Cinnamon

by ChaShiree M.

  Taking a deep breath and preparing myself for the gruesome foursome interrogation, I walk in the corridor to inform Azalea of the change in plans and hop on the PH elevator headed to my place.

  Of course, when I make it to the top they all are already here. You don’t understand. I love all of them like they are my own sister. Hell, truth be told I love them more than my own sister most of the time. But they can be as bad as a dog with a bone sometimes.

  “Alright bitch. Spill. What the hell happened and how good was it?” Freaking Dahl. She is literally salivating waiting for the deets. Surprisingly enough though, I find myself extremely protective about the interaction between Brad and me. As hot as it was, I also found it precious in some way and it feels like talking about it will dirty it up some way. But knowing these girls, nothing will do but the absolute dirt. So, taking a deep breath I go all in.

  “It was everything and not enough. It was hot, beautiful, and downright wicked. And I want more. So much more, and you need to help me get ready for this date Chica’s. I am super nervous and have no clue what to wear.”

  Of course, Jazz jumps right in.

  “That’s easy sweetie. Grab the green strapless dress we got from Georgina Chapman Boutique when we took that trip to Manhattan for the meeting that time. Pair it with those nude Christian Soriano Peep Toes, the one with the emerald bow on the back. Put your hair in a messy chignon. Leave your neck bare to make it more accessible but put on those gold diamond danglers we picked up from Cartier when we were in Paris. Nude makeup and your signature scent. All good to go.”

  We are all staring at her like she is some sort of secret fashion spy.

  “Why are you all looking at me like that? What?”

  “How the hell do you do that?” Asks, Rainee.

  “I don’t know. It just comes to me. Now, Cinn, do you want us to stay and help get you dressed, or do you need time to calm down?” I think about this seriously, because I could totally use the support and the laughs and such to help calm me down. But, I also want to have a chance to pep talk myself and make sure this is what I want.

  “Ladies, thank you so much for offering, but I think I need to do this on my own. I love you guys.”

  “We love you too Cinn and remember if he turns into a pumpkin you can always call Titan to come and get you or one of us. And when we come, we will bring ammunition. Got it?”

  “Lily.” I say laughing. “I thought I was the one who turns into the pumpkin?”

  “Not a chance my sister. You will always be A princess.” Jazz says as she kisses me and follows the girls out the door.

  I let one tear drop as I lament at the fate that brought all five of us together. Who knew that five young girls, who happened to all be named after flowers or plants, would amass this.

  I pace the floor for what feels like hours, but it’s probably more like 30 minutes. The sound of my phone ringing is what finally brings my rhythm to a halt. That’s interesting. My parents hardly ever call me.

  “Hi mom. What a surprise. Is everything ok?”

  “No, hija. Everything is not ok. Your sister is missing.” Should have known it had something to do with Felicity.

  “Really. Well that is unfortunate.”

  “Unfortunate! That is all you have to say? I said your sister is missing.” And here we go with the theatrics. If my sister could indeed be missing, I would be the first one panicked. However, she is 19-years old and a rebel. This is not the first time she has done this. She always turns up at her friend’s house, some roadies event, tattoo convention, or something.

  “Lo siento mama. If she contacts me, which she probably won’t, I will let you know. How is Papi?”

  “We are fine mi corazon. I need to go to Bingo. I love you baby.”

  “Love you too mom.” After hanging up with her, I start getting dressed. Halfway through, I begin taking my clothes off. What the hell am I doing? Where can this go? I am the daughter of a blue-collar factory worker and his Puerto Rican wife. My mom never finished high school, because she got pregnant with me and my dad insisted she stay home and take care of me.

  She says she didn’t mind, because all she ever wanted was to be a wife and mom. But, I don’t know. Sometimes when she thinks no one is watching, she gets this far off look in her eyes and I cannot help but wonder if maybe she is yearning for something more. Don’t get me wrong, my dad was awesome. He was home every night, home on the weekends, and he literally spent time with us. He loved it. Not to mention he treats my mom like his Queen.

  But with my parentage and lack of pedigree if you will, a prestigious family like the O’Donnell’s would never have me for their son. So, what could we have? At best a fling that lasts a few months, maybe even a year and then his parents give him an ultimatum where he is put in a position to choose. But, would there be choice? They are his family. That is his legacy.

  Nope. No. Not going. Almost as if she can hear me, Rainee calls me.

  “Stop it.” My eyes get big and I begin looking around the room for cameras or something, which is absurd because I know there are none in here. But, how the hell did she know.

  “Stop what?”

  “Putting yourself down and talking yourself out of this. You are exquisite my sweets. Both inside and out. And correct me if I am wrong, but Bradley strikes me as the type of man that knows his own mind and won’t suffer fools easily. Am I right?”

  I don’t even need to hesitate when she asks me this. He is definitely no nonsense and all man.

  “Your right.”

  “Ok. SO, he pursued you. He knows what he wants. Now put your damn clothes on and go get your man. This could be it Cinn. He could be your one. You don’t want to have it in your hands and let it go. Do you?

  Something about what she says, makes me feel as if there is a story there somewhere and I want to ask. But, Rainee can be very closed off and if pushed she clams up and I don’t want that. So, I keep my questions for myself. I simply just say.

  “You know I am here right? For whenever you need me.”

  “I know love. Now get dressed and I want every single detail when you finally make it home. Muah. Smooches.” And with that, I am back on course and headed for Brad. No matter what happens, I have decided I am going to enjoy the ride.

  GOING BACK TO MY OFFICE was the hardest thing I ever had to do. Especially, when all I wanted was to go back to her office and live out my dirtiest fantasies. All starring her.

  Luckily the rest of the day went by pretty fast because here I am driving to her place, albeit a bit early because I know my girl. She is going to talk herself out of going tonight with a bunch of asinine thoughts and I can’t have that. She has no idea how amazing she is. But I intend to show her. The ringing of my phone sends my heart speeding, because I am anticipating it being her calling. Much to my supreme surprise it is my mom.

  “Hello mother. How are you?”

  “I am fine my son. I was wondering if you would like to keep an old lady company and accompany me to dinner tonight. Your father has some damn business meeting tonight with the Waldorf’s and I refuse to go and sit at a table with Jerry and his Kindergarten wife. So, what do you say. Be my date?”

  Shit. I hate saying no to my mom. She is the single most, sweetest woman I know. My mother was born into money and married into it as well. You would think with the pedigree she has that she would be some pretentious snob, but that is far from who she is. When she was younger, though she had a trust fund that would rival the Trump kids and she still worked every summer down at the fish market for money, up until she went to college. She said her father never wanted her and her siblings to be entitled little brats and they aren’t.

  For this reason, I cannot wait for her to meet my Cinn. I have no doubt she will love her and approve. My mom has been after me for years to finally settle down and give her grandbabies. She will probably be planning the wedding by the time Cinn and I leave her house after dinner, once I introduce them.

  “Sorry m
om. I already have plans. Otherwise you know I would.”

  “Plans you say. Who is she? Not one of those uppity girls always vying for your attention, like Chloe McClintock is it? I may love her father’s politics, but that girl is about as nice as a serial killer on Halloween.” I cannot help the chuckle. My mother hates nothing more than superficial, entitled women. She feels every woman should have something to contribute to society, beyond her looks.

  “No mom. She is nothing like them. She is a self-made woman with her own million-dollar empire that she built from the ground up with her four best friends. She is beautiful, shy, sweet, and brilliant. You are going to love her.”

  “Well then what are you waiting for. The way you sounded just now, I would bet my money she means a lot to you. So, why am I just now hearing about her?”

  “I have been giving her time and space to get her feet steady in the business world. But I am done waiting. Don’t worry. You will be meeting her soon. But, tonight is our first date and I don’t want her to run away from me when you overwhelm her with wedding details.” I laugh on the phone with my mom, but I am dead serious.

  “Very well Bradley. Go to your date. But, I expect for you two to be at my house within the next two weeks.”

  “Yes mama.”

  “OK. Oh, by the way, your brother will be home from college in the morning for a short break. Make sure you make time for him. You know he idolizes you.”

  “I always make time for Parker. Listen, I am pulling up outside her place. I love you. Sorry you have to eat alone tonight.”

  “Pssst. No worries son. This old lady will be just fine. I love you as well. Goodbye.” Hanging up with my mom, I get out of the car and make my way to the elevator that leads to Cinns’ penthouse. When I make it up top and ring the bell I have a momentary feeling of unsureness, because I am not sure she will answer the door. As fast as that thought came it left when I heard her tell me to hold on.

  Nothing, and I do mean nothing could have prepared me for the moment when she opened the door. She has always been this rare beauty in my eyes. Even dressed in her business attire. But right now, standing in front of me in a dress that could serve as her second skin, it is so plastered across her, with her beautiful dainty neck showing, and the fucking sexiest pair of peep toe shoes I have ever seen. She is a fucking vision. I feel my knees almost give as my heart begins to beat out of my chest. The only thought that crosses my mind besides how ethereal her beauty is, is MINE.

  The idea that this exceptional woman is mine, is almost too much for my body to withstand.

  “I’m ready if you are.” The shy unsure angelic voice she lays on me, brings me out of my trance and reminds me this woman is counting on me to make her feel wanted and desirable. And I have yet to tell her how phenomenal she looks. Clearing my throat, I answer her.

  “Yea baby. I’m ready, but first come here.” Not bothering to wait for her to come to me, I wrap my hand around her waist and pull her flush against my body. I want her to feel the state she has me in. I want no mistaking how much I want her.

  “Cinn, I am trying to maintain control right now in this moment. But I am failing. Not only do you look beyond anything I have ever seen, but you smell like my next obsession. You look fucking delectable, baby. I could sit here in your foyer and lick every single inch of you and still never get enough. Do you feel me sweet Cinn? You feel how hard you have me right now?”

  Licking her lips, she nods her head with eyes as big as saucers. She takes a big swallow and her eyes go to my mouth. I know she thinks she is hiding her need from me, but I hear the almost faint like moan she just let out. Having her smashed against me, I can feel the tremble of her body as she tries to fight her bodies reaction to me.

  Fuck it.

  I lean my head in and connect my mouth to hers. Keeping my one hand on her waist, I wrap my other around the back of her head and slip my tongue out to begin licking the seam of her lips. When I grind my bulging pants against her middle, she gasps and gives me the opening I need to fuck her mouth with my tongue. I take a second to memorize the flavor that is all her. Our tongues are in a mating dance and I can’t get enough. She grabs on to the front of my shirt and sucks my tongue into her mouth and that was officially the last of my restraint.

  I pull back a bit and nibble on her lips as I kiss her up and down her neck, while unzipping her dress. I could not fucking care right now about anything other than finally being buried so deep inside my woman, that she will feel me for me months after. Then I remember this needs to be different. She has to be different. Slowly coming back to myself, I continue to kiss her but slower this time. I rub her back simultaneously to try and bring her back. I find it sexy as fuck though, how much she went up when we started kissing.

  “Brad, why did you stop?” She asks, as she is kissing my neck and making my resolve break more swiftly then I would like.

  “I stopped, because I want you to know that I meant every word when I told you I wanted you for more than just a fling. I want you to know exactly how I feel and what you mean to me. And, you won’t know that with me fucking you in your hallway, before we go out. Now let me zip you back up baby and we are going to go.”

  “Fine.” She says with a pout. Interesting. She is a closet brat. I am going to have so much fun. When we are both decent and finally in control, we push for the elevator and as we get on I entangle our fingers together and kiss her nose.

  “Don’t worry little Cinn. You will be under me. And make no mistake, it will be tonight.” I have waited long enough.

  DRIVING NEXT TO HIM IN the car is more nerve wracking than anything right now. I’m wound tighter than a rubber band on a vacuum.

  “Cinnamon stop fidgeting. Nothing is going to happen tonight that you don’t want to happen. We could very well go out to dinner, and I take you home, a kiss goodnight, and we part ways. ‘With that being said’, I am going to do my very best to make you want more, baby. Cause I want a hell of a lot more.” He says all of this while rubbing his hand up and down my thigh. It is all I can do not maneuver, so his hand goes higher and touches where I want it to go.

  “Baby, would you like some champagne or something to take the edge off, while we head to dinner?” I look at the privacy window of the limo and notice it is up. Not that having something to drink is a crime or anything, but as my girls will tell you, me and champagne make great stripper friends.

  “Sure. That would be nice. Thank you.” He reaches to the side seat on the floor and opens a compact yet large compartment I didn’t notice before now. It’s kind of looking like a wine cooler. He pops the top, grabs glasses from a little pocket on the front of the driver’s seat and pours us both a glass. In my impatience to loosen up, I attempt to guzzle the stuff down, but he stops me.

  “Toast baby. To us.”

  “Us?” I know I sound lame and silly right now, but I cannot help the feeling the word ‘us’ provokes. It sounds so definite and sure.

  “Yes, little Cinn. Us. There is an us and you know it. I have had more time to come to terms with it, but there is an us.”

  “How much more time exactly?” I fully expect some flippant response, or one filled with ego. He surprises me once again with nothing but sincerity.

  “Oh, my sweet Cinn. Since the first moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were destined to be mine.” Holy shit!!! We have been having the same feelings this whole time. I feel my face scrunch up when my thoughts immediately turn to confusion.

  “Then why have you waited so long?”

  “I wanted to give you one more year to make your mark, before I start breeding you with my kids.” Well… huh… Ok! I have no comeback for that. I am so caught off guard, my glass slips from my hand and lands all over my dress.

  “Oh no. Crap. This is the first time I have worn it. Damn it.” I feel like such a moron right now.

  “Baby, we are five minutes from my place. Why don’t we go to my place, you can treat it right away, and then we can send it out for
dry cleaning. Sound good.” Suddenly, the dress is the last thing I am thinking of. His place. With no clothes on. Am I ready for this?

  “Don’t worry. The same rules apply.” How does he always know what to say to make me feel better? The five minutes it takes to get back to his place feels more like twenty with the tension that is surrounding us. When he opens the door of his home I falter a bit, because it is ‘absolutely’ stunning. It is all neutral colors, but not in the hospital antiseptic way you would imagine. It is filled with life, warmth, and feels like a home.

  “Your home is lovely Brad. Truly breathtaking.” I am so entranced looking around that I don’t feel him come up behind me, until his arms are around my waist and he whispers in my ear sending goosebumps up and down my spine.

  “I beg to differ. My home is beautiful, I agree. But nothing is more breathtaking than you my love. Now, let’s take care of that dress shall we.” With rapidly increasing breath and arousal, I follow him up the stairs to his room.

  “The bathroom is over there. I have t-shirts and boxers in those drawers if you’d like and I will be downstairs ordering us food. If I do not leave this room immediately, I am going to go back on my word.” And with that he walks away.

  I release a breath I didn’t know I was holding as soon he leaves the room. I know the girl in me wants to snoop, but I refuse to start a relationship that way. So, I do what he suggested. I take off the dress and find his T-shirt drawer. I pull one over my head and am enveloped by his smell. Suddenly, the need I have for him is multiplied by ten. Walking down the stairs with my dress in hand, I wish I had the nerve to come down naked.

  “Where can I treat this?”

  “Laundry room is right over there, baby. I hope you like Chinese. It was the only thing I could get fast enough over here.” At the mention of Chinese food, my stomach does a shake rattle and roll type of thing. I giggle a bit because apparently, he just spoke the language of my digestive system.