by Ali Parker
"I'm coming to Maine. Make room on your credit card and couch for me. I have to see her."
Chapter 12
Monday came and went. Lisa couldn't seem to motivate herself to leave the house. She called Trisha to let her know that she was sick with food poisoning and would be back in on Tuesday. Her wonderful secretary took care of canceling everything. Lisa spent the day on the couch staring blankly at the TV or in her bed, rolling around in an effort to sleep her existence away.
Leaving New York early was a good idea. She needed to get back to Maine, back to a life that made sense and didn't leave her drowning in the hormonal responses of a college-aged boy. Marc was too young. Plain and simple. He had the body of a god and could fuck like nobody's business, but so could plenty of other, older men. She needed to see Michael. To take out her frustrations on him and bleed her desires out over a long night.
"But he's gone too." Lisa growled loudly, reaching over and smashing a pillow to her face. She had been up all night, trying to figure out why Marc played along the recess of her thoughts. What was it about him that gave him dominance over her need?
"Breakfast is ready, sunshine!" Sicily stopped at the door as Lisa pulled the pillow from her face. "It's Tuesday and I'm pretty sure you need to get up and get dressed."
"I'm not going." Lisa turned over and pulled her covers over her, tucking them in tight around her face. She looked up as her friend walked around the bed and stopped in front of her. Sicily put her hands on her hips and tilted her head.
"You are going. What is the matter with you, anyway? You haven't spoken three words to any of us since you got home late Sunday night. Did your mother do something horrible?" Sicily knelt in front of the bed as tears welled up in Lisa's eyes.
She hadn't cried but a handful of times in her life. No fucking way was she crying over a boy - the same boy - again. Rolling on her back she lifted the sheet to her face and wiped at her eyes, sniffling softly before she let out a long painful sound.
Sicily stood and climbed into the bed with her, wrapping herself around Lisa's side and pulling her close. "You're scaring me. Please tell me what's wrong. I love you. You hurting is killing me and Kari."
Lisa turned and wrapped her arms around Sicily, crying harder against her friend's shoulder. "It's not my mom."
"It's Marc," Kari's voice sounded. Soon she was crawling on the bed behind Lisa, wrapping her in a tight hug. Lisa let them hold her for a minute before feeling much too cramped. She wiggled a little, both of her friends moving back, but staying on the bed. She wiped angrily at her face.
"Don't tell me that you saw this coming either. I don't want to hear it," Lisa barked as she glanced at the clock. It was an hour before she needed to be in the office, though throwing responsibility to the wind and faking death sounded better.
"Never. I'm just so sad that you guys are hurting." Kari reached over and moved a long strand of hair from Lisa's face.
"I'm hurting. He's fine."
"He's not fine. You know that." Sicily rubbed Lisa's shoulder. "Just tell us what the fuck happened."
Lisa jerked her gaze toward Sicily, shock smacking her in the gut. "Did you just say fuck?"
"I did. Now tell us. I'm worried about you."
"So am I," Kari added in.
"I went there to see if I had feelings for Marc. He's so beyond sexy to me that I knew the physical part was there, but I've never cared for anyone really... never..." She couldn't seem to get it out.
"Never loved anyone." Kari finished it for her and Lisa nodded in response. She glanced at Kari, her brow lifting.
"You sure you're okay with me talking about Marc? He is your baby brother."
"He's a big boy. I'm good with it. I texted my mom last night to see how he was doing."
"I don't want to know what she said, okay?" Lisa turned her full gaze on Kari as her friend lifted her hands in the air in surrender.
"No problem. Just turn that stare on someone else." Kari laughed as Lisa relaxed slightly into the sheets.
"So did you determine that you do love him?" Sicily asked, raising up to prop her elbow underneath her.
"I don't know. It's complicated. He wants me to love him, which doesn't at all seem like the Marc I met in your apartment in New York. Or the one that moved us out here. All we talked about was our experiences fucking other people. We laughed and had fun and just shared with each other." Tears rose in Lisa's gaze again as her voice cracked. "I needed it to stay that way, but he kept pushing me to want more... and I do."
"Then why are you in your bed crying?" Kari asked, her expression filled with concern. "If you love him and he loves you... that's enough, right?"
"I blew him off and ran. He wanted to play daddy and teach me a lesson about love and lust and he did. I told him to fuck off." Lisa shrugged, reaching up to wipe at her tears again.
Sicily moved off the bed and disappeared down the hall, only to return with a soft washcloth. Lisa took it and pressed it to her eyes as Kari brushed her hair from her face in long strokes.
"He shouldn't have done that," Sicily muttered, sitting up and tucking her feet under her.
"I agree, but I get his point. It was more of a, 'you want lust and not love... fine - have it'."
"Did he hurt you?" Kari asked, her voice losing depth.
"No." Lisa pulled the rag from her eyes and sat up, needing a little more space than they were giving. "He fucked me better than I've ever been fucked in my life. I can't tell you how much that scares me."
She slid off the bed and pulled her t-shirt off, leaving her in a pair of sexy black panties. "I need to get to work."
"What are you going to do?" Sicily asked, moving to the bottom of the bed, sadness sitting all over her pretty features.
"I don't know, but I can't lay around here feeling sorry for myself anymore. I need to get back to selling houses and fucking men."
"Are you going to be able to do that?" Kari asked, her expression filled with sympathy Lisa didn't want.
"Not sure, but I'll let you know after today." She shrugged and grabbed a towel, walking down the hall with it held in front of her chest. Jake walked toward her, cursing as he realized she was half naked.
She chuckled and slipped into the bathroom, calling over her shoulder to him. "You should take something off my rent for the peep show."
"Kari," he yelled and Lisa laughed, the emotion feeling good for the few seconds that it lasted.
***
Getting to the office a few hours later helped. The familiar environment and her things just brought her emotions back down and pulled them into check. She was strong and sexy, a lion on the prowl in all things business as well as sex. She couldn't let some silly college boy take her attention and leave her needy. How pathetic...
"You're back!" Trisha stood up from her desk, walking around and pulling Lisa into a hug as a loud cow bell resounded from on top of the door. Lisa gave the older woman a quick hug back and looked over her shoulder to locate the source of the noise.
"What in the world is that?" Lisa laughed, turning her attention back to Trisha.
"It's a bell so you can hear when someone comes in." Trisha shrugged. "We need something. It's creepy when I go to the back and return to find someone hovering over my desk, or worse, following me down the hall!"
Lisa set her stuff down and moved to the door, reaching up and taking the bell down. "I understand, but this is going to drive me mad. Let's call and have one of those soft bell chimes installed."
"You sure?" Trisha reached out and took the small bell as Lisa handed it to her.
"Yes. I'd rather be surprised than have to hear that shit every morning."
They laughed and moved toward the break room, Trisha making small talk. It was nice to be missed, but anything overtly caring was going to buckle her facade that everything was fine.
"Hey, thanks for changing the flights. You do okay yesterday by yourself?" Lisa moved into her office and set her purse and briefcase down before moving
back out into the hall.
"Yes. Michael Carrington called yesterday and asked for you."
"Did he now? Did you tell him I was barfing up my guts at home?" Lisa winked as she turned to face her secretary.
"No. I spared him the gory details. He's going to be by at ten this morning."
Lisa had just lifted her coffee to her lips and almost spilled it from the slight jerk-reaction at the news. "What? Why?"
"Not sure." Trisha shrugged and quickly worked to mop off the black liquid. Lisa looked down to ensure none of it ended up on her silky white blouse.
"Okay, well I guess just send him back when he gets here. I have a load to catch up on, so I'm going to get to it."
"Great idea. How are you feeling?"
"A little puny, but I'll be okay." Lisa shrugged and moved out of the kitchenette as her fingers brushed down her tight navy pencil skirt. She wanted to feel sexy in her clothes, but today wasn't the day to flaunt herself in front of the most eligible billionaire and newest resident to Maine. Or was it?
***
"There you are." Michael's voice was deep and caught her off guard as she looked up from a large pile of papers.
"Michael." Lisa stood and smiled as he moved around the desk. He didn't waste the pleasantries of taking her extended hand, but stepped close and wrapped his arms around her. His suit was starched and smelled of wealth, his eyes filled with hidden desires and his lips perfectly sculpted.
Why wasn't she dating him again? Sexy, hung like a horse and rich... Oh right. A college boy with a childish attitude and dominant personality had her stuck in numbness.
He smiled down at her as he sucked his bottom lip into his mouth. She watched intently, her heart starting to race slightly.
"I had almost forgotten how beautiful you are." He smiled and let his eyes roam across her face. "I'm here for the week and I want to spend it with you."
She pulled back and turned to shuffle a few of the papers on her desk with no real intent. "Yes well, I just got back from New York and am really behind."
"How are you feeling?" He moved from her side of the desk and sat down, a smile playing on his mouth. His dark hair was combed back, his exotic appearance causing her to question her decisions as of late even more.
"Much better. Thanks for asking." Lisa realized she was fidgeting and wasn't about to play the weak female, least of all in front of this guy. She sat down and leaned back, crossing her legs and running her finger across her lips.
"And New York. It's still standing after you brought it to its knees?" His lip lifted farther, his smile almost wicked.
"It is. I do have a way about me, I suppose." She chuckled, needing the cat and mouse game so badly. "What do you want? You know I haven't time to play today. You should be in New York and yet you’re not. Why?"
"What do I want...?” His smile faded as his eyes darkened a little. "I want you naked and shaking beneath me. I want you on this desk, bent over and groaning in delight. I want you on your knees with your lips locked around me."
"Hmmmm... so greedy." She chuckled again, unable to help herself. She had, in fact, opened this can of worms by inviting him for a romp in the proverbial sheets at the white mansion.
"You have no idea, beautiful." He licked at his lips and her stomach tightened. Sex was safe and left her with a high like nothing else... almost nothing else.
"So just sex? No barefoot pregnant wife that bakes cupcakes and serves on the school board?" She lifted her brow at him, challenging him to overstep her boundaries.
"Oh I certainly want a relationship with you, but cupcakes and children have nothing to do with it." He stood and leaned over her desk, his shoulders so big, his body filling up his suit so well. "How about we start with long nights of passion and me teaching you a few things about that pretty little body of yours? You take what you need and when you're ready for more... I'll be there to give it. Tell me you want it too."
"Lisa, the phone is for you." Trisha walked in, stopping quickly as if she had interrupted an intimate moment - which she had. "Oh dear. I'm so sorry."
"No problem at all. I was just leaving." Michael stood up and smiled over at Trisha. He glanced back at Lisa as she sat in silence, her emotions locked down tightly. "Think about it. Dinner tonight?"
"Dinner yes. The rest I'm not so sure you could handle." Lisa kept her gaze on the handsome man at her door as Trisha blushed.
"I think you should let me decide what I can and can't handle. I'll pick you up at your place at six."
"Casual or dressy?"
"I don't care what you wear, just leave your panties at home. You won't need them." He turned and walked away as Trisha let out a long sigh and leaned against the door frame.
Lisa laughed and reached for the phone, Michael's request not being the first time she had been told that and probably not the last.
"Lisa Parks here."
Chapter 13
It seemed appropriate to wear a yellow summer dress for the evening, but Lisa was assured that if her attire didn't work, Michael would be gentlemanly enough to say something. She finished fixing her hair into a ponytail and walked into the kitchen, her sandals clicking on the freshly mopped tile.
"Wow. Don't you look like sexy innocence?" Sicily wagged her eyebrows as Kari let out a cat call.
Lisa rolled her eyes and tried not to focus on Kari snuggled into Jake's lap, the man seemingly lost to his woman all the time. The idea of love scared her senseless. Lust was replaceable, but love... no thanks.
"What time will you be back?" Kari asked, pulling from Jake's muscular arms and walking toward Lisa. She stopped in front of her and reached up to mess with her hair. Lisa stood still until her best friend was done and then picked up her purse.
"Not sure. I might just spend the night with him." She shrugged. "Who knows?"
"Who's him in case we have to hunt this mystery man down tomorrow?" Jake asked, standing and playing the big brother part quite well.
"His name is Michael Carrington. He's rich, handsome and fucks like a teenage boy. Fast and hard." She smiled and walked to the door as Kari groaned.
"No. You know you don't want to do this, Lisa." Kari followed her, moving in front of her at the door.
"I don't want to do what exactly? Move on with my life the way I think it should go?"
"That's not what I mean."
"He just pulled up. Move Kari. I'm not in the mood to hash out my feelings right now. I'm going to be home later tonight. If anything comes up, I'll text you."
Kari moved, the look on her face pensive, but not hurt.
"See you guys later," Lisa called over her shoulder and let out a short breath as she descended the stairs. Kari was right... she shouldn't go, but she needed something to take her mind off of Marc. He plagued her dreams at night and most of the day. Her body reacted violently to the remembrance of how good he felt inside of her, holding her, talking to her in the midst of their passion. She swallowed the feelings as they rose up again and walked to the passenger side of the car.
Michael was standing next to the door in blue slacks and a white shirt. He smiled as she approached and nodded back toward the house. "I think you'll have to introduce me to your sisters or friend soon."
"Why's that? Plan on sticking around?" She stopped in front of him, moving in closely and looking up at him. He was dreamy and so assured of himself. Nothing was sexier than a man who was.
"Of course I do, but I'm thinking they might start to hold you hostage from me if you don't. Protective?" He glanced from Lisa to the house again.
"Very. Let's go, my sexy kidnapper." Lisa got into his Lexus and buckled up. Michael walked around the car, slid into his seat and closed the door, smiling over at her before he pulled out.
"I got us reservations on the bay for dinner. I wanted to take you out on the boat, but something told me tonight wouldn't be good."
"Why? Dropping me off early?" She winked at him and crossed her legs, trying to slide into her normal seductive perso
na. It didn't fit her well in the moment, which was more than concerning.
"I'll keep you as long as you'll let me." He reached up and turned on the air conditioner before sliding his fingertips over her knee. "Trisha said your stomach was sick yesterday. Swaying back and forth on a boat couldn't be good for that."
"This is true. Handsome, wealthy and considerate. My, my."
He laughed and put his hand on the wheel, relaxing back in his seat. "You only know the external things about me, Miss Parks."
"Are you planning on opening up over dinner?"
"I plan on opening you up later tonight, but no..." He smiled and shifted his gaze toward her. He was exactly the type of man that would have undone her from the inside out sexually. She would have given him months and months to play games with her body, to learn her and desire her touch above all others. Then... she'd drop him. No need in letting anyone get too close. She didn't have plans of settling down - ever.
"I like the sound of that."
He parked in the small restaurant parking lot and looked over at her. "Me not opening up to you or you spreading your legs for me?"
"I usually spread my legs for me, but if you want to share in the ecstasy of the event I suppose it's only right of me to allow it this once." Lisa reached for her door handle, hoping the handsome billionaire realized he wasn't dealing with just anyone. She would walk away and happily do so if needed.
He moved to hold the door for her, a sexy smile on his lips. "I think we're going to get along perfectly."
"I do as well." She walked in as the smell of seafood and butter swirled around her. She breathed in deeply and slid her hand into his. Time to play the part. It wasn't for him, no - never. It was to convince herself that he would be the perfect candidate for her rebound.
The last few months had been shit and Marc Martin was to thank for that. Time to rectify it and move on.
***
"Dinner was delicious." Michael spoke softly, his arms around her as they watched the boats come into the dock. Lisa pressed her stomach to the railing in front of her and wrapped her arms around Michael's.
