“I guess I’m a little gun-shy after that tabloid reporter tried to fake his way in.” Liz sighed. What a scumbag that piece of shit had been. A quick Google search and she knew his real name-and all the rags he was stringing for. He published half-truths and mean-spirited articles. She called him out on his bullshit story and he didn’t even have the grace to be embarrassed. “But Sean’s not like that. In fact, he and I were talking last Saturday and he told me his sister died. It was the reason he reached out to us. I feel so bad. We could have helped, supported him during a horrible time, but I was too afraid to let him in.”
“No,” Honey said. “You did the right thing. You couldn’t know he was grieving.”
“Grief is a funny thing,” Sarah added.
“So make it up to him. Tell him to come next Monday.” Peter snitched a marzipan cookie off the tray, just as Brian reached for it. Brian settled for one with a cherry on top.
“Really?” Liz sniffed. “You sure?”
“I’ll tell you what. I’ll give them the complete rundown after our dinner Saturday. Cole and I get to meet Mr. Perfect.” Sarah was practically wriggling with excitement.
“Well, that’s no fair,” Peter said. “What restaurant? Pol and I will just happen to be there too.”
“Oh, hell no.” Liz shook her head.
“Mrs. Ritter is going to watch Jonathan? Or would you like Marc and me to babysit?” Honey cut into the conversation, frowning at Peter, who let her disapproval roll off his nicely tailored jacket’s shoulders.
“Mrs. Ritter said she’d do it. It’s not going to be a late night,” Liz assured her.
“Well, at least the dinner won’t run late. Is Mr. Perfect going to stay over?” Sarah asked.
“You have to stop calling him that. What if you slip up? Geez. I’m not sure. I still haven’t told him that I’m a mother.”
Liz hadn’t expected the silence that fell with that statement.
“What? I didn’t think it mattered at first. Then there wasn’t a good place to throw it in conversation. ‘Oh, by the way, I have a nine-year-old son. I hope you like Minecraft and Star Wars because that’s all he talks about.’ Once I got really interested in Sean, I didn’t want to lose him when he found out I was a package deal.”
“If he lets that get in the way of a relationship, you’d be better off without him.” Honey crossed her arms.
“I know that, but he’s the first man I’ve been attracted to in . . . well, forever. So I figured I’d have my way with him and if he turned out to be an asshole, well at least I got laid. Right?”
Sarah high-fived her. “Flawlessly logical. I’m in awe.”
“So, this is serious?” Honey asked.
“I’ll let you know by the weekend. I’m going to tell him on Wednesday. If he runs for the hills, maybe I’ll be solo on Saturday,” she said to Sarah. “Unless Jonathan wants to be my date. I think he’ll still fit in the suit he wore to Honey’s wedding, if I let the hems out.” Liz blew out a sigh. “He’s getting so big. Anyway,” Liz dusted off her hands. “Enough about me. It’s Brian’s turn. Do you have anything you’d like to share?”
“I’m seeing someone,” he admitted.
“O-M-G, it’s like Cupid is on the rampage,” Peter said. “Who’s the lucky girl?”
“She’s in the industry still.” He shrugged. “Mostly, she does gay for pay and I’m all right with that.”
“What’s her name?” Liz asked.
“Sabrina. She’s hot.”
“Of course she is.” Sarah grinned. “Which studio is she working with? I didn’t think there were any left in New York.”
“Chalice Films, mostly. Some indies. I think she even worked for Luscious Studios for a time. You’re right, there aren’t a lot of places around here, what with all the hoops and mazes Giuliani set up. LA is still the porn capital of the world.”
Liz thought that was the most she’s ever heard Brian say in one go.
“Have you thought about getting back into the business so you could be her cameraman?” Peter asked.
“Sure, but not seriously. I’d either become a jealous asshole or I’d stop caring. I’ll stick with the cars.” He shrugged. “Tempting, though. Sometimes I think going back into porn would be like selling my soul. Sure, I can do it. The money is prime. The eye candy amazing. But it would change me. I’d become more jaded, cynical. Restoring a GTO doesn’t make me feel empty inside. Just the opposite.” Brian looked at the beer in his hand. “Maybe I should’ve had dinner before drinking these. I’m starting to ramble.”
“It’s okay.” Liz had been afraid to breathe during his speech. That he trusted them to open up this much after all this time was amazing. She had to blink back tears.
“I hear what you’re saying.” Sarah nodded.
“Yeah, you nailed it.” Peter went over and clapped a hand on Brian’s shoulder.
“You do have a point about the soul selling. You think you’d get used to it. Become jaded, like you say. It can be wearying.” Holly looked down into her teacup, as though she was trying to read her fortune in the tea leaves.
“Thanks.” Brian got up and collected his empties, putting them in the recycling bin. “I’m actually going to go. Otherwise I’ll start getting sentimental and shit.”
“Brian,” Liz said. “Do you think Sabrina would want to come to a FATE meeting?”
“She’s not giving up the life yet. She still likes it.”
“I was still in,” Honey pointed out. “Granted, I was completely lying to you all about that. But I loved being in this group. It got me through some tough times.”
He shrugged. “I’ll ask. Thanks.”
“Let me know.” Liz handed him his coat. “Shoot me a text when you get home.”
“Yes, Mom.” Brian leaned in and kissed her cheek.
*** ***
Liz couldn’t concentrate at all on Wednesday. They barely got through Jonathan’s homework without tears—on both their parts. Then, they finished the Harry Potter book and didn’t have the next one. So that caused a minor meltdown that ended as soon as she downloaded book two on her phone. Should she have capitulated? No. Did she need to in order to avoid throwing a tantrum herself? Yes.
She hit the wine after tucking him in and would have happily finished the bottle if it wasn’t for her Skype date with Sean. They had only texted a few times during the week because both of them were crazy busy.
After making sure Jonathan was sound asleep, Liz locked her bedroom door. She was more nervous now than she’d been at her first porn shoot. At least then she could hide behind her double Ds. All she had now was an electric blue vibrator and a leather vest. Checking herself in the mirror, Liz adjusted the black leather stretched across her chest and made sure it showed just a V of cleavage and nothing else. The sparkly Swarovski crystal in her belly button should draw his eyes away if anything did shift.
Maybe she should go for the nipple tattooing. She’d at least look more natural.
Baby steps.
Liz fixed her makeup, painting on another coat of lipstick so her mouth was plump and red. She put on her false eyelashes and darkened up the kohl around her eyes. The Skype camera tended to wash out colors, and she wanted to be as vivid to Sean as possible. Styling her hair so it was wavy and wild, Liz was glad it had finally grown out. When she lost most of her hair after the chemo, she’d looked weird, as she couldn’t bring herself to shave her head completely. Instead, she wore pretty scarves and tried to pretend she was still normal. When her hair started to grow back, Liz burned every one of those damned scarves so she’d never have to see them again. Now, she wished she had a couple she could use as props. They could be blindfolds. Or restraints.
Liz had been going back and forth about how she was going to present herself all week. She tried the laptop in several positions before the camera was aimed just right. Darting a glance at the clock, Liz realized she had ten minutes to get it together and finalize the details.
She slipped
on a black thong and laced up her thigh-high boots. Skype dinged.
It was now or never.
Pulling on a kimono robe, she answered the call.
*** ***
Sean had convinced himself she had been kidding, teasing him so he would fantasize about her all week. Never in a million years did he think she’d answer looking like that.
“Wow,” he breathed. “Hey, sexy. I wish I was there.”
Liz tilted her head to the side. “I’ve got a confession to make,” she said.
“Have you been a bad girl?” Sean was getting into this. He wanted to take off his clothes and stroke himself. She made every little annoyance and frustration he had dealt with this week fade into the background.
“I haven’t been completely honest with you.”
Sean’s gut clenched. Was this about the industry? Was she finally going to tell him something that would unlock Mary Katherine’s death? His hard-on fled as fast as it came.
“Tell me,” he said, noting she bit her lip and was blinking fast.
“I just want you to know, that if you decide to dump me or make some lame excuse not to see me again, you’re going to miss the greatest show of your life.” She stuck out her tongue at him.
It broke the tension and they both laughed. “Just tell me, you goof.”
“I have a son.”
Sean felt like he got some chin music. He rubbed the nape of his neck, sure his head rocked back from the impact of that blunt statement. “You do?”
“Yes,” Liz rushed through the rest. “He’s in third grade. His name is Jonathan and he likes pizza, ice cream, and Transformers.”
“Well, who doesn’t really?”
“Transformers are not the things on top of telephone wires; they’re toys that change from robots to cars.”
“I’m aware. I used to be a little boy.” He might even still have his old Bumblebee. It changed from a car, to a plane, to a . . .
“He’s a sweetheart,” Liz said. “And I didn’t tell you about him because I was a coward. I didn’t want to scare you off.”
“Why would I be afraid of an elementary school kid? Does he bite?”
“No, he doesn’t bite.” Liz shook her head and grinned.
“Do I get to meet him?” Sean asked, the knot in his chest unraveling when he realized that this was her big news.
Liz narrowed her eyes at him. “You want to meet him?”
“Sure,” he shrugged. “We can go out for pizza. Or we can go to the gym. Anything you want. I’ll let you decide.”
“Well, this was a heck of a lot easier than I thought.” Liz deflated. “This is the whole reason why I didn’t bring you home last week. I didn’t want you to step on a Lego and I’d have to explain.”
“I like Legos,” he said. “I used to build spaceships with them.”
Liz nodded. “Cars. It’s all about cars for Jonathan.”
“You don’t have to hide anything from me.”
He felt like such a hypocrite. Now would be the perfect time to tell her about Mary Katherine. But what if she turned off the webcam and stopped answering her phone when she learned he’d been lying? He’d miss out on meeting Jonathan, who was clearly a kid with good taste. And he’d miss out on seeing Liz, naked or fully clothed. He wanted to keep seeing her.
“Forgive me for keeping my son a secret?” Liz asked.
Sean nodded. “Sometimes people tell lies because they’re afraid the truth will destroy something really amazing.”
“Exactly,” she said.
“Of course I forgive you. Because there’s nothing to forgive.” Sean hoped that one day she’d say the same thing to him.
“Well then,” Liz said. “I believe I promised you a good time.” She slowly untied the knot holding the kimono closed. Shrugging one creamy shoulder out and then the other, Liz let him look at her leather vest for a moment. He was more interested in seeing underneath it, but he didn’t want to get greedy. She shook her hair so her black curls bounced around her shoulders.
“Gorgeous,” he breathed. “I want to lick every inch of you.”
Liz let the rest of the kimono fall away. She was wearing a teeny black confection over her pink mound. His eyes captured every move her fingers made as they slid down over her chest to her belly button ring. She toyed with it before stretching the string of her black panties, tempting him.
“Like what you see?”
“Yeah,” he said, his voice hoarse. He cleared it. “I want to play with your pussy again. I liked how you squirmed and came all over my fingers.”
Her thighs quivered. Sean wanted to bite them.
“I’ve been thinking about last Saturday all week,” Liz said, reaching for the blue vibrator. Turning it on, she ran it up and down her legs, easing them apart until they were spread wide for the camera. Sean could see that she was wet and ready. He let out a groan.
Liz slowly closed her legs, but before disappointment hit, she slid the thong down her toned legs until it disappeared off screen.
“Me too.” Sean’s mouth hung open as she pushed the electric blue toy into her wet slit.
“You’re not just saying that because you want to watch me stick this—” She rubbed the vibrator across the outside folds. “—in and out of my pussy, are you?”
“No,” he said. “I’m saying it because I want to be the one to stick that in and out of your pussy. Not to mention doing all the other things that people do when they date. While fully clothed.”
“Are we a couple now?” Liz teased him by sliding closer to the camera so he got a good look at her pretty pink lips, glistening with excitement.
“If you insist,” he said. His cock was begging to be set free, aching to sink into that sweet, hot flesh.
She sprawled back on the pillow, arching so he got a good view of the vibrator as she pushed it deep. He could see every sweet sway of her hips as she pleasured herself.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.
“Sean,” she cried out. “It feels so good. But it’s not enough. I want you inside me. You’re thicker and harder than this piece of plastic.” Her hand was pumping in a frenzy.
Sean was riveted by her. His mouth was dry and he swallowed compulsively, wanting to lick his way up her stomach. Then he’d hold her wrists above her head and fuck her until she clamped her inner muscles around his cock and milked it dry.
Liz’s hips bucked up and down while he admired the curve of her legs and ass. She covered her face with a pillow and turned the vibrator up so high, he could hear the buzz through the computer’s speakers. There was a muffled scream as the orgasm shook through her.
“Oh,” Liz sat up, the toy still inside her. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glazed. Her red, red mouth parted. “I wish you were here to fuck me.”
“What’s your address?” he growled.
Her eyes went wide. “You’d take a taxi across the city at this hour just to fuck me?”
“I’d take a plane around the world,” Sean vowed.
Liz took the toy out and licked it. “Want a taste?” She offered it to him like a lollipop.
Sean nodded.
“I think I’m going to use my fingers this time,” Liz leaned back again. “Watch closely now. You wouldn’t want to miss a trick.”
This time, he did shuck off his pants. Tossing his shirt over his head, he wished she’d open her eyes and see him naked. He took his cock out and pulled on it.
“Do you know what I’m thinking about?” she asked him, her voice a seductive purr.
“I can’t imagine,” he said, stroking himself in quick yanks.
“You throwing me across this bed and having your way with me.”
“I’d like that,” he said, staring at her nimble fingers as they toyed with her silky folds and hard bud. “Seeing and hearing you come. Knowing that it’s my cock you’re imagining inside you.”
She opened up one eye and gasped when she saw him. “Oh Sean, I’m supposed to be the tease.”
“After dinner,” he grunted out. “On Saturday. I’m coming home with you.”
“Yes.” Her fingers flickered quicker. “Yes,” she hissed out.
His cock was primed. The hungry look in her eye driving him closer to the edge. “I’m going to fuck you. I’m going to be rough. You’d like that, right?”
Her head nodded and her hips squirmed.
“A fast fuck, first, to take the edge off, and then again, oh so slow,” Sean promised her.
Her fingers were a blur. Liz was gasping little moans with each stroke.
“And then we’re going to take a hot shower and soap each other up.”
She was shuddering now. He could hear the wetness in every motion of her fingers. “Coming, coming, oh!” Her voice grew louder with each syllable.
He went off first, coating his hand and the camera before he could move away.
Liz followed, her breath coming in short jerky gasps.
“And then we’re going to do it all over again,” he vowed.
“Promise?” Liz asked, miming licking the cum off his screen.
He leaned back in his seat and let her look her fill. She didn’t realize at this angle he could see down her vest. She filled it out nicely. Sean hoped she would let him kiss her chest. He wanted to love every inch of her.
Love? Jesus.
He covered his eyes with his hand and groaned. He had it bad.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
“Nothing. Everything. I wish I’d met you years ago.”
“Everything happens for a reason.” She leaned back on the pillows and propped herself up on her elbow.
“I used to think so,” Sean said, coming as close to honesty as he dared. “But I don’t know anything for sure anymore. Maybe there isn’t a rhyme or reason to anything. Maybe life is one big random occurrence? Jacques Monod, a French biologist, called it the postulate of objectivity.”
“It sounds like you could use a glass of wine.” She traced her fingers over the sparkling gem in her belly ring. He’d like to drink champagne off her body. Heck, who was he kidding? He just wanted his mouth all over her.
“I could use a lot of them,” Sean sighed, wishing she was in his bed right now instead of on his computer screen.
Spice Page 8
