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“The boys.”
“Should be passed out drunk already,” I whisper against her cheek, and unbutton my shirt. It looks so good on her. “I don’t want to stop, I want you again.” I move so I am on top of her. Kissing makes me feel young again; we forget to kiss when we get older. She moans and moves beneath me, she wants more too. This is different to the carnal, rough, wild and lustful sex we had earlier tonight. It’s soft, her body rolling with mine. Gently, savoring one another. Every move, each breath in sync. She wraps her legs around me, and arches her back so I am even deeper. I go slow, afraid to hurt her, but wanting all of her at the same time. She runs her fingernails down my chest, and I watch her eyes roll, then close as her orgasm rolls through her. She tightens, her body shaking, and any self-control I had is gone — I should pull out, it’s respectful. But I can’t even if I wanted, her legs hold me there, against her, and I come with her. In her. “Fuck.” We both let out a whisper as I collapse down on her, kissing her again.
Channing goes to the bathroom, we both clean up, and then I pull her close to me; she’s still stiff and uncomfortable. I’m tired, and the post sex bliss has me dozing. This feels too good, I like her beside me in my bed more than I should.
When the sun coming in through the windows wakes me up, I roll over the empty bed, and it shocks me into morning reality. Channing isn’t there.
No texts, no calls. Mine all go unread and unanswered, and it’s clear I have done something to upset her. I let it slide for a few days. But after more than a week, I can’t get it out of my head. Channing is all I think about, I don’t have work or anything to distract me. It’s becoming a problem.
“You’re in a mood,” Tala points out again. “Just call her.”
“I have,” I snap at her, not wanting to admit how much it’s bothering me. “She doesn’t answer.”
“What happened?” Tala asks, softer. I think she can tell I am upset.
“Your brothers. Let’s say, they interrupted us.”
“Oh, I know, they told me all about it.” She rolls her eyes.
“Well, Channing wasn’t exactly comfortable about being here — and that scared her off I think,” I say, filling my coffee cup for the third time.
“They didn’t care.”
“She cared.” That’s all that matters, is it upset her. The fact my kids walked in on us. It really bothered her.
“Call the studio — she can’t not answer there. You’re a client.” She has a point.
“She doesn’t want to talk to me, Tala.” I don’t want to press the issue; obviously this wasn’t serious. In fact we both said it wasn’t. “I am not going to force it, she’s allowed to change her mind.”
“I guess so, you just seemed like you were, you know, relaxed and happy with her.” I was. I really felt like myself again. I take my coffee to my study, and stand at the window watching the river and the view that I paid a small fortune for. I wonder if I should call again, if it’s worth pushing. She’d have called me back or texted if she wanted to talk to me. Right? It’s almost two weeks of silence. Maybe I should just take the hint.
I scroll my emails to find the invoice for Tala’s dress and the tuxedos. There’s a landline on the top next to the address.
I contemplate it for a few seconds; she can hang up if she doesn’t want to talk to me. But, I want to talk to her. I need to understand why she just ran. I punch the number into my phone and dial.
“Oakley Thorne designs, how may help you today?” A sickly sweet voice comes through.
“Menswear please, I’d like to speak with Channing. It’s about an order.”
“Hold please.” I listen to their shitty on-hold music for a few minutes before the call connects.
“Thorne designs, this is Channing.”
“Hi, it’s me.” I suddenly don’t know what to say. “Kal—”
“I know who it is, Kalon. Why are you calling the office?”
“Because I have tried your phone, and I was worried you’d lost it.”
“Not lost, I just don’t—”
“Don’t want to talk to me?”
“Don’t know what to say. The thing with your sons freaked me out. I won’t lie.”
“I get that. Could I take you for lunch? Can we sit down and talk about it?” I want to see her. So badly. “I really like you, Channing, and if we can make this work, then I really do want to.”
“I’m busy, Kalon,” she says. Then a pause. Maybe she doesn’t like me, I’m too old for her, or she freaked out when she saw what’s under my suit. “I can’t be out for long, but I’d like to see you too.”
“I’ll come get you at the studio, we can go somewhere close.”
“Okay, I take lunch at one.” She doesn’t say goodbye. I hear someone call her name, and she hangs up. I am smiling at everything and nothing. I have an appointment to have my hair and beard trimmed, so I head into the city early. I don’t want to be late; in fact, I want to be early so I can see her working for a few minutes.
