by Ashlee Price
Chapter 2 – Maya
I looked at my reflection in the mirror and my friend’s words came back to haunt me. They always did, but I hated that I felt the tiniest bit bad about it. I shouldn’t. He’d done the same thing to me, and it was only fair that I got a little happiness out of it. For too long I had sat back and said nothing. That’s what I told myself, but I could see the doubt in my hazel eyes.
When I’d gotten married, it was supposed to be for life. I had the vision of children and the family that every little girl wanted. I guess I’d wanted the fairytale, and for the longest time, that was Tyler. He’d been a doting husband, perfect in every way. But then things had changed and he didn’t want to be around me as much. We stopped making love as much. Everything just kind of wound down to what it was now.
I shook the thoughts and the rush of emotions. I didn’t feel bad about it. I didn’t feel bad that I was going to see Dylan, I was sad that my marriage really was over. It wasn’t going to get better. If anything it was steadily getting worse. I saw Tyler less and less, and when he was home, he didn’t even eat dinner with me, instead sneaking off to his study to do God only knows what.
Getting back to my makeup, I almost jumped when the phone next to me rang. It was Tyler, and there was a moment when I didn’t want to answer. It wasn’t only because he hadn’t answered for me, but also because I didn’t want him to ruin the plans that I had. I wanted to go see Dylan and live out the fantasy that I had in my head.
But I had to answer, so I did. “Hey, honey.”
“You called earlier and I was just calling you back.”
His voice was gruff. A long time ago, that would have brought tears to my eyes. Now I felt nothing.
“I was making dinner and I wanted to know if you were going to be around for it.”
“No, I have a couple of extra meetings that I still have to go to. I wouldn’t worry about cooking anything for me. Why don’t you go out with one of your friends and order something nice?”
It was code to tell me that he wasn’t coming home. If he did, it would be at three or four in the morning and he would slide into bed gently so that I didn’t wake up. “I think that’s a good idea, Tyler. Candace was asking me earlier if I would go out with her, but I was hoping that it would be just us.”
“Now, Maya, you know that I have to work. As fast as you’re spending my money, I’m going to have to work even more.”
It was always his excuse. The words were on my lips to ask him about Ivy. I knew who she was and what she was to my husband, but until then I hadn’t dared to say anything. Now I wanted to, more than anything else in the world. I wanted to hear what he’d to say, but tonight was not the night. Tonight was the night that I was going to get what I wanted too.
“Of course, dear. You have a good night. I guess I’ll see you when I see you.”
“I love you, Maya.”
“I love you too.” As he hung up, the words were still in the air. He didn’t love me and I didn’t love him, but like everything else in our sham marriage, we pretended that what we said was true.
“What are you doing, Maya?”
My reflection didn’t answer, because I didn’t have an answer to such a question. What was I doing?
At the moment I was getting ready. When the phone rang again, I was sure it was Tyler.
“What, dear?” My voice was not loving, more a bark than anything else. I didn’t want him to ruin this for me, and every time we talked, the tension inside of me grew.
“Maya? Are you okay?”
It was Dylan. Of course it was. He was supposed to meet me at his house in under an hour. I’d been wasting my time worrying about things that I couldn’t change. It was one of those moments that I just had to take a deep breath and pretend that I wasn’t about to lose it.
“Dylan, sorry. I thought you were someone else.”
“Did you think that I was Tyler?”
I shook my head, but didn’t answer him. He knew that I was married, something I would have never kept from him, but I could tell that he didn’t like it. Dylan was romantic and sweet, but he was also a little possessive, and it was hard to possess what was already someone else’s.
“I was just about to call you and let you know that I was leaving.”
He seemed relieved. “Good, I was starting to worry that you weren’t going to come, that maybe you’d changed your mind.”
“I would never change my mind, Dylan. I’ve been looking forward to seeing you all week.”
“Good, I’ve made us a feast. I can’t wait to see you.”
“I’ll be there soon, Dylan.”
“I love you, Maya.”
I paused at his words. They sounded different than the way Tyler said it. Dylan said it like he meant it, and I believed him. He wanted to hear it back, and I heard myself saying it to him. I didn’t know if I meant it. I think I did, but there was no telling anymore. Did I love him, or was he an escape? I was going to find out tonight which Dylan was. The problem was that I didn’t know which one I wanted him to be. Did I really want to walk away from my marriage? Or did I not have to choose? Eventually I would have to, but tonight, I just had to worry about what came next. It had been months since Tyler had really touched me, and I was ready to feel desired and needed again.
Brushing on the last of my makeup and running my hands through my hair, I gave myself one last look before I got up and slipped the dress on. It fit perfectly, and for a moment when I looked in the mirror, I didn’t recognize the woman staring back at me. All of those months without him in my life had dropped the extra weight from my body. The smile on my face was so foreign; I didn’t remember that I could look this way. Dylan might not be my soul mate, but at the moment he was my second chance, and I was going to take it.
Shutting off the light to my vanity, I looked back at the bed I used to share with my husband and turned away, fighting the tears. One thing I did know. It was over with me and Tyler. Whatever happened next, that would still be the same. It was over.
Chapter 3 – Dylan
“Are you okay, Maya? You look nervous.”
She shook her head that she was fine, but I had a feeling that there was a lot more going on in her mind than she wanted to let on. It was a big deal, this dinner, and we both knew how it was going to end. It was going to end with her in my arms, the only way I knew to really show her how much I loved her.
I flipped the chicken breast over and waited for her answer. I was cooking and she had a chair pulled up to the stainless steel table in the back. I knew that was because she didn’t want to be seen through the window by someone she knew, but I liked to think that maybe it was because she wanted to be closer to me.
“I’m fine. I’m a little nervous, but I’m fine, really.”
She said it twice, the dreaded woman words that every man knew did not equate to them being fine. She was angry at me for some reason, or she was into her emotions. If it was the latter, I had a good guess of who it was she was thinking about. Maya was thinking about her husband, and I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to feel about that. I knew that Tyler and Maya were nothing like me and Sasha. Sasha and I had been in love; they were not. But it still bothered me that I was with another man’s wife.
“Maybe this was a bad idea.”
Maya smiled at me and told me that it wasn’t a bad idea. “That food smells so good. There is no way that I’m leaving without trying it.”
I wanted her to be that sure about me, but I guess that wanting my cooking was going to have to be good enough right now.
“Well, it’s almost ready. Do you want to eat down here, or do you want to go up to the apartment?”
I knew the answer was going to be where she wouldn’t be seen, but I waited for her to tell me that she wanted to go upstairs. I’d already started to put the chicken in a take-out container, hoping that was where our destination was going to be.
“Why don’t we go upstairs? I don’t like sitting in front of these windo
ws.”
Quickly agreeing, I grabbed up the rest of the items and had her follow me upstairs. We’d been dating for a couple of months now, and it was time to take it to the next level. I was going to lose it if I didn’t have her in my arms soon. It was all that I thought about, all that I wanted, and tonight was finally going to be the night. All of the time in between had made me a little crazy, and my body was already ready for her. So ready that it physically hurt. Maya had been a painful pursuit, but it was finally going to pay off.
“Do you need help carrying anything?”
I told her that I didn’t. I’d run The James Restaurant for many years, and it was now second nature to carry more items than an octopus. I knew how, and I knew that she didn’t; if I handed her something, it was probably not going to make it upstairs without falling. Maya was many things, but a waitress she was not.
“Are you sure that there isn’t something I can do?”
“No, you just being here is enough for me. I’ve waited for this night for a long time, Maya, you know that.”
I didn’t say what I’d been waiting for. I was sure that she knew what I was talking about. While we’d never said it out loud, I knew that she was expecting the same thing. That was why she’d worn the dress that made me thankful to be a man, and why everything about her was made up. She was ready for what I was ready for, and in that moment I just wanted to throw the food to the side and take her. It was all I could think about.
But I was supposed to take my time. Everything between us had been me taking my time, and I knew that I was going to have to keep taking it slow a little while longer. She wasn’t quite ready yet – and I didn’t mind impressing her with my cooking skills first.
“It smells really good.”
Smiling at her, I told her that she looked good as well. There was something different about Maya today, and I wasn’t sure what it was, but I liked the look. She didn’t look like the innocent woman I’d met on the train several months ago. That woman had been sure of herself; this woman in front of me was still a jumble of nerves. I would have done anything to calm her fears. I was not like her husband. I was going to cherish her, and one day she would be mine. I wasn’t going to lose another woman I loved, not after Sasha.
“I remember you telling me that it was your favorite meal, so I hope it surpasses your expectations.”
Maya grinned before she looked down, embarrassed. “I’m sure it will, Dylan. Everything with you does. I don’t know how we found each other, but I’m glad we did. You keep me sane when everything else is just falling apart.”
She moved to kiss me, and what started as a little peck turned into something more. My own need was blinding and I couldn’t help myself. I got too enthused and I felt her hands pushing against my chest. It took me a minute to realize that I was on top of her, pressing her body into the couch where we were sitting. It was too much, too soon, I knew that, but I didn’t care. I was done waiting and dinner or not, I needed her now.
“Maybe we should eat first, Dylan.”
“Of course.” Cursing myself, I leaned back to my side and tried not to pout. It had been a long wait, one that would have tried the patience of a saint. I’d been waiting far too long.
“I’m sorry, Dylan. I want to, I’m just nervous and I don’t know why. I haven’t been with anyone else but my husband in a long time.”
“Me either. You’re the first woman that I’ve really dated since Sasha. It has been a long time for both of us. That’s why it’s going to be so special.”
Her thoughts of waiting were draining, and when she was the one who moved to me and touched the side of my face for a kiss, I realized that she’d finally made her mind up. It was like music to my ears, and my heart pounded in my chest as our lips met. Maya was something special, and I felt privileged to even be around her.
As I moved to cover her body, I realized that there wasn’t enough room on the couch for what I wanted to do to her. At the same time, I didn’t want to snap her out of the need that she had for me.
“Why don’t we take this into the bedroom, Maya, where I can love you properly?”
Chapter 4 – Maya
It was all happening too fast. When he asked me to go into the bedroom, I wasn’t sure what to say. I knew that it was going to happen, we both did, but I wasn’t ready for all of the emotions that came with it. Saying it out loud seemed to make it truer than before. Why did I feel so guilty about all of this? I knew that Tyler was doing the same thing. But this wasn’t Tyler doing it, it was me, and I didn’t know if my conscience could deal with it. If Dylan hadn’t felt so good kissing my neck, maybe I would have walked away. But it had been too long, and for once I just wanted to feel desired.
Pulling him down to me, I lifted my hips up, rubbing against the part of him that was hard and ready for me. It didn’t take long for my answer to be known, and then the sweet man who’d always taken his time with me changed a little. He was needy, and instead of kissing me, he pressed me down into the couch. There was a growl on his lips as I finally realized that we had to get to the bedroom or it was going to happen right then and there. I didn’t mind, of course, but what I did mind was how much I needed him right then.
“Let’s go to the bedroom, Dylan.”
He was up so fast that I had to stifle the laughter that I felt. It was clear to me that he was in need, but I still wasn’t sure if I was. The feel of his kisses and touches egged me on, but I still trembled with the idea of what I was about to do. I was about to sin, more than I ever had before.
Dylan took my hand and met my gaze. His green eyes told me that he was ready for more. The same look was mirrored in my own dark depths, I was sure of it. I had to have him that instant, and I moved to the bedroom with him, my body shaking in anticipation.
When we got into the bedroom, I looked around and the weight of it all hit me. I was really going to do this. Dylan was already taking his shirt off, showing the wiry body that I knew he possessed. He was hard everywhere, not a lick of fat to be had. My hands itched to touch his chest, but there was no time for that as he made his way towards me. His eyes had darkened, and he reached to take off my clothes.
“God, you’re so beautiful, Maya. Do you know how beautiful you are?”
I didn’t answer him because I didn’t have to. It didn’t matter what I thought. All that mattered was the look of need and desire in his eyes. It was amazing how he looked at me. As he pulled the dress over my head, I heard the sharp intake of breath when he finally saw me.
“I don’t know how I’m so lucky to have you, Maya, but I swear that I’m never going to let you go.”
His words were the balm that I needed. I wanted to be desired, but more than that I wanted to be loved, and in that moment I knew that I had both with Dylan. It was a look that I hadn’t seen in a long time. It didn’t matter that my body shook. That was just because of how badly I needed him, nothing more.
Dylan pushed me down to the bed as he pulled his pants off and I got to see how ready for me he really was. I could feel my core flooding, and my eyes closed to cut off the intensity of his gaze. My arms went out to reach for him. I was sick of waiting. My need was too much to deny any longer. It had been far too long.
“I want this to be perfect, Maya.”
“It will be perfect because it’s us. I don’t want to wait anymore.”
He crawled up me, stopping to take a lick of my cleft and then kiss the tops of my mons. I wasn’t even in the mood for that. I wanted Dylan inside of me right away. It was all I could think about, and when I opened my thighs to invite him forward, he took it quickly. As he pushed himself against me, I could feel the probing head against my core and I wiggled, trying to make him enter me. That was all I needed and I would be in heaven.
“Please, Dylan.”
He was fighting himself and fighting my words. I lifted my hips up to slide his cockhead against my wetness, encouraging him while I begged in his ear for him to enter me. “Please, Dylan. I
need you now.”
As he pushed in slowly, my eyes closed and I was lost in the moment. It felt too good, far too good, and I didn’t know what to say or do. A low moan came from my mouth as my insides contracted around his penetration. There was no comparing the two men together. Dylan moved slowly, enjoying every moment, while I was used to being pounded by Tyler. As the need inside of me started to grow, I grew impatient with the speed of his lovemaking. I needed more, and when my nails went into his back, he finally seemed to realize it.
“What do you want, Maya?”
“I need you, all of you, now!”
With my words came the first real thrust that he’d made. He started from just the opening, and then he slammed forward. I cried out with pleasure, his name on my lips as I felt the first bit of shaking. It was too much, and my orgasm washed over me so quickly I was left trembling.
But Dylan wasn’t done. It seemed I’d opened the floodgates. He pulled back and pushed in harder and faster than before. I looked up into his face, and I could see that his eyes were closed. Pulling him down for a kiss, I squeezed him and told him that I wanted more. When he gave me more, my body exploded again and again. Who would have thought such a gentle man had it in him? It was like years of pent-up frustration were coming out of him. It felt so good, and when I knew that he was about to lose himself as well, I tightened my grip and pulled him down for another kiss.
He came inside of me, and I felt the hot blast immediately. It was only then that I realized what I’d done and what he’d just done. Had he just given me the child that I was dying for, the one that Tyler had refused to even talk about? I wasn’t worried about Tyler anymore, if I ever was. Dylan had just proven that he had everything I needed and everything that I really desired.