Andre swallowed back the bile, his fingers clutched to the edge of the couch. It took every ounce of his strength to rise up from his knees and eventually, to stand up. “You’re lucky I don’t fucking strangle you,” he spat out.
“I didn’t know you were into kinky shit, Officer Jenkins.” Rosalyn pouted her lips. “I’ve been a bad, bad girl. I heard that a game of asphyxiation can be quite exhilarating. Maybe you should punish me?”
Andre’s nostrils flared. He clamped and unclamped his fists, shaking with the urge to strike her. “You’re pathetic.”
“Don’t be so self-righteous. It takes two to have the type of mind-blowing sex we just did.”
“Fuck. You!” Andre bellowed, immediately clamping his hand over the veins protruding out from his forehead. His temples throbbed so badly that he actually felt the muscles contracting in and out. “I’m getting the hell out of here.” He willed himself to move, his legs nearly useless as he staggered to the door. Then he peered over his shoulder, his lips curling into a snarl. “Breathe one word of this and I promise it will be your last,” he threatened before pushing the door open and storming out of the house.
Chapter 13
Andre
Rush hour traffic zoomed past as Andre sat stiffly behind the driver’s seat. Horns honked, the high pitches blaring through his ears and jarring him from his trance. What type of hellish nightmare was this? Beads of perspiration coated his forehead, his temples pulsing as he realized the light turned green. An older man yelled out the window of the car idling behind him and thrust his middle finger in the air as Andre pressed his foot to the gas pedal, turning the wheel, and then continued on his way.
I’m a damn police officer for Christ’s sake and somehow, I let a woman violate me. How the hell do I explain that? He kept asking himself that same question. Over and over again. How could he tell Jennifer when he didn’t understand it himself?
He lifted his foot, slowing the Hyundai to a standstill at the four-way intersection connecting Memorial Boulevard and Bellevue Avenue. Andre squinted out the window, turning away from the glare of the stoplights. His gaze fell to the young woman dressed in a business suit leering at him behind the wheel of the shiny BMW waiting at the light beside him. She smiled seductively and winked.
Quickly he shot his gaze straight ahead. Jennifer had always claimed women ogled him. But Andre had never noticed until now. It made him feel dirty, like an object instead of a human being. The unwanted attention only magnified his disgust.
Shame washed over him. As hard as he tried, he couldn’t remember Rosalyn seducing him. His mind flashed back to the moment he awoke. The ugliness of his jeans pulled sloppily down to his ankles. She hadn’t even taken the time to remove his briefs before assaulting his body. Andre surmised that in her twisted mind, Rosalyn must have been in such a hurry to mount him that she’d drawn his dick out through the flap of his underwear, pulled her panties off, hiked her skirt up, and positioned herself atop him.
How could I get it up? I’m not attracted to her.
The annoying sound of engines revving as they hit the gas pedal and sped through the intersection ricocheted within his head. The shrill voices of a group of college-age girls running haphazardly across the heavy traffic punctured his throbbing skull.
I can’t face her. Not yet.
The scent of salt water filled his nose, the crisp breeze floating through the half-opened window causing him to shiver. It was always cold near the ocean and having recently set the clocks back, it now grew dark at an ungodly hour. Andre groaned as exhaust fumes filled his nostrils. He gagged and swallowed back bile.
A few feet before him, the entrance to Cliff Walk loomed. His mind immediately raced to the events of the accident.
God, why is this happening? How did everything get so out of control?
He reached up, fingering the gold cross that he never removed from around his neck.
Help me make her understand. I’m a fucking man. I don’t understand myself. I should’ve been able to protect myself against Rosalyn’s unwanted advances.
He prayed, pulling into the nearly empty parking lot of the beach. He needed to get his mind in order before he went home. He stepped from the vehicle, hoping he wouldn’t pass out from the pounding of his head.
Andre pulled on the zipper of his leather jacket and then thrust his hands into his pockets, walking slowly along the shore. After much soul searching, he realized the answer was simple. As much as he hated to keep things from Jennifer, this was a secret he’d take to the grave.
Jennifer
“What took so long?” Jennifer asked as she rushed from the kitchen to greet Andre at the door.
Wordlessly, he shrugged off his jacket, slowly moving past her to hang it up in the closet.
Brows furrowed, worry lines etched beneath Jennifer’s hairline as she took in his appearance. “You look horrible,” she said, her tone softening. “I should have gone with you. I’m sure Rosalyn gave you a hard time?”
“And you think by going with me, she’d give me less of a hard time?” Andre mocked with a strained laugh. “By the way, I’m not surprised that I look terrible. I feel like a piece of crap.”
Unnerved by the sadness she saw reflected in his deep brown eyes, Jennifer felt compelled to move toward him. She cupped his face between her palms, her fingertips stroking the coarse wiry hairs of his goatee and stared up into his sorrowful expression. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that bitch.”
“I love you,” he said, his worn-out voice revealing his exhaustion. He covered his hands with hers and then drew them away from his face. “You’re my number one priority. You’re what I treasure the most in life. You own my heart. You know that, right?”
Goosebumps rose over her skin. A chill shot down her spine. “I know,” she whispered. “Almost as much as I love you.”
Something is terribly wrong, Jennifer thought, having noted his vacant, faraway expression before he averted his gaze from hers. “Does your head hurt?”
He winced as he nodded. “My entire body aches, my head feels like it’s being repeatedly pounded with a hammer. And worst of all, I feel light-headed and weak.”
“I told you to stay home.” Jennifer placed a hand over his forehead. “You don’t feel hot. So I don’t think you have a fever, but you do have a concussion. What do I have to do to get you to take care of yourself, honey?” she scolded before her voice cracked. “You know that I’d be lost if something happened to you?”
“Nothing is going to happen to me, Blue Eyes,” Andre answered, placing a chaste kiss on her cheek. “I’m tired. That’s all.”
“I made quiche. You must be hungry. You missed dinner. I prepared it hours ago.” Jennifer moved toward the kitchen. “Sit down. I’ll make a plate for you.”
“I’m not really hungry.’ His lips moved up into a half smile. “I’m sure it’s delicious. Maybe I can eat some in a little while. At the moment, I just want to take a shower and get some sleep.”
“Andre Jenkins, do you really expect me to wait any longer before you tell me what happened with Rosalyn?” Jennifer crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “Spill it!”
Andre’s shoulders slumped as he released a long, drawn-out sigh. “It’s too much to get into tonight. But I promise you, Rosalyn Spears won’t be bothering either of us anymore,” he said, turning toward the staircase and dismissing her.
Chapter 14
Jennifer
“Morning!” Victoria called out as she swept through the front door and switched on the remaining lights.
“Oh...come on, Vicki,” Jennifer scoffed. “People are going to think we’re open for business.”
Katie peered up from the dough she was kneading, a small smile crossing her lips as she listened to Jennifer and Victoria bicker. For the last few weeks, Katie had been working part-time at The Literary Ladies Book Nook and Café. Although reluctant to ask if a young kid, such as Katie, would be interested in waking up at the
crack of dawn and assisting her in the bakery before school began, Jennifer had been completely surprised one afternoon when Katie stopped by after school to inquire if Jennifer planned to hire extra help over the upcoming holiday season.
“Don’t ‘oh come on’ me. Don’t you think the sign hanging on the door stating in big red letters that we’re closed provides sufficient warning for anyone crazy enough to try to enter?” Victoria called out over her shoulder.
Jennifer pulled a muffin pan from the oven and placed it onto a trivet to cool. A creature of habit, her business partner headed straight for the back hallway of the shop. Jennifer smirked, pulling off her oven mitts, and giving Katie a nudge with her elbow. “Never changes—her routine,” she whispered as the closet door squeaked open. “I’d bet money that right now, Vicki’s meticulously folding her hat and gloves and placing each of them into their assigned pocket. By now, I’m sure she’s strategically placed her parka on its designated hanger.”
“Honestly, Jenn, how are you able to bake in the dark?” Victoria sputtered as she stepped from the hallway and rounded behind the checkout desk. “Katie, tell her you don’t want to be blinded from lack of light.”
“Vicki, you can’t figure it out because I’m not in the dark,” Jennifer taunted.
“Semi-dark,” Victoria countered.
Jennifer frowned, taking in her best friend’s attire. Dressed in an oversized dull brown sweater, faded blue jeans, and worn ankle booties, Victoria’s natural beauty was lost to an abyss of drab. Damn shame to waste such a statuesque figure. Jennifer would kill to look like that. But alas, she’d been cursed with a lifetime of diet and exercise to make up for her obsession with food. “Have you ever considered switching up your routine? Maybe, oh, I don’t know—” Jennifer waved her hand dramatically in the air. “Yes...I’ve got it. You could try turning on the computer first and then going to the coat closet?”
Laugher squeaked out from Katie’s lips. “I’m sorry.” She blushed prettily. “I think you guys are funny. The way you argue reminds me of my brothers.”
Hazel eyes shot up from the computer, glowering at Jennifer over their thick, oversized tortoise shell frames. “Well, I know both Liam and Shane, and I think your brothers are awesome guys, Katie.”
“I’m just sayin’.” Jennifer shrugged her shoulders and winked at Katie. “Might be fun to live on the edge a little.”
With a long, drawn-out sigh, Victoria shook her head. “I haven’t had enough coffee yet for this abuse,” she said, hugging her arms around her chest as she entered the café and strode to the cabinet to remove her coffee cup. “I’m really beginning to think that my suspicions about the two of you are correct,” she said as she picked up the coffee pot.
“I can only imagine,” Jennifer quipped as she smoothed orange-colored frosting over the top of a pumpkin-shaped sugar cookie. “Don’t keep us in suspense. Please go on, I’m curious.”
Victoria ripped open a packet of Splenda and giggled. “I’ve been thinking you’re a vampiress and you Katie, are a vampirette.”
“Maybe that’s why I’m so pale that I glow in the dark?” Katie joked, warming Jennifer’s heart. Each day the young girl seemed to relax more around them. Her humor increased as her confidence grew. Jennifer was proud of the way Katie seemed to thrive in the café, the early deaths of their mothers and being victims of school bullying creating a bond between them.
“I hadn’t thought of that.” Victoria pulled a spoon from a nearby drawer. “How could I have overlooked such an obvious thing?”
Jennifer stared down at the tray of cookies as she sprinkled each with orange-colored sugar. “I hate to break it to you, Vicki. But you’ve forgotten one important thing.”
“What?” Katie and Victoria asked in unison.
“I despise the taste of blood.”
“Well, that definitely is something to take into consideration.” The spoon tinged off the side of her mug, as Victoria twirled it contemplatively. “Do either of you sleep upside down?”
Suddenly, the air whooshed from Jennifer’s lungs. Feeling as if she’d been punched in the gut, she clutched the edge of the counter and sucked in a deep breath.
“Jenn? What’s wrong? Are you okay?” Victoria’s eyes widened. Quickly, she abandoned her coffee and rushed to stand beside her friend. “Say something.”
“I’m...I’m fine.” Jennifer’s forced her lips into a half smile. “It’s just...just. Out of nowhere, I felt like someone was pushing down on my chest, the heaviness making it difficult to breathe.”
“Sit,” Victoria ordered, taking Jennifer by the elbow and guiding her to the nearby table. “You’ve not had a panic attack in ages.”
“I’ll make you a cup of tea. Just give me a minute,” Katie cried out, her fingers shaky as she prepared the tea and placed it directly in front of Jennifer. “Chamomile tea. My mom always drank it when she worried. She said it helped to calm her nerves.”
Victoria pulled out a chair, placing her hand on Katie’s back. “Sit down with us. Sometimes, we need to have some girl talk.”
Together they sat in silence for several minutes. Jennifer reached her hand across the table, placing it over Katie’s. “Don’t worry. I’m just a bit on edge that’s all,” she said her heart breaking at the sight of Katie’s concerned expression. “The reason I’m upset is that I don’t think Andre loves me anymore,” Jennifer said, her own voice cracking as a tear rolled down her cheek.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You know how ludicrous that is. Don’t borrow trouble, Jenn,” Victoria said. “Get that notion right out of your head. Thoughts like that are what trigger your anxiety. You deserve to be happy and one thing that will never ever change is that Andre Jenkins loves you more than life itself.”
“I’m not making it up!” Jennifer huffed. “You don’t understand. Things haven’t been the same since the accident. He’s acting weird.”
Victoria picked at a thread on the cuff of her sweater, aggravating Jennifer as she seemed to shrug off her concerns. “We haven’t had sex in over a month,” Jennifer blurted.
Katie’s mouth dropped open.
“Really?” Victoria said, not sounding concerned. “Maybe he’s still not feeling like himself. He did suffer from a concussion. It can take a long time to get over those from what I’ve heard. He probably doesn’t have the energy.”
“I suppose that could be it.” Jennifer rubbed her chin. “The thing is ever since Andre told Rosalyn to back off, he’s been distant.”
“Again...he’s concussed,” Victoria stated matter-of-factly.
Jennifer lifted her cup, the contents sloshing as the tea threatened to spill over the top. “Believe me. Concussed or not, he never rejects sex. I mean, the man is always eager to fuck. Sometimes, three times in one night.”
“Jenn,” Vicki exclaimed. “Should you really be having this conversation in front of a minor?”
Katie’s eyes were as big as saucers and her cheeks looked as if they’d been spray-painted red.
“She’s seventeen, for God’s sake,” Jennifer reprimanded. “Don’t embarrass her. Katie is a smart girl. She knows most guys are douchebags but that doesn’t mean she isn’t aware of the birds and the bees.” Fairly certain Katie was still a virgin, Jennifer continued on. “Someday, you’ll meet the right guy, and this information may come in handy.”
“I’m sure there is a good reason, Jenn,” Victoria said, glancing at the time on her watch.
“He won’t even let me give him a blow job. And he loves that shit,” Jennifer said, bringing the cup to her lips. “I know he’s not telling me something.”
“Katie, I think it’s time for you to head to school,” Victoria said, standing up from the table. “Jenn, I know without a doubt Andre loves you. Don’t overthink this.”
“Katie, do you mind if Vicki drives you to school?” Jennifer asked. “I’m afraid our girl talk put the baking behind. I’ve still got a lot to do before we open.”
“No problem,”
Katie said. “Thanks for including me. My brothers never do. They think I’m stupid,” she said, leaning over to wrap her skinny arms around Jennifer’s shoulders.
“You are beautiful and smart. Never forget that. Guys are douchebags. They’re the stupid ones,” Jennifer said, her heart swelling as Katie hugged her.
“That’s probably why Andre is acting weird. I met him and I think he really likes you.” Katie removed her arms and fetched her school bag, tossing it over her shoulders as she added, “He’s a guy. Not a douchebag, but as you said, guys are stupid.” Katie smiled and gave a slight wave as she walked toward the door where Victoria stood waiting for her. “See you tomorrow, Jenn.”
Chapter 15
Andre
Buzz.
Andre muted the baseball game and rose off the couch. Why didn’t she text? he mused as he hustled across the room to the intercom. When they’d spoken earlier, Jennifer had said she planned to stop at the supermarket on her way home from work and would let him know as soon as she’d pulled in the driveway so that he could help carry up the groceries. “Hey, Blue Eyes. I’ll be right down. Give me just a minute to put my sneakers on,” he said through the speaker.
“No need. Just let me up,” Rosalyn Spears’s voice echoed through the other end.
She has one hell of a nerve coming to my home. Fury surged through him. Jenn will be home any minute. Having Rosalyn Spears at our doorstep is the last thing I need. He thrust his index finger onto the button, brutally smashing it down. “No fucking way.”
“Let me—” He lifted his finger off the button, cutting her off.
Buzz...buzz....bbbbuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuzzzz.
Rosalyn pressed continuously down on the button, eventually holding it down for a single drawn-out drone.
Relentless bitch. Andre seethed, his heart thumping as he sucked in a deep breath. The woman should be thankful he’d spent the last few weeks on temporary disability. Never in his life had he accosted a woman before, but he was afraid of what he might do if he were to be face- to-face with Rosalyn again. Just the thought of her made his skin crawl. Andre stood rigid, his muscles tense, his jaw tight as he pressed down on the button once more. “You don’t want me to come down there. Trust me,” he practically snarled. “Now get the hell off of my property.”
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