Amber was still amazed that the good-looking attorney in the office was interested in her. Amber, in spite of everything, was still very insecure, Eduardo packed full the ingredient that was missing in her marriage with Victor and Amber never felt so absolute yet still so unsure of herself.
Walking out of the hair salon with a giddy expression pasted to her face, Amber recalled her past rendezvous with Eduardo. She waited for him patiently in the motel room. He was a few minutes late, but arrived with flowers and a sensual grin that took her breath away. He threw down the flowers and grabbed her to him, nearly crushing her arms from the strength of his excitement and close embrace.
Oh how could she be this happy? Amber wanted to emerge beautiful on top of feeling that way and made an appointment at a beauty salon. She wanted to appear and undergo the part of a woman who was able to entice the likes of Eduardo Sanchez. Keeping the length of her hair, she had the stylist cut wispy bangs and several layers across the back to give it more bounce. Walking on air, she roamed the sidewalks of the Century City Plaza, searching for the perfect negligee from the ritzy boutiques.
Eduardo out of town again, had to settle a case for the firm. Amber hadn’t seen him in several days and her anticipation of his return was unnerving. She felt lost without him. His full attention was like a fricken drug.
Amber purchased her nightgown and proceeded out of the doorway when Gordon Dagget cornered her.
“My-my, buying something sexy for the husband?”
Amber blushed, “Looks that way.”
Gordon surveyed her attire, her new look. “You look marvelous by the way, cut your hair?”
Amber bit down on her lower lip. She was glad to see the effect worked, especially to someone as equally as handsome as Eduardo. “So you like it, huh?”
Gordon reached out and tweaked some bangs over her face. Amber’s cheeks turned crimson; it was a towering feeling to experience so much admiration lately. She never received so much focus her entire life!
“I do. Where you headed for?”
“Just doing some shopping.”
“Care if I join you?”
Amber thought about it; another good-looking ladies man. She had a surplus of attention from the one that mattered, so Gordon was harmless, right? “Sure, walk with me.”
They strolled together down the long open-air shopping plaza and every now and then, Gordon would lean into her and graze her shoulder. A display of intimacy, Amber realized, and that weakened her assurance.
“How’s the defamation case going?”
“Ready for trial in two weeks,” Amber stated proudly.
“Good, then you’ll be free to help me out with a case I’m working on.”
Amber looked at him quizzically. “Why?”
“Because I like your company...and, I want you on my team.”
Amber heard the purring in his voice. Gordon’s speech turned husky, and Amber started in amazement. “Gordon, I’m married.”
Gordon laughed, “I find that a challenge.”
Amber rolled her eyes, “Why are good-looking men always so confident?”
He stopped and grabbed her by the shoulders, “Why? Who else has been hitting on you? Tell me now so I can defend your honor.”
Amber gazed into his blue eyes and giggled, “You’re just as bad as my brother-in-law.”
Gordon let go a meager sneer, “Ah—to be compared along the same lines as the talented attorney, then I take that as a compliment Amber. You are so sweet,” Gordon said, brushing Amber’s shoulder with his hand.
He still had it resting there when she looked beyond him and gulped. Amber’s heart dropped at the sight of Eduardo running towards them. Running? Look how fast he’s jogging, look how fast he’s picking up speed!
Gordon noted Amber’s alien look and turned around; noticed Eduardo quickly approaching. “Hey Eduardo, how was the negotiations?”
Eduardo didn’t stop to chitchat with Gordon. Idiot, doesn’t he realize he’ll never have her? Eduardo grabbed Amber away and rushed her down a nearby descending escalator. “Family business Gordon, no time to talk!”
“When did you get back?” Amber asked wondering where the hell he was taking her, she was so elated to see him, she wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and never let go.
Eduardo still had his hand firmly gripped on her forearm. “An hour ago,” he gravelly expressed surveying her new appearance. “I searched for you in the office,” he let go out of breath.
“But I—”
“Jackie told me you went shopping,” he expressed exasperated cutting her off.
“I know I told her,” Amber reflected. “The information was for you, but on the other hand, just in case for her if she needed me back.”
“Good thing, but I still had no idea where you went.”
Amber sensed that Eduardo was upset about something, his voice cracked with anger. “Across the street, where else would I go?” She pleaded in her defense.
“After racking my brain for nearly half an hour, I just threw my briefcase on the chair and ran across the street for no reason at all.”
Amber started...he was agitated. “But you found me.”
“This time,” Eduardo smirked, “Imagine my surprise to see you standing in the middle of the plaza—being manhandled by Gordon no less!”
Amber was taken-back; there was now a sense of urgency in his voice intertwined with flippancy. Amber clutched her bag tightly within her hands. “He came up to me,” she uttered, suddenly back on the defensive.
Eduardo nevertheless couldn’t look her in the face and yanked her off the escalator, throwing her body into the parking garage elevator. It all happened so swiftly; Amber barely had time to notice that they were alone in the enclosed space and that Eduardo arranged to pull the emergency brake.
Annoyed, Eduardo stepped away from her body and shoved his hands down his pant pockets. “You’re still mine right?” He breathed upset. “I want to be absolutely sure you’re not sleeping with anyone else.”
His words stole her breath, his? Amber never felt such ownership and what was he asking of her? What about her husband? She wasn’t allowed to sleep with her husband? But the more she thought about it, the more she realized he was mainly talking about Gordon. He probably found Gordon as a threat and didn’t want him sniffing around. She nodded her head yes.
Eduardo swarmed her body with his arms and brought her into him, hot kisses down the side of her neck—in and around her earlobe—resting on her longing mouth. It was a passionate kiss meant to dominate. “Thank you for cutting your hair,” his voice rasped, “Thank you for wearing this dress, and thank you for this...”
Eduardo pulled up her skirt. Good Lord, were they going to do it in the elevator? Anywhere to be with him, she was an eager participant. Amber started to roar when she realized how fast Eduardo was able to pull down her underwear, manage to unbutton his belt, pants and penetrate her without breaking the most sensational kiss she ever experienced. They reached climax together in a matter of moments, both breathing hard from the phenomenal encounter.
“Good God you can’t imagine how much I missed you,” Eduardo let go, zipping up his pants and kissing her lips again.
Amber threw her arms around his neck. She was delighted that he was finally happy. “Can’t remember the last time I wanted to see an attorney so much.”
He held her embrace then eyed the Victoria Secret tote in the corner of the elevator. “What’s that?” Eduardo asked, grinning from ear to ear.
Amber noticed Eduardo depressing the elevator emergency brake. “What’s what?” She playfully questioned in return. Amber managed to hold the tote behind her back. Eduardo tried to grab it, but Amber was too fast for him and kept the bag away.
“Com’on now...don’t let me have to tickle you!”
Amber rushed out of the elevator door, still laughing and in mid-giggle when several solemn patrons ended their giddiness. They stiffened up and slowly walked out of the area.
“It’s for me, right?”
Amber gazed into his darkened eyes. Good Lord he was gorgeous when he was aroused! “Of course,” she replied, pulling it away from his wandering hands again. “But you can’t see it till we get to the motel.”
Eduardo’s grin dropped. “What color?”
“Pink.”
“Uh—I’m in heaven, what time?”
“After work.”
“Where?”
“The Coronado, room six. I didn’t know if you’d be back today or tomorrow, so I reserved both days.”
Good girl. What a gratifying feeling to have finally met his mischievous match. “What size shoe do you wear?”
“Why?”
“It’s a surprise.”
Later at the Motel Coronado they lie in bed having just finished making love for the third time, worn out and content.
Amber threw up one leg in the air. She was naked, wearing only a smile and her new pink high-heeled pumps. “Thank you for these.” The nighty was already off (managing to stay on for nearly ten seconds) while the shoes got the ride of their lives.
Eduardo watched Amber’s leg hover up above him. “So you like your new fuck me pumps?”
Amber let go a cackle, it was all she ever did these days. “I don’t like to wear high heels, but I’ll wear these for you.”
“Only in bed dear girl.”
Amber looked over at him. Eduardo was barely covered from the waist down. Good Lord he was gorgeous naked! “How come you’re so thin?”
“Sex.”
Amber playfully slapped his shoulder. “No, really, Victor is starting to get a gut, how come you and he have totally different bodies?” She asked him honestly, and just like that, Amber realized what she just did. Compare brother against brother. “Good Lord Eduardo, I’m sorry,” she apologized closing her eyes. The mood abruptly changed and hot turned cold and his body tightened; he was frigid, aloof. She swore she could see the cool mist escape his mouth while he breathed. Bringing up family, their marriages, anything other than them was taboo. Amber suddenly remembered whom she was married to. “What are we doing?”
“What are you talking about?” Eduardo let out, reaching for his clothes thrown all over the floor. He began to put his pants back on. The alarm clock buzzed and he walked over to shut it off, practically breaking the darn thing trying to do so.
Amber watched him dress. “I guess what I’m talking about is continuing this affair without getting caught.”
Eduardo grabbed his tie off the desktop, wrapped it around his neck in a choke-hold. “We’re not going to get caught.”
“Eventually one of us is going to slip, or we’re gonna get caught fucking at your Mom’s house in the pool,” she grinned effortlessly, not realizing that she was continuing to feed the already tense conversation.
He was not amused. Amber planted that seed that she was still not truly his. “We’re not, because we’re going to end this.”
Tears swarmed Amber’s eyes instantly. How very shallow of him, here she was willing to sleep with him freely and he wasn’t even warranted to talk about it? “Today? Now?” Just the thought of it made Amber shiver and she looked down at her nakedness, utterly embarrassed; she kicked off the shoes and began to get dressed.
“Leticia is beginning to wonder,” he threw at her, tucking his shirt inside his pants. Now why in the hell did he have to mention her? Maybe for the same reason she mentioned Victor; tit for tat and all that good stuff.
Amber was tortured; thoughts of their spouses swarmed her reasoning. “Maybe you’re right,” she let go wounded.
Eduardo straightened up his tie, nodded his head. He didn’t want to be correct when he knew in his heart that he was most definitely wrong. “I’m always right,” he said, shaking his head again. What the hell was he doing? This is what he’s always aimed for, the challenge, the chase and the intricate girl? Thoughts of her and Gordon popped into his mind. Good God that made him sick. His heartbeat was suddenly erratic now; the mere thought of losing Amber caused him to do an about-face. “I’ve misjudged our relationship.”
Amber froze; this was it, their breakup, but having to see him back at the office or her not being able to touch him, caused Amber to tremble with such agonizing grief. “We don’t have a relationship.”
“We don’t?”
“We do?” Amber asked hopeful.
“Amber, I’m sorry.”
Amber reached the door about to exit. What did he just say? “Are you admitting you’re wrong?” She had her hand firmly on the way out when Eduardo walked over and pulled her away from the doorway. He grabbed her body back and wrapped his arm around her neck. His kiss was passionate, overwhelming. Amber quickly broke apart from him out of breath.
“I’m never incorrect,” he gravely uttered, “When it comes to you.”
Twenty-Two
Thanksgiving Day
Sheila and Molly were invited, along with forty other relatives over to the Sanchez home for the family dinner. It was a big event, Rosalba and her sisters prepared for this day five months in advance, making sure the two turkeys were basted and cooked on time, creating Mexican entrees of enchiladas, chile rellanos, beans and rice all steamed to perfection. Fabrizio borrowed his brother’s dining room and picnic tables so that everyone could sit together in one colossal family feast. Kids (excited with being with their cousins) ran around the house dressed head to toe in their fancy outfits while the ladies all wore dresses and the men wore suits and ties.
Amber dressed for two men that day: Victor, her husband, and Eduardo, her lover. She knew that Victor felt proud of his wife when she dressed appropriately. When Amber decided to dress up, she often resembled a movie star or a model on the runway. Getting up an hour earlier, she curled her hair, set the hot rollers and used the curling iron, applied soft black mascara to her eyelashes, swabbed lavender eye shadow over her eyes, rubbed rouge to her cheeks and painted lip gloss to her already pink lips. She ironed wrinkles out Victor’s clothes and made sure the kid’s outfits hung on the doorknobs. Bought the dinner rolls the previous morning, even made sure that there was enough gas in the car so that there would be no excuses. None, whatsoever. No excuses to be late. Better not be late. She hadn’t seen Eduardo in four months, and she couldn’t wait to touch him. She even bought a new dress and slithered into the blushed rose spaghetti-strap dress she bought at Robinsons on sale and admired herself in the hallway mirror on her way towards the bathroom. The dress accentuated her figure, especially her breasts. You weren’t able to wear a bra with this dress, a bra would show. It was a backless wonder with criss-cross strings that tightened at the waist. She relied upon the firmness of her assets, creating cleavage to entice; she was a woman on a mission and prepared for battle.
Amber thought by accepting a job at Aldridge & Watson that she would be able to see Eduardo every day, but that wasn’t the case. Eduardo was in high demand, he was the firms’ top litigator and he was always being sent out of the office: Sacramento, San Francisco, and Las Vegas, Washington State.
She couldn’t wait for Thanksgiving Day, she knew he’d be there. Made sure she spoke to Leticia two nights before and asked her what she was bringing to the holiday. She didn’t dare or ask to speak to Eduardo, the anticipation enough would send him running. Oh, she knew it was sneaky, downright naughty, but she didn’t care, the volcano was about to erupt. She purposely avoided sleeping with Victor so that she’d be ready and ripe to receive Eduardo when she got him.
Arriving at the Sanchez home in the afternoon, Amber was able to explore the other cars parked in the area and found no sign of Eduardo’s silvery Porsche or Leticia’s sedan anywhere. Amber and Victor got the kids out of their car and proceeded to the front. Victor opened his parent’s front door, and out came the noises of the festivities. Kids were yelling and screaming, the music was blaring and the relatives who had arrived there earlier were already having a joyous time.
“Hey! Happy Thanksgiving...” V
ictor greeted his Tió Jose from Chatsworth first. Tió Jose in turn welcomed him back by throwing his arms up in the air and hugging his nephew.
Amber roamed through the relatives one by one greeting them with a peck on the cheek. She was a professional cheek kisser now, commenting on how lovely everyone looked as she expressed happiness. The anticipation of Eduardo’s arrival was overpowering.
“Oh Amber—you look absolutely amazing!” Molly expressed with a sangria in one hand. “That color on you really makes your eyes pop!”
Amber gave her sister a hug. “Thank you, I just bought it.” She eyed her Mom standing behind her sister and was very glad that her in-laws extended an invitation for dinner to them as well. She hadn’t recalled the last time the three of them were together for Thanksgiving and she was so grateful for it.
“Your father called me this morning, he’s getting married,” Sheila stated to Amber sort of matter-of-factly.
Amber was taken back. “What?”
“Yah, just like that, he wanted to let me know, after twenty some odd years he’s finally going to marry her.” Sheila’s face went blank.
“Oh Mom,” Amber expressed disbelieving the idea of her father marrying that woman he left her mother for. She thought he’d never get married again, thought he never wanted to be married.
“Her husband finally granted her a divorce; he’s getting married next month,” Sheila expressed calmly, only now with a few tears forming in her eyes.
The idea made Amber ill all of a sudden. He just didn’t want to be married to my Mom, that’s all. How awful... “Oh Mom, are you going to be OK?” Amber asked, reaching for Sheila for a hug.
Unsuitable Obsession - Part One Page 18
