BETWEEN CLOUDS AND STARS: A Sexy Standalone Romance

by Sharlyn G. Branson

  My eyes traced the perfect curve of his lips, slowly moving upward to meet his gaze. Thirst and desire flashed across his beautiful brown irises, which were covered in golden specks, making the butterflies in my stomach flutter again.

  “Don’t bite that lip, or I’ll be the one to bite it next.” His low, deep, and slightly croaky voice vibrated through me, reaching all the way down to my loins.

  “That reminds me, we need to practice kissing if you agree to accompany me and pretend to be my girlfriend.” He leaned over me, his warm, minty breath stroking my face.

  The very next second, his lips parted mine. His tongue gently slid into my mouth, making my nipples harden even more. I felt like a virgin touched for the very first time, which was actually not too far from the truth. The only man I’d ever kissed before was my ex-husband. And his kisses couldn’t even begin to compare with those of Nicholas Frey.

  His palms cupped my face while his teeth lightly pulled at my lower lip, making me let out a moan. I was wet. No, strike that, I was drenched with arousal, and from only one kiss at that. How would I feel if his face were buried between my thighs?

  Like I was in paradise!

  His body pressed against mine. Sensing his erection against my belly, I instinctively put my arms around him, wanting to get even closer to him.

  Euphoria spread like wildfire to every cell of my body.

  His hot, insatiable tongue, his hands, his scent… It was all too intense, almost magical.

  Nick pulled away from the kiss, but I wanted more.

  The word “more” truly frightened me. He was asking me to play a part in front of his mother, rather than be his real girlfriend. There might never be more between us.

  “I need you, Estelle. Will you come with me? I won’t ask you again.” He gazed at me, his eyes full of hope.

  Don’t wait for another invitation, because you won’t get it, a little voice seemed to whisper in my ear.

  A second later, I heard myself say, “I need to pack my suitcase. How long will we be away from New York?”

  * * *

  The airplane we boarded was a true masterstroke of engineering. Not only did it look amazing, with its fuselage slightly tapered at the front, but it was also so fast that it could cross the distance between North America and Europe in only half an hour.

  We settled in comfortable leather armchairs, and the stewardess, who wasn’t actually human, but a robot, served us food and a drink menu. It was 2048, and only the richest of the rich could afford to have robot staff. The robots were so incredibly well made, they were almost indistinguishable from real people. Well, other than the fact that they had no facial expressions. Their faces were frozen like a mask.

  I’d never seen such androids before, and now, even though I realized I was doing it, I couldn’t stop myself from gawping at the stewardess with her flawless skin, graceful figure, and hair tied in a neat bun. I was beginning to get worried whether men would start preferring them over human females. Robots didn’t show emotions, raise their voice, or cry, but they didn’t laugh either. I had no real idea of how advanced they’d become. But in the course of my life, developments in robotics had happened so quickly that I wouldn’t have been surprised if scientists created the perfect husband or wife in the very near future.

  “Are you going to stop staring at her any time soon?” Nick whispered in my ear and settled in the white leather seat beside me.

  Moving my gaze toward him, I noticed he was trying to hide his smile. I wanted to ask him many things about female robots, but now wasn’t the right time.

  I fastened my seatbelt and waited impatiently for the takeoff. I was excited about meeting his parents. Even though I was only playing the part of a girlfriend, I wanted them to like me. The reason for that were my parents, who’d raised me without showing me any love, and my hang-ups stemmed from their cold treatment.

  During the takeoff, I couldn’t stop looking through the window, feeling as excited as a little kid. I was twenty-three years old and had only done the journey from Melbourne to New York and back four times and always on work-related matters. I watched the sun as it set and colored the sky in orange and pink hues, and marveled at the fluffy, cotton-candy-like clouds. This reminded me of the rare good moments in my life: My father would take me to an amusement park, where we’d eat cotton candy and ride the Ferris wheel and the carousels. Back then, I’d felt as free as a bird. Like a child. I hadn’t had to stay at home to clean and cook, feeling sorry for myself because all the other kids were playing outside while I barely found enough time to do my homework. That was why I hadn’t had any friends. You can’t make friends if you have a tyrant for a mother.

  A warm hand touched my arm. It startled me. Immersed in my memories, I’d completely lost track of where I was.

  “You have to tell me about yourself, and we don’t have much time. As your supposed boyfriend, I should know you pretty well.” Nick intertwined his fingers with mine, raised my hand and kissed it.

  This small and very innocent gesture warmed my heart. No man had ever done that to me. My ex-husband had always been “too busy” with other stuff to waste time on such trivial things.

  I didn’t like talking about myself. There was nothing interesting in my past I wanted to share. But he was right—I had to give him some background, no matter how unpleasant doing so was.

  “I grew up in Australia. My real parents died in a car accident. The people who raised me are also no longer with us. I have no siblings, as far as I’m aware anyway.” Nick’s face softened when he heard my words. Was he sympathizing with me? I didn’t need his commiseration and pity. So I quickly added, “I’m divorced and have no kids. And you?” I wanted to make him think about something other than my boring past.

  His hand gently tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “As it is universally known, I’m not married. My mother is American, and my father is Swiss. I have a teenage sister. I’m sure she’ll be in seventh heaven when she sees you.” His faced beamed, filled with love. “Is there anything you don’t like eating? I need to know that, since I intend to tell my parents you’re living with me.”

  I knew nothing about Nicholas Frey, so there was a distinct possibility that I’d mess everything up. Still, I hoped I’d be able to handle the situation.

  I wanted to help him.

  I wanted to be with him.

  I was playing with fire and could get seriously burned. So I had to do everything I could to prevent myself from investing strong emotions in our so-called relationship.

  Fake relationship. I needed to keep repeating that to myself.

  “I eat everything. I love cooking. I like listening to retro music. One of my favorite songs is Dear Darlin’—”

  “By Olly Murs?” he interrupted me, and a smile appeared on his face.

  Dear God, what a smile. For another one like it, I’d lie about our relationship not just to his parents, but to the entire world.

  “Yes, that song is so beautiful and melodic,” I answered in surprise. I’d thought I was the only weirdo who listened to music from thirty years ago.

  “So you’re a romantic.”

  “You could say that.” I looked out of the window. I felt too exposed.

  You’re unlikely to have impressed him. My subconscious furrowed its eyebrows in disapproval.

  I didn’t think I could impress him anyway. I felt like a nobody, like a simple, plain girl who’d only been living life to the full for one year. Nicholas Frey was the one who elicited people’s admiration. His pictures adorned all major newspapers and magazines. He charmed not only with his immaculate appearance, which made any woman wet her panties, but also with his incredible intelligence and resourcefulness.

  “I don’t see anything bad in that, Estelle. On the contrary, it’s wonderful and, unfortunately, extremely rare these days. People only care about money and their career, and I regretfully admit that I fall into that category. We have simply forgotten to appreciate the beautiful thing
s in life.”

  Nick took hold of my chin and gently moved it so I’d look at him. He leaned in and kissed me. His lips were divine—soft and thick. His hand slid along the inside of my thigh. He got about halfway up to his destination, and just when I thought he’d touch me where no man had touched me for two years…he stopped.

  The disappointment must’ve been written on my face. I was no good at hiding my emotions.

  “I’d love to fuck you right here and right now, Estelle.” His warm breath caressed my face. “I won’t pretend otherwise. I’m very attracted to you. But I won’t do it. First, because we don’t have time for what I have in mind. And second, because you haven’t given me your consent.”

  3

  Nick

  Estelle turned out to be great, emotional… A beautiful, tender flower that, in spite of its horrible past, had managed to remain pure.

  She wasn’t a materialist. If I’d requested some other woman to accompany me, she would’ve asked me back how much I’d pay her for the service. Or she would’ve wanted to sleep with me. There were almost no women who didn’t think about how they could benefit from associating with me. To most, material satisfaction came first.

  Little Miss Klide didn’t ask for anything in return.

  She turned out to be different.

  Even though the flight was short, I managed to learn a lot about her. She was easy-going, quiet, a little shy. Or was she simply nervous around me? I wasn’t too sure. But I’d find out pretty damn soon.

  I wanted to know everything about her.

  But I hadn’t had the foggiest that her past was so shocking.

  A past I’d never suspected that someone like her could survive in one piece.

  * * *

  Holding hands, Estelle and I entered the hospital room where my mother was staying. April, my sister, and my father were also there. My heart still hadn’t come to rest after the conversation I’d had with her attending physician. Her condition was not to be underestimated. We had to protect her from stress and overexcitement.

  My mother, Tina Frey, was an extremely strong woman, but very emotional to boot. She took everything to heart. My parents’ marriage was stable and peaceful, but their ambitions had always been too great. They’d worked from dusk till dawn at their insurance firm in order to realize their dream of building a house by Lake Lugano. And by the time I’d turned fifteen, they’d already managed to build it.

  I was no different from them – I’d inherited my strong ambition to succeed from both of them. No matter how many times I’d told them not to overwork themselves, they’d continued to do it even though they could’ve retired early and lived very nicely off my earnings. When I’d suggested they do so, they’d said that until I settled down and gave them a grandchild, they wouldn’t sell their business.

  Seeing my mother so pale, lying on the bed, dark rings around her beautiful, but now really tired eyes, I told myself I was doing the right thing. Fake relationship or not, the news that I’d finally found a serious girlfriend really cheered her up. The smile she gave Estelle and the happy expression on her face were worth any lie.

  “Nick, you’ve had a serious girlfriend for three months without saying a single word. How could you? I’m so glad to meet you, dear Estelle,” Tina said and went to get up, but Roger, my father, gently put his hand on her shoulder to stop her.

  “The doctors said you need to lie down and rest, Tina. I won’t let you disobey their orders.” His words were stern, but his voice was soft. He really loved my mother. They’d been married for thirty two years, worked together all day long and, in spite of that, still weren’t bored of each other. That must be what people mean when they talk about true love.

  If someone were to ask me, I couldn’t describe what it was, because I hadn’t experienced it yet.

  But that changed very quickly.

  Sweet Miss Klide took my mother’s hand, smiled warmly and said, “I’m sure you know full well that Nick doesn’t like to talk about his personal life.” She was really getting into playing the part of my girlfriend. That thought made me smile a little.

  “Clearly, you’ve also gotten to know him well,” Tina replied with a smile and leaned her head forward to fix her pillow.

  Embracing Estelle, I kissed her on the temple. But if you think I only did it for show, you’re dead wrong. I needed to hug her, to hold her in my arms. No matter how weird it sounds, her fine scent had a calming effect on me.

  “Will you have a baby soon?” April blurted out, and my mother chided her.

  “Asking such questions is not the done thing, my child. It’s not—”

  “Child? I’m not a child anymore, Mum,” April said poutily and wound a lock of her golden hair around her finger.

  She was a whole eighteen years younger than me. After I’d chosen to study in the States, my parents had decided that they didn’t want to be alone and had made my sister. She was born in April and thus christened with the most fitting and beautiful name for the small, blonde, mischievous angel who I loved very much in spite of her bratty character.

  “If we’re going to have a baby, you’ll be the first to know,” I joked with her, while my father was trying and failing to contain his smile.

  “Yeah, right, you’re just saying that. You never tell me anything.” My sister’s pout became even more marked. “You’ve been promising to take me to New York for two years now. They have so many cool designer stores there. I want to buy a Chanel bag—”

  “Aren’t you a bit young for that—” my father interjected, but was also unable to finish his sentence.

  “Dad, when will you get it through your head? I’m big now.”

  My mother rolled her eyes all the way up to the ceiling, but refrained from making a comment.

  April continued unabated, “Estelle has designer clothes too, and—”

  “But Estelle is not a child,” my father and I replied in unison.

  April was a very good girl, but like every teenager, wanted to grow up in one day and do whatever she wanted.

  “You can come visit me in the summer holidays and I’ll take you shopping. I’ll buy you shoes, bags, dresses… Just don’t forget to bring an extra empty suitcase.”

  “Oh my God, that’d be so amazing. Meike will turn green with envy.” April clapped her hands in delight.

  She was wearing a pink top with a Hello Kitty print. Even though she saw herself as grown, she didn’t have the heart to part with her favorite cartoon heroes and hordes of stuffed toys and Barbie dolls.

  “Who’s Meike?” I enquired.

  My sister raised her arms behind her head and tightened her ponytail.

  “This nasty girl from school. She thinks she’s the prettiest in the world,” she answered disdainfully, wrinkling her small snub nose.

  I laughed and said, “Why do I get the feeling you want designer clothes to get a rise out of her?”

  “That’s not true,” April countered defensively.

  This was what we, the Freys, were like—we argued, interrupted each other… We weren’t perfect, but we loved and supported each other, and that’s what really mattered.

  My sister, who’d been sitting on the side of the bed, suddenly jumped up and hugged Estelle. “We’ll go shopping while Nick goes to work.”

  Estelle stroked her blonde hair and gave her a smile that revealed her white teeth. “But I’ll be at work too. We’ll only be free on the weekends and in the evenings, after work.”

  My sister refused to give up. “But if you marry my brother, you won’t have to work. He’s really rich. So we’ll be able to shop, watch movies, and eat popcorn all day long. It’ll be so great.”

  My mother decided it was high time she intervened. “Nick, please don’t spoil her. She needs to learn the value of money.” She pulled the cover over her chest and then quickly changed the subject. “They’re discharging me tomorrow. I hope you can stay a little longer.”

  I was swamped with work, but couldn’t leave m
y mother. Not under these circumstances. I’d already decided to work from home and be with her until she recovered. I hoped a week would do it.

  “Don’t worry about that,” I said, trying to assuage her concerns.

  Tina sighed deeply and pursed her lips. “It’d be so nice if you lived near us.”

  “Mum, let’s not debate this sore point right now.” Talking about that always made her sad. It really pained her that we lived in different continents. She was in Europe and I was in America. Fortunately, she had April as a solace. What’s more, transatlantic flights took only thirty minutes in my super-fast airplanes, much shorter than the time lost at check-in and passport control.

  “The doctor said I should take it easy, so it might be time we sat down and seriously considered selling the insurance business.” Tina looked at my father and smiled at him. He quickly responded by caressing her face with the back of his hand. “We’ll then have time to visit you more often. But I need to get better first.”

  Leaning toward her, I kissed her pale forehead.

  It was good that she’d decided to rethink her life.

  4

  Estelle

  After we left the hospital, we went to have dinner at a nice restaurant in the old quarter of Lugano. I was ravenous, so that might’ve impaired my judgment, but the calzone I ordered was the most delicious I’d ever tasted in my life.

  I allowed myself to drink more wine than I normally would have. I knew the alcohol would relax me and make it easier to pass myself off as Nicholas Frey’s girlfriend. Not that I had anything against his holding my hand, hugging me, and kissing me. In fact, I have to admit that the entire experience made me melt on the inside.