Heist Honey 9 (Patreon)

While Chloe was being wined and dined by William at Che ‘Enri, Mark had taken Zoe to a crowded baseball park to watch the Seattle Mariners play the Colorado Rockies. With a loud crack of the bat the ball was launched high into the stadium as Montero raced past first base. Mark and thousands of other fans shouted as the ball bounced off of the bottom of the back wall in center field in a high arch. Kelenic chased after the ball, snatching it out of the air with his glove as it fell back to earth. In one smooth motion he hurled the ball to Kolten. Montero sped through third base as Kolten caught the ball and spinning on his heel threw the ball to Raleigh at home. Zoe cheers as the ball is thrown too high, forcing Raleigh to give chase. Montero, already halfway to home plate and seeing the opportunity, digs deeper and finds a new burst of speed and races to the plate. Raleigh picks up the ball and charges towards Montero, hugging his glove to his chest as he prepares to slam into the fast approaching Montero. As Montero neared home plate he dove, hitting the dirt with enough force to knock his helmet off, just being missed by Raleigh as he slid safely into home.

Thousands of fans angrily shouted slurs at whichever player they deemed the most responsible for allowing the inside the park home-run while thousands more fans and Zoe leapt to their feet as they cheered in joyous celebration. “Did you see that? That was amazing!” Zoe cheered.

“I did!”

“Then why do you look like someone kicked your cat?”

“Cause Montero isn’t on our team!” Mark shouted over the crowd as the opposing team celebrated.

Zoe wrapped the large fleece blanket around herself before responding with a playful smirk. "He can play on my team any day of the week. Unless you're available." Zoe may have been the best dressed person in the ballpark in her black crossover bodysuit, matching black pantyhose, knee length suede skirt, and black knee-high boots; it did little to protect her from the chilly late April night. Though she had tried to dress warmly as Mark had suggested she was unaware their date that evening would be a baseball game.

Mark stood and drank in Zoe’s elegant red lips that shined against the lights of the ballpark, her beautiful blue eyes and the sight of her curly blonde hair pulled into a ponytail so she could fit it all underneath a Mariner’s cap made him smile all the more as he stepped closer. Zoe smiled, allowing the warm blanket to open when Mark came close enough. Seeing how she was dressed, so chic, so beautiful, he felt a pang of guilt for not being clearer on where they were going that evening. But he didn’t want to spoil the surprise, or risk the chance she would laugh in his face. “I’ll have to check with my agent but I think I can make that happen.” He said with a chuckle and a gentle smile as he took his napkin and wiped the small mustard stain from the side of her otherwise perfect mouth.

Zoe bit her lip as he wiped the mustard off of her cheek, his paternal instincts obviously kicking in at the worst possible time for her. Zoe’s embarrassment was quickly overshadowed by a quickening in her chest, her nervous smile shifting to something more genuine, as she enjoyed Mark’s tender touch, his beautiful deep brown eyes, and the smell of his cologne. Zoe grabbed his coat and pulled him forward, intending to kiss him but accidentally hitting the bridge of his nose with the bill of the cap she wore. The pair laughed for a moment as Zoe took off her cap, sharking her head in further embarrassment while Mark apologized.

Mark had gotten lost staring at Zoe’s lips as he continued to clean her already cleaned cheek, all the while unconsciously licking his lips at the thought of kissing her. He hadn’t felt his head moving in for the kiss until he awkwardly knocked into the bill of her cap. “Oh shoot, I’m sorry.” he said immediately, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Thankfully, Zoe only laughed as she removed the cap and rubbed her forehead. Her beautiful smile and unrestrained laughter was enough to cause Mark to laugh along with her. As their laughter died down Mark tried again to apologize for being so out of practice.

As their laughter died down Zoe wrapped her arms around Mark’s neck and this time successfully kissed him with a smile still on both of their lips while she enjoyed the taste of his lips upon hers and the warmth of his body even as the blanket fell away.

Not long after their kiss, Mark and Zoe were talking as they filed out of the stadium with the rest of the crowd of fans. “What did you think of your first baseball game?” Mark asked, hoping none of his nervousness could be heard in his voice.

“I had a wonderful time.” Zoe cheered, “If it is that much fun when your team loses I can’t imagine how it must feel when they win!”

“It is considerably more fun when we win.” Mark laughed, the relief apparent in his voice. He and Zoe may have only recently reconnected but he knew enough about the lifestyle she was raised in, having been raised in it himself, and the level of expectations that came with dating when your bank account was six figures before you were old enough to drink. As it was his mother would be disgusted when she learned where she took the Belmonte’ heir. ‘Unless I tell her I took her somewhere classy.’ he considered for a moment before shaking his head, ‘Nah, too complicated.’ It may have been something he would’ve done in his younger days but he was an adult now and his mother would have to accept that. ‘Hopefully the fact Zoe enjoyed herself is enough to keep her from passing out due to shock.’

“It’s a shame we didn’t invite Chloe so she could join in on the fun.” Zoe said, interrupting the imaginary argument with his imaginary mother in his head.

“...It is a shame.” Mark lied. “But Chloe has never really been into sports.” The last time he and Chloe, or Sam as Mark knew him then, had gone to a sports bar after work. Sam was foaming at the mouth as he cheered on the Mariners or shouted obscenities to anyone in the bar who dared to cheer for the opposing team after a few glasses of scotch. Mark mentally kicked himself for not noticing the obvious red flag at the time, but he wrote Sam’s behavior off as being a normal sports fan. And to his credit, Sam had been an excellent wingman beforehand.

“Oh? What does interest her?”

“Well…the harp, I think.”

Zoe laughed, “I think that’s more Beatrice’s interest than Chloe’s.”

Mark mentally scrambled as he tried to come up with a response, “Mostly fashion, shopping, pretty clothes,...flowers, ponies,…boys,...other…girly things.” Zoe arched an eyebrow at Mark, “She…used to be a tomboy…when she was a little girl but…I guess she outgrew that phase…”

“And now you don’t know anything about her?” Zoe chuckled.

“I tried to keep up with her the older she got but…you were a teenage girl, how much did you talk with your father about what you were interested in?” Mark asked.

“I usually talked to my mom about…most things.” Zoe chuckled, “My dad really only knew what my mom told him…which wasn’t much as it turned out. She was great at keeping secrets.” Her smile faltered briefly, “But that only makes it harder now to reconnect with him while…while we still have time.” She said while staring at the keys in her hand, not wanting Mark to see the sadness in her eyes or the heavy frown on her face.

Mark frowned as he held Zoe’s hand in his, mentally kicking himself for asking her such a loaded question and killing the mood. He and Sam hadn’t really discussed a backstory outside of the broad strokes they needed and he was terrible at improvising. They were just supposed to be hiding out until Chloe could get a fake ID…but then what? Chloe was sixteen and everyone knew that. His mother might accept Chloe ran away, or simply left, due to all their bullshit but Zoe wouldn’t. How would he explain it to her?

He would have to talk to Sam about that part of the plan tomorrow. But for now he would have to act more like a doting father. “We couldn’t have brought S-uh, Chloe anyway.” Mark said, forcing a smile to his face, “Chloe had a date of her own tonight.”

“Oh really? And you don’t want to be here to greet the young suitor? Perhaps interrogate the poor boy while you idly clean one of your father’s antique revolvers?”

“That is an oddly specific scenario.” He laughed, “But no, not this time. Mother set the whole thing up herself so I’m sure he’s from good stock.”

“She set them up?” Mark nodded, “Well it’s good she’s not staying cooped up in the house. I know you two just moved to town and she can’t have many friends yet.”

“Yeah, it’s a real shame.” Mark said, trying his best to sound concerned for the man who ruined his life and was now masquerading as his fictional daughter.

“Maybe we can do a double date next time.” Zoe smiled.

“That’s an excellent idea!” Mark lied with a false cheer. ‘Damn it.’ He swore, “I’ll talk to Chloe about it tomorrow.” He lied, keeping the fake smile plastered on his face as he opened Zoe's door.

Not only did Mark not want to bring Chloe on his date, he could barely afford this date night. Between the blanket, the hats, and the expensive ballpark snacks he already had to dip into his cut of the stolen money. That act alone made him feel every bit like the thief he was accused of being. He couldn’t ask his mother for the money. She already had enough of her hooks in him for letting him and his “daughter” live with her. He had briefly considered taking the money out of Sam’s stash, after all is it really stealing if you take something away from a thief? And Sam did owe him for letting him use him and his mother as a hideout from the cops. But if he did that…he really would be a thief and god only knows how Sam would act if he found out.

Miles away Chloe was finishing the best meal he had ever eaten in his life. At first he was disappointed at the small proportions on his plate, especially after that first bite of lobster, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The corset that he was made to wear to ensure his right posture and girlish figure also made it all but impossible to eat too much.

Despite the small proportion, Chloe enjoyed the meal all the same. "That was…delicious." Chloe sighed with a genuinely happy smile while the waiter picked up his and William's plates.

"I am glad you enjoyed it." William smiled.

Chloe wanted to lean back in his seat and unbutton his pants, letting his stomach spill out onto the floor like some cartoon bear but he knew from countless hours of instruction that was unladylike behavior. The satisfying meal was almost enough that he might have risked a spanking from his gran Beatrice but besides the fact he wasn't wearing pants at the moment, the corset he wore made any such act impossible.

It was only a shame that William had ordered them dessert. Only seconds after taking away the main course did the waiter set two saucers down in front of Chloe and William. A seemingly small slice of yellow cake topped with a red jelly and dusted with what Chloe could only guess was powdered sugar in an inviting swirl sat between him and William. “Say–” Chloe cleared his throat, correcting himself–“Pardon but…what is this?” Chloe asked, licking his lips.

“That, Ma’am, is our famous lemon soufflé cheesecake with a lemon meringue mousse topped with a delicious caviar raspberry.” The waiter smiled happily.

Despite the fullness in his stomach Chloe could still feel his mouth salivating at the sight. “God, it does look delicious.”

“I’ll be sure to inform the chef.” The waiter smiled, “Is there anything else I could get you?” Chloe shook his head.

“That’ll be all.” William said, dismissing the man. “What’s wrong?” He asked after a moment seeing the frown on Chloe’s face.

“It looks…so good.”

“It tastes even better.”

“I bet. I mean, I’m sure. But…I’m afraid I couldn’t eat another bite.”

“Really?”

Chloe nodded, “I…if I do I’ll burst right out of my dress.” He giggled. While he was exaggerating, he couldn’t help but imagine his dreaded corset exploding at the seams after a single bite of the delicious looking cake.

“I think you would still be beautiful.” William assured her. He was used to women and girls constantly obsessed and worried over their waistlines.. “How about we share instead? That way, it’s only half as bad.” He smiled as he cut into the cake and offered the forkful to Chloe.

“It would be improper to eat off of someone else’s plate.” Chloe smirked, reciting one of Beatrice’s dining lessons to William. Even if he did owe William he still could enjoy teasing the poor little rich kid.

“Sometimes being improper is the most proper thing.” He said in his most suave voice.

“That…doesn’t make a lick of sense.” Chloe laughed and William couldn’t help but join her.

“Yeah…it sounded better in my head.” William said as his laughter died away, “But,” He started, quickly pulling Chloe’s chair closer to him causing Chloe to squeal in surprise at not only the sudden bold act from the boy but also blush at how easily William was able to move him. Chloe already knew he wasn’t the largest of men but he didn’t think he was that dainty that someone of William’s size could move him with little effort and with one hand. “How about just one bite?” William asked softly.

Chloe bit his lip as he stared between William and the cake before nodding. After years of never knowing where or when his next meal would come it felt simply wrong to leave food on the table. And if his joke was right he may just tear the corset in two allowing him to eat even more of the delicious cake.

Chloe moaned deeply as he ate the first bite of the cake which he learned had so richly earned its fame. “It tastes like heaven.” He whispered, letting a sensuous moan slip past his lips.

“It pairs wonderfully with the wine.” William said and watched as Chloe sipped at her wine.

“So good.” he sighed, “I’m surprised they let you have wine though.”

“Why shouldn’t they?” He asked.

“Because you’re not old enough.” Chloe hadn’t realized what he said until it was too late.

William simply laughed her off, “I’m older than you.”

“You got me there.” Chloe giggled nervously.

“Normally they wouldn’t but the family name opens a lot of doors.” He said proudly, hoping to impress his beautiful date. As was customary he would leave the man a generous tip. That is simply what one did if one wanted excellent service not normally given to lesser people.

“You’ll have to teach me that trick, especially if it gets me more cake and wine like this.” Chloe chuckled.

“See, sometimes it pays to be bad.” William chuckled silently and cut into the cake again.

Chloe rolled his eyes, “It’s just a bit of cake. You’re not the bad boy you think you are.”

“No?” William held the forkful in front of Chloe and just before she could take the fork away William snapped it into his mouth, eating up the cake before she had the chance.

“Hey!” Shouted. “That was mine.”

“What?” He laughed, “We’re sharing, remember?” He continued to laugh as he cut into the cake again. “Here you go.” He said, placing his arm around Chloe, and again before she could take a bite William had gobbled it up. “Oops, I guess you can’t keep up with a master thief like me?”

“You’re a thief, huh?”

“A master thief.”  William corrected.

“Okay. Try again.”

“You sure?”

“Just do it Robin Hood.”

William smirked and cut the cake again, “Of course we know what’s coming so it’s not much of a challenge.”

“That’s the best kind of challenge.” Chloe batted her eyelashes at William, opening her mouth for the cake.

William shrugged and brought the cake towards Chloe only to quickly eat it himself. “See, you didn’t even get close.” He laughed.

“You’re right.” Chloe pouted.

William frowned and cut the cake again, “Here I’ll give you the last bite.”

“I’d rather trade for it.” Chloe smiled, placing William’s gold watch on the table between the two of them.

William took his arm from around Chloe and stared in disbelief as he continued to hold the forkful of cake. His Rolex was now sitting in front of him despite being on his wrist a moment ago. It was there a moment ago, wasn't it? When did she even reach for his arm? Her hands had been in her lap this entire time. Not that he had been watching her hands. “You’re a witch.” William chuckled as he handed Chloe the fork and picked up his watch.

“I’m just really good with my hands.” Chloe smirked as she took a bite of the best dessert she had ever had.

“I’d love to see what else your hands can do.” William smiled as he returned his watch to his wrist.

Chloe swallowed hard and blushed, realizing how William must have taken what he said.  “The deal was just for dancing.”

William checked his watch with a smile, “If you’re finished with dessert then would you care to dance?” Chloe eyed the second cake with a pout and looked back up to William as he stood. He would much rather try and force himself to finish off the cake but they had made a deal and he could not afford to renege on that now.

Lying wasn’t something he disapproved of, of course. Trust was mercurial in his world. The same man you trusted with your life one day you could trust to throw you under the bus the next if it meant saving his own skin. For now he needed Marc and ‘Grandmother’. Which meant he had to play the part of Chloe. Which meant he couldn’t upset William. For now at least. With a fake smile Chloe took William’s hand and allowed himself to be led to the dance floor.

With a gesture to the quartet on the small dias, the soft jazz melody they had been playing abruptly stopped and changed to a new classical melody. The diners barely seemed to notice or care, while more than a few customers who had been out on the dance floor already certainly did notice the time change. Of those that noticed only half of those couples had decided to leave the floor, muttering their annoyances to their dance partners.

Chloe nodded with a slightly impressed smile. He didn’t care for Jazz anyway, nor did he want to dance with William, but the act was still something of note in his mind. ‘Money’s just like a different kind of power.’ He thought to himself as he and William stopped in the center of the floor. Though, this was certainly something he knew all his life.

Dancing was simple to Chloe. He had years of practice maneuvering his body through crowds with grace and ease. Even dancing with Sheffield only required quick adjustments. Yet now, with William, Chloe found he could barely keep up. The tempo was no faster than any music Chloe had danced too before, nor was the slow footwork the dance required. However for some reason Chloe found himself stepping on William’s foot. “Oof. my bad.” Chloe whispered.

“It’s fine.” William chuckled. The first time. The second time William smiled and said, “You’re okay.” The third time, William was sure his date had broken his foot as she stepped right on top of it. He might have thought she had been doing it on purpose if not for her obvious frustration. “You’re thinking too much.” He said.

“I know how to dance.” Chloe huffed while she glared at her feet, still holding on to William’s arms like Sheffield had shown him.

“Maybe we need something different.” William smiled and turned to the band and with a quick gesture the music changed once again. This time the music began soft and slow but would slowly build up its pace. “This time don’t think about your movements.” William lifted Chloe’s chin and wrapping his arm around her waist he pulled her against his body. “This is the tango.” He said, affecting a soft and lust-filled Spanish accent. “You don’t think. You feel.”

Chloe chuckled softly as he turned to walk away, “You sound like such a dor–”

“No talking!” William said intensely, pulling her back to his front. “Don’t speak. Only listen to our bodies and follow me.” He whispered as he continued the accent and hooked her arm over his neck before slowly caressing her cheek as they swayed back and forth in time with the music. Slowly William pushed forward, forcing her to step in time with his feet. Twice he caught her trying to peek at her feet and twice he cupped her cheek in his hand and turned her back to face him. As it picked up speed, so did they. The first turn caught Chloe by surprise but before she could register the need to catch herself William had caught her and spun her back into him.

Chloe gasped, feeling as though the air was knocked out of him all of a sudden as William pulled him back into him, locking him in place with the arm that now wrapped itself around the small of Chloe’s back. William had a new intense look in his eye that Chloe could not pin down. Whatever this look was, it both drew him in and made him feel strange.

William pushed forward and Chloe stepped back instinctively. His feet may have been in the exact placement they should be or they may not. He wasn’t sure. His thoughts which usually concerned themselves with where he was in relation to everyone else and the closest exit had become lost in the music and where William’s hands were and the growing pressure he now felt pressing against his hip.

William twisted his body to the right, and Chloe did the same. The hand positions must have felt awkward enough to register with Chloe so that when William did the action again a few moments later Chloe mirrored him so that their same side hips were pressed together. The tempo increased again and William pulled Chloe along, pulling against one shoulder blade more than the other so she would then twist how she should, only to release it and pull the opposite hand causing her to repeat the motion on the opposite side.

William pulled Chloe up lightly and quickly spun around, catching his arm around her waist and her left leg and pulled it up over the back of his back leg. Chloe howled with laughter at the thrilling motion as he slowly pulled her up out of the dip until their chests once again were pressed tight into one another. Chloe’s smile sparkled as again William caressed Chloe’s beautiful face. Fully aware of the stirrings her heaving chest was causing him.

Chloe shrieked when he thought he was for sure about to fall. When the crash of limbs on the hard floor never came, instead being caught by William, Chloe couldn’t help but laugh even as the boy pulled him back up. Chloe smiled and tried to catch his breath as he clung to William’s neck. Without thinking Chloe leaned into William’s cool hand as it caressed his flushed face. The gentle touch sent goosebumps all over his body. Closing his eyes he leaned closer to the source of this new pleasurable sensation. Lost in listening to his body he was barely aware of the hand moving behind his head before lips pressed into his. The delicious taste of cake lingered on those lips even now. His mind tried to tell him something was wrong, but his body urged him forward and he pulled William closer. It wasn’t until feeling William’s tongue slipping past his lips that Chloe regained his senses and he broke the kiss.