pens-n-petals

[pens-n-petals]

Say Yes to Me

Chapter 5

Katie had been living off the high that was Zac in her kitchen for over a week now.  She hadn’t seen him since then, everything about that night and how it unfolded was unique and different for Katie.   He had put her pleasure first, and not asked for anything in return.   While Tyler wasn’t a bad lover, he didn’t put Katie first like that.  He had never made her come like that, made her feel sexy and wanted like that either.  Throughout the week, as Katie thought of her various encounters with Zac, she felt that new spark ignite further.  Every time she thought of Zac she would tingle in her core.  She felt greedy and pent up.  Like she needed to run or scream, to rub her hands all over her body and partake in naughty activities.  When she texted him, she wanted to tell him what she wanted him do to her. 

She had been replaying Zac carrying her weak and blissful body to bed.  Every time she thought about the night she would grin from ear to ear, blush and lose all other trains of thought. She needed to have more fun with him.  It had been long enough and she wasn’t going to deprive her body of his attention. She picked up her phone and decided to take it upon herself to get what she wanted. 

Katie - Dinner, BBQ Burgers, 7:00pm on Sunday night. 

A rush of power flooded through Katie.  A wave that crashed heavily into her nervous system.  It felt good to take charge and assert her sexy-boss woman attitude.  She knew Zac wouldn’t be working Sunday, and she wasn’t really sending an invite, she was giving the orders. 

For once, he replied within minutes.  I’ll be there

Katie smiled the cheekiest smirk and felt very proud of herself. 

Katie walked into the burger joint; Zac was already sitting at a table waiting for her.  His face lit up as soon as he saw her.  He jumped from his seat and waited for Katie to get closer.  “You look beautiful” he said, offering a hug “hello” he added “Hi” replied Katie with a girly smile.  They stood and stared for a little longer than usual, both awkward but yearning.  Then Zac leant in and kissed her.   It was just a gentle hello kiss, to start, a peck.  Then he returned, with warmth and softness for a second kiss, at the end he slipped his tongue past her lips. His tongue sparked her up, all the nerves in her body could feel his presence from the other side of the table, they begged her to be closer to him, to have her skin touched by his again.   All she wanted was to be in his embrace, to have his lips on hers again.  She couldn’t contain herself.  She could feel herself shaking and hear herself giggling, but she couldn’t concentrate enough to stop herself from doing those things. 

The evening past smoothly, they spoke about their days and weeks, what they had loved about growing up, some of their fondest memories with family, and of course those dreams that seem unattainable.  Their bodies moved instinctively closer over the table, their fingers walking towards each other, finally gently grazing and dancing. 

Katie and Zac found that the tension between them was too great to hold a normal conversation for much longer.  One of them would lose their train of thought staring at the other, or one couldn’t understand what the other was saying from the giggling and whispering that was going on.  Final Zac decided this was too much. “I’m done sharing you with the public.  Come back to my house?” Everything he asked of her was not really a question.  He was saying what they were doing next.  The tone of his voice when he spoke like this was different, it was stronger and deeper.  Demanding but still gentlemanly. Katie just nodded and smiled, she took Zac’s outstretched hand and followed him into the back of a taxi. 

The two of them sat in the back of the taxi teasing each other in a very suggestive but innocent way.   Zac closed the gap across the centre seat, placing a hand on her knee so gently.  Dragging it up her thigh and pushing up her skirt, without reveal anything indecent.  Katie retaliated by tilting her neck towards him, exposing the long soft skin ripe for the kissing, and intoxicating him with her perfume.  His breath was heavy and hot on her neck.  

He simply whispered, “you smell amazing”, his tone drunk and seductive.  Katie pulled away slightly, hoping he would chase her.  She put a hand on his chest and looked up at him through her eyelashes.  He had that look, the same look from the bar, from the corridor, his tell-tale ‘I want to kiss you’ look. She smirked and caught her lip with her teeth.  His hand gripped tighter on her thigh, grabbing her flesh into his palm.  It screamed hunger.  Eagerness. Restraint.  Desire.  Possession.  He growled under his breath and looked into her soul.  When he hadn’t chased her, Katie pulled on the fabric of his shirt, she tugged him closer and tried to reach his lips with hers. Zac was strong and steadfast, he didn’t move, he was almost pulling back “Patience” he said, with a smug smile on his face.  He knew that Katie was in the palm of his hand, that she would do whatever he wanted.  And later that night he would have her begging for more. 

The taxi finally pulled up outside Zac’s house and let the couple out.   Katie threw open the door and shot out of the car.  The cool later-Summer air smacked her in the face.  She took this time away from him to collect herself.  The night cooled her face, cleared the lingering impression of his hand on her thigh, and settled her firing nervous system.  She took a few deep breaths to try and steady her breath and erase his scent from her nose.   Take a breath, Katie, pull it together.  She tried to tell her body.  She tried to reconnect in this short reprieve and reset all her emotions, because she knew that as soon as they were together again she would have no control. 

Zac unlocked the front door and stood holding it open for her to pass him.  Katie couldn’t help herself but tease Zac one more time.  As she passed him, she turned her body, her bosom brushing gently against him, her neck stretching out while he leant slightly down.  Once again, her perfume engulfed him and shredded any skerrick of restrain that was holding him together.  As soon as she had crossed the threshold, Zac was behind her, slamming the door and throwing Katie against the closest wall within mere heart beats “I can’t wait” he growled, almost replying to his own internal instruction to be patient. 

He drew his hand to her hair, weaving his fingers, and tugged firmly on a fist full.  Katie’s head craned back, and Zac was quick to press his lips to her neck.  He bit her, she gasped truly through shock and pleasure.  He hands flew to his back and nails dug in as she scraped them down his spine.  Zac’s grip tightened in her hair as he moved his lips down towards her collar bone, nipping and kissing the taught flesh.  Katie could sense his pent up energy and bottled desire.  She could feel the animalistic heat within him and how badly he wanted to have her.  She moved her hands to his abs, where she pushed him away.  He stumbled 2 feet back. He looked angry at first, then he shook his head clear of the fog and his expression quickly changed to play and intrigue.  

Had he final met a sexual match? 

A woman who could give him a challenge and keep his interest? 

Katie and Zac exchanged sexually charged looks for 2 seconds; he was trying to gage her willingness to proceed.  He could see the playful nature in her stance and actions, and the desire dripping from her body.   He smiled a thin and evil grin as he lunged back to her.  This time kicking one of her feet to the side and slamming his crotch into her hip. She could already feel his eagerness, there was no hiding where he wanted this night to go. And no hiding his size.  Katie shuffled her body to feel the full impact of his eagerness.  She pulled her hands to his waist band and tried to dip her fingers beneath.  Zac was quick to grab her wrists, interlace their fingers and pinning her hands above her head to the wall.  He subtly took both her wrists in one hand and pressed the other to her hip.   He lowered his head, so his breath was hot and steamy on her ear.  Katie could see Zac out of the corner of her eye.  

“Your naughty aren’t you” Zac said Katie lifted her chin and refused to answer the question.  She tried to keep her face neutral and strong.   “Do you know what happens to naughty girls” he said again.  They weren’t really questions; they were confirmation of her actions and his pleasure of them.  Katie instinctively knew that ‘punishment’ wasn’t the answer that Zac was looking for, nor that that was what she was going to get.  “Maybe you should show me” Katie whispered breathily. Zac raised an eyebrow and bent down to eye level with Katie, he grabbed her lips with his and kissed her fully.  His large and soft lips were warm but powerful.  Slowly he stood, loosening his grip on her wrists and letting her hands fall.  He placed one finger under her chin and tilting her head up, he gently lifted Katie to her tiptoes.  She let her arms drape over his shoulder, and he slowly pulled her off the wall and walked her towards the bedroom.  His kisses were gentle and generous as they crossed the house.  He played with her tongue and lips, sucking on one and pulling it away with him.  They giggled and smiled as they went.  Katie played with the hair at the base of his head and tickled his neck gently.  Sometimes she could feel him tense his shoulders with the sensation of having his hair played with. 

When they reached the bedroom, Zac let Katie go and gently closed the door behind them.  Katie quickly scanned the room to see what she had got herself into.   Flashes of a dominating side to Zac had come through in all their encounters.  Did he have chains and whips? was he into pain? Would he tie her up?

His room was sparce.  Just a bed, side tables, a long coffee table in the opposite corner, and a full-length mirror.  It was a standard male bedroom, there was a small flare of personality but an overall lack of effort about it. Plants floated aimlessly in vases on the coffee table and in large pots on the ground were weeping vines.  A string of fairy lights danced playfully between the vessels on the table.  There as a string of lights on the bed head as well.  Zac moved around the room silently turning on the lights and having an overall gentle demeanour.  The glow of the lights was not powerful enough to light the room, but it added a gentle touch and allowed them both to calm down and relax for a moment.  

Katie knew that nothing else about tonight was going to be gentle. 

Zac came to sit beside Katie on the bed.  He placed a hand on her knee and smiled at her, he asked again “is this, okay?”, immediately Katie’s heart started racing.  That peace and tranquillity of the lights was out the window again. She grinned and chuckled as she thought about what had happened after the last time he asked that question.  She placed her hand on his cheek and moved to kiss him.  She pushed him back on to the bed and flung a leg over to straddle him.  She continued to kiss him, giving more and more of herself with every breath she snuck between her lips.  His tongue danced with his and ran the length of his lip.  She laid kissed on his strong chin and moved slowly towards his ear.  Zac slowly rolled his head to the right as she progressed, telling her that he loved that.  He reached his ear and rolled her tongue over around his ear lobe.  Sucking it into her mouth and gently pulling it with her teeth.  He sucked in his breath through gritted teeth and gripped her hips with pleasure.  She licked the length of his neck to his collar bone, following the path of his nerves as she went.  The chilled air in the room quickly sucked away the heat of her tongue on Zac’s skin and made him aware of the trail she was leaving.  

Katie pushed herself up and sat on his lap.  She grabbed his arms and pulled him to sitting.  She made very light work of the shirt he was wearing and tossed it carelessly to the ground.  She tried to fumble with his buckle, but his hands flew down and calmed her fingers.  He took over the work and raised his hips to shimmy out of the pants.  Katie slid off his lap and removed the pants the rest of the way.  Her cold fingertips stepped up his thigh towards his growing package.  Katie did not want to waste time teasing him, she grabbed the top of his undies and pulled them down.   His cock sprung from the fabric and gradually stoop to attention.  Katie watched with eagerness, as she learnt his full size and girth.  He was pristine.  Smooth and creamy, with a slight but workable curve.   She pushed both hands towards his shaft and gently dug her fingers into the base.  Zac sighed and his head fell back on the bed.  Katie rose to her knees where she could reach him.  She wrapped a hand around the shaft.  Feeling it pulse in acceptance of its new handler.  She came closer, letting her breath gently flow over the head.  Zac was losing his patience with her.  He bucked, raising his cock to her wet lips.  Katie chuckled internally and felt the heat from this new spark engulf her.  She loosened her grip and ran the tip of her tongue up the entire length of his shaft.  Wrapping her lips around the tip when she reached it.  Her tongue rolled around the circumference of the tip and she drove her head down.  She bobbed his cock in her mouth a few times and grazed the tip with her teeth.  Zac was panting, grabbing at the sheets, and exclaiming his joy was an ‘oh yeah’ and ‘feels so good’.   He didn’t try to push her head down of control her movements.   Katie enjoyed giving him head and getting his approval for new things she tried.  

She went on the move she noticed that his enjoyment slowed down, and his groaning got softer and less frequent.  She checked to see if he was still enjoying it, he was smirking and peering over his chest at her.  Katie continued.  Soon after she noticed that his sighing had turned to snoring.  Zac had fallen asleep.  Katie stopped.  She couldn’t believe that had happened.  That she had given someone head till they fell asleep.  Was she that bad? Was it not enjoyable? What was she supposed to do now?

Absolutely shocked, and a little insecure, Katie tried to rouse Zac.  He gently shrugged her off and fell deeper to sleep.   She sat back on her heels again and took a few seconds to compute.  Katie quickly realised that Zac was not going to wake up any time soon.  She picked herself up, shoved her shoes back on and quickly headed for the door.  The cold air that had been a calming and relaxing haven earlier in the night, was suddenly a frigged and unforgiving enemy turning their back on her.   Katie waited all alone and shivering for the taxi to arrive.  

[pens-n-petals]

Say Yes to Me

Chapter 4

Friday finally showed, and that meant seeing Zac was inevitable.  

Katie laid in Tyler’s bed, with the sun making light work of the sheer drapes on his window, he was still asleep, gently breathing and stirring.  She looked upon his face, taking in the unique edges and diverts of his skin and shape.  His facial hair was about 3 days unshaved, his chin was stippled with sort orangey hairs. His cheeks were flushed from the Summer heat and small wrinkles appeared at the folds of his eyes.  Katie ran a finger down his nose, over his top lip and up his chin towards his ear.  He let out a small groan and she grazed the skin on his neck with her fingernail. 

Katie wound herself a little more worked up that she had expected, was it the anticipation of seeing Zac again, was it the conversation she had had with Tyler last night or, was it just that she was horny.  

Tyler flittered his eyes and gently rolled closer to Katie.  

He smiled as he pulled her towards him.  He buried his face in her neck and messy hair “good morning” his croaky voice was electric for Katie this morning.  She tilted her hips towards him, hoping he would secretly pick up on her message.  Without hesitation, Tyler’s hands started sliding around her body.  He grabbed her hips and pressed himself against her. 

She found his lips and kissed him, giving him the encouragement to go further.  She pulled at his top and worked it awkwardly up his body and off. Tyler rolled on top of Katie, his bulge showing off the best it could.  He wasn’t a very well-endowed man; he was slim and shorter than desirable.  He climbed up to his knees where he dropped his underwear to his knees and removed Katies underwear. 

He didn’t care for foreplay, not that Katie minded today, she was already slick. 

Tyler lay down on top of Katie and kissed her lips, he was trying to be subtle as he slid on a condom clumsily, Katie raised her legs and wrapped around his hips, impatiently wanting to reach her orgasm thing morning. 

Tyler slid into her easily.  “oh, god, you feel amazing”

Katie returned the excitement in her affirming moan, but truly she only wanted the orgasm.  She closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment

Tyler moved within her, he always tried to play around during sex, trying new movements and tricks.  No matter how he tried, he was still a little too small for Katie’s likes. 

She wiggled beneath him, trying to tilt her hips into a favourable position.  

Tyler started moving faster, in and out of her.  His chest flat on hers, pressing up on his elbows.  He was calling out how amazing she felt today, panting heavier than usual. 

Finally, he drove into her one last time and cried his completion.  Falling on top of her and trying to catch his breath. 

“oh, that was amazing!”

Katie opened her eyes, looking up at the plain ceiling.  She had not reached her orgasm; she had not experienced the amount of pleasure that Tyler clearly had this morning.  She was not satisfied.  

They slipped from bed quickly and rushed to get ready, Tyler jumped in the shower, but didn’t offer to share.  Katie had to get home anyway, and Tyler had to get to work. 

As they left his house, he was sporting a giddier step than usual. 

***

As Katie prepared for the birthday at Zac’s venue in the afternoon, she thought about what she should do about his lack of promised contact; should she let it all slide and rack it up to sheer stupidity on her part? just a night of wonder and excitement that was fleeting, or should she allow him to make up an excuse and ask for forgiveness?  

He had had some kind of impact on her from that fateful night, and this underwhelming morning with Tyler had not only left her wanting more, but realising that passion was something she craved in her life. 

She wanted to feel those butterflies, the fireworks when she was around a lover

The round and around of remembering that night with Zac, and trying to forget him was dizzying.  There was no doubting that he had influenced her, in some way or another.

As she pulled into the venue, she wasn’t met with Zac directing suppliers as he had last month.  Katie felt herself entire body relax a little.  Her knuckles where white on the steering wheel, she’d been clenching all her muscles and not realised it.  

“Maybe he’s not on today” she questioned out loud.  That thought was both relaxing and emptying.  

She drove around to the same doors as last time and started unpacking the car.  As she took off to push the trolley she was met with a thud and a loud ‘urgh’.  Peering around the open car boot gingerly, Zac was standing at the foot of the trolley rubbing his shin.  

Catching her breath at the sight of him, her body began to move through a strange combination of emotions. She felt an anger spark that he hadn’t contacted her, then her body started shaking and her stomach defied gravity, he pulse raced and she was reminded that her itch was not scratched this morning.  

Let’s act cool everyone, she thought to herself.  

“Oh, my goodness, I’m so sorry! Are you okay? I didn’t even see you; I didn’t think anybody would be there” Katie spewed

Zac chuckled “I’m okay, thanks.  I was about to say ‘hi’ when you hit me.  Bad timing, I guess” he was smiling at her as if nothing had ever happened, as if they were buddies.

“Okay, good, if you’ll excuse me then” Katie replied bluntly, pushing past him and down the corridor towards the event room.  She started to feel irritated that he was so casual about the past week.  He’d said he was going to call, and as much as Katie was on the fence about what she wanted from Zac, she knew she mad that he hadn’t called. 

“Wait” called Zac, jogging behind her “I am sorry I haven’t called you, this week ended up being really busy with late nights and busted fridges, all kinds of staff issues, it’s just been nuts!” 

“And you didn’t even have time to text me while you were taking a shit, or ate something, or as you were getting into bed maybe?” Katie bit back, obviously a little more bitter about the situation than she wanted to be.  She kicked herself internally for arcing up, but was proud that she stood her ground

Zac looked at her puzzled but decided to move on “I promise it was nothing sinister, why don’t we make plans now for next week?”

“No, that’s okay! Let’s just chalk that weekend up to a good time for both of us and know that it’s not meant to be anything else” Katie turned toward the room again shoving the trolley harder than necessary.  

Zac felt his own anger spark in him.  He was trying to resolve the issue and start from scratch.  He was not going to take that as an option.

He quickly grabbed her wrist, and he tugged her back towards him.  He pinned her body softly against the narrow corridor walls.  Katie could have shuffled free if she wanted to, but she could also feel every line of his body against hers which was what she been craving since their first night. 

His hand slid directly behind her waist, and he pulled her closer.  Katie arched at his hand; he dipped his head to ear level.  She instinctively tilted her head away so he could lean into her neck further.

Zac obliged her, his breath on her shoulder sent shivers down her shine.  His voice was low and quiet, she was his only audience. 

“I’ve been thinking about you all damn week. You’ve been driving me crazy and you’re all I can think about.  Having you here again, like this, in my arms, my little plaything.” He paused and growled softly

“Don’t you dare say no to me” he was gravely this time, as if he was gritting his teeth. Biting back the energy, showing restraint that he really didn’t have. 

Katie quivered, she wanted to say no, to protest and keep walking.  But she couldn’t, he had total power over her.  He just needed to ask again, and she would submit.  

“Someone will see us” Katie stuttered, mocking an escape 

Zac quickly nipped her neck then laid a kiss to cover the pain “Say yes to me, Katie” he demanded in her ear “Say you’ll see me again”

After a short pause and holding her breath, “yes” she whispered with the breath finally escaping her.  Even it wanted to be close to him.

Zac pulled away, releasing her body from the wall.  Katie could feel his weight lingering on her,

Their eyes met and Zac grabbed her again, pulled her chest to his and their lips collided.  He kissed her hard, a long strong kiss that Katie melted into.  She really couldn’t even fain restraint around him.  He had a control over her that no man had ever before, control she had not wanted to surrender but found herself enjoying it at the same time.  He didn’t tease her with his tongue, he didn’t deepen the kiss, it was just a kiss. 

Katie was breathless and speechless when it was over.  Zac strode from the corridor quickly and back onto the loading dock.  Not looking back.  Katie stood there, one hand holding the trolley for support, and one at her lips, trying catching her breath. 

The room for the party was all set except for the flowers, Katie just quickly placed the vases on the tables, got out the buckets of flowers and threw the centre pieces together, completely hung up on what had just happened, not thinking about the process. 

When it was done, she stood back and admired how lovely they all were, considering the chaotic nature and haste in which they were thrown together.  

Katie had wanted to leave that venue as soon as Zac did. 

All the tables were different and had individual personalities.  They followed the same theme, but the shapes and movement in them were unique.  Some sprayed left, others went right.  A few hung down.  Some looked like an explosion and others danced on the summer breeze.  

Together, they looked how Katie felt when she was around Zac. 

Had Zac just become her muse? Had he unlocked some deep talent she didn’t know she had? Or was this just a case of a rushed job and not thinking too hard about it?

Whatever it was, she was done, and she could go. 

Katie rushed out of the venue, looking around dark corners to avoid Zac. And Amy.  She knew if she had seen Amy the gig would have been up.  And if she saw Zac, there is no telling what she would have done.

She slammed the car doors and drove off in a cloud of dust.  

Stopping at the bottle shop to pick up a wine on the way home.

At 10:30pm Katie’s phone buzzed.  

Usually, she would not have even checked it, but something told her to look.  Unknown number – it had to be him.  Her heart and pounded so hard, its deep rumbles fluttered the skin of her chest.  

Zac – Hello Katie, I enjoyed seeing you today.  Any chance I can join you for that tradition again?

Z 

In that moment she felt something flick on inside her, a spark of joy that radiated through the muscles in her back, into her arms, down her legs and warmed her cheeks.  

Katie paused, the phone shook in her hand while she read and reread the massage.  

How could one man do this to her? make her react so viscerally and intensely.  His tone felt mixed, but it commanded her attention. 

“Hello Katie” it was so formal, so dry.  “Join you for that tradition again?” this was cheeky and reminiscent of that night. 

Katie put the phone down.  She got up from the couch and filled up her wine glass for the last time tonight.  Pacing the floor behind the couch, she leant over and picked up the phone.  Reading the text one last time.  

She felt Zac already knew the answer to his question, and that he was only asking out of societal niceties before coming over anyway.  

She gingerly replied.

Katie - better bring your own tequila and limes.

That was it, it was done, she had let her fingers do the talking and decide her fate for the night.  

She was excited to see him again, to be in private, to let the night unfold as it wanted.  

Katie felt the urge to change, to be seductive and sexy.  She quickly prepped herself for a visitor; a quick refresh in the bathroom, and a change of underwear for the night should do the trick.  Before she knew it there was a knock at the door.  

Katie slowly opened the door.  She was wearing a satin robe and some black lingerie, her hair in a messy bun.  Katie tried to wear her sexiest bedroom eyes, and a ‘come-hither’ smile.  Zac stood on the other side of the door, his eyes landed on her face, his lips parting.  Slowly he moved down her body, taking in her supple skin, the way the robe parted gently at her cleavage, swelled at her hips, and skimmed her thighs.  As she moved aside, the robe fell open to reveal black lacey suspenders and a span of skin with no apparent covering.

“Come in” she waived, her tone dripping in seduction

Zac moved silently past her, chest to chest, so he could continue taking her image in.  His scent was strong and unforgettable.  It filled her nose and lungs, burnt into her brain and Katie knew that it was all part of his own private show for her.  She wished that he would push her against the door right then and there and kiss every inch of her body.  

He didn’t.

In the kitchen, Zac opened the tequila while Katie found shot glasses.  She pulled out two mis-matched glasses and asked, “how do you prefer your shots?” she help up the two glasses, Zac chuckled and took the larger glass for himself.  “Aren’t women known for having matching glassware?” “You can take your shots elsewhere if you prefer” Katie joked, throwing a thumb over her shoulder toward the door. “The flowers you did today were lovely” Zac complimented, as Katie came to sit down beside him at the table.  Lovely, that’s an improvement on nice. “Thank you.  They surprised me today, how they turned out”  “What do you mean?” “Well, I was all over the place and just threw the flowers together without thinking about it really.  They came out looking very different”  “All over the place?” Zac moved closer to Katie at this questions “that wouldn’t be because of our little encounter would it?” “Maybe” Katie dropped her eyes, “I had just been pinned up against a wall after all” she reminded him.  Zac smirked, pleased with himself as he also remembered the afternoon. 

Katie was touching his knee and leg, allowing her robe to fall where it would and adjusting it occasionally to draw his attention to her cleavage.   The tension between them was almost unbearable.  Zac reached forward and brushed a wayward strand of hair from her forehead, lingering around her ear and staring longingly into her eyes.  Finally, Katie placed a hand on Zac’s chest and moved to close the now very small distance between them, but before she had a chance to do anything else, Zac had swung her around, lifted her up and slammed her down on the kitchen table.   “You’ve been teasing me on purpose haven’t you” he whispered in their secret tone.  This change of pace came out of nowhere and startled Katie. “No” she replied sheepishly  “Don’t lie to me, Katie” he growled playfully, moving his hands up her legs towards the garter.  He snapped the elasticated lace as a full stop.  She gasped, the pain was pleasure, she dug her fingertips into his shoulders “Look at this robe.” Zac pulled on the satin draw string and let the front fall open “it’s not to keep you warm.  It’s to drive me crazy” he said again. Firmer this time.  He thrust his arms into the robe and around her back, his strong forearms pressing tight and large hands gripping her shoulder blades, pulling her body closer to him “And these knickers are not for comfort, they are for pleasure.  My pleasure.” he unhooked her bra in the swiftest of movements.  Katie was trying to keep up with what was happening but his aroma was intoxicating her and carrying her away.  Creating a fog thick in her head.  She wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled his hips closer.  His body jolted when it hit the edge of the table “Do you want me to take them off?” she asked naughtily 

Zac growled a low rumble, a purr almost.  It buzzed through Katie like a natural frequency, skipping her heartbeat and tuning her into him.  She shuddered.  Zac pulled back, dragging Katie to the edge of the table, he bent to his knees and lowered himself to her thighs.  He looked at her, deep in her eyes.

He placed a kiss on her inner thigh, left then right, then left again, each kiss was closer and closer to her hot pussy until he was parting her legs to allow for closer access.  He paused at the garters, rubbing his cheeks against them, and purring again.  She felt the purr radiate within her, the nerves and muscles of her pussy tightened and throbbed as he continued down.  She could feel his breath on her groin, it was hot and long.   He grabbed her ass and slid her closer to the edge of the table, he dragged a chair to be under her foot and propped it up, so she had something to lean on.  “Is this, okay?” he asked again.  Instantly Katie was back at the time before, her muscles were screaming ‘yes, touch me. I’m yours’, she simply nodded and granted permission for him to continue. He started quickly and almost without warning.  Katie let out a little shriek of excitement followed directly by a moan.  Zac was licking her G-string clad mound; he licked her left lip using his tongue to draw little circles the entire way up.  He moved to the right and showed it as much attention as he had the left.  The cold room air rushed to fill the space his tongue had just been, it was a shock, but one she wanted to feel again and again.  He turned his attention to her clit.  He had easily located it under the lace, it was as hard a rock and standing to attention for him.  He chuckled when she groaned in pleasure and hit her hands down to the table.  Very gently he slid the G-string to the side, tucking it into her groin. Zac paused there and took in the sight, Katie’s glistening pussy flinching in anticipation of what would come next.  Zac was not gentle this time, he nipped at the top of her labia, he licked harder and sucked the lips into his mouth.   Gently he glided one finger up her leg and towards her opening, he pulled back his face to meet her eyes.  He dragged the finger up and down her labia, to slicken it, he held her eye contact for a long as he could.  Katie bit her lip and tilted her hips up impatiently.  Zac smirked and obliged her.  His single finger slipped deep into her wet pussy; he twisted it gently around loosening her muscles.  He pulled out the finger and thrust it back in, curling the tip as he retracted.  He grazed her g-spot and sent a shock through her body; her knees jolted together and pinned his head in place.  Zac started licking again.  He licked ravenously, lapping at her pussy, clitoris, and the juices dripping out.  His finger continued to work, Katie was moaning and panting with every lick and thrust.  Just when she thought she was about to come, Zac employed a second finger into her and heightened her experience.  She gasped at the pleasure of him filling her.   He knew exactly what he was doing, where her spots where, and how to reach them.  He continued licking and fingering Katie, nipping at her labia and kissing her flesh.   Katie wanted to continue feeling this way, she was building and crashing in tiny waves over and over again, her entire body was shaking from the pleasure.  Suddenly, Zac stopped.  He retracted his fingers and stopped licking, but he didn’t move his head.  He allowed Katie a few seconds to catch her breath.  His breath on her labia was refreshing but hot.  “what” she simply asked “don’t…” after not receiving her orgasm this morning, she didn’t want to be left out in the cold again. She heard a muffled ‘shhh’ from between her legs and felt his fingers dig into the flesh.

He started again, kissing her thigh, slowly and more deliberately.  Slower than he had before.  He licked her from end to end, slower still.  His breath blazing the trail for his rough tongue to follow.  He returned to her entrance and inserted his tongue, pushing it in as far as it would go.  He lifter her free leg and placed it over his shoulder, grabbing her ass and pulling her closer to him.  Spreading her legs open.  Leaving no space between them.  He licked her pussy, scooping his tongue to the entrance, ramming it straight in and out.  He was precise and slow but forceful, Katie started rocking her hips with every thrust he made. Pressing into him as he did into her.  She was building again, a slow and steady tension that was too good to be true.  He gently slipped a long finger into her and pressed hard on her clitoris with his thumb.  Sending a shot of energy back through her.  She couldn’t hold on anymore, she reached her climax and squeezed Zac’s head into her pussy even harder as she came on his tongue.  She could feel the muscles clasp around his tongue as he continued to lick her inside gently.  Her body was weak and limp, she could barely support herself on the table. 

After a few seconds, Zac stood, and wiped his mouth.  He moved Katies legs into one of his large arms and twisted her body against his chest.  Without effort, he lifted her from the table and carried her through the house.  Her head nestled on his chest; he smelt of her, of sweat and of sex.  He lay her on the bed and hovered above her.  Gently kissed her forehead.  “Thank you for teasing me” he whispered as he left the room, the corridor, and the house. 

[pens-n-petals]

Say Yes to Me

Chapter 3

The next week past very slowly for Katie even though the shop was pumping.  Was it because she was holding out hope for Zac? She didn’t really have the time to spare pining over him like this. She had another wedding to prep for, a bridal and a baby shower, and a client who came in for a last-minute birthday party.  Who does that?!  

The birthday party just so happened to be at Zac’s venue, with delivery and set up on Friday night. As much as she tried to hide it, she found herself jumping to life every time her phone buzzed, wishing it was him.  That late night encounter with him was still imprinted on her body like she was memory foam.  Every time she thought about him, she felt she had known him her entire life, his touch had made her whole, and his face calmed her when she didn’t know she needed it. 

Nothing had felt right, since she had met Zac, even their original encounter where he acted like an asshole had started off this entire chain reaction and shift in something internal for her.  Almost like the tiniest piece of herself had been knocked out of its comfortable place and all the other pieces were struggling to fall back in place. 

Why now, why him, how was this going to help her? 

Her phone had buzzed twice today:

Amy – hey babe, Friday Birthday bump in at 14:00.  Crazy, crazy week – tell you about it soon!

Tyler – I haven’t heard from you since last weekend.  Can we catch up tomorrow night? I’ll cook.

Both times it wasn’t him.  Every day that passed and her inbox was empty was another reason she should have said ‘no’ to Zac.

Katie had agreed to seeing Tyler on Thursday night, maybe it was going to be a helpful distraction, maybe she could get back on track after Zac and leave this crazy nonsense behind. 

As Thursday arrived, she closed up the shop a little later than usual and ducked into the bottle shop on her way home. She assumed Tyler would cook Thai, so picked up an appropriate bottle of wine.  One didn’t seem enough for the week that she had had, so she chucked another in just to be safe. 

Tyler was nothing if not predictable and dependable.  The few months they had been together was enjoyable for Katie.  It was an experience like none other before, and it felt simple and easy.  There was respect and friendship between them.  Tyler often didn’t care much about her day-to-day life and activities, but they shared memories of their childhoods and families, which was important. Most of their nights together where at one another's houses. Usually a cooked dinner, or picked up pizza on the way over. They both like wine and gin, so enjoyed trying new varieties and sharing their favourite bottles together. Nothing was especially good or bad about the time she spend with Tyler, however, was it really a full blown relationship?

She arrived and knocked on the door, smack on 6:00pm as always.  Tyler was a stickler for time and being punctual.  Katie never liked to be late herself, but he was next level. 

“Hi” he said very joyfully as he opened the door.  He reached for her hand and helped her through the threshold, kissing her cheek as she passed.  He was playful and bouncy today, almost excited to see her again.  Katie thought about how sweet Tyler always was to her; always helping her in and out of the car or house, taking heavy bags off her and evening pulling out her chair on occasions, but that kiss was a little out of character for him.  

Katie was curious about him again.   With everything feeling out of place at the moment, was this something else that she just hadn’t noticed before, or was it a new development?

She smiled at him and pecked his lips in return. 

They wandered into the kitchen where Katie put one bottle of wine on the counter to be opened, and the other in the fridge. 

The pair flowed seamlessly around each other; one looking for glassware while the other got out dishes and cutlery.  It was always relaxing and comfortable to be with Tyler, he was soothing to her: a gentle and passive demeanour.  

“How has your week been, Katie? Has the shop been busy? I know it’s still wedding season and Valentine’s Day is coming up soon right.” Tyler jabbered away as he opened the first bottle of wine and poured Katie a larger than usual glass.  He slid it across the counter, smiling and waiting for her response. 

Katie took the glass, looked slightly sideways at Tyler and squinted “you’re very chatty today” she smirked. He really did seem out of sorts today

“Well, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you, I just wanted to catch up” he tipped the glass to his lips and let the wine trickle in

“I have been really busy actually, I’ve got 3 events this weekend and a wedding next, then Valentine’s orders will start coming in, you’re right. So I’ll have to start getting ready for that and getting help around the shop.  This is a crazy time of the year!”

“Let me know if I can help you.” Tyler replied without taking a beat.  Katie really looked at him confused now.  Her eyes popped and she made an actual face at him. “I mean, I can’t do flowers, but I can answer phones and take orders, money, that kind of stuff”

“You’d take a day off and work in my shop?” Katie questioned with a laugh, mostly because it seemed like such a selfless thing for Tyler to offer, and just picturing it made her laugh.

Tyler paused, pursed his lips, and shrugged “Sure, why not, I’ve got leave!” 

Katie laughed and took a sip of her wine.  He had gone crazy

Dinner was lovely, as usual.  Tyler was a great cook, Thai being his speciality! 

They sat back in their chairs and stared at each other; the second bottle of wine sat warming up on the table.  The condensation rolled quickly down the bottle as if trying to escape something, that wine wouldn’t last much longer either. 

Katie felt at ease at his house.  Nothing specifically stood out bout his house. He furnished it with greys and whites, had no greenery or flowers in vases dotted around, and only had a few pieces of generic big-box store artwork on the walls. Katie found herself thinking about their time spent here and how it was overly unadventurous, it didn't get her pulse going, or anything internal racing that's for sure.

Katie felt that newly familiar niggle of awkwardness arise again, it had come up at dinner with Tyler in the city, that something was just not there, or it was missing.  After connecting the dots with Zac, Katie was looking for the same connection in Tyler.  As she thought about what this could mean, she started fiddling with the stem of her wine glass.

Tyle leant across the table and filled Katies glass with the last of the wine “did you enjoy dinner?”

Katie nodded “Dinner was delightful.  Thank you” pulling her out of the daze and back into the real world

“I wanted to talk to you actually” Tyler said quietly, Katies’ mood shifted, she felt a panic flush through her for an instant. 

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing's wrong.  I’ve just been thinking about dinner the other day”.  So had Katie, but for a different reason all together.  She didn’t. want to say anything, she’d let Tyler compose himself to continue, and took a sip of her wine.

“You were quite flirty with me, which I hadn’t really noticed before”

Katie was surprised he was bringing this up, and intrigued about where it was going to go, “What do you mean? Did I do something at dinner?”

“No!  Of course not.  I just wanted to say that I enjoyed the night and the extra attention.  I didn’t think you were that interested in me, so it was nice is all.” Tyler looked almost hurt that he was saying these things to Katie

She leant forward and placed a hand on his “Tyler, I like you." she paused, "I actually didn’t think you liked me, to be honest.  I just thought I was boring to you”

“I like you as well, Katie.  You’re pretty and I enjoy spending time with you.” He had a delicate smile on his lips and a sense of relief filled his eyes. "I suppose I always felt that this was only temporary, so I didn't want to get too involved or attached"

"I appreciate you telling me how you feel, Tyler, I'm not sure what I'm expecting of this. I enjoy our nights in" Katie was choosing her words carefully without even realising it. She couldn't commit to anything with Tyler now that she had met Zac.

"Maybe we can just continue at this pace? continue getting to know each other?"

They both fell silent.  It had been an intimate moment between them, and they had both needed it. Exchanging a small smile to say they each understood and appreciated the tenderness on the topic. 

Both of these men offered different things for Katie, and maybe she was jumping the gun when it came to Zac, but something deep down was telling her not to commit any more to Tyler.

“Shall we move to the couch?” Katie suggested, maybe after that conversation things could heat up on the couch tonight.

As they stood, Tyler gently grabbed the side of Katie's face and looked into her eyes.  He leant forward and kissed her lips.  Katie leant into the kiss further as well and let her tongue meet his gently.  Tyler didn't pursue it further. There goes a sexy night, she thought

They sat on the couch, in their usual positions, Katie on the right and Tyler on the left.  It was a three-seater couch, but they stuck to their ends, to their patterns.  Tonight, Tyler motioned Katie over, he slid down in the seat a little in an attempt to turn himself into a comfy pillow for her to nestle into.  The night had definitely been out of the ordinary from the very beginning, from Tyler being chatty, admitting his insecurity, and now: wanting to cuddle.  Katie obliged and snuggled into his body.  He was very skinny so he didn’t provide as much as a comfortable place as he might of thought, but he draped his arm over her and they each settled in.

“Do you want to pick a movie tonight?” he asked

“Mmm… nah, you pick.  I’ll probably just fall asleep then you’ll be stuck watching my movie” she answered with a laugh.

Tyler chuckled and kissed Katie’s head.  He was being caring, attentive, affectionate. The movie started, and before long Katie was well and truly asleep.  Tyler let her sleep on him, and when the movie finished, he gently roused her.  

They made their way to his bed, Katie lagging in a groggy state.  Tyler pulled back her side of the covers and they both hoped in.  

Tyler wasn’t the type of man to initiate anything, he would leave that mostly to Katie.  Tonight, was no different, he simply held her hand in his and kissed her fingers, holding it until they both drifted off to sleep. 

[pens-n-petals]

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 

Katie woke late this morning; her head was un-surprisingly spinning from the after math of the night before.   

Tequila and men. Not a good combination. 

For a split second she didn’t remember her encounter with Zac, the kisses and panting, the desire, and of course the rushed ending.   

For that one second, her life was drama free. 

It came flooding back; flashes of his face, his hands on her body, their legs intertwined, his lips on hers, her nerves being lit up like a Christmas tree.  

She rolled over in bed and found her phone.   

10:30, crap!   

A few texts from Amy and a thank you from the couple from last night.  

Amy:  Hey girl, just got in and saw you hadn’t picked up.  Looks like staff have put it one location for you.  Wedding this afternoon, so can you come and get before bump in at 15:00? 

A true event planner, always in 24hr time!  

Amy:  Me again, staff said they saw you here last night to do pick up.  Mmm weird? will still need you to come in today.  Let me know a time, see you soon. 

Oh no, how is she going to explain that 

Amy: Girl, OMG!!!  You better be coming in today.  Drah-mah! 

Shit!!  Someone saw 

Sally: Katie, thank you so much for all the flowers you did for our wedding.  Honestly cannot believe that you took my Pinterest board and brought it to life!!  Everyone was gushing, and I am still speechless!! 100% will recommend you to ANYONE needing flowers xxxx Sal and Jim. 

Katie smiled and pulled herself out of bed.  Maybe a hot shower will take all this pain away.  

She turned on the shower and let the steam build up.  She stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself.  She brushed her hand down her neck and remembered the feel of Zac’s hand caressing her just the night before.  She closed her eyes and let her mind wander.  She saw his hand on her leg again, the smile on his face, his lips moist and glistening.  Her eyes shot open. 

She shook her head clear. 

Come on, not today! 

Testing the water, she hoped into the shower.  Letting it flow over the back of her head, around her shoulders, slowly drenching her hair and skin.   

With her eyes closed again, she gently moved her hands over her arms, her hips, her legs, and stomach, touching her breasts gently.  First cupping the underside, then sweeping a thumb over the flesh, gently turning a finger around the edge of each nipple, and then flicking them.  

She imagined it was his hands on her again, his hips grinding into hers, his breath on her cheek and his head nuzzling into her neck.  She closed her eyes and leant against the cold tiles.  Shocking her skin, she gasped.   

She remembered gasping when Zac bit her lips, her fingers flew there, and her teeth gently grazed the lip.   

She smiled. 

She allowed her hand to glide down her body and to her thigh. Scrapping her nails from inside to outside of each thigh, she enacted what it would feel like if it were Zac.   

His strong arm holding her up, while the other moved around her body.   

Slowly a finger found its way to her groin, sending a shiver through her body and a throbbing to her core.  Her muscles tightened and quivered in anticipation.   

The hot water relaxed all her muscles and encouraged her to let go of the tension.  

Her fingers encroached further on her pussy, gently teasing the area, she could feel herself getting wetter with every gentle tickle.  Katie couldn’t wait any longer, with Zac firmly in her mind she dipped a finger into her pussy, with a pant she relaxed and entered another.  She propped her leg up on the shower wall and allowed her fingers to go deeper still.  She massaged the walls of her pussy, building the tension with every stroke.  She imagined Zac on his knees gripping her ass and holding her still against his face while he licked her.  She flicked her fingers as if they were his tongue, she worked the inside and outside.  Building the pressure within herself.  She pushed in harder, the water stimulating her flesh.  She flicked her g-spot, she pressed on it and released, feeling the blood rushing around it.  She continued, flicking again and again.  Her legs were shaking, and her breath was ragged with pleasure.  A moaning was coming from her, a sound that hadn’t come before and she wasn’t expecting.  She could feel her muscles working hard, pulsing together, quivering on the edge.  With one last thrust of her fingers, she felt her nerves explode and flood with pleasure.  Her body shook and her internal muscles clenched around her fingers.   

She held her fingers in there a little longer, gently wiggling them to spark her nerves again.  She leant into the sensation, allowed everything around her to fade away and for the high to end.  

Slowly she caught her breath and opened her eyes.   

Zac was gone and so was the high. 

With that dirty-little-moment all her own, she turned off the shower and continued getting ready.  

*** 

Katie pulled up the venue about 2:20pm after a lazy morning and a greasy lunch to cure the hang over.   

She turned off the car and took a deep breath to collect herself before getting out.  

She threw open the door with bravado and tossed her legs over the edge, slipped from the chair and strode across the carpark.  The warm summer breeze played with her skirt and cheekily flipped it up to show off a perky and rounded bum to staff members on lunch break.  She could sense their collective *nudge nudge*as she passed, which brought a smirk to her face and a boost to her ego that she needed. 

She swung by the office and waived ‘hi’ to Amy who was finishing off a phone call.  She gestured out to the lawn and Amy nodded.   

After no time at all, Amy came screeching across the lawn yelling “OMG KATIE, DO I HAVE SOME NEWS FOR YOU!!!!” 

She came to a halt with a heavy thump as she dropped beside Katie, before Katie could even say hi, Amy had kicked off her story.  

“Okay, so last night right, for the wedding, the staff were telling me that Zac was in such a weird mood.  He was being really vague and air-headed all night.  Like he didn’t know a thing about the event or really what was going on.  Which is not true, because you know your girl gave him a killer hand over.  Most nights he’s running around barking orders and almost making enemies of people with just how smoothly he wants the night to run.  It just seems really strange for him to act vague and distant you know?!” 

But Katie didn’t know, although it wasn’t really a question Amy was asking.  

“Now, here’s the best bit, right.  After the event, I heard that he let everyone go early.  With a box of food.  He said he was going to, quote, do the pack up.  Again, totally unlike him and like he’s been possessed by some kind of ‘nice manager boss’ or something.” 

Right as Katie was going to chirp in, Amy continued 

“THEEEENN this morning, when the morning crew came in to reset for today’s wedding, they said that the place was still a mess and nothing else had really be done to get the room ready.  And that there were 2 shot glasses and a bottle of tequila left on the bar which hadn’t been included in the couples drinks last night, and Adrian said he already cleaned the bar at 11:30 before the wedding had even finished.” 

“That sounds very confusing for your staff, having someone chop and change like that.  He sounds difficult to work with.”  

“The other day Zac and I were chatting about his last few venues. He always gets cagy when you ask him about his life in Sydney. But he has told me that he has this little ‘tradition’ after events, not that he elaborated much on that. This man is honestly so frustrating.  

I swear he has hinted that he’s had issues with substances in the past.  So, like the shot glasses on the bar are like super suspicious and not a good sign. Adrian, our AM guy, also said last night some of the female guests were hitting on him and heard that some were going to stay back to try and catch him as he left.  Obviously, it worked! He has invited a guest back to the venue after hours to have a drink with them.  I mean talk about breaking the rules, and he’s only been here a few weeks. Did you see anything yesterday when you came back? Staff said they saw you, but they didn’t know when you left, and then why did you leave all your stuff here?  Did anyone come back in before you left?” 

“Wow, Amy” laughed Katie “Is that all? I didn’t see anyone come in, I don’t think I even see Zac. But maybe this secret person came through back of house? Or he just used 2 glasses instead of 1? you know men, so lazy” 

“Aint that right, sister” Amy chimed in  

“I wasn’t feeling great last night after dinner with Tyler, so I left after I got the flowers.  Do you think he really had a rough time in Sydney?”   

All Amy’s words were swirling around her head; “distracted” and “pre-occupied” during the night when early that day he had been snappy and grumpy. He did rush everyone out at the end of shift last night when he had seen Katie. And he was definitely happy by the time those 3 shots had gone down.   

Katie wondered if it could have been her, if she could have had an affect on him as he had her. But he had pushed her away so forcefully last night.  Which made it fuzzy again if she had affected him.  

Amy’s comment on Zac’s past, and his own remark last night about ‘needing to get away from Sydney’ was very concerning.  It was all so confusing her.  

“Yeah, I mean maybe.  Why else would an East-coaster move over here. I teel you what though, it sure would be nice if he stays in that good mood.  He can be really blunt and grumpy sometimes” she paused and looked out along the river “It’s a good thing he is so cute, hey!” adding cheekily.  

The girls both laughed and returned to idle chit chat about the wedding season, how business was going, and the latest trends they had seen.  

“Well, I best be collecting the rest of my stuff so you can start setting up for the next wedding.” punctuated Katie in a lull in conversation.   

“Yes, I suppose.  I also suppose Zac is wondering why no one is answering the phones” Amy chuckled as they got up 

Zac was leaving the office as the girls rounded the corner.  

“Hey Zac, consider that my lunch break” said Amy as she winked goodbye to Katie and ducked back into the office. Katie smiled and waved, turning to Zac her smile faded.  They stood there looking at each other for longer than was acceptable.   

She paid special attention to how her body was reacting today. Last night with Tyler and Zac; the polar opposites of each other and their respective interactions last night was not something she had experienced before. Katie never even dated more than one man at a time, nor had she did intend to pick up a side piece like Zac.  

When Zac had kissed her, that niggling feeling that had mysteriously arrived when he had, had roared to life. She didn’t want it to be true, but she knew exactly what it had meant and what it was in her life that she had been missing: passion and intrigue, heat and sensuality. It all seemed to originate with the man standing before her now.  

Her body behaved itself for the brief moment as they stood there, her heart quickened, but she could calm it, she breathed away the encroaching blush and stopped herself from going back to last night. 

Zac motioned to the venue doors “After you” They walked silently inside.  

Katie checked the trolley for all her things and make sure nothing was missing or left on the other side of the room.  Zac shuffled papers around in the bar, waiting awkwardly for her to return while he not-so-subtly stole looks.  

“Well, looks like I’m all done!” said Katie as she returned to her trolley 

“Oh, let me give you a hand” Zac rushed from his place, tripping over himself to get there before Katie could 

“Oh no, no, it’s all good.  Done this hundreds of times!” 

They grabbed the trolley at the same time, Katie retracted but her insides gushed and made her question that decision.  Zac kept eye contact and had that look of desire Katie recognised from last night.  She turned her face away as she blushed, trying to deny the temptation of taking him right there on the spot.  

They walked through the door and across the car park to her car.  

“uh... so... I wanted to apologise for last night, obviously it got a little out of hand and it’s not what I expected to happen.  I usually don’t allow myself to get carried away.  It was just…um... you were just...um...” he scuffed at the ground and wiggled in the discomfort of the situation.  

“Oh, so that was my fault?” butted Katie “I did something to let you ‘get carried away’?” 

“No! absolutely not!  You were just being yourself. And I put you in a position where I couldn’t control myself.” Zac stood just looking at Katie “you are so beautiful, and I had an amazing time last night.  I’m just not really that type of guy” 

“Uh-huh, yeah, I’m sure you are very respectable man and not at all sleezy” Katie said with a scoff, “I’ve met enough guys to know that that is never actually the case. I’m sure your bed post has more notches on it than Mick Jagger’s!” 

Zac grabbed her wrist as Katie turned to leave this situation “Look, is it okay if I call you soon? Maybe we can get a drink, and start again?” Zac’s eyes pleaded with her, they showed honesty and regret.  Katie had to admit that she hadn’t seen that before in the traditional fuck boys 

She paused, she knew that the next words out of her mouth could potentially open herself up to something completely new or leave her vulnerable to total and utter heartbreak. 

“Yeah, um, sure. Maybe.” she stammered, giving a weak smile and starting to load her car.  

“Great!” exclaimed Zac, his demeaner changing “I’ll speak to you next week some time!” 

As Katie got in the car and headed out the car park, she thought about what Amy had said again and that Zac asked her to get a drink.  None of these things added up, Katie doubted that she would even hear from him next week.  

[pens-n-petals]

Say Yes to Me

Chapter 1 

Katie slid the key in the door and twisted the lock, the sudden thud of the unlocking bolts jolted her out of the daze and back to reality.   

She didn’t want to be here today.   

As she opened the door small slips of paper fluttered to the ground.  Orders from clients, small ‘I hope you’re okay’ notes, and the odd marketing flier.  

The shop had been closed a few days now, and people had clearly missed her.  

As she crossed the dim show room floor the familiar scents wafted over her, welcoming her back with their warm embrace. The shop had always been her haven, her creative studio, the sunshine in her life, but the echo of her lone footsteps on the cold and harsh concrete floors were just another reminder of her current status and emptiness she felt inside.  She quickly tried to block this noise out too and regain control of her day.  

Her days of late had been spend between the bed and couch, only breaking from the rhythm to collect food deliveries. Katie would sleep only when her tears had dried up, and she replenished them with ice cream and wine.  

Every time she closed her eyes a vivid memory would come crashing back, like her own private porno or tragic love story played on her closed eye lids.  She would hold her breath at every blink, wishing they would simultaneously be over and be longer.  She wished to be back in those scenes again, to be tangled in the throws of passion with him again. To a time when his attention was the only thing she needed or wanted.  When a message from him would cancel out everything else, and his whispers in her ear would be there own private moment.  

Katie final reached the work bench, flicked on the lights, and leant back on the desk.  She hung her head heavily and once again the familiar prickle of tears threatened to break free.  

A huff of pain and tiredness escaped from her body before she had time to stop it.  She raised her hands to her face as if it would help her disappear, help her forget, help her gain control, anything other than the feeling of total hopelessness she felt right now…  

6 Months Prior…  

It was right in the middle of summer and the middle of wedding season, a florists’ busy season if ever there was one: there were brides, mothers, trips to the market, petals, leaves, ceremonies, and venues galore.  A colourful blur of moving pieces that had to be decoded, put together, and delivered on time.   

Lucky those flowers were so beautiful, or she would have packed it in a long time ago.  

There was never time to rest or recover from one wedding to the next during wedding season when you had any kind of connection the industry, but Katie thrived in that environment, the rush and variety of the shop was the perfect match for her bold and friendly personality.  Over the years she had worked in boring jobs: retail positions, jobs making phone calls, jobs sitting behind a desk, and even in cafes to make ends meet, but at 27 she moved into floristry and fell in love for what seemed like the first time in her life.  Finally, something that seemed to just feel right. 

Katie’s shop had been open for 2 years now, she’s found her feet working online and with established florists. Now her own little place had its own string of regular clients who would stop in; some who lived not so far away, others who travelled much further, other shop owners from the high street, there was corporate clients picking up their weekly blooms, and of course her family and friends who never needed an excuse to see Katie or buy her flowers.   

The shop was located right in the middle of a semi-busy strip of retail shops and cafés in Perth’s city suburbs. Just walking distance to the river and a ferry’s ride back into the city.  On the strip, the café was just 2-doors down. This was the most important shop after her own, because that’s where her favourite barista, Max, worked. And she needed coffee at least once a day. Max would sometimes see Katie walk past the café in the morning, then be at her door within minutes with an un-ordered, but desperately needed coffee in hand.  Always ‘on the house’ on these occasions.  They also happened to be the occasions where Max had to ‘spill the tea’ on his weekend shenanigans or general community gossip.  They would sit and chat for way too long, and Katie was always behind schedule for the rest of the day when Max stopped by.  

A real estate agent was directly opposite and to the right, and a bookstore next to that.  Of course, there was a small deli, a clothing boutique, and a hair salon.  Katie, the other owners, and staff all got on well, catching up sporadically to vent about regulars or discuss the stressful times of business at the moment.  The restaurant and pub weren’t open early in the mornings and the respective staff were rarely around during the day, so Katie didn’t know any of them very well.   

She did, however, know one of the regulars from the deli.   

About 4 months ago, they started bumping into each other around lunch time at the deli. Until one day he plucked up the courage to speak to Katie while they waited for their lunch orders. His name was Tyler, he was a little shorter than Katie and had dark hair that he kept shaved very closely.  He must have worked at one of the office buildings down the side streets because he always dressed in a well-tailored 3-piece suit and was sometimes on very heated phone calls. Their in-the-line chit chat slowly evolved to lingering around after they got the meals and chatting about their week. Once they happened to be at the café at the same time, so they pulled up a chair outside and finished their cups together.  

In-mid October of last year Tyler came into Katie’s shop for the first time to buy flowers for his sister’s birthday.  Katie dutifully helped him pick out flowers.  He was calm and polite man, and he made Katie chuckle.   

The following week he came back, but with differing pretences.  Tyler asked Katie out for a drink at the pub after work on that Friday night.  Katie agreed.  After a few weeks of getting to know each other, catching up for a drink and some suggestive touches over the table, try sparked a casually relationship. Mostly enjoying each others company in bed, or over a home cooked meal and bottle of wine.  

Katie liked Tyler, he was the well mannered gentleman that she had assumed she would be with at 30 years old, but something just fell a bit short of the mark as far as she was concerned. Could it have been that he was just too shy and meek for her loud and bubbly personality?     

Often Katie would get excited and carried away about an instalment or job she was doing, and Tyler would just nod and agree, smiling here and there to fain interest.   

Or maybe that the sex was a little more vanilla than what Katie would have liked to get? 

I mean, sex with Tyler was not all bad, they were getting to know each other’s bodies more and more, and trying a few new positions that Tyler had not tried before.   

Overall, it was pleasant and comfortable, but he didn’t set Katie’s heart on fire or partake in raunchy activities to get her motor running.  

Katie was a stunning girl, she was tall for a woman at 5”10’ and she carried herself with a tall posture. She wore high heels unapologetically, and always dressed up a little more than she had to. Katie’s hair was a dirty blonde with copper and brown flecks catching the summer sun. She would often wear it straight, but it had a natural wave that framed her face and bounced as she walked. Men were either commenting about the colour of her eyes, or the swell of her curves. Katie enjoyed the attention for the most part, but like most things, I can get old.  

It was mid-January, the Australian sun was punishing and unforgiving to anyone who dares to step outside. Today was scorching, that even the wind was sick of the heat and had packed up and gone home. Everything hung thick in the air, and your sweat would boil on days like today.  

Katie was heading to a new venue for a wedding ceremony and reception instalment, they venue was only the bet suburb over, it sat by the river and overlooked the city.   

Katie loved having those type of weddings; where the ceremony and reception are in the same place.  Not having to worry about the traffic and time constraints of moving between two venues.  She could potter around at her own pace and finish the flowers to her standard rather than worrying about having to get from one to the other in time.   

Katie packed the last of the flowers into the car and grabbed little bits to pack into her tool box.  Just looking out the window was enough to make you feel sticky and start sweating today.   

Katie had to install flowers out there! 

She jumped in the car and made the very tedious 5-minute commute to the venue.    

Oh, bloody hell! She thought to herself as she got closer to the venue.  Not a lick of shade in this area, and it’s the hottest part of the day.  She foraged around the car briefly for some kind of sun protection the best she could with one hand on the wheel: a hat, a scarf, sunscreen, anything really.  

As she turned into the venue driveway a tall man stood in the middle of the carpark ushering cars down and directing traffic.  He wore black slacks, a white shirt with the sleeves cuffed to his elbow and the collar opened 3 buttons. he was reviewing a clipboard, occasionally looking up to speak to the person in the vehicle and direct each vehicle to their specific area as they arrived.   

His presence was unmissable, he stood tall and strong, he didn’t lack any confidence and yet he still seemed approachable.   

He was flushed and sweaty from standing in the heat, Katie could see his shirt clinging to the muscles of his back from where she was in the small line for 2 cars.  The pants he wore would make every woman jealous. That they got to be so close to him, to his body, and his tight backside.  Finally, he ushered Katie down the drive toward him.   

As she drove closer his finer features became more prominent.  His face was long and slim ending with a perfectly square jaw and chin, his cheek bones perched high and his eyes where the most intriguing shade of hazel.  He didn’t have any facial hair and you could tell that he made sure to keep a clean shave every day.   

His arms swelled gently under his shirt, he worked out but wasn’t a body builder, the type of fit that comes with precise training yet looks completely effortless or natural.  His hands holding the clipboard where large and strong, his fingers where long and scuff free, they said ‘he knew how to work but he liked to take care of himself’. 

Coming to a stop, he leant through Katie’s window and asked in a deep voice “Which supplier are you?”.   

A simple enough question really, one Katie had been asked time and time again in her line of work, one that she surely knew the answer to. 

She opened her mouth and for a split second nothing came out.  The man looked at her and raised his eyebrows in anticipation.   

“Florist” she croaked, and quickly cleared her throat “I’m the florist”  

“Great!” He said very unimpressed, turning his body away from her he continued “Drive around the building to the left and unload what you need by the open doors.  You’ll have to move your car straight away because other suppliers need those doors.  You can park anywhere along the top fence”.  He was motioning the locations for her, but Katie really wasn’t paying much attention.  She watched the muscles in his neck twist and turn, the veins throbbing in the heat.  He walked away and was already waiving down the next supplier before Katie had noticed that he had stopped talking and left.  She hoped that whatever he had said after unloading her car wasn’t important.  

Katie mindlessly drove the short  route he said, nothing really passing through her head.  When she stopped the car at the open doors as directed, she exclaimed out loud  

“You’re the fucking florist.  Honestly, how bloody hard was that!?”  

That small encounter with this stranger was playing on a loop in her mind already. 

She got out of the car and opened the boot.  She was shaking, in slow motion she relived him walking towards her, leaning into the car and saying “you are the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen” …. Wait, he didn’t say that!  Katie bit and fingered her lip before shaking her head and starting to unload the buckets of flowers and paraphernalia. 

She quickly moved her car into what she thought was the parking area, grabbed the smaller bits and pieces she needed, before heading back to start setting up the flowers.  

Within the reception room some vendors has already been in. A stark white dance floor sprawled in front of a long bridal table for 8 members. The cake table and wishing well were in a similar bright white finish. The back drop of the river and city was truly stunning, and would be a great venue for any couple’s big day!  

Katie set to work dividing the flowers between the number of guest tables and the bridal table for each centrepiece. 

Getting herself centred, Katie scanned the room, comparing the original design sketch to what she had set out, how the venue looked in person, and what atmosphere she wanted to flowers to provide.  Even though she had done this before, she knew that every wedding day was special and it was every bride’s only wedding!   

Well, at least you hope so! 

The tables slowly started coming together, as she worked methodically trimming, setting and fluffing flowers. Each centrepiece was set in a 2-foot narrow glass vase with a trumpet opening.  Katie used mostly white flowers with pale pink roses spraying out in all directions, even adding some hanging items to a few tables.    

The bridal table used the same flowers, but they ran the length of the table and flowers draped down and out instead of up.  She left small empty vases for the bride and each bridesmaid to set their bouquet which would add to the overall appearance of the table.  The cake and gift tables each got their own jazz-up, and she even left some flowers for the actual cake.  

Katie took a step back and admired the room, a small smile starting in the left corner of her mouth spread to a grin as she fell in love with the finished result.  Her smile dropped just as quickly as she realised, she still had the outside to do.  

Looking at her watch, it was 2:00pm, the wedding was at 3:30pm.  Just enough time. 

The aisle was set with  a white carpet and chairs, and of course that same river and city skyline as the backdrop.  A gold hexagon frame stood at the end of the isle. It called to Katie to make it pretty, to give it a sense of purpose by holding the stunning flowers.   

As she walked outside toward the ceremony set up, Katie’s mind played tricks on her, she started imagining that new, tall man standing at the top of the isle smiling back at her as she walked towards him.  

She shook the image away and got back to work, muttering to herself that she was being ridiculous. 

She started making trips from the venue to the existing arbour, with this heat she knew she had to be wise with her work pace but not put the delicate flowers out too soon either.  Roses hate the heat, so everything centred around getting those out about 10-15 minutes before the guests started arriving.   

Taking out the ladder, wire cages and cable ties first, Katie worked to set up the basic frame of the structure.  Heavy placement on the right top corner, some on the left arm and a little more on the right bottom.  

She pottered around slowly doing each foliage and flower type according to their resilience to the heat.  First the leaves, then the gyp, the Queen Ann’s lace and so on. 

As she climbed down the ladder and headed inside for another flower type, Amy, the venue coordinator came out rushing out to say hello.   

Amy had worked all over the city in different venues and settled here about 4 months ago.  Katie and Amy had always worked well together, mostly because Amy knew it was best to stay out of a florist’s way while they were working.  She burst through the doors with amazing showmanship and was already yelling 

“Hello dear Katie!” called Amy from across the stretch.  

“Amy, my darling girl, how are you?” Katie cooed back. 

“I’m fantastic, this place is way better than ‘that that should not be named’” she chuckled with a smirk and roll of the eyes “The flowers look amazing inside babe, I had to come find you before you left!  I was so excited when I saw the couple had chosen you for their flowers.  OMG, How lovely are they, right? It’s been so nice to work with them for this wedding.  We both know how crazy things can be in wedding season and it’s just so nice to have a couple who have done all their own work, and don’t demand a bunch from me, and just make the lead up enjoyable.” 

Amy was the type of person to just open her mouth and not breath until every single word in the English language had been spoken.  Katie could but node and smile, laugh were necessary, and wait for Amy to be done.  

“They have been super lovely, when they came to discuss the flowers they were so prepared” Katie added  

“Oh, I also wanted to introduce you to our new venue manager before you go, Zac, he’s been great, he’s come from over East so he can really teach us a lot here!” and without notice Amy was yelling across the venue to no one in particular “Zac! come meet Katie!”.   

A few seconds later, the door swung open again and out strolled the same tall man who had greeted Katie in the car park, he was finishing the buttons on a fresh pale blue shirt and started cuffing it just as he had with the one before.   

Katie stopped her conversation with Amy mid-sentence and her eyes gently bulged.  Amy had obviously seen her reaction because she simply nudged Katie and wagged her eyebrows with an ‘I know right’ confirmation. 

“Zac, this is Katie, she is an amazing florist and I have worked with her all over the city.  Have you seen her centres inside yet? Aren’t they just stunning.  She would be great to have here as a preferred supplier I think.  She’s not messy like other florists or suppliers, and she always comes to pick-up left-over flowers and bits after the wedding.  She really ‘gets’ brides and their vision.  I think our clients would absolutely love her!  Katie, this is Zac”  

Zac’s facial expression was similar to Katie’s, a mix of patience and disbelief that someone can talk that much.  

“Nice to meet you, Katie.” This tone was monotone and lifeless, “Is that your flat trolley in the load zone out the back?” questioned Zac, he really wasn’t giving off that ‘he’s great’ vibe that Amy had mentioned 

“Oh, yeah, I mean maybe.  I’m sorry, I must have left it when I unloaded the flowers. I’ll be done soon” said Katie a bit disgruntled and flustered by the delivery of the question 

Zac turned to leave pretty quickly, “The room looks nice” he tossed over his shoulder with the slightest turn of his head.   

Nice? Flowers aren’t nice. The are beautiful, or stunning, or lovely! Not just ‘nice’. Katie thought  

Amy and Katie both looked a little stunned, 

“Was that...” Katie started 

“Weird? Yes! Very weird, so rude too! It just a trolley, it’s not like you left your car there.  You didn’t leave your car there, right?” Amy’s three mini conversations asked of her.  

“No, I moved my car.  I also don’t even think it is my trolley” Katie looked over her shoulder towards the arbour to make sure she did have her trolley with her.   

After a short while of general chit chat in the saving grace of the shade, Amy left Katie to finish up the flowers.  Katie looked towards the venue as Amy walked up the path, still confused about her interaction with Zac and how he was so mad about a trolley.  

Much to her surprise, Zac was standing at the bar, looking at Katie, he quickly turned away, jumping back to work when she caught him. 

Despite her confusion, Katie couldn’t help feeling flustered and a little floaty herself when they locked eyes.   

Katie finished the rest of the arbour, placing the roses and delicate flowers just minutes before the first guests started arriving.  

Occasionally Zac would pop into her mind, just fleetingly, but there and intriguing none the less.  

A quick detour back inside to check the room and pick up any odd bits, before getting in the car.  

She shot Amy a quick text – Got a date tonight, be back at 12:00 for pick up! Xx  

*** 

A knock at Katie’s door came smack at 6:45pm, as if that person had been standing behind the door watching the time specifically to knock.  It made Katie jump, she smudged her mascara.  Cleaning the slip, she rushed to open the door.  Tyle stepped through the threshold and placed a delicate and familiar kiss on Katie’s lips.   

“Hello” he simply said, his eyes lingered on her for a few seconds before flicking away as he stepped aside and scanned her apartment.   

Something felt a bit odd about that interaction from Katie’s side, like he was a stranger again and she didn’t know anything about him.  His standard greeting didn’t sit the same with her tonight as it had every other night he greeted her in the same manner.  His kiss was boring and dull, his manner almost judgemental or bored.  Was it always like this and Katie hadn’t noticed, or was this new?  

“Just one second, I’ll just grab my bag” Katie commentated her actions as she flew around the house to collect her things “Where are we going tonight?” 

“There is a wine bar in the city I wanted us to try”  

“Sounds amazing, Ty”  

‘Tyler’ he whispered under his breath.   

He hated being called Ty and would correct Katie more often than not about it.  Katie was big for nicknames, and hadn’t been able find a pet name that suited him, often Ty would just slip out.   

They headed into the city, passing gentle and sporadic conversation in the car ride.  Tyler placed his hand on Katie’s knee at the traffic lights and smiled gently at her.  Again, Katie felt that their standard routine was not sitting quite right.  Was this a new feeling or had something inside her woken.  Demanding a chance, demanding a certain feeling. 

Tyler came to open Katie’s door and held out a hand to help her out.  As Katie left the car she felt the undeniable urge to try something new.  She grabbed Tyler’s shoulder and brought him close to lay a kiss on him.  She closed her eyes and kissed him passionately, she had to see what was going on here tonight.  She let her lips meld with his, for her tongue to tease his, and she pulled his lip into her mouth with a small nip.  

Tyler responded in a way he hadn’t before, he fell into her kiss more than before and lent his body towards her, he joined in the passion and grabbed the back of her neck.  He chased her tongue and responded to the bite of his lip. 

He pulled back, staring at her, he seemed shocked, wound up, and hungry for more all at the same time. She couldn’t help notice that he didn’t pull her body into his and his hands didn’t leave her neck, one hand was even propping himself up on the door.  

“Where did that come from?” he asked 

Katie smirked and blushed, she patted his chest and stepped passed him towards the bar.  

She could feel Tyler lagging a step behind, with his mind still back at the car.  Enjoying the view of her walking in front as well.  

During their dinner, Katie was pushing the limits of what they had done before.  She still couldn’t fight this new feeling.  Something was driving her to seek the passion.  To start the fire.  

After 2 drinks Katie placed her hand on the inside of Tyler’s knee, draping it so she could gently caress the seam of his pants with her fingers.  She moved higher and higher ever so slightly now and again.  Tyler hadn’t seemed to notice.  He was skill talking on about his work week and the quirks of the market as of late.  Obviously, Katie knew or cared nothing about it.   

Trying to be obvious now, and to garner a reaction Katie pressed and dragged her finger just inches from his groin.  Final Tyler noticed.  His hand shot down to meet hers and pinned it to his leg.  She was about mid-thigh and felt a slight rush of being caught.  But when she met his eyes he was not excited as she was, he was shocked and confused.  His eyes darted around the bar quickly as if checking to see who had or could see.  Katie quickly felt that rush go away, replaced with shame and embarrassment. Her eyes and head dropped slightly and she felt heat rose in her cheeks.  

Katie removed her hand “Sorry Tyler” she said in a very neutral tone “I don’t know what came over me”.  That was true, she didn’t.  Her actions were all driven by this unknown feeling from earlier in the night.  Something that had shown up out of the blue, and was gone just as fast when he stopped her.  

“I just don’t want anyone to see, you know” replied Tyler, failing to even comfort Katie on the situation. 

Looking at the time, “Oh, I have to get back to the venue for pick-up” said Katie, “Would you mind dropping me home?” 

“Of course, did you like the food and wine here?” 

Katie fingered the base of her almost empty wine glass.  The food was good, and the wine selection looked amazing, it was just a shame that Tyler had made a poor choice on the wine for dinner.   

She smiled weakly “It was lovely” 

*** 

Katie rolled back into the venue at 12:15, most of the guests were gone except the few drunkards who always try squeeze one more drink out last call, only to be dragged outside by the arrival of their taxi.   

She hadn’t bothered changing from dinner, just flicking off her heels and chucking on some flat, comfy nurse’s shoes.  

The venue was dark on the outside, only the house lights were on.  Staff were pottering around clearing linens and glassware, stacking chairs, and unstocking the fridge.  Katie unloaded the tools and boxes she would need to pack up from her car, headed inside and started clearing away her pieces.  

She pulled vases of the tables, removed the flowers dividing them up into ‘save’ and ‘throw’ piles.  She collected the flowers from the bridal table did up a few bouquets for the staff to take home.  Flowers generally went in the bin or with family for these events, so to have leftovers was a great treat for the staff she always thought.  After all, they probably had to deal with a crabby mother-of-bride/groom, or a handsy guest experience, and were super tired.  She handed flowers to the staff and chatted about how the night had gone, the girls were so happy to get the flowers.  A few of the guys took some for their mums or girlfriends. 

About 10 mins later Zac came in through the kitchen doors.  Katie was surprised to see him this late in the evening, usually management head off after service and leave the pack up for the staff to do.  

“Hey guys, the chef has done up some takeaway boxes for you, so finish up your last little bits, grab a box and head off!  I’ll lock up tonight.” 

The staff let out a collective ‘heck yes’ as they rushed to empty their hands and head into the kitchen.  Katie smiled at their joy and finished stacking her trolley with the last few vases.   

Zac spotted Katie from across the room.  He gently smiled to himself and fussed with his shirt.   

He walked towards Katie, picking up bits and pieces on a small tray as he went “Hey, Katie, usually our suppliers come back when the sun is up”. He was much friendlier than the last interaction they had, it even felt like he was trying to start up a conversation with her.  

“I know, I like to come and pick up some flowers the night of in the hopes they can be saved and dried for my bride. It’s just something I like to do” 

“That’s a nice touch, I always see bouquets getting trashed on the wedding day”.  Zac didn’t seem as scrunched up and on edge as he did in the day when they had first met.   

Katie smiled, she didn’t really know if she could trust him to not fly off the handle again.  She did feel that uneasy and jittery feeling again that she had felt earlier with Tyler.  Something that was bubbling inside and throwing out a combination of emotions without considering the effect it would have on her nervous system.   

A few minutes later it was just the two of them in the venue. 

“Hey” Zac interrupted the silence “would you like to join me for my post event tradition?” from the far corner of the room 

“And what would that be?” queried Katie,  

Zac sauntered across the room, “well, once all my guests leave, and I’ve sent the staff home. I like to have a couple of shots to end the night.  Why should it just be the guests who have all the fun anyway?” He really was throwing that hard shell exterior out the window now 

“That sounds like a fun tradition” Katie chuckled looking at the time, it was already 1:00am, “I suppose 1 shot won’t hurt” 

“Lovely” Zac smiled, “come, pull up a seat at the bar” 

Zac poured them a shot of top shelf tequila and stood on the other side of the bar, resting his forearms so to be eye level with Katie.  She held his gaze but found a slight tremor in her demeanour.  The crack in his armour shinning through brought an invited school girl grin to Katie’s face, so she looked away trying to suppress it. 

“How long have you been doing flowers?” Zac asked causally 

“About 5 years now, it’s really flown by.  And of course, I love every day of it” 

“Oh wow, you’re really talented for such a short career.  Do you just do weddings?” 

“Thank you, that’s very sweet” Katie could feel that grin back on her face.  She tried to meld it into a normal smile as she continued “I have a shop on the high street in South Perth, so I offer all the normal flower services you would expect.  But I love weddings the most” 

“Amy was right, we definitely have to have you on our preferred supplier list” he looked up at her while he poured their second shot 

They both picked up the glass and toasted before throwing them back.  Like a non-verbal confirmation of their new working partnership. 

“So what brought you to Perth? It’s not often you lot migrate this way” Katie questioned sarcastically.   

“Well it was a few things in the end” Zac’s tone was a little colder, his smile faded and he appeared to pull away from the conversation at this question, but he continued on “I was looking for a change, and nothing in Sydney seemed to be enough for me.  Coming here was the correct level of ‘life shake up’ I needed” using air quotes to punctuate his choice of words.   

“I’m sure this venue is excited to have you, and that you will fit into Perth nicely.  It’s stunning here”  

“It sure is” Zac said in a slow and low manner, looking at Katie while he said it.  Her cheeks flushed, she knew fair well what he meant, even though she hadn’t intended it that way.  

Zac eventually came to sit on Katie’s side of the bar, he pulled his chair up in a manner so that was close enough to prop one foot on her bar stool in what seemed like an unintentional movement.  She swivelled to face him; her knees positioned between his legs, ever so slightly brushing his knee as she crossed her leg over.   

“You are dressed very nice to pick up flowers.  I’m sure they wouldn’t’ve minded if you wore sweats” his eyes were hot into hers and he wore a smug look that dripped inuendo and smart-ass energy 

“I wanted them to still feel loved at the end of the night as well” Katie teased back “There is another bunch left, do you want to take it?” 

“I would love to.  Lord knows my apartment needs a bit of beauty” Zac chuckled turning his head to see the bunch.  The muscles in his neck protruded and glided smoothly over each other.  Katie’s heart started skipping hurriedly in her chest and her lungs caught for a split second.  It’s just a neck, what’s the big deal.  Calm down, Katie internalised.  She forced everything to slow down in the time it took Zac to turn back around.  

Zac poured them one last shot and smiled 

“You know I need to drive right” asked Katie mockingly. 

“We can stay here as long as you need” he replied.  He wasn’t joking, but he wasn’t suggesting anything either.  

Katie found herself playing with her hair: brushing it away from her face even though it didn’t need it, and twirling the ends around her fingers 

Zac rested an elbow on the bar and gently draped a hand down on Katie’s knee, his tone was low and slow as he looked back to her and asked, “Is this, okay?” it was both asking for permission and standing his ground at the same time.   

Katie blurted out ‘yes’ quicker than she had cared to, finding herself craving more of his touch on her body.  Her night had been out of the ordinary.  Her feelings with Tyler were shot, and here she was wanting more from another man.  When earlier in the day, the same man was practically yelling at her.   

Katie had never been asked permission like that before, she knew he took it to be granted, but the control that she felt being asked like that ignited the secret fire that had been throwing out sparks all night. 

Zac wore a warm smile, but there was something else reflecting in his eyes.  A dark and playful glimmer shone through sporadically when he looked at her.  It would always come up when he said something suggestive, touched her body, or when Katie reacted with a smirk or blushed.   

Katie relaxed her body at his touch, his hand was large and heavy on her knee, every millimetre he caressed felt like heaven and the rest of her body ached in jealousy.  Her breath was shacky, she looked from his hand to his face.  He had lent in closer without her noticing, his face was softer, but he carried an intense stare a look of absolute desire.   

One that both intimidated her and made her heart race.  

“What is that look?” she whispered “you are staring at me so intensely”   

“I want to kiss you” he replied so sure of himself “but I’m not sure if you’ll want to”  

“Why don’t you find out?” she spoke in a breathless whisper.  The anticipation of his lips on hers had already taken her breath away.  

He closed the diminishing pace between them even further, his hand moving up her leg closer to her hip.  Zac wasted on time with lingering or the risk of a last-minute change of mind.  

His lips landed gently on hers, a simple and delicate kiss.  Sampling the flesh and scorching a mark on her.  He kissed firmer, and longer the second time.  The third time he moved from sitting to standing between Katies legs.  His kiss was all encapsulating, it pulled her in and erased everything around them.  She could feel the restraint in his body and lips as he stood in front of her.  

His strength was pulsing in him, and his body was stiff 

One hand moved to the side of her face; he pulled her towards him ever so slightly.  He was gentle, wielding his strength with precision and dominance, and he held her tight as if she was going to leave.   

He parted her kiss with his tongue.  Swiping her top lip and quickly catching it back in a kiss.  Zac was not wasting the seconds he had with her, but he wasn’t rushing the kiss or pushing it further.  

He towered over Katie and moved to grab a fist full of hair, the nerves in her scalp shot to life and sent tingles down her neck.  He pulled at her hair gently, guiding back her neck, tilting her face towards him.  Her eyes landed on his face, he looked stern and strong, he was in charge.  She was at his total mercy. 

To Katie, kissing her felt like the only thing Zac wanted in this world.  He made her feel completely worshipped, utterly needed, and extremely sexy.  His hunger was not selfish, and he wasn’t using her for tonight.  He was no fuck boy. 

His tongue was dancing with hers, playing and teasing with every kiss he lay.  He nipped at her lip as he pulled away for breath.  He couldn’t dream of parting completely, and rested his forehead on hers and locked eyes.  He dipped slightly to wrap an arm around her waist.   

In one swift movement he pulled Katie to standing and turned her back toward the bar, pressing her firmly against it.   

Katie reached up and speared her fingers into his hair, she pulled his lips to her.  She had to have more of his lips, of his body on hers, of the intoxicating pheromones oozing off him.  Standing on tiptoes she pressed everything she had against him, thrusting her tongue into his mouth, and returning the heat and hunger he had given. 

Katie had never ignited like this before. 

Her hands moved down his back, around his rib cage, down his stomach, and tugged firmly on his hips.   

She could feel him responded to her. 

His body relaxed, the muscles in his back rippled and his stance softened. 

Zac pushed his hips towards her in reply and pressed his lips harder, driving the kiss into her soul, her bones.  She panted between kisses and moaned with joy as he manipulated her body into his. 

Not able to wait any more, Katie fiddled at his shirt.  Freeing the hem from his buckled pants and slipping her fingertips under to land on his warm firm stomach. 

Suddenly it all stopped.  

Zac had taken a step back and thrust her harder into the bar.  Ripped form the experience as if someone had turned the lights on during a movie, Katie stood speechless, trying to collect herself and snap back into focus.  She felt exposed and the need to cover herself up.  

She took half a step towards him and opened her mouth.  Before she could speak, he filled the silence 

“I’m sorry, are you okay? Did I hurt you?” 

“I’m fine” Katie rubbed her back where the bar had bit into her skin a few moments earlier. 

“I’m sorry” Zac said again, stepping further away and raking his hands in his hair 

“What’s happening?” 

“Nothing” he stammered, “I just didn’t want to do that” 

Katie was shocked, she shook her head and scrunched up her face “Well, I can see that” 

“No, not like that” he sighed, realising what was unfolding before him “It’s not because of you” he rushed to fill the distance between them, placing his hands on her hips and dipping his head to her ear “it’s definitely not you” he whispered before laying kisses on her neck.  His breath was hot and sticky, it lingered on her skin and electrified her nerves again.  

Katie pushed him back this time and ducked out from between the chairs.   

She hadn’t wanted to, she wanted to let him kiss her, to forget and pick up where it had all come crashing to a halt,  

“No, it’s okay, I get it. It’s late any way.  I’ll go!”  

Katie pushed through the doors of the venue, leaving behind the trolley, and raced to her car.  She didn’t stop to collect herself, to check if he had followed, or to even rethink what had happened.   

She drove off and left the venue in the rear-view mirror.