by J. P. Comeau
My intuition had made me billions of dollars over the years. I knew when to walk away from a business deal and when to go for one. Needless to say, I was an excellent judge of character. But when it came to women, maybe I needed to be more like Jorge. Perhaps he saw something in her that I didn’t, something that suggested we wouldn’t be more than a fling.
As I began thinking about what Jorge had suggested, that Margo and I would just fool around, I also thought about what Ginger had said in the limo after the reception. After throwing a hissy fit, she point-blank said that Margo wasn’t the right girl for me.
Whatever.
As I finished the rest of my beer, Jorge ran his hands through his hair, and I instantly knew what he was about to ask me. He had the same look on his face whenever he approached a girl at a bar.
“So, I’m just gonna come right out and ask you. Can I get Ginger’s number?”
The look I gave him should have sent him running, but Jorge was on a mission. “Absolutely not. Look, she literally just got dumped by some guy she thought was the one, and I’m gonna be straight-up with you, Jorge. You’re a billionaire playboy. You’re the complete opposite of what my sister both wants and deserves.”
Jorge threw both of his hands at me, as though he were chucking a basketball. “Whatever, man. If I’m such a jerk, then why are we best friends?”
“You’re not a jerk,” I said with slight remorse, “but you’re still in that stage where you don’t want to settle down. If you want to go out and hook up with women who know you’ll never call them again, that’s perfectly fine. But I know for a fact that my sister is not that kind of a woman. Besides, she’s too busy studying for her MBA finals right now.”
“You’re assuming that I only want to fool around with Ginger. What if I want to date her?”
“Dude, you just told me that you wanted a passionate life and that passion dies, which is why you dump women. Why the hell would I give you my little sister’s phone number?”
Jorge’s ego had been sufficiently bruised. “You should just hang a sign around my neck that says ‘undateable.’”
“I’ll tell you what,” I said with a chuckle, “I’ll give Ginger your number. Let her be the one who decides what she wants. Deal?”
“Are you going to tell her what I’m like ahead of time, though? Because if you are, that’s not fair.”
“Are you going to tell her that you don’t stay in relationships after the passion has died? Because if you aren’t, that’s not fair either. So, do we have a deal?”
Jorge shrugged and let out an obnoxious sigh. “Deal.”
We spent the rest of the evening just shooting the shit, talking about work, our college days, and commenting about the wedding. But my mind kept going back to Margo. She looked so sexy first thing in the morning that I wanted to see her that way every morning. The way she reached for a jacket was so awkward and adorable. With someone like Margo, I could see the passion between us lasting for an incredibly long time. She seemed to have one of those personalities that kept you guessing what she’d do or say next.
Only time would tell, though, and there was no point in worrying.
Even if it ended up being a fling, then it would probably end up being the best one of my life.
9
Margo
It was getting close to seven o’clock on Friday night, and my stomach had turned into a swarm of butterflies once again. I had changed my outfit five times before finally deciding on a white silk dress, one that would be suitable for both a low-key and upscale restaurant. Chase didn’t tell me where we were going, which only put more stress on me to look my best. If he took me to an outdoor cafe where we could dance under the moonlight, hopefully near the beach, my beige sandals would be comfortable enough.
And if he took me to an intimate restaurant, the same sandals would slide up and down his legs underneath the table.
What has gotten into you, Margo?
It wasn’t like me to be so flirtatious. Up until I moved to Florida to attend cosmetology school, I had led a pretty sheltered life. I just wasn’t wired to go out clubbing, trying to hook up with a different guy every night while fighting to remember their names the next day.
And as I struggled to choose a matching handbag, I remembered that it brought up another issue—my virginity.
My parents raised me to wait for the right guy, and even when I was attending college and dating guys, I had never found one who seemed worthy of taking it from me. It’s not that I never had any sexual desires, either; in fact, it was quite the opposite. Not finding a man worthy of my time was beginning to get on my nerves, and the longer I waited, the more I wanted it to happen.
But only with a man who didn’t view me as a mattress to sleep against at night.
I decided to go with a pink handbag embellished with a few white flowers. The white flowers would go well with my dress, while the pink brought out my blush and lipstick.
I also dabbed some coconut-scented body spray on my neck and wrists, which seemed perfect for a night on the town in Key Biscayne.
And then I sat down on the couch and waited for Chase to show, unable to turn off the wheel of thoughts running through my mind. My intuition kept telling me to take things slow with him, but something told me that guys like him didn’t move slow. They went for what they wanted in life, and fast. I had been down this road before with other guys, and it always ended badly.
Before Nick there was Keith, and before Keith there was Pat, and before Pat there was Garrett. Every single one of them had crushed my heart, and with the exception of Nick, it had taken me months to get over them. I could see that happening with Chase. Not because he gave me any reason to doubt his intentions, but because the magnetic pull between us was so strong. I had felt it between my legs that night on the dance floor.
Will I give my virginity to Chase? What if he stands me up tonight? Is he going to break my heart?
There was something dangerous about Chase that stood out to me, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. He had been nothing short of a gentleman at the reception, but the look in his eyes screamed “heartbreaker.” I could see myself falling head over heels in love with him...and then sobbing into my pillow after he broke my heart.
I shook my head and silently told myself to get a grip. My mother was always telling me not to project, and just to let life play itself out. A seemingly nice guy was about to take me out to dinner, so I should just take it for what it was and enjoy the evening. He was incredibly good looking, had eyes that pierced my soul, and a chiseled jawbone that made my knees weak. But that didn’t necessarily mean he was a heartbreaker. Maybe Chase would end up being a great guy who didn’t treat me the way Nick and all of the others had.
Or maybe he’d be worse. Perhaps he’d wine and dine me, take what he wanted, and then leave me crying and begging for more while laughing. Guys could be quite cruel.
My head jolted up as soon as the doorbell rang, and I nearly tripped on the rug as I went to answer it. I opened the door to see Chase standing on the other side of it, wearing an all-black ensemble, including his shoes. My mouth fell open as he smiled at me, revealing bright-white teeth that were a stark but sexy contrast against his black suit, shirt, pants, and tie. The entire look also made his eyes pop, and as a result, I had to steady myself against the door.
“Um, hi,” I whispered.
Chase looked equally impressed with my outfit. “That’s, um, quite the dress you have on this evening.”
I reached down and straightened it out a bit. “Oh, thank you. I wasn’t sure where you’d be taking me, but I figured this would work well in any type of setting. Unless you don’t think it will, in which case I can—”
Chase laughed while holding up his hand. “You look perfect for where we’re going tonight, Margo. In fact, you’d look perfect in just about anything.”
The two of us smiled at each other for several long seconds, until he finally reached out his hand, and I took it.<
br />
He held the door open to his black Rolls Royce, and my body sank into the soft, comfortable black leather seat.
“With all due respect, this is one hell of a car.”
He gave me a smile that instantly melted my heart, shifted the car into gear, and then seamlessly began driving. “Thank you. Do you enjoy seafood, Margo?”
My stomach growled while picturing being served a massive lobster, and then drenching it in butter. “No, I love seafood!”
“Great, because I reserved a table for us at Seafood Nouveau in Key Biscayne.”
I can’t even afford a salad at that place.
Seafood Nouveau was an open-concept restaurant that looked directly out onto the ocean. They prided themselves on only serving seafood caught fresh that day, straight out of the Atlantic ocean. The hostess sat us outside on the patio, and a waiter immediately brought over an expensive bottle of champagne.
“The usual, Mr. Bowers?”
Chase nodded at the server, and he proceeded to pour each of us a glass of champagne. Chase’s eyes seemed to light up the longer he stared into mine, and as he raised his glass to mine, I felt as though I could melt right into his arms.
“This is my favorite champagne, and I had a bottle reserved for us ahead of time.”
I drank the sweet elixir and nearly downed it in one gulp, only stopping when I realized that it wouldn’t have been very ladylike. “I can see why, Chase. This is delicious.”
We silently looked over the menu. I wanted to gasp at how expensive everything was but kept that to myself. I was sure Chase knew I didn’t make nearly as much money as he did.
Chase and I spent the rest of the evening getting to know each other, and I couldn’t remember the last time that I had connected so well with somebody. He was surprised by my love of football too.
“I’m a huge football fan, although I didn’t get into it until I was in college.”
He washed his lobster down with more champagne as his foot played with mine. “Who’s your favorite team?”
“The Miami Hurricanes, of course.”
That seemed to impress him quite a bit. “Well, then I’ll have to take you to a game sometime because that just so happens to be my favorite team too.”
The women around us, even those who were with their husbands, kept looking over at Chase. I couldn’t blame them one bit. He was the kind of man who demanded attention from the entire room, especially since he was wearing all black. I suspected the outfit was from a high-end designer.
“If you don’t mind me asking, is that a Gucci suit?”
Chase proudly opened up his blazer to display the logo, and I couldn’t help but lean across the table to get a better look. “You have a good eye for fashion, I see. Although the tie isn’t Gucci.”
Feeling brave from all of the flirting and champagne, I lifted it to get a look at the label. “Armani Exchange. Very nice.”
Our eyes locked with intensity as I continued to lean across the table, only retreating to my seat when the waiter came over.
“How is everything here?”
Chase answered the waiter without taking his eyes off of me. “Everything’s perfect, thank you.”
Both of our feet were flirting with each other underneath the table at that point, and I found myself entirely hypnotized by Chase Bowers. Not only was he physically one of the most gorgeous men I had ever seen, but his attitude was both magnetic and dangerous. He wasn’t a man who took “no” for an answer, and yet he spoke with me in a soft, velvety-like tone.
“This lobster is delicious, by the way.”
“They catch it fresh from the ocean daily. If you get up early enough, you can actually see their lobster boats from my balcony.”
“Are you an early bird?”
Chase shrugged while relaxing in his seat, giving me a better view of his gorgeous body. His Gucci suit clung nicely to his chest, highlighting his muscular abs that gave way to large muscles.
I want to dig my nails into his chest.
“It depends on what I had going on the day before, but I do enjoy seeing the sunrise. I especially like the morning fog that envelops Key Biscayne.”
I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. He spoke about the island with such love and admiration, and I pictured the two of us watching the sunrise together from his balcony. His foot found his way a little bit up my calf, causing me to giggle as people passed us.
“That sounds delightful.”
“Speaking of delightful,” Chase said while leaning across the table, “how about we go for a walk on the beach?”
My eyes searched his for a few moments, but it didn’t take me long to agree.
After dinner, the two of us walked down to the beach, where we removed our shoes and skimmed our feet along the water. We didn’t hold hands at first. We merely trekked barefoot along the sand, letting it mesh between our toes as we chatted about our own lives.
“I wish I had a sibling,” I said as we approached a massive rock jutting out into the ocean.
“Well, it certainly makes things a bit less lonely when you have family around. But there’s something to be said about sanity.”
“Ginger does seem like a handful at times, and she’s the same way at the spa.”
Chase casually reached his hand out to mine, where our fingers seamlessly intertwined with each other.
“Do you enjoy what you do at the spa, Margo?” He stopped and turned to face me.
“I love my job and can’t imagine doing anything else with my life.”
Chase reached for my other hand. “If you had all of the money in the world, would you still be doing it, though?”
I pondered his question, wondering if there was a subtle meaning behind it. “Yes, I can honestly say that I would. I mean, obviously, I need money, but I get a lot of joy from being a beautician. Seeing my client’s eyes light up after I’ve given them a new makeup look, a different hairstyle, or even just a cut that adds years to their life is so fulfilling to me. It’s my calling in life.”
He ran his hand through my hair as the waves crashed against the rock.
“That’s real happiness, Margo. When you can look at your career and just know that you’d do it for free, that’s the good stuff. Money is just a bonus.”
As Chase continued to stare into my eyes, I accepted that if something serious morphs from this, all I could do was ride the waves.
10
Chase
The waves crashing against the jutting rock only heightened the sexual tension between Margo and me. Every collision caused my desire to swell, and as the cool evening breeze swept in, her coconut perfume wafted into my nose and awakened my senses. It might have been our very first date, but every part of me wanted to be inside of Margo.
Immediately.
We had walked far enough on the beach to be away from the watchful gaze of any onlookers, and truth be told, I’d never had sex outside before. Nor did I picture Margo being the kind of woman who had, either. But the longer we stared into each other’s eyes, the more we needed to be physically connected.
I leaned forward, my feet sinking farther into the sand, and ran my hand alongside her face. She gazed back into my eyes, silently permitting me to move forward. As I bent to kiss her, a wave crashed so hard against the rock that some of the water splashed onto us, causing her white dress to become transparent. Our tongues intertwined with each other as my hands slowly slid the strap of her dress off, revealing her gorgeous, supple breasts.
Margo stood with her hands at her side, as I trailed my fingers down her arms. When I reached her wrists, I lifted them and encouraged her to wrap her arms around my neck. I dipped to meet her lips with mine, and slowly lowered us to the sand without breaking contact. She eased back, taking me with her. And once she got comfortable, I settled in on my side, still able to tease her lips and now able to explore her body. Her nipples hardened as I traced circles around them, and her skin pebbled when I drew abstract designs over her chest.
I took the opportunity to reposition myself between her legs and settle on my elbow above her as the waves continued to hit the rock and sand. The night was perfect, the moon was bright, and the ocean provided a perfect symphony.
She was as intoxicated by the setting as I was by her, and the natural progression had led us to becoming one with the waves lapping at our feet and nature covering us with a blanket of darkness.
The heat between her legs welcomed me like we were old lovers, and I slid between her folds, moistening my shaft. Everything about her felt perfect against me from the warmth of her skin to the taste of her lips. As my tongue danced with hers, Margo dug her long, pink nails into my shoulder, driving me mad with need.
I couldn’t hold back anymore.
Just as I positioned the head of my shaft against her core, Margo stopped and pulled back. Her hands landed firmly on my shoulders were she held me inches from her face.
“I’m a virgin.” She blurted it out so fast that I couldn’t believe what she’d said.
I instantly pulled back and rested on my knees in the sand, making sure I had heard her right. “You’re a…what?”
Her shoulders dropped back, and she sighed. “A virgin, Chase. I’m a virgin.”
As aggressively as I wanted to take her at that moment, I couldn’t help but soften up a little bit inside. I couldn’t believe that a woman as sexy and sophisticated as Margo had never had sex before. All I could do was maintain eye contact while thinking about what to do or say next.
