openatthedinnertable

[openatthedinnertable]

As if it were real

An X reader from someone who has watched baby girl🥛

I hated this project. I voted against it. And as punishment, I'm doing it with someone I can't stand.

My boss is a narcissist. The word is used often now, but, it's genuine this time. He cannot imagine why you wouldn't see anything his way. But to openly express it, will always deserve punishment.

When I started working this job a year ago, I expressed my distain for William to said boss. I thought the space was safe in the beginning of my employment. At my old job, I told my boss anything, almost too much sometimes, but she was so warm and open, that it felt like talking to a sister. I never questioned whether I could share who I liked or disliked. Who did what to bother me.

But at this job, it's different. Not so safe. Not warm, even if it is safe.

So when I made it clear to my boss that I thought  the employee critique (Honestly, coworker critique) was stupid and has nothing to do with the actual work we put in as employees, he partnered me right with the person I told him I couldn't stand.

There's nothing particularly wrong with William. That's what I've been told by anyone I complained about him to. They don't get it. They see him as someone who is simply different from me. They don't see him like I see him. Strange, sarcastic. A quick lipped cocky bastard. Incredibly subtle about it. His presence is very gentle, but he opens his mouth and something just doesn't seem right. It's offensive when he speaks, but he's so quick and sly about it you don't fully notice, you almost feel crazy for being irritated. You almost want to ask the other people in the room if they heard what you heard, but it will always be "Isn't he great?!" And not "Yeah, that was strange."

His presence almost makes me feel alone, like he's putting a spotlight on me just so he can laugh at me.

That is my partner for the next month.

I hear his shoes down the hall, but it's been so long, I don't actually believe it's him until he walks through the door.

"Hey." He said, closing the door behind him and rushing to sit across from me.

"You're late." I said.

He pauses for a moment, a smirk creeping up on his face.

"I'm sorry to hear that." He says, plopping his briefcase on the table.

I could feel myself losing patience, and it's only been 20 seconds.

"I uh, printed everything that we need to start, so you won't need to worry about that." he fixes his tie, patting down his arms to smooth out the wrinkles in his shirt.

"Thanks for answering my text and letting me know that you did that before I printed everything already." I slam the stack of papers down on the table.

He glances at them and then back up at me.

"I'm sorry, my phone has been off for a couple days cause the place I go to pay my phone bill switched locat-."

"I don't care."

My interruption makes a smile spread across his face as he organizes the papers in front of him.

"Let's just start with the questions first and work our way up from there." I said, my tone sharp.

"That's uh, a better idea than mine." William said.

"What was your idea?" I asked.

"Well I was thinking we could start throwing out answers first, then seeing if the questions fit with whatever information we tossed at each other." a chuckle escaped his mouth. I say escaped because it always seems like he's holding in a laugh. Like there's an inside joke I'm not a part of.

"Taking two seconds to not act like a child would be incredibly helpful." I said.

"A child? You decided you're pissed at me the second I walked through the door."

"Because you're 25 minutes late!" I can hear my voice getting louder.

"Was." he replied.

"What?"

"I was 25 minutes late." His face is friendly. I could almost choke him, but he's not worth assault charges.

I take a deep breath.

"Let's just answer them ourselves and switch papers." I said, taking out my notebook.

"No way, that's so insincere." William argued.

"Anything to make this process less painful." I reached out to take the questions but he quickly slams his hand on them before I could grab them.

"You called me childish for being late, but you want to handle this project the way I would've handled it in high school?" he chuckles. I take a deep sigh and lean back in my chair in frustration.

"C'mon let's do it the interesting way." His tone is genuine, which is rare for him.

"Fine." I said.

He begins to shuffle his papers, laying the questions in front of him, ready to take note of whatever I say.

"Okay, first question. What makes a good boss in your eyes?" William asked.

"Someone who recognizes how their employee learns, and takes that into consideration as they go forward in their work." I replied.

"Good answer. Next question is do you feel our boss meets that qualification?" William scratches the back of his neck.

"That's not what it says."

"Well that's what I asked."

We are both silent for a moment. I take another deep breath.

"Can you please focus on what's actually written?" My tone is sharp again. I hate being this way. But he knows exactly how to push my buttons. What's worse is when he's not trying to.

William put his hands up in the air in surrender.

"Just thought I'd try to pick your brain, that's all." he smirks again, giving direct eye contact, the type of eye contact you can feel.

He clears his throat.

"Okay, next it says, how do you usually handle conflict?"

"Well that depends on the situation." Every single thing that has happened at this job replays in my head.

"What if someone called you selfish?" He asked, curiosity spread across his face.

He's off script again, but I humor him.

"I would tell them they're too needy." I said. I can feel myself fidgeting.

"What if someone told you you're too competitive?"

"I would tell them they're not competitive enough."

"Well aren't you the light at the end of the tunnel." he smiles, continuing to write down my answers.

"Y'know, you and I are very similar. Smart, confident, stubborn." He said.

I squint my eyes on him.

"I'm not stubborn." I snap back.

"You are absolutely stubborn, and incredibly cold. Your answers are shorter than your temper and you have a clear control problem. I can practically see the bricks stacked up around you.

You are one of the most guarded people I've ever met." His eye contact has feeling to it again.

"Question, do you ever let anyone get past this?" He waves his hand in front of me.

"Ofcourse I do."

"You know what I think. I think you are so scared to be any more warm than this cause that requires letting people in even a little bit." He puts his pen down and crosses his arms.

"Your point?" I said.

"My point is if you keep pushing people into your little dark, bitter corner, you'll end up alone."

I wince at his words, scrunching my face, as if he cussed at me.

"I'm open to the right people." I say quietly.

William calmly stands up, making his way to my side of the table and kneeling in front of me. Something about this felt out of character. Personal.

"Look at me. I mean actually face me." He said, turning my chair so that my entire body was in his direction. My eyes widen at the sudden jolt of movement.

He keeps himself kneeled.

"Who exactly are the right people?" His tone is low and intimate.

"I'm sorry, do you feel pushed away by me? I don't exactly know you like that for it to matter this much. We don't need to connect" I said.

"Fair. But let me ask you this - if you don't need to connect with me, why haven't you walked out yet?" The tone in his voice is almost hypnotizing. The fidgeting I've been doing gets worse.

"B-because I-." I hate that I stuttered. Hate that I didn't know what to say. I always have something to say.

"Because you what?" His eyes drop down to my lips waiting for me to respond. I can see him reading my body language. It puts anger in me that I can't quite place.

In almost a whisper, he speaks again.

"You know what I think? I think you're full of shit. I think deep down you like the way I push your buttons. You're interested in this conversation and me trying to figure you out. You're interested in the eye contact you seem to have a hard time keeping with me." He tilts his head towards my eyes, making effort to look at me.

My mouth is dry and my hands are sweating. I hate this, I hate this feeling like he's winning something. Like he hit the right rock and found diamonds.

I feel like he's dangling something in front of me.

"We're not doing this." I stand up as he watches me shove everything into my bag and make my way towards the door. I hear the sound of his steps making their way towards me.

He steps infront of me, placing his hand on the door.

I make effort to look away, trying to avoid whatever moment is sitting in the room.

"Look at me." His hand gently moves my head, so that my eyes are forced to lock on to his.

"You're not going anywhere until our conversation is finished." William says.

We stand there for a moment, looking at each other.

My hand slips off the door knob as I silently walk back to my seat. My lips are separated and my face feels as if it's fallen.

William sits back down, a smile dancing on his face as I comply with his order.

"Was that so hard?" He said, leaning back in his chair.

I shift in my seat to get more comfortable.

"I guess not." I said dryly, trying to make my tone and face unreadable.

"You know, for someone who was ready to bolt out the door, you seem to be getting quite comfortable." He smirks at me and looks back down at his notepad.

"Just fucking continue the questions you were asking-." I snap. There's an embarrassment I feel. Like something warm creeping up my neck. I'm readable now.

"Careful, it almost sounds like you're giving me permission." His voice drops, to something deep, the word intimate pops up in my mind again. The eye contact he maintains is intense.

"Are you?"

I'm silent, glaring at him. Heat is rushing to my face and I can tell he notices.

He raises his eyebrows and leans his head forward, waiting for my response.

"Am I what?" I almost felt dizzy.

"Giving.Me.Permission." His face is so serious it almost doesn't feel like I'm talking to him. It's like someone else has taken the wheel entirely.

I don't realize I'm not breathing until it starts to hurt.

My jaw tightens as my head nods in agreement.

"So I have permission to push past the wall?" He asked, his face still serious.

"What wall?"

"The wall you are clearly hiding behind." He moves his chair forward and leans on the table. His face is directly in front of mine and all I can hear is the sound of my breathing coming back.

"The wall..." he grabs my hand, moving my fingers between his.

"Of obedience...of touch." His voice sounds like butter, and I find myself listening more than I ever have.

"If I give you another order, will you follow?" William asked.

I wanted to say no. To not give him the satisfaction, but my curiosity was so peaked, to turn back would feel unsatisfying.

I nod my head.

He leans in a little bit closer.

"Look at me and don't break eye contact until I tell you to." he says sharply.

I don't respond, but I do as he says. He stares into my eyes and at my face.

His voice comes out in a whisper "Your pupils are dilated."

William moves his hand away from mine and brings it up to my face. His voice stays in a whisper.

"I think you like me being this close to you." His face looks content. Pleased.

"Fuck off." I wasn't expecting those words to come out of me. It just happened. The frustration being built from him getting me comfortable, it's almost too bizarre to track.

He smiles.

His hand begins to move and trace over my lips.

"Open." He commanded.

I slowly open my mouth and feel his thumb slip in.

"You follow instructions so nicely." His eyes are focused heavily on my mouth. I feel like he's undressing me. Like he's freeing me from something I didn't even know was trapping me.

"Do you want me to stop?  I can stop if you want." His thumb slowly, moves deeper into my mouth.

I shake my head no. Too much shame to say it out loud.

He takes out his thumb and holds my face again.

"I need you to speak when I ask you a question like that. No gestures." He demanded.

My heart is skipping three beats at a time, and the sweat down my back is incredibly hard to ignore.

"No, I don't want you to stop." I said. I continue to look at him, remembering his earlier demand.

"Okay." His voice was gentle. Almost comforting.

"I need you to stop overthinking everything you're feeling right now." He pushed my hair back from my face.

"Let loose and let go. If that's not what you want to do, you don't have to. But if you do, don't hold back." The breathing I couldn't do before has now gotten heavier, louder.

He brings his hand back down to my hand again, Not breaking eye contact with me.

"Do you still hate me?" he asked.

The question shocked me a little.

"I never said-."

"You didn't have to I could see it in your face. Although your expression now does look a little different than usual." A smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth.

"Shut up." I snap. I've had to have snapped at him around four times now. He pushes my best and worse nerves.

"I don't pick on anyone I don't care about." He said.

"Is that your excuse for being a prick to me?" My question makes him chuckle. I can still feel him rubbing circles on my hand.

"Actually yes. I want your attention. Unfortunately, one of my flaws is I don't care how I get the attention I want." William looks down at my hand and then back up to my eyes.

He lingers there for so long I find myself looking away.

"Did I say to stop looking at me?" He said.

"No"

"Then why did you do it?"

I swallow at his assertiveness.

"I was going to ask to kiss you but you barely know how to not look at the floor when I'm talking to you." A small chuckle left him and my heart started racing again. I've never been spoken to the way he speaks to me.

"Do you want me to kiss-."

"N-no." I interrupted, tripping over the "No" as if I forgot how to say it. I didn't mean it. I wanted, almost needed him to. I felt as though I was half naked in front of him, I don't have the guts to take off the rest. That's what he wanted me to do. I could feel my pride hold up a stop sign in front of him.

He leans back in his seat, letting go of me and crossing his arms.

"Okay." He nodded his head slowly in acceptance. Unfazed.

A wave of disappointment hits me. I'm sure he could see it in my face cause his eyes lingered on me again.

For a moment he almost looks lost in thought, and then he snapped his fingers.

"You know what." he gets up from his chair with the movement of someone who forgot to turn the stove off, and now believes it's time to go home and handle it. Very matter of fact. Very casual.

"You're a liar." he says bluntly, making his way to my side of the table, standing near me, hovering.

He leans down, whispering.

"I respect it, but do you actually not want me to kiss you?"

The way he said it was almost sweet. Whether it was calculated or not, it felt that way.

"If you do, you win." My voice came out small. I wanted to crawl inside my own body just to escape the conversation.

The breath of air that left him, like a chuckle with no sound, made me feel stupid for saying that.

"I'm thinking about a lot of things right now. Winning is not one of them." He said.

William dragged his suitcase off the table and made his way towards the door. He glanced back at me quickly, before exiting and leaving me alone in the room.

All of a sudden, my eyes were on fire. Did I not blink the entire time?

My nerves were making me shaky, and there was too much to think about all at once. I wanted him to come back, to keep me busy, and I fucking hated that that was my thought.

I felt like a little kid who got a lollipop taken out of their mouth out of nowhere.

I felt irritated, like I needed to itch, like I'm longing for something.

I hate that he made me feel that way just to leave me by myself. At the same time, I could've stopped him.

I could now. Run down the hallway, get on my knees and beg him to come back in the room and lock the door behind him.

But I am no such woman.

READ THE REST:

[openatthedinnertable]

✧ Three Knocks ✧

A Remmick x reader

This house isn’t much but it’s mine. Beautiful and decrepit. The type of house your great great grandkids hear about, but never get to see.

I wasn’t planning on keeping it. But after my mommas death and daddy running off with some no good from two towns over, I was left with the final say. I wasn’t prepared. This was not a part of the plan. But I fixed it up the way I like, made it look just as good as when momma was here, and then all of a sudden, staying didn’t feel like a chore.

Maybe that’s a lie…..

It’s still felt like a weight on my back, but I carried it with more of a smile than I did before.

More recently, I started thinking about church. I don’t go anymore, but when I did, they talked about the devil all the time. When I was a little girl, I had assumed that the devil was as powerful as God, if not, why was he spoken about so often? I’ve had this thought repeatedly, and then my mind would wander; If I met the devil, would I know it was him?

The question made me shudder, I ask it again this night and then brush it off, putting the cigarette up to my lips, and letting it drag.

The crickets were dead silent tonight. Their usual loud chatter was nonexistent, you could almost hear a feather hit dirt. The air was humid, like summer just couldn’t help itself, even when the sun was hidden, but still I had chills up and down my body.

Another thing I choose to brush off.

I looked out into the pitch black darkness, seeing only specs of light from distant homes, so small that they could’ve been fireflies.

I flicked the cigarette out, and closed the door behind me. Bedtime is long gone, and the last thing I need is to wake up feeling like death. I sleep in my parents old room, a habit I’ve kept for a while now. They have the bigger space and the better bed, and there’s no need to act like I don’t live alone.

Before I could even step foot in the room, I hear a knuckle hit the wood of my door.

Three knocks.

I don’t make my presence known the way you usually do when someone knocks on your door. I couldn’t imagine anyone knocking on anybody’s door this late at night, especially not mine.

I slowly creep up to the door.

Three knocks again.

I bring my hands to the door knob and twist it, cracking the door only enough for me to see who it was.

A handsome man with his hands in his pockets, stands on my porch.

“Good evening! I’d hate to disturb you but I just moved up the road and felt it awfully impolite to not introduce myself to my new neighbors.” He said.

I stayed silent.

“My name is Remmick.”

I open the door a little bit more, revealing myself.

“Do you know what time it is?”

Remmick scanned my body up and down.

“Not anymore.”

“You step on my porch at the ass crack of dawn, as if morning hasn’t come the same time every day our entire lives.” I said.

A smile creeped up on his face.

“You’ve got a mouth on you.” His tone was low, an inside voice.

“I’ve got a knife on me too.” I snapped. I was bluffing. Of course I did have a knife on me, but I barely knew how to use it.

“Sugar, I am not here to cause-.”

Rain started to pour down, hard and fast. I wanted to curse at the sky, but I kept myself from doing so.

We stared at each other for some time.

“Well, come in, I don’t need you catching a cold.” I said.

I opened the door wider for him to step in.

As he walked past me to step inside, he nodded his head and smiled in my direction. He had the energy of someone ready to start the day, not end it.

“This is a really cute place you got here, toasty.” Remmick said, sliding his hands back in his pockets.

“What’s your business around here anyway?” I ask. I begin to light candles around the house.

“Wanted a fresh start, new environment.” He said. I can feel his eyes on me.

“You got any folks living around here?” Remmick asked.

“My momma died and my daddy’s a sucker.” Remmick snickered as he slowly paced around the room. He had an odd presence about him, something charming but in a way I’ve never seen before.

He looks back up at me, his eyes lingering for almost too long. I turn around to light the last candle.

“Excuse me if im starring, you are just too gorgeous to glance at a few times.”

I turn back around to see his eyes looking at me with hunger. There was no amusement in his face.

“Trying to butter me up? If you’re here to rob me or do some stupid shit, I ain’t got nothing worth taking.” I said, stepping closer to him.

“I’m not here to hurt you darlin, besides I’m sure your husband would have no problem coming right down that road to kick my ass.” Remmick stepped closer putting his hand on my arm.

“I ain’t got a husband.” The room went quiet.

“Don’t play with my heart, one thing you should know about me is that I looove good news.”

Remmick backed up in the direction of my room, his features became hidden in the shadows, like an entity I’ve been hallucinating.

I chuckle.

“I see what this is. You think a smooth voice and a handsome face would be enough as you stroll down a random dirt road and take your pick of the litter?”

“Handsome?” Remmick playfully put his hand up to his face.

I cut my eyes at him.

“Not at all, I strolled down to be a friendly neighbor and ran into a beautiful woman. This is pure luck. But in return I can give you a gift that’ll save you.”

“Ain’t no dick in the world gonna save me.” I scoffed.

Remmick squints at me, like he realized something, and then slowly reached out his hand.

“I’d like to try.”

I’ve only ever been touched by one man. Johnathan Shout from my church back when I was 19. I would’ve done anything for that boy, gave him so much of me, that to this day, I still feel like I’m missing parts of myself. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t starving for touch.

I look at Remmick for a long time. A long time. His expression doesn’t change too much, and his hand stays out.

In the lowest voice possible, I speak;

“You clean?”

Remmick bursts out laughing.

“I don’t go around just fucking anybody. Despite us just meeting, there’s something about you I like.” He said.

I look at him for longer. Remmick begins to walk closer to me, getting down on both knees carefully. He rests both of his hands on my legs.

“I can step out of here, never bother you again, keep to myself.” His tone was soft, almost like a whisper.

“Or I can stay here and do whatever you want me to do.” Remmick’s grip on my leg tightened as he pressed his face against my thighs. He looked up to see my expression, lifting up my skirt to kiss the same spot he pressed himself against.

Shame washed over me as I melted like butter. His hands felt like something I’ve never felt before, and all of a sudden, my common sense flew out the door.

“Please.” He whispered between kisses. A sigh left my body.

I looked down at him. He had this puppy dog look on his face. Giving himself to me like a sacrifice.

I tap his left cheek, motioning him to stand up.

He stands up, slightly towering over me.

I silently nod my head.

He lifts up his hand slowly, placing his palm on the side of my face.

“You sure? Cause if it’s a hell no I can leave.” he smiles at me.

I can feel myself smiling back.

“Well, I can’t stand here forever.”

Immediately, Remmick picked me up and took me off my feet, carrying me to my room.

He lay me down gently, Lowering himself on top of me in one motion.

I could feel his right hand grip my thigh as our lips crashed together.

He had absolutely no body heat, but the way he touched me made it easy to ignore.

He moans against my lips, soft and quiet. And even though his touch was hungry, I can tell he was being careful with me.

I could feel heat between my legs before we even got to my room but it’s only gotten hotter since.

Remmick slid my skirt up and dragged down my underwear.

“Easy.” He whispered into my mouth, and instantly I felt his fingers slide inside of me. My chest rose from the sharp pain and immediate pleasure that went through my body.

He stopped kissing me and lifted his head to look at me.

“I love the way your body reacts to me.” His fingers went deeper, making an even louder moan slip from my mouth.

He lowered himself back down to my neck, kissing and licking only the perfect spots.

“You still okay?” He asked, his tone gentle.

I quickly nodded my head, reaching down to unbuckle his pants.

A grin spreads across his face as he shuffles his pants down, positioning himself at my entrance.

“I’ll only go as fast as you-.”

“Go as fast as you want.” I interrupt.

A red glow illuminates in his eyes, and for a second I stop breathing.

He takes himself out of his pants and the itch of wanting him inside me gets stronger, but his eyes. I couldn’t stop looking at them, it was like something otherworldly.

He lowered his body closer to me and whispered;

“Let me save you.”

That sharp pain came back five times strong, I could feel my body making room for him. My heart was beating faster and faster, like I was being chased by a wild animal.

Remmick slowly blew air from his mouth, going in and out of me.

“Fuuuck.” He grinned again, tossing his head back as he pumped in and out of me.

Cold, everything felt so cold but it was a sensation I don’t think I’ll ever feel again.

Remmick tossed his head forward, revealing tall sharp teeth that formed in his mouth within only seconds.

The sight jumped me out of my skin so badly I felt like I was choking, but at the same time all I could do was feel him. It was like drinking poison but it taste too good to put down the cup.

Hallucinating. That’s all it was. I had to have been hallucinating.

His voice turned into something husky as he spoke, with an accent I don’t think I’ve ever heard.

“I don’t deserve to know you. The least I can do is help.” He said. Confusion washed over me.

He picked up his pace, causing me to let out a guttural moan.

“Please don’t stop.” I said, my hand gripping the head board for support.

He leaned down, giving me a clearer view of his face.

“I would never.”

He put his hand up to my face, and the sight of his nails made something in me snap out of it.

I screamed louder than I’ve ever screamed before.

Before I could process anything, Remmick yanked my head back and brought his teeth down on my neck.

The feeling of him twitching inside me was the most pleasant distraction possible.

As I felt him inside me, I could feel his teeth digging in my flesh.

A rush of pain shot through me in a way that was so unpleasant, I thought about praying again for the first time in years.

“R-remmick.” I pushed out his name from my lips. I tried to lift my hands but couldn’t.

I thought I would pass out. That same thought was followed by a rush of air, going through the inside of me like I was hollow.

Remmick lifted his head and the pain was gone. I felt fast, energized, like if I stood up too quickly I would fly up to the ceiling.

I felt amazing.

He went even faster and I can feel him slamming into me. The sensation felt crazy, so different than what it was before.

“You wanna cum so bad I can feel it.” He said, a tight grip on my hips. He was right. Every motion is amplified by a hundred, it was all I could think about the moment he took his teeth from my neck.

I could tell he felt the same, his grunts turning into uncontrollable whimpers.

“You feel so good baby, so good.” He said, leaning down to meet me in a deep kiss, his tongue dancing with mine.

He slows down and goes harder, making me yelp with each thrust.

In one sharp movement, we finish at the same time. I could feel him pouring into me, his body dropping on mine.

I feel amazing and lost all at the same time.

Remmick Lifts his head to look at me.

“Ooo you hungry ain’t you?” he said with a grin, like he could read my mind.

“What did you do to me?” I asked. Part of me didn’t really want to know.

His smile softened into something kind.

“I took your life.”