by S. K. Hardy
“You know that’s not what I meant. You’re welcome here any time.” Darrell’s eyes swept over her nice and slow. “Day or night.”
Jerra rolled her eyes. “Are we back to that again?”
“Back to what?”
“The ‘no strings sex’ offer.”
Darrell laughed softly. “I was only lettin’ you know you didn’t need an invitation to come over. I never said it had to include sex…unless you want it to.”
Jerra had the good grace to look embarrassed. He was right. He hadn’t actually said anything about them having sex. Even when he’d embraced her and offered her comfort, it had been a genuinely sincere gesture.
“I…I just don’t think it would be a good idea. It would only cloud our issues and make things more awkward between us.”
Darrell stepped closer. He reached out and curled a silky strand of her hair around his finger. “It wouldn’t have to be. Maybe it’s just what you need to help you relax. Take the edge off.”
Jerra tossed her head away so that his fingers released her hair. “You’re trying to seduce me.”
“Is it working?” he grinned.
She shook her head, but couldn’t stop the smile that curved over her lips. “I don’t think so.”
Darrell stared at her for a moment longer then shrugged. “I promised not to push and I won’t.” He moved to the side to allow her to pass. “Come on, I’ll walk you downstairs to your car, make sure you get off safely.”
Jerra tried to hide her surprise at how easily he’d given in, but Darrell noticed her frown. She almost seemed…disappointed. For a second, his face reflected his confusion at the mixed signals she kept sending him. Did she want him to pursue this or did she want him to back off?
Darrell shook his head. Nah. He was leaving the ball squarely in her court for this one. He wasn’t being arrogant, but he knew that he could easily get her into bed. That wasn’t a question. However, he didn’t want it to happen like that. He wanted her to freely make the decision to come to him.
The silence stretched between them as the standoff continued. Her features now fixed so as not to give away her thoughts, Jerra folded her arms as if to indicate she was finished with the conversation.
Recognizing the body language, Darrell gave his head a little shake. Muttering to himself under his breath, he started towards the door.
Jerra’s sculpted brows wrinkled up in a delicate frown. “What did you say?”
Darrell kept walking and didn’t bother turning around. “Nothin’. You ready?”
“No. I’m not.” When he still didn’t acknowledge her, Jerra’s voice rang out with a hint of an edge. “I said I’m not ready so get your ass back over here, Monroe.”
Pausing, Darrell kept his back to her for the briefest of moments then turned around. With his head cocked to the side, he pointed to himself and asked, “Get my…what?”
CHAPTER 30
Jerra tossed her purse back down on the chair and stared at Darrell. “You heard me.”
Darrell let out a surprised chuckle. Taking his time, he strolled back into the room. “Alright. I’m here. Now what?”
Ignoring his question, she walked over to the state of the art stereo system Darrell had installed, and went through his digital collection of songs until she found what she was looking for. Moments later, soft music streamed through the speakers to fill the room.
“What are you doin’?” Darrell asked, curiosity crinkling his brow.
Moving past him without speaking, Jerra pranced back to the couch and sat down. Leaning back, she crossed her legs and spread her arms out along the plush cushions of the sofa the same way he had done. Continuing to mimic his earlier disposition, her eyes leisurely skimmed all 6’2” of his fine, mouthwatering frame.
The white, button down shirt he wore was tailored to fit the width of his shoulders, the wide span of his back, and his streamlined waist. Jerra’s eyes lingered on the dark jeans and black Timbs. Darrell knew she loved to see him in those particular jeans. The fit of them was just…mmph!
Other than his wedding ring, the only jewelry he wore was his Rolex, a black leather corded necklace with a small silver anchor hanging from it, and a diamond earring that twinkled in the lobe of his left ear. Her attention went back to the necklace and lingered on the anchor. She’d given that to him several years ago. It wasn’t anything exorbitantly expensive, but it was special and held a deep meaning for both of them. When she’d spotted it while shopping in the mall, it had immediately reminded her of him and what he meant to their family. If, as he said a few minutes ago, she was the glue that held the three of them together, then he was most definitely the anchor that steadied them, held them down, provided security and support. Her mainstay. The fact that he wore it even now touched her deeply.
Her eyes swept over him again. The look as a whole was undeniably grown and extremely sexy. She swung her crossed leg back and forth, anticipation coursing through her veins like the waters in a rapidly flowing river. Her husband’s body was a thing of pure perfection. It was what women fantasized about. Lusted after…the same way she was doing now even though she knew she shouldn’t.
Jerra quickly pushed that thought aside. She didn’t want to peel back that layer and ponder over what she was getting ready to do. She honestly hadn’t intended to have sex with Darrell when she let herself into the condo several hours ago. Or maybe she had. God knows she missed him. Missed this. She’d be lying if she said she hadn’t been thinking about the offer he’d made over a month ago before he left the house. She had needs. They both did. Even now, the attraction they felt for one another pulsated strongly between them.
Jerra was tired of abiding by the rules, even if they were rules she herself had put in place. She needed this, was tired of lying alone in the humongous bed they used to share, thinking about it. So many nights she’d battled her urges, fought to stop herself from picking up the phone and inviting him over to soothe her sexual itch. Tonight, she would lower her defenses and accept everything he had to offer.
A small smile played around the corners of Jerra’s mouth. The attraction between them practically sizzled. Instead of waning over the years, it had only grown stronger. The longer he stood there and stared at her with those ridiculously sexy eyes of his, the more tempted she was to tear his clothes off and beg him to take her right then and there, but thankfully she managed to resist.
“You want to tell me what’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?” Darrell asked. “You look extremely satisfied about something.”
Jerra decided it was time to turn the heat up a notch. “Not yet. But I plan to be.”
Darrell’s eyes seared over her body. “Is that right…”
“Yes. Really. But first...” Jerra was ready, anxious actually, to view what she knew awaited her underneath the clothes. She pointed at him and twirled a finger around. “Take it off, Eclipse.”
Darrell tried to hold back his smile but failed miserably. He sure as hell didn’t have a problem with doing that if it was what she wanted. “My pleasure.”
When his fingers went to the top button of his shirt, any hint of teasing on Jerra’s face disappeared. Literally forgetting to breathe, she kept her eyes peeled to the small glimpses of skin that became visible as each button slipped through the buttonholes until the shirt hung open.
Finally Jerra exhaled. She settled deeper into the couch, her heavy lidded gaze never leaving Darrell for a second. Feet slightly apart, his muscular body undulated in an unhurried wave as he put on a show just for her. Watching her husband move was a thing of absolute beauty. He was positively breathtaking. Darrell didn’t need a crowd or a spotlight; he had the art of seduction down to a science. Besides, this was a VIP exclusive performance. As far as Jerra was concerned, she was the only audience he would ever have again.
Darrell’s eyes stayed on her as well, seducing her without having to say a word, allowing his hands to be her hands, touching his body the way she craved to tou
ch him. Jerra swallowed. She remembered seeing him dance at Aleesha’s bachelorette party. His stage presence and charismatic personality had captivated every woman in the room…including herself, no matter how hard she tried to resist him. Although a natural dancer, it wasn’t so much his moves that turned her on. It was more his attitude and confidence. The combination of the two together made him sexy as hell. She struggled to slow her breathing, as he came closer, but God…he was so damned virile. So masculine.
His fingers skimmed down his stomach, one abdominal muscle at a time until he got to the bulge filling out the front of his pants. Seeing that her attention was fixated on that part of his anatomy, Darrell grasped a handful and squeezed. Jerra’s thighs tightened, pressing together in reaction, her hips undulating in small circles, ready to cum at any minute.
“Anything you see, you know you can have anytime. You want some of this, sweetheart?” he asked temptingly.
Jerra’s answer came out raw and barely discernible. Clearing her throat, she tried again. “Yes.”
Darrell growled. Circling his pelvis painfully slow, he took his time and unbuckled his belt. “Open your legs for me, baby.”
His eyes remained fastened on her smooth thighs until she complied.
“That’s it. Touch yourself for me.” His teeth bit down on his lip, his dick now hard as steel in his hand. “No, leave your panties on. Are they wet, Jerra?”
Closing her eyes as her fingers came in contact with the saturated thong, Jerra whimpered and nodded. Licking her suddenly dry lips, she opened her eyes and watched him as her hand moved over her sex to pleasure herself. This is what she’d fantasized about every night since he left, but refused to masturbate to get relief. She wanted the real thing, wanted to feel him inside of her, feel her swollen lips close around him until he was as deep as he could go. Now that it was within her grasp, she planned on getting that and so much more.
Darrell unsnapped his jeans and walked between her thighs. Jerra’s legs opened wider, sending him an invitation to come and take what they both already knew was his. A knowing smile played around Darrell’s lips. Reaching out, he ran his fingers down the side of her face, using the faintest of touches to outline her lips with the slightly calloused pad of his thumb. When Jerra’s tongue slipped out to lick his skin and suck his finger into her mouth, the smile on his face faded, swiftly replaced with a look so agonizingly intense it warmed Jerra with its scorching heat.
“Come here,” he whispered, his voice raspy and hoarse with need.
With her heart pounding wildly in her chest, she scooted up a little and sat on the edge of the couch. Darrell weaved the fingers of both hands through her hair. Framing her head to hold her still, he slowly lowered his mouth until he got within inches of her lips.
“Do you know how beautiful you are?” he asked her. “How much I want you?”
Jerra lowered her eyes, but Darrell’s hands tightened a little and pulled her head back, gently forcing her to look at him.
“After all these years…” His voice grew so soft it was barely audible, almost as if he were talking to himself. “You got me twisted around your little finger, and you don’t even know it.”
Jerra’s lashes fluttered closed. She thought she’d known that. She’d thought the two of them had established a bond that was impossible to breach, but…
She heard Darrell sigh before he brushed the lightest of kisses over her forehead and both cheeks. Like a gentle mist surrounding her, Jerra felt the seductive warmth of his breath on her skin. Her lips parted, but the anticipated kiss never came. Instead, he removed his hands from her hair and straightened to his full height. Her wide eyes showed her confusion. Although his expression was once again arrogant and cocky, she knew she hadn’t imagined the raw desire and lust on his face.
She was getting ready to call him on it, but before the words could form, Darrell took his shirt off and tossed it to the floor. Jerra purred, eagerly running hands over his shoulders, chest, and stomach. How in the hell could his skin feel as smooth as satin, yet be so deliciously hard?
She leaned forward and sprinkled whisper soft kisses over his stomach. Grunting quietly with pleasure, Darrell stared down at her, smoothing a light hand over her hair. When her tongue peeked out to lick his skin, the muscles in his abs grew taut, popping out like defined, square bricks.
His eyes tightly closed, Darrell hissed her name.
“You like that?” she whispered.
Darrell chuckled, but the sound ended up caught in his throat when her hand cupped and squeezed the bulge in the front of his jeans. He opened his eyes and peered down at her with a hint of warning.
“Keep on taunting that beast if you want to,” his voice grew hoarse and raspy with need. “Once he’s loose, there ain’t no stoppin’.”
“Maybe I don’t want to stop. Tomorrow, everything goes back to normal…right?” Her eyes never left his face as she waited on his answer.
“Yeah. Normal.” Darrell’s tone sobered somewhat. He didn’t want to think about tomorrow, and he didn’t want her to think about it either. All that mattered was the here and the now. Covering her hands with his, Darrell guided them to his zipper.
“For now, how ‘bout you handle that for me.” Darrell’s voice was soft and mesmerizing. “You have no idea how good I plan on making you feel tonight. No idea.”
Jerra nibbled at her lip as she attacked the zipper. Working it down over his erection, she didn’t even try to hide her impatience. They both knew what this was about so there was no need to pretend. When she went for his black boxer briefs, though, Darrell stepped back out of her reach.
Jerra cut her eyes up at him questioningly. That’s when she saw the playful gleam in his eyes. He was deliberately toying with her to make a point. Well, they would see about that. Jerra was determined to bring him to his knees before the night was over.
Sitting back, she pulled her dress down to cover her thighs. Leaning back and resuming her initial pose, Jerra nodded towards the remaining clothes he wore. “You can finish anytime, Monroe.”
Darrell chuckled under his breath, but propped his boot up on the arm of the sofa and untied the laces before kicking it off. He did the same with the other boot and removed his socks. After peeling his jeans and black boxer briefs down his muscular thighs and stepping out of them, he stared at Jerra in a way that told her she was in so…much…trouble.
CHAPTER 31
Jerra’s mouth grew slack as her eyes dropped to his erection, but she didn’t have time to indulge for too long.
“Your turn,” Darrell smirked, gesturing at her clothes.
Jerra hesitated. She started to tell him that he was the one who was supposed to be giving her a show, not the other way around, but hearing the hint of a challenge in his voice, she shrugged. Standing, she slipped the straps of the little black dress down her arms, past her waist, and over her hips. Stepping out of it, she deftly unhooked the front clasp of her black lace bra, adding it to the pile of clothes now strewn haphazardly on the floor, until she was left wearing a tiny black thong and four-inch heels. Her eyes went back to the thick weight of his dick. Jerra licked her lips when it twitched in response.
Darrell mumbled something she couldn’t quite make out.
“What was that?” Jerra inquired, arching her eyebrow.
Instead of answering, he reached out and hauled her close. Jerra let out a little squeal of surprise when she lost her balance and fell against his chest. Taking advantage, his mouth captured hers in a hungry kiss that was totally arousing, fiercely passionate, and sensuously aggressive.
Jerra moaned. She couldn’t even pretend to play hard to get; she wanted this too badly. She melted against him, her curves conforming to the muscular angles of his body. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she moved against him like a cat scratching a persistent itch. She wanted…more.
But just as she’d put all signs of pretense aside, so had Darrell. It was in his nature to take control of her pleasure, and t
hat’s exactly what he did. Slipping his hand between the juncture of her thighs, he ran a light finger over her slit, tracing the outline of her plump pussy, and circling around her clit.
Jerra’s hips moved helplessly, like the flame of a candle blowing in the wind. Slowing the pace, Darrell eased his mouth away from hers, catching her lower lip between his teeth and grazing the sensitive skin.
“Darrell, please. I–”
“I know you’re ready, baby.” Darrell lifted his head and stared down at her. “Not yet, okay?”
Her breathing labored, Jerra pulled in a lungful of air and tried to get her thoughts together. Tonight was supposed to happen on her terms. “But–”
“I need you to trust me. I promise to get you there, and when I do it’ll feel so damn good. I promise you that.” His lips brushed over hers again. “Trust me,” he whispered.
Darrell carefully eased a finger underneath the swatch of silk that passed for a thong and found her moistened depths. He set a steady rhythm that made her entire body tremble. Jerra wrestled with herself to control her reaction, but it was no use. Only Darrell could bring her to such a wild, wanton state, and make her shed her inhibitions like this. Whenever her husband touched her, her body stubbornly refused to take orders from anyone except him.
“That’s it, sweetheart. Just go with it.” His eyes were grey pools of desire. Darrell’s fingers brought her teetering to the edge, pulling her back before she could fall over. Her inner muscles quivered like the delicate wings on a butterfly. “You’re so moist. And soft. You know I plan on eatin’ the fuck outta this pussy, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Jerra groaned. Unbelievably aroused, she gasped with each stroke of his finger.
“Can’t wait for you to cum over my tongue. In my mouth. Down this dick,” Darrell whispered. He kissed the soft skin of her neck, inhaling her intoxicating scent, before his lips blazed a damp trail down to her breasts. “Forget about everything else except for how good this feels. It’ll be even better once I’m buried nine and a half inches deep inside of you.”