Samera
L
ater that evening, Reed and I walk into the airport. Ever since I got back to his hotel and told him I’d be going back to Atlanta with him, he’s been ultraromantic. He holds my hand whenever he can, gives me kisses for no reason.
And even though we could have fucked when we were in his room, Reed didn’t make a move.
Oh, we necked. We got hot and heavy. But Reed pulled away, saying he wanted me to know that he was interested in more than getting me naked.
It’s comforting, really. And in a strange way, turned me on even more.
As we head to the ticket counter, I hear snippets of other people’s conversations.
“What the hell. You win some you lose some. But at least we had fun.” And, “Five thousand dollars! I am
so
going to pay off my car when I get home!” And, “Did you hear about that guy who jumped to his death? I could see everything from my window…”
My stomach curdles. I grip Reed’s arm tighter.
He kisses my temple. “What is it, babe?”
“Nothing,” I lie. “I’m just happy to be here with you.”
Reed accepts my answer. The woman at the counter greets us warmly, takes our IDs, and starts typing into her computer.
A couple minutes later she passes us our tickets. “Ms. Peyton, you have been randomly chosen to go through an added security check.”
“What?” Reed snaps, outraged. “You’re gonna go through our stuff?” I place a hand on Reed’s to quiet him, but he jerks it away from mine. “Jesus Christ, you’re treating us like a couple of criminals. This is bullshit.”
The woman looks offended, but says politely, “Actually, Mr. McLeod, you’re all set. It’s only Ms. Peyton who will go through added security measures. Please head to the right,” she adds with a nervous smile.
I see a large table and a few security personnel. A man is being wanded by a male security guard while a female guard is sifting through his luggage.
“Is this necessary?” Reed asks.
“It’s entirely random,” the clerk explains. “And yes, it’s mandatory.”
Reed huffs.
“It’s okay,” I tell him.
“You’ll need to bring your luggage with you,” the clerk explains.
I nod, retrieve my luggage from the scale, and head toward the security table.
I know it doesn’t make sense, but my heart starts to beat extremely fast. I’m nervous, I realize. Nervous about getting out of Las Vegas without incident.
My God, I’m actually afraid the cops might show up and detain me for questioning in Rusty’s death.
When I get to the security table, I slowly inhale. Are the two security guys eyeing me suspiciously?
“Hi,” I say, trying to be polite.
“Boarding pass, please,” one guy says, his voice as stern as the expression on his face.
“What’s this about?” Reed asks, his loud voice bordering on anger.
“Reed, it’s okay.”
“We’re gonna miss the damn flight.”
The security guard standing in front of me sends a glare in Reed’s direction. “Sir, you need to step back. You can’t enter this area.”
I turn to Reed and place a gentle hand on his chest. “Baby, it’s okay. It’s probably because I changed my return ticket. No big deal.”
I hand the guard my boarding pass, and he instructs me to put my suitcase on the table. I do, then he gestures for me to step forward.
I walk about ten feet forward to a partially enclosed area. There, a female security guard moves her wand over my body.
When the woman is finished, I’m instructed to retrieve my luggage and place it on another table, where a man now goes through my carry-on bag piece by piece. My face starts to flame when the man touches the cloth bag that holds my vibrator. Why I brought it, I don’t know.
“What’s this?” he asks as he feels it, and I know I must turn beet red. I’m sure this guy isn’t a moron, and I’m not the only woman in America to own a vibrator.
He stares at me, waiting for an answer. I roll my eyes. “It’s private,” I tell him.
He narrows his eyes, as though he doesn’t understand. Then he begins to open the bag.
“For God’s sake, it’s a vibrator,” I admit. I meet the man’s gaze head-on, not allowing him the luxury of knowing he’s embarrassed me.
I’ve taken my clothes off in front of countless strangers. So what if this guy finds a sex toy in my luggage?
The man stops short of taking the vibrator out and waving it around. The way he stares at me makes me feel like I’m some kind of pervert. Or worse, a criminal. Looking over to my left, I can almost see the smoke billowing out of Reed’s nose and ears, that’s how pissed he looks. I also see people sneaking peeks at me and my face flushes. They stare at me as though they expect security to announce that they’ve nailed another terrorist.
Terrorist nabbed at Las Vegas airport. Choice of weapon: neon-pink vibrator…
“All right, ma’am. You can go now.”
Thank God, this extended security check is complete.
“Thanks,” I mutter. But I don’t mean it.
Ten minutes later, as Reed and I walk briskly toward our gate, I throw a glance over my shoulder.
Leaving Las Vegas, and not a minute too soon.
Our flight is direct, but because it’s a red-eye I’m totally wiped out when we land in Atlanta at 5:20 in the morning. I never sleep well on planes, and this time was no exception. For a good portion of the night I cozied up to Reed, laid my head on his lap, but still my back and neck ache now that the flight is over.
Having to go through baggage claim before six in the morning is brutal. Especially when all I really want to do is collapse on my bed and sleep the entire day.
Our luggage retrieved, Reed and I make our way to his Ford Explorer. Thank God he’s able to drive.
When we reach my apartment, I give him a soft kiss on the cheek. “Thanks so much.”
He opens his door. “I’ll walk you to the door.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“I’ll do it anyway.”
Reed gets my luggage from the backseat and carries it up the front steps of the town house where I live on the first floor.
I slip the key into the lock and open the door. Reed steps into my apartment. I’m about to protest, but he moves backward once he’s set my suitcase on the floor.
Now he faces me and runs his fingers through my hair before planting both hands on my shoulders. “You know I love you, right?”
I answer honestly. “I know you’ve been saying that for the past twenty-four hours.”
“I’m not just saying it. I do. You’re the absolute best thing that has ever happened to me. I mean that.”
I smile slightly. It’s weird hearing Reed say all this mushy stuff, but still nice. Maybe he finally has gotten it, finally understands.
“Thank you.” I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him earnestly. “I appreciate you being there for me.”
“You don’t want company?” he asks as we pull apart. He raises an eyebrow suggestively, leaving no doubt as to what he’s talking about.
“Sweetie, I’m tired. It’s been a long day, a long flight. All I want to do right now is hit my pillow—”
“Understood.” Reed plants a gentle kiss on my forehead, and I can’t help thinking that he has truly changed. The Reed I knew before would get pissed at my reluctance, storm off and expect me to call after him.
“I’ll call you when I wake up,” I tell him.
“I’ll probably be at the club, but call me anyway. No rest for the wicked.” He grins, the charming grin that originally won me over. “Maybe you can even come see me there.”
And maybe even put in a few hours of work
…I don’t think so.
But I don’t say that. Instead I give Reed a soft, lingering kiss on the lips. “I’ll call you later.”
Reed heads down the steps, and I watch him. Watch as he climbs behind the wheel of the Explorer. He winds down the window and waves at me.
I wave back.
“Go inside,” he instructs me. “I want to make sure you’re safe.”
I smile at that, liking the way he’s being so protective of me.
If only he’d showed up before I got together with Rusty…
I give Reed one last wave, then head inside.
Annelise
L
ate Sunday night, I turn the key as quietly as I can and enter the apartment I share with Dominic. I didn’t call him when I got into town. Didn’t warn him that I’d be home soon.
I tell myself that it’s because I want to surprise him, but my heart knows that’s not the entire truth. I trust Dominic, I really do, but I can’t help remembering how when I returned home from a girlfriends’ trip once before, I found my husband in bed with another woman.
Effectively changing my life forever.
Don’t be silly,
I tell myself as I slowly close the door behind me.
You don’t have to sneak in like this. Dominic’s not Charles. You trust Dom. You know you do.
But despite my little pep talk, I creep across the hardwood floor nonetheless.
The bedroom door is closed. My heart beats rapidly as I approach it. I listen for sound, hear none.
I close my fingers over the doorknob, take a deep breath, then push the bedroom door open.
My eyes instantly land on the bed. It’s unmade, but no Dominic.
Disappointed, I step into the room. And when the en suite bathroom door opens, I’m so startled that I gasp and jump backward.
Dominic steps out. His eyes widen in shock. Will shock change to panic, and will someone else casually head out of the bathroom…
A grin explodes onto Dominic’s face. “Annie!” he exclaims, sweeping me into his arms. “I didn’t even hear you come in.”
Relief washes over me, followed immediately by guilt. I smile and step toward my lover.
“I wanted to surprise you,” I tell him. I snake my arms around his neck. And the next instant, we’re kissing.
After several seconds we pull apart, breathless. Our gazes meet. Hold. We both giggle, knowing exactly what the other is thinking.
I slip my hands under Dominic’s T-shirt and press my palms against his warm chest. “Oh, baby. I’ve missed you.”
His hands settle on my butt. “You saying the vibrator didn’t do the trick while you were gone?”
I stroke Dominic’s penis, which is now erect. “That vibrator’s got nothing on you.”
We start to kiss again, a smoldering kiss with lots of tongue. I grab at his pyjama bottoms, shoving them down his hips. He pushes my shirt up, then my bra. And a moment later, his mouth closes around one of my nipples.
His tongue is hot. Ravenous. I practically melt in Dominic’s arms. “Baby…” I moan.
While Dominic’s tongue plays over my nipple, he slips a hand into the waist of my skirt. His fingers find my pussy, strokes my clit.
Dominic groans. “This sweet, sweet pussy.”
It’s only been four days, but his touch ignites me as though I haven’t had sex in months.
“Fuck me,” I beg, spreading my legs.
“Where’s your vibrator?”
“Who cares?”
Dominic’s lips kiss a path to my ear as he fingers me. His three fingers stretch me, leave me gasping.
“Let’s have some fun with it,” Dominic whispers.
“You’re serious?” I ask.
Dominic pulls his fingers out of my pussy—slowly. He raises his hand to his mouth and laps up my essence. Then he kisses me.
I want to fuck him already. But Dominic says, “Yeah, I’m serious.”
“But baby—”
His kiss shuts me up. He tweaks my nipples, making me entirely too weak for him. When I’m like this, I’ll do anything he says.
“My suitcase is by the door.”
Dominic takes his cock into his palm. “I’ll wait.”
As I watch him, I exhale shakily. I want to take his cock in my mouth.
“Go on,” Dominic urges.
I head out of the bedroom and hurriedly open my suitcase. My vibrator in hand, I whirl around and head back to Dominic.
“There it is,” Dominic says. “My competition.”
“Never,” I tell him.
“Give it to me.”
I raise an eyebrow at that.
Dominic holds out his hand. “Trust me?”
“Of course I trust you. But I also want to do you so badly.”
Now he steps forward and kisses me again. “Oh, we will fuck.” He takes the vibrator from my hand and lowers himself to his knees. “We’ve got four days to make up for.”
Dominic runs the tip of the vibrator over my pussy. Then he flicks his tongue over my clitoris.
I groan and move backward, my body needing the wall for support. Dominic follows me. He strokes me with his fingers, then asks me to spread my legs.
I do, and he runs the vibrator along my opening. I grip his shoulders, knowing what he’ll do next.
But knowing doesn’t prepare me for the intense pleasure the first thrust of the vibrator will bring.
I cry out, dig my fingers into Dominic’s shoulders. He adds his tongue, suckling my clit as he moves the vibrator in and out of me slowly.
“Oh my God.” I writhe my hips and volley my head from side to side.
“Oh, baby. Seeing you like this…you’re so damn beautiful.”
I’ve never been so exposed.
Or so turned on.
Dominic picks up speed, moving the vibrator faster as well as his tongue. Soon I’m moaning and panting and so damn close to what I’m sure will be the best orgasm experience ever.
Dominic stops thrusting the vibrator, and instead rotates it inside me. This feels so…dirty. So…illicit.
So incredibly fucking exciting.
I glance down at Dominic, find him looking at me. “God, baby. Just looking at you like this…I think I could come.”
I keep my eyes on Dominic, watch as he draws my clitoris into his mouth. And that’s all it takes, that delicious visual image, for me to start to unravel. My orgasm seizes me, takes hold of every inch of my body and doesn’t let go until I am moaning wildly and thrashing my head and banging my fists against the wall.
My moans turn into soft cries. Finally Dominic releases me from the torture of his tongue and slowly withdraws the vibrator. My energy spent, I wrap my arms around his neck and slide down onto the floor.
“Don’t tell me you’ve had enough,” he whispers.
He doesn’t give me a chance to answer as he lies on his back and pulls me on top of him. Cradling the back of my head in his palm, he draws me close and kisses me with the passion and tenderness of a man who loves his woman.
My strength slowly builds, my breathing steadies. Ready for round two, I spread my legs over Dominic’s body. He reaches for his cock and presses the tip against my folds. Then he grips my hips and pulls me down on him.
Hard.
He rams me with amazing speed and agility from his position on the hardwood floor. I close my eyes, arch my back, and ride every glorious inch of him.
Dominic reaches for one of my hands and links our fingers. I love the way he always brings intimacy to our fucking. How he makes our connection so much greater than strictly physical.
Opening my eyes, I offer him a faint smile. But my smile fades as he quickens his rhythm and leaves me fighting to catch my breath. Dominic’s grunts intensify, and I gaze down to see his face contorted with pleasure. Any second now, and he’ll be coming.
“Yes, sweetheart,” I murmur. “Come. Baby, come…”
Dominic grips my hips and drives his cock into me. I almost orgasm, but I hold him back, wanting him to come first. But after several seconds I sense a change. Dominic has lost his momentum.
I step up my game. I gyrate against him wildly and tighten my vaginal walls around him. Then I stretch a hand behind me and stroke his inner thigh.
When I don’t hear his breathing accelerate, I stretch my hand farther and massage his balls. Normally Dominic loves this. But today I’m not getting the excited response I typically would.
“Ooh, baby.” I slide my pussy up and down his shaft, hoping that my pleasure will turn him on. Dominic tweaks my nipples, but his touch is different. It’s not frenzied, it’s controlled.
I ease my body onto his, kiss his cheek, his chin, then suckle his bottom lip. And this is when I know that the energy between us has changed and that Dominic isn’t about to experience release, because his cock goes limp.
Pressing my face to his, I sigh. “What’s the matter?” I ask without preamble.
Dominic groans but doesn’t answer. Instead, he guides my body off of his and rises to a sitting position.
“Your back,” I say, realizing what must be the problem. “My knees took some serious punishment as well.” I chuckle. Stroke his thigh. “Let’s finish this on the bed.”
I’m on my feet when Dominic says, “No, Annie. It’s not my back. It’s…it’s something else.”
His words are like an injection of poison. I remember my initial fear when I entered the apartment, that Dominic could be cheating on me the way Charles did.
Suddenly, the idea doesn’t seem so far-fetched.
“Dom?” I croak.
“I’ve got to tell you something. And maybe you ought to sit down.”
A wave of panic washes over me.
OhmyGodohmyGod. I can’t believe this is happening. Not again.
I don’t move. I can’t. My body is frozen with fear.
Dominic gets to his feet and takes my hand. He leads me to the bed, where he forces me to sit. Sighing, he sits beside me, but he doesn’t release my hands.
Clearly he’s going to give me bad news. I don’t understand why he keeps touching me. If he’s going to break my heart, I don’t want him to be Mr. Tender and Wonderful. I don’t think I can deal with that. I’d rather him be a jerk.
My heart is beating so hard, I fear I’ll have external bruising tomorrow, but somehow I find the courage to speak. “Whatever you have to say to me, just say it.”
“All right.” He sighs softly, and I brace myself. “It’s about Charles.”
“Charles?” My heart is still pounding, but damn, I’m confused.
Dominic nods. “I should have told you the moment you came through the door. But I knew that once I told you, you wouldn’t be in the mood to make love, and I just wanted some time—”
“Tell me what?” I interject. “Did he do something? Has the judge changed his mind about giving me half the proceeds from the house? What?”
Dominic glances away before meeting my gaze head-on. “Annie,” he begins slowly. “I hate to have to tell you this, but Charles is dead.”
Complete silence fills the room. I don’t think I even blink as I stare at Dominic for several seconds.
“Annie—”
“Dead?” I ask. “What do you mean he’s dead?”
“It happened late Friday night. Early Saturday, really.”
“An accident? What?”
“No.” Dominic pauses, then says, “Annie, he shot himself.”
Now I gasp.
“I should have called you in Las Vegas, but I didn’t have the heart to tell you that way, over the phone while you were on vacation.”
Slowly I stand.
“Are you okay?” Dominic asks me.
I don’t answer. I’m not sure what I feel, really, other than profound surprise.
Hugging my torso, I head for the window. It’s dark outside, but I stare out at the trees nonetheless. Stare and try to make sense of the reality that Charles took the coward’s way out.
Dominic’s hand clamps down on my shoulder. I don’t even jump, that’s how numb I suddenly felt.
He turns me to face him. “Annie, are you okay?”
“I’m absolutely fine,” I tell him. “Couldn’t be better.”
He flashes me a look that says he knows I’m lying. “I don’t believe that.”
“Why wouldn’t I be okay? Charles is a loser. If he’s taken his own life, well, at least that will spare the city of Atlanta a long and ugly trial.”
And words I said only yesterday pop into my mind. Words I said about Rusty.
If he jumped…well, he chose his fate.
My God, I’d been so callous when I’d said those words. So…so lacking any sense of empathy. I’d thought only about my sister, how she’d been hurt, and my relief that she’d been okay.
Then I remember something else. The bad feeling I’d had that entire morning, fearing something was terribly wrong. Even after I’d seen Samera, the sense of foreboding hadn’t truly left me.
Suddenly it’s like a lightbulb has gone on in my brain. All this time I was sensing something bad about Charles, not Samera.
And what a horrible coincidence that Rusty killed himself the same day that Charles did.
“Annie?”
“What?” I bark.
A wounded expression passes over Dominic’s face, but he quickly recovers.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him. “I didn’t mean to bite your head off.”
“I know.”
“I’m not mad at you.”
“I know.”
“On the plus side, you don’t have to worry about the trial driving us apart,” I say, trying to be funny. Instead my voice cracks.
Dominic wraps his arms around me. “Annie.”