Wildflower (10 page)

It was day eight since Preston had walked out on Iris and she paced back and forth wishing she didn’t have to decide to let him go.  She thought she’d give it one more try before giving up.  She called him, but her call was routed to voicemail.  She didn’t leave a message.

There was a concert playing at Millennium Park.  She got all gussied up and put on her best pair of flat sandals.  When she arrived, the park was packed.  For a group that was virtually unknown, there was a huge turnout.  The atmosphere was informal, of course, but most people were dressed to the nines.  That was Chicago for you.

Iris moved with a confident elegance as she made her way across the grass to find a place to sit.  Her orange dress clung to her body in the heat.  Without realizing it, she passed within a few inches of Preston who was standing near the beer vendor.  She smelled his cologne and her heart nearly stopped.  She looked back and there he was — staring at her.

He didn’t try to move closer or even speak, but it was clear that he noticed her and she wondered if she should acknowledge him.  A couple got up and passed in front of her, blocking Preston from her view.  When they passed, Preston was gone.  She turned, searching desperately for him, but she didn’t see him in the crowd of people.

She found a spot to sit, although she kept looking around, hoping to find Preston.  The music was loud, reverberating through her body.  It made her want to move, dance, and be free.  It had a funky beat — that white boy kind of funk — stringy and electric, synthesized.  Suddenly she thought she smelled him again and turned, but he wasn’t there. She laughed at herself for being so silly.  The man had walked out of her life and when he saw her only minutes ago, he had said nothing and walked away again.  Why would she want that in her life after all that she’d been through with Peter?

She glanced around one more time, then gave up.

It was day ten and Iris’ burning flame for Preston was now barely a flicker.  She’d awakened at four thirty in the morning and realized that it was time for her to face the fact that she and Preston were over.  She wasn’t sure why it had taken her so long to come to this conclusion.

She rolled out of bed and dragged her feet down the hallway to Idris’ room. She knew he’d be a comfort to her. She opened his door and peered in. He was awake, but not alone. The woman’s moans of pleasure were soft but evident. Iris quickly and quietly closed the door.

In the kitchen, she made herself a cup of hot tea and sat at the window overlooking the city’s skyline.  It was a terrific view.  She heard footsteps coming toward the kitchen. It was Idris and Jess. Idris was naked, Jess was wrapped in a sheet. They were both startled to see Iris sitting in the kitchen.

“Well, since the gang’s all here, would you like me to cook breakfast? I’m hungry but didn’t think it was practical to just prepare something only for myself.”

Idris walked to Iris and kissed her on the lips. He squatted onto the chair across the table from Iris.

“What’s wrong? Why are you up so early?” Idris asked.

“Idris, why don’t you go put on some clothes?” Jess suggested, firmly.

“What is it with people obsessing about clothes?” Iris asked.

Idris shrugged, but he got up to put on a robe.  He didn’t want Jess to be uncomfortable.

“Something bothering you, Iris?” Jess asked.

“Preston.”

“You still haven’t heard from him?”

She shook her head.

“Screw him. There are other fish in the sea. You’re a gorgeous woman, and Chicago is full of good-looking men.”

“You’re right. There are a lot of men here. But, I’m partial to Preston.”

“Girl, if he doesn’t want you, don’t put any energy into wanting him. I tell you what, why don’t we go to the concert in the park — just you and me. You can snag yourself a new guy.”

Iris sighed.

After she cooked breakfast for Jess and Idris, Iris headed out for a run — something she hadn’t done in a while.  The air was moist from the earlier rain.  Her footsteps splattered the puddles as she jogged along Rush Street.

She stopped at the corner and texted Camden while she waited for the light to change.

Iris: Cam. Wassup?

Cam: You got it.

Iris: Need love.

Cam: Go get it.

Iris: Hugs.

Cam:

***

Iris arrived at Preston’s suite disheveled and flustered. He’d just gotten out of the shower and was walking around in his boxer briefs, bulging through them. His chest was glistening wet.  His dreadlocks, damp. When he saw her, he seemed at once excited and peeved.

She walked to him and kissed him. She knew how to tame his anger. But he apparently didn’t want to be tamed because he pushed her away.

She grabbed him by the arm as he attempted to walk away from her. Her brown eyes stared seductively into his. She grasped her bottom lip between her teeth and pulled his body next to hers.  They stood pressed together, fixed, wanting. Their hearts beat in tempo, their eyes closed, seeing only by touch… feeling the tenderness of each other’s touch.

Kissing his lips, his cheeks — her tongue traced the curve of his jaw.  His kisses were raw, primal — their tongues plunging.

He pushed her away.

“Iris, I can’t.”

“Don’t you want me?” she asked innocently.

“I do,” he whispered in her ear as she pulled him closer once again. His warm breath moistened her ear. “I — I don’t…  I can’t — you’re my brother’s ex. As much as I want you, I couldn’t do that to him.”

“Stop talking —”

She pushed him down onto the loveseat behind him. As he fell back, he pulled her with him. He maneuvered her shorts off her shapely legs, caressing them as his hand slid up her inner thigh. Iris’ pulse soared as she stifled a whimper. His probing touch had her perched for a freefall to ecstasy.

He sat up and lifted her onto his thighs, her perky breasts tempting him. He looked up at her, “Okay?”

She nodded.

“Yes?” he confirmed.

She nodded, breathing heavily, her pulse soaring.

His tongue outlined the lobe of her ear. He lifted her onto his fullness, penetrating her slowly, deeply. Her back arched and eyes closed. As Iris rode him, the loveseat groaned under the pressure of their thrusts. Raspy moans, soaring pulses, heated blood, briny hot sweat. They held nothing back. The musky scent of sweat and sex filled the room. The sounds of wet flesh on flesh resonated.

His muscles flexed, tempering his strength with her. They jerked and twisted with unbridled passion in a primal rhythm. Their eyes met as he glanced at her. Her tight little body, enraptured in passionate pleasure, intensified his excitement.

Driven to the brink of orgasm, her heart wedged in her throat. And in one intense burst of heat, the culmination of anger and love, passion and devotion, rushed through her body.

She leaned in to kiss him. He held her close as he stood, still inside of her. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he walked to the bed — kissing her as he laid her down. Her eyes, closed. Her sensual lips parted. He looked at her, “Okay?”

She nodded.

He reluctantly slid himself from the warmth of her body and laid next to her with his arms around her. She surprised him. Showing up at his hotel suite was the last thing he expected from her. She lay there quietly. Her eyes were open, but when he sat up to look at her, she’d close them.

“What’s wrong,” he asked.

“I don’t know, Preston…”

“Look, I’m not afraid of the hard stuff.” He put his hand on her thigh, caressing her. “I care deeply for you. No. I love you.  I’m in love with you, Iris. I’ve known this since Buckingham Fountain.”

“But you walked out on me.  You didn’t even give me a chance to explain anything – — you just walked out,” Iris exclaimed.

“I’m here now.”

Iris sighed. “No,
I’m
here now. I came to you. You didn’t come to me.”

Preston moved closer and brushed her hair from her eyes. He kissed her on the neck and crawled out of bed. Happy.

“Either way,” he said, “whether I came to you or you came to me, what’s important is that we’re together now. I will never walk away from you again.  I’ve been miserable without you. And…”

“I’m not sure about anything anymore, except…” she paused, contemplating her feelings, deciding against sharing them.  She said instead, “What are
you
sure of?”

“Right now?”

She nodded.

“That there’s no other place I’d rather be than here with you right now.” He smiled and kissed her lips.

Iris told Preston her philosophy on life and love and living.  She told him she accepted that suffering and sorrow would be the companions of passion and love.  He frowned as if he wondered how something so beautiful could be so tragic.  But her life had taught her that nothing would be pain-free. She knew she’d gamble with her heart if she stood on the side of love again.

Even with all the financial comforts Peter had offered, Iris had suffered loneliness and disappointment. Yet, she had been willing to endure a loveless marriage in order to keep it intact.

She knew and understood — even then — that love was a gamble. The question was, would she be willing or able to bet on love again?

Iris’ phone rang. She fumbled around in her purse to grab it. It was Sara of all people. She pushed ignore and tossed the phone onto the nightstand. She followed Preston to the bathroom and got into the shower with him.

“I’m still going to need a place to live. The hotel is nice, but I really need a place to call my own. I was thinking about that building you showed me.  Do you want to come with me to look at some places?”

“What building?” Iris asked Preston.

“The black one that was oddly shaped. The one by Navy Pier.”

“Lake Point Tower?”

He nodded. “Yeah, that one. I’m thinking about getting a place there.”

“Um… the smallest apartment on the lowest floor is half a mil. Maybe you should consider something in Hyde Park. You’ll get the affluence without the sticker shock — at least in some parts.”

He shook his head. “No. No. I like Lake Point Tower. It has an unobstructed view of the lake and the pier and the park.  The property owns the air rights, so nothing will ever be built around it that will obstruct the view.”

“How do you know that?”

“I’ve done my homework,” he said, smiling.

“Did you win the lottery or something? How can you afford something like that?”

“Before I left Europe, I sold my technology company to a large digital firm in London. I thought I told you that already,’’ he said.

She nodded.

“I’ve also invested well through the years,” he continued.

“What does that mean?”

“It means I can take care of you, and you’d never have any worries about finances…”

“Take care of me?” she interrupted. “Don’t you think you’re being presumptuous?”

“Come on, Iris. I’m supposed to meet the realtor in half an hour. I want you to help me choose. Who knows, maybe it will someday be your place, too,” he said, grinning.

“How about I meet you when you’ve narrowed it down?”

“That will be fine, I’ll have a car pick you up so don’t catch a cab.”

***

The car picked her up precisely at two o’clock, just as he’d promised. She was driven to Trump Tower in Downtown Chicago. Preston was waiting in the lobby, looking handsome as ever in his jeans and tight-fitting shirt which showcased his well-defined, chiseled chest.

When he saw her step out of the car, he flashed his pearly white teeth. She looked particularly beautiful. Her long cascading curls floated in the breeze as she strode into the lobby. She wore a white silk shirt, her lacy bra peeping through seductively. The brooch at her neck accented the teardrop-shaped earrings that dangled from her ears.  Preston eyed her toned butt, perfectly filling her casual pants, as she strode into the elevator in front of him.

Jasmine, the realtor, showed Preston a few properties in Lake Point Tower but discouraged purchasing there. She had something better up her sleeve. Preston had told her that he wanted a condo in a high rise with east and south views.  He wanted to be on one of the top floors and preferred to be near a boat slip because he planned on buying a boat. After the fireworks show on the lake, he was hooked. He wanted a yacht for himself.

Jasmine unlocked the door to an apartment on the 50th floor of Trump Tower.  It was fully furnished. The owners had staged it for a quick sale, and it worked. After Iris ooh’d and aah’d over the details and the panoramic views, Preston told Jasmine he’d take it. Iris did a double take.

“Just like that, you’ll take it,” Iris said. With Peter, it took weeks of mulling it over, looking at the money over the long haul, talking to his financial managers, considering which fund the down payment would come out of, and so on.  But Preston seemed more casual and said he’d take it after only seeing it once for just ten minutes — and it had only taken that long because Iris had to touch and feel and stare at every detail first.

Jasmine whipped the papers out of her briefcase and spread them along the granite countertop. She handed Preston the pen and told him to sign wherever he saw a yellow sticky flag. He looked at Iris, whose jaw was still dropped.

“Just like that? Are you sure this is what you want to do? Are you sure you want to spend this kind of money? I mean, do you even know how much it costs?”

He laughed. “Of course I know how much costs. Let me ask you this,” he said as he dropped the pen on the counter and walked to her. He cupped her face in his hands and moved so close he could feel her breath. “If I bought it, would you move in with me?”

She pulled his hands from her face and stepped back a pace.

“Move in with you? In here?” She looked around at the lavishness — the richness. Of course, she’d had this kind of opulence with Peter, but this somehow seemed grander.

“This is all so sudden, Preston. I mean, I’ve enjoyed you… I’m enamored with you. I even have strong feelings for you…”

“Then let’s not waste time. We are both adults. We both know what we want. Why waste time satisfying some social standard of how long we should be together before we decide to take it to the next level? I want you. I want you in my life — forever.”

“Forever?”

“Yes. Forever. But I won’t push you on that. I figured we could live together while we get to know each other, and you’ll let me know when you’re ready to take the next step towards forever.”

She inhaled deeply.

He stepped closer to her and rubbed his hands along the length of her arms. He saw her look at the realtor who was nodding and smiling, encouraging Iris to say yes.

“Let’s do it, Iris. Here. This will be our home — together. You don’t have to look back at Houston and remember the past that has hurt you so much. You’ll have a home. And you’ll have someone who loves and appreciates you. You can finish school and start the business you always wanted.”

***

Iris walked to the window and looked out at the city.  The condo had a beautiful southeastern view. The lake seemed to glisten even though the sky was overcast. What was she doing? She couldn’t believe she was actually considering moving in with a man she’d known less than two months.  But he seemed safe — he was a Mayweather, a family she knew well.  She knew his brothers and his soon-to-be sister-in-law, Prudence.  So was he really a stranger? She was considering —seriously considering — moving in with him.

Oh, the fun she would have decorating that space and inviting friends over. She’d definitely feel on par with Nadine, socially.  ‘Come on over to my condo at the Trump,’ she imagined saying to Nadine. Girls’ night out with Pru and Jess could be at this gorgeous place — they’d kick Preston out and have their margaritas — she’d have iced tea — and play dominoes and dance around, complete with a panoramic view of the city.

She turned towards Preston who was standing with his hands folded in front of him. Jasmine leaned against the counter.  They both awaited Iris’ decision and she wanted to say yes so much. She wanted to dive into his arms and tell him that she loved him and would be honored to live with him.  She wanted to do that so much.  But wouldn’t that be irresponsible? Wouldn’t that be a huge risk?

“Okay,” she said cautiously. After a moment of contemplation, letting what she had said sink in, she said, “Let’s do it,” with more enthusiasm.

Preston scooped Iris into a hug that lifted her off her feet, then kissed her with the kind of scorching heat that left Iris wondering why it had taken her so long to say yes.

“You’ve made me the happiest man alive.”

This was it. This was the very thing she was talking about with Camden. The ‘something big’ she wanted. It took her coming to Chicago to discover she was capable of throwing caution to the wind. Hell, why not just go all the way, then?

“Let’s not half step. Let’s do forever,” Iris said.

Jasmine gasped. Preston stumbled backward a little.

“Forever?”

“Yes, you mentioned doing the forever thing, but you wanted to go at my pace. I say, let’s go to city hall and do forever.”

“You want to marry me, Wildflower?”

She nodded. “Hell with the half step. Let’s go all the way. If we’re going to do it, let’s do the dang thang!”