Heart Of Stone (7 page)

She rocked down on him, her muscles tightening, he’d never had a woman take him this way before. Hell he’d never had a woman take him for this long before. He was surprised he was lasting it out. He could feel the walls of her insides as they contracted each time she came and he’d counted at least three times already. She was doing little circles, he could feel the motions as her hips turned and twisted around his cock. His balls began to tighten, the sure sign he was getting ready to come.

“I’m gonna…”

She reached down and grabbed him by the sac, and the lower part of his shaft, giving him a little tug. The sensation sent a shock through him and a pain.

“Ahh, fuck what did you do?” He bucked underneath her, but she kept at him.

“You’re not coming are you?” She smirked.

“That hurt like a bitch though.” He lifted her off of him, putting her back to the mattress.

“I promise to kiss and make it better.”

***

“This is strange.” Matthew whispered pushing a long curl from Donnella’s neck to leaving a kiss behind.

“What’s that?” She murmured, pushing back into him lacing her fingers into his.

“All of this. I’m not sure how I feel about being kept like this, the apartment for one. The money. It’s really a lot. I mean I feel like I’m not going to be doing very much for you in return.”

She rolled over to face him, the moon illuminating her green eyes which seemed to soften. “I lead a busy life, Matthew. I don’t have much time for relationships, and I have even less time for the games that are often associated with dating. And my social status puts me in a spot where everything, and one I do is scrutinized. She crawled on top of him, kissing him as she spoke. “It’s why I do this, this way. I get what I need and so will you. I do these things because the money doesn’t mean much to me. I’ve got enough to spare, I give to charities, to organizations, politicians worth a damn. So why not give it to the few men I decide to spend time with? Keeping them in the lifestyle they should get used to in my opinion. Is that so bad? I think that in time you will earn all of this yourself. I’m just giving you the jumpstart, because it keeps you accessible to me. It’s really rather selfish.” She stared down at him, rocking slowly as he held her by the hips, gently, looking into her eyes.

“The idea of love never occurs to you then? To actually try and make it work with someone? Have what others have had.”

She pulled away from him, wrapping the sheet around herself, as though the question wounded her. “Look, I’ve seen where that can lead you. My father
loved
my mother. Adored her even, and then he lost her. It ripped him apart… Still does. Why should I put myself through something like that? Or better yet. Let me put it to you like this. I’ve never met a man who didn’t look at me and think
jackpot
.” Her features were hardened as she looked back at him, accusing him.

“I can honestly say that those were not my first thoughts when I saw you.” Matthew sat up, reaching across the bed to her. “I have to say that my senses have been bombarded by you.” She smiled shortly, softening again as his fingers met her own. “Sight” He pulled her across the bed. “Touch.” He ran his fingers up her back, and buried his face in her hair. “Smell… Taste.” He kissed her and she let out a moan. “I love that sound.”

7

Hearing Pepper whimper, Matthew awoke before dawn to find himself quite alone. Getting up he quickly jetted down the stairs to find Donnella trying to wrestle her hair clip out of the puppy’s mouth.

“Come here you little minx. Give mama, the clip.” Donnella whispered desperately.

“She doesn’t like you sneaking out any more than I do, apparently.” Matthew said with a tap of his barefoot to the floor. “Pepper, floor.
Now
.”

The puppy dropped the hair clip and ran over to Matthew obediently, her little head down, the nub of a tail wagging slow. He scratched her between the ears. “You’re doing better. Now go
laydown
.”

The puppy ran over to and hopped up on the couch with some help from the cushion he had put there for her to climb up on.

Donnella picked up the clip, examining it for damage. Seeing it was just slimed she dropped it in her purse. “I wasn’t
sneaking
. I was quietly making my exit… In the dead of night. While you were a sleep.”

“Yeah, we call that
sneaking
where I come from.”

“Well I call it, I have work in the morning and no clothing here, so I have to go.” Matthew took her purse from her with a look of annoyance. “What are you doing?”

“Call Harold,
now
.”

“He’s asleep.”

“Probably, but call him anyway.”

She took her bag back, and pulled out her phone, she hit the speed dial. “It’s ringing… Voice mail…”

He took the phone from her. “Harold, Matthew, listen, Donnella had some bad Thai last night and is holed up at my place, could you cancel her appointments for tomorrow, and when you get a chance swing by her apartment for a fresh bit of clothes, she’s gonna need them, I don’t think my sweats are gonna do it for long. Something practical, none of those ridiculous heels,. Thanks bud.”

She glared at him, her posture one of seething. “What in the
fuck
do you think you are doing? I don’t just cancel an entire day! I can’t do things like that!”

“Donnella, you’re the
Boss
, you can do whatever you want. You don’t actually have to be at every meeting. You do have staff who know how to do their jobs.”

“What would you know?”

“Probably more than you realize, but I don’t want to argue with you. For right now, you are going to march back up those stairs, climb back into that bed with me and get some actual sleep. Then in the morning we are going out.”

“I don’t have any clothes.”

“I think Harold will be here before you know it.”

“You’re probably right.”

“You hate that about me don’t you?”

“Probably.”

“Besides if you want me to wear my contacts, you’re going to have to put them in for me.”

“Wait you have them?”

“Yeah, one set. I just don’t like touching my eyes.”

“No needles, doesn’t touch his eyes. Oi vey!”

“Oh are you Jewish?”

She glared at him for the lousy joke.

***

“Good morning you lying dogs!” Harold’s voice blared through the apartment. “Oh look an actual
lying
dog!” He put several garment bags on the couch, and a tray of coffees down on the dining room table. “Hello? Is this a bad time? Because someone woke me up at Three A.M. for clothes and a day off!” He finished in a sing song manner.

Matthew emerged first, coming down the stairs in just his checkered pants. “Hey, Harold, how did you get in?”

“Oh, they all know me here. So they just let me on up.”

“I
see
… Good to know.” He took a deep breath, catching a whiff of the coffee on the table.

“You didn’t have to. I have a coffee maker, somewhere.”

“Yes, but you don’t have the fixings for the espresso machine, yet, and she’s particular. Only drinks Espressino’s, or these
huge
Cappuccinos. The Espressino, I can only get around here, so it’s a treat for her.”

“Okay. You’ll have to write that down for me, along with some other things, I’ll aside you for later when we have the time.”

“I’ll give you my card, just text me. It’s nice to see one of you actually taking the time to want to know.” Harold smiled broadly. “You could be a keeper. But don’t tell her
I
said that. Speaking of which. There’s our sunshine!”

Donnella came meandering down the stairs in a too long for her
AC/DC
T-Shirt that read TNT with Angus Young playing guitar on the front. The length of it had it coming down to her knees as she rubbed her eyes and yawned. The puppy picked up her head and jumped up, running over to her, wagging her nubby tail happily bounding around giving little barks.

Harold couldn’t help but notice her hair down and mussed, she looked like she’d had the best sleep in ages. He was beginning to believe that this Matthew Mayfield really may just be what she needed.

“Whoa, too much too soon.” She moaned, flopping into the couch the puppy getting into her face, trying desperately to give her kisses. “Okay, okay. Go back to sleep.” She laughed, putting up her hands. “Yes, I know you couldn’t sleep with daddy last night. Maybe next time. Okay. Now get down.”

“Pepper.” Matthew ordered. Pepper looked at him, settling at Donnella’s side. “Better.”

“You and a dog? Never thought I’d see
that
.” Harold mused, grabbing the Espressino, handing it to her.

She took a deep inhale and her eyes opened wide. “Is this what I think it is?”

Harold smiled.

“I think I love you.”

“But just for today.”

“Just for today.”

“Of course Miss Stone.”

“So how did my not coming in go?” Sipping her drink Matthew observed as she was all business, rocking his band T-shirt cross-legged on the couch.

“As expected, business as usual, after a few movements of the board. Raquel took the Starkwell meeting. It’s just the crossing of T’s and dotting of I’s so it shouldn’t be a problem. You thought about skipping it anyhow. Franklin and Howard were a little pissed you weren’t going to be around to schmooze with Hilton for the fundraiser at the Marriott, but they’ll survive. I promised them a check was in the mail. With at least five figures.”

She nodded. “Of course, I wouldn’t want their pockets to go empty. What’s the cause this year?”

“Humpback whales in the North Atlantic?”

“Give them fifteen… No make it Twenty-five. That should shut them up nicely. What about Kelly, any word from him?”

“I was going to ask you how that went.”

She shook her head. “Not now, okay.”

Harold swiped on his tablet, with a shake of his head. “Moving on then… The Monet finally got through customs and will be delivered later this afternoon. I don’t know if you want to make an appearance for that or not. It will be later this afternoon. Perhaps this evening even.”

“Keep me posted.”

“Okay, will do. Other than that other matter, you are free to do as you please. Hell you could go on sabbatical, this ship runs its self you’ve got us so well trained.”

“That’s what I like to hear. What are you going to do with a day off?”

“Oh this and that. I do have a life outside the office.”

“Good, I’m glad to hear it.”

***

With Harold gone, Donnella took a shower and slipped into the skinny jeans and oversized sweater he had brought for her. He had also taken it upon himself to bring several other work appropriate attires and undergarments, should she require them. She shook her head as Matthew came in to the room, from the walk in closet, dressed in jeans and a dark blue grey turtleneck sweater. The color bringing out his eyes marvelously. Especially now that he didn’t have those horrible glasses on anymore. It had taken a few tries but they managed to get his hard reusable contacts in. She promised him that they would get him better contacts as soon as possible. By weeks end, all they had to do was get him in to the doctor and Harold was already getting the appointments together for him.

“What are you shaking your head for?” He asked wrapping his arms around her, taking a deep whiff of her hair as she had left it down at his request.

“Just Harold. You’ve not been in this joint five minutes and already he’s got me with clothes in your closet and a drawer full of panties.” She swung a thong from her finger, snapping it across the bed. “Like I’m moving in.”

“Would that be bad?”

She turned around looking at him confused. “You can’t be serious, I have my own place. Hell I have several of them. I couldn’t just up and move in here. I barely know you. Besides you’d hate living with me. I’m a slob. I leave things everywhere.”

“There’s so much wrong with those statements I’m not even going to argue. Today wasn’t going to be about any of that. So just put on your shoes. Did Harold bring you something you can walk around in?”

She held up a pair of soft suede, flat knee high boots.

“Perfect. Let me grab Pepper’s leash, and we’re out of here.”

“Where are we going anyhow, you said you didn’t know the city well, but now you’re taking me out?” She raised a suspicious eyebrow at him as he put Pepper in her pink and purple harness and clipped her bright pink leash to it. “That’s a lot of pink…”

“I didn’t want anyone one calling her boy.” Matthew laughed. “And we are going shopping.”

“That I can get behind.” She smiled taking him by the arm as they left the apartment.

***

Matthew tried to talk Donnella into walking the seven blocks into the meatpacking district as it wasn’t all that cold, but her driver was still outside The Stone Tower waiting. They shadowed her wherever she went, and never left her side. She was too important. She explained, too much money surrounded her for her to just be left alone. Even in his capable hands. So they loaded into the car and were driven to the Chelsea Market on Ninth Avenue. A block long indoor/outdoor market that Harold had recommended with the promise that it would satisfy the foodie in Matthew for hours, and they were dog friendly. Once they arrived the car pulled off, and Donnella snuggled into Matthew’s arm looking around.

“I haven’t been here in ages. My dad used to drag me here on Saturday mornings when it first opened up, back in ninety nine.”

“So you’re not disappointed then?” He tugged on a stray curl that blew into her face as Pepper, led them toward the stalls eagerly.

“No, I like food… Just can’t cook a scrap of it. Pretty sure I could burn water.” She chuckled.

“Well I guess I’ll have some things to teach you after all. And here I was afraid I wasn’t bringing much to the table with our arrangement.”

“Oh, sweetie, you’ve already brought plenty. I can assure you.” She gave him a squeeze, making him stop, bending down to give her a quick and rough little kiss.

Pepper had found them a Farm stand, which was a vendor of fine meats and poultry. After a few minutes talking with the butcher, Sully, and finding out that all of the livestock was local and grass fed, Matthew purchased some ribeye and porterhouse steaks as well as some split bone-in chicken breast. All wrapped in neat brown paper, and tied up with string, he took it from Sully and took a card. Apparently they delivered if you were nearby.

They stopped at spice shops, and a produce stand. Everywhere they went Matthew engaged people, and they in turn obliged him.
Strange for New Yorkers
. Donnella found herself thinking.
But he’s such a genuinely nice guy.

On their last leg, they stopped for coffee and crepes at a bakery, and Donnella ordered one with hazelnuts, chocolate and bananas. The sounds from her enjoyment made Matthew want to find a secluded spot, and he found he regretted bringing Pepper for half an instant, but she was behaving so well. People could pet her and she’d roll on to her back for belly rubs. Getting laughs and squeals from the little children still too young to be in school.

“The big bad Pit Bull.” Donnella teased, watching as a woman walked away, giving Matthew the once over for the second time. “Some nerve on that bitch.”

“Sorry, what was that?” Matthew asked hearing her curse, as he roughed Pepper up with his hands playfully.

“That woman, who just walked away. Here I am sittin’ right with ya and she was checkin’ ya out right in front of me. Makin’ it obvious too. I just think it was fuckin’ rude. I mean look all ya want, but have some fuckin’ class about it.” Her usually perfect pronunciations faltered and she began to sound something more like the New Yorkers from the popular television shows.

“Wow. Your New York shows when you’re
jealous
. I mean I thought I heard a bit that night in the car, and well when we… But now that you’re jealous… It’s all over the place.” He teased. “Say car keys and Khakis. I want to see if there’s a difference.” He nudged her.