“Who is the new guy, Maddie?” he asked in a demanding tone, like he had the right to know.
What was wrong with this fool? I silently questioned myself. He had been out of my life for so long and he had the audacity to question me, as if we were still a couple. This fool had lost his damn mind for sure! “I owe you nothing, Chad! You walked away from me at the most painful time in my life. If you couldn’t be there for me as a boyfriend, you should have stuck around at least as a friend. You messed my mind up for a long time. I almost swore off men, thinking they were all trifling like you and the father that walked away from my mom when she was pregnant with me.” I paused to catch my breath before more words spewed forth. “I am so glad that my friend Monica finally talked some sense into me; otherwise, I wouldn’t have met David.”
“David? Who-who is this David character?”
“Is that all you can ask, who David is? Is that all you heard me say to you, Chad? I tell you what, lose my number and never call me again. We have nothing more to discuss and I wish you nothing but happiness,” I said really meaning it.
“I called to check up on you Maddie and you treat me like this. It’s me Chad and you treat me virtually like a stranger.”
I didn’t realize it before, but Chad had issues. I also wondered in that moment if he was wrapped too tight in the head. “Chad you are a virtual stranger to me,” I finally replied. “The Chad I thought I knew wouldn’t have been so cold hearted to do what you did to me. The Chad that my mom thought so highly of wouldn’t have just walked away at the worst time in my life.” I spilled forth these words from old wounds that opened up and the words festered out in the open.
“I am sorry, Maddie, for all of the heartache I caused you. I was wrong. Some things I was going through at the time, I couldn’t talk to you about because I would have lost you. But due to my actions, I lost you anyway. If you ever want to talk about what was going on with me at that time, please don’t hesitate to give me a call.” He paused before continuing to speak. My lips remained closed as I listened. “I wish you much happiness, because you deserve that happiness. I am just sorry that it’s too late to be with me. Goodbye my sweet Maddie,” he said before ending the call.
I had no desire to ever call Chad or for him to call me again. We were in the past and what was done was done. Since he finally asked for forgiveness, I no longer held a grudge against him. It felt good to finally forgive and move on. To move on to the man I was slowly but surely losing my heart to.
Chapter 10
David
“Mr. McConnell, I assure you that everything is handled per your specifications. I made the pitch to our clients down to the letter of your instructions and they signed on the dotted line without any hesitation on their end, sir.”
“David, my good man, I knew that I could count on you,” said Mr. McConnell as I sat across from his desk. I know I can be hard on you at times, but it’s for your own good, son. One day in the near future, you will be sitting in this office behind this desk as president of this bank. I am grooming you in the same way I was groomed many years ago, because as you’ve seen firsthand, the board of directors can be some hard asses to handle at times,” he chuckled to lighten his words.
“Thank you, sir. I really appreciate all of the wisdom and knowledge you pass on to me. I am soaking it in and I apply it when necessary.”
Mr. McConnell nodded his head at my thanks before speaking. “David, I am not trying to change the subject, but why aren’t you married yet? It can get mighty lonely at the top young man, with no one to share your successes or glory with.”
“In all honesty sir, I thought I would have been married myself by now, but things didn’t work out in my favor, it seems. I want to and I am ready to settle down with one good woman. I agree, it does get lonely coming home to an empty house.”
“That’s my man. Never give up on love. It will never give up on you,” he urged with much wisdom under his belt. “I miss the Mrs. every day. Estelle, my wife, has been gone to the other side for almost ten years now. To this very day, I still miss her in my big old empty house. We bought that house when I moved up on the corporate ladder in hopes of filling the house with kids. God rest her soul, she had two miscarriages and one stillbirth before the doctors forced her to give up trying to have children of our own.”
“I am so sorry, Mr. McConnell. I had no idea that you and your wife went through something so painful. I can only imagine the level of pain it caused the both of you.”
A far away, troubled look entered his eyes. “You have no idea how hard the miscarriages and then the stillborn baby put on our marriage. Estelle became so distant and started to blame me for the smallest of things that went wrong. It got to where I resented her and hated to go to my own house after a day’s work. I started working longer hours, just to avoid her and the painful memories of losing our precious babies. Divorce never entered into the equation, not even once. I was old school when it came to that. I learned that from my own parents,” he continued as he frowned, reminiscing about unpleasant memories of his past.
He coughed and cleared his throat before resuming speaking. I sat and listened as he cleansed his thoughts. “I did some things back in those days that I am not too proud of and before I leave this earth I suspect it will come back and haunt me. I wanted children so bad with my wife. I even begged her to adopt, but she wanted no parts of it.”
“I am really sorry,” I said again, not really knowing what else to say. If I felt so much pain after signing my parental rights of my only son over to Alyssa and Drake; I knew it must have been even more devastating to lose one’s children to death. Death was so final, I thought, with much sympathy to his situation.
“I appreciate you listening to an old man about his past. You know, I almost lost Estelle to some of the things I did. I had to fix my head right and be the husband I promised to be in the vows I took on our wedding day. I couldn’t lose my wife, so I regretfully walked away from a situation that could have torn our world apart.”
“We all make mistakes that we are not too proud of in life. I know I have made quite a few of them myself, but I have learned the power of forgiveness and to ask for forgiveness when required. You would be surprised at some of the things I selfishly did in recent years. I am far from being proud of the man I used to be. I said that to say this to you, Mr. McConnell, forgiving yourself is the key.”
“Young man, you could very well be on to something. Estelle gave me her forgiveness on her dying bed. I just never felt a need to forgive myself, until this very moment.”
We were both quiet sitting there in his office lost in thoughts of our own. The silence was comforting in its own way as we each reflected on the past and the power of forgiveness.
Chapter 11
Madelyn
The waiter led Monica and I through the Pizzeria to David’s booth. We were supposed to meet David and his friend Jarvis there for dinner. We each thought it was a good idea to finally meet each other's best friends. I had yet to meet his parents since they stayed far away in another city, but I had talked to them several times on the phone. They were really nice people.
We arrived at the booth where David was sitting alone. David instantly stood, like a gentlemen, as I introduced him to my good friend. The waiter left us when David informed him that we would not be ready to order until Jarvis arrived. “It’s so good to finally meet you, Monica. I have heard nothing but good things about you,” David said enclosing my hand in his as we sat in the booth.
Monica sat directly across from us, giving David the once over before turning her glance on me and giving me the look that said she wholeheartedly approved of my choice. “It’s really nice to finally meet you also. Maddie talks about you all of the time. I should be angry that you’ve taken away all our girl time together, but I forgive you since you make her so happy,” she said in a teasing tone of voice.
David and I laughed well naturedly. Monica was unlike me; she never met a stranger and had no trouble
communicating with them as if she had known them for years. “I don’t blame Maddie one bit. If I had a man like you in my life, I would kick her ass to the curve too,” Monica continued.
“Girl, stop it,” I said laughing so hard that I almost caught a cramp. David chuckled along with me at Monica’s jesting.
We were deep into conversation and enjoying the lighthearted banter, when the waiter led a tall, dark and handsome man to our table. David immediately stood and clasped Jarvis hand into a hearty handshake.
“What’s up everybody?” Jarvis greeted us after David quickly gave out the introductions and before sliding into the booth beside a stunned Monica.
“Hi, Jarvis. It is a pleasure to finally meet the man that David talks so much about,” I said in greeting.
“Thank you and it’s a pleasure to meet the woman who has my friend's nose wide open. I now fully understand, without a doubt, and I would just like to say that your lovely friend here is equally as beautiful,” he added turning towards Monica with a brilliant white smile.
Monica instantly kicked me under the table before giggling like a schoolgirl. If I hadn’t seen how Monica was acting with my own two eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it. Monica, the polished, strong businesswoman, was blushing like she was out on her first date. “Thank…you,” she finally stuttered.
“It’s my pleasure to compliment a beautiful lady such as you,” Jarvis said laying it on thick.
The waiter came over, interrupting further conversation, as we decided in a collaborative effort on what to order. We decided on an extra-large pepperoni pizza with extra cheese and a large order of hot wings. We all placed our drink orders, as well.
“Please tell me that you're single, Monica,” urged a hopeful Jarvis.
“I am very much single. Are you?" she asked.
“I am also single. I have been divorced for almost two years now,” he confided.
“Do you have any children?” Monica asked.
I crossed my fingers beneath the table, hoping against hope that his answer would be in Monica’s favor. I knew what Monica went through in her previous relationship. She had enough baby Mama drama to last her a life time.
“Yes, I have a four-year-old son and a six year old daughter, who are my world.”
Monica frowned, as her smile faltered a bit. “Oh,” she said.
The waiter arrived with our food and drinks in record time. Monica's one-word answer was awkward, if I had to say so myself. I felt bad for Jarvis. He truly seemed like a nice enough dude and on top of that he was very handsome. We ate in silence for a while. I caught Jarvis staring at Monica like he couldn’t get enough of watching her.
“Don’t worry about Jarvis,” David whispered against my ear in a very low voice. “He doesn’t give up very easily.”
“That’s good to know,” I replied in a low voice looking into his sexy green eyes. I trembled from the heat radiating from David's eyes as he bestowed his heated glance upon me.
“Do you realize how much I want and need you right now?” David whispered gruffly, for my ears only.
“I have missed us being together so much. I want and need you too.”
“Give me a chance and I will make it up to you tonight. Let’s get out of here and give these two a chance to connect,” he suggested with urgency in his voice.
“Okay, I would love that,” I admitted, already feeling flustered.
“Monica, you and Madelyn arrived together, but I am going to steal her away. I hope you don’t mind,” David said to my friend.
“I don’t mind in the least,” she admitted. “I suspected she would be leaving with you from the very beginning.”
“Thanks Monica! I will call you later to catch up,” I promised her.
“Go ahead and get out of here you two. I will keep Monica company,” Jarvis said.
David stood quickly and drew me upward beside him. He threw several bills onto the table to cover the bill. “Thanks guys. We are so lucky to have understanding friends. We must do this again soon.”
“Be nice,” I bent and whispered in Monica’s ear. “Give him a chance,” I urged before David led me out of the restaurant.
I hoped Monica would take my advice like I took hers. I hoped she realized she can’t let one bad experience with a man with children ruin it for someone else. I walked arm in arm beside the man with whom I was madly in love.
Chapter 12
David
The flood lights automatically came on when I pulled into my circular cobblestoned driveway that led into my two-door garage. I pushed a button on my console that lifted the doors automatically so I could drive through. Madelyn had been unusually quiet on the drive over. Before getting out the car, I asked, “What’s bothering you baby?”
“It’s nothing really. I am just surprised you brought me to your home. I am glad you finally brought me here though. You have a beautiful home from what I can see thus far. I love the French-style design and the mixture of stone and stucco exterior.”
“Thank you, but please don’t take you not coming over sooner to heart. Your home was just so warm and inviting. I even love the way your house smells. It smells like something scrumptious is baking in the oven at all times. It reminds me of my childhood and how my mom always greeted me after school with a snack of cookies and milk.”
“Aww," she reached over and squeezed my hand lovingly. "That is a sweet memory. I am glad you enjoy my home. It is full of precious memories of my mom and me. I wish you would have known her. She raised me as a single parent, but she instilled deep-rooted values in me.”
“I wish I had known her too. She seemed like a great woman, like her daughter,” I said getting out the car and after opening Madelyn’s door. I led her into my dimly lit home to the living room. “Would you like something to drink, wine perhaps?”
“A glass of wine would be great,” she said going over to sit on the big brown couch that occupied the room.
I watched her and how perfect she looked sitting there in my home. My living room came alive with the presence of Madelyn. The white walls suddenly became warm. She made me feel alive and filled my heart with warmth in the same way. She made my house feel like a home. I thought silently to myself that she was right where she needed to be, and where I wanted her to be. If I played my cards right, she would be a permanent fixture of beauty, sweetness and love in my home.
I walked over to my wine bar treasure trunk and slid open a compartment that held different brands of wine. “What do you prefer, red or white?” I asked holding up two bottles of wine.
“You choose. It doesn’t matter to me," she replied.
I chose a bottle of un-oaked Chardonnay before removing two balloon shaped wine glasses from a different compartment. I removed the foil before uncorking the wine bottle. The cork released with a loud pop before I filled our wine glasses. I carried the glasses over and handed one to Madelyn.
She took a small sip from her glass and licked her lips. I hardened instantly. “Come here,” I said pulling her to her feet. I dipped my head and licked the rest of the sweet tasting wine from her pouty lips. “Mmm, that’s good. I would much rather sip the wine from your lips than from this glass.” Madelyn moaned as I licked her lips again. “Come with me,” I said pulling her up the spiral staircase leading to my master bedroom. I pulled her up the staircase so fast that I am sure her head was spinning by the time we entered the bedroom. My room had a big king-sized bed, a large walk-in closet, a full bath that included a Jacuzzi-sized tub and a walk-in shower.
“Your bedroom is beautiful,” she said taking in the king-sized bed that occupied the middle of the room. “I could crawl into that big comfortable bed and sleep for days,” she said smiling up at me.
“Is that all you can see yourself doing in that big comfy bed?” I teased.
A blush rose to her cheeks and spread. “I can see myself doing other things too,” she replied.
I stepped closer, invading her space. I took her hand and placed it
on my arousal. “You see what you do to me? You make me walk around feeling like a horny teenager as you invade my thoughts day after day and haunt my dreams at night. The more that I have you, the more I crave you. What the hell kind of spell have you captured me in?”
Her eyes widened as the desire in my eyes mirrored in her own eyes. Twin flames of passion radiated from her eyes and settled in my heart. “I want you so bad David. All I have been thinking about is the next time you would make love to me. This thought is what gets me through my days and lonely nights when we aren’t together,” she admitted.
I groaned when she squeezed my hardness and rubbed her hand across its length beneath my pants. “How bad do you want it, baby?” I asked her with a gruff tone of voice.
“Real bad, David. Feel how bad I want you,” she suggested.
I wasted no time in slipping my hand under her skirt and sliding a finger beneath the side of her panties. Her slick wetness coated my finger like nectar. “Oh, baby, you are so wet.” I released my finger from her panties and brought it to my mouth. I sucked all her juices from my finger while staring into her beautiful eyes.
A wild look entered her eyes before her fingers got to work sliding my zipper down and releasing my rod into her waiting hands. She kneeled on the carpeted floor. She looked up into my eyes before speaking. “You want to know how bad I want you?” she questioned. I could only silently nod my head to her question. “I will show you instead,” she said before capturing my rod between her warm, wet lips and worshiping my dick as my slacks fell down around my ankles. Watching her lick me from shaft to tip hardened my already rock hard rod even more. She licked the pre-cum off the tip like thick, Greek yoghurt.
She sent me to a sexual desire, passion-filled nirvana when she took most of my length into her mouth. My head fell back at the intense pleasure she was causing to brew inside of me like a storm. More of my hardness was rapidly disappearing inside her mouth as she relaxed her throat to accommodate my length. She swallowed my full shaft into her mouth as she started to make a humming sound in her throat.
Second Chance 3: Ask Me Again 3: David's Story Page 4