8
The Strip was bustling. It was Saturday night and the denizens of New Vegas were ready to partake in their vices, lord knows Vegas offers anything you could desire. I was ready to rake in some chips, but it was getting late, and drawing closer and closer to Lana Leigh's performance.
The Courier, Lana, whatever her true name was, she was haunting me. I couldn't get the image of her in that shallow grave out of my head, it all made me want to bash Benny's brains in. There was no way he could be far, and I didn't imagine that a egomaniac like himself could stay away from his throne for too long.
I crept up the sidewalk towards the Tops, leaving the familiarity of the Vault 21 hotel behind me. I could have easily stayed in one of the casino hotels, I had more than enough money from my winnings at this point, but it just didn't appeal much to me. It was expensive as hell, and not to mention some of the shady shit I heard about these casinos. Girls disappearing in Gomorrah, people checking into the Ultra Luxe and never checking out. I preferred to stay off of missing persons posters.
My attention was caught by some drunk NCR grunt being hauled off by a couple of MPs who looked as if they were tired of taking in their drunk comrades. If there was one thing I learned at the Strip, it was that the NCR loved to party just as much as the next guy. But of course they had to present themselves as all boots and brass. Looking at the drunk slob they were hefting, I couldn't help but study his face, really taking him in.
Believe me, I wasn't checking him out by any means, but rather contemplating to myself how these drunken fools could have pulled off something as horrific as Bitter Springs. I had been fortunate enough to be away when it happened, but I came home to both of my parents, and damn near most of the people I knew, butchered by the complete fucking morons that called themselves the NCR. I wondered to myself if this man had been present.
Turning away in disgust as I often did when I saw NCR, I pushed my way into the Tops and was greeted by Swank, smiling as always. "Honey baby! Two nights in a row, eh? You just can't get enough of me." He flashed a winning smile, I could smell his cologne from across the counter. Always dressed to impress.
"Oh, Swank, you know me too well. Now, can I go in or do we have to do the whole pat down business?" I traced my finger around on the back of his hand and gave a coy little smile. I had no intention of following through on my flirting, but sometimes batting your eyelashes at men just had them like putty in your hands.
"For you? Darlin' you can go right on in; just don't forget about me, huh baby?" He went to kiss my hand, lightly taking my fingers and bringing them to his lips, but I was faster.
I snatched my hand away just before his lips could make contact. "Thanks buddy!" I knew I completely broke character, but Swank was too good humored to take it the wrong way. Besides, he knew I was into women.
Part of me felt bad for ditching him so fast, he was probably the closest thing I had to a best friend in this world since I had left the Khans. I didn't know anyone here. So of course I found my way to casinos constantly for socialization and money, and I always wound up talking to him for hours.
And yet I found myself drawn to this Lana Leigh, I was all but rushing up the stairs to the Aces Theater. I had once again dressed myself up, with red heels and a flowing crimson dress, I had even applied some perfume that had cost me a very hefty penny.
The Aces was packed, damn near every table was filled, but I managed to grab a seat at the bar. I ordered a rum on rocks and spun around in my seat to face the bar. Scanning the room, I caught a glimpse of the guy that had tried to slip my favorite lounge singer a Mickey the night before. He was front row, sipping some sort of mixed drink and keeping his eyes peeled for Lana. I glared a hole into the side of his head, taking note of his appearance. Short dark hair, obviously thinning but still slicked back like he was hot shit. He had a trimmed beard, and some sort of scar across his cheek. My self preservation kicked in, and I knew I'd have to keep an eye on him.
At precisely 9 on the dot, the glamorous red curtain billowed open. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage, the sweetheart of New Vegas, Miss Lana Leigh!" Tommy Torini's voice echoed through the room before being drowned out with applause as Lana emerged. She looked as fabulous as ever, giving a coy little smile to the audience. People whooped and hollered, some of the men whistled and catcalled. She wore a different dress than the night before, this one a cream white and covered in diamonds that caught and reflected the stage lights, making her look ethereal. For a moment, I could have forgotten that the outside world was a wasteland. Lana was so otherworldly beautiful, it was like she had stepped out of some pre war magazine.
Her hair was in a similar style to the night before, albeit more curly, big loose blonde curls draped about her shoulders. That single blue eye scanned the audience, and my heart leapt into my throat as her gaze drew nearer and nearer until it settled on me. I felt my cheeks color and I raised my glass to her before taking a sip of my liquid courage. My stomach was twisting, this was so wrong. She was up there giving me a coy little smile, and it made my heart race; but all I could see in the back of my mind was that image of me dumping dirt on her body with a shovel. Like some sick slideshow on repeat.
I slammed the rest of the rum down and motioned for the bartender to bring me another. My attention snapped back to the stage, the macabre imagery being pushed from my mind. I much preferred the Courier in her current state, absolutely glowing. She sat at the piano, long elegant fingers gently meeting the keys. Once again she wore elbow length gloves, the same cream color as her dress, and with intricate diamond designs emblazoned up her arms. "New Vegas, you look especially beautiful tonight." Her voice was low and sultry, I couldn't tell if it was truly how she spoke or if she was just playing up to this lounge singer routine, either way I was infatuated.
Her gaze focused on me again, but she quickly turned her attention back to the keys. "You had plenty money, 1922…" Now there was a song I'd never heard before, and I found myself captivated with her voice. I hung onto every word that fell from her full, pretty lips like a lifeline. Nothing I heard on the radio compared to this, and when the song drew to a close I gave her a loud wolf whistle and she smiled widely, a genuine happiness in her eye.
For some reason, I turned my eyes back to that creep once Lana had looked away from me to start her next song. He was glaring daggers at me, like I had made some grave error. Anxiety settled into a pit in my stomach, some racing thought in my mind told me that he was here to take care of us both for Benny. Yet, he didn't seem the sort that would work for the Tops, there was definitely something slimier about him. Despite the fear in my gut, I felt the switchblade I had tucked in my garter securely in place at my thigh. It gave me a sense of security. If he wanted to fuck around, he definitely wouldn't be walking away with my blood on his hands. If he could even walk by the time I was done.
Once the thunderous applause had lightened up and Lana's sultry voice rang out, he whipped his head back around to the stage. I glared at the back of his skull for a moment more before trailing my eyes back to the songstress.
"It feels good to be back tonight, I see some familiar faces in the crowd. Can't get enough of me, can you?" Her eye flashed to me and before I had time to even blush, she was starting her next tune. "Why does the sun, go on shining? Why does the sea rush to shore?" Her voice was magnificently melancholy, still with a sultry edge.
Her single visible eye kept flicking to me, and she would smile widely. The little stalker up front noticed this, and he kept whipping his head to shoot daggers at me with his eyes. All I could do was give him a shit eating grin, clearly he didn't like that I had captured the singer's attention.
As her set continued, each song was perfectly performed, Lana was a natural. As the night rolled on, stalker man kept turning to eye me down, sizing me up. Under normal circumstances, I would think that he was just being a creep; but there was a quiet hostility that glowed rather intensely in his dark eyes. I kept thinking of that fizzing drink.
Next thing I knew, the curtains were drawing shut and Lana was giving a final goodbye kiss to the audience. She disappeared behind the curtain, and my stomach dropped. I kept my eyes glued to the slimy little man in the front row. As soon as she was gone, he was in motion. Seemingly having the staff door memorized, he stood right beside the stage, posted up adjacent to the door. My body tensed, my heart was pounding. Surely he wouldn't try anything crazy in a public setting like this, but Vegas wasn't exactly famous for being a place where good, sane things happened.
The red staff door swung open and out came Lana, her dress still catching every light in the room somehow, despite the dimmed lights. She damn near walked smack into him, and he greeted her with a wide smile. There was something akin to horror written across her face. He was speaking quickly, and she started shaking her head, before waving him off and starting to walk my way. The nasty little man, William if that was even his real name, stood there looking crestfallen as he watched her retreating back.
As disturbed as I was by him, I definitely wasn't going to let him ruin the night. My favorite songstress came sidling up to the bar, claiming the stool beside me. I couldn't help but smile at her like an idiot. "Phenomenal set, Lana. Can I buy you a drink? Minus the roofies of course."
She laughed, and I didn't realize how much I missed the sound until it met my ear. "That would be lovely," she paused to look over her shoulder, back at William, "some people really don't get it when you're not interested. I saw how he kept staring back at you."
"He must be jealous I'm taking up all your time. And I don't know if staring is the right word for it; maybe more like trying to melt my brain telepathically." We shared a laugh and I flagged down the bartender. "Another rum please, and for you?" I gestured to Lana.
"Vodka straight, please." She smiled at the man and he slid a glass to her, grabbing a bottle of vodka from the top shelf and pouring her a generous amount. My rum was topped off before he scurried off to help some older man that had approached the bar.
"So what did he have to say?" I sipped slowly at my drink, the first two already had me tipsy.
Lana took half her drink in one swallow and laughed a little. "Oh same shit as always. Basically sucking my dick and begging for a date."
Distracted by the blonde, I had taken my eyes off the aforementioned creep, only to notice he had taken up a spot at the far end of the bar. He sipped at an amber liquid, glaring at us. Downing his drink, he was suddenly making his way to the opposite side of Lana. "Oh god," I lightly tapped her arm and jerked my chin in his direction.
Neither of us had time to speak before he was leaning down close to the songstress. "Telling me no isn't enough for you, huh? Now you gotta talk shit about me to this stupid bitch." He gestured to me.
Lana's jaw dropped, "Oh hell no. Listen up, you weird little fuck, I'm not interested! I wouldn't fuck you if you were the last man on Earth. I wouldn't fuck you if someone had a gun to my head. Get it through your head and get fucking lost!"
William was fuming, I could practically feel the rage coming off of him in waves. "Don't you know who I am? No one fucking tells me no. Especially not some wannabe singer dyke."
Lana's face went bright red, and she opened her mouth to fire back, but he was faster. He had her vodka tossed in her face, and my rum slapped out of my hand and down the front of my dress in an instant. "You're going to fucking regret that, asshole." My voice came out like a growl.
"We're gonna see who regrets what, bitch."
The barman had started hollering for security, but the slime ball was already beating a hasty retreat. Lana went to follow him and I caught her forearm. "Not worth it, babe. Not here."
She allowed me to stop her pursuit, I was positive she could have ripped from my grasp easily if she wanted to. "You're right. We'll catch his ass another time." Her voice had become venomous as her eyes watched him quickly dip out of the theater.
The cold rum started to fully soak into my dress, giving me chills up my arms. The damn thing was probably ruined now. Lana was a little worse for wear, her perfect curls now hanging down in her face, dripping vodka on her dress. Security responded quickly, one of the men rushing out after William, the other approaching us. He looked like most of the other chairmen, nice suit and slicked hair. His expression looked annoyed.
"Where the hell were you when he threw a drink in my face?" Lana's voice came out deadly sharp, I almost felt bad for the guy.
"On behalf of the Chairmen, we are so sorry. At the Tops we don't tolerate harassment of the performers." It felt rehearsed, giving the distinct impression that he had been through this before.
Lana waved the statement off. "Listen, I don't want that asshole within a hundred feet of me at this point. He said something about 'nobody can tell him no' and I'm not about to be fearing for myself here. Am I getting some extra security outside my door tonight?"
"Yes ma'am. I'll send someone up ASAP." And with that, he was heading off in the direction of the other security guard that had rushed out.
We were left standing at the bar, shell shocked from the events of the night. Everything had gone to shit so quickly. I looked over at Lana, feeling guilty. "I'm so sorry, if I hadn't come this wouldn't have happened. I set him off."
She looked at me like I had grown another head. "Oh Honey, that's not true at all." I knew in my logical mind she was just using my nickname, but the way it rolled off her lips it sounded so much like a term of endearment that my heart skipped a beat. "He's just some lonely freak. If it wasn't you, he would have picked someone or something else to get mad about. I've been shooting him down every night. So don't even worry your pretty head about it." Lana gave a warm smile that touched her eyes.
At that moment, I noted that her eye that she always had covered was almost black. Her wet hair was failing at hiding it fully; when she caught me looking at it, she quickly looked away and attempted to cover the side of her face with her wet locks. "You don't have to hide from me." I wanted to tuck her hair behind her ear and marvel at her beauty, but I didn't want to push my luck. I settled for lightly placing my hand on her own.
Lana looked at my hand on her own, then met my eyes. She had little red blossoms on her cheeks, and she smiled warmly. "I don't know if you're staying close by, but if you want you can stay with me tonight. Walking home might be a little sketchy now."
I damn near pinched myself to see if I was dreaming. "I can be your extra security." I laughed, and she joined in, a rich musical sound. She stood, taking my hand in her own, and started to make her way to the door. There were people staring at us, but I didn't care what anyone was thinking. Just the simple act of having her holding my hand filled me with happiness, something that had been eluding me for quite some time now.
9
Honey's hand was warm and secure in my own as we headed out of the theater. She was whipping her head around, looking for the asshole that had ruined the night. There were more Chairmen than usual out on the floor, surely seeking William for threatening their top act. I had never been in a situation like this before, at least I was 90% sure I hadn't. Taking two bullets to the head hadn't done much in the way of helping my memory. Thanks Benny, you fuck.
We headed to the elevator and I stabbed the button for the 10th floor with a shaky finger. I was unarmed, and while I doubted anything would happen on the way to my room, I was still nervous. I kept seeing that dead songbird, the image popping up in my brain like some demented jack in the box. No one tells me no. Well I did, and so now what? Who the hell was he anyway?
Honey's voice broke my reverie. "I'm sorry about your dress. And your hair." I looked over at her and those amber eyes were full of guilt. She was really mentally whipping herself over this.
"Darling, it's no big deal. I can get this old thing cleaned. Yours though," I motioned to the dark stain that trailed down her chest, "Hopefully that dark liquor comes out."
She waved it off. "I'm not even worried about it. At least we're both okay, it could have been much worse. Besides, now I don't have to leave you." She smiled wide. This girl was absolutely smitten with me, or rather with the character I was playing.
I gave a little smirk and trailed my thumb around on the back of her hand. As the elevator met my floor and the doors opened with a musical little ding, my stomach was suddenly doing flips. The sooner I took her into my temporary home, the sooner I would have to shed this facade of the sultry songstress Lana Leigh; and the sooner she would see Mona Sinclair, addict extraordinaire. Poor sweet Honey would probably leave my room sprinting down the hall and screaming her head off.
Trying to play it cool, I led her down the hall to room 1012, where my extra security was indeed posted right outside the door. "Here we go, room with the big brute, can't miss it."
As I slid my key into the lock she spoke, "These guys really don't mess around, huh?" I looked over my shoulder and the size difference between Honey and the guard was almost comical. He was at least a foot and a half taller than her, the top of her head maybe meeting his shoulder. I definitely felt secure with that mountain of a man around.
I couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, what can I say? I'm valued here." At least that was what I told myself. I had deemed the guy at the front counter, Swank, trustworthy enough to blow my cover and let him know who I was. He knew Benny was up to no good, and volunteered to help me without a second thought. I was sure his intentions weren't completely out of empathy for my situation, he was Benny's second in command and poised to take over the Tops in the event of his boss' unfortunate demise.
Other than Swank, nobody on the Strip knew who I actually was. And Mr. House of course, although I wasn't even sure what he was so I didn't much count him as a person. The idea of fetching the chip for him was becoming less and less appealing by the day, no matter how many caps he threw at me. At the end of the day, no Benny, no chip. And Benny was a fucking ghost.
The door clicked shut behind us, and I made a point to turn around and lock the deadbolt, as well as latch the chain. "Well, home sweet home," I headed to the bar without a second thought, deciding I wasn't nearly drunk enough for everything that had happened tonight. "What's your poison?"
"I think I'll stick with rum if you got it." The Spanish woman took a seat at one of the barstools, looking with disappointment down at her dress. "El imbécil arruinó mi vestido." She muttered it lowly, and I felt my jaw drop.
I had no idea what she said, but the way it rolled off her tongue was absolutely breathtaking. "That was so pretty! What did you say?"
To my shock, she burst out laughing, showing even white teeth. That was shocking to see on someone in the Wastes, but on the Strip it was like everyone was brightly polished, spotless. "I said that asshole ruined my dress. Couldn't be farther from pretty."
I felt like I'd been smiling like an idiot all night. I couldn't remember the last time someone made me this happy. I had faint memories of a man, they were intimate, and there was also a horrible image of him overdosing and dying in front of me. I couldn't think of his name, I could see his face clear as day. I got the feeling that once upon a time, he had made me feel the way that Carmen was right now. The thought made me sad, but also excited at the possibilities of her and I.
Our drinks were poured, rum for Honey and absinthe for me. "Tell me something pretty, Honey." I smiled over my drink at her.
She took a hefty hit from the glass, swallowing a shocking amount of the amber fluid in that little backward tilt of her delicate wrist. "Creo que estoy enamorado de ti." Her cheeks went dark crimson when she said it, her eyes were narrowed almost seductively, but with a slight drunk smile hovering at the edges.
"I have no idea what you said, but it was captivatingly beautiful."
"You don't gotta know right now. Maybe I'll teach you someday, then we can talk shit about your stalker in public and he won't even know." She trailed off into a laugh, and I found myself laughing along with her so easily. Everything with her just felt natural.
The smell of the vodka in my hair suddenly made my stomach start to turn, and I could feel that familiar ache settling into my body. Withdrawal. I would need to use soon, and I was terrified of this perfect woman catching me.
Something in my face must have changed, because she suddenly looked concerned. "You feeling okay?" She set her glass down and looked at me with wide eyes. "It's like you just turned green."
"Oh yeah. I just feel gross, would you excuse me for a moment while I go clean up? And you can go right after me, bath or shower, we got options at the Tops." I tried to smile, to keep the lighthearted vibe, but I was starting to feel very sick. My stomach twisted again, threatening to spill my dinner of alcohol on the carpet.
Honey just smiled and lightly rubbed my forearm. "Of course, go get comfortable. I'll be right here."
I felt my cheeks color a little and I gave her a weak smile as I began to make my way toward my bedroom. On a whim, I paused right before I dipped inside. I felt her eyes on me and I turned around to look her sheepishly in the eye. "Look, when I change out of this getup, it's not the same. Promise me you won't leave if I'm not what you expect?"
She arched a caramel colored brow. "Unless you have that big cabron outside drag me out, I'm not planning on going anywhere." There was something comforting in her eyes, a gentle kindness that cemented what she said.
I couldn't help but smile. "Okay, I'll be right back!" I could hear her giggle a little as I walked through my bedroom and into the bathroom. Before I shut the door, I heard her switch the radio on. Perfect, she would be good and distracted, therefore less chance of me getting caught engaging in my dirty little habit.
Stripping out of the dress, heels, and long gloves, I tossed them aside and started running some hot bath water. My little kit was quickly retrieved from the medicine cabinet and my cure was plunged into my vein. When I withdrew the needle, a little bead of crimson blood drew up to greet me. The second the med-x hit my heart and dispersed through my body, I was in heaven. I dropped the rig in the sink and damn near fell backwards, my eyes rolling back a little.
By some luck the needle didn't break, and I didn't go crashing backwards butt ass naked. Steadying myself, I pilfered my supplies away back into the cabinet before I lowered my aching body into the hot bath. The hot water melted my tension away and I felt my muscles start to relax.
The med-x was really hitting me now. William could have burst in here and stabbed me and I wouldn't have even felt it. The nasty habit started up after my encounter with Benny. I would get pounding migraines that debilitated me, so I started using the shit for its intended purpose. Thing is, I started using it so much that I would have withdrawals without it; so bam, here I was completely addicted.
I knew I was an addict before it all though, I wasn't sure exactly what my drug of choice was. Judging by the tracks on my arms though it had to be something particularly nasty. I occasionally got a craving for jet, but I had been resisting it and sticking with the med-x.
As much as I wanted to relax and enjoy the feeling of being high in the tub, I wanted much more to get back to my beautiful guest. So I quickly scrubbed the alcohol out of my hair and off my face. I gave my body a good wash before pulling the plug and making a careful exit so I didn't slip.
I dried off and slipped into a short nightgown and my favorite silk robe. When I re-emerged to the living area I took in the sight of Honey lounging at the bar, humming along to a song on the radio. At my entrance, she turned to look at me. I knew I was a long shot from looking like Lana Leigh, and I felt myself shrink back a little. My hair was no longer hiding my mismatched eyes and the scar on my brow. "Hi." My voice was sheepish as ever.
"Hey, pretty girl. You can come over here, I don't bite." She patted the stool next to her and gave that inviting smile again. I crept over to the bar, she knew I was embarrassed and so she averted her eyes to her drink.
"You must feel really duped right now." I grabbed my absinthe and drained the remainder before pouring myself another. I didn't dare look at her.
"Not at all. Honestly, I'm sad that you don't see yourself how I do."
"And what is there to see, honestly? That asshole ruined me. I'm lucky to be able to see out of my eye, but the pupil is damaged. Makes it look black, and this goddamn scar…" I went to pull my hair over my eye, but her hand caught mine. I looked over at her in shock, meeting warm eyes of melted honey.
"You're beautiful. I mean c'mon, you're Lana Leigh! The baddest bitch on the Strip with men throwing themselves at your feet." She tucked my hair behind my ears and sat back a little, really taking me in. Her smile didn't falter, she wasn't running or screaming yet either.
It felt good that she wasn't disgusted by me, it felt like ecstasy honestly. I don't know if it was the drugs or the drinks, but I suddenly felt very vulnerable. "Those men want Lana, not me. And I couldn't give a shit honestly because I don't want any of them. I haven't been honest with you, Honey."
She arched a perfect eyebrow. "Oh?" Her expression became unreadable, I got the impression she must have a killer poker face.
"Lana Leigh is a character I created so I could come in here to keep an eye out for someone. My real name is Mona Sinclair, and I'm…well there's no easy way to put it. I'm the courier, the one from the radio." Everyone had been hearing about me, the poor courier shot in the head outside Goodsprings. If she didn't know, she must have been living under a rock.
Recognition flashed in her eyes, but it seemed oddly delayed. I was too intoxicated to look fully into it. "That's you? So what are you doing here singing for the Tops?"
I took a hefty drink, really starting to feel like I should be cutting myself off soon. "Waiting for the asshole that did this to me to come back to his precious casino. Fucking Benny. That motherfucker ruined my life. I want him, and the fuckheads that were helping him. I caught up to one of them in Boulder City, Jessie or Jessup whatever. He didn't want to give anyone up, even when I was beating his head in."
The Spanish woman nodded her head slowly, still unreadable as ever. She finished the rest of her drink and set the glass down gently. "Did you get a good look at the others?"
I shook my head. "Just Benny really, I remember his face clear as day. And that ugly checkered suit. I'm sure Jessup was there, the other two I'm not sure about though. I'm sure it was a man and a woman, but it was like they didn't want to be seen. Maybe they were just muscle to watch Benny do the deed and make sure no one interfered."
Honey thumbed at the empty glass, humming in thought. She was probably thinking I had too much baggage to be around, and I honestly wouldn't blame her. I was in shit up to my knees. "I'm not asking for your help if that's what you're thinking, Honey. I can understand completely if you don't want to be involved with me."
She looked at me like I was crazy. "Not even. I want to help you, I really do. For now, we should focus on finding the asshole that pulled the trigger. You've got no ideas about where he could be hiding?"
"All my leads brought me here. Apparently he left for some "business," AKA shooting me in the face; and didn't tell any of the other Chairmen where he was going or when he would return. At this point it's just a waiting game. He's not going to leave his crystal palace unattended forever."
"Well, Mona, I'll be here waiting with you. That asshat is gonna get what's coming to him." Honey smiled and stood up from her stool. "I think I'm gonna take you up on that shower offer, I smell like an alcoholic."
"Have at it. I'm gonna lie down, I think I've overdone it for the night." All the alcohol mixed with the med-x was making me overwhelmingly tired. It had been quite the night, between the encounter with my stalker and bringing a pretty girl home.
I led her through my room and into the bathroom, shutting the bathroom door behind myself to give her some privacy. The shower cut on, the muffled sound of the running water was comforting. All the nights by myself had been taking a toll on me, all my thoughts and emotions trapped in my head with no one to listen. Meeting Honey could be the end of all that, or at least that's what I was hoping for.
My bed welcomed me like an old friend, and I all but collapsed on top of the blankets. I lay there, afraid to remove my robe, I didn't want her to see all the marks on my arms from the cruel needles that pierced my skin. Thankfully, the roaring in my brain was starting to calm and I felt my tensed muscles relax and uncoil.
I was almost asleep, in that pre-dreaming state when everything starts to fall away when I heard the bathroom door crack open. "Mona? Do you have something I could wear to sleep in?"
I pointed lazily to the dresser. "Top drawer, anything you want." My eyes cracked open on their own accord, and I saw Honey pad across the room draped in her towel. I couldn't help but smile at her, she was even cute with her wet hair.
She smiled back, her cheeks red, and disappeared into the bathroom for a moment. The Spanish woman returned dressed in a simple white tank top and a pair of my dark shorts. "Thanks for letting me stay, I'll be on the couch if you need anything."
I patted the empty side of the bed. "That's not necessary, unless you'd be more comfortable there. But my bed is much more comfortable." Honey's cheeks went darker at my offer, she probably thought I was trying to get her out of those shorts. I wasn't opposed to it, but not this quickly. I may have been an absolute mess of a person, but I didn't fuck on the first date.
Honey made her way back around to the bed, and flicked out the little bedside lamp. I felt the bed shift slightly as she joined me, pushing the blankets around to make herself comfortable. Now that the room was dark, I felt more comfortable removing the robe. I stood and let the silk drop to the floor before climbing back in.
Feeling daring from the drinks, I inched closer to her, noticing that she was facing away from me. Without a second thought, I slipped my arm around her thin waist and pulled myself flush to her. Her breathing caught for a moment, and I almost thought I had fucked up, but her arm laid over mine and she interlaced our fingers.
She smelled sweet and clean from my soap, and the feeling of her warm body against my own was like heaven. I was going to fall asleep fast like this. "Goodnight, Honey."
"Goodnight, Mona." The Spanish woman snuggled a little closer, and I fell asleep with a smile on my face for the first time in a long time.
