Heart Of Stone

by Hayes, S. I.

  “I’ll give you my card, just text me. It’s nice to see one of you actually taking the time to want to know.” Harold smiled broadly. “You could be a keeper. But don’t tell her I said that. Speaking of which. There’s our sunshine!”

  Donnella came meandering down the stairs in a too long for her AC/DC T-Shirt that read TNT with Angus Young playing guitar on the front. The length of it had it coming down to her knees as she rubbed her eyes and yawned. The puppy picked up her head and jumped up, running over to her, wagging her nubby tail happily bounding around giving little barks.

  Harold couldn’t help but notice her hair down and mussed, she looked like she’d had the best sleep in ages. He was beginning to believe that this Matthew Mayfield really may just be what she needed.

  “Whoa, too much too soon.” She moaned, flopping into the couch the puppy getting into her face, trying desperately to give her kisses. “Okay, okay. Go back to sleep.” She laughed, putting up her hands. “Yes, I know you couldn’t sleep with daddy last night. Maybe next time. Okay. Now get down.”

  “Pepper.” Matthew ordered. Pepper looked at him, settling at Donnella’s side. “Better.”

  “You and a dog? Never thought I’d see that.” Harold mused, grabbing the Espressino, handing it to her.

  She took a deep inhale and her eyes opened wide. “Is this what I think it is?”

  Harold smiled.

  “I think I love you.”

  “But just for today.”

  “Just for today.”

  “Of course Miss Stone.”

  “So how did my not coming in go?” Sipping her drink Matthew observed as she was all business, rocking his band T-shirt cross-legged on the couch.

  “As expected, business as usual, after a few movements of the board. Raquel took the Starkwell meeting. It’s just the crossing of T’s and dotting of I’s so it shouldn’t be a problem. You thought about skipping it anyhow. Franklin and Howard were a little pissed you weren’t going to be around to schmooze with Hilton for the fundraiser at the Marriott, but they’ll survive. I promised them a check was in the mail. With at least five figures.”

  She nodded. “Of course, I wouldn’t want their pockets to go empty. What’s the cause this year?”

  “Humpback whales in the North Atlantic?”

  “Give them fifteen… No make it Twenty-five. That should shut them up nicely. What about Kelly, any word from him?”

  “I was going to ask you how that went.”

  She shook her head. “Not now, okay.”

  Harold swiped on his tablet, with a shake of his head. “Moving on then… The Monet finally got through customs and will be delivered later this afternoon. I don’t know if you want to make an appearance for that or not. It will be later this afternoon. Perhaps this evening even.”

  “Keep me posted.”

  “Okay, will do. Other than that other matter, you are free to do as you please. Hell you could go on sabbatical, this ship runs its self you’ve got us so well trained.”

  “That’s what I like to hear. What are you going to do with a day off?”

  “Oh this and that. I do have a life outside the office.”

  “Good, I’m glad to hear it.”

  ***

  With Harold gone, Donnella took a shower and slipped into the skinny jeans and oversized sweater he had brought for her. He had also taken it upon himself to bring several other work appropriate attires and undergarments, should she require them. She shook her head as Matthew came in to the room, from the walk in closet, dressed in jeans and a dark blue grey turtleneck sweater. The color bringing out his eyes marvelously. Especially now that he didn’t have those horrible glasses on anymore. It had taken a few tries but they managed to get his hard reusable contacts in. She promised him that they would get him better contacts as soon as possible. By weeks end, all they had to do was get him in to the doctor and Harold was already getting the appointments together for him.

  “What are you shaking your head for?” He asked wrapping his arms around her, taking a deep whiff of her hair as she had left it down at his request.

  “Just Harold. You’ve not been in this joint five minutes and already he’s got me with clothes in your closet and a drawer full of panties.” She swung a thong from her finger, snapping it across the bed. “Like I’m moving in.”

  “Would that be bad?”

  She turned around looking at him confused. “You can’t be serious, I have my own place. Hell I have several of them. I couldn’t just up and move in here. I barely know you. Besides you’d hate living with me. I’m a slob. I leave things everywhere.”

  “There’s so much wrong with those statements I’m not even going to argue. Today wasn’t going to be about any of that. So just put on your shoes. Did Harold bring you something you can walk around in?”

  She held up a pair of soft suede, flat knee high boots.

  “Perfect. Let me grab Pepper’s leash, and we’re out of here.”

  “Where are we going anyhow, you said you didn’t know the city well, but now you’re taking me out?” She raised a suspicious eyebrow at him as he put Pepper in her pink and purple harness and clipped her bright pink leash to it. “That’s a lot of pink…”

  “I didn’t want anyone one calling her boy.” Matthew laughed. “And we are going shopping.”

  “That I can get behind.” She smiled taking him by the arm as they left the apartment.

  ***

  Matthew tried to talk Donnella into walking the seven blocks into the meatpacking district as it wasn’t all that cold, but her driver was still outside The Stone Tower waiting. They shadowed her wherever she went, and never left her side. She was too important. She explained, too much money surrounded her for her to just be left alone. Even in his capable hands. So they loaded into the car and were driven to the Chelsea Market on Ninth Avenue. A block long indoor/outdoor market that Harold had recommended with the promise that it would satisfy the foodie in Matthew for hours, and they were dog friendly. Once they arrived the car pulled off, and Donnella snuggled into Matthew’s arm looking around.

  “I haven’t been here in ages. My dad used to drag me here on Saturday mornings when it first opened up, back in ninety nine.”

  “So you’re not disappointed then?” He tugged on a stray curl that blew into her face as Pepper, led them toward the stalls eagerly.

  “No, I like food… Just can’t cook a scrap of it. Pretty sure I could burn water.” She chuckled.

  “Well I guess I’ll have some things to teach you after all. And here I was afraid I wasn’t bringing much to the table with our arrangement.”

  “Oh, sweetie, you’ve already brought plenty. I can assure you.” She gave him a squeeze, making him stop, bending down to give her a quick and rough little kiss.

  Pepper had found them a Farm stand, which was a vendor of fine meats and poultry. After a few minutes talking with the butcher, Sully, and finding out that all of the livestock was local and grass fed, Matthew purchased some ribeye and porterhouse steaks as well as some split bone-in chicken breast. All wrapped in neat brown paper, and tied up with string, he took it from Sully and took a card. Apparently they delivered if you were nearby.

  They stopped at spice shops, and a produce stand. Everywhere they went Matthew engaged people, and they in turn obliged him. Strange for New Yorkers. Donnella found herself thinking. But he’s such a genuinely nice guy.

  On their last leg, they stopped for coffee and crepes at a bakery, and Donnella ordered one with hazelnuts, chocolate and bananas. The sounds from her enjoyment made Matthew want to find a secluded spot, and he found he regretted bringing Pepper for half an instant, but she was behaving so well. People could pet her and she’d roll on to her back for belly rubs. Getting laughs and squeals from the little children still too young to be in school.

  “The big bad Pit Bull.” Donnella teased, watching as a woman walked away, giving Matthew the once over for the second time. “Some nerve on that bitch.”
/>   “Sorry, what was that?” Matthew asked hearing her curse, as he roughed Pepper up with his hands playfully.

  “That woman, who just walked away. Here I am sittin’ right with ya and she was checkin’ ya out right in front of me. Makin’ it obvious too. I just think it was fuckin’ rude. I mean look all ya want, but have some fuckin’ class about it.” Her usually perfect pronunciations faltered and she began to sound something more like the New Yorkers from the popular television shows.

  “Wow. Your New York shows when you’re jealous. I mean I thought I heard a bit that night in the car, and well when we… But now that you’re jealous… It’s all over the place.” He teased. “Say car keys and Khakis. I want to see if there’s a difference.” He nudged her.

  “That’s a Boston accent, not New York. And I’m not that, I’m mad.”

  “Because another woman checked me out.” He was grinning from ear to perfectly nibbleable ear.

  “Yeah, yeah. Don’t let it go to your head. I just don’t like it okay.”

  “Oh, I get it. No one else can play with your shiny new toy, right.”

  “Well it is the main rule, aside from not telling the people of the world we are doing this in the first place.”

  “Right. Speaking of people and crowds. What’s this thing about a Christmas Party I’ve got to take you to?” He asked finishing his coffee and putting the reusable cup in one of the many bags he was now carting along with them. Including three pairs of shoes from Anthropologie, for Donnella which just so happened to have a shop in the lot. He made sure they were all sensible in their thickness at least, he was concerned she was going to break her neck the way she ran all day in her ridiculously thin high heels. Donnella agreed but only because the chunky heel was making the rounds again this season. Not that Matthew understood or needed to know that little fact.

  “Oh, that. So Harold did bring it up then. Good. It’s just the Governor’s usual thing.”

  “You’re talking about the Governor’s Christmas Ball?”

  “Oh, so you’ve heard of it then?” She stood up wiping the side of her mouth with a napkin, taking a sip of her cappuccino.

  “I think everyone has, isn’t it like ten thousand just to get through the door?”

  “More like fifteen. But it’s for a good cause. Especially now.” She took Pepper’s leash and the pup pulled them through to the street as Donnella fumbled for her phone calling the car which was waiting down the block.

  “What could possibly be worth that much money? No steak is worth that!” He chuckled, shaking his head suddenly. Feeling something wet and cold fall on his face. Looking up he realized that it was beginning to snow.

  “Get in the car, if my hair gets wet it’s gonna frizz to all hell.” Donnella cried, opening the door as the car came to a halt. “Back to the Tower, Cordell.” She ordered with a smile. “And from now on, stop being such a douche to Matthew.”

  “Yes, Miss Stone.” Cordell answered back, before putting up the partition once more.

  “See, just like that.” She grinned, falling into the seat as Matthew and Pepper joined her.

  8

  The snow came down in large fluffy flakes and soon the terrace of Matthew’s apartment was masked in its wet heavy cover. After a meal of perfectly seasoned broiled ribeye with asparagus and a fresh greens salad, Matthew lit up the gas fireplace and made a pot of rich steaming hot chocolate. Coming to the couch which he turned to face the fire after moving in a coffee table, he placed down the two mugs, and found Donnella snuggled down into his fleece New England Patriots Blanket, Pepper across her lap.

  She had been cold when they arrived and so since Harold had not packed sleepwear for her, Matthew gave her a pair of his drawstring sweats and another AC/DC Band T-shirt. He had been to several shows in the Garden over the years and had a bit of a collection. The pants didn’t fit, so she had come down in just her socks and the T-shirt, he had to admit it, she looked damn sexy in his clothes.

  “Here are my girls.” He beamed, standing over them.

  Donnella opened up the blanket, sleepily. “Come here.” She pleaded. “Keep me warm.”

  “With pleasure.” He slipped into the confines of the blanket and she crawled into his lap, making him cradle her like a little girl. He adjusted her so that he could reach the mugs, handing her one. “Here. Try this. Be careful it’s hot.”

  She sipped the chocolatey concoction and settled against his chest with a contented sigh. “Oh, now that’s an orgasm in a cup, remind me to have you on hand when I’m cycling cuz I’m gonna need this in an I.V. drip. Where did you learn to do all this?”

  “All what?”

  “You cook, barter, paint, build stuff for dear old mom, law school, photography…”

  “I also know how to build houses, strip floors and install windows and doors.”

  “That’s what I’m saying. Where did you learn all that?”

  “It’s called surviving. Like I said it was just me and mom growing up. She busted her hump as a paralegal for years, worked her way through school, and as soon as I was old enough, I started working. Under the table at first. Then on the books. I just picked things up as I went along. Could always draw, and love the feel of paint on my hands. I only use brushes for the fine details. The photography that was my mom. She pushed knowing I had “the eye” and hated Law school.”

  She nodded, sipping her chocolate. “And the cooking? You’re really good at that…”

  “Just being the one home at night, frozen pizza and take out gets boring and expensive. I broke out mom’s recipe books and it grew from there.”

  “So totally self-taught then?”

  “Well, yeah. I mean I got some tips from some girls I dated in college, on baking but mostly it was all me.”

  “Some girls?” She questioned. “How many?”

  He looked down at her as she looked up at him waiting for an answer.

  “Would you tell me if I asked you that same question? Be honest.”

  She was quiet for a moment, doing the mental math. Realistically, it had been thirteen years since she’d lost her virginity, ten years since she started with the arrangements. Were her numbers really so high? She wondered.

  “See, I didn’t think so.”

  “No, you’re right, that was kind of stupid to ask. It’s not my business. All I need to know and do know is that you’re clean, and here for the time being.” She handed him the mug and he put it back on the table for her. As he did so he could feel her hand run down the front of his waist band. “I’d like to play, if that’s okay?” She smiled, slinking down out of his lap and to her knees.

  Matthew turned slightly as Donnella tugged the flap releasing the button with her teeth, then finding the tongue of the zipper she dragged that down as well. He lifted as she drew his pants to his thighs and then off of him completely, leaving him in just his boxer briefs. She could see the swell already beginning as he watched her intently.

  ***

  How long had it been since his last real blowjob? Six, seven years? Matthew thought to himself as she undressed him. Most of the women he had dated either didn’t give them, or simply were afraid to when they realized what he was packing. Eleven inches long and three and a half inches around, he was formidable, not the largest. He knew guys in college who made him look like a toddler, granted they were on the basketball team and had a foot of height on him, but the point was they got plenty of play. For whatever reason, he simply did not have their luck when it came to women. But this woman, Donnella Stone. She was something so far. A true honest to goodness bitch. Beautiful. Intelligent. Talented. Cunning and Horny. As his friends used to say. He used to joke that he’d loved to marry a woman like that. He never thought he’d actually meet one, or that if he did she would ever look at him twice. At least not without him name dropping and owning up to his other side of the family. Something he refused to do. If his father didn’t want any part of him when he was born, then why should he allow it now that the ol
d man was desperate? He pushed those thoughts back. What was he doing thinking about his father? He had a beautiful woman between his legs acting like a wanton sprite freed from a hundred years rest.

  Her head slid up and down as she sucked and licked, using her teeth gingerly, at the mushroomed head. Pinging the tip with her tongue. Her hands working the base of his shaft. Then she opened her mouth wide, and went back down. The sensitive head rubbed against her tonsils, then past them, her throat opening up around him.

  “Holy, fuck!” He dug his fingers into the armrest of the couch. She gagged a little, backing off, then relaxed and kept at him. Her arms went under him grabbing him by the ass, lifting him and pulling him down to the edge of the couch so she could get at him better. He obliged, his breathing heavy his fingers hurting from digging into the leather.

  Then he felt her fingers slinging under him, her thumb pressing up against the space between his cock and his tightened sac. The pressure there, made his eyes roll backward in his skull. She stopped sucking, letting her hands keep at him. Licking down the length of him she sucked and nipped playfully at his balls. Taking one into her mouth then the other. She followed her fingers to his undercarriage. He lifted up off the couch almost instinctively and as she tongued that little patch of skin he let out a ravenous moan, reaching down he grabbed her by the wrist. “Please say you’re wet from this… Because I’ve got to have you.” He begged. She lifted her head and smiled with a little nod. He exhaled hard pulling her up on to him. She straddled him, as he tore her thin little panties to the side, she leaned back reaching down to guide him into her. She was as promised, in fact she was dripping wet. “Did you come giving me head?” He asked with his first deep thrust.

  She bit her lip devilishly. “Maybe once or twice.”

  I’m loving this woman. Matthew smirked as he pulled her up against his chest, letting her control his depth, he liked it when she did the little figure eights.

  ***

  Cold December air filled Matthew’s lungs as he waited outside for the limousine that would take him to the Governor’s Ball. Snow still clung to everything around him, as it had been coming on and off for nearly a week now with little relief. Donnella had gone back to her regular schedule, which he found was next to exhausting. Her hours were long and most often she would arrive and instead of ravishing her, he would coax her into a bath and put her to bed. After that he would paint for a little while, or just crawl in beside her. She seemed to like that, and frankly he liked the feel of having someone next to him as well. Although she would be gone by the time he woke up. Leaving him a note or a naughty bit of poetry to get him through the day. He hadn’t seen Janet, although she had called several times. He kept meaning to go out there, but with Donnella making appointments to see the doctor for his eyes, then the hair dresser and the tailors, there just wasn’t any real time. He promised he would make the time after the party. He would see everyone at New Year’s for the ball drop. He never missed that.