Best Jerk

by Lulu Pratt

  “Am I that obvious?” I ask, handing Jacob to her. “Thank you so much for being understanding about my schedule. I’m so excited for tonight because I’ve never been to an art exhibit before and it’s on my bucket list.”

  Magdalene smiles and places Jacob on a blanket littered with his favorite toys. Her usually perfectly coiffed hair is pulled back into a messy ponytail, and her face is bare, wiped clean of all make-up. No point in applying make-up to spend the entire day crying it off. I’ve washed her sheets several times already, and I’m having a hell of a time cleaning the smudges of mascara from her pillowcase. I notice the small bags under her eyes and I’m pretty sure she’s worn those same pajamas all day. This is definitely not her norm.

  I guess smoothing things over with Heath is taking longer than I thought.

  “I love going to art exhibits,” says Magdalene. “Heath and I used to go all the time, but then he got so busy doing other things. We stopped going out and doing anything fun, really. It’s funny how things change so fast. You’ll have to come home and give me all the details of your date to help me relive my glory days.”

  Magdalene’s laugh is empty, filled with regretful realization as she contemplates where her relationship with Heath now lies. There’s an uncomfortable silence before I finally respond.

  “Of course I will,” I say, moving to the stairs before this conversation gets too awkward. “I’m going to get ready, but please let me know if you need my help with anything.”

  Magdalene nods and plops down on the floor next to Jacob. I shake my head at the sad disheveled woman and head upstairs to my room.

  I wish Heath could see how badly he’s hurting Magdalene and least be kind enough to cut her some slack.

  I try to shake the thoughts of the depressing scene unfolding downstairs and focus on my date. My outfit is already sprawled across the bed, so I walk into the bathroom and start the shower. After taking my time washing away the dirt and grime from the day, I grab the large Egyptian towel from the counter and dry off.

  Still wrapped in my towel, I head over to my small make-up vanity and apply a few of my staple items — a light shimmer eyeshadow, heavy mascara and lastly my fire-engine red lipstick.

  My dress for the evening is black and form fitting with spaghetti straps. I decide to style my hair in loose waves falling over my shoulders, with a simple black pump. I stand in front of the full-length mirror in my room to admire my handiwork, and I must admit, I look good. Damn good.

  I hope Asher likes it too.

  I check to see how much time I have left and realize I need to hurry up and get to the lobby, so I grab my purse and my phone and head downstairs.

  “Oh my,” says Magdalene. “Look Jacob, look at how pretty your nanny is. Jade, you look amazing. You need to tell that mystery man to take you out more often so you can doll up.”

  I blush and smooth my hand over the dress. “Thanks! You don’t think the dress is too tight, do you?”

  “Of course not,” says Magdalene. “There’s no such thing as a dress being too tight, especially with a body like yours. Besides, you want to be the one looking at the art, and you want him busy watching you. I think you nailed it, but let’s switch out that purse to something a little more fitting for the evening.”

  I glance down at the simple black clutch purse. It’s plain, but the only one I thought was appropriate.

  Magdalene steps forward with one of her more designer bags. “Here, take one of mine. Tonight is special and you deserve that extra pop to really set off your look.”

  I stand there for a moment in shock looking at the Chanel purse dangling in front of me. I know for a fact the handbag is more than my month’s salary, and I’m not so sure I should take it.

  “Are you sure?” I ask, nervously holding out my hands.

  Magdalene nods as she hands the expensive purse to me. “I’m positive. It’s not like it’s getting much use sitting with me, so take it for tonight and enjoy.”

  “Thank you so much,” I say. “You’re right, it really does set the whole outfit off.”

  The Chanel purse has a gold chain strap, and I drape it over my shoulder before taking one last glance of my improved look. After saying my goodbyes to Magdalene and Jacob, I grab my keys and head out the door.

  Despite the circumstances, I’m glad Magdalene is spending more time with Jacob.

  I’m hopeful things will work themselves out for Magdalene and Heath. If nothing else, I hope they can at least reach common ground for Jacob’s sake.

  My heart pounds in my chest as I reach the bottom floor, and suddenly I feel like I have a mouth filled with cotton. I’ve gone on several dates with Asher at this point, so I’m not sure why I’m so nervous.

  The doors open and there he is with a big bouquet of red roses. As usual, he’s dressed to kill in his custom-fitted clothes with his beautiful dark hair slicked back.

  He smiles and hands me the roses. “I didn’t think it was possible, but I swear every time I see you, you somehow look better.”

  I wrap my arm around his and lean in for a much-needed kiss. “Thank you, Mr. Jordan. You are looking handsome, but you look amazing every time I see you.”

  Asher closes his eyes and shakes his head. “None of that Mr. Jordan business tonight. I need to keep my blood flowing to my brain and not the other direction. You should at least wait until after the art exhibit, otherwise I can’t promise I’ll be able to keep my hands off you.”

  We share another kiss as we walk to the car. Ed smiles and tips his hat as he reaches to open the door.

  “Ms. Sinclair, it’s nice to see you again,” he says.

  I smile and slide into the car with Asher right behind me.

  “I don’t think I’ll be able to keep my promise,” he says, his voice low and heavy in my ear.

  “What promise is that again?” I ask, sliding my hand up his thigh. “I could have sworn you promised me a spanking.”

  He puts his hand under my chin and brings my face up to meet his. “You’re right, I do owe you a spanking. I have an idea, let’s just skip the exhibit altogether and go to my place instead.”

  “No,” I say, playfully slapping his thigh. “I’ve been waiting to see this exhibit ever since you told me about it, but I’ll make you a deal, if you can keep your hands to yourself for a couple of hours, I’ll let your hands explore as much as they want for as long as they want afterwards. How does that sound?”

  Asher pulls me in close and sighs. “You have yourself a deal, but let me just say, I’m a reluctant participant in this deal.”

  I laugh and return my hand to his thigh, drawing little circles with my fingertip. A few minutes later we arrive in front of the gallery before Ed gets out and holds the door open for us.

  “Enjoy your evening,” he says, tipping his hat again.

  Asher opens the door to the gallery for me and I find myself stepping into a sea of color. My mind is blown away by the mixture of colors and shapes throughout the room. The artist has created sculptures that stand tall in the middle of the room while the walls are covered in large canvases which boast as much color.

  “This is beautiful,” I say as Asher moves next to me, his hand finding the small of my back.

  “You’re right, but it’s not nearly as beautiful as you,” he says before planting a gentle kiss on my temple.

  Together we walk over to a podium that’s off to the side with a rather severe-looking woman standing behind it. She’s tall and wiry, her long arms hanging at her sides like branches on a tree. I try to focus on her face, but the blunt-cut wig on her head is slightly askew, and completely distracting. Her skin is a milky white hue that reminds me of the Japanese geishas I saw on a documentary not too long ago.

  “My name is Ta’Nelle, and I’m the sole creator of every piece you see before you tonight. Everything was birthed from the inner depths of my creative source and I’m very happy I’m able to show the world what brilliance looks like in its various stages of life.
Please, take a look around, ask questions if you need, and of course purchase anything that speaks to you.”

  She hands us a small info sheet with brief descriptions of each piece, and ushers us to where we should begin the artistic journey, as she calls it.

  “Well, that was an interesting introduction,” I say in a hushed voice once Ta’Nelle heads back to her place behind the podium.

  Asher tries to hide his smile, but fails. “Come on, beautiful, let’s see what brilliance looks like, while finding a piece that speaks to our souls.”

  We snicker like a pair of middle schoolers as we make our way through the crowd, occasionally glancing at the info sheet for reference. People mill about the gallery talking in quiet voices and pointing at the different works of art covering the walls.

  “Do you see anything you like?” asks Asher.

  I take a moment and look around the room again. “I like a lot of the pieces in here, but I think the one in the corner called Winter’s Kiss is my favorite.”

  Asher takes my hand and leads me over to the corner. “What you do like about it? It looks like a woman trapped in a snowstorm to me, and there’s not a lot of color in this one compared to some of the other pieces.”

  I stare at the painting, trying to find the right words to describe the emotions it calls forth. “It’s a beautiful tragedy to me, a sort of quiet chaos, in a manner of speaking. The woman in the painting is surrounded by snow, and it’s a complete whiteout of color. She’s the only thing there that’s not covered in snow. In fact, she’s completely untouched. She’s in this beautiful setting, but not necessarily a part of it. So, when I look at it, I don’t see her, I see the snow and the purity of it all.”

  “Exactly,” says Ta’Nelle coming up behind us. “Most people believe she is the focus of the piece, but in truth she’s the background. The woman, that nameless entity, is merely an accessory to the scene. The main character is the snow and the beauty of the landscape. You did an excellent job breaking down the creative intricacies of this piece. Well done.”

  Asher looks at me and then at Ta’Nelle. “We want this one,” he says.

  “Excellent choice,” says Ta’Nelle. “I’ll have my assistant come over and take care of the details for you.” She turns on her heels and walks over to a small woman holding a clipboard.

  “Did you buy that for your house in the Hills?” I ask. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to mount such an expensive piece in your condo since your stay is only temporary.”

  Asher wraps his arms around me and lowers his voice. “I bought it for you. You said it’s your favorite and I want you to have it.”

  “Asher, I thought we discussed not giving gifts,” I remind him. “Plus, where am I going to put something so big? Magdalene has enough stuff on the walls to open a gallery of her own.”

  He kisses my forehead and stares at me with those hypnotic gray eyes of his.

  “You deserve every gift I give you plus a thousand more, remember? You can keep the painting at my place, that way you’ll always have an excuse to come over.”

  I shake my head and place a soft kiss on his lips. “You didn’t have to buy a painting for me to come over to your place. You’re enough of a reason.”

  Everything Asher does makes me fall for him harder, and I hope this feeling never fades.

  “Give me a few moments to handle the payment and arrange a delivery time,” says Asher.

  I smile and wait patiently by the front door, giving the gallery one last look. I wonder if being an artist is similar to being a chef, especially since both must reach inside themselves and find that special part that allows them to create. Each dish I create is a carefully crafted masterpiece and I consider it to be a work of art. I should open a gallery showcasing food as art, where people get to taste each exhibit and purchase the recipe of their favorites.

  “All right, everything is taken care of, so let’s head back to my place and relax,” he says, holding the door open for me.

  “You and I both know that very little relaxing is going to take place,” I whisper playfully.

  “You are absolutely right,” he says. “Relaxing is the last thing on my mind right now.”

  Asher twirls me around to face him and we wait there in front of the building with our arms wrapped around one another. I stand on my tiptoes to reach his lips and our tongues welcome each other like old friends. It’s not until Ed coughs loudly for the second time that we notice he’s standing with the car door open. We slide in and settle back into each other’s arms.

  “Now, where should we put your painting?”

  “My painting? I think it’s more fair to call it our painting, since you are the one who paid for it,” I say.

  “No, ma’am, that painting didn’t speak to me, it spoke to you, so it’s definitely yours. We could hang it in my telescope room on the wall facing your building, that way if you look hard enough you can see it from your room.”

  I laugh and shake my head. “Seriously, Asher? That’s the only place you can think to hang it? You just want me to stare into your room so you can accuse me of peeping into your place. I’m onto your little game, Mr. Jordan.”

  He grabs my chin and plants a passionate kiss on my lips. “You’ve figured out most of my plans, Ms. Sinclair, but now I’m dying to get you home so I can give you that spanking.”

  Chapter 22

  ASHER

  I make good on my promise to keep my hands off her long enough to get back to my place. We pause outside the front door as I struggle to retrieve the keys from my pocket before I press myself against the back of her and plant kisses along the nape of her neck. The soft scent of her perfume invades my senses and all I can think about is getting her clothes off.

  “Are we going inside or are we going to give your neighbors a show?” she asks.

  I hand her the keys and slide my hands down her perfect little body. “I don’t think I can get the door open under the current circumstances. I’m a little occupied now, and what I’m focused on is a lot more fun,” I say softly before kissing her neck while my hands continue to roam freely.

  Jade fumbles with the lock for a few seconds, but she manages to eventually get the door open. We barely make it over the threshold before she turns on her heels to face me and wrap her arms around my neck. I kick the door closed and return Jade’s embrace. There’s absolutely nothing better than the feel of her skin against mine. We kiss and suddenly the need to have her body beneath mine is overwhelming.

  What I really want is to watch her body writhe in complete ecstasy from the pleasure overload I have in store. There’s something about the way her eyes flutter, and the arch in her back when she climaxes that drives me completely wild.

  She breaks away from the kiss long enough to kick off her shoes and drop her purse to the floor.

  “Bedroom?” she asks, panting as if she wants me as bad as I want her.

  I answer by scooping her up in my arms and carrying her to the master suite, where I gently place her in the middle of the bed. She sits there, her long hair tossed over one shoulder, staring at me with those piercing blue eyes. Even though we’re still completely dressed, I feel naked as she stares me down. For a moment, I feel like she can see my soul and all the hidden parts of me. The feeling is both erotic and scary at the same time, because I’ve never felt so exposed before.

  I reach over and help lift her dress over her head. She’s completely nude underneath the skintight dress and I use my finger to trace a line down her body, from her lips to her navel. I love being with Jade. Every time feels like the first time, because I never know what to expect. She’s filled with some many little surprises and revealing each one is exciting to me.

  “You made the job of getting you undressed a lot easier tonight,” I say. “If I would have known you had nothing on under the dress, I wouldn’t have been able to keep that promise.”

  Jade smiles as she leans over to unbutton my shirt. “The dress was tight, and I didn’t want p
anty lines ruining the view.”

  “I’ll be honest with you,” I say with a smile.

  Jade’s eyes widen a little.

  “I can’t bring myself to spank such a perfect ass. An ass like yours should be stroked, not spanked.”

  Jade bites her lip to stop herself from smiling.

  I shrug out of my shirt and slide out of my pants and boxers in one fell swoop. No need to unnecessarily prolong the process of getting undressed. My dick is harder than granite, throbbing to feel her, and waiting longer is completely out of the question.

  “Lie back,” I order softly.

  She obediently follows my directions and I move to position myself over her. Her legs automatically part, allowing me plenty of space. I start at her lips, and commence to kissing and licking my way down her body. My dick aches after every moan and deep breath she takes in. Every sound coming from her small lips is orgasmic and I don’t want it to stop there. I want to give her that physical release, and I want her to have it until she can take no more.

  My tongue travels down her body, leaving a wet trail in its wake. I have one destination in mind, but I want to savor every part of her before I get there.

  “You’re so soft,” I marvel at her body. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

  I go back to my mission of kissing a trail down her body until I finally reach the crest between her thighs and close my mouth over her clit. It throbs rhythmically underneath the pressure of my tongue as I lick and suck her while she quivers. Jade inhales sharply before grabbing the back of my head, grinding my face into her body. I roll my tongue in tiny waves to the rhythm of her squirming hips. Not only does she smell sweet, but she tastes like honey. I want to devour the very essence of her being.

  I decide to kick things up a notch by slipping first one finger inside of her and then two, slowly stroking her velvety walls, adding to the pleasure.

  “Asher,” says Jade, her voice barely above a whisper. She moans and rolls her hips to me even more, and I allow her to continue greedily grinding herself against my tongue.

  I glance up to see her back arched and her eyes closed. She starts to moan, but stops herself by biting her bottom lip to silence the sound. I don’t want her holding back anything at all so I allow my fingers to delve deeper, finding the spot I know will drive her over the edge.