Color Blind (Team Red) (20 page)

The mattress depressed as he climbed back onto the bed and dragged my boneless body against his hot frame, fitting me tightly alongside him: breast to chest, belly to six-pack abs, hips to groin. The insistent press of his erection, and the subsequent dampness from the tip smeared across my abdomen, were proof of his desire. The musk of an aroused male, with the hint of lime and cedar cologne filled my nose. The scent that was David, and me. I could also catch the aroma of my own longing as my body heated and grew damp.

David scraped long, impatient fingers through the tangle of my hair. There was a hint of pleasure-pain when he tugged and drew my head backwards, baring my throat to his hungry mouth. He rolled us so that I was on my back, completely covered by his body, pressed against the mattress, unable to move. His knee dropped between mine and nudged, then forced, my legs apart until his hips were framed by my splayed knees. He was being unusually aggressive- I kinda liked it.

His hand drew an imaginary line from cleavage to clit, before he speared his fingers down into the wet warmth pooling thickly between my thighs. “I love you,” he whispered into my ear, right before he drew the fragrance at my throat unto his lungs. “I need you. Now.”

The hand between my legs shifted around to my ass, lifting my hips and tilting the angle. David shifted his weight, and with a sudden press forward, buried himself deeply. My whole body arched upwards with the shock of the thrust, and my breath caught in my chest, as my brain tried to remember how to breathe. I tried to huff, “Oh God!” but I barely had enough air to do so.

He started a rapid, almost violent, rhythm that would have hurt if he hadn’t made sure I was wet enough for him. The angle was calculated to agitate the button of my clit with every movement as he pumped in and out of my pussy in a frenzied pace; his nose still buried in my neck, where my curtain of hair trapped the scent of my juices. Every time he gasped a breath, his cock seemed to swell and he groaned as his desire grew exponentially.

It only took a few minutes, and he tipped me over into pleasure. My body locked into a taut bow, as I gasped one final time. The orgasm rippled over my whole body, while my pussy clamped down on his cock, slowing his movements as he met with more resistance. That seemed to be the final thing he needed. With a last hard thrust, he came in pulsing waves, his body shuddering with the strain as he emptied himself inside me.

It was some time later before David was coherent enough to ask about the pheromone article I referred to. “There was discussion regarding men and women being desensitized to their partners’ pheromones, because of strong, artificial perfumes and chemicals in their hygiene products. A researcher hypothesized people were losing their natural ability to get turned on by their partner’s normal body scents like vaginal fluids, skin scent, and fresh sweat. There was a debate as to whether today’s men and women were more turned on to freshly clean, perfumed partners, or if they would still recognize and react to the body’s natural odors.

“It was an old article from fifteen or twenty years ago, written by some guy in my circle of college friends. I figured, since I rarely wear perfumes or lotion, you would be able to pick up on the smell of my fluids if I placed it behind my ears. Although the article mentioned that many of the participants in the trial seemed to favor perfumes, cologne, lotions, or soaps, I’m not convinced a trial done with a bunch of eighteen to twenty year old college kids was a true sampling.”

“I think it’s safe to assume, that I am a pheromones kinda guy,” he laughed. “Just make sure you take a shower in the morning and wash that nectar off, or you will have men following you all around the house.”

I chuckled and snuggled into the warmth of David’s body, my head on his chest, his heartbeat in my ear, lulling me to sleep.

David lifted my hair over my shoulder as he pulled the zipper of my gown, up the length of my spine. I shuddered under the soft, biting kiss he placed on my nape, before smoothing the loose curtain of hair down my back. Ken and Janey really came through in their selection.

“Hey, Red,” David called out. I assumed our dog was hanging out on the balcony again. “Do you feel up to giving our girl a visual?”

There was no response, but all of a sudden my head was filled with a vision of me standing beside David in my white, beaded evening gown. Once again, I my heart stopped in my chest as I took in the sight of this gorgeous man standing tall and handsome in a custom, fitted tuxedo, the bowtie dangling loose around his neck. He was staring at me with a wide grin, his dimple drawing my hand to his face so I could gently poke a fingernail into the small indentation. The beard and mustache he grew at my request, were trimmed short and neat, shadowing his jaw in sexy stubble. His smile grew wider. “Have you even looked at yourself yet?” He asked.

“Are you kidding? Why would I look at myself when I can stare at you instead?”

“Come on, Gorgeous. Take a look at the dress. Red needs fresh eyes for the party.”

At his reminder, I concentrated on my own image. The gown was a strapless, intricately beaded, white satin sheath that hugged my willowy curves with flattering kindness. David held me away from his body and turned me towards Red so I could get the full picture. The décolletage was cut in such a way my breasts were framed and lifted, a cluster of rhinestones decorating the deep cut of the neckline, drawing my mind’s eye to the shadowed valley between. Janey must have added that glittery accessory after we bought the gown, because it hadn’t been there when I tried the dress on a few weeks ago. The heavy beading weaved decorative patterns through the fabric from the bodice to the fitted, lace-trimmed hem. Thoughtfully, there was a slit up the back that would allow me to move in the form-fitting dress. I was thankful for the stationary bike in the basement, and all those walks that Red and I took, keeping my figure trim and toned, because every flaw would show in this gown.

“Thanks, Red. We’ll be leaving in ten minutes, so load up on water if you’re thirsty. We’ll make a few pit-stops for you, but you may not get a chance to drink again until we are on our way home.”

My world went dark again, as my dog withdrew from my mind. I heard the whisper of his paws crossing the carpets as he, presumably, headed for his bowls in the foyer.

David pulled me into the heat of his body. “You look so beautiful,” he murmured, hugging me tightly. My arms were folded on the large expanse of his chest, and I felt the ends of his tie tickle my fingers. I played idly with the trailing satin ends, and tucked my head up under his chin.

I closed my eyes and breathed in the light fragrance of his cologne, a fresh cedar-lime scent. “Have I told you lately, that I love you?” I whispered.

“Why no, Ms. March. I believe it’s been as long as twelve hours since your last love update. I was starting to feel neglected and rejected. You know how fragile and insecure I am.”

I grinned at his silliness, lifting a hand to run over the sharp angles of his jaw, obscured only slightly by his neatly trimmed beard. Such a beautiful man, with a huge capacity for love. “I love you, David. I love your generous heart, your honest soul, and the focused attention I feel like sunshine warming my face when you watch me. I love the scent of your skin, and the touch of your hands when you hold me. I love the sound of your voice from the husky, sleepiness when you first wake up, to the gravelly rumble when you tell me I’m sexy.”

“You can feel me watching you?” He asked, surprised.

“Definitely. You’ve read the phrase ‘a heated glance,’ I’m sure? You’ve got one. Sometimes, it’s just a prickle along my spine, but other times, I can almost feel an intensity to your gaze. I just ask Red, and he lets me know if it’s you watching me.”

“Is it uncomfortable?” He asked.

“Nope, not at all. Hence, its addition to the ‘things I love about you’ list. I feel cherished, David.”

I received a soft kiss on the tip of my nose. “Since you’re feeling cherished, maybe you will let me give you one of your Christmas presents a bit early? It’s a little something to go with the dress,” he added, with a warmer kiss to my mouth. “Damn, I want to kiss you properly, but Janey would kill me if I messed up your makeup, after she spent almost an hour doing it.”

“Pussy,” I mocked. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a girl.”

He canted my face to kiss me, drowning me in the scent of coffee and mint. The kiss was deep and voracious; tongue, teeth, and lips crashing together. His mouth was relentless, sealed to mine with passion and a healthy dose of lust. He nipped down on my lower lip and held it delicately between his teeth as he drew away from the kiss, tugging gently before releasing the sensitized flesh. My lip tingled. Truth be known, it wasn’t just my lips that felt all tingly. “If I call you a pussy again, will you do that one more time?” I asked with a slightly frustrated groan.

David’s chuckle was deep, and tinged with yearning. “Oh, Lover, if I do that again, I’ll end up fucking you right against the wall. We are expecting company in a few minutes.”

I let out a heavy sigh. He was right, of course; but it didn’t make the wanting any less. “Fine,” I conceded, “but I’ll expect you to make it up to me later tonight.”

“I promise.” A caressing kiss to the temple, and David stepped out of my embrace. There was the sound of a drawer opening, and a moment later, he was standing in front of me once again. I didn’t bother wrapping it. I want to place it in your hand, so you can study it.”

I put out an obliging hand, and felt something cool and heavy drape across my palm. Jewelry? From the size and weight, I was guessing a necklace. I ran the piece through my fingers, noting the raised areas I guessed were gems, woven through some delicate, almost lacy, latticework. “Tell me about it.”

“I’m sure you figured out it’s a necklace. It matches the jeweled pin I had sewn onto your dress.”

“Crap!” I interrupted, “Those are real diamonds? I thought Janey added a rhinestone broach or something.”

He laughed, “Sorry to disappoint, Love. It’s the real deal. A five-piece set: pair of earrings, bracelet, broach, and necklace, all set in platinum. Keeping in mind that you like elegant versus chunky, I went for a nice dainty set. The metal forms into small flowers and vines, with the diamonds being the heart of the flowers scattered over the necklace. Understated, but the more you look, the more you see the beauty. Oh, and the jewelry is like that too.” I could hear the smile in his voice.

“Well, load me up,” I joked. “I might as well flaunt what a great catch you are.”

He gave an embarrassed laugh, “Oh yeah, like you’re such a Material Girl. Turn around, Gold-digger, so I can drape you in priceless jewels.”

I lifted my hair so David could manipulate the necklace’s tiny clasp at my nape. The metal had already absorbed some of the body heat from my hand, so it was comfortably warm when he arranged it over my collarbones in a starburst-like pattern. The bracelet was a cuff design, maybe two inches wide and mostly scrollwork with raised diamonds scattered over the band. I didn’t wear jewelry often, but I had my ears pierced as a child, so the delicate, dangly earrings went easily into the tiny holes in my ears.

“The necklace is perfect with the dress, Lover. Perfect on you. I wanted you to have beautiful things to accent the dress. When I got to the store, this style was the only one that stood out. I fell in love with the whole set.”

“I’ll ask Red to give me a visual later this evening. Thank you, Sweetheart.”

He drew me in for one of my favored, full-body hugs. “Thanks for graciously accepting the gift and not making a big deal out of it.”

“Well, making a fuss would make me a lousy gold-digger, now wouldn’t it? I have a materialistic reputation to uphold” I teased. I caressed a hand over his face, cupping his cheek, softly crushing his beard to ensure I had his full attention. “Money is not an issue for you, therefore, I refuse to blow this out of proportion. I appreciate the gift, but more than that, I appreciate the thought you put into selecting something special for me; something in line with my tastes.”

“You look absolutely stunning, Teresa.” He stepped back. “But, I better touch up your lipstick before Janey kills me
.”

Whether by design or coincidence, my lipstick was the smudge-resistant type that was easy to freshen up. David had to run a quick wash rag over his face, so I assumed he had a little color transfer during that hot kiss in the master suite. So worth it!

Bas, David and I were going over final details for the evening, when Janey wandered out of the second bedroom of the suite. After fixing up my face, she had applied her own makeup in the adjoining guest bathroom.

“Oh My effing God,” Janey exclaimed, laughing. “That is the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen. Red, you look so handsome.”

“Hear that Teresa? I’m adorable,”
Red’s tone was smug, and I’m sure he must be puffing out his chest like a prize fighter.

“Does anyone want to let me in on what she’s talking about?” I asked the room at large.

Janey’s laughter was still edging her voice as she explained, “Bas dressed Red in a doggy tuxedo. A red cummerbund has been fashioned into his dog harness, and his collar has a dickey attached that looks like a ruffled dress shirt front with a black bow tie. I saw the outfit laying on Bastian’s bed earlier, but this is the first time I’ve seen Red wearing it.

“I’ve got to get a picture of this,” she said. “I’ll use my cell phone, it takes great photos. This is your Christmas card family photo, right here,” she promised. I could hear the tap of Janey’s shoes in the foyer as she darted across down the hall (to get her purse?). Geez, when did Janey’s stilettos start to sound like the clicking nails of a Pomeranian? I wondered, as she scurried her way back to us.

“Ok, David and Red, go stand next to Teresa.” It took her a few moments of direction before we were posed to her satisfaction against the window with the San Francisco skyline behind us. “Perfect,” she said after making us stand there for a solid five minutes of snap shots. “I think I got some great pictures.”

“Bas come over here.” I reached out a hand toward the couch where he had been sitting, “You need to be in a few of these too.”

“Hey, those are your Christmas pictures, you don’t need my ugly mug in them,” he protested.

“Bas, you’re my family too,” I told him gently. Then added with a tough edge, “So, get your ass over here and let Janey take my picture surrounded by handsome studs.”

David chuckled as Bas grudgingly joined us for a few additional poses. “You know better than to argue with her.”

“Yeah, but these pictures should just be of you three,” Bas said, referring to David, Red and me.

I balanced against one of his bulging biceps and dropped a kiss in the vicinity of his face, landing on his jawline this time. “You are family too, Bastian. It is important to me that you are in our family picture. The only reason I didn’t insist Janey be in it is because she’s wearing her slutty, club clothes. Standing next to our sartorial splendor, she’d look like the poor, trailer-trash relation. We’ll have to retake some together later, with all of us, for a nice family portrait.”

“Hey! I heard that,” Janey protested. “I do not look slutty.”

“You kinda do, Sis,” Bas told her. “There’s more real estate showing than you’d ever show if Mom or Dad were here. That top is cut so low, I think I can see your navel.”

David had already given me the rundown on the outfit when Janey showed up over an hour ago to help me with my hair and make-up. It’s an outfit she had worn once, a month before my accident, when we went clubbing together in Seattle. Black leather mini skirt and halter-top, accessorized with a pair of kick-ass, thigh-high boots perched on four inch spiked heels. Her curvy figure had been turning heads that night, both male and female. “I have to agree with your brother on this one, Janey. That outfit is pretty wild, but it will be perfect for big city clubbing. Just be sure to wear panties this time.”

My throw-away line had the desired effect when Bas choked out, “What? The Hell, you say!”

“Ha ha,” Janey retorted, intelligently (yeah, just kidding about the intelligent part). “She’s yanking your chain, Brother Dear. This is appropriate for where we’re going tonight. Jason says it’s the perfect thing to wear for the drag show.

There was a considering pause before Bas replied, “Yeah, I’d believe our gay, cross-dressing, leather fetish-wearing friend picked that outfit. I’m even willing to bet Jason tried to talk you into loaning it to him; although, the boots would be too small for those humongous feet of his. Where I’m struggling is that he apparently found it in your closet.”

Janey snickered, “He told me he has these FAB-ulous heels that would go PURRfectly.” My girlfriend’s exaggerated cadence was almost a spot-on imitation of Jason’s flamboyant speech pattern when he assumed his female persona, Jinx. Jason had coached us in proper etiquette of using his female name when he was ‘in the zone,’ so to speak. We were also told that it was appropriate to refer to him as a ‘her,’ when he… err, she was in drag. So confusing, but hey, Jason was our friend, so we could get into the spirit of things.

There was a loud knock on the suite door. “Oh great, that’s probably Ken and the hussy now,” Janey said. “Jinx insisted on coming by when Ken picked me up, to make sure I got your eye shadow done correctly. Sheesh, you’d think she could trust me to do it. Such a Diva.”

“Oh My effing God,” Jinx drawled in her throatiest fem fatale voice. “Girlfriend, you are to DIE for! That gown, and
OH MY GOD
, the
BLING
, are simply stunning on you. And Red, you look so handsome in those ruffles.”

“Am I the only one concerned that Janey and Jinx are stealing each other’s dialogue? I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what Janey said when she walked in,” David mused.

We were introduced to Jason through David, who had befriended him when he was staying at the hotel where Jason worked. I was aware that his sexual preference didn’t define Jason as a person, but I’d been around enough bigoted people to know that it was usually the masculine men seemed the most threatened by a hint of homosexuality. It was a pleasant surprise that David and Bas didn’t fit the stereotype. You didn’t get more masculine than two six-foot-plus, ripped and cut ex-Navy men, or more out of the closet than over-the-top, Jinx. Not only were my guys comfortable enough to invite Jason over to the house for barbeques and occasional dinners, we had even gone out clubbing as a group. Good natured David and Bas even took their turns escorting Jinx out on the dance floor. They did draw the line at slow dancing though- I guess macho does have its limits, I grinned.

“It’s just not fair that you guys are straight,” She complained, with an exaggerated, heavy sigh. “Hearts are breaking all over the city.”

“Hearts, my ass,” David muttered. “By the way, you look great, Jinx. You’ve got the sexy, pouty, Marilyn Monroe look down perfectly. That doesn’t excuse the wandering eyes, though. My face is up here,” he directed, good-naturedly.

“If I haven’t said it already,” Jinx said, suddenly serious, “I really love all of you.”

“Yeah, we know. Back atcha, Vixen,” David said, gruffly.

“Vixen.” Jinx tested the word and seemed to roll it around in her head for a moment. “I think I like that.”

“Well, Jinx, you Vixen you, we need to get going if we want to get you signed up for the drag show,” Janey said. “Check Teresa’s makeup and let’s get our asses out the door.”

The carpets muffled the footsteps as Jinx approached me to check my face. “Great job, Janey.” Jinx leaned in to give me a quick hug, and a kiss on the cheek. She whispered in my ear, “Your man has excellent taste in diamonds, Sweetie. And, even better taste in women. You look gorgeous.”

In my mind, I heard a softly spoken,
“Lights on.”
Just as I returned the hug. Red flashed a visual of Jinx dressed in her Marilyn dress. “I’m sure you’ll knock ‘em dead at the show. Good luck,” I mumbled back, distracted by the sudden onslaught of visual detail. Red panned the room, so I got to check out everyone’s outfits and watch the hugs and kisses as our group split in two.

Ken and Janey were both dressed in leather, ready for their night out on the town. Ken extended his elbow out on both sides, allowing Janey and Jinx to latch on as they strolled together from the suite.

Bas and David, side by side, were heart-stoppingly gorgeous in their tuxedos. Bas was letting his hair grow out again, and its blond length brushed his collar. I was surprised to see he was growing a goatee that framed his suggestive smile. He looked a little bit like Brad Pitt, only sexier. Yum. His tux did nothing to disguise the bodybuilder width of his shoulders and the well-toned body beneath the jacket.

David was a couple of inches taller and leaner, like a basketball player or a runner. His shoulders were not quite as broad as the man standing next to him, but it was easy to see he was in great shape also. He moved with an elegance at odds with Bas’ abrupt, controlled strength.

My dog, pointedly standing where he was reflected in a floor length room mirror, did look effing cute in his tux. I signed a discreet,
Thank you
, to Red for flashing me the mental images and caught the soft wag of his tail before he gently withdrew from my mind. For the first time in memory, I didn’t immediately regret the loss. My heart was full of friendship, and love, and enough visual candy with everyone gussied up that I was content to savor it all from memory. Filing the images away as if my mind were a treasured photo album.