I freaked out the first time I saw it; noting that it was littered with my brand of aftershave, toothpaste, razor, and deodorant. I couldn't leave Maria's house fast enough, making up some sort of family emergency.
Thank God she wasn't friendly with Barron; otherwise my ruse would have been rumbled.
Maria and I had an understanding. Whenever I was in New Haven visiting family, we would hook up. I never made her any promises or gave her any indication that we were serious or exclusive. What was it with women? They always had to fuck up a good time by trying to tie me down.
Admittedly, the basket should've been a huge red flag. I was sure that was the end of our prolonged fling.
But Maria was not deterred.
She relentlessly bombarded me with an album full of nudes, each picture more graphic than the last. I had remained unfazed until she sent a pic of a vibrator up her wet pussy...and a smaller dildo buried in her ass. She also had one large breast lifted into her mouth, her pink tongue frozen mid-lick on the erect nipple, and her eyes closed in bliss. That photo finally broke me and made me drive the forty minutes to New Haven, where I fucked Maria six ways from Sunday. In the pussy, ass, mouth, and definitely between those plump tits.
What was I supposed to do? The Pope himself would've caved under that kind of temptation.
I felt a slight twinge of guilt as I brushed my teeth - with the toothbrush and toothpaste provided in the basket. Was I leading Maria on? Was I using her?
We had an agreement to have sex whenever I was in town, but no words were spoken by me that I felt anything more for her than a convenient - and very good - fuck.
Granted, it didn't help that I invited Maria as my plus-one for Barron and Eden's engagement party last night. But she had looked so...sadwhen she realized I was only using her for a bed to stay in - and to get my rocks off.
I regretted the invite as soon as I suggested it when her face lit up in glee. I could spot the calculating glint in her eye, and if I had a peep show into her thoughts, I was sure I would be seeing wedding bells.
She had fawned over my mom when I reluctantly introduced them and spent the evening glued to my side, much to my chagrin.
I was pretty pissed off at her when she coldly greeted Barron and Eden, her handshake like a wet fish.
That was when I saw her with fresh eyes. It was pretty fucking rude to be a bitch to the host and hostess of a party that you were invited to.
Okay, Barron and Eden hadn't extended the invitedirectlyto Maria; I was sure she would be at the bottom of the list of people invited out of all the folks in New Haven. Maria's best friend, of course, received the dubious honor of being at the very end of that list.
Yet, despite my cousin and his fiancée's obvious discomfort, they still welcomed Maria with a smile and thanked her for coming. All they got in response were eye rolls at the food on offer, sighs of impatience at the speeches, and a text exchange with her best friend, Lissa. She was obviously giving the other woman a blow-by-blow account of the party.
I was done with her.
Even though I wasn't as close with my cousin as I used to be - or would like to be - I would never in a million years intentionally hurt him. Maria's antics last night sealed her fate.
A loud shriek tore through the apartment as I rinsed my mouth, followed by a hard thunk against the closed door.
What the fuck?
"Arrgghh! Get out of there, you fucking asshole!" Maria screamed as she banged her hands against the door.
Heart beating in my throat, I quickly secured the bath towel around my waist before opening the door. Maria fell forward, slapping my hands away as I bent to help her up.
"Don't touch me, you lying, cheating bastard!" Her face was red and streaked with tears.
"Ooof!" I grunted as her hand connected with my cheek. "Whoa, whoa!"
I dodged Maria's fists as they tried to pound on my chest. "Stop! What the fuck are you doing? Maria, damn it, stop!"
I twisted my torso away just as her knee went up to try and connect with my goods. What the hell was going on?
"Get your stuff and get out!" She screamed.
She rushed into the bathroom, snatching the small wicker basket and upending it against the wall.
"Stop this!" I moved forward and grabbed her from behind around the shoulders, holding her in her place as she continued kicking and screeching. "I don't know what the fuck has gotten into you, but you need to calm down!"
Maria went still before her entire body tensed up, and she tore through my arms. She whirled around to face me, flames of fury spitting from her wet eyes.
