Entangled

by Stacy-Deanne

  “So you mean you’d rather stay at home than have dinner at the Marian Bistro?”

  “That’s my favorite restaurant.” She grew warm all over. “I’d go there every night if it

  wouldn’t break the bank. Did you know Jake used to be the chef there?”

  He sighed. “On second thought, maybe I’ll go somewhere else.”

  She laughed. “Seriously, the Marian Bistro isn’t a place you go alone.”

  “Well when I go out I go out in style, whether I’m alone or not. After dinner I might go do some salsa dancing.”

  She laughed. “You salsa dance?”

  “Hell yeah, woman! I got moves.” He hummed into the phone. “Come on. Wouldn’t you rather be eating out at your favorite restaurant than at home alone?”

  “I’d—”

  “Come on.” He moaned. “You know you wanna come.”

  “Okay.” She crossed her fingers.

  What am I doing?

  “Great,” he said. “I’m on my way.”

  “Uh...” She turned off the stove and took the chicken breasts out. “Give me about an hour to get ready.”

  She hung up and ran out of the kitchen with butterflies in her stomach.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  “Mmm.” Grayson gripped Dee’s waist as she rode him in his bed. “Oh.” He tightened up underneath her. “Oh...yes.”

  She pressed her hands to his hairy chest and moved faster against him.

  “Oh, shit.” His feet shot up underneath the sheet. “Yes.”

  “Oh...oh!” Dee rode him faster. “Ah...uh...”

  “Oh...shit!” Grayson clenched her buttocks as he came. “Ah...oh!”

  “Ah...yes!” Dee bounced against him. “Oh...oh...”

  “Uh.” Grayson fell back on the pillow. “Hmm.” He panted. “J...Jesus.”

  She climbed off him.

  “You didn’t lie,” he whispered. “You definitely had some stress to release.”

  She rested beside him and put her arm on his chest.

  “If you ever feel stressed again...” He pulled her leg over him. “Don’t hesitate to call.”

  “I won’t.” She tangled her fingers in his soft chest hairs. “I’m a terrible person.”

  “What are you talking about?” He rubbed her hair.

  “I treated my best friend like shit today all because I’m a wimp.”

  “Is this about that guy...Winston?”

  She avoided his stare. “Sorry.”

  “No, you care for him, right?” He wiggled his legs. “You’ve been honest about that.”

  She propped up on her elbow.

  “I don’t like that you care about another man.” He kissed her. “But you’ve been honest.”

  “Come on, Grayson. We know what this is.”

  His expression fell flat. “And what is it?”

  “It’s sex.” She tickled his belly button. “It’s fun.”

  “Opposed to...”

  She blinked. “You know.”

  “You mean as opposed to being something more serious?”

  “Well, it’s not like this is about love.” She stroked his mustache.

  “And you’ve determined this how?”

  She laughed. “Come on, Grayson.” She sat against the headboard with her breasts uncovered. “What, are you saying you’re falling in love with me?”

  “Is that so impossible to believe?”

  She scoffed. “It’s fuckin’ insane!” She guffawed. “How can you be in love with me when you don’t even know me?”

  “At first I thought I’d be okay with being with you and not having more, but I’m not.” He turned toward her. “Since the first time we made love something’s...changed. The time we spend together is very special to me.”

  “You’re not being fair, Grayson.”

  “How am I not being fair?”

  “I’ve been honest with you from the beginning and you said you accepted that.”

  “I did but—”

  “Then you can’t do this!” She waved her finger. “You can’t turn things around in the

  middle of everything. We both knew what this was.”

  “Well I’m human damn it.” He sat against the headboard. “I didn’t intend to fall for you but it’s happening, Dee.” He stared at her. “Are you saying that your feelings haven’t grown since the first time we slept together?”

  “Don’t do this shit to me.” She kicked underneath the cover. “I don’t want to hurt you but you knew the deal. I told you we shouldn’t be messing around but you kept insisting.”

  “Well you kept coming over here didn’t you?” He tilted his head. “I guess it’s my fault for thinking that the woman I’ve been sleeping with might give a damn.”

  “I do care about you.”

  “But you’re not falling in love with me, right?”

  “Grayson.” She moved her hair off her shoulder. “You can’t possibly be in love with me.”

  “Maybe you should tell that to my heart then.” He turned his back to her and lay down. “I think you should go.”

  “Are you serious?”

  He hit the pillow then lay back down. “Goodnight, Dee.”

  ****

  Three Hours Later:

  “Well...” Lisa unlocked her front door and turned to Winston. “I had a very nice time.”

  “I’m glad.” He smiled, looking unbelievably breathtaking in his crisp black blazer.

  “And you were right. You’re one hell of a dancer.”

  He dipped his head to her. “You’re not too bad yourself.”

  “Well.” Lisa stepped inside.

  “Well.” His eyes looked even bluer under the porch light. “Goodnight.”

  “Hey.” She stepped back on the porch. “Would you like to come in for a little bit?”

  It’s official. I’ve lost my damn mind.

  “Uh...” He laid his hand on the doorframe. “You sure it’ll be okay?”

  “Yeah, we can have some ice cream.” She played with her keys. “Let me do something nice for you since you took me out and cheered me up.”

  Girl, what are you doing? This is crazy.

  He pointed inside. “Are you sure?”

  Yes, I’m sure. I shouldn’t be sure but I am. I have no business inviting your ass in here but I want to. Don’t ask me why, but I do.

  “Yes.” She gestured for him to come inside. “I’m sure.”

  “Okay.” He walked inside.

  She closed the door and locked it.

  “May I take off my jacket?”

  “Sure.” She stood behind him and pulled his blazer off his shoulders than stopped. “What am I doing?” She let the jacket go. “You can get that yourself I’m sure.”

  He took it off. “Now for that ice cream, huh?” He hung his jacket on the hook by the door.

  She set her keys on the shelf in the hall. “I have to make a quick run to the bathroom and I’ll be right back.” She headed down the hall. “Wait for me in the kitchen.”

  “Okay.”

  She scurried down the hall, used the bathroom, and rushed back to the kitchen.

  He wasn’t there.

  She left the kitchen and went into the living room. “Winston?” She turned back and went down the hall toward the bathroom and bedrooms. “Winston?”

  “I’m here!”

  She turned the corner.

  He stood in front of her bedroom, staring inside.

  Why is he standing at my bedroom?

  She clenched her skirt.

  Jesus.

  He pointed inside. “May I?”

  Lisa rubbed her head. “You want to go into my bedroom? Why?”

  “Well you’ve seen mine.” He shrugged. “So it’s only fair I see yours unless you don’t want me to.”

  “I...” She stroked her trembling hands. “I just don’t think it’s appropriate.”

  He turned to her. “But it was appropriate for you to go into my bedroom, take your clothes off, an
d let me draw you?”

  “No.” She touched her pounding chest. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

  “But you did.” He moved closer to her. “Besides you’re with Jake, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well then it shouldn’t matter if I go into your bedroom. I’m sure as far as you’re concerned, nothing will happen will it?” He flashed that sneaky smile.

  “I...” She fidgeted. “Jake would kill me. Besides, he already attacked you once. How do you think he’ll react if he knew you went into my bedroom? And that I let you?”

  “Who says he has to know?” he whispered.

  Her heart pounded against her chest. “I don’t want to lie to him, Winston.”

  “Okay.” He backed away with his hands up. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable or put you in a bad position.” He started to pass her. “We can go have ice cream—”

  “Wait.” She touched his arm. “You can see my bedroom.” She swallowed. “But just for a minute, okay?”

  He smiled and went inside.

  She slapped her hand over her face.

  What am I doing?

  Did she actually allow Winston into her room? There were no words for such foolishness. Letting a man that wanted her enter her sanctuary that she sometimes shared with her boyfriend broke every cardinal rule created.

  He walked around, sniffing. “Your smell’s all over the room.” He picked up a bottle of perfume and sniffed it.

  She’d let him into her room.

  Someone needs to slap my black ass because I can’t control myself around this man.

  “I like your room.” He touched the lavender curtains. “It’s small but it’s nice.”

  “It’s too small.” She chuckled. “I can barely turn around in it.”

  “Well I think it’s perfect.” He stood at the foot of her full-sized bed. “And so are you.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Lisa looked away from his hungry gaze. “No one’s perfect, Winston.” Her cheeks ran hot. “That’s sweet to say but definitely not true.”

  He inhaled and exhaled loudly. “Man.” He touched the light-blue bed sheet. “I smell you all over this room.”

  She walked toward the bed but stopped before she reached it. “You mean you smell my perfume?”

  “No, I smell you.”

  She almost melted from his intense gaze.

  “I smell your skin.” He pulled the sheet down. “I smell your hair.”

  What is he doing?

  Her stomach tingled. “What are you doing?”

  He put his knee on the bed. “What side of the bed do you sleep on?”

  “The left,” she whispered. “Why?”

  “I sleep on the right.” He walked over to the left side and lifted the pillow to his nose. “I can smell you on it.”

  Jesus, what is he doing?

  She panted. “Winston...”

  He pushed his face deeper into the pillow. “God, it smells so good. I just wanna inhale every part of you.”

  “Put my pillow down.”

  He moved it from his face. “Well, I can’t hold you, right?”

  “Jesus.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “Stop it, okay?”

  “What?” He caressed the pillow. “Saying what I feel? Saying what you want to hear?”

  “You’re...” She put her hands on her stomach. “You’re making this so hard for me.”

  “Good. Then you can understand how tortured I feel every night when I go to my bed alone wishing that you were next to me.” He laid the pillow down. “You can try to stop your feelings but you can’t stop mine.”

  “What do you want for god’s sake?” she shouted. “Do you even care how crazy you’re making me?”

  He stomped toward her.

  She moved back.

  He grabbed her. “I want you to feel crazy because then you’ll see how I’ve felt about you ever since we met.”

  “Leave.” She pointed to the doorway. “This was a big mistake.” She went to the door. “I appreciate the dinner and dancing, but this isn’t happening.”

  He rushed to her. “What isn’t happening?” He wrapped his arm around her waist.

  She almost collapsed from his touch. “Winston.”

  “No, listen.” He turned her around and guided her toward the bed. “I’m sick of this game we’ve been playing and I know you are too.” He slid his hands to her buttocks.

  “What are you doing?”

  He held her against him. “We’re gonna die if we keep pretending.”

  “No.” She pushed on his arms. “Winston I...”

  He stopped at the bed. “I know you don’t want to hurt Jake, but what about us, Lisa?” He touched her chin. “What about how much you want me? I know it’s torturing you just as much as it’s torturing me.” He sucked on her neck.

  “Ah.” She closed her eyes.

  “It’s just us, Lisa.” He slipped his hand underneath her blouse. “Just us.”

  You’re right. It is.

  She grabbed his head and kissed him. “Mmm.” She pulled him onto the bed, on top of her.

  “Yes, Lisa.” He switched his lips to the other side of her neck. “We don’t have to pretend anymore.”

  “Oh.” She stretched her arms toward the headboard. “Winston...I...”

  He took off his shirt then relieved her of her blouse. “Oh god, I’ve wanted you so much.” He lifted her skirt, unbuckled his belt, and unzipped his pants.

  “Oh.” Lisa sucked on her index finger. “Oh.”

  He slipped her bra over her breasts and tongue lashed her nipples.

  “Oh.” She writhed underneath him. “Ooh...”

  He got on his knees in the bed, and wrapped her legs around his waist. “Look at me,” he whispered.

  She did.

  “I want to see your eyes when I’m inside you.”

  She grabbed his head and pushed it to her breasts. “Oh, Winston.”

  He kissed her while he pressed his stiff center against hers.

  She flinched from the first touch of his erection. At that moment, it was as if her entire body opened up to him.

  She wriggled and spread her arms across the bed.

  He’s not even inside and I’m so wet I’m about to fill this entire room!

  She tensed up, awaiting his entrance.

  He lowered himself over her.

  “Oh.” She closed her eyes. “Winston...”

  His phone rang.

  He leaned up. “No,” he whispered. “Shit, this can’t be happening.” He sighed into his hand then resumed kissing her. “Fuck it.”

  “No.” She propped up on her elbows. “You’re on a case. You gotta answer it.”

  “Shit.” He got the phone and answered, “Lewis.” He looked at Lisa with a pitiful expression then got off the bed. “Yes. Okay. I’ll head there now.” He clicked off. “Shit!”

  She scooted against the headboard. “So it was your case.”

  “Yeah, I gotta go.” He stuffed his phone in his pocket. “Man, it’s times like this I hate being a cop.”

  “No, that call was a good thing.” She fixed her bra over her breasts.

  “The hell it was!” He kicked the bed. “I finally get this close...this close to making love to you and now this?”

  “This was a good thing.” She sighed into her hands. “This was wrong and I should’ve stopped it before it went this far.”

  “Oh, no, please.” He moaned. “Don’t do this, Lisa. You didn’t stop it because you didn’t want to stop it.” He climbed back on the bed and kissed her leg. “Come on. Look, I’ll go take care of my business and I’ll come back and—”

  “No.” She put her hand on his shoulder. “That phone call was a blessing because this would’ve been the biggest mistake we ever made and I’m sorry, Winston.”

  He grimaced. “Sorry?”

  “This was my fault. I had no business putting you in this position.”

  He hit the bed. “I wanna be in t
his position! I wanna be in more positions than this with you.”

  She grinned.

  “Don’t apologize for anything.” He rubbed her leg. “Just don’t call this off, Lisa. Please.”

  She pushed his hand off her leg. “If we continued, this would end up a nightmare.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “This isn’t fair to you.” She brushed lint from her cheek. “I would’ve slept with you and turned around and gone back to Jake.” She touched his cheek. “You don’t deserve that, Winston. You deserve better than this and better than me.”

  “I want you.” He tugged on her hand. “I’m a big boy. I don’t need you to look after me. I know exactly what I’m doing.”

  “I don’t think you do.” She scooted up. “You’re not thinking about the mess this could make.”

  He dropped his head. “I can’t do this anymore.” He climbed off the bed.

  “What do you mean?”

  He yanked his shirt off the floor.

  “Winston?” She got on her knees. “Talk to me.”

  “I’m sick of this shit!” He waved his shirt. “I’m tired of this back and forth crap. Your ass

  needs to make a decision!”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Here and now.” He put on his shirt. “You choose now! You either pick me or Jake because I’m through with this shit!”

  “Choose between you and my boyfriend?” She stared at the sheet.

  “He’s your boyfriend but what the hell am I?” He zipped up his pants. “I’m just some guy you got the hots for? Someone you want to act out your fantasies with but not love?”

  “It’s not like that. I care about you very much. You’re my friend.”

  He stared at her with his mouth open. “I’m your friend?”

  “Yes.”

  “So you almost have sex with all your friends?”

  “No, but—”

  “Don’t insult me by saying we’re just friends when you know we’re much more.”

  She moved closer to him, remaining on the bed. “You mean so much to me, Winston. That’s why I can’t keep doing this to you. It’s not fair and you deserve a woman who loves you and will treat you right.”

  “I’m in love with you, Lisa.” He spread out his arms. “I’m in love with you and a big deal of good it’s done me, right?”

  “Winston.”