I Want Candy (36 page)

“So, that was your first time – outside,” Gabriel grinned as he handed Candy a bottle of water.

“Yes,” Candy laughed. “What made you do that? That was crazy!” She unscrewed the cap.

“What made me do it? I just wanted to. We only have one life, may as well live it up. You liked it, too.” Gabriel stuck his tongue out at her. Candy laughed and nodded in agreement.

“The key isn’t to take risks so large that if something goes awry, your have irreparable change, but we’re not here to avoid risks so our lives aren’t changed at all,” Gabriel explained. “Making love outside was normal for our ancestors. I don’t see anything uncivilized about it. As long as we aren’t in a schoolyard or out where people can see what’s going on, no harm no foul. It’s exciting. It’s beautiful. I love to go bike riding, walking, jogging, hiking, mountain climbing, sky diving – you name it. I love it. Nothing compares to sex outside though, especially with someone you want to really commune with.” He winked at her.

“So you’ve done this countless times?” Candy smirked, taking another sip of her water.

Gabriel opened his bottle and took a large gulp. “Yes, many, many times, with one woman, though,” he nodded, his facial expression placid and earnest. Candy’s confusion or judgment soon switched to understanding. ‘His ex-wife,’ she thought.

“We didn’t live here. I bought this property after the divorce. I wanted a fresh start. She still lives at our old house, about thirty minutes away.”

“I don’t mean to sound shallow, but this weekend is turning out much different than I thought. I mean, I figured sooner or later, we’d eventually get – to this. I just didn’t think it would be like this,” Candy stated.

“What? Sex? Like what?” Gabriel asked as he went back into the refrigerator and pulled out an apple. “You want one?” he asked. Candy shook her head “no.”

He quickly rinsed it off under the faucet before sinking his teeth into its dark-red skin.

“Well, I mean, there are stereotypes, you know?” Candy squirmed, suddenly regretting being so honest.

“Like what? White men can’t jump, and we can’t make love properly either?” Gabriel smiled. “That’s the only thing my ex-wife tried to keep getting from me a few months after the divorce. Not to toot my own horn, but she admitted she can’t find anyone to please her like I did, and she missed it. She knows, though, that I don’t have casual sex. So either I’m seeing someone exclusively, we’re a couple and we’re having sex, or nothing at all. We weren’t together, so I told her ‘no.’”

“Do you still want her?” Candy asked pensively. “I mean, if you two had the chance to work it out, do you think you would?”

“No, not now, not ever,” Gabriel reassured. “We aren’t compatible. We never were, really. We have a wonderful daughter together whom I’m hoping you can meet some day soon, and that’s it. My ex-wife’s engaged to some banker. I’ve moved on as well. I’ve definitely moved on.” He bit his bottom lip seductively and winked at Candy. “The morning’s still young.” He finished off his water and apple.

“Yeah, I can get some work done if you don’t mind,” Candy said as she thought about if she remembered to bring her USB hub for her laptop or not.

“It’s time to cuddle, kiss, and talk, not work. If I see you with that laptop, Blackberry, or anything to do with work today, you’re in trouble. I’m serious,” Gabriel warned with a smirk and pointed finger.

Candy laughed. “What? I have to, Gabriel. It’s due Monday, seriously.”

“I know what’s due Monday, and you also know that I know you’re lying to some extent. We both know you already have most of it done. You just want to review it over and over and tweak it. No, last night and all of today is for us to enjoy.” He took her by the hand and led her to his entertainment studio which resembled a small movie theater. Candy smiled in amazement.

“Gabriel, your house is so stunning. What a neat room!” she said as she sat down next to him in one of the plush, red and gold seats. He pushed a button on the remote, causing the thick, burgundy curtains to electronically part and expose the movie screen.

“What do you want to see?” he asked, showing Candy a guide of everything he had available. Candy smiled and leaned in closer to him, kissing him delicately on the nose.

“You’re one in a million, Gabriel Justice,” she said softly. He put his hand on her leg and softly caressed her knee.

“You even more so. Candy, let me tell you something about myself you probably don’t know. I may appear very extroverted and worldly, but I wasn’t always this way. I lost my virginity at age twenty, and while that’s still young, all of my male friends had already had multiple sex partners by then.”

“Yeah, for a guy, that’s pretty admirable.” Candy continued to listen.

“My ex-wife was only the third woman I had ever made love to. I’m proof that some men still take sex seriously, and that you don’t need a lot of partners to know how to please a woman.”

Candy smiled and nodded in agreement. “Do you wanna know how many men I’ve been with?” she asked uneasily.

Gabriel looked at her. He concentrated on the curve of her full lips as he deliberated over her question. “No, I don’t need to know how many men you’ve had sex with. All I need to know is that you’re STD-free and not currently sexually active with anyone other than me.”

Candy sighed in relief. “I’m STD-free, no thanks to Eric, of course. It was just a blessing because he could have brought me back anything. I get tested every six months. I think we should…”

“Yes, I agree,” Gabriel smiled, finishing her thought. “Contrary to what has happened this weekend, I really didn’t plan or expect this. I just went with how I felt. Regardless of that, let’s go get tested together so that we can have that completely out of our minds.”

“Oh, and I was on birth control, but I’m not anymore. I stopped taking it after…”

Gabriel smiled and waved his hand. “I know. You don’t need to say his name. That’s fine.”

Candy grabbed Gabriel’s hand. “I have to admit I’m really curious as to how someone like you is still available. I mean, you’re nice, good looking, ambitious, and what a lot of women want. I see how women look at you at work.”

Gabriel shrugged. “I dated a few women after my divorce, but I know what I want, and I know what I’m looking for, and I hadn’t found it. It’s not about quantity for me, it’s about quality. I’d rather have one really nice car then ten average ones. Why do you think I have this big house? It’s not just for me. I’d be fine in a townhouse somewhere. This is for me, my daughter, whomever I may marry in the future, and our children together. It’s for family and friends.”

Candy tilted her head to the side as she began to sink more and more under his spell. “Gabriel,” she said, and licked her lips.

“Don’t do that,” he teased. “You’ll start something you’re probably too tired to finish, and I have no problem doing you right here, right now.”

Candy laughed. “I have another question.”

“Go right ahead,” Gabriel said as he put his hands behind his head and leaned back into the chair.

“How is it that most men like you seem to enjoy surrounding themselves with numerous beautiful women while remaining bachelors forever, but you’re such the opposite? How do you resist temptation when you’re in a relationship with someone?”

 Gabriel laughed. “Because being in love and faithful doesn’t mean you’re blind, but it means you show your partner respect by not cheating on her. I’ve never been unfaithful to anyone I was with. Hell, cheating is disrespectful to the cheater as well! If I pledge myself to one person, then that’s what I need to uphold. Despite our making love in the woods, the sex marathon last night and this morning, and everything I’m planning for in the near future with you,” Gabriel winked, “I’m a one-woman man. I had plenty of opportunities to have a shitload of sexual partners. That just isn’t me though. I guess I’m just old fashioned. I want to always care deeply for the woman who’s giving herself to me – no one night stands for me. All a good lover needs is to be a good listener, pay attention, and love her, really love her. His lovemaking will show her just how much he wants her if he’s madly in love with her. If I can’t be a man of my word, then I’m worthless, so when I tell you that I only make love to women I love, I mean that. When I say make love, I mean it literally. It’s not synonymous with just the sexual act itself.”

“Gabriel, I…”

“Shhh, just listen. I’ve loved you for a long time. You’re a very special person with great business sense and a beautiful heart. I didn’t realize I was actually in love with you, though, until after your divorce. That’s the truth. When you were at my house the first time, I just wanted to take care of you and take all of your pain away. I had a hard time not worrying about you. Regardless, we have an opportunity now, and I don’t want it ruined.” He reached gingerly for her hand and squeezed it, intertwining their fingers together as the lights dimmed.

KNIGHT-IN-SHINING ARMOR POT ROAST

100% truth, honesty, and integrity

5 cups of sexiness for each day of the work week

2 cups of sultry for the weekend

1 tbsp of ability to rescue a damsel in distress (from herself and from enemies)

Mix all ingredients together.

Quiet your palpitating heart.

Don’t faint, and bake at 400 degrees for the rest of your natural life.

* * *

“I can’t really talk right now,” Candy whispered as she gripped her cell phone and tiptoed around the plush cream carpet looking for her panties and bra.

“You
better
talk now! Jasmine and I haven’t heard from you all weekend. Don’t tell me you’re still over at your boss’s house! What have y’all been doin’?” Dallas demanded.

“Yeah, what have you been doin’?” Jasmine yelled from the background. Candy giggled and got on her bare knees, looking under the bed. “Ahhh, here they are,” she said as she grabbed the black satin underwear. “How’d they get under there?”

“Candy,” Gabriel called out. “Everything OK?” he asked as he approached his bedroom.

“Dallas, I have to go! Yes, yes, everything is fine, Gabriel,” Candy answered as she stood back up.

“Have you really been there this entire time?” Dallas asked, ignoring Candy’s pleas to get off the phone.

“Yes,” Candy huffed as she awkwardly slid the panties on with one hand.

“And just what have y’all been doin’? Answer me!” Dallas burst into laughter.

“You’s a ho!” Jasmine chimed in.

“I have so much to tell y’all! I’d love to tell you right now, but there isn’t enough time.”

“Before you hang up, tell me this: how was it on a scale of one to ten?”

Candy tilted her head back as she laughed, almost dropping her cell phone.

“Nine, a definite nine. Would have been a ten if he hadn’t – look, I’ll call you back!” Candy laughed.

“No way! Tell me now! If he hadn’t what?” Dallas demanded.

“Made me do it outside against a tree! I gotta go!” Candy hung up the phone and put her bra on before walking out of the bedroom.

“I told you I didn’t bring a swimsuit, so this will have to do. So, where is this hot tub you’ve been bragging about?” Candy said as she stood in front of Gabriel who was taking his time sizing her up from head to toe. Candy returned the favor, enjoying looking at his lean, muscular body. He was built like a professional swimmer, and she had told him so several times. Gabriel approached Candy, taking her around her waist and bringing her close to him. The scent of vanilla perfume tickled his nose in a pleasant fashion. He slowly pushed his fingers through her loose curls, closed his eyes and delicately kissed her exposed neck.