“Ancient Japanese art,” he said blithely, a smile tilting his mouth.
“Really?” she looked at him uncertainly, not sure if he was joking or not.
“Really,” he told her with a grin; running a finger down the sole and sending shivers through her body. “It’s called ‘Shiatsu’ and it means ‘finger pressure’. Remind me to give you the full body massage one day.” His voice had gone husky and to her shock she saw him lifting her foot and bending his head to take a toe inside his mouth.
“Peter,” she moaned as he sucked on it, sending bolts of fire through her body. He continued and turned his attention to the other toes. Kimone had never experienced anything like that before and when his mouth drifted towards her ankle, she was gripping the fine Egyptian cotton sheets tightly. His mouth traveled slowly up her thigh pushing up the dress and revealing the sheer white silk panties she was wearing. He bit her gently just beside her pubic area causing Kimone to jump in shocked pleasure before easing the material away to reveal her vagina. He was exploring and with gentle movements he removed her panties and pulled the dress over her head.
She was not wearing any bra; her wedding dress and the one she had changed into had not been made for it so her small breasts were revealed to him immediately; the nipples hard as pebbles. He used his fingers to part the folds of her vagina, dipping a finger inside her and looking at the reaction on her face. Kimone cried out as his fingers worked inside her, gently at first then fervently, his thumb moving over her mound as his fingers moved in and out of her rapidly. She was delirious and almost salivating with the unbelievable pleasure he was evoking inside her.
He was not through with her yet. He removed his fingers and before she could protest or beg him to continue; he bent his head and plunged his tongue inside her. She shattered into tiny pieces. The orgasm build up inside her with such intensity that she was sobbing with the magnitude of it. She was sure she was dying as his tongue thrust inside her rapaciously, his teeth grazing her mound. She exploded inside his mouth, her cries filling the room as he continued to use his tongue to devour and satisfy her.
He pulled away only when the shivering had stopped but only to hurriedly pull the clothes from his body. He knelt over her, the hair falling onto his forehead, his erection rigid and pulsing; the tip red and moist. He stared at her sex drugged face, her hair in riotous curls on the white sheets, her mouth parted slightly as her breathing slowed down somewhat. She was his and even though she might not know it yet, she was falling in love with him. Very gently he entered her warm wet opening and sighed brokenly as she closed around him like a well fitting glove. He did not move for a minute; just wanting to savor the feel of her but she was not having it. She had recovered from the powerful orgasm that had rocked her to the very core and was hungry for more of him.
“Peter,” she whispered, closing her arms around his waist and bringing his head down to meet her lips; moving against him. He moved with her, his mouth on hers, deepening the kiss as he thrust deep inside her, touching her core. He lifted her hips to bring her closer to him, his mouth buried within hers; their bodies moving in sync. He wanted to devour her; he felt as if the love he felt for her was consuming him and getting out of control and he had no way of slowing it down.
They came together tumultuously; their cries lost in each other’s mouths as their bodies shuddered and they clung to each other in support.
*****
They did not leave the hotel until late Monday afternoon and even when she insisted that she had to go and open her store he had told her to send the key to the girl she had hired part time and let her open for one day.
“The store is not going to fall apart if you’re not there for one day,” he had said firmly as he made the arrangements for one of his staff to collect the key from her.
“That’s easy for you to say, you have thousands of employees.” She had pouted but all he had done was kiss her on her mouth and tumbled her onto the bed.
He took her out to a restaurant Sunday night and they had lobster and shellfish. They went back to the hotel and made love for the entire night; insisting on her sleeping on top of him when they did sleep.
She had given up her apartment with great reluctance and had missed seeing the look on his face as she walked around. She had packed up her things and given some of the stuff away that she would not need.
“Want something to eat?” he asked her as soon as he deposited their bags in the master bedroom. It was after six in the evening on Monday and the temperature had been surprisingly mild. She had resisted the urge to tell him to stop at the store for her to check out how Samantha had managed but she had remained silent to be fair to him. He had turned off his phone and had told his secretary and assistant that he did not care what it was, he was not to be disturbed.
“After eating that whole plate of food plus dessert?” she asked him in disbelief. She had taken off her pink cashmere sweater and denims and had slipped on a robe; one of the many he had bought her.
They settled in for the night and watched an old musical together, curled up in front of the fire place and for that moment Peter could almost believed that the marriage was real and she was as in love with him as he was with her.
*****
They quickly settled into a routine. He would prepare breakfast for them while she was putting on her clothes because as he discovered; when she was getting dressed, the entire closet was flung on the bed because she could not decide what to wear and by the time she was finished the room was like a hurricane had passed through it. “I can’t decide what to wear,” she would mutter turning accusing eyes on him as she stalked out to the kitchen where he was already dressed and fixing the meal. “It was easier when I had a small amount of clothes.”
“Okay I will take the blame,” he said, moving past her scantily clad body and picking out something appropriate for her to put on.
“You are definitely a keeper,” she grinned at him, rising on tip toes to kiss him briefly on the lips.
He would drop her off at work and picked her up when he left the office. Sometimes he had to go to a meeting and he would send someone to pick her up, even though she had told him that she was perfectly capable of finding her way to the house.
It was two weeks after they were married when he called her and told her that there was something outside for her. With several customers inside the store because she was in the middle of a reading session and a tea party, she had kept on Samantha full time because the store had receiving a lot of customers. “Peter what have you done now?” she had asked resignedly as she made her way to the front of the store. It was now the end of February and the weather was not so bad. She pushed the door open and there, parked right alongside the curb was a bright cherry red BMW convertible with the top down and the keys still in the ignition. “What is this Peter?” she asked her voice hushed.
“What does it look like?” he asked a trace of amusement in his deep voice.
“It looks like a totally expensive car that I am going to be afraid to drive in case I total it in a week.”
“Are you that bad of a driver?”
“I am a driver who gets distracted by the least little thing.” She told him, running a hand over the shiny exterior and noticing the plush leather seats.
“It’s fully insured so you don’t have to worry about it.” He said dryly. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
“Like thank you?”
“Bright girl,” he drawled in amusement. “I have a late meeting at the office and you said you wanted to visit your mother so you don’t have to wait on me.”
“You are a wonderful man, do you know that?” she said to him huskily, her hand still on the car.
“I know. I was hoping you would come to realize it.” He told her lightly before hanging up.
Kimone stood outside and with a sudden decision she opened the door and stepped inside. It was a far cry from the old junk she had owned several years ago when she had just left c
ollege. The seat was surprisingly warm and molded itself to her butt with comfort. She almost went for a spin but realized that she had left the store filled with people and Samantha was still learning the ropes.
They were closing the store after six when Samantha noticed the car. The girl’s eyes rounded in surprise and her hands went to her mouth. “You got a car?” she moved towards it slowly and reached out to touch it tentatively.
“A present from my husband,” Kimone punched the button on the keypad to unlock the car. It was too cold for topless so she left the roof on.
“You are one lucky lady,” Samantha said shaking her head.
“I think I am,” Kimone said slowly. “Which direction?”
“I am going the opposite way and I am meeting some friends’ downtown.”
“See you tomorrow,” Kimone told her with a wave and put the car into drive. It purred throatily and as soon as she slid away from the curb she heard the power in the engine.
*****
Her mother was at home with a friend from the neighborhood having hot chocolate and slices of sweet potato pie. “Darling how nice to see you!” she stood up and hugged her daughter tightly. They had seen each other briefly the second week after the wedding and her mother had insisted that marriages need time to grow so she should spend some time with her husband. She greeted the woman who was sitting there enjoying the pie. Kimone knew she was a widow who lived by herself down the street and her mother always took time out to invite her over so that she did not feel alone.
Hi Mrs. Ridley how have you been doing?” she reached and touched the woman’s hand briefly.
“Not too bad my dear, heard you landed yourself an honest to goodness rich man,” the woman said candidly, a smile crinkling her weathered face.
“What a way to put it,” Kimone said with a laugh, not in the least bit offended.
She showed her mother the car Peter had bought her as soon as Mrs. Ridley had left. “I hope you realize what a good man you have honey,” Kimberley said seriously as she ran her hands over the exterior, admiring the shine and the newness of it.
“I think I do,” she told her mother slowly. “How about going for a spin?” she asked with an impish smile.
They went a few blocks away and when they returned, her mother packed up a plate with lasagna and a whole pie dish with sweet potato pie.
“Tell that handsome husband of yours that I want both of you over here for Sunday dinner.” Kimberley said firmly as she watched her daughter strap up. “And honey you need to talk to Dawn, I think something is wrong.”
Chapter 8
Kimone put down the phone with a slight frown. She had been trying to get Dawn to have lunch or afternoon snack with her for several days without success. It was either she was busy on the road or she had some meetings. She had not seen her best friend for three weeks now and she was very worried, it was not like Dawn. Her mind was on what her mother had told her about something being wrong and she was starting to believe that. She had driven around to her home twice but her car was not there. She had even contemplated calling Gregory but she had remembered what she had said to her the time when they were in the store together: that she was not happy.
She was still at home because had been trying to sort out her side of the huge closet that looked more like a suite than an actual closet and although he had told her that Annabelle; the lady who did the cleaning and cooking sometimes would do it, Kimone had not thought it right to heap on more on the lady. “I feel funny having her do things for me,” Kimone had protested when Peter had told her to leave them to Annabelle.
“I pay her very well to do these things Kimone and I assure you she does not mind in the least.” Peter told her indulgently.
But she had drawn the line at having her sort her clothes. So she had decided to go in late and have Samantha open up. Peter had left for an early meeting and told her he would see her later.
Kimone stared at the large amount of clothes still strewn on the bed, her teeth bothering her bottom lip. He had bought her some more clothes and more shoes than she would ever wear in this lifetime and she had a feeling that she would have to rely on Annabelle’s help after all.
She was putting up a pale pink gown that shimmered in the pale light of the sun coming through the window when the middle aged black woman came into the room.
“Miss Kimone, I told you I would do that,” she said reproachfully, taking up several outfits in her plump capable hands and putting them away. Kimone had told her to dispense with the ‘Miss’ and just call her Kimone but the woman had refused. So it was ‘Mr. Peter and Miss Kimone’.
“You are a life saver Annabelle,” she told the woman in relief. “As you have discovered, I am not the tidiest person in the world and I hate doing any kind of house work.” She admitted ruefully; gratefully abandoning the dresses she had been hanging up.
“Just leave it to me Miss Kimone,” the woman beamed at her. “I take pleasure in what I do.”
Kimone smiled at her and patted her arm before hurrying in off into the bathroom to take a quick shower and get dressed to go to the store.
The weather was surprisingly mild as March was coming to an end and Kimone reached for a white linen pants and a burgundy shirt and with a sudden decision, she decided to leave her hair down, the curls rioting past her shoulders and framing her exquisite face. She put on an ankle length boot and told Annabelle bye before heading out to the car.
*****
It was almost closing time when the bell at the door tinkled and to her surprise she saw that it was Dawn. Samantha had left a little earlier and she had started putting some new stocks on the shelves and in the cupboards she recently had made.
“Finally!” she said in relief, rising from the bench to greet her friend with a hug; her eyes searching the girl’s face for some signs of worry but seeing none. “I thought you had dropped off the face of the earth.” She had taken off her boots and was in her stocking feet.
“Not yet,” Dawn said lightly returning her hug and taking off her lightweight jacket. “I was just busy for the past few weeks.”
“Is everything okay?” Kimone asked anxiously. She had pulled up one of the little chairs and was sitting in front of her friend.
“As okay as it will ever be,” Dawn said with a shrug, avoiding her friend’s eyes. She had avoided seeing Kimone because of the way she had been feeling, especially after the wedding. When her friend had called her and told her about the new car she had felt the anguish and envy enveloping her again. She was not usually an envious person because she happened to earn a decent living and drove a fairly new car; but it was the fact that all of it had come so easily to Kimone and she did not seem to really appreciate it; even though her heart told her that Kimone was not like that; she still could not let go of how much the girl had and she had nothing.
“Will you please talk to me?” Kimone demanded, this time determined not to let her friend leave without finding out what was going with her. “How are things with Gregory?”
“I broke it off and I broke his heart, is that what you want to hear?” Dawn stood up in agitation, knocking over the chair she had been sitting on.
Kimone stood up instantly, her heart twisting at the desperately sad expression on her friend’s face. “Honey, I am so sorry! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Tell you when?” Dawn rounded on her, her hands clenched at her sides and her eyes flashing. “When you were on your honeymoon? Or when you were busy being pampered by your rich husband?”
Kimone stepped back as if the vicious words had literally struck her. Taking a deep breath she answered: “You can always call me no matter what I am doing or where I am. I thought you knew that Dawn.”
“You don’t get it do you?” There were tears in her dark brown eyes and Kimone was startled. Dawn had always been tough apart from when she had experienced that heartbreak some time ago. “You live a charmed life. A husband who would do anything for you; I am sure that when he is
making love to you; you don’t feel like you would rather be anywhere else, so how could you possibly understand what I am going through?”
The silence inside the store was deafening as they stared at each other. Kimone felt as if inside had shattered and for the first time in their friendship over the years she did not know what to say to her friend.
“You are right,” she responded finally, her body trembling slightly. “I have never had relationship issues before and I don’t agree with you about having a charmed life. I am sure you will find someone who will love you the way you deserve if Gregory is not the one.”
“What kind of issues do you really have Kimone?” Dawn’s eyes were bright with unshed tears. “Deciding which designer outfit to wear each day? Or which expensive restaurant to go to?”
Kimone felt every word digging into her flesh like a thorn and she could not believe that she was been attacked by her best friend. Suddenly, she felt as if her world was crashing down around her. She had never had to deal with adversity and when she had; she had always found ways to work it out but now she did not have a clue what to do.
Before she could answer the doorbell tinkled and they both turned around startled to find that Peter was coming in. “I was calling your phone but you did not pick up.” He greeted her. “Oh hi Dawn, how have you been?”
“I am okay Peter but I have to run so take care.” She made a hasty retreat before Kimone could stop her. Kimone watched her leave without saying a word to stop her.
“What’s the matter?” Peter asked her as soon as the door closed behind the other girl. He had felt the tension as soon as he came into the store and he had a feeling that there had been an argument he had interrupted.
“Dawn is a little upset because she broke up with Gregory,” she told him striving for a casual tone. “What brings you by?” She asked in a forced bright tone.
He stared at her for a brief moment as if deciding whether or not to believe her then he answered. “We have that dinner party with the investors tonight at eight remember?” He was dressed in an expensive charcoal jacket suit and his hair was as usual, falling down his forehead.
Love In Arms_BWWM Romance Page 21
