Chasing Desire

by Jennifer Domenico

  “Of course. We’re a team. Whatever it takes is what we do.”

  She smiles and again I’m struck by how neutral her interaction is with me. In fact, it kind of turns me on. I shouldn’t be considering getting involved with her, but I most definitely am. It’s obvious that she knows how to keep things on the down low. My only concern is that once it starts, how does it stop?

  I decide the best thing I can do right now is give myself time to think it through. Even if she is the most spectacular woman on the fucking planet.

  Walking back from my meeting, Macy greets me before I step into my office.

  “I scheduled the meetings you asked me to and don’t forget that next week the board of directors is hosting a meeting here.”

  “Oh, yes, that’s right. Thanks.”

  Macy turns to go back to her desk. “Oh, I almost forgot. You have a message from someone named Erica. I left it on your keyboard.”

  “Erica? I don’t know anyone by that name. What did she want?”

  “I don’t know. She asked if this was your office and when I confirmed, she just left her number for you.”

  “Hmm, okay. Thanks.” I have no idea who this is, but decide to call. My curiosity always wins out. I dial the number and wait.

  “Hello?” a woman answers.

  “Hello, I’m calling for Erica. This is Brayden James.”

  “Oh, hi! This is she. How are you?”

  “I’m sorry. Do I know you?”

  “Um, yeah. We met last month at the ANA Advertising Conference. I work for Sheffield.”

  I think back to that trip in San Fran. I met a lot of women that weekend. I have no idea who Erica is out of all them.

  “You don’t remember me, do you?”

  “I met a lot of people that weekend.”

  “Did you fuck a lot of people that weekend?” she asks, bluntly.

  Unfortunately, my response to that question would be yes. Obviously she was one of them.

  “Oh! Erica, geez, I’m sorry. Of course I remember now.” Not true at all. She was one of three women I hooked up with. I wish she would give me another clue. “How have you been?”

  “Well,” she starts, hesitantly. “I’m in San Diego tonight and I know it’s last minute, but I was hoping to see you again if you aren’t busy.”

  “Tonight?” I don’t even know if I want to see her again. Fuck.

  “Yes, I’m just here for the day. I fly out tomorrow morning, back to LA. Are you up for dinner?”

  Hey, why not. I seriously need to get laid and if I did it with her before, it must be okay. “Yeah, absolutely. Where are you staying?”

  “At the W San Diego.”

  “Cool. That’s close to where I work. I can swing by and pick you up. Around six work for you?”

  “Yes. I’ll meet you out front and I’ll be wearing an orange dress. I look forward to seeing you again.”

  “Yeah, you too, Erica. Thanks for calling.”

  Not only do I not remember this girl, but I was drunk most of that weekend and I have no idea if I enjoyed any of it. All I remember is I there were several women. I have no idea which one of them is Erica. At least an orange dress should be easy to find. I hope she’s at least interesting dinner conversation. I guess I’ll find out soon.

  Several hours later, I head out to pick up Erica for dinner. The W Hotel isn’t far from here so it doesn’t take long to get over there. As I pull up, I see her standing on the sidewalk. Wait. Is that her? I don’t remember her. I hesitantly start to pull up beside her when I look over and see a blond woman walking towards me also wearing an orange dress and I recognize her. Really? Two women at the W wearing orange dresses? That was almost another embarrassing moment.

  As Erica approaches she smiles and I realize she is a lot older than I remember. She has to be in her late forties at least. I look her up and down and our night of fun starts to come back to me. If I remember correctly, Erica has a rack that should be in movies.

  “Hi, Brayden,” she waves.

  “Hey, Erica.” I pull up to the curb and a valet attendant opens the passenger door for her. She slides in next to me. “You look great.”

  “Thanks. So do you. Where are we going?”

  “I figured we could pop over to Gaslamp and find something.”

  “Sounds good. I love that part of town.”

  We drive along Ash Avenue and I struggle to make conversation with her. I normally am so witty, but fuck if I know what to talk about. I decide to start with the easy stuff.

  “So, what are you in town for again?”

  “A work convention.”

  “Are you enjoying it?”

  “Yeah, it’s fine. It’s a quick trip. I got here this morning and I’m flying out early in the morning to get back to LA.”

  “That is quick.”

  “Thanks for squeezing me in. I enjoyed our time in San Francisco.”

  “Yeah,” I say, glancing over at her tits. “Me, too.”

  “How’s work going for you?”

  “Good. Can’t complain.”

  Erica smiles and reaches over to rub my thigh. “We can skip dinner if you want and go back to my room.”

  I raise my eyebrows and laugh. “Is that so? You’re not hungry?”

  “I am hungry, but not for food.”

  “I see. Okay, then. Fine with me.” I flip the car around and head back the other direction. We pull up in front of valet again and I step out. Walking inside, I look around the lobby for a moment. I’ve always liked this hotel.

  Erica presses the elevator button for her floor and we wait in awkward silence. This almost feels like I bought myself a hooker for the night, although apparently I don’t have to spend any money. The doors open and we step inside. Erica looks over at me and smiles.

  “I wore this just for you.” She pulls up her dress and shows me the beginning of a garter belt.

  “Very nice.” She has a really nice body. “Do you mind me asking how old you are?”

  “Forty-eight and loving every minute of it. I divorced my cheating bastard of a husband five years ago and I’ve been having the time of my life ever since.”

  “Do you always go out with younger men like me?”

  “Yes. Why would I want to get laid by a middle aged man who can’t keep up? Young men have the energy I’m looking for. As far as I’m concerned, I’m in my sexual prime.”

  The doors open on her floor and Erica grabs my wrist, leading me to her room. Opening the door, she stands to the side so I can enter. Her room overlooks the twinkling lights of the city.

  “Would you like a drink?” she asks.

  “Yeah. What do you have?”

  “I bought a bottle of Merlot earlier. Does that work?”

  “Merlot is fine.”

  I watch as she pours each of us a glass and then pulls something out of her bag. She sits on the tiny sofa in the room and pats the spot next to her. I’m suddenly starting to remember a lot about her. She’s a wild one.

  Erica lifts her glass for a toast. “To old friends.”

  “I’ll drink to that.” I clink her glass and take a large sip.

  She guzzles her glass of wine and then opens her hand to reveal the joint she took from her luggage. “I have to smoke this before I leave in the morning. Want to join me?”

  “I don’t smoke that stuff.”

  “You did in San Fran,” she says, popping her bottom lip out in a pout.

  “I was having a really crazy weekend, but I’m not in the mood. You go ahead, though. I don’t mind.”

  “Suit yourself.” She pulls out a lighter and proceeds to take long drags on the joint. I stopped smoking the stuff years ago with only an occasional hit now and then. I’m just not into it tonight.

  I sit back on the couch and watch Erica get high as a kite. She takes alternating gulps of wine between hits of pot. As she does, she inches her dress up more and more and reveals she doesn’t have any panties on. I reach over and push her legs open a bit
to get a closer view of her pussy. She has one thin strip of hair which is just as good as bald in my opinion. Erica rubs my dick through my pants and I would have to agree with her- she is definitely in her sexual prime.

  The effort she is making is starting to get me in the mood a little more. I slide off the couch and climb between her legs. Spreading them apart, I run a finger up and down her slit. She moans and lifts her dress enough so I can see her gorgeous tits. I reach up and tweak a nipple.

  Erica grins and puts her leg up on my shoulder. I slide a finger inside of her and watch as she squirms against it. I lower my face and drag my tongue along her slit, lingering for a moment over her clit. Finally, I go all in, burying my tongue deep inside of her. I suck and lick like it’s the last pussy I’ll ever eat. My motto is always if you’re gonna eat it, fucking eat it hard. I get a major thrill making a girl come with my mouth.

  Reaching up, I grab both her tits and squeeze them hard. Erica is quieter than I remember, but maybe she’s just not a screamer. I would expect a little more reaction, though. I know what I am doing when it comes to licking the puss. I try a little harder, sucking on her clit and driving my fingers deep within her. I push my tongue as far in as possible. I’m gonna make her come if it kills me.

  Erica’s grip on my hair loosens and her legs fall slack beside me. What the fuck is going on? I look up to see her lying against the couch, her eyes closed.

  “Erica?”

  She doesn’t respond. I sit back on the floor in complete disbelief as her loud and very unattractive snoring begins to fill the space. She fucking fell asleep? While getting eaten out? I stare at her for a moment and realize she is out cold. I pull myself up and shake my head. I have never in my life had a woman fall asleep while I was doing anything to her. Good thing I don’t have a problem with my ego. I’m gonna chalk this up to the combo effect of wine and pot. Either way, sayonara, Erica.

  I check that the joint is put out and then walk towards the door and look back at her. All I can do at this point is laugh. I’m suffering from a too hard dick, but I’ll survive until I get home and knock one out. In the elevator I pull my slacks away from my erection and adjust myself a little.

  The safest place for me is home. I wait for my car and drive back to my place. What a fucking night.

  The alarm clock goes off and I groan. I am so not interested in getting out of bed today. Last night was a disaster on many levels. I pull myself up and get in the shower. As the hot water washes over me, I start to feel alive and ready to face the day.

  After my shower I stare in the mirror before I brush my teeth. For the first time in a long time, I’m kind of burnt out. My casual attitude with women is catching up with me. I just don’t know what else to do. Do I try to find a nice girl like everyone tells me I should? Or do I just keep chasing whatever feels good in the moment? In the past, it always seemed to work, but something is different now. Whatever spell I used to have over women has been broken. I stop brushing for a minute. Except Mackenzie. She wants me. So does Stacey, for that matter. Both are dangerous choices. One could destroy my career and the other could cause problems with me and my sister. One draws me to her like a bee to a flower while the other just seems like the right kind of girl. I should stay away from both of them, but I probably won’t.

  Speaking of Stacey, I better call to confirm tonight. I make a mental note to call her at lunch time. I wonder if she’s still all silly about me, writing my name and shit. She’s perplexing, that girl. She couldn’t be more opposite than Mackenzie.

  Just thinking Mackenzie’s name causes a reaction in me. The way it feels to get a slight shock when plugging something in, or the way my heart races when something startles me. Neither of those examples sound pleasant, yet there is something about her that makes me want to feel it again. Even if it does hurt a little.

  The day goes by in a flash and it’s finally time to wrap up. At least I have something to look forward to tonight. I know Stacey is not going to pull out a bag of weed or ask me to bang her in the ass or vomit all over my dick. Well, I hope not.

  I get to my place and quickly shower and change. I don’t have time to shave so I just run some gel through my hair and put on some cologne. I choose a pair of slacks and a light blue sweater. I’ve decided to take her to my favorite Italian restaurant and I was fortunate enough to call in a favor with the chef. It helps that we go way back, although he has pulled some strings for me on more than one occasion. I have to buy that man a cigar.

  Back in my car, I make the drive over to my sister’s place. I park and go up to her door, ringing the bell. Ariel answers.

  “Stacey’s almost ready. Come on in.”

  “Thanks, sis,” I say and kiss her cheek.

  “You look nice tonight.”

  “Do I?”

  Ariel laughs. “Like you don’t know. You should’ve been a model.”

  “You should’ve been one, too.”

  “I’m too short.”

  “You’re prettier than most, though.”

  “Thanks, bro.” She sits on the couch. “Listen, I’ve thought about this. You know I don’t like it, but you’re both grownups so you can do what you want. I just don’t want Stacey to get hurt and I want us all to be able to hang out without anything being weird.”

  “I know. I’m not gonna hurt her.” I look over my shoulder. “Hey, have you seen or heard any more stuff about me?”

  “She asks about you just about daily, but otherwise, no.”

  “Okay.”

  Stacey walks out of the bedroom with a big smile on her face. She’s wearing a little black dress that clings to her body with just a bit of cleavage showing. It’s demure with the right amount of sexy to it. Her long hair hangs down her back. Now that it’s not clipped back, it frames her face perfectly.

  “You look fantastic,” I say.

  “So do you,” she replies.

  I turn to Ariel. “See you later.”

  Stacey waves and we walk back to my car. Opening the door for her, I get a whiff of her perfume as she slides past me.

  “I hope you like Italian?” I ask.

  “I do. It’s my favorite, actually.”

  “Oh, good. I’m taking you to one of the best places in San Diego.”

  “Lucky me.”

  I turn on the radio to fill the silence as we drive. Stacey gazes out the window and asks a few questions about buildings we pass. We pull up in front of the restaurant and I let valet park the car. Walking inside, the hostess seats us and it’s a pretty nice table. Stacey looks around before taking her seat.

  “This is a nice place. If you’re trying to impress me, it’s working.”

  “I just want you to have a good time.”

  Stacey smiles and puts her napkin in her lap as our waiter approaches.

  “Good evening,” he says. “I am Fernando. May I get you something to drink?”

  I look at Stacey. “Do you drink wine?”

  “Sure.”

  “What do you recommend, Fernando?”

  “We have a lovely red from Sicily.”

  “That sounds nice,” Stacey says.

  “Okay, we’ll take a bottle of that. What will go well with that for dinner?”

  “We have a burrata and roasted tomato antipasto tonight. Our dinner specials are grilled lamb chops with roasted root vegetables, a risotto with tomatoes and mascarpone, and a very nice gnocchi with braised short ribs. All would go nicely with your wine selection.”

  “Mmm,” Stacey says. “It all sounds really good. I think I’ll go with the risotto, please.”

  “Very good choice, ma’am. For you, sir?”

  “I’ll have the gnocchi, thank you.”

  “I’ll be back with your wine. Do save room for dessert. The chef’s special tonight is a decadent chocolate mousse.”

  “Thank you,” I say, turning to Stacey. “Well, dinner should be incredible.”

  “I can’t wait. It’s one of the things I missed about living here.
The food back home is good, but it’s more homegrown, you know.”

  I nod. “How did you end up coming to school in San Diego?”

  “I just wanted a change of scenery. My parents are really strict and it was my grandmother who talked them into letting me go. I promised I would return home, but after a year back there, I can’t stand it anymore. Now that I’ve had a taste of the real world.” She smiles.

  Stacey is sweet. Almost too sweet. I am way out of my normal territory. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Me, too. I’m so excited to be back. The people here are so…” She stops and actually blushes.

  “So?”

  “Beautiful. Even the men.”

  Fernando approaches with our wine and pours each of us a glass. He waits while I take a sip, approving of the heady flavor. He informs us our appetizer will be out soon then leaves us.

  “Yeah, San Diego is a pretty place with pretty people. It’s even prettier with you here.”

  “You’re just being nice. I’m a plain Jane compared to the women here.”

  “First of all, I wouldn’t call you plain. Second of all, it’s kind of nice that you are more on the natural side. I go out with a lot of women who look like Barbie dolls. Natural beauty is better.”

  “Thanks, Brayden.”

  “You’re welcome, Stacey,” I say, leaning across the table to make my point. “Do you know where you are going to live?”

  “I do. There’s an apartment building really close to where I’ll be working. I can walk to work. But they don’t have any openings until spring, so I’ll stay with Ariel until then.”

  “Good plan. Where are you working?”

  “Downtown, near Broadway.”

  “Me, too! We’ll be able to have lunch sometimes.”

  “That would be nice.”

  Our appetizer is delivered and we dig in. I scoop some of the creamy cheese on her plate, along with some roasted red peppers and tomatoes. She drags her bread through the cheese and takes a bite.

  “Mmm, this is good. I’ve never had it before. Is it mozzarella?”

  “Yes, with a creamy center. Good, isn’t it?”

  “Oh, yes.”

  Stacey takes a big gulp of wine and I pour her a little bit more. I do not want this girl getting drunk, though. The last time that happened to my date the night didn’t end so well. Besides, I want her to be able to make clear decisions tonight.