by Frost, H. Q.
“I’m friends with Ashley.”
I look at her, wanting answers. Like why’d you hit my girl? Why are you saying you’re friends with my sister? Why are you here?
I can’t stop the contempt on my face or in my tone. “I know who you are.”
“You’re friends with Lily.” She points to me. “With the car and the nice apartment.”
“You were in my apartment?” That doesn’t sit well with me.
“I was dating Lily for a while. I picked her up there once.”
“You weren’t dating her,” I say derisively. “You were fucking. That’s all it was.”
She wants to kill me and I’m probably giving her the same look.
Ashley approaches during our stare down. “Ian, this is Nic, she knows Lily.”
Looking at her like she’s inept, I growl, “I know!” I want to ask her what the fuck she’s doing.
“Let’s get a drink.” She pulls Nic away from the table.
I need to go home. I need to be with Lily, but I’m going home to Karen.
By one thirty my suit coat’s off, my tie is undone, my shirt is un-tucked, and I’m hammered. Caesar is helping me to my apartment and I think they’re staying the night. I manage to get my shoes and pants off, but don’t bother with anything else. I just want to close my eyes and dream about Lily.
***
Being woken up by the best feeling in the world, I reach my hand out trying to open my eyes, but I’m so tired and still drunk. Lily’s riding my cock though and I wouldn’t give a damn if my head was split in two, this is perfect. I touch her stomach and my fingers graze something hard, a belly button ring. My great wakeup call comes to a screeching halt in my head, almost splitting it in two. When my eyes pop open, I see it’s not Lily, it’s Karen and I grip her hips tightly, stilling her. Fuck, she didn’t put on a condom. Fuck, fuck, fuck. I don’t want to fuck her without a condom after knowing she cheated. I vowed to myself I wouldn’t anymore because I don’t use condoms with Lily and knowing Karen was whoring around I don’t want to give Lily anything.
She giggles and starts moving again. With a grunt I flip her to her back. We’ve already been going at this awhile because I was having an amazing dream that I was being fucked. I’m not happy, but I’m hard. I haven’t gotten off since Lily, Tuesday or Wednesday. Fuck, what day was that? I shouldn’t wonder how long it’s been since I fucked her. I need to be fucking her everyday.
I’m rough with Karen, too rough, but I’m pissed she’s done this. Grunting with every thrust, my thighs are slapping against the back of hers, echoing through the room. I don’t even know what kind of noises she’s making because all I’m thinking about is getting off. Keeping my eyes closed tight, I try to think of Lily, or anyone other than Karen, but I can’t get off.
“Come, babe,” she moans.
I grab her ankles, drilling harder, closing my eyes tighter until I release partially inside, pulling out midway.
I collapse to the bed next to her and scoot her away with a forceful push. I fucking told her I didn’t want to fuck her, then she does this without wearing a condom. I’m pissed. Springing from the bed, I pull on my shorts, then walk to the bathroom without looking at her once.
The closed bathroom door opens and there’s a woman standing there. She’s a good-looking woman and she eyes me up then down; I do the same to her and we slip by each other, trading spots. I check her out once more before closing the door. Who the fuck is she?
*LUXE*
Ian showered, washing his body twice; he didn’t want a trace of Karen on him. From the bathroom, he decided to find out who the attractive woman was. With a towel around his waist, he walked into the living room. Ashley sat on the couch with the woman and Caesar was sleeping on the floor next to the coffee table with another unknown female.
The bathroom woman’s eyes shot to his naked chest, then slowly down the V of his hips; she ran her tongue over her bottom lip.
“I can’t believe you still fuck her.” Disgust oozed from Ashley’s words and gaze.
“Get out,” Ian muttered, and turned toward the hallway, no longer interested in who the woman was. Going into the bedroom, Karen was in bed crying. He rushed to her side. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” He searched her body for any indication she was hurt.
“You tried to kill me.” She sniffled.
“I hurt you?” he said almost with a gasp. “Kare, I’m sorry.” He picked her up, sliding underneath her.
“Why were you going so hard?” she whined through tears.
“I didn’t realize. I’m sorry.” He kissed her head. “Where’d I hurt you?”
Sobbing into his chest, she didn’t answer.
When she began to calm down, he finally was able to say, “We have to use a condom.”
The crying began again, with a squeal of, “Why?”
“I want to use a condom from now on.”
“Oh fuck you, Ian,” she wailed, getting off him. “Is there someone else?” The vulnerability and weakness in her tone didn’t hit him like it usually did. It angered him.
He looked at her through narrowed eyes and threw her question back at her. “Is there?”
“Ian, I told you one time!” She sobbed harder.
“Yes, you told me about one time.” He got out of the bed and began to dress.
While crying loudly, she had her face buried in her hands; he stared at the top of her head a minute.
“I’ll make you something to eat,” he muttered, leaving her to cry alone.
While he made Karen breakfast, Ashley approached him. “How can you fuck her when you have Lilith?” She scowled.
“I love her!” he sneered loudly.
Ashley turned to walk away, suddenly turning back to say, “Ian, Lily loves Shaun. That cop from Barbados.” Satisfied with the grief she caused him, she left the kitchen.
He lowered his head, slamming closed the cupboard above the stove. Balled fists on the countertop held him up.
The attractive blonde entered the kitchen, startling him when she asked, “Can I get a glass of water?”
Pointing, he said, “In the fridge,” and turned back to the pan.
“I’m Heidi.” Her seedy gaze fixed on his back while she opened the water bottle.
“I’m Ian. This is my apartment. Why are you here?” Looking over his shoulder, he nailed the asshole glare he was going for.
She smirked. “My friend came home with your friend and I didn’t realize until the morning that this wasn’t actually his place.”
“Him sleeping on my living room floor wasn’t a dead giveaway that this isn’t his house?”
“There wasn’t much of sleeping going on.” She grinned deviously. “We were all drunk.” She looked him over again. “You live here with your girlfriend?”
“No.” His annoyed stare left her and went back to the pan of eggs.
“Oh, I just assumed.”
He cocked his eyebrow and shifted to turn around and get a good look at her.
“Why’d you assume that?”
“I heard fucking in that room you came out of.”
“You can only fuck if you live with your girlfriend?” Having no idea what was driving his actions, he let his eyes drift down her legs and immediately recognized they were nice enough to linger on.
“I didn’t say that.” Her seductive tone hit a nerve.
Finally he came to his senses and pulled his eyes away from her. “My fiancée lives in our condo and I live here.”
There was no way Lilith would put up with another woman . . . maybe.
“Oh! Fiancée.” She chuckled with annoyance. “Well, Ian—” She turned on her heal then looked over her shoulder at him. “You don’t only have to fuck your fiancée.” With a wink she walked away.
He smirked, looking back at the pan, but immediately wiped the grin from his face when Lilith boxed her way into his head.
Before Karen got out of bed, he brought the food into the bedroom. She fed
him a few bites and he kissed her head.
“See if your mom or sister can come over today. I have a lot to take care of at the office.” He wanted to sit at the condo and wait for Lilith.
“Can’t we spend today together? It’s Sunday.”
“We spent yesterday together. You slept all day, remember?”
“You left at seven, babe, then came home drunk as hell at three. Take me out. I want to get out of here for a while.”
He stared at her a minute before nodding in agreement. “We’ll go to your place. You should be okay to go home in about a week, and I need you back at work. Tash and Natalie have been swapped in reception and I don’t know what they’re doing to the books. I’ve had more face to face meetings since you’ve been gone than I have all year. I need you back in there.”
The thought he needed her delighted her. With a chuckle, she fed him another bite then kissed him.
“I hired a new girl and need another.”
“No one’s applied on their own?”
“We had those couple back in May. Maybe when you’re back you can call them in for interviews.”
“Who’s the new girl? You scout her, or she—”
“Ashley’s friend. The one that was dating my old college acquaintance Sloan Mac.”
“Lily,” she grumbled.
“Yeah her.” He got off the bed.
“Is she working out?”
“Yep.” He had his back to her while he put his suit from the night before on a hanger for the dry cleaner.
“Is she experienced?”
“Not at all.” He glanced at her. “But she’s got it down.”
Rolling her eyes and with pessimism, she said, “And what’s her specialty?”
Ian stared at his pants he draped over the hanger in his hand.
“Innocence.” He ran his hand down his black slacks then hung the hanger on the back of the closet. “Get dressed.”
***
Lilith slept from four the previous afternoon until ten Sunday morning. As much as it concerned Peachey, she could see it was needed. When Lilith woke, the idea was to spend Sunday shopping, but there wasn’t much variety around Peachey so they headed to Chicago.
“I hate this city,” Peachey muttered as they sat in traffic.
“Me too.” Lilith giggled.
“When can I meet Ian, honey?”
Smiling, Lilith said, “Soon.”
Disappointment washed over Peachey’s face and it was clear she wanted to meet him immediately.
“Set up a dinner with Uncle Rick and maybe Grandma?”
“What about your grandma?” Peachey asked, referring to Lilith’s mother’s mother.
Having had no contact with the woman since she was fourteen, the idea was absurd.
“No.” She adamantly shook her head. “Just you guys.”
“We’ll do a fall barbecue, for Halloween!” Her excitement made Lilith giggle.
“Might be too cold for a barbecue, mom.”
Four hours of shopping was draining. When Lilith brought her to the condo, Peachey was in awe of what Ian had given her and in such a short time of them knowing each other.
“Where is he now?”
“He’s at work,” Lilith blurted, not wanting Peachey to ask to meet him right then.
“On a Sunday? Where does he work?”
“One of the skyscrapers,” she muttered, shoving lettuce into her mouth.
“Okay, well, what does he do?” Peachey rolled her eyes at Lilith’s vagueness.
“Cosmetics.” Lilith nodded and stared at Peachey.
“Oh, free makeup. Hmm.” She made an impressed face and Lilith smirked.
Clearing their plates, Lilith asked, “Was dad on depression meds?”
“Yes, it was called whiskey.” Peachey chuckled. “Your dad didn’t do anything right, honey, you know that. I know you don’t want to be hopped up on drugs, but if you need it, you need it.” She put her arm around Lilith at the sink. “You need to get your life situated and sometimes you need drugs for that.”
“Maybe I should just smoke pot.” Lilith giggled.
Peachey looked at her shocked, then started to laugh. “Have you?”
“Oh, come on.” Lilith looked at her like she was clueless, then rolled her eyes.
“You’re a shocker, Lily.” Peachey continued to laugh. “You’ve really grown these past few months. I think this Ian is having a good effect on you. Not that you should be doing drugs!” She wholeheartedly laugh.
“He is having a positive effect on me.” Lilith smiled, accepting Peachey’s hug.
“He seems like he wants you to succeed and be happy in life. I’m not saying Sloan didn’t, but. . . .”
“Sloan didn’t.” Lilith chuckled. “I’m gonna get you home. It’ll be late by the time I’m back.”
Come back to Her the way She was
I didn’t want to leave my mom. It felt good to spend the weekend with her and away from my problems. Even though she was a little rough on me when I told her my shocking upcoming events, she warmed up and made me feel better. When I left her, she was eager to meet Ian and she was going to start working on a little party so the family can meet him.
He called me last night and I feel guilty not returning his call, but the whole idea was to be away from him this weekend. To force myself, as much as I didn’t want to, but I need it. I need something to take away this angst and if time away from Ian is what’s going to do it, then so be it. The option of not being with him isn’t an option. I love him, I want him, I just need my unclouded mind back.
It’s after eleven and I’m finally home from Peachey’s and I’m tired. Too tired to do anything except crawl into bed.
Obnoxious knocking at the front door wakes me and at first I think it’s the middle of the night, but I see the sun peaking through the thick curtains. Quickly throwing a robe on, I stumble toward the door and can see Ashley through the foggy blue glass.
I pull open the door with a smile. “What the heck?”
“Pack a fucking bag!” She pushes her way in and I stumble into the wall behind me. “Come on!” she shouts; I jump. “Pack a motherfuckin’ bag right now, biatch! Get on it!”
I have no idea what’s going on, but I close the door then find her in my bedroom, going through my drawers. She’s throwing shorts and tank tops into a pile.
“What’re you doing?” I finally ask in a stupor.
“We are going to Florida.” She looks at me with the biggest, goofiest smile and I can’t help but laugh.
“What for?”
“A shoot. Remember that lady I met at the expo? The one that wants to give me tons of money for paintings of you?”
“Yeah,” I mutter, barely remembering her; that was a while ago.
“She has a beach house in Florida and she wants me to take photographs of you there.”
“What the hell for?”
“’Cause the bitch likes her house! Fucking pack!”
“Ashley,” I huff. “I have work Wednesday.”
“You have work today. Pack right the fuck now.” She sternly points down at the pile of clothes she threw on the floor. “Flights at noon.”
“What the fuck!” I manage to get out, followed by my hand flying to cover my gaping mouth.
I’m cussing too much. She’s wearing off on me too much. It doesn’t offend me, not at all, but I sound ridiculous cussing this much; it’s cute when Ashley does it.
“A hundred thousand is what the fuck. Please put that shit in a goddamn bag and get in my mom’s car. Please?” She’s standing in front of me pouting and she looks adorable.
“You’re insane,” I sputter as I’m picking up the clothes, putting them on the bed.
“I love you, bitch,” she calls out to me, walking into the other room.
***
We’re boarding a flight to Florida and I haven’t even told Ian. He’s going to kill me when I tell him I’m in Florida. How can he kill me though? This is my second
job; he just has to accept it. Besides, we’ll be back Wednesday afternoon before my date with Robert Tanaka.
I can’t even remember if I brushed my teeth. Ashley got me out of the house so damn fast I haven’t eaten and I’m starving.
“What do I owe you for the flight?” I mumble while Ashley’s pulling me through Orlando International Airport. We haven’t said much to each other; I was tired and everything was such a rush.
“A grand.” When she says this, my wide eyes shoot to her. “But Janet’s paid for the tickets already. She emailed me yesterday and I got it late last night. I booked the flight on her credit card at two this morning, then I figured I’d let you sleep and just wake you up at seven in the morning.”
“Brilliant idea,” I mutter with a yawn.
“You better wake the fuck up!” She’s really rambunctious this morning. People surrounding us look, and as embarrassed as I should be of her loud, unrefined mouth, I’m not. I chuckle and grab her hand.
“Oh! I met a girl!” She’s giddy when she says this to me and I look at her skeptically.
“Are you with Bryan still?” I ask while we’re loading into the back of a taxi.
“Lilith!” she huffs, annoyed I don’t understand her relationship with Bryan. I don’t know how I can’t understand it, it’s very similar to mine and Ian’s.
“Me and Bryan will always be together, okay? Get over it. Anyway, it’s not like I’m in love with this girl, she’s just damn sexy and an amazing lay.”
I don’t know how, but my feelings are hurt. I can’t be hurt, I opted for her brother over her. And for another, I would never be in a public relationship with a woman.
“She’s really cool. I think you’ll like her. Caesar’s fucking her friend. She’s not as cute, kinda fugly, but whatever, he’s desperate. Ian met her briefly.”
Ian! She’s still talking but now all I’m thinking about is calling Ian to tell him I’m in Florida! I get pulled back into what she’s saying when she says they met her at the club.
“You went to the club?” I ask, wanting to know if Ian was there.
“Yeah. I ran into Nic. She was there with school friends. Have you talked to her?”
“No,” I mutter, still wondering if Ian was there.
“She was nice, but when she started talking about you and, like, askin’ where you were staying, I ditched her.”