Princess & the Player

thirty: what felony assault looks like

Marco's POV:

"Queenie, I hear you. But I'm going crazy. No, Shay really is gone on vacation with his Dads. No, Scottie hasn't replied. Look, I'm gonna be sitting on the phone waiting for your call."

I knew something was really wrong. The last time Maggie had gone missing, it hadn't occurred to me to worry. This time, a panic had set in my chest the very first time she didn't immediately respond to a text. 

It had been more than 3 days. 

Queenie seemed to sense how serious was and promised to do what she could. 

I stopped walking once we hung up. I'd gotten myself turned around. I knew Central Park pretty damn well but I could barely concentrate. Then I saw Tiesha at the food cart and waved. 

"You seem distracted," she held out a hot dog to me - ketchup and sport peppers. Kind of creepy that she knew how I liked it. 

"Just stuff," I dismissed. I bought myself a bottle of water and we found a bench. 

"Where's your little friend?" She took a small bite of her own hot dog, her bright red lips leaving lipstick on the bun. "Cutting out of work on a beautiful Saturday afternoon? It's for her, right?"

"I just wanted to talk to you outside the office, Tiesha."

"Oh."

I casually ate my food. Tried to keep my anxiety about Maggie under wraps. I needed to focus on re-setting Tiesha to a business-only relationship. "Look, I wanted to..."

"Oh, you're gonna give me the 'we're just co-workers' speech aren't you? You poor thing, you're that whipped by the baby girlfriend?"

"Don't try so hard, Tiesha," I'd lost my appetite and crumpled the rest of the dog in the paper wrapper and tossed it in a nearby bin.  

"Marco, you are - hands down - the best sex I've ever had. You made me come like a rocket without needing a map. No one gets THAT good at something by accident. From your tiny house to your designs to your moves in bed...you are a guy who makes the effort to be great at things. And that is really, really sexy."

"I appreciate the compliment, but..."

"I'm not asking for a relationship. I don't want any relationships. I am going to make principal before I'm 35."

"Good to have goals." 

"Marco, all I'm asking for is sex. And maybe a friend. We need allies in this business."

"Tiesha..."

"You're obviously as driven as I am; everyone can see it a mile off. But a few bad choices and you're gonna end up teaching CAD at night school. So a word to the wise? Don't throw it away. Once we graduate we have years ahead of hustle: intern hours, measuring, drafting, construction drawings, picking up redlines, pulling permits, exam prep, licensing..."

"I know."

"So stay loose. Trust me, now is definitely not the time to tie yourself down. Stay free and hungry. Keep my number. Have my back and I'll have yours. And...call me when you're in the mood. I'm sure I know how to get a guy off better than little miss. No strings attached."

"Been there, done that," I finished the water and walked over to pop the empty plastic into the recycling bin. "I'm with Maggie, now"

"You'll change your mind," Tiesha threw out her trash as well. "Submissive and eager to please gets old really fast." 

I watched as she bought herself a diet soda. She did, indeed, have an ass worth the time. 

Damn.