The Write Escape

by Charish Reid

  “Truth or dare?”

  “Truth,” he said quickly.

  She glanced up from the phone. “Have you dated a black woman before?”

  Aiden swallowed. “No.”

  “Why not?” she said, batting her lashes. “We’re quite lovely people.”

  “I have no doubt,” he replied. “But I just haven’t had the opportunity.”

  She nodded. “Do you have any questions for the one ambassador sitting in front of you?”

  She knows how to take the piss as well. “I don’t know if I’m dating one right now,” he said carefully.

  “I’m definitely black,” Antonia said.

  Aiden rolled his eyes in reply.

  “As far as your dear mother is concerned, we’re on a date,” she said. “So technically, you are in fact dating a black woman.”

  She had him there. Was it this easy to talk to her? Aiden couldn’t remember a time where he had a rolling banter with a woman that kept his busy mind captivated. Antonia was, in a word, captivating. “Mmh, well if we’re technically dating... How do you get your hair to do that?”

  Antonia promptly laughed at him. Loudly. “That’s seriously your first question?”

  “Sure?”

  “What exactly is my hair doing?” she asked, patting the curls near her face.

  “It’s not doing anything, it’s very pretty,” Aiden tried to sound intelligent about it. “It’s just, well I wondered, what do you do to it? What kind of products do you use?”

  She shook her head, returning to his phone. “Oh this is telling,” she said with a breathy laugh.

  “No, no,” he said, sitting up. “Not telling. I’m just curious, is all. It’s one of my favorite things about you, really.”

  “I use shampoo and conditioner like everyone else.”

  “Well it’s gorgeous,” Aiden said, taking another drink. He now felt mildly embarrassed by his novice question. “Truth or dare?”

  “Truth, please.”

  “Have you ever dated a, erm, white man?”

  Antonia handed his phone back to him before taking a gulp of her whiskey. “Of course,” she said. “And I don’t need to know more about you guys.”

  While trying to rattle her for the fun of it, she managed to turn his game back on him. In the low lights of the restaurant, her clear brown skin was flawless. The way her white teeth glinted when she smiled at him made Aiden crave her laughter even more. She was beautiful and outwitted him when he least expected. Aiden wondered if he was in love with her. “Nothing more?” he asked.

  She gave a low and earthy chuckle as she held her glass to her cheek. “I’m a black woman who learned to play the higher education game before she had to play the business world game. I know white people.”

  “Fair,” Aiden returned. “I think that’s fair.”

  “Sorry,” she said. Her smile dipped slightly. “I’m not trying to generalize. It’s just that there’s a lot of explaining to do when you date a white person. I dated a lecturer from grad school before I took up with Derek. And I had to do a lot of correcting.”

  “Why would you date a lecturer?” Aiden asked.

  “He was cute and he liked my writing.”

  “That feels like it crosses some kind of boundary,” Aiden said. “You were a still a student.”

  She cocked her head and stared him down. “Oh really? Says the man who was secretly dating his colleague for two years?”

  He gave her a dismissive wave. “It’s different.”

  She rolled her eyes in response. “I think we’re letting the game get away from us.” She took another sip. “Whose turn is it?”

  “Yours,” he said. “Truth or dare?”

  “Truth,” she said boldly.

  “Have you enjoyed yourself today?”

  Antonia stopped. “What? No trick?”

  “Honest question. Have you enjoyed yourself today?”

  She nervously tucked a curl behind her ear and took another drink. “I have,” she said with hesitation. “I haven’t been on a real date in a long time.”

  “I’m glad.”

  They settled into a short silence, staring at one another with buzzed smiles. The drink had gone to his head and he could see Antonia’s face was flushed as well. Their dessert had gone abandoned while they talked, leaving the ice cream a melted pool of white. After a moment, Antonia reached a hand across the table and wiggled her fingers. Aiden saw that as a sign.

  He took her by the hand and stared into her deep brown eyes. “Antonia,” he said softly. “I’ve enjoyed these last few days with you, immensely.”

  She stroked his knuckles with her thumb, her smile downward cast. “I have too.”

  There was something that lingered over their table, some unspoken request that they were both too frightened to make. After all, it had been less than a week of talking and laughing and...other things. He wondered if she minded if things were moving swiftly or if she liked rolling with the punches as well. Whatever this was, he didn’t want it to end.

  * * *

  Antonia stood outside of the hotel that she’d been unable to check into just last Thursday. Instead of feeling hurt and anger, she now felt trepidation and desire. She stood beside Aiden who dared her to make this reservation. She knew what he was asking of her and was only half-afraid to indulge him. The other half of her was still afraid to indulge herself. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

  He looked down at her. “I think it’s a brilliant idea. We can watch a television that has more than seven channels, walk around in robes, maybe order some room service...”

  She shot him a sidelong glance. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

  Aiden took her by the hand and led her to the front entrance. “I think I know what you meant, Antonia,” he said as he opened the door. “But your ‘dare’ obligation has been met. You successfully booked a hotel room because I’m too intoxicated to drive us home.”

  As they entered the lobby, Antonia looked him over. Aiden appeared relaxed, but it didn’t seem necessary to take the risk. “And whatever happens up there...happens?”

  “Exactly.”

  Antonia held her breath as they approached the front desk. Breda was there, manning the station. Oh Jesus... The young woman looked at the two of them, hands locked, and smiled brightly. “Ms. Harper! How are you?”

  “I’m fine, Breda. I’d like to check in.”

  “It’s nice to see you back in Clifden,” Breda said, staring at Aiden. “How was Tully Cross?”

  Aiden looked at her with a smirk. “I think Tully Cross did her a world of good.” He went into his pocket to produce his wallet. “Ms. Harper reserved our room, but I’d like to pay for it.”

  “Of course,” said the receptionist, taking his card. “Mr. Byrnes, is this your first stay in the Atlantic Coast Hotel?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  The young woman looked around them. “And do you need help with your luggage?”

  Antonia’s face reddened. They had no luggage.

  “Won’t be necessary,” Aiden said with a handsome smile.

  “Right, well here are your keys for room 205. The elevator banks are to the left of our lobby.” Breda gestured to her right. “Thank you for choosing Atlantic Coast Hotel, again.”

  They waited for the elevator in silence. Antonia gazed upward at the numbers, while Aiden stared at her. She turned to face him. “What?”

  “Would you like to use the shampoo and conditioner in the morning?” he asked.

  She laughed. “Why are you like this?”

  “I’m concerned about your hair maintenance,” he replied. “You know, since we don’t have luggage.”

  “That was so embarrassing,” she said in a low voice. “She thinks that we’re just here for...”

  He nodded
. “Yup.” He didn’t seem very concerned at all.

  When the empty elevator bank opened, they stepped inside and watched the doors slide before them. “I hope that she—”

  Antonia was interrupted by Aiden’s mouth covering her own. His lips were ravenous as his tongue plundered fast and loose. His hands dug into her hair, pulling her close to him as he edged her against the elevator wall. Aiden’s lean, hard body pressed against her, making her moan beneath his lips. She raised her hands to his strong chest and gently pushed back. When he got the message, she was able to pull back from his lips. “Aiden,” she breathed.

  “I’m sorry,” he said panting. “I’ve been waiting to do that all night.”

  She peered at him from beneath her lashes. “Can you wait just a moment more?”

  “Patience has always been a challenge for me,” he said, glancing from her to flashing numbers.

  When the doors slid open, he grabbed her by the hand and took off down the hallway. Antonia had to run to keep up with him, laughing along the way. Upon reaching their room, she watched Aiden fumble with the key, nearly dropping it before he could slide it in. She stood fidgeting, tucking an errant curl behind her ear and smoothing down her wool sweater. Once he unlocked the door, their actions seemed to slow to an achingly awkward pace. He stepped inside first, turned the light on and swept an arm to gesture, “this is it.” She took a tentative step forward and gave an appraising nod.

  “Yep, this is what I remember from the website,” she said. She closed the door behind her with a soft bump and locked it with an even softer click.

  “Would you like anything to drink?” he asked with a hoarse voice. He gave a small cough and wiped his hands on his jeans.

  Antonia smiled and shook her head. Complete awareness was what she wanted at that moment. Her eyes traveled from him to the window. Below them, on the streets of Clifden, people were still out roaming the bars. Street vendors and buskers called for customers to try their trad music over at the next drinking establishment. She looked at the door where the bathroom was and wondered if, afterward, they’d shower together. Her gaze finally rested on the bed and a surge went through her body, just below her belly. Everything in her, nerves, anxieties, and nagging insecurities began to pool at her feet. Without looking at Aiden, she heard his strained breathing. He sounded as though he were in agony. Antonia’s eyes traveled back to him. He stared at her with a look in his eyes she’d never seen in a man. In the pale light of their room, his eyes shone, burning forest green. They were hungry.

  “I’ve never done this before,” she finally said.

  He finally exhaled, giving a short laugh. “I was just thinking that same thing myself.”

  She let her arms hang helplessly. “I don’t know how to start,” she admitted.

  He slowly approached her. “We can start wherever you want.”

  Antonia smiled. “From the beginning then.”

  She stood between him and the door, her back resting against the cool wood. She was feverish and dazed as he raised his hands slightly and rested them on her hips. The movement seemed familiar and necessary. Antonia put her hands on his arms, feeling the cords of his muscles beneath her thumbs. His forearms were covered in springy dark hair, the same hair that peppered his chest. “Pretend we’re dancing and you’re taking the lead.”

  “I don’t know how to dance,” she reminded him.

  “Yes, but you’ve done this dance before,” Aiden said, removing his hands from her and placing them on the door on either side of her head. “Today is the day Antonia gets to get powerful.”

  She gazed into his eyes and waited for him to touch her. “You’ll keep your hands to yourself?” she asked.

  “As best as I can.”

  Antonia was grateful for the chance to slowly explore him at her leisure. Aiden tended to overwhelm her senses, making it impossible to catch up with him. The way he stood over her was already incorrect. “No, this won’t work,” she murmured, switching places with him. She gently pushed him against the door and stood before him.

  “That better?”

  “Take off your sweater,” she said.

  His eyes challenged her. “You take it off.”

  Her hands trembled slightly as she reached for his waistband, dragging his sweater and T-shirt up his torso. As she pulled them over his head, he shook his hair out of his face. “That’s easy enough,” she said.

  “Easy peasy.”

  She ignored him and fanned her hands against his chest. His sleek hair was smooth and soft beneath her fingers. He stiffened under her touch as she grazed his nipples, watching her with the same stoic expression. Antonia slowly ran her fingers down his taut, rippling abs until she stopped at his belt buckle. She tentatively leaned forward on her tiptoes and planted a light kiss on the side of his neck. Aiden lifted his jaw slightly to receive her kisses.

  “You’re too tall,” she whispered. “Go sit on the bed.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” She took him by the hand and pulled him away from the door. She pushed Aiden onto the bed roughly, where he bounced and landed on his back. “Oof, okay.”

  Antonia’s hands flew to her mouth. “Oh, I’m sorry! Are you okay?”

  He drew himself up on his elbow. “A little whiplash, but I want to see where this goes.”

  She wondered the same thing. Antonia didn’t know what she was doing. Sure, she tried to write about this sort of thing in her novel, but she didn’t know how to properly seduce a man. Her character Augusta would know what she was doing. She’d take Bryon’s belt off with one flick of the wrist. Things were different when she had a real flesh and blood man in her midst. Usually, it was the man who took charge in these kinds of situations. “I’m uh...blanking here.”

  “Do what feels right.”

  “I don’t know what to do with my hands,” she said, laughing. She held them up in defense. “I don’t usually do this.”

  “What do you usually do?” he asked.

  “I just let the man...you know, do his thing. You all seem happy to take the reins.”

  “Darling, you’re going to write about this in your book. Does your girl ever just have her way with her guy?”

  “Augusta?” She was surprised that Aiden would refer to her. “She would just go for it.”

  “Confidence, Antonia.”

  “Confidence,” she repeated. Confidence. She straightened up and put her hands on her hips. “Okay,” she breathed.

  “Okay.”

  “I’m going to straddle you now.”

  He suppressed his laughter. “Okay.”

  “Don’t laugh at me.”

  “Not laughing,” he said with a gorgeous smile. “Give it to me.”

  She climbed onto the bed and crawled up his body, her legs on either side of him, pinning him to the bed. “Okay,” she breathed. He felt great between her thighs. It was empowering to be in this position. “You feel like a stallion.”

  “Yes, that’s how you make a man happy,” Aiden said, bucking his hips against her.

  Antonia jumped. “Oh!”

  “Would you like a ride?”

  “Stop teasing me,” she said, slapping his arm.

  “See how easy this is? We’re just having fun.”

  “You’re right,” she said. “This isn’t a big deal. We’re having fun.”

  “That’s right.” He bucked his hips again. “Are you saddled up?”

  She hopped again, with a squeal. “I’m not actually saddled up yet,” she said in a mischievous voice. She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a little packet, tossing it on his chest. “Not yet.”

  He looked at the condom and back at her, his brow arched in surprise. “When did you have time to get that?”

  “Before we went to the restaurant,” she said with pride. “When I ducked into the pharmacy.”

&nbs
p; “You saucy little minx.”

  “I wanted to return the favor,” she said.

  “I think you need to stop talking and saddle up.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Aiden guided Antonia with his eyes.

  Her nerves were getting the best of her and he hoped that she was up to the task. He watched her nervously regard his body, with tentative hands and darting eyes. “What do men generally like?”

  Aiden did his best to remain serious but she was making it difficult with novice questions. “I liked what you did before,” he said. “I liked the way you kissed my neck.”

  Antonia nodded as she leaned down on top of him. The pressure from her hips against his groin was pleasant, but grew painful the more she moved. She hovered over him, planting slow, luscious kisses down his jaw and neck. Her eyes were still open, she kept glancing to him for approval. Her hands cradled his face as she deepened her kisses, darting her tongue against his neck. He groaned in response. “That feels nice,” he murmured.

  “Mmh?” Her lips traveled over his Adam’s apple, running the tip of her tongue down to the valley where his collarbones met. She scooted down his body, her lips tracing a delicate line at the center of his chest. Her hands followed behind, intent on finding his nipples which were already stiff from the friction of her sweater. Raking her fingernails across one, made Aiden’s breath hitch in his throat. He closed his eyes and rested his head against the bed.

  “Yes,” he breathed.

  She paused to measure his response before running her tongue along the small flat disk of his nipple while fanning her fingers across the other one. Antonia switched nipples, giving each its own special attention. In a move that Aiden didn’t expect, she blew cold air on one of them, sending a shiver down his spine. He couldn’t help himself as he took her by the hips and ground his straining erection against her. Antonia’s gaze flew to his face once she felt it.

  “Turns out I don’t need that much foreplay,” he said, pushing into her. “You might want to prepare to mount.”

  “Okay,” she breathed. She raised her hips slightly to pull her own sweater off. When she tossed it to the floor, she quickly unhooked her bra.