by H.H. Fowler
****
Before continuing to my office, I made a quick stop to the restroom to brush my teeth. Hopefully I would have sufficient time to fix my makeup. The navy pants suit I was wearing was presentable and not too revealing. With Taj insisting on seeing me today, I didn’t need to be worried over whether or not I was showing too much skin. I was determined to respect my best friend and keep things professional between me and Mr. Brooks.
I stepped out of the bathroom and the hairs on my back stood at attention when I heard the elevator doors ping open. I was about four feet away, waiting to see if it was him. The first thing I noticed was his shoes. An expensive-looking leather, which appeared to be too formal for this time of day. My gaze slowly traveled upward, getting a complete view of the handsome package. He was wearing black slacks with a crisp white shirt that was opened at the chest. He flashed me that dimpled smile, and all of a sudden, I was scrambling to find my tongue. This man was too good to be true.
“Sierra, how nice of you to greet your clients at the elevator,” he said.
“Well, I’m just getting in as well and was on my way to the office.”
He simply smirked and handed me a bottle of apple cider. “I bought it for Jennifer, but you know she fancies alcohol. I thought we could have a little toast after you’ve shown me the properties.”
I was constantly amazed by Taj’s audacity, even more amazed that he’d been paying attention to what I drink from what I didn’t drink. “I don’t toast while I’m working,” I explained to him.
“Neither do I, but I have the rest of the day off and I’m planning not to waste it.”
Two associates walked out of the office that was adjacent to the elevators. They stopped their lively chatter long enough to greet us before walking past us. I didn’t know how to respond to Taj’s show of confidence. Before my thoughts got into trouble, I walked off and beckoned Taj to follow me to my office.
Once in my office, I walked to my desk and grabbed a folder that contained pertinent information about the properties I selected to show Taj. I reached for my laptop bag and began to secure the items in my hand. In the process of me doing all of this, my office door snapped shut, but I didn’t pay it too much attention.
“Sierra, I have a confession to make.”
My head bobbed up at the sensual slur I detected in Taj’s voice. But the way I’d been second guessing Taj’s intentions, I was not sure if I’d interpreted him correctly. He walked toward me, a sense of purpose in his strides. He stopped in front of me and undressed me with those hazel eyes. I suddenly felt exposed by the raw desire he wasn’t ashamed to show.
“But first, let me see the properties you have selected,” he said. “I want to get this out of the way as soon as possible. My wedding date is swiftly approaching.”
I stammered some incoherent mess before I tossed my laptop bag around my shoulder. We walked toward the elevator in silence, but the tension in the air was suffocating. I knew if Taj touched me in any way at that moment I would embrace it without protest. We were joined by four other persons in the elevator. To make room, Taj slipped in behind me and subtly wedged his body against mine – a move I knew was intentional. A small voice persisted in my head, pleading with me to run for my life, but I just stood there, frozen and burning amidst the flames of my lust.
We stepped out of the elevator and continued through the foyer in silence. The tension at this point was insane. I barely noticed Esther trying to get my attention. She said that Reuben had just walked into the building, but had slipped into the restroom for a minute. She further explained that he was on his way up to see me. I thanked her and continued toward the exit. She ran out from behind her desk, trying to block me. I ignored her. My body was on fire and Esther wouldn’t have the slightest clue how to help me cool it down.
“Let me have the pleasure of chauffeuring you,” Taj suggested. “It’s not necessary that we drive two separate vehicles.”
By his lecherous gazes, I knew Taj had something filthy on his mind. If ever I doubted what Taj’s intentions were after today, it would be a crying shame to common sense. “Well, that’s very kind of you, but I am not planning to return to the office,” I explained to him. “I think it’s best that we travel separately.”
He smirked. “I promise you will enjoy the ride.”
“I’m sure I would…I mean…maybe another time. I have a lot of work to do this evening.”
“You’re trying to be a good girl and I completely understand. But let’s see how long that lasts.”
My heart pounded in my chest as I watched Taj strut toward the limo. His arrogance was on display like the feathers on a peacock, but for me, it was a frightening scene. I was seriously reconsidering transferring this tour to another agent, because I could feel my lust consuming every rational thought. I couldn’t believe a man like Taj was showing such a high level of interest in getting to know me.
Thankfully the properties were not too far from each other. We could complete the tour within an hour and I would be on my merry way. The first property I showed Taj was a ten-minute drive to the west side of Paradise Island. Several new homes were being constructed in the area. However, there was one recently finished that was on the market for a very reasonable price.
I stepped through the grand entryway with Taj trailing closely behind. The ten-minute drive had caused a slight drop in my body temperature. But I was acutely aware of how severely Taj’s presence was still affecting me. I was afraid to even open my mouth for fear of saying something stupid. All I wanted to do was to get done with touring the properties and head home to channel this deviant behavior toward a full hour of deep repentance.
“The entry is warm and inviting,” Taj said. “A lot like I imagine you would be.”
I turned to face him, too shocked to ask what he meant by that. Actually, I knew what he meant, but I was just not believing it.
He gazed at me with a lopsided grin. “How big is this house?” he asked.
“A little over four thousand square feet,” I managed. I thought it was best to keep walking so that I could keep a little distance between me and Taj. “There are five bedrooms and three baths. As you can see it is a recently-built home.”
For staging purposes, the house was fully furnished to give clients an idea of how everything would come together.
We walked deeper into the foyer and were greeted by a sprawling staircase, surrounded by an open space extending twenty feet into the air. I usually showed my clients the bedrooms before any other room in a house this size; however, the thought of me and Taj getting next to a bed was too tempting. I led him to the gourmet kitchen and then walked outside through a pair of French doors, leading to the maid’s cottage.
“You can use this as a space for your guests,” I explained. “That is, if you’re not the type who is into the maid thing.”
Taj came up behind me and rested his hand right above my hips, which caused me to flinch. “I can tell that I make you nervous,” he said. “You need to relax and enjoy the moment. I love the home, by the way, but it’s far too big for me and Jennifer.”
“I have two more properties to show you, which are about half the size of this home.”
“I can’t wait for you to show them to me.”
I froze when his hand traveled to my shoulder, pushing beneath the soft fabric to play with the straps of my brassiere. His gentle massages were slow and calculating. I exhaled when he lowered his lips and blew his breath against my neck.
“When you play with fire,” he whispered, “you will get burned.”
His hot breath smelled like a mixture of alcohol and mints. Each time he found another spot on my neck, my breathing quickened. I’d totally forgotten that I was at work and that we could be caught in the maid’s cottage by one of the property attendants. I could lose my job and if I didn’t stop Taj, I could end up losing my virginity.
“What are you doing? Don’t you know how wrong – ”
He silenced me with a hard kiss, but I pushed him away. He pulled me back into him and forced his tongue deep into my mouth. I pushed him away a second time.
“Stop it!” I hissed at him. “I don’t want to do this.”
Taj’s Adam’s apple bulged as if my resistance had heightened his desire. He just stared at me through his sex-crazed eyes, causing every fiber in my body to relive another wave of intensity. “I can tell that you want to have sex,” he said. “Why you’re not giving in remains a mystery to me. I am not through with you yet…”
I backed away and bolted for the exit. My heart was pounding mightily against my chest as I managed to climb into my Mercedes without crumbling to the floor. I put the shift in reverse and rocketed down the driveway. Soon, the pounding had travelled to my head and the only thing I could focus on was a repetitive prayer: Lord, forgive me, Lord, forgive me, Lord, forgive me…
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13