before he places my hands on the ladder and climbs up behind me. We take one rung at a time, with him nipping at my behind. Once at the top, I’m in awe of the place. A kid could get lost up here.
It’s a fantasy come true. There are spyglasses and a telescope. In the corner is a treasure chest full of who knows what.
Wooden benches line one side. He guides me to it and forces me to sit. He kneels in front of me and glides his hands up my thighs. The action lifts my dress high on my legs.
“Damon, stop. This house belongs to some kid. As enticing as it sounds, I don’t want to get caught with my pants down up here.”
“Relax, Angel, this house belongs to me, and it’s on my list of places to take you. I want you, and I want you here.”
How can I say no to that? The man has a fantasy of making love to me in a tree house. Who am I to crush his dreams?
It doesn’t take long for both of us to find our pleasure.
I lean back and look at the ceiling. Carved into the plywood above my head are three sets of initials: SN, RN, and DN.
He follows my line of sight. “Lots of childhood memories.”
As we pull out of the driveway, I reach over to take his hand.
“How many girls did you bring up to that tree house when you were a boy?” I ask teasingly.
“None. Girls weren’t allowed Not even my mom has been in it. There are three sets of initials on the ceiling. They’re the only people who’ve been there: my dad, my brother, and me. You’re the first girl up there as long as you don’t count the scores of Penthouse magazines stashed in the treasure chest.” He squeezes my hand. “When we have more time, I’ll take you on a tour of the main house.”
“Why do you keep the house if you won’t live in it?”
“It’s a house built for a family, not for a bachelor. I keep it because I can’t let go. I’m not ready yet.”
I don’t pry. We all have things we’re not ready to let go of. I still have a collection of Barbies and also kept the collar to the first dog we ever had. Bubbles passed away when I was fifteen, but I could never part with that collar.
“Where are we going?”
“Shopping for underwear.”
“What do you have against mine? If you take them, someone will see my goodies.”
“No one is allowed to see your goodies but me, which is why we’re buying an obscene amount of underwear. That way, I won’t feel bad when I’m compelled to keep a pair or two or three.”
The thought makes me wiggle in my seat.
“Stop squirming, or I might take a detour.”
“Aren’t you tired of me yet?”
“Never. Are you tired of me?”
“Nope. I’m just getting started with you, Mr. Noble.”
Damon takes me to an exclusive lingerie shop on Rodeo Drive. He insists on watching me while I try everything on. I walk out of the store with two bags of tiny strips of fabric. They cover very little, but it doesn’t matter because they won’t last a second with him around.
“Now where?”
“You gave me an idea. I want to try something out.”
“Shall I say goodbye to the underwear I have on?”
“Most definitely.” He speeds toward our destination. As we pull into the garage at Ahz, I can only imagine what he has planned.
We enter, and Damon has a discussion with security. His smile is so big. I can’t imagine what he has envisioned, but whatever it is, it makes him happy.
Eventually, I find myself on the sixth floor with the music playing and the lights flashing. We hold each other and dance to the sounds of K-Ci and JoJo as the song All My Life plays through the sound system.
“I stare at the floor below us. Damon, people can see me.”
“Shh. No one can see you. Security has cleared the building, and they shut off the security feed. It’s private. Come here. I want to dance with my girlfriend on the glass floor of my club.”
“You just called me your girlfriend. You know what I said about flattery?”
“No, tell me again,” he says.
“Flattery will get you nowhere, but sweet words will get you whatever you want on the glass floor in your club.”
He jumps up and throws his fist in the air. “Yes!”
He reaches below my dress and with