The Difference - Chapter 8

The Difference

Chapter 8



Julia’s eyes were closed, her head thrown back, and her mouth slightly open as sighs of pleasure filled the room.  Watching her was almost as big a turn-on as feeling her hot, wet tightness around his penis.  It was so nice to feel her astride like this.  So very comforting, so relaxing, so easy.  One of his hands was on her ass and his other played with her breast, watching her nipple get even tighter.  He could feel her getting closer, felt her muscles hold him, felt shivers racing through her as she bent forward and kissed his neck, let her tongue draw little circles on his heated skin. 

“Are you almost there, Jewel?”

She looked up through her curtain of cascading hair. “Jewel?  Stop distracting me.”

Well, he needed to be distracted right now as she shift in her position really tested his endurance, making fighting for maintained control extremely difficult.  Part of him could simply not fathom that he was doing this again; was doing her again.  He had had every intention to let the night end with drinks.  Julia had accompanied them back to the apartment after the interrupted lunch.  The kids had been so excited to have someone else to discuss their favorite Nickelodeon show with.  Julia had turned out to be quite the expert on cartoons and Paris, who usually was quite jealous of her time with her father, had invited her to hang around to watch some tapes.  Who was he to unnecessarily disappoint his daughter? They had ordered pizza and the kids had finally conked out on the couch.  Julia and the kids’ nanny helped to tuck them in their beds.

“You are really fortunate, Michael.  Your children are wonderful.  Thanks so much for letting me share this day with you guys.”

“No, really, thank you.  I am so glad you were there.”

Obviously, he was referring to the run-in with Lisa, and Julia immediately understood. She straightened up, cocked her head and searched out his eyes.

“You still love her.”

Ok, maybe she did not understand, after all. He blinked and lowered his gaze.

“Whom?”

“Michael, you know whom I am referring to.”

Of course he knew.  How many other woman had barged in today?  Who else had once again invaded his mind?  How in the world did Lisa manage to worm her way back time after time? And was she ever really gone?  She was like a dormant cancerous cell.  He might be in remission at times, but the flare-ups were horrible and would consume him one of these days.  At least, this time, she was not really back.  She was nothing but a minor inconvenience. Hardly anything else but a mirage he intended to ban back to the land of his fantasies. Or his nightmares.    

“Sorry, I just really don’t like to talk about her.”

“She hurt you.”

It was not a question. It was a statement.  A very true statement.

“We hurt each other.  We elevated inflicting wounds on each other to a new Olympic sport.  Only difference is that we did not always wait four years to light the new torch.”

“So, is it over now?”

“It has been over for ages.”

“I really don’t want to pry, and you can tell me if I totally am overstepping my boundaries, but she did not seem like a woman who considers things over.”

“Yeah, I don’t know what all that was about.” Michael busied himself picking up some toys. Those kids sure were messy.  Wonder who they got that from?  So much clutter in such little time…

“She didn’t say?”

“I didn’t really give her a chance to.  She has said too much already. I have learned the hard way that words do not do us any good.  Well, actions don’t help us, either.  Nothing can help us.  We’ve been helpless and hopeless for quite a while.” Having run out of toys to put away, he moved on to straightening up some papers lying around on the table.

“I’m sorry.” She reached out and touched his hand. He looked up at her, only to evade her eyes again a second later.

“No, really, don’t be sorry.  I should be sorry.  I invited you out on the town and had you insulted be my slightly unhinged ex.”

Julia laughed.  “She seemed kind of upset.  I’m sure she normally doesn’t act like that.”

A humorless laughter escaped.

“No really, she normally acts worse.  Lisa thinks she can behave any way she wants to.  One of her major problems is that she is not used to hearing the word ‘no.’ And she tends to act out when she can’t get her way.  Very similar to a two year old.  And for some reason, she had it in her head to talk to me.”

It was still a puzzle to him why she had searched him out now.  Maybe she had run out of public venues to spew her venom and wanted to up the ante by personally letting him in on just how much he had disgusted her all those years.  What a joke she considered their relationship to have been.  How crazy she must have been to be with him.  Just in case he dodged the public arrows she hurled.  He kept those thoughts to himself, not wanting to show Julia this testy side of him.  

“So, she never said what she wanted?”

Besides trying to find out if she could still piss me off? 

“I am really not interested in what she wants.  I was way more interested in getting back to my lovely lunch date.”

The truth was that in the meantime, he very much regretted not having found out what the hell Lisa had been up to, but he was not about to share that.  It was difficult enough admitting it to himself.  He told himself the only reason for wondering at all was that it made him nervous to try and figure out her next gambit.  And there was always a next move with Lisa.  Not for one second did he believe this to be the end of her efforts.

“So, how about I make it up to you and we go out on a spin around Central Park?”

Julia looked up at him in surprise, but was receptive to the idea.  Good, he had not managed to chase her away with all the talk of Lisa.

“Now? It’s nighttime.”

“Sure.  I will arrange to get a carriage ride.  How about that?  Then, if you want to, we can have a night cap somewhere.”

“You are too much, Michael.” She threw her head back and laughed.

He watched her long neck, remembering kissing it.

“You have no idea!” Winking, he aimed his most blinding smile at her. For some reason, it made him proud to be able to please and surprise her.  She made it so easy.

He made a call to get things set up while Julia excused herself and asked to use his study to return some phone calls.  Michael checked his own phone and noticed he had a missed call from one of his dearest friends.  Brett! How nice to hear from him again.

Several seconds into the message, Michael cringed: Brett had arranged a small gathering of Michael’s most trusted friends to have a private celebration in honor of his newly won freedom. 

He was torn.  Part of him very much appreciated the effort and was sure it would be great to interact with the small number of friends who had kept the faith.  On the other hand, even a small party like this was a reminder of his ordeal and raised his anxiety.  Yes, he had been victorious and truth had prevailed, but he barely could manage to think of the past years without his heart pounding and his breathing becoming labored and shallow. 

The daily panic attacks had finally tapered off into more rare and less horrific occurrences.  Currently, he tried very hard to come off the inordinate amount of anti-anxiety medications he had been heavily dependent on during the trial.  The new freedom was to include a freedom from being tired and sedated most of the time. 

So, far, so good.  He did not want to mess up the progress he had fought so hard to achieve by putting himself into a situation he was not sure he could handle.  Why step in front of the speeding train when he could take a detour around the tracks altogether? On the other hand, he had been advised to start exposing himself to situations he thought might cause anxiety to once again reinforce that he could handle the stress, even as every neuron in his nervous system was firing like it was Independence Day.

Michael returned Brett’s call and was fully prepared to politely thank him, but inform him he would be unavailable.  Busy schedule and all…  Brett, in his no-nonsense manner managed to call him on his bullshit and asked him to at least make an appearance, pointing out how much trouble it had been to arrange for all these busy and important people to clear their schedules.  Brett knew that guilt usually worked on Michael and his comment hit the bull’s eye.  Sighing, Michael asked if it was ok to bring someone.  At least he did not have to be going by himself this time.  Brett seemed to hesitate for a second, then assured him bringing a friend would be great.  In the back of his mind, Michael was puzzled why Brett just assumed it was just a friend who would accompany him.  It’s not like he was too old to date.  Either way, things were settled. Now all he had to do was convince Julia.

The nocturnal carriage ride was truly magical.  Coming up on the boathouse, he could not help but think of another time in the park at night when he and Lisa had rented a boat.  She had insisted on rowing herself and had just about managed to capsize the small vessel, giving his security team on dry land a heart attack.  They had laughed so hard, were playing around, crazy in love.  He remembered not getting enough of her mouth, her tongue; vividly recalled kissing her, trying to make out in the small space…which actually also possibly might have contributed to the near accident.  As usual, he had lost all common sense when drugged by her presence and his lust and love for her.  Michael averted his gaze from the lake, pulling himself back to the presence and to Julia, who was snuggled up against him under the blanket, keeping the summer chill off. 

After dinner, Julia invited him up for a drink to her midtown apartment.  She offered and he searched her face, trying to figure out her plans. They had not touched or kissed in any way that would be inappropriate for friends, but when she looked at him, the smoldering heat in her eyes indicated she had more than a drink in mind.  Since it would have been rude to turn down her invitation he went along with her.  Appreciating the full sway of her nice behind after he politely let her enter her building ahead of him, he noticed that he probably would also not be rude enough to turn her down should she want to take things further.  Being a gentleman was great at times!

And here they were, Julia on top, working him over after having given him the most wonderful backmassage.  He had rolled over, pulling her down, getting ready to get to work, when she had informed him that this part of the evening was her treat.  To prove her point, she glided down his body and found his growing erection with her hot lips.  His hands fisted in her hair, he managed to hold back the quickly rising urge to climax as she licked and sucked his length, making him grow even harder.  She caught the point before things became too intense perfectly and started to kiss her way up his abs, biting his nipples.  Straddling him, she helped rolling down a condom, then sliding herself onto him in a slow, torturous manner.  His little legal eagle turned out to be quite the talented rider. 

Michael reached out and pinched one tawny nipple, while reaching for her clitoris with his other hand, rubbing her center, watching her come apart, moaning her pleasure, throwing her long hair back until it tickled his balls.  Seeing her climax freed him of his constraints to hold back, and he surged into her one more time, letting his eruption carry him away for a couple of seconds, feeling like he floated in a warm bubble bath. 

Julia had collapsed on top of him, her head buried in his neck, and he listened to her breathing calm down.  Again, he thought how pleasant the encounter had been.  Nice, relaxing, tension relieving…no fighting, no demands…who knew that this was how women not named Lisa Marie Presley rolled. 

“Ok, Jewel, have you thought about it some more?”  He liked calling her Jewel.  Especially, since she always gave him that exasperated look.  And she was a rare Jewel to him:  a polished, sparkling, shining presence in his life…

“Thinking?  What’s that?” She blew a long tendril of hair out of her face. 

He kissed her head.  “You know how to flatter an old man.”

“Well, you don’t act like an old man, my dear.”

“So, will you come with me to my friend’s party?”

“I don’t know, Michael.  I know you are trying to be nice. But I really don’t want you to think I have expectations.”

Nice?  He lifted her off him and took care of himself, returning back to bed a second later.  He did not lay down, but instead sat on the side next to her.  She looked over at him, her huge dark eyes following his every move.

“Come on.  I like your company.  Tom will be there, too.  I don’t know anyone else I would rather ask, and even if I did, I can’t really think of anyone I’d rather have with me. Please?”

“I don’t know, Michael.”

“You don’t need to: I know.  You are going.  You would not want me to miss this party and I won’t go alone.  So, there.  It’s settled.”

“How about I think about it and let you know?”

“Gosh- you sure know how to play hard to get.”

He bent down and kissed her, letting his tongue tease her mouth before he engaged fuller and deepened the kiss.

“Please?”

Her eyes opened lazily.  “You don’t play fair, do you?”

“Not when I want something.”

She giggled and after kissing him again, finally agreed.

“Thanks, Jewel.” He pushed her back.

“Are you up to thanking me with more than words…old man?”

“Well, hmm..let’s see.”  They both looked down on him and Julia smirked, reaching for another condom. 

“Glad you can afford multi-packs...”

“You will make me go broke, woman…” Michael nudged her knees apart and found her swollen center.

“Well…I can’t say I am sorry.  But if it makes you feel better, I’ll spring for the next pack.”

She reached for him and he thanked her more properly, thinking how great it was to make love to such a considerate person.

The next couple of days were spent tending to business matters and with showing the kids around New York.  He almost had forgotten how much he loved this city.  He would miss the magic and the static electricity filling the air when he left for Bahrain.  On the other hand, maybe time away would help him to get re-grounded and to once again focus on what was important: being able to spend his life with his children.  There were many aspects about the States he would miss, but this was not a final goodbye, just a much needed reprieve as he enjoyed exercising his right to go anywhere he damn well pleased.

The night of Brett’s party, he helped to get the kids ready for bed, before preparing to pick up Julia on the way.  Getting into his rented Limo, he checked his phone, once again surprised to not have heard back from Lisa.  He had half expected to be barraged by her demands to see him. Some crazy part of him had actually looked forward to sparring with her, to setting her straight, to shutting her out.  He had longed to once more hear the disappointment in her voice; he even desired to see that surprised and almost desperate expression in her eyes. 

What was the matter with him?  No, she needed to stay far away.  It was not like him to revel in the pain of another.  Yet, Lisa and her silly games had, over time, changed him.  He had thought he had sucked her poison out of his veins, but seeing her again, knowing she was in the same city, had once again started the allergic itch that only she could scratch.  Having sex with Julia had been soothing, but it was not a cure-all. 

In his dreams, he found himself looking into blue eyes, found himself pounding into a petite frame, saw the catlike orbs regarding him from behind honey blond hair.  Just once he wanted to fuck her again, then laugh at her when all her pretense of indifference was swept away by her desire.  One touch of her small hand had been enough to send currents through him that reminded him of the deadly power of the sexual tension that should never be unleashed again.  Some forces have to remain contained as otherwise they would ravish and destroy everything in their path. 

“Sir, will you go up to meet the lady?” His driver thankfully rescued him from further thoughts about Lisa. 

“No, I told her I would be running late and call her when we get there.  Just stop in the front while I give her a buzz.”

Minutes later, Julia approached the car and glided in next to him, after the driver opened the door.  Michael had put his glasses on as soon as he saw her approach, enjoying the vision that greeted him.  She wore a long, sleek, elegant black satin dress that hugged her curves in just the right way without appearing slutty.  Her hair cascaded in soft curls down her back, and she had it pulled back from one side of her face with an elegant white gold comb.  A simple black onyx and white gold necklace and matching dangling earrings rounded up her outfit, rendering her stunning, sultry, and classy.  When she bent over to enter the limo, he admired the low cut of her dress that granted him a nice view of her breasts.  He thought he spotted a lacy, black strapless bra.  He adjusted his seat, not wanting to seem like an old leech, greeting her with a tent in his pants.

“You look amazing.  How silly of me to almost forget how gorgeous you are.” He inhaled her perfume as she kissed him gently on the lips .

“Well, and you, Mr. Jackson, are stunning.  I love the glasses, you should wear them all the time.”

Shoot.  In his intense efforts to check her out, he had forgotten he had them on. Embarrassed, he took them off.  She laughed and his eyes caught something sparkly on her nose.  He never had noticed she wore a little stud piercing.  Julia caught his eyes.

“Yeah, it’s my little piece of rebellion against the establishment.”

“You go, girl! Way to show the man!” He laughed, and Julia shoved him playfully.

“What?  No, really, Jewel, it’s sexy. You need to leave that in for me next time we…you know...”

“Oh, next time, hm?” She gave him a naughty smile.

“You didn’t think I had enough yet?”

“I had hoped not.” She kissed him lightly and the rest of the way, they engaged in easy small talk.

The little party was held at Trump Towers, in one of Donald’s personal suites.  He also had been one of Michael’s supporters, and it would be great to see him again.  Tom, the great attorney who had steered him through the hell of the last year, greeted Julia and Michael at the door. If he was surprised to see Michael with Julia, he certainly hid it well. Michael immediately felt Julia relaxing, smiling at Tom, hugging him tightly.   Nothing in her cool demeanor betrayed if she was as nervous as he felt right now. Michael had reached for her hand when they stepped out of the elevator, and she held onto his hand with a firm grasp. He was not sure if he meant to ensure she was ok or to reassure himself.  Either way, her cool hand felt wonderful in his as she returned his squeeze.

After some small talk, Michael looked around, scanning the room for Brett.  There were more people than he had expected, and once again he resolved to make this a short party.  Maybe Julia would like it if they grabbed a drink somewhere again.  He was certainly up for more rest and relaxation.  And it would be nice to see her with nothing but her jewelry and that diamond stud…

“If you’re looking for Brett, he is out on the terrace with a lady I was very surprised to see.” Tom seemed to have some kind of message to pass on, but Michael was not able to read the meaning.

“Oh, really? Good or bad surprise?”

Julia gave Michael a little bump with her elbow.

“Michael! I am sure you only know ladies who are good surprises.”

“Well, dear, sadly, not all the ladies I know are as wonderful as you are.”

Julia blushed sweetly. Michael noticed Tom looking a tad bit surprised as he looked from Julia to Michael.

A waiter stopped by with a tray of drinks, and Michael handed Julia a glass of champagne, while opting for red wine.  He had seriously considered reaching for some good old Xanax tonight, but then had made the hard choice and thrown the bottle of pills back into his emergency bag.  No, he could do this on his own.  What had his therapist told him?  Fear of fear was his biggest obstacle.  Well, if the anticipation of an event was worse than the event, all he had to do was make it over that hurdle.  Looking forward to seeing Julia again had helped.  So, now, he was here, at the event, what could happen?  He was among friends.  Relax and enjoy! Still, some wine was not a bad idea.

“And...,” Michael continued, “As you had to find out, some women I know are not really ladies.” He raised an eyebrow and took a sip.

Julia laughed and winked at him.

“What am I missing?” Tom looked from one to the other.

“Oh, nothing, I had a blast from the past the other day.”

Michael looked over Tom’s shoulder and spotted Brett’s mop of hair on the terrace, talking to some people.  For just a second he thought to detect a familiar sight or movement, but could not place its origin. 

“Yeah, Michael about that…I need to really prepare you…,” Tom tried to interject once more.

 Michael had just refocused his attention on Tom, when the terrace door opened and Brett entered, followed by a lanky man with blond hair who looked vaguely familiar.  Before Michael could place him, he was almost knocked to the ground when he immediately recognized the woman entering behind the guy.  The sight of her clinging to the dude’s hand as well as the sound of her sultry, deep laughter, jolted his nervous system to full attention. His heart jumped into his throat, his limbs felt like crawling with ants, spots appeared in his visual field.  This could not be possible…

“What the f…” 

Michael was sure all the air had suddenly left the condo as he incredulously stared at Lisa who looked like sex on a stick in the shortest, tightest red dress he had ever seen.  What the hell was she doing here?  And what was she wearing?  Why the hell had she bothered to get dressed at all?  His initial instinct battled between throwing a blanket over her and ripping the little red number right off her. 

Tom turned, following Michael’s outburst. 

“Ok, too late to warn you, I see.  It seems Lisa-Marie and her friend have been invited.”

Michael again attempted to take in an essential breath. How come they always told you to breathe deeply when your lungs just refused to do their job? He felt clammy, blood rushing through him at crazy rates, making him feel as if someone dunked his head in a sink full of ice water.  He felt Julia’s hand reaching out for him, her touch grounding him before he risked passing out.

“Michael, are you alright?” He finally was able to tear his eyes away from Lisa who still had not detected him.  Julia observed him with a very concerned expression.

Concentrate, Michael.  You are here with this beautiful angel.  The devil over there has no power over you anymore. It’s over, remember? 

“I’m fine….ah…uhum….I’m just surprised, I guess.  I thought this would be for friends only.” His voice sounded strained and fake.  It was difficult to talk in a virtual vacuum, after all.

“I guess Lisa and Brett are still friends.  And, you and her used to be friends, too.  I guess…” Tom for once was at a loss for words.

No, not friends.  They had never mastered being friends.  Oh, they had tried.  But friends don’t generally end up with tongues shoved into each other’s mouths, or other places that friends usually don’t find oral pleasures with each other.  Friends can be in a room for two minutes without wanting to either fight or fuck each other. 

Michael noticed by the reaction in his pants that right now he obviously wanted to do both.  He wanted to strangle her as much as he longed to push her against the nearest wall, shove up that slip of a dress and find out if her underwear, as usual followed the color scheme of her outfit.  If she wore any.  No, surely, she wore underwear under that short a dress.  She had to, didn’t she?

What the hell?  When had he started wondering about her frigging lingerie?

Suddenly, Lisa turned and her eyes zeroed in on him over the crowd like a missile locking on to a target.  That bitch.  She must have known he had come in.  One of her eyebrows went up and her expression issued a challenge. 

He had been right! The absence of calls had by no means meant she had given up her quest to torture him.  What the fuck did she want?  She was here with Riff-Raff- no wonder he had looked so familiar.  Why had she made a point to attend a party given in his honor in this slutty little outfit.  Or more to the point, why did she show up with her new boy toy?

His eyes roamed over the rest of her.  She wore the usual smoky eye-make-up and her lips were the same crimson as her dress.  Her hair was up and he thought he detected red streaks in the honey color.  Some strategically placed curls softly touched her shoulders and her back. 

The dress had long sleeves, but a more than generous V-neck front that dropped almost down below her clavicle, revealing the soft swell of her breasts.  When he saw her turning sideways making her way, he noticed that the back was basically absent, revealing her nicely toned muscles and glistening honey tan skin all the way down below her waist. The skirt part was skin-tight and ended about two inches below her crotch and he wondered how in the world she’d manage to bend down without showing her ass.  He forced his eyes to return to her neck and away from any tempting consideration of that round butt he remembered so well. 

Then he saw it:  She wore the garnet and diamond choker and earrings he had bought her on their last trip to Paris.  Recollections overwhelmed him: He had made her undress for him, then opened the present, putting the baubles on her, admiring her creamy skin that perfectly set off the deep red of the stones.  He remembered having walked around her, kissing her, admiring her, leading her to the bed, asking her to recline…

Godammit! He really, really had to get a handle on himself.  He was here with a beautiful woman and was starting to about bust out of his pants, thinking of the positions he had Lisa in last time she wore that necklace for him.  Her moans and cries echoed in the marble halls and isles of his memory, he heard her call out his name, remembered the agony and bliss of almost passing out when he finally had been ready to let go and cum in almost painful spurts inside her. 

He noticed he shook his head involuntarily. No, he did not want her.  He had no regrets.  Had no feelings for her any longer other than a murderous lust that surely was not healthy at all.  He wanted nothing from her, but maybe have that choker adjusted to fit a bit tighter around that sinewy neck. 

Through some kind of fog, he realized Julia was saying something, and he was sure her and Tom were trying their best to make this less awkward.  But what could they do to take the pain away?  His nerves were revved up too high to calm down by mere words. A shot of Ativan might help- wonder if any of them carried an emergency syringe of the sedative.  They should make them like epipens for situations when you ran into the little slut you are deadly allergic to.  At a loss, he emptied the glass of wine in one gulp. Alcohol helped, too, he knew. 

Escape. 

He was still able to do that.  He was not going to grant her the pleasure of discovering that she had gotten under his skin like the parasite she was.

Michael heard himself make a joke about needing to find the restroom after only one glass of wine.  Julia looked over at him with deep worry in her eyes and reached out to touch his arm.  It felt so good to have her here, he was so grateful, and was determined to pull himself together and once and for all direct all his attention toward her.

He started to turn and actually thought it was possible to make the escape before Lisa and the blond alien managed to make it through the crowded room. 

“Michael.  I am so glad I could make it.  You aren’t leaving, are you?  I would like to introduce you to my fiancé.”

Dammit! He had been too slow.  Lisa had just about shouted the words across the room, directing attention to them and forcing his hand to stop and at least acknowledge her. 

Hesitantly, he stopped.

Showtime, Mike.  Come on, years of training weren’t for nothing.  You are calm and collected. This is your show.  You're in control.  You are here with people who like you.  Don’t give her the satisfaction of seeing you affected.  Show her your own brand of indifference.

Turning toward her, a cold smile played on his lips and an arrogant glint adorned his eyes.  The bitch had no idea what she had just bargained for.  But she was about to find out. 

(to be continued)

©2010 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. 

The Difference is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.