Kissing Another Grimaldi

by K. Z. Riman

  “Thank you.” He reached for my hand and his fingers touched my thigh. I cringed and it made him chuckle, making me more nervous.

  “I can stay here.” I told him as he stopped in front of his building, minutes later. It was almost eleven.

  “Don’t be silly.” He unbuckled his seat belt and got out, walking towards my door and opening it for me. He held out his hand. “Come up for a second.”

  “Carter…”

  “Just for a second. You promised you’d look at my place.” He pulled me out and led me to the elevators. I stood beside him and felt like the lift wasn’t moving fast enough. I was very eager to go back to the mansion.

  His place was wonderful. It had a modern executive look—perfect for a man like him. He placed his keys on the kitchen counter and took his coat off. “Feel free to look around. I will be in the bedroom for a second.”

  At least he would leave me alone here. I looked around and saw some pictures of him framed in silverware on top of his fireplace mantel. He was an accomplished person. He had a lot of awards and honors from school and from different organizations after his graduation. He was…like Seth, in a way. He was serious about life and about work. He would be able to provide his wife with a very good future.

  At the end of the row of memories, I found one that made my heart stop. It was a picture of the two of us, the summer when his family took me to their vacation house in Klidesville, a mountainous city in the country. Why would he keep this?

  “Kelsey.” He came out of his room, the top buttons of his shirt undone, revealing his muscular chest.

  “You…kept this picture?” I touched the frame as he walked over to me.

  He chuckled and nodded. “Yes. I like that picture. It has you in it.”

  I knew where this was going. “Are you done?”

  “Don’t you want to stay a little longer?” He pushed a lock of hair away from my cheek. “I mean, it’s quiet here. We could talk over some wine…”

  “No. Sean might be waiting for me.” I pulled away, but he held my hand.

  “Just an hour more?” He brought my hand to his lips. “I missed having you around. I missed having your company.”

  How was I supposed to respond to that? Should I walk away? I was a free woman with no boyfriend and no husband. Carter was a great catch and I knew him.

  Scott would never love me, after all.

  “I have always liked you, Kelsey. Even as Seth dated you, I always hoped we would end up together.” He swiftly pulled me to him, his arm around my waist. “Didn’t you notice?”

  “No. I…” I looked away, my hands on his chest to keep my distance.

  He chuckled. “You’re so cute, you know that, and naïve about many things.”

  “You make it sound like I’m stupid.” I forced a quiet laugh as I pulled away.

  He didn’t force himself onto me. “No. I didn’t mean that. I just think you always seem to not notice how attractive you are to men.”

  “I notice,” I said. “I notice them always trying to get into my pants.”

  “I’m not like them.” He pulled me closer.

  “No? You brought me here…”

  “To talk to you. To ask you to marry me.”

  “What?” Did I hear him right? Marry him?

  “Marry me, Kelsey.” He kissed my neck and I flinched. “Marry me and forget about Seth.” He kissed my cheek. “I can take care of you, and your son could be mine…”

  “No.” I pushed him away.

  What was I doing? A respected man was asking me to marry him and take my son as his own. What more could I ask of fate? What was holding me back? Scott? Scott would never do what Carter had just proposed to do for me. Scott would never be a man like Seth or Carter.

  “No?”

  “I mean…thank you…but this is…too sudden for me.”

  “Fine.” He cleared his throat. “I can wait, even if it takes you months to decide on it.” He took from his pocket a blue box and opened it to reveal a diamond ring, his promise.

  I haven’t been proposed to in my life. Seth never had the chance to. I looked at my ring, and even as it sparkled, it didn’t seem to hold the same promise.

  “Think about it.” He pushed my hair back and tried to kiss me, but I pulled away.

  “I will.” I turned and took my bag from the couch, heading for the door.

  He stayed behind for a few minutes to close his bedroom door and check his apartment. I needed to catch some air so I went ahead.

  “Shall we?” He met me in front of the elevator. The ride seemed to take longer going down than it did going up, and I was growing impatient. Eight floors was still too many for a woman as eager to go home as me.

  “Will you really think about it?” Carter asked hopefully as he turned to me.

  “Yes.” I wasn’t lying. I was going to think about it. With all honesty, this was a chance of a lifetime.

  The doors opened and we heard a man groan in irritation. I turned and saw Scott, looking at us intensely. He glared at Carter and pulled me out of the elevator. He was drunk. I could smell him. “We’re going!”

  “Scott! I promised your mother I would take her back.” Carter pulled my other hand.

  Oh, geez, this is painful. “Will you both let me go?”

  “No! I’m taking her home!” Scott pulled me again to his side, freeing me from Carter. “Why did you bring her here?”

  “What the hell do you care?” Carter folded his arms across his chest. “I asked her to marry me. What’s your excuse? Why are you here, following us?”

  “She’s living with us. I don’t need an excuse.” Scott’s voice was harsh. I couldn’t understand why he was so angry about this. “Let’s go.” He pulled me again.

  “I said, I’ll take her back.”

  Scott pushed him against the wall, starting a fight. Carter threw the first punch and I was completely disappointed in him. He should know better!

  “Carter! No!” I shouted.

  Scott wasn’t going to let that slip. He fought back, his fist hitting Carter’s cheek before I could even yell again.

  “No! Stop that!”

  When Scott stumbled to the floor, I pulled Carter away from him. “Are you crazy? He’s drunk! You didn’t have to fight him!”

  Scott stood up and was charging towards Carter, but I stood in front of him. “Stop it, Scott! We’re leaving!”

  “You’re lucky she’s here.” Scott pointed his finger at Carter.

  “No. You’re lucky!”

  “That’s enough!” I pulled Scott outside and into the back seat of his car, leaving Carter with clenched fists. I told Leo to head home.

  Leo nodded without a word and started driving, ignoring us. There was silence as we drove home. Scott constantly let out heavy breaths and ran his hands through his hair in his irritation.

  “Let me look at that.” I took Scott’s chin and pulled his face around so I could check on the bruise at the corner of his mouth.

  He shoved my hands away. “What the fuck were you doing in Carter’s apartment?”

  He wouldn’t be rational about this, especially in his state. “Nothing.”

  He snorted with impatience and insult. “You couldn’t stay at a man’s apartment looking like that and not do anything!”

  I looked at myself and he was right. I hadn’t expected to go out so I wore my black tube cocktail dress that hugged my body.

  “Come on, Kelsey. Look at you!”

  I shook my head. “Could you be rational about this?”

  “About what?” Scott yelled at me. “About how I found you with Carter tonight? He actually proposed to you?”

  “You know, he’s right. What the hell do you care?” It wasn’t like he was my boyfriend or m
y husband! “So what if he proposed?”

  “Do you want to marry him?” He sounded like he thought I was being absurd.

  “Why not? He asked me to marry him and he is going to take care of me…” The car stopped in front of the mansion and Leo got out, leaving us. “…and he will take care of Sean.”

  “Oh, that’s rich! You throw yourself in front of a man who lies about how much he wants to take care of your son.” He shook his head.

  “Just because you can’t, it doesn’t mean no one else can.”

  “Yeah, and you’re stupid for believing Carter.”

  Even before I knew it, I was slapping him across his face. “How dare you?” I started to get out of the car but he pulled me back.

  “We are not done talking!”

  “Let me go!” It was the same story with him: we fight and we make up, and then we fight again. “Scott!”

  “Stay here!”

  “Let go!” I pushed him away from me with so much force I thought he was going to hit his head. I struggled to get out and he followed immediately, running after me as he called my name. “Leave me alone!”

  “I won’t leave you alone! Shit! Stop running!”

  “What in the world is going on?” Mother was on the stairs as I ran past her. Scott was close behind; I would have no time to talk to her. “Scott?”

  “Kelsey!” He was still calling my name as I ran to my room. For all the distance I put between us, he was bound to catch me when I stopped and opened my bedroom door.

  “Stay away from me!” I shouted, but he pushed me inside and locked the door behind us both. There was no end to this! As long as he was here, he would be chasing after me and I would be running away…and he would catch me…and I would weaken.

  My phone rang inside my bag, but he grabbed it away from me. When he saw that it was Carter calling, he threw my phone against the wall. The sound of my phone shattering into a million tiny pieces was loud.

  “Did you enjoy it?” His eyes were burning—with jealousy, I hoped. He held my arms and pushed me against the wall. He was making this a habit. “Tell me, Kelsey. Did you enjoy his touch? Was he good in bed? Did he treat you differently?”

  “Yes!” I pushed him away as I lied, and he let me go. Was that what he wanted to hear? He would only make this a longer argument if I told him the truth. “Yes. He was gentle with me and he didn’t force me into anything. He was nice to me and…”

  “No. No!” He shook his head and pinned me against the wall again, his whole body pressing into me. His lips were on my cheek. “You’re lying.” It sounded like he was begging. “Tell me. Tell me you’re lying.”

  “No.” Tears pooled around my eyes. Yes, I’m lying. “Think what you will…”

  “You’re lying.” He was still trying to convince himself and I wanted to tell him he was right. I was lying. I would never give myself to anyone but him…if he would only stay and love me. “You won’t do this to me.”

  “Do what?”

  “This.” He nibbled on my ear. “You won’t drive me insane wanting you…just you.” His warm breath was on my skin. “Please don’t do this to me.”

  He covered my lips with his and I could taste his agony, his longing. Was he feeling love for me and denying it to himself? “Scott, do you…?” I stopped. I couldn’t ask him about that.

  “I want you,” he whispered, as his lips trailed down my neck. His hands were already on my breasts, exploring them as he pulled my top down. He carried me to bed, putting me down as he hovered over me, looking at me. “Tell me you lied.”

  I swallowed hard. Would he believe me if I told him I had? “Yes. I lied.”

  His sharp intake of breath told me he was relieved and he closed his eyes before kissing my lips again. “Don’t lie to me again,” he whispered, our lips touching still. He tasted bittersweet from his ale.

  I moaned. I wanted him again. I would never stop wanting him. “Scott, make love to me.” I begged him. I bet he hadn’t made love with any woman in his life before, just had sex with them, and went on his way.

  He groaned, a response I was not expecting. His kisses became more fervent and he pushed me further up onto the bed before pinning me down.

  His hands explored me again, squeezing my hips before pushing my skirt up to my waist. He brought his lips to my breasts, feeling them with his tongue. I felt my insides burning, my flesh tingling with mixed sensations.

  As he knelt on the bed, myself between his legs, he unbuttoned his shirt and threw it to the floor. His eyes never left mine and my lips trembled to meet his again. I unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants.

  From his pocket, he withdrew a foil pack and opened it with his teeth, handing his condom to me. I took it willingly, sitting up on the bed as he stood in front of me, his manhood mocking me. It seemed to tell me how I was giving myself again to a man, who would not love me.

  I grabbed it with my hands, gently squeezing it to my satisfaction. He felt so hot, pulsating under my grasp. I felt his veins beating wildly under his skin. I wanted that. I wanted him to go insanely crazy over me. He groaned through gritted teeth, as I brought him to my mouth.

  I let him cup my head, moaning as I gave him pleasure. I didn’t want him to come this way. I slid the condom down his length and threw my body back onto bed, my hands above my head.

  He chuckled. “I like that.”

  “I know,” I whispered, as I watched him climb on top of me, kissing me as he pushed my hands to hold on to my headboard.

  “Hold on,” he teased. He brushed his nose against mine, stalking the length of my throat and my torso until he reached my knee. He started kissing my thigh, running his fingers gently up and down, so that I arched in delight.

  “Oh, please…” I could not take his taunting, whether in bed or out of it. “Take me. Take me now.”

  “Not yet,” he whispered, as his kisses grew warmer, lingering through the skin of my inner thigh, up to the flesh between my legs.

  “Scott.” I whispered his name as I groaned with pleasure, my hands tightening their grip. “I want you now,” I begged. How long was he going to make me wait…for this bliss, this insanity…for him?

  He hovered over me, his hands caging me in as I pulled my legs up. “Don’t let anyone touch you…but me.”

  That was what I was doing. No matter how much I was tempted to accept Carter’s offer—a life, a real life with a man who would work hard for me and for my son—I never could, because I was hoping Scott would wake up from his dream…my nightmare.

  “Ah!” I cried out as he slammed himself into me, frustration coming out of him. I absorbed him as he stilled, savoring my lips, as his hand reached for mine. I let go of the headboard and clutched his fingers.

  He eased himself out of me only to slam into me again. It was painful, but why was it that I could not protest? Was he mad at me for going with Carter?

  “Don’t marry Carter,” he whispered, his eyes closed as he kissed my neck. He pulled me up and I sat on top of him, my legs folded so we never broke contact.

  I wrapped my arms around him and kissed his lips. He needed to tell me more. What good would me not marrying Carter do, if Scott wasn’t going to tell me why?

  Tell me more, I screamed inside my head, as he held my hips with his hands, carrying me up and down to meet his movements.

  “Please,” he begged, his mouth on my breasts again. I grunted, my hands gripping his hair. “Don’t…”

  “Tell me why,” I demanded. He stilled for a moment, gazing up at me before pushing me away. I lay on the bed, stunned. He stood and pulled me up.

  “What are you doing?” I was in a daze from our lovemaking, from his unlikely request. I would do whatever he wanted, but I needed to hear him tell me what I wanted to know. “Scott.”

  I pretended t
o protest as he brought me to the couch. He sat down and pulled me to him so I sat on him again. It was different here and I could feel his body absorbing every thump I made against him. I moved with and against him, letting him in and out of me, while I had both my hands on his cheeks.

  “Please,” he begged again.

  Wasn’t I supposed to be the one begging here? I should be begging him to tell me why he didn’t want me to marry Carter. I should be begging him to love me…to marry me instead. What am I thinking?

  “Tell me,” I said, my voice hoarse, as I was nearly reaching my climax.

  “No. You tell me.” He growled as he threw his head back, his feet tensed under me. “Now!”

  “I won’t…”…tell you first! I thought I already had.

  “Won’t what?” His breathing was ragged, and his eyes were hardening. “Won’t what?”

  “I won’t…marry…Ah!” I couldn’t hold it. I pulled his hair and threw my head back, my hips still pushed against him. I was shattering with my own rapture, falling apart, as I gave in to what he wanted.

  “Shit!” He cried out as he drained himself, his fingers digging deep into my hips, the top of his head on my chest. “Kelsey…” He muttered under his breath.

  I won’t marry Carter…for you. I was out of breath, staring at him as he looked up at me.

  “Please,” he begged again. “Marry me.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Kelsey: To Run Away

  “What?”

  I couldn’t believe my ears. He was proposing! Why? Did I say anything aloud to make him say this? Was he serious?

  He was in a daze, sated with sex. It was apparent with how he was looking at me now–eyes soft and breathing erratic. He couldn’t be thinking clearly. He couldn’t mean what he said. Yet, I wanted him to mean it. I wanted him to say it again, and say it with all his heart.

  “Baby, say something,” he whispered, and I gasped.

  Baby?

  “I…” What did he call me? I stood up and took a few steps back, gazing at him as he removed his rubber and threw it in the trash bin. “What did you say?”

  “You heard me.”