Until My Heart Stops Beating

by Tonya M Barber

  “Sir, is anything wrong?” asked the flight attendant standing at the entrance to the plane.

  “I hope not. I can’t seem to locate my ticket.”

  “Have you checked your briefcase?”

  “No, I’m sure I didn’t put it in there. I knew I would need it to board the plane. Maybe security forgot to give it back to me,” he replied with a worried look on his face. “How much time do I have?”

  The flight attendant glanced at her watch. “Approximately six minutes.”

  Immediately, he grabbed his briefcase, turned on his heels and took off running bumping into someone. His briefcase fell open as it hit the floor. Papers flew everywhere.

  “I’m so sorry miss I-“

  “No worries I was running trying to catch up with you. You left your ticket on the bar.”

  He looked up at her and smiled.

  “Thank you so much Makeba. I guess I was so lost in your beauty I couldn’t think straight.”

  She chuckled. “Stop it!”

  “I’ll miss my flight if you say you’ll go out with me.”

  She frowned. “And why would you do that? You don’t know me at all.”

  “I’m serious. I’d like to get to know you.”

  “Thanks for the offer but no thanks.”

  “Two minutes,” the flight attendant announced.

  Speechless, he stared at her as if he was trying to study the quality of a rare jewel.

  Makeba handed him the last of his papers. He held his open briefcase in one hand and loose papers and his ticket in the other.

  “I hope to see you again.”

  She shook her head, turned and walked away leaving him with no response.

  Declan lifted his hand so that the attendant could get his ticket. He stood there momentarily glancing over his shoulders at the woman he was sure wasn’t going to be easy to forget. He lowered his head, closed his briefcase then boarded the plane. He was on a mission and he wouldn’t stop until he conquered it. He would make it his business to get back to Newark sooner than he had planned. There was no way this woman was going to slip through his fingers. At first sight he had a knowing feeling indicating she was the one for him.

  TRAPPED IN A GROWN MAN'S BODY

  Declan studied the blueprints of the new hotel. To his amazement everything was ahead of schedule. What was projected to be a twenty-four month project was only going to take eighteen months according to Skanska, the construction company that was building the hotel. He glanced at the model of the structure. It would be the first of its kind strategically located in the middle of Newark’s financial district.

  He got up and ushered over to the mocked version of The Serenity Hotel. He folded his arms resting his chin on the back of his right hand. His lips spread into a smile as he watched the miniature model of what would become one of the finest hotels in Newark’s history. The city was rapidly changing for the better. For years the remnants of the riots of July 12th, 1967 stained the city. It looked run down and dilapidated. He reminisced about the story he heard of what led to the riots. The majority of Newark’s residents were black. Poverty and unemployment was at high levels, educational opportunities were limited, the state had agreed to allow a large amount of land to be made available to build the University of Medicine and Dentistry Hospital, which caused thousands to be displaced when the buildings they resided in were evacuated and torn down to make room for the facility. In a city mostly populated by African Americans, was a police force dominated by whites who racially profiled young black men, stopping them without cause. The straw that broke the camel’s back was the arrest of a black cab driver for improper passing. When witnesses observed the condition of the cab driver being removed from the squad car, the rumor mill began turning. It had been said that the driver had been killed by police when in fact he had been taken to a healthcare facility. Anger enveloped many and unrest ensued. Private and public properties were destroyed; there was looting, violence, and the police were attacked causing them to retaliate and kill a few men. Soon, thousands of National Guards were called in along with hundreds of State Troopers. The riot ended July 17th, 1967. By then 26 people, mostly blacks, were dead, approximately 750 were injured and about 425 people were jailed. The city of Newark was left with damage estimated to be about $10 million dollars.

  “Wow,” whispered Declan as he shook his head. He had watched videos, heard stories and read articles, all pertaining to the riots during his research for the hotel. No one thought Newark was going to come back from such destruction but it did. It took a few decades but in 2014 Newark was thriving. There wasn’t a businessman or woman around who was not looking at the prospect of building in Newark. The city was no longer the eyesore people steered clear of. No, not at all. In fact, Newark was becoming the entertainment capital of NJ. It had become the place to see. Tourists frequented the downtown district where there are elegant but affordable hotels, hundreds of stores selling anything you could possibly imagine, eateries from casual to fine dining. You name it this city has it and soon it will also have 'The Serenity Hotel', right around the corner from the Prudential Arena. It’s a city that has bounced back and has so much to offer. Newark was now being featured in prestigious travel magazines and had become a hot commodity to the film industry.

  Declan returned to his seat resting his head on the back of the chair. All that was true about what the great city had to offer but to him it was so much more. He was sure his future wife was a resident. The woman who stood behind the bar at Garden State Bar and Grill at Newark Liberty International Airport with the sparkly eyes, full lips, small waist and wide hips had taken his breath away. Newark was the city where he was sure he’d find true love. The day he laid eyes on Makeba Jones was the day he stopped being a boy trapped in a grown man’s body. His needs and desires for his life had changed. Before their chance encounter he hadn’t given the possibility of marriage a second thought. He loved being single and carefree, not being responsible for anything or anyone other than himself. Even more, he relished in the fact that he could walk away from a relationship on a whim. He had no ties to anyone. He was never looking for a single white or black female to be a permanent fixture in his life. One delayed flight was all it took to alter not only his world but his way of thinking, as well.

  He engaged in an on again off again fling with Deena James, his business advisor, until she began hinting around that she wanted more than he was willing to give. Every time she’d bring up the subject of marriage he’d quickly respond by saying he wasn’t the marrying type. As a result, they decided to end their affair only to reconnect again and again. He reiterated on numerous occasions that their encounters were strictly sexual and she should not expect anything more, but Deena was one of those women who thought that if she gave him all she had to offer, she could change his mind. As of yet, she has not learned that a woman can have honey dripping from her clit and it still would not be enough to keep a man who doesn’t want to be kept. She'd rather take what she could get than not have him at all. Declan felt as long as he was honest about what he didn’t want, and she was still willing to allow him to have her in ways he wanted, when there was a need to release sexual tension, then, she was fair game. That is, Deena and whomever else he felt the desire to crawl under the covers with. With all the women he played, none of them would ever come before business. If they became clingy they were cut off, discarded like a perishable item past its expiration date.

  Declan smiled at the thought of taking another trip to Newark. Even though he had been assured that the hotel development was ahead of schedule. He needed to see it for himself. He’d been in business long enough to know that words are not bonded, contracts are. He had to see for himself how far along the contractors were with his own eyes. Therefore, a walkthrough of the hotel was imperative. The current news about this couldn’t have come at a better time. It gave him the opportunity to possibly see Makeba again. The thought had awakened a part of his anatomy causing it to press fir
mly against his zipper.

  Declan’s muse was interrupted when he heard a light knock on the door as it slowly opened. His eyes were fixated on the door until the person on the other side made herself visible without invitation. For a little over a week he had been going out of his way to avoid her, knowing sooner or later she’d eventually pop into his office. He made a mental note to inform Ashley that for now on, even his business adviser had to be announced before entering. That would have to be later because at the moment he had more pressing issues and she was more than capable of helping him solve them.

  He stared down at her long, firm, beautiful legs as they made their way to an empty chair on the opposite side of his desk. Deena sat down raising her legs resting them on top of his desk as she spread them wide giving him a full visual of her jewels, literally. He studied her clean shaven bedazzled jewel box as his erect member began to throb.

  She smiled, realizing his reaction was just what she had expected. “Beautiful.”

  “I did it for you.”

  He stood to show her the effect her exposed glistening vaginal area had on him. “I feel honored that you would go to such lengths.”

  “You haven’t seen anything yet. Send your secretary to an early lunch."

  “Will do,” he replied hitting the intercom button.

  “Yes Mr. Whitaker?”

  “Ashley, take an early lunch. I’ll see you at 1:00.”

  “Oh, thank you sir. I needed to run a few errands anyway.”

  “You’re welcome. Enjoy your lunch.”

  “Yea, you too sir,” she said with a slight giggle in her voice.

  Deena got up from her chair and locked the door. She turned on her heels as she began removing every stitch of clothing from her body seductively. Slowly, she sashayed fully naked in front of the object of her desire. She covered his mouth with hers aggressively as she ripped open his shirt. Her hands glided down his chest finding his belt buckle and unfastening it. She unbuttoned his pants allowing them to fall to his ankles. He stepped out of them picking them up and throwing them on the sofa in the corner. She brought her hands to the tip of his boxer briefs and helped him out of those as well tossing them on the sofa along with his pants and shirt. She moved her hands slowly down the center of his chest stopping only at the point of target. She gripped his manhood massaging it like she was kneading dough for bread. He moaned in pleasure the moment her warm moist mouth clamped around him and began sucking him like trying to sip a thick vanilla shake through a straw. He grabbed the back of her head gripping her hair as the sensations traveled throughout his body. If he could buy a gadget that would make him feel as good as her mouth did, he’d buy a million dollars’ worth. That’s how good she was. He closed his eyes as he relaxed and traveled on the road to ecstasy.

  Images of Makeba flashed through his mind adding fuel to the fire already burning deep within his bones. Just before he was about to explode he pulled out of Deena’s mouth, grabbed a condom from the top desk drawer and slipped it on. He turned her around to face the wall forcing her to raise her hands above her head. He placed his foot on the inside of her feet pressing it outward widening her stance. He grabbed his penis and entered her from behind. She hissed at the feel of him sliding inside her. He leaned forward kissing her on the neck as his hips gyrated against her backside. Again he closed his eyes as his mind drifted to the land of make believe where he was making love to the beautiful woman he had met a few weeks ago and couldn’t get his mind of. The images sent him into a frenzy. The more he envisioned his entire manhood buried deep inside of her the more intense the tingling sensations became.

  He stopped abruptly pulling Deena away from the wall. “Bend over and grab your ankles. Let’s see if those yoga classes have paid off.”

  She looked him in his eyes. Never had she seen such a raging desire in them before but she wasn’t frightened at all. It was the total opposite. She was turned on even more. She bent down and did just as she was told, holding on tight to her ankles anticipating what was to come next. “Assuming the position,” she said. ‘It’s all yours.”

  Declan put his arm around his waist at the area where she was bent. He held a tight grip as he entered her from behind. Deena took a deep breath at the moment of contact. He started off nice and slow until it happened again. Without volition thoughts of her, the woman he fantasized about over the last few weeks infiltrated his mind. He increased his speed, pumping in and out of Deena. As images of her full lips, shiny hazelnut colored skin, and dark eyes flashed through his mind he thrust harder, faster while holding on tighter. Deena had never seen this side of Declan. He was the best lover she had ever had but this, this was the icing on the cake. He was an animal and she was loving every bit of being tamed by him. The hard thrust made it difficult for her to continue to hold on to her ankles. She lowered to her hands and knees and gave him full access to her love tunnel. He closed his eyes again allowing the visions that forced their way inside his mind take control. This sent him so far over the edge his body quaked as he let out a guttural groan, releasing juices that were captured inside his latex condom.

  With labored breaths they got up from the floor, they ended up there during the heat of passion. Deena snatched her clothing off the floor and began dressing.

  “That was some performance Declan. I have no idea what’s gotten into you but whatever it is I hope it stays,” she said as she winked walking out the door.

  Declan was glad his office had a full bathroom. He made sure that the architect included it in his plans, along with a bed which pulled down from the wall. This was good for the nights that he had to work late and was too tired to drive home. He also always kept extra clothing in his office. It’s times like these when those things came in handy.

  Declan took a quick shower and dressed before Ashley was due back from lunch. He was glad Deena was able to give him a release even though he had been avoiding her for some time. The thing he loved most about her was her spontaneity. Too bad his attraction to her was only physical. He felt bad that during his tryst with her, his mind was on another woman. He tried to shake off the thoughts but he couldn’t no matter how hard he tried. It wasn’t fair to her that he was there in body but not in spirit but unfair or not, she appeared to reap the benefits of being sexed while thoughts of another woman invaded his mind. Her body's reaction and the moans she let out was proof of that. Why he was smitten by the woman he met only once was beyond him. One thing he did know though was that he had to get to know her better.

  “Mr. Whitaker, I’m back from lunch,” said Ashley bringing him back to reality.

  “Thanks Ashley. Listen, book me a flight to Newark for a week from now. I’d like to try that new hotel, Shaq’s Place.”

  “Indigo?”

  “Yes, that’s it.”

  “For how long?”

  “That has yet to be determined.”

  She sighed. “How about I book a room for three days. If you need anything longer than that you can extend your stay from the location.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Thanks Ashley.”

  “You’re welcome sir.”

  “Oh, Ashley.”

  “Yes.”

  “Send a bouquet of friendship flowers to Garden State Bar and Grill in Newark Airport Terminal C. They are for a woman name Makeba. I don’t know her last name but that shouldn’t pose an issue. Besides, how many Makeba’s could there be?" he chuckled. “As long as you have the place of employment she should be easy to find.”

  “Any message on the note card?”

  “Because you were in my dreams.”

  “I’ll take care of it Mr. Whitaker.”

  “Be sure that it arrives on Tuesday, the day before my flight."

  “Not a problem sir.”

  “Thank you, Ashley.”

  Declan sat back against his chair and smiled. He couldn’t wait to see this woman again. He prayed she’d be working the day he arrived so that he’d get to converse with the woman that invaded h
is thoughts daily since their first encounter.

  ~*~

  Makeba jumped up and sat with her back against the headboard flabbergasted. She couldn’t understand for the life of her why she was dreaming about the guy she met at the airport. First of all, it was her first time ever laying eyes on him. Second, he was a thorn in her ass. Well, that is until he engaged her into a casual conversation. After talking with him she realized he wasn’t as bad as he first appeared to be. Good or bad, she couldn’t understand why he had invaded her dreams. It wasn’t like she had been thinking about him. She hadn’t given him a second thought after chasing him down to give him his ticket so why in the world was this happening to her.

  She got up, took a shower and dressed for work. The dream still troubled her. It was so clear and seemed so real. In the dream she could actually feel this man touching, kissing and fondling her as if he was under the covers of her queen size canopy bed. She recalled being told by her grandmother that dreams that occur in the early morning hours and those that you can recall are the most significant ones. Was this a premonition of what was to come? No, hell no, she thought. She wasn’t interested in anyone. She was concentrating on trying to get back in school and working overtime so that she can get an apartment and a car. Besides, her relationships never turned out the way she anticipated they would. Those she perceived to be Mr. Right proved to be Mr. Wrong on so many levels. She was at a point in her life where she didn’t trust her own judgment anymore which was why she decided to stay single for as long as she could. So to her, the dream was just that, a dream and nothing more. Anyway, she may not ever see the guy again. Hell, she couldn’t even remember his name.

  She reached for her cell phone and purse and heading out the door. Her phone began to ring the moment she stepped out on the front porch. She looked at the screen and instantly became ecstatic when she saw who was calling. She hit the accept call button.