Those Black Roses. Joyce Zeledonis
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Simon offered her his arm again and took ahold of it like it was natural.
“Nichole and I are going out after this.” Gabriel was smiling, showing off his teeth. He was in his glory.
“Oh, well, that’s good,” Simon stated. “I am going to bed after this, and I’m sure Elizabeth is not going anywhere either. We are not young anymore. Like you two.”
“Are you staying with your father?” Nichole asked, winking at her.
“Yes, I am staying with my father.” Elizabeth wished she would stop winking at her. She was not planning anything after this. She was ready to sleep, nothing else.
“I sold him that unit, I take you back.” Simon smiled as she looked at him. “I live there myself.”
He wanted to take her back. It was getting hot tonight, she thought. She suddenly needed air and had to take a deep breath. This night was going to be interesting, and she had to fight off this crazy feeling for him. She didn’t want to end up in bed with him yet. Oh, why was she thinking like that? She suddenly stopped drinking the wine.
She had to stop this craziness before it got the best of her.
Then Gabriel was talking to Nichole, and Nichole was smiling at him. Young love. It was nice to see that Nichole was interested in a man with his head on his shoulders.
“My brother sure likes your half sister,” he stated as they walked to the table where the food was laid out.
“Nichole sure likes him.” She was not hungry. Her stomach was in a knot, but she released him arm to take some carrots. She needed to eat something, with the wine.
“Yes.” He did not seem interested in the food; he was just staring at her. “Him and her. You and I.”
Oh, she thought, looking away from him. She did not know what to say to him. She was so tongue-tied, and she was so sharp in court when it mattered.
“What would you say if I asked you out on a date?” he asked, making her look at him in surprise.
“I thought I was not your type of woman.” She had to say it. She kissed him last time. Did she want to get involved with him? She was so confused about this. Isabell was a model, blond, with blue eyes.
“Elizabeth, what is my type of woman?” he asked, smiling, showing off his dimples.
She was digging herself in a hole, and it was getting too deep.
“You don’t know, do you?” He offered his arm. “I know what you look like. You look pretty damn sexy in that dress.”
“Oh, I know what I look like.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. She didn’t know if she wanted to take his arm again. “You just surprised me.”
“Well.” He wanted an answer, but he added, “You can take my arm, Elizabeth. I am not going to hurt you. I just want to get to know you.”
“I don’t know.” She had to say it. “I have been divorced from Richard only six months.”
“So.” He turned to her. She was not following him, and she looked worried. What did Richard do to her to make her doubt herself?
“I am not Richard,” he said loudly and clearly, and he was angry. But not at her. He wanted to find Richard and rip his head off.
He was frowning, and she suddenly wanted to leave. Walk away from this. She was scared to love; there was fear in her soul. This man made her feel alive and beautiful.
“I don’t want to be rude to you,” she said, quickly licking her dry lips. Her heart was racing; her blood was on fire.
“I will be rude and just kiss you in front everyone,” he stated loudly. “I kissed you the last time. You enjoyed it, or did you forget?”
“I did not forget,” she whispered, glancing around slowly, but no one was paying any attention. The crowd was enjoying the food and the wine.
“I admired from you afar,” he stated, softly calming himself down. He could not let her walk away this time. “We were both married, and they cheated on us, but I would not dare cheat on anyone.”
“I don’t think this is a good idea.” She was walking backward slowly. She almost bumped into someone as Simon took ahold of her arms, stopping her from moving.
Chills danced on her skin from his touch, and his scent was intoxicating.
“Simon, I…I can’t go out with you.” Her voice was trembling, and she was having trouble concentrating.
“Elizabeth, you are a very beautiful woman with your head on your shoulders,” he whispered, pulling her closer to him. He wanted to assure her, not make her walk away from him. “I want that out of a woman. I want you. No actress, no model.”
Her head snapped back to look at him, and her mouth dropped open and closed quickly.
“You don’t know what to say, do you?” he asked as his hand went to her face, caressing it softly. Then he slid his fingers behind her ears, holding her head as he lowered his head. His hot breath was fanning her face, and she melted against him. Wanting to be kissed by him, she closed her eyes as she let out a long sigh.
His lips touched her lips, and the kiss was soft, almost like a feather. But she felt it all the way down to her toes. There were oohs and aahs in the crowd, but it did not matter. All she wanted to do was kiss him.
She returned the kiss and lost herself in the need. Longing built up inside of her, and she had been longing to be needed, wanted.
“Simon,” she whispered against his lips, “I will go out with you.”
What the heck, dating him might be fun, and would they just be making love?
“There is going to be more kissing,” he assured her against her lips. “We seemed to enjoy kissing each other.”
“This is happening so fast,” she said, feeling light-headed from the kiss and the wine. “I’d like to go home.”
“I could take you there,” he said seriously, watching her. She looked exhausted. What does this woman do to herself?
“I am exhausted, Simon. The drive here was an hour from my house.” She let a huge sigh. “This is your party. Don’t you want to stay?”
“It’s a fundraiser,” he stated as he led her to the entrance. “I have them every year. No one will miss me.”
“People will talk, Simon,” she said, almost in whisper. She did not want to be a rumor.
“Let them talk.” He laughed and added seriously, “I want them to know about us. I am not hiding this time. It’s my turn. And believe me, Elizabeth, you are going to be mine.”
“I am not a one-night stand or a plaything.” She had to say that. She wanted him to know, but she knew that this man was not that type.
“I didn’t think you were, and I would not treat you like that.” He let a heavy sigh as they walked outside, and he hailed a taxi. ‘So just get that out of your head. I would not hurt you. You’re the last person I would hurt.”
A taxi pulled in front of them and waited as he opened the door for her.
“I am going to let you go this time, Elizabeth,” he said as he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her deeply. She felt the kiss all the way to her toes.
“Good night. I will call you.” He released her, and she climbed into the taxi.
She watched him as the taxi was driving away and let out a heavy breath. She rubbed her face and turned to watch the taxi leave. Was she out of league with him? She felt her stomach twisting inside of her. She felt like this was a dream, but she could feel the kiss on her lips.
He watched the taxi drive away and shook his head slowly.