Sharing Harper

by V. Murphy

  Skye was awesome, but sometimes she didn’t understand when the conversation needed to be shifted into something more serious. She took life very light-hearted and most of the time the conversation was centered around her. Although I appreciated her and never really had much to add to the conversation, at times I just needed to talk about myself. Sometimes I desperately needed to ask for advice and she only understood if I laid it out specifically for her to understand.

  “Oh.” Her voice was laden with concern. “Okay, what’s wrong? Now, I am worried.”

  And so I began. I told her everything that happened last night from Ryder showing up at Rita’s to the amazing sex we had on the beach and then lightly discussed the terrible nightmare I had.

  “What was the nightmare about?” Skye inquired with notable concern laden in her tone.

  “Just stuff I went through in the past.”

  “You’re talking about stuff with your parents right?”

  “Yeah, that kind of stuff,” I responded while awkwardly shifting around the loud leather couch that made a funny squeaking noise when you moved too quickly.

  “You know,” she began, “eventually you’re going to have to tell someone about that kind of stuff. I have known you for almost three years now and you have told me nothing except that you were cut off from your parents and that your grandpa supports you. I have no idea what happened when you were in Chicago, but I know whatever it was, wasn’t pretty.”

  She continued with a look of concern and true care for me, “Harper, I see you as a sister. I wouldn’t be here without you. You know what I go through every day with my obnoxious parents and how I cannot stand my mother. Sometimes, I feel like I don’t even know you and so I don’t ask because I hope that someday you’ll feel free enough from the chains that are holding you back to tell me. I know you pretend like everything is just fine with you but I can see past that. You use men because you are trying to find your escape.”

  Tears rolled down my face and I felt so bad for Skye. I treated her like a terrible friend--never opening up or letting her in. I just wasn’t sure if I wanted to let her in. She reminded me of my relationship with Ryder. I wanted to let Ryder in, just like I wanted to let Skye in, but the difference was that I felt compelled almost to tell Ryder my life. With Skye, it would be too hard to tell her everything about myself; with Ryder it was different.

  “Basically, what I am telling you,” Skye continued, “is that I know I am not the person you’re going to start opening up to. I hear how you describe Ryder and how he saved you from that man at the club. I saw the way he looked when he left this apartment this morning: miserable, disheveled and confused. You need to let him in Harper; he may be your only saving grace. Ryder is going to affect your life in such an epic way, you won’t understand it, but I just know he will. Hey, you have already seen him more than once right?” She tried to joke.

  “I’m scared Skye. I am completely and totally scared that if I let him in he is going to rip out everything I have kept so guarded. I am scared that if I let him in that he is going to walk away with my secrets. I am scared that he isn’t prepared to deal with me and that I am not prepared to deal with what I am going to encounter.”

  “You are a beautiful and strong woman Harper. You were able to leave everything that was holding you back in Chicago and come here. As it stands, that is something that most people wouldn’t be able to do. I am so proud of you for that. It’s okay to be scared, just don’t let that stop you from reaching your happiness.”

  She was right. He was affecting my life in some epic way. He had already witnessed a glimpse into my past and was still here to prove that he wanted to stick around. I was starting to feel something for him. Yes, I was scared shitless of what I was feeling, but I couldn’t deny that there was something there. I needed to explore that. I needed to explore him. When we had sex on the beach it was much more than just a one-night stand. We were making love. I had already made love to him on the dance floor without knowing it and then again on the beach.

  As much as I tried to convince myself he was nothing but sex to me, I was lying. Even my best friend could see that Ryder had such a powerful impact on me. I was hesitant to fall for him but maybe Ryder was someone who was always going to impact my life in such a powerful way. Maybe Ryder was destined to be the one to help me through the nightmares of my past. While I was scared and frightened a part of me was excited to finally have the potential to be relieved of the pain and suffering.

  “I have something else to tell you then,” I continued by showing her the note that Ryder had left in my kitchen and the obscene amount of money he had folded next to it.

  “I’m not sure what to do with it. I feel like its drug money or something because how else does someone who works at a coffee shop have this kind of money?”

  “Maybe Evelyn is like his super rich sugar-mom?” Skye joked and just like that she was back to her regularly light demeanor and I knew the conversation we just had was quickly fading; however, I wasn’t able to forget what Skye had said about moving on and actually being strong. It made me think about whether or not what I did was something that I should be proud of instead of shoving it back in my past.

  “You’re crazy! He can’t have a sugar mamma can he?” I asked Skye with hesitation that threatened my voice.

  “I mean, you never know. But the fact he is taking you out tonight means that he is interested in you.”

  “So, what should I do with this?” I asked and waved the three hundred-dollar bills in the air.

  “Spend it? I don’t know what do you think. I’d say if he wants you to spend it on a dress then do that, but whatever you don’t spend return to him.”

  “I just feel like a prostitute or something if I spend it,” I said feeling as if I was being pulled in two different positions. On one end, I could spend the money on a new dress and hair to look beautiful for tonight. I mean he did give me the money for a reason. On the other hand, I could be the better person and just use one of my old dresses. But, I wanted something new and fresh for him so it didn’t have anything attached to anyone else but him. I wanted to show him a side of myself that no one has ever seen so I might as well wear something new that doesn’t have tainted memories attached to it.

  “Okay, I think I’ll just use it to buy a new dress.”

  “Ohh!” Skye squealed. “So, does that mean we are going shopping?” She asked bolting off the couch and grabbing her purse all before I was even able to answer her.

  “Yeah, let’s go!” I said finally starting to loosen up to the idea that I would be using his money to buy a new dress.

  We headed out the door quickly and drove straight to the mall. After a couple hours of shopping around, I finally settled on a beige and coral high-low dress, nude wedges and gold jewelry to accent the look. Although nothing was skin-tight or revealing, I felt carefree and beautiful. I wanted him to get to know me for who I am and just allow myself to let go.

  “Whoa,” Skye exhaled, “you look absolutely stunning Harper Mae. You’re going to knock the pants off this guy….literally!” She winked.

  I certainly hope so. I had been thinking of the night on the beach all morning, craving and longing the beautiful moment we spent together. My heart sped up realizing that in a few short hours I would be on an actual date. I hadn’t been on a date in years.

  Actually, I can’t remember the last time I was ever on a date. I was brought places to eat or to use my body to get something to eat but never was I actually brought out on a proper date. There was giddy excitement that pulsed through my veins, but also temptation. Temptation to fall in love and open my heart up again and finally be released of the havoc I have suffered years ago. There was temptation to fall in lust and share the most intimate moment with someone who will understand every piece of soul.

  “Are you nervous?” Skye asked as we were walked down towards the hair salon to get out hair and nails done.

  “How can you tell?” I asked. />
  “Because your left hand is doing that weird twitchy thing when you walk.” She knew me all too well.

  “Kind of. Okay, in all honesty, yes I am. I feel like I am a kid going on her first date.”

  “Because you kind of are. I mean, you’re going on the first date of your life that actually matters.”

  “I guess. What if something bad happens though?”

  “Nothing will, sweetie. If something does, I’ll rip his ball sack off.”

  I laughed at her blunt statement knowing that if Skye even touched balls it would be in her perfectly manicured hands and that it would only be in a sexual way. We combed into the salon and spent the rest of our day pampering ourselves. I decided to put a nude color on my nails and wear my hair bouncy and wavy. We sipped champagne and ate chocolate covered strawberries until our bellies were full.

  When it finally was time to leave, we piled into the car and giggled all the way home. It wasn’t until Skye was pulling into the parking lot of my apartment that the nerves started to sink in again.

  “I can’t do this, maybe I should call the whole thing off?”

  “No way. Uh-uh. You spent this entire day preparing for this, you look absolutely stunning. So you’re going. Plus, you already bought your dress with the money he gave me and that would be a real bitch move if you didn’t at least go out with him in it.”

  I had only spent one hundred dollars opting for a more moderately priced dress and spent my own money on my hair and nails. I placed the other two hundred dollar bills in an envelope and I intended to give it back to him.

  “Okay, Okay. I can do this. I can do this,” I kept repeating out loud when Skye pushed open the door for me.

  “Call me as soon as you can tomorrow. If you need saving you know who to call.”

  “We should come up with like some sort of code word.”

  “Oh my god Harper you are crazy,but ok. If you call me and say that I’m a sexy beast I’ll know it’s some emergency?”

  I laughed so hard I felt like my stomach was going to burst. “Seriously, that’s the code word you picked?”

  “Yes and it makes absolute sense, now go! Everything will be fine. You look like a goddess.” She gave me a quick hug over the console and I walked to my apartment.

  Once I was inside, I changed into the outfit I had bought and fluffed out my hair. It was 6:00 and I had an hour before Ryder was picking me up. I started rifling around in the living room obsessively cleaning to pass the time and turned on some pump-up music.

  After I got immersed in my cleaning and dancing alone in my apartment, I realized that time began to pass quickly. When I looked back up at the clock it read 6:52. I began to pace the corners of my apartment and continually checking myself in the mirror. It wasn’t but a few moments before I heard a rasp on the door. He was here.

  Breathe.

  Chapter 7

  I opened the door for him and was greeted by a dozen sunflowers. When he moved the flowers away from his face I saw his beautifully tanned face was even more bronze and his hair was pushed back on his head in a sleek gelled look. His eyes were brighter than the ocean on a cloudless day and cut a look right through me that send shivers down into the core of my bones. I looked and noticed he was wearing a sleek suit that fit him perfectly. He donned a white shirt and a skinny black tie that contrasted with his vast frame. The buttons on his shirt looked like they were going to pop any second and boy what I would have done to rip them off him and taste his beautiful body.

  “Hey,” he said with a huge smile that showed off his bright white teeth and his large lips. Lips that I could taste licking my skin, running kisses slowly and passionately from my navel down to…

  Oh, I probably should say something back before he thinks I’m crazy for staring him down, but what to say?

  “Oh,” was all I was able to manage past my lips.

  He smiled and laughed and asked, “Can I come in?”

  “Sorry! Yes! Come in.”.

  “Looks cleaner in here than it did earlier,” he said while winking at me. I made a mental note that he understood I cleaned when I was anxious.

  “Ha. So, do those go in a vase?” I asked gesturing to the enormous display of dozens of sunflowers. There must have been at least 20 stunningly bright yellow sunflowers in his arms.

  “Yeah, sorry. These are for you,” he said and handed me the bouquet.

  “They’re absolutely beautiful,” I said to him and made another mental note to remember that he knew I wasn’t a roses and chocolate kind of girl. In fact, sunflowers were one of my favorite flowers signifying strength and shining light on an otherwise drab day.

  “I picked the sunflowers because their meaning elicits loyalty and consistency. I wasn’t sure how I could tell you so I hoped the flowers would do the job. I will be loyal to you and will remain in your life until the day you die Harper. I will never leave you; wherever you decide to go, I will follow.”

  “These flowers signify adoration and longevity, everything that I believe I can have with you. I cannot wait to take you out to dinner tonight.”

  “I can’t believe you thought about all that,” I responded truthfully.

  “If we are being honest then I’ll admit I had some help at the florist, but when I saw these I knew they were perfect for you.”

  “They are beautiful, thank you,” I said and walked over to give him a quick hug before I stuck the flowers in a vase. As I was piling them in a vase and filling them up with water, Ryder walked over to me from the living room.

  He wrapped his large hands around the center of my waist; my back was pressed up against his front. He pulled down and gave me three soft kisses on my neck each sending a message of hope. Hope, that this new relationship that was happening would be right.

  He spun me around so I was facing him and I looked up into the sea of blue. I wanted deeply to have his large cock shoved in me, pleasuring every ounce of me. I was getting wet thinking about it.

  “I have been thinking about this all day,” he whispered breaking the silence.

  “Me too,” I whispered, unable to speak loud for fear that the moment would be broken.

  “I really wanted to see you all day,” he spoke, drawling out every syllable in such a way that I wanted to take his lips and press them tightly against mine in an entangled embrace.

  It’s as if he understood the message and he leaned down towards me to press his lush lips against mine sending pleasurable vibrations shooting through my body. The urge to fall into him and make him mine ran rampant within me and I fought the desire to rip off his perfectly manicured suit right then and there.

  His lips parted and his tongue darted in my mouth filling it with a sweet smell of vanilla and mint. He grabbed my hips and shoved me against the counter almost violently. I wrapped my legs around his body and as soon as my ankles were linked behind his back, he shoved his hips into me groaning. This had sent my body into frenzy and had my panties soaked.

  "Fuck Harper," he growled before thrusting his hips into mine pushing me harder into the counter.

  His lips were tangling with mine as we hungrily explored each other. His hands moving with desperate passion up towards the top of my dress then slowly he reached for the zipper in back. He took his time pulling the zipper down as I removed his tie then wrapped it around my neck.

  "This can come in handy for later," I purred in a low, seductive voice.

  His body responded to my teasing words causing his cock to throb and grow even harder in his tented pants.

  When his hands reached the bottom of the dress he pulled me off the counter and commanded, "Stand up."

  I obeyed a willing participant in this seductive dance we were playing. As the dress slipped to the floor I was exposed, left only in my strapless nude bra and a lace thong. On my neck was the skinny tie he was wearing. His shirt was half unbuttoned and I pushed the suit jacket out of the way. I hurried with the rest of his buttons almost ripping the shirt off without a care. I
tugged on the shirt, indicating that I wanted it off and he slowly shimmied out of it exposing his hard golden abs. My heart quickened and my interest suddenly sparked, he once again shoved me on the counter. His hand went up towards my panties as he tore them off of me and spread both my legs wide propping my feet up on the counter. I was exposed; my pussy in full display for him to look at.

  “Oh shit Harper, you know how fucking amazing you look right now? I want you like this all the time,” he growled.

  He practically nosedived into my pussy, licking at the heart of me. At each flick of his tongue a shock pulsed through my body sending every sensation and lustful feeling I was yearning straight to my core making me ache for more.

  “Please,” was all I could squeak out through the intensity of his darting tongue licking up the wetness that was pouring out of me.

  “Wait for me baby,” he mumbled stroking me delicately, yet violently with his tongue. A sudden urge escaped my body and I groaned begging Ryder to stick his aching cock inside of me. When his face finally left my swollen vagina, he shoved my legs closed and pointed at the floor.

  “Down,” he said as if I was a disobedient dog and was about to be taught a very naughty lesson.

  I obliged and jumped off the counter and onto the wooden floor. He unzipped his pants and kicked off his boxers, which exposed his large and swollen cock. I knew what he wanted and gladly would oblige pleasuring the shit out of him as if I was thanking him for his service to me. I got down to my knees and grabbed his full cock in my hands. Slowly, I inserted it into my mouth flicking my tongue around the shaft to tease him.

  “Mmmmm, fuck yes,” he mumbled while closing his eyes lost in the moment. His hands rose from his sides and landed on my head pushing my mouth on to him. His entire cock was now in my mouth and an explosion of naughty fun jolted through me, enjoying his moans and groans, knowing he was getting pure pleasure from my mouth. I quickly obliged him jamming his cock in and out in a swift motion swirling my tongue around his shaft. Ryder’s breath was quickly intensifying with every inward and outward motion of my mouth. Suddenly, I decided to do something that I never really have done before nor thought of doing, but I was so caught up in the moment…