by Logan Chance
“Hello,” he said.
“Dex, there’s been a fire at the bar. I need to get down there and have no one to watch Lucy.” No beating around the bush in an emergency.
Dex’s voice was filled with sleep and I knew he had to be up early for work in the morning.
“Let me call Penny. She can stop by,” he said before I agreed and we hung up.
A few minutes later, Penelope called to let me know she was on her way. I paced my condo as I waited for her.
When I heard the light rapping at the front door, I opened it and stood shellshocked by her appearance.
Her long brown hair was in a disarray on top of her head in a makeshift bun. She wore pink sweatpants and a white cami-tank.
My breath hitched as I allowed her inside bringing with her the smell of cherries and vanilla.
“Thanks for watching her. She’s asleep.” I was proud of how strong my voice sounded even though she had just took my breath away.
“No, it’s ok. Happy to help. I hope everything’s ok at the bar.”
“I hope so too. I’ll be home soon.” At the last line something very domesticated resonated deep within me, and I almost felt like I should give her a farewell parting kiss.
Our eyes held each other and I blew out a breath. “I’ll be back,” I reiterated.
I left the house barely remembering my keys on the front table.
As I raced through the streets of Miami, I noticed the fire engines flashing lights as soon as I turned onto Collins Ave.
I found a spot easily and made my way across the busy road leading up to Sullivan’s. Richie and the entire staff stood out front with half of Miami’s bystanders standing by.
There was no billowing smoke escaping the establishment, so I was hopeful. The fire captain walked over to me when Richie pointed his finger in my direction.
“Are you Mr. Sullivan the owner?” the fireman said.
“Yes, what happened?”
“A small kitchen fire. It’s under control and you’ll be able to open in twenty-four hours.”
Shit. I would need to close for Monday, which was usually our slowest day of the week. I still didn’t like the fact that I’d probably need to shell out money for whatever damages were accrued.
After speaking with the fire captain a while longer, we were all able to go home.
I was exhausted when I pulled up to my condo.
As soon as I walked inside, the house was silent and dark. I flipped the entryway light and didn’t see Penelope on the couch as I expected.
I closed the space to Lucy’s room and she was sound asleep in her bed. It was early in the morning, with the sun not yet to rise.
I opened my bedroom door and was shocked to find Penelope asleep under the deep blue comforter of my bed.
I went into the en-suite bathroom to take a shower to wash away the night I’d had.
When I exited the shower, I toweled off and put on a pair of gym black shorts and when I opened the door to my bedroom I was struck by the beauty of Penelope’s sleeping body on top of my bed. The covers had fallen off, and the moonlight filtered in and ran over every curve of her divine body.
I froze as she wiggled slightly. My body heated up and my cock grew heavy with an overwhelming need to touch her.
As I watched the rise and fall of her chest I moved across the floor on feet guided by lust. It didn’t matter to me she was my brother’s girlfriend, right now my mind was overridden by an infatuation I’d never felt before.
I needed to get closer, to smell the sweet smell of vanilla which always wafted from her body.
I repositioned my evergrowing hard on in my shorts while I watched her. What the fuck was I doing?
The right thing to do would be to wake her, or go sleep on the couch. There were a million and one things I should have been doing instead of moving closer to her.
But, I couldn’t help myself. Some cosmic force was bringing me toward the bed.
Out of my mind, but I no longer cared. I couldn’t focus on the voice telling me this was wrong in so many ways. I needed just a touch. One innocent touch. Was I mad, sure. But I was too far gone.
She let out a soft sigh from her open mouth, and I stopped. Unsure if I should continue down this path of unrighteousness, or if I should just turn away.
She was facing the wall away from me, and I studied her for a moment longer.
The sound of the air conditioning clicking to life startled me and I stepped back. As if her body could sense the air, she turned in the bed toward me.
Her eyes shut tight, her mouth open, and her arms tucked beneath her chin I couldn’t turn away.
The only sound other than the low buzz of the AC was the ringing in my ears. So loud and so full of disgust at the thoughts I was having of Dex’s girlfriend. I tried to silence it. I shook my head, pushing away the images but I was still rooted to the floor.
As if she sensed my presence she cooed, ever so lightly.
“Theo,” she sighed.
My heart stopped, and my mouth grew dry.
Was she awake? Did she just say my name?
I stepped closer, quicker than my previous movements had been. The moon, the only light, shadowed her face and I couldn’t tell if she was sleeping or fully aware of me in the room standing over her.
Leaning closer, I brushed the hair from her face.
“Penelope, are you awake?” I whispered closer to her ear. My knee met the mattress as I climbed half way on the bed.
She didn’t stir, until a second later her arm wrapped around my neck. Her cool fingers dug into my hair at the base of my scalp.
I was terrified to move, scared to break free from the attachment. It was obvious she was still sleeping but with each hot breath escaping her inviting mouth, I drew near.
She tugged me until our connection was almost made. I hovered inches from her, as I tried to remember what the hell I should be doing.
The moonlight sparkled off her hair as it framed her face. Her soft pink opening of her mouth curved upward as I ran the pad of my thumb across the lower ledge. I wanted nothing more than a kiss, nothing more than the sweet taste she possessed. To press against her in a magnetic way would bring me closer to the heaven I’d been searching for. The all-encompassing kiss I’d wanted since the moment I first laid eyes on her.
Without time to react, our mouths met in a hungry, needy way as if her soft skin had never been touched in such a manner.
My tongue slipped inside as she opened for me. Her hand on my neck squeezed harder, pulling me closer.
I was entranced as our tongues entwined in an erotic dance only we were privy to.
My cock hardened in a second as my palms were flat down on the bed propping me up. Stuck in the moment, I went deeper with my tongue as a moan escaped from the back of her throat.
To stop now would be insanity, and I couldn’t think straight. I was mesmerized by the madness powering over my brain.
She tasted sweet with a hint of honey and a shot of adrenaline exploded through my system. I needed her in the worst way.
I pictured it all with her, every single fucking moment of the rest of our lives ending in our own happily ever after. Too bad it would never work out between us.
With that thought, I broke the kiss as she rolled away from me.
She never awoke, and I was beside myself with regret.
Thank you for reading all of that. Hopefully you enjoyed it a little.
And here is the very last part.
Chapter Nine
PENNY
The sun hit my face in an annoying fashion the next morning. It took me a second to remember where I was.
As I sat up in Theo’s bed it took my eyes a moment to adjust. I had fallen asleep while watching Lucy. I tried sleeping on the couch, but couldn’t get comfortable. Moving into Theo’s room had been the only other option. I figured he would wake me once he returned home from the fire.
Oh God, the fire.
I sprang from the
bed as I wondered how bad the fire was.
Would I be out of a job again?
When I entered into the hallway the smell of bacon overpowered my nostrils. There was laughter in the kitchen, and when I turned the corner I stopped cold in my tracks.
Music from some kid show blared from the TV as Lucy and her father danced in the kitchen together. Theo was busily cooking pancakes as Lucy pranced around him.
The scene took my breath away as I watched on in silence.
“Morning sleepyhead,” Theo said, smiling over his shoulder.
“Morning sleepyhead,” Lucy repeated making me grin.
“Hi. What’s for breakfast?” I stepped away from the wall to join them in the kitchen.
“Pancakes. Hope you’re hungry.” Theo motioned to the griddle placed over the stove as he flipped the batter over.
“I am. But, I should get going.” I didn’t want to impose on their sweet little family time, and then I remembered the fire. “What happened last night?”
“Small kitchen fire. We will reopen on Tuesday. So, you have the day off and you’re not leaving until you taste one of my famous pancakes.”
“Famous you say?”
“Yes, these are an old Sullivan recipe handed down throughout the ages.”
I spied the box of Aunt Jemimia mix as my eyes narrowed. Picking up the package I laughed. “Old Sullivan recipe huh?” I asked, mockingly.
Theo stared to Lucy and then back to me with a huge smile. “Busted. Ok, not famous, but still good nonetheless.”
“Sounds lovely. Can I help?”
Lucy grabbed my hand pulling me further into the kitchen. “You can help me set the table.”
She showed me where all the cutlery was and together her and I spent the next few minutes setting the dining table.
“Almost ready,” Theo called from the kitchen.
“I’m just going to make a quick phone call to Dex.” I grabbed my phone out of my purse on the counter where I’d left it the previous night and moved further down the hallway as I connected the call.
“Hello,” Dex said into the phone sounding annoyed.
“Hey there.”
“Penny, where are you?”
“I fell asleep last night while watching Lucy and Theo never woke me when he got in.”
“Oh, I stopped by your place this morning before work and you weren’t there.” His tone had softened which made me relax a bit.
“Sorry,” I apologized even though I had done nothing wrong.
“What happened with the fire?”
I filled him in on what Theo had told me and then let Dex know I would see him later in the evening for dinner.
We hung up and I returned into the dining area as both Theo and Lucy were seated waiting on me.
Pancakes were piled on three plates and I sat down and took a deep breath. Theo placed some bacon on my plate as I poured some syrup across the golden brown hotcakes.
“What are your plans for today?” Theo asked.
“I don’t know. I wasn’t expecting to have the day off.”
“Come with us to the Zoo,” Theo said as more of a command than a question.
I was beginning to like the bossy side of Theo when he would order things around. I loved watching him take charge at work and then an image hit my mind suddenly.
My cheeks flushed as I shoved a bite of pancakes past my lips.
An image of Theo and I kissing took over my memory and I realized I must have dreamt it last night.
The dream was so real and I avoided eye contact as I chewed my food. Once I swallowed I opened my mouth to speak. “Ok, I would really like the Zoo. I just need to stop by my place and change.”
Lucy clapped her hands together once I agreed and she appeared excited to have me tag along.
***
The Miami Zoo wasn’t very packed for a Monday afternoon. We entered the front gate as Lucy bounced along beside us. She was very excited and Theo was great with her on the drive over.
We opted to grab a bike and I smiled when he hoisted Lucy up into the front basket. The bike was a unique style made especially for the zoo. It had side by side seating with a large compartment up front for Lucy to sit along with my purse. It had a canopy over top and pedals for both of us to work.
We started with the monkey exhibit which was close to the bike area. It was a huge pen and the monkeys were swinging from tree to tree. They were creating quite the stir by squealing and Lucy’s eyes bulged with delight.
As we moved through the attractions, my mind kept drifting to the dream I’d had the previous night. It had felt so real and I couldn’t focus anytime Theo would try talking to me.
“You’re very quiet today. Everything ok?” Theo asked as we walked around the Koala Bear exhibit.
“Sure everything's fine.” I tried to sound chipper but failed miserably.
He ran his hand along the back of his neck and our eyes held each other. The heat from the overzealous sun created sweat to form on his upper brow.
He was sexy as the muscles in his arms moved as he rubbed his neck.
Lucy wasn’t far away watching the Koala Bears as they sat and did nothing in the trees.
The want to kiss him overcame every nerve in my body. To relive the dream I’d had the night before in real life was all my thoughts were focused on.
But as the air stilled and I stepped closer Theo chuckled. “Look,” he said guiding my line of sight with his finger.
When I glanced over Lucy’s nose was pressed against the glass as the Koala Bear and her stared at each other.
“How cute. You have to get a picture.”
He snapped off a few photos as we laughed over Lucy and her new friend.
After we left the exhibit we sat on a picnic table and had our lunch we bought from a vendor.
After eating Lucy played in the grass as I sat in silence with Theo.
“Where are you from?” he asked, breaking the silence.
“Boston. You?”
“I’m a native Floridian. I know there aren’t many of us around. What brought you to Miami?”
“Would you believe me if I told you the sun and beach?”
“No, I wouldn’t. What really brought you here?”
“School. I went to the University of Miami.”
“Ah a Hurricane huh? What did you major in?”
The look on his face said it all. He was wondering why I had finished college and still bartended instead of using my degree. “My parents forced me to major in medicine. I hate needles and I get queasy at the sight of blood. I ended up leaving school and never went back.”
“Parents aren’t very happy are they?” he asked.
“Not at all. I rarely talk to them anymore. Have you ever felt lost?”
“What do you mean?” he asked as he glanced over to watch Lucy frolic in the grass.
“I feel like a complete failure in life. Look at you and your brother. You’re both so well put together.”
“You think this is well put together,” he said pointing at his chest and for a second all I could think about was the muscled madness he probably had going on underneath his blue t-shirt.
“I think your life is very well put together.”
“It isn’t, but I want to focus back on you for a minute. Why do you feel your life isn’t well put together? You have a great job, great apartment I’m guessing. And, you’re dating an upstanding guy.” He flinched as he said the last words.
“I just feel like something is missing. Like I'm meant for so much more than I’m doing.”
“Oh, well what do you want to be doing?” He scooted closer and leaned both elbows on the wooden table.
I thought about his question as I gazed into his deep eyes. “I’m not sure.”
“Let me ask you this.” He leaned even closer after turning his attention to Lucy and then back to me. “What do you enjoy doing?” he asked.
“I like to take pictures,” I said in a tiny voice which surprised m
e. I didn’t like telling people about my love for photography as most people never understood, mainly my parents.
‘Get a real job, Penny’, they’d say.
“Pictures? That’s amazing. I bet you’re really good. Do you have an album?”
Having him not shun the idea gave me more confidence in telling him about my work. “I do.”
“I’d love to see it. What does Dex think? I’m sure he loves the album too, he’s an art lover.”
“I tried telling him once but I don’t know.” I shook my head at the memory of that failed conversation.
We were seated at his large dining room table having a dinner he’d ordered in. He was busily telling me about his day at work and we had only been dating for a few weeks.
“Well, then Marcus said I should just do as he said,” Dex said.
“And did you?” I asked, not really paying attention to his story.
“No, I don’t like other people bossing me around. Anyways, what did you do today?”
I had spent the whole day in downtown Miami taking pictures of the city’s skyline and unique art deco buildings.
“I took pictures,” I said.
“Pictures? Oh that’s cute,” he said making me feel about two inches tall. “What did you take pictures of? Did you and Jasmine get dressed up and take a bunch of selfies?”
Selfies? I was appalled by his lack of interest in something I held very near and dear to my heart. I shrugged it off as I tried to make it appear I had indeed done just that.
I glanced back to Theo as the thought my conversation with Dex faded.
“I think you should tell him. I think he’d be impressed,” he said as Lucy came sprinting over.
“Daddy, let’s go.” She tugged at his arm and I smirked over at him.
“Well, the boss has spoken. To be continued though,” he said as he rose from the picnic table and hoisted Lucy into his arms.
“Sure.”
As we left the Zoo and headed back to South Beach I couldn’t get the vision of what Theo’s lips would feel like against mine.
The drive was a long one, and Lucy fell asleep after being in the car for five minutes. I watched Theo as he drove and focused in on his hands. The way they gripped the steering wheel as they controlled the truck down the interstate.
