Shelter From the Storm?

Elena had mentioned possibly working at A Little Danger mostly to stir up Melissa but maybe she should take the job.

After all, she could do a lot worse than work there. Lacey seemed nice enough and if she earned some money, she could save up for first and last month's rent on her own place. She didn't want to live with her mama and her laundry list of boyfriends any longer than needed. But even in this rundown town, the rents weren't exactly cheap. Unless of course she got a roommate, then maybe it wouldn't take that long.

If she took this job she might get to test the products which would help with getting it on with Royal and anyone else. But then again, she'd had to wait on people like Lynette and help them pick out their…cock rings. Knowing exactly who Lynette had been shopping for, the same guy that Elena had in mind when selecting body paints and lingerie.

Great scene for Royal who had two women out there buying stuff to use when in between the sheets with him…but then again, wasn't it always like that for the men? What about Tex, he had both her and her mother to keep him happy. At least until his car got redecorated and her mama went after him with a skillet and a few other things.

"Hey, let's go hang out at the diner," Melissa said, "You don't got anywhere you have to be right now."

Elena shook her head and they took off to go get some burger plates once she talked Melissa out of a salad. They headed inside and grabbed a booth.

"So you got a guy lined up to try those paints out on," Melissa asked.

Elena just smiled.

"I might…

"Who…?"

Elena shrugged.

"Someone who can show me a good time," she said, "nothing more serious than that."

Melissa furrowed her brows.

"Now that sounds serious," she said, "Is it anyone I know?"

The waitress brought them iced teas and Elena sipped hers. She really didn't want to get into it with Melissa and she didn't want third degree. She wanted to see Royal again but she knew he probably had gone off to meet Lynette. Maybe to try out that new cock ring she had bought for him. She shook it off because she wasn't going to spend time away from him thinking about that next time. That's not the kind of woman she wanted to be, not like the kind that had surrounded her in high school.

"So it's not anyone familiar," Melissa, "Someone passing through?"

Elena didn't answer and her friend shot her a terse look.

"Don't tell me you're doing that guy living with your mother."

Elena just rolled her eyes at that. She'd learned her lesson with Tex who not only had turned out to be a creep but had a warrant out for his ass. Melissa just nodded.

"Okay well you had me worried there," she said, "but you're really not going to tell me?"

Elena sighed.

"There's nothing to tell," she said, "Nothing going on…I just want to be ready when I find the right guy who likes tequila flavor."

Melissa looked up near the entrance.

"You mean like that hunk over there?"

Elena followed her glance and saw Lucky enter the diner and talk to a waitress. He followed her until he approached them. His face lit up and he smiled slowly.

"Didn't expect to see you here," he said.

Melissa smiled at him.

"We just finished some shopping," she said, "want to join us while we get lunch?"

Elena almost objected but just kept quiet as Lucky looked over at her before sitting next to Melissa who didn't look too upset by that. Her friend did have a point, because Lucky was great looking. He was built a lot like Royal but a little taller and broad in the shoulders.

He ordered a burger and some cola and then turned to look at Elena, a flash of mischief on his face. She saw it and braced herself for what she knew would follow.

"I can explain…"

His mouth quirked up in response, which made her cheeks flush a bit.

"There's no need to do that," he said, "It's a free country and if you want to shop at Lacey's store no one can throw you in jail for that."

She folded her arms at him.

"Funny…were you really there to fix her plumbing?"

He nodded.

"Yeah I apprenticed in plumbing before I went away," he said, "and Lacey's an old friend of mine."

Lucky had been friends with all kinds of people, choosing to expand beyond his social circle. So while he'd been friendly enough with those who came from money, he had hung out with those who didn't, like Lacey as well.

"So did you fix her plumbing," Elena asked.

"Of course…did you find what you needed?"

Now her skin did flush but not the way she wanted. She reached for her iced tea.

"Oh come on Elena, don't get all flustered…"

She put the glass down and stared at him.

"I'm not flustered," she said, "I've been there before."

"I can imagine," he said, "so what'd you get anyway?"

"None of your business…"

He grinned back at her.

"You really sensitive about your tastes or something," he asked, "There's nothing wrong as long as you both like it."

She glowered at him.

"Oh is that how it works?"

Melissa cleared her throat.

"She bought some body paints," she said, "Tequila…"

Lucky nodded then looking more than a bit sagely. All an act, Elena thought, seriously if he were getting off on this…

"So what were you planning on doing with your tequila flavored paints?"

She sighed.

"I told you it's none of your business."

He chuckled.

"All right, it's nothing to get worked up over," he said, "Just a question."

"Okay then keep your questions to yourself."

Lucky looked over at Melissa.

"She sure sounds a bit heated up," he said, "all over some body paints."

Elena just looked at the both of them and shook her head before she resumed eating.

Later she sighed in Royal's arms as they lay down in the shelter. He had called her to meet him later that night and she had been more than happy to leave the house. Her mama had crashed in front of the TV again and Buck had been out drinking beer on the back steps. He had called into the house through the screen door for her to grab one and join him.

She hadn't responded back but grabbed her wallet and headed to meet Royal. They had met in the darkness near the community center where he unlocked the door and they walked inside, not looking around them before heading down to the shelter lighting a path with their phones.

"What about Lynette?"

"She's with a group of her friends on some overnight at a spa."

Elena hoped she'd decide to stay there for a week or longer. And when she undressed herself in front of Royal before he removed his own clothing, she knew she had to make the most of their time together. They lay on the mattress and she opened up her thighs for him to rest in between them after he'd sheathed up. He kissed her so thoroughly on the mouth smelling of musk that she felt as if she'd melt, even before he thrust inside her. His penetration made her eyes widen because there'd been too much of a rush for her to feel slick enough to take him inside of her.

She didn't know why he acted as if they needed to rush…if Lynette was gone for a while.

"She trusts you?"

He sighed, his breath tickling her bare skin.

"What she doesn't know doesn't affect her."

She lifted her head to look at him.

"What do you mean by that," she said, "You're going to marry her right, and if that's so, you're going to stick by it."

He didn't answer right away and she wondered if she'd said something wrong. She didn't believe in love or marriage or even that they went together but she'd often hoped that someone did.

"She knows the score," Royal said, "She knows what her father expects of her."

"I wouldn't know anything about that," Elena said, "That's not my world and it's not yours either."

"It will be…"

He stroked her skin but she felt him draw further away. She knew that as far as he believed, she was the woman he fucked when he wasn't with the one who could get him places. Not that she minded most of the time, because when she lay in his arms and she felt the ripple of pleasure from when he pushed her to climax.

"If that's what you want."

"Of course it is," he said, "Just like we're together here now."

So he wanted to be with her which stirred her insides in delightful ways that had grown familiar to her. He leaned over to kiss her again, softly at first before his lips probed hers in much greater detail. She had memorized the sensations, the flavors of him as he kissed her. He stroked her hair and her hands reached for his back as he settled down to pull her against him. Soon enough they'd be tangled up together, not knowing where one began and the other ended, not carrying either.

"How long can you stay here," he asked in between kisses.

She considered that very quickly, and then kissed him in response before lying against him.

"Until midnight…"

He sighed.

"Like Cinderella?"

She stroked his face, the stubble on his jaw line.

"Yeah…only without the fancy dress and slippers…"

She felt him roll off of her, his slick flesh leaving her own bare while he reached for the condom. Somehow after leaving the diner, she had slipped back to the pharmacy to replenish their stock. She had been by herself because she hadn't wanted anyone to ask questions.

He tore open the foil packet and she waited while he rolled it on him. God, she couldn't wait to feel him inside of her again, this time she'd control the tempo of his movement.

Just like she'd control how she felt about him until it was time to say goodbye.