by Mia Ford
I sighed a little and closed my eyes “Thanks.”
“For what?”
“For taking me out. I’ve had a really nice time.”
He hesitated, but gently wrapped his arms around my shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze. We looked out onto the balcony together and I smiled as fireworks wound their way through the sky, exploding above our heads. It took my breath away and I leaned against him, my eyes closed. He was warm and the breeze was cool.
I looked up at him and saw the reflection of the fireworks in his eyes. I was unable to ignore it and sat up, pressing my lips to his in a long, needy kiss. He moaned and cupped my cheeks, pulling me close. It wasn’t as passionate or desperate as the kiss we’d shared in the kitchen, but it was just as electric. Goose bumps rose on my arms and when we parted, my cheeks were flushed. My lips parted and I whispered the words that had been stuck in my throat.
“Take me home?”
Jami
We stumbled through the front door of her small, but well-kept apartment, unable to keep our hands off each other. Her finger roamed my body, pausing at my waist to hastily undo my pants. Every single movement screamed of desperation. She wanted me, and I wanted her just as badly. I couldn’t ever remember wanting someone like this.
By the time, we reached the bedroom, we’d left a trail of abandoned clothes that led to the queen-sized bed pushed up against the blush colored walls. Her knees hit the back of the bedframe and we tumbled into impossibly soft sheets, our arms wrapped around each other as our lips crashed together for the hundredth time that night. We hadn’t stopped kissing since we’d left the restaurant and it still hadn’t gotten boring. I could have done this all night long, but there were things I wanted even more.
I pulled away, panting softly, the throbbing between my legs becoming damn near unbearable. “Tell me what you want.”
Her fingers threaded into my hair and she gave a solid pull. “I want you.”
That was all the invitation I needed. My lips traced the delicate curve of her neck and I couldn’t help but feel the need to bite her and nip at her neck. I wanted to see my mark on her. I wanted the world to know she was mine.
The tender nips elicited a low moan and she arched against me, her perfectly round, bare breasts pressed against my warm skin. I couldn’t resist reaching up and cupping them, giving them a firm squeeze before brushing my thumb over one of her perky nipple. Another moan fell from her lips and she leaned her head back, one hand reaching for the head board
I watched her draw her bottom lip between her teeth, biting it until it turned red from the abuse. She pulled me closer for another kiss, her eyes half lidded with a desperate desire that made the heat in my belly rise. God. What was she doing to me? No one had ever done this to me before.
My lips brushed the high bones in her cheeks and soon they flushed bright red. She gripped my wrist with a surprising strength and guided my hand further south until my fingers found her womanly mound. She was already slick with nectar and I couldn’t help but moan as my fingers began to tease her delicate folds, tracing slow circles along the part I knew would bring her the most pleasure. Tonight, was about her. That’s all I wanted.
That little bit of stimulation was already making her moan and writhe beneath me. I watched as small, mousy sounds escaped her lips and her body went pink underneath my skilled fingers. I knew what she wanted and I was more than ready to give it to her. Still, a little bit of teasing was never a bad thing, right?
Once I’d decided she’d had enough, I slipped two fingers inside of her, enjoying her body’s warmth. She let out a choked sound of pleasure, her hips rocking back and forth. She moaned my name over and over again, her breath hitching between words. I wanted to hear more of those desperate moaned so I began to thrust my fingers in and out of her at a desperate pace, pleased when she began to cry out, coming completely unhinged.
“N-No more! Fuck! Please! Give me what I want!” She was pleading now, her head tossed back against the pillows and her hair a wild mess.
Her begging drove me wild and I gripped her hips, holding her down and taking control. She seemed like the type of woman who liked to control everything around her, and those were the ones who often wanted a break and wanted to hand over that control to someone else. Even if it was just for a night.
She moaned my name when I entered her and the sound made me shudder with excitement. I settled inside of her and waited, allowing her to adjust to my size, but I wasn’t able to hold back for long. Soon I was rocking my hips back and forth, whispering her name and sweet nothings in her hear as her velvet cavern engulfed me, making me want even more. She was so warm and so welcoming. I wanted this to last forever.
I moved with deliberate thrusts, wanting nothing more than for her to scream my name as she came again and again. I’d always been told I was a good lover, but my skill hadn’t been on purpose. I’d never been so focused on my lover’s pleasure before, but tonight I wanted her to feel like a queen. I wanted her to have the night of her life, because I wanted her to come back.
Fire was burning in my belly and liquid pleasure was starting to spread through my entire body. I knew I was going to finish at any second. Each thrust was more desperate than the one before it and soon I found myself holding her down, my fingers leaving angry little red marks behind. Marks didn’t usually do anything for me, but tonight, I wanted to see them on her body.
Those marks were the last thing I needed. My voice caught in my throat and I let out a low, guttural growl as I finished inside her. I felt the soft walls of her womanhood contract around my shaft, milking every last drop of my essence. She was whispering my name like a prayer, her arms wrapped around me and her fingers digging into my shoulders.
We lay in each other’s arms, panting as the soft breeze from an open window licked at the thin sheen of sweat on our skin. Lena laughed softly, looking up at me with glassy eyes.
“That was amazing…” she murmured, her eyes already closing.
I nodded and collapsed on the bed beside her, wrapping my arms around her. “It really was.”
She pressed herself against my chest, falling asleep without a second thought. As I held her, I couldn’t stop thinking about how good she felt in my arms and how I didn’t want this to be the last time we laid in bed together. As I laid beside her and stroked her beautiful midnight hair, I couldn’t help but think a terrifying thought.
I wanted her around…and not just for sex.
Lena
The next morning, I woke up in a bed that wasn’t mine. The space next to me was empty but still warm. I lifted my head and grunted, putting a hand to my temple to try and ease the pounding in my head. I’d worked in restaurants and bars my entire life, but I was still a lightweight. It didn’t take much for the hangover to set in.
I sighed and slipped out of the bed, walking over to the wall and picking a robe up off the hanger. It wasn’t mine, but I was sure Jami wouldn’t mind. As I walked down the stairs I could hear bacon sizzling and smell the sweet, buttery taste of homemade syrup. Looks like I wasn’t the only one who could cook.
I settled on the bar stool and smiled at Jami, my chin in my hands. I hummed softly and he glanced over his bare shoulder, grinning. “Morning.”
“You gonna make me breakfast before you kick me out?”
“I ain’t gonna kick you out,” He said sliding a fluffy pancake onto a plate.
“I didn’t know you can cook.”
“I can make a decent breakfast, but that’s about it,” he said, placing the heaping plate in front of me.
I shoveled a large bite of eggs into my mouth, groaning softly at the edible hangover cure. This was all I’d ever wanted. I sighed and shook my head slowly, giving him a thumbs up. “This is great. Just what I needed.”
He put his own plate down and sat beside me, starting to eat big bites of pancakes. His hair was down, tucked behind his ears and his arms bare. I was surprised at just how much I liked waking up next to a ha
lf-naked hunk making me breakfast. Most people found out I was a chef and just assumed I was going to cook for them all the time.
“I had a really great time last night.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed our date,” he said, smiling and giving me a peck on the cheek.
I chuckled and nudged him. “I meant the whole thing.” I paused for a moment, moving a pile of eggs around before looking at him seriously. “You know. This started as a way for me to get over you. Something about you hypnotized me and I didn’t know how to handle it. I didn’t want to get mixed up with my boss and I figured if I just slept with you…You’d be out of my head.”
“Maybe it’ll work. You haven’t been away from me yet.”
I cocked a brow and sighed. “I don’t think that’s the way it’s going to work.”
He was silent for a moment and finally glanced over at me. “Well, I ain’t disappointed about it.”
“I thought you didn’t want to get close to anyone.”
“You’re not the type of girl who’d take advantage of someone for their money.”
“How do you know?”
“It’s just a feeling I got. I ain’t saying I love you or anything. That would be a little weird, but what I am saying is that I want to give this whole thing a shot. I want to give it more than a one night stand,” he said with a nod.
I paused, tapping my fingers on the table nervously. “You mean that?”
He leaned over and kissed my cheek. “I do.”
I couldn’t stop the smile that pulled at my lips. “If you’re lying, I’m gonna knock your pretty teeth in.”
He laughed and threw back his head. “I know you would. I’m not messing with you, alright? I like the idea of having a woman around who can kick my ass, though. It’s kind of sexy.”
I chuckled and sipped the coffee he’d made me. “Until she actually kicks your ass, right?”
“I’d gladly take an ass kicking from you.”
If I rolled my eyes any harder, I was sure they would detach from my skull. “You’re such a butt kisser.”
He puckered up and I punched him playfully in the arm, more than a little grateful for the banter. When I first woke up, I was afraid this was going to be a serious morning full of conversations about what the night before meant. I was happy for the teasing and easy conversation.
We fell into a comfortable silence after that. I sipped my coffee and hummed to myself, eating my breakfast happily. It wasn’t often that someone cooked for me. I was going to enjoy it while it lasted. I wanted to just enjoy my time with Jami and not question our future.
A sudden knock on the door made me jump and drop my spoon, my eyes wide and fixed on the door. It was too early in the morning for visitors and the look on Jami’s face told me he wasn’t expecting any company. His lips pulled into a tight line and he set his plate aside, standing and going to the door. He peered into the peephole and let out an audible groan as he opened the door just enough to peek outside.
“What do you want?”
“I wanted to come by and say hi,” a female voice responded.
I frowned deeply and pushed away from the bar, moving to stand behind Jami, trying to see around his powerful frame.
“It’s not a good time, Marie. You need to leave.”
My eyes met the other woman’s and I saw red hot jealousy flash across her face. “Who is that?” She demanded, pointing right at me.
“It’s none of your business, Marie!”
“Is that one of your whores?! Is that the woman you left me for?!”
“Watch your goddamn mouth!” Jami hissed, reaching out so that he could put some distance between the woman and the door. “You need to go before I call the cops.”
“He’ll use you!” The woman piped up, her eyes wide. “He’ll get what he wants from you and then throw you to the curb like he did me! He told me he loved me and now I’m banned from his office! You’re nothing special. Don’t fall for his shit!”
“GET OUT!” Jami stepped through the door, his eyes narrowed as he marched forward, his eyes wide with anger. “Get the fuck off my property!”
The woman stumbled back, eyes wide with fear. She fell back and hit the ground, her eyes meeting mine again for a brief moment. She turned to look at Jami, tears in her big blue eyes. “I loved you, Jami. I gave you everything!”
“Cut the act, Marie. No one is buying it.”
He was wrong though. I wasn’t sure who I should believe. My heart said to believe Jami, but this wasn’t the first person I’d met who warned me about Jami. Was I being stupid? Was I playing with fire? Maybe I needed to start listening.
“I just wanted to love you, but you wouldn’t let me in.” Marie sobbed, staring up at him, holding her arms out.
Jami hoisted her to her feet, immediately releasing her. “Go!” He snapped, eyes wild with rage. “I don’t want to do something I’ll regret.”
Marie sniffled and looked at me knowingly before turning and trudging back to the elevator that would take her back to the lobby of the apartment building. As I watched her go, I couldn’t stop my heart from sinking into my stomach. Was that my fate if I stuck around? The comfortable feeling I’d been experiencing just a few moments ago disappeared completely and I was left with a cold, empty feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Jami was walking towards the apartment door, holding his hands out as if they’d been covered in mud. “I’ve been trying to get rid of that girl for months,” he murmured, walking over to the sink to wash his hands.
I watched him in silence for a long time, imagining him washing that woman from his hands and washing me away just as easily. Was this my warning? I cleared my throat, but I didn’t move closer. I stayed a safe distance away, unable to explain my fear. I wasn’t worried about him hurting my physically, but I was afraid.
“Did you tell her you loved her?”
He let out a heavy sigh, putting both his hands on the counter. “No. I took her out on a date, slept with her and never called her.” His voice was sharp and his words were cruel. “I fucked her and kicked her out the next morning. You know why?! Because I’m a bad fucking person, okay? Is that what everyone wants to hear? They want me to admit that I’m a shitty person?! That I’m always out for myself?”
There was a lump in my throat and I finally managed to swallow it, my brows drawn together. I wasn’t stupid. I knew the type of guy he was and I could guess the things he’d done, but hearing them come from him and witnessing the aftermath made it seem so much more real. In the glow of good wine and delicate paper lanterns, I’d managed to forget all the things that people had warned me about, but I couldn’t ignore it anymore.
I started back towards the stairs, glancing over my shoulder. “I…Have to go.”
“Good. Get out. Get your shit and just get out.” The playful tone from earlier was gone and all that was left was a deep seeded anger.
It only took me a few moments to gather up my clothes, get dressed and walk out the door, deciding that I’d rather wait in the lobby for my cab. I didn’t think I could stand another second of the tension that had sparked between Jami and I.
So much for keeping things simple.
Jami
I didn’t like to admit when something ate at me. I didn’t like to admit that watching Lena walk away had made my chest tighten and made my throat dry, but what I hated most was how hard it was to avoid her. At the end of the day she was still my employee and I still had a business to run. That meant I had to see her perfect face every day and pretend like nothing had happened.
Her demeanor around me had completely changed and I hated it. She always called me ‘sir’ and kept our conversations as short as possible. Without ever saying a word, she made it clear to me that she wanted nothing to do with me and I hated it. I wanted a reaction out of her and I wanted her back. Every other woman in my life had come back, why was she the one who was different?
I’d been racking my brain for ways to get her back, but I came u
p empty every time. Just when I thought I’d found the way back to her heart, I realized it wouldn’t work on her. She wasn’t wooed by fancy gifts and expensive jewelry.
I was at a loss and finally decided to give it one shot. I would do the most basic thing I could think of…I would just talk to her. It was the only thing I could come up with. Everything else seemed useless.
Still, I didn’t think flowers would hurt.
I was waiting in the restaurant, surrounded by hundreds of yellow roses. Even though we’d both been more than a little drunk I’d remembered the way her face lit up when she told me her favorite flower. I’d committed it to memory and in this moment, I was glad for that.
Lena walked through the door and flipped the lights on, jumping when our eyes met. The restaurant wouldn’t be open for another three hours, but I knew she’d want to come in early to get her kitchen prepped. Lena was one of the most dedicated people I’d ever met especially when it came to her job.
“W-What?” Her eyes were wide as she looked around and took in the room full of flowers. I could see that she was trying to understand what was going on. Finally, her eyes landed on mine and she held my gaze for a moment before looking away. “We can’t open the restaurant if it’s full of flowers,” she whispered.
“I know. I’m not opening the restaurant today.”
She frowned deeply and looked at me like I had two heads. “We have to open the restaurant. It’s Friday. It’s the busiest day of the week.”
She was always so damn practical. “I have something more important to take care of,” I admitted, nodding towards one of the booths. “Sit?”
She hesitated, but finally move to sit in the empty booth, her arms crossed over her chest. “What?”
