Arik
Chapter Nine
Every second with Claire felt like a wound within me was healing. My long-held abyss of resentment had faded and been replaced with pool of magnetic force. Her skin against mine felt like a gasp of fresh air. Every time our bodies broke from one another, pain and despair filled my mind again.
She was my crutch, my painkiller.
I walked a very thin line between wanting to devour her and wanting to keep her safe.
The better side of me wanted to put her on a shelf like a glass figurine, locking her away securely, and admiring her from a distance.
The other part of me wanted to do things that would break her, leaving her with distinguished cracks that my love would repair, making her into a beautiful mosaic.
Do not scare her away.
My body buzzed with power as we approached the open doors of the hotel.
I was returning to these grounds, no longer somber and decaying with years of resentment.
I had watched the sun rise and set with unwavering patience.
I fought battles for those who were not strong enough to fight on their own.
And now, my world was at my side, giving me every bit of the life and vigor I lost so long ago.
My fate is no longer a curse, but a blessing bestowed upon me.
Claire’s attention focused on the reception desk the moment we entered the lobby.
Behind the gleaming desk was Lorenzo, of course, at his post on a busy Saturday night, as he should be.
However, he had not seen me yet and his attention was not focused on work.
His focus was instead on the woman wearing a skin-tight red dress, leaning onto the desk, laughing, and whipping her long raven strands across her shoulder.
I could already tell who this was based on Claire’s heightened breathing and the anxiety and uncertainty that radiated from her form.
Jennifer Mora.
The woman who should not even be here. Had Antonio not taken the liberty of inviting other distributors, Claire would not have been feeling this way.
A conversation for Monday.
I turned my face to Claire, giving her a reassuring nod. As I approached the desk, Claire paused, standing behind me instead of at my side, where she should be.
Wow. This woman really had a way of making Claire doubt herself. I will take care of that—in more ways than one.
“Lorenzo!” I said, slapping my hand against the solid desk, startling him.
I leaned against the desk casually, counter to Jennifer.
Lorenzo immediately straightened, his eyes wide in realization that he had been caught slacking on the job in front of the worst possible person.
But this certainly was not the first time I had seen or heard of him getting flirtatious with guests…
or the staff. He was a handsome young man.
Tall, charming, clean cut. Hospitality was certainly an enjoyable industry for him.
“Yes, Sir,” he stammered, his eyes drilling into my own with twinges of fear. He had only worked here for around eight months. Long enough to know better, but not long enough to have the seniority one typically needs to save their ass when they fuck up.
“You have work to do, yes?” I asked, raising my chin toward him in demand of his answer.
“Yes, Sir,” he stated clearly before nodding to Jennifer. Lorenzo’s attention quickly moved to the computer screen.
“Mmm…” Jennifer purred. “Caught red-handed!” Her lips curled up into a smile as I watched her eyes scanning my body from head to toe. “A girl likes to have a bit of fun sometimes, you know?”
“Oh, I do!” I chuckled back reassuringly. “But Lorenzo is an impressionable young man. It is easy to distract them when they are young. They do not know better.”
Jennifer smiled, adjusting her dress to flaunt more of the deep neckline before throwing her hair over her shoulder to better expose her cleavage. “Well, I must admit, the young ones aren’t normally my type.”
I felt Claire behind me—she was upset.
Jennifer was flirting with me, very aggressively. She could be described as two things: easy and attention-seeking. The ultimate “pick-me” girl. Those types of women always have a way of making women of substance, like Claire, feel inadequate.
While I hated feeling her upset, the relief I felt knowing that she cared enough for me to be jealous and to feel everything she was feeling in this very moment…
comparable to a hit of morphine. All I wanted to do was take her and pour my heart out.
Give her everything I must give. My secrets.
My shame. Leave it all there and walk away from it, with her.
“Well, there are many patrons staying here; I am sure you will find your fun,” I replied, as Jennifer’s expression immediately fell. “Ms. Mora. Have you met Claire?”
With that, Claire popped her beautiful face out from behind me, her eyes bewildered and cheeks flushed. I winked at her as her eyes met mine, seeking reassurance.
Jennifer opened her mouth to say whatever it was she thought would be clever before I cut in, “Claire is my very lovely girlfriend. I know, I am a fortunate man.”
I grabbed Claire’s waist again, kissing her on the cheek as she stood in shock. Jennifer’s head shook as her eyes darted between Claire and me; the Botox struggling to fight from within her forehead.
“Well…that is…lovely,” she said as she clapped her hands together and made a puzzled expression in Claire’s direction.
Claire’s body leaned toward mine. I could feel the satisfaction radiating off her in the sexiest way. I wanted to throw her on this reception desk right in front of Jennifer and have her in the most unhinged, animalistic way just to prove my point.
“I was just talking to Lorenzo about a little staff get-together happening tonight. It’s someone’s birthday…don’t know who, but I’ll find out, I’m sure,” Jennifer said with a nervous smile. “You two should come. Wouldn’t that just be fun?”
Claire cut in, “Nope. We have plans. Date night.”
Jennifer looked at Claire, puzzled. “I see. I must say, Long Island, going above Antonio. You do fight…dirty.” And with that, Jennifer grimaced and turned away from us, walking through the lobby in an exaggerated huff as her hair flicked back and forth like a horse’s mane.
Claire’s head cocked back in confusion as her brow furrowed. Her eyes turned to me. “What did that mean?”
I laced my fingers with hers again, pulling her into my embrace. I looked down upon her face—her beautiful face that was now freckling across her nose and cheeks thanks to the sun from the day. She was glowing, and I sincerely hoped part of that glow was from me.
“She’s obviously having some kind of fit,” I whispered as I brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
Would it be awful if I were to steal a breadbasket from the restaurant, skip dinner, and carry you to bed this very second? I would feed you while caressing every inch of your body until your eyes can no longer stay open.
Claire’s stomach growled, causing us to laugh in unison before I pulled her in the direction of the restaurant. “The usual table, Vin,” I called him as he approached the host stand from seating the party before us.
Vin glanced at Claire, then back at me, a slow smile spreading across his round face.
He gave me a knowing nod; the kind men give when they understand something unspoken and approve.
Twenty-four hours ago, I walked into this restaurant alone for what felt like the millionth time.
Chasing a scent, a mystery. Now I was walking in with my love.
The sights and sounds of the restaurant blurred by as I took Claire’s hand in mine, guiding her to my private table.
Shrouded with overgrown plants that disguised the alcove in the furthest corner, my table sat as an unknown mystery to the patrons that passed throughout the night.
The large, circular table had one chair, flanked by nothing but emptiness.
Business meetings I took elsewhere, but here, this was my solace.
As Vin used his arm to direct us to the table, I looked upon the setting with delight. Where my singular chair once stood alone, a second chair now joined it—side by side, just like us.
Instrumental violin wafted through the air, leaving a sense of deep passion in its wake. The dim light from a trio of ivory candles illuminated the table, and the glow of Claire’s face as she took her seat. Without pause, I found myself next to her, basking in her presence.
I plucked the menu from her hands as she turned to me in surprise. “I have it taken care of. No attempting to read Italiano for you.” I laughed lightly as my eyes wandered to her lips.
I could not stop myself from placing my hand just under her chin and pulling her into my kiss as her body trembled with anticipation. But before my lips could meet hers, her phone rang, pulling her attention away from me.
“Hi, Mom.” She smiled as she turned her head away from me.
I could hear a delicate whisper slowly coming out of the phone, too low to interpret. Claire’s voice filled the air as she spoke.
“Yeah, I’m doing good. How are you? How’s Dad?” She paused and nodded silently as I heard a long monologue from the whisper on the other end.
“Yeah, it’s been amazing. We’re just at dinner now.”
Claire’s expression turned back to me, her eyes widening and heartbeat picking up speed.
“Um…yeah. I have been spending time with someone I met here…and we’re at dinner.”
Claire’s hand gripped the end of the phone, covering the microphone. She mouthed apologies before attempting to stand from the table. I swiftly placed my hand around her forearm before whispering in her ear, “You don’t have to leave…please stay,” as desperation tingled in my words.
Claire’s eyes focused on mine before she nodded in acceptance and turned her focus back on the call.
“It is…it is a man.” Her cheeks blushed as she pressed her hand against her forehead and lowered her eyes.
“Uh, he’s nice,” Claire said as she looked in my direction, shrugging and looking embarrassed.
“Yes, I can call you tomorrow. I love you.”