Page 23 of Carnal Desire

“When I can breathe again,” she gasped. “I’m going to make you come until you black out.”

“I can’t wait.”

***

Three weeks later…

“How was work today Goldilocks?”

I toed off my battered trainers – there was no reason to wear my new shoes to clean houses -- and walked over to kiss Ariel on the cheek. She was in front of her laptop, like she usually was if I didn’t insist that she take a break – or distract her withsex. I’d been here for three weeks now, and it had been going surprisingly well.

Most days Ariel woke up early to run on the treadmill in her gym. By the time I was awake, she was drinking coffee and reading her email at the dining room table. I’d join her for breakfast, then we’d both head off to work. In the evenings we’d have dinner together, read or watch TV or do some yoga, and then we’d make love and go to sleep, cuddled together in Ariel’s giant bed.

The sex was great, and the more we were together the more I wanted Ariel. The intimacy after was even better. Falling asleep cuddled next to this woman was like a balm to my battered soul.

The only source of contention was around my job. The more time we spent together, the more it seemed to bother her that I was heading out to clean other people’s houses.

“What did you want to do when you were younger?” she asked me last week. “Before you moved to Chicago?”

“I was studying social work in college,” I told her. “I guess I always imagined I’d do something to help kids, or maybe single mothers like my mom.”

“You should quit your job and go back to school,” she said in that bossy tone of hers. “I’ll pay for it.”

“No.”

Ariel got that same look that crossed her face every time I refused something, it was like she couldn’t believe someone was disagreeing with her. Not because she was a jerk, but as I came to realize, in Ariel’s world almost everyone was a yes man or woman. There were very few people who argued with her about anything other than Theo and her friends Grace and Maeve.

“Sadie, what’s the use of me having all this money if I can’t spend it on the people I care about?”

It was an argument she’d used before. Many times. It was how she justified buying the groceries, refusing rent money, and every time she tried to buy me something. I’d lost count of all the ‘little gifts’ that just happened to come my way.

“I appreciate that you are so generous Ariel,” I said firmly. “But as I’ve told you several times now, I will not be beholden to you. I don’t want to be a kept woman.”

She knew I was serious. It was hard, but I had to maintain my boundaries with her, even if she didn’t like them. If I became too overly dependent on Ariel, I’d just be recreating the same dynamic I had with Jane, and I’d promised myself I’d never let that happen.

“My work was the same as always,” I answered her earlier question. “How was your COO-ing today?”

She shrugged. “Bought some properties, sold some properties, same old same old. What do you feel like for dinner tonight?”

“One of my coworkers turned me onto this new food cart,” I said. “She says they have the best street tacos in the whole city.”

She smiled at my enthusiasm. “Where is this paragon of Mexican food?”

“Millennium Park.”

“I’ve never eaten at a food cart before,” she said.

I shook my head. For someone so worldly, she was also very sheltered. At least in the ways of normal everyday people. “It’s going to change your life. Food is much better outside.”

“Well then, let me change into something more comfortable and we’ll head out.”

Ariel returned a few minutes later wearing loose shorts, a sleeveless blouse, and sandals. Dressed like this, she almost seemed average, at least if you didn’t know that everything she wore was designer.

“Let’s go.”

I wanted to take the El, but Ariel insisted on calling for her car service. It was hot and muggy outside, so I didn’t argue too much. The train had been super swampy on my way home and I wasn’t too proud to enjoy the air conditioned comfort of the air conditioned Town Car.

After getting dropped off at the entrance, we walked through the park hand in hand, checking out the various vendors until we found the cart that everyone at work was raving about. We ordered a variety of street tacos along with two bottles of Mexican Coke, my favorite.

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