Chapter 6

“So what are we going to do now?” Marqi giggled, trying to bring herself down off the high she was on. Dennis opened the front door and held it for her. Marqi held the long jacket tightly around herself, looking warily for any signs of Mei, the housekeeper. A chord of guilt thrummed through her, and Marqi quickly forced it down. She smiled slightly, taking Dennis’s hand as he led her through the entry and down the hall to the dining room.

The formal mahogany table had been polished to a glossy perfection and set with a small feast accompanied by two cozy place settings near the window. Marqi walked slowly into the room and watched Dennis cast his blazer over a nearby chair. The wood table was long, and stretched easily enough to seat probably a dozen people, or so Marqi guessed.

“May I take your coat?” he asked politely.

“Um... is your housekeeper around?” Marqi asked tentatively.

“Of course,” Dennis said easily, “who did you think prepared all this food?”

“Well, I don’t want her walking in on me... you know...”

Dennis chuckled. “She’s used to turning a blind eye, but if it would make you feel better, I will instruct her not to disturb us.”

Marqi relaxed slightly. “Yeah, you do that, and then I’ll give you the coat.”

Dennis laughed again. “All right. Have a seat, and I’ll be back in a moment.”

He exited the room at his usual leisurely pace, leaving Marqi alone for a bit. She walked to the window and she looked out at the back driveway just in time to see Mei get into a beat up little Ford car and drive away. She turned and strolled back to the long table, plucking a chunk of mango from a platter as she passed. She popped it into her mouth and chewed, nodding to herself as flavor flooded her mouth.

“There we are,” Dennis said when he returned. Marqi smiled at him.

“Did you see her then?” she asked.

“Oh, yes, it’s all taken care of.”

“Okay.”

“Do you want to eat first, or fuck?”

Marqi smiled. “You’re very direct.”

“You already knew that, though,” he told her. “I see something I want, I take it.”

She took a step closer to him, letting the duster drop from her shoulders. It fell to the floor, puddling under her feet as she wrapped her arms around him. “And do you see something you want?”

“Of course.”

“And will you take it?”

“With pleasure,” he replied, pulling her close to kiss her warm mouth. He backed her up against the edge of the table and caressed her bottom with one hand.

Marqi’s fingers slipped on the highly polished wood surface as she tried to steady herself; Dennis was pressing himself hard against her, driving her into the table. She hitched up her leg, settling herself on it so that her toes dangled, brushing the thick carpet beneath them. His mouth continued its assault as she sought air, turning her head, forcing his lips onto her cheek. His mouth quested downward along her neck while his fingers searched between her thighs; she was still dripping from their adventure in the car. His hand came away slick, and he smeared it against his pants, grazing the hardening cock cased within. Marqi scooted her butt to the very edge of the table and rubbed herself against him through his clothes. He undid his trousers deftly and let them sink to the floor. She sought to free him of his shirt while he pushed off his underwear and waited to see what she would do next. When they were both undressed, she shifted back on the table, letting him see her naked flesh under the chandelier light. Her hands drifted down over her pert breasts, stopping only a moment at the nipples before plunging downward to her cunt. Two fingers went in easily as she reclined on the table and rocked herself on her hands.

Dennis took a seat and watched her touch herself on his table. “You look good enough to eat.”

“Mm,” she said, raising her head, “go ahead.”

“No, I think I’d rather I was the snack.” He pumped his cock and held it out to her, saying, “Come taste.”

“More like taste come,” she giggled, but she slid off the table and came to rest between his knees. She licked his shaft tentatively, tasting the mingled musky flavors and trying to accustom herself to them. With a lazy hand, Dennis stroked her long, dark hair and concentrated on how good it felt to have her sucking his cock.

When he was fully erect again, Marqi stood up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his head to her breasts. She reached down and fondled his cock as he licked her rosy nipples. She moaned for him, her pussy aching to have him again. He stood up, grabbing her wrist and pushing her toward the table. He spun her and pressed her face down into the wood so that her cheek came flush against the polished grain. He entered her from behind, his stiff cock finding her inner flesh warm and inviting. He gripped her hips tightly, his hands making her body do as he commanded. Marqi stayed flat against the table, even as her naked breasts began to stick and pull uncomfortably. Dennis set his strokes to a rhythm, one that built slowly as Marqi began to sweat. Her body felt slick everywhere; perspiration beaded on her forehead as loose strands of hair fell in her eyes. Still Dennis pounded her from behind. He reached up unexpectedly and grabbed a handful of hair, twisting it in his fingers as he burrowed into her deeper and deeper.

“You want it, don’t you?” he rasped.

“So bad,” she agreed in a moan.

He gave her a few more hard thrusts, banging her hips into the table. Orgasm began to build inside her again; the heat spreading through her as her muscles contracted, milking his cock.

“Yeah...” he groaned. Marqi bucked her ass up into him, impaling herself on his cock over and over as he thrust into her. He reached down and cupped his balls, then circled the base of his cock, squeezing it as he began to pump come into her core.

She cried out, coming on his cock and hand, her honey running down her legs as he erupted, shooting strings of come into her. He continued thrusting with each spasm of come, again and again until at last he was empty, satisfied, and ready to withdraw.

After a moment’s rest, he pulled his sticky cock from her pussy and sat back down in his chair.

“Lick me clean,” he told her.

“Uh...what?” she asked, sitting up slowly.

“There’s a little come on the tip,” he clarified. “Clean it up for me, will you, sweetheart?”

“Uh...okay.”

She knelt down on jellied legs and licked his wet cock, taking up the white droplets on the tip. He smoothed her wild hair and said, “Thank you.”

She climbed up and settled herself in his lap.

“So...” he said after a minute. “Hungry?”

Marqi spent a lazy few hours wrapped in Dennis’s arms as they fed each other off the plates they’d carted into his study.

“Is this your favorite room?” she asked, pushing a green grape between his lips.

Dennis chewed and swallowed before answering, “Yes.”

“Why?”

“I’m certain that’s obvious.” He selected a cube of cheese and Marqi opened her mouth for him.

She looked around as she chewed. The fireplace, the books, the warm furnishings, and just the utterly masculine presence of the place made Marqi nod her head. “It’s comfortable, it’s adjacent to everything, and yet, it doesn’t crowd your intimate space like your bedroom would.”

Dennis dipped his head slightly to indicate his agreement and said, “Yes, I’m quite comfortable here.”

He refilled her champagne flute and handed it to her. Marqi sipped, weighing her next words. “Do you take anyone up to your bedroom?”

“From time to time,” he said vaguely, his eyes hunting for something on the tray. He found a cherry and proceeded to eat it.

Marqi felt a knot of disappointment form in her chest. “Oh.”

“Oh?” he looked up at her. Marqi put on a shaky smile, but said nothing. Dennis raised an eyebrow at her and said, “Would you like to be taken up to my bedroom?”

“Well... sure,” she said.

He regarded her openly for a moment, then said, “I’d expect you to stay the night. I don’t like to adjust the temperature.”

“Uh...okay,” Marqi said, slightly bewildered by his statement.

“Are you tired now?” he asked, “Or was that your way of asking to be taken again?”

Marqi felt color come into her cheeks and she responded quickly, “No! I just... I don’t know. I would like to spend the night with you.”

She smiled encouragingly and he smiled back. “Very well. Are we done here?”

She nodded and he rose from the floor beside the couch, offering her a hand up. She accepted and held his hand as he led her up the stairs toward his bedroom.

“The inner sanctum,” Dennis said, opening the door with a flourish. Marqi stepped inside and saw a perfectly clean, somewhat sparsely furnished room. In sharp contrast to the den, this room felt cold and sterile.

“Jeez, who designed this?” she asked, “Hospitals R Us?”

He gave her a quizzical look. “I selected most everything. You don’t like it?”

Oops. “Uh, no. It’s very... nice.”

“But?”

“I like the colors in your den better.”

“Ah.”

She shrugged. “It’s a personal choice.”

He gave her a half smile. “I’ll get you some pajamas.”

He crossed the room and was swallowed by a walk in closet larger than the room Marqi was sharing with Mila at the Lantern Motel. He returned a moment later with a set of his own finest linen pajamas and handed them to her.

“I’ll be out in a moment,” he told her, setting the garments in her hands. She watched him close the bathroom door after himself and just stood there a moment, trying to figure out what she ought to be doing. She must have had too much to drink again. Her head felt clouded. She put the pajamas on and went to the bed. Once there, she hesitated. Which side should she sleep on? Which side did he sleep on? Would he want to go right to sleep? Did he snore?

Suddenly Marqi felt very alarmed. She knew so little about a man with whom she’d been so intimate. The door to the bathroom opened again and Dennis emerged dressed in a faintly striped set of white pajamas with long sleeves. They looked quite similar to the pair Marqi sported. She waited silently as he came to the bed, turned down the left side and climbed under the covers. He looked at her expectantly, so Marqi strode to the opposite side and climbed in alongside him.

He dimmed the bedside lamp and took her in his arms, stroking her long, brown hair again. She laid her head on his chest and listened to the steady, even thrumming running through him.

“I’ve been thinking,” Dennis said, his cheek resting on her forehead.

“Mm?”

“This weekend we should take a trip to the country. I’ll take Thursday and Friday, and we can make a long weekend of it.”

“Well...” she paused. “I can’t. I have to go back to school tomorrow.”

“No,” he said in a petulant voice. “You can postpone.”

“The session starts in a few days. I have to go tomorrow or I’ll lose my slot, and my deposit.”

“Well, I’d rather have you here,” he said selfishly. “I’ll reimburse you for the deposit.”

“No, Dennis!” she said, pushing him away slightly. “I want to complete school on time. Taking these two courses will ensure my graduation date.”

Dennis sighed. “I don’t want to argue about this with you right now. Can we talk about it in the morning?”

She said nothing as he rolled away from her and turned off the lamp. In the dark, her mouth was a set line. She would be gone in the morning, and nothing he could say was going to change that fact.

Marqi was fairly certain she would never forget this particular moment of her life for as long as she lived. The bite of croissant in her mouth nearly fell out when Dennis made his announcement.

“I want to keep you.”

He looked her right in the eye and smiled as he spoke.

“Hum... uh... wha?” she said, trying to chew and swallow quickly.

“I want to keep you,” Dennis said, looking at her fondly from his seat at the table. “I don’t want you to go. I want you to be near me always.”

“Wha...um...” Marqi said again, reaching for her orange juice to wash down the bit of croissant now stubbornly stuck in her throat. She drank the entire glass down before she attempted speech again. “Well, uh... What do you mean exactly?”

“I mean I want you to stay,” he said emphatically. “Don’t go back to school; stay here, with me. Stay and spend a little more time with me.”

Marqi recovered enough to begin processing his request. “You mean today?”

“Today, tomorrow, every day!” he responded with enthusiasm. “Wouldn’t you be sad if you went away? Wouldn’t you miss me?”

“Uh, well...” she hadn’t actually thought one way or another how she might feel about going back to school, but now that he mentioned it, she supposed she would miss him. There were lots of things she would probably miss. She sat back slightly in her chair and mulled.

“Well?” he prodded.

“Well,” she repeated, unable to think of anything better.

“Say you’ll stay.”

“But... I can’t,” she said.

“I’ll take care of you. I’ll take care of everything you need, everything you want,” he said. “You won’t have to worry about school. You won’t have to worry about anything except me.”

She smiled a little at that and refolded the linen napkin in her lap. “You know, that’s all very well and good, but... I mean, I can’t just not go to school. I’ve already paid the tuition and the dormitory deposit... Plus, my mother... I mean, she would absolutely kill me...or possibly herself... if I didn’t go back to school.”

“So transfer here,” Dennis shrugged.

“What?”

“To the JFCC,” he said, reaching for a grape. He munched it happily and gave her an expectant look.

“You’ve lost your mind,” she said, standing up.

“No, on the contrary, my mind is quite clear.”

Marqi went to the window. “Where would I stay?”

“I could get you an apartment,” Dennis said, “so your mother could come and visit you any time.”

Marqi felt confused. “I don’t know.”

“Oh, come on,” Dennis wheedled. “Just say yes. Just for now. Stay a couple more days before you make up your mind.”

“But...the deposits...and...” she tried to think of something appropriate, but he was giving her that look again, the one where his eyes told her exactly what he’d be doing to her in a matter of moments. He stood up and walked purposefully toward her with a predatory gait. Marqi inhaled, her heart speeding up as he neared. He dipped his head to her ear and gave the lobe the tiniest of licks.

“Promise me you’ll think about it,” he whispered, his breath giving her cold tickles where he’d licked her.

Marqi shivered all over. She’d already forgotten what she was fighting him about. He leaned down and took her mouth with his, and everything fluttered away.

Her mouth acted of its own accord, murmuring to him, “I promise…”