Chapter One
I might need to see a doctor if this torture continues.
The ear kisses had me shivering like a convulsed child. His palm moved over every inch of my body as if he was memorizing it to paint later. I arched my back in desperation, stifling a moan when his cold lips closed down on my nipple. A gentle, almost feeble stroke of my clits, had my eyes rolling deep into their socket with my head hanging like I might pass out.
Almost slipped into a stroke when his long fingers dipped into my slimy wetness. I wiggled my butt trying to fuck the fingers, but they felt too light inside me. Assisting this ace of a man who is about to make my orgasm dreams come true. I stroked my clits with my two fingers as the moans left my lips. His free hand squeezed my breast, causing me to gasp loudly.
“Astrid!” An ear-shattering noise came from behind the door.
I shut it out and tried to concentrate, enjoying the strokes and the tightness in my pelvic sending pleasurable sparks into my bloodstream.
“Astrid! I know you can hear me!” The voice came again.
And like a burst balloon, the entire bubble deflated, leaving me in shatters. I gulped dryly with my sleepy eyes widely open now as I let out a string of curses. The thump in my clit heightened, expectant of the explosion coming next, but I already lost the desire and strength to continue. Feeling my wetness, I punched the bed.
Wet dreams barely wake me up these days, and I cherish the moments I end up having them. Taking in the strokes, letting my fierce sex loving self explore until my bones drop.
“Astrid!” Mum’s yell jolted me back to the present again. This time, I had goosebumps lacing my arms.
Sitting up, I pulled at my rough hair, cursing my luck. I thought I was being a good kid, giving my mother, who lives forty minutes away from me, a spare key to my house. Now I can’t even have an early morning release in peace without having her eat up my dreams. I should have known escaping her for an entire week would eventually blow up in my face.
Yanking off the bedspread to get my face washed quickly before she comes barging in. I almost passed out at the stench that came out of my mouth. Oh, the effect of garlic bread for dinner sure is a recipe for suicide.
“Good morning, Mum.” I yawned as I pulled out the kitchen stool after brushing and combing my hair right. My mother is a perfectionist; she knows nothing about one's morning look. You are expected to look prim and proper whenever she sees you, even if it is in the middle of the night.
She turned from the fridge she was dumping God knows what in, thinning her eyes at me. “Morning to you, Astrid. Would have added good to it, but you don’t deserve it. Do you not have a mirror in your room or bathroom?”
I ignored her first jab at insulting me and furrowed my brows. “How is that?”
“You look like a raccoon with those dark eyes.” She pointed her shiny red manicure in my face.
Sucking my teeth, I reached for an apple and dragged my feet into the living room. “I have been putting in late nights to finish my client's wedding dress, Mum. So, stop picking on my face like it is so bad. Also, why are you here so early? I need to either change my password or get my keys back. But the former will just do. Can’t have any privacy in my home.” I mumbled under my breath. “Owww, mum!” I moaned at the knock she had given me on the back of my head.
“That serves you right for thinking your mother is a bother to you. I raised you better than that.” She hissed, sitting elegantly opposite me, unlike me, who had my legs sprawled out underneath me.
“But you don’t barge in on Craig and Lina like that,” I mentioned my two siblings.
“That is because one is married and the other has a serious partner. Unlike you, who has refused to stay focused on someone. Don’t you feel disheartened when you help your clients make beautiful wedding dresses, and you end up with none?”
Here we go again. I reached for my phone and gasped a bit too loudly. “Ah, apparently I have to leave this house in twenty minutes. I do have an appointment.” I said, standing up quickly.
“Astrid, I see what you did there! Anyway, your cousin’s engagement dinner is tomorrow. Make sure to be present, and please try your best not to embarrass your father and me by drinking and yapping too much.” She called back.
I halted in my tracks and turned to her. “What? Mum, you know I am not a fan of Tilda. That girl thinks the world revolves around her. Why do you have to punish me to be present? Lina would willingly be there. I am not going.”
Mum stood up and dusted her dress like my couch added a speck of dust or something. Her eyes threw invisible, thin daggers at me, but I can sure feel the bite. “Astrid Crystal Greene.” There goes my government name. She means this shit. “I dare you not to be present. If I have to melt up in embarrassment, it won’t be because of you.”
“But you just said I was going to embarrass you, why then are you still insisting that I come?” I screeched in frustration.
She picked up her bag and headed for the door. “It’s by six at your aunties' house.” With that, she slammed the door in my face.
Fuming hard, I stomped my way back to my room. I am twenty-nine, and I can’t even put my foot down against my mother.
“She would be the end of me,” I whined to my best friend, Daisy, on a call while I got dressed for work. I have an appointment that I want to handle myself because of the client involved. Would have preferred to just stay in bed for a while and reconnect with my day, which mum already spoiled for me.
Stupid Daisy cackled like an evil witch that had been captured.
“It’s not funny.” I hissed.
“Of course, it is.” She said amidst giggles. “Imagine what would have been the outcome if she didn’t bother to call your name and walked into the room to see you pleasuring yourself? I bet you two would be on the news denouncing one another as mother and daughter.” She started laughing again.
I hate this girl.
But thinking about it, I dodged a bullet with mum this morning. She wouldn’t let me live it down. Nancy Greene is a tough nut to crack; she can’t even befriend herself.
“Anyway, let’s not talk about me anymore. I have enough headaches to deal with.” I sniffed while moving my mascara brush cautiously to avoid any stain.
“Is it today?” Daisy asked.
“Mm.”
“Wow! You have the worst kind of people on your radar.”
“I just can’t say I hate my life.” I tsked. “So, are we still up for lunch?”
“I might rain check. But we should definitely meet up for dinner.”
“Alright, boo. Have a nice day. I love you.”
“I love you too. Bye.”
The call ended just in time for when I was ready. Checking myself out one more time, I headed out and drove to work with a relaxing song playing on the speaker. I just hope today moves smoothly, and I don’t have to deal with anymore drama than I already have today.
But it’s hard for fate to be on my side. I had wished too soon. Arriving at the fashion house i was met with my supposed client, almost ripping off the hair of my assistant.
What a view to start the day!
“I want her arrested.” The saucy bride, Nita, who has been the source of my sleepless nights these past two months, stated.
I inhaled deeply to calm my nerves. “You started the assault of my employee, Nita. I think it is clear who should be suing whom?”
It took me ten minutes to get the ruckus in the space to disappear. Nita might look petite, but she is one feisty bitch. Almost had me falling on my face. Poor Casey just got ruffled up for nothing.
“What?” She exclaimed as if I asked for one of her fake boobs. “Customer is king, Astrid. And if you weren’t so good at your job i would cancel out this damn fitting and the entire dress. I asked her to put the dress on me, and she hurt me with a pin.”
“Did you think it was intentional? You could have waited for me to come. We had an appointment. You came earlier than expected.” I said as calmly as I could muster.
Nita snorted, raising her shoulders. “Well, I pay a lot of money for your service. I should be able to walk in here as I please.”
Like she made the payment.
“Nita.” Her fiancé, Dave, stumbled in with worry written all over his face. “Are you okay, baby?” As if a switch bulb was turned off inside of her, Nita burst into a fit of tears, falling into his arms. He held her close to his chest, caressing her hair while mumbling an apology to me. “It’s okay, my love, I am here now.” He mumbled repeatedly.
I turned my face, focusing it on my sketchpad to keep from scowling at them. Despite Nita’s saucy bitchy attitude, she is walking down the aisle with a man who would move mountains for her. No matter how much she whined or acted rudely, you would never find a frown on Dave’s face. He was always waiting with an open arm to comfort her. When they first came for an appointment, I thought Nita was the wealthy one with the way she acted, and he was just so calm through it all. Daisy and I concluded he might have dated her for her money.
She just feels too annoying to love. But to our surprise, Dave is the cash cow who just loves her to the moon and back. I would do anything to have a man love me like that. However, it happens that I might be immune to the good ones.
“I want to sue Astrid’s assistant!” Nita announced, looking up at her man with puppy eyes.
Dave chuckled, kissing her nose. “Aren’t you so cute? You know we can’t do that to Astrid. She is the only designer who has put up with us until now. Why don’t we go do your fitting? Let’s just forget this happened.”
It took a lot of mushy doings to convince her, and that was beginning to touch my nerves. These lovers have no respect for one's mental health.
Nita pointed at me, “You should be thankful my man is so kindhearted. You would have had to hear from my lawyer.”
I held up a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “Wow, thanks for your generosity.”
She tsked, sashaying out of the office. Dave moved close and smiled. “I am so sorry, Astrid. I promise to make it up to you and Casey.” He said.
And he kept to his promise by sending Casey and me a mouthwatering bonus. Plus, our day was made with how much Nita loved her dress. I finally got relief from not seeing her face again. Unless, of course, Dave dumps her and she ends up getting married again. I know it's awful thinking, but Nita just doesn’t seem to deserve that kind of happiness. Always turning up her nose at everyone like she is the better human.
“How are you feeling, Casey?” I asked, watching her place an ice bag on her forehead.
Casey beamed a bit too widely for someone whose head is swollen. “I am great. With that cash from Mr. Dave. I am doing just good.”
I laughed at that, shaking my head. “Let me know if you need to go to the hospital. Do I have any fitting appointments?”
She dropped the bag and looked through the schedule. “Just one. What would take up your day is the lined-up new clients scheduled to see you.”
I groaned inwardly and replied with a smile. The perks of being a known fashion designer who makes exquisite dress designs is so much money flowing in. But the downside is having to deal with arrogant ladies who think their poop smells better. All the same, I love my job. It is the best thing about my life aside from those whom I care about.
Unfortunately, I was the one who rain checked on dinner with Daisy, as I didn’t get off work until after dinner. I drove my car towards the bubbling street two blocks away from my office, where restaurants seem to be holding some sort of congress. There are a variety of food stops, from pastries to Chinese, Italian, and many others. If one wants a food tour, Maplewood Way is the right place to be.
I parked my car in an available space, locked it, and dipped my hands into my jacket pocket to take a walk just in case something might catch my interest. One peculiar building had me stopping in my tracks. From the glass, one can see that it was dimly lit and had a closed sign on it. However, someone is obviously in there moving around. I looked up at the sign above the glass, and it read “melting delights”. That’s a strange name for such a space.
Now I got curious to know what goes on in this space. Placing my face on the glass like a child, I tried to decipher what was being sold in it. Totally engrossed with what I was doing, I didn’t know when a face came into my view.
“May I help you?” The nasal-like voice inquired.
And a shocked yelp escaped my lips, causing me to hit my forehead against the hard glass.
