As I walk back to the table from the restroom, I’m preparing myself for Hugh's questions about the man I chose. If he knew it was Dexter, he would totally find a path to talk me out of this stupidity, and I would not blame him. Dexter was the worst mistake I ever made and still is. But I was so furious at Lola and Hugh for taking away my choices and for trying to control my behavior, that I impulsively made the second worse decision of my life, the first being marrying Dexter. Both decisions I now regret. I tried calling him to tell him not to come to New York, but he has already boarded the plane and will arrive in New York in 3 hours, so I have to see this through, or I know there will be consequences...
When I make it back to the dinner table, Hugh rushes to my side to pull out my chair for me.
I smile at his gesture while being completely distracted and blown away by all the food on display. I turn to look at him with my eyes opened wide as he smiles with pride, before pushing me up to the buffet. “My God, Hugh! Did you cook all of this? I knew you were a talented cook, but this... this is extraordinary.”
He pours me a glass of wine before walking over to have his seat. “Well I can't accept credit for the Beef Wellington. I had Chef Volker prepare that for us before you arrived. People come from all over just to get a taste of it, so I was determined not to mess it up. But I made the Aged Rib Eye Steak with Yukon Gold Potatoes, Garlic Sautéed Greens and the Chocolate Soufflé, I hope you like it,” he says modestly.
“I’m sure I will love it ...” I hesitate before placing my napkin in my lap. “You know... I've never had a man rent out an entire restaurant for me or cook for me before...” I express with tears in my eyes. “Thank you for this,”
“I want to be there for many more first Raven... that is, if you'll let me. But as for now, let's dine,”
I nod my head in agreement before eagerly sampling everything on the table. We eat and spend an hour catching up and it feels like old times again. The conversation is simple, and we laugh and tease each other just like we use to. We talk about all his businesses and our love lives... and that is when the air in the room shifts, and we both fall silent. After a moment of awkward quietness, I take a sip of liqueur and feel Hugh's gray eyes surveying me over his glass.
A smile spreads across my face as I turn to meet his gaze. “What?” I ask, embarrassed by his intense glare.
“In all the time you were married to Dexter, he never took you here?”
I squirm a little in my chair, uncomfortable with the memories and the emotions that his question conjures up. I bring my wine glass to my lips and have a sip, before placing it back on the table. “No... he never brought me here, I don't think he thought I was special enough. Then, after the divorce, there wasn't anyone in my life to share the experience with. But when Lola and I were scouting out sponsors for the bucket list challenge, the head chef extended a standing invitation for me to visit anytime I wanted. I ever intended to accept the offer... but—” my words trail away into a soft whisper as I wipe away several tears that stream down my cheek.
Hugh sighs, his eyes filled with pain. “I never meant to just leave you all those years ago, but I left because I realized the night we kissed, that I've always been attracted to you... even when you were married to Dexter,” he confesses.
I shake my head, trying to process what he just said. I swallow hard and just stare at him… speechless. He continues cautiously.
“I swore to myself that I would never cross that line with you, but when we kissed that night and I tasted you for the first time, I knew I could never keep that promise because that kiss would never be enough for me if I stayed...” he says, tracing the brim of his cup with his index finger.
Pleasure flushes through me at his confession, but it fades. “Did you ever tell Dexter about the kiss?”
He pours himself some more wine. When he's done filling his glass, he tilts the bottle in my direction with raised eyebrows. I place my hand over my cup, and he smiles before placing the bottle back on the table and continues.
“No, I didn't tell him, but I think he suspected something was different... He made me promise on our friendship, that I would never pursue you, and I knew the only way that would be possible—”
“Was if you left me,” I finish his sentence as he nods in agreement.
“What's changed, Hugh? Why come back now?”
His next words are breathy and full of so much passion that I become nervous, waiting for his answer. “I’m back because no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't forget you. You were the first thing I thought of in the morning and the last person I worried about at night. You were even in my dreams when I fell asleep. In the end, I couldn't go on without knowing how you were doing, it became impossible for me to keep my distance. So, I started reading your blog and calling Lola for updates. I thought about visiting and reaching out to you, but so much time had passed, I didn't know how to reach out to you or if you even wanted to hear from me. It was imperative that I didn’t disrupt your life, baby girl. Lola assured me you seemed to get over Dexter, and me, for that matter. But when I found out about this... I realized I couldn't wait any longer, I had to come...”
A shiver rolls through me as his vulnerability wraps me in a hug. His tortured confession brings the realization that I care for him too, feelings that I never wanted to acknowledge. His explanation helps me resolve that his motives were never designed to make me believe I wasn't good enough, a mantra my ex-husband reminded me of daily. Hugh appreciates me... flaws and all... and I want him too.
I lift my eyes from underneath my eyelashes and stare at him. My cheeks turn a bright red as the pulse between my legs strums forcibly and Hugh notices my arousal. “What are you thinking, baby girl?” He smiles.
“I’m guessing that, I can no longer deny what is happening between us, but if we do this, we will be playing with fire, Hugh. You and Dexter are still best friends. Besides, you hurt me and although I understand now, why you did what you did, you made me feel like I wasn't good enough... and I’m thinking—”
He interrupts me by scooting his chair away from the table. He saunters over to me, kneeling on his knees in front of me, spreading my legs, so he can scoot in closer. “I realize I hurt you, but give me a chance to make it up to you. Dexter doesn't have to know. You just said my identity will be confidential. We owe it to ourselves to figure out what this before we— “
I bite my bottom lip, holding my hand up to stop his impassioned pleas. “Let me finish.”
“Okay…, go on,” he consents in frustration.
“I’m thinking if we do this, I have three conditions. One: No promises of happily ever after. We have fun with each other without strings attached. Two: The list is not exclusive to you. I have committed to another gentleman, so if I can't get out of it, I will split the detail. Three: No matter what happens, whether it be between you and me or between the other gentleman, you won't just disappear...”
His eyes light up, “Really?! Are you saying yes?”
I nod. “Only if you agree to my terms.”
“I promise, I won't take off again, baby girl…” he declares as he slides my skirt up to my thighs exposing my red lace panties. He bends his head between my legs, saturating my burning flesh with butterfly kisses that trail up to my softness.
“Hugh... I'm serious.” I breathe heavily, spreading my legs open wider.
“I am too... I’m profoundly serious about tasting you,” he says, licking the inside of my thighs. “I'll agree to all your conditions except number #2. I will not let another man touch you or lick you like this.” He moans, sucking my clit through the mesh material of my panties.
“Do you understand me?!”
I nod my agreement, consenting for the moment because I don't want him to stop.
“Good baby girl. Now open up wider for me. I want to taste you.”
I do as I'm told and spread my legs further as he pulls the lace, blocking my pulsing nub aside so his tongue can lick me without obstruction.
As he caresses me, my body moves frantically in my chair. Because the pleasure is overwhelming. “Oh my God, Hugh!”
I thread my fingers through his hair pulling him closer. His tongue strokes my clitoris repeatedly causing my hips to move at his tongue’s rhythm until the intensity of my desire is too much. I hold his head against me, thrusting my hips, so he can lap me harder in the places I need him most. My legs spread as far as they can go, giving him permission to devour me.
He raises his hands underneath my shirt and drags my bra down until it releases my breast from their hiding place. His fingers play with my erect nipples while simultaneously sucking my clitoris into his mouth. This repetitive pleasure causes me to fall apart under his tongues assault.
“Hugh!” I scream his name while my body convulses into an organismic ecstasy.
When I stop shivering, he kisses my thighs before he sits on the floor, pulling my spent body down to his lap.
“I will not share you... I've done that already. Every night I had to see you go home with Dexter, knowing that he was touching you the way I wanted to touch you, killed me, and I will be damned if I have to observe you do it again. I had to before because Dexter was your husband but not now... that's my one condition.” With this declaration, he holds me tight, and we sit in silence on the floor before the buzzing of my phone interrupts the quiet.
“I have to get that... it could be him.”
Hugh let's out a labored sigh as he releases me from his hold. “I’ll let you take care of that while I go get something to clean you up with.”
He helps me up from the floor, so I can retrieve my phone from my purse. He walks determined toward the restrooms but turns before he reaches the entryway. “Remember... I'm not sharing.”
I nod in recognition, turning around to answer the call, before the sadness on my face gives me away.
“Hello, Dexter.” I close my eyes in pain, realizing the magnitude of what I've done.
“Hey beautiful... I'm so glad you reconsidered. Do you prefer I come by your place or should we meet at my hotel?” he asks, way too eagerly and smugly. It makes my skin crawl.
“Neither. Let's go to Cloud M for drinks in an hour. We have a lot to discuss before we sign any papers.”
I hang up the phone before he can protest and take a piece of paper and pen from my purse to write Hugh a note before I leave. I then order an Uber to pick me up a block from the restaurant, before turning around one last time, to etch into my mind this picture of romance that Hugh arranged for me.
I sigh with sadness as I unlock and walk out the front door... not sure how I will get out of this mess.
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The finished book is available on Amazon now!
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