Stranger (7 page)

“Which is exactly why we’re going to talk about the Halloween party.  I had some ideas for costumes that are absolutely perfect for you, Elizabeth.”  She looks so excited.

I can’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm but my sensible side is makes me reign her in.  “First we need to talk about that, tell me about the party before I agree to go.  I’m not going to some wild and crazy thing.”

She laughs so hard she has to put her tea cup down so she doesn’t spill it all over.  “You know I’m not like that.  No, it is an industry gig, and I know you’ll recognize some people from Safe Haven but there will be more professionals there besides grips and crew.  It’s on Friday, Halloween night at the Wilmington Hilton Riverside, the studio rented out some space.”

Now I have to put my cup down not believing what she just told me.  Elsie looks at me and she can tell that something is up.

“What is it, Liz?”

I look at her and just smile as I remember walking through the lobby of the Hilton with Marco the other night, and the feel of his hand on my back sends tremors through my body making me catch my breath at the image in my mind.  The memories are beginning to feel like a distant dream, the only thing keeping them a reality is my body’s reaction to them.

“I was just there the other night.”  I can’t hide the smile that creeps across my face.

“Oh, you dirty little thing, tell me everything!”  She inches closer to me with excitement written all over her face.

I laugh, “It’s no big deal really, I met someone at The Reel Café Friday night and he was staying there.”

“Don’t give me that shit, last time we were together you were coming out of your marriage and had practically secluded yourself on a deserted island.  Now spill it!”

“Okay,” I give in, “it was the most amazing one night stand I’ve ever had.”  I tell her how he followed me out and how I went with him not even knowing his name.  And about the night of erotic pleasure he gave to me, the look of sensual satisfaction still lingering in my eyes.

“But I’ve got to say, El, to me it seemed like sex to this man is an art form that he’s mastered and the female body is the canvas that he uses to create his masterpiece.  Or a musician and I was his instrument that he played perfectly knowing just where and how to touch me.”  I envision in my mind his hands, fingers, mouth, tongue, teeth on my body putting together the symphony of my desire. 

“Damn, this man must be something else for you to give in to him, Elizabeth.”

“He was the most stunning man I have ever seen, but it was more than his looks, it was him, the raw sexuality, the power, the confidence, everything about him that just oozed from him.  I wanted to drown in all of it.”  I look her in the eyes and say, “And I did.  I would do it again, all of it and more.”

“Fuck, if you ever see him again, ask him if he’s got a brother.  I want to take a swim in that ocean of ecstasy.”  Elsie fans herself and I can see her face flush just from my words.  We look at each other laughing at our obviously spiking libidos.

“Now, let’s talk about costumes, Elizabeth,” her eyes become animated as she begins to lead me into her world and we talk about them for an hour before I leave and I find myself looking forward to something in the future for the first time in a long while.

Lunchtime Wednesday I’m feeling pretty good.  I’ve written some nice policies and have a few more prospects that look very promising.  I’m sitting at my desk starving and wondering what I’m going to have to eat for lunch while talking to a client on the phone when my phone alerts me with a text message.  I decide to wait until I hang up because I’m already distracted with my hunger and the ramblings of the person on the other end of the line.  I need to pay attention to the details the client is giving me.  After a long while of trying to keep him focused just on the information that I need to prepare his quotes rather than his life story I hang up and check the message.  The guy was going off on tangents from his past, to his move down here, the ice storms we had last year, to his neighbors, anything that entered his mind he talked to me about and I had to listen and tactfully steer him back.  Sometimes I wonder if the conversations we have with some of our clients are the only interactions with another person they have during that day, it’s the least I can do to show them some kindness and attention.

“Oh, my God!”  I can’t contain my surprise and Carol pops her head in as she’s heading out the door.

“What is it, bad news?”

I look up at her with a stunned expression on my face still holding my phone.

“You know Mr. One Nightstand from Friday?”

Her eyebrows pop up to her hairline and her jaw hits the floor.

“Marco?”

“Yeah...” 

I hand her the phone to let her read the message because I still can’t believe it myself.

Hi baby, I miss you.  I got your number off your phone.

She looks at me and I just shrug my shoulders like, ‘I don’t know’.  She goes back to reading.

Tonight, dinner 6:00 at Aubriana’s.  I’ll pick you up.  Marco

Carol looks at me and I stare back, both of us shocked.

“Are you going?”

I think about it.

“Yeah, I guess.”  And we both burst out laughing.

“Damn, girl, you must not have been so bad yourself!”

“Shut up!”  I laugh at her, turning red.  I wear my emotions so plainly all over my face there’s nothing I can hide, I’m such an open book.

“I’m just saying...,” she throws over her shoulder on her way out the door.

I send him a short message.

Well, well, I suppose I can make it
.
~ Elizabeth

The phone dings immediately with a reply.

Hahaha, I would be very grateful
.
Yours, Marco

How grateful? ~ Expectantly, Elizabeth

On my knees grateful, baby. Sincerely, Marco

You’re very good on your knees. ~ Appreciatively, Elizabeth

You have no idea yet, love. Promising, Marco

Holy shit!  I might need to go home and change my panties.  I don’t think they’ll make it through the rest of the day.

The rest of the afternoon drags by probably because I keep checking the time every five minutes, I’m been so excited I couldn’t sit still and I’ve been smiling for no reason at all.  Maybe that’s not true, maybe it was because visions of Marco keep dancing through my head and all of the glorious things he did to me.  Its 4:45 and I sit contemplating on whether or not to send Carol an IM.  ‘Is it necessary?’  Well, it’s better to be overly cautious now than be sorry about it later.’  I can’t take any chances, I know I shouldn’t see him again anyway but I can’t resist him, I yearn for him so badly it hurts.

PLEASE don’t tell anyone.

Don’t worry, sweetie, you’re
safe with me.


Thanks

I get the feeling Carol knows more about me than I think she does.

I’m already sweating and a nervous wreck before I even leave the office at 5:00.  And I still have an hour until I’m face to face with the stranger I think is God’s gift to women’s bodies.  I say a quiet thank you that I can see him again although I’m fighting with myself, one side saying stay away and the other side getting her prettiest lingerie out of storage.  It’s so glaringly obvious which one won.

I love my home.  It’s a two bedroom attached section of a historic mansion that was built around the turn of the 20
th
century.  The high ceilings with huge windows make the interior spaces feel majestic.  The original hardwood floors have been redone in a deep dark brown with the worn pathways throughout making it very homey.  I kept the walls painted white and covered them in black framed family photos.  There is an original fireplace that was closed off long ago so I’ve filled it with candles.  The furnishings are muted white, cream, black and brown with pops of color in accessories.  My couch is invitingly big and overstuffed with a set of antique captain’s chairs on each side which I redid in cream velvet fabric with the wood in ebony stain and lacquered.   The dining table is also antique with the same wood refinishing and matching cream velvet covering on the chairs.  The kitchen has stainless steel appliances with the breakfast bar and kitchen countertops in black granite.  The cabinets are also white with brushed silver pulls. It’s feels like a refuge more than an apartment to me.

I rush in at 5:15 frantic trying to decide on what I’m going to wear.  I wore my hair pulled back in a tight ponytail today, great day to pick that hairstyle, so there isn’t much else I can do with it now.  The ponytail will have to stay but I can pull up a little on the top of my head for height and to dress it up a little bit more.  I decide on a brown jersey-knit body hugging dress that’s scooped low in the front with brown leather stiletto boots and a thin brown leather belt around the waist.  Perfect, not too dressy but sexy.  I jump in the shower hoping I don’t have to shave.  At 6:00 on the dot as I’m putting on the last touches of makeup the doorbell rings and I jump. 

“Get a grip.”  I repeat the mantra over and over as I go to answer the door.

He takes my breath away the instant I open the door, I’d almost forgotten how beautiful his chiseled face is. He’s dressed in perfectly fitted jeans and a snug black cotton T with black Italian driving shoes on his long feet. His dark hair is combed back and still damp from a shower. And he smells divine.  This man definitely has a natural sexy sophistication and confidence that would seduce any man or woman, straight or gay.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Mr. James Bond, man of mystery,” I smirk.

He laughs deeply and takes a step through the door closing it behind him then pulls me close.

“Well, Elizabeth, I couldn’t give up all of my little secrets now, could I?  You would get bored with me so quickly then.”

“Marco, I don’t think there’s a boring bone in your body.”

“And certainly not in yours.  You look absolutely beautiful.  And thanks for meeting me on such short notice.”

I roll my eyes playfully.  “Well, I had to move some things around so I could fit you in but I forgive you this time.”

“And I completely intend to show you how much I appreciate it but right now we have reservations.  Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, just let me grab my bag.”

I turn to go but he pulls me back to him.

“Wait, baby.  I’ve been dying to kiss you since you walked away from me the other day.”  And just that little bit sends a wave of heat through my body.  Both of his arms wrap all the way around me holding me tightly to him as mine reach up around his neck.  The kiss is long and deep and full of hunger.  We finally come up for air and he rests his forehead against mine still holding me to him.

“Hi,” he breathes smiling deliciously at me.

“Hi,” and I melt at his look.

“I missed you, Elizabeth.” His arms tighten around me and my heart jumps.

I hesitate.  What do I say?  I can’t tell him what I really feel.  ‘I missed you too, you’ve been the only thing on my mind.  I can’t wait to feel your body against mine again.’  I can see he notices my hesitation as different emotions passing quickly through his eyes.

“We’re going to be late for the reservation,” I say quietly.   It’s all I can manage.

“Yes, you’re right.  Let’s go, I want to show you off.”

A slight ripple of alarm goes through me.  ‘There’s nothing to worry about it,’ I tell myself and push it aside.

“So, tell me Mr. Bond, why didn’t you
ask
me for my number?”

He cocks an eyebrow pausing.  “I wasn’t sure if you’d give it to me and I don’t take no for an answer.  I wanted to see you again, Elizabeth.”  He looks at me as if to challenge his reply.  I don’t and just let it go.  There is no reason for us to get any further than this and I think there could be so much in his answer, I can’t help but feel happy about it and I force myself not to overanalyze things.  

He leads me down the walkway with his hand going around my shoulders as mine automatically goes around his waist, my thumb hooking through his belt loop, our actions so natural, fitting together comfortably and intimately as if we’d done this a million times.

“Would you like to walk?”

It’s dusk and the air is cool and fresh, a night that makes you feel alive.  The sunset is a vibrant orange red glowing against the clouds as the wind pushes them along and the moon is a whisper through the darkening blue sky.

“Yes, it’s beautiful out.”

“Yes, it is,” he quietly answers, his face so close to my profile I feel the contrasting warmth of his breath on my skin and I turn my face to his smiling, his lips brushing mine.  It’s been so long since I’ve felt truly appreciated and wanted by a man and I feel beautiful with him.  I can’t help it as a little piece of my guards fall away.

We arrive at the restaurant and the maître d asks if we have reservations.

“Yes, Kastanopoulis.” 

I didn’t want to know any more information about him but at the same time I’m dying to know all of his little secrets and everything that makes him tick.  What his favorite foods are, if he’s a beach or a mountain person, does he like to read or watch tv?