by Jesse Jordan
Our conversation, in fact, continues all the way to the lake I’d picked out for our destination. “So you are willing to accept that your style has no answer for multiple opponents?” Su Lin asks as we set the basket down and spread out the blanket. “Why not prepare for it?”
“Economy of time,” I reply with a shrug. “Same as your style dealing with grappling. I could counter why would you spend so much time worrying about open movements that involve lots of spinning and acrobatic maneuvers when a good, simple 1-2 would take care of most attackers?”
“But-” Su Lin starts, then chuckles. “I guess I see what you mean.” She looks around, taking a deep breath as she sits down, a smile on her face. “This is something I am still getting used to. I hope I never get tired of it.”
“Well, Minnesota is the land of a thousand lakes,” I comment. “If you get tired of this pond, I’ve got at least nine hundred and ninety nine more I can show you.”
Su Lin laughs, leaning back. “If you don’t mind, can we just lay here and relax?”
“Sure,” I reply, pulling her close. We lay back, rolling up the edge of the blanket some to give me a pillow so I can watch the lake while Su Lin lays her head on my chest. “Comfortable?”
“Getting there,” Su Lin says. “I’ve been dealing with a bit of agoraphobia. Beijing is so compact, everything paved and controlled. This estate… I’ve seen more trees and grass in the past week than I had in my entire life prior to coming here.”
“We’ll have to let you see more, when you’re ready,” I reply. “Maybe in the chopper.”
“You really do have a helicopter?” Su Lin asks. I chuckle and nod. “What kind?”
“A customized Agusta Westland,” I reply. “Not the fastest chopper in the sky, but I’ve been able to give it very long range. I can go all the way from here to New York without refueling if I want. Sometime we’ll have to do that.”
“Isn’t it easier to just take your airplane?”
I laugh, giving her shoulders a squeeze and stroking her hair. “Easier? Yes. But I like flying, and I didn’t want to go through the hassle of getting my heavy jet license, and having more than one personal jet just strikes me as arrogant.”
Su Lin laughs, snuggling up against me. “Well, I am glad to see you’re not that arrogant.”
I lean back, stroking Su Lin’s hair and just enjoying the warmth of the day. It has been too long since I took a day to just relax and remember that there’s more to the world than my work, my health, and my company. Even in semi-retirement, I maintain a lifestyle that doesn’t have a lot of leisure to it. “Hey, Su Lin?”
“Yes, Rick?”
I lift my head again, looking as she turns those beautiful green eyes that I first noticed when I saw her online profile up to me, her face questioning. I stroke her cheek, smiling. “I like when you challenge me. I’m a jerk a lot, but I’m not above admitting when I’m wrong. And I’ve been wrong this past week. I’m sorry.”
Su Lin smiles and slides up, stroking my face before kissing me. It’s the first kiss where she’s initiated things, and it’s thrilling in a way that none of our other kisses have been. I cup her face more as our kiss deepens, Su Lin crawling higher up on my body to kiss me more. I stroke her back gently, feeling the softness of her skin underneath the plain t-shirt she’s wearing before reaching down and cupping the firm curve of her ass, giving it a soft squeeze. She moans, and starts to roll onto her back to give me access between her legs, but before we can go further, a harsh ringing sound comes from the basket. “Shit.”
“What is it?” Su Lin gasps, and I can feel her heart hammering in her chest. “Must you take it?”
“Only two people have that number, and Freida knows that I’m not to be disturbed unless it’s an emergency,” I groan. Su Lin rolls off me and sits up, frustrated but not nearly as much as I am. My jeans feel way too tight around the crotch right now and I’m seriously tempted to throw my phone into the lake. Instead, I open the basket and pull out the offending piece of technology. “What?”
“Sorry to disturb your date,” Freida says apologetically, “but Harvey’s maneuvering around you, and there’s an RSVP that you need to answer to stop him.”
“What?” I ask, sighing.
“The Green Technology Initiative is hosting a fundraiser for a certain Senator from California who’s on the Armed Services Committee,” Freida says. “She’s getting an award from the group, and if you happen to make an appearance….”
“Understood. Make the right calls, and book me… excuse me, book us a hotel suite,” I say, glancing over at Su Lin. “I think it’d be a nice chance for Su Lin to see California, don’t you?”
“Of course,” Freida says. “So the date’s going well?”
“Goodbye, Freida,” I answer, hanging up with her chuckle in my ear. I put the phone away and turn to Su Lin, who’s looking at me with an expectant sparkle in her eyes. “So… how does a visit to California sound?”
Su Lin bites her lip, trying to hide a grin. “Can we get a chance to see Disneyland?”
I nod, and Su Lin gives me a very excited squeal before covering my face in kisses. “Thank you!”
I kiss her back before, guided by some childlike instinct that seems to have been awoken by her excitement over potentially going to Disneyland, I rub my thumbs along her ribs, tickling her. She laughs, pushing me away before scrambling to her feet and backing away, grinning. I get up, grinning at her. “What? That’s not a wushu technique?”
“No more than it is a jiu-jitsu technique!” she shoots back. “But… if you can catch me, maybe you can do it again.”
Quick as a rabbit Su Lin turns and takes off running. I chase her, both of us laughing and enjoying the warm air, the sunshine, and the freedom of just being together.
“I had a lovely day,” Su Lin says as I walk her to the door of her bedroom. “And pizza for dinner? Glorious.”
“It’s good to relax sometimes,” I admit, my hand resting on the curve of her lower back. “Today was one of the most fun I’ve had in a while.”
“Someday, you can tell me about the others,” Su Lun jokes. “Just edit out all the girls’ names.”
I laugh, pulling her close for another kiss. She kisses me back, reaching behind her for the knob of her bedroom door and opening it. She steps back, stopping after a moment when I don’t follow. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I reply, leaning against her door frame and smiling. “But Su Lin, I realize our… marriage and relationship is unusual. And there shouldn’t be anything about me coming in and us having sex. But… well, I guess I’m feeling a bit old fashioned, as twisted at that sounds right now. I think I’ll turn in myself, and we can say we had our first real date without us sleeping with each other.”
“But-” Su Lin says, then stops, smiling a little. “Okay. I guess I’m out of my window anyway. Rick, I do take having your baby very seriously though. Never doubt that.”
“I’ve never doubted that for a minute,” I answer, reaching across the threshold of her door and taking her hand. “Thank you for a wonderful date.”
Su Lin steps closer and kisses me again, standing on her tiptoes so that I don’t have to bend down at all. When she steps back, her eyes glance down at the bulge in my jeans, and she grins a little. “Well… I see I do have that effect on you even when we’re not trying to make a baby.”
“You do,” I admit, watching her sexy body. “I’ll see you in the morning? I’d like to make it a habit, even when I’m busy with work, to have breakfast with you as much as I can.”
“I’d like that too. Goodnight, Rick.”
“Goodnight, Su Lin. Sleep well.”
I close her door and head down to my bedroom. Stepping inside I take in the gigantic room, which is bigger than some people’s apartments, and the bed. I’ve never thought of the bed as too big before, I’m a pretty active sleeper who rolls all over the place since contracting Trikala Syndrome. But tonight… tonight I sort of wish
I had someone to share that bed with me.
“We’ll see, won’t we?” I murmur to myself. “For now… let’s see what’s for breakfast in the morning.”
Su Lin
For the first time, I feel comfortable wearing an American style party dress as I get out of the rented limo with Rick. “Why are we taking a limo again?” I ask, amused as I put my hand through the crook of his elbow. “We’re staying in this same hotel.”
“It’s all about appearances tonight,” Rick murmurs as a few journalists take photos. While this is a public event, there’s hardly the amount of paparazzi that some of the larger events would attract. Most of the people here tonight are technology and business leaders, which aren’t considered big celebrities by the American public. Still, anything that gets a politician will have a few journalists involved.
“Speaking of appearances, you look very handsome tonight,” I reply, smiling. Yesterday was our first day in California, and after flying in on Rick’s plane, we immediately went to the theme park and I had a great time. For the whole time since our ‘date day,’ I’ve felt better about being with Rick. Yes, he still works long hours, yes I spend most of my time with Freida who’s worked hard with me on everything I need to know, but we’ve still spent more time together.
“And you’re stunning,” Rick says, smiling. “Remember though, tonight’s got another meaning.”
“Yes, I know,” I acknowledge, smiling as Rick stops, the two of us posing as a journalist calls out Rick’s name and we get our photo taken. “Politics.”
“Politics,” Rick agrees. I’m still not clear as to what he and Freida mean by it, but I’m applying Chinese rules to this. Business and politics are so intertwined that to call them separate is foolish. So Rick’s here for business reasons, somehow.
At the door, Rick gives his engraved invitation to the hostess who smiles and welcomes us both. The event’s being held in the grand ballroom of a luxury hotel, and the photographers don’t stop inside, either.
The evening starts with a welcome speech by someone who I think is supposed to be the chairman of the group throwing the event tonight. Later on there’ll be an award presented, but for now it’s just supposed to be a party with drinks and dancing. “Rick-”
“Rick!” a loud voice calls from across the room, and we turn to look as a large man with even an even bigger presence crosses the room. “By God man, it’s good to see you!”
“Paul, it’s been a long time since I’ve been out to the Left Coast,” Rick says, making the other man laugh. “May I introduce my wife, Su Lin?”
Paul, who up close has the aura of being an ‘operator’ as I think of them, turns and offers his hand. “Well, I can see why you’ve been too busy to come out to California. Paul Robertson. Pleasure.”
We shake hands, and while his smile is warm, that warmth doesn’t go all the way up to his eyes. Before I can even reply Paul lays a hand on Rick’s shoulder. “Rick, the Senator was interested in talking if you had the chance….”
“Of course. Su Lin, if you’ll excuse me for just a moment,” Rick says, the two of them heading off. I feel lost, suddenly nervous as I look around the big room. Everyone here looks comfortable, at home in their five thousand dollar dresses and tuxedos, chatting and giving me evaluating looks.
I don’t know what to do, and can feel the urge to fidget when there’s a warm, deep voice behind me. “I wouldn’t worry if I were you. Half the people here will be drunk by the time they give the Senator her award.”
I turn to see a man who’s nearly as handsome as Rick, his broad shoulders and blue eyes making him look like he should be a movie star. “Hello. It’s not that I’m nervous….”
“But this is the first time you’ve been at one of these society shindigs,” the man says, chuckling. “I’m Drew Washington, by the way.”
“Su Lin Kelley,” I reply, offering my hand. We shake and he surprises me by lifting my knuckles to his lips and brushing them with a feather light kiss. The unexpected chivalry of the gesture makes me blush, which Drew notices. “How did you know I’m new here?”
“Because I’ve been to far too many of these types of things to count,” Drew says with a laugh. “Trust me, I’d have noticed a woman as beautiful as you here. Did you say Kelley, by the way? As in Rick Kelley?”
“Yes, he’s my husband,” I answer. Drew chuckles and lays a hand on my elbow, guiding me towards the drink table. “Do you and Rick know each other?”
“Oh, Rick and I go waaaaay back,” Drew says, smirking. “We’ve been friendly rivals for at least a decade now. So, Ravishing Rick got married, huh? No wonder he’s been sort of a ghost at these things for the past few months.”
Drew gets me a champagne, the two of us chatting about many different subjects. He attracts the attention of many of the pretty women in the room, who seem drawn to come over and try and flirt with him, but each time he’s polite but dismissive as he keeps his attention on me. It’s flattering, and when the music starts Drew grins. “Would you care to dance?”
“I don’t know….” I start, but Drew chuckles reassuringly.
“Come on, it’s just a dance. Besides, that’s what this event’s for. Rick can come get you any time he wants.”
I think about it, and Drew’s right. This is supposed to be a society event, and me playing wallflower not only is boring, but would make me stand out even more. I nod, and take his hand as he leads me out to the dance floor. The live band is playing something I don’t really know, it sounds like American pop music but there’s no singer, just a band that I would more closely think of as a big band or jazz band. Still, when Drew offers his arms I find myself swept away, a relieved smile coming to my face as we dance along to the music.
I don’t know how much time passes, just that the evening’s a lot more fun. I look around for Rick at times, but I don’t even see him in the room, which just fuels my anger and lets me dance with Drew more. When the music slows for a slow dance, Drew pulls me closer, his hand settling dangerously close to the curve of my hip.
“You know, you are the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen at one of these things,” Drew murmurs in my ear, pressing his body up against me. “This might be a little forward, but perhaps we should continue this upstairs?”
“What?” I ask, shocked and pushing back. “Excuse me Drew, but-”
“But you’re a mail order bride who knows nothing about the dickhead you’re married to,” Drew continues. “A dickhead who left you alone all night to go play political bullshit games while he should be paying attention to you. Now come on, let’s get out of here, he won’t even notice.”
Drew grabs my hand and, despite how much I resist, pulls me from the dance floor. I want to fight him, but I’m not sure if I should. Would it create a bad image for Rick if I make a scene?
My paralysis continues all the way until we’re out into a back hallway of the hotel. We’re alone, and I twist my wrist away, pulling back. “Drew, no! I don’t want to-”
“I get it,” Drew says, pushing me up against the wall and pressing his body against me. “You’re the kinky type that likes to do it in public. Or the cocktease, maybe? Either way, I’m down with that. You’ll get what you deserve.”
Drew crushes his lips against mine, grabbing my wrists and pinning them to the wall. I try and scream, but his mouth and tongue seal it all inside. I can feel Drew getting hard in his trousers, and I try and lift my leg to knee him in the balls, but he’s got his legs positioned just right that-
Suddenly, from out of nowhere, I hear Rick. “Get the fuck off of her!”
Drew stops kissing me long enough to turn his head to look at Rick, grinning. “So, Kelley. Wondered how long it would take for your little mail order slut to be mine. Didn’t think you’d pay attention.”
“I said… get off her!” Rick bellows. Drew goes to kiss me again, but this time I’m prepared, catching him in the lip with a headbutt that sends him staggering back. Drew recovers, backhanding me and making
my head spin. Before I can do anything though Rick’s grabbed Drew and thrown him against the wall. Drew tries to punch, but Rick blocks and throws him again, this time Drew’s head hitting a mirror before his body smashes through a table. Drew sags to the ground, and Rick grabs me by the arm, leading me away.
“What the hell were you doing with him?” Rick fumes as he pulls me towards the elevator. “Drew fucking Washington?”
“What do you mean?” I ask. Rick says nothing, the door to the elevator opening. We step inside and I see hotel staff just starting to come around the corner when the doors close and Rick turns, his eyes blazing in fury.
“What do I mean? Drew Washington! How the fuck could you have spent all that time with Drew Washington?!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” I yell back at him. “I didn’t know he was a fucking pervy asshole! I just knew my fucking husband went and abandoned me five minutes after we get to the party, and I don’t see you at all the whole fucking time!”
Rick steps back, his fists clenched, his breath whistling in and out of his nostrils. “I was doing what had to be done! I told you today was about politics!”
“And I did nothing to stop you!” I yell back. “You abandoned me to go play your games, and all I knew at the time was that Drew was nice enough to talk to me and asked me to dance! I didn’t know he wanted to fuck me!”
“So you didn’t go out…” Rick says, his eyes going wide as he pushes me against the wall of the elevator and kisses me. I should headbutt him, considering this is what Drew just did, but Rick’s different, and my body responds to his rough touch as his lips find my neck and he starts licking, sucking on my skin.
“I should punish you,” Rick growls, staring into my eyes. “I should make you scream for what you want and then deny you.”
