Curious eyes are on us, as Elizabeth’s hands travel up my back and find their place around my neck. I inhale the intoxicating perfume she is wearing and lose myself in the music. I feel light feather kisses behind my ear and slowly down my neck. I close my eyes and allow myself to enjoy it. I feel guilty for betraying Reese, but I’m not the one that left. I need this now…to feel alive again. The song ends, our bodies still connected. My body is telling me to kiss her right here, right now, but something stops me again. I pull away from her. I kiss her forehead and whisper, “Thank you for the dance.” She looks dejected, crushing my already damaged heart into more crumbling pieces. As much as I physically want her, I won’t hurt her like this. I take her hand to my lips and place a chaste kiss upon it. I can’t bear to look at the disappointment in her eyes. I quickly turn away from Elizabeth and make my way over to the bar.
“What can I get you, sir?”
“I’ll have a Chivas, make it a double, neat.”
“Make that two,” my father signals to the bartender. “Having a good time, Walker?”
“I don’t know father, you tell me? Have I been social enough?”
“One dance with a lovely woman is not nearly enough, wouldn’t you agree?”
“It made Elizabeth happy, I owed her that much. It’s all I’m capable of right now.” I swirl the amber liquid around in my glass before downing it in one gulp. I can feel the burn slowly make its way down my throat. I order another.
“You may want to slow down on those, son. Come, I have people you need to meet.” I reluctantly follow my father, but not before downing my drink. I need liquid courage to get through this night.
A couple of hours later after rubbing shoulders with CEO’s and various business associates of my father, I was beyond done, but my mother was not. She and my father took their place at the podium to say a speech in my honor. I looked around the room for Elizabeth, but she was nowhere to be seen. I guess I was on my own to endure it.
My mother called for everyone’s attention, and then my father began to speak.
“On behalf of me and my lovely wife here, Olivia, we would like to extend our warm gratitude for all of you coming together and celebrating with us.” Applause…I took in a deep breath and continued to listen to my father’s speech.
“For those of you who do not know this already, my son here will be joining me in California as we take our company, Reed Global, to the next level. There was a time when I considered taking Reed Global public, but I was well advised not to do that and keep it privately owned and operated by the Reed men. I am proud to say that I will be passing the reigns over to its rightful heir, my son, Walker Reed. He has made me one proud father today. He has graduated from New York University with honors, and leaving in hand degrees in Business and Economics. Although he is young, I truly believe he is ready to take Reed Global into the next century with his innovative thinking and creativity. Together, side by side, we are going to change the face of business. Stay tuned… Applause! Please raise your glasses, and let’s hear it for the guest of honor, Walker Reed!”
I’m greeted with thunderous applause. One thing my father is good at is working the crowd to his advantage. He is, after all, the master of his universe.
To say the least, I was completely thrown by my father’s well-prepared speech. Not one day my father, has he ever spoken to me with pride and admiration in his tone? I know this is for the crowd tonight, and for my mother. This is the path that I have chosen to take. I must now step up and join my father on the stage, and officially fill the shoes that are my legacy. I nod my head and begin to walk through the crowd, as I am patted on my shoulders and shake hand after hand. Lastly, before reaching the stage, I’m greeted by no other then Elizabeth.
“Congratulations, Walker. I’m so proud of you.” She kisses me on my cheek and gracefully steps aside so I can make my way up the stairs. My mother embraces me, while my father shakes my hand. I move toward the microphone, and look out to the room. All eyes are on me, waiting with anticipation for what the new boss will say.
“THANK YOU FOR joining me and my family here in our home tonight. I’m not one for the spotlight, but thank you mother, you once again have outdone yourself. I have known many of you for my entire life, and to those who I have met tonight, I look forward to working with you, doing exactly what my father said…taking our company into the next century. I can promise you this. Reed Global will take on a new look with me at its helm. I believe in global energy, innovative thinking, and creativity. I, along with our design team, will also participate on projects that I hope to one day make my personal mark on. Not only did I graduate with Business and Economics degrees, but I also bring with me a degree in Architecture and Design. I am most proud of this, because it is where my heart lies, and it will help me be the CEO that Reed Global needs to take the next step into the future.”
ELIZABETH IS LEADING the applause as I make my way down the stairs and into her waiting arms. “You are fabulous. Why didn’t you tell me about the Architecture degree? I am so happy for you. Does this mean that I have a job on your design team?” She smiles and bats her long eyelashes at me.
“Send in a resume, and my assistant will get back to you.” She laughs, and her sweet voice echoes through me like a song. Elizabeth is truly happy for me, and for the first time in a long time, I’m actually pretty happy myself, that is until my father makes his way over to me.
“Well, son, that was quite the speech. Let’s get a drink, shall we?” I roll my eyes. He’s pissed. What else is new?
Henry joins us, and he congratulates me. “How wonderful to hear your surprising news, son. You did well, and I for one look forward to working with you. Townsend Development is always looking to branch out and work with the next big thing… or shall I say my competition?”
I smirk at his invitation. I love a challenge…this is the one of the few things I have in common with Phillip. “Whatever works for you, Henry. I’m not worried. A toast to our companies and their future successes.” We raise our glasses, and I down my drink. With the pleasantries out of the way, my father is glaring at me.
“Walker, a word please.” We excuse ourselves, as my father leads me into his private study. He slams the door behind him. “Once again, thank you for embarrassing me in front of our guests. You could have warned me on what you were going to say. To hear you also received a degree that I wasn’t aware of, completely derails me, Walker. Why do you continue to defy me at every turn?”
“First of all, father, it wasn’t an act of defiance. I always loved the concept of designing my own building one day. You never listened to me when I wanted to talk with you about it. You have this image of me on how you want me to be. I am my own man, and I will run Reed Global the way I see fit, and do as I damn well please that suits my needs for my future. You can stand beside me, or you are free to retire, but you will not tell me what I can and cannot do any longer.”
“Touché, my son. Are you ready to leave New York for California?”
“I’ll let you know when I’m ready to leave.”
“She’s not coming back, Walker. The sooner you get that through your head, the sooner you will be able to move forward with Elizabeth. It is clear to everyone here tonight where you belong and who should be by your side.”
“That’s your one free pass, father. If you ever mention Reese’s name again in my presence, I promise you that you will live to regret it.” I turn and slam out of his study and out to the grounds. I need a fucking minute to myself to breathe. Sure it comes to everyone’s surprise, even Elizabeth.
I only told one person my true passion, and it was Reese. In the short time we were together, she knew everything about me to the deepest depths of my core. I look up to the stars, and remember Georgia... making love to her under the Georgia sky, and wrapping ourselves up with each other. My buzzing phone knocks me out of my daydreaming, and I answer it.
No one is speaking, but I hear breathing on the other end. M
y heart hurts that it could be Reese. I am willing her to speak, but the line is still silent. I take a breath and speak for the both of us. “Reese, don’t say anything, just listen, please. I don’t know why you ran, but I love you and want you back. Please trust me enough to believe how much I love and want you. Look to the heart that I gave you, and feel my love. Come back to me baby, please.”
Click….The line goes dead, and so does my heart. Dammit! I shatter my phone on the ground and then throw it out into the night sky. “Fuck, Fuck, Fuck!” I fall to my knees, and scream… “Reese! Why are you doing this to me? I love you, I fucking love you, and what do you do? You run from that love… Why?”
I am still on my knees, crying like a pathetic lovesick puppy. How the hell did I get here? Where the hell is she? And if she doesn’t want me, then why the phone calls? Is she trying to pierce my broken heart even more? I truly believe at this moment that I have lost my love. I have done all I can to find her. Although I don’t want to, this was never my choice. She took my choice away the moment she decided to leave me. I look up to the night sky once more, and say goodbye to Reese. I stagger up onto my feet and hear rustling sounds coming from the designer bushes out here in my mother’s prized garden. Elizabeth reveals herself to me and slowly walks up to me.
“There you are. I couldn’t find you anywhere. Are you okay?”
“I’m more than okay.” I lied, but I have to start somewhere.
“I was wondering if you care to share another dance with me.” She looks hopeful. I decide at that moment to give Elizabeth the one thing she wants… me. After my breakdown that I hope she didn’t witness too much of, I make the choice to not be alone tonight. Elizabeth has offered herself up to me, time and time again, so now let’s see if she really means it.
I take her in my arms and begin to kiss her behind her ear. She softly lets out moans of pleasure, as I continue to assault her neck. I cup her face and lose myself in her eyes. I kiss her passionately on her mouth, not giving her a chance to come up for air. Trying to get her breathing under control, she waits patiently for what I am about to say to her.
“I’m actually interested in another kind of dance…a more private one. Care to join me?” Her eyes brighten with my indecent proposal, and happily she entwines her hand into mine.
“I thought you would never ask. Lead the way”
Oh we do. As fast as our feet can take us. I’m going to fuck Reese Mitchell out of my head tonight, and give Elizabeth exactly what she has always wanted.
WE NEVER SAID our goodbyes to our parents, nor my guests. They were enjoying my father’s very expensive wine and champagne list, why spoil their fun? I led Elizabeth to my bedroom and locked the door behind us.
I forcefully pull her body toward me and crash my mouth down onto hers. She resists at first, and then welcomes my tongue in her mouth. I begin to remove her from her clothing. I am so fucking hard right now, being gentle is the last thing on my mind. Pushing her hands against my chest, I pull back and look at her with confused eyes. Dammit! Isn’t this what she wants? She’s only been offering herself up to me every chance she gets.
“What’s wrong? Why are you stopping?”
“Walker, before we go any further, we need to make a few things clear between us.”
“Us?” We are not an “us.” We are just two friends that are about to fuck each other into my mattress for many hours. I say, “What’s the problem, Elizabeth? Isn’t this what you want? What you’ve always wanted? So, now I’m here and you stop me? I’m not about to play some fucking school girl game with you, either you take your clothes off, and lay yourself down on that bed, or get the fuck out!”
Slap!
“What the hell? I swear that is the last time you ever raise your hand to me again!” I hurl myself at her and want to throw her down and take what she’s promised me. I want to fuck her with my mouth until she is falling apart around me. I don’t even recognize myself anymore! Who am I? What is happening to me?
Reeling my temper in, I fix myself a much needed drink. Elizabeth is shooting daggers at me with her eyes. Fuck! This was a mistake.
“I slapped you, because once again, you are behaving like an arrogant bastard that just thinks he can take whatever he wants. I want you to have me, Walker, I always have. But I am no whore, and you will not treat me like one.”
“Do you think I want to hurt you like this, Elizabeth? You are the last person I want to hurt, but can’t you see that I am broken inside? My appearance here tonight, and the speech I gave was just smoke and mirrors. My insides have been torn to shreds by a woman who I thought loved and wanted me. I can’t even begin to tell you how that feels. This is why I’ve been drowning in scotch and wallowing in my pain, because it’s all I have left of her. The hole she left in my heart. The way you are looking at me right now is what I’ve been trying to avoid. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Then don’t hurt me, Walker. Do you think for one second that it has been easy for me to listen to your cries of pain? I know how you feel, Walker, because it’s exactly how I have felt every time I had to witness you with someone else. She’s gone Walker, and I don’t know why, but I’m here…I’ve always been here.” With apprehension, Elizabeth softly strokes the stubble that lines my jaw. I cock my head to one side and welcome her touch. “Love me. Choose me. Make love to me. Me, Walker… Just me. I know I’m not the one you truly want, but I can be if you try. I have loved you my entire life, and you are my heart. Please let me into yours, and let’s just see where it leads us. I know you don’t feel like you deserve me, but you do. And I deserve you.”
She falls to the floor and holds her head in her hands. Tears are now falling down her beautiful face. I can’t bear to see the pain in her eyes and know I’m the one that has put it there. I bend down and kneel before her lifting her chin with my fingers. I wipe away her tears and taste the salt on her lips as I gently kiss them away.
Surrender…Submit…give in to your desire. I want her. She wants me. We need no more words…no more tears. It’s only “us” in this room. I finally cast my own pain aside and give up myself willingly to her, even if it was for one night. Elizabeth is no whore. I would never think of her in that way. She is an angel that deserves to be wanted and cherished. A woman that you don’t use for a quick fuck, she is a woman that you marry. My throbbing dick wanted hard, fast and penetrating sex. I was fighting against the tide to do the right thing by Elizabeth. Her submissiveness to do anything to please me was a force of will that I was sure to lose.
Elizabeth was everything a man would crave to have in a lover. She was perfect and nothing would have pleased our parents more if we ended up together. Elizabeth knew who my soul belonged to, but didn’t care. She wanted me any way she can have me. I ached for Reese, my heart had been broken, and I needed to be close to another warm body. Elizabeth filled that void for me. Alcohol masked my pain, and all I wanted to do was forget.
I led Elizabeth over to my bed and slowly began to remove her clothing. Sweet Jesus! She was beautiful. I quickly made strides to remove my clothes, and I hovered above her, as she gazed into my eyes. She was all over me. Elizabeth began kissing me while trailing her tongue down my neck and onto my chest. I let her touch me as my thoughts drifted and fantasized about Reese. I hate myself for going there again, but I can’t help it. While cupping her now exposed pussy, and getting herself aroused, she was wet and ready for me. I flipped her over and onto the bed. We tore at each other’s remaining articles of clothing that we had on. She was ready and waited for me to take her.
Her body hungered for me, she was moaning out cries of pleasure as I entered her. She was so tight; I was not gentle in my love making with Elizabeth. I picked up my pace and pounded into her until I climaxed and fell on top of her. I pressed my forehead into hers and kissed her, I didn’t want to be a total asshole. Elizabeth deserved more than I just gave her, but I was just too lost to care.
Waking up the next morning, I felt warm hands across
my chest. For a moment, I thought Reese returned to me. I have to stop torturing myself with false hope. I damn well knew who was lying next to me. I fucked my best friend last night. What the hell was I thinking? I already know the answer to that. My dick was my navigator last night, and it was aimed directly at her very inviting pussy. Yeah…I’m a bastard. I turned to see Elizabeth sleeping soundly. She looked beautiful. Why she wanted me, I don’t think I will ever understand. I gently kissed her forehead before untangling myself from her embrace. I tried to be quiet and padded off into the bathroom. Why did I feel guilty?
I feel like I have betrayed my lover and hurt another. I scorched my skin with hot water, washing away Elizabeth’s scent off my body. The curtain opened and Elizabeth was asking for entrance. I nodded, and she stepped in to join me. It was obvious what Elizabeth wanted, she knelt down before me, and I fucked her mouth with my cock. She took me all the way in as I grasped my hands on the sides of her head. I leaned back and enjoyed Elizabeth taking control. “God! You feel so fucking good. I’m going to come any second now. If you don’t want me to explode in your mouth, then stop.”
Not backing down, Elizabeth cupped my balls, and I spurted hot semen down her throat. She smiled and tilted her head back in pleasure. She had a wickedness about her this morning. Her dominance surprised me, but who the hell was I kidding? What guy wouldn’t like that? I took it all from her, as she willingly gave it. Deciding that I wasn’t finished with her quite yet, I wrapped her legs around my waist and took her again. Elizabeth was a screamer! Who knew? I silenced her cries of pleasure with my mouth until she broke away and bit down on my shoulder. Fuck! She bites too!
She was insatiable. Three rounds of hot sex, and she was finally sated. I had to clear my head, or I was going to be inside of her for the rest of the day. I took out the Jag and sped away from my parent’s home.
I was sending Elizabeth all the wrong signals. I shouldn’t have let her do that to me, but I was not thinking clearly at the time. All I could think about was Reese and wondering why she left and where the hell she was. I was using Elizabeth and she was letting me. When I wasn’t drowning in scotch, I was fucking Elizabeth; she gave herself to me anytime I wanted it. I felt sick about how I was treating her, but at the same time I didn’t want to be alone. Elizabeth didn’t seem to mind how our friendship turned into friends with benefits. If she did, she never said. We had been photographed together several times following my graduation party, and then it was May. My mother pleaded with me to walk with my graduating class. I had paparazzi following me all over the city, and they were here today in droves. I was after all, the new CEO of Reed Global, I had a beautiful woman on my arm, and to the world we were the new “It” couple. In print we looked like the perfect couple in love, which pleased our families to no end, especially my father.
Forever Page 15
