So Sweet Read online

  Just sitting there watching movies with him was perfect. There were a few texts from Ruben, but he didn’t take any calls. But still, we had company. By dinner time our party had whittled down to Adler, Duke, Daniella, Michael and I. Duke got called to the studio after we had pizza delivered for dinner and Daniella admitted that she should probably get back. She actually had a job. Michael had PJ come around to pick her up. I debated going with them or staying, but when Adler asked me if I was coming, even though I resented the shit out her for even suggesting it, I remembered how out of the way our place was from his office.

  I packed up my shit and did my best not to stamp my feet and cry while Adler and Daniella waited for me to get into the SUV. Michael’s kissing didn’t make it any better.

  “Why do you live so far?” I said with a pout.

  “You want me to buy your apartment building? I’ll move over by you. Or maybe I’ll set Adler up somewhere else and move in with you.”

  My heart jumped into my throat, but I managed not to choke on it. I swallowed and looked down at his bare feet on his smooth driveway. “Yes, please. Buy a building so I never have to go home. Sext me before you go to bed?”

  “Anything you want. I’ll sext you real good.”

  “’Kay.” I stood up on my tiptoes and kissed him for an obnoxiously long time. The blaring of the horn was the only thing that pulled us apart. And Adler yelling over PJ’s shoulder for me to come the fuck on. I kissed Michael one last time then jumped into the car. We hadn’t even pulled out of the driveway and I was thinking about seeing him again.

  “What are you all smiley about?” Adler teased Daniella, as we made our way toward the PCH.

  “Duke and I swapped numbers. He wants to hang out.”

  “What the fuck?!” Adler said, flopping back on the seat cushions.

  I looked up from my phone. “What?”

  “What does a girl gotta do around here?”

  “Stop asking what a girl’s gotta do?” I said.

  “Jesus. I was kidding. Sensitive much.”

  “I’m just saying. He likes her. You’re making it sounds like she plotted her way into his contacts.” It was too late for me to realize how annoyed I was with her, I think, or maybe I was just tired. I decided it would be best if I stopped talking and retreated into my email on my phone. It would be bad for all of us if I said what was really on my mind.

  Adler reached over and patted Daniella’s leg. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “I know,” Daniella replied. “She’s just cranky. She misses her boo already. Don’t blame you, Kay. He’s pretty awesome.”

  “Yeah. He’s pretty swell.” My inbox rolled over and loaded my new messages. There was an email from Monica Lawrence. Social Manager with Arrangements. The subject said “Next Steps”. I opened it, ignoring Daniella and Adler’s chatter.

  Good Morning Kayla! I spoke with Mr. Bradbury and am delighted to hear that you two have been spending time together. If you would like to continue seeing Mr. Bradbury we just ask that you set your profile to dormant on the Arrangements website. Currently your profile is still visible to all of the great men in our dating pool and we’d hate for some poor guy to think he still has a chance with you. You can access the dormant option through your profile settings. Please let me know if you have any questions.

  Luck in love, Monica

  There was also an email from Ruben. The subject said “Save the Date.”

  Hay Kay, Michael’s fiftieth birthday is a month away. A formal invite to his surprise party should be in your mailbox tomorrow morning, but I wanted to give you the deets…

  The rest of the email outlined the plans for the night, and what Ruben hoped would be my role in getting Michael to the venue, and firm instructions to use the account Michael had set up for me to get my hair and wardrobe in order. My new debit card should be in my mail along with the invitation. I emailed Ruben back, telling him I was on board, and asked him for the exact date of his birthday. Then I emailed Monica back, thanking her for the instructions. Then I logged into Arrangements and deleted my account.

  Seven

  “I’ll be back on Monday morning,” I told Adler as I tossed my overnight tote onto my shoulder. In the three weeks since our tense moment in the backseat of Michael’s suburban things between us had gone back to normal. Friends get snippy with each other sometimes. It happens.

  “Sienna and I are hitting the movies tonight and then I will be here. On this couch. Looking for jobs.”

  “Good.” Michael was still helping us with groceries and stuff like gas, but I refused to use his money for recreational spending that didn’t involve him.

  Adler was still looking for a job. She’d had two promising interviews for assistant positions, but still hadn’t heard anything back yet. I was pretty sure Sienna was comping her movie ticket.

  I was still looking for a new job, but I had also jumpstarted my graphic design work. One of Michael’s buddies had pointed me to some online do-at-your-pace design tutorials. I’d become obsessed with perfecting my typography skills. They’d come in handy for what I’d planned for the night.

  I said bye to Adler, then headed outside to meet Michael. I told him point-blank that I wanted to spend his birthday night in, just the two of us. He didn’t suspect the surprise party that was still on for the following weekend, but we always talked about spending more time together. His schedule didn’t bother me. He worked hard and I’d be lying if I said his drive and his success weren’t massive turn-ons, but absence and the heart and whatnot. I missed him when we were apart and I think he missed me. We were always texting and, when his schedule allowed, we were together, either at my place or his. We tried to keep it down when Adler was home. My phone was slowly starting to fill up with pictures of him or selfies of us together. It was all very couple-y.

  Well, really, I was in love, but I hadn’t told Michael yet. And I think he was at least falling in love with me too, but he had yet to say so. And he still hadn’t asked me whatever he wanted to ask me.

  I tried not to think about either of those things too much. I just enjoyed my time with him and tried to believe that this amazing guy and the amazing way he treated me was not too good to be true.

  I pulled his hand into my lap and asked him about work as we made our way to Malibu. The NBA deal was closer to becoming a reality. The a certain team’s owner needed to step away. He was a million years old and his estate didn’t want to will the team to his family. The general feeling in the locker room matched that sentiment. The players wanted him to sell. There were a lot of politics involved and Michael had to walk a certain walk even if he decided not to make a serious bid for the team. The whole thing made me happy for him, but nervous at the same time.

  “I can’t conceptualize having enough money to buy a team,” I said, as we hopped out of the car and walked through the front door. “I’m still psyched that I bought my own car and I couldn’t kept my job long enough to pay it off. Capitalism, man. Never a dull moment.”

  Michael laughed. “That is definitely true. Holger said he was making dinner tonight. I hope you’re in the mood for salmon.”

  “Actually I talked to Holger. There’s been a change in the menu. This way please.”

  I grabbed Michael’s hand and led him into the kitchen. Holger was waiting for us and everything was set up exactly the way I wanted it. Fifty cupcakes with gold and white frosting, spelling out the numbers five zero were in the middle of the counter, along with the birthday cards I’d spent two weeks designing on my computer. And there was a platter of Philly Cheesesteaks from Michael’s favorite dive restaurant and a frosty bucket of cold beers.

  “Happy Birthday to you...” I started to sing in hushed, slightly off key tones. Holger joined in and Michael graciously let us finish the song.

  “I skipped the candles because I kept having these weird visions of your beard catching on fire.”

  “That’s fair.”

  “But I made the cupc
akes myself, and I made the cards, and I paid for dinner with my savings. This is a birthday brought to you by Kayla.”

  Holger held up his hands and took a step back. “I helped with presentation. That’s it.”

  “Thank you both. I appreciate it.”

  We took a seat and dug into our dinner. I tried to get Holger to join us, but he insisted that Michael should spend his birthday evening alone with his lady. I rolled my eyes and didn’t argue when he booked it for the pool house.

  Michael picked up one of the cards and flicked it open again. He kept toying with them. “I’m impressed with these.”

  “The artwork or my clever poetry?” Both cards had vintage, 70’s designs on the front. One had a sweet note inside, and the other had a dirty limerick pretty much telling Michael I was still happy to fuck him even though he was a half-century-old. I was proud of that one.

  “Both. You’re good. I think you should stick with this.”

  “Maybe I’ll start a greeting card line. Naughty Notes by Kayla.”

  “Don’t joke around. I’ll get it up and running.”

  I leaned over and kissed him. “That’s why I love you. You’re so sweet to me.”

  “When you’re ready, I want you to move in with me,” he said quietly.

  “Is that what you wanted to ask me this whole time?”

  He looked down for a second and took my hand, but then he looked into my eyes. “I don’t want what I’m feeling to rule what’s happening between us. But I want you to know where I’m coming from.”

  “Best to make decisions with all the available information at hand?”

  “It’s the best way to do business.”

  “Can we wait until my lease is up?”

  His eyebrows went up a bit, like he was impressed with my suggestion. “We absolutely can. We can wait as long as you want.”

  “It’ll give me a little time to tell my family. Ease them into the idea of me living with a guy. And then I have to break it to Adler that I’m leaving. And that she can’t come with me.”

  “Unfortunate, but true,” Michael said with a smile. “I’m more of a one woman kind of guy.”

  “I’m seeing that. Are you having a good birthday?”

  “I am. And I’m glad I’m spending it with you.”

  “Well there’s one more part to all this. If you’ll excuse me.”

  I ducked into the bedroom and changed into the white lace number I’d picked up a few days before. The top was more whimsical, a see–through, flowy fabric that covered me pretty well while still leaving almost nothing to the imagination. The bottoms matched, in theory, except they were crotchless, and kind of buttless, crafted for easy access. A final look in the mirror to fluff my hair before I joined Michael back in the kitchen. I grabbed the anal plug and the lube I’d ordered and a few condoms from his nightstand.

  When I walked into the kitchen, Michael almost choked on his beer. He set his bottle back on the counter and managed to regain his composure. I waved the toy and the lubricant in the air as I came closer.

  “I have to preface this by saying that I do not think butt stuff should be reserved for birthdays only. You just have a really big dick and I wanted to work up to taking every inch of you.”

  “You know you might actually give me a heart attack.”

  I stepped between his legs. “How are you feeling now? Is your heart beating fast?”

  “It is.”

  I put the plug and the lube in his hand. “Do you think you’re feeling well enough to help me with this?”

  “I think I’ll survive. Turn around.”

  I did as he asked and tried to breathe when he pulled me tight against his chest. His hard dick pressed against my lower back as he kissed and bit his way down my neck to my shoulder.

  “I had a whole seduction plan,” I told him.

  “I can see that. It’s working. Let’s move this to the couch.”

  We made our way into the living room portion of the massive space. Michael made himself comfortable on the lounger end of the couch and pulled me onto his lap. He kissed me gently at first and then his tongue invaded my mouth. I rubbed myself against him, positive I was leaving a wet spot along the bulge in his jeans. It was a desperate, shameless display, but I didn’t care. I wanted him.

  He pulled back just a bit, licking my lips. “I’m going to take it easy on you, but we’re going to skip the plug tonight. Okay?”

  I nodded frantically, reaching for his fly. “Yeah, okay.” We went back to kissing, almost violently, like this was our last chance, like we would never get enough of each other.

  I heard the lube cap pop somewhere in the distance and then I felt his fingers slicking the cool liquid over my tightest hole. He slipped one finger just inside and I was instantly reminded of how good it felt to be teased that way. I’d been down this road before, but it was a long time ago. And it wasn’t with Michael.

  He slipped another finger inside and this time, I pushed back, again and again until I was riding his hand. My clit was still throbbing. My whole body was more than worked up.

  He handed me the bottle. “Get me ready,” he said.

  His dick was already rock hard between us so it was nothing to lean back and pour a healthy amount lube all over his head and shaft. I palmed him with both hands and spread the mess around. Michael didn’t let me play with him for long though. He wanted in.

  I draped myself against his chest, biting at the fabric on his shoulder as he started rubbing himself along my back entrance.

  “Try and relax for me.”

  I took a deep breath and did as he asked, letting my whole body go as limp as possible. The first push felt so good. He was so perfectly thick, but I had to breathe through the pinches of pain as he went deeper. He went slow, bit by bit until he got past the tightest part and my body let him all the way in. I needed a moment to adjust. I felt so full, but my pussy kept clenching and clenching, wanting something of its own to grab on to.

  He kissed my face. “Kay, talk to me. You alright?”

  I nodded, feeling the ghost of an orgasm rushing through me. My tongue swept over my lips but I couldn’t open my eyes. “I was just...thinking. If there were two of you.”

  His fingers brushed over my clit and then a little lower. He moved his hips at the same time, drawing himself out and pushing back in. Slowly. “You want me here too.”

  “Yeah,” I said with a whimper.

  “We’ll have to do something about that,” he said. And then he really started to move.

  ✶

  Along with my seduction scheme, I’d planned a few birthday weekend outings with Holger’s help, but no. Michael and I spent the whole weekend in eating and fucking. He discovered I was ticklish and I discovered years of hard business had taught Michael to suppress all emotion, especially when I found the single square centimeter of ticklish skin on his body. It was on the left side of his neck.

  Some time Sunday afternoon, I realized just how disgustingly cute we were and how well we worked together. He let me nap when I couldn’t fuck or laugh anymore, and it didn’t bother me at all when he was on the phone for forty-five minutes talking about an app redesign on Sunday morning while I was trying to watch cooking shows. I could do this with him, whatever it was, for a long time.

  I spent the rest of the week doing my best to keep myself busy so I wouldn’t think about his surprise party. I wasn’t worried about the party itself. I was worried about the guest list. In his attempt to get me to understand just how important it was for me to get him to the venue, Ruben dropped the names for the more important people who were going to be there. Duke was performing, as was De’Bonay, my actual favorite singer. More celebs, general rich people, athletes, but I knew I’d only be star struck for a few minutes. Adler and Daniella were coming too, but obviously I wasn’t worried about them. Michael’s family was coming and Ruben thought it would be a perfect time for me to meet them.

  Knowing Michael, if he didn’t want me to me
et his family, Ruben would never, ever put us in the same room, so I figured he was on board, which was a good sign, but that didn’t change the fact that I was scared to death of what they would think. I wanted them to like me, not because I needed their approval. I was plenty secure in who I was, but I wanted them to like me for Michael. If they hated me I didn’t want that tension to come between us. Michael didn’t seem the type to dump me to make his family happy, especially since they lived in Michigan, but still. I wanted to avoid the drama.

  Friday came so fast and before I knew it Michael was picking me up for our “date”. PJ had already been by to scoop up Daniella and Adler. They looked gorgeous in their gold dresses. I looked pretty great too. Sew-in redone and styled. Nails gelled to the nines and I managed to find a gold dress in almost the exact same style as the dress I was wearing the afternoon Michael and I met. The flowy maxi flattered all my curves. Michael smiled when he saw me.

  The surprise portion of the evening went off without a hitch. The club was filled with guests, all wearing white and gold, and the minute we stepped in the door, Duke started performing a special rendition of “Happy Birthday”. Michael was surprised and pleased. He looked at me, the pleasant shock written all over his face and I just smiled. Even wider when he kissed me before dragging me along to say his hellos. It took twenty minutes to make it over to the corner where Ruben and his family were waiting.

  “Set up shop here,” Ruben yelled to Michael over the music. “Let the rest of the guests come to you.”

  “Good call,” he said back before he pulled me down onto the leather seats and introduced me to his sister Myra, his brother Matthew, and their spouses. They looked a little out of place only because all the other guest were so Hollywood and they looked like normal people dressed up for a night out. They all had the same black hair and the same blue eyes. Myra looked like a female version of Michael. Matthew had a different nose, but he and Michael had identical voices. It was almost eerie.