by Mia Zachary
He rested his hip on the edge of his desk and watched her cross the room again, his voice quiet. “Nobody’s perfect, Rei, especially not me. You’re not the only one to blame for things not working out. I’ve held myself back, too, never letting anyone inside because I knew they wouldn’t stay. When you asked me to leave that afternoon—”
Rei touched her fingertips to his mouth, stopping his words. Her dark gaze compelled him to look into her eyes and see what was in her heart. There he saw tenderness and uncertainty and infinite depths of emotion. “There’s something I need to tell you, Chris. But I’m a little afraid to, even now. I’ve never told any man this before in my life.”
“You ought to know by now that you can tell me anything, that I won’t judge you.” When she still hesitated, he chuckled softly, pointing to his computer. “Do you want to type it into an e-mail and then step aside so I can read it?”
She laughed along with him and he saw some of the tension leave her, though her face was still set in serious lines of doubt. Rei took a breath and huffed it out again. “I’m not sure how you feel, but I love you, Chris. And I’m finally willing to risk being vulnerable, because I’m more afraid of losing you than I am of getting hurt.”
Chris swallowed the lump in his throat. “Like I said before, there are no guarantees in relationships. But if I offer my heart, and all of the love I so badly want to give, and you walk away again, I don’t think I’ll ever get over the loss.”
“I’m not asking you for any promises, Chris. I’m asking you for some time.” Rei cupped his cheek in her palm and tipped his head until he met her gaze. Tears spilled from her eyes and her voice was hoarse with emotion. “Because time is the only way I can prove to you that I’m fully committed and that I’m not going to leave. I’ve spent so many years believing I wasn’t worthy of love, convincing myself that I didn’t need it in my life. But I do, Chris. I love you and I need you.”
He felt the truth of her words touch him all the way to his soul. Maybe Jeanna was right and some times you just had to have faith. “I didn’t get the chance to tell you—the man my mom’s been dating is my dad.”
She laughed in surprise. “You’re kidding!”
“If they can work things out, so can we.” He stood up and gathered her into his arms, knowing he’d never again let her go. “I love you, too, Rei, and I always will.”
Rocking gently from side to side, he pressed his lips to her temple and stroked one hand over the dark silk strands of her hair. Rei reveled in the strength of his embrace, the warmth of his love and the emotional connection that she hoped would bind them to each other from now on.
She tightened her hold on him in happy silence, expressing by the purity of touch her joy at being together with him again. She felt as if time had stopped, like they’d never parted. Rei marveled at her newfound feelings of tenderness, intimacy and love. Chris had unlocked her heart with his quiet strength, integrity and courage.
He picked her up and turned so that she sat on his desk, putting their faces at a closer level. She slipped one arm behind his neck while he hugged her and nuzzled her cheek. Her other fingers skimmed his brow, touched his cheeks, traced the contours of his mouth. She placed her hand on the side of his face and pulled him forward until their lips met.
The kiss was warm, sweet and heartbreakingly tender. Chris tilted his head down and teased her lips apart with his tongue. She opened to him, to the tenderness of his slow, healing kiss, and slid her tongue over his in slow exploration. Heat, warm and penetrating, increased the need arcing between them until the kiss became eager and urgent.
Chris’s big, hot hands pushed at the hem of her skirt, raising it to the apex of her thighs. Then he nudged her legs apart and pulled her to the edge of the desk. His mouth slanted over hers again, and again the kiss was raw and lusty and left her gasping for air. It was hard and hot and hungry and in less than a minute, so was he.
Desire sang in her blood as she felt the hard evidence of his lust through the thin cotton of her panties. She unbuttoned his shirt, kissing his jaw, the base of his throat and then his chest. Chris sought her mouth again and he kissed her wildly, passionately while she shoved the material off his shoulders.
The heavy throb of sexual need stirred in the pit of her stomach as she ran her hands over lean muscles of his bare back. She felt his skin heat beneath her roving hands and her own body ignited in response. Raw need built inside her as she captured his lips and explored his mouth in a hot, greedy kiss.
Chris broke away just long enough to strip her blouse from her. He unhooked her bra and cupped the weight of her breasts in his palms. His thumbs massaged the nipples to sensitive peaks, then he bent his head to take one into his mouth. When he began suckling gently, she exhaled a sharp gasp of pleasure at the wet, tugging sensation.
Her hands raked through his hair, holding his head in place as he gave her other breast the same attention. Rei arched her back and groaned as white-hot bolts of lust shot through her body. Dampness pooled in her feminine center and her vaginal muscles began to quiver with need.
When Chris reluctantly moved away from her to finish taking off his pants, she slid off the desk so she could unzip her skirt and step out of it. Her bra and panties quickly followed, then she looked up to admire his naked body. Desire overwhelmed her in a powerful rush. She wanted him. Very badly.
He magically produced a condom from somewhere, then reached for her. He gently guided her down onto the soft pile carpet, kneeling beside her to once again claim her mouth. She lay back and held her arms out to him. After making sure they were protected, he moved over her and positioned himself between her legs.
She reached between their bodies to take his throbbing penis in her hand. Gliding her fingers along the length of his shaft, she spread her thighs and guided him into her wet passage. Her body clenched, then adjusted and welcomed him as he slowly filled her to the hilt.
Her sigh of pleasure quickly transformed into a moan of desire. Chris smiled at her and held her gaze. Love shown in his eyes as he worshipped her body in the most intimate way. She skimmed her hands along his sides until she cupped his taut buttocks and urged him closer, deeper.
He accelerated the tempo, surging forward and pulling back only to plunge into her again, harder and deeper. Wrapping her legs tighter around his hips, her hands clutched at the sweat slick muscles of his back. The relentless pressure in her womb increased until the orgasm shuddered through her, rocking her to the core.
An eternity later Chris’s body tensed and she could feel the deep pulsating in his shaft that signaled his climax. The contractions ripped a cry from his throat and he pressed his face to her shoulder to muffle the sound. Her body was still clenching with the aftereffects of amazing sex when he finally withdrew and shifted his weight off of her.
They lay side by side, sweating, while Rei tried to catch her breath and slow her heart rate. After a moment, Chris got up and went into the small washroom. He eventually came back and handed her a warm cloth and a dry towel before turning away to find his briefs.
“So, sweetheart, what do you want to do for the rest of the evening?”
“I want to go home, Chris. I want to hold you all night long and rejoice in knowing you’ll be there when I wake up in the morning and every morning after that. Then, tomorrow, I’ve got a very special lunch meeting.”
Saturday, April 26th
Accomplishments: Jump out of a plane on purpose
“OH, MY GOD! Are we really going to do this?” Rei shouted to be heard, not an easy task when the thin air made it hard to breathe and the whine of the propellers droned in her ears.
Chris grinned at her from beneath the protective goggles covering his eyes. “We’re almost at ten thousand feet. It’s a little late to be asking that.”
“I can still change my mind though, right?”
“Not if you want to check this off your List.”
Her stomach had started fluttering as they’d driven out of t
he city this morning, heading north on Highway 12. It had continued to quiver throughout meeting her tandem instructor, watching the safety video and completing the brief training class. Now, during the agonizingly slow climb to the fifteen thousand feet, her stomach was downright quaking.
All too soon, the plane reached the jump ceiling and it was time to jump. Her instructor tapped her on the shoulder. “Are you ready to fly?”
Rei gave him a shaky thumbs-up. While he connected their harnesses, she watched Chris and his tandem disappear through the open doorway of the plane. Oh, God. Am I really going to do this? In less time than she would have liked, her instructor was holding her and leaping out into empty space. They tumbled once, twice, and then began freefalling.
Her heart thundered in her chest as her stomach tried to join it. The noise was unbelievably loud despite her helmet and the wind shear chilled her even wearing the heavy coveralls. She was hurtling through the air at over 120 miles per hour and screaming herself hoarse. She’d never felt so scared and exhilarated at the same time.
With a sudden, hard jerk, the parachute deployed and almost instantly there was silence. Her heart still pounded, but now it was from the sheer thrill of floating and gliding though the sky. Rei felt tears sting her eyes. There was no way she’d ever be able to describe this sense of peace combined with pure adrenaline rush.
At the sound of Chris howling like a crazed wolf, she looked up to see a huge grin plastered across his face. At this moment, she couldn’t love him more. Rei laughed out loud, a heartfelt genuine sound of joy and triumph. This is for you, Miriam. And for me and for the rest of my life.
Epilogue
A COOL OCTOBER BREEZE drifted through the open front door of Lunch Meetings’ newest branch, alleviating some of the heat that resulted from packing so many bodies into one place.
The large storefront windows overlooked the night skyline of downtown Oakland. A string quartet played in one corner, though the murmur and hum of conversation competed with the music. Silver candelabra glowed on tables set with creamy white linen and tall vases of scarlet roses with tiny white sprays of baby’s breath.
Waiters in white dinner jackets offered trays of hors d’oeuvres to the fifty or so clients and reporters milling about. Two cameramen circulated through the gathering, capturing the event on film, while Autumn Matthews conducted interviews for a later broadcast on her Bayside Morning Show.
Rei stood with P.J., sipping champagne and watching from across the lobby while Chris shook Eric Antoine’s hand. He turned as another man clapped him on the back and engaged him in conversation. She thought he was engrossed in what the man was saying until Chris suddenly looked right at her and smiled.
Rei grinned in response then turned to her best friend, who had gone toe to toe with her father’s cronies in order to get Chris the venture capital. “Thanks again for making this happen.”
P.J. shrugged gracefully, causing the pashmina wrap to slip off her shoulders. “All I did was authorize the money. Chris is the one who makes Lunch Meetings a success. It was a smart investment.”
“Have you gotten used to being completely in charge of Hollinger/Hansen yet?”
“No. I think I’m still a little shocked.” Unbeknownst to P.J., there had been a codicil to her father’s will stating that if she ever dismissed the Board of Directors, she was to be named CEO and Chairperson with full authority to make decisions for the company.
“I guess Kent had a lot more faith in you than you realized.” Rei smiled and touched her flute to P.J.’s in a toast. “Here’s to facing down our insecurities.”
After draining her glass and handing it to a passing waiter, P.J. moved off to mingle. “I think that hot looking guy over there might need financial planning advice.”
Rei was content to stand on the sidelines while the guests nibbled Brie and Bosc pears, chatted with the media and attempted to dance. It was difficult to hear the music, but looking at Marvin Carrington and his fiancée Tina Farrell, it was obvious they were swaying to their own tune anyway.
Suddenly Rei felt a pair of hands slide down her arms while a familiar pair of lips pressed a kiss to her temple. Chris slowly twirled her around, admiring her red satin cocktail dress and matching heels. “You look beautiful tonight, sweetheart.”
Rei gave him an exaggerated once-over, taking in the sight of him in his white linen shirt and tuxedo. “You’re looking rather spectacular yourself.”
“You both look gorgeous!” She turned around to see Autumn Matthews and her cameraman. “Can I ask you a few questions as a couple? Great! Okay, roll in three, Larry.”
Autumn quickly held up a small microphone. “So, Rei, Chris, how long have the two of you been together now?”
Chris smiled but left it to her to answer. “A little over five months.”
“And what would you say is the secret to your obvious happiness?”
Rei had been quietly promoting the dating service for a while now and so was prepared for the question. “The key is in determining the vital attributes that are important to you and then discovering compatible core traits in your partner. That’s what allows us to connect on a deeper level. That philosophy is integral to how Lunch Meetings works and we’re proof of the results.”
Autumn came back with a follow-up question. “Okay, so much for the corporate hard sell. Wouldn’t you admit that it takes more than a digital database to get two people together?”
Chris spoke up. “That’s very true, Autumn. Finding a lasting relationship is more than statistical probability and orchestrated opportunity. At some point, you have to throw logic out the window and take a leap of faith.”
Autumn positioned the mike in front of Rei. “Would you agree with that?”
Rei looked up, smiled at Chris and saw the depth of his love reflected in his light-green gaze. She knew that hadn’t always been his philosophy. Nor hers for that matter. Their being together owed as much to coincidence, fate and magic as to the Lunch Meetings computer software.
She snuggled against Chris’s side when he kissed her cheek. “Yes, absolutely. I’ve finally found the love of my life.”
ISBN: 978-1-4268-5315-9
AFTERNOON DELIGHT
Copyright © 2006 by Mika Boblitz.
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