Let Me Love You

Mary

WREN

“Huh?” Who the hell is Mary?

“I’m assuming you’ve had way to much to drink tonight. My name is not Mary.” I say, making the discontent in my voice evident.

“You seem like a Mary to me.” Nash leans over with a small smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

“Oh really? I wasn’t under the impression that I was comparable to a 1960s housewife.” I roll my eyes as I turn around to walk away from this pointless conversation. I take a single step, then feel a gentle grip on my forearm as I’m directed back toward Nash.

“Well then, if your name isn’t Mary,” Nash let’s out a chuckle, c*****g his head to the side. His wavy brown hair bouncing as he does so. “Why don’t you fill me in.”

I look into his ocean blue eyes and I can feel my heart rate begin to quicken. My knees begin to turn to jello and I brace my free arm on the bar top to prevent me from the embarrassment of falling on my ass. “Wouldn’t you like to know.” I quip, breaking away from his grasp, quickly placing my hand on my hip.

“I try to make a habit of learning someone’s name before making them scream mine.” Nash says, licking is lower lip before pulling it between his teeth.

Gasping at his remark, I suck the saliva that had been pooling in my mouth down into my lungs, literally choking on his words.

“Oh s**t! Are you okay?” Nash gets off his barstool, patting my back with a his large tattooed hand. “Put your arms over you head.” Taking the instruction as I clear my lungs, Nash places himself in front of me. He looks into my watering eyes and he runs the tips of his fingers down the backs of my arms.

Tingles shoot through my body as goosebumps decorate skin. A cooling shiver runs down my spine. Nash leans in close to my ear, whispering “Just what I thought, definitely a Mary.”

“I’m starting to think you’re calling me Mary as an insult now.” I sneer as I roll my eyes. “I can assure you, there is nothing wrong with such a beautiful woman being a Mary.” Giving me a wink he returns to his stool, taking another swig of his drink. I narrow my eyes in his directions. What is with this man?

Just as I’m getting ready to further investigate the meaning of what a “Mary” is, Ryan yells out to me. “Wren, your break was over five minutes ago. Back to the grind.”

“Mmmm, Wren. I think I like that name more than Mary.” Nash sends me another wink. Irritated that Ryan spilled the beans on my name, I shake my head to return to my shift.

For the rest of the night I can feel him staring at me as I work. Anytime we make the slightest eye contact he sends flirty waves and winks in my direction. A permanent smirk is plastered on his gorgeous rugged face. Why did he have to so crude? A girl could get use to looking at a face like that everyday.

As the evening comes close to an end, the bar patrons begin to trickle out. By two A.M. there are only a handful of stragglers left at the bar for last call. One of them being Nash, who is still studying me with a hint of amusement in his baby blues.

He is persistent, that’s for sure, I scoff as I make my way behind the bar and grab two bottles of water. Walking over to Nash I offer one is his direction. He gladly accepts and I watch as his Adam’s apple bobs between gulps.

“Still need that picture Mary.” Nash says as he catches me staring again. “I should ask you the same thing. I could feel your eyes on my ass the entire night.” I roll my eyes, ignoring the Mary comment for the moment. “I would gladly accept a picture of your ass any day of the week.” He flirts

Okay, I walked myself into that one. He looks deep into my eyes and I can see so much pain within them. I wonder what Nash’s story is. Why all the tattoos? Why a nose ring? Why is he here? Landing in that last question, I know I have to know.

“Are you stalking me? Why are you here?”

Nash begins to chuckle at my words.

“No Mary, I’m not stalking you. I wanted to go out for a drink, and happened upon you for the second time today.” Placing his hand on mine he gives me a soft smile. “It must be my lucky day.”

Heat floods up my neck and into my cheeks at the warm contact of his rough hand. “Why do you keep calling me Mary?” Narrowing my eyes at him, hoping this time I may get some semblance of an answer.

“For someone that seems so smart, I can’t believe you haven’t put it together yet. Think about it Mary, what problem did I offer you my services for this morning.” A playful hum plays on his lips.

“Oh f**k off. Really? You’re getting biblical with me now?”

Nash is now belly laughing at me. I scrunch my nose as it all clicks together. The virgin f*****g Mary. I mean, I guess it’s not the worst thing I have ever been called, but really?

Taking another gulp of his water Nash leans in and tucks a stray hair behind my ear, brushing his hand along my cheek as he make his way to my chin. Before I have a moment to realize what he’s doing, his lips brush light against mine. I freeze in place as he slowly increases the pressure. A small squeak escapes my throat and I can feel a smile form on his lips as he breaks away from the kiss.

“So what do ya say I wait around for you to finish up here, and we go back to my place.” Nash whispers in my ear with a low gravely voice. I can feel heat pool into my belly and what feels like small electrical impulses shoot through my core.

Go home with him? I don’t even him. Sure he’s probably the hottest man I have ever laid eyes on. He’s blunt, and funny, but he seems like he may have a sensitive side. That unexpected kiss was surprisingly not what I had imagined. It wasn’t aggressive, but sweet. Not to mention the way my body reacts to him when he touches me… OMG Stop it Wren, what are you thinking?

“Not gonna happen.” I shoot him a similar smirk to the one he’s been sending me all night.

“I’ve always appreciated a challenge.” Nash says as he sets money on the bar top to settle his tab. Picking up his keys, and with one last wink he says, “Use my number whenever you feel the neeeed.” He drags out the last word with a low rumble, and I know he’s not just referring the calling him to talk about the weather.

I watch as his tight jean clad behind exits the bar and I make a beeline for the walk in cooler. I can feel the sweat bead on my back from that encounter. That man is dangerous, maybe not in the literal sense of the word. But the way he get my engines going with very little effort is doing something to me.

I swing open the cooler door and stop in my tracks. My eyes go wide, and I turn as quickly as I can on my heals in the OPPOSITE direction. Holy s**t. I had suspected that they had been fooling around, but now I definitely know for sure.

The images of Ryan with his pants around his ankles, and Layla bent out over the stacked cases of Busch Lite will now be something of my nightmares. I quickly head to the locker room and grab my purse and both Ryan and Layla exit the cooler, Ryan still fastening his belt.

“Uhhh, hey Wren…” Ryan calls out to me. “Don’t say anything to anyone.” I look over at Layla as she spoke.

“Why?”

I ask, genuinely curious as to what they are trying to hide. They’re both consenting adults, both good looking, and both single. So why the secrecy?

“We’re still trying to figure this thing between us out, so the less people that know the better. Layla says as she laces an arm around Ryan’s waist.

Understandable I guess. “You’re secrets safe with me guys.” I say with a smile, I’m happy for both of them, they both deserve all the happiness.

“But, as hush money, you’re going to let me get out of here now. I need to go home and scrub my eyes out with bleach.”

They both laugh as color floods Ryan’s cheeks, “Uh, yeah, for sure. Lay and I can, finish up around here.” I sense the flirting tone of his voice, and on the note I’m heading for the door.

“Wait!”

I hear Layla behind me.

“I drove you here.”

Oh crap, that’s right. My apartment was only about a fifteen minute walk from here, even though it was late in the evening I felt comfortable with the trek.

”I’m good Lay, I’ll just walk. I’ll make sure to text you when I get home.” I send her a small smile.

“You better Wren Micheals, or you’ll wish it was a mugger who beat you up.”

With that I open the door, and cross over the threshold. The moment I step out, I see a Nash, leaning over his motorcycle with cigarette in hand.

“That’ll will kill ya you know.”

I say passing by him, heading in the direction towards my apartment.

“The bike or the Honda?” He calls back with a playfulness to his tone.

“Both.” I say cooly over my shoulder, not even looking back.

Half way down the block I hear the sound of boots rapidly approaching me from behind, and I don’t even need to turn around to know who it is.

“What do you want Nash?” I say dryly. “Where are you headed Wren?

“Home.”

“And how far is home from here?”

“Fifteen minutes in that direction.” I say pointing in front of me.

“All alone? Do you want to get murdered?”

I stop walking and look into his eyes, and they seemed laced with genuine concern.

“I’m fine, I do it all the time.” I start walking again, this time increasing the speed of my gait.

“Let me walk you home Wren.”

I feel the corners of my mouth lift upwards. “And how do I know you’re not the one whose going to be doing the so called murdering? I don’t know anything about you.”

Nashes steps fall inline with mine, his long legs using half the effort to keep up with my pace.

“Well what do you want to know Mary?”

“Are you a murder?”

“No” Nash Scoffs

“That’s what a murderer would say” I chuckle, trying to get to him like he did to me all night.

“Be serious Wren”, he says with a slight wine to his tone.

“You’re drunk, aren’t ya buddy.”

“Maybe a little buzzed.” He slurs as he wraps an arm over my shoulder.

“Keys please”

“What?” He looks at me with confusion.

You’re not driving that bike in the state that you’re in, give me you keys please.”

Nash c***s and eyebrow at me as he rummages into his jacket pockets, he dangles the set in my face.

When I reach for they keys he pulls them up high enough so they are out of my reach.

“I’ll give you my keys, if you give me a kiss on the cheek.” He says with a glint of mischief in his eyes.

Thinking to myself that it’s a small price to pay for potentially saving a life tonight, I stand on my tip toes and go to plant a light kiss on Nashes cheek.

He quickly turns his face in my direction, and my lips land smack dab on top of his. Nash turns his body so it is in front of mine, and places his hand along the sides of my face, weaving his fingers into my hair, deepening the kiss. His thumb glides over my left cheek bone as he bites down lightly on my lower lip. A small moan escapes from my slightly parted lips, giving him the access he needs for his tongue to enter my mouth.

The taste of whisky and stale cigarettes envelopes my mouth and I am surprised that I like it. Our tongues fight for dominance as his explores every inch of my oral cavity with his. I can feel my chest growing tight as I’m running out of air to breath. Sensing my need for oxygen Nash releases my lips back to me.

We both stand there breathing in heavily as he rests his forehead on mine.

“Lead the way to yours Wren.” Nash says in a low tone. It ignites goosebumps all over my body, and a shiver down my spine. Without saying a word, Nash takes off his jacket and places it over my shoulders and we begin to walk to my apartment in silence, taking in the earth shattering kiss we just shared.

Once we reach the entrance I begin my ascent to the fourth floor, halfway up the first flight I look behind me and notice Nash is still standing by the door, watching me.

“What are you doing?” I call out in confusion.

“Waiting for you to make it up so I can start walking home.”

“ What are you talking about? Get your ass up here, you can crash on my couch.” I call down.

“But I might be a murderer Mary.”

I roll my eyes at the Mary nick name again.

“Stop being difficult.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice, Nash says as he takes the stairs two at a time to reach me.” And we begin the climb together. There must be a full moon or something going on, because inviting a strange man into my apartment is something completely out of character for me. Though for some reason I don’t feel nervous around this Nash, if anything its more eager, like something exciting is happening.