by Carol May
With a sparkle in his eyes, H. says, “You said you trust me, right?”
“Yes, that is what I said but I didn’t know you were going to shackle me to something.”
“Trust me Baby. You are going to never forget this shower. There is a special arm and hook attached to the wall of the shower that swings out allowing me to attach items to it. I am surprised you have never noticed it. What you feel around your wrists is a restraint made from the same material as wetsuits. It is soft, pliable and basically waterproof. Now close those eyes.”
As I close my eyes, I feel something soft and silky go over my head. A blindfold.
I feel his lips on my neck, as he mumbles between nibbles, “Baby, I am going to take you to a place where the only thing you will find is sensual pleasure but you must trust me. Now, lose yourself in the moment. Don’t think of anything but the music and the feeling.”
“Alright.”
The water on my backside becomes almost a warm gentle mist hitting me. I begin to do just as he said, focusing on the music in the background. The crooner is singing about making love to a beautiful woman. I feel something drop onto my breasts simultaneously. It is cool when it first touches me but as the liquid slides down my chest a sudden warm tingling sensual feeling is beginning. Reaching my nipples, the tingling is almost to much. Sucking in, a moan escapes me.
Just above a whisper, Houston asks “Shall, I add some here?” as he touches my soft mound. Before, I can answer him, I feel the coolness on me. The trail of coolness once again is turning into warm tingling sensation that matches my breasts. With anticipation of what I believe it will feel like on me, I am sinking further into a cloud of desire.
Suddenly, the water pounding onto my back is cool which jerks me back to the present. My nipples are tingling as I reach up to massage them. The coldness of the water eliminates any heat that my memory has given me. Stepping out of the shower, I shudder. The feel of the rough towel on my soft body is yet but reminder of how I came to be in this place.
Closing the door, I look around the dimly lit room. Finding an empty stool, I slowly move toward it. I am a little uneasy being inside this place but the woman at the motel desk recommended it. “Sure, honey go on over to The Last Oasis. Tell the bartender Nan sent you. He’ll take care of you and be sure you are safe.”
Lifting my head off this so called pillow just a little to listen I think I hear someone knocking on the door. I pick up my watch, squint my eyes, and see it is around five
“Charli, it’s me, open up.”
He’s here. The one man that I can always count on. He would never let me down. I jerk open the door, and the first thing I hear is, “Holy Hell! You look like…” Smacking him on the shoulder, I throw my arms around my big brother. “Well thanks a lot! I can always count on you to be honest."
Hearing a sound coming from across the room, I flip around to find another person in my bed. Looking from him to my brother and back again, I say, “Ah, I think you should go.” As he stands up, I am thankful that he has his jeans on, hopefully meaning no sex. Mystery man pulls on a t-shirt with “The Last Oasis Bar” printed on it. That's right, he is the bartender. I attempt to focus, somewhere in my clouded mind, I barely remember being propped up at the end of the bar talking to him.
Slipping on his shoes, he stops in front of me saying, “Things will be better in a week or two. Just give it some time.” Leaning into me, he gives me a quick kiss on the cheek before walking out the door.
Pulling the t-shirt down, trying to look just a tad bit better, I close the door, take a deep breath and get ready for the questions.
“Who was that?”
Shuttering, I have to admit I have no idea what his name was. Hanging my head, finally I say, “The bartender that I met last night. I was out of whiskey here as you can see,” as I turn sweeping my arm around.
“Damn, Charli! What in the world were you thinking? You could have been killed.”
Holding my hands up, all I can say is, “I know.” Scanning the room, John continues, “By the looks of these empty bottles you have had yourself quite a little binge here. When is the last time you ate?” Sitting on the edge of the bed facing him, I brace myself because I know what is coming. “Five days. I have been here five days. I ate pizza, yesterday. I vaguely remember some type of bar food last night. Any other questions?” I ask as he sits down in the chair that’s in front of the curtain drawn window.
With a look only my big brother could get away with, “What the hell is going on Charli? The last time we talked you were on cloud nine with mega bucks. The next thing I know, Lana is calling me to come take you away from here. She suggested I take you to my house. Did that bastard hurt you? Did he hit you?” With a haunting look on my face, I look across the room into his eyes, “Oh yes, he hurt me but not a physical hurt. He broke my heart." Shaking my head slowly, I continue, "Houston would never hit me. He isn’t that type of man. Lana is correct I need out of Miami.”
“How do you know if he is or isn’t that kind of man? Have you been hit by a man before?”
“I just know that’s all. Yes, maybe I’ve been hit before but it wasn’t by Houston. That is another story for another time. I don’t want to talk about that right now either." Taking a deep breath, I continue, "John, I’m so glad you are here.” Beginning to blink my eyes rapidly, I am trying with all my might to fight the tears forming in my eyes. Wiping the stream of tears that is now freely flowing down my cheeks, I walk over to the sink, wet a cloth and wash my face.
“Ok, if you don’t want to talk about things, I won’t ask. If I find out the bastard did hit you, I won’t be held responsible.”
“John, I promise he didn’t hit me.”
Holding his hands up in front of him, “Ok, ok. If you say so. I won’t ask. I’ve got the room next door, I am going to get some sleep. I rented a vehicle, God knows I had to pay an arm and a leg for it since it was only one way but I suppose you are worth it being my baby sister and all.”
Rubbing his face, he continues, “Lana tried to explain something to me about her dropping your car off in some parking lot somewhere. Sending some message or some such nonsense. She lost me but I did get that you don’t have a car. I can tell by the look on your face that is something else you don’t want to talk about.”
Looking at him, I am speechless. How in the world did I get blessed to have such a great big brother? Looking at me with nothing but love and concern on his face, he says, "Come here,” holding his arms out, I fall against him. With John’s arms wrapped tightly around me, I feel better already.
“Charli.,”
“Yes?”
“I could bend you over my knee and bust your ass for what I found when I got here. You are so lucky. Please don’t ever do something like that again. Picking a guy up in a bar for a one night stand is very dangerous.”
Burying my head into his chest, I smile, saying “I love you, too.”
The next morning, I convince John to stay one night in Miami. “I thought it might be nice for us to at least drive by my office. So you can see how well we are doing. I really don’t want to go inside. I am not ready to face Lana and Joan. What do you think?”
Smiling John looks at me as he replies, “Well, since you mentioned it, I would like to see a bit of Miami but I didn’t come here for that. I came for you. I must admit, your new business sounds like a good place to start if you think you are really up to it.”
With a half smile, I suggest we get coffee at my favorite place, The Java Hut. As we park in front of JH, I see Lana coming out. Not ready to see her or hear the sympathy that will be in her voice, I sink down into the seat. John looks at me saying, “Isn’t that Lana? Damn, she looks good. I haven’t seen her in years. When did she become such a looker?”
Shaking my head just a little, I reply, “Good grief. Keep it in your pants will you? You know that is her. She hasn’t changed one bit. You must have forgot what she looked like.”
“Sis, take it f
rom me, Lana Lewis has changed quite a bit since I last saw her. She doesn’t look anything like the girl I saw at one of your rehab places. I don’t remember which one it was. I don’t guess it really matters.”
Giving him my really look, I say, “No it doesn’t.”
John goes in to get the coffee while I remain in the rental praying, Rose doesn't recognize him from the pictures I had in my old apartment. I highly doubt she will but with the way things are going, I really can't count on it. With a strong cup of coffee, we drive past the office. I explain I really don’t want to go in being the understanding brother he drives on.
“Where do you live?”
Squeezing my eyes shut, I take a big gulp and answer, “Nowhere now.”
“What do you mean nowhere?”
“I gave up my apartment, when I moved in with Houston. We are no longer together which means I have nowhere to go. That’s one of the reasons I am in the motel. I thought about going to Lana’s but she is seeing someone. His name is Terrance and he practically lives there. Just about the last thing I want is to be around a loving couple. So, I guess you could say at the moment, I am homeless.”
I knew my brother was mad before but I believe his anger has vaulted up to the irate level. One give away is the way he's slamming his hands against the steering wheel along with the sting of words that is erupting from him. We are stopped at a traffic light when he looks over at me managing to spit out between his gritted teeth, “I want to see the place you gave up your home for. What in the world were you thinking? The sister I know would never give up her place for a man.”
Looking out the window, at the driver of the car stopped beside us, I ponder if that is something I want. Do I ever want to see Houston’s building again? The place that I shared with him and less than a week ago called home. As the light turns green, I give him the directions.
Sitting across the street from Dade 303 it is as if I am seeing it for the first time, this time through my brother’s eyes. John asks almost as if he doesn’t believe me, “You lived in this building?”
As I am about to answer, a familiar navy SUV pulls up to the front. My heart is racing as I know what is coming next. Common sense tells me to shut my eyes but who listens to their common sense? I want to see him. Jeff, one of Houston's best friends and one of two men that he really can't function without, exits the driver side, looking in our direction. Slipping down into the seat just a little, I say a little prayer that he can’t make out who I am. Turning away, he walks inside. Watching the vehicle, I almost choke on my coffee when I get my wish. Houston walks out of 303 looking dignified in a dark suit. From this distance, I can’t see the color but I think it is one of his signature navy ones. Pausing beside the SUV he turns to look back at the building. Smiling, he nods at someone, then is joined by a stunning blonde in a slim fitting dress that I recognize. That bitch is in my dress. Opening the back door the two of them get in. Just a minute or two later, Jeff comes out with a suitcase. The son of a bitch didn’t wait very long. As they pull away from the curb, I find I am mad, really mad.
Looking over at John, I ask, “Do you want to go up and see where I lived?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, it’ll give me a chance to pick up a few things.”
Staring at me for just a minute, he asks, “What if he is here?”
“He’s not. I am sure.”
With a little snort, John shoots right back, “How do you know that? You better not be leading me into the lion’s den, sis.”
“I can assure you I am not leading you into anything. I know Houston isn’t there because he just left in that navy SUV.”
“You mean that was him with that blonde? Damn Sis, I am sorry. The bastard didn’t wait long did he. Well, you are better off without him. I know you don’t want to hear that but that is my opinion.”
Chapter 3
Instructing John to drive into the garage, I hope the pass codes have not been changed. After parking in a visitor’s space, we quickly cross the near empty garage heading toward the elevator. Entering the codes, the doors open. Since this is an express elevator to the penthouse, the ride is very quick. Stepping off the elevator into the foyer of Houston’s penthouse for the first time is a true experience. The glass wall allows you to see all the way through to the balcony overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It is a clear day and the water is that beautiful shade of blue.
“Holly hell Charli,” is all my brother can say. Leading him into the room, I stand to watch his expression as he takes it all in. Finally, he says, “No wonder you gave up yours's up. How many floors is in this place?”
Standing looking at that sofa, I can’t help but flash back to the day we were just lounging around. It was one of those very special days when we were just being together. Houston had actually turned his phone off and left instructions with Nash not to be disturbed. As usual, some type of music was coming in over the surround sound. I rarely selected the music we listened to. It seemed as if Houston simply understood my mood and what I wanted to hear.
We had been joking and laughing when something very sensual began to play. It was as if the musician was making love to the piano. I stood and began a very slow striptease. By the time, I was finished, I really can’t remember who was the most turned on. I straddled his lap, allowing his hard manhood to split me open. Standing here, the memory is so vivid, I can almost feel him inside me.
“Sis.”
Snapping back to the present, I inhale deeply to help me refocus before I answer.
“Yes?”
“Did you hear me? How many floors does this place have?”
“Sorry, it has two with a rooftop pool. Do you want to go up and see it? It really is something up there? I can imagine what it must be like to be a bird when you stand up there at the edge. We will need to take the elevator.” Walking toward the elevator, I can’t help but look toward the kitchen where I pause for a minute. My face turns a shade of red when I think about the things we did on that counter. How Houston had a special peanut butter and jelly sandwich, one night. Laughing as he stripped me, he set me on top of the bar, spread peanut butter all over my right breast, and jelly on my left. Smiling, as the memory of how he laid me down drawing my legs up, a small shiver moves across me as I remember how slowly he poured that cold milk onto my hot body.
Lost in thought, I just stand here staring at the counter. “Sis are you sure you want to go up to the pool? Why don’t we just grab a few things and let’s get out of here.”
Admitting to myself, I don’t want to leave 303 just yet, I say, “No, I want you to see the Atlantic from up there. Granted it isn’t that high but it sure is beautiful.” Stepping out of the elevator onto the roof, once again John is speechless. Leading him over to one of the deck chairs, we sit down. I know I am playing with fire being in this place but what the heck. Playing with fire seems to be what I have been doing for months, I just didn’t realize it. I have absolutely no idea how long we sit soaking in the beauty that lies in front of us.
“Let’s go, John. I’m ready now.”
Just as we are about to step onto the elevator the doors close. Oh shit! Double oh shit! I look over at John just as he turns to me asking, “Does that mean what I think it means?”
Barely able to speak above a whisper, I manage to reply, “Yes, someone is downstairs.” There is no need to look around up here because I know there is no place to hide. Calmly or at least I hope it appears I am calm, I return to the chairs saying a silent prayer that whomever is down there will not come up to the pool.
Sitting here in the sun feels good but I am unsure as to how long we should remain here in our little hideout. After what seems like forever I decide we must try to make an escape, contemplating if we should go straight to the basement or not. The only thing is I do not have any of my clothes. After calling the elevator, it dawns on me that if it was just downstairs it would have already been here. Exhaling deeply I make a decision, saying, “I am going to collec
t a few things from the closet before we leave.”
Just as the elevator arrives, John questions my line of thought. “Charli, do you think that is a good idea? What if that no good piece of …”
Interrupting him, “John the elevator took too long to get back up here to the pool. It must have been in the basement meaning the person that called it is no longer here." Continuing with my misguided logic I say, "Besides, I only want a few items, it won’t take me long to grab them. We’ll be out of here in no time and no one will be the wiser.” Looking at me as if I have gone off the deep end, John says, "Whatever you say." Stepping inside, I think about what items I want to take. As the elevator doors open, I am hit with the folly of my thinking as I come face to face with the one person, I do not want to see.
Chapter 4
There in front of me is the blonde from earlier. I am speechless. As I look her up and down, I decide that is definitely my dress or at least I think it is my dress. Here she is very well put together and I look like a little rag-a-muffin. Looking her directly in the eye, I say as coldly as I possibly can, “I am here to collect a few things. I will not be long.”
At this very moment, I am calling upon every ounce of willpower I have to not claw her eyes out. Stepping into the foyer with John behind me, I continue on with my mission. Walking toward the stairs, I hear her say, “Ok, Ms. Jensen.”
That does it! Stopping dead in my tracks, I turn to face her. With as much venom as I can muster, I ask, “How do you know my name?”
Flashing me a smile, I would like to slap off her face, her reply kicks me in the stomach, “Why Sugar, Houston described you perfectly when he told me all about you. I knew immediately who you are.” With that response Blondie steps onto the elevator, flashing me another mega watt smile, the doors close.