by Cece Baker
The woman’s bony hand covered in massive gem stones of every color raised to Drake’s face. He had to lean down so she could reach him.
The hand patted his lightly stubbled cheek and she announced loudly that, “Honey, you’re just the kind of stud I like. I’m in room 214. Meet me there in an hour. I may be older than dirt, but I still got moves.” Then she proceeded to pinch Drake’s ass.
At that moment a glass of bourbon appeared. Drake grabbed it and threw the amber liquid down his throat in a single gulp. He handed the glass back to the anonymous hand and said, “Another. Stat.”
Jill turned to look at him and disapprovingly said, “Geez. Can’t you lay off the booze for even an hour? I know receiving lines are tedious, but you don’t have to look like you’ve just been asked to bend over and cough.”
“Gorgeous,” he whispered, “you have no idea what you’re talking about,” and he shook the hand of a guy in his mid-forties wearing what had to be a suit he’d bought when he’d been 20 pounds lighter.
Forty-five minutes later Drake, Jill and the other attendants collapsed in a private lounge just off the main ballroom. They’d been given a half hour reprieve before the hors d’oeuvres and mingling began.
“Whoever came up with the idea of receiving lines should be shot,” complained Drake dryly. “I got six business cards, a proposition from a woman older than Moses, and a drawing from a three-year-old with a half-eaten life saver stuck to it.”
Jill laughed loudly and added, “Well, I got asked out on two dates, lots of hugs from sweet little girls who thought I looked pretty, and one guy’s room key. I think he said his name was Rob.”
That got Drake’s attention right away. He sat up straighter in his lounge chair and casually asked if she was going to take this guy up on his offer.
Smiling, Jill assured Drake that, “No. I’m not going to sleep with a guy I’ve never met at my best friend’s wedding. That would be tacky.”
Relieved, Drake sat back and blew out a breath he had not realized he’d been holding.
CHAPTER 5
Applause erupted as the bride and groom entered the room. The bride was breathtaking, sheathed in a strapless underdress made of silk and organza with a beaded tulle slip over the dress that had beaded leaves scattered the length of the gown. It covered her décolletage and had sleeves that came to just below her elbows. It was delicate and stunning.
Her friend Thea had always been self-conscious about her weight and size, but Jill thought Thea was perfect. This dress proved it, as did her handsome husband.
Her dark blonde hair was pulled back from her face exposing her gorgeous neckline, and the veil attached to the back of her head seemed to just float there. It, too, had beading at the top to accentuate her hair and then flowed gently down to the floor, barely visible because it had been made of the lightest, barely-there tulle Jill had ever seen.
Her friend looked like she was royalty. And the glow on her face added to the effect. It was stunning. She was stunning.
Her delicate bouquet was made up of roses in the lightest shades of purple and cream and accented by deep auburn-colored calla lilies, tiny white lilies of the valley, deep red berries and luscious greenery. It matched her friend’s personality perfectly.
The groom, Landen, leaned down to whisper something to his bride. Thea looked up at him, stood on tiptoes and kissed him gently on the lips. Time stood still as they drank in each other. No one in the room moved or spoke. The only sound was the click and whirring of cameras. When they broke apart, the applause and cheers began again, this time even louder.
Smiling, the happy couple took their seats at the head table. Jill sat to the bride’s left and Drake to his brother’s right. Jill leaned in to her friend and hugged her gently. “You look stunning,” she whispered and then turned attention to the food being placed in front of her.
The first course was a fresh spinach salad with a balsamic ginger dressing, followed by a choice of ahi tuna and scallion poke served in a cucumber cup; foie gras on brioche with tomato jam; or crab cakes with remoulade. The entrée choices included shrimp scampi, Norwegian salmon with dill, and prime rib with asparagus.
Each course had perfect pairings of wine or other beverages. A champagne fountain flowed freely throughout.
Thea turned to Jill and commented that she was so glad Drake was there and in reasonable shape. “I’m positive that that is due to your attention.” Jill admitted that, yes, she’d had something to do with his on-time, presentable presence and then pressed her lips together in frustration.
“Jill, I know I’ve said this before, but you must be careful around Drake. I know he’s involved with some shady characters, although Landen doesn’t know exactly who they are. He spends his money foolishly. You know the Ellsworths have enough funds to buy a few small countries, but each of the brothers has his own account and when it’s gone, it’s gone. You wouldn’t think spending billions of dollars is even possible for one person, but it is. Drake has asked both his dad and Landen for money a few times. He always pays it back, but it makes you wonder what he’s doing not only to lose that kind of cash, but what he’s doing to get it back, plus more. I know you’re a strong woman who won’t take crap from anyone, but Drake is a special case. He lives on the edge every day and apologizes to no one, not even his mom!”
“Yes, yes. I hear you, Thea. I get it. I guess I didn’t know it was that extreme, but I pretty much have his number and can probably outsmart him any day of the week, because most of the time he appears to be drunk.”
“That’s another topic entirely,” Thea pronounced. Jill agreed and shook her head. She picked up the delicate crystal glass in front of her and took a large gulp of water.
“Caroline looked beautiful in her dress,” commented Jill.
“I know. It was really fun going with her to shop for it,” said Thea, smiling.
“I’m sort of surprised to see Mr. Ellsworth here, given all the drama Landen had with him and the board of directors at Ellsworth Construction.”
“Yeah. He and Landen have declared a truce, but really the relationship is quite strained. I hope some day they can both work through their differences and reconcile. It makes life very stressful for Landen.”
“Did I hear my name?” Landen asked leaning over, his head between the two women. Thea beamed.
“Why yes, I was talking about you, oh handsome husband of mine. I wonder how long it will take to get used to calling you that,” she mused.
“You better be a quick learner,” Landen replied then added, “but you, my darling, will always be my bride.” Landen kissed the side of Thea’s head carefully to avoid her veil, then stood and went to greet his mother.
The dancing began soon after. A 32-piece orchestra played a little bit of everything from waltzes to merengue to the Charleston. After a bit they began playing some familiar romantic tunes like “It’s A Wonderful World,” “At Last,” “Love is All You Need,” and Rod Stewart’s “You’re In My Heart.”
Jill looked longingly at her friend dancing closely with her new husband and sighed.
“What’s the sigh for, gorgeous?” asked Drake as he pulled a chair up next to hers.
“Nothing, really. I’m just so happy for Thea. She deserves this happiness.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Don’t you deserve happiness?” Drake asked, one eyebrow raised.
“Sure. Yeah. Yes, I do,” replied Jill with a smile. She turned her head toward Drake, and her long chestnut hair fell off her left shoulder as the sparkling lights reflected off of it. Drake reached up and pushed the hair behind her left ear.
“You do deserve happiness just as much as Thea, you know.”
Glancing down, Jill nodded then brought her eyes up and they locked on Drake’s piercing blue ones. Their stare lasted several seconds before Jill broke it off and looked back at the dance floor. A hand appeared in front of her, palm facing up. “Dance with me,
Gorgeous,” Drake said in a whisper. Without a word Jill stood, put her hand in his, and together they walked onto the dance floor. Drake pulled her in close to his hard body. He was so solid. Jill rested both hands on his muscled chest and then instinctively her left hand grazed his pecs and came to rest on his wide shoulder. He was so damn sexy!
Drake took hold of her right hand, letting it rest gently in his large one, her fingers curved lightly around his thumb. They began to move slowly, one of Drake’s legs between hers. The arm around her back slid lower until it rested just above the curve of her ass. He pulled her in tightly. Drake bent his head in order to limit the space between the two of them, and he began to hum quietly in her ear. Jill tilted her head into his in response. As the music swelled and reached a crescendo, Jill’s arms skimmed up over his chest and around the back of his neck while both of Drake’s arms wrapped around her back. Their bodies moved as one. As they swayed back and forth Drake directed their movements to a darkened corner of the room. Jill lifted her head in question, and Drake’s mouth was there just waiting to partake of her soft, warm lips. The kiss started softly at first but quickly became heated and urgent. Drake traced the contour of her lips with his insistent tongue, and Jill’s mouth opened immediately. His tongue invaded her mouth, sweeping along the inside edge of her teeth and then retreated only to invade again, darting in and out in a sensuous dance. Jill’s tongue touched his and soon the kiss became greedy. They broke apart panting. Drake brought his forehead down to rest against hers.
“Do you have any idea how gorgeous you are? You don’t, do you?”
Jill stammered a bit, flustered. “I…I’m not…I’m okay looking, but I’m not glamorous or sexy like the women I’m sure you’re used to being with. I’m just little old me. It’s this dress that makes me look like someone I’m not. Really, Drake….”
Drake slammed his mouth down on hers, his hands rose up her back and into the luscious locks of hair until his hands were cradling her head in his hands. He broke away from her lips. “Don’t you ever doubt how stunning you are. Do you hear me? I don’t ever, ever want to hear you say you are just okay. That’s bullshit. I don’t waste my time on women who are just average. I’m drawn to women like you who are intelligent, sassy, can hold their own against me, who challenge me and can give as good as they get. It’s just a bonus that you are drop-dead gorgeous, and you don’t even know it. You ooze sex appeal from every pore of your body, and you don’t have a fucking clue. You walk by a group of guys, and I guarantee that every single one is sporting a hard-on the likes of which they haven’t had in a long, long time. So, are you hearing me, gorgeous?”
By now they’d stopped moving to the music and Jill looked up at Drake in shock.
“That is such crap! Is that a speech that you’ve memorized just to get laid?” Laughing, Jill shook her head and continued, “You almost had me. Although I am pretty sassy and can take you on any day of the week. I am not a gushy girly girl. I’m a ‘take no prisoners’ woman and,” to emphasize her point she poked his chest with her finger, “don’t you forget it.”
Jill tried to pull out of his grasp, but he was too strong.
“You are so full of shit! You just proved my point. Any other woman would be blushing and acting coy, but not you. You throw it back in my face, and that turns me the fuck on.” To prove his point, Drake pulled her body into his with a quick, hard yank and their mouths met again.
In her mind Jill was protesting. Unfortunately, her body was responding and responding in a very big way. Her body temperature skyrocketed, and her heart rate increased so quickly that she thought she might just pass out. With effort she was able to draw her mouth from his, panting for air. Drake was breathless as well. His chest was rising and falling as if he’d just been running full speed. There was an instant where time seemed to stand still until Jill reached out, grabbed his head and pulled it back to her mouth. She was hungry for him. Her tongue teased his and circled hers in response. His kisses moved from her mouth, across her cheek to her earlobe and down her neck. He was ravenous. Jill moaned in his ear. “Oh God, Drake, what are we…what are we…” and the thought was interrupted when his lips traveled back to assault her mouth. Without ending the kiss, Drake guided her backwards behind a staircase and out of sight of prying eyes.
His hands roamed all over her back until they found the zipper of her dress. Deftly his hands pulled the clasp down until the bodice was loose. He pushed the dress down. It slid easily down her torso, and Jill soon felt the cool air on her naked breasts.
“Touch me,” was all she said looking into Drake’s face, and Drake responded immediately, his fingers cupping the fullness. The mounds were soft and full. He kneaded the flesh in both hands and then ran his thumbs over the hardening nipples.
Jill ran her hands up his chiseled chest and pushed his tux jacket off of his wide shoulders. It fell onto the floor in a heap. She slid her fingers down his torso, her fingernails scratching the linen shirt. Fumbling she found the button at his waist. She tried twisting it open, but it wouldn’t budge. In frustration she yanked it, and the button popped off and dropped out of her hand. Quickly she pulled the zipper of his fly down, and her hand ran down the length of his already hard shaft. She rubbed him up and down, feeling the outline against her palm. He was long—longer than other men she’d been with—and hard. His dick was hard. Drake gasped as Jill’s fingers sought and found the opening in his boxers. Her warm palm was flat against his cock.
Drake pushed her gown further down her body until it too lay on the floor, a pool of lavender chiffon. The only thing that now separated him from her luscious pussy was the small triangle of silk between her thighs. The material was no match for his need. It ripped easily. At that moment they both heard footsteps approaching their location, so Drake pulled Jill into his body so she was shielded from unwanted gazes. Drake was an adventurous lover, but he didn’t share. With anyone. Ever.
They heard stifled giggles as the group passed behind them. Jill buried her face in his chest and tried to keep from laughing.
“Are they gone?” she whispered. In response Drake grabbed her ass and lifted her to his waist.
“Help me out, babe.”
Jill didn’t need any further prompting. She reached between their torsos and guided his dick into her wet center. At the touch, Jill gasped and she bit his shoulder. He was big. The intrusion was not unwelcome, but surprising. She had to relax her muscles so she could accommodate his length and width.
Drake took over and began pumping quickly. “You are so tight,” he said in a raspy whisper. “Holy shit, you feel good.”
Jill responded by putting her mouth to his ear. “Fuck me, Drake Ellsworth. Fuck me now, and fuck me hard.” With her teeth she bit his earlobe. Drake drew in a sharp breath.
“Are you getting there? I’m so close baby I need you to be there with me.”
Off in the distance they heard, “Has anyone seen Drake or Jill?” It was that damned wedding coordinator. Jill giggled. “No. I haven’t seen either of them for awhile now,” said an unidentified voice.
“Hmmm…. Well if you see them can you please tell them they are needed in the upstairs lounge? Thanks.”
At that moment Jill clung to Drake as her pussy spasmed around his cock. Drake groaned softly and pulled her in tighter as he came.
“Shit,” she cried. “Did you use a condom?” She slid down the length of his body, her feet in the center of the pool of chiffon that was her gown. Fluid dripped down the inside of her thighs.
Sheepishly Drake looked down at her and like an idiot said, “Babe, you’re on the pill. I saw them in your bathroom.”
“Yes, that’s true,” she hissed, “but that doesn’t protect against the skank you banged last night, does it?”
With a hard look on his face he answered, “I don’t sleep with just any pussy. I’m choosy about my pussy. And I don’t screw around with pregnancy either. The last thing this world and my life needs is a mini-me. I take t
hat shit seriously.”
“Well, thank god for that. You deserve a medal.”
Jill furiously pulled her gown back up her torso and twisted in an effort to zip it back up. Calmly, Drake turned her body, zipped the dress all the way up and planted a kiss on the nape of her neck.
Angrily, Jill turned, glanced out from their hiding place and saw that the coast was clear. She walked as quickly as the narrow dress would allow up the staircase to the upstairs lounge.
Drake on the other hand reached to the floor, picked up his jacket, noticed an off-white tiny slip of silk on the carpet. Grinning to himself he picked up the G-string and stuffed it in the pocket of his pants.
CHAPTER 6
Two weeks later on a Monday afternoon Jill was wheeling her white Trek bike out of her apartment on her way to work. She’d packed some food to have for dinner as she always did. Today was leftover chili she’d made the week before. She packed her messenger bag with the essentials: her purse, dinner, an apple and crossword puzzle to work on during her break.
Jill was a credit telemarketing debt collector who called people who owed massive amounts of money on a credit card. She actually liked her job. It gave her an opportunity to talk to people who were down on their luck financially, and offer some assistance as well as a wake-up call.
Her dream was to open a credit counseling non-profit organization that taught folks how to manage money and still be able to survive. Her co-workers described her as the debt whisperer because she was just that good. There were always collection quotas to meet monthly, and she always made them with room to spare.
Living in downtown Minneapolis made it easy for her to navigate her community by bike. In the winter, however, she broke down and took the city bus. Either way it gave her the freedom to live her life without the need of an automobile.
Most of her friends and family couldn’t fathom living life without a car; but for her, it worked. She made enough money to support her lifestyle and enjoy life. Growing up she had watched her parents suffer from the inability to handle money and, as a result, when the end of the month came, the cupboards were often bare. She vowed then and there at the age of nine to never spend beyond her means.