“That’s a mouthful. How do you feel about repeating the last part?”
“Carter, it’s none of my business, and it shouldn’t be yours, so let’s drop it and enjoy our dinner. Or better yet, let’s take it to go.”
“No. We are going to stay here and enjoy our dinner. Try the Calamari. It’s delicious.”
After we finished our meals, Carter wanted to order dessert, but I won that round and talked him out of it. I tried to get Karen’s attention for our check, but the groupies were back and Carter was back to signing autographs. I was going to walk up to the bar myself when Nick and Karen appeared in front of our table. I’m sure he was curious as to why there were so many people gathered up in the back, and that’s when he made his way over. He was the owner, after all.
Just the sight of Nick and how he glanced over to me put Carter on edge. He moved closer to me and then made sure Nick saw it too. Dammit, Carter, enough with the pissing contest. I am with you, not him.
Although Nick was with Karen, he looked sick at the same time. He asked if we needed anything else, and then Carter asked for the check, treating Nick as if he was just some random waiter. After he walked away, I pulled my hand from Carter’s, only for him to not just pull it back, but me with it. I slammed up against his chest, and he kissed me so hard, I knew it was punishment for Nick and the kiss that I allowed him to take.
Carter’s fingers found the nape of my neck, and then he whispered ever so slowly, “Thea, you are mine, and now that you have consented to be my wife, you are mine forever. If you are not happy with how I am behaving, then stop trying to get a fucking rise out from me, because in the end, you will not like what I do next. I can only be pushed so far, and then if it is a show that you seek, I am more than capable of showing your past lover what he was so foolish to let go of. Now, let’s go.”
Before I could respond, Karen returned and told us that our bill was on the house.
I said goodbye to Karen, and then walked Carter out to our car.
He opened the door and said, “After you, love,” but I remained where I was.
“Carter, please go home, and I will meet you there in a little while.”
“Like hell I will do that. Get in the car, Thea.”
“No, I am not going anywhere with you. Just so you can’t accuse me of lying to you later, I plan to go back inside and speak with Nick. We are long overdue for a chat, and after tonight, I see no reason why to put it off.”
“Thea, don’t do this here in the middle of the fucking street. Let’s go, and we can discuss this in private.”
“Oh, you are right about that, Carter. We will definitely re-visit this discussion when I get home. And while we are on the subject of making things clear, hear me on this, because I am not in the mood to repeat myself. You and I have always had a certain line of boundaries between us, and they were designed from the very beginning, what works and what doesn’t. We have always been clear on how we fuck, when we fuck, and where we fuck. Back there was definitely crossing the line, and I do not appreciate it, and fuck you for turning me on because you knew exactly how I would react to you. I haven’t forgotten our little voyeurism trip to the sex club. You have my full submission in bed, but outside of our bedroom, you do not get to exercise that level of control over me. Now, am I clear?”
“Crystal clear, and I will leave you with this. When I do get my hands on you again, you are so getting spanked, fucked, and I do mean hard to the point that you will have trouble walking tomorrow. Clear enough for you? Or do I have to give you a preview to how many ways I can make you come?”
“No need. I will be home within the hour, and you can show me personally.”
“I look forward to it,” he said.
He took my mouth and crushed his mouth down to mine until he plunged his tongue so far down my throat, I almost choked. I knew what I just did here with Carter. It was like unleashing the beast. He was pressing his dick so hard up against me, I was withering beneath his touch.
I broke away all breathy and said, “One hour. Be ready.”
With a devilish wink, he let me go and got into the car. Fuck you, Carter Newbanks, for making me so wet and now fucking frustrated for a release. If his fans only knew what a kinky and sexy motherfucker he was behind closed doors. Good thing I was the only one that got to enjoy him that way. I was angry with him, but with Carter, it diminished quickly like a candle burning out. If this was not love, then I didn’t know what it was. He was the only one that could spin my body in any direction he desired it to go, and fuck me for loving it too.
I gathered my senses and walked back into Delfino’s and looked for Nick. Karen made a gesture toward his office, and I mouthed the words “Thank you” and made my way down to his door. I knocked a couple of times, and then he finally opened the door and looked a little surprised to find me on the other side of it.
“May I come in?”
He sighed and moved aside so I could go in. He looked agitated and then fixed himself a drink. I guess that was new, because he hardly drank when we were together. I placed my hands in my lap and tried not to appear nervous. This was Nick. I knew him my entire life, and yet we were behaving as if we were strangers.
“Thank you for dinner. That was very kind of you,” I said.
“You are welcome, but is that why you are really here? And where’s your fiancé? I’m surprised he let you out of his sight.”
Yeah, he was clearly annoyed with me, and Carter too. I can’t say that I blame him, but give me a break. I did come back to try to talk.
“I could say the same about Karen. So…that’s new.”
“It is, and I’m very happy about it.”
“Well if that’s true, then I am happy for you and for Karen, but don’t tell her that.”
“It is true. I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t mean it.”
And that’s my cue to leave. Will we ever be able to find a common ground?
“Okay, I’ll be on my way. See you Nick,” I said, my typical defense to protect myself from getting hurt.
“Thea, wait a minute. You seem to say, ‘See you Nick’ a whole hell of a lot, and every time you do that, it fucking frustrates me to no end. Why haven’t you returned any of my phone messages? I mean, seriously? I care about Frannie, and once again you prove how fucking selfish you are by avoiding me and giving me the courtesy of just one phone call to let me know if she’s okay or not. Don’t worry. I saw her myself tonight, so no need on the call now.”
“I’m sorry, Nick, I really am, but I guess all pleasantries and manners go out the window when faced with something as great as your mother almost dying. I have been in a complete fog since I arrived here last Saturday night, not knowing what would happen with my mom. And to answer your question, Carter is not happy that I sent him back to my house so I could come back here to speak with you, but he will get over it. I know I owe you a talk, and that would have been the first thing I should have said when I came in here, but once again, you jump to conclusions and berate me.”
Not expecting him to say anything else but to tell me to leave, he surprised me with an apology.
“I’m sorry. I’m off tomorrow. Can we meet somewhere and talk?”
Finally! I was hoping this was the first step at righting our past and moving on from a new place. I suggested a mutual place we both liked to go to.
“Bryant Park, let’s say, noon for lunch?”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you there.”
I didn’t push my luck and made my way out of his office in hopes that tomorrow we could finally resolve what needed to be said between us. I waved to Karen, who gave me a half smile. She really did care for Nick, and I knew it sounded crazy, but I really was rooting for her. She had her issues, but at least with Karen, she owned them and didn’t pretend to be someone she wasn’t. I hailed down a cab and checked my phone. Of course, there was a text waiting for me from Carter.
CARTER: I’m ready, baby.
ME: I’m on
my way home. I’ll be there in ten minutes.
CARTER: Perfect, you know where to find me. Oh, and Thea…I am going to tear you apart.
With a sexy veiled threat, I was literally dripping with my arousal. Yes, it was time to unleash the beast.
Twelve excruciating hours later, I only had a few hours to go before my lunch with Thea. I hadn’t slept a wink last night just thinking about how all of the scenarios I dreamed up would go today.
I called Karen before I went to sleep, or at least tried to. I saw the uneasiness to her face when she tried to tell me that Thea was in my place, but she held her composure and allowed me to discover it all on my own. I called Karen to be upfront and honest. I wanted to tell her about my lunch with Thea and how I planned to discuss all the unresolved issues between us. I assured Karen to the best of my best intentions that I was closing the door to one part of my life and continuing another with her. I didn’t know how much she believed me, but it needed to be said. I knew what Karen and I promised to each other and how we would take it slow and take the baby steps needed for our growing relationship.
I knew what I promised, but as of lately, all I wanted to do was fast forward to the day that Karen would give herself over to me completely in every way that mattered. I knew she had been hurt, and it left her very guarded and protective of not only herself, but her girls. Gigi still shot me with daggers but not as much since the first date.
Now it was morning, and I was tired as fuck and looked like shit. I certainly didn’t look like the guy who moved on, but hopefully a hot shower and the mud-like coffee Tony made would get my ass in gear for the day ahead.
“Hey, hey, hey,” Spinelli called out as I made my way into the firehouse. “Look what I have here, Chief.”
“And what am I looking at?” I said as I continued to walk down the hall toward my office.
“The travel packet has arrived. California here we come!” Spinelli was too fucking cheery for my tired mood.
“That’s great. Leave it here on my desk, and I will look it over when I get a chance.”
“Sure thing, Chief. Anything you need?”
“I’m good. See you later.”
I quietly dismissed him, and he got the message loud and clear by closing the door behind him. My head was all fucked-up, and I was beginning to second-guess this meeting altogether. It was clear in big neon lights that she had moved on with her life thousands of miles away.
Her pompous fiancé never missed an opportunity to rub it in my face who she belonged to, and in a way, it appeared that Thea loved it too. When we were together years ago, she never allowed anyone to exercise control over her, but this was a different level of control: dominance, the sexual kind.
What the hell is wrong with you, Nick? Who have you become that you give two shits about Thea’s sex life? This is so stupid on multiple levels. I have to cancel this lunch. It has disaster written all over it.
I was about to dial her number when my door flew open, and I looked up to see my mother walk through, looking really pissed off.
“Ma? What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be in Florida?” I questioned.
“Well, here’s the thing. I had all intentions of returning home to Florida and continuing my vacation with Charles and our friends, but then I received a message when I arrived at port. It seems that my oldest, best friend is in the hospital, and the one person who should have told me neglected to tell me that one piece of information. What the hell, Nick? What has gotten into your head that you cannot call your mother about something as serious as her best friend having a stroke?”
I got up from behind my desk, walked over to my fire-breathing mother, and said, “Okay, mom, please calm down. Think about your blood pressure.”
“Don’t worry about my rising blood pressure. What you should be more concerned about is how upset you have made me. You know we are in modern times that you could have reached me with news of Frannie, or better yet, tell me when I called you from the several island ports every time we stopped.”
I sighed and offered the best apology I could, “Okay mom, I am sorry, but you were on a trip, one that you were very excited about. I didn’t want to worry you, and that is the truth.”
Her face softened, and then she reached to give me a hug.
“Okay, I’m sorry, baby, for going off on you, but Frannie is family to me, and we are stronger in numbers. To think for one second that I could have lost her scared me more than you know.”
“I get it, mom, but I have visited with her a few times and she’s on the mend, I swear it.”
“Yes, I know. I called her from the airport and plan on seeing her this afternoon.”
“Where’s Charles? I assume he’s with you?”
“No, I sent him a head without me.”
“Mom, why would you do that?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I am needed here, and this is where I am going to stay until I am assured that Frannie is okay and well enough to be on her own.”
“Mom, I believe Thea is handling all of those arrangements.”
“Like a nursing home? Over my dead body will that girl do something as uncaring and selfish as to just drop off her mother to rot!”
“Mom! Will you pull yourself together? No one is going to a nursing home, and Thea is not any of those things you just accused her of. What has gotten into you? The mother I know and love does not talk like this. Now what gives?”
“You are right, I’m sorry. It’s just when I heard about Frannie being in the hospital, something just snapped inside of me. You know, son, none of us are getting any younger, and thank God, none of us have ever really been sick, so this is scary.”
“I know, mom, but I promise you she’s not as bad as you are believing right now. Yes, her sugar dropped extremely low, causing her body to slip into a diabetic coma. I can’t say if she had the stroke first or thereafter, but the doctors say it was a mild one, and it took a couple of days for her to come out of it. But when I saw her, she was Frannie. I swear it, mom.”
“Okay, I believe you. And I am sorry for going bat-shit crazy.”
“Do you want anything…coffee?” I asked.
“In this place? Are you kidding me? I’ll end up right next to her if I drink Tony’s coffee.”
“I’ll be sure to pass that along to him, but how about walking over to Starbucks?”
“I would like that.”
We walked down the block and grabbed a table outside to enjoy our cappuccinos. I wanted to ask her all about her trip, but all I was focused on was meeting Thea in a couple of hours.
“What’s wrong, son? You look as if you are a million miles away.”
“You are right about that. I guess I don’t hide my feelings too well.”
“You never did. Talk to me, kid.”
“I saw Thea, who is now engaged to Carter Newbanks, and I am supposed to meet her for lunch in a couple of hours to talk out a few things.”
“Wow, was I gone longer than I thought? She wasn’t engaged at the luncheon.”
“No, she got engaged when she went home, or ran home. Take your pick, it’s done.”
“Nick, how many more times can I apologize to you? I know it’s my fault why you are so conflicted over this, but you need to let it go.”
“I have, mom, but it’s complicated because after we talked. I never realized all the unresolved issues we had. Things need to be said, and believe me mom, I am trying to return to the man I was before she came back, but I don’t think I am going to truly be able to do that until we talk. And there’s Karen to consider?”
“Karen, as in Karen Lombardi?”
“The one and only, and don’t act so surprised.”
“I’m just teasing you, son. So things are going well between you two?”
“As good as it can be in the beginning. Her Gigi hates me.”
“Impossible, she will come around. No little girl wants to see their mommy with someone other than their father. She will come aroun
d. You just have to give her some time and be sensitive to her feelings.”
“I am, mom, and Karen has been talking to her. Anyway, we are okay. She makes me happy when we can spend time together, and there is no one more honest than Karen. She wears her heart on her sleeve and tries to be so tough, but really she’s vulnerable on the inside.”
“I know, baby boy, that’s obvious. Not all of us handled loss and grief in the best form, but thankfully she came to terms with it, and her mom did too. So since we are on the subject of feelings, what are they telling you about Thea?”
“More like screaming. Let’s table this for now. I have to get back to work to check in and then meet up with Thea at noon.”
“Okay. I’ll take a cab home and rest up before I visit with Frannie. I love you, Nick. I truly hope you find what you are looking for today with Thea, and you will finally be able to move on. You know, sometimes two people love each other so much that they lose focus on who they are as individuals. You always knew who you were and what you were meant to become as a man. I believe in my heart that Thea may have always had known that, but it was her true fear of losing you to something so greater beyond her control, like the way we lost daddy.”
She continued, “Baby, no one could have ever predicted what would happen on that usual Tuesday morning your dad left for shift. I believe in my heart that Thea let you go before the choice was taken from her. I know it sounds crazy, but it also makes sense. Some of us protect our hearts and never realize how our choices affect others. Please keep that in mind today when you talk with her. You were just kids back then. I should hope you two have matured with some wisdom under your belts by now.”
“Thanks, mom. I’ll see you later.”
I gave my beautiful mother a kiss to her cheek and then made my way back to work. I’d never forget my father for as long as I live, but having my mother always on my side helped ease the pain I felt. She was always there for me.
I handed out the shift assignments for my incoming guys, and as I was about to leave, a call came in. It had already been a busy morning and then more calls were dispatched while I was with my mom. Damn, it was only mid-week, and we had already surpassed our call average from last week.
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