First and Only Page 5

  I walk over to the mysterious man’s table. “What can I get for you, sir?” His eyes meet mine. He’s the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on, all except the black eye and blood all over the side of his face.

  “Can I get a cup of coffee to start?” He takes the menu from my hand and searches for something.

  “Of course. Anything else?”

  “That’s it for now. Thank you.” His eyes never leave mine.

  I turn on my heels to get what he wants, but I can’t help myself. “Are you okay? I have a first aid kit in the back. I can help clean you up.”

  “What, yes?” He points to his face. “This is just a little scrape.”

  I grab a mug and pour him fresh, hot coffee then bring it over and set it gently in front of him. “I’ve never seen you around. Not a local, are you?”

  “I’m only here for a work thing. I picked the wrong time to travel.” He nods out to the snowy evening and then takes a napkin, trying to wipe all the blood off his face.

  “It will stop by tomorrow afternoon. I’m so used to it.”

  “How long have you lived around here? I would go crazy with all this snow.” He runs his fingers through his hair, which arouses me a bit.

  “I’ve lived in Maine my whole life.”

  “I’m from the South. This never happens down there.” We both laugh. I like his smile.

  “Did you figure out what you would like to eat?”

  He sighs. “I can’t decide. What’s good here?”

  “I always have the steak and potatoes. Our cook Tommy is amazing.”

  He closes the menu and hands it to me. “I’ll take your word for it.”

  “How would you like your steak prepared?” I ask, waiting with the notepad and pen in hand.

  “Well done, please.”

  I write down his order. “You got it. It should be out shortly.”

  “Thank you…” He reads my name card attached to my shirt. “Lauren. That’s a beautiful name.”

  I know I’m blushing. “Thank you…”

  “I’m Mark.”

  “That’s a beautiful name.” We both laugh at my joke.

  “You’re funny.”

  “I think so, too. But you’re probably the only one to laugh at my jokes other than me.” That makes him laugh, too.

  He looks around the restaurant. “You’re busy tonight.”

  “I know.” I wink.

  “Have some steak and potatoes with me. It’s on me.”

  I look at him, confused. I’ve haven’t sat down with a guy and eaten dinner since… I can’t even remember. My last boyfriend was an asshole. We dated for three years, and he always treated me like shit and beat me up. I’m shy and distant in front of guys now. “Well…”

  “You can’t say you’re too busy. And I would love some company.”

  I contemplate a minute. “I would love some, too. I’ll have Tommy whip us up some dinner.”

  ***

  “Mandi!” Adam yells. His voice sends chills up my back.

  “In here!” I call out, closing out of my novel.

  He peeks his head out of the bedroom, his face glowing in the sunlight. “I’m happy to see you writing. Found your muse?”

  “I think so.” I wink at him. In that moment, I realize who my muse is: him. Ever since he came back into my life, I’ve been a writing machine. He’s what I’ve been missing this whole time.

  Adam goes into the kitchen to get coffee and comes back out promptly. “Let’s go out dancing tonight.”

  “Dancing? You dance?” I giggle. He lights up my day. I’m so happy to have in back in my life. I think I’ve been lost without him. As kids, I was clearly in love with him, and we were friends, too. He’s always been the one who knew how to make me laugh.

  “I know how to drunk dance. What do you say?”

  “I’m in.” I close the laptop and jump to my feet. Clubbing with Adam Wilson… This should be an interesting night.

  “I have to go to the gym for the rest of the day. My team is in town and fun time is now over. It’s time to get to work.”

  “I want to see you train sometime.”

  “You are more than welcome to come watch. I just have to give the guys a heads up first.” He sips his coffee and then places a kiss on my cheek. “I need a shower.”

  “Yes, you do. You stink.” Adam bites my lip seductively. “What am I going to do all day without you?” I ask.

  “Get your beauty sleep.”

  I lick his top lip and watch his ass sway back and forth as he walks away. Sleeping is a very good idea right now.

  ***

  I jump out of a dead sleep. It sounds like the FBI is trying to break down my door. I hop out of bed and run to see who it is. Who the hell in their right mind would be doing this? I sure the hell haven’t committed any crimes. I whip the door open only to find my friend Karen standing there, crying and holding her bag and a suitcase.

  “What happened?” I ask, taking the bags out of her hands and welcoming her inside.

  Karen lifts up her shirt, moving her long curly brown hair out of the way. Her ribs are covered in bruises. “Matthew did this to me.”

  “Again?” I ask, not surprised. This is how Karen and I met four years ago. She was crying in line at a coffee stand downtown, outside of Birdie Publishing. I felt bad for her and asked what was wrong. At first she refused to tell me, but then I bought her a coffee and took a walk with her, and she started telling me about the abusive relationship she was in with some guy. From there, we became friends, and I was always there for her.

  For four long years, she has put up with Matthew’s shit, not daring to leave him because of her fear of what might happen. He’s threatened her plenty of times, saying, if she leaves him, there will be hell to pay. He’s scary.

  “Yes, but this time I’m leaving. My parents want me to come stay with them for a while. I can take a leave from the paper.” She sits on my couch and I sit next to her. Since her parents are all the way in Kansas, she’d be safe, but it’ll be strange having her so far away.

  “Even though I will miss you, I think that’s what’s best for you. You can’t keep putting yourself through this. You deserve better.”

  Karen moves on the couch, wincing at the pain. “I just don’t know what else to do…”

  “Don’t leave yet. You can stay here for the night, if you want,” I offer. She always has a place to stay with me. My apartment is her apartment. That’s what friends are for.

  She shakes her head. “I can’t barge in on you.”

  “Of course you can.”

  She pulls a pair of men’s boxers out from underneath her. “Do I dare to ask?”

  I snatch them, throwing them into my bedroom. “Adam Wilson is in town.”

  “The Adam Wilson? The Adam Wilson you were in love with in high school?” She sits up straight, and I can see the pain strike her face.

  “Yep!”

  “You’ve done the dirty, haven’t you?” she asks.

  “We have…”

  “Well, good. You’ve needed to get it in. Now…” She stands up slowly. “Okay, so I won’t leave, but I do need to rent a hotel room for a bit. Can you go with me?”

  “No…”

  Karen looks at me confused. “What?”

  “You’re staying here for the night. Then tomorrow you can go to a hotel if you still feel like you need to.”

  I’m surprised it has taken her this long to realize that she needs to get away. No woman deserves to be beaten up by a man for stupid little things, let alone anything at all. I feel bad for her and always have, but you can’t force someone to do something they’re not ready for.

  She sits back down, knowing that I’m not going to take no for an answer. “Thank you. I promise to be out of here tomorrow.”

  “Not worried about it, Kar.”

  ***

  Karen stays over and it’s so great to drink tea and catch up for a while. She even helps me pick a cute outfit for
my night out with Adam. “I’ll hold down the fort,” she says as I head out the door.

  I take Adam to Sound-Bar in downtown Chicago. It’s a popular River North nightclub where everyone likes to go when they want to dance. I can’t wait to see Adam do his thing on the dance floor. I can dance, but from what I remember when we were kids, he can’t.

  We walk up to the bar and take a seat. Adam orders a whisky and I order something different: a lemon drop, my favorite out-on-the-town kind of drink.

  “Not ready to dance yet?” I giggle then sip my drink. The liquid slides down my throat.

  “Not yet.” He sips his whisky, staring at me while he drinks.

  Twenty minutes later, we’re both kind of loose, maybe a little drunk. Adam drags me out onto the dance floor by grabbing my waist. He grinds up against me and puts one leg between mine. “Lean On” by Major Lazer and DJ Snake comes through the speakers.

  I move my body against his. The beat picks up and we both move our bodies to the music. He’s actually pretty good at dancing.

  I wrap my hands around his neck, swaying my body back and forth and keeping a rhythm with him.

  I still can’t believe that Adam Wilson is really with me right now. It’s been years since I’ve seen him. It’s crazy how you can go from being best friends with someone to not talking for years and then finally see each other and have it be the same as it was.

  The song changes to “Love Me Like You Do” by Ellie Goulding—slowing it down a lot.

  Adam clutches my waist and pulls me into him. I put my hands around his neck and stare into his eyes. His eyes look at my lips and then back into my eyes. He smashes his lips against mine. My tongue explores his mouth. Seductively, his teeth bite my bottom lip. There he goes again, making a sensation build there.

  Then he spins me in a circle, making me laugh. He’s so adorable. Everything about him is perfect.

  The rest of the night, we dance. We stay on the dance floor for hours, ignoring everyone around us. No one’s here, only us. This is the best night I’ve had in years.

  ***

  Tonight is a repeat of last night. We barge through my apartment, our lips not leaving each other’s. “Shh… Karen is sleeping on the couch,” I say, trying to whisper.

  “Shh…,” he says back.

  We both tip-toe past the couch and into my bedroom.

  Clothes fly everywhere. Before I know it, I’m lying on my bed with our naked bodies colliding.

  “Do you trust me?” Adam asks, his lips locking onto my neck.

  “Of course.” I breathe heavily, already aroused.

  “I want to try something with you. If you don’t like it then we can stop. Okay?” He looks into my eyes, waiting for a response.

  I nod, not knowing what to think. Adam leaves the room. After a few minutes, he comes strolling back in with a few things in his hands.

  “Put this on.” He hands me a blindfold. I slide it over my eyes, nervous as hell. “Give me your hand.” I do as he says. He takes it and ties my wrist to the bedpost. He walks to the other side of the bed, doing the same to my other hand. I’ve never done something this erotic before.

  I’m spread out on the bed, ready and wanting him, already needing him inside of me.

  I feel his naked body on mine as he spreads kisses all over the place. He starts at my neck and nibbles on my ear, sending my whole body into a shiver. He works his way down my body, kissing, licking, and sucking. He finally reaches there, and I’m so wet and ready for him to take me in any way he wants me.

  When his tongue slides onto my clit, I’m moaning with pleasure. My back arches. I can’t see what he’s doing, can’t move my hands. I’m giving all of myself to him and trusting him completely.

  His fingers feel like pure silk. I never want them to leave my body. His arms lift my thighs up, and I let out a moan. The way he touches, it does something to me. I’ve never had a man touch me this way and make me want to faint with pleasure.

  He lifts my thighs high and slides himself inside of me. It feels so good, so right.

  He pumps in and out of me. The rope burns my skin, but it feels satisfying. I like the pain. I want more of him.

  His hands entwine through my hair and pull hard. “Adam,” I moan, making him speed up. His hot breath hits my face. With every thrust, I feel my climax building.

  Over and over, he hits the right spot. I tighten around him and let go. I feel him doing the same, pouring himself inside of me. Shockwaves shudder through my body, taking me on a wave of pleasure.

  “Oh, Mandi.” Hearing him say my name drives me wild. I love listening to his soft voice say Mandi.

  Adam unties me and takes the blindfold off. He collapses beside me, wrapping his naked body around mine. We’re both sweaty and out of breath.

  “That was…” I break off. Words can’t really explain what that was. “…amazing.”

  “I know. I knew you would enjoy it.”

  “I’ve never done anything like that before.” I’m still so out of breath.

  “Never?” he questions.

  “Never.”

  CHAPTER 6

  I’M BITING MY NAILS, nervous as hell. Birdie Publishing is the company I’ve been working for since I started writing years ago. My editor Barbara sits in front of me, glasses down her nose, reading the first few chapters of my new book that she demanded to see before I could go further. Her face, framed by gray curly hair, shows no sign of whether she hates it or loves it. Please love it!

  In her office, on a messy bookshelf, a plant is dying, and there is a coffee stain on a stack of papers next to her.

  She finishes up and sets the pages onto her desk then leans forward and folds her hands.

  “So?”

  “What happened?” she asks, with still no readable facial expression.

  “What do you mean?”

  “This will be your best work yet. What changed with you?” She sets her glasses on her desk in front of her.

  “I found my muse, but what do you mean by will be my best work?”

  “It’s a good start. But make me love it.”

  “Any advice?” I sigh, not happy, but at least pleased with her honesty.

  “You’re the writer. These are your characters. Surprise me. Keep me guessing.”

  I nod. “Okay.”

  “You’re glowing, by the way Keep that muse around. I want an update in a week. Sherry will set up a meeting.”

  “Thank you.”

  Before I walk out of the room, Barbara clears her throat. “Are you going to tell me what happens with Lauren and this mysterious man?”

  “I’m not quite sure yet.”

  I walk out of the room and schedule an appointment to see Barbara in a week. I’m ecstatic with joy. She loved it, finally she loved it.

  I can’t wait to get back home and tell Adam.

  ***

  When I get home, Adam isn’t there, and I wonder where he went. He was still asleep when I left this morning, so I figure maybe he went to get something to eat. I’m not worried about it.

  I sit down at my desk and open my laptop, ready to let Lauren’s story take me on an adventure.

  ***

  I balance the plates on my forearm and grab us some drinks. I walk confidently over to Mark’s table, setting his plate down in front of him.

  “That was quick,” he says, smiling and not wasting any time to dig into his food.

  “I’m good friends with the cook. I had him move our order to the top of his list.” I wink.

  I take a seat across from him, unrolling my silverware from the napkin. We both eat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying Tommy’s wonderful cooking. Mark keeps staring at me with this look of envy glistening in his eyes.

  “Where are you from?” I ask, curious about him.

  “Texas. Born and raised there.”

  “I’ve always wanted to visit there. I’ve never left Maine.” I finish up the last bite of my potatoes and move on to the steak.


  “Never?”

  “Never.”

  “Wow. You’re missing out.” Mark scarfs down a juicy bite of steak mixed with potatoes.

  “One day I’ll get out of this small town and move to the city. New York City, to be exact.” I take another bite of my food, enjoying the taste. Tommy is too good at what he does.

  “Small town girl with big city dreams.” He nods, studying my face. “What do you plan to do in the big city?”

  “Anything besides waitressing.” I always know how to lighten up the mood. “I want to be a big-time actress.”

  “Have you gotten any auditions or anything?” His eyes never leave mine.

  “I’m taking a few local classes now. Trying to improve before I move on to the audition part.”

  “Tell me more.”

  “About what?”

  “About yourself. You’re so…” He takes a moment to gather his thoughts. “…interesting.” That makes me laugh. Me? Interesting?

  “You’re funny.” I cut the steak into small pieces and then take a bite of my food. I’ll have to thank Tommy later.

  “And beautiful. And you seem smart. The list goes on and on.” His compliments make me shy. Is he trying to make my face burst into scarlet? If so, it’s working.

  “And you’re charming,” I say. “But, really, tell me what happened to your face.”

  Mark takes a deep breath, and leans forward. “This is what I get for trying to help my friend.”

  “What happened?”

  Mark finishes up his food and sets it aside. He shakes his head. “I have to learn that people won’t change unless they have their mind set on it.”

  I nod in agreement. “Very true,” I say, finishing up my meal. I want to know more, but I don’t want to push. It seems like a very sensitive subject for him.

  I clean off the table, bringing the dishes to the kitchen. I come back out with a rag and wash the table down. Mark lays some money on the table, enough to pay his bill plus a nice chunk of change for me.

  “I should be going. I have a long day tomorrow, and I still have to make it to my hotel room.” He puts on his jacket and slides his hands into his pockets.

  “It was nice meeting you, Mark.”

  “It was a pleasure, Miss Lauren. Thank you for keeping me company.”