Twisted

by Christa Simpson

  He brushed past my cheek, his breath on my neck and his lips against my ear. "You thought wrong."

  My lashes fluttered shut, as Edwin slowly pulled away from my neck, his hand gently skimming across my cheek. I waited for his sensual attack but it never came. I slowly opened my anxious, emerald eyes and looked up into his. His smile, soft and tantalizing, parted as he closed his eyes and titled his head for a kiss.

  I gasped for air and pulled back, stunning myself with my own willpower. "I can't Edwin. We can't do this anymore." Though I so wish we could.

  "I realize we can't do this as a couple. But we’re both single, consenting adults. We’re free to do whatever we want."

  I cocked an eyebrow at him, preparing to playfully test his crisis negotiation skills. "Do I look like that kind of girl to you? I don't just sleep around with random men like that.”

  He returned inside my zone, his lips delivering an enticingly cunning smile, shaking my confidence. "I'm hardly some random guy."

  Yes! Yes, I thought, as Edwin’s cologne doused my senses. At that moment, with my own hormones raging, I was unable to formulate a sentence, let alone verbalize one.

  "It'd be just this once," he insisted. "No one even knows that we split. I want to… no I need to feel you Abs; one last time. Admit it. You need it too.”

  Just the fact that I was thinking about it was stressful enough, and Edwin thought that was his answer.

  “What's the big deal?” he asked, smirking.

  "It's not healthy!" I stammered.

  "Get over it."

  "But I have to go to work," I uttered, partly hoping he would give up, so I could stick to my guns.

  "We don't usually leave for another half hour, at least. You know there's plenty of time for what I have in mind. Now quit with the excuses."

  On a harsh exhale, I let my guard down only for a second, and Edwin didn't waste the opportunity. He kissed me, his hot lips on mine. He kissed me again, his icy cool breath in my mouth. Stunned, I accepted the string of tantalising nibbles and devouring mouthfuls. Just last night I was worrying to myself that I may never find myself in this place ever again, and here I am the very next day wrapped in his amazing arms; his thorough hands exploring me with unguarded enthusiasm.

  My mind was done fighting, my body begged me to stop fighting and I couldn't fight Edwin off anymore, even if I wanted to. Did I want to? Hell no.

  I pushed Edwin off of me and he froze in confusion, until I started to slowly, seductively, unzip the back of my long, fitted skirt. After it slipped to the floor, I kicked it aside. Standing there in the hallway, my breasts burst from my lacy push up bra and my g-string barely covered anything, and yet Edwin's gaze was still locked on my face, speechless. I knew this would be my last opportunity to touch him and so did my body. Together we intended to take full advantage of him.

  A devious giggle tickled my throat, as I stepped toward him. His eyes grew wide with excitement as I yanked his pressed shirt from his pants and tore open the rest of his carefully buttoned shirt. The buttons sprinkled onto the floor like candy, as I stared up at him through dark lashes. My hands smoothed over the rise and fall of his chest and were cold compared to the heat radiating from his firm skin.

  Edwin’s lips turned up into a smile, finally revealing his arousal and forgetting about his surprise. I grinned back, provocative, all anxiety piled back with my skirt on the floor. My hands scoured his bulky physique and my tongue found his hard nipple. His eyes closed and his pants tented, as my aggression made him thicker and harder. Edwin licked his lips and gripped onto my behind with his large hands, letting out an excited moan as I nibbled at him.

  My fingers skimmed over his rock hard abs, then deftly unclipped his leather belt. Dropping to my knees, my lips trailed down his body to where my fingers left off. Slow and sensual, I trimmed the band of his fitted briefs with kisses and then pulled his belt off with a snap.

  "Hey, I didn't say you could rip all of my clothes off," he said, his wicked grin being his demise.

  Channeling all control, "Oh, are you making the rules now?" I stopped, acting like I could actually control my sexual rage. "Suit yourself," I teased. Yanking on his pants, I lifted myself to my feet and spun away from him. With one dainty step, my body trembled with an all-consuming ache for Edwin.

  "No more playing Abs. I need you."

  I froze in place trying to shake the delicious chill chasing up my body. His serious response made my anxiety return full force though none of the excitement dwindled. Stealing a few more steps away from him, I was met with the top of the stairs. I glanced down to our front foyer, reason returning to me, as I frantically reconsidered my options: fight or flight.

  "Oh no you don't," Edwin said, reading my mind. Then, out of nowhere, he was just there; pulling me back and lifting me in the air like a doll. "You're mine," he ordered, looking up at me through deep, dark eyes.

  Breathless, I wrapped my dangling legs around his waist, as he pressed me against the wall. He slowly drew my lips into his mouth, but when he grinded against me, we both became instantly frantic and obsessive. We moaned in unison, desperate to fulfill our own fanatical desires. Edwin pulled me off the wall and turned for my room, his fly open and ready, his business attire flagging loosely from his hips.

  "No! Take me now.”

  Edwin obeyed. He dropped his pants to the floor, laid me where he stood and boldly took me right in the hall. Arousal, pleasure, love and passion were among the many feelings blasting around me like a violent whirlpool as I quickly found my climax.

  "Oh, Edwin. Oh God!" I wailed, as he thrust deep and exploded inside me, rocking me in a glorious second wave of pleasure.

  He crashed on top of me, breathless and amused, his heavy chest driving the air from my lungs. Noticing my silent discomfort he lifted himself with a push up and kissed me gratefully on my lips. My head still swirled with ignorance and harmony.

  "Now that's what I'm talkin’ about," he growled. “We couldn't have done that if we had kids."

  CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

  ~

  EDWIN HAD TO BLOW IT with a smart ass comment. "We couldn't have done that if we had kids." Who says that? Two minutes earlier that comment would have fueled and unleashed the already seething storm within me, but I was too satiated to be angry at the moment.

  "Get off of me," I replied with a giggle, though I knew I shouldn't encourage him. My mind drifted, far, far away, in happy land. I giggled again, still caught up in the moment.

  Edwin pulled his pants to his hips, zipped his fly and picked up his crumpled shirt from the floor. "Try explaining this to the cleaners,” he said, motioning toward the scattered buttons.

  YES, THE SEX WAS GOOD. Okay, it was better than good. And while doing it spur of the moment in the hallway was exciting, it was something I was willing to pass up to have children. Over half an hour had passed before Edwin and I walked into work. One after the other, we entered the lobby, elation still spilling from our glowing faces.

  Aliah was at the front desk, talking to Taylor, her green eyes glaring with speculation. "You two make me sick."

  Edwin ignored her and headed for his desk, a smile still painted on his face.

  "What?" I asked, smirking, still pretty damn content myself.

  "You're both so damn happy all the time. It makes me sick to my stomach."

  "They do make such a great couple," Taylor added, smiling. She was just happy to be involved in the conversation.

  "Actually, Edwin and I aren't together anymore."

  "Ha, ha. Very funny," Aliah said.

  "I'm serious. Just ask him.” My smile faded, honesty showing the severity of the situation. It stood true: Edwin and I are done. And now that Taylor knew about it, I was sure the entire office would be privy to it by noon.

  "Am I missing something here?" Aliah asked Taylor, confused.

  Taylor shrugged her round shoulders, just as startled by the news.

  Aliah turned her pale green eyes on me.
"You looked like you were on cloud nine when I saw you at the fireworks, and then you two couldn't wipe the smiles off your faces when you just walked in. What’s up with that?"

  "You wouldn't get it. Anyways, we've come to terms with our decision and we both agree that it's over between us."

  "It sure doesn't look over to me," Aliah replied, looking to Taylor again for some support.

  "I would have to agree with Ally there," Taylor said, nodding hesitantly.

  I rolled my eyes, unwilling to spill all my beans in front of Taylor. There was some information best kept for other ears only; meaning not Taylor's. "I'll tell you more later, but I gotta get to work now."

  Aliah shook her head at me, solidifying the fact that they would be talking about me after I left, but that didn't concern me now. I had a new outlook on life. Life is what you make it. I wasn't about to boo hoo about it, all over again, and let another opportunity pass me by. Who knows what I could be missing out on. Tanner seemed like a really nice guy. If Edwin and I had never gotten back together in the first place, our Southwind trip may have went down a little differently. I hate to believe that Tanner could have been a wave that passed me by, especially since it really doesn’t matter much now. That opportunity is forever lost.

  This morning I was feeling a little saucy and had a little fun sharing my body with Edwin. But it was the last time. The love was still there, oh yes, but it was surrounded by a hollow shell. And right now that shell feels empty. I had my first consensual adult experience as a single this morning, and I would make it my full time job to make sure it was my last. Getting it on with Edwin as I pleased, while dangerously enticing, is so not healthy. The only way for me to move on is to put some emotional distance between us and let the passion fade. No more stoking the fire. And once the flames fizzle, I can just be me.

  AFTER YET ANOTHER UNEVENTFUL day at the office, Aliah attacked me in the parking lot. "What's the big hurry?" she hollered, chasing after me.

  I stopped a few steps away from my car and waited for her to catch up. "No hurry. Actually I have no idea what the hell I'm gonna do tonight."

  "Hmm… wait! I know. Come out with me."

  "Out? Seriously Ally? It's Monday." My skeptical stare judged her, but it didn’t seem to penetrate her flow.

  "Don't look at me like that. Think of it as the first day of the rest of your life. We're going out! Whoop!" she cheered.

  "Did you just say whoop?" I said, smirking.

  "Oh yeah, I so did," she answered, ridiculously excited about it.

  "I could do dinner. I definitely have to get some of this shit off my chest. We haven't had a good talk lately. You know, you still haven't told me how you and Hunter got back on good terms… or what you think about the baby."

  "Whoa, whoa, whoa. We can talk later, but no baby talk. Please! We're going out woo hoo!"

  "Okay, but I've saved up some pretty juicy stuff to tell you," I warned.

  "Oh really? Try and top mine, cuz it's super juicy."

  "We'll see," I wagered playfully. "So when we leaving?"

  "Just as soon as I change out of this stifling suit. I think I need to get into something a little more appropriate. You too."

  "Kay, you gonna pick me up?"

  "You know it. And when I say 'appropriate', I’m using that term loosely. Dress hot," she demanded.

  "Whatever you say, but may I ask where you're taking me?"

  "Wherever the night brings us," she called like an inspired damsel, as she shuffled toward her car. Textbook Aliah. She had no intention of telling me what was going on and I was sure that it meant trouble.

  As I reached my house, I had already hashed over how surprisingly easy it had been seeing Edwin at the office over the past week. I didn’t get upset today, not once. I was okay with the fact that he wasn't my man to touch, boss around and love anymore. That was step one. Now if I could only get the image of his bare, buff chest out of my mind; that and the look on his face when I ripped his shirt off last week. That damn image is burned into my brain like a vivid photograph. I suppose there’s no harm in cataloguing it for future reference.

  The truth was: all I needed was time. Time was the only thing that would make it better. If I wanted to wipe clean my heart to open it up to a new man, I would have to put Edwin away.

  After passing Edwin’s shiny truck, I walked up my front steps and reached my key toward the dull door knob. I hustled straight to the bathroom to fix my hair and make-up, because I know Aliah isn't one to mess around. At the speed that she drove, I knew I didn't have a whole lot of time to dilly-dally. Though I may have partly been trying to avoid Edwin again, I hoped that he wouldn't notice. I didn't want to have to go through the whole exercise again.

  Before long, I had myself done up pretty damn good. I hurried to my bedroom, counting down the seconds before Aliah would show up. Just as I was about to pull a flirty shirt over my head, there was a knock at my bedroom door. Damn, Aliah's fast!

  "Come in," I called, as I wriggled into my perfectly fitted shirt. Expecting Aliah's insistent, crude chatter, I was startled when the room fell silent. I quickly adjusted my shirt and spun around to face my door. "Oh shit! I thought you were Aliah," I said, startled.

  Edwin stood inside the door with a mischievous smile on his lips and his eyebrows curved for trouble. "Nothing I haven't seen before."

  "Can I help you?"

  "You just did." His eyes swept over me again and his smile stretched from ear to ear.

  "Real cute Eddie. What do you want?"

  "Just checking to make sure you aren't avoiding me. You aren't all freaked out about everything again are you?"

  I rummaged through my jewellery box for some dangly accessories. "Do I look all freaked out to you?"

  "No, you look good."

  I hooked some gold earnings from my ears, fluffy beige feathers dangling from them, and pulled on the matching long necklace. "Thanks. But if that's it, then I'll really have to talk to you later. I've got somewhere to be."

  "Do you now?"

  "Yes, I do."

  "Don't tell me you have a date already," Edwin prodded, suddenly angry.

  Why did I have to be such a meanie, pushing him like that? Because I'm feisty like that, that's why. "So what if I do?"

  "You wouldn't do that to me. You wouldn't be so cruel. Did our relationship mean nothing to you?"

  Ding dong: saved by the bell! And based on the incessant rings, it was definitely Ally at the door. I flashed a sassy smile at Edwin, breezed past him and sped down the stairs.

  Edwin slowly walked the hall and waited at the top of the stairs to check out my visitor. "He sounds real classy," Edwin called to me, folding his arms over his buff chest.

  Aliah let herself inside as I reached the bottom stair. She looked up at Edwin who was shaking his head, obviously disturbed from my insinuations.

  "What's your problem?" she asked, scowling up at him.

  "See, I told you I have a date," I said, smiling.

  He slowly walked down the stairs, with his hands tightly packed in his armpits. "That's just mean."

  "Oh, please. You asked for it. Give me some credit. Do you really think I’d be dating already? You know I took our relationship seriously; probably even more serious than you.”

  "We'll talk about this later," Edwin said, with pause, “when we're alone." He glared at Aliah, as if it were somehow her fault that we were arguing.

  "No, we'll talk about it now." I was not about to let him corner me again. Keeping out of those sorts of situations was the best move for me.

  "I really don’t wanna hear it right now; and I'm sure Aliah doesn't want to either," he said.

  "Don't let me stop you," Aliah insisted.

  "Actually, you don't need to say anything,” I said to Edwin, selfish and firm. “There really is nothing to talk about, since I'm not really your concern anymore. Our relationship is over, so you do what you want and I'll do what I want.”

  "Fine, we don't have to talk a
bout it, but you can't stop me from caring about you. I'll let you believe you're off the hook now, but you aren't; not by a long shot."

  I gazed into his charming, heartbreaking eyes and quickly planted a kiss on his cheek. "Whatever you say Eddie."

  Aliah's smirk matched mine as she followed me out the door.

  Edwin reached for Ally's arm and tugged her back gently. "Look out for her, will ya?" he asked softly.

  "Don't you worry Eddie boy, she's in good hands." Aliah swiftly pulled her arm from his loose grasp and twiddled her fingers in a wave. She left him standing in the doorway and that’s where he stayed, staring at me through the windshield of her car.

  Aliah slipped into the driver seat and pulled her door shut, flashing a quick glance at Edwin. "Wow, you really did a number on him," she said, as she turned over the ignition and slammed the car into gear.

  "What are you talking about?"

  "That boy is not gonna let you out of his sight. You've still got him wrapped around your little finger."

  "Nope. I don’t."

  "It sure looked that way to me. He's still got it bad for you."

  "He'll get over it. When he sees that I'm moving on, he'll have to," I said frankly.

  "I suppose so, but he still seems pretty attached."

  "Sex will do that for a man."

  "But you said you broke up on Saturday night. I doubt he's still dreaming about how great you are in bed."

  "Well, about that…"

  "Abigail Jenkins you tell me everything right now!" she demanded, eager for the dirty details.

  "I might have bedded him after that, so to speak."

  "You dirty, little, whore. And what do you mean so to speak?" Aliah was so intrigued she couldn't keep her eyes on the road. “Fess up. I want details.”

  "Well, we didn't exactly make it to the bed. I think saying I gave him a little action would better describe it."

  Aliah’s mouth dropped open and she slapped the steering wheel, swerving toward the oncoming traffic, her pale eyes still locked on me.

  "Ally, watch the road!" I hollered, my eyes wide with panic.

  She yanked the wheel and we escaped the near side swipe of the big red truck as it sped past us with its horn blaring. I was clinging to the door and had forgotten to breathe, but Aliah seemed undisturbed by it all.