Chapter 3
Dinner with Derek was a luxurious affair. The six-course meal featured a variety of fancy foods that looked like something out of Chrissy Teigen's cookbook. Even the drinks were just as bougie and tasted great too. The final course was a slice of peach and caramel upside-down cake with a tiny candle on top as a reference to her birthday. This was by far the sweetest birthday experience of her life. "Happy birthday again, Rachel," said Derek. "I hope all of your dreams come true."
She blew out the candle and said, "I think they just did. I have always dreamed of having a special dinner to celebrate my birthday and here it is happening thanks to a handsome stranger.
"Thank you, Derek. You have made me very, very happy today, and it's not just about the dinner, but the thoughtfulness behind it. And you don't even know me, that's the weirdest part of it."
"It doesn't have to be weird, and it takes a lifetime to know someone but that too has to begin at a moment. This is the beginning."
Rachel felt all warm and fuzzy inside at his words. Derek was such a sweet guy who knew what to say and when to say it. How come he's single?
"I think I should be on my way now," said Rachel, dabbing her lips with a napkin. "I don't want your girlfriend to walk in and start having the wrong ideas."
Derek chuckled. "If that's your way of asking if I have a girlfriend, the answer is no. I'm single."
"That's not possible." "Why not?"
"I mean, have you seen yourself? You are handsome, well-spoken, and rich. You can have any woman you want, so why would you be single?"
"You've already answered your question, Rachel. I can have any woman I want but that doesn't mean I have to be in a relationship with them. So, relax. Nobody comes to visit me without letting me know first." "I see," she mused. "So, does that mean you have many lady friends that you invite over whenever you want?"
Derek grinned. "That sounds like a trick question that I'd rather not answer. Come, let me show you something."
"Sure," she said and let him lead her back into the penthouse. The outdoor dinner had been so lovely, it almost felt romantic.
She followed him to another section of the house that looked like a gallery with different oil paintings, artworks, and a white grand piano in the middle of the room. The place looked so heavenly that Rachel couldn't think of the best adjective to describe it.
"This is my favorite room, besides my bedroom, of course. I always come here to relax whenever I feel drained after a busy day at work, or when I need to clear my head."
"Derek, this place is amazing!"
"I know," he smiled.
Rachel walked over to the piano and ran a hand across the smooth, polished surface. "Do you play?"
"Yes," he said and he sat down on the piano seat and began to play a tune.
"Fur Elise," sighed Rachel. "One of my favorites."
"It's my favorite Beethoven piece too," he said as he continued to play.
Rachel's body seemed to move of its own volition as she began to sway, and then suddenly, she was on her toes doing a ballet dance routine that she thought she'd already forgotten.
She twirled and soared around the room while Derek kept playing the tune and watching her performance. When the tune reached its crescendo, she ended her routine by sitting on the piano seat beside Derek.
"That was brilliant," he whispered. They were sitting so close to each other that his breath fanned her cheeks as he spoke. "You are a wonderful dancer, Rachel."
"And you are an amazing pianist and a ridiculously sexy man," she whispered back and pressed her lips against his. It felt like the natural thing to do with this beautiful man, in this beautiful place.
Rachel didn't mind if she never saw this guy again after tonight, but right now, she wanted all of him. He was going to be her birthday gift to herself this year.
He broke the kiss and said, "I guess it's time we did a grand tour of my bedroom and I can show you why it's my second favorite room in this house."
"I think I can guess why," she giggled. "But I'd like to find out firsthand. Go on, lead the way."
Encouraged, he took her by the hand and led her upstairs to the master suite. The room was done in white and different shades of blue, giving it a cool and relaxed ambiance. His bed was a huge four-poster creation with a shiny golden frame. "I'd call this place a minimalist over-the-top bedroom," laughed Rachel. "I like it."
"You have good taste," he complimented her.
"I agree," she said and climbed on the ottoman at the foot of the bed, making her nearly as tall as him. She leaned forward and kissed him again, pulling him closer to her by the lapels of his suit jacket.
Derek liked how bold Rachel was - no dilly-dallying, just a straightforward expression of passion with no mixed signals. I like this girl, he thought to himself as he began to take off his clothes feverishly. "Easy there, tiger," she laughed against his lips. "No need to rush, darling. We've got all night."
"Are you sure?" he asked uncertainly. "What about your friends?"
"What about them? I'm not their babysitter. They're all probably at home already by now, sleeping off all that margarita. I'll give them a call later."
"Good. I don't want the cops beating down my door on allegations of a possible kidnapping."
Rachel laughed. "Stop being dramatic. They know I'm out here having a great time."
"Are you?"
"I guess I'm about to find out, aren't I?"
It was a challenge, and Derek loved challenges. He carried her off the ottoman and took her to the bed where he laid her on the soft surface like a delicate flower. First, he took off her figure-hugging T-shirt before taking off her ripped cut-off denim pants.
He took a moment to admire her voluptuous body and wondered what the hell made him prefer skinny women all these years. This woman on his bed was a masterpiece with her sexy curves and rounded figure.
"Do you like what you see?" she asked teasingly.
"I love it," he breathed thickly. "You are the sexiest woman I have ever had the pleasure to undress, Rachel."
"What a compliment," she giggled. "Now, it's your turn. Show me what you've got."
With a confident grin, Derek removed his shirt then his pants, and finally, his underwear. Rachel's gasp of admiration was the only compliment he needed before joining her on the bed.
"I didn't see any gym equipment here, so how do you manage to stay in shape?" she asked.
"There's a gym downstairs on the second floor of the building. I work out there three times a week with my trainer."
"More power to you," she laughed. "Wanna see something cool?"
He nodded and watched with delight as she undid the clasp of her bra and her full boobs tumbled out in all their rounded glory. She took his palm and laid it on her bosom, and Derek took it up from there, kneading the soft mass gently. When he lowered his lips on her boob, Rachel thought she would explode with pleasure. She hadn't been intimate with anyone since her last relationship ended, so this feels like a new experience for her.
Derek took his time caressing her soft body and showering her with feathery kisses that made her sigh. He loved how she ran her hands over his body as he continued to feel her up.
This was a give-and-take moment; not a competition as it always happened between him and Carrie or any of his other lovers. He didn't feel the need to rush this tender experience he was having with this gloriously beautiful woman he'd only met a few hours ago. He wanted to savor this encounter and imprint it in his memory forever.
For Rachel, it seemed as if she was making love with the love of her life. It didn't matter that she barely knew this guy, but being here with him like this felt so right.
Their movements were so synchronous, so harmonious, so familiar yet so new. He whispered beautiful nothings in her ear and she murmured incoherently in response as he joined himself to her and their bodies began to move in unison. When they reached that glorious moment of release, they clung to each other tightly and no words were said afterward because none were needed.
When he'd finally caught their breath after a couple of minutes, Derek asked, "Wanna try that again?"
Rachel giggled delightedly. "I don't see why not," she said.