by Pike, Leslie
For the next couple of hours the conversation goes from favorite places to live to our worst jobs. From spoiled child actors to politics. We even discover some clients we have in common. It runs the gamut, and turns the night into a special connection of old friends and new.
As usual, Matt has made an impression. His brand of humor seems to fit perfectly among the people he just met. I’m not surprised. All of them are strong personalities. There’s not a wilting flower in the bunch.
And Maggie’s strong sense of self is admired by both the women and the men. Everyone likes a woman who can and does speak up for herself. Especially when she’s with a strong A-type man like Matt.
I find myself thinking about how this group feels so natural. Even the movie star among us soon fades into just a guy. Like Parker said.
When Steven brought out the cigars, the men retreated to the backyard to enjoy them. The women attempted to clean the table, but I resisted.
“No. Leave everything right where it sits. Parker and I will clean it up. Let’s just talk.”
“I like the way you operate,” says Nicki, putting down the one remaining chili relleno.
“So, Parker told Steven you all met on a plane flying to Cancun.”
“Yep. Did he tell you about the turbulence?”
“Oh God. Don’t remind me,” Maggie says, hand to heart. “If it wasn’t for the fact Matt was next to me I would have had a heart attack.”
“He said it was kind of a rough flight, but Steven didn’t elaborate.”
Maggie and I start to protest at the same time.
“Rough? We thought we were going to die!” I say.
So we tell Bliss and Nicki the entire crazy story of how we met, starting with the flight from hell. All four of us are laughing hysterically at Maggie’s description of Matt’s relentless attempts to convince her to have sex, when the guys return.
“You all seem to be hitting it off,” Matt says, taking his seat at the table.
“Baby, I was telling the girls how you sexually harassed me for the entire Cancun trip.”
“Harassed you?! Are you kidding, woman? I couldn’t keep you off me!” He looks around at the eight of us. “After all, it’s hard to resist the kid.”
Chapter 15
Parker
When Natalie came to stay with me a few weeks ago I introduced her to the parents and she met more of my friends. This trip to Santa Barbara will be more about her life apart from her family. We’ve only got four days before I have to be back for work.
Even though I decided to drive instead of fucking with the hell of flying Southwest, I’m self-contained with one carryon. It’s all a man needs for anything under a week. That’s my rule of order. Try to bring as little as possible. We will be naked most of the time anyway. What a plan.
Weather wise it’s such a great day. Perfect for driving Pacific Coast Highway and the 5. California puts on one of its best shows between my place and Santa Barbara. The ocean, the Santa Ynez Mountains, a dramatic backdrop on either side. It’s really the American Riviera. No wonder the prices of real estate are in the stratosphere.
As I drive through the downtown the Mediterranean style stucco buildings set a mood I’ve always liked. Red-tiled roofs, pristine streets, perfect weather. It all makes for a postcard scene. No wonder that missionary built the Mission here. How could you be in this spot and not want to stay?
And now, decades after consistent growth, the wineries and restaurants have drawn even more people looking for Paradise. This place looks an awful lot like it.
Okay, I’m getting close. Three hundred feet ahead. She sent me a picture of her place and I think that’s the building on the right. Siri’s voice telling me I’ve arrived confirms it. Natalie said to drive into the underground lot and park in the guest area. As I do that I’m texting her.
Me: I’m here. Parking.
It takes a minute before she responds.
Natalie: I can hardly wait to see you!
Me: I’m coming. Don’t keep your pants on.
Natalie: Unfortunately I have company. Neighbor. Just get your ass up here!
Fuck. That’s a cockblocker. Maybe we can get rid of her. She should figure the situation out on her own. Boyfriend arrives, horny lovers, get the hell out of the condo.
I grab my roll on, lock the truck and head for the elevator. As I’m pressing the Up button another car pulls into a nearby spot for residents. The guy gets out and moves quickly to join me.
“Hold it!” he calls and lifts an open palm.
I oblige, even though I’m imagining pretending not to have heard him. No. Don’t be a dick.
The guy slides in to the small elevator and we’re both conscious of invading each other’s personal space.
“Thanks, man. I’m going to four,” he says.
Unfortunately that’s the floor I’m going to too. I’m sizing him up and for some reason he’s doing the same to me once he saw four is the only floor pushed. I caught him looking at my luggage. My radar goes up. This guy is good-looking and he’s straight. Wonder if he lives here? If he’s seen Natalie there’s a one hundred percent chance he’s tried to fuck her. Now I’m pissed. Asshole.
But I can’t let him know. So I smile and he takes the bait.
“Visiting Natalie?”
Fuck me.
“That’s right.”
I offer no other details. Let him twist.
“We’re neighbors. She’s a great girl. But I don’t have to tell you that. You her brother?”
Ha! Okay, now I see you’re interested and hoping I’m not a threat. Sorry to burst your bubble, but I’m your greatest threat, shithead.
The door slides open and we exit the elevator. I wait for a few beats before answering his question.
“No.”
That’s it. One word and a grin confirming his worst nightmare. He nods and turns toward his condo.
“Later.”
As he puts the key in his lock, Natalie’s door is opening. She jumps into my arms.
“I heard the elevator! Kiss me, baby!”
Before I do, I look over her shoulder at the man. He’s watching and I see his jaw muscle twitch. Good.
I take the indecent kiss offered and given in return. She tastes like honey. My dick agrees.
“Come in! My friend is just about to leave. We have to go by the office. I got a new offer I have to send for some clients. Then we have reservations for lunch.”
I put her down. “Is it absolutely necessary? I have reservations with your pussy.”
She giggles and takes me by the hand, leading me inside.
“Let me introduce you to my downstairs neighbor. Parker, this is Violet. Violet, this is my boyfriend, Parker.”
The feminine old-fashioned name doesn’t go with her. The woman looks like she belongs on Venice Beach, lifting weights or doing pull-ups for the tourists. I’ve never seen such developed muscles on a woman. No stuntwoman or bodybuilder has bested her in that department. Looks like steroids are involved. The square jaw confirms my take on things, contradicting the long blonde hair.
“Hi, honey,” she says in a deep voice.
This is a guy. Yep. The hands are masculine and now that I look there’s an undeniable Adam’s apple. But I will use the pronoun she seems to prefer.
“Hi. Are you girls up to no good?”
Shit, I can go along with however she identifies. I’m just happy Natalie’s other neighbor wasn’t entertaining her.
“Always and forever, handsome. Boy, Natalie, where you been hiding this one?”
“I’m keeping him chained up so other women don’t get any ideas.”
“Good plan. Don’t discount the men either. I know lots of men that would love to get a little taste of that.” Violet winks when she proposes the idea.
I’m not sure how to respond, but I’ll take it as a compliment, secure enough to laugh at the suggestion.
“Listen, I have enough competition with the women!” Natalie says,
pointing a finger at her friend. “I hate to rush you, but Parker and I have a lunch reservation.”
“Oh honey, no problem. I’m outta here,” Violet says, rising from her barstool. “Give me a call next week after your man has finished with you,” she chuckles.
“Violet, I’m never going to be finished with her.”
She finds it funny and laughs.
“Good answer. He’s a keeper, Natalie.”
* * *
“I want to show you my offices. Just for a quick stop.”
She pulls her Mercedes to the curb and shuts off the engine.
“Nice. Beautiful building, great location. But I bet it’s hard to find a bad one in this town.”
We exit the car and right away I see what an upscale business this is. Even from the outside it screams money.
“Our clients are celebrities, investors, banks even. We have to be able to give them more than other brokers. That’s why we only hire the best. Come on, let me show you.”
I hold the ornate iron door open for her and let her pass. Inside there’s a quiet buzz filling the space. Natalie watches my reaction.
“I’m impressed.”
“Thank you. We have negotiators, marketers, creative designers. All our realtors are award winners. It’s a personal coup to work here. Not to brag. It’s just fact.”
I lean in and whisper discreetly, “You’re a special woman. I see it more each day.”
Her smile and pressed lips tell me she likes my observation.
“Let me look over that contract and give it to my assistant. We’ll be out of here shortly.”
“Take your time.”
As she attends to business, I’m aware of the eyes discreetly looking me over. All the offices are glass walled, so I can see them too. The man in the first room lifts his eyes in my direction and then quickly looks away. The well-dressed young woman isn’t so opposed to scanning me head to toe.
It makes me slightly uncomfortable as if I’m being observed by a group of aliens from a distant planet. Maybe they’re considering an anal probe to see if they can learn something valuable about my species.
Not sure what to do next, so I take a seat in the rich leather club chair against the wall. Now I can be the observer. Everyone resumes their tasks at hand.
Natalie approaches. “Okay. We can go to lunch now. I don’t have to be back today.”
That’s great news to me. I’m planning on spending a few hours or four in bed later this afternoon. Walking out the door into the bright sunlight I take her hand and lift it to my lips. A gentle kiss.
“I liked seeing where you work. Now I’ll be able to picture where you are during the day.”
Once inside the car we take a moment for a discreet kiss. I’d never do more in front of her business in case an employee or client was peering out the window. It sucks to be a grownup sometimes.
“The restaurant is just a couple of blocks down on the right. It’s called The Queen’s Plate.”
She starts the car and pulls away into the steady flow of traffic.
“The traffic here is getting as bad as downtown Los Angeles.”
“I know. But your view is so much better. At least we have the mighty Pacific to gaze at while we travel bumper to bumper.”
We move slowly toward our destination which I can see ahead. One Queen Palm stands guard in front. Oh. That’s why. It’s a small narrow building with a roof patio. The heads of diners are visible under a large red canopy. Looks cool.
As we approach a man gets in his car and pulls out of his parking space in front of the restaurant.
“Alright! Pole position!” Natalie says with a smile.
“You seem to have the luck of the Irish as far as parking goes.”
“It’s my superpower,” she says chuckling.
We get out and I load the meter. Taking her hand we walk through the open door and up to the hostess.
“Good afternoon. Two for lunch?”
“Yes,” I say. “Is there room on the patio?”
“Let me see.”
As she looks over the seating chart I put an arm around Natalie’s waist. “Is that okay with you?”
“Yes. Perfect. I was hoping you’d be able to see the view. It’s spectacular.”
“Right this way,” the hostess says, walking ahead of us.
We climb a narrow stairway that has photos of old Santa Barbara on the walls.
“This place has been here since the eighties?” I ask.
“Yes. Not too many restaurants can say that.”
The stairs lead to a medium-sized footprint of a patio. The canopy protects the diners from the bright sun, or on the odd day rain. And the view. It’s fantastic. Gorgeous. It’s ocean and sailboats. It’s beachgoers and umbrellas. To the right are the surfers lining up to catch the best waves.
“Wow. Beautiful.”
We’re led to a small table against the low stucco wall.
“Here you go. Your server will be with you shortly.”
And she’s gone, leaving Natalie and I to get settled. I hold out the chair for her.
“You know I love that,” she says, looking over her shoulder.
I take my seat. “What?”
“Your gentlemanly ways. It’s refreshing.”
“Isn’t that something most men do?”
“Most isn’t all.”
“I don’t know what kind of an idiot wouldn’t.”
Her eyes lift to a place somewhere behind me and her face visibly pales.
“Well, you’re about to.”
“What a coincidence. Hello, Pussycat.”
Before turning I feel the heat rise to my face. What the fuck.
“Hello, Alex. And please refrain from calling me that again. I know I told you that already.”
Good thing she spoke up because he was about to get a fist in his annoying fucking face. I watch him walk up between us and completely ignore me. He’s trying too hard. I do the opposite. I stare him in the eyes and smirk, making sure he knows I don’t consider him any kind of a threat.
“Sorry. Force of habit. John and I are just over there having a drink. Hey, we could join you. You up for that?”
This time it’s my turn. “No. We aren’t. But thanks for asking. This is a private party.”
I love that Natalie is just smiling the hell out of the moment. No verbal agreement necessary. Awesome.
The look on the prick’s face is exactly what I was hoping for. He knows he’s outmatched, out gunned, outsmarted and out of options. But it doesn’t take away from the fact if he could he’d punch me in the face. Think again.
“No worries. You two have a good lunch. I’ll call you this weekend,” he says casually.
“Whatever for?” She says it with knitted eyebrows and narrowed eyes.
“Just to catch up. Talk then,” he says, turning and walking away with a too casual gait. The guy’s trying to look cool. It isn’t working.
At first there’s no further discussion about the man. I’m trying to consider him a minor distraction like an annoying fly you swat at. But it isn’t working.
“He pisses me off. I don’t like how he ignores what you tell him,” I say.
“He means nothing. Let’s not waste our time talking about him.”
“I’m just telling you, my fuse is short with this asshole. There’s a limit.”
Chapter 16
Natalie
The door closes behind us, cutting all ties with the world. It’s just he and I now. The very concept of time is changing with his affect. I want to be with him every day and I think he wants the same. It’s a kind of torture when we are in two different places.
“Let’s shut off our phones,” he says, taking the cell from his pocket.
The look I’m getting is clear. I see the animal in Parker rise. Ohhhh. It’s the one that showed up in Cancun that first time. Somewhere in the back of my mind I hear the call. ‘Release the hound!’
I disable the phone and leave it
and my purse on the foyer table. I’m in his arms before I can take another step.
The kiss. I’m carried to that world only he and I occupy. The one that consists of pure pleasure. Our tongues touch and tease the others, and my pussy pinches with desire. I’ve never been kissed by another man like this. It’s with patience and appreciation. It’s controlled desire which waits just beyond the doing.
He starts taking off his clothes. Right here, a mere two steps into the condo. I’m going to watch the show. First the shoes get kicked off. He loses the watch and it gets placed next to the phones. He lifts the soft shirt over his head and stands shirtless in front of me. Now the pants.
It’s a slow reveal. Each button released from its buttonhole captivity. As the pants drop to the floor he steps out of them and removes the socks in one smooth move. Now it’s just his boxer briefs between me and that exquisite cock. Gimme.
I move in front of him and put my fingers on either side of the waistband, slowly lowering them to the perfect first stop. The peen ravine. He’s got the best I’ve ever seen, two channels pointing the way down in case I get lost in his six pack. He lets me take it from here.
My hand moves across the fabric and plays with his desire. I tease my touch, getting near the growing bulge but not settling on it. A low moan slips from his lips and when it does I sense my panties getting a bit wet. Anticipation is a glorious thing.
There’s a moment when my eyes lift to his and all that we want from the other passes between us. All without words. Lust, connection, love. My hand slips under the elastic and wraps around his manhood. It never fails to metaphorically take my breath away. It’s stunning. That’s all. Just perfect. It brings out the gypsy in me. Every time.
“Baby,” is all he says. But it’s heavy with control. Like it’s taking everything he has not to take me here. Taking my face in his palms he kisses me. Long, deep, till it feels like there’s nothing else that could be as good as this moment. But I’m wrong. He starts to undress me.
He turns me around and unzips my dress. As he does it his lips kiss a trail from neck to waist. Keeping my back to him, his hands reach inside for my breasts and cup them. It’s not entirely gently and I like it. Over and through the flimsy fabric of my bra he pinches and plays with my hard nipples. My hands reach up and back and bring his face to my neck, where he nuzzles and licks. Ohhhh.