“I’ve got you. Let go,” he told her.
Scarlet gave him everything and Richard took her to the stars and showed her the magic. He held her as she cl**axed and brought her down, forever holding her in his arms.
His heart contracted inside his chest when he looked into her eyes and thought for a one second.
I want to keep you forever.
****
Sometime later, after they’d made love and watched a few movies together he broached the subject of double dating.
“Lily has requested a double date,” Richard said. Scarlet lay on the rug in front of the fake fire, her na**d body glowing from the sparks shooting up.
“Does she know about the contract?”
That f**king contract. Every second that stupid thing was mentioned. Couldn’t he go a day without her thinking about it? The contract didn’t mean anything, at least not to him.
“No, she doesn’t,” he said.
“Please don’t tell her. I wouldn’t be able to face her if she knew why I’m here.” Scarlet’s words pierced his heart.
“If it wasn’t for the contract would you still be here?” he asked.
She hesitated. “I don’t know.”
His hands grabbed hold of hers, and he kissed her on the lips. “I’d want you with me without the contract.”
“Why did you write it up?” she asked.
“I don’t know any other way to get what I want.” Richard waited to see if she believed him. Scarlet gave him a smile but nothing else to say she’d forgiven him. The contract was still between them. “I’m going to take you shopping,” he said.
She grunted and turned away from him. “I hate shopping. Can’t you just have something sent up? Or better yet I packed some jeans and dresses.”
Richard shook his head. “I’d love to take you shopping.”
So shopping they went, at a boutique he’d requested to be available to him for the entire day.
Scarlet let him pick, and he noticed she tried not to look at the price tag. One dress, he observed, she’d paid particular attention to. Richard chuckled as the tag was inspected. A blush, and then her eyes widened before she turned away. However, he hated seeing the yearning look she gave the piece.
When the assistant took her into the dressing rooms, he went and checked out the dress. It cost over a thousand. Not caring, he picked it up and found one in her size. Thank goodness for the full figured women now becoming popular. The chains were being forced to supply for the fuller woman now. He paid and had it gift wrapped with the promise to have it sent to him in his room.
Usually he hated taking women shopping, but he found himself seated outside the dressing room, waiting to be shown each new article of clothing.
“You must be the only man who likes taking a woman shopping,” she said.
“What can I say? With a figure like yours I love it.”
He purchased some dresses and jeans, clothes that would make her feel good as well as look good.
Naked. He’d love the next law to be passed for all women to be naked. Richard put the thought from him. He could count on Lily to make her feel welcomed.
They organised to see his friends on Sunday at a casino which had a restaurant, a brand new experience, closer to home.
“What about Harry?” she asked.
“If I know Wayne and Lily, only the best of nannies will be looking after them. Either that, or her father will. Also, they’ll be staying at the hotel above the casino, and I’ve booked us a room for the night.”
Scarlet nodded. That night after they’d made love Scarlet had moved over to her own bed. Richard spent the night staring at the empty bed replicated by the empty feeling in his heart.
Chapter Seven
On Sunday they met up with Lily and Wayne. Lily embraced Scarlet immediately while Wayne stared at her a few seconds before kissing her on the cheek. Scarlet noted the age difference between the couple. She didn’t say anything as she glanced up at Richard. They had a similar age gap.
They played around a little, Lily and Scarlet talking while the men played at some of the tables. At one point Richard pulled her into his lap for good luck. Wayne did the same to Lily. The experience was enjoyable. Towards the end of the day they gathered in the restaurant and bar area. The men went off to get drinks leaving the girls to chat.
“How was Harry?” Scarlet asked.
“You’ve asked that several times. Harry is a darling and spending the day at the zoo with my dad. Believe me, the guy has a lot to make up for. Thank you for agreeing to double date.” Lily placed a hand over hers.
Scarlet smiled back and thought about the last time she’d had a girlfriend. Never being the honest answer. She had never really gelled with anyone, not even at work. “It’s nice,” she admitted.
“Wayne was constantly telling me I had to go out. In this world no one likes a woman who enjoys staying at home and being a parent.”
Scarlet nodded and looked out toward the bar.
“Richard does love you, you know?” Lily said. Scarlet placed her drink back on the table and turned to the sweet woman at her side.
“Richard doesn’t love me. He doesn’t know how to love, and he’s assured me come next Friday our time will be over,” Scarlet said. Their short time together had been why she had moved out of his bed last night. Getting used to cuddling with him would bring more heartache when he moved onto the next woman. He might make comments about being lonely, but Scarlet knew he liked that way of life.
Scarlet hated how much she was becoming affected by being with him. She refused to think in terms of love. Being in love got you hurt, and she couldn’t deal with it. She wasn’t a single woman anymore. Harry was counting on her.
“I can see it, Scarlet. He’s never been this laid back with a woman before.”
I wonder what you’d think if you knew about the contract.
It didn’t matter what he’d said about that stupid piece of paper. Scarlet couldn’t let it go. She didn’t know why, but it stayed like a bruise over her heart refusing to heal.
The men came back with the drinks. Richard handed her a small glass of wine. She didn’t have the heart to tell him she hated the stuff and smiled at him.
There was so much they didn’t know about each other. He drank his beer, and Wayne gave Lily some water.
Their love was exploding out of them. Their fingers met and locked; their eyes stared back and held. The small chuckles and the delighted squeal as Wayne nibbled her neck – this is what real couples were like, their love a strong and powerful connection.