by Jess Bentley
So I pack up early for the day and head down the familiar road to Santa Monica. A bunch of paparazzi are parked outside, including Phil from the magazine. I decide to ignore him and go straight to David’s hospital room. As I enter the room, Willie is lying on David’s bed, his eyes glued to the TV screen.
“There she is.” He smiles.
“Don’t tell me something happened to you too?”
“Oh hell no!” He laughs. “I’m just waiting for our man to get done with his tests.”
“Thank God,” I sit down as relief washes over me. “Whatcha watchin’?”
“Miami’s playing. Javier scored three goals and they're ten minutes away from reaching the final,” he says in a serious tone, not trying to hide his contempt for Javier ‘El Matador’ Romero.
“So if you guys win your playoff too, then you face them in the final?” I ask and Willie nods.
“Jesus! It's gonna break David’s heart if he doesn’t get to play in the final against his bitter rival,” Willie says.
“Then let’s shut off that damn television and keep this news to ourselves,” I say with resolve.
“He’s gonna find out sooner or later, girl.”
“Then let it be later. He already has enough stress in his life. This can wait.”
Willie laughs.
“Why are you laughing?” I smile. It’s difficult not to smile when Willie breaks into that big, warm laugh of his.
“You know, when David first told me that he thought you were cute, I mocked him. But now I see that maybe a woman like you is exactly what he needs in his life.” Willie has a thoughtfully amused look on his face.
“Wait, he said what?”
“Damn, I think I’ve said too much.” Willie grins and makes the gesture of zipping up his lips but sits with the self-satisfied smile of someone who just stirred up exactly the trouble he wanted to.
I’m about to probe him further when David hobbles back into the room on crutches, the same aged doctor in tow. Willie gets up and starts talking to the doctor.
“So doc—give it to me straight. How bad is it?”
“Well,” the doctor smiles. “It isn’t as bad as it seemed at first. It looked like a grade III sprain but now I can confirm that at best, It's only a grade I. Those usually heal within a few weeks at most.”
“So does this mean that he can play in a couple of weeks?” I ask eagerly.
“Now hold up there, young lady,” the doctor smiles. “I didn’t say that. There is a very slight chance that he might but even then, I don’t expect him to be fit enough to last the whole game.”
“Yes!” I exclaim. “I’ll take a very slight chance over none at all!”
“He needs to take care and be taken care of.” The doctor smiled. “But since he has a caring girlfriend like you by his side, I don’t think that will be a problem,” He winks at David.
“But I'm not his…” I protest, but David cuts me off.
“Thank you doctor. I'm sure she’ll take very good care of me. Won’t you, darling?” David smirks.
Even when he’s injured, he wants to be naughty. I try to purse my lips but I can’t stop a smile from breaking out. Willie bursts out laughing as well.
An hour later we’re out of the medical center and though it takes fifteen or so minutes to lose the paparazzi, we’re back in David’s house in reasonable time. Since the three of us are in a celebratory mood, Willie offers to churn out some delicious cocktails. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen David smile like this. He’s cracking jokes with Willie, flashing those pearly whites at me and seems very optimistic about his recovery.
Willie takes his leave after the fifth round of cocktails. I want to get going too, but David asks me to stay back. I don’t ask why, and he doesn’t explain either. I help him upstairs to his bedroom as he wants to change into more comfortable clothes and while he does so in his massive walk-in closet, or in this case, hobble-in closet, I step out onto the huge balcony attached to his bedroom. The view is beautiful— it overlooks all of L.A.
“Quite something, isn’t it?” David says as he comes out to the balcony, balancing on a single crutch, his injured foot hanging low above the floor.
“Yes it—” I inhale a quick breath. David’s wearing loose shorts, since it’s difficult for him to wear track pants or even pajamas over the cast. But my eyes are fixed on that muscular chest of his that’s peeking through the open robe. The tingles I felt on the day I first met him, as he climbed out of that swimming pool shirtless, are coming back with intensity. He seems more human, more reachable and even utterly appealing as he looks into my eyes.
Mortified by the sensation of my cheeks heating up, I quickly turn around and tell myself to say something. Anything.
“Quite a spot to build a house,” I open, lamely.
“This was the first house they showed me and I didn’t need to look at ten others to know that this one was perfect.”
“You’ve got good instincts then.” Trying hard to keep the lust out of my voice, I end up sounding very formal.
“That I do,” David answers quietly.
Chapter 93
“That I do,” I answer quietly.
Just like I didn’t have to think twice before I knew you were special, I want to add, but don’t. She’s been nothing but an angel for me, someone who balances my crazy ways with her own inherent, humble beauty. In such a short time, Carrie has made a space in my heart that no other was able to over the years. It scared me at first, but now I embrace it wholeheartedly. I’d be foolish not to, after all that she’s done to keep me sane.
Still, I’m unprepared for the strength of my physical reaction to her appearance. A simple white top, a plain blue skirt and her hair tied in a loose topknot. She’s not even wearing heels like I usually like women to, and yet I’m tempted to yank her into my arms and breathe her in, kiss those lips, take her to bed.
The sun is setting and the evening light seems to cast an artistic halo around her body. The old me would’ve deemed this the wrong time, judged it unnecessary, but the new person that I’ve become because of Carrie knows that this is the perfect time for someone like her to be in my life. She is an oasis in the midst of hell that was L.A.
He walks up to me and squeezes my shoulder.
“Now I know why lovers always talk about sunsets,” I say in a low voice, lowering my lips to her ears. She quickly turns around. With twinkling eyes and that smile that could light a thousand suns, she asks me why.
Carrie looks innocent, intelligent and sexy at the same time. There’s a sudden need inside of me to ease my fingers into that hair of hers and so looking in her eyes, I let down her messy bun. Then I feel the primitive urge rise inside of me and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. Her beauty has left me no choice.
Carrie’s lips parts but she doesn't mouth a protest. The concern on her face seems to melt away as I stand close to her, breathing in her presence, her feminine scent and feeling the heat the emanates from her. Her eyes darken even more, and the color of her beautiful cheeks deepen with a blush as she looks up at me. It makes her look even prettier than before.
Words aren’t necessary anymore.
Chapter 94
Moving closer he grabs me firmly by the shoulders, letting the crutch drop, and balances himself perfectly one his one good leg. I reach up to him, my lips open and he touches them softly.
He kisses me hard but slowly. My mouth softens as my lips part to take him in. He takes time exploring my lips, the gateway of my teeth, my tongue. His tongue is soft, sensuous, tantalizing. I get a little wobbly and grab his arms to steady myself, trying not to forget he’s on one good leg. I feel like I’ve never been kissed before, right now— at least not by someone who is all man. A soft sound escapes my throat and I pushes against him.
He gently pulls away and stares into my eyes, and sparks inside me burst into flames. Heat rises in my core. It’s scary to me how attracted I am to him in that moment but I have no choice
. When I’m in his arms, I feel as if I were levitating in the air. His entire being encompasses me and for the first time in a long time, I feel safe... and loved.
I want to kiss David again, till there’s nothing between us but raw, raging heat. Until there’s a desire so intense that it consumes us both. His breathing shifts from relaxed to something more intense and something in the air makes me feel even more alive.
He kisses me again and I want it to last forever. Why hadn’t it ever felt like this with anyone else? Why do I feel such a connection with a man I despised, not so long ago?
As David gently pulls away, I swallow, unable to to stop the buildup of a flaming heat inside. The awareness of his hard length against my stomach rips through me. Now that he’s slipped off his robe, his broad shoulders lay bare below the strong angle of his jaw and the delicious curve of his lips. She want him to close the slight distance between us, take me in his arms and ravage me.
David holds my wrist lightly but with a sense of possession. Looking into his intense eyes, everything else around fades. There is raw desire in his eyes and my body leaps in response. Moments later we fall on to the massive bed in his bedroom and this time when he stares deep into my eyes, I don’t have to wonder what he’s thinking about. My pulse quickens and though a small part of me screams, ‘caution,’ I can’t get myself to pull away.
Maybe it’s a bad idea but I don't care. All I want is for David to lean into me, slide his hands around my body and stake his claim on me. I want David to rip through all the shields that I hide behind and claim me, make me unable to deny the hot desire that races through my body. A desire to love that I thought was dead forever.
David stokes the heat within me. I finally feel what it’s like to burn from a man’s kisses. His hard muscular body sinks down on mine and he makes me his in every which way. Every time his strong hands slide along my jawline to my neck to my breast, I’m dying with love and passion.
“Carrie,” he whispers, his voice raw with a need that makes me want him even more, if that’s possible. Everything melts away into a hazy bliss as David breathes into me, our heartbeats in sync. I’m lightheaded as I cry out in ecstasy, my moans echoed by his soft cries.
The intensity of our connection rushes through me and I feel that my entire world has been made perfect right in that very moment.
Chapter 95
Sometime during the night, between wine and stolen kisses I fell asleep in David’s arms. It feels nice and safe, and David holds me throughout the night. When I awaken, I feel terrible seeing him sleeping in an obviously uncomfortable position, his injured leg sprawled off the edge of the bed.
I also panic when I see the time. It’s a weekday and I have to go to work. I want to wake up David and kiss him goodbye but he looks so peaceful, almost angelic, sleeping there that I don’t have the heart to do so. Instead I leave him a sweet love note.
‘You're amazing but I have a job. I’ll call you later :)’
I get to my apartment much faster than I expect, so I take the time to run through the second draft of the article I wrote on David. A smile creeps up on my face every time the thought of him comes into my head but each time I remind myself that as a journalist it’s my duty to be impartial. I can not let any romantic feelings for him influence the article.
But I think I painted a true picture of him — of what he really is… The only flaw in him is that he’s way too adorable, I chuckle to myself. I save the article on the Coyote magazine cloud drive so that I can access it later at work and then I opened my email.
One particular email, sent from the official Coyote email account, catches my eye. It’s an official announcement of the engagement between Max Jefferson and Katherine Griswold. I stare at it with a gradually rising shock. Not that I’m all that shocked at the announcement; I’m more shocked at my lack of reaction to it. I’m blank. I don’t feel anything at all for Max or against him.
Days away from him and being exposed to his true self has made me come to terms with the truth. Having David as a distraction helped as well. And in the course of it, David became much more than just a distraction. I smile again as the images of last night, when we shared their life stories and more, comes back in my mind.
We may just spent one night together, yet it feels like we’ve known each other forever. And I’m not expecting anything this time. At least not like I expected things from Max. David isn’t Max. He’s a much better man and for now, I’m content to share this happy moment with him. What fate lay in store, I’ll worry about later.
Is it just me or does the world have prettier colors today, I wonder as I drive to work. Gone is my usual urgency of hurrying to be on time. Missing is the nervous chatter in my mind, and there’s a confidence in my step as I walk into the office. As I settle in for the day, I soon realize that Max is back. For a moment I get a little nervy, wondering if it’ll get awkward when we see each other, but as if on cue, my cellphone buzzes and a lovely good morning text from David sends all my worries away.
“Have you read the news?” Phil, the paparazzo who I worked with on the Ana Irina story, creeps up and leans on the wall of my cubicle with a smug smile on his face. I never liked the guy—he has a greasy vibe about him and he’s one of Max’s pets.
Jesus, here he comes, throwing the news of Max’s engagement in my face. Be cool, Carrie.
“Yes isn’t it wonderful. I'm so happy for Max!” I fake a smile.
“What?” He makes a face. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Max and Katherine’s engagement, what are you talking about?” I ask mildly. Phil laughs, then pulls out his phone, fiddles with it for a moment and then hands it to me.
My mouth drops open as I see the image on the phone. My mind runs in ten different directions wondering how this could’ve happened. How is this even possible? There was nobody else in there.
The picture on Phil’s phone is of David and I kissing on his bedroom balcony, published by a rival gossip magazine. The fact that David is wearing nothing but shorts, makes it look all the worse.
“Isn’t it wonderful what they can do with camera lenses nowadays? I just wish you had given us a heads up, Carrie,” Phil chuckles. “Oh by the way, the boss wants to see you,” he says with a wink.
Shit. What am I gonna do now? A mental list of all the people who could’ve seen this runs through my head. Thankfully mom still struggles with technology and isn’t likely to buy gossip magazines either.
After I take a few deep breaths I decide that I don’t care who saw it or what they thought. Except David... will this ruin everything between us? The thought eats at me as I make my way through the desks to Max’s office. Phil is already sitting in there.
Max stands up as I come in and claps mockingly.
“Great job, Carrie. Wonderful. I'm glad to see that you've finally found someone.” He smiles.
What is he playing at here?
“I just regret one thing,” he continues. “I wish you’d have informed us in advance that you were planning to throw yourself at another celebrity. At least we could’ve had Phil here, planted with a telephoto lens somewhere nearby. It’s a shame that a bitter rival of ours had to break this story.“ He shakes his head in false regret.
All he cares about is that he couldn’t break the story himself!
“So how long has this been going on?” He sits on the edge of his table and gives me a serious, judgmental look. As nervous as I had felt when I stepped inside of Max’s office, something snaps inside of me at the way he looks at me and I decide to stand up for myself.
“My personal life is none of your business,” I snap. Enough is enough.
“So it’s gonna be like this now on, is it?” Max smirks. How did I ever fall for this man and his charade? Max is not at all bothered by the fact that I kissed another man. There is no doubt left in my mind that all the attraction and the admiration I had for him was an illusion, an image of him that I merely wanted to believe in.
“Well your personal life is none of my business. I couldn’t care less.” He shrugs. “But we do want to run a story on this. Our rivals already broken it first, the least we can do is get whatever mileage out of it that we can.”
“You bastard!” The words slip out of my mouth before I can stop them.
“Phil, would you excuse us. Shut the door behind you.” Max nods to the paparazzo, who leaves immediately.
“Look, there is no need to get agitated. It's just a story. If you give us some juicy details, who knows, we may even put you on the cover. Now wouldn’t that be nice? Even in your wildest dreams you couldn’t have imagined yourself on a cover, eh?”
Max’s words are alien to me. I can’t even understand what he’s trying to say. Cover? Who gives a damn about a cover? Did this man not see the hurt he had caused me?
It’s time to confront him.
“You had a girlfriend all this time and yet you led me on. You used me and played with my emotions. Do you've no shame?” I look at him with all the disgust in the world.
To my shock, Max actually chuckles.
“And you find this funny?”
“Of course It's funny. Where do you think we are Carrie? This is L.A.! Stop being so naive!”
“Naive? Do you have no honor?”
“Honor is for suckers. Can we get back to the matter at hand? Are you gonna do this story or not. For once you don’t have to write it, you just have to feature in it.”
“No,” I cross my arms. Max looks at me thoughtfully for a moment before he speaks.
“Maybe you’re smitten with David. Maybe you think you've found ‘true love’,” he said sarcastically, “but don’t forget he is a worse hound than I ever was. You can play Florence Nightingale all you want but he will use you and throw you away.”
“That’s all you think about don’t you? Using people?”
