by Ju Ephraime
It took four glasses of champagne to get her to stop crying and to start hiccupping. It was a good party, and she promised through hiccups to keep in touch with everyone, especially her partners, who she would have to inform the moment she had everything in place for the new office.
She was excited about that, but to be honest, in the scheme of things, it really was secondary. She didn’t feel too guilty because she had not requested any company funds to get everything off the ground. The venture would be on her until it took off, and she was fine with that.
The morning of her trip dawned bright and clear, and she viewed this as a good omen. She promised herself she wouldn’t let anything or anyone get in the way of her happiness, and she wouldn’t let anything destroy her mood. She didn’t intend to arrive in Martinique with a chip on her shoulder. She wanted this trip to go as smoothly as possible. She didn’t anticipate any unexpected problems.
Her flight was on time. She got her usual window seat in first class. She purposely bought first class because she wanted to arrive, as she left, not one hair out of place. Although she knew this should be the least of her worries. Whether or not Wolfe would want her back, was where she intended to focus. But then again, if he really loved her as he claimed, she shouldn’t have to worry about the unexpected. Nevertheless, she also knew one could never be too certain about anything when human emotions were involved.
She closed her eyes and settled down to enjoy the flight. Soon, she was caught up in one of her many dreams about Wolfe. She must have been well into it because she woke to the flight attendant calling out to her.
“Miss, is everything all right?”
It took her a minute to orient back to her surroundings.
“Yes, I’m fine,” she told her. God, what sounds was I making? She hoped it wasn’t anything too revealing. Taking out a book, she occupied herself with reading and was fortunate to remain awake for the rest of the flight.
T wenty-two
Wolfe left his home with just enough time to check in and clear security. He purposely didn’t want to arrive too early because he detested sitting around at the airport waiting for flights that were late. He had arranged to have his luggage sent on ahead by FedEx to avoid the long delay going through customs and the baggage pick-up line at the other end. All he had was his carry-on with a change of clothes and a few personal items. He had the address of the main FedEx office in Connecticut, which is where he’d arranged to pick up his luggage.
He didn’t waste time thinking about his reception from Daphne because he wasn’t going to allow her to hide behind her business needs when he got there. He knew he could work anywhere, and he planned on remaining in America as long as it took to persuade her to his way of thinking.
He hoped it didn’t go beyond six months because then he’d have to cash in some of his stocks to tide him over, but he’d look into this when the time came, if necessary. He wasn’t going to give up without a fight. He’d always been told he was a lucky devil. He never really saw the evidence of it, but he was counting on that luck now. He needed it.
He was upset when he went to check in to learn the aircraft was delayed. He stopped in at Aeropresse to pick up a copy of Le Nouvel Observateur, prepared to wait, but reading was impossible. He had read the same page for the third time and still didn’t know what it said. Finally, the PA system announced the arrival of the aircraft, but there was still a wait while passengers disembarked. With gritted teeth, he was starting on the fourth reading when he felt a prickling in the back of his neck, as he used to when Daphne was around. Suddenly his body temperature was rising. Thinking it was because of the crowd, he stood up, glancing at the line of disembarking passengers and almost tripped on a baby carriage. Was this Daphne walking toward him?
He shook his head and looked again, thinking he had Daphne on the brain. But sure enough, it was indeed Daphne, looking like a vision in off-white and gold. For a moment, surprise had him speechless and rooted to the spot.
Just as he was about to call out to her, she turned and saw him, and she tripped over her wheeled carry-on. That was when he was galvanized into action, lunging at her to keep her from falling. He caught her just in time.
“Wolfe? What are you doing here?”
Wolfe couldn’t think, couldn’t concentrate on anything other than the feel of Daphne in his arms. The sound of her voice seemed to cause a sensation to spiral from his head to the soles of his feet. The feeling was so intense that he could only stand there in the middle of the airport terminal holding her and repeating her name, over and over. He didn’t dare kiss her. He knew he wouldn’t be able to stop.
Wolfe’s mind was buzzing. Does her presence here on the island mean what I want it to mean? He was too full of nervous excitement to think straight. He needed to get out of this public terminal; people were beginning to stare. For this most private moment, he wanted no audience.
“Come,” he said and took her to a quiet corner of the terminal.
It was only then that he allowed his senses to open and inhaled deeply, taking in her familiar perfume. She looked a bit tired and appeared a bit gaunt. Her beautiful eyes had dark circles beneath them, but she was still his Daphne... his own beautiful, sensuous Daphne. Her perfume wreathed through his senses as he reached for her, bent his head, and brought his mouth down to cover her lips in a light, questing kiss. Her lips parted easily beneath his, and he claimed her mouth, tasted, savored and plundered just a little before settling in to entice her.
No enticement was needed. She plastered herself against him, her breasts to his chest, her hips to his upper thighs, causing every nerve ending in his body to snap to attention. His beast screamed to be let loose. Her hands slid up to his shoulders, gripped, then eased down to his nape and into his hair, fingers twisting, lightly gripping, a suggestive urging that his instincts needed no help in translating.
His response was more instinctive than deliberate, yielding to her demand and letting their mouths meld, their tongues tangle in a more flagrant, more explicit engagement than anything he had planned on doing in the public terminal.
Her response to him was just as explosive, urging him on with heated responses. It was only when a small gasp escaped from her that he became aware once again of his surroundings. He had to take a deep, steadying, breath before putting her away from him to give him a breathing space to clear his lust-fogged brain. For goodness sake, we’re still in the airport terminal. We have to get out of here now. What is it about this woman that makes me lose control every time I am with her?
“Daphne,” Wolfe said, leaning his head against her forehead to regain his composure. “Why are you here? And why didn’t you let me know you were coming?”
Daphne took a deep breath. “I came back to accept your offer… if it still stands, and to apologize to you for not doing so, when you first asked me.”
“Are you kidding me? ‘If it still stands’? Is this supposed to be a joke, Daphne? Please don’t toy with me. I am not in the mood. I will have you as long as there is breath in my body and beyond! There is no, me, without you."
“Speaking of which,” Wolfe said, “I am booked on the next flight leaving for America. I have to cancel.” He pulled out his phone and made a couple phone calls. First, he called the airline to cancel his flight and next to FedEx to stop them from shipping his luggage. After he was done the phone calls, he took her hand in his. “Now let’s get out of here.”
Daphne looked up at him, her mouth trembling as she willed her tight throat to relax enough for speech. Her body became infused with heat, and her heart rate sped up. She felt as if she’d been running instead of just sitting on the airplane.
“Why are you at the airport? And what do you mean, you were on your way to the U.S.?” she asked again.
“I am–or I was—on my way to America,” he responded.
“You are? Were? I don’t understand.”
“You will understand soon enough,” he said, in typical Wolfe fashion, and
her heart soared.
She placed her hand in his and walked out of the airport terminal with him, thankful she didn’t have to deal with her luggage. It was coming via FedEx. She would spend her time squeezing his hand to make certain this was really happening. She felt as if she were floating. Finally, she was able to inhale without experiencing pain.
Even though she told him she had a room reserved at the hotel, he informed her in no uncertain terms that he was taking her home. He kept his eyes firmly on the road and didn’t look in her direction once. It was as if it was too painful to look at her. Conversation was non-existent, as usual. She knew Wolfe was more comfortable with the silence and spoke very little when he was driving, but today, he was even more so, and the silence was driving her up the wall.
“What have you been doing since I left?” she asked.
“Do you really want to know?” he replied.
“I wouldn’t ask if I did not want to know. So what have you been doing?”
“Hurting like hell,” he told her. “I’ve never doubted myself so much as I did since you left. I hope I never have to go through this again.”
“I will make it up to you when we get home and for a long time after that,” she said, putting her hand on his lap.
“Don’t! I don’t think I can handle it now.”
“What, I can’t touch your thigh?”
“You can touch me anywhere right now but there.”
“Be careful what you say to me because I will touch you anywhere and everywhere.” With that, she moved her hand to his nape.
He drove into his garage, and he rushed over to open her door. She was out as soon as he came to a stop and cut off the engine. They reached for the elevator button together, and they were only able to make it through the front door when he turned to her with a growl and his lips were on hers, his tongue probing and stroking. His hands were all over her body. His first instinct was to make her pay for putting him through the hell he’d gone through. But as he angled his mouth over hers and engaged with her, he heard an insistent voice urging him to tread cautiously, to control his primal urges. He didn’t want to scare her away again. He’d promised to woo her gently if he was given a second chance, and he had to do just that, as much as his instinct wanted to conquer and possess.
He gentled his approach, and he set himself out to tempt her, to seduce in earnest, to stoke the hunger that he knew simmered beneath her calm exterior. He was rewarded when her lips softened and she returned the kiss with just as much pent-up hunger as he felt, leaving no doubt as to the extent of her need for him.
She was with him, through the greedy, heated caresses. Her small moan when he broke the kiss was fuel to the fire. He came back, sliding his lips to the hollow beneath her ear then her throat while his hands stroked the underside of her breasts through her clothes. Her nipples were like pebbles against his hands.
God, she felt like heaven. His beast began to purr, demanding that he take what was his. He didn’t want to frighten her because his hunger for her was frightening even him. In the past, he’d always been aware of his need and able to control it. This, however, was uncharted territory, very new, and on a totally different level. He knew he had to slow down. Otherwise, he’d expose her to a side of himself he had, until now, kept hidden from her.
Daphne was not intimidated. She matched him move for move, holding nothing back. Wolfe spread his hands and pressed his palms to her back, molding her to him to reacquaint himself with every curve, every muscle, the indentation of her waist, the flare of her hips, and swell of her butt, which he cupped in his left hand while his right hand caressed her breasts, moving from one to the other.
She moaned against his mouth. She heard the sound and was only vaguely aware it was coming from her. She was happy, so happy to be here with Wolfe. She felt as if her heart would explode any minute. She wanted him inside her now, but she was going to let him lead this dance and willingly follow where he led.
Wolfe was as hard as a rock, his cock thick and heavy, pulsing against her. He was trying to refrain from ravishing her right where they stood in his entrance hall, but if she kept this up, he wouldn’t be able to keep his beast under control. He’d denied himself for several months, and he was raring to go.
He had never experienced this level of need before, and he didn’t know how to go about this gently. He was literally aching. They were both breathing hard. He could feel the thundering beat of his pulse in his ear. As if sensing his dilemma, Daphne reached with both hands and hugged him, resting her head against his chest while she whispered her apology for putting him through this unimaginable torture.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
That did it.
“You’ll have to apologize to me again, and again, and again, but not by words, by deeds. I will tell you when to start, but for now, I have to taste these.”
Saying this, he undid her dress, then placing his hands firmly beneath her butt. He raised her and placed her on his right thigh while proceeding to lick and suck her nipple through the fabric of her bra, all the while applying pressure with his thigh on the part of her body that was screaming for attention.
Wolfe stopped for a moment and looked down at her. Breathing hard, he removed his thigh as he growled, “It’s time for your apology.”
He stood back from her after he unhooked her skirt and let it fall to the floor, so she could step out of it. He slid her blouse off. Her bra was wet from his mouth sucking on it. He unhooked her bra, allowing her breasts to spring free. His hands closed about them. She gasped, arching into him. He lifted each breast in his hands as if they were precious jewels and he was judging their weight.
She stood in front of him, in only her panties and stockings. He rolled them down until they were wrapped around her feet. He removed her shoes and lifted her out of them.
He allowed his hands to linger, caressing and smoothing the sleek curves of her legs as he reached between her thighs and used his finger to enter her.
He put her away from him for a moment so that he could admire the picture she presented. She stood in front of him, naked. Her breasts were high and peaked, the nipples hardened, and her flat stomach with the curves of her hips and thighs created a frame for the tight curls that drew his eyes and then his hand. He couldn’t help himself.
Daphne could feel his desire beating at her. There was a tremor to his hand when he’d felt how wet she was. Daphne savored the moment, reveling in the stark lust on his face, and then she reached for him and began undoing his shirt. He put his hand over hers, as if to stop her, but she was having none of it.
“It’s no fun for me to be naked and you fully clothed,” she explained as she began undoing the buttons of his shirt. He stood passively, allowing her to have her way. She removed the shirt, discarding it in the pile he’d created with her clothing. She undid his belt and removed that, and finally, she was at the enclosure trapping his erection.
She eased his trousers down, avoiding looking at his erection, which had sprung free the moment she lowered his boxers. His pants and boxers were bunched around his ankles. She couldn’t lift him as he had her, so she looked up at him, and he reached down and removed his shoes. When he reached for his trousers, she put out her hand to stay him. She lifted one foot at a time until she’d worked the trousers and boxers off him.
He was standing naked in front of her. She deliberately kept her head down and didn’t look up at him because she wanted to surprise him with her apology.
The evidence of his arousal dripped from the broad head of his penis, which had turned a deep purple in color. She knelt with his erect penis level with her face. Grabbing him by the back of his thighs, she gazed up at him with eyes and whispered against the head of his penis, “I apologize,” and then she opened her mouth and took him in with a deep-throat pull. She alternated between kissing, licking, and rolling her tongue around the sensitized head, as if it was her favorite lollipop and she could not get enough of it.
/> The fall of her hair brushed his thighs, and his breathing hitched at the sight of her kneeling at his feet, pleasuring him. He could barely breathe, waiting for what came next. As she blew gently on his engorged penis, his fingers tensed in her scalp. He thought she’d taken him deep the first time, but it turned out that was a practice run for her because she practically swallowed the entire thing down her throat. He was a big man by any standard, so that was a feat. He set his teeth and tried to let her control this, but when she took his balls into her mouth, rolling them under her tongue, he thought he would explode out of his skin.
Wolfe heard himself moan, and he began pulsing under her ministrations. He felt the tension coiled, felt himself on the verge of losing control as he hissed through his teeth.
Daphne heard the sound coming from him, and it delighted her. She was determined to do this her way. This was her apology, and there would be no doubt of her complete apology when she was finished. She gave herself up to the moment, to pleasuring him, as he’d so often pleasured her. The salty tang of him filled her senses with his own unique essence. She reveled in this, loving him this way, having him at her command. Her heart was rejoicing. She took him in deep again then cradled his balls in her hand while licking from the base of his penis back to the broad head. Every time she sucked on the head, he made a hissing sound in his throat. She felt him coming apart.
“Stop!” he said.
“Why,” she asked.
“I don’t want this coming to an end too quickly, my darling, I missed you so much.”
She heard the strain in his voice because it came out in the form of a growl. She looked up at him, as he reached down and brought her off her knees, lifting her high. She had to grab his shoulders for balance, and then she felt him brace his legs as he brought her to him.