All I Need (anna's Story)

Alexi called me the next day, to meet at a certain bench on the boardwalk at noon. He said would wait there for fifteen minutes past noon but if I was late he would be gone. He said this in a school principal-like tone, appropriate for his fifty-seven years but I just assumed he was nervous. I was eighteen, I could easily think of an excuse to not show.

But I didn't bail on him. He was my prince. I took an Uber to the spot, asking to be dropped off across the street. I needed the extra few seconds of walking to calm my nerves.

Alexi sat on a bench looking into the sun with his sunglasses on his forehead. "Annika?"

"Yeah, it's me." I wore a cheap blue sundress with a flower pattern, like something from the 1970s, paired with my dirty sneakers and my long blonde hair braided to the side. I had no makeup on, looking more like a real girl, not the living doll I was at the party. "I'm so happy you called. I was afraid you would have something better to do."

He just gave a 'your welcome' smile and nod. Alexi looked quite different from his professional look from the night before. He wore a black leather riding jacket, over a plain t-shirt, with jeans and running shoes.

"Umm.. so you have the day off today?" I asked in my shy little girl voice.

"Does it matter?"

"Of course not..l-o-l." Yes, I seriously said L-O-L. To salvage my dignity I walked ahead of him, down the Atlantic City boardwalk. "Let's go there!" I pulled him to the first casino I saw. I knew I was not old enough to gamble in the state of New Jersey but with a mafia man by my side- maybe this would be my lucky day. I planted myself at a slot machine and proceeded to pull out way too many large bills.

Alexi was silent- but I could have sworn I heard him snicker before the inevitable happened.

"I'll need to see some id!" said an old crone of a casino worker. This woman was not security, likely just an employee who felt the need to make sure every gambler was over 21.

I, of course, refused, because even if I showed my ID it would show I was not 21.

"You and your daughter need to leave!" the worker said in a tone, too demanding for someone of her pay grade.

I was livid. "But I put a $100 in this machine!"

The old woman looked at the total, which was less than 100- meaning I was not taking home any profit. She pressed 'cash out' and handed the ticket to Alexi.

"Let's go," said Alexi, with a chuckle and an eye roll.

"Really?" I asked with a glare. "That's all you're going to say?"

"Very sorry about this," Alexi said to the worker. He gave a sarcastic smile before picking me up and throwing my smaller body over his shoulder like a caveman.

"What the Fuck?" I shouted once he put me down. "Do you know how much I got paid yesterday?"

"We can find something else to do," he said calmly, "Let's just go for a walk."

"But it's, like, 1000 degrees out."

"Don't make me regret meeting you here," Alexi replied with a laugh. "Why did you even take that job in the first place?"

"It was my roommate's idea. She was the bi-racial girl at the party with the purple hair. I think she's Philippine and Dutch or British.—all I know is she's an international student."

"I think I remember a girl with purple hair; quite open and flirty but in a very unappealing way."

"She meant well and the money was good, as promised," I said with a shrug. "Want to get a soda?" I was already making my way to a cafe, again hoping (or just assuming) Alexi would follow.

"Where is your family?" he asked as I ordered a lemonade and a pack of chips, pulling out money quicker than I could.

I bit my lip, as my mind searched for the words. "My family is all over the place."

Alexi placed a hand on my shoulder. "You are looking for forgiveness but not from God."

What the fuck, man? His words caused me to burst into tears. But at that moment, it felt strangely therapeutic. "I-I grew up in Maine. My dad died in a car accident eight years ago." I spat out the words like a piece of food stuck in a tooth. "My mother suffered no injuries, at least not physically, my brother Brian...m-my older brother broke his spine- but at least he also got into NYU- because nothing makes for a great essay like how breaking your spine caused you to want to rise above your handicap and fight for your dreams of becoming a journalist," I added an awkward chuckle to lighten the mood. "...And my mom lives in Tampa; she has good days and bad days. I don't really see her as much as I should."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not like you put a hit out."

"Was that a little Mafia humor at my expense?"

"Sorry, It's a joke me and my brother made up. There were just too many people saying 'sorry.' all the time it was getting annoying- sorry." I stood up, preparing for the inevitable. "You can leave if you want."

"Why would I leave?"

"Because I'm a hot mess," I muttered as I started down the boardwalk to a souvenir store. The entrance was full of cute, jersey shore, themed items.

Alexi followed, staying just close enough.

"My dad had been driving," I said as I looked at rainbow magnets with the state name and little seahorses. "A smaller car crossed over the barrier, hitting the driver's side of my Dad's chevy, so hard it managed to flip." I twirled a magnet between two fingers. "The steering wheel crushed my father's sternum, he died before the ambulance arrived- all on a beautiful sunny day."

"What about you?"

"My window was completely broken, so I was the first one to escape the car. I pulled my father's body out of the car, with supernatural strength, crying, screaming, and praying. If God would not take him I would be a good daughter; get good grades, go to a good college."

Alexi silently put his arms around my waist.

I put down the magnet and turned to face him. "My father tried to tell me everything would be ok. He admitted to me and only me; he was afraid of dying. Even if there was a heaven, he didn't want to leave his family."

"Let's go outside." We took shelter in the shade of an alleyway, by a dumpster. Alexi held me close, in the comfortable coolness. "Do I remind you of him?"

"My dad?" I asked, "way to make things awkward."

"Ok, I'll change the subject." Alexi placed a finger under my chin, lifting my face like a child's. "Tell me more about your brother. I can tell you are very proud of the person he became."

"Yeah, he was the strong one. When I pulled him out of the car I didn't even realize he couldn't feel his legs. He called 911 on his cell phone and motioned for me to lay down beside him. I told him I was scared. You know what he said? 'I don't want you to ever be scared.' I think he's the person you remind me of." I couldn't help but want to touch Alexi's body; he was real, he was there. Unlike my family.

"He sounds like a remarkable young man."

"He was, I mean he is: my brother got into NYU on a full scholarship. I was not so fortunate; I went to a New Jersey community college, paid for completely by loans. So when my roommate told me about all the money she was currently making as an 'escort' I thought it might be the quick fix I needed, at least for the current semester."

I wanted so badly to be held, to be Alexi's girl. At that moment I needed him and I knew he needed me. And he didn't seem to mind when I opened his zipper, reaching into his jeans.

"You don't have to do this." Alexi was already hard. And his gorgeous cock felt just as good as it did at the party.

"Do you know why I want to become a nurse?" I asked as I got on my knees. "Maybe I'll be able to save someone, someday."

I could tell, Alexi was resisting the urge to grip my hair. He leaned his head back, moaning. The lube of his sweat mixed with the liquid of my mouth to create a perfect environment. I sucked in my cheeks while taking his entire legnth down my throat- yeah, he was going to need to hold my hair if only to keep from falling over.

This wasn't what Alexi wanted, but by God this was what he needed- a deep, intense, passionate release.

I could feel him cum, his warmth creaming down my throat. He tried to pull out but I used my hands to keep him in place; Alexi would be released on my terms. I worked his cock like a tube of toothpaste to get out every last drop of cum. "You get to choose the next activity," I said as I casually wiped my lips. "But I want to go buy a piece of candy to get rid of the taste."

"You hate the taste?" Alexi couldn't help but chuckle.

"Yeah, it's gross. But it's all part of the healing process; just like how nurses don't enjoy sticking IV's into veins or serving crappy food."

Alexi smiled, as he followed. "Do you want to sit on the beach?"

"Sure." I paid for a giant chai-latte flavored lollipop that was in the shape of the state of New Jersey and walked with him.

"How far do you live from here?"

"Not far," I said while attempting to bite off a piece of the oversized candy.

He motioned to sit on the beach; even though I could tell he had no idea the sand would be painfully hot. "That was a mistake," he said getting back up immediately.

"Don't get to the jersey shore much?"

"Let's just keep walking then."

"Ok," I said as I sweetly took his hand. "So, I guess... tell me about your family."

"Nothing to tell."

"Well, do you have any siblings? Any parents?...kids?" After all, he was old enough to be a father maybe even a grandfather.

"No."

"No what?"

"My parents are long gone, I have two bothers that I have not seen in over a decade, and I have never had a child."

"So where are we going?" I asked, to change the subject.

"Any place that would make you happy."

"Take me to the arcade and I'll sneak you into my dorm room." I leaned in and discreetly kissed him on the lips. "Have you been to an arcade before?"

"How old do you think I am?"

"I could guess, but you would never tell me anyway."

"I have secrets of my own," he said, placing his hand over mine at just the right angle. Although he was not missing any fingers, clearly they had been broken once or perhaps several times; below black ink tattoos on his wrinkled callused hands were clear evidence of scars.

"Not exactly a secret; you have the hands of a soldier." I brought his hand to my lips, to gently kiss his tattooed knuckles. "But your hands are not your heart."

"You are very wise- for a little girl."

We went to the nearest arcade, an outdated place consisting of video games that came out in the early '90s and other activities involving balls and tickets.

"Can I have a quarter, Daddy?" I asked in a baby voice while licking my lips.

In response, Alexi put a fifty dollar bill in the token machine and took only 4 tokens for himself. "Take what you want, or don't," he said, as he walked to the ticket games.

I took a handful and then left the rest to whatever lucky person came after.

Alexi was surprisingly good at ski-ball, using an unorthodox method: ricochet the ball off the side of the target with such force it almost broke the hole it was trying to land in. "What? How do you play this game?"

"Most people roll the ball, as opposed to pitching it."

Alexi grabbed the handful of tickets. Even scoring an illegal amount of points, there were only about forty prize tickets. "Here, treat yourself to plastic frog or a pencil."

"What if I'd rather treat myself to you?" I moved in close, brushing my lips to his.

"I think it's about time I took you home."

"Just what I wanted to hear. Where are you parked?"

I was a little surprised when Alexi took me to his motorcycle.

"Oh," I said, out loud.

"Are you disappointed I don't have a car that cost more than most people make in a year?"

"Now that I think about it, I actually think I would have been disappointed to see a car; this is more fun, more you. Do you have an extra helmet?"

"Helmets were never really my thing."

"I guess I'll just have to hold on tight." I gave the address of my dorm. On the ride over, I explained that my roommate may or not be home but it didn't matter, because she knew all about

Alexi- my angel. And if anyone else saw us, they would probably assume he was my dad or a visiting relative. But even with that in mind, as soon as Alexi parked I cupped his face, kissing him with such passion he would taste the long eaten lollipop.

Alexi only smiled. "Meet me here tomorrow, 5 pm," he said with a sweetness that went against his rough exterior. "The moment is not right. There is much more I want to show you."

"Oh, that fine." I kissed his lips again, and then his neck. I simply could not pull myself away. "Sorry. See you tomorrow at 5 pm." I mouthed, 'Love you' as he drove away.

Part of me was afraid I had come off too strong but Alexi arrived the next day, exactly when he said he would. I ran out to greet him wearing a plain t-shirt paired with white denim jeans.

"I want to show you my home. And I brought you a gift." He tossed a helmet from his pack.

"Really?" I got on the back of his motorcycle. It was a twenty-minute ride to his rural New Jersey cabin, but the view was just breathtaking.

Alexi lived completely off the grid; a generator, a water pump, and fire. No wi-fi, and a barely usable phone.

I had never been so far into the woods, and it was fucking magical! By the window birds were eating from the trash. "Have you seen this?"

"The birds?" Alexi looked through his trash and found a sizable amount of old bread. "Did you want to feed the birds?"

"Heck yeah!" it had been ages since I fed birds. I called them by made up names and tossed bread until there was none left. All while Alexi cooked a stew on his wood-powered stove. "Can I use your bathroom?" I asked, already headed there.

There was an awkward pause. "Sure, do enjoy the garden."

The bathroom was basic, with a simple toilet, cabinet, and exit door. The glass paneled door was more fascinating than anything, opening into an outdoor shower overlooking a small flower garden.

I used the toilet then went back inside. With the lack of air-conditioning and Alexi using the stove it was getting a little too warm in the house. Luckily the sun was setting, so we could eat outside in the reasonably comfortable night air. "Wow, you have quite the liquor cabinet."

"Don't forget I know how old you are." He joked. It's not like he would get in trouble for it.

"So, help myself?"

"If you feel you need to." Alexi served the food and they ate outside on lawn chairs.

I took a shot of cheap store brand vodka, then proceeded to pour an entire mug full. "It's so nice out here. What do you do when you're alone?"

"Read, cook, garden, and sometimes I paint."

"I would love to see your paintings." Under the filled sky, I held his hand.

It was in the moment of love Alexi decided to ask an odd question. "Was I your first?" He took a long swig of vodka as if to prepare for the answer.

"No, after my father died, people say I fall in love too easily," I said looking up at the stars. "Do you have any paintings here?"

"There's one. You'll know it when you see it."

After eating, I fell asleep in his arms. He must have carried me to his bed, to sleep off the vodka while he slept on the couch.

I awoke to the sound of Alexi coughing. By the light of the moon, I watched him in the bathroom; he grasped at the sink as he coughed up blood. He wiped his mouth briefly, before sitting against the wall.

I went back to bed. If Alexi wanted to tell me the truth if his condition I would allow him to do so on his own terms.

The next morning I awoke next to him, feeling rested and peaceful. In the morning light, I could finally see his painting; an elaborate mural over the entirety of the room. Two walls displayed a surreal image of the iconic cityscapes of Russia blending into flowers and other plants. He clearly used acrylics; as the paint lent a sensual texture to every object. She stroked her hand over a single flower. Every detail could be felt through the intensity of the brush strokes.

"Do you like it?" Alexi asked as he awoke with a gentle yawn.

"It's amazing. Have your paintings ever been in any gallery?"

"No, but do you remember what you said about religious paintings?" he said with a chuckle.

"No way! You painted the ones in the office?" I probably sounded so childlike, but I couldn't help it. Alexi's amazing, passionate talent made me truly excited.

"Not all of them." he shrugged. "Are you hungry? Let me take you someplace a little more special."

"What could be more special than this?" I got back into bed to give him a hug. "Plus, don't you have to work?"

"If I did I would know," Alexi said flashing a cell phone that he kept on his nightstand.

"Ok then, what did you have in mind?"