“Hello, my sweet.”
“I love it when you call me that. So much better than pet.”
“You’ve made that very clear.” He chuckled. “I’ll be leaving the club shortly. Where shall we have dinner?”
“I was going to whip up something, but if you’d rather dine out, we can do that.”
“By dining out, we’re assured of eating,” he quipped.
Deborah’s cooking skills were adequate, but simple. Of all her talents and skills, cooking wasn’t one of them.
“Let’s head to Scotty’s. I have a taste for fish and chips,” he offered.
“I’ve never heard of it. Where is it?”
“Fenkell Avenue near Redford Township.”
How he knew about a place so far out of the city was beyond her. Likely one of the DAC’s staff told him about it.
“Okay. I’ll find it and see you in about a half hour.”
Pulling up to the address, Deborah was surprised Ben chose this place. Located in a corner brick building, it looked like an old diner that hadn’t seen many renovations in decades. Parking on the street, she scanned the unfamiliar area before getting out of her car and going inside. Everything she observed on the inside matched her impressions of the outside. There was a long counter where diners sat opposite cooks preparing food on grills and in large batch fryers. The tables and chairs were wooden suggesting not much had changed since the place opened.
“You can sit anywhere!” a server yelled at her.
She scanned the room but didn’t see Ben right away. Continuing to move through the restaurant, she noticed a side room and peeked inside. She saw Ben seated at a small table in the corner reading. He’d shed his tie and jacket, and his sleeves were rolled up.
“Hi!” she said walking up to him.
He stood to greet her, kissing her lightly on the cheek. “Hello!”
“Wow! So you picked this, huh?”
“Not to your liking?” He grinned pulling out the chair for her.
“Just not what I think you’d like.”
“The food is superb. But it’d be better if I could have a pint or two.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” She giggled as she sat down.
“So how was your day?”
“Good… and yours?”
“Productive.”
“Mine was pretty productive, too. I finished Willem’s third diary.”
“And what new discoveries have you made?” he asked.
“He’s angst-ridden over how involved he’s getting with the Bakongo and their religion. When this section starts, he thinks he’ll have an easier time with conversion if he better understands their belief system. Quite progressive thinking.”
“Catholics employed the tactic throughout the Americas in the 15th and 16th centuries.”
“Really?”
“It’s why Vodou, Candomblé, and other African religious elements thrive in Catholic-majority nations today. People rarely give up their faith. Rather than fully convert, they simply add to their cosmology beliefs.”
“So gods don’t die off, they just… transform.”
“That’s an insightful way to think of it,” he said knowing she had no idea how accurate her statement was.
Seemingly coming out of nowhere, the server asked, “What can I get you?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I haven’t looked at the menu yet,” Deborah said scanning it quickly.
Clearly annoyed, the server turned to Ben, “What about you?”
“Fish and chips with an orange crème soda, please.”
“Where’re you from?” she asked.
“London.”
“Well, welcome to America!” Turning back to Deborah she asked, “Have you decided yet?”
“I guess I’ll have what he’s having.”
“Fine. It’ll be up in about ten, okay?”
“That’s fine,” Ben said as the server walked away.
When she was out of earshot, Deborah said, “Customer service isn’t a big thing here, especially when you’re not eating at one of the higher end places.”
“I’ve noticed… on more than one occasion. Fortunately, the food makes up for it.” He laughed.
The food was as good as he said it was. When they finished eating, Ben rode with Deborah back to the apartment. Once there, they opened a bottle of wine enjoying a quiet evening on the couch. Deborah continued sharing her day, including the conversation with Megan. They were soon making love followed by restful sleep.
CHAPTER 15
Deborah couldn’t imagine being any happier than she’d been with Ben. He seemed equally content. It was hard to believe how quickly their days together went by. As he lay sleeping, she couldn’t bring herself to admit loving him, but there was no question she’d be heartbroken if their affair ended—devastated was more accurate. Fortunately, there were no signs of things going wrong even when they had differences of opinion… usually around politics.
With all their outward differences, they were well suited in all things that mattered the most. Neither was naïve about the worlds in which they moved, but they also knew the occasional stare mattered little—only their reactions when it happened. Regrettably, they had an incident challenging them both for different reasons. Deborah took Ben to her favorite soul food restaurant on the East Side of Detroit. In addition to a server’s disgusted stares when they arrived, the woman had the audacity to let her feelings be known. The head-wrap donned server questioned Deborah for bringing that ‘white man’ into the establishment.
Not only embarrassed but very angry, Deborah couldn’t let the comment slide. In no uncertain terms, she made clear it was none of the woman’s business. But the server persisted with unwelcome remarks going so far as to chastise Deborah for forsaking all the ‘good brothers’ to satisfy a ‘swirl.’ Seeing how upset she was becoming, Ben’s reaction was swift, but Deborah assured him she could handle it… and she did.
It was a side of her he hadn’t witnessed before. Ben marveled at her fortitude. She was steadfast and aggressive without reverting to defensive postures against the woman’s verbal assault. Deborah’s retort made clear finding love was hard enough, but to suggest she should cut herself off from a man who respected her, treated her like a queen, and satisfied her every need because of what he looked like was self-destructive. But the woman reverted to “white men have been violating African women’s bodies for centuries… and you just gonna give it to him?”
Deborah calmly said, “If you believe all humans come from the womb of an African woman, then any man I choose is from that same human family, right?” When it was over, Deborah called for the owner asking for another server. The owner apologized profusely offering to discount their meal. Fortunately, overt discrimination didn’t happen often, but when it did, they talked at length about how the incident made them feel. She quickly learned it was more an issue for her.
Ben began stirring from his peaceful sleep and rolled to his side reaching for her. She nestled closer gently kissing his shoulder. He moaned a little but kept his eyes closed. Gazing lovingly at him, she thought, he’s amazing.
“Why are you staring at me?” he mumbled.
“Who says I’m staring at you?”
Opening his eyes, they met hers. “Because you are.”
“So what if I am?”
“A woman staring at you while you sleep usually means one of two things.”
“Oh, really? And what are those two things?”
“She’s either enraptured or enraged.”
“You know this from personal experience, huh?”
He chuckled. Wrapping his leg over hers be rubbed her feet with his. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yes… and you?”
“Very well… with you by my side.”
Lightly running his nimble fingers along her hip, his eyes searched hers, and a familiar grin formed as his hand moved to her behind gripping it.
“You’re kidding,” Deborah whispered knowin
g exactly what the expression meant.
Before she could get another word out, he was licking and nibbling from the notch of her neck to the bottom of her chin. His scruffy face moved over hers, finding her lips and tongue before heading lower… much lower. Returning his favor, they were soon breathless from their morning’s escapade. Sharing a shower, they dressed and went about their way. Having settled into a lovely routine, they agreed to meet back at the apartment by six. Whichever one of them arrived first, took care of dinner arrangements.
Thinking she’d beat him there, Ben surprised her by having dinner started. The food smelled delicious, and a bottle of wine was chilling. Pouring the glasses, he handed her one before lightly kissing her cheek.
“A good day, my sweet?”
“Yes. I’m a little tired, though.”
“Why?”
“I helped Megan review dozens of resumes. We’ve got some very good candidates. It shouldn’t be hard to find four people to fill the archivist positions.”
“I’m surprised there isn’t a service to supply the staffing you need,” he said.
“There are a few, but they’re very expensive. This way, we get strong candidates, and they can build their resumes for the next opportunity.”
“I see.”
He seemed a little distracted as he fixed their dinner plates.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“I need to head back to London Saturday.”
“I thought you were staying through the weekend?”
“That was my intent, but an important social obligation requires my attendance after all.”
“Social obligation?”
“I’m the major benefactor of an art exhibition opening soon. The private gala is Saturday evening. I need to be there for several reasons.”
“Oh, okay.”
Deborah’s disappointment was palatable. He was equally disappointed, but this was the nature of his life and work. Then he asked the unexpected.
“Would you care to join me?”
“To London? Are you serious?”
“Very.”
“What about work on the Collection? I know how much you want the cataloging finished.”
“You’ve managed to complete a considerable amount of work in the past two months. I think we can spare a few days, a week even, if you can make it work.”
The smile spreading across her face reflected her giddiness as her eyes sparkled with delight.
“You’re not joking, are you?”
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes! I mean I need to talk to Megan, but it should be fine. I certainly have the leave available.”
“Splendid!” Contentment returned to his face.
“I’m not sure I have anything to wear to a gala. Most of our events are business attire.”
“A minor detail easily remedied.”
Deborah was beyond excited taking her first trip to London. Very early Saturday morning, a car was waiting to take them to the City Airport. The six-hour flight was stress-free, and she fully appreciated why Ben chose to travel by chartered jets. It was a far cry from the rush and hassle of Detroit Metro Airport. When they landed at London City Airport, Ben’s driver, Arthur, was waiting planeside for them… in a Bentley. As the plane came to a stop, the flight crew handed off their luggage to Arthur who dutifully placed them in the trunk of the car.
“Good afternoon, sir! And welcome, Ms. Brooks!” Arthur said cheerfully.
“Thank you!”
“Everything is prepared for you at West Brompton, sir.”
“Thank you, Arthur,” Ben said.
With Arthur holding the door, Ben helped Deborah into the luxurious vehicle. Closing the door, he entered from the other side. He gently took her hand and kissed it.
“This is really nice!” she whispered.
“It’s useful,” Ben replied.
“Stop it! A Chevy is useful. A Bentley? Beyond useful.”
He simply chuckled, kissed her hand again never loosening his grip. The drive to his apartment was relatively short. When they pulled up to the building, Arthur gathered her luggage. Escorting them into the building, he opened the door as they followed him into the apartment.
“What about your suitcases?” Deborah quietly asked Ben.
“Arthur will see to them and have my things laundered. I have clothes here.”
“Oh.” Damn! So this is what real money looks like, she thought.
“Make yourself comfortable. The loo is down the hall.”
“I’m fine.”
She sat down taking in the surroundings while Ben concluded his conversation with Arthur. Twice the size of her place, the apartment’s details and appointments were exquisite. The furnishings were soft yet reflecting a crisp palette with alluring décor elements. For the most part, its style was contemporary with a few traditional pieces like the large winged-back chair giving it a distinct feel. Detailed crown molding and chair rails were accentuated by stunning artwork along with Central African tribal art and contemporary sculptures.
Arthur headed toward the door. “Again, very nice to meet you, Miss Brooks. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“Nice to meet you as well, Arthur… and thank you.”
Ben walked toward her as Arthur left. “We have two hours before the gala. Would you like something to eat?”
“What do you have?”
“Let’s see.”
Taking her hand, he led her into the brightly-lit white kitchen. Freshly made platters of fruits, cheeses, and sliced meats were in the refrigerator and not much else. Taking them out, he opened an overhead cabinet removing two glasses before selecting wine from the chiller. After pouring the glasses, he handed one to her.
“Welcome to London! Cheers!” he said tapping her glass.
“Cheers! And thank you! This is lovely.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
Taking a sip of wine, she followed him back to the living area and sat close to him on the sofa. “So how often do you stay here?”
“It greatly depends. Usually no more than two days a week.”
“Do you have staff here, too?”
“Adele coordinates what I need using local services.”
“Will I get to see your house?”
“We’ll drive down when I conclude my business here. Do you want to take in some of the sights?”
“Absolutely!”
“Any place in particular you’d like to see?”
“Can’t be in London without seeing Big Ben or Buckingham Palace, right?”
Raising his brow, he shook his head. “Are you sure? There’re far more interesting places to see and things to do.”
“So I should plan on doing that on my own.” She laughed.
“I thought you’d prefer seeing the Vic or one of our other fine museums. There are also dozens of galleries.”
“I want to do that, too, and maybe a little shopping.”
“For shopping, Arthur will accompany you to Bond Street or the Royal Exchange while I’m working. I’ll join you later in the afternoon and share a few of my favorite venues.”
“That sounds nice. I want to see as much as I can while I’m here. Who knows when I’ll be back.”
He set his glass on the end table. Smiling at her, he said, “I doubt this will be your last trip to London, my sweet.”
“I guess that depends on the company I keep,” she quipped.
He loved her quick wit. “I suspect the company you keep will not easily give you up.”
She leaned toward him giving him a light peck, ending it with a slight tug of his lower lip with her teeth before releasing it. Then with a wanton look and breathy tone, she said, “That depends on how my company keeps me… engaged.”
“Hmmm. I’d say we have two hours to enjoy each others’ company.”
Taking her face in his hands, he kissed her deeper and longer as his hands slowly moved down her back holding her close. Their kiss became more fevered.
“Again, your focus is misplaced.” He grinned mischievously.
Taking a quick peek, she noticed the bulge in his pants becoming more prominent.
“We should probably take care of that,” she replied with a sultry edge.
“I was thinking the same. What do you propose?”
Reaching for his belt buckle, she expertly loosened it. Occasionally glancing into his eyes, she continued to free him, sliding the pants and underwear from his hips. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she eased him back on the sofa as she lowered between his legs. Soon her hand and mouth were on him. He sighed deeply at the wondrous sensation of her full lips surrounding him. The muscles in his thighs tightened each time she raised up. Watching his facial contortions, she eagerly increased her pace. Her tongue flicked and toyed with abandon pushing him to a pleasurable release. When it was over, she gently stroked his thighs.
“Definitely worth keeping.” He sighed glancing down at her.
“I hope that’s not the only reason why.”
“Merely icing on the cake.”
The playfulness that soon followed had them rolling around naked in his luxurious bed. With breathing heavy, they made love until their bodies were beyond exhausted and spirits soared.
CHAPTER 16
Ben couldn’t get over how stunning Deborah looked. The softly draping gown she selected fit her slim form and delicate curves beautifully. The jewelry on her neck, wrists, and ears accented the gown’s delicate piping. Freshly pressed hair framed a face adorned with perfectly blended makeup highlighting her hypnotic eyes, full lips, and defined cheekbones. Making their way among the hundred or so guests, Deborah was clearly the topic of whispered conversation. Ben could see it in their eyes. There was considerable curiosity about the attractive woman on the arm of the elusive Ben Stewart.
“Good evening, Ben!” Sebastian Binns said as he walked up to them with his wife by his side.
“Sebastian.” Ben leaned in kissing his wife’s cheek. “Hello, Elizabeth, you look lovely.”
“Thank you! And who do we have here?” she asked.
Placing his hand on the small of her back, Ben proudly said, “Miss Deborah Brooks. Deborah, this is Sebastian Binns and his wife, Elizabeth. Sebastian and I are often rivals when it comes to our collecting interests.”
Asira Awakens Page 11
