Brash Company

by Crystal Perkins

  “Oh, I was hoping you’d join me today, but you need your rest.”

  “I need to be with you more than I will ever need sleep.”

  “Come nap at least.”

  “With you?”

  “Just for a couple of hours, yes.”

  He pulls his shirt off, drops his pants, and sets his watch on the nightstand, before climbing into the bed. I take his hand in mine, and close my eyes. I’m not ready to give my body to him completely, but he has my heart. It’s his, whether I want it to be, or not.

  Chapter 12

  Sully

  I haven’t done the tourist thing in years, but I’ll do anything for Beckham, including angling for a glimpse of the Mona Lisa. The Louvre is nice, but after, I insist on taking her to the Orsay, the Orangerie, and finally, the Rodin.

  “These doors are magnificent,” she says, looking at Heaven and Hell as interpreted by the master sculptor.

  “They are,” I agree.

  “Thank you for bringing me here.”

  “You’re welcome. I had ulterior motives, though.”

  “Such as?”

  “I was hoping you’d recreate ‘The Kiss’ sculpture with me.”

  I’m half-joking, but she grabs my hand, and leads me back inside. There are a few people photographing the famous piece, and she asks one to take our picture. She places her arm around me, and I lean over her as I touch my mouth to hers for the photo.

  Yep, that’s the only reason I’m kissing her. For a picture, and nothing else. Liar of the Year, right here.

  “Merci,” she says, standing up again, and taking her phone back from the other tourist.

  “Thank you for that,” I tell her.

  “Kissing you isn’t a hardship, Sully.”

  “Good to know.”

  I spend way too much on a small replica statue in the gift shop, but having a memento of the first time she let me kiss her again is priceless. We walk the streets after leaving, ending up near a Lauduree outlet. The joy on her face as I tell her to choose whatever she’d like, is mesmerizing. After biting her lip in thought, we leave with their largest box of macarons, all ready for us to try after the sun goes down.

  We walk the Seine until dark, grabbing a snack and drink from a creperie cart about to close. I have been saying my prayers at the designated times, with Beckham standing by me like a bodyguard. I’ve wanted to kiss her so many times, but I know I can’t. The museum kiss was a gift, and I’ll wait for her to give me another one.

  I realize we are near a mosque, and ask her if she minds me going in for evening prayer. “Of course not. I would go with you, if I knew what to do.”

  “I will teach you, and take you when we’re back home. If you’d like.”

  “I’d like.” She leans up to kiss my jaw, then sends me on my way.

  When I come out later, I find her staring at the Tower. “Do you want to walk over after we get dinner somewhere?”

  “If you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t. Thank you for waiting for me.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  We grab some seafood at a small café, then walk hand in hand to the most famous monument in Paris. It’s sparkling, and even as jaded as I normally am, I can admit it looks magical. Maybe it’s the woman I’m with, but everything about this city seems magical, and I don’t want our time here to end yet.

  “How would you feel about spending a couple more days here?”

  “What do you have in mind?”

  “You haven’t seen Notre Dame, the Arc, or the Catacombs. The Jardins du Luxembourg shouldn’t be missed, nor the little shops all over the city. I want to plan a surprise for the next day too, if you’re game for staying.”

  “I’m game. It all sounds perfect. Especially if I’m with you.”

  “I meant it when I told you I love you, Beckham. Not because you were hurt, or even because you came here to remind me of the life I want to live. I love you because you’re you. The woman who puts me in my place, kisses me like I’m the answer to her prayers, and fights for me, because she thinks I’m worth it.”

  “Kiss me, Sully. Please.”

  I don’t hesitate to pull her into my arms, and take her mouth as mine. It’s a sweet kiss, because this moment demands care, and not lust. She hasn’t specifically said she loves me back yet, she said it in general terms last night, I feel it in her embrace, and I let it envelope us both in the moment.

  “We can come back here tomorrow night, and I’ll kiss you again. Down here, or up there.”

  “The line is so long to go up.”

  “I know people.”

  “Okay. I’d like to be kissed again up there. By you.”

  “Only here?”

  “No, but only kissing.”

  “I can live with that.” I can live with anything she’s willing to give me, because I’m damn lucky to have anything from her right now.

  Beckham

  Sully was right, and I’m so glad I didn’t leave after one day, and miss all of this. We did everything he suggested, and more. The kiss at the highest point we could go to on the Eiffel Tower was spectacular, but just holding his hand as we walked the streets, and climbed all the steps was even better. Even being underground in the Catacombs with him was romantic. It was like nothing ever happened, although a nagging part of my brain keeps reminding me it did. It’s why I can’t do more than kiss him.

  Right now, we’re on an early morning train out of the city. He won’t tell me where we’re going, and even blindfolded me before we boarded. It’s romantic, and sweet, but I want to know.

  “We’re here,” he says, just as the overhead announcement mentions Disneyland.

  “No way!”

  I told him once that I’d never been to any Disney park, because we couldn’t afford it when I was growing up. He said he’d take me to Disneyland sometime, but I didn’t expect it to be this one.

  “Surprise.”

  “This—thank you!”

  I practically pull him outside, as he laughs. We have to take shuttles, and when he has us get off in front of the Disneyland Hotel, I’m practically jumping out of my skin with excitement. We check-in, leave our bags, and walk over to the main park.

  We spend all day riding rides, and promising each other we’ll come back for various snacks when the sun goes down. Before that happens, we return to the hotel, dropping off our packages, and changing into fresh clothes. Sully says his prayers, and we head out again.

  He surprises me with dinner at the Ratatouille-themed restaurant, which is really good. Despite—or maybe, because of—the giant plates, utensils, and champagne corks, it’s romantic, as well as fun. Who am I kidding? Any place with Sully is romantic.

  After filling ourselves up, we go back and find the snacks we couldn’t eat during the day, because it’s still a little early, and we can share them all night.

  “This is the best date I’ve ever had,” I admit, when he surprises me with Minnie ears that light up, and a stuffed Remy to remember our dinner by.

  “Me too. We have one more surprise for tonight.”

  “I don’t know if I can handle more.”

  “You can.”

  He leads me back to the Village area of the resort, and over to the lake. I throw my arms around him when I realize we’re going up in the hot air balloon ride over the lake. He hugs me back, and tells me he’s going to kiss me to the twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower again.

  The ride is short, but it’s spectacular, especially when we see the Tower, and Sully gives me my promised kiss. Fireworks go off as I snuggle into him, and when it’s over, I lead him back to our room. Tonight, we’ll talk and cuddle, but tomorrow, I’m going to give him more. I believe almost everything he’s told me, and I can’t wait to be with him again in every way. I can’t trust that he loves me, but I know he cares, and that’s enough.

  Sully

  We’re going home today, and I’m afraid the progress I’ve made in proving my love to Beckham is going
to disappear. I’ve done all I could do over the last few days, but I hurt her, and you don’t just recover from that so soon. All I can hope for is that she’ll let me keep showing her how much she means to me.

  I’ve made some decisions about myself, too. No longer will I hide who I am. Yes, I pray at work and I’ve never denied my faith, but I’ve kept quiet sometimes. At work I’m protected, and everywhere else, I just threw around money to distract people from my praying. It’s time for me to embrace my past, and live in the present. I’m going to surround myself with others who will support me, and not merely tolerate me because I buy their beer.

  “You look like you’re trying to figure something out over there.”

  I look across the table to Beckham, who’s curled up in her seat on the plane. “I have a bunch of things to figure out.”

  “Your job’s waiting for you, if you’re wondering about that.”

  “Matt told me. I know he’s pissed, but he said I still have a job.”

  “So, what’s got you worried?”

  “You.”

  “Me?”

  “We haven’t talked about what’s going to happen with us.”

  “Well, if we get any sundown on this plane, I was hoping to join the Mile-High Club.”

  She says it so matter-of-factly, like it’s not the big fucking deal it really is. “You want to be with me again—like that?”

  I watch her as she gets up, helping her swivel my chair around when she pushes on it. She climbs onto my lap, and kisses me like she’s missed me. “Yes.”

  “It’ll be dark in a few hours.”

  “Think we can figure out a way to keep busy until then?”

  “Yeah. I’m going to go nap in one bedroom, while you nap in the other.”

  She pulls back, and her mouth drops open. “Are you kidding?”

  “No. You know I can’t orgasm during the daylight hours, Beautiful. If we make out, I’m going to come in my jeans. I’m close right now, in fact. Very close.”

  “Oh,” she says climbing off me. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry, just take a nap, so when the sun goes down outside, you can set me on fire again.”

  “See you soon,” she says, walking into the larger room.

  I think about every gross thing I can to make my dick deflate. I can’t take care of myself, and I can’t sleep like this. It takes ten minutes, but he finally gets the hint, and I make my way to the other bedroom. Forcing myself to forget what’s going to happen in a few hours isn’t easy, but I do it, because I need some rest before the sun sets.

  Chapter 13

  Beckham

  I’ve never thought of myself as a femme fatale, or even as particularly sexy, but I know I turn Sully on. We were insatiable when we were together before, and there’s no reason we won’t be again. Sex was never a problem with us.

  Until now. The sun went down outside my bedroom window almost thirty minutes ago, and he hasn’t come for me yet. I could go to him, but I’m naked. Naked, and waiting.

  I wait, and I wait, knowing the sun will be coming up again as we switch time zones. Now, it’s my pride stopping me from searching him out, and not my nakedness. But, fuck my pride; I need to know what’s going on.

  I throw some panties and my t-shirt on, knowing the flight attendants won’t be hanging around unless we need them. When I get to the other bedroom, I don’t bother knocking.

  Sully is praying, as he kneels on the floor, facing the window. I want to watch, but I don’t want to be disrespectful, so I leave. He must’ve overslept, and now I feel as though we need to be doing something else. Not what I planned, but something to transition into it.

  Eating. Yes, we need to eat. I put the rest of my clothes on, and call over to ask for our dinner. I’m getting everything set up when he comes out to join me.

  “You didn’t need to leave my room.”

  “I felt like I was intruding.”

  “Never,” he says, putting his arms around me from behind. “I’m not ashamed of my prayers, especially with you.”

  “You shouldn’t be ashamed with anyone, because faith is a beautiful thing.”

  “It is.”

  “Are you ready to eat?”

  “Yes, because it’s been far too long.”

  “It’s been less time than usual.”

  “For my fast, yes, but that is ruled by where I am, and not actual time. It is you I have waited so long for, my love.”

  There he goes again, saying he’s in love with me. I feel guilty for not saying it back, but I can’t. He traveled across an ocean to get away from me, and I can’t just forget about that. My body—and my heart—want me to, but my mind is still in charge at the moment.

  “We have a couple hours of darkness left.”

  “Plenty of time for dinner, and more dinner.”

  “I’m not sure I like you referring to me as ‘dinner’.”

  “It’s a compliment, I assure you.”

  “I guess you’ll just have to show me.”

  “I guess so.”

  We eat our dinner at a pace that isn’t quite frenzied, but it’s faster than normal for us. We’re hungrier for each other than we are for the meal, but we know we need it. No words are spoken, even after we finish; we simply walk into the bedroom I used for my nap.

  “If I had woken up earlier, what would I have found in the room?” he asks, pulling my top off.

  “Me, naked, and waiting.”

  “Show me.”

  “Why?”

  “I need a reminder of why I should always set an alarm.”

  “Finish taking my clothes off, and I’ll give you that reminder.”

  He kisses me hard, as his hands slide into my panties, and push them down. “So sexy.”

  I blush at his compliment, and back up, until my knees hit the bed. His eyes are dark now, looking like twin flames as he drinks me in, and making me burn even hotter for him. I lounge on the pillows like I did earlier, spreading my legs wide open. Sully licks his lips, as he pulls off his shirt in that sexy way guys do, and slides his lounge pants down his legs.

  “If I can see you like this every day of my life, I will die happy.”

  “Maybe every other day, but only if you stop looking and get your sexy ass over here.”

  “You think my ass is sexy, Beckham?” he asks, putting some extra swagger into his steps as he walks over to me. His cock is proudly saluting me, and I need it now.

  “I think you’re an ass.”

  He laughs, before dipping his head, and showing me how nice he actually can be. So very nice. Our lovemaking—sex—is nothing crazy, or out of the ordinary. I ride him slowly, until we can’t take it any longer. When he takes over, thrusting into me erratically, we both come hard. It’s normal, and wonderful, and makes me believe that maybe, just maybe, this really is love.

  Sully

  I’m not looking forward to facing Matt. I know I’ve got my job, but he sent Beckham to me for a reason. It’s his respect I’m afraid I’ve lost. Again.

  “Hey,” I say when he opens his door to me.

  “Come on in.”

  I look around, but I don’t see Reina or the baby. That doesn’t really mean anything since this place is so huge. I don’t mind if Reina sees me groveling, but I’d rather it just be the two of us.

  “Are we alone?”

  “Why? Are you scared I might shoot you?”

  “I wasn’t until you mentioned it.”

  He laughs. “We’re alone.”

  “I’m sorry, Matt. I shouldn’t have left.”

  “No, I don’t believe you should’ve, but everyone has to find their way somehow.”

  “You sent Beckham to me.”

  “Nev sent her.”

  “With your help.”

  He sits down on the couch, and gestures for me to do the same. “You were falling into habits that were harmful for you in the past, and were threatening your future.”

  “I know you couldn’t hold me C
&C job forever.”

  “The hell I couldn’t! I’m not talking about work. Beckham is what you need, and she needs you too. The more pictures you took with women on your lap, the more you hurt her. If you can honestly tell me you’d rather lose her than face who you truly are, then I’ll send you back. Pay your bills, and turn a blind eye again. I want you to be happy.”

  “She makes me happy, and I don’t want to leave. I’m ready to truly embrace my faith—and who I am.”

  “Who you are isn’t defined by your faith.”

  “I think it might be.”

  “Tread carefully, Sully. I have nothing against religion or faith, but when one loses themselves in theirs, it becomes hard for those around them.”

  “My casual faith hasn’t helped me.”

  “Your faith has never been casual. You may not adhere to the no drinking aspect, but you are at a mosque every Friday, you pray every day, and you observe your holidays. Those things aren’t casual.”

  “I appreciate your concern, but I have to do this my way.”

  He doesn’t understand. He understands more than most, but he’s not me. He’s not us.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Yes,” I tell him, getting up. I turn back to him when I reach the door. “I hope you know how much I appreciate all you’ve done for me. I know things are rough with my father right now, and I never want you to think I’m taking his side, because I’m talking to him.”

  “I know you’re not, and I know you appreciate everything. I’ve always known that, even when you were acting like an entitled brat.”

  “I will not be acting that way again.”

  He nods, because he believes in me. Not because he understands the change I am going to enact in myself. I am going to embrace my entire faith, but especial Zakat. I will aid those in need, and give all I can to charity. It is the very least I can do.

  I have more than I will ever need, and it’s time to give back. I know of an organization in Las Vegas that strives to bring people together, while helping those in the most need. I will reach out to them tomorrow, and see what I can do. Nev probably knows of them already, but this is something I must do on my own. The research, and the work itself, will be all me.