by Carmen Green
“I really like your chest,” she said, enjoying the view.
“I am glad y—” He stopped and sucked in his breath when she lifted her shirt over her head. Without hesitating, she released the front clasp of her bra, wrapped her arms around his shoulders. The feel of his hard, warm skin against her breasts was better than any fantasy. She closed her eyes, lifted to her tiptoes, groaning as she rubbed her nipples against his chest, up and down, over and over.
He put his hands on her shoulders, pulled back. “My turn,” he said. Bending down, he kissed her lips, her chin, her neck, her shoulder, then brushed his lips down the slope of her breast. He closed his lips over her hardened nipple and sucked, licked and teased. Turning his head, he gave her other nipple the same treatment—licking, kissing one then the other until her whole body felt as if it were on fire.
She held his head, loving what he was doing to her. Her heart jumped in her throat when he bent lower and kissed her stomach. With adept hands, he loosened the button to her pants and slid the zipper down.
“Wait.” She put her hands on his shoulders for balance and slipped off her shoes.
His hands went to the waistband and he slid her trouseres and her white panties down her legs. She stepped out of her clothes.
The cool air flowed over her heated skin. The sight of Chris kneeling in front of her, looking at her as if she were the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, made her feel bold and sexy. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him, hard, long and deep.
He wrapped his hands around her wrists and gently pulled away. He rose to his feet then swept her in his arms and laid her on the bed. He looked down at her. “You’re beautiful.”
He made her feel beautiful. “You don’t look so bad yourself, even if you do have on too many clothes.”
“Then it’s time for them to come off,” he said, his voice raw with desire.
A part of her regretted what was to come. She wanted to kiss him and touch him more. Be kissed and touched more. Her limited experience had taught her that men didn’t enjoy that part of making love as much she did. She turned on her side and watched him get rid of his clothing.
“Oh, wow,” was all she could say. Then he was there in the bed beside her, kissing her. His tongue slid between her lips, urging her to share his need. He guided her onto her back and kissed her neck. “Do you like when I kiss you, Renee?”
“Lord, yes,” she gasped as he spread kisses down her neck to her breasts, and arched her back and gripped his shoulders in delight when he gently pressed his teeth on her nipple.
He licked her nipple and slid his hand between her legs, sending sharp bursts of pleasure throughout her body. Her hands fell to the mattress when his thumb gently stroked her warm, wet core, tempting, urging her toward a sweet, tingling sensation. His hands moved faster, pushing her closer and closer to release so sweet. Her shoulders and back tightened as swirls of heat became tighter and tighter until all she could do was close her eyes and moan as he suckled and kissed her breasts. A blinding sensation broke over her; she groaned, arched her back and moved her hips with abandon.
Later, when her body began to grow lax and her climax began to fade, Renee opened her eyes and met Chris’s hot, sensual gaze.
“If I don’t get inside you, I’ll explode.” He turned and grabbed a condom from the nightstand.
“I’m beat,” she said, using all the energy she had to say the words.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got something that will perk you up.” He donned the condom and turned to her.
“I don’t know,” she said, feeling loose and boneless as he ran his fingers through her hair.
“I do. I’m going to touch and kiss every inch of your body,” he said and kissed her brow. “Then I’m going watch as your eyes glaze with pleasure.” He bit her earlobe.
She felt her body beginning to stir. “When do I get to kiss you all over?” She felt his erection flex against her hip and smiled.
He took her hand and placed it on his chest; his heart was pounding against her palm. “You can start here,” he said, and groaned when she moved her thumb across his nipple.
She watched as his jaw tightened as she stroked and caressed him. Renewed energy flowed through her as she watched him. She kissed his neck; his groan sent pleasure down her spine. She wanted him. She longed to feel him between her legs, inside her.
He took her hand and placed it on his shoulder then ran the back of his hand down her chest, over her stomach and circling her navel.
“Chris.” Her voice strained with pleasure as he sat up and moved his palm down the side of her hip and over her thigh to her knee. She tensed with anticipation when he turned his palm over the knee and began moving up the inside of her thigh. She opened her legs farther. He touched her, circling, pleasing.
“You’re so hot, so wet,” he said, and eased his body over hers between her thighs.
She wrapped her legs around his waist. He reached down between their bodies and positioned himself. Their gazes met and locked as he slowly entered her, inch by inch. When he could go no farther, he held himself still. She felt filled, stretched, and then he moved. Slowly, oh so slowly, he withdrew then thrust forward, again and again. She moved her hips, matching his rhythm. Pleasure began to coil inside her, deeper this time stronger, hotter.
“Chris, Chris.” She called his name as her world exploded around her.
He stiffened, his jaw clenched and his hips moved faster and faster. She watched him through a veil of pleasure as he found his release. She held him, stroking his back until his body stopped shaking, and let her eyes drift closed. As his very essence surrounded her, she realized she felt more than attraction toward him, and that scared her.
* * *
They had to rush to arrive on time at Birmingham International Airport for their flight to Los Angeles. Renee was still reeling from awakening to Chris kissing his way down her body. She blushed, remembering how she’d screamed as he kissed and stroked her between her legs. She still couldn’t get over the fact that she’d had three orgasms last night and one this morning. And to think, she hadn’t enjoyed sex before. The few times she’d been with Marc had been rushed. Chris took his time.
Looking out the window of the rental car, Renee couldn’t believe the sheer number of cars that were on the highway. She didn’t like the traffic in Los Angeles. “Is it always like this?” she asked, staring at the long line of brake lights in front of them.
“Pretty much,” he said. “Don’t worry. We’re almost there.”
“I’m not worried. I’m just glad you’re driving. I’ll never complain about traffic in Birmingham again.”
He laughed. “You get used to it and learn other ways around the city.”
“Why did you leave?”
“Got a job with the bureau and I’ve been on the move ever since. I’ve lived in San Francisco, Dallas and now Atlanta.”
“How can you move around so much? I’d hate to think about all that packing and unpacking.”
“I don’t have much to pack. Just a few boxes that I throw in the car and I’m ready to go.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she said in horror. “I couldn’t pack my hall with just a few boxes.”
“I don’t get attached to things. I keep important papers, my clothes and my car. Other than that, I give away or sell everything else.”
“How do you live like that? What about the things from your childhood?”
He laughed. “I don’t have anything from my childhood. We were always one step away from being homeless. The few times we did have plenty of toys or clothes, something would happen and we’d end up leaving most of it behind. It’s hard to skip out on rent if you’re carrying a lot of stuff.”
“So, now you don’t keep anything?” she asked, her heart breaking for the boy and for the man who didn’t realize what he was missing now.
“Nope.” He exited the expressway. “Makes my life simple.”
It also made it
barren. He’d never really had a home, she realized. At least she’d had her parents’ house and Aunt Gert’s. He had no place.
A few minutes later, they entered the parking garage of Tyche International. The company was housed in a high-rise made of steel and glass. As they walked to the building, she smoothed the skirt of her black suit. Chris wanted her to look the part of a grieving widow like she’d done at the jewelry store. She couldn’t grieve for Marc. The feelings she had for him were dead, but she could grieve for the life she’d hoped to have. A life that included a husband and the possibility of having children. Looking back, she wondered how she could have ever considered having children with Marc. He lacked qualities like honor, steadfastness and trust. Qualities his brother had in abundance.
Whoa. Where did that come from? She was not falling for Chris Foster. They would enjoy each other’s company then go their separate ways. She pushed aside the doubt and walked into the building.
Bill Reynolds met them at the reception desk. He was a short, thin man with reddish-brown hair that was thinning on the top, and freckles.
“Mrs. Foster, I’m Bill Reynolds. I’m so sorry to meet you under these circumstances,” he said, his sympathy for her clear in his tone.
“Thank you for meeting with us.” Renee shook the man’s hand. “I’m sorry I couldn’t come out here sooner. Things have been so frantic since Marc died. This is Marc’s brother, Chris Foster.”
With a surprised look on his face, he turned to Chris. “Nice to meet you, too, Mr. Foster. If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to Marc’s office.”
They walked down an aisle with light gray cubicles on either side. At the end of the aisle, they turned left. Marc’s office was one of eight offices that had real walls. Reynolds took out a key and opened the dark panel door, which had an empty nameplate beside it. He opened the door and stepped inside. “I’ve already gone through and removed all the documents that were company related,” he said, and motioned them inside.
Marc’s office wasn’t spacious, but it did have an excellent view of downtown. On his desk was a computer, a telephone and a cardboard box. Renee watched as Chris moved to the desk.
“Marc relied on you so much,” Renee said to Mr. Reynolds. “He was in contact with you almost as much as he was with me.”
“When you travel as much as the sales team does, you have to keep in constant contact or else they can end up someplace without the things they need,” he said earnestly.
“And he appreciated you,” Renee said. “He gave you his checkbook so you could handle things when he was overseas.”
“Yes, and I’ve put it and the receipts in the box.” He moved toward the door.
“Thank you,” she said, then paused. “Chris, maybe Mr. Reynolds knows about the missing jewelry.” She watched as the man’s face turned red.
“Missing jewelry.” He shook his head. “Don’t know anything about that. Well, I’ll be down the hall in my office if you need me. Take as much time as you need.”
Chris waited until the man closed the door. “He’s lying.”
She nodded, agreeing with him one hundred percent. “What’s in the box?”
He pulled back the flaps and opened the box. She walked to the desk and looked in. On top, in a silver frame, was a picture of a smiling woman and two boys.
She picked up the frame. “Is this your mother?”
He looked at the picture for a long time then replied, “Yes.”
Renee held out the picture to him. “Marc looks a lot like her.”
Slowly he took the frame. “Yeah, Marc favors Mom and I look like Dad. I didn’t know he had this.” He ran his fingers over his mother’s face then set it on the desk.
He removed the rest of the contents of the box.
“Not much here,” she said, looking at the calendar, blue silk tie, leather manicure kit and stack of framed certificates.
“No,” he said, and began returning everything back to the box. “Reynolds knows something. I’m going to see if he’ll talk to me alone. Maybe he doesn’t feel comfortable talking in front of you if he knows about Marc’s other wives.”
“Fine with me.”
He looked at the light signaling a message on the phone. “I also want to know if Marc has received any messages. I’m sure Reynolds or someone can check them.”
“I’m surprised that one is there. Most companies take care of that pretty quickly when an employee leaves. I’d assume it’s the same when one dies,” she said.
He folded the flaps and closed the box. “I’ll be back,” he said and walked out the door.
She leaned back in the chair. If felt odd sitting in Marc’s office, and sad. She looked at the box. He’d worked here for four years and this was all that was left of him. He’d also left a legacy of lies and deception. She hoped Aunt Gert never learned about it. With nothing to do until Chris returned, she pulled out her PDA from her purse and played solitaire.
“Reynolds is going to meet with me at six tonight,” he said when he returned.
She looked at her watch. It was 9:45 a.m. “What do we do until then?”
He picked up the box. “We’ve got plenty of time before we check in to the hotel. I can show you Los Angeles and take you to one of the best Korean restaurants in town.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.”
* * *
He took her to all the touristy places she wanted to go. Near the corner of Hollywood and Highland, he parked the car and waited patiently as she took pictures of the hillside with the famous Hollywood sign. He walked with her down the street to Mann’s Chinese Theater where she took more pictures and asked another tourist to take their picture in front of the crowded theater. She could tell he was humoring her, but she didn’t care. He laughed with her as she tried to find a footprint that fit her shoes.
“You know, you can buy postcards with better pictures,” he said as he looked over his shoulder at the viewing screen on her digital camera.
“They wouldn’t be my pictures,” she said with a smile, “but I am going to buy some postcards. Let’s find Hattie McDaniel’s star. I want to take a picture for Aunt Gert.”
They found the star and he took a picture of her kneeling beside it, then insisted they eat lunch. He took her hand as they walked back to the car. She told herself that it was no big deal, but in fact it was. He was the first man other than her father to hold her hand. As they walked down the street, she knew that this moment would be the one she remembered most.
Later, he drove away from the tourist attractions and into an area of town where most of the signs were in a foreign language. He parked in front of a small strip mall and led her to the restaurant. The lunch crowd had filled almost all of the tables. Everywhere she looked, signs were in Korean, and listening to the conversations around, which she assumed were in Korean, she wondered how he’d found the place. She was about to ask him, when a woman with thick gray hair and Asian features came forward speaking rapidly.
Renee understood “Mr. Chris” but that was all. The woman led them to a table and hurried away.
“How did you find this place?” Renee asked.
“The owners invited Will and me here when we responded to a call. We started coming here when we wanted great barbecue.”
“Who’s Will?” she asked.
“Will Johnson is a friend and my old partner when I was on the police force here.”
“Does he still live here?” she asked as the waiter placed a teapot and cups on the table.
“Oh, yeah, Will has family here. As a matter of fact, he said he’d try to meet us here for lunch.”
Minutes later, the waiter brought a large tray filled with bowls of food to their table. She looked at the amount of food on the table and said, “We’ll need help eating all of this. Why did you order so much?”
“I ordered barbecue. Mrs. Koh sent the rest.”
She added a little of everything onto her plate then took her first bite of barbecue. “Oh, this is g
ood,” she said.
“The lady has excellent taste.” A tall man with light brown skin and black hair walked to the table. Chris stood and shook hands with him.
“Will, this is Renee Foster.”
“Nice to meet you,” he said. Will looked down at the table of food then at Chris. “Mrs. Koh did this.”
Chris nodded and Will sat in the chair beside him.
“Why would Mrs. Koh send over all this food?” Renee asked, watching Will pile food on his plate.
“She thinks we’re some kind of heroes because we stopped them from getting robbed a few years ago. Since then, she and her husband have been trying to feed us.” Will began eating.
She looked at Chris. “You seem to have a knack for stopping robberies.”
“No, I don’t. I just do my job,” Chris said.
She gave him a skeptical look. Will laughed. “Chris is modest. I’m not. I’ll tell you that I’m plain wonderful.”
“So you keep saying. Maybe one day somebody will believe you,” Chris said drily.
Renee listened and watched as the two men interacted. It was plain to see they were good friends. During the middle of lunch, Will’s cell phone rang and he had to leave.
Shortly afterward, they left. When Chris tried to pay the bill, Mrs. Koh refused to take his money.
They drove across town to a small park. Strolling along the walkway, she stopped to admire the rose garden and read the signs describing the types of roses. “I think these will grow in my garden,” she said.
“I have no clue,” he said.
“You’re no help.” She glanced longingly at the orange roses.
“Nope.” He took her hand and continued down the walkway past a few tables set on the lawn.
“Mathematical Association,” he said, reading the poster on one of the tables. “That’s up your alley.”
She looked at the displays encouraging mathematical study. They stopped to watch a minimath competition between two high school math teams.
“I think I understood half of what they were talking about,” he said as they walked away.
