Color Her Red (16 page)

             
“Are you okay?”  I was honestly scared, I couldn’t imagine why she was freaking out, banging on my door.  She was out of breath from running up the stairs.

             
“Did you sleep with him?”  The words trampled out of her mouth.  I was completely taken aback.  I looked at her with distress, speechless.   “Emma, did he try to sleep with you?”  Her face was serious.

             
“No.  What the hell, Kate?”  I couldn’t believe she was asking me that.  It was more the way she was asking that was shocking.  If I had slept with him, I would have told her immediately.

             
“Oh, thank God.”  She released a deep breath and collapsed on my tiny sofa.

             
“Are you going to tell me what the hell’s going on?”  I was pretty pissed. 
What happened to my cheerleader doing kicks in the air? 
She was practically pushing me to have sex with him just the other night.             

             
“At the event tonight I recognized a woman that Thomas was photographed with, from one of the pictures online.” 

             
“Okay?”  I nodded for her to continue and get to the point.

             
“She told me all this shit about Thomas.  He’s a real dick.”  I jumped back off the sofa.  There was no way she could be talking about the Thomas I’d been seeing.  He was nothing but a gentleman.  She grabbed my hand.  “Please listen to me.”  I shook my head; I didn’t want to hear it.  I walked to the kitchen to make tea and Kate followed me.

             
“She said all he does is sleep around.  He charms the skirt off of a girl just to get them in bed and then he’s done.”  I was in complete shock.

             
“He literally just turned me down.  I was practically begging him to have sex with me.”  And with that, Kate was in shock.  Again my ego took a hit. 
So all he wants to do is fuck every woman in New York except for me? 
The microwave beeped and I took out my mug and moved to the corner to grab the sugar, feeling the oncoming rush of tears, I choked them back.

             
“You asked him to have sex?”

             
“Well, not like that.”  My reply was angrier than I had intended it to be.

             
“He said no?”  She was still in shock.  “What the fuck?  Why aren’t you good enough for that prick?  He would be lucky to get into your pants.”   I’m surprised and entertained by her anger.  I let out a small laugh but at the same time small tears crept out, I gently brushed them away.

             
“He said he had to go, but that he would see me this weekend.” 

             
“So he’s seeing you again?”  Her voice had calmed slightly; she seemed confused.  She sat down at a barstool keeping her eyes on me. 

             
“Yeah.”  I furrowed my brows. 
Why was that so hard to comprehend?
 

             
“I don’t get it.”  Her comment really pissed me off. 
What was so hard to get, that he liked me? 

“Maybe the bitch you talked to was pissed because he wasn’t into her.”

“No Emma, she knew a lot about him.  There were other girls there too.  Ones that he had slept with.”  My stomach tied itself into a knot. 

“How many?”

“Four of them.  They all said the same thing.”

“What was it like a Thomas Grant bashing party?”

“It ended up being that.  He basically slept with the entire staff at the Pegu Club.  At least the waitresses.”  I didn’t know what to say.  I felt crushed and I didn’t want to believe it.  I just shook my head and let out a small sob.

“Emma, I didn’t want to make you upset.  I just wanted you to know.  You should know.
You are just so naïve and gullible. He doesn’t have good intentions.”

“Then why didn’t he sleep with me tonight?” 
I was intentionally bitter in my response.

“I don’t know.  I’m just worried.  They said-” I cut her off
resentfully.

“I don’t want to know what they said.  I don’t care if he slept with them.  I really like h
im Kate.  He’s sweet and romantic and funny and really fucking hot.”  I took a deep breath and tried to regain a sense of calm.

“Calm down,
okay?  I don’t want you to be mad.  Please.  I just want you to be careful.”

“I don’t know what to do Kate.”  I felt helpless.  It just didn’t make sense. 
He wasn’t trying to sleep with me at all, yet she was telling me he was a man whore.

“Don’t think too much about it.  Just don’t sleep with him.  Okay?”

“I couldn’t even if I wanted to.  I can’t believe he turned me down.”  The knot in my stomach tightened.  “I feel like such an idiot.”  I sobbed into her shoulder and she gently rubbed my back.

“Don’t
. Don’t.  Maybe it’s a good thing.”  I looked at her questioningly. 
It’s good that of all the girls in New York, he just doesn’t want to fuck me?

“Well they made it sound like his only concern was getting into bed.  So maybe it’s good that he didn’t with you.  And he wants to see you again.”  I nodded my head weakly and rubbed my tears away with the back of my hand.  “Just wait a while before having sex okay?”  I nodded my head again and took a deep breath.  “One month?”

“One month.”  I agreed.  She stayed with me that night.  I didn’t tell her about the date, my bubble had burst.  I didn’t want to talk about it.  I didn’t want to hear anything else that the ex-fucks had told her either.  I refused to believe that I was like those other women, not that I knew anything about them other than they’d slept with the man I was seeing.  He was so perfect; I just couldn’t believe that he was using me, that he wanted me to be another notch on his belt. 

I was cautious that Friday when I saw him though, apparently I believed enough of what she had said to be
utterly sick to my stomach.  He knew something was wrong as soon as I got in his car and he pried it out of me.  I’ve never been good at disguising my emotions.

“Apparently you have a reputation.”  I muttered under my breath, my eyes were stari
ng at the floor of his car; past the hem of the gorgeous black dress I was wearing.  He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

“A reputation?”  His voice was low; it sent a chill down my spine.  I was on the verge of breaking down.  I picked nervously at my
newly manicured nails.  I didn’t want to say it out loud; I didn’t want to tell him I knew that he slept around. 

“Yes.”  I barely spoke my reply.  I felt the beginning of tears in my eyes.  I thought he would end it with me for sure. 

“Emma, I don’t want you to worry about that.”  His hand pulled my chin up so that I was looking at him, into his soft blue eyes.  “You have nothing to worry about.”  His words were so comforting.  It was amazing how easily he consoled me.  I gave him a small smile and he returned it with a sensual kiss, making my bottom lip moist.  I took a deep breath, letting all of the tension go.

“Is it all right with you if we go to the Museum of Modern Art and then I thought we could go to Blanca?  If you would still have me.” 

“Of course.”  I blushed.  How could this sweet man possibly have such a bad reputation?

My mind was at ease after talking to him.  He didn’t want me to worry and honestly I didn’t
want to worry about it either.  I just wanted to enjoy my time with him, while he “charmed my skirt off,” as Kate would have put it.

“You did change,” I almost whisper, but I know he heard me.  He lays his head back with his eyes closed and lets out an irritated sigh.  I place my hand on his in his lap, squeezing lightly and nestle my head into the seat cushion.  We’re far above the clouds; I can only see marbled grey and blue from beyond the small window of the plane.  I exhale defeat, and drift off, waiting to land on more agreeable territory. 

WE LAND BY SUNDOWN.  I slept nearly the entire flight, twelve hours.  I feel rested although my body is still exhausted.  Thomas woke me up sweetly, and given our desperate need for relaxation, neither of us mentioned the fight on the plane.  I thought about asking him why I made him so upset, and apologizing, but I think it would only make him angrier.  It’s better just to leave it be where it belongs, in the past.

The view from the rooftop of the hotel suite is absolutely stunning.  All we can see is clear blue water and the soft oranges of the sun as it sets tenderly over the ocean.  The salty smell of the breeze is a welcoming fragrance.  We had a small rooftop dinner lit by candles; he had it ready for us when we arrived.  He really makes my heart melt sometimes; he can be so romantic.  Michael took our bags and Thomas led me up the stairs; it was a pleasant and much needed surprise.  He’s trying so hard to get me to relax and it’s working. 

“You know I will do everything I can to keep you safe?  I won’t let anything happen to you.”  I look up at him; his eyes are full of worry. 

“I know you won’t.”  I don’t know what to say to reassure him.  I trust him with everything in me.  But I’m still worried.  I know she wants me dead and she is out there, somewhere, with a gun.  “I’m just scared.”  He kisses me lightly on my forehead. 

“I know
, Baby.”  He brings me in close to him.  I feel calmed by his warmth.  I nestle my head in his chest and breathe in his fragrance.  “I’m doing everything I can to make sure you’re safe.”  He breathes for a moment, heavy, as if debating telling me something.  “I’m having a panic room installed in the master bedroom.”  He doesn’t look down at me while he talks.  “Just in case something happens.” 

I slowly nod my head in his chest.  A panic room, it wouldn’t have helped to have one today.  She was the one in the master bedroom.  I decide not to comment, I don’t want to make him angry and fight with him.  If he wants one then it can’t hurt.

“Let’s talk about something else,” his tone is slightly more upbeat.  His hand brushes a loose strand behind my ear.  “After all, we’re on vacation.”  He gives me a small loving smile and I return it, kissing his cheek. 

“So now you’ve thought of something to talk about with your wife?” I say with a grin.  He lets out a small laugh, and, with one small comment, the mood is immediately lightened.

OUR GLASSES ARE EMPTY now, sitting beside us on the blanket.  The red deliciousness drips into small pools at the bottom of the glasses.  The fragment aroma reminds me just how sweet the wine has tasted on so
many delightful occasions.  He’s gently and unknowingly caressing the curve of my waist.  His soft touch through the fabric makes my skin feel sensitive and I feel myself aching, down there, for him. 

“Would you like something more to drink?”  He asks me sweetly, reaching for the bottle.  I reach my hand out stopping him.  I’ve spent the majority of the day crying in his arms and tonight I want him to know how much I appreciate him and everything that he has done, how much I love him.  After all of the trouble
he has gone through today, he’s trying so hard to put me at ease.  He has done all of this for me, and I want to give him all of me in return.

“No, I don’t want anymore wine.”  I bite my lip and look at him from through my lashes.  He knows what that look means.  He grins at me with a light of surprise in his eyes and moves to his knees so that he is leaning into me.  He places his hand on my lower back and slowly moves me to the ground, knocking over the glasses; I hear them clink as they roll off the blanket and onto the cement.  He doesn’t acknowledge them, he keeps his hands on me, lowering me and caressing my body.  I feel my hair on my shoulder and his hand on my neck and the soft blanket under me.  His lips touch mine and I feel his soft, wet tongue as he kisses me fervently.  His hand
moves under my dress and moves to my waist.  His fingers lightly move across my skin making my breathing quicken. 

I grab his legs with mine and force his body under me, pulling myself on top of him.  I’m surprised by my strength and surprised that he let me.

He smirks at my advance.  “You want to be on top?”  He gently kisses my exposed shoulder and continues up my neck.  He takes a small nip at my ear lobe sending an agonizing want to my wetness.  I don’t know why I’ve pinned him under me.  I don’t want to be on top, I don’t want control.  I want to enjoy the embrace, without thinking about anything other than how good his touch feels.  I look down into his passionate blue eyes as I make up my mind.

“No.”  I bite my lip and shake my head.  “I want you on top.”  I kiss him softly and he takes that as his cue; he overpowers me and rolls me onto my back, leaning on me, pinning me down with a carnal desire.

A knock at the door interrupts our heated moment.  Thomas looks up at the door irritated and then he looks back down at me.  I bite my lip and quickly lean up to kiss him under his chin.

“Not now, Michael,” he kisses me, “we’re busy.”  He smiles and licks his bottom lip.  I hear the footsteps go down the staircase, releasing my concern that we would have to wait.