by Molly Bryant
Chapter One
Maria
“Yes... uh, huh,” I rolled my eyes, staring at the speckled ceiling with utter disappointment. “Oh, yes...” I said aloud in monotone, completely lacking enthusiasm. Keith's tan, slender body was sweaty, hovering above me. I looked at him, watching his face scrunch up and his teeth clench while releasing only God knows what kind of noise it was... was it a growl? Really?
“Grr...” he growled again, his sweat beads were rolling down his temples and onto his swollen peck muscles. He was pumping faster and harder between my legs, though the one thing I was anticipating for the last few weeks was definitely not there... his penis.
I can't believe I got out of bed at midnight to succumb to this nonsense. I had been dating Keith... well, he had been dating me. I just wanted to relish him in between the sheets. If only I had known. I wanted to kick him off of me, and never look back. But, I wasn't that cruel. The best thing to do is just let him finish and block his number from my cell phone.
“Where are you going?” he stood in the middle of his New York loft, only a towel covering what was once a fantasy of mine only to be left with the urge to cringe. However did such a God given gift get cursed with such a small problem?
“I am going home,” I threw my red leather petty coat on, sliding my toes back into my red stiletto's. My heels clicked along the dark hard wood floors of his apartment to the kitchen, grabbing my Coach purse off of his black granite counter top.
“Why? I thought we were having a good time,” Keith's hand held the towel together tightly in his grip. His black hair a sexy mess, and his brows furrowed into a look of confusion at my sudden decision to leave.
I clicked my way to the front door then turned around whipping my long, brunette curls behind my back. A good time? I was definitely planning on one, showing up at his loft after a midnight booty text from him in a petty coat and heels. My red stained lips gave him the last 'flash-n-dash' smile and said, “No, Keith... we weren't.”
“What!? Maria!” I heard him call after me as I closed the door.
After trying to hail a cab for the last ten blocks, I decided to give up and walk the entire fifteen back to my best friend Vanessa's house. Unfortunately, as my shitty luck would have it, my upstairs neighbors dog turned the bathroom faucet on while they were at work and flooded my entire apartment. I lost everything from the knees down. Thank God, the apartment I lived in required renters insurance, otherwise I would have been screwed.
When I reached the house, all of the lights were still off. I placed my hand on my chest, taking deep breath of relief. The last thing I wanted was for Vanessa, or her fiancee' Ben to ask me a shit load of questions about my night. I took the keys from my purse and slowly unlocked the door, letting myself in. I took the red stiletto's off, tiptoeing as quietly as I could. Getting two steps into the hallway...
“Walk of shame?”
I sighed, turning around slowly to see Ben with his blonde hair sticking up in all directions still half asleep with a smile on his face trying hard not to laugh at me. His arms crossed over his chest, then leaned against the wall in his blue pajama bottoms staring at me intently. He knew... oh boy did he know exactly how my night went. Before Vanessa, he was a player just like me. He could read it all over my face without a doubt.
“What is it, Ben?” I heard a groggy Vanessa, her voice was shaky echoing from inside their room.
“Nothing, Babe. It's not a burglar... just your best friend sporting your red Gucci petty coat and stiletto's,” he smiled widely.
“God, Ben you are such an asshole!” I whispered loudly.
“Only because I love you, Maria,” he laughed aloud. I glared at him.
“My what?” Vanessa's footsteps drew closer to the hallway. She reached her hand from the doorway, flicking on the hallway light making all of us flinch from the sudden brightness. She took a good look at me and smiled.
“Looks hot on you,”
“Thank you,” I stuck my tongue out at Ben who rolled his eyes.
“Where were you?” she rubbed her eyes, Ben taking her in his arms tightly. He kissed her forehead.
“At Keith's,” I shrugged.
Vanessa suddenly wide awake, her all too familiar blue eyes lit up and the blonde bun atop of her head shook as she gaped. “Ah! You were?” she shrilled. “How did it go? You've been wanting in his pants for weeks!”
“Let me guess,” Ben eyes me. “He wasn't anything that your fantasies thought him up to be,” he held his pinky in the air. “Pencil dick,” he winked.
Bastard. “Bingo, goodnight!” I smiled, quickly opening my bedroom door and closing it behind me. I pressed my back up against the door.
“Ben, that was mean,” I heard Vanessa say. “You should have let her tell me when she wanted to,”
“Hey, I just call it how I see it,” he laughed. True.
I kicked away from the door with the heel of my foot then dropped my purse onto the dresser. I took the petty coat off, slipping into a blue tank top, and a pair of Pink sleep shorts then crawled into bed. I was a little annoyed with myself as I had worked Keith into something huge in my thoughts. I swore to never being in a relationship, but the more I got to know Keith, the more I started to like him. I figured that if the sex was mind blowing that I was going to keep him around a bit longer than my one week rule. But, his penis blew it.
I sighed. I was destined to be a player, destined to never be tied down by the stresses of relationships. No one to tell me what I can and cannot do, what I can and cannot wear. No thank you. Moving on, I will sleep in on my Saturday and forget about Keith as I have a date to meet Marc Leland for dinner tomorrow night. Keith was just one of many. Many that weren't right for me. Just like my mother had the many that weren't right for her. The five marriage licenses followed by the miles and miles of tears, tissues, empty gallons of ice cream, and divorce papers prove that. For some, relationships and marriage may work... but for Maria Anderson? They would and never will. It is in my blood attacking my cells and platelets like the plague. It is a curse I was born with to inevitably be alone for the rest of my life. So I deal.
I turned my mini lamp off on the nightstand next to my bed, and tucked myself in. Once again, as always and forever, I am alone.
“Ethan, I am so sorry! I can't believe that she did that to you,” I hear Vanessa say sullenly. “What was she thinking?”
I groaned, rolling over to look at the alarm clock, it was now ten in the morning. I closed my eyes trying to get back to sleep when Vanessa's conversation with her brother Ethan kept going on and on. Every time her petite voice said his name it was a continual reminder of the best night of sex I have ever had and yet one of the worst days of my life. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't feel guilty, and a bit of regret. I looked at the alarm again to see it was now almost ten-thirty.
“I'm up,” I sat up, letting my legs dangle from the side of the bed. I ran my hands down my face then grabbed my phone to see a text from Marc, I smiled. It was a picture of him, his brown hair short and perfect, dimples, and a bright smile showing his perfect white teeth and sparkling green eyes. Keith and Ethan totally forgotten. Well, Keith at least.
Hello, gorgeous. Just showing you how excited I am about our date tonight. Cheese!
I laughed aloud then took a picture of my bed head and this mornings left over make up with a huge smile and text him back with the picture message.
Not as excited as I was when I woke up to your text, handsome! And is that cheese American? I love me some American cheese!
My feet still dangled, moving back and forth as I giggled like a teenage girl, waiting for his text back.
LOL! As long as you wake up next to me looking like that, it is whatever cheese you want, sexy...
I shook my head with a huge smile playing at my lips, setting my phone back onto my nightstand. I stood from my bed and stretched still hearing Vanessa in the background. I needed some coffee and fast. I walked out of my bedroom an
d into the kitchen where Ben was sitting in the bar stool at the counter drinking coffee and reading the paper.
I was pouring my cup of coffee when I heard Ben clear his throat. I looked up and he had his eyes still on the paper, with his pinky up in the air. He looked up at me and smiled, I flipped him off making him laugh.
“Pencil dick,” he said between laughs.
“You are so rude, Benjamin!” I reached over the counter and slapped the bottom of his newspaper.
“Absolutely, Ethan,” Vanessa was behind me now, still on the phone. Ethan, Ethan, Ethan! My, God already...
Ben raised his pinky again, and I smacked the newspaper harder this time. Vanessa placed her hand between the both of us as if she were our mother trying to get us to stop while she was on the phone. I stuck my tongue out at him.
“You are more than welcome to come and stay here,” she smiled. “As long as you need to,”
I choked on my coffee, looking at her with wide eyes. Of course she would offer having the slightest clue about mine and her brothers weenie, itsy-bitsy past.
“What's the matter? Ethan got your tongue?” Ben muttered, his eyes on his paper.
“Understatement of the century.” I muttered, only Ben could hear me. Ben has brought Ethan up before and given my reaction when he did, he pretty much figured it out on his own. They are best friends so it's unclear if he has confronted Ethan about it, but he has never said anything to Vanessa. I think he knows better.
“Love you too, Ethan. See you tonight,” she hung up with a frown on her face.
“What's up, babe?” Ben set the paper down and pulled her onto his lap. I watched his concern for her as I sipped on my coffee.
“Jackie left Ethan,” Vanessa's shoulders slumped forward. “She left him for the real estate agent that sold them their house a few months ago. Apparently, they had swapped numbers through the process and they have been texting and seeing each other behind Ethan's back,”
“I'm sorry, babe,” Ben rubbed circles on the Vanessa's lower back as she sat there silently. Ben eyed me for a moment waiting for my reaction like always when Ethan was brought up. I played it cool.
“Such a shame,” I shook my head. “Now, do you see why I don't get involved in relationships?” I was a hypocrite, I had hurt him too.
“No, she just wasn't right for my brother is all,” she smiled. “There is someone out there for everybody,”
“Wow, I never thought in a million years I would ever hear that from you, Vanessa,” I took another sip of my coffee.
“Amen to that!” Ben high-fived me across the counter.
“What?” she hopped off of Ben's lap. “I cannot believe you two are ganging up on me right now,” she frowned.
“Babe, I only agreed with her because you truthfully made it difficult to try and be with you,” he pulled her back to his lap.
Oh, boy did she ever! I remember clearly, like it was yesterday. Miss. Love Doesn't Exist. She insisted that there were no good men out in the world nowadays. With Ethan and Ben being best friends when they were little, Ben fell in love with Vanessa but never told her how he felt up until about six months ago. She fought him and fought him on it too. It was clear she had feelings for him, but she denied them and him. Embarrassing enough to admit, I met up with them at club Estrada's one night in the hopes of having one of the best one night stands of my life with Ben only to be taken against my will to a coffee shop where Ben confessed to me how he felt about Vanessa which in turn caused Vanessa to hold me hostage bound to her kitchen chair. Thanks to Vanessa, I loathe Pinot and chiffon.
Ben's Aunt Ellen being our boss, CEO of Glow fashion mag, he had talked her into doing a piece on players and why they play woman just to be close to Vanessa. They fought, and didn't get along whatsoever. He told her he loved her, and she freaked. Then she went to tell him that she loved him, only to freak again when she saw a naked skank leaving Ben's house. Turns out it was nothing she thought it was, of course. And here they are.
I watched them pawing each other, kissing and making awful noises. I grabbed my cup of coffee and headed to my room. I needed to figure out what I was going to wear on my date with the delicious Marc Leland tonight. Oh, and of course it has to be delectable as I was going to come back home to what I was sure to be Ethan on Vanessa's couch. I smiled to myself.
“I love you, Benjamin,” I heard Vanessa say from behind me.
“I love you too, Nessy,”
I gagged, shaking my head as I closed my door behind me with the pad of my foot.
At seven I walked out of the bathroom dressed, sexy, and ready for Marc in a black strapless dress with a heart shaped bust line that came to my knees, and a pair of black heels. My long brown hair was in curls, dark make up smoked around my brown eyes, and kissable red lip stain on my lips. I was ready. I walked out of the hallway and into the living room while shoving my lipstick into my purse.
“Maybe this one will be bigger than the last,” Ben stifled a laugh.
I flipped Ben off then looked up to meet the sexy blue eyes of none other than Ethan sitting on the couch next to Ben. That bastard said that in front of Ethan on purpose. I took the sight of Ethan in; his faded blue jeans, and dark blue t-shirt that hugged his bulging pecks and biceps. His blonde hair was perfectly messy, and his smile was enough to soak my panties. Wait... was he smiling at me? He should hate me. I then realized that I was biting my lip and staring at him. Clearly he was trying not to laugh at me. I was mentally flipping myself off for being such an idiot. Who could blame me, though. Ethan Montello is damn delicious and far more sexy than I remember. Plus, we have a past... sort of.
“You know what, Ben?” I was ready to go off, he officially embarrassed me. “Don't take your insecurities out on me,” I said flippantly.
“Ouch,” Ethan laughed aloud looking at Ben then me with a smirk on his face.
“Would the both of you guys quit it, please?” Vanessa came from the kitchen holding two cups of coffee. She is going to make a perfect wife, and mother someday. She was beautiful in just a simple pair of jeans and a t-shirt, her shoulder length blonde hair was shiny and always in place, and she just had the sweet, caring, lovable attitude.
“Thanks, babe,” Vanessa bent over handing Ben his coffee, then placing a kiss on his lips.
“You're welcome, but you two need to get along, please. I love you both,” she looked between Ben and myself taking a seat on Ben's lap.
“We just mess with each other, you know that,” We do, just him embarrassing me in front of Ethan pissed me off.
“No worries, Nessy,” Ben smiled at Vanessa then smirked at me. He knew that he embarrassed me. What a turd.
“Well, you guys have a good night,” I walked toward the front door feeling every set of eyes on my back.
“We know you will, unless...” Ben paused, tooting a low whistle making me turn around. His pinky was up in the air.
I groaned. “Vanessa,” I wanted to stomp my foot like I was a child tattling on him.
“He's just being obnoxious... go have fun,” Vanessa smacked Ben's arm. “Leave her alone,”
“Have fun,” Ethan smiled at me again. Really? Another smile? “It was nice to see you again, Maria,”
I clenched my thighs together tightly, wanting to beg him to say my name just one more time. Still, two years later I have incredible fantasies about the way that he touched me. I want to skip the date with Marc and stay the hell home to hang around Ethan for goodness sakes.
I gave him the sexiest smile I could. “Definitely... see you later, Ethan,” I let my smile linger for a moment then broke my stare walking out the door closing it quickly behind me. Not before making sure I swayed my hips of course. I knew how to play, and I knew how to play it right. He definitely will see me later... hopefully sooner rather than later. God, now I don't want to go to dinner. Now that he was single again, and knows how I feel about relationships, I wonder if he would sleep with me again? We both know men have needs, well so do I.
I will have Ethan Montello again, oh yes I will.
I was on my fifth glass of wine, all thoughts of one tall, sexy blonde with yummy muscles, and a knock out smile was running through my mind a million miles an hour. The sound of his deep voice saying my name over and over again making me wonder if I go on ahead and touch myself that these bothering thoughts would leave my brain and let me go on with my date.
“You okay?” Marc grabbed my hand and squeezed it to get my attention.
“Of course,” I smiled. “Why do you ask that?”
“You haven't said more than three sentences in the last hour and a half, and you have been nursing the wine like it's water in a desert,” he leaned forward trying to make eye contact with me.
I finished off what was in my glass and set it down onto the table, my lips were pursed. Yeah, he noticed. Damn it... “I'm sorry, I just have a lot on my mind is all.” I waved my hand dismissing my behavior. “Monday is going to be a big day at work, and I am worried that I am a little behind,” I shrugged. Such a bad liar...