by Carol May
Following my direction he looks to the door, “Yes, I see it.”
“Please know I will walk out of it and we will be right back where we were an hour ago. If you don’t let me speak.”
With a hump, he said, “There is my girl. That’s the Charli I love. By all means please speak and stop trying to give me the eyebrow intimidation. I use that myself quite often but I am not sure I have your skills with it.”
Exhaling deeply, I continue. “Ok, I will take the blackmail thing. I am not saying I accept it but after having one conversation with her, I understand she would do that. The question I really need you to answer is the why. Why did you say all those things to me and tell me that story about Nigel and Penelope when it was really about the two of you? You made me love you Houston. That is something I promised myself that I would never do again, love someone.” I turn my head to quickly wipe away the tears I know will fall from my eyes at any moment.
“Charli, I can’t explain it. I don’t know the reason I told you that story. Have you ever wanted something so bad that you would do almost anything to make it happen? I suppose, I told you the Nigel story because I wanted you that badly. At one point in my life, I thought it was funny that my best friend's sister had a name similar to my great, great grandmother. Believe me, now I feel differently. It is extremely easy to forget something you don’t want to remember in the first place. That is how I feel about Penny. I want to forget her. Hell, I’ve even tried to buy my way out of the contract. She refused more money than she can ever spend in her lifetime. I have even offered her shares in my companies on top of a lump sum of cash. No deal.”
"So, she won’t accept cash or shares in Highland Diversified. My God, what does she have over you Houston? Is it that bad?”
“It’s pretty bad, I won’t deny it. I wasn’t personally responsible for it but one of my holdings is responsible. If it is leaked it possibly could destroy HD. I can’t allow that to happen. Millions of people worldwide would be affected. There are a couple of small countries that might topple if Diversified goes under.”
Taking a deep breath, I realize this man is very complicated and powerful. He is truly responsible for way more than I ever dreamed. I really don’t know how to respond to what he has just shared with me. After a minute, I finally speak, “So what it all comes down to is control, right? For whatever reason, she wants to control you.”
Exhaling long and slowly, he says, “Oh, I know the original reason. I turned her down for sex more than once when we were younger. The last time was the night she found out about my relationship with Lynn. I was sleeping at their house in the spare room that had basically become mine. Penny walked in on us. She opened the door, stood there for a minute and watched me screw her mother. Even back then she was a sick twisted individual. She always says she doesn’t remember why I never came back to their house after that night but she knows exactly why.”
Looking strangely at my neck for a second, he asks, “What happened to your necklace? Why aren’t you wearing it?"
“You have got to be kidding Houston. You think I want to wear a copy of your wife’s necklace to remind me that I can’t have you and you had the nerve to call her twisted and sick? I have no idea where the necklace is. I haven’t seen it since before I left Miami.”
Standing, he begins to pace the room. Finally he speaks. “Charli, I did not give you a replica of her necklace. I gave you the original that belonged to Penelope. She never knew and still doesn't that I had a copy made for her. My instincts told me to not give her the priceless heirloom. She overheard me talking about it with my mother one day, later in the week she ask me for it. I would never give her something that holds a connection to my Great, Great Grandfather.” Rubbing his hands over his face, he says in almost a broken voice, “Your necklace is the necklace that holds the true meaning of love. Your necklace is the antique one that Nigel gave to Penelope marking their love. Your necklace is or rather was insured for three hundred thousand. Her necklace cost a small fraction of that.”
“Oh my god. I didn’t know, Houston. You never told me how much it was worth.”
Holding out his hand, I take it and stand in front of him. Pulling me onto his lap, in our familiar way, I sit astride him. “If I told you the value you would never have worn it. I enjoyed seeing it around your neck." Raising his finger to trace where it once laid, he continues, "Charli, that necklace means nothing to me if the woman I love isn’t wearing it. Yes, it is very valuable. It has some small rare cut diamonds. The emerald in it is actually what costs the most. None of that matters to me. I am a man. Do you think I actually care about a piece of jewelry? If it is gone then it is gone. There is nothing either of us can do to change that fact.”
Sighing deeply, my only response is a small sad smile.
“Baby, let me hold you. Let me love you one last time. We will savor every second of it and then if that is what you want we will part.”
Sitting here with one leg on each side of him, deep down I know the right thing is to say no but I haven’t always done the right thing. I nod my head. Pulling back from me, he tilts my chin up and slowly moves his mouth onto mine. Breaking away from me, he asks, “Do you want to stay here? If not, we can go anywhere. My jet is fueled. I can take you anywhere in the world you want to go.”
Leaning back from him, I say with a trembling lip, I would love to go somewhere secluded with you for our one last night but I can’t fly. I have a horrible fear of it. Even being near your airplane today was almost more than I could handle.”
“What do you mean, being near my plane? How did you get to it? It should have been enclosed in a locked area.”
“Well, it wasn’t. I drove right up to it. Yeah, I suppose security at the Salina, Kansas airport isn’t exactly up to the level that you are normally exposed to.”
“How did you know to go look for my plane in the first place?”
Smiling, I tell the entire story to him about dumping my purse, driving and just thinking. “I saw a little airport sign with an arrow pointing to the left. That’s when it hit me, your plane. So that’s where I went. Then I ran into your pilot and some woman. Next thing I know Nash is there. That’s when I came here with him. Who by the way was very protective of you.”
“Ok, I understand the plane part. Now let’s discuss the not flying part. What do you mean you don’t fly? Don’t tell me you drove here to Kansas by yourself all the way from Miami.”
With a little bit of a laugh, I answer, “No, John came and got me.”
Wrinkling his brow, “Jonathan your brother, drove to Miami picked you up and then drove back? Damn that’s brotherly love.”
“No, he flew down, we rented a car and then we drove here. Do we really have to discuss this?” I ask.
Shaking his head, he says, "I suppose not. How did I not know you don’t fly?”
“No, not anymore. I am terrified of flying.”
Sitting here, leaning against him, I pray that this night be special. It is the night I tell the love of my life goodbye.
Finally, braking the silence, Houston says, “Well, I suppose I have my answer about where we will have our final night together. I am hungry, let’s go downstairs to the restaurant. The chef on staff here is good at least according to his reputation."
Nodding, I stand. Walking to the door, Houston takes my hand pulls it to his lips and kisses it.
Chapter 11
Stepping into the elevator, it seems as if the space around us has taken on an aura of a sadness that we understand comes with this night. This is the end of us. It is a tribute to what we could have been but will never be.
Returning to the room, I can barely comprehend that the meal we just shared was our last together as we pause for him to open the door. As I step into the room, I recognize the handiwork of Houston’s elves. The entire suite is bathed in flickering candlelight. Entering the bedroom my eyes are drawn to the wine carafe waiting by the bed. Taking in the remainder of the room, I see the perfe
ctly cut daisy heads and rose petals mixed together and scattered throughout. The tears are beginning to flow as I actually understand this is our goodbye. Turning to look at Houston, Old Blue Eyes begins to play. This song and his music will forever take me to a time and place in Miami. Right now, I have this special man that I love and who loves me, standing in front of me for one final time. The time for sorrow will be later. The time for making memories is now.
Looking at me with a small smile, Houston asks, “Do you remember the night we danced on the balcony? How this song was on repeat and we stayed out there for hours even when the storm was moving in and the lightening was off in the distance?”
Smiling, as I pick up one of the candles in the room, I say “just like those that night.” Lost in a memory, “I can almost feel the wind from that night. It was strong enough to blow the candles out but as always you thought of everything and used battery operated ones. H. do you think I can ever forget that night? I felt like we were the only two people in the world.”
I take his outstretched arm as he pulls me into him. We move to the music just like the night on the veranda. Looking up at him, I know or at least I think I know that this is a sad night for him as well. There is one question that I still need answered. Pulling away from him, I use thirst as the reason for interrupting our dance. Standing by the carafe, I pick a goblet up and begin to pour.
“What is it Charli? I can tell you are stalling about something. What is it?”
Handing him the drink I just poured, I find the courage to ask, “Did you ever intend for me to know or were you going to keep that little secret away from me?”
Throwing back the glass of wine, like I have never seen him do, he answers. “Is it important now? You know.”
Taking a rather large drink especially for wine, I walk to him saying, “I suppose it isn’t important now but you just gave me my answer. You were never going to tell me, were you? You planned on me just being in Miami and never finding out because the little hick girl from Kansas isn’t smart enough to figure it out or maybe sophisticated enough to handle it. ”
By the look on his face, I have just said it correctly. “Well, guess what Mr. Houston Donovan, I have seen the true side of you. You bastard. I hate you.”
Just as my hand meets his face, he pulls me to him. Holding me in place he speaks but it isn’t the calm sweet Houston. It is the powerful man that I am so attracted to. “Are you sure that is the way you want this night to pan out Charli? Do you want me to be rough so you can hate me even more tomorrow? Damn woman, we both know that sometimes you like it just a tad rough don’t you, my little hell cat. You like it when I do this," as he squeezed my butt very hard. Firmly grasping each of my breasts, he continues with his verbal onslaught, “You like it when I’ve bite these sexy breasts just enough to leave the faintest of marks, don’t you? You liked it when I came home the day of the paparazzi attack and bound your hands. Say it Charli, go ahead and say it.”
“With tears streaming down my face, “Yes, damn you. Yes, I liked it. I didn’t just like it I wanted more but I didn’t know how to tell you. I didn’t know what you would think. Sometimes, I want soft, slow and sexy. You are so good at reading my moods and needs and giving me exactly what I need.” Swallowing hard, I look up at him and ask, “How can I love and hate you at the same time?”
Pulling me to him, he wraps his arms around me tightly and whispers, “Baby.” Gently moving his hands up my body, he cups my face in his hands as he assaults me with feather light kisses. Breaking his hold on me, I lie down onto the bed. If he hadn’t changed into a fresh shirt earlier, the button issue would not have provided this little floor show that I am getting. Watching him as he slowly unbuttons each button, my eyes travel up and down his magnificent body. Standing in front of me with his shirt unbuttoned, I am feasting my eyes on the tautness of his abs committing the sight of him on this night to memory.
The way he is standing at the foot of the bed, dress shirt unbuttoned, belt unfastened just waiting for me. Sitting up, I crawl across the bed. As I reach him, I raise up onto my knees. Taking his hand into mine, I trace over the top of it ever so gently. Using my knowledge of what Houston likes, as I turn his palm up I take the tip of his middle finger into my mouth, sucking gently. A small moan escapes him, causing me to nibble my way across his palm. As the journey continues I manage to say rather wickedly, “These hands have felt every inch of my body. They have taken me to the passion filled edge of desire and pushed me over. I want to go over that edge more than once tonight."
Sitting on my knees, I trace the vein in his wrist that begins at the edge of his palm to up under the shirt cuff with the tip of my tongue, causing him to release another passion filled groan. Which in turn, causes me to smile just a little. Lifting my eyes to his, I return to kissing the tip of each of his fingers followed by just a nip on the pad stopping at his middle finger. Moving my hand up to unbutton his cuff, I suck his middle finger into my mouth up to his hand. Slowly but with pressure I move my lips back to his knuckle, then up to his fingertip causing his groan to increase. As I suck on his finger, I can't help but smile. Lying back onto the bed, I raise my hand to him, saying his name.
Straddling me, he says, “So you want to give me the full tease treatment? Just remember, two can play that game, Baby. Smiling that sexy half smile of his, as he bends over and begins his version of the full tease treatment. Somewhere, the teasing stopped and the moaning began as we tumbled over the rim of pleasure into pure ecstasy.
Chapter 12
It’s been almost a week since my night with Houston. The following morning wasn’t as horrible as it could have been. Looking back, I think it might have been due to all the sex we had. Lying here, I realize if I never have sex again, I have had the best send off into celibacy any person could ask for. No matter what I think or how I feel, he is married. He might not love her, they might not live together but they are married.
I am heading back to Miami tomorrow. If I wasn’t so afraid of flying then I could make this three day road trip a three or four hour flight. Both of my brothers have tried to get me to talk to my doctor about getting something to help me. I simply can’t do it. I suppose I have scars mentally that will remain with me forever.
Coming out of the bathroom, I hear John talking to someone. Not really talking more like arguing. Even though I am in one of my brother’s ratty old t-shirts and a pair of leggings, I head to the living room to see what is going on. The closer I get (because it isn’t as if this house is that big) I recognize the voice. As I round the corner, I ask, “What are you doing here?”
Standing just inside the door is someone I thought I would never see again. I seem to have been thinking that quite a bit these last few days. Taking a deep breath, I walk over to my brother laying my hand on his shoulder saying, “John, it is ok. You can go.”
“Are you sure, Charli? I am the one that has picked you up from what this scum did to you.”
With a shocked look on my face, I shake my head and explain, “John, let me introduce you to Nash, Houston Donovan’s security chief and best friend.
Looking at me with flames shooting from his eyes, he asks, “So this isn’t the bastard that caused you to hole up in some two bit motel for days drinking fifths of whiskey like they were going out of style?”
“No, I promise you this isn’t Houston. Now, can we at least let him into the house?” Trying to lighten the mood I continue, “Because if you are going to take him out, he needs to be within these four walls. At least I think that is right.” Turning to look at Nash, I ask, “That is right isn’t it?”
Taking a deep breath, he nods that I am correct, but the first words that escape his lips are, “Oh Shit, I could kill him.” Looking over at me, he laughs just a little and says, “You know Charli, I do seem to say those two words a lot when I first see you.”
“I told you that you do.
Taking a deep breath, I turn away from both of them and walk into the kitchen. I ha
ve no idea what they are doing but I do know they are still talking. I wonder if they realize I am no longer in the room. Grabbing three bottles of water out of the fridge, I rejoin them. They have moved on and are discussing some antique rifle that John has mounted and on display. Handing them each a water, I sit down. Both men follow my lead, as I hear Nash launch into a description of some antique handgun he has back in New York which makes me think of the fact that Houston’s home or at least what he considers home is a penthouse in New York City. Taking a deep breath, before I attack the elephant in the room, I let my mind sort of drift off.
“Charli? Did you hear Nash?”
Shaking my head, I ask “What? Sorry John, I was lost in space, I suppose.”
Being the smart ass brother that he always is, he responds with, “I wouldn’t expect anything else from you Sis than to be in Neverland when the discussion is about guns.”
Sticking my tongue out, I say to John, “You know I don’t care for them. I respect the fact that you have the right to have one on your wall, in your house or wherever you have one. I just don’t like them for me. Alright?”
With somewhat of a huff, holding his hands up John says, “Well, alright, then. That just confirms what I already knew.” Looking over at Nash, John continues, “It goes back to when she was a little girl and Dad left her at home with Mom when we went hunting. It’s a really long story.”
Interrupting him, “Yes it is a long story and not worth repeating. Well, that’s not hardly true but Nash wouldn’t really be interested.”