Chapter Thirty-One
Dominick didn’t get Gabriel’s text until he had settled back into his routine in South Africa. Reading Gabriel’s apology put Dominick at ease. Gabriel admitted to overreacting and told Dominick he wished them well.
Dominick had never meant to hurt Gabriel, but falling in love with Sally had been too easy. She was an amazing woman. How could Gabriel have let her go? Dominick loved how the sunlight glimmered in her hair, how it made her eyes golden. He missed the little curve of her nose and her rosy cheeks when she blushed. Soft lips meant for him to kiss, he knew the first time he kissed her.
The next time he saw Gabriel, Dominick hoped they could have a proper beer.
Dominick was happy to see his homeland and Poppy again. He still had a little cut by his temple from Gabriel’s reaction to his confession. Dominick felt relieved he told the truth to Gabriel, despite Gabriel’s rage. Gabriel had stormed out of the bar afterward. Dominick knew telling his cousin that he was in love with his cousin’s ex-girlfriend wouldn’t be easy. Dominick realized Gabriel had been drunk. Perhaps Dominick should have told him sober. Regardless of what happened at the bar, they were still cousins.
Dominick did have something to be very happy about. Sally had accepted the news of his daughter so well. He wanted to find the perfect diamond to give to Sally. And, of course, the perfect kitty for Poppy.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Kimmie came back from France and gave the jewelry box to Sally, who received it with gratitude.
“This box is beautiful,” said Sally. She opened it to find a handmade necklace made out of brown glazed pottery, a crescent piece over a circle piece with a black cord. “This is so original. I love it. Thank you, Kimmie,” said Sally. She put on the necklace.
“It’s all handmade from Deauville,” explained Kimmie.
“So how was Paris?” asked Sally.
“Wicked nice. You’ll see one day. All these years I wanted to see the Eiffel Tower. It was magnificent. Mark and I didn’t want to waste several hours standing in line. Instead, we went shopping.”
“Let me see what else you got in France,” requested Sally.
“Sure,” piped Kimmie. She went into her walk-in closet and pulled out items to show Sally. “I got these heels.”
“How gorgeous,” admired Sally.
Kimmie then opened a hatbox and pulled out a nautical scarf.
“That is gorgeous,” confirmed Sally.
“And finally, you know I had to buy some lingerie,” said Kimmie. She held up to herself a royal purple corset trimmed in black lace.
“Very sexy,” cooed Sally.
“Some of the men there bought two of the same corsets in different sizes.”
“Why?” asked Sally, her eyebrow raised in curiosity.
“Well, one of the fitting room ladies told me, ‘One for the wife and one for the mistress.’”
“Interesting,” responded Sally. “Tell me more about the food.”
“They have all kinds of pâtés and this dish called a cassoulet, which is like a meat casserole that has pork and duck sausage with white beans. Mark loved that shit.”
“Interesting,” replied Sally.
“I liked the open air fruit markets lining the streets.”
“I love the open air markets on Saturdays here, too,” said Sally. “What about drinks?”
“They had these drinks where you pour in thick fruit syrup at the bottom of your cup and add water. They had all kinds of flavors, lemon, raspberry, strawberry, and others.”
“What else?” asked Sally, urging Kimmie to share her vivid memories of the city of love.
“Who knew they stuffed crêpes with all kinds of things? I tried a crêpe with eggs and ham, with salmon, and one with chocolate filling.”
“You are making me want to make crêpes right now,” said Sally.
“For breakfast, some mornings we had cocoa with fresh milk, we drank from white ceramic bowls, and gobbled Nutella spread on croissants fresh from the local bakery.”
“Okay, enough about food.” Sally sighed.
“Oh, no. I got us something. Just wait a second,” directed Kimmie. She went into her kitchen and brought back a gorgeous white tin with birds and flowers on it.
“What’s that?” asked Sally.
“It’s a tin full of candy from Provençe,” said Kimmie. “I waited to share it with you.” The best friends smiled knowingly at each other as Kimmie opened the tin. Inside contained a delightful array of clear wrapped white and chocolate nougats as well as salted butter and lavender caramels.
“Wow. This is heaven,” said Sally. “Tell me about French men.” Sally chewed on a scrumptious buttery caramel that melted in her mouth.
“In case you forgot, I was on my honeymoon, Sal,” reminded Kimmie.
“Oh, come on, Kimmie,” insisted Sally.
“Well, in a parking lot of a grocery store a gypsy man had those gorgeous dark brown eyes many in the south of France have. You know what I’m talking about?”
“I think so,” replied Sally. “I watch a lot of French movies, you know.”
“Right. Anyhow, I gave him some francs for pushing my shopping cart. That’s all he wanted, but I swear if I hadn’t been on my honeymoon—”
“Kimmie!” interjected Sally.
“See, I told you this topic was a bad idea,” reminded Kimmie. “But I do think it’s sweet how men greet women with a kiss on both cheeks. They’re so friendly and appreciate natural beauty. Women don’t have to worry about shaving as much and taking wicked long showers. I swear I could just walk around with no makeup on, and they’d still think I was pretty.”
“Kimmie, you know you could walk around anywhere without makeup and men would still think you’re gorgeous,” replied Sally.
“Aw, Sal. The only thing that would have made France better was if you had been with us. But now that your leg is better, we can make up for lost time. For now, let’s just eat these candies up.” And that is just what they did.
Chapter Thirty-Three
When December arrived, Boston wore a blanket of snow as people skated in circles on its frozen duck pond. Stores decked their holiday décor, and Santa appeared at shops all over Beantown. Sally bought Dominick, his parents, and Poppy gifts for her upcoming holiday visit with them. She went to Macy’s for their wrapped gifts, a sensible choice for an unskilled gift wrapper.
Before she left, Sally called her parents in California. They never picked up the phone after she tried a few times, so she left them a message. The last time her parents had talked to her, her mother had made it clear they were happy away from the hustle and bustle of city life and obligations. Her mother never had trouble holding back what she felt and had told Sally that they liked being left alone. It was peaceful. The conversation had hurt Sally, but she had come to accept her parents’ hands-off policies.
The flight took at least fifteen hours for Sally to reach Johannesburg, South Africa, from Boston. Sally left Logan Airport and arrived in the beautiful city, which the locals often referred to as Joberg. Dominick waited for her in the terminal. He twirled Sally around as she clung to his arms again.
“You made it! Welcome to Joberg, Sally,” said Dominick as he gave her a red heart box.
“I’ve missed you,” said Sally as she smiled and opened the box. Inside little white paper cups were fresh strawberries and kiwi dipped in chocolate. “This is sweet. Thank you, Dominick.”
“It’s a long flight. You must be tired. Let’s get going. We can meet the family just now, after you eat and get some rest,” said Dominick. “Just now” meant later, and Dominick wasted no time, familiar with the jet lag.
Dominick drove them in his Mercedes to his house. Some of the tall buildings reminded Sally of Boston, which was six hours behind them in time.
“Are you hungry?” asked Dominick.
“Famished,” admitted Sally.
“I know a great place in Mandela Square,” said Dominick. He drove them
to a mall with a great eatery inside that had modern chrome decor. The tables were white, circled by bright orange chairs. It was still breakfast time, as the city was six hours behind Boston. They ordered scrambled eggs which came with bacon, toast, and a refreshing tomato wedge.
Sally noted the “We love Mandela” sign within the restaurant. “Mandela was such a great man,” said Sally. “This is a great choice.”
“Yes, he was anti-apartheid and did so much for Joberg, he still reaches the world,” agreed Dominick. “I can’t wait to introduce you to my family and to Poppy.”
“I’m a bit nervous,” admitted Sally.
“Don’t be. Like I said before, they will love you,” assured Dominick. They finished their food as a soccer game played on a little flat-screen TV hanging on the wall. The most amazing hand-painted mural of what looked like Moses and two angels floated above them on the ceiling.
After they ate, Dominick drove Sally toward the outskirts of Johannesburg near the capital of Pretoria. Sally was amazed by the gorgeous African décor within Dominick’s parents’ house. They had African masks hanging on the walls, large ferns in pots, and a zebra-print couch and matching settee. Lanterns hung from the ceiling as lights, and a huge painting of two natives sitting in the sun hung on the wall. His parents greeted Sally warmly.
“It is so nice to meet you. Dominick said you live near his cousin and went to Harvard,” stated Dominick’s mother.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“What do you do for a living?” asked Dominick’s father.
“I’m a writer,” said Sally.
“Oh, how lovely,” said Dominick’s mother. “I love to read but it makes my eyes tired.”
“What kind of books do you write?” asked Dominick’s father. He reminded Sally of a garden gnome with his ruddy smile and white beard.
“Sally writes romance novels,” Dominick chimed. He answered the hardest question for Sally and didn’t want her to squirm.
“Oh.” Dominick’s father’s eyes lit up. “Well, I don’t know what kind of ideas this young man can give you about that. But you are certainly welcome to our home.”
“Thank you.” Sally blushed.
“Dominick, you must take her to the Kruger National Park,” insisted Dominick’s mother to Dominick. “You will love it,” she explained to Sally. “There are self-drive tours of the animals and cottages. If you are anything like me, I prefer a cottage rather than a tent.”
“Yes,” agreed Sally with a smile. “Especially with all of the creatures out there.”
“You’re not keen on lions, snakes, and scorpions?” joked Dominick’s father.
“Not yet,” said Sally, coyly.
“I will definitely take her on safari,” encouraged Dominick.
“Good,” replied Dominick’s mother. “Now for some tea.”
To Sally’s delight, Dominick’s mother served them English tea with cookies, or biscuits, with clotted cream.
“It’s not much, but I brought you some things from Boston.” Sally gave Dominick’s father a Boston Red Sox cap and his mother a T-shirt with the logo.
“Thank you,” replied Dominick’s parents. Dominick’s father seemed especially pleased and wore the cap straightaway.
“Mother makes wonderful homemade biscuits,” beamed Dominick. Sally knew it was a great sign how much Dominick loved his parents. They took great pride in their home and their son.
“These are delicious,” agreed Sally.
After taking a nap for several hours, Sally felt renewed energy. Meeting Poppy was even easier than meeting Dominick’s parents. Poppy lived with her adoptive parents in a two-story condo outside the city center.
“I love it!” piped Poppy as she accepted the karaoke machine from Sally. “I’ve always wanted one,” she said to Dominick as she turned on the machine. Poppy was a beautiful teenager who had Dominick’s blue eyes.
Sally and Poppy took turns at the microphone slowly singing the words that ran across the screen and did their best renditions of a few songs. Dominick joined in several songs later. The three of them ended up singing into the night. And to everyone’s delight, even Poppy’s parents sang a few songs along with them.
“That is totally addictive,” said Poppy afterward. “Thank you very much, Sally.” She gave Sally a big hug and then hugged Dominick good-bye. Sally’s adoptive parents were thrilled to see Poppy excited about her new machine.
When they finally arrived at Dominick’s apartment, Sally loved the modern and streamlined décor. Absent of feminine touches, Sally imagined adding just a few vases of flowers here and there. Otherwise, she would keep the cobalt-blue couches and white pillows the same.
“I’ve waited all day for this,” Dominick said as he went up to Sally and kissed her. He couldn’t help control his hands as they caressed Sally’s body and undressed her. Sally felt a bit shy being exposed so naked in the sunlight in Dominick’s apartment.
“Don’t be timid,” said Dominick. “I love your body. Every curve, every dimple.” He caressed her breasts with his tan hands and kissed her with fervor. Their tongues danced, and Sally relished the taste of their mutual desire.
Sally took off Dominick’s shorts and boxers. He carried her to the bathroom like he used to when she wore her cast. She loved how he had a shower within a large tub, unlike her tiny shower back at home. He turned on the warm water and held her against him as the water streamed over their bodies. “Remember when I had to hold you up?” asked Dominick.
“How could I forget?” Sally smiled. “I still get a little nervous standing in a slippery shower.”
“Don’t worry, darling. I’ve still got you,” assured Dominick. He always held her waist or hip to ensure she knew she would not fall. With his free hand, he washed her back slowly with a sponge and massaged her breasts with soap. He kissed her while doing so and let her turn around slowly and wash his back as well. Sally loved Dominick’s broad shoulders. His skin was tan from the hot African sun. Even Dominick’s muscular butt was bronze.
“Um, how is it that your butt is tan?” asked Sally with a smile.
“Me bum?” asked Dominick with delight. “I swim naked in the river sometimes. It’s just you and the animals, and they don’t seem to mind.”
“Oh, I don’t mind either,” assured Sally. She took his big cock in her hands and felt him grow hard quickly for her. She stroked him in the streaming water and made Dominick groan with pleasure.
“You drive me wild, Sally.” Dominick sighed. He kissed her feverishly and touched her slick twat with his thick, wet fingers.
Sally let him toy with her until Dominick steadied her against the wall and slowly drove his clean shaft into her wetness. Water streamed over them, and Sally felt like they were making love in a waterfall. He steadily thrust his cock into her pussy. The rhythmic thwacking and splashing sounds enhanced their senses. Dominick had so much strength and stamina, Sally felt he could fuck her as long as it took for her to come, even though she was already on the verge. As Dominick built up the intensity of their pace, Sally’s legs started to shake from the sheer delight until he fucked her with such intensity that she climaxed around his cock. Sally moaned and clawed Dominick’s back.
Suddenly, Dominick turned off the water and picked her up. He threw a towel on the bed and carried her there. Dominick lifted Sally’s slippery legs over his shoulders as he slid down and lapped her fresh cream.
“I want you to come again,” he told her from the edge of the bed. His eyes twinkled with delight. Knowing she was sensitive from her orgasm, Dominick ever so gently enticed her clitoris to respond to the tip of his tongue. Sally couldn’t believe how Dominick knew her body as if they had been lovers for years.
Sally languished in the pure ecstasy of Dominick’s mouth savoring her feminine core. Then, when she felt she had reached a point past hypersensitivity, she felt a resurgence of the aching need for Dominick’s cock within her again.
“Dominick, please fuck me,” she said a
s she took her hands and led his cock toward her eager cunt.
Dominick thrust inside of her to the hilt repeatedly. “I know you like that,” Dominick responded to her moans. Sally felt a fulfilling, encircling heat of pleasure forming deep within her vagina from Dominick’s penetration. Her pussy quivered and then released even more intense spasms around Dominick’s cock than ever before.
“Ah, you feel so sweet, Sally,” moaned Dominick as he came so fucking hard inside her pulsating warmth that he collapsed upon her, and the two fell asleep naked on Dominick’s bed.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Very early in the morning before sunrise, the sky still dark, Dominick drove Sally and Poppy forty-five kilometers out of Johannesburg to go hot air ballooning.
“It feels like I should still be sleeping,” said Poppy. “So what’s Boston like, Sally?”
“Oh, it’s cold in the winter. We get plenty of snow. Does it snow here?” asked Sally.
“It rarely snows here, usually just in the mountains. Right, Dominick?” asked Poppy.
“Well, we had a few flakes in the city a year ago and then back in the eighties,” confirmed Dominick.
“Wow. I can’t imagine life without snow in the winter. But then, you do have all of this natural summer-like beauty for much of the year,” said Sally.
When they arrived at the takeoff site, other visitors had already arrived. They all ate a hearty English breakfast as the men fired up the hot air balloons. A powerful blast of fire shot high out from double brass igniters to lift the balloon. As the sun rose, they rode in a large brown basket below a white-blue-and-yellow hot air balloon over the Magaliesberg Mountains and the Cradle of Humankind.
“This is so amazing!” exclaimed Poppy, as they rode among the mountain peaks. “Look, leopards!” She pointed to them running through the bush below.
Beacon Hill Beauties (Siren Publishing Allure) Page 10
