My lucky Strike (2 page)

“Stalker,” she said, and pinched a spinach
leaf, chewing on it before her next sentence. “How do you do it,
did you attach a tracking device while I wasn’t watching?”

“Damn, I never thought about that one.” I
faked regret and moved close enough to give her a lingering kiss on
the lips, they froze—no response from her part. But her eyes went a
little green with a few speckles of brown. “Paid that friend of
yours.” She arched an eyebrow, grasping her fork tight.
“Serendipity. And it brought me my lucky strike.” I winked at her.
“Charged me an eye and leg to set this up, now can I get a
name?”

A sincere laugh began, and continued for
minutes as she hugged herself tightly with both arms. It satisfied
me to see her smile that way. She seemed the kind of person who
took everything too serious when others watched.

“Name.”

“You seem like a nice guy.” I hated the
speech, the nice guy got turned down and then the hot guy scooped
the girl. But wait, in my experience, I was the hot guy, why was
she turning me down? “I told you once, you don’t want to deal with
this,” she said, and waved her index finger around herself. “I’ll
give you my name, but then I might have to kill you. You, being a
hero, won’t allow it and things will get bloody and messy. Let’s
avoid the drama and gory scenes, skip the trailer and move on to
the finale where you walk towards the sunset—alone.”

I didn’t get a name, but I convinced her to
give me a couple of hours with her. It took me a glass of wine and
the promise of decadent pastries. We stopped at different stores to
admire the local products. She bought a few scarves, a pair of
shoes, hair knickknacks and souvenirs, all in cash, and none of her
cards or identifications showed inside her wallet.

Before I could make a move, Mitch called,
reminding me we had plans for the evening and I couldn’t cancel
them. Fucking Serendipity, he loved to tease me. Once again she
refused to give me a name and a number. “Let it go.” She crinkled
her nose. “Life happens. There’s a reason for everything. Now, move
on, Pretty Boy, and stop those stalkery tendencies.”

Her speech annoyed the hell out of me, and I
shut her up with a kiss. Gentle at first. I explored her lips and
got them used to mine, and continued with some pressure as my
tongue begged to be let inside, gliding slowly until I met hers and
had a quick playdate. Our mouths synchronized with each other,
producing enough pyrotechnic material to ignite the entire European
continent.

“Until next time, pretty girl.”

Next time wasn’t as long as the others;
Serendipity put her next to me, in The Ritz Hotel. Liam held his
stupid office celebration, and I second guessed being a silent
partner. I had arrived late, but obligated I made my way to him and
gave Liam a quick apology. I then headed to the room I had reserved
to change into my formal attire.

“This sucks.” An angry puppy wearing a pretty
yellow dress kicked the door of the room next to me with her pointy
yellow shoes and cursed. “Two keys, next time ask for two. You
demagnetized it―again. They’re going to think you’re stupid and
crazy for talking to yourself.”

~
Emma~

I wasn’t counting on seeing him again, but
darn Destiny put him in front of my hotel bedroom. While I fought
with the key and the door, another demagnetized badge to add to my
Brownie vest.

“I’m on duty,” A voice came from behind.
Great, pretty boy’s going to laugh, or worse kiss me until I
lose my mind. Yes please.
“The way I see it, you have two
options. One, we go downstairs and get you a new card, or you can
sleepover next door.” He wiggled both eyebrows. “We can continue
that kiss the rude pedestrians interrupted.”

Can you say blunt?
H
e remembered
the stupid kiss, who wouldn’t. If those are his kisses, I can only
imagine what he’ll do during the sleepover. Dangerous territory,
did I remember how to do it? Wait, is he timing me? Cocky boy, now
he’s whistling the jeopardy song.

“You’re looking for more than a sleepover,
right?” I scratched my nose and crinkled it. He look up to the
ceiling searching for spiders, checking the structure or praying
for strength. Maybe he would give up and decided to turn around,
regretting he asked me to sleep with him. Longing, and the need to
share something with him, pushed me to make a decision so unlike
me. “I can’t fight it, what are the odds. This is what, four, well
technically three since I saw you earlier today. I should’ve
skipped the party and stayed, decision making is a bitch. How much
did you pay destiny―because, man, you are consistent.”

His grin, followed by a few movements to open
the door of his room, made my legs wobble. Yet, I followed him
while my mouth mumbled more nonsense. “You got protection, pretty
boy, because God and you only know where you stuck that thing
before me.” A smooth way to remind him about condoms, right? “No
names, this is a once in a lifetime event. I don’t do
complicated.”

“Have you done this before?” He closed the
door behind me.
Yeah, but with a normal guy, not godlike boy who
has the power of… make me forget my… where am I?
“Because I
don’t want to—”

“Take my V card?” I laughed, hiding the
nerve-wracking moment. Would it be stupid to confess that I did it
after our first encounter, because if a situation like this ever
presented, I didn’t want to be unprepared?
No, don’t be stupid,
Emma.
“Believe me you won’t. I’m twenty one.” I gave him a
proud look while he frowned.

“Not twenty five?” I shook my head. Since I
turned twelve my body and face had always said older. “Twenty
one….” his Adam’s apple moved slowly.

I nodded. “And you?”

“Twenty six.”

“That’s nothing, and I’ve done it a few times
before today.” I pushed my nose making sure it didn’t grow.
“Though, my experience is limited to normal stuff. I’m not into
weird things, like my sister. She… well, started too early in
life—fourteen,” I whispered. “Oh boy, when Dad caught her having
sex with two guys... Luci wanted to hire him as his right hand
guy.” His frown deepened. “Lucifer,” I clarified, “as in the fallen
angel—the one who runs hell. Anyway, last time I heard, she enjoys
pain and all that fancy stuff. Or might be a rumor—we don’t talk to
each other. But I’m game for the normal.”
I think?

“You’re uncomfortable,” he said. I felt my
eyes open wider and my gut convincing me to jump from the window.
Did he noticed? “I’ll get you a new key card and we’ll forget about
this. Don’t get me wrong, I’m also into normal stuff, no pain or
other guys involved—I don’t like to share. And I like you—a lot.
But you’re nervous.”

“Wouldn’t you be?” Wasn’t it obvious—lack of
godliness experience aside. “The kiss, come on, pretty boy. You
swept me off my feet, got my panties excited and wow. You've got
experience. I don’t. I've only gone through basic training—very
basic.” I stretched the last two words. Would he notice that I
barely lost my hymen and never felt the
orgasm
? He looked at
me twice, and I didn’t know if he liked the idea or wanted to run
the other way. Yet I continued making a fool of myself. “Guy on top
of girl, a few movements and voila. I can’t promise I’ll do much
for you.”

“I’ll take you through the basic training, a
refreshment,” he said, and smirked.

Aware of how fast my heart beat inside my
chest, I wondered if this would kill me. As he approached, I felt
my insides twirling for him. Pretty boy wrapped his arms around me
and kissed the hell out of me, until I forgot everything but him.
His hands slid from the base of my throat, through my shoulders,
arms, hands and hips. Then going up along my back. I wanted to
combust, while my senses begged for him to stop or do something to
take away the ache. As he reached the nape of my neck, he unzipped
my dress and grabbed the fabric pulling it up, breaking the
kiss.

“So pretty,” He said, looking at me in awe.
Left with a skimpy thong and my bare breasts, I felt gorgeous.
How, when did he take off my bra?
He kissed my neck, then
flicked, licked and sucked my skin; shoulders, breasts, arms,
tummy. My body began to tremble and beg for more or for him to
stop. I gripped his shoulders to keep myself steady. But then I
wanted to explore him. Those strong biceps matched his eight pack
abs, and his penetrating green eyes devoured mine, making me want
to expire. “Bed,” He gasped, and gently pushed me into it. “You’re
ready for me, babe. Lesson number one. Scream while I take you high
enough with my fingers.”

Saturday flew by with multiple screams;
Sunday made me want to be his slave; Monday was when reality kicked
in.

“No names, no numbers and let Serendipity do
the job,” I said, and winked while I went back into my own room
with the new key he had requested from the front desk.

I arrived at K&W, where Suzy, one of the
creative executives, introduced herself and gave me a warm welcome.
After the brief tour through the four floor brownstone that housed
K&W and some other businesses, I set up shop in the conference
room. Liam Knight introduced himself an hour later, apologizing for
the inconvenient wait—family issues. The man reminded me of
someone, the chiseled features, but this man had amber colored eyes
and brown hair. I disregard my infatuation with Mr. Perfect-sex and
began to discuss accounts.

“Jacob, what the hell?” Liam fumed when the
door opened. “Do I interrupt your meetings … no, leave my employees
alone.”

“Surveillance, I’m a genius,” the voice that
told me earlier during our shower
‘that’s right baby scream for
me’,
said. “Yes, you may call me stalker, Miss….” Jacob
grinned.

“Anderson,” Liam said. “Go away.” His eyes
about to leave their sockets. “Jake, we have a fucking
agreement.”

“Met her before, little brother.” He tilted
his head and gave me a blissful smile. “Elevator-airport girl. Give
us five,” He ordered.

“Jacob Knight,” he said, and extended his
hand and pulled me into an embrace. “Your turn, Miss Anderson. My
little brother isn’t famous for his patience.”

“Emma,” I said. Then he possessed my mouth,
taking me back to the same place, lust-land, where we shared an
unforgettable weekend. I stopped and pushed him a little to talk
some reason. “Once in a lifetime.”

“That was before, baby,” he said, and cupped
my face. “I know, no complications, light and easy. London’s home
for me, we’ll compromise. I’ll visit, you’ll visit.” He gave me
another kiss and I wanted more after it. “Serendipity, can’t fight
it. When I checked the surveillance for the shift change, I
couldn’t believe my eyes. I got you.” He set his forehead over mine
and caressed my hair. “You and me tonight, dinner and a sleepover.
We’re moving you to my flat for the remainder of your trip. Same
wave link, light and uncomplicated.”

Why argue with what meant more mind blowing
sex, and him. Jake Knight made me addicted to his arms, touch,
voice and hugs since the first time.
Light and
uncomplicated.
We began the first relationship I could handle
since my parents died.

Getting by

Waking up from my pleasant dream where the
auburn pretty girl and I ended tangled as one, I began to touch the
bed. Her side of the bed being empty made me spring up and search
for her.

“Morning, pretty girl,” I said, as I spotted
her dressing into her running gear, and I assumed we’d be going for
a stroll in the city—or Central Park. Though, her serious face told
me the opposite. “You ok?”

“I can’t anymore,” she said. Not a muscle
moved in her face, steady green sad eyes, and dry face—she never
cried. “Light and uncomplicated, we agreed. My life’s crazy at the
moment, and I can’t add you into the mix.”
I’ve been in the mix
for two freaking years, Emma.

I grabbed my boxer briefs from the floor, and
scratched the base of my skull. My gut told me something was wrong,
when I woke up alone. Ever since her grandfather’s accident she had
become distant. I learned it was possible for her to detach even
more. I regretted not flying into Connecticut and barging into the
hospital to be next to her. It had been a mistake to give her
space.

The self-reliant crap she announced on a
daily basis was the thickest iron wall between the two of us. At
the beginning it didn’t bother me, but after so many months of
seeing Emma, I wanted to find a way to melt the metal and be closer
to her.

“
Jay, Emma’s grandfather is in the
hospital,” Liam called me as soon as he found out. “She canceled a
conference call and asked me to give her a few more hours to send
me tomorrow’s presentation. Which in Emma’s language means it’s
bad.”

“
Emma,” I called her without thanking
Liam. Staggered to learn she had more family than the kinky lost
sister. “Babe, Liam told me you’re in the hospital, do you need
me?”

“
Hi, Jake,” she said, after a long pause,
with a cool voice, as if I asked how the weather was in New York.
“Don’t be silly. Why would you come? He just got out of
surgery—grandpa—nothing complicated. But tell your brother not to
worry, the presentation is almost ready and will be there in
time.”

Work, her defense mechanism, came out before
I could continue the conversation, and then as if I was a cheap
telemarketer offering to switch her cellular plan, she hung up on
me. I barely spoke to her while she remained in the hospital next
to her family. We texted a couple of times and agreed to meet when
she returned to New York. Still, I flew back to the states and
waited for her distress call. It never happened—Emma didn’t need
anyone.

“I’m here to help, baby,” I tried to reason,
before she continued with the ridiculous break up.
Show her you
could handle complicated
. Darn, I handled her for a long time
and she wasn’t an easy ride. Emma shook her head. I saw red,
what happened to us
.
How could she break up with me when
we’re doing alright? Of course, we weren’t a real item, just a… we
never had a title.
Don’t leave me
, I wanted to beg. “Are
you shutting me out, babe, just like with your grandfather’s
fall?”