Annabelle's Angst: NEW ADULT CONTEMPORARY SUSPENSE ROMANCE

by Bree Branigan

  “Because... I'm psychic.” He watched as she giggled. “I'd guess that you're about twenty-eight, that you studied medicine in college, and that you grew up right here in Philadelphia.”

  “Actually, I didn't study medicine. I'm a social worker. But two out of three is still pretty impressive!” They laughed.

  “I just hope my next prediction is spot on.”

  Caroline was intrigued. “And what is your prediction?”

  William smirked, “... that the two us will become really close and have lots of fun together...”

  Caroline smiled, “Well... that doesn't seem like such an impossibility...” She didn't want to seem too giddy, but assured herself that she had said enough to let him be aware of her interest.

  The evening continued to be a delight with William remaining a charmingly seductive gentleman. Finally, he reached across the table and held Caroline's hand.

  “I really enjoy your company. I'm having fun.”

  “Me too.”

  “It's still early. There's somewhere else I'd like to take you. Will you come?”

  “Um, yeah. I think I'd like that.”

  William called for the check, paid, and they departed, holding hands. In the car, Caroline kept stealing glances at William. She still could not believe how fantastic things were going. The image of Rachel dying of jealousy popped into her head, causing a somewhat playful smile to grace her face.

  After a fifteen-minute drive, William's car stopped.

  “Where are we?” Caroline inquired, looking at a tall, brick building with green awnings.

  “This is one of my favorite places to go. It’s an aquarium.” He turned and smiled fetchingly at her.

  “But isn't it closed to the public at this hour?”

  “No worries. I know the owner.”Looking like a school-boy on a field trip, William jumped out of the car walked around it, opened her door and grabbed her hand. “Come on. I'll show you around.”

  Caroline took his hand and followed William inside. He hailed the staff, and a lanky young man cheerfully opened the door leading to huge, wall to floor fish tanks. Brightly colored sea-life swam gracefully to and fro. It was incredible! Why had she never come here before?! Caroline wondered.

  They strolled from one tank to another, thrilled at the beauty of the flora and fauna. They talked about many things: their love for animals, Caroline's volunteer work at retirement homes, and William having lost his father in the army. The way he looked at her with warmth and admiration, scanning her body, thrilled her. His touch on the small of her back as they strolled along, the way his arm brushed her shoulder as he pointed out some particularly interesting or beautiful sea-life took her breath away.

  It wasn’t long before the exclusiveness of their privacy dawned on them, which found Caroline being pressed against the glass wall with William kissing her passionately. She wrapped her hands around his neck and he reached around her waist, firmly grasping both cheeks of her buttocks, pushing her into him. She panted as she kissed him back feverishly. Relinquishing her buttocks, he began fondling her breasts. His touch felt so damn good. She threw her head back as his magic fingers caressed her. Mouth on her throat, his hands teased her hardening nipples. Her skin tingled. Reaching down to open his zipper she reached inside. Hot and moist, she could feel the vigor of his erection. She began to stroke him gently.

  “Not here,” Caroline’s voice was husky.

  “You’re right.” William sounded reluctant. He backed away, taking Caroline’s hand.

  They both realized that they were prepared to go much further, but decided to restrain the urge to decorate the aquarium with their bodily fluids (though they were very much tempted).

  “Caroline, I think it goes without saying, that I want to see you again.”

  Caroline smiled, “Sounds good to me.”

  “I want to see you... again... and again... and again.” He kissed her with each pause.

  “As I said, that's perfectly fine with me...”

  Chapter 3

  Caroline stabbed her fries with her fork as she watched Rachel draining her milkshake. They’d been in the mood for fast food and had decided to grab some burgers. It was one of those partly cloudy, lazy afternoons that was made for unwinding.

  “So,” began Caroline, “I'm thinking of redoing my apartment... maybe change the wallpaper. Grinning mischievously, she cocked a brow, looking for Rachel’s reaction.

  Rachel looked at her incredulously. “Caroline, you are such a witch. You know how badly I want to hear about what happened with William. It's been days now and the suspense is killing me. Please, just give me the play by play.”

  Caroline smiled impishly. “It was a good date,” she teased. “A little dinner, a little kissing, a bit of fondling... nothing too fancy,” she laughed.

  “What? You two went to first and second base on the first date? You must really be feeling him, and he must really be you, and quite literally I might add.”

  “Come on, it's not like this is the seventh grade. Things were bound to happen. And I know you would have jumped his bone the second he held your hand.”

  “As true as that may be, I'm still surprised. Between the two us, you were always the more level headed and reserved one. Now you're getting physical on the first date. If this keeps up, I'm almost certain you and William will...”

  “He's invited me to come to his apartment tomorrow night,” Caroline interrupted. The words slowly registered on Rachel, whose eyes grew wide enough to pop from their sockets.

  “Wait... he... you mean... tomorrow... with,” Rachel's incoherent sentence was followed by a high pitched scream that alerted everyone around her. She had to steady herself and regain composure. “Well what the heck did you tell him?”

  Caroline tried to keep a straight face, “No.”

  “No?”

  “That's right. I told him I wasn't interested.”

  “You did what now?” Caroline watched as Rachel struggled to comprehend the horrible words. “How could you do such thing? That's like getting your Christmas present early and deciding to burn it. Caroline Tracey, have you gone mad!”

  “Rachel, relax,” she laughed. “I was only kidding. Of course I told him I would be there. How stupid do you think I am?”

  Rachel steadied her breathing, “You little wench. You nearly gave me a heart attack. Oh my poor heart... You're lucky I'm more excited than angry right now. But one thing's for sure, someone's in for the ride of his of her life.”

  “Whatever do you mean?” Caroline mocked playfully. “But in all seriousness... I myself am interested in seeing how this will unfold.”

  Rachel fiddled with the napkin, unfolding it. “I'm just interested to know how long it will take for your legs to unfold.”

  The two cheered and toasted their beverages together.

  *

  Caroline walked out of the elevator and made her way to room 22B. After inhaling a deep breath and adjusting her skirt, she knocked on the door. A few seconds later she could hear someone approaching the door from within. The door slowly swung open and there in front of her stood William, looking as sharp as the last time she had seen him. She couldn't help but smile.

  “Hey,” he said smoothly.

  “Hi,” she replied as he kissed her lips.

  “Come on in.”

  Caroline stepped into the apartment.

  “Make yourself at home,” he said. “I'm gonna change in the bathroom for sec.”

  “Okay.” She stood, stock-still, feeling a little perplexed. How do you make yourself at home when the host disappears right away?

  As William exited the room, Caroline looked around. And what a lovely and spacious apartment it was! The carpet was clean and soft and everything was in impeccable order. It had a modern flair with a few personal touches here and there. For a moment Caroline thought of what it would be like to live here.

  “You have a really nice place,” she shouted toward the bathroom.

  “T
hanks, it's pretty comfortable,” came the reply.

  “You know; my friend Rachel is quite smitten with you.”

  “Oh really?” came the playful shout, “Then maybe the three us should get together and make some magic happen.”

  “Very funny,” Caroline laughed. “She'd probably die of joy if she heard you say that.” She could now hear the bathroom door unlocking.

  “That's fine, however...” William's sudden appearance startled Caroline, “maybe you and I can start making our own magic...”

  Caroline was speechless, “Is that why you're completely naked?” She blushed.

  William walked over to her and took a seat next to her in the couch, his manhood conspicuously dangling, fully erect. “Do you... like the view?”

  Caroline licked her lips. “I've... seen bigger,” she lied, while William watched her remain spellbound.

  “At least be a fair judge...” William took Caroline's hand and moved it over to his erection, prompting her to hold it. She did. She could feel the blood pulsing through it; her own heart rate increased.

  All at once, William began to kiss her. With Caroline still holding onto his throbbing erection, he began unbuttoning her blouse. At this moment, though it was unlike her, Caroline was absolutely glad that she had decided to forgo her underwear prior to arriving. She wanted this. The two stood up; the kissing and stroking continued. Finally, Caroline's skirt slid down her legs, and they were completely nude.

  She ran her fingers down his abdomen, and traced the grooves of his firm stomach.

  William positioned Caroline on the couch, sending her legs east and west, and then lowered his head. Gently, he kissed and sucked her thighs, then the lips of her pussy, teasing and flicking his tongue, exploring the crevices all around her clit. Softly she moaned, her neck arching as she writhed in ecstasy. She was mad with desire. Finally, he caressed that sensitive spot with his tongue, licking and lapping. Caroline closed her eyes and rocked back and forth, her senses succumbing to the pleasure. Moaning softly, she held his head in place. His expert tongue tickled and delighted her clit while his big hands rubbed and explored her hips and ass. Her body was assailed by a thousand pin-prick pleasurable sensations emanating from her pussy and spreading throughout her. She could tell that he knew what he was doing. He was like an expert pianist tuning her organ.

  Finally, as her orgasm subsided, William paused and took a seat on the couch. She knew what needed to be done. She fell to her knees and allowed her mouth to be filled with him. She gripped his thighs and began moving her head up and down.

  “Oh, baby . . . Oh, baby . . . Don’t stop . . .” He squeezed her breasts, as she rolled her tongue around his engorged cock. After a few minutes of this, Caroline raised her head.

  “Why'd you stop?” he asked.

  “You know why...” she replied.

  William smiled. He stood up, pulled Caroline closer, and positioned her over the arm of the couch so that her ass was high in the air. He then gently prodded his manliness against her succulent, wet pussy from behind before guiding himself inside. Feeling him there, resting in her crack drove her crazy. “Please . . .” she moaned.

  “You're perfect...” he said as he confirmed how warm and moist she was, “so tight...”

  “Do it,” she pleaded, trembling with anticipation. “Don't... make me wait any longer.” She gasped with his entry. She could hear his breathing quicken as he moved inside her. His thickness drove her wild. Their panting became synchronized.

  William smiled again, “As you wish.” With that, he began working his hip and filling Caroline up.”

  “Yes... That's it...” she muttered as the pace quickened. “Just like that. More...”

  William did as she asked, pounding breathlessly away, leaving Caroline stuck in a state of perpetual paradise. He then grabbed her arms, pinning them behind her back and proceeded to do even deeper strokes. Caroline's eyes rolled back inside her head. She was in utter bliss. She felt the passion each time he re-entered her. It was rough. It was raw. It was everything she wanted. The only sounds that filled the apartment were that of Caroline's moaning and that of William's pelvis hitting up against her meaty rear.

  “I'm really close,” William whispered.

  “Go ahead,” Caroline found herself saying as she pulled his hip toward her, “come if you want to.”

  And with that, William gripped her hip tightly as all his energetic juices flowed into Caroline. Wilting on top of her he sighed in delightful satisfaction. Their bodies, covered in sweat, slid together onto the couch. Panting heavily neither said a word. They simply looked at one another. Finally, Caroline met his gaze. She sat there patiently staring at William, the man who had given her two orgasms in the last thirty minutes. She thought to herself how Rachel would have a field day when she heard how fantastic and superb the experience had been.

  Chapter 4

  It was Saturday, another bustling day at the gym. Rachel wiped the remnants of sweat from her forehead and took a long sip of refreshing, cold water from her bottle, exhaling in satisfaction. She had already done her rounds on a few of the machines she normally used and was now wondering if she ought to work on her abs. As she made her way to the crunch board Rachel spotted someone she recognized, causing her to stop. Quickly she ran over and tapped him on the shoulder.

  “Hi there, William,” she said warmly and enthusiastically.

  William turned and looked at her with a dumbfounded expression on his face, “Um, hello. I'm sorry, have we met before?” William scratched his head as he looked at her lively blond hair.

  “Um, actually, we haven't officially met as yet. But really we should have by now. In truth, it's really Caroline's fault for not introducing us. With you dating her, you'd think she would at least introduce her best friend. It's like she's trying to keep you all to herself.” Rachel let out a girlish little chuckle.

  “Oh right, you must be Rachel,” said William a cheeky smile creeping onto his face. “Yeah, Caroline has mentioned you quite a few times.”

  Hearing her name from William's mouth excited Rachel. She quickly reached for his hand and began shaking it animatedly, “Oh so you have heard of me. I was beginning to think Caroline had no intention of introducing us. It is very nice to meet you, William. Formally, I am Rachel Gonzales, not that there's need for formality with you dating my best friend.”

  “Right. Well it's nice to finally meet you, Rachel. But speaking of Caroline, have you seen her?”

  “Actually, she had to leave early today... minor family emergency. Her mom was called away on business and she went to look after her little brother. She said she’d call you. To be honest, I was very lucky to even see her today. Since you two started going out, I've hardly seen her! I'm glad that she's happy, but must you steal her away so often?” Rachel pouted playfully.

  William laughed, “Yeah, sorry about that. I'll have to make it up to you one of these days.”

  “Well,” replied Rachel, “if you're really sorry then why don't the two us go out for drinks tonight? Since Caroline is close to both of us, it would be a good opportunity for you and I to get to know each other. And besides, Caroline won’t be back until tomorrow”.

  “Hmm, you have a point. I suppose we could hang out. Sure, why not?”

  “Splendid. We'll meet up around eight. I know a great little bar around the corner.”

  .

  After they had exchanged numbers, “I'll see you at eight.” William said

  “Great. Can't wait,” replied Rachel saucily.

  And they went their separate ways.

  *

  Rachel walked slowly into the bar. She took out her cell phone to check for missed calls and returned her phone to her purse. Music played loudly in the background. She began making her way over to the bartender when suddenly she spotted William, looking very handsome. Quickly she rushed over to him.

  “Wow. I can't believe you got here before I did.” She slid onto the seat next to him.

/>   “Yeah, I'm kind of an early bird type of person. You look great by the way.”

  Though it was an innocent compliment, Rachel couldn't help but blush, seeing as it had come from William.

  “Thanks. Well, let's get this party started, shall we?”

  “Okay,” he turned to the bartender. “Give us two Coronas, please.”

  The bartender complied and handed them two cold ones.

  “So,” said Rachel as she took her first sip, “have you always lived in Philadelphia?”

  “Actually no. I moved from New York five years ago. It seemed right at the time.”

  “Oh that's cool,” Rachel yelled over the loud music surrounding them. “What do you do?”