“This is so awesome. Give me another beer.”

I pull out an Anchor Steam, pop off the top and slide it on over. I fill her in on the rest, including me texting him and wondering if he was awake.

“So you took control,” she muses. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you do that. You know, with a man.”

She was right about that. “Well, I initiated it. Once he arrived, he was in control the whole time. And it was nice. He’s a bit rough, you know, a dirty talker too. At least with what I’ve experienced. I don’t think he’s quite as vulgar as Linden.”

“Give it time.”

“Anyway.”

“And you got off right?”

“Fuck yeah. And every time after that.”

“And when does IKEA come into this again?”

I can’t help but smile slyly, looking away. The memory of that moment is seared into my head to the point it’s impossible to shake loose. “We went back to return the couches. When Ava was in daycare, he hauled me into one of the showroom bathrooms…”

“No…” she says, eyes wide.

I nod. “Yeah. He put me up on the sink counter and went down on me.”

“In the store!”

“Yup.”

“And there were people around?”

“There were. I didn’t see any of them until after. Then we got caught.”

“You got caught?” she squeals. Loud. Loud enough that James finally starts walking toward us.

“Steph, you’re so loud!” I hiss at her.

“What’s going on ladies?” James asks, always the nosy one.

“Nothing,” I say quickly.

“Nothing,” Steph adds. “Except that Nicola here is a secret exhibitionist.”

“Steph!”

James looks me up and down. “Are you sure about that?”

“She might start dancing on top of the bar,” Steph adds.

“You can do whatever you want,” he says, “as long as it brings in the customers.” He stares at the both of us for a moment, trying to suss out what’s going on but when we give him nothing, he leaves.

“And with that,” I say to her, “please don’t tell anyone about what happened.”

“I’ll keep my lips shut,” she says. “But obviously I’m telling Linden.”

“No!” I swat at her arm. “You can’t tell him of all people! I don’t want Bram to think I’m flapping my mouth off.”

“Oh, and you don’t think he’s doing the same thing right now? Scoring with the unpenetrable ice queen?”

“Ice queen?” That almost smarts as much as “no fun.”

“You know, that’s what they call any girl who won’t give up their cooch on the first date. You’re like their white whale.”

“Great, a whale.”

“Moby Dick, stupid. Anyway, Linden will know by the time I get home, I guarantee it. And it won’t be on account of me.” She gives me a look. “And you know, it’s fun to share. It’s good for you. I mean, you don’t see me holding back what Linden does in bed.”

“I know,” I grumble. “And I don’t need another recap about what you guys did with the sparkly butt plugs you bought in the Castro, either.”

She shrugs. “I bet Bram is just as much into that kinky shit. And when he shoves his cock in your pussy and a plug up your ass, I guarantee you’re going to call me up and shoot the shit.”

“I really hope you’re not being literal,” I comment dryly.

Steph doesn’t stick around for long after that. She gets this look on her face when she’s tipsy and needing to get laid. I wish I didn’t know what that look was but I’ve seen it too often when she’s thinking about Linden.

I’m about ten minutes from finishing my shift when I get a text from Bram.

Are you still at work?

I can’t help but get a giddy little thrill just from a simple text. I feel like I’m in high school again.

Yup, just about to finish though.

I’ll come get you. I can’t wait any longer. Been thinking about you all day.

Now I’m grinning ear to ear. I’d forgotten what fun it was to flirt via text.

All right, if you want to.

See you soon.

It’s not long until I’m stepping out into the mist, bringing my jacket around me closely, while Bram pulls up in his Mercedes.

“Get in, beautiful,” he tells me after putting down his window. He looks so dapper in his suit, I almost have to pinch myself that he’s here to get me.

I slide on into the Mercedes. “Brrrr it’s cold out,” I say, rubbing on my arms.

He leans over and flicks on the heat. “You know, you’d think growing up in Scotland, the drizzliest, dampest, wet crotch of all places would have prepared me for San Francisco but I don’t know how you people do it. Your seasons make no sense.”

“Tell me about,” I say, still feeling the chill. Wearing a skirt doesn’t help but he puts his broad, warm hand on my thigh and presses down.

“You’re cold as ice,” he notes. “You should have had a few shots of Scotch while you were waiting for me.”

I tell him I wasn’t waiting long. Then the car pulls off of Van Ness Avenue and starts heading toward Golden Gate Park. “Where are we going?”

He doesn’t say anything. I look over at him and he’s grinning in the dark and his hand is sliding further up my thighs.

I squirm as the hairs on his arm tickle my sensitive skin. At the same time I can’t help but part my legs, wanting to give him easier access.

“Where are we going?” I ask again, my breath hitching as his fingers push aside my panties and slink their way between my folds. I know I’m wet already. My body gives this man the most immediate reaction. Even the way he says “fuck” gets me going.

“I’m going to take you for a little ride,” he says. There’s a husky undertone to his voice that drives the message home.

This is all still so new to me. I try not to dwell on my insecurities – does my breath stink after that shift, am I wearing a matching bra and underwear, am I going to be any good? The car revs, the vibrations going right through me and I lean back in my seat and close my eyes.

I’m actually close to coming – his fingers have skill and my body has no patience, not with him – but he brings the car to the side of the road going through the park. In any other circumstances I’d think he brought me here to murder me. Or I would have been afraid of the riff raff and secret society that breeds in the park after dark. But I know Bram won’t hurt me and I know I’m safe pretty much anywhere with him. He knows how to take care of himself pretty well.

“This is a bit creepy,” I still say to him. “Great place to hide a body.”

“Great place to shag a body,” he says, turning the car and the lights off until we’re enveloped in near darkness, and twisting in his seat. I hear his seatbelt come undone. “I’m not taking any chances after what happened in IKEA. Now, I’m getting in the backseat and you’re going to get in right after.”

I don’t make any attempt to argue. He gets out of his seat and walks to the back. He opens the door and sits down, undoing his belt and zipper. In the dim light from a nearby streetlamp I can see the length of his hard cock as he takes it out.

Jesus. He’s just fucking ready for this at any time.

“Are you going to get back here and suck me off or what?”

Wow. Okay. First the cock makes an appearance, then his filthy mouth.

“I’ll be right there,” I tell him, trying to keep my voice from shaking. Even though it’s fun, it’s still nerve-wracking. I feel so silly playing the role of the sexy minx and it’s apparent that’s exactly what he wants from me.

I open the passenger door, get out into the cold air and then open the back one. I’m about to step inside when he says, “Strip.”

“What?” I say peering into the car at him. His eyes gleam with desire and control.

“I said, strip. Take it all off, now. Then get in the car and put my cock in your mouth.”

I blink. I can’t tell if he’s role-playing or not, but he sounds dark and commanding and not at all the happy, grinning Bram that had picked me up. To be honest, it makes my nerves stand on edge.

“Bram,” I tell him.