By Paz Edwards

Copyright © 2008 | All rights reserved

Contemporary Erotic Romance

 

Newly single Althea Jameson is celebrating her birthday, alone – again, when she attracts the attention of sexy Matt Logan.  The two share an instant and mutual attraction.  The sight of the tall, handsome stranger leaves her wondering if he’s as delicious as the dessert she’s savoring as a birthday treat.  Will she succumb to the sudden and inexplicable desire to have an indulgent fling, with a new and more exciting birthday treat – an afternoon with Matt?  Or will her ex fiancé’s plea to reconsider marrying him be the deciding factor?

EXCERPT

 

Happy Birthday to me.  Althea Jameson sat in the fancy hotel restaurant, celebrating her thirtieth birthday.  Alone.

Forty-five minutes earlier, she’d had the company of her good friend, Gillian.  They’d taken the day off from work to celebrate her birthday. 

“There’s nothing like celebrating a birthday over a delicious gourmet meal,” Gillian exclaimed as they perused the menu.  “Hey!  What happened to your engagement ring?”

          Althea glanced at her empty ring finger.  “I broke it off.”  A simple girl with classic tastes, she hadn’t cared for the large emerald cut diamond stone, flanked by two triangle-cut baguettes, but her fiancé Ty liked the ostentatious ring.   

Engaged for a year, she’d never been able to go thorough with the last step of setting a date to get married.  Anytime Ty brought up a date, she found a reason why it wasn’t a good time.  She realized that she didn’t really want to marry Ty.  Instead, she wanted the security that she thought marriage would bring.  Big mistake.

“Honey!  I’m so sorry!  When did you break off the engagement?”  Gillian placed her menu aside.

“Last month.”

“What!?  And you didn’t say anything to me about it?  What happened?” 

“I realized I was making a big mistake.  All this time, I’d fooled myself into thinking that I loved Ty, but I don’t.”

“But you’ve been with him for how long… two or three years—”

“—Two years.”

“So, what do you mean you don’t love him?  Didn’t you know how you felt all that time?  You guys always seemed like the perfect couple. I wouldn’t have guessed that there was something wrong.”

“Yeah, I guess we did look like the perfect couple.  But you know what they say, ‘Looks can be deceiving.’  Deep down, I haven’t been happy for a while.  Ty can be very demanding.  He insisted in making all the decisions in the relationship.  Everything always had to be his way.  He’d even started to try and plan the wedding and honeymoon without telling me.  First I thought his behavior was cute, but soon it became annoying, not to mention controlling.”

“If you didn’t like his behavior, why did you put up with it?”

“Rather than argue, I decided to keep the peace by letting Ty have his way.  I really did want the relationship to work.” 

“But Thea, you never said anything to me.  Why?”  Her friend of five years looked at her with concern.  Hurt tinged her voice that Althea hadn’t confided in her.

“I had a hard time admitting to myself that I wasn’t very happy in the relationship with Ty, much less saying it aloud to anyone else.”

“So you stayed with him.”

“Yes, I lied to myself and him.  To everyone.” She took a sip of water.

Gillian took a deep breath and nodded to show her understanding. 

“And what was Ty’s reaction when you broke it off with him?”

Althea shrugged.  “He’s away on a business trip and asked me to rethink my decision.  He wants us to be reengaged when he returns.”

“So, what did you tell him?

”That I’d think about it.”  She felt torn between marrying for love or for security, but she wasn’t sure if she was ready to pay the price of being in a loveless marriage.   Yet, living through the effects of her mother’s broken relationships caused her to crave a stable relationship in her life.  As a young girl, each time her mother broke up with her latest lover, her whole life turned upside down, like clothing spinning in a washer and dryer.

Sometimes she and her mother were left temporarily homeless, having to move into a motel, after another one of her mother’s broken relationships.  Her mother would decide to move to another city or state.  By the time she was a teenager, she’d lived in almost all the states of America, with the exception of Hawaii, Utah, Alaska and the territorial state of Puerto Rico.  Althea never stayed in a school long enough to make or keep friends. 

Familiar things were always snatched away from her.  As a young person, such an experience was devastating.  Althea swore that when she became an adult, she’d never live a gypsy’s life.  Neither would she inflict the consequences of moving all over the place and being homeless on her child, if she ever had one.  The best way she knew to hold onto this promise to herself, was to get married and stay married.  She believed that marriage would bring her a stable life and secure home.

“When does Ty come back?

“Tomorrow – Saturday night and we plan on talking on Sunday.”

“I want you to know that I support you in whatever decision you make.  All right?” 

“Thanks, girlfriend.  And I’m always here for you, too.”

“Good, now let’s order something decadent.  I’m starved!”

Just as Gillian picked up the menu, her cell phone rang.  She excused herself to take the call outside.  When she returned, she looked serious.  “I’m really sorry, but I have to leave.  One of my patients has gone into labor.  May I take a rain check on your birthday lunch, hon’?”

An OB-gyn, Gillian was often called away by emergencies.  Althea nodded.  “Sure.  Call me later.”

“Okay.”  She picked up her purse and kissed Althea’s cheek before rushing away.

Althea ordered a scrumptious-sounding meal and soaked up the elegant atmosphere of the restaurant as she ate.  She considered whether she should get back with Ty.  Maybe she could make the relationship work and be happy with him.

Later, she relaxed over a cup of coffee and waited for the waiter to bring her favorite dessert.  He placed a nice-sized slice of tiramisu in front of her.  “Enjoy!”

She stared at the Italian wonder, certain that it would live up to its name and pick her up.  Just the sight of the ladyfingers dipped in sweet Marsala wine, espresso, mascarpone cheese, and egg yolks made her mouth water. 

Some would describe her body type as voluptuous.  Usually she tried not to indulge in sweets in an effort to keep her weight under control, but it was her birthday. 

She picked up her fork, cut into the dessert, and took a bite.   As the generous shavings of chocolate that topped the dessert touched her tongue, she closed her eyes to savor its blissful taste.

Mmm…  The light and mouth-watering flavors of the combining cheese, wine and cookies melted in her mouth and burst through her taste buds, spreading an exquisite tremor over her body.  Mmm… Mmm… This was so good!  Better than sex!  Wait a minute – almost, but not quite.

Nothing made up for the physical contact with a desirable man – his warm body on top of hers, lips all over her skin, a hard, well-endowed cock driving in and out of her wet pussy, and large hands warming her ass, rubbing her breasts, causing all kinds of heavenly sensations throughout her body.

She took another bite.  Yeah, the dessert came a close second to evoking celestial feelings of making love but it wasn’t the real deal.  She moaned aloud her appreciation for the delicious taste, “Mmm.” 

              Suddenly, a deep, rich, amused, baritone voice sounded near her. “That must taste very good.”  The sexually stimulating tone caused her eyes to fly open and the second she saw the man behind the voice, her heart pounded in her chest and moisture pooled between her legs.

A white man stood in front of her.  He possessed what she called the Triple-H-Threat factors – hot, hunky, and handsome.   Not normally attracted to white men, she felt an instant magnetism to this one. 

A minimum of six foot six, he had an athletic build suggesting he lifted weights or played sports.  He wore a tailored navy blue suit with a white shirt.  A power red tie with tiny white dots completed his masculine look.

Rich, dark, wavy hair covered his head and a thick lock fell above his right eyebrow.  Happy dark blue eyes twinkled.  Naturally sculpted lips curved up into a wide smile.  Her heart beat faster.  How would his perfect mouth feel moving against hers?

She nodded and finally removed the empty fork from her mouth.  “Umm… Yes… it’s good.”

“I noticed you, earlier, having lunch by yourself.  After seeing the way you’re enjoying your dessert, I had to come over.  What are you having?”

“Umm…” Why did she have to sound like an idiot?  As Judge Judy would say, “‘Umm’ is not an answer.” 

“A tiramisu.  I’m having tiramisu.”

“Never heard of it.”

“It’s an Italian dessert.” 

“Do you mind if I join you?”

She looked at his large hand relaxed over the chair back in front of her.  His long thick fingers looked just the right size to give her a satisfying digital fuck.  If they were that large, how big was his cock?  She became giddy at the notion.  No one – not even Ty – made her get wet this fast.

“Umm…” There she went again, sounding retarded.  “I mean, no.  I don’t mind if you join me.”

He pulled out the chair and sat down.  “My name is Matt.” 

She extended her hand.  “Althea.  Nice to meet you, Matt.”  At his touch a tingle started in her hand, spread up her arm towards her chest, causing her heart to beat faster.

“Same here, Althea.”  He held her hand until she reluctantly removed it from his grasp. 

“Do you eat here often?”

“No.  I’m celebrating today.”

“Alone?”  His thick eyebrow rose into a perfect arch.

“Yes, alone.  There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“No, there’s not.”  His eyebrow fell back down.  “So, what’s the occasion, if I may ask?”

“Today’s my birthday.”

“Happy birthday!” 

She liked his enthusiasm.  Ty never acknowledged her birthday.  Although she knew not to expect flowers, a card or a phone call would have been nice.

“Thanks.  Actually, I was supposed to have lunch with a friend but she had to leave.”

“Well, I have to say it’s my good fortune,” he winked. “You were really enjoying your dessert.”

“It tastes pretty good.”  Suddenly, she felt flirtatious and bold.  “Would you like to taste for yourself?”  Her nipples tightened when he shot her a heated look and nodded slowly.

Scooping up a little piece of the light dessert, she stretched her arm across the table to feed him.  She knew the act of sharing her dessert, especially with the same utensil, was too intimate a gesture for two strangers.  Yet, it felt just right doing this with Matt.  He didn’t seem to mind because he opened his mouth, allowing her to place the food on his tongue.  Mesmerized, she watched closely as his lips came together, chewed, then swallowed.  Even the bobbing motion of his Adam’s apple turned her on.

“Mmm.   I see what you mean.”  He licked his lips.  “This is delicious, but I have a feeling it’s not as delectable as you’d taste.”

His statement shocked her, initially, but deep down she had to acknowledge that this handsome stranger’s words turned her on.  She pictured him tasting her lips and then going down on her.  Oh, no, she wet herself again!  By the time she got up, she was sure she’d leave a puddle in her seat! 

“What about you?  Do you lunch here often?”  She tried to calm down internally by switching the subject. 

He grinned at her response as if he knew what she’d done.  He looked alluring and she longed to see him wear nothing but his hypnotic smile.  Stop it!

“Most of the time I have lunch here when I’m in your fair city of San Francisco for business.  I also stay at the hotel here.”

“I see.” She took a bite of her tiramisu and then fed him again.  As she pulled the fork slowly out of his mouth, she watched him.  The look in his eyes mirrored the carnal thoughts running through her head.  His intimate look further inflamed her already excited passions. 

Her attraction to him ran so deep that she wanted to crawl across the table and jump his bones, right there and then.  She crossed her legs and took another bite of the tiramisu.   “So, how long will you be in San Francisco?”

“I had my last business meeting today; I return home tomorrow.”

“And where is home?”  She fed him the last piece of the dessert, and waited for him to finish eating and answer.

“New York.”  He licked his lips and the action had her squeezing her legs together again.  “Your dessert was delicious.  I’m going to have to remember to order the tiramisu the next time I eat here.  So, tell me… what else do you have planned for your birthday celebration?”

She shrugged.  “Nothing.  Since my friend had to leave, I haven’t made any other plans.”

He cleared his throat.  “I’m free for the rest of the day.  Why don’t we finish celebrating your birthday together?  I’d like to get to know you better and if I may be blunt, I’m dying to know if you taste as good, if not better than the tiramisu.”

Her insides churned with pleasure at his suggestion.  She tried to figure out what triggered her strong reaction to Matt.  Was it his smooth deep voice, captivating smile, mesmerizing eyes, or seemingly easy-going personality?  She didn’t know.

“Matt, are you engaged or married?”

“No.  I’m free on both counts.”

           If she walked away from him, she’d forever be plagued by regrets and what ifs.  She’d had her fill of tiramisu, and now, he would be her birthday treat.  A thrill ran through her body as she made her decision.