by A. L. Zaun
I gave him one last squeeze. “We’ll see you at dinner.”
Nelson stood by the car and opened the door for my grandfather to climb in. I stood on the sidewalk with my arms wrapped around myself. The temperature dropped, and flurries sprinkled around me as I watched the red brake lights flicker before the car turned at the corner.
That went a lot better than I thought. One disaster down, one more to go.
Chapter 8
Madison
As I opened the door to my small one-bedroom apartment, I was greeted by a burst of hot air and Rick’s presence sprinkled throughout the room. He wasted no time after he picked up the key from the doorman and left a trail of his things that led to my bedroom.
I should have had him wait in the lobby. I sighed deeply as I gathered his belongings. I walked over to the thermostat to adjust the temperature with my free hand. Of course it was a sauna in here. Only a South Floridian would set the heater at eighty-five in the winter and the air conditioner at seventy-two in the summer. Forget the lobby—I should have left him on the street.
I grabbed the empty water bottle he’d left on the counter and tossed it into the recycling bin. Then, I added the jacket he’d hung over a chair to my collection of Rick’s shit. I rolled my suitcase into my room only to find a pile of clothes on the floor and bags on my bed. The bathroom door was cracked open. I stumbled over his shoes and nearly fell. Huffing, I steadied myself and kicked his shoes.
“You’re such an asshole,” I said, knowing he was probably defrosting under the hot water.
I composed my frustration and waltzed into the steam-filled bathroom. After opening the shower door, my eyes slowly traveled the length of his body, and my resolve to stay annoyed weakened at the sight of him. His arms were pressed against the wall as the water cascaded down the ripples of his muscles before puddling at his feet. He dipped his head, his eyes meeting mine, and then his lip curled into the most devilish grin I’d ever seen.
“Like what you see?”
I tried to ignore the fluttering of my heart and the arousal warming my body. I fought to keep my lips from betraying me with a smile while making sure to keep my eyes as neutral as possible. “I see you were lucky. Your dick hasn’t fallen off.”
He straightened up, and my eyes followed his hand as it wiped the water off his face before he raked his fingers through his hair. My lips opened slightly, and I resisted the urge to lick my bottom lip.
“You were right all along. It’s alive and well.” He winked, his eyes boring into mine.
I used the most unaffected tone I could muster. “Good for you. Now, hurry up and take care of your business. I need a shower.”
“Babe, there’s plenty of room in here,” he said in a husky voice, gesturing with his hand for me to join him.
I didn’t do showers. They were too intimate, but I found myself tempted once again to break my rules. I wanted to feel the water sliding off my body as I pressed up against him. I longed to drink him up as I ran my tongue along his neck. The desire to feel him on me and in me caused a shiver to pulse through me.
Instead, I pushed those feelings down. I was already too attached, too emotionally involved with him. So, I shook my head and laughed. “You’re not that lucky. Hurry up. You’ve got five minutes or else.” I shut the shower door.
“Or else what? You’re going to come in here and get me?” He laughed mischievously.
“Don’t test me. You won’t like what happens to you.”
I closed the bathroom door and leaned against it, pressing my legs tightly together to soothe the aching throb. I wasn’t sure if it was his naked body or his devious grin and wicked eyes, but I wanted to fuck him badly. Taking deep breaths, I struggled to get myself under control as I brought my hands over my face.
You came here to get away from him, not to get in the shower with him.
I was quickly brought out of my longing when my eyes glanced at the mess in front of me. We had an hour before Nelson would be here to pick us up, and I still needed to shower and get ready. Quickly, I began tidying up the room. Then, I slipped off my shoes and stepped out of my pants. I pulled out the dress and pumps I was going to wear and then reached for Rick’s garment bag. I opened it and pulled out a suit, sports blazer, and three button-down shirts.
He did really well in so little time.
I selected what I wanted him to wear, and I tucked the rest away in the closet. As I was running my hands along the lapel of the blazer, I heard him exit the bathroom.
“You’re a slob,” I said flatly.
“I was just following your orders. Your text said to focus, get in the shower, and not make you late.” He came up behind me and lowered his head, tickling my neck with his lips. “Picking out my clothes?”
My eyes closed as he breathed seductively into my ear. His scent surrounded me. My head tilted to the side, my body reclining into his. I could feel his hard-on pressed up against me.
“Saving time and cleaning up after your sorry ass,” I said with a small whimper.
His hands traveled slowly down my arms and teased the hem of my blouse. I gasped softly at his touch, relishing the feel of him close to me.
“All things you love to do,” he whispered in my ear before he clamped his lips around my lobe and sucked gently.
I trembled at the sensation. My core clenched, and desire warmed between my legs.
“Maddy, am I under your skin?”
“Like a tick,” I breathed, fighting the urge to turn around and give in to the feelings overtaking me.
His gentle laugh vibrated against my neck. “That’s right, babe. I suck…” He brought his mouth alongside my neck and slowly trailed his tongue in gentle circles down to my shoulder before gently sucking. “And then I get engorged.”
He pressed his erection against my back, and a moan escaped me.
With my heart beating frantically and my breathing shallow, I reached my hands behind and placed them against his hips. He brought his fingers under my blouse and began slowly moving them along my belly.
“Maddy,” he mumbled against my hair, “I need to get dressed, or I’m going to make you very late.”
Every cell in my body cried out a silent, No. My hands wanted to pull off the towel from around his waist. A hunger overtook my senses as my mind thought of nothing more than completely giving myself over to him.
“You are a goddamn tick,” I said, breathing heavily. “A motherfucking nuisance, impossible to get rid of.”
His arm hooked around my waist, and he turned me around to face him. I kept my eyes focused on his chest that was rising and falling almost as wildly as mine.
“You’re so full of shit, Maddy.” He raised my chin up with his thumb, and our eyes met. “Completely and utterly full of shit,” he said with the confidence of a man looking straight inside of my soul.
I quickly looked away, squeezing past him as I moved toward the bathroom. What am I thinking? I had to get my breathing under control and get my head on straight. Just because he was right didn’t mean I liked it when he called me out on my bullshit.
I tucked my hair behind my ears and straightened my shoulders as I stood in the doorway. “Hurry up and get ready. I’m going to take a shower.”
“Babe, you better lock that door,” he called out to me, his dimple mocking me. He’s a damn tease.
“You’re an asshole. Get ready, and don’t make a mess.” I scurried into the bathroom, escaping a close call.
I didn’t have much time to shower, but it was just enough to get my head straight. I had no idea what Rick was up to, but it had to stop. I’d promised him I would be there for him tonight, and I had every intention of keeping my word. However, he was out of control with his little touching game, and it was time for me to manage him—or as he would say, cut off his dick.
After showering, I slipped on my robe and walked into my bedroom where I found him sitting back on my bed with his feet crossed, looking through a picture album.
“Rick, get your dirty feet off my bed, and while you’re at it, get the hell out. I have to get dressed.”
He looked up from the album. “You were really pretty as a kid. It’s not often you see beautiful people who were also cute as kids. Is this Mark and your grandmother?”
I snatched the album out of his hands. “Out. I need to get dressed.”
“Babe, I’m comfortable right here. Go ahead. I promise, I won’t look.” His eyes swept up and down my body, and his lip pulled to the right.
Straightening my shoulders, I steadied my gaze and leaned in to him. His eyes went directly to my mouth, and I couldn’t hold back my own smile.
“Listen here, Marin. You seem to have forgotten who the hell I am and who you are. So, let me give you a little refresher.”
I grabbed his arm and pulled him up. He stood and brought his hands around my waist, but I shoved him to the door. “You wait there. And let me remind you, don’t make a mess.”
“Maddy, you have no fucking idea how turned-on I get when you pull out your badass attitude.”
I started to slam the door shut, but his hand stopped it.
“I need my phone.”
Where was his phone? I huffed scanning the room while I held the door against him. I found it on the bed. “Stay,” I barked at him.
“Babe, I’m not a dog.” He laughed, finding humor in all of this.
As I handed it to him, he held my hand. “Thank you, and for the record, when you try to resist me, it’s even hotter,” he said.
“You’re impossible. Go away.” I closed the door and heard him laugh.
His arrogance was at an all-time high. Who the hell does he think he is, toying with me this way? He’s about to be schooled in the Madison Stuart School of Castrating Rick. I wasn’t about to have him fuck with my head and body while he was chasing Daniela. I fuck who I want, when I want. I didn’t do complicated. I shook my head and put the dress I’d originally selected back in the closet.
Maybe I just need to fuck him and get him out of my system. That might be the smartest thing to do. I’d come to New York to forget him, and this could be the quickest way to do it. He could jump back on a plane, chase perfect Daniela, and convince her of his reformed ways. I’d be doing her a favor, too. I’d consider it my punishment for being part of Rick’s idiotic plan. He hadn’t fucked in months, so he wouldn’t be able to last. I could get him in shape for her.
I’d told him time and time again if I’d wanted to fuck him, I would. Well, I want to fuck him. He better watch out because he won’t know what hit him. Pulling out the perfect dress, a smile widened across my face. Be prepared to get a little taste of your own medicine, Marin.
Nelson would be here at any moment, and as usual, Rick was proving to be a distraction and a possible liability. He needed to behave at dinner, but before and after, I was going to have fun with him. In fact, this little game might be good to help me relax and take my mind off my professional crisis.
“Rick,” I called out to him as I was slipping on my shoes. My hair was pulled to the side. I stepped into my dress, but I needed his help.
The door opened.
“You’re not fucking wearing that,” he huffed as if he had a say in what I wore.
I ignored him as I leaned over the sink, applying my lip gloss.
He searched the bathroom. “What happened to the old lady dress you pulled out earlier?”
“What’s wrong with you? And for the record, I don’t have any old lady clothes. I changed my mind. That other dress was a little too conservative, and I want to go to Tantra afterward to listen to live music.”
He came up behind me and placed his hands on my hips, staring into my smoky eyes reflected in the mirror. “You dressed like a sixty-year-old woman when we flew up here, and now you’re dressed like…you.”
A slow smile spread across my face. “Zip me up, and stop being an asshole. There’s nothing wrong with this dress.”
I felt his fingers on the low end of the dress that exposed my bare back and black lacy thong. A shiver radiated down my spine, and my lower lip trembled as he worked his way up my body. He kept his darkening hazel eyes focused on mine.
“How’s your hand feeling?” I asked impassively, trying to pace myself in this little game I was playing. I have an entire evening to get through.
After he reached the top of the dress, he ran his hand up my neck. Then, he fisted my hair with his right hand and tugged my head back. I gasped, and a flush warmed my face while heat pulsed in my core. His eyes softened as a smile spread across his face.
He leaned in. “I think it’s healed.” His silky tone washed over me.
I turned my body into his, bringing my hands against his chest as his arms wrapped around me. I found myself breathless, focusing on the feel of his touch, the vibrations of his voice against my skin, and the lust pumping through me. My brain raced, calculating how much time we had. A quickie might take the edge off and prime Rick for the rest of the weekend.
Our eyes locked. He looked at me, and his strong jaw softened into a tender smile. His hold became a gentle caress, causing butterflies in my stomach. His eyes closed as he placed a chaste kiss on my forehead. My knees weakened. My soul shattered. My resolve vanished. I was vulnerable.
This is too much.
With his lips hovering over me, he said, “Maddy, I want you to be mine.”
His words were like a knife plunging straight into my heart, gutting me alive.
The greedy motherfucker.
I pushed back from him and slid out of his hold. “You’re such an asshole.”
The phone rang, giving us both a reprieve. I slid out of the bathroom, trying to keep it together. I didn’t feel him behind me, so I looked back. Rick stood frozen with his mouth agape. I wasn’t prepared for that moment we’d had. I knew sex. I knew carnality and primal urges. What we just shared was a moment of intimacy, and it terrified me to the depth of my soul.
I’d had hundreds, maybe thousands, of trysts over the past decade, and never once had I felt a connection to one of them. It was always about the rush and release. What made me think I could have any with him? I’d deluded myself into believing I could have this weekend fantasy with him and not be affected.
His mouth was hanging open as he finally began moving toward me. “On Monday, you’re going to a psychiatrist.”
“Fuck you, Rick! Come on, Nelson’s here.” I snapped my fingers. If I can’t put physical distance between us, I’ll build an emotional blockade. “Let’s not keep my grandfather waiting. Now, grab my coat, get the door, and remember your manners.”
His eyes widened, and he slowly shook his head. With his brow furrowed, he said, “Thirty seconds ago, your body was screaming ‘fuck me, Rick,’ with your category-five hurricane storming eyes. You had enough heat coming off you to melt the polar ice caps. Now, you’re in the get-the-fuck-away-from-me deep freeze from the Ice Age. You redefine mood swings.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, not giving him an ounce of the storm rising in me. “And you define asshole. The way I see it, all is right with the universe.”
I kept my chin held high and looked straight ahead, stuffing my warring emotions away as I marched out of the apartment and then waited impatiently for the elevator.
Chapter 9
Madison
Nelson pulled into Mark’s, and the valet quickly opened the door for us. My grandfather believed the dining experience began the moment one stepped onto the premises. Rick stood behind me with his hand on the small of my back. We were greeted and ushered in. Our coats were taken, and we were led straight to the best table in the restaurant.
No matter how long I’d been away or how often I’d walked through the doors, I was always met with the same sensation. I was home, and the anchor I needed to pull myself together after the debacle at my apartment.
As the years had passed, Mark’s had taken on various renovations, keeping up with modern conveniences yet maintaining the charm
that had made it uniquely special.
My eyes danced around the room, taking everything in. Mark’s had a unique aroma that wrapped itself around me. I felt the energy pulsing through my veins. If I stood still long enough, I could feel my grandmother’s presence. I caught a glimpse of my grandfather speaking to Marcel, the maître d’. My grandfather looked up and waved. For that moment, when our eyes met, I felt the swell of love flowing between us, and we both exchanged a loving smile.
After Rick and I sat down, he brought his arm on my chair, and as he leaned toward me, I glanced over at him.
In a tender voice, he said, “Maddy, you’ve got to be one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen. Tonight though, you’re also breathtaking.”
“Thank you.” I accepted his compliment while draping the linen napkin across my lap, and I smiled to myself.
“I think we’re making progress.” He winked. “Normally, you insult me when I say something nice to you.”
“True.” I shrugged and said offhandedly, “You’ve annoyed the shit out of me today. I think I deserve having you kiss my ass.”
“You know, I’m the best ass-kisser there is.” He ran his fingers along my back. “But why stop with the ass when you’ve got an amazing body that requires the same level of care and attention?”
“Is this your best?” I gave him a side-glance. “I’m counting on the wow factor. I want it to be so good that I actually believe you.”
He shifted in his seat and cocked his head. “I don’t know why you ever doubt me.”
“For starters, you’re a liar and a manipulator.”
“Minor technicality,” he said in a serious tone.
I laughed. “Let’s add comedian as well.”
His eyes widened, and I held back a giggle.
“You really believe that, don’t you?” I asked.
“I’ve never hidden that from you. In fact, you’re the only person I’ve ever been completely honest with. You accept me for who I am, kick me in the ass on a constant basis, and call me out on my bullshit.” He reached for his wine and took a sip. “Let me put it to you this way. You disappeared on me, and I pulled every single trick I had to find you. Think about that. When have I ever had to work this hard to get a woman to talk to me? Never.”