by Belle Zimet
“It is kicking in.” She admitted. “ But I also feel comfortable around you. I don’t know why.”
“Mmm.” He murmured as he turned that penetrating gaze on her. She found herself squirming as she had the day before. “To answer your question, no.”
“Never?” Ella didn’t know why she was so surprised.
“She came onto me once. I turned her down.” He answered.
“Really?” She knew surprise had registered in her voice, though she hadn’t intended it to.
“Yes, really. I can control my erections. They don’t make decisions for me. Men do have the capability of making that choice.” He continued to stare at her. “I can see by your reaction that it hasn’t been the case in your experience.”
Ouch. The truth of his statement was validated by the look on her face. “Why didn’t you?”
He shrugged. “I didn’t feel the need to engage in the same relationship she invariably entered into with every other man who wasn’t related to her.”
“So you knew she was sleeping around?”
“Yes, I mean, everyone did, regardless of knowing her or not. But I was aware that it was worse than anyone knew.” He said with a small sigh.
Her Mai Tai seemed to be disappearing with a quickness. “Why do you think she did it?”
“Who really knows? I think she liked to be accessible to people, and it really wasn’t possible in any other realm. She was in no way ordinary, but seemed to like to feel like she could be occasionally. Lastly, I think she enjoyed it. She liked sex and she didn’t believe in guilt, and that combination makes for a woman that gets harshly judged by society.” He casually drank his Mai Tai after discarding the fruit spear that adorned it. “Women are held to impossible and hypocritical standards.”
“Acting that way on your own is one thing, but doing it while hurting a faithful boyfriend, is another.” She told him as she pulled a cherry off the little plastic sword with her teeth.
“He knew what he was getting into. She was honest at the very beginning.” He watched her steadily. “And as I heard it, he wasn’t always faithful either, Ella.”
Ella had no idea if that statement was indicative of him knowing about her dalliance with Nick and she didn’t care to delve.
“Well, I’m not here to judge.” She said as the waiter approached and she ordered another drink. Bryan declined one. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Can I stop you?” He laughed.
She smiled. “Did you love her?”
“Ugh, that is quite a question.” He leaned back and stared out the window. “I was not impervious to her charms, Ella. We were a lot alike and we had a very strong bond, and I suppose I hoped that she would want to have a relationship with me at some point. However, I was smart enough to realize that she wasn’t capable of it at that point, if ever. I did know that Nick was not going to be able to rein her in like he wanted to. If I wasn’t the right man for her, he certainly wasn’t either.”
“Why not?”
“He had no idea what to do with her. She was too smart, too mature and too unhealthy.” He summed up.
“Unhealthy?”
“Not like cholera unhealthy, but emotionally unhealthy. She never did what she did to expressly hurt him, but she just wasn’t equipped to be caged at that point.”
“Why does being in a relationship have to be cage?” She asked in a rougher tone than she had intended.
“She wasn’t like you, Ella. So to try and quantify her personality through yours will never work. You also are letting your feelings for Nick blur your objective ear.” He told her straightforwardly.
“I don’t have feelings for Nick.” She objected shrilly, and then tempered herself. “It’s been over a decade.”
“Some people you never forget, Ella. Some people will stay with you forever. They represent a time and feeling for you, even if they don’t actually deserve the idolatry through the years.” He observed.
“Why do you continue to make this about me?” She asked, suddenly finding herself annoyed.
“Why do you continue to forget about yourself?”
“You are infuriating sometimes.” She said quietly, shaking her head
“So I’ve been told.” He reached over and lightly touched her hand by way of apology. “Is that all your questions?”
“Not nearly,” she said almost at the same time as she felt the Mai Tai hit her like a ton of bricks. She got very warm and the world was a bit wobbly. Still she continued on. “Who do you think killed her?”
“I haven’t the slightest idea.” He said simply.
“So, you don’t believe it was Nick?”
“He could have done it. He clearly was very upset with her dalliances, but there were plenty of people she’d eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner, some less savory than others. I know you saw some of the people she brought around.” He commented, as he swirled his drink in it’s glossy tiki head.
She nodded. “What about Mira?”
He rolled his eyes and shrugged it was clear that he hadn’t thought about her in some time, and wasn’t pleased to have her enter his mind space again..
“You didn’t like her?”
“I was completely ambivalent towards her until she took up with that barbarian. She chose to forsake her good friends just to be mistreated and then defend him when he abused her and everyone else. If you are asking whether or not she may have killed her, she very well could have too. However, I don’t know if she had the physical strength to do that to Mercedes. Strangling a well proportioned, 5’7 girl in peak physical form would be no light workout.” He noticed the distaste on her face at the morbidity of the imagery, and put his hands up before continuing on. “It’s a fact. I wish I could change it, but I can’t.”
Ella leaned back in her chair and put her head back, her mind becoming more muddled than the mojito she saw the neighboring table drinking. She was on fire with the alcohol, and downed her water in a pitiable attempt to put it out.
“Are you ok?” He asked, concerned as he came to her side and kneeled down next to her and grabbed her hand in his.
She kept her head leaned back and stared at the ceiling and thought she saw it move. “I think I’m a little too ok, Bryan. I’m a little trashed, I think.”
“May I ask why you are asking all these questions about Mercedes?” He asked, still enveloping her hand with his.
“If I told you she was haunting me into it, would you believe me?” She mumbled.
“No.”
“Then no, you can’t ask.” She said as she flung herself forward in the chair and cranked her head to the side to look at him.
“You’re super hot.” She blurted. “And I’m super hot. But not like your kind of hot, like temperature hot.” She pulled her hair up to air out her neck. “Isn’t it hot in here?”
He smiled widely at her, clearly amused but also uneasy. “I think you need food. Do you want to go to dinner?”
“I don’t think I can make it to dinner,” she slurred slightly. “Do you hate me?”
“Not that I know of. I actually like you quite a bit.” He assured her, stormy eyes sparkling with delight.
“Why?”
He smiled and helped her up. “You’re sweet, likeable and you have a great ass.”
She leaned on him for support and she looked at the bartenders who were staring at her with a knowing glance. Clearly this Mai Tai mischief happened nightly. “I do have a great ass.” She agreed shamelessly. “I seem to recall yours being surprisingly appealing as well.”
They limped down the stairs and she stopped abruptly to gather her senses. They seemed to be impossible to corral though. “Where are we going?”
“The hotel.” He said as he eased her along.
“Are you trying to have sex with me?” She said, giving him her best bedroom eyes which she hoped weren’t too cross eyed.
“No, lovely,” he laughed. “We can get you your own hotel room, or I can sleep on the co
uch in the suite, or even just leave you there, if you would prefer.”
“How about we share the suite? I’m not ready to let you go. Plus, I may want to have sex with you, in all honesty.” She recognized that she would be embarrassed in the morning, but the mortification seemed to evade her at this moment.
“Thank you, I’m glad that I provide a viable sexual option for you.” He smirked.
“And how!” She started to laugh. “Did I just say and how? Who says that?”
“Apparently you,” he answered soberly. “And probably good old Buford from 1872”
She cackled drunkenly most of the way down the water to the hotel, which was quite pretty. It also had a tropical theme, but this one was more refined. They arrived after about five minutes of walking and inane conversation, mostly attributed to her.
He helped her up to the room. As he unlocked the door she grabbed his shoulders and turned his body to engage him into an intimate hug. He obliged, but soon pulled away and led her into the room.
Her feet hurt and the tag of the dress was bugging her. As a result she spontaneously kicked off her shoes and peeled off her dress as he watched with what must have been a rare expression of shock plastered on his handsome face. She stood in her black bra and panties and had the sense to congratulate herself for picking a nice, matching set.
“Why don’t you come here?” She told him seductively. She knew it sounded like a question, but they both knew it wasn’t.
He looked unsure but strode up and stopped right in front of her and she coyly ran her hands up his chest. She could feel the natural musculature and relished the feel of his broad shoulders, though she had to completely extend her arms to cup them. “You’re pretty sexy for a nerd.” She told him.
“You’re pretty sexy for a non-nerd.” He replied, as he brushed his hand from her neck down her arm.
She leaned in to kiss him and he backed away. She pouted, but was pleased to note that it seemed like it was a definite labor on his part to not give into it.
He gently grabbed her face in his hands and angled her head gently up to meet his eyes. “I think you should take a little nap.”
“No way, man. I couldn’t sleep right now.” She insisted.
“Why don’t you get into bed to humor me, and see what happens.” He offered obligingly.
“Fine,” she said agreeably. “But I’m not sleeping.”
“Ok.” He patronized as he led her to the bed and tucked her in. He sat next to her and watched her with an impish smile.
“You’re nuts if you think I could sleep right…” she was out before she could even finish the sentence.
Ella sat up in bed and looked around in a daze. She could see that it was still dark outside and she was alone in the room. It didn’t take long for the night’s events to come rushing back to her. She closed her eyes and laid back feeling the humiliation wash over her mercilessly. She had no idea what had possessed her to drink two of those Mai Tais. She remembered suddenly where she was and looked around again, this time to spy a bottle of water that had thoughtfully been placed next to the bed. She guzzled it gratefully. She had only a very slight headache and still felt slightly buzzed. Bryan had put her dress over a chair near the bed with a fluffy, hotel robe. She remembered the bothersome tag and opted for the robe.
Bryan had closed the door to the bedroom and she opened it while taking a deep breath to try and drown the embarrassment foolishly with oxygen. It only seemed to aerate it and draw attention to her. Bryan looked up from his laptop that he had set up on the small dining room table by the deck.
“Well, hello.” He said with a cheerful smile. “How are you feeling?”
She walked closer to him and gave a sheepish smile. “Miraculously pretty good.” She started to shake her head. “I’m so sorr-”
He cut her off. “Don’t even mention it. You were just fine. Are you hungry?” He said gesturing to where he had ordered room service. It sat untouched on a cart with the cloches still on.
Looking at it induced her stomach to growl. “Starving.” She told him as she descended upon the cart, grateful that he’d brushed off her behavior.
“I figured you might be. I wasn’t sure how long you were going to be out for, so there aren’t any warm dishes there. We can order something else, if you would like.” He told her as he grabbed a plate and handed it to her, and started removing cloches.
“Oh no, whatever is here should be fine.” And it was. Cheese and charcuterie plate, basket of fresh rolls, fruit platter and grilled vegetables.
“What time is it?” She asked through a mouthful of asparagus.
“Oh, only about 10pm.” He laughed.
“Seriously?” She shook her head. “Some date I am.”
“And how!” He said with a straight face.
“Don’t make fun of my pretend nephew.” She snorted through her laughter.
They took their plates onto the balcony and ate as they listened to the water and laughed about the evening.
“I can’t believe what a number those drinks did on me. I’m really quite embarrassed.” She told him as she placed her empty plate on the small table next to her.
“I can believe it, but try not to feel too badly. You weren’t anywhere near as bad as you think you were.” He assured her.
“I stripped.” She reminded him, putting her hands on her face.
“Well, that certainly wasn’t bad.” He grinned.
She blushed deeply and averted her eyes. “That’s not something I would normally do on a first date.”
“So this is a date. And I thought you were just pumping me for information.”
“Once you saw my thong, it elevated to a date.” She told him with a laugh before getting more serious. “I’m sorry I came onto you.”
He lightly grabbed her chin and directed her gaze to his dark, intense eyes. “You are? I’m not.” His hand trailed down to where the robe met in the middle of her chest and ran his finger down between her cleavage down her stomach, parting the robe as he did. She felt arousal swiftly envelope her senses and stayed still to see where his hands would travel next.
He slowly got up and kneeled before her between her legs, which he gently spread enough to accommodate his body. He tenderly moved her hair to the side and leaned up to nuzzle her neck, as his hands trailed up her arms, each stroke inspiring more waves of warmth, and need. The sensations provided by his mouth on her hot neck trailed down her back and she felt herself moan lowly. He ran his fingers across her scalp as he continued to kiss her neck, with a light pressure that set her nerve endings on fire.
She watched him rapturously as he freed her neck and parted the robe completely and trailed the kisses down to her breasts, which he fondled lightly. She found herself wrapping her legs around his waist, and he took the opportunity to cup her bottom and lift her up in that position. He stood up and carried her inside where he threw her on the bed. She didn’t stay down long, jumping onto her knees and pulling him to her. They kissed fervently as she unbuttoned his shirt quickly and he only broke contact long enough to pull down his pants. She took the opportunity to pull of her panties and bra.
“Jesus, you are beautiful.” He said hoarsely, staring at her hungrily.
She stared down his naked body as brazenly as he was taking hers in. He was in good shape, with brawny chest that was sprinkled generously with down.
She laid back and he buried his head between her legs. She moaned and tried not to buck her hips. It had been a while, and he was clearly skilled. His movements were deliberate, with his tongue alternately darting and sucking and before long she felt that sweet warmth radiating throughout her body. She undulated in pleasure and once she had finished pulled him up to her. He kissed her passionately as he drove into her.
She writhed greedily below him and clutched his rear to draw him as far into her as she could with a groan.
They exhausted themselves happily before they clasped each other hotly as he climaxed into her.
“Wow, this was not how I saw the night playing out.” She remarked, settling her hand against the side of her head, and she cuddled into the bed on her side.
“Really? This was exactly how I hoped it would play out. Well, minus the drunken nap, anyway.” He lovingly moved a piece of hair that had attached to her face with perspiration. “You have no idea how hard it was to extricate from you when you took off your clothes.”
“Mmm, I’m so sorry.” She murmured as she leaned in for a kiss.
“Don’t worry, it wasn’t uncomfortable at all to have a two hour erection while having you naked in my bed in the next room.” He said sarcastically.
“I think it worked out pretty well.”
“I’d have to agree, dear.” He said trailing his fingers down her exposed arm.
She rolled out of bed and sauntered over to the bathroom, before looking saucily over her shoulder at him. “Shower?”
He supported himself on one elbow as he watched her with a grin. “I was right about your fantastic ass.”
She walked even slower for his benefit. “You wanna follow it to the bathroom?”
He got up quickly and she saw he was excited all over again. “Why do you want to shower? I’m only going to attack you again.”
She smiled at the language. “Well, let’s kill two birds with one stone and get clean and dirty at the same time.”
“You’re a very smart girl, Ella.” He said as he followed her into the stream of water and took her into his arms again.
Chapter 12
Ella drove home the next day with a smile plastered onto her face. They’d been up a good deal of the night talking, snacking and having sex. A happy enterprise she hadn’t engaged in for far too long. Ella was moderately afraid that she would be walking with a limp for a week, and she blushed with a beaming grin when she let her mind wander to why.
