STORY EXCERPT

It was eleven o’clock when Ruby finally rolled over and crawled out of bed. She looked down onto the street from her window at the mess the spring thaw had created. It seemed as if there had been a light snowfall during the night and the scene was no longer picture-post-card perfect, because the early morning traffic had driven through it, turning it into black slush which made driving difficult.

A smile crossed her lips. She was thinking about David Finch-Hatton, the man she had met and gotten to know better during her too-short three-week visit to San Francisco during the Christmas season. As she continued to gaze down at the mess, she thought about the wonderful weather they were probably having there. With Sasha’s departure and Indigo finding the adorable Elvis, things had changed for the Five Widows.

Each one of them was taken up with her own life and the camaraderie that they once shared was no longer there. Of course they were still friends, but the closeness had simply slipped away. She thought about the time she’d spent with Jack and Sasha, and more importantly, the bond that she had formed with David Finch-Hatton. She saw the love which Jack and Sasha shared and wished that she too would soon share that kind of devotion. Most of the Widows had found partners except for her and Scarlet Styles. So she thought. Scarlet’s romance with Elvin Palmer was still a secret to everyone except Indigo.

As she continued to watch the hustle and bustle in the street below, her thoughts fell again on David Finch-Hatton. She was hanging on for dear life on the back seat of his Harley motorcycle, laughing, even though petrified at the turns he was making as they drove along Lombard Street, otherwise known as the “World’s Most Crookedest Street.” She pictured herself on Jack and Sasha’s terrace staring at Alcatraz prison in the distance. She remembered the fun the four of them had dining together at Fisherman’s Wharf and in China Town. Although Jack and Sasha were still loads of fun, she had seen a marked difference in Sasha. She seemed more mature and was no longer the self-indulgent woman who had left New York City with Jack, but then the change had started before she left, when Jack had proposed she use her time more constructively and she had once again taken up painting, and had become very successful at it. The love the two had for each other was forever registered on their faces. Had she not known the couple, she would never believe that there was such a difference in their ages. Sasha was beautifully tanned and she had lost about ten pounds, and Jack had also become more mature and had gained about five pounds, which made him look even more desirable.

Sasha couldn’t have been happier when the David and Ruby hit it off. He was a fun-loving guy. He was charming, handsome, well-off financially, and best of all, he’d treated her like a lady, catering to her every wish in and out of the bedroom. Ruby too was surprised that she had so willingly allowed him to seduce her so quickly, but she had nothing to lose. She was a free woman who had lost her husband a few years previously and longed for male companionship. David came along just at the right time, but he lived in San Francisco and she in New York City. Although she loved the weather in San Francisco, her roots were all firmly planted in New York, but David had invited her to join him for an extensive holiday in San Francisco. Her heart said yes, but her head kept saying no. She didn’t know him very well, and with Jack and Sasha back in New York, she hadn’t anyone to turn to if things went haywire. But she had to admit that in the short time since he had entered her life, she felt younger and revived. She desperately wanted to be with him because when he touched her, she simply melted in his arms.

* * * *

“Where the hell are you, Ruby?” Indigo shouted. “The others are all here and we are waiting on you.”

“Oh shit, Indie. I forgot all about coming to your house.”

“Well, hurry up. We are waiting. We’ve got some hot news.”

“What news?” asked an excited Ruby.

“When you get here, you will find out.”

“Is Autumn there?” Ruby asked. “Why didn’t she pick me up?”

“Because she spent the evening with her better half in the city, Ruby,” she shouted. “Now hurry up and get here. Lunch will be colder than a well digger’s butt in the winter, if you spend your time on the phone asking questions.”

“I’ll be there in half an hour,” Ruby said. “I’m on my way.”

ADULT EXCERPT

Elvin pulled his car into the parking space that had been allotted to him, and noticed that Scarlet’s car was not there. He thought she might still be at Indigo’s home, so he dropped his bag at the door, hung up his coat and headed for the bedroom, where he found Scarlet totally naked, stretched out across the bed and fast asleep. He undressed and slipped in beside her. He stared down at her naked body, uncertain where he should touch first. He lowered his head and sucked on her nipple. She lifted her hand and moaned, but never opened her eyes.

“Do you know who I am?” he whispered in her ear.

“Jack the Ripper,” she replied, “and you’re here to take me.”

“And what am I going to do to you, Scarlet?”

“You’re going to take me, Elvin.”

“You’re drunk,” he said laughing.

“I had only four shots of tequila,” she said, her words slurring.

“You must’ve had a wonderful time together.”

“We certainly did,” she said, opening her eyes and smiling with him. “I’m all ready for you, Elvin. See, I’m not wearing any clothes. I was waiting for you.”

He stood up, covered her with the sheet, and lay beside her.

“You don’t want me?” she asked, stretching her arms out to him.

“I want you sober,” he replied, kissing her on the forehead. “Go to sleep.”

“Are you going to stay with me?” she asked.

“Yes, but wait for just one moment,” he said disappearing from the bedroom.

He returned with a glass of water and two tablets.

“Take these,” he said first handing her the glass and then the tablets.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“I don’t want you waking up with a headache.”

“So are you going to stay with me?” she asked again.

“Of course I’ll stay with you,” he said pulling her close and hugging her. “I want you to sleep.”

Scarlet smiled with him, closed her eyes and slept.

* * * *

Scarlet opened her eyes and the room was shrouded in darkness. She could hear Elvin’s gentle breathing as he slept. Suddenly she flicked on the bedside light and shook him.

“Elvin,” she shouted. “You’re going to be late for work this morning.”

He turned around and stared at the clock. It was shortly after six in the evening. He gazed at Scarlet as if he didn’t recognize her.

“You’ll be late for work,” she said again.

He pulled her to him and whispered in her ear and she turned and stared at the clock. He kept staring at her and a smile crossed her lips. Again he whispered in her ear and still holding his gaze, she parted her thighs. He closed his eyes and slowly massaged her clit, sending thrills up and down her spine. Again, he said something softly in her ear and she closed her eyes and reclined, her head resting on the headboard. He slowly moved his hand up and down her inner thigh, all the while speaking softly to her and holding her gaze. Once again, he gently stroked her clit with this thumb and slipped his finger into her warmth, and she instinctively spread her legs even wider. Again, he spoke gently into her ear and she closed her eyes, her legs wider open like an invitation.

She could feel his hardness as he ground himself against her leg, and without warning, he entered her with one mighty thrust, fully-loading her with his thick cock. He brought his body to rest on hers and buried his head deep in her neck. He did not move, as if afraid to end it too quickly. Then, rotating his hips slowly, he moved deeper and deeper into her. He was moving too slowly, and she was sizzling hot. At any moment she thought she would ignite. She gasped and held his head tightly, savoring every movement, as his shaft titillated the ridges of her tight walls. Unhurriedly, he withdrew his instrument, knelt before her, wrapped his arms around her thighs and positioned her for the battle. He rubbed his swollen head around her entrance and once again plunged himself into her. Her hips lifted to meet each thrust, and she groaned as he rotated his cock deep inside her.

“Elvin,” she whispered.

“Uhhh,” he replied, his rotations bringing her closer and closer to ecstasy.

He felt her muscles contract around his cock and he drove even deeper.

“Elvin,” she called out, and he silenced her by thrusting his tongue between her parted lips.

She was on the edge of the precipice when he withdrew his slippery cock, entirely covered with her nectar. He ran a finger along her cleft and could feel her entrance opening and closing to his touch. God, she was hot and ready, but he didn’t want it to end so quickly. Slowly, he worked his cock back into her channel and she exploded. Her hips rose and fell and she sucked hard on his neck.

“Want to come again?” he asked as her muscles held and released his hard erection.