Whetted Appetites (5 page)

     “----party.  How about it?” Melissa asked.

     Victoria blinked and looked at Melissa guiltily.  “I’m sorry.  What did you say?”

     Melissa put her hands on her hips and playfully did her best motherly impression.  “Now, Victoria.  You should be paying more attention.”

     “I know.”  Victoria grinned at her friends before setting the alarm and locking up the store.

     “I said, how about hosting a small dinner party?  You know, like a double date.  Me and Eric.  You and Mr. Hughes.  Get my drift?”  Melissa winked.

     “Okay, Miss Matchmaker.  What’s going through that head of yours?”  Victoria lightly tapped the side of Melissa’s fair curls.

     “Why not set the scene for seduction?  Invite him over an hour earlier than me and Eric.  You know, get to know him a little more.  We stay through dessert.”  Melissa gave her an impish grin.  “Except you should make Mr. Hughes your after dinner treat.

     “Eric and I will leave early.  So, don’t worry about the dishes or the cleaning and take Mr. Hughes on the ride of his life.” Melissa concluded.

     Victoria only had to think for a second before she smiled.  “You’re crazy!  And I simply love it!”  She unlocked her car door with her automatic button.

     “How about two weeks from tomorrow?  Or is that too soon?” Melissa wanted to know.

     “I think it’ll be just fine.”

     Melissa gave her friend a hug then got into her car and headed home.

    The minute Victoria got home, she went to change into her nightgown and then headed straight to her spacious kitchen—her haven—to make some hot chocolate.  It was a regular treat she enjoyed before winding down.

     She gathered the ingredients and made the cocoa, complete with mini marshmallows.  She watched them as they melted into a white cloud of deliciousness.

     She wondered if Dalton’s kisses would make her melt like that.  Would she dissolve into a pool of want?  Would she tremble with such hungry lust and need?  She had no doubt whatsoever in her mind that Dalton could have her quivering in minutes.

     Victoria wiped the counter and walked into the living room and sat back in her plush, black recliner. 

     “Ah, this feels great,” she said as she reclined back a little.  She finished her hot chocolate and placed the mug on the glass coffee table.

     She closed her eyes.  Images of Dalton filled her mind.  Images of his hard and hot body filling her over and over again.  She imagined his fingers, his big rough fingers, caressing her breasts, squeezing her nipples.  She started using her own fingers, pretending they were his.  They would tease her, flick her hardened nipples.  He would slide his hand down to massage her belly.

     Victoria moved her hands to her inner thighs and caressed them.  She could imagine him touching the bud between her soft folds until he dipped a finger inside.

     She slipped her finger inside, finding herself wet and ready.  She took it out slowly and then slipped two fingers inside.  She moved them in and out, imaging they were Dalton’s hands giving her such pleasure.  She used her thumb to massage her swollen clit.  Her hips started moving with the rhythm of her fingers’ movement.  Her other hands kept teasing her breasts.

     She licked her lips as if Dalton had kissed her there.

     When she started fantasizing about Dalton’s moist tongue licking her clitoris, her waiting lips and then slipping inside to taste her, she moaned and moved her fingers faster in and out of her pulsating vagina.  Harder and faster the rhythm became.  Yes.  Yes.  She was riding Dalton’s hard shaft, her thighs slapping against his.  She pushed harder until she exploded with a wild cry of release.

     After catching her breath, she sat for a minute waiting for her heart to calm down. 

     She got up, took her mug to the sink and went to bed, sated for the moment.

     It wouldn’t last.  That, she knew for sure. 

     She could hardly wait to get her hands on the real thing.

Chapter Three

     Dalton entered his home to hear the shrill ringing of his phone.  For a fleeting moment, he considered letting his answering machine get it.  He went over to the phone and hoped it was Victoria.

     He looked at his caller ID.  The number belonged to his mother’s hotel room.

     He quickly picked up the receiver.  “Hey, Mom.”

     “Hello, sweetheart,” came his mother’s light voice.  “How’s everything going for you in Alabama?”

     “Great.  Everything’s just fine,” Dalton answered as he sat down on his couch.  “How’s your vacation in the Bahamas working for you?”  He had recently surprised his mom with a two week cruise and island stay at a posh resort.  His mother deserved it and more.

     “Oh, I absolutely love it!  It looks like it was taken from the pages of some wonder fairy tale.”  By the dreamy sound of her voice, her vacation was more than she had ever dreamed of.

     Dalton’s mom was an honest woman with the personality of a saint.  She had never complained about not having money, fancy clothes, a sports car or a mansion.

     Long ago, when Dalton was just a kid, he had made a solemn vow that he would work his fingers to the bone to give her those things.

     Last year, he was able to make good on his promise.  She got a nice car, a closet full of clothes and, since she didn’t want a house that was so large, she would spend too much time cleaning it, she opted for a three bedroom/three bathroom brick home in the country.

     His mother was the happiest she had been in a very long time.  Not having to worry about where her next meal was going to come from or if she would be able to make rent were things of the past.  He wanted it to be only a distant memory for her.  She wouldn’t ever forget where she came from.  She told him one day that those hard times helped her build character and were mere stepping stones to get to something much better.

     And, as always, his mom was right.  Her life had developed her into a very wise and patient woman.

     Now she could enjoy the life of leisure she was entitled to.  Lord knows she’d worked triple what a normal person would have.  He was proud to have her as his mother.  Money may make some things easier but it couldn’t buy true happiness or a wonderful parent.  It certainly couldn’t buy love and his mom was rich in that.  He had something that money could never buy: a mother’s unconditional love.

     Dalton had been adamant about sending her on a much needed cruise.  It was time for her to take it easy and have all the fun she could handle. 

     “You deserve a vacation, too, Son.  You
do
know that you’ve worked very hard and at a younger age than your peers?”

     “Yes, ma’am.  But, it’s your time, Mom.  You’ve done enough to last three lifetimes.  I don’t know of any one else that is more worthy than you.”  He knew as well as his mother that he was a sentimental kind of guy.  “And you went on trying to make a living for yourself and to put food on the table.  We wouldn’t be here is it wasn’t for you,” he finished, his voice thick with emotion.

     His mom sniffed.  “Oh, honey.  That’s just what a mother loves to hear from her children.”

     “Mom, I didn’t mean to make you cry.  You’re on vacation.  You’re supposed to be laughing, smiling…….flirting with dashing old men,” he quipped.

     “’
Old
men’?!”  His mother tried to sound appalled but he heard a smile in her voice.  “I’m looking for a young buck now.  Actually, he’s just about five years younger.”

     “What!”  Dalton shot up in his seat.  He heard a faint chuckle.  “So, you’ve already found a nice young man, huh?”

     “Yes.  I believe I have.  He’s very much a gentleman.  He took me out to eat at a very classy restaurant.  We had coconut crusted prawns with a hint of lime, a salad almost too pretty to eat and an assortment of cheeses and gorgeous tropical fruits for dessert.  It was so delicious that if I kept on eating, I would’ve had to go up a dress size.”

     Dalton laughed.  “That does sound good.  I’m truly happy for you, mom.”

     “I’m happy, too, Dalton.  I didn’t think I would ever find a man I felt strongly about after your father died.  Of course, no one will ever replace your father.  I’ll always love him.  But, I know he would want me to live my life and find happiness again.”

     Dalton felt a lump in his throat.  “He would want that for you.  I’m glad you found someone to make you smile.”  His stomach growled.  “I think talking about those prawns made me hungry for some seafood.”

     “Have you been eating well, Dalton?”  It was a concerned question his mother asked on more than one occasion.  It’s an old habit that she just couldn’t shake even though he was now financially secure.  Not that he could blame her.  It was practically imprinted in her DNA now.

     “I’m eating plenty,” he assured her.  “Believe me.  Three squares and a couple of snacks to boot.”  He hoped his assurance relieved her anxiety about keeping food in the fridge.

     He heard his mother sigh gratefully.

     “I’ll eat, watch a little television, shower and go to bed.  I’ve got a meeting tomorrow.  Among other things,” he elucidated.

     “’Other things’…….like a date?”  His mom was very perceptive and usually hit a bulls’ eye every time when it came to her children.

     “I’m having a conference with my shipping crew.  A couple of shipments weren’t on time and her business requires good organization and timing.  After that, I’m going over to her bakery to let her know.  She’s a caterer and she invited me to check out her store and sample some of her creations.”

     “Well,” his mother said cheerfully.  “Who is the lucky girl?”

     “Victoria Bradley.”

     His mother was quiet for a moment before she said, “Bradley…Bradley.  Hmmmm, now where have I heard that name before?”

     “She’s the owner of a new bakery, ‘The SweetTooth’.” Dalton supplied.

     “No…..no……I’ve heard that name somewhere else….”  His mother sighed, obviously a little frustrated at not being able to place the name.

     “It’ll come to you, mom.  It usually happens when you stop thinking about it.  It works that way for me.  But, right now, you’re supposed to be having the time of your life,” he reminded her.

     “I am, Sweetie.”

     “Good.  Now go and get back to your young suitor,” Dalton urged lightly.

     His mother giggled.  Dalton’s eyes widened.  That giggle meant she was happy.  Very, very happy.

     “He’s taking me dancing tonight,” she told him.

     “Well, you better hurry and get ready for the ball, Cinderella.  I’m sure Prince Charming’s waiting for you,” he teased.

     “Oh, you.  All right then.  I’ll say good-bye for now.  I love you, son.”

     “I love you, too, Mom.”  Dalton grinned as he placed the phone back into its cradle.

     He got up and went into the kitchen.  He peered into the refrigerator, contemplating what he wanted for dinner.

     Too bad Victoria wasn’t on the menu.  He wouldn’t mind feasting on her luscious body for a few hours.

     Recalling what his mom told him she had for dinner, Dalton decided to fry a catfish fillet.  To go along with that, he made some slaw and hushpuppies then sat down to eat.

     As he chewed thoughtfully, his mind drifted to sexy brown eyes and soft black tresses.  Full, sweet lips that he ached to taste.  He wanted to see if Victoria’s lips were as sweet as they looked.

     She had a ripe, fit body he wanted to bury himself in.  Deeply and hungrily.

     He wondered how she moaned and cried out when she was being touched, teased and petted.

     Would she purr like a kitten or would she growl like a tigress?

     Given the way she was today—all fire and palpable sexuality—he’d bet on the latter.

     He wanted the enticing Victoria Bradley.  Seeing the way she looked at him, throw in some apt innuendoes and he knew she wanted him just as much as he did.

     Would it be so terrible to, just once, give in to his desires?  He was responsible.  They were both consenting adults.  They wouldn’t be hurting any one. 

    
Was Max right?  Had he been carrying the world on his shoulders?  He smiled.  Why not put her legs there instead?

     He had no problems fantasizing about how her coltish legs wrapped around his shoulders as he plundered her.  He could see the way her full breasts would bounce to the rhythm of his trusts, her eyes clouded over in lust and satisfaction.

     Dalton realized he was trying to justify having a casual fling with Victoria and, yet, he couldn’t find anything wrong with it.