{erotic romance} Ines & Levi – chapter 1

Decided it’s time I should actually share this little story of mine.  I am around half way through it, and hope that if I share it, it’s going to give me the extra little bit of motivation I need to keep writing and finish it!

This story contains mention of (past) rape, and as a result it may trigger. 

***

Prologue

Taking a quick peek at his watch Levi was glad to see it was 5.28pm. In two minutes he’d be able to turn the sign on the door to ‘closed‘ and bring in the signage from the curbside, officially declaring himself a free man until he reopened the barber shop on Monday morning. The current client in the chair would take another four or five minutes to finish, and then there was one more cut to do. All going well he would be ready to leave by 6.00pm.

Thirty-two minutes until he was a free man for two whole days. Forty-eight hours to do… absolutely nothing at all, a nice change from constantly being on his feet. He planned to get pizza on the way home, where he’d lounge about all weekend doing a rewatch of Banshee. If he felt energetic he’d watch on the TV in the lounge, but it was highly likely he’d remain in his bed the entire time.

He’d earnt it. He’d more than earnt it. It was tough work after all, sending out a big ‘fuck you‘ to everyone who’d ever doubted him, by being the owner of the most successful barbershop in the region.

Tough work that he loved beyond anything else. He’d made it, after all those assholes had told him it was a stupid idea, or that he wasn’t business owner material. It had meant years of hard work, but finally he was there, and he was damn proud of what he’d accomplished.

“And we’re done here,” Levi announced holding up the little handheld mirror so his client, Brett, could see the back of his new cut.
“Looks good as always, mate,” Brett confirmed.
“I aim to please,” Levi laughed, swiping the brush on the back of Brett’s neck to get rid of any loose hairs.

Brett followed Levi up to the counter, and paid for his new cut, then promised to be back in six weeks time for another. It gave him a little boost whenever a one-off client became a regular client, and over the past couple of months a lot of his clientele had been regulars; he knew it said a lot about his reputation, as both a barber and a businessman.

Seeing the time was officially past 5.30pm, Levi told the final client of the week he’d be just a minute, and followed Brett out of the shop to get the sign from the street.

“See you later, mate,” Brett said with a wave.
“Have a good one,” Levi replied, picking up the heavy sign, putting it down again when he heard yelling coming from behind him.

“Stop! You fucking bitch, I just want to talk!” A man was yelling, jogging after a woman who was walking quickly toward where Levi was standing.
“Leave me alone, I mean it,” she said angrily, not turning around to face the man who was quickly closing the gap between the two. She looked part terrified, part furious.

Levi glanced at the woman, searching for some sort of confirmation that she wanted help, or not. The woman looked at him, panic seeming to radiate from her body.

“Are you oka-”
“Leave her alone buddy, this is between her and me,” the man demanded.
“Doesn’t look like she wants to talk to you, so how about you leave her alone,” Levi walked toward the man.
“You just fuck off,” the man snarled.
“He’s right, Greg, I don’t want to talk to you,” the woman said assertively.
“Well I want to talk to you,” the man, Greg, replied and walked closer still.
“Leave me alone!” the woman said angrily, a lot of fear visible in her body language.

Whoever this guy was, Levi could tell he was bad news, and whatever beef the woman had with him, it was serious.

“Come on babe, we need to talk,” Greg said, gripping the woman’s forearm in his hand.
“No we don’t,” the woman’s voice shook as she spoke. “Get your hand off me.”
“Not until you agree to talk to me,” came Greg’s response, and Levi noticed the woman was cowering.

“Leave her alone, or I’ll ring the cops,” Levi raised his voice, and deepened his tone.
“Fuck the hell off!” Greg yelled and pulled the woman, as if to lead her away.

Levi was fully prepared to run inside and get his cellphone so he could ring the cops, but before he could move he watched as the woman kicked out, her foot making heavy contact with the man’s balls.

“You fucking bitch! You slutty, fucking nasty, trashy cunt!” the man screamed, his hands clutching at his crotch, his face growing increasingly red.
“I mean it, leave me the hell alone, or I will be ringing the cops and telling them about the fucking sick and twisted shit you are into!”

And with that, the woman continued walking in the direction she’d originally been going when Levi had noticed her. He ran after her and put a hand gently on her shoulder.

“Are you okay? Do you want me to call the cops?” Levi asked, but the woman shook her head.
“No, I’m not okay, and no don’t worry about the cops.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, he’s just an asshole who can’t take no for an answer, and can’t accept I dumped his sorry ass,” the woman told him.
“Sounds like that was a wise move,” Levi commented, turning to watch as the asshole walked uncomfortably in the opposite direction.
“Oh it was.”
“Anyway, I’m Levi, I own the barbershop.” After what he’d witnessed it seemed necessary to introduce himself.
“Ines,” the woman said in kind. “I’m sorry you had to see that, but thanks for hanging around to make sure I was okay.”
“It’s what anyone would do,” Levi replied with a smile.
“It was nice to meet you, Levi,” Ines said, and with a cursory wave, off she went.
“You too,” Levi called after her.

His final client, Jay, was waiting patiently in the chair when he re-entered the shop, and Levi apologised for the wait. The dad of four told him not to worry, adding it was nice to sit in relative peace and quiet for a few minutes.

Part of what Levi enjoyed about his job was being able to meet and chat with so many different people, but the final cut that day was quiet by his own high standards. It was almost impossible to concentrate on holding a conversation, because his mind was so locked on the situation he’d found himself in the middle of just a few minutes earlier.

He hoped like hell the woman made it to wherever she was going without being bothered by that wanker again, and he couldn’t help but wonder what their story was. What had that man done to scare her so badly? To make her shake with rage, as well as fear?

~

Chapter 1
(12 months later)

Why was it that just when she got used to the layout of a supermarket, the idiots in charge decided to change things up? The milk chiller was no longer by the dairy chiller, but by the damn bread, the specials aisle was in the centre of the store now, rather than at the entry, while the breakfast aisle had now moved to what once used to be the wine aisle. Where was the wine aisle?

Ines usually enjoyed her Friday night grocery shop, some mindless wandering around after what was more often than not, a hectic week at work. That week though? The changes at the supermarket were giving her a headache and she felt mildly claustrophobic. If it wasn’t for the fact her fridge was empty she would have left her trolley where it was, and gone home.

Not only had they moved the areas particular groups of items were in, they’d also moved where things were on the shelves. The coffee had gone from bottom shelf, to second top shelf, the flour had moved from the right end of the shelf, to the left. And on it went, leaving her wondering if they’d stolen a copy of her shopping list and purposely moved every single item she needed.

Ines let out an audible growl of frustration when she saw her favourite nacho sauce had been moved to the very top shelf. Might be okay for someone who was six foot tall, but at a smidge over five foot, the new positioning left the sauce out of her reach. Knowing she looked silly, but needing that sauce, Ines got on tippy toes and tried her hardest to stretch to reach it, failing miserably in the process.

And she heard more than one snigger whilst doing so.

Ines was contemplating finding a staff member to help her – it was what they were paid for after all – when she sensed someone standing behind her.

“Need some help there?” a vaguely, vaguely familiar voice rang out behind her.
“Just need this damn sauce,” Ines replied, turning to see who’d spoken to her.
“Might as well put my slightly taller than average height to good use then,” the man chuckled, and Ines realised why the voice sounded familiar.
“Hey, you’re the guy from the barbershop!”
Even as the man smiled kindly, she noticed a look of recognition flash over his face. “You’re the girl that kicked that guy in the balls!”
Ines laughed. “Yeah, that’s me. Ines, and you’re Levi, right?”
“The one and only,” Levi confirmed.

Ines watched as he reached up to get the sauce for her. On the day of their brief meeting, she hadn’t realised just how good looking this man was, nice and tall, with lovely blue eyes, and a smile that brightened his whole face.

As one would expect for a barber, his coppery red hair was perfectly styled. Slick, and sharp, it really tied the whole Levi package together. Ines could only imagine how cute and bedraggled the man would look after a shower, or first thing in the morning as she ran her fingers through it. It would be as soft as silk, she could just tell.

Then there was the beard. Styled with deliciously crisp lines, it was, as far as she was concerned, optimum beard length. Long enough to make him look growly and slightly caveman-ish, but not so long he looked unkempt. A shiver ran through her at the thought of the scratchy beard grazing her inner thighs, another when she imagined the sensation it would provide as she kissed him.

Oh shit. It had been a long while since she’d harboured those type of thoughts. What was happening to her?!

“Need help getting the corn chips down?” Levi teased as he handed her a packet of the sauce.
Ines laughed and pointed at her trolley. “Nope, they were within my reach.”
“Nachos for dinner then?” Levi commented and Ines nodded.
“Yeap, been a shit of a week at work so decided some comfort food was on the agenda.”
“A lot more appetising than my frozen dinner for one,” Levi rolled his eyes. “I moved into a new house last week and I still haven’t unpacked all my kitchen stuff, so I’ve been living on frozen meals.”
“Now I’ll feel guilty eating my nachos!” Ines frowned. “How about you come have dinner with me?”

The offer was out before she registered what she was saying. What was she saying? Inviting a strange man to her house for dinner? It was absurd, and it definitely wasn’t the type of thing she would do under normal circumstances. But standing talking to Levi, she felt anything but normal.

Her heart was racing, and she had an overwhelming urge to smile and laugh whenever he spoke. Where was the urge – no, the need – to get away from him as quickly as possible? The desire to not make eye contact with him, to not want to make conversation?

Levi felt familiar and safe, and it left her feeling confused. She didn’t actually know him, their previous ‘meeting’ hadn’t exactly been under relaxed circumstances, nor had it been a lengthy one. From memory he’d introduced himself, she’d reciprocated, and then left. So why did she feel as if she’d known him for years? Why did it seem so natural to invite him over for dinner?

“I don’t normally accept dinner invitations from women in supermarkets, but looking at the nacho ingredients in your trolley, damn it sounds appealing.”
“I don’t usually invite men home for dinner,” Ines informed him. “Actually, I’m not sure where that came from, but if you would like to join me, you’re more than welcome.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to feel pressured,” Levi commented, and something about the way he said it hit her in the stomach, as if there was a double meaning to the words.

After what he’d witnessed that day, perhaps there was?

“It would be nice to have some company,” Ines replied, deciding to trust her gut instinct, which had told her Levi was ‘safe’.
“In that case I’d love to,” Levi told her. “Can I bring anything?”
“Just yourself,” Ines replied, knowing a light blush had risen to her cheeks.
“What about something to drink? Or dessert?” Levi offered.
“I’m all out of wine, and beer, so if you wanted to bring something along those lines, feel free,” Ines replied.
“What do you like to drink?” Levi asked and Ines, catching her off guard. She wasn’t used to being asked what she wanted.
“I usually keep some Shine lager in the fridge,” Ines replied.
“I’ll get some of that then!” Levi informed her. “Now, what time do you want me?”

Oh the thoughts that immediately flew around in her head. She could quite happily have him right there and then.

Again with the unexpected, but not entirely unwelcome thoughts!

“How about 6.30?” Ines suggested.
“Perfect,” Levi replied and smiled sheepishly. “Should we swap numbers? Then you can text me your address if you get home and decide you still want a strange man to eat dinner with you.”

What did he have to be unsure about? Why on earth would anyone turn down the chance to spend time with such a sexy, and seemingly lovely man? If anything, it would be him ignoring the text message containing her address, leaving her to eat alone.

Numbers were swapped, and goodbyes were said.

Ines had no idea if she’d actually see Levi again. Perhaps she’d wimp out and tell him not to come, or perhaps he’d change his mind? It wouldn’t surprise her if it was the latter. After all, what did she have to offer someone like him?

Only time would tell.