Whatever It Takes by Marie Scott

hands on her hips. “Damn it, girl, you
don’t have any sexy panties or ugly panties. They’re all just…panties. I should
have expected that from you.”
    Laurie rolled her eyes and slumped against her pillows,
realizing her friend would be of no help.
    After a while, Olivia sobered and apologized for making
light of the situation. “Honestly, Laurie, if I was in your place, I’d probably
be laid up naked in his bed right now, but you have to do what’s right for you.
In my experience, when you have feelings that strong right off the bat, it
means something… Not always something good but something . All you can do
is go with it and see what happens. Worst-case scenario—you’ll get to have a
few weeks of hot, dirty sex with a yummy bad guy.”
    Laurie’s hands trembled as she collected her keys and headed
for the door. “Thanks so much for all the sage advice, O,” she called over her
shoulder as she slipped through the door.
    Laurie heard her friend giggle as she headed down the hall
and she shook her head, wondering why she bothered going to Olivia for serious
advice in the first place. The woman was a walking, talking bad decision.
    Traffic was light so the drive to Mason’s only took about
twenty minutes. She arrived ten minutes early but didn’t think it would be a
problem. She slipped out of the car and headed toward the building.
    Once she reached the third floor, she knocked on the large
metal door, still feeling a little apprehensive about seeing Mason again. She
was deep in thought so it startled her when Joe answered the door. He scowled,
obviously still blaming her for Mason tossing his ass around the apartment when
they first met.
    “He’ll be right back. He just went to get my friend some
weed,” he snapped, motioning for her to enter.
    Laurie hesitated and Joe grabbed her arm and pulled her over
the threshold. She quickly drew away, repulsed by his touch, and moved past him
to sit in her usual spot on a barstool. The sound of the heavy door slamming
shut made Laurie’s stomach clench. Trepidation settled over her and left her
feeling unsafe. She clenched her hands in her lap to keep from fidgeting.
    “Well, hey there, lil’ girl,” a man with dark hair and a
ridiculously large mustache called to her from one of the couches. His heavy
accent gave him away as a native of the region. “What’s a lil’ thing like you
doing here?”
    “I’m waiting for Mason,” she replied curtly, not wanting to
encourage any conversation.
    “Mason,” Joe said in a mocking falsetto voice.
    “If it’s a good time you’re looking for, I can do a better
job than that mean bastard.” Mustache laughed. “Why don’t you come over here
and sit on my lap and I’ll show you what kind of good time I’m talking about.”
    Laurie shook her head and turned away from him, hoping he
would get the message and leave her alone.
    “She’s a stuck-up little bitch,” Joe told the man. “Thinks
she’s better than everyone.”
    “Is that so?” Mustache laughed. “I bet she won’t be so stuck
up with my dick in her pretty mouth.”
    Joe giggled…he actually giggled . Laurie’s skin
prickled as Mustache rose from the couch and took a step toward her.
    “Stay away from me,” she warned him, managing to keep her
voice calm and firm.
    “Come on, baby, it tastes good.” He danced toward her and,
to her shock, pulled his limp dick out of his pants. As he danced closer, he
began waving it at her.
    “Get the fuck away from me,” Laurie snapped as he came
nearer.
    He was less than a foot away and her panic was rising. She
realized he had her effectively cornered between him and the bar. There was no
chance of making it to the door.
    “Oh, I love it when a bitch talks dirty. Come on, grab it,
baby, you’re going to like it.”
    He reached for her arm but she dodged him and shoved him
back hard enough to make him stumble.
    “Told you,” Joe said, taking a swig of his beer. “Stuck-up
bitch.”
    Mustache