Ending with Forever (9 page)

“I’m working on it,” I reply vaguely. Stew and I are close but I don’t know Andrew well enough to discuss my business matters openly in front of him. And besides, for some strange reason I get this feeling that he’s checking me out like he’s making some kind of comparison. Talk about being uncomfortable. “I better get Bridgette her drink. You know how impatient she is when I make her wait on me.” Stew nods in agreement. “Call me. I want to see you before I go back to Hong Kong. I have some info I want to share with you.” Stew has always been in favor of me searching for my biological parents. Aunt Georgia, his mother, is nothing like Mimi, my
mother
. She’s the kinder and more loving sister. He understands that I was dealt the short end of the stick when it came to having my mother’s affection.

“Hell yeah, I will,” he replies, “and you better not leave without telling me whatever it is that you’re supposed to tell me.”

“Deal. Andrew, it’s good to see you again.”

“Same here. I’ll have to cook up a mean meal and invite you over to our new place,” Andrew offers.

“I look forward to it,” I accept and stride over to the bar. Bridgette’s glaring eyes are burrowing a hole in my back. I can sense it. Maybe if I piss her off enough, I can get her to talk to me. “Dirty martini with two olives and a neat bourbon,” I tell the bartender.

With drinks in my hand, I resume my place next to Bridgette. “Here you go. Exactly the way you like it. Dirty with two olives.”

“You still remember,” she replies with a subtle grin as she lifts the glass out of my grasp and wraps her red lips on either side of the rim. Jesus, she’s so fucking sexy.

“There’s nothing about you that I’ve forgotten,” I admit but she fails to respond to my comment, leaving me disheartened again.

“Hey there, handsome,” a semi-familiar feminine voice calls out to me. I turn my head over my right shoulder to see a busty blond approach me. Shit. It’s Bianca. Damn it. Reaching for my arm, she smacks her cherry red lips right on my cheeks and whispers, “Ready for round two?” Bridgette’s expression turns dangerous as she glares at Bianca, watching her throw herself at me.

“Bianca,” I greet. “This is Miss Longley, a business associate and very close friend of mine.”

She tilts her chin up aloofly and directs a sneer rather than a smile in Bridgette’s direction before attaching both arms around mine. “Hello,” she salutes. Bridgette refuses to respond. Fuck. She doesn’t know who she’s snubbing. Bridgette can chew her down to the root and kill her at the source. I untangle my arm from her grip and sidle closer to Bridgette. “Wes, don’t play hard to get. I’ve already had you—several times,” she betrays me purposely to enlighten Bridgette, pissing her off even more.

“Strange. I don’t remember any of it,” I tell her nonchalantly.

“Strange. Those scratches on your back didn’t just appear out of nowhere,” she counters with her arms folded under her oversized breasts, followed with a sigh.

“Enough!” Bridgette roars. “I don’t give a fuck about what you two do in your spare time,” she reprimands and stomps off furiously, dragging her mink shawl.

“Don’t fuck with me, Bianca. I can be very ugly when I’m crossed,” I warn her.

“My bad. I didn’t know you were involved with anyone.”

“It’s not your business. Don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong,” I caution her one more time and dash after Bridgette.

Where the hell did she disappear to? She can’t get very far in those damn killer heels. Stew lurks from behind and grabs my arm. “Bridgette is with Andrew. He’s trying to calm her down. What the fuck happened back there? Who’s the blond?”

“That blond is a royal pain in my ass. I slept with her out of jealousy because I thought Bradley was fucking Bridgette.”

“Hold on. Why would you think that and how did you find out?”

“It’s complicated. I’ll tell you later,” I evade his question. Stew is one of the most righteous men on earth. He’ll be devastated when I tell him about his greedy uncle’s plan to conquer the world by stealing from Bradley.

“Alright. You better chase after Bridgette,” he insists with a grin full of pity for me. “You’ll need God to back you up this time. She’s really pissed,” he adds.

“Thanks for that, bro,” I tell him sarcastically.

“Don’t worry. That just means she still cares for you,” he enlightens me.

“I hope you’re right,” I tell him.

Bridgette appears much calmer now as she lends her ears to Andrew, who must be telling her a humorous story. The start of a smile begins to spread at one corner of her mouth until her eyes catch hold of me. “Andrew, I’d like a word with Bridgette?” He nods and offers me a consoling grin.

“Don’t leave, Andrew,” Bridgette asserts, folding her arms across her chest and narrowing her eyes at me. “I don’t want to hear anything Wes has to tell me.” This isn’t like Bridgette to behave so childishly. “And if you don’t mind, I’ll need a ride to my hotel.”

“Hear him out and then I’ll come check on you before I leave,” Andrew suggests.

“Fine,” she agrees, “but come back soon.” Andrew nods and rushes off.

“I did sleep with her but it meant nothing to me,” I confess. Being a business executive, she doesn’t like anything sugar-coated. It’s a waste of her time. “You’re driving me fucking crazy. All I want is you but you won’t let me.”

“I can’t. You know that,” she replies.

“I don’t give a shit about losing my company. Let Marcus take it from me if I can have you.”

“It’s not just about the company. He hates your family. He blames them for my aunt’s death.”

“I have nothing to do with that,” I argue.

“Your name is a curse to you. He can’t see past that connection. He believes nothing good can come from you.”

“But you can. Don’t you love me?” She turns her face away and refuses to reply. “Bridgette…please. Give me something. I’m losing hope. It’s been more than three years and I’m still madly in love with you.”

“Don’t make it any harder for me than it is,” she whispers.

I reach for her waist, pull her into me, and force my lips on hers. “Don’t fight it. All I’ve ever wanted is to love you,” I murmur against her mouth. She’s breathless but not resistant to my touch or kiss. “Please. Let me make love to you.” Her eyes soften and she nods with approval, filling my heart with overwhelming pleasure.

T
he entire hair and makeup crew was flown to Fort Wayne to pamper Emi and her wedding party. François, Remée, Engelena and Jez were all present and ready to doll us up for the rehearsal dinner and then again for the wedding tomorrow. I was anxious to see all of them, especially Remée, who I’ve bonded with more closely over the past several makeup sessions. After the rehearsal dinner completed, which was spectacular, Belle brought out fancy gift bags with supplies for the bachelorette party. Hayden did mention that she had to pick up a few surprises before flying here. I was appalled when I pulled out my stripper outfit with matching feather boas, black thigh highs and heels in my exact size. Emi had a similar set in white and Belle’s ensemble was red. Carson wasn’t overly pleased when he realized we were going to party in those skimpy threads without him, but he didn’t object.

Graciously, Devan invited Hayden and Carson to join his bachelor party, which seemed pretty tame compared to Belle’s wild bash. They’re going to a local brewery to have a few beers and then shoot pool and maybe see a strip show. Carson didn’t care to participate. I could see resistance in his dull eyes, but he accepted and rushed off with the men in a Hummer limousine. His stipulation for me was to text him every so often to let him know that I was fine and that I missed him. I agreed and assured him that Fort Wayne is a safe little town. “Go. Have a great time with the boys,” I encouraged as he sped away looking out the window of the Hummer with a jaded expression.

Makeup is fresh and heavy with our hair sleeked back in high ponytails. Our first stop is Naughty Confessions, a sex shop with a pole dancing studio on the second floor. This place is renowned to locals as the largest adult toy store with a huge selection of movies and everything you want to make an ordinary night in bed
extraordinary
. The blushing from my face spreads down to my body as I walk through the entrance with my hooker outfit hidden under a long winter coat. Oddly, the store is completely empty, but I’m still embarrassed. Emi, Belle and the makeup crew, who we asked to join our party, are all giddy with laughter as they point to the varying sizes of dildos and odd contraptions for pleasing both men and women. I’ve never seen so many unusual things and have no idea how some of them even work. Jez volunteers more personal information than I care to know. “My boyfriend likes this one,” he tells us as he showcases a rubber wand with balls or beads running along it.
Nothing like that will ever go inside any orifice of mine.
I cringe at the thought.

“Come guys. We better head upstairs. Belle booked us for a 9:30 intro class for striptease and pole dancing,” I hustle the group. I want to get this done and over with. Honestly, this isn’t my idea of a good time, but I didn’t want to be the lame friend who was a drip at her best friend’s bachelorette party.

“Someone’s in a hurry to learn how to strip,” Belle harasses me.

“You know me. I’m always in a hurry to get naked. Prego, are you ready? Let’s show what a sexy pregnant momma can do with a pole.” I hook my arm around Emi’s and we hike up the steps with Remée and Engelena behind us. François and Jez are sitting out. They both agreed their bodies aren’t agile enough for this kind of fun.

The studio isn’t what I had in mind. There are seven poles attached from ceiling to floor, three in the front and four along the back side. Mirrors covered all the walls with stage lighting beaming down on us. Chairs for an audience, if there was one, are arranged a level below us. Thank heavens all the seats are empty. I could never do this in front of a crowd. A slender woman, toned from the neck down, approaches the stage and introduces herself in a husky voice that doesn’t match her sweet face. “I’m Brenda, your instructor for the evening. Who’s ready to flaunt their sexy?”

“Me! Woot! Woot!” Belle volunteers with her palms in the air as she shimmies her slender model body, making the rest of us roar into laughter.

Brenda grabs the pole in front of her, wraps her muscular legs around it and takes her body for an elegant spin. Wow! She makes it look so easy. I’m floored as I watch her skillfully move up and down her pole. “This is what you’ll be able to do after a few classes with me,” she tells us with a playful wink.
Are you kidding me? I could practice a lifetime and still not be that nimble. Yeah, right.
I’ll be lucky if I can escape tonight with minimal bruising on my thighs and calves or a concussion.

One by one she assigns us to a pole. Belle, Emi and I are at the front of the stage while the other two try to conceal themselves in the back. I stare at my pole, terrified. How will I do this without looking like a total idiot? Emi darts her eyes over to me with a mischievous grin on her face. I wonder what she’s up to. I read online that pole dancing isn’t recommended for pregnant women. She better not try anything crazy. My maternal instinct is to protect her baby.

“Ladies, may I have your attention. Before we begin, I need to go over the safety guidelines, especially for the pregnant one,” Brenda yells out, pointing her index finger at Emi. “After that I’ll show you a few key moves. The music will come on and then I’ll leave you to create your own routines.”
Say what? Did I hear her right?
I’m the most uncoordinated person on this planet and she wants me to come up with my own routine?

“Lil, make love to your pole. Straddle it, ride it,” Belle snickers. “Be one with it.” I roll my eyes at her with a heavy sigh.

“Show me your moves and I’ll show you mine,” I challenge her and toss my coat off the stage.

“Bring it, sister,” she spurs.

“I will,” I answer sassily.

“I’ll let you two get wild with your poles while I go missionary with mine.” Emi adds and we all chuckle.

Over the speakers the music is loud and energetic. My body slowly sways to the rhythm of “Strip” by Chris Brown bouncing off the walls and ceiling. This is Belle’s jam. I watch her drop to the floor and circle her hips sensually as she climbs her pole. She looks like a stripper. Crap, I have no chance of beating her now. Staring at my reflection in the mirrors, I see a pair of long legs covered in black netting and a tightly laced corset with gaudy ruffles wrapped around the midsection pushing my boobs almost up to my chin. If only Carson could witness this for himself, he’d have an untamable erection. My eyes close to imagine his hands caressing me, running the length of my body and whispering dirty thoughts into my ear. I’m so turned on right now. When I open them, his eyes gaze deeply into mine, penetrating my core. “What were you thinking?” he murmurs with one arm around my waist.

“Um…what are you doing here?” I ask, startled, with my back against the pole.

“I’m here for the striptease,” he replies with a sly smirk as his hungry eyes roam up and down my shivering body. “We had our beers, played pool and now we’re ready for the entertainment,” he enlightens with a thick wad of dollar bills in his left hand. He could tuck all night and still not go through that bundle.

“No way. I’m not dancing for you,” I refuse, shaking my head.

“Why not? Would you rather I tuck these bills into someone else?” His dark brows arch for confirmation.

“No,” I pout. “I don’t want your hands on anyone but me.”

“Then dance for me,” he persuades in his sexy bedroom voice.

“But everyone else will see me.”

“They’ll be busy watching their own show.”

“Okay,” I agree with my palm faced out. “Step back. You might get hurt. I wasn’t born graceful,” I warn him with a crooked, pursed smile. He shakes his head in response as his dimple digs deep into his cheek from grinning at my silly antics.

Gripping the shiny pole with my dominant arm, my hips gyrate a few times and then I take one step around the base and lift my legs off the ground to spin gracefully in the air. Brenda called it the fireman spin. The motion lasted about a second, but that second felt like an incredible moment frozen in time. Impressed that I didn’t hurt myself; I decide to stop while I’m ahead.

“Gorgeous. Smart. Kind. And sexy,” Carson compliments with his arms around my waist. “One perfect package. Just for me.” He frames my face and kisses me sweetly on my lips. “I love you,” he mouths inaudibly.

“I love you,” I tell him proudly, free of fear or insecurities for the second time.

Our moment of intimacy is interrupted when we hear Belle and Hayden break out into laughter along with the others. Emi offers the group an encore show of her version of pole dancing with her pregnant belly. With one hand bracing the pole, she does the body roll 360 degrees all around, accentuating her tummy on every outward roll. Her feet never leave the ground when she’s done. I take the wad of dollar bills out of Carson’s pocket, bend down to Emi’s level, and tuck them between her boobs.

“Sexiest dance I’ve ever seen,” I praise her. “You rocked that pole, Lips.”

“You sure did,” Belle agrees and shoves another wad of bills next to mine. Arm in arm we hug each other like old times. My
sisters
, I love them both.

~~~~

Emma’s bachelorette party concluded as quickly as it started. The pole dancing exhausted her while the freezing rain and snow made it too dangerous to be out on the roads. The group dispersed and Carson insisted on driving me to my mom’s place.

“I’ll sleep somewhat better if I know you’re safe,” he tells me as his eyes lock on the dark icy road.

“Thank you for everything.” I reach over to his free hand and lace my fingers through his. My heart is swollen with utter happiness because of this wonderful man. I never knew one person could love another in such a selfless and devoted way and ask for nothing in return. “I know what you did. Emi filled me in.”

“That beautiful smile on your face is priceless to me. You should know there’s nothing I wouldn’t do or give up to hold on to it.”

“I do,” I assure him.

“Good. I thrive on the joy you give me. Before you, tomorrow was just another day that filled a gap in time. I could care less about what day of the week or month it was. With you, I see every tomorrow as a new beginning of us.”

“There you go being Mr. Wonderful again, saying all the right things to dissolve my heart.”

“It’s easy with you. I never have to try.”

“Will you always feel this way about us?” I ask again because I still need his validation. Confidence doesn’t happen overnight.

“Always. You have my promise,” he assures me and then parks the SUV in Mom’s driveway. Carson gets out of the vehicle first and then opens the door on my side. “Be careful. The sidewalk is slippery, especially in those heels,” he cautions me as he walks me to the front door. Mom must be waiting up for me. The door is opened before I can get my keys out of my coat pocket.

“Come in. Quickly. It’s freezing out there,” she tells us as she waves us in.

We both rush through the door and into the inviting heat.
Ah…it feels good
. Carson clasps my frozen fingers between his hands to warm them up. Blowing into his makeshift hand warmers, he asks, “Better, babe?” I smile and nod. The extent of his consideration is immeasurable and I think my mom is starting to see it.

“Carson, it’s too dangerous for you to drive anywhere tonight. The roads are slick and covered with black ice. Stay here. We have a guest bedroom.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he accepts in haste. “Thank you.”

“No problem. Lily, there’s an extra toothbrush in the drawer and some fresh towels in the linen closet for Carson.”

“I’ll hook him up, Mom.”

She stops to examine my face more closely and gives me a disapproving look. If she could see what little material is covering my body underneath my coat, she’d have a heart attack. “You have too much makeup on. Your face is prettier without all that stuff.”

“I agree,” Carson chimes in, hoping to earn brownie points. He’s such an opportunist.

“I’m going to retire. It’s way past my bed time. Good night,” Mom tells us. “I’ll see you both, tomorrow morning.”

“Night,” we say in unison and look at each other with a smile. What’s that saying? When you complete each other’s sentences, you know you’re truly in love. I completely agree.

I lead Carson to the guest bedroom, about five feet across from my room. I flip the light switch so he can see his accommodations for the night. It’s nothing fancy—just a twin bed, dresser, and an old nightstand. With his over six-foot-plus frame, I think his long legs will slightly hang off the edge.

“This is it. Your five-star room for the night,” I kid. “The mattress might be lumpy and there’s a broken spring that sometimes squeaks when you toss and turn. Belle, Emi and I broke it years ago when we pretended we were jumping on a trampoline.”

“It’s all good,” he assures me. “I can rough it for one evening, but don’t ask me to sleep another night without you.” Drawing me into his chest, he unzips my long coat. The breath he takes is slow and deep. “Let me see that sexy body of yours before you leave me hard and deprived,” he persuades. My coat drops to floor, leaving me in thigh highs, heels and my breasts popping out the top of my corset. “Fuck. How am I supposed to keep my hands off you?” He cups one breast in his palm and kneads it like a skillful pottery artist would a ball of moldable clay.

“Don’t fight it,” I encourage him and urge his free hand to grope the opposite breast. “Touch me. I want you.”