CHAPTER 29

 

Chapter 29

 

She slowly toed off one of her strappy heels, stretching her right leg under the table. The air was warm, thick with salt and jasmine and the music played low, mixing with the steady rhythm of the waves coming from somewhere behind her.

Lisa bit her lip, her foot sliding forward, just a whisper of contact against his ankle, yet Michael didn’t move, didn’t even flinch, but his eyes darkened, focused now, like a prey watching a predator step into its territory....

She smiled at that and slowly dragged her foot up along his calf, feeling the heat of him through the linen of his pants while his fingers curled around the base of his wine glass.

She smirked and slid higher… Along the inside of his knee at first and then up his thigh.

A muscle in his jaw twitched, his grip tightening slightly on the glass, and Lisa watched as his chest rose and fell in a measured breath while his eyes stayed locked onto hers. Yet she could see it, the flicker of bafflement in his gaze, as if he himself couldn’t quite believe what was happening.

Well, she wasn’t going to stop now, she was having too much fun… She slid even higher, along the inside of his thigh, pressing dangerously close to the heat of him and then, just as he brought his glass of wine to his lips, Lisa brushed against him — featherlight and very deliberate and his glass tilted in his hand. Michael barely managed a tiny sip before he coughed, choking on the surprise, his other hand gripping the edge of the table.

His eyes widened and he cleared his throat watching her, eyes dark with something between shock and hunger and Lisa felt her lips curve into a smile of quiet victory, the certainty of having the upper hand settling into her bones.

She listened to Michael as he exhaled sharply, but then, in one smooth motion, his right hand disappeared beneath the table, fingers closing around her foot.

He started massaging her foot, fingers pressing in just the right spots, slow but firm and the sensation immediately shot up her leg, making her forget everything else. Then, when a soft involuntary gasp slipped from her, Lisa watched Michael’s smug grin spreading across his face… Damn him.

He knew exactly how much she couldn’t resist a foot rub just like he always knew how to turn the simplest touch into something that made her body ache for more…

Heat seared through her skin as he held her there, thumb pressing slow, hypnotic circles into her arch and it was her turn to clear her throat and bite her lip…

Michael’s lips curled at the edges again, satisfaction laced in the tilt of his head and she could feel both his amusement and the subtle warning…

Two could play this game.

His hand flexed, kneading, soothing and Lisa swallowed, her shoulders dropping slightly…

Good thing the whole restaurant was theirs for the night — just them, no one watching, the waiters and cooks staying inside, only occasionally stepping out to check if they needed anything before slipping away again.

"Want more wine, Lise?" He asked, clearing his throat again and she smiled.

“Yes, please.”

He laid her foot on his lap under the table, his fingers still moving in slow, lazy circles across the curve of her foot while with his other hand, he reached for the bottle, ready to refill their glasses. Lisa licked her lips, watching him closely, but then she slowly withdrew her foot from him, deciding to leave these things for later…

The deep red liquid swirled as it filled her glass but as he set the bottle down, Michael didn’t lean away. Instead, his gaze lifted to hers - intent, searching, burning…

“You look so beautiful tonight…” His voice was softer now, almost reverent.

“Thanks for this…” Lisa said, letting out a soft sigh. “For all of it. The dinner, everything… it’s perfect.”

“You deserve all of this and more.” Michael smiled. “You make everything better just by being here… So this is nothing, really.”

Lisa smiled at his words but looked down at her plate, suddenly feeling a little flustered herself. It was one thing to tease him under the table and to brush her foot over his thigh like it was a game, but this? This was different. She never quite knew how to react when he got like that… so sweet, romantic, loving...

She smiled, then cleared her throat, choosing to navigate to safer waters.

“And so… the kids really didn’t mind? Us leaving tonight and not having dinner with them?" She glanced up at him again and Michael shifted a little in his chair, that familiar grin tugging at his lips.

“Oh, they were very okay with that…” He said, grabbing her hand from across the table. His fingers were warm, his touch easy and he laced his fingers through hers, their hands fitting together like they were made to be that way. "I told them I wanted to take you out for dinner, and the second I said it, they started giggling like crazy and making ridiculous kissing sounds. For what it's worth, I took that as their way of giving me their blessing."

Lisa chuckled softly, her fingers still tangled in his, every little touch sending ripples down her spine while his gaze was locked on hers, intense, as if he couldn't look away.

His thumb brushed the top of her hand gently but then, his eyes flickered to one of the plates on the table, breaking the spell.

"Hey, baby…" He murmured, giving her hand one last squeeze before pulling back. “Have you tried this… uh, whatever this is? Apparently, it’s one of the best things on the menu."

"Nope…" She said with a grin, shaking her head. "But now I have to, obviously. Can’t leave tomorrow without proving I’m a true food adventurer, right?"

She grabbed her spoon, scooping some of the dish onto her plate and taking a taste… The blend of spices and something rich and savory hit her taste buds and Lisa smiled in approval.

"Okay..." She said, still savoring the flavor. "This is fucking amazing."

They ate, talked and laughed falling into the familiar rhythm of their usual playful banter but somewhere in the middle of it all, as Michael started rambling about taking the kids to the arcade on Friday, Lisa’s heart sank, that familiar bittersweet knot tightening in her chest.

She knew. She knew this night, though beautiful and perfect, would fade by the next day when she had to leave.

“Michael …” She set her glass down after taking a small sip, her fingers tracing the rim as she spoke. “You do know that this...” She gestured around at the food, the candles and the wine. “...isn't helping, right? Making it even harder to leave.”

“Maybe you’ll decide to stay.” He shrugged innocently, but she saw there was a thread of hope in his eyes too, barely hidden.

“I can’t. You know I have to go back…”

“I know.”

They exchanged a quiet look before reaching for the food again, casually sampling this and that from the table.

Lisa tried a bite of the rich hummus with warm pita, then passed him some of the grilled vegetables with a tangy dressing and Michael raised an eyebrow but took a forkful, nodding in approval.

Once it seemed like they were done, Lisa dabbed her napkin gently on her lips after finishing the last bite of her meal, just as the waiter approached them.

“How’s everything?” He smiled politely, standing at their table. “Do you need anything else? Maybe some coffee, dessert?”

Lisa looked up and smiled back at him. “Thanks, everything’s been perfect. But I think we’re good for now.”

“Excellent.” The waiter nodded and then turned to walk away but just as he took one step, Lisa caught Michael giving him a subtle wave that made the waiter stop in his tracks and motioning for him to come closer. When he did, Michael leaned in and murmured something, and Lisa saw the waiter nodding slightly. Then he turned, leaving the terrace and Michael leaned back in his chair, grabbing his water and taking a small sip.

“Are we leaving?” Lisa asked, raising an eyebrow but Michael just shook his head softly, completely unfazed.

“No… Not yet.”

And then, she heard it. The soft, familiar notes of ‘Nothing Can Change This Love’ by Sam Cooke, playing through the speakers.

If I go a million miles away…

Michael stood up, walked over, and offered her his hand, looking at her with a soft grin.

“Dance with me?”

Without a word, Lisa placed her hand in his and the smile on his face grew before he gently pulled her up into his arms. She could feel the heat of his body against hers, and his scent — mint, cinnamon, and a little bit of something else — wrapped around her like it was meant only for her.

Lisa let him lead her, following the steady rhythm of his movements and relaxing in his arms as they swayed together. With one hand on the small of her back and the other holding hers, Michael kept them moving, steady and smooth, his grip secure while Lisa rested her head on his shoulder, letting her eyes slip closed.

There had never been a time she felt so safe, so completely at ease, as if nothing in the world could reach them and she wished she could stay like this forever, just the two of them, swaying with the music, the rest of the world ceasing to exist for the moment. Her mind was stuck in the here and now as his fingers skimmed her bare back, each stroke a quiet gesture of affection, the warmth of his breath brushing against her ear.

The song came to an end, but they didn’t stop and they kept moving instead, not ready to break the moment, waiting for the next one to drop. Michael’s fingers grazed her cheek gently, coaxing her to look up at him.

Their eyes met and then, without a word, he leaned in, his lips brushing hers gently, a soft, lingering touch as if testing the warmth between them, before he deepened the kiss a bit more. His tongue flicked against hers, and she let him in without a second thought, her fingers now clutching at his jacket, pulling him closer, needing to feel more of him…

For a brief moment, she wondered if kissing like this in public was such a great idea… Sure, they were alone on the terrace, but the staff was still inside, just a few steps away and Lisa couldn’t help but wonder if any of them were secretly hoping to upgrade their salaries by selling a photo or two…

But then, when she felt Michael gently biting her lower lip and sucking it softly into his mouth, all thoughts evaporated like dust in the wind, scattered and forgotten… The world seemed to narrow down to just the two of them, and suddenly she couldn’t bring herself to care about anything else even if she wanted to…

Eventually the kiss broke, but the heat still lingered and Lisa once again rested her cheek against his chest and closed her eyes, breathing him in and  letting her mind drift back… to earlier that morning.

 

 

She had woken up to the feeling of Michael’s arm around her waist, solid and comforting, her body sore in the best possible way. His breath was warm against her skin and she smiled, feeling her limbs tangled up with his beneath the sheets.

She traced small, lazy circles on his chest, watching him as he slept, his lips slightly parted while her mind replayed some of the hot and intense moments from the night, his hands on her, his moans and her name on his lips.

And Lisa knew better than to take that peace for granted because in less than twenty-four hours, all this would be gone…

She had a flight to catch… and a life to go back to…

She let out a quiet sigh and tried to slip out of bed, careful not to disturb him, but before she could move, Michael stirred and his arm tightened around her waist, pulling her back against his warm body, his voice rough with sleep.

“Not yet…” He mumbled, his lips finding hers in a slow, deep kiss. “Five more minutes.”

She blinked and couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him, his hair messy and tousled, lips still glistening from the kiss he had just given her.

“I have to get up, Mike... My flight’s in less than a day.”

“Then stop wasting time talking about it…” He whispered, lips brushing the shell of her ear now, sending a shiver down her spine. “And kiss me instead.”

And Lisa didn’t have to be told twice…

Then, the next few hours passed in a haze of stolen kisses and some small moments of normalcy like breakfast with the kids or a long calming shower, but she could still feel her departure hanging over them, like a countdown to something neither of them wanted to face.

And then, eventually, the reality set in…

Lisa stood in Michael's room, staring at the open suitcase and frowning when she heard Michael as he walked in and leaned against the doorframe, watching her.

“You’re packing it all wrong.”

“Oh, really?” She looked at him, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah.” He nodded seriously, but the corner of his mouth twitched. “You’re supposed to be putting the clothes in the closet, not in the suitcase.”

She laughed, shaking her head. “That so?”

“Mm-hmm.” He smirked. "Then, once you’re done, set the boarding pass on fire, and you're golden."

Lisa chuckled shaking her head at him and Michael moved to sit on the bed, watching her quietly.

“Have you reconsidered? You can come back with me.” She broke the silence once all her shirts were neatly stacked in the suitcase and Michael exhaled, looked down and then shook his head.

“You know I can’t, Lisa. Not right now.”

“Michael…”

"I love you, Lise… so damn much. That hasn’t changed, and it never will. But… but I can’t go back … I need to get my career back on track, and the US just isn’t the place for that."

She frowned slightly but nodded.

Turning back to the suitcase, she folded a pair of jeans, her focus on the task at hand before she felt him move and when she looked up, Michael was standing right there next to her, his hands settling gently on her waist and turning her to him.

“I’ve been thinking, though…”

“Yeah?”

“It’s still just an idea...” He said, almost as if testing the words as they came out. “Rough around the edges, but... I was thinking I could move to London.”

Her breath caught. “London?”

“Yeah.” Michael nodded, his eyes not leaving hers. “It’s not perfect, I know. With the kids, the distance... But…”

“I can’t move to London, Michael.”

“I know. But maybe... it could work as some kind of temporary compromise? How about that?”

She stared at him, trying to process it all, her mind racing in a million directions at once.

“It won’t be easy.” He added, his voice softening, and he reached up, brushing his thumb gently across her cheek. “But we’ve never done easy, have we?”

He didn’t give her a chance to react, pulling her into him with an urgency that made her breath catch and then, without another word, he took a few steps backward, settling back onto the bed, and in one fluid motion, he guided her into his lap.

His arms wrapped around her as he kissed her cheek gently, then his lips moved to the other cheek, soft and slow, before drifting to her ear, planting a tender kiss there. He trailed his lips down to her nose, pressing a sweet, fleeting kiss on the tip, and Lisa shivered in his arms, the warmth of his touch sending a jolt of comfort through her.

Unable to resist, she hugged him tight, letting the moment envelop her, feeling safe and whole in his embrace.

“I want to try…” Lisa whispered a minute later.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah…” She nodded, and he pulled back and grabbed her face, kissing her deeply. Michael’s hands tangled in her hair, his lips claiming hers, and when they finally pulled apart, breathless, he looked at her with a little glint in his eyes.

“Hey, don’t make any plans for tonight, okay?”

Her eyebrow shot up. “What are you planning?”

“It’s a secret.”

“Michael…”

“Curiosity killed the cat, Lise.” He smirked, pressing a finger to her lips. “Just trust me.”

 

 

Lisa snapped back to the present when she felt Michael’s fingers threading through her hair, his touch slow, deliberate, his fingertips massaging the nape of her neck while they kept swaying together on the restaurant terrace.

“Are you here with me?” He murmured, his voice gentle but searching, as if he had noticed the way she had drifted away from him, lost in thought…

“Yeah… yeah, of course.” She said and his thumb brushed over her cheek before tilting her chin ever so slightly to look at him.

“What’s on your mind, baby?”

“Us.”

“Good things, I hope?” He let out softly, a small smile appearing on his lips and her own lips curved into a smile too, mirroring his own.

“The best. I don’t know… I’m.. I’m just really happy right now.”

Lisa leaned back into him and his arms tightened around her, pulling her just a little closer, his lips brushing the top of her head.

“Me too.”

For a moment, they just held each other, letting the world melt away, lost in the slow rhythm of their dance.

“Wanna take a little walk with me?” He asked when the next song ended and Lisa pulled back slightly to look at him.

“Are you sure? We’re not supposed to be…”

“It’s a private strip of the beach. We’ll be fine.”

“Oh, okay.”

They slipped away from the terrace, out into the night, leaving the soft lights of the restaurant behind and the moment their feet hit the sand, Lisa kicked off her heels, letting them dangle from her fingers as she took in the view.

The beach at this hour was breathtaking. The ocean stretched out endlessly before them, a vast, inky blackness bathed in silver where the moonlight hit the waves. The tide rolled in soft and steady, while a gentle breeze curled around them.

“It’s beautiful.” She sighed, tilting her head back to take it all in while Michael laced his fingers through hers.

“Not as beautiful as you.”

“Smooth.” She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t stop the smile on her face and Michael grinned back at her.

They walked, leaving twin trails of footprints in the cool, damp sand... They didn’t rush, just moved slowly, letting their fingers intertwine and their shoulders brush.

“I wish I could steal time.” Michael said after a moment. “Just take these last few hours and stretch them out forever.”

“Wouldn’t that be nice?” She mumbled and squeezed his hand, leaning into his side.

Suddenly Michael stopped walking, gently pulling her to a halt with the soft pressure of his hand and Lisa heard him exhale before he leaned in and brushed his lips over her forehead.

"Stay." He whispered and her stomach flipped. “Stay here for a few more days.”

She swallowed and stayed quiet, then just turned her face up toward him, and before she could tell him what he knew she would say, he was kissing her again.

It started slow, a tender brush of lips and Lisa felt the heat of Michael’s breath mingling with hers but quickly, the kiss deepened, and their lips moved together in perfect rhythm, soft at first, but then with a growing hunger, as if the world outside no longer existed.

His tongue slipped between her lips, teasing and exploring, and Lisa moaned out loud, their tongues swirling together in a slow dance that sent shivers through her body.

The taste of him, warm and familiar, was intoxicating… How was she supposed to survive without it for days?? Weeks? Months, even??!

When he finally pulled away, Lisa’s heart was racing, breathless and her legs felt as if they might buckle beneath her from the intensity of it all. And Michael must have noticed, because before she could falter, he pulled her closer, his arm sliding around her waist to steady her, holding her firm against him. They stood there for a moment, wrapped in the quiet, the only sounds being the soft whispers of the ocean and their slow, steady breaths.

Lisa’s head once again rested against his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath her ear, before the breeze picked up a bit, and she shivered, her light satin dress doing little to keep her warm.

She pressed a little closer to him for comfort, and Michael seemed to notice, letting out a soft grunt before he was already shrugging off his suit jacket.

“Here…” He mumbled, draping it over her shoulders, not giving her a single chance to protest.

"What are you doing? Gee, I don’t want to steal your jacket! I’m just a little chilly, not the end of the world."

"Then consider it a gift, because I can’t let you get sick before your flight, Lisa. Hmmm, by the way, speaking of gifts…” He added, his voice dropping as he reached into the inside pocket of his jacket that was now resting on her shoulders. “I got something else for you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah… just a silly little something.”

“Michael, you’ve spoiled me enough already tonight, I really don’t need anything else.”

“Yeah, but still…” He trailed off, pulling out a small box and Lisa’s heart skipped a beat before she realized it wasn’t quite small enough to be um, ‘that kind of box’.

Relief washed over her…

Not because she didn’t love him, but because Michael could be really impulsive at times and a small velvet ring box was one thing she was not ready for. Not yet, anyway…

“Open it.” He said and her fingers trembled slightly as she took the box. Lisa glanced up at him once more and caught him watching her, his gaze full of quiet anticipation, before she looked down and slowly lifted the lid…

Inside, nestled in a velvety cushion, was a bracelet. White gold, simple but elegant, with a tiny charm shaped like a key. Tiny, understated diamonds sparkled along the band, just enough to catch the light without being too much. It wasn’t flashy, not one of those over-the-top gifts she sometimes got from men… No, this bracelet was refined, and yet she knew right away it must have cost him a small fortune…

“That’s… that’s beautiful.” She breathed.

Michael didn’t say anything. Instead, he plucked the box from her fingers and took the bracelet out, gently grasping her wrist. His hands were warm against her skin as he fastened the clasp.

“Lise… I know we don’t have a place together yet… A home…” He said, his voice a little rough, like the words had been waiting too long to be spoken. “And I know it might take some time before we actually do. But I need you to bear with me…” He lifted her wrist slightly, tilting it so the charm caught the light. “Just know you’ve got the key to my heart, and you’ll always have a place to come back to.”

And that was it. That was all it took for her eyes to burn and for the first tears to well up, blurring her vision, making the bracelet shimmer even more. Lisa gasped softly, a shaky breath escaping her lips as the tears began to fall and she just let them slip quietly down her cheeks, the weight of happiness so overwhelming it was almost too much to hold.

She didn’t really know what she expected to hear next, but it sure as hell wasn’t the groan Michael let out, low yet still somehow full of tenderness.

“Oh, come on, Lise!” He teased and she snorted, sniffing hard as she wiped at her cheek with the back of her free hand, attempting a smile.

“Sorry…” She managed, even though she wasn’t sorry at all and Michael shook his head, exasperated but still grinning at her.

“Had I known this would make you cry, I would’ve just made you a mixtape.”

That did it. That cracked her right open and through the tears, she giggled, a half-choked, unsteady little sound, and he laughed with her, pulling her back into his arms without another word.

“C’mere, you nut job.” He sighed dramatically shaking his head and she weakly smacked his chest.

“Shut up… This is all your fault anyway.”

He only chuckled, his arms tightening around her, and she relaxed, pressing her cheek against the fabric of his shirt and they stood there in silence for a long moment, just breathing, just feeling...

“You sure you like it?”

“I love it…”

“Good… Hmmm, if the bracelet made you cry, I wonder what you’re gonna do now…”

She frowned slightly, pulling back just enough to look up at him.

“Huh?”

Instead of answering her, Michael tightened his arms around her, pulling her back against his chest and Lisa let her eyes flutter shut one more time, assuming he didn’t want her looking at him now… Maybe he just needed to feel her, to hold her, and perhaps to say what he needed to say without the weight of her gaze on him.

She didn’t mind. She would take whatever he had on his mind…

But then, to her utter surprise, instead of words, he started humming…

The sound resonated softly against her hair and then, a moment later, just as effortlessly, he added a few low beatboxing sounds … very small and extremely subtle, but enough to create the illusion of an entire band surrounding them.

How he did that had always been beyond her… a true gift from God that Michael was now using to make her feel like she was the only person in the world…

The rhythm built, layer upon layer, and Lisa could almost hear the instruments that weren’t really there… It was mesmerizing, the way he did it, music simply pouring out of him, as natural as breathing…

A fresh wave of tears welled in Lisa’s eyes, her heart tightening painfully… Was he really going to sing for her?

The beatboxing faded away, and for a moment, there was nothing but the sound of the ocean rolling against the shore. And then, in a voice so smooth it could melt glass, he started singing…

“Girl, you came when the sky fell down, held me close and turned my world around… Didn’t ask for nothin’, just gave me love, like an angel sent from up above…”

His voice carried through the night air, slow and soulful and each word was a quiet declaration, personal and beautiful, meant for her and her alone.

Lisa felt completely weightless, suspended in this moment where nothing else existed but his voice, the waves, and the way her body fit so perfectly against his.

She tightened her arms around him, her fingers clutching at the fabric of his shirt as though she could somehow pull him inside her soul and keep him there forever.

And then, despite herself, she tilted her head back, looking up at him… Her vision was blurred with tears, but she could still make out his face, as he smiled down at her.

His voice dropped even lower, richer and he continued…

“You’re the rhythm in my veins, the fire melting away my chains, girl. No one else, no one but you, every beat, my heart stays true to just you…”

His singing softened into a hum again and Lisa sniffled despite herself, a shaky breath escaping her lips making Michael chuckle lightly, the sound vibrating through his chest.

“I haven’t finished it yet…” He whispered before he leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her lips. “Which means you need to come back to me soon so I can sing the rest to you, my love.”

“Michael, I... I don’t know what to say. That was…”

“Impressive?” He teased, arching a brow. “Yeah, I know.”

He chuckled and she let out a laugh, swatting his chest, but he caught her hand, pressing it over his heart.

“This is where you belong, right here… I can’t imagine being without you ever again, Lisa.” He said, his tone turning serious. “I know we’ve had our ups and downs, and we probably always will, but… But I need you to believe in us. In me. Because you’re the one. The only one for me… You always have been.”

She gasped softly and then his lips were on hers again, sealing his words with a slow, deep kiss. His tongue brushed against hers while his fingers tangled in her hair, tilting her head just right, and she let out a quiet moan against his lips that he quickly swallowed.

His fingertips traced a path from her neck to her collarbone, the light touch sending shivers down Lisa’s spine before they slid lower, caressing along her side and she melted further into him, the feeling of his touch igniting every little nerve in her body. When he pulled back from the kiss, Michael smiled and planted a soft peck on her nose.

“You ready to head back? It’s getting late.”

“Yeah…” She bit her lip. “I can’t wait to be with you all alone.”

She saw his eyes darkening at her words before a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. Without another word, they turned, hand in hand, walking back toward the waiting car parked in front of the restaurant.

The driver was waiting, standing by the door, and neither of them hesitated before they quickly slipped inside. As soon as the doors shut and the engine purred to life, the car eased into motion but Lisa barely waited a second before she turned to Michael, not bothering to stay in her seat or fasten her seatbelt, swinging her legs over his lap instead. She locked her arms around his neck and he groaned low, the sound sending a rush of heat through her as his hands instantly found her waist, pulling her tighter against him.

Their lips collided in another feverish kiss, all heat and urgency, the weight of the night and all the pent-up passion crashing down in a dizzying wave.

She felt the familiar slide of his tongue against hers, teasing, tasting, sending shivers down her spine and a soft whimper slipped from her lips, which he swallowed greedily, deepening the kiss even more.

Michael’s hand slid under the hem of her dress, his palm gliding slowly up her thigh, brushing the sensitive skin there, sparking all the possible electric currents through her body. Lisa gasped and in one swift movement, she shrugged off his jacket, letting it fall on the seat next to her while his fingers kept tracing the soft skin of her thigh before sliding up even higher, each touch sending a jolt of fire straight to her core.

She closed her eyes, her breath growing ragged but then she felt Michael’s hand shift, moving from her thigh to her arm before he caught the strap of her dress, pushing it down her shoulder with a gentle tug.

Lisa’s eyes flew open when she felt his palm cupping her breast and the sensation of his fingertips on her bare skin made her shiver, every inch of her craving more. She leaned in again, capturing his lower lip between her teeth, teasing it with a soft bite while her hand moved down and started teasing him through his pants.

The low groan that escaped him was all she needed to know that he was feeling the same heat and the same pull like she was…

“God, you’re gonna kill me, baby.” He let out breathlessly.

“Not yet.” She grinned. “Later maybe…”

A low cough from the driver reminded them they weren’t alone, and Michael chuckled against her lips, grabbing his jacket from behind her on the seat and gently draping it over her shoulders before he pressed one last lingering kiss and pulled her back against his chest.

“Just wait till we get back to the hotel.” He murmured, his voice warm against her ear…

 

 

Michael stripped off the final piece and kicked it aside, not taking his eyes off her, his gaze dark and intense and he crossed the room in three long strides, his hands reaching out to pull her into his arms. His lips met hers in a searing kiss, his tongue demanding entrance as he pressed his naked body against hers.

The drive had felt unbearably long, the anticipation building with every mile, but finally, they were back in his suite, alone at last…

“I need you so bad…” He moaned while Lisa's hands roamed over his back, her fingers digging into his flesh as she kissed him back with total abandon.

“I’m yours, baby…Take me…”

“You got me so damn hard back there in the car…” He panted between the kisses while Lisa reached down and took his dick in her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Aah, shit, girl… now I’m gonna make sure you feel what you did to me.”

Lisa had to suppress a smile… He talked a good game but his voice came out strained, like speaking was a battle he was losing, and she could see that he was barely holding it together, most of his blood clearly having abandoned his brain a while ago.

“Oh yeah, baby? What are you going to do?” She purred into his ear and felt him shiver against her.

"Get on the bed… On…on your hands and knees." He was trying so hard to keep it together, Lisa almost felt bad for him… almost.

"I will… but I missed out on dessert, and I plan on having it right now." She uttered matter-of-factly and saw his eyes widen a bit before she dropped to her knees and without a second thought took him in her mouth, swirling her tongue around the tip and causing him to let out a loud moan.

Michael’s hand moved to her head and he threaded his fingers through her hair, guiding her gently while Lisa took him deeper and deeper, tasting him.

She knew how much he loved it, though he never pressured her and always let her take the lead and stay in control.

A couple of minutes of sweet torture later she pulled back and looked up at him, giving him a sultry look and a smile, before she wrapped her hand around his shaft again, feeling the smooth skin and the throbbing pulse beneath. She leaned in again, her tongue flicking out to taste him one more time, while she met his eyes this time, watching him as he watched her, Michael’s eyes burning with desire.

She could feel how his hands were now gripping her hair desperately and she began to move again, her tongue swirling around the sensitive head of his dick. He was watching her as she sucked him off, his hips bucking slightly while her name started tumbling from his mouth in a string of needy, breathless moans.

“Lisa… oh god, you're so fucking good at that.” He panted before he just closed his eyes throwing his head back and she suddenly felt his body tensing…

Oh no… she didn’t want this to end just yet.

She pulled back slightly, giving him one last long lick before she stood up, her hands on his hips, pulling him against her.

“You wanted me on my hands and knees, you said?” She whispered into his ear.

“Yeah…”

She smiled and got on the bed slowly, looking back at him over her shoulder, licking her lips while Michael took a step forward, grabbing her hips and he pulled her closer to him, right to the edge of the bed with a deep growl.

His hands caressed her hips as he positioned himself and Lisa arched her back, pressing herself back against him. She watched him from the corner of her eye as he stood there, his silhouette barely visible in the dim light. His frame was slim but still pretty toned, the subtle contours of his muscles defined even in the shadows…

God, he looked so damn sexy, like he just stepped out of one of her dark, seductive fantasies.

Lisa couldn’t wait another second…

"Fuck me, Michael." She begged. "Please, I need you inside me."

She heard his loud groan and it seemed like he didn’t need to be told twice… A split second later he pushed inside her, his dick filling her completely and making Lisa gasp as he stretched her, her pussy clenching tightly around him.

He slowly began to move in and out of her but he was clearly taking his time, knowing how intense this angle could feel for her while his hands roamed over her back and her ass.

“Girl, you’re so fucking tight…” He uttered through gritted teeth, but she only looked at him over her shoulder again, pressing back against him.

"Fuck me hard, Michael, you know I can take it."

His eyes widened and Lisa heard his loud growl echo through the room before he gripped her hips firmly and slowly began to thrust inside her harder, just like she had asked for. Lisa’s eyes slipped shut as she savored the intoxicating mix of pain and pleasure, each sensation perfectly balanced, but still, she could feel he had more to give her. And she wanted all of him that night…

"Don't play coy with me, Michael… Fuck me like you mean it."

Well, and that did it…

She listened as he let out a string of curses while his grip on her hips tightened and a few deep, hard thrusts later she felt Michael grabbing a handful of her hair, pulling her head back as he now fucked her with complete abandon, the strength of his movements making her almost lose her balance.

“Does it feel good, girl?” He groaned while he continued to pound into her desperately, his hips slamming into her as he drove his cock deeper and deeper and Lisa collapsed onto her elbows right before her orgasm hit her like a freight train, out of nowhere, her pussy clenching  and spasming around him…

“Shit! Yeah! Goddammit!” Lisa buried her face in a pillow, screaming his name into it as she came hard, her body shaking with pleasure, but even through her orgasm she could feel Michael tensing behind her, his breathing ragged and his dick growing even harder inside her…

“Fuck, Lisa…!! Fuck, I can’t.” He groaned, his words barely audible over the sound of their bodies slapping together while he gripped her hips so hard against him she was sure he would leave some bruises.

Then, a few deep thrusts later Michael came too, his dick spasming inside her while Lisa started moving gently against him, helping him ride out the waves of his orgasm.

“Fucking hell… Shit!” He let out breathlessly before he collapsed onto the bed and Lisa quickly snuggled into his arms, smiling and relaxing in the warm tangle of his arms and legs. “That was amazing!”

Their breaths were still ragged and their bodies spent, their limbs heavy but she couldn’t remember the time she felt happier or more alive. His fingers traced slow, lazy circles along her spine, and she melted into him like she always did, pressing her face into the crook of his neck, breathing him in.

“God, girl… You almost gave me a heart attact.” He murmured against her hair and she smiled against his skin.

“Have to make sure you won’t forget me.”

"Forget you? After what just happened? Baby, this is going in my memoirs and I’ll thank you in my next Grammy speech." He said, chuckling and his hand slid into her hair, cradling the back of her head and she let out a breathy laugh, pressing a kiss to his collarbone.

The warmth of his embrace and the steady rhythm of his breathing were enough to pull her under, dragging her into that strange, weightless place between waking and dreaming.

The edges of reality started blurring, and somewhere in that haze, she heard his voice again, softer this time, almost pleading…

“Don’t give up on me, baby. Don’t give up on us.”

Her brow furrowed and her lips parted, but no sound came out while confusion rippled through her.

Give up?

She wasn’t giving up.

She was all in, wasn’t she?

But something felt off, a little warning she couldn’t quite grasp and then, suddenly, the ground beneath her wasn’t solid anymore…

It cracked, splintered and she started falling… Free-falling into nothing, the void swallowing her whole.

She jolted awake with a sharp gasp, her body tensing, her fingers digging into Michael’s skin and his arm tightened around her instantly, pulling her back into him.

“You were falling asleep, Lise.”

She exhaled shakily, grounding herself in the warmth of his body.

“Yeah… I know. Just that weird falling dream.”

Michael pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Close your eyes. Try again.”

She did, settling against him, letting his steady breathing lull her back toward sleep but the moment her mind started to drift again, her eyes snapped open, a sudden jolt of realization shocking her system…

“Oh, shit! I forgot to pack my hoodie!” She yelped, sitting up fast and Michael groaned, rubbing his eyes.

“What hoodie? What are you talking about?”

“The one I’ve been wearing the whole time here, duh.”

“Oh. You mean my hoodie.” He smirked, but Lisa just waved him off, scrambling out of bed, grabbing a robe and putting it on before she tiptoed across the floor toward the closet.

“I asked to have it washed.” She called over her shoulder as she turned on the light. Her eyes scanned the shelves, the neatly folded piles of clothes and there it was, tucked under a few of Michael’s other hoodies and T-shirts.

She reached for it, pulling it from the stack, but in the process, a couple of other shirts slipped off and landed in a crumpled heap on the floor.

“Dammit…” She muttered, kneeling down to pick them up but as she did, her fingers brushed against something small and smooth, something out of place among the soft fabric.

A bottle.

Orange. Plastic.

She stilled, a strange sense of unease creeping up her spine. Slowly, she lifted it, tilting it so that the label caught the light… and then she saw it. The word printed in bold, clinical letters.

Demerol.

Her breath hitched, and the room seemed to close in around her as her eyes dropped to the smaller text just below.

His name. And beneath that, the instructions…

Take as needed for pain. Do not exceed prescribed dose.

Then Lisa noticed the date. Prescribed only a few weeks ago.

Lisa tried to swallow, but her mouth had gone dry while her pulse thrummed in her ears as she stared at the bottle in her trembling hand.

Slowly, like she was moving through water, she rose to her feet and turned back toward the bedroom. Her legs felt unsteady, her body too light and too heavy all at once.

Michael was propped up on his elbow, watching her with lazy amusement.

“Did you find it?” He asked, but before she could say anything, his gaze dropped to what she was holding and she noticed his whole body tensing in an instant, while his expression changed, the amusement evaporating.

“What the fucking hell, Michael?”