Tug-at-your-heartstrings new adult first love story.
What starts as a bet to avoid cleanup duties at her minimum wage cashier job, wins Amelie D'Amico more than she's ever hoped for.
When Ben, a cute customer who always checkouts at her register, fi...
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I pull another strand of hair out of my ponytail and wrap it around my finger. My translation from Latin of the first marital night customs in 13th century France reads like an erotica short. My overactive hormones seem to be the only thing in charge of my brain. I don't think Professor Hopkins will appreciate my hormone-saturated speculations on how the event went for the bride and the groom. At least the didn't have to worry about their relationship status. That's what I can't get off my mind.
Not a conversation I want to have over text, or call. I text Ben minutes before midnight. If I sleep on it my sober and less horny morning self will get scared and backpedal.
Me: can you hang out after the store closes tomorrow night? need to talk.
Three dots on the screen indicate that Ben's typing back.
Ben:Sounds good. We can make plans for what we can do before going over to Tall's place for lunch. I have a steam room and a sauna in the building that we can use.
Should I wait to talk to him until Saturday? I probably should, but it isn't a viable option. Waiting that long would lead me to either collapse from too many sleepless nights, combust from sexual frustration, or go bald after having pulled all my hair out. All three of those at the same time is a good possibility as well.
***
"Look at your shoulders." Chris leaves his register and walks over to me. There's no one left to tell him to get back as we are the last employees on duty. "I'm not joking about getting you those free passes to my yoga classes at the YMCA. You're bunched up like you have the worry of the world on your shoulders. Let me stretch you out."
Chris's hands are magic. He fixed me up when I pulled my lower back the first day on the job, lifting a box of Icel Winery's red. Any stress relief is welcome. I move my hair out of the way and give Chris access to my neck. He starts by stretching and bending my head side to side and instructing me through deep breathing exercises. His fingers dig deep into my tight shoulders and my muscles scream, sore from swimming and other things.
I close my eyes and stifle a moan. Chris eases the pressure and moves his thumbs into my hairline, melting away some of the strain. I take a long breath in, and release an even longer one out. The pounding of the heartbeats against my ribs quiets down.
"Is he what you wanted to talk to me about?"
Ben's voice breaks the spell I'm under, forcing me to open my eyes and focus on his face. Angry. Ben is angry. Have I ever seen him in such condition?
"Why is he touching you?" Ben points his chin at Chris behind me.
"Hey, chill, man." Chris takes his hands off me and raises them up. "She's all yours. I was just trying to calm her down, dude. You two clearly have issues to work out. I'll go...check everything...and start closing the store." Chris backs away from us. "No wonder you're so wound up," he mumbles and heads to the front door,
