by B Ivy Woods
“Um, hi?” She could only imagine how she looked to him. Her ponytail was crooked, her white shirt had a stain and her black slacks were wrinkled because of all the running around from meeting to meeting. And with that thought in her mind, she started laughing uncontrollably.
“How can I help? I also brought this.” Flint gestured to the bottle of wine in his hand. Rae didn’t answer until she could control her giggles. Nothing would remove the smile off of her face now. “Good question. Excellent question, in fact. And thanks for bringing the wine. It’s needed.” She looked around for where Flint could help, but everything going wrong scrambled her brain. “Once again, excellent question.”
Flint chuckled as Rae let him into her apartment. He removed his sweater and his shoes before following Rae into the kitchen. She sent him a link to the recipe. “That should have all the directions you need, and I took out all the ingredients so you should be good to go. If you need anything else or want to take a break, I’ll be in the shower. Just don’t burn my apartment down, okay?”
That earned her another chuckle from Flint and a swat on the butt before she went to wash her stressful day away. Rae stood under the spray of water coming from her showerhead for way longer than she expected. The water’s temperature was perfect, and the showerhead setting helped ease Rae’s achy shoulders and back. By the time she exited the shower, the water had turned lukewarm, but she felt like a brand-new woman. She figured a nice pair of dark wash jeans, a navy T-shirt, and a yellow cardigan would be nice enough yet casual enough for a lovely dinner at home. Her bare feet missed the softness of the carpet in her bedroom as she moved to the wood floors in her hallway, living room and kitchen and made her way back to Flint.
“Something smells great in here.” She could tell he had at least started cooking the steak. The smell made her stomach growl.
“It’s probably the steak. I have it resting over there,” Flint said as he pointed to a plate covered in silver foil. “And this is for you.” Flint handed her a glass of wine, which she readily grabbed and brought the glass to her lips before stopping. “You look beautiful, and that includes both when you opened the door and when you entered this room.”
Rae gave him a small smile and said, “Thank you.”
“Is it weird that I’ve missed seeing you with your hair down?”
Rae thought about it for a moment before shaking her head. She smiled again before announcing, “We should make a toast.”
Flint thought about it for a moment before saying, “To us.”
“I couldn’t agree more. To us.”
Two hours later, Rae and Flint were lounging on Rae’s couch after finishing their meal. “Dinner was amazing. Thanks so much for taking over and cooking the majority of it,” Rae said as she laid her head on Flint’s shoulder.
“Cooking ALL of it.” The smirk that crossed his face told her all she needed to know.
“I helped with the sauce and with the broccoli. That counts.”
“True, can’t forget that. You’re more than welcome. You know if you ever need anything, I will try to get it for you to the best of my ability, right?”
Rae lifted her head and looked Flint in the eyes. Where was this line of conversation going?
“Well, I never really thought about it, but I guess I assumed so.”
“Now, you know.”
“What led to that statement?”
“Nothing. I just wanted you to know.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
Rae didn’t respond, but his comment remained in her mind. “So, how was your day today?”
“Quiet, to be honest. Working on a few things for several clients, including WPWL. Everything is looking good with WPWL, by the way.”
“Do you have any happy hours, receptions, or events to attend next week?”
Flint grabbed his phone off the coffee table and skimmed through his calendar.
“Chances are I probably do, but let me check…yep, only a couple, though.”
“I’m not sure how you keep up with such a demanding schedule.”
Flint took a sip from his glass of wine before answering. “To be honest, I don’t know how I do it sometimes either. But when you have to do what you have to do, you just do it. I don’t have to attend these events after-hours, but it looks good if I show my face, and it’s another networking opportunity.” His snappy tone was not appreciated. Had he thought she was trying to attack his schedule?
It wasn’t what he’d said that stung a bit. It was how he’d said it that caused her to shift away from him. “I get that. I was just curious.”
The two sat in silence, not sure what to say next. “I’ll start cleaning up.” Rae stood up, stacked their plates, and took them, her wineglass, and their utensils with her into the kitchen. She started loading the dishwasher when Flint asked if he could help her with anything. Rae shook her head as Flint placed his wineglass in the sink. She started running the water as she prepared to wash the dishes.
“Is everything okay?” Flint’s hands landed on Rae’s waist, and as she nodded, she could feel his breath on her neck.
“Are you sure?” This time his voice was just above a whisper and he said it directly in her ear.
“Yes.”
He reached around her, turned the water off, and gently turned her to face him. He hadn’t given her much room, so their noses were almost touching when she looked up into his eyes.
“I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that back there. I’ve been…under a lot of pressure, and I took it out on you. I’m sorry.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“I do, but not right this second.”
“What do you want to talk about?”
“What I was thinking of doesn’t involve talking. How about I do the dishes later and we find another way to pass the time?” Although the question seemed innocent, his dark, husky tone told another story.
“And what way is that?”
Flint startled her when he lifted her off her feet and sat her down on the kitchen counter. “What are you—”
He cut her words off when he kissed her. The kiss and its intensity took her by surprise. Rough yet passionate. She knew he was leaving nothing on the table in determining exactly where they stood. She loved being the constant that made him lose control, yet she felt safe. Loved. It brought her back to when their relationship had been pure and new. But that wasn’t all. The kiss was everything she thought it would be yet so much more. She hadn’t been celibate while they were apart, but none of the men she had been with could hold a candle to him. And that thought frightened her.
15
He pushed his way between her legs, and she welcomed him with open arms and legs. The two stayed like this, enjoying each other’s kisses for several minutes before Flint bent down to pick her up.
“Whee!” Rae covered her mouth. She hadn’t meant to let out that noise. Her legs went around his waist immediately.
Flint chuckled and then snorted. “At least we’re even now.”
“Hmm?”
“You snorted at Rep. Clarkson’s event, and I snorted just now.”
“Wasn’t even thinking about it, to be honest.”
Flint shook his head and smoothly went back to kissing her lips. He soon broke the kiss and said, “Hold that thought.” When he moved, she tightened her legs around his waist, and he carried her into her bedroom. He set her down on her bed before taking a few steps back. His stare was intense and he turned Rae on as she watched the wheels turn in his head. What would he want her to do?
“Take off your jeans and then lie back on the bed.” The command was gentle but stern. Rae hesitated for a second before she undid her pants and pushed them down her legs. She then walked around the side of the bed, brushing past Flint and climbing onto the bed. Once Rae was lying on her back, she patiently waited for his next move.
She could see that he was taking his time admiring her body. When she gazed do
wn, she wasn’t surprised to see that her nipples had become hard with anticipation. It might have taken him a second before he climbed up on the bed, without touching her, until they were lying face-to-face. His gaze landed on her lips, and that’s when it began. The kiss he unleashed on her drove her insane. His tongue caressed her lips until she opened her mouth and let him in. Their tongues wrestled for control and the groan that Flint let out was music to Rae’s ears. He seemed to enjoy this as much as she did. She confirmed this thought when his denim-covered cock brushed up against her stomach.
Any reservations she had about what they were doing flew out the window. His hands were on her, her hands were on him, and that’s all that mattered. In one swift move, her bra straps traveled down her shoulders, and Flint finished the job by removing the bra from her body and flinging it across the room. She would determine its location in the morning. He trained his gaze on her breasts, making her feel self-conscious.
“You’re stunning,” he said as he caressed her furrowed brow. His touch and words eased her worry. She forgot what was making her feel self-conscious and lost herself in the feeling of him.
He bent down to suck on her nipples. He took one into his mouth while he massaged the other breast. When he switched breasts, Rae’s mind cleared enough to ask, “Don’t you have too many clothes on?”
The question caused Flint to stop his ministrations as he leaned back and, in one fell swoop, removed his sweater. Rae sat up to unbuckle his jeans, which ended up in a pool on the floor. He kneeled back on the bed and pulled her panties down her legs. She didn’t look to see because the assault that his fingers were doing distracted her. When he added his tongue to the mix, Rae nearly buckled off of the bed as she tried to make sense of the sensations he was causing her body. This is what she had been missing all of these years.
He stopped momentarily and said, “Give me a second. I have a condom in—”
“Top drawer of my nightstand.” Rae gestured toward the piece of furniture that held the key to them unlocking their pleasure. When he achieved his goal, he removed his boxer briefs and slid into her until he couldn’t move any further. The motion took her breath away, and all she could release was a groan as she waited for him to move. Rae’s moans turned more intense the harder and deeper he pushed. The panting sounds they were both making sounded like music to Rae’s ears, and when she looked to her left, she could see them both in the mirror on her dresser. The unadulterated bliss on Flint’s face was everything. When he noticed it had pulled her attention, his eyes followed, and their gazes connected in the mirror. Their reflections showed that they were one, now and forever.
They both found the pleasure they were looking for and rode the wave back down to Rae’s bedroom. Flint rolled over onto his side and gathered Rae as close as humanly possible. He leaned on his left hand while his right hand followed an imaginary line up and down her right arm.
“I don’t remember a time when it was that good.”
“Me neither,” he replied. His hand moved from Rae’s arm to her cheek just before he placed a gentle peck on her lips. He kissed her forehead before leaning back on his arm.
“Did you want to stay the night?”
Flint nodded his head and said, “After all, I volunteered to do the dishes.”
Rae opened her eyes and looked around. She felt for Flint’s body, which had been there when she had gone to sleep, but it was nowhere to be found. The sheets were still warm, so she knew he hadn’t been gone long. She gazed at the time and saw that only a couple of hours had passed since their rendezvous. Before she could think of what to do, she heard a noise coming from her kitchen. Maybe he was washing the dishes now? But she couldn’t hear the water running. She got out of bed and threw on the first thing she could find—his sweater—and headed out into the hallway.
When she reached her bedroom door, she almost announced her presence before he said, “Mom, you know how I feel about you doing this.”
Rae’s eyebrows wrinkled as she felt her neck and shoulders tighten with tension. What was going on? She knew she shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but she couldn’t turn away.
“I know you’re trying to do what’s best for everyone, but this plan isn’t it.”
Rae couldn’t figure out what Flint was referring to. She didn’t want to freak out about something when she didn’t know the whole story, but based on what she could hear, she knew something was amiss.
“I know this is all a part of this plan you derived. It doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Rae’s eyes widened after she heard Flint’s comment. Was he finally going to mention what this plan was?
“Look, Mom, I gotta go. Can we talk about this later?”
She almost stamped her foot in frustration but stayed quiet. What was Flint keeping from her? And why did it seem to be a huge deal?
Lucky for her, Rae heard Flint’s part of the discussion from her bedroom, so she ducked back in there for a second before entering the hallway.
“Is everything okay?” Rae announced as she made her way to the living room. Flint was standing near her television as she sat down on the couch several feet away from him.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?”
“I don’t know. It looks like something is wrong based on the look on your face. Plus, you’re up at 11:30 p.m,” she mentioned, sparing a glance over to her DVR.
“There’s nothing wrong.” Rae jerked her head back and glared at the harshness of his tone. “Listen, there are just a few things I need to work through that are kind of hard to speak about, but when I can, you’ll be the first one I tell. It’s just something I need to work out on my own for now.”
The softness in his tone eased Rae’s immediate reaction to defend herself against his inflammatory words. She wondered if this had anything to do with what he’d mentioned the night before, but decided not to press him on it. It was a sore subject, and she wanted to respect his desire for privacy.
“That’s fine. I understand. We all have stuff we want to work through, some of it on our own. Just know that I am always here if you need me.”
“Thanks.”
Rae felt Flint cup her face in his hand and rub his thumb across her cheek. “This whole…issue has me on edge. I will try to figure a few things out, and then when I have a firmer grasp on what’s going on, we can talk about it, okay?” He smiled as he continued to rub his finger along her cheekbone.
His smile and gentle touch would be all she needed to set her mind at ease. But not this time. Rae noticed that his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, which were now filled with worry. If he told her what was going on, maybe she could fix it.
But she took him at his word. In due time he would talk to her about it.
Rae nodded and gave him a soft smile.
Rae was working on a policy brief a few days later when she received a call on her office phone.
“Hi, it’s Rae.”
“Rae, hi. It’s Susan at the front desk. We have a package down here for you.”
Curiosity piqued, Rae grabbed her cell phone and headed toward the elevator. Would Flint send her something at work? Smiling at the thought of it, she pressed the down button and texted him.
Rae: Did you send a surprise to my office?
It seemed as if the elevator took longer than usual, but when it finally arrived, she stepped on and pressed L for the lobby. She pressed the closed-door button several times, hoping it would quicken her trip, but to no avail.
The trip to the lobby didn’t take long because Rae was alone in the elevator. Soon, Rae was chatting with Susan about their days and eyeing the box delivered for her. It was long and made of white cardboard. She thanked Susan for collecting the box for her, snatched it off the desk, and headed back toward the elevator. When she was by herself on the way back up to her floor, she started trying to get a feel for the box, weighing it in her hands and shaking it. It was definitely lighter than she expected.
“I wonder if there are flowe
rs in here,” she muttered to herself.
When she reached her office, she closed the door and checked her phone to see if Flint had texted her back. Seeing nothing, she set her phone on the desk. Not wanting to wait anymore, Rae placed the box next to her phone and opened it. She was thankful she remembered to close her door because she knew the gasp the flowed from her lips would have drawn attention to her.
There were flowers in there, all right. Dead roses with the thorns still attached.
“What kind of sick joke is this?”
She heard her phone vibrate on her desk and leaned over to check it.
Flint: Sorry, I just got out of a meeting. I didn’t send you anything. Should I have?
The winky face at the end made her feel a little warm inside, but that feeling quickly vanished when she glanced back at the dead roses sitting on her desk. She took a photo of the flowers and sent it to Flint. She jumped when her ringtone sounded because she wasn’t expecting a phone call.
“Hey,” Rae said, immediately knowing who it was.
“Someone sent you dead roses?”
“Yep. I wish I were joking about it, but I’m not.”
“Do you have a depraved secret admirer that I don’t know about?”
“If I do, I don’t know about it either. It’s bringing up memories of those text messages I got when we first started dating. And the one right before we went out for drinks weeks ago.” As soon as the words flew out of her mouth, Rae knew that she had found the answer. She didn’t get these roses until she started dating Flint again. Just like she didn’t get those text messages until she began to date Flint the first time around. “Someone doesn’t want us to date. But why?” She gave him the rundown of what happened when she went to pick the flowers up in the lobby.
Flint didn’t answer, but he hadn’t hung up.
“Hey. What are you thinking about?”
“Just trying to figure out who in my life would have sent you those. ’Cause I agree that it’s related to you dating me.”
