‘You’re hungover.’ He mutters angrily into Emily’s ear, the tone of his voice sending a shiver down her spine. ‘I believe I told you that yo... couldn’t drink.’ He pulls a blindfold from the nightstand and covers her eyes. She shakes her head quickly, trying to dislodge the fabric from its place. ‘Open your mouth, whore.’ He says calmly, his anger not apparent to her as she shakes her head quickly no. Then, the first blow comes. On the inside of her upper right thigh, the tips of his fingers. Just a flu bug or mild food poisoning but, I knew what it was. You were pregnant with my child. I was a father and you were a mother even if you didn't know it. I wanted to tell you, to make it go away, so badly. There was no way I could though. Instead I just ended up pampering you to the point you were sick of the sight of me. The weeks speed by while I watched in agony as my sins manifest themselves right before my eyes. My dread grew as your belly did. How long would it be before the. Then they just started walking and walked away from me leaving mestanding out on my front porch in the wide open for everyone to see! in apanic I rushed after them almost falling because of the damn ankle chainand heels but I was able to catch myself in time. It was a long walk andalls I could think of was what if someone saw me! I raced as fast as thechain and heels would let me, having to stop at the curb as a car drovepast I just looked down and hoped the driver would just pass me by whichhe. His sense was that they did it precisely because they were aware of the effect it had on him, not that they were actually into each other that way. Rick knew they were toying with him. It was just sport for them. He was not so naïve as to think he had the slightest chance with either one, but it made the workday fun, if sometimes sexually frustrating. Occasionally, bar patrons were surprised by their idle conversations with Rick. People expect bartenders to lend a sympathetic ear, but don’t.