by Tia Siren
“What are you doing?” she squealed, picking a small grape from her hair and launching it back at him.
He dodged it and swooped in for another handful, propelling them at her one by one as he dove behind the couch for cover.
She counteracted with mini muffins, giggling as she went in for the offense toward him. She climbed the couch to the top and peeked over the back to find him before launching the last of her missiles toward him, but he was gone. She sat up and looked around, only to see him running toward her like a warrior, hollering loudly and bombarding into her until they were both laughing so hard they couldn’t continue.
He moved a strand of hair from her face and quieted down, his heart beating out of his chest. He kissed her tenderly, his hand gently moving up her side and across her stomach.
“You feel so good,” he said, closing his eyes and allowing his sense of touch to be the only sense permissible.
“Make love to me, Edward,” she whispered.
Her words jolted at him. He wanted to, but he also wanted to wait. She was worth that. He kissed her forehead with a small kiss. He kissed her temple, then her cheek. She knew it wasn’t going to happen as he covered her face with small kisses. She took a deep breath and sighed.
“In time, my Talita. I need you to be patient with me.”
She nodded, closing her eyes and feeling his body close to hers.
They spent the better half of the morning together, eating fresh fruit, laughing at his corny jokes, listening to stories and bathing together.
He dragged the luffa up her arm and watched the soapy bubbles conjure together as she told him about her childhood and how her rich daddy never had time for her.
“What about your mother?”
“She died when I was young.”
“I’m sorry.” He wondered why people apologized when hearing such tragic news long after the healing was done and the people left behind had moved on. It always seemed the proper thing to say.
“I never knew her. I recall images of her from time to time but I think they are from pictures I have seen of her as I grew up.” She leaned her head back on his chest and closed her eyes to enjoy the feel of him around her. “What about you? Any tragedy in your life worth a biography or a lost tear?”
“Is it sadistic of me to say I wish there were?”
She giggled. “No. I guess when people are telling stories, they like to compare them and even puff out their chests when they think theirs is best.”
“Well, it looks like your chest wins in this one.” He pulled the luffa up over her breasts that were barely submerged in the bubbly water.
A sharp knock at his door got a groan out of him.
“Don’t say anything,” she whispered. “Maybe they will go away.”
“It’s Joseph. He doesn’t just go away.”
“Edward! Open up, man,” the familiar voice shouted from the other side.
“Told ya.” He wrapped his arms around her for just one more moment of bliss before prying himself out of the tub.
That evening after an amazing dinner with some of his colleagues, Edward went to the bar with Joseph to finish out the night. They bellied up to the bar and ordered their drinks then looked around the place.
“Lot of fine ladies in here tonight,” said Joseph, licking his chops.
“Dude, you don’t quit, do you?”
“Only when I’m dead, my friend.” He slapped Edward on the back of the shoulder and laughed.
“What happened to Miranda?”
“What do you mean?”
“You were with her just last night.”
“And let me tell ya, she is a fine piece of ass. Mmm, mmm, mmm.” He shook his head and kissed his fingertips.
“You have no soul,” Edward said, smiling at him. “I honestly don’t know how you do it.”
“Stick with me and I will give you a few pointers.”
“I’m good, thanks.”
“You’re gonna stand there and try to tell me you didn’t land gorgeous Miss Brazil?”
“I am.”
“Bull shit.”
Edward kept his gaze steady on Joseph and didn’t crack.
“God damn.” Joseph stepped back and looked at him. “What was wrong with her?”
“Nothing. Nothing at all. That is why I waited.”
“Why you waited…,” he asked, curiously. “I’m confused.”
“I really like this girl. I think it could lead into something, hopefully, serious.”
Joseph turned to the bartender and put his hand up. “Can you make that a double?”
Chapter 4
Edward watched as Joseph hooked up with yet another beautiful woman. Luckily, he was used to being left alone when in the company of his partner. It never lasted long, however. He turned toward the bar and noticed a striking young woman sitting on the other side of him, staring at him with a smile.
“May I help you?” he asked politely.
“Only if you stay here and keep me company.” Her voice was sweet but he sensed she was only looking for a good time. Last night on the cruise, young woman possibly on the ship alone and looking for a good time that she can keep secret from her boyfriend or husband.
“Well, I suppose a drink wouldn’t be out of the question, but I have to tell you that I do have plans later this evening.”
“Does it include me?” She trailed her fingertip up his arm.
He hesitated, not wanting to disappoint, but having perfect reason to do so. “No, I’m sorry but it doesn’t.”
She pressed her lips together, briefly looked down at his chest, looked back up at his face and without a word, she got up and walked away. Edward chuckled and quietly finished his drink.
“Can I order a bottle of Pinot Noir to go, please?”
The bartender nodded and handed him a chilled bottle that he put on his tab. He thought about telling Joseph he was leaving but didn’t want to interrupt their slow dance in the corner.
Before he knocked on Talita’s cabin door just before midnight, he leaned forward and listened. He wasn’t sure what he expected to hear but he was hoping she wasn’t asleep yet. He knocked three times and stepped back, staring at the door knob and wishing for it to turn. He felt his heart sink a little when nothing happened. He knocked once more a little louder.
“Come on, baby,” he whispered. A thought occurred to him that she might not even be in. He turned and walked down the corridor, looking at the bottle of wine and wondering how badly it tasted alone.
“Edward?” A soft voice called from behind him and he turned to see Talita standing in the corridor in a long, dark blue silk nightgown with spaghetti straps that hugged her shoulders. His mouth parted and he just stood there, staring. “Well, are you just going to stand there or are you going to come in and make love to me?” She disappeared back into the cabin, leaving the door wide open for him.
Once he was finally in the room, he watched her body move as she swayed to the soft music playing from her cell phone. He quietly closed the door and without a word, walked slowly to her, pulling the straps of her gown down from her shoulders.
“How did you know?” he asked in a whisper.
“Know what?”
“That I came here to love you tonight?”
“I felt it. I felt you.” She turned toward him the top of her gown resting on her hips, her breasts exposed and her arms down to her sides. “I haven’t desired a man this badly for many years.” Her arms slid up her body and around his neck. “Edward,” she whispered, closing her eyes.
He pushed her up against the wall, slamming into her, no longer wanting to keep his distance. His lips pressed into hers with a hunger he had to work on keeping passive until this night. His tongue pushed past her lips as he let his hunger take control. He pushed her gown off her hips and let it fall to the floor, picking her up and feeding her legs around his waist. He pushed her up against the wall and slammed his body into hers feeling her tremble as he worked to free his co
ck. His mouth ravaging her neck and breasts, he quickly pushed forward feeling himself enter her. He stopped and slid his hand along her face, looking at her and feeling everything her body offered him. He carried her to her bed, careful not to free any part of them together. He imprisoned her body beneath him and slowly pushed into her repeatedly as he watched her face, allowing for the occasional kiss on her lips or her neck. Their arousal heightened slowly, climbing as they kissed and petted, grabbed and groped, pushed into each other and breathing heavily. He felt her orgasm immediately as her muscles clenched around his cock, setting off his own orgasm causing him to push into her deeper. He leaned back and let out this guttural moan from deep within as if it had been stored there for way too long. He looked down at her as he tried controlling his breathing, his body perspiring and his cock pulsing inside her.
She smiled a lazy smile and cascaded her fingertips across his chest. She picked up her head and looked at the floor, giggling before returning to her pillow.
“What’s so funny?” he asked with a smile.
“I just realized I was so caught up in you that I don’t remember your shirt coming off.”
He looked down at the floor and then at the wall where they began their love making. “It must have…fallen off.” He dove down into her neck and kissed her playfully. “But I must admit, you were right.”
“What about?”
“We shouldn’t have waited.” He rolled over and pulled her on top of him. “You were incredible.”
She leaned down, kissing him and lingering there before she sat up, straddling him. “I want to do it again,” she said coyly. She buried her face in his neck and slid her hands down between them until he was ready for another dish of Talita.
The cruise docked the next morning and Joseph was already pounding on Edwards’s door. Edward ran out of his bathroom and opened it, his toothbrush still in his mouth.
“Hey man, you ready?”
“Why the four-alarm fire?” he asked, walking back to the bathroom.
“We got that meeting with the investors at two. I need to be prime.”
Edward spit in the sink and rinsed his mouth. “We have plenty of time.”
“So, how was your night?” Joseph pried. “I know you didn’t come back here and crash.”
“I went to Talita’s.”
“And?” He leaned up against the doorway in the bathroom as Edward slathered shaving cream on his face.
“We had a very nice night.”
“Don’t give me that crap, man. Did you finally do her?”
“You have such a way with words.” Edward looked at Joseph then picked up his razor. He pulled it down his cheek, making a path to his chin. “Yes, we had sex.”
“Shaweet! How was she?”
“That’s none of your business.” He acted offended that Joseph would ask such a thing, but he expected it. “I got back here about an hour ago.”
“You gonna see her again?”
Edward nodded as he looked at his reflection in the steam lined mirror. “I really like her.”
“Well, get your shit together Romeo. We gotta jet.”
He washed the extra shaving cream from his face and finished packing up.
They got back to the office in plenty of time and after a successful meeting, Edward was ready for some much needed sleep.
When Joseph walked past Edward’s office he stopped when he saw him just sitting at his desk.
“I thought you were taking off early?”
“I was going to. I wanted to call Talita first and maybe set up some time with her this week.”
“So why the long face? She shoot you down?”
He shook his head and picked up the half folded paper she gave him before returning to his cabin on the ship. “She gave me a bullshit number.”
“She what? Nooo.” Joseph walked to his desk and took the paper. “Maybe she just wrote it down wrong, you know, like dyslexia or something.”
“Maybe.”
“If you are so into this woman, go see her.”
“Her number is all I have.”
“Hang tight.” Joseph pulled his phone and hit a bunch of buttons. After a minute, his phone bleeped and he read the text that came in. “Apparently she is staying with Miranda in Crawley until they fly back home at the end of the month.” He grabbed a pen and scrawled an address on the back. “Don’t say I didn’t help you. See ya tomorrow.”
“Thanks, man.” Edward picked the paper up and looked at the address. Should I go see her? If she meant the fake number, she only wanted a good time. He put his head back and rested it on his chair. But there was such chemistry between us. “It has to be an error.” He grabbed his jacket and left the office.
He needed sleep, but he needed to know that Talita was going to see him again first. As soon as he got home, he switched out his town car for his Jaguar and entered the address into his GPS before gunning it and speeding out of his driveway.
When he pulled up to the front of the large townhouse, he shut his car off and went in the building. He confirmed the apartment and went to that door. Voices came from inside the thin door. He knocked lightly and stepped back as the door opened.
A man, mid-thirties, fairly good looking stood before him smiling happily. “Hello, can I help you?”
Edward furrowed his eyebrows and looked at the paper again. “I’m sorry, I may have the wrong apartment. I’m looking for Talita?”
“You have the right place.” The man turned his face away and leaned in further. “Talita, honey? Someone is here to see you.”
Honey? Edward stepped back into the hallway. This was a bad idea.
Talita bounced into the doorway and lost her smile as soon as she saw Edward standing there. She hesitated as she searched for the words to say. This man was obviously unaware of her antics with Edward on the cruise ship and it appeared she had no inclination in telling him about them. “Hello,” she said dryly.
“Hello again,” he said, glancing at the man then back at her. He wanted an introduction but she wasn’t offering one. There was fear in her eyes as she stood there worried at what Edward would say next. “I’m sorry,” he said, thrusting his hand toward the man at Talita’s side. “I’m Edward Caldwell of Caldwell and Johnson Associates. You are?”
“Rusty Salinas, Talita’s husband.” He stated the fact just in case Edward may have been interested in his Talita.
“Ah, yes. Of course. I was in town on a business venture and thought I would stop by to ask you and Miranda if you were still interested in setting up another cruise vacation.” He pulled his wallet from his pocket and pulled the travel agent’s card he still had when he booked his party. He handed it to her and watched as his lie registered with her.
“Oh,” she stammered. “Yes, the cruise vacation. I plum forgot.”
“I just wanted to let you know that my plans have changed so I won’t be coordinating it. Here is the agent you can get in contact with if you are still interested.”
She delicately took the card from him, her eyes still locked on his. “Thank you.”
“I won’t be needing it any longer.” He nodded and forced a smile. “Have a good day.”
The man went back into the apartment and Talita whispered “I’m sorry,” just as Edward turned and walked away.
Chapter 5
Edward’s phone buzzed and he picked it up like it was second nature. When he looked at Joseph’s name on the text message he realized it was almost the end of the day. He had been staring at his computer screen for the past half hour without seeing it. He hit the button and read the text.
Got a few minutes? What was his idea this time?
Sure. Come on in.
A few minutes later, he walked in and sat on the other side of Edward’s desk, putting his fingertips together.
“I have an idea.”
Edward just smiled. “I figured. What is your idea?”
“No, no, no. Now hear me out. I’ve been thinking about it for a whi
le now. Been working on the strategy and the details.”
“I’m listening.” Edward knew Joseph was full of ideas and even though most of them were good ones, they were usually virtually impossible to follow through with only because he liked to change his mind and interests often, or he expected Edward to be fully on board with it to which he usually wasn’t. Needless to say, he always listened to what he had to offer.
“I want to start another company.”
“Another company,” Edward repeated, raising his eyebrows.
“Yeah, a lot like this one. New name, new offices, new everything. Put one up against the other and double our profits.”
“You don’t think we work enough now?”
“We hire new people to help do what we do now and we just overlook the two companies.”
“I don’t know, Joseph.”
“Come on, think about it. We can’t lose, man. We have the capital from this company for the initial investment so we won’t owe anything. We’ll just set it up as a loan with interest. It will work.”
“I don’t know.” He searched Joseph’s face for a reason to say yes but he had a hard time with it.
“Look at how long it took us to profit from Caldwell & Johnson. It has been an easy ten years and we are beyond successful.”
“I’m not saying it’s a bad idea. You just have to give me a couple of days to think about it. Let me absorb your ideas.”
“Well it’s Friday and the weekend is here. Take all the time you need. Just let me know by Monday mornin’.” He grinned sheepishly when Edward looked up at him. “Any plans?”
“No.” He leaned back in his chair and fiddled with a pencil from his desk. “I think I’m just going to veg out this weekend. Be alone for a couple of days. I’m sort of burned out from the week.”
Joseph calmed down and gave Edward a sympathy grin. “Talita call you at all?”
Edward shook his head. “I don’t expect her to. Did I tell you I went to see her?”