by Zuri Day
“Good night, Cayden.”
Avery went to her room, quickly undressed and was soon hugging a soft body pillow instead of the tempting hard body just a few yards away. Today, she’d been able to withstand that temptation. Tomorrow...all bets were off.
Seventeen
Cayden’s dick was hard enough to cut granite. It took everything in him to end the kiss and walk away. Through his discomfort, he made it across floors covered in mosaic marble and boasting silk Esfahān rugs Cayden imagined were priced in the millions, and over to the fully stocked built-in bar. He pulled down a snifter with one hand and a bottle of ultra-aged, single-malt Scotch with the other, poured himself a finger full and threw it back. Velvety smoothness gave way to a slow burn that accompanied the amber-colored liquor on its journey from throat to stomach. It settled there, casting off warmth like a wood-burning furnace. His raging member calmed. With his third leg subdued, he could walk without discomfort. He poured himself another finger of Scotch and continued through the airy, richly appointed room to the attached balcony. It was a beautiful night. The stars were plentiful and the moon almost full. A patio set with an umbrella occupied one side of the space. A chaise on the other. Cayden sat on one of the patio seats and wondered how in the heck he ever thought sharing a suite with Avery, even one with a huge living space between bedrooms, was a good idea. A slew of beautiful women had graced Cayden’s bed, but he couldn’t remember ever desiring a woman the way he did Avery in this moment. Slouching down he rested his head on the back of the chair, looked at the stars and sipped his drink. He was in paradise with the best of everything, including a beautiful woman. One who wanted friendship, no benefits. It was going to be a long night.
Cayden awakened to the soft sound of a chime. He opened one eye and mentally clawed past the fog in his brain. What the hell happened last night? Shifting, he saw a snifter on the nightstand. Whiskey. Right. The fine and rare Macallan 1926, best in the world, was how Donald’s note had described it. Cayden had always been a lightweight. He yawned and struggled to a sitting position. There it was again, the soft tinkling of chimes.
Avery?
A bell sounded, engaging the front door speaker. “Mr. Barker, it’s Gustav, sir. I’ve come to help you get dressed for your first appointment.”
What time was it? “Where’s Aver... Ms. Gray?” Cayden lumbered out of bed and stretched. The sun had risen in the eastern sky, blanketing lush green hills rolling into row upon row of grapevines that seemed to go on forever. A bright red barn stood to the left of the grapevines. Cattle and horses grazed both inside and outside of tall white picket fences surrounding several buildings.
“Ms. Gray has already showered and gone downstairs. She’ll meet you at Enlighten for your scheduled morning meditation and dance class. Sir, there is a button on the nightstand to open the door.”
Cayden pushed the button. He pulled on a baggy pair of gray-flannel drawstring pants and padded barefoot toward the smell of coffee. Gustav met him in the hall. “Breakfast will be ready upon your return.”
Exactly twenty-two minutes later, Cayden strolled into Enlighten, the hotel space for spiritual and healing modalities gaining in popularity such as yoga, meditation, tai chi, EFT and others, combined with a shop filled with books and all kinds of trinkets to aid the seeker’s journey. Avery was browsing an aisle filled with candles, incense and other aromatherapy items when he arrived. She was dressed casually in the white tee from the gift bag with Drake Wines emblazoned across the front, black yoga pants that hugged her butt and thighs and white sandals. Her hair was pulled up in a high ponytail. She wore little to no makeup except a clear gloss coating those pillows-for-lips that had haunted his dreams ever since making their acquaintance at First Friday. She pulled in her lower one while studying the trinket-filled shelves. He remembered the taste of wine on them at that first kiss, and the spiciness of her essence he tasted in the storeroom. Something shifted inside him as realization dawned. Avery wanted friendship. Cayden wanted more.
“Good morning, beautiful.”
“Good morning, sleepyhead.”
Baby steps, but this was the first time their salutatory verbiage had placed them solidly outside of a business relationship.
“Down twenty minutes early? Eager to get going, huh?”
“I’m still on central time. My body thinks it’s two hours later.” She looked at his long Nike shorts and Jordans. “You’re doing yoga in that?”
Cayden shrugged. “I packed for basketball, what can I say.”
Avery looked at her watch. “We should get going. I’m excited. Are you excited?”
“Probably not as much as you.”
They reached the room listed on their personal itinerary. Cayden opened the door and stepped back for Avery to enter.
“Is this it?” she asked. “The room is smaller than I imagined it would be.”
Entering the room, they saw mats, exercise balls, weights and other items—all in sets of two.
“Not many people must have signed up, either. There’s only two of everything.”
A noise from behind them startled them both. They turned and were surprised to see a petite young woman walk into the room. What they’d thought was a mirror was actually a door.
“Good morning! Welcome to our meditative movement for couples class.”
Cayden and Avery looked at each other.
“Good morning,” Cayden said. “I’m not sure we’re in the right class.”
The instructor tapped her phone. “Cayden Barker and Avery Gray?”
Avery nodded. “Yes.”
“This is the class that was scheduled. The regular group started about fifteen minutes ago, but if this is a problem, we can hurry and try to get you in.”
“What do you think?”
Avery walked over to the bench below the sign requesting that shoes be removed and sat down.
“The time has already been booked for us. I say we go ahead.”
“Great! Those were my thoughts exactly. My name is Leann.” She pulled a rug from beneath another bench and rolled it out. “Let’s get started.”
After doing a series of stretches, Leann led them through several moves that required frequent touching and building trust. Partner squats. Sit-ups. Twists. Split lunges. The class that Cayden hadn’t been all that thrilled about taking had turned into the best part of his trip so far. She tried not to show it, but he could tell that Avery was into it, too. Forty-five minutes of stretching, pulling, bending and breathing had them both feeling like noodles. All that touching and trust building helped break through the wall of wariness he felt Avery had worn since walking into their suite. She was more playful and flirty—the Avery he most liked.
“What’s next?” Avery swayed to music only she could hear while waiting for the elevator.
“Breakfast, and then...do you still want to go horseback riding?”
“It looks fun. Do you?”
“Hell, yeah.”
“You ever done it?”
“No.”
“Cool. It will be a first for both of us.”
The smell of breakfast greeted them at the door of their suite. Gustav explained the menu, inquired of further needs, then bowed and made a discreet exit. Cayden and Avery dined on fluffy pecan waffles, creamy eggs and an assortment of meats and rolls. They showered and changed into jeans, tees and tennis shoes, then obtained a golf cart for their trip to the stables. Their riding instructor was as gentle with them as he was with the horses, and full of information about the fascinating history of the Drakes and more than a thousand lush acres that belonged to them, their expansive resort and the town of Temecula. The trail took over an hour to complete. Both Cayden and Avery fell in love with their horses. As Cayden took in the way Avery’s luscious ass filled out those denims, he felt the beginnings of falling in...something...with her, too.
&nbs
p; The day flew by and then it was evening. The two dressed to the nines for dinner with the Drakes. All night Cayden admired Avery in her wraparound silk number and stilettos, and imagined how sexy she’d look sans the dress. Donald and Genevieve Drake were delightful, not at all the stuffy, reserved adults their status implied. The outdoor concert that followed dinner capped off a perfect day. Twinkling stars against a sky of midnight blue. Gentle breezes that caressed and teased. Chilled wine and a neo-soul wonder named Janice Baker reminiscent of Lauryn Hill. It all created the perfect atmosphere to stir up wanton desire. A perfect backdrop for love. When the last note ended, they thanked the Drakes for a wonderful evening and returned to the resort.
The car ride was mostly quiet, as was the ride up the elevator and the walk to their suite. Once inside, however, Cayden let his body do the talking. He pulled Avery into his arms and seared her with a kiss. Given her reaction, she didn’t mind one bit. Her hands roamed his back as eager fingers played in his curly locks. His hands took a journey down her back to her butt, pressing her into his burgeoning manhood.
He stopped so they could both catch their breath. “I’ve been wanting to do that all night.”
Avery rubbed her breasts against his chest as her hand neared his excitement. “What else would you like to do?”
“I think I can show you better than I can tell you.” He reached for the tie on her wraparound dress—and pulled.
Avery’s breathy gasp was evidence to how Cayden’s move surprised her. That and how one hand did a pitiful job at covering a pair of ripe melons spilling over the lacy bra, while the other performed a lame execution of covering her already-tasted treasure.
His smile was lethal as he reached for her hands. Eyes darkened. Voice lowered.
“Let me see you.”
Avery shied away at first but gained confidence as his appreciative eyes roamed the length of her fuchsia-colored, bra-and-panty-covered body. Cayden held her hand and walked behind her. He unclasped her bra. It dropped to the floor. He kissed the back of her neck, the lobe of her ear, as his hands clasped her weighty breasts. His fingers teased the nipples into pebbles of pleasure. He was rewarded with a low moan accompanying her ass rubbing against his crotch.
Cayden was about to burst. But this night was special. He wanted to make it last. He reached down for Avery’s dress and wrapped up her curves.
“A glass of champagne?” he asked with the respect of addressing someone who just seconds before was dressed in panties and heels.
Avery’s eyes fluttered open. “Wh-what?”
He smiled, gently reaching for her hand and leading them into the dining room. “I think now is the perfect moment to pop the top on Donald’s extravagant gift inside the welcoming basket.”
Once there he reached into the basket, pulled out a folded blanket and placed it at the edge of the table before lifting Avery and perching her on the soft, fuzzy fabric as though she were made of spun glass.
“What are you doing?”
“Remembering that as amazing as was the dinner presented this evening, I really want a taste of chocolate for dessert.”
Avery crossed her arms to cover herself.
Cayden noted the move. “Cold?”
Avery shook her head. “Self-conscious.”
“Don’t be.” He moved her hand and placed his mouth on the nipple it covered. “You look amazing.”
He paused only long enough to pull the pricey champagne flutes from their package and retrieve the champagne from the fancy bottle chiller on a nearby table. He popped the cork, filled up both their flutes. They clinked glasses. There was no toast. Cayden felt none was needed. He was getting ready to leave no doubt as to how much he appreciated Avery being there.
“Oh, my goodness!” Avery’s eyes sparkled as bursts of flavor snapped, crackled and popped in her mouth. “I think this is the best champagne I’ve ever tasted.”
Cayden’s brow raised. “Oh, yeah?”
“Without a doubt.”
“Here, taste this.”
He took a sip of the brew, then whipped a kiss on Avery hot enough to zap the straight out of her flat-ironed curls.
“How was that?”
“Infinitely better.”
He took another sip, French-kissed her nether lips and proceeded to render her to a state of speechlessness. For the next several minutes gasps, hisses and soft mewling sounds were Avery’s only means of communication. After licking, kissing and suckling her body into mind-shattering bliss, Cayden quickly sheathed himself and slid his long, thick love sword into the height of her orgasm.
“Ohhhhhhhh...”
“How was that?” he asked, setting up a slow rhythm that suggested he planned to be there awhile.
“So good,” Avery managed between pants.
Cayden placed her legs over his shoulders, gripped her hips and plunged to the hilt. For a few seconds he didn’t move, just enjoyed the feel of Avery pulsating around him. When he began moving, his hips led the dance—a cross between a tantalizing tango and a slow Alpha Twerk. He was focused, insatiable, propelled the dance from room to room and into the most delicious lovemaking. Avery’s body joined in note for note, matching his fervor on the fast grooves, harmonizing on the slow. The sound of pleasure that burst from her when she came again was one of a woman touched in places that had never before known loving could feel like this. Cayden didn’t take the time to think about it. He wanted only to bask in Avery and how beautiful it felt to be inside her. Beyond that, in his moment of seismic relief, nothing else mattered.
Eighteen
Avery woke up feeling better than she had in months, all due to the man lying beside her. She lay there taking her internal temperature. What were her feelings the morning after? Guilt? Shame? Frustration? Fear? None of those, much to her surprise. Perhaps it was the affirmations spoken at the end of their couples exercise session yesterday, encouraging one to be present, to live in the moment. Did Cayden feel the same way? She reached for the sheet covering his well-defined chest and began slowly pulling it down to reveal more of his tanned, olive skin. Pausing for a moment, her eyes slid to his face, relaxed and free of creases produced by frowns as he slept. They continued down to his slightly flared nose and the lips that just hours before had performed magic feats. Those memories caused a warm flush to spread across her body. She continued pulling the sheet, exposing the now-languid manhood that had sent her to the moon and around the stars before she’d drifted back down to earth on a cloud of unadulterated bliss. With her target in view, she eased to a sitting position. Fueled by desire and her own wanton thoughts, she repositioned herself closer to his crotch, lifted his penis and kissed it.
Cayden squirmed for just a second before settling back into sleep. But not for long if Avery had her way.
She traced the length of him with her tongue, then pulled him gently into her mouth. A hissing sound suggested Cayden was awake. Seconds later, encouraged by nimble fingers and an eager tongue, his shaft woke up, too. She looked up and into eyes as dark with desire as they were last night. His head fell against the pillow. His hips slowly gyrated. Avery treated his sex like a lollipop in her favorite flavor, savoring every lick. Cayden placed his hand on her head, ran his fingers through her disheveled mane and guided her head as she savored him. His breathing deepened. Movements quickened. He tossed and murmured.
“Oh, baby. Baby! Damn.”
She felt he was close to release but for her the party was only beginning. With a final lick and kiss to the tip she reached for one of several gold foils on the bed beside her. Once he was shielded she straddled him, guided his missile to her portal and slowly slid down. She paused as fireworks went off inside her, then set up a lazy rhythm for them both to enjoy. Cayden massaged, licked and kissed her breasts. He palmed her ass and matched her stroke for stroke. It wasn’t long before she felt her body reaching its climax. A final thr
ust. She cried out, went over the edge and collapsed on top of him.
Cayden smoothed hair and tiny beads of sweat away from her forehead. He kissed her temple. “Good morning.”
She smiled. “Morning.”
“What a wonderful way to wake up.”
Avery rolled off Cayden, then cuddled into his side. “You liked that?”
“I loved it.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” She turned to look outside. “This place is amazing. I could stay here forever.”
“I could definitely stay in this bed all day.”
“Unfortunately, that’s not an option. What time is our flight?”
“Two thirty, but we’ll leave here at noon. We’re flying commercial from San Diego. Forty-five minutes away.”
“In that case I’d better get moving.” She climbed out of bed and headed to the en suite. Cayden came up behind her. “Where are you going?”
“To take a shower with you—” he squeezed her cheek “—and get in one more round for the road.”
After breakfast and a class in wine making, Cayden and Avery returned to their suite to find their luggage packed and waiting at the door. Avery slept during the limo ride to San Diego and boarded the plane feeling refreshed.
“Thanks again for inviting me here,” she said, once they’d gotten settled and the plane took off. “I loved everything about this trip.”
Cayden reached for her hand. “What did you love the most?”
Avery gave him a look, then slid her hand toward his crotch. He caught it and folded it into his. “Yes, that was my favorite part, too.”
“What happens next?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Was that just vacation sex or...”
“It wasn’t just that for me.”
“What was it?”
“Why do we have to define it?”
“So that we can both know what to expect.” Avery looked out the window at a clear sky that stretched forever. She knew the situation would get tricky with her heart involved. Yet, she hadn’t been able to stop it. “Are you dating other people?”