Love In Rewind

by Tali Alexander

  After that regrettable night at the club, my boyfriend never made an effort to find another group of guys to hang out with again. When you have the kind of money that Louis Bruel has good friends are hard to come by. Louis was running a huge firm and his free time he allocated only to me. I also wasn't a social butterfly; my only close friends were my sister Jenna and Sara. Even with Sara I felt we were moving in two different directions. She was just starting to enjoy her life as an adult. She wanted to go out and meet people and be a normal college student. I'd already met the love of my life and only wanted to be with him. Louis was my air. I went from being a girl to becoming a woman in his arms. Being apart from him was not an option. I wanted to be there for Sara as a friend, and I tried but I was too invested in Louis Bruel to have much time for anyone but him. Looking back, maybe I shouldn't have let Louis dominate my whole life. But then again, how could you tell your body you can't have air when you need to breath?

  Chapter 16

  The pissing line starts here...

  How cool is it that the weather is perfect today?"

  I bounced up and down in the car, giddy with excitement en route to Bruel Industries' annual picnic in Central Park. Jen and Mike had been at the park with all the vendors since six o'clock that morning. Every year Louis apparently put together a summer outdoor party for all of his employees and their families. He also invited some of his business partners and top clients. This year the party was huge. Louis' company had over sixty full-time employees plus their families, which equaled well over two hundred people.

  Jenna and I had come up with the idea of a carnival theme for that year's shindig. There would be rides, games, music, and street entertainers. There were stilt walkers, balloon sculptors, and caricature artists, just to name a few attractions. Food carts were catering to all palates from burgers to hotdogs to falafel and even my favorite, Chinese food. I couldn't wait to see it all and the weather was incredible. My parents were also coming to say hello a little later. Louis even encouraged me to invite my best friend, Sara, who had yet to meet him. I was looking forward to having them finally meet each other. Sara had asked me many of times if Louis Bruel was my imaginary boyfriend. It was hard to assure her because I still sometimes felt he was a hallucination.

  I knew Louis would be busy once we got to the park as the host and the man in charge. He didn't look so intimidating today. Once out of his suit and tie he actually looked like a regular guy. He was still very much as beautiful and sexy as ever, but in his jeans and white t-shirt he looked more approachable. Before we exited his car he cupped my face and brought his lips in for a very passionate, slow kiss. I pulled away reminding him that people were waiting for him.

  "I'll miss you while I mingle out there. Come find me if you get bored."

  He gave me another kiss, this time on the cheek, and went off to welcome his guests. I saw several very zealous women follow my boyfriend as soon as he left my side. That's what I got for dating Mr. Wonderful. I couldn't be upset with women's reaction to Louis or let it bother me. He never even looked in the direction of another female while we were together. I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to date "The" Louis Bruel. I didn't like the attention he got, but I love the attention he gave to me.

  I wanted to find Jenna and Mike to see if they needed any help with the event. I came as a guest that day but I knew how pressured my sister got during these events, especially one the size of that one. I found Sara instead, standing by the face painting station. I ran over to her, beyond excited to have her here with me. I didn't even notice Eddie standing right by her. I gave them both a group hug once I ambushed them. I was used to seeing Sara every day. Since I'd started dating Louis we probably hadn't seen each other in close to three weeks. But we did speak at least every couple of days.

  "Thank you for showing up. This is going to be so much fun. I can't believe we haven't hung out in so long … you look so pretty today. Is this that new dress you ordered online?"

  "My new dress is not important! Where is the horrible boyfriend who stole my best friend away? I wish he had a brother or some hot friend of the British variety for me!"

  I loved this girl; it was as if we hadn't been apart for weeks. Sara and I could always pick up right from where we left off.

  "Sorry babe, definitely no brother, and awful friends. I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy."

  We were both laughing. I hadn't even noticed that Eddie had his arm around my shoulders. Innocent embraces between us were like second nature. Just like I wouldn't notice if Mike or my dad put their arm around me. There was zero sexual undercurrent in our relationship.

  "Emma, you're coming to my birthday party next week. Right?"

  I had no idea what Eddie was talking about. He shot a deadly look over to his sister.

  "Don't tell me you didn't invite her? I asked you weeks ago to make sure Emma knows about the party."

  "Relax dude, I haven't seen her in weeks. She fell off the face of the earth after meeting Mr. Rich and Famous. I was going to invite her today."

  Sara and Eddie are so cute; they remind me of Jenna and I. They always quarrel in public but they love each other to pieces. Sara could've told me a thousand times about Eddie's party; it just wasn't a priority for her.

  "Emma, please come to my party. It won't be my birthday without you. I need you there to—"

  Before Eddie could finish his pleading birthday invitation I saw Sara's face drop. I didn't have to turn around to know Louis was standing behind me. Mr. Rich and Famous should also go by the name of Mr. Drop Dead Gorgeous. Seeing him on the computer screen didn't hold a candle to seeing him live.

  "Her name is Emily and she can't come to your party because she has plans with her boyfriend indefinitely."

  The hairs on my neck stood up in fear. I'd heard him use that tone of voice before when things didn't work out the way he wanted them to at work. Why was he talking like that to Eddie? He pulled me away from Eddie's grip before kissing me hard on the lips. That kiss felt so forced I had to take a step back and look up at him. My eyes tried to assess what was going on inside that thick head of his. Eddie immediately flinched at the sight of Louis possessively manhandling me.

  "Emma can speak for herself … Mr. Bruel … I gather," Eddie seethed, ready to pounce.

  The air turned from hot to freezing in a matter of a nanosecond. Eddie calling me Emma must've rubbed Louis the wrong way. Eddie has been calling me Emma since I was three years old. I wasn't sure what this ego showdown between my boyfriend and my best friend's brother was all about.

  "You can call me Louis. I'm not your boss … yet!"

  What had gotten into him? I had to jump in and diffuse this before it went from bad to sad.

  "Louis, let me introduce you to my best friend, Sara Klein, and her brother, Edward Klein."

  He finally tore his gaze from Eddie to look at my awestruck best friend. Sara was so cute. I fell in love with her every time I saw her. She looked so sweet and innocent but was the complete opposite. She had chin length strawberry blond hair and elegant little pixie features. Her skin was über white and her long skinny limbs made her look fragile. Her personality, on the other hand, wasn't fragile at all. She'd tell you how it is whether you asked her to or not. That girl didn't have a shy bone in that skinny body of hers. She had been my very good friend ever since I could remember. Our moms have a picture of both of us sitting on the potty together when we were two years old, holding hands. So we've been dealing with each other's shit for a long time.

  "Sara, I'm Louis, glad you could make it today. Emily talks about you all the time. I couldn't wait to finally meet my … GIRLFRIEND's best friend," Louis said emphasizing the word girlfriend as if he was talking to a bunch of second graders. He wanted to make sure Eddie didn't miss the sumo grip he had me in, either.

  "Yeah well, you kidnapped her from me so I wanted to finally meet you, too," my vivacious smart-mouthed partner-in-crime shot back to my s
till frothing at the mouth boyfriend. We were both laughing a little, nervously aware of the awkward aura surrounding us. Louis was ignoring Eddie. He didn't even shake his hand. Eddie was such a great guy. Why did Louis feel so threatened by him? It was absurd. Louis Bruel was gorgeous, successful, and beyond wealthy. Why would my best friend's twenty-five-year-old brother be a problem for him? I'd actually thought that Louis and Eddie would hit it off.

  "Louis, Eddie just graduated from law school. He'll be working in his dad's law firm. He's going away to Europe for two months, isn't that so cool?" I smiled lovingly at Eddie; I was very proud of him. I really did feel as if he was my older brother. We grew up together and our families have always vacationed and celebrated everything with one another. I wasn't happy about Louis treating him so callously.

  My sister found us and gave Sara and Eddie a big hug before trying to grab Louis away from me. He needed to make a speech and thank all his colleagues and associates. He still had a death grip around my waist when he spoke quietly into my ear.

  "Come with me, Em. I want you close by. Walk with me."

  "Louis, why are you acting like a caveman? Go make your speech. You don't need me there. I'll be right here with my friends. I'll wave to you."

  "I'm not leaving you with that guy you think is your brother. He wants you, and not in a brotherly way. Trust me! I can tell by how he was looking at you. He's totally in love with you, Em. Don't be naïve."

  That was why he'd been acting like a jerk to Eddie. He thought someone other than him wanted me. Maybe he was the delusional one in our relationship and not me.

  "Baby, I'm very flattered you think I'm so desirable. However, as adorable as you are when you're all jealous over me, I promise you Eddie is very much like a brother to me. The only man I want not in a brotherly way is you. If he looks at me with love it's because he's known me since I was wearing diapers. You're the one with a harem of women at your beck and call. I could go all jealous bitch on you every time you leave my side and get swarmed by your female fans. It won't be pretty … I promise. Go make your speech. I love you."

  He smiled and kissed the top of my head before he went off with Jenna toward the podium where the band was still playing. I guess even beautiful millionaires have insecurities like the rest of us. I knew I had some explaining to do to Sara and Eddie who must've thought I was dating a madman.

  "He's not used to having a girlfriend. He's usually very nice. Sorry, Eddie, that he went all green-eyed monster on you."

  "No worries, Emma. If that ape makes you happy, knock yourself out. I'm not sure what women see in him, anyway."

  Sara and I both laughed. Sara gave me a knowing look. Louis was one gorgeous ape. He was appealing on so many levels that Eddie's sarcastic comment was hysterical.

  "I'll try talking Louis into coming with me to your birthday party. If we have plans I'll see if we can change them around," I promised Eddie before I bid them farewell on that beautiful day.

  An hour later, I went to find my man before he realized he could have any woman he laid eyes on. I found Louis stuffing a hot dog into his mouth while laughing with Mike and my dad by his side. He seemed so domesticated. I let myself imagine what it would be like if he was really mine. I was eating him up with my eyes when he caught me staring. He gave me a raised eyebrow smirk that said it all. We hadn't yet fully consummated our love affair but our minds had been making love to one another countless times.

  I walked over to all my favorite men, enjoying how easily they all fit in together. I walked over, kissed my dad on the cheek, and gave Mike a hug. Louis was just standing there waiting for his turn at my affection. I didn't want to be disrespectful in front of my dad so I just stood by Louis' side and slipped my hand in his. He looked down at me with so much love it gutted me. That soft knowing look would stay with me until the end of time. When our gazes locked the whole world melted away.

  "We're not making it all the way back to SoHo later. If I don't taste you soon my body will go into shock. Let's go visit the Plaza and rate their amenities," he whispered in my ear.

  I couldn't wait to have him all to myself after that long day. I squeezed his hand and that was all the affirmation he needed.

  Chapter 17

  Let there be peace...

  My Louis and Eddie drama needed to stop. I arranged for all of us to have lunch before Eddie's birthday party, which was in a few days. I wasn't going to let Louis talk me out of attending a good friend's party. I also had no desire to go to a party without my boyfriend. I wanted Louis to get along with Eddie. There was no reason for them not to be at least civil, if not friendly, towards one another. I did everything I could to make sure Louis was in a good mood before our rendezvous that afternoon.

  It was summertime and Louis assured me it was perfectly normal for him to go into work every day in the late afternoon, since it was slow for them during the summer months. He was really spending every second of his free time with me. I loved that he came to pick me up every morning and we'd have breakfast together. That day he brought us back to his house for croissants and coffee. We had breakfast on the glass-enclosed balcony on the fourth floor off the kitchen. It was like our very own mini greenhouse on that balcony overlooking SoHo.

  "What do you have planned for us for today … boyfriend?" Louis loved it when I called him boyfriend out loud. We were sitting across from each other admiring the view. He grabbed my foot under the table and placed it in his lap. He removed my flip-flops and started expertly massaging my feet.

  "I was thinking we could fly over to Rhode Island for lunch and relax on the beach. I can have you back home before midnight."

  "We can't leave the city. I made us reservations at I Tre Merli for lunch with Eddie and Michelle. Did you conveniently forget?"

  "Baby, I don't forget anything. Let's not go and fly over to Rhode Island instead. Call him and tell him something came up," he said with a mischievous smile, placing my foot against his straining, growing erection. I was not going to let him sidetrack my plans with his seductive innuendos.

  "How about we go to Rhode Island another day, and today instead of going to the beach, we take a relaxing bath together before lunch. Doesn't that sound nice?"

  "Nice? You and me naked in water is going to be way better than nice and definitely not relaxing. I'll have to do all kinds of meditation techniques to restrain my dick from attacking your wet pussy."

  "Lead the way; I'm ready for a not so nice tense bath with my sexy Zen boyfriend."

  We were both in a great mood heading to the sixth floor master bath. Louis' bathroom was just as sexy as the man himself. The room was huge with a cylindrical glass shower that could easily hold ten people in its center. My favorite part was the sunken bathtub by the window with a fountain like faucet cascading from the ceiling. Every inch of the room was covered in black granite slabs with little reflective blue specks. Louis once told me the granite was called blue eyes and every time he went to the bathroom he thought of me, and my eyes.

  I told him I wasn't sure how I felt about him thinking of me while he's taking care of business. He assured me that the only business the thought of me helped him take care of was some much needed relief for his underworked penis. He described to me how he woke up with morning wood from dirty dreams of me, and that he stood in the shower imagining me staring back at him and very quickly the business of dick relief took care of itself.

  "I'll fill the tub … you strip. I'm washing your hair today. I've never done that to anyone before and the thought of washing your hair, little girl, is very intriguing to me. I have this unexplained need to tend to you."

  "I want to wash your hair, too … I once read that cutting a man's hair will ensure he's yours forever. So I may give you a haircut after I wash your hair."

  "You want me to be yours forever, baby?"

  "Forever to infinity. I will never want anyone else. You have become my whole life in such a short time that I don't even remember my li
fe without you. That scares me, Louis."

  "Emily, I'm never going to leave you. You have me. Until I met you last month I wasn't really living my life … I was just existing. You are my life now. I can't wait for us to be together all the time."

  "Louis, thank you for saying such nice things to me. But the truth is we've spent every day together since we first met. We haven't been apart for more than twelve hours. I'm sure I'll get old for you soon."

  "I don't even want us to be apart for twelve hours if I can help it." He kissed me softly and pulled my yellow knit dress over my head. I was just wearing underwear; the dress had built-in bra cups. He got on his knees in front of me and started sucking at my aching nipples one at a time. He was twirling his tongue around and around and then flicking it at my sensitive buds. Watching Louis latch on and suck my boobs was hot. He had his eyes closed and I ran my fingers through his thick wavy hair. He looked up at me with those incredible soul-piercing eyes and said, "I love you … but I have a special kind of love for these tits."

  I smiled while enjoying those words washing over me, and wishing I could give myself to him. Not just with my words but wholly with my body. It was getting harder and harder to abstain from sex with Mr. Drop Dead Beautiful every day. Louis lowered his head further down to suck my belly ring. He removed my underwear and got up to undress himself. We were both naked and about to get into the overfilled tub when Louis walked away from me to go lay down naked on the plush gray rug by the tub.