by E M Bannock
“I will,” Zoey agreed. “Soon.” The women hugged and got up to help the girls finish cleaning up.
James and Zoey both overdid it with food and drink, and by the end of the day they thought they would explode if they took one more bite of pie.
That night as they snuggled in bed together, James turned to face her and said, “Thanks.”
She looked at him strangely and asked, “Thanks for what?”
“For bringing me here and showing me a side of you and a part of your life that I never imagined. I like your friends. They love you very much.”
She looked relaxed and a bit embarrassed. “Yeah, they’re pretty cool. I’ve known them for a very long time. We share a lot of memories.”
“Memories with Mickey,” he stated with a hint of sadness.
She nodded. “Yes, with Mickey. We’ve been friends since college.”
He looked at her intently. “Is it weird being here without him and being with me?”
She thought for a moment. “It was at first. But you know what? Nothing has been the same since Mickey died. I’m not the same. How could I be? I had to change. I had no choice.”
“A new Zoey,” he said.
“Yes,” she confirmed. “A new Zoey.”
“Well, I didn’t know the old Zoey,” he said as he gathered her up in his arms, “but I sure like this version.”
She looked into his dark blue eyes coyly. “Do you now,” she stated as she slipped her hand down to his crotch. She could feel his cock growing. “I guess you do at that.” She thought about what her friends had said to her earlier about love. Should she tell him tonight? An official declaration of love might change their whole relationship. Did she want to throw that into the mix now? No, she would wait until they got back home. It was all too complex. Now she just wanted to have him inside of her.
She squeezed his balls and rubbed her body against him. He read her signal and smiled. “I do,” he said firmly. “Now let me show you how much.” And with that he kissed her tenderly on the mouth, grabbed her by the ass, and pulled her close. He tasted of the Scotch he had been drinking. It was the one thing he and Mickey had in common. She felt his breath on her neck and it turned her on. She moaned and once again relinquished herself to him and her desire.
Their lovemaking was hard and intense. It was a good thing their bedroom was in the guest quarters above the garage and not connected to the house where everyone could hear them making loud, crazy love. Zoey’s climactic groan of pleasure could have woken the dead.
PART THREE - HOPE
Chapter 24
The next day, their last full day in Michigan, was spent reminiscing about old times. Everyone had stories to share when the old photos were brought out of storage. They marveled at how young they were in the pictures and talked about how much they’d changed. James enjoyed seeing the pictures of a younger Zoey. He had seen pictures of Mickey at the Incline Village house, but there were only a few. There was one formal wedding picture and a few pictures of the two of them taken just a few years before Mickey died.
It made James sad, seeing how happy Zoey and Mickey appeared in the pictures. It wasn’t until then that he felt the full impact Mickey’s death must have had on her and the heavy sorrow she still carried within. Their life seemed so storybook. He questioned whether or not he could make Zoey that happy again. He felt and sensed the pain in her face as she went from page to page, memories and feelings surging through her. He saw her eyes tear up and he squeezed her hand for comfort, hoping she realized that it was okay. He hoped Zoey would know he was there for her now. He would take care of her. He loved her.
Too soon, their time in Michigan was over and they had to return to Nevada. Joanne and Carol took them to the airport and dropped them off in front of the terminal. James gave the ladies a hug and thanked them for their hospitality. He grabbed the bags as Zoey hugged her friends one last time and said her goodbyes.
The women were all teary-eyed as they parted. Carol leaned in to Zoey and whispered in her ear, “Tell him you love him,” before getting back into the car.
Zoey was quiet and subdued on the flight home. When James questioned her about it, she brushed it off as exhaustion. They decided to spend the night at the Incline Village house and head out to Zoey’s Place in the morning. For old time’s sake they had dinner at Keith’s Kitchen. Keith was delighted to see them and had the cook prepare a special dinner for them.
After they finished their meal, they were enjoying a cup of coffee when a pretty young blond woman entered the restaurant and looked around. Recognizing James, she came up to their table.
“James?” she queried. “I thought it was you.”
He looked up in recognition and smiled. “Suzie?” he responded with a slight blush on his face. Zoey looked up, too.
Suzie was wearing a body-hugging turtleneck that accentuated her full breasts and skinny jeans that showed off her lean but curvy butt. She had long blond hair hanging halfway down her back. Her skin was clear and perfect, and so were her crystal blue eyes.
The flush of red on James’ face signaled to Zoey that the two knew each other very well. He looked uncomfortable, but more from surprise than guilt.
He cleared his throat and stood up. Suzie gave him a quick peck on the cheek, which he politely returned. “Suzie, good to see you.” He looked down at Zoey, who looked shell-shocked. “Zoey, this is Suzie. Suzie, Zoey.” Introductions made, he sat down.
He could see confusion on both women’s faces. He looked at Zoey. “Suzie and I had a few classes together through the years.” Zoey nodded in acknowledgement. “Zoey and I are partners in business,” he explained to Suzie.
“Oh, I know who she is,” Suzie quipped cheerfully. “You two are famous around here. Everyone knows all about Zoey’s Place.” She looked at Zoey with disapproval but smiled at James.
Zoey couldn’t explain her uneasy feeling. Her stomach was in a knot. Was it woman’s intuition? She didn’t like Suzie, but she didn’t know why. Was it because she seemed so familiar with James? Obviously, she didn’t think Zoey was his girlfriend. No woman on earth would walk up to a man who was having dinner with another woman and just start talking to him. Then again, she had no claim on James. She couldn’t help but notice that he didn’t introduce her as his girlfriend. He called her his business partner, and that kind of hurt. Was she jealous? She remembered what her Michigan friends told her about telling him she loved him before it was too late; the warning of what would happen if he fell in love with another woman. Could that happen?
While she was thinking about the possibilities and feeling wounded, Suzie explained that she was meeting a friend there and asked if she could sit with them for a while until he got there. Without waiting for approval, she sat down. Zoey noticed it was a ‘he’ she was waiting for. She watched as James and Suzie chatted, and her jealousy grew. They seemed way too comfortable with each other. Damn it. She did love him. The thought of him with another woman drove her insane.
Suzie started talking about Zoey’s Place. The spa/brothel had become notorious, and everyone in Incline Village knew who Zoey and James were. Suzie had just come to town to visit her parents. It was painfully obvious she knew that Zoey’s Place was exclusive and was looking for an invitation. Zoey got the impression that it gave James great pleasure to tell her that he wasn’t in charge of making reservations and, besides, he didn’t think she could afford it. The look of stunned silence on her face was priceless. Just then Suzie’s friend came in and she left abruptly. Inside Zoey did a victory dance.
“So,” Zoey queried, “how well do you know Suzie?” She tried to act nonchalant and not let James know that his interaction with Suzie bothered her.
But James knew her all too well. He looked at her coyly. “Why, Zee?” he responded with his own question. “Are your eyes turning green?” He looked pleased.
She became flustered at being caught. “No, well, oh, I, just never mind.” Her face reddened. He saw through her
ruse.
He looked at her sympathetically, melting her with his piercing blue eyes. He scooted close to her in the booth and put his arm around her. “Hey,” he said softly in her ear. “Don’t worry. It was a long time ago. We went out a few times. We fucked. It never went farther than that. Actually, it was kind of a strange break-up. That’s why I was so surprised she was so friendly at first.” He could feel her relax a bit. “Come on,” he continued, “I think I need to take you home.” He stood up and held out his hand for her in gallant fashion. “Milady.”
As they walked out she slipped her arm under his and gave Suzie, who was watching from her table, a farewell glance as they exited. She knew there was more to the story, but she didn’t have the energy to find out. The drive home was quiet and uncomfortable.
After they reached the house, Zoey announced she was tired. She wanted to get into her nightgown and get snuggled in bed. James replied he would join her after he got something to drink and asked her if she wanted anything. She declined and headed towards the bedroom.
As she undressed, Zoey evaluated her emotions. Ever since the encounter with Suzie, she was a mess. Why did that woman’s name grind on her so? She had to face reality. She was jealous. It was an emotion that she hadn’t felt since Mickey. Forgotten feelings resurfaced in flashes.
Mickey’s very presence commanded attention by men and women. His magnetic Mediterranean charm was overpowering. She would catch women turning their heads to check him out everywhere; convenience stores, hotels, restaurants, and especially airports. It didn’t even matter if they were with another man. After a while she didn’t mind. She had always been confident in the bond they shared. It was only natural to be possessive when your husband looked like Mickey. Since they first met, she had always, always been the only one he shared a bed with. It gave her a sense of pride and strengthened their union of body and soul. Closing her eyes, she thought about Mickey. A tear ran down her cheek. She missed him. The emptiness in her heart was almost too much to bear. She wanted to love and to be loved again. Was it too late? Could James be her second chance? Her heart told her ‘yes’. She had to tell him, tonight.
James watched Zoey disappear down the hallway towards the bedroom. Seeing Suzie had started him thinking. He told Zoey he’d never had any girlfriends. Well, Suzie was an almost girlfriend. Their break-up was cold and cruel. That’s why he was so surprised when she seemed so glad to see him.
James and Suzie were working together on a project for their business management class in college. It was the start of the holiday break. They ran into each other at the campus grocery store. She caught him when he was vulnerable. He was depressed and had no one to celebrate Christmas with, and neither did she. Her family had gone to Europe for the holidays, but she couldn’t afford it and decided to stay on campus. She invited him to come back to her apartment so she could make him dinner. She said he looked hungry. She gave him a wink and a coquettish smile. He took the bait. She was the only woman, besides Mandy, that he’d had sex with who wasn’t a hooker. After the first couple of days he began to feel like he was making love instead of just fucking. It was a novel feeling and he liked it. They spent days together, holding hands, wandering around the near-empty college town, going to movies, hanging out, watching TV, and sleeping together almost every night. James felt what he thought was love starting. He was happy, more than he had been in a long time.
But as soon as the holidays were over and her friends started to come back to campus, Suzie started making excuses and breaking dates. One day after she stopped returning his calls, he waited for her outside of her apartment building. She looked surprised when he confronted her as she approached the entry doors.
He asked her why she was shutting him out. She replied almost flippantly that he had been a holiday romp. She was never seriously thinking of having a relationship with him. It was just for fun. He did have fun, didn’t he? He was so shocked he couldn’t think. His pride and self-esteem had been torn away. She walked into the building, leaving him standing there looking dumbfounded and hurt beyond belief.
It was at that moment he reaffirmed he would never fall in love or have a girlfriend. Hookers were fine with him. Fine until he met Zoey, that is. It was because of Suzie’s cruel break-up that James was taken off guard by her warm greeting tonight. When he discovered her true purpose, he knew he wasn’t wrong about her.
For a long time he’d fought the feelings he had for Zoey but, damn, from the first time he saw her at Keith’s she moved his heart. He knew she was something special; she was for him. He wanted to possess her, protect her, and take care of her. He didn’t know how. It seemed foolish and illogical, but he couldn’t help himself. The more he tried to resist, the more he desired her. He wanted to be with her, be part of her life. Her smile, her eyes, her body, she was just perfect. She was a realist and sincere, too, not fake like Suzie. He loved that she championed the fathers in the divorce cases she fought but was able to retain her femininity and gentleness. She was honest and kind. It was beyond her ability to break a heart. He knew she was still mourning her husband, but the attraction he felt for her was all-consuming.
He always looked forward to their beach walks, and when she came to the restaurant he waited on her even if it wasn’t his station. One of the reasons he wasn’t looking forward to graduation was that he thought he’d have to move to get a decent job. The thought of moving away from her tormented him. He wanted her sexually, but out of respect he never followed up on it. Not until that drunken night after graduation. That was more of a dare than a romantic quest, but there was no denying the pleasure. That was one gamble that really paid off. Sex with her was the best.
After he bedded her, he lost all desire to be with any other woman ever. Making his inevitable departure that much more foreboding.
When Zoey first told him about the brothel he really didn’t feel as confident about its success, but he jumped at the chance to be with her. The fact that her instincts were right and the business became a success was just icing on the cake.
He had to admit he felt jealous of the auditions she had with the prostitutes. He knew he had fallen hopelessly in love with her. He had to tell her. Subconsciously he always feared rejection, but after seeing her in Michigan with her friends and seeing the pictures of her with Mickey, he vowed to make her happy like that again. Tonight he would proclaim his love for her.
He walked into the bedroom and saw her already in bed. The room was illuminated by candlelight. She looked beautiful. She was propped up with pillows and was fumbling with the TV remote. Her hair was loose over her bare shoulders. She was naked and her breasts glowed in the dim, flickering light.
He stripped down and crawled into bed next to her.
“James,” she said and put the TV remote down. He turned to face her. How was she going to tell him? She felt like a school girl. “I’ve been thinking.”
“You have?” he replied. “About what?”
“About us.” She hesitated. “About our relationship.”
He looked intrigued but didn’t speak.
Words were failing her. Her mind was a jumble. She decided to just tell him flat out. “I’ve fallen in love with you.”
“That’s funny,” he returned.
“Not exactly the response I was expecting.” She looked hurt.
Suddenly he smiled down at her and pulled her close. It was time. He wanted to tell her know how he felt. “Well,” he said, looking deep into her eyes, “it’s funny because I was just going to tell you that I’ve fallen in love with you, too. I tried not to but, damn you, I couldn’t help myself.”
She could feel her eyes tear up. “You did? You do?” Her heart was bursting with joy.
“Of course,” he said confidently. “Couldn’t you tell?”
“Well, I knew you liked me.”
He shook his head. “Zoey.” He was serious now. “I’ve fucked many women in my time but it never felt like this before. When you and I are together, th
ere’s love. I thought I could live without it, but now that I know what it is I don’t think I can. I know I can’t live without you, Zee. I love you, only you. You’re what love is. I think I’ve loved you from the first time I saw you. I just didn’t know how much.”
“Oh, James!” She was crying now. But the tears were tears of joy. She pulled his head down to hers and kissed him on the mouth. He embraced her. His hands gently touched her, feeling her tender breasts, her smooth back, and her soft buttocks. He let one hand slide down her round curve until he touched her womanhood with his fingers. She writhed with want and desire and pushed against him.
“I want you in me,” she whispered.
With those words, he lost it. Taking the top position, he thrust his hardness into her. She squealed with delight. They moved together as one in the rhythmic dance of shared love.
Chapter 25
Physically, nothing had changed, but because their love was now spoken between them James felt closer to Zoey. He fell asleep spooning her and trying to adjust to being openly in love.
In the morning he woke before her, showered, and made a pot of coffee in the kitchen. He had just poured a cup for himself when she appeared, wearing nothing but an oversized t-shirt. He could tell there was nothing underneath. Her hair was disheveled and her eyes still half shut.
“Good morning, Zee. You look beautiful,” James said, drinking in the view and enjoying it as much as his coffee.
She shook her head. “Now I know you love me. Only a man in love would be blind enough to call this beautiful,” she said as she swept her hand in front of her herself.
“Au contraire, mon amour,” he said as he encircled her in his arms. He gently nibbled her neck, and planted a kiss on her inviting lips. “Your beauty would give sight to the blind.”
“Oh, you,” she said as she hugged him and grabbed his buttocks. “I love it when you speak French, so sexy.” She broke away and poured herself a cup of coffee. When she turned around, she saw him staring at her.
