Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Too Late For Love

Friday night was here again. Eddie was locked in his bedroom, focused on the new campaign he was bringing to Hellfire Club on Wednesday. He had even been studying tonight. Anything to keep him from driving down to Newman's gas station and telling Beth she had to leave Joe. He felt so possessive over this woman he barely knew. She was so beautiful, so comfortable, he felt like she could be his soulmate. That is, if he believed in soulmates. Maybe he did now.

Wayne tapped lightly on the door and said, "Hey Eddie I'm going to get a drink with a friend from work. I'll be back in a few hours." Eddie acknowledged the statement and told his uncle to be careful.

Alone, and fighting the urge to go see Beth, he started to remember the way she was breathing as she was making love with Joe. Eddie had watched porn, those girls were pretty loud, but even in real life it was usually a little more vocal than breath. He decided Joe must not be a very good fuck. He imagined the squeals and curses she would let out if he ever got his hands on her pillowy body. If he was ever going to make her cry, he wanted it to be only because she was overwhelmed by an orgasm.

The thoughts bounced around on repeat and Eddie found himself in the shower, hand full of shampoo lathering up his erection. She was on her knees, lips wrapped around his balls, dripping wet hand running up and down his shaft. She was on her side, he was behind her, softly sliding in and out of her velvety slit. She rocked back and forth on top of him, one nipple in his mouth and the other between his fingers. She wiggled and screamed as his thumb pressed into and shifted around her clit.

He played the way she said "I'm cumming," over and over. Each time he thought of it as louder. As he imagined her saying his name and squirting all over his bed, he splattered the shower wall with several spurts of cum.

The water ran cold as he quickly tried to wash himself and the wall. She turned him on, there was no doubt about that, but more than anything Eddie wanted to wake up next to her and take care of her. She deserved softness and love. He could gag at himself being so mushy.

The trailer had grown caliginous, lights off and shower steam filling the space. As hard as he tried, there was no way Eddie was going to be able to relax or fall asleep.

He justified his trip to the gas station by reminding himself he only had a couple cigarettes left and being so worried about her was going to burn those up in no time. Eddie blasted Iron Maiden as he zipped past the high school. As to be expected, the parking lot was jam packed.

Eddie drove slowly, practicing what he was going to say. He was going to act like he had no idea who she was. He wouldn't even look at her. "Just ask for some cigarettes, pay up, and leave," he told himself. "Don't look her in the eye."

Beth was outside smoking a cigarette when Eddie pulled in. She sang along to the song playing, pretending she didn't notice who it was that just arrived. "We can both pretend," he told himself.

"Hey can I please have two packs of Marlboro reds?" She sat the packs on the counter, placed his change on the counter, and before he could grab them and run away she was holding his hand, running her thumb in circles. "Eddie what's wrong?", she asked. He closed his eyes and inhaled sharply, trying not to react to her touch. "Just heading home to get some shut eye," he lied. She contorted herself to get her eyes lined up with his.

The way she bent to make him see her made him chuckle. "Be honest with me," she begged, holding both of his hands and staring intensely. Eddie shrugged and pulled his hands away. "Smoke?", she offered, coming out from behind the counter. His heart skipped a beat as he watched her hips sway through the doorway.

She had done her best to cover up the bruises, but her eye was red and green and yellow, now spreading to her nose and down to her cheek. He couldn't help but wince at the sight. Eddie didn't understand how she could let Joe fuck her after hitting her like that. He sucked the smoke from his cigarette, blind to how quickly it was burning through because he was too pissed off to think.

  After what felt like half an hour of silence, Beth cleared her throat. "So?", she asked. Eddie shook his head. "I'm fine. I'm tired. Are you alright?" Beth nodded and put out her cigarette. "Have a good night," she huffed, rolling her eyes and walking back inside.

Eddie stood there, considering his options. He could go home and worry. He could go in there and confess his feelings for her. He could try to go find Joe and get a black eye to match Beth's. He put his palm to his forehead, shook his head at himself, and walked back into the gas station. "Forget something?", she asked.

"I don't like your husband," he admitted. His cheeks were bright pink and sweat was forming at his hairline. "Me neither," she laughed. "Then why are you married to him?", he prodded. "Who else would I be with? I know you don't understand this yet, but when you're on your own and you're a parent, sometimes you have to take what you can get to make it through. And I love Joe, and he loves me, he just doesn't know how to show it."

Eddie frustratedly nodded, almost smacking himself in the face with his guitar pick necklace. "Yeah I'd fuckin' say so," he mumbled, gesturing to her eye. "This was my fault," she said, covering her bruise.

Eddie took her face in his hands, mimicking the way she glared into his soul when she had asked him to be honest about what was bothering him. "I could treat you the way you deserve to be loved," he said. His throat ran dry with anxiety. Beth's emerald irises bounced back and forth between Eddie's deep brown eyes. "What?", she asked, starting to hyperventilate. She broke the grasp of his fingers on her cheeks and walked toward the freezer.

  Time slowed down. Eddie didn't know if he was supposed to follow her, or go home. He didn't want to go home. If she was supposed to be so grown up, she could tell him to his face she wanted him to fuck off. Eddie opened the freezer door and was wrapped in a suffocating hug. His dick grew hard and his hands went straight to Beth's ass.

  She stood back, looking Eddie deep in the eyes, and as tears ran down her cheeks she grinned. "I appreciate your kindness. I am too far gone for someone like you, Eddie." Eddie choked on a laugh. "Sweetheart, I know I'm young but I'm a damn drug dealer. I've been in the drunk tank. I'm not a kid." Beth held his face in her hands. His erection swelled so much it hurt, throbbing against his zipper.

  "Eddie, really, you have no idea who I really am. I've gotten myself into this situation. I can't really support my son with drug money." Her words scalded his ego. He knew this was all true, and still not wanted to prove her wrong.

  Eddie leaned in, pressing his forehead into hers. Their eyes met and Beth gasped. She was suddenly wet and aching between her plump thighs. "Can I get to know you?", he begged. He kissed the tip of her nose and asked again.

  "Don't waste your time kid," she said, pulling herself away from him. "I am too old and broken down. You need to go home and make yourself ready for some beautiful young girl who can give you the world. Don't throw yourself away for a piece of shit, used up mom." Eddie tried to argue back, but Beth insisted he leave and reconsider.