Ruthless

by Shelia M. Goss

  David didn’t respond. He closed the car door and walked around to the driver’s side. Sheba felt kind of bad for her rude behavior. She vowed to tone it down a little.

  David started up the engine. “What do you want for dinner?”

  “Italian. I love Italian.”

  “There’s this Italian bistro near downtown that my employees have been talking about. Do you know where it is?”

  “I sure do. We’ll need to take I-Twenty and then take the Fairfield Avenue exit.”

  David followed her directions, and they were there in no time. Normally, patrons needed reservations, but David slipped the maître d’ some money and they were seated immediately.

  “Times like these are when I enjoy the fact that I have a little extra money,” David said to Sheba.

  They made small talk over dinner. They talked about the weather, the food, and the casinos. Sheba hated to admit that talking to David was like talking to any other person. She had this negative image about him in her head, and he was quickly erasing it. To her surprise she found he had a good sense of humor. He was no Mike Epps, but he made her laugh.

  “Tell me who the real David is. Not the one the world knows, but when you’re not at the office. The person that hardly anyone gets to see.” Sheba stopped eating her dessert.

  “What you see is what you get.” David threw his hands up halfway.

  “So you’re this shrewd businessman who never turns it off? I’ve gotten to see a different side of you tonight. What else should I know about David?” Sheba asked.

  “Like I said, what you see is what you get. I see something I want, and I go for it.” David stared directly into her eyes.

  “Do you always get what you want?”

  “For the most part. Some things are easier to acquire than others.” He winked his eye.

  “I bet you were spoiled growing up, weren’t you?”

  “Never that. I worked hard for everything I have. Don’t you see how hard I’m working now?” David laughed.

  Sheba didn’t. She picked up her glass of lemonade. The only thing in it was ice and a few drops of lemonade. She didn’t care. She sipped on the straw until it started making noises. She needed something to quench the heat radiating from David’s eyes that was meant for her.

  “I’ll be right back,” Sheba said. She eased away from the table and rushed to the restroom.

  She paced back and forth in front of the sink. Sheba wet a paper towel and held it to her neck to cool herself down. “Get a grip,” she said to herself in the mirror.

  What was she doing? David hadn’t made a pass at her. They were only talking. So why did she feel like she was doing something she had no business doing?

  Chapter 22

  David knew women. He could tell Sheba’s resistance to his natural charm was getting low. He would have to treat her delicately, though, because he didn’t want her to retreat into that hostile shell she had built around herself. He needed her to feel at ease. To keep her guard down around him. For the most part, he needed to make sure the conversation stayed away from the one person that stood between the two of them: Uriah.

  Sheba walked back to the table, looking calmer than she had when she left. He got up and held her chair out for her, and she sat down.

  “Are you okay?” David asked.

  “Just had to use the bathroom. I’m okay now,” she responded.

  “I’ve paid our bill. I also paid for someone to deliver Delilah a plate at your place.”

  “That’s nice of you, but I could have taken it.”

  “The night’s still young. I was hoping you would go with me to the Horseshoe Casino.”

  Sheba glanced at her watch. “Normally, I’m chatting with Uriah around this time.”

  “He’s going to be busy tonight. There was a problem with one of the building permits, so Uriah’s tied up right now. It’s daytime over there, so it’ll be a while before he will be available to talk to you.”

  “If I didn’t know better, I would think you planned it that way.”

  “No, I’m about business. The last thing I want is problems,” David assured her.

  Sheba looked to be in deep thought. “Fine. Delilah can fend for herself. I need a night out.”

  David planned on showing her a good time. Fifteen minutes later he pulled up to the front of the Horseshoe Casino. He tipped the valet and took his valet ticket. “Let me show you how the high rollers do it.”

  He placed his hand on the crevice of her back as they walked inside the casino. The workers knew him by name as they were led into the poker room, where participants had to have at least a million dollars just to play at the table.

  “Do you want anything to drink?” the waitress asked.

  “Nothing for me,” David said.

  “I’ll have a Cosmopolitan,” Sheba responded.

  David took a seat at the table. Sheba stood behind him. “Rub my head for good luck,” David said.

  “I will not. In fact, I’ll just sit right over here until you finish.” Sheba sat in a chair behind him and crossed her legs.

  David noticed that his opponents were distracted by Sheba. He won the first few hands because they were not concentrating on the game. They were concentrating on her movements. David smiled. He hated losing, and Sheba was already bringing him some good luck.

  “Sir, we’re going have to ask your guest to leave,” a member of the casino security said.

  Sheba said, “But I’m not doing anything but watching.”

  “Yes, we know. If you’re not going to sit at the table, you will have to leave.”

  David, not wanting to press his luck, cashed in his chips and left with Sheba.

  Sheba said, “How rude! They were just mad because you were winning.”

  “I don’t blame them. If I had been distracted by you and not able to play, I would have had you removed, too.”

  Sheba batted her eyes. “So you weren’t distracted when I crossed my legs, exposing my long and lean thighs?”

  “No, baby. ‘Money before broads’ has always been my motto. But now that I’ve made some extra money, you can expose those long, lean thighs you were flashing those guys.” He chuckled.

  “I don’t think so,” she responded with a frown on her face.

  “We’ll see about that. Follow me.” David grabbed her hand and led her outside the casino and into the lobby of the adjacent hotel. He walked right to the front desk. He pulled out his Visa Black Card. “I would like to book one of your executive suites.”

  “How long?” the front desk attendant asked.

  David looked at Sheba. “One night. We’ll need it for only one night.”

  Sheba removed her hand from his. “What are you doing? You need to take me home.”

  “Shh. Unless you want to draw attention to yourself,” David said.

  Sheba remained quiet. The attendant handed David his electronic keys.

  David grabbed Sheba’s hand again. “Come on. We can talk in the room.”

  They got on the elevator, and David pushed the button for their floor. Sheba mumbled something under her breath, but David couldn’t make out what she said. Some of the other people in the elevator were looking at her like she was crazy.

  Sheba said, “I can’t believe I let you talk me into going to your room.”

  David didn’t respond as they stepped off the elevator. He used one of the electronic keys he’d been given to access the executive suite. “Come on. We can talk inside.”

  The plush room was fully stocked with food and drinks. “Have a seat,” he instructed.

  Sheba removed her shoes and sat down on the white couch. David sat beside her, and before she could protest, he picked up her right foot and began massaging it. She leaned her head back and moaned. “That feels good, but you shouldn’t be doing that.”

  “I want to. You work hard. You need a man to take care of you.”

  “I have a man, or have you forgotten?” She removed her foot from his hand.<
br />
  David leaned closer to her. “But he’s not here now.”

  “And whose fault is that?” she asked.

  David’s plan to seduce Sheba was backfiring. He had to think of something quick. “Tonight it’s all about you. What do you want, Sheba? Let me make your dreams come true.”

  Sheba looked disheartened. “I want my husband.”

  “I have a suggestion. Let’s not talk about Uriah,” he said.

  “You asked me what I wanted. I was just answering your question,” she snapped.

  David knew only one way to shut Sheba up and to get her mind off Uriah. Before he could change his mind, he did what he had been wanting to do from the moment he met her. He kissed her.

  Chapter 23

  The moment David’s lips touched Sheba’s, she knew the dynamics of their relationship had changed. Instead of pushing him off of her, like a good wife should do, she welcomed his kiss. Her mind was telling her no, but her body couldn’t deny the magnetic pull that held her captive in David’s embrace.

  Sheba felt as if she was having an out-of-body experience as she heard moans coming from her mouth as David’s hands roamed over her body. Within minutes, David swooped her up in his arms and carried her to the king-size bed. She still had time to stop what was about to happen, but instead of turning away, she reached for David and allowed the passion that had been building up between them to take over. She gave into those desires and allowed David to please her in ways that Uriah never had.

  Several hours later, naked and with David’s arm wrapped around her waist, she stared into space. David slept beside her. She could hear his soft snores as she thought about what had just transpired. She had enjoyed David’s touch. David had pleased her body as if it were a harp. It had sung to every stroke of his touch.

  Guilt threatened to fill her mind, but she kept it at bay. If Uriah had been home, none of this would have ever happened. It was his fault that she was now sleeping in the arms of another man. It was only a coincidence that the man happened to be his boss. It wasn’t her fault. None of it was. David and Uriah were to blame, as far as Sheba was concerned.

  No, she would not let guilt over sleeping with David behind her husband’s back get to her. Instead, she would let this be a one-time thing and would go on with her life. She had needed this, and now that David had gotten what he had been after, he should be satisfied, too. Two adults pleasing one another for one night.

  Sheba closed her eyes, knowing that the things she told herself were only excuses. She had vowed in front of Uriah’s family, her mother, and their friends, but most importantly, God, to honor her marriage vows. In one senseless night of passion, she had broken them.

  Even if Uriah forgave her for the indiscretion, would God? Why did He send David into her life if this was not supposed to happen? Sheba tried to find other ways to justify her actions. None made sense to her, so she stopped trying to reason with herself. Instead, she finally succumbed to sleep.

  She felt the light brush of David’s fingers on her thigh as she woke up. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known,” David said.

  That was when Sheba realized that the dream she thought she’d had was not a dream. It was real. She had really slept with David, and here they were, still in bed, like two lovebirds. Two adulterers were what they were. With the light streaming in through the curtains, Sheba could see clearly. What had happened last night was a mistake. A mistake she didn’t plan on making again. Justified or not.

  She jumped out of bed. “Take me home,” she said. She picked up her clothing, which was scattered on the floor, and headed to the bathroom.

  David was on her heels. “Sheba, please don’t do this. What we shared last night was special. Don’t think negative.”

  Sheba turned and looked at David as he stood there, naked. She tried her best to keep her eyes focused on his eyes. “It was special, but we can’t do it again. It was wrong. You know it, and I know it.”

  David reached for her, but she was quicker than him. She ran straight to the bathroom and shut the door. She clicked the lock and leaned on the door. “Lord, what have I done?”

  She placed her clothes on the counter, showered, and used the expensive toiletries in the bathroom. When she exited the bathroom, she was fully dressed. She had left David naked, but when she returned, he was fully clothed.

  “I showered in the other bathroom,” he said as he stood up from the couch.

  “I’m ready to go home now,” Sheba said.

  “Whatever you wish,” he responded.

  David was acting too calm for her. She thought he would try to talk her out of it. Maybe her initial assessment was right. He’d gotten what he wanted, and now he was satisfied. She just hoped that their one-night indiscretion wouldn’t be discovered by Uriah.

  When they reached the lobby, she bumped right into one of Uriah’s cousins. “Hey, girl. What are you doing here? You heard from my cousin?” Renee asked.

  Sheba stuttered, “N—no. He’s been busy, but I’ll tell him to call you.”

  “Do that, will you? I better go. My hand’s itching, so that means I’m about to win me some money. Those slot machines are calling my name.”

  Sheba was glad that David had kept his distance. “Who was that?” he asked as they watched Renee walk through the casino doors.

  “Uriah’s cousin. Now, let’s go, before we run into someone else I know,” she responded, agitated.

  Sheba felt paranoid. She kept watch in all directions and didn’t stop looking around until the valet brought David his rental car and they were riding on I-20, headed toward her house.

  “Look, David, what happened last night ... Well, that can never happen again. Is that understood?” Sheba said sternly.

  “Sheba, your wish is my command.”

  “So, you’re not going to try to talk me into it again?”

  “Nope.” David kept his eyes on the road and never once looked in Sheba’s direction.

  “Oh, so I’m just another notch on your belt,” Sheba said, fuming.

  For the first time since getting in the car, David turned his head to look at her. “Sheba, you’re special to me.”

  Sheba didn’t believe him. All she wanted was to get back home safely and to be out of his presence. She had to, because something about David drew her to him, and she didn’t want to feel that way. She wanted to hate him. She wanted to despise him, but she didn’t. She didn’t feel any of those things.

  David pulled up into her driveway. He walked around and opened her car door. He walked her to the front door. While she searched for her keys, they stood face-to-face. Sheba could feel his breath on her face.

  David said, “You’re more than just a booty call to me. I love you.” He then walked away, leaving Sheba to mull over those words.

  Chapter 24

  David beat the steering wheel one last time as he drove away. He had never planned to confess his feelings to Sheba. When the words “I love you” flew out of his mouth, he’d regretted them immediately. Where did those words come from? It had been years since David felt love for any woman. Why this woman? Any other woman but her.

  He dialed Sheba’s phone several times, and she finally answered. “Thanks for taking my call,” he said.

  “If I hadn’t, you would have just kept calling,” she said.

  “You’re right. I wanted to apologize for what I said.”

  “No apology necessary.”

  “Yes. You’ve made it perfectly clear that what happened between us was a one-time thing. I need to ... Correction. I will respect your choice.”

  “Well, no harm. You were caught up in the moment, and those words just flew out of your mouth.”

  “I knew exactly what I was saying. I would repeat those words to you if I thought they would make a difference.”

  “David, don’t. We both know that what happened shouldn’t have happened.”

  David heard a shuffle from the other end of the phone. “What’s wrong?
” he asked.

  “I think Delilah heard me. Look, I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”

  Before David could say anything else, Sheba disconnected their call. David called his pilot, and thirty minutes later he was turning in his rental car and boarding his plane.

  “Mr. King, will you be wanting lunch, sir?” the stewardess asked.

  “No. I’m fine. In fact, I think I’ll go to my private area. Just knock on the door when we get ready to land,” David said.

  He buckled up in the chair next to the bed. Once they were securely in the air, he unbuckled himself and lay down on the bed with his face toward the ceiling. He wasn’t sleepy. He just needed to rest his mind. Conflicting emotions fought each other as he dealt with loving Sheba and the guilt of taking another man’s wife. There used to be a time when the words of Psalm 26 fit his life. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide...For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

  Recalling those verses now left a hollow feeling inside him. If God searched his heart now, He would find plenty to fault. Tears streamed down David’s face as he came to terms with how he had allowed the lust of his loins to take over his senses. David loved women and had had plenty, period. No one would believe this, but Sheba was the first married woman he had slept with.

  “Thou shall not commit adultery” was one commandment David had never broken.

  “Lord, what do you want me to do? I’ve never met a woman like Bathsheba before. I tried resisting her, but I couldn’t get her out of my system. Now that I’ve tasted how good it could be with her, I don’t want to give her up. If I must, I will.”

  David cried out to the Lord in despair. He knew that what he was asking of God was not God’s will. He silently recited Psalm 51:10–12, hoping God would hear his cry. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

  A week after Jonathan’s death, David picked up Nathan on his way to Jonathan’s wake. He made the mistake of telling him what had happened with Sheba.