"You want me to marry you!"
"This isn't the first time we've talked about marriage. I don't want to scare you off, but I also don't want you to be disillusioned about our relationship. I'm too old to play games with the woman in my life."
"I thought you were going to move me into your house first."
You can move in whenever you're ready. "Don't worry I'll give you a little time to get used to the idea of marrying me. Good-bye sweetheart, I see you at two."
"I'll be waiting."
***
Chapter 17
Clarissa decided to wear a classic black DKNY pantsuit to Micah's recital. It's more than casual without giving her the appearance of being overdressed. She grabbed her purse and headed for the lobby. She rubbed her stomach as if she could elevate the tension she felt. She's a successful woman, secure in her relationship with Julian, but thoughts of meeting Julian's aunt and uncle filled her with dread.
She stepped out of the elevator to see Julian standing there waiting for her with his family. Micah saw her first and ran towards her hurdling himself in her arms. "Hi sweetie!" She hugged him, and he practically drags her across the room.
"Rissa I want you to meet my Nonna Reva and my Grandpa Charles."
Before Clarissa could open her mouth, Julian swooped in a stole a kiss. "Hey baby!"
"Clarissa it's my pleasure to introduce my family Reva and Charles Desmond."
"It's a pleasure to meet you both." She stuck out her hand, and she was engulfed in a three-way hug by Julian's aunt and uncle. They were certainly affectionate people.
Reva entwined her arm with Clarissa's and walked her to Julian's SUV. "Oh my goodness! Julian she's lovely. Clarissa it's delightful to meet you, Micah has talked non-stop about all of your accomplishments."
Clarissa smiled down at Micah who grabbed her other hand. "He's extremely biased; I'm the only person he knows who creates video games."
"Don't forget the chocolate chip cookies." Micah released Clarissa's hand and ran ahead to the vehicle.
Reva watched the expression on Clarissa's face as she watched Micah skip ahead of the group. "He's a good boy."
Clarissa turned to face Reva. "He's my little sweetheart." She looked back at Julian. "His dad isn't so terrible either.
Julian knew his aunt and uncle would love Clarissa. She's a loveable woman, and she's all his. "I can hear you." He watched as Clarissa and Aunt Reva climbed into the middle seat, laughing and huddling together as if they were old friends
Charles slapped Julian on the back. "Well son, looks as if you got yourself a keeper."
Julian couldn't contain his smile. "I've got her on the hook, now all I have to do is get her into the net."
***
Micah's recital was held at the Art Institute of Chicago on Michigan Ave. Clarissa had never been to a recital, and she didn't quite know what to expect. Clarissa looked around the auditorium and made polite conversation with a couple that addressed her and Julian. "Where did your aunt and uncle go?"
"Well it's been a long time since they've been to the museum and they went to look around."
Clarissa became agitated. "When does the recital start? If Reva and Charles don't hurry back, they'll miss Micah's performance."
"You are such a newbie."
"What does that mean?"
Julian is amused by Clarissa's eagerness. It's obvious that she has never been to a recital before or she wouldn't be so anxious for it to start. "These recitals are almost always ten to fifteen minutes late starting."
"I think I'm more nervous than Micah."
"This is Micah's third recital, he an old pro now. If we're lucky, we might get out of here before seven o'clock."
"Julian, you don't fool me, you're just as excited as the other parents are about the recital."
"The only reason I'm here is to support my child; it's all the acts I have to sit through until my child appears that has me worried."
Clarissa punched Julian in the arm. "Some of the other parents may feel that way about Micah you know."
Julian put his arm around Clarissa's shoulders and pulled her closer to his body. "My child is an accomplished pianist as you will soon find out."
Clarissa rested her head on Julian shoulder. "It doesn't matter how good or awful the performances are today. I'm just happy to be here with you."
Julian lowered his head and planted a brief kiss on Clarissa's full lips. "Thank you for coming into my life."
***
Micah's turn finally arrived two hours later. Reva and Charles didn't miss his performance; Clarissa has a new appreciation for parents. As Micah played the piano, she becomes immersed in his rendition of Debussy's Clair de Lune. She clinched Julian's hand. "Oh my god!" She whispered to Julian. "You never told me that Micah is a prodigy."
Julian grabbed her hand, placing it in his lap. "He's only been playing for two years. The conductor of the Chicago Philharmonic contacted me earlier this year wanting to spotlight Micah for their winter programming."
"What did you say?"
"I told him no."
Clarissa didn't understand Julian's reluctance to spotlight Micah. "Why?"
"Baby, Micah is ten years old he loves to play the piano, but the music is not his first love. He's a child that excels at almost everything he does. If I let that conductor get hold of him, how long do you think it would take for the pressure of maintaining the prodigy status would break him? Micah could have a brilliant career as a pianist, but only if that's what he wants."
Clarissa has a feeling that there's more to the story than Julian is telling her. "Did your parents try to turn you into a child prodigy?"
Julian raised Clarissa's hand to his lips. "You are remarkably astute. My father died when I was a baby. I was maybe four or five when my mother noticed my affinity for the piano. For a while, I loved the attention, but as I got older, I lost interest in playing the piano. I became more interested in sports and electronics. My mother bless her heart never got over the fact that I wouldn't become the next Mozart. That was her dreams not mine, just as Micah has his own dreams."
"I think that a man who plays an instrument is sexy. Do you still play?"
Julian smiled like a pirate finding treasure. "I could be persuaded to play if the price is right."
"You have yourself a deal."
***
Clarissa had a good time with Julian's family today. After Micah's recital, they went to the Cheesecake Factory and had dinner. She was regaled with stories of childhood and his wayward boy teenage years. She loved the fact Julian's alpha male; bad boy persona didn't keep him from showing his obvious love for his family.
It was late in the evening when Julian dropped her off with her promise to Reva that she would have dinner with them tomorrow night. She took a long soak in the reliving the day with Julian and his family. She could imagine herself as Julian's wife and Micah's mother. It was after ten o’clock at night, and Clarissa was getting prepared for bed when her cell phone rang. Lord, she hoped nothing was wrong; no one would be calling at this time of night unless something was wrong. “Hello.”
“Hey baby, put your phone on speaker.”
Hearing Julian’s deep raspy made her stomach flutter. She put her phone on the speaker and sat down on her bed. “Julian what are you doing calling me this time of the night, both of us have to go to work tomorrow?”
“Oh I know since I couldn’t be there with you, I thought I'd call you for some hot phone sex.”
Clarissa is at a loss for words. No man has ever called her for phone sex before. Is he serious? “Really?”
“What's the matter? You mean that you’ve never received a sexy call from a man who finds you utterly irresistible.”
“N-no! Obviously, my sexual education is lacking. So what do I do first?” Clarissa stretched out on the bed waiting excitedly for instructions.
“Well these types of discussions start off with what you’re wearing, but, let me just cut to the chase I’m sitting in my room
naked jerking my thick erection wishing you were here with me begging to taste me again.”
“Oh shit!” Clarissa’s mouth watered at the thought of taking Julian’s thick cock into her mouth, she shed her clothes and rubbed her nipples knowing that nothing she did would satisfy her tonight.
“Clarissa, you there?”
“Damn it Julian this phone sex thing is nothing short of frustrating! Clarissa's fingers moved away from her nipples to slide across her beaded clit in search of relief.
“Baby hold up, what are you doing now?”
“I’m lying here trying to get off all because you called to tease with images of your thick cock.” Clarissa is close to orgasm, but her fingers weren’t enough. She jumped off the bed and rummaged through her drawers looking for a vibrator.
“Clarissa!”
She ignored Julian and flopped back down on the bed putting her vibrator to work; yes, this is more like it. She feels herself getting closer when Julian’s shouting in the background interrupted her. “Damn Julian pipe down I’m really close to coming!”
Julian stared at the phone in disbelief, did she seriously think he's going to sit there in silence as she gets herself off without him no less. He gets out of the chair, not bothering with underwear, jerks on his jeans and T-shirt. Julian grabbed his car keys, informed his aunt and uncle that he was leaving for Clarissa’s condominium. Calling her for phone sex is the mother and father or all bad ideas. He cannot be satisfied until he has his cock buried deep inside her.
Clarissa glided the vibrator over her clit until she shot off like a rocket, and she lays there still unfulfilled. The events of the evening made her feel lethargic. All she wanted to do now is sleep.
***
Clarissa is awakened by the door buzzer it's almost eleven o'clock. Who could be ringing her buzzer? The security guard must be doing his rounds, or maybe another tenant is locked out.
She put on a robe and hurried to the door, she is both sleep and sex deprived, and she didn’t appreciate the interruption. She goes to the door to shut off the intercom before it goes off again. “Yes.”
“Clarissa it’s me buzz the door and let me up, the security guard isn't at the front desk.”
“Julian, why are you here?”
“You already know the answer to that question. Now buzz me in!”
Clarissa buzzed him in and waited by the door, she heard him walking in the hallway a few minutes later. She opened the door before he could knock. Julian’s dark hair is disheveled, and his dark hypnotic gaze left no room for doubt that the phone sex left him frustrated too. “Julian what are you doing here? Did you come to tease me some more?”
Julian pushed Clarissa back into the condominium and locked the door behind them. “No baby I came to give you what you need, what we both need.” He picked her up and carried her back to her bedroom; the sight of the vibrator on the bed nearly makes him come unglued. Julian places Clarissa on her feet and snatches the robe from her body before pushing her down onto the bed.
“Julian what’s wrong with you?”
“Lay back and spread your legs!”
Clarissa sees the raw desire in Julian’s dark gaze, which reignites the lust inside her. She opens her legs and dips her fingers inside her heat. She enjoys watching the beast in him take over. “Is this what you drove all the way over here for?” Being in front of Julian like this brings out the wanton inside her. Before she could taste her fingers, he grabs her hand, taking her fingers into his mouth.
He thoroughly licks her fingers, before releasing her hand and watching it fall to her side. “Now that alone is worth the trip. Sitting on the other end of a telephone line listening to my woman come at her own hand is frustrating as hell. So from now on you’re not allowed to have an orgasm unless I’m there to see, do you understand.”
“If you feel that strongly about it, I wouldn’t dare disagree with you,” she said meekly. Clarissa spread her legs as far as they would go giving him a good look at her vagina beckoning him to make love to her. “I’m all yours what are you going to do to me?”
Julian takes three condoms out of his jeans pocket, placing them on the nightstand before shucking them off. He damn near ripped his T-shirt when he jerked it over his head dropping it carelessly onto the floor. He stands before her naked and ready to stake his claim. If Clarissa didn’t already know she belonged to him, she would by the time he's done with her. “Now who’s being a tease?” He moves between her legs, buried his face in her vagina, and shows her what oral pleasure is all about.
Clarissa comes twice as Julian sucks and teases her clit while tunneling three fingers back and forth inside her. He replaced his fingers with his tongue, she feels the heat, and tenseness in her stomach as he makes love to her like no man has. She's out of breath when she speaks, “Please take me Julian I want to feel you deep inside me when I come again.”
Julian kisses his way up her body pausing along the way until he reaches her breasts. He sucks and laves her breasts until she becomes a quivering mass in his arms. He kissed her throat, nibbling at her neck unconsciously marking her before claiming her lips in a soulful kiss.
Clarissa loves the taste of her cum on Julian’s lips and tongue. How could a sex act she once thought disgusting become sexy and exciting? It undoubtedly is the man executing the act! “Are you going to make me wait all night?”
Julian nipped her bottom lip before pulling away from her body long enough to don a condom. He watched the sweat glistening on her body making him want to taste her from head to toe. He eased the head of his cock inside her wanting to punish her for teasing him earlier. Clarissa wrapped her legs around his waist pulling him into the vortex or her hot core. Julian wanted her too badly to play any more games; he gets down to the business of loving his woman.
***
The incessant ringing of Clarissa’s cell phone yanked her out of a peaceful sleep. It's six o'clock in the morning. Who would call her at this time of day? She stretches her legs and feels a twinge between her thighs; she should call in sick today so she can recover from Julian’s strenuous lovemaking.
He left several hours before after putting her through a sexual workout that would shame Billy Blanks. Lord that man is going to be the death of her. Clarissa picks up her phone while eying the caller ID; she sits up in the bed and answers the call. “I hope somebody's bleeding!”
“Good morning to you too! I know that it's Monday and all, but you love your job I thought you’d be in a better mood.”
Clarissa leaned back against her pillow, “get to the point, it must be important for you to call me so early in the morning on a work day no less.”
“Well I think it’s important, Jonesy and I got married Friday.”
Clarissa squealed into the phone before responding. “What? I’m your best friend and you’re just now telling me!
"Well, we’ve been kind of busy celebrating. We haven’t told our families yet.”
Clarissa began to enjoy herself now. “Ooh Ms. Mattie is going to paddle your ass. You knew how much she was looking forward to your wedding. Why did you do it, Ali you only had one more month to go?”
“Rissa the wedding was becoming a tug of war between our mothers and we got tired of the bull shit. Therefore, we took a quick trip to Vegas and tied the knot.”
“I would love to be a fly on the wall when you tell them; you know it’s not going to go over well.”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, but enough about me. Have you decided to move in with Julian?”
“He hasn't officially asked me to move in with him, but he's been laying down major hints about sharing his home and becoming his wife.”
“So what's the hold up? You told me that you loved him last week."
“I do love him, but I like having my own space. I would be moving into his home, not a home we chose together.”
“I think you're dragging your feet and looking for excuses. You obviously love the man and his child, do you k
now how many women would love to be in your shoes. It could be a lot worse. Micah could be a holy terror trying to keep you and Julian apart. Seems to me that Julian wants you. He's waiting for you to make up your mind about him. Eventually, he's going to get tired of waiting."
Clarissa felt a temporary sense of loss. "You think that he'd break up with me if I refuse to move into his house."
"Rissa baby, think a little. We're discussing a man who sabotaged your wedding with a few photos. Julian's not going to let you go. You keep playing games, and he's going to take the decision out of your hand. Those alpha males can be sneaky. You'll come home from work one day and your condominium will be empty. He'll put your stuff in storage and demand that you come home with him."
Clarissa licked her dry lips. She played Ali's scenario in her head, and the whole idea makes her hot. "Do you think he'd tie me up and spank me before he drags me to his lair?"
"You kinky little slut! I bet Julian’s lying in your bed as we speak!”
Clarissa laughed. “No. Julian left hours ago, and believe me, it’s a good thing he did. I'm exhausted, and I can barely move.”
“Doesn't it feel good?"
“Oh Ali! What he did to my body should be against the law. If this situation keeps progressing this way, he’ll have me strung out like a two-dollar crack ho!
“Rissa you’ve got it bad my friend, but this time around you’ve found someone worthy of you.”
“Ali I think we both hit pay dirt. All kidding aside, I love you sister of my heart, and I know that you and Jonesy will have an incredible life together. Once all the drama of the wedding that didn’t take place fades away, you two need to get to work and produce me some god babies.”
“I love you too dear friend! I’m so happy I can’t see straight. Don’t let your past with Lawrence dictate your future with Julian.”
“What do you mean?”
“Rissa you have trust issues a mile long, this thing you’ve with Julian could be remarkable if you don’t let the weight of your failed relationship with Lawrence get in the way. Just some food for thought, you were engaged to Lawrence three years, and I didn't hear the word love cross your lips.”
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