Truth & Consequences: The Novel

by Leilani Harvey

  He made his way up the bustling late afternoon city street and toward his favorite deli shop to pick up his lunch order. A half a block away from the county hospital, he settled himself on the marbled edge of a fountain stationed outside of the city’s central park. Pretty girls and stunning women walked by and cast alluring glances at the young doctor-in-training, who was dressed in pale green hospital scrubs. With one foot up on the fountain’s ledge and the other leaning on the concrete below, Jayson purposefully ignored them all. All they saw were his rugged Viking-warrior features. Out of the twenty or more who made an overzealous effort to capture his attention, none of them cared one ounce about the person dwelling inside of the chiseled physique. There was only one woman on his mind and only one woman he wanted to grant access to his fragile heart, and he had already decided she would be the very last woman he would be seeking out any time soon – if ever again.

  As his eyes absently roamed around the shopping lane located across the street from the park and the fountain, Jayson looked from one storefront to other. Unexpectedly, he caught sight of a familiar pair of sexy brown legs. From white tennis shoes, up past a dark blue mini skirt, and over a sleeveless white top, he followed every curve of the slender body until his vision landed on the face he was hoping to see.

  Aneisa was stepping out of a bakery and her head was down. While she used her thumbs to type out a message on a little pink cell phone, she clutched a coffee cup in the crook of her elbow. Her hair was swept up in to a single ponytail, which hung down to her neck. To Jayson, she was like a perfect picture that captured the essence of classic beauty. His heart tapped frantically then skipped two beats. He had nearly forgotten what it was like to experience delight at seeing someone whom he adored, to a certain extent.

  When Jayson’s eyes moved upward another two feet, he immediately squashed any thoughts of calling out to her. The overhead sign read Fantasy Wedding Cakes and Catering and it was a much-needed reminder of the promise he had made to avoid bringing any more upheaval into her life. He summoned the splash of decency remaining within him and used it to turn his face away. If he believed in luck, she wouldn’t see him at all and would continue on with the rest of her day and her life; if he believed in miracles, she would see him and would experience the same heart-pounding thrill that was racing its way through the center of his chest.

  His appetite deserted him and there was no reason to stay put. He rose from his place, tossed the sandwich and soda in the trash bin, and prepared for a brooding walk back to work.

  “Jayson!”

  Before reaching the corner, a voice called out from a few feet behind him. He didn’t need to guess at the owner of the velvety voice. His back was facing her and he had enough time to make exactly one move. Forward or backward. Jayson could turn around and find a way of convincing himself and Aneisa that they were destined to be each other’s saving grace. Or…he could keep walking and pretend as if he hadn’t heard her calling to him. If he did so, she may decide to turn away and keep them from going any further down this treacherous road they had dared to stumble upon. The choice was his and his mind was made up.

  “Jayson!”

  His sharp reflexes reacted and he twisted his upper body just in time to catch her, but not fast enough to keep the coffee cup from splashing liquid over its lid. Aneisa had been less than a foot behind him when she called his name the second time. When he motioned toward her so abruptly, she must have been startled and lost her balance.

  Aneisa’s hands were anchored onto his big forearms. Jayson held on to her slim waist and kept her steady until she regained her balance.

  “Thanks,” she giggled low. “That was close. I almost took a nasty fall in front the entire lunch crowd.”

  “Not close enough. Was that coffee still hot?”

  A large tan stain from the creamed coffee was covering the right side of her chest.

  Aneisa looked down and spotted the blotch on her formerly crisp white shirt.

  “Oh, man.” She sucked her teeth after she spoke. “No, it wasn’t…thankfully. This top, however, is ruined. And, as a bonus, I get to walk around downtown looking like a clumsy child.”

  When she glanced up at him with a small grin, those big brown eyes looped him in a trance. Jayson was momentarily stuck for words in response to her wit. He could tell she was trying to find some humor in the situation but was sulking inside.

  “You can rinse it out at my apartment…if you want.”

  After he made the offer, he realized how suggestive it might sound in her ears. Nonetheless, it was too late to rescind the invitation, not that he wanted to. It was the least he could do to make amends for stomping into her life and creating all of the mayhem he had last week. Besides, he didn’t know of anyone who could laugh at the possibility of every person for the next twenty city blocks staring at you with amusement. His Aneisa somehow managed a smile anyway. She was an easygoing person, with a lot of laughter inside, and Jayson wanted to be a part of that experience.

  “Um,” those doe eyes watched him cautiously, “I should probably try to make it back home to get cleaned up. It’s no big deal.”

  “Aneisa,” he tried to make his words sound as honorable as possible, “I don’t want you to have to walk around covered in coffee.” He crossed his index finger over his heart and she laughed out loud. “I promise to be a good boy…you have my word.”

  Her dazzling smile tempted him at wanting to lean in and kiss her. He wanted her to look at him with true lover’s eyes and to return his kiss with a committed heart. Jayson wanted something deeper to develop with Aneisa; more than a roll around a living room floor or a fling at a nightclub. His attraction to her was a magnetic bond he was afraid would leave him ruined for a second time, but it was also an irresistible inferno that he was hopelessly succumbing to.

  PART IV

  Truth & Consequences

  10

  Against her better judgment, Aneisa decided to accept Jayson’s offer.

  She already felt the stares starting to fly her way and twenty blocks of that would probably have her mouth packed with a variety of choice words to return to the scoffers. Plus, more than a week had passed since her steamy encounters with Jayson, and that seemed like plenty of time for their frazzled emotions to cool down. If she hadn’t have thought so, she wouldn’t have called out to him when she was leaving the cake shop.

  In and out, ten minutes…tops.

  She reasoned with herself that a quick stopover would do no more harm than what had already been done. They were both consenting and slightly mature young adults. If he made a shifty move, she would politely decline and make her way out the door at a record shattering pace.

  “Fine,” Aneisa smiled up at him. Her mind worked furiously to keep her senses calm as those blue eyes sparkled down at her and his gold tinted hair reflected the bright rays of the late spring sun. “Where do you live?”

  “Not far, just up the block.”

  She hoped that adorable grin he was beaming in her direction wouldn’t make a sucker out of her for a third round. She quickly decided his charm would fail this time. She and Shane had a quaint talk the morning after the awkward night they had fumbled through. Neither of them was willing to admit they had been unfaithful to the other; however, they both agreed their marriage plans should still go forward. They were equally intelligent and ambitious people, and they made an ideal and safe couple. By safe, each silently hoped there would be no more unscheduled surprises jumping out of the closet; all skeletons were to be officially buried and never spoken of again. It was a plan that was easy to go along with. To seal the deal, they had also decided to bump up their wedding date, thus Aneisa’s need to visit a caterer well ahead of her original schedule.

  She wondered if she hadn’t decided on that particular shop and had not been exiting at that exact moment, would she have ever crossed paths with Jayson again? He had made no contact with her for well over a week following their raunchy trysts. Not that she wa
s complaining. It was an idyllic close to a worrisome chapter in her life, wasn’t it? Despite the much-needed separation from Jayson, Aneisa had failed to shake away a nagging feeling. She had missed Jayson, more than she had expected to and much more than she should have allowed herself to do.

  In and out. She repeated the statement and hoped it was seared into her common sense.

  “Well, let’s get going. I have a few other stops to make.”

  She really didn’t have anything scheduled that couldn’t wait until the next day, but it seemed like a valid excuse to ensure their time in his home was kept to a strict limit.

  He laughed. The heavy rumble was the first real laugh she had seen him give since his return to town.

  “Like I said, I’ll be a gentleman. You don’t have to make up a reason to run out when we get there.” His grin widened and Jayson threw up his hands to motion out his innocence. “Detergent and cold water is all I’m offering, beautiful lady.”

  The affectionate nickname lowered her defenses a notch. Obviously, it was hard for him to turn off his natural charm. It would be impossible to deny that she liked how the words dripped off his lips, so she smiled without commenting.

  “And just to show you what a super nice guy I can be, I’m willing to give you the shirt off my back.”

  “Huh?” Aneisa raised a suspicious eyebrow.

  Without further delay, Jayson whipped the green scrub top over his head. The white A-shirt he wore beneath clung to his hard abs and solid torso and granted her full access to the ripped muscles lining his arms and shoulders. She was able to catch her eyes before they had a chance to bulge from the sockets but couldn’t resist biting her bottom lip. When he stepped up closer and motioned for her to lift her arms, she was practically in a hypnotized state. Then her vision was momentarily covered in green as he slid the shirt over her arms and straightened it out at the hem.

  “You look great,” Jayson smiled teasingly.

  Aneisa looked down at her new mismatching outfit.

  “Uh-huh…yeah…now people are going to laugh twice as hard when they see me.”

  A firm hand cupped her chin and raised it upward.

  “Aneisa, as long as you’re with me, I promise no one will ever laugh at you.”

  His boldness sent a zigzagging chill down through her tummy and deep into her hot spot. Her nipples pebbled and she had to break their eye contact before old feelings came gushing to the surface.

  The walk was a short one, and Jayson kept close to her side. As promised, no one smirked or laughed or dared look in her direction. Jayson was a human tank rolling next to her. He was like an armed guard keeping watch over valuable cargo. She was sure she had spied out no less than five pedestrians, who were heading toward them in the opposite direction, take long side steps to give the couple plenty of space. She didn’t know what kind of harsh glare he was casting out and she honestly didn’t want to see it, or it might have made her tremble too.

  Jayson’s apartment was stationed inside of a multistory complex built on top of a line of restaurants. He unlocked the door then stepped back so Aneisa could enter first. It was a classic bachelor pad set-up – very little furniture and tons of electronics and other tech toys for big boys to play with.

  “The bathroom is over there,” he motioned to a short hallway to the left of the front door. “I don’t have a washer and dryer up here but I do have a sink and there’s a blow dryer in there somewhere. Start the cold water and I’ll get you the detergent.”

  He walked ahead through the living room and further into the apartment while she made her way to the bathroom. Once inside, Aneisa eased the door closed behind her. She stared at herself in the mirror, still not believing she was alone with Jayson in his apartment. She did have to compliment his behavior. He was living up to his promise and playing the perfect gentlemen. No naughty or lusty glances were cast in her direction.

  So far, so good, she mused at her reflection.

  Now, her only problem was herself and her own terrible fantasies. Seeing so much more of his sexy physique had caused a sizzling stir in her silky folds. His handsome Roman face, the manly scent from his shirt, and laying eyes on his burly build were all setting her ablaze on the inside. Adding to her feral physical attraction to him, his show of true concern for her well-being was wearing down the defenses she had tried to put into place. Despite knowing it would have been better for everyone involved if she had pretended as if she had never spotted him, Aneisa’s heart wouldn’t allow her to simply walk away from Jayson. It had not permitted her to do so the very first day he threw himself into her life like a whirlwind and it would not permit her to do so now. The best she could hope for was to be able to find the will to reign in her overflowing emotions and to stick to her plan of trying her best to live out a normal life with Shane.

  She lifted her arms, removed Jayson’s scrub shirt, and sat it to the side. Afterwards, she took off her stained shirt, turned on the cold-water faucet, and dunked the top into the sink. Her hot pink lace bra was all that covered her heavy breasts.

  A knock followed. She motioned to grab for Jayson’s shirt but the bathroom door opened before she could cover herself. Jayson walked in and stopped short. His fiery dark blue eyes raked over her half naked form before he spoke. An inferno blazed in his irises but was quickly extinguished.

  “I…thought I heard you say ‘come in’,” he fumbled with his words. “I wanted to give you the washing detergent…I…didn’t mean to walk in on you.”

  He snatched one more smoldering glance then turned to step away.

  “No,” the word rushed from her lips and stopped him mid-stride. A small laugh tumbled out afterward. “It’s not like you haven’t seen me naked already …right?”

  “True,” he answered.

  His booming voice was hesitant. He was waging war with himself. The conflict was obvious. He yearned for her as bad as she desired him. There were no obstacles to keep them apart now, only the ones they each had set up for themselves in hopes of diverting away from their combustible attraction.

  Aneisa was the first to break the silence. Her words were filled with tremble and uncertainty, yet she had to say them aloud. It was a truth she could no longer deny, not even to herself.

  “Jayson…I…”

  One giant footstep was all he needed to close the distance between their awakening bodies.

  “Say it, Aneisa.” He rested a large palm at the juncture between her neck and cheek. “Say the words. Tell me…and I swear I’m yours forever.”

  Her pussy gushed at his vow. Was his confession sincere? Was anything about this man honest? Was he the man she had been waiting for her entire life, who would be able to help her finally experience the true pleasures and joys of life? Could he be the one who she wanted to weather the passions and the pains of this world with? There was only one way to find out.

  “I missed you and I…want you…I need to be with you…only you.”

  There was so much more to say and to pour out, but that was all Aneisa’s delicate heart would allow her to expose to him. For now, it would have to be enough.

  She held an anxious breath for an eternal pause and then the flame ignited. His rose-pink lips collided with hers. Jayson’s kiss was feverish and the effect was rapidly consuming Aneisa. She tossed her arms around his neck and urged him down to her, forcing the full length of her tongue deep into his hot mouth and accepting his digging into hers as well. He bent down and grabbed the back of her thighs, lifting her up into her mighty arms with ease.

  Aneisa frantically breathed in his essence while Jayson stumbled out of the bathroom and moved further up the short hallway toward the master bedroom at the rear. She heard him kick the door open and then felt the soft caress of a thick blanket against her back. Jayson left the kiss, leaving Aneisa squirming to claim his mouth again. He trailed a sizzling line of butterfly kisses over her face. His lips cascaded over her heated skin, stopping at the apex of her D-cup breasts hiding behind the
sheer bra. Her puckered nipples poked up at him through the lace material. His mouth snapped closed over her right pebble while his index finger and thumb tweaked the hardness of her left nipple. The intensity of the nipping from his teeth, coupled with his sensual pinches made Aneisa’s pussy lips drizzle with a fresh coating of squishy dew under her skirt and in her thongs.

  Jayson pressed his brick hard cock between her legs and she could feel the tip of his dick throbbing for entrance into her folds. Without warning, he leaned away and lifted her from the bed with him. With super human might, Jayson reached behind Aneisa and grabbed hold of the thin bra strap. She heard the loud snap as he broke the clasp, freeing her plump breasts from their holder. In no time at all, he laid her back against the bed and seized both of her luscious brown titties between his big palms. He pushed the soft flesh together and used his wet tongue to flick both of her spiky nipples at once, then engulfed the pair into his wanting and hungry mouth with fierce eagerness.

  Aneisa’s thighs instinctively locked around Jayson’s midsection, sucking him down flat against her. She couldn’t wait any longer. Foreplay was wonderful but she wanted this delicious man jammed inside of her and loving her the hard way, as only he knew how to do best.

  “Now, Jayson,” she moaned and pleaded with him. “It’s been so long, I can’t wait. Fuck me noooowww.”

  He lapped at her dark areolas once more before pulling back.

  “No, baby, not yet,” Jayson whispered breathlessly to her. He leaned forward and kissed her gently, then touched his nose to hers while he spoke against her lips. “I’ve been waiting for this and I’m not gonna’ rush…I’m going to take my time with you, Aneisa. First…I taste you…then…I fill you.”

  He slid down off of her and Aneisa immediately missed his heaviness and warmth. From the edge of the bed, he hooked his arms under her legs and pulled her to him. Her knees fell open wide. With a careful touch, he eased her navy blue skirt over her thighs and placed it on the bed. Then he leaned in closer and pressed his face against her matching hot pink thong.