What's Cooking

The knock cut through the tension like a flicked switch in the dark.

Donna froze where she knelt at the edge of the bed, her hands on Joey's knees, pulse quickening. Her eyes flicked up to his eyes, a look of uncertainty written all over his face. That had been her moment, her chance to take care of Joey the way she was supposed to. She could see the bulge in the groin of his jeans, a sure sign that she had been getting to him, that she was pushing the right buttons. But now there was a knock.

Why now? Why couldn't they wait? Donna was so close!

Another knock, firmer this time.

He looked away from the door and into Donna's eyes.

"Should I get it?" she whispered, hoping for direction. Something about Joey made her feel so safe, so secure. If he were to instruct her, order her to take care of whoever was knocking, she would do so gladly. There was just something about Joey, her perfect guy, that made her want to obey him. It felt right.

He didn't answer right away, that look of uncertainty translating into inaction. Donna could wait. Patience was something she was good at. Her job entailed waiting on documents, clients, other lawyers, all things out of her control. And so she knew how to wait. Joey would figure it out when he was good and ready.

"Get dressed," he said, finally.

Helping herself to her feet while holding Joey's knees, Donna obeyed immediately.

Her clothes were still in a careless pile in the bathroom. The tiny denim shorts. The cropped pink top. She left off her underwear and strapless bra. Joey hadn't been specific, but by the increasingly louder knocking at the door, she felt there was some urgency and skipped that step. Besides, it felt exciting to be so close to Joey dressed as she was, not only in the racy outfit the girls had picked out for her, but now she wasn't wearing any underwear. One less thing between her and her perfect man.

Again she lamented how close they had been. Joey had been on the bed, waiting for her! Of course there was nothing freaky about what they had been about to do, but she knew that Joey still had some hangups about it. If only the knocker hadn't knocked, if only Donna had had just three more minutes, then she would have been able to take care of all of Joey's needs.

Dressed, she caught her reflection in the mirror. How had a woman like her, almost forty, ended up with a great man like Joey? Yes, she'd known Joey his whole life, but to have the chance to actually be with him? It was more than she deserved, more than she could have hoped for. When she thought too much about him, about how perfect he was, she felt overwhelmed, dizzy. He was the kind of guy that would, if she let him, make her lose her mind.

And she didn't want to fight it anymore. There was nothing freaky about this. Nothing wrong. She wanted to embrace it, see how far it would go, see where Joey would take her.

But then the knock came again.

She reached the front door just as Joey opened it. She stood beside him, holding on to his arm with both of her hands, supporting her man, enjoying the heat coming off his body.

It was the girl from the lobby. The hotel clerk.

Serena.

She was prettier up close. Gorgeous, really. The intimidating kind of hot that made people assume she was untouchable— royalty in a hotel uniform. But even royalty noticed Joey.

She spoke to Donna, but her eyes never left Joey. Not once.

"Mrs. Granger," Serena said sweetly. "I just wanted to check in. To make sure you and your husband were comfortable. And to apologize again—if I was at all unprofessional earlier."

Donna blinked. Husband?

The word should've felt wrong. Like a slip. But instead it melted into her like something warm. Donna squeezed Joey's arm tighter.

She could see what this was. Serena, the hot hotel clerk, had fallen for Joey's charms. Of course she had. Hot girls wanted him! Well, far be it from Donna to be jealous. She wouldn't fight over him. If Joey wanted this goddess in his life, she would make sure it happened. As long as Donna still got her turn with him, of course. It was, after all, her job to make sure he was sexually gratified.

"All is forgiven, sweetie," Donna told the woman who wouldn't look at her, "My husband and I don't hold grudges, especially with women as lovely as you are. Isn't that right, honey?"

Joey mumbled something in embarrassment, his face red.

"I just wanted to be sure," Serena added. "You seemed like you were having a special evening. And I didn't want to ruin that."

"Every evening with this man is special," Donna gushed, letting go of his arm with one hand, only to place it on his chest and slowly massage it. "He is the kind of man who I find simply irresistible. I'm sure you can understand."

Donna caught the change in Serena's face. Curiosity. Hunger. She was right! This wasn't about checking in on them. Serena wanted a piece of Joey!

"I, er, should get back to my desk," Serena said, a needy look in her eye, "but I thought I'd leave my number for you in case you need anything. Anything at all. It's my personal number. Please, call me any time."

She held a card out to Joey. Donna took it. It was a business card from the hotel. On the back was Serena's name with her mobile number scrawled beneath it. Then a heart.

Oh, she had it bad.

Donna could relate.

"Anyway, I'm on desk until six," Serena added, her voice just a touch lighter now. "If you need anything. Questions, amenities... or just company."

And she turned, slowly, hips swaying in her navy blue skirt, a practiced move of a woman who could move like a runway model.

The door shut.

Donna turned to Joey.

Her heart was still racing. Serena was an opportunity for Joey, but they had time for her later. Right now Donna wanted him for herself.

"Well, husband," she said, running her hands through his hair, "She definitely wanted to come in. Maybe when we're done, she can have leftovers. But right now? I'm feeling hot, and I want to show you what mama’s got cooking."