Both Aimee and I were still actively working with Bella Matrix. I was accepting fewer personal assignments from them than I had previously. This allowed me to involve myself on a more frequent basis to The Studio and to Aria. It took a few days but after the gala, she recanted the events of that evening and her encounter with Marisol. I was furious. I wanted to confront her, but Aria discussed the merits of not reacting at all. Alienating Marisol could jeopardize my standing with key clients—not a good move for a company in the ‘”start-up” phase. I took that to mean that I needed to play nice with Marisol for business sake. As far as Bella Matrix and working with Marisol were concerned, I didn’t want to stop all engagements that were presented to me for the purposes of keeping my contacts open, but tapering them meant that I was traveling less. I was hoping to funnel most of my livelihood through The Studio. The assignments that I accepted through Bella Matrix were for the location shoots.
“Mmmm, I feel something warm against my neck,” Aria’s sleepy voice brought me out of my thoughts.
“Yes, but don’t you mean someone?” I countered.
She giggled a bit. “Someone…something…It’s all a blur when your eyes haven’t opened.”
“Maybe I should assist you in making the distinction,” I said as I brushed her silky hair away from her neck and began in earnest to kiss and nibble at the curve of it.
“I still can’t tell,” she playfully chuckled as she spoke in a singsong manner.
“No? How so?” I sexily baited her, lightly running my hand up and down her bare shoulder and down into her ribcage.
“You’re kissing me so you could be a someone, like my Declan, but you’re also biting me so you could be a something, like a vampire.” Her giggle carried into a joyful laugh. I couldn’t think of a more pleasing sound—Well, on second thought, yes I could.
I flipped her over and she gave me a huge laughing roar as she looked into my eyes.
“Does this refresh your memory?” I playfully challenged her. My God, the face of this woman was one that I could never tire of seeing. I could wake each day for the next thousand years and be thankful that she was the one lying next to me.
“Yes, yes!” she said as she attempted with great effort to catch her breath. “I remember, I remember!” she said as she tried to push my fingers away from her ribs. “You’re Declan, my bear,” she continued and she smiled that sweet smile of hers.
“Yes, I am,” I said with mock authority. Sternly facing her and pulling her close, I embraced her. “Don’t ever forget it.”
Hot showers, leisure mornings, and time with Aria were the best part of our weekend. After spending time seducing her and discovering the gratifying delights of having her shower with me, we needed something to eat. Hot coffee and a home cooked breakfast were on the agenda. I promised her that I’d make pancakes from scratch. As she retrieved our cups and poured coffee for us both, we had a knock at the door.
“Are we expecting anyone?” she asked as she walked toward the door.
“None that I’m aware of.”
She returned with a monstrous green plant on a rolling stand.
“What did we do to earn that jolly green giant?” I motioned up and down at the huge, green tropical foliage.
“It appears that it’s yet another gift from your adoring public,” she said dramatically. She pulled the card from the plant, holding it in her hand and waving it toward me.
“Open it, babe”—I motioned—“I’m curious to see who it’s from.”
Shrugging her shoulders, she raised her eyebrows.
“It doesn’t say that it’s from anyone specific. The card just says; Good luck with your new business.”
I was concentrating on flipping the pancakes. “Perhaps it’s from a client? It doesn’t say who?”
Shaking her head, she indicated that there was no other information.
“We’ve received some plants at The Studio. We can keep this one here,” I said.
“It would look nice in the living room,” she agreed. “Right over there, by that window. The sunlight would be perfect. Not too much, just enough.”
“Whatever you think, babe. I know nothing about plants.” With that, it was settled. She rolled the bulky flora into the designated place. I had to agree with her; it was the perfect spot. I couldn’t think of another location in the house where the colossal plant would fit. We could view it from where we sitting in the kitchen—it was that large.
The preparation for my tasty breakfast, now brunch, was complete, so I carried our pancake laden plates to the table while she touted the coffee and maple syrup. TT
The thought crossed my mind of how lucky a man I was. My former self, before Aria, was so damn superficial; I would never have thought such a simple pleasure as breakfast with a woman could make me feel this content. That is, before this woman…
Now weekends were my favorite time of the week, spending time, totally uninterrupted with her. The morning had been utterly perfect, waking with her and playfully teasing her. Not needing to rush off to fulfill obligations. Giving her my deliberate, undivided attention and reconnecting with her after having my attentions diverted with business matters all week, she had grown to become the most prized person in my world.
I used to look at my brother and Lacey and know that they “loved” each other, but I never before understood what others described to be the feeling of love. Loving Aria was teaching me every day to see a world outside of myself. I realized now how selfish and narcissistic an existence I had previously lived. I used to hate being inconvenienced and I trivialized the wants and needs of others. If it didn’t matter to me… then it just didn’t matter. That’s what being in the “Perfect” world had done to me. I cared about me and what everyone saw when they looked at me, instead of developing the interior of the man that I should have been. I take one look at Aria and I know that I’m still selfish and possessive, but this time, it is of her. It matters to me if she doesn’t share her wants and needs, and it angers me when she trivializes how important she is to me.
She taught me the things that would develop the heart inside of me. That was all that mattered. She showed me what reward there was in giving your heart to the one person you thoroughly loved; how you would always get back abundantly more than you gave. Aria lived those words in a profound way, every day. That was what made her excessively beautiful, in my eyes. Quite honestly, I didn’t give a shit about what the world thought of me anymore. Loving her had become my priority, and the more I made her my priority, the more confidently she displayed her love for me.
Eating pancakes was such a simple pleasure and I wasn’t hearing a word she was saying. I was just looking at her sweet face. I know I should be tuned in to every word, but sitting across from her and watching her perform the simple task of lifting a fork, I have the most unbelievable feeling of possession and protection I have ever known. I now fully understood how Carter felt about Lacey. I’d still be the doubtless, self-centered, son of a bitch I was, if I hadn’t seen this woman on the beach.
I have to smile at myself as I fix her another cup of coffee—if that’s what you can call what she drinks. Two years ago, if anyone would have predicted what I’m doing this morning, I would have laughed in their face.
Aria told me that she didn’t initially like it when I said she was beautiful. She is indisputably pretty, by the world’s standards and by mine, but she doesn’t see herself that way. Because of how sincere and genuine a person she is, I have come to look at her as the most perfect example of beauty. In what she sees as her flaws, I see as her strength. They only add to the love I see in her. What she, at times, thinks of as her negatives, I can only see as positives.
“What do you think, bear?”
Shit. She caught me. “What? I’m sorry, beautiful. I was lost in thought,” I said. I gave her my best boyish smile, hoping to get away with being so inattentive.
“Really?” She cocked her head at me, snickering. “Did you hear anything I
said?”
“Um, No…” I hung my head in mock shame.
She just smiled.
“You’re a mess, you know it?” She pointed her fork at me, indicating that I wasn’t, mentally, all present. “…but you make great pancakes,” she said, rewarding me with her smile that reminded me, again, what a lucky man I am.
Now it was my turn to smile.
Out on the side street, sitting in her rented car, Marisol made the minor adjustments to the listening device that she purchased from the electronic store. The salesman assured her that she’d be able to eavesdrop on conversations, if that was her goal. She was losing patience with the private investigator, Mr. Richards. He reported Declan’s comings and goings, and now she had him keeping tabs on when Aria came and went from the house. She was displeased with his information as most of it was useless. He was beginning to behave in a manner not to her liking. He acted suspicious of her motives, and she was not one to be questioned. If he wanted to keep his job, he had better take her direction. Then again, he was handsome. Perhaps she could persuade him in other ways to do what she wanted… TTT
As for this little bugging device, it did appear to function quite well. She could hear Declan and Aria clearly, though nothing they were saying was of much importance. She had a little time to listen in today, and would do so whenever she was in the area, and as she pleased.
Marisol planned to make herself a more frequent visitor to The Studio. She was, after all, a supermodel. She had a plan to bring Declan back to his senses. His judgment had been clouded since he met the beach girl, and Marisol decided that she’d be the one to bring Declan back into the real world.
Just the thought of that plain, bitch girl made her jaw clench with the resentment she felt. Her hands tightened on the steering wheel as thoughts of revenge began to form in her mind.
Marisol would make Declan pay for the embarrassment he caused her. Clients were beginning to whisper and talk about why they weren’t seen together. She would not tolerate that! She would win him back and she would make him grovel and crawl for her forgiveness…but thoughts of exacting revenge on the girl were what gave her pleasure. She felt a smile lift the corners of her mouth, feeling physical, sensual pleasure as she mentally exacted her revenge on that ugly girl.
A hundred times, she’d thought of that girl, and each time, a different means of taking her revenge formed in her mind. Those sordid and pleasing thoughts were becoming more and more frequent. Would she only make her suffer by watching as Marisol took Declan away from her? No! That would only make her cry. The puta deserved to be hurt in a way that was more public.
Maybe Marisol would corner her in a bathroom and slice her face, slowly, marring her features and whatever attraction it was that Declan found appealing. That would ensure that she’d be repulsive to Declan and any other man who’d be stupid enough to enter into a relationship with her. Maybe Marisol should injure other parts of her so severely that she’d be unable to enter any relationship. Oh, yes…
Her scheming thoughts were bringing her such a pleasure and contentment that she hadn’t felt in quite some time. She sat back and relaxed into her thoughts. She resigned to herself that she’d find an opportunity and create the perfect scenario where she would make sure that she would give the little beach whore exactly what was coming to her—and it wouldn’t be Declan.
He had embarrassed Marisol. She’d never forget that, but she also couldn’t forget how handsome he was and how badly she wanted him. Why he didn’t want her, she couldn’t understand. Everyone wanted her! She had let him get away with playing games with her, but now she’d be the one playing games. He would want her again!! She would make him! She remembered how close he held himself to her when they shot the photos on the island. She could feel how hot he was…how firm he was…
All thoughts of Declan made Marisol feel so sexually hot but affectionately cold. She’d never give him affection, but she’d take his body instead. Once he had a taste of her, he’d never want another woman. She was the beautiful woman in all the photographs with him. She was the women responsible for bringing out the sexuality that Declan had kept hidden, and she’d be dammed if someone else would reap the benefits!
Marisol would help him to find his way back to her and the pleasures that only she could have given him when he spent more time in the city. He didn’t belong here in this sand town. He just needed to feel her body, hot and close to him again…and his memory would take over. Then his body would respond…and she would NOT allow him to touch her…to have her…to take her…as all men wanted…as all men did…
…She would take him…
Her thoughts made her body writhe and squirm in her seat, and she ran her tongue over her lips. Yes, she thought as she brought her hand down and placed it on the seat between her thighs.
Yes, her plan would work. Her Declan would never want the sea whore ever again. She’d never be disregarded by Declan or that fat, puta again, and his house, The Studio, and everything that he owned would belong to her.
…and as Aria and Declan enjoyed giant crashing waves, enjoyed small talk and tasted pancakes, a sadistic mentality was brewing a violent storm…
T Beautiful Girls – Bruno Mars
TT Beautiful – Carly Rae Jepsen
Looking through some real estate listings, I was alerted to Paige’s arrival as I heard Rita escorting her to join me.
“Let me show you girls to your table so that you can catch up,” she said as she guided us back to a corner table. “Have a nice lunch, ladies,” Rita said as she left us.
“We will,” we both said in unison, making all three of us laugh.
“Hey, girl! It’s so good to see you. I’ve missed you!” I said, greeting Paige. We hadn’t seen each other since the gala at The Studio. I’d been busy with my own business, and life with Declan always kept me happily occupied. Paige had been busy with her business, as well as a few dates. This was the first opportunity we’d been able to coordinate to meet.
“I’ve missed you too! It seems like it’s been ages!” she said as the waiter came over to take our drink order.
Once he’d gone from the table, I turned my attention back to her. “So tell me, what’s new in your world?”
“Not much,” she said, flipping her hair back over her shoulder. “Same old, same old. Dating a little and working a lot. What about you?”
“Always busy, it seems. I’m always up and down Coastal Highway, checking on different renovations. When Declan isn’t busy with The Studio, he goes away on location shoots. What little time he spends home, I like to spend with him.”
“How’s everything going with The Studio? Is Declan happy with how everything’s working out?”
The subject brought a smile to my face. “Everything looks promising. Declan’s very focused on building the business and developing new talent. He and Aimee have been meeting with some very promising young people, and the studio space has been booked by both local photographers and those traveling here for photo shoots.”
“It sounds as if it’s going better than you expected,” Paige said as our waiter dropped off our drinks and took our order. T
I leaned back in my chair. “I’m not exactly sure what I expected, to tell the truth,” I confided to her. “Declan was concerned that there would be a big rush of activity in the beginning and worried that it would then slow down. That seems to still be his concern. He won’t turn down any opportunity for prospective business. He’s more “money-minded” these days. On more than one occasion, I got the impression that he may have interviewed a few people when he didn’t want to. I’m not sure I like the idea that he might be compromising himself, or his values, but he knows his industry. I just have to trust him.” I shook off the uneasy feeling I had when I thought of that. “Anyway, he and Aimee are always coming and going. They have a contact in New York that sends them potential models to be interviewed, as well as photographers that may be traveling up or down the East Coast. It’s definitely
busy.”
She took a sip of her drink and placed the glass down on the table to look at me. “Is that a good thing? Are you happy?”
“You know, Paige, I am happy. I feel content. Peaceful. Being with Declan has made a change in me. Don’t misunderstand, we have our ups and downs like everyone else, but because of him, I see myself differently.”
Paige stopped eating her roll and gave me an incredulous look. “How so, sweetie? I’ve known you forever. You’ve always been great. You don’t need to be different.”
“If I were on the outside looking in, I’d never picture someone like Declan being with someone like me.”
She interjected, “Oh, Aria…”
“No, let me finish. You can’t tell me you don’t have some insecurities, Paige. All women, not just me, look in mirrors every day and don’t see the beauty, their true beauty, reflecting in return. They can only see their flaws. I’m no exception and still fall into that trap. Don’t you?”
She nodded her head in agreement. “I do. I admit it.”
“We all fall victim. Almost every woman I know does.” Continuing to confess to Paige, I detected a sorrowful tone in my voice, “I used to take mental inventory when I looked in the mirror of what I needed to fix on my body. It was such a habit that I didn’t realize I performed self-examination nearly every time I was naked. It could have been something as mundane as telling myself I needed to lose a few pounds or as critical as contemplating plastic surgery.”
She sat back in her chair and appeared defensive. TT
“You know that I’ve had plastic surgery. Are you judging me?”
“No, no…not at all. If you have plastic surgery for the right reason, and you aren’t trying to meet someone else’s expectation of what you should look like, then it can be a good thing. If there’s something about yourself that you’re unhappy with and you want to do it to make you feel more confident in yourself, then you should do it. That is why you did it, right? Not to make someone else happy.”
Positive/Negativity Page 19
