“Mum’s not gonna kill her,” Kade chuckles next to me.
“I know, it’s just…” I’m protective of her.
“Remember our awesome fort we had as kids?” he asks.
“It was the best,” I say with a fond smile.
“Wasn’t it? It was badass,” Kade adds.
“Yeah until you set it on fire,” I mutter.
“That was Chase, not me!” Kade says adamantly. He’s lying, we all know it was him.
“Really?” I drawl, disbelief showing in my voice.
“Where’s the proof, bro?” Kade asks with a chuckle.
“Still scared of mum, aren’t you?” I tease.
“Not even. Mum loves me regardless. I’m her fav…”
“No, you’re not!” I cut him off. We always get into this argument.
“How’s business?” Kade asks, changing the subject.
“Good, actually. A few of my stocks have gone up,” I answer him. I’ve been playing in the stock market for a while now, and that’s how I’ve been able to afford my house and car, and have more than enough saved in the bank. It allows me extra time to work on other things.
“You’re good at what you do,” he says absently, a double meaning in his words. His voice sounds distracted, and when I glance at him I know why. He’s staring at Nikki’s tits as she bounces up and down on the trampoline.
“That’s a little disturbing, you know,” I tell him, blinking slowly.
“What is?” he asks, his eyes still glued to his wife.
“Nikki is innocently playing with the kids, and you’re staring at her tits,” I say with a chuckle.
Kade narrows his eyes at me. “This is the last time you will speak of my wife’s delectable breasts.”
I burst out laughing.
“You better sort that shit out, James,” he says, his voice unusually stern. I run my hands through the back of my hair, knowing exactly what he is referring too. Something I made myself pretend never happened. Now that Sasha's back in my life, I need to go back and fix things.
I see Sasha walk out alone, looking a little lost.
“Well, then, I guess it’s fair if I just…” Kade trails off, his eyes blatantly on Sasha’s chest. I know he’s just goofing around, but I slap him on the back of the head anyway. When Sasha reaches my side, I pull her closer and tuck her under my arm. She stiffens as I hold her, but she doesn’t pull away.
“Is everything okay?” I whisper into her ear.
“Yes,” she replies, but doesn’t offer anything else. I see her scan the yard, her eyes widening as she takes in all the play equipment. “It looks like a playground out here,” she says in shock, her mouth open slightly.
“I know I went a little overboard, but…”
“You’re amazing, you know that?” she asks, cutting me off. Her compliment makes me exhale in relief. I want her to think that of me, to think I’m good enough to be a father to Jye.
“You were hungry, come on, let’s go and eat,” I say.
“Jye…”
“Kade and Nikki will watch him for a minute, don’t worry,” I assure her, nodding to Kade to make sure he keeps an eye.
“Okay.”
We serve our food and head to the table to eat. I stifle a grin as I watch her enjoy and relish every bite. She licks the bottom corner of her mouth and I feel myself getting hard. This woman has no idea what she does to me. But I can’t wait to show her.
***
Chapter Six
Sasha
James has been spending as much time as possible with Jye and me over the last few weeks, only leaving a few times when Tatiana calls him. When he's away he makes sure to call Jye to say good night, which is sweet. He'd come over the night before, once again asking me out.
“Sasha, I want to take you out on a proper date,” he said.
“I don’t think so, James,” I told him, hating the way his eyes dulled with my response.
“We need to have a long talk, Sasha. You can’t keep avoiding it,” he had said softly.
I can try, I thought to myself.
We have so many unresolved issues, and going out on a date isn’t going to be in our favor. I know that. We do need to talk before we even think about going on any dates. I have no idea why his ex calls him so often, and he’s not my boyfriend, so I can’t demand any answers, although I desperately want them.
One good thing that happened this week, I was hired for the marketing job I applied for, so Jye now goes to my mother’s house three days a week while I’m at work.
I’m ironing my clothes when I get a call from Layla saying that we're all going out tonight. That actually sounds good, it’s been a long time since I'd gone out and had a good time with the girls. My mother comes over and picks up Jye, happy to keep him overnight. I take a long, scalding hot shower, and then slide on my favourite little black dress. It’s backless and slinky, clinging to all the right places. I decide on my new red platform heels, and a black clutch. My hair is blown out, with lots of volume and flicks out. I apply bright red lipstick and some false lashes and I’m good to go. I spray my signature perfume before shoving it in my bag.
My phone rings, letting me know the girls must be ready to go. We decided on catching a cab, but Chase being Chase got one of his employees to drive us all.
“Hey, Layla,” I answer.
“We’re waiting out front!” she says cheerfully.
“Coming,” I say. We both hang up. I quickly lock up and head out to the car, some massive looking black monstrosity. A man gets out and opens the door for me.
“Thank you,” I tell him.
“No problem,” he replies. He looks to be in his thirties and he's kind of cute. I sit in the car and smile at the greetings from Layla, Nikki and Nikki’s friend Simone.
“You look fucking hot!” Nikki announces. I smile.
“No seriously,” Layla concurs.
“You all look gorgeous,” I tell them. Layla is wearing a long white strapless dress, and she looks like a princess. Nikki is wearing a mini dress in her favourite green, and her hair is tied up in a high ponytail. Simone is wearing a hot red dress and looks like a siren. We all clean up pretty well.
“Tee and Lexi are gonna meet us there,” Layla tells me when I ask where the two of them are. We all walk into Steele and sit at the bar, getting comfortable. I have a feeling we’re gonna be here for a while. Layla orders us our first round of drinks, and we all start chatting and catching up. Tee arrives with Lexi, and I run and hug them both, happy to see them.
“I’ve missed you guys,” I tell them.
“Missed you too, cuz,” Tee says. She’s wearing a short leather skirt, which flairs out at the waist, and a tight black top. She looks smoking hot. Her hair is now a deep purple, longer than before. She sticks her tongue out at me to show me her new Batman tongue ring, which I love. Lexi looks like a movie star, as always. She’s wearing a black see-through blouse and red shorts.
“Lexi, how are you? When did you get back?” I ask her.
“I’m good, I got in just yesterday. Ryder gets back next week,” she says with a sweet smile, absently playing with her stunning honey locks. The woman is a goner for my cousin and I couldn’t be happier.
“Tell him to come over when he does, I know he’s dying to lecture me,” I say dryly. To say Ryder was not happy when he found out I was pregnant and I didn’t wanna tell him who the father was is an understatement. I order us a round of tequila from Payton, mine spilling around the glass when I’m suddenly nudged.
“Hey!” I huff. I look over at Tee, to see her staring at the entrance. I follow her gaze and see James walking in, alone, and he’s staring right at me. I release a long suffering sigh, then down my shot. No salt or lime needed.
“Hey, pretty girl,” he says smoothly as he walks up to me. Pretty girl. He used to call me that all the time.
“Hey James,” I say softly.
“Who's watching Jye tonight?” he asks, frowning.
“Sorry, I was working. I only just got in, had a shower and came into Steele because Chase asked me to check on something. Although it looks like he just wanted me to check up on all you girls,” he says, his eyes crinkling. My eyes zoom to his lips, and my mind goes back to the fateful night of Nikki’s wedding.
Nikki had guilt tripped me into being in her wedding. Don’t get me wrong, I like Nikki, and Kade is both a funny guy and my cousin’s brother in law, but the reason I didn’t want to be a bridesmaid was because I was stuck being paired with James. I could tell he was just as unhappy about it as I was, maybe even more so. Which kind of pissed me off, because it was him that fucked up our relationship, not me.
I first met James about four years ago. I was having a girls' night out with my friend Janelle, and he came up to me and completely charmed me. He won me over that night, that’s all it took. One night of being in his presence and I was hooked. I was still a virgin when I met James, and looking back, I was extremely naïve and filled with fairy tale romances and happily ever afters. Not to say I hadn’t dated around, because I had, but I'd still kept my virginity to give to the one. The one I would marry, spend my life with. The one who deserved to be the only man that had me in that intimate way.
After four months of dating, I gave myself to James. He knew I was a virgin; I was upfront about that with him. He told me he would wait, that he wanted to wait. Until the right time. Until he thought I was ready. He wanted it to be special, and he made sure it was. Candles, flowers, the whole shebang. It was beautiful, a night I thought I would treasure forever, and to this day still the most romantic thing anyone has done for me. James was attentive, gentle and tender. After that, though, we both let our passion fly. James was fun in and out of bed, creative, exciting. Our sex life never lacked, I never once got bored. I really thought James was my ‘one’, and I thought I was his. Until that fateful day.
It was a total coincidence I saw James pull into that woman’s driveway. I was on my way to Janelle’s house, and I was surprised to see him there, because he’d said he was working.
The next day James tried calling me non-stop, and when I didn’t answer, he dropped by my house, banging on my front door. I sat in my bed, ignoring him. I didn’t deserve to be treated like that by any man, love of my life or not.
You can imagine my surprise when Layla showed up at our family gathering with her new man, and his brother - James. What a small cruel world it really is. After two years, everything came back. The hurt, the despair, and the loss of the man I once loved. The only man I've ever loved. I saw James again at Layla’s baby shower, I was told none of the men would be there but I guess they decided to drop by. As soon as I saw him, I felt that familiar pang in my chest. I tried to slowly slip away, but with the first step I made his blue eyes were pinned on me. He stared at me for a moment, before he walked over and pulled me aside, telling me that he needed to talk to me.
“What could you possibly have to talk to me about James?” I asked him dryly.
“You need to listen to me, Sasha,” he demanded.
“If this is about me being no one to you, I’d rather not hear it,” I muttered. He dropped his head for a moment, a picture of remorse. After a few moments he looked back at me, our eyes connecting.
“I’m sorry, Sasha, you weren’t meant to be there. It was a misunderstanding, you don’t understand…” James trailed off.
“What don’t I understand, James? That I caught you with your mistress and you played it like I was the other woman?” I snapped. I could tell I pushed him with that comment, because his eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. Noticing his jaw brought my gaze to his lips, and that sexy as sin lip ring of his. Before James could respond, Nikki came over asking if everything was okay. I took that as my cue to leave.
I didn’t see James again until Layla’s wedding, where thankfully I managed to avoid him. But at Nikki's wedding it looked like my good luck had finally run out. After Layla’s baby shower, Nikki and I formed a friendship. We became pretty close, which is how I ended up there, being one of her bridesmaids. I should have said no, but I couldn’t do that to her just because of James. I was civil, of course. It was Nikki’s big day, and I'd never ruin that for her. A smile was plastered on my face the entire time. Hell, I should have been an actress, because that was an Oscar worthy performance.
As the night wore on, I was a little on the drunk side. I think everyone was, damn open bar. I giggled when I saw James get yelled at by his date. I wondered what that was about, maybe the bastard cheated on her, too. She left, stomping the whole way out. I shrugged to myself, ordering a few more drinks. My cousin Tee was there and the both of us are known to get a little wild. Hell, even our parents tried to keep us apart as much as possible. An hour or so later, when I stood up off the chair and wobbled, I knew it was time for me to get my drunk ass home. I headed out of the reception, pulling my phone out of my bra so I could call a cab. I was trying to dial when a firm, strong hand wrapped around my arm.
“Where do you think you’re going?” a deep husky voice purred. That voice, shit. I stilled for a second before I turned around and opened my mouth to say something, but before I got the chance James’ lips were on mine. His hands gripped my hips possessively as he kissed me hungrily, nipping at my lips before he pulled away and started to kiss down my jaw. My breath came out in fast pants, and I stopped thinking about anything except what I was feeling right then. I could have one more night with him; maybe that would be my closure. Right?
***
I woke up groggily, with the worst headache ever. How much did I drink the night before? When I felt someone make a movement next to me I cringed. Then when the flashbacks of the night before hit me all at once, I inwardly groaned. What was I thinking? I mentally called myself all kinds of interesting and creative names. You never learn, Sasha! I opened one eye and peaked around. I slowly turned my head and looked over at James who was fast asleep. Time for operation ‘sneak out after a one night stand’.
I quietly got out of the bed and found my dress and bra thrown haphazardly on the floor. I put my bra on, and then the green bridesmaid dress. Walk of shame in a bridesmaid dress, that wasn't suspicious at all. I stifled another groan, and looked around for my panties. When I saw the black satin scrap on top of the television I quickly grabbed them. I was about to shove them on, when I realised they were ripped in half. Typical James! I threw my hands in the air in exasperation and scrunched the panties in my hand. When I spotted the rest of my belongings on the floor, I quickly grabbed them and started to tip toe out of the room. I was almost at the door when I accidentally tripped over James’ shoe.
“Fuck,” I heard James mumble.
Fucking shoe! I was so close!
I hesitantly glanced over at him. “I don’t know why the fuck I let you touch me, but it won’t be happening again,” I told him.
“Fuck!” he repeated, yelling it out this time. He got out of bed, and started getting his clothes on.
“I don’t regret being with you, Sasha,” he said in a steady voice.
“That makes one of us,” I hissed back at him, storming out. I called a cab, jumped in, and finally allowed the tears to fall. I’d wasted so many tears on him, and there I was once again. As the cab took off I saw James standing there, watching it drive away. His face looked strained, and his eyes were sad. Part of me wanted to run to Ryder, and have him protect me, have him go and kick James’ ass. Ryder would have said just the right thing, too, he always does. But I didn’t do that. This was something I had to bear on my own.
“Sasha?” James says, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Sorry,” I say, picking up my drink and stirring the ice in it with my straw.
“Where did you go?” he asks curiously.
“Was just thinking,” I say.
“About?" He takes a seat on the chair next to me that Layla had vacat
ed for him. I throw her a look but she just smiles.
I sigh and turn to look James in the eye. “About us. What happened the night of the wedding.”
“I know you don’t regret it anymore,” he says as he leans forward to play with a lock of my hair.
“No, of course not. I love Jye more than anything,” I tell him.
“And so do I,” he says earnestly. I skull the rest of my drink, and place it down on the counter. My fingers are ice cold from the glass.
“We still have a lot to talk about, Sasha,” he continues.
“I know, but tonight is about fun. We can talk tomorrow, okay?” I tell him.
“Okay,” he agrees, kissing me gently on my forehead. “You look cute, by the way,” he adds casually. I instantly narrow my eyes at him, and he bursts out laughing. He remembers, oh, he definitely remembers.
“You’re mean,” I state.
“No, I’m not. You’re the only one in the world who thinks that cute means something other than what it does,” he says, his eyes twinkling.
“Cute means ugly but interesting!” I exclaim.
“I can’t believe you’re still on about that,” he chuckles.
“It does! It’s what people say about babies that aren’t that cute,” I whisper so no one else can hear.
James mouth gapes wide open. “All babies are cute!”
I roll my eyes. “If someone’s baby isn’t that cute, the person will say ‘Ohhhh, he’s so... cute.’ which really doesn’t mean cute!” I ramble. The drinks are definitely getting to me now.
“What does it mean then?” he asks me, trying to contain his mirth.
“Ugly but interesting,” I whisper back, looking around to make sure no one can hear me.
James is now openly laughing at me, but I tune him out when I hear the Sexual Healing remix playing. I love to dance to this song. I look around for Tee, to find her already staring at me expectantly. She loves this song, too. She makes a ‘get on the dance floor now’ motion by tilting her head and widening her eyes. I pat James on the head affectionately and then dance my way to the floor.
James Page 4