I nestled into the leather passenger seat with a small sigh of contentment. How Mr. Ryan talked me into coming home with him I don't know. I definitely didn't want to return to the scene of my humiliation nor did I have a reservation at any of the local motels. He gallantly extended the use of his guest bedroom: "After all, how could I call myself a gentleman if I didn't shelter my late partner's daughter?"
Looking at the interior of his sports car (what model I couldn't tell in the dark, but expensive nonetheless), I began to understand I did not know my father's life as well as I thought I did. Does every child, upon discovering new truths about his or her parents' lives, not feel bewildered and lost? I now understand poor Alice's confusion when she fell down the rabbit hole.
I turned my head when the driver side door opened. I was mesmerized by the smile on Mr. Ryan's face as he slid into the seat. I wondered if his lips could possibly be as soft as they looked; how desperately I wanted to touch them. Taste them.
"I saw you didn't touch any of the food at the wake. Are you hungry? Would you like to stop somewhere?"
His words shattered my lustful haze. I was grateful he had closed the door because he wouldn't be able to see my red face. Here I was thinking about sex and he thought about the
other
hunger.
"Uh…not really. I'm jetlagged and tired."
He chuckled, the rich sound filling the space between us. Though I'd only known him a few hours, I could tell it wasn't meant to be cruel. He understood the reasoning behind my statement and concurred.
"Well, relax and I'll have you home soon."
He turned the ignition and the engine purred to life. I hid a quick smile as he seemingly caressed the steering wheel; obviously this car was a female. Glancing over his shoulder, Mr. Ryan carefully backed out.
***
James glanced at his passenger thoughtfully. During the short fifteen-minute ride to his house, Penelope hadn't spoken a word. He knew she wasn't crying, as her face didn't shine with tears beneath the passing lights outside the window.
"Here we are, Penelope. Home sweet home."
He looked at the porch with it's welcoming light and all his cares seemed to lighten. Despite the strong emotions of the day, he knew once he walked through that door he was truly in control of his world.
The rustling of his passenger brought his attention back to her.
Fuck, I want to be in control of her!
His penis, semi-hard through the drive, reared its ugly head and James desperately wanted to unzip his pants. He knew her pouty lips would feel heavenly as he thrust in and out of her mouth, saliva easing the passage as she slobbered over him.
"Mr. Ryan?"
He heard the questioning note in her voice and wondered how long she'd been trying to grab his attention. Opening his door, he stretched for a moment then looked at Penelope over the roof of his car.
"Sorry, it's been a long day for me too."
She shyly smiled.
"I just asked if you still had my suitcase?"
A chuckle escaped as he thought about the erstwhile case she kept leaving behind. Fortunately for her, he'd had the presence of mind to grab it before leaving the house.
"Yes."
Her smile bloomed and he felt something in his chest tighten.
Leading the way up the sidewalk after retrieving the luggage from his trunk, James inserted his house key into the front door. Once inside, he flipped a light and motioned her to follow him through the living room and up the stairs.
"This," he pointed to a door at the top of the stairs, "is the guest bedroom. That is your bathroom."
Penelope nodded, the smile sliding from her face as weariness set in. James marveled at her composure and had to stifle his curiosity. He wanted to ask exactly what caused the rift between her and John, but refrained from asking.
Barely.
Frustration ate at him momentarily as he contemplated the wasted years he could've had training her. 'If onlys,' however, were a luxury he rarely indulged in, so he cast it from his mind. It didn't matter the whys or whens, but the now. And she was in his house
now.
"Down the hall is my room. Please don't hesitate to knock on my door if you need anything."
Anything
, a sly voice whispered.
"Right now I just need sleep. I want you to know how much I appreciate this, Mr. Ryan."
Nodding, desperately hoping she couldn't read the lusty bent of his thoughts, James cleared his throat.