Divining Elise

by Jody A. Kessler

  “Fucking hell, you’re beautiful.” He was in awe at both the way she looked and how easily her dress gave way to his desires. Rob had to pry his gaze away from her chest to find her eyes. Damn it. Elise had the ability to turn him into a hormonal teen again. His hard-on ached to be touched, stroked, relieved of the pressure. Rob cupped the weight of one breast in his palm and toyed with her nipple.

  She laughed as she ran her hands over his shoulders. Her chest pressed against his massaging hand, encouraging him to keep up the foreplay. Rob tilted his head down to lay his lips against hers. He at least had enough willpower to kiss her before taking things farther. Faster. Deeper.

  Their tongues collided and twined. She sucked him in and held him captured in a kiss worthy of a Hoover. If she could kiss like that with those powerful lips, just think what else she could do. And he knew. He knew well and good what she was capable of with those luscious lips.

  Rob bent lower to place his lips on her nipple. His tongue flicked over her sensitive tip before taking it into his mouth and lavishing her. He squeezed her tits together and tasted the other nipple with equal appreciation. Elise arched her back and made the little sounds that drove him crazy with need.

  She reached for his steely length and he groaned when she stroked him. “Didn’t you promise me your cock from behind?” she asked.

  Rob spun her toward the countertop and stepped into position behind her. He faced the mirror with Elise in front of him.

  “You want me like this?”

  “Yes. Fuck me now.”

  His zipper lowered and his erection was freed in record time. A condom appeared from his wallet like magic. Rob shoved Elise’s dress up. The sight of her blood red thong hardened him to the point of agony. He slipped the thin string aside and found her center swollen with arousal. God, she was so wet.

  He eased a finger inside her slick heat and almost shot his load. Rob couldn’t take his time to ready her—and she didn’t want him to.

  “I need you inside me, Rob. Fill me with your cock.”

  “God your dirty mouth is exquisite.”

  “You’re welcome. Now, give it to me.”

  He gripped his shaft and she arched her lower back, placing his tip exactly at her opening. Damn. He needed this as much as she asked for it. He pushed inside with a sense of relief he’d never known before. Rob reached around, cupped her breasts, and worked himself into a sweat as he took the best ride of his life.

  Elise held the countertop, working her hips against his. The frenzy, the lust, the need to possess her took hold and he lost himself in the sensations playing havoc on his mind and body. The sounds escaping from her throat tickled his ears and danced over his flesh. His release was coming too fast.

  Elise reached back and gripped his thigh. “I’m going to come all over you.”

  He groaned and shot his load. He couldn’t hold back. Her inner walls tightened then pulsed around his throbbing member as she joined him in exquisite release. Rob bent forward, swept her hair aside, and kissed the top of her shoulder.

  “Your mouth sent me over the edge.”

  “That’s funny. I didn’t even have the chance to put my mouth on you. Maybe next time?”

  He groaned again.

  “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining. I am supposed to be hosting a party, remember?”

  “Right. Does that mean we don’t have time for another go?”

  She didn’t answer as they heard voices inside the apartment. They quieted to listen. After a minute, the voices faded. Rob eased back and removed the condom. He dropped it in the bathroom trashcan as Elise adjusted her clothes.

  “That was rushed. Can we try again when we’re not in such a hurry?”

  “I’m not sure. What do you have in mind?”

  “I think waiting another two weeks is too long. Do you want another sleep over at my place, say next week?”

  “Maybe.”

  Noncommittal as always. Rob didn’t want to give up. Two weeks without any contact from Elise really had been too long. “We deserve to do this again. When’s your day off?”

  Elise stared at the mirror and fiddled with her hair. She opened the cabinet and grabbed a tube of lipstick. “Thursday.”

  “Then I’ll see you Thursday. Come over for dinner and plan to stay the night,” he said. “I’ll make sure my brothers are elsewhere.”

  She applied the red lipstick, an element of her outfit that had turned him on beyond description. “What about Colton?”

  “Bring him with you.”

  “We’ll see. Thanks for the quickie. You’re not the only one who needed it.” She winked, then smoothed her hands over her dress one final time.

  Rob took her answer as a yes. Elise glanced at the door. He stepped in front of her, into her space, and wedged his thigh between hers.

  “I won’t mess with your perfect lips, but you’re not getting out of here quite that easy.” He cupped her jaw, laid his lips to the hollow just below her ear. Rob’s mouth traveled downward as his hands glided over the back of her neck and along her spine. He exposed her shoulder and kept moving lower. The lovely flexible fabric of her dress moved aside as he found the curve of her breast. Elise tunneled her fingers through his hair, her nails skimming over his scalp. Rob sucked her tender skin until he left his mark on her. He rubbed his thigh against her mound.

  “There. Now you’re marked,” he said as he put her dress back in order.

  Her chest rose and fell in panting breaths. “Isn’t that territorial of you?” she said.

  “Damn right. See you Thursday. Bring those books if you want to show me more about my ghost problem.” Rob left the party intoxicated on Elise’s scent, sober from the beer, and more relaxed than he ever would have guessed possible.

  Seventeen

  “COLTON’S NEVER MADE HIS OWN pizza before,” Elise said as her son sprinkled mozzarella and provolone cheese over the kid-sized pizza crust.

  “He looks like a pro. He must take after his mom. He really has great attention to detail,” Rob said.

  “He does,” Elise said, pleased that Rob noticed one of Colton’s positive attributes.

  Together, they paused to watch Colton, in his bike helmet, strategically place shredded cheese on his pizza.

  Rob said, “We have our own pizza, salad, and wine. I hope you don’t mind. I was trying to think of something Colton likes but still tastes good.”

  “I love pizza. And making it at home is a treat,” she said. “What about the wine? I’m surprised the master brewer has lowered his standards to include fermented grapes. I would’ve thought that was beneath you,” she said, teasing Rob.

  “Don’t worry. There’s plenty of beer around here. I thought the wine would be something a little different, but if you want a beer, all you have to do is open the fridge and help yourself.”

  Elise laughed. She noticed the second refrigerator downstairs held nothing but their craft brew. “I’m up for whatever. It’s been a long week and I need to relax.”

  “You can tell me all about your week while we drink this shiraz and wait for our pizza to bake.”

  And she did. Which surprised her, but talking to Rob was incredibly easy and it was comforting to have a friendly ear to bend. She shared the latest information about Colton’s hearing aids and the upcoming implant surgery.

  “I’ve been battling with our new insurance company and the miscommunication between his old doctor’s office and the new one. We just found out that they want to schedule his surgery for next month instead of waiting like they first told me. I’m trying not to overreact, but this has been an ongoing situation for almost two years. And now suddenly, it’s happening in a few weeks. The ups and downs have been hectic, to say the least.”

  “Wow. Elise, this is huge news. Does it mean Colton will hear you, hear everything, for the first time?”

  “Yes. Hopefully. There can be different outcomes and side effects. I’ve done all the research and I made this decision for
him a long time ago, but it’s just...”

  “It’s incredible. Life changing. You have every right to be stressed out. More wine?” Rob asked, glancing at her nearly empty glass.

  “I think I will.” She slid her glass closer to the bottle.

  “Hey, pal, do you like pepperoni?” Rob signed, do you like, then held up the package of pepperoni.

  Colton gave the thumbs up and Rob fished out a pile of pepperoni and set them on the cutting board.

  “Do you want pepperoni on ours?” he asked Elise.

  “Of course,” she said.

  “Will you put pepperoni on this pizza?” Rob used a combination of ASL and pointing, but Colton understood perfectly.

  “You’re making great progress with the sign language,” she said.

  He refilled her glass and said, “I’m still watching online tutorials when I’m with Allison. I’m considering teaching the baby when she’s ready. It will help me remember the signs and then she’ll know another language. That’s a win-win for everyone.”

  Elise could hardly believe Rob’s thoughtfulness. She’d never met a man like him. Not that she had much experience with men. Her ex was the most serious relationship she’d ever been in. Before Javier, she wouldn’t call any of the boys she’d dated men. They’d been too young, herself included.

  Rob slid both pizzas into the oven and set the oven timer. He walked over to the swing and checked on Maisie Allison.

  “How old are you?” she asked.

  “Why? Is my inner old man showing? Shane’s told me my entire life that I’m an old man in a young person’s body.”

  “I didn’t think of you like that before, but now that you mention it...” Elise tapped her chin and eyed him as if she’d come to a very important realization about his character.

  “Stop that. No one actually listens to Shane.”

  Her smile widened, giving away her facade of doubt.

  “I’m thirty-three. And you’re younger than I am?” he said as a question.

  “I am.” Elise batted her lashes then sipped her wine, not giving up the answer too quickly. “How long did you practice law?”

  “Quite a few years. I started young. I graduated high school a year early. That’s part of Shane’s argument about my mental state of mind, and I went to college immediately after high school. Then law school and straight into a practice. The fast track wasn’t what you’d call fun, but I enjoyed it most of the time. That is, until I didn’t.”

  “Do you miss living in the city?”

  “Not at all. I always wanted to get away from the noise, the traffic, the crush of humanity. How about you? Do you miss Arizona?”

  “I’m not sure yet. I think I’ve been too busy to think about it.” She paused to consider the question. “I miss my family and my job at the library, but I like it here. I like managing the bookstore for Autumn. She’s the most incredible person to give Colton and me a place to start over.” Elise chose not to speak about her ex. What was the point? She made her decision to escape that part of her life and focus on her and Colton’s future. If she talked about him, wouldn’t that be like inviting him back into the present? She sent out a silent prayer that Javier would always remain in their past.

  “She sounds like it. And she’s funny. I liked talking to her at the party.”

  “Autumn is like no other person I’ve ever met. We’ve been friends for a long time. She can be a bit psycho, though. That’s the only warning I’ll pass along about my friend.”

  “She’s crazy?” Rob asked.

  “In her way. But she’s not dangerous to anyone but herself. She likes to role play and calls it ‘research’. I worry about her sometimes.”

  “Like extreme cosplay?” Rob asked. He sipped his wine and the timer chimed. He reached for a hot pad and opened the oven door.

  “Not exactly. She wants real life experiences as a surfer, a stripper, or a cheating wife, but she takes it too far sometimes and changes her identity. She’ll lie to people about who she is.”

  Rob set the pizzas on the counter. “Sounds dangerous.”

  “That’s what I say, but she won’t listen to me. She says it’s important for her next book.”

  “She would probably get along great with my brother. Shane is somewhat of a chameleon, too. He’ll do whatever needs to be done when he works a case. His stories are unbelievable. Spying on people. Getting the photos he needs. He’s been shot at and assaulted. Let’s not let these two meet.”

  “Agreed,” Elise said. “I noticed he wasn’t at the party.”

  “I’m not sure where he was, but maybe it was for the best to not introduce him to Autumn.” Rob winked at her then used a pizza cutter to slice up their dinner.

  Rob invited Elise to help herself to salad as he served slices of pizza. They settled around the kitchen island to eat. Colton practically inhaled his first piece, then asked for seconds. Rob was on his feet and reaching for the pizza pan before Elise had a chance to stand. He asked if Colton could have fruit punch, then poured her son a drink. Rob even had a straw for Colton’s cup. She wondered if Rob was trying to be the most perfect dinner date with kids, or if he truly was this thoughtful. He didn’t come across as over-anxious or trying too hard. He looked completely at ease in his kitchen and with them invading his space.

  She’d definitely had a case of the nerves before arriving. Yes, she wanted to see Rob again. Their run-in at the party had left her wanting him more than she thought was healthy. Which was the reason for the nerves. Being overeager to see another person seemed wrong and needy in her mind. That wasn’t the kind of woman she wanted to be. He made her feel things like jitters, butterflies, nervousness, and anticipation. All things she simultaneously wanted to avoid like the plague and yet secretly longed to experience again and again. Yet, she’d arrived on time with overnight bags in hand. Once again, her actions seemed to be separate from her thoughts. As if the universe were guiding her without prior consent, which also gave her no little amount of anxiety. But so far, hanging out with Rob was a thousand times easier and more relaxing than she imagined inside her head all week long.

  “I wasn’t sure what you two like to do on your nights off, but I have Candy Land. Would you like to play after we’re done eating?”

  Elise caught Colton’s attention and asked if he’d like to play the game. He responded with a huge smile, clapping his hands, and enthusiastic nods. Colton shoved the rest of his dinner in his mouth so they could get to the game faster. Then he had a bout of five-year-old impatience because he had to wait for Elise and Rob to finish eating. She asked him to go set up the game on Rob’s coffee table and wait for them. Colton loved being in charge of setting up the board game and skipped to the living room, carrying the box in his hands.

  After Colton won every round of the game, Rob declared that the boy had special super powers and there was no way to win against him. Colton beamed with pleasure and asked to play again. Rob suggested bowls of ice cream and watching a movie instead.

  “Does he like movies even though he can’t hear them? He’s a little young to read the subtitles.” Rob asked Elise.

  She saw the uncertainty on his face. People who weren’t used to being around the deaf or handicapped often had a lot of questions about their lifestyle and how it was different than their own. Elise didn’t mind answering questions, no matter what they were. She figured asking was better than assuming. Ignorance couldn’t be enlightened by remaining silent.

  “He loves them. He has his favorites just like any other child.”

  Rob left the couch and opened a cabinet near the T.V. He waved a hand at Colton, gesturing for him to come take a look. Rob pointed at a stack of cartoon movies. “Pick one?”

  Her son chose the cartoon about cars, which he’d seen a few times.

  “Good choice, buddy,” Rob said and put the disc in his player. He spelled out the words, “Ice cream?” and Colton gave a thumbs up. He settled onto the couch next to Elise.

  “Ca
n I help?” she asked, not really wanting to get up when Colton snuggled in close.

  “Stay right there and I’ll get it,” Rob said as he ventured back into the kitchen.

  Rob delivered bowls of ice cream with whipped cream, hot fudge, and a cherry on top, then gave Allison a bottle as the movie began.

  “She’s such a sweet baby,” Elise said. “Every time I’ve seen her, she is in the best mood. Am I delusional, or is she really that easy?”

  “This is her regular M.O. I don’t know if it’s easy or not since I’ve never been around other babies.”

  “I think you won the lottery with her,” Elise said. Colton stared at the screen and had Rocky Road ice cream around his entire mouth.

  “I think you may have won the lottery with yours as well. He’s polite, kind, and smart. You’re just as lucky as I am.”

  Rob smiled at her son and the gesture warmed a spot inside her chest. Other than her mom, very few people in her and Colton’s life gave out such genuine compliments. More often than not she felt people’s sympathies about his hearing and the challenges she faced raising him.

  “I am,” she agreed.

  “Maisie will probably be awake for a little while and then she’ll sleep for four hours. Somehow, I’m adjusting to her schedule,” Rob said.

  “And just when you think you’ve figured her out, her schedule will change again,” Elise said.

  “Thanks for the warning,” he said with a little sarcasm and a lot of lightheartedness. Rob moved Allison to her bouncy seat.

  Colton was about to lick his empty bowl when she took it away and brought their dishes to the sink. When she returned, her son was stretched out on the couch with his head on a pillow. She took the spot near his feet and settled in to watch the rest of the movie. Allison cooed and made cute sounds as she enjoyed the vibration and movement of the seat. By the end credits, Colton was sound asleep.

  “I’ll be right back,” Rob said. “Is there any chance you would keep an eye on her while I’m in the other room?”

  “Do whatever you need. I’m perfectly fine right here.”