I shook my head. “I’ll pass on that, too. I have a date.”
“With who?” Tynisha’s bottom lip fell to her Giuseppe’s.
I smirked. “The Frenchman.”
“Oh, shit! Well, I’ll still send my crew. You’ll need to be right for that. I’m glad you’re going to stop being a prude. Get it, Mascot!”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know about all of that, but it’ll be nice to officially go out with him.” I turned to climb into the truck as I waved goodbye.
She stood there in a stupor as I pulled off. I guess she, too, was surprised at my decision to move ahead with Jacques. Once seated in the truck, I immediately wafted in a flowery scent, presumably perfume. I wondered whose truck this was. I’d guessed it was too late to ask now that I was en route to my hotel. I relaxed against the head rest, trying to process my run-in with Stenton. Why did he keep repeating he didn’t know I’d be there? I extended my tired legs ahead while simultaneously stretching my arms. First I hit a small object with my right arm, and then the toe of my pumps bumped into something on the floor. I glanced first to my right and picked up the tube of lip gloss with the Erceg brand name printed across it. My brain rushed in motion. I leaned over to inspect the items I kicked. They were flip flops with the rectangular Erceg logo sewn on the insole.
“Ma’am, Mr. Rogers said you’re staying at the Hilton. Is that correct?”
Holy mother of Joseph! This is Stenton and Erika’s car! What was he thinking?
“Ye-yes.” I cleared my voice.
Dropping the items, I slammed my head back, wanting this nightmare to be over. I arrived back at my suite far more disoriented than any alcohol could induce. I stripped out of my costume—because that’s what it felt like—and showered before crawling into bed. With minimal tossing and turning, I found my way to sleep.
That next evening, after my tourist excursion and preparing for dinner with Jacques, I was at the French Room with him, enjoying fine wine…and his alluring teasing. It wasn’t the usual coquetry that turned me off for months before. This one was more customized for me. Jacques had come correct with his game. Oh, I was still very aware of his end game. It’s just that tonight I didn’t care. I wanted to be preyed upon…or more appropriately, to prey on an unknowing one.
“You should come on my boat. You’d love it,” he murmured, calming his mirth. Then he brushed away an errant lock of my hair from my face. His tone swiftly lowered when he growled, “You’d be beautiful on the bow. Stretched out, wearing nothing but this caramel shell and your heavy locks of hair. I’d enjoy it. I’d enjoy you.”
Even through the thickness of his accent, Jacques’ desires were abundantly clear. Tonight, nothing about it made me squeamish. Nothing about his overt yearnings seemed offensive or alarming. No. Tonight, I wanted to erase all of my previous conceptions of intimacy. Expunge all I ever knew about sex and rediscover it under the ministrations of another man. Jacques talked a lot of mess over the past few months. Surely, he was guaranteed to make me experience amnesia.
I slowly reached for my drink. “I don’t know about all of that, but you can give me a preview of sampling this caramel…tonight.” I squared eyes with him after taking a nip. “Back at my suite.”
Jacques didn’t speak, he didn’t flinch. No. He exhaled long and sensually, dispelling his pending desire for me. I relished my feminine control over him. I was ready. I’d just opened the door to exit for my new. My change.
Hastily, Jacques led me out to his limo, and I’d just hit Send on my phone before hopping in.
~~~~~~~~~~
~Stenton~