by Pike, Leslie
Bliss looks at me.
“Very good observational skills, Steven. You could write a Sherlock Holmes episode.”
“It’s just that it was such a rare sighting. Two people who’ve stayed in love despite time.”
She pauses for a moment.
“That’s exactly what I want. Otherwise why bother?”
“We’ll have been together fifty hours soon. Happy anniversary.”
I kiss her.
“Happy anniversary. It seems like it just began.”
I don’t have time to reply before the hostess returns.
“Your table is ready.”
We’re shown to our table against a wall of windows overlooking Lighthouse Avenue. The trees along the street are covered in tiny white lights that make for a magical setting.
Passionfish is popular. There are more people here than I anticipated. But that’s a good sign that the meal will live up to their reputation.
And I can’t have her to myself every second of the day. Can I?
We are approached by our waitress almost immediately. Good service.
“Good evening. Can I start you off with a glass of wine, or a cocktail?” She looks first at Bliss.
“I’ll have a Grey Goose martini. No olives.”
“And you, sir?”
“Make it two.”
She looks back to Bliss. “That’s a beautiful color on you.”
“Thank you, that’s very kind.”
I know compliments must be a regular occurrence for her. She doesn’t downplay it or make some self-effacing response. She just thanks the girl.
I like the way she thinks, acts, looks. There are absolutely no red flags in sight.
Two hours later, we’re about to start our third martini, deep into our conversations and nowhere close to ordering. She puts her glass down. She stares at me and smiles.
“What are we still doing here? Are you really that hungry?” she says. Her look tells me exactly what I want to know.
I pull out my money clip and toss two hundred on the table.
“Let’s go.”
She’ll never have to ask me twice.
We get up and snake our way through the growing crowd of patrons. My cock is already hard, just in anticipation of what’s to come. I walk closely behind her to hide the evidence.
All the way back to the cottages we ride in silence. We’re both so fucking turned on words would interrupt the flow. I make it back in half the time it took to get there.
“Yours or mine?” I ask.
“Mine.”
I pull into her driveway, but I can’t wait to kiss her. I lean in and put my hand around the nape of her neck, and bring her to me. We kiss.
“Let’s get inside,” I say.
We make our way to the door. While she searches for her key, I detect the slight movement of the shutters in the cottage next door. Is Caprice watching us?
We’re in without wasting another moment.
And now everything falls away. Clothes, pretenses, vulnerabilities. We are like two animals who, having been denied food and water, stumble on a natural spring next to a pile of fresh meat. I almost want to growl.
She goes for my pants zipper, while I’m kicking off my shoes. I lift her dress over her head, revealing her extremely erotic black lingerie. But it’s off in a matter of seconds. This is no time to admire anything other than her body.
“Come here, baby.”
I bring her close to me and begin to taste every part of her. She smells so good. Her hair, her neck, between her breasts. And she’s making the most arousing sounds. Heavenly.
I just want to be inside her. I pick her up and take her to the bed. We move in a tangle of arms and legs. Me on top, her on top, like an erotic dance. She stops me just as I’m about to enter her.
“Wait.”
I feel a hand on my chest making sure I stay on my back. Then her torso hovers slightly above me, balancing on her palms. She glides her entire body over mine, up and back, rubbing her breasts and pussy over my body. And then she moves down.
Jesus. I’m as hard as I’ve ever been. Oh God.
Her mouth reaches my cock. She looks at me and smiles. Pure sensuality.
I spread my legs and she kneels between them. She does this thing where her fingers move in a fan like motion, as she opens and closes her grip. Up and down, from tip to base and slowly. Slowly, as if touching it was a new pleasure.
Her hand brushes the head of my cock against the outline of her lips.
Oh, that’s good.
“I like the taste of you.”
She doesn’t forget my balls. Her other hand cups and massages them gently. Then she moves her mouth to my sack and sucks each testicle.
Son of a bitch.
Then her lips are barely touching my cock, and just teasing the tip with her tongue. This is better than any dream. Her mouth plays with the head and her full lips wrap around the top of my shaft. I want to jam it into her mouth.
Chapter Seven
BLISS
I feel like I’m on a magical mystery tour of sexual desire. Every land I visit is my new favorite. His cock was made for my mouth, a perfectly designed coupling.
I take him all the way, and that’s saying a lot. I didn’t realize I had such a big mouth. Licking, sucking, running my tongue about the tip, savoring the journey. It’s pleasure for us both.
It’s in no way a job.
But I want to feel him inside of me, in whatever way he chooses. I look up at his face, and he somehow understands.
He sits up, flips me over and kneels behind me. I support myself on my forearms. He puts his hand on my ass, grabs his cock and guides it like a divining rod, until he finds the sweet spot. He rubs the tip against my lips, and gently works to part them. My wetness invites him in as he enters me from behind.
I am aware of nothing else. Nothing but this sensation and the mastery of his rhythm.
For the next two hours we quench every thirst. He is … Once again I find it hard to describe because what he is, is so unique. He’s untamed in his lovemaking and at the same time controlled. He is mindful of my needs, and yet a glutton for his own pleasure. He doesn’t slight either of us.
And there’s a smell that rises and settles on the sheets. Our sweat, my perfume and the sweet unmistakable scent that comes when pussy meets cock. There’s nothing like it. Nothing.
Sounds, smells, sights, raw and uncontrived. All music for lovemaking our bodies have scored.
I come multiple times, and more miraculously so does he. Few men have this ability. We’ve turned on this sexual spigot and we’re drenched. It feels like rain from heaven. We fall asleep, completely spent of energy and reserve. And sore, we’re both actually sore.
Morning comes too soon. I’m entangled in his arms and legs. His right arm wraps around my waist and holds me close. I can see the beauty of his Phoenix Rising tattoo. It starts on his back, wings spread, and ascends over his shoulder. The long feathered tail curves around to his right side. I study the details.
His skin feels so soft against the rocklike underlying muscles. As I stretch out of my sleep, he wakes.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, Bliss.”
He reaches over and tweaks my nipple. His touch sends chills through my body.
“We’re not finished. Are you still sore?”
“It hurts so good.” I laugh.
But we’re interrupted by the sound of his cell going off, followed closely by mine.
“Let’s just answer and get it over with. I’ve got to be available to the director. We’ll pick up where we left off. Hold that thought,” he says, and kisses me quickly.
We reach for our phones.
“Hello?” I say.
“I’ve heard that sleepy voice before. Are you still in bed, darlin’?” Bad timing Finn.
“Yeah, I am. What’s up?”
“Alone?”
“That’s none of your business.”
&
nbsp; I can hear Steven talking in the background. He’s deep into some movie business. I hear the name Albie, and an expletive, so I’m assuming it’s the director he’s talking with.
“Listen, Bliss, I’m takin’ you up on your offer. Da needs a day trip. Could we be visitin’ you today?”
Shit. Me and my bright ideas. But no matter how inconvenient this is, I’ll never say no to Carl.
“Ok. That would be fine, but it’ll have to be this afternoon. How about two o’clock?”
“Two is good. Just let me know where you are. Da’s going to be happy. And Bliss, thank you.”
“I’ll text you my address and the gate code.”
“Cheers then, get back to your issue at hand, whoever he may be.” He laughs at his own joke.
I just disconnect.
Steven’s still talking with Albie, so I go to my closet for my wrap. I love this white cotton sarong that hangs low, knotted on my hips. I throw on a soft peach-colored short loose top, and get started with the coffee.
Steven puts down his cell.
“Well, here we go. Albie wants to see me to go over tomorrow’s shoot. One of the actors broke his leg, so that’s the first fuck up.” He starts putting on the clothes he wore last night.
“I’ve got to go, babe.”
“That’s alright. I’ve just learned I’m going to have guests this afternoon. And I can’t say no. It’s a long story that I’ll tell you at another time.”
He crosses to me and takes me in his arms. “I don’t want to leave you. If it was up to me we’d lock ourselves in here.”
I’m feeling the same way. Everything else seems to be falling away.
“It’s new to me. I don’t really know how it works,” I say.
“It’s new to me too. But we’ll figure it out. What I know for sure is I don’t want you to be with anybody else. No other men. You’re for me now. And you’ll get the same. There’ll be no other women.”
“Good. That’s the only way I want it. But in full disclosure, I have to tell you my ex-husband and his father are coming to see me today. There’s nothing at all between us, but his family has been kind to me when I was completely alone. They’ll always be part of my life.” I say it with conviction, because it’s the truth.
“If you tell me there’s nothing between you I believe it. I don’t think you’re the kind of woman who would choose to lie. There’s no reason for it. We can go slow or just jump in Bliss. I’m not sure we even have a choice.”
“Ok. Let’s jump.”
Steven leaves to rejoin the real world, and I call Nicki while I change the sheets. I put her on speaker.
“Hello,” she says
“Hi.”
“What’s happening? I haven’t heard from you since yesterday afternoon. Your date must have been good.”
“Nicki, you have no idea.”
“Reeeeally,” she stretches the word out for emphasis.
“In the history of dates, it was the most perfect.”
She laughs.
“So, I guess it’s a given that you’re seeing each other again?”
“You could say that. It’s moving fast.”
“I would caution you about that, but I know you. You’re the most cautious logical woman I know. If you think it’s right, then it probably is. So, go for it.”
This is one of the things I like best about Nicki. She doesn’t just blindly regurgitate advice that’s expected. Her opinions are based on what she knows to be fact, what she’s observed to be true. She pays attention and she’s supportive. It’s a blueprint for a best friend.
“And guess what? Finn and his father are coming here for a visit today.”
“Are you kidding me? What about Steven? How’s he going to handle that?”
“It’s already handled. I just told him the truth. I’ve got nothing I feel the need to hide. And he’s very secure, he knows he’s got nothing to worry about.”
“Good thinking. But wait till he gets a load of Finn. He may reconsider.”
“I don’t think so. Nicki, I think this one may be the real deal.”
“I hope so, Bliss.”
For the rest of the morning I catch up on the things I’ve been neglecting for two days. Then I dress, and get out my iPad to write. I’ve got two hours till Finn and Carl arrive, and I’m feeling inspired.
It pisses me off that I have to put aside writing to clean my house or cook a meal. I wonder if I could ever raise children or care for a husband in the traditional sense. I’d be angry every day. I think that kind of life requires a devotion I haven’t experienced. Never say never though.
That’s how it is with me. I almost always feel like writing. That’s especially true when I’m sure that what I’m writing is good. Then I can hardly stop myself from doing it twenty-four hours a day. Steven’s the first distraction that wiped writing from my mind.
This setting is usually ideal for being alone with my thoughts. But today I’m finding concentration a fleeting notion.
I begin a sentence, and it evaporates in a fog of sexual and emotional memory. Steven, it’s all about Steven. I put my iPad down.
Ten minutes to two. I’ll sit outside on the patio, and make sure Finn and Carl spot the right cottage. It’s a picture postcard day. The sea is a deep sapphire blue, with whitecaps everywhere. As I walk out, I notice the group of people gathered on Steven’s patio. It seems like everyone’s talking at once.
I see Steven and Jack talking with a man I assume is Albie. There’s a petite older woman standing there too. I have no idea who she is, but she holds the attention of the men when she speaks.
As I watch, the door to the cottage next to me opens. I recognize the face. I’ve seen it a countless times famously in films, and infamously in the National Enquirer.
Caprice Avanti, the Italian sex symbol. I didn’t know she was in this movie. Hmmm, the plot thickens.
She looks directly at me.
“Ciao, Bella.” She waves her hello with a fluidity that must have come from years of practice. Red carpets, premiers, appearances. It reminds me of the iconic film clip of Marilyn Monroe waving to the troops.
She’s sexy, there’s no doubt about that. I can see it from here. I wave back. “Hi, neighbor.” She makes her way to my patio, and doesn’t wait for an invitation to sit down next to me.
“I’m Caprice. Who are you, darling?”
“I’m Bliss. Bliss Novak.”
She leans back in her chair and closes her eyes to the sun. She stretches her legs and arms, arching her back. The skin on her face and chest is smooth and flawless, like porcelain. Her mouth is pouty.
Her breasts are large and soft, and the stuff of men’s wet dreams. They swell out of her low necked pink cashmere sweater, begging to be motor boated.
“A beautiful name for a beautiful woman. I think we should be friends right away, Bliss. We’re already neighbors. And we’ve got to stick together, against all the men on set who will try to get their dicks in our pants.”
I bet she’d do or say anything. I’m sure being a star has afforded her carte blanche in the naughty behavior department.
“Oh, I’m not part of the crew. I live here year-round.”
She looks surprised.
“Darling, you’re so attractive I just assumed. Well, let’s be friends anyway. I will need someone to complain to when the director pisses me off.”
“Ok, let’s.”
I’m not sure what I just agreed to, or if I got myself into something I’ll end up regretting. She just kind of bowled me over with her personality.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Steven approach.
“Hello, ladies.”
Caprice jumps up and throws her arms around his neck.
“Stefan! I missed you, darling.”
I can see how uncomfortable this makes him. I’ve only known him for two days, and I know this isn’t his style. She either doesn’t know him very well, or she doesn’t give a damn what he likes. I think it’s the
latter.
I raise an eyebrow as he looks my way. It’s kind of funny. But I’ll have to hear what their history is. Maybe she’s just this way with every man.
He untangles himself from her grip. He looks to me.
“I see you’ve met Caprice.”
She doesn’t give me a chance to answer.
“Of course. We’ve already decided to become friends,” she says.
He looks slightly annoyed.
“Bliss, I want to introduce you to a few people. Do you have a minute?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I’m coming too. I want to talk with that prick Jack,” says Caprice. I have no idea why she thinks Jack is a prick, and I don’t think Steven does either. But neither one of us asks her to explain.
We walk to Steven’s cottage and I feel all eyes on me. Welcoming faces anticipating our introduction. Jack speaks first.
“Hi, Bliss.”
He leans in for a peck on the cheek. I think Steven’s talked with him about me. I’m sure of it by his expression.
“Hi, Jack. Nice to see you again.”
Steven puts a hand behind my back.
“Bliss, this is Albie, our director.”
Albie puts his hand out, and we shake.
“Beautiful girl. Exquisite. Where did this guy find you?”
“Thank you. We sort of found each other at the gym,” I say.
He looks at Steven. “Nice work. Are there any good looking men for me there?”
“I’m sure you could find a few body builders there, Albie.”
Albie claps his hands together imitating Eddie Murphy’s character in another film. “Hercules, Hercules!!”
Everyone laughs.
Then Steven turns to the woman I saw earlier.
“This is Renee Barnes. The finest DP in the business.”
She extends her hands to me, and clasps mine in hers. She makes eye contact and I feel a warmth from her.
“Hi. Pleased to meet you, Bliss.”
“Hello.”
Caprice stands to the side, I think slightly miffed at what she considers a snub. At least that’s what her face says.
“Where’s my drink, people?”
There’s no time for an answer before we hear the sound of Finn’s Harley approaching. Everyone’s attention shifts to the road.