“I like. I like. Oh baby, I love it.”
“Good.” She took him inside once again, renewing with deadly action of cheek-numbing sucking and strong vigorous massage. His ass was smooth but his cock was rock hard.
Turner bucked and clenched—hands braced against the wall—his whole body stiffened like a tree. She worked harder. Faster.
“Valentina. Valentina. Valentina,” he moaned. And then a buck, buck, buck against her lips. It appeared, he was losing control.
She was right.
A dash of shuddering orgasm and then a slow guttural grunt.
He pulled her to her feet and then took her in his arms, thanking her with a kiss.
She felt vindicated somehow. It made it easier to rip him off.
*****
A phone rang. Turner kissed Val on the cheek, wrapped a towel around his waist, and ran for his cell in the other room. She remembered her purse with the stolen credit cards thrown on the sectional. She hadn’t placed them in her wallet. She simply threw them in there and the purse was wide, easy to see the contents when left open. She didn’t remember closing it. A feeling of dread overcame her. She heard shouts of outrage. He was on the phone, she reminded herself. Nowhere near her purse.
Taking a towel to dry herself, she still tingled when it brushed her sex. Where was her climax? She probably didn’t deserved one but still.
“No! I can’t be there this afternoon,” Turner yelled from the living room. She heard pacing and muttering under his breath. Val groaned. This could defiantly take awhile and she doubted he’d be willing to jump back into bed anytime soon. Wet didn’t begin to explain how insanely turned on she’d become. She sighed disappointedly. Hopeful, she finished drying off and then slipped back in bed. After several long minutes of waiting, she slipped her fingers inside her core. It didn’t take long to bring her to climax but it was nothing short of average. Still, at least it was done. Just like the old days, she told herself.
She’d almost fallen asleep when Turner came back into the bedroom, red faced with the towel still around his hips, a phone in his left hand. “Hi,” he said with a tight smile. He dropped the towel but he wasn’t fully erect. Not even close. “Waiting for me?”
“Nope.” Val bolted upright. She threw off the covers, gave him a quick kiss and made to grab her clothes.
“Sorry, Val. I can be ready in…”
“No. I’m fine,” she said trying not to sound too perturbed. After all, she wasn’t his girlfriend. He didn’t owe her anything, especially that.
“Really?”
“Yeah, let’s get dressed. I’m starving actually.”
“If you say so.” He grabbed the trousers off the chair and plopped down on the side of the bed. He pulled them on. As he hopped to his feet to zip up the pants, he caught her staring with her mouth open. “What’s the matter?”
“You don’t wear…Um…”
“I think commando is the order of the day. Don’t you?”
Val swallowed. Men didn’t wear lingerie or crotch less panties but in her opinion, going without boxers was by far the naughtiest thing a man did.
He gave her a wolfish smile, letting his pants lay open for several minutes before he tucked everything inside.“There’s that blush again.” It was magic when he smiled at her like that.
“Er. same pants too?”
“What’s that?”
“I said you’re gonna wear the same pants as yesterday? Don’t you have…Oh, I guess not. Your suitcase is back in the hotel, isn’t it?”
“What? You’re thinking a man of my means shouldn’t wear the same pants two days in a row?”
“Well…yeah.” She wished she hadn’t said it. Who the hell was she to make judgments? Maybe he wore the same pants every day. The exact same pants, only clean ones. “Sorry, I didn’t mean…”
“It’s okay, Val. I know we’re from different worlds. No offence taken.”
“So what’s for breakfast?” she asked, trying to change the subject.
Turner laughed. You tell me, Sweetheart. As I recall, you were going to cook for my whole crew this morning.”
“I was? Oh. Yeah. I was. I mean, I am. “Okay what do your crew usually eat for breakfast?
“Hmm, not sure but I’m guessing they would eat anything if they had you to look at across the table.”
Damn, her face was hot. She dropped her gaze, trying to move past. He grabbed her hand, stalling her escape.
“Awe, you look so pretty when you do that.” He tightened his grip and then swung her into his arms.
“Do what?” she said, losing her breath.
“Turn all pink and bubbly with a compliment. Just like a young girl.”
“Are you calling me old?”
“Not at all,” he said still holding her hand. The back of his hand slid down one side of her face. “You are sassy, bossy, opinionated and so hot I have burn marks on my dick but I would never…ever call you old, sweetheart.”
“That’s supposed to be a compliment, right?”
He laughed. “Not working?”
“Well, I can’t say it’s not the truth.” As he pulled her closer, she reached around and pinched his backside just for fun. A chuckle burst out of him.
“Just want you to know. I’m not a little girl,” she teased.
“Thank you universe!” And then he kissed her. Her arms betraying her, she wrapped them around his neck and kissed him back. She didn’t want to like this guy but she couldn’t help it. When they pulled apart, he wiped her lip gloss off his lips. They both laughed. Being with Turner was fun. More fun than she’d know was possible with a man.
Taking a deep breath, Val stepped away, letting the heat between them dissipate. “All right, now where did I take off my stockings?” Her heart was beating like a drum and if she didn’t finish dressing fast, she was going to undress even faster. She needed her head clear.
Turner scanned the room, his gaze landing on a pile near the vanity. “There. They’re over there.”
The phone rang again. “Fuck! Not again,” he muttered. “I’ll have to take this.” Holding the phone against one shoulder, he struggled one burly arm into his shirt sleeve. Although he looked like a rumpled bed, the wrinkles didn’t detract from his smoldering maleness. Eyes the color of midnight. The waves of his hair just begging to be tossed. And thighs so muscular she wondered if he could crack coconuts between them.
“Yeah. Uh, huh. I understand but…well, come on! You don’t give a guy a break! Don’t you understand what he’s been through? How the hell would you like it if…Yeah. I know it’s not your problem and I do understand but…but…No. You can’t do that. Where the hell am I gonna get someone on such short notice? Can you recommend someone? Oh hell! He’s not that bad, is he? He what? A long pause. “Say that again. You’re kidding me, right? No. That doesn’t sound…” His voice trailed off.
Val stood in the doorway, staring. “Can I be so bold as to ask? I mean…I know it’s not my place but maybe I could help.”
“Not really.” Turner paused in reflection, nostrils flaring. “Unless... No. That’s asking too much.”
“Just tell me what the problem is.”
Swiveling his wrist, he buttoned the cuffs on his shirt. “That was my maid. Or should I say, the nursemaid for my twin brother.”
“Nursemaid?”
“Yeah. I know it sounds foolish. He is a grown man but he’s in kind of…messed up right now”
“Messed up?”
“Yeah. His wife and son died in an accident. He blames himself. Stopped eating and all that so I hired someone to look out for him.”
“And he was okay with that?”
“He thinks she’s the housekeeper. In addition to keeping an eye on him, she’s a pretty good cook or so I thought”
“If she could cook, he would eat. Is that it?”
“Exactly. But …”
“So is she?”
“What?”
“A good cook.”
“Apparently not. He threw the last dish she made out the window and we live on the top floor!”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, I know. Besides some unsuspecting shmuck walking by can you imagine what an insult that was?”
Val could relate to the situation. After learning everything she knew about cooking, she tried to educate Diego’s slimy palette to the finer foods in life. He still criticized every meal , several times making her cry. The last time, she’d thrown the food at him. “So what will you do now?”
“Well I have to travel. We used to take turns but not lately so I’ll need a replacement cook for Mrs. Baker.”
“Can’t you call an agency or something?”
“No time. She’s leaving on Saturday and I have a mansion to prepare for construction in Canada next week.”
A wisp of air whooshed in as the sliding glass doors in the back of the house slid open. “Hey boss, you in here?”
“I guess that’s the crew,” Turner said. “Better get cooking, Sweetheart. Makes sure there’s lots of protein. These guys are animals when it comes to work.”
Chapter 10
The plane was late but Val was grateful.
She’d hardly slept the night before but she didn’t feel tired. After a night of joking, laughing, and watching the Las Vegas Outlaws in the Playoffs on television with Turner’s crew, she realized the night was slipping away. Those guys certainly knew how to talk. A rowdy bunch, beer guzzling and dirty, she liked them a great deal and she felt sad knowing she would never see any of them again. In fact, the crew reminded her of her brothers. All husky, crude, and just plain cute. It was 3 am before they’d called it a night and morning came awfully early for Val. Thankfully, Turner hadn’t noticed when she slipped out of his bed at six am.
“Eight hundred dollars,” the girl at the ticket counter said.
“What? Certainly she’d heard her wrong.
“One way to California. It’s eight hundred.”
“Seriously?”
“That’s what I said.”
“But it’s only nine hundred to go round trip,” Val protested.
“Eight hundred,” the girl repeated with a dead pan expression.
“Shit, why don’t you just cut out one of my lungs and take that too?”
The ticket girl scowled. “Do you want it or not?”
Val fumbled in her wallet, trying to decide whether she should use credit or cash. She hesitated to use Turner’s credit card. Credit was asking for trouble. The breadcrumbs to her destination, so to speak. But if she used cash, what would she have left for clothes? Already people were giving her looks like they thought she was a hooker. Who flies the friendly skies in a backless scarlet dress with peek-a-boo cut-outs and the fuck-me heels? No one. That’s who.
“Fine,” Val said. “Give me the damn ticket.”
Why were her choices so limited? Her Catholic mother would swear she was being punished. That, included divorcing her first abusive husband. Didn’t matter that he’d beat her to an inch of her life. Nope. Divorce was a sin. Plain and simple. Her brothers would applaud her however. Especially Hugo. He was her biggest supporter. Too bad he was in jail for beating the crap out of Diego. Diego. Now that was as huge a mistake as they came. Not that Diego didn’t deserve, but he had connections both in the underworld and Immigration. Apparently, he was still holding a grudge. It was why she needed to get as far away from Las Vegas as possible. Not that California was that far, but it was the best place to find a job plus she had her own illegal connections there.
“Cash or credit?” asked the girl behind the counter. Her hair was impeccable, perched high upon her head, not a strand out of place. She tipped her head in expectation.
“Um…credit…I guess,” Val murmured. “And can you tell me where a good boutique is. I hear the flight doesn’t leave for three hours. I need to buy some clothes.”
“Huh,” said the girl with a sneer. “I should say so.”
Val ignored her snide attitude. “A store? Maybe one that sells jeans,” Val asked.
“Try near Gate 18. That’s where I shop.” She gave Val a smile. “Sorry, it’s been a long day.” She handed her the ticket. Val took it and walked away. “Oh and Miss?”
Val did an about-face and walked back to the counter. The ticket girl leaned in conspiratorially. “He’s not worth it, sweetie,” she whispered.
Val gave her a tight smile. Oh, he was worth it. You can bet on it.
***
Turner
“So how far are we with the driveway?” Turner asked his foreman, Dave. The man had shoulders wide as hockey sticks but not a hair on his large round head. The mirrored sunglasses on his face gave him a sinister appeal.
“It’s done,” Dave replied.
“No kidding.” Turner said, clearly impressed. He took out his pen from his shirt pocket. Holding a clip board, he checked the task off his list.“The whole concrete flooring?”
“Yup.”
“Even with all that hoopla yesterday? By the way, I’m sorry for distracting you guys with my uh…companion.”
Dave gave him a hearty laugh. “Distractions like that one are totally worth it, boss. If you need a reason to distract us in the future count me in.”
Yeah, me too.
“I’ll remember that but in this case—I think our little distraction has flown the coop.”
Dave took off his sunglasses. “She did?”
“She did.”
“Awe, that’s too bad. I liked her.”
“Yeah, so did I. So what’s next on the list?”
Dave rubbed the grey stubble on his chin. “The brick wall framing the patio but we still have to pick up the bricks.”
“How much mortar do we have left?”
“Hmm. Not sure. Might need another load.” Dave looked at his watch and then up at the heavy dense clouds. He perched his sunglasses on his head. “Might rain. I’m guessing.”
“Then we better get started,” Turner said. “Get a few hours in at least.”
“Right boss.”
“Here…” Retrieving a set of keys from his pocket, he tossed them forward. “Send the kid to pick up the bricks.” Dave smiled as he caught the keys in his thick work-worn hands.
“Oh and Dave…See if that side lamp for the side of the garage door has been delivered. I think I saw an email about it coming into the store.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
As Dave walked away, Turner’s mind tried to make sense of Val’s disappearance. Where the hell did she go and why not say goodbye? Was she all right? He’d been so shocked to see her gone before breakfast, So…hurt, after the night they’d shared, he didn’t know what to say. What to think. He’d just assumed she’d be there in the morning. That she’d make them all another huge breakfast like the morning before. Perhaps she was mad at him. Perhaps one of the guys with their lurid comments pissed her off.
Damn! They should have talked about this. Unless it had nothing to do with him. Obviously, she hadn’t come here just to play house. She had her own agenda. Why hadn’t he paid attention to that? She’d mentioned something about her clothes and needing to leave several times, but he’d fluffed it off, as if it didn’t matter. Of course it mattered. Was it some stupid remark he made? It wouldn’t be the first time he stuck his foot in his mouth. Something the crew said? No. He couldn’t think of a single instance where she’d appeared uncomfortable around the guys. If she were truly upset, he was sure she would have let him know. No. Something was off…or was it? Perhaps she’d grab her clothes and come back…to him.
A scrawny freckle-faced kid in a baseball cap appeared at Turner’s side in the back yard. He lugged a long piece of lumber from one of a dozen various projects. “This is it, Mr. Turner.”
Broken from his reverie, Turner grinned. “You can call me Mr. Howe. Okay?”
The boy dropped the board with a thud by his feet. “K, Mr. Turner.”
“Termites?”
“Yeah, you wanna look?”
Turner dropped to his haunches to check out the damage. “Oh man, that does look bad.”
Turner took the wood and threw it to the side. “And they got to all the beams? As bad as that one?
“Uh huh.”
“Okay, so here’s your math lesson, son. How much lumber do we need to replace it?”
The boy looked up at the ceiling. He tapped a finger on his chin.
“I’ll give you a hint. Calculate the board, multiply by length for thickness, and...”
“Divide by 144,” the boy shouted.
“Right. And what are we using…two by fours or something bigger?”
“Mr. Dave says two-by-fours should do the job.”
“Okay. Well I think we need about fifteen boards. Give or take a few in case we make a wrong cut.”
“Uh huh.”
He ruffled the kid’s shaggy hair. “But you won’t make a wrong cut, now will you?”
The boy flattened his lips. “No, sir. We won’t cut it wrong. We’ll do just where we have to.”
“Right because we’re charging for materials you know. Don’t want to overcharge the customer. Right?”
“Nope.”
“Good boy. Got your driver’s license yet?” He usually didn’t hire anyone without one but he’d liked the boy right off. He was smart, personable, and funny. More importantly, his family needed the money.”
“I got my license.”
“Good, then you can go get lumber for us.”
“With the old truck?” he asked.
“Nope. Take the rental. It’s brand new.” The boy grinned from ear to ear.
Turner reached inside his pants pocket and pulled out his wallet. “Let me give you a credit card. I want you to run down To Gharry’s over on Fifth and Elm. Tell him we need this lumber pronto.” Her paused. “Huh. I don’t have the card. I’ll go check my other pants. Maybe I used it at the restaurant and didn’t put it back.”
A few seconds later, Turner reappeared from the bedroom with a frown on his face. He rubbed his chin, speculating. “I can’t seem to find the card we use for projects. Now, where could I have put it? Unless…no, no, what am I thinking? Maybe I left it back in New York. Here… “ He handed the boy a MasterCard and the keys to the work truck. “Take this one instead. One’s as good as any other anyway. I’ll have to cancel the work card. That’s all.”
The boy took the card and keys, pushed the navy baseball hat to the back of his head and smiled. “Thank you Mr. Turner. My Ma won’t believe this.” He bounced out of the garage toward the half ton Ford pickup.
“And don’t hit anything,” Turner called as the boy made to get in the truck.
Dave appeared at Turner’s elbow. “Uh, boss, we have a problem.”
Chapter 11
Val took another sip of her strawberry milkshake and wondered what made her purchase the two-hundred-dollar pair of jeans at the swankiest place she could think of in McCarran Airport. It was the most money she’d ever spent on a single pair of pants in her life. The most she’d spent on any kind of clothing for herself actually. So why had she bought them? Turner. That’s why. He believed in her, said she was worth every penny and more. She clutched the treasured bag tighter to her bosom. Probably a little extravagant if she were being honest with herself but they’d felt sooo good when she’d tried them on. It was like having a piece of Turner next to her skin. She could pretend they were the ones he bought her. They were the same cool brand. She could have gone back for the originals but she was afraid.
All of a sudden, a commotion alerted her attention to an old grizzly looking gentleman at the food counter in the McDonalds kiosk. He looked ratty in his old coat, slouch hat, weathered slicker, and beat-up looking face. About sixty five if she were to guess his age but he could have been younger. A homeless person for sure. Val lifted from her chair. On tip-toes, she tried to see over the crowd. One woman wearing a gold and orange dress with a name tag had hold of the man’s arm, another man in a guard’s uniform held the poor man’s cane. The homeless man shouted at them both. “Screw with an ole man, will ye?” He struggled against their grip.
“Jim. Jimmy! Now calm down,” said the lady with the name tag. “I’m not supposed to serve you no more. I’m sorry Jimmy. Really I am.”
“I just want a sandwich,” he yelled. “Just a sandwich. Can’t you give an ole man a sandwich? I s that so awful bad?” He pronounced the word, sandwich, sandmich through several missing teeth. He probably had to gum the whole thing. That is if they gave him something to eat. Val wished she could make the sandwich herself for the poor man.
“Now Jimmy. You know we can’t give you food without payment,” said the guard.
“Maybe just this…” began the woman but the guard only glared at her.
“Travesty this is,” said Jimmy. “A damn travesty when ur elders aint respected no more. Help. Help,” he yelled.
People pretended not to notice, turning their heads in opposite directions. A family got up form their table and walked away.
Jimmy turned in his coat and wrestled right out of it. After pulling himself free, he fell on the dirty tiled floor acting as if he’d been hit. “Police! Police,” he yelled. “Oh man, why would you hurt a lil ole man like that? I didn’t do nutin to you. I didn’t do nutin.’” He rolled around as if her were having convulsions while the man and woman looked on in horror, their jaws dropped open. Someone whipped out their smart phone and took a picture. For a second Val almost laughed but she remembered how desperate he must be, how that could be easily be her right now if Turner hadn’t saved her. It wasn’t funny at all. A crowd of customers stood oogling Jimmy like he was a crazy idiot. A little boy kicked him.
Didn’t these people have anything better to do? Just give the guy a burger!
Then Jimmy got up. He threw off his hat, readying for a fight. Wild as a skittish colt, he pulled back one arm and took a swing at the guard.
The guard was quicker. He jumped out of Jimmy’s way, laughing.
Then another guard showed up. He pulled out a club and slapped it in his hand. Jimmy took a swing at him too but missed. A large hand rested on the Jimmy’s head, holding him in place. Jimmy’s arms flailed in mid-air looking like a wounded bird.
The next thing Val knew, a policeman was on the scene. “What’s going on here?” the cop demanded. “What are you trying to do to this guy?”
The guard threw up his hands in surrender and took a step back when he saw the cop. “He doesn’t want to pay is all. He’s a thief and a vagrant and it’s not right we give him free food all the time. This crap has gotta stop I tell you.”
Jimmy staggered to his feet and almost feel but the policeman caught him. He helped him to a chair. “Just wanna samich,” Jimmy said.
“Get the guy a sandwich,” said the policeman.
“But…”
“You heard him,” said the woman.
“Sure, as soon as he shows me his money,” said the guard.
“Aint got no money,” said Jimmy. “But if you wanna piece of me…” He made to rise, eyes blazing and barring crooked teeth. He lunged toward the guard but the policeman caught him by the coat tails reeling him back. Jimmy looked up at the policeman, startled.
“Now you keep acting this way I’m going to have to arrest you,” said the cop. He looked at the manager. “This is nothing that a few dollars won’t fix, right? Why don’t we just get this guy some lunch and call it a day. All right?”
Behind him, Jimmy sneered at the guard who stood with his hands on his hips in front of a life-sized mannequin of Ronald McDonald. The guard’s face flamed red and he looked as if he could kill Jimmy. Jimmy stuck his tongue out at him.
A girl with red hair placed a McDonald’s bag, two drinks, and a chocolate sundae on the counter. Jimmy’s eyes lit up and he licked his lips.
“Hey, bum!” yelled the guard. Jimmy turned around.
The guard gave him the finger.
Apparently that was enough for poor Jimmy.
Several patrons jumped out of the way as Jimmy tackled the guard.
The two men went full-force against the McDonald mannequin which careened off balance and then smacked into the corner of a soda machine. Headless, the dummy wobbled forward and back and then finally hit the floor with a thud.
Seeing, his chance, the guard ran behind the counter. He grabbed all the food and pitched it in the trash.
“Look,” someone shouted. Jimmy had picked up the clown head. Holding the head like a pitcher holds a baseball, he leaned back and lobbed it forward. It sailed through the air, hitting the computer driven menu sign overhead, cracking it down the middle.
“Oh shit,” Val said covering her hands with her mouth.
The guard had Jimmy in a headlock when he tried to rescue his discarded food. The wrestling began all over again.
“Enough!” yelled the policeman.
“What the hell..!,” yelled a fat guy dressed in white. He had entered from the back door of the restaurant. Under one arm was the clown’s head. Placing it on the counter, he pulled the two men apart. “I try to take a ten minute nap and all hell breaks loose! Look what you assholes did to my restaurant?” He frowned down at the head. “My Ronnie! Look what you’ve done to my Ronnie! Who’s going to pay for all this?”
To Val’s astonishment, the guard took out his wallet. “I aint paying more than my half though,” he said. He took out several bills and waved them in the air.
“Hold onto that cash,” said the cop. “We don’t know how much…”
“Now wait a minute,” said the manager shuffling his big belly around the counter. “Let’s not be hasty. I didn’t even say if I wanted to press charges yet.”
“Don’t you?” asked the cop.
“Well I don’t know,” he said slowly. “Depends on what kind of a deal we can come up with.”
“I aint paying more than my share,” repeated the guard.
The cop looked at Jimmy who said nothing.
“How much do you want?” asked the guard.
The manager turned. He looked up at the menu screen and scratched his head. I think we can replace the glass but poor Ronnie here….” He pointed toward the mannequin. “He’s…he’s like one of the family.
You’ve got to be kidding.
“How’s five grand?” said the guard.”
“Uh, yeah. That ought do it.”
The guard pulled out a wad of bills from his pocket. “Okay, I’ll give you twenty five hundred then,” he said.
“What!” said the manager, clearly enraged.
“I said I would pay my half. Not a penny more.” His eyes narrowed toward Jimmy, who slunk into another chair. The man looked exhausted. After all, he hadn’t eaten since..well who knows when his last meal was. He had to be broke too. That was a given.
“Are you pressing charges on this one?” the cop asked. He grabbed hold of Jimmy’s coat and inclining his head.
Tears fell from Jimmy’s eyes. Val’s heart ached for the man and she almost cried too.
The manager took a deep breath. “I suppose so. Sorry, Jimmy. A man’s gotta pay his bills though.”
“Then I guess you’re under arrest,” said the cop. He took the handcuffs off his belt and Jimmy’s eyes grew huge as shining glass balls.
“No. No. Please officer. I have a dog. I have a dog. Who will feed him if I’m not there?”
“Sorry Jimmy. I’ve no choice.” He stared into Jimmy’s eyes and Val could see that the cop was touched too. “Unless there’s someone here who wants to take up a collection or something. I really don’t want to arrest you, Jimmy.” The cop scanned the room. “Anyone?”
Most of the patrons looked away and not a single one volunteered so much as a penny.
“Sorry, Jimmy,” the cop repeated. “Wish I didn’t have to do this but…” He opened up one cuff ready to slap it on Jimmy’s wrist.
“No!” Val heard herself shouting.
Everyone turned and stared in Val’s direction. She’d been standing on a chair the whole time.
“I mean… can’t he work it off? Or…or something? I mean look at him? He doesn’t have a pot to piss in, let alone twenty five hundred dollars.”
The cop looked at Louie and then back at Jimmy. His lips thinned.
Val jumped off the chair.
“Does he look like working material?” asked Louie. “Don’t you think if he could work, we wouldn’t be in this predicament in the first place?”
“Good point,” said the cop.
“Ha!” shouted the guard. “And here’s my twenty-five-hundred right now.” He handed Louie the cash. The police officer placed a cuff on Jimmy’s wrist. “Sorry, pal.”
Jimmy burst into tears.
“Stop,” Val shouted. “I’ll pay it.”
“What was that?” asked Louie.
“I said I’ll pay it.” She was probably going to regret this but she just couldn’t see Jimmy arrested. Plus he had a dog! She couldn’t let the dog suffer too.
She unzipped her purse and suddenly she couldn’t breathe. For a minute she froze. She looked at the cop, the hands on her purse shaking.
“You all right?” asked the cop.
“Fine.” Twenty five hundred dollars! Twenty five hundred dollars! She’d never in her life spent twenty five hundred dollars. Ever. She swallowed the lump in her throat. She pulled out her wallet, and tried to find Turner’s credit card but dropped the rest of her papers all over the floor. What the hell was wrong with her? This was going to be fine. Just fine. She’d already used one of the cards and nothing happened. Turner was a rich guy. He probably had so many cards, he didn’t even know what he had. Retrieving a Discover card, she held it upright. “Put the twenty-five-hundred…” She swallowed down her guilt. “On this one.”
The policeman handed the card to Louie who gave her an uplifted brow. “You sure, miss? That’s a hell of a lotta money and to tell you the truth, this low-life aint worth a penny of it.”
“I’m sure. Just do it..”
“All right. If you say so. Just give me a second to see if there’s enough left on it.”
“Oh, go right ahead,” Val said trying to sound like she spent this sort of money every day. “ I assure you. There’s loads of credit on it.”
Louie stepped behind a cash register. He slid the Discover card through the credit card machine. Pausing, his face contorted. Something in his expression made Val’s blood run cold.
Louie looked up, his face a mask of tension. “Um…”
“Is there a problem?” Val asked.
“Um, no. No, problem.” He raised his gaze toward the police officer. “Could you come here a moment?”
The cop stepped behind the counter. He looked down at the machine and then back up toward Val. “I see,” he said. He walked back to the other side of the counter. “Miss, I’m afraid you’re under arrest.”
“What! Why?”
“I’m charging you with grand theft larceny.” He placed her in cuffs.
Chapter 12
Four hours later
Val had never been more mortified in her life than when she saw Turner wearing low slung jeans, a skin-tight T-shirt, and work boots strutting across the tiled floor, heels pounding with deliberation. Val’s heart clenched. She dropped her gaze until he was right in front of her.
“Oh there you are!” he said, as if he’d been looking all over for her. “My poor darling. I came soon as they called me.” He turned to a TSA agent in a bright blue uniform and then back toward Val. He gave her a secret wink. “Will you ever forgive me, sweetheart? And to think this is all my fault for not alerting the credit companies like you begged me. Wow. What a screw up I am. I can’t believe I did it again.”
“Again?” asked one of the agents.
“Oh man, I’ll never live this one down.”
“You know this woman, Mr. Howe?”
“Uh, yes. Yes I do. But she probably won’t want anything to do with me after this terrible blunder.”
“I don’t follow.”
“It’s simple, actually. I lent Val my cards so she could…um…she could um…” He looked at Val with a knowing look, obviously hoping she would provide some of the missing details of the story.
“Go shopping!” Val announced. “See.” She held up an arm. The bag with the jeans dangled from her wrist. An embarrassing acidic feeling settled in her gut. “And we um…forgot to uh….to uh…” This time she stared at Turner, searching for more of the plot points.
“And I forgot to put her on the cards sooooo….”
The agents looked to Val who shrugged helplessly. “So how was I to know?”
“Yeah, So how was she to know?” Turner repeated.
“I mean, who would suspect before I used them…I just assumed and you know my uh…my uh…”
“Husband. I’m her husband,” Turner supplied. “Oh darling, I am so sorry to put you in this predicament.” He took off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders, the heat of his body warming her. Val leaned back against him, soaking up the warmth. She may as well get what she could out of the situation.
“You see officer, we’re newly married and I just forgot.” Turner said.
“Yeah, he just forgot,” Val murmured. “And you will never forget that again! Will you, darling?” Val said, playing it up for all it was worth.
“Never,” Turner said quickly. “I’m just a big dunderhead. That’s what I am. A big dunderhead. I marry the most beautiful woman on the planet and I don’t even remember to put her on my credit cards. Bad enough I reported them stolen.”
“Awe, no you’re not,” said Val. “Besides, I’ll whip you into shape by our first anniversary.”
“Mmm. I like whips.”
“Ahem,” said one of the agents.
Turner laughed. “So you see boys, there’s no crime here. No crime at all. It’s just one big misunderstanding.”
“Yeah, no crime,” Val repeated. God, he was good at this sort of stuff. He deserved and Oscar. No a goddammed Emmy. Or was that for music? Whatever. He was so damn convincing she almost believed him, herself. Home free and I don’t think he hates me either. How can a girl get so lucky? Until….
Val’s face nearly dropped to the floor when she saw who was coming down the hallway, his face ashen and grey toting the leash of a big white Siberian husky. They weren’t alone, either.
Uh oh.
Turner saw them too. Quickly, he pounced on Diego, pulling the shorter man into a ferocious bear hug. “Bro! Where have you been? I’ve been calling you day and night to thank you.”
Diego shot Turner a deep scowl. He pulled back. “Thank me,” he said through gritted teeth. “ For what?” The words were spoken with more animosity than if he had met a rabid dog. He glared at Valentina. “What the hell…”
Again, Turner pulled Diego into a full-body embrace. He took something from his pocket and pressed it in the shorter man’s palm.
Diego glanced down at his hand. It was a hundred dollar bill. “What’s this? You trying to bribe me, Amigo?” He backed up hurriedly. His face brightened when he caught sight of Mr. Goldstein. Two armed policemen strode by his side. “This guy is trying to bribe me,” he called out. “And with my own wife!”
“Wife!” exclaimed the TSA officers in unison.
“I thought she was your wife,” said a female agent with frosted hair and glasses. She gave Turner a stern look. “Something fishy here. I don’t like it.”
Turner glanced from left to right. The agents. The policemen. Mr. Goldstein from Immigration. The dog. Stroking the two-day growth on his chin, he appeared to have made a decision. He pulled Diego into his brawny arms once more and leaned into his ear. This time the man looked terrified when he released him.
“Is she your wife or isn’t she?” demanded one of the officers.
“Um, um, um…” the Mexican stuttered. He swallowed hard. “My…ex-wife, gentlemen,” he corrected. “Valentina is my…ex-wife.” Reaching out, he shook Turner’s hand profusely, his face mirrored in terror Then he turned to the TSA officers. “ My amigo here just wanted to thank me for stepping aside is all. They are married as he said.”
“Not so fast,” said Mr. Goldstein.
Valentina’s stomach lurched. Now she was in for it. There was no going back. She’d be deported or worse. Maybe they’d throw her in jail. She wouldn’t like jail. She was too pretty, had too much long hair. Didn’t convicts like women with long hair? Maybe she should cut her hair first. Yeah, that’s it. She’d cut her hair and then there would be no problems with her jail time. Oh, why did this sort of thing always happen to her?
“So is this the girl?” asked one of the police officers.
“Yeah, that’s her. She’s Diego’s wife.”
“Ex,” chimed in the three TSA officers.
“How’s that?” asked one of the cops.
Turner stepped in front of Val, literally shielding her from the rest. “Ex-wife. She’s his ex-wife and this whole thing with the credit cards is all cleared up. We won’t be needing your, gentlemen.”
Mr. Goldstein narrowed his eyes. “I’ve heard that one before. What’s this about a credit card?”
“Well I forgot to put my new wife’s name on the cards and then I was stupid enough to report them missing so as you can see there’s no…”
Mr. Goldstein screwed up his face and pulled at his beard. “I don’t care about credit cards. Do I look like I care about credit cards? Did I even ask you about a credit card, son?”
“No, but…”
“Right. I’ll ask the questions her from now on.”
Turner’s face flattened. “Whatever you say.” A slice of anger coiled in Val’s stomach. This was all her fault, not Turner’s.
“You’ve sent us on quite a wild goose chase, Miss Rodriquez,” said Mr. Goldstein. He rubbed his bearded chin and stepped closer. “Now what am I to do with you?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” asked Diego. He jumped behind the TSA agents, getting some distance from Turner. “Deport her. You have to deport her!” Diego shouted.
Val clutched Mr. Goldstein’s arm. “No! Please, no. You can’t deport me. I’ll do anything. Anything you want just don’t send me back, please.”
“It’s illegal to stay in this country without a visa, young woman.”
“I know but…”
“And there are all sorts of visas one can apply for.”
“I know. I know.”
“For instance if you had a bit of capital to say start up a business…?”
Val sighed.
“But of course if you had that you wouldn’t be here now would you?”
“I guess not.”
Diego spoke up. “I could sponsor her couldn’t I?” he asked.
“Sponsor me?” asked Val. “But you said…”
“It was going to be a surprise. We’re going to go into business together, Valentina!”
“Business together?” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing and immediately her shackles went up. “What sort of business?”
“Does it matter?” asked Diego. “I mean. We have to discuss it first of course. I have several good ideas as I’m sure you do yourself.”
Glancing over at Turner, she saw his eyes shoot daggers in Diego’s direction.
“Sounds like a solution to me,” said Mr. Goldstein. “And I know Mr. Rodriquez has the means for such a venture since I am his lawyer as well.
Well, that explains a lot.
“What do you say, Valentina?” Tentatively and avoiding Turner’s side of the room, Diego ventured out from behind the TSA agents.
“I…I…” She glanced at Turner who glowered at Diego. She was sure he knew exactly what it meant for her to go back with her ex-husband but as always she didn’t seem to have a choice.
“It’s better than jail,” said Diego.
Hopelessness and dread settled in her stomach. He’d keep her on a tight leash. He’d lock the doors and keep her from calling her family back in Mexico. And not for one minute did she think he had any kind of exciting business proposition to share with her. The only thing he would share was her body…with everyone. “I… I guess I’m going into business,” Val squeaked.
“The hell you will,” Turner shouted as if he heard her very thoughts. “Listen…officers… I’ve got money and I’ll pay whatever it is you need to get her off the hook.”
Mr. Goldstein tapped a finger on his chin. “It’s not just the money, young man.”
“Isn’t it?”
“Well, she could get another work visa. But of course she has to have a job.”
“A job,”
“Yes, and whose going to hire someone like her? Especially on short notice. Her visa expires in three days.”
“Well…”
“What? You? Are you willing to hire someone who clearly can’t be trusted, who has a record as long as the Dead Sea Scrolls, a woman whose married to another man and let’s not forget she is capable of assault.”
Turner didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
“Really? Doing what?”
“My cook. I’m hiring her as my cook.”
“Ha!” burst out Diego. “She can’t even boil water.”
“How do I know you’re telling the truth?” asked Mr. Goldstein. “ How do I know you’re not just going to set her free the minute I turn my back?”
Turner reached inside his shirt pocket and pulled out a plane ticket. He handed it to Mr. Goldstein.
“What’s this?”
“Her ticket back to my home state of New York. We leave tomorrow.”
Mr. Goldstein took out his spectacles and perused the document. “Hmm, looks official. How did you…”
“I have my ways.”
“Then I guess you have yourself a cook.”
Chapter 13
“Aw this is great, Val. Sugar and coffee all in one creamy treat. What else can a man want out of life?”
Val was so eager to make it up to Turner, that when she learned he had a sweet tooth, she made him her famous coffee crème brȗlée for him.
“I’m glad you like it.” She served him another scoop. “Here… Have more.”
“Not sure if I have any more room. After those puffy things…what do you call them?”
“Palmiers. They’re puff pastry actually.”
“Yeah, those. Dang, those things melted on my tongue! I think that’s the second best thing I’ve ever tasted in my life.”
“Only second?”
Turner laughed and gave her bottom a squeeze.
“So does this mean I’m forgiven?”
Confusion etched his brow. “Forgiven?”
“For stealing from you. Geese, Turner, I ripped off your damn credit card…plus a thousand big ones.”
Turner waved a hand in the air. “Sweetheart, money isn’t one of the things I worry about in life, believe me.”
Val frowned. “Wish I could say the same.”
“No. Val, I’m not mad and there’s nothing to be forgiven for.”
Val let out a heated breath. “And you still want me to work for you?”
“Of course. You’d be saving my life. “
“How do you figure…?”
“I haven’t stopped worrying about my brother in six goddammed months. I need some peace. Someone I can trust to watch over Sam is worth any price. I’m a very rich guy, you know.”
She tried not to think about the money nor the fact that if things worked out between her and Turner she could be a very rich woman some day. “And you….trust me?” she asked. Why?”
Turner shrugged. “What have I got to lose? Like I said, money isn’t something I ever worry about.”
“Well since that is settled, can we go and get my clothes now?”
“Sure but I want to show you something first.”
“What’s that?”
“Vegas, baby.”
“Turner I’ve seen Las Vegas. I’ve lived her six months. Remember?”
“Not like this, you haven’t.”
***
Val was wearing a blind fold, feeling as giddy as a kitten even though the scent of warm air, car fumes, cigarette butts and…was that…chlorine she smelled was all around her. She couldn’t wait to see what Vegas looked like after dark. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see,” Turner said. “Step down, there’s a curb. That’s right. Don’t worry, I’m right here.” She’d never trusted a man before but she trusted Turner explicitly. “I’m so excited. Are we almost there?”
“Almost.”
The air was hot and moist. Every time Val turned her head just so, she caught a whiff of Turner’s heat—his masculinity and strength simply oozing from his body until it practically slipped inside her dress caressing her like fingers. And he always looked good too. Right out of the shower, dressed to the hilt, or even covered in wood shavings. So much hotness on one man just had to be a sin. How did she ever get so lucky?
They paused in their stride and he pulled her against him. “We have to wait on the light,” he said and then a few minutes later. “Okay, we can go. Watch your step, sweetheart.”
Val giggled and so did he. “I know. Poor choice of words huh?”
“I know what you meant.”
She inhaled his scent. “Mmmm, you smell so good. Where are we anyway?” The sound of traffic, horns blazing, and the shadow of flashing lights almost invaded blindfold.
“Fifth and Elm I think. This way.” Both hands on her hips he urged her forward.
“Maybe we can use this blindfold for later.”
Soft tender lips nibbled at her neck. “Sure, baby. Later.” He pinched her bottom sending her into explosive giggles until a cabbie blaring his horn jarred her out of tranquility.
Turner laughed. “It’s okay. He’s way up the road. Nothing to worry about.”
“If you say so. My eyes are starting to itch. Can I take this off yet?”
“Just a few more feet.”
Val heard her heels clicking on the footpath. “I know where we are. We’re across the street from the Bellagio.”
Turner brought Val up against his body. “Open your eyes, sweetheart,” he breathed in to her ear. For a moment she didn’t move. It felt heavenly with his face up to her neck.
Turner removed the mask. He smiled and then turned her attention to the hotel across the street. She’d never seen anything so spectacular in her life. Not only did the thirty-six story hotel boast billions of colored lights, they glittered against a midnight sky. A small cement pool of azure blue water separated the pool from the street at the base of the hotel. Sharp fountains shooting colored water created a border of brilliance against the sky. It sparkled. It sizzled. And it was absolutely breathtaking.
“Pretty amazing, isn’t it?” Turner asked.
Val had never seen anything so beautiful in her life. It was just like Christmas lights. All twinkly and sharp, made more brilliant by the darkness of the night. She stared at the hotel, captivated.
“This is why I haven’t brought you back for your clothes until now.”
She turned to look at him with tears in her eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“I thought you just wanted to keep me…”
“What? Keep you naked?”
“Well… yeah. Isn’t that what all men want?”
“ No. I wanted to show you this but for the last three nights, we got so…busy, we kinda fell asleep before…well… you know. Not that I minded your birthday suit or anything like that.”
Val laughed. She sunk into Turner’s arms. “I’ve never seen this before you know.”
“Yeah, you told me.”
“I did?”
“Yeah, you told me since you worked nights you either spent your time working or sleeping. In both cases you never went outdoors.”
Val laughed. “You remembered that?”
“Sure. Why wouldn’t I?”
Val shrugged. “Most of the time when I tell a man something he doesn’t.”
“Well those guys are assholes, Val.”
“I guess.”
He kissed her on the head.
“So this is why they say, it’s the city that never sleeps,” Val said. “Funny, for the last six months it felt like all I did was sleep.”
He pulled her in tighter. “I admire that about you.”
Val giggled. “What? The sleeping?”.
“No. That you want a better life for your family and you send money home. Not too many people do that in this country.”
Val shrugged. “They’d do the same for me if they could. My brothers are pretty special.”
“You’re…pretty special.”
Val didn’t know what to say so she focused on something else. Like what she wanted to do to him once they got back to the hotel. She wanted to blindfold him like she had done her and kiss him all over starting at his toes and going all the way to his…Turner’s groin moved against her hips, his erection apparent. He’d felt her need too. He cleared his throat, moving away just a little and turning her to face him.
“You’re a good woman, Val,” he said in that rich whiskey voice of his. “You put other’s needs above your own. I know you’ve not had a great time of it and I know you’ve had to be nice to a lot of…men. You’ve sacrificed yourself. I get that about you.”
“Well, you’re the first man that ever has. And for the record, you’re the only man who would have done what you did for me back there. In fact, most men probably would have…”
“Sent you to the hospital?”
“No. The morgue.”
“Jesus, Val!”
“Yeah.”
“Well, then I’m glad it was me that you ripped off then.”
Val’s heart swelled.
“I’m not a hero though. Far from it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m ashamed to say this but…all my life I’ve just taken. I’ve never given.”
“And with the women you date?”
“Asshole through and through.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
Turner chuckled. “Hard, yeah. Always hard when I’m around you, Val.” He leaned down and nibbled on her neck sending the most delicious shivers up and down her back. “But seriously. I’m a very selfish man. I think every woman I’ve ever dated would agree with me on that one.”
“You weren’t selfish with me.” The heat of his eyes bore into her soul, flashing with unquenched desire. “I’m glad you feel that way.”
They were standing by a short stone wall with no one around them. Val could almost feel the concrete below her knees, feel herself releasing him from his trousers with nothing but the stars and shadows to witness her taking him in her mouth. She’d always loved having sex outdoors. She felt free somehow even though she was anything but free. In the past, she’d not cared for the man. He was simply a means to whatever she needed. A plane ticket. A meal she had no money for. Sex outdoors made it—easier. She’d focus on the stars or the moon or sometimes a building just so she didn’t have to see his face. It made her forget how hopeless she felt.
But Turner wasn’t like other men. She actually wanted to see him. Yearned to capture the hunger in his eyes. Turner had class. He was a good man with a good soul, no matter how much he denied it.
“Let’s go to the hotel and get my clothes,” Val said feeling a little breathless. “I think it’s time for bed.”
A slow smile curled her toes. “Playtime?” he said. Nibbling at her ear, it turning her insides into putty. He gave her a playful lick. “You’ve had a long day. Of course you’re tired.”
She shook her head. “Nope. Not tired at all.”
***
No sooner were they inside the door and Turner was scraping the top of Val’s dress off her shoulders, mouth plastered to one nipple while his hand slid up along her back. She jumped up with both legs, wrapping them around his torso. She let her tongue slide along his neck. He tasted salty and kind of sweet with just hint of male sweat. He moaned as she lifted her head, his kiss devouring her so thoroughly she barely could get a word out. “Get the…the…” Another kiss and the words floundered in her mouth, unspoken. She giggled. He hoisted her up further around his hips, fumbling with his belt buckle with one hand and holding her with the other. He grunted and the laughed. They made it to the bedroom, hopping along the way.
Turner pushed her up against the wall. Something teetered on its axis, knocking over a lamp. A loud crash. “Whoops.” And then a giggle.
“The light. The light,” Val yelled in between hot kisses that sizzled along her lips.
“Right. Yeah.” He hoisted her up again and then half hopped half jogged over to the light switch on the wall.
He turned on the light.
“Ta Da!” His smile was even more infectious than his touch and Val found her skin crawling with raw emotional longing. She caught the view of the two of them in the mirror. Distorted with shadows because the light didn’t hit that end of the room; it was like being inside a funhouse. Arching slightly, Val dropped one arm down Sam’s chest. She wanted to get to his waistband but couldn’t quite reach.
Shadows danced around the room. “Now, this is what I call a light show,” Turner said taking one nipple inside his mouth. The dress was tight and only one side had any give where the zipper held it closed. Attempting to pull it off the other shoulder, a loud rip sang out. “Whoops again. Sorry. Guess I’ll have to buy you another dress.”
They fell on the bed with a loud “Oomph!” accompanied by uncontrollable giggling.
“I’ve had enough wear out of it. I’m more of a jeans gal anyway.”
“Well no jeans tonight, sweetheart.”
“Oh goody. Can you get my stockings off?”
“Sure thing.” Using his bare teeth, he gripped the stockings on her thighs and tugged hard. It was harder than he imagined so he pulled them down instead. Val giggled. “Just rip them off, caveman. I’ve had enough wear out of those too.”
So he did.
After undressing her the rest of the way, he wriggled out of his own clothes, anxious for more than just a skin to skin contact. He needed to be inside her pronto. He felt if he didn’t fuck her hard and fast his dick would explode. And not in a good way. His cock swelled twice its size and three times as hard as he’d ever been. So big, he felt—it actually ached when he touched the poor bugger. “Val,” he said in a husky voice. “I need you so bad it hurts. I can’t take my time about it. Is that all right?”
“What? No foreplay?”
“I can’t… I’m so fucking hot for you, Val. Do you mind if I just…take care of …?” He stared down at his erection while trying to finagle his pants blow his knees. She gave his cock a quick suck. He moaned and his breathing became labored.
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this,” Val said.
“What?” he asked kicking off the last of his pant legs.
“A man is asking if he can have his pleasure before mine. This is a first for me.”
“Awe, those guys were assholes. You deserve to be worshipped and I promise to do that to you but if I don’t fuck you now, I think my dick may fall off.”
“How Sexy.” She loved hearing how desperate he was for her. There wasn’t anything sexier than a man turned into a Neanderthal. She opened her legs bending them at the knees. His cock was right there at the opening, waiting. “It’s all right, caveman. Fuck me. I’m yours.”
“No.”
“No?”
“Your ass. I’ve been staring at it all day. I need to see that sweet ass of yours. Now!”
Val let out a squeal when sharp as a flash and without fair warning, his large muscular arms flipped her body over on the bed. Startled, she lost her breath a little.
“I’m a little eager I guess.”
“I just wasn’t…expecting…I’m fine. Just fine.”
“Up, up, up,” he instructed.
She rose on hands and knees and then leaned forward on her arms. “Like this?” Peering out of the corner of her eyes, she wriggled her ass at him. He slapped it in response. “Hey!”
He gave her a crooked grin, the kind that had playboy written all over it.“Such a lovely view, sweetheart.” Kneeling, he nudged her legs further open. He gripped each of her cheeks before pushing himself inside. “Oh god!” Moving with frantic rhythm, he groaned with each thrust. “You’re so wet for me, Val. So fucking wet.” He lifted and then pulled back, adding more force as he drove back into the hilt. Thick fingers made dimples in her hips as he pummeled forward, his voice horse with delicious pleasure inducing thrusts.
Val gripped the pillow—his cock buried inside her core, each slam a heated tumbling assault. She bit down on her lip. Impatient and growling, he practically pushed her into the headboard. Thump…and thump…and thump, thump, thump. The bed hit the wall creating a crescendo of erotic noises. It vibrated the bed.
Her nipples bounced, skimming the sheets—it made her body yearn for more stimulation as he heaved himself forward again…and again…and again. She’d never felt such an assault, yet it felt wonderful and intense. Then he reached underneath, fondling her clit and then her breasts. She moaned with the sensation.
Hot sparks and heated thrusts blew her wide open. She couldn’t come this way. Not at all. And she needed him to orgasm. Fast. “Harder, Turner. Do it harder. Faster.”He did as he was told throttling forward in a whirl of exhalations and violent attacks until a climax stole his breath. “Ahh!” Pulling his shivering dick out of her body, he uttered a loud groan and covered her sweet ass in steamy thick seed. Breathless, he shuddered, shook himself one last time and said, “Mmm. You felt so good, sweetheart.”
“On your back,” Val demanded. “My turn.”
“I…I don’t know if I …”
“You will!” She covered him with her body. Then she nibbled at his neck, kissing and whispering all the things she wanted to do to him. And how, when, and where she wanted to do them. On the side of a hot steaming tub where he could rest his cock at eye level. Between floors in the elevator of the hotel. On the roof of his penthouse under the stars, moon, and sky. On a pool table in a crowded room. Perhaps with several other men. Or women. That last one she just threw in for good measure.
He flicked his tongue along her breasts and nibbled on the tips until the strength of gods zipped through his quivering cock. Val could feel the beast between them. She locked her fingers through his and gazed into his eyes. “I told you,” she mouthed.
In a flash, he’d flipped the two of them over until his body was on top of hers.
Laughing this time, she said, “Oh no, you don’t. Not again.” Rolling their linked bodies so she was on top again, they tangled inside the sheets so tight neither could break free. They wriggled and squirmed, trying to break loose. Finally, they fell off the bed in a heap of linen and flailing limbs, hot sweat sticking to the sheets.
“Ha!” yelled Val triumphant. She sat up on Turner’s hips. “I’m on top and don’t you dare move.” She licked the initials inked into his salty neck. “LLB What is this anyway?”
“Lost little boy.” His eyes narrowed and that delectable mouth quirked into a twisted smile.
“Okay, you know what I mean.”
“Land Lover Brothers.”
“Oh yeah. I forgot.” Giggling, she mounted him, the sweet explosive sensations gripping her like a demon until all she knew, felt, and saw was sweet sexual bliss cracking through her brain. A bloom of pleasure rose up. Higher and higher. Quickening with her movements. “Yes! Yes!” Searing sweat drizzled between her breasts. Turner pistoned upward, their bodies joined. “Fuck! I’m coming Tool man. I’m coming!”
“You have a filthy mouth,” he murmured. “I love it.” And then it registered in her brain. She’d never talked this way to a man before. Was this what she meant when she said they brought out the best in each other? Sex with Turner was amazing. And having fun with no obligations attached even better. There wasn’t any promise of money or opportunity or keeping her out of jail to encourage him. He just wanted her. The deep carnal knowledge spurred her on with a happiness she’d never known. It was exhilarating. Liberating and refreshing. Her body began to thrum, her moans growing louder.
Rising. Rising. Rising. “Oh!”
Val loved the control she was having. It was like living a new life. Their bodies slammed into the bed with such ferocious actions she thought the bed would break. An orgasm gripped her—sending her over the edge. Turner groaned from below and she knew by the sound he would climax soon too. The sound of him was lovely. The pleasure intensified. Cresting the mountain, Val jumped off. She felt herself soaring so high she had to scream out and did. She shuddered in beautiful ecstasy.
***
“What are you looking at?” Val asked.
“You.” Turner swept a strand of hair from her mouth, soaking in the lemony scent. He tucked it behind her ear, his gaze pensive…intense. “I have to tell you something. Before we go too far.”
“I think it’s a little too late for that. Don’t you think?”
“Not…this. I need to be honest with you. I can’t…I mean, I don’t…with women…Well, I do but…I just want things to be right between us.”
“You look so serious. Are you dieing or something?”
“Yeah .”
“What!” She shuffled herself up on the pillow. Clutching another pillow to her chest, she stared down at him, horrified.
“No. No. Not like that.” He chuckled. “Sorry, poor choice of words.”
“Then you’re not…dieing?”
“No.”
“Then why did you…?”
“I just meant…How do I explain it? The old me is dieing. The old me.”
“The old you?” Her face wrinkled with skepticism. “What the hell does that even mean, Turner?”
His jaw shivered with laughter. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “Maybe I’ve just changed since I met you, Val.”
“Yeah, right. In three days.” She lowered her gaze, not sure whether to buy what she thought was the start of some kind of confession…or change the subject. Not wanting either, she dove under the sheets, her body wriggling along the mattress until the tickle of pubic hair made her nose itch. She stuck her head out the other end of the bed. Beside his feet. “Val! Val, I’m trying to be serious here.”
“Yeah, I know. Sorry.” She couldn’t stop laughing. What was with this guy? The best three days she’d had with a man since like…ever, and he wants to go and ruin it. “You were saying…”
“Well I can’t… Oh god.” She’d wriggled herself down again, hot lips wrapped around his dick. “Oh! Oh man, that’s good. Yeah, right like that.”
Laughing, she let go of her prey and pulled back the sheet.“You wanted to talk serious,” she chided.
“Uh…”
“What about?” she asked, trying to sound sweet.
“Well I can’t talk to you when you’re doing that!”
“What? You mean this?” Swiveling back down in place she tickled the tip of his half erect cock with her tongue. His cock responded.
Turner groaned. “Woman, you’re driving me crazy.”
Val giggled. “Yeah, I know.” She gave his balls a final squeeze and then jumped out of bed. Wrapping a sheet around her body, she took the chair across the room so he couldn’t drag her back to bed. She plopped herself down. “Shoot, Mr. Casanova. Get whatever it is off your chest.”
Turner breathed in a long slow sigh. “I…I’ve never had a girlfriend if you must know so this is all…kinda new to me.”
She looked at him, dumbfounded. Whatever she was expecting it wasn’t that. It certainly wasn’t the truth. Rich handsome men like Turner had women. Lots and lots of women.
“I mean I date and I have sex and all that but I don’t…have girlfriends. Not really.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Well, I have this rule.”
Oh great. He’s got rules about the women he dates and none of them are girlfriends?
Val settled in for the kill. Either he was going to say he never wanted to see her again or he didn’t trust her. Pulling her legs underneath on the chair, she stiffened.
“You see I don’t date anyone more than three times in a row. Sometimes, if I like a woman, I’ll take a break and then date her again in the future but never more than three dates in a row.”
Is he freaking kidding?
“That’s why I’ve never had a girlfriend. Not in the simple sense of the word.”
“Three dates,” Val repeated letting that roll around on her tongue. “Why?”
“It just seemed…more uncomplicated. I’m a busy man. Busy as hell actually. I don’t have relationships.” He made quotations in the air.
“You don’t have relationships? Why?”
“Relationships take time. What with my work schedule, jetting around the country to different projects that take months to complete, it just didn’t seem practical.”
“Why are you telling me all this?”
“I want to be honest, Val. And like I said I don’t want there to be any weirdness between us.”
Val’s heart dropped and tears formed in the corners of her eyes. “So you’re telling me you don’t want to see me again.”
“No!”
“No, you don’t’ want to see me or no, that’s not what you meant?”
“No, that’s not what I meant. See, I’m getting older, so I was thinking of expanding that particular rule.” He gave her a rueful smile.
“Seriously?
He shrugged. “Yeah. I’m being serious here.”
“I think that’s ridiculous.”
“What?” he asked, incredulous. “Why? I thought it was…mature actually.”
Val rolled her eyes at that one. “Oh thank you on behalf of all womankind! Jesus, you’re just like all the others. An egotistical fool destined to live your life alone. If I’m understanding you right, you simply ignore them after the third fuck? What…do they take you aside in kindergarten and teach you how to be man whores to all the women of the world?”
“Val, it’s not like that.”
“Then what is it like, Turner? You just told me all you do is fuck em and leave em. Is that the badge you wear around here? And what I am to you? A fuck em and leave em girl? Is that what you told your whole crew when my back was turned? And all this time I thought they liked me. I thought you liked me. I was so happy the other night. Just hanging with the boys watching football. They reminded me of my brothers and I wasn’t alone for the first time in I don’t know how long. But you! And them….” She glanced toward the living room. “Everyone. They were making fun of me the whole time, weren’t they?”
“No!”
“Sounds that way to me, Turner.” She dropped the pillow. She got out of bed and stomped to the dresser, naked, and grabbed her indies and jeans. After slipping on the panties she slammed each leg into the jeans. With trembling hands, she zipped up the fly. “I am so stupid. You’d think a girl like me…a girl who’s been around enough men would learn her lesson by now!” Her angry gaze flitted about the room. “Where’s that sweater you bought me? Oh, and don’t think I’m not paying you back for everything you bought because I will.”
“You don’t have…”
“Of course I don’t but I want to and I will.” She punctuated the last word through tight lips.
“Val, honey…” He touched her forearm as she strode toward the sweater but she yanked back quickly. “Val, don’t you see. This is why I’m telling you all this now. I don’t want it to be like this with us.”
“What? You don’t’ want to fuck me anymore? And you thought you needed to clear that up with me first? Ease your conscience or…whatever?”
“Huh? No! That’s not what I meant either. Oh, man what I said came out all wrong. Totally wrong.”
“Then enlighten me, Turner. What exactly are you trying to tell me here.”
“I’m trying to tell you, I hate myself for doing that to all those women. I’m trying to tell you I paid the price with loneliness and I’m sick of it. Sick of being and asshole if you must know. I’m trying to tell you I like you, Val. A lot. More than any other women I’ve ever met. Maybe that’s why…I just thought… I want to be upfront. That’s all I meant. I’m not even sure I can…you know…”
“What?”
“Fall in love.”
“Well it’s no wonder with your three date rule, you hypocrite.”
“I deserved that.”
“Damn right. Jesus and to think I thought…I mean…for a minute there….”
“What?”
“For a minute there I actually thought there was something wrong with you. I was wracking my brain trying to figure out how I could help you get through it.”
A smile spread over Turner’s face. “You care about me?”
“Yes, you asshole. I care. I don’t want to but I do.”
A cocky grin crept out of the corner of his mouth. “So does this mean if I was really sick or actually dieing you might miss me a little?”
“I don’t know.”
“Here, you forgot something.” Turner tossed her the lace bra laying on the edge of the bed frame.
“Thanks,” she said hotly. She stripped off the sweater and then put on the bra. “Can you…? I can’t reach.” She turned, holding the two end of the bra behind her back.
“Hmm.” Instead of snapping her up, he pulled her into his hard muscular chest. Reaching around, he cupped her breasts, flicking the nipples with his thumb. “Let me make it up to you for being an ass.”
“Don’t change the subject. You had your chance a few minutes ago if I recall.” Stepping forward, she pulled the sweater overhead. A silk and rayon mix with red roses sewn with silk threads slid overhead. “Any other confessions you want to unload on me?”
“Just that I have a pretty bad reputation back home. I cheated on my taxes and had a few brawls when I was younger. And…you’ll likely get an earful from the women around town. I’ve pretty much dated all of them at one time or another.”
Val’s eyes grew round as baseballs.
“Don’t look at me like that. I used protection. I am clean if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Too late for me to worry,” Val said taking a deep breath. “And that’s on me, of course.” Checking herself out in the vanity, she twirled around, noting how form fitting the jeans were to her bottom. She filled them out just right. “Wow. Much nicer than my old stuff.” She slid her hands over the silk sweater. “And soft too.” She could almost taste the smoothness against her skin.
“So why me, Turner? Why are you willing to break your almighty three date rule with little old me?” There was still an edge to her voice but she was beginning to sound normal.
“I told you, Val. I like you.”
She planted a quick kiss on his lips. “I like you too.”
“And for the record. What you claim I did for you…back there….in the airport…Another first for me, Val. I’ve never put myself out for another human being in my life.”
“So why did you?”
“It felt…good.”
“Well I’m grateful…for everything.”
“Yeah, well I’ve a lot to atone for in my life. I fucked up a lot of people.”
“You’re not the only one,” Val said. “I’m sorry, by the way.” Her tense expression lightened. “Forgive me?”
“Nothing to forgive, sweetheart.”
“Well, then we’re even.”
He glanced at the clock. “Wow. Almost midnight.” Drawing the vertical blinds across the bay window, a sparkling display of stars appeared.
Val gasped. “Wow. Another light show just for us.”
Turner held his hand out. “Come. I want you to see something.”
Val placed her hand in his, the heat between them still sizzling. He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed each one by one. Then he slid back the glass doors to the veranda, leading her out. He pointed to the sky. “See that group of stars. That’s the little dipper and that over there is the north star.” He wrapped his arms around her waist, soaked inside her warmth. “Back home I have a telescope.”
“Really? I’ve always wanted one of those. My mother used to tell me the stars were where bad people went when they died.” She laughed. “ I wanted to see if my father was up there.”
Turner chuckled but there was no humor behind it.
“My dad said something similar. Only…he said when we die, we become angels. We take up residence inside the stars.”
“I like your version better.”
“Oh, look. Polaris is up. Mariners used that to guide themselves home.”
Home. Val thought of her brothers, the one story house they’d all grown up in, the Spanish roof and corrugated room dividers. The sense that it was always the same. Every day. All day. A slum really with no running water, dirt floors, and cobbled streets. Since, leaving at seventeen to find work, she’d never settled anywhere for long.
Home was back in Nayarit, Mexico. She missed seeing colorful baskets and rugs sold on the front stoops of her neighbors. She missed beans, sorghum, and sugar cane growing in the fields, the grand murals on public buildings, and hearing her native tongue spoken with a true Mexican accent. Besides her brothers, what she missed most were the sweet songs of the birds of the rain forest. Whenever she felt lonely, she’d slip away just to hear their sweet songs. It always made her feel better. Val sighed. She was a long way from seventeen and sooner or later she would have to find a place for herself, move on, find a life. “Home,” she said softly. “I wonder where that is.”
Turner moved to face her. Cupping her face gently in his palms, he ran his fingers through her dark hair. She shivered even though waves of heat crawled along her skin. He wiped a tear with his thumb. “Val?” She bit her lip. She didn’t want to tell him what it was like moving place to place or how she’d never felt like she’d never belonged anywhere. She didn’t want to reveal how much she’d yearned to put down roots. That the moment he’d offered her a job, her a place in his very own home, she’d been jumping through hoops to make sure he didn’t change his mind. He knew nothing about her and she wanted to keep it that way. But he didn’t ask about her past. He didn’t ask about any of it. He just…trusted. By the look in his eyes, she was sure he knew anyway. Knew about all of her lousy decisions. The list of men as long as his arm. The people she’d ruined. He kissed her softly on the lips.
“Home,” Turner repeated. And then just like that he took her in his arms, kissed her with a passion she’d never known with a man before. He raised her off her feet, kissing nibbling and loving her with his tongue. Then he set her down again.
Breathless, she smiled as if the sun had just come up. Like the world finally had meaning. Like all her prayers had finally been answered. “Turner? Turner you’re looking at me like that again. Why?”
“It’s the mariners,” he said.
“The mariners?”
“Yeah. Those mariners from long ago. That’s what I am for you, Val. Your way home.”
The End
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I