ONE
JOEY
“A bookstore?” I question Keir, my brother.
He shakes his head and gets out of the car, and I follow. We both look inside—the lights are on and the name Pages of Sweets glares back at me.
“Sweets?” I shake my head. “Is that a subtle reference for porn?” I ask. Keir’s lip twitches, and he continues walking until we get to the door. “Remind me why we’re here?”
Again, he doesn’t reply, he simply opens the door. At the same time the bell rings above the door, our heads snap to the back of the store when we also hear a faint noise. My eyes scan the space which isn’t much bigger than a small living room, but there are books everywhere.
“What the hell is that?” We both walk farther in, the noise becoming louder with each step.
Is that a… moan?
Maybe this is a front for an actual porn shop.
Not only porn books.
Maybe role play?
Okay, now that’s a bookshop I want to be a part of—sign me up.
“Oh my God, do not stop.”
We both halt as we look up.
A woman with long brown hair flowing over her shoulders, her eyes tightly closed, her hands in someone’s hair, her skirt up around her waist as she screams for someone to not stop fucking her pussy with their mouth is backed against the wall and one leg over her shoulder.
Just as I see an orgasm take over her body, her eyes pop open. They lock onto mine—
dark whiskey-colored eyes are sightly closed but well aware we’re standing here. I don’t even spare a glance at the second person until the woman who was getting fucked puts her leg down and smirks. That’s when the person who was kneeling between her legs stands. She has short blonde hair cut and styled in a masculine way. The jeans she’s wearing hug her tight, showcasing female curves, but her loose shirt would have had me mistaking her for a man from the back at a quick glance.
“This how you treat all your customers?” I ask with a lift of my brow.
The blonde turns around and gasps, wiping at her face before she reaches for a stack of books on the floor and then runs straight past us until we are left alone with the woman with whiskey eyes.
“I feel like whatever you buy now, you should pay extra for the show,” she replies, flicking her long hair over her shoulder and adjusting her skirt.
“Not my fault you gave it away for free,” I retort.
She pulls a soft smile. It’s wary as her eyes lock with mine, but it’s gone as she bends down to pick up a pile of books.
“How can I help you? Lucas isn’t here,” she says, referring to our cousin. How on earth she got involved with him I can’t imagine, considering Lucas likes no one.
“You know that’s not why I’m here,” Keir says, and there’s a threatening edge to his tone.
I glance at him, confused, and then back to the woman with whiskey eyes.
Her gaze hardens as she stares at him, lifting her lip in an almost snarl. “I see no reason for you to be here other than for Lucas. So if you don’t want to purchase books, it’s best you leave.”
“I think it’s time you closed for the day… wouldn’t you say?” Keir is persistent. Not many people argue with him other than his wife.
I watch as she licks her lips, then sucks air between her teeth. “No, I don’t think it is.” To get past us, she will have to ask us to move or physically shift us herself, as we’re blocking her way. She walks up until she’s standing right in front of us, then pushes herself between us.
Keir moves, but I stay still.
What the fuck is going on?