November 2011 - Present Day 7 страница

River’s jaw tightens as he grips the counter closest to us, and in a flat, but stern voice he says, “I’m not sure you heard me, but we have a situation that...”

The now, narrow-eyed man looks up at River and interrupting him, seethes, “I heard you, and once again I’m going to...”

This time River doesn’t let him finish, and he leans in as close as possible and very politely says, “I think it’s time you call for Mr. Hughes.” Then, looking at his nametag and smirking, he adds, “Joe.”

Who’s Mr. Hughes?

The now completely flustered man stutters before regaining his composure. He stands up very straight and manages to nicely say, “Why don’t we see if I can fix your situation before I call Mr. Hughes. You were saying?” Swallowing back my laughter at the suddenly very funny situation, River cocks his head and winks at me. Then he takes my hand, squeezes it, and sets it on the counter in his so our elbows are almost connected.

Before I know it, the red-clad uniformed man is calling housekeeping himself, asking about items that may have been found in the safe in my room. By some grace of God he tells us the necklace had been found and was put in the main hotel safe.

River drops my hand to very politely shake hands with the clerk. Then before thanking him, he removes his wallet from his back pocket and hands the now jubilant Joe a hundred-dollar bill. Nodding his head he says discreetly, “Joe please see to it that the necklace gets delivered to us in the bar.”

Joe, very happily accepting his more than generous tip, responds, “Yes sir, not a problem.”

We head to the same bar where River waited for me last night. It seems like way more time has passed than just one day. I feel so connected to this man, like I’ve known him for a very long time. As we’re seated, River pulls my chair out for me and I nod my head and grin, but before I sit, I stand on my tippy toes and kiss him on his cheek. “Thank you.”

“Dahlia, don’t thank me. It’s my fault you lost your necklace to begin with,” he says, caressing my cheek before motioning me to sit down. Sitting next to me, he grabs my hand and strokes it with his thumb before leaning over and kissing me.

Our waitress arrives, and we order two beers and one glass of ice, of course River snickers. When he asks me what I want to eat, I motion to the casino and say, “Anything, right now I could eat the craps table over there,” and we both laugh, because really, couldn’t I have just said the blackjack table.

He orders a burger and fries and I order a grilled cheese sandwich, fries, and a chocolate milkshake. I ask the waitress to bring my shake with my food.

River looks at me a little puzzled.

“What? I like to dip my sandwich in the shake.” He shakes his head. “That sounds disgusting.” “Try it. I guarantee you’ll love it.”

“Hmm...”

Once our drinks arrive, I gulp my beer down before deciding to say what I should have said in the car. Looking into River’s eyes filled with so much kindness, I say, “I’m sorry I sort of freaked, but the necklace isn’t replaceable.” Pausing, I swallow the lump in my throat before continuing.

Tilting his head, he continues to look at me and simply says, “I guessed that by your reaction.”

Nodding in agreement, I clear my throat and tuck my hair behind my ear. “Here’s the thing, the necklace isn’t just a necklace,” I pause again, willing the stinging in my eyes to go away.

River, obviously having noticed my uneasiness leans forward in his chair, bending slightly into me, and grabs for my hand with both of his. “Go on. What?”

Before I can finish, Joe saunters in, smiling like he just hit the jackpot on the casino floor and hands River an envelope that says ‘From Room 716’ on it. River nods and says thank you again and Joe walks away to go back to his desk duties I assume.

Handing me the envelope, I let go of his hand and open it. I hesitate before pulling the ring out. As I do, I clasp it in my hand and looking him sincerely in the eyes I say, “This is my engagement ring—from Ben.”

He quickly leans back in his chair and takes a large gulp of beer, obviously not expecting that. Crossing his leg over his knee he asks, “Can I see it?” His eyes now filled with something. It’s not kindness though; I think it’s more like sadness.

Biting my lip, I hand it to him with shaky fingers. My heart begins beating faster than the levers being pulling on the slot machines. He stares at it for a few seconds before gently placing it back in my hand and squeezing it shut, as if not seeing it makes it go away. “It’s beautiful, just like the woman who wore it,” he says, looking intently in my eyes. I notice the use of the word—wore.

“Can I ask you something?” he says.

My hands are still shaky as I hold the ring and answer, “Of course.” Pointing to my wrist, he asks, “Is that bracelet from him?”

Swallowing my emotion, I lift my arm and answer, “Yes, Ben gave it to me the day he died, and every time I look at it, it reminds me to live life to the fullest, to have no regrets.”

“Well, that too, is beautiful and a great way to live life, Dahlia.” Then he surprises me. “Do you want to talk about it, about him?”

After tucking the ring safely inside my purse, I answer very softly. “Honestly, no. No I don’t. I’m having an amazing time with you. I haven’t had this much fun in a long time, and I don’t want to drag our weekend down with sad conversations.” I say the last part while reaching my hand across the table and caressing his cheek.

He just shakes his head but doesn’t speak as he takes my hand and kisses it.

I smile a faint smile and say, “I hope you’re okay with that?”

River returns the slight smile and says, “Dahlia, for now I’m fine with it, but I’d like to talk about it sometime. I want to know you, all of you.”

Just then, our food arrives. I pull my hand away and silently nod to him. Then his phone chimes from his pocket as he continues to ignore it, and I remember I left mine at the hotel, but I really don’t need it anyway.

We talk and laugh throughout lunch, and before leaving, we decide what to do with the rest of our day; we will hit the casino, and then have a casual dinner before heading out for a night of fun at a famous Las Vegas club.

 

 

ALIVE

 

 

I feel alive when we’re together I feel it deep within my soul

You’re the best reason I’ve had in a long time To celebrate this thing we call life

I feel alive when we’re together.

 

 

I remember Grace telling me on the one-year anniversary of Ben’s death when she brought me home from the cemetery, “Dahlia honey, there is something beautiful about each and every scar we bear no matter where it comes from.” Pausing, she wiped the tears streaming down her face before finishing what to this day, has to be the single most important piece of advice ever given to me. “When my son’s death, our Ben’s death, has healed in your heart, you will know it. A scar will appear and that means the extreme hurt and unbearable pain is over, your wound will be healed, but don’t ever let your heart close. Leave it open, let someone else in.” She couldn’t speak anymore, but I knew she wasn’t finished. She put a note on the counter when she left that night that read, “Let your heart heal and someday you will love again. Let someone else love you. You deserve it. Remember, I will always be here for you.”

So tonight, as I embark on a first date with this very sexy, charming, and charismatic man, Grace’s words come back to me. I know what I’m feeling now. Healed.

Walking into Aqua, I know I’m in trouble. It’s dark, and the music is blaring in an almost seductive beat. I’m already intoxicated by River’s pure charm and breathtaking attractiveness, and this nightclub isn’t going to help sober me up at all. Also, adding to my almost inebriated state of mind are the two drinks I had with dinner and the few I had before that.

Earlier in the day, we had taken his car back to the hotel and hit the casino floor. He taught me how to play craps, and we also played blackjack and poker. I played the slot machines as he watched. Rolling his eyes at me he told me, “Only sixty year old women waste their time on a game of pure chance.” And in what I’ve come to know as true River

fashion, he added, “Now, skilled games, those are something to spend your time on.” Of course, he whispered that in my ear while running his finger down the side of my body. We were having so much fun that we never even made it back to our room. After we left the casino, we walked through the sky tube and then ate a light dinner before coming up to the club.

The nightclub is located on the fifty-fifth floor of the Trees Place Casino. All of its exterior walls are glass, and there is a huge bar toward the back and an even bigger dance floor in the middle. There also looks to be outdoor bars to both the right and left, just outside the glass walls. Each is a mirror image supported by a brick wall on the backside of each bar, creating a terrace-like appeal with trees and benches everywhere. The bar to the right is serving drinks; its mirror twin appears to be closed.

With Rihanna’s song S&M playing loudly as we enter the large double doors of the VIP entrance, we hand our jackets to the coat check, and River turns to me and says, “Stay close, it’s a wreck in here tonight.”

Does he think I want to be anywhere but close to him? Because I don’t. In fact, with all the sexual energy radiating between us, I’m more than willing to forego the clubbing and head straight back to our hotel room. But, since that doesn’t seem to be an option right now, I just nod my head and bite my lip. He looks so delicious and I’m hoping I get a taste of him real soon.

Clutching his hand with both of mine, I follow close behind and bump into him as often as I can, rubbing my front to his back. Making our way to the bar, he orders two lemon drop shots. I just smirk and shake my head.

Cocking his head, he hands me the shot. While grinning widely, he declares, “I know up until now you’ve only done shots to celebrate disasters, but here’s to changing that.”

As he clinks his glass to mine, I recall my earlier thoughts about my feelings for him and know for sure I have most definitely already fallen. He remembers everything I tell him, even the most inconsequential things. As I tip my head back to drink the sweet alcohol that smells of lemons, I think of Ben. I think of how many times I had to tell him something before he remembered it. I had chalked it up to typical male behavior, and maybe it was. Is River is the exception to the rule?

We order another drink, and he leads me to a high-top table in the reserved section just on the edge of the dance floor. We continue to talk about everything, but nothing at all. It is liberating and invigorating to be here with him laughing, drinking, and just having fun.

With the humidity reaching record highs, the ceiling above us opens just as the Enrique Iglesias song, Dirty Dancer, starts thumping out a seductive beat. We both look up in awe of the spectacular sight. As our heads return to eye level, our gazes meet. Bopping my neck and shaking my hips, I full out laugh when I hear something about a girl doing it one way and then another throughout the now open area.

River smiles his full mega-watt dimple smile before running his eyes up and down my body, giving me instant goosebumps. Glancing down at his feet and then at mine, he grins mischievously as he points to the dance floor and breathes in my ear, “You sure you want to do this? I’m pretty good.”

Checking out the scene on the dance floor, I see a bunch of drunken college boys making obscene gestures with their hands, a group of girls dancing like they have no idea what song is playing, and many couples actually dirty dancing. Having assessed my surroundings, I run my hands down my sides and grinning ear to ear I mouth to him, “You’re on.” I hear a sharp intake of breath from him before he grabs my hand and leads me to the dance floor.

I feel our connection growing stronger minute by minute. What was once an electric pull is now an electric force. I can’t wait to unleash the magnitude and velocity behind its force on the dance floor, on his body. The law of relativity most certainly applies tonight.

We are in the middle of a swarm of people, but I feel like it’s just the two of us out here. Having removed my t-shirt long ago, I’m standing on the dance floor in my black lace camisole. With the lights blinking on and off, I know everyone must be able to see my girly white bra. River doesn’t seem to mind though as his eyes flicker to my lips, my chest, down to my jeans, and back up. He grins at me as I lift my hair off my neck to help cool my extremely over-heated body.

Grabbing my hips, he pulls me closer. I snake my arms around his neck as Enrique continues to describe dirty dancing. As we start moving our bodies to the rhythm of the now seemingly very erotic song, I run my fingers through his beautiful shaggy hair. We move like we have known each other for years; like we’re two pieces of a puzzle that fit together perfectly.

At first, our moves are innocent. A soft touch here, a light caress there, but the innocence passes just like the song. When Havana Brown’s You’ll Be Mine starts to play, it’s game on. I no longer just lightly run my fingers through his hair, rather I tug on it. I no longer just run my hands down his back, instead I wet my finger in my mouth and softly glide it down the back of his neck, and he shivers beneath my touch.

He’s playing too. His hands are no longer resting on my hips, they have drifted down to my backside and he’s cupping it. He’s no longer just leaning into me; he’s now whispering dirty things in my ear.

The song thumps on, and we get so completely lost in ourselves that we’re oblivious to everyone else on the dance floor. As I turn around so that I’m no longer facing him, this is never so apparent than in this moment. With my back now to his front, the sexual energy radiating between us turns electrifying. My want and my need for him overcome me as he places his right hand on my hip. My body quivers in response as he slowly slides his hand up my stomach. His nose is in my hair and his hand glides across the front of my camisole in a crossing motion. He’s breathing heavily on my neck, and I know I’m not the only one affected by our electric current. As he continues to softly move up my body, I absorb every touch. When he stops and gently pokes his fingers through the holes of the lace in my shirt, touching my bare skin, I throw my head back into his neck. He’s caressing my skin; searing it with his touch, and I love every minute of it.

As his hand continues to travel up my body, he carefully, almost strategically takes his other hand and swipes my hair off my shoulder to expose the side of my neck. He trails soft kisses down it. As he reaches my shoulder, his kisses fade away. His mouth reappears at my neck, and he seductively drags his tongue back up to my ear. When he

reaches my lobe, he jets his tongue in and out, sending shivers down my spine. My body is now a trembling mass of sensation. It’s only heightening my awareness of him and quickly increasing my need to have him.

I smile as Havana Brown’s song bleeds into another Enrique song. I no longer hear the lyrics in each verse, but I do hear the words as he sings about fucking someone tonight. The colored lights of the disco ball and strobe lights continue to flicker, and we begin to do more than just dance. He’s seducing me, or I’m seducing him; I have no idea which and I don’t care. The only thing that matters, the only difference, is I have an urgent need that can’t wait to be addressed.

I close my eyes as his hand passes over my ribs and settles on my breast, and his fingers rub circles around my erect nipple. His hand is now clenching and unclenching my hip as he continues his tongue’s assault on my ear and my neck. Experiencing sensual overload with his body wrapped around mine, with his mouth on me, with his scent so intoxicatingly close, and his smooth jawline rubbing against my tender skin, a sudden carnal need erupts. One that must be satisfied sooner rather than later.

When I grind myself into him, I can feel his hardness, and this makes me very aware that he feels the same way I do. I smile. I can hear his erratic breathing and he groans as he grabs both my hips, holding me tight to him. His breathing grows more irregular as his hands drift down the front of my jeans. When my hands make their way around to his core, I slide them into his back pockets and push him further into me. He quickly turns me back around. Hah... I got him.

Facing each other, our eyes flicker and our breaths are ragged, extremely intense. When he licks his lower lip in a way that screams out how sexy he is, I bite mine. I skim my way down his body. I’m amazed my dancing abilities haven’t rusted over the past few years, and I’m shocked that I’m dancing far more seductively than I ever have before, ever.

I shimmy my way up his leg and run my hands up the inside of his thighs. As I’m reaching his core, I brush my fingers over his flawless chest and well-defined abs, and they tense under his tight t-shirt. When I start to untuck his shirt, he grabs my hands and pulls them around his neck, hoarsely whispering in my ear, “Do you want a drink?”

My breathing is past controllable as the sweat beads on the back of my neck drip down my shoulder blades. “No, I don’t want a drink. I want you,” I breathe out in erratic whispers, my desire more than apparent.

River pauses for a moment, as if assessing the situation. He then leans in and touches his nose to mine before gliding it to my ear and whispering, “You want to head back to the hotel?” I know he knows that’s not what I mean.

I shake my head and pout my lips. I’ve decided it’s my turn to drive him crazy; he’s not getting out of this that easy. I get up on my toes so that I’m eye level with him, and I kiss him; really kiss him, in a way that communicates non-verbally what I want. I only stop to suck on his bottom lip before running my nose to his ear. “I can’t wait that long. I want you now. I need you now.” I know what I just said, and if the words that just purred out of my mouth didn’t shock him, they sure as shit shocked me. In fact, I think the only time I’ve ever had sex in a public place was my first time with Ben, but I push that

thought aside. I’m feeling parched, dehydrated, and River is the only drink that can quench my thirst. I need a sip right now, right here, but somewhere just a little more private.

Grabbing my chin, he roughly pulls me to his lips and growls, “You’re just so beautiful. You know I can’t say no.” Letting go of my face, he trails his fingertips down my arms, only stimulating my senses even more. Staring intently at me, his eyes are now the color of a perfectly glistening bottle of Cristal; he looks ready to let the liquid flow freely. As he scans my body he says, “You drive me wild, you know that?” Then he grabs my hand and leads me to the back of the club.

I drop his hand, opting instead to snake my arms around him and rub my body to his. The warmth is invigorating, and I need to feel any part of him right now. When we get to the back of the club, he opens the glass door and leads us to the closed outdoor bar.

The terrace is just as gorgeous as it looked from the front doors, but I don’t care about the view. The heat, the humidity, the loud music all fade as we hit the cool fresh- air of the night, and I’m finally alone with River. He stops and I walk right into him, giggling. As he turns around, I see the passionate look in his eyes, and I’m no longer giggling.

Cocking his head, his eyes search for reassurance. His lips slightly part as he snakes his arms around my waist. I hear a quick intake of breath and the electricity shooting through my body turns into high voltage. I press myself into his body, wrapping my arms around his neck, connecting my lips to his. With a thirst only his wet tongue, his soft lips, and his hard body can satisfy, I start to kiss him fiercely, wanting him to pour his exquisite champagne into my mouth.

Slowly moving us backward, careful not to break the connection that is our lips, we lose touch with reality. Fifty-five floors above the streetlights, cars, and people on the strip, we’re in our own erotic world out on this terrace.

After a few steps he pauses, looks around, and then places one of his legs in between mine, sending shockwaves through my body. He jets his tongue into my mouth and quickly skims his hands up and down my length. He breathes heavily in my ear and growls, “I like the way you move.”

He’s driving me insane, always quoting my favorite lyrics, and singing them to me with his rough, but soft voice.

His fresh scent is overwhelming, his hot touch is searing, and his strong body so close to mine, I can’t wait for him any longer. Needing to cure this insanity, I start unzipping his jeans and untucking his shirt at the same time. I move my head down to where his shirt ends. I pull it up and gently kiss his taut stomach. I don’t even care that the club’s glass wall is not that far away.

I moan loudly in disappointment as he pulls me up and away from him, just gazing at me with those emerald-like eyes, now so full of desire. “You’re going to end this before we even start,” he says before grabbing my hand. “Come with me.”

“Gladly,” is all I can muster, wanting no more talking, no more dancing, just wanting to feel his touch, his hard, beautiful body everywhere, to feel him inside me.

Turning the corner, we’re on the other side of the bar. We are finally secluded in the

dark cool night. He suddenly pushes me up against the brick wall. My face is flushed, and my body is quivering as I glide my hands down his sculpted chest. Reaching his waist, I finish unzipping his pants freeing his hardness. I run one hand down his long shaft to his base while my other hand braces myself on his strong bicep and urges him forward. He groans loudly and pants, “Fuck, I can’t control myself around you.”

I smirk because this is the first time I’ve heard him swear without apologizing or not completing the word, and now I know for sure his thirst for me is just as unbearable as mine is for him.

His hands move down my body, and as I continue to stroke him, he moves without haste to unbutton my jeans. His groans and my moans grow louder with every passing second.

Breaking our connection, our kiss, he rests his forehead on mine. “You sure you’re okay with this? We can take a cab back to the hotel right now if you want?”

I shake my head and pull him to me, kissing him hard for a brief second. “No, I want you now,” I say as I break the kiss and reach my hand down to grab his arousal.

He quickly pulls my pants down to my upper thighs and just as quickly, his fingers slide inside my panties. As his fingers glide over my sensitive flesh, my thirst becomes a little more manageable. Then he moves his hands around to my ass removing them from where I need them to be, causing my unquenchable thirst to return.

Grinding my hips into him, I’m pressing myself right where I want to be; he’s unwavering though, not giving up control in the slightest. I even feel him smirk against my lips as he kisses me. A cool breeze flutters by, but I’m so hot, it doesn’t even cool me in the least. “I thought you couldn’t control yourself?” I murmur, urging him to me, wanting his fingers on the other side of me, inside of me. Wanting him inside of me.

“You give me the willpower,” he grumbles in a devilish tone.

I find my thoughts echoing the words I said before we hit the dance floor and think, Okay sexy, game on.

I sense his wicked grin as I remove my hands from his shaft and run them up his chiseled chest, then under his defined arms, and roughly down his sculpted back. He groans and does the same thing to me, but I restrain myself. I’m starting to enjoy this game way too much to cave.

With alcohol flowing freely through my veins and because of the incredible ease I feel in his company, I have no inhibitions what so ever. I slip my hands inside the back of his pants, run them down his backside, and around his hips to his front. I lower my hands and tightly clutch the inside of his muscular thighs. He throws his head back as my hands move up slightly and cup him. I grip the base of his incredible hardness with both hands before sliding them to his slightly moist tip.

I’m pretty sure I’m winning this game of willpower when he says, “Fuck, Dahlia what are you doing to me,” and quickly pulls my white cotton panties down, ripping them in the process.

With both his hands heading to my core, I brace the wall. With one hand, he pulls my slick flesh apart using his thumb and finger. As he plunges a finger inside me, I no longer notice the blinking casino lights in the distance, just the pure pleasure of his touch.

Kissing my neck, he moves one hand to tease my nipple and continues to plunge one finger and then another inside of me. I’m losing my mind. With a panting breath, I mutter, “I surrender, you win.” But thankfully, he doesn’t stop.

Closing my eyes, I inhale a deep breath. I drink him in completely as I claw the brick wall for support and scream into the night, “Yes, yes!” My body shudders and pulsates from its core as I come hard and fast. My thirst for River mildly satisfied, but nowhere near quenched.

Wanting him inside me more than I have ever wanted someone to penetrate me before, I say under spent breath, “River, fuck me now, make me come again.” Once again, I’m shocked at my own words, but he’s not so shocked as he quickly breathes back, “I plan to.”

He doesn’t wait as he slams inside me quick and hard. Abandoning my brace on the wall, I fuse my palms to his chest, as his thickness fills me. Each retreat is followed by another glorious lunge. As his pace quickens, he reaches behind me and pushes my ass into his full, penetrating hardness, causing it to rub my most sensitive spot with each and every thrust.

As he says, “Stay still,” he moves even deeper into me and at an increasingly faster rate. When his groans become lower, almost primal, I don’t move. I stay still. I want to experience him fully. As I continue to meld my hands to his chest, I realize this has to be the single most fulfilling sensation I have ever felt, bar none.

His fingers start digging into my flesh, his own pleasure building at the same pace as mine. Groaning into my shoulder, he’s no longer kissing me, no longer able to, I’m sure. Especially if he’s feeling anything close to the pure heaven I’m experiencing right now. As he continues to rock himself into me, I feel my body responding again. I grab his strong biceps for support and feel the tremble in his body.

Lifting his head, his green eyes find mine, and they are glazed over with passion. He sucks in a quick breath, his eyes closing as he lowers his head to my shoulder.

I don’t let him finish as I lift his head with both my hands. “Say it,” I command.

His groans grow louder still as I continue to clutch his gorgeous face in my hands and experience the mesmerizing transformation that’s taking place as he finds his release. He grunts, “I’m coming,” as his thrusts slow, and a low cry escapes his mouth.

I know I was wrong before when I feel him fill me and hear him say those words. My muscles clench tightly, and my toes curl. This, right now, is the most fulfilling moment I have ever felt.

As he lowers his head and thrusts into me one final time, I fall apart at the seams, coming for a second time as we both quench our insatiable thirst for each other; further building our connection. As we ride out our orgasms together, his sperm filling me, he suddenly looks up, his face full of concern, his eyes wide. “Shit, we didn’t use a condom.”

Lost in my own fantasy world of pleasure, I never realized it either, but I quickly reassure him, “It’s okay I’m on the pill.”

Surrounding me, with both palms pressed against the wall, he leans his forehead to mine. While both us try to stabilize our breathing, he grabs my chin and says, “I’ve never been with anyone without a condom.” He removes one hand from the brick wall and

draws a cross over his heart. “I’m clean. I promise.”

I nod my head and kiss him, not wanting to talk about other women he has been with.

So I just say, “River, that was amazing.”

With a sly grin he says, “You could say that again,” as he pulls up my ripped panties and jeans and I button them as he zips his own.

Once we have both put ourselves together, he curls his arms around my waist and presses himself into me. Bringing his forehead to mine, he starts dancing slowly with me. While we move together in the night, my environment suddenly comes alive, and I see the beauty all around me.

With the blinking lights below, and the stars above guiding our way, River twirls me around the terrace as he sings one of my favorite songs, Addicted, by Saving Abel.