 |
Sexual Secrets
Chapter One
As Cori looked reached the bar and grabbed a stool, Adrienne leaned on the counter and bantered with a couple of older men in business suits. She always seemed in flirt mode. Of course, she derived large tips from making over-the-hill men feel attractive, and felt no shame using her charms or her body to elicit extra money.
Cori coughed to get her attention and Adrienne lifted her head. Immediately, she broke into a face-splitting grin. She turned back to the men, must have made excuses, and then rushed over to where she sat. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice upbeat. "Joe let you leave early? Doesn't sound like Mr. Tyrant. It's only four o'clock. Hey, you want a drink on the house?"
She suddenly felt weary; beyond weary, and felt her entire body sag. "Thanks. I'll take a very strong drink."
"Straight?"
"Yes."
"What do you want?"
"Anything strong."
Adrienne left and returned, setting a glass before her. Cori gulped the amber liquid down almost in one swig. It tasted strong and bitter, burning her throat, but she did not care. Her head reeled—she didn't drink often. The tipsy feeling already began, and she wasn't finished yet.
Adrienne's smile wiped off her face and she leaned an elbow on the counter just before her. "What's wrong, hon?"
Cori almost broke into fresh tears as she told her, her voice bitter as the words tumbled out, one on top of the other.
Adrienne's lips thinned. "Bastard! I told you I didn't like him."
Cori smirked, using all her strength to keep the water from spilling over her cheeks. "Congratulations on being right."
"Aw, I didn't mean to sound self-righteous." She patted her hand. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Cori felt her lips turning slightly upwards. Adrienne could sometimes seem like the mother she'd never had. Then she thought of Jarrod and her smile melted. "You can find me a job. Just kidding." She groaned and shook her head. "Truthfully, the job is a bigger problem than finding out Joe is a complete liar and loser. The landlord is already threatening to evict me because I'm behind a month's rent. Not like the jobs are abundant these days."
Adrienne nodded. "Yeah. I know what you mean. So much competition." She settled her gaze on Cori, who felt her gut clenching.
"I've only worked in a factory, Adrienne. Dumb me, but I hoped Joe the Jerk's promise that he'd promote me to Supervisor—and it wasn't cause I was sleeping with him either. I'm glad at what I do. I deserved that promotion."
"I know."
"I'm going to try for a better job though. Easier said than done these days."
Adrienne patted her hand. "Honey, you can get a job tomorrow. Tonight. You have assets other women only dream about. Use them if you must." She winked. "Do you think I got this job by my winning personality?" She dropped her voice. "Matt was rock hard when he hired me. Men are powerless to their sexual urges. As long as I satisfy Matt, my job status is secure. You may have to do the same, Cuz. If your boss is hot, it can even be fun."
Cori knew her cousin well and her eyes hit the ceiling. "I slept with a boss and look how that turned out. I'm not about to fuck a man to get a job." She shook her head. "No way is any man using me again. Not happening."
Adrienne's sharp eyes set on hers. "It's the fastest and best way to get hired in a tight job market, Girl." She leaned forward, elbow on the counter. "You'd be doing the using, not the other way around."
"I don't want to use anyone. Plus Joe—it turned out so wrong. I loved him! I stupidly thought he loved me back; that we had a future." A lump clogged her throat.
Adrienne kept her palm over her hand. "You got emotionally involved, and that did you in. Detach from the sex. It's a dog-eat-dog world out there. Do what you have to do to feed and house your little brother, even if you have to use some man to get a job."
Cori shut her eyes, unable to respond.
A customer called out to Adrienne.
"I'll be back in a few," Adrienne said, with a wink. "It'll work out. You'll see." She brushed her hand over her large tits, hidden by a green sweater, and winked at her. "Use what you have, Cori."
Cori sipped her drink, her hand still trembling. Adrienne would never be a Woman's Libber. Well, she couldn't do the things that Adrienne did, yet she would need to find a job pronto. She needed to give her brother and herself a secure life. Instead of renting an apartment in a dangerous section of Chicago, she wanted to own a house in a safe neighborhood. Instead of barely surviving paycheck to paycheck, she wanted some room to breathe. Taking another sip from her glass, she thought about Joe's betrayal and wanted to fling her drink across the room.
A shadow fell over her, and a strange awareness assailed her, as if a predator had entered a tent during a campout. She took another drink, bracing herself for trouble.
"What's wrong?" A pleasant male voice hit her ears. "You look like a dog when he's ready to strike."
Cori set her glass down hard. It almost spilled as she looked up at the man standing over her. Shit, he was tall! Tall enough to make her feel small and weak, she did not like the way his aqua eyes penetrated right through her. She recognized that predatory stare and had no use for it today. Maybe forever.
"A dog bares his teeth, the way you just did, when he senses danger." He sounded good-natured, if Joe hadn't just destroyed her world, she may have tolerated him. After all, she had to admit she found him attractive in a very disturbing way.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"I'd rather not tell you." Yet she couldn't help appraising him. He was undeniably hot and sexy. Dark and delicious, she thought. Younger than Joe, maybe late twenties or early thirties. He had strong bones and a swarthy complexion. A classically chiseled nose and wide, sensual lips softened, what may have been, a too-harsh face. A thin scar that began behind his ear and ended mid-cheek made him more attractive, rather than less. Both boyishness and sexuality radiated from his powerful, made-for-sports-and-sex frame. She bet women spoiled him in a sickening way. Probably threw their bras at him. Well, not her! Not now. Not after Joe.
She turned away, feeling uneasy under his hot stare. "I really don't need anyone analyzing the expression on my face." She sipped her drink.
"You look as if you could use some cheering up."
He had a low, but friendly voice. Quite a contrast from Joe's loud, New York accent. Joe!
God help her, she hated men. "I don't need cheering up from you."
He sat on the stool beside her. Apparently, its former occupant had left. Even seated, this man seemed all encompassing and powerful. His magnetism sucked her in.
"I'm told I'm easy to talk to." He caressed her with his sensual tone. "Why not tell me what's wrong? Maybe I can cheer you up."
She spat her drink into her glass and laughed without mirth. "You probably don't hear this much, but I'm not interested in you. I especially don't want to sleep with you."
She felt hot fingers grabbing her chin, forcing her to face him. Her skin tingled as her eyes collided with his. Startled, she couldn't move.
"I didn't say anything about sleeping with me. You did. Is that a subconscious wish?"
«purchase the book» «read the reviews» «back to the bookshelf»
|
