Patrick slowed to a stop. He faced the cameras. “I’m not an actor or a wise guy. I work for a living.”
“Doing what?” a reporter asked.
“I do buildings maintenance,” Patrick said.
“He’s a handyman!” a photographer shouted.
Patrick nodded. “Right. I work for a living.”
A female reporter scurried up to Lauren. “How did you two meet?”
“We met online,” Lauren said. “A little over a week ago.”
The reporter smiled. “A week? So this is a whirlwind romance.”
Lauren looked at the snow swirling above their heads. “You could say that. It’s a whirling snowstorm romance. A blizzard romance.”
The reporter put her entire face in front of Lauren’s. “Does Chazz know?”
This woman could have another career as a flight attendant.
“Why would I care what Chazz knows or doesn’t know? If he wants to know, he can watch Patrick proposing to me on YouTube.”
“Isn’t this relationship kind of sudden?” she asked.
“This relationship was twenty years in the making,” Patrick said.
The reporters and photographers seemed to freeze.
My man is good at shutting people up!
Lauren thought.
I should let him speak for me. I think I will.
The annoying reporter stepped closer to Patrick. “So you were seeing Lauren behind Chazz Jackson’s back?”
Patrick stared him down. “We’ve known each other seven days. Do the math.”
He keeps beating me to it!
Lauren thought.
I love Brooklyn men. They’re so direct.
“But you just said something about twenty years!” the annoying reporter screeched.
“I have had a crush on Lauren for twenty years,” Patrick said. “I only recently fell in love with her.”
“Lauren,” the female reporter said, “what do you think Chazz will think about all this?”
“Chazz thinks?” Lauren laughed. “That’s news to me.”
The annoying reporter rolled his eyes and flipped through his notepad. “So, Lauren, did you quit
Gray Areas
because of this guy?”
How’d that news get out there already? Oh, it doesn’t matter now.
“This guy has a name,” Lauren said, “and it’s Patrick Alan Esposito, and no, I didn’t quit because of Patrick. I quit because I didn’t want to be on the show.” She kissed Patrick’s cheek, and the cameras clicked rapidly. “I took a much better offer.”
“What are you working on next?” the female reporter asked.
A baby!
“Getting married.”
“No,” she said. “I meant, what projects will you be working on next?”
“I won’t,” Lauren said. “I can think of no greater role than that of a wife and mother.”
And I will be acting up a storm with Patrick in a few moments. Why aren’t we there yet?
“When are you getting married?” several reporters shouted.
“Soon,” Lauren said.
Patrick motioned to a set of brown stairs leading into a brick apartment building. “We’re here.”
Finally!
Lauren gripped the stair rail, and Patrick followed behind. Once inside the building, Lauren hugged Patrick fiercely.
“You were fantastic,” she said. “You handled them perfectly.”
“I almost cursed out that goofy guy with the stupid voice,” Patrick said.
“He was a jerk.” She opened the door and stuck out her head. She pointed at the skinny, annoying reporter. “You, yes, you. Come here.”
The reporter slipped up the stairs. “So, when exactly are you getting married, Lauren?” He readied his pen.
“I already told you,” Lauren said. “I just wanted you to know that you’re a jerk, and you can quote me on that. Make sure you spell your own name correctly.” She shut the door and laughed. She looked up another set of stairs. “How much of a climb?”
“We’re on the second floor,” Patrick said. “Now please understand. I haven’t cleaned it up. I didn’t expect you to follow me all the way to Brooklyn.”
They started up the stairs.
“So I surprised you, huh?” Lauren said.
“You constantly surprise me,” Patrick said. “I’m worried you’ll think less of me when you see how I live.”
“I can only think more of you.”
Patrick stopped in front of 2B. “Be careful when you step inside.” He opened the door. “The back wall appears in a hurry. You kind of have to step in and make a quick left turn.”
He’s kidding, right?
Lauren stepped inside.
He wasn’t kidding.
She made a sharp left, walked through a skinny hallway, and entered a room with a couch, a coffee table, and a TV. From where she stood, she could see a bigger kitchen than the one in LA, a small bedroom through some glass doors, and a very nice bathroom.
And it’s so clean!
Mainly because it’s empty.
The first thing we need to do is get some light in here. We’ll need some lamps. And some throw rugs. And some throw blankets. And something on these bare walls. His apartment is like a blank canvas, and I am going to add some color.
“It’s about what I expected,” Lauren said. “I like your bathroom. It has
two
sinks.” She took off her coat. “It’s cozy.”
“It’s tiny,” Patrick said, setting down her luggage in the kitchen.
“It’s your home,” Lauren said. “And now it’s my home.” She hugged him and held him tightly.
And with a little work, it will be
our
home.
52
S
he’s just being nice,
Patrick thought.
She can’t like this place. Even I don’t like this place that much.
He led her into the bedroom, lifted the window shade a few inches, crouched, and looked out.
And they’re still out there? Why?
He saw film cameras, lights, and several news trucks, one truck blocking most of the sidewalk. “It looks as if all the networks are here. Don’t they see this blizzard around them?”
Lauren sat on the edge of the bed, pulling her shirt out of her pants. “Should we give them a show? I like performing in front of windows for some reason.” She laughed, then frowned. “No. I just started talking to my mama again. If the world saw us in the window, she wouldn’t talk to me ever again.”
Patrick pulled down the shade. “Is it always going to be this way?”
“They’ll get cold and bored and go home soon,” Lauren said.
Patrick sat beside her. “I meant, will they harass us whenever we go out?”
She rubbed his leg. “They might, and if they do, I know you’ll take care of me like you already have. It is so much easier to deal with those idiots if you have help. We make a good team.”
Patrick moved her onto his lap, then wrapped her legs around him. “If they weren’t there, would you want to perform in front of the window?”
“You know I would,” she whispered. “When we were in the window in St. Louis, I had my all-time best orgasm. Just the thought of us doing it for millions of people to see makes me hot.” She started unbuttoning her shirt. “I’m getting hot just thinking about it.”
“We need a shower,” Patrick said.
“Yes, we do.”
Patrick frowned. “It’s a stand-up shower, no tub. It will be a tight squeeze for us.”
Lauren’s hands traveled to Patrick’s crotch. “There definitely won’t be enough room in there for both of us because of this thing.”
“Do you mind showering alone?” Patrick asked.
“No,” Lauren said. “I may use up all your hot water, though.”
“Go ahead and try,” Patrick said. “I installed a hundred-gallon Bradford White hot water heater in this building a year ago, and I’ve never gotten a single complaint.”
“I assume a Bradford White means something,” Lauren said.
“It’s the best water heater you can buy,” Patrick said.
“Salthead only gave me a thousand toward a new one for this building. I made up the difference.”
“Do the other tenants know you did this?” Lauren asked.
“No,” Patrick said. “And I didn’t do it for them. I take some seriously long hot showers at the end of the day.” He winced. “Because I need to.”
“Will you watch me take my shower?” Lauren asked.
“I will watch you do anything.”
Patrick had to wipe steam away from the shower door every few seconds so he could see Lauren soaping up her body. He listened to her moans, sighs, and panting for several minutes until he could stand it no longer. He took off his clothes, opened the door, edged inside, and closed the door.
“I knew you couldn’t stay away from me for very long,” Lauren whispered, dripping her soapy washcloth across his chest. She pulled his erect penis down and ground on it between her legs. “Are these glass walls sturdy?”
Patrick nodded.
I hope so.
“Lift me up.”
He lifted her until she could grip the metal strips at the top of the glass walls.
“Stay still,” she whispered. “Let me do the work.”
Lauren lifted and lowered herself while Patrick soaped the rest of her. He watched his penis appear and disappear inside her. He felt the smoothness of her legs and pubis, watched the undulation of her stomach, heard her sighs increasing until she let out a delicious moan.
“Damn, man, why aren’t you coming?”
“If I do,” Patrick said, “I’ll thrust you out of this shower and into the apartment upstairs.”
Lauren lowered herself fully onto his penis, grasping him around the neck. “I’ve got all of you inside me.” She smiled. “You feel that?”
Patrick nodded.
“I’m giving you a hand job without using my hands,” Lauren said, stretching her neck away from him. “Are you going to come when I come?”
Patrick nodded, using his thumbs to rub on her clitoris.
“That’s good. That’s good. Oh
yes!
”
Patrick came when she shouted, nearly slipping and pitching her into the tile wall. “We need a bigger shower.”
Lauren bit her lip and nodded. “We need a tub built for two.”
“I’ll get right on that.”
“Yes.”
After drying off and applying half a bottle of lotion, Lauren walked naked into the bedroom.
I am so glad I only have one window,
Patrick thought.
She can walk around here like that all the time.
Lauren peeked through the shade. “Are they crazy? You’d think the blizzard would be more important news.” She sat on the windowsill, dangling her legs. “I want to get loud with you, and I don’t care if they hear us.”
This woman is trouble,
Patrick thought.
I am beginning to love trouble.
She spread her legs slightly. “We’re going to do a love scene. A
bad
love scene.”
Patrick moved in front of her. “How bad?”
“Really bad. I’ll start.” She licked her lips. “Bring your man meat over here.”
“Oh,
that
kind of bad.” He stroked his penis. “You gonna straighten it for me?”
Lauren laughed. “I said bad, not porno. We’re going for an R rating.”
“Oh, sorry,” Patrick said. “Um, you come here, woman. Give me some good lovin’.”
Lauren smiled. “Better.” She widened her legs more and put her thumb in her mouth. “You got what I need?”
That’s a sexy pose.
“I got what you need.”
She took her thumb out of her mouth and rubbed her right nipple. “You got it goin’ on?”
That’s an even sexier pose.
“I got it goin’ on.”
She squeezed both breasts. “You gonna do me all night long?”
“I’m gonna do it to you until the cows come home,” Patrick said.
Lauren stood. “Are there any cows in Brooklyn?”
Patrick shook his head.
Lauren put her hands on his face, then slid them down his body. “So they aren’t ever going to come home, and that means . . . you gonna do me till sunrise.” She squeezed his penis.
“I’m gonna do you till I have to go to work,” Patrick whispered.
Lauren stroked him. “You gonna work me.”
“Yeah,” Patrick said. “I’m gonna work that thang.”
Lauren let go, slid off the windowsill, and fell onto the bed. “That
thang?
Really?”
“I don’t watch many movies like this,” Patrick said.
“You were doing fine,” Lauren said. She held out her arms. “Come make love to me.”
Patrick dropped to his knees and kissed her thighs. “With or without dialogue.”
“Just whisper. . . .”
Patrick kissed her clitoris. “Give me some good lovin’. . . .”
Lauren closed her eyes. “Don’t give me your man meat till you’re through down there. . . .”
As wet as she is, it won’t be long....
53
L
auren woke in complete darkness to a buzzing sound. She turned from Patrick’s chest and looked at the windowsill where a cell phone vibrated in its charger.
“Patrick, your phone,” she whispered.
Patrick stirred. The buzzing stopped. Patrick kissed the back of her neck and slipped out of the bed. Lauren saw only his shape as he picked up the phone, pressed a few buttons, and listened. For a long time.
“Who’s calling at this hour?” Lauren asked, rolling over onto a warmer spot.
“Tenants,” Patrick said.
“But it’s Sunday,” Lauren said. “And it’s dark!”
Patrick sighed. “I rarely get a full weekend off.”
Lauren buried her head in the pillow. “But it’s Sunday.” She felt Patrick sit on the edge of the bed.
“And I’ve been gone for four days. Luckily, these aren’t real emergencies.”
She heard him close his phone.
“I’d be crazy to leave you now.”
“Yes, you would,” Lauren said, and she pulled him under the covers. She ground her pubis into his thighs. “You got pretty crazy last night.”
Patrick took her hands and placed them on his chest. “You bring out the crazy in me.”
“I like crazy you inside of me,” Lauren said, thrusting harder against him. “I can see why you like doing this to me.”
He rolled over to face her. “You wore out my thrusters.”
She rubbed her nose on his. “Do you think we made a baby?”
“We should have made quintuplets,” Patrick said.
“Let’s make sure,” Lauren said. She climbed over his body, got out of bed, and went to the window. “I don’t see anyone.” She lifted the shade completely. “They’re gone.” She leaned onto the window, her nipples growing as she rubbed them on the icy glass. “Do me here.” She closed her eyes.
She heard him get out of bed. “Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes,” Lauren said. She reached back and pulled her cheeks apart. “Do me hard.”
She felt Patrick’s penis move into her slowly until it filled her. She felt his large hands pulling on her hips. She felt ecstasy as he pumped himself into her, the window rattling and her breasts flattening on the glass as he did. She opened her eyes and saw a man walking his dog in the snow.
“Patrick?” she wheezed.
“Yes?”
“We have an audience.”
Patrick froze.
“Don’t stop,” Lauren whispered, letting go of her cheeks and pulling him deeper. “It’s only a man walking his dog. I don’t think he can see us. Don’t stop. Please. I’m so close.”
She felt him grow even bigger, felt his sweat dripping onto her back, felt her legs weaken, felt the sting of his hands slapping her booty repeatedly, and when she came, she howled.
The dog lifted its head.
The man turned.
Lauren yanked down the shade. “That was close!”
Patrick seemed to throw his entire body inside her, and as he came, he lifted her off the floor and moved her to the bed, furiously pumping her while she braced herself against the wall.
As Patrick pulled out of her, Lauren collapsed onto the bed. “I am so out of shape,” she said.
Patrick fell beside her. “I wish I had more windows.”
Lauren smiled in the darkness. “I wish I had more stamina.” She found one of his hands and put it on her chest. “I’m nearly hyperventilating, man.” She slowed her breathing. “I have to know something.”
“Just ask.”
“
Can
you come before I do?” Lauren asked.
“I’m sure I can,” Patrick said. “It’s much more meaningful to me to come with you or just after you do.”
“Meaningful,” he says. This isn’t just sex to him. Or to me.
“The dog heard me howling.”
“I doubt my neighbors did,” Patrick said. “There are no early risers in this building. They’re mostly older people.” He pulled the covers over them. “I need to tell you something.”
“Okay.”
“When I came just then, I had the worst cramps in the bottoms of my feet,” Patrick said.
“Oh, I hate those,” Lauren said.
“But as soon as I came, the cramps went away,” Patrick said. “When I cramp up while I’m working, they don’t normally go away until I take off my boots and stretch out my toes.” He kissed her neck. “What does that mean?”
“I don’t know,” Lauren said. “Do you relax immediately after you come?”
“Yes,” Patrick said. “Well, almost immediately.”
“Do you get cramps in your feet often?” she asked.
“During the summer, yes,” Patrick said. “And now I know the cure.”
“I hope you get cramps often then,” Lauren said. The glow of the sun began to light up the window shade. “Is this what a sunrise looks like?”
“Yes,” Patrick said.
“I don’t like it,” Lauren said. “We need to catch up on our sleep.”
“I agree,” Patrick said.
She turned to face him. “I want to establish a rule. The first person who wakes up has to wake up the other person using only their tongue.”
“I like this rule very much,” Patrick whispered.
“I hope you fall asleep first so you can wake up first,” Lauren whispered.
“So do I. . . .”
Six hours later, at a few minutes before one, Lauren left Patrick snoring softly and went to the kitchen. She drank several glasses of water, ate two slices of American cheese on some saltines she found in the cupboard, and brushed her teeth.
She returned to the bed.
Do I wake him? I just made the rule. But he looks so tired. I’ll let him sleep....
Lauren dreamed she was being serviced sexually by several men, each man’s tongue working a different part of her body. Two men worked on her breasts, another licked her booty, and one man with dark eyes was greedily tasting her—
“Damn!” Lauren shouted as she came and awoke at the same time.
Patrick’s head popped out from beneath the covers. “Were you really asleep?”
“Yes,” Lauren said, kissing him greedily. “I was dreaming, and the orgasm woke me up.”
“Cool,” Patrick said. “What were you dreaming about?”
I can’t tell him three other men were licking on me,
Lauren thought.
“You don’t have to tell me,” Patrick said. “It was good, though, right?”
Lauren nodded. “Not as good as the real thing.” She guided him inside her. “Please be gentle. I am so sore.”
“I’ll try to be gentle,” Patrick said.
Lauren put her hands over her head and watched Patrick move in and out of her with a slow, easy rhythm. “All right, I’ll tell you,” she whispered. “I was in bed with four men working on me.”
“That was some dream.”
“You’re not mad?” Lauren asked.
Patrick shook his head. “I have never had a woman tell me any of her dreams. This is so instructive. Do you have dreams like these often?”
Lauren shook her head. “No. You’re making me dream.”
That’s what he’s doing. He’s making me dream again.
“Do you have dreams like that?”
“About men licking me? No.” Patrick smiled and continued to pump her.
“I am so glad about that,” Lauren said. “What is the most erotic dream you’ve ever had?”
Patrick squinted. “Do you really want to know? It happened a long time ago.”
“I want to know,” Lauren said.
Patrick stopped pumping. “I had just seen
Feel the Love.
That night, I had an incredible dream involving you and—”
“Me?” Lauren interrupted. “I’m flattered. And who else?”
“I’d rather not say,” Patrick said.
She rocked him until she was on top of him. “Who else?”
“Nia Long and Sally Richardson,” Patrick said.
At least he has great taste. Those two women are gorgeous.
“And what were we doing to you?”
“Oh, only you were doing something to me,” Patrick said. “You were on top of me, and the other two were . . .”
Lauren started to grind. “What were they doing?”
“It’s kind of funny, actually,” Patrick said. “They were giving us directions. Put your hand here, bend your leg this way, lean back. They even told us what to say.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” Patrick raised his eyebrows. “It was . . . hot.”
“They were both naked, weren’t they?” Lauren asked.
“No,” Patrick said. “They were fully dressed in lab coats, and they were checking off things on a clipboard.”
“Right,” Lauren said. “Fully dressed.”
“Well, they weren’t wearing anything underneath,” Patrick said.
“See-through lab coats, huh?”
“Kind of,” Patrick said. “You didn’t even seem to notice them.”
Lauren flattened herself on him, grinding faster. “But you did.”
“Yes, but in the end,” Patrick whispered, “I only saw you. But I woke up before I could finish.” He sat up and pressed down on Lauren’s hips. “I am finishing that dream right now. . . .”
Patrick finished his dream.
I am finished,
Lauren thought.
No more, no more . . . until tomorrow.
“Nia Long and Sally Richardson, huh?” Lauren said hours later after yet another nap.
“Yes,” Patrick said.
“Do you still have fantasies about them?” Lauren asked.
“No,” Patrick said.
“What did you like about them?” Lauren asked.
“I liked their smiles,” Patrick said.
Lauren pinched his arm. “Is that all?”
“Yes,” Patrick said. “They had and they still have incredible smiles. Not as nice as yours, of course.”
“Those two women are hot, Patrick,” Lauren said. “And all you looked at was their smiles?”
“Yes,” Patrick said.
“I’m sure you looked at other parts,” Lauren said.
“No, just their smiles,” Patrick said. “I always equate a nice smile with a nice person, and I hear they’re both very nice people.”
“They are,” Lauren said. “I’ve met them both, and they are genuinely wonderful people first and outstanding actresses second. You have good taste in your dreams.”
“And in real life, too,” Patrick said. “I’d like to taste you again.”
Lauren dropped her head back onto the pillow. “You have completely worn me out. Aren’t you worn out?”
“A little,” Patrick said.
“Liar,” Lauren said.
“Feel me,” Patrick whispered.
Lauren’s hands moved down his body and found an erect penis. “No way. But why?”
“I’m in bed with my dream girl,” Patrick said. “You’ll just have to get used to it.”
“I am really, really sore, Patrick,” Lauren said. “And we both need our sleep.”
“I know,” Patrick said. “I just wanted you to know that I’m aroused by you whenever you’re near me.”
She kissed him passionately. “That’s one of the nicest compliments I’ve ever gotten. Thank you.” She stroked him gently. “When will it go away?”
“I’ll probably wake up with it,” Patrick said. “I’ll try not to poke you while you sleep.”
“Do I really excite you that much?”
“Yes.” He pulled her hands up to his chest. “Sweet dreams.”
“Have I told you I love you today?” Lauren asked.
“No,” Patrick said.
“I love you, Patrick,” Lauren said.
“I love you, too, Lauren,” Patrick said. “Now sleep and dream of me. . . .”
Buzzing woke Lauren again the next morning.
It’s Monday,
she thought,
and it’s still dark. Is darkness thicker in Brooklyn or what?
She felt the bed beside her and didn’t find a chiseled, hot body. “Patrick?”
“Over here,” Patrick said. He used the glow of his cell phone to illuminate his face. “Good morning.”
“What are you doing?”
“I have to go to work,” he said. He waved the phone over his body.
He’s already dressed in coveralls! How didn’t I wake up?
“I have to take care of some actual emergencies,” he said. “Would you like to go with me?”
No.
“You’ll come back for lunch, right?”
“I probably won’t be anywhere near here at lunchtime,” Patrick said.
I don’t want to be alone!
“What would I have to do?”
“Only what you wanted to do,” Patrick said. “But you are very welcome to stay here and keep warm. It’s in the mid-twenties and windy outside, and the snow is at least a foot deep with snowdrifts pushing two feet. I will do my best to hurry back to you.”
I left mid-seventies only a few days ago.
“Will you teach me how to be a handywoman?”
“I could, I guess,” Patrick said. “But it’s going to be a long, cold day. Please stay here and rest.”
I can’t let this man out of my sight.
“Will I get to hold your tools?”
“Yes.” Patrick sighed. “I, um, I have to go get them first.”
“Where are they?” Lauren asked.
“At Gem Pawnbrokers,” Patrick said. “I used them as collateral for your ring.”
He did what?
“Turn on the light.”
Patrick turned on the overhead light.
“You did what?” she asked.
Patrick looked at the floor. “I left my tools at the pawnshop as collateral for your ring. I’m not sure when they open or even if they’ll open today because of the snow. I’m hoping they’ll be open by nine.”
Lauren looked at her ring. “You pawned your tools . . . for this ring.”
“Sort of,” Patrick said.
Lauren wrapped the covers around her and scooted to the edge of the bed. “You gambled your livelihood . . . for
me?
What if I didn’t accept your proposal?”
“I’d be returning the ring today and trying to get some of my money back,” Patrick said. “And my tools.” Patrick smiled. “I know, it was a crazy thing to do.”
Lauren’s eyes filled with tears. “It wasn’t crazy. It was love. You’d do anything for me.”