A Wild Ride (Jessica Brodie Diaries #3)(66)

I crested in a gush, crying out in ecstasy. William followed right behind with his last hard thrust, then eased us down with a few softer, yet still firm, slides into and out of me. His kisses became softer and moved to my neck then back to my lips.

He brought my legs down and secured the top of my dress. A moment ago he was ravaging me, but now he was tenderly caressing me and kissing me, having sedated his wilder urges.

“I feel much better,” I said with a sigh as we cleaned ourselves up.

He smiled at me with warm eyes and glanced his soft lips against mine. “I’ll take more time tonight, I promise,” he said with a wink.

He put his arm around my shoulder as we left the bathroom. There were two drunk girls waiting and they looked at us with giggles. I smiled silkily and let William lead me away, not the least embarrassed. William I saw, wasn’t either.

“Dark horse,” I muttered as we made our way to our booth.

“No one knows me here. No one can tell my parents. Same holds true of L.A.” His eyes glinted.

I got a surge of excitement. I would get to see William without restraint. I wondered how big his bad streak was. And if he could hold a candle to mine.

The next day we lay in bed most of the day, ordering room service and enjoying each other. He had surprised me with a suite when we got back to the hotel saying, “When a Davies man wants to make an impression, he pulls out all the stops.”

All our stuff had been moved into our new room, if not as neatly as I would have expected. Toward the evening we were supposed to go to this restaurant called Flasia SF. It was my little joke on William, San Francisco style. It was a lot of beautiful transvestites that put on a sort of G-rated stripping show. They danced on the bar, took off some clothes but not all, and did lip sinking routines. Basically, a drag show without going way over the top.

I heard from a friend that it was a hoot. The food was also supposed to be delicious.

I didn’t plan to tell William they were originally men. I wanted to see if he caught on.

We got ready in dressy-casual attire. It wasn’t an upscale place, but it was still a night out, so the patrons dressed tried a little harder. I wore only earrings to make my ring stand out more.

As we were walking through the lobby, William said, “Wait, Jess. Let’s grab a quick drink first.”

“But William, we have reservations. We’ll be late.”

“Fifteen minutes isn’t going to kill us.”

“Yes, but there is a bar at the restaurant. Why do you need to get a drink here?”

“C’mon babe, please? It makes it feel more like a night out when we start from the bar.”

Since when? I thought to myself in exasperation.

I let myself be pulled, expressing my displeasure. Irritation crept in as he led us to the far corner, ignoring an open spot nearest the door.

As I was about to say something, William shook hands with someone. I felt my irritation rise—this was no time for a business meeting. I looked toward the door, counting minutes, worried about our reservations. The restaurant was unreal popular for a girls’ night out, and they wouldn’t have open tables on a Saturday night in summer. If we didn’t make it, they’d give our table away.

Turning back, so as not to be overly rude, I looked a little more closely at the man William was meeting.

“Is that how you greet a friend, Jessie girl?” Adam said with a shit eating grin.

“What the-- Why are you here?” I asked in bewilderment.

I then noticed Lump was just walking in from the other entrance to the bar.

“What... Wait...”

Her face lit up in a smile and her eyes immediately sought my hand. She grabbed for the ring and held it up for Adam to see.

“Jesus, Jessica, that sucker is huge!” Lump exclaimed. “Willie, I know you like to spoil her, but really?”

William’s smirk was triumphant.

“Wait, why are you guys here?” I asked again.

Smiles dropped off their faces like leaves in fall. William looked incredibly uncertain.

“Is that okay?” Lump asked, stepping closer and lowering her voice. “Did you want alone time with Willie, because we can get lost.”

“No, that’s not what I meant...”

“I invited them, Jess,” William said with a worried expression. “I thought it might be fun to share the town with friends.”

The light blinked on in my head, clearing away the haze of confusion. Obviously he invited them. Which hopefully meant he changed all the reservations to a larger party. Which, I admit, was my chief concern.

Hyper-organization was a huge flaw of mine on vacations. Or a huge saving grace, depending on who was judging.

“Got it,” I said, smiling. My acknowledge didn’t erase three worried faces.

“I just thought it a crazy coincidence,” I explained, “but, I get it. I just hadn’t sorted it all out in the old noggin’. I wasn’t expecting it. Just forget about it for God’s sakes!”

“Is it cool, Jess?” Adam asked anxiously, “‘Cause we can--”

“Just shut up Adam. I was just slow on the uptake. Of course I am excited! Did you make the reservation for four, though, William, because we are now running late.”

Lump started laughing. “We moved it back an hour, Jess. Relax. We’ll make it.”