by D. Camille
When the song ended, he heard J. Holiday's Bed as she came off the stage towards him. Jordan sat back and watched her approach. She came and placed both hands on his thighs dropping into a crouch front of him with her legs spread wide. She smiled into his eyes and stood turning around with her cheeks right in his face. She danced in front of him arching her back to the music, dropping it down and popping it back up. He watched her tattoo dance in front of him before she dropped onto his lap delivering the most erotic lap dance Jordan thought he could ever experience. When he thought he couldn't take anymore she quickly spun on his lap to face him. She locked those brown eyes with his, placed her hands on his shoulders and started grinding on his lap while the chorus played.
“I want it, I want it, You want it, You want it”.
Jordan's only thought was that he didn't know how long he was going to be able to allow her to continue before he threw her up on this table. Finally the song ended and she sat staring at him.
“Happy Birthday Jordan,” she whispered.
Jordan was floored. She'd done this for his birthday? He'd never even mentioned it was his birthday today. He never did, because no one had cared in a long time. He didn't know what to say. He felt something in his heart he'd never truly allowed himself to actually feel in a long time. He realized it was the true love of a woman. Jordan kissed her then; a soft touching of the lips, savoring all that was her. He pulled her to him gently touching her as if she was the most precious thing in the world to him. He stopped kissing her to lay his head on her breasts simply holding her.
Sage wrapped her arms around Jordan as he laid his head on her. She'd expected him to have thrown her on the table at this point but here he was with his head lying on her chest like a little boy, silently holding her. Sage held him silently stroking the back of his neck. Slow music continued to play as the two sat there holding each other.
Finally Jordan looked up at her. “You are amazing,” he told her and she smiled at him.
Then his mind clicked. “This is the project Sean was helping you with?” he surmised with dread.
She shook her head and he dropped his. “Aw...hell.”
“Don't worry baby. You'll make it up to me. I'll make sure of it,” she said repeating his words.
“I believe you.”
“When I told him what I wanted to do, Sean helped me to secure this place. He made sure security was here and there were no hidden cameras or anything so that we wouldn't be on YouTube next week,” she explained.
Jordan nodded. He owed Sean a hell of a gift.
“How did you decide to do this?” he asked.
She wiggled on his lap. “Actually Sean gave me the idea.”
He frowned. “Sean told you to give me pole dance?”
She shook her head. “No Jordan. I asked Sean what you loved as much as your clothes and your cars and he said 'me'.” She paused. “So I decided I would give you something personal from me. I practiced every day for over two weeks because I wanted it to be something unique that you would remember.”
“Everything about you is unique Sage,” he said touching her hair. “And Sean was wrong.” He smiled at her. “I love you more than my cars,” he teased.
She laughed. “Did you enjoy it?” she asked rubbing his face.
“You won't have any doubt in the morning,” he told her. “Go get your things. I need to take you home. Now.”
She moved on his lap. “Now?”
He laughed. “Yes, my little sexy pole dancer. I'm taking you home, because once I get started, I don't plan on stopping for a while,” he told her lifting her off of his lap. He watched her walk away and took a deep breath. Damn! He couldn't wait to get her home.
Sage came back with a short trench coat on carrying the key to open the door. He let them out and escorted her to the waiting car. Inside the car he held her close to him while they moved through the streets of LA.
At his house he picked her up and carried up the stairs to his bedroom. When he entered it smelled like a botanical garden. Sage had placed essential oils all around the room and on the sheets, pillows and comforter. He looked at her.
“Enjoy the magic baby,” she said.
“How?”
“Sean let me in here earlier,” she explained and looked at him. “I hope that was okay?”
“Yes, you should have your own key,” he said carrying her to the bed.
“To your place?” she asked.
“Yes, to my place,” he answered sitting her down and stepping back. “I need to take a shower.”
She nodded and Jordan kissed her lips for an extended time then turned and went into the bathroom. When he entered, he stopped. In his bathroom the tub was filled with bubbles, candles and glasses of sparkling wine were along the side.
When he turned around Sage was right behind him.
“Sage...”
“You're not the only one who can make things happen,” she announced.
He looked down at her. “I can't believe you did all this.”
“Why not? I love you Jordan,” she said simply.
Jordan couldn't respond. He simply held her in his arms and kissed her. Slowly they undressed and stepped into the huge soaking tub with Jordan on one end and Sage on the other. They stared across at each other. Jordan still couldn't believe that Sage had done all of this and that Sean had helped her all along the way.
“Did Sean see a preview your performance?” he asked frowning.
Sage narrowed her eyes. “No, and do not start that Jordan Black.”
Jordan touched the side his face. “I won't.” He paused. “Ever,” he said emphasizing the word.
Sage laughed.
“Come here baby,” he whispered to her.
Sage moved down to his end of the tub facing him.
“Now, show me some of this magic,” he ordered softly and she did.
Jordan was awake at four thirty watching Sage sleep. He would get up in a minute to complete his run, but for now he was content just looking at her. He marveled at the way her golden skin glowed. He loved the way it felt and the way it tasted. His eyes traveled from her hair to those lips that gave him so much pleasure.
To this day whenever she smiled at him, his heart melted. When she told him she loved him, he loved the way she said it. Whenever Sage told him she loved him, she always said his name. She always said, “I love you Jordan.” She was never ambiguous just throwing out “I love you” or “I love you baby or honey”; it was always “I love you Jordan”. She always let him know she was talking directly to him that meant a lot to him.
He would be leaving for two weeks for a conference and other business and knew he would miss her terribly. He wanted to ask her to marry him again, but thought he would give her a little more time. As long as they were together he could be patient. For now. He made a note to himself to get her access to his home. Other than Sean and Ray, no one had that information. He continued to watch her for a few more minutes before getting up and going for his run.
Chapter 22
With Jordan gone for two weeks Sage would have additional time on her hands. Lily and Sean had invited her out to dinner, but she didn't want to be anyone's third wheel. Jordan had also given her keys and access to his place, saying she could come and watch documentaries all day if she liked.
She missed him already and he'd only left yesterday. She had ridden to the airport with him. Sage sat remembering their parting.
Jordan had looked at her. “I'm going to miss you pretty girl.”
“I'm going to miss you too,” she'd responded.
“What are you going to do without this Black Magic for two weeks?” he teased her.
“Yeah, I really don't know how I will survive,” she said sarcastically.
Jordan grinned at her. “You should come over here and let me give you something to hold you over,” he suggested watching her.
“No. I can wait,” Sage said hiding a smile.
“I can't,” he said befor
e climbing on her over the seat.
Sage smiled to herself at the memory. When they'd arrived at the airport, he'd kissed her and told her he'd call her when he arrived. That was yesterday. Today, she was about to crush his entire world with what she held in her hand. One thing Jordan hated was surprises, but this one she could not keep to herself. She felt sick at the thought of facing him.
Jordan was at the first day of his conference when he got a text from Sage. He was headed to his room as he read.
She wrote: Going home to Senegal for a while. Will contact you when I get there.
Jordan stared at the screen thinking he must have read the words incorrectly. Senegal?
He wrote back: What's wrong? Is it your family?”
Sage: No. I just need to get away.
Get away, Jordan thought. Get away from what?
Jordan: What's going on Sage?
Sage: Plane about to take off. Will contact you when I get there.
Jordan continued to stare at the screen. What the hell? She was on a plane already?
His phone beeped with a security update. He flicked over to it. It read:
Update: Sage Parker boarded a plane to Senegal due to arrive in twenty one hours.
His phone indicated another text coming in. It was from Sage.
She wrote: I love you Jordan.
Jordan walked down the hall of his hotel in an all-out fit. He pressed a button on his phone.
“No Jay,” Ray answered. “I don't know why she’s on that plane.”
“Is something wrong with your Aunt or Uncle?” Jordan asked.
“No,” Ray responded. “I just got off the phone with them. They didn't even know she was coming.”
“What the hell is going on Ray?” he asked confused.
“You tell me Jay. What did you do to her?” he demanded.
Jordan threw his hands in the air. “I didn't do anything! I just saw her yesterday and everything was fine! She didn't mention anything about going to Senegal!” Jordan stormed. “Can this have anything to do with her previous work?”
“No. She's done with that,” Ray responded. “She didn't come to me Jay and she didn't come to you.” He sighed. “She's spooked. She's afraid of something.”
“Afraid?!” Jordan yelled. “Of what?”
Sage was the strongest and the bravest woman Jordan knew. Nothing scared her. He'd never even seen her shed a tear. What was she flying across the world to get away from? Jordan reached his room and entered. He grabbed his suitcase and threw it on the bed.
“I don't know Jay!” Ray said frustrated.
“I'll find out,” Jordan said before disconnecting the call.
Jordan pressed another button and ordered his plane to be readied for a flight to Senegal.
It took Jordan ninety minutes to get to the airport and obtain clearance to fly to Senegal. He sat back in the leather seat deep in thought.
Why would Sage leave? Didn't she know by now she could come to him with anything? That there was nothing...nothing..he wouldn't do for her. He pulled out his phone and started scrolling through her pictures. He stopped at one with her smiling with the sun on her face and he ran a finger across the picture.
“I'm coming baby,” he said out loud. He was determined to make sure this never happened again. It was time to put all the cards on the table.
*************************
As soon as Sage stepped onto the porch of her home she felt relief. She needed this. This source of strength. She entered the house and walked to her old room. Lying across her bed she touched her favorite comforter in all the colors of the Motherland. She missed being here. She walked slowly through the home. Her Aunt and Uncle would be at the community center right now. She hadn't told them she was coming because she hadn't wanted to cause them to worry.
As she ventured back to the porch she couldn't help but lift her face to the African sun. It gave her strength, energy and power. The soft breeze caressed her cheeks. She smiled as she inhaled the air. Yes, it felt good to be home again. She went back inside to wait for her Aunt and Uncle to get home.
That evening her Aunt and Uncle watched her closely. They knew Sage well since they had raised her and they wondered what had caused her to come to Senegal out of the blue. There was a sadness in her eyes that raised a red flag for them, but they decided to let her tell them what she wanted, when she wanted. Rarely could anybody force Sage to do anything she didn't want to do. That had gone for her and her brother. When she had retired for bed her Aunt and Uncle had sat wondering when she was going to drop whatever bomb she was carrying.
The next morning Sage heard her Aunt and Uncle say that they were leaving through the door. She yelled goodbye back to them before deciding to get up herself. She went into the bathroom washing her face and brushing her teeth. Sage went to the kitchen to get some juice. She gasped when she saw Jordan sitting at her Aunt and Uncle's kitchen table. Although he looked a little tired, his clothes were immaculate. He was wearing dark blue slacks with a light blue dress shirt. His patterned tie with different shades of blue and flecks of gold was slightly loosened from his neck. His suit jacket was hung across the back of a chair.
“Jordan! What are you doing here?” she asked in shock.
Jordan shrugged. “You send me a text saying you're on a plane to Senegal with no explanation or reason and you wonder why I'm here?” he asked incredulously.
Sage walked to the sink “I didn't want you here Jordan. I was coming back,” she said staring out of the window with her back to him.
“Why did you leave in the first place?” he asked leaning forward in his chair.
“I needed to,” she said softly.
Jordan stood and came to stand behind her.
“Why Sage? Talk to me,” he demanded.
Sage placed her hands on the sink and bent over. “I don't need you here now Jordan,” she told him. “I came to gather my strength.”
He turned her to him.
“Why do you need to gather strength?” he asked looking into her face. “Dammit, what is it Sage?”
Sage lowered her head staring at his expensive shoes for a long minute. Speaking to the floor she said, “I'm sorry Jordan.”
Jordan stepped back looking at her lowered head. His heart rate was speeding up rapidly.
“Sorry for what Sage?” he asked cautiously.
Sage took a slow breath. “I know that you don't like surprises. I know that you like to control everything around you,” She paused.
Jordan thought he was just about going to lose his damn mind right now. If she didn't tell him what was going on soon he was really going to go over the edge. He was about to tell her that when she lifted her head, and what he saw knocked all of his breath from his body.
Sage was crying!
A single tear was sliding slowly down her golden cheek. Jordan turned away from her and walked to the kitchen door looking out at the bright sun with his mind in turmoil. Sage was crying? This must be really, really bad, he thought. He took a breath and looked back over his shoulder at her. She was still in the same spot with her head down. This was Sage! This was his heart, his love, his everything.
Jordan crossed the room back to her and lifted her face to him. Those beautiful brown eyes were filled with water as he caressed the side of her face.
“Sage,” he began softly holding her eyes. “I don't care what it is. I love you.”
She grabbed him by his shirt, holding him softly crying. He held her tightly rubbing her back. When she calmed, she looked up at him.
“I'm pregnant Jordan,” she said softly.
Jordan froze. What did she just say? He looked down at her confused.
Seeing his confusion Sage clarified it for him. “We're having a baby.”
It took Jordan a moment to regain himself. “A baby?”
She shook her head slowly in agreement watching him.
“And you didn't want to tell me?” he asked.
“I was afraid.”
<
br /> “Of me?” he asked confused and hurt.
She looked away from him. “Of what all this means.”
“What does it mean to you Sage?” he questioned pointedly bringing her face back to his.
“I don't know Jordan! I don't know!” she said walking away from him.
Jordan ran a hand down his face and took a deep breath before turning to her.
“I'll tell you what this means, Sage. It means that we are going to be together raising our child. That's what the hell it means!”
“You don't have to change your life for me Jordan! I know you didn't want this!”
Jordan stared at her. “Change my life? Dammit Sage, you are my life! What the hell are you talking about?” he challenged her.
She stared at him with that fire in her eyes and Jordan knew he had to get a handle on this. Right now.
Gently he said, “Although I may not have planned it this way Sage, I do want this.”
She looked back at him.
“Do you?” he asked and waited with his heart beating in his ears.
Sage's hand went to her flat tummy. She looked down at it and back at Jordan.
“Yes,” she said finally.
He came to her then and gathered her into his arms kissing her with everything he had inside of him. He held her close to him, close to his heart and she tasted like heaven. His heaven and he was never letting her go. When he stopped kissing her, she looked up at him.
“Hi Jordan,” she smiled.
He smiled down at her. “Hi Sage.”
She took his hand and led him out to the porch. Once there Jordan took a seat on the porch swing bringing Sage down onto his lap.
He nuzzled her neck. “You know, one way or the other you are going to be the death of me,” he told her.
Sage wrapped her arms around him and he started the swing gently. Jordan put his hand to her stomach and looked at her.
“In the kitchen you said that I didn't want this, but you're wrong Sage. I'm never slack on these types of things. I've had too many women try to trap me,” he explained to her.
“So you trapped me?” she asked.
“Subconsciously, yes.”