This is a
Literotica 2022 Valentine's Day Story Contest
. Please Vote! Thank you!
*
Rhiannon gave a deep sigh as she wiped down the tables of the bar. It was late. She was tired but here she was, for better or worse. She neither liked nor disliked her job as a waitress at Port of Call, it was a job and it was how she made her living. That was all she could say.
It had been a busy night. Rhiannon had looked enviously at all the couples who had spent the night in the bar. It had been too long since she had a relationship. Rhiannon wanted a love of her own. Someone to be with and confide in. She wanted someone to snuggle up with on cold nights. Still, as she looked around Rhiannon was glad that the night was winding down. Now she could go home, have a hot bath, dinner and some sleep.
She was wiping the tables down. The bell to the bar rang. "We're closed." she said to the man who had just walked in.
"My name's Eammon. I just got into Sheep's Cove. I've been traveling by myself for a long time. It's cold out there tonight, below zero. I know you're closing but I could use a whiskey, if you have any. It would be a lot to me." stated the man. He brushed the snow off his hair and rubbed his hands together.
Rhiannon looked at him in disappointment. She was supposed to be closing the bar. It was past midnight. She was tired. She was hungry. But, a customer was a customer. A small part of her, said to be nice to this stranger, he was cold and hungry. Rhiannon's mother had always told her that a stranger is just a friend you haven't met.
"Fine. I'll get you a whiskey. Sit." said Rhiannon exasperatedly as she rolled her eyes. She didn't mean her voice to be so brisk. But, she just wanted to be home in her bed. She poured Eammon a whiskey.
"Sit with me, woman. If you've got nothing better to do. I'd like to warm up. You look like you could use some relaxation too. Why don't you pour yourself a shot and sit down besides me?" stated the man. He patted the bar stool besides him.
Rhiannon tried to keep her professionalism. But, her frustrated look must have given her away. The man was just sitting at the bar taking his time drinking his whiskey. Didn't he know it was past closing time?
"Why don't you just say what it's so hard you're trying not to say?" stated Eammon. He had been away from the mortal world and his pack a long time. He didn't know what had called him into this small town tonight. Eammon wouldn't admit it to himself but he just wanted to be with someone. Anyone, even if it was a mortal. The more he looked at Rhiannon, Eammon supposed he was lucky. He was drinking whiskey with a woman, who's long hair was the color of whiskey and her eyes were flashing an angry sea green.
"It's late! It's past midnight! I'm tired and I still have to walk home! I haven't eaten all day. Here you are just malingering." Rhiannon yelled at him.
"Ok, ok, settle down woman. I can see you're upset. I just want you to join me and talk for awhile. I'm going to be in Sheep's Cove for a few days. I thought it would be nice to spend some time with a new friend. You seem nice and I'd like that to be you. I'm sorry it's late and you're tired. Sit down, relax, I'll help you out." said Eammon as he came around the bar.
Rhiannon was about to object. She was just so tired. Rhiannon figured "fuck it", so she sat down. She watched Eammon make his way around to the bar's kitchen. She watched him as he put on a pot of coffee.
"You have some Stouffer's Chicken pot pies in the fridges back here. They're always good to eat in cold weather. How about I cook you one of those?" yelled Eammon from the back.
Rhiannon was starving. She also wanted to get rid of this man ASAP.
"Fine! whatever!" she yelled back. Although, her anger was ebbing.
The man came back into the main room. He sat a steaming cup of coffee in front of her. "Here you go. I had to guess but I went with one cream and one sugar. It's decaf. You said you had to get to bed."
"Uhmm, right...bed." stated Rhiannon. This was the first time she'd gotten a good look at the man. He was older than her but still very handsome. He had grey hair mixed in with fading amber. His blue eyes sparkled at her and he winked. The wink threw her off guard.
"So tell me about yourself." the man questioned.
Rhiannon led a very private life. She usually kept to herself and didn't talk, especially to strangers. She didn't know why she was talking to this man. An innate Part of her knew she could trust him.
"Not much to say. I went to high school here. I didn't have enough money to go to college. So I got a job here at this bar. I've been working here ever since." stated Rhiannon, blushing a deep red. She was more than a little embarrassed. She hadn't gone to college. She was just a waitress in a crummy bar in a small seaside town. Rhiannon was just a little person. There was nothing special about her.
The stove beeped. The man went to get the chicken pot pies. He set one down in front of Rhiannon and another one in front of him. Rhiannon was starving. She started wolfing down the chicken pot pie. Not caring that it was searing hot.
" I'm Rhiannon by the way. So what's your story, Eammon?" questioned Rhiannon. It was late but Rhiannon also had no one to talk to. This man seemed kind enough. It was hard for Rhiannon to talk. Her mouth was full of hot chicken pot pie. Some juice spilled out of her mouth and onto her chin.
Automatically, Eammon grabbed a napkin and wiped the juice off her face. It was nice spending time with a person.
"Not much to say about me really. I roam from place to place. Going wherever my feet carry me. It's nice here in Sheep's Cove. I need a place to spend the winter. It's only supposed to get colder. You wouldn't know of a place where I could crash do you?" Eammon questioned.
Later, Rhiannon didn't know why she said it. She tried to tell herself that it was late and she'd been drinking. Later, Rhiannon told herself that Eammon was a stranger. He had told her he was a drifter. Rhiannon later thought he could be a thief, a rapist or something worse. The man was just so handsome. He seemed so kind. Rhiannon was enamored by his entire personality.
"You could stay with me. If you don't mind crashing on a cot." Rhiannon said.
"I couldn't impose on a beautiful lady like you. It wouldn't be right." stated Eammon. Truth be told he was excited. He had hoped to stay in the mortal world for awhile. He had been on his own for too long. He wanted company and he liked this woman. She thought she was boring. But, Eammon was already starting to desire her.
"It's really no problem. Just sleep on the cot tonight. I have some time off coming up. We'll get you all settled then. Whatever you need. Be my guest." said Rhiannon firmly. She'd been lonely. It would be good to have someone to come home to especially in the dark winter. Even if it was a stranger she didn't entirely trust.
"I've got these dishes." stated Eammon. Before Rhiannon could say anything the dishes were done with supernatural speed. Eammon was at the bar's door holding her coat.
"I suppose we'll go home then. What about your coat, Eammon? It's freezing out and my apartment is on the other side of town." questioned Rhiannon.
"Oh, I'm warm blooded, I never get cold." said Eammon. He opened the door and Eammon and Rhiannon headed out into the night. Eammn and Rhiannon walked the mile and a half to the other side of Sheep's Cove. They made their way up the outside stairs into Rhiannon's apartment. Rhiannon flipped on the light.
Rhiannon's apartment was basically a shoe-box and very untidy. Rhiannon blushed a deep red. Why did she keep her apartment in such a state of disarray? "Uhmm...I wasn't expecting guests, let me tidy that up for you". Eammon watched amused as the woman scampered around her apartment and picked up clothes that were strewn about. He watched amused as she shoved a few unwashed mugs into the dishwasher.