Twenty-Nine
Archer
I once heard a story about a Chinese emperor who was lying down with his lover resting on his shoulder. He was so entranced by the way she looked that he couldn’t stand to wake her up, but he had business to take care of in court. He cut off his sleeve so that his lover wouldn’t get startled awake by his departure. That’s exactly how I felt when I woke up next to Zoe.
I slid my arm out from under her and stood up quietly so I could get my phone from the nightstand. It was early enough that I could get things ready before she woke up. I called the wait staff.
“Bueno?” the voice on the other end of the phone said.
“Hey, Leti. Do you think you could bring up a platter of strawberries when you get a chance?”
“Sure, is there anything else?”
“A bowl of hot fudge and the best champagne we have. Leave it outside the room, please.”
“Mmm.” She giggled. “You’re having fun today.”
“I refuse to comment on that. Where are you?”
“In the living room, cleaning.”
“When you’re done getting the food, go on back to the guest house and get some rest. I won’t need you for the rest of the day.”
“Thank you, Mr. Archer. You are a wonderful man.”
“No, thank you, Leti.”
I hung up the phone. Zoe was still sleeping, and I didn’t feel like going anywhere, so I crawled back into bed until I heard the sound of Leti bringing up the cart. The noise must’ve woken up Zoe because she was smiling. I hopped up, wrapped a robe around my naked body, and pulled the cart into the room. I set it at the foot of the bed. Then I sat on the bed so that I faced Zoe with my legs open. I wanted to be the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes.
She grabbed the base of my cock and it went stiff. “What are you doing, hmm?” Her palm slipped over the shaft.
“Nope.” I pulled away and dipped a strawberry in chocolate. She propped herself up and opened her mouth so I could feed it to her. When she bit down, tiny drops of rose colored juice burst out.
“Oooh,” she sighed. “That is exactly what I needed.”
“There’s more.” I reached up to get another, but she stopped me. “What was that for?”
“It’s my turn,” she said.
“No, it’s isn’t.” I darted for the bowl, but she was faster. She had the strawberry dripping with hot fudge before I could get to one.
“Come here,” she said.
I opened my mouth obediently, and she pressed the strawberry between my lips. I took the sweet, tangy juice, and relished the dark, sultry taste of the chocolate. She was already going back to grab another when I opened my eyes. When she reached out to give it to me, I took it out of her hand and slipped it into her mouth.
“We should do this every morning,” she said and laid back against her pillow.
“I highly agree.” I laid down next to her and walked my fingers down her stomach.
She stopped me. “I want to see the boys.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, we’ve never had a day with just the four of us. I want to start bonding with them.”
“What should we do?”
“Anything and everything. Whatever comes to mind, just so long as I get to hear you guys laugh.”
“It is really cute the way they are both trying to start walking now.” I said.
“They’re always cute, even when they cry.”
“I wonder what they’ll be like when they get older,” I mused.
“I think they’ll be vibrant, golden boys, then strong young men with integrity and discipline, just like their father.”
“But they have to have that mean edge.”
“Rough, not mean—never mean.”
“Of course, and some style. Not like all those preppy rich boys you see walking around dressed like they’re about to board a yacht. And no shopping trips in Monaco.”
“Don’t forget croquet. They can’t even watch movies with croquet.”
“We’ll cover their eyes like it’s a titty scene.”
Zoe laughed. “I’m going to get dressed. You get Mona to drop them off.” She started to get up.
“Wait.” I pulled her back down and kissed her. “Now you can go.”
Zoe hopped in the shower, and I dialed Mona’s number.
She answered the call without even saying hello. “I don’t care how depressed you are,” she said immediately. “I’m not bringing them home.”
“Depressed?” I was confused for a moment. Things had changed so much since yesterday. I almost forgot what it was like when Zoe was gone. I filled Mona in on what happened. Well, the clean version of what happened last night.
“She did it,” Mona gasped. “That darling angel. You want the boys? You sure you don’t want a little more alone time?”
“Yes, I’d like to see the boys. Please get down here as soon as possible.” I hung up and waited for Zoe to finish her shower.
Mona must’ve left right away because she arrived as soon as I was done getting dressed. “Knock, knock,” she said as she walked up to the bedroom door with her hands covering her eyes.
“Strawberry?” I motioned to the cart.
“Mm.” She pretended to think about it. “If you insist.” She pulled out a handful and started scarfing them down.
Zoe had been doing her makeup in the bathroom. She walked out smelling like vanilla. “Hey, Mona.”
“I’m so glad you’re here.” She popped another strawberry into her mouth and licked the chocolate off her upper lip. Then she ran forward and wrapped her arms around Zoe. “You did the right thing.”
Zoe patted her on the back. “It’s all your fault.”
“It is. I won’t lie. I’m just glad you had the sense to listen.”
“I am too. Listen.” She turned to where I was sitting on the bed. “I’m going to head down to my apartment and get some clothes real quick. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“I’ll call you a driver.”
“That’s all right. My car’s in the garage. I won’t be long.” She kissed me on the cheek and walked out.
“Let’s go downstairs,” I said to Mona. “I’m making you chocolate chip pancakes.”
“Wonderful.” She followed me down into the kitchen and hopped up on a stool.
“How much do you owe on your house?” I pulled the box of pancake mix out of the cupboard.
“No.”
“A car?” I grabbed a mixing bowl and set it down on the island.
“No.”
“You’ve had that old thing since the nineties.”
“If I wanted a new one, I’d buy it myself.”
I opened a bag of chocolate chips and set it down on the counter just far enough away that she couldn’t reach it. She lunged forward to grab it, but I pulled it away. “Not unless you let me pay you back somehow.”
Mona pulled another bag out of the drawer next to her stool. “No.”
“Why not? You did something amazing. Heck, you’re always doing something amazing. I’m giving you a raise.”
“You pay me as much as a doctor. I have so much money, I’ll die before I can spend it all. You know I have a stock portfolio?”
“I was the one that had the company contact you.”
“They said I was on a phone list.” She poured the chocolate chips into her mouth.
“I wasn’t going to let you get away with taking care of those boys without a reward. You’re the only reason I’ve been able to manage for so long.”
She chomped down on the chocolate and swallowed. “I just want you to be happy. For an old woman like me, that’s gratification enough.”
I measured out the pancake mix and poured in some water so I could mix it up, then added the chocolate chips. “That and good food.”
“That too, but you matter more.”
“Thank you, Mona.” I turned toward the stove so she couldn’t see me blush.