“I insist. Besides, perhaps I may have a bite.”
“Right away.” The bartender rushed off.
“Really, another bite and I might burst.”
“You’ll like it.”
Audrey glanced toward the door.
“He isn’t going to show,” Jefferson said.
Audrey frowned. “I just don’t understand. Why invite me here, then?”
“Perhaps he got caught up with business, couldn’t get away.”
“Maybe. Hmm … I shouldn’t have agreed to meet him here. He should have picked me up.”
Jefferson shrugged.
“I could have given him my cell phone number, I suppose. Geez, I feel so … so …”
“Don’t beat yourself up about it. You got out, had a nice meal. I’m very glad I met you, Audrey.”
“You too, Jefferson. It just doesn’t make any sense to me. I knew I wasn’t his type. Why did I agree to meet him anyway? This meal has got to cost a fortune. I’ll have to put it on my credit card.” Audrey huffed.
“No, you won’t.”
“Oh no, I can’t let you pay. That wouldn’t be right.”
Jefferson lightly chuckled. “Audrey, you don’t understand. The membership here is steep. However, guests never pay. That is how it is.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely.”
“Great. But it doesn’t feel right.”
The bartender entered the dining area carrying a small tray.
“Ah, dessert!”
Audrey smiled at Jefferson’s excitement.
“Anything else?” the bartender asked.
“That will be all.”
“Would you care for a little privacy?”
“Certainly.”
The bartender went to the entry, shut the door, locked it. He then disappeared through the door behind the bar, into the kitchen.
“What was that all about?” Audrey asked. She spooned heavenly delight into her mouth.
“That, my dear, is nothing. Enjoy.” He, too, took a spoonful of ice cream and brownie. His eyes rolled back, exaggerating how much he enjoyed the treat. The display made Audrey laugh.
“You know,” he said after another bite, “you could get back at Mark.”
“How so?” Audrey smirked.
“Well, I myself would never have left a woman such as yourself alone to dine. The club has treated you, a most lovely woman, to some of the best food there is to offer. True?”
“Oh yes.” Audrey, though full, felt light as a feather. She enjoyed the way Jefferson gazed upon her. Loved his off-hand compliments. He made the perfect co-conspirator.
“Feel free to finish dessert. Afterward, walk right out the door. Barkley will see you out. You may return to your dreadful, meaningless existence. A ghost, if you will. Never noticed. Never shown appreciation. Never lusted for. Feel free, my dear. If you so choose.”
Shock smacked Audrey. Suddenly she felt chilled to the bone. Her jaw dropped. She set her spoon on her plate.
“Audrey, my dear, the club has pleased your mouth and I would consider it an honor to be pleased by you.”
Jefferson stood up, stepped beside the table. “Would you like for me to leave? Or, perhaps, shall you choose to please me?”
Audrey felt obligated to follow through with the request. She knew she didn’t have to and she didn’t fear marching out the door. This club catered to the elite and she didn’t belong here. Knowing that made her feel insignificant. What would she tell her mother later? That Mark hadn’t taken her to dinner? She never should have left her apartment. She regretted having bragged to her mother about the date. Hell, it had never been a date. What had it been? A joke?
Jefferson was right. At least she had gotten out, met someone, did something. She hadn’t done anything in years. She hadn’t done anyone in longer than that.
Reaching out, Audrey touched Jefferson’s robe, felt his bulge. He seemed so harmless, yet powerful. She had never had anyone that much older, or sophisticated. And if not now she probably never would. In fact, the other day had been the first and only time she had seen Mark. Now she figured she would probably never see him again.
But Jefferson would. Maybe he would tell Mark what he had missed.
Audrey, numb, reached into the robe. Jefferson’s manhood was growing stiff. She gave it a gentle squeeze before slipping out of her chair, down to her knees.
Audrey took him into her mouth and pleased him the best she knew how. It surprised her how doing it excited her.
With her right hand, she held him firm at the base. Her left teased herself between the thighs. She sucked him until he exploded in her mouth. Immediately, she broke out of her erotic daze, nearly gagging on the bitter mouthful.
“Here you go.” Jefferson offered her an unfinished goblet of fine wine. Audrey spat in it to clear her mouth. “I’ll see to it you receive a temporary guest pass. I hope to see you here again, Audrey,” stated Jefferson as he fastened his pants. He strode to the door, unlocked it, left.
Audrey, flabbergasted, took one last bite of dessert to replace the taste in her mouth. Then she let Barkley see her out. The space where the Jaguar had been was vacant. In the interim a Rolls Royce and Dodge Viper had arrived, along with a rust-spotted Toyota.
Chapter Four
* * *
Audrey arrived home early enough to phone her mother but decided to wait until the weekend to call her. She needed time to come up with a plausible story, one that didn’t involve her getting home at a reasonable hour.
Leo purred and leaped onto the couch next to her. Audrey stroked his short, soft fur.
“It’s okay, kitty. Jerkwad didn’t show, but I had a nice time.” Audrey turned on the television, started Days of our Lives. As she watched her mind kept wandering, repeatedly turning to earlier events. A naughty sense of adventure filled her. She had never done anything like that before. The closest she had come was being talked into going to a frat party in college then waking up in a guy’s room the next morning. But everyone did that in college, she assumed. Not everyone received attention from a powerful, distinguished older gentleman. Not everyone received invitations to exclusive private clubs.
Not everyone blew someone in what amounted to a small, if somewhat private, restaurant.
The drama of Days of our Lives flashing across the flat-screen television no longer seemed so important. The apartment walls had closed in while she was gone. Even Leo’s purring didn’t sound as loud. A mild buzz from the wine earlier tingled her flesh.
Audrey had thoroughly enjoyed the attention. Enjoyed someone wanting her to please him. She had gone from being invisible to becoming a sexual being. She planned to masturbate later—to find release. Her damp panties still clung to her from earlier.
Just as the soap opera episode ended, a knock at the door startled her. Rarely did Audrey receive visitors. Sometimes her mother visited. However, she typically called beforehand. Besides, she wouldn’t expect Audrey to be home tonight. Nobody else besides solicitors ever came knocking and they never came by after nine.
Audrey answered the door. To her surprise she found Mark Wilder on her doorstep. He wore faded jeans, a Las Vegas Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt, and sunglasses perched in his ruffled blond hair. He oozed testosterone. His bulge packed left.
“What are you doing here?”
“I missed you earlier, thought I’d stop by. Mind if I come in?” Not waiting for a reply, Mark strode past Audrey. “Got anything to drink?”
“Um … yeah. Tea, milk, Diet Pepsi, bottled water.”
“You should really keep some beer on hand. Just in case. I’ll take a water.” Mark marched over, plopped down on the couch. Leo sprang onto the couch back, leaped off, and pranced away down the hall.
“Feel free to make yourself at home,” Audrey said sarcastically. Slightly miffed but equally amused, she went into the kitchen to grab two waters.
“What are we watching?” Mark asked.
“Whatever you like
.”
Audrey joined Mark in the living room, handed the drink. She sat down at the other end of the couch and twisted open her bottle. She asked again “What are you doing here?”
“So, you stopped by the club. I didn’t get there ‘til later, so I thought I’d stop by.”
“How the heck did you know where I live?”
“The guest book, of course.”
“Of course.” Audrey remembered signing in. Earlier, she hadn’t thought anything about it. She had listed her address and telephone number in the fields. She didn’t know what else to say, feeling a little intimidated by Mark’s presence. Still, she managed to spit out: “When someone invites me somewhere, I sort of expect them to show.”
“Well, I expected you a little later. Besides, I was finishing up on some business. You know how it is.”
Audrey could only imagine.
“What did you think of the club?”
“You were right about the food.”
Mark smiled.
“What did you think of the company?”
“The company?”
“Jefferson. What did you think of him?”
Immediately Audrey wondered how much Mark knew. She still couldn’t believe Mark Wilder was sitting in her apartment, that he had asked her to a club. Her, of all people. Then to come here, all the way from downtown to the suburbs.
“Jefferson is very nice. We got along fine. At least I didn’t have to eat alone.”
Mark chuckled. When he stopped the room fell silent, except for the television turned low. He had changed the channel to a sports station. A newscaster was recapping the day’s scores.
“Someone is always at the club,” he explained. “That’s the way it is.”
Audrey, feeling uneasy, blurted out, “Look, Mark, what are you really doing here? Don’t you have a girlfriend?” The more she thought about it, the more she believed he had to have one. Someone beautiful. Someone not like her.
Mark took a long drink of water, contemplating her question. Then, looking Audrey deep into her eyes, he replied, “Sure, there are women, but nobody special. I’m busy, on the go. I can’t explain it, Audrey. With you, there is a strange attraction. Call it animal magnetism. You’ve caught my interest.”
“What?” Unbelievable.
“You give off vibes. Look around you, you are a very independent woman. I find that very attractive. You are obviously self-sufficient. I could tell the other day in your cubicle. You don’t have pictures of family. Instead, you have one of you and your cat. Magazines and paperbacks—you enjoy solitude. I’ve noticed you eating alone at your desk before.”
“Really?”
“Yes. So when you offered to help me out, I figured why not take you to dinner. Take you to the club.”
“We should have set a time or something. It was a little uncomfortable going there—being there—not knowing anyone.”
“It went fine.”
Suddenly Audrey felt self-conscious sharing this information with him. She didn’t know Mark all that well. And although they hadn’t enjoyed dinner together, he had come out of his way to stop by. Excitement stirred within her. She wanted to get to know him better.
“Speaking of which,” Mark said, “how’s it going with my reimbursement?”
“We’ll cut the check next week.”
“I knew you could get it taken care of for me.”
Audrey cut her eyes toward the television screen, the compliment too powerful coming from him. She felt his fingers pushing back her frizzy hair.
“Let’s cut to the chase,” Mark said. Audrey turned to him. His eyes drilled deep into her soul. “We are both adults.”
“What are you saying?”
He leaned closer, cradling her head in his hands. He gently pulled her closer still. “I want you.”
A turmoil of confusion sprang up within her. “I don’t know. This isn’t a good idea.”
Mark ignored her empty plea, instead bringing his lips to hers. A strong hand squeezed her thigh; she wilted at his touch. The kiss grew stronger; Audrey dared not pull away.
Turmoil churned desire. Audrey reciprocated his kiss with hungry lips. Their tongues danced. His hands roamed. When he touched her breasts her body succumbed to him. Her hands began to roam, as if possessing a lustful mind of their own.
Before she realized it, they lay sprawled on the couch, his body over hers, her legs splayed. His crotch, lustfully rigid, prodded against her, making her wet, ready. They squirmed on the couch.
“Mark …”
“Shh …”
“There isn’t enough room.”
“Your room.” He started to rise.
“I don’t know …”
“Audrey, I want you so bad.” Standing, he took her hand. “Don’t you want me?”
She had never wanted anyone so badly. But it seemed too sudden. Audrey didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t think, except to imagine what it would feel like to be penetrated by Mark Wilder. She lusted for his body, hungered to feel like a woman again.
Mark didn’t wait for her reply. Taking her hand, he led her off the couch, down the hall straight to her bedroom, as if he had been there many times before. Audrey simply allowed him to lead the way. He disrobed her, then himself. She crawled onto the bed and watched him remove a condom from a pants pocket. He carefully unrolled it onto his erect penis. When he penetrated her he filled her more fully than she had ever been filled before. Her body burned so hot, she grew so wet, she imagined herself a candle, dripping wax as he plunged into her.
It thrilled her to the core, drove her wild the way their bodies pounded together. The sex grew frenzied, ferocious. Audrey came hard, harder than she had in forever, with Mark hovering above her, arms flexing with each thrust. Then he turned her over, head down, on her knees, rump in the air, and pounded her sweet, wet hole from behind. Yet another climax ripped through her body.
He rode her hard until, finally, she felt his penis throbbing deep inside her. He pulled out, removed the condom and tossed it in a nearby wastebasket.
Then they both fell into a sweaty heap atop the bedsheets. Audrey’s body quickly became chilled. Before she could recover enough to slip beneath a sheet, Mark stood up, started to dress.
“I really need to go—big presentation in the morning,” Mark said, fastening his jeans. “I’m glad I caught you tonight, Audrey.”
“Me, too.”
“I’m going to get you a temporary pass for the club in a couple weeks.”
“Okay.”
“Hope to see you there.” Mark grabbed his shoes. Audrey started to get up but before she could, Mark headed out of the room. “I’ll catch you later. By the way, I like Heineken.”
Audrey, thoroughly satisfied, heard the front door shut as Mark left. Leo sprang onto the bed, curled up, purred.
She had needed a good screw, Audrey thought, body trembling. Not wanting to leave the bed, she had to force herself to go lock the front door. While bathing, she wondered if she had made a mistake by having sex with Mark, or by going to the club. Then she realized she didn’t care.
She had nothing to lose.
Chapter Five
* * *
Audrey, not much of a beer drinker, nevertheless sat on the couch sipping a Heineken, watching television. She had picked up a case of twelve bottles after work. Drinking it helped remind her of Mark. Not that she needed any help. In fact, she could barely concentrate on her story. All she could think about was Mark’s handsome muscular body. Specifically the way he felt thrusting into her. Stroking Leo’s fur she realized how much she had needed sex.
“What’s wrong with me, Leo? It’s like Mark flipped a switch. Now I can’t get enough.” She nursed the Heineken bottle.
Wouldn’t it be nice if Mark stopped by again tonight, Audrey thought. However, she did not believe he would. What he had said last night echoed in her mind.
Sure, there are women, but nobody special. I’m busy, on the go.
A
udrey didn’t like the idea that there might be other women. But with her it was special, or so he had said. Yeah, right. After one night? A night she let him have his way with her. Probably one of at least several of his recent scores.
Audrey drank more beer. Guys like Mark—sexy, free, confident—always had women waiting in the wings. Never before had Audrey dated anyone in Mark’s league. Yet she felt up to the challenge. Perhaps there was an animal magnetism, like he had claimed. She definitely sensed it when he was around. Those other women, whoever they were, better look out. She didn’t plan to let him get away. At least until they had a chance to get to know each other better.
Audrey smiled. The drink had started working its magic. This week had come as a welcome surprise in her humdrum life. Although excitedly awaiting their time together, Audrey reveled in comforting happiness. Leo and a drink, a new summer dress with a sunflower print that made her look oh-so cute, being curled up on the couch watching guilty pleasures on television—and Mark in her heart.
She wanted him to see the new sundress. After work she had done a little shopping, trying on clothes. She decided the dress displayed what minimal cleavage she had. Besides, it clung nicely, showed a lot of skin. She could pull it off in a jiffy, if she needed to. Then Mark could see the frilly yellow panties she had bought at Victoria’s Secret. The dress fabric, though thin, was substantial enough Audrey didn’t need a bra—the one small advantage of having a flat chest.
Audrey sighed. Mark must have had women with beautiful ripe breasts before. Hopefully, he wasn’t quite so shallow. But he must be tempted on regular occasions by such breasts, gorgeous blonde hair, curves like a Sunday drive through the hills—mesmerizing and thoroughly enjoyable.
Did Mark have any kids? Possibly. Perhaps a cute little girl by an equally beautiful woman. A woman younger than Audrey. She figured the woman would be a complete bitch, asking Mark what he was doing slumming around with someone like her.
None of that would happen, Audrey realized. Mark was intelligent, a contentious lover. He had worn protection. The chances of him having children were slim. Still, there remained a chance he had offspring … but Audrey could worry about that later, if need be.
Club Nadir Page 3