56 Days (Black) (11 page)

“I am lucky,” he breathed, licking a line up my throat.  He moved south, taking my left breast into his mouth, biting lightly.  He moved his hand between my legs as he switched to my right breast.  I craned my head into the pillow, moaning.  He knew exactly how I liked it.

“
Harder…” I begged.

“Tell me, Elsa.  Tell me you love me.”

I cupped his face with my hands, rubbing my thumb across his cheek.  “I love you.”

He moved his hand
away and thrust inside of me.  Yep, that was definitely harder.

We moved slowly at first, establishing a comfortable rhythm.  Just as I felt my stomach start to coil, he flipped me face down in the mattress and lifted me to my knees.  He pushed in and immediately picked up the pace.

I was definitely going to go without him.  I could never take much from him in this position without completely losing it (and usually very fast).

“Jack
…”

He bent down, pressing kisses into my skin, setting it on fire.

“I love you too,” he whispered.

I shuddered out my climax seconds before he finished, still slowly torturing me by continuing to push inside
lazily.  When he pulled away, he collapsed on the bed, laughing quietly.

“God, woman, you’re keeping me young,” he said, his breath unsteady.

“You
are
young, dummy.”

“I’m just saying, I’ve never felt so good in my life.”

I ran my fingers up his chest, pulling at his belly hair.  “You’ve never looked so good in your life either,” I said, giving him my cheesiest grin.

“How do you
know?”

“It’s impossible, that’s all
.”

“Hey.  My friend Sam is playing a dj set tonight over at
a bar in Buena Park.  He wants to meet you.  Wanna go?”

I groaned.  “I’m naked.  I can’t.”

“Come on, Elsa.  I want you to meet some people.  A couple of other guys I know will be there too… please.”

“
Fine, but I’m warning you.  I’m shy in front of new people.  They’re not going to like me.”

“
You weren’t shy with me.  Besides, they’re guys, Elsa.  And you look like this,” he responded, palming my backside.  “Believe me, they’ll like you.”

*****

I was indecisive about what to wear and asked Jack his opinion.  He picked out a sleeveless ivory georgette dress with a cinch-waist that landed about five inches above my knee.  I had only worn it once; it had been hanging in my closet for years, untouched.

“This one’s nice,”
he said, studying it on the hanger.

“Jack, it’s like a
single yard of fabric.”

He laughed.  “You’re the one who bought it.  Come on
… put it on.  I just want to see it.  If you don’t feel comfortable, you can wear something else.”

I slipped it over my head and pulled at the hem, turning to him.  “I don’t know.  These are your friends.  I don’t want to look like some slut.”

He looked at me like a high school boy on his first date.  “I’ve never seen you look more beautiful, honestly.  That dress is so hot.”

“Boots or regular heels?”

“I don’t care if you go barefoot.”

I turned to the mirror and
leaned in, carefully applying a layer of red lip gloss.  Jack came up behind me and put his hands on my hips.  He buried his lips into my neck and licked up to my ear.  “I’ve never wanted anyone so much in my life.  I’m so proud that you’re mine.”

I smiled at him in the mirror
, pulling my hair up into a loose bun.  “Get dressed.  Wear something pretty.  I don’t want to be the only one fancied up.”

He wore a thin,
V-neck Calvin Klein sweater in the most beautiful shade of gray.  His pants were (very) fitted, showcasing his amazing body.  He sat on the bed and pulled on his tattered navy boots.

“So, how do you know these guys?”
  I dabbed a few drops of rose oil behind my ear.

“Well, I met Sam through Vince.  He recorded some stuff at the studio where Vince worked.  It was like a month long project and they got to know each other pretty well.  He’s a cool guy.  I think that
Wes and Jim will be there too.  They’re Sam’s friends from Winnetka; they all grew up together.  Wes works at a brewery and Jim’s a personal trainer.”

“Oh, God.  He’s not going to try to talk me into
some bullshit free workout sessions or something, right?”

“Probably
,” he said with a laugh.  “He’s constantly on me about it.  He’s the one that introduced me to John.”

“
Your trainer?”

“Yep. 
Hurry it up.”

I pulled on my copper wedges and zipped up the back.  “Ready.”

*****

The bar was crowded, but Sam had procured a table for us right by the
dj booth.  Jack was right.  Sam
was
nice.  He took his time between sets, talking to us about anything and everything, but mostly he focused on music.  Luckily, I was a music junkie and could keep up fairly well. 

“It’s really good to meet you, Elsa.  I’ve heard nothing but good things.”

“Thanks.  Me, too.  Jack says that you met through Vince.  He’s dating my sister.”

“Yeah
, I know.  Jack told me that Rachel was your sister.  That’s cool.  Vince is wild about that girl.”

Just then,
two men walked up to the table.  They had obviously already had a few.  The taller of the two banged his hands on the table.  “Hot damn, Conti!  This her?”

Jack
did not look amused.  “Elsa, this is Wes and Jim,” he said, motioning between them.

I stood and shook both of their hands.  “Hi.  I’m Elsa
.”  I pulled at the hem of my dress again and sat back down.

“Fuck,” Wes clipped.  “Even better than the last one.”

Jack leaned in.  “Hey, I don’t give a shit that you’re drunk.  Shut the fuck up.”

“I’m just sayin
g.  Your wife was hot, but this one?  Jesus Christ.”

I squirmed in my seat.  Jack reached over and took my hand.  “Maybe we should go
,” I whispered into his ear.

I was used to this.  Men
did
this.  I shouldn’t have worn that dress.  The red gloss.  The five-inch heels.

“Show some
respect, you dumb fuck,” Sam shouted, smacking Wes in the back of the head.  “She’s a nice, smart girl.  Don’t be a douche.”

Wes laughed.  “
Oh yeah, she looks super smart.”  He brought his hands to his chest, mimicking a large set of breasts.

“Wes, stop,” Jim responded,
kneading his hands together.  It was obvious that he had witnessed this behavior many times.

Jack stood
, letting my hand go.  “No.  Unacceptable.  Outside… now.”

The two disappeared, while I tried to choke back impending tears.  Instead, I smiled nervously and excused myself to go to the
restroom.

“Elsa…” Sam called after me.

I stood in front of the mirror for a few minutes, taking deep breaths and reapplying my gloss.  Fuck that guy.  When I went back out to the table, three men sat there.  Not four.  Wes was missing.

Jack
stood.  “You still want to go?”

I nodded
and turned my attention to the table.  “It was really nice to meet you both.  Sorry we can’t stay.”

Sam stood and leaned in to kiss me on the cheek.  “I’m really sorry about that.  I’ve known Wes my whole life
.  I’ve never seen him act like that.  I’m not sure why he chose tonight to act like a dick.”  He turned to Jack.  “I’m really sorry, man.  Seriously.”

Jack nodded.  “It’s alright. 
It’s not your fault.”  He turned to the man sitting at the table.  “See you later, Jim.”

“Sorry,
guys,” he replied.  “Elsa, I hope we can try this again sometime.  He’s really messed up tonight.”

I smiled and nodded.  “Sure.”

Never. 

When we got outside, I took a few steps ahead of Jack and ducked into the alley on the side of the bar.  I covered my face and literally choked on my own sobs.  Jack wrapped his arms around me and leaned into my ear.  “I’m sorry.”
  He held my face in his hands.  “Hey.”

I lifted my face to his.  His thumb traced under my eye
.  “His wife left him today.  That’s no excuse and I’m not making one for him.  I called a cab and sent him home.  No one will ever talk to you like that.  Ever.  We’ll never see him again.”

“He’s your friend,” I
whispered.

“Not anymore, he’s not. 
You’re
my friend.  Understood?”

I nodded.  He pressed a slow kiss to my lips, parting them.  I lightly pushed him against the hard brick and stood on my tiptoes, brushing my tongue against his.
  “Take me home.”

I slept in on Saturday morning.  When I finally woke, Jack was in the kitchen going through an insane amount of grocery bags.

“Morning, Blondie.”

“Blondie?”  I dragged my feet across the floor, pressing a kiss to his lips.  “No.”

“No
what
?”

“No ‘Blondie.’  That nickname sucks.  Think of a new one.”

“Um, Sugar Buns?”

“Oooh,
it has a nice ring.  What the hell, Jack?  Did you buy out the store?”

He smiled, pulling out a
bag of grain-free dog food and placing it on the floor of the pantry.  He ripped open a produce bag, placing some tomatoes in a colander.  “Mostly stuff for tonight.”

“We’re still doing that then?” I joked.

“Yes, honey, that’s still happening.  Should I wear just jeans or what?”

I let out a laugh.  “Are you fucking serious?  First Gemma, now you?”

“She asked you what to wear?”

“Yeah,” I answered, “she’s trying to impress you.”

“I’m already impressed by her.  She loves you and so do I.  I would just like to have an actual conversation with her and not just a short wave through the window while you push me away like I have a disease.”  He smiled and folded one of the canvas bags.

“Hardy har, dick.”

“So, what’s her husband like?”

“
Dan?  Hard to say, really.  He only comes into the shop every once in a while.  He’s pretty quiet, I guess.  Gem’s one of the funniest people I know, so I bet he has to be at least kind
of funny.  I guess we’ll find out tonight.”

“I got a bunch of different things to drink.  I didn’t know what they would like.  There are a few different kinds of beer and I bought some whiskey.  I wasn’t sure.”

I came up behind him and stood on my tiptoes, pressing my lips to his neck.  “You are too cute.  You’re nervous.”

“Aren’t you?”

I laughed.  “Fuck yes, I’m nervous.  I don’t think I’ve ever had friends over.”

He turned to face me.  “What?”

“I just mean that Gemma has come by a few times, but I never have dinner or anything.”

“Well, welcome to Team Conti, my love, where we have dinner parties.  Often.”

I scoffed.  “I don’t think so.”

“Oh, yes,” he said, picking me up and
dropping me onto the counter.

He dug around in my pantry and pulled out a large lasagna pan.

“I’ve never seen that pan in my life.”

“That’s because I brought it from my place.  You have no actual
cookware… just cupcake tins and cookie sheets.  I can’t make lasagna on a cookie sheet.”

“
I don’t need cookware.  I have a microwave.”  I shuffled off of the counter.  “As fun as this is, I think I’m going to go take Buster for a walk.”

“That why he loves you better than me,”
he teased.  “Hey, I’m gonna go to Indianapolis next weekend.  Vince is moving into his rental finally.”

“
I just figured he would end up staying with Rachel.”

“
Well, I know he wants to, but she’s not ready or whatever.  He called this morning asking for my help.  Jeremy is going to go with me.  The move will go faster with him there.”

“Well, I’m not going if he is.”  I was being petulant, but I didn’t want to be anywhere near him.

“I know.  I just wanted to let you know.  I’ll miss you like crazy.”

“
Well, it will be good, maybe.  Buster and I can have a girls’ weekend.”

“Buster’s a boy, honey.”

“Not next
weekend, he’s not.  We’re going to get facials and pedicures…”  As if on cue, Buster came up and rubbed his face against my thigh. 

“Isn’t that right, baby?” I cooed, scratching him on the top of his head.  He made a low humming noise from his throat.  “Let’s go… walk time, Bust
erella.”

*
****

A short eight hours later, our
buzzer sounded.  Buster gave a meager bark.

I picked out the most
“dinner party” outfit I had: a short midnight navy box-pleat miniskirt with a cream-colored silk camisole top.  It dipped low in the front, but everything I
had
was low in the front.  I normally would have worn heels, but we were at home.  I went barefoot.

Jack looked so cute, I couldn’t stand it.  He matched me a bit, wearing a dark navy fitted t-shirt with dark jeans and
gray suede boots.  His body looked amazing, as always… maybe a little extra amazing since his afternoon boxing workout with his trainer.  He wore yet another different pair of glasses tonight.  These were the color of dark wine and looked vintage, like something from ‘50s. 

He had been growing his hair out for a few weeks, per my
suggestion.  It curled a bit on the sides and back and looked perfectly disheveled. 

I couldn’t wait for alone time with him later.

I answered the door to a very happy Gemma in a fucking dress of all things.  I had never seen her wear anything but jeans and Converse since we had met.  Her brightly hued hair was pulled into a side swept ponytail.  She held a bottle of wine in her hands and exclaimed, “Ta-da!” 

“You’re a dork,” I said, laughing at her.  “Come in, guys.  Hi, Dan.”

He leaned in and kissed me on the cheek.  “Hi, Elsa.”

Dan had
never
kissed me before.  It was sweet.  He looked a little nervous too.  We were all a mess.

Jack walked in from the kitchen, looking comfortable and content. 

“Gemma… finally.”  He reached out and kissed her hand.  I caught her staring (a little too long) at his well-muscled arms.   

Jack
turned to Dan, who looked decidedly intimidated.  He nervously ran one hand through his graying, wavy hair while pulling at his thin sweater with the other, stretching it casually over his soft belly. 

“You must be Dan. 
I’m Jack.  Nice to meet you, man.  Can I get you a beer?”

Dan shook Jack’s hand and nodded. 
“Please.”

“Gemma?  Beer?  Wine?  Whiskey?”

She was in seventh heaven.  Her smile practically split her face.  “Thank you, Jack.  I’ll have wine.  Whatever you’ve got.”  She handed him her bottle.  “You can just open this one.  It’s cheap and tastes like strawberry moonshine.”

“Perfect,” he said, taking it from her.
  “Thank you… for this,” he said, holding up the bottle.

“Don’t thank me yet.”

When Jack went back into the kitchen, Gemma smacked me on the ass.  “He’s so much hotter up close.  And you look ah-maze-balls,” she said, eyeing me up and down.

“Thanks, bunny.  What’s with the fucking dress?” I asked
with a smile.

“
What?  Dan likes dresses.”

I looked to Dan.  He shook his head
no
and pointed in the direction of the kitchen.  “It’s for him, not me,” he deadpanned.

I laughed.  “Well, he loves you already, so you could have worn sweats.”

“He loves
me?” she crooned.

“Yes, dipshit, he’s been dying to meet my one and only friend in th
e whole world.”  I leaned in and gave her a short squeeze, something I did very rarely.

She hugged me back tightly.  “God, I love it when you hug me.  It’s not even my birthday.”

I smacked her on the arm.  “I’m breaking all of the rules tonight, honey.  I’m having a dinner party.”

“What the fuck is that?” she cried, pointing to my new table and chairs.

“Jack made it this week.  I didn’t have a table.”

She, too, got misty eyed, just as I did the first time I saw it.

“God, girl, you better marry that man.  The last time Dan bought me something, it came with batteries.”

“I’m right here, jackass,” Dan
said.

“Sit down, you guys… at my brand new table, yo!”

Just then, Jack walked back in juggling many bottles and glasses in his arms.  “A little help, babe?”

Gemma mouthed
‘
Babe’
at me.  I rolled my eyes and helped Jack to relieve his burden.

Dan turned to Jack.  “Nice table.  Gem says that you’re a carpenter?”

“I make custom furniture, yeah.  I have a shop in Edgewater, but I’m actually thinking of moving the business to Wicker Park though.  I’m not sure… maybe West Loop.  We’re still deciding where we want to live.”  He turned to me, a smile on his face.

Oh my God.  Oh my God.  Oh my God.  Shut up, shut up, shut up!

“Where we want to live?” Gemma asked. 

Of course.

“Yeah,” Jack continued.  “I’m thinking about selling my house up there.  It’s too far from Elsa.”  He rubbed my arm.  “I can’t stay away from her.”

I stared down at the table,
flustered.

“Whoa, that’s great.”  Gemma turned a smile at me.

“My house should sell.  The market’s not great, but everything in there is custom.  People look for that, so I hope it won’t be that hard.  I laid birch flooring in there a few years ago and then made custom cabinets and built-ins to match throughout the house.  It’s an old brownstone with a modern interior, so… I don’t know.  I hope to turn it over soon so that we can find something closer to here.”

“Are you two going to move in together?” she asked.

Jack looked over at me, obviously figuring out that I hadn’t told Gemma yet. 
Now or never.
  I had to say something.

I reached over and took Jack’s hand.  “
Yeah, Jack’s business is going well and we just thought that if we were going to be together anyway, we may as well pay one mortgage instead of two.  He’s gonna sit on that house until it sells and then move in here for a while until we can find something we both like.”

Done.  Nailed it.

“Well, technically,” Jack replied, “I’m already kind of living here.  I basically just go to my house to work.  Other than that, Elsa and I already live together.”

Goddamnit, Jack!

“Oh,” Gemma responded while looking over at Dan, “I didn’t realize that.  Well, congratulations… to both of you.”

She looked upset.  I should have just told her. 
This is why I didn’t have fucking dinner parties.

“Gem,” I said, my voice soft, “I wasn’t hiding it from you.  He’s just been spending the night here.  We literally just had the conversation about moving last night.”

“No,” she said, her smile returning, “I think it’s fucking awesome.”  She turned to Jack.  “Elsa is the most important person in my life,” she said, turning to Dan.  “No offense, honey.” 

He shook his head.  “None taken?”  It came out like a question.  He was funny.

“So,” Gemma continued, “please be good to her.  I know you know about Dave.” 
Oh, boy.
  “He’s a dirty nut guzzler that didn’t deserve her love… but he got it because she’s a good, trusting girl.  I like you, but I can turn on a dime if you fuck her over.”

Nut guzzler?
  Jesus.

“God, Gemma,” I pleaded.  “Shut up… please.”

“Nope.  He needs to know.  If it turns out that he’s married or has some other girlfriend or baby momma, I will
nut punt him.”

“I was married
before, but not anymore.” Jack told her.  “It hasn’t been that long since my divorce was finalized, but I know what I want, Gemma.”  He turned to me.  “I want her.  I’ll always want her.  I need her to breathe.”

Holy shit
. 

I stood up.  “Jack, help me in the kitchen?”

He stood and followed me.

I shouted at him
in a whisper.  “You need me to breathe?  Are you purposefully trying to scare the shit out of my only friend?  Lock it down, Jack.  Now.”

He leaned in and kissed me… hard.  “No.  I do need you and I need for her to know that.  She’s worried about you and has no reason to be,” he whispered.  “I love you.”

He pressed me against the refrigerator, nudging me with his erection. 
Seriously?
  He was hard right now?

“Jack
… guests!” I whispered.

He reached under my skirt and cupped between my legs, over my underwear, whispering, “You’re wet.”

“And you’re fucking insane,” I said, pushing at his chest.  “Can you get the food and stop acting like a crackpot?”

“
Sure,” he said, slowly stroking the inside of my thigh.  As much as I hated to admit it, he was right.  I
was
wet.  I had never been so turned on, with our guests merely twenty feet away. 

He
spread my legs a little further, leaning in close.  Sliding his hand between them, he hooked his thumb around my underwear.  He pushed a finger inside quickly, generating a quiet moan from my lips.