Schooled

by Deena Bright

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Leo was quiet on the way home; I welcomed the silence. We listened to Best of Howard, only talking when we wanted to comment on the show. Nearing Jasper’s house, Leo finally said, “Janelle, I had fun today; thanks for going with me and for trying to help me decide.” He was so sincere, so sweet. I wondered what would’ve happened if Vince hadn’t shown up. Guess it was for the best. I had to worry about seeing Briggs soon.

  Looking down at my phone, I hadn’t realized we’d pulled into the drive until Leo asked, “Hey what’s Briggs Alexander doing here?” Holy fuck! No no no no, this could not be happening.

  “Hmmm, not sure, guess we’ll find out,” I responded with a barely audible whisper. I got out of the car and started down the drive. Walking slowly toward him, Leo joined me at my side. This was not good, not good at all.

  Leo walked up to Briggs, shook his hand, and said, “Briggs, hey man, that special on ESPN last night was sweet. Congrats, dude.” Leo thumped his back, looked at me and said, “Did you see it Jan…Miss Garrity?” Briggs caught Leo’s stumble with my name, glanced at him quickly, but then his gaze, his burning hurtful gaze stayed mainly on me. Oh fuck! Oh fuck!

  With his blazing crystal blue eyes still pinned only on me, Briggs said, “Yeah MISS GARRITY, did you see the show last night?” He was mad. He was hurt. I was speechless. “Or maybe you’d like to see the picture one of my buddies just sent me?” he asked, accusingly. Oh my God; Vince took a picture of us. How in the world could I have thought any of this was a good idea?

  “Yeah Briggs, I caught the show; Leo, why don’t you gather up your yard stuff, and I’ll be right with ya?” What was I going to say to either one of them? Leo sensed something was off, he looked from Briggs to me, and then back to Briggs, curiously. He shrugged, and walked away.

  I walked closer to Briggs, lowering my voice, “Briggs, this is not what you think…” He cut me off.

  “Come on, look at it,” he said, showing me the picture. “That dude’s sucking your damn finger. I get it, don’t worry about it; it’s cool.” He started walking away. I stopped him.

  “Briggs wait, what? What do you get?” I grabbed his arm, turning him to face me, questioning him.

  He stopped. His eyes softened; he pushed a stray strand of my hair behind my ear, and said, “I get it; you wanna date, you just don’t wanna date me.” His eyes dropped; he pulled his hand away, turned, and left. I couldn’t speak; that’s how all this looked to him. I’d just spent all night screwing the shit out of him and told him that I didn’t want to date anyone. Then, he sees a picture of me out with another student with my thumb in his mouth, eating ice cream. How else would this look to Briggs? Fuck.

  Getting ready to go after him, Leo came up next to me and said, “What was that all about?” I couldn’t deal with him too.

  “Nothing really; he’s got something going on with Garrity Advertising,” I lied. I hated lying to Leo, but the last thing he needed was to be embroiled in this mess with Briggs.

  “Man, I’ll tell ya what, that guy surprised the Hell out of me,” Leo said, excitedly. “After that surfing accident, I thought he’d just fuck up his life, never go anywhere,” he explained, shaking his head in disbelief. “But he’s on the fast track now; that ESPN special made him out to be a king.” Leo was awed by Briggs’ comeback and success. It was inspiring. Briggs was an amazing man. He was so tenacious, so confident, and God, so sexy. Oh shit.

  I told Leo that I had some things to take care of and that I’d see him next time he was over. He was reluctant to leave, waiting to say something. We both knew that we had unfinished business between us. But now, I knew maybe that business needed to remain unfinished. I wasn’t sly or courageous enough to attempt, Hell, to even think about juggling two men at once. I’d leave that trick to Char. Char! She’d know how to handle this.

  When Leo left, I called Char and told her everything. “Holy Fuck! That’s way too much information to process.” She was freaking out on the phone. “Janelle, we need a catch up day, soon. But first, get that hot piece of ass back to your house and make him forgive you.”

  I wanted to, but I wasn’t certain what to do. Needing help, I asked, “But what, what can I do?”

  “Do what girls have been doing forever, tease the shit out of him, he’ll come back.” She wished me well and hung up. I realized that, but how? She was of no help. What could I do or say that would make him come running back, wanting me again? Then it hit me, I knew exactly what I had to do.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  While I was in New York, Jocelyn, Rick, and Dave, cleared my junk out of my house and stored it in Jasper’s giant storage room. I went to the storage area and sifted through all the boxes, discovering all sorts of things that I needed, including my very missed vibrator. Finally, I hit pay dirt, finding exactly what I needed. If this didn’t work, then nothing was going to get Briggs Alexander back to me, back in my bed where I enjoyed every inch of him. I texted him and asked him to come over.

  It took longer than I expected for his response.

  Sorry got plans. Damn, I hated that I hurt him, pissed him off. That was never my intention. I was in over my head; this was unchartered territory for me.

  Alright, if this didn’t work, then I’d be the laughingstock of the town, because he’d have the proof right in the palm of his hands. I slipped out of my teal romper, shucked off my strapless bra and thong, and shimmied into the infamous baby costume. Realizing that my hair was braided, I giggled, knowing that was the final touch. I only zipped up the costume to the top of my stomach, barely covering my breasts; they were spilling out of the opening. Lying back on my couch, hating myself for stooping to such ridiculous levels, I snapped a picture of myself.

  Attaching the picture to a text that read: Are you sure you can’t stop by for just a few minutes? I hit send and waited. A minute went by, no response. Five minutes went by, no response. After fifteen minutes, I decided to throw in the towel; I’d lost. He didn’t even respond; my baby costume picture was probably all over Facebook and Twitter already. I was going to be one of those people whose lives were ruined due to inappropriate texts, pictures, and sexting. I always warned my freshman girls about it, hoping to get through to them. Now, I was no better, no wiser than a 14-year-old girl.

  Rejected, I went back to my bedroom. Standing in the full-length mirror about to unzip the pajamas, I heard, “Don’t you dare; that’s my job.” I turned around, Briggs was standing in the doorway of my bedroom. I walked over to him, wrapped my arms around him and kissed him hungrily. His mouth explored mine, ravenously, like neither of us had tasted the other in years. We tightly held one other, pressing our bodies together as one.

  “Briggs,” with a raspy growl, “we need to talk,” I said.

  “Now?”

  I nodded, leading him back to the living room, away from the bed. I needed to talk to him before anything went any further, before either of us got hurt. He sat on the couch; I sat in a chair across the room, the ultimate tease, distance between us.

  “I’m sorry about today—wait, let me finish,” I said, shushing him before he could interrupt me. “I hate what you saw, what Vince sent you, but there is nothing going on between Leo Cling and me.” I explained. He shifted on the couch; his body language saying that he didn’t believe me. “Briggs, look at me. This can’t be about anything other than sex and fun.” I said, needing him to understand me.

  “Janelle…” he said, trying to stop me.

  “I’m not kidding around here,” I stood up, pacing the floor. “I don’t know what I’m doing; I’m so messed up right now. I know that I want you, want you so badly, all the time.” He smiled, starting to come toward me. I held up my hand, stopping him. “But I’m not ready for anything more than that. Can’t handle it.” I hoped that he understood.

  “We can take it slow,” he argued, still trying to approach me.

  Walking out of his reach, I said, “I need you to agree to these terms,
a purely sexual relationship, no other expectations.” I sounded like such a whore, like the roles were reversed. I couldn’t jump into a relationship with him; my disillusionment papers hadn’t even been drafted. This was the only way it would work, could work.

  Chuckling, he said, “You want me to agree to make love…”

  Cutting him off, I said, “Sex, only sex.”

  “You want me to agree to have sex with you, no strings attached, whenever we both want it?” Laughing he said, “Did I just win the lottery? Yes, I accept your proposal, gladly accept your proposal.”

  “I mean it Briggs, none of this ‘take me out’ stuff, worrying about other guys, bullshit,” I clarified. “I’m not looking for anything, with anyone—just hot crazy sex with the hottest, sexiest black man I’ve ever seen.” I started walking toward him, stopping just out of his reach.

  “I got it, I got it,” he whined. “Now, can I please take that ridiculous thing off you and make my teenage fantasy come true?” He begged.

  Holding on to the zipper and slowly, teasingly, unzipping it slightly, I said, “You mean, this costume? You wanna unzip it?” He took a step closer, breathing harder.

  “Garrity, you have no idea what you do to me,” he said. “There isn’t a woman out there I’ve ever wanted more than you.”

  “Oooh, Garrity, I like that. Now get over here and show me how much you want me,” I challenged.

  He was on me in seconds, his hands were all over me, his mouth on mine. I gasped, relishing his taste, his exploration of my body. Taking a step back, his eyes devoured my body, preying on every inch of the costume that he dreamed of removing. Anticipating what was coming, my insides twitched, my stomach fluttered. I had the starring role in many of his fantasies, his dirty, forbidden fantasies. That made me hot, incredibly wet. Finally, he reached up, took hold of the top of the zipper, looked into my eyes, and then back to the top of the zipper. He licked his lips and slowly began unzipping the costume; he groaned as each inch of my body came more into his view. He worked the zipper down slowly, enjoying the view, the reality of his fantasy coming true. Finally, he knelt on the floor, taking the zipper all the way down to my ankle.

  I started to slip the pajamas off my shoulders, when he said, “Leave it,” he caressed my leg, running his hands back up my body. “I’d like you to keep it for a while, please.”

  Breathing hard, I said, “I like your restraint, but let’s not hold out too long this time.” I leaned over and whispered in his ear, sticking my tongue in his ear, sucking his earlobe into my mouth. I wanted him; this whole fantasy fulfillment was turning me on just as much as it was for him. I lifted my foot, and placed it between his legs, massaging his hard penis with the arch of my foot. He growled, grabbing my foot and pulling me down to him. I sat astride his lap, my breasts exposed and rubbing his chest.

  He cupped both of my breasts in his hands and massaged them, pressing them together, and strumming my rock hard nipples with his thumbs. I rubbed myself eagerly on his straining penis. This was not the time for prolonged foreplay. He took a nipple into his mouth, nibbling it softly. I moaned, desire flooding through me.

  Reaching his hand into the bottoms of the costume, he touched the center of my desire. Slipping one finger into me, he said, “You’re so wet; that’s so hot.” I rocked against his fingers; his touch sent currents of pleasure through my entire body. His knuckle pressed against my clit, applying pressure, he began stroking it, quickly and expertly. I gasped, rocking hard against his hand. I wanted release; I wanted it right then. He slipped his pinkie inside of me, gently tickling the edges of the opening, while his knuckle continued to manipulate my clit. Completely aroused and out of control with passion, I grabbed my breasts, tugging on my own nipples. The look of desire on his face sent me over the edge. I came violently, my body spasming; my vagina grinding against his hand.

  He moved quickly, switching our positions with him on top. He lifted my foot and removed only one leg of the costume, leaving the rest in place. He pulled off his shirt; I cooed with approval, licking my lips with hunger. He slipped his running shorts down, and quickly slipped a condom over his raging penis. He crawled slowly up my body; his tongue traveling up the exposed flesh.

  Darting his tongue out, mine met his, sucking them both into my mouth. His body pressed down on mine, my nipples tingled at the sensation of his hard pecs. He lifted my bare leg and held it up to his mouth, licking my leg from my knee to the ankle, then placed it over his shoulder. I whimpered, ready for what was to come.

  Briggs rested his penis at the brink of my opening; Briggs slowly penetrated me, entering slightly until I was able to take every inch of him in. He paused, allowing me to adjust to the strain, stretching me, filling me. Slowly, he began to move; I mirrored his movements, rotating my hips with each thrust of his pelvis. He was so hard, so big; my body molded to his, joining us. We rocked together; he grabbed my leg and nibbled on my calve, sucking the flesh into his mouth. He drove deeper into me, thrusting into me. I wrapped my other leg around him, pushing him in further.

  “Yes Briggs, harder,” I panted into his neck. “Feels so good, yeah, like that,” I begged, encouraging him to go faster. We were so in sync; our bodies worked as one. Briggs leaned his head down and flicked his tongue against my nipple, pulling it into his mouth. I gasped again. He rocked harder; I cried for more.

  “God Janelle, fuck,” he moaned in to my ear. I felt his body jerk, his legs tense as he came explosively. Still pinning me beneath him, he licked my leg and rubbed my foot, while coming down from his climax. Catching his breath, he leaned down and kissed my nose, which did not seem like a “sex only” gesture at all. Too cute, too intimate for “no strings attached,” I thought.

  Wriggling beneath him and pushing him upward, I struggled to get him off. “So, I’ve got a plan,” I said, trying to sit up.

  Understanding my goal, he kneeled back, and pulled me to sitting position. Standing, I told him that I’d be right back. Before, I could walk out of the room, he grabbed the costume, pulling it entirely off of my body. “Can I keep this?” he asked. I snatched it from him and threw it across the room.

  “No, you can’t keep it. Mr. Sentimental.” I scolded him. “This is purely sexual, remember?” I asked as I ran back to the bathroom. When I returned, I threw a blanket over me and smiled when I saw Briggs. He looked at home slouching on the couch, watching TV. Then I realized the problem; he looked too at home.

  “So what’s your plan?” he asked as I sat down next to him, throwing a blanket over both of our nearly naked bodies. He pulled me closer, wrapping his arm around me.

  Removing his arm from around me, I said, “I think you do need some sort of test, a test of what you’ve learned and what you can do.” His eyes widened, flashing with desire. I punched him lightly, “Calm down, let me finish,” I said. I needed to know that he wasn’t hung up on me, that he wasn’t developing feelings for me, because that was just not in the grand scheme of things.

  “Alright, I’m all ears. Shoot,” he said, waiting patiently for my new proposal. I didn’t want to offend him or hurt him any more than I already had. But, I needed to make sure that this was “just sex” for him too. We both had to be in the same place, the same emotional state.

  After explaining my entire plan and reasoning he said, “You want me to fuck your best friend?” I nodded, apprehensively, waiting for his response. “No, that’s just messed up.” He responded.

  “Listen, I could say that you could just go mess around with some stranger, but how would I know if you actually did it?” I questioned. “If you screw Char, both of you will tell me about it. Plus, I’m sure she’d give me all the details, the pros and cons.” It seemed like a perfect plan to me.

  I continued, hoping that I wasn’t losing him. “So, we’d know if you actually learned anything these last few weeks. It’s win-win for everyone.” He was staring at me with questioning eyes. “Char’s hot. You’re hot. And I’d know that we’re not getting to
o far into things here. Everyone wins.”

  “Are you gonna be there? Watching, like a threesome?” he asked, hopefully.

  “God no! Gross,” I exclaimed. “She’s my best friend; I don’t wanna see that. I’ll be here, waiting to hear all about it, I guess.”

  I hadn’t thought about what I’d be doing, or where I’d be doing it when I devised the plan. I just couldn’t have any more repeats of the jealous, hurt disaster that occurred out on my front lawn today. I wasn’t in this to hurt anyone, break anyone’s heart. I knew firsthand all too well how badly it hurt being rejected and broken. I was not about to do that to Briggs. The heart was not getting involved in this summer fun.

  After some deliberation, Briggs agreed. Then, I called Char to ask if she’d be willing to do me a huge, really huge favor. I went into the bedroom, while Briggs watched Sportscenter to explain the plan and the reasoning behind the plan. Laughing, she said the plan was a way better favor than watering my plants when I went out of town. I knew she’d have no problem agreeing to sleep with Briggs for the greater good. Anything for mankind. She could do “no strings attached” with her hands tied behind her back.

  Briggs and I fell asleep out on the couch together. We watched a replay of the interview ESPN aired on his story, the struggles and the successes. Lying together, cuddled under the blanket, we fell asleep. I awoke the next morning, disappointed in myself for allowing him to spend the night again. The more time he and I spent together, the more we’d become attached to the other. Watching him sleep, I decided that I’d make him leave next time; this snuggling business was for couples. We weren’t a couple, would never be a couple.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  I was about to wake Briggs, when there was a knock at the front door, I yelled, “Just a second,” from the living room and ran back to get my robe, waking Briggs in the process. I threw on my robe, hoping that it was Char and not Jasper and Jocelyn. My brother and sister were already getting a little suspicious of the time Briggs spent at the pool house. They weren’t dumb; they could figure it out. I just didn’t want to explain it all.