Third Time's A Charmer

by St. John, Jodi

  We laid there still not talking about what the end of the week would bring or what has filled our lives for the last 3 years or why I walked away. We savored every second we were together. Andres got up and pulled me from the bed. He led me to the bathroom and started the shower. Just when I thought things couldn't get any better I was about to have shower sex with Andres. Thank you Jesus!

  Andres had planned an evening out. The limo was to arrive in an hour. He was ready and playing around on the piano. I loved listening to him play. He was looking hot in his slim fitting navy suit with his white button down undone just how I liked it. I decided to put on my champagne colored slip dress that had an open back. A short, sexy little number I felt great in. I slipped on some strappy Louboutins and left my hair down in messy waves. I heard my phone ping. Harris texted the limo was here and they were waiting. They? Who’s they??

  I walked out of the bedroom and locked eyes with Andres. He stopped playing and stood immediately. The hunger in his eyes was daunting. He was pleased with what he saw. Again, something was said in Spanish that I didn’t understand. I gathered he approved. Damn he was hot, no, not hot, he was smoldering.

  Chapter 15

  Harris

  The lads had piled into the limo already. They were like school girls ready to gossip about the man who was escorting Livy from her house right now. Nic leaned out the door and said “Jesus Christ, would you get a load of those two? Oh Harris…sorry, mate, but that guy is a whole 10 leagues above you. Fuck. Look at the way he walks with her…oh man!”

  “Shut up!” I yelled. I spent the next few minutes warning them all to behave or I’d kick all their arses.

  Andres escorted Olivia to the front of the main house where the limo had pulled in. She looked amazing. She was stunning and sexier than I’d ever seen her. There was a different demeanor when she was with him. He brought out something in her I had never seen.

  Andres. It was hard not to like him. He was warm, genuine, funny, friendly, basically the total fucking package. And I was jealous. Jealous as fuck!!!

  I had no idea where we were going but Andres had invited us all along for the night and I was curious. About now I needed a drink. The limo pulled up to the back entrance to some anonymous club. I heard music. Horns?? Latin?? Of course….

  Once inside, we were escorted to the VIP area. There were 4 guys sitting there with a few women surrounding each of them. When they saw Livy they all lit up. They knew her. She screamed when she noticed them and they all hugged and kissed. I still needed that drink!!

  The lads and I made our way back to the bar without any of them noticing we left. I needed alcohol.

  We found a place out of the way to hang out and watch the dance floor. This place was seriously cool. There was a massive stage with a large live band. The music was pumping. I didn’t care that I didn’t understand the lyrics, the rhythm was intoxicating. And then I spotted her, in the middle of the dance floor, with him. They were dancing and it was the most seductive thing I'd ever seen. She slithered up and down him while he spun her, grabbed her, dipped her and kissed her. They were by far the best dancers on the dance floor but it was like watching them have sex, for fuck's sake! The intensity between the two of them was off the charts and I wasn’t the only one who noticed…unfortunately. Nic was at my side with another drink for me.

  “Here, mate…you’re gonna need this”.

  I will never get the vision of how she looked out of my brain. It had been permanently burned into my memory.

  Chapter 16

  Andres

  When she walked out of the bedroom, I wanted to scoop her up and bring her right back in. I didn't want anyone else to see her looking the way she did at that moment. She was by far the most lustful creature I had ever met. She'd left me once and I knew she’d leave me again. A spirit like hers can never be kept by one man. I got a second chance with her. I never thought I'd see her again. I didn’t know if I wanted to after she left me the way she did. I knew why she did, I never accepted the fact she didn’t say goodbye. She owed me that. I healed her. I redirected her pain into passion. Showed her she could love again, and in return she destroyed me. I had no idea where she was. I didn't try to find her. I knew she didn’t want me to. But when I was in the airport all these years later and found her on the cover of some tabloid, I couldn’t get her out of my mind.

  Laying eyes on her started my heart on fire. There she was, standing there. My Olivia.

  Chapter 17

  Olivia

  I saw Harris' breath hitch when he saw me walking to the limo with Andres. He had never seen this side of me. Not sure it’s good that he does. Too late now. After getting escorted into the VIP area I was surprised and excited to see the rest of the group. They were all there and oh how I missed them. None of them knew what was going on with Andres and I back in Spain. No one did. It was getting harder and harder to hide. I couldn’t put their career on the line like that. I silently hoped they understood. I had hoped Andres explained it. It didn’t look like any of them held any animosity toward me. I had grown close to all of them. They were like brothers to me.

  Andres never left my side. His hand burned my skin as it rested on the small of my back. After a couple glasses of champagne, he led me onto the dance floor. Ok. Remember when I said sex with Andres was the best? Well, coming in a close 2nd is dancing! He was smooth and sexy and he knew it. We fell into our rhythm and it was like we were never apart. I felt the music and felt his hands on me, then his lips, and nothing else existed. And I certainly wasn’t aware of Harris staring at me until I caught those green eyes of his locked on mine.

  Chapter 18

  Harris

  Everyone had piled into the limo, including a few extras. Nic thought I might need some company tonight. We headed back to my house to continue the party. The club had turned into a bit of a jam session. It was actually really fun. Nic enjoyed it the most. He really liked Andres. Who didn't?

  Everyone gathered around the pool. Guitars came out and the music continued. I couldn't tear my eyes off her. She was on Andres’ lap with her hands in his hair. How I imagined she’d be in mine as I made her scream my name. That’s all I heard now when I closed my eyes, her screaming in ecstasy. I couldn’t get it out of my head. Maybe I just needed to fuck that blond Nic brought home for me. He knows I’ve got it bad for Liv. He’s the only one though. Except Andres, I know he sees it. What will happen when he leaves? Will I get her back?

  I decide against the blond and just headed to bed. I looked to her before turning towards the house. I caught her eye and mouthed goodnight to her. She smiled and my heart broke a little more.

  Chapter 19

  Olivia

  The past few days since our club outing have been pretty low key. Most of our time spent lounging around. Harris had been in the studio constantly this week. I'm looking forward to hearing how the solo project is coming. He had been working nonstop. I can see how well he handles it. I think he prefers it. There had been something about him this week that seemed off. Maybe he’d been tired.

  There’s a fundraiser tonight with a bunch of record execs and Andres wanted me to attend. I'll probably know half the people in the room so I’m looking forward to it. But it is also the last night Andres and I will be together. He is set to leave after the concert tomorrow night. I have tried not to think of it all week. But it was eminent. Tomorrow we would part…again.

  I knew tonight was important for the group. I wanted to make a good impression and represent the boys in the manner they deserved as they head off on their first world tour. I put on my long, silk Calvin Klein slip dress. The navy color was rich and elegant but the thin straps and up to there slit would draw just enough attention. We wanted people to notice Andres and the group. He was enough himself in his beautifully tailored Armani tux in the most amazing midnight blue color. His dark hair and bright blue eyes made the ensemble absolutely striking. I watched him from the master bath as he sat on the bed putting on his
watch. He was the one that proved to me that life goes on. No matter what tragedy strikes us, we have no choice but to continue living. It is how you choose to continue on, the experiences you gain that eventually will create who you are in this world. You can fight it or you can embrace it. I was fighting it all when I first met him. I was angry that Miles was taken from me. It wasn’t fair and I was consumed with rage. He sensed it in me. He saw that I was merely acting on instinct, a survival tactic to maintain my sanity. He took that anger and rage and turned it into pure lust. There was no keeping us apart. It was passionate and dangerous and my anger just fed the fire between us. We were primal. We were on top of each other every chance we had and everywhere we could. It was rough, hot, uninhibited sex. The kind that makes you wonder who you even are in the midst of it. It was desire and hunger mixed with hurt and emptiness. The intensity briefly filled our voids and kept us coming back for more and more and more. It was out of control. We were out of control.

  I don't see that now when I look at him. Although I know it’s in there...it’s buried. He has found a way to use the hurt I caused him to become the man he is today. The pain Miles caused leaving me led to the pain I caused Andres. It has come full circle and has created this man and myself. The electricity in the room intensified as he felt me watching him. He looked up and met my gaze. He was somber and I could instantly read his thoughts. I didn’t want to let go this time. I didn’t know if I’d survive it again. And he was thinking the same.

  The evening dragged on and we were getting antsy to get out of there. The quick romp in an empty room one floor up wasn’t enough to satisfy our craving for each other and the urgency we felt to get enough of each other before the world crashed in again was enough to make it feel like my heart was coming out of my chest. I was nearly panting by the time we finally reached the car. Andres couldn’t hold back. He was on me before the driver left the curb. I didn’t fight it. I didn’t care who saw, I didn’t care who heard. This man was literally making me lose my mind. I couldn’t breathe between the screaming and moaning he was eliciting out of me. It was absolute torture what he was doing. Bringing me so close to orgasm and then not allowing me to. I was ready to rip him to shreds. I was riding him. I could feel him so full inside me. My hands wrapped in his hair pulling while our lips madly found any exposed skin to suck. I could feel my body buzzing from the electricity between us. His moans, my cries…I didn’t want it to end.

  The car slowed to a stop and I could tell we were at the gates to Harris' Malibu home. We pulled apart and stared at each other. We were an absolute mess, inside and out. I slid off his lap and tried to smooth my hair. Fuck it, I thought, and took the clips out, letting my hair down. I gave it a shake making sure to graze the exposed part of his chest with it. When we rounded the corner to the back part of the property where the pool separated the main house from the guest house, we found all eyes on us. Andres played it cool. He was supporting me because my legs were absolute mush from our fucking in the car. I pretended to be tired and leaned my head on his shoulder as his arm circled my waist. I was wet and humming with desire. I hoped he had a plan to get us out of more socializing. He did. Of course he did. He was my fucking hero right now.

  He grabbed a bottle of champagne and a blanket. He kicked off his shoes and socks. He knelt down and took my heels off, then scooped me up in his arms and headed for the beach. He set me on the sand and sat next to me. He opened the champagne as we both stared out at the ocean. The expanse of darkness would represent our hearts at this time tomorrow. We toasted to nothing. Just raised our glasses and stared. We knew what we each wanted.

  Our favorite place in Spain was a hidden cove off the coast. We would lay on the beach naked all night, tangled up in each other. How we would go at it in the ocean without drowning was always a mystery to me. To this day, when my mind went to him, it was always how he was now…. naked in the sea.

  After he got out waist deep he turned to the beach to beckon me. I stood in the sand and let my dress drop off my shoulders, past my hips and to the ground. I slowly walked towards him. The water was warmer than I thought it would be. Or that was the heat radiating off his body and warming the water around us. He pulled me to him. My nipples tightened when they touched his warm chest. His kiss was deep and intense but slow and full of love. My heart was pounding and my body was tingling. He lifted me and wrapped my legs around him. He entered me and I thought that was all it would take to tip me over the edge. We were quiet as the water moved and lapped with our motion. He was close. I wanted him to let go and to take me with him. I sucked his neck where I remembered and that’s all it took. I clung to him when we stilled and tightened my legs around him. It felt like I was holding on for dear life. And maybe I was. That’s when the tears came, and before I knew it he was stroking my hair trying to calm me. The feeling washed over me with such intensity I couldn't hold back. I was ripping apart at the seams and he was witness to it all. He pulled my face up from his shoulder and made me look at him. Tears were rolling down his face. He was just as shattered.

  “Olivia, I have loved you every day that I have lived since I met you. My heart will hold you in it always.” He put his forehead to mine and started to carry me out of the dark water. He wrapped me in the blanket, pulled his pants and shirt on, flung my dress over his shoulder and scooped me up. I laid my head on his chest and whispered I would always love him, so low, I'm not sure he heard.

  He carried me all the way back to the house. It was quiet now by the pool with just Nic and Harris hanging out. Nic wanted us to join them. Andres sat in a lounge chair next to him with me cradled in his lap. My eyes were closed and I was breathing in the scent of him. I felt the warmth of his bare chest against my shoulder. I listened quietly to them talking. But I could feel someone was watching me. I opened my eyes to find Harris'. He was slumped low in a chair across the pool from me. He looked worried. His eyes were intense and caring. I raised my head and swung my legs around to rest between Andres’ on the lounger, making sure to secure the blanket around my chest. I watched him watching me. We sat there staring at each other for so long. Nic finally broke us out of our trance.

  Chapter 20

  Harris

  I watched him carry her and set her on him as he sat next to Nic. I couldn’t take my eyes from her. Her hair wet from the ocean, her skin soft and tan against the cream-colored blanket she had wrapped around her. Her lips full, and reddened from what I imagined was the reason she looked relaxed and listless. Her eyes were closed with her face free from any sign of worry. I, on the other hand, was terrified of what was to become of them. Would she leave with him tomorrow? Would she ever know how I felt about her? Should I tell her? Just then, her eyes opened, as if she knew I was watching her. She looked right at me, through me actually. She saw my worry, my concern. She appeared puzzled. I stared without feeling guilty. I wanted to take her all in, as if this would be the last time I saw her. Nic yelled something to me. I wasn't paying attention. I wanted to drink her in some more. Several minutes passed before I stood up and walked over to say goodnight. She silently watched me walk. I gathered up the empty bottles and made my way to the house with Nic heading for his car. I didn’t turn to see if they were gone but I felt her absence. It was cold and quiet and the house was empty as I walked through the door. All the rooms on the main floor were done. Livy did a phenomenal job. I enjoyed picking out things with her but never imagined how they would fit in the space. She had a knack at knowing where everything would go. It all came together so effortlessly for her. You could tell she loved every second of it. She touched every piece in this house from the art to the furnishings, to the fixtures. She felt every fabric and tested every lamp. She laid on rugs, beds, and sofas. She was everywhere I turned. I decided right then I would be whatever part of her life I fit into. Whether it be her client, her friend or if I’m lucky, she’d let me love her. It was up to her. I will be whatever she needs me to be, and with that I walked to my room, my empty and Liv-les
s room. She was stalling with this room. Not finding “inspiration” she kept saying. I didn’t care. Maybe she’d stay long enough to finish it for me at the very least. I sat in bed, restless, feeling the need to write. I grabbed the note book out of my drawer and put the words on paper that had been filling my brain. I wrote words, phrases, parts of sentences. Whatever came into my mind.

  I would make sense of it later and see if I could make any of it into a melody down the road. After filling two pages, I put it away and went to sleep, willing my mind to shut down and my heart to idle. Tomorrow she will decide and I didn’t want to think about it anymore.

  I was surprised to find Olivia in the kitchen when I got up. She was hunched over the island drinking coffee and reading something on her phone. I thought I could sneak up on her and get her back for the last time she woke me up, but just then she turned and threw me one of those megawatt smiles of hers. “It's about time you roll out of bed…I was about to come check to see if you were still breathing in there.” She smirked and poured me a cup.

  “I was up late.” I told her.

  “Well get it in gear. We gotta get you in shape to fight off all those girls when your album gets put out. C’mon. Get a move on.” She said as she smacked my ass. I liked playful Olivia. She could be fun and dirty, flirty like me. It was great to go back and forth when she was like this. I will say I’m surprised she's like this today. I wasn’t expecting it. At all.

  I ran upstairs, got dressed and brushed my teeth. She was standing staring out at the ocean when I came downstairs. She looked lost in a memory. I knew something serious was coming and I didn’t know if I was ready for it.