Stripped Read Online Free

all became a dull rumble as Emily wanted to hear more.
    There was a beautiful poetic tone in the man’s voice.
    “Anything?” he asked.
    “Anything what?” Emily replied.
    “What I just said.  Does it mean anything?”
    “I don’t know.  Should it?”
    “We’ve been broken, from day to night, is it worth the fix, when this feels so right?”
    Emily shook her head.  She had nothing to offer but she enjoyed the way it sounded.  It made her body feel really good.  When she looked down she couldn’t believe she had casually placed the tips of her fingers on the man’s knee. 
    Was that a sexual gesture?
    Was the man whispering in her ear a sexual gesture?
    “What’s your name?” he asked.
    “Emily,” she replied without hesitation. 
    “Do you want to know my name?”
    “Yes.”
    The man closed his lips and ran them up and down Emily’s ear, just once, and then pulled away.  He stared at Emily with his beautiful eyes that matched his gorgeous face. 
    Through the silence he began to smile.
    “You really don’t know me,” he said.
    “Sorry.”
    “I’m not so sure you should be.”  He put his hand out towards Emily, a gesture to shake hands.  Emily looked at his hand for a few seconds, wondering if it was better this way.  It certainly felt hotter... not knowing his name.  The flirting.  The whispers.  Chasing away the annoying bartender.  An aura hung around the stranger and because of that aura, Emily took his hand and shook it.  She wanted to know more. 
    “I’m Emily,” she said.
    “You already said that.”
    “I know.”
    “You still want to know my name.”
    “I don’t know.”
    “I can get in trouble if I tell you my name.”
    “Are you on the run?”
    “We all are.  Think about it.”
    Emily did.  The still-stranger took his hand away and pondered Emily’s face as she thought.  She hated that she was losing herself in the stranger.  His face was beautiful and his words were even more beautiful.  He twisted the top off the scotch and poured himself a large helping.  He sipped it for a second and then began to down it with ease. 
    When he slammed the glass to the bar and let out a sigh of relief, Emily had to ask him something.
    “Doesn’t that burn?”
    “Sometimes,” he said.  “But that’s the fun, isn’t it?  A little pain for a lot of pleasure.” 
    His fingers started to move along Emily’s fingers, gently curling, moving in a motion like he wanted Emily closer.
    “I couldn’t take a drink like that,” Emily said.
    “But I’m sure there’s other ways you could handle a little pain for the ending result.”
    “And what’s the end result of drinking like that?”
    The stranger laughed and played a quick drumbeat on the bar.  “Ah, she asks the deep question.  And she doesn’t know who I am, even my name.”
    “You’re asking me questions,” Emily threw at him.
    “No, I’m giving you statements,” the man corrected.  “I’m telling you about pain and pleasure.  Any questioning is coming from yourself.  Because you’re thinking about it now.  And you’ll think about it later, won’t you?  When you’re home, in bed.  You’ll wonder about the last time you felt real pleasure, had real fun, and dabbled in your true wild side.”
    “What makes you think I have a wild side?” Emily asked.
    “Look at you,” the man said.  He moved fast, yet smooth.  He leaned back into Emily.  He pushed his sunglasses back up.  From the corner of Emily’s eyes she saw the next band ready to take the stage. 
    It was going to get loud again.
    Very loud.
    Shit.
    Emily didn’t want noise.  She wanted... him .   The gorgeous stranger.  And yes, maybe even pain.  Not bad pain, but good pain.  Whatever the hell that was.
    “Look at you,” he repeated.  “Your eyes tell me a different story than the one you portray to the world.  And your body... those winding curves can take me places, can’t they?”
    Emily