After the Interview

by Laurent, Coco

  C J looked for any sign to tell him this was in fact a restaurant, and then he peered through the window and saw maybe ten to twelve tables at the most. He could see the place was popular because all of the tables were taken.

  “You coming?” Zoe said, her hand on the doorknob.

  “Sure but it looks like we’re in for a long wait,” he answered.

  “Trust me, you aren’t the only person with some connections,” Zoe said.

  Entering the restaurant, C J started to smell wonderful aromas, and he looked for their source. He quickly spotted a swinging door with a glass porthole at the back of the room, which swung open, letting the sounds and scents of the kitchen escape. Turning to speak to Zoe, his attention was drawn to the elderly Asian woman who was clinging to her. The woman was so slight that her head rested on Zoe’s chest. The woman’s size obviously had no bearing on her strength because she clung to Zoe with a death grip while simultaneously chiding her for staying away so long.

  Zoe patted the woman on the shoulder and said,” Mrs. Zhou I would like to introduce you to my friend, C J Fairchild.”

  Reluctantly loosening her grip on Zoe, Mrs. Zhou turned to face C J and said, “It’s been a long time since Mrs. St. Claire has been here. We miss seeing her very much. Welcome as her friend, Mr. Fairchild.”

  “I’m very pleased to meet you, Mrs. Zhou. The smells from the kitchen make me see why Zoe wished to bring me here and why you are so busy.”

  “Don’t worry, you two follow me and we will take care of you,” Mrs. Zhou said, heading for a flight of stairs on their right.

  C J turned to extend his hand to Zoe and noticed she was standing rooted in place. “Are you OK Zoe?”

  In a less than firm sounding voice Zoe said, “Yes I’m fine and we had better follow Mrs. Zhou; she moves quickly.”

  C J moved to let Zoe go ahead of him to the stairway, and then it dawned on him that Mrs. Zhou had called Zoe “Mrs. St. Claire.” Ah shit, this must have been one of Zoe and Jean’s favorite restaurants. I bet Zoe didn’t think about that before we headed this way. Mrs. Zhou was beaming as C J and Zoe sat at the small table in a cozy windowless corner she had led them to. Zoe looked at C J with a do-you-trust-me-to-order look, and he nodded in assent. After Zoe had finished their order and Mrs. Zhou had headed back down the stairs, C J noticed that the small upstairs room had a few other tables in nooks and they were all dimly illuminated by glowing red lanterns suspended from the ceiling. These tables differed from the ones downstairs, and C J tried to picture why. Ah, he thought these tables are devoid of the typical Chinese restaurant condiments, which include soy sauce, chili sauce and hot mustard. Up here the tables had large lazy susans with small bowls of kumquats and sesame seed covered almonds.

  “Looks like we both have reserved corner tables in our favorite restaurants,” C J said with a smile as he reached for Zoe’s hand across the table.

  Giving him a weak smile, Zoe said, “Yes, but I’m not part owner here, so we’ll be getting a check.”

  Zoe swiped at the tassel swinging from the base of the lantern with her free hand and said, “I’ve always wanted to do that.”

  “Why?” C J asked.

  “Just to be carefree. I want to know what that feels like,” Zoe answered, looking intently into C J’s eyes.

  “Hell I thought you were being pretty spontaneous when you seduced me,” C J said with a devilish look.

  “Oh, really?” Zoe quipped. “I seem to remember you trying every trick in the book to get me into your bed. Starting with the old ‘get your jacket back the next day’ ruse.”

  “Hey, I was being a gallant gentleman,” C J said, eyes sparkling.

  Then he kissed Zoe’s hand to make his point, and she surprised him by moving her now shoeless foot up his leg to his thigh.

  “I always wanted to do that too,” Zoe said.

  “And how many people have you wanted to do that to?” C J asked with mock seriousness.

  “Just a few,” Zoe answered with a wicked grin.

  C J was about to tell her it was having the desired affect when Mrs. Zhou and two waiters showed up tableside. Zoe quickly removed her foot from his crotch and now sat looking at Mrs. Zhou with a huge innocent grin on her face as the plates of food were placed on the lazy susan. Mrs. Zhou opened bottles of Tsing Tao for them and then disappeared. For the next hour, C J and Zoe took their time savoring the rich dishes from the duck to the greasy noodles as they arrived from the kitchen. A second set of beers appeared when the first were empty and they were consumed just as quickly. By the time the meal was over and Mrs. Zhou had allowed them to leave the restaurant, it was late and C J hailed a cab. On the ride back to the apartment Zoe nestled into C J’s side with his arm wrapped around her. C J placed a kiss on her forehead and she closed her eyes.

  Chapter Ten

  “Your doorman must be getting used to me,” C J said sarcastically. “He only scowled at me momentarily.”

  Zoe laughed as they entered her apartment and she fell backward onto the small sofa. “I think Henry is really warming up to you and I predict that by tomorrow you two will be pals.”

  “Right, I predict once he realizes I am spending the night he will want to castrate me,” C J said.

  Zoe grinned, then extended her arms toward C J so he would pull her off of the sofa and into his embrace. Looking at him, she couldn’t think of any reason not to follow her heart and trust him. Her mind, on the other hand, was telling her to be on guard and not lower her defenses. As she pressed her body against his and they kissed, she couldn’t ignore her body’s craving for him. Zoe smiled inwardly, thinking of how C J’s body never tired of showing interest in her. At this moment his penis was erect and hard, straining against the fabric of his pants.

  Zoe stepped back purposefully and asked, “Would you like a drink or a glass of wine?”

  “No, I’m good,” he said as he started to unbutton his shirt.

  Zoe thought, oh yes, as she watched him proceed to slowly pull the shirt off and let it fall to the floor. Then, with deliberate slowness, he undid the button at the top of his jeans and started lowering the zipper. By the time the zipper was all the way down, C J was using his other hand to push the jeans off of his hips and they were thrown on top of the shirt. Zoe’s breath froze as she eyed the bulge of his penis straining against his briefs. C J stood there, not moving, as Zoe willed him to continue. Then, with a sly grin, C J hooked his thumbs under the top of his briefs and paused. Zoe waited and then let out a sigh, as C J at last stood before her naked. My God, this man is gorgeous, amazingly sexy and mine.

  Zoe walked up to C J and placed her hands on his chest. She could feel the beating of his heart, and her hands rose and fell as his chest moved with each breath. Moving her hands slowly lower, her fingers traced circles around his nipples and then caressed each muscle of his abdomen, then followed a path to his erect penis. Zoe’s hands encircled his penis and then she used the fingers of her right hand to tease its tip. C J sighed audibly and lowered his mouth to hers. The kiss deepened as C J’s tongue probed Zoe’s mouth and left no doubt what he desired. Before Zoe could react, C J had broken off the kiss and scooped her up in his arms. In a few long strides they were in her bedroom and C J was laying her on the bed. He grasped her hands and raised her arms over her head then started pulling the sweater and tank top off over her head. When her earring got stuck in the sweater, Zoe took the earring off and let it fall in the pile with her clothing. She beat C J to the hooks on her bra and tossed it out of sight. Now her naked breasts started to send signals of pleasure to her entire body, as C J’s mouth and tongue began to tease her nipple. Zoe was torn between luxuriating in the sensations and pushing him off of her so she could finish removing her clothing.

  C J felt Zoe’s nails start to dig into his back and he reacted by sitting up and lowering his hands to the top of her pants. Once they were undone, Zoe’s hands assisted his in getting the pants over her hips. C J pulled them off completely and
then slowly lowered her underwear, letting his hands caress her inner thighs in the process. Zoe almost cried out as C J began stroking her body, already wet and tense with anticipation. He caught her gaze and immediately moved to enter her as she moved her legs, raising her hips to seek connection with his body. Zoe wrapped her arms around his neck while C J kissed her and started to move in a controlled stroke that fueled her body’s desire. Zoe fought the urge to encourage C J to move harder and faster because feeling their bodies synced in this slow sensuous rhythm was creating incredible waves of pleasure. The urgency to rush disappeared as she and C J sensed the signals of the other’s body and wished to prolong their pleasure.

  Zoe’s hands firmly caressed their way over each muscle in C J’s back and halted when they reached his butt. She felt his muscles tense and release as he moved his body in rhythm with hers. Starting to lose control, she pressed her hands firmly against C J’s butt not allowing him to move while she increased the pressure of her body against his. Understanding Zoe’s desire, C J grabbed her hips and now thrust deep and hard into her as she strained to control the delightful ache that was building. Zoe didn’t want their lovemaking to end but she also didn’t want to hold back the orgasm ready to burst within her. As C J’s body arched and she felt him stop moving, Zoe’s orgasm began and continued until she couldn’t help but scream out. C J lowered his mouth to hers, to muffle the cry in his kiss. Moments later, breathing hard, they lay side by side; both of their bodies still tense and exhilarated by their lovemaking.

  C J shifted to his side, propped himself up on his elbow then looked down at Zoe. “That’s twice for you today,” he said, grinning.

  “What the… Oh very funny,” she said, realizing he was referring to her screams of passion.

  Zoe rolled quickly and did her best to unbalance C J with her shoulder’s momentum, but it had little effect. He caught her with his free hand and maneuvered her against his body, all the while laughing at her effort to outmuscle him. When Zoe gave up any pretense of resistance, C J molded his body against hers with his arm across her waist. Zoe was content to stay wrapped within C J’s warm body and did not move except to reach down, lift his hand and entwine her fingers with his.

  ℓ

  C J awoke in the morning to an empty bed and the sounds of Zoe in the kitchen. Staring at the ceiling, he felt like a man who had everything he could possibly need. This sense of peacefulness was relaxing ,and he was starting to doze off again but was jolted awake as Zoe tugged one of his arms from under his head.

  “Hey, you need to get up. Breakfast is almost ready and we need to get moving,” she said, still tugging at his arm.

  C J was tempted to grab Zoe and lay down again but knew she was amped up and ready to go. As he sat up, she darted out of the room and he heard dishes clattering.

  “Can I grab a five minute shower?” C J shouted with his head poking out of the doorway.

  “Yes, a quick five,” Zoe said. She was clearly engrossed in whatever she had on the stove.

  The shower was fast, as promised, and as C J stepped into the bedroom he realized his bag of clothing was still in the living room. So, he wrapped the towel around his waist and headed out to get it.

  “What, no shirt no service mister,” Zoe said teasingly.

  “It seems my change of clothes never made it to the bedroom. In fact, none of my clothing made it to the bedroom,” C J said.

  “I’m surprised you’re being so modest this morning,” Zoe said.

  “Just taking precautions so you don’t get distracted, or attracted, should I say?” C J said.

  Zoe’s hand appeared with a huge orange in it and C J realized she had started a pitcher’s wind-up ready to make him her target. He hurriedly ducked into the bedroom just as the orange landed with a loud thud not more than a step behind him. Shit, that had some zing to it he thought. C J stepped out of the bedroom moments later arms crossed in front of his face, as if warding off the next flying orange.

  Zoe laughed and said, “You’re safe for now.”

  C J lowered his arms and finished rolling up the sleeves of his shirt, exposing his forearms, and started to walk toward the kitchen. Zoe caught sight of his still damp hair curling behind his ears and remembered the first time she had noticed this about him. Wow, that seems like ages ago, she thought. She glanced up to see C J peeking around her from across the countertop to see what was on the stove.

  “French toast and coffee this morning,” Zoe said, turning to open the oven and pull out the plate of food she was keeping warm.

  “Looks wonderful and smells great,” C J said, putting his hands out to help Zoe carry their breakfast to the table.

  As they ate, Zoe asked C J what he wanted to do on the island, city hop or walk on the beaches. C J paused while chewing to show he was listening to her but waited to respond until he had finished his first piece of French toast.

  “Let’s enjoy right now and then worry about decisions after breakfast,” C J said with a pleading gesture.

  “No can do,” she responded. “If we city hop we go one direction, if you want beaches and boats we go another route. What will it be?”

  “Beaches and boats,” C J answered, not hesitating. “Now I can finish eating, right?”

  “Sure but we need to hurry because we have to catch the ferry,” Zoe said, smiling.

  “Ferry to where?” C J asked, not sure what he was getting himself into.

  “You’ll see if you get a move on,” Zoe said as she finished her coffee and headed to the kitchen with her plate.

  “Alright already,” C J managed to say between mouthfuls. He wasn’t happy about rushing through his food and had the thought that New York seemed to bring the “don’t dare to relax” attitude out in people.

  Zoe appeared in the living room, outfitted in a jacket and boots, with a long knit scarf held out toward C J. He was still rummaging in his bag to pull out his jacket but stopped to admire how sexy Zoe looked, and she read his mind.

  “Not on your life, C J, we are headed to Fire Island with no delays. Take this scarf in case you need it, and I’ll grab my bag,” Zoe said as she turned and walked back into the bedroom. A minute later, Zoe emerged with a small duffle bag over her shoulder.

  Seeing his look, Zoe said, “It’s sand proof.” Then she headed to the apartment door, undid the deadbolt and half turned the doorknob, ready to exit.

  “Three minutes,” C J said, rushing into the bedroom and returning in two.

  “Lead on,” he said.

  When they reached the elevator and Zoe had pressed the button, C J turned to her with an expression that clearly showed he was trying to puzzle something out but didn’t want to say anything yet.

  “How are we getting to this ferry and Fire Island?” C J asked.

  “Aha that is the surprise of the day. I’m going to drive us there,” Zoe answered with a huge grin on her face.

  “You have a car? Where is it hidden?” C J asked.

  “In a garage a few blocks over. Come on, let’s get going,” she said, exiting the elevator and waving to Henry as she almost sprinted out of the lobby. C J just looked at Henry and smiled.

  Ten minutes later, C J found himself standing beside a red Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce as he watched Zoe drop smoothly into the driver’s seat. She leaned across the stick shift and said, “What’re you waiting for? Get in already.”

  C J got into the car, grinning, and said, “This car is perfect for you.”

  As soon as they exited the garage and headed for the expressway, C J knew Zoe was not a timid driver and she was clearly enjoying herself. When they were headed down the expressway, C J asked, “So what year did you pass the driver’s course at Bondurant?”

  Zoe tilted her head back and laughed. She could tell C J was not tense or worried by her driving, and the fact that he had taken note of her skills was a compliment. She thought I haven’t felt this alive and appreciated in far too long.

  Traffic did pick up, but Zoe maneuv
ered the sports car well and they arrived at the Bay Shore Ferry terminal with time to spare. The ride to Fire Island was not long, and C J and Zoe opted to stand outside. The day was clear and the sun warmed them.

  C J turned and leaned against the ferry’s deck railing staring at Zoe.

  “So, Zoe, what’s your take on oilmen now?”

  “I’m starting to believe that many of them do care about the environment and want to have a positive impact in the business world. I also know that for every company that works to improve their technology there are just as many who don’t give a damn. Those are the ones I don’t like and would gladly expose. You, C J, are the first one to get my seal of approval.”

  “I take that as a great compliment,” C J replied, while placing his arms around Zoe to cradle her against his body.