by Dela
“Will you have me as your boyfriend?” he asked.
I recovered with a belated blink. It was easier to loosen up and speak once the shock left. “I think that’s a good idea . . . boyfriend.”
He grinned at the word boyfriend. “Which part? Me being your boyfriend or the sex rules?”
I put my arms around his neck and leaned in. There was only us and I wanted it to stay that way. “I don’t really think you want me putting sex rules on us, do you?”
He narrowed his gaze. “True.”
I stepped back and pretended to look serious. “Alright, off with the shirt.”
He laughed out loud but some of its power was drowned out by the party downstairs. “Are you sure this is what you want? I don’t want to do whatever I did last time.”
“Kendal, don’t be ridiculous. I’m fine.” I waited for him to move. “You aren’t getting out of this. Off, take it off,” I ordered.
He broke, unbuttoning his shirt and flinging one end around my waist, grabbing the loose end to draw me toward him. His chest was smooth and firm and I couldn't resist touching what was mine now. He came in like a fury and pressed his mouth to mine with such impact that he sent us to our own world filled with stars and moonlight and snow—and long, fiery kisses. He tasted sweet; my fingers were already tangling in his hair, my body fighting to be pressed harder against him.
He suddenly broke away with a pant, making my body pulse for him.
“Is this even real?” he asked.
“Is this part of the game?”
“Sorry, babe. This is a two-person game and you’re playing.”
“Well it’s not going to be any fun. I’ve only got this dress to strip.”
He stilled, the whites of his eyes growing larger in the dark. “You mean you have nothing underneath your dress right now?”
“Look at my back.” I shifted around so he could see my bare back, glancing over my shoulder as he did so. His jaw hung open. “How do you suppose I wear a bra with this thing?”
He reached for my hips and twisted me back to face him. He narrowed his eyes but his smile only grew wider when he turned to face the large door at the end of the hall. He swung his shirt over his shoulder. “There’s my bedroom. Shall we complete our tour . . . and our lovely game? I have a feeling I’m going to take the win.”
“But what about the party?”
He pulled his phone from his pocket and began texting. His pecs retracted and moved on command as his fingers pushed along the phone. It was mesmerizing. “I’m texting my assistant that I won’t be at the party the rest of the evening.”
“Kendal, no. Don’t miss your house-warming party for me. And what about your mom?”
“I’d rather not miss out on you. I mean, technically, I’ve already waited seven years for this. And besides, I was down there plenty before you got here so it’s okay. And my mom couldn’t make it.” He pushed his phone back into his pocket and held my hand as he led me down his magical hallway of winter wonders, down towards the mysterious door.
I wondered what I would find behind there. Would it be messy like Colby’s, or filled with boxes and papers like his office?
Kendal stopped, placing his hand on the dark handle. “I want you to know, Jessie, that you will be the first girl to stay the night with me.”
“I know, in this house.”
“No, I mean, ever.”
“Huh?”
“I never allowed women in the past to sleep in my bed. Especially not when I knew I would wake up sober and see even more clearly that they weren’t you.”
I felt a thump in my heart. “Kendal, are you inviting me for a sleepover tonight?”
He put weight into the door with his shoulder and shoved it with a quirky smirk. “In the worst way.”
The door jolted open revealing a large room, larger than my 800-square-foot apartment. Maybe even the size of a small house. And it was stunningly clean.
I walked further inside, glancing high into the vaulted ceiling. There were beams of wood running across its length, a nice contrast to the light ivory walls, which were filled with empty frames. At least they were hung. I looked to my right, across the room, to where his white linen bed stood close to a back wall made of glass. It appeared in the mix of black panes that there was a way to open its grandness, but I wasn’t sure.
As if he read my mind, Kendal picked up a remote from the nightstand and pushed a button. I heard a small movement behind me, back at the wall made of windows. One long shade lowered, covering the expanse of the wall.
“Privacy, at last,” Kendal said, locking the door and approaching me near his bed. I gulped. He looked more like the man I met seven years ago. His dark hair had fully-grown back into a nice undercut with inches of length up top that normally would move upward, backward, sideward, any direction really. But tonight it was slicked stiff in one direction, back and to the side. He was a model, my model—my Seat 2A.
He stopped and ran his fingertips along my shoulders and down to my hands, intertwining his fingers with mine. “Let me ask you again.”
I gulped a second time. His green eyes seemed darker, like I was being swallowed by a forest.
“Is this really happening?” he whispered, this time his mouth was at my ear sending warmth and tingling down my body. I felt him press against me . . . it was hard . . . it was mine.
I fumbled to say, “True.” I wasn’t quite sure I said it audibly enough for him to hear and do what I expected him to do. It happened though, slowly, the way he slipped my dress off my shoulders, like a countdown. Three, two . . . one; my dress was pillowed around my ankles. Kendal glanced down.
“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” He took a moment staring, absorbing me as if I wasn’t real—as if this wasn’t real. He cradled his hands around my head, the pads of his thumbs pressing against my cheeks. When I didn’t move he let out anxiously, “Come here.”
Our tongues collided, my hand fumbling for his belt as he guided us over to his bed. I felt the comforter hit the back of my legs when he placed his hand behind my back and lowered me. I slid to the middle of the bed, naked, watching Kendal quickly undoing the rest of the belt.
His pants slid off in one fluid movement, and I had only one wish.
I could see the bulge in his tight underwear, and I already knew he was larger than Colby. I pinched my lips together, hardly able to contain a straight face. I was about to get worked.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jessie
I woke up in the middle of the night naked in Kendal’s embrace. I turned to face him. He was on his side purring like a kitten, asleep, exhausted from making love. The rounds of his idle muscles shadowed in the darkness like a portrait I never wanted to forget.
I already knew my hair was ratty and undeniably incurable but it didn’t stop me from feeling it. It was a bad case of too much hairspray and too much sex. I didn’t need to look in the mirror to know I looked like a hoodlum. But I had just made the best love I’ve ever had and a hoodlum I would gladly be.
Suddenly Mr. Chip-n-Dale stirred. “Hey,” he moaned, sliding to his stomach. “You’re here.”
“Hey.”
He stretched his arms under the pillow and tucked it tighter beneath his head. “I had a dream that you left and I couldn’t find you like last time. It was horrible.”
“That’s not a dream. That’s a nightmare.”
He nuzzled his nose along the ridge of my shoulder. “I know. So you can see why I’m glad you’re still here.”
“Kendal, no one has ever done that to me.”
“Done what?”
I covered my face, embarrassed. “You’re like a love god.”
His laugh was guttural and deep and right into the pillow, shaking the sheets beneath us. “So you liked when I . . .”
“All of it. I loved all of it. There was nothing you did that was wrong. It was all right in more ways than you know.”
He bit my shoulder, then r
olled onto his back. “Noted, my love.”
I was imagining the feel of his tongue feasting on me when I noticed the noise of the party below was gone and everything seemed still. I sat up enough that Kendal moved to his side, propping his head up with his hand.
“It sounds like everyone has left,” I said.
He rubbed his face and let out a long breath. “Finally.”
“So how many rooms are in your house?” I wondered, noticing his hair was worse than mine. Damn, he didn’t even have to try to look good.
“Ten.”
“Ten?! Holy moly.”
“Holy moly?” he laughed.
“I’m with kids every day, remember? Speaking of kids, has Daniela seen your house yet?”
“She was here the day before last. The girl would not stop running. We had an epic game of hide and seek.”
“Oh yeah?”
“It took me fifteen minutes to find her one time.” He maneuvered onto his back and raised his hands behind his head to rest. He cocked his head to me. “Wanna play?”
“Hide and seek?”
“Yes, hide and seek. I’d like to eventually make it down to the kitchen. I’m starving and I need my man strength back.”
I checked the clock on his nightstand. “It’s two in the morning, aren’t you tired?”
“Nah, I’m up. I’ve got a good run in me.” He reached for the remote next to the bed and pressed a button. A soft midnight glow entered our room as the shades retracted back to the top. Soft flakes still drifted slowly outside, but the storm had nearly subsided.
“The beauty of no neighbors,” he said, stretching.
“Are you sure no one can see inside?” I asked, pulling the sheets closer to my chest. I didn’t care what he said. I could feel even an owl staring and it made me uncomfortable.
“Positive.” Kendal leaned over and kissed my lips. “Man strength is calling, babe. I’ll count. One round and then we eat, good?”
“Wait—”
“I’m counting to twenty. You better run.”
I reached for my shirt but remembered I only had my dress on the floor. “Hand me your shirt,” I said. I held my hand out for him to pass it to me. He didn’t move though, except widened his grin. His tongue caught in his cheek as he snickered.
“One . . . two . . .” He started.
“Kendal!” Oh that sly little sneak. “Do you still have staff here?” What if they saw me running around like a crazy lunatic—a naked lunatic. I frantically looked for his shirt, but it was his dress shirt, and I knew I didn’t have time to button it up.
“Eight . . . nine . . .”
I looked at my lap and realized I was already clenching onto his white sheets. I jolted up, quickly jerking the top sheet as hard as I could, and took off wrapping it around my body.
I made it into the hallway and noticed how much larger it seemed without the sound of a loud party downstairs. The lights were off but the hall was dim from the moonlight. Shadows from the remaining snowflakes moved along the carpet like static.
“Twelve . . . thirteen . . .” Kendal hollered.
I picked up speed, the fabric trailing behind, my hands pressed to my chest to keep me from tripping on the sheet. I tiptoed down the staircase and descended just as I heard him say twenty.
I turned the corner, ran past the office and onto the other side of the house. The cold marble floors made my bare steps louder, but I kept running with no idea where to go. I flew past the main staircase that led to the second floor and halted. I should go up. I ascended swiftly without thinking and ran into the first door on my right. I pressed my back against the wall and felt my chest rising up and down, out of breath.
“Jessie?” he called. It was more of a loud whisper. Did he think he was going to startle me? We were the only ones in here. I chuckled to myself. “Jessie?” This time it sounded closer. He was at the bottom of the stairs. “Jeeessssssiiiieeee.” Shoot, he was coming up. His voice was getting closer.
A moment later my door swung open and he wrapped his arms around my waist, laughing. “Found you.”
“Okay, twenty seconds is not nearly enough. You saw me, didn’t you?”
“I told you to go naked.” He shrugged and looked to the ground. “The trailing white sheet gave you away.”
I couldn’t help but lift my arms around his neck, causing the sheet to fall to the floor on purpose. “Oops.”
His stare followed, so did his dropped jaw. I glanced too and saw him standing free in his underwear. “Why are those on, boyfriend? Take them off.”
“Yes, Ms. Evans.”
He yanked them off just like I ordered as I picked up the sheet and sprawled it along the floor. It was a wood floor, not exactly friendly for our new cosplay, but it was clean and private. I glanced around briefly. The room was filled with gym equipment. Oh I intend to get a very good workout right now thank you very much.
Once Kendal was exposed and still, hard and ready, I pointed to the sheet and said with a stern voice. “Lay.”
“Yes, teacher,” he chuckled.
“You and your diamond-chipper have been playing too many games in my class. And I’ve heard you’ve been cheating.”
He belted out a laugh so loud it echoed around us. “Diamond-chipper?”
I pointed my finger and waved it in circular motions towards his penis. “Yes, that. That is your diamond-chipper.”
“Punish my diamond-chipper then, woman.”
I found a leveling stick leaning against the wall that must have been left behind from the move. I brought it over and slightly pushed his head down.
“Make yourself comfortable, Mr. Vargas, because you might be in detention for a long while.”
I was driving through the wet, melting snow Monday morning before school to pick up fresh groceries when my phone buzzed repeatedly. Kendal was exclusively on my mind, so I imagined it was him texting. After I returned home from Kendal’s, I received the reply email from the school in Ukraine. There was a position for me starting in early March. I decided to keep it to myself, even if I did need to reply within the next couple weeks. Either Kendal and I were meant to be together or we weren’t. That gave me until after the holidays to figure things out. And considering we weren’t getting any younger, I felt three months was plenty of time for us to figure it out.
My stomach squirmed suddenly. The last time I chased after what I wanted I nearly got raped. This round was different—it had to be. I had Kendal. I only hoped my pursuit of happiness ended with him, and I, on a journey neither one of us dreamt of.
I pulled into the parking lot and switched the car off before picking up my phone. There were two group chats going on. I opened the first one that Gizelle started with me, Sue, and Bianca.
Gizelle: Baby is already kicking my trash. I’m gaining weight and I’m still puking my guts out. I need something guys. I need something easy to do.
Bianca: You need something where you can stop randomly and puke without judgment . . . without the smell getting to us all. Let’s go for a hike this weekend. It’s supposed to be warm this week.
Sue: I’m on my period. I don’t want to do anything.
Gizelle: Sue, quit being a halfway bitch. You’re not baking a baby right now. If I can pull my lazy A out of the house you can too.
Sue: Does your brother have any other friends?
Bianca: Does he like girls who wear Lululemon? Or is he a brand snob who only like girls who wear his getups?
Sue: If you only wear Lululemon then you already ARE a brand snob.
Gizelle: Kendal and Jessie are together now.
Thanks, Gizelle.
Bianca: Oh . . . sorry Jessie.
I typed quickly and replied,
No harm done.
Bianca: Does Kendal have friends? Do they have muscles?
Gizelle: Kendal’s friends are not suitable. They’re either skinny investors too busy chasing money, or middle-aged men working on their gut. Bianca, what happened to Colby?
<
br /> Bianca: I mean, I like his curly hair and all . . .
What is she on? Colby was an amazing guy. A low rumble of mama-bear rage stirred in my gut.
Gizelle: Austin has friends but I want to warn you guys. They’re looking to tie the knot fast. They’re older and are sick of dating. If you aren’t ready to settle down, don’t even bother. One of them actually told a girl on their first date that he wanted to take her home to meet his parents.
Sue: Oh geez, that’s scary.
Gizelle: And he picked her up an hour early! Eager, right?
Sue: Determined.
Bianca: Yeah, I’m just having fun. Ya know?
Gizelle: Nice guys but definitely not for you, Bianca . . . Sue, maybe? Let me fish around and see who bites . . . I’m such a good matchmaker. You can thank me with cookies. And pickles, my unborn fetus likes those.
I left their text thread and went to Kendal’s.
Have you ever been to Multnomah?
No, but the girls are talking about it. Googling it now . . .
I’d love to be Google, the way women use it every day.
You want to be used?
By you I do. Woman, I can’t stop thinking about Saturday night.
Found it. Holy hell. Yes, I want to go. That bridge looks like it belongs in a movie.
Our sex belongs in a movie . . . hold on. Let me tell her.
