Chapter Text
“Yass mmm, damn boy, give it to me harder,” Poppy panted as she continued to read over the manuscript beneath her, her red pen circling a typo. She rolled her eyes as the man on the other end of the phone call grunted. “That’s right, cum for me baby,” she purred, twirling a lock of hair around her finger as she tried to concentrate on the words under her eyes.
“Tell me ya want it,” the disembodied voice growled at her through the speaker of her phone. Poppy threw her head back to glare at the ceiling in impatience. Couldn’t he just cum already? Usually she didn’t mind, pay per minute meant the longer they took the more money she made but she really needed to finish this manuscript and frankly, this guy annoyed her. He wasn’t one of her regulars and she really wasn’t feeling him. He’d been exceptionally dirty.
She picked up the phone and brought the speaker to her lips, “I want it, I want all of it, paint my body with it,” she murmured seductively, satisfied when she heard him moan and grunt before the line went dead. She smirked, what a douche. She had only read one more paragraph before her phone beeped at her, informing her she had another incoming call. She glanced at the clock on the wall. Whatever, she was making good money tonight and she was about ready for a snack anyways. She could get whoever it was off in fifteen minutes, more than enough time to make a snack and get back to her work. She picked up the call, already pushing herself up from her desk, making her way over to the kitchen. “Hey there handsome, what fantasy can I make come true for you tonight?” she purred, reaching into the fridge pulling out a brick of cheddar cheese and a bag of sliced ham.
“What are you wearing?” a breathless voice responded.
She rolled her eyes as she reached for the tortilla chips beneath the counter. So creative, she thought sarcastically. Oh well, beggars couldn’t be choosers, sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do. “Mmm,” she moaned, setting the phone on the counter, tapping the speaker button, “white lace panties..and…nothing…else,” she told him in what she knew was a sultry voice, she shook her head in amusement, men, they lived for the pauses. In truth, she was wearing sweatpants and an old t-shirt but he didn’t need to know that. None of these men paid for the truth. Nope, they paid for what they wanted to hear, she thought as she grated the cheese. From the way this guy was panting and moaning it would probably only take him five minutes. Fine with her. Easy money.
“Touch yourself, keep the panties on,” the breathless voice panted.
Poppy grabbed a plate as quietly as she could, spreading out her nacho chips, sprinkling the shredded cheese over them before tearing up some of the ham, tossing that on top as well while she made the obligatory sounds he was hoping for. “Oh, ooooooh, mmmmm, yesssss, mmmm, oh, oh, oh, ooooooh,” she moaned as she took the phone off speaker and popped the plate in her microwave. She wandered away from the appliance, leaning against the counter, her back to the front door of the apartment she shared with Erdene as she waited for her snack.
“Tell me how many fingers,” the voice asked impatiently.
“Two,” she responded in feigned breathlessness as she put him back on speaker once the microwave finished beeping. She heard the front door open across the apartment from her but paid it no mind as she retrieved her snack. It was about time Erdene came home. She’d said she was going on a date with a potential new author; she hadn’t realized she’d be gone this late though.
“Put in another one,” the voice groaned.
She rolled her eyes, damn men were greedy, did he ever stop to think maybe she preferred two? She eyed her nachos longingly. She couldn’t eat until he was off the phone. Nothing sexier than someone munching on chips in your ear. She bit her lip to prevent from snickering. “Ooooh ya baby, that’s sooo good,” she moaned.
Tora’s brows snapped low in frustration as he helped Quincey’s date unlock her apartment door. The woman was sloshed. Quince wasn’t doing too much better, already passed out in the passenger seat of his car. When he’d called for a ride Tora had initially been tempted to refuse but when Quincey had continued to whine and hinted at how inebriated he was he’d given in. He hadn’t counted on the violet haired woman. All he wanted was to drop her off and go. He was off tonight and he didn’t want to waste anymore of his freedom babysitting. “Ooooh ya baby, that’s sooo good,” he heard a seductive woman’s voice moan from somewhere inside the apartment. Tora’s brows wrinkled in confusion, what the fuck? He manhandled Erdene through the door, helping her remove her shoes, “another!” a male voice growled. “Oh God! Yes! More! Give me more!” he heard the female cry out as he slung the drunk woman on the couch. He was getting the fuck outta here. The last thing he wanted was to walk in on someone fucking.
“Yes! Ugh!” he heard the man cry out much closer this time as a plate smashed behind him. He whipped around to see a small brunette woman staring at him wide eyed, a smashed plate of nachos scattered around her bare feet as the man continued to grunt through the speaker of her phone. “Fuck yeah!” the disembodied voice roared before the line went dead. Poppy blinked at the large man in front of her, Erdene’s limp body on the couch behind her.
Tora inhaled sharply, fuck this was not good. He raised his hands in what he hoped was a non-threatening gesture, “Look, don’t freak,” he said calmly. Well, that hadn’t worked; she was running for the front door. Didn’t leave though, she was rummaging around in her purse for something. He had to bite his lip to keep from laughing when she pulled out a pink tazer and brandished it his way.
Poppy stumbled, a piece of the broken plate embedded in the bottom of her foot, the wound bleeding freely as she moved back towards the man. She wanted to flee but she couldn’t abandon Erdene. “Who are you? What the hell do you want?” she snapped.
Tora cocked a brow in amusement, “I’m the babysitter,” he replied, his hands still held palms up in front of him, “I’m the bodyguard of the guy she was with tonight. He’s passed out in the car just as drunk as this one.” He explained, nodding his head over his shoulder at the violet haired woman behind him.
She eyed him skeptically, taking in the tattoos, spacers, long hair and casual clothes, “you don’t look like a bodyguard, you look like a thug.” She spat, tazer ever at the ready.
He smirked at her, he wasn’t about to tell her she was right, “believe whatever ya like, I don’t give a shit,” he told her, watching her approach. She was cute, “stop!” he ordered just as she was about to step on another piece of broken glass.
Poppy jumped at his command, freezing instantly, “why?” she whispered.
He pointed at the ground a foot in front of her, “glass, you’re barefoot, don’t want ya to hurt yourself.” He explained softly.
She glanced down at her feet, then back up at him in confusion, slowly lowering the tazer, “you’re not trying to hurt her?” she asked hesitantly.
He held eye contact with her, “I don’t hurt anyone unless I have to,” he told her sincerely.
Poppy glanced behind him, her gaze running the length of Erdene’s body. She nodded to herself, reassured that her friend was still fully dressed and didn’t seem harmed. “You’re really just here to drop her off?” she asked curiously.
Tora nodded, “I’d already be gone if it weren’t for you,” he explained, finally feeling she was comfortable enough with him for him to lower his hands. Her eyes narrowed at him. “I’ll leave right now if ya want me to but uh, ya should probably get off that foot, I’ll help ya if ya want,” he explained, pointing at the blood pooling around her injured foot. Poppy looked down, blanching at the sight of her own blood, her eyes welling with tears as her adrenaline fled her and she felt the sharp pain in her foot for the first time. Tora’s eyes softened as he took in her reaction, “come on kid, I promise I won’t hurt ya, let me help ya, it’s my fault you hurt yourself. Let me make it up to ya.” He asked, surprising himself. What the fuck was wrong with him? He should just leave. She was in pain though and it was making his chest feel fucking weird. She was adorable, and it was kinda his fault. She wouldn’t have dropped the plate if it weren’t for him catching her off guard.
Poppy weighed her options, if he meant to do them harm he would have done it already right? He seemed pretty genuine and her Dad had always told her not to judge books by their covers. She decided to trust him. She nodded slowly, hand still firmly wrapped around the tazer. She was going to give him a chance, but not a blind one. He moved towards her, circling an arm around her waist, letting her lean on him as he helped her hobble over the couch, helping her sit down beside Erdene who was snoring softly. “Where’s your first aid kit?” he asked.
“Cabinet above the toilet, second door on your right,” she explained, pointing behind him towards the hallway of the two bedroom apartment. He rose to his full height, disappearing down the hall. Poppy shook Erdene the minute he disappeared. “You okay?” she whispered.
Erdene smirked, raising her thumb in a drunken stupor. “Ay okay!” she muttered, giggling to herself, before dropping her arm, sighing as she snuggled deeper into the couch.
Poppy smiled in amusement, well, that was a relief. The large intimidating man returned a moment later, pausing long enough to scoop her phone off the ground where she’d dropped it before kneeling at her feet. “Here,” he said, handing her the phone, hoping the action would put her at further ease, “can I touch ya?” he asked, his hand hovering by the ankle of her injured foot as he searched her face for any signs of fear. She nodded and his big warm hand wrapped itself around her joint, lifting her leg so he could examine the bottom of her foot. Her phone rang; he glanced up at her as she hung up on the caller with one hand, the other still on the tazer. He didn’t say a word as he grabbed tweezers and pulled the shard from the ball of her foot. Her phone rang again, again she hung up on the caller. He reached for the alcoholic swab, wiping the blood away from the injury and the rest of her foot. Her phone rang again and again she hung up. “Ya know, ya can take that. Your boyfriend might be worried ‘bout ya.” He grumbled, reaching for the polysporin.
Poppy blushed deeply, “uh…it’s not…he wasn’t…um,” this was awkward. She breathed deeply. Screw it. Who cared what this stranger thought of her? “It’s a job. Not a relationship,” she explained.
He glanced back up at her as he applied the antiseptic, his eyes wide with surprise. Well shit. She didn’t look like the type for phone sex work. Well, then again, what the hell were women like that supposed to look like anyways? Why not a fucking hamster with pretty brown eyes? He snickered to himself as he looked back down at her foot. He wouldn’t mind her purring in his ear.
Poppy frowned at his chuckle, misunderstanding his amusement, “don’t judge. I’m not like that in real life. Saying and doing something are different. I’m not a whore.” She defended herself adamantly.
He smiled up at her as he bandaged her foot, “didn’t say a word sweetheart, even if ya were, we all gotta make a living. I’m not judging, just caught me off guard. Ya look too cute to be saying dirty shit to old men.” He explained.
She crossed her arms and frowned at him, “and what type do I look like to you?” she snapped.
Tora shrugged, “like one of those girls that believes in love n’ shit.” He offered lamely.
Poppy glared at him, “I’ve never been in love, I don’t even think I know what that means. I thought I was once but…turns out he was just a cheating jerk.” She explained, still feeling the need to defend herself against his stereotyping. The irony of having done the same thing to him earlier was lost on her.
He smirked at her, “didn’t ask sweetheart, but for what it’s worth, sorry he hurt ya.” He retorted, lowering her foot back to the floor as he cleaned up her first aid kit. He fought with himself for a moment before figuring fuck it, why not? She was his type. “If ya ain’t got a man, wanna give me ya number?” He stated more than asked, zipping up her kit.
Poppy stared at him open mouthed, was this guy for real? “I don’t even know your name,” she sputtered, her hand tightening on the tazer.
He grinned at her, his dimples on display, “Tora,” he supplied for her.
She narrowed her brows at him, “Tiger? Your name is Tiger? Seriously?” she asked doubtfully.
Tora chuckled, she hadn’t said no, that was good right? “yeah, it is, what the fuck’s your name Ms. Judgemental?” he replied humorously.
“Poppy,” she responded seriously.
He arched a brow in amusement, “you’re named after a fuckin’ flower and you’re jumpin’ on me for being named after an animal?” he asked seriously.
Her phone rang again; she hung up, a blush staining her cheeks. “Well, I uh. Sorry.” She apologized unable to think of a comeback, her hand loosening her grip on the tazer.
Tora smiled at her, he liked her. Quincey had accused him of having a cold heart but this girl had him melting for her faster than ice cream in a microwave. She couldn’t seem to decide whether to jolt him or trust him. He wanted to laugh; he definitely wanted to spend more time with this woman. “So, ya gonna gimme a chance?” He asked seriously.
Poppy cocked her head at him. Was this guy for real? Most guys ran when she told them what she did for extra cash on the side. Was this guy actually interested in her or just thought she’d be an easy lay? Was he worth the risk? The last time she’d opened her heart to someone she’d gotten hurt. Badly. He was someone new though, different. He was hunky and cute and kind and he’d been nothing but sweet to her so far. What harm was there in giving out her number? She’d never get anywhere with her love life if she never tried again right? Besides, he didn’t seem to have any nefarious intentions and if he turned out to be trash or she changed her mind she’d just ghost him. “Okay, gimme your phone,” she said, finally setting down her phone and the tazer, extending her hand towards him, palm up as her fingers waved in impatience.
He chuckled, handing it over after opening a new contact page for her, he watched as she filled it out, happy she had opted to trust him. “Want me to help ya clean up the mess before I go?” he offered, hooking his thumb over his shoulder at her midnight snack littering the floor.
She leaned forward, handing him back his phone. “If you don’t mind that’d be really nice actually.” She replied with a small smile, “maybe you could also help me put her to bed?” she asked gesturing to the snoring woman next to her.
Tora chuckled, “sure thing sweetheart, which one first?” he asked rising to his feet.
“This one,” Poppy joked nodding her head at Erdene. Tora lifted the limp woman bridal style in his arms, following after Poppy as she led him to the violet haired woman’s room. He laid her gently on the bed, watching as Poppy tucked her in, pressing a kiss to the drunk girl’s forehead. He didn’t say a word as she shooed him out of the room and closed the door gently behind them.
Tora looked down at her, she was sweet, he still couldn’t quite wrap his head around the fact she was a phone sex worker. Just seemed weird to him. Off somehow. He followed obediently behind her, accepting the broom when she handed it to him. He swept the glass and nachos into a pile as she crouched down with the dust pan. “How’d ya get into, uh, your job?” he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
She arched a delicate brow at him, “thought you didn’t care?” she asked, rising to her feet, striding towards the garbage in the kitchen.
He shrugged, “doesn’t change my interest in ya, just curious. Still can’t see it.” He explained.
Poppy hopped up on the counter, wanting to get off her injured foot, “My ex and I were long distance for a while. He got annoyed with me for not putting out so I appeased him with phone sex.” She shrugged, “Got pretty comfortable doing it as a chore while I did stuff around the house. Erdene, my roommate, thought it was hilarious and after we broke up she suggested I do it professionally to make some extra cash. She was right. I was a little strapped for cash after moving here and it makes me good money. My real job doesn’t pay enough yet, it’s just temporary until I finish my probation period and get a raise.” She explained, “Definitely not something I plan on doing forever but it’s easy money and guys are stupid.”
Tora barked out a laugh, leaning on the opposite counter from her, this girl was amazing, so fucking honest. “Ya must be pretty good at it eh?” he teased salaciously.
She rolled her eyes, “like I said, the men I talk to are stupid. They think I’m masturbating when in reality I’m doing chores, working on stuff for my real job or making a snack. Sometimes, I’ll just watch a movie while they do their thing.” She replied dispassionately, hoping to dissuade him from exploring the topic further.
He arched a brow at her, that didn’t sound sexy at all. He still wanted to hear her voice in his ear though. “Can I call ya?” he asked, finally remembering Quincey in the car. She glared at him, “Not for that,” he backpedalled, “I just mean I gotta go. I left my buddy in the car thinking I’d just be a minute. Then, uh, you happened.” He explained, “but I’d like to keep talking to ya,” he added.
She assessed him, weighing his words for sincerity, “okay,” she agreed, “call me, but not tonight. Some other time Tora. It’s late and I have a manuscript to finish.”
He nodded, “nice meeting ya,” he told her as he meandered over to the door, “try to stay off the foot,” he coddled as he closed the front door behind him.
Poppy locked it behind him, sagging against it. What an odd man. What a weird night. She looked over at her desk. Ugh. Twenty more pages, then bed, she promised herself.
~ ~ ~
Tora waited two days to call her. She picked up on the third ring, “Hey there handsome, what fantasy can I make come true for you tonight?” her sultry voice greeted him. Tora swallowed thickly, fuck. He was half tempted to play along.
“It’s uh, Tora,” he replied awkwardly.
Poppy pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at the caller ID, she’d picked it up blindly between work calls but the ID said ‘unknown’ not ‘work’, she needed to be careful with that, all her work calls were connected to her through a third party, they all came through the same number. Thank god it hadn’t been her Granny. “Sorry about that Tora; thought you were a client.” She replied, not the least bit embarrassed.
He frowned, she didn’t seem to care either way, “no worries, look are ya free? Can I take ya out?” he asked hopefully.
Poppy glanced up at the clock; she was supposed to be on call for another two hours and she had laundry in the dryer she wanted to fold before it wrinkled. “Sorry Tora, I’m working. Another time ok?” She offered, hanging up before he had the chance to reply.
Tora gapped at his phone. Was this girl for real? He frowned. He wasn’t used to this. Girls didn’t blow him off. They threw themselves at him. She seemed completely indifferent to him. Fuck. Why did that turn him on so much? He’d never chased a girl before. He called her back immediately, a grin on his face. She picked up on the second ring, “Ya got disconnected,” he supplied an excuse for her.
Poppy rolled her eyes, “no Tora, I hung up. I’m working remember? I need my phone. Goodnight.” She explained hanging up on him again.
Tora blinked stupidly at the sound of nothing. She’d actually just hung up on him again. He couldn’t believe it. What the fuck was he supposed to do now? What did normal guys do? He didn’t want to come across as a persistent creep but he really liked this girl. He texted her. She’d have his number now. He’d just leave the ball in her court.
it’s tora, call me when you’re not working.
Poppy glanced down at the text message before promptly deleting it. She must have been out of her mind the other night. This guy was bad news. Like his name was actually ‘Tora’, she didn’t believe it for a second and it didn't matter how hot he was, he did look like a thug. He was sweet but he’d just magically turned up in her living room. Erdene had assured her he was alright but still. It was too weird for her. Her phone rang, she checked the ID. It was work this time. She conjured a faint trace of interest, “Hey there handsome, what fantasy can I make come true for you tonight?”
~ ~ ~
Tora was confused to say the least. He hadn’t heard from Poppy. It’d been three days and not a single call or text was forthcoming from the woman. He wanted to reach out again; he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Was it okay to call her again? He felt out of his element. He was used to shooing away women, not actively pursuing them. He’d never really tried to chase a woman in his life. He looked at the clock; it was one in the afternoon. There was no way she’d be doing her side hustle now right? She’d be at her real job? He called her; she picked up on the third ring.