Where the Lotus Flowers Grow (31 page)

“This is delicious.”

“Oh, good.”

“What happened? To the British man you were married to?”

“He asked me to make him Bubble and Squeak.”

“What is that?”

“It’s a god-awful British dish. Anyway, I prided myself on being a decent homemaker. Our mother taught us well. We were trained in the art of wifery at a young age. Always wear a strand of pearls and make pushing out babies look painless and all that. I excelled on those accounts. So I made him Bubble and Squeak. In return, he bubbled and squeaked all night.”

Lucille huffed. “That was the end of husband number three. You think you’ve found James Bond, but in reality it’s just Mr. Bean in disguise.”

“You divorced over that?” I asked, my tone full of disbelief.

Her ruby-colored lips curled into a sad smile. “Not quite, dear. There were many other issues. Some men confuse women with property. We are not continents to be conquered, but gardens to be nurtured. Always remember that.”

“I will.”

During the course of our tea, the sisters delighted me with stories of their past adventures. Within the tapestry of our conversation, I worked out the ladies had many marriages between them. They were like old romantic figures from an Austen novel, the ones who always had great advice and antidotes. I soaked it all up, enjoying each and every story while savoring cucumber mint sandwiches and tea laced with brandy.

“You have a lovely accent. Where are you from, dear?”

“India.”

Dorothy clapped her heavily jeweled hands. “How wonderful. When you come for tea tomorrow, you must regale us with your own adventures in the far east.”

I attended tea most days.

Mary

Liam didn’t like his job, but he was dedicated to it. He worked long hours, often apologizing for being late. I never let him feel guilty. We snuggled on the sofa under a warm blanket. He introduced me to action films, which I loved. He laughed when I requested we watch Thor. It turned out Sita was right about his voice. We watched Bollywood movies, too. Although there were subtitles, I often whispered the more romantic dialogue in his ear.

Liam showed me how to use a computer. He set up an email and Facebook account for me. Divya, Amira, and I chatted daily. I was so grateful to have them back in my life. Although I wasn’t eligible to work due to my visa status, I did enroll in a few cooking classes at a nearby restaurant.

Anderson drove me to Dr. Chivel’s office after my first month in the States. Liam had heard she was the best in Manhattan. He insisted I see her even though she was booked for weeks. I sat in a paper gown waiting for her to examine me. She started our session with questions. Tons of questions about my sexual history and health. I answered them with a complete honesty that shocked me.

“I’ve only had one committed relationship. The one I’m in now. I’ve had other sexual partners. I’ve had unprotected sex twice but was tested afterward.”

Dr. Chivel removed her glasses. “You know how dangerous that is, dear?”

“Yes. Those times weren’t by choice, doctor.”

She tilted her head, digesting my statement. She gave me a sympathetic smile. “I see. Have you ever had therapy?”

“Yes.”

“I’d recommend you go again. Especially if this is your first committed relationship. It will benefit you. Also, I’d like to run another blood test before I prescribe anything.”

I had no qualms about another test. I loved Liam. I wanted to protect him, and I would never jeopardize his health. She gave me the card of a therapist and took a blood sample. A week later, I presented my results to Liam. “I thought you should see it.”

“Thank you,” he said, folding it up and handing it back to me.

“Liam, I’ve been thinking about this. I hope you’re not offended, but I’d like you to have a test, too.”

“Why would I be offended?” He gripped my hips, lifting me to the countertop in the kitchen. “I love you, Mary. That means I won’t let anyone harm you, especially not me. I’m already on the same page, though.”

“What do you mean?”

He pulled out a paper from his jacket. “Here.”

“What’s this?”

“When you told me you were having a test, I scheduled an appointment for myself. We’re both clean.”

Liam made no distinctions between us. Of course he’d want to protect me, too.

I cupped his face and kissed him. “You nurture my garden, Liam Montgomery.”

“Is that suppose to turn me on? ’Cause it just sounds really weird.”

“I guess it does. I only mean that I love you very much.”

“I love you, too, Mary.” He shuffled his feet. “So…are we safe?”

“Yes.”

His smile turned sinful. “Then why are your clothes still on, lover?”

“I’m waiting for you to take them off, sir.”

He growled before he carried me into the bedroom. I’m not sure who took off whose clothes, but we both ended up naked on the bed. He slipped an eye mask over me. I couldn’t see anything, not even with the lights on.

“Lay on your front, love.”

I turned around. He adjusted my face so my cheek was lying on the pillow. “Remember Goa? I want the only sense to be my voice and my body. I have fucked you and made love to you, but tonight…tonight I’m going to ravish you. Do you want that, Mary?”

“Yes, sir.”

“If you don’t like anything I’m doing, then I want you to say the word…’honey.’ I will stop immediately. Can you do that?”

“Yes.”

“Say it now.”

“Honey.”

The mattress sunk with his weight. He secured my hands behind my back with soft rope. Liam kissed my shoulder. Then he bit it. He pulled me up by the rope.

“Kneel for me.”

“Yes, sir.”

In this position, I expected something rough from him. Something I wasn’t sure I wanted at all. Except, he wasn’t rough. His hands slid down my body. He suckled my earlobes. Soft leather skimmed my spine. He moved it across my face. My breaths quickened. He rolled my nipples between his fingers.

His fingers entered me. I leaned against his back, spreading my legs. I was restrained and free at the same time. “Help me please you, Mary.”

He untied me, rubbing each of my wrists. “Show me how you please yourself.” I didn’t know what he meant until he took my hand and lowered it. I touched myself, owning my own seduction. He shifted away from me. I cried out for him. Then I felt his tongue inside me. “Keep going, lass. I’m watching you.” He moved to the same rhythm I set.

“You taste so fucking good.” His husky voice sent a shiver right though me. “Fuck, I can’t hold off.”

“Then don’t.”

I heard his breaths, felt the closeness of our bond, and smelled the masculine scent of his skin. I reached my hand out. He grasped it and pulled me against his lap. He groaned as he entered me. I threw my arms around him, my breasts bumping against his chest. He pulled my hair back. He slammed me into the bed.

“You were made for me.”

“Yes. I was made for you.” He was made for me, too, some grand design beyond my understanding.

Liam wasn’t gentle now. Rolling his hips, each thrust had a new urgency. I wanted to beg him to take off the mask, but I was incapable of voicing my needs. He must have understood, or else he wanted to look at my face just as badly, because he tore it off.

“Tell me you’re mine. All mine.”

“I’m yours, Liam. All yours.”

With his lips against me, I shuddered with pleasure. He reared his head back, his face looking so beautiful with his release. Warmth flooded inside of me. We were both out of breath. He managed to recover first. Pressing his forehead against mine, he told me exactly what I needed to hear. “I’m yours, too. Master, servant, lover, friend. Just as you are mine.”

I almost feared my own joy. Anything this good was surely dangerous and precious. “You are, Liam. You are all those things to me.”

He went to the bathroom. When he came back, he had a warm washcloth. He cleaned me. I looked at the bed. I picked up the item he must have brushed against my skin. It was a handle with several soft leather braids on the end. There were metal clips and handcuffs and long beads as well.

“Where did you get all of this?” I asked, gesturing to the rope and mask.

“I bought a Dom-in-the-box kit from Amazon.”

I sat up. “Really?”

He winked at me, his smile turning mischievous. “No, not really. Although I did order it.”

“What’s this?” I asked, pulling out a long object sheathed in a silk pouch.

“It’s for you, love.”

“Oh, my God, is this…this is…”

“Yes, it’s a dildo. I have to go to Mexico for a few days. Unfortunately, you can’t come due to your visa status.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“I have no doubt you will. However, your appetite is as voracious as mine. I brought this for you so you could pleasure yourself while I’m gone. But just so we’re clear, I never want you to use it in front of me. And I will never use it on you.”

I doubted I would ever try it either. I couldn’t even operate the shower, and this was one area I didn’t want to accidently scald or worse…electrocute.

“What will you be doing to entertain yourself in Mexico?”

He looked wounded by my question. He cupped my face. “I promise I will never cheat on you. To me, it’s the worst form of betrayal. I’d never intentionally hurt you, especially in that way.”

“Oh Liam, that’s not what I meant. I trust you completely. I was asking if you have any devices to relieve your…cravings. That’s all.”

He chuckled. “No, sweetheart, it’s not really my thing.” He held up his right hand and wiggled his fingers. “I’ll manage in my own old-fashioned way.” He kissed me, opening my mouth and tangling our tongues. “I’ll be thinking about you pleasuring yourself in front of me the whole time. You’re my muse in every way, love. Every. Fucking. Way.”

“I’ll be thinking of you, too.” I held up the device. “But this…this I’m not sure about.” I flipped the switch. It buzzed so loudly I dropped it. We watched as the device spun around on the bed as if possessed.

We laughed. He smiled the wide smile that made the indented line on his cheek appear. I traced it with my finger.

“It’s kind of small, don’t you think?” I asked.

“I was looking for something to tie you over. Not a replacement.”

“Unless it’s going to hold me and tell me I’m pretty afterwards, it won’t be much of a replacement.”

He roared with laughter. “No, it definitely won’t do those things, but I will. I’ll call you every night, yeah?”

I sat up on my knees and kissed him back with the same wild passion he’d used on me. “You better. But out of curiosity, why won’t you use this on me?”

Liam stared at the device, still buzzing in the middle of the bed. He turned it off and threw it in the nightstand drawer. He arched his brow, his smile turning a shade coy…an odd expression for Liam. “I’d rather not say.”

I gripped his face. “Tell me.”

He kissed my nose. “I’m such a jealous man when it comes to you, Miss Costa. I cannot stand the idea of another dick being inside of you. Even a fake one.”

“I understand, sir.”

Mary

I’d been meaning to pay Chet a visit for weeks. When I kissed Liam good-bye the day he left for Mexico, he reminded me. Anderson drove me to Chet’s office, but his receptionist told me he was off-site for the day.

“Do you want to leave that for him?” she asked, gesturing to the glass dish in my hand. I considered it, except this was a dish best served hot, and I wanted to deliver it myself.

“It’s okay. I’ll try another time.”

“If you’d like, he’s at the shelter today. I can give you the address.”

“Yes, I’d appreciate it.”

She jotted it down for me. Anderson seemed skeptical when I repeated it to him, but he took me anyway, cautioning we had to leave before dark. This was a part of New York I hadn’t seen. The stores had bars across the windows. There was very little greenery. We pulled up next to a large brick building, its façade marked with spray paint.

I found Chet right away. He wore a dark suit jacket with blue jeans.

“Mary Costa, how are you?” he asked, as if he’d expected me.

“I’m well. I’m sorry to drop in on you like this, but I made something for you. I didn’t think it would keep long.” I handed him the glass container and a twenty-dollar bill. “I wanted to thank you for your kindness.”

“You didn’t have to pay me back.”

“I sorted out my bank situation. I wanted to.”

He lifted the lid, his eyes lighting up as he sniffed. “Gulab jamun. No cans, right?”

I lifted my hand. “Swear.”

“Watch out. I might just fall in love with you.”

“If I only knew you were that easy,” a man said, walking up beside him. He had blond hair spiked with lime green tips, and tattoos on his hands and neck.

“Tony, meet Mary. She’s the one I told you about.”

“Ah yes, the ticking-clock girl.”

“The very one. Mary, this is Tony, my paramour.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard the term ‘paramour’ used in normal conversation,” I said.

“Yeah, well, Chet’s kind of a crazy romantic,” Tony said. He eyed the glass dish and turned back to Chet. “You planning on sharing?”

“Can’t say I was.”

Tony seemed to be Chet’s polar opposite, but one look made it clear they were very much in love.

“Tony’s an artist, too,” Chet said. “His medium is ink and skin.”

“I don’t follow.”

“Tattoos. I’m a tattoo artist.”

“Did you do all those?” I asked.

“I designed them, but someone else did them. I don’t work on my own body. I consider it a conflict of interest.”

“Is that a rose?” I asked, gesturing to his hand. He held it out for me, palm up, so I could see the red rose with its twisting thorny vine going down his arm.

“It is.”

“It’s beautiful…so detailed. Does it mean something?”

“When I was going through a tough time, I forgot to see the flower inside the thorns. I only saw the thorns. It reminds me to always remember they lead to a bloom.”

“Did it hurt?”

He stuck out his tongue, revealing a silver ball. “Not as much as this.”