001. MEET CUTE

If there was one thing Harry hated most in the world, it was anything that messed with his pride.

And a Bambi stealing from him in the middle of the night was the kind of shot to his ego that he greatly despised.

The longer it took to find her, the more enraged it made him.

Not a single slip-up was made by her. She arrived alone; the group of friends she told Kip she was with never interacted with her throughout the night. Not a single trace of her on any security camera was found - she dodged every single one at their business, the house, and once she left.

The Bambi had vanished - which meant she was extremely smart or the luckiest bitch alive. And, Harry refused to believe they had been outsmarted by someone like her.

A single hunch was all they were able to go off. Cameras in the smokers pit caught a female voice complaining about her apparent lack of cigarettes. Harry made Kip scour every CCTV camera possible. Poor kid, he had been scared shitless after his mistake had come to light. But all was forgiven when the kid showed up with results after three days of sleepless nights.

One stop at her local convenience store for a pack of cigarettes was her undoing.

Harry didn't let the team do the usual search of their target. He wanted to act on his favourite part - revenge and he wanted to do it now. The mere thought of painting the walls red with her blood left him salivating at the mouth all week.

The three of them entered the bar she worked at and settled into a booth in the back. It didn't take long before he spotted her. The Bambi was no longer blonde and now sported a dark chestnut hair colour. It complimented her features quite nicely.

It's rather busy for a Monday night, he thought.

As he caught a glimpse of her working the tables, he quickly learned why. Every male gaze was on her from the moment she entered, giving her their full attention once she graced them with her presence.

Eyes travelling up her long legs, Harry noticed the way her short pleated skirt hung perfectly on her hips. The material flowed with every slight movement she made, giving the hungry eyes that watched her the tiniest bit of hope that something underneath would show. Her tank top, tight against her skin and revealing a hint of her midriff, had the bar's name in large font across her chest. Bambi knew exactly what she was doing with her choice of clothing.

Turning the ring on this index finger, Harry watched closely as she interacted with a table of young men all in suits. He assumed they worked in finance by the way they were dressed and handled themselves. She smiled at each of them while taking their orders - which was surprising considering they weren't even close to finishing their first round of drinks. But the moment she turned, her smile disappeared completely. Interesting. Bambi was an actress.

Taking a mental note of what he had learned, Harry turned to his friends. "New plan," he said in a low voice, "One of you has to pretend to be celebrating a birthday."

"Why?"

"Because she only goes to tables to get drink orders and having a birthday boy to pile up with alcohol is the perfect excuse for new customers."

Dallas shot his hand up. "Me! Call it!"

"Someone's eager," Colson commented.

"Free drinks, man. It's a rule for the birthday boy," the guy replied, "Don't be a sour puss because you missed out, Colty."

Harry ignored their bickering as he removed the watch from his wrist, pocketed it in his jacket, and ran his fingers through his long hair, messing it up. With a swift kick under the table, Harry ensured the two friends were on their best behaviour as the Bambi approached their table.

Showtime.

"Hi, welcome to Sal's," she said, flipping to a fresh page of her tiny notebook. "Are you guys new here? I don't think I've seen you before."

Harry nodded. "First time. Here celebrating my friend's birthday," he said, gesturing to Dallas who sat across from him at the table.

Bambi's eyes focused on Dallas. "Well, I guess celebrations are in order," her voice purred. "What can I get for you, birthday boy?"

"I'll just, uh," Dallas was practically drooling as he tried to form a sentence, "I'll get a beer."

"A beer?" she repeated. "On your birthday? You need something more fun than that!" Bambi leaned forward, and now, the boy was foaming at the mouth over the view she provided him. "What's your favourite shot?"

"V-vodka."

"How about I make you something special with vodka instead?"

Dallas nodded.

"Good boy," she said, writing something down. "And a double right?"

He nodded again.

Her attention moved to Colson. "And for you?"

"I'll get the same."

Colson was playing it smart - which Harry appreciated. He wasn't the type to fall for her wicked charms as Dallas had, and he also wasn't good at playing pretend. Instead of pissing the Bambi off, he agreed to whatever order she had already swindled out of the first friend.

"And for you?"

Harry raised a brow. "What would you suggest?"

Bambi leaned forward, providing not only an eyeful of her chest but filled his nose with her vanilla scent - which he found intoxicating.

"This one is my favourite," she pointed to one of the items on the list. "You seem like the type of guy who would enjoy it."

Harry held back laughter at her suggestion of the most expensive drink on the menu. "Seems a little much."

Her full lips curved into a smirk. "I think you can handle it."

"Well, how about I start with a regular scotch and work my way up there?"

If Bambi was pissed, she didn't let it show. "Alright, so we've got two double vodka specials for the fun boys over here," she said, pointing to Colson and Dallas, "And a double scotch for the party pooper."

"Just a single is fine."

Her head cocked to the side. "Oh, come on, now. You're here to celebrate tonight, aren't you?" She gave his arm a gentle squeeze and headed off to the bar area before Harry had the chance to object. 

"Jesus fuck," Dallas let out a dramatic puff of air. "Did anyone else get, like, sucked in by her eyes?"

Colson raised a brow. "No. Not at all."

Harry hated to admit that her eyes were intoxicating. Everything about her was; from the way she smiled and held her gaze, to the way she conducted herself with a slight amount of arrogance to remind who she was speaking with that she was the smartest one in the room.

After she returned with their drinks, his eyes followed her as she moved around the room - not in a way to study her but to just watch. Bambi was captivating. It was quite rare to find one like her.

"I'm going to get us another round," he announced to his friends. "Come over in ten minutes. Alright?"

"Hey, hey!" Colson reached forward, swatting his arm. "Make it a... Double!"

The two drunken men broke out into hysterical cries of laughter. It was obvious after the second drink that the two were already quite wasted. Harry couldn't remember the last time he had seen Colson get to such a state of intoxication. Normally he was the one that remained the most collected out of the three.

"Oh, god," Dallas managed to get out, attempting to steady his breathing, "I love you, buddy."

Here we go, Harry thought with an eye roll. Quick to get up from the table and make his way to the bar, he wanted to skip out on Dallas's drunken declaration of love for his friends.

Bambi appeared pleased as he approached. "Another round?"

Harry nodded, leaning his frame against the bar. "Is it wrong of me to ask you to pour those drinks extra slowly?"

"Not eager to get back to your friends?"

"No," he said with a chuckle. Harry quickly grimaced. "Sorry, you must think I'm a shit friend now. They are just a bit..." he turned his head as his two friends at the table coincidentally let out an obnoxious roar of laughter. "...loud, sometimes."

She gave him a sympathetic smile. "Three very slowly poured drinks coming right up."

He watched as she grabbed a clean glass and the bottle off the top shelf.

"Here," she said, sliding him the glass.

Recognizing the bottle and her desire to not give up, a grin found its way across his expression. "I'm still not paying for that obscenely expensive drink."

"It's on the house."

Taking a sip from the glass, he raised a brow as the liquid ran down the back of his throat. "That is smooth," he commented. "But, sorry. It's still not worth that price tag."

"I just sell the drinks, I don't make them."

"How many guys actually order it when you pull that move?"

Bambi filled three glasses with ice as she began preparing his original drink order. "Many. You're one of the select few that have turned me down."

"Guess I'm not like most guys then."

"I guess you're not."

Bambi became distracted as another server approached the bar and demanded a drink for her table be made immediately. Harry could sense her distaste for her co-worker with the way her eyes narrowed at the woman and her upper lip curled into a hint of a snarl. Plus, the way she slammed the glass down on the counter and tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for it to be filled was a clear giveaway.

The blonde's attention turned to Harry. "Hi, I'm Amber," she introduced herself with a wide grin. "I haven't seen you around here before."

"Makes sense," he replied flatly, not sparing her a glance.

That made Bambi smile.

"So, this is your first time then?"

"That's the logical conclusion, yes."

While Amber fumed by not getting the type of response she desired, Bambi let out a quiet giggle from her spot on the other side of the bar.

Harry looked at the blonde. "Your drink is ready," he said, pointing to the glass.

"That was harsh." Bambi's comment sounded like it was supposed to be a scolding for his attitude, but the happiness that she radiated told a different tale.

"She's not my type."

"What is your type then?"

He pretended to think her question over. "I'd have to go with... brunette, hazel eyes, and the charm to outsmart a bunch of losers in suits who are hoping to get lucky."

"That's quite specific."

"I like what I like," he said with an amused smile. "You?"

"Long hair, green eyes, tattoos, and not into Amber."

"Guess we're both specific," he said. "How long have you been working here?"

"Not too long," she answered, wiping down the bar top. "What's that saying? Time flies when you're having fun?"

"Is that what you're having here? Fun?"

"I am now."

Harry glanced down at the drinks she finally finished pouring. "I should probably go bring these drinks back to the table."

She nodded her head slightly to the side. "I think they have already wrapped up for the night."

"Hey," Colson said, adjusting the weight of the half-awake man he was holding up. "I'm gonna take him home."

Dallas lifted his head and pointed his finger at the girl behind the bar. "You know how to pour a fucking good drink, m'lady," he drunkenly slurred. "Tip her well, Haroldina! She deserves it all!"

Harry forced a smile, resisting the urge to wring his neck for using that nickname. "I will, buddy."

Bambi transferred the drinks into two large glasses and added more alcohol from the bottle. "So, your name is Haroldina?"

"Harry," he corrected. "And you are?"

"I'm hoping you will join me outside for my break." She held up the new beverages she had put together. "How about it, Harry?"

Harry grinned, but not for the reasons the doe-eyed fool assumed.

Poor little Bambi - she had fallen perfectly into his trap.

He couldn't help but feel the tiniest hint of sympathy for her - he wasn't a complete monster, after all. But as he followed her outside down a narrow path and to the abandoned backside of the building, he thought about how perfect this situation was. It was almost like she was asking to be killed.

Harry took out his phone and typed a quick message to Kip.

Cameras in the back alley. Off. Now.

"Texting your girlfriend?"

He grinned, pressing the send button. "Just want to make sure my friends let me know when they are home."

"How thoughtful," she commented, taking a step towards him.

The red blinking light on the cameras dimmed.

His phone buzzed.

Kip: Done.

"I don't know if I'm thankful or annoyed that your phone is more interesting than me." Bambi took a sip from her drink and placed the glass down on a small table. "If I brought any other guy from the bar here, I don't think I'd be able to get a word out before they would have me pinned against the wall."

"Is that how it usually goes?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I wouldn't know. You're the first one I've asked to join me for my break."

"What makes me so special?" he asked, putting his phone in his jacket pocket.

"You're not like most guys, remember?" she teased. Taking another step towards him, her tongue swiped across her bottom lip. She caught the way his eyes focused on her movement. "You want to kiss me, don't you?"

It wasn't his original plan. But plans were always meant to change.

The corner of his lips twitched upward in response to her question. "How did you know?"

"Just a hunch." Placing her hand on his shoulder, her fingers played with the collar of his cotton shirt. "Are you going to make me beg for it?"

There is plenty of time for that, he thought to himself.

Placing one hand to gently grasp her chin, he rested the other on her hip, keeping her body close. The remaining distance between them closed as he pressed his lips against hers. Bambi leaned into his touch, craving more of him as her lips parted, allowing the entrance of his tongue. She moaned in response to the movement of his tongue, a sound he quickly learned to enjoy.

Bambi pulled back, catching her breath. "Don't be shy," she whispered against his lips. "You can touch me."

"I don't even know your name."

"That makes it more exciting," she said, tilting her head to the side as her hand grabbed hold of his wrist, moving it up the inside of her thigh. "Don't you want to feel how wet you have made me since you walked into the bar?"

Harry let her guide his hand as their lips connected. He did everything he could to hold himself back from taking her right there and then. He needed her to believe she was the one in control; that she was setting the pace. The way she confidently spoke was adorable to him - well, it was adorable she thought she had any power.

Pushing the soaked lace of her underwear aside, his finger ran along her slit and a delicious moan escaped from Bambi's mouth.

"Is all this because of me?" he asked, moving his finger at a tantalizingly slow pace. "Do you get wet like this for all your customers?"

She sucked in a breath and shook her head. "J-just you," she stuttered, sinking her teeth into her bottom lip.

"Good girl."

Harry removed his hand from in between her thighs and noticed the way her lips parted as if she were expecting him to have her lick his finger clean. Much to her disappointment, he took the treat for himself.

Grabbing a fistful of his shirt, she pulled him back in for a kiss, savouring the taste of herself that remained on his tongue. He had to be cautious with where he allowed her hands to wander, not wanting her to find the item strapped to his back. Pushing her against the brick wall, her attention went to his belt. Her hands fumbled blindly as she attempted to get it undone, but she became easily distracted by his lips on her neck.

Sucking at the sensitive skin of her neck, he heard the most beautiful sound from her lips - his name.

"Harry," she desperately moaned. "I need you. Now."

"You need me to do what, beautiful?" Met with silence, Harry pulled his head back. "I need to hear you say it."

An impatient whimper followed as she unzipped his pants. "I need you to fuck me."

He raised his hand to gently grasp her neck, a move only meant so he could tilt her head and meet her gaze. But he noticed the desire that flashed across her eyes.

The second most beautiful thing he had ever heard was released from her lips - this time, in the form of a question.

"And while you fuck me, will you choke me?"

His cock hardened hearing the simple request paired with such innocent eyes. Dipping a hand under her skirt, he pushed a finger through her wet opening without warning. Her hands went to the back of his neck, tangling her fingers in his hair.

"More," she whimpered, grinding her hips against his hand. "Just fuck me, Harry!"

The tips of his fingers pressed lightly against her neck. "Such a needy little thing," he commented, pushing a second finger in. "But you don't set the pace tonight. I do. Understood?"

"Yes."

"What's your safe word?"

A coy smile appeared. "Amber."

"And if you want to stop and you can't speak," he pumped his two fingers in and out of her tightness as he spoke, "I want you to smack your hand against the wall three times. Got it?"

"Fuck," she groaned. "Yes, I got it."

"Good girl."

He noticed her eyes roll and heard a shudder leave her lips from the praise. God damn - she truly was something special.

Removing his hand from in between her legs, he brought it to her lips. "Clean."

Her lips wrapped around his two digits, sucking them with urgency. A groan escaped him by the way she worked her tongue around his fingers and how she looked with her hollowed-out cheeks.

"Lift your shirt up for me, sweetheart."

Her hands pulled her tank top up, letting the spandex material rest above her breasts. Harry wasted no time dipping his head down, wetting her nipple with his tongue, resulting in a moan vibrating against his fingers.

Pulling his fingers from her mouth, Bambi immediately began to tug down his pants.

"I need you now, Harry," she whined, pouting her bottom lip.

"Shit," he cursed. "I don't have a condom."

The last thing he expected was to end up in this predicament, so bringing a condom wasn't on his list of items to bring for the night.

"I'm on the pill," she said softly, reaching under the waistband of his briefs. "And I'm - fuck, you're so big," she groaned, wetting her bottom lip, "And I'm clean."

"You don't mind then?"

"Fuck me, Harry," her voice begged, edging on the side of taunting. "I want to feel you for days."

He didn't care for her taunts - it only drove him crazier for her. Pressing her back roughly against the brick wall, he leaned in for a kiss and devoured her lips with his.

Gripping the lace of her underwear, he ripped it in half with ease and allowed the torn material to fall to the ground. She didn't make a sound or complain about his action, too distracted by his tongue and the way his hand roughly grabbed her thigh to lift her leg.

Bambi placed her hands on his shoulders and steadied herself as he lined up with her entrance, moaning into his mouth as he pushed in. There was little time for her to adjust; he didn't care to go soft with her. Bambi finally broke the kiss, unable to contain her sounds any longer.

Nails digging into the skin of his shoulders, her jaw went slack. "Fuck, oh fuck, oh god-" she chanted, sinking her teeth into her bottom lip.

Feeling her touch begin to roam, he swiftly grabbed hold of her wrists and pinned her hands above her head. With each thrust gaining speed, Bambi arched her back off the wall.

"Don't move your hands, alright?"

She nodded and replied with the sounds of moaning, unable to form a proper sentence. The moment his hand left her wrists and went to her throat, he could feel her clench around him without barely touching her.

If there was one thing Harry loved, it was a sense of control. And at this very moment, relentlessly thrusting into her with the hand she had asked to be choked with around her neck, his desires were fulfilled. A small part of him would miss her after she was dead - the two could have had some fun together.

"Harder!" she whined.

A pleased smile found its way onto her lips as her demands were met. His hips thrusted faster, pounding into her with no remorse. The grip around her neck tightened, the cool metal from his ringers pressing into her delicate skin. He sensed her breathing was becoming more of a chore as he cut her airways off - not enough to scare her, just to give her the type of pleasure she was desperate for.

"You like that?" he taunted, knowing she couldn't form a sentence. "You like it when a stranger fucks you against the wall, right outside your work, hm?"

She only responded with a faint moan.

"Such a good girl," he continued, tightening his grasp as much as he could allow himself to. He didn't want to kill her right this second, of course.

Her eyes fluttered closed and her head rolled back as she found her release.

He withdrew his length completely and slammed it back in without warning. The poor thing barely knew what was happening, still in her post orgasm haze. It didn't take long until he buried himself as deep as he could. His hand moved slightly up her neck, allowing his fingers to roughly grip her chin. A soft, gentle kiss was placed on her lips; he was surprised by his own move.

Dragging his lips across her jaw, up to her ear, he whispered, "You look so lovely cumming with my hand around your neck."

"I think that's the sweetest thing I've heard post-sex."

Her comment amused him.

"Drop your hands, sweetheart." Harry pulled back his head, watching as she placed her arms back down at her sides. "Such a good listener you are..." he commented, sliding his cock out from her warmth. "But you've made quite the mess."

Bambi pouted her bottom lip. "Let me fix that." Dropping to her knees, she immediately took him into her mouth.

Impressed with her skills, he wished she had been on her knees for him to begin with. Put that smart mouth of hers to use. His hand brushed away the fallen strands of her hair, allowing it to gather in his hand. Twisting his hand around her locks, he gently tugged, causing her large doe-eyes to look up at him.

"Just testing it out," he commented, gaining a rush of pleasure from the deceit behind his words.

With one final kiss to the tip, she placed his cleaned cock back under his briefs and pulled up his pants before slowly standing to adjust and fix her appearance.

She pulled down her shirt to recover her breasts and adjusted her skirt back in place. Her lips, red and swollen, paired with the smudged makeup under her eyes gave her a seductive post-fuck look. If only there was time for them to go again.

"You are quite the little delight, aren't you?" he hummed, dragging her bottom lip down with his thumb.

She smirked, running her tongue along her bottom and top lip. "Am I?"

His hand moved to her chin. "Yes," he said, dipping his head closer. "Which is why it's such a shame that I have to do this."

Harry's hand went to her neck and grasped it tightly. Her eyes flashed with panic as it quickly became evident that this choking was no longer of the kink-driven nature. He enjoyed that look of fear. He loved the symphony of wheezing sounds she made with every slight increase of pressure. He craved the way she tried to resist his hold, swatting his hand and pulling at his wrist as if it were going to achieve anything.

Knowing he had finished inside her only minutes ago was what he loved most of all. And now, gripping her life in his hand was enough to make the twisted man ready for a second round.

It was clear she was fighting the urge to allow her heavy eyelids to close completely. Harry couldn't deny it - her resistance to giving in was impressive. Most would have passed out by now.

"You have something that belongs to me and I want it back."

Harry reached behind his back and pulled the gun out of its holster. Bambi's eyes widened with a mix of fear and confusion as he brought it towards her face. She wanted to scream, but his grasp on her throat prevented her from releasing any noise.

"I-I d-didn't," she managed to choke out in the faintest whisper.

"Oh, come on, now. I'm sure even a stupid little girl like you can remember what you stole from my safe." He leaned forward, taking in her sweet scent of vanilla one final time. "I don't even give a shit about the money - just bring me back my locket." Pressing a kiss against her lips, he devoured her doe-eyed glance filled with delicious fear. "I'll give you till the end of the week to return what is rightfully mine."

The barrel of the gun was pressed against her full lips. If her strength wasn't enough to impress him, he noticed her eyes roll back and the faintest sound of a moan to release from her desperate lips. Her arousal dripped down the inside of her bare thigh - she was equally turned on by what he was doing.

Killing her was going to be quite a shame. He would miss this vixen.

Releasing his grasp, her body tumbled to the floor. The gasping noises she made as she struggled to fill her lungs with oxygen were a symphony to his ears. His hand tangled in her hair, yanking the top half of her body off the ground.

"Aw, don't look so scared, Bambi," he mocked her, pouting his bottom lip. "You should be thanking me for giving you a chance." Crouching down to be eye level with her, he grinned, pulling her hair again to hear a final time scream of pain. "Normally I kill people like you, Rory." 

omg. welcome to the new story! i am very excited to share this with yall. 

Rory was always my favourite little addition to HEADLINE, and now I can't wait to share her story. this book is much different than what I've written before, so I hope you all enjoy. 

as always, please vote/comment & follow me on twitter @ normiesandwich for updates, sneak peeks & to chat! 

xo