by Monica May
I do as she instructs. The next one is still her face, but the unseen man is speaking, and what he says is even more shocking if that’s possible. “You see, Norma, I actually filmed me beating you.” She gasps knowing her house of cards could fall at any moment. Then he proceeds to speak. “You see, I owe a lot of money to a bookie, so either you get it today, or I will sell it to Jackson for his court date. Either way, I will make ten grand today.”
The reaction on her face is pure evil. “I will get you your damn money, but I need more time.”
“How much you have in that pretty little purse of yours to hold me over?”
“What?”
“You fucking heard me. I need a down payment.”
She fumbles through her purse coming out with a couple hundred dollars. As soon as the money hits his hands, you see the bodies in the background moving quickly to the car. The door flies open and the new voices scream, “FBI, you’re under arrest.”
They pull Norma out of the car by the arm and handcuff her right there as she screams at the unknown apparently undercover man trying to save his ass from beating her in the first place for money.
My heart is beating out of my chest. I feel the hot tears pouring down my face in relief. Will he forgive me for not hearing him out? I’m now scared I may have lost him.
“Sleazy fucking bitch. I could not stand that girl from the very first day I met her,” Melinda says, taking the phone from my hand.
“Go to him, Sunny! He understands how this looks, and to tell you the truth, without this video, he was going to jail. He was not going to cave to her demand of being with her. He told me if he didn’t have you, he would rather be in jail.
I look up with a glimmer of hope. “He still wants me?”
“Does he still want you? The man can’t function without you. He’s a wreck. Come on, get dressed and I’ll bring you to the club.”
I stand up giving her a tight hug. “Thanks for showing me.”
“I’m just glad this slimy bastard that beat the shit out of her needed an out and sang like a canary to get her locked up. She was arrested last night. I have my DVR set for the noon news because I can’t wait to see them parade her ass in front of the cameras.”
I feel my insides flutter knowing I can have Jackson back in my life. I run off to my room, throw on a dress, slap on some quick makeup, throw my hair in a messy bun, and grab my purse to head out the door with Melinda.
Chapter 18
Sunny
Melinda drops me off at the front of the club knowing Jackson is in his office. The club isn’t open yet, but Samantha sees me at the door and unlocks it.
“Girl, your ass better be here to cheer up that poor man of yours. He looks like shit, you know?”
I smile at her feeling a little embarrassed I didn’t come in and tell her I was quitting.
“Look, I wanted to tell you I’m sorry I had to quit the way I did.”
“Don't worry about shit like that, girl. I like you and really didn't want you stripping anyway. You have dreams, and you need to follow them. But most importantly, follow that hunk of man that is so head over heels for you he can’t even do his job.”
“That’s what I’m here for. Where is he?”
“The same place he has been for the last four days, sulking in his office.”
I rush to the back of the building to Jackson’s office and knock on the door. When he doesn’t respond, I try the knob. It’s unlocked so I slowly push the door open. My heart sinks and dread fills me that I have done this to him. It’s just past noon, and he has a bottle of Crown in one hand and the other laying lifelessly on his desk. Not much has been removed from the bottle, but heck, its only noon.
“Jackson,” I whisper, not wanting to startle him as I stand in the doorway.
He moves his head slightly as if he didn’t hear me. A little louder, I ask, “Jackson, are you okay?”
His head pops up and he stares at me without saying a word. I can’t place the look in his eyes.
“Say something, Jackson, you’re scaring me.”
“You came back?”
I shut the door behind me, walk over to his desk, push his chair away from the desk, and stand in between his legs.
“Of course, I came back.”
“I’m sorry. I should have told you this was going on. I should have warned you so you would have known she was lying.” He grabs my small shaking hands in his large strong hands. “I just thought the FBI would have gotten her confession sooner. They had the stupid druggie that beat her. It just took time to set up the sting to get her to say it.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t give you a chance to explain. Please don't hate me for that.”
He stands framing my face with his hands. “Hate you? I could never hate you, Sunny, I love you.”
I gasp in surprise. Jackson loves me. OMG, I love Jackson and he loves me back. The tears fall uncontrollably. I mutter through it and tell him what I wanted to tell him the last time we made love. “I love you too, Jackson.”
He pulls my face to his and devours me in a possessive kiss. I can taste a hit of Crown on his lips, but mostly I taste Jackson. The unmistakable taste of my man. I lean my head back letting him own me. I wrap my arms around his neck and into his hair grasping for him. I want to make sure I have him—I need him.
“I need you,” he says, looking down at me with eyes of desire.
“You have me.”
His hands gather my dress and his skin is hot on my flesh. His hands feel so good as he caresses up and down my hips pulling my underwear down to my knees. “Get them off, Sunshine, I need you now.”
Quickly, I jiggle out of them as I unbutton his shirt. I need to feel him as well. I rub my hands over his beautiful chest stopping over his heart and tiger tattoo. His heart is pounding as hard as mine, and it feels good to have him need me as much as a I need him.
“Look at me, Sunny. Promise me you will never run again.”
“I promise,” I say as I undo his belt buckle and release his pants. They fall to the floor where he steps out of them. I proceed to push his underwear down wanting to feel his need for me in my hands. I reach down grabbing his hardness, and it’s pure hot steel. I stroke him hard and slow while looking into his eyes. He pulls my dress up and over my head, and then he unclasps my bra. Taking my nipple into his mouth, he finds my slick opening with his finger, plunging in hard and fast. I moan in pleasure.
He moves his kisses from my nipple up to my collarbone and then back up to my neck.
“I love you so fucking much, Sunny. I never want to be without you.”
He pulls his cock out of my hands, lifts me up, and pushes me against the wall. I wrap my legs around his waist for support. He rubs his hard cock at my entrance, rubbing it up and down in my wetness like he always does. Looking me in the eye, he asks, “Move in with me tonight? I can’t live another night without you in my bed.”
He does not wait for a response, thrusting into me with exquisite pressure. He has one hand on the nape of my neck and the other around my waist supporting me. His thrusts in and out of me are hard and deep. I arch my back meeting his thrusts and trying to process what he has just asked me.
“Consider my bags packed because I don't want to live another night without you either,” I pant.
He takes possession of my mouth again as he fucks me even harder. It’s rough but loving I feel his need, his fear, and his relief. He plants his hands on the wall behind me as he hammers within me. Reaching down, I rub my clit. When Jackson groans, I explode into a million pieces trying to muffle my screams. He’s right behind me as I continue to pump him by squeezing myself around him. He wraps me with his arms squeezing me tight.
Looking down into my eyes with sadness, he says, “I thought I lost you. I would rather go to prison than be without you.”
“I’m here, and that crazy bitch is going to jail,” I say, pulling his face to me with both hands and kissing his face all over.
Our m
ind-blowing office sex made us both very hungry. Jackson is in the same condition I have been in. He has not eaten much in a while. The club doesn’t open until later so we walk down Bourbon Street and slip inside Acme Oyster house.
“Have you ever had oysters?” Jackson asks, while we look over the menu.
I scrunch up my nose in disgust. “Oysters?”
He laughs and I drink in the sight of how handsome he is when smiling. His eyes shine as they watch my every move.
“You need to try them. They are a natural aphrodisiac.”
“I don't think that’s really necessary, do you? If we had any more sexual chemistry between the two of us, we would have to stay home twenty-four-seven. We would never get out of bed.”
“And the problem with that is what?”
I smile at him thinking it actually sounds pretty good at the moment. At least for the next few days anyway. The waitress breaks my budding daydream asking what type of oysters we would like. The fear is written all over my face. I’m not sure I can do that.
In his husky smooth voice, Jackson orders for us. “I will have a dozen raw, and this beautiful lady will have a half-dozen chargrilled.”
I raise one eyebrow at him, not knowing what I’m getting myself into. I’m grateful he isn’t pushing me to try the raw ones. Moments later, the waitress returns with two trays. When she puts them down, the aroma of the garlic and butter is to die for. However, the look of Jackson’s almost makes me nauseated.
“Come on, we will do it at the same time. You have that little girl fork for you to pick one up, and after I splash some hot sauce on here, I will suck mine down. Ready,” he demands rather than asking. And I’m so head over heels for this man, if he said suck down a raw one, I would have to give it a shot. He picks his shell up and holds it up to his mouth while I fumble trying to get my little slick bugger out with this tiny fork.
“One, two, three,” he says with raised eyebrows. And I do it. I shove it in and wait for the unknown. The flavors are amazing, lemon, butter, garlic, parsley, and it’s just yummy. I open my eyes, not realizing I had squeezed them shut in anticipation. When I open them, Jackson has his hand on his flat belly laughing at me. “So it wasn't that bad, was it?”
“Actually, it was pretty good,” I say, shoving the second one in. But I have to admit, watching him slurp the second one down really makes me a bit queasy.
The rest of our lunch is filled with talk of our future. I don't think I have ever planned a future with a man. It is so exciting!
“I have to admit, I can’t say I’m sad you’re quitting the club. I know a guy that works at Commander’s Palace. He can hook you up with a waitress job while you go through school.”
“Commander’s Palace! I don't know, I have only been a waitress in a diner. I’m not sure I can do a fancy place like that.”
“Babe, you have more class than anyone I know. You’ll do fine. I will give him a call tomorrow.”
I tilt my head to the side still in amazement that I love this man and he loves me back. “I love you, Jackson Devereux.”
“Back at ya, babe, I love you too,” he says, reaching across the table and squeezing my hand.
“The waitress thing sounds great, but if I work days and you work nights, when will we see each other?”
“I’m quitting the club at the end of this week,” he says, taking a big bite of his large hamburger.
“What? Why?”
“I only kept the job because you were there. Before you started, I had put some feelers out to local hotels for head of security, and yesterday, I got a call from the Ritz. They want me to start Monday.”
“Oh Lord, Samantha is going to hate us.”
“Nah, she’s fine with it. That’s how the strip club business goes. I’ve trained Sean from bartender to security. They will be fine.”
Wow, the puzzle pieces are just falling together for me. It’s so surreal. This has never happened to me; nothing ever goes the way it should for me. I almost feel like looking around to see when the rug will be pulled from under my feet.
“Stop daydreaming, Sunny. Everything is going to be fine. I see the worry on your face. I have no more secrets, and I will never let anyone hurt you, so forget about it.”
I smile trusting he will forever keep me safe.
We walk back to the club hand in hand in utter elation. The air is cool outside but my heart is so warm.
“Where have you lovebirds been?” Samantha yells from the bar.
“Acme’s. Jackson made me try oysters.”
“Oysters. Shit, I’m gonna have to pay the cleaning crew extra to clean Jackson’s office with y'all eating that shit.”
Jackson grunts and walks away from us to let us chat. Samantha pulls me into another hug. She sure is touchy-feely lately.
“I’m so happy for y’all. Promise you will keep in touch. Jackson told me he’s leaving so you won’t have a reason to come back to see me.”
“Carmella will be here.”
“Girl, it’s only a matter of time before a movie company scoops her up on me as well. And hell, I want her to move on. I mean really, I know my shit is fancy, but let’s face it, it’s still a strip club with a sex club pulling us along.”
“Thanks for letting me into your work family. Without you, I wouldn’t be here and this happy today.”
“Actually, you need to thank Shelby. She pushed me to hire you,” she says, smiling at me.
“Yes, you are right. Please let me know next time ya’ll do lunch, and I would love to tag along.”
She smiles big at my use of the word ya’ll. “Will do, girl, now go kiss that hunk of man of yours goodbye so he can put his head in the game for the next two nights. You go soak in a hot bubble bath and be ready and waiting for his oyster-eating ass when he gets home.”
I laugh and shake my head as I walk away from her heading to the back. I stick my head in Jackson’s office. “Hey, handsome, I’m gonna run so you can get work done. I’m going to pack up the little bit of stuff I have at Carmella’s.”
“Sounds good. I will come crash with you tonight because it’s gonna be late when I get off, and we’ll head to my house in the morning, yeah?”
“Perfect.” I reach into my purse and throw him my key. Carmella keeps a spare in the flowerpot outside the apartment I can use to get in.
“You’re not gonna come give me a kiss goodbye?” he asks from his desk.
I blow him a kiss from the door. “You know as well as I do what will happen if I walk into that office,” I say, raising my eyebrows at him. “And your shift starts in five minutes.”
“I can be done in five,” he says, getting up from his desk and striding to the door.
“Oh no, save your oysters ‘til later.”
He pulls me into his arms kissing me and deep pressing his hardness into my belly.
“Babe, you’re gonna kill me if I have to wait ‘til tonight.”
“It will keep you alert and wanting.” I smile and walk away, blowing him another kiss over my shoulder. I go to my locker to pick up my personal belongings. The only thing in here I need is my grandmother’s necklace. The rest of the stuff is just costumes, and I don't need these. I hear the door to the dressing room open and see Dixie bounce in.
“Hey, girl, so I hear you are making it out of the stripping world,” she says in a cheerful voice. I love these girls. She’s not jealous I’m leaving. She’s truly happy for me.
“Yeah, Jackson helped me get into college,” I say, looking at the ground.
“Girl, look at me. Be proud, don't be ashamed. Hey, I know we don't grow up wanting to be a stripper, but hey, I’m really good with it. I make a shit load of money only working three to four hours a night. And this is the best establishment I’ve ever worked for. I have no complaints. And it gives me more time with my kiddos.”
She wraps me in a hug, whispering into my ear, “But I’m going to miss you, so don't be a stranger.”
Pulling back, I see her glassy ey
es. “Don't worry, we’ll make it a habit to have lunch once a month, I promise.”
“Deal,” she says, kissing my cheek.
Chapter 19
Sunny
I walk back to my apartment in a bubble of happiness ready to start the new chapter of my life. As soon as I hit the door, my phone goes off, notifying me of a text message.
Carmella:
Hey chick
My latest hookup set me up w/2
tickets to Maroon 5
@ House of Blues
U in?
Me:
What time?
Carmella:
9
Me:
Sounds good
Want me to meet u there?
Carmella:
Im gonna grab a taxi
fm the club pick u up @ 8:45
Be ready bitch bc Im
EXCITED
Me:
Me too
Sounds like fun
Carmella:
See ya soon
I start to pack the small amount of clothes I have accumulated in the four months I’ve been here. It doesn’t take long before I’m done. I look at the clock on the wall to see it’s only 6:00 p.m. I guess I better take a nap before my big night out with Carmella. And once Jackson gets home, I will need some extra energy to make up for lost time. I set my phone alarm to go off at 7:30 and lie down to rest. Today was an exhausting day, and I’m out in seconds feeling like I’ve slept for hours when the alarm goes off an hour and a half later.
I jump up, gather my clothes, and head to the shower. Looking down at my phone, I notice the battery is about dead. I plug it into the charger and throw it down on the bed. As I turn to make my way back down the hall to the bathroom, a sense of panic washes over me for no apparent reason. I stand still, listening to see if I hear anything and feeling like I’m being watched again. After a few deep breaths, I convince myself it’s nothing. I tell myself that just because my world has been turned upside down every time things fall into place does not mean it will happen again.