A Taste of Pleasure (26 page)

“London, come for me, baby,” he whispered in that sultry voice that made her explode with emotion. Together they screamed as the release happened over and over again, their bodies trembling as the juices ran out of her.

The blazing flames of the fireplace competed with the two of them in a rhythm of love. She looked at this man, the light in his face, the release in his eyes. She knew the night was a success and she felt immense happiness in his arms. She took a deep breath and looked again at her lover. He glistened in the candlelight, his eyes opened wide, full of wonder as he gazed back at her, his breathing beginning to stabilize.

She rose from the bed, tugging his hand and pulling him to follow her to the bathroom. He complied, slipping out of their bed of disarray. The candles cast a glow of warmth on the cream and marble hot tub and tiled floor. The flickers were like his tongue working magic on her sex, her arousal zone. She
stepped into the large marble Jacuzzi, holding on to his hand for balance. He slid into the tub, pulling her to him as they bonded together. They kissed each other over and over again. She could feel him rise as he rubbed against her. He rubbed her back. He turned her around and fondled her breasts down to her passion zone. He rubbed her front. She turned around and stood in front of him. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she slid on top of him, rubbing him with her body, her hot spot responding with more juices than she ever thought she had.

She slid around him, opening his legs to the flow of water. She watched his member moving up and down with the water bubbles. She was behind him now, tantalizing his butt by moving her hands in his sensitive areas. She reached up on the edge of the tub and pulled down a toy. She turned it on and slid it down to his ass, rubbing it around. She felt him grow more excited. His hardness standing tall, wanting, pleading, she inserted the toy inside him.

He yelled, “London, what are you doing? Oh God, baby!” He rode the wave, moving and trying to get to her as she slid under the water and out of his reach. She held on to the string connected to his toy. He tried to grab her anywhere he could, but she just laughed as she dodged his grasp and slipped away. She pulled out the toy and placed it back on the edge of the tub. She felt him grab her from behind, turning her around to kiss her.

“Oh my God, London, I've never wanted anybody as much as I want you,” he said breathlessly. He placed her legs around him as he penetrated her. He held her close and he took her, filling her with his pleasure. She rested her head on his brawny shoulder, pondering how she would allow him to be in control of the next round. They rode the flow of water and just sat back, looking at the candles glowing, watching
them flicker as they rested, floating in a pool of passion. He touched her, caressed her, and played with her nipples, her breasts, her neck, and her tummy. He reached down to her sex and fondled her and he rubbed her tender spot. He put his fingers deep into her, moving them around touching her. She moved around his body, kissing him more, but then she pulled away and excused herself. He looked puzzled as she stepped out of the tub to put on her robe.

“Meet me downstairs in about five minutes. I'll call you.” She entered the dining room and took the dishes off the table. She laid out a red plastic tablecloth and brought in the dessert. She had whipped up an angel food cake, broken it into pieces, covered it with whipped cream and vanilla pudding, and sprinkled strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries over it. She took off her robe, sprawled herself across the table and spread the delicious mix all over her nude body, especially in all the hot spots, topping it off with extra whipped cream. She looked luscious. She opened up her legs, letting the pudding drizzle down in between them. Satisfied, she called out to Max.

“Ready, hon.” He appeared in the doorway, his mouth hanging open.

“Oh, London, you look delightful and delicious. I don't know where to begin.”

He came over and kissed her again and again, licking the cream parts off of her first. He plucked a piece of cake from her breasts.

“Yummy,” he said as he licked the cream and juices from her. Then he placed a piece of cake in her mouth, touching her with his fingers as she licked them at the same time, kissing her and licking her until her upper body was all shiny and clean. He bent over her sex, licking the top part and
then inside her, where the juice and cream had gathered. He smiled, his face full of pudding, cream, and fruit as he nibbled at a piece of cake. He slid on top of her and placed her legs on his shoulders. His hardness was ready yet again for another round.

He penetrated her again, and she moaned as she touched his private parts, her eyes pleading for him to make her come again. He was moving faster now, and she was again wild with passion. Her moans and groans were getting stronger as his thrusting speeded up. His arms held her close, his lips on hers, the shadows of the candles and the fireplace making the room a golden passion pit. He placed his hands under her butt and pulled her closer as he slid deeper inside. Her legs started to shake, her eyes closed, her mouth smiling as she came with him . . . no yelling . . . no screaming, just a wonderful, warm, silent orgasm. He kissed her deeply, their breathing slowing as he looked down into her eyes. They giggled as they tidied up the table, and themselves, then snuffed out the many candles burning everywhere before grabbing a fast shower to wash off all the dessert and then crawling back into bed to retreat. As London curled up into his arms, she noticed a large box on her nightstand.

“Max, what is that? That's not another gift, is it?” she said in disbelief, her voice strained with exhaustion but excited nonetheless.

“It is,” he said.

She leaned up on her pillow to click on the lamp. She fondled the ribbon tied into a perfect bow before untying it, eyeing him with a smile of curiosity as he watched her with heavy eyelids. She opened the box to reveal an exquisitely extravagant faux-diamond necklace draped over the velvety frame inside the box. Hundreds of Swarovski crystals hung
down, arranged in an elaborate, glistening design of festoons, pendants, and tassels—a replica of Marie Antoinette's scandalous necklace.

“Oh, Max, it's beautiful! Thank you,” she said as she kissed him.

“And so are you, London,” he said as he stroked her face. “I hope you'll wear it for the grand opening of your new store.”

“I certainly will. And do you know the story behind this necklace?” she inquired.

“I do.” He smirked. The two chatted about how it was the necklace that the jeweler made up for the queen to get her in trouble and how Marie Antoinette had never really wanted it when it was later offered to her. Max noted that the queen had actually settled down with her children by that time and had no interest in such extravagance any longer. They giggled about the scandal that surrounded it, but London quietly wondered to herself if Max was implying something much more profound with his reference to settling down with children.

London climbed out of bed and walked over to the mirror to model the necklace. “It's so gorgeous. I can't imagine how any woman wouldn't want to wear it. It will be perfect with my ball gown. Simply fabulous! Thank you again,” she said as she placed the box gently on the nightstand. She snuggled back into his arms, her body fatigued, but her mind afire again with thoughts of the store and jewelry! She needed to shop for jewelry in the morning. She drifted off to sleep, returning to the palace of her dreams for another wondrous journey in search of hidden jewels.

L
ondon awoke to the heavenly smell of bacon frying. She smiled and didn't want to get out of bed. She listened to the birds happily chirping outside her window and thought about how quickly spring had arrived. Max had been getting busier at work, bidding new jobs while his crew was hammering away to finish up her store this month. She cherished her moments with him, especially since they had become less and less frequent. She sometimes wondered if he also had someone else in his life, someone he cared for deeply, but Max was not one to divulge his previous relationships. Anytime she had inquired, he'd clammed up or changed the subject. She still thought of Deacon, so often, and uncertainty swirled through her mind. It was hard to stifle her feelings, but she kept herself busy with Max and stayed preoccupied with the store. Max broke the silence, wiping away her contemplations as he burst into the room, carrying a breakfast tray.

“Good morning, sunshine.” He grinned as he served her breakfast in bed. “Hope you're hungry.”

“I'm always hungry for you,” she replied with a smirk.
“Thank you. Everything looks and smells so wonderful!” She sat up eagerly, propping up her pillows.

Max was a fabulous cook, and he had whipped up a bacon-and-southwestern-cheese omelet with English muffins, orange juice, and fruit. He joined her on the bed with the tray and their meals. They sat together eating and laughing as he fed her grapes and bites of the delectable omelet. As they were finishing up, she noticed Max gazing at her.

“What?” she asked as she felt herself blushing, a rare occasion.

“I'm just admiring how gorgeous you are, even first thing in the morning.”

She blushed harder as she sipped her orange juice. “Are you sure that's all it is?” she inquired. “You sure look like you have some deep thoughts going on in that head of yours.”

“Well, there is something I'd like to ask you.”

“Okay, go ahead.” She encouraged.

“Easter is this weekend and I've been thinking . . . would you like to join me at my parents' home for Easter Sunday brunch?”

She was tentative because unlike her, Max had come from a very large, very tight-knit family. She pondered before responding.
I am trying to make fresh new starts in life, and this will certainly be a new experience.

“Max, you know that big family gatherings are not my thing, but if it's important to you, yes, I'll go with you.”

“Thank you, London,” he said as his face lit up like a little boy's. He leaned over and kissed her tenderly, then scooped up the tray and headed downstairs. He hollered back to her, “Now get up and let's get moving. We need to go check the progress at the store.” She groaned and giggled as she dragged herself from the warmth of the covers. She showered quickly and dressed casually, and they drove separately to the shop,
as Max had other responsibilities to tend to in the afternoon.

She was pleased to see the renovations progressing. The wall was out and the new addition was roughed in. The walls would soon be finished and the floors would be laid. The walls of the front room would mimic French walls, creamy white with wainscoting trimmed in gold gilt. The bow window in the front room would be all leaded glass. London had a picture that she was obsessed with, and she shared it with Max to explain the images she had in mind for the dining area and front room. He was impressed with her interior design vision and agreed that it would be doable, with Christopher's artistic help of course. She found the photo so inspiring that she had decided to change the entry flooring to cream tile with small burgundy squares. Also pictured were two burgundy love seats, along with a table and chairs, which she wanted to locate and incorporate into her own plush setting. Max suggested neoclassical design columns and a gas fireplace to complement the room, and she agreed. The ceilings would be done in wainscoting squares of cream-painted wood to accentuate and offset the room. She smiled to herself, filled with delight as she looked around the vacant room, envisioning her dream as he helped her to make it a reality.

Everything was coming together nicely, and she had to order more furniture today. Max consulted with his foreman on the progress and goals, then let London know he would be working very late that evening as he had several more projects to bid. He planned to stay at his place, as he had some things there that needed taking care of too. He kissed her good-bye, and she wanted to cling to those soft, warm, inviting lips. But she knew their work would never get done if she got aroused now. She headed home to work, where it would be quiet.

She spent the afternoon making several phone calls, researching and ordering more furniture, and chasing down some divine eighteenth-century jewels she'd found online. She was now having everything shipped to the château as she had succeeded in filling the store's basement wall to wall with treasures. She was stashing the vast overflow of inventory in the pole barn behind the château, which was spacious and offered plenty of storage space for her additional antique reserves.

She also called the specialty printing store to order invitations for the masquerade ball grand opening. She requested that the fleur-de-lis emblem, signifying French heraldry, be printed on the front in raised gold print. The printer complimented her selection. She also explained that the date had not yet been determined, but that she would fill in that line with calligraphy later. She wanted to have them printed now so she could do the addresses, and then all she would have to do is fill in the date.

She then proceeded to call Jon to discuss plans for the ball. He suggested meeting for dinner and asked if Christopher could join them. She was glad to have the company for the evening, and additional input from Christopher to help with brainstorming ideas for the special event. Jon asked London to meet them at the 1117 Club in Manhattan. It was once a glamorous speakeasy, and Jon had worked there a few years back, early on in his career. She was ecstatic as she loved the ambience of the famous restaurant.

London freshened up and dressed in a black cocktail dress, stilettos, and her faux-mink stole. She was excited for a night out, and the fact that the snow had all finally melted away. She decided to break out the Beemer again, and soon she was racing down the interstate toward the city. The speed, combined with the cool night air, was exhilarating. She
arrived at the Club feeling divine, with a hint of spring fever setting in.