by Claire Adams
“Are you coming?” I grinned slyly.
Dirk lunged forward and grabbed me by the waist. He carried me into the bathroom with ease, his lips already on mine. The kiss was deep and passionate, hungry and desperate. The way his tongue slid against mine sent chills cascading down my spine. I moaned against his lips, and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me.
Once the bathroom door clicked closed behind us, we tore at each other’s clothes with abandon. I needed to feel every inch of his skin against mine.
“I’ve been waiting all damn day for this,” Dirk moaned as he slid my panties off my legs. His lips never slowed. He kissed my mouth and my neck, bending down to nip at my tits. Every inch of skin he could reach was claimed by his lips.
My entire body was already on fire. When I reached behind me to turn on the shower, the heat only drove us forward. Dirk lifted me into his arms again and stepped under the spray.
I wrapped my legs around his waist, feeling his throbbing cock against my pussy. I was sopping wet, dripping down my legs and his. I rubbed my hips against him, making him groan with desperate pleasure.
“Come here,” he demanded.
The water fell over us as he set me on my feet. He gently spun me around and bent me forward. The hot, steamy water poured over my head as Dirk positioned himself behind me.
“Your ass is fucking fantastic,” he growled and slapped one cheek, then the other.
The vibrations he sent shooting through my body made me moan his name. He leaned forward and kissed my shoulder while one hand slid between my legs. I opened myself to him, letting him push himself inside of me.
I pressed my hands against the shower tiles as Dirk thrust his hips forward. He was completely inside of me — filling me and making me moan and tremble. I pushed myself back against him, begging him to go deeper than before.
“Holy shit,” I moaned and threw my head back while Dirk took me from behind.
He grabbed hold of my wet hair and tangled his fingers in it. He tugged just enough to make my pleasure soar. We’d only just started, and already, I was on the brink of an orgasm.
When he trailed his hand around my hip, his fingers searching frantically for my clit, I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold back for another second. His wet fingers had barely pressed against me before I cried out and shoved my ass back against his cock.
I came so hard that my legs shook beneath me and my mind went blank. My pussy tightened around him, and he grunted with pleasure, pumping harder and harder inside of me. I was grateful for the falling water, hoping against hope it would drown out my screams of pleasure.
But Dirk wasn’t finished with me yet. I came again before he was even close. He massaged my tits and clit, bit and kissed my shoulder, made me shake and tremble with ecstasy. Just when I thought I couldn’t take another second, I came a third time as he shot forward with a moan of a delirious satisfaction.
His cock pulsed inside of me, making my last orgasm longer than ever. I could barely stand. I couldn’t think or breathe. When he pulled away from me, I almost toppled to the tiled floor. His strong arms swept out to catch me, and his lips were on mine again.
“That,” I breathed heavily, “was amazing.”
Dirk kissed me again and held my trembling body against his. I wrapped myself around him and snuggled against his chest. The water continued to fall all around us as we regained control of our bodies. When I could finally stand on my own, I pulled away from him just enough to look up at his face.
His eyes were dark with exhausted desire, and his lips were slightly parted. I could have stared at that face for hours, but I knew our time was limited.
Standing on my tiptoes, I kissed him again. I poured all my emotions into that one kiss before I washed myself off and climbed out of the shower.
“I’ll meet you on the patio,” I said as I toweled off.
I hurried into my bedroom to get dressed while Dirk finished in the shower. By the time he joined me outside, I was already cuddled in the hammock with a blanket tucked around me. When he saw me, his eyes filled with something I didn’t recognize. It wasn’t hunger or desire — it wasn’t anything I was used to seeing from him.
Before I could question it, it was gone. He climbed into the hammock beside me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I nestled myself against him, wrapping the blanket back around us both.
The hammock swayed slightly beneath us as we looked out over the water. It was dark, but the moon was full, and it illuminated the water in a beautifully eerie glow.
“Tell me something,” Dirk said quietly.
“What do you want to know?”
“Something about yourself,” he said. “Something I don’t already know.”
“My left elbow is double jointed,” I said without hesitation.
He laughed and nudged me in the ribs. I chuckled and leaned closer to him. His arms felt so comforting around me that I never wanted to move. I just wanted to spend the rest of the night out here, soaking in the ocean breeze and the feel of Dirk beside me.
“Tell me about your last boyfriend,” he said simply.
I froze. We’d had many serious conversations over the past three weeks, but none were about my personal life. I didn’t know what this meant or if I should even answer his question.
“Or, your family,” Dirk said with a shrug. “Anything.”
“My family isn’t that interesting,” I said. “My parents aren’t really around, and I’m an only child. Nothing special.”
“And the boyfriend?” he pressed.
I sighed and twisted around to face him. His blue eyes stared back at me, unblinking. I wondered why he was asking these questions, but I couldn’t bring myself to deny him the answers. That night, I wouldn’t have denied Dirk anything.
“We dated for three years,” I said. “It was before I become an escort. We met in high school, and, well, you know how high school relationships go.”
“You went your separate ways?”
“We had to,” I said. “He was moving, and I didn’t want to go with him. We tried long distance for a few months, but he never got over the fact that I stayed behind. He said it meant I didn’t love him.”
“That sucks,” Dirk said with a sigh.
I laughed. “It’s life. Besides, my story isn’t half as sad as yours. Widower. Single dad. Come on.”
Dirk chuckled and nodded. He knew I was right. There was no point arguing.
“I just wanted to know more about you,” he said softly. “Anything you want to tell me, I want to know.”
I sunk into him, letting him kiss my hair and breathe me in. We spent the rest of the night like that. Just holding each other and talking about our pasts. Dirk asked me questions, and I returned the favor. It wasn’t until the sun came up that I realized I’d been more honest with him than I’d ever been with anyone before.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Dirk
Monday marked the beginning of our last week in California. I woke up that morning both excited and overwhelmed. So much had happened in my life since we’d arrived at the resort. I couldn’t believe we’d only been there three weeks and yet, our time was about to end. This time next week, I’d be loading the girls on a plane to head home.
Josie was already dreading it. She didn’t want to leave. No matter how many times I promised we’d be back soon, she refused to believe it. All she wanted was to stay put and continue enjoying her “new life” in California with Marissa.
If I was being honest with myself, I didn’t want to leave either. The idea of packing up and returning to New York was almost too much to bear. I didn’t know what would happen between Marissa and me once we made it back home. Would everything between us just fade away? Would she insist we stop seeing each other and just move on with our lives? I wondered.
Deep down, I knew Marissa cared about me. Our time together meant more than just the completion of a contract. We were in this together. I only hoped that would continue in New York.
“Where are you going?” Josie asked as I slipped my shoes on my feet.
“To talk to Shawn,” I said simply. “It’s our last week here, and I want to plan some special things for us.”
“Special?” Marissa’s eyebrows rose.
I just nodded and stepped out into the hall. Marissa had most of the morning planned already. She had created a few new Spanish puzzles for Josie and even looked up some German ones. She said she didn’t want Josie to get behind on her other languages.
It was amazing how quickly Marissa had bonded with Josie. When we first met, I knew they would get along great. It wasn’t just because Marissa was studying to be a child psychologist. There was so much more to it than that. She and Josie just fit together. They flowed together. It was a beautiful sight to see, and I never wanted my daughter to lose that connection.
As I walked down the hall, I crossed paths with John and Sammy. They were coming back from having breakfast, walking arm in arm with bright smiles on their faces.
“Man,” I said when I saw them. “The hits just keep on coming.”
“What?” John blinked.
“I woke up this morning and realized it was our last week here,” I said. “Felt like a punch to the gut.”
“Ah,” Sammy said. “You’re going to miss us! Isn’t he cute, John?”
“The cutest,” John teased. I rolled my eyes.
“I’m going to miss everything about this place,” I said. “And, Josie, she’s all but refusing to leave.”
“She’ll be fine,” Sammy said. “Once you settle on a house in town, she’ll be okay.”
“I know.” I nodded.
“We’ll catch up with you guys later,” John said. “We don’t have any plans today, so we’ll be around.”
“Sounds good.” I smiled.
I stepped around them and continued my trek to the lobby. John and Sammy had become two of my best friends almost overnight. It was crazy. I’d known Stanley and Eloise for years, but I never would have opened up to them about my feelings. It was rare that Stan and I talked about anything other than business or his desire to see me “get laid.”
Our friendship with John and Sammy was another thing that strengthened my resolve. They were great, and Marissa loved them. Josie was already talking about how much she wanted to meet their son. She was planning play dates in her mind. I couldn’t stand to tear either one of them away from our new friends so soon.
Still, I knew we didn’t have a choice. Our time in California was ending, and we all had to make the best of it.
I stepped up to Shawn’s desk, but he was nowhere around. He always found his way back to the desk quickly, so I stood aside and waited.
Part of me didn’t like the idea of conferring with Shawn about anything. He’d made it clear that he had a crush on Marissa. It hadn’t bothered me at first, but now that Marissa and I were really together, I hated to watch any other man ogle her. Even one as nice as Shawn.
“Mr. Mathis!” Shawn hurried over to his desk when he saw me. “How can I help you this morning?”
“Call me Dirk,” I said. Shawn just smiled. “I’m looking for a few things to do this week. We’re leaving next Monday.”
“So soon?” he asked, disappointment in his eyes.
“We’ve been here three weeks,” I said. That did nothing to brighten Shawn’s mood. “Anyway, I want Marissa and Josie to remember this trip. None of us are looking forward to leaving, so I thought I’d plan a few things to fill the week. Something to take our minds off the trip ending.”
He was nodding before I even finished my speech. He looked down at his computer and began typing away. I looked around the lobby while he clicked and scrolled, looking for the right thing. It wasn’t long before my eyes fell on a familiar, but unwelcome face.
Eloise stepped into the lobby, and like a hawk, her eyes found mine. I nodded politely and then turned away quickly. The last thing I needed was a conversation with Stan’s wife.
Eloise and I hadn’t spoken a word to each other since my blowup with Stan on the golf course. I’d seen her a handful of times, but she’d been gracious enough to walk the other way. Now, it seemed, that was over. When I looked back over my shoulder, she was stalking toward me with a determined glint in her eyes.
I looked at Shawn, silently begging him to hurry. If I could slip away before Eloise reached me, then-
I didn’t get the chance. Just as Shawn lifted his head, Eloise arrived at my side. I didn’t look at her at first. Instead, I stared at Shawn and pretended I hadn’t yet seen her. When she cleared her throat, I knew I couldn’t ignore her for long.
With a sigh, I turned around to face her. She was glaring at me with something more than anger. I knew our conversation wouldn’t be pleasant, but I hadn’t expected her to look ready to kill me. I took a step back and frowned.
“You have some serious explaining to do,” she hissed.
I blinked. “What are you talking about, Eloise?”
“I think you know exactly what I’m talking about!” Her voice was already beginning to rise. I glanced around us, grateful to find the lobby still empty at this time of day.
“I really don’t.” I was completely dumbfounded. What on earth had Eloise so angry?
“Ha!” She laughed and rolled her eyes. “Even you aren’t that stupid, Dirk.”
“If this is about Stan,” I said, “then, it’s not really any of your business. Mine and Stan’s friendship has simply run its course, Eloise. We have nothing in common anymore and-”
“I should hope not,” she said, spitting the words like venom. “My Stanley would never sink to your level. He would never be anything like you!”
“What the hell are you ranting about?” I demanded. I was getting impatient. The morning was almost over and there were things I wanted to do today with Marissa and Josie.
Eloise just glared at me again and took a tiny step toward me. Her eyes were almost black as she narrowed them in disgust.
“You hired that little bitch to play your girlfriend!” she screamed. “I couldn’t believe it when I found out. I told Stan it wasn’t true. I denied it and denied it because I thought I knew you. Dirk Mathis. A kind businessman. A loving father. I refused to believe you were capable of something so disgusting, but I was wrong.
“You hired Marissa! She’s just a worthless whore, brought here on our dime to fulfill your sick fantasies!”
My heart stopped beating. My breath caught in my throat, and I sputtered incoherently. Of all the things I thought Eloise might say, this was the last. How did she find out about Marissa? Who could have possibly told her? I wondered. Not even John and Sammy knew the truth. No one did. No one except Marissa and me.
My eyes darted around the lobby, any excuse to avoid meeting Eloise’s eye. When I looked up, my eyes fell instantly on three faces staring at me with wide eyes. Marissa, Josie, and Sammy had all walked down to the lobby together. Josie was clinging tightly to Marissa’s hand with a confused look in her eyes. Marissa looked ready to cry, and Sammy stared between me and Eloise with wide, fearful eyes.
I couldn’t believe this was happening. In those few seconds, I felt like my entire world was spinning out from beneath my feet. I was going to topple over and keep falling for the rest of my life. Nothing could prevent it. Nothing could save me.
“We invited you here out of love,” Eloise said. She was still screaming, but I barely heard a word she said. Behind her, Marissa, Josie, and Sammy were slowly walking forward.
“You invited me here to do business,” I said weakly. It was all I could think to say.
“Bullshit!” she snapped. “You are our oldest friend, and we trusted you! When you told us you were dating again, we never doubted you! Not for a second. God, how I wanted to believe in you. I knew my darling Amelia would never fall in love with a man so horrendous. I told Stan Marissa couldn’t be a whore, she just couldn’t. I told him that Dirk Mathis, Amelia Mathis’ husband, would never be so abhorrent.�
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My eyes widened at the mention of my wife’s name. For the first time in years, Amelia had faded to the back of my mind. I’d been so immersed in my new relationship with Marissa that I hadn’t let myself miss my wife.
The sound of her name on Eloise’s lips filled my stomach with a weighted pit. My throat constricted, and I couldn’t breathe.
“She would be disgusted!” Eloise continued. “If she could see you now, she wouldn’t even recognize you. I know I don’t. Hiring a pretend girlfriend! Going to a hooker for comfort! What were you thinking?”
I just stared. Marissa, Josie, and Sammy were standing right beside us now. Eloise hadn’t noticed them, and I was grateful for that. I silently begged Sammy to take the girls away from here. This wasn’t something either of them needed to witness.
“She’s nothing more than a worthless slut!” Eloise said. “And, you brought her here! To mingle with us. You let me hug her. I tried to bond with her. How dare you?”
My eyes flickered to Marissa’s face. It was just a split second, but it was long enough to draw Eloise’s attention away from me. She turned on her heel to see Marissa standing right there. Eloise’s eyes darkened dangerously as she turned back to me.
I looked at Marissa, then Josie, then Sammy. My mouth felt glued shut. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t speak. I’d never felt so paralyzed in my life. All I wanted was for them to leave, for Marissa to scoop Josie into her arms and run away from here.
“Look at her.” Eloise scoffed. “God, I should have known the truth all along. She even looks like a trashy slut. That’s who you hired, Dirk? That’s the whore you picked?”
My mouth fell open, but no words came out. I wanted to defend myself and Marissa. I wanted to protect Josie from everything happening right before her eyes, but I couldn’t. My body was betraying me, refusing to let me back in control.
All I could do was stare, open-mouthed and horrified, as Eloise turned on Marissa.
Chapter Thirty
Marissa
The entire world froze as the hateful words Eloise spewed fell on my ears. She glared from Dirk to me and then back again. There was malice in her eyes, an anger so strong it felt like hot whips were lashing across my face. I didn’t know what to say or do. Josie was still clinging to my hand, but I could feel her beginning to shake at my side. I looked down at her for a split second, and Eloise pounced.
