“When are you going to stop this?” Tino asks as he steps up behind me, wrapping his hands around my waist. His palms are hot even through the blood red fabric of my dress.
“When I get what I want.”
“Trick rolling isn’t a part of this plan, Tessa.” I reach for the red lipstick that matches my dress and apply it to my lips.
“It pays the bills,” I remind him. Tino isn’t able to work. Our pasts have grounded us and now I’m in charge. I’m the one that has to make ends meet. I never saw it coming. Not when I was younger. I was happy and taken care of. My mom was a good mom that provided for us even when my dad wasn’t around. I had a good life. So did Tino until it all fell to shit. One night. That’s all it took to change everything. At first I ignored it and brushed it off but day after day things got worse. Men came into our home, overriding everything my mom had put in place. They took charge and when things didn’t go their way, they hurt us. Shaking the thoughts away, I look at myself in the mirror.
“It needs to stop,” he whispers running his lips down my neck and over my shoulder.
“When you step up and take control of your life I will.” He pulls away from me and takes a step back, running his hand through his hair. I know we’ve gone over this time and time again but Tino is as stubborn as they come.
“It’s not that easy and you know it. I don’t have the army they do.” I know that much but I also know that if he went rocking the mafia boat, assholes would fall.
“You have to make it happen, Tino. Sitting here in this house isn’t doing anything. We’re just letting them ruin our lives over and over. Each day that I breathe is another day of life I’ve let them steal. I’m done,” I tell him. He raises his head and catches my eyes in the mirror. Heat races down my spine as I watch him move closer.
“You’re a temptress, Tessa,” he says leaning down and running his nose along my shoulder. I close my eyes and let the feel of him calm me, soothe me. Things between Tino and I are complicated. Do I love him? No. Do I need him and care for him? Of course. I don’t think love is in the cards for someone like me. If it is, I sure as hell haven’t found it.
“I need to go,” I remind him. He nods against me before turning me in his arms and kissing me roughly. His tongue demands entrance and I gladly let him in. He’s my drug of choice only because of the situation we’re in. He’s the one thing that keeps my buzzing and craving more. Next to the danger, this is what I want. A man that can handle me, my mouth and everything that comes along with it. His lips are powerful and in the real world I know Tino would be at the top of the food chain. If only I can prove my theory correct.
“Call if you need me,” he whispers against my lips, sounding almost like a plea. He needs to be needed and to be honest, I don’t need him in that way. I nod my head regardless and shift to slip my feet into my heels. Once I’m satisfied, I head out of the bathroom, grabbing my purse as I go. My mom doesn’t even look my way as I walk out into the cool night. Closing my eyes, I look up at the stars and sigh.
“One day I will come for you too,” I say to the nothingness that twinkles high above me. Taking another deep breath, I start my walk to the strip. We don’t live far. The three-bedroom shithole we have isn’t the fanciest of homes but it’s stable for Ania. She needs things to remain calm and stable or I fear we may lose her.
The first casino of the night comes into view and smile as I walk inside. No one knows me, or remembers me anyway. I’m nothing spectacular. I’ve seen women that are far hotter than me in here and those are the ones that catch attention. Me? I play my hand close to my chest. I have to wait for the perfect opportunity to do what I do. Strolling through the place, I pay close attention to the men. There’s a certain type that I go for. They have to be older men. I check their watches and even their shoes. You can learn a lot about a man’s tastes by his shoes. Not many know that but I do. I’ve trained myself to do this. Spotting the first man of the night, I stumble his way. Pretending to be drunk has to be the easiest thing ever. I trip over myself and fall directly into his drunken arms.
“Oh no! I’m so sorry,” I slur my words as he wraps his hands around me. He smiles and helps right me but his hand lingers a little longer on hip than it should. That’s when I know I got him.
“Don’t be sorry,” he says sweetly, watching my lips before letting his eyes roam over my entire body.
“I think I may have drunk a little more than I should have,” I tell him with a smile.
“Nonsense. You look completely sober,” he says sounding shocked by that fact. So do you, I think to myself.
“Maybe you’d buy a girl a drink?” I bat my lashes at him and he takes the bait. He sits back on his stool, pulling me into his lap. His cock is already hard but too bad for him he won’t be getting any of this.
A shit ton of drinks later and we’re both stumbling to his room. Some of us more than others. I didn’t really drink all those drinks. I did drink the beer and then I used the bottle as my spit container. No way in hell was I drinking that much and trying to do my job. The night just started.
We stumble up to this room and laugh when he can’t get the key card to work. It takes six tries and I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes at the attempts. When he finally opens it, we both fall into the room in a fit of giggles and laughs. Then the door closes and he’s on me. I didn’t even ask his name and frankly I don’t give a shit. Names mean nothing in this line of work. His kisses are sloppy and not even turning me on which is typically the case with men like him.
“Take your clothes off,” I whisper shoving him back a step. He shakes his head and moves toward me again. This time I stop him, pressing my hand to his chest before dragging it down his stomach to his cock. One squeeze and he groans. “I’m gonna make this so good for you. You want to see me strip for you?” Men are so easy. The idiot nods his head and quickly begins to strip out of his clothes, leaving them near the door. I step forward and kick them to the side, near the bathroom door as he fists his cock in his hand.
“Come on,” he growls.
“Get that ready for me? I am going to freshen up.” He nods his head and strokes his cock slowly in his hand. I lick my lips just to give him a little show and keep him on edge. Turning on my heel I walk into the bathroom, kicking his clothes with me as I go. Locking the door and turning on the water, I grab his slacks and pull his wallet from his pocket.
“So stupid,” I mumble as I pull all the cash out and stuff it in my bra. I’ll count it later. Now I need to get out of here before he actually wants something I’m not willing to give him. Flushing the toilet, I turn on the water and slowly open the bathroom door. Peeking my head out, I see he’s on the bed lying flat still stroking himself. A slight groan escapes his lips and I roll my eyes. Careful not to make much noise, I pull my heels off and grab them in one hand, opening the door with the other.
“Hey? You about ready?” He calls out. Shit. Fuck. Shit. He’s going to catch me sneaking out.
“Oh I’m ready,” I call out just as I pull the door open and run from the room. I’m on the stairs in no time, running until I can’t breathe. I head out the side door and toward my car as I laugh into the night sky.