It all felt too sudden, the bedazzlement casted from the drones shimmering on his face, the oxytocin producing impetuously in her body, the scent of her favorite Givenchy were all mashed up together, forming into a beautiful unicorn color cotton candy that lured her again into impulsiveness.
She stirs her coffee while discreetly watching Derek taking over her kitchen, frying some mushroom omelets for breakfast. When he peers at her, she would divert her view into the dark aromatic liquid.
'It's been a while since I touch the stove, you should eat at your own risk.' Derek place the plates neatly in front of her. He was in a great mood, like a long summer holiday was awaiting for him. And she...was his summer.
'I wish I can put this on my instagram.'
'I don't see why not' Derek replied, standing in front of her while wiping his hand with a white towel.
'And tag you there, in the picture?' Rachel felt her insecurities acting up on her.
'You wanna tell me about it?' Derek knows something is bothering her since morning. He knows how Rachel usually behave when she woke up with delighted mood, but this morning, she doesn't talk as much as she would and there is no dirty jokes and talk regarding his manhood.
Rachel bites her lower lips, her eyes wanders everywhere except Derek, it's her own way of arraging words inside her mind.
'Rachel, if we're not gonna be honest-'
'When you said,' she increased the volume of her voice to cut Derek's word, 'when you said about, you know,' she paused, searching Derek's face for assurance that he wouldn't run out of her apartment, 'that you would make decision for me, from now on, I don't get it. I mean is the test between us over? Because we are suppose to go through this rough patch.' She qouted the words "rough patch" with her fingers.
'So, that's what bothers you?' Derek nodded. He bent down, propping his elbow on the white marble counter, leaning close to her until he could kiss her lips.
A warm gloating feeling runs inside her body, like the time where she submerged herself into the tub of warm bath filed with jasmine flavored bath bombs.
'Let's sort it out, before it gets ugly again.' He proposed. 'What do you want about us, Rachel?'
She remained still for a moment, crossing her hand, 'I don't wanna be your mistress, I wanna be the girl who love you, but I don't wanna be the mistress. I don't know how to describe it-'
'So the sex makes you confuse?' Derek clarifies.
'Your word, when you said about making decision for me, I feel like my independent has been robbed.'
'I see, no wonder it confuse you, I'm kinda confuse too.'
'I know! Which is why I am so frustrated, I can't find the word.' Rachel flails her hands, like she was having trouble translating her thoughts.
'Okay, let me break it down into several parts, and you tell me if I am right.' He seek her opinions. Rachel nodded and he proceed. 'So, first thing first, sex or no sex?'
She sniggers, and her face blushes again. 'Uh-huh.' She nodded coyly.
'Okay, point taken. You are going to remain in Seattle and I'll be in D.C.'
'Sounds about right.' She agrees while lifting her forefinger to shows that he is correct.
'We are not in any relationship,' he waves his hands, making the "no" sign. 'But we love each other.'
'Yes! Relationship. I don't want to be in a relationship with you, yet. I feel so much happier without the burden of being labeled as mistress, I still want to know if things could work out after we know each other better and longer.'
'And sex is the reward.'
'Yup. I told you before, that I love you so much, but we started out in the stage that is wrong in so many level. I'm trying to know you without fangirling as the cloud to my vision. You are so dreamy, Derek, I'm just afraid you would take me to the wrong places.'
'I always take you to the right places every time we had sex, and you sound like you enjoyed the trip.'
They both laugh, the ambience became cozy again. It seems they came to the conclusion that they would remained the way they are, loving without tying themselves down with any burden.
'So, what are we planning to do today?' Rachel scoop up a piece of the egg. 'Anyway, Gordon Ramsay would be impress, I guess.' She nodded approvingly at the dishes.
'Thank you, we need more protein to make up for all the one we lost the night before.' With sultry voice, he managed to make Rachel squirmed. She began to have a flashback to the second round of coital activity they proceed again right after the drones performance. They were totally drained and slept the whole night through.
'Did I provoke any thoughts, Rachel?' With a smug face, Derek is deliberately stirring promiscuity in her.
Rachel sensed his gloating feeling, and she is not afraid of drifting the sex talk even more. 'I was thinking of the window.' She pushes the plates aside and wipe her lips with the serviette sensually. Rachel stood, pushes herself up the counter and sat there, intentionally crossing her leg so her smooth skin will be further exposed. Wearing a white satin negligee set, she knew it would aroused Derek easily. 'Or maybe this table?' She whispered into his ear, hot and musky voice.
'I see what's happening here,' Derek caught her act, and he plays along with her. He stood up, slow and focus. His eyes never left hers as he gingerly approach her.
'Feel it?' Derek caught Rachel by her waist, pushing her close to him so she can feel what she has done to him. 'What would you like me to do, Rachel?' His voice is inviting.
Her eyes were lust with needs that he is fervently rousing her. Rachel's heavy breathing makes her chest expand, it was a fine sight to Derek, watching her bulging flesh heaving up and down. The satin were thin, so thin that she could feel the air that he exhale blowing to her nipples.
'I want you to fuck me here, sir.' She wasn't afraid nor shy, it only makes the sex game up another level.
'Can we not uses Fifty Shades of Grey here?' He shook his head, muffling his laugh.
Rachel smacks his arms, 'shut up, Derek, you're talking too much.' She let out a snorting laugh.
'Anyway, your wish is my command.' He rubs her chin with his thumb, slowly moving up to her lips. Rachel suck it, and little did she know, Derek's other thumb were searching for her underneath. She was drenched when Derek pushes his finger inside her.
She gasped with the sudden attack that leave her skin over there burning with desire.
'You asked for it.' He growls, watching her suffering in pleasure. 'I'm going to go down on you...' he told her. Slowly, he places her to lay down on the counter, the tingling feeling of cold surface hits her sense, yet her body was generating heat from the shockwave Derek ignites. He spreads her leg open, pulling the elastic band of her shorts down, exposing the glistening wetness that is enough to sprung his manhood into instant solid stage. He took a look at her, before lowering himself into Rachel.
She breathe...
She moaned...
She cried...
And she scream his name...
Over and over again...
Her world was spinning, in a very good way, like a huge dosage of endorphins has been injected to her. All the injustice she felt in the world, all her insecurities has been vanished when Derek send her to a blissful world of tranquility as her body throb with pleasure.
'You look so hot, Rachel.' He compliments her while feeling rewarding that it was him who make her breathe so hard.
'You are not so bad yourself,' her eyes is still shut from the overstimulation.
He draws circles on her navels, all the way up till her perky bosom. She doesn't have a big boobs like those ladies in the bra commercial, but it still fills his hand every time he cups it.
She slowly lifted her groggy eyes after her recovery. 'You haven't had yours...' she leaked a coquettish smile. She lifted herself up, supporting her weight with her elbow propping on the table. 'So, tell me, how would you like to do it.'
He place both his hand beside her hips, lowering his head to nibble her lips. 'Did you just mention window?' He whispered.
Rachel snorted a laugh. 'We should christen that spot...'
Derek grab hold of her butts and carried her on his shoulder. Rachel squealed, she never expected Derek to move in such a swift motion. Her stomach was pressed onto his shoulder blades, when he reach the gigantic window, he puts her down. 'Place your hand to the glass.' He told her. Rachel followed his word.
Still disheveled from the climax she received at the table, Rachel's satin is being carefully peel off by Derek, he did so by removing the straps until Rachel was all unveiled, exposing all her bare skin to the window.
They have certainly take their coital games up another level. Derek arranged her in the way where her chest is pressing against the cold glass, her legs were shifted up slightly, when all is set, he shoved his manhood inside her, Rachel reacted with a sharp inhale of breath. This is overwhelming, the thought of having sex in front of the window was another fantasy she had after Derek's work desk.
The sound made by the smacking of her flesh against the glass has heightened both their arousal. It didn't take long for them to achieve the peak of lovemaking.
When all of this is over, they collapsed onto the furry carpet, panting like they just completed a cross country marathon.
Running a country doesn't offer much luxury of skipping the job, Derek placed his tablet, his phone and several classified document on Rachel's coffee table. The area is off limits to her even though it's technically her house. He was already been taking several calls since he sat there.
They both took a shower together with nothing dirty in between, they remember the shower sex they engaged while in Camp David, it was horrible that none of them wishes to repeat anymore.
'So what's the penalty of me sneaking a peek at those stuff? Stop tempting me, honey, I would really read what's inside if I lost control over myself.' Rachel gawked at his iPad, sitting a few meters away from him, sipping the warm honey green tea she brewed.
'I have no idea, anyway, it won't be me who decides your penalty, it's the federal court, and I can't save you by that time. So, forget about it.' Derek replied simply, occasionally sneaking a peek at her to see her annoyed face.
Rachel wasn't satisfied with the answer he gave her. Pouting her lips and rotate her vision away from Derek, she channeled her view to the gigantic window where they just smeared it with their sweats and handprints.
'So, are we seriously going to stay here forever? I mean, Seattle has a lot to offer, such as the Space Needle tower, or lobster sandwich, just to mentioned a few.'
'We are prohibited, remember?' Derek glanced at her briefly, and back to his folders again.
Rachel notches her eyebrows, she needs to threaten him. 'I regret that we may have to terminate our friendship for four years, dear Mr. President.'
Derek chuckles, he is in a great mood, wherever Rachel is, and whenever she is not attempting to break his heart again, he is jubilant beyond words. 'You are exaggerating, Rachel Woods.'
'That's it.' She place her tea onto the saucer, stood up and tug her hands onto her waist, 'I'm no longer your mistress, Derek, I don't have to play the angel side, I'm going to be the devil's advocate, I swear to God, if we are not going to leave this house, I'm gonna smash that iPad in your hand.'
â*â*â
So, it seems like they have come to a win-win solution. They were no longer inside Rachel's apartment, nor were they in the street with the risk of being photographed together.
Yet, the destination they have chosen was nonetheless, a not dating-friendly place to be.
'Derek!' Brandon walks down from the Tillinghast stairway surrounded by the elegant white foyer.
Derek stood up from the pianoforte underneath the stairs as soon as he heard Brandon's footstep.
Rachel was disappointed, she was actually waiting for Derek to play a tune or two. Little did she know that the only song he can play was a simple do re mi fa so la si do.
His knowledge with piano was simply an empty shelves. In the world of musician, he would be labelled as bimbo.
'Fancy seeing you here.' Brandon brings his hand to hold Derek's arm, like a long lost friend meeting up for reunion.
'It was a pleasure we owed to Miss Woods.' Derek shift slightly and gesture at Rachel who is walking towards them.
'The President has accepted my invitation to one of my makeover event, I thought we should invite him over for a meal.'
'Ah.' Brandon was delighted.
'And how was your eyes recovering?' Derek shows his concern to Brandon, he learn about the cataract surgery from Rachel.
'Getting better, I'm advised not to work too hard until it has completely heal.'
'Who taking charge of your company right now?' Derek question. Brandon's company was a major techno giant, it was necessary for Derek to get the latest news.
Both of them headed towards the dining area. Knowing that Rachel herself won't be interested in hearing the same thing she knew, she paced towards the kitchen to see if the dishes are ready.
Aunt Lucy were busy stirring the clamp chowder, preparing the bread rolls and making sure the chef are broiling the steak well. She stood for a brief moment, watching her pacing here and there. Her resentment towards Lucy has slowly depleted throughout the months she spent in Seattle, watching how meticulous she is in taking care of Brandon. She can't bring herself in finding faults with Lucy as she has seen the possibility of her walking the same path as Lucy, that is; the hope that Derek and her would walk through all the inevitable, just like her dad and Aunt Lucy.
'Hi.' She greeted her step-mother. Rachel has difficulties accepting that fact. She prefers to address her as her aunt.
Lucy peered up out of surprise, she wasn't even aware that her niece has been here the whole time. 'Rachel, how long have you been standing here?' She walks up to Rachel, wiping her hand with a towel.
It was Derek's idea to spend the time at the Woods, he wants to know about her family, and it is also his wish that he could bring Rachel to meet Reva, his mom.
Lucy has the eyes of Rachel's adopted mom, and some might say they were twins. Rachel sometimes find that description ridiculous, why would Brandon pick the woman that looks the same as his wife, wouldn't that be weird? Lucy have her own face, high radiant forehead, full lips with two dimples on her cheek, her hair was the color of dark chocolate twisted into a French updo, a few strains of grey hair were growing on her hairline, but it doesn't bother Lucy at all.
'I was just going to make some coffee for the President.' She explained to Lucy. Although she had become her step mother few months ago, there is still some awkwardness, be it the transition from aunt to step-mom, or the fact that she watches her having affair with her dad. She still needs more time to adapt with her.
'Here.' Lucy went to the cabinet to get the finest Blue Mountain coffee bean for Rachel. She has been in charge of this kitchen longer than Rachel had, every bottle of spice, every box of flour were arranged by Lucy herself.
'Thanks.' It was a total awkward and Rachel can't wait to leave as soon as possible.
She puts the coffee bean into Lucy's coffee machine and other than that, she absolutely had no idea how to start the brewing, it would require a professional barista to guide her, and in this case, it's Lucy who can handle this robot.
Forget about it, she is not comfortable in asking Lucy for help. Rachel left, heading to the hallway where it would leads her to their backyard.
She slower her speed, leaning against the door frame to watch the two gentleman talking with each other. Brandon had his sunglasses on to protect his eyes from the harmful sunlight. Derek place his hand on his back, nodding as Brandon speaks. Rachel likes that Brandon never put on airs about his wealth, whether is it towards Derek Hoffer, or towards their gardener, Brandon has always treated every human he knew with friendliness. He often quotes Dalai Lama's wisdom, that is to be kind whenever possible.
She clear her throat, announcing her arrival. Derek remained nonchalant, whilst his heart was captivated with her every move. Rachel too, show very mild attention to Derek, while she can feel that her body was rolling with joy.
'Dad, you shouldn't be out for long.' Rachel held her dad's arm.
Brandon merely smile, after all these years, he got her daughter back and that is what matters.
'Would you like to walk around our backyards, Mr. Hoffer? How about a game of archery shooting?' Rachel proposed, maybe coming back to her house wasn't a bad idea after all.
'How about you, Brandon? Care to join us?'
Brandon laugh heartily, as if Derek was mocking at him. 'Heaven forbade I join this game. Have fun without me.' Brandon walks back to the house, waving to them as he depart.
Rachel's head tilted to the direction where the archery board was. Derek continues to place his hand at his back,  he wouldn't be needing it much anyway, since he can't touch her.
'So, how was the talk with Brandon?' Rachel brought up a topic as they walk.
'He asked about the meeting with Indian's Prime Minister, followed by the World Economic Forum.'
'Sounds like I'm about to be bored to death.' Rachel pursed a smile.
'Well, there's actually one topic that might interest you.' They've arrived at the storage room to retrieve the bows and arrows.
'What?' She snapped.
'That there is a research that shows Y chromosome are depleting and studies suggest that if the figure continues, the Y chromosome will last only 4.6 million years.'
'Ha! Feminism
has been a hot topic and now comes the doom of men.' She sniggers while handling the bow to Derek. 'Now, I have an idea, why not all the men out there donate their sperm before they shriveled up and die?'
Derek chuckles, as usual, by Rachel's twisted proposal. 'That would actually work.'
'Now, let the hunger game begin.' Rachel announced, mimicking President Snow in the movie. 'Watch me.' She smugly aimed the bow towards the bull's eyes. This has been the game she trained for since young, and very much confident that she will hit the core. Once she released, the bow sprung vehemently towards the target she shoot. She imagine being Katniss Everdeen, so full of herself that she will hit whatever target she aimed for.
And it did not hit the bullseye.
Not even the board...
It land on the ground, ten meters away from the board. She watched the bow hits the ground, disgrace and limping, like a penis suffering from erectile dysfunction.
Rachel watched with disbelief, what's flushing throughout her face was humility.
Derek cross one of his arm over his chest, another hand covering his mouth to hide the humor he found in this situation.
'The bow is kinda rusty.' She tries to come up with an excuse.
'Or is it your skill that is rusty, Miss Woods?' He teased her, brushing across her arms, he position himself, placing the bow close to his mouth, breathe in, target the core and he release the bow smoothly.
'Attaboy!' He posed a victorious move as he hits the target.
'How did you do it?' Rachel felt all the unfairness has showered upon her.
'Did I impressed you, Miss Woods?' With mischievously voice, he tries to annoy her.
Rachel said nothing except biting her lips in gnawing mixture of humility and annoyance.
'You look so adorable when you are angry, I wish I could hold you right now.' He was standing beside her when he said those words, 'I mean it, Rachel.' He emphasized his feelings. This time he shot her a passionate look.
Rachel felt her irritation subdued when Derek said those provocative words that could melt her instantly. She was yearning towards the day where she can jump up his back as and when she like and he will carry her around.
'Lunch is ready.'
They both flustered as soon as a third party's voice penetrated.
They turn back to see Lucy standing behind them and the first thing that came to Rachel's mind; how long has she been here?
'Of course, uhm, Derek?' She looks at Derek for a while, her eyes conveys a worried message, 'I mean, Mr. Hoffer, I believe you haven't met my Aunt, Lucy.' She is suppose to address her as her step-mom, but at this point of time, she couldn't think properly.
Lucy wasn't a least bothered, instead she offered a handshake to Derek, which he proffered professionally.
Derek knows how to handle any situation with cool demeanor. Rachel walks in front, leaving Lucy to walk besides Derek. Once they settled down at the dining table, the lunch begins.
They were sitting at the round table under the gazebo, overlooking the vast lake. The water was still as ever, Rachel would always remember having trauma with this lake, as the first time she heard about the Loch Ness monster from her mom, she thought every lake were haunted with such creature.
Derek were sitting opposite Rachel, while Brandon on her left and Lucy on her right. Rachel have yet to adapt with this so-called family lunch, she remain mildly reserved, only answer questions that was addressed to her or her work.
Derek knows all too well about their dark history, he was considerate enough to withhold any question that would bring that up.
'The soup is delicious.' He mentioned, no one would feel offended when being complimented.
'Lucy's masterpiece.' Brandon proudly refers to Lucy, and beams at her.
'I'm glad you like it, Mr. President.' Lucy answered.
'Derek, please.' He initiated.
'You should invite your wife as well, the next time you visit.' Brandon suggested as he peel the bread roll. What's caught up with their attention was Rachel choking from the soup as she heard the word "wife".
Lucy handled her a tissue paper. 'Have some water, Rach.' She patted her back to sooth the choking. Lucy had a part in Rachel's childhood, she often bring Rachel to the park whenever she visited, Rachel loves her, but trying to get that twisted image out in her memory was impossible.
Most of the talking were done by Brandon and Derek. There is no way they could make it feel like a cozy family get-together ambience. Derek couldn't possibly be asking Brandon about his daughter, and Rachel couldn't be teasing Derek so openly.
When the lunch ended, Rachel felt relieved. Looking at the time, it's already three in the afternoon, Derek sensed that Rachel had enough for the day, and he proposed to leave with the excuse that they are going to discuss about Rachel's event.
'The thing about you and Lucy, you were kind of stiff.' Derek pulls her close to him as they entered his car. Placing his arms over her shoulder, he stroke her hair.
'If you are sixteen and you saw something so complicated right after your mom died, what do you think?' Rachel stares blankly at the street, lying on his chest, inhaling her favorite air calms her.
'She looks harmless, unlike the typical other woman slash step-mother.' Derek tries to lift up her mood.
'What? Big boobs and maleficent?'
'You don't have a big boobs, do you.' Derek decides to tease her while they had this privacy to themselves, he place his hand to where her breast is and send his lips to hers.
She was caught up with his impromptu act. If suffocation feels so good, then Rachel would love Derek to do this to her over and over again.
As his lips left hers, she was gasping for air. Derek simpers. They just sat there, enjoying the blissfulness that this small confine space provides them.
'I'm glad you met my family, Derek. At least it felt real, you know what I mean?' Rachel entwined her fingers with his.
He simply murmured a sound, placing his cheek on her hair, inhaling the fruity goodness that he is going to yearn for the rest of the day without her. He wondered when would be the next time they meet again, when this thought surface, his heart hurts a little, he held Rachel tighter to distract the undesirable feelings.
A/N
Wow, this part is really long as well.
So, what's your impression of Lucy? Do you think she's like Cinderella's stepmom or a fairy god mother kind of figure for Rachel? It's too fast to conclude, right?
*clear throats* the love scene, I swear it was impromptu. I told you I would be letting the characters lead the story, and I can't help if they are acting like hormones raging teenagers in the privacy of their own.
Till then, wait for my next update :)
Thank you for loving this story. Don't be afraid to comment and vote if you like. I love to see my book getting crowded!
Btw: I am reading this book called Leftover Woman by MeiSummer , and boy, I really love it! Be it her writing style or her sense of humor. Do check out her work!
XOXO