by Mica Jade
I didn't answer him as I clenched my teeth. I was trying to hold back the anger that was beginning to build up inside. I should have known not to go in that limo! I screamed to myself inside. Why do you keep doing this to yourself? He's already taken.
"Katie, are you okay?" He asked as he touched my arm.
Before I could even stop the words and emotion from escaping my lips, I blurted out, "No! And I know you don't like that word."
I stood up from the table trying very hard not to cause a scene. I laid my napkin back onto the plate in front me and without looking at Michael I said, "This was a very bad idea. It's not your fault, but I must be going." I left the table without looking back. I had hoped to God he was not following me. Fortunately, it being a warm Sacramento night, I didn't have a coat to pick up at the coat check. As I walked out the front door of the restaurant, I knew I could walk home without having to get a cab, as I was about four blocks from home. I would've thought I'd have been worn out after such a wild ride in the limo earlier that evening, but I had so much energy coursing through me I probably could've walked at least thirty blocks. Thoughts raced through my head. He better not come looking for me with his limo. I will probably run right over him if he even tries. My anger seemed pointed at him, but I knew more deeply I was really angry with myself again. I had told myself so many times I was not going to get in this position again. And sure enough right when I think things might be different than just the same as they always have been, love bites me in the ass again. I was walking at almost a jogging pace. I was probably about a block from home when I heard footsteps coming very quickly from behind me.
"Katie!" I heard his voice call.
It startled me and I stopped dead in my tracks. Without turning around I said, "Please, Michael, don't," saying the word that had been so prominent in my mind all day long. Maybe he would hear it better than I had. "Just go back to your dinner and your life and your winery and whoever that woman is in your life and leave me alone!"
He grabbed my arm and I stiffened. "Katie, I don't know what I did and I don't know who you are talking about."
The anger swelled up inside of me again, "Like hell you don't!" I blurted out.
His grip tightened as he moved around me and lifted my chin gently with his fingers. His voice deepened, "Katie, please tell me what I have done."
I turned my head away, snapping his fingers from chin. Tears began to well up in my eyes, "Michael, just go away."
His firm but soft hand returned to my cheek. He leaned down and put a very wet, soft kiss on my lips. Tears fell from my closed eyes. I could feel everything about me tremble except where his lips were. His arms embraced me tightly. I couldn't resist him and I let my body fall into his arms. More tears flowed down my cheeks. He released my lips and whispered, "What is it, Katie?"
"I know you are engaged. And I know how you made me feel for just a day in my life. My heart cannot afford to get hurt by you. I already feel horrible as a woman knowing that I was the one that you cheated on your fiancé with."
"Oh, Katie, you are so amazing. I knew from the moment I saw you, you were the one."
"I'm not joking, Michael! Do not do this to me." I attempted to push away from him to no use.
His thumb moved up my cheek ever so softly, wiping away the tears that were still falling. "I'm not joking with you, Katie. I know there is a lot of news out there about me and I'm not sure if you Googled me or if you heard about something in the news or even a tabloid. But, I am a single man."
I raised my eyes to his and looked at him bewildered, "Unattached?"
"Yes, unattached."
"But, my friends said you were engaged. I do recall seeing you with another woman in one of the Sacramento magazines. I think I even remember seeing you with her on a news program talking about a charity you both were involved with. When you introduced me to your friend Charles and didn't say who I was to you, all I could think about was that you were really still with her and that you didn't want anyone to know about us."
"That's all over now. As far as me not introducing you, I was not sure how you wanted to be known in public with me yet. I failed you in that and I am very sorry."
I skipped past his apology. "When, when was it over?"
"It happened last week. But, we haven't released a statement yet through our reps. I was giving her space and time to get her ducks in a row."
I didn't really know how to respond. I felt so silly thinking he was cheating on her with me, but how was I really to know. At the same time, I felt like I really could be a woman in this man's life. My heart was so overwhelmed that it felt like it was going to split in two standing there in his arms. "Michael, I'm sorry about your breakup. But, I'm still not the girl for you." I tried harder to pull away from his arms but he held me even tighter.
"How do you know that?" He looked down trying to capture my gaze.
"I just know. Matter of fact, I barely even know you!"
"I want to change that. And I can change that, Katie."
"Michael, I just need to go home."
"No, you need to be with me." It was like he knew. He knew what I needed. And what I wanted even though I was scared to death to go any farther with this man for fear of being abandoned once again. "I want you to come with me tonight to Shenandoah. Stay with me at the winery tonight."
"I don’t even know you," I tried that path of reasoning again out of exhaustion.
"You know me better than you let on. You've trusted me this far and I know you have liked what you've had so far." I looked down, embarrassed he knew I liked what we had done. I was melting into his embrace again.
"One night?" I asked still trying to avoid his gaze.
"That's all I am offering... at this point."
I wanted to please him so badly. I wanted his arms around me forever. I wanted his cock inside of me. The desire for him was so distracting I could hardly concentrate on his question.
"Michael, I don't know. I can't. I just can't."
"Why?" He asked with such fervor. I wondered if he was beginning to get frustrated with me.
"You just broke up with her a week ago, Michael. She's still all over you, and in you. And even if we go away to your place in Shenandoah, she's probably there as well within you."
"Yes, you are right to some degree, Katie. After my mother passed, my father moved to London. The house was vacant for years. Others ran the winery. California has always been my home, but the winery is someplace that I never really spent much time at. But after the breakup, I needed to escape. Find some peace. Not many people know me in Shenandoah Valley. "
"So, you're just hiding out there until your wounds heal?" I was past being stung, I was pushing back.
"No, it's safest place for me right now and I believe for you as well. Come with me tonight."
I looked at him searching his eyes to see if he just wanted my pleasure again or if this man was truly serious from his heart. "Michael, you're a man who can have anything he wants. I don't want to be a receptacle for just your pleasure." I almost felt as if I was betraying myself because I was so turned on by this man in the past day. But, my heart needed me to protect it.
"We don't have to do anything. Just come and stay with me. Just tonight." It was as if he was reading the battle in my mind.
The fight was beginning to die in me as his hold on me never loosened. I wasn't sure if he was really sincere, but his persistence had a softness to it that I could not deny. "Okay, one night," I sighed pushing down the Don't deep inside that was welling up again.
I nestled in Michael's arms as Stanley drove us from downtown through the suburbs of Sacramento into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Michael opened the sunroof above us. I laid in his arms watching the stars grow brighter as we began the slow incline up the hills to the Shenandoah Valley. I could hardly believe I was in this space and time with this man. My head and heart remained confused but his warm embrace and gentle fingers massaging my neck were trying hard to aba
te my earlier fears.
The limo slowed as we pulled into the long driveway to his home behind the winery. The beautiful, European rustic winery looked so still and serene at night as we passed by it. His home was nestled in a large group of trees beyond the vineyards that stretched to the horizon beyond the winery. I was a little worried, as I did not have any change of clothes nor even a toothbrush. But I had a feeling that my very thoughtful new friend probably had a few items I could borrow. The limo pulled up outside of Michael's home and a man approached the door dressed in khaki slacks and a crisp pullover Polo shirt.
"Good evening, Mr. Cinder," the man said as he opened the limo door.
"Thank you, Adam. Is everything set for this evening?"
"Yes, sir." Adam smiled at me as Michael helped me out of the limo. We walked into the front door of the home. It had the same European deco that the winery had with large open vaulted ceilings and beautiful, walnut hardwood floors.
Michael turned to me, "Our room is waiting for you. Go there and make yourself comfortable. I have a little bit of work to do, but it won't be long."
"Okay," I sighed. I felt a little dismissed by him especially after how are dinner had gone.
"Adam will show you to the room, okay?"
"I'll be just fine, Michael," I said as I let go of his hand and turned to follow Adam down a very long hallway lit by what looked like old lanterns hung on the wall. They were extremely beautiful as their light cast my shadow in a flicker down the hallway. We reached the end of the hallway and started climbing up a large spiral staircase into what looked like the tall spiral of a castle. It was huge and although it was hard to see how big the house was from outside, I was no longer thinking of this as a house as I walked through it... it was a mansion.
"Here is your room for this evening, Ms. Davis," announced Adam as he opened the double doors into a huge, beautiful bedroom that had to have been Michael’s master bedroom.
"Thank you, Adam. I appreciate you showing me the way."
"Have a great evening, Ms. Davis." Adam closed the double doors behind him.
I stepped into the most gorgeous bedroom I think I've ever seen. I walked over to the opening of a quaint veranda that overlooked the vineyards. The doors were open and the wind was blowing the shear, white curtains ever so gently. As I turned to my right, I spied an elegant king size canopy bed. I ran over and jumped onto it, falling backwards like a Lipton ice tea plunge. I rolled around on the bed holding one of the feather pillows to my chest giggling like a little girl. What a night it had been. The knowledge that he was unattached and no longer engaged to her caused a peace to start to settle inside of me. And here I was in his house far from the city and hoping soon to be in his arms. I walked into the spacious bathroom. There were his and her robes hanging on a hook near the large walk-in shower, which had a showerhead hanging from the ceiling. Next to that was the largest bathtub I've ever seen in my life. It was the size of a hotel Jacuzzi. My guess was that it had the capability of being a Jacuzzi as well, which made sense since this was a billionaire's home. Michael probably owns everything that I have only dreamed of. The thought of him budgeting his monthly bills to make ends meet like I do each month made me giggle to myself. He's probably never even broached that scenario in his life, I thought. I slipped out of my skirt and blouse and slipped on one of the soft, cotton robes. I brought one of the collars to my nose and breathed in deeply. It smelled clean. It smelled like him, spicy. I wondered if maybe he was already in the bedroom, so I unclasped my bra and slipped off my panties.
After nicely folding my day-old clothes on the bathroom counter, I headed back into the bedroom. I sat down on the large bed and took my time looking around the room. I hadn't noticed when I first came in, the large, dark wood armoire. I wondered if it was a family heirloom. Maybe it was his mother's. There was also an antique dresser across from the armoire. I wondered if maybe some of his ex-fiancés' clothes were still in it or maybe if this was her room. I know that he said that this was his place and that she'd never been here, but my heart said, you never know. This was probably the wrong thing to obsess over, but I couldn't seem to help myself. I had to come to believe him at some point that the relationship was over. I just wasn't sure when that was going to happen.
There was a knock at the door. I jumped up and ran to the double doors. The most beautiful man in the world was right on the other side of these doors and all I could think about was giving myself to him. Before I reached for the handle to welcome him in, I pulled open the robe, exposing the top of my breasts. After I tossed my hair a bit, I grabbed the door handle and swung the door open looking down in a sexy pose leaning against the edge of the door. I slowly ran my eyes from his shoes upwards.
"What took you so long my tall, dark, handsome…." My eyes caught who it was and I gasped, "Oh my God, Adam!" I quickly turned away hoping he didn't see my open robe. "I didn't know it was you! I'm so sorry!"
"No, it is my fault, Ms. Davis. I'm so sorry that I startled you. I have a message for you from Mr. Cinder." I thought later he was probably more embarrassed than I was.
"Oh, what is it, Adam?" I was peering at him with my barely clothed body hiding behind the door.
"There has been an issue arise and Mr. Cinder wants me to let you know that he is very sorry he cannot be with you tonight. He wanted me to let you know to please make yourself at home and that he will see you in the morning."
"What?" My disappointment showed quickly. I took a deep breathe, "Yes, okay, okay." I closed the door. The disappointment had moved even more quickly to anger and that little whispering word deep inside came flooding back, Don't. How could he bring me all the way up here and leave me? I barely even know him. He specifically asked me to stay with him tonight and now he's not even going to give me the courtesy of doing that.
"Ugh!" I cried out. I felt trapped. This day had been one huge, damn roller coaster of a day. And I had just about had enough. All I wanted to do was go home and get in my bed with my Misty and let her lick the tears away. And now I was stuck here. I sat down on the edge of the bed. Tears began to well my eyes. Why am I so God damn stupid all the time? Why do I listen to people so much? I looked at the clock next to the bed and saw that it was a quarter till midnight. As always my carriage, white knight in shining armor and whatever else Cinderella is supposed to have was gone again. I laid back on the bed as the tears rolled down my cheeks. It wasn't too late if I could figure out a ride home. I possibly could get home by 2:00 AM if I called a cab right now, I thought. It was a good ninety-minute drive back to the city. I hadn't called into work yet, so I could've gotten home in time to make it into the office. I had promised myself to not be jacked around by another guy, even a billionaire. But, I hadn't counted on that man being Michael. I reached for one of the feather pillows and held it close to my chest. I was so torn that I felt helpless to make a decision in that moment. The Don't was echoing through my heart. But, there was a huge part of me that didn't want to leave. A deep desire to understand this man so badly paralyzed me as I laid there beginning to sob into the pillow.
* * * * *
As I opened my eyes, I could feel the heaviness of sleep had won out. I had no idea how long I had been asleep. I looked over at the clock. 3:00 AM. "Oh my God, I've been out that long," I whispered to myself.
"Yes," came a voice to my left.
"Holy shit! Michael, is that you? How long have you been here?"
"Shhhh, I just walked in. I was trying not to startle you, but it looks like I have." He put his hand on my shoulder. It felt so good to feel his touch. I needed him so badly and now he was here.
"I thought you weren't coming back until tomorrow. And by the way, why would you bring me all the way out here and leave me?"
"I know, Katie. I'm so sorry. It was something I couldn't avoid. I did everything in my power to get back here as soon as I could."
I looked at him for a long moment with sleepy eyes trying to decide if this was another one of his lines or
if he really did want me. "Thank you, Michael. It's just been one of those days. And I got my hopes up that you and I were finally going to have some time without any interruption. Honestly, I thought that maybe she found out about me and called you. And you went to be with her instead of me. I know that sounds silly, but after giving myself to you again, I was feeling foolish that I did."
Before I could hardly get the last word out, his lips met mine. He kissed me hard. A fiery desire shot through me as I felt his arms around me and his body come over the top of mine on the bed.
"You are far from foolish. That word is not even in my vocabulary when I think of you. I couldn't wait any longer for you." His hand moved beneath my robe, gently cupping my breast. The warmth of his hand enlivened my nipple. His finger gently massaged the rosy peak as it grew to pebble hardness. My sleepiness was quickly fading and my body was coming alive, especially the tingling sensation between my thighs.
"Oh, Katie, you feel so good." His other hand untied my robe. He peeled back the robe exposing my breasts to him. He kissed my breast, his nose nuzzling against my hard, pink nipple. My chest rose to meet his lips as he sucked gently. I hadn't seen him fully naked yet and even in the darkness of this room all I wanted to do was see and feel him. I licked my lips looking longingly into his eyes as he hovered above me. I reached up attempting to untuck his shirt. He stopped my hands.
"No fair," I toyed.
"What's not fair about this?" His hand still massaging my taut nipple.
"I want to see you, all of you. You keep stopping me from undressing you," I moaned as I tried again to remove his shirt from his waist.
He let me untuck his shirt, but before I could put my hands underneath to touch his hard chest, he dove down on me, his lips kissing just below my belly button. My skin felt on fire as his kisses and his tongue made their way back up to just below my breasts.
"My mother always taught me that ladies should go first," he said slyly.
