The Willingness to Burn

by J. P. London

  I had the day off and decided what better way to spend my day off then with some retail therapy. After I hit Ann Taylor and got a makeover with the MAC girls, I went into Victoria’s Secret. We’d been dating for about a month, and I wanted to do something special for him, or at least wear something special. I saw this really cute white and blue lingerie set and decided that that was the way to go. After all, I read that blue was the color of trust, and my ass would look incredible in the bottoms. I went in the changing room and tried them on. And oh yeah, mission accomplished. I looked damn sexy. And after just having my makeup done, I decided it was time to show off.

  I looked at myself in the mirror and tried to get a good back shot, one where I was turning around and giving the camera this really sexy look I have, but couldn’t quite get the angle.

  “Excuse me!” I said, loud enough for the sales girl to hear.

  “Yes?”

  “Is anyone else out there?”

  “No, it’s just me,” she said with her upbeat voice.

  I opened the door.

  “So this might be weird, but would you mind taking a picture of me?” I asked with my cell phone in hand so she knew what I meant.

  “Sure, don’t worry, I do this all the time.”

  I laughed.

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, some people just use the mirror, but sometimes you need a better angle.”

  “Exactly,” I said, feeling relieved.

  I handed her my phone.

  “So what kind of shot are you looking for?” she asked.

  “Just like this,” I said and turned my back to her. I bent over a little bit and arched my back and turned my head, giving my best sexy face.

  She smiled looking down at the camera.

  “That one came out good.”

  “Ooo, let me see!” I snatched my phone from her and looked at the picture. “That’s perfect, thanks.”

  “No problem.”

  “Special guy?”

  “You have no idea.” I smiled then closed the door, I was nearly naked after all, definitely not the best time for that conversation. I sent him the picture with the caption, “See anything you like?” and I got almost an immediate response.

  “You are so sexy.”

  “And that’s all yours, baby,” I responded, my fingers clicking away on my iPhone.

  “I can’t wait to rip those off of you.”

  I smiled hard into the phone.

  “You’ll get to tonight.”

  “Call me when you have a second, I have an issue with tonight.”

  “”

  “Don’t worry, I think you’ll like it”

  “Okay, call you in a few.”

  I got dressed and paid for my new outfit plus two more. I mean, he’s already seen this one, and I want to surprise him, even if it doesn’t end up being tonight.

  When I got to the car, I called him.

  “Hey, you,” he answered.

  “Hey, babe. How are you?”

  “Much better after seeing that.”

  I giggled.

  “Well, there’s more where that came from.”

  “Don’t tease me.”

  “Well, it wouldn’t be a tease if I was seeing you tonight …”

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  “What happened?”

  “I have this huge acquisition that I have to be there for. I don’t really do much, but me being there makes everyone else more comfortable.”

  “Wanna come by after?”

  “That’s the problem.”

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s in Costa Rica.”

  “Costa Rica?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What are you doing there?”

  “We’re taking this huge section of beachfront property and turning it into a luxury resort.”

  “Now that sounds like fun,” I said, daydreaming about lying on a tropical beach somewhere with a little umbrella in my drink.

  “As long as it’s not near my place I’m all for it.” Wait, what?

  “Your place?”

  “Yeah, my place in Costa Rica.”

  “You have a house in Costa Rica?” I tried not to sound too excited, but I don’t think I fooled him at all.

  “Yeah. It was one of the first things I bought when I started really making money.”

  “I picture a nice quaint cottage on the beach…”

  “It’s on the beach all right, but quaint and cottage aren’t words I’d use to describe it. “He laughed.

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yeah, so I’m gonna be down there for a few weeks while this all gets settled. Why don’t you come?”

  “I can’t just come to Costa Rica.”

  “Why not?”

  “Umm, because I have a job and responsibilities.”

  “So quit.”

  “I can’t do that…” I said, unsure sounding so that he knew I could totally do that.

  “Yes, you can.”

  “But what about when I come back?”

  “Who says we’re coming back?” he said with a seductive tone.

  I laughed “Now who’s teasing?”

  “Well, think about it, I can do most of what I do via internet and cell phone. It’s very rare that I physically have to be someplace, so, let’s spend some time here then I don’t know, maybe hit Europe, Monaco, wherever. I hear the French Rivera is a lot of fun in the summer.

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yes, deadly serious.”

  “But what … what about …”

  “What about what?”

  “I don’t know, it’s just so sudden.”

  “Why wait to be happy?”

  “Oh, my God, I can’t!”

  “Can’t leave the job you hate to spend the winter in the tropics before traveling the world in luxury?”

  “Well, when you put it that way. But what about …”

  “Listen, the only thing you need to be thinking about is how soon you can get to the airport.”

  “Oh my God, I can’t believe this is happening!” I shrieked. I am so excited, I can’t even!

  “Believe it, baby.”

  “This is like a fairy tale.”

  “It’s not like a fairy tale. It is a fairy tale.”

  “So what do I do?”

  “Okay, you go home and pack a bag. We can get anything you forget when you get here.”

  “Okay.”

  “Then book a flight. You have the money for a flight, right?”

  “Yeah, but can’t I just come with you.”

  “No sorry, I’m already at the airport, and I’m boarding in ten minutes, I have an early meeting tomorrow. So, book a flight, and I’ll reimburse you when you get here.”

  “But what …”

  “No more buts. Get your butt on a flight.”

  “Okay… This isn’t a joke, right? ‘Cause it’s really mean if it is!”

  He laughed. I could hear the loud speaker say, “Now boarding.”

  “No joke, baby. But I have to go. Text me when you know what time you’re landing, and I’ll have a car pick you up in the airport.”

  “Okay, what do I need to bring. I don’t …”

  “Just make sure you bring that hot little outfit. Because I’m making you put it on the very second you get here.”

  “Okay,” I said. I couldn’t contain myself. “Oh, my God, I can’t believe this is really happening!”

  “Believe it, sweetie. I gotta run. Make sure to text me the info, okay?”

  “I will.”

  “All right. I’ll see you soon.”

  I raced home. I can’t believe that this is really happening to me. I called my mom to give her the good news. I usually talk to her once every other week or so and don’t give her too many details about my life. She’s been kind of mad ever since I stopped talking to the accountant she tried to set me up with. Setups are so awkward. I feel like love should happen naturally or not at all. Ju
st like the way Jace and I met.

  “Hey, what’s going on?”

  “Mom, you’re not gonna believe this!“ I cried out, unable to contain my own excitement.

  “What?”

  “You remember that guy I told you I was talking to?”

  “Yeah the finance guy, right?”

  “Yeah, so he has this big project down in Costa Rica.

  “Okay …”

  “And he asked me to go with him!”

  “That’s great. How long are you going for?”

  “I’m not sure, probably for a few months.”

  “A few months!” Mom bellowed into the phone.

  “Yeah, isn’t it great?”

  “Yeah, sweetie, it is, but what about your job?”

  “Oh, that’s easy, I’m gonna quit.”

  “Honey, you don’t want to do that.”

  “Why not, Mom, this is the opportunity of a lifetime!”

  “Is it, though?”

  “I’m going to spend the next few months in the tropics then travel the world with a millionaire!”

  “But what about if things don’t work out?”

  “Mom, I really like him. I feel like he could be the one.”

  “You’ve only been dating for what? A few weeks?”

  “Yeah, but it’s been a good few weeks! And besides, I really don’t like that job anyway.”

  “But, honey, you can’t just live off of a man like that.”

  “Mom, I’m gonna do stuff too.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like, I don’t know, maybe I’ll write a book or something.”

  “You’re going to write a book?” Mom’s tone was of utter disbelief, but I chose to ignore that part.

  “Sure, who wouldn’t want to read about my travels around the world?”

  “Well, where are you going?”

  “First to Costa Rica, then he said something about the French Rivera and Monaco. I don’t know, but it’s gonna be amazing!”

  “Ohhh, Anna, honey, it’s not going to be that simple,” Mom pleaded.

  “Mom, it’s a great opportunity for me, can’t you be happy?”

  “Ehhh, I’m a mother, dear, we’re always worried.”

  “I know.”

  “Okay, at least give me all the info you have on Mr. Millionaire just in case we have to track him down.”

  “All right hang on,” I said as I started scrolling through my phone looking for his info. “Okay, his name is Jace Clark, and his address is 417 Sheridan Ave in Ridgewood.”

  “Okay, at least that’s a start. When are you leaving?”

  “Tonight.”

  “Tonight? That’s way too soon!”

  “Why wait?”

  “So that you can pack and prepare, and God, I don’t know, that’s just really fast to uproot your whole life.”

  “I’m gonna pack as soon as we get off the phone and he said we can just buy everything we need. Costa Rica is supposed to be very cheap.”

  “I’m sure it is, but how well do you know this guy?”

  “Well enough to know that I might love him.”

  “Darling, to pack up your whole life, you better be sure.”

  “Oh, Mom, it’s gonna be fine.”

  “How do you know he’s not gonna kidnap you!”

  “Why would he? He has tons of money. It’s not like he needs anymore.”

  “Honey, you really need to think this through.”

  “’I’m done thinking, Mom. I’m done waiting too. I want to have kids before I’m thirty, and I want to be married before then, and God, the life we could have together.”

  “I know you’re excited, but try to think rationally.”

  “There’s really nothing to think about.”

  Mom let out a sigh. “All right. Hang on, let me write down his address.”

  “Oh, my God! Mom, I’m so excited! I can’t wait!”

  “Well let me know that you’re safe.”

  “I will. I’ll send you a post card from paradise!” I laughed into the phone

  “All right.”

  “And maybe I can get him to fly you and Daddy down for a week or something.”

  “That would be nice, but make sure you’re comfortable there first.”

  “I know, I know.”

  “And, Anna, you can always come home, okay?”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Anytime, dear.”

  “Okay, I gotta go, I have to pack!” I said, shrieking with excitement.

  “All right, have fun, and call me when you get there!”

  “I will!”

  I hung up the phone. She had a right to be concerned. Most people never get a chance like that. Most people never get to live out their dreams in luxury. But she’ll get it soon enough. When he’s taking care of them after they retire she’ll look back on this and smile.

  I was packing in a frenzy! What do you even bring to this type of thing? I packed the essentials but not too much. I felt like he would be okay with me ordering clothes online, so I only packed a week’s worth of clothes. Although, knowing him, I wouldn’t be wearing them much. I giggled to myself. I packed a few bathing suits and closed the suitcase. I checked the flights and saw that I could get on one that left in four hours. God, what am I going to do with four hours to kill? I wonder if I’ll beat him there. Nah, no way. He was leaving an hour ago, he’ll be there way before I am.

  Chapter 44

  The airport and flight were so boring. All I could think about was how much things were going to change and what I would do down there. I saw myself doing yoga out by the beach and sunbathing topless while my man was out making million dollar deals and coming home tired. I would say I could cook for him, but why would I do that? If things were so cheap there, I was sure one of the first things he would do would be hire a chef.

  I arrived at the airport, and after making my way through customs and getting some very odd looks, I found a tall, local-looking guy holding a sign with my name on it and a heart drawn around it. I have arrived.

  “I’m Anna.”

  “Right this way, senorita.” He took my bag and escorted me to a black Lincoln town car.

  I imagined the countryside as being beautiful, but I couldn’t see much. It was dark already, but that was okay. I could always see it tomorrow. We pulled up to a sprawling estate. It wasn’t even a house. It looked like a drug lord lived there. It was huge. It had white and tan colors and a huge stone fence around it. We pulled into the gate and into an lavish parking area. There were Mercedes’ and even a Ferrari. I am soooo driving that. He’s gonna have to teach me to drive stick, though. We pulled into a circular driveway, I guess..? Can it even be called a driveway at this point? It was a stone circle that lead to the house. It was separate from where all the cars were. It was like the loading and unloading part of a hotel.

  The stone driveway gave way to a massive stained glass door. And standing in the shade of that glass door was a silhouette, the shadow of my man. I got so excited the second that I saw him. The car pulled to a stop and I hopped out. I didn’t wait for the driver and didn’t care about my bag anymore. I ran up the steps and the glass door opened. It was him. I leaped in his arms, and with the steady arms of a stronger man, he picked me up and held me. I kissed him deeply and wrapped my legs around him. He started to say something, but I wasn’t stopping. My legs were wrapped around his waist and we must have been kissing for a minute because the driver had reached the door with my bag.

  He broke from me.

  “Thanks, Manny.”

  “No problem, Senor.” Manny smiled and went back to the car.

  “Oh, my God, this place is so nice!”

  “Thanks, I’m glad you like it.”

  “I wasn’t expecting all this!” I was in awe as I gazed about the giant foyer. The place looked like a palace.

  “What did you think? A hut by the sand?” He laughed a bit

  He took my hand and began walking me through the foyer. It
was huge, and the floor was made of marble. It looked like you could host a wedding in the place. I wonder if that’s why he took me here. I mean, I didn’t plan on getting married for another few years but God has a plan for us all and if this was his plan for me, I wasn’t going to say no.

  “Okay, first, I’m going to take you someplace to freshen up. Then you’re going to put on that outfit you showed me and something else I got for you.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “Yup.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You’ll see.”

  I smiled.

  “And then what?”

  “Then I’m going to give you a tour of the house and we’re gonna drink champagne out on the beach.”

  “Oh, my God, there’s a beach, isn’t there?” I squealed.

  “Yes, there is, but first things first.”

  “Okay,” I said with a devilish grin, already planning something else entirely. He walked me upstairs and we went into one of the bedrooms. Then he walked me over to the door and opened it. It was a huge marble bathroom. There was a steam shower, a Jacuzzi tub, and a double sink.

  “And that’s the something else.”

  “Oh, my God,” I said out loud as I looked down at the shoe box. It was a box of Louis Vuitton shoes. Whatever was inside was going to be super nice. I bent down again intentionally at the waist and opened them. They were a pair of heels that must of cost a fortune. I grabbed him and pushed him against the wall. I unbuttoned his pants and pulled them down.

  “Wow. Don’t you want…?”

  “Nope!”

  I pulled his pants down, and standing in the bathroom, proceeded to give him the best blowjob I’ve ever given and probably the best he’d ever had in his life. He’s older, and I was sure he’d been with a lot of women, but at that point, I had the drive and discipline that not many people in the world have.

  Afterward, he told me it was amazing, which I already knew, then he told me to get dressed. We had a long night ahead of us. And, oh yes we do. I wanted to get married before having kids, but it would make for such a great story if I got pregnant tonight. My first night living in the lap of luxury with this incredible man. Damn, maybe I shouldn’t have blown him. Oh well. There’s plenty of time for that.