by Lewis, L. K.
I knew Lana would give me the direction and guidance I need to get Morgan back in my life, but I never knew she could be so ruthless. I must make a mental note to stay on her good side. She clearly felt burned when Morgan decided to go her own way in life, as if the last twenty-two years of hard work Lana had put into Morgan were for nothing.
Lana’s plan makes perfect sense. Morgan wants friendship right now. She needs time to realize that Drake is not coming back for her. When that realization finally comes, I’ll be there to console her, and make her believe my feelings for her are real, and she can trust that I’m not a fuck-up who will leave her.
Chapter 5
Drake
The more I learn about the way my father has run all aspects of Baylor Industries, the more I realize how differently I would do things. I asked my father for a second chance close to a year ago now. I wanted to work for him because I had run out of options. I can’t believe I find myself in that exact same spot so many months later after I’ve made such drastic changes in my life. I would never take back the decisions Morgan and I made in efforts to be together. We didn’t have a choice but to be together really, our hearts belonged to each other from the minute our eyes first met.
What’s interesting now is, as I’ve grown and found my way in this company, I know my place is at its helm. As I sit in my new office, looking over the past few months’ financials, it’s no wonder why the European division has been hemorrhaging money these past few quarters. I’m sure my father knows I’m the perfect person to turn this part of the company around. He would have just thrown me out on my ass otherwise. Knowing what changes have to be made gives me the confidence I need to move forward and prove my worth to my father once again. Like I told Morgan, I quickly learn from my mistakes, and am the best version of myself to date. It’s now time to buckle down, and get shit done so I can come back home to Morgan. For the remainder of these nine months I’ll just have to remind myself that everything I do is for Morgan, she is my every breath.
Taking in my new surroundings, I laugh to myself that the same garish American décor my father has in his office back in the States has been used in his office here. Masculine dark woods and green tones are carried throughout the large expanse of the room. The sparse furnishings and seating arrangements are dwarfed by the oversized dark walnut desk and hunter green leather wing-backed chair that is so wrong for this space. It’s obvious that my step mother Gloria had her hand in decorating this room too. This office would make anyone sitting on the other side of the desk completely uncomfortable and overpowered by my father, which I’m sure was his goal. My father is a smart, shrewd businessman and although he’s good at what he does, he knows there are others out there that could do it better. He uses threats, powerful business ties, and other forceful measures to get the job done when needed; I got to witness it first-hand.
Drawing my focus back to my work, my gaze stops at the framed picture of Morgan I have placed front and center on my desk. It’s one of very few photos I have of her here, the one I gave to Morgan in the file folder when I desperately needed a reason to see her. I had a bunch of meetings and things to attend to, but I really missed Morgan, and figured nobody would be the wiser if I called her to review a file. I wrote the words “I love you” on the back, and slid it into the folder before meeting her in the elevator.
Looking at that picture reminds me of the night I took it… we hadn’t been together long, but were having fun exploring the “getting to know you period” as we like to call it. It was a simple Thursday night and we hadn’t done anything special in particular. We both did our evening workouts before I met Morgan at her place. It was a beautiful late summer evening and although it was still warm out in the evening, the humidity was no longer unbearable. After dinner, we grabbed our bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and relaxed on the little terrace located just off her living room. We sipped the perfectly chilled white wine, held hands, and gazed into each other’s eyes, smiling brightly as we discussed some of the crazy antics I had gotten myself into during my youth and laughing at how different our upbringings had been.
When the bottle was empty, and the summer sun had finally set, I noticed Morgan’s perfect nipples harden under her nearly transparent tank top and lace bra as a chill crept over her body. I helped her rise to her feet and led the way inside then swooped my arms behind her legs and in one fluid motion had her in my arms as I carried her to her bedroom.
Making love to Morgan is so much different than filling the void I once felt in my soul, or acting on a carnal need I have as a man to spread my seed. The feeling of peace and love that is shared between us when I’m inside her is different than any other I’ve ever experienced. Our bodies fit together.
That night, after I placed Morgan back on her feet at the foot of her bed, I slowly undressed her, taking in the glorious sight of her naked body; her perfectly plump breasts, flat belly and round ass sitting atop her long runner’s legs. I drop to my knees before her, taking the time to truly worship her as I slid one of her legs over my shoulder, parting her glistening lips as I moved my tongue between her folds to suck on her now throbbing clit. Using my other hand to steady her, I listened to Morgan pant and whisper encouraging words as I lapped at her pussy, bringing her to her first climax of the evening. After coming down from her first release, I took my time, massaging, and gently nibbling her breasts as I made my way up her body. Morgan frantically removed my clothes, paying no mind to the slow pace I had set. Releasing me from my boxers, Morgan grabbed the base of my cock, and pumped my erection a few times before massaging her entrance with my tip. We let out a loud sigh in unison as I entered her, filling her with my girth. Our eyes met as I held myself above Morgan, finding a sweet rhythm. A smile crossed her face as she wrapped her hands around my arms and in that moment, she had never looked so beautiful.
“I love you, Morgan Lane, more than I could ever love anyone else,” I whispered, mentally capturing this time with her, vowing never to forget the way I feel.
“I love you too, Drake…you are my heart, my home. Let me be your home,” she whispered back.
“You are my home, my future, my everything,” I replied as I slowly covered her beautiful face with feather light kisses.
After a while in our slow, gentle rhythm, I felt Morgan’s walls tightening around me as her breathing picked up. Her hips sped up as she milked my cock and she screamed my name as I felt her orgasm tear through her body. I lowered my mouth to one of her tits, rolling her sweet nipple around my tongue while I continued to pump harder and faster into her before I found my own release.
Lightly panting, I rolled onto my back and wrapped my arms around her, as Morgan found her comfy place, resting her head on my chest, laying her arm across my waist. When her breathing slowed, and I was sure she was asleep, I gently kissed the top of her head as I reached for my phone on the bedside table. Morgan stirred slightly, but quickly settled again and I extended my hand outward, phone in hand, camera on. I took a deep breath, then smiled my most content happy smile, as I captured the moment. When I checked my phone to make sure I hadn’t accidentally cut one of our heads off, I noticed that in her sleep Morgan had the most beautifully peaceful smile on her face as well. I make her just as happy as she makes me. I vowed in that moment to always put Morgan first, no matter what. There is no way I’ll ever let that peace and happiness leave her face. I’m sure that right now it has, but I’m keeping my vow to put her first. Someday soon hopefully, I can be the person to return the smile to her face.
Chapter 6
Morgan
“You’ve been home for a week now, Morgie, it’s time you left your apartment and had some fun. Come on, let’s go out tonight and celebrate your new job. You only have a few days left of freedom before you once again have to join the good old American workforce!” Amanda squeals into my ear. I have just come back from my run and her call catches me just as I was getting out of the shower.
“Perfect timing girl, I just g
ot out of the shower and could use a little dinner. I’ll pick the entertainment. Why don’t you head over to my place then we’ll jump in a cab together?” I say as I run a comb through my long wet locks, and put a little moisturizer on.
“A cab? I don’t mind being the designated driver if you want to get your drink on, Morgan.”
“Well, I could use a drink or two, but where we’re going you don’t want to drive. Trust me,” I giggle before hanging up. By the time Amanda arrives, I’ve dried my hair and flat-ironed out the frizz, thrown on my favorite go-to skinny jeans, a black V-neck sweater, and some black Chuck Taylors.
“Am I overdressed? I thought we were going out for dinner and cocktails!” Amanda asks as she shows up wearing one of her favorite clubbing outfits. Her vintage Stones t-shirt she stole from her dad that he got at their concert in ‘79 will do just great, but the black leather mini skirt and spike ankle booties might not be very practical for what I had in mind.
“Your shirt is perfect for what we’re doing, but why don’t you come to my room with me and let me find you something more suitable to wear?” I say as I grab Amanda’s hand and pull her into my bedroom. I grab another pair of dark skinny jeans that I paid far too much to have holes already worn into, and a pair of Frye calf-length biker boots. “That should be more comfortable, what are you in the mood for food wise? I’m starving!” I say as we head out the door.
Amanda and I walk to the corner of my block and grab some veggie wraps and baba ghanoush from a little café before hailing a cab and heading downtown to the more “seedy” part of town. The first time Drake brought me here, I was definitely out of my element, and a little freaked out as this was not an area my mother would have ever allowed me to go to when we visited the city. Now that I’ve been here more than a handful of times, I realize that Drake was right when he said the only trouble I’ll find down here is the kind I seek out. So now I’m not so freaked to hang here. Amanda, on the other hand, looks a little pale when we exit the cab and she takes in her surroundings.
“Morgie, are you sure the cab dropped us off at the right place?” She asks.
“It’s fine; I’ve been here a bunch of times. Drake’s friend Garrett owns the place. You’ll have fun, Amanda, I promise,” I say as I open the door, stepping back to let her enter first. I want to see the excitement in her face when she figures out where I’ve taken her.
“A bowling alley! Fun! I haven’t been bowling for years!” Amanda giggles as she jumps up and down clapping her hands like a cheerleader.
I immediately spot Garrett at his usual perch behind the shoe rental counter and he gives me a large smile and a nod hello. I motion for Amanda to follow me as I make my way towards him. I normally just give him a shy smile and a wave hello, but tonight I walk right up to him and wrap my arms around his middle in a warm embrace. Garrett reluctantly hugs me back, letting me stay there a while before tightening the squeeze momentarily, then releasing me to pull back and look at me.
“Are you okay, Morgan? What’s wrong?” Garrett asks.
“I’m okay, sorry,” I say, taking a step back. “I think I just needed a hug.” I feel my cheeks warm. In all honesty, I’m sure I just needed to feel some sort of connection to Drake. It’s been almost two months now since he held me in his arms, and I think I was just craving that connection, and Garrett is the last remaining link I have to Drake. Stepping away slightly from Garrett, I motion to Amanda.
“Garrett, this is my best friend Amanda. Amanda, this is Drake’s friend Garrett, he’s the owner of this fine establishment,” I say as I catch Garrett gazing around the bowling alley with a little pride and amusement.
“Well, fine establishment might be a stretch, but Morgan is right when she calls it mine. It’s nice to meet you, Amanda, any friend of Morgan’s is a friend of mine,” Garrett says with a flirty wink in Amanda’s direction as he extends his hand to her.
“Nice to meet you as well, it’s been far too long since I’ve been bowling,” Amanda says as a blush crosses her cheeks. Amanda never blushes; she’s normally the outgoing one between us, never afraid to make a new friend while we are out on the town. “I used to go bowling with my dad all the time when I was little and my mom would go out of town on business. We would tell her we went to the movies, or worked on my Girl Scout merit badges, but really, he’d take me bowling and would drink too much while I got sick on stale popcorn. It was awesome.”
“Sounds like me and my old man growing up. I run a few leagues here, if you are ever interested,” Garrett says. Suddenly I feel like a voyeur watching the sparks fly all over their conversation.
“Hey, so I was wondering if you’ve heard anything from Drake,” I ask.
“No, Morgan. I’m sorry, I haven’t. I know how hard this is for you. If I hear anything, I promise you will be the first one to know.”
“Okay, sounds good. I’m sorry to bother you. I really did come down here to have a little fun tonight and not wallow in my own broken hearted self-pity, I promise,” I say with a half-smile.
“I’m sorry you’re hurting. I know wherever Drake is, he’s most likely in rough shape too. That man loves you girl, you’re his life. If I know Drake half as well as I think I do, whatever is going on right now, he’s off trying to fix it.”
“Thanks for saying that, Garrett, it really means a lot. I like to think that Drake is off somewhere fighting for me, but it’s been so long now and I haven’t heard anything. No form of communication whatsoever. I’m at my wits’ end here; I’m not sure what to do or how to move on. If it weren’t for Amanda dragging me out every once in a while I don’t know what I’d be doing.”
Garrett doesn’t say anything for a moment. He almost looks like he’s struggling with whether or not to say what’s on his mind. Finally he looks at me and hesitantly says, “I’ll tell you what. I have an old email address of Drake’s from when he was on the bowling league here. I doubt he ever even checked it, he’d still show up for games on days when I sent out an email canceling them. I really doubt it’s still active, but I’ll look it up and write it down for you. It most likely won’t get to Drake but it’s worth a shot, right?” Garrett shrugs.
“That would be wonderful, thanks Garrett, I really appreciate it,” I say as a huge smile crosses my face for the first time in forever. Even if there is the smallest chance I’ll be able to find Drake, or at least reconnect with him through email it’s a relief to be able to try.
“Sure thing, Morgan. Any time, you know that. You two go grab lane five, your games are on me tonight. I’ll grab some shoes and that email address and meet you over there in a few,” Garret says before heading through the closed office door behind the shoe counter.
With a nod, Amanda and I head to the bar first to get a pitcher of beer, and then grab our girly pink bowling balls and head to our lane.
“So, are you actually good at bowling?” Amanda asks as we pick our nicknames on the scoring screen.
“Oh hell no, I totally suck. This is the only place Drake and I ever felt comfortable going to without constantly looking over our shoulders, worried we would get caught,” I say as pain twists my stomach in knots. I knew coming here tonight would be a constant reminder of Drake and it’s both comforting and brutally painful.
“I’m sorry to upset you, Morgan. Are you sure you want to be here? We can go at any time. I will say I’m enjoying the eye candy though, why didn’t you say Drake’s friend is so hot? You know I’m a sucker for baby blue eyes and a hint of bad boy.”
“Who, Garrett? I guess I’ve never thought of him like that. I’m always so engrossed in Drake I guess I never really see anything else around me.”
“Tell me about it,” Amanda says as she downs her first beer.
“He’s a really good guy, though. Both he and Drake have been through a lot and have some crazy pasts. It’s actually a little heartwarming to see that they can reconnect and be so close after all these years as they both try to make more positive changes in their lives.”
“Is he single?” Amanda asks as she picks up her ball and abruptly throws it right down the gutter.
“Nice,” I say sarcastically as I hold my hand up for a high five. “Yeah, I think he’s still single. A girl’s name has never come up in conversation and he doesn’t seem to be too private.”
“Well this evening is looking better still, come on blondie, you’re up!” Morgan says as she smacks my ass like a baseball coach.
We bowl a few games, but honestly, I’m too anxious about getting home and emailing Drake to really relax and enjoy myself. I have to chuckle, though, when on our way out, I catch Amanda tucking her card into her bowling shoes before handing them back to Garrett.
“I saw that!” I tease as we headed out the door to the waiting cab.
“What? He’s hot! That was a really sweet move he pulled back there giving you that email address. He seems like a good guy and you seem to trust him, so why not give it a try, you know?” Amanda says while climbing into the cab. “Plus, I’ve gotta end this dry spell sooner or later, I might as well do it with someone with potential!”
*****
I practically race through my apartment door to get to my computer and turn it on. Amanda had already gotten the hint that I need to be alone and do this when I threw some cash at our cabby and kissed her on the cheek before bolting out of the car. Not wasting any time, I strip myself of my clothes on my way to the bedroom as my computer boots up so I can be in my pajamas and comfortable when the laptop is finished loading. Sitting cross legged on my couch, computer in lap, I stare at the blank email. I stare, and stare, then stare some more. Fifteen minutes must have passed with me gazing blankly at my screen before I close my computer and sit it next to me. Still in a daze, I rise to my feet and head into the kitchen, foraging through the fridge for the half-finished bottle of white. Forgoing a glass, I pull the cork out of the bottleneck and tip my head back, letting the cold liquid slide down my throat. My throat burns, and I’ve barely tasted the wine, but in this moment, I don’t care. My hurt has turned to numbness these past few weeks, and right now, even though binge drinking alone in my apartment on a Friday night is probably wrong, just feeling something is better than the alternative.
