Erotic Influence (3 page)

She shook her head slowly and cleared her throat. “Y-you
model like that a lot?”

“Every other month or so. It just depends on what he needs.
He has other models and shoots females more than males.”

She cleared her throat again but didn’t say anything else.

The full-color print was a few years old and one of his
first. It showed him crouched down, hands hanging between his knees and barely
hiding his testicles. However, his cock was fully erect and standing straight
up between his lowered hands. His head was bowed and his hair hung limply on
either side of his face. It had been longer then, almost to his shoulders.

“What time do you need to be at work?” he finally asked.

She jumped as if his voice had startled her, and yanked a
cell phone from her pocket. She hit a button to light up the screen. “Shit.”

He couldn’t help but grin. He’d never expected to hear her
cuss. “Late?”

“Almost. I’ve got eight minutes.”

“All right. Let’s go.”

They walked out to his driveway and he glanced across the
street. Henry’s truck was gone. Rick wondered if he had simply refused to give
Annie a ride to work and that was the reason for her tears. He hoped to find
out on the short ride to the grocery store.

He pulled the cover off his car as quickly as possible then
unlocked the passenger-side door and opened it for her. She hesitated a moment
but then slid into his maroon ’67 Camaro without a word. He bundled up the
cover and set it on his porch before jumping into the driver’s seat.

“Your car is really nice,” she said.

He smiled at her and started the engine. “Thanks. I saved
half my paycheck for years just so I could afford her. She’s the only luxury
I’ve got.”

He rubbed the dash briefly before backing out of the
driveway. They rode in silence until they were out of the neighborhood.

“So, what’s got you all stressed out this morning?” he
asked.

From the corner of his eye he watched her shrug and thought
she might not answer. But after a full minute she turned in her seat to face
him.

“My dad wouldn’t take me to work this morning. I don’t know
what he had to do today, and I even told him he could drop me off early. But he
was just being a real ass.”

Rick frowned and slipped onto the freeway. It was only about
a one-minute drive to the next exit and then a U-turn to her job. It wouldn’t
even be a far walk but was much too dangerous. The frontage road ended at a
creek before continuing on the other side. She would have to cross the
steep-sided creek, if it was low enough, then climb the other side to get to
work. Her only other option was walking on the highway itself.

“Anytime you need a ride to work and I’m home, just come on
over. I don’t mind.”

“Thanks. I really appreciate it.”

He pulled into the parking lot and up to the front door.
Then he turned to face her. “You’re welcome.”

A rare smile graced her pretty face and his breath caught.
She pulled off her seat belt and opened her door. Just before she got out he
reached for her arm. “Hey, wait.”

She stopped and looked back at him with one brow raised.

“What time do you get off? I’ll pick you up and maybe we can
grab a bite to eat.”

For a second fear crossed her face and he wanted to curse.
But then her smile returned. “I’m off at six.”

“All right. I’ll be here.”

He opened his hand so she could pull away, but kept his
fingers out to run across her skin. She visibly shivered as she got out.

“Thanks again.”

She shut the door and he stayed put until she disappeared
inside the store.

Annie walked to the time clock on shaky legs. She was three
minutes late but didn’t even care. He had touched her. Her pulse still hadn’t
dropped to normal by the time she donned her smock and grabbed her cash drawer.
It took extra time to count out her money because she kept messing up. Damn,
Rick was lethal.

The morning dragged and by lunch she was exhausted. Thoughts
of Rick had plagued her the entire time, causing her to make small mistakes.
She had to tread carefully. Her manager Sam was a total asshole and wouldn’t
hesitate to write her up. Two more and he would fire her. She ate a candy bar
for lunch and stepped outside to enjoy the spring weather. There was an
unexpected cool breeze instead of humidity for once.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

She jumped at the abrupt sound of her dad’s voice and turned
to find him barreling down the sidewalk. A couple of shoppers had stopped to
watch.

“I told you I had to work today,” she said quietly.

Her father stopped a couple of feet away and glared. “And I
told you to stay home with your sister. I don’t like her being alone on her
days off.”

“I would’ve gotten in trouble if I didn’t come in, Dad.”

“Yeah? And what are they going to do for you when I kick
your ass out of the house?”

She wanted to scream in frustration but knew it would just
piss him off more. He wanted her around to watch Tammy but was constantly
threatening to kick her out. He made no sense at all.

“I told her to stay home until you got back,” Annie said.

“I got things to do today. You’re just gonna have to clock
out so I can take you home.”

He grabbed her arm and dragged her back into the store. His
bruising grip barely registered as she scrambled for what to say to Sam. Her
dad pulled her all the way to the manager’s office.

There was still fifteen minutes left on her break and Sam
seemed surprised to see her back in the store. “Annie?”

“She needs to go home,” her dad said.

“Oh? Why is that, Mr. May? I have her scheduled until six
and really need her here.”

“Well she’s really needed at home too. You’re just gonna
have to find someone else to cover her shift.”

Sam looked at her then with anger. “Is that so?”

“I’m sorry. I have to go,” she said.

Sam shook his head and stood. He rounded his desk slowly as
if trying to think of what to say next. “If you leave here in the middle of
your shift I’ll have to write you up.”

“No—”

“You do what you have to do,” her dad said. “She has to go
home.” Then he turned and dragged her out of the office. “Do what you gotta
do.”

She knew arguing would be pointless. He would just stay and
yell at her until Sam made her leave anyway, or called the cops. She hurried to
her register and counted her money. Then she pulled the cash drawer out and
took it to the office. Sam glared at her as she put it away and clocked out.

“You know, this isn’t very professional,” he said.

She nodded and looked at him with a plea in her gaze. “I
know. I’m sorry. I’ll find a way to make up the hours.”

He just shook his head and shooed her away with one hand.
Her dad was waiting when she stepped out the door and he grabbed her again.
Everyone stared as he pulled her out of the store and her face burned with
humiliation. Her dad all but shoved her into his pickup and slammed the door.

* * * * *

Rick was crouched at the front of his Camaro polishing the
chrome fender when the telltale sound of Henry’s pickup sounded down the
street. Rick wanted to go over to his house and yell at him for upsetting Annie
but knew it wouldn’t make a damn bit of difference. If anything, it might make
things worse for her. He wasn’t surprised to hear Henry yelling even before he
spied the truck rounding the curve. But when it pulled into the driveway and
Annie stumbled out of the passenger’s side Rick stood.

Henry jumped out of the truck, continuing the rant he’d
probably started at the store. Annie didn’t say a word, just hurried with her
shoulders hunched as if she expected a beating. Rick’s hands curled into fists
as he walked to the back of his car.

“Hurry up and get inside, goddamn it. And the next time I
tell you to stay home you best stay home.”

Rick almost headed over there but stopped himself after two
steps. Luckily Henry hadn’t even looked his way. As soon as the front door
closed Henry got back into his truck and took off again. Rick watched the truck
disappear from view and then jogged across the street. He knocked on the door
and waited, praying she would open the door. It was Tammy who answered and she
looked scared to death.

“Yeah?”

“Hey, Tammy. Can I come in?” Her eyes widened and she
immediately shook her head. Rick put his hands on his hips and tried not to
scowl. “Just for a minute. I want to talk to Annie. Your dad’s long gone.”

She stuck her head out the door far enough to look down the
street. It was clear of any traffic. When she looked at him again some of the
fear was gone. “All right. But she’s really upset.”

He nodded and walked in as soon as she backed out of the
way. He stepped into the living room and looked around. Their single-wide
trailer had the same floor plan as his. A large living room and dining room
area with a space cut out of one wall to show the kitchen. There was a short
walkway past the kitchen to the master bedroom. On the other side of the living
room was a longer hallway leading to two bedrooms and a room for the washer and
dryer.

He looked at that hallway. “Which room is hers?”

“Second door,” Tammy said.

He walked that way without another word.

Her door was closed and only silence sounded from the other
side. He took a deep breath and knocked once. There was no answer so he tried
the knob. It turned easily and he walked into a darkened room. The window only
had the original cheap blinds that came with the house. Enough light shined in
to show Annie facedown on her bed. She was still fully dressed and her
shoulders trembled. She was crying.

He closed the distance and sat on the edge of the bed. He
carefully set his hand on her back. “Annie. Are you okay?”

Her head shot up and the first thing he noticed was her
large green eyes. Her glasses were missing and he realized it was the first
time he’d seen her without them. He was awestruck.

“Wh-what are you doing here?” she asked.

“I saw you come home and heard your dad yelling at you. I
was worried.”

A pretty blush filled her face and she quickly looked away.
“Yeah. He made me come home from work.”

“Why?”

“To watch Tammy.”

He sat back as his anger flared. “She’s not exactly a
child.”

“I-I know.”

She sniffed and wiped away her tears. He couldn’t help but
notice how cute she looked with a pink nose.

“So he made you quit?”

She shook her head. “No. I just had to leave early today.
Sam’s going to write me up though. One more write-up and I’m fired anyway.”

“What’s going on with Tammy? Did she do something and now
your dad doesn’t trust her alone?”

She opened her mouth but then abruptly shut it and looked
past him to her open door. He stood and shut the door, turning the lock to
ensure privacy. When he faced her again she was reaching for her glasses. He
wanted to tell her to stop because he liked her eyes. She shoved them onto her
face and dropped her hands into her lap.

“Last year Dad caught her with a boy in a parked car over by
the lake. She swears they weren’t doing anything but I think she’s lying. He
was already paranoid but now he’s even worse. He won’t let me go anywhere if it
means leaving her here alone.”

“That’s ridiculous. You’re an adult and she’s nearly one.
How long does he plan to keep that rule in place?”

She shrugged and stared at her hands. “I doubt he’s thought
that far ahead.”

Rick blew out a breath and moved closer until their legs
were touching. Her hands tightened into fists but she didn’t move away. He
decided to test her further and sat beside her. She was only a little shorter
than he and he couldn’t help but notice how easy it would be to kiss her.

“And how far ahead have you thought? I know Tammy graduates
this year. Are you going to stay here and mother her until she leaves for
good?”

She shrugged again and turned away but he didn’t want her to
hide. He faced her and lightly gripped her chin with his fingers. She let him
tilt her head back and her pretty pink lips opened slightly. It was simply too
much temptation. He leaned in and took the kiss he’d been dreaming about for
months.

Annie moaned into Rick’s mouth and let her eyes drift shut.
His lips were softer than she’d expected but demanding. This wasn’t her first
kiss but she really didn’t have much experience. She relaxed and let him take
over. Somewhere in the back of her mind were panic and fear. What if her dad
came back? What if Tammy wanted to know what they were doing? Or worse yet,
what if Tammy left the house? But she pushed all concerns aside to enjoy this
one kiss. Who knew if it would ever happen again?

When Rick finally pulled back she opened her eyes to find
him watching her. She couldn’t read his expression but he wasn’t smiling. She
wanted to giggle and cuddle up to him but fought the girlish tendencies. He
didn’t seem as if he would welcome them.

“Damn, you taste good,” he said.

Her face heated at the unexpected compliment and she tried
to move away. His arm wrapped around her stomach before she could do more than
shift slightly. “I-I should check on Tammy.”

He frowned and shook his head but then let her go. He
scooted off the bed and waited for her to stand beside him. Then he pulled her
against his chest. “I’m not done with you, Annie. I’m just getting started.”

As if to prove his point he gave her another hard kiss on
the lips. It was quick but no less lethal. She sighed as he released her and
then opened the door. He walked out without looking back.

They found Tammy watching TV in the living room. She smirked
when they walked in and blatantly ogled Rick up and down. “So, what were
you
doing in there with the door locked?”