Kyla leaned against the door. She was wearing some low cut number, which actually made her more flat chested than she was. It didn’t do a thing for her, though it was obvious she thought she looked amazing. “So, it’s been a couple days. I figured you might be missing me.”
I pointed to the door, shocked she’d showed up and got through the necessary departments to locate me. “Turn back around and get out. You aren’t permitted here, and even if you were, I wouldn’t want to see you. Why can’t you get it through your head? There is no us. I love my wife. That will never change. She’s my soul mate. She’s the reason I want to continue living.”
I could tell she was hurt by my words, not that I cared. She’d done this to herself. “I don’t believe that. If you loved her so much then why were you with me? Why were your hands on my body instead of hers?”
She had a valid point; one I’d been asking myself since this had been discovered. “I don’t know. All I can tell you is that it has nothing to do with feelings. I don’t love you, and I will never love you. They are the only facts I have. Frankly, I don’t give a damn if you believe me or not. The next call I make will be to the police to have a protective order put out against you. Get it through your thick head, Kyla. There is no us, and there never was. Furthermore, there never will be. You were a cheap screw. That’s all I will ever see you as.” I motioned for the door. “Find your way out. We’re done here.”
I was tired of her immature games. She needed to get the hell out of my life and stay away.
As soon as I was able to take a break, I headed to the local sheriff’s department to see about the protection order. I was done hoping she’d leave me alone. I needed to make sure it never happened again.
A good hour later I walked outside feeling like I’d accomplished something great. She’d be served with papers, thanks to a quick push from an old buddy of mine who still worked for the force. Back when I’d delivered parcels, he’d been one of my regular customers. He’d always included me in fantasy football leagues, and occasionally we’d have a beer. This time I needed his help for something more serious, and he was happy to oblige, but only after I explained my reasoning. Admitting what I’d done to my marriage was difficult to do. Halfway through I felt like I was going to lose my shit in front of him. I managed to keep it together, even after I explained Rachel had moved out.
Before I pulled away from my parking spot I took out my phone and called Rachel. “Grayson, it’s not a good time.”
Of course it wasn’t. There would never be one. “I’ll make it quick. I’m changing my phone number. I’ll text you from the new one. Kyla will no longer be a problem in our lives. I’ve made sure she isn’t to come within five-hundred feet of us.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it. I have a feeling she’s just getting started. Apparently you’re a hard man to forget.”
“Is that coming from experience?”
In the background I heard someone speaking and then her laughing. “Sorry, Grayson. I’m in the middle of something. I need to call you back later.”
Before I could respond she’d hung up.
I wondered if she was with him. I hadn’t heard her laugh in a long while. As delightful as it made me feel, I also knew there was someone entertaining her; possibly the same guy she’d had at the house. Fear swept over me. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t accuse her of something, because she’d be pissed. I didn’t even think I had a right to. Hadn’t I caused this to happen? Hadn’t my infidelity been the culprit to begin with?
The downward spiral I was on didn’t seem to be slowing down. No matter how hard I tried to stay afloat, I was drowning in my own misery. Without a paddle to fight my way free, I was afraid I’d hit rock bottom.
Chapter 22
Rachel
“What about this one?” I ran my fingers over the soft microfiber material of the sleeper sofa. “I wouldn’t need a bed if I got this one.”
“You need a bed. This one is nice. It’s comfortable, but if you get the futon for the spare bedroom you won’t need a third bed. Get something you love and stop staring at the price tags. Like I said before, it’s my treat.”
“You and I are partners. I’m not letting you buy my furniture.”
“It’s a business expense. I won’t need to buy new furniture for the business, so this helps me.” He directed my attention to another set in the far corner. “That’s more your style.”
I acted like it wasn’t, because him knowing my tastes made me uneasy. “It’s ugly.”
He cackled something under his breath, took my hand and drug me over until I was plopped down on the fat cushion. “It’s perfect.”
I went to look at the price and he smacked my hand away. “Stop it. Do you like it or not?”
I shrugged. “Either way you’re going to make me get it aren’t you?”
“Unless you want to be roommates with me indefinitely?”
As annoying as he was, he had a point. “Fine. I’ll get this and the chair. I don’t need the loveseat. It’s too big.”
“Good choice. What about the memory foam mattress? Is that a definite?”
“What? Are you crazy? It’s outrageous.”
“It’s yours. Trust me. Once you sleep on mine, you will want one for yourself.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to sell things for a living? You’re pretty darn good at it.”
Chad smiled, taking my hand and bringing it up to his face. He ran his lips over it, but never really kissed it. “Let’s get the paperwork done on this stuff. I’m starving.”
It took a bit of time to get things ordered, but once we were finished we stopped for a drink before heading back to his place. At first I thought he was trying to get me drunk, but seemed fine when I ordered a non-alcoholic beverage.
Chad sat across from me, sipping on a cold beer in a frozen glass. “Ah, that hits the spot.”
“I forgot you were old enough to drink,” I teased.
Beyond the glass I saw his amused grimace. He sat his drink down and licked his full lips. The things he’d done with those lips. “It bothers you, doesn’t it? My age gets to you.”
I shrugged. “I guess a little bit. Doesn’t it bother you?”
“Younger men like older women. It’s not a big deal at all to me. I’ve messed around with women older than you. It was all in fun.”
“Oh,” I questioned. “So you do this often?”
“No. I’ve just had my fair share of experiences. I know what I like. I’m particular.”
“I’ve seen the type of women you like.”
“Actually, you haven’t. The girls I bring to parties aren’t who I spend my time with outside of fancy schmancy events. I like women with intellect. I prefer someone who is equal to me rather than inexperienced.”
“So who are the women you bring around to events?”
He smirked. “Promise you won’t laugh?”
“I guess.”
“I bring them around because secretly my grandfather is a closet pervert. He gets such a kick out of slutty women. Most are my friends from college. They do it for a free night out. We have a good time together, and I don’t have to worry about them trying to steal my shit. The last real girlfriend I had was a school teacher. She taught seventh grade English and had a four year old son. She was divorced, and looking for someone to take over the roll of daddy. I wasn’t ready for that type of commitment, especially with what’s going on in the business. Maybe if the timing was different I could have devoted more time to the relationship, but it’s better it ended. She needed someone who worked a nine to five shift. That’s never going to be me.”
“I thought you were a womanizer.”
“Yeah, I get that a lot. Honestly, I don’t care. It keeps the gold diggers at bay. I’m picky, and more than anything I don’t want my poor grandfather to know I like my women a bit more mature.”
Once again my face was flush. “Why are you just mentioning this?”
“You nev
er asked. We aren’t exactly a couple. I didn’t think it was your business to know. We’re friends, Rachel. I have more than one friend. I tell it like it is. Being with you is enjoyable. I like the challenge, and it doesn’t hurt that you’re fucking beautiful. Do you even know how gorgeous you are?”
“Are you being serious, or joking around?”
“Serious.” He reached his hand over and brushed my chin. “It’s too bad we can’t get freaky anymore. I had high hopes for our next encounter.”
Imagining it was all I needed to feel winded. Chad knew it too. He snickered and turned in another direction to hide his amusement. “You’re not being very fair. You know I have a ton on my plate.”
Chad put his arm around me playfully. “I’m playing around, Rach. Calm down. I’m cool with us being friends. I’m even cool with you sleeping over, even if we won’t be in the same room. I know you’re going through a tough time. I shouldn’t joke about it. The truth is I want you. I want you more than once. If you change your mind let me know. Until then, I’ll be the guy you can turn to. We’re associates. We’re partners. I know you didn’t like me before.”
“I never said that.”
He laughed. “Yeah right. You never had to. It was blatantly obvious. You hated my guts. You think I didn’t notice the looks you gave me?”
I started to giggle. “Okay fine. I thought you were a spoiled prick. That was before.”
“Before what? Before I blew your mind?”
I rolled my eyes. “Among other things. Honestly, I think you’re a nice guy. I do hope we can be friends. I don’t have many of them right now.”
“You mean the world to my grandfather. I won’t let you down.”
I was nervous about staying with Chad, but he was right about being able to sleep in a bed. I had no idea who lived in the apartment before me, and without that knowledge I wouldn’t have been able to get any rest on dirty carpet. I’d call in the morning and arrange for it to be cleaned thoroughly before the furniture got delivered.
“Thank you for helping me get some furniture for my place. I was prepared to wait it out until I had the cash.”
He opened his apartment door and I was shocked. It was like a studio, but I could tell there were more rooms along the walls. Large wooden doors on sliders were hung from some kind of antique looking mechanism.
Chad sat his keys on the granite kitchen counter and started showing me around. “This is obviously where the meals are prepared, when I get a hair up my ass and crave mac and cheese.”
I laughed and followed behind him. We came to the living room. He had a video game chair in the center closest to the TV., and a sectional around the rest of the area. “This is where I binge on porn. Be careful sitting. You never know where it’s sticky.”
When I acted like it disgusted me he shook his head, obviously understanding I took him seriously, when he’d been joking the whole time. “That’s where I’ll be sleeping, Rach. Your room is over here.” I lingered behind him, taking my time checking out everything he’d decorated with. Most of the house was in gray hues. He had black furniture, including his barstools at the counter. His bedroom was exquisite though. A four poster bed sat in the middle of the large room. Layers of fabric were draped at the tops, hanging down each corner. A red comforter was crisply spread across the mattress, with a large amount of pillows surrounding. The dresser and armoire were supersized, and I knew these weren’t purchased at a local dealer. “Where did you get this set? It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
“It was my mothers. All of it, including the bedding. It’s one of the only things I have of hers, aside from her ashes.” He pointed to a fancy urn in the middle of the dresser. “Before she died she made sure my grandparents knew I was to get this. They’d had it stored until I moved out.”
“It’s amazing,” I said as I ran my fingers over the fabric. “It looks brand new.”
“I don’t sleep with it. When I knew you were coming I had my cleaning lady stop by and change the sheets. The cover always sits folded on the chaise, but when she cleans she puts it on to make it look fancy. I’d hate myself if I ruined it. It was one of my mom’s favorite things. She had some lady custom make it.”
“It is amazing, Chad. You’re sweet to keep it displayed.”
“I was a momma’s boy. Maybe that’s why I have a habit of dating women with children.”
“Are you sure you want me to sleep in here?”
“Positive. Make yourself at home. I was raised to be a gentlemen. Since you thought I was a douche, it’s important I prove you wrong. I can’t have you working at my side and whispering to the employees how much of a dick you think I am.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“You would. It’s fine. Anyway, I’m just going to grab some of my things and get a shower. You’re welcome to stick your bag in the closet if you need more room. Did you want to look at menus while you wait?” He ran out of the bedroom and came back with a handful of them. “Pick what you’d like. I’ll be done in ten.”
I sat down on the memory foam mattress and started buzzing through the take out menus. Then I heard something that made me giggle. Chad was singing, not just a popular song, but one from the show we’d seen the other night. I held my hand over my mouth and listened for a second before getting up and following the sound to the bathroom. The door was cracked open, and I wasn’t prepared for his shower door to be so crystal clear. Most have scum or buildup, but not his. Displaying everything God blessed him with, Chad continued belting out tunes as he washed his hair. I stood there admiring him like a peeping tom. It was terrible, but I couldn’t stop. Every inch of him called me closer. I yearned to feel his hands on me again, touching me, and giving me pleasure that took the pain away.
I started to leave, with my hand on the doorknob, but I couldn’t take another step. There I was, in his home, standing a few feet from his naked body, and all I could think about was stripping down and joining him.
I shuffled out of my clothes, each article giving me more time to change my mind. Then, standing stark naked before him, I slowly made my way to the large shower door. I placed my hand flat on the glass and watched him turn. The moment our eyes met I knew what I was getting in to. He put his hand up to match mine on the opposing side of the door. It was a silent moment between us. He was connecting with me, telling me it was okay to be scared, resilient, and also eager at the same time.
We said nothing as the door opened and he pulled me inside. Chad stared in my eyes, once again silently communicating with me without the use of words. He wiped the falling beads of water away from my face and leaned forward to kiss me.
I couldn’t stop it. I wanted it more than I needed to breathe. “Take the pain away,” I whispered.
He pulled my hair back away from my face and brought his forehead to mine. “I remember the first time I ever saw you. You came to my grandparents house for the holiday. I was just a kid, but I could remember how beautiful you were back then. You must have been in your early twenties. I remember thinking to myself someday I wanted to be with a woman as beautiful as you.”
I was speechless for a brief moment. My lips parted and Chad placed his against them. “I never told anyone that before, but I wanted you to know it. I’ve always wanted you to approve of me, not because you worked for the company and I would someday run it, but because you seemed like the perfect woman to strive to impress.”
“You’re doing a fine job. Don’t stop now,” I teased.
“Seriously, Rach. Even if you told me to stop, I’d be okay with it, because I got to know parts of you I never thought I would. You think you’re weak, but I see you as strong. I might be your distraction. Hell, that’s probably all I am. I’m okay with it. I’ll be here for as long as you need me to.”
“Why?”
“I can’t answer that. All I know is, when we’re in the same room I need to be close to you. I want to touch you; to taste you. It consumes me. When you’re around I feel starved. I kno
w you’re forbidden fruit, but I can’t help myself. I have to take a bite.” He kept stroking my hair as he explained. “Tell me you want me to stop. Say the words and I’ll climb out of this shower and leave you alone. Tell me you climbed in here with me because you want to be fucked. Give me a reason to devour you.”
There was no turning around and dressing. I wouldn’t be wearing clothes for the rest of the night, and I think we both knew it without a verbal answer. I couldn’t help myself. I had to feel his body against mine. “I can give you a million reasons why you shouldn’t, but I’m not going to. I can’t help myself.”
Our lips collided and the world around us disappeared once again. Like a magician, he put me under a spell and I was at his mercy. Nothing could help me now, not even my guilty conscience.
Chapter 23
Rachel
Chad’s touch was like fire igniting across my skin then the flame turning to ice as it made contact. I was burning up and shivering at the same time. I couldn’t control my breathing, and as the beads of water fell down my face, I felt his mouth continuously invading my most sensitive of areas.
In order to keep my knees from buckling, I held onto each side of the walls, my head falling back against the hard tile. His tongue, like a battery operated device, lapped at my clitoris, sending me into a flash of jubilation. I was elated with pleasure, overwhelmed by the waves of enjoyment he was providing me.
With each flick, my body reacted with a shudder. His own groans vibrated off my pussy, sending me into an uncontrolled frenzy. I let my hands down and dug them into his thick hair, holding him in place while I screamed out in ecstasy.
My legs were weak, but Chad never faltered. He didn’t give me time to recuperate from my first orgasm before plunging multiple fingers deep inside my channel. I almost fell forward¸ losing my grip on his hair and shaking profusely. His strong arms steadied me, keeping me at bay while he worked his skilled magic. His strokes were patterned, and as his mouth continued to frolic amidst my clit, pulsations whipped over the area. My body was once again convulsing. I’d never experienced such an intense release before. This time Chad lost control over my body. I sunk down to the shower floor across from him, catching his stare as I came to terms with what had just transpired. “Oh my god! Holy shit.”
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