Bomber hadn’t been in a toy store for years. He remembered going into one down in North Carolina for his brother’s kids, and feeling embarrassed picking up Barbie clothes for his niece. What chick wore that shit? None that he knew – but then, the ones he knew worked the red light districts.
He wandered up and down the aisles, soon lost. He found his way out of the girl’s section (Barbie clothes hadn’t changed, it seems, and who was this butt-ugly Dora chick?) and got to the boys’. GI Joe disappointed him, as did other superhero action figures. He found his way to the military section, and saw some collector’s items, mostly WWII reproductions.
His eye was caught by a Desert Storm doll, about a foot high. He picked up the box and tilted it, to try and see how accurate it was. The backpack wasn’t right, looking like it came out of the same mold as the WWII infantryman. The gun was totally wrong. The uniform was relatively accurate, however. To a kid, it would be acceptable. To his eye, it meant the manufacturer was lazy.
From the boys’ section he saw the electronics. He noted a pair of bored heavy-set girls standing at the counter. He smiled to himself – maybe he’d make their night interesting.
“Evening, ladies,” he said as he walked up to the counter. They both focused on him. He noted one had an engagement ring on her finger, but the other one didn’t. He called the second one by the name on her tag, “Shannon, I was wondering if you could help me.”
“Sure!” she said, suddenly bubbly. The other girl looked a little disappointed.
“I need two DSi’s, one pink, one black.”
“I think we’re out of black,” she said, and turned around to look at the case. Bomber made it obvious that he was checking her out. Again, the girl next to her looked disappointed.
“You can get the pink one,” Bomber said to the disappointed girl whose name tag said April. “That way you can both have a commission.”
Shannon laughed. “We don’t work on commission.”
“Too bad,” he said. “I’m looking for a game for a girl, about nine, and a boy about ten.”
The two girls looked thoughtful. “Animal Crossing?” said April.
“For the girl? That’s complicated.”
“Pet Shop?”
“Yeah,” said Shannon, and walked around the counter. Bomber followed, again watching her closely. She knew he was watching, and turned around to see him doing it. She blushed. He smiled. “What am I looking for?”
“Pet Shop?”
“Oh, right.” She looked through the boxes and came up with one. “Oh, your boy might like Super Smash Brothers.”
“Sounds good to me. He’s not my boy, though.”
She handed him the two boxes. He looked up at her. “When do you get off work?”
She stared at him, her mouth dropping.
“We could go for coffee. Or a beer.”
She giggled, “I’m not old enough to drink.”
“Coffee, then. The Starbucks is right around the corner.”
“I, um…”
He tilted his head.
“I guess that’ll be okay.”
“What time?”
She looked up at the clock over the main doors. “At nine.”
He nodded. “I’ll be seeing you there in a couple of hours, then. Don’t forget.”
———–
At 9:20 Bomber saw her come into the shop. The place was crowded with college kids and others getting off work from the mall next door. She was alone, which was perfect. She caught his eye and smiled, then headed to the line.
He looked curiously at her and beckoned. She looked curiously back, and then he patted the couch next to him. He had reserved the loveseat in the corner by virtue of his badass aura, even though he had taken off the leather jacket and sat in a simple blue t-shirt and jeans. She finally got the hint and left the line.
This whole seduction thing was time consuming. He was hungry and ready to pounce on her as soon as she sat down. If he was going to get his prey this way, he’d need to do it a lot faster. “I didn’t realize how crowded this place was going to be,” he said over the din. “Want to go someplace else?”
She looked frightened at first, and he thought he lost her. He put his hand on hers in a comforting gesture. “We can stay here. I’ll get you a coffee. How do you take it?”
“Where…where did you have in mind?”
“Someplace dark and quiet.” He knew this was probably weird to her, having a handsome man come onto her so blatantly and obviously. She didn’t seem stupid. She probably wanted something out of him too.
She swallowed and nodded. She got up, and he dutifully followed her out the door. They headed to the parking garage. He scoped out a dark corner, and took her hand, guiding her to it. He heard her heart beating so fast it was going to thump out of her chest. The thought of that rich blood thrumming through her made him stop, and pull her to him.
He kissed her with hunger, and she was shocked at first, but opened up to him. He pulled her deeper into that dark corner, breaking the kiss, seconds before his fangs dropped. He kissed her neck, the artery thumping under his lips made him growl with need. Her breathing was fast, expectant.
When he bit her, her moan was of pure pleasure and she shuddered under him. The blood was sweet like candy, but he felt nothing more ecstatic than the warm liquid passing over his tongue. She continued to moan, first low, and then loud and with great passion.
He came back to himself as she shuddered with a groan again in his arms. He listened for the heartbeat, and it had slowed enough. He lifted his head, performing the ritual, and looked at her.
Her eyes were glassy, as if she was drunk or on something. He realized he was holding her up. They stayed that way for a few minutes, and then she focused on him. “Wow,” she said.
He chuckled, and let her stand on her own two feet. “I think you got what you needed,” he said.
He could feel the heat from her blush. “Did…did you?”
He smiled. “Uh huh.” He stepped back from her. “Maybe I can stop by in a couple of days, we can go for coffee again?”
“Sh…sure.”
“Good. See ya soon, sweets.” He gave her a gentle kiss, and headed to his bike on the other side of the mall. He knew he was going to be a heartbreaker, leaving a trail of women behind him.
He chuckled. “That’ll be a first,” he muttered, starting up his bike.
Words: 1136
Inspiration: RP last night.
Music: I’m Your Boogie Man – KC and the Sunshine Band