by Cee, DW
“So I’ve been sleeping next to you for all these months?”
“Theoretically, yes.”
“After our epic date, I went home and searched my car inside and out looking for your note. I hadn’t received one of your notes in so long, I forgot about looking in my pocket. It was when the dry cleaning service came by then next morning and checked through my pockets before taking my suits, that I came upon that sweet note saying my kiss was your very first.”
“How embarrassing!” I briefly covered my face with both hands.
“At first I thought you were bullshitting me, and I was going to call you that morning, but then I thought it would be awfully awkward if this was the truth. So, I figured I’d stop by and see you that night and get to the bottom of that message. I don’t know when it happened, but at some point, I started feeling lonely when you weren’t with me. My days were made better knowing I’d see you at some point in the day, and I would make up excuses to be with you.”
“With the way you treated me sometimes, I would never have thought that.”
“Anyhow,” he was slightly irritated with me, “knowing I was going to stop by that night, I picked up your graduation gift and waited till my dinner meeting was over. I assume you got my graduation gift which I dropped off at Gram’s.”
I put one hand around his neck and came in to kiss him. “Thank you. That was a most thoughtful gift. I love it.”
“I’ll take you golfing up in Scotland soon. There are some gorgeous courses up there.”
“Oh my gosh! I need to call Mom and cancel our trip...or maybe I’ll keep it?” Shoot! Me and my big mouth! I couldn’t have just waited to see where this relationship would take me, but instead, I had doomed us from the start and booked a trip with my mother.
“Already canceled.”
“What?”
“I heard you talking to your mother last night and I called her immediately after you hung up and told her I’d take her up there with us the following weekend.”
“Should I be annoyed you change my plans without consulting me, or happy that you want to travel with my mother?”
“Deliriously happy,” he winked.
I gave him an obligatory smile. “All right. You get a pass because my graduation golf clubs are beautiful. The pink bag that came with the clubs is even more beautiful. And I can’t believe each club has my name on it.”
“You’re welcome. Now back to my story. We had a dinner meeting with some difficult clients and during the course of dinner, they changed everything we had agreed upon, plus added exclusions and clauses. It was a nightmare. As it was, dinner ended late and we still had work to do in order to get them what they wanted by the following morning.”
“So you brought Kate back to your house?” This time, I quirked my eyebrow in disapproval.
“It was that, or go to her hotel room.”
That changed my tune immediately. “Good choice.”
“What you didn’t see were the two male associates who had also come back to my place. We were working when you made your unexpected visit.”
“And of course, glamorous Kate opened your door and you came running over looking disheveled. That woman told me you were getting dressed and she actually invited me in to your house.”
Donovan tried hard not to laugh at my annoyance. “What basically ended my ‘ten-year’ relationship with Kate was you, and Kate was not happy. Kate and I saw each other here and there whenever she came back to Southern California, and this time, she wanted to settle down and get married. She asked if my marriage offer still stood and told me she wanted us to have the Jake and Emily life with the house, the kids, the perfection...”
“And you told her no because you wanted to explore life with Jane.” I punched him hard in the arm.
“Damn, Woman. You look so cuddly, but you’re so damn strong. That hurt.”
“That is what I told Jane, but...” he thought through what he wanted to say next and chose his words carefully. “It was you who brought me out of the Montage to play a game of softball seventy miles away, in traffic, and it was you, not Jane, Kate accused me of being in love with.”
“What the hell was that all about? I barely ever saw her. What could she have noticed that I didn’t notice?”
“Apparently, everyone noticed but us. It became a running joke with Jake and Emily. They’d take turns calling me and terrorizing me about getting an intervention group together if I didn’t admit to my feelings soon. And if it wasn’t the power couple, Al would call me and ask about you after having met you on Mother’s Day. And who could forget my Aunt Bee? Damn. She was a force to reckon with.”
“Anyhow, back to the story of why you didn’t come see me on the swing when it was you who initiated the meeting.”
“After you left, I got frustrated with how slowly everything was going and dumped the work on the associates and ended our work session. They left, Kate got pissed and eventually accused me of cheating on her in Hawaii with you.”
“Were you together with her in Hawaii?”
“Kind of? It’s hard to explain our dynamic. We’re so used to being together that if we’re in the same vicinity as one another and we are not in a relationship, we end up behaving like a couple. However, she and I have never approached one another if either one of us was in a relationship. That was not done.”
“So it was no big deal to have sex with one another as long as you were both single?” This concept of a hook up confounded me. “You must have still loved her, even just a few months ago.”
“Honest. I haven’t been in love with Kate in a very long time.” I looked at him dead in the eye and tried to find the lie—but I couldn’t.
“How can you have sex without love? Am I just being naive, again? I can’t reconcile the two.”
“Come here.” He led me to our bedroom and slowly undressed me and himself. All those nights I thought we were going to consummate our relationship, it didn’t happen for one reason or another. But now, after the ordeal I went through last night and early this morning, I hadn’t prepared my mind, heart and body for this. I was so freaking nervous, goose bumps appeared up and down my body and I started shaking. “Cold?”
I shook my head no. “Nervous.”
He lowered us onto the bed and we began kissing.
“Before we go on, I want to know what you want to do in terms of birth control. I assume you don’t want a child in nine months?”
“No. Children weren’t in my immediate future. What do you normally do?”
“I’ve always used a condom, and I want you to know I’m healthy. I haven’t been with as many women as you might think, and I’ve been careful.”
“Is this conversation normal protocol?” He was making me even more nervous. I just wanted him to get on with it and be done. It was crazy embarrassing to be lying naked in broad daylight talking about birth control and sexually transmitted diseases.
Donovan smiled at my question and he tried his best to ease my unease. “Normally, the women I am with are not virgins, and I don’t give them a choice in birth control. Whether they are protected or not, I won’t have sex without a condom.” OMG! Was this conversation really necessary? Perhaps we should have talked about this before we were lying naked. “But, if you are by chance on some form of birth control, I’d love to try this with you without a condom. I don’t want any barriers between us.” He spoke very cautiously.
“I’ve been on the pill since I was sixteen, so...”
That was all that needed to be said. His libido shot off and took me along for the ride. He began making love to every part of my body. It started with sweet tender kisses from my face down to my neck. His mouth soon suckled on my breast and we were both catapulted into an insatiable surge of lust.
“That feels so good, Donovan.”
“I can’t wait to get inside you. I’ve been dreaming of this for months. Let me get you ready for me.”
W
ithout warning, he put two fingers inside me and I was mortified at how wet I was. I was practically dripping down his fingers and I couldn’t stop the lyrical noises flowing from me.
“More. Donovan. More,” I panted.
I could feel his lips turning into a smile when he stopped suckling and soon after, his tongue replaced the thumb that was teasing my clitoris and I immediately climaxed.
“AH!” I screamed. “Donovan! Please. Stop. No...” I begged when he went from licking to sucking my clit. The sensation that tore through me over and over again was indescribable. It was like an ocean wave pounding into the sea, without ceasing. I was mired in sensation, and completely lost.
“I think you’re ready, Princess,” was what finally woke me back to the reality that Donovan hovered above me. “I love you,” he said as he entered me in one thrust.
The initial pain of his thrust offset the high of the orgasm. He stayed motionless until I became restless with anticipation. Very soon, it felt wonderful to be joined with him. Staring into eyes filled with love, I decided there was truly no more a beautiful sight and feeling than to be joined with this man as one. This act of being filled by him, loved by him, and to know that one day I would have kids with him, brought me to tears.
“Are you all right? I’m sorry, Princess. I shouldn’t have been so eager. I couldn’t wait. Did I hurt you?” He looked apologetic and darling.
“You didn’t hurt me at all. It feels amazing.” I tried to move around somewhat and meet his slow thrust.
“Princess, don’t move. You’re going to unman me if you keep doing that.”
“Am I doing something wrong?” Shit! How was I to know what was right and what was wrong?
“Princess. My dick has never been without a condom. You are unbelievably tight. I can feel every last sensation.”
“Is that good?” Damn! I should have asked Emily or Jane for some instructions before we did the deed.
He chuckled lightly. “You feel better than good. I’ve never felt so much pleasure in my life—ever.”
“Well then...” My answer was filled with conceit. “I guess I’ll have to keep up the good work.”
To my chagrin, Donovan pulled out and I felt the loss and yearned for his quick return. Even after one joining, I knew we were meant for each other, and there would be no better fit than ours.
“Wrap your legs around my waist,” he said in a hoarse voice and began our ride.
He carefully eased in and out of me until he registered my body’s lusty response. With every downward push, I effortlessly rose to meet him. I couldn’t get enough of this fullness inside of me. The pleasure was borderline unbearable, his satisfied groans were unspeakable, and the height that we would reach together was undeniable.
“Donovan,” I groaned when he plunged into my deepest core, “I don’t know what to do.”
“Come with me, Princess. I can’t hold out much longer.” He rammed into me harder and faster and I could feel myself wanting to spiral out of control, but I couldn’t let go.
I whimpered in fervor and frustration until he leaned heavily onto one arm, and took his other arm and slid it between our bodies. His finger was slick against my clit, and it only took a few rubs for me to lose control again. I fell apart under him, and Donovan followed with the sounds of my explosion. My body convulsed as the pleasure rolled through me, and with one last push, Donovan finished his pleasure and stilled inside me.
This pleasure lasted long—much longer than I’d expected. I couldn’t help but love the weight of Donovan’s body on me. Something about his heavy body covering me in entirety made me feel secure.
We continued to breathe hard.
“I love you.” I whispered in his ear.
“I love you, too, Princess.” He placed butterfly kisses all over my face and neck. “You know that you have to marry me, now. In the olden days, if a man took the girl’s maidenhood, he was honor-bound to marry her.”
I cracked-up. “Really, Mr. Taylor?”
“Yes. Ms. Reid.”
“Does she come with a herd of cattle as her dowry?”
“And a chest full of gold.”
“Uh-huh. I’ll let my father know that since my maidenhood has been taken, he needs to get the sheep, goats, cows, and gold ready.”
“Your father will kick my ass if you say a word about me taking anything from you. He told me to keep you pure.”
“You know he’s got a chest full of rifles, rather than a chest full of gold?” I kidded.
“Shit, I forgot.” He chuckled. “We’re not doing this again till we get married.”
“OK...” I agreed.
He gave me one last kiss on the nose and pulled out. Though this whole act of making love didn’t last very long, I felt so alone, almost abandoned, when he pulled out. There was still a throbbing that wouldn’t abate and there was also this... “Eew!” I unknowingly said, aloud.
“What?”
“There’s all this gook that just came out of me,” I cringed.
“Hold on,” Donovan chuckled and walked to the bathroom. He came back with a warm towel and rather than handing it to me, he tenderly and thoroughly wiped me clean. I was so touched by what he did, there were tears in my eyes again. “What’s the matter now?”
“This intimacy between you and me...just a few weeks ago, it was unimaginable. And now you’re here...making love to me...I just don’t know how to process all that’s happened in the last few days.”
“I’m here for good. No longer do you have to keep this camellia necklace on you as a substitute for my affection and touch. I’ve found my way and I won’t let either of us get lost again. If you’re ready, I’d like to take you somewhere before we leave for London.”
“I haven’t showered yet. Do I have time for a quick shower?”
“Princess, I think we have time for a quickie in the shower.”
We packed up our bags and took everything with us in the car so we could run some errands in town, eat a meal, then get on the plane to go back home. We didn’t end up having a quickie in the shower because European showers weren’t meant for anything but showers. We were so cramped in there, we washed what needed to be washed, fooled around just a teeny-tiny bit and got ready for the day.
“Where are we going?”
“I want to buy you something for your birthday.”
“Donovan. You’ve taken me through a quarter of Europe this week. I think that’s birthday present, enough.”
“It’s something small. I really want to get it for you.” And I couldn’t stop him even if I tried. Donovan took me to a jewelry shop and bought me a simple gold chain for the D charm he had purchased for me back in Hawaii. “It bothers me that you have to add this to the back of your camellia necklace because you don’t have a chain.”
“Thank you.” I smiled and had him help me change out necklaces. “I’ll have to put this in the jewelry case and bring it out only for special occasions.”
“Will you wear the camellias on Tuesday with your blue dress? I’ll put on my matching button covers and cuff links.”
“Of course, I will. What exactly is happening on Tuesday?”
“Well, your grandfather is thinking about selling off the European half of Ascot, Ascot, and Pemberley.”
Whoa! That was big news. “When did this happen?”
“You’re not supposed to know this yet, but since I’m honor-bound to marry you now, I’ll have to let you in on the secret.” He winked.
“So, do tell.” We sat down at a little restaurant off the main piazza for lunch.
“Roland realizes that with all of Gram’s family deeply rooted in Los Angeles, he doesn’t want to work out here anymore. When I asked Roland to move offices, part of my new job description was to court buyers. I’m taking care of clients, too, but I’m not very familiar with all the different European laws so I’m mainly here to find serious buyers and get them in touch with Roland.”
/>
“So Tuesday is...”
“Tuesday is an open invitation to anyone who is interested in learning about our firm. It could be potential buyers, potential clients, potential lawyers who may want to join the firm. The firm sponsors several charities, so these charities along with the firm will be highlighted. It’s an all-purpose event. And you, my beauty, need to be my arm candy for the night.”
“And will...” Did I want to go there, again?
“Yes, she will be there. She is in Paris, headed to London just like us. As long as Kate is with the firm, she and I will be in contact with one another. You need not be insecure or upset when she’s around. She’s just another colleague. All right?”
“Will you continue to stay friends with her when you and she are no longer colleagues?” Donovan gave me a disgruntled look, and I knew exactly what he was thinking—my friendship with Michael. “I’m not asking you to cut off your friendship with her; I’m asking if you’ll continue to seek her out as a friend when she leaves the firm.” He didn’t look any less disgruntled. “Fine. I’ll let it go. I’ve told you I wanted to stay friends with Michael, and it’s only fair I don’t tell you who you can and cannot be friends with since I’ve made my stand. Let me state for the record that Kate makes me insecure. If it isn’t bad enough that she’d probably make Miss America insecure, she’s had your heart for as long as I’ve known you. That’s neither easily erased nor forgotten.”
Donovan reached over from across the table, held my hand, and shared with me a tender look. “Why did you have tears in your eyes when we started making love? What were you thinking that made you cry?”
“I was just overwhelmed with the act, the emotions, the love...I don’t know if I could term them as happy tears, but it wasn’t anything associated with sadness. Like I said earlier, I’ve longed to be with you and never believed it was going to happen. It still feels like a dream, and possibly a nightmare if it all ends.” I could feel my mood shift from buoyancy to drowning. “Right now, I’ve climbed to the very top of heaven, but in the recesses of my mind, I still believe there’s a chance I could go right back to the depths of hell. And especially after having experienced all these emotions with you, it would be the absolute deepest depth of hell if we were to separate now.”
