Second Chances

12. Elton

It had been so long since he had felt this excited and happy. Esther was coming over and Elton was having a hard time controlling his happiness. To say that he was overjoyed was an understatement. Adrianna's absence also contributed to this, along with the anticipation that something would definitely happen between him and Esther tonight. Post that phone call, Elton had made a flimsy excuse and left the office, fully aware that he was giving a crucial shareholders' meeting a miss. Nothing mattered more than Esther, not even the business that was handed down to him.

Elton had reached home in a record time, after a couple of stops midway. He gathered the staff and ordered them to decorate the house, being particular about how he wanted the overall feel. Once done barking orders, he proceeded to his room to change, mind preoccupied with how such romantic vibes all around would make Esther comfortable and more open to getting intimate with him. As he unbuttoned his shirt, he couldn't help but think how miserable and sexually frustrating this one year had been, all because of that witch who wanted to get married to him irrespective of his feelings. Now that she wasn't under the same roof and he would be meeting Esther in such an intimate set-up, he was feeling a surge of excitement. As he removed his shirt, he closely looked at his torso. Despite the happenings in his life, he still hadn't stopped working out and his efforts clearly showed. Happy that he had managed to maintain his impressive physique and eager to let Esther finally see him in his naked glory, Elton proceeded to take a quick shower.

***

"Happy birthday, sugar!" Elton wished ecstatically as he opened the door wider to allow Esther to enter.

"El... W... what is this?" Esther's eyes were wide with surprise as she stood at the entrance. Red balloons and decorations were put up everywhere, with a giant happy birthday banner. On a glass table was placed a birthday cake, along with a bouquet of fresh roses and a few wrapped boxes. Right next to it was another table, where there was a bottle of champagne placed in an ice bucket and two flutes. In different nooks and corners were heart-shaped helium balloons. The path from the door to the tables was laid with rose petals. She could faintly hear soothing music playing, one of her favourite pieces, as her eyes focused on Elton and took in his appearance. He was dressed in black trousers and a dark blue shirt, with sleeves rolled till his elbows and the top two buttons undone, the exact look that she loved on him.

What was Elton trying to do, she wondered as she felt herself losing in the surroundings. These past months had been particularly hard for her, and being away from him or being physically distant had been taking a toll on her. It had reached to a point where her resolve had weakened so many times and she had almost been on the verge of kissing him. Seeing the preparations Elton had done for her birthday, she knew tonight was going to be harder than anything she had ever experienced. She simply hoped her self-control would cooperate.

While Esther was busy admiring the efforts Elton had put and with her internal battle, Elton couldn't help but smirk at her state. He knew her better than she thought he did, and if he were to guess, he had a fair idea of the turmoil that was taking place in her mind right now. Of course, Esther liking his efforts was an added bonus. Now all he had to do was be a bit discreet with his cajoling and the dry spell would be lifted tonight.

***

"Eli, baby, stop! Everything is so woozy!" Esther hiccupped as she laughed wholeheartedly. She and Elton had finished that entire bottle of champagne, along with some red wine. They were currently half way through the second bottle of red wine, both feeling a bit tipsy and carefree as they danced to one of Esther's favourite songs.

"Oh my God! I haven't laughed this much in a long time!" Elton responded, clutching his stomach while wiping a tear from his eyes with his other hand. It felt so good to see her being herself, with no filter to spoil their relationship. He had missed this. He had missed her. Without thinking much, he gathered her in his arms, making her giggle like a lovesick teenager. He leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on her lips, making her freeze momentarily.

"El..."

"Shush, please don't say anything. Let me bask in this moment, with you so close to me. I need this closeness to survive." The way he was speaking and holding her close were doing unspeakable things to her. Of course, she needed him too, just as much, if not more. Her train of thought was interrupted when Elton leaned in again to kiss her. Only this time, it was a passionate one, his hands roaming all over her body, tugging at her off-shoulder neckline to reveal the pale mounds he so dearly loved and had missed.

Esther was long gone when he had pulled her in for that passionate kiss. Feeling his hands all over her body was akin to feeling at home. It wasn't long before her already weakened resolve broke and she responded to his kiss just as fervently.

***

Elton was dressing up himself, a silly grin on his face as he glanced at Esther, who was napping on his bed. He stopped dressing himself and turned a bit to admire her. The glow on her face was the most amazing sight ever. Her innocent face only added to her allure as he strode towards her sleeping form and gave her a quick peck on her lips before leaving the room to make arrangements for dinner.

Upon reaching the living room, his eyes took notice of her birthday cake that still hadn't been cut. The steak he had ordered from her favourite place would be arriving any time now. As he arranged the plates around the cake, he couldn't help his mind from wandering to the beauty that lay asleep in his bed. Who would have thought he wouldn't have to do much cajoling? So she was just as desperate as him, the only difference being that she could mask her desire well. Feeling her naked body against his and being inside her after so long had instantly uplifted his mood and nothing, absolutely nothing, could spoil that.

His moment was interrupted when his phone suddenly rang. Why was Keith calling him?

"Brooo! You wouldn't believe what just happened!" Keith's words came out a bit slurred.

"Damn you, Keith. Must you drunk dial me, of all people?" Yeah, his mood was spoilt, he had spoken too soon. He had no interest in hearing about Keith's latest conquest.

"I had to! Dude, I had to! I will do it, okay? I will do it! She is a walking bomb, man! Totally my type! That picture you had shared didn't do justice to her! I will do it..." Keith kept repeating it on loop as he disconnecting the call just as abruptly.

What was he talking about? What girl? What pictu.... Oh! The one that had Adrianna and that girl. Wait, did he just say yes to his plan? Wow! Could the day get any better? Elton was overjoyed! His lady love was truly lucky for him, he thought aloud with a huge smile on his face, when the doorbell suddenly rang. As he walked towards the door, he heard Esther calling him.

"El, are you there?"

"Yeah, babe. Come out now, dinner is ready," he said loudly as he unlocked the door and opened it. There stood before him his so-called wife, looking different than usual. He was shocked, which was soon replaced with irritation and anger. Out of all the days she could have come, she had to choose this day. And this was pretty royal of her, to simply leave or come back according to her whims and fancies. He was about to snap at her when he realised the tricky situation he was in. Would he have to deal with the consequences of calling Esther here, if daddy's little princess were to complain? Wait, but she didn't know that there was someone else in the house. He was about to say something when he heard Esther shout, "Babe, I am just gonna take a quick shower, okay?"

Elton saw the slight change in Adrianna's expression before she masked it. Damn it, he was royally screwed.