Bittersweet Deceit (11 page)

We moved in unison, first slowly as I rocked my hips back and forth. I spread my legs wider, hitching my hips forward and
gliding in a circular motion.

“Oh, baby, that feels so good.”
He relinquished his hold on my waist and tugged on my nipples.

I arched my back as he thrust into me from below.
My braid swung back and forth as we increased the pace, crashing into each other in our frantic pursuit to merge our bodies. I no longer heard the music playing, so lost in love. The place we occupied together felt transcendent. Back and forth we danced to our own song.

“Mason,” I whispered just before my climax fired.
In the ecstasy of our love making, all the problems in our relationship no longer existed. “Ahhh,” I cried out, tears pooling in my eyes from the intensity. I dropped my upper body against him as my pussy continued to squeeze against his cock.

He wrapped his
arms around my back and waited for me to recover.

The music flowed back into my conscious
ness and I laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“The song. It’s by Texas called
Inner Smile
. It just seems very appropriate.”

We listened to the words for a bit and then he smiled up to me. “You are totally right. Ready to go again?”

“Yes, please.”

“Good girl.” He took the tie off the bottom of my braid and slowly unfurled my hair as he sensuously pulsed his hips under me.

“So good,” I moaned.

He held me
against him, with one arm wrapped around my back, perspiration building between us. With his other hand he gathered my hair in his fist and raised my head up to him. I felt captured and controlled in such a delicious way. We kissed deeply as he sashayed under me, holding on tight.

His erection grew thicker and harder and I knew it wouldn’t be much longer. “How close,” he muttered.

“Take me.”

He groaned into my mouth and I grun
ted back as we climaxed together.

Breathing heavily, we lay in each other’s arms,
gazing at each other.

“That was amazing,” he said,
running his fingers through my hair.

“Beyond,” I said, snuggling ag
ainst his neck. I started to doze and he shook me awake.

“I don’t have much more time.”

My eyes blinked rapidly. “Shall we eat?” I asked.

“I really should get going soon. Let’s dress and talk for a bit.”

“Okay,” I said lazily. Pushing myself up, I stood and retrieved my clothes from the living room. I walked to the
bathroom and deposited them into the laundry basket along with my bra and underwear. After using the toilet, I threw my robe around me and waited for Mason on the couch.

He looked a bit sad when he settled next to me. “I hate to leave you, especially knowing you
’re going out tomorrow night. I would like to see you on Saturday.” He paused for a moment and then said, “Will you be available?”

“I would love to. What time are you thinking?”

“I usually tee off at nine. Are you sure you’ll be home.”

“Of course I will be
, where else would I be.”

He tilted his head down and looked up at me
through his pale eyelashes.

I got the gist. I shrugged my shoulders.

“I have a new game in mind.”

“Oh?”

“Bra, garters, stockings, and a trench coat. Along with the highest heels you have. All black.”

“Trench coat
in black too? I have a gray one.”

“That’s perfect. I really need to go. I don’t want to give Victoria a reason to give me a hard time about golfing
Saturday.” He pulled me onto his lap and hugged me close. He kissed my head and rocked me. “Thank you for tonight. I really needed it.”

“Me too,” I said
and stood up.

“Love you babe.”

“See you Saturday.”

He kissed me briefly and then left.

My heart sunk as it always did when he closed the door. I shook it off and went into the kitchen. I transferred my salad into a bowl and place the other in the refrigerator. Taking water and my food, I sat down in front of the TV and watched
The Big Bang Theory
while I ate.

I cleaned up the kitchen and swept by the
front door. Even though people took their shoes off, dirt still managed to be tracked in. In the bathroom, I got ready for bed.

Exhaustion had set in, but my mind continued to race. In bed, I pulled my journal onto my lap and clicked my pen.

Mason seemed different tonight. The sex was otherworldly and
we were more connected than ever, but it was almost as if he is afraid of losing me. Saturday will be the fourth time in a week that I’ll be seeing him, and that has never happened before. I am lucky if I get to see him twice a week and when he travels even less.

I don’t even know what to write about Stay. He seems like a good guy but I’m not interested in the push and pull Jacqs put herself through being sandwiched between two men.
It was painful just to watch it from the sidelines. I sure hope Bond isn’t back to his usual ways or if he is, he is upfront and allows Jacqs to be free. She and Red seem to be the perfect couple and I could see her marrying and having a family once Bond lets go.

Mason and Stay are so different. Mason is far more self-contained like me. Stay just lays it all out there. I’m flattered but I really need to keep my guard up around
Stay. It would be nice if we could just be friends but he doesn’t seem like the type to back down from a challenge.
I won’t complain that Stay has seemed to spur Mason on to spend more time with me. That’s a definite improvement. Now if I could just get Mason to open up more.

I wonder what he has in mind for Saturday. Who wears a trench coat? I have to assume I won’t be a flasher. Maybe a detective like Sherlock Holmes
, or a spy?

I’m totally excited to see Ed Sheeran
tomorrow night. Dinner I’m not so sure about. I think I’m going wear the new dress I grabbed from the shop. I hope it’s dressy enough. I have to remember to pack jeans and a T-shirt for the concert. Boots, definitely. Maybe the ankle high ones with the small heel.

I still need to call dad. Maybe he’ll be up for a walk Sunday afternoon. I just don’t want to chance that Mom will tag along.
I’m sure he’ll understand. Call him from work tomorrow!

I closed my journal and set it back on my nightstand. With my alarm set, I changed my playlist to my mellow music and closed my eyes.

A
s soon as I arrived at work, with my bag of clothes and the maxi dress on a hanger, I put my stuff aside and called my dad.

“Hey
, sweetie.”

“Hi
, Dad, I’m calling about the walk. Are you free Sunday afternoon? I’d rather avoid Mom if possible.”

“I sure
am and you mother will be gone midday for one of her reading groups. Want to meet at Hollywood Beach, or would you like me to come to you?”

“Hollywood B
each is great. Let’s say one o’clock?”

“Can’t wait to see you.”

“Me too, Dad. Love you lots.”

“Love you more.”

“Bye-bye, daddio.”




Friday
turned into another busy day at Bella and the time sped by quickly. By five o’clock the butterflies were fluttering in my stomach. “I’m going to get ready for the concert,” I said to Samantha.

“Okay,” she said, refolding a pile of jeans that a customer had recently tried on.

In the bathroom I freshened up and washed my face. After applying mascara and a burgundy lipstick, I brushed my hair smooth. I changed into my new Maxi dress, black sandals, and silver dangling earrings.

Back out in the shop, Sam said, “What if you get cold?”

“I hadn’t thought to bring a jacket. The temp has been fairly warm out the last few days.”

“Give me a second,” s
he said and strolled toward a rack on the wall of the shop. Quickly returning, she held a short gray leather jacket. “Try this on.”

“I don’t think it will fit—”

“Give it a shot and this silver bracelet too,” she said, plucking one off the display carousel on the shelf next to the register.

I slipped into the jacket and latched the repeating circles onto my wrist. The bottom of the coat stopped just where the broad lines of the dress changed from horizontal to vertical. “
What do you think?” I asked Samantha.

“You look stunning,” a deep male voice responded. I turned around and found Stay smiling at me.

“Wow Stay,” Sam said before I could respond. “Looking mighty handsome. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think this is a date.”

Stayman looked sharp
in his black dress pants, matching coat, and dark-gray dress shirt. I gazed at him but was at a loss for words. We stared at each other for a second.

Sam saved me by saying, “Stay, there’s a
wire mannequin in the attic that I’d like brought down, and Lane and I can’t lift it. I wondered if you could do that for us. Not now. I wouldn’t want you to mess up your clothes, but—”

As he
removed his coat, he said, “It shouldn’t take long and I’ll just take off my shirt.” He started unbuttoning as both Samantha and I watched as he slowly revealed his chest. Stay slipped out of his shirt and laid it neatly on top of his jacket.

His smooth
, lean torso was highly defined and I got caught staring at his chest. He winked at me and then said to Sam, “Come on and show me the way.”

Once the
y walked away, I glared into the mirror and said, “Don’t even think about it.”

Minutes later, he had managed to carry the mannequin down.

“Let’s put it in the back,” I said, leading the way. “It needs to be cleaned up before it can be out on the floor.” I showed him where to put it. Scanning his physique from his head to his shoes, I noticed that he continued to let his golden-brown hair grow in and chose to where black boots instead of dress shoes. To make matters worse, his five o’clock shadow was incredibly sexy.
Damn, he looks hot. Look away, girl, just look away!

“Here,” I said, holding out a lint roller, but not making eye contact.

Some dust had settled on the front of his pants just over the
zipper area. “You don’t want to help?”

I turned away and said, “Go get dressed.”

“Are you sure that’s your final decision?”

“Very sure.”
My rapidly beating heart settled down once his clothing was back on.

“Are you ready to go?” he asked.

“Let me go grab my clothes bag and my clutch and I will be.” Sam followed me into my office.

“He looks hot!” she exclaimed. “He must really like you. I’ve never seen him dressed up before.”

“Stop it,” I said, making sure my dress lay straight.

“Forget about MM for the night,” she said to me with a serious expression.
She pulled the tag off my jacket.

“That’s not possible.
Thanks for closing up and helping with the outfit.”

“No problem.”

We walked back into the shop and said our goodbyes. Stay followed me out the front door.

“Where’s the Prius?”
I asked, scanning around the parking lot.

“I left her home. I thought I might introduce you to my other girl.
She’s a 1956 Corvette convertible.”

“
Wow, she’s a beaut. The white side coves look great against the shiny, red paint job. Have you had her long?”

“About five years now.”
He walked me around the car and opened the door for me.

“Thank you,”
I said, settling into the red leather seat.

“My pleasure,” he said, moving around the car and getting in. “Is the top down okay?”

“Definitely,” I said, finding a hair tie in my purse and pulling my hair back into a ponytail.

“You look amazing
, Lainie.” He gazed at me with his bright crooked smile that lit up his face.

I stole a quick glance and said, “Thank you. That’s a nice look on you too. Are you going to behave tonight?”

“Not a chance.”

I shook my head. “I don’t even know what to say to that.”
I think I’m in trouble,
I thought to myself.

“Let’s just go and have a good time,” he said, as he drove out of the parking lot.

“I’ll try my best,” I closed my eyes against the cool wind flowing around us. I felt grateful to have the jacket Samantha had suggested. “Where are we going for dinner?”

“
50 Ocean in Delray Beach. Have you ever been there?”

“No, but I’ve wanted to try it. We should go dutch. That place is expensive.”

“Not a chance.”

“You’re pushy you know.”

“Wait until you really find out.” He listed his head and popped his eyebrows.

I decided to just shut up. Somehow he made everything sound sexual and my body
seemed more than happy to be a puppet to his advances. My mind however, thought of Mason and what tomorrow would bring.

I turned on the stereo in the car and found it set to 88.5
, my favorite alternative rock radio station.
Too Close
by Alex Clare was playing.

“Have you seen him in concert?” Stay asked as he drove down the highway.

“No, although I definitely would love to see him live.”

“You should. His show was excellent.”

Once we arrived and parked, I helped Stay close the convertible top and then shook my hair free. We waited for a break in traffic to cross the street to the restaurant.

“
This place is extraordinary,” I said when we walked inside.

“Name please,” the
young blonde hostess asked when we approached the podium.

“Stills for two,” Stay said.

Stayman Stills?
I thought.

“Follow me,” she said.

The room we entered had floor to ceiling windows, deep-blue patterned carpet below and wood paneling with tropical, palm leaf fans above. We were sat at a dark, wood table against the window that gave us a nice view of
lush trees and the ocean in the distance. Stay helped me out of my jacket and pushed the chair in behind me just before the hostess handed me a menu. He removed his own coat and sat across from me, taking the menu from the girl.

“Your server should be with you shortly,” she said and then departed.

“Did you see the bar when we came in?” I asked.

“Yep
, the blue, geode bar top is a real art piece, huh? Would you like to start with an appetizer?”

I lifted my silverware out of the folded napkin and spread it across my lap. “Do we have enough time?”

“Plenty.”

I glanced up and asked,
“What shall we start with?”

“You strike me as a woman who knows what she likes. Ladies choice.”

“Let’s see...” I said as I pursued the menu. “Rock shrimp pot pie, or mussels?”

“
Mussels. There’s more to share. I have a hearty appetite.”

The double
entendre wasn’t lost on me, but I chose to ignore it. “So do I.”

The busboy filled our water glasses
, and the waiter came to our table just after him. “What can I get you two to drink?”

“A
cola for me,” Stay said.

“Water’s good for me.”

“I don’t mind if you have a drink.” He reached out, touching my hand.

I smiled at him and said, “
Water’s fine.”

“Can we get the mussels to start with?” His hand remained on my mine and once again
his peaceful energy radiated from his palm.

When the wait
er moved away, I slipped my hand out from under his and placed it in my lap.

“What are you leaning towards for your main course?”
He looked up from the menu. “I love the color of your hair. What do they call it? Wheat?”

“
Thank you. Light-brown or dirty-blonde usually. It gets lighter in the summer.” I smiled and looked back down at the menu. “It all looks so good. What do you recommend?”

“The scallops or snapper. If you don’t want another
seafood course, the freebird chicken dish is another good one.”

“They all look delicious. How to choose?”

“Shall we share two?”

I smiled. “Sure. I
’ll order the chicken and you pick one of the others.”

“Scallops.
Now that that is settled, tell me something about you, Lainie.” He leaned in over the table. “Are your parents still together?”

“Yes, but I don’t understand why my father stays with my mother.”

“What are they like?” I felt like his deep-blue eyes were busy try to assess what went on behind my hazel green orbs.

“My father is warm and non-judgmental. I wish
I was more like him. We are close.”

“Does he know about Mason?”

If felt strange that yet another person knew about Mason, especially Stay, but it was also sort of nice. “Yes, he knows about him.”

“What does he say about it?”

The busboy returned with
Stay’s drink and I waited for him to walk away before responding.

“
My father’s worried for me. He says the person in my position is usually the one left devastated.”

“He sounds like a wise man.”

I took a sip of my water and said, “He’s like a big teddy bear and I can always count on him. He helped me afford the shop in the beginning.”

“And your mother?”

“If you ever met her, one of the first things out of her mouth would be how she had the perfect figure until she had me. She loves that story and several others that are very unflattering to me.”

“She sounds like a gem.”

“A deep black onyx—maybe—letting in very little light. Her girlfriends love her though. She’s quite popular. To me, she’s always been cold.”

“Brothers or sisters?”

“No, you?”

“No, thankfully. I was plenty enough for my grandmother.”

“Is she still alive?”

“Oh
, very much so. I’d love you to meet her. She’s in an assisted living home, not that she needs the assistance. She just loves all the activities and socializing opportunities. She’s eighty-three and you would never guess it.”

“I can tell you really love her.”

“She’s my only blood I consider family. Bond is like a brother to me, though. I know you don’t care much for him—”

“I’m sure he’s an incredible friend, but when you watch your best friend’s heart ripped out repeatedly, all of hi
s best intentions are lost.”

“I understand,
” he said and I believed he did. His eye contacted became too intense and I looked away.

Smoothing out the napkin on my lap, I asked,
“So tell me, is he about to stray again? Will he be upfront about it?”

“I can’t answer that. Anything Bond tells me is in confidence.”

I angled my head back up. “You just answered my question. I hope when the shit hits the fan, Jacqs can finally mourn the relationship and move on with Red.”