door. She hated bathroom duty but it seemed a pleasant getaway for the moment while she pondered the twinge in her stomach today. Hard work was one of the best ways to clear the head, as her father always used to say.

The bucket already filled with old soapy water, she dipped the mop and began scrubbing at the floor. The process was futile. She must have scrubbed that room ten times since she started at Blazier’s but the stains were determined to stay. Never the less it was work to be done and Talia tackled it head on. Maybe she would have been a little more reluctant if she stopped to think about what she was mopping up but Talia would never allow herself to ponder too thoroughly on *that* subject. Besides, in this quiet space her mind was finally able to drift to more important things, like Brevin’s smile, Elise’s odd words and Jack’s distracted grimace. She was still maneuvering the mop when the door opened and closed again with a short click. Talia spun around.

“Oh, sorry. I was told this was the men’s room.” Jack playfully grinned, grimace long gone which she found she was happy to see.

“Unisex actually. And its closed for cleaning or didn’t you see the big yellow sign?” She leaned against the mop, her brows lofty and teasing, just like his.

“Must have missed it.” Jack shrugged. “Lucky for me.”

He inched closer, the devil in his eyes, dark and tempting until Talia found herself backed against the far wall of the small tiled room an arm on either side of her, Jack’s damn mocking smile leaning closer to her lips. Of course he would show up when she wanted to be alone.

“I’m working Jack.”

“So am I and I need a break.” His finger circled her chin then slid down her throat before he kissed her. A slow, careful kiss, he parted flicking his tongue over his lips. “What is that? Peppermint?”

Talia giggled. “Probably cleaner.”

His brows fell to a credulous scowl that only made Talia giggle more “I don’t think so. Let me try again.”

With his mouth over hers, Talia stilled her lips and let him do a little exploring with his tongue. He pulled away again.

“Nope. Definitely peppermint, Kid.”

“I had a stick of gum.” She shrugged, letting her hands roam his chest, then slide down his torso. It was such a little thing and yet Talia’s heart beat jumped and she felt a flood of warmth between her legs. Forget about her worries earlier. She caught his lips before the thrill could go away.

Jack met her with just as much fervor, pressing her hard against the tile before lifting Talia’s apron and easily sliding his hand down the front of her pants. She felt him smile against her lips when he found her wet at his touch. Quickly he stroked her clit before she had time to protest, not that she was going to, a thought that somewhat disturbed her.

God, he was good at this. She gently moaned into his mouth as a shiver passed.

“Am I gonna see you later?” he murmured against her.

Later? What? She opened her legs wider as he slipped a finger half inside. Talia sighed with her eyes closed.

Jack was chuckling but his hand didn’t stop. “Is that a yes?”

He flicked her clit again and another pleasant shiver raced her limbs.

“Mmm…yes.” She moaned, rocking her hips up to his hand.

With that Jack’s hand suddenly fled from between her legs and his smile was hovering over her.

“Good. ” He swiped his glistening fingers over her bottom lip then kissed her, sucking the juices he’d spread there. Again, his tongue flicked his lips as he scrutinized the taste. “Mmm. I like that better.”

Talia blinked. Her breath was heavy and she stood with a frustrated scowl that nothing had come of his little bit of fingering. Jack merely checked his watch.

“That’s all I got time for. Just wanted to make sure I wouldn’t be standing around for half an hour again.”

She shoved him away and he had the nerve to laugh harder.

“I might just keep you waiting now.”

“And I might not show up.” He said suddenly harsh and with a trace of the grimace.

“What do you mean?” Was she really so desperate to see him one last time?

Jack’s hand ran through his hair before he sighed and was smiling again. “We’ll see how things go. Now do you mind if I take a piss?”


He stayed long enough to grab a cup of coffee, which was served to him by Becca with smiles and batting lashes. Talia wondered, not for the first time, if Becca would be jealous or proud to find out her true relationship with Jack. The girls didn’t have an inkling, she was certain, as Jack hadn’t been in since she started meeting him so he couldn’t have given anything away. Not that he cared much since there certainly weren’t any stolen glances in her direction when he picked up his coffee. In fact, to her annoyance, he’d hardly looked at her. When she finally got around to telling her peers what they’d been doing they would never believe her by the way Jack was acting.

Talia silently huffed when the bell rang at his departure and they could see Jack crossing the street to a man in a short raincoat. She’d make him wait.

Jessica soon bounded up with waggling brows. “Well, miss Becca, please tell me you got more than a ‘Just Jack’ this time huh?”

“Do you have an order to give me or did you just come back to annoy me?”

“That’s a no isn’t it? Damn it woman.”

“He wasn’t in the mood for talking today.”

“So you get him in the mood for something else.” The girl vulgarly clenched her breasts together.

“I’ll remember that next time.” Becca rolled her eyes.

A quick succession of claps interrupted them.

“Girls!” Blazier beamed. “Your ever loving employer has not only sold that hideous walnut bar but the lovely Mr. Forester has just informed me he would like to purchase the matching wing chair and end table. I think this calls for a celebration!”


xxx


Blazier’s idea of a celebration was a free round of coffee for all his employees which Talia had politely refused. There was hardly time to enjoy it anyway as the place kept busy for the rest of her shift.

It was the end of the day. Clouds were gathering. Rain hovered above the City waiting to release in an icy flood. She peered out the cool glass taking in the murky view of the East Side while she tugged her flimsy jacket on. Jefferson Street wasn’t lined with shops like they had on Market. It was a neighborhood place and Blazier’s was one of Jefferson’s few places of business clustered together near the sector border. The apartment buildings were like every other in the City, manky and smelling of garbage but no more than her own neighborhood. Besides the street names, there was little difference between the two. Talia could hardly imagine there were places like the docks with shabby bars at every corner and shacks with drifters and drug addicts that haunted the streets at night. The further East one ventured though, the crummier the scenery got, or so Becca had told her. But so far, Talia liked what she saw.

A man with a long grey beard sat on the curb outside the shop and was singing for the passersby. Years ago, when she was new to the city, men like him, with tattoos down their arms and deep scars about their faces, made her shudder.

She could remember the first time she walked the streets, hand in hand with Elise and eyes darting in every direction at all the strange sights. She’d felt lost and alone in this place, even with her Aunt’s gentle coos to comfort the two of them. And yet with all her fears of The City she’d cowered from, Talia could pin point that day as the day she opened her heart to doubt, the day she began to question her life she brought from the Outside after being so thoroughly disappointed in God.

The man was singing without accompaniment. His voice was an even tenor, not spectacular, not like her fathers but nice enough. She knew the song. It was a folk song from the Outside about beer and dancing and living today for tomorrow we die. She hadn’t been allowed to sing it but she knew the words just the same and began quietly singing along to the catchy tune.

“I wouldn’t have thought you knew that one.” Blazier chided with a half grin.

“I catch on quickly.”

“I can tell. You’ve got a pretty little voice. Must take after your father.”

“I guess.” She sighed.

“You look like him you know.”

“Do I?” She stroked her hair back, wondering if she should take it as a compliment to be compared to a man because after all, this was Blazier. “Did you know him very well?”

“Well enough.” His eyes looked distant. “Enough to be sorry about his death. Terrible, what happened. I heard too late to go the service though which was probably a good thing. My type ain’t exactly welcome in that part of the city.”

Talia’s cheeks flushed, ashamed of the people she called her peers. “I’m sorry. We don’t all think like that, Blazier.”

“Oh spff. Don’t I know that? Your dad was example enough. Its just easier for everyone this way. Keeps things from getting too complicated and Lord knows we got enough complication in this world. Besides, I fit better here. More my taste.” He winked at her. “I notice you’re getting along here too. I hope I haven’t tempted you over to the dark side.”

“There was never a dark side.”

“Now, don’t be seduced so easily.” He wagged a finger at her. “And be careful walking home. This isn’t main street in your little place Outside. Even I carry pepper spray.”

“I will.” She laughed, caught off guard by his innocent scold which had been so close to Aunt Alice’s words the other day but she soon shook it away. “Bye, Blazier.”

“Bye sweetheart. Here this is for the rain.” He handed her an old newspaper and waved her out the door.

Boy was it raining. In the City there was only one kind of rain, a pour. The sky had cracked open only a moment ago and already the street was flooded. The man who had been singing on the curb was still calling out his tune but huddled under his hood now as figures ran by him in the water. He nodded to Talia, showing an intimidating stare that was warm at the same time.

She trudged quickly down the sidewalk. In her musing she hadn’t seen Jack’s familiar truck across the street and now that she was closer she saw the ‘Yes, we’re Open’ sign on the liquor store had been flipped to a curt ‘Closed’. Her heart sank. Had it been closed all this time? Is that why Jack was irritable earlier? Maybe he’d gone like he said he might, moved on to his next stop.

Anxiously she turned down the alley. Blazier’s newspaper was already soaked and dripping into her eyes so that she had to blink to see where she stepped. She hadn’t gone far when she saw him. Jack stood against the wall, drenched if not for his jacket and hood. To her surprise, Talia stopped short in her tracks at the sight of him, at the immediate jump in her pulse like thunder when his eyes met hers and he grinned.

“I decided to play nice and come on time.” She called over the pounding rain as Jack steadily approached.

His look was the same cheeky smile he always wore. Without a word in response, Jack swept her up against him and pressed his lips to hers.

Oh. This was different…and different was good.

The sodden paper dropped. Talia’s arms wrapped round his neck and they fell against the back door, mouth to mouth, the taste of rain washing between them. She punched the code to the lock without even looking and together they stumbled into the dark warehouse, Jack kicking the door closed with Talia still in his arms.

There was something about Jack’s kisses that had a drunken effect on Talia. Not that she knew what it was like to be drunk but she could imagine it was something like this. Like feeling dizzy and incoherent in a thrilling way. It didn’t help that he was so aggressive today either. His strong arms gripped her to his body as his mouth roamed in a fitful game with her own. She was finding it harder to steady her feet and so Jack simply lifted her up around his waist, balancing her against the door he’d just closed.

Jack sprinkled swift kisses down her throat like drops of rain. “Talia…”

“Mmm…Jack.”

“I won’t be coming around anymore.” His voice was lust ridden as though he hadn’t just told her it was over but whispered an encouraging endearment.

Talia shoved him away. “What?” she choked, nearly breathless.

He pecked her chin with a chuckle. “Business isn’t going the way I thought.” Jack said in a passive manner that made her want to hit him. “I won’t be dealing in this area anymore.”

He was trying to reach her lips again but Talia twisted away at the last moment.

“You mean this is it?” It was a sign of her obstinate nature that Talia was thoroughly irritated at Jack’s sudden news. *She* was the one who was supposed to call it quits not *him*. He might not have been sorry or even a little sad about moving on from a kid like her, but at least she would have had the pleasure of the upper hand, the dump. It just wasn’t fair.

“Sorry kid. If I could I would but…well…”

Somehow he’d managed to corner her lips again and she was spun into a whirl of Jack’s deep kisses. Why was there an ache in the pit of her stomach that had nothing to do with pride? It wasn’t as though they were in an actual relationship. They were just having fun and now the inevitable had come. Besides, the fact that he’d beat her to the punch meant Talia didn’t have to think of some excuse about Brevin.

With a grunt Talia held him at bay once more, searching his endless dark eyes that laughed back at her, the fall of his sopping hair, the beads of rain water that still marked his brow, the small scar that cut his familiar smirk at the corner of his mouth.

“So this is the last time…” she breathed.

“Looks like it.” He bent toward her so that their foreheads met. “Lets make it worthwhile, huh, kid?”

She could have done without the superfluous ‘kid’ but Jack’s large and capable hands clenched at her back to throw her against his chest in a heatedly intimate gesture which made Talia smile. A flash of the last time his hands were about her raced her vivid memory and was enough to send a warm burst down south. She might as well enjoy the time they had. Her arms draped around his neck. Talia licked once at his ear.

“Lets.” She whispered, then shrugged off her slick jacket.

The secret password. With no more interruptions, Jack carefully moved their location from the hard and uncomfortable door to the burlaps sacks not far. She fell with a rush of grain beneath her, shortly followed by Jack who straddled her.

Wasting no time, he swiftly slipped his fingers under her soaked top. His digits were warm on Talia’s skin after the chill of the rain and they confidently traced up and over her bra where Jack pushed the wet material away completely. Her rose nipples were pointed from the cold, from the heated stimulant of Jack’s fingers. Gently, he kissed at each. A nip light enough to make her shiver more from anticipation than the chill air as Talia eagerly imagined the next forty minutes. They’d most certainly have a repeat of last time. How could they go back to simple petting after the other day? What a hell of a goodbye.

Perhaps a little too excited, Talia reached for Jack’s broad shoulders and pushed against him, flipping positions easily. Now the one in a straddle she shoved open his light rain jacket, pushed up the flannel shirt he wore underneath and began sprinkling light kisses along his firm stomach, nipping to his chest of golden hair.

Jack was chuckling.

“What is it?” Talia scowled down at him, wondering what about her he was laughing at now. It was one of the few times she had moved completely on instinct and now she was regretting it by the way he smiled at her. Maybe the amateur was shining through again.

Her shirt had fallen over her chest. Jack yanked it, not so carefully, over her head with her bra still above her breasts and tossed it away then wrapped a hand around each of her small hanging mounds where he slowly began kneading them between his fingers. “Cool your jets, kid. I like it.” He rolled his eyes.

Oh, she hated his patronizing glances, even when taking them under the work his fingers were doing but she was hardly about to push him away. She was no longer cold. Friction was doing its work to produce heat between Jack’s fingers and her round breasts. Damn it felt good. Were *all* men as good as Jack? Would Brevin’s hands know just how make her shiver as well?

She’d forgotten about her kisses and instead her spread hands steadily rubbed up and down his long torso as his fingers pinched and flicked her nipple. Shoulder to belly button she roamed. Good God, he had the most glorious chest.

Jack was once again laughing.

“You know when we first started coming out here I thought you were a virgin.” He said with a cocked brow.

Talia’s mouth slammed closed. She hoped he didn’t notice the hard way she swallowed or at least that he’d misunderstood it for something else.

“You did?” Jesus, her voice sounded so much like a squeak.

“All signs pointed to cherry, boyfriend or not. That is until you blew me over. No virgin is *that* good.”

She kept her mouth shut despite her sudden desire to laugh at him and scream, “Oh yeah?” Instead Talia ran her nails down his chest to the rim of his pants, grinning like an idiot. There was a sudden tight squeeze around her tender breasts when her nails slipped below his belt.

Talia moaned quietly. “And what did you think? That you were going to fuck a virgin?”

“Maybe. There aren’t many left, you know.”

She giggled. “You’re just looking in the wrong sector.”

“Who said I was looking at all?”

“But you-“

Jack silenced her by pulling her down to meet his rough lips. The taste of rain was still upon them.

Intoxicant. That’s what he was. Especially when his hands reached to grip at her ass so that she moaned into his humming groans. She was positioned so that her weight crushed against his groin and Talia immediately felt the length of him pressing up when she slid lower. The gentle roll of her hips was completely innocent wasn’t it? She was just adjusting her position, wasn’t she? Making herself comfortable?

Innocent or not, Jack felt it clearly by the way that bit of him stiffened against her and Talia found she really didn’t mind the rough feel of *it* through her clothes. Why had she made such a protest anyway?

Again, but with more precision, she rocked into him and this time Jack grunted into her mouth. His hands clutched at her soft ass, holding her open crotch tight against his. When she rolled her hips over his erection a third time he thrust up to meet her and the result of which caused her to bite his lip, groaning out what she was feeling. It was wrong of her but she couldn’t help it. She was flushed from the contact and in such a state reason took a back seat.

Jack ran his hands up her back until they were tangled in her dark, dripping hair, fingers grazing her scalp as she moved her lips to his throat. He jolted up between her legs which Talia met with a little more force than before.

“Agh…” he groaned.

All too soon they were gently rocking to an even rhythm, pelvis to pelvis, grinding out soft moans from the other’s lips. With every upward thrust he hit her clit just a little bit harder. Shivers were beginning to speed through Talia’s slight limbs as they pumped against each other’s sensitive flesh through their clothes, riding this artificial sensation for all it was worth.

And God, yes, it was good.

Talia couldn’t say what had come over her. Her breath was catching in her throat, her eyes thrown closed. Anxiously she rubbed at the solid rod between her legs, sometimes twisting or thrusting too hard as she murmured her pleasure into Jack’s chest but there were yet too many layers between them to feel the release she really wanted. She was pondering how she could remedy this situation when another shiver sped through her thighs so rousing that she bit into Jack’s neck which she had been caressing feverishly.

“Ugh…” Jack grunted hard, obviously not from pain. His hands left the tangle of her damp hair to clamp at her breasts again. “Shit, Kid.”

Jack’s eyes were pleading, his brows twisted in needed release so satisfying to see that she didn’t even care he’d called her kid. In one quick move, Talia was rolled onto her back with Jack’s head bent close to her neck. He was heaving in rhythm to their thrusts of which he was now in full control and Jesus fucking Christ, did he know what he was doing. She curled her leg around his calf, knocking her hips with his.

“Talia…” His hot tongue whipped below her ear as he whispered in a desperate, aching voice. “Hell with this shit. Lets fuck Talia.” Jack sighed and buried his nose into her hair, inhaling her scent mingled with the clean smell of rain.

Her eyes were open but all she could see was the roll of his shoulders as he hovered over her. The distinct gloom of the warehouse meant that only shadow surrounded them. So dark, with only the patter of the rain outside and their rapid uneven breaths, it was easy to forget what she’d promised herself.

She kissed him. A deep kiss, one that plunged into each other’s wet mouths, that shared more than just breaths but thoughts and intentions.

Talia felt a tug at the button of her pants. Jack was anxiously pulling down her zipper and she found herself lifting so that he could slide her pants off her hips and down her legs. She was dazed, spinning in a whirl of need, waiting for the world to explode around her. It wasn’t until Jack pulled at his own zipper while spreading Talia’s bare legs apart that she felt the sharp twinge of guilt pierce deep inside.

What was she thinking? She wasn’t going to do this. She wouldn’t throw her future away for a quick fuck in a damp warehouse. This belonged to Brevin who would go to her expecting someone pure, someone innocent and only for him. She wouldn’t let herself be seduced so easily, would she?

“No, Jack!” She heaved and with two hands on his chest, Talia shoved Jack’s large body from over her with more force than she’d thought possible.

He rolled off easily, obviously not expecting such a sudden turn in events. It took him a moment to catch his breath.

“What the hell is this?”

She hadn’t expected to be met with such a hard glare and so she stuttered. “I-I changed my mind.”

“What?!”

His darkly beautiful eyes were dark alright but not any way Talia had ever seen them. She was shocked at the sight and was suddenly afraid she might have made a serious mistake in indulging the moments pleasure. Just when she moved to sit up Jack suddenly had her wrists wrapped by fingers that were vice like as he flung himself over her again and pinned her to the lumpy sacks.

“God damn you little cock tease!” Jack growled as he slammed her wrists to the sacks again.

“Let go of me!” she twisted.

The weight of him pressed hard against her body and she thrashed to push him off but Jack was too strong to be moved. He hovered above her, legs and hands doing their work to keep her down.

“Do you know what kind of man you’re fooling around with?” His voice was suddenly cold while his eyes roamed her lips, her throat, her bare chest, every inch of her that was almost his as she continued to struggle. “I could take you any time, any where and no one would do a God damn thing about it, kid.”

Talia angrily pulled at her wrists more surprised than frightened at this side of Jack she had never seen before. “Yeah? Then why don’t you, huh?” She challenged without thinking.

Jack’s frustrated expression immediately melted and was replaced with something thoughtful. He cast his eyes down her body with a look full of lustful debate as though he were carefully considering her words. Then suddenly the rough feel of his jeans rode her inner thigh and Talia felt him slowly bring his knee up and between her legs.

It was more than just the feral look overtaking his eyes that made her shiver and grow still with anticipation. It was the sudden awareness of her vulnerability. Here she lay, under his complete control helpless to whatever he deemed.

She caught her breath when his knee moved again, pushing her legs apart in one swift thrust.

Jesus, he was going to do it. Jack was going to fuck her, take the virginity she was saving for Brevin. So why had she stopped struggling? Why wasn’t she ready to fight it? Quickly, an anxious yet excited gasp escaped Talia’s lips when he leaned toward her.

He paused. With a lift of his long, yellow lashes Jack was looking into her eyes again but his murky depths weren’t filled with anger or frustration or lust as she had expected. Instead she was peering into that strange, soft expression that showed up lately at the most intimate of times and of which she had yet to define. Oddly, she anticipated a kiss but he released his grip instead.

“Lucky for you, I’m not that man.” He sighed bitterly, sitting up right with a grimace.

He rolled off her onto his back and deftly closed his fly leaving Talia to catch her breath before pulling her pants back up her hips.

To be honest with herself, she hadn’t expected that. From the look in Jack’s eye she was certain he’d be pummeled between her legs right about now, thrusting into oblivion. But then she hadn’t expected him to react so violently in the first place so why should she be surprised when nothing came of it? The worst part of everything she was feeling was that on top of the anger still buzzing inside from his sudden and surprising threat, she was aware of a thin layer of disappointment. That wasn’t right, was it? She’d said no after all and no meant no, not ‘yes, maybe, alright give it to me now!’. God, what kind of a girl was she?

She blushed at her thoughts and cast a sly glance in Jack’s direction. He was silently pulling on his muddy shoes which had been discarded not long ago. His light hair fell into his eyes so it was difficult to see his expression but she could guess it.

“I’m sorry.” Talia said quietly.

He swiped the loose strands back over his forehead. The look he was giving her was hard, but not angry. In fact a guilty flicker raced his eyes. Jack turned away and tugged at his other shoe.

“For what?” He almost laughed while shaking his head in disbelief.

“Getting carried away.”

This time he did laugh.

“Jack, I…”

With both shoes on, he stomped his feet and stood up to tower above where Talia still lay, tugging his jacket tight around him. She immediately sat upright.

“Where are you going?”

“Back...” Jack sighed as a smile eased his mouth. It quickly turned mocking. “I thought at least I’d get a little something more out of *this* but…I got no more time for child games. It was fun.”

“You’re leaving already?”

“I thought you’d want me to.” His brows rose over a furtive yet meaningful smile. “Why? You change your mind?”

Well, now that she thought of it…no. And no definitely meant no but that didn’t mean he had to leave. The now rakish smile he was giving her was accompanied with a steady chant inside her head: This was the last time. Last time.

“I’ll blow you.” She spat, almost desperately.

He nodded slowly, a look of understanding as he cocked his head to one side. “I see. You want the trade again.”

“Well, seeing as its over I thought we might as well go out with a bang.”

Jack chuckled. “There’s only one bang worth sticking around for and times not in my favor to wait for you to get over him. Jesus.” He shook his head, an irritated smile on his lips. “I’ve never known a girl who had her legs so tightly closed as you, kid.”

She didn’t answer and in the silence Jack’s forever smirk actually seemed to fade. His eyes grew still, his mouth soft. If she didn’t know better she’d have thought there was something more than just sex in the hungry look he gave her. He bent and picked up her shirt that rested near his feet.

“So you’re gone.” She said as he tossed her the garment, resigned finally to the inevitable. “But maybe I’ll see you around. Things can’t be completely sour with Mr. McGregor.”

A rigid scowl threaded Jack’s handsome features at the store owner’s name. He clenched his teeth and drew a breath. “Stakes change quickly in my line of work. I’m out of here today and won’t be coming back.”

Talia was taken aback at his animosity for the old man across the street. Whatever it was that happened this afternoon, Jack wasn’t happy at all. She sighed and tried to cut the tension again with an earnest smile as she straightened her bra. “Well, maybe I’ll see you anyway. It’s a small city.”

“I doubt it but…maybe.” He suddenly grinned, devilishly and any unpleasantness Mr. McGregor had summoned was far gone. “It’d give me more time to pry into that sweet little cunt of yours that’s for sure.”

Talia gasped, scowled and reached for the nearest object she could throw which happened to be a fallen apple. Unfortunately, Jack caught it mid air, laughing and bit down into the crisp flesh.

The rain outside pattered lightly against the pavement. Spattering, it filled the silence of their goodbye until Jack swallowed and began to speak looking regretful and maybe even confused.

“I…bye kid.” He finally said awkwardly and turned for the door which he swung open to step into the rain.

“Bye.” Talia whispered aware that he had left her for the second time that day wholly unsatisfied.