Nicole was on her bed with a book on her lap while she flipped through the channels. When her door sprang open, she looked up.
“Hey, I thought that you were gonna try and sleep?” “I was, but I started thinking, and I came to a decision. I’m in love with Calix, and I didn’t want to see it. I was hiding my feelings from myself. I need to use your laptop. I’m getting on the first flight tomorrow and going home.”
Nicole smiled. “I’m glad, I knew you’d see it eventually. I’ve enjoyed having you here, and I’ll miss you.” Nicole got up and hugged Anya tightly. “Don’t let so much time pass between our visits again, okay?”
“Yes, but that goes both ways, though. Will you be able to take me to the airport in the morning?”
“Yeah, I told you I don’t go in till three.” Nicole reached for her laptop that was sitting on her nightstand and handed it to Anya. “Just let me know what time, so we can set the alarm if need be.”
“Okay.” Anya left Nicole’s room with the laptop. She sat down on the futon and started her search. Within fifteen minutes she found a flight with only one connection, better than when she flew out. It left at nine, and, now, that she did have luggage, she would have to get there at least an hour early to go through check-in, baggage, and security. Ticket bought, she went to tell Nicole her flight time.
*** Getting into the car Vinnie, Vito’s capo, handed Natalia an envelope. “A gift from Vito.”
Natalia looked at the thick envelope in Vinnie’s out stretched hand. “No, I need to call Vito first.”
Vinnie looked at her questioningly. “It’s important,” she replied to the look he gave her. Vinnie hesitantly pulled his hand back, set the envelope on his lap, and handed her his phone with it already calling Vito.
“Si, it’s done?”
“Vito?”
“Natalia, why do you have Vinnie’s phone?” “I needed to talk to you.” Glancing over at Vinnie, Natalia stopped talking and got out of the car and shut the door. “Vito, he threw me out.”
“What you’ve been over there for over forty minutes, and he just now threw you out and after?”
“No, he was drunk, very drunk. I could smell the scotch the minute he opened the door. I went in, and we were talking. He wasn’t active, you know what I mean? So then, then I started on him, you know? He was enjoying it, I swear, but he was calling me Anya. After a bit, he was more than ready, and he flipped me over, and we were about to start, and he looked at me, like really looked, and he just snapped. He jumped off me and screamed for me to get out. Then he walked to his room and closed the door, so I just left. I didn’t know what else to do. I’m sorry, Vito. I just couldn’t accept your gift without telling you.”
Vito was silent for a minute. “Ah, Natalia, always so honest. That’s why I always call you. I trust you. It’s not your fault. Calix has always been difficult, and, now, with what he is going through, well, anyway… You did me a favor, so take the gift.”
“I know, he told me about her leaving. I couldn’t get him up. He only responded when he had his eyes closed. Obviously, he must have been thinking of her. I know it’s not my place, but I don’t think he’s going to be with anyone else. He loves her too much, and his body only wants her. I hope to be loved that way someday. But, being little more than a prostituta (prostitute), I don’t think that will happen.”
Vito lightly chuckled. “He actually talked to you about her, he must really have been drunk. Don’t worry, piccolo (little one), there will be someone for you. I know things you do not know and, right now, don’t need to know but trust what I say. Now, have Vinnie take you home and rest. Ciao.”
*** The cold water hadn’t helped. Now Calix was cold and hard and wanted Anya even more. With his towel wrapped around his waist, he went to his dresser to get something to sleep in. Opening his drawer, he looked to the side that held Anya’s clothes. She hadn’t taken anything when she left. Her soft, sweet, smelling perfume bottle still sat on top of their dresser. He pushed his drawer shut as a thought came to him. Calix picked up her perfume, went to the bed, and sprayed her pillow. Then he went back to their dresser and returned her perfume to its resting spot. He opened the drawer that held her negligees and picked out the baby pink, soft, satin and lace one. He rubbed it with his fingers, feeling the material and thinking of when Anya had worn it last. Lifting it to his nose, he inhaled deeply. He closed his eyes in pleasure; it still held her scent.
He walked over to his bed, pulled the covers down, and crawled in. Shifting to his side, he lay his head on her pillow and still be able to smell her scent. He ran her negligee up and down his chest until he was aching and ready to burst. Taking himself in hand, he wrapped her negligee around his swollen shaft and started to pleasure himself slowly. Her smell fresh for him to breath in, thoughts of Anya beneath him moaning, the softness of the silk against his warm flesh. While he had started out slowly, he quickly sped up. He needed this release, and only Anya could give it to him. His breathing sped up; he started to grunt with his climax nearing. Oh how he wanted to spill himself into her. His head thrown back onto the pillow, he called out as his release came strong fast and hard. “Ahhhhhh, Anya, love, Anya, Anya, love, I want to be in you ohhhhhh,” he cried as he finished the last few pumps to empty himself completely. He cleaned himself up with her negligee and threw it down to the floor, hugged Anya’s pillow tight, and fell asleep.
Chapter 27 If it hadn’t been for the sleep aide Nicole gave her, Anya would not have been able to sleep, whether from excitement or still not having an answer from the test results she wasn’t sure.
She did, however, wake up before the alarm. She showered and packed then went to wake up Nicole. Driving to the airport, Anya started to feel a little nervous about her decision. She had called her mother while Nicole was getting ready. Her mother was actually happy for her and asked for her and Calix to fly over as soon as they could. Nicole was talking to her, but her words were going right in one of Anya’s ears and out the other.
“Now, I want you to call me when you land. Before you get consumed with Calix, okay?”
“Yes, thank you for being here for me on such short notice. I’ve enjoyed our visit. It’s your turn to come to me next.”
Nicole pulled up to the curb at the departure gate, got out with Anya, and hugged her goodbye.
“I love you, honey, don’t forget that.” “I won’t, you know I love you, too. Don’t work yourself to death, okay?”
“Okay, now go, or I’ll start crying.” Nicole chuckled. Anya walked to the door, turned, and waved. Then she went right to the check-in counter. Thanks to the little bit of clothing she’d bought and the small tote she had, she didn’t need to check her bag; it was small enough to be a carry on. She was very early, and the line to get through security was short, so she had to wait twenty-five minutes before she could board. Her stomach was flip-flopping. It will be okay, you’re doing the right thing. He loves you, he said so, so I just need to be fearless and tell him how I feel. The whole truth, holding nothing back as he did, she thought to herself.
The flight attendants went through their pre-flight speech and instructions. As they took off, Anya closed her eyes and worked on upping her courage.
*** Calix was still on Anya’s side of the bed, hugging her pillow with his face buried in it. The constant ring of his phone woke him up. He pushed up on his arms and looked around for his cell. God the ringing hurt his head. He hadn’t been hung over since his first night out drinking when he turned twenty-one. He finally saw his phone on his dresser next to Anya’s perfume bottle. He got out of bed, walking to the dresser to get his phone, still gloriously naked, having passed out that way and not bothering to put anything on as he woke.
“Hello.” His voice was gruff from sleep as he answered.
“Nipote (nephew).”
“Yes, Zio?”
“What happened last night?”
Calix was lost for words. “I uhm, I had a few drinks and went to bed.” “And stil
l asleep at eleven, I’d say you had more than a few, and what happened with Natalia?”
Of course, he would want to know; he sent her over.
“She came over late, we talked, and I was tired, so I asked her to leave.” “Bugiardo (Liar). Why did you treat her so poorly? She was there to comfort you.”
“Zio, I’m sorry. I will apologize to her. I just couldn’t. I was drunk. I didn’t really want her, my body only responded when I thought of Anya, and when I opened my eyes and didn’t see her looking back at me, I snapped. Again, my apologies.”
“Calix, you need to let go move on.” “Zio, with all due respect, it’s only been five days. Did you get over your love in less than a week?”
Vito exhaled. “No, I did not. I’m sorry I pushed. You’re family, I don’t want you hurting.”
It wasn’t often his uncle apologized. “I know, Zio.”
“You are hung over, no?”
“Yes, first time in a long time.” “Relax, take the weekend, and put yourself together. I want you at the office Monday. Your business is suffering. Business comes first, yes?”
“Yes, Zio.” Conversation over, Calix hung up. He walked to the bathroom for some aspirin before he threw himself back into bed, reaching once more for Anya’s pillow.
***
“Who was that?” Maria asked as she sipped her afternoon coffee. “Anya, she wanted to let me know she was flying home. She’s decided to go back to Calix.”
Maria’s eyebrows shot up in shock. “She is? Does, does she want to, or does she feel obligated?”
“She wants to. She finally
acknowledged that she had fallen in love with him, and, despite their beginning, she wants to be with him.”
“Oh, God’s grace, thank you,” Maria murmured as she marked the sign of the cross across her chest and kissed her Christ necklace. “He loves her, Carol. Vito has told me that when they speak, he is broken. He has been absent from work all week.”
“I know, Maria, and I know Anya wants him too. I raised my daughter to have thick skin, to never back down, to fight; I had to if she was going to survive her father, and I wanted her to be stronger than I was. When confronted with that deal, if she hadn’t had some sort of attraction or wanting for him deep down, she would have never agreed.”
Maria reached over the table and squeezed Carol’s hand. Carol’s phone began to ring again. She looked at the caller ID and saw that it is Tomas and frowned.
“What’s wrong?” “It’s Tomas. I was expecting him to call soon. He has to have put it together who is doing this to him. Not many men have no fear of him.”
“Don’t answer. Call your attorney tell him Tomas is harassing you.”
“I’ll block his calls, and tell Mr. King.” “You know, Carol, while we were speaking about Calix and Anya a crazy thought came to me. They can still get married on their wedding date. We will just change the venue to here, and I think we should not tell them. Just have them come and surprise them. What do you think?”
“I already told Anya to fly out as soon as they could, so I think we might be able to pull it off.”
Both women began to gleefully laugh at their wedding conspiracy.
*** Upon landing, Anya called for a car service to take her to Calix’s office. With the time change, Calix should still be at the office. Not knowing if he had appointments or not, she called his assistant.
“Hello, Calix Anastas’ office.”
“Hi, it’s Anya, can you tell me if Calix has any open time this afternoon?”
“Miss Richards?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Richards, Mr. Anastas hasn’t been since Monday.”
“Has he been sick?”
“Uhm no, ma’am. May I speak freely?” “Of course.” “Mr. Anastas has been very emotional, for lack of a better word, since
your departure.”
“Oh.” Anya’s voice dropped. She hurt him more than she had realized.
“Yes, Miss Richards, I believe you can find him at your penthouse.”
“Thank you.”
“No thanks needed. Glad to have you home.” Anya thanked her again and hung up. She taped the driver on the shoulder and told him the address change. Sitting back, she began to think on how she would go about apologizing to Calix. Her cheeks started to redden, and her body warmed as she thought of how she would like to apologize. She clenched her thighs together as a throbbing sensation began. Three weeks ago, she had no desire for love or sex. Now, she craved Calix. Their time apart had only intensified the craving.
It took only a few minutes to get to the penthouse. As they stopped in front of the building, Anya handed the driver some money. The driver got out, opened the trunk, and handed her tote to the doorman. Not knowing exactly what Calix would say or do after their last conversation, her nervousness came back. He’d said he would not bother her again, so would he consider this as her bothering him? The front desk staff greeted her as she walked in.
“Please, keep my tote down here until I call for it to be brought up,” she politely requested of the concierge.
“Yes, Ms. Richards,” he replied.
Chapter 28 Riding up the elevator, Anya pulled out a mini brush from her purse and brushed her hair. Then she got her small bottle of body spray and sprayed some on, trying to rid herself of the airplane smell. As the elevator doors opened, she pulled out her keys from her purse, took in a deep breath, and opened the penthouse door.
As she opened the door, all was quiet. She wondered if he was even home, but the front desk clerk hadn’t mention he was out. As she walked further into the apartment, she saw that the living room was a mess. The cushions on the couch were tossed around and out of place. On the bar, an open bottle of scotch sat with nearly all of it gone. He’d been drinking. The TV was still on in hushed tones. She walked down the hallway and saw that their bedroom door was closed. They never closed it; why was it closed now? She was starting to get worried; what if he had someone with him? After their
conversation, he might have turned to someone. She thought of the nearly empty scotch bottle; he didn’t drink that much in her brief experience with him. What if he had someone drinking with him? No, no, again, the front desk clerk would have discretely said something to her. She took in slow deep breaths, placed her hand on the doorknob, and slowly opened the door.
*** At work looked, Nicole at the clock then her phone. Anya should have landed and called by now. Nicole wasn’t too angry, though, no doubt Anya was too tied up with Calix to phone. She would call her
tomorrow after giving Anya the needed time to talk and reconnect with Calix. The desk phone began to ring, so she reached to pick it up.
“Emergency Room this is Nicole.” “Hey, this is Roger from the outpatient lab. I tried calling your place. I was trying to reach Anya Richards, she has you listed as an emergency contact.”
“Yeah, is there something wrong?” “No, I just had her test results there was a rush on them so, I thought I’d call all the numbers till I got a hold of her.”
“I forgot about her test, so what were her test results?” “Well, she’s healthy; all her sugar levels and her cholesterol are fine, and she is pregnant and will need to schedule a prenatal visit soon, so she can to find out how far along she is and the health of the fetus.”
“Shit.”
“Sorry, is that bad news?” “No, no, she flew back home today. I’ll have to call her later. Thanks for the call, Rodger.”
“No problem, bye.”
What should she do now? Should she call or wait? No, it could wait.
*** Anya opened the door and looked around. The bed was disheveled, and on top of the sheets was a passed out naked Calix on her side of the bed. She walked around to her side of the bed. On the ground, she saw what looked like a
crumpled pink silk nightgown, and her heart dropped. She reached down to pick it up. Why? She didn’t know. She was sadistically torturing herself, but she had to see it. As she h
eld it up, she recognized that it was one of hers, and she sighed in relief. Why is it out? And what is on it that’s making part of it stick together? God, he didn’t! A shocking thought came to her, and she dropped it back on the floor. She turned as she gently sat down on the side of the bed next to Calix.
She reached out and ran her fingers through his hair. He stirred a little and groaned as he squeezed her pillow tighter. She ran her finger down his cheek, and her thumb against his lips. His eyes squished together as he moaned. He must be really be hung over to not have woken up yet. Anya smiled as she looked down at him; he looked so cute, so peaceful in his slumber. She leaned down and kissed his lips softly. That woke him up in a startle, and he jumped and pulled back. He rubbed his eyes as he rolled onto his back and looked at Anya.
“Anya?” He was confused. Am I still drunk? he thought. But then he heard her voice.
“Yes, I’m sorry I startled you. If–if you want me to go, I will.”
“What are you doing here?” Anya guiltily dropped her gaze. “After our conversation last night—after I calmed down—I thought about everything, and the thought of not being with you didn’t sit well with me.”
“But...” “No, let me finish,” she cut in, placing a single finger over his lips to quiet him. “It took my mother and Nicole to help me see what I didn’t want to acknowledge. I hid the truth from myself because of my fear of being hurt. Hurt the way my father hurt my mother. My mother raised me to be tough, to fight. She didn’t want me to have her life. If I wasn’t attracted to you in some way deep down, I would never had gone to your office that morning. When my father came to me with that deal, I would have gone public with it or taken my mother away. I know I blew you off at the fundraiser. That was mostly because I was annoyed and pissed. I hate playing ‘Happy family’ and every male twenty-one to fortyfive was hitting on me, because they all want a chance at the Senator’s daughter. Then, that morning, I had those pre-nup terms because I was trying to protect myself. One of my biggest fears is to live my mother’s life, and then that morning you hurt me.” Calix frowned as she brought up that morning again. “And you were wrong to do that. I understand why what
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