#ongoing fic

“Sorry it’s a bit small,” Zoro said as he leaned against the doorframe. You shrugged your bag off your shoulder and set it down on the bed. “It’s no problem. I was in the crew quarters with thirty people on the Baratie.” You smiled to yourself, “It’s crazy to even have my own space again...”

Zoro nodded and moved to leave, but you put a hand out to stop him. He looked back at you, one brow raised. You dropped your hand, “Uh, sorry. I just wanted to ask- I hope it’s okay that I- I mean, I guess what I’m wondering is…” You blew a strand of hair from your face and looked down at the floor, stomach tightening reflexively as you forced yourself to ask, “How do you feel about Sanji and I joining your crew? Considering you were… not really around for that…”

Zoro turned back to fully face you, standing in the doorway. One hand resting on the hilt of his sword, he said, “I could take or leave the cook…” You suppressed a smile, and he continued, “But Luffy told me all about you when I woke up. You’re a devil fruit eater.” You bit your lip and nodded slowly, confirming what he said. “Does that bother you…?”

“Not one bit. Luffy trusts you, and I trust him, so we’re good.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that…” Something about his gaze when he said it made you look away. Then he added, “Also helps that I liked you anyway.” You sneaked a glance at him, “Really? I was just a waitress…” Your fingers absentmindedly started picking at the bedframe behind you. “Sounds like you wanna be more than that,” Zoro said as he leaned against the doorframe, “That’s why you’re here, right?”

The thought made something swell in your chest, maybe excitement, maybe anticipation for what might come next. You nodded once. “Great,” Zoro turned to leave, but he stopped short, inhaling sharply, his hand going to his chest. 

You shot forward, concern washing over you. “Hey, whoa, are you sure you should be up, actually?” Your hand reached out to his shoulder, steadying him.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Zoro tried to wave you off. He straightened again, but still winced. 

“Mhm, sure,” your lips pressed into a thin line, “Maybe you should rest a bit more until we get to wherever we’re going?” Zoro just shook his head. “I’m fine,” he insisted. You sighed, your hand dropping from his shoulder to rest on your hip, “So that’s how it’s gonna be?”

“Yep,” he smirked, “Welcome to the crew.” Then he stepped out of your cabin and left you to unpack. You shook your head and turned back to your bag on your bed, heavy with everything you owned. 

You started unpacking, pulling out a few books and clothes that you’d managed to collect over the years. You found a place for everything. It wasn’t much, anyway, so it didn’t take long. Then you peeked your head out of your door and looked both ways down the hall. No one seemed to be around. You wondered where to go next. You were pretty sure you remembered how to get back to the galley, and then up to the top deck from there, but you wondered if it was worth it to explore the rest of the ship by yourself. 

You shrugged to yourself and struck out to go look around. But you didn’t get far into the ship before you heard your name being called from a room you’d just passed. You stopped and backtracked, tentatively peeking your head into the room. 

Sanji pointed, “Ah! You-” He got up from where he was sitting, “You and I need to have a talk.”

“About what?” Your brows furrowed together.

“Well, for one. About the explosions of light coming out of your hands.”

“Mmm, no, it sounds like you understand it just fine.” You put your hands behind your back, grabbing your wrist as you continued, “I ate a devil fruit. Now, glowing spheres come out of my hands. Easy.”

Sanji scoffed, “Yeah, okay, sure. Secondly, what are you doing here?” He gestured vaguely at the whole ship around you. You pursed your lips and tilted your head, “What do you mean?”

Sanji crossed his arms, “Wellll,” he drew out the word, “It kind of looks like you’re following me…” He smirked down at you. Your mouth dropped open and you laughed, “As if! Sanji, I am not following you around like some lost puppy. I told you, I was invited. By the captain. Same as you.”

“If you say so…” His smirk didn't move from his face. You threw your hands in the air and walked away, saying, “You’re not nearly that charming, you know.”

“But I am charming!”

The next morning, you went up on deck to check on how things were progressing with the clown head, whom you now knew was actually called Buggy. He was supposed to be directing you all toward Nami and Arlong’s pirates, mostly because he wanted to reconnect with his own body again, which was apparently being held captive by Arlong. So, his motives aligned with all of yours, for now. 

However, when you joined Usopp by the ship’s tiller, it didn’t seem like Buggy was being as helpful as he claimed he would be.

“But you said five degrees starboard…” Usopp argued. 

“Yeah, the other starboard, captain shitastic!”

“I thought clowns were supposed to be funny…” Usopp muttered under his breath. Apparently, Buggy still heard him, flipping his decapitated head around to shout back, “Why don’t you say it to my face!” You rolled your eyes and turned your back to Buggy. Facing Usopp, you mimed gagging, making him crack a smile. 

“Hey! Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing, missy!” 

You spun back around, putting on your most innocent face, “Who, me?” You gestured to yourself by splaying both hands on your chest.

“Yeah you, you little-”

Just then, Zoro sauntered up the steps to join you all and Buggy switched gears, enthusiastically greeting him. “Morning champ!”

“I know Luffy made a deal with you to find Arlong, clown,” he picked up Buggy by his hair and swung his arm over the side railing of the ship, “but if you’re even thinking about screwing us over…”

“Hey! Hey! Zoro, buddy!” Buggy pleaded, “Honor amongst pirates, right? How about I sing a nice sea shanty to pass the time?” Zoro pulled Buggy’s head back onto the ship, but as the clown started warbling a song that began disparaging Nami, Zoro opened the closest barrel and dropped the head inside. You could just hear Buggy whining about his nose as Zoro closed the lid.

“Thank. You…” you said as Zoro passed, on his way to talk to Luffy at the front of the ship. You could see Luffy conversing with Sanji while the latter attempted to catch some fish. Meanwhile, you turned to Usopp, “So, do you think we’re heading in the right direction? Or is the clown full of it?”

“I honestly have no idea… But I guess we have no other choice, right?”

“That is true. And, I mean, if he ever wants to see his body again, he can’t be too far off,” you jerked your head toward the barrel nearby. A thump and muffled sounds told you that it wasn’t entirely soundproof.

“I miss our navigator,” Usopp sighed. You lifted your hand to block the sun from your eyes as you scanned the horizon in the distance. You didn’t disagree.

Finally, you arrived at the Conomi Islands. The five of you secured the ship on one side of the island where Coco Village was located before you made your way to the village itself. However, as you walked through, you couldn’t help but notice the burned husks of buildings and flipped over huts. The village was wrecked. Inspecting some of the burned parts of a cart as you passed, you remarked, “This doesn’t look recent…”

All of you approached what remained of the main square, where you noticed the villagers huddled together around a mustachioed man holding a wooden box. 

“We don’t have much time, and we’re short again this month,” he was telling the people gathered there.

“Are you sure we don’t have time to get some more?” One of the worried villagers questioned.

“No,” a cold voice called out. “You don’t.” Everyone turned and immediately stepped out of the way of… Nami.

Luffy took a step forward, but Zoro’s arm shot out and caught him, silently urging him to wait, and watch.

As Nami walked through the row of scared villagers, only one woman stepped out to meet her. The woman with blue hair and curling tattoos on her dark skin looked down at Nami and said, “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing your face here…” Her and Nami locked eyes, until the blue-haired woman leaned over slightly and spit at Nami’s feet. Then, with a furious glare, she turned away and left the village. You watched her go. It seemed like if anyone here knew Nami, she might be the one to ask…

Other than the woman in question herself, who had collected the money and then noticed the group of you standing off to the side. The dejected villagers dispersed as Nami angrily stalked up to Luffy. When she was close enough, she demanded, “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” Luffy calmly responded. 

“This is where I belong.”

“I don’t believe that… Nami, if you need our help-”

“No, I don’t need any of you!” Nami raised her voice, addressing all of you, “Arlong wanted the map, and I conned you into getting it for me. That’s all this ever was.” She stepped up to Luffy and looked him directly in the eye as she finished, “Now, take the rest of these clowns and sail away from here. I never want to see you again.”

With that, she spun on her heel and left. 

After an awkward pause, Usopp piped up, “Sail the hell out of here? Okay, fine by me.”

“No, there’s something else going on here…” Sanji mused.

“Agreed,” you crossed your arms.

“I think she was very clear she wants us to leave,” Zoro argued. 

“You don’t know women,” Sanji retorted, “They never say what they mean.”

“As the only woman currently here, I do have to disagree with that particular statement,” you cut in. Sanji spread his hands in front of him, “You mean to say you’ve never hidden your true feelings?”

“I never said that. But you can’t say that women never say what they mean either-”

“Don’t you get it?” Usopp interrupted, “She’s one of them. She’s a bad guy. The villagers are terrified of her.”

Luffy finally turned around then, “Not all of them… The girl with the blue hair wasn’t.” You straightened up, “We need to find her and ask her what she knows.”

After a brief exchange with the town’s only guard, Genzo, you all found yourselves trekking down a row of a tangerine grove, your feet sliding every few steps in the sandy earth. 

“I think I got more of a boat body than a long-journey-on-foot kind of body,” Usopp said, slightly out of breath. “Anybody else missing the ocean?”

“Not particularly,” you responded, while also struggling a bit to keep up. Damn those boys and their longer legs…

Usopp kept going, “You know, I could bring the boat around if we don’t want to walk all the way back…”

You were about to maybe agree with him when you all came upon the edge of the grove very suddenly. And just as suddenly, the blue-haired woman, Nojiko, came out of a little house with her shotgun pointed at all of you. She gestured with the gun, “Turn around and leave. Now.” You all stopped short and took a step back. You put up your hands placatingly, while Usopp inched his way behind Zoro. Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji seemed frustratingly unfazed by the gun being pointed at them. 

Luffy and Nojiko exchanged a few words, Luffy trying to convince her to let you all in and help you help Nami. Nojiko refused, warning you all that her sister didn’t have any friends. That prompted Sanji to speak up, “Sisters? That makes sense. Both as beautiful as each other.” He gave her one of his charming smiles. Nojiko was unfazed. From behind Sanji, you mouthed a silent apology to her. But then he offered to cook for her, which did get her attention. 

“An exchange of sorts, for your valuable time and information,” Sanji suggested. “Best cook in the East Blue,” Usopp hesitantly chimed in. “You’ve never tasted anything better in your life. Usopp’s word!” 

Nojiko narrowed her eyes at them and then glanced back at you. You nodded earnestly in agreement, hoping she believed you. Fortunately, she did. 

“Fine,” the shotgun lowered, and you all were invited inside. 

After dinner, Nojiko sat you all down and explained why Nami is the way she is. She told you all how they were both adopted by a retired Marine who took them in and settled down in Coco Village. Then the Arlong pirates came, and although Belle-Mere tried to hide them beneath the floorboards, Arlong discovered her ruse. He demanded an extra 50,000 berry for each girl, on top of the 100,000 he’d already collected for her tribute. She told him she had no more to give, so she asked Arlong if he would take the 100,000 berry as tribute for her daughters. He agreed. And then he killed her right in front of them.

Nojiko took a shuddering breath as she finished her story. You put your hand over your mouth, swallowing your horror. 

“Wait,” Usopp slowly said, “Nami is working for the pirate who killed your mother…?” Nojiko nodded. Everyone sat in silence for a moment, trying to absorb this information. Luffy stood up and silently left the hut. After a minute or two, Zoro wordlessly followed him. 

You let the captain and his first mate talk things out. Meanwhile, Usopp got to work at the table, building things. Unfortunately, Buggy’s head was back out of his bag and making obnoxious comments. It was clearly getting to Usopp, so you tried distracting him by asking, “What’re you making?”

Without looking up from what he was working on, Usopp replied, “These are smoke bombs…”

“Smoke bombs?” Buggy echoed, “Makes me think of how long it’s been since I’ve had any smoked fish…” He glanced at Sanji, “Please?”

“No,” Sanji answered shortly. 

“Aw, screw you guys!” Buggy whined, “Arlong’s gonna bite the shit out of you anyway. You know you don’t stand a chance against him and his army!” Usopp set his tools down with a shaky breath, but Buggy kept harping on. “You ain’t gonna do anything against that stupid-” Suddenly, Sanji walked over and shoved a tangerine into Buggy’s mouth, whole. He leaned down and said, “New guy shuts up the clown head.” He winked at you and went back to the counter where he’d been preparing dinner and now dessert. 

You suppressed a smile and looked away. Then you noticed someone else was missing.

“Where’s Nojiko?”

A commotion drew you outside. Luffy and Zoro climbed down from the roof of the hut, also having heard the yelling in the distance. Something felt wrong. It sounded like Nami. 

Suddenly, from off in the grove, a blur ran down one of the rows, a blur with orange hair. You looked at Luffy. His face set in determination, he said, “Everyone wait here.” Then he took off in the same direction as Nami, down the row of tangerine trees. 

You, Usopp, Sanji, and Zoro stood waiting at the end of the grove. It was quiet for a while, and you worried that Luffy might not have been able to catch up to Nami after all. But then you heard it. Luffy’s voice echoed over the trees, “Of course I will!”

He came striding down the row again not a minute later, and said, “Let’s go.”

“Right!” You all responded in harmony, joining your captain as he rounded the corner. Usopp noticed it first, “What’s that?”

Frankly, he’s still not entirely sure how he ended up with beer-covered glasses. One minute he was talking to Nat next to the pool table and the next thing he knew, his glasses were coated in beer and Fanboy was apologizing profusely, grabbing the glasses right off his face and running off to clean them. 

Bob has the feeling that someone keeps looking at him from across the bar, but every time he looks up, he seems to miss them. Besides, without his glasses on, he doesn’t know that he’d really be able to recognize them anyways. Who knows, maybe it’s someone from a past deployment or a friend of a friend. Maybe they’re not even looking at him. Instead of worrying about it, Bob turns his attention back to Phoenix and the conversation she’s having with Payback and Coyote. 

Payback is recreating Fanboy’s disastrous beer spill when Bob feels a light tap on his shoulder.

“Hi, I’m so sorry this sounds like such a cheap pick up line but do we know each other? You look so familiar.” 

Bob turns around and finds a beautiful woman with a drink in her hand, standing there talking to him. He can’t see her features as well as he’d like without his glasses, but from what he can see, she’s beautiful. Thankfully, right then Fanboy comes running back over.

“Sorry again, Bob. Penny let me go clean them in the back, they should be spotless.” Fanboy hands Bob his glasses, which to his credit, are perfectly clean.

“No worries, thanks Mickey.” Bob says as he slides his glasses back on.

“Holy shit, Bobby Floyd! I can’t believe I didn’t recognize you with your glasses.” While Nat mutters something to Coyote about Clark Kent, Bob looks back at the woman standing in front of him and is shocked to see you.

“Hey, how have you been? It’s been a while, huh?” Bob asks as you pull him into a hug, noticing how careful not to spill your drink on him. Bob’s back is to his team, so he doesn’t see the amused and intrigued glances that they’re all giving each other, or the way that Nat pulls Coyote, Fanboy, and Payback a few steps to the side to continue their conversation and give you and Bob some privacy. 

“God, I know. It’s been, what, years? I think the last time we ran into each other, you were still at the Academy, right?”

“Something like that.” Bob smiles and agrees, even though he thinks he could probably tell you every detail about the last time you two saw each other, down to what you were wearing.

“So what are you doing here? Where have you been? I mean, obviously with the Navy, but have you been here long?” You ask, gesturing to his uniform and the Navy atmosphere around you.

Bob gives you a quick, abridged rundown of his time since the Academy before briefly explaining his time here in San Diego. Bob knows he’s biased, and maybe he’s reading too much into things but you look truly interested by everything he’s saying, even though he knows he’s not giving a lot of detail on his previous missions and detachments. 

“But what about you? Are you here visiting?” He really hopes that somehow you’re local.

“Actually, no. I’ve just moved here for work. Maybe I’ll run into you on base, I’m actually a contractor.” 

Bob must be dreaming. There’s no way that out of all the bars, in all the cities, his high school friend (and longtime crush) walked into the same one as him and is going to be working at the same base. You were always pretty in school, but looking at you now (with his glasses firmly on his face), Bob knows you’re gorgeous. There’s some small, possessive part of him that wants to firmly plant an arm around you, and tell the rest of the Hard Deck to get lost, that you were his first. But even if you were together, that’s not Bob’s style, and that would probably be a surefire way to freak you out given that this is your first time seeing each other in years. 

“Aren’t you gonna introduce us to your friend, Bob?” Hangman asks, setting down the pool cue as he and Rooster walk over towards the two of you. 

Ugh , Bob thinks. This is it. He’s seen how women turn their attention to his teammates, especially these two. You were always sweet in high school but it’s been years, he wouldn’t blame you if you ditch your plan to catch up in favor of getting to know one of the other Dagger Squad members. It was so nice getting to talk to you and have it just be the two of you, but now that his team stepped into it they’re either going to embarrass him, hit on you, or more likely both. 

Phoenix sees Hangman and Rooster make their way over towards you and notices the apprehensive look on Bob’s face. It was brief, blink and you miss it, but she knows him well enough to be able to guess what he’s thinking. Hoping to head off some of Hangman’s worst impulses around pretty women, she leads the guys back over too. It’s not like the presence of the whole team is a guarantee to make Hangman behave, but at least she’ll be within striking range to knock some sense back into him if necessary. 

“Hi,” you say, giving your name as you smile and wave at everyone, “Bobby and I went to high school together.” 

“Oh, this is my team.” Bob says as he walks you through introductions to the entire team. You greet everyone with a friendly smile, and Bob can hear you repeating everyone’s callsigns under your breath, trying to commit them to memory. 

“So is our Bob the same as he was in high school?” Hangman asks, trying to capture your attention.

“Well, my expert opinion based on the last 10 or so minutes? Yeah, he’s still Bobby.” You say with a sweet smile. 

Then, in a move Bob almost can’t believe, you physically turn your body away from Hangman and the team, to focus all of your attention right on him. 

“Want to sit?” You ask, gesturing to two of the nearby stools that he and Nat normally occupy. He nods and the two of you sit down, and continue catching up. You tell him more about work, and the two of you start reminiscing on high school.

“Okay, I know I’m going to sound like the world’s most incredible gossip but you’ll never guess what I saw on Twitter the other day.” You say, as you start leading into a story about one of your classmates who apparently went full right-wing grifter and tried to have her local councilman boyfriend talk the cops out of giving her a (very deserved) DUI. 

You two are so focused on each other, you don’t even notice how much time has passed until Phoenix comes over, jumping in at a break in your conversation.”

“Hey, Bob, sorry to interrupt, do either of you want anything else to drink? Next round’s on Bagman.” She says, smirking. 

Bob watches as you look down in surprise at your own, now empty glass and hop up off your stool. Without thinking, Bob stands up with you.

“Oh shit, I’m so sorry Bobby! I totally monopolized your time, I didn’t even realize how long we’ve been sitting here. You’re here with your friends, and my friends probably think I’m lost.” You say with a laugh that Bob suddenly realizes how much he's missed hearing. “Okay, I’m going to find my friends and let you get back to it, but you should text me sometime. I still have the same number, or I can give it to you.” You say, a little apprehensive over the idea of Bob deleting your number.

“I still have it.” Bob says with a smile, without even needing to check his phone. Bob’s the type of guy who never deletes a contact from his phone, because who knows when it might come in handy. Even if he was, he doesn’t think he ever would have deleted yours, just in case. 

“Okay great. I’m so glad we ran into each other.” Turning to wave at the rest of the team, you add, “it was great meeting y’all! Thanks for letting me steal Bobby away for a bit!” 

Bob stands there, smiling, watching you make your way through the crowd of people as you head back to your friends. He feels a little bad having pulled you away from them for so long, but he could have kept talking to you for the rest of the night. 

“So, Bobby, huh.” Nat says, with a mischievous smile.

“Yeah. She’s the only one who’s ever called me that.”

“Did you always have a crush on her?”

“Yeah.” He says, much to Phoenix’s surprise who was expecting more resistance. He’s still watching as you chat excitedly with your friends, hoping that some of that excitement is about him. (It is.)

“Can I see your phone?”

“Oh, sure.” Bob doesn’t bother asking why. He doesn’t have anything to hide, and he trusts Nat. 

“Perfect.” She says, handing his phone back with a new text thread open with your name at the top. 

Bob: Hi, it was great to see you. You look great, by the way. 

“Nat, come on.” He groans. Maybe he shouldn’t have blindly trusted her. Now he’s worried he’ll come off too strong but he doesn’t want to follow up on the text and say his friend sent it. He’ll sound like an embarrassed middle schooler, and you do look great and if he tries to walk back Nat’s text, he worries it would come off like he doesn’t think you look good. So he sighs, and leaves it. 

The crowd has shuffled a little so he doesn’t get to see you pull your phone out of your pocket or the way your face lights up when you see the text.

You: Thank you. I’m glad to hear the Navy’s treated you well. It looks good on you, Bobby :) 

Bob blushes and doesn’t bother fighting it as Nat grabs his phone again. Thankfully, Hangman comes back with drinks and Natasha has enough sense not to make a big deal of your text in front of the rest of the team. Bob grabs his phone back and sends you a text taking a little bit of a risk, without any help from Nat this time.

Bob: It’s nice to have a familiar face in the area. Maybe we could grab coffee sometime?

Your response comes in almost immediately, to Bob’s delight.

You: I’d love that. I don’t know anywhere in the area yet, so you’ll have to pick a place.

Bob smiles as he puts his phone back in his pocket, and turns to pay attention to his team for the first time since you walked over. 

Eventually, he decides that he does want another drink. He was so busy talking with you that he didn’t take Phoenix up on her offer to send Hangman to the bar. He doesn’t mind going to get his own drink, so he lets Phoenix know he’ll be right back and makes his way through the other patrons to get to the bar.

“Hey, Bob. Who’s the girl?” Penny asks as he walks up.

“You really do see everything that happens here don’t you?” Bob jokes, wondering how she can keep an eye on when to ring the bell, pour drinks, cash folks out, and know everything going on all at the same time. 

“Nah, she came up here and mentioned you. What’re you having? She said your next drink is on her, paid for it, and left you a note.” Penny slides a napkin across the bar with your handwriting on it. 

“Oh.” Bob can’t remember the last time a woman bought him a drink without doing it to try to impress one of the guys. “That’s nice of her. I’ll have an ale.” He says, and Penny nods and starts pouring while Bob looks down at the napkin in front of him.

It’s been a long time since high school, but Bob laughs at the sight of your handwriting. You never did have the slow, methodical, flowery handwriting that some of your other classmates had, and you were always complaining that your mom thought your handwriting needed to be more ladylike. Bob liked your handwriting, it was legible (unless you were in a real hurry), and it just seemed fitting for you in a way he doesn't think he could explain, it's just something he knows.

Of all the gin joints, yeah? This one’s on me for interrupting you and your friends. Have a good night, Lieutenant Floyd. 

Clearly, you either asked around or paid enough attention to his uniform to discern his rank. Either way, Bob feels honored. He can’t help but trace over where you signed your name, a messy heart looping over the last letter. Suddenly, he’s flashing back to yearbook signing days, watching you add that same messy heart next to every signature. 

“What, it’s classic? Sorry I love my friends, jackass.” You’d said with an eye roll as another friend complained that it looked too romantic. 

Sitting here in the Hard Deck, looking at that little heart, Bob wonders how he got lucky enough for the universe to put you back in his path. He doesn’t know if anything will come of it romantically, but even just having you around as a friend is more than enough for him. 

Medical school wasn’t cheap. And she was completely broke.

Jalene walked out of class that day in a fog. Summer break meant a chance to find work, but without a license or any real skills, what exactly was she going to do?

When she’d complained to Henessy — the maniac she shared a room with — she’d blown a giant gum bubble, popped it, and said, “Sell it.”

Jalene didn’t even ask what it was. She just rolled her eyes hard enough to give herself a headache and left the apartment.

It was Chloe who saved her. She'd laughed at Jalene’s dramatic retelling of her financial despair and said, “If you can clean, I’ve got something for you.”

Fifty bucks an hour. Free room and board if she lived in. Just one client. A bachelor.

By the end of the week, Jalene found herself standing inside an intimidating, luxury apartment.

She sat on the edge of the pristine couch, back straight, hands clasped, trying not to let her jaw drop at the extravagant furnishings.

"You can use the guest room for the entire three months you'll be here. Familiarize yourself with the apartment. I don't have time to give you a tour. I sent you an email on the dishes I like and my routine. Study it. I don’t like repeating myself. I was told you're a professional, so I expect you to act accordingly."

He refocused on his laptop, effectively dismissing her.

Jalene stood up slowly, picking her jaw off the floor.

He's gonna fuck you and make you his sugar baby! Chloe had screeched when Jalene accepted the job. Elias Moore is filthy rich! she’d said.

Well, that part was true, Jalene grumbled to herself as she trudged off to find the guest room, disappointment turning her legs to lead.

She’d been so excited to meet her boss, her potential benefactor, that she'd spent her last scrap of cash shopping for sexy lingerie and seductive body mists.

She had dressed to impress; classy, but with subtle touches that highlighted her best features.

Struggling to control her trembling, she’d waited for him in anticipation, only to barely be spared a second glance as he laid down a list of rules. It was clear he wasn’t interested in any other kind of service but the one he was paying for.

Five days later, she was immersed in prepping dinner when a tall, pretty white boy strolled into the kitchen.

He sat at the island, arms folded on the marble, and watched her. Boldly.

Jalene flicked her eyes his way. Finally, someone with a functioning libido.

“Hey,” he said, voice smooth.

She nodded back, coolly. Kept chopping.

Elias soon joined them, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge.

He moved to leave, then paused as if remembering something.

"Jalene, this is Clark Kent. He'll be spending the summer here."

Jalene looked up sharply. “I was told I was being hired by one person.”

Elias looked at her like she was slow. “You are. By me. He’s my guest. Is there a problem?”

Jalene let out a slow breath. “If he’s staying the whole summer, that means more work for me.”

Elias pinched his brows, like talking to her gave him a migraine. “If it’s more money you want, I’ll double your pay. Though I don’t see what the fuss is about. You’re only here to cook and clean, not change anyone’s diapers.”

He walked off, leaving Jalene gaping after him.

Clark chuckled. “You need to calm down. Can’t be healthy to have your heart beating that fast. Also... might wanna unclench all those muscles before you pass out.”

Jalene released a sharp gust of air. She had been clenching, from her fists to her thighs, trying to stop herself from doing something she’d regret. Her heart rate was definitely off the charts... but.

“How’d you know all that?” she asked.

“All what?” Clark smirked.

“My heart rate. My muscles.”

“I have X-ray vision,” he said, winking.

“Haha.” But she turned away with a small grin, hiding it behind her chopping board.

Clark kept her company, teasing and bantering with her while she cooked. In turn, she made him her official taster — handing him bites of everything she prepared as he gushed praise and made her laugh until she had tears in her eyes.

By the time she was ready to set the table, she was grateful Clark was staying.

She walked out with a bowl of steaming rice while Clark followed behind with the sauce.

As she set the table, Elias walked into the dining area wearing grey sweats and a black durag.

Her clit throbbed.

Fuck.

He was fine. An ass, but fine.

She turned quickly to Clark and offered an award-winning smile. He was hot too — and nice. Maybe he could be nice to other parts of her as well.

“Set the table for three,” Elias said.

She turned to him, questioning.

“Didn’t you hear me?” he said sharply. “Set the table for three. I told you I hate repeating myself.”

Clark reached over and touched her hand gently. “We’re expecting someone else, Jalene. I’ll help you get the plates.”

Jalene nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

The table was nearly set when the front door opened. A caramel-skinned, green-eyed man with a body sculpted from stone walked in.

Her heart lurched. The throbbing between her legs increased.

Clark gave her a sly smile and winked.

She shook her head at him and hurried off to her room.

Her fingers were already inside her panties before she realized what she was doing.

Too late.

Her clit was swollen, her body desperate. She circled the aching nub, dipping two fingers inside herself, chasing release.

When she could finally think again, she changed her panties, washed her hands in the sink, and stepped out to ask if they needed her for anything.

Clark’s eyes found her the moment she entered the dining room. All three were eating, but he stared at her as he chewed, heat simmering in his gaze, like he knew exactly what she’d been doing moments ago.

She looked away quickly, unable to bear the intensity.

“Is…” She cleared her throat. “Is there something I can do for you?”

“Go and eat,” Elias said, his voice flat with command.

“I’m not hungry.”

“What did I say about repeating myself?”

She hurried into the kitchen, a pulse already throbbing again between her legs.

Get a hold of yourself, Jalene. What is wrong with you? Her brain admonished.

She was still trying to calm down when Clark walked into the kitchen carrying the used plates.

She straightened quickly as he approached, offering an apologetic smile.

"You didn't have to," she said, reaching for the plates.

He sidestepped her smoothly, bringing them to the sink. "It's okay. I don’t have anything better to do."

She snatched the soap just as he reached for it, giggling when he tried to take it from her.

She leaned in to grab a plate, but he caught her arm and gently pulled her into him.

Her eyes flicked up to his. Every nerve in her body reacted to the heat of him so close.

He searched her face, as if asking a silent question — and she leaned into him, tilting her head to offer her lips.

He claimed them.

His mouth molded to hers, his hand sliding from her arm to wrap around her waist and pull her tighter.

His lips moved slowly, sensually — like he was making love to them — reigniting the hunger she’d only just begun to suppress.

She moaned softly, her hands slipping down to grab his firm ass.

A voice whispered in the back of her mind: What are you doing? You don’t even know this man. She silenced it with an annoyed grunt.

She’d been stuck in this house for almost a week with one of the sexiest men she’d ever seen. Her body was starving.

Just as she began to melt into him, he pulled away.

“Eat,” he whispered in her ear. Then he was gone.

That night, she finally dug out the lingerie she thought she’d never wear.

She didn’t know exactly what was going to happen, but she craved it.

The silk teased her nipples as she ran her hands over the short, flimsy dress. She skipped the panties. The sooner they got to the point, the better.

She had just started to drift off when her door opened.

Through her lashes, she made out Clark’s tall frame moving to her bedside. He wore a robe.

“Hi,” he said softly, sitting down.

She sat up slowly and slipped the dress off.

“Took you long enough.”

Several rooms away, two men sat watching a screen. From the tiny speakers in their ears, Jalene’s lustful moan — with Clark's head between her legs — floated out.

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