Page 67 of Driving Beats

He’s silent. Never a good sign. “Or, you want to do it with her again but you’re afraid.”

Boom. There it is.

In my silence, he continues, “Nese is the full package. I wouldn’t be sorry if you got together with her. In fact, Hayden recently went out to brunch with her and Jenna, and hasn’t stopped singing her praises. We could double-date. Who knew? My best buddy is brought low by a stylist, several years his junior.”

“Stop it. Get these crazy ideas out of your brain. I’m not—nor will I be—with Nese. It was something that happened. She’s like the lot of you… She's not exactly looking to settle down.” However, now I know Nese went out to brunch with Hayden and Jenna the other morning…

“That may be true, but you do not. Hell, you were with Lillian all through high school and... No one since. Until Nese.”

I pull into a parking spot on the street and close my eyes. It was a bad idea to call him. What was I thinking?

“Listen, forget I mentioned this to you, alright? It was a one-and-done and not ever happening again.”

“Riiiight. Sure. You tell yourself whatever lies you need to hear. Just know I’m rooting for you!” Laughing, he clicks off.

Damn. The asshole makes some good points. Before Nese, I’ve only been with Lillian, and what we did blew away what I ever had with my wife. Nese was so responsive. And genuine. I’m finding her crazy rants more and more endearing instead of annoying. Plus, no one other than Mom ever made me bread from scratch. Not to mention my earrings. My hand rubs my right ear, only to find Darren’s hoop. I should’ve worn her gift.

My chest expands as I take a cleansing breath. Maybe all I need is a good meditation session. Clear out these cobwebs and get myself ready to hit the road again with UC. Yeah, that’s it. A reboot.

With my Zen Garden in mind, I restart the Range Rover and drive the couple of blocks to my house. Letting myself in through the side entrance, I sit on one of the boulders and blank my mind. Let the fresh Pacific Ocean air waft into my nose. Allow the light breeze to caress my cheeks. Pure harmony with nature. For the first time in a very long time.

I slip my sunglasses upward on my forehead and enter the house. Nese isn’t where I left her in the family room. A quick check of the kitchen doesn’t turn her up, either. On my way to her bedroom, I glance out at the pool, but she’s not there. When I stop at the threshold of her room, I see her standing in front of the mirror. Wearing only her bra and panties.

I clear my throat. “What are you doing? You should be icing your foot.”

“I’ve had ice on it all day, Grandpa. I had to get up and take a shower. I was going stir crazy.”

I stalk into her room. “How does it feel?”

She lifts up her left foot, now sporting a pedicure that wasn’t there before. “I did my toenails. You like?” She wiggles her toes, only to scrunch back in pain and lower her foot to the floor.

In an instant, I’m at her side—my hands on her back to steady her. Her naked back. “It’s angry. You shouldn’t do things to make it clap back at you.”

“I’ll be more careful. It’s been good all day.”

“Because you were icing it and keeping it elevated.” I should remove my hand. Now. It’s beyond time for me to let her go. With my hand still on her back, I say, “What were you doing?”

Her palm sweeps over her body. “I thought taking a shower and getting dressed might be a smart idea.”

Or it could be the worst idea she’s ever had. “You don’t have to bother on my account.” My hand still hasn’t moved.

Nese’s head ticks upward, her eyebrow piercing catching the sunlight. Her eyes narrow. “You’d have to be careful of my foot.”

This is my cue to stop her wild thoughts. We’re not going to have sex again. We’re totally wrong for each other. I don’t do things like this. My hand lowers and unclips her bra. “I will.”

Bending down so my mouth is even with her pink nipple, I tease it with my teeth. She hisses and presses the back of my head closer. This is not me. But damn. It doesn’t matter. I want Nese under me. Now.

Grabbing around her ass, I stand and bring her to the bed. She slides down my straining body. “One of us needs to get out of his clothes.”

She pulls on the bottom of my shirt, which sails across the room. The button at the top of my new trousers unhooks, followed by the zipper going down. Standing back, I unlace my boots and take off my socks and trousers so I stand in front of her totally naked. “Now who’s overdressed?”

Her hands slide to her hips and she shimmies out of her panties. Maybe this time will prove the first was a fluke? Perhaps we’re not as amazing together as I remember—it has been a long time.

Mindful of her foot, I lift and place her in the center of the bed. I kiss all the way down her right leg, leaving her left one on the bed.

“I’m not a breakable doll,” she complains and sits up on her knees. With practiced ease, she flips me so I’m on my back. “Better.”

She crawls upward and her lips are even with my throbbing cock. Lillian only ever did this to me once for a brief second. Nese, however, has no such restraint. She licks and kisses and sucks. Hard.