No Man Left Behind: A Veteran Inspired Charity Anthology by Elizabeth Knox (black authors fiction TXT) 📕

around and he always looked forward to the next time she’d come over. Hopefully, that would be later tonight, after meeting up with her girlfriends.

Abby was spending the night again, in the other room under the covers, nude. At least, that’s how he pictured her. He made a mental note to replace the empty bottle of conditioner he’d used up during her last visit. He’d need it, tonight.

He exited his car and strolled toward the door, opening it to loud music throbbing against his ear drums. Walking through the opening he searched the dim lit room for his friends, his gaze extending toward the pool tables in the back of the room, searching for a familiar face. He recalled the one time he attempted to instruct Abby on how to play pool. Not that he was a master at the sport, but he enjoyed playing a game or two whenever the opportunity presented itself.

A pleasant sensation rippled through Sterling and pulsed through his groin. It slowly swelled his lengthening member, rendering it active as he recalled the enjoyable warmth of Abby’s supple body as she sank into the cover provided by his strong arms. Intending to only instruct her, he instead, found himself at odds with his warring emotions, unable to focus solely on imparting to her the purpose and object of the game.

Unaware of his marked attention, he breathed in Abby’s floral, perfumed scent, a heady mix that complimented her sensual femininity. Too many females wore strong mixes that masked their beauty, startled the recipient and then wafted strongly after they disappeared from a room. Abby’s, on the other hand, slowly lingered, enticing the audience with her sweet, welcoming perfume subtly marking her territory as she moved about.

If her soft smile or her kind, compassionate personality didn’t grab you, first, her pleasant, captivating scent did. Of course, there was always her gorgeous, round ass, too.

He growled as an image of her perky round bottom popped into his head. Damn. The woman was gorgeous. Yet, Abby never thought much of her looks. If only, she understood how attractive she was to him . . . Would it make a difference in her opinion of him?

One of his friends called out and waved to him, breaking his concentration. He threw two fingers up into the air acknowledging Mario’s greeting as he stepped toward the bar.

Sterling patted Mario’s back and then took the bar stool next to him. Raising his eyebrows, he smiled at his friend. “Hey, buddy. You got away.”

Mario nodded. “Yeah, just barely. I didn’t have to stay late this time. Frederick clocked in. Though I don’t know how much longer he has. Might be fired soon. Making too many errors, from what I heard.”

Sterling waved over the female bartender. “Yeah, can’t do that.” He caught her starry-eyed look as he ordered his drink. She lingered a bit, a flirtatious smile dotting the corner of her mouth before she finally stepped away.

Mario took a swig from his glass. “Making friends with the ladies already, I see.” Sterling snorted in reply.

“It’s the muscles and the tattoo. Girls love those.”

Sterling waved a dismissive hand in the air. “It’s the muscles and the tattoo. Girls love those.”“Nah man. I’m not interested.”

“Yeah, I know. What’s her name? Amy?”

“Abby.” He grabbed ahold of the glass the waitress dropped in front of him. The waitress placed her arms across the counter and leaned forward. “You boys having fun?”

“Yeah,” they replied, almost simultaneously.

She cocked her head toward Sterling. “Where’d you get the ink?”

Mario’s lips curled up into a grin. He gave Sterling a half nod and smacked the back of his hand across Sterling’s arm in an “I told you so” gesture.

Sterling gazed at the liquor swirling in the bottom of his glass. “Before I went into the Army. It was kind of a reward for me, I guess.”

The waitress tipped her chin up. “Oh, you were in the service? How long?”

“Four years.”

“Thank you. Your drink’s on me.”

Sterling caught her gaze. “You’re welcome but you don’t have to. I can pay for it.”

The flecks in her eyes sparkled a bit brighter as she spoke. “That’s okay. I admire veterans. Oh, and by the way, I like the ink.”

Sterling caught Mario’s uplifted eyebrow and mischievous smirk with a direct nod in his direction in another I told you so gesture. The girl was cute—yeah—and if circumstances and his life were different, Sterling might’ve taken a chance and talked to her. Yet, he already had someone special in his life and the bartender wasn’t what he ultimately needed.

She was no Abby.

“There you two are.” A male decked out in blue jeans and a casual t-shirt took the barstool on the opposite side of Mario and greeted them. He turned his attention to the waitress and winked at her. “Gin on the rocks, beautiful.” Sterling exhaled a long sigh of relief when she sashayed away.

Sterling knew he wasn’t a bad looking fellow but he had no interest in warding off female interest tonight. His main purpose for taking time out with the guys was to have fun and shoot some pool. If he was interested in pursuing female companionship, he would’ve waited back home for Abby.

Abby. His best friend. He wondered what she was up to. Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he scrolled through his contacts list till he found her name.

Mario glanced at his phone. “Who you calling there, buddy?”

“Sending a quick text to Abs.”

The new guy, Sean, piped up, “Oh you mean that girl you mentioned, Abby, right?”

“Yeah.” He pressed the arrow key, receiving a whooshing sound in response, alerting him that his message was sent. Then he slipped his phone back into his pocket.

“Did you tell her you want her?”

Sterling snorted. “No. Just told her I’m looking forward to seeing her later.”

They both uttered a long “Ohhh,” almost simultaneously.

Mario pumped his arms toward him indicating a gesture of having sex. “Man, you seeing her later?”

Sterling’s tone of voice grew stern. “Not like