To Andy, it was just a means to earn an honest income and, frankly, not a very good one.
As he stepped though the door to the main bar Andy hesitated, hoping like hell that no one here knew of his misadventure over the weekend. It was bad enough that his boss, the owner of this establishment and a friend if Andy's father, suspected that Andy was hooked up in some clandestine shit but, to date, he hadn't called Andy out on it. If he were to discover the truth of Andy's overdose, Andy could kiss his job goodbye.
The main bar was busy but not crowded. Andy quietly slipped inside and dropped his head.
Andy knew he was regarded as a shitty employee, but his boss was honouring an obligation to Andy's father by keeping him there. Whatever that obligation, Andy didn't know, other than it was a long story and it went back many years.
Andy hurried through the main bar, skirted the counter and slipped in behind it brushing past a young, attractive female colleague who was serving two older men - an elderly Italian gent and a bulbous Caucasian with large sideburns and big jewelry.
As Andy disappeared into a cubby hole at the back of the bar the young woman and the bulbous sideburns - the owner of The Pub - exchanged glances of disbelief. Douglas Allan scratched one of his carefully manicured sideburns and checked his own watch before double checking a clock high upon the wall behind him.
Andy DeVries had never been early to work...ever!
Within a minute Andy emerged again, having swapped his shirt for a burgundy polo with an insignia of The Pub emblazoned on the left breast. Silently, he had grabbed a tray and begun moving about the bar gathering up empty glasses, taking orders for fresh rounds and quietly greeting a few of the regulars that he knew. All of them watched Andy somewhat suspiciously as he went about his work while, at the bar itself, both Douglas and the young woman - Samantha - watched with increasing amazement. This went on for a few minutes.
As Andy swung around behind the counter armed with the fully laden tray Douglas Allan coughed and cleared his throat.
"Ummm...Andrew?" he rumbled softly in a faint Irish brogue.
Andy deposited the glasses into a washer under the bar then began pouring fresh glasses. He regarded Douglas fleetingly.
"Are you ill?" Douglas continued a note of sarcasm tinged his voice.
"No...," Andy countered, a little too defensively. "Why?"
Douglas gestured with a thumb back over his shoulder at the clock on the wall.
"You've never been early a day in your life. I'm...concerned for your well being"
Andy looked up at the old time piece. He was a full half hour early. He simply went back to loading the glass washer. Both Douglas, Samantha and the elderly gentleman exchanged glances.
And that's how it went for the next four hours. Andy worked like he never had before, serving beers as though he had been born into it, taking orders for meals and getting them out to the customers quickly and efficiently, keeping the bar clean, He even quietly and subtly dealt with a couple of the rowdier patrons, diffusing a potential spat. The whole while Douglas watched Andy closely and with muted disbelief. Something was definitely up. The kid had never worked this hard...
...Or this well.
Rarely, if ever, had Andy been on time. He was, usually, a shitty bar tender, was lazy, arrogant and - frankly - a cockhead. What Douglas was witnessing now...it was though the young man were possessed...
Somewhere close to 6pm Samantha slid a plate in front of Andy - Irish sausages on a bed of mashed potato with gravy. Andy looked at the plate indifferently.
"Whatever you've been taking must've had an effect on the boss" Samantha quipped in a noticably Southern accent.. "Take a break and have a bite"
Andy wiped his hands with a towel and tossed it to Samantha.
"Hospital appears to agree with you huh?"
Andy flashed her an angry glare as he sat down to his meal.
"Whoa!" Samantha said, throwing her hands up mock-defensively. She leaned in close to him. "Don't worry, he doesn't know - none of them do. But you had better thank Beck and me for covering your ass for you - especially yesterday. The old man thinks you were actually home ill"
Andy's tensed shoulders relaxed then and he looked back at Samantha.
"Thank you" he muttered simply.
Samantha folded her arms over and appraised him.
"So what is going on with you today? You're making me look bad"
Andy shrugged.
"Nothing's going on. I'm just...I dunno...I need to focus on something...normal!"
Samantha's eyes narrowed then and she cocked her head slightly to one side.
"You nearly bought it the other night didn't you"
Andy chewed nervously on his food. He didn't respond, didn't look at her but Samantha could tell by the discreet twitch of his shoulder that she had hit close to the mark.
"That's it!" she crowed, trying to keep her voice down but attracting the attention of a few of the patrons.
"Look, can you just fucking drop it!" Andy snapped under his breath, his fork and knife cluttering noisily on the plate in front of him. This time, when his glare drilled into her eyes, she saw something there that chilled her. Immediately Samantha backed away and let him finish his meal in silence.
Inwardly Andy regretted having snapped at Samantha so harshly. She was perhaps the only person in the Pub who treated him with any sort of respect. Not that he deserved it. Though he never would admit it, Andy liked Samantha. She was a rare breath of fresh air in the smoke filled bar.
Checking his watch as he gave the plate to one of the kitchen hands as they went past he sighed, realizing he only had a couple of hours to go. He returned to his duties quietly and studiously.
Douglas sidled up to Samantha.
"So...what's with the kid? Is he doing some sort of illegal substance? He's positively wired"
Samantha shrugged, not looking at Douglas. He could see she was uncomfortable with the question.
"I dunno. Why don't you ask him yourself?"
Douglas regarded her curiously then shook his head, turning away from her.
"I swear, everybody in this place is going bloody bonkers" he said leaving the bar and disappearing from view.
The door to the main bar opened and a group of 5 young males entered lead by an arrogant looking Latino who - despite the darkened interior of the bar - was wearing sunglasses. Slicked back hair, expensive street clothing and a bejeweled Stetson he regarded the patrons absently, chewing gum before he spied Andy behind the bar. His companions - a mixture of Latinos and Asians - were dressed and appeared as equally as menacing.
Andy saw them before he even looked in their direction.
It was Vasq.
Emilio Vasq, drug dealer, small time crime lord wannabe and self styled standover man approached Andy with theatrically outstretched arms as if to embrace him.
"Devvvvv - my friend! How are you you feeling tonight?"
Andy's expression set like stone. He didn't know where to look. The patrons looked on with interest.
"What are you doing here Vasq?" Andy seethed viciously.
"Awww, no reason dawg. I wanted to be sure that you were okay, you know. After all, the word was that you were pretty close to the edge"
Vasq and his posse spread out along the bar.
"Look, guys, how about a drink?" Samantha ventured, sensing that this situation could quickly get out of hand. Andy immediately brushed her away.
"No, these guys don't want anything to drink"
He slapped his bar towel down on the counter and brushed past her.
"Cover for me, will ya?"
Vasq watched Andy slip through the far end of the counter and go immediately to the side entrance that lead out onto the street. He disappeared through it forcing Vasq - after several moments - to follow him.
It was chilly out on the sidewalk but Andy ignored it, pacing back and forth as Vasq and his crew emptied out from the bar. The sun was disappearing rapidly behind the L track nearby. His breath was visible in the rapidly cooling evening air.
"I'm very concerned about what I've been hearing Dev. You were visited more than once by the police down in the City"
"So what, Vasq!" Andy responded defiantly. "You haven't had any blue and white visitors to your door since the weekend"
Andy didn't know that for sure of course, but the fact that they were standing here and now was enough of an indicator for him to push forward with his bluff.
Andy's gone and grown a set, Vasq thought amusingly to himself. He grinned menacingly."True, true. But I...,"
"That's because I said nothing Emilio! Nothing! After four hours!"
Vasq approached Andy, arrogantly stepping right into his personal space and studying him intensely. He often did that with his perceived subordinates, such was his bullying/domineering nature.
"But it's got me worried dawg. You see, I can't afford to have a marked 'associate' ...yet no one would deny that you are my best courier...you can appreciate my dilemma"
Andy stood fast and eyeballed Vasq - something he'd never done before. As had happened with Samantha earlier, something within those eyes unsettled Vasq, knocked him off center. His shoulders relaxed ever so slightly, he stood back and stopped chewing his gum.
"There is no dilemma Vasq," Andy said, his whisper more final than any scream. "Don't come around my fucking pub again!"
Abruptly, Andy turned on his heel and went back inside the bar. Vasq stood there considering... One of his Asian companions stepped forward.
"Man, are you just gonna let him go like that?"
Vasq said nothing. A dark cloud seemed to settle over him and he began chewing his gum again - angrily. He turned away from the others and walked off down the street.
Andy unlocked the door to the apartment and stepped inside. Blue-ish light from the living room bathed the entrance hall. The sound of a cheering crowd emanating from the TV told him right away that Beck must be home. Sure enough, as he appeared in the entrance to the living room there was Beck lounging in a Cubs shirt and boxers, balancing a bowl of Chinese noodles on his belly and a beer on the edge of the couch. The game was on.
Beck had a slightly rugged visage that resembled a bulldog. Big eyes, misshapen nose but a warm smile with, curiously, almost perfect teeth. An almost military grade flat top hair cut finished the look. Beck worked as a laborer on a construction site and, unlike Andy, had a work ethic worth it's weight in gold.
"Hey man," he greeted cheerily through a mouthful of noodles. Beck struggled off the couch, spilling his beer as he did so. "Where you been at? I tried calling ya but your cell was off again"
"Pub" Andy replied simply, taking off his beanie and jacket.
Beck appeared genuinely surprised.
"Fuck man, what are you doing working after being in hospital? You don't work even when you are functioning normally"
Andy wanted to be angry right then, but, of all the people who'd made some sort of jibe today, only Beck's carried no malice with it. And of all the people who'd stayed away over the weekend, only Beck had called regularly to check to see if Andy was okay. Three or four message slips were still in the pocket of his ruined shirt he discarded earlier.
Andy smiled wanly as Beck slapped his shoulder gently.
"Fuck man...thank god you're alright. I thought this was it, this time"
Beck turned his head towards the TV and gestured with his head towards it.
"I'd ask you to watch the game man but...ahhh..."
He hesitated a moment before nodding towards Andy's room.
"You got company"
Andy visibly winced.
"She's still here?!"
Beck chuckled under his breath.
"Man you better do somethin' with her quick. I thought she was gonna jump my bones at one point"
"Oh man, she is the last person I wanna see right now. I actually just want to go to bed"
Beck took a swig of his beer and flashed a mischievous grin.
"Well, I'm just gonna turn the teev up loud and try not to get hard listening to you two fuck, okay"
Andy scowled only half seriously.
"Fuck you man"
"Not bloody likely, asshole"
Beck turned away from Andy, mockingly grabbing his own crotch in hand as he plonked down again and went back to watching the game.
Though he thought he had little desire for it, by the time Andy stepped into his darkened room and saw her laying there in the half light, his erection pressed firmly against the inside of his jeans. He supposed it were the fishnets that did it. He had a thing for her legs and feet and the fishnets stockings she often wore tipped him over every time. She was topless except for the necklace and gothic cross she wore. Her breasts, milky and smooth, her nipples erect.
The room was thick with marijuana smoke. Music played quietly from his laptop on the desk. She was smoking a joint, the smoke trailing up and catching the light from the laptop.
Cassandra watched him as he stepped forward into the room and stood at the end of the bed. A smile tugged at her lips through her drug induced haze. She lifted her foot, placing it on his erection then moving it slowly back and forth. She offered him her joint. He hesitated then took it, drawing back deeply, feeling the cannabis infuse through his lungs and into his body. The effect was almost immediate.
Andy closed his eyes and sighed at the sensation of her foot on his cock. Slowly he undid the button of his jeans, unzipped them and allowed them to drop to the floor revealing his hardened penis to her. Taking it in both her feet she played with him for a while, expertly stroking his shaft while she massaged her own breasts, played with her stiffened nipples. Cassandra slid one foot up over his chest and up towards his mouth, pushing against his lips with her toes until they parted and he began sucking and licking her toes, the underside of her fishnetted sole. She licked her lips, luxuriating in this kinky, favored fetish of theirs. She heard him groan before her as she tickled his scrotum with the toes of her other foot.
In his mind's eye he could see another body, a woman's body glistening with droplets of water in black and white. Her flat stomach, delicate navel, shapely hips. A man's arm and outstretched hand moved slowly across her , his fingers touched her skin gently, stroking across her one way, then the other before moving down ...down...
Overwhelmed by waves of desire Andy kneeled on the bed as Cassandra rolled over onto her haunches, crawling in fours towards him. Once there she began licking and biting roughly at his belly. She growled playfully, stroking his thighs with her slender nails, digging into his skin, drawing blood. He shivered and flinched but did not move away. She licked at the droplets of blood on his inner thigh before cupping his genitals in her hands. She took his shaft in her mouth sucking him urgently, wantonly. He felt himself becoming more and more aroused. He looked down on her back, the elaborate tattoo of the dragon that extended across both shoulder blades. Her pale skin was powdery smooth...cool to his touch.
Two mouths meet - a man and a woman's. Their lips part, tongues touch one another gently , lovingly, then passionately. They envelop one another in a lingering kiss . The lips are familiar to him. The taste is slightly salty, like the sea. Hie feels a breeze nearby . His hand explores her slowly , gently. He cups her delicate breast in his hand. His thumb slowly brushes her nipple. Her body reacts immediately...
Cassandra's tongue ran slickly, expertly along the length of his cock. She was groaning now, feeling wet as her vagina became hot and engorged. God she wanted him inside her...
Andy reached out and ran his fingers down along the length of her slender spine, down between her buttocks and further until he found her wetness. He found her swollen clitoris almost immediately and her whole body shivered as he masturbated her eagerly. His fingers penetrated deep inside her, feeling the walls of her vagina. Cassandra felt the waves of pleasurable wetness engulf her. She was throbbing with desire for him, groaning wantonly. She lifted her free hand up to his rippling chest and ran her fingers down it, scratching at his skin with her nails. The action sent waves of pain through him that excited him. She withdrew him from her mouth and turned her body around so that he could have her from behind. He was drunk with an animal desire. He roughly peeled down her denim shorts and fishnets in one swift action, parted her buttocks. Feeling for her vagina with the head of his penis, he pushed inside her quickly and firmly. Cassandra squealed with ecstasy as he fucked her deeply, she brushed her fingers against her swollen clitoris with each movement. Their bodies were bathed in sweat. The air in the room was stifling but it only excited them more. She buried her head in the pillow before her, overcome with each penetration, moaning with desire for him.
Two bodies, entwined in one another's, moving rhythmically, synchronously under a silk sheet. Her gentle moan echoes in his mind as he makes love to her. His head is buried in her neck, she gently kisses his forehead. Slowly, he looks up at her...at her slender lips, up...at her porcelain cheekbones, up...into her single eye. A perfect jewel, deep blue...a world within a world...
Andy's eyes went wide as the single image of the woman's eye lingered in his consciousness.
Who is she?
The single question screamed silently in his mind, through the fever of his arousal.
He grabbed Cassandra's hips in his hands, pushed deeper into her, feeling the climax building within him as she could within her. Reflexively, he grabbed the back of her hair, pulling her up sharply, roughly. It only excited Cassandra more and she ground her hips against him harder and harder, grinning maniacally. He held her around her neck as waves of orgasm approached. The pressure built within him, focusing towards a central tiny point, his breath was sucked from his lungs as he exploded into her, climaxing hard. He let out a guttural moan as he came. Simultaneously Cassandra felt her whole body spasming as though pure electricity had been passed through it. Her vaginal muscles rippled, her clitoris throbbed so hard it took her breath away. She felt a satisfying gush within her as every single muscle fiber let go simultaneously and together they collapsed on the bed, bathed in sweat, bathed in smoke from the marijuana, totally and utterly spent.
In the darkness if the room, Andy gazed at the ceiling. That single eye remained, that precious orb that had eluded him in the visions which had come to him repeatedly since Saturday.
Who was this stranger that was frequenting his sub conscious more and more?
Was she a stranger...?
Copyright © 2009 Dean Mayes