Lyra Parish - Weak for Him

"Vegas couldn't handle me," she finally said, half-jokingly.

But could she handle Vegas?

"If you're still there after I graduate, I'll move. I miss you."

"Promise?"

"Absolutely."

A promise from Abigail Green was as good as gold. She only had four months until she graduated. I knew I would still be here at that time. But before I could say another word, three knocks pounded on my door.

Knock-knock-pause-knock .

"Hey, Ab. That's a deal. Four months and you'll be here."

I looked through the peephole, and there stood Mr. Hands-in-my-pants.

"Shit, it's my boss," I lowered my voice.

"Your bossy boyfriend?"

"You have no idea how bossy he is, and he isn't my boyfriend. Actually he's a huge asshole."

"Whatever you say. Take care. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"That's saying a lot, considering."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Knock. Knock. Pause . Knock.

"Nothing. Gotta go. Love you."

"Love you too, sis."

I quickly slipped on my bra and panties and rushed around looking for my clothes.

"Open the fucking door."

Damn. Most of my clothes were packed in the dirty laundry bag, and I didn't have time to search through my closet. I heard another knock, knock, and on the pause I swung open the door before Mr. Felton's hand could give the third.

" One sec. I need to get dressed."

I tried to close the door, but he moved his hand in the way and let himself in.

"I'll wait inside."

He studied every part of my body, stopping at my breasts, then trailing down my flat stomach before meeting my eyes.

"Why are you here?"

"You know what they say about women who wear black lingerie?" He leaned on the doorframe.

"Not exactly."

"It means they want someone to see."

"To be fair, I wanted to get dressed. But you insisted."

"That's what they all say."

"So why are you here?"

"Today you leave this coffin of a room. You're moving into my house."

"Excuse me? What if I don't want to?"

"Then you shouldn't have signed the contract without legal advice, Ms. Downs."

He sat on the edge of the bed and waited for me to get dressed and pack my bags. I double—and triple—checked to make sure nothing was left behind. But no matter, the forgetting-something feeling always persisted. I hummed Fly Me To The Moon in the bathroom while I brushed my teeth and then stopped, and thought I heard Mr. Felton humming it as well. I had found myself humming a lot since yesterday. I peeked my head from the bathroom door.

"Oh, you know that one? You're telling me you aren't completely dead inside, and you actually listen to music?" I said with a mouth full of toothpaste foam.

"No one is that dead inside."

"My favorite part is the beginning."

As I slipped on a summer dress and packed my toothbrush away, Mr. Felton stood.

"You're going to be bad for business, you know?"

I swallowed hard, and he grabbed my two bags.

"….Because you make me wait while you lollygag around. Ready?"

I nodded, and we left the room and made our way to the elevator.

"I can keep a better watch on you in the house. Make sure you don't do anything ridiculous. You seem to be a hazard."

"At least I'm not toxic," I whispered and looked into the hotel mirrors watching every movement he made. I thought I saw a smile creep across his face.

I dropped the room keys in the little box and checked out of the hotel. The woman handed me a receipt, winked at Mr. Felton, and then smiled. He returned the gesture. Pure sex appeal on legs and a freak behind closed doors, just my virgin luck.

Outside, the sight of the black beauty parked in front made me gasp. I ran my hands over the curves of the hood and fully took in the Aston Martin Vanquish. V12. Zero to sixty in 4.1 seconds. Zero to one hundred in ten. The way I lusted over cars, and speed and fresh leather wasn't normal. I should have become a mechanic.

"I think I've fallen in love."

Mr. Felton watched me and laughed.

"Most women say that to me."

"I was talking about the car?"

"This? This is my baby, and I am quite keen on her."

He smoothed his hand over the body of the car. "This is my V."

He pulled the keys from his pockets and clicked the button. Her car horn lightly honked twice, and then he placed my bags in the trunk.

"Come on, baby. I'm going to take you on the ride of your life."

I didn't know if he was talking to me, or the car, and it didn't matter. Mr. Felton didn't have to tell me twice. I slid onto the mocha-colored seat and buckled myself in. The smells of Mr. Felton and the soft, smooth leather with double stitching filled the car.

Mr. Felton threw the car into first, and the tires squealed from the parking lot. Two women stood outside the hotel and watched us with their mouths wide open.

"What are you smiling about?" he asked.

While weaving in and out of traffic and taking every back street available, he glanced at me. I couldn't tell him that I was thinking about our last time together and how I apparently had J.B.F hair and smelled like sex.

"Nothing."

The car accelerated, and a gravitational force pushed me against the seat. We were pulling some G's down the freeway, and then immediately exiting. His V vroomed. She wanted to go, and the truth was I wanted to, as well.

"Can I drive?" My leg shook in anticipation.

"I never let a woman drive my car. Especially those who can't drive stick ."

"I know how to drive stick, but it's not like you would know that."

The grin on his face grew in size.

"I actually do want to know."

My cheeks burned, and I could feel my body temperature rise, so I tried to pay attention to the fading city and calm down. He took an off ramp and sped down the open road surrounded by desert. V hummed and purred the whole way coaxing me calm.

"Sometimes when I'm stressed or need to get away from business, V and I will take a ride. She seems to be the only woman who can fully satisfy me with no fucking lip."

"Maybe if you didn't treat women like shit, you wouldn't get lip from them."

He cocked his head toward me and his jade eyes sparkled.

"It seems the only disrespectful woman I know—with a dirty mouth and balls bigger than mine—is you."

"If your balls are as big as your ego, then I would expect mine to be gigantic."

Mr. Felton slammed on the brakes, and V veered off the road. Dust flitted behind us like a smoke trail from a burning engine.

He grabbed the bottom of my chin and forcefully made me look at him.

"A shame that pretty mouth is so fucking filthy. It's a real shame. But that's why I am going to let you drive her. I want you to see how a real woman should act under my hold."

My jaw dropped, and he opened his door. I ran around to the other side with way too much excitement in my bounce. I could mark driving an Aston from my bucket list. Before I slipped in, Mr. Felton closed in on me against the car.

"Just know, V is loyal, and madly in love with me. Don't be a bitch towards her."

When I was behind the wheel, V and I connected. She purred and begged for me to drive her wild. After buckling, I looked at Mr. Felton, who looked out at the wisps of clouds above. He gave me a head nod and a hurry up gesture with his hand.

With a kick of the clutch and snap to first gear, I made a U-turn and raced down the road. Power and pavement called my name, and I gunned it.

"Faster," Mr. Felton whispered.

Barely tapping the gas pedal caused us to fly down the road.

"See how she responds?"

"Yes."

"You and V are no different. Full of fierceness and beauty."