chapter 5

Bill gave her a glare as he tore himself away from his shoveling. No one told him what to do, not even this beauty was an exception.

He didn't have to say anything, the look gave its warning enough. Jen realized Bill did not like being told what to do, she fussed with her dishcloth as she nervously, subconsciously stepped back.

"I..I mean." she stuttered, realizing she was looking weak - something she didn't want to appear as, despite how vulnerable she truly was. Squaring her shoulders in a miserable attempt to appear feisty she continued. "I mean if you would like that dessert, you just let me know and I wont put away all the spoons when I clean up for closing." She smiled; even herself was unconvinced at her ridiculous attempt to rescue her earlier remark.

She spun around quickly to fuss with her cash register, making out she was too busy, hoping Bill wouldn't push the conversation further.
With her face safely concealed she rolled her eyes and sighed. "Well done Jen, he wont want you now you idiot!!" She cursed herself and continued counting change, pausing to watch him in the mirrored glass and he mopped up the remaining sauce with the last of his fries. He had a wicked smirk on him. He was planning something she was sure.

Her attention momentarily distracted by he chores, when she searched the mirror again she noticed he was gone. Momentarily puzzled, a pang of sadness inexplicably surged through her.

Suddenly she felt a presence behind her, a feeling of radiating warmth and her breath caught, she was frozen and unable to move.

Now she felt large hands on her waist, just above her hips and was turned effortlessly on her heels facing him...good lord she shuddered, stunned to the core by his touch.

He smiled down at her and said, "Ill take that trifle now and you're welcome to try and get as much inside me as you can..."

He winked again and whispered "...as long as it takes, all night if possible"

Jen quivered at his breathy whisper. Goosebumps forming on the back of her neck. She felt so small this close to Bill. She felt vulnerable, but safe too.

As she felt Bill's warming touch, she melted her wall just slightly, Images of her ex fiancé and her friend in bed together entered her mind. She stiffened. Scared of being hurt once more. She couldn't bare it, not by Bill, something about him made him different to her.

"Of course." Jen said, barely audible as the intensity burdened her vocals.

She returned with a small portion of the trifle, remembering Bill's request that it take all night.

An impulse took over her; she rang the bell for last orders. Almost an hour early. Mumbled complaints and groans filled the room.

"I'm sorry guys, we need to close early tonight... because." she paused. Crap she couldn't tell them she was closing early because she wanted to stuff this man silly. She panicked, cleared her throat and continued. "Because.... erm."

She looked at Bill, she knew she looked small and weak and she cursed herself. He appeared to puff his chest out and square his shoulders; he looked even larger now as he towered above Jen. Consequently she looked and felt even smaller. A big part of her liked it. Bill was coming to her rescue; maybe she did mean more to him that just a night.

"Then again," she thought, "maybe he just really wants that trifle"

"You heard the lady" Bill boomed over the muttering barflys' mumbled protests "closing time, time to clear out and go home."

Several of the slower ones he hustled out with not exactly gentle force, closing and locking the door and pulling all the blinds shut with a snap.

Turning to Jen he pointed to the trifle held in her trembling hands and brusquely said "that's not near enough woman...go back and fetch me a bigger piece, much bigger...I'm feeling a bit peckish."