by K. M. Liss
“I'll have a large, strong coffee on the house, hotshot Romeo, to get over you dumping me.” I try hard to smile, but inside I'm hurt. I know I have no right. But seeing him again has made me realize what I feel for him. And despite what's fast developing with Aaron, that's quite a lot, it would seem. Still, he can always be my friend, if Margarita doesn't mind, or preferably, doesn't know.
Five minutes later I sit sipping at my huge coffee and my cell phone bleeps.
Three times.
Mom, Chris and Aaron all fly in together.
I notice I also have a missed a call from my accountant.
The accountant can call back, whenever. Hopefully, never.
I know he wants to talk taxes.
Chris:Ricky proposed last night. I'm now in shock. Because — I said YES!
I’m a bit shocked by this as well.
Me: Really? And suddenly he's Prince Charming, is he? Are you sure about this babe?
I used to like Ricky, but lately he's been so bad and so off I'm a bit stunned this has happened. Literally every week there's been something. Perhaps he's had problems before and it's all out in the open now. I'll find out more when I can.
Mom asks me yet again when I'm coming back.
Me:5 days. I'll fly direct to LV.
That should keep her happy.
Finally, Aaron.
Calls all done. You're taking a real long time saying hello :(
I laugh. I've only been gone fifteen minutes.
Me: Having huge cap and sitting in the sun. See you in a while.
I need this little time to myself. To think. Now that Marco's out of the picture I feel exposed. He was a good excuse to keep Aaron at arm’s length. Still, he doesn't have to know about this development, does he? I can pretend, can't I? And while I'm fooling him, I can fool myself some more as well. Because I can't stop thinking about that hug we had earlier. It really did things to me. I felt so good wrapped in his arms. Way too good.
HIM
I've gone ahead and booked a car to go to Rome and an average-to-good hotel on the Internet for our trip to see The Saturdays. We'll share a room, hopefully that'll be okay with her. I won't mention the sleeping arrangements yet. But anyway, that's all sorted. I call Karen and cancel the apartment search, telling her I've found something on my own. We have a brief chat about the lawyer she has hired for me. I'll speak to Signor Bassi tomorrow and pass on the details.
I can't help myself and send Kate a “way too obvious” text before I can stop my fingers doing it.
Damn. I'm well on the way to making a fool of myself. I'm normally so Mr. Cool.
I'm having a lot of trouble with accepting this Marco guy. I don't know how far things have got between them, but I don't want them to go any further.
Not that she belongs to me. And I don't know why I'm feeling like this, because I don't normally expect exclusivity with my casual hook-ups.
I've been wracking my brain for inspiration. God knows how I'm gonna help her with all that baggage she's carrying. I don't have any idea how badly affected she is by being raped and beaten up. But I'm pretty sure she's not been with anyone since it happened. She's nervous of contact. Little alarm bells seem to go off when I'm close.
Normally I'd run a mile from anything like this.
Rather selfishly, I like my women uncomplicated. Completely baggage free.
And Kate has the ultimate baggage.
But there you go. Life has a way of springing wonderful challenges on you.
Some of mine have been pretty heavy ones lately. Hopefully I won't lose my mind.
Which reminds me...
I pick her Dreams folder off the shelf and flick through to one of the songs.
The one I have plans for.
Losin' It.
I can't let you go, and don't wanna know
Who you see, when you're not with me
We drive in your car, but we don't go far
Going crazy in my mind, with you I'm blind
You love me so, but you still gotta go?
Why the hell am I sinking so low?
I'm losin' it. (losin' it, losin' it)
I don't know why (why, why) All I do is cry (cry, cry)
You pick me up like I'm your toy
I'm playing with a real bad boy.
This is all just a game, and ain’t it a shame
The winner is you, and what can I do
Far too long, I've been singing your song
Pretending we're fine, but you'll never be mine
You love me so, but you still gotta go?
Why the hell am I sinking so low?
I'm losin' it. (losin' it, losin' it)
I don't know why (why, why) All I do is cry (cry, cry)
You pick me up like I'm your toy
I'm playing with a real bad boy
It needs to be a little longer but I can almost hear her singing it.
I take a photo and send it to Karen with a note to get Jack on the musical score, double quick. Something cute, and hot. Like Shannon.
I know this is stealing Kate's work, but I want to present her with a fait accompli. I hope she'll be happy once she's got over the shock and thumped me a few times. I'm going to make her dreams come true and offer her a contract to write for Shannon and another of my female signings. But I need to make sure it'll all work out in practice first. I quickly shove the file back on the shelf as I see her walking down the street below. And then the strangest thing happens inside my chest.
Fuck me...did my heart just skip a beat over her? Make that two beats. She's only been gone for an hour. Suddenly I'm a real sad case.
She shuts the door and dumps her purse and kicks off her shoes untidily.
She's so cute at times I really could eat her.
I could eat her when she's not being cute as well.
Hopefully I'll get the chance soon.
I walk toward her. “Back already?” I ask with a smile.
“Yeah, he's busy. We won't be going out later after all. He's on a double shift.”
My heart does another stupid flip. And a little cheer as well. This is my opportunity to get him out of her head and move me in. Another little evening tucked up together on the sofa.
“So we can hang out then? Maybe get some Chinese takeout?”
“Sure, and it's my treat.”
“Oh no. I'm buying all the grub while I'm staying here.”
“You really don't have to.”
“Yes, I do. As food's my thing, I'm buying, then I get to eat what I want.”
She laughs loudly.
“What?” I wasn't aware I was being funny.
“Are you obsessed with food?”
“I like my mouth to be occupied, one way or another.”
There's ways I could occupy my mouth that'd make my day. And hers as well. I'm wondering what she tastes like...my mental tongue's going there.
She laughs again. I love the sound of her laugh. It's sweet and sexy, like honey in my ears. And her teeth are just beautiful, begging me to run my tongue around their smooth even surface. I get a flash of the stud. It's taunting me. I'm dying for the feel of it. Everything. All of her.
And I can't wait any longer. I take her hand and pull her close.
“Hug, Kate. Now. Please.”
We stand there pressed together. My heart rate is picking up.
Holy shit.
I don't know how she's feeling but I'm so ready for this.
I'm overwhelmed with need. Her scent and the feel of her are driving me insane, but despite that I sense I've got to be really careful.
I don't want to ruin things before they've started.
I start slowly.
Kissing her forehead.
Then her nose.
Squeezing her tightly.
I'm just about to dip down to her mouth when she pulls her head away and looks at me directly.
“This isn't a hug at all, is it, Aaron?”
The look in her eyes tells me all
I need to know.
She wants me.
I don't know what's happening with Marco, and right now, I don't care.
Because she wants me.
I brush her warm lips with mine and we both gasp loudly as a surge of electricity shoots between us.
Our eyes are wide open with reaction and shock.
I feel like this is the first kiss I've ever had. I've never felt anything like it. It's so powerful it takes my breath away.
“Kate. Oh God, Kate,” I murmur, brushing her lips again and again. She's shaking all over, moaning against my mouth. It all turns me on so much that I'm hard in a second.
I'm dying to ramp up the action, but desperately trying to keep myself under control because she needs to take the lead.
She wraps her arms tightly around my neck and starts kissing me properly, her tongue entering my mouth.
I feel weak inside and hot everywhere else.
I rub her stud and a rising wave of desire, need, and something deeper takes hold of me. Our tongues wind together and we're carried away somewhere so good. The heat rising from us is burning hot.
The breath leaving my lungs is so loud in my ears. My heart is about to thump out of my chest; it's beating so hard.
This kiss goes on for a long, long time and I don't want it to stop. Ever. My hands are in her hair, hers are in mine. I feel her ears and her neck with my fingertips, and she explores me so softly and gently. I slide my hands slowly down her back to her ass, and pull her hips close to me. There's no doubt she'll feel just how much I want her.
She suddenly pushes me away, real hard.
“Aaron, I just can't,” she groans, shaking her head.
Shit, I've done something wrong. Pushed her too hard or fast. I know she's feeling nervous after being raped.
I take her chin in my hand and tip her face up to mine. “You can't what exactly, Kate? Explain it to me. I need to know.”
She looks deeply into my eyes and I can see her struggling with what to say.
“I'm starting to panic and freeze with you. I think I must be frigid,” she blurts out.
I laugh at her terminology. Maybe I shouldn't have done that, because her eyes flare wildly with a burst of anger.
Before she can speak, I assure her she's wrong. “There's nothing cold or frigid about you, Kate, believe me.” I brush my finger down her soft cheek. “You're warm, sexy and so very beautiful. Passionate and completely gorgeous. Maybe you need some more time, that's all. But I'd like you to tell me about things, when you're ready, so I can help you with this. You don't want to spend the rest of your life denying yourself sex because of one evil bastard, do you?”
“No, but I need to go slow. Really slow. So don't push me, okay? My pace.”
“If you kiss me like that, I kinda like the slow.”
She finally smiles and her face lights up.
I can't explain what it is about her exactly.
But every single little thing she does affects me way more than it should.
I'm completely hooked. Sex or no sex.
Did I really think that?
So. Not. Me…
~ * ~
To slow things down, we both decide on a movie. A scary one called The Conjuring that neither of us has seen. We get comfy in front of the TV, lounging close together, and begin to eat our Chinese. I notice she's picking at hers.
“You're too thin already. Eat up or you'll disappear.”
“I'm off my food. Got things on my mind,” she replies and carries on pushing the noodles about with her fork.
My iPhone beeps with a message and I look at it. It's from Karen.
Jack's done the first score. I've sent it to you. See what you think.
“It's a rush job at work,” I explain to Kate. “They want me to do something. I need to go to my room for a few secs.”
We pause the movie and I'm pumped as I go to my room and plug in my ear buds. I start to play and absorb every note of it, imagining her words fitting in.
Oh my God... it's a fucking gem of a number...
Highly synthesized strings and a touch of drums.
I want to bounce around the room like a nut-job, but I bite the pillow quietly instead.
I text back, when I've calmed down enough to move my fingers coherently.
It's great. Get her in the studio. Try and compose some similar verses temporarily. Get the promo girls on it. Let me know the minute it's done.
I stand up and pull myself together with a deep breath or two and return to Kate and our intimate TV dinner.
“Everything okay?” she asks.
“Yep, everything's just perfect.” I smile to myself.
~ * ~
I don't know what time it is, but it's dark outside. I wake up hearing a noise. My eyes focus in the semi-darkness of the room, and she's standing next to my bed. She's completely naked. For the first second or two I'm not quite with it, and nervous, imagining mad things about her stabbing me with a kitchen knife or something. I've seen far too many of those scary-girl movies. Then my rational mind takes over and I'm suddenly thinking other, way too hot things about her appearance at my bedside.
Those long silky legs wrapped around me. My hands squeezing that perfect ass, and sliding upward over those completely wonderful tits...
Steam is gathering in my brain, until I come to realize, she's crying.
“Hey, Kate, what's the matter?” I put my hand out to her. There's no answer, just more sobs.
“Kate…? Speak to me.”
Still no answer...
Fuck, is she sleepwalking?
I get up and take her hand. She's cold. God knows how long she's been wandering around like this. I'm concerned she might even have been outside. I try not to stare too much at her shit-hot body as I guide her back to bed.
She gets in and lies down and the sobs stop instantly. Like magic.
I'm not sure what to do now. I don't think I should leave her or fall asleep next to her, either, just in case she wanders off somewhere again. But then I have an idea. I pull the belt from her robe, which is lying on the foot of the bed, tie it around her wrist and the other end around mine, and get in bed with her. She won't be able to go anywhere without me knowing.
I lay snuggled up next to her bare back, stroking her shoulder as I drift off.
~ * ~
“What the fuck? You bastard!”
I'm woken by a loud voice next to me and turn my head.
“And good morning to you too, honey.” I stretch my legs out and smile at her angry face.
“Don't you ‘morning’ me. What's this?” She shoves her bound wrist in my face for my inspection.
I show her mine. “What did you do to me, Aaron?” Her voice is rising in panic.
“Cool it, Kate. Just calm down and listen. You were sleepwalking, that's all. I dealt with it as best I knew how.”
“No!” she protests.
“You appeared in my room in the middle of the night. Naked and crying.”
“Oh my God, I didn't, did I? Please no....” She covers her bright pink face with her palms in confusion and embarrassment. I detect more than that going on. There's a note of tension in her voice. She's scared of something.
She can't be scared of me, surely? It's all such a shame, kinda tragic, what's going on her mind right now. I really need to know more about her trauma.
“Yes, you did. But don't worry about it, okay?” I say gently.
“Oh, fuck. I'm so sorry,” she mutters through her hands. “I'm sure I don't normally do that kind of thing.”
I lean up and pull her hands away from her face, looking down at her intently.
“How do you know for sure?” I ask quietly. “Look, maybe it was a combination of things. Us getting a little physical, watching that really scary movie, and maybe eating and drinking late again? Perhaps it all set you off and disturbed your subconscious mind. We'll see how it goes tonight, shall we?”
I untie our knotted wrists and kiss her gently
on the lips, three wonderful times. I want to do it a whole lot more.
“Thank you,” she murmurs. “For looking after me.”
“It was more than a pleasure,” I grin. It certainly was that. A visual pleasure at least. “You're most welcome. Now then, I'm gonna make you some morning coffee.”
“Awww, that would be a real treat.”
I get up and walk toward the open bedroom door.
“God, you've such a hot ass,” she calls after me.
“I know,” I reply immodestly, grinning to myself. Then I go and modestly cover up my hot ass with some underwear.
Later that morning, we're sitting in the living room, on opposite sofas.
“Why are you here, in Venice?” she suddenly asks me.
The question takes me by surprise. I haven't prepared for this one.
“Errr, well, I had things to sort out.”
“Like what exactly? You don't get on with your mom, and never have. Your dad's gone now. You have no property here. No ties. Why haven't you gone back to New York?”
“It's like my second home,” I offer.
“I can't see that. You don't seem to have a lot of friends here. How can it be? I think you're still here because of me, aren't you?” Her eyes sparkle and a little grin appears on her mouth. It's adorable. I want to lick it.
“You're a good reason to stay,” I admit. There's no point hiding the fact. She knows I like her. Not the full extent of that, though.
Yep, Kate and my thirty million. Actually, it's just Kate I'm here for. Fuck the thirty mill, I can sort that out from New York.
“Oh, boy.” She rolls her eyes at me.
“What's the problem?”