I'm Your Baby Tonight - Part One - A New Adult Contemporary Romance Series (I'm Your Baby Tonight Series) (8 page)

“Splenda or sugar?” Chip asked, standing next to Sasha by the dark wooden counter of the condiment bar.

“Oh, two Splendas, please,” Sasha said. Chip grabbed them and led Sasha to a secluded booth. It was meant for two and tucked away in the back of the cafe. They were so far away from the other tables that it was unlikely the other patrons would see or recognize them.

Chip handed the packs to her and Sasha ripped them open.  Chip sat down and watched Sasha’s routine: how she poured in the contents into her cappuccino, stirred it swiftly, tapping the wooden sticks on the side of the cup, and setting it down on the napkin. He smiled, watching Sasha with squinted and interested eyes.

Sasha noticed. “What?”

“You...” Chip said, leaning back and still watching, just as interested. His fingers absentmindedly stirred his own coffee. He took it plain and black, just like Sasha imagined an officer would.

“What about me?” Sasha said.

“You’re interesting,” Chip said matter-of-factly, pushing his cup away and staring intently in Sasha’s eyes.

“Interesting like in a good way, or interesting as in...” Sasha faltered, trying to break Chip’s gaze.

“Interesting, just interesting...” Chip said with a smirk. Then the front door’s bell chimed, letting in a gust of teenagers. The boys of the group were obviously nervous about talking to their dates. The girls ordered confidently while the guys stood back, practically in a huddle. Sasha noticed them and almost wanted to laugh at their juvenile behavior.

“Thanks, I guess?” Sasha said, stirring her coffee again nervously.

“So...tell me about yourself,” Chip said, taking a sip of his coffee.

“Oh, well... I don’t know.  I’ve been teaching for about three years. Moved to this area about a year-and-a-half ago to work with inner city kids and disadvantaged students. I like it, I mean I love it, in fact.  I got my Master’s Degree from Columbia University and I...”

“No,” Chip said, leaning forward, “That’s what you do. I said, tell me about yourself.”

Sasha blushed. God, this man had the sexiest confidence. He was completely comfortable in his own skin, and his masculine tone sent vibrations through the little table and through Sasha’s body as she spoke.

“Well, I don’t know what you... I mean, what would you like to know?”

“I don’t know. What are your likes, your dislikes? Pets, favorite television shows, do you have a boyfriend?”

Sasha almost coughed up her cappuccino with that last question.

“Oh,” Sasha said, laughing, “Well, I love nachos with extra cheese,”

“Me too, lactose intolerant though.”

“Hate lima beans.”

“No kidding, nasty shit.”

“ Favorite TV show is
Family Guy
."

“Love
Family Guy
,” Chip added.

“And no, I don’t have a boyfriend.”

Chip’s eyebrow raised, “That’s good to know.”

“What?” Sasha asked, fishing for an answer.

“That there’s nobody I’m going to need to fight off to get to you.”

“Who says I’m interested?” Sasha flirted.

“Oh?” Chip said, blushing. “I see how it is.”

“You see how
what
is?” Sasha challenged.

“You’re one of those.”

“One of what?”

Chip just stared at her with that sexy smirk of his.

“This could be fun.  A lot of fun.”

“Oh?” Sasha said in return, “Why’s that?”

“You're going to make me work for it.”

“Work for what?”

Chip just stared at her, about to say something, but his radio went off, “10-4 Hunter in area code 725 ...”

“Hold on, one sec, Sasha... Yeah, this is Hunter...”

“We’ve got an 82 at your position. Right around the corner...”

“10-4,” Chip answered, sighing.

“Hunter?” Sasha flirted.

A smile spread across Chip’s face.  “It’s my call name. Ha ha, everyone gets nicknames. I just happen to be good at finding hookers.”

“What?”Sasha asked.

“That’s what the dispatcher said. Code 82 means hookers. We’re investigating a prostitution ring not far from here, actually. Hate fucking hookers.”

“Why’s that?” Sasha asked, swallowing around the knot in her throat.

“Well I could tell you that they lower property values or that they perpetuate the image to young people that chastity and morals going down the toilet is okay, but there’s so much more. Where do you want me to start?” he said, readjusting his belt.

Sasha didn’t know what to say. She’d never really given people who got paid for sex much thought. She felt sorry for them, actually; that they felt hooking was the only way out, but now that she was doing these nude massages, she had a whole other outlook on it.

“So,” Chip said, stepping close to her, putting his hand on the side of her shoulder and looking at her with those sexy eyes of his, “we’ll continue this conversation later. You free tomorrow night?”

“For what?”  Sasha asked, little beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

“I don’t know for dinner... maybe dessert?”

“I might be?” Sasha smiled.

“How about tonight at 8 p.m.?”

“Sure, that’d be nice,” Sasha said.

“You live not far from the old railroad station, right? I patrol that area sometimes,” Chip asked.

“How did you know?” Sasha asked, confused. Had she told him that?

Chip gestured as if he was typing, “Looked you up.”

And with that, he gave one of his trademark winks.  Sasha didn’t know whether to be flattered or creeped out. She guessed the former. There was something so sexy and confident about Chip that she didn’t see in a lot of guys. How comfortable he was in his own skin, perfectly fine in showing little patterns of affection in public and remaining masculine. It was fucking hot.

But shitting where she eats? Sasha wasn’t so sure about that, and even thinking about dating the parent of one of her students may come back to haunt her somehow.

But the truth was, Chip was the first person she’d ever imagined she could possibly be in a relationship with, and although they’d only just met, there was something special about him:  something that she thought would compliment her.

CHAPTER 13

T
he banging on Sasha’s door woke her up from her nap with a fright. She’d had a horrible nightmare that she was in prison and her whole career was ruined; that there were newspaper articles about her, and she was wearing a mini-skirt, standing on a street corner like a hooker.

The thought made her panic as she shook her head and hoped to get the grogginess out of it before she stumbled to the door. Who the hell was it? She wasn’t expecting anybody. Luckily, her roommate had gone to work. She looked at the clock on the wall on the way to the door. It was only 5:45 p.m.  Chip wouldn’t be coming over for another couple of hours.

She didn’t even bother looking through the peephole before she unlatched the chain and opened the door.

“Hey beautiful,” Tony said, stepping right through, unannounced.

“Oh, hi. I didn’t know you were coming over,” Sasha said, not wanting to be rude, but really not wanting him there.

“Yeah, I was in the area, so...”  He looked around the house as if he were looking for something or someone.

“Oh, well, would you like something to drink? I have more than water this time,” Sasha smiled.

“Uh, no, I’m cool. Actually I got this nasty crick in my neck and I was hoping...” Tony said, looking at her with those beautiful big brown eyes and long lashes.

Sasha felt a sinking in her stomach.  Man, she really did need the money still. She still didn’t have enough for rent and all those other bills, and she knew that Anton was serious about that deadline. It was five days away and counting, and  Anton didn’t fuck around when it came to money.   Maybe if she just did a quick one.

“Yeah, well... I hate to...do you think we could do it another night? I...”

“Why?” Tony demanded to know. He didn’t seem like the type of guy to whom you said no.

“It’s just that I just woke up from my nap and I have to get ready to...I’ve got plans later on.”

“Plans?” he said, raising an eyebrow, “What type of plans?”

Sasha didn’t know how to explain herself.  She shifted back and forth, leaning against the wall, then off it, then back on it.  She also didn’t figure she owed Tony any explanation. She was a grown woman and it’s not like they were dating.

“Oh... just some stuff I’ve got to do,” Sasha said, feeling that was sufficient enough of an explanation.

“Things or people?”  Tony asked, half-jokingly.

Sasha decided to laugh it off, “You’re funny, Tony.”

They stood there in silence,  and although it was probably only fifteen or twenty seconds, it felt like  a lifetime.

“So, here’s the deal. I know I don’t owe you no favors,” Tony said, his articulate speech pattern melting away and his New Jersey accent coming out, “but I really can make your life a hell of a lot better than this rat hole.” He gestured around the small apartment with the sparse second-hand furniture, looking right at Sasha as if proving his point.

Sasha was offended at his assumption. She hadn’t asked for some handout. Yes, this place was a shithole, but that was for her to say, not someone else. She needed to move in somewhere better, but it wasn’t like she was groveling at Tony’s feet.

“Okay,” was all Sasha could think of to say in response.

“I can do a lot for you, Sasha girl.  A whole helluva lot, believe me. I make a seven-figure income, and I’ve got a lot of influence in this town. But for that kind of special treatment, I’m going to need to ask a few things from you.” His tone held the authority of someone who hadn’t been rejected in a long time. Sasha wondered how many times Tony had done this before. Did he use unsuspecting girls so he could feel some kind of power high? Tony listed off his requirements. “For one, I’d like for us to be a thing. Just me and you, no one else. I get to use you exclusively and on my schedule. I’m a busy man, I’m sure you know, and I don’t like to wait.” He popped his knuckles menacingly and took a few steps closer to Sasha until he was towering over her. “When I call you, you better want it. I have needs, and you’re going to be the one to meet them. I want you available at a drop of a dime. I don’t care if that’s 2 o’clock in the morning or 2 o’clock in the afternoon.” By the end of his speech, he had Sasha’s forearm between the fingers of his right hand, and he was rubbing his thumb up and down roughly.

Sasha jerked away. “Tony, I can’t... I don’t know if I can...” All of a sudden she was very frightened. How far would Tony go to make a point? They were here all by themselves. Sasha was in great shape, but she also was much smaller than the large intimidating man. Being younger should work to her advantage, but if Tony attacked her, Sasha wasn’t sure that she’d be strong enough to fight him off.

“And for that,” Tony continued, unfazed, “I’ll set you up with your own apartment. Trust me, it’ll be a lot nicer than this dump. You’ll have total privacy, except when I come over. And anything you want at the casino is yours. You’ll have the full VIP status on the house. Spa treatment, food, I’ll even give you some shopping money, if you’re real good.” Tony’s voice had dropped lower, and it was laced with desire. Sasha was very afraid that she wouldn’t have a say in what happened next. Tony didn’t attack her, though, he just continued his list.

“But if I catch you touching another dude...” a small smile that hid his intensity appeared, “all bets are off.” He stood there with such confidence that Sasha could tell he assumed his deal wouldn’t be denied.

And with that, he patted Sasha on the ass and then on the side of the face. “Capiche?”

Sasha didn’t know what to say. Sure, it’d be nice to live somewhere else and not have to worry about where her next meal was coming from, or if she’d still have a job the next week. She did need financial help and it wasn’t like she’d hate the responsibilities. Tony was incredibly sexy. Even though his manner had intimidated Sasha, it also turned her on. His confidence aroused Sasha’ and made her want to get fucked. But then and again, now that she had met Chip, she completely rethought things. Chip was kind and gentle. He seemed interested in more than just getting off. She wanted to get to know Chip more before she completely wrote off any chance with him. Besides, although she did love the element of control and jealousy that Tony brought in, too much could be a huge turn off, and right now, Tony was straddling that line. She didn’t want to feel threatened all the time.

Tony didn’t wait for Sasha to respond before he started heading toward the door.  He was about to turn the knob when he turned around and said, “And do me another favor: take that shit offline.”

“What shit?” Sasha asked, her heart pumping harder.

“That nude massage shit.”

Sasha was surprised. How had he known it was her? She’d created a whole other profile.

“Like I said,” Tony continued, “I want you to be exclusively mine. Besides, you’re not going to have time for a side job while I’m with you. I’m gonna go grab my shit out of my car and when I get back, I want you to have the bed and massage oil ready for me.  I’ve got that horrible crick in my neck again, and you’re going to fix it, along with some other things.” He gave her a long wink and turned to the door.