Page 31 of Long Hard Road
“Yes, sir!” She executed an adorable salute that would’ve gotten her kicked out of the army but made my dick jump excitedly. I would love to have her saluting me like that before dropping to her knees and taking me deep into her throat.
I must not have done a very good job of hiding that reaction because Madison’s eyes widened and a flush crept over her perfect cheekbones. I swallowed hard and turned away before I did something that I would regret. It was becoming almost impossible to resist slamming my mouth against her inviting lips.
I made a few drinks before I dared to look at Madison again. She had cleared away all the empty beer bottles and glasses and was now filling glasses of water for a group of women who had been drinking since the bar opened. One of them said something to her that made her look in my direction. When I winked at her, the women all laughed and Madison ducked her head. Not before I saw her smile, though.
It wasn’t long before Madison started fulfilling drink orders. I quickly showed her how to ring up the orders on the register and then she was bartending like an expert. She only had to ask me twice where to find something for a more complicated mixed drink. Our customers loved her, especially the male ones. I couldn’t believe the amount of cash that was getting shoved into our tip jar.
Every time we passed each other as we worked, one of us would say or do something flirty. I snapped a dishtowel at her and she slapped my ass. When she reached for a liquor bottle on the top shelf, I stepped behind her and pressed our bodies flush together as I grabbed it for her. She responded by pushing her ass into my groin until I groaned. It was the most erotic work experience of my life.
“She’s good,” Rhys said, nodding at where Madison was filling a line of shots with tequila. After just a few minutes of working behind the bar, she had shed her sweater and was wearing just a black tank top with thin straps and a deep cut that perfectly highlighted her cleavage. That top was probably responsible for 90% of our tips. “I’ve been working here two years and I’ve never gotten a single $20 tip. She’s pulled in about thirty of them in three hours.”
The men she was currently serving had asked her to take a shot, too, and as they were all slamming theirs, she quickly dumped hers into a towel and then wiped a hand over her mouth and slammed the shot glass on the bar. Not a single guy realized that she hadn’t knocked a shot back with them. I chuckled at how smoothly she had played them.
“She’s not good,” I told Rhys. “She’s amazing.”
He gave me a knowing look. “How long have you been fucking her?”
“I haven’t. It’s not like that.” Even I knew that I wasn’t being convincing.
“If you’re not planning to make a move, maybe I will.” He started to take a step in Madison’s direction and I grabbed his arm.
“No. Not her.” I didn’t bother trying to hide that he’d pissed me off. Rhys and I were normally buddies, but we wouldn’t be if he made a move on Madison.
Rhys just laughed and headed to the back to grab more beer.
It took longer than usual to close down the bar. Even after several last calls, a group of men still lingered at the bar, futilely attempting to hold Madison’s attention.
“Guys, unless you are planning to wipe down tables, it’s time to go.” She crossed her arms and fixed them with a firm glare. What she didn’t realize was that when she crossed her arms like that, it only lifted her breasts and gave the men even more reason to stay.
“Why don’t you come with me?” The guy in front flashed his perfect white teeth in a smile that made my blood boil. “We can get to know each other and maybe I’ll get to find out if those tits are real.”
“Out!” I growled, pointing to the door. “Or I will pick you up and throw you out.”
“Actually.” Madison grabbed my hand and slapped it right on her left breast. “Nate can answer that for you.” She pushed her hand down on mine until I had a firm grip, her hard nipple grazing my palm. Her eyes locked onto mine as she smiled before pulling her lower lip between her teeth. There was no way I was controlling my dick now. “Well, Sullivan? What’s the verdict? Real or not?”
“I think I’ll need to see them before I can answer that question.” Then I shifted my hand until I was stroking her nipple with my thumb. “Maybe even put my mouth on them.”
“Fuck this.” Our unwelcome interloper shoved away from the bar and stomped toward the door. As soon as the door shut behind him, Madison stepped back.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have done that, but you looked like you were going to kill that guy.”
My hand still hung awkwardly in the air between us. I rolled it into a fist and let it drop to my side. “If that was supposed to calm me down, I think your plan has backfired.”
She giggled and reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear. I caught her hand and brought it back down, pushing it to my stomach as I waited for her reaction. When she just stared at me expectantly, I lowered our hands until hers rested on my straining bulge.
“That, angel, is real,” I said. Her breath hitched. “And it’s all for you. Just say the word.”
Those green eyes were wider and brighter than they had ever been. Damn if I didn’t want to spend the rest of the night just staring into them, counting the gold flecks.
“Sullivan! Get your ass back here. The dishwasher is leaking all over the floor!”
“Damn it.” Rhys was quickly moving his way up my shit list. “Just a second! I need to lock up.”
“I can do it.” Madison held up the hand that had just been on my body. “I’ll work on the tables while you help Rhys.”
I grabbed the keys and placed them carefully into her palm. “Thank you.” Then, before I could talk myself out of it, I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Let’s wrap this up quickly. I want to get you home.”
She skittered back a couple of steps and ducked her head before rounding the bar. I could tell that I’d just fucked up. I’d crossed a line that she hadn’t wanted me to cross.