by JN Welsh
“The Luc Besson, eighties film?”
Elle froze. That movie was her go to for lifting her out of any bad mood, reminding her of dreams. And that finding your place in life doesn’t always equate to fitting in. She pulled the shower curtain again, splashing droplets of water over Cole’s naked body. “No freakin’ way. No one ever knows that movie when I mention it. How do you know it?”
“My father,” he responded. “It’s one of his favorite films and one I appreciate very much.”
“It’s absolutely amazing and underrated. Too bad I lost my copy.” She was exhilarated that they had that in common. At the mention of his father she asked, “Are you close with your family?”
“As close as I can be given the distance. I’m here and their mission work takes them all over the world.”
She didn’t make out a somber tone in his voice, but he did state the information with little emotion.
“How many lovers have you had, Elle?”
The question stumped her. “Why do you ask?”
“I’m just trying to figure out how many selfish bastards you’ve dated.”
“There weren’t many and they weren’t all bad, but there are none worth mentioning. Trust me.” She unraveled from the question because though she wasn’t inexperienced, she realized just how much she missed from not having a quality boyfriend in her life. “I would ask you the same question, but we don’t have all night,” she snapped.
“Were you this obnoxious as a kid?” he inquired.
“I’m not obnoxious.”
“No, you just see an opportunity to attack my line of work and you go for it.” He drew the curtain back. “I'm going to need you to work on that.”
She startled and wiped the water that sprayed in her face. Seeing the seriousness on his face, she nodded.
“I asked you the question because I just had sex with you and I don’t know how any man could be so selfish, forcing you to pleasure yourself in order to get-off. You deserve so much more, Elle. You must know that.”
His passionate delivery shocked her, but she had no time to recover before he was inside the shower and pressing her against the chilled tile. She gasped and her back arched. Her breasts and tummy surged against his. He adorned her neck with kisses, his teeth grazing against her nape, while her hands grasped his bulging biceps.
“Watching you come—” the words caught in his throat “— is like being swept in a tropical cyclone and simultaneously resting in its calming eye.”
His description of her was dizzying and she didn’t know if it was real or a few of his rehearsed gigolo lines. But when her eyes connected with his, all she saw was his genuine lust. Pushing him away wasn’t on her list of options and when his hot mouth devoured hers, she submitted once again to the carnal desire he effortlessly ignited within her. Boldness surged through her when she guided his hands down between her legs.
“Fuck, Elle.”
He was a master in the finger fucking arts and her legs weakened. She’d be a concussed mess on the floor had Cole and the wall not held her up. The delicate strokes he made against her clit spoke volumes of his restraint. In the past, she’d experienced varying levels from clumsy to painful when men touched her there, but Cole’s skill could not be matched.
“Touch me,” rumbled from deep in his chest and he raised her hand to his stiff rod.
The size of him made her hands feel small yet grew her arousal to enormous heights. She caressed his shaft, marveling at its increased hardness.
“Your touch is divine.” He moaned, and their kissing became even more fevered.
To know he wanted her as much as she wanted him was a dangerous line she gladly crossed when he slid his fingers into her, delivering a tormenting force against her G-spot. The sensation grew until she huffed and squeezed him so tight that her fingers sunk into his flesh. She wanted to let go and experience the glory of her climax, but she didn’t want his touches to end.
“Let go, sweetness,” he cajoled. “Let me hear you.”
She never knew such abandon until now. Her body wanted to experience nothing more than the obedience of his word. She wanted to be his.
His fingers pumped in and out of her slick opening, all the while still applying pressure to her sensitive clit. She let go, rearing uncontrollably against him as her body tensed and ricocheted between his solid form and the wall.
She stole a glance up at him to find intense desire gracing his face. Though she had continued to stroke his member, he had not yet reached fulfillment.
He had pleased her twice now and she wanted to return the favor. She descended to her knees. The motion must have surprised Cole because he raised his hands up as if the cops had just barged in and yelled, “freeze.”
When she took him in her mouth he sighed as if he had submerged into a warm bath. He held her head and encouraged her movements, voicelessly requesting her to take him in deeper. She controlled the reflexes in her throat to accommodate him. Her methodic head-bobbing increased and her tongue glided up and down his shaft, playing with the tip. She tasted the slick salty start of him. Cole hissed, and his hips shook in restraint.
“Elle—” he warned through gritted teeth “—I’m coming now.”
He started to withdraw, but Elle tugged his hips forward. Cole’s eyes met hers as she sucked him.
He bellowed his arrival in a flurry of curse words, his hot seed shooting into her mouth. She accepted him completely and swallowed every drop.
Weakened, Cole leaned against the tile, with just enough strength to pull her up. “Finish your shower,” he said through ragged breaths. “I’ll go when you’re done.”
He didn’t leave the shower or help her with hers. Though she felt his eyes on her, it wasn’t strange to have him there. Nonetheless, she quickly finished her shower and left for the bedroom.
“What is happening to me?” she uttered as she dressed for bed.
“I’m taking you to dinner,” Cole called from the bathroom.
She leaned against the doorframe “Room service is fine.”
He pulled the curtain and his eyes landed on her. “I’m taking you to dinner.”
She kissed her teeth but made herself presentable to be seen in public. She regarded her reflection in the mirror. “Yup, looks like you’ve been fucking a gigolo. This is a mess.”
“What was that?”
Elle zipped around. Cole stood a few feet away, drying himself off with a towel, his presence shrinking the room. She needed him to put some clothes on.
“Oh, nothing.” She sat on the bed. “Just talking to myself.”
“Is that something you do often?”
She grinned. “Not until recently, no.”
Elle gawked at him and heat flushed her cheeks as he, like her, changed underwear but recycled his travel clothes. His black curls were more defined from being wet. Though he smelled like a floral bouquet from the soap the inn provided, his now familiar masculine scent wafted her way.
“What are your pet peeves, Elle…that is…besides being called honey?” He brushed his fingers through his hair to tame it into style.
“Ha-ha. I don’t think I have many more, except my family bugging me, ergo, the reason we’re here. But also, when people are gross and chew with their mouths open or pick their noses right before they want to shake your hand.”
“Do you know many people like this?”
“Some are my friends and family and trust me, they’ve heard my discontent about it. Goes to show you that my loyalty runs deep. I love them despite the grossness.”
He laughed.
“How about you?”
“I don’t like being judged or when people do it to others. I know it can’t be avoided sometimes but it gets under my skin.”
He didn’t elaborate or single her out, but it was like a stake right through her chest. They had shared each other physically but he was a gigolo who lived a certain lifestyle. True, she hired him. Still, it didn’t stop her from disapproving
his line of work. She was all mixed up because she had given into his dreaminess and threw her integrity out the window, all for a hot lay—the hottest lay she’d ever experienced. She wanted him, someone whose line of work opposed so many of the values she held dear. Yet his words were not lost on her and guilt piggybacked on all her other confusing emotions.
“Ready?” he asked and headed toward the door.
Elle swallowed the parchedness in her throat. “Yeah.”
She had to get the situation back to normal and back in control. Focus on the plan.
This time, when he held her hand in his, she didn’t let go.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The next morning, they finally headed to the vacation house. Dinner the previous night with Elle focused on getting to know her and discussing ways to make their performance convincing for her family. Given they needed to get up pretty early to make brunch, they agreed to an early bedtime. Problem was, he was up half the night nursing a hard-on and controlling his itchy fingers from touching her. Sleep had taken him at some point during the night but when he awoke, he found his arm draped around her waist and her body nestled into his. He struggled with exhaustion, but focused on the road and buckled down for show time.
They chatted briefly on the rest of the trip up and though he didn’t know what she was thinking, he knew she was stressing about the next week with her parents.
“It’ll be okay, Elle.” He touched her arm. “We got this.”
She offered a tense smile.
“Jeez, you look like you just drank a bottle of pickle juice.” He rested his hand on hers. “It’s the holidays.”
She cracked a genuine smile. “I know. I’m just nervous. I really want this to work.”
“It will. I promise you. We’ll do whatever it takes.” He meant every word.
She nodded. “Thanks.”
An hour later, Elle identified the lake exit for him and the closer they got to the house, the more she sat up in her seat. He pulled into the driveway and she tapped her nose nonstop. He had seen her do it before and it was obvious she was a bag of nerves. She couldn’t go into the house this way. No matter the excuse she gave her family, she’d blow their cover. If he couldn’t talk her into relaxing, he’d just have to distract her.
He unfastened his seatbelt. “Elle?” He called.
“Yes?” She turned right into his lips and he kissed her thoroughly. He caressed her cheek with his thumb. He used the device to calm her, but hadn’t realized how much he missed the taste of her, missed her warmth and the gentle play of her tongue.
Their kiss slowed to a reluctant end. “Ready?”
“Uh-huh.” Her far off affirmation confirmed he’d accomplished his mission.
He motioned to the house. “Go ‘head and greet your family. I’ll get our stuff.”
She hurried up to the house and all he heard were several women screaming. The musical accents floated over the snow, unable to muffle their joy.
“He’s coming,” he heard Elle say.
He made his way up to the house with their luggage and was met with two pretty women, one older and the other around the same age as Elle.
“Hello, everyone.” He put down the luggage to shake their hands, but the older woman hugged him instead. She resembled a slightly lighter, older version of Elle and he was sure this was her mother.
“Come in, come in.” The older woman ushered him inside.
Upon entry, a combination of bacon, fish, spices like curry and garlic, and baked bread delighted his senses.
“Mom this is my boyfriend, Cole Partridge. Cole, this is my mom, Shandra Rudolph.”
“As in pear tree, Partridge,” the younger woman said, and Elle elbowed her. “Owah.”
“And this is my cousin Holly.” She referenced a caramel colored woman with shoulder-length wavy black hair. Her dimples deepened the more she smiled.
“You’re Elle’s cousin on her Dad’s side, right?” Cole asked.
“Yup. The non-Trinidadian. Nice to meet you, Cole. I’m looking forward to getting to know the dude that finally gobbled up my best cousin.” Holly gave an obvious wink. “Welcome to the family.”
“Chill, Holly. We’ve only been dating a few months.”
He grinned. “Nice to meet you both.”
“We’re so happy to meet you, Cole.” Shandra patted his arm. “You can call me Shan or Mom.”
“Mom?” Elle croaked.
He couldn’t help but chuckle. Elle wasn’t lying about her family’s goading. They hadn’t even been there for five minutes, yet there were already two references to him being a permanent fixture to the family.
“Elle’s here, everyone!” Shandra called.
The house shook with the thud of pattering feet and at least twenty people filled the room.
“Aunt Noelle!” Two twin girls and one boy ran up to her.
“Hey, guys.” Elle bent to hug the children. “These are Holly’s children, well the twins are,” she explained. “This is Karen and Kayleah. And this is Donny, my cousin Anil’s son.”
“Wouldn't that make them your cousins?” Cole asked.
“Yes but because they’re little, they just fell into calling me auntie,” Elle said.
“Wow.” Cole had to admit he was overwhelmed by the droves of people that greeted them. Elle’s relatives introduced themselves. Luckily, he remembered most of their names from Elle’s briefing on the drive up.
A large dark-skinned man approached him. “Tempted as you may be, don’t run.” The man’s slight southern twang and hearty laugh put him at ease. “I’m Terrence, Elle’s Dad.” He shook his hand.
“Honor to meet you, Mr. Rudolph. Elle has told me a lot about you.”
Terrence scratched his head. “I hope all good tales?”
“Yes, sir.” Cole was surprised to find out from Elle that though her mother was Trinidadian, her father was from the south. Both had moved to New York where they met.
“And what’d she say about me?” A male version of Elle wiggled his way through the crowd. “I’m her brother, Jasper.”
“Baby brother.” Elle reminded Jasper as she was swarmed by hugs from her relatives.
“Ahh…the traitor.” Cole remembered Elle’s story about Jasper being one of the last single holdouts until he met his current girlfriend Scarlett.
“Don’t believe a word of it. Noelle just needed a boyfriend that’s all.” Jasper shook his hand and pulled him in. “You better be good to my sister, man.”
The protective remark was gift wrapped in humor, but Jasper’s eyes revealed his threat.
Cole straightened. “I’ve got it covered.”
“Hey, is that your Charger out there?”
“Yeah.”
“Nice,” Jasper complimented and then hugged his sister.
Everything moved so fast. Cole’s brain tried keeping the names and faces straight. He was good at this, but the stakes were high for Elle. He reminded himself to be himself and everything would be fine.
“Okay, everyone, Auntie Joy and Auntie Rachel have made a nice brunch for us. We’ll eat in fifteen minutes after Elle and Cole get settled. Try not to keep the cooks waiting.” Shandra addressed the family with the authority of a true matriarch.
“I’ll help you with your luggage.” Jasper grabbed a suitcase.
“Me, too,” Holly joined.
Everyone did as Shandra instructed and the herd dispersed.
Elle touched his arm. “You good? I know this was quite a bit to take in on first meet.”
“I’m good.” But he was sure his face displayed otherwise.
“Let’s go and get settled, okay?”
“Okay, sweetness.” Kissing her grounded him to his purpose. They were in this together.
He got the rest of their luggage and Holly and Jasper shared the load.
The house was huge, and he was glad for it because that meant at least some privacy. A sturdy canopy bridge connected what felt like another house. There was so much spa
ce. Even more amazing was that Elle’s family filled it.
“What’s that?” Cole referenced a small stairway leading to a room off the main corridor.
“Smoosh room,” Holly sang.
Elle’s head shot to her cousin. “Holly—”
“What? It’s not like you guys aren’t doing it. Plus, it’s a good idea for Cole to know so he doesn’t walk in on anyone.”
“It worked for me and Scarlett last night.”
“Oh my God.” Elle punched her brother’s arm. “Not cool, Jasper.”
Jasper was only five years younger than Elle, but the way she spoke about him illustrated her maternal relationship toward him.
“Why do you guys need a smoosh room?”
“The vents on the other side of the house connect and if people get a little loud—” Jasper glared at Holly “—it’s pretty clear what’s happening.”
“You’re one to talk.” Holly pushed Jasper and made moaning noises to imitate her cousin.
Cole chuckled at their repartee.
“But you guys don’t have to worry on this side of the house,” Holly noted. “I think that’s why Auntie Shan put you here. That woman is like the match-making guru.”
“Please, stop, you guys,” Elle pleaded.
“Relax, Elle. We’re all adults here. Right Cole?” Holly winked with her whole face.
Cole returned it. “Right.”
Elle pressed her palms together in prayer. “Don’t encourage her please.” She turned toward Jasper. “Where’s Scarlett anyway?”
“Shower,” Jasper explained.
Cole inspected the smoosh room. He knew Holly said it for shock value, but he made a mental note of the location, just in case. Once in their room, her family left them alone.
“That’s my family.” Elle plopped down on the bed.
Cole eyed the room, appreciating the log cabin style decor, from heavy holiday throws to antiqued wall fixtures and floral artwork, to the woodsy, lake view. A large window framed the grounds and the lake shimmered in the distance.
“They’re very welcoming.” He surveyed the property. “This is magnificent. You guys come here every year?”
