He started to push her away but her head lowered. Her soft lips graced over his, sending sparks through his tense body. That’s how it would work with them. She’d push forward when he tried to pull away. She always pushed for more, and because he was crazy about her, it was impossible for him to say no. The tip of her tongue flicked against his lower lip. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer. His fingers flexed with the urge to take over, but he didn’t. She started it; he’d let her lead.
She kissed him forever, their tongues gliding against each other. Each breath she took drew in more and more of him; who he thought he was and what he thought he wanted to be quickly diminished.
When she tried to stand, his grip on her waist tightened. “I’m not going anywhere,” she whispered.
He loosened his hold and she eased off his lap. Slowly, she removed her blouse. Her breasts were encased in a blue bra with pink stars. He smiled; she hadn’t given up all of the color in her wardrobe. She unzipped and removed her skirt, slowly revealing smooth cinnamon skin before taking off the bra and matching panties. He took his time looking at her. His mouth watered when he saw the wetness between her legs.
Unable to hold back, he put his hands on her hips and pulled her forward. Her breasts bounced before his face and he pulled one of the dark tips in his mouth. She moaned his name, igniting his need to sink deep within her.
“Spread your legs,” he ordered.
Without question she hurried to comply. He used two fingers to part her juicy folds, now at eye level, and ran his tongue over her erect clit. She tasted sweet, delicious, and better than any damn cake he’d ever eaten. Her body stiffened. He leaned back to get a look at her beautiful wet treasure, before going in for more. One of her hands gripped the back of his head, the other his shoulder. Each one of her soft cries urged him on. He gently sucked the nub of her desire into his mouth. Another wave of her essence rained down, and he eagerly licked it up. His fingers dug into her hips; he couldn’t get enough.
“Freddy … Fredrick … stop … I’m going to … ”
He pulled back, watching with male pride as the lips of her sex quivered. Frantically, she reached down to unbutton his pants and pull his dick from where it strained against his zipper. He lifted his hips to push his pants to his knees, and fought to keep from coming when she straddled him again and her slick heat slid against his throbbing length.
Her warm hand clasped him, and a tense breath hissed between his clenched teeth. She rubbed his head against her wetness once, twice, then sat on him fully.
It was heaven.
Her tight body clenched and unclenched around him. Her soft breasts and hard nipples bounced against his chest, as her full lips pressed reverent kisses against his face and neck. Grabbing her hips he guided her movements, enjoying her moan and the way her head fell backwards with the movement. He pulled her swiftly back down on his dick.
“Oh, God, Fredrick, yes!” she moaned.
His dick got harder. He repeated the movement—long, hard strokes until his body trembled and sweat ran down his face with the effort to hold back his orgasm. His toes curled inside his shoes, his balls tightened with the need to explode. Leaning forward, he took her breast into his mouth, sucking hard on the tip. Her body trembled violently before he felt her walls clench around him. A new wave of wetness rushed as she squeezed him with her spasms. He let go. His body jerked as she continued to move, pulling everything out of him. He grunted, and groaned, and buried his face in the sweet valley between her breasts. It went on forever, each pull taking more and more, as Janiyah drew in his soul.
CHAPTER 26
Janiyah tried to catch her breath, but couldn’t. She pressed herself closer to Freddy. He was still fully dressed. Embarrassment slowly replaced her pleasant afterglow. She was supposed to come in here, tell Freddy she quit, and that she wouldn’t throw herself at him again. Instead she was naked in his office, with him buried deep within her, and no idea if anyone had overheard what happened. So much for keeping this a secret.
She squeezed her eyes shut and hid her face in his neck. Would she ever not be a fool when it came to Freddy? His hand trailed up from her hip to the back of her head. She shivered at the touch.
He turned to kiss her cheek. The smell of her was all over him. Heat crept to her face with the thought of what he’d done, and her sex tightened around him.
He groaned. “I’ll need a few minutes before I can go again.”
A small smile came to her lips. “We’ve done this before. You don’t need that much time.”
His chest shook as he chuckled. They stayed that way for a few minutes more. Her back became cold and her thighs ached from her position. She shifted to move, but he held her tighter.
“I don’t trust myself with you,” he said softly.
She lifted her head. His eyes were somber as they stared into hers. “Why not?”
“I don’t make a single rational decision when it comes to you. You drive me crazy, and I don’t like that.”
Janiyah ran her hand along the back of his head. “Most people in relationships drive each other crazy at some point or another.”
His lips quirked. “I don’t feel like Fredrick when I’m with you. I’m Freddy, the boy toy at your beck and call.”
She frowned. “I don’t see you like that.”
“You’re the only one who doesn’t see it that way.”
“Are you crazy? My family says you’re the only person I listen to. Whenever I make a remotely grown up decision Liz assumes it’s because I’ve discussed it with you—and usually she’s right. I’ve always looked up to you.” She lowered her eyes. “It’s why I asked you to be my first.”
His head fell back and he stared at the ceiling before looking at her. “You were seventeen. I was twenty-two. I couldn’t do that.”
Her eyes flew back to his. “I know that now, but it hurt when you pushed me away. Ever since then I thought you didn’t feel anything for me.”
“I felt something.” His hand lazily traced up and down her back, almost causing her to forget her train of thought.
“Then why did it take so long for us to get here?”
“I’m still trying to decide if we should be here.”
Her warm afterglow completely froze over. “You’re still doubting what’s between us.”
She pulled back. His eyes dropped to her breasts and he licked his lips. Unbelievable! He could throw out a line like that, then think about sex. She jumped from his lap to pick her clothes off the floor.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Then how did you mean it?” she said as she jerked on her underwear. She whipped around to face him.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose and stood. “Can we just forget it?”
“No, because sex with you will be very painful if every time it’s over you tell me how much of a mistake it was.” Pain squeezed her heart as she looked at Freddy. “Am I out of your system now? You’ve had your fun and can move on to someone like your dental hygienist.”
“No. I’d never treat you like that.” He ran a hand over his head. “But I do wonder what we’re doing. It’s hard to believe that this is more than just a fling for you. I’ve hated being just your friend for years, watching you go out with one loser after the other. You take relationships about as seriously as I take those stupid VH1 countdowns. How do I know that you won’t wake up three weeks from now and say dating Freddy was fun, but now it’s time for something new?”
“Because it’s not like that.” She stepped toward him and he stepped back.
“I don’t know that.”
“But—”
“No buts, Janiyah. It’s going to take a while for me to trust this.”
She spun around to put on her bra while blinking away tears of frustration. “How can you not trust me?” She reached around to fasten it, but his hands brushed hers away and did it for her.
“How can I?”
She turned to face him. “
Because I love you.”
She held her breath. Surprise flashed in his eyes before he lowered them. Her throat burned. The second time in her life she’d told this guy she loved him and he looked away. It hurt before when she was seventeen, but now that they’d gone beyond just friends, the pain seared her heart.
She turned away. His hand shot out to grab her wrist.
He sighed. “I love you, too.”
It wasn’t a happy declaration. In fact, he sounded downright upset to say the words.
“You don’t have to say it just because I said it.”
He met her eyes. “I wouldn’t.”
“Is loving me really that depressing?”
He pulled her against him. She wanted to pull away, but his other hand made slow circles up and down her spine. She forgot about the chill in the room as the warmth from his body enveloped hers.
“Loving you is scary, but not depressing.”
“I don’t know if I should take that as an insult or a compliment.”
“Definitely a compliment.”
“If we love each other, it has to mean something. Freddy, I don’t want to be a detour in your life plan, the girl you screw for a few weeks then forget once you go back to life as usual.”
He lifted his head. “As if that could happen. You wouldn’t let me forget you.”
He smiled, full on dimple, and after a second she returned it. It wasn’t a promise of forever, and there was still so much they needed to work out. But he loved her. So many couples didn’t have that to build a relationship from. It had to count for something. Didn’t it?
He kissed her, and she let her doubts slip away. They’d make it work. Somehow she’d show him she wasn’t going anywhere.
CHAPTER 27
“It’s about time you two came to your senses,” Viola Jenkins said as she pulled Janiyah into a hug.
Janiyah gave a tight laugh and hugged her back. She lifted a brow as she met Freddy’s eyes over his mom’s shoulders. His stony expression didn’t ease her discomfort. He could be annoyed with her all he wanted. What had Janiyah been supposed to do when she ran into Viola the other day and she’d brought up how much she wished Janiyah and Fredrick would get together?
She’d tried to think of a good reason why Freddy wouldn’t tell his parents, one that wouldn’t hurt her feelings, but drew a blank. They’d said the big L word to each other, though he hadn’t repeated it. So she was officially outing them. Once she told Viola she’d told her parents. Who apparently already knew. Freddy had confessed to Aaron in order to be sure his friend was okay with it. She’d told him that was unnecessary, but he said he had to do it. Her parents weren’t as surprised as she would have expected, though they were probably still distracted by her dad’s recovery. She expected a full lecture once he was healthy.
Why he would tell Aaron and not his parents was a mystery. He seemed surprised when she said she’d told their parents. Except for telling Aaron, he didn’t want to make a big fuss about them being together. She couldn’t help but think it had to do with him admitting that he expected her to change her mind about them in a few weeks.
No matter what his thoughts were, she and Freddy needed to be outed. A month had passed since that night in his office. A month of her trying hard to be the type of woman Freddy would be proud to have. She wore suits to work. Volunteered to help with the young professional mixer, and didn’t go out to parties. She was reading the book he’d given her, and spending as much time with him as possible, all to show him that she was committed to their relationship.
Everything should be perfect, except she felt like she was going crazy. What in the world was her problem? She’d done it. She’d proved everyone wrong. She’d excelled at her job. She was in a stable relationship with a guy who was arguably the best catch in the city. She’d done what everyone wanted her to do, became grown up Janiyah. She should be happy, not bored with her job and afraid her relationship would shatter any second. Was this really the perfect life everyone wanted for her? Misery at work and walking on eggshells at home?
Viola broke the hug, but continued to hold Janiyah by the shoulders. “I was just telling Fredrick he needed to marry you.”
Janiyah coughed. Freddy came over and peeled his mom’s hands from her shoulders. “We’re dating, Mom, not engaged.”
Viola waved a hand. “It’s just a matter of time.”
Janiyah grinned from ear to ear. A few weeks ago, the thought of spending her life with one man would have her in the midst of a panic attack. The idea of being with Freddy forever warmed her heart.
She looked at Freddy, and her smile faltered. He was pinching the bridge of his nose. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
She took his hand. “Let’s not rule anything out.” He gave her a look that was both surprised and doubtful. Every time he did that it chipped away at her hope.
Viola clapped her hands. “Aren’t they adorable, Christopher?”
Freddy’s dad laughed, sliding his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “Yes they are. Reminds me of us when we first got together.”
Freddy’s hand tightened on hers. She gave him a curious look, and he relaxed his grip, then smiled. The buzzer in Freddy’s other hand went off, alerting them that their table was ready. In no time, they were settled with drinks and food ordered. Viola peppered Janiyah with questions about the furniture shopping she’d done with Freddy earlier in the day. He’d found a house, thanks to the pretty Shante, and was closing on it in a few weeks.
Freddy’s arm rested along the back of her chair. She couldn’t suppress the giddy smile from popping up whenever he absently ran his finger along her arm. He did that a lot when they were alone. Alone, he was affectionate. He’d touch her, hold her hand, or pull her against him. It was those small things that made her hold on to the hope that they could make this thing work, before she had to grin and bear it when he pretended they were only colleagues at the office.
Freddy jerked away. “You can’t be serious?”
Janiyah and Viola stopped talking mid-sentence to look at Freddy and Christopher. Christopher’s face was flushed beneath his tan skin. Freddy’s shoulders were tense, his lips in a tight line.
“What’s wrong?” Janiyah asked, rubbing her hand along his arm.
“My dad just lost another client.”
Christopher held up his hand. “It’s no big deal.”
“It is. That was your biggest customer. How is the business going to survive?”
“We’ve had hard times before. Things will pick up,” Christopher said in a less than confident voice.
“How will they pick up? What’s your plan?” Freddy bit back.
Christopher looked around while twisting his napkin.
Viola came to her husband’s defense. “Stop it, Fredrick. Your father has always found a way and he will again.” She laughed. “You always were the worrying sort. Your father got that new client. That’ll help.”
Freddy’s eyes slid to his mom. “What new client?”
Viola gave him a patronizing smile. “The one we told you about before the California trip. The one you both met with.”
Freddy sat back, his mouth twisted with disgust. “We never met with that client. He lost him because of the trip.”
Viola looked at her husband, then back at Freddy. “That’s not what your dad said.”
Freddy sat forward, his elbows braced on the table, and leveled his dad with a hard stare. “Tell her the truth.”
Christopher sighed before taking Viola’s hand. “It’s true. I didn’t want to upset you.”
Viola’s lips curved into a hesitant smile. “But things will be okay. We can still have the party next week.”
Freddy tensed. “Party?”
Viola beamed. “Yes, after Janiyah told me you two were together I called her parents to plan a get-together to celebrate.”
Janiyah frowned. “My dad’s not really into partying right now.” Her dad had barely wanted his kids to see him since
the surgery.
“Your mom said that, but I insisted,” Viola said.
“I really don’t think it’s a good idea,” Janiyah said. The last thing she wanted was for her dad to compromise his recovery because of a party for her and Freddy.
“This is ridiculous,” Freddy said, shifting in his seat. “You shouldn’t be planning a party. You should be looking for ways to keep a roof over your head.”
Christopher turned red, and Viola’s mouth dropped. Janiyah looked between the three before taking Freddy’s hand in hers and squeezing. She might be clueless as to what that statement meant, but it was clear this conversation had gone too far.
“This isn’t the time or place. Why don’t we change the subject?” she said, smiling at them all.
Viola straightened. Her smile remained, but now it wavered. “Excellent idea. Tell me about the living room furniture you looked at today?”
Janiyah looked to Freddy, but his lips were set in a firm line. No help there.
“We looked around and saw some nice items, but I thought we could go to Charlotte and check out some of the boutiques there. Freddy’s new house is beautiful. Custom furniture would really make it shine.”
Helping Freddy furnish his new house was another attempt at being a good girlfriend. They hadn’t talked about how their relationship would change. If he’d give her a key. Whether or not she should bring any of her stuff over. If he even wanted her over as much. She didn’t ask because she was afraid of the answer. Afraid he would say he was moving because he didn’t want her around.
Viola’s eyes lit up. “That’s a wonderful idea.”
“It’s an expensive idea,” Freddy said. “I don’t need fancy furniture.”
Janiyah laughed. “Oh please, Freddy, you can afford it, and it would look wonderful.”
His body went rigid and his eyes narrowed with his frown. “Don’t tell me what I can afford. I don’t spend my money on frivolous things. Just because you buy things on a whim doesn’t mean I’ll do the same.”
Pinpricks of heat traveled up her neck and cheeks. She slid away. “Thank you for making that clear,” she said in a voice that mirrored his cold manner.
Just My Type Page 19