JENNIE

—Never Have I Ever Used a Vegetable for…—

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Hit me again, Sam? Really, Nini?

And what did I just agree to? Not that. Certainly not that. Wife and all…

Her brow goes up, that deviant smile causing more havoc to my belly and malfunctioning brain. I try and lock my lips, but I know what's coming.

"Not that you're Sam, the bartender from Casablanca, all-time best romantic film. You're Lisa. Totally different. Though, you could be Rick Blaine. Very edgy. Cynical. Handsome. Did you know Casablanca was his first romantic role? Stole the show. 'Here's looking at you, kid.' Did you know that line wasn't originally in the—"

She's suddenly in my face, her index finger pressing to my lips.

"Why so nervous?"

"Nervous? No way! Why would I be—"

"You turn into your dog, yapping a mile a minute about nonsense."

Kuma, upon being spoken about, begins his own yapping tirade. I turn my creased eyes on her for helping prove her point. "And while I have no interest in the movie you're going on about, I do want to know one thing." she takes the remaining space between us and eliminates it with one large step. "You think I'm handsome, huh?" Her smile lifts on one side. My cheeks blaze crimson and my mouth opens to vomit more nervous chatter. "No need to explain. I get it. You're into bad girl. Handsome cons, gamblers. If I told you I owned a nightclub once, would you instantly fall to your knees?"

I gasp. "So, you have seen Casablanca?" I perk up.

"Who hasn't? Rick was a badass. He ruled that town and everyone who entered his nightclub. He also had magic hands on the betting table." She leans in and I swear she's going to kiss me again. And, gee willikers, I want that. That's the alcohol speaking on my behalf. The alcohol has forgotten all about her wife. My heart threatens to explode as it beats like a drum in my chest. I beg for her lips to touch mine, her hands back at the base of my neck, empowering me to do the same. My hands itch to touch her. Feel the strength of her muscles against my small palms. I've only read in books about the sexual desire, and with Lisa in front of me, her entire presence, I can't deny the strange awareness I feel between my thighs. Oh boy do I want this. I shouldn't, though! She's married with a family. But we've already kissed several times. What's just one more…

I mentally scribble down an IOU to her poor wife for stealing another kiss that doesn't belong to me. My eyes shut waiting for her touch, but it doesn't come. I peek through one eye to see her lean past me to grab two miniature bottles off the table.

When she straightens, she looks cool and collected, unlike myself who feels as if my face is on fire. How extremely stupid of me to think she would want to kiss me again.

Gathering up my wits, I say, "Well, what about this drinking game? The night isn't getting any younger." As if I need any more to drink. Just the small amount has me too loose in the mind and tongue.

"Sure." She takes the cap off the bottle and twists one open and hands it to me. I go to throw it back, when she stops me. "Whoa there, killer, take it easy. How often do you drink?"

"Pfft. All the time!" I go to take another big gulp, but she stops me, her inquisitive eyes not accepting my answer. "Okay, a few times with Bea, even though it's terrible for her diabetes and Mabel can never know. Oh! And Henry took me out for my birthday once and I had a martini. It was quite tasty. They put a cherry in it and small little ice chips." She shakes her head, taking the drink away from me. "Hey!" I whine and she downs the bottle herself.

"Let's take it slow. I can't have my little squirrel getting sick while on her big adventure."

"I thought this was a kidnapping," I remind her.

"It is. You're still my captive, but it doesn't mean we can't have a little adventure in the meantime. We do have two whole days to get to Kansas."

I can't hide the grin forming across my alcohol induced warm cheeks. Even though all the stress and worry she must be going through, she's not only willing to help me get answers, but wants to give me those thrilling life adventures I crave. The ones I've only yet read about in my books. I want to throw my hands around her neck and hug her. Thank her for being so generous and even though she's still grumpy most of the time, she's kind and accepting. I hold back from assaulting her and write an IOU in my head for another wrongful thought of where I wish this moment would lead to inappropriate things.

"Okay. Adventure it is. How about that drinking game?"

"Never have I ever mixed ketchup and mayonnaise together." I giggle, feeling the three mini bottles of liquor I've drunk since we started our drinking game. We've since made ourselves comfortable as two can be, sitting face-to-face in the two fancy desk chairs, our knees every so often brushing together.

Lisa doesn't take a drink and I throw my hands up in shock. "Are you serious? It's the best concoction ever! I learned about it in a food magazine. Beatrice and I tested it out. It was magnificent!"

She shakes her head. "Some condiments are meant to be eaten by themselves. My turn. Never have I ever stayed out past midnight."

Shoot!

I can't drink to that one.

Lisa laughs loudly. "Seriously?"

My hands fly up. "It's just that it's important that I open the store on time. So, bedtime is essential. Plus, Kuma likes his sleep, so we… Ugh. I'm super boring, aren't I?"

She bumps her knee into mine. "I wouldn't say boring. Maybe one of a kind is a better description." I snort and slap her knee. I take a sip from the bottle I'm holding, forgetting it's empty. "Well, shoot, I'm all out! Maybe we should go out and get more! I can try a con at the bar. Maybe pretend I'm a waitress and you and I—"

"Slow down, Bonnie." She laughs. "No need to leave the room." Lisa gets up and pulls out her burner phone and dials a number. "Yes, good evening. I'm calling from room one-oh-five." She glances at me and gifts me with the sexiest wink known to man. "Every time I call or speak to someone, you pronounce my name wrong. I pay enough to get proper treatment here… That's right, Moreau. About time someone shows some respect. Now, I need someone to bring me a bottle of your best tequila. And leave it by the door. I prefer your staff not bother me. And make it quick. I'd really hate to add horrible service to the other complaints I'm wavering on speaking to the manager about. Thank you. Same to you."

She hangs up and tosses the phone onto the bed. "Now, where were we?"

"We were pretending I wasn't a bore. And you're pretty good at that!" I beam, way too excited about my kidnapper's con skills.

She sits back down, resting her ankle on her knee in one of those typical cool girl, relaxed poses. "I think while we wait, we should spice up this game."

"I'm not really much for spicy food."

She puts her hands behind her head. "Not the spicy I'm talking about, babe. Just a few minutes ago, I had my mouth on your neck. You seemed to enjoy it, then out of nowhere you hid right back into your shell. Why?"

Why? Because she's like a shark. I'm a minnow and I can't decide if she wants to eat me or, well, eat me! I accidently giggle, throwing my hands over my mouth.

"Wanna elaborate on what's so funny?"

"Well, certainly not." Silent thoughts are best kept silent.

We hear the sound of a concierge knocking on the door of the room next to us and Lisa gets up to peek out the peephole. A few seconds pass, and she opens the door and returns with a bucket of ice and a bottle of liquor. She uses the two crystal glasses on the dresser and pours a hefty amount in each. She hands me one and sits. "Drink."

I'm already light on my feet, so I skip the sniffing and take a large gulp.

Bad idea.

I cough and almost choke the fiery liquid back up. "What in the heavens is this poison?"

"It'll help loosen that tight tongue of yours. Now, let's get back to our game."

God bless it, my chest is on fire. I cough once more and pull myself together to think. "Never have I ever gone back twice to refill my plate at a salad bar." While I'm at it I should probably write an IOU for that one time too—

Lisa drinks her entire glass and jumps right into hers. "Never have I ever had someone go down on me."

I choke.

She stares at me, waiting for me to drink.

Clearly, I don't, since that would be cheating.

"No? For real?"

My mouth opens and closes. Shame and embarrassment flare across my face.

Lisa's rare laugh is infectious, sending a tremor of goose bumps down to my toes. "Babe, you've never had someone's mouth down on your pussy?"

Dear Earth, may a meteor slam into this exact hotel and save me from answering—

"Jennie—"

"That's a negative." There. Aliens can come and attack our planet and save me now.

More chuckling. "I figured with the way you turned beet red earlier." Just the mention of her nudging my legs apart has me practically unravelling in front of her.

"I think that's truly none of your business and we should keep this light. Never have I ever eaten dessert before dinner." I smirk as I take a drink. Such a no-no, but sometimes I sneak a piece of Mabel's pie before—

"Wow, rebel, never have I ever put my mouth around a someone's cock—Jesus!"

Lisa wipes away the booze that just went spitting out of my mouth onto her face.

Well, that's what she gets. Who asks such a brash question?

"My turn, never have I ever killed anyone." We both pause and I wait for her to drink or not to drink. I'm hoping I'm not in the presence of a murderer, but you can never be too sure.

She doesn't drink and continues on. "Nice try. Never have I ever ridden someone until my legs turned into Jell-O."

God bless it. "What in Sam hell is wrong with you?"

"Drink or don't drink."

"Not drinking. Never have I ever thought about getting a real job."

She drinks. "Never have I ever orgasmed from my own hand."

Ugh. At least we both drink.

"My turn. Never have I ever enjoyed a Richard Simmons workout." She stalls, but with a smile breaching her features, she drinks. "I knew it!"

"That I sadly admit, I did enjoy. But it was more watching you have the time of your life. Richard was a hard no for me." She takes another swig, emptying out her glass. "My turn. Never have I ever been fucked by a gp girl."

I choke.

Then slam my drink.

And choke again.

"Okay, maybe the tequila was a bad idea."

She reaches for my glass and I tug it back.

"I can handle it. I'm an adult."

"With the tolerance of a baby. New rules. I chug, you sip."

I pout, pretending I want to drink more, but thankful, because that stuff is the devil's juice. I put my glass down and straighten in my chair. My vision is a bit off and I would be lying if I said I didn't feel a little dizzy. Lisa leans forward, too close. I fear she's able to hear the drumming of my heart. Instead of another wishful attempt at ravaging me, she reaches over to the bottle and refills our glasses.

"I must say," I stutter slightly over my words. "This game has gotten a bit personal."

"Your innocence has piqued my curiosity and now I'd like to explore more."

"There's really nothing to tell. I'm also not that innocent." Both truth and lies.

"And I beg to differ." Her leg stretches, scissoring between my thighs. I fight not to squeeze mine together, desperately wanting the embrace of her thick thigh pressed against my intimate parts. Feeling wicked at my own thoughts, I shake my head.

"Just play the game. Never have I ever taken more than one free sucker at the bank when making a deposit."

"Never have I ever used three fingers to pleasure a woman."

Jesus. The room is suddenly on fire. My cheeks are hot. My body, hot. "Never have I ever watered my lawn on an off-watering day."

"Never have I ever gotten my nipples sucked so hard you came just by my tongue alone."

My legs squeeze together, catching the thickness of her thigh in the process. "Never have I ever gone back for another sample on free sample day at the grocery store."

"Never have I ever taken my tongue to your sweet ass—"

"NEVER HAVE I EVER USED A VEGETABLE FOR PLEASURE!"

This time she chokes.

I cover my mouth.

"Oh God, that came out wrong."

"It came out all right, babe. Explain now." Her smile is outright deadly. And for a moment I wish she would just put me out of my misery.

"It was in a book once."

Her brow goes up. She's not letting this one go. Shoot.

"See, Beatrice gives me these books. Romance books."

"Ones where people use vegetables on people?"

Ugh, she's not making this easy.

"Well, yeah, and no. I normally prefer a sweet romance, but Bea, she's in this book club. They suggest dark stuff. Stuff where girls get kidnapped by older men and have things done to them, with like cucumbers and stuff…" I trail off because she looks about ready to fall off her chair. "What?"

She doesn't even try to hide her smirk. "You won't stay out late and I bet you don't speed up at yellow lights, but you read smut books about girls who get fucked by cucumbers?"

I sit up straighter and cross my arms over my chest. "For what it's worth, he did it out of love. And yellow means slow down. More people should realize that."

Lisa throws her head back and bellows out, "Jesus." She pulls her head back to face me. "You truly are something else." We stare at one another until the humor of it all settles in and I start to laugh.

"Wow, what a mess I am." I take a deep breath, calming my laughter. "I bet you can't wait to dump me on Death's door and be rid of me." I exhale a long sigh. Maybe spending the remainder of my days with goats in solitude is what I deserve.

Lisa moves in her chair, her hand reaching forward to cup my cheek. "I think you're crazy as fuck and I have to admit… I'm fucking into it. And no, I'm not going to dump you on Death's door. I promise. We'll figure out why he wants you, but he's not getting to keep you."

"Thanks," I whisper, leaning into her touch. A ding from her burner phone slices our moment in half and she's out of her chair, reaching for the phone.

"Damn," she mutters, opening each attachment and zooming.

"What? Is it bad? Let me see? Is Juniper in them?" I grab the phone, which she allows, and focus on the first photo. I can't help but smile at the view of a goat, assuming it's Billy with an apple in his mouth looking up at the sky as if he's deep in thought. I may be walking into my own death, but I've suddenly become excited to meet Billy.

The next photo is of another goat and the cutest little girl I've ever seen. Curly, dark brown hair and wide green eyes. She's laughing while the goat eats something out of her hand. I look up at Lisa, who has relief written on her face. I share in her happiness, almost fighting back tears of joy. I flip again, and my heart stops. My smile falls, but it's not because the photo I'm looking at is bad. It's because the woman in the photo is beautiful. Long dark hair, a bright smile. Absolutely stunning like the celebrities I watch on television. In the photo, she hugs her daughter as they share in a moment. This time I mistakenly allow a single tear to fall.

"Wow, she's beautiful."

"She sure is, isn't she? Cala is just like her mother too. They're my fucking world."

I hand her back the phone and swipe at my face.

"I can see why. I'm glad you have them." I step back, needing space. "I'm just going to go—"

"Hey, what's wrong? This is good news."

"I didn't say it wasn't." I tug at my arm she's grabbed hold of. I'm embarrassed at how foolish I've acted. A goshdarn hussy. Lost in this fantasy that I truly am on an adventure, with this amazing, strong-willed woman who just may like me. Those photos are the reality check I needed to remember she's taken, and this is no adventure. My sadness morphs into anger. I may be naïve, but she's also the one who's been leading me on. Using her charm to sway me. Kiss me. Confuse me!

I rip my arm out of her grip and grab for the bottle. I splash the liquid into both glasses, slamming the bottle on the dresser. With each hand I grab the glasses and turn, shoving one in her hand. Her eyes are calculating, watching me, waiting.

I raise my glass. "Never have I ever cheated on my wife." I keep my eyes trained on hers. They widen but fill with anger.

"Come again?"

"You heard me. Aren't you going to drink?"

She takes a step toward me, causing me to cower a tad. Her free hand reaches for my glass, ripping it out of my hands. Tossing both on the dresser, spilling the contents, her focus never leaves mine. One step, two steps, she's prowling toward me, forcing me to walk backward until my back hits the wall. Her head bows down, her lips so close, her breath is warming my already flushed cheeks. "You think that's my wife? My daughter?"

"Well—Yes. Why wouldn't I?" My voice is shaky.

Her hand comes up, slowly, yet dangerously, sliding up the side of my ribs, brushing against the side of my breast, until she's wrapping her fingers around the back of my neck. "Chaeng's my sister. That little girl is my fucking niece."

Her words cause a tremor to shudder down my spine. Her voice low and laced with anger. I don't know what to say. How did I misinterpret? "I might be a lot of things, but I am not a cheating asshole. If I were married, I wouldn't have fucking laid a hand on you. Are we clear?"

I nod quickly.

Her fingers tighten, squeezing the pressure point at my neck. She leans in more, bringing her lips to my ear. "So now that we have that out of the way, I'm going to kiss you. And it's going to be because I've been craving those lips all day. I want to taste the sweetness of your tongue, hear the sexy sounds of you whimpering when my fingers travel to a place I believe has never seen someone's hand, and when I get there, I'm going to pleasure you until you forget about that fake romance bullshit and know what a real one feels like. Again, are we clear?"

My voice doesn't work. Nor my mouth, my lips, the thing inside my throat that creates saliva. All broken.

"Nini?"

"Mmmm?" That's all I got.

"I'm going to kiss you now."

"Mmmm…"

Her lips, just as warm and inviting as I remembered, press against mine. She doesn't waste any time. She's parting my own and her tongue finds its way inside. My legs give out and a small moan travels up my throat. Her arms are at my hips, lifting me up against the wall. My legs curl around her thick waist and she's hard as stone in all places. With a steady, slow thrust, she grinds into me. She dominates me with a deep, ravenous kiss. I kiss her back with the same intensity, as if I've been doing this forever. My arms find their way around her neck, my fingers travel into her hair, and I hold on tight.

"Tell me to stop. Or tell me to keep going. But I need to know now if I need to stop," she growls against my lips, opening my mouth wider.

"Keep going." I feel like I would die if she stopped.

Her chest rumbles in approval. She sucks in my bottom lip, biting down. Her hand frees from my hip and slides up my side until she's cupping my full breast into her hand. "Fucking perfect. I've thought about how perfect your tits would feel in my hand." There's pressure in her grip, squeezing my breast. Using her thumb, she starts to caress my swollen nipple. I'm all out of sorts. I'm struggling to concentrate on our kiss, when too many emotions are rushing through me. My skin feels too sensitive, yet I'm in such a need to be touched everywhere.

"I can feel how restless you are. I know what you need." She hums against my lips, taking her mouth to my neck. With such strength, she continues to hold me up, dropping her mouth to my covered breast. I yelp when her teeth clench around my nipple, but squirm as she sucks at me through my dress. "Are you going to be wet for me, Nini? Are you soaked between those sweet innocent thighs?"

I'm embarrassed at how she knows exactly what I'm feeling. How my body is shamelessly reacting to her. Her hand releases my breast and works down, lifting my dress. A small sense of panic sets inside me at the unknown, but to be touched and allow this built-up tension inside me to release overpowers any nerves.

"That's it. Open up for me." Her words are like foreplay. This isn't like any book I've read. It's real and it's so much better. I do as I'm told and before I know it my head hits the wall as a warm, thick finger enters me.

"Lisa…" I can't, maybe this was too— "Oh yes," I moan like a wild feline. Her lips are back on mine, swallowing each whimper of arousal as her finger pumps in and out of me.

"You're soaking me, babe. Fuck," she grunts, working me faster. My body begins to quiver, a tightness in my belly threatening to make me pass out from pleasure. She must sense it because her thrusts become harder and deeper. She quickens her pace and I'm squeezing my eyes shut as I clench around her fingers, white lights exploding behind my eyelids.

"That's it. Come all over my fingers."

"I have no idea what you are talking about. I ordered no such thing!" a muffled voice from next door shouts. "Get your manager up here right now! Check your surveillance, and sure believe I'm being comped for this inconvenience."

We both freeze against the wall.

"Fun's over. We have to go."

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