The Brute & The Blogger (7 page)

T
he final week at the office was very quiet.  Tino avoided her and she stayed the hell out of his way.  She completed all of the required articles and emailed them to him and never got a response.  Wednesday the strain was taking its toll and several people inquired if Friday was her last day. It would seem many wanted it to be that very second.

Jeremy came into her workspace, “Ebony, if you have wrapped up everything, you can leave and head back to your normal job.”

It was official.  Everyone in the office hated her. “Okay, just let me say goodbye to Mr. Boehner.”

Jeremy’s hands flew up in the air as if she had asked to borrow a million dollars from him. “Not necessary.  I will walk you out.”

She was escorted out like a prostitute at bible study. No goodbye, no farewell, not even a screw you Ebony Miller. As she drove to her old job, she got a call from the United Way agency she interviewed with last week to say she had gotten the position.  It felt like a weak victory.

It felt even worse when she walked into her actual job and people refused to make eye contact with her.  All of her belongings had been packed up and was sitting on her desk in a box. Jeff Greenblatt, her oversized boss, bounced his way over to her.  “I hear congrats are in order on your new job!  I took the liberty of packing up your belongings.”  He handed her an envelope with two weeks’ severance pay.  It was courtesy of Tino Boehner.

“Am I being fired?” She wanted to know.

“No, of course not, my dear.  You interviewed for another job, which means you no longer want to be here. Since you got the job, we are just parting ways.  You got what you wanted so we say goodbye on amicable terms,” he told her as he dropped the box into her arms.

The feeble old man, who served as security for the building, showed up to walk her to the door. It was a dark day for Ebony, but she held her head up and left with dignity. There would be no blog post on this day in her life.  She had completely run out of words to describe how horrible she was feeling.

She needed to get away.

A week or so at the beach would be perfect.

N
o one on his staff was sure if things were worse with Ebony in the office, or worse that she was not there.  Tino was fit to be tied when he found out that Jeremy had asked her to leave. “You had no right to dismiss her with speaking with me first,” he yelled at his longtime friend.

He was inconsolable when he called her job and found that Greenblatt had let her go.  It was ten times more miserable for his staff when he went by her place on Thursday, she was not there. He went by again on Friday, three times and she was not there. He tried her cell and she would not answer.

This feeling was worse than their last interaction.  She held him in her hands, giving him pleasure, bringing him to the brink of explosion, and instead he imploded. Tino wanted to be with her and she had codified him by finding a middle ground.  He wasn’t a middle ground kind of guy, wither you are all in, or get off the field.

He checked her blog and there were no postings. His spirits were so low he checked her Facebook page and Instagram accounts.  He even looked to see if she had a Pinterest.
Why don’t I know more about her
?  Then it hit him.  Maybe she wouldn’t make love to him because he didn’t know her.  Ebony was different and he had been too brutish to see what she was trying to tell him. Yes, she was attracted to him, but she wasn’t going to fall into bed without knowing who she was with, and he had only shown her the business side of him.

Tino lowered his head asking for another chance to get it right with a woman that set him on fire in more ways than one.  She sparked his imagination and the banter between them was energetic.  Ebony challenged him to be aware of the community and forced him to really look at what he was doing. 
Why hadn’t I noticed what I was doing with her
?

The speaker in his office buzzed, “Tino, I have a Rodney Miller here to see you.”

What is this about
?

He walked to the front of the building to find the tall black man standing there, with large, intense eyes, wearing a blue shirt and deep charcoal gray pants. “I am Tino Boehner, how can I help you?”

Rodney raised his hand to show him the keys, “My sister asked me to return these keys to you and the loaner vehicle.” He pointed to the parking lot. 
I never knew she had a brother
.

“What if I said I will not accept them from you that she has to return the keys and vehicle in person?”

Rodney gave him the same look that Ebony often had before he shook his head and walked away, leaving out the front door as quietly as he arrived.  The keys were left on the receptionist’s desk.  Tino followed him out to the vehicle that was waiting for him.  In his heart he had hoped it was her, but it wasn’t.  It was some dude that gave him the stink eye. He felt like an addict that had made it to the 12
^th
step and was ready to take a hit.  Hell, he wanted to get tore down drunk, but he humbled himself.

“Rodney,” he said as the man turned around. He looked her brother squarely in the eyes as he confessed, “I miss her.”

Rodney stood staring at him.  Tino looked so pitiful. He knew he shouldn’t, but he did.  “Darlings by the Sea.  Kure Beach,” and he climbed in the car and they drove away.

I have no idea what that is, but I am going to find out
.

I
t only took Tino an hour to locate the seaside lodge, and another to pack an overnight bag and start driving.  He only hoped and prayed that when he got there, she hadn’t left already. It was nearly four hours from Raleigh to Kure Beach which was right outside of Wilmington North Carolina. Tish located the beach front bed and breakfast that was catered to lovers and booked him a room.

An hour into his drive he began to second guess himself.
What if she was away with someone
?
I never asked if she was seeing anyone
.    Two hours into the drive he told himself he was a fool.  The third hour he began practicing what he would say to her and by the time he reached his destination, he was back to being angry at Ebony for making him chase her. He was grateful that Tish had done her homework and when he walked in the door, he was greeted by the Innkeeper, Jim, who warmly welcomed him to Darlings.

Tino fell right into the role, “Jim.  I hope you can help me. My Baby, left me a cryptic note and she had been hinting about this place, so I hope I didn’t drive the four hours for nothing.  Her name is Ebony Miller.” 

Jim looked suspicious, but luckily for him, the perky receptionist informed him, “She just went down to grab a bike to go for a ride,” she said to him.

Tino handed her his overnight bag, “Thank you.  Will you please put this in our room?”

He gave neither of them a chance to speak as he made his way down the stairwell in the direction the young woman was pointing.  Jim didn’t buy his act and he followed him down the stairs as well. 

“Ebony?”  He called her name.

“Tino?”  She replied as she stepped out from behind the pillar, holding the beachcomber. It was hard to hide her surprise to see him. He knew the innkeeper was watching and had to make sure he wasn’t thrown out.

“This has been the longest week of my life,” he started by telling her the truth, then he pulled her into his arms. “I was going out of my head just waiting for the time to see you again.  He lowered his head to kiss her and she did not rebuff him.  This also satisfied Jim, who climbed back up the stairs.

He was still holding her as she asked, “How did you find me?”

“Rodney,” he said as he looked at her beautiful face.  “He dropped off the keys to the loaner.”

“My brother told you where I was?”  She stepped back and looked at him with amazement.

“Yes.  I was also surprised to find out you had a brother.”

“There is a lot about me you don’t know; and there is a lot about you I don’t know either,” she said firmly.

“Which is why I made the four hour drive. This is the perfect time to find out,” he told her.

“Did you get your own room?”

He walked over to select a bike of his own, “Nope.  I am staying with you. Get your poetry pen ready my dear.” He pushed the bike out of the walkway and asked her, “Lead on.”

They rode down the beachfront to small eatery where Ebony had made a reservation for dinner. She ordered a glass of wine; he asked for the whole bottle. Ebony ordered a shrimp plate; he requested the platter. “What are you doing Tino?”

“What does it look like? You are so accustomed to being by yourself, I am here as well and I am not going anywhere.  We will work through whatever reluctances you have.  You want to get to know me-let’s get started.”

Her eyes squinted at him, “Just like that?  I am not sure if you are talking about sharing my meal or sharing my life.”

He did not hesitate with his answer as picked up the glass, swirled and sniffed the bouquet of the wine, “...and tonight, I am sharing your bed.”

Ebony choked on her shrimp.

H
e was right, it was an ideal time to get to know him, but more than anything, she was excited that he had come.  Secretly she hoped he would, so she did pack her sexy baby blue silk peignoir. Yet, again, she was filled with hesitation, because she had made him chase her.  In her own defense, she was letting down her guard and letting him in.  But who was walking through the door she was still uncertain.

Two young women walked in the restaurant.  One, a buxom brunette that dripped of sex appeal, plastic surgery, and way too much perfume.  The second was also a brunette, conservative in dress and a less attractive version of the other.  It was easy to discern that they were sisters. Ebony posed the first question, “Of those two women, which would you choose to spend a passionate night with?”

“That’s easy, the mousy one,” he said as he forked a shrimp.

“Really?”  She was genuinely surprised and wanted to understand his reasoning.

“Pretty girl sex is boring. They know they are pretty and are counting on the man being happy they are in bed with a pretty lady.  Most of the time they lay there, moan and do something stupid they have seen in a porn movie.  The language and word choice as well are rather flat and prefabricated,” he said in a flat voice.  “It doesn’t feel genuine you know?”

Ebony was shaking her head at his forthrightness. “No, I don’t know. Explain the other choice.”

He sipped at his wine, “The other enjoys sex.  She doesn’t have as much of as it as she would like, so if she gets you in bed, she is going to give you everything she has.  She is also going to enjoy herself. If you come back again for seconds or if it was a one-time thing, she will be good to go.”

It was also at this point that she began to get curious about his assessment of her.  Like an idiot she had to ask, “...and me.  How would you categorize me?”

“Uncertain,” he told her as he called the waitress over to order two salads and two baked potatoes.

“How so?”

Tino, ate the last shrimp, “You are confident when you are with your words, but with a man that truly gets you...you are uncertain of how much to share.  I don’t think the sexual side of you has been unlocked yet, which makes you even more uncertain of your ability to please another or to give pleasure.”

Ebony was taken aback, “when did you get so damned philosophical?”

“I’ve had five years of dealing with your blog posting ass,” he told her with a smile. “All of your feelings are in your words.  I learned how to read them, and in the past month, I am learning how to read you as well.”

It was a weak smile, but it was there.  She was beginning to understand a few things. He had driven for four and half hours and he had every intention of making love to her tonight.  “And you think you have the means to unlock my hidden nature?”

He touched her hand with a large finger that stroked up her arm, sending goose bumps down to her inner thighs and back up over her goose bumps, “I am the key maker, Baby! Like I said, I hope you have your poetry pen.”

She wasn’t intimidated, “I hope you brought your little square pencil.”

“What do I need with a carpenter’s pencil?”

She sipped at her wine and gave him a look, “when I am done with you, you are going to start sketching the pretty little yellow house you are going to build me by hand on this very beach.”

Tino turned in the chair to locate the waitress, “Check please!”

T
he ride back to the bed & breakfast was quiet, filled with only furtive glances and an unsaid understanding of what was about to occur between them. Tino was beyond ready, but he was working diligently to pretend he wasn’t as excited as a hooker at a sales convention in Vegas. They climbed the stairs to her suite hand in hand, smiling at the desk clerk as they walked by and Ebony waved at Jimmy.

Tino wasn’t sure what he was expecting from the room, but everything was white.  The bedding, the patio furniture was made out of white PVC, the bathroom tiles were white, and the shower curtain was white. He did like the double Jacuzzi tub which he immediately behind to fill with warm water.

“Are you drawing yourself a bath?”  Ebony asked from the balcony.

“No, I am drawing us a bath,” he said as he added some of the scented bubble bath that sat next to the tub.  “You wash my back, I nibble on yours kind of thing.” His eyes sparkled when he spoke to her.

Ebony had taken a shower with a man, but a bath would be a first. She wasn’t embarrassed by her body, but uncertain how he would view it, with her rounded backside and smaller breasts.  Never one to consider herself a classic beauty, she did consider herself to have a certain sexual appeal. Men were normally turned on by her bottom, but turned off by her brain.  Tino seemed to enjoy both. Ebony was unclear of the things that turned her on about a man.  She had only seriously dated three.  One in high school, one in college and her most recent failure, Alex.

She entered the bathroom to find his bare backside bent over the tub testing the water.  Her breath caught in her throat when he turned to face her. His body was absolutely the picture of perfection.  There were muscles, definition, more muscles and oh yeah, that thing.
I am so turned on I feel like I should be re-baptized for what I am thinking
.

“Is something wrong Ebony?” He asked.

In every relationship there is a defining moment.  Ebony was about to create one as she let down her guard and decided to enjoy this man. Her uncertainty she put aside.  He said he wouldn’t hurt her, so she took a step towards trust. “I’m just trying to figure out if I undress myself or leave it up to you?”

He didn’t hesitate as he moved forward, “I got this.” 

Tino gently turned her to face the wall as he undid the zipper of the jumper she wore, letting the fabric pool at her feet.  Encouraging hands helped her step from the fabric as he unsnapped her bra, letting it drop to the floor and turning her to face him, his thumbs hooked into her panties and slowly pulled them down to her ankles. The swallow he took was audible as he gazed upon her dark skin.

“You are so beautiful,” he told her as shaking hands cupped the sides of her face. He kissed her gently to start, but hunger took over him.  His kiss deepened, with his mouth, taking complete possession of hers again and again.  His tongue rubbing against hers as a loud groan bubbled in the back of his throat.

Tino turned to stop the water from overflowing in the tub, turning off the taps. “The bath will have to wait, I can’t.”

He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed. He was surprisingly not as gentle as he tossed her in the air and she landed with a plumfh in the middle of the bed.  He did a swan dive to land beside her as she giggled, telling him, “You are such a brute!”

“Yes, but I will be gentle with you,” he told her as his body covered hers.  He kissed her again as his fingers went to work exploring every inch of her body.  His lips trailed down her neck until they reached her breast.  The rough callouses on his hands felt magical across the smoothness of her thighs while his tongue made small circles around the taut flesh of her nipples.

A gentle breeze from the ocean floated into the room from the open window ushering in the winds of change.  Tino’s hand moved towards the juncture between her thighs making contact with the nub of flesh, also making small circles. 

“Oh, that feels good, Tino.” She moaned into his shoulder as his finger dipped lower, to collect moisture. Her body was ready for him, but he wanted Ebony to be wild with her desire for him to connect them as one. 

He moved down her body, his mouth, making a trail of hot kisses to her abdomen.  His tongue licked the landing strip of hair before his face disappeared into her, “Ooooh, yes, yes...yes!” She cried out.

Ebony began to move against his mouth, thrusting her hips upwards, enjoying the pleasure he was bringing her. His finger slipped inside of her bringing six more layers of pleasure.  Tino was beyond reason with his desire for her.  He rolled to his side and reached for the products he had placed on the nightstand, giving her the condom to apply to him.

The girth of his manhood was still an amazement to her as she held it in her hand.  Instinct made her squeeze and then stroke him, running her fingers across the bulbous head, eliciting a satisfied groan from Tino.  She wanted to please him as much as he had her, and she leaned down to take him into her mouth.  He nearly came off the bed.  “That’s enough!”  He told her as he took the condom from her hand ripped open the package and applied the protection.

“I am about to go out of my mind.  I need to be inside of you Ebony,” he told her.  Gentle hands pulled her down on the bed as he opened a tube of his and her gel and applied a bit to his fingers then to her delicate area. He handed her the tube and she applied some to him.

Tino leaned down and kissed her hard.  “I will make this good for you,” he told her as he gently pressed into her.  The tightness of her gripping him firmly as he pressed into her. Ebony’s mouth opened wide as she tried to breathe deep as the width of him filled her. He pressed deeper, pushing further inside of her.  Ebony felt as if she had stopped breathing.

“No Baby, breathe with me.  When I push, roll your hips up to meet me,” he told her as he pushed again and she rolled her hips upward.  Again and again they moved together. Her fingers intertwined in his hair as she whispered in his ear how good he felt inside of her. Ebony’s legs moved up higher to his back as he plunged deeper inside of her.  He felt so amazing, so magical, as he began to roll his hips down then upward with each thrust.

“You are so tight,” he told her. “You feel so amazing.”  He thrust hard, going deeper, sending Ebony climbing the summit of pleasure.

“Tino, I’m so close,” she moaned.  She began to move faster against him, trying to take him all in. Her legs were moving, her body was writhing.  “I’m so close Tino, so close.”

He increased his pace, pushing, withdrawing, as he felt her tighten even more around him.  His mouth captured hers again as he increased his pace to a fevered rate. Ebony was coming undone, crying out his name, clawing at his back as she found her pleasure.  “Together, Tino, let’s finish together,” she pleaded.

He obeyed her wishes by letting go and giving her everything he had until finally spent, he collapsed on top of her. Words of praise was whispered in her ear, telling her how wonderful she had been, as she spoke encouraging words to him about how he made her feel.

In truth, he was embarrassed.  It was not his best performance, but she felt so amazing, he had no control.  Even lying next to him in his arms, he felt a little loss for words. Ebony Miller was everything that he had hoped and so much more.  There was so much missing in his life, and he was ready to move forward and close some gaps.

Tino Boehner was ready for his real life to begin.