by Folsom, Tina
“I would hope so, but I don’t remember ever seeing or feeling it. All I remember from my childhood were their fights, their sniping, my mother’s tears, and my father’s silence. Maybe they loved each other at the very beginning, before they had me. But I guess it wasn’t enough. They just weren’t meant for each other.”
“Not like we are.” Daniel pressed a tender kiss on her lips.
She reached for his hand, intertwining her fingers with his. “Yes, not like you and I. Still, I’m worried sometimes. My parents must have thought too that they were meant for each other when they got married. When they were in love.”
“You shouldn’t worry. You and I, we have a special connection.” He took her hand and pressed it against the spot where his heart beat against his ribcage. “I can feel it. Without you, I don’t feel complete. I’d always thought I didn’t need anybody. But I do. I need you. And the last few days have shown me that when somebody hurts you, it hurts me just the same. I feel it physically.”
Sabrina slid her hand that lay on his heart farther up until it reached his nape. She pulled him closer. “I’ve never felt as loved as I feel now.”
“That must be because I love you more than anybody else ever could. You’re everything I ever dreamed of, Sabrina.” He sighed. “And if I didn’t have to go to this darn bachelor party, I’d show you.”
She smiled, brushing her lips against his. “Nobody will mind if you’re a few minutes late.” She kissed him softly, but before he could respond to her and deepen the kiss, she pulled back.
A disappointed groan came over his lips, and his hands reached for her, trying to drag her back. But Sabrina had other ideas.
She dropped to her knees and tore on the towel around Daniel’s hips, jerking it off him and tossing it to the ground.
“Oh God! Baby!” he let out on a ragged breath when he seemed to realize what she was planning.
She stroked over his cock and felt it jerk. She noticed that with every second that passed, it grew bigger. More blood coursed into it.
Sabrina placed her hands on his thighs and pressed him against the wall behind him. Daniel groaned, and Sabrina couldn’t help but smile. She loved it when he lost control. And Daniel was about to lose control.
Her hand wrapped around his now fully erect shaft, and she brought her mouth to it. Her tongue snaked out and licked over the mushroomed head as if she were licking an ice cream cone, though no ice cream flavor could be as delicious as the taste of Daniel’s freshly showered body.
Feeling the hard flesh as she slowly descended on it and took him into her mouth, was a sensation she loved. It made her feel strong and powerful to bring a man like Daniel to his knees. She shivered when his hands touched her bare shoulders and brushed the spaghetti straps of her top off her shoulders, making it slide down to her waist. Cool air wafted against her naked breasts, adding to the erotic sensations that coursed through her body as she sucked Daniel’s shaft longingly.
His hips rocked against her, gently at first, but with every thrust his movements became more pronounced. She took him deeper, while licking her tongue along the underside of his aroused flesh.
“Fuck, baby!” he ground out, his voice nearly unrecognizable.
Sabrina slipped one hand to his balls, cupping them. His hips jerked at the touch, and a ragged breath tore from his mouth, echoing against the tiled walls of the bathroom. She gently played with the precious stones and felt the sac contract under her touch, pulling up toward his impossibly hard shaft, which she gripped at the base to add more pressure to her sucking motions.
She felt him tense under her ministrations. Then she gently scraped against his scrotum with her fingernails. His cock jerked in her mouth.
“I’m coming! Fuck, I’m coming!” he groaned and pushed her back.
His cock slipped out of her mouth just as semen spurted from its tip, raining over her hand and his stomach.
Uneven breaths filled the silence in the room as Sabrina tenderly continued to caress his cock and balls.
When she looked up at him, she met his dark eyes and noticed the stormy look in them.
“If I didn’t have to go to this damn bachelor party, I’d bend you over the nearest armchair and fuck you until neither of us could move a limb.”
“That’s sounds very naughty.”
He breathed heavily. “Yes, because that’s what you deserve for seducing me like this. And you know how much I like to dole out punishment, don’t you?”
A bolt of adrenaline shot through her, fanning the flames inside her once more. “Not as much as I like to receive it.”
17
“The extraordinary meeting of the Eternal Bachelors Club is now in session,” Zach Ivers announced.
Everybody was assembled in Zach’s man cave on the first floor of his weekend home in Bridgehampton, several miles south of East Hampton. His main residence was a swanky penthouse in Manhattan, but in the summer and on weekends, Zach liked to withdraw to this almost modest three-bedroom house on Long Island. Daniel could understand why: the house was right on the beach and had the most magnificent view of the ocean. Tranquility radiated from the house and its surroundings. Even now, in the dark, there was something peaceful about the place.
“This isn’t exactly how I imagined my bachelor party,” Daniel said, looking at the faces of the other seven members of the club: Zach, who presided over the meeting; Paul Gilbert; Jay Bohannon; Michael Clarkson, who was the treasurer; Xavier Eamon; Hunter Hamilton; and Wade Williams, all tall, dark and handsome in their own right. They’d all attended Princeton together, where they’d formed the club after a night of heavy drinking.
Hunter grinned. “You know the rules.”
Wade jabbed Hunter in the side. “I don’t think Daniel cares much about the rules.”
“Guys, be nice!” Tim chastised.
“Tim, you’ve got no say, since you’re not a member of the club. We’re letting you stay for the meeting out of courtesy,” Michael protested.
Tim braced his hands at his hips. “Which it totally outrageous. I should be a member. I’m a bachelor, just like the rest of you. The fact that I’m gay should not have any bearing on this.”
Xavier and Wade exchanged a look then Xavier said, “Yes, but we didn’t want anybody in the club who has an unfair advantage over the rest of us.”
“Unfair advantage, bullshit!” Tim shook his head. “According to California law I can get married just like the rest of you.”
“That’s true. But that wasn’t the case when the club was formed,” Zach interjected. “So, sorry, Tim, but you can’t join now.”
“It just wouldn’t be fair,” Michael added. “After all, we all contributed money to the club’s coffers for years, and to have you join without a buy-in wouldn’t be right.”
Tim rolled his eyes. “How much are we talking about then?”
Michael glanced at Zach who nodded. “Well, might as well get on with the treasurer’s report.” He looked down at his notes. “Last quarter we closed out at 3.72 million dollars.”
Tim whistled through his teeth. “That’s not exactly chump change.”
Michael smiled. “Yes, and after Daniel’s wedding in a few days, only seven bachelors remain eligible to win the money.”
“Knock yourselves out, guys,” Daniel responded. “Not all the money in the world would make me change my mind about marrying Sabrina.”
Zach cleared his throat. “Well, since we’re on that subject.” He glanced at the other men in the living room. “The guys and I have been talking while we were waiting for you and Tim.”
Daniel tensed. Were they going to try to talk him out of marrying Sabrina because they believed the story in the New York Times?
Zach made a calming movement with his hand. “Before you say something, Daniel, let me speak for the club.”
Daniel leaned back in his armchair.
“We’ve all seen the article. We’ve known you for a long time, and we know what kind of man y
ou are. What this reporter claims is clearly a lie. We stand by you and Sabrina. So, if there’s anything we can do to help you get this rectified, we’ll do it. You can count on us.”
Daniel let out the breath he’d been holding. “You guys. I don’t know what to say.” He looked at them as all nodded at him, underscoring Zach’s words. “You would really do that?”
Wade chuckled and cut in. “Only to make sure you’re really leaving the club, of course, but who cares about our motivation?”
Jay and Xavier laughed at Wade’s words.
“Obviously Wade is in desperate need of funds, which means he’ll do anything to eliminate members from this club,” Xavier explained.
Daniel couldn’t help but join in the laughter. Their heartfelt offer to help had touched his heart, but he couldn’t accept their offer. It would mean telling them the truth, and he had no right to expose Sabrina like that, or Holly for that matter.
“Anything for you and the lovely Sabrina,” Paul said. “How is she doing?”
Daniel nodded at Paul. “Fine under the circumstances.” Then he looked back at the others. “Thanks guys, but Tim and I have got it under control. I’m confident that the paper will retract the story shortly and issue an apology. They only have fabricated evidence which they have completely misinterpreted. It’s only a matter of time until we’ve picked it apart and proven how wrong they are.”
Despite his confident words, Daniel didn’t feel as certain as he’d let on. With every passing day, it seemed more unlikely that they could ever convince the newspaper to retract the story.
He’d heard back from Elliott, his attorney, who’d reported that while he’d spoken to the legal counsel of the New York Times and threatened them with a law suit, they remained firm and were sticking to their guns.
And though Tim had hired a private investigator to dig into Audrey’s life to unearth any skeletons in her closet with which to pressure her to retract her accusations, it was too early to expect any results from him. Which only left Holly, who was still trying to figure out how to make a case of mistaken identity stick.
“Well, in that case, let’s get on with business,” Zach said. “We’ve prepared your resignation papers which will become effective on the day of your wedding. Are you willing to resign from the club?”
Daniel nodded. “Yes.”
Zach held a pen out to him. “Then sign here and we’ll record it in the club’s minutes.”
Daniel rose and walked to him. He took the pen and signed his name on the piece of paper.
“I must say, Daniel, I’ve never seen a man who’s signed away nearly four million dollars do it with such a happy smile on his face.”
Daniel chuckled. “Once you find the right woman, you’ll do the same.”
“I won’t give up that easily,” Zach answered. “You know how much I love a challenge.”
Behind him, the others laughed.
“Time to get the party started,” Hunter announced. “So, when’s the stripper coming?”
Daniel whirled around to Hunter, annoyance forming in his gut. “You’ve gotta be kidding me. I said no strippers.”
Hunter boxed Wade in his side. “Told you he’s totally pussy-whipped. The best stripper in the world isn’t gonna do it for him. So, you my friend, lost your bet.” He held his flat palm out to Wade. “That’s a hundred bucks, please.”
“Not so fast!” Wade protested. “Let’s wait until the stripper is here.”
“I canceled her,” Hunter confessed.
Wade grinned. “I know. That’s why I booked another one.”
Daniel rolled his eyes. It appeared that there was no way to escape the obligatory stripper at his bachelor party. Well, he could at least let his friends have some fun.
He exchanged a look with Tim, who shrugged and said, “It’s going to be as boring for you as it is for me. We might as well get drunk instead.”
Daniel laughed. “You could always call a male stripper.”
“And have the guys toss me out on my ass? No way, I’m not going to miss your bachelor party, no matter how little interest I have in a female stripper.”
“In that case, get us some drinks!”
18
“You didn’t have to go through so much trouble for us, Raffaela,” Sabrina’s mother gushed as she looked at the beautifully set dinner table. “We could have easily gone out for dinner somewhere.”
Raffaela smiled back at her and put a hand on her arm. “It’s a pleasure, Ilene. I love to cook for a large crowd.”
While Sabrina knew it was true, she also knew that Raffaela had insisted on this dinner at home in order to avoid Sabrina’s parents running into anybody in the village who might mention the New York Times article. The more time her father and mother spent at the Sinclair’s house, the less likely it was that they’d stumble over the news.
“Well, that’s refreshing: a woman who likes to cook,” her father threw in, tossing his ex-wife a pointed look.
It had always been a bone of contention between her parents that her mother wasn’t an enthusiastic cook.
“Well, it didn’t help that you only liked hamburgers and steaks. What’s interesting about cooking those?” Sabrina’s mother retorted.
Before her father could respond, James interrupted, “George, why don’t you sit to my right? Then we’ll have a chance to talk a little more during dinner. I’m eager to talk to you about going out on the boat.”
Sabrina threw her future father-in-law a thankful look. He winked back at her and took his seat at the head of the table.
Her father sat down next to him. Knowing that her mother didn’t want to be near him, nor have to look directly at him, she motioned to a chair at the other end of the table, facing Daniel’s father.
“Mom, why don’t you take this seat?”
Sabrina exchanged a quick look with Holly, who sat down next to Sabrina’s father to create an adequate buffer, while Sabrina and Raffaela sat down opposite them.
With Daniel and Tim having left for the bachelor party, the chairs had been spaced farther apart and the two spare chairs had been removed so that it didn’t look like somebody was missing.
“I hope you all like veal,” Raffaela announced.
“Mmm!” her husband exclaimed, then motioned to Sabrina’s father. “My wife’s veal piccata is to die for. Make sure you fill your plate quickly, or there won’t be any left.”
Raffaela actually blushed at her husband’s compliment. “Ah, James, just because you like it, doesn’t mean everybody else does.” She tossed a look to the other dinner guests. “If you don’t like veal or would rather have something vegetarian, I also made eggplant parmesan.” She pointed to a casserole dish in the middle of the table.
Sabrina’s father speared his fork into a piece of veal and lifted it onto his plate. “Veal is fine for me. I eat more than just burgers and steaks.” He smiled at Raffaela, but Sabrina hadn’t missed the backhanded comment directed at her mother.
“Well, help yourselves!” Raffaela encouraged everybody.
The clanging of dishes and cutlery bounced around the room, while everybody filled their plates with meat, vegetables, and other side dishes. Sabrina looked at Raffaela, who sat next to her, wanting to apologize for her parents’ behavior, but didn’t dare say anything in front of them. Her future mother-in-law seemed to read in her gaze what she wanted to say and smiled. “Don’t worry, Sabrina. It’s fine,” she whispered.
“We have a boat out on the dock,” James said, looking at Sabrina’s father. “Maybe you and Ilene want to go out on the water tomorrow. I think I have a couple of hours, right, darling?” He smiled at his wife.
“If you think all the work with the tent is done, then I’m sure you have time, caro. I think it would be a great way of showing our guests the surroundings.”
Sabrina noticed how her father glanced to the other end of the table as if trying to figure out what his ex-wife’s reaction was. Sabrina’s mother looked delighted.
“Oh that would be wonderful!” she said. “I’ve always liked boats. Of course, we could never afford our own.” She tossed a disapproving look in the direction of Sabrina’s father. “Even though we had the San Francisco Bay right at our doorstep.”
Her father grunted and shoved a piece of meat into his mouth.
“Excellent!” James exclaimed. “How about you, George, do you want to join us for an hour or two sailing up and down the coast?”
“I don’t think so. I’m not into fancy rich people’s toys.”
Sabrina gasped and dropped her fork onto her plate. “Dad!”
“What? Do you find me too ordinary for your new friends now?” He motioned to the richly decorated room around him, the elegant paintings on the walls and the expensive vases in the display cabinets. “Are you ashamed of the fact that I’m not as rich as your fiancé and his family?”
“Dad, don’t!” She felt tears rise and pushed them down.
“Don’t what? Say the truth?” He snorted and motioned to his ex-wife. “Has your mother finally managed to turn you into a mirror image of herself?”
“That’s not true!” Sabrina said, raising her voice.
“Is it not? Look at you! You’re all dolled up, wearing expensive clothes like the ones your mother always wanted to have but couldn’t afford.”
Her mother jumped up and tossed her napkin on the table. “Shut it, George! That’s enough! There’s nothing wrong with what Sabrina wears or what she wants. Nor the fact that she’s marrying into a rich family. Just because you never made anything out of yourself, doesn’t mean you can drag down your daughter with you!”
Her father pushed his chair back and rose abruptly. “You know what, Ilene? The reason I was never able to make anything out of myself is because you were hanging around my neck like a heavy chain that was dragging me down. So don’t you criticize me! You lost that right when you divorced me!” Then he looked at Raffaela. “Thanks for the food. It was excellent.”
Without another word he turned and left the room.
