by Adeera Lake
‘Maybe it could work’
I grin. “I don’t know!” I mumble before laughing again. “I’m so hungry!”
“Ok let’s run.” He grabs the sushi bag.
“Hey! Wait!” I squeal, my arm stretched as he starts trotting on the sidewalk. My feet hurt but I don’t care. I haven’t had fun for such a long time.
He keeps pulling me to him as he keeps running, and I laugh and I whine as I try to avoid crashing into the people passing by.
“Zac wait!” I mumble laughing. “You are crazy!” I add, keeping up with his pace.
“Come on Grace! What about all the treadmill you do at the gym?! You should be well trained” He yells increasing his pace.
“But I mostly walk on that!” I whine chortling.
I ran trying to keep up with him, but I’m always a little behind, our hands still tightly gripped, are getting warm and damp. I squeak and laugh like on a rollercoaster. Keeping an exhilarant smile on my face. But I my lungs start burning.
“Please, Zac stop!” I yell. “Seriously,” I add, panting and chuckling.
He glimpses back and realizing I’m really out of breath he stops. I instinctively bent and place my hands on my knees, breathing fast and hard.
“My God Zac,” I groan, chuckling between big gulps of air.
He’s catching his breath too, but he seems to be much more in shape than I am. He stands before me and when I recoup and stand, we smile and panting, we spontaneously lean forward and start kissing in the middle of the sidewalk.
A fervent avid kiss that makes me feel dizzy. Our tongues duel avidly and I fell butterflies fluttering in my chest. Goosebumps run all over my skin. This kiss is simply incredible. The tension is gone and for the first time, I feel there is more than simple sexual attraction between us.
‘Maybe this could really work.’
He delicately pulls away and grins slightly. His eyes seem to glow. “I’m starving let’s go have some sushi at my place.”
I smirk biting the corner of my lip. “I can’t wait,” I mutter staring directly into his magnetic eyes.
As we stroll up on the sixth avenue, my phone vibrates. I instinctively grab it from my pocket and when I slide the screen my heart jumps. The little circle icon, that notifies when someone sends me a message on Facebook, pops up. I blocked the mother fucker twice and I thought he got tired of creating new fake accounts just to send me those damn creepy messages. I’m baffled and angry.
“What’s up?” Zac asks when I abruptly stop walking, shocked from what I’m reading.
‘Grace, Grace… Why? You can’t do that. I’m the only one, and I am the right one for you. Our time is coming soon… You can’t like him. You can’t Grace! You should be mine!’
I suddenly feel overwhelmed by anger and frustration.
“You motherfucker,” I murmur looking at nothing ahead of me. “You damn motherfucker,” I raise my voice a little, and then I start screaming out of control. “Who the hell are ya!? What do you want from me!!???” I scream loudly.
An old lady looks at me with a compassionate glance while Zac holds my arms with both hands. “Hey, hey, calm down… What happened, Grace?” He groans.
I’m too tired and angry to keep it cool. I start sobbing out of control and as Zac hugs me, I lean my head on his chest wrapping my arms around his waist.
I release all the frustrations I’ve been accumulating for months and I let myself go completely, crying in the middle of the street, refuging in Zac’s reassuring and cozy embrace.
“It’s ok baby. It’s all good,” he murmurs tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. I keep sobbing on his sculpted chest. His shirt is moist with my tears and my saliva.
“I’m sorry,” I manage to say between a sob and another.
“Shhhh,” he whispers against my forehead, gently cuddling the back of my neck with his fingers.
I slowly calm down and suddenly I hear someone roaring. “Ma’am, are you ok? What’s going on here?”
“Yeah everything’s fine, thank you,” I hear Zac saying.
I draw back from his torso and I see two police officers staring at us quizzically.
“I asked the lady, are you ok?” The cop prompts me.
For a moment I’m tempted to tell him about the stalker, but unfortunately, I know he won’t be able to do anything legally, so it’s not even worth mentioning it.
“Yeah, I’m ok, sure!” I mumble.
The officer pauses eying us skeptically.
Zac glares at him and I’m afraid he may do something stupid.
“She just told you she’s ok, so goodbye,” he groans pulling me to him.
“Sir? Where do you think you are going? I’m not done with you. May I see your I.D.?” The man in uniform groans cupping the gun on his belt with his right hand, while his colleague stands right behind Zac.
‘My God this is pure paranoia!’
Zac chuckles and looks away before looking back at him, slowly shaking his head.
“Sure,” Zac mutters clenching his jaw. I know he’s about to lose it, and he’s blatantly trying hard to keep his temper under control.
‘Sir?” I call. “I know you are worried about me and I thank you with all my heart but seriously, I’m fine.” I smile, feeling my tears drying on my cheeks.
“Then why were you crying?” He pierces me with his icy eyes.
I chuckle. “That’s funny actually. I was crying because my fiancée just asked me to marry me.”
With my side vision, I notice Zac’s eyes widening before a slight grin springs on his face.
The chubby police officer seems suddenly taken aback. He looks at his colleague who smirks seemingly amused by my reply, and then back at me and Zac. He takes a couple of seconds to elaborate what I have just told him; then he smiles shaking his head.
“Why didn’t you tell me in the first place?” He asks almost apologetically.
“I tried to tell you I was alright Sir,” I mumble.
He shakes his head letting out a half grin. “Congrats to you guys,” he groans. “I was just doing my job,” he says patting his colleague’s shoulder before they walk away, keeping on patrolling the street.
“So, I am your fiancée and I just asked you to marry ya,” Zac groans amusingly.
I let out a half chuckle. “I saw your expression when he kept asking questions and it screamed trouble, so I had to come up with something.”
He grins and pouts his lips. “I have nothing to hide. I just really hate when this shit happens. Ya know? We told him you were ok, and he insisted.”
“I hear ya Zac, but he was really just doing his job.”
“I know, I know…” He groans. “By the way, you are not ok, what happened before that moron interrupted us?” he says. “I didn’t ask you to marry ya and you were fucking crying. Wanna talk about it?”
I sigh. “Yeah, I’m sorry to have lost it that way. I’m really stressed out by many, many things,” I tell him all in one breath. “But what made me explode is this fucking message.” I blurt showing him the screen of my phone.
27
Zac
I allow myself a few seconds to elaborate the message.
“This a fucking loser. I mean, are you seriously worried about this stupid guy?”
She smiles. “Can be a girl too.”
“Well, can be anything. Can be a damn alien, but that doesn’t change the fact he, or she, is a loser, and you shouldn’t be worrying about it. Ya know..?”
I’m not underestimating the potential danger, but I don’t want her to live in fear. Usually, these are losers that can only affirm their personalities by hiding behind an anonymous avatar. Therefore, I don’t want to contribute to alarming her even more than she already is.
“Yeah, well, I told you… I burst like that because it’s not been easy to leave my hometown and change my life completely. I have had many things happen to me earlier in life, and now I’m alone, and what I do here is definitely not my dream job.” She
squeals doing finger quotes. “And this fucker keeps bothering me about this thing! I always blocked the accounts, but he keeps creating new ones. I wasn’t scared. I’m not, really. It’s just so frustrating.” She says convincingly.
I stare at her for a moment delicately brushing the back of my hand on her smooth cheek.
“I’ll write that idiot a note if you don’t mind. Now let’s go eat.”
She lets out a delightful gasp. Her eyes glow. “Ok, sounds good to me? Let’s see if you can get me rid of this damn loser.” She says handing me the phone.
I grin. “Let’s see what I can do.”
‘Alright motherfucker. Let me get this straight for ya. You keep bothering this girl and you’ll have to deal with me. And trust me, you don’t wanna do that. I’m not giving ya any other warning. Get fucking lost loser!’
“There ya go,” I give the phone back to her.
She ponders on what I just wrote, biting the tip of her thumb. “You think that’s gonna make him stop?”
“He better.”
She giggles. “Why, what are you gonna do? We have no idea who he is!”
“I’ll find out,” I reply, hoping that loser will really stop bothering her.
She slowly shakes her head and smirks as we keep walking.
***
“Good evening Miss Lords.” The night concierge gives us a bright smile tipping his hat’s visor. “Mr. Byron?” He then adds.
I barely nod and I keep walking toward the elevators.
“Hey Lawrence, how are ya?” “Isn’t it cold tonight?” She friendly asks.
“I’m alright thanks, Miss Lords.”
She smiles. “Do you need anything? A cup of hot coffee maybe?”
“Oh, thank you so much Miss lords, but I’m fine, really. I got my travel mug here, and a few snacks.” He smiles with his puffy red face.
“Oh, you are all set then,” she giggles. “Good night Lawrence!” She squeals before keeping up with me.
“You are really kind,” I blurt after the elevator’s doors close.
“Well from where I come from everyone knows everyone and it just feels natural to me. I know New Yorkers are tough and don’t give a damn, right?” She chuckles. “But I’m not from here, and I’m proud of being the way I am. I think if people cared a little more, and helped one another, this world could be much better, but I don’t want to get into the philosophical shit, I’m hungry!” She sneaks her hand inside the bag.
“Hey wait!” I laugh.
She drags her hand back and then she chortles and purrs. “Please! Just one piece!”
She got me. “Ok, just one.”
She bits her thumb and smirks looking up at me. “I just wanted to see if you let me…” She giggles. “And you did! Thank you, Zac. I won!”
I slowly shake my head and I chuckle, then the elevator dings and the doors slide open. “Ready?”
She tries to make a tough face. “I was born ready!” She mutters deepening her voice. Then she burst out laughing.
I sneer shaking my head slowly. Then I open my apartment’s door. “Make yourself at home.”
She smiles and bows. “Thank you, Sir.”
“Can I leave my shoes here?” She asks removing her sneakers in the hallway.
I close the door and I nod letting out a grin as I take off my boots. A part of me craves her more than anything. I want to make her mine. I want to claim her in every possible way. But I have no rush. I know she wants me as much as I do.
“Wow!” She exclaims looking at the large floor–to–ceiling window. “That view is breathtaking!”
I shrug. “Not bad, yeah.”
“I like the sofa!” She squeals trotting forward. “It’s so comfy, I love it!” She jumps and lays on her belly.
“Alright, I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you goin’?” She mumbles.
“You wanna eat this delicious food without any wine?”
She giggles. “Oh, of course not!”
She’s damn hot. I’m tempted to jump on her and kiss her avidly everywhere, letting our bodies ardently connect. My heart rate increases but I clench my jaw and I let out a grin.
“You’ll love this one,” I tell her before heading toward the little room where I keep my wine cellar.
“I’m sure I will,” she mumbles.
My lips are dry, and my breathing has quickened. I take a deep breath and slowly exhale the air from my lungs. I don’t want her to think I just want to get laid. It’s weird. I’ve never let my feelings take over since the promise I’ve made to myself. I don’t know what this is yet, but I know what I feel for Grace is different.
I scan the wine shelves carefully, opting for a bottle of ten years aged pinot noir and I stroll back into the living room.
“Hey, you got this at the restaurant?” I groan proudly holding up the bottle, but I suddenly realize Grace’s fallen asleep.
I freeze to avoid disturbing her and I admire how beautiful she is. Her breathing is rhythmical, and her lips are slightly curved up, giving her a serene expression. I chuckle shaking my head slowly and I place the bottle on the coffee table careful not to make too much noise. Then I grab the soft warm blanket on the side of the long couch and I unfold it, delicately covering her from her feet up to her shoulders. She moves in her sleep and babbles something I don’t understand, and her breathing gets back to being steady and slow. I turn the lights off, leaving just a small one in case she doesn’t like complete darkness, and I sit in the armchair before the sofa. As I watch her sleeping I feel tingles in my chest. I suddenly wonder when was the last time I had fun with a girl.
For the first time in years, I let myself go. Today I laughed with her and I spontaneously enjoyed the time spent together. She must have been really tired, I think, letting out a sweet smile.
“Good night,” I whisper before delicately kissing Grace’s smooth cheek.
28
Grace
I yawn, my eyes still shut.
I really needed this good night sleep. I was so tired last night, I think as I let out a squeak stretching my arms above my head. I chuckle realizing I slept on the couch, and then I squint my eyes to adjust to the bright light coming from the window, but when I’m about to get up my heart jumps.
‘Oh my God!’
I suddenly recall about last night and I realize I must have fallen asleep on Zac’s sofa. I feel awkward, and when I casually glance at the coffee table I notice the paper bag containing the sushi to-go, is still there, completely untouched.
‘Why I’m so stupid? Why?’
I don’t know where he is but I’m too embarrassed to stay here, so I quickly stand, and I furtively stroll toward the front door, but when I bow to grab my shoes and socks, my heart skips a beat.
“Good morning Grace.”
I suddenly feel my cheeks warming and I wish to be swallowed down the ground, but I need to face this.
“Oh, good morning Zac! I’m sorry, I just…” I stammer. “I was so tired! I worked fourteen hours yesterday, sorry Zac.” I squeal, letting out an awkward smile holding the shoes in my hand.
He leans on the side of a door several feet away, and I assume that must be his bedroom. He’s only wearing a pair of worn out jeans, and the vision of his bare sculpted chest and his perfectly chiseled abs, makes me blush. He looks like a bronze statue. He’s perfect. Even his feet are sexy!
He grins piercing me with his blue eyes. “No sweat Grace,” he mutters. His eyes glow in the dim aisle. “I don’t think that sushi is a good idea anymore, but what about a good breakfast?” he groans slowly brushing his stubble with his fingers.
I giggle trying my best to hide my ardent desire. “Well, don’t tempt me.” I squeal thinking about how hungry I am.
He chuckles. “You are the one tempting me.”
My heart races. ‘He didn’t have to say that. I know I’m going to lose it.’
We stare at each other without talking, but our eyes speak on our behalf, a
nd it all comes naturally.
I loosen the grip on my shoes and I let them drop on the floor. Then we both stomp forward until our bodies abruptly slam into each other, and we start kissing fervently and ardently. I’m on fire. Our breathings merge with our grunts. His manly scent his even stronger now. We frantically rub our hands on our bodies; exploring, tasting, squeezing. Our eyes meet and as we catch our breath, a soft smirk springs on our faces. My heart thunders and my chest moves up and down.
In one agile move he lifts me up and carries me to his bed, then he climbs on top of me and I wrap my legs around his waist so tightly that I feel his length pressing hard against me. He still wears his lousy worn out jeans, but as he brushes the tip of his tongue down my neck, sending chills of lust all over my body, I slide my hand into his boxers and I brush my warm palm on his hard manhood.
I can’t wait anymore, but he takes his time, and that only increases my intense craving. He groans against my chest and his hot steamy breath washes over my skin. I gasp letting out a moan as he kisses me avidly, then he brushes his tongue down my chin and traces a trail down to my chest. His big length flexes in my hand and rushes of fervor make me groan. Zac grips my shirt from below and frantically yanks it off my head, then he quickly tugs down my bra and starts swirling his tongue around my nipple, making me throw my head back and sigh. My core is in flames, and intense stings of desire race through my muscles. He nibbles my stiff pink tip with his teeth and I instinctively drop my jaw pushing my neck forward as I exhale the air from my lungs. I want him. I can’t wait anymore. He’s driving me crazy.
I feel dizzy, overwhelmed by eagerness, and my sexual appetite grows with every breath I take.
“Hmmm Please!” I hear myself blurting against his disheveled short hair.
“Not yet,” he groans on my chest brushing his lips on my sensitive skin, slowly sliding backward.
“Oh, my!” I frown.
He lingers on my belly button swirling his tongue around it, and my tummy moves up and down in sync with my gasps. I perceive the scent of my fragrance. The fabric of my panties is hot and clammy, and as he breathes on my lower abs I feel goosebumps everywhere.