by Vivian Ward
I nearly spit everywhere but I manage to quickly gulp it down. "What? Are you talking about Brooke?" She nods. "I never invited her over."
Crossing her arms, she leans back in her seat, effectively creating distance between us. "She says you did. She told me that the sole purpose of her coming over was so that you and Tyler could have a threesome with her."
Narrowing her gaze at me, she waits for my response. "Ally, I promise, I had no knowledge that she was coming over prior to her arrival. I did not invite her over, nor did I know that Tyler was bringing her as his date. The last time he and I spoke, he was dating some girl that he'd introduced me to at the club. I assumed that's who he was bringing."
Her face relaxes as she's satisfied with my answer and she leans toward me again. "Okay. If he would have told you that she was his date, would you have allowed her in your house?"
Reaching across the table, I cup my hand around hers and squeeze her fingers. "Ally, it is not my house. It's our house, and no, I would not have allowed her into our home. You live there too and I respect you. I would never do something like that."
A young waiter approaches our table with a bucket of ice and a bottle of wine. "Hello, Mr. Kaswell. Are you two ready to order?"
I look to Ally for permission and when she nods, I allow her to go first. After he is gone with our orders, I propose a toast. "To us! To a new beginning and, hopefully, a lasting relationship."
"I'll drink to that," she says.
After we finish our meals, I take her on the last carriage ride for the night along the riverfront. The temperature is a bit cooler near the water and a few more clouds have occupied the murky night sky, making it appear a deeper shade of blue; almost black as the clouds resemble ripples of currents just like the great Mississippi River. With the wind picking up, the water becomes choppy and when I glance at Ally, I can see her shiver from the chilly breeze. Taking off my jacket, I cover her with it so she won't be so cold.
"Thank you," she says, looking into my eyes.
"Anything for you," I reply and kiss her on the forehead. "I really mean it when I call you my Princess. I know you may think it's condescending, but that's not how I mean it."
"Why do you call me that? You didn't start until after––," her voice trails off. She doesn't need to finish her sentence. I know she means after I kidnapped her, but that's not something either of us want to discuss, nor would it be a good idea for the carriage driver to hear.
"I know, but since the day I met you, I've always put you on a pedestal, Ally. You're just like a living, breathing princess. Your beauty is breathtaking and you move with such grace." Since we're not discussing the kidnapping aspect, I leave out the part how I've had her locked away in a room in my mansion, just like a king's castle.
"I still don't know what's so special about me. You could have anyone you choose, yet you choose me. Why?" she asks.
I want to be honest with her, but I know I have to use my words carefully. She needs to know why I picked her and why I'm so obsessed with her.
Chapter 15
Ally
His hesitance makes me nervous and I begin to question if I asked the wrong question, but I want to know. There are girls who are far prettier than me, and ones who are better off in the social society, so why me? It doesn't make any sense and it's something I've been asking myself for months.
"Initially, I was attracted to you because of your innocence. When I met you at the flower shop, you had no clue who I was and you treated me like an average Joe."
"And that made you like me?" I laugh.
"It was a combination of that, and you look like someone who meant a lot to me."
I feel like I'm intruding on his privacy, but this might be my only chance to ask anything I want to know. Even then, I don't have a guarantee that he'll answer everything I ask. "What do you mean by that?" Without realizing it, I'm pulling so tightly on his coat that my knuckles are turning white and my hands feel sweaty.
"Hey," he says, stroking my fingers. "It's nothing bad. A long time ago, I was in love; deeply in love. Her name was Melissa, but everyone called her Mel." His eyes look watery like he might cry, but it could be the breeze that's picking up around us that's making his eyes water. "I thought we were going to spend the rest of our lives together, and I would've given her the world. I asked her to marry me, she said yes, we did the obligatory engagement pictures and she was planning the most elite wedding," he laughs as he recalls his memories of her. "I mean, she was going to fly both sides of our family out to Europe so we could get married on the beach because that's what she wanted to do."
As his voice trails off, I quietly ask him, "What happened?"
Sighing, he wraps his arm around me and pulls me close to his side as though he needs to touch me to make sure I'm still here. "She died in a crash. There was nothing that could save her, and I lost the love of my life."
I nod, understanding his pain. "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault," he says. "They say God always takes the good ones early, and she was definitely one of the good ones."
It's nice to hear him sound genuine and talk about his past. I want to know more about him and learn everything there is to know because under all that tough exterior and horniness is a man who has a huge heart, whether he wants to admit it or not.
"You know what I'd like?" I say, changing the subject. His eyebrows shoot up in anticipation of my answer. "I'd like you to meet my best friend, Kristin. She's the one who was working with me at the flower shop. She's also the one who made me wait on you and told me who you were once you were gone; hence, she's the one who brought us together."
"Oh, that girl," he says, smiling at me. "And she's your best friend?"
"Very best since we were young," I reply.
Our carriage ride is almost over when the wind begins to pick up and it starts to mist on us. "I think we might get some rain," he says.
"Think?" I laugh as it begins to pick up. Looking up at the sky, large bands of clouds sweep in at a quick pace, completely obscuring the partial moon that hung above the atmosphere only hours ago. Once cobalt blue, the sky is now almost completely black and the only light that can be seen is a faint glow of the moon's light, as a backdrop, behind the clouds. The smell of spring rain fills my senses as excitement courses through my veins. I've always loved the rain, especially thunderstorms, but tonight looks like it's just going to be a typical summer rain. I almost went to school to become a meteorologist because I love storms––rain, snow, blizzards, tropical, any kind––but writing is my true passion, so journalism won out before I even had a real chance to look at the science courses.
The barometric pressure is picking up as the moisture in the air drops with each passing second. The light sprinkle begins to turn into small raindrops, and before we have a chance to get used to the cold raindrops, they begin to free fall from the sky. "Those are cumulonimbus clouds, and we're about to get soaked!" I say, using his jacket as an umbrella as I jump off the carriage when it slows to a stop.
"Give me my jacket back!" he calls after me as I run to a nearby bus bench to seek shelter.
Chasing after me, he follows me to the empty bus stop, his hair matted to his head and his shirt completely soaked. "That so wasn't fair," he laughs. "You could've at least let me hold my jacket above both of us."
"Or I could keep myself dry," I laugh with him.
The two of us huddle together as we try to stay warm. Our faces only inches apart, he leans in closer, his lips hovering inches above mine as his hands pull my hips closer to him. "But I like it when you're wet," he says.
Leaning in, his teeth pierce my bottom lip as he lightly bites it, sucking it into his mouth. The warmth of his breath tickles my face as my lip melts like spun sugar from the moisture of his kiss. I sigh as his mouth leaves mine, leaving it to feel lonely and empty. I want his kisses back there, but now that they're trailing down my neck, my whole body wants to melt in his hands. When his lips finally return to m
ine, I think the sweet wine from dinner tastes better on his tongue than it did straight from the bottle.
With the rain picking up, we are still getting soaked even with the shelter of the plexiglass from the city's bus stop and our clothes cling to our bodies. Opening my eyes as we kiss, I notice a nearby bar that appears to be moderately busy, but it will provide adequate shelter until we can call for a ride back to the restaurant. We probably should've driven his car to the riverfront for the carriage ride, but he was afraid that someone might break into it or steal it without it being in a secured parking garage. "Come with me," I yell over the sound of the rain.
Grabbing his hand, I lead him across the street to the bar. "Do you want to go in and have a drink?" he asks.
I'm not sure if he's asking to be polite or if he genuinely wants to have a drink. This type of place is an average bar, and I'm sure he's used to upscale places like the one he owns but it would be nice to go someplace normal with him. I'd like to see him out of his element, having fun, and being an ordinary guy.
"I don't know. Are you okay with it? I mean, with drinking at a regular bar?"
"Look," he says, pulling me to the side. "I know you might think that just because I have money, it must mean that I can't hang out with the common people but you're wrong. Let's go in, have a drink, and dry off while we wait for the rain to die down."
"And if it doesn't?" I ask.
"Then we'll either call an Uber or make a run for the car. It's only six blocks."
I laugh and shake my head at him. "That'll be a long six blocks in the cold rain."
"It's okay," his fingers brush over my nipples through my wet shirt. "I like it when these are hard."
"Stop it," I giggle, pushing his hand away.
I had no idea how playful he can be or how much fun he is on a date but this is a side of Colton that I've never seen before and the more he shows me, the more I'm beginning to fall for him. There's a whole side of himself that he keeps hidden from the rest of the world but I am grateful that he shares it with me. We grab a set of pool sticks and play a couple of games of pool while we have a few beers. He's completely kicking my ass because I've never been very coordinated, nor do I have much experience playing pool but I wouldn't take back this night if my life depended on it. Closing time rolls around and the bartender announces last call. When we look outside, we see that the rain is barely a mist so we decide to walk back to his car. On our way home, we turn on the heat in an effort to finish drying our clothes before we get home. It helps a little, but our efforts are hardly noticed.
Inside the foyer, we kick off our shoes as we laugh and almost knock over the expensive Dalmation umbrella holder that's home is near the front door. At the top of the stairs, we giggle, making our way down the hall until we reach the bedrooms where we both grow very quiet. Splitting off to my bedroom, he grabs my arm and stops me.
"Come, sleep with me tonight."
Even though we've had sex before and he made me blow him while we had company before he fucked me and came all over my ass, sleeping in the same bed seems so intimate. I'm not really sure that either of us is ready for that yet. We might've shared a few private details tonight but there's still so much work our relationship needs.
"Why?" I ask. "I can just sleep in my room."
Reaching out, he touches my face and allows his thumb to trace over the curvature of my face, learning every contour my nose, cheek, chin, and lips have to offer. The moment the pad of his thumb traces over my lip, I catch myself holding my breath, and I'm not the only one who notices. A lazy smile plays on his relaxed features as he steps closer to me, closing the space between us and wraps his hand around my head, pulling me to him before he kisses me for no other reason to kiss me. When he's finished, I look into his eyes and see a warmth that I've never noticed before. "For tonight, let's pretend that everything is perfect. We can iron out the wrinkles later but I want us to have a good night."
Reluctant, he grabs my hand and drags me closer to his bedroom door. "Come on, Ally. I won't bite. I promise."
"It's not the biting that I'm worried about. It's what else you might have in there," I tease.
"I promise, I'll be a perfect gentleman."
Chapter 16
Colton
Pulling her into my room, her resistance fades and her body relaxes. Our damp clothes still cling to our skin but before either of us can climb into bed, we must undress. I promised her that I'd be on my best behavior and that is a promise that I will keep. Tonight is about me showing her how precious she is to me and that everything doesn't have to be about sex.
The soft glow of the moonlight creeps through the sheer curtains providing enough light for us to barely see each other in the dark. Her silhouette looks angelic in this light as I slowly kneel before her like the goddess she is. First, I start by removing her strappy high heels before I reach up to her thighs and delicately remove her thigh-high pantyhose, cautious as not to rip them. With her heels and pantyhose gone, I carefully massage her feet as I look into her eyes. Her feet must ache after being on them all night, running in the rain, playing pool, and walking back to the car. The only sound that can be heard is the two of us breathing with the exception of an occasional sigh as I hit all of the pressure points in her feet.
Something tells me that I'm the first man to ever do this for her as intently as she's watching me, but a princess should always be regarded as royalty. As long as she is in my care, she will receive nothing less––except when she's being disciplined, but there will be times for that and it will not be all the time. I respect Ally and want to have a happy future with her. I've never entertained the idea of marriage since Mel passed until Ally came storming into my world with her charismatic smile, her sweet charm, and a brain to go with all of her glorious beauty. When I say she's different from all the other girls, I mean that in every single aspect. The others pale in comparison to her and could never compete.
Satisfied that her feet are relieved of any discomfort, I request that she sit on the edge of the bed before I move my hands up her legs and slowly massage her calves to alleviate any tension they've built up. Still, her eyes are completely trained on me, watching my every move. I know she's waiting for my touch to advance into something sexual but, as much as I want it to, I promised her that nothing will happen tonight. Once her calf muscles are soft and relaxed, I rise from the floor and stand before her.
Raising her arms above her head, I grab her dress by the skirt and shimmy the moist cotton from her dank skin. Even in the moonlit room, I can see the goosebumps break out on her skin. I reach for the throw blanket that's near the foot of my bed and wrap it around her to provide her with warmth so that she doesn't get cold while I retrieve a towel from my private bath. The two of us remain silent as I towel dry her hair and once it's finally good enough, I pull out one of my t-shirts from my closet and offer it to her as a nightgown.
"It's okay," she nods across the hall to her room. "I can get a set of my pajamas."
"Put this on. I'd like to see you in one of my shirts," I hand it to her. "It'll be fine. Trust me."
Standing before me, she reaches behind her back and unclasps her bra. I know I should look away to provide her a bit of modesty while she's dressing for bed, but I cannot look away. The damp bra sticks to her skin until she pulls it completely away, free both of her breasts at the same time. The coolness of the air striking her nipples makes them harden instantly, much to my delight but I promised to be good, so that is what I am doing. It feels like hell on earth to have her standing before me in nothing but her damp panties but within a moment's notice, she drops those too and is completely naked. She makes no attempt to cover herself up or hide her beautiful body as she faces me. For a moment, the two of us stare at each other as I take in all of her nakedness. Though we are not having sex tonight, I know this is her way of giving herself to me. She is making the offer and I will gladly accept it, when the time is right. When I cannot stand another second of looking a
t her beautiful body, I take the shirt from her and stretch the neck of it to fit it over her head and slide it down her body. There's not much of a difference in length between her dress and my shirt, but my shirt does not conform to her hourglass figure the same way her dress did. Because of that, I am a bit disappointed, but I still love seeing her in my clothes. It shows how petite and vulnerable she is in comparison to my size, and I make a vow right now to protect her. Always.
Pulling back the covers for her, I pat the bed. "Get in and make yourself comfortable."
She stares at me for a moment, unsure of what to do until I reassure her. Once she is in my bed, I walk over to my dresser and rid myself of my damp clothes before I slip into a dry pair of boxers and climb in beside her. All is quiet with the exception of a random car passing by.
"Can I ask you a question?" she says, finally breaking the silence.
"Ask me anything you'd like," I answer, wrapping my arm around her.
Lying her head on my chest, she tucks a few strands of hair behind her ear and sighs. "Will you still answer honestly?"
"Of course," I reply.
"You promise?"
"What is it, Ally? Just ask. I promise to always tell you the truth."
A long pause is followed by another lazy sigh, and that's when I know that something is bothering her. "At the restaurant, I asked if you ever brought your dates there, and you said that wasn't a fair question because everyone eats when they go on a date."
"Yes," I answer, though I have a feeling where this is headed.
"Well, I was wondering," she turns to face me. "Do you ever bring your dates here?"
I take a minute to analyze her question before answering it because I don't want to lie to her. "If I said no, that would be a lie." Instantly, she turns her head away from me but I refuse to let her hear the rest of my answer. "I have brought dates home in the past but you are the first one to ever sleep in my bed."