It had been a whole week. A whole week since her. A whole week since he stood in the kitchen of her apartment and was being told that he was basically just a good fuck for the night. He remembers standing there actually feeling hurt. He had never really had a one night stand before.. yes, he'd had the odd relationship that lasted only a few weeks but he'd never had a woman stood there and tell him it was just one night. All the others had come back for more wanting to finally settle down, move in together, be a proper couple.. fuck that. He always ended up breaking it off and never really found a woman who he knew he was going to be with in the long run.
Carol.. she was different. He actually liked this woman, she drove him crazy actually. They'd had a pretty amazing evening.. drinks, jazz, laughing and joking, unbelievable flirting followed by the rather messy trip back to her place and then the most mind-blowing sex he'd ever had. The first time was real fucking.. hard, fast and no time for soft and sensual. The second time was much different.. slow, gentle, exploring each and every part of each other. It carried on that way for most of the night. He does remember her wanting to make it rough and could tell she wanted him to break her but he made sure he made love to her body the right way, the way a gentleman should.
He was angry, he was real pissed at her but also kind of worried at the same time. She hadn't visited the bar in nearly over a week now. Maybe she'd really meant what she said.. maybe, he was just another good fuck for her. Maybe, she finally got what she wanted and maybe, she had finally moved onto her next prey at another bar down the street.
It was almost sad in a way. He knew she was like this from her previous marriage. It was hard to believe that a broken heart could possibly change the person you are. He thought back to what Ricky had said back a few weeks ago:
"I can't believe how much she changed after that! The woman sitting over there is not the same woman I knew all those years back." he said looking back at her briefly. "She's had her heart broken too many times that's why.. she's a lot more feistier nowadays and now you never see her without a cigarette in her hand. She's a great girl though but she tends to just keeps herself to herself unless she really likes you and she throws a fuck in."
Daryl knew he should have just gave her some space. But how could he? She just drew him in.. the way she smiled at him, the way her scent made him shiver and the way she bit her lip every time she flirted back with him. His thought's of her were soon broken when Ricky came up beside him.
"Daryl, you okay buddy?" he frowned as he wiped down the counter.
"Yeah, just in a world of my own today." Daryl laughed.
"You have been for the past week." he said. "Let me guess, lady trouble?" he suddenly asked. Of course he knew. I mean, look at him.. big muscly bastard probably got all the women at his feet.
"That obvious?" Daryl said looking up at him.
"Kind of." he smiled. "So, who is the lucky gal?" he said suddenly noticing Daryl's expression change frantically. "Wait, you didn't, did you?.. It's Carol isn't it?"
Daryl nodded slowly rubbing the back of his neck.
Ricky smirked. "Oh damn boy, let me guess.. she kick you out afterwards?" he asked.
"Well, not straight after.. I mean, I stayed all night and then when we spoke in the morning.. And then, I was having my ass booted out the door." Daryl explained.
"You stayed all night? Well, I guess that's a first." he said making Daryl frown. "There haven't been many, but she told me before that she kicked them out straight after.. they didn't even get to stay the entire night." Ricky explained.
Okay, maybe that was a good sign. Daryl thought. Maybe she had actually enjoyed his company and maybe she did like him. Or maybe not.. after all, she did say it was just one night. Fuck sake.
He continued drying up one of the glasses with a rag when Ricky said:
"Shit, buddy. Carol.. 12 o'clock." he said turning to wipe down the rest of the bar. "Good luck!"
And there she was, making her way through the small tables and chairs where a minimum amount of people sat. It was an early Monday afternoon and the bar wasn't busy at this time. She sat herself at her usual seat at the bar sitting down with a sigh and placing her purse on the counter. He kept his eyes focused on her face until she looked up and finally made eye contact with him. Surprisingly, she smirked at him. This devilish smirk.. a smirk that made his knees go weak.
Dammit. This woman could make him weak at the knees in seconds. But no. She wasn't playing that card and she wasn't making him fall for her tricks either. He slowly made his way over to where she was sat and placed the glass he was cleaning to the side.
"What can I get you?" he asked not really wanting to make conversation. But he so did.
She continued smirking. She was really starting to piss him off and he wasn't having any of it.
"Stop it." he said to her.
She finally spoke. "I'm not doing anything." she said seductively.
"This isn't a game, Carol." he said in a hushed tone.
"Never said it was." she kept on smirking and her eyes wandered to his hands that were pressed firmly against the bar. "Do you know, you have pretty amazing hands." she said placing her small hand over his larger one. "They're so big and manly.. and they were definitely amazing when they were rubbing circles around my cli-"
She was stopped from speaking any further by his right hand covering her mouth.
"I said stop it." he growled and removed his hand and she was smirking once again. "You really don't get it, do you?" he frowned. "Carol, you threw me out. You told me it was one night and you didn't want any thing else to do with me.. how do you think that made me feel?" he questioned.
"I warned you. I told you, Daryl. I told you that if it happened.. it was just sex." she told him, her finger pointing at him.
"That was before we spent a few weeks getting to know each other.. you sat at this bar almost every night and we were joking around.. talking for hours!" he exclaimed. "I really started to feel something.. you're so different from any woman I've ever met and right now, you're screwing with my head, Carol!" he said. "I don't know where I stand with you.. And I know your marriage screwed you up.. but it doesn't mean it has to stop you from feeling something again! From feeling like you can actually liked someone again. He might have been an asshole but that doesn't mean I'm an asshole too!" A few people were starting to turn around from their seat noticing Daryl raising his voice.
"Oh, you had to mention my marriage again, didn't you?!" she said furiously. "Yes, I admit it.. I'm scared! I'm scared to have feelings again. But you obviously don't know what it's like to have your heart tore into tiny little pieces!" Her eyes started to well up. "Just stop now, Daryl. It was one fuck.. and that's all it ever will be." she spat the words at him.
She said it again and she said it right in his face this time. He was furious.
"So, you get a thrill out of that then? Stringing men along and dropping your knickers just because you want a quick fuck!" His words were cruel and the slap to his right cheek echoed throughout the bar. Ouch, okay.. he deserved that.
"How dare you!" she looked at him in disgust. She felt embarrassed.. she felt like a fool. People were really staring now and after what he'd just announced, she felt like everyone would think of her as a cheap useless whore.
"Carol, I'm sorry! I didn't mean that.. But you need to know that maybe one of the few guys you've been with.. maybe one of us has real feelings and was actually starting to fall for you!" he said finally earning a confused and reckless look from her.
She'd finally had enough. "This conversation is over. Just leave me alone." she said almost whispering and she gathered up her purse and left through the door.