Painted Passion

by Latisha Brandon

  Kevin picked up a glass of wine, having anticipated her response. “Here’s your glass of wine. Take your coat off and dance with me.” He set down the wine and began to unbutton her coat, pulling her closer as he did so.

  “I have two left feet. I’m a born klutz! What’s the name of the album we’re listening to?” she asked, trying to change the subject.

  “The greatest album ever recorded…Songs In The Key Of Life…Mr. Stevie Wonder, 1976.”

  “I beg to differ. The greatest album ever recorded was Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin, 1975.” Ashlyn sipped her wine, thriving on the debate.

  “I forgave you for choosing Nirvana’s Nevermind over Nas’s Illmatic, but to pick an English rock band over Stevie is an insult!”

  “When I brought you the album, you never gave it a chance, you skipped through the songs.” Ashlyn toed off her boots as she defended her choices.

  “The lyrics made no sense. Besides, it scared the hell out of me.” He didn’t understand the appeal.

  “Listen to Led Zeppelin’s ‘Kashmir’ and you’ll instantly get the attraction.”

  He issued a challenge. “I’ll listen to the song, if you dance to it while I sit on the couch watching,” he said and topped of her glass.

  With the wine, she felt fearless. Hopefully whatever humiliating act she committed tonight, she would forget tomorrow. Ashlyn gazed at him over the rim of her crystal glass. “I’m going to need more incentive to dance.”

  “How about if I give you the present I bought for you. I was going to give it to you now…but I think I’ll wait until after you dance.” Kevin took the first sip from his glass.

  “I do love gifts, but why should I dance for it when you were going to give to me anyway?” Ashlyn swayed to the music. “What’s this song called again?”

  “ ‘Knocks Me off My Feet,’ from the album you were debating against.” Kevin moved the center table, blowing out the candles on it first. “It’s a matter of getting the present now or in the distant, distant future.” He sat down. “The choice is yours.”

  She knew he was challenging her, once again getting her to step out of her comfort zone. Ashlyn drank the last of her wine, because she needed the liquid courage. She took her iPod out of her pocket and plugged it into his sound system, selecting the track ‘Kashmir.’

  The heavy drum beat was instantaneous. She walked to the middle of the floor, closing her eyes. She swayed, letting the music carry her. She forgot her surroundings, gyrating down with the growling voice. She felt free, expressing herself through a physical act. Ashlyn crawled and turned onto her back. She arched her spine, her graceful arms above her, before bringing them back down to the hem of her shirt. She came up from the floor, raising her shirt at the same time. She threw the shirt at him. His stunned expression fed her drive.

  Ashlyn turned her back to him, dropping down a few times before unsnapping her jeans, working hard to get them over her hips, past her thighs, and down her calves. She kicked them away from her feet, running her hands down her body. She now wore a matching bra and panties set. Her fingers flew to her hair as she rocked her head from side to side. Her fingers touched her pink tongue before she sent one hand down her chest, sliding beneath her bra.

  * * *

  Kevin was stunned. He knew she was passionate, but he was witnessing eroticism at its highest. Her red hair covered her face and he could barely make out her open mouth. He slid down a little further on the couch, thankful for the eight-minute song. She could dance. Her hips hit every downbeat, and Kevin’s eyes ate it up, storing memories. This was a new side to her, sexy and playful. She had taken it a huge step forward.

  Ashlyn turned to him when the music ended, whipping her tangled hair out of her face. Her heart was pounding, sweat sliding down her chest and back. This act was so unlike her she hardly recognized herself. She stood proudly, boldly, undressed, and embracing her vibrant sexuality.

  Kevin stood up but she pushed him back down on the couch, sitting on his lap. “Where’s my gift?”

  He looked into her luminous green eyes. “Who told you that you couldn’t dance?”

  “I just assumed I couldn’t. Whenever I went out dancing with friends, I froze and could never catch the beat.” She traced his eyebrows.

  Kevin kissed her. “I guess you just needed me around.”

  “Maybe.” She began to pat his pockets, looking for her present.

  He knew what she sought, but he wanted to tease her slightly. “I do think you should only dance for me.”

  “You don’t think the average club attendee would appreciate my moves?”

  “I think they would appreciate them too much…please keep the dancing at home.”

  “Is that a request or a demand?”

  “You and I are both aware that it does me little good to make demands.” Kevin pulled her hand from his back pocket. “What are you so diligently searching for?”

  “I must be getting hot. My dance was gift worthy, in my oh-so-humble opinion.”

  He kissed the tip of her nose, a habit he had formed lately, then he studied her.

  She found his perusal strange. It was as if he had come to some decision.

  Kevin knew the time was now right. “Give me your hand.” He pulled the box from under a pillow and placed it in the center of her extended hand.

  She gazed in awe at the blue box with a satin white ribbon.

  “Are you going to open it? The gift is inside.”

  “The box is so pretty.”

  “Ash, you have to open it.” He’d never seen her behave this way.

  “Just the box and the thought are good enough. In case you haven’t guessed, I’m a sucker for jewelry. For some women it’s shoes or bags, but for me it’s jewelry.” Ashlyn slowly pulled the satin ribbon, expecting a broach or earrings. She let the ribbon fall to her lap and lifted the lid on the box. Inside was another, smaller box.

  She moved so slowly, Kevin had to stop himself from taking over. He was impatient, waiting for her reaction. He knew she expected the antique cameo broach they’d found one day. She made such a fuss over the item, but it was already sold, and no amount of money Kevin offered could get the dealer to change his mind.

  She’d walked out with her head down, like a sullen child. Kevin had found a broach along the same lines, but he planned on giving it to her at Christmas. He was well aware of her love of jewelry, especially unique pieces.

  Ashlyn’s screams pierced his eardrums. He’d daydreamed through her opening the smaller box. “The color of the stone matches your eyes,” he said.

  Her mouth was open, but no words came out. Her eyes questioned him, wanting to know the meaning of the square-cut emerald ring with side diamonds, set in platinum. The size and brilliance of the stones spoke above a friendly gift. The ring suggested permanence, longevity.

  Kevin removed the ring and slid it on her ring finger. The fit was perfect. He hadn’t chosen a traditional ring because it wouldn’t suit her personality. She was a study in contrasts. He kissed the knuckle above the ring, not letting go of her hand.

  She tilted her head to the side, watching him. The man she loved wanted to tie his life to hers.

  “Will you marry me, Ashlyn Brianna Farrell? Will you accept me as your partner? Can we walk this life together?” It seemed as if he waited for a lifetime for her answer.

  “Yes.”

  * * *

  A few evenings later Ashlyn found herself sitting on a private Learjet, destination Las Vegas. She always flew first class, but this was miles above it. Her shoes were off and her feet were on a leather ottoman. A personal flight attendant catered to her every whim, even before she knew she wanted something. If her colleagues could see her now, they would denounce this a blatant and careless use of natural resources, but she didn’t have the power to summon an argument. She and Kevin were on their way to Vegas to The Little White Wedding Chapel, the same place her parents married. Kevin pecked away on his tablet, handling last-minute bu
siness.

  She had to know. “Kevin, how can you afford a house overlooking Washington Square, a condo on the water, a Learjet to Las Vegas, and a six-figure engagement ring?”

  Not looking up from the screen, he said, “Seven-figure engagement ring…and don’t forget the villa in Sao Paulo.”

  “Brazil…you own a villa in Brazil?”

  “Yes, it’s the hottest place right now for street artists. Os Gemeos, which is Portuguese for ‘the twins’, are setting the scene right now. They’ve created a brilliant fusion of hip-hop and Brazilian folklore.”

  “I know about Ise, Nina Pandolfo, Koyo, and Os Gemeos, but that still doesn’t answer my question.” She’d just bought her first hybrid, and he owned three houses, could summon a jet at the snap of a finger, wore purple label clothes, drove a custom chromed-out bike, and kept a few other vehicles in storage. Her brain screamed how, and so did her mouth. “How?”

  Kevin powered off his tablet. “What took you so long?”

  “How?”

  “I’m well diversified.”

  “So am I, but I couldn’t afford to charter a Learjet.”

  Kevin moved to her side. “I’ve been waiting for your curiosity to boil over. I’m not trying to hide anything. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”

  “I know you want to know about my family, but they’re complicated.”

  “We have to deal with that complication at some point, especially after we get married. You can’t hide a marriage. If I didn’t love you so much, I wouldn’t go through with it until I met your family. For all I know, you could have been raised by a family of hobbits. You both have curly hair.” he said, pulling one of her curls.

  “The Lord of the Rings? Careful, Kevin, I believe your geek side is showing.” It was one of the things she’d discovered. He possessed a weakness for all things of a geek nature. He owned every Stars Wars movie ever made, plus a few action figures still in their boxes—to “retain value,” he said.

  “How do you afford all this?”

  Kevin hunched his shoulders. “The jet belongs to a company I helped found in Vermont.”

  “A company you helped found that can afford a jet?”

  “Have you ever heard of LDK Boarding?”

  “Of course, most of the kids new to the sports of surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding use the merchandise, even though there are older companies offering the same thing.”

  He looked insulted. “The merchandise isn’t the same. I wouldn’t co-sign an idea if it were a replica of someone else’s work.”

  “Kevin, what does this have to do with the question I asked you?”

  “LDK stands for Lawrence, Derek, and Kevin. I own a third of the company. I’m creative director, Lawrence handles production, and Derek, his twin, deals with the financial aspect of the company.”

  She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. His company was blowing away the competition. Their ideas and innovation were seen as cutting edge. Every time they put out a new product, it sold out within a matter of days.

  “Starting next fall we’re coming out with a line of sneakers and apparel. Nothing too cute, but geared toward the shops that boarders frequent.”

  “When you say you’re creative director, what exactly does that mean?”

  “I own the trademark for the LDK Boarding logo. Anytime it’s used in any fashion, I’m paid for it. I created almost every design on the skateboards, surfboards, and snowboards put out by LDK. We have other in-house designers, and we do outsource to obtain fresh ideas from new talent, but all submitted work has to be approved by me.

  “I’ve approached my partners about creating a line of bikes, cross country and street. I oversee all photo shoots with regards to advertisements. The sky is the limit. I’m still young, and I have a head full of new ideas.” Kevin also told Ashlyn about being silent partner in the club she’d attended with Vlad and commercial real estate he owned in three different states. He was also considering going into business with Sherman and his partner, who wanted to expand.

  He owned a skating park in King of Prussia and had another one opening in Pittsburgh. The parks sold LBK boarding products as well as products from competing companies, but Kevin still made a profit because he owned the business. They offered lessons, an after-school program, memberships, a snack bar, and rental skates and boards for those who couldn’t afford to own.

  The nightclub Cubus already generated a hefty profit. Kevin had come in at the right time, with suggestions about promotions and raising the status of the clientele who frequented the club.

  He explained how it really was time for him to put to use the office space he owned downtown and offer his Philadelphia assistant a full-time position. His other assistant was based in Burlington. His ventures were becoming too large for him to handle alone on a day-to-day basis. He already employed a financial advisor/accountant, as well as full- and part-time staff at all his ventures.

  She couldn’t sum up in words how shocked she was. “With so many ventures, aren’t you frightened over your financial future?”

  “Not as frightened as you seem to be. I know what it’s like to go without. I survived it once, and I could again. My father instilled in me the value of hard work and ingenuity. If tomorrow I had to stop flying on a private jet and had to start laying asphalt during the day and driving a cab at night, I would. Eventually I figure out a way to turn things around. It’s all about the hustle, Ashlyn. You do what you must to survive.”

  If she ever found herself in the situation that Kevin spoke of, she had a security blanket: the trust fund she’d never touched. Her family already had the amount of money Kevin spoke of amassing. She wondered if he had any idea of what he was marrying into.

  Kevin had managed to surprise and awe her. She was once again reassured that her decision to marry him was the right one. He reminded her of her father.

  He awoke her from her daydreams. “How’s your portfolio doing?”

  “It’s had a slight blow, but to be truthful, I have a security blanket. I wouldn’t want to lose all that I’ve worked so hard for, though.”

  “You’re referring to your inheritance?” She’d told him a little about that.

  “Yes.” She was proud of her lineage, and she refused to feel guilty for being privileged.

  “Just as your parents and grandparents did for you, I want to do for our children. For all my grandfather’s biased thoughts, he felt the same way. The same goes for my father. We want every generation to go further, higher.”

  “What you and I do tonight, the promise we make to one another, is our start.” Ashlyn gracefully detangled her limbs from the leather seating, pulling Kevin’s hand along behind her. She headed toward the bedroom. “I want to become a member of the mile-high club.”

  “I’m more than willing to help you gain membership,” he mumbled, closing and locking the door to the bedroom.

  She noticed he didn’t say he wanted to join as well. Was he already a member? Ashlyn would wait to bite his head off later. Besides, they both had a past, and she benefitted from the mastery he brought to their relationship. A simple kiss from him unhinged her every time. They shared a breath, their tongues dancing, and he pushed her down into the Egyptian cotton sheets. They vibed on a multitude of levels. Ashlyn pulled him closer, committing to him even before the vows were spoken.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  “You are where and doing what?” Makayla screamed into the phone. She hadn’t spoken to Ashlyn in months, and out of the blue Ashlyn was calling and dropping a nuclear bomb.

  “I’m in Las Vegas and about to get married.” Ashlyn pulled the phone away from her ear because the screams were piercing her eardrum. “Kayla, please calm down and listen to me.”

  Dressed in a cocktail-length halter dress in amethyst, Ashlyn stood in front of The Little White Wedding Chapel, clutching her phone. “I’m wearing a designer dress and it’s my wedding day. I couldn’t go through with the ceremony without sharing it w
ith someone, and that someone is you, my best friend…my sister.”

  “I am so proud of you...designer clothes,” Makayla gushed.

  “It’s not about the label. Makayla, I’m…about…to…get…married!” she bellowed into the phone.

  “Why now? Why not wait?”

  “I felt as if I couldn’t say no. Can you understand? I need you to understand. Browbeat me tomorrow, but today be happy for me,” she pleaded with the one person, outside of Kevin, with whom she wanted to share this day. She was well aware of how Makayla felt about marriage.

  “All of the troops are dropping. First Toni, and now you.” Antonia was a friend of Makayla’s. “Ash, if you’re happy, then I’m happy for you and Kevin.” Silent tears slid down Makayla’s face. “You can never know how relieved I am to hear your voice. Please stop avoiding me. I don’t know how much longer I can take it.”

  Ashlyn now faced the consequences of her decisions. She’d abandoned her best friend. She was the only family Makayla had, and she had turned her back on her out of fear of being judged about her relationship with a younger man. She never wanted to be viewed as foolish, she had assumed Makayla would accuse Kevin of running game on her. But that wasn’t Kevin. He left more of himself open than Ashlyn did.

  “I’m sorry for my actions in the past, but I was scared of your reaction. My relationship with Kevin was too new and fragile. Now I know I love him, and I’m sharing that fact with you, regardless of your reaction.”

  “I realize my views are harsh at times, but I just need for you to remain my best friend, my confidante. If Kevin’s the man you choose to spend the rest of your life with, don’t let me, or especially your mother, cause you one day of grief with our caustic words.

  “From the day I met you, I believed it was my job to protect you. Now I realize that we protected each other. I depend on you. Whatever has come between us has to end.” Makayla couldn’t handle losing Ashlyn, on top of losing the love of her life.

  Ashlyn looked back at Kevin, patiently standing a short distance away, his arms locked at his back. His black suit was superbly tailored. A crisp white shirt and a black silk tie completed his ensemble. He was closely shaven, courtesy of the hotel barber, and his hair was cut very close, his curls all but invisible.