Summer Heat: Anthology

by Sonya Jesus

  I can’t expect them to do everything for me.

  Gathering my bags at the door, I walk across the living room to the other door on the left. Glad to see the bedroom is also furnished, I throw my things on the bed and unpack. It doesn’t take me long and good thing, because my stomach begins to rush me. I throw the last of my things into the bathroom and grab all of the folders for one last perusal before placing them in the kitchen sink, lighting them on fire and rinsing away the evidence.

  It’s now or never.

  I drive my somewhat new car to the gym I hadn’t joined first. In a way, hoping to run into Jennifer once again to establish a next meeting pronto. I park, basically in the same spot I was last night, and then enter the busy establishment to join. I wait on the longest line ever, impatiently waiting to get out of here so I can get some damn food.

  What is this? Join a mediocre gym night?

  “You stalking me?” a small, but sassy voice says behind me.

  I turn to see a glistening Jennifer, smiling and breathing heavily as if she’s just finished working out. It couldn’t have been her aerobics class because it’s later in the evening. Of course, I’ll have to play things cool.

  “Jennifer, is it?” I ask, knowing damn well who she is.

  She doesn’t let my fake forgetfulness phase her one bit. “You might want to remember that.” She swipes the sweat from her neck.

  I’m not sure what turns me on about a freshly worked out, sweaty woman, but all I want to do is make her drench more. “Is that so?”

  “Yes, ‘cause I’m quite the catch. You might wanna do a better job reeling me in,” she says before smiling and walking away.

  I watch as she walks away in her tight stretch pants and sports bra. Okay, so she might have my attention now. So much so, that I don’t hear the guy behind the desk trying to get my attention.

  There might be a chance I’ll be fucking her.

  After I give up my falsified life for a year to the gym, I decide to wait outside for Jennifer, leaning against my car parked in front. It doesn’t take long before she’s walking out, looking down at her phone. She’s wearing a tight long dress that shows the shit out of her curves. Her hair is up in a bun and still soaked from the shower.

  “So, you’re just gonna walk past me?” I say to grab her attention.

  She looks up and smiles before walking over to me, slowly. “Finally getting the hint,” she blushes.

  “Something like that. Where are you off to?”

  “Home to cook dinner.” She grabs her tiny belly.

  “You’re welcome to cook at my house,” I insinuate.

  Her mouth opens in shock at my audacity. “I do believe you’re a complete stranger.”

  “Not true. I’ve already knocked you to the ground, forgotten your name and stood out here waiting for you…I’d say we’re getting pretty well acquainted.” I chuckle.

  “Well, since you put it like that.” She tilts her head as if she’s thinking about it, and then laughs.

  “Then it’s settled. Did you drive?”

  “I didn’t…I was about to get a car,” she says, holding up her cell phone.

  “Not necessary,” I say, holding open the passenger door for her and wait for her to get in before closing it back. I cross the front of my car to get in. “We’ll have to shop first.”

  She laughs out loud. “I have to shop for you, too? What am I, your woman?”

  “Not yet,” I say, then run my thumb across her cheek.

  She blushes, then fastens her seatbelt.

  We ride in silence on the way to the grocery store which is only a few blocks down the road. She jumps from the car as I put it in park and I follow her as she gets a shopping cart, before entering the building. As she makes her way down the fruit and vegetable aisle, I pull the cart from her.

  “I’ll take this, beautiful.”

  She blushes. “You should…considering you got me shopping and cooking for you on the first date.”

  “Oh, is this a date?” I ask sarcastically.

  “It better be,” she responds, and then turns her back to me and continues to shop.

  I follow her around the store, throwing shit in the basket as we come across things I like. Of course, I stock up on my go to items – Cereal, TV dinners and lots of Gatorade and water.

  “For you to be so fit, you eat a lot of junk.”

  “Hey! I don’t have a woman keeping me in check.” I laugh.

  “Ummhmm…excuses.” She giggles.

  Once she has everything she needs, we make our way to the cashier. Luckily, it’s not busy and we’re in and out of check out. I carry the bags to the car, and load the trunk as she sits patiently in my car. When I get in, I see she’s nervously fidgeting, balling her hands within each other.

  What’s she nervous about?

  “What’s going on? Changed your mind?” I ask, fastening my seatbelt. “I can take you home.”

  “It’s not that…it’s just that…my last name…is…Little,” she stammers.

  Okay, so we’re going there right now.

  “Okay. Mine is Tomlin…and?” I say, placing her jaw in the palm of my hand to turn her head to face me. “What’s the big deal?”

  She looks confused. “Are you not from around here?”

  “No…I’m not. Frankly, I’m too hungry to concern myself with whatever you’re trying to tell me,” I say, hoping that’s enough to dissuade her questioning.

  She smiles. “Okay, then.”

  I take that as my queue to drive home. Eventually we will have to discuss the fact that Dominic is her brother, but I don’t see that happening right away. Clearly, she is uncomfortable about it, but it hasn’t kept her from dating. There were so many men in her dating file, but now I see it may be because of her brother. Maybe he scared them away. Honestly, if she were my sister, gangster or not, I would be doing the same. I would need to protect her from charming assholes like me.

  We arrive at my new place and my first memory test is putting the code into the keypad at my front door. Luckily for me, having a good memory is the least of my worries. As we enter my apartment, I head straight for the kitchen to put away the groceries, with the exception of the things she bought to cook. She looks around my apartment admiring the décor that was one for me.

  “When you’re done snooping, I’ll tell you where everything is,” I say, walking into the living room.

  She laughs. “I think I can find everything.”

  “You sure…if so, I’ll just go shower.”

  She walks over to me, stopping beside me. “I’m sure I can handle it.” She looks me up and down and makes her way into the kitchen.

  She has no idea what she’s getting herself into.

  I watch her briefly as she opens the cabinets, familiarizing herself before starting to open the package of chicken thighs I bought. Seeing she’s fine alone, I go into my bedroom to shower. I’m not at all concerned that she’ll find time to look around more in depth while I’m occupied. After all, the only thing she’ll find is the handcuffs I placed in my bedroom nightstand next to the condoms. There’s no way I can keep that side of me from coming out. So, I decided to bring one of my toys that’s less obvious. If I can’t fuck Jennifer, I will be handcuffing someone if this isn’t done in a few weeks. On that note, I decide to rub one out to relieve all this built up tension, since that’s all I can do for the time being.

  Once I’m out of the shower, I lotion up and spray on some cologne before throwing on a pair of sweatpants and a tight t-shirt. In the kitchen, I see she’s already preparing two plates of food and placing them on the opposite side of the counter in front of the two bar stools. She then pours the wine we bought at the store into two glasses.

  “You need wine glasses,” she says, placing the drinks beside the plates.

  “I’m not much of a wine drinker.” I decide to sit in front of the plate with the most food.

  “Well…they’ll be for me then.” She joins me.
/>   I chuckle. “Already moving in?”

  She winks at me instead of answering and starts to eat the baked chicken and rice pilaf she made. I do the same, devouring the first home cooked meal I’ve had in years. Immediately, I realize she’s a decent cook, but I know I can’t get used to this. Beyond that, I’m not really sure I want to. It wouldn’t be fair to her, because even though she’s my target for now, had we met in another circumstance, I’m sure I’m not ready for what she is. She seems like a great woman, but there’s only been one that I’ve been the least bit captivated by and it isn’t Jennifer.

  Why am I thinking about Melody right now?

  The woman is completely off limits. But there’s something about her that is different. Something in her eyes that tells me not to let this one get away. Not like the other woman I’ve dealt with over the years and who I’ve thought might be the woman to handle me. I’ve let those women go without a second thought. Melody, on the other hand, makes me think I can bare my soul to her and even that won’t make her run.

  “Earth to Kent,” Jennifer reminds me I’m not alone.

  Shit! I’ve been ignoring her. Never a good thing. “Sorry, it’s just been a while since I’ve had a home cooked meal,” I admit, taking a forkful of rice. Well…that’s still the truth.

  “Maybe they’ll be many more to come. She smiles, standing to clear her plate and begins to clean up the kitchen.

  I decide to quit while I’m ahead and just finish eating. She seems to have taken that lame excuse for not paying attention to my company.

  After I’m done, I get up to bring my plate and glass to the sink just as Jennifer is finishing up. “Cooking and cleaning. I may have to keep you around,” I joke.

  She takes a deep breath. “I guess, time will tell.”

  I take the sigh to mean she thinks I’ll run once her brother interrogates me. Little does she know, I look forward to that day. It actually couldn’t come fast enough.

  “Keep cooking like that, and you won’t have a choice,” I say, trying to lighten the mood.

  She laughs as she dries her hands, finally finished with the dishes. She stands there stationary, staring up at me as if she’s waiting for me to pounce. I’m not going to lie, she looks sexy as hell, right now. Her plump breasts are spilling over the top of her fitted dress. If she was anyone else standing there, she would already be naked and ready to obey my every command. However, I have to remind myself that the captain expects me to keep my hands off of her.

  Is that really realistic, though?

  Fed up with my incompetence, she saunters over to me, leaning her weight against me. She lets her thigh slither up and down my inner thigh, getting me slightly aroused. But there’s one thing she doesn’t know about me.

  “I think I’m ready for dessert,” she whispers.

  Now, not only do I have a problem with her willingness to fuck me already, but the fact that she needs to be in control will not get her into my bed any faster. I grab both of her wrists and wrap them behind her, trapping them there as I back her against my counter. She stares up at me nervously, as my dominant, blank stare begins to overwhelm her.

  “You’re gonna have to learn to be more submissive if you want in my bed,” I tease, then forcibly shove my tongue in her mouth, kissing her lewdly.

  She groans into my mouth accepting my tenacity as I harshly bite on her bottom lip.

  “Until then, I’ll have to take you home.” I walk away from her quickly, grab my key fob and wait at the front door for her to collect herself. A few seconds later, she appears from the kitchen with her head down and quickly walks to the door as I hold it open for her.

  Now, that’s what I like to see.

  The Case III:

  Dom to Dominic

  The next morning, I am awakened by someone pounding on the door. I jump out of bed, grabbing my firearm from between the mattress. I don’t know who the fuck that is, but not many know I’m here. I walk over to the front door and peer through the peephole. All I can make out is two very large men in suits. There’s only one person that can be.

  Dominic.

  I run back to my room to put my gun back in it’s hiding place. Then I grab my cell phone and put the recorder app on in the background, before placing the phone on the coffee table. Have to be prepared just in case. Before I could return, they begin pounding again, but harder this time. I take a deep breath before calmly opening the door. I don’t open it much before the two large men are barging in, pushing me back. They walk right around me and begin searching the room. Not sure for what, but once they are through, they frisk me for weapons.

  “What the fuck! Who are you?!” I shout appalled as if I’m unaware.

  Just then another large man enters, with a much slender man, in a grey custom suit, dark hair, goatee and shades follows closely behind. Once he removes his glasses, I recognize him immediately, but I have to play it off. I’m sure Jennifer told him I know nothing about them. He stands directly in front of me, but I am sure not to cower in his presence.

  “Do I know you?” I ask annoyed.

  “Apparently, you don’t.” He walks past me and sits on my black leather couch as if he’s home.

  “By all means take a seat,” I say sarcastically, eyeing my phone and hoping he doesn’t decide to pick it up and notice the recorder on in the background.

  “Nice place you got here, Kent,” Dominic says as his goons leave the apartment, to wait outside.

  “How do you know my name? What the hell do you want?” I ask, standing across from him.

  “I guess, you can say I’m a concerned brother.”

  I think I’d call you more than that asshole.

  “I don’t understand,” I respond.

  “My name is Dominic Little. I understand you had my sister here last night?” he asks, watching my reaction.

  I fake shock and worry to let him think he has the upper hand. “Okay…well, can I ask why you are here, Mr. Little?”

  “My sister and I are close, and she claims to have met someone. Of course, I had to meet this someone.”

  “Okay…well, Jennifer seems like a great woman. But we are just getting to know each other.”

  “Yes, but I just want to make sure I know enough about you. Kent Tomlin, who just moved here from Jersey, works for a good friend of mine – who is also a friend to you apparently, since he offered you a damn good job. No family…ummm, and of course, that Chrysler 300 you have parked in your garage. Leave anything out?” He smiles as if he’s just conquered my fear, but I was already expecting for him to look into me.

  “Ummm…that seems much more than…concern,” I stutter.

  “What can I say? I’m thorough.” He chuckles.

  “Well…you’ve got the gist.” I sit on the other end of the couch.

  He eyes me suspiciously. “There’s something about you that I can’t quite understand. I’m not sure if it’s because you don’t know who I am, or the fact that you were able to turn my sister down…but I like you.”

  What? I can’t believe she told him that. I put my head in my hands in shame. That’s just too damn much information.

  “Don’t worry about it. Listen, you’re new here. If you want to move up in the world, it would help if you had me backing you. I’m not going to lie, for what I have going on…I need someone as level headed, and inconspicuous as you.” He stands, putting his shades back on. “Here’s the thing…you can’t fuck with my sister. If you’re in business with me, the two can’t comingle. You got me?”

  “What makes you think I want to be in business with you?”

  He laughs out almost with a villainous echo. “I like you, man. Listen, talk to Trevor, your boss…he’ll tell you.” He heads for the door. “If my sister tells me you left her alone, I’ll know you’re down.” And just like that, he’s gone.

  What the hell just happened?

  It takes a minute for me to realize I’ve got my in with Dominic. Who knew that being a dom would lead me to Domi
nic? Turns out, the captain was right. Jennifer was who we needed. But she’s not going to be happy about this. From the few conversations we’ve had, I know she won’t take rejection well…and I’m sure she’ll be even more pissed once she figures out it was her brother’s doing.

  I guess, my first step is to get ready for work. I need to talk to McCollum and let him know what’s going on. I’m sure he’ll be pleased that I was able to handle that so quickly. Honestly, I’m shocked myself. Besides, I really didn’t do anything but be myself.

  ***

  Pulling into the garage, I see Melody making her way to the elevator. She looks even better than yesterday, somehow. She’s wearing a flowy type light blue, short dress, with her hair down. I waste no time parking the car to jump out and try to nonchalantly catch her as she waits for the elevator. As the doors to the elevator open, she walks in and sees me coming. Thankfully, she holds it open for me.

  “Mr. Tomlin, good morning,” she says, smiling.

  “Call me Kent.” Beautiful. I can’t call her that out loud…yet.

  Just then I see the mass of folders she’s gripping in her arms begin to slide from her grasp and hit the floor. We simultaneously drop down to the floor to pick them up and bump our heads together on the way down. We grab at our foreheads as we release a robust, childlike laughter. I haven’t laughed this hard at myself for over a decade. I’ll never forget being able to laugh with the one family that kept me over six months…eight years to be exact. Until they all died in a car crash.

  I help pick up her papers. We carry them to her hiding cubby, which is really a reception area, in the front of the building. She smiles as we begin neatly placing the fallen papers on her desk.

  “I don’t think I can help sort these,” I say somberly, wishing I could maintain that reason to hang around her longer.