18 comments/ 29946 views/ 54 favorites A Degree of C Ch. 01 By: LSEiland This is my first post on the site. A list of recommended Lit writers led me to the Interracial Love category. After reading great stories, I decided to write one of my own. I hope you enjoy it, as it is one of the first stories I have written in years. I encourage your feedback and ratings, they are greatly appreciated and will be used to guide my writing in the future. -LSEiland B3 ... B6 ... B9 ... Just three more gates to go. Elise silently encouraged herself to keep speed-walking as fast as she could, just as she approached her gate, B12. She exhaled noisily as she stopped and handed her boarding pass to the gate agent. A weak smile was the greeting she received as the woman grabbed the boarding pass and scanned it quickly. Elise could not help but acknowledge the hint of annoyance her arrival seemed to have caused. Please do not let me be the last one boarding this flight. "Ah, yes. You're the last one to arrive. Enjoy your flight, Ms. Brewster," the gate agent said, somewhat sympathetically, as she handed the boarding pass back to Elise. Great! Managing a quick smile, she thanked the woman and made her way down the ramp toward the plane. Slight sarcasm from the flight attendant who welcomed her onboard and applause from a few First Class passengers, had Elise feeling uneasy as she made her way down the aisle. She could not reach seat 18F fast enough. Her carry-on bag was hurriedly stuffed into an overhead bin before she scooted past the two travelers sharing her row. She was grateful that she could relax in her window seat for the next two hours- and that she did not miss her flight. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Listening to the pre-flight safety demonstration was the last thing Elise remembered as she awoke from an impromptu nap. Suddenly hungry, she peered over the seat in front of her, hoping the flight attendants had not made their rounds yet. The aisle was empty and the people in front of her had empty cups and wrappers. Dammit! She desperately wanted something to munch on. As if on cue, Elise's stomach growled loudly. It was embarrassingly loud. Her instinct was to recoil and sink into her seat, eyes focused on the clouds whizzing by. She was lost in thought when she heard a chuckle. It seemed that Elise had caught the attention of the person occupying the middle seat in her row. She initially refused to acknowledge this person, until a few harmless chuckles turned to outright laughter. The deep laughter informed Elise that the seat's occupant was a man. Her mood shifted from embarrassment to annoyance as she turned to confront him. Being greeted with green eyes and sun-kissed blonde hair is not what Elise was expecting. Not to mention that his smile alone rendered her speechless. The only thing Elise could think of doing, besides staring at this man whose grin had only begun to grow wider, was to face the window again. She just wished she had not turned so abruptly. How did I not notice a man that hot was sitting next to me? Elise replayed herself walking up the aisle, stowing her bag, and settling into her seat. It quickly dawned on her that she had not noticed her very attractive seatmate because she was in such a hurry to blend in. She did not want to be the young woman who possibly held up the plane. I wonder if he's a model. We are headed to New York, after all. How quickly her thoughts shifted from her discomfort back to him. Elise was sure that contemplating why his presence had been unnoticed, and what he did for a living, was taking up too much time. He was probably waiting for her to acknowledge him again... or at least she admittedly hoped he was. I want to look into his eyes again. This time, Elise assured herself, she would form words. Before she tore herself away from the clouds that had become a very comforting part of her flight, Elise adjusted in her seat. No longer was she leaning against the armrest on her right. She sat up straight and faced forward. Taking an inconspicuously deep breath, she slowly turned toward him. They regained eye contact as she pushed strands of curls behind her right ear. Elise furrowed her brow instinctively because he was already leaning toward her, seemingly eager to speak. She wasn't expecting that. "Hi," Elise said shyly. "I'm sorry." He offered an apology instead of a follow up to her greeting. Confused, Elise muttered a drawn out, "Okay." "...For finding your stomach growl funny," he said sounding guilty. Oh, that! She frowned as she remembered that moment. He flashed a comforting smile before he continued. "You're obviously hungry. It's just..." His voice trailed off, like he was carefully searching for the right words. "You practically ran down the aisle. I watched you hurl your suitcase into the bin, then brush past me. Everything you've done on this flight has been at warp speed, including falling asleep before we finished taxiing the runway." Another smile touched the corners of his lips, but this one was different. He seemed to have gotten some sort of pleasure from his recollection. No, she couldn't be reading him right. "I'm Ben." He told her his name while holding out his right hand for her to shake. Elise's eyes darted to his proffered hand as she engaged in a tug of war with her subconscious. He wants me to touch him. Her initial thought was rebuked immediately. No, he just wants you to shake his hand. That's completely innocent- like a business transaction. She ignored this chastising, shook any irrational thoughts from her mind, and offered her right hand as she replied with her name. This gesture was indeed innocent, but did not feel that way. - - - - - - - - - - Ben had to think quickly... She captured his attention when she barreled down the aisle toward the only empty seat on the plane. The one left vacant on his right side. He had hoped the person it was assigned to would be a no-show. Naturally, he wanted to claim the window seat for himself. The applause Ben heard up ahead let him know his wish was not going to be granted today. He let out a heavy sigh, openly voicing his disappointment. Ben could see the person's figure walking rapidly down the aisle out of the corner of his eye. He heard what sounded like a woman tossing her luggage into the container above his head. Ben was about to get his first full look at her when she brushed past him, bumping his knees. This prompted him to question her behavior. It was obvious that walking past that many prying eyes had made her nervous. Sure she was the last person to board, but there was still a decent amount of time before flight #5957 to New York (LGA) was scheduled to leave. He looked at his watch to confirm this thought. She was cutting it close, but he gave her the benefit of the doubt. Ben wanted to sit in the seat she now claimed. Ironically, the middle seat gave him the opportunity to check her out on the sly. Evading detection required short glances. During his first glance, he learned that she was a petite black woman. Her curly black hair rested just beneath her chin. Remembering the path she took in front of him, he gauged that she couldn't be more than five foot three inches tall. She had the prettiest light skin. It reminded him of the soft caramel squares his grandmother got him hooked on when he was a child. Still carrying some with him at all times, he grabbed a piece out of the messenger bag he had yet to stow on the floor in front of him. Ben smiled as he glanced at the candy he held in his hand, then back to her. Her skin definitely resembled his favorite shade of brown. Her exposed shoulders had begun to taunt him. Wayward thoughts had him wondering if her skin tasted just as sweet. He wanted to lovingly lick his way down to her- What? He popped the candy into his mouth and looked away, an attempt to reign in his stray musings. Ben's third glance alerted him that she probably had no idea what was going on anywhere but outside the plane. Her eyes had not made contact with anything, or anyone, since she secured her black leather purse under the seat in front of her and buckled herself in. The plane was just pulling back from the gate. Ben pretended to look out the window, but was really getting as many glimpses of her as he could without getting caught. Her profile was gorgeous. Her nose was small with the cutest curve at the bottom. Her lips were full and naturally pouty. He found himself wanting to kiss- Really, Ben? Since when are you attracted to black women? Ben took his last thought into consideration. He was pretty certain he wanted to get to know her as much as possible before their flight ended. As for dating black women, he had never done that before. In his twenty-eight years, she was the first woman who wasn't tall and blonde that he had ever found attractive. This woman's skin color, full lips, and curly black hair made him rethink everything he knew about beauty. The plane began taxiing down the runway when Ben decided on an ice breaker. Not being able to see her eye color or hear her voice was driving him crazy. He had never been intrigued by a woman this much in his life. Back off Ben, you're probably not her type. Ignoring his own advice, he was about to make small talk with her when he heard what sounded like light snoring. Normally, snoring on a plane was a big no-no, but to the man who was infatuated with this mystery woman, it was simply cute. A smile touched Ben's eyes every time he snuck a peek at her. He had to admit feeling like a stalker, but he couldn't help himself. The way she was treated upon boarding made him feel slightly protective over her. When she awoke, he would make sure she was okay. What brings her to New York? Does she have a boyfriend? He slowly rubbed a hand down his face when his questions started to get away from him again. He didn't just want to know personal things about the lady in seat 18F- he needed to. - - - - - - - - - - Ben was brought back to the present when Elise finished introducing herself and wiggled her fingers, a signal for him to release her hand from his grasp. Shit. Please don't let her think I'm a weirdo. Ben hoped his lingering handshake had not frightened Elise. That was weird. Their handshake surprised Elise. Not because it lasted longer than the normal greeting, but because she felt something she had never felt before. An instant magnetism, coupled with budding desire, swept through her. Visions of his olive-toned skin against hers made her tingle. She responded by shifting in her seat and crossing her legs tightly. Getting this aroused by someone she just met was new for Elise. She had crossed paths with other cute guys, but this one was different. First off, Ben was far from cute. His piercing green eyes were gorgeous. They led to a straight nose, thin lips, and a square jaw adorned with light stubble. The stubble matched his dark blonde hair, which was slicked back perfectly. His features were complimented by what she guessed was an effortless sense of style. Elise had taken note of his white graphic tee, gray hoodie, and black jeans during their handshake. The look screamed casual, but she knew better than to assume he just rolled out of bed and threw that on. "Did I miss in-flight service?" She said when her mind cleared. Ben was about to make his second attempt at "breaking the ice" when he was happily reunited with her sexy voice. "You slept through it. There was a brief debate about waking you up." "Brief, huh?" Elise had begun to silently curse the flight attendants when Ben started talking again. "It was brief because I put the kibosh on it." He sighed before continuing, "You looked so peaceful." Elise looked over at him. He looked sincere, but she couldn't help her fleeting thought. How dare he put the kibosh on my Biscoff cookies? Able to laugh at her initial dismay, Elise admitted, "I fly this particular airline for the Biscoff cookies." He immediately smirked at her; she countered with one of her own. "They're a decent reward for putting up with the hassle that flying can be sometimes." Ben nodded in agreement. "Actually, I still have mine," he said, looking away from her. She looked hopeful; he looked torn. "I save them each time I fly this airline." He hesitated for a minute. "She really likes them..." he said, as if conflicted by something unsaid. She? Elise was tempted to ask who she was. She remained silent, willing him to elaborate. He changed the subject instead. "Do you live in New York or are you visiting someone...special?" His tone revealed some kind of internal struggle regarding that second "S" word: "special." Adopting a "two can play that game" attitude, she vaguely answered the question that she hoped was causing him a little anxiety. "I live in Chicago and yes, someone special is waiting for me in New York." That second part was technically true, so she wasn't lying- just omitting crucial facts. She assured herself it wasn't a big deal because he practically insinuated that he had a girlfriend. Ben felt like the wind was knocked out of him. There was no question that this beautiful woman would belong to someone. This guy, whoever he was, was a lucky bastard. Ben couldn't keep his eyes off her bright brown eyes, or others parts of her body, for that matter. He struggled with concealing his growing erection after sneaking another peek at her full breasts. There was no doubt in his mind that she should be his. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Ben had not continued his conversation with Elise after she answered his last question. This startled her. Suddenly curious about the person sitting at the end of their row, she leaned forward to get a good look at the passenger on her far left. An old man met her gaze. They traded smiles as she leaned back in her seat. Something about this movement gave her a chill. Elise rubbed her arms and rolled her eyes at herself for wearing a teal spaghetti strap sundress in the air conditioned cabin. Forgetting her cardigan was also a rookie move. Her discomfort did not last long. Warm fabric was being draped over Elise's shoulders when she and Ben locked eyes again. They never broke eye contact as he smoothed his gray hoodie over the left side of her body. The chemistry between them bordered on sexual tension as Ben focused on Elise's right side. He was now dangerously close to her face. In response, she sucked in a breath and her nipples began to harden and strain against the thin fabric of her dress. Ben suddenly dropped out of Elise's line of vision. She winced, as if his retreat severed their connection. She had turned to thank him when his lips came crashing down on hers. She stilled before returning his tender kiss. The smoldering look he gave her when their lips parted sent sensual shockwaves through her body. "I'm a lot warmer now, thank you," was the only coherent thing Elise could say to Ben. Ben laughed out his response, "I hope so." He would be lying if he said that kiss had not affected him in any way. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ They chatted nonstop until the plane landed at LaGuardia Airport. They had learned a few basic things, which made each of them more enamored with the other. Ben, a native New Yorker, now called Chicago home. Elise was visiting the Big Apple for the first time. While she nursed sick animals back to health as a veterinary technician, he was a trader, the complete opposite of the model she initially assumed he might be. Elise also learned that Ben would be in town from that day, Thursday, to the following Monday. She would return home Sunday afternoon. "You should let me play tour guide while you're in town. I guarantee you, no one knows this city like I do," Ben said matter-of-factly. Elise shot back a skeptical glance. "I'm meeting someone who knows it like the back of their hand. So, I'll be fine." She regretted those words the minute they came out of her mouth. She wanted Ben to be a part of her life, yet felt the need to keep him at a distance. She wondered why until she recalled the wild morning she had before arriving at the airport. The drama that had consumed her life until she walked through O'Hare Airport's sliding glass doors was enough to deter her from getting close to anyone. That included a man as handsome, downright sexy, and shockingly sweet as she found him to be. Yep, she had just decided to keep him at bay. Ben interrupted her thoughts when he got up to retrieve his carry-on luggage. They were two of a handful of passengers still lingering on the plane. Elise joined him under the bin that also held her bag. He smirked as he took in their height difference. He was nearly a foot taller than her, which surprisingly excited him. They made their way off the plane after Ben, ever the gentleman, pulled her trendy purple luggage from the bin. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Ben was batting a zero when it came to getting Elise's number. He didn't want to pressure her, but leaving the airport without a way to contact her didn't sit well with him. They had not exchanged surnames, so Googling her name was out of the question. "At least let me give you my number," Ben pleaded as he stood, facing her, in the terminal. So much for playing it cool, he thought. A negative nod was all Elise could give him at the moment. She knew she would cave if she opened her mouth. Elise expected Ben to ask again, but he conceded, said goodbye, and walked away. Still wearing his hoodie, she called after him. "Keep it. It's hot outside, but you can't avoid air conditioning indoors." Ben stopped in his tracks and faced her, taking in her beautiful face and hourglass figure for what he hoped was not the last time. "If I can't hang out with you this weekend, at least I can keep you warm." With that, he backed away slowly before turning around and making his way to the baggage carousel. A Degree of C Ch. 02 Hello, again. I'm very proud of this chapter. I knew where I wanted the story to go, but had trouble getting everything out- until I posted Chapter 1, read your comments, and saw your ratings. They really inspired my creativity, so keep them coming (good or bad), please. Thanks again for reading A Degree of C. I hope you enjoy Chapter 2. -LSEiland * Playoff hockey. A boss who micromanages his employees. These are a couple of the topics Ben found himself trying to appear interested in, while out to dinner with a few of his closest friends. This visit to New York City kicked off the way his previous touchdowns had, but this time he wasn't invested in the reunion. They sat at a large square table nestled in the back corner of Masci, his favorite Italian restaurant and go-to spot for reacquainting himself with his hometown. The conversation had shifted again when Ben's gaze fell briefly on each of his friends. To his right sat Marco, the reason the guys were summoned to town for the weekend. Sitting opposite Marco, on Ben's left side, was his childhood friend, and the only other native New Yorker at the table, Tony. Luis, the newest edition to their circle, sat directly across from Ben. Each man lived a very different lifestyle. Ben reflected on those differences for a moment. Marco had been labeled "the humanitarian." He was an Argentine firefighter in NYC who would not hesitate to give any of the men at the table his last dollar. Luis was "the funny one," literally. He was a sought after comedian who made it known that he was passing up big bucks to support his friend's milestone. Ben threw himself in the mix. His days were spent as Senior Trader at Grilland Capital Management. As for the type of guy he was, the term "closet creative" came to mind. Tony was "the womanizer" of the group and, like clockwork, ran through the play-by-play of his one-night-stand with a beautiful Latina he met the night before at Reason, the hottest club on the East Coast. Hearing the words "sexy woman" and "perfect body" invited visions of Elise to flood Ben's mind. Three hours had passed since their flight landed. Saying that he was suffering from withdrawal after having her in his presence would be an understatement. Ben had only made it to the middle of the story, where Tony boasted about receiving the best head of his life, when he decided it was time to stage an early retreat. A lag in the conversation gave Ben the opportunity to make his exit. Standing and citing a bullshit jetlag excuse, which didn't go unnoticed by Marco, he dropped his part of the tab on the table. Ben headed for the door after bidding farewell to his pals for the time being. The door handle was in hand when Ben heard Marco's approach. His friend followed him out, requesting a quick word. The two men settled away from the door, leaning their backs against the front of the building. "Who is she?" Marco said with confidence and a smirk. "I'd be the most gullible friend in the world if I let you bail without question because you're severely fatigued after spending two hours in the air." Ben searched for an answer that would get his friend off his back- one that would not require Elise's name to enter the conversation. "A little birdie told me a certain someone was overseas. Maybe those plans have changed?" His sentence ended with a "why bother trying to hide this from me" expression. Marco knew him like the back of his hand, so Ben opted to lead with the truth. "I met someone on the plane today." Ben said, trying to hide his enthusiasm for the best flight of his life. "She's beautiful, smart..." "You're the only man who can find beauty in any blonde that crosses his path." Marco interjected. "What's different about this one?" "For starters, her hair is black." "Trying something new, okay... straight to her mid-back?" "Shoulder-length and curly," replied Ben, proud that Elise did not fit the mold his friend was mocking him for preferring in the past. Marco thought of his next challenge before speaking. He would inquire about the trait all of Ben's love interests had in common. "Pale skin and blue eyes?" Ben smiled, knowing he was about to shock his friend. "Warm caramel is what her skin reminds me of, and nope, brown eyes." It took several seconds for Marco to process what he had just heard. "I always joked about my heavy firefighter gear giving me a heart attack one day, but this revelation might do it." Marco looked over at Ben in disbelief. "Two hours in close quarters with a black woman and you've jumped ship?" Feeling the need to clear up his attraction to Elise, Ben continued, "For the record, this woman has much more going for herself than just being in close quarters with me, but yes, I guess I have." "You won't let anyone belittle her appeal, including your best friend, duly noted," Marco said while holding his hands up. "So, you inhaled your food hoping it would give you extra time to spend with her tonight?" he asked, looking Ben in the eyes. Exhaling heavily, Ben answered his friend's query. "She shot me down when I asked for her number- so no, I'll be heading back to the hotel." "She evaded your charm, yet you talk like you still have a chance with her. Care to explain?" "Something was holding her back, but I know she feels the same way about me." Hope spread across Ben's face as he looked to Marco for support. "Let's just say I'm confident that my Hail Mary will reunite me with the woman I want." "Speaking of what the heart wants, have you forgotten..." Knowing where his friend's question was headed, Ben ended Marco's inquisition by assuring him they would discuss it later- and simultaneously hailing a cab. Relieved to be alone in the backseat of the taxi, his yellow-lacquered savior, the closeness of their friendship reminded Ben that Marco would not drop inquiring about "the elephant in Amsterdam." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Four hours into her weekend getaway in New York, the tour that Elise found herself taking twice, was of her hotel room at the Mandarin Oriental. A mix-up in booking landed her with a suite overlooking Central Park. Even the word "luxurious" could not do this room justice. The main door opened to a spacious living room. Its cream walls were accented by a sleek gray sofa that was paired with cream chairs displaying an abstract gray texture. Color was brought into the room by placing vases full of brightly colored wildflowers on the coffee table, as well as a dining table that sat in front of floor-to-ceiling windows. As much as Elise loved the living room, the bedroom is what made her consider canceling her obligations to lounge in style all weekend. A warm hue on the walls bathed the room in comfort. Cream was carried into the room in the form of a plush rug and ridiculously soft bed linens. Elise decided that the floors reminded her of dark chocolate, as she sat on the bed and leaned against the headboard. Thoroughly relaxed, she grabbed her Blackberry from the bedside table and sent a quick text to her best friend, Cara Mueller. *You're not the only one with a suite this weekend! Come see me, 2112. --E* Cara had checked into the same hotel the night before. Elise expected her to make an appearance soon, after finalizing any last minute arrangements. She pondered what her friend might be dealing with at the moment, when something caught her eye. Ben's hoodie was draped at the foot of the bed. The sight of it pained her, a sign that she was starting to regret her decision to leave the airport without swapping numbers with him. How could I pass on a man that I already want so much? Elise thought. Lifting up onto her knees, Elise reached behind her and slowly unzipped her teal sundress. She released the zipper after reaching the small of her back. Still fixated on the infamous garment, Elise shook each strap from her shoulders and shimmied out of the dress. Leaning forward, she picked up the hoodie and inhaled its heavenly scent. A needy moan escaped her lips. It smelled heavily of Ben's cologne and what she guessed was his natural fragrance. The combination was intoxicating. In need of release, Elise put the garment on over her light pink strapless bra and matching mesh panties. She scooted back toward the headboard and pushed the cover down with her bare feet. Lying down, she lifted up slightly to glide the panties off her firm butt and over her toned thighs, letting them rest at her ankles. "Mmm...Ben," Elise moaned as her right hand slipped inside the left cup of her bra. She used her fingertips to tease her nipple. The soft bud responded to her gentle stimulation as her left hand traveled from her tiny waist to her well-trimmed mound. Elise stroked the thin strip of soft hair before guiding her digits toward her clit. The contact, coupled with images of Ben's physique and panty-dropper smile, drove Elise to arch her back and buck against her fingers as she continued to moan his name. Getting closer to the edge, she moved her right hand from her now hardened nipple to her slit. Easing a couple fingers inside, Elise began to drive them in and out of her pussy with fervor- mirroring the way she imagined Ben would make love to her, if he found her in this compromising position. Incoherent words escaped her mouth as she came all over her fingers. The sweet juice also seeped onto Elise's inner thighs. Loving the taste of her essence, she brought the two fingers up to her mouth and sucked on them until every drop was ingested. Mmm... Coming down from this amazing high, Elise adjusted the hoodie with her left hand. The hand had just slipped into the left pocket when she felt it- a folded up piece of paper. Elise sat up immediately. Please be what I think this is. Aware that she might have just found an old receipt, she quickly unfolded the paper, trying not to get her hopes up. SKYMALL was written in bold letters. She knew immediately that Ben had slyly torn off part of the cover from the airline magazine without her noticing. Seeing nothing written under the title, she turned it over to verify whether or not she was missing something. Don't think, just call me. I miss you just as much. --BEN was written plain as day, along with a smiley face and his phone number. Apparently, he had anticipated being rejected when he would eventually ask for her digits. Thank God for his Plan B was Elise's voiceless response. That was followed up by an exceptionally girly squeal. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "You have to call this guy right now." Cara almost melted hearing Elise recount her journey to NYC. Elise had barely managed to shower and tidy up the bedroom of the suite, when she received a knock on her door. Cara practically bounced into the room. The two friends had not been in the same room, let alone state, in almost two years. Judging their embrace and chattiness during Elise's third tour of her suite, no one would know. Now splayed out on Elise's newly remade bed, Cara felt the need to make a statement about what she had just heard. "Elle, as much as I love you, I would have understood your need to blow me off for a handsome man that sounds as charming as my Marco." She finished by placing her left palm on her heart. Elise could not help but smile at her friend's proud display of her engagement ring. "After all, I have dibs on you for two more days," Cara beamed. She was elated that she would be marrying a man she felt infinitely lucky to have, and get to share it with her honorary sister. Elise pouted as she shook her head, "Not a chance, Cara. While I have never met a man like him before, I literally just broke up with Vincent this morning. The timing just isn't right." Those words hurt Elise, but she felt it was a true statement. "Oh, screw timing!" This rebuttal was classic Cara. "I don't know who this man is, not his name or number..." She narrowed her eyes because Elise had refused to share his note with her. "...But a man that mouthwatering and chivalrous doesn't come around often. And when he does..." Cara appeared sincere as she continued her rant. "...It's for a reason, Elle. Don't let something as insignificant as timing make you miss out on such a rare connection." Damn Cara's excellent points. Elise never had a problem acknowledging when the girl was right. "Oh, and also Vincent is a dick who doesn't deserve you. I'm glad you're finally strong enough to let him go. I have no idea what you saw in him anyway." "Don't hold back, Cara, jeez... you're right about Vincent and I promise to call- but not until after my bestie gets married," she grinned, genuinely happy for Cara. "Besides, I'm making up for having to relinquish my Maid of Honor duties to Rachel." Juggling a full-time job and veterinary coursework made it difficult for Elise to help Cara plan her dream wedding. That load, added to the fact that they lived roughly 800 miles apart, made the feat impossible. Their mutual friend, Rachel, had the luxury of working for her father, a genial man who never hesitated to spoil his daughter. She was able to drop everything and fly to New York whenever her assistance was needed. "Do not get me started on Rachel. She has been spending her daddy's money on Fifth Avenue more than she has accompanied my brother and me to meetings and fittings while planning this wedding." Elise chose to remain silent. While she did not doubt Rachel's inability to focus on someone else's needs, she was not a fan of Cara's brother either. - - - - - - - - - - James had notoriously given Cara grief on many occasions throughout her college years. Two years older, he attended Northwestern University in Evanston, while Cara had chosen to enroll at DePaul University in Chicago. Day one of her freshman year is when Cara met Elise. The two had been assigned to the same dorm room. They became fast friends and remained inseparable. After spending two rough years on uncomfortable twin beds in a tiny shared-room, the two opted to rent a two-bedroom apartment off-campus. The first letdown initiated by James, that Elise had witnessed, came on moving day. Cara gushed that her brother would help them move with his oversized SUV. That never happened. Instead, the girls were forced to use their grocery money to rent a U-Haul and move their belongings sans the help of a strong man. Cara suffered many disappointments on behalf of her brother over the years. Elise was there to comfort her each time. The final straw, in Elise's eyes, came when James failed to show up on their graduation day. Later that night, after crying over being letdown again, Cara confided in her friend. Not only was James adopted, but he had been a troubled kid who was now a full blown alcoholic. She explained that she tried to arrange help for him on many occasions, but he had evaded each attempt to regain his sobriety. The last time the two had a lengthy conversation about him was four years ago. Cara's failed attempts to save her brother had finally stuck. She was overjoyed when he was able to turn his life around. He finished school and became very successful. The details of his turn-around were never shared with Elise- probably because she never asked. James' wedding present to Cara was the wedding of her dreams, paid for on his dime. Hearing that James offered to do that for his sister was a great gesture, but Elise considered it too little, too late. His input in the wedding plans was actually Elise's secret reason for dropping her Maid of Honor title. Interacting with that man is what she hoped to avoid on Saturday. - - - - - - - - - - Elise's trip down memory lane had quieted the room. She broke the silence by grabbing her friend's left hand, as they lay beside each other. She inspected Cara's ring finger. "Jeez, Cara, your rock is huge!" Elise said. She thought about what Marco did for a living. "The fire department must pay pretty well." "You think so, Elle? I told him it was too much," Cara appeared slightly distressed as she looked down at her engagement ring. "Finance is where the funding for this rock came from. Marco switched professions a year ago after deciding that Wall Street paid the bills but could not keep him happy. My man is in his element now that he's fighting fires and lighting up little kids' faces." She exchanged giggles with Elise before suggesting they order room service. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The reunion in suite #2112 lasted until midnight. Cara had only agreed to leave when Marco called her phone for the third time that evening. He anxiously awaited spending one final night with her, before honoring the tradition of not seeing the bride until she walked down the aisle. Cara looked forward to their final romp as an engaged couple. Before saying goodbye to Elise, she changed into an outfit that she was certain Marco would appreciate. The plan was to increase his desire by making him wait for her arrival. Too bad she practically ran to their suite. Opening the door to their bedroom solidified their love story. Marco had taken advantage of the time apart by decorating the room with her favorite edible treats. Her puzzled expression was the reaction he had hoped for. It was a sign that she had no idea what to expect. "I'm going to devour my fiancée tonight," Marco borderline growled as he walked toward Cara slowly, like a lion stalking its prey. Still unaware of his intentions, she stood frozen, waiting for his next move. "I hate to say goodbye to her, but I'm looking forward to welcoming my wife the next time our bodies touch." Cara yelped as Marco pulled her flush against his body. Feeling his cock hardening against her stomach elicited a breathy moan. He dipped his head for a quick, but passionate, kiss. She wrapped her hands around his neck, desperately trying to deepen their embrace, only to have him pull away. "Hmm... you're very anxious, mi amor." His keen ability to turn her on so quickly was a sense of pride. "Let me look at you." Stepping back, Cara radiated disappointment for a split second before becoming determined to seduce her future husband. His sudden intakes of breath disclosed his gratification with her gratuitous modeling. A red silk wrap dress clung to her athletic figure. Its softness and simplicity was the best contrast to the body Marco loved to feast on. Nude stilettos completed the look. The outfit highlighted her assets, but was nothing compared to her face. Big blue eyes, high cheekbones, pouty lips, and an angelic smile won him over every time. Closing the distance between them, Marco twirled a finger in Cara's auburn hair as he spoke. "You look very hot, but I'm hungry," he leaned back, dropping his eyes to her core before continuing, "May I unwrap you?" Cara nodded and bit her lip as the wetness from her arousal became more prevalent. The achingly slow removal of her clothing gave Cara the time to ogle her fiancé. He hovered over her 5'6" frame at 6'3" tall. Marco had recently turned 28, but was already sporting a very sexy dusting of salt and pepper hair that complimented a golden tan the June sun had created. His muscular build was compliments of his firefighter gig. Unable to resist him any longer, she gazed lustfully into his brown eyes, "Marco..." Just as needy after finding her naked under the wrap dress, Marco made short work of his own clothing and nimbly deposited Cara onto the bed. Kneeling between her legs, Marco kissed her deeply as he fervently slid home. Cara gasped before chuckling out a question that was on her mind. "What happened to being hungry and using the goodies I saw on the nightstand?" "I couldn't wait that long. Anyway, the night is still young," he confessed while sliding his dick out of her pussy and then back in to the hilt, before increasing his pace. A Degree of C Ch. 02 Cara gripped Marco's forearms as he skillfully pummeled pleasure into her pussy. Sex with this man kept getting better and better. Her moans were becoming breathy, a sign that she was close. He leaned in and trailed a kiss from her lips to the sweet spot on the right side of her neck, sucking gently. In response, Cara's orgasm overtook her. The wanton look on her face and the constriction of her walls on his shaft, initiated his release. The sensation of being filled with Marco's seed always left a satisfied smile on her face. Finding himself only partially sated, naughty words were whispered in Cara's ear as Marco reached for something sticky and sweet on the table beside her head. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Wait, hold the elevator, please!" Elise pleaded to a well-dressed older man who had just entered the elevator a second after it arrived. Still a few feet away, she ran a little faster, hoping he would comply with her request. "Of course," he said when she walked into the elevator and thanked him, "Anything for a gorgeous woman like you." Elise blushed after noticing him wink at her as they made eye contact. The two rode down to the lobby in silence, but she could feel his eyes on her. Hopefully black leather isn't too much for a wedding rehearsal. As a lover of fashion, Elise had chosen a very stylish outfit for Cara and Marco's wedding rehearsal. A rehearsal dinner and late bachelorette party were also scheduled for that evening. The focus of her outfit was a black leather A-line skirt. Today being a rather warm day, she softened her outfit with a sleeveless dusty rose blouse and strappy taupe heels. Exiting the elevator, Elise made her way to the meeting room that would house today's rehearsal. Most of the wedding party had already gathered and were mingling when Elise entered the room. She made her way over to Cara, who was fixing Marco's tie. Overjoyed that she was one day away from her wedding, Cara greeted Elise by grinning like a fool and hugging her tightly. "So this is really happening, huh? Congratulations Marco." Elise gave him a quick peck on the cheek. Elise had only met Marco once before, but instantly felt that he was an exceptional fit for her best friend. There was something about the way he looked at her. Gazing at them now, the intensity and care behind that look had only grown stronger with time. "Thank you, Elle- for celebrating with us and putting an endless smile on this woman's face. I'm not sure if you know how much she's missed you." He put an arm around Cara's waist and pulled her close. "Oh, I know because I've missed her more." Elise understood wholeheartedly because she felt the same way about being in Cara's presence. She would take this physicality over a video chat any day. "I don't think it's endless because of me though. I saw the skimpy dress she changed into before leaving my room last night. I think it's safe to say you two didn't get any sleep." She winked at Cara, who was now making sure her parents had not overheard her friend's suggestive response. "I have no idea why you would think that," Cara replied, trying to sound convincing. "Mmm...hmm... okay. I'll drop it," Elise conceded. It was always fun to tease Cara. Marco spotted his groomsmen entering the room. He excused himself and made his way over to them. "I really am glad you're here, Elle. The bachelorette party you're throwing..." Cara finished her sentence, but Elise had not heard a word she said. Her eyes had just settled on Marco, halfway across the room, when she spotted him. She couldn't believe that Ben was having an animated conversation with Cara's groom. "I have to go to the restroom." Elise needed some air. Now. "Okay, I'll go with you," Cara offered, already in motion. "No! I'll only be a second. Stay. You're the guest of honor." With that said, Elise left her friend standing alone. Elise headed for the door. She tried to leave without garnering any attention. Her sexy outfit, and a body that seemed to be a magnet for the men in room, solicited the gawking she wanted to avoid. - - - - - - - - - - Ben had just made it downstairs for Marco's wedding rehearsal. He, as Best Man for the weekend, and the other groomsmen were having too much fun badgering Marco about being with one woman for the rest of his life. Ben was in the middle of asking, "Where's my..." when he honed in on what Luis and Tony were saying. More like, who they were describing. "I know who I'm hooking up with tomorrow night," Tony said, not joking at all. "That's wishful thinking. A black woman, as fine as that, has to go home with the only dark-skinned male in the wedding party. Sorry, T." Luis was already getting some of his special "pickup jokes" together. He knew how much women loved a funny man. "I don't know, that wild curly hair, brown skin, and bubble butt would look better waking up next to this Italian." Tony countered. Intrigued by the subject of Luis and Tony's sparring match, Ben scanned the room for the woman they were yapping about. He almost choked on the water he was drinking when he saw Elise, the woman he had been desperately waiting to hear from, walking out the door. The bewildered look she had given him when they made eye contact didn't go unnoticed. - - - - - - - - - - Elise reached the women's restroom in what she thought was record time. The response to her withdrawal meant that it was not fast enough. She came to the conclusion that she was the subject of Ben's friends' conversation. That fact made her nervous. Seeing Ben's face light up when they made eye contact for the first time since their introductions in the air, made her feel something entirely different- something that made her panties moist. Bracing herself against a long row of sinks in a public restroom, Elise analyzed what she was feeling. At least she did for mere seconds, until she heard someone clear their throat. She whipped her head to the right. Her mouth dropped when she saw Ben standing near the door. This moment was when she realized her mind could not do this man justice. Ben was a lot taller and more handsome than she remembered. The navy sport coat, chambray shirt, and dark wash jeans he wore might have also had something to do with it. "What are you doing in here?" came out harsher than she wanted it to. "I had to catch up with you. You've been a ghost since we landed." Ben's voice was also deeper than she remembered, unmistakably sensual. She eyed him cautiously as he walked toward her. Elise was not scared, just unsure of what might happen between them. "I was going to call you after the wedding was over. When I got home on Sunday, maybe," she offered as her heart raced with every step he took. "So you found my note?" Ben smiled, stopping in front of her. "Uh huh," was all she could say to him. His stance and stare was laden with lust. "Did you like my note?" Ben took a step forward. His eyes were now blazing, a tell-tale sign that he desired her. "Uh huh..." Responding to him was getting increasingly harder as he stepped between her legs. Neither of them said anything, as if weighing who would, or should, make the first move. While Ben would have loved to have her lunge at him, lips first, he knew the reserved woman he had fallen for would never do that. Not yet, at least. Ben vowed to lead her to that point- just before he rested his strong hands on her hips and reclaimed her lips with an unlimited amount of passion. Countless happy thoughts swirled through his brain. Elise could not think straight. She had opened her mouth to welcome his tongue and was delighted when he took full advantage of the invite. Their tongues dueled as each one feverishly explored the others' mouth. Ben's hands were just as busy. His left hand palmed Elise's ass while the right one cradled the face that, minutes ago, he was not sure he would ever see again. She whimpered into his mouth when he squeezed her cheeks and pulled her up into his rock hard length. It was no secret that Elise wanted Ben more than she had ever wanted a man in her life. Knowing that, it was important that the time and place to be right when they took the next step. That was the moment she remembered they were in a public restroom. "Stop...Ben." Breathlessly, Elise attempted to regain her composure. His affection ceased as he respected her wishes. Once again, the room was silent. A specific question was plaguing Elise, so she sought Ben's answer. "So, you're one of Marco's groomsmen?" She looked down and adjusted her clothing. "His Best Man, actually. How do you know him?" "He's marrying my best friend, Cara." Eyes still focused on her outfit, she missed the immediate change in his expression. "Cara is your best friend?" "Yes. We've known each other for eight years." Oh, shit. Ben now knew exactly who she was. "The two of you met in college, right? I take it, Elle, is a nickname." "We were roommates, and yeah, that's what she's always called me. How did you know that?" Having been told years ago that Elle despised him, Ben hesitated, but continued anyway. "Elise, Cara is my sister." He tried to gauge her expression, but she remained stone-faced. His revelations registered as a joke of some kind. Elise laughed, waiting for him to join in. He did not. She thought hard about Ben's bombshell. "That's impossible. Cara only has one brother- and his name is James." He ran a hand down his face, not knowing how she would take this upcoming information. "James is my middle name," Ben said slowly, letting it sink in. "My parents adopted me when I was two. I was Ben until Cara came along and changed that. She called me James relentlessly, so much so that my parents and grandparents decided to call me by the name as well." He exhaled audibly and handed Elise his driver's license, hoping it would help her grasp the mix-up. Benjamin James Mueller was written on the card. She nodded in acknowledgment of what she had just read and handed it back to him. "To this day, my entire family calls me James. That name is who I am when I'm around them." Elise was shocked, but she knew firsthand that Cara had an affinity for nicknames. She had only used Elise's real name once in the eight years they had known each other. Elle was the name Cara preferred to call her. Elise had not minded her new moniker, so she could understand how Ben would come to be known by his middle name. "So you're Ben out in the real world?" "Yes, I am." He winked at her, relieved that the mood in the room had lightened significantly. She grinned widely... until she realized that while she was captivated by Ben and didn't care what anyone called him, the type of person she knew Cara's brother to be, and the possibility of his underlying demons sneaking to the surface again, might be too much for her to handle. You have reached the end of A Degree of C, Ch. 2- thanks for reading this story. As you have discovered, Ben is Cara's brother (by adoption). The title, A Degree of C, stems from the fact that Elise and Ben share a connection with Cara (the "C" in the title). The "degree" part comes from the "six degrees of separation" theory. I knew, early on, that I wanted the main characters to be connected in some way- but not related, of course (that would be a different category). Elise's backstory will be revealed in future chapters, which will explain her struggles with Ben's alcoholic past. -LSE A Degree of C Ch. 03 Thank you for continuing to read A Degree of C. I am writing each chapter as they are posted and hope to submit the next chapter(s) faster than the previous one(s). Using italics seems to slow down the posting process, but I like using them to signify thoughts or put an emphasis on a word. I hope you like this chapter and decide to comment and/or rate the story. -LSEiland * Note: James = Ben (Remember, James is his middle name) Also, Elle = Elise (Cara, and people who met Elise through her, use that nickname) A myriad of thoughts rushed through Elise's mind as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She and Ben had managed to rejoin the rehearsal separately, without any questions regarding their whereabouts for ten minutes or so. The dinner that followed also went off without a hitch and sans any awkwardness between her and Ben. Incorporating his presence into her friendship with Cara might prove difficult. They had been in close quarters for hours now, but had not spoken since their groping session earlier that day. Quick glances had been exchanged, but Ben had honored Elise's wish to ease Cara into their fondness for each other. This reflection period was a much needed breather for Elise, something Rachel clearly did not realize when she opened the door without knocking. "Good thing I withheld my need to tinkle, Rachel." Elise gaped at her, before turning back around and pulling a tube of mauve lipstick from her clutch. Not bothering to offer an apology, Rachel stated the need for her interruption. "We're keeping Cara occupied, but someone is at the door. I thought you'd like to answer it as hostess of this bachelorette party." "Absolutely, just give me two seconds." Letting the incident slide, Elise touched up her lips before making her way back to the entrance of Cara's bridal suite. Anticipating the two strippers she had handpicked for Cara's final night of singledom, she told the four other women in the room to gather around as she opened the door. They cheered in anticipation, but stopped immediately when Ben was revealed as the initiator of the knocks. He got a kick out of disappointing the women. "What are you doing here, James?" Elise's tone admonished him for possibly spying on Marco's behalf. "Hello to you, too," Hearing Elise address him by his middle name, be it in a sassy manner, turned Ben on in a way he could not begin to describe. "Sorry to interrupt, but I have a gift for my sister from her anxiety-ridden groom who wishes she would forgo the strippers." Cara got up from the chair she was perched on to hug her brother and retrieve the medium-sized box he held in his hands. "Just reassure him that I will avert my eyes as much as possible and only share a bed with Elle tonight." "Lucky you," Ben said without thinking. Cara gave him a puzzled look, but dismissed his comment as the desire to see what was in the box consumed her. Elise focused on Cara as she unwrapped the box with care. She was just about to learn what its contents held when familiar hands began to pull her into the hallway. "What are you doing?!" Elise was slightly startled, but did nothing to resist Ben's actions. "That seems to be your question of the weekend." Closing the door behind them, Ben led her a few feet away, making sure they were out of earshot. "I don't want you in there, either," he told her truthfully. "Ben, we're not a couple. There's no need for you to take a cue from Marco." They traded stares. Ben would make moves to pursue a relationship with Elise, but knew he had to make some changes first. Changes that he hoped would not scare her away. Before the weekend was over, he would pull her aside for a heart to heart. "I'm working on changing that," he said as he approached her with the lustful look that had fast become her weakness. He was about to make an attempt to kiss her again when the aforementioned male strippers passed them in the hallway. Ben and Elise watched as they were let into the bridal suite, which had once again erupted with spontaneous cheers and laughter. Rachel poked her head out of the door and gazed at them intently, seemingly curious about their abrupt disappearance. "I seem to be missed. I'll see you tomorrow." Keeping an eye on Rachel's tortured expression, Elise left him and walked back to the room to join the festivities. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Wow Cara, I didn't know you had that in you!" The two ladies laughed about the debauchery that had just occurred in the adjacent room. Elise pulled the covers over herself and Cara as they settled into bed for the night. "I have to say I even surprised myself, but I kept it clean...ish." Cara looked to Elise for confirmation that she had not gone too far. "The "ish" definitely applies. Sweet Cara has a wild side. No wonder Marco put a BIG ring on it." Once again, the two friends traded uncontrollable giggles and smiles. "Hey, he loves more than my sexual prowess." Clarifying Marco's attraction was important to Cara. "Yes, I've noticed that." Elise yawned and closed her eyes, trying to succumb to sleep. "Speaking of noticing things, you and my brother are getting along quite well." Falling asleep was not a priority for Cara, not when she needed to inquire about a few observations. "We're being civil, if that's what you mean. It's obvious that James and I both want you have the best possible wedding, Cara. No drama." Elise hoped Cara did not feel her tense up when the conversation took an incriminating turn. "You are two of the three most caring people I have ever met, but I know it's more than that." Cara sat up suddenly and turned the bedside light on. Looking Elise dead in the face, she began to speak again, "My brother wants you, Elle. The way he looks at you- it's almost animalistic." Determined to make sure Cara remained oblivious to Ben's interest in her, she retorted, "Cara, you're exaggerating. Ben has just met me for the first time, he's probably just curious. Our reputations have preceded us." Please let her buy that, Elise thought. Elise waited for a response. Cara was struck silent as realization washed over her face. A minute had passed before she grinned at Elise and finally spoke, "You just called my brother by his middle name..." Shit! Elise knew her ruse was over. "I've never disclosed that bit of info with you because my family never calls him that." "I probably picked it up from one of the groomsmen." One more try couldn't hurt. "It's a possibility, but I don't need to hunt down his boarding pass to know he's the guy from the plane..." Cara thought of ways to support her claim as she brushed her hair out of her face. "You two disappeared earlier today, you're constantly glancing at each other, Luis and Tony haven't made a move on you, and he said I was lucky for getting to share this bed with you. My brother, James, is the guy!" A lengthy exhale was a sign that Elise was ready to own up to what Cara already knew to be the truth. "Okay, he's the guy. Why didn't you tell me he was flying in yesterday- and would be on the same flight?" "Ahhhhh!" Cara could not believe it. "I didn't tell you, because I didn't know. He was scheduled to fly in the night before, but switched flights because of a work conflict. His new itinerary was never shared with me." A crude thought made Cara chuckle, "My brother likes chocolate, who knew?!" "Cara!" Elise shot her friend a "simmer down" glance. "I mean that in a good way. You know that." Happiness radiated from Cara. Dare she wonder if her honorary sister could become her sister in the future? It could happen. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The big day was finally here. Cara and Marco's wedding ceremony would begin in less than twenty minutes. While Cara was calm and ready to walk down the aisle, Elise was a mess. The problem had nothing to do with her friend's nuptials and everything to do with Ben. She would be left alone with him once Cara and Marco departed the reception to embark on their honeymoon. Something about that worried her. Like yesterday in the restroom, she was not scared, just nervous about what might transpire between her and a dangerously sexy man in a lavish hotel full of fluffy beds. Focusing on Cara as her makeup and hair was being touched up for the last time, Elise asked about something that had been on her mind since the night before. "Cara, what was in the box that Ben delivered to you?" The cat was out of the bag, so Elise did not feel the need to continue calling him James. His first name fit the man her was with her, confident and loaded with sex appeal. "Honestly, a bunch of smaller boxes." Confused, Elise asked her to elaborate. She complied right away. "One big box held three other boxes, each smaller than the one before. The smallest box contained a key- to what, I'm not certain at this point. A house is my guess." Elise's mouth hung open. "That man is unbelievable... and sickeningly romantic." "Some words were included. A Cure for Sick Days was inscribed on an intricately-designed steel keychain that accompanied the key." Making eye contact with Elise, Cara silently solicited her input in deciphering the inscription. Each woman let the phrase sink in, but was not 100% sure they understood the true significance of Marco's choice of words. - - - - - - - - - - The bridal suite gave off a Zen vibe. The groom's suite, however, resembled a comedy club. Luis was in the middle of testing some new material on his pals. The nonstop laughter was evidence that his upcoming stand-up gigs would be very entertaining for his fans. "Alright, enough- you're killing these guys," Marco stifled his own laughter as he attempted to lower the noise level in the room. Now down to ten minutes, the five men in the wedding party were putting on their tuxedo jackets when someone knocked lightly on the door. Ben's heart leapt as he anticipated seeing Elise in her bridesmaid gown. He had been forced to accompany his sister and Rachel to a bridal boutique when the dresses were picked out, and now wished he had talked them into a slightly sexier style. Designated as the door answerer for the day, Ben walked over to the doorway and opened it swiftly. Unfortunately, he would have to wait a little longer because Rachel was standing before him. "Hi, guys... James..." Rachel fluttered her lashes at him. Everyone in the room knew about Rachel's crush on Cara's brother. She had been trying to get his attention for the past year. "Hey... Rachel." Trying not to seem disappointed, Ben invited her into the room. He stood by the door as she walked over to Marco. Rachel could be described as the cheerleader-type. She was tall and slim with long vanilla blonde hair and blue eyes. She was definitely Ben's type, or so she always thought. Somehow he had never been into her. A fair-weather friend had once told her that he said, and she quoted, "Rachel would be a catch if she wasn't so spoiled." Rachel often wondered why letting her father continue to pay her bills, at 26, was considered a bad thing. "Congratulations, again, Marco. I have a special note to you from Cara. She told me to tell you that it's for your eyes only, and to remember her words as she walks down the aisle." "Her instructions are understood. Tell mi amor I'll be waiting." He reached for the letter, smiling at the sentiment. "I will." She smiled back as she handed the note to him. Rachel made her way back to the door and winked at Ben as she exited the room. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Once again, Elise found herself standing in front of a mirror. This time, she was in another public restroom touching up her makeup for the reception. She had not seen the reception space yet, but was sure it would be breathtakingly beautiful. The wedding had been utterly romantic. The space resembled a lush meadow. Greenery and wildflowers filled the room without overwhelming the guests or wedding party. The highlight of the ceremony was watching Cara walk down the aisle in her strapless lace A-line gown. Its ivory color perfectly complimented her alabaster skin. Marco looked just as good as his bride. He and his groomsmen wore modern black two-button tuxedos with crisp white shirts and black bow ties. Trying to steal Marco's thunder was Ben. If it was not Marco's wedding day, Elise would have easily given him the best-dressed prize. Ben's striking features and signature slicked-back blonde hair set him apart from the rest of the men. Honestly, Elise had trouble keeping her eyes off him- and distracting her body from wanting to ravage him the second it got a chance to. - - - - - - - - - - Cocktail hour was underway. Ben opted to avoid the bar and sample some of the hors d'oeuvres that were laid out on various tables. He spotted Luis and Tony sampling the groom's signature cocktail, but the person he had been scanning the crowd for was missing. The mental picture Ben retained from watching Elise during the ceremony was doing a number on his libido. She had been wearing the same strapless champagne lace cocktail dress that the other bridesmaids wore, but looked light-years better than they did. Even Elise's hairstyle excited him. Her curly black hair had been swept softly into an up-do that he adored. Ben's idea of a perfect Saturday night involved being nestled between Elise's legs. Whether it was his cock or tongue delivering earth-shattering orgasms until the early morning hours did not matter to him. Any pleasure she would allow him to give her would be a blessing. This woman already has me wrapped around her finger, Ben declared as he stuffed a spicy shrimp tartlet into his mouth. Even food was failing to calm his loins. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Elise's laughter filled the reception room, or at least Ben thought so. He was amazed at how attuned he had become to her voice in such a short time. He was already able to pick her out of a crowd. With the reception well underway, most of the guests had vacated their tables to take advantage of the spacious dance floor. Ben would ask her to dance, but for now he would let her enjoy what little time she had left to spend with Cara. - - - - - - - - - - Cara and Elise were burning up the lavender illuminated dance floor. The best friends, along with the rest of the bridesmaids, were having way too much fun dancing to the upbeat songs the DJ was playing. Elise was just beginning to break out her best moves when the music changed. An electronic dance hit had morphed into a song more suitable for a slow dance. Marco had already cut-in for another dance with his new wife. Instinctively, Elise looked around the room for Ben, the only man she cared to be close to in that moment. Nowhere to be found, she was about to walk off the dance floor, when someone grabbed her hand from behind. She spun around to see Luis. The few words they had said to each throughout the night had been kind, so she accepted his request to dance. "You're a hard lady to get ahold of tonight," Luis said as he pulled her respectively close. "Oh yeah... well I guess anyone that has been vying for my attention tonight has had to play second fiddle to Cara. I don't get to see her often, so she has been my priority this entire weekend." Elise got her first good look at Luis at they swayed to the music. He was very good-looking, which one would think was a requirement to be one of Marco's groomsmen. All of the women at the reception would agree that they were a fine lot. She was admiring his darker skin-tone when someone asked to cut-in. She just barely saw Tony wink at his friend as they waited for her to make a decision. "Sure," replied Elise, who was ironically unsure if she wanted to dance with him. Unlike Luis, Tony had not previously introduced himself. Actually, she would say he had seemed very standoffish in her presence. "I know we haven't had a chance to speak, but I wanted to say hello before the night ended. I'm Tony, friend to most of the other groomsmen." Elise wasn't sure what to expect during this dance, but quickly warmed up to Tony's charm. This man consciously embodied confidence and charisma on another level. - - - - - - - - - - Two inquisitive eyes were trained on Tony and Elise as they settled into their second slow song. Nonstop smiles and chuckles were being traded back and forth. While he had never been a jealous man, Ben did not relish knowing that Elise could possibly be susceptible to Tony's game. He weighed whether or not he should cut-in, like his friends had. - - - - - - - - - - Dancing with Tony proved to be very entertaining for Elise. She was listening to funny anecdotes about his and Ben's childhood adventures. The two had been very mischievous little boys. He was in the middle of yet another story when she concentrated on the man before her. In just over five minutes, she learned that Tony was from Brooklyn, where he grew up in a large Italian family. He was now a very prominent businessman who regularly negotiated company takeovers all over the world. Looks-wise, Elise could tell that Tony was a handsome man who was accustomed to getting what he wanted. His Italian heritage was evident in what she guessed what his natural tan. His shiny black hair was slightly wavy. Unlike Ben, he was clean shaven. Something the two men shared was their height and build. Both Tony and Ben had noticeably fit physiques which ensured they would look great in just about anything. - - - - - - - - - - Losing the battle with his will, Ben decided to break up Tony and Elise's dance. He was just about to abandon his temporary post in the back of the room when Cara linked their arms together, keeping him in place. "Relax. Elle is just being friendly." She looked into his eyes, conveying that she knew about his feelings. "She told you?" He was astonished by Cara's boldness. "Not willingly..." she gave him a sly smile as she continued, "but I'm glad she did- and I'm glad you've fallen for her." She squeezed his arm. "I know you're worried about Tony's wiles, but she only has eyes for you." "Did she say that?" Ben was still in the dark when it came to Elise's handling of yesterday's revealing conversation. "Not exactly, but I can sense it. Just give her another minute. You'll see." Cara leaned up and kissed him on the cheek just before she walked away. In what seemed like less than thirty seconds, Ben was shocked when Elise looked straight at him and smiled brightly. He watched as she said one last thing to Tony and made a bee-line for him. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The reception was still going strong when Elise decided to call it a night. She had spent the rest of the evening sitting at a table with Ben. The two were lost in conversation when Marco and Cara came over to say their goodbyes before making their retreat official to the rest of the guests. - - - - - - - - - - Seizing the last opportunity to chime in on Ben's life for a while, Marco pulled Ben aside to give him some unsolicited advice. "Judging the way you've been cozied up with Elle for the last half hour, she must be the woman you were telling me about." "Yeah, I never expected her to be best friends with my sister, but I'm warming up to the idea. It's nice to be close with someone that can tell me more about her." "Yeah, I can see how that would be helpful." Marco decided this was the right time to cut to the chase. "I assume you've been up front with her." Ben wasn't liking being in the middle of another inquisition from Marco. "I haven't told her yet, if that's what you're asking. I will do so before anything serious happens between us." A Degree of C Ch. 03 "I know you don't need me questioning your decisions, I just want to make sure that you take her relationship with Cara into consideration. I'm not sure how Elle would react if she found out that Cara also kept her in the dark about this." The more Ben thought about the news he needed to share with Elise, the more he knew Marco was just being a great friend by looking out for all parties involved. His "humanitarian" role was in full effect. - - - - - - - - - - Tight hugs and well-wishes were passed to the newlyweds. The last thing Cara said to Elise, after pulling her aside, was to try to forget the past and give her brother a chance. Dual meanings were behind those words. The hidden meaning was something she needed to talk to Ben about. "Ben..." "Yes, Elise," Ben responded, listening attentively. "I'm heading out, but I'd like to have a word with you in private- if that's okay." "Of course," Standing up, he thought about the things he needed to get off of his chest during their chat. The two of them waved goodbye to old friends and new acquaintances as they made their way out of the reception space and approached the elevator bay. They had just boarded a waiting elevator when Ben suggested they talk in his room. As much as the rational part of Elise's brain wanted to avoid being near a bed with Ben tonight, she knew it was probably the best place to have a serious conversation. She Ok'd his request and let him lead the way. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Being alone with Ben was different than Elise initially expected. Her mind irrationally pictured him jumping at the chance to try and have his way with her, but staying true to the gentlemen he had been from the beginning, Ben gave her ample space to feel comfortable. The fact that he was staying in a room with two double beds, helped as well. Ben revealed that he got stuck with a roommate this weekend, but did not divulge the person's identity. Elise assumed Luis or Tony was the mystery roomie, but did not see a trace of any identifiable clothing or items as she looked around the room. Ben laid across the bed on the left, propping himself up on an elbow. She mirrored his action by relaxing on the other bed, back against the pillows that lined the headboard. Taking a deep breath, Elise began to speak, "This is so unexpected, Ben. Meeting you and discovering your relationship to Cara caught me off guard." It was now Ben's turn to take a deep breath. Normally an optimist, he expected a letdown. "That being said, I'm very glad we met the way we did. I was able to get to know Ben, something I'm not sure would have happened if you weren't seated next to me on that plane." He exhaled and felt some of the tension leave his body. "I've struggled internally with your past. Alcoholism is something that I am very familiar with. My father would drink himself silly and take any anger he had out on me. Being an only child to a single father was rough at times." "Did he hurt you?" Ben was almost afraid to hear the answer to his question. "Physically, no, but he had this uncanny ability to make me feel guilty. I'll spare you the details of what I went through, but his death on my 14th birthday changed my life for the better- as horrible as that is to say." Elise had been spared from her father's ridicule for 12 years, but guilt still managed to plague her at times. "My aunt, Michelle, was able to swoop in and save me from being placed in a foster home. I put everything I had into school and was lucky enough to get a full-tuition scholarship to DePaul." She looked over at him and instantly felt comforted by the care in his eyes. "You scare the shit out of me, Ben. You have something in common with the man that almost ruined my life. As much as I have considered writing you off, I know you're nothing like him." Ben got up and sat beside her as she continued. "I will never be able to understand how you might struggle daily with staying sober, but I'm hoping to continue getting to know you and possibly making that a little easier for you." Fuck. Cara had believed in Ben's recovery from the beginning, but no one had ever said anything remotely close to what Elise had just said. Especially a woman he was interested in dating. Feeling that words were not expressive enough, Ben scooted closer and cupped her head lovingly in his hands. He stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. Ben kept his eyes locked on hers until he slowly made contact with her pillowy soft lips. The kiss was reminiscent of the one he surprised her with on Thursday. He was content with the sweet lip-lock until Elise seductively grazed her bottom lip with her teeth as he pulled away. The action reignited his libido. He leaned in to deliver multiple kisses that would broadcast every wonderful feeling her had for her. Preoccupied with an embrace that had escalated to Ben lying on top of Elise, neither of them noticed that they were no longer alone. The third party cleared their throat loudly, making their presence known. Knowing who interrupted them, Ben hurled himself away from Elise. Ben's grandmother met Elise's eyes as she sat up. How embarrassing. Taking account of the shameful look on Elise's face, the woman decided to clear the air, "No need to be embarrassed, dear. My grandson has been keeping tabs on you all night. We all noticed. I know, having met you before, that you're as great a catch as he is. So... go off and continue doing what young people do." Now Ben was embarrassed. "Grandma!" "What?" The look on her face was poised to mimic innocence. "I was your age once. I'm beyond tired, so I'm going to bed, but I assume this beautiful woman has a room of her own." She finished by winking at Elise. "She does, Grandma. We'll let you get some sleep." They were headed for the door when Ben's grandmother called Elise. "Cara has always told me nice things about you, dear. Here's something sweet for a sweet young lady." She handed Elise an individually wrapped Biscoff cookie. In slight shock, Elise thanked Ben's grandmother and followed him into the hallway. Once again, the two of them settled away from the door they had just exited. Elise held up the cookie in amazement. "This is from the plane... You saved this for your grandmother." "I did. I apologize for not offering one to you. They're her favorite." "No need. This is going to sound funny, but at the time I thought you were saving your cookies for your girlfriend. I guess this is confirmation that you don't have one." She leaned up and kissed him as soon as those words left her lips. There was one problem with Elise's statement. The truth was that Ben did have a girlfriend. * Thanks again for reading A Degree of C Ch. 03! You now know that Ben has a HUGE secret he needs to reveal to Elise. But can he be honest- and not lose her? Even I'm in suspense. As you might have noticed, I was able to get this chapter out faster. Very excited about that!! Check the notes section on my profile for updates regarding this story's progress. I will give you a heads-up on when you can expect the next update to be posted. -LSE A Degree of C Ch. 04 Chapter 4 of A Degree of C is ready for you to read! I apologize for the delay. Let me know if you enjoy it as much as the previous chapters by leaving a rating and/or comment below. -LSEiland * An hour's worth of sleep was not the amount Ben wanted to start his day on, but would have to be enough to get him through everything he had planned. The alarm clock to his left read 5:00 A.M. Having envisioned ending his night with Elise by his side, waking up alone was a huge disappointment. The kiss Elise planted on him in the hallway outside his hotel room was her way of softening the blow when she cut their night short. Elise made it clear that approval from Ben's grandmother was not enough to convince her to invite him back to her suite. Continuing to replay the night as he lay shirtless in bed, Ben thought about how his body had begun to crave Elise's touch. Her presence did something indescribable to his senses. As hard as waiting may be, this window of time gave him an opportunity to end his current relationship. That admission made him feel like an asshole. Ben groaned deeply and stared at the ceiling as he thought about his predicament. One woman had been on his mind this weekend, but it wasn't Sophie, his girlfriend of two years. Sophie was a talented fashion photographer. She and Ben met at a party held during a snowstorm on one of his regular trips to NYC. Tony had convinced his friend to brave the weather to hang with him and a few clients that were snowed-in. Playing wingman, Tony repaid Ben's generosity by setting him up with the woman he pegged as "hottest" in the room. Ben had not expected much from their introduction, but was eventually susceptible to Sophie's aggressive courting. Her carefree nature ensured that their relationship remained lively and unpredictable, but a deeper connection was missing. Ben spent more of the last three months figuring out a drama-free way for them to part ways than actually missing Sophie when she was halfway around the world at some swanky editorial shoot. Convincing himself that the distance between New York and Amsterdam would soften the heaviness of his words, Ben retrieved his iPhone from the nightstand and dialed Sophie's number. He double-checked that his grandmother, thankfully a perpetual early riser, was not in the room, just before she picked up on the third ring. "Hello?" "Hey, Sophie- it's Ben." Keeping his voice even was a challenge. "Hey! I know you've been beyond busy this weekend; it's good to hear your voice." Her warmth radiated through the phone and instantly made this call difficult for him. "Yours too... Listen..." Ben said with trepidation. "Uh, oh...sentences that start with 'listen' are never good. Did something happen during the wedding?" The inflection in her voice signaled that she was anxiously awaiting his reply. Was Sophie referring to something happening between him and another woman? Instead of seizing the opportunity to deliver his bad news, Ben treaded lightly. "My sister got married without any mishaps," he said, gripping the phone tighter in response to some anxiety of his own. "Good. I'll be home in a week, can what's on your mind wait until then?" Sophie sounded determined to deal with the subject of Ben's call at a later date. Definitely not, Ben declared internally. In his mind, he blurted out the good-intention-laced break-up speech he had rehearsed. "Yeah... yeah, it can wait." Ben tugged lightly as he ran his left hand through his hair in exasperation. He desperately wanted a clean slate with Elise. Sophie stood in the way of that, but he was certain she deserved better than to be dumped via phone or text. "Awesome! I have to get ready for my next shoot, but I'll call you tonight when I get back to my hotel." Goodbyes were traded as the two ended their conversation. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Two floors up and three hours later, Elise was busy packing in lieu of returning home in four hours. She had woken up refreshed after a decent night's sleep. Ben being her first thought this morning was not a surprise. He had managed to hijack her weekend, but Elise would not change anything that transpired between them here in New York. Their present city puzzled Elise when she thought about the future. Could their opulent surroundings, and the love that radiated from Cara and Marco, have influenced the amorous moments they shared? Elise was hovering over her carry-on bag, trying to find ample space for a pair of tan wedge sandals, when she was struck still after hearing a knock at the door. Her heart had been put through the ringer since she met Ben. It had raced, skipped a few beats, and now felt like it had outright stopped as she wondered who was behind the knocks emanating from the living room door. Curiosity kicked in and led her to the suite's entrance, where she eagerly peeked through the peephole. There was only one gorgeous face that could heat Elise's body deliciously. As much as she wanted to grant Ben entry, Elise was content on ogling him as he remained oblivious to her presence. The biting of her bottom lip was solely in response to that slick blonde hair and those thin lips she was already addicted to kissing. Elise must have lingered a little too long because a megawatt smile spread across Ben's face as he now glared knowingly into the peephole. Accepting that she had been busted, Elise opened the door slowly. Her wary smile was greeted by the reassured smirk Ben proudly displayed as he wished her a good morning and entered the room. Gaining entry into Elise's hotel suite was a big step for the man who was hoping to someday share a bed with this beautiful woman. His mind frequently settled on sex when Elise was near him, but a committed relationship is what Ben was already certain he wanted to build with her. Spying a huge plastic bag and inhaling a mouthwatering aroma, Elise closed the door and hastily made her way toward Ben, who now stood beside the dining table. He winked at her just before her eyes trailed down to follow his hands. They were busy unpacking take-out containers. "My grandmother was right; I watched you- quite unabashedly, yesterday." Ben took his focus off what he was doing to take in Elise's expression. She tried to hide a tight smile. "One of the things I noticed was that you didn't eat much at the reception." He sat down at the table, silently prompting her to take a seat across from him. Elise settled into her seat with something on her mind. "Now that you mention it, I haven't been very hungry lately." "Hunger is a funny thing. As much as I love food, it hasn't been able to satiate my true desire this weekend." Ben's actions remained halted as he used his magnetic stare to pour meaning into Elise's bright brown eyes. He wanted her to realize that she had been his sole craving all weekend. This classified as another moment where Elise could barely endure being at the receiving end of a look so suggestive. The intent of his words and unquestionable determination in his piercing green eyes made the muscles centered between her legs tighten in response. Elise needed to break the sexual tension in the room before she redirected her curiosity and dragged him into the bedroom of the suite for a round of lovemaking that she had already imagined to be incredible. "Well, whatever you've brought is definitely awakening my appetite." She rested her hands on the container he had placed in front of her and looked over at Ben with an innocent grin. "May I?" "Go for it." He laughed as her eyes widened once she had gotten a glimpse of what was hiding under the lid. "Ben, this looks delicious. Why do I sense there's a story behind this meal?" said Elise, gazing expectantly into the container. "I don't know how much Cara has shared with you about our childhood here, but we basically grew up on this breakfast. Every Sunday, our parents would treat us to these giant buttermilk waffles." "Nice try, but even giant is an understatement. I hope you don't expect me to finish this by myself." Elise's look signified that she was truly thinking about how she could possibly make that happen. "Actually, I was hoping you would share. I've got half a ham and cheese omelet and hash browns for you, if you're interested." Ben cocked his eyebrows twice. "Mmm... deal!" As if she needed more encouragement after being promised cheesy eggs and seasoned potatoes. The two proceeded to divvy up their breakfast and munch happily, engaging in conversation between each scrumptious bite. - - - - - - - - - - Ben thought about how much he enjoyed talking to Elise. There was an air of effortlessness to communicating with her that he had not been privy to with any other mate. He was leaning back in his chair, listening to Elise downplay missing the chance to venture around New York City because she had been attending to bridezilla Cara, when he decided to offer his tour guide services once again. "So stay." "What?" Just vacating the table, Elise made her way to the adjacent picture window. Her eyes surveyed the beautiful canopy of trees that encompassed Central Park. "Stay one more day. We can go wherever you want. I'll even introduce you to a few hidden gems in this city. At no point will you be bored, I promise." Ben's last words replayed over again in Elise's head. Spending a magical day in New York City from his perspective would be ideal, but she knew it was time to return to Chicago. And time to face the reality of her fresh break-up with Vincent. Closing the space between them was Ben's strategy for emphasizing the uniqueness of what he was offering; the two of them, left to explore anything on a whim. Contemplation was evident in Elise's reflection as Ben stood behind her. Her eyes were still focused on the view while his searched her face for a hint to a final decision. The warmth radiating from Ben's close proximity knocked Elise out of her thoughtful state and back into, unfortunately for him, travel-mode. "What time is it?!" It was now his reflection that held her attention. "A quarter after nine." "Shit!" She turned and gave him a heartfelt smile. "Spending the day with you sounds great, Ben. But-" "You need to get home. Say no more... I understand." Happy he understood, but slightly sad he didn't opt to change her mind, she made him an offer, "Rain check?" "Absolutely, but you should know I will hold you to that." She nodded, seemingly OK with owing him one. "What time is your flight?" "Noon, which means I have to say bye to you so I can finish packing." Ben casually offered his assistance. Realizing this moment was leading to their first legitimate goodbye after professing their feelings this weekend, most of them being nonverbal, Elise made little of the duties she had left and escorted him to the door. Sensing Ben was about to lean in for a pivotal kiss, she thanked him for breakfast and then retreated to the bedroom of the suite. Elise decided that distance was best because a relationship with Cara's brother would never translate once they returned to Chicago. Lingering at the suite's door, Ben quickly gauged whether he should trail behind her for a proper goodbye or let this stage of their budding relationship end here. Not wanting to overstep any boundaries, he reluctantly exited Elise's hotel suite. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Returning to Chicago was going almost too smoothly for Elise. Secured into her window seat for the flight home, she recalled her silly reasoning for the middle seat to her right being empty so close to takeoff. Elise was sure that Ben, most likely with information from Cara, had found a way to surprise her. While the gesture would have been utterly romantic, her hopes were dashed when an edgy teenage girl sporting peacock-hued hair plopped into the seat. Elise convinced herself, once again, that distance was best. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Terminal 3 of O'Hare Airport was familiar territory for Elise. Normally, she would make a beeline for the Blue Line. Today, however, gift shops were a big draw. Buying a touristy refrigerator magnet inside LGA reminded Elise that although a souvenir was purchased during out-of-town trips, she owned nothing that represented the city she loved more than any other. Elise walked into a shop that showcased a wide selection of refrigerator magnets on revolving displays. She carefully examined each variety until she found one that was worthy of hanging amongst her favorite pictures and the other magnets she had collected over the years. Spotting one that highlighted the Chicago skyline with a sparkly view of Lake Michigan, she grabbed it and headed for the register. "Hi, will this be all for you today?" a friendly saleswoman asked as she accepted the item from Elise and initiated the transaction. "This is it, yes," answered Elise, eyes focused on finding her wallet in the massive black leather purse she had bought solely for traveling. "OK, your total is $4.26. Will this be cash or charge?" The woman busily wrapped and bagged the item while awaiting an answer. "Charge." The right word was uttered to the cashier, but the voice didn't belong to Elise. The attention of both women was diverted to a man whose presence had gone unnoticed. Though he had only spoken one word, Elise had no doubt the voice belonged to Ben before seeking confirmation. An attempt to verify her hunch was blocked when he leaned forward to hand his credit card to the cashier. Giddy at this handsome man's sentiment and the sight of a visibly flustered Elise, the woman didn't hesitate to process the transaction. This glimpse of Ben purchasing a keepsake for her, like he did it all the time, was special for Elise. Maybe this can work. Once the sale was complete, a small bag and receipt was handed to Ben. "For you," Ben finally faced Elise and, with an endearing grin, gave her the bag. "Thanks, Ben," Elise managed to mutter after such an overwhelmingly-sweet shocker. She accepted his gift, retrieved her carry-on luggage from the floor, and headed out of the store. Ben trailed behind Elise, eyes fixated on how great her ass and swaying hips looked in a pair of mint skinny jeans. Her lead didn't last very long; she stopped a few feet from the store with one intention. Curious, but also semi-sure he knew what to expect, Ben halted in front of Elise in anticipation. - - - - - - - - - - The idea to return home sooner than planned was an early conception. He knew she would suspect his surprise was due to the urging of his sister, but the idea solely belonged to Ben. Cara's best-friend-status was only handy when it came to securing the pertinent information needed to carry out his plan. Able to snag a seat on a plane that arrived twenty minutes before Elise's flight landed, Ben headed to the airport shortly after leaving her hotel room. He speedily made his way to her plane's awaiting gate in Terminal 3 after touching down at ORD. Wanting to be discovered, but hoping to use the element of surprise to his advantage, Ben settled onto a stool nestled in a corner at an adjacent restaurant in the concourse. Ben was nursing a Coke when he spotted Elise. He unconsciously put the drink down and leaned forward, elbows and arms folded on the table in front of him. This immediate pull was something Ben had felt from the moment he met her. Attentively watching as Elise maneuvered through the other travelers in the concourse, one thought plagued Ben's mind: She's too good for me. His reference was to Elise's beauty and spirit, but Ben didn't have time to ruminate on his feelings because she was now making her way toward him. Once again Ben perked up, waiting to see if Elise would recognize him while passing by. The two were a foot apart when her path took a different direction. Puzzled at what caused her to suddenly veer to the left, Ben picked up his belongings and traced Elise's steps. He spotted her through the glass windows of a gift shop and knew exactly what to do when she stepped toward the register. - - - - - - - - - - It was clear to Elise that Ben was in memory-mode. What was on Ben's mind interested her, but repaying his generosity was more important. Regaining Ben's attention was done through touch. Elise reached for his right hand and softly coasted her thumb back and forth along his wrist until her ministrations registered with him. She knew they had when Ben maneuvered his hand around to capture hers and interlock their fingers. "I lost you for a minute." Elise felt no shame in bringing the daydreaming to his attention. "Not really. Just thinking about what it took to get here, and why I'm here." Ben squeezed her hand while the word "why" slipped out of his mouth. Having a hunch someone flew hundreds of miles just to be with her, and then knowing for sure, was the catalyst to one of the most amazing natural highs Elise had ever experienced. Abandoning her normal instinct to let the man make the first move, Elise used their joined hand to pull Ben close. Her initiation of this embrace met with no objection from Ben. Eager to follow Elise's lead for a second time, he connected with her for a kiss that was sure to slow even the most jaded traveler's stride. - - - - - - - - - - Hours before, Ben hoped his actions would be well-received by Elise. Holding hands and feeling himself being coaxed closer to her body was already better than the greeting he imagined during his flight. A bashful smile and sweet salutation was replaced with a display of affection that was tender, backed with confidence, and rivaled his spontaneity. If Ben had to use one word to describe this moment, "sensory" would work perfectly. The softness of her small hand in his grasp, coupled with the aggressiveness of her other hand easing him closer, captured his attention and flipped the switch on his arousal. This is unlike the Elise I was introduced to a few days ago. Ben's mind took a quick note of the contradiction between the woman he assumed Elise was, and the woman he was actively discovering her to be. Not that I'm complaining. Instead of going straight for the kiss, Ben was treated to playful teasing from this unpredictable woman. Stopping short of her plump summery pink-painted lips, Elise took what seemed like an excruciatingly long upward gaze into Ben's eyes. His level of desire was being tested. Unable to pretend like this opportunity for intimacy didn't occur hours later than he had hoped to wait, Ben shifted his focus to her lips. It became obvious to him that Elise was pleased they were a distraction. Watching them curl upward in amusement was Ben's last sight before her lips made heavenly contact. The warmth of Elise's mouth and the faint taste of strawberry bubblegum was almost his undoing. Keeping in mind that they were in public, Ben rated this smooch as seductive enough to convey her happiness to have him on her turf. - - - - - - - - - - "Come home with me." Their reunion kiss had barely been broken when Ben let forth a suggestive outburst; four words representative of more spontaneity. Instead of quickly giving Ben an answer, Elise's inviting embrace turned cold. Of course... this typical guy assumed an airport surprise would certainly get me into bed with him. The hand gripping his shirt was in the process of pushing him away, when Ben caught wind of her displeasure with his forthrightness. "Hey... not like that." He instinctively used both hands to brace her elbows in an attempt to stress his point- and keep her from leaving. "I just want to show you something." An unwavering glare was thrown at Ben. I know what you want to show me. The fact that she wanted to see it didn't matter. A Degree of C Ch. 04 An unfiltered chuckle tore through Ben. "I love how you just came on to me with a kiss that I found to be sexy as hell, but I'm suddenly a pervert who's only here to get you in bed." Another hearty chuckle followed this quip. Elise was speechless. Ben was right, that moment was all her. "You've heard a lot about me over the years; I just want the opportunity to share my passion with you," When his choice of words kept her silent, Ben tried a different approach, "I promise not to let you have your way with me again; my sister wouldn't like that." Not able to resist laughing at Ben's sense of humor, another undeniably sexy trait of his, Elise wriggled out of his grasp and reclaimed her belongings. Looking back at him, she said just two words, "Let's go." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ A few minutes alone in a living room can tell you a lot about the owner of the residence. The choice to flank a dark brown microsuede sectional sofa with two vintage brown leather club chairs meant that Ben wanted masculinity to be represented in everything he touched. Placing the furniture in front of a large curtainless divided window relayed his degree of comfort with the idea of being watched. A bachelor proudly displaying a plethora of candid photos with friends and family in an Elise-sized picture frame indicated something simple: Ben was sentimental. He is outwardly sentimental, actually. Elise thought about how foreign this notion was to her, and how, most likely, that was due to her upbringing. The juxtaposition of his unmistakably manly exterior with the ability to wear his heart on his sleeve in most instances had Elise starving for more revelations. Insufficiently able to get a good enough look from her vantage point, a sitting position on the sectional's ottoman, she migrated over to the massive collage that was even more impressive up close. Besides the aforementioned shots that seemed to span at least a decade, Ben featured images taken both nationally and abroad. Ben likes to travel. "We have that in common." The five words were uttered aloud to no one, but Elise heard herself being questioned immediately by Ben. "What do we have in common?" Ben reentered the living room with the soda Elise had requested from an offer he made before retreating to another part of the loft. Reaching her position in front of his encapsulated memories, Ben handed Elise a tall frosted tumbler that held ice cold ginger ale. Instead of staving off the evidence of him startling her by taking a quick sip, Elise replied while shifting her focus back to a picture of a high school-aged Ben and Cara making goofy faces on a tropical beach. "What makes you think I was referring to you? There are lots of people posted on this print." A few random faces were pointed to as she wittily argued her point. "Because as much as that's true, I know that I'm, ultimately, the one you would treasure any commonality with." "Treasure? I didn't realize how you conceited you were." "I'm not vain- just thinking about the tables being turned. If I were looking at your photos, your face is the only one I'd notice." Ugh, the game this man has is ridiculous. An eye roll was tossed Ben's way. "Too much? I'll admit- that was a line." Smirking, he added, "But... it's a line that is not far from the truth. It's obvious that I think you're beautiful." Her action was to be taken as playful, but she was flattered by his honesty. Intending to keep the nature of her visit light, Elise shifted his focus. "You and I seem to share a love of traveling. The pictures you've chosen are quite beautiful." "Nice segue- and subject change." The need for the transition was obvious, and absolutely fine with Ben, but he just had to ask Elise a pointed question. "Am I making you nervous?" "Not at all; I was just answering your previous question." He knows that's a fib, Elise. Speaking of subject changes, Elise had one more to make. "So... I think it's time you tell me why I'm here." "OK, but it's something that has to be seen to be appreciated." Ben motioned for Elise to hand him her cup. Once she did, he told her to follow him. Along the way, the drink was placed on a reclaimed wood dining table. Elise noted its beauty, but refrained from making a comment. Venturing back to the only part of the loft that seemed to be completely sectioned off, Elise speculated on what its contents, Ben's passion, could possibly be. Unable to come up with anything remotely feasible on the fly, she decided to stop trying. Entering the room ahead of Elise, Ben promptly stepped aside to take in her reaction. While not necessarily able to deduce her exact thought, he was happy to silently watch her darting eyes take in every inch of the space. "It smells so good in here." Inhaling a woodsy scent while walking past Ben, Elise lightly ran her hand over the back of a sleekly designed wood dining chair, "Did you make every piece of wood furniture in the loft?" "I did." Ben leaned against the front of a desk he had finished days before leaving for New York on Thursday. Impressing her with his woodworking skills brought him great joy. Whenever he needed to relieve stress, or just secure some me-time, working in this studio was Ben's individual form of solace. "Everything in here is gorgeous and well-made. You're incredibly talented, Ben; how long..." Elise finished the question, but her voice seemed to grow silent to Ben's ears as his eyes followed her feminine form around the workroom. Every piece was personal to Ben. Gliding her smooth right hand across the furniture he had built by his lonesome was triggering impure thoughts. Starting chastely at his approval of her breezy cream silk blouse, fitted mint skinny jeans and multi-colored beaded sandals, things took a turn for the racy when he began to imagine the clothing coming off. What style of bra and panties are hiding under that ensemble? Is Elise the type that likes to model lingerie for her boyfriend? Would watching her shimmy out of a tight skimpy thong reveal a bare pussy? "My grandfather made a woodworker out of me at a young age, starting at seven or so." Being able to answer Elise's question despite the lure of his prurient curiosity was quite a feat. Settling atop the desk Ben was leaning against, Elise made a declaration and observation, "I now understand the passion comment, and agree with you. A lot of heart and soul has gone into what you've built with your hands, Ben." Leaning to her right, she pulled his left hand into her lap and immediately took inventory of a couple rough patches that had previously escaped her scrutiny. "These are definitely not the hands of a man who trades stocks for a living. How did I miss that?" "Hmm... I assume you missed them because other discoveries registered higher on the stimulation scale." Smiling bashfully as she gingerly rubbed a small callous on the lower left region of his palm, Elise replied, "You're probably right." A moment of silence, and possibly contemplation on both their parts, passed between Elise and Ben. The only audible sound was a passing car heard through an open casement window that Ben must have opened while Elise was lingering in the living room. Not wanting to break the silence but knowing it was time to head home, Elise released Ben's hand and regained a standing position. Reading her body language and citing his observance of the setting sun as they sat together, Ben thanked Elise for stopping by and offered her a ride home. Twelve hours ago, Elise managed her feelings for Ben without much resistance. An exhibition of thoughtfulness and a glimpse into his home life undid the wall she was beginning to build. If someone inquired about her feelings in this moment, she would divulge her happiness for them to spend extra time together during the drive. Not surprisingly, Elise accepted Ben's offer. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Sitting in the passenger seat with Ben behind the wheel differed greatly from the thirty minutes Elise spent seated next to him in the back of a cab. The distance between them was about the same, but subtracting the third party heightened the intimacy created by their proximity. Comparing and contrasting the two situations held Elise's focus for a quarter of the ride. An observer might find something wrong with the silence but should be rest assured that, though quiet, Ben and Elise were both thinking about each other. Ben's vehicle-of-choice pulled Elise away from analyzing today's time with the insanely good looking man to her left. Flashy sports cars were stereotypically fancied by his peers. Not Ben. The "creative" inside him chose to cut through the city in a metallic silver Jeep Patriot. Sleek and stylish was replaced by this rugged and roomy SUV. The only resemblance to something remotely white-collar was the high-quality gray leather that the interior was bathed in. Driving along Lake Shore Drive while sneaking more peeks of Elise than the day he met her, Ben wondered how the night would end. His vow that ensured she would be comfortable alone with him meant that he should probably forgo a goodbye kiss before they parted for the final time today. Already enslaved by Elise's kisses, letting her go without indulging in another was an unsettling thought; especially because the next time they would see each other again was still unknown. Before thinking about his predicament, Ben had clocked Elise contently looking at the various people enjoying themselves on the beaches as calm waves lapped against the shoreline on this warm summer night. There was no doubt she missed this sight while visiting New York. As the SUV merged onto the off-ramp, a smirk was observed on Elise's face. "Should I guess what you find so amusing? A few creative scenarios have already come to mind." Ben winked at her to silently convey his curiosity, and willingness, to engage in playful banter as they neared her home. Elise was unable to ditch the smirk. "If by creative you're referring to something that involves flexibility, sorry but you're ahead of yourself." "Flexibility? That visual is going to keep me up tonight," Ben retorted after a long exhale and a grin that represented her comeback sparking his vivid imagination. Instead of continuing to venture down this innuendo-laced road, Elise shared the real reason her smirk was difficult to stifle. "Your possessions don't match your occupation." Ben very briefly took his eyes off the road to search her eyes for meaning behind that statement. She continued before he could form his next verbal prompt. "There's a slight skater chic vibe to the clothing you choose to wear. You live in a loft; the bones of which feature rich wood beams and exposed metal for an industrial appearance. There's a studio in the back where you unleash your creativity... should I go on?" "Is there more?" Ben was taken aback by Elise's attention to detail. "Just what you're driving: a Jeep instead of an Audi or BMW." After a few disagreeable headshakes, he began talking, "I've never been the type to lead with the balance of my bank account. As for my style, my home, and this SUV..." Ben gripped the wheel as he continued to speak, "All that is just representative of who I am." A shoulder shrug accompanied his last sentence. "A modest guy who lives an artsy lifestyle." "Artsy, I'll give you that- but modest? You'd have to live with me to decide if I deserve that label." Elise was not fazed by Ben's terminology. He was right; some things are only evident down the line when a real commitment is made. Making a right hand turn onto Elise's street, Ben eased the car up the block and into an open spot just left of her building's front door. After Ben parked, he looked past her to admire the intricate architecture and speculate on which condo was hers. He was about to ask, but was interrupted by Elise. "Thank you for today. I'm not certain that you leaving your friends to spend these extra hours with me was worthwhile, but I'm glad you took that leap and shared something so personal with me." "Between the two of us, I can already tell you're the modest one." Ben had to come clean about an unshared proposal he kept to himself after deeming it silly. "Every little bit of time I get to spend with you is so enjoyable that it was imperative I fly home today. The kicker is that I considered asking you to spend the night at my place- just because these uninterrupted moments have made me a greedy man." Bewilderment registered with Elise and, unfortunately, the emotion was impossible to hide from Ben. Surely a move like that was too much too soon. Right? She wasn't necessarily sure, but something about that confession reminded her of why the need for distance crossed occasionally her mind. Hoping he wouldn't take her sudden action the wrong way, Elise thanked Ben once again. Shortly after, they both exited the car and met at the trunk where Ben retrieved her luggage and remained a perfect gentleman. A kiss was replaced with a warm hug before Elise made her way up the sidewalk to her front stairs. Halfway to the door, the light in Elise's condo was turned on. Knowing that her ex-boyfriend Vincent still had her spare key, her heart dropped and her stride slowed significantly before coming to a complete halt just shy of the bottom step. Not ready to throw away the clear headspace she gained while being away for the weekend, Elise looked behind her to make sure Ben was still there. He was. Ben had returned to the Jeep and was watching her, at first, only to make sure she entered the building safely. Her standstill caused him some confusion and revived his attention. Besides being a guy you've only known for three days, Ben is Cara's brother; he's been an absolute gentlemen. Crashing at his place is unconventional so early on, but you can trust him; deep down, you know that. That pep talk was quick, but enough for Elise to turn around and quickly make her way back to Ben's SUV. Before he could make an attempt to exit the car to assist Elise with her bag, she gestured for him to remain seated and pointed at the trunk. He popped the trunk and took note of how fast she stowed her bag and hopped back inside the vehicle with him. Once she was secured for the return ride to his loft, he asked her an important three-word question. "Are you sure?" "Yes," Elise assured Ben. "A night at your place would be ideal right now." * This chapter wasn't the easiest to write (the complete opposite of ADC Ch. O3). Hopefully that struggle birthed an engaging chapter that makes you want to stick around for the answer to an important question: Is going home with Ben the right decision? Feel free to comment or leave feedback (about anything regarding the story), your opinions and speculation makes this fun. -LSE A Degree of Shame "Sir," she smiled affectionately, as she walked into the room and curtseyed gently to show her respect and appreciation. "I've been thinking about you and wondering how you are?" "Hey you," he responded, looking up wearily from the paperwork on his desk and trying to respond in kind, his forced smile looking extremely wan. She approached him cautiously, unsure of his mood. "I'm sorry to see that you look rather overworked, sir." "Not as sorry as I am," he said putting his pen down and considering her appreciatively. "Do you have no room for the realms of the sensational then?" "Not really right now and that's a shame." "They do say that a little shame never did anyone too much bad." "I suppose that really depends on what the shame is for." "True enough, though does not the duration of the shame have a role to play, sir?" "Explain yourself pet." "Well. Telling a friend she reminded me of Godzilla was my second biggest shame this week. It didn't last too long." "Why not?" "I found another shame to occupy me." "Do tell?" "I found myself falling about laughing helplessly afterwards." "Did you indeed?" "Yes sir. That was my biggest shame." "You are such a silly slut, girl." "It was just a moment of half-remembered silliness to lighten your frown." "Indeed" "You approve?" "I do," he nodded and looked back down at the papers before him. "Am I disturbing your peace?" "No. You are a most welcome distraction." "I wouldn't want to get in the way of your many exciting exploits this afternoon." "I doubt that I will realise many," he laughed. "Then, allow me to exaggerate then, if only to praise you." "Alright, I can certainly do that." "That's most obliging of you, sir" "Of course." "Not necessarily - I would never take your affability for granted." He grunted and picked up his pen to cross through a line of thinly spaced verbiage. "Nor would I take your grunting for affability, come to think of it," she beamed at him and sat on the corner of his desk, looking down at him as he continued to work on half-heartedly. "What do you mean by that, girl?" "Pay no mind to me, sir. I'm just being playful to help your afternoon progress with greater élan in the hope that you may be able to slay more dragons as a result." "It's true that I do have a few chores that need doing." "If you leave them, they might get done all by themselves, like the good little creatures they are." "Oh don't I wish!" "Wishes do sometimes come true." "I doubt the one in my head right now will though." "A mission impossible before you head for your local bar for liquid refreshment and Friday evening entertainment?" "Perhaps," he shrugged "Best to delay it: you should never try to do impossible things after luncheon." "Why ever not?" "It may be bad for the indigestion," she giggled softly. "I'll keep that in mind," he grinned back at her. "You do that sir. I wouldn't want you throwing up the contents of that soup tureen all over the shop." "You offer me such delectable images to conjure with," he sighed unhappily, crossing through another set of figures. "Perhaps you should be left to engage with your demons, sir," she said thoughtfully and made to remove herself from the corner of his desk. "Which demons are you referring to?" "Your many vexatious missions and chores." "I'll do my best to get them done in due course." "I have every faith in you, sir." "I'm glad someone does." "You sound slightly down?" "A little" "Is there anything I can do to raise your spirits?" "I really don't know," he shrugged. "I don't want to trouble you." "It really is no trouble. It pleases me to be of service to you, should you so desire it." "That's very generous of you." "The generosity is all yours." "How do you work that out, pet?" "I belong to you, do I not, sir?" "That you do." "And sharing your belongings to give pleasure may be viewed as generous, may it not? "I appreciate your deliciously, circuitous logic pet." "I appreciate you without reservation, sir." "You have a most playful disposition that makes you good company and lifts the spirits." "I'm glad that you feel that way." "I like to feel you close," he smiled and placed a hot hand on her upper thigh. "Very possessive, sir: I like that." "Very malleable pet: I like that too." "You take your time, sir." "I shall, pet." "I really appreciate the way you do not try to ram yourself down my throat, the way most males of my passing acquaintance do or seem to want to do." "You have to beg nicely before I start ramming pet." "Do I detect a twitch below the belt sir?" "Only if you continue to press your hand in the region of my groin," he grinned. "At least that is pleasantly distracting for you." "I cannot deny that." "You are such a gentleman, sir." "I can be. I can also be a very rude man." "I'll bet you in a rude rage is a very funny sight." "Don't be so sure." "One can never be too sure. I do, as a rule, find obscenities gratuitous and boorish, sir." "I'll note that since I can be pretty profane myself at work at least." "Really?" "Really - I work with idiots." "Is that very frustrating, sir?" "Incredibly!" "Would a massage be a pleasant diversion from such frustration?" "I've never tried that at work anyway." "I wouldn't want to lead you to rush to the washroom, sir." "And do what in the washroom?" "Wash your arousal away - sublimate your soup - make yourself presentable -- drag me in there to fuck me... the choices are limited - but on the whole real." "Some of them are certainly quite appealing," he laughed and reached out to stroke her hand. "I'm glad that I took the shadows from your mind or at least alleviated them a little." "That service is always appreciated." "Yes sir," she smiled and curtseyed again. He bowed his head briefly in acknowledgement, but looked puzzled as she turned away, catching hold of her wrist. "You wanted something more sir?" "I want to know why you are turning away." "So you can admire me in profile, of course." "You have a lovely profile." "I only offer you a lovely profile, sir. It is yours to have." "For the moment, I'm quite content to study your profile." "I believe such pleasant reveries are permitted under even your austere rules, sir, but might I ask you something?" "Ask away." "Would kneeling improve the profile?" "I do believe it would." "Then you may consider it done, as soon as I can find a clear space amongst your piles of books, sir." "Excuses, always excuses," he laughed softly. "I know sir. I am such a lame pet." "Yes you are." "There is nothing for it then. I shall have to lean forward to kiss the floor at your feet to show you how regretful I am for delaying your pleasure?" "That is a capital idea." "It appears that the capital in your pants is accumulating interest, sir." "Should you not be considering just the floor as a penance?" "Forgive me: I caught the reflection in the corner of my eye as I carefully positioned myself between the mirror and you." "Why did you do that?" "So you could observe the riding-up of my skirt as I curve my spine to oblige your whim." "Good answer pet. Someone trained you well." "Good trouser snake, sir. Have you trained it well too?" "You are a most intriguing slut." "I am what you desire, but talking of intrigue..." "Do go on," he urged pushing his chair back and allowing his glance to dart between the mirror and her upturned and expectant face. "Do tell me more." "It's intriguing how ones panties seem to stretch to form a second skin when one splays ones thighs in this position, like so." "I have to agree with you there. Your positioning is very interesting indeed." "Was there really a need to lift my skirt and cup my bottom to test out my proposition sir?" "I fear so: they do say that to see is to believe," he laughed and leant forward to smack her behind lightly. "Your belief appears to be asserting itself in the pants department, sir...that is if you will pardon me for lifting my eyes from the floor to observe your arousal." "I think we allow you that, girl, he grinned as he stood up, undid his belt and slid down the zipper. "I will also allow you to have a closer look, a much closer look." "Did you have a destination in mind for your rather splendid member sir?" She almost purred "One or two," he smirked unambiguously. "Would that involve stooping to conquer, sir or would your hand, scrunched in my hair, just signal that I need to raise myself to meet your desire more than halfway?" "Something like that," he confirmed, lifting a hand, fingers combing through her hair carefully. "Even if that means the skirt falling back into its pleated conservative coverage?" "I think all articles of clothing and accessories should be removed before we decide on a course of action." "Even the collar you so kindly offered me sometime back, sir?" "We can keep that on." "And the garter belt and stockings?" "Let's take those off." "As you wish, sir: did you know that it's quite a luxurious feeling to roll each stocking down, while you watch?" "I'm glad you are taking some pleasure in this onerous duty." "How can I do otherwise?" she murmured, kneeling up to unclip her suspenders and reveal a little more of herself that it has pleased him to see in a good while. "Should I caress the bared flesh lovingly on your behalf?" "You may." "It's a good thing my skirt and panties are sitting empty around my ankles then." "Push them aside, while I step out of my pants." "You undress so elegantly sir. Your valet would be proud of you." "You are a teasing minx." "I tease to compensate for the fact that crouching here in just my blouse and brassiere does feel a little louche." "You'll feel a lot more than a little louche by the time I'm done with you pet." "Will I feel a big louche then?" "You will feel the palm of my hand repeatedly on the cusp of your arse if you don't control that smart mouth of yours. Now do as you were told." "Yes sir." "Well?" "You may consider the skirt pushed aside with a dainty(ish) toe and the panties - hoop-la -- tossed up to rest on your desk lamp - leaving me to wonder what my prize will be." "You cannot control yourself, can you pet?" He frowned and stepped out of his pants. "Are you enjoying the sight of thumbs hooking my boxers?" "Your valet has nice thumbs, sir. I can imagine them rotating slowly in the most interesting of places." He said nothing but tugged the boxers down and pushing them aside before walking across and behind her, lifting her up and then bending her forward. "Should I be preparing to be boarded sir?" "Yes, you should," he said tersely as his hands grasped her hips firmly. "Then I shall lean forward to reach out across your desk and consider your paperwork upside down for industrial secrets of a most exciting kind." "You do that," he grunted and grasped his cock at the base, before moving in to tease her very moist slit with the head. "You seem to be back in your element. I do so love it when you light up my life with your masculinity." He pushed forward slowly, his swollen member parting her labia. He groaned as he slid into her, exhaling warm breath that seemed to bounce off her chill flesh. "Mmm," she responded lovingly. "I do so love your insights." He thrust in until her arse was pressed tight to him and then drew his hips back and started to move back and forth at a slow pace, feeling the stretch of her hot, sodden flesh around his expanding length. "Your girth feels quite massive in my tight, little container, sir. Are you trying to fuse me into a trembling ball of uncontrolled emotion?" "Of course...is it working?" he barked sharply as his hips began to piston faster, his hard cock massaging her silken folds with each motion. "Or are you merely fucking me until you come hard?" "That too," he grinned and slapped her bottom hard. "Ouchy! thsat was mean," she squealed. "As is fucking your cunt with no consideration of the consequences?" "What consequences?" He paused bemused, her words having brought back all the teen angst of unwanted pregnancy and unprotected sex, as she had nastily intended. "Your chores," she compromised, "as well as your flies undone..." "There's always tomorrow." "That's my Master. Now do use me like the impossible bitch that I am," she smiled and leant further forward to accentuate the curve of her back for his pleasure. He leant down, his heart pounding in his chest, his stomach pressing against her back, molding neatly into her contours, as he tugged her blouse up and undid the buttons. She squirmed under him, while he tugged the cups of her bra down and stroked the naked flesh, matching the squeezing action to each stroke of his cock. "Such a nice green baize," she muttered conscientiously. "I do hope my perspiration does no lasting damage." "Don't worry about that, girl," he growled and nipped at her shoulder as he penetrated deeper, the balls of her feet almost lifting off the floor when he slid the full length into her sopping sheath. "Are you going to launch into some brazen language to turn me to jelly, sir?" "Like saying how fucking tight you are and how I want to fuck you so hard your body shape is pressed into the desk?" "That would be the Anglo-Saxon jist of the matter, sir. Are you going to fuck your cum slut until she begs for even more?" He grasped her hair and pulled her head back towards him, meeting her lips in a long kiss, while she wormed her hand between her legs until she was in a position to cup his balls and caress his thrusting member? He tugged at her, wanting her to beg for more, to scream for relief, until she could not help herself. Yes! He wanted her to press back so that he slid into her deeper than any man before him, the sheer lust building until he could not help himself but had to spank her to make her scream with explosive desire. And having warmed her arse well, his fingers scratched down her back, making his mark there too as her hands clenched and unclenched, while the fucking continued unabated. He wanted her to know that she would remember the way he used her and took his pleasure in her. He bit her ear lobe softly as he reached around to grab her breasts, squeezing them, and molding them. This was the way to relieve his frustrations. This was how to bring himself a new lease of energy. Yes. He would use her well, as he pumped his seed into her cunt, down her gullet and, should it so please him, wherever else he might wish to spurt his need. He pressed down hard with his hips, fingers pinching her nipples. She sensed the moment and held tight, unmoving as he released within her, listening to him breathing hard in her ear and feeling the tumescence ease within her. "Oh my...have you cum in me sir?" "I do believe I have." "You appear to have left me exhausted, damp with your secretions and fucked beyond my wildest expectations." "Oh my...you are a nasty girl." "Yes sir. I am when you need me to be." "A girl that likes to be used is always fun." "A girl that likes to be fun is occasionally used if she is lucky." "True enough" "Yes sir," she conceded and put her hand of her arm, looking at him quietly. "How's the need sir?" "Much better now, thank you." "Assuaged?" He nodded in confirmation. "Is the mood improved?" "Yes indeed." "I am very glad that I have been of some small service," she asserted as she knelt once more to clean his cock off in her mouth before leaving him to his considerations. "May your afternoon be unambiguously wonderful, sir." "Thank you...yours too," he smiled, watching her lean forward to kiss the floor at his feet, gather her scattered clothing. He raised his hand limply and waggled his fingers in a silent farewell as she backed away slowly, closed the door softly and left him to muse on peacefully, without even the hint of a degree of shame.