A Gift from the Goddess by Dawn Rosewood

“Do you want to get out of here?” I whispered intimately into his ear.

The question was followed closely behind by my hand moving down his leg as he sat next to me, leaving no room for doubt in his mind over my intentions. There was only one conclusion to be made by my question

This was all it would take, I knew. A suggestion, a warm touch, a small smile from a pretty girl. Enough to convince them to come with me. And convince them I did as he eagerly stood up at my proposal.

“Where did you have in mind?” he asked as he helped me to my feet.

He moved in close, wrapping an arm around my waist, and tried to lean in for a kiss but I instantly moved back to pause him.

“No, not here,” I said, my eyes darting around at the crowded bar. “But I think there is somewhere we can go out back.”

He didn't hesitate for even a second and immediately grabbed my hand, allowing me to lead him through the backdoor to the alleyway behind the establishment. An alleyway where many less than honest activities took place. The kind of spot a girl would not want to find herself alone on a night out, as was consistent with this side of town.

But it was due to that very reputation that I was here now today. Some might say that I was accustomed to the danger.

“This is far enough,” I said as I pulled him to the side, placing his hands on my waist.

"...Here?" he asked confused, looking at our dirty surroundings.

“You don’t want to... I don't know, find a motel or something?”

But I simply pressed my body up against his and nibbled on his ear sensually, wrapping my arm around his neck.

“I like the excitement of possibly being caught,” I whispered.

And I felt as his lower region quickly responded to my words, pressing through the fabric of his pants.

Those were the last words exchanged before he moved in to hastily kiss me, his hand travelling up the side of my thigh, under my dress, and squeezing greedily at he found flesh there. He was completely focused on me, his desire evident as he continued to touch me wherever he could. Something that I allowed him to do, giving him what he wanted.

But there were also other things to consider here. Ones that needed careful preparation.l moaned a little for him and directed his lips to my neck, holding his head in place there as he kissed my skin. And whilst his attention was entirely absorbed on the task I'd set for him, I took a moment to bring my free hand up to my eye level over his shoulder... and check my watch.

..I only had a few more moments before it started. I needed to time it perfectly.

“Fuck, you're so hot,” he grunted, still kissing and groping me.

"Oh, yeah?" I asked back breathily. “What else do you like?"

"... Everything,” he said.

“I like everything... I don't even know your name but I've never wanted someone so much.”

That was true. I hadn't told him my name but I think he'd told me his. What was it again? Daniel? David? Dustin? No... Dale. His name was Dale.

"And what do you want to do to me?” I asked.

I could hear it now... the sound of voices approaching down the alleyway, coming in from the direction of the main street. I became so focused on it that I didn't even hear what answer Dale responded with Something about his junk or something,

"Oh, that's so sexy.” I replied back automatically, feeling as he was clumsily trying to pull my dress up more

I glanced back at my wristwatch, double-checking it for confirmation,

..And saw it was time,

It was at that exact moment that a group of men then rounded the corner of the building, heading towards the back entrance of the bar. The same entrance that they always entered through at eleven o'clock on Thursday nights, ready for their weekly poker game. A ritual I was familiar with

It was now or never.

..And I pushed against Dale in my arms, screaming for help.

"Get off me!” I yelled, trying to pull away.

"Someone help! Please!”

But out of sheer confusion about the situation, Dale held on, unsure what was happening.

“What's wrong?” he asked in shock, taken off-guard by my sudden change in demeanour.

“Please! Please stop!”

I continued to try and escape, making a scene of the entire encounter. Screaming and carrying on as I tried to do so.

“What's going on there?” a man’s voice called out. One of the men in the group who had just arrived.

I quickly looked up towards him with tears in my eyes, pleading with just my gaze alone for him to rescue me. That someone else intervene before it was too late.

“Help me! This man dragged me out here... please! I-I just want to go home.”

"What? No, I didn't,” Dale said adamantly, instantly taking his hands off me.

As his grip released from my waist, I fell backwards to the ground and scooted a few feet away. Trying to get as far away as possible. A response that made Dale take a step towards me, still not reading the situation correctly.

But the message was made clear when I promptly flinched away.

“I think the lady asked for you to back off,” said the man, breaking away from his group to approach “She clearly doesn't want you here.”

“What do you mean?!” Dale exclaimed.

“She was the one who asked me out here! She wanted it!"

And I cried into my hands, my shoulders shaking with every sob.

“Uhh, I don't know what to tell you, mate. I'm going to say that's probably not the case, but perhaps just forget the whole situation and you head off home, yeah? Sleep off the drink?"

"What?! I'm not even, that's... I'm just... fuck. Whatever, stupid bitch.”

With a last huff in frustration, Dale quickly left the scene sprouting curses and insults my way the entire time. Something that didn't do him any favours as I continued to cower on the ground sobbing.

"Are you okay, little lady?” asked the man, walking over to me.

He held out a hand for me to take, offering to assist me back up to my feet, but I simply took a moment to look up at the face of my saviour, my rescuer, my knight in shining armour.. my target. I looked up at the man known as Miles Kennedy

And I gave him a bittersweet smile.

"...1 owe you my life,” I cried, gently brushing away the tear on my cheek.

“I don’t know how I can ever repay you.”

“Ah, don't worry about it. Let me help you up.”

I took his hand gratefully and allowed him to lift me, shivering and holding my arms around my torso once done

"Y you're so kind,” I said, “I can't thank you enough.”

“Seriously, don't worry about it. Do you have someone you can call? A ride home?"

“N-no... I came here alone on a blind date... Oh, God, I'm so stupid. Why did I think this was a good idea?”

He moved and touched my shoulder kindly. “Hey, now, don't be so hard on yourself. There are some pretty scummy people out there.”

Just like you, Mr Kennedy, I thought to myself inside. But I didn’t speak the words aloud.

"Why don't you let us take you home? We can make a quick drop off before poker, right boys?” And the group of men murmured in agreement amongst themselves.

"Oh, could you?” I gasped. “That would be amazing. I'm so lucky you found me. There really are some good people left in the world.”

“We're parked just around the corner. C'mon.”

He lightly held a hand to my elbow and directed me towards the main street, the group of four men following behind us. To any onlookers, it might have looked strange, but that wasn't something we needed to worry about in these parts. Because in a place like this, people would prefer to divert their gaze away rather than look too closely.

But this was the kind of environment you found men like this. Men who had less than legal means of making money, scavenging in the dirt to do whatever was profitable. And, unfortunately for them, today was not going to be their day.

Turns out that sometimes those dodgy business practices can come back to bite you. That, when the little fish starts biting at the shark's food, trying to get a cut they aren't entitled to, sometimes there are consequences to those decisions.

Today, Miles Kennedy was that little fish, and I would be acting as the shark. Or... maybe “shark’ wasn't the right word... maybe...

“What's your name, by the way?” Miles asked as he opened the passenger side door for me.

I sat down comfortably on the plush leather seat before turning to look up at him with an overly sweet smile.

“You can call me Raven.”