by King, Imani
Tiffany froze and stared at me in dead silence for a minute while she tried to process what I just said. Then she suddenly started hopping up and down and wildly waving her arms in the air like she was trying to summon the rain. Rolande, who had clearly been listening after all, coughed his entire mouthful of nuts onto our tray of finished pastries .
After I finished calming my friend down, I came clean and relayed the truth of the situation to her. She was disappointed in the unromantic nature of the proposal plus the fact that it was merely a pretense and a business arrangement
“I’m sorry I purposely mislead you Tiffany. I just had to have a little fun with that .”
“ And Rolande, is that why you didn’t return to the boat last night ?”
Rolande’s sheepish expression revealed his guilt without him saying a word .
“There was no way in hell you didn’t know what was going on ……..”
“I ended up staying in a hotel last night because I thought 3 might be a crowd. I learned about Blaize’s visa situation when it happened at the airport of course. But honestly Chelsea, I didn’t know about his intention to make you his bride until last night. So, what did you tell him? Did you say yes? There is quite a bit of money at stake… Was his offer not sufficiently generous ?”
“Well? DID you say yes, Chelsea? Did he actually say he would pay you? How much did he offer?” Tiffany was still having a hard time containing herself .
“I didn’t say yes or no. It was just too much to for me to digest all at once. I’ve got way too many things on my mind. We have such a busy week ahead of us: Baking for all those book signings we have to do in the next few days, plus all our other orders. I also have to find time to shop and cook dinner every night for you guys until you hire someone else .”
I could see Tiffany and Rolande giving each other skeptical looks. I knew they both thought I should just agree to do the favor because it really was in the best financial interest of all 4 of us. If Tiff only knew the ridiculous amount of money he offered me, there wouldn’t even be a discussion about it. She would already be shopping around for our new pastry shop building .
“I need to take time to really think about this. I told Blaize I would give him an answer this weekend over dinner. He said he needs to start being ‘publicly engaged’, so I agreed to give the idea a try for one evening and see how it goes. The dinner date is a test to see if we’re even believable as a real couple .”
Rolande and Tiffany shot each other a smart-ass, sideways glance and a smirk before both of them busting out in a giant belly laugh .
“Yeah, right! Whatever! Maybe we should pop up some popcorn Rolande. This is gonna be quite a show !”
15
Blaize
I t had been a wonderful whirlwind week: All the bookstore events were a smashing success for me and for French Chocolate; Rolande and I had the pleasure of eating Chelsea’s gourmet cooking every night; I got a respectable amount of work done on the movie script; And of course, the best part was being in close proximity to my lovely prospective bride both day and night. Although she and I rarely had any time alone, it still provided me with the opportunity to show her the many charming sides of Blaize Simon .
After all… This may be a sham marriage, but I had every intention of consummating it .
I suspected I was chipping away at Chelsea’s resistance. I reasoned that if I wasn’t, she wouldn’t have felt the need to bring Tiffany over to the yacht with her to eat with us each night. She obviously couldn’t trust Rolande to stay, so she brought her own bodyguard along. Despite this, we found a bit of time to flirt as the week progressed… But now her time had run out. It was Saturday, at last. Our date night was upon us and there would be no bodyguards to protect her from her own desires. And I would show her no mercy .
I pulled up to her quaint little yellow house in my rented Jaguar convertible sports coupe promptly at 7PM. With a large bouquet of pink roses in one hand, I unlatched the garden gate with the other and proceeded up the shady brick walkway. Michael Jackson’s Billy Jean was wafting out of the screen door. As I got closer, I could see Tiffany inside dancing around the living room, pretending her feather duster was a microphone. I rang the bell and called out, “Hey Tiff! Is my fiancée ready ?”
She stopped dancing and opened the door for me, wearing her usual big welcoming smile. “Fiancée! You crack me up, you know that? C’mon in!” She turned the music down so we could talk .
“Chelsea! Your date is here !”
“So, where will you be taking my best friend in the whole world? I trust you will have her home at a respectable hour, young man ?”
I couldn’t resist whispering in Tiffany’s ear: “I wouldn’t wait up if I were you .”
She was just about to smack me with the feather duster when Chelsea entered the room. My jaw dropped and my mouth went bone dry. Her beauty was unparalleled by that of any woman I had ever seen. I was completely awestruck .
Tiffany immediately started complimenting her friend .
“Oh my god, Chels, you look gorgeous! Too gorgeous, actually! I can’t let you go out with this guy looking like that. I’m going along as a chaperone, that’s all there is to it !”
Chelsea flashed a dazzling white smile in my direction .
“Hi Blaize. You’re looking very dashing this evening .”
“Thank you, Chelsea. My god! You are positively breathtaking. You look absolutely exquisite in that dress .”
That was an understatement. She looked fucking amazing! She had a rare combination of class, elegance, and sizzling sexuality! The slinky, little black slip dress clung to her luscious curves so seductively it should have come with a lethal weapon warning. Holy fuck! It was all I could do to keep my cock from swelling at the mere sight of her .
I salivated uncontrollably as I watched her bend over to pick up her shimmering silver wrap and matching bag off the coffee table. Then I suddenly realized I was still holding her roses .
“Here ……. these are for you.” I couldn’t believe I actually stammered .
“Flowers? You didn’t need to do that! But it sure is sweet of you !”
“Lemme take care of those for you, Chels. I’ve got just the perfect vase for them. You two kids go have fun now! Scoot !”
My heart almost melted when Chelsea kissed Tiffany on the cheek and said, “Good-night, sis.” They really were as close as sisters. And just like a sister, Tiff grilled me one last time as we headed out the door :
“You never did say where you were taking my girl, Blaize .”
“Dinner and dancing at Hanalei. It’s that new Hawaiian fusion place in Malibu. Have you heard of it ?”
“Heard of it? Everyone’s been raving about it! But there’s a six-week wait for a table. You’ll never get a reservation for tonight, you silly foreigner .”
“Really? That’s funny, because I do indeed have a reservation for 8 o’clock this evening. You silly American .”
Tiffany humorously admitted defeat: “I guess being Blaize Simon gets you some perks the rest of us poor slobs don’t have !”
“It sure as shit does! Let me know if you ever want to try the place yourself… You have a good night, Tiffany .”
I opened the car door for Chelsea and she slid her ultra-fine derriere into the plush leather seat. I ran back around to my side and hopped in. I was truly the happiest man in the world; The woman of my dreams was all my mine for the evening .
She crossed her sleek brown legs drawing attention to her damn hot sexy feet and I literally melted where I sat. The delicate silver straps of her high-heeled sandals entwined her ankles and crisscrossed her dainty toes; toes that were still glossed in a deep blood-red polish. I imagined fucking her right here in the driveway; her velvety legs spread open for my cock, with the lace hem of her dress hiked up around her hot little quivering mound… My hardened dick made it difficult for me to comfortably seat myself behind the wheel in the driver’s seat .
“Blaize,
I’m so excited about dining at Hanalei. I can’t believe we’re going there! I’ve been getting kind of tired of French food, lately .”
“You and me both! People stupidly assume that just because I’m French, I want to eat French food all the time .”
“I’m hoping to get some exciting new cooking ideas from the Hanalei menu that I can try out at home .”
She wasn’t the only one wanting to try out some exciting new ideas at home ……
The night was perfect for driving up to Malibu with the top down and the oceanfront restaurant was the perfect setting for seducing a beautiful young woman. The maitre’d led us to the private booth I had reserved. The lighting was intimate and a jazz trio played soulful tunes near the small dance floor .
Our food and wine was superb. We ordered an array of Hawaiian inspired seafood dishes and a bottle of Dom Perignon. Chelsea relished every bite and and every sip with gusto. It was quite a turn-on, watching her eat with such unrestrained pleasure. I had a suspicion she would also be an equally uninhibited lover and I was counting on experiencing her passion before the night was over .
“I can’t decide which I love more, the Misoyaki butterfish or the seared sea scallops. And the lobster bisque…….. I’ve never tasted better, have you Blaize ?”
“Everything is truly excellent. Is there anything else you desire, Chelsea? Besides me, that is ?”
“You still really believe I want you, don’t you ?”
“Well you are licking your lips with a very salacious gleam in your eyes young lady ..……”
“You know I’m just savoring the sweet honey coriander glaze from my fish ….”
“So you say, but I know a woman lusting after me when I see one… And may I remind you that you were the one who wanted a kiss .”
I lightly stroked her silky thigh .
“You’re not even my type, Blaize .”
“A successful, handsome man is not your type? Than what is? A hideous loser ?”
“Maybe I prefer a humble, modest man. One with humility, instead of a gigantic ego .”
“What in the world do I have to be modest about ?”
Chelsea laughed but continued on with her unconvincing protest .
“Perhaps I prefer a man who is not completely preoccupied with sex; a man who is not obsessed with his own dick .”
“You want a man who isn’t interested in fucking you?! Now, I’ve heard everything! I refuse to believe that !”
“There’s more to a real relationship than just sex, in case you didn’t know .”
“Well……since you’re not my real fiancée, we don’t exactly have to care about that now do we? Haven’t you ever just had sex for the sake of fucking someone you’re hot for ?”
“No, I’m not a one-night-stand kind of woman. I’m not impulsive. I usually give things a lot of serious thought before I make a decision to be with someone in an intimate way .”
I got up and extended my hand to Chelsea for a dance .
“C’mon. Let’s continue this discussion out on the dance floor .”
She smiled up at me and slid out of the booth in acceptance of my offer .
She relaxed into my arms and swayed her full hips in time to the music. Her gaze never strayed from my own. Her luscious lips parted slightly when she felt my hand slide from her back to her backside .
“Chelsea, you can deny your feelings for me with whatever words you want, but your body is saying completely different .”
“Well, I guess we should be acting like a real couple if I’m going to be your wife. By the way, I’m going to be needing a ring……..preferably one with a huge diamond .”
She smiled the most seductively teasing smile .
“You’re going to do it then? You’ll marry me? For pretend, that is ?”
“Yes, Blaize. I’ve given it a lot of thought and I’m willing to help you. We are friends, after all and friends help each other .”
“So you’re saying we’re friends… With benefits ?”
I didn’t give her a chance to respond. I stopped and kissed her in the middle of the dance floor. She didn’t offer the slightest resistance. In fact, her mouth and tongue welcomed mine. Suddenly, a flash went off as a journalist snapped our picture .
“What the fuck? You little asshole! How dare you !”
I was just about to grab his camera with intent to fling it across the room when Chelsea stopped me. She grabbed the collar of my jacket and pulled me to her so she could speak directly into my ear :
“Blaize, don’t! Let him take our photo. Don’t you want the publicity? Use this as an official engagement announcement !”
What was I thinking? She was absolutely right. I apologized to the intrusive little troll .
“I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. Here, we’ll even pose for you. This is my fiancée, Chelsea Dixon .”
After we finished appeasing the journalist, we danced our way back to our table and ordered an array of desserts from the menu. We laughed and celebrated our “engagement” in grand style and I was thrilled to see Chelsea truly enjoying herself. I took the liberty of trailing kisses from her ear, down her neck to her collar bone and shoulder. Then I whispered, “Are you ready to go, Chelsea? I sure am …..”
She blushed shyly before taking my hand and silently sliding out of the booth behind me .
16
Chelsea
P acific Coast Highway loomed in the car headlights, and the reflection of the crescent moon bounced off the dark ocean waves to the right of us .
“Thank you for the wonderful evening Blaize. I really had a fantastic time .”
“The night is young Chelsea. Want me to park, so we can make out on the beach? We could go skinny-dipping !”
I knew he was being facetious, and yet at the same time, I knew he wasn’t totally joking .
“Well, there’s no real point in making out when nobody can see us, is there? We really only need to pretend we’re a couple in public. Remember ?”
“This is a public beach ……”
“You know what I’m talking about …….”
Blaize continued south down the highway but passed the turn-off for Venice Beach .
“You missed my exit. Where are you going ?”
“I was heading for Marina Del Rey. I figured we would go to the boat and sign the marriage contract. It’s really for your own protection, now that there’s public evidence and documentation of it .”
“Well, I guess so. Will Rolande be there ?”
“I believe he said he had no plans for the evening, so he’ll probably be there watching TV .”
He had to be lying. No way was Rolande there. My gut told me I was walking into a trap, but part of me didn’t care. Blaize was right, I did desire him; more than any man I had ever met. I just didn’t want him to have the satisfaction of being right. That would only add to his arrogance and make his head swell even bigger .
The marina was quiet. Blaize called out for Rolande as we went below but got no response. Big surprise. He took off his jacket and tie and undid his top 2 shirt buttons .
“Let’s see, now where did Rolande put that contract? Oh here it is .”
He pulled it out of the desk drawer, along with 2 pens and placed everything on the coffee table in front of the couch. Then he grabbed a bottle of sparkling mineral water from the fridge and poured two glasses before plopping himself down on the large sectional .
“Come join me on the sofa, wifey dear. Do you plan on taking my last name or will you keep your own? If you ask me, Dixon suits you perfectly. I wouldn’t change it .”
“I don’t intend to. I love my name. Besides it’s my professional name too .”
Blaize was at his most attractive when he was being real and sincere with me. I sat down next to him, brushing my thigh against his .
“What’s with the mineral water, by the way? No fancy wines tonight ?”
“I didn’t want to risk you getting sleepy again while we were…�
��.going over the contract .”
“I don’t feel the least bit sleepy. I’m completely wide awake ”
“You don’t say? Would you like a little after-dinner cognac then, while we talk business ?”
“That sounds delicious. I’d love some, thank you .”
Blaize got up and brought back two brandy sifters and a bottle of Courvoisier for us. We both enjoyed a couple of sips while we relaxed back against the overstuffed sofa pillows. I felt the warmth of the liqueur seep down to my toes .
“So what part of the wedding contract would you like to address first, Chelsea ?”
“Gee, I don’t know. What’s your preference ?”
“Well, I think we should go over the ‘You may kiss the bride’ part first. Do you think the groom should kiss her like this ?”
Blaize swept me up in his arms and tenderly kissed me on the mouth while gazing romantically into my eyes .
“Or……… should he kiss his bride like this ?”
This time Blaize slid me all the way down into the soft couch cushions, and devoured my mouth with his own. His kiss was fierce, unrelenting and passionate. He slowly worked his way down my trembling body with his persuasive hot tongue, lingering at my cleavage, before looking up at me for permission to go further .
“We shouldn’t do this Blaize….” I knew I sounded breathless .
“Stop pretending you don’t want this as much as I do. Look me in the eyes right now and tell me the truth. Do you want me or not ?”
Blaize feasted on my lips again and ran his hands up my waist and onto my breasts, cupping the sides of them while his thumbs lightly caressed my nipples. His hot hard cock was pressed up against me. He pulled back and waited for my response ……….
Every logical part of me told me it would be a mistake. But the sex-starved woman in me said otherwise. The woman who needed to throw all caution to wind for once in her serious life said to stop fighting this incredibly desirable man’s advances and enjoy yourself .
