LISA
Waiting outside the door, I rang the doorbell. The gentle thump of feet started to close in. My stomach was in my throat as I stood there, unsure how she would react to seeing my face.
I'm not here for her. . . Not this time.
"Who is it?" Jennie's sweet voice bled out from behind the thick wood.
"It's Prince Charming," I said with a throaty growl.
No sounds crept through the wood, no voices, or murmurs. Knocking gently, I said less jokingly, "It's Lisa, can you open the door?"
The metal clank of the lock hit my ears, the door slowly opening to reveal her confused, but beautiful, face. "What are you doing here?" Tight crinkles framed her eyes, sprawling out from the corners.
A piece of me was tempted to smooth out her crinkles, draw my finger over her lids and wash away any thoughts that might be fluttering through her mind.
It had been hard as hell to just stay away. She wouldn't answer my calls, she wouldn't return my messages, and it was killing me. I was trying to be respectful and not bull-rush myself back into her life.
Today was different. Today wasn't about her, it wasn't about me, it was about keeping a promise. And I don't break promises.
"Well, I have a date today. I tried to call you, but you just kept ignoring me."
Arching a brow, she answered me like I was losing my mind. "Lisa, I thought I told you I was done with the dates."
A devious smile spread across my face, lifting from ear to ear. "The date's not with you." Cocking her head, she stared at me under hooded lids. "I'm here for the tea party."
Ella's loud feet stampeded down the hall, her giant smiling face exploding from around the corner with a squeal. "You came! You came!"
Shifting her gaze between us, Jennie held her hand up. "Wait, what's going on?"
Side stepping around Jennie, I held a hand behind my back, and bowed to the hostess. "I was invited for a tea party and I promised I'd be here. I never break a promise."
"Tea party?" Jennie asked, confusion layering her tone.
Ella jumped up and down, her hair flopping into her face and covering her eyes. "Mattress woman, I'm so excited! I have a few friends on their way, oh wait. . ." Her eyes floated down the hall, hand cupping her ear. "I think they just got here. Come on! Come on!"
Ella waved her hand frantically, darting behind the wall, and disappearing. Her feet echoed as she ran, then halted altogether when she reached her room.
Grinning, I flicked my eyes to Jennie. "I'm glad I'm not late."
Folding her arms over her chest, she pulled in a deep breath. "Did you really show up here for a tea party?"
Nodding my head, I pulled a bouquet of flowers from behind my back. Plucking a long red rose from the bunch, I handed it to Jennie. "This is for you, the others are for the tea party." Winking, I held my arm out and asked, "May I?"
I watched her eyes twinkle with something that burst at the seams. Jennie looked so happy in that moment, so blown away, and so. . .
Thankful.
Pinching her chin, her lip arched on the corner. "I can't believe you actually showed up for a tea party. I was wondering what the giant star on Ella's calendar was for."
"I'll ask the hostess if you can join us too, if you'd like?" Trailing my thumb across her elbow, I drew small circles. "I would love to have you there."
"Let me check my schedule, I might be having lunch with Bugs Bunny." Giggling, she pretended to flip through an imaginary itinerary. "Nope, that's tomorrow, looks like I'm free."
Ella's head popped out from behind the wall. "Come on, the tea party is ready. And the guests are starting to get vehement." Disappearing again, her feet faded into the distance.
"Vehement?" I asked, tilting my head.
Jennie rolled her eyes, waving her hand to dismiss the new word in her daughter's vocabulary. "My mom, she fills her head with words I don't even understand." Flapping her fingers to urge me forward, she said, "Come on, let's go, we can't be late."
For the next hour I sat in the tiniest chair ever, pounding back 'watermelon tea,' which was really just water. We also talked in horribly fake British accents, referring to each other as Madame for the ladies and Reginald for the boys.
That was Ella's idea and what an incredible imagination that child had. I shook every hand of the other guests, all ten stuffed animals, and asked for more lumps of sugar in a single glass than I think the Queen of England has had in her life.
All we needed were some crumpets and tiny finger sandwiches, and it would have blown any royal luncheon out of the park.
Through the whole party, Jennie kept giving me these sappy mom eyes, eating up the excitement from her baby, and the happiness she felt right in that moment.
But I couldn't lie, I was beyond happy to make that little girl beam from ear to ear. I don't know why I felt this tug on the heart strings for Ella, but watching her light up made the rest of the world's problems seem so unimportant.
"Lisa, this was really sweet. Thank you." Jennie nudged me with her shoulder as Ella started to clear all the guests from the table by throwing them so lovingly onto her bed.
That explains the ratty bear.
"It's nothing, it's not everyday you get invited to a royal tea party. How could I pass it up?"
Glancing at her daughter, Jennie gave her the last tasks to clean up. "Okay, I'm going to walk Lisa out."
"Lisa? I thought her name was mattress woman?" Tossing me a very serious look, her small hands fell to her hips.
I tried not to chuckle, but the old saying, 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree,' really sank in at that very moment.
"My real name is Lisa, but you can call me whatever you want."
"Good. I don't like that name, can I make up a name for you instead?"
"Sure, what do ya got?"
Tapping her chin, Ella circled me, eyeing me up and down. "Hmm," she mumbled as she rubbed her tiny chin in thought. "I got it!" she chirped, throwing up a single finger. "I'm going to call you Lili."
"Lili, huh?" Ella nodded excitedly, grinning from ear to ear. "Alright, Lili it is. Does this mean I can give you a name too?" Shaking her head yes, she teetered in place, hands cupped together."Okay, your new name is B."
"B? Why B?" she asked, scrunching her nose and wiggling her face.
"Because you have a button nose and you bounce around a lot."
"B. . . I like it. Thanks for coming, Lili!" Ella threw her arms up and let herself fall back onto her bed. "But now I'm exhausted, tea parties are a lot of work."
Jennie stepped over to her daughter and leaned down to ruffle her hair. "Alright, nap if you'd like. I don't mind today, because tonight you're sleeping at Grandma's house."
Following Jennie out of Ella's room, I watched her hips sway, the smooth kick hardening my cock. She looked so damn sexy, the yoga pants hugged her curves, the tank-top clung to her skin and etched out every dip and contour.
My fingers tensed by my side, eagerly scratching at my thigh for freedom to stroke her bare shoulder, and caress the tender area at the base of her neck.
There was still a resistance settling in my chest, but it felt more like trying to break an old habit. The fact she had been a client didn't really matter to me anymore. I had her once, that was all I needed to know she was all I ever wanted.
A new found freedom stained my veins, turning me from a stone wall into a penetrable object. I could hold out for a little bit longer, if she just let us finish what we started, then my contract with her would be over and there would be nothing that would keep me from her.
All I had to do was convince her to go on one last date, then I could tell Jennie exactly how I felt. But nothing could happen until I finished what I started.
"You, uh, you want to stay for a glass of real tea?" she asked, fumbling with her bottom lip. Her arms were hugging her sides, eyes scanning my face.
"I have a few minutes to spare, the polo game isn't for another hour." Smirking, I plopped down onto the solid blue sofa.
Jennie's lip turned up, tugging out a half smile. "Alright," she said as she stepped into the kitchen. The sounds of her rummaging through the cupboard and opening the fridge made their way out into the living room.
Running my hands over the fabric, it didn't feel as soft as I expected. There was a layer of crust over the arm, sticky stains speckled the cushion, and deep tracks of what looked like purple marker streaked across the top.
Hmm, didn't notice that before.
Stepping back in, Jennie shook her head. "Don't mind the couch. I need a new one, but I promised myself I would wait until Ella was well past the creative child age." Sitting down next to me, she passed me a glass of tea.
We were so close I could feel her warmth and smell the light scent of garden flowers on her clothes. Her skin held a dewy glaze that called me, I wanted to lick her skin her to see if she was more sweet or salty. I wanted to place delicate kisses across her throat, just to see her shiver.
I bet she's purely delicious.
Pointing a finger at the dark spots, I asked, "So what's this?"
"Juice, and probably some ketchup with syrup in there too."
"And this?" Resting a finger on the edge of the arm where the color was an obvious shade of navy, unlike the soft blue it should be.
"That's most likely—tiny grimy hands and definitely snot." Covering her mouth with her hand, Jennie laughed as I made a gross face, sticking out my tongue, and grunting. "I'm kidding—mostly. To be honest, I don't really know what the hell that is. But I swear, Ella just gravitates to dirt and disgusting germs."
Her face was glowing today, the normal delicate ivory was tinted in a pastel pink. Jennie looked liked the sun had kissed her cheeks and left its mark. Her foot tapped the floor in a hurried beat with a new tick I hadn't picked up on before.
Flashing a tight smile, her nail made tinking noises across the glass. "Oh, I wanted to tell you that Ella's bed has smelled as fresh as a hot towel straight from the dryer. You really need to teach me your trick, if you haven't noticed the state of my sofa."
"I learned it a long time ago, from a woman named Laura. Laura Springfield, one of my foster mothers." Waiting for her to cringe or her brows to shift, she surprised me by staying steady.
"Well, she must have needed a remedy like that if she had foster kids. You didn't stay there with her?"
Shaking my head, I stared at the glass in my hand. "No, I never stayed anywhere for very long." Swallowing hard, I waited for the nervous lump to clear my throat.
It felt strange to bare a piece of myself to someone else, it had been taboo for me to even let memories cross my mind about how I grew up. Just letting that small snippet hang between us, it was surreal.
My past had always been my secret, the life I lived had been one I hated talking about. Family after family took their turn with me, never taking the final leap of adoption. I was never really too sure why, but my mind always went back to the fact that something must have been wrong with me.
A baby given up at birth, and never adopted. . . Why?.
Most of the time the kids that went full string in the homes and got kicked out at eighteen were the ones who came in later in life. They were troubled youth, who after years of abuse and neglect, didn't give two shits about rules or following orders.
But the babies, they always got grabbed up by a couple and spared the anguish of never feeling worthless.
Maybe that was a small piece of why I never found love for myself?
It was hard to understand why no one cared about me enough to give me that chance. When I hit twelve, that's when I gave up. I gave up caring about finding a family of my own, I gave up wanting what everyone else had.
Things were different now. I was an adult. I had my ups and down, but I found something I was truly good at. That's why my rules were so important to me. I never wanted to fuck up the only good thing in my life.
"Why are you telling me this? I thought you don't talk about your personal life?"
Shrugging a shoulder, I asked, "I know you got my messages, have you thought about trying one more date?" I wanted to change the subject. A little bit of my past was enough for now.
Tapping the glass, her lips perched high. "I have, and believe it or not, I was actually going to call you about it."
"And?" I asked, leaning a smidgen closer.
"I'll do it." Jennie's shoulders rolled forward, a light smile spreading on her lips.
"So what was all that at the door? All the, I told you no more dates?" Arching a brow, wrinkles hit my hairline.
"You took me by surprise, I wasn't expecting you to show up here. And well, after what you did for Ella today, I sorta owe you now. Don't I?"
"No, I didn't do this to try and weasel another date out of you. I did it because I told Ella I would."
I watched her fingers grip the glass tightly, our eyes freezing on each other. Her big brown stare was burrowing into my core, holding me in place.
Bringing a hand to her face, I brushed the back of my fingers along her jaw. I couldn't stop myself, it happened so naturally. The need to touch her had been so strong, all I wanted was a small sip, a tiny taste to quench my thirst.
"Lisa." Jennie whispered, her eyes hooking my soul with each blink. "We need to talk."
"Isn't that what we're doing?" Tracing her collarbone, Jennie's head fell into my hand.
"I'm serious," she spoke low and soft, her eyes rolling into the back of the sockets.
Squeezing her shoulder, I let my hand scoop around her back, pressing between her shoulder blades. Her body leaned forward, prickles raising up across her skin like small mountains. "Jennie, I know this whole dating thing hasn't been easy, but I promise it's about to get better."
My lips hovered above her neck, barely touching her skin. Breathing out slowly, I watched her shiver.
"It's not just that," she said, glancing down to look her at her hands.
Brushing my mouth against her ear, a tremble passed between us, her muscles loosening. Snapping her head back up, our eyes locked, and my chest palpitating in rapid bursts.
She looked so beautiful, her skin dewy and glowing. Deep lines filled her forehead, brows soft and sucking me in. I could see her chest rising and falling with quick snaps.
"Jennie, I'm going to be honest right now." Pausing, I lifted my hand to her face, stroking her cheek. "I really want to kiss you."
Her lips parted, a light smile dangling at the crease. "So why haven't you?" Her tone was so soft, sexy, and irresistible.
Leaning over, I pressed my mouth onto hers. A warm wave of prickles hit my hairline, turning my mind from fluent into a watery pool of consciousness. My cock was rigid, turning rock hard from the instant her lips touched mine.
Speaking between licks, I whispered. "I don't know what I'm doing, but I can't stop."
Her airless words filled my mouth. "I don't want you stop."
Digging my hand deeper behind her head, I curled my fingers around her nape. Jennie gasped, her eyes closing slowly, hands slipping across my chest. Her nails cut into the muscle, dragging down with need.
A quick gasp escaped her lips, eyes locking closed as head tipped back. I wanted her, all of her. Over and over I wanted to take her body and make her beg for me to send her over the edge.
My free hand came up and captured her breast, squeezing it with passion. Another moan, louder and more audible to my ears filled the room.
Yeah, let me show you what true pleasure is.
"Tonight will be the last of the dates, you won't need anymore." Whispering into her ear, I licked the lobe, and suckled it gently. "This is it, the last one, I promise."
"I don't think you understand." Twisting the hardened bead that emerged beneath her shirt, Jennie ran her tongue across her bottom lip. Drowning out her thoughts, I wanted her to forget about her past, forget about the date, and only live in that moment.
"I understand what makes you wet, I understand what makes you scream." Shoving my hand down the neck of her shirt, I cupped her tit.
White knuckles gleamed around her glass that she was still clutching tightly. Her body was pressing forward, searching for mine. Her curvy hips had started to roll, rocking against the couch, thighs parting with every gyration.
"Lisa, we can't do this now." The words didn't match her body. Her mouth was saying one thing, but her movements were saying another.
We both want this.
"Why can't we? Ella is napping, no one else is here but us." Tracing her spine with the tips of my fingers, I teased the trim of her pants, reaching further down to grab her ass.
Tugging her in close, Jennie's breasts rested against my shirt, her nipples brushing the muscle of my chest. I was ready to tear the shirt clean off her body, let the fabric break away in my fingers, exposing her supple hidden buds.
My cock was pounding, throbbing to be touched. The thick, rigid shaft burned against my boxers, aching for a single finger to stroke it. "I can't stop myself from thinking about you, I can't stop your beautiful face from flashing in my mind."
Her hands tightened, squeezing the clear crystal to the point I expected it to shatter. Her chest was rising and falling with quick snaps, eyes glazed, lips soft and deliriously tasty looking.
Nibbling the corner of her cheek, she whispered. "I can't stop thinking about you either, but you said you can't mix busi—"
Holding a finger to her lips, I silenced her sweet voice. "I know what I said, and I'm trying so fucking hard to stick to my rules." Slipping my finger over her lips, I danced over the edge. "But I also know what I want."
Jennie's lips curled over my finger, sucking it hard. The wetness of her tongue wrapped my digit, circling, and pulling me in. I wanted those lips around my cock, I wanted to feel her tongue ride my length, and taste my juice.
Slurping my finger, she let it loose with a loud pop, swiping a finger over her jaw. "What do you want? I want to hear you tell me."
Leaning in closer, my lips hovered over hers as I spoke. "I want it all, I wan—"
"Mommy?" The light voice shot in from behind my shoulder causing Jennie to jerk hard and fast, throwing her mostly filled glass of tea all over my chest.
"Oh!" Jennie yelped. Her hands brushed the liquid down my shirt, face folded in shock and surprise. "Oh, good, good, yeah. I think the spider is gone now."
"Spider!" Ella screamed, leaping from the spot she was standing in and onto the arm of the couch.
Jennie's eyes were huge, not blinking, but frantically scanning my chest as if she was looking for something. "Yup, it's gone, Lisa. Good thing spiders don't like tea."
"Thanks, I don't like spiders at all. You saved me, whew." Drawing a hand across my forehead, I played along.
"Wow, Mommy, you saved Daddy a bunch before, and now you saved Lili. You're not afraid of anything."
Arching a brow, I peered at Jennie. "Are you a superhero in disguise?"
"Hardly," she said, nervously laughing. Clapping her hands against her thighs, Jennie stood up. "I'll go get you a towel."
"Nah, don't worry about it. I should be going anyway. I'll see you Saturday night, seven o'clock at Charlie's. Go straight in, don't wait for me this time."
"Wait, what? No I don't think I can do this without you. You're my coach, I need you there."
"You can do this one on your own, I know you can. You don't need me, Jennie, but I'll come by after you guys have a little time together. You'll do fine, don't worry. The hostess will be waiting for you and she'll take you where you need to go."
Giving me an insanely uncomfortable smile, she nodded. "Alright, seven, I'll be there."
I wanted her to see how strong she truly was. Jennie didn't need me there and I couldn't stomach watching another man drool over her.
The idea of seeing that made my nails dig into my palm, and my heart break into a sprint.
This time, she had to go alone.
There was no other way, not if I was still going to do what I was being paid for.