Arielle thought Vanessa seemed to actually prefer to elope, rather than having a grand wedding in the first place. But her own mother and Savannah were eager to hold a large reception. Arielle liked Vanessa. She found a kindred spirit in her. Vanessa had a great self-confidence and Quinn seem to dote on her. There were times when Arielle was bothered by her own self-consciousness. She wished she could be more like Vanessa.
“You’re family now. You’re mom’s new daughter,” said Trent. “As for Stacy, she’s sour because I ditched her a couple of times in the past.”
“You ditched her? How come?”
He grimaced, looking uncomfortable. “When Quinn and Vanessa had an engagement party in January, I was on R and R and she inserted herself into my life, expecting me to drive her places. So I acted like a bastard and ditched her. She hates me now, but it’s probably better that way. That woman has all the telltale signs of trouble. A smart man wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot pole.”
“Trent, are you deliberately being dense?” Arielle put down her food. “She obviously likes you and wanted to get your attention.”
Trent grinned. “I’m not an idiot. I just don’t like her. She’s not my type. On the other hand, you’re totally my kind of girl, Arielle.”
At times, Trent could be so darn adorable. He was sweet and sincere for a guy who looked like a Hollywood heartthrob. Good-looking men were usually arrogant jerks from her experience. Chris was a living testament to that specific male specimen. Trent had been complimenting her over little things for the past two weeks and it made her realize that she never escaped his attention. He was so into her. She had gotten used to being invisible, so his affection felt like a breath of fresh air.
It was also wonderful.
He made her blush, and her heart beat faster. At times, it made her feel like a school girl with a crush. But damn it. It made her happy.
Arielle tried to play it cool. “What do you like about me, Trent?”
“Everything.”
“Even my bed head? Me without makeup in the morning?”
“I’ve seen you in a Santa suit stuck in the chimney and I’m still crazy about you. I can’t really explain it. The men in our family chose our mate based on instinct. I can’t get you out of my head so I’m staking my claim on you.”
“Mate?” Arielle laughed. “What are you, a caveman?”
“I wish I were, because that would make everything a lot simpler. I would just club you over the head and drag you back to my den, making you my cave wife.”
She couldn’t stop giggling. “Are you always like this when you pursue a woman?” she asked, curious. “You have dated, right?”
“I’ve had girlfriends. Things just didn’t work out.”
Now her curiosity piqued. “Why’s that?”
“Let’s see. I dated a Japanese girl when I was in high school in Tokyo, but her parents didn’t like the fact that I was an American, so we broke up. When I was in Israel, I dated a girl I met there, but her parents didn’t want her moving to America, so we broke up. And when I was in the Air Force, I dated a fellow service member, a southern girl from Tennessee. But my mom hated her parents–”
“Because they’re American?” she joked.
“Right. Because they’re American. Actually, her parents were quite obnoxious and it offended my mom’s delicate sensibilities. The real deal breaker was when I found out later she was only after my family money and connections. She didn’t care about me, so I had to pull the plug on our relationship.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that.”
Trent waved her off. “It just wasn’t meant to be. Anyway, how was work today?”
“You know what, it was actually nice to be able to go back to the office. Everybody was so nice and oh, guess what, Mr. Hoffman actually visited me at work.”
“Mr. Hoffman as in Robert Hoffman, your former boss?”
She nodded. She told him that Mr. Hoffman offered her the use of his condo in The Bronx if she were still pressed for accommodations.
“But you did tell him that you had that taken care of, right?” Trent sounded worried, as if she were going to move out.
“Yes.” Arielle laughed. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Thank God. I thought I might lose you to some old dude.” He quieted for a second, then asked, “Sorry for asking, but did you see your boss and your ex? I can imagine that must be awkward when you went to work this morning.”
“It was, but I needed to face them, anyway. It’s not like I could avoid them forever since we work at the same place. Sabrina was indifferent as usual but Chris was surprisingly apologetic. We talked a bit and we wrapped up our loose ends. It had been a long time coming and I’m just glad it was over.”
Trent watched her with ardent intensity. “How do you feel now?”
She let out a long breath. “Relief like you wouldn’t believe. It is as if a heavy boulder has been lifted off of my chest.”
“Are you over him now?”
“Over and out.”
“Fantastic. Then perhaps you might start to notice me.” He threw her his killer smile that made her forget to breathe for a second. “When you’re ready, give me a sign. If you weren’t still dealing with such an avalanche of chaos, I’d have hunted you until you were mine. But I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to fuck this up. You’re precious to me.”
Hunt you until you’re mine.
How barbaric. And at the same time, it was kind of thrilling. His declaration stunned her. “Are you always this honest?”
“I’m not a flirt like John. I’m a simple man. And I’ll always be honest with you in the hope that someday, you’ll return my feelings too. Until then, I want you to know that you’re not alone. I’ll be your friend, your confidant, and one-man cheering squad.”
She searched his eyes and found sincerity in his deep emerald gaze. “You really like me, don’t you?” she asked in a small voice.
“Like?” Trent laughed. “Babe, you have no idea. But I don’t want to scare you so I’d better stop talking.” He motioned at the remnants of their dinner on the bench. “You done eating? Want to get going? You have work tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I’m done. I’m taking these leftovers home. You?” He also didn’t finish his sandwich.
“I’ve had enough. Cuban sandwiches are rather heavy for this time of the night. I probably could polish it off if I had an empty stomach.”
“I agree.”
As she helped him clean up their mess and put everything in plastic bags, Arielle received a few envious stares from women as they passed them.
What the hell am I doing? The thought sobered her. I’m with an insanely hot and kind-hearted guy and we’re just friends. Something is wrong here. If I go out with him right away, would that count as a rebound relationship?
Is this all going too fast?
But it’s not like I’m fragile.
I like him and he’s a nice guy. What do I have to lose?
As they walked back to the car, she was seriously thinking about what he said. Give me a sign when you’re ready. She guessed she was ready, but how would she let him know?
Oh God, this is awkward. She hadn’t dated since high school, so she forgot what the rules were. Were rules even necessary at this point? She and Trent had passed beyond that. She knew his parents and family and they were practically like a newlywed couple, without the sex.
Jesus! Just the thought of it made her blush even more.
Without thinking, she grabbed his hand, and Trent stopped and looked at her.
She totally forgot what she was going to say. “Um, sorry,” she squeaked. She tried to pull her hand away, but he gripped it tight.
“I’ll never let you go, Arielle,” he said.
Her heart raced. Did he know what she was thinking? Was she that transparent? This was kind of embarrassing…
But it was also what she wanted. She wanted to mov
e forward.
Out with the old. Embrace the new.
The new with him.
Oh, to hell with it, here we go. She cleared her throat. “Trent, I need to tell you something.” She motioned for him to bend down; he was so goddamn tall.
“Closer,” she said.
When he got close enough, she grabbed his shirt collar and kissed him on the lips.
It was a light kiss. Brief. A butterfly kind of kiss even. She couldn’t remember when a simple kiss felt so exquisite. It was as if the world had stopped its rotation and everything froze.
“Is this the sign I was telling you about?” he asked, rather innocently.
“This is the sign.”
A smile slowly spread over his handsome face. “You have no idea how happy you’ve made me.”
Trent caressed the outline of her jaw as the dangerous glimmer from his eyes seemed to intensify. She felt naked under his gaze, as weak as a newborn fawn. He lowered his head, then kissed her again. Not a chaste kiss but all tongue and nibbles that made her brain mush and her knees weaken. Liquid fire seared through her veins, making her heart beat gallop like a runaway mare.
Holy hell, she thought dizzily. What had just happened? He only kissed me and I’m already a mess.
She didn’t quite remember how they got into the car, but they didn’t make it home before they tore at each other’s clothes. Lust intoxicated them. Arousal surged in a fever pitch. The fear of discovery fueled the excitement. Like a pair of star-crossed lovers, surrendering to the heat, making the best of their precious, fleeting stolen moments.
Take me, take me, take me, she chanted in her head, before the cops arrest us for public indecency.
Trent had her sit on the passenger side with the seat lowered until it was almost flat. He leaned on her, one arm supporting his weight while the other was busy, roaming, skimming her exposed flesh. His presence filled the enclosed space with his maleness; his toned body seemed to swallow her being into an insignificant existence. The sweet, kind Trent she knew had disappeared, and was replaced with a new side of him she’d never seen. Predatory Trent. Demanding Trent. Dominant Trent. Trent, whose very touch made her pussy ache, wet, a welter of heat. He had his hand up inside her skirt; those rough, calloused fingers stroked the juncture of her thighs.
He kissed and murmured into her mouth with strings of half-formed words, but she understood him nonetheless. She’s pretty. She’s sexy. She’s his kind of girl and he loves her.
She was sure her response wouldn’t be adequate so she kissed him back with the same heat. She wrapped her arms around his neck, hands desperately grabbing his shorn hair. The front of her blazer was opened, shirt unbuttoned, and her bra was pushed up. Her heart rattled against her ribcage when the stubble from his cheek grazed against her soft breasts.
But then something even more wonderful happened when his mouth found her nipple and sucked it hard. Her back arched and her head smashed against the headrest as a sublime sensation lashed against her nerve endings like live naked wires; a high voltage of pleasure surged up and temporarily short-circuited her brain.
“Trent!”
She writhed and gasped. Ecstasy coiled in her sex. A shimmer of release teased and yet it was not quite there. More. She needed more, damn it!
Even in the darkness, his eyes seemed to burn so brightly. “Sweet Arielle,” he said with a rough growl. “My girl. Mine.” He kissed her on the lips while he pulled her panties down. A little tug, an impatient yank, and they slipped past her knees.
Her heart drummed even faster when he got them off her foot. It’s finally going to happen.
Only, she was miscalculating one thing.
Instead of coming to her side and fucking her, he pushed her thighs apart and draped one of her legs over his shoulder. In the blink of an eye, his mouth was on her pussy.
She almost let out a scream.
She quickly covered her own mouth, a long whimper filling the car.
Jesus. God. Buddha. Everything that is holy. Trent kissed her pussy like he kissed her mouth. That tongue flicked inside the seam of her sex. Over her clit. Around her entrance.
“Trent, I’m…” she faltered. She didn’t think he would go down on her. She wasn’t ready for this. Not in the car. Not when—
He growled and said something about being in a bad position. Before she could voice her thought, he pulled her slightly over the gear shift. With her left foot on the dashboard, he sucked her pussy lips.
She closed her eyes. Embarrassed. Worried. Excited.
But the pleasure. Oh, God. The pleasure…
Especially when he thrust his tongue in and tasted the inside of her sex. A climax ambushed her without warning. A kaleidoscope of pleasure danced before her eyes. Her body quaked into mindless, shivering flesh…
“Oh, babe…” Trent lifted his head and watched her reaction.
Was it her imagination or were his eyes glowing in the dark?
“Come here…” he ordered her. He pushed his own seat back, almost flat.
Still riding on the endorphins, she dutifully scooted over to his side. She glanced wildly beyond the windshield. No people to be seen. Luckily, they parked under a tree and its canopy cast a dark shade against their surroundings.
Giddy with excitement, she straddled him. There was not much leg room, but she managed. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. She kissed him. She could taste her own femininity on him. Strangely, it turned her on even more.
His freed his cock from his jeans. She could feel it straining against her pussy. “Slowly,” he hissed. “We don’t need to hurry. We have plenty of time. I’ve been fantasizing about you like this since I met you.” His breath was hot on her cheek. He clamped his cock and guided it into her. Trent rubbed the crown of his cock and paused just before her entrance. Her pussy contracted in anticipation. She thought he was going to penetrate her, but he was just teasing.
“Trent,” she protested.
He pushed.
She widened her eyes, wondering if this was a bad idea. He felt so big. Too damn big. Despite of that, his thick, meaty cock slipped inside her wet pussy.
She swallowed hard.
Jesus. Fuck. She wasn’t a virgin and yet it felt like it had the first time. Being filled to the brim. His cock felt so hot. Throbbing. Pulsing with life. And yet at the same time, it felt so damn good.
Trent let out a happy kind of sigh as he withdrew and pushed again. “Don’t move. Let me feel you like this a little longer…”
She didn’t want him to dawdle. He only thrust twice and already she hovered at the edge of orgasm. “Trent… I’m…”
He pushed her hips upward, forcing her to brace herself on the headrest. His face was on her breasts. He sucked her nipple and she lost it. Despite what he said about wanting to savor the moment, it seemed that he wasn’t able to hold back. Clamping both hands on her hips, he fucked her rapidly until she was out of breath and a blinding orgasm tore through her with frightening intensity. She came on his cock while he was still at it. But then she felt him jerk, and hot cum filled her pussy.
Shaking, she disengaged from him and returned to her seat.
She couldn’t move for a while. Her heart pounded and the afterglow lingered, ebbing slowly like ripples across the water. Her clothes were a mess. The inside of the car smelled like sex. And yet, in that very moment, she realized something magical had happened.
Yes. Sex with Trent was magical.
She caught Trent’s gaze and smiled. He tucked his cock back inside his jeans. He was still hard.
“Arielle,” he said, his voice was darker than usual. “We should do this again when we get home.”
Chapter Seven
The memory of last night burned so vividly in the back of Arielle’s mind that each time she thought of him, she couldn’t help blushing like a love-struck teenage girl. When she walked into the lobby in the morning, Emma clasped her hand o
n her mouth then whispered noisily, “You did it. You slept with him.”
Arielle had a hard time containing her smile. “Don’t be ridiculous, Emma. We did nothing.” She then added in a small voice as she flounced to her office. “Except have sex in his car outside Washington Square Park.”
Emma squealed behind her, bouncing on her heels. She abandoned her post and followed Arielle. “I’m so happy for you. You deserve a happy ending after everything you have been through. Every girl in the office was talking about him. How did you two meet?”
“Remember the day I got mugged? He’s the one who helped me.”
“For real? He just showed up and saved you from them? He’s like a superhero.”
“In fact, I called him Superman, at first.”
“He is way hotter than Superman.”
“And he doesn’t wear his underwear outside his pants. So, that’s a good thing.”
Emma chortled. “I didn’t know you can be funny.”
Trent had said the same thing. She had always been serious and tense throughout her adult life. Maybe she should stop once in a while and smell the roses. The power of love was amazing.
“Anyway, congratulations,” Emma said, “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you.”
Emma had only been gone from her office for ten minutes when she got another interruption. This time was Chris.
“You have a minute?” he asked.
“Not really. I have a ton of work.”
Chris ignored her. “I see you moved on quite swimmingly.”
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”
“I know you well, Arielle. You’re not the type of girl who would fall for a guy so easily.”
“You’re right, I’m not. What’s your point?”
“Don’t get me wrong, I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Arielle put down her pen and stared at Chris with renewed amazement. Did she hear him right? He couldn’t be serious, could he? “This is too funny, especially coming from you.”
Chris face darkened. “So I’m a jerk, so what? I don’t care what you think of me, Arielle. I know I’ve hurt you, I just don’t want to see you get hurt again. There’s something wrong with that guy, but I can’t put my finger on it. My instincts are never wrong. You should get away from him before it’s too late.”
Animalistic Galley Fin Page 7
