It's a Wonderful Lie

Chapter Six

Caspian

I know the sun has started to rise because I can sense the light through my closed eyelids. I’m not ready to wake up from this f*****g incredible dream, though.

I can feel my d**k twitching under the covers and know he needs to be taken care of after such an intense series of images played out all night long. My thoughts have never been so dirty before, but that girl from the bar really must have done a number on me. Her seamless appearance in my dreams last night felt so real that my muscles are even aching a bit this morning.

But seriously, at a certain point it felt like I was having dreams with the dream. I would fall asleep in the dream and then have another dream about us f*****g in that dream. It was s*x inception in the highest form and I wish it never had to end.

No longer able to put off the inevitable, I open my eyes to the stunning sunrise view of Lake Tahoe through the sliding glass doors attached to the suite’s bedroom. I sit up and am stunned to find myself staring at the woman from the bar, attempting to zip up the dress she wore last night.

It was real. It was all f*****g real.

“Morning,” I offer and she freezes at my voice, quickly turning to meet my gaze.

“Hi,” she squeaks, the confident young woman from the night before long gone and a nervous girl desperate to escape an awkward situation standing in her place.

“You don’t have to sneak out, you know?” I smile and a deep shade a pink flushes her ivory skin. I step out of bed and rather than searching the room for my wherever my briefs landed last night, I go to the dresser and pull out a fresh pair from the drawer.

Her eyes are glued to my morning wood as she stutters, “Oh, I wasn’t—I mean, I didn’t want to wake you, is all…”

I walk up behind her and brush her long, tangled hair to the side, leaning in to speak low in her ear, “I’m sure you’re used to doing this with boys, but I’m a man. I know how to take care of a woman in every aspect, including morning after care.” I zip up her dress and a slight shiver rolls over her.

“C’mon,” I nod my head and start making my way out of the bedroom, “I’m going to make some coffee.”

I’m in the kitchen loading up the French press when she finally meanders out of the bedroom, those big, beautiful eyes still looking bashful and a little confused.

“Have a seat,” my hands full, I gesture my elbow to the island chairs, “I can order you something for breakfast before you go, if you’d like. Or I can have it sent to your room, if you’d prefer.”

“Oh,” she seems a little awestruck that I’m being a decent person without expecting this to go any farther, “um, thanks, but I already have breakfast plans. Coffee would be wonderful, though.”

A gross spike zips through me at her mention of breakfast plans and I can’t help but wonder if she’s meeting up with another guy. Possibly the guy who left her high and dry last night. But as life-changing as our marathon of s*x was, she’s not mine and she probably will never be mine. In the light of day she’s most likely looking at me and asking herself what she was thinking getting involved with a man twice her age.

Needing to change the subject so I don’t get sad or angry thinking of her with someone less deserving of her time, I pull a couple of mugs out while the coffee steeps.

“How are you feeling this morning?” Leaning against the counter, I look over at her and she promptly looks down, avoiding my gaze, “We were pretty intense last night. Just want to make sure you’re ok with everything that happened.”

“Oh, yeah,” she’s still not looking at me, so I turn away and start filling a mug for her to try and ease her comfort level, “it was kind of…”

“f*****g insane,” I scoff, a genuine smile taking over my face as I slide her coffee across the island and into her hand.

“It was, right?” She accepts the mug and looks up at me, her brow furrowed in some form of bewilderment.

“Cream or sugar?” I ask as I pour my own coffee.

“No thanks,” she relaxes back into the soft shyness from earlier, but then surprises me by asking, “So, uh, last night. It was good? For you?”

I take a sip, shaking my head at the idea that some fucker managed to make this insanely sexy woman think she wasn’t good enough. The commanding vixen who took what she wanted is still in there, but now, in the light of day, she’s second guessing her choices and I can guarantee it’s because of some asshat kid who probably never gave her the kind of pleasure she deserves.

“I got f*****g hard this morning when I woke up and realized it wasn’t a dream. That’s how good for me it was.”

She smiles and takes a sip of her drink, keeping her eyes on me this time, “Good to know.”

“So are you staying at the lodge through the holidays?” I asked, trying to casually feel out if I might have a chance at a repeat performance of last night. Not for me. Well, not just for me. I would happily dedicate my twelve nights of Christmas to ensuring she knows her worth. Then I can sleep easy knowing whatever guy is lucky enough to end up with her isn’t just another boy who will let her down.

“Yeah, I’m here for a Christmas wedding, actually.” She nods before hurriedly adding, “Not my wedding.”

I laugh at her worried clarification, “I’m here for the wedding, too. Groom’s side.”

“Bride’s side,” she shrugs, “in fact, I’m meeting the bride for breakfast, so I should probably get going.”

I try and ignore the relief that filters through me with the confirmation that she’s not meeting up with some douche kid. One night with this woman is making me want things that I know I can’t have. I wasted my life focused on business and growing an empire to create security for those I love. But now I’m 51 years old and still unsure exactly what love is. Last night sure felt like a step in the right direction, but unfortunately it takes two to tango. And why would a beautiful young woman want to pick a middle aged man who’s always wrapped up in his work to be her permanent dance partner?

I move quickly to the front door to collect her heels and turn around to find her standing by the island. “May I?”

She nods, looking a little breathless, and I make my way over to her before slowly dropping down to my knees, bookending our time together.

I gently fasten each heel on, doing my best to put more care than desire into the action, but it’s so hard when I know what she tastes like and I could so easily give her an X-rated kiss goodbye.

But before I lose myself to the thought, I stand and accompany her to the door.

“Maybe I’ll see you at the wedding,” she smiles up at me as I open the door for her.

Maybe we can do this again, I hope, but don’t dare say. She’s in charge. She makes the rules.

Leaning in, I place a kiss on her cheek before pulling back to murmur in her ear, “If you do, would you save a dance for me?”

Her soft smile might be even more brilliant than her sexy smirk as she nods and heads out the door. I close it behind her, refusing to watch her walk away because I know if I do I will be well and truly f****d.

And I don’t even know her name…