Poison in Pumps

by Karen Anne

  I felt the corner of my mouth curl up at his morbid imagery. A small laugh escaped me. Just like Brit, he had a dark side, and I was a sucker for it. I ran a finger over the knot of the ring. It was so perfect in its simplicity.

  It was us.

  “Will you wear it?” David asked, his voice thick with emotion.

  I nodded in reply, afraid if I spoke at all I’d burst into tears again.

  He took the ring out of the box and put it on the ring finger of my left hand. “One day this will be a diamond, and because I’m going to be a famous rock star, it will be a diamond so big even Summer Hobbs will dub it obscene.”

  I laughed again and wiped away my tears. Summer was one of my sorority sisters and well, rather opinionated. I didn’t care how big future diamonds were. All I cared about was that David was in my future.

  When we went back to David’s apartment, Harry was gone. “I told him it would be a special night for us, so he’ll be back in the morning,” David explained. He took my hand and pulled me gently down the hallway toward his bedroom. David and I had slept together more times than I could count, but for some reason, I was anxious this time.

  Sure, we had spoken many times about one day getting married. But I was wearing his promise ring now, and suddenly, the world just became a lot more intense. David gave me a sweet kiss and asked that I wait in the hallway. I had seen his room a mess before, so I imagined it must have been a real disaster behind that door. I nodded and leaned against the wall while he disappeared behind the door. I looked down at the new ring on my finger, my stomach fluttering at the memory of his words. We were strong. We could survive a few months apart. At least, that’s what I told myself. Maybe one day I’d move to London, and our future rocker babies would have spiked hair and adorable British accents. The only problem in that plan was I didn’t know what it would mean for me. I wanted more than to just be someone’s wife, even if it meant being David’s.

  I heard some music playing from his room, recognizing the playlist he had compiled for me a few months ago. Love on the Brain by Rihanna. The doorknob turned, but only David’s hand slipped out, his pointer finger gesturing for me to come forward. Giggling, I answered his call and opened the door to reveal David standing with a single red rose. Behind him, his bedroom was illuminated by several candles and the bed—which was perfectly made— had red rose petals scattered across it.

  David’s smile was simply deviant as he licked his lips and gestured for me to turn around. I spun on my sparkly heels and bit my lip as he swept my hair to the side. “Isn’t that rose for me?” I asked.

  “No, it’s for me, love.” The zipper of my dress slid open slowly as David dragged it down, stopping at the base of my back. The petals of the rose swept down my spine. It was gentle and relaxing, and all too easy to surrender to his slow seduction. One of the advantages to dating an older guy— he’s not in a rush. He peeled the dress off my shoulders and it made a soft swooshing sound as it hit the floor. Stepping out of the dress, I spun around and grabbed his tie once more, pulling him closer and locking my lips with his.

  “I noticed you have on my favorite shoes, too. What do you call them again?” he asked in between delicious kisses. Unknotting his tie, I slid it out of his collar and tossed it to the floor, then began unbuttoning his shirt.

  “Come-fuck-me-pumps,” I answered while untucking his shirt and peeling it off his torso. The sight of his familiar tattoos drove me crazy. I wanted those arms wrapped around my body and his hands everywhere.

  David scooped me up and tossed me playfully on the bed. I squealed in delight, grateful that Harry wasn’t home to hear us. I had a feeling we were going to be loud tonight. After all, it wasn’t every night that a couple gets engaged to be engaged.

  “Well, if that’s what the shoes require.” He pulled his belt from the loops and unzipped his pants. “I must play by the rules.” He stripped his pants off and joined me on the bed. He still had the rose, and as he twirled its opened petals affectionately across my skin, I wondered how the hell I would survive without him.

  “Come here.” I took the rose and tossed it to the side then reached up to grab his face. I wanted to soak up every second I could with him. I needed to get drunk on David and just hope my love hangover would carry me through our time apart. His kisses were just what I craved, strong but tender. I could get lost in those kisses and savor every brush of skin against skin. There was a sense of safety he gave me as I laid beneath him. No other man had ever given me that security, and so I welcomed him to love me in the most intimate way.

  I wrapped my arms around his back and pressed his body close against mine. “Can we make tonight last forever?”

  He kissed me softly, tracing my lips ever so lightly with his tongue. The gesture sinfully sensual. “That’s the plan, kitten.”

  He marked a trail of kisses over my body as he moved lower, placing a gentle hand between my thighs. As though he were turning the key to release a lock, they parted, offering him everything. David swept his lips down, fluttering his tongue against my core, my panties acting as a barrier, taunting me further. My breathing became labored as I arched my back, biting down on my bottom lip, torn between wanting him to lavish me slowly with affection and having him claim my body as his, instantly gratifying both of us.

  My fingers raked through his hair as he deftly removed my panties, kissing me once more in my most sensitive of areas, this time no veil of satin between us. Tingles ran to every part of my body, awakening my senses. I tilted my hips up, silently showing him I wanted him to continue. David obliged, sweeping his tongue against my folds in warm, generous strokes, causing my mind to turn to mush. He got lost in his task, his hands strong and firm on my thighs while his tongue continued to unleash waves of pleasure throughout my body, emanating from that one sweet spot he had so cleverly discovered. I knew he would stay there, content to please me, but I needed him in my arms. “I want to feel you.” The words were soft, but he heard, nodding with a moan of satisfaction as he kissed my lips one last time.

  David slid back up to me, our limbs entangling under the sheets as he placed himself between my legs and entered me slowly, every inch causing me to release little sounds of satisfaction.

  We moved together. Breathed together.

  And I couldn’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together.

  FIVE

  “I still can’t believe he didn’t tell me,” Brit said, eyes closed as I rinsed the purple dye out of her hair in the kitchen sink. It ran down the drain in a soapy lavender rinse. If Summer could see us doing this in the kitchen she would murder us. I admit it was satisfying.

  “He told you everything else,” I said a bit defensive. “Let me have one thing that was a surprise, okay?” I half joked.

  Brit braved the risk of shampoo in her eyes and looked at me. “I know… you said you’re not mad, but I’m going to ask again. Are you mad?”

  “I’m not mad.” To be honest, I was still trying to figure out how I felt. There was the notion of betrayal by my boyfriend and best friend. The excitement that David was actually about to make his dreams come true and the weight of the new piece of jewelry on my finger that promised me one day we’d never be apart. It was a lot to feel just one thing, but mad wasn’t in the equation.

  “I bet he told Harry,” Brit said still hung up on the fact that David had shopped for a ring without her. I turned off the water and rung out her long locks of hair, squeezing out as much water as I could before handing her a towel. “Thanks.” She wrapped her hair in the towel and stood.

  “He probably didn’t. David tends to just make a decision and follow through.” I looked at the ring, wondering how long he’s had it. “I still can’t believe he’s leaving in a few days. This is all happening really fast.”

  “Funny, huh? You wait your whole life for something to happen, and when it does it bombards you so fast you barely have a moment to soak it in.”

  I dried my hands on the hanging kitchen tow
el, then checked the sink to make sure all evidence of hair dye was down the drain. “I just wish it wasn’t London. If he was in New York, I could see him on weekends.”

  “Yes, but New York didn’t give him his big break. London did. You can’t begrudge him for going.” Her words held some snark behind them. Is that what she thought? That I resented his success?

  I immediately became defensive. “I’m not. It’s just a lot to take in. I only found out about everything last night. I’m still processing. That’s all.”

  Brit’s chocolate eyes softened. “I know, but look at it this way, you’re here for his journey. You’ve been there before he was discovered, and when half the population is going crazy over David, you’ll be the one in his arms.”

  “I’m not sure that helps, sort of overwhelms me more.”

  “My point is, the hard part is over. Now it’s time to just relax and be proud.”

  “This is really happening, isn’t it?”

  “Yes girl.” She reached for my hand and held it up so I could see the ring. “And he made clear he wants you by his side as it unfolds.”

  “I’ve got a present for you,” David said a few days later as I hung my coat on the hook by the entrance of his apartment.

  “Another present for me?” My interest was piqued. “I need you to sign record deals more often.”

  “Yes.” He smiled. “Since I’ll be away, I got you something to hold while I’m gone.’

  “Aw, had I known that I would have worn a bow or something,” Harry said, opening a beer.

  David flashed Harry an evil glance. “That was not even remotely funny, mate.”

  “It was a little funny.” Harry winked and walked over to the couch and grabbed the remote. He channel-surfed and settled on a repeat of Shameless. I loved that show and was almost swayed to plop down next to him and crack open my own beer, but David reached for my hand and gave me a gentle tug.

  “Come with me.” David led me through the hall and to his bedroom door. He wrapped his hand around the knob and flashed me a grin before he pushed opened the door and stepped aside so that I could enter his bedroom. As soon as we walked in, I heard the soft mewing sound.

  “You did not.” I looked at him, stunned. When he said he had a surprise for me, I thought it was flowers or the next book in a series I read.

  On his bed was a big cardboard box with holes. He reached in and pulled out the most adorable fuzzball. “It’s a kitten for my kitten.” He winked at me as he took the little grey baby and cradled it against his chest. He was covering its tiny head with kisses, and my heart melted into a warm gushy pool.

  “Can I just say there is something unbelievably sexy about you holding that little baby!” David laughed, but I meant it, too. He was in a white tank top, and his tattoo sleeved arms were wrapped around the tabby mushy face.

  I stepped over and got a closer look at the kitten. I was never really a cat person. David knew this, but over the years of him calling me kitten, well, I had softened up to the idea of them. I may have even purred a few times for him in private on special occasions. Maybe.

  I scooped her out of his arms and nuzzled my nose against her soft head. “She smells like cookies.”

  “He smells like cookies.” He placed his hands on my waist. “And he needs a name.”

  “David, I can’t name him, because I can’t keep him.”

  “Why not?” He looked hurt. Our first attempt at parenthood was not going so well.

  “Because we have rules at the house. And no pets is a big rule. It’s not like I’m smuggling in a goldfish.”

  “Oh, I know that. He’s going to live here. When I come back we can get a place of our own and it’ll be the three of us.” My heart did a flip at his words. Of course we had spoken about living together before, but this sounded so set in stone, as if this London thing was just an annoying thing he had to do, like take a class in order to graduate. “Harry said he’d take care of him, but you need to visit. You have a key so you don’t need Harry to be home to let you in. That way the little bloke won’t forget who his mother is.”

  “So I’m a mother now? Engaged to be engaged and now a mommy. This is moving pretty fast considering my partner in crime is about to head overseas.” I gave David a sad face, but he ignored me.

  “Yes, you can be like that Targaryen girl on Game of Thrones. Mother of cats.”

  “Mother of cats,” I repeated. Then I shook my head. “That doesn’t sound as cool as Mother of dragons.”

  “Maybe that’s what you should name the little bugger.”

  “What?”

  “Dragon.”

  I lifted the fur ball up to my face so I could get a better look. He had bright green eyes and soft brown streaks across the grey that covered most of his body. His chin and belly were white. With a pink nose, he didn’t look very dragon-like.

  “He looks too wimpy to be called dragon.” I kissed the top of his head and felt the rumble of his little motor running. Cat person or not, I knew when I was defeated. He was officially the cutest thing I had ever seen. “What possessed you to get him?”

  “It was an impulse. I went for a ride on my bike, saw this animal shelter I had driven past a thousand times, and I went in. He was trembling in his cage, and I couldn’t leave him there. Not all alone.”

  My bottom lip quivered. Was the cat a metaphor for me? Did he feel guilty? Shaking away the doom of the inevitable, I suddenly had a daunting thought. “Please don’t tell me you put this little baby on your motorcycle.”

  “I did. He came with a tiny helmet and everything. He’s tougher than you think. I still say you should call him Dragon.” David waved his right arm, flashing the dragon tattoo that wound around his limb.

  I glared at him, and David laughed. “I called Harry, and he swung by with his jeep.”

  I sighed in relief. I didn’t think David would be stupid enough to strap the box to his bike, but I was glad he calmed my fears. “Are you sure having the cat live here is okay? He’ll only get bigger.”

  “Look, just because I’ll be gone for a while doesn’t mean you can’t still stay here. I figure you have a key, why not sleep here whenever you want. I know you need an escape from the sorority at times. And this little guy is going to need someone to snuggle with that smells better than my cousin.”

  “I can hear you!” Harry called from the living room.

  “Good, take a bloody shower, then!” David teased. Harry was meticulous when it came to grooming habits.

  “I don’t know.” I lowered my voice. “Wouldn't Harry feel weird?”

  “I think he’d feel weird if you weren’t around. We’ve both gotten used to you here a few times a week.”

  “Kris, you can come over whenever you want!” Harry called out.

  David raised a brow and bit down on his lip, waiting for me to seal the deal. “See? He’s fine with it. He’ll watch the cat and you get a cat. Will you keep him now? For me?”

  “One second.” I jogged out to the living room and plopped on the couch next to Harry. “You really don’t mind taking care of him?” I held the kitten up to Harry.

  “Him? Nah. How much damage could he do?”

  “Great!” I placed the kitten in his lap and kissed Harry on the cheek. “Congratulations, you’re a godfather!”

  Harry’s cheeks flushed, but he didn’t say anything, just stroked the kitten’s head, who was already curled up into a tiny ball on his lap. I jogged back into the bedroom, closed the door and peeled off my shirt.

  “What are you doing?” David said, laughing as I pulled him over to the bed. I shoved the cat box onto the floor and gently pushed him so he fell against the pillows.

  “What does it look like I’m doing?” I straddled him and matched my lips to the tattoo kiss. “I’m thanking you for my present.”

  “So.” David ran his fingers through my hair and relaxed beneath me. “It was a good present, then?”

  I purred in response.

  I had my h
ead cradled against David’s chest, listening to his heart beat while he slept, my fingers gently tracing the ab lines in his stomach. It was a perfect moment. Until the silence was broken by a retching sound.

  Pulling the covers off, I jumped out of bed and turned the light on. The kitten must have snuck in earlier when David went to the bathroom. He had his face in my Jimmy Choos, brown mush oozing out of his mouth and all over my heels.

  “Stop! No! Bad!” I clapped my hands, and David stirred behind me.

  “Huh? Kris?”

  I ignored him, too engrossed in the task of getting the cat away from my perfect pumps. Clapping my hands again, louder this time, the cat ran under the bed. I leaned over and lifted one of the heels and looked at the damage. The smell was revolting.

  “That little beast threw up in my shoes!” I dropped the shoe back to the floor, disgusted.

  David sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes. “Sorry? What was that?” He was still asleep and completely useless.

  “Your furry son threw up in my heels.”

  “Oh. Is that all?” He patted the bed for me to return and rolled over.

  “David! This needs to be taken care of.”

  “I’ll clean it up…later.” He buried his head against the pillow.

  “David! My shoes are ruined!”

  “I’ll buy you new shoes… come to bed.”

  “I don’t want new shoes. I want my old shoes without the vomit.”

  “I want you. Come to bed.”

  “Where is the little beast?”

  “A few hours ago he was a sweet baby. Now he’s a beast?”

  “A few hours ago he wasn’t a savage shoe murderer.”

  “Hey…” The door creaked open, and Harry poked his head in, looking sleepy and squinty without his glasses. “Why are you shouting? It’s barely six.”

  “The beast threw up in my shoes.”

  “Stop calling him that.” David got out of bed and looked around for the fur ball. He was still hiding under the bed. David scooped him into his arms and held him close to his heart. He was way more maternal than I was. “He's shaking. He knows he did something wrong. The food just didn’t agree with him.”