Feather Light (Knead Me)

by Lorenz Font

  Ann paused. He could guess she was considering what he’d said.

  “To be quite honest, I feel the same way you do: like I’m trapped, and my life is slipping from my grasp. But unlike you, I don’t have the need to control. Instead, I want a little quiet time, like what we’re having right now.”

  “Why would you feel trapped?”

  She sighed. “It’s a very long story. I promise I’ll tell you all about it when the time is right. For now, let’s just enjoy each other.”

  Parker nodded in understanding and was relieved to hear she would soon entrust him with her secrets. He took her hand. “Since we’ve decided to just enjoy ourselves, let’s go to this little hole-in-the-wall favorite of mine. Their breakfast quesadillas are to die for.”

  Ann faltered. “Um … I don’t feel like dressing up. Why don’t I whip up something for us? My sister says I make one of the best mushroom and Swiss cheese omelets there is. We can eat on the veranda and maybe take a walk on the beach.”

  Parker recognized the signs of evasion. The first thing that came to mind was that she was embarrassed to be seen with a blind man. The thought made his stomach churn with disappointment. Was that one of the secrets that she was hiding from him? He chastised himself, remembering that Ann had promised to share everything with him as soon as she was ready. For now, he was going to take her sage advice and just enjoy the company.

  “Sounds good to me.” He slapped her butt and eased her off him. “Now tell me—where the heck are my clothes?” When she moved away, he planted his feet on the cold hardwood floor. Parker heard her footsteps as she made her way to the bathroom and returned with his clothes.

  “There’s a new toothbrush on the vanity for you,” she said before closing the bathroom door. “I’ll be in the kitchen. Just holler if you need help finding your way around,” she added before her footsteps faded away.

  “Thanks.” Parker felt for his phone in his jeans pocket and activated the time. Then he listened to the voice-over announce eight text messages, five missed calls from Cork, and three from his father. “Oh shit,” he muttered. He pressed the speed dial and slipped into his jeans while he waited. Parker heard movement in the bathroom and figured Ann was getting her morning ritual underway.

  Cork answered on the third ring. “Dude, did you even make it home?”

  “Good morning, baby bro. What’s with the inquisition? Last I checked, I was born two years, seven months, and several hours ahead of you. That makes you unqualified to give me the third degree.”

  His brother ignored his teasing. “Mom’s worried about you, and Dad’s called several times wanting me to report you as missing when you didn’t answer my calls or texts.”

  Parker rolled his eyes. His parents had been as solid as Cork had been when his blindness had unleashed its fury. But regardless, they still treated him like he was a child. His mother, Dorothy, had often requested that he inform them of his activities, not because they wanted to meddle but more for their own peace of mind. Their constant worrying about his safety was unnecessary, even if he refused to use a guide dog or even a walking stick.

  “Um … I lost track of time.” That was an understatement!

  “I was calling to tell you that, since you ‘lost track of time,’ Mom canceled the barbecue. She wants us to meet her and Dad for dinner tonight. They want to celebrate. It sounds like they have some good news. I’ll pick you up at seven.” Cork wasn’t going to be deterred by any feeble excuses.

  Parker groaned. He wanted to stay with Ann, but there was no getting out of this dinner with his parents. “Fine, I’ll see you then.”

  After they hung up, Parker made his way to the bathroom and brushed his teeth. Feeling a bit out of his element in an unfamiliar house, he sighed before venturing outside the bedroom. It should be simple. All he had to do was to use the walls to feel his way around. Of course, most things were easier said than done. As soon as he took the first steps out of Ann’s bedroom, he tripped over something on the floor. There was no way to stop the fall. All he could do was protect his head with one arm and try to break his fall with the other. He landed on the floor with a loud thud.

  Parker heard footsteps running in his direction. “Oh my, are you okay?” Ann rushed to his side. He felt around, reaching blindly until his fingers closed over the culprit—something small and smooth that felt like glass.

  “Oh, Parker, I’m so sorry. I forgot about the candleholders. Let me get the rest of these out of your way.”

  He gritted his teeth and tried to calm down. Then he pushed himself up using the wall as a guide.

  “Are you okay?” Ann held his arm, leading him forward.

  It’s just my pride that’s hurt, he wanted to say. “I’m fine. Don’t worry. It’s not your fault. It’s hard to blind-proof a house.” Parker tried to lighten his statement, but it still came out sounding stiff. “Just walk ahead and I’ll follow you.”

  Ann hesitated before starting out. “It will take about ten feet to reach the kitchen, which is to your left. You’ll pass the dining room on your right. I’m going to turn on the lights so you can at least see the doorway and the two big vases on either side of it.”

  He was grateful for her clear instructions, and it touched him when she didn’t stick around and hover over him. That would have been mortifying. He took a moment to compose himself before starting off down the hallway again. It wasn’t every day he made a fool of himself in front of people. This one stung more because it magnified his problem. Taking a deep breath, Parker began to count and walk in the direction of the whisking sound until he was standing next to Ann.

  “Can I help?” he offered, trying to put the incident behind him. His male pride had not only taken a beating, but he’d also embarrassed the hell out of himself in front of the woman he wanted to impress. Way to go, Parker!

  She kept beating the eggs but stood on tiptoe to reach his mouth with a kiss. “Sure. Can you make coffee?”

  “Tell me where to find things.” He smiled in her direction, loving the way she made him feel needed.

  “To your right, about six steps, you’ll stand face-to-face with the cupboard. On the second shelf, you’ll find the coffee filters. The coffee is in the freezer. Starbucks okay with you? The fridge is behind you, by the way.”

  “Oh, yeah. Where’s the coffee maker?”

  “Right here.” Ann took his hand and guided it along the counter until he felt the coffee maker.

  Once the coffee was set up, Parker sat on the barstool and listened to Ann’s movements, following her outline while she started the omelet. “So this is where you live?” he asked, hoping to get a good conversation going—anything to find out more about her.

  “Yeah. I have another house, but I like it here. I love living close to the water and the fact that it’s private.” She sounded wistful, and he wanted to hold her in his arms, to ease whatever ailed her.

  “Private?”

  Because of his blindness, he depended on people to describe certain places to him. In this instance, he had no idea what she was talking about.

  “The whole one-mile stretch is private, so only the owners and their guests are allowed to enter the estate. There’s a security gate at the entrance to keep out unwanted guests.” There was a hint of triumph in the way she explained the area, another addition to his growing list of questions about the mystery surrounding Ann.

  “I take it you like your privacy?” The aroma of the eggs cooking wafted around them, and he followed the inviting scent with his nose.

  “Who doesn’t like privacy?”

  Parker thought of what else he could ask her. “What do you do when you’re home? Do you have any hobbies?

  “Oh, I like to read and watch old movies. And when I find the time, I enjoy a leisurely run and long walks. Anyway, I don’t have anything planned for the rest of the day. I was hoping we could rent a movie after taking a walk on the beach.”

  Parker chuckled at her invitation. It was always a wel
come change when people forgot about his vision impairment. “I’d love to … oh crap!” He smacked his forehead, remembering the dinner with his family.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Christ. I was just talking to my brother. My parents arranged for the four of us to have dinner tonight.” Groaning, he wished he could cancel but knew his mother would be disappointed if he did.

  “Time with family’s always important. Why don’t you give me your address, and I’ll come by your place tomorrow? That is, if you want me to.”

  Before he had a chance to answer, Parker heard the doors open, and salty air breezed in.

  “Join me out here on the veranda. I’m about thirteen steps from where you are. Just watch out for the little bump on the floor by the door.”

  Parker smiled at her attention to detail and was grateful that she hadn’t coddled him or made him feel like a total freak.

  “Thanks.” He followed the tantalizing sound of the ocean and was surprised by the feel of the wind in his face.

  “I have a run scheduled with a friend of mine at the track in the morning. Any time after lunch is fine with me. I’ll text my address to you right now.”

  He settled into one of the cushioned patio chairs and inhaled the fresh air. After a long indulgent moment, Parking pulled out his cell phone and started texting the information to Ann via the voice-over application.

  “Can you imagine if you didn’t have the technology we have now? Coffee is next to your plate. Right side.”

  Parker looked up and smiled. “I would be living in the dark ages, no doubt about it. I guess, in a way, the timing is better.”

  It wasn’t a joke. He and Cork had talked about the what-ifs, if his disease had struck maybe ten years earlier. There would have been no screen reader to aid him in using the computer and no voice-over to stay connected through texting.

  “How do you know so much about locating techniques?”

  “Let’s just say I was curious.” Ann took his hand and placed it on her face. “I read a few articles after I met you.”

  Touched at her effort, this gave him the opening he needed to ask her an important question. How does it feel to make love with a blind man? But he couldn’t bring himself to put it in those exact words. Parker tamped down his insecurity and took a deep breath. “Does it bother you that I can’t see you?”

  There was no hint of hesitation when Ann answered. “Not one bit. And contrary to what others might think, I believe you can see better than most people. You’re more aware of those around you and in tune with their feelings. Does that answer your question?”

  Not all of it. “Yeah.”

  He would’ve preferred she elaborate on how she felt about him and, to be more specific, his blindness, but that could push her away. Parker wasn’t ready for that, so he nodded his head and concentrated on her movements.

  “Coffee is at one o’clock, and fork is at nine. The omelet is plump, the size of a burrito. How would you like your coffee?”

  “Just black. Thanks.” He placed his phone in his pocket and picked up the fork. “Oh, is there any ketchup?”

  “Here you go.”

  Parker lifted the lid and felt around his plate for a spot to squirt the ketchup. He gave the bottle a shake and pumped some out. There was a sucking sound before the thick stuff splattered all over his face, and he assumed, on his shirt and the table. Ann laughed and moved closer.

  “Look at you. You’re a mess.” She pressed a napkin into his hand. “Let me get the stuff off of your face first.

  Instead of wiping his face with a napkin, Ann kissed every inch of it, dabbing her lips on every spot where the ketchup had landed. His heart rate soared at the erotic act, and he dragged her across his lap.

  “If you don’t stop what you’re doing, I doubt we’ll be able to even touch our breakfast.” Parker’s voice came out raspy, arousal lacing every syllable.

  Ann laughed and pressed her mouth to his, teasing and probing. She wound her arms around his neck and molded her body closer. Parker more than obliged, liking the idea of this woman being unable to keep her hands off him.

  After their long and lingering kiss, they paused to gulp some air. “Woman, you have to eat. You’re using too much energy, and you need to replenish it.” Parker stood up and carried her in his arms, depositing her into a chair. He kissed her once more. “Eat.”

  The conversation during the meal was light and easygoing. Parker learned a few more things about Ann, which enabled him to draw a mental picture of the mysterious woman who had him feeling like a teenager again.

  “My sister’s children are simply adorable. They refuse to go to bed until Auntie Ann reads them a bedtime story.”

  “How old are they?” Parker inquired, enjoying the lilt in her voice when she spoke about her sister and her kids.

  “Little Sean is two, but he talks like he’s seven, and Hilary is six going on twenty-one.” She laughed.

  He could tell Ann adored children by how animatedly she recounted her last vacation at her sister’s house.

  “You’re all by yourself here in LA?”

  Parker rested his hand on top of hers. He had no idea how it felt to be away from family. Theirs was a tight unit, and he couldn’t imagine either he or Cork moving away.

  “Yeah. My sister and her family live in Chicago. I try to visit them around the holidays if I can get away. They try to come here, too, but having kids and flying is never easy. Good thing my best friend, Jessica, lives close by.” Ann pulled her hand away and started clearing the dishes from the table. “Maybe I should introduce the two of you one of these days. She’s adorable but outspoken—sometimes too outspoken.”

  He followed her to the kitchen. “I would love to meet a friend of yours,” he said as he settled next to her, listening to the sound of the running water while she scraped the scraps into the sink. “I would love to meet every person who means a lot to you.”

  Parker sensed her quick withdrawal at his words. “One of these days,” she murmured.

  “Are you still up to walking on the beach? I have a few hours to spare before I have to leave.” He traced a finger along the back of her neck and was rewarded with a moan. She turned off the faucet and faced him.

  “I’d like for you to stay the night if it’s possible, but I know you have that dinner tonight. The walk will have to do for now.” Ann kissed him. “But I need to rinse your shirt before we do. You smell like food, and I’m afraid I’ll eat you if we don’t get that off.”

  “I can forgo walking on the beach.” Parker laughed and slapped her in a playful manner on the butt. “I don’t mind a nibble or two.” He winked in her direction.

  “You’re just as crazy as I am, Parker.”

  She led him back to the bedroom where another round of sparks lit up. This time, Ann obeyed his orders with fervor, letting him lead them both to another sensual and explosive experience.

  Kelly reveled in the aftermath of Parker’s lovemaking, adoring every minute of being in his arms. She remembered the kisses that had sent her reeling with lust, the likes of which she’d never felt before. Every persuasive touch awakened newfound sensations in her body.

  “When I touch you here, do you like it?” Parker peered at her, slinking a finger along the juncture of her legs.

  “I can’t explain it, but I do. You’ve always touched me in the places that give me the most pleasure. It’s funny you mentioned it, because I was just thinking about that.” Kelly rubbed his relaxed penis, toying with the tip, circling, and arousing.

  “I don’t intend to just touch your body, Ann. I want to touch your heart, too.” Parker pulled his finger away, leaving her throbbing with want, and tipped her face closer to him.

  Kelly faltered. Her hand paused mid-rub on his scrotum. In all her life, no man had ever expressed such a deep desire for her. Parker had been creeping his way into her guarded emotions—emotions she had repressed out of fear of getting hurt again. She looked up at him, her eyes moi
stening; she wasn’t ready to get this involved this fast. What she’d thought to be a benign sexual release, a guilty pleasure, was now beginning to tear at her resolve. Parker’s commanding strength, along with his gentleness, was sweeping her off her feet. If she wasn’t careful, this could end as dreadfully as her previous relationships, only for a much different reason.

  “Ann?”

  “Hmm …”

  “I don’t expect you to feel the same way about me. I know it’s too soon. Believe me, this is the last thing I was looking for, but there are situations in life we just can’t control.” Parker raked his fingers through his hair, looking vulnerable, almost shy. “I’m just asking you to give me a chance to be with you more often so I can get to know you better.”

  Kelly stared at him, unable to speak, and brushed a shaky hand across his face. He leaned toward her touch. “I want what you want, but I don’t know if I have what it takes … to fully give myself.”

  Parker wrapped his arm around her, letting her head rest on his chest. “All I’m asking is for us to take baby steps. Let’s just see what each day brings. Are you okay with that?” He kissed her hair with such tenderness.

  You might not want a woman who can’t get over her past. “I think so.”

  Kelly’s stomach churned from the conflicting emotions within her. She wanted so much to believe him, yet an inner voice warned her of the pitfalls of being in a relationship, especially for someone famous like her.

  They lingered for another hour until Parker had to leave for his dinner appointment with his family. Kelly couldn’t even walk him to the car without the fear of being recognized by the limousine driver, so she kissed him good-bye at the door.

  After stashing the rest of the dishes in the dishwasher, she set out for her much-needed walk. She took the beach access straight from her property, wearing shorts and a tank top, with her hair up in a loose ponytail.