Bittersweet Deceit

by Blakely Bennett

“You, definitely you, but not often enough.”

  “Let’s remedy that.”

  “Should I take my dress off?”

  “Leave it on but lift the bottom so I can see your incredible legs. Oh, yeah, you look so damn sexy that way. Spread your thighs and scoot to the edge for me.” He jutted straight out, but didn’t penetrate me right away. As he ravened my lips with his, he circled around my labia and clit, making sure I was ready.”

  And I was.

  Hands on my ass, he pulled me forward and impaled my pussy tightly against him. “Right here,” he said, “this is where I need to be.”

  “Won’t get any ... ahhh ... arguments from me. So good, Mason. Fill me.”

  Stroking slowly, he said, “You need to come for me first. I’m in a hurry but not in that big of a rush. I have to feel you clamp down on me, baby. It’s what I live for.”

  I placed my arms behind me; wrist turned out and pushed my pelvis into his.

  His hands threaded under the back garter straps and squeezed my ass in his palms. “Lainie, honey, breathe for me.”

  I laughed. “I can’t ... help it. It feels so ... so fucking good.”

  “I’m getting closer,” he said, increasing the pace. His light-blue eyes held me imprisoned in his love and devotion, his eye contact absolute.

  Each stroke of his cock roused my sensitive G-spot and rubbed all the right places. I lived and died in his orbit, but this time it felt different. I had given him my heart and it left me feeling powerful.

  The building eruption hovered close, my nipples straining against my bra, the friction tremendous.

  “There you go ... so close. Your pussy opens just before you’re... Come for me. Take me with you!”

  Making sure to take deep breaths, I grunted out my orgasm, still grinding my hips onto his cock.

  As my contractions slowed, he held me tightly against him, filling me with his come. “Oh yes, my sexy love.”

  “Yesss,” I said, feeling the heat of his release. “Don’t forget me while you’re gone.”

  “Not a chance. Never. Let me grab you a towel.”

  I watched him stalk away, naked from the waist down. That sexy man’s heart belongs to me, I thought.

  We quickly cleaned up and fix our clothing. I straightened his tie for him and smoothed down his hair. “No worse for the wear,” I said.

  “But you, love, look absolutely radiant.”

  “Thank you,” I said, blushing over his remark.

  “If we can manage it, I’d like to see you before I fly out on Sunday.”

  “Oh really,” I said, jumping toward him and hugging him tight.

  “Yes, really. I’m going to miss you as much, if not more, than you’ll miss me. We’ll talk a lot while I’m gone. You can text or call me anytime. If I’m free to take the call, I will.”

  “Excellent.”

  “I hate to make love and run, but I do need to go.”

  “Of course, I understand. Let me know when you know what time on Sunday. We’ve never had this much time together and I truly appreciate the effort. Even if it’s a quickie.”

  “Kiss me, and then out with you. You go first and I’ll lock up.”

  We shared a short passionate kiss and then I left the apartment and headed to the boutique.

  As soon as I parked in the back of the shop, I noticed something attached to the door. I found an envelope with my name on it and yanked it off. After running my finger along the flap, I pulled out a card. The front simply said, “Thought I’d send a recent photo of myself.” When I opened it, I laughed so hard, I stumbled on my heels. Inside was a very scenic picture with a horse’s ass taking up most of the space on the right. Next to it read, “Sorry.” The left side was filled with handwriting I didn’t recognize.

  Dear OCDC,

  I missed seeing your beautiful face on Wednesday. I know my behavior has been appalling. My only defense is how I feel when we’re spending time together. Regardless, I’ve been a horse’s ass and should have respected your boundaries.

  Jacqs tells me things with Mason are going well. I promise to stand down if you promise we can still remain friends. I might flirt here or there, but I promise to be the pillar of respect.

  Our peeps are having a dinner party and I want you to come and feel comfortable there.

  Let me be the friend I should have been before. I’m good at it and you’ll see if you give me the chance to redeem myself.

  See you at dinner? If you want to talk, you have my number.

  Begging at your feet and NOT looking up your dress,

  Stayman

  It was hard not to forgive the boy when he was being so utterly adorable. Everything in my life was lining up well for me. Mason and I were in the best place in our relationship and Stay and I would be the friends we were meant to be. What could be better?

  Samantha and I shared lunch and thankfully she didn’t grill me about my whereabouts and I didn’t tell her about the card. They day sailed by as I floated high on a cloud of love. Mason even texted me to say he misses me already and can’t wait until Sunday. Life was more than good, it was great!

  I closed up for the night since Samantha would be opening in the morning. I tried to reach my father and then remembered he went out of town for a wedding my mother dragged him along to. I didn’t bother leaving a message.

  Back at my condo, it no longer felt like a lonely place. I could envisage Mason in every space in the apartment. In the kitchen leaning against the island as I fixed us a plate of food, snuggling on the couch or making love there, our games in the second bedroom and most definitely sex in my bed.

  The bliss I felt stayed with me through the night. I didn’t feel like smoking my nightly cigarette so I climbed into bed to write my thoughts down.

  Jacqs has wanted to have a dinner party for a while now. She and Red planned the menu and will be cooking for us. Jacqs and Red have cooking in common and I wonder who cooks the most at their house. I would guess Jacqs. Definitely not Bond. I think she missed her calling as a chef instead of an executive assistant. I wonder if Bond will be helping or if he’ll be at work.

  I’m no longer worried about seeing Stay and am kind of looking forward to it too. He seems to have gotten the message and I do like him. He’s a great guy, just not the one for me.

  I’m super excited about the art and music festival in Delray. Jacqs and I have gone before. The huge event offers people watching in every direction. I can’t wait. Maybe I’ll find a new fruit bowl for the counter. I hate that my current one has a chip on the rim. I’ll probably check out the music more than anything. I’m happy Blue is coming too. That will give me more freedom to wander.

  On top of that, I get to see Mason one more time on Sunday before he leaves town. I definitely need to drive myself to the Delray Affair so I can leave when I need to.

  He loves me. I wasn’t as sure as I am now. I think Stay turned out to be good for us. It clarified things for Mason and me. Here I have been busy telling Cat to let Kev’s love in and yet I wasn’t really letting all of the Mason’s love in. I was scared it wasn’t real that I was a passing fancy and he would quickly move on.

  I’m walking on a cloud of hope and love. It still amazes me that he finds me so attractive and sexy. He is by far the best looking man I have ever seen. His body is hard and fit where my body is soft and fuller in placing more than I would like. I hate my ass and yet he loves it. Who am I to argue? He loves my stomach too which means he must love me because he is completely blind.

  I might not get to have him all the time, but I know his heart belongs to me. And for now, that’s enough.

  Settling under the covers, I found myself genuinely looking forward to the dinner party and seeing Stayman again.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Starry Eyed

  by Ellie Goulding

  Saturday morning at home, I worked on a new ad and did some research on a new sign for the front of the shop. I reconciled the debits and credits for most of
April and even took a nap, which was a rare event for me.

  I threw on my most comfortable jeans and T-shirt for Jacqs’s and Red’s dinner party. Standing by the front door, I choose a pair of black flip-flops and on the way out I grabbed my purse and the wine I left on the entrance table.

  As soon as I opened the door to Red’s house, the aroma of the upcoming dinner wooed me to the kitchen.

  “Oh, what smells so good?” I said, taking in Red and Jacqs attire. They wore matching aprons and I almost cracked up laughing but held it back. Stay didn’t make it easy, raising his eyebrow as if he knew exactly what I thought about it.

  “It’s a surprise,” Jacqs said, hugging me with her hands out to the side.

  “The rest of the gang is out back,” Red said, taking the wine from my hand. “I can open this or you can help yourself to something in the fridge.”

  “Thanks.”

  Stay walked to the refrigerator and said, “What will it be?”

  “Hard lemonade or cider.” I crossed my arms and rested back against the counter.

  Stay dressed in his usual relaxed blue jeans and plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled to his upper forearms.

  I could feel him watching me watch him. “Thanks,” I said when he handed me the bottle of cider.

  “Can I steal you for a minute?” he asked.

  I glanced at Jacqs who waved me off with her head, her hands busy mixing a dressing for the salad.

  “Okay.” I let him lead me to the front sitting room.

  Red’s decor reminded me of an upscale bed and breakfast. He must have used an interior designer because everything coordinated together. The loveseat we sat on matched the area rug below our feet.

  “How are you?” Stay asked. He seemed relaxed and at ease, the way I’d always known him to be until recently.

  “I’m good; really good. Thanks for the card. You made me laugh so hard, I nearly fell off my feet.”

  “I’m happy to be of service.”

  “It’s good to see you,” I said before I thought better of it.

  “You too. I’ve missed you.” He stretched his arm along the back of couch, behind me.

  “Um, thanks.”

  “Don’t get weird on my OC. I get it. We’re just friends. I’m a reformed alcoholic and now a reformed ‘Lainieaholic’.” Then he flashed me his dangerous, crooked smile and chuckled. “We good?” He scooted forward to stand and laid his hand on my thigh.

  An electric current pulsed through me, taking me completely by surprise. My body felt aroused, and singed.

  “You did that on purpose.” I shifted away from his touch.

  He frowned and said, “I didn’t intend for that to happen. It’s never happened before.”

  “Did you feel it too?” I asked, believing that he spoke the truth.

  “I’m still feeling it.”

  “Maybe we should refrain from touching each other.”

  “Yeah,” he said, but he seemed shaken.

  “I’m going to go say hi to everyone,” I said, standing.

  “I’ll see you outside in a minute.” He seemed to be mulling over something.

  Stay, don’t make too much of it, I thought.

  I stopped in the bathroom along the way and when I sat down to pee, I found my pussy wet. I had to wipe a few times to dry the moisture that had settled there. It didn’t worry me at all. My body might still respond to him but my heart definitely resided elsewhere.

  Outside I ran into Cat and Blue. “Hey girls,” I said. “How’s it going?”

  “I’m happy to have the night off,” Blue said.

  “I bet,” I said, raising my chin and letting the warm wind hit my face.

  Cat had the good sense not to hug me in front of Blue and said, “Anything new at the shop I should come by check out?”

  “Sam talked me into getting some matching bra sets. They should be in mid-week.”

  “Oh great! It’s really getting warm out, isn’t it? I’m kind of glad I’ll be working in the AC for the rest of the weekend.”

  “Yeah. It could be really hot tomorrow at the fair,” Blue said. She stepped over to the pool and dipped her toe in.

  “I’ll have to remember to bring along a hat to the fair,” I said. “I’m going to go back in and see if Jacqs needs any help.”

  I saw Sam on the couch with Stay when I made my way back inside. They seemed deep in conversation.

  Once we all sat down to dinner, Stay sat in the seat farthest from me and barely made eye contact the entire night.

  The dinner was ridiculously yummy and I’m sure I gained a few extra pounds from all the delicious food. They started with lobster bisque, which they made from scratch. It was so creamy and delicious, I could have licked the bowl. Then they served a small Caesar salad with fresh parmesan shavings, followed by lemon-garlic shrimp and grits with a pinch of red pepper for heat. Already full, Jacqs insisted I try her freshly baked strawberry tart. Who was I to deny her?

  “Someone needs to roll me out to my car. That is if I still fit in it,” I said.

  Everyone laughed, although Stay seemed subdued.

  “I know what you mean,” Bond said, rubbing his stomach.

  Like that man spent a day in his life being fat. I shook my head. I gathered the plates around me and carried them into the kitchen. Once I rinsed a plate from the stack, I handed it over to Jacqs.

  “Did you do something to Stay? He’s been quiet all night,” she said, loading another plate into the dishwasher.

  I looked over my shoulder and saw we were alone in the kitchen. “I thought we were fine but then he touched my leg and...”

  “And?” she said, talking a bowl out of my hands.

  “Well ... I think we both felt it more than we wanted to.”

  “But you seem fine.”

  “He’s probably reading more into it. Did you know he is a Buddhist and meditates?”

  “Yes, of course. I’ll be sure to check in on him later. Hand me those glasses please,” she said as she pulled out the top rack of the dishwasher. “About tomorrow, why don’t we meet here and drive to Delray Beach together. You’ll get a chance to ride in my new VW Tiguan.”

  “I thought you were getting another Beetle,” I said, passing over the glasses.

  “Red wanted me to get something a bit larger. It’s like a mini SUV and drives like a dream.”

  “And color?” I said, using a towel to dry the items in the dish drain.

  “They didn’t have it in the pale-green so I went with wild-cherry. So about tomorrow?”

  “I need to drive myself. I have plans later and I’m not sure at what time.”

  “Mason?” she asked, just as Kev and Stay walked through the swinging door to the kitchen.

  I don’t know why but I felt bad for Stay. It’s not like I wanted to rub it in his face.

  “Is there anything I can do?” Stay asked.

  “Are they still working on the dessert?” Jacqs said.

  “Yeah and talking mostly. Did you know Cat is considering giving up her place, but is dragging her feet?” Stay asked.

  “I’m standing right here,” Kev said.

  “Yes, I can see that,” Stay continued. “If I’ve learned anything recently, it’s that you can’t make someone be ready for something they’re not. Just give her some time.” He patted Kevin on the back.

  “That’s easy for you to say, brother. You have the patience of a saint.”

  “That’s not true,” Stay said, glancing in my direction.

  “It really isn’t,” I concurred.

  Both Kev and Stay stared at me.

  “I’ll just shut up,” I said, going back to drying the spatula in my hand.

  “Let’s go outside,” Kev said to Stay as he threw his arm over his shoulder.

  As soon as they traveled out the French doors, Jacqs said, “What the fuck?”

  “I know. Please do talk to him if you get a chance.”

  “I will.”

  Overall th
e dinner was really great. I enjoyed seeing everyone and watching Red and Jacqs host and serve together. I vowed not to eat for three days after the meal. Still full by the time I crashed, it took me awhile to get comfortable. I figured the sooner I entered dreamland, the quicker I would be in Mason’s arms again. Tomorrow would be another excellent day. Art and music, and then more love. I couldn’t wait!

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  My Blood

  by Ellie Goulding

  Jacqs, Blue, and I met in front of the main stage at eleven o’clock in the morning. The crowded streets belied the heat of the day. I had put my hair up in a ponytail and pulled it through the opening in the back of my House of Blues baseball cap. We all wore shorts and tank tops.

  “Where do you want to start?” Jacqs asked.

  “Why don’t we start on this street and work our way over to Atlantic Boulevard?” I pointed behind Blue and said, “There’s the information booth. Why don’t we get a map? I’d also like to know when the different bands are playing.”

  “Okay,” Blue said.

  We each took a brochure and then strolled down the road filled with white, pop-up tents. The streets in downtown Delray had been closed off for pedestrian traffic only.

  “I’d like to catch Daniel Wesley. He’s playing at one o’clock at the Third Avenue beer tent.”

  “Sounds good,” Jacqs said.

  The three of us milled around, checking out all kinds of art from folk to fine. I perused the clothing tents but the prices were too steep for resale.

  Jacqs and I shared a fresh fruit cup and paid way too much for bottled water. By the time one o’clock rolled around, we were far from the concert tent.

  “Why don’t you guys keep going, and I’ll text you after the show so we can hook back up.”

  “That works for me,” Blue said, fanning herself with the brochure. “It’s too hot for me to stay in one place.”

  “That’s fine. See you soon,” Jacqs said.

  I waved and took off, heading toward Third Avenue.

  By the time I arrived, the music had already started. Daniel Wesley sang out Layde Maybe while the crowd moved to the beat. I found a spot off to the side. I couldn’t help but recall the concert experience Stay and I had shared. If we could ever find a place of normality between us, I would definitely love to go to a show with him again. Stay belted out the lyrics like everyone else in the crowd that night and really seemed to enjoy himself.