22
Chilly air stirred over her body, breaking Lisa’s exhausted sleep. Drowsy, her fingers hunted for the blanket which seemed to have disappeared. Slowly opening her eyes, it took a moment to remember where she was. The blades of the ceiling fan buzzing above her refused to come into focus. The room was almost dark except for the slivers of sunlight filtering in through the drawn blinds, which was fine, because stronger light was the last thing her pounding headache required. The room looked familiar yet still managed to confuse her. Her body felt like lead and the effort from sitting up cause her to moan.
Dammit! Why was every muscle in her body sore as shit?
Michael.
She remembered she was in Michael’s condo in Westwood. She also remembered the reason for being sore. Sitting up, she realized the center of her discomfort was right between her legs. How many times had she cum last night? And just how long and how often did Michael fuck her to make sure she would remember him for a while? As if she could ever forget. What a night!
Speaking of…where was the King of Pop this morning? She rolled over and looked at the alarm clock. 11am. Shit! She must have been tired as hell. The last thing she was fully aware of was her immense orgasm bordering on pain. All her nerves seemed to have protested the overload of sensations Michael had stirred, even as they wanted him to never stop. And at some point, it seemed as if he would never stop pounding into her. Finally, his control had broken and his climax had erupted almost in time with hers. The hot jets of his seed and the pulsating and expanding of his penis propelled her up another peak which boundaries were almost indistinguishable from its predecessor. Afterwards, things got fuzzy. Had that been really her voice telling him she loved him? No, she was more careful than that.
The words must have been part of the dream world already. She had given him enough information and thus enough power for one night; he really did not need to hear these expressions from her. But wait, he did respond. He had told her he loved her more. Or maybe that was her imagination. Maybe it was just wishful thinking. Plus, he responded like that to everyone. The newspaper boy could tell him he loved him and Michael would respond that he loved him more. So, it meant nothing. It was nothing more than his way of thanking his little sex toy. That’s all she was to him. Maybe she should order him one of those rubber pussies she had seen on certain sites. It would be fair turn about. She could even have it made to her specifications.
A dream snuck back into her recollection. In it, she felt him warm and securely inside her, held in place by her muscles, refusing to let him go, and devoid of any desire of his own to leave her. She felt his warmth around her as well, his arms around her, his leg over hers possessively. At some point, his magic wand had come back to life, and he had started to move in and out of her in slow, languid strokes, nestling her from behind. His fingers had come up on her breasts and he gently and tenderly had massaged them and played with her nipples. She had felt his hot breath on her neck, his soft, sweet kisses on her skin, his soft words of love close to her ear. That love making had to be the stuff dreams were made of: it was so sweet, so gentle…so unlike anything she normally desired or needed from him.
She remembered a slow building of the most incredible sensation inside. It was a feeling so different from what she allowed herself to experience since their reunification fucks post divorce. She remembered feeling exposed and naked, her vulnerability extending beyond her nudity. As she floated toward the summit, she had been unable to stop the tears spilling from her. Her orgasm felt like clouds bursting open and sunlight flooding her. Just like too much sun can hurt eyes not accustomed to its intensity, she was afraid to fully open herself up to the light spreading from inside. Sobs and moans mingled into a fusion of the most intense ecstasy and despair as tears continued to flow. She felt self conscious for a second, but then thought that surely he was too caught up in his own bliss to notice her. His body had gone rigid and she felt his member spasming inside. His familiar cries and moans provided the background music to his subsiding thrusts. Finally he lay still, pulling her close, his breathing still labored, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
“It’s ok, baby, don’t cry. Don’t cry.” He kissed her neck and her cheeks, his fingers gently capturing the glossy drops decorating her cheek.
Was it relief, surprise, or comfort she felt? She reached for his hand and pressed it to her body, holding on for dear life.
“Don’t leave me. Please don’t let me go. Don’t leave.” Sobs continued to rake her body as he hushed her and rocked her in his arms.
“I’m right here, girl. I’m not letting you go. I’m here with you. Right here.”
What a strange dream. And why did it feel so real? Oh, God- it could not have been real, could it?
23
Michael sat at his desk and put down the notes he had been scribbling. A strange combination of feeling sated, rested, hopeful, and scared shitless raced through him. He had fallen asleep pretty much right after the last drop of his cum had been forced from him. The things Lisa made him feel were just unreal at times. No other woman had ever taken his body to such extremes. At some point he had woken up and had found himself making love to her again. They were both semi asleep, as evidenced by her sweet and compliant demeanor. Also, she was more vulnerable than he had seen her in a long time, and every nerve in his body screamed out to protect her. The tricky part was, he knew full well that he was the one who needed protection from her, not the other way ‘round. She had proven that, and he was not about to be caught in the same trap again.
His mind was totally blown when he realized she was crying. What in the world? Was she hurting? Had he pushed her too hard? Was she that sore? Should he have left her alone, not insisting she cum again, fucking her as hard as he had? No, that could not be it. They had a history of making love literally all night and then for the better part of the day. But that was before. Maybe she was getting older, could not handle him like before. Then, it hit him that she was asking him not to leave. She had been holding on to him crying. She was scared. She had also told him she loved him. Initially, he was relieved to hear it- before he panicked.
What the hell did she have to be scared about, anyway? He never left her. Well, not for real, anyway. He had to get away from time to time, had needed his space. She tended to crowd him, want him around her all the frigging time, suffocating him. It was nice to have her there when needed, but why could she not understand that it was nothing personal when he told her he wanted to be alone for a couple of days? Or weeks? It was not like he forgot that he loved her when he was gone. So, why did she have to always make such a big deal out of everything? He didn’t leave. He didn’t break any promises. She got pissed about his friendship with Debbie and her offer, and had wanted out.
Then, of course, she changed her mind. Started to hang around with Janet . It was only natural he had wanted to know what all that was about once he caught wind of it. His mother also had continued to mention how sweet Lisa was. Let Mother live with her and see if she could put up with Lisa’s sharp tongue and pissy -ass attitude. So yeah, then she was back. It was different, though. They both had build walls and even as they started to fuck and then become closer emotionally as well, it always felt that Lisa was keeping part of herself protected and sectioned off. Or maybe she was just a new person- the person who did not care if he was close by all the time or not. He should be relieved. But for some reason it annoyed him to think that she might not miss him. Still, the new Lisa was missing during their last encounter during the previous night. Something had definitely been different.
This difference worried him and made him nervous. Why was she so emotional? Wouldn’t it be something if she ended up pregnant now? Debbie was always extra sensitive and whiney when pregnant. He didn’t like using condoms in the first place, and he did not use them with Lisa. Which could be a mistake, knowing how she might fuck around on him just to piss him off. Well, maybe he should just make sure she was too tired and sore to do that. Not that he was jealous or anything, but it would keep him healthy. But what if she really was pregnant? The rush of joy angered him. No, she told him she was using birth control. She had made it more than clear there would be no children for them. Still… How would she feel about it? Would she be happy? Upset? Experience the same thrill he unexpectedly was confronted with at the mere thought?
Time to refocus! Lisa’s feelings could not be a priority now. All his dreams and plans were so close to coming true. He had his cute little wonderful son and soon would have a baby girl to take care of. Well, there was Debbie to deal with, too, but she should not be too big of an obstacle. Her hormones were probably in overdrive from her pregnancy and so he did not have to worry about her coming on to him too much longer. Soon she would go back to being the sweet friend who had given him so much. The friend whom he would never make love to in a million years.
His phone rang and he grabbed the receiver before the noise would wake Lisa.
“Michael? I have been trying to find you for hours.”
Did Debbie know when he was thinking about her? No, couldn’t be. She called way too often for that.
“Well, you found me.”
“Why did you not answer your cell or your car phone?”
“’Cause I’m not in my car.”
He sure hoped his baby would inherit his IQ.
“Did you know Karen called me about some photo shoot she wanted to discuss with me?”
“Oh, that, yeah. I was going to discuss it with you and let you know what’s going on.”
“Well, as usual, I am the last to find out.”
What did that mean? Find out what? Shit! The pictures from last night could not have hit already! What in the world did Lisa get him into this time?
Calm down, Michael. It’s probably nothing. She doesn’t know a thing yet. She doesn’t read the tabloids. Often.
“There will be an exclusive photo shoot with you and me and Prince. They have some questions about our marriage and stuff like that. It will be sweet. I thought it would be real wonderful if you did the talking while I played with Prince in the background.”
“Sounds great. When were you planning on telling me?”
Did she have to sound so bitchy? He invited her to be in a shoot with him. She should be happy to have some face time in family pictures.
“I thought I did. I’m very sorry. It’s just…I’ve been real busy. So I must have forgotten. You will do it, right?”
Funny enough the question was more of a statement. She would do it, no doubt.
“Yeah, you’ve been busy alright.” There was a long pause. Then, “What will they ask?”
“Just stuff about the babies, that’s all. And about me…um…” He cleared his throat. “About me, spending time with..you know…friends of mine….and such stuff.”
“What friends?”
“They might ask about me spending time with Lisa Marie. My publicist has gotten lots of questions about that and he thought it would be great if you could dispel any rumors.”
And his lawyer also might have mentioned that it’s a good idea to clear up the myth of him and Lisa being a couple.
“You want me to go on record talking about you and your little whore, oh I am so sorry, friend?”
“She is a friend- I want you to support me like you said you would and say that we are friends and that you are fine with it.”
There he said it. How hard could that be?
“Oh, is that all you are asking?”
Yes, that was it, why the tone again?
“Do you love her that much, Michael?”
“Do I love her that much? What does that even mean? I mean, you know I love her. She is a very close friend. You know that. Just like you are my friend- and I did not let Lisa talk me out of that when she and I were married. So leave it alone.”
He caught a movement out of the corner of his eye. Lisa was standing at the bedroom door, a sheet draped around her, looking sleepy- and sexy- as all get-out. She gazed at him with a very neutral expression. Since he knew that her feelings were hardly ever on neutral he became worried instantly. These women were about to drive him crazy!
“Yeah, well, whatever. Just remember she played with you before and lied to you more than once. If you want to be her toy, just keep running back for more. But don’t think I will be always around to pick up the pieces.”
Well, there was good news for once: She might not always be around…
He turned away from Lisa who had started to walk across the room toward the kitchen. He could not suppress as smile watching her ginger gait. Someone looked a tad bit uncomfortable after all that bragging about being able to take him on.
“Ok, Deb’, um, I gotta go. Please meet with Karen about the shoot and discuss make-up and outfits. Will you do that for me?”
“I’ll think about it. Unless you keep rubbing your affair with that bitch in my face.”
“I’m not having an affair.” He hissed into the phone before he hung up.
Michael closed his eyes and tried to take deep, cleansing breaths.
Lisa re-entered the room with a cup of coffee.
“Well, technically you are.”
He rolled his eyes and gazed toward the ceiling.
24
Lisa left him standing there, returning to the bedroom suite to take a shower. She knew full well whom he had been talking to- the lovely Missus. It made her laugh that he instructed her to work with Karen to pretty up for a shoot. Well, that oughta be interesting! She might want to hang around to see what shade of foundation or horrid lipstick Karen could punish the Debster with. Michael tried that trick on her one time- had instructed her to let Karen help with her make-up. Lisa had turned around and told him that if he valued his manhood and his restful sleep, he would not let the besotted make-up “artist” anywhere near her.
Being a woman, Lisa knew full well that Karen was head over heels in love with Michael and hated any woman he was close to as she always seemed to harbor some crazy wish that Michael would turn to her if only the competition was gone. Well, good luck with that. Lisa was never sure if Michael was really this innocent or if he just pretended to be clueless, but he really seemed to not get how much Karen wanted his ass- right under her. On the other hand, he was well aware of how Lisa reacted to Karen. After their divorce became official he just had to take Karen out on the town, probably knowing full well vases would shatter once Lisa would spot the pictures.
Of course, Michael often chose to be oblivious. Like now- like when he insisted they were not having an affair. No, Michael, you are married to one woman and are seen all over the place with another. And not only are you seen with your ex- you hold her hand in public, kiss her, while in private, you fuck her every chance you get: but you are not having an affair. And the comment about not loving her that much had stung worse than she wanted to admit to herself. Well, fine, let him not love her that much. It didn’t matter anyway. During their marriage, he had told her he loved her more than stars in the sky and sand on the beach - and look how that had turned out.
Lisa downed coffee, praying for the caffeine to take effect. She took out her phone, noticing several missed calls, and tried to return Riley’s, only to hear her voicemail come on. Well, it obviously was not an emergency then. The call from mother could go ignored for a little while longer. If she pretended it was not there, maybe it magically would erase itself. She needed a shower worse than she needed to hear her mother’s disapproving voice. Make that a bath. Her muscles, and other places needed to be soaked and pampered. The calls could wait. Also, maybe the pictures from last night had not been plastered all over the place yet- which meant she had a little bit to hide before the shitstorm hit.
She started to run the water.
“Michael? Do you have any bubble bath stuff?”
“Didn’t you leave some here last time?”
It startled her to realize he had come up behind her.
“I don’t know. I don’t remember. Are you sure it was me?”
“Well, if you didn’t then I hope the other woman has the same taste in fragrances.”
She looked up and hit him playfully.
“You better not give me the clap fucking me and all these other women, too.”
“You are so gross!”
“Just saying…” She reached for the bubble bath and poured some into the tub.
He came up behind her and lifted her hair, kissing her neck.
“Michael! I need a bath- don’t start anything. I am sore as shit.”
He smiled proudly.
“Yeah I saw. About that…ah…sorry.”
Lisa laughed since he did not seem sorry at all.
“What did the little woman want?”
He sat down on the edge of the tub, playing with the forming bubbles.
“Nothing. Karen called about a shoot I wanted Debbie to do.”
“Yeah, I heard.”
“What else did you hear?”
Lisa avoided his gaze and stepped into the tub. He automatically reached out and held her hand, supporting her. Lisa let out a deep p sigh and sank deeply into the foam. It felt so heavenly to be surrounded by the heat and the popping of the bubbles. She had closed her eyes and let her head rest on the edge.
Michael could not resist tracing the little pieces of foam that slid in cute patterns over her silky skin. His touch made her shiver despite her soreness and achy muscles.
“Michael….”
“What?” He laughed at her tone. “I’m just playing.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“No, you’re not,” He bent and kissed her shoulder. “What you are afraid of is that you want me to continue to play.”
She just smiled her little cheeky smile.
“Seriously, Lise, ‘you ok?”
“Hmmm. Just fine.”
“Yeah? Good. You know, you had me worried. You were crying.”
Her eyes opened and met his. He gazed down at her seriously, his hand now massaging her shoulder.
Shit. So, it had not been a dream?
“Was not.”
He raised an eye-brow and shrugged his shoulders.
“Whatever you say. I just want you to know…” He fell silent.
Lisa did not really know what to make of his comments. It was so unlike him to be open like this again. This reminded her of a time before they were married or right afterwards, when they talked about their feelings and about every silly little thought. They talked non-stop when they were together, then talked some more on the phone for hours. Looking back, the biggest loss of her marriage was not when he broke her trust and decided to have a child with the nurse, but when he closed himself off from her, robbing her of her friend and confidante.
She looked up at his face and could tell he was struggling with the decision of whether he wanted to share his thoughts with her.
“Michael, it’s ok, you don’t have to say anything.”
Her hand captures his on her shoulder. She felt tears gathering in her eyes again. Dammit! This was so not like her- not anymore. She was not this sniveling baby that broke down at the drop of a hat.
‘No, really. I want to. I want you to know that…that…this is not just… I mean, it is, but it’s not all the way like that.”
Now he really reminded her of the Michael she started to fall in love with. The younger Michael who was shy and bashful, even as he had a very concrete idea of whom or what he wanted. The Michael who flirted with her and told her that they could get in trouble together right after they met again that night. The Michael who did not seem to exist anymore. Or so she had assumed.
“Like what, Mike? I heard you. We are friends, right? Like you and Debbie are friends.”
His forehead furrowed.
“Well, not exactly like that. You say some scary stuff sometimes.”
Lisa could not suppress a giggle.
“So, I do not have to be afraid that you go and jump her bones if I leave you dissatisfied?”
“Yuck? Can you stop it? Plus…” His hand dipped lower, somehow managing to accidentally caress her chest that was hidden by the foam. “You never leave me anything but worn out and dehydrated.” His voice had that baritone again, making her almost forget any and all soreness.
“Yeah?” She leaned back further and he answered the invitation by kissing her lips before letting his tongue chase some bubbles on her neck. He returned to her lips and continued a deep and sensual kiss before breaking the contact but keeping his head close to hers.
His eyes bore into her, and he reached out, moving some wet tendrils of hair from her forehead.
“Seriously, Lisa. I do love when we make love. You know what you do to me. But it’s more…it’s not just the sex. I care…so much…above all things…I care for you…I love you.”
She could not detect anything but deep sincerity in the dark reflection of his eyes. He had blushed, but he kept his eyes on her.
Propelled by a will of its own, her index finger came up to rest on his lips, stilling his words. He kissed the tip of the digit before she moved her hand toward his cheek and he rested his face in her palm.
The sharp ringing of her phone interrupted the moment that seemed fragile and special like freshly blown glass. Lisa cleared her throat. It was a relief to be able to jump back behind that line she had established before she was drawn into his gravitational field too much and gobbled up like a planet by a Black Hole.
“Hey, I tried to call Riley back earlier. Can you go check if that is her?”
He rose and left the bathroom, pulling the door close behind him.
The ringing stopped.
“Michael, don’t answer it. Just let me know if it was her.”
She could not hear anything for a second. Riley, or whoever it was, must have hung up. Michael hated to answer his own phone, so surely he would not have answered hers.
Moments later, Michael re-appeared in the door frame. Something was off. He tried to keep his face expressionless, but Lisa could tell by the tension in his jaw that he was upset.
“And? Who was it? Was it Riley?”
He shook his head. Michael’s lips were pressed together.
“Michael?”
His eyes rose and met hers. Lisa was not sure if she saw anger, hurt, suspicion, or a mixture of all of the above.
When he finally spoke, his voice reminded her of the dark, deceivingly calm ocean before the onset of a hurricane. Or a dangerous stretch of black ice on the road: seemingly innocent, but potentially deadly. “Can you tell me why the fuck Danny seems to think you are going to meet him later this week? Is screwing all your exes a new hobby of yours?”
25
Lisa blinked twice, thrown by his question and the language used. How dare he? After everything he was doing he wanted to question her about Danny?
“I take it you answered my call?”
“You asked me to.”
“No, I asked you to see if it was Riley calling.”
“It wasn’t Riley.”
No shit.
“So, why did you answer it? It was none of your business.”
Michael just stared at her, shook his head, and then left the bathroom. How dare she act like he somehow had invaded her privacy? This was his condo. She was in his tub, asking him to answer her phone like he was her secretary. He saw Danny’s name on the caller ID, and, knowing that the children were with him, had thought that maybe it was an important call about something to do with the kids. So, naturally, he had answered. It had nothing to do with wanting to get into her business. Plus, if she was seeing Danny on the side, wasn’t that his business as long as she was in this relationship with him?
If Danny was surprised that Michael answered Lisa’s call, he certainly hid it well. He asked to have Lisa return his call regarding meeting up later that week. Of course, realistically, that could mean anything. But Michael decided to come in with both guns blasting, hoping her surprise would prevent lies.
Lisa in turn decided to let Michael sulk and took her sweet time finishing the bath. She had in the past rushed after him when he had run off to sulk like a little kid, but was not willing to indulge his behavior right now. She was upset that he didn’t trust her, and that he, who was married and about to have another baby with the woman he put above her at the end of their marriage, had the balls to call her out about spending time with her ex-husband, whom she just happened to share children with. The more the thoughts churned over and over in her mind, the darker her mood became. By the time she left the bathroom wrapped in a towel, she was steaming mad.
Michael was stretched out across the bed, watching an old movie, busily ignoring her. Lisa dropped her towel and started to get dressed, making sure to make as much noise as possible in the process. She retrieved her overnight bag and threw things into it, including Michael’s birthday present. When it landed with a loud clanking sound, he looked at her and raised an eyebrow before reaching for the remote to turn the volume up.
“When you’re done pretending I’m not here, can you have your driver take me back to the airfield?”
Michael did not answer. She felt like placing her hands around that gorgeous neck and choking the daylights out of him. Seemed like her old enemy, the silent treatment, was back.
She pulled on her jeans and fastened her bra.
“Michael! If you don’t call your driver, I will just get a cab off the street- and you can fucking deal with stories of Lisa Marie Presley leaving the condo of Michael Jackson. I am sure Debbie would be thrilled.”
Michael did not even blink.
Lisa jumped on the bed and took the remote before he could react, turning the tv off.
Sitting up, Michael grabbed her wrists, turning toward her. Finally he looked at her again.
“I’m not calling the driver because you are not leaving until I say so.”
“You obviously have lost your mind, so fine. I can leave without your help.”
Michael continued to hold on to her even though he once again avoided eye contact. As a matter of fact, his face was averted, preventing her from reading him. Not that it made a difference since he was a master of hiding behind iron curtains to shield the observer from his emotions.
He looked up and she saw tears in his eyes. Not that old routine again!
“I want you to call him and call it off.”
“Let me get this straight: You don’t even know what the fuck is going on, but you think you’re in a position to tell me to call the father of my children to cancel my plans?” Her eyes were huge daggers were being launched out of their metallic debts.
“What’s going on is that you are with me. You can’t have it both ways. I’m not gonna put up with that.”
Lisa felt like she had just entered the twilight zone. First of all, the words were very reminiscent of what he said to her all those years ago, forcing her hand to speed up her divorce from Danny to be with him. And at that time, all she had wanted, all she was longing for had been to be with him forever. The difference was that she was now divorced from Danny and Michael, while Michael was married and never failed to remind her of that fact whenever she dared to ask about any kind of future.
“I am with you? Since when? You keep telling me that we are fucking and that’s all we’re doing. Nothing else, right Michael? After all, you’re married to the Debbie the Dowdy Do-gooder. Miss Miracle Incubator herself, right? And she just keeps popping them out, so goody for you two. You just hang on to that golden pussy like there’s no tomorrow. So, where the fuck do you get off telling me who I can and cannot see?”
During her rant, she had approached him, and her face was now inches away from his. Her poisonous arrows must have finally been able to penetrate his armor as his face became flushed and his eyes narrowed. Her eyes fastened on his hands on her wrists.
“And let me the fuck go, you asshole.”
“Why the hell do you have to get so vulgar? I’m just saying that I don’t think it’s right if you’re having sex with me and with Danny. I’m not ok with that- so make your choice, Lise. If you wanna be with me, call him and call off your little meeting.”
Lisa could not believe Michael was simply assuming that she had sex with Danny. How could he believe that? It really stung that he thought she would just leave his bed where he had just driven her insane with passion and hop into the next sack with Danny. What kind of person did he think she was? Was that how he saw her? It horrified her to realize he did not know her at all.
They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. The room was silent, the only sounds audible were their ragged breaths. Lisa licked her lips. She broke eye contact and looked down. Throwing her head back, she lifted her eyes back up to him. Her expression was not penetrated by his radar. There was moisture clouding her eyes, but that could be due to regret or anger. A flicker of some emotions reflected, but it was gone too fast for him to name. His only hope was that she was about to surrender.
“Well?” Michael attempted to be not too certain of victory. Their history taught him to be careful.
Lisa bent forward and stopped a hair breadth before his luscious mouth.
“Michael?” Her tone was both temptation and question.
“Yeah?” Now it was his turn to lick his lip. Her swollen, glistening mouth pulled his eyes. He felt a stirring in his pants. If she gave him an inch now, he would melt into her, forget everything and prove to her that she was all his.
“You know what?”
“What?” His voice broke and the question came out squeaky.
“You can go and fuck yourself!”
With that she broke away from him, grabbed her bag, stormed out of the room, and slammed the door shut. Michael’s mouth dropped open.
26
Lisa heard something breaking against the wall in a loud crash. She quickly threw on her sweater and jacket, and headed for the door, undeterred by whatever chaos Michael unleashed. His temper was well known to her. He kept the secret under tight lock, but those around him knew about the occasional broken cell phones and vases. Michael had a definite problem when he felt things were spiraling out of his control. Well, he would just have to accept once and for all that she was not under his rule any longer. She had broken free. And she was happy about it. As soon as her eyes stopped burning from unshed tears, she would convince herself that she no longer needed him and was happy to be rid of his unpredictable, control freak, arrogant ass.
Her phone rang again, and automatically, she reached into her purse to check the ID. The second delay cost her. She sensed a movement behind her and before she had a second to even think about what was happening, his arm reached over her shoulder, his hand pushing against the door, slamming it shut. Fucking hell! If he thought so little of her, why did he make such a big deal about her leaving? He should be glad to be rid of the woman who he thought was sharing her goodies with the world.
Lisa stilled all motion. She continued to face the door. Fine. Let him think he won. The phone kept ringing, and her fingers clicked the on button, followed by her slowly lifting the phone to her ear. Possibly, some part of her told her that she could delay the continuation of her fight with Michael.
Michael had heard her getting ready to leave. A big part of him screamed out to just let her desert him- that is all she ever had been good for. She had fulfilled his needs, she could just go and be on her way. He didn’t need her, didn’t love her. Why did his chest feel like it was about to explode? He did not care that she left. On the other hand, he had not said everything he wanted to say, and no way in the world was he going to let her rush out of here like some injured doe. Looking at the parts of the shattered cell phone strewn around the room, he momentarily regretted having hurled it against the closed bedroom door, before he shook off the thought and ran after her. Thanks to her ringing phone, she had not managed to make it into the hall, and he was able to shut the door, trapping her between it and his body. Michael had expected her to turn and hurl curses at him. He was prepared to catch and restrain her before she could attack him with her fists. Surprisingly, Lisa did not follow the old playbook. How infuriating! She kept her back turned to him and answered her phone. Was she kidding? They were in the middle of a discussion and she chose to answer her phone? If this was Danny and she wanted to confirm their date, her phone would soon join his in cell phone heaven.
“Yeah, hi. Well, I was busy. No, I can’t talk right now.”
So, it was Danny! That bitch!
“No, mother, I have no clue what you are referring to.”
Ok, not Danny. It was only the wicked witch. Well, that was ok, since she undoubtedly called to torture Lisa. Right now, he was all on board with that.
“What pictures?”
Lisa finally turned. She backed up a step and leaned against the door. Her eyes found his. He was amazed how turned on he became by the icy reflection. Pictures? Oh, great! Cilla must have scrounged up the tabloid. He seriously hoped seeing her baby girl with the number one enemy of the Presley Empire would cause her enough wrinkles to need a vat of botox.
“Well, I did not know I owed you an explanation. For a second there I thought I was thirty years old. Oh wait, I am!”
Michael smirked, hearing his former mother in law conversing loudly and excitedly with Lisa who had closed her eyes in exasperation. She looked so fragile and tired all of a sudden. He had to be careful to remind himself he was pissed at her.
“No, mother, I will not discuss this with you right now. I haven’t done anything to the children. They are well aware of the fact that Michael and I are friends…”
“Yes, friends. And if you don’t like it, don’t buy tabloids that contain picture you know will raise your blood pressure. It’s not healthy.”
She clicked the phone off, took a deep breath and met his stare. For a moment silence stretched between them. Neither could tell if the thin line constituted separation or connection.
“I take it the pictures hit the street?” His voice was quiet and even.
“You think?”
“Guess she did not take it well.”
“Well, the good news is that she won’t have to worry about it much longer. We’re through, right? Just let me go- that’s all that’s left to do.” Her face was even and her tone tired. Her eyes spoke volumes, but it was as if the rest of her had given up the fight. No, he would not give into her little martyr act and let her strut out again. Not this time.
“Why can’t you just tell me what is going on with you and Danny? If I’m wrong, I am sorry. But I want to know that…that…” The loss of words surprised him. Why was it so difficult to put it into words?
“What? That I’m still your property? Is that what this is about? You want to know that while you are free to have your own little fantasy family, I’m supposed to be at your disposal indefinitely? Why don’t you just lift a leg and piss on me, Michael. That way I will be well and truly marked as yours.”
He grimaced. “Ah, gross? I just want to know I’m not sharing you. Is that really too much to ask?”
“Why the fuck shouldn’t you be sharing me? I have to share you! Do you have any idea how that makes me feel?” The fatigue fell off and her fighting spirit once again surfaced. For some reason he found this development to be almost comforting.
“You’re not sharing me! It is not the same. I am not sleeping with Debbie.” Michael’s voice became loud, too. He hated how she made him lose his calm demeanor.
“No, she is your wife. She carried your children. And she carries your name. So yeah, you’re right. It is not the same. Not at all.”
Michael felt his anger rise a notch. What the hell did she want from him? These were the things that were within her reach at one point. Why did she sound like she was envious that it was Debbie’s turn?
“Lisa, you threw it all away. It was all yours, and you walked out. Look, I don’t want to go over all that old crap again. But don’t you stand there and get all mad and indignant ‘cause I’m with Debbie. You knew what you were getting into when you came hopping back into my bed.”
Michael had braced one arm on each side of Lisa, intensifying her entrapment. His anger had caused him to be nose to nose with her. He felt her breath on him, smelled her unique fragrance, saw her chest rising and falling from her agitation. Her burning eyes both scared and mesmerized him. They took on the color of a frigid glacier spring when she was this infuriated.
“You bastard. You made me believe there was something there for us. In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t do casual relationships. I get married. That’s what I want. I want a family. I want my kids to have security and peace. And I gave all that up for the fucking circus that is your life. I exposed my kids to your lunatic armies of fans as we dart in and out of cars. And for what, Michael? Why do you think I did all that? For a good fuck?”
He watched a tear slide down her face. Angrily and stubbornly, she wiped it away.
“I never forced you to do any of these things. You know what it’s like. You knew what you got into. Do you think I like it, Lise? Do you think I enjoy that our kids can’t go to a store with me without feeling like they are hunted?” Tears now feel from his eyes as well, and he did not care. He also did not care that he called her children theirs. That was how he felt, and he did not care if she was reminded of that. She knew how he longed for some kind of normalcy. With all his money, all his influence, that was the one thing that always eluded him.
“You’re right. I did. I loved you. I love you and for some fucked up reason I can’t stop it. And you use it against me. That is what you do: you find someone’s weakness and you prey on it. I don’t even know if you’re aware of it, but that’s you. What do you want, Michael? I’ve given you everything and it’s never enough? What the fuck do you want?” She was openly crying now and it broke his heart. Lisa made him sound like some monster who had exploited her, when that was not at all what had been going on. Michael grabbed her upper arms.
“I want you to be honest. I want you to be with me, and only me. I love you and I can’t bear to think of someone else with you. Why can’t you understand that? I have compromised all my values for you. And you can’t afford me this little bit of honesty?”
“You have compromised nothing for me. You want your wife and kids and you want your cute like fuck buddy on the side. Well, I’ve had it. Let me go, and we are done. You don’t have to compromise shit for me anymore.”
“I don’t want you to go. I want you to tell me that you’re not fucking Danny. But for some reason you won’t do that.”
Lisa closed her eyes and just shook her head. She was so tired, all she wanted to do was for Michael to back off and let her go. Suddenly, all the energy had been drained from her and she did not have any fight left. Michael was crying and she could not tell if his tears were born from sadness, anger, love, or just plain stubbornness. In another life time she thought it was wonderful how open and vulnerable he was. Now, it left her cold.
When she opened her eyes, she realized how close she was to his body. As always, the magnetism exerted its pull. She saw his chest rising and falling with his rapid breath, smelled his anger, was singed by the lightening in his eyes. Every alarm went off and she knew she had to get out of here before she became trapped again, was paralyzed by his essence once more, content to let him devour her. Having a life of their own, her hands rose, and she touched his wet cheeks. Her fingers felt the stubble developing and her body instantly projected memories of his rough cheeks on her smooth skin. When she felt her nipples tightening and fluid rushing to her center, she was not even surprised. Damn him. She pulled his face closer as he stared into her eyes, attempting to read her soul. Dark brown and blue merged and created their own kaleidoscope. Their lips met in a soft touch. Lisa was the first to close her eyes, hiding from the intense scrutiny she felt exposed to. His lips opened under hers and their tongues touched tentatively. Michael let go of her arms and his hands copied hers, cradling her face. For a moment, time stood still and nothing existed but their shared breath.
When Lisa ended the kiss the both leaned forward, keeping their foreheads connected.
“Good bye, Michael.” Lisa whispered.
“Don’t… Don’t do it…” His voice was but a breath of air.
Little by little, she backed away and opened the door. One had remained on his cheek, not able to relinquish the touch.
“I love you.” She backed into the open space, her fingers slowly lifting off his face, leaving his exposed and cold.
Michael was not aware of the tears falling as he stubbornly set his chin.
“If you walk out, don’t think you can just come back. That’s it- if you’re gone, you’re out.” He wanted to sound strong and resolute, but realized it was difficult to contain the sob rising from his burning chest.
She mouthed, “I love you,” one more time before the door closed behind her.
(to be continued)
(to be continued)
©2012 Erika B Michaels. All Rights Reserved. This story is a work of fiction. Any names, places, and other identifying features are used in a fictional manner, for entertainment purposes only, and are in no way representative of actual events. This work may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted, or stored without expressed written permission by Erika B Michaels. All photos and images, mentioned songs or song titles are copyright their creators. ABSOLUTELY no disrespect is intended to any persons portrayed in this work.
