When I saw the outfit in the store I knew immediately that I had to have it specifically for my trip. I knew it would look stunning with platinum link drop earrings, bangle bracelet, and red stilettos. “Showtime,” I sang aloud, smiling to myself.
~*~*~
Later that night we all gathered in the lounge and as always, I had the same enthusiasm running through me, as all the other times.
For some reason it always took me back to my first visit to Paraiso Belo and the beautiful memories of that time.
Once we are all in place, Valentina made her grand entrance for the introduction.
“Good evening, Gentlemen. I hope you’re feeling good tonight, that you had nice, comfortable flights in and have settled comfortably into your quarters…”
I never grew tired of hearing the opening speech for the reception. I got a rush seeing all the beauty and intrigue in one room, and knowing that each of us was planning escapes into unknown worlds for the duration of our stays.
I entered a trance-like state as I was caught up in the moment.
As she concluded and I found my way back to the present, I caught, “…I don’t know how many of you have been to Brazil for Carnival before now, but there are many festivities taking place over the course of the next few weeks. Transportation is available to any of those activities – some of which, a few of the ladies, are participants. And yes, it is as stimulating as it sounds. But I’ll let you be the judge of that. Of course, you’re also welcome to remain indoors with your hostess and enjoy all that we have to offer inside.” She cleared her throat, before adding, “I’m sure the latter is what piques your interest the most.”
Chuckles, intermixed with applause, filled the room.
As a finale, Valentina invited questions from her guests. When there were none, she replaced the microphone on its base and a final applause erupted.
“Without further ado, please allow me to introduce your beautiful hostesses: Gabriella, Lili, Natalia, Valéria, Eva, Bella and Marie. They are beauty, brains and talent and ready to meet all your needs.”
“Ladies please step forward and claim your men!”
CHAPTER 49
~*~*~
Each of our names were placed next to our guest’s table on a placard at a designated booth. As I passed each booth leading to mine, I made a point to acknowledge those in my path. It was common practice because one could never tell if a particular guest would be one of theirs on a future visit.
The booths were nicely adorned with scented decorative candles burning atop. The lights in the room were perfectly dimmed for a more intimate setting, and soft jazz was playing through the lounge’s sound system.
I moved toward the table with my name on it. I was told in advance that table 12, would be where my guest, Jacob, was waiting.
My focus hadn’t been on my table because it was so far at the end. I was anxious to see what my guest looked like, what his conversation would be like, to find out where he was from. I always enjoyed talking to them because just as in my regular life, conversation was important. I found it was equally vital in that world as well.
As I neared, I slowed my pace as to not appear overly eager, but for some reason, my heart’s beat was racing.
I spotted him standing next to our table and I could see that he was holding a single white rose in his hand.
With every step I took, my heart pounded.
Damn nerves!
I never asked the other girls, for fear that they would think I was silly, but there was always a little anxiety present during the initial meetings because, although Valentina was familiar with our guests, most of the time they were new to us.
My trained eye could assess Jacob’s credentials from a safe distance.
6’1. Fair-skinned. Athletic build. So far, so good. The one desire with these encounters was for the individual to be someone you wouldn’t mind spending time with. Someone you wouldn’t mind waking up next to. Someone easy on the eyes. Nicely packaged. He was all those things.
He took a few steps in my direction to meet me half way.
What a gentleman, I thought.
My chest was vibrating so hard, I became afraid. Something about him seemed familiar. I started saying over in my head, Jacob…Jacob…and trying to recall if I knew anyone by that name.
Maybe I had spotted him at the resort before with one of the other girls. That was always a possibility. Or, it may have been that he just had one of those faces.
Then the closer I got, I realized it was more than a familiar face.
I know him.
This can’t be.
Please help me.
I had to clutch my chest as I walked.
Not the time for The Pledge of Allegiance, Gabriella. Take your hand down. It’s all in your mind.
I could no longer hear the music playing or anything else in the room, for that matter. Everything was drowned out. The room even appeared darker than it was before.
I tried hard to regain my focus. I needed to pay attention to my every step so that I didn’t take an embarrassing fall.
What do I do?
No answers were coming to me. There was no way out. No turning back.
Just keep walking, Gabriella. Stay strong.
That smile greeted me and instinctively as if it were the final identifier I needed for him, I searched for signs of a bulge pressed against the front of his pants. It was there. Just the way I remembered.
The familiarity of it…of him sent chills through my body.
I took a deep breath, and hoped it went unnoticed, but somehow I didn’t think so.
I felt weak at the knees.
He looked right into my eyes, lifted the rose and leaned forward to deliver a light kiss on my cheek.
I was speechless.
What was happening?
I casually glanced around for Valentina, eyes begging for an explanation, or maybe Ashton Kutcher to come running from one of the many rooms, yelling out that I’d been Punked, the Brazilian edition!
Reciprocating the smile he wore, I managed to speak, my eyes dropping slowly escaping his stare.
“Thank you for the rose…it’s very pretty.”
The moment was awkward. At least for me. I kept the smile even as he gestured for me to take my seat in the booth, with him claiming the one across from me.
Not really knowing what to do with my hands, I nervously placed the rose on the tabletop and quickly removed them from view to fidget with the bracelet around my left wrist.
“Valentina said I’d be pleased with the woman she chose for me,” he said giving intense direct eye contact, “…and she couldn’t have been more correct. You are everything I remember.”
My voice abandoned me, silence was sent in its place.
I felt as though he was looking through me, and directly to my soul, as though trying to get a read on where my head was. Or, maybe it was me who was doing the reading. I couldn’t tell.
I was certain he could hear the thumping drum beat held hostage in my chest.
A drink was in order. Something straight, I was thinking. No fruity shit would do.
My mind was in overdrive trying to make sense of the situation and why of all the places in the world, I would be there with him. I was baffled.
Whatever the case, he was now my client and I needed to kick into gear and out of discomfited silence. Business was business.
“So Gabriella,” he started. “Cat got your tongue?”
“Uhh…no, my tongue is just fine.”
A few minutes into making her rounds, I spotted Valentina approaching our table.
She had excitement all over her. She loved her work. It showed and who could blame her? Happy people, thriving business. There wasn’t much more she could ask for.
She looked from me to my guest and with a smile introduced herself, “Hello, Mr. Augustine---”
“Please, Valentina,” he interrupted. “I’m crashing your party…Ken is fine, or Jacob which is my middle name and the one
I registered with. Either is fine. Besides, I think you know enough about my life, my business, to earn an honorary pass to first name basis.”
They fell into laughter, where mine was more like a nervous chuckle. It was all I could give without being detected, by what I hoped was an unsuspecting Valentina.
“You have a point, Ken. It’s nice to meet you in person. Thank you for joining us this year. So glad you made it in from New York.”
She gave me a look that let me know she read something…perhaps in my demeanor.
“You two look stunning together. A perfect match of beauty.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more,” he cosigned. “You said you’d make a choice I would be sure to love and I must say you were absolutely right.” He turned to me and with emphasis repeated, “absolutely right.”
Valentina was pleased that she’d made another successful match. She extended well wishes for the evening, blew me an air kiss and quickly departed.
Memories were rushing through my mind at lightning speed. It felt like a million voices in a single room all trying to be heard at once.
Why here? Why now? I didn’t know what to think or how to feel. The floating hostess arrived at our table just in time to provide me some relief.
“Boa noite, O que posso levá-lo a beber?”
“Boa noite, teremos dois, Think Green.”
“bem vindo!”
“What just happened?” he inquired, with a puzzled look on his face.
“She asked what we wanted to drink, and I took the liberty of ordering for both of us,” I said confidently. I had to remove some of the power he’d been holding over me.
“And you ordered what for us?”
“Don’t worry, you’ll like it. It’s a drink called, Think Green. It’s pretty popular.”
“Green, huh? Can’t say I’ve ever drank anything that was green. What’s in it?”
“A few things. Let’s see…you got, Bacardi, Lemon Grass, Midori, Champagne and pineapple juice. Yeah, that’s it. I think you’ll like it. If you don’t, I’ll drink them both,” I said playfully.
“Okay, I’ll hold you to that,” he said smiling maintaining an intense stare as he did.
I smiled, but then the awkward silence kicked in again once the words had stopped. It was hard for me to keep eye contact with him. I was looking at how mature he’d gotten. He had always been good looking, but now it was in a mature man kind of way. I figured I would see him again one day, but not there!
“So, Ken…” I began, just as the hostess delivered our drinks to the table.
“Yes, Gabriella…”
“I’m curious about something. Why didn’t you mention to Valentina that we know each other when she stopped by the table?”
I posed the question under the assumption and with the hope that she didn’t already know.
“I could ask you the same thing,” he said taking a sip of his drink, “but I won’t. It’s probably best that we make this moment its own and separate from the past. Agreed?”
Reluctantly, I complied, “you’re right.”
I felt dismissed. I didn’t expect that he’d want to have a full-fledged conversation about the past, but I also didn’t expect that he would treat it with null value either. Maybe it was better he was showing no emotion because it would be easier for me to release the tension I felt.
“Can I just say that you are breathtaking?”
“Thank you, Kenny. You’re something like breathtaking yourself.”
“Kenny,” he echoed. “I haven’t heard that in a very long time.”
“I’m sorry…Ken, or Jacob.”
“No apologies necessary.”
All the memories were flooding back and causing a rush of unwelcomed anxiety.
“I love the haircut!” he exclaimed. “When did you start wearing your hair short? It’s sexy. It fits. Puts a lot of emphasis on your facial features. You probably have men mesmerized everywhere you go, I’ll bet.”
“Nah, not everywhere,” I joked.
The conversation was flowing, which was a good thing, the fact that he hadn’t inquired about what I was doing there, made me think that he might have already passed judgment. I hoped not, but it was a very real possibility.
I would hope that before he did pass judgment, he would at least ask what I was doing at Paraiso Belo. What led me there? How long? He hadn’t asked anything.
I couldn’t help but wonder if he was thinking how better off he was for walking away all those years ago. If he thought I wouldn’t amount to much so he was lucky to have gotten out when he did.
Fuck you, Kenny, or Jacob, or whatever you’re going by these days! My life is more than this! You can take your judgment and shove it up your ass. I’m here by choice! This is an activity I willingly participate in! I don’t need the money; it’s the freedom I love.
I couldn’t help sitting before him in that moment, feeling like a low-class whore, when I was far from that.
I was in my own head, trying hard to shake the noise, but was unable to do so. Partnering with him might not be such a good idea, after all. Too much history. Too many memories.
Damn. Something had to give. I wasn’t willing to allow that situation, with those thoughts take me out of my element of peace. I didn’t have to explain myself to anyone. I didn’t owe anybody that, so whatever Kenny thought, I couldn’t let it have that much power over me.
“So you like the haircut, huh?” I asked playfully turning my head side to side for a full view.
“Yeah, I sure do. It’s working for you. But truth be told, you would look good without a single strand of hair on your head.”
“Why thank you, I’ve only been wearing it short for a few days. I cut it not too long before I came here. It’s easy to manage, just the way I need it to be. On the go too much to have to deal with the task that long hair brings. I can run my fingers through it and be on my way.”
Although I said I wouldn’t, I was overcompensating by dropping innuendos about having a full life. I wanted to paint a picture that revealed a life so busy I needed simplicity and ease to navigate through. I needed the picture to be such that he would want to ask, “What are you doing here, then?” and I could load him up with my life’s details.
But he didn’t. He grew quiet, circling the rim of his Think Green-filled glass and without looking up from his glass, he asked me, “Is this at all awkward for you?”
Wow! Finally, an acknowledgement!
Pinching fingers together, to demonstrated, “A little, but not too much,” I lied. Dammit, why did you lie?! First you wonder why he doesn’t ask, but then you lie when he finally does! It was the perfect time to say, heck yeah, it’s uncomfortable as hell, and I lost the opportunity.
The only thing I could do was pose the same, “Is it for you?”
He paused a few seconds before responding.
“No. I’m too busy being pleasantly surprised.”
With my third drink taking effect, I was beginning to relax. Getting past that initial phase, was the most difficult, and thankfully, it had passed.
Looking over at him, I was reminded how proud I used to be as his plus one. He had a Taylor Kinney thing about him, but better looking, in my opinion and it made for undeniably…irresistible.
I was feeling some kind of way about having his honey comb in my golden hideout. I was longing for him to touch me. I wanted to show him how much I’d matured from the 18-year-old girl he used to dick down in the afternoons while the parents were at work.
The shy walls were falling down, and right on time. I was tired of feeling so far removed from my element.
“Did you get settled into your suite already?”
I reached across the table and with my finger, made lazy circles on the top of his hand. I was in heavy flirtation mode.
“I’m asking because I wanted to know if you’d like to show me around. Or, I could show you around mine. We are right next to each other, you know? For ease of access.”
“Ease of access, huh?” he said, grinning. “Is that literal or figurative?”
I rose from my seat, walked over to his side of the table and held my hand out to him.
“How about we go find out…”
CHAPTER 50
~*~*~
Back at his suite, not quite through the door, we went at each other hungrily, tongues intertwined, taking each other in. I tasted the mixture of Bacardi and pineapple, on his breath – bitter, yet sweet.
Clothes peeled off around us. There were forces at work, and both our bodies were screaming to become one.
I felt his manhood nestled against my newly-waxed mound. The juices summoned, made a slow escape down my inner thigh, my breathing was heavy…anxious.
His finger entered my wetness, stroking in and out, caressing my throbbing lips. Soon my legs wrapped around his waist, he carried me to the bed.
When he laid me down, his eager cock returned to the territory it once called home.
First penetration is always best. Yes! It was as though he’d never left. With every stroke, the memories came flooding back, as I fell aimlessly into the thrill.
His hands touched my body with experienced navigation. Our bodies moved in sync, writhing to the same rhythm. My eyes closed to experience the ecstasy in its entirety. From my head to my fingertips, to the heels of my feet, I could feel him.
Prolonging the inevitable was an impossibility. My body wanted to surrender. My head tried to hold out, but with the tingling sensation and my walls contracting around his cock, I knew the time was near. Pulling my knees closer, and reaching around to grab his ass, I drew him deeper inside.
I was sure the symphony of our moans could be heard throughout the halls. His jerking form alerted me to the impending explosion, and as it arrived, so did I.
Sensational was the best way to describe it.
After many attempts to catch our breath, Ken rolled over to lie alongside me and stared upward. His freshly creamed manhood glistened against the moonlight peeking through the balcony.
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