“What’s the crisis?” Staring me up and down she said, “Uh, never mind. What the hell happened to you today? You look like something the cat dragged in. You know, after it puked all over you, chewed you up, and then puked you back up.”
“Wow! What a great description of my day.”
She shook her head.
“Seriously, Mo. You have no idea the shitty day I’ve had, but guess what?”
“What? What? What? Tell me, tell me, tell me!” she squealed.
“I have a date.”
“NOOOO! You’re shittin’ me?” The look of complete and utter astonishment on her face kind of hurt my feelings.
“Wow, is it really that surprising?” I asked.
“Yes, yes it is. You’ve not been on a date since the Nixon administration. It’s way past fucking time. And time to fuck. That was funny. I’m a total comedienne.”
“Yeah, you’re frigging hilarious.”
“So, what can I do for you, my friend? Besides give you a complete and total makeover. Because to be perfectly honest with you, you look like shit. Like total shit.” She pulled the elastic out of my hair and tried to run her fingers through my nasty locks. Her hand got stuck. “Holy shit! What is in your hair, Lil?”
“Probably vomit.” I shook my head and mumbled, “Don’t ask.”
As we walked into her house, she slapped mohawk man on the ass. He trotted over to his motorcycle and started it up. As he peeled out down the street she just shook her head at him as he drove away.
Morgan dragged me to her bedroom which looked like a tornado had hit it. Her bed was in shambles, the mirror above her dresser was hanging crookedly, and her bra was hanging from the ceiling fan spinning around slowly.
“What the hell happened in here last night?” I asked with a grin as I grabbed her bra and pulled it from the fan.
“Honey, what the hell didn’t happen in here last night would be a better question. I fucking love rockers. They are crazy as hell. You should totally do one at least once.” She bit her lip and gave me a naughty little smile. “They’ll rock your whole world.”
“My date is not a rocker, but he is so hot.” I could feel the blush creeping up my cheeks.
“You’re blushing, babe. He must be smokin’.”
“He really is. So, why the hell is he going out with me?”
“Shut the fuck up. You are gorgeous and you know it. Now stop spewing crap and let’s get you ready for your date with…”
“Asher. His name is Asher.” I hadn’t mentioned MM to Morgan. I knew she would give me hell about stalking and not being brave enough to talk to him, so I just omitted him from our conversations this week.
“Okay, let’s get you ready for Asher to turn you into ash with all that steamy heat he exudes,” she said with a grin. “First things first. You stink. Like really stink.” She leaned in and took another sniff. “Smells like alcohol, lemons, and something that I’d prefer not to think about.”
“I think a shower would probably be a good idea.”
“No shit? Yeah, I totally agree with that. By the way, why are you showering at my place? You do still have a home, right?”
“Yes, a home that I am not allowed to enter until the okay has been given by the gas company. Apparently, there’s a leak in my apartment building.”
“Shit. That sucks ass. Okay, go get your ass in the shower and I’ll find you something hot and naughty to wear in my closet.”
“Remember, Morgan. I’m bigger than you are. I’m not gonna wear something I have to squeeze my fat ass into.” Morgan and I were about the same size, but my breasts were at least a cup size bigger and I had a tiny bit more junk in my trunk.
“Woman! You’ll wear whatever I tell you to wear and you’ll love it!” She slapped me on the backside and pushed me off toward the bathroom. She was right. I totally needed a shower. I had two hours before I needed to meet Asher at the Mayan. That gave me plenty of time to get all dolled up and drive back across town. Morgan only lived about fifteen minutes away from downtown.
By the time I left Morgan’s house I looked like a completely different person. She’d done my make-up - a little more than what I normally wore. She’d done a smoky eye and a darker shade of lipstick than I was comfortable with, but it looked pretty good with my outfit. The dress she picked out for me was very form-fitting, but it was comfortable. It was a deep burgundy color and she paired it with a gold heel and gold bracelets and a necklace.
The dress was cut kinda low in the front, which she pointed out to me would only accentuate my “huge tits”, her words. Not really something I was used to doing, but I had to admit the dress looked good and with the make-up and my hair…I looked like I was ready for a date. My long light blonde waves were falling down my back with my side swept bangs pulled back in a gold clip.
When I looked in the mirror I did a double take. I wasn’t quite sure that I was looking back at me. Morgan assured me I looked hot and pushed me out of her house and to the Mayan a little early.
The Mayan Hotel is an absolutely gorgeous historic landmark. It’s been here forever and it’s known for its beautiful weddings in the back garden. It looks like an old plantation style home. The huge wraparound porch has ceiling fans that slowly turn over the white rocking chairs that decorate the whole porch. There are always tons of multi-colored flowers and green vines hanging down from the baskets that line the porch. The back of the hotel has three gardens. The Magnolia Garden, the Peach Garden, and the Lily Garden. My dream since the first time I saw the Mayan Hotel was to get married in the Lily Garden. It just seemed like the perfect dream for a girl named Lilly, right? Hopefully, well maybe someday.
I parked the car and as I started walking up the steps to the front of the hotel I saw Asher. He was standing at the door with a big smile spread across his face. That smile of his was contagious. Smiling back, I watched as his eyes took in my dress. By the look on his face and the shift in his stance, I’d say Morgan did good.
“Good evening, Lilly,” he said as he stuck his hand out for me. I took his hand in mine and we continued into the main lobby of the hotel.
It was absolutely breathtaking. There were grand mahogany staircases on either side of the lobby. The carpet was a dark burgundy, it actually matched my dress perfectly. The staircases were covered in gold gilding. Directly in front of us, above the double doors that led out to the gardens, was a huge stained glass window. The sun was just starting to set and the light was streaming in through the window. The colors were dancing throughout the entire lobby. A beautiful chorus of greens, blues, reds, and yellows were shining on everything around us. Absolutely, gorgeous.
When I realized we’d stopped moving, I looked over at Asher. The light was shining on his face and he was looking at me with something I hadn’t seen in quite some time - lust. Or at least I think it was lust. It looked like lust to me. I was feeling it too, so I’m gonna say it was lust.
I couldn’t pull my eyes away from him. I wanted this man.
Was it crazy for me to think that he might be my Mr. Right? Yes, I knew it was insane to even be thinking that before we’d had our first date. I didn’t know anything about this man, but there was just something about him. Something that made me think this was the beginning of something big. Those damn romance novels were ruining me, but was love at first sight really possible? If it was, I think I was starting to fall.
Placing his warm hand on my cheek, he said, “You look beautiful, Lilly. Thank you for agreeing to spend this evening with me.” Apparently, I was blushing again because he clarified, “I didn’t mean the whole evening. I just meant dinner and maybe some dancing. Do you like to dance?”
“I love to dance, but I’m really not very good at it,” I answered sheepishly.
“I’m not very good at it either, but I think we’ll manage.” He leaned in and I thought he was going to kiss me, but instead he swept his finger under the gold heart hanging from the chain around my neck. “Such a pretty necklace.
” We both knew he wasn’t admiring the necklace. He’d basically ran his finger over the swell of my breasts since the heart was hanging in my cleavage. “Everything about you is pretty.” He bent down and whispered in my ear, “I can’t wait to see more.” I felt a tingle shoot down my spine. This man was definitely going to be trouble, but damn if I didn’t want some trouble right now. I wanted him and I was going to have him any way I could get him. One thing was clear, I had apparently turned into a slut today. That morning “O” did weird things to my libido.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I thought we could eat out in one of the gardens tonight.” Placing his hand on the small of my back, he led us to the door leading outside.
“Not at all. Sounds romantic,” I responded.
“I’m trying my best. I’m really not a romantic guy, but when I saw that one of the gardens was the Lily Garden, it seemed like fate.”
“We’re eating in the Lily Garden? Are you serious? I didn’t think they let people eat out there. Isn’t it usually reserved for weddings?”
“Usually it is, but there wasn’t anything planned for tonight, so I rented it out for us.”
“You rented the entire garden for us? For dinner? Are you insane? That must’ve cost you a fortune.” I couldn’t believe he’d done that. I knew how expensive it was to rent one of these gardens. It was outrageously expensive. Like you could buy a small island for the cost of a one night rental. Asher apparently had more money than sense.
“Don’t worry about that. I know a guy, who knows a guy. No big deal.” He gestured toward the small table in the middle of the gazebo in the garden. There was a white tablecloth draped over it and two plates with silver covers on them. The waiter, dressed in a tux, jumped from his chair behind the gazebo and started toward us when he saw us getting closer.
“Sir, everything is ready to go. Will you be needing anything else this evening?” he asked.
Asher slipped him some money and shook his head. The waiter went back inside and Asher led me to the table. He pulled the chair out for me and asked, “Champagne?”
“Sounds yummy, but I’ll warn you. I’m a real light weight. One glass and I’ll be dancing on the table.”
Asher laughed and filled my glass. He leaned down and I could feel his warm breath on my neck. “I think I’d like to see that. Maybe I should order us another bottle now.”
Once he moved away and I could breathe normally again, I laughed. “I said one glass, not one bottle.”
“I know what you said,” he smirked. “Are you ready to eat?”
“Yes. It smells delicious.” He lifted the silver lid from my plate and I couldn’t believe what I saw. “Really? I didn’t even know they served food like this here.”
“They don’t normally. But I know a guy, who knows a guy.”
“That seems to be going around.”
He chuckled. “Not your kinda food, huh?”
“Actually, it’s my favorite kinda food. I just can’t believe I’m at the Mayan Hotel eating a hamburger and fries on fine china,” I laughed.
“That meal in front of you is my absolute favorite meal. I’m just an all-American boy at heart. Baseball, apple pie, and a hamburger and fries. What can I say?” He shot me that smile again and I could feel the heat pooling between my legs. Damn, I wanted this man so bad. This night was gonna end with me in his bed and then I’d probably never see him again. But…but…what if I was wrong? What if he was my Mr. Right? He could be, right? I mean what kinda guy plans an evening like this and serves hamburgers and fries? My kinda guy.
“So, Mr. All-American Boy, where are you from?” I took a huge bite of the most delicious hamburger I’d ever tasted.
“All over, really. How about you?” he asked.
“Well, I grew up here. My parents died when I was young and my aunt and uncle raised me. Then I went to college and became a teacher. And that was way more information than you asked for, sorry,” I said, embarrassed that I said so much so quickly.
“Don’t be embarrassed. I want to know everything about you. And I have to be honest with you about something.” He leaned in and motioned for me to come closer to him. “I really suck at this whole dating thing.”
“Really? I was just thinking the complete opposite. This date just started and it’s already one of the best ones I’ve ever been on.” I dropped my head down and looked at my lap. I muttered, “There I go again. Foot meet mouth.”
“Are you going to talk to your lap all night?” he asked with a grin. “I think you’re so cute.”
I realized I’d downed my first glass of champagne and Asher was pouring another glass for me.
“Cute? Wow, thanks.” I was already starting to feel the effects of the champagne closing in. I was a tad bit lightheaded and feeling pretty confident.
“Okay, not cute. Cute was totally the wrong word to use. How about hot? Sexy? Gorgeous? Beautiful? Do those words work better for you?”
The look in his eyes had changed. I could see the lust there again. It was clear that he wanted me as much as I wanted him.
“Yeah, those words are definitely working for me.” Looking over at him, I bit my lip and gazed into his eyes. I really hoped he didn’t sense the double innuendo in my words, but I could tell he understood what I was really saying.
“I think we need to eat these delicious hamburgers, dance a little, and talk. I think we need to do that right now. Because if we don’t I’m going to take you up to my room and do things, lots of things, to you. So unless you want me to ravish you now, you need to stop looking at me like that.”
I couldn’t speak. I wanted him to do things, lots of things, to me now. I didn’t need to eat. Dancing was not necessary. I wanted to do a different kinda dancing, and I wanted to do it now. This was the moment I realized how utterly amazing champagne was.
I swallowed hard and used all the courage the glass and a half of champagne had given me to say, “These things you were talking about doing to me, would we be naked when you did them?”
Taking a deep breath, he placed the silver lids back on our plates, stood up and reached his hand out to me. “Let’s go.” That was all it took. Two words and I was out of my chair with my hand in his. I don’t think my feet hit the ground until we reached his room. When he pulled the key out of his pocket and started to open the door, reality hit me. What the hell was I doing? I was going to have sex with a complete stranger? No. I wouldn’t do something like that. Right? Oh, hell. I was doing this. I deserved it and I wanted it.
He opened the door and gestured for me to follow him inside. The room was so pristine. Decorated in all whites and grays, there was a small seating area and the bed was in the back corner. I could see the bathroom that was encased in glass. There was a huge shower with so many shower heads it looked like it belonged in a weird sci-fi movie. As I was taking in my surroundings, Asher shut the door behind us and then before I knew what was happening he turned me around toward him and very lightly pressed his lips to mine. It was like a jolt of electricity shot through me. I couldn’t close my eyes, I couldn’t move, all I could do was feel his mouth on mine. He opened his eyes and pulled away.
“You didn’t kiss me back. Is everything okay? Did I do something wrong?”
“This is crazy, Asher. I don’t do stuff like this. Ever.”
“And you think I do? I don’t do one-night stands, Lilly. That’s not me. If we do this, don’t expect to get up in the morning and never see me again. I don’t know what the hell this is, but I can honestly say I’ve never felt anything like it.”
He placed his hand on my cheek and gently ran his thumb along my jaw. “I saw you in the park every night. I tried to stay away from you.” Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and exhaled. “But I couldn’t do it. There’s something about you, Lilly.”
His eyes met mine and his blue-eyed stare was taking all of my fears and smashing them into a million pieces. “When I look at you I see things. I see a future with a house and kids. God, I
know that’s fucking crazy, but I don’t care, that’s what I see when I look into those beautiful green eyes of yours.”
My breaths were coming quick, my palms were sweating at my sides, and my heart was about to beat out of my chest. He’d seen me all week, but tried to stay away. He felt the same things I was feeling. This was crazy, but something was there. So, either he knew exactly what I’d always dreamed of, or he was feeling the same stuff I was feeling. He wanted a future with me. He didn’t know me at all, but he was seeing a future with me. This love at first sight thing was crazy, but it did happen right? I mean it happens all the time in romance novels.
“That’s what I see when I look into your eyes and as nuts as that makes me sound, Lilly, my body is leading the way and it’s leading me to you.”
I reached up and circled my arms around his neck. Slowly I stood up on my tiptoes and placed my lips to his. This time I was in control. I kissed him and when he started to kiss me back I lost all inhibitions. I slid my tongue into his mouth and waited patiently for more. I needed more. I needed everything from this man. Everything.
His hand was on my back and he started to unzip my dress. It fell to the floor in a pile at my feet. Stepping out of it, I broke our kiss and started to unbutton his shirt. When all of the buttons were undone I slid the shirt down his arms and it fell onto the floor with my dress. I reached for his belt and soon his pants dropped to the floor with the rest of our clothes. He was standing before me in his black boxer briefs and I was wearing my lacy white panties and push up bra that Morgan had insisted on.
“Beautiful. You are so beautiful,” he whispered as he reached around me and unclasped my bra. I shimmied it down my arms and heard his breath catch in his throat. He swallowed hard. “You’re killing me here.”
“What? What’d I do?” I asked.
“That little shimmy you just did. Damn, you have no idea what that does to a man.” I looked down and could see how hard he was.
I placed my hand around him and gently slid my hand up and down his length. “I have a pretty good idea.”
He gently pushed me back onto the bed and positioned himself over me. Asher kissed my breast and when he sucked my nipple into his mouth I couldn’t help the moan that escaped my lips. I wanted, no I needed, to feel him lower. “Please, Asher. Please, lower,” I begged.
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