by Calinda B
Not what I had in mind, but anything will work—as long as it’s with my love. With my boxer briefs and socks still on, I carry her, fully clothed, to the bathroom.
When we reach the en suite, I ensure her feet touch the floor before undressing her with tender care. I remember how prudish she was when I had to clean her cut, how she hadn’t wanted me to see her skin or her body. Things are way different now. She helps me get her out of her clothes. Her top goes first, then her jeans, leaving her in as many clothes as I have on. Our eyes connect with such grand expectation shining in them. When she undoes her bra, it takes every ounce of control in me not to look down. Instead, I step closer to her, removing all space separating us.
The skin of our torsos touching, I push down my briefs and socks while she does the same. We’re both naked in the same room. At last. While this is something I’ve done before with other girls, this time is different. I’m nervous as hell, and don’t want to disappoint her. Harlow deserves perfection. She is my perfection.
“Let’s get that shower, shall we?” The tone of her voice is shaky, like mine would be, if I tried to speak.
Wordless, I guide her into the shower between kisses and moaning. So she doesn’t get struck by cold water, I voluntary aim the spray in my direction. Turning it to hot right away, it doesn’t shock me too much, but my heart skipped a beat when the cold hit my back.
The water warming, her leg hitches up mine, and I lift her up. She circles her legs around my hips which places us in the right position a little too soon. The force of the spray rinses us clean as she slips down my body over and over. To help stop her sliding, I press her back against the tile wall which gives us more support.
“Sorry, that might be cool against your skin.”
“I don’t care, TJ. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for since the day I met you.” She plants a peck on my chin. “It doesn’t get any better than this. I don’t need roses or boxes of chocolate. You’re all I want.”
“I wish I had met you before…”
“You’re my girl, Harlow. I love you.”
She repeats the words back, with such sincerity in her tone. It’s like she’s never said them to anyone before. I feel special. Holding her face in my hands I take in how stunning she is, realizing how lucky I am that my father had a secret life. She thrusts her hips toward mine, letting me know exactly what she has in mind. Of course, this is Harlow. Subtlety is not her strong suit.
Without further warning, her mouth crushes to mine while she’s grabbing my hair by the roots. Harlow is on a course for pleasure, and I won’t be the one stopping her. The dry humping has to stop, though. I kiss her harder while touching her breasts, the curve of her backside. I’m all about fueling her desire and spicing up things. Her reaction is priceless as she whimpers into my mouth. Her nipple hardens under the palm of my hand sending me into action mode.
“Are you sure?”
“Like I need to say yes,” she breathes out against my neck.
My legs already shaking beneath me, the tremble spreads throughout my body when I push into her. I’m now regretting every single beer I had tonight because they’re making me feel weak and feeble. However, the sounds coming from her plump lips push me harder. Although her grip on me is strong, almost to the point of hurting, I keep thrusting into her. I will give her the release she needs after so many days of anticipation. It’s past time for us to share this moment.
My free hand cups her cheeks, where I rub her skin with my thumb while our mouths continue their exploration. Our breaths are heavy, noisy as hell in the echoing chamber.
“TJ, Jesus Christ.”
“I know, Harlow. Me too, sweetheart.”
This is so real. I can’t believe everything that’s happened to me in the past two weeks. My world had to be turned upside down in order for me to find this girl. Now that I have her, I’m not letting her go. Ever.
Her nails leave traces on my shoulders, she bites down on my lip, and I push harder, faster into her. We are so fucking close to heaven. My legs are numb, I don’t feel them anymore and try not to think about it. My focus is on her, on my heart which is about to rip apart its cage. Harlow’s desperate hold on me, and her not so quiet moans, can only mean one thing. Her orgasm is coming loud and clear. I give her what’s left of me, thrusting fast until she gets what I want to give her so bad.
Her legs clench around my waist as her arms fall off my shoulders. Watching her closely, I record this moment in my memory. Everything about her is perfect. Her green eyes are sated, and a small corner smile tells me she’s happy.
Every one of my muscles lets go. The feeling that has been growing rather fast because of how real this moment is, crumbles us to the marble floor of the shower. We’ve shared everything we can share. She owns my heart.
“I love you,” I tell her again.
She hugs me and places my hand over her thrumming heart. “Thank God we don’t have any plans today. We can spend all day sleeping without a care in the world.”
I’m laughing, because she’s wrong. “But we do have plans. We’ve got to hand over the diamond, and then, my mom is expecting us at her house tonight, for dinner.”
Harlow shakes her head. “Oh my god, TJ.” Her laugh is magical. “I won’t be able to look your mom in the eyes.”
I’m not worried, though; I already know my mom’s going to love her.
Hours later, we leave the apartment with the diamond hidden in my pocket. Sweaty palms and pounding heart, I think this is scarier than getting the diamond from Cassie’s house. This is my father’s vow, his last demand. It isn’t easy knowing this is the end, and it has me emotional.
“I would prefer doing this with my father, but Lanther will be okay, too. He was a good friend of your father’s as well, one of the first members of the club. We can trust him.”
“I trust you. If it doesn’t feel right, I’m sure you won’t hand over the ring.”
When we enter the indoor parking of the Weirs Tower at last, I feel a warm wave of adrenaline wash over me. “Is it normal for my entire body to go through an internal quake?” Placing the car in park, I rest my head on the steering wheel and try to calm the anxiety inside of me.
“Relax, TJ. We did everything the right way. You got the diamond, and now this is the last part of the plan. The easiest.” Her attempt to cheer me up is thoughtful, but this is more than just a ‘job’ for me.
“Not to me. It marks the end.”
“Or it could be the beginning… depending on how you look at it.” Harlow might have a point, but right now it’s hard for me to see it that way.
Without adding more to our conversation, we jump into the elevator and ride it up to the floor where the Club is. I exit, taking a deep breathe.
“Lanther,” Harlow calls as soon as we walk in.
A man looks up and nods then follows us to the room where I met Ramsey the first time. The space is less intimidating this time.
“What’s up, kids?” he says locking the door behind him. A glass of whiskey is in his hand.
“We have Thomas’s diamond.” She motions for me to give him the box. “Ramsey was supposed to handle the transaction, but that isn’t possible right now, as you know. You were Thomas’ second man in command. Can you deal with the transaction? If not, I’ll do it myself.” Harlow’s tone is cold, and straight to the point, different than the way she speaks to me.
“If Ramsey was supposed to do it and he’s unable to proceed, then it’s my job to take care of it. You can trust me, TJ. I will handle the deal with utmost care.”
“Of course.” It’s not in my place to judge him. If Dad trusted him, so do I.
“The client, who is from Germany, mentioned being interested in picking it up here. I’ll be in touch when the deal’s done and the money is in your Club account.” At my inquisitive look, he explains that all members have a special account through the Club for such transactions. My father’s is now mine.
He offers me his ha
nd to shake, we do, and then he leaves the room with the ring in hand. I’m not sure how to feel, but my final step is completed, so the rest is out of my hands.
“Breathe. It’s going to be fine,” she murmurs in my ear while enveloping her arms around me.
“Yeah.” Again, emotions are on high alert. “Kiss me, babe. I need you to kiss me now.”
The finality of this moment has brought back the pain of losing my father with a vengeance, firing my heart up. Tears escapes my closed eyes; there are too many feelings right now, and I can’t control myself.
Calming me, the softness of her lips on mine have their desired effect. She persists until my breathing evens out. Her gentle hands cup my cheeks, her thumbs brush away my tears. “I love you, TJ, and I’ll be here for you. Always.”
“Thank you.”
If someone can understand what I’m going through now, it’s her. She’s the one I want in my life, there’s no doubt about it.
Epilogue
HARLOW
One month later...
* * *
After another night out dancing and celebrating with TJ, we’re both exhausted. He’s deep asleep next to me, and I can’t help but stare at him. I drink in how peaceful he looks, and how sexy the tattoo on the inside of his bicep is. A mix of stars and Roman numbers, we’ve never discussed it, but it has me curious.
* * *
“What about you? Still think this is going to be a one-time deal?” I ask him, afraid of what I’m going to hear. We’re different. He’s not in the Club for the same reasons as me. The Club is my second home, my safety net. For him, it’s foreign.
“I think it will be. I’m not cut out for this kind of life,” he says looking straight into my eyes, and. I’m afraid I might have let disappointment show on my face.
* * *
When we first met, TJ said he wouldn’t be involved in Club activities, but what he did last night blew me away. He’d asked to come with me, and together we came up with a last minute plan. Faultless. While he distracted the lone possible witness, I got my hands on beautiful diamonds. TJ doesn’t realize it, but his eyes have the power to captivate anyone around him. The man can talk about unimportant things all day long and still manage to keep everyone interested. He’s a good talker, a male version of Marilyn Monroe. The fact that he can go for a long time without blinking, same as her, still surprises me. I should’ve noticed the skill early on, but I was too busy falling in love with him. It’s my father who notices these things, and I’m thankful he caught it with TJ.
Snuggling closer, until I feel his body enveloping me, I close my eyes and try to get a few more hours of sleep. We may have overdone it this time. Celebrating is fun but comes with a price. I’m exhausted.
“I love you, baby,” I whisper before exhaustion sweeps me away.
Tonight, we have another family dinner with his mom and sister. I can’t wait.
“Wake up, Channing Tatum.”
“What? What are you talking about?” Grumpy, isn’t he?
“Oh, you know. You’re a thief, and you stole his magic moves last night. Don’t worry, I’m not complaining, though.” It had been hot. So hot I’d almost had to mark my territory. Women love a man who can move.
“You mean I danced like a stripper? You let me humiliate myself.”
“Baby, trust me, you didn’t humiliate me or you.” It was more like fantasy meeting reality.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” He yawns. “What time is it?”
“Almost time to go.”
He groans into his pillow, and I laugh. “I’m still tired.”
I know the feeling. “We’ll get a coffee on the way.”
A prisoner in his arms, he locks me with his embrace, refusing to let go. “About last night, I wanted to talk to you,” he says in between my giggles but I can hear the seriousness in his voice.
“You were excellent.”
“About the diamond, I meant.”
I try to pull away to have a better look into his eyes. “I know. And you were excellent. You followed the plan, and it worked.”
“The plan was easy enough for me, but my question isn’t about the plan. What do you do with the diamonds after?”
This is the part where I look like a heartless, selfish thief. “Some of them we keep, but the balance is sold. In Europe mainly.”
“What percentage do you keep?”
“I keep the vintage and rare pieces.”
He takes a moment to think, his eyes never leaving mine. “Considering how much a diamond is valued at, I bet your retirement is already set.”
“I could own a pair of Jimmy Choo in every color and never worry about a thing, yes.”
“So why do you keep doing this? You could stop.”
“I know, but it’s a big part of my life. It’s not about the money anymore. I almost never touch that money, in fact. It’s piling up somewhere safe, out of harm’s way. I used to survive on the salary I made as a waitress.”
“I’m trying to understand your motives, Harlow.” Frowning, he rubs his face, harder on the V in his forehead.
The time to talk is here and now. I take a deep breath before letting it all out. “Ramsey told me when I first started it was time to plan for my future, that this type of living could stop at any given moment. When my mom died, we hit rock bottom, hard, so I knew at an early age what it was to have nothing. I stayed in school, got my degree, and I worked hard so that one day, I could have a good life.”
I’ve never talked to anyone about the truth behind my life. It isn’t easy. TJ must sense I’m having trouble because he brings me to his chest and kisses my temple.
“I know it isn’t honest, that I’m not earning it the right way, but this is the world I was brought up in. That doesn’t pardon me either, I realize that. I’ll step away from the jobs someday, but never from the Club.”
“I know. I understand.” He places another small peck on the side of my face. “I’ll need a hand at work today, and was wondering if you would like to join me? We’re a good team, we work well together.”
“Absolutely.” I have no idea how I can be helpful to him, but that he wants me gives me enough confidence to accept.
“This way we can get the best of both worlds, and decide which one we prefer.”
Can he be any better than this? He always tries to find the best solution or compromise.
“I’m not saying no to that offer. You’re the best thing to happen to me.”
He pulls me back, then draws me into his arms and against his chest. “Why don’t we skip dinner and stay here?” Pampering my face with wet smooches, he’s in a playful mood.
With how our legs are entwined, all of a sudden staying here is tempting. “We can’t. Your mom invited my father over tonight.”
“They’ll be fine. It’s not like they don’t know each other.” TJ has a point, but I still believe we should be there, which makes me laugh. He really doesn’t want to go, but I’m not missing the dinner or bailing on my father.
“I’ll go without you,” I threaten while managing to escape his arms and legs. “Thomas Junior, I’ll pull you out of the bed. I swear I’ll do it.”
“Okay, okay. I’m up,” he mumbles while climbing out of bed. His eyes are small and a grey shadow surrounds them. Naked, he walks to his closet to pick out clothes. “It’s going to take me a week to get over last night.”
“We went far past our limits, I think.”
“I’m sure,” he says with a smile. “But from what I remember, we had a blast.”
Minutes later, we’re sitting in the car and while he’s driving, I say a little prayer to my mom for Dad. Tonight is a big deal to him, I’m sure he’ll be nervous.
Dana’s face fell when she first saw me weeks ago. She’d recognized me, knew my connection to the Club. I’m Ramsey’s daughter, after all. Andrew to her. After a one-on-one conversation with TJ, she gave in and started making me feel at home. Dana opened her heart to me then; of c
ourse, I think she’s always loved me in a way. When my mom died, Dana gave my dad some of Veronica’s old clothes for me. It’d been a tough period for us, but she helped how she could. It showed how big her heart is.
Veronica has asked some questions, but to this day she prefers not knowing the details of Thomas’ Club days. That’s fine with me. Not everybody wants to know details, some would rather be in the dark, and that’s okay.
Tonight, Dad is coming with us to dinner for the first time. It’s a huge step, and was Dana’s idea. His recovery has been a tough challenge, but now that he’s back home, his moral is doing much better. Of course, with how things have changed between TJ and me, I’m not moving back in with Dad. TJ hadn’t been thrilled at the idea of me moving out now that we had our little routine going on at his place. He did insist on making sure Dad had everything in place for his return. Our house had been broken into, after all. The members of the Club also chipped in to help fix everything, and outfitted the house with one of the best alarm systems on the market. Certified by the Club, I’m sure he will be safe. Those assholes were looking for revenge, Dad didn’t let them win. The wannabe thugs were taken care of, I heard. On that subject, I rather not know the details.
“Hey, Mom.” TJ gives Dana a long, loving hug. “How are you doing?”
“Good. Andrew just got here.” She comes to me next, giving me a long hug, too. “You two look tired.”
“Don’t ask, Mom. You don’t want to know.”
“Thomas Junior!”
“You’re the one with a twisted mind. That isn’t what I meant,” he twitters. “Harlow and I went out last night, or was it this morning?” He shoots me this cute as hell look.
“You guys are playing with fire. You aren’t twenty years old anymore, son.”
“I’m twenty-nine, still plenty young. I look and feel fine.”
“You’re mom’s just watching out for you. You are a lot closer to thirty than I am. Did you take your vitamins when you woke up? You look pale,” I tease.