by Stefania Gil
There was a day left before celebrating Christmas Eve.
I had not seen James again, but that was not why we had stopped talking. I must admit I was worried. He didn’t call me every day. I think he played it that way to give me a little space and in a way, I thanked him.
It was always him who called. And also, he was the one who took the initiative to text. I still did not dare to make that important step.
I thought if I did, I would end up getting involved and I wasn’t ready for that.
That morning I left home very happy. I woke up early, as usual, to perform my yoga routine. Afterwards, I had a light breakfast and dressed to go to the florist.
It was an important day in many respects. First, it was the day before Christmas Eve, there were always a lot of orders at the florist. Second, the city’s atmosphere was wonderful. A snow had fallen and everything was covered in the wonderful white that accompanies Christmas. The city was decorated with lights, red and gold decorations, and on each corner, men dressed in red with their bushy beards could be seen wishing Merry Christmas to all passers-by.
I loved Christmas. Although it made me nostalgic.
And the third important thing of the day was we would have lunch with Susan and Caroline to discuss the partnership business. If all went well, they would be delighted with our proposal and we would form a great team. On the other hand, if they decided they did not want to join the project, Holly and I had already talked and decided to take the big step on our own.
The investment was not big, so we could both afford to fund our project. It was not that I needed to, but Holly did, and the truth being I was caught up in her excitement of opening this business.
I arrived at the florist and immediately went to help Rick finish orders for the day, so Oliver could take them to their destination and we could all go home early.
I had bought a Christmas present for everyone.
They deserved it. They were excellent guys and also very responsible and dedicated to their work.
I told them to wait in the work area while I searched for their respective gifts in the office.
They both smiled at me with embarrassment when they saw me enter with gifts.
“We form a great team and this, is a small token to show you how very fortunate I am to have you working with me. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.”
Rick took out a handkerchief and wiped away a couple of tears that had formed in his eyes.
I smiled at the sight.
Everyone took their gift and I was pleased to see both of their faces when they opened their gifts.
Rick had spent days talking about how much he had loved a belt from the latest Dolce & Gabbana collection and said, he had been going into the store testing it for four days in a row. He had to stop due to the store employees looking at him sourly. Rick lamented several times he couldn’t buy this belt considering it was completely out of his budget. So without thinking I went to the store and explained the situation of the guy who came in for four days and a very friendly saleswoman told me: “the power of visualization is very strong. That kid is going to dance for joy when he finally gets this belt. “I thought the same as the clerk.
I didn’t know what to give Oliver, but I did know he loved exercising, running especially. In those last months he had begun to train for marathons. I thought it was a good idea to buy a watch. Those that measure your heartbeat, tell you how many calories you have burned and how many miles you have run.
On one occasion, he mentioned to Rick what the most functional watch was for him and by chance, I was listening to the conversation, so I made a note because Oliver clarified he could not afford to buy it at the time.
“Darling! Thanks a lot, you shouldn’t have,” Rick told me as he pounced on me, giving me a big hug.
“Thanks Jen, this gift is great! I'll wear it tomorrow.” Oliver also hugged me, but with a little embarrassment.
“I'm glad you liked it. Do you have the orders inside the van?” I asked Oliver, and he nodded. “Okay, so pick up what you have here and we're leaving. I’ll see you again in a couple of days.”
With that done and we closed the florist.
When I got in the car, my cell phone rang.
It was Holly.
“I’ve got it!”
“Hi, sweetie, how are you? I'm very good thanks!”
I heard her smile a little ashamed.
“I’m sorry. It's just I have the name and the excitement doesn’t leave room for formalities.”
“Do you have the name of the shop?” —We did not have it yet and that worried me a bit because I wanted to go to Susan and Caroline with a complete proposal.
“No Guilt,” Holly said, and I felt my skin prickle. I assumed it as a positive signal from the universe.
“It's perfect, Holly.”
“I know how exciting! See you in a while. Goodbye, I’m going to drive.”
I hung up.
Two seconds later, my cell phone rang again.
“Well, did find your formality, and now you'll be nice to me?”
“I will always be kind to you, though I prefer not to have the formality.” My God! Those last words were said in such a seductive tone you could probably see me blush from Jupiter.
“Hello James. I'm sorry.” I smiled like an idiot. “I thought you were Holly.”
“Did you quarrel?”
I smiled again.
“No, not at all. What happened is, she is so excited due to coming up with a great name for the diet desserts shop” —by this time, James already knew that part of my life... and much more— “which she just called me and launched the name without any greeting. I just hung up from her call.”
“Is this the meeting?”
“Yeah. I started the engine. I'm leaving for the restaurant where we agreed to meet.”
“Then I won’t hold you any longer. I wish you lots of luck and for everything to go as planned. I wanted to know if we could go to dinner tonight. I really want to see you and I can finally have a night for me.”
I laughed.
“You sound like a frustrated housewife to whom, the husband finally gives her permission to go out with her friends.”
“Something like that. These days are always like this. Angelina has to work almost nonstop and my mother and sister are crazy with organizing tomorrow's dinner. So that is why I hadn’t been able to sneak out to see you. Hadn’t I told you before?”
“No,” I smiled.
“Well, you should have complained or demanded an explanation.”
We both laughed.
“Will you come get me?” I asked, easily. However, my nerves bundled in my stomach.
He was not expecting that question.
“8 at your house.”
“Very well.”
We hung up and I started the car. I had enough time to get there.
***
I had never had such a long business lunch in my life. Not even with most indecisive brides in the universe had I ever had such a long meeting.
However, it had been worth it.
I was pleased with how things were going. We spent six hours studying our proposals, considering they obviously had one of their own.
We would be partners in equal parts. We also agreed next spring, would be the perfect season to open the doors of Innocence.
We had enough time to find the right place and shop for the kitchen equipment necessary, get the legal permits, hire and train staff since not everyone knew how to make those desserts. We had to maintain a quality standard.
We left the restaurant happy, the four of us had big smiles painted on our faces and Holly's eyes shone with happiness.
After arriving home about 7 p.m. I had sufficient time to get ready for dinner with James.
At 8 o'clock the doorbell rang.
I opened the door and there stood the blonde haired, blue eyed man with his husky and seductive voice that activated my inner volcano.
A
strange happiness bloomed in my chest as he smiled his beautiful smile.
He was dressed in dark jeans, a white shirt, olive jacket, and a dark brown scarf wrapped around his neck.
I didn’t know where we were going to have dinner. I figured we were going to a place like the one we had last time.
He inspected me with his analytical and seductive gaze.
“I like your boots, however, the heel is not the most appropriate for this type of weather. At any time, it might snow again.”
Yes, he was right. Although, if I told him I was going to change, I would have to let him in to wait, and I didn’t dare do that.
He seemed to have read my face.
“I can wait in the car. You are not obliged to invite me into your house.”
Idiot! Shouted my inner voice.
“No James, wait,” I said as he walked to his car. “Come in, please.” I completely opened the door.
He turned smiling at me. When he approached me, he cradled my face in his hands and gave me a soft kiss on the lips.
“Thank you,” he said, before entering the house.
“Do you want something to drink while you wait?” I asked, closing the door and heading for the living room where James was scanning my sanctuary.
“No.” He smiled. “I'm starving and tonight we are eating pork ribs, so I don’t want to fill my stomach with anything else.”
“Wow! I'll be right back.”
I went to my room. I took something out of the closet similar to how James was dressed.
We were going to eat pork ribs and the best restaurant in town was not fancy.
I took off my boots, the accessories and when I grabbed the dress’ zipper tip, the very jerk, broke.
AHA! It broke!
The zipper went from the nape of my neck to my waist, so it was very uncomfortable trying to lower it with a clamp.
Although I tried. For fifteen minutes.
“Jen, I don’t want to rush you, but I'm really hungry,” he called from the living room.
“I’ll be right out, I'm almost ready,” I said from the bathroom.
“Fucking zipper!” I said aloud without realizing it.
“Did you say something?” James asked me as I eyed the scissors in the drawer with determination.
I struggled between asking James for help or cutting off the dress.
Cutting the dress was not an option considering it was my favorite winter dress and in addition, I had gotten it at a great price.
Breathe deeply.
I had to ask James for help.
I breathed again and turned to leave the room when I saw him standing in the door watching me with amusement.
I was afraid. One thing had been letting him enter the house, it was something totally different, to have to ask him to come into my room to help me get undressed.
My hands trembled.
He noticed approaching me cautiously.
He took my hands. He kissed them both and then said, “Turn around, I'll help you with the zipper.”
I did.
Suddenly, an image from my adolescence came to me. I was about to turn seventeen when my hormones overpowered me and I surrendered myself to the captain of the school football team. Yes, that was the day I lost my virginity. And now with James, I felt the same way I had so many years ago.
Ridiculous, right?
James tugged at the zipper and cold air brushed the skin on my back.
James let out a whistle and I closed my eyes.
I breathed as deep as I could to try to calm myself however every attempt was futile.
James's lips settled on the back of my neck, making my back arch.
“You were starving, we can leave it for later.”
I stood motionless, arms folded across my chest. My body shook and I was about to have a panic attack.
I let him too far into my life.
I shouldn’t have allowed it.
James turned me looking into my eyes.
He lifted my chin subtlety.
“The ribs can wait.”
“James, I think the best...” I could not finish speaking. James grabbed me by the throat, pulling me to him and sealing my mouth with his.
My internal volcano sparked, a lot of sparks.
He had the power to accelerate my pulse just by looking at me. Not to mention, when he kissed me.
My body gave way. My muscles relaxed a little and I lost myself in desire.
As he kissed me, he finished taking off my dress.
He enveloped me in his strong arms. One of his hands, impatiently slid up and down my legs and back, causing my skin to prickle with each trail. While his other hand clung tightly in my hair.
He wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned over me to grab my bottom. He lifted me as if I were a feather. My legs encircled his waist and he carried me, between kisses and caresses, to the bed.
He sat down, straddling me on top of him.
The movement made my girly bits moisten-excessively-when I rubbed his erection through his pants.
I was desperate for him. I had to admit it.
I removed his jacket, scarf, and shirt. I liked to caress his strong back. Everything about him was firm and his golden skin was soft.
In the blink of an eye, I found myself below him and my hands on his chest and abdomen. He didn’t have an abdomen like a model or a teenager, but I could feel the firmness of his muscles.
I moved my hands to his lower abdomen, and began to gently stroke. Then I unbuttoned his pants. He helped me get rid of the garment and while he did, I took advantage ridding him of his boxer briefs.
His erection made my girly bits gush.
I looked up at him and he took my head in his hands, telling me to kiss everywhere I wanted.
I did. I moved my mouth with soft, subtle movements along his shaft.
James's guttural sounds excited me more than I imagined. With every sound he uttered, my vagina dripped uncontrollably and my nipples were hard enough to cut glass.
“Stop, please.” I did as he pleaded. “You drive me crazy, Jen.”
He laid me down on the bed and settled between my spread legs.
He started kissing my neck. Tasting every inch of my skin, his arms supported him as he descended to my chest.
He released my breasts from the pressure of the corset and played with them as much as he wanted. My nipples were so sensitive, he scorched them with his tongue.
Desire was consuming me.
James' hands didn’t stop caressing every corner of my body as his mouth continued to leave a path of kisses until reaching my most sensitive area.
He spread my legs a little wider and I felt the warmth of his tongue through my panties.
He took off my panties and plunged his tongue into me.
He made me crazy.
I was about to reach my climax when he stopped.
I could have killed him, but I forgave him when I heard the condom wrapper rip. I opened my eyes staring at him above me, ready to give me the greatest pleasure.
He entered me slowly and steadily placing his arms by my sides to support himself as he brought his burning mouth back to my nipples.
He felt wonderful. His shaft palpitated inside me as he nibbled and licked my nipples. The connection was immediate, for both of us.
I gazed into his eyes and when the tension before my orgasm rose, I clung to his arms signaling for him go faster until my back arched and my whole body was filled with small continuous spasms of pleasure.
It was then he too let himself be carried away.
***
James lay his full weight on me.
His breathing had returned to normal and his face was buried in my neck.
His stomach roared.
I laughed.
“Let's go to the kitchen to get something to eat.”
“Don’t even think about it.” He kissed me on the cheek separating from me. “Let's go eat ribs. Ribs and sex, I think it's the best
night of my life,” he said, smiling as he entered the bathroom.
I looked at the clock. It was still early and yes, we would have time to get to the restaurant. So I went to the other bathroom to wash up so as not to waste any more time.
On the way to the restaurant, James didn’t let go of my hand for a minute.
I was beginning to feel like a stupid teenager.
And I was terrified of that.
I sighed.
I was losing the important battle against love.
My stomach twitched at the thought.
We were silent until we sat at the table waiting for our food.
James winked at me as he sipped his beer.
“So,” he said, “how was the meeting?”
“Very good,” I smiled excitedly. “We reached a very good partnership agreement and if all goes well, we will open to the public in the spring.”
He shook my hand slightly, taking the opportunity to draw me to him and kiss me.
“That's excellent news.
“That's right,” I smiled.
A waitress approached us with our tray of food.
“Thank you,” James said, smiling as the waitress finished serving us.
“Enjoy,” she said, smiling also.
The scent of the barbeque ribs invaded my nostrils, making my stomach grumbled in protest. I had not realized I was hungry until I smelled the food.
“Enjoy it,” James told me attacking his plate.
This was how it was eaten in the most famous pork rib restaurants in the city.
With your hands and many paper napkins.
I imitated James. The first bite tasted glorious.
“How was your day? I asked after a period of silence without realizing it. He smiled at my question.
I understood his smile. I had never asked him about his day before. He told me. Just as I didn’t dare call him, I did not dare ask about everyday things like a couple considering I was terrified to think we were a couple.
I didn’t want to accept it!
“Well,” he said, keeping his eyes on his plate. “There is an important project my father brought to my attention today. Some time ago, we built a set of luxury holiday homes in Italy, in Tuscany. It has been a good business and now, there is someone interested in doing the same project but in Hawaii.”