by Harmon, AJ
*****
Matt led her in from outside, her hand in his. It was still dark in the apartment and Matt made no move to turn on any lights.
“There’s one more room I didn’t show you and it’s time to show you now.”
Janie knew which room it was; it was his room, his bedroom. They walked through the great room, past the grand piano and around the corner to large wooden double doors. Matt opened one and walked in. Janie followed. It was dark except it too had a wall of windows which allowed the twinkling lights from outside to throw a soft glow over the room. Janie could make out the massive bed straight ahead of them and she looked up at him. He was watching her intently. She looked away, back to bedroom. It was huge. She assumed it was the same size as the guestroom wing at the other end of the apartment. She turned and saw the table next to her, a small lamp and several framed pictures. It was too dark to see who or what was in them.
Her eyes travelled further into the room, toward the windows. “Is that New Jersey?”
“It is.”
“Hmmm,” she said.
“What?”
“Well,” Janie began, “It just seems odd that the master bedroom would have a view of, well…”
And then she saw it! Janie ran to the window and looked back at Matt. “Is that?”
Matt grinned and nodded, but Janie couldn’t see him in the dark.
“That’s the Statue of Liberty,” she breathed.
Janie was mesmerized at the sight. She couldn’t believe it. There it was, off in the distance, as if lit up just for her. “Wow!”
Janie didn’t hear Matt walk up behind her. She didn’t see his smile. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back to him. Her arms rested on his and she leaned back into his body. He nuzzled her hair and she closed her eyes, breathing him in. He kissed her on the neck and she leaned her head to the side giving him silent permission to take all he wanted.
His hands pulled on her sweater and it dropped from her shoulders. Janie wriggled out of it and tossed it aside. Matt’s hands cupped her breasts and he kissed her shoulder and Janie shivered.
“Are you cold?”
“No. Matt?”
“Mmm?”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Matt stepped back and took off his jacket and tie and kicked off each of his shoes. Janie turned to him but he grabbed her shoulders and turned her back to the window.
“Stay there,” he ordered.
Janie could hear the rustle of his clothes and as he stepped back in to her she felt the heat of his body before she felt his touch. He was gloriously naked and Janie reached her arms behind her to try to pull him closer. She heard him chuckle and he kissed her shoulder again.
“You taste divine,’ he whispered into her skin. His hands ran up her arms and he grabbed the zipper at her back and slowly pulled it down. He pushed the straps off her shoulders and it fell to the floor. She stepped out of her sandals and stood in her bra and panties, Matt behind her running his fingers across her skin.
The excitement was building so quickly and Janie’s breathing became shallow. Matt unhooked her bra and drew it away from her body, exposing her erect nipples. He drug the back of his fingers up her torso, along the sides of her breasts and then in slow tortuous circles around and around. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he used his middle fingers of both hands and ran them over her hardened flesh and Janie felt the desire building in earnest. He pulled on her and twisted and sucked on her neck and she found it difficult to breathe. His hands moved away and frustration filled Janie. They moved down her sides to her hips and he hooked his thumbs in her panties and pushed them down and down till they were at her knees. She stepped out of them and flicked them off her foot and Matt was back at her neck, his hands back on her nipples, pleasuring her till she was panting with heat and desire. His right hand moved down over her belly and through her hair at her mound and then parted her and found her clitoris, throbbing, waiting for his touch. He caressed her softly and rhythmically till he could feel her hips pushing into his hand, then he moved faster, with more pressure, his left hand still twisting her nipple and his mouth and tongue on her neck.
He felt her come. He felt her body stiffen. He felt her gasp. He felt her quiver. He felt her go weak. He leaned her forward, resting her on the small desk in front of the window. He put on a condom and then pushed her forward so her torso was flat on the desk. With his foot, he moved her feet apart and then grabbed her hips and entered her.
She gasped.
“Good?” he asked.
“Good,” she whispered, “Perfect.”
And with that, Matt pulled out and entered her again. Harder, stronger, faster he went and Janie grabbed the edge of the desk as he thrusted into her over and over again. She felt him come. She felt his body stiffen. She felt him gasp. She felt him quiver. And she felt him lay on her back as he tried to catch his breath.
“I’ve wanted to do that since the carriage ride,” he panted.
*****
He had carried her to the bed, her body to limp to walk. Matt had laughed at her lack of stamina and Janie had blushed.
“It’s been a very long time,” she admitted. Matt had brushed her hair from her eyes and kissed her nose and said it had been for him too.
Janie scoffed, “I see the way women throw themselves at you. I’m sure you are kept warm at night.”
Matt pulled back the comforter and climbed in next to Janie. “Just because they offer, doesn’t mean I accept.”
Janie snorted.
“Well not every time.”
Matt pulled her close, cradling her with his body. He may have had sex a lot but it had never been like this. Not ever! He stroked her hair, Janie looking at the view. No, not ever like this, he thought.
He’d never told anyone but his mom what had happened with Suzanne. Everyone knew that she’d miscarried and they had divorced soon after. But the divorce was because of the lie, the deceit, the betrayal, not the miscarriage. And he had shared all of that with Janie, the innocent widow from Oregon.
It had taken him a long time to get back in the game, so to speak, after Suzanne. And the only reason he had married Beth was because he thought it would be better than being alone. He had been wrong. But at least she had been upfront about looking for a rich man to snare. He had to give her that.
And then came all of the meaningless sex. For years he had conditioned himself that it was all he needed. But then this blue-eyed siren had walked into him twice in the Portland airport and he could feel himself fall, slowly at first, but falling all the same.
She’s not ready, he told himself. Her life is too complicated, he had convinced himself.
But I want her, he silently screamed.
*****
Janie woke first. The bedside clock said 5:32. She could feel Matt breathing beside her. They hadn’t moved all night. She was still locked in his embrace.
How could this feel so perfect? she asked herself. Steeling her resolve, she told herself that she needed to enjoy all he could offer for the next three days and then she had to leave. He was broken and he wasn’t going to allow anyone in to help.
‘No strings, just enjoy our time together. And then when you go home, there won’t be any awkwardness,’ he had said. ‘I will take you to the airport and carry your two bags for you and say goodbye and we can still be friends. And you can leave with no regrets.’
Janie desperately needed to pee, so she carefully extricated herself from his arms and went in search of the bathroom. There was only one door that she could see so she quietly opened it and was relieved to find it was the en-suite bathroom. Closing the door, she felt for the light switch and flipped it on. The masculine room was revealed, not a ‘woman’s touch’ in sight. A massive shower was the focal point of the room. It had multiple shower heads and a bench at one end. There was a free-standing tub next to the toilet, along with double sinks, a giant mirror hung on the wall abo
ve.
Janie did what she needed to do and washed her hands in the sink and reached for a towel. Unable to control the impulse, she pulled out the top drawer of the vanity and glanced inside. There was a tube of toothpaste, a couple of combs, a hair brush and some styling gel. Nothing incriminating. Pulling out the next drawer down, she discovered some deodorant, some athlete’s foot cream and some nail clippers.
What did I think would be there? she shook her head and smiled.
Janie leaned over the vanity and took a deep breath. Matt was pretty much everything he appeared to be. He was wealthy and intelligent and gorgeous. But despite all that, a couple of women had done a real number on him and now ALL women were not to be trusted. They were around purely for his physical enjoyment, because inevitably, he believed if he didn’t keep them at arm’s length, they wanted something from him, something he was not prepared to give.
Yep, that pretty much sums it up, Janie thought. I couldn’t live that way. But Matt has built walls around his heart. I can’t break them down, but at least I can be the one woman who doesn’t demand anything from him, that accepts what he offers and asks for nothing more. I can be what he needs me to be. Because I would do anything for him. Because, I love him.
I love him. She mouthed the words.
“I love him,” she whispered, because it was only real if you said it out loud.
*****
Janie tried to be as quiet as possible as she opened the door and tiptoed back to bed. She lifted the comforter and slid underneath. She exhaled and closed her eyes as her head touched the pillow.
“Morning,” came the smooth silky voice.
“Argh!” Janie jumped. “You scared me!”
Matt chuckled. “You’re up early.”
“Well I had to p…, I had to use the bathroom, and I hoped that was the right door because I couldn’t see any others, you know cuz it’s dark, and it was, so I’m very thankful for that,” Janie rambled.
“There are two doors over here.” Matt pointed to the other side of the bed.
“Oh, I didn’t see those.”
“One goes to my gym and the other to my office.”
It was just barely starting to get light outside and Janie squinted, trying to find the doors.
“They’re kind of hidden in the paneling, but I assure you they’re there.”
“Ok, I’ll take your word for it,” Janie grinned.
The phone started buzzing. It was Matt’s cell but Janie couldn’t see it. Matt flicked the comforter off and casually walked across the room to where he had dropped his pants just a few hours ago. He retrieved the phone and looked at it, pushing a few buttons and then laid it on the desk. That desk! The desk that she had been sprawled over as Matt had fucked her. She liked that desk.
Matt turned to her, gloriously naked and tilted his head. “What are you thinking?” he asked. “You have a naughty little smile on your face,” he teased.
Janie blushed. “I was just, um, just thinking about the, the desk,” she stuttered.
Matt stepped towards the bed and Janie could see what he was thinking. His erection was impressively rising in front of her.
“You liked the desk, huh?”
Janie could feel the heat between them. “Yes,” she whispered.
Matt threw back the covers, exposing her to him and he grabbed her hands and yanked her up. She stumbled and caught her balance leaning against him, skin against skin. He kissed her hard, desire building quickly. Grabbing her behind, he lifted her and she wrapped her legs around him and he carried her to the window, carefully setting her on the desk. Matt stepped back and openly admired her.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he breathed. He walked back to the bed and opened the night stand drawer and pulled out a gold foil covered condom. He ripped it open, threw the wrapper on the floor and returned to stand in front of her, his eyes never leaving hers.
Janie took the rubber from him and placed it on the head of his penis and slowly, deliberately rolled it down over the length of him. Her eyes lifted back to his and he held her gaze. She couldn’t look away. He stepped between her legs and pulled her to the edge of the desk, his hands firmly on her hips. Janie grabbed the edge of the desk and gasped as he entered her. He lowered his head and kissed her, their eyes still locked and he lifted his head and slowly pulled out of her.
Janie’s mouth opened and she tried to breathe, her heart racing and her body aching for him to be inside her.
He pushed in again and groaned. “You feel so good.” And then the steady rhythm began and Janie couldn’t look away, couldn’t blink, their eyes transfixed on each other.
The feel of him, the way he filled her completely, the slight circular motion of each thrust had Janie on the brink of ecstasy.
And then he whispered, “Janie, sweet Janie,” and it sent her over, an incredible orgasm that had her seeing stars. And she felt him go and together they fell into each other, trying to catch their breath, having had the most perfectly in sync experience.
12.
Showered and dressed, Matt looked every bit the successful businessman he was. In her favorite charcoal grey suit, a white dress shirt and light grey tie, he kissed the tip of her nose as she handed him a cup of coffee, having figured out the complex machine in the kitchen.
She wore his dress shirt from yesterday, the sleeves rolled up, hanging loosely midway down her thighs. She had found eggs and bacon in the fridge and bread was in the toaster.
“Hope you’re hungry,” she smiled. “I can’t find placemats.”
Matt pointed to a drawer. She found a set of black linen placemats, the price tags still on.
“I don’t eat here much,” he shrugged. “And when I do, it usually comes in a box. Take out,” he added.
Janie set two places at the small breakfast bar in the kitchen and plated their breakfast. She sat down next to him and they ate breakfast, in his apartment, like it was the most normal and natural thing to do.
“More coffee?” she asked.
“No. Sadly I have to get to the office. I have an 8:30 meeting.”
Janie sighed, disheartened that he had to leave, that the weekend had come to an end.
“Stay here as long as you want. Ray will be waiting downstairs to take you wherever you need to go.”
“You trust me here by myself?” Janie was surprised by his invitation.
“I trust you,” he said as he kissed her on the forehead and headed off to work.
*****
Showers should not need an engineering degree to operate, thought Janie as she stood in Matt’s bathroom attempting to make water come out of one of the many heads. Her persistence finally paid off and soon she was glorying in the superb plumbing. Is it weird that this shower makes me deliriously happy? she mused. She took her time and was kind of disappointed when her fingers and toes had turned to prunes and she decided it was probably time to get out. She pulled a towel of the towel warmer and wrapped up her hair, then pulled another towel and wrapped it around her under her arms, then padded out to the bedroom looking for her clothes. As she picked up her bra and panties off the floor, Adele’s rich voice began to sing and Janie reached for her purse and retrieved her purse.
“Hi Katy.”
“Three texts are not enough!” she yelled. “I’m dying here! What’s going on with you and dreamy Matt?” she giggled.
Janie laughed and jumped on the bed, leaning back against the luxurious headboard. She enlightened Katy, starting with Yankee Stadium on Friday night, yachting with friends on Saturday, Sunday mass and family dinner, all the way to describing the most complex shower she had ever used.
“Shit, Janie! If I were you I wouldn’t be coming back! Stay with him!” Katy was serious.
“That is not an option. I think the reason it’s so good is because he knows I am leaving on Thursday. He doesn’t do relationships. He doesn’t do commitment.” Janie sighed.
“Make him!” Katy laughed.
They talked about t
he new doctor at the hospital making Katy’s life hell. They confirmed plans for Katy picking Janie up at the airport when she arrived back at PDX. They said their goodbyes and Janie placed the phone on the nightstand. She looked up and saw the dresser across from the bed, the dresser with all the frames on it she had not been able to see last night.
Climbing off the end of the bed, Janie could see what the expensive frames held now. There was a photo of his parents on a cruise ship. There was one of all the brothers together when Matt was about 16, she guessed. There was a photo of a young Matt standing in front a brownstone. Janie wondered if that was his first investment property he had spoken of. And there was one of Matt and a man in military attire. She guessed that must be Paul.
Feeling braver, Janie looked for the doors in the paneling that would lead into Matt’s office and gym. If you know what to look for they were easy to spot. The first door entered into a spacious gym, with every piece of exercise equipment you could think of. There was also a giant TV on the wall and a massage table. Not being much of a fitness buff, Janie returned to the bedroom, closing the door behind her. She opened the office door and entered a comfortable room with the same plush carpet as in the bedroom and the same wall of windows facing New Jersey. The focal point of the room was a large wooden desk that had two club chairs in front of it. There was a long sofa in front of the windows and a TV hanging on the wall. Bookcases lined the wall opposite the windows and they were filled with books and binders. It was all clean but slightly cluttered, not at all like the rest of the apartment which was sleek and modern. Janie cautiously stepped into the room and walked to the desk. There were file folders and papers stacked in one corner, some rolled up blueprints on the other side. Janie sat down in the leather chair behind the desk and imagined Matt working. Imagined herself bringing him a cup of coffee, Matt kissing her on the tip of her nose.
Janie snapped herself back to the present and left the office. She quickly dressed and put her hair in a ponytail and hung up the wet towels in the bathroom. She left his dress shirt hanging on the back of the chair and walked out to the great room. It was an amazing apartment. Matt was an amazing man.