“Stop what? “You knew she was going to be there,” Mara jarred as a statement not a question.
“Yes, no, I don't know maybe,”
“So when we fuck, what does that mean to you?”
“Mara.”
“No, Seto I need to hear this.”
“Mara.”
“Sometimes, I feel like you’re not there.”
“You know I love being with you Mara.”
“As a friend or girlfriend, cause I need to know.”
“Mara, “You’re a girlfriend maybe something more.”
“And Lise?”
“A friend with benefits . . . maybe a girlfriend I don't know . . . She hasn't decided.”
She held on tighter and realized that she didn't care, not now, for this moment she was with him. The light of the moon was wide and clear but not visible through the street lights. They pulled into the parking garage and parked next to the elevator.
He said, “You’re in no condition to drive.” His legs were still wrapped around his horse Maras’ were also. He leaned the bike on to the kickstand and said, “Let’s go.” She leaned and stepped off the bike then he swung his leg from around, the bike and stood up straight.
“I'll take you home or you can call an Uber, or if you feel like living life on the edge you can come up stairs,” he said.
“What?” she responded, even though she heard him, she wanted him to repeat it.
He took his helmet off and rolled his fingers through his hair and said, “Upstairs or do you want me to take you home.” She took off her helmet and her hair fell in front of her face, “I'll stay for a bit.” He looked into her warm green eyes and said,
“Bring your helmet.” As they turned toward the elevator. It opened. And two middle aged women walked out. They looked at him and then Mara. Seto stared into their souls as Mara broke the silence and said, “Hey”. They waved back and continued on their way.
Seto walked into the elevator and leaned against the back rail. Mara walked in, pressed the button and turned toward him. He voiced, “Are you drunk?”
“I had one drink,” she smiled, looking back at him grabbing his jacket, “So maybe.”
He smiled and said, “You’re too much,” and pressed the number 8, “Its 8 not 7.”
The door opened up to an empty hall and closed. He turned to her, and looked at her lips and kissed her. She kissed him back and the elevator doors swung open, this time to a tall man in wearing gray shorts and slides; dressed as he was going to the beach.
“Hey Zeke,”... Seto interrupted his voice warm.
“Hello. Neighbor,” he said, with a thick accent that you couldn't distinguish exactly where from. “This is Mara,” he said, as they exchanged spots, the couple stepping off the elevator and the chalky old man stepping onto the elevator.
“I was just running down to my car I have a case a beer in there. You guys are welcome to come over and watch the last quarter of the game.” Zeke said as he held the elevator doors open. “I’ll let you know thanks,” as they waved as the elevator doors closed. “He goes to my gym,” Seto felt he had to say.
It was a 30 feet walk down the hall to wide brown doors which was Seto's apartment. They walked inside and he went straight to the kitchen and took off his jacket and opened a bottle of wine, his boots clicked against the wooden floor. Mara stepped in slowly as if everything was new and it was her first time entering into the apartment. He walked to the balcony, bottle in hand and opened the door and said “Come.”
“The thing I will miss most about this place . . . this view,” he said, breathing a wide breath then took another sip, listening to the wine swish in the bottle.
“It's not too bad,” she said lazily, and in that moment began feeling dizzy but tried not to show it. Seto gestured toward her the bottle, she declined and walked back inside to have a seat. Seto followed her, “You alright?”
“Yes, “I just need to relax you, we were going too fast on the bike.”
“I know,” he said, “You were squeezing the piss out of me.” He took a seat and sat down on the floor next to where she was sitting on the couch. She lay down putting her nude finger tips into his hair, undoing his pony tail breaking his hair loose on his face. He didn't react it was almost as of now he had a shield over him. She said, “So what do you plan to do over there?”
He took a sip, “Live.”
“Yes I know that, but what do you plan to do?”
“It’s just a trip a vacation . . . I’m not sure how long I will stay . . . but not here.”
“Really?” she asked.
He took another sip.
“Is that really what you’re going to do?”
“I don't know . . . why does it matter?”
“You can't be serious.”
“Look should we be having this discussion right now?” his voice low.
“I'm just curious. Cause I was thinking about going with you.”
“So you really considered it.” He said tilting his head towards her but his eyes were still forward poking at the balcony watching the cool breeze come in and lift the curtains.
“Yes how long will we be gone?” he heard the exhaustion in her voice.
“2 weeks . . . if we like it we stay if we don't we go somewhere else. And, I’ll bring my camera, we can take pictures of all the places.”
She leaned back, her eyes stared at the ceiling. He said “I don't know if Lise will be going or not, but as long as me and you are there . . . That would be . . . A dream come true.” He stopped, looked at the bottle of wine studying its label. Then realized what he just said. He sat up and turned toward her. Her eyes were closed, one hand was cast to the side, the other rested on her chest. He set the bottle down took a breath and looked at her. He picked her up and carried her into the bed. She burrowed under the heavy comforter quilt and continued resting.
1:30 a.m.
“Hello,” Seto answered.
“I was just calling to check on you.”
“Yes, Lise?”
“Well you know, about earlier.”
“Yes, Lise I know.”
“I'm coming over.”
“Right now?”
“Yes, I'll be there in 5 min.”
He tossed his phone on the bed and lay down at the foot of the bed, like a guard dog, barely touching Mara.
He closed his eyes and fell asleep. He woke when his phone rung
“Yes. . . “Alright,” his voice heavy. “No, it’s just I drifted off a little.” he said slowly.
He stood up and walked toward the door. He opened it, Lise was standing there with her head down, sweeping her blonde hair behind her ear. He looked at her for a moment, she asked, “Can I come in?”
He widened the door and said, “Come on.” She sat down, and said, “This has to stop.”
“Fine.” said Seto.
She stopped for a moment in shock . . .
“Well I just because . . . he says he wants a wedding date his parents are pressuring him.”
“Stop. . . Lise . . . Either you’re coming or staying. . . I don't want to hear about him . . . we knew what we were getting into last year, this time. No feelings, no commitment.” He took a sip of wine, he felt his buzz refreshed. He set the bottle down and grabbed her hands. “You will always have a place in my heart. But if you feel like you need to stay I won't hold it against you.”
“I’ve decided to come with you, but just for one week then I have to come back and you could never tell him.”
Seto’s face showed no expression. “So where does he think you’ll be next week? I’m just curious.”
“Well he’s knows I like to travel. And plus he’ll be out of town so it works great.”
“And were going to hell.”
Seto said with a smirk as he leaned back and stared up at the ceiling.
He looked back at Lise.
“Lise. Mara is also coming.”
“Yes I figured.”
“Oh.” Seto studied her face. �
�This doesn't bother you.”
“No, if she is fine with you.”
“But I won’t be able to stay 2 weeks because . . . that is too long, a couple of days that is it.”
“How long is a couple?”
“A week and a half at the most.”
“I don’t want you to feel forced Lise,” he said, evenly. He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek then to her ear. “I don't know if we should be.”
“Let’s not act like this isn’t your reason for being here tonight,” he said exhaling, letting her ear go from his teeth. “But I suppose your right. You will have to spend the night or take a shower. You will have my smell all over you when you go back to him.”
She kissed him and pushed him back on the sofa then climbed on top of him. Mara had woke, and watched peeking from the hallway which led to the other room. She then went back to bed, deciding not to ever bring it up.
Monday
7:14 a.m.
Mara woke, and was cuddled next to Lise. Lise woke up, looked and faced her, “Um,” she said, trying to hide her dry morning voice. “Where's Seto?” they asked one another. Lise rose and went to the bathroom. Mara stood up, still in her clothes from yesterday, and walked into kitchen of the apartment. Where Seto had started to prep something in the kitchen.
“Do you know what you’re doing?”
“1 more day,” he said.
“So I met your friend.”
“Be nice.”
“Yea, should I leave?”
Seto looked at her and grabbed her shirt pulling her in and said, “Doors open.” She turned to walk away and he said, “I'm just kidding come here, you want some?”
Lise walked into the room and said, “Hey I'm going to go.” Mara crunched into a strawberry.
“Can I get a good bye?” Seto snapped.
She hugged him.
“I'll see you later.” Then she also hugged Mara.
“Goodbye.” Lise said waving, then turned and walked to the door.
Mara asked, “Why let her do you like that?”
“Like what? “She's a friend. . . And she's getting married soon.”
“No way.” said Mara, grabbing another strawberry.
“I've met the guy once or twice.”
“Right after we fucked too . . . I could've sworn, he could smell me on her.”
“Oh my god you’re the worst.” Mara said.
“Yes.” Seto said drawing his attention back to prep pineapples and strawberries. “She's coming with us,” Seto said earnestly.
“No.”
“Yes she’s coming, but just for a week, she's getting married next month.” Seto said, then paused. “When I needed someone she was there for me.”
“You realize she’s just using you for sex?”
“Yea or maybe I’m using her? . . . were both having fun so leave us alone mom.” Seto snapped lightly. She thought- maybe Seto is the guy I've been looking for but, what about last night.
“What?” Seto asked, almost as if he heard the thought.
“I didn't say anything,” she leaned against the granite countertop and began typing on her phone.
“This is for you,” Seto said handing her the bowl of cut fruit.
“I have some things I have to take care of. . . Here's the key, well you don’t need that, lock the door on your way out.” He kissed her, then she kissed him, he picked her up, and put her on the countertop. Kissed her down her neck line then stopped. Looked at her and said, “Make sure you eat all of that.” Grabbed his black leather riding jacket and walked out the door.
He started his bike looked at his phone and read the message that said, “Be here at 8 let's talk business,” . . . He replied, “On the way,” and took off.
7:55 a.m.
He arrived at a coffee shop in front of a shopping district. He felt the vibration of his phone, he reached into his pocket and read the message, which said, “Get in.” He stepped off the bike and recognized the black town car, which was parked just to the right of him. He walked slowly to the car, the rear window let down and Miranda stared out with blue eyes, “Hop in,” she said.
He watched Miranda’s dark red lips mutter the words, “Boris take us around the city so we can talk,” she said in a plain manner.
“Mam,” said the driver, the same one from the estate with the pencil thin mustache, he nodded as the divider closed, and you lost sight of the vision of his leather gloves on the steering wheel. “You have it?” she handed him 1000 dollars in a light blue envelope. He tucked it into his jacket pocket. “Boy you’re expensive,” she said unwaveringly, but they both knew that 1000 dollars to her was like lunch at a deli for most.
“This is how much it is to meet up for clients,” he said in a professional manner.
She pressed the button of the divider again to make sure it was closed and said, “Well you’re no longer working so I'm no longer your client.”
“And you’re married so we shouldn't be here at all.”
“Yes, technically,” she said, with not an ounce of guilt, “But, we both know why we’re here. Because we like money, power, and cause were animals who love fucking each other brains out.” She traced his jacket with her dark red tipped finger nails.
“I don’t want to ask how you got my number.”
“When a girl wants something she gets it.”
“Was it Jade?”
“No.”
“All you women with supposed power are the same.”
“Yes I suppose . . . You see I'm divorcing my husband and taking half the fortune.”
“Unlucky for him.”
“Yes, you could say so.”
“But he won't miss it it's the one thing he has a lot of.”
“I hope I had nothing to do with this.”
“Oh no, you were just the spark Seto. The fuel has always been there.”
“So what you want to keep me on retainer to keep fucking you Rand?” She jumped onto his lap and looked into his eyes. He turned his head and looked away.
“You act like you don't want it.”
She grabbed his dick through his jeans, “But your body says otherwise.”
He looked out the window with an almost embarrassed look of his erection.
“Either we can keep acting like we don't want this or we can fuck each other brains out one last time.”
He looked toward her and kissed her hard pinning her against the seat; ripping her dress off and turning her over as if he owned her. He pulled his pants down and entered her, hard, and harder until he forced himself to come in less than a couple minutes. This was her first time seeing him do so. He breathed hard and leaned back. She got up slowly and leaned on his chest. Her vagina was dripping semen, his penis still inside her. She lay on his chest, poking and pinching his chest. Then she kissed him and said nothing, just lay there for a second, next to, two red lips on his chest. Her breast up against his, she lay there with a feeling of having owned him, as if he was something you could possess.
They drove around the city laying there; stretched out, until they made it back to the café. He got out of the car and watched the car pull away, there was still a feint sensation at the tip of his penis. He looked toward his horse and got ready to saddle. First I will need a minute he thought.
9:13 a.m.
“Everything looks great here dear.” George said, smiling at his fiancé.
“Yes it looks lovely.” Lise said evenly. She thought to herself- Did I just say lovely. “So this is it.” Lise said, as she turned toward George.
“Yes.” he said. And leaned in and pecked her on the lips.
“Next month. . . Everything been happening so fast.”
“So you like it?”
“Yes, I do George, this is the place.” She answered gaily.
She began to think- of Seto, Is this what I really want? George does get along great with my family.
“Come you two I want to show you the where all your pictures will be taken.” said
the owner of the venue. She was a dark skinned older women with a dark grey business suit on. Her dark slacks went all the way to her black heels as they clicked against the floor with each step remembering why she got into this business. George placed his arm around Lise, and they walked outside the venue following the woman.
“Is everything ok Lise,” She began to think about last night, how she was, and where she was.
“Yea sure babe, I’m just a little hungry.”
“And if you’re worried about food we have...” the owner announced enthusiastically.
Mara got back to her place and set the key on the counter
“Hello. . . Jen,” Mara asked the apartment as she walked in.
“Hey long time no see,” the ecstatic blonde hair woman voiced, who was her roommate.
“Hey what’s up?” Mara mumbled to her.
She ignored whatever Mara had said and began introducing a tall figure on the couch, “This is my friend James.”
“Hi James,” Mara said, and stared at Jen for a while studying her face.
“Hello,” said James.
“Hi I’m, Mara,”
“Have you two already met?” Jen asked.
“No,” Mara answered.
“I’m going to go wash up,” Mara excused herself, then went into her room and shut the door. She thought- one more day. Should I tell her about Thailand? She could still here the two in the other room; the sound of the film they were watching volume increased, and there laughter. She ran a shower and flopped in her bed, grabbing her phone and sending a text message, “Hey I'm thinking about you,” to Seto.
She closed her eyes and forgot the water running. Her phone vibrated and woke her up, it was a message from Seto, and it read,
“Make sure you pack everything you need. Are you going to tell your roommate?”
She looked at her phone for a moment longer than necessary, then took off her pants and walked into the bathroom. When she was done showering she grabbed a towel and walked back into her bedroom.
“Holy shit,” she gasped, at the tall figure looming in her room.
“Whoa I'm sorry I'm just looking for a phone charger,”
She pointed him to the phone charger plugged into the wall while stepping back into her bathroom. When he left, she locked the door behind him. “Fucking weirdo,” she scoffed.
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