The Art of Love

by Celya Bowers

Peri sat at the kitchen table listening to her oldest sister, Bailey, as she buzzed around the kitchen. Or at least pretending to listen. Bailey was going on about something Dakota had done.

  “Peri, you could at least pretend to listen.” Bailey put the finishing touches on dinner while their mother went upstairs to change out of her church clothes.

  “Oh, sorry, Bailey,” Peri apologized. “What did you say?”

  “I said Dakota was accepted into the Charleston School. You know we were trying to get into the Harwood Academy, but it was just too expensive.”

  She knew Brendan’s daughter went to Harwood, but Brendan never told her how much the school cost. “So what was the price difference?”

  “Harwood is ten thousand a year, where Charleston is six thousand. I would have loved for her to have the education of Harwood. They have so many more advantages than most private schools.”

  Peri nodded. “Brendan’s daughter goes there. She seems to like it. She’s always talking about her teacher and her friends. They’re always having something at the school. She had a piano recital a few months ago.”

  “How can he afford to send her there?” Bailey asked. “He must really be making a good living being an art director.”

  “Apparently.”

  “Don’t you give me attitude, Peri. I was merely asking about his finances. I think I have every right to ask.”

  Peri rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. Yes, Bailey had every reason in the world to badger her with financial questions. It was Bailey who had helped her move her money so that Robert didn’t leave her penniless. “You’re right, Bailey. But I don’t know. We don’t talk money. We just declared our love.”

  “Peri, you should really be more proactive. Just because a man looks like he’s handling his business doesn’t mean he is. You have to ask the tough questions about his money. Love is great, but being blindsided when it’s too late to do anything about it, sucks. I’ve seen it happen to a lot of my girlfriends.”

  “I know that.” Peri was getting tired of this conversation. “Brendan is nothing like Robert. He has his money and I have mine.”

  Bailey sat across the table from Peri. “So how much did the trip to Ireland and Colorado set you back? I wondered why you were willing to go to a foreign land with him.”

  “He paid for my first class ticket,” Peri said proudly. “To Seattle, Ireland, and to Colorado.”

  “He took you to Seattle? When?”

  “Thanksgiving night he had to attend an art auction there, and then we went into Canada for the weekend.”

  “I assume he paid for that trip as well?”

  “Yes, he did,” Peri said. “The reason I don’t ask him about his finances, Bailey, is because I don’t have to.”

  “I think you still need to be aware. What happens when he stays over at your house?”

  “I usually stay at his house more often than he stays at mine. His house is a custom designed five-bedroom home, he drives a Range Rover, I think he’s okay.”

  “On paper, but you need to know for sure.”

  Peri knew her sister was partly right. “I’ll talk to him about it. If it looks like our relationship is going to turn serious I’ll ask him to provide me with a financial statement.”

  “Smart ass,” her sister chided. “Peri, this is serious. He’s taken you to other countries. I think he’s pretty darned serious.”

  “Could be, but we both have baggage from the past.”

  “I know I can be real anal about knowing a man, but I have my reasons. When you were in the hospital, I thought we’d lost you because we weren’t on our game. We were letting Robert call all the shots, and that will not happen again. I’m sure you’ll be mad, but there’s no way I’m letting a repeat of that happen.”

  “I know you care and I appreciate it,” Peri said quietly. “I’ll always listen to what you have to say. I may not act on your advice the minute you give it, but I will take it into consideration.”

  Bailey smiled back at her. “Thank you, sis, that’s all I ask.”

  Peri noticed something in her sister’s voice. “Is everything okay between you and Elijah?”

  “It’s okay. It could be a lot better, but he works so much.”

  “I thought you were cool about him working so much. You said it gave you time to read in peace.”

  “That’s the Disney version I tell Mom and Dad. I want a husband who wants to go to all those art showings he reads about in the newspaper. He really likes plays, but he’s always working. How does Brendan manage his time?”

  “He does go out of town quite a bit. He had to go to Europe a few months ago, when we first started dating. He was gone for two weeks. Longest two weeks ever.”

  Bailey laughed, then glanced around the room. She motioned Peri forward. When Peri complied, Bailey whispered, “I’ve heard white men are different in bed, is it true?”

  Peri thought Brendan was different than any other lover she’d ever had, but didn’t know if race had anything to do with it. “He’s different, that’s all. I can’t say for all white men, only that one.”

  “How long?”

  “What?”

  “You know the myth that brothers are always bigger. Is that true?”

  Peri couldn’t believe that her anal, uptight sister was actual talking about sex. “I can only say from what I’ve experienced. I think he could hold his own with the brothers.”

  Bailey giggled. “Not that I ever could date outside my race, but it’s nice to know.”

  “Actually, Brendan is bigger than Robert.”

  “No way,” Bailey gasped.

  For the first time that afternoon, Peri got one on her sister. “Very way. About nine ways.”

  Bailey put her hand over her chest. “Wow.”

  CHAPTER 25

  The atmosphere in the SUV was deathly quiet as Brendan drove toward Peri’s condo. Brendan wondered what was going through Peri’s brain at the moment. After they’d been questioned separately, she seemed quiet.

  “Okay, baby, what is it?”

  “Nothing. Just thinking.”

  “What did your sister say to upset you? Do I need to talk to her?”

  She reached out and touched him on his arm. “That’s sweet, but not necessary.”

  “So are you going to tell me or do we have to stay up all night discussing this?”

  “No. I’ll tell you, but you may not like it.”

  “I don’t like when you’re this quiet. You’re not the woman I fell in love with. Where is fun Peri?”

  “Fun Peri is still here. Bailey was interested in which school Chelsey went to, then she wanted to know all this information that I didn’t think was her business.”

  He knew what she didn’t say. “But it’s something that you should know since we’re dating.”

  “Yes,” she said softly. “It’s due mostly to my history with Robert. My family was a great support system after he attacked me the last time. I know they were upset that they let Robert into our circle of trust. They don’t mean to let it happen again.”

  “Yes, I got that impression. I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”

  “Brendan, you don’t have to,” she said, letting her voice trail away.

  “Yes, I do. I have nothing to hide and I don’t want any secrets between us.”

  “Okay, Brendan. You can tell me anything that you want me to know. You already know my secrets.”

  He grabbed her hand. “Everything I have, I own. I have made good investments over the years. When Claire and I divorced, she didn’t want alimony because she was already with another man. We have joint custody of Chelsey, and I pay child support, Chelsey’s health insurance, and private school tuition.”

  “Thanks, Brendan, for telling me. I didn’t realize I was curious until Bailey brought it up.” She shifted in her seat and faced him. “Brendan, since we’ve been dating, you’ve spent quite a bit of money on me. You paid for the locksmith, the trips, and the gifts.”
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br />   “Yes, I can afford it. My annual salary is about a quarter of a million, not including bonuses and finder’s fees.”

  Peri gasped.

  “I hope it puts your mind at ease and you won’t worry about finances. If I couldn’t afford it, I wouldn’t offer.”

  She was always amazed by his frankness. She had come to enjoy it. She hated Bailey at that moment for putting those awful thoughts in her head. No, she reasoned, those thoughts were always there, Bailey just gave them a voice. Brendan put everything right, as he always did.

  They entered Peri’s neighborhood and, sure enough, there was Robert in an old, beat-up car, watching over her home. She wondered if he had tried to gain entry while they were away.

  “Looks like someone is back,” Brendan said. “I would love to wring his freaking neck.”

  “Brendan, I have a plan to get rid of him once and for all. I just haven’t got all the details worked out yet.”

  “Yeah, I remember.” He parked the SUV in her driveway. “Since he’s out here, I should probably park in the garage.”

  “Yes, I think so, too. Especially since we don’t know exactly what he has in mind. No use giving him more ammunition than necessary.” Peri nodded, reached in her purse, and pulled out the remote. She activated the garage door and he parked next to her sporty Volvo. Peri hit the remote to close the garage door.

  Peri got out of the SUV and headed for the door leading into the condo when Brendan’s voice stopped her. “Don’t you dare go inside that house without me checking it out first! Who knows if he has booby-trapped your house. You let me check it out before you come in. Got it?”

  She really didn’t like it when Brendan took this ‘I’m a man’ attitude. Common sense also told her that he was right and she should let him do his thing. “Got it.” She saluted him as he walked passed her.

  He smacked her on her bottom. “That’s for being a smart ass.”

  She noticed a dark object in his hand. “You have a gun? I thought you didn’t like guns.”

  He held the gun in his hand and opened the door to the house. “No, I don’t want you to have a gun.” He walked inside the house. “I’ll yell if there’s a problem. If that happens get in my SUV and go to the police station.”

  “Okay,” she mumbled.

  She waited for ten minutes before she heard the all clear signal. Brendan was at the door in a matter of minutes. “He hasn’t breached the perimeter of the house. I wonder how long he is just going to sit out there watching your house.” They walked inside and locked the door.

  They walked into the living room and took a seat on the couch. “I don’t know, Brendan. Maybe he’s waiting for the right moment.”

  Brendan put his arms around Peri, wrapping her in the safe cocoon of his arms. “Not on my watch,” he said, kissing her gently on her lips. “This has been one long day,” he whispered in her ear. “Why don’t we make it an early night?”

  It sounded like a trip to the Bahamas to Peri’s ears. “Sounds wonderful.” She rose, grabbed his hand, and led him upstairs. They entered the bedroom and Peri closed the door.

  Brendan sat on the bed watching her every move. “Today was just a test, Peri. On both fronts. With your family and with Robert. I think we passed both. Now it’s time for a reward.” He reached for her, but she evaded his grasp.

  “I want to do this for you, Brendan. Do you trust me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then let me undress you.” Peri felt her heartbeat speed up. She hoped she didn’t lose her nerve when the time came.

  Brendan nodded and moved farther onto the bed. Peri climbed onto the bed and straddled his body. This was going to be a night neither of them would forget for a long time.

  She leaned down and kissed him. She let her tongue dance with his as she unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it aside. Brendan’s hands roamed her body as she moved further down his body. She unsnapped his jeans and slipped them, along with his boxers, down his legs.

  Peri looked up at him. He smiled back at her. She wrapped her hand around him, and then moved her hand up and down on his penis.

  “Oh, Peri,” he moaned.

  “You want me to stop?” She knew he didn’t.

  “No, harder, faster, please don’t stop.”

  She didn’t. With each stroke, Brendan moaned, groaned, and begged for more. She didn’t know if she had just got caught up in the moment or she wanted to give him the most pleasure that she could, but she took him in her mouth.

  “Oh, baby, please, please, please, don’t stop.” He guided her head closer to his body.

  All this was so new to Peri. Never in her life had she given so much pleasure to a man. Robert had asked her many times in the past, but she had refused, with Brendan somehow, it seemed natural to want to satisfy him in this most sensual way.

  * * *

  Brendan thought he’d died and gone to heaven. Peri was loving on him in a way he hadn’t thought possible. The feel of her tongue moving up and down on him sent his emotions spiraling out of control. He took a deep breath, hoping to calm his overactive body down, but it was useless. She was sending him over the edge quickly. He pulled her off of his body.

  She looked at him with wonderment in those beautiful eyes. “Was I doing it wrong?” She looked down at his rigid erection.

  “No, baby, you’re doing it perfectly, but I want us both to enjoy it.” He took off her blouse and wrestled her out of her jeans and panties in mere seconds.

  She straddled his body and he guided her onto his waiting erection. They both sighed in contentment. As his body surged further inside her, he pulled her down for a kiss.

  “Brendan, we forgot again,” she said between kisses. She made no move to get off his body. Not that he’d given her many opportunities.

  “Too late now,” he said. “I’m inside you and I’m not pulling out.”

  She laughed. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She ran her fingers through his hair. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” He rolled her over so that she was on her back. “And I’m going to show you just how much….”

  * * *

  Robert watched the lights in Peri’s condo get extinguished one by one. Her master bedroom was on the side of the house, he knew, and that light was still on. While she was out earlier, he was able to put an electronic bug on the windowsill, without tripping off the alarm. It wasn’t a very strong one and didn’t have much range, but at least he could hear what was going on so he could better plan his next attack.

  He was running out of time and money. The few hundred dollars Jared threw at him was about to run out. He was going to have to make his move, and fast. He was only going to have one chance to get her, so he had to make it count. He reached for the device and put the small earphone in place. At first, the sound quality was awful and he was about to trash the whole thing. Then he heard it. Then he wished he hadn’t. They were having sex! And if the sounds he heard were correct, Peri was doing the one thing she told him she’d never do. What did that guy have that he didn’t?

  * * *

  Much later, Peri stared at Brendan as he slept in her arms. That night their lovemaking had taken on a new and different meaning. She’d done things she’d never done before and she didn’t regret one moment of the pleasure they’d shared.

  She slipped out of bed, and put on her bathrobe. Curiosity got the best of her and she walked to the front of the house, but Robert wasn’t there. Thank goodness, she thought, as she walked to the kitchen to make some tea.

  She waited for the water to boil and pondered her sister’s statements about her marriage. Did Elijah even know how Bailey felt? Would he care?

  “What are you doing?” Brendan kissed her on her neck. “I missed you.” He wrapped his arms around her waist, sliding his hands inside her bathrobe.

  Peri felt the heat in her body rise several degrees at Brendan’s touch. She concentrated on hot water dripping in the tea maker. “I’m making a cup of herbal tea
. Someone zapped all my energy earlier.”

  He continued to tantalize her body with his hands. He unfastened the sash on her bathrobe. Each place he touched started a fire. By the time he got to the apex of her thighs, she felt as if she was going to explode. On wobbly legs, she leaned back against him. “See what you did?” She noticed something poked her in her back. Surely, he was not parading through her house naked? She turned around quickly and noticed that yes, he was butt naked. “Brendan!” His penis hit her on the stomach.

  “What?” He had the nerve to look innocent. Well, as innocent as a naked man with a hard-on could look.

  She shook her head, not believing for one minute what she was about to do. She slipped off her bathrobe and hugged him. “Looks like you need some relief.” She reached between them, but he stopped her.

  He picked her up and put her on the table. “The only thing that will give me relief is being inside you.” He positioned her on the edge of the table and entered her with one sure surge.

  “Oh, Brendan,” Peri gasped. The sensations cascading through her body were almost too much to handle. Thank goodness, she was on the table. She held on to Brendan and enjoyed the ride.

  * * *

  Later that morning Peri awoke to the smells of breakfast. Brendan walked into the room dressed in his jeans from the night before and nothing else. At least he had something on, she mused, remembering their late night interlude on her kitchen table.

  She struggled to sit up, but it was proving difficult. Her back screamed in pain each time she tried to move. She was definitely not having sex on the table again.

  “Honey, are you okay?” He sat the breakfast tray down on the nightstand.

  “You did this,” she said. “My back is killing me. It feels like something sharp is sticking me. How come you’re not hurting?”

  “Because I was on top.” He helped her sit upright. “Do you have any aspirin or muscle relaxers? I can give you a nice massage to loosen up your muscles.”

  She pointed toward the medicine cabinet. “I have some muscle relaxers. They’re in a prescription bottle.”

  Brendan followed her directions and returned with the bottle. He gave her two pills. “You should probably eat something first.”