Chapter 3

Antonio didn’t seem like much of a fashionable dresser but Lisa thought he looked dashing regardless. He wore a fitted t-shirt that exposed his biceps and the complex tattoo on his forearm. She didn’t know much about trousers, but she was fairly certain they were chinos he wore. It was a great color he'd picked; the brown made his skin tone flicker. She had never seen those sneakers before, but they were the same color as his apron. She wondered why he wore an apron out of the diner and all the way to her house. She shrugged at the idea, but she couldn’t fault him when she saw how beautiful his smile was. He came into the sitting room holding a bag in both hands, the confidence on his face was everything she needed to see for the week to end beautifully.

“I’m sorry I’m late but I had to get some white wine, everyone knows dinner is never complete without them” He apologized sweetly, as Lisa led him to put the bags on the dining table.

“Well, this is your first time being late, third time’s the charm.” Lisa replied and they both laughed lightly.

“Lovely place you’ve got here, must have cost a lot of dollars.” He complimented, looking around and then turning back to smile at her.

“I don’t usually tell people this but I have a thing for interior designing. Although my husband paid for everything that you can see here, the ideas were mine. I picked the paintings, the wall pattern idea was mine, and the whole interior decoration was my idea. I also picked the furniture, utensils and flower vases; I particularly hand painted the patterns on the ceiling of this dining room.” She was blushing as she spoke, she couldn’t keep eye contact with him.

“That’s amazing, Lisa, I would never have thought. It’s no wonder your garden, I couldn’t stop staring. The flowers and plants, well taken care of, prim and so beautiful; I couldn’t help but admire.” He replied honestly impressed but afraid of not being able to express himself properly. He began to unpack the bags as he was done talking, he felt uncomfortable because she had mentioned “husband” in her previous statement. He really thought she was just a single and lonely woman with no one to talk to and a job that stressed her out and earned her just about enough to live comfortably. He didn’t want to say but he was surprised to see that she lived in such a mansion, had such exquisite taste and style and was married.

“The garden was my ex-husband’s, he started the garden and tended to it until our divorce eight years ago. I have tended to it ever since but gardening would never be something I’d start off on my own.” She added, conscious enough to explain that she was now divorced because she could feel the tension in the air and the sudden change in Antonio’s body language.

“I see. So, I brought some fruit ice cream I made for dessert; I’d like to add it to the menu for desserts at the diner’s but I’d like to get a review first, see if it’s as good as I think it is," he said quickly, trying to change the topic and ease his tension.

“Would that be the reason you wore your apron all the way down here?” she asked smiling.

“Oh no.” he laughed.

“Reminds me of Umber, he’d wear his apron to the dining table. When I asked why, he’d say he needed to be ready to go cook again because the one I made might not be enough for him.” She smiled and sat down as Antonio pulled out a seat for her.

“Umber??” Antonio asked, looking lost and confused.

“That’s my son.” She replied, realizing that she might have said so much without really saying anything and now the poor man’s confused and surprised.

Antonio nodded awkwardly and began serving the rice and chicken sauce unto the ceramic plates. He realized that although he had seen Lisa every day for the past four years, he knew absolutely nothing about her. It was his first time ever visiting her house, he didn’t even know what her job was. He was shocked to hear that she had been married before and that she was even a mother. He had made so many assumptions in his head about who she was, especially as she rode a scooter to and from work every day and she walked down to the diner from her house during the weekends to have breakfast and lunch. He thought she was single, introverted and weird. She didn’t seem like someone who was social enough to have friends, neither did she look affluent or outgoing but he was in for a shocker. He felt like a talkative because he had told her everything about himself over the past four years, he didn’t know how he was comfortable not knowing anything about her and somehow, he thought he knew her. He heaved a downcast sigh.

“Mmm, yum. This sauce is the bomb” she complimented as she wiped her lips clean with her tongue.

Antonio smiled in appreciation, he was yet to come out of the mood he was in and Lisa knew it.

“I got a divorce because I felt Reuben and I were so different from each other” she began as she wiped off the spilled sauce on her cheek with paper cloth on the table, “Reuben was emotionally abusive to me, had so many female friends I couldn’t trust him anymore and neglected our son a lot.” She looked up to meet a keen Antonio paying rapt attention as she spoke.

“I’m sorry” he said and proceeded to swallow the morsel in his mouth.

“I thought I could handle it but he began selling our properties without informing me, he falsified some documents and made me sign them so he could sell some properties we had acquired together and others that I had acquired myself but put in his care because he was more knowledgeable than I was in that aspect.” She sipped some of the Pina Colada from the glass and went on, “I never caught him cheating but he has never been straight with me. He has always been lying, conniving, scheming, manipulating and greedy. Asides all that; he was a good man who took care of me, listened to my opinions and also wanted the best for me.” She shrugged, “Well, I guess.” She smiled, exposing her beautiful dentition and her brown eyes glittered under the light.

“How old is your son?” Antonio asked trying to lighten her mood and divert her mind from the divorce saga as they continued eating.

“Umber will be ten next month.” She replied smiling.

“That’s amazing. He’s grown already. I know just the right cake to bake him for him birthday.” He responded excitedly.

“That’d be lovely, if only we can find him first.” She added in a low tone and lifted her head to meet a bewildered Antonio who cleared his throat once again for the umpteenth time now and swallowed the last bit of chicken left.

“My son disappeared four years ago, on his birthday. I haven’t seen him since then.” She gulped down the rest of her drink as she tried to stop the tear from falling, “what about you, any girl you have particular interest in?” she asked smiling at him as he felt guilty for earlier judging her for being too secretive.

“Yes you.” He answered abruptly, lifting his eyes to stare at her with intent.

“What?” she exclaimed, shocked and embarrassed at what just said but also wanting to find out if he was really serious.

He continued to stare at her for a moment then they both began to laugh. Antonio realized the ice cream had melted already. He had forgotten to ask Lisa to help him refrigerate it. Lisa took it to the freezer while Antonio served the white wine so they could have more discussions and enjoy the rest of the evening.

“You know I was really confused when you showed up in your apron, I just couldn’t place it but I didn’t want to ask because I felt it was too early to ruin the evening.” Lisa stated softly avoiding his gaze and making funny faces that made Antonio laugh.

“I was late and while I was in a hurry, I just forgot to take it off and you know I was at work so…” he concluded lightly gesticulating with his hands. They proceeded to sip from their glasses quietly with Lisa wondering what thoughts could be ploughing through his mind. They maintained eye contact for a short while and then Antonio smiled; this put her more at ease and then she broke the silence.

“I know this date didn’t go as planned and you had to find out some real delicate issues about me in the most terrific way and I sincerely apologize…”

“No, Lisa” he interrupted her, “I loved every single moment; I was taken aback a few times and shocked to my wit but mostly lost for words because I couldn’t have guessed that you had this much going on and around in your life but I’m happy you let me in on it and I know it’s going to be okay.” He stretched out his hands and gently placed them on her hands that were fidgeting on the table while his eyes seemed to be promising her peace. She smiled and moved to squeeze his palms lightly too, all her pains seemed to have faded in the moment and her anxiety became as calm as still waters, tears welled up in her eyes.

“You are so beautiful," he said to her and watched as she struggled to believe him in between sheepish smiles; he leaned in carefully and slowly, planting a light, wet kiss on her cheek. She moved her hand to his jaw, interrupting his kiss and pulling his face closer to hers as she brought her lips to his; their lips parted and interlocked together. They both took deep breaths as they tasted the warmth of each other’s lips. He told her stories with his tongue and she bit down gently on his lower lip letting out a peaceful moan as her tongue met his in transient; the warmth of his touch, as his hand perused her cheek and neck, traveled through her body like electricity coursing through a wire. She shuddered as she heard him take deep breaths, her mind slowly drifting into a trance. Her phone let out a sharp ring breaking their connection and ruining the bond, “that’s mine," she said shyly, “excuse me.” She added politely as she took the phone from the table, standing up and walking away from the table.

“Hello,” Antonio heard her say faintly from the balcony as he cleared the table. His mind drifted away as he began thinking about the kiss they just shared. He licked his lower lip and smiled while he set the dishes down carefully on the kitchen counter. He noticed the bulge in his pants and began to adjust his fly and zipper, struggling, stomping his left leg, and cursing under his breath because it wasn’t working. He tried to push his manhood upwards so it could assume a lying position against his upper thigh. He readjusted his posture once again for the umpteenth time, ashamed that he couldn’t control it.

Lisa cleared her throat, walking in casually; she'd seen his struggles as she stood at the door for a few seconds.

“Hi there!” He chuckled without lifting his head. He was trying to remain as calm as he possibly could. He began to do the dishes slowly as she positioned herself beside him.

“Is something wrong? You look terrible, Antonio,” she said feigning honesty, squeezing her brows and mopping her eyes at eyes.

“No. I was having trouble finding the dishwashing liquid, but I've found it already.” He replied, putting up a front to seem genuine. “Are you having troubles? You seemed apprehensive on the phone,” he asked, hoping to shift the conversation.

“No…why? You listened in on my conversation?” She started to fidget, her words seemingly dishonest. She inhaled quickly. “It’s nothing,” she responded calmly.

“I wasn’t listening on your conversation, I just wanted to make sure…” she stopped the rest of the words as she covered his mouth with a deep, breathtaking kiss. She then took a step back to stare him in his eyes, “Let me help you do the dishes," she said smiling as Antonio stared on speechlessly.

She continued with the dishes while Antonio went back to clean the dining room and the dining furniture. He kept staring at the bulge from his trouser, adjusting his pants and cursing.

“Don’t you want to take your apron off?” she asked him shyly, blushing as she walked into the sitting room to take a seat. “Come, sit,” she urged him, tapping the sofa.

He walked shyly and sat beside her, “thank you for today.” He voiced sweetly.

“No, thank you. I absolutely loved today. I haven’t been this excited in years,” she replied as tears of happiness filled her eyes. Her palms were rubbing against each other. Antonio put his hands in hers; he knew she was anxious.

“You are amazing.” He told her, staring in her large grey eyes and smiling. She broke into a laugh too and he followed suite. They stared at each other again, he leaned in to kiss her neck, and she turned her head to meet his lips. He slowly sucked on her bottom lip, sending shivers through her. A moan escaped from her throat. “Oh, I love that,” she said quietly, their breaths hot on each other’s lips. He smiled and took her lower lip between his lips again, making her wet and needing him even more.

They began rubbing down through clothes, and then under clothes, searching frantically for skin. She pushed her palm into his erection, first over his slacks, then sliding her hands past his boxers to feel his hard-on. This deepened her want to feel it inside of her; her breaths became more intense. His hands were already in her pants, cupping and feeling her ass cheeks.

He pushed the pants off her hips and halfway down her legs, he began unbuttoning and unzipping the fly of his slacks. She didn’t even realize he had taken of his apron, she wondered why he had even worn it; he looked so perfect without it. While she was lost in admiration, he pumped his manliness between her thighs, sending heat radiating through her skin. They were both panting, sweating despite been under the air conditioning system, their bodies aching from sexual want.

“What are we doing, Lisa?” Antonio breathed heavily, their foreheads touching, his breath felt warm on her lips.

“I don’t know but I like it.” she replied smiling.

Antonio smiled too as he went on his knees in front of her, took off her panties completely and slid his manliness into her soaking vulva, rubbing it back and forth between her the lips. She groaned deeply in response; her wetness throbbed so much for him that it ached. It was like he knew, because he lifted her chin to make sure her eyes kept contact with his and slowly guided his penis into her wetness. She inhaled sharply, he grabbed onto her hips, pushing and pulling her back and forth onto himself.

She let out a moan as he stopped moving her and began thrusting her hard and fast, filling her up as much as he could. She gripped his arms, her nails flexing against the tight muscles of his biceps. She squeezed her warm hole around his hardness, feeling every thick inch inside of her. She clung unto him as he slammed into her, wailing in her pleasure, his moans and growls mixing with her beautiful moans.

“Yes!!” she exclaimed as he gave her everything he had, their flesh slapping together, his hardness filling her over and over. They were rocking the sofa now, making it squeak. He moved his left hand and began to squeeze her bouncing breasts. His actions were making her delirious, she was getting close and so was he, and she could feel it in the erratic rhythm of his hips, in the tightening of his stomach.

“Oh, Lisa.” He tangled his hand in her hair, while the other hand kept holding on tightly to her hip. “Oh, damn.”

The pressure built inside her. His hardness hitting the right spot, sending a sensation like little electric shocks directly to her clit and through her body. Her pleasure reached a sharp peak and she began to clench around him, she shrieked as the tension broke, shuddering waves rolling over her body.

“Antonio!” she exclaimed as she flung her head backwards, rolling her eyes.

He buried her face in the sofa next to her head, his penis jerking and throbbing inside her. Wet heat filled her as she pushed her hips up, moaning as her still-clenching wetness milked it out of him. They were both gasping and trembling, pressed slick and hot against each other.

She sunk against the seat, buzzing, shuddering, alive. He sagged against her. She squeezed around him and sighed at the feel of his twitching length still so deep inside of her. He groaned, close to her ear and buried his shuddering body atop hers as she rubbed his sweaty back with her palms.

“You’re amazing.” She whispered in satisfaction.