Dark Desires

Chapter 1

Nevie

The lunch rush was just wrapping up. I looked over at Ethan. Wondering where Talon was, he hadn’t said anything about him. Just grabbed an apron and jumped onto the floor when Talon was supposed to have clocked in.

He passed me and I gave him a small smile before rushing off to give the next table their check. The rush hadn’t done anything to take my mind off of Talon and the woman who’d come in earlier. Were they friends?

Lovers?

That last thought made my throat tighten and my stomach swirl. I hoped that she was just a friend. That still didn’t explain why he wasn’t here.

Stepping behind the counter, I pulled my phone out. Swiping the screen open to see if there were any new messages. All it would take was one, just one message to put my mind at ease. There was nothing and with each passing minute I felt dread welling up. What if he was in a wreck? What if they were laying in bed together after hours and hours of taking each other every which way?

“Nevie, you okay?” Ethan asked. My cheeks flamed as I realized that I’d been caught not paying attention to work. He picked up the water pitcher, lifting an eyebrow up at me. His smile was soft and I was again glad that he was my boss.

“Yeah, sorry.” I said, tucking my phone into my back pocket.

“Your shift ended 10 minutes ago. Why don’t you head home? Eva will be here soon.”

Shaking my head, I worried my lower lip. I didn’t want to head home to see the evidence of what happened this morning. What if it hadn’t meant anything to him? I was beginning to feel that it hadn’t. There was still the small hope that he’d just had something come up, and maybe I was reading into the situation.

I’d worked all morning and had no calls or texts. Had it been so long that I was now bad at s*x? Maybe he’d regretted this morning, and this was his way of letting me know.

“Are you sure Talon didn’t say why he wouldn’t be here?” I asked, trying not to let it show how much this was bothering me.

“No, he didn’t. I’m sure he’s fine. If you want to stay and work his shift, I won’t say no.” Ethan gave me a grin before heading out to refill drinks. “Take a break first.”

I nodded. I only had one table left, and already Ethan was taking care of them. Slipping into the kitchen, I moved back towards my locker. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I swiped the screen open. I’d just call him real quick. Then I’d get back to work.

Thumbing through my contacts, I stopped at his smirking face. Pressing the button, I lifted it to my ear, waiting for him to answer. I brought my other hand up, worrying my thumbnail, as the phone rang.

Music filled my ear, along with a girlish giggle. My heart dropped at the sound of her voice. “Hello?”

“Hi, umm. Is Talon there?” I asked, looking down at my scuffed converse shoes, trying not to think the worst.

“He’s a little busy.” She said, her voice was sultry. I knew that I couldn’t compete with someone like her.

The line went dead, and I pulled the phone back. My eyes burned. I’d read into the situation and his words. Sucking my top lip between my teeth, I looked up at the ceiling, trying not to cry. Tears wouldn’t help me. I needed to get back out there. I’d finish the shift, then head home.

Tomorrow, I’d change my locks and cry as much as I wanted to. For now, I needed to go out there. Opening my locker, I grabbed my water bottle, finishing it off before turning my phone off and placing it inside my bag. If I didn’t, I’d just keep wondering about the woman who had answered Talon’s phone.

Closing the door to my locker, I turned away. Forcing a smile, I wouldn’t let this bring me down. After all, I didn’t know for certain who she was or who she was to Talon. If we still had a date tonight, I’d find out. For now, I’d go back out there and do my job.

Stepping through the door, I let out a sigh. Maybe things would pick up again and take my mind off of everything.

Wiping down the table, I finished cleaning up my section before looking over at Ethan and Eva talking. Her lavender box braids were pulled up into a bun. She looked like she had a rough day before work. Ethan dragged a hand through his hair. He glanced down before looking up at her, and I watched her back straighten.

I didn’t know what was going on between the two of them, but I was curious to find out. Grabbing my rag and the spray bottle, I moved to the counter. Wiping it down as I listened to them.

“You should go and talk to Emily.”

“I did. She and CJ are doing fine.” Ethan sighed out. His voice sounded tired and somewhat sad.

“She may be fine, but you don’t seem to be.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Ethan turned away from Eva, ending the discussion.

The conversation made me wonder what had happened between my boss and my previous coworker.

“You’ve been wiping the same spot for over five minutes now.” Eva said, startling me. “You doing okay?”

I looked up at Eva, nodding. I couldn’t really tell her what had happened between Talon and I. We weren’t really that type of friends.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Okay, but if you want to talk about it-”

“Thank you, Eva.” I said, giving her my best cheery smile. I got back to work and before I knew it. Ethan was locking the door so we could start closing everything out. We went about doing our night time clean up, there was a tense silence between Eva and Ethan and I hoped that they’d figure out everything soon.

After we finished everything, Eva and I grabbed our things from the back. Ethan set the alarm and we headed outside.

“Want me to give you a ride home?” Eva asked, rubbing her hands over her bare arms. Her dark skin looked almost obsidian in the pale glimmer of the streetlight. I shook my head as Ethan finished locking up the diner.

“It’s too chilly for you to walk.” Ethan didn’t look back as he spoke.

“Thank you, it’s not that bad.” I didn’t really want to be around people on my way home. I needed the quiet. Just a brief moment to recharge and sort out my thoughts before I checked my phone again.

“You sure?” Ethan asked as he turned back to look at us, shoving his keys in his pocket. His sea-green eyes studying me. I could tell that he was tired and I didn’t want to put more stress on him. He had a wife at home with a toddler, and I knew that he had another on the way. He needed to be home with them.

“Yeah, it’s not far.” I gave them my best customer service smile before saying goodbye and heading down the sidewalk.

I walked quickly, listening to the sound of their car engines as both Eva and Ethan headed home. The night was cold, the sidewalks were empty. I felt more alone than I could remember feeling in a long time. Talon had ingrained himself into my life so much that not seeing him for most of the afternoon or on my walk home made his absence all the more noticeable.

It made everything hurt worse. Shifting my bag in front of me, I opened my purse. Pulling my cell phone out, I turned it on. The screen was overly bright in the darkness. There were no new messages. I guess we wouldn’t be going on a date tonight.

Tossing my phone back into my bag, I shifted it back onto my shoulder before I resumed my ambling pace. Even though I was sad, I was more hurt. I’d messed up my friendship with Talon, and now he was ghosting me. My sneakers were the only sound against the pavement, but I felt like I had the night before. Like something was watching me in the darkness, I quickened my pace. Trying to keep calm, there were no sounds besides my hurried footfalls down the paved sidewalk. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.

Looking over my shoulder, I clutched my purse tighter. Turning around, I slammed into a wall and started to fall backwards. Arms wrapped around my waist, keeping me from falling. I realized the thing I’d run into wasn’t a wall, but the firm chest of a man. A man who smelled mouth watering, like sage and strong black tea.

“Careful there, cutie.” He said, pulling me closer to him, helping me catch my footing. I braced my hand against his chest. Looking up at him, his face was angular with sharp cheekbones that would make any model jealous. I didn’t say anything for a moment as I lost myself in his golden eyes. He c****d a pierced eyebrow up at me, his lips moving into a slow smirk. That made something low in the pit of my stomach clench up.

“Sorry.”

His eyes twinkled in the darkness. I’d never seen a person with eyes like his. He smiled at me, and I felt like I was falling. His hand came up, fingers moved over the top of my cheek before he tucked a lock of hair behind my ear.

“Pretty girls like you shouldn’t be walking alone at night.”

“I’m not.”

“Pretty?” His teeth sank into his full lower lip as he rested his hands on my hips. “I disagree, I think you’re ravishing.”

“No, I meant alone.” It was a lie, but he didn’t need to know that. I’d seen plenty of serial killer documentaries. I wasn’t going to be a victim. “I’m on my way to meet my friend.”

He pulled his hands away from my hips, shoving one into the pocket of his leather jacket. The other one moved through his dark blue hair, pushing the shoulder length strands out of his face. “Are you sure about that?”

I felt strange around him and I didn’t know why. For some reason, I wanted to press myself up against him. To feel that heat of desire spread through my skin. To bury my nose in the crook of his neck and just breathe him in. Worrying my lip, I frowned. Where had he come from, and why did he smell so good?

My eyes moved down his body, and I felt my cheeks heat up. A black concert t-shirt was stretched across his chest. Jeans hung low on his hips, the knees were ripped. He was every bit the bad boy that I’d been warned about. Stepping to the side, I darted around him. I didn’t need some creepily hot guy to talk to in the middle of the dark, deserted sidewalk. That seemed like it would bring on more trouble than it was worth.

“Wait, cutie.” He called out as I hurried up my pace. His boots loud as he ran to catch up with me. His arm going around my shoulder, tucking me into the heat of his body. I shivered at the scent of his skin. Knowing that this was a bad idea. “Let me walk you to your friend. I’m Omen, by the way.”

“Omen, sounds like you might be trouble.”

He chuckled “More than I’m worth, but I’ll only try to bring good to you. Cutie.”

“Nevie,” I said, and he looked over at me. “My name is Nevie.”

“Nevie, a cute name for my cutie.” Grinning, Omen turned to look up as we walked down the sidewalk. It was nice to walk with him. It felt different from walking with Talon. With Talon, things were comfortable and easy, filled with banter and teasing.

Omen made me feel things that I knew that I shouldn’t. I didn’t know him, but I felt that thrill shoot through me when he looked down at me. The closer we got to my apartment, I knew that I was going to have to tell him that I wasn’t meeting anyone. That I was headed home, home by myself.

“Omen?”

I knew it wasn’t a smart idea. This man was a stranger. I still hadn’t ruled out him being a serial killer, a really hot one. But, I wanted to invite him up for a drink.

“Yeah?” He didn’t look at me. Instead, his eyes scanned the darkened street, almost as if he were looking for something out there but couldn’t quite find it.

“I can make it the rest of the way myself.” I said, chickening out.

Omen looked at me, his arm tightening around me. “If I leave you alone, something might gobble you up.”

“I doubt that.”

“I don’t, cutie.”

“Omen-”

“Just let me get you with your friend, then I’ll get out of your hair. I can’t promise that I’ll stay away after that.” He said, hooking his finger under my chin. His finger was warm against my skin, and I shivered.

“I’m going home, not meeting anyone, and you might be a serial killer.” I blurted out.

“I promise I’m not a serial killer.” He said between barks of laughter.

“I’m sure that’s what a serial killer would say.” I said as we got closer to my apartment building. “After the day that I’ve had, it wouldn’t surprise me if you were. This is me.” I nodded towards the large brick building.

“Our time doesn’t have to end so soon, and besides, there are much scarier things hunting tonight than me.” He brushed his thumb over the side of my face as we walked to the front entrance. His touch made me feel things that I shouldn’t be feeling for a stranger. It made me throw caution to the wind.

“Would you, maybe, like to come up for a drink?”

He smirked down at me. “Yeah, maybe we can get to know one another a bit more?”

Omen pulled the handle of the door open, his hand moving between my shoulder blades as I passed him.

“I don’t know about that…” I trailed off. Did I want to get to know him better? I mean, we’d just met, but I knew that I was drawn to him. One drink, that’s all this was. I’d give him a beer as a thank you for walking me home, then I’d send him on his way. That was it, I promised myself.

Pulling my keys out of my bag, I stopped in front of my door. His hand moved to my lower back, thumb rubbing circles through my shirt, making me shiver. I put the keys into the lock, turning to look back at Omen. His eyes were on the large window down the hall from my apartment. “Omen, would you like to come in?”

He looked at me with an easy going smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Sure thing, cutie.”

Pushing my door open, I stepped inside. I hung up my keys and put my phone on the charger before walking into the living room. My sleep shirt still on the floor, I quickly walked over and picked it up, along with my panties. “Sorry about the mess, I was in a rush this morning.”

“Something fun happen?” He called out as I made my way down the hallway, tossing my clothing into my room.

“Sorta, I’m pretty sure I messed up my relationship with my best friend.”

“I doubt that.” Omen said as he flopped down onto the couch, sprawling out. I walked past him into the tiny kitchen. Opening the fridge, I pulled out two beers. Turning, I kicked the door closed while opening up the drawer to pull out a bottle opener.

I popped the lids off and tossed them into the trash, sitting the bottle opener on the cabinet before moving into the living room. Handing the glass bottle to Omen, I sat down on the armrest of the couch. I took a drink, shrieking and sputtering as his arm wrapped around my waist. Pulling me onto the couch until our thighs touched.

“Cutie, I wanted you closer. Now tell me about what happened with your best friend.”

Coughing, I tried to catch my breath, “I slept with him.”

“So, I never stood a chance?” He asked, taking a sip of his beer. “Was it any good?”

“Really good.” I didn’t know what to say about his never standing a chance comment. “When I called, a woman answered his phone and he didn’t come in to work today.”

“Shame on him, cute thing like you should be treasured.”

My cheeks heated up and I didn’t say anything to his comment about never standing a chance. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to say. He was warm and the scent of him was filling my lungs. He shifted to look at me, and I felt myself falling into his golden eyes.

I leaned closer to him, breathing in that addictive scent. It reminded me of long nights spent up to late reading good books. Sipping hot tea, I pressed my lips to his.

His lips were firm yet soft as they moved against mine. I heard the clink of glass on glass as he sat his beer on the coffee table, taking my beer and sitting it beside his. Omen’s hands came up, cupping my cheeks. His tongue moved over my bottom lip and I couldn’t help but moan, my eyes slipping closed as I gave into his kiss.

“Mmm, Nevie.” He moaned before deepening the kiss. I gripped his thigh, feeling his muscles flex through his jeans. His tongue moved against mine, teasing me. Promising things that were dangerous.

I shifted on the couch, moving to face him. His fingers moved down my neck, tightening on my throat. My pulse raced as he nipped at my bottom lip.

“Such a sexy girl.” He growled out and I opened my eyes, his thumbs moved over my skin, “My hands around your neck really does something for me.”

He kissed me again, and I shivered at his words. The tone was dark and had turned me on. The thrill of danger moving through me at kissing Omen.