Read She Shouldnt, But She Will Online
Authors: Francis Drake
She Shouldnt, But She Will (6 page)
Chapter 3
Finally, about seven thirty that night, Thia opened the door to her condo and kicked her shoes off. While sorting the mail, she pressed the message button on her answering machine. There were two. The first was a telemarketer but the second was a carrier company saying they had a letter for her and if she would call they would send it right over.
A few minutes after her return call, the carrier arrived. She tipped the delivery lady and took the letter. It was addressed to Thia Parker.
Very curious, she opened the letter, unfolded the paper and read,
Thia,
Meet me Saturday morning at
under the clock tower in front of the
Derek
Thia made her way to the sofa, unsure her legs would support her.
How did he know where she lived? She used her married name at work, Cynthia Williams, but her maiden name for her personal life, a decision she’d made after Henry’s death.
Her mind replayed the night she’d spent in his studio. She’d thought of him often since then, but had known they’d shared a one-night adventure she wouldn’t repeat. She was an accountant, a profession not known for wild flings or trips on the wild side. She’d had hers. The excitement would have to last a long time.
Then again, maybe this was a mistake. She looked at the envelope. There was no return address. She picked up the phone and called the carrier company back. “You delivered a letter to Thia Parker on
The man at the other end paused for a second, and then said, “It was dropped off here at three-ten this afternoon. There’s no name.”
“Thank you.” Thia slowly hung up the phone, consumed with dismay. “Oh, damn.”
This was too embarrassing. She didn’t know the man, yet she’d had sex with him—more than once. Fabulous sex. Better sex than she’d ever had in her life. Better than she’d ever imagined in her life.
But, still.
There was no way she could see him again. It was bad enough going off into the night with a guy she didn’t know. At least people at the gallery had seen her with him and the cab driver knew she’d gone to
She looked at the note again. Bring an overnight bag? That meant more than a quick tour past Angel and
No. No way. She absolutely couldn’t go. Not on a boat with a stranger, who no doubt would want sex again. Multiple times.
Oh, God, what I’d give to
—
No. She wouldn’t—couldn’t—go.
Thia sat quietly staring into space. By the time she realized she was thinking about which bathing suit to take, she knew the decision had been made. One more walk on the wild side wouldn’t hurt.
Oh, I shouldn’t. I really shouldn’t.
She frowned and tapped her fingernail on her lips.
But I think I will.
* * * *
Friday afternoon finally arrived, ending a work week that had been long and exhausting. Friday nights often were depressing, being the start of another lonely weekend. But tonight, a drink, some food and a hot bath represented paradise.
Thia set her briefcase on the table beside the note from Derek. Her stomach did a back flip thinking about spending time on a boat with a man she barely knew, especially one who embodied equal parts sex and danger. A line had to be drawn and adhered to. Drawing said line was easy enough. She wouldn’t show up at the
She checked the freezer and found half a package of green beans. Opening the refrigerator was just as disappointing. “I guess I’ll eat out tonight.”
She could walk across the street to her favorite Chinese restaurant and watch happy, smiling couples while she had her regular egg roll and fried rice.
The green beans suddenly started looking appealing.
What a rut her life was in. She stared at the note. He’d treated her with tenderness and the sex was great. Never better, in fact.
She filled a glass with water then poured it out.
Damn!
Water wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted to be drinking wine at the art gallery again, and feeling free to do as she pleased. She wanted to go.
I
can’t go. That’s how women end up floating face down in the bay.
She walked past the living room, down the short hall, and then turned into her bedroom. She looked at the paintings she’d bought at the gallery. Her heart started pounding thinking about the slave girl having no choice but to be subservient to the men, bowing to their every desire.
Tonight, after the week she’d had of reports to the investigation agency and suspecting almost everyone who worked for her, she would love to turn over all control to someone else. If she, like the slave girl had no choice but to go on the boat with Derek, what would she wear?
“Something comfortable.” She removed a pair of shorts and a sleeveless T-shirt from the dresser and tossed them on the bed. “Comfortable but a little warmer, since we’ll be in the wind and probably out after dark.” Returning to the closet, she pulled out a matching terry cloth hooded jacket and draw-string pants in buttercup yellow and added them to the shorts and T-shirt.
“Okay, now for the bathing suit.” From the bottom drawer of her oak dresser, she took out a one-piece flowered swim suit that had served her well for many years. After one look, it went back in the drawer. Why go conservative since she was only pretending?
Reaching way in the back, she found what she’d hidden there when she first received it as a birthday gift from July, and next to the T-shirt she laid a silver string bikini. She’d never worn the thing because it screamed,
fuck me
! But suddenly that was the message she wanted to send.
Thia looked at the bed. A lovely ensemble waited for her to dress and meet Derek. She wasn’t going, but it would be fun to see how she’d looked if she were.
Her tiredness forgotten, she stripped completely before picking up the top to the string bikini. Tying it around her neck and across her back, she tugged and pulled to make it cover as much as possible. “As much as possible” wasn’t much—most of her small, round breasts were exposed.
Next she slipped on the bottoms and at last understood where the “string” originated in string bikini. Nothing more than a string connected the tiny triangle barely covering her pubic hair to the waistband in back, leaving both ass cheeks totally exposed. The waistband, too, was a string. Her legs and hips were completely exposed. She pushed her hair back over her shoulders admiring her slim hard body and firm breasts.
“Pretty foxy, if I do say so myself.” Pursing her lips, she air-kissed her reflection then smiled, thinking of how Derek would react if he could see her in this.
Next she donned the blue T-shirt and red shorts. Her shoulders and arms were left bare, and all but about four inches of her legs were available for the world to see. A few inches of flat stomach separated the waistband of the shorts that sat low on her hips and the bottom of the T-shirt. Looking at her white skin separated by the red and blue, she chuckled, thinking she should wear this to Fourth of July picnics.
Finally, she slipped on the terry jacket and pants. Her new running shoes would complete the outfit. If she were going.
She made a face at herself in the mirror, and then took off the clothes, laying them in reverse order on the right side of the bed. The empty side, she thought ruefully. Before she could think further about it, she threw on jeans and a loose T-shirt and went across the street for her dinner. As tired as she’d been, playing dress-up reminded her there was a world outside her business problems and fatigue.
Returning an hour later, Thia was full but not satisfied. It would take more than fried rice and an egg roll to take care of that. She was glad she’d gone out, though. The restaurant had been noisy, aromatic, and alive.
Giving it no conscious thought, Thia stripped and ran a hot bath. Sinking low into the soothing water, she closed her eyes and let her imagination run. There was Derek, smiling at her. Wind ruffled his hair, lending him an endearing look. He held out his hand and she took it. Pulled against his strong chest—she remembered well how warm and solid it was—she could almost feel his fingers on her nipple, sense the tingle as they traced a path across her mound. She wanted to feel that way again. Didn’t she deserve to?
She ran hot water a second time to reheat the tub. Reaching for her shaving gel and razor, she set to work. When she finished there wasn’t an inch of skin that wasn’t smooth and clean.
This time when the water cooled, she got out of the tub, feeling relaxed yet revitalized. When she’d dried off and wrapped herself in her soft robe, she settled on the sofa to watch a romance movie she’d taped earlier in the week. Romance suited her mood, and she enjoyed the film more than she might have any other night. Going to bed afterward, she was filled with anticipation.
Thia woke the next morning, stretched, and looked at the clock. Seven. Plenty of time if she were going, but the point was moot. She wasn’t planning to go out on a boat alone with a man she didn’t know.
It struck her then. Derek hadn’t said she was the only person invited. She’d inferred because she wanted to be alone with him, and wanted him to want it, too. Just in case, she sighed and added the one-piece suit to her bag. For a wild fantasy, she might be brave enough for the bikini, but with other company? No.
She brewed coffee, then sipped it while gazing over the bay. The morning sun struck the water, sending shards of splintered light reflecting back. It would be a beautiful day to sail. She sighed.
Ten, under the clock tower,
The temptation was so strong. “I have to go. How can I not? I need this.”
With the desire for an escapade warring with apprehension deep inside, Thia took a quick shower. Sliding her soapy hands across the slick, bare skin between her hips, adventure emerged victorious.
* * * *
She took a deep breath and slipped on the bikini, adjusting it to cover as much as possible. Looking in the mirror, she saw her almost naked body. “Just part of the dream,” she murmured. Then, battling the butterflies still remaining, she put on the shorts and T-shirt. The buttercup pants and jacket followed, and finally her shoes. With her hair pulled back in a ponytail, her only jewelry, silver stud earrings, twinkled on her lobes. She giggled at her reflection in butter yellow from head to foot. “I may look like a little ducky, but at least I’m a damn cute one.”
Thia hurriedly packed an overnight bag and walked to the bus stop. Then, like a moth to a flame, she boarded the bus that would take her to the
I’m ready, I’m definitely ready.
The shivers running down her spine said different.
Through stop after interminable stop to pick up and drop off passengers, Thia considered the unknown that lay ahead of her. To support her decision, she envisioned Derek. First, at the gallery, she’d been blown away. He was a magnificent specimen of a man, virile and confident. Later, after innumerable glasses of wine, he’d been warm and comforting. Then he’d given her what she needed, to be pounded into oblivion not once but twice.
Handsome, a man’s man, assured, gentle and understanding, yet sexy with a potency that made her pussy weep just thinking of him. She’d always wondered if one man could truly combine all of those characteristics. Derek could—or at least that’s how it had seemed the one night they’d been together. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought she had another chance to find out.
Finally, it was her turn to exit the bus, and she found herself on the curb outside the
You want adventure? Go on a safari,
Common Sense screamed.
Go away,
Emotion hollered back.
I’m tired of feeling so alone.
Get a dog,
Common Sense countered.
Emotion became, well, emotional, and whined,
I’m horny as hell!
Common Sense snorted but was relentless.
Buy a new toy.
He seems like a nice guy. What’s the worst that can happen?
Are you crazy? Don’t you read the news?
Common Sense sounded pretty disgusted, and Thia was beginning to feel she should heed her own best advice.
“Okay, okay,” she muttered. She glanced heavenward. “Just give me one little sign telling me what to do.”
Like a bright chariot sent from heaven to lead her from temptation, a Yellow Cab stopped directly in front of her. “I give,” she whispered and reached for the door.
When she pulled on the handle, another hand pushed. The hand belonged to Derek. Her heart almost stopped.
“Well, hello. This is perfect timing.” Delight wound through his voice. He slid to the opposite side of the back seat and waited for her. She took a deep breath, paused for a second, and then slipped in next to him.
“Ask for a sign and you get it. Take that, Common Sense!” she said under her breath.