Into the Darkness

“I walked right into that one didn’t I?” She laughed.

I was glad she was loosening up but a part of me was uncertain about her lack of enthusiasm for my sexual innuendo. Was she not suffering just as much as I was? If she was, she did very well to disguise it. Seriously, women had it good not having to walk around with boners.

“So anyways I wanted to thank you again, for my birthday gift. It really means a lot to me.” She choked up a little. I was taken aback that she brought the subject up to begin with. Was she ready to talk about it?

“I know it means something to you, otherwise you wouldn’t get it inked on your skin. You hate needles.” Letting out a small chuckle I remembered the time I had to give her a shot in the hospital.

“True, but over time I got better. I just needed a reminder that no matter what life throws at you, there is always time to be reborn and be the best you can be.”

“Well, you are amazing. I mean at your age to have accomplished so much given what happened…” I hesitated, unsure of what to say next.

Like her mind was distracted with another thought, I gave her a moment not wanting to push her. A few moments later I realized she had nothing to say so I suggested we move back up to the main deck to enjoy the view.

“So you live in London? What does your place look like? I bet it’s all minimalistic and hot,” she said.

“It’s cold and unlived in. I live in the penthouse of my building. It’s big but honestly I am rarely there.”

“OK, so where is the best place you’ve have been to?”

“Mmm, I would have to say the Greek islands.”

“For holiday or work?”

“Always work. We had a new client based in Greece. When I went over, the CEO ensured the meetings were held on the Islands so I got a taste of the market and the culture. The people were so friendly and the food was fantastic.”

“Is that why you’re so tanned now?” she teased.

“That would be thanks to a business trip to Thailand a few months back.”

She giggled, and I wasn’t sure what was so funny till she blurted it out. “Um, so Thailand is notorious for lady boys… They would have been in lady boy heaven seeing you.”

“Charlotte, I don’t know what you are implying but I do not pay for sex and I think it’s pretty obvious which ones are boys and which ones are girls.”

“You’d like to think so, right? Just ask Rocky.” She erupted into a ball of laughter holding onto her stomach.

I joined in but the shock was too much. “NO WAY!”

“He didn’t sleep with one but his close encounter was enough to send him into hiding for days.”

The thought was hilarious and we laughed for what felt like forever.

“It’s beautiful out here,” she said as she gazed at the stars. The ocean remained calm. The moon shone bright, the city lights twinkled on the skyline. It was one amazing sight but her sitting beside me made it a million times better. She shivered slightly. I noticed that she didn’t have a jacket and I felt like a jerk for not asking her to bring one. I took off my jacket and placed it around her. For a moment she closed her eyes, and when she opened them she looked at peace.

We sat there talking more about work, told more funny stories about Rocky and just life in general. It was late and I didn’t want the night to end but the yacht needed to sail back and I had a morning flight.

An hour later I was standing in the front of her building, attempting to say goodbye knowing I wouldn’t see her for two weeks. I gently tucked a loose curl behind her ear trying to distract myself from the awful feeling that was forming in the pit of my stomach.

“Thank you for tonight, Lex. I know it didn’t start smoothly but it ended wonderful.”

My hand lingered on her cheek. Was she feeling as desperately as I was? I waited for a sign, because I was one impatient motherfucker.

“I have to go. Have a safe trip, Lex.” She gave me back my jacket and walked inside leaving me alone on the sidewalk.

Three fucking times I had to jerk off that night just to fall asleep. My wrist was twisting in pain but the damn thing wouldn’t go down after the first or second time. By the third I was spent and fell asleep surrounded in fucking cum tissues. I know, I know, TMI as the young folk would say these days. The next morning I woke up to my alarm at five. Great, four hours of sleep. I was going to be one big bag of fun today.

After a quick session in the hotel gym, I packed my suitcase ready to leave for the airport. It was a little after nine when our flight took off. I was tired from the late night but still checked my blackberry to answer work emails. Kate sat beside me tapping away on her laptop. It lasted about an hour before she shut it down obviously frustrated with something. Normally I would ignore her but I also couldn't concentrate. Leaving New York no longer provided me with the relief I was once used to. It left me feeling anxious, I was leaving her. I already fucking missed her. Two weeks until I saw her next and already I was counting down the days.

“Is something wrong?” I asked which took Kate by surprise as I had never asked her anything about her personal life. Nor did I used to care.