Showcase

by P. Roper

  I shook my head. “I’m clean and have an IUD,” I rolled my hips. “And I’m the one who booked your last screening for you when we got back from Europe. So short of you being with anyone else in the last six weeks, I know you’re clean too.” I pulled back to look at him again. “Unless you’re insisting, Nathaniel, this is what I want.” He just nodded, never breaking eye contact. One hand went to my thigh, guiding me, and he filled his other with one of my boobs.

  Heat flared in his eyes and his jaw ticked, as he struggled with control, “Ride me then, pretty girl. Take all of me.” I rolled my hips over and over, keeping my eyes on his until the coiling inside me couldn’t be ignored any longer.

  “Nathaniel, touch me,” I moaned as I continued to move up and down his shaft. He swallowed, but did as I said. He rubbed my clit with his thumb in tiny circles before I fell apart so hard I swear I saw stars.

  “Don’t stop,” he panted as his hands gripped my thighs and guided me over his cock harder, our sweaty bodies slamming together. He filled me deep a few times before I felt him come hard, as a growl escaped him. I rode him out slowly, as his head fell to my chest. Wrapping my hands around the back of his head, I kissed his hair.

  We sat there a moment, completely still and wrapped up in one another, before he looked up at me. I gave him a sated smile. “Yeah, I’ll come home. I think that this needs another shot,” I panted, still trying to catch my breath.

  He licked his lips, framing my face. “You’re a marvel,” was all he said, before rolling us onto the bed so he hovered over me. He dragged his tongue from my clavicle, between my breasts, and into my belly button before he moved lower and sucked my clit between his lips. My back arched and I clawed at the sheets beneath me. I felt him smile against me before he moved back up my body. When his face reached mine, he kissed me hard as he hooked one of my legs over his shoulder and drove into me again, bottoming out at the new angle.

  He fucked me twice more before my stomach rumbled as we lay there, making him laugh. “I guess it’s time to feed my pretty girl.”

  We ate strawberries and drank champagne, naked and mostly in silence. Then he carried me back to bed and at his request, I recounted some of my most comical showcase stories. He buried himself inside me once more before the sun rose. As it did, he kissed me and tucked me into his chest, insisting I sleep. We had an afternoon helicopter to catch, back to Massachusetts.

  Chapter 19

  Once we returned to the estate, life gradually adjusted back to the way it had been before the New Year had begun. We spent time with Noelle, who had physically screeched in delight upon learning that I had decided to not leave. Dinners were just the three of us most nights. Audrey sent me small jobs to do here and there. Then March brought Nate’s St. Patrick’s birthday.

  Some of his friends threw a blowout party at a pub that one of them owned in Boston. We ended the night, blissfully saturated in alcohol. Having drunkenly told him more of my showcase tales, he insisted we recreate them. My boobs fell loose from my white crop top, bouncing against porcelain, as he fucked me over the bathroom sink in the bar. In the limo during the drive home, I blew him before making myself come; legs wide open for him to see. Before we left the car, I wound up on all fours with my green plaid skirt flipped up, as he pulled my hair and took me doggy style. Ending the night, he tied me to his bed and ravaged me until my legs shook so badly that I’m not sure I could have stood. I was spent and slept like the dead, wrapped up in him.

  The next few weeks passed in a blur and before I knew it, I found myself rushing around with Audrey; planning Easter, much as Thanksgiving and Christmas had been orchestrated. Friday afternoon, all manners of Halstead’s descended on the house. Dripping in tulips and brightly coloured baskets, the estate became ground zero for a traditional luncheon and an elaborate egg hunt for handfuls of the extended Halstead children. I spent most of my time with Nathaniel’s arm around my waist. But at some point, Noelle had pulled me away to help her hand out large chocolate initials (almost all N’s) to each of the children.

  “I really love this dress on you. It’s so not something I pictured you’d wear, but it suits you.” Her smile met her eyes as she assessed the pale blue, floral chiffon dress I wore. Its long sleeves ended in frilly cuffs, as did the hem that lay across my thighs. It was something that I had in my wardrobe from Europe. But rather than pair it with suede thigh high boots, I had been convinced to compromise with some sensible white wedges.

  “Thanks, it’s actually mine. Dressing up for me isn’t usually as racy as most would assume from previous events. Mostly, those were just off the rails statements for my own entertainment.” I laughed, as her eyebrows shot up.

  “Well, I love both ends of the Deliah spectrum,” she declared. “I’m so glad you’re here; that you decided to come back. Especially with the hordes of Halstead men that show up for this thing every year.”

  “Yeah, I noticed that. There is a distinct lack of, uh, estrogen around here today. Is that normal? Where are the girls? You and I look like pretty much the only ones under thirty.”

  “That’s because we are. Since dad’s sister Nicola was born in 1950, only boys have been born into the family. Until me, that is. All of my first cousins are actually dad’s age because he’s almost 20 years younger than his youngest sister.” She laughed with a shrug. “I’m seen as something of an anomaly and while being the only girl who is not married-in has its benefits; it also singles me out significantly sometimes.”

  “That’s crazy,” I remarked. Being the only girl born into a huge affluent family since the 50s? I couldn’t imagine.

  As the afternoon faded, we began bidding farewell to some of the families that had come for the event. Most were heading back to Boston. But some had planes to catch the next morning, back to the west coast. Once the line of town cars had made their way down the driveway, I meandered about picking up cups and tiny plates. I knew there was staff that would do it, but I found peace in helping out. I dropped the stack of dishes I had collected in the kitchen, checking in on Ellen, before making my way back out the yard.

  “Nathaniel!” Her tone was shrill enough to make me stop in my tracks and press my eyes closed. My jaw ticked, I was not in the mood for a Jacqueline Halstead tirade. It had been such a pleasant day. “I absolutely cannot believe that you haven’t rid yourself of her yet! It is not even remotely humorous! I know that I need not remind you that our family has a particular image to uphold. Remedy the issue, son. I am disinterested if you need to go as far as to call it a quarter life crises, but set your little plaything free and clean up your mess. You have obligations to this family name and the time has come to step up.”

  I leaned against the wall in the hallway. I could hear him pacing, “Are you done, mother?”

  “Perhaps. Are you going to finally wake up, Nathaniel?”

  “Let me make it perfectly clear. Deliah won’t be going anywhere, mother. How dare you stand there and judge her. She is quite possibly the kindest person I have ever come to know, maybe tied for that title with Noelle. She is beautiful and funny. She has more compassion and patience in her earlobe than you or your cohort have ever possessed, despite being more than double her age.” She gasped and I imagined her clutching her pearls. But he continued. “She can hold an intelligent conversation, unlike any of the girls you would prefer me to be with. And I want to be with her, not anyone else. Never anyone else, mother.”

  “Nathaniel, don’t you dare tell me…”

  He cut her off, “Don’t tell you what, mother? That I plan on keeping her for as long as she’ll have me? That I can’t imagine spending a single day without her? That I caught myself off guard, falling hard for her? That I love Deliah with every fibre of my being? Because that’s the truth and I’m tired of your games and blatant disrespect. I honestly don’t give a shit if you don’t like her. Your opinion is irrelevant to me at this point in my life.” Tears slipped down my cheeks as I stepped into the room, un
able to hold myself back.

  “You love me?” My voice caught. He turned to me and my favourite smile broke across his face. His hair looked like his hands had been pulling at it, making me want to put my own hands in it.

  “More than I’ve ever loved anything.” He took a tentative step toward me, his shy but sincere smile softening the frustration from his face a moment. His mother huffed her annoyance. Turning to her, he spoke once more. “Now, if you can’t be respectful of her and me in our home? I’m going to need to ask you to leave, mother.” Then, disregarding her presence, he focused his attention on me. Her heels clicked away, but our focus was solely on one another.

  He met me toe to toe and his hands framed my face. As his thumbs wiped the tears from my face, he said, “I do love you, Deliah. With everything I am. My life would be incomplete without you.” A look that I could only describe as fear flashed across his face before he leaned in further and whispered, “Can I keep you?”

  I smiled and more tears fell from my eyes as I pressed them closed. Swallowing, I was unsure my voice would let me speak in that moment. I took a couple deep breaths before meeting his eyes again and nodding. “Only if I can keep you too,” I whispered.

  His lips crashed to mine, before softening and deepening the kiss. “I’m sorry you had to hear that, pretty girl,” he whispered against my mouth.

  I pulled back to look in his eyes. “In the short time I’ve had you in my life; you’ve made countless dreams of mine come true, Nathaniel. Unkind words from bitter mouths are insignificant.” Winding my arms around his neck, I pulled his face back to my own. Before actually kissing him, I whispered back, “And I love you too, so much. Just so you know.”

  “For crying out loud, finally! It’s legit about damn time.” Noelle said from behind me, making us both laugh. “You have both been killing me for weeks. I’m eternally grateful you decided to get your shit together.” With that closing remark, she walked back out of the room.

  “I have terrible timing, because we still have some company. But I can kick everyone that doesn’t live here out. Hell, I could probably even convince Noelle to take off somewhere until tomorrow.” He rushed out his words but I shook my head.

  “No, it’s okay. It’s an important holiday tradition that all these people be here. Besides, they aren’t staying forever. I can have you to myself tonight. Tell me though; have I made a mess of my face?”

  “Not even the slightest. And I promise I will be ensuring everyone else has an early night, pretty girl. I need to feel you. And I can’t do that while they are here.” He kissed me once more before tucking me into his side and returning to the remaining guests in the yard.

  I couldn’t remember a time that I had felt like I did then. A sort of lightness settled over us as we resumed socializing for a few more hours. The final guests left just before Ellen set dinner for the remaining three of us out on the table.

  Finishing her meal quickly, Noelle stood. “I’m going to grab some snacks from the kitchen and then lock myself in my room. It’s clear to me that you two are dying a little, in an attempt to keep your hands off each other. So I’m going to say goodnight.”

  “Not so great at subtle, is she?” Nathaniel laughed as she left the room.

  “Must be a family trait,” I teased as he pulled me off my chair and into his lap.

  “Must be,” he agreed. “Can I have you now, pretty girl?”

  Chapter 20

  “Deliah!” Noelle’s voice called from somewhere down the hall.

  “In here, I’m almost done,” I called back from the master bathroom.

  “Damn,” she said when she made her way to me. Leaning against the doorframe, much like her brother would, she assessed me. Waving a finger in my direction, she spoke. “I love that aesthetic on you. The cream colour makes your skin glow and I wish I was shorter so I could get away with gladiator heels. The leg laces never come up high enough on my legs and most of the dates that have been arranged for me are too short for me to actually wear heels beside.” Her nose scrunched in annoyance. I could see her struggle; she had to be at least 5’10”. And the average 17 year old boy was barely her height, let alone taller.

  I turned to her and smiled. “I have faith that you’ll find someone one day, to make all your tall boy fantasies come true.” Approaching her, I touched the golden hair that lay over her mostly bare shoulder. “I have Audrey bringing you something today. I'm glad you chose the peach dress,” I gestured to the warmly toned, structured sun dress she wore with cream flats. Her shoes were almost the same colour as my frothy lace bohemian dress.

  “Yeah?” Her eyes lit and I breathed out a laugh. The girl was a surprise fanatic. I knew that would perk her up a little. She had yet another parental arranged date to the barbeque at the estate this afternoon that I knew she wasn’t looking forward to.

  I nodded. “She’ll be here any minute. We should meet her downstairs. She’ll probably need help.” It was Memorial Day long weekend. Another holiday brought another elaborate event. This one would kick off the summer for their circle. It occurred to me that Nathaniel seemed to host a lot of these events. When I questioned Audrey about it, she had said simply that he had the space and loved to entertain. So, he had taken over from his parents that used to host most of the events in their Beacon Hill house.

  People seemed to prefer celebrating these things out here, which I understood, especially in the summer. This was an afternoon ordeal. The kids could run on the grass and swim. While the adults mulled around, sipping expensive liquor from the open bar and pretending to parent. In all reality, every family coming with children would also be bringing a nanny. But I was informed that they usually just stayed in the kitchen with Ellen, who would feed them and welcome them like family.

  Sure enough, as we descended the stairs, Audrey practically fell into the foyer. Her arms were laden with several buckets of long stemmed flowers, and a few bags. “Oh, good!” She exclaimed. “I have more in the van. But at least half of this needs to be refrigerated as soon as it can be.”

  “Did you buy out the flower shop?” I joked, grabbing the bags from her hands so she could slide the bucket handles off her arms.

  “Three, actually. Now don’t just gape, there is still a lot to do.” She stated matter of factly before hurrying back out the front door and returning in much the same fashion, but this time with two other assistants in tow.

  A couple of hours later, there wasn’t a single surface that wasn’t dripping in flowers. The silver platters lay on beds of them, there were several heights of vases arranged on each table, and every exterior window sill had been plumed as thoroughly as they could be. Noelle wore a delicate flower crown, woven of freesia and peach spray roses. I opted for a fuller one, pulling in several varieties of wild flowers.

  Nathaniel greeted his guests in a tailored linen suit. I could see he was in his element, as I wandered toward him with lemonade for each of us in my hands. His smile brightened even further when he saw me. “There’s my girl,” he said, reaching a hand out to me. He accepted his drink and pulled me into his side.

  The heels I wore helped balance out our height a little, so he didn’t have to bend as much to whisper in my ear. “Is everything okay,” he questioned. I nodded, smiling up at him. Pressing a kiss to my head he stifled a breath of a laugh, indicating my headpiece. “Love her but leave her wild,” he quoted into my hair before turning back to the conversation I had interrupted.

  I leaned into him as he spoke. My attention was not on his words though. I knew by the faces in the circle around him that he was talking business. Rather my focus scanned the crowd. I smiled at a few small children playing tag in the yard and returned Noelle’s eye roll from across the crowd with a wink. She crossed her arms when the overly confident looking boy beside her went to grab her hand. As he attempted to put his arm around her, she spun away from him and I watched her head for the refreshments.

  The afternoon progressed with
out incident, and as the sun began to lower in the sky, someone came out and lit torches here and there as well as a fire that sparked into the air around it. Ellen brought out s’mores for the children; that their mothers fussed about, though not a single one actually attempted to stop her. Many of the men had lit cigars and the drinks had transitioned from light and fruity to aromatic and robust.

  Nathaniel’s hand rarely left my waist, until night had settled over us all. “I’ll be right back. Don’t move,” he told me. I nodded and he disappeared into the night. Within moments, the chatter and distinctive sound of ice clinking in glasses was drowned out by the explosive pops and fizzles of fireworks. I smiled because of course he had gone to oversee the fireworks. He had planned the 20 minute display so thoroughly, but I still had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to let them just go.

  About ten minutes into the brilliant light show, an arm snaked around my waist. Feeling unfamiliar, I moved to turn my head only to have a hand clamped over my mouth. I gasped, finally recognising the scent that surrounded me.