by Ancelli
“You’re not alone,” he whispered in her ear. “You have me.”
The event started, and she couldn’t ask him what he meant. Everyone stopped what they were doing and gave their attention to the emcee standing at the podium.
***
José couldn’t stop touching Jewel. Her skin felt so soft and smooth under his fingers. He stroked his digits down her neck and along her shoulders. He just wanted to kiss her. He would do anything for this woman, he realized.
He slouched in his seat and yawned, getting bored listening to the people on the stage talking a bunch of gibberish. They were awarding people on their jobs well done. Best music, art, dance, sports, science, history…he lost count. He needed a break. “I’ll be right back,” he whispered in Jewel’s ear.
Jewel smiled, and shook her head. José pushed back his chair and stood, strolling out of the ballroom. The glass doors to the elegant hotel opened and he stepped out to the curb while pulling out a lighter along with a black and mild cigar from his jacket pocket. He lit up, and took a couple of puffs.
José was thinking of the black beauty he’d left inside, praying she’d get the award. She deserved it. He could tell how much she loved what she did and the kids she taught.
Someone giggling made him look up toward the entrance. Connie, wearing a flowing, black strapless dress, was in the arms of one of the executives from his job. The man’s hand was on the arch of her back, and she was smiling as the doors opened. José stretched his neck until it gave a crack. She’d lied to him.
But he wasn’t about to let her ruin his evening.
He took one more puff, threw the cigar on the ground, and stepped on it. Annoyed, José marched into the hotel, and went into the men’s room. He washed his hands, brushed his hair with his fingers, and was about to step out, when Connie’s date entered.
“Excuse me,” he said, moving around the guy.
He pulled the door open, and walked out, almost barreling into Connie.
Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw him. “José,” she mumbled.
“Connie.” He nodded and sidestepped around her, but she grabbed him. He looked down at her hand around his wrist.
“What are you doing here?” She released him, gawking at him from head to toe.
“I should be asking you the same thing.” his brow arched. “You lied to me.”
“I-I…”
He smirked. “You can’t even deny it.”
“Are you following me?”
He scrunched his face. “What, really? You think I would follow you around?” He stepped back. “You told me they cancelled the event and I believed you, so I made other plans.”
“With whom?” she narrowed her eyes.
“You lost the right to ask me shit!”
Her date came out of the restroom. “Connie, is there a problem?”
“No, Aaron.” She stared at him. “This is José. He works in our building.”
Aaron extended his hand, and José glowered at it for a few seconds. He wanted to knock the fool out, but then again, Connie might have misled him, too. José shook his hand.
“Are you new?” Aaron stared at him. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you.”
“I’ve been there for about five months.” José glared at Connie.
“He looks different.” Connie smirked.
“What department?” Aaron asked.
Connie was about to answer when slim hands circled his waist, making him smile.
“José, they’re about to announce the winner,” Jewel said, and then whispered in his ear. “Don’t let her get the best of you.” She moved in front of him, cupped his face, and mouthed. “Look at me and only me.”
José was mesmerized by Jewel. Tonight was about her, and only her. He couldn’t let Connie, or anyone, get in the way of that. He placed his hands on hers, and took them into his. “Let’s go get your award.”
José stepped away with Jewel and was about to open the ballroom door.
“José!” Connie called out from behind him.
José took a deep breath. “Go in.” He watched Jewel. “I’ll be right there.”
Jewel nodded, smiling sweetly, and continued into the room.
“Are you seeing her?” Connie asked with her hands on her hips.
He didn’t answer, just glowered at her.
“I didn’t think you would be able to fit in, but now I see I was wrong.” She tried to grab his hand, but he moved out her reach. “Sorry.”
José was tired of all her apologies. He stepped over the threshold, and Jewel was on stage. His heart dropped. He’d missed when they announced the winner.
She beamed when she saw him.
Keeping her gaze on him, Jewel began her speech, a little nervous.
“It is truly an honor to be standing here tonight among all you amazing teachers and leaders. Those of you who know me know that I’m uncomfortable right now. I am so overwhelmed with gratitude…”
He was so proud of her. Connie was the last thing on his mind. Up on the stage, Jewel shone like a beacon. Once she was comfortable, the words flowed. She thanked her students, colleagues, family, friends—and him.
“José has made me see why I became a teacher in the first place, and for that I’m so thankful to him. Thank you!” They handed her the glass plaque and she posed for pictures.
After a few minutes, Jewel stepped down from the platform. People offered their congratulations as she rushed toward him.
“I won!” she said softly, showing him the plaque.
José held up the glass. “I knew you would.” He was so proud, his heart beat double time.
“Are you okay?” Jewel lowered the award.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” He moved a strand of hair away from her face.
“Connie,” she whispered.
“Oh that? She’s the last thing on my mind.” They walked over to their table. “I’m proud of you.”
“Let’s go.” She grabbed her clutch off the table.
“You don’t want to stay?” he asked, surprised she wanted to leave.
“No. We need to celebrate our accomplishments.” She grasped his wrist and pulled him from the room.
Connie and her date were standing outside. José took Jewel’s hand in his, and continued past them to the glass doors.
“Congratulations, Jewel,” Connie said, walking toward them.
Jewel was about to release his hand, but he gripped it and wouldn’t let her go.
“Thank you, Connie.” Jewel spoke honestly.
José gently tugged Jewel to the entrance.
“Wait,” Connie said. “José, I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intention to hurt you.”
José smirked. “Connie, don’t be full of yourself.” He stared at Aaron, and then at Connie. “Have fun, because I will.” He looked at Jewel. “Ready?”
“Yes.” Jewel’s lips curled into a grin. “Have a nice evening, Connie.” Without looking back, they continued out of the hotel.
José stopped her once they were outside. “Where do you want to go?”
“We can walk the rose garden.” She looked across the street. “And talk.”
“You call that a celebration?” José chuckled.
“You said tonight is all about me.”
“I sure did.”
She grabbed his hand, and rushed them across the street.
“You wont be able to really see the flowers,” José joked.
Jewel was ready to be honest with him. “But I’ll be able to see you.”
Chapter Twelve
José and Jewel strolled through the softly lit garden. They glanced around the historic area. There were so many different roses and varieties of flowers surrounding them. As they passed by, Jewel would stop and smell the blooms.
“Did you tell your parents you got your GED?” Jewel asked, looking over at the flowers.
“I called my dad.” José smiled. “Papo was proud of me.”
“Why wouldn’t he be?�
�� Jewel glanced at him as they kept walking. “What about Mrs. Maria?” The garden was peaceful, as they strolled under archways made of lilies and carnations. A fountain sat in the middle of the garden, and instrumental music played through tiny, hidden speakers.
José thought about his relationship with his mother. It was better than how it used to be. “I’ll tell her when she calls me.”
“You haven’t told her?” Jewel suddenly stopped and stared at him in confusion. “Why? She would be so proud of you.”
“I highly doubt that.”
“José, your mom loves you.”
He smirked. “I know she loves me, but our relationship will never be the same.” His mother Maria was a great woman, one who would do anything for her children, but he’d made multiple mistakes growing up, from vandalism to jacking vehicles. He’d hung out with the wrong crowd, and made wrong decisions, the biggest one dropping out of high school. That was when his relationship with his mother had changed. She used to throw his biological father in his face, saying he was just like him. When she discovered he’d dropped out, she’d thrown him out of the house, and that had given him the excuse he’d needed to indulge in even worse behavior. That was when he’d started messing around with Olga, another big mistake, but he couldn’t regret Carlitos’ existence. And then because of José, Javier had ended up in the jail cell right beside him. Javier had been completely innocent; he’d simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time with him. His mother had washed her hands of him the day he’d been sentenced to two years, and Javier was released.
Papo had never given up on José, though. He’d encouraged and visited him every Saturday. A year later he’d been released from jail, and thanks to Papo, after ten years, he and his mother were trying to rebuild their relationship.
Jewel just gazed at him.
“You already know the story. Javier ended up in jail because of me, and she hasn’t gotten over that.” He sighed. “I don’t blame her.”
Jewel smiled. “I spoke to your mom the last time she was here, and she spoke highly of all of her kids, and yes, that included you.”
“Every time my mother looks at me, she sees my biological father, the man who hurt her.”
They wandered over to a wooden bench, and sat.
“Do you know your father?”
“I met Miguel a couple of times, but he didn’t want a kid.” He looked away, thinking about his biological father. His father had abandoned his mother when José had been two-years old. According to his mother, the man wasn’t ready to be married or be anybody’s father. The last time José had seen him, he’d been eleven years old, and he could tell the guy didn’t want to be there. He’d even told José not to call him dad, but Miguel. He was thankful to the man who’d brought him into the world, because he’d signed papers giving up all his paternal rights. From there, Papo had adopted José, never making him feel less. He’d always treated him like his real son.
“Did you ever want to get to know him?”
José chuckled softly. Jewel’s eyes widened a bit.
“I didn’t miss Miguel because I was raised by a real man. Papo has always been there for me. He was the one who taught me how to ride a bike, was there when I was sick, played sports. Papo was the one who bailed me out of trouble, and made me see my mistakes.” He leaned back in the seat. “The good I have in me is because he taught me. So to answer your question, no I didn’t ever want to get to know him. The only time I think about that man is when I disappoint my son. I don’t want to turn out to be a Miguel in Carlitos’ life.”
Jewel’s lips curled into a smile. “That’s good. Miguel’s the one missing out.”
“What about you?” José touched her thigh.
“What about me?” She trembled under his fingertips, and moved her leg.
“How come your family wasn’t here tonight?”
“I didn’t tell them.” She dipped her head.
“What?” José raised his voice. “Why didn’t you tell them?”
“I didn’t want to see the pity in their eyes if I didn’t win.” She stared down at the glass award she’d set next to her.
He touched her chin. “You really thought you weren’t going to win?”
“I’m surprised that I did.”
“I’m not.” he caressed her cheek. “You love what you do.”
“I do. How can you know me so well?” She smiled, which made his dick throb.
“I just do.” He tipped her chin. “And I want to know more.” Fuck why did I say that? Jewel was a breath of fresh air. José wanted her in a bad way. He didn’t know exactly when his desire for her had started, but he knew he had to get over it. She deserved so much more than anything he could offer.
“José…”
They turned when they heard loud music.
“Did you hear that?” Jewel rapidly stood, and began walking toward the sound.
José shook his head, and grabbed her plaque, following her. “Wait up.”
***
When they came around the corner, there was a wedding reception going on. A gazebo in the center of the garden sat decorated in white and pink, with a path of flowers going down the aisles of white chairs. It was simple, but beautiful.
José and Jewel watched from afar. The song “Fire We Make”, by Alicia Keys and Maxwell, began playing.
“She’s beautiful,” Jewel said, looking at the bride. She wore a flowing, strapless white dress.
José placed her award on the ground, close to his feet.
“You’re beautiful.” He took her hands in his. “May I have this dance?”
“Yes.” Jewel placed her clutch down next to her award.
He slowly spun her around, and pulled her into his arms. Dancing slowly, Jewel placed her hands around his neck as he pulled her closer.
“You smell so good,” José murmured against her throat.
Jewel didn’t speak a word. She placed her head on his chest and became lost in his arms, lost but exactly where she wanted to be.
José slid his hands down her sides and slipped his arms around her waist, tapping his fingers to the beat of the music. It had been a while since Jewel had been intimate with a man. Her libido was going wild and feeling his manhood wasn’t helping.
She pulled back, and grabbed his hand. “Let’s go!”
“Hold up.” José picked up her plaque and gave her the clutch. “What’s the rush?”
“We need to go before I do something stupid.” She began walking back to the hotel.
“Like what?” José arched a brow as he took strides to catch up.
“Forget it.” Jewel opened her clutch, giving the attendant the ticket and waited for the car from the valet.
***
On the way to the house, Jewel asked José to stop at a liquor store. She came back with two bottles of pink champagne.
“Open, please.” Jewel handed him the bottle, and he popped the cork.
She grabbed it from him, wrapped her lips around the mouth of the bottle, and took a couple of gulps. José glanced over at her. He’d been wondering what had happened in the garden to make her run the way she did, but he was thankful. She seemed so free and alive. He needed to get himself together, or else he would end up hurting her like he did everyone else.
“I’m so happy!” She chuckled.
“I can see.”
“I’m so ecstatic that I could kiss you right now.” She stared at him.
He slowed down as he pulled into the driveway. “Don’t tempt me, muñeca.” He put the vehicle in park.
“I’ve been told I’m a freaking good kisser.” Jewel opened the door, got out, and slammed it closed, leaving him with his mouth agape.
José just gazed at her as she placed the key in the door and turned the knob. Jewel wasn’t drunk. She’d only had one glass of wine at the event, and now a couple of sips.
Jewel opened the door, and leaned back. “Are you coming?”
José really had been trying to behave
. He’d been good for a few months now. He shook his head. If she continued to turn him on, he wouldn’t be able to hold back. José picked up his cell and texted Jazmine. She was still mad at Jewel for not texting her that she’d won, but agreed to keep quiet until Jewel’s surprise party. He turned off the car, slipped out of the vehicle and locked up, then followed her in.
When he entered the house, Jewel was nowhere around. He turned on the lights, walked over to the living room. He felt a little disappointed as he eased onto the sofa, but it was for the best that Jewel had gone to bed.
Chapter Thirteen
As soon as Jewel came into the house, she ran to the bathroom, pulled up her dress and wiped her privates, she was hoping she would get lucky tonight. She didn’t know what was getting into her, but she liked it, being carefree like she used to be before she got married. This was her chance to get what she wanted, and she wanted José. She checked herself in the mirror. Go get him.
Jewel stepped out of the bathroom, slipped off her heels, and hurried out to the living room.
He sat on the couch. “I can’t believe you thought I was a lesbian.” She arched her brow.
“Why are you bringing that shit up now?” José looked up at her.
“Because you hurt my feelings.”
José leaned forward, placing his elbows on his legs. “That wasn’t my intention.” He gazed at her. “Honestly, I knew you weren’t. I just needed an excuse.”
“An excuse for what?” She moved in front of him. “I have nothing against lesbians, but I’m not one. I love dick way too much.”
***
José was shocked at the words that came out of Jewel’s mouth. “Prove it.”
She just stared at him, her lips curled into a smile.
He gazed up at her, waiting for her response. “Did you hear me?” Jewel didn’t move. He could tell she was surprised by his question. “I said, prove it to me.”
He didn’t expect what happened next. Jewel moved forward, hiking her gown up, and straddling his lap. Her hands cupped his face, and her mouth descended upon his. Her lips were soft, and she hungrily sought his acceptance. Surprised, parted his lips, giving her access to his mouth. She licked along his teeth, instantly making him hard.