by Nella Tyler
“Well, technically I suppose that’s right,” she allowed. “I just feel a little odd in blue jeans sitting a limousine.”
“You won’t when we get there,” he said with assurance.
As the limousine pulled away from the curb, Cole reached forward and pulled a basket from beneath the rear facing seat. He opened it to reveal that it was a fully stocked picnic basket.
“Miss?” He proffered a plate, accompanied by a checkered, cotton napkin in which was rolled a set of tableware. He reached forward and folded down two trays that were built into the back of the front seats.
“How handy,” Gilda acknowledged. “You brought us a picnic?”
“I thought you might enjoy it,” he affirmed.
“I do! I love it! We could do this all the time. So, what’s in the basket? I’m starved.”
Cole grinned, happy that his idea had pleased her so much. “Well, let’s see, we’ve got some fried chicken, some potato salad, I see a couple of dinner rolls, a container each of mashed potatoes with gravy, and a couple of slices of apple pie. And, would you look here, two cartons of milk. What do you think?” he asked her.
“I think you’ve been to Kentucky Fried Chicken on the way here,” she teased him.
“Oh, this is much better than some drive-through. Sometime I’ll introduce you to the chef.”
He handed her the various containers for her dinner and between the two of them, they sat back to eat and relax, watching the city wind by outside their window.
Cole pushed a button that raised a dividing window between the driver’s compartment and the rear, giving them ultimate privacy. They chatted casually about the weather and how Cole’s training was going. Gilda was still curious as to where they were headed, but kept her peace, allowing him to spring his surprise when he was good and ready.
When they had finished eating, Cole gathered up the remaining other containers, packed them all back into the basket, and shoved it beneath the seat. “There,” he concluded. “Are you full?”
“Very,” she affirmed.
At about that time, the limousine left the expressway and headed toward what appeared to be a large, stadium-like building. “What is this?” she asked.
“I’m taking you to a rodeo,” he told her and waited for her reaction. He was not to be disappointed.
Gilda clapped her hands together in delight. “A rodeo! Oh, Cole, I love rodeos. There was one that came to town when I was a little girl. Mama could never afford to let me go. Once, I sneaked in through a back door and stood were no one could see me. There were so many people that I don’t think they would’ve noticed, anyway.
“It was marvelous. All the cowboys, young and strong, climbing onto those bulls to be thrown into the dust. At first I was scared to death for them, but then I realized that they knew what they were doing. The clowns came out to intervene so the bulls would be driven away, and I thought the rodeo was the most wonderful thing I had ever seen.”
“Well, well, well, I believe that’s the longest statement I’ve heard you make yet. It really must have impressed you. Good. Then we will have a good time. I’m glad this is what I planned.”
The driver pulled up to the entrance of the exposition center and came around to open the door for them. People who were walking in stared, assuming that whoever arrived in a limousine at a rodeo must certainly be important. A few even applauded as though Cole and Gilda were recognized celebrities. Gilda blushed, completely unfamiliar with such attention.
Naturally, Cole had the best seats, right down at the center side of the ring, and not bleachers, but the padded folding chairs. Gilda looked around herself and recognized many celebrities whom she had only seen in movies or on television. She felt quite elegant in her blue jeans and hugged Cole’s arm in delight. “This is wonderful,” she cooed to him. “Thank you so much for bringing me.”
He was delighted to see her so happy. He realized he had finally found the formula to bring her closer into his life. It was not about giving her gifts; it was about including her in what he already did in his natural habitat.
Gilda was completely relaxed, and her face was constantly beaming. She was like a young girl, cheering when the announcer introduced each new rider. There were close calls and there were records broken, and she loved every bit of it. Cole was thrilled with his decision.
When the rodeo was over, the driver picked them up at the entrance and this time, there were glasses of champagne and various hors d’oeuvres waiting for them. Gilda reclined against the leather seats, chattering on about what she had seen and how exciting it had all been. She said she’d never had expected to find a little bit of country in the middle of all that city, and it made her homesick, even though she didn’t want to go home again.
“Don’t you ever want to go back?”
“I should tell you now, something I didn’t share with you before.”
He was curious. “What’s that?”
“I went home a few weeks ago. I really didn’t tell anyone; I rode the bus down. I went to stay with my girlfriend and spent a few hours with Mama.”
“How did that go?” He was trying to be sensitive and not flinch. It bothered him that she had gone on such a trip.
“It went okay, I suppose. Mama seemed glad to see me, well at least as glad as Mama can be. She never was a very warm person. I can see that she’s not as healthy as she used to be; she is no longer the beautiful woman who brought all the men around.”
There was pain in her voice, and Cole hastened to remind her. “Are we breaking one of your rules?”
“No, not really, because I was the one who brought it up.”
“Did you see him?” Gilda knew who he was referring to and shook her head.
“No, and I went to great lengths to make sure he didn’t know I was coming.”
“Are you afraid of him, Gilda?”
“I don’t really know, to tell you the truth. He’s not a good man. He’s very determined to get what he wants. He wasn’t happy when I divorced him, and I’m guessing he’s just biding his time. That’s why I’m here, in this big city where he can’t find me.”
“You got me now, to protect you, you know,” Cole said softly.
“There’s nothing you can do, Cole. He has to break the law before you can do anything to him. He’s smart. He walks all around the law, but never breaks it. That’s how he always was. He can sweet talk you into anything and before you know it, you’ve become his prey.
“Anyway, enough about all that. I had such a wonderful time tonight. Thank you so much for bringing me; you knew just what would cheer me up.”
“You are more than welcome, sweetheart,” he said and leaned back against the seat, a grimace across his face.
She noticed and thought it was because they had been talking about Scott. “He’s the past, Cole. He’s out of my life. You shouldn’t let him upset you.”
“He doesn’t upset me. I know his kind. I know how to deal with his kind.” He leaned forward and set his glass of champagne back into the little bar. He leaned back again, sighing heavily and placing a hand over his abdomen.
Gilda was instantly alert. “Are you ill?”
“I don’t know. I feel rather strange. Not sick like in a virus, but very odd.” His face has gone ashen, and his smile had faded away.
Gilda put her hand against his forehead and realized he was running a high fever. She leaned forward and tapped on the window and the driver lowered it. “Get us back to Mr. Stephen’s apartment as quickly as possible, please. He’s ill.”
Cole laid his head back, and Gilda put her arm around him so that he leaned against her breast. He smiled weakly. All I could think of was that there he was, lying against her exactly the way he had dreamed, and felt too ill to do anything more about it. The world seem to mock him with its irony.
The city flew by as the driver exceeded the speed limit, intent upon taking Cole home. The driver lowered the window once more. “Miss?”
Gilda looked
toward him. “Yes?”
“Should we stop at a hospital, Miss?”
“I’m not entirely sure, to tell you the truth. Cole, do you think we should go by an emergency room?”
“No, don’t do that. It’s not that bad. It just feels odd.”
That’s when it occurred to Gilda. “I’ll bet I know what’s going on. You’re having a reaction to that immunization earlier this afternoon. That’s not uncommon. It won’t hurt you, and the effects will fade away before too long. You’ll be fine.” She looked forward to the driver and said, “No, it’s not necessary to go to the hospital. Just take us straight to the apartment, please.”
The limo pulled up in front of the building and the driver scooted around quickly to open the door for them. Gilda climbed out first and held her arm toward Cole. The doorman, realizing there was an issue, immediately came forward and helped to hold Cole up. Using his key, they accessed the elevator and went directly to Cole’s apartment. The doorman helped them inside and back to Cole’s bedroom.
“I’m practically a nurse,” she told him. “He will be fine. He’s having a reaction to an immunization he received earlier today. He just needs some fluids and to lie down for a while. Thank you for your help.”
The doorman nodded and left as Gilda began to pull Cole’s shoes off and pull down the blankets on the bed. He was shivering by this time, most likely due to the fever. Gilda opened his belt and pulled off his pants, socks, and then began unbuttoning his shirt.
“This isn’t exactly how I had imagined it,” joked Cole.
“Never mind about that now. Just climb under those covers. I’m going to go find some aspirin and get you a glass of water.” She rose from the side of the bed to leave, but his hand shot out and gripped her arm.
“Gilda, please don’t leave me.”
She whirled to look at him, surprised by his words. She knew he was not a weak-willed man, and yet, for some reason, he feared being alone. She wanted to put him at ease.
“I’m not going anywhere, honey. I’m just going to get some aspirin and water. I’ll be right back. I promise.”
He nodded and let go of her arm, turning on his side and curling into a ball. It was apparent he was miserable. She knew from experience that this was a typical reaction of that particular immunization. She had seen others through the same process and recognized the symptoms. There was no reason to become alarmed; it would pass soon, most likely within a couple of hours.
She went into his bathroom and found aspirin and the medicine chest and then went into the kitchen to get him a glass of cool water. She flipped off the lights as she went back to the bedroom.
“Here you go, Cole. Swallow these, and you’ll begin to feel better soon. This will pass shortly; I’ve seen other guys go through it and it’s always the same. You’ll be fine.”
He nodded and swallowed the aspirin, handing her back the empty glass of water.
“Are you sick to your stomach? Shall I get you a bucket?” she asked him with a considerate tone in her voice.
He shook his head. “No, my stomach is fine. I just feel weak and chilled.”
She nodded. “Yeah, that’s just how they say it feels.”
Gilda set the glass down on the nightstand and went through the room turning off the lights. She opened his closet and extracted one of his shirts, disappearing into the bathroom long enough to shower quickly to wash the dust from the rodeo off of herself. She emerged a few minutes later, her long hair brushed and wearing his shirt. She folded back the blanket on the opposite side of the bed and slid in.
“Don’t you worry; this time I’m going to look after you,” she told him in a soft voice.
Cole’s hand moved toward her, and she took it, kissing the back of it and laying it back upon the mattress. He didn’t move it, evidently wanting to remain close to her. She picked his hand back up and this time held against her chest. “There now. I know you feel awful but I promise you it will pass quickly. Try to close your eyes and get some sleep. When you wake up, you’ll feel all better. I won’t leave you, I’ll be right here.”
Cole nodded, content to have her close by. His eyes felt heavy and as the aspirin began to reduce his splitting headache, he drifted off to sleep.
Gilda lay in the muted lights of the city as they shone through the window. She realized she had forgotten to close the drapes, but didn’t want to disturb Cole to get up and do it. Instead, she lay there, still and holding his hand against her chest. How strange it felt that it was she who was looking after him, and yet she was the one who felt safe.
That was when she realized how much her life had changed. Just being with Cole truly did make her feel safe.
Gilda was dreaming. She was seeing the open field that led to the creek where she used to wade as a child. She had pulled her shoes off and rolled up her pant legs so they wouldn’t get wet. The cool water of the stream tickled the bottom of her feet and then soothed her, drawing the heat out of her body. She knew her face was sunburned; she’d always burned easily, being of such a fair complexion.
She dreamed that she waited upstream and was able to catch a fish that had become trapped between some rocks. She lifted it up momentarily, empathetic to its plight. She bent low and laid it gently back into open water so that it could swim away. That’s how she wanted to be: like a fish who had been set free. Strangely, that’s how she felt at that very moment. Just as she had lightly stroked the fish, she was now being stroked as well.
As she left the dream behind and reentered the reality of the darkened bedroom, she felt that the stroking was not left behind. Indeed, there was a strong hand upon her breast. She startled somewhat and then remembered. She looked toward Cole and saw that he was watching her, his face less pale and his eyes hungry, visible even in the dim light.
“Are you feeling better?” she asked him softly.
He nodded and reached with one arm to tug at her. “Come. Come closer and lay next to me, please?”
“Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure in my life. Come lay with me, Gilda.”
She didn’t stop to think about it, but moved to lie next to him, wrapping one arm over him. His hand returned to her breast, sliding inside the shirt to gently stroke her nipple. She drew in her breath, startled but strangely not wanting him to stop. All the promises she had made to herself left in that moment.
She wanted to be with him. She wanted to be with Cole.
His fingers opened each button of the shirt, one by one. Gilda lay still, as still as a doe with her nostrils held high, looking for the scent of danger. Cole intended no danger, however. He opened the shirt to its last button and then laid it back so that he might touch her bare skin. His fingers gently memorized the curves of her body, moving upward to cup and encircle her breast and then downward to her womanhood.
He laid his hand over her pussy, excited by the discovery that her hair there was fine and downy soft. With his index finger, he gently parted those woman’s lips to begin an exploration inside. She groaned as he pressed more deeply, finding her filled with her own wetness. He sampled her with his fingertip and brought it out, touching it to his tongue so that he might taste her and know her scent.
Gilda could not keep herself from rolling toward him, one leg creeping over his thigh in an effort to get closer. Skin against skin, they began to explore one another’s bodies. Each inch, each touch, each new sensitive spot brought new delight and longing.
Cole’s arm trapped her heart against his chest as his mouth found hers. He kissed her — hard — and with a longing built of weeks of need for her. She gave herself up to him, flexible and malleable.
His tongue traced the inside of her ear, and she shuddered lightly from the sensations. He bent over her now and took her nipple into his mouth, sucking upon her while his fingers rubbed the other. Gilda’s head rolled against the pillows, and her hips raised themselves of their own volition in an effort to find him.
Cole did not deny her request
. He rose above her, his hand parting her legs, and she saw but a moment’s glimpse of his swollen member as he lowered himself and pushed into her.
It was a cry of relief and a cry of ecstasy that escaped her lips. Cole was easily twice the size of Scott, and Gilda felt stretched like a canvas over a frame. She matched his thrust with the lift of her hips as he plunged deeply into her. Her arms went up to encircle his neck as she craved his chest to press against her stimulated nipples.
He began slowly, each stroke tentative and gentle in its approach. Before long, however, he could not hold himself back, but drove into her harder and harder. He could hear her calling his name and in his frenzied need for her, hammered her faster until the sound of his torso meeting hers hammered the rhythm that came only with the ancient coupling of two bodies.
Cole took what he desired, and her name was Gilda.
He opened his eyes long enough to see her long beautiful hair trailing across the pillow, lit by the moonbeams through the window. Her eyes were half opened, dark orbs rolled upward as she gave herself to him, thrust after thrust. Her mouth was partially open, gasping for air, and at the same time her tongue quested for his flesh.
He felt the heat rising, and he could feel it within her. They crested together and there was a cry, animal in nature and ethereal in pitch. When it was over, he rolled to his side and took her with him, pulling her heart against his chest so that he might envelop her as she completed her shudders.
Her face nuzzled into the hollow just below his shoulder blade, and he could feel her soft breasts, full and warm against his chest. They both knew completeness, and with that, they fell asleep.
Chapter 19
New York was not a city of the sun. The golden orb never fully filled the sky, but lent a warmish light to the cold concrete of the city’s buildings and streets. Nothing was more valued in the city than a window through which you could see the sun.
Cole stirred first, his senses alerted by the fact that he was not alone in the bed. No, indeed, there was a soft creature with long, light locks and alabaster skin nestled against him. Trying not to disturb her, he rose from the bed and went into the bathroom. When he emerged, he found she had awakened and was sitting in the middle of the bed, the sheets held up to her chin and a tentative look upon her face.