Julissa scratched her head. “Oh, yeah. Those meetings.” Julissa traced the zigzag pattern on their duvet covers. “You know, Michael, I’ve been wanting to talk to you about—”
“I know, Julissa. You don’t have to say it.” Michael reached out and took her hand and turned the engagement ring from side to side on her finger. “I know you’re ready to set a date for our wedding. But, you know, I think that we should at least find the venue first.”
It wasn’t exactly what Julissa wanted to talk about. In fact, it just occurred to her that it didn’t matter if they ever set a date for the wedding. Wait a minute! Did she really mean that? This was the moment that she had been waiting for. The moment had now come to live out her fantasy wedding.
“Right. That makes sense. The venue. Do you have a place in mind?”
“You mean you haven’t started researching? You helped Christina with her wedding so much, I’m sure you can think of somewhere.”
“I guess I’ve been kind of busy, too.” Julissa shrugged.
“Well, why don’t you select about ten venues and then we can go visit the top five on your list. How does that sound?” Michael smiled.
That should have sounded like music to any woman’s ear, but it didn’t quite excite Julissa. “Sounds like a plan. Now, if you don’t mind, I have some dirty laundry to clean up.”
**
“I’m going over to Shanice’s tonight. She’s been having some…problems in her relationship and I wanted to be there for her.” Julissa stood in the doorway of their living room, waiting for Michael’s response. Waiting for him to drill her with more questions. And waiting for him to blow up.
“Okay, baby. What time will you be back?”
“Hopefully, not too late.”
“Tell Shanice I said hello.”
She was smiling inside. Her alibi was tight. Michael didn’t have Shanice’s new cell phone number to call her to inquire about her whereabouts. Shanice moved from her condo downtown three months ago. She still felt guilty about using Shanice as an alibi without her knowing it.
Julissa drove the distance to downtown and parked in her usual parking space outside of the hotel. She took the elevator, without letting him know that she had arrived. She knocked on the door and Quinton let her in seconds later. He was already dressed in tailored pants and clean, fresh dress shirt. She hadn’t seen him since Tuesday.
Michael had worked from home yesterday and she had no real alibi. One whole day away from Quinton was one day too many.
“Hi, Beautiful.” He gave her the once over.
“Hi. And no, this is not what I’m wearing tonight.” The jeans and t-shirt she was wearing was only a decoy for Michael.
Quinton bent his head and gave her an intimate kiss before saying, “And if you did, that would be perfectly fine with me. You look hot in everything.”
Julissa wasted no time using his bathroom to change from her jeans into a simple black dress. Her curls were still fresh from this morning, so she used her fingers to style them.
“This is a dinner date, right?” Julissa came out of the bathroom. He was bent over, shining his shoes.
“That’s what I wanted to tell you about. It is a dinner date. But, what I didn’t tell you is that Ed invited me.”
“What? Are you serious?” Julissa looked at Quinton as if he were crazy. Maybe he was.
“Look, Ed was telling me about how his new girlfriend, Amber, is such a good cook. She’s executive chef at one of the restaurants in Buckhead. They invited me to dinner and he told me to bring a date. He just doesn’t know it’s you.”
“Oh, my gosh.”
“Look, Julissa…they were both standing right there in my face. How could I tell them no to the face?”
“Taking another date would have been a better option.”
“Lissa, are you serious?”
“Quinton! Do you want us to get found out?”
“Ed already knows.”
Julissa paced the room. “And can we keep it that way. We don’t want anyone else to know. What if word gets around? What if Michael knows this Amber? He knows practically everybody in this city who is anybody. He’s worked with politician, celebrities. We can’t—”
Quinton came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I want to be with you, Lissa. So much, that I could care less if your boyfriend, fiancé, or whatever he is finds out. I’m sorry that I’m being selfish.” He kissed her softly on the neck.
“You really want to be with me?” Julissa turned around and kissed him softly. “After all this…after what I’ve done just to be with you.” She felt bad for cheating, but she was in so deep in this situation that she didn’t where to begin with getting herself out of it.
“Yes, I do. You know that.”
What she would give to find out what would make Michael let her go. Would it be the proof that she was cheating on him?
The very first time that Michael was violent towards her, it was when they were living in separate places. He was in the process of moving into his home and she was still living in a thirteen story condominium. She knew then that anybody who called himself a man would never display so much violence to a woman they said they loved. He had gotten mad over something so stupid. Apparently, he had placed a pair of black slacks in the white clothes hamper to be washed. She had been washing and ironing his clothes, even back then. She didn’t see the black piece amongst the white clothes and she put them in the washer together. On top of that, she used bleach in the cycle. He’d been utterly pissed. So pissed that he knocked her onto the floor, causing her to sprain her ankle.
The next morning, she left him a note that it was time to break it off. He showed up on her doorstep the next day and did everything in his power to make her say that she would forgive him and accept him again. He’d even called his mother, and bribed her into talking her out of leaving him. After all the pressure, she went back to him.
She shook the bad memories from her head.
“Okay, Q. But, we should let Ed know that we want to keep this low key. You are to introduce me to Amber as your realtor and friend. Nothing more. No one else is to know about this. Not like this, at least.”
Quinton’s forehead creased and he seemed to be thinking about the stipulations that she had just laid out in front him. “Whatever you say.”
When they pulled up at Amber’s home, Julissa slipped off her engagement ring and put it in her purse. Quinton quietly observed her.
“What?”
“Nothing.” He shook his head.
He walked over to her side and helped her out and they walked the short distance to the doorstep. It seemed like they took an eternity to answer the door after Quinton had rang the doorbell.
“Hi!” Amber smiled brightly at the two of them. Her jet black curly long hair flowed way past her shoulders. The blonde highlights and frayed strands on the ends revealed that most of it was a weave. Yet she looked beautiful anyway. Ed sure knew how to pick them and she was happy for him. “Glad you guys could make it. Come in. I’m Amber, by the way.” She held out her hand.
Ed had not said a word. From the moment that they opened the door, his jaw had dropped open from a few centimeters to a few inches.
Julissa offered her hand. “Julissa.”
“Ed, is something wrong?” Amber looked up at Ed with big eyes that wondered why he wasn’t greeting anyone.
Julissa glanced at Ed in time to see the look he exchanged with Quinton.
“No, everything’s fine,” Ed mumbled, taking the bottle of wine that Quinton held out to him. “Thanks. Come on in. Have a seat in the den. Amber was just setting the table.”
Julissa was about to take her seat beside Quinton when Amber spoke, “Julissa, would you like to help me set the table?”
“Sure.” Julissa smiled. As she retreated, she could feel the tension as she left.
As they were setting the table, Amber was making small talk with her. “Your dress is absolutely gorgeous.
Who’s the designer?”
“Thanks. It’s Gucci.” Julissa set chargers down on each placemat. “It smells wonderful in here. Quinton says that you’re a chef.”
“Oh, thanks. Yes, I’ve been a chef for about two years now. Gourmet, that is. I have a big wedding coming up this Saturday that I’m catering. Some of the selections that I’m preparing tonight are on that menu.”
“Wow! That’s good to know. Although, my best friend just got married, I may know a couple of other friends who could use your services.”
“Oh, I love referrals.” Amber arranged the utensils around the table. “How long have you and Ed’s cousin been together? Any wedding bells in the near feature?”
Julissa’s entire body got hot in embarrassment. “Oh, we…didn’t Ed tell you? We’re just friends. I’m his realtor.”
“Oh!” Amber put her hand over her mouth. “Well, I just thought that…well, you two looked so cute together and…well…I’m babbling.” Amber motioned for Julissa to follow her to the kitchen. “Quinton’s certainly a good looking guy. Ed says he’s changed and done a lot for himself since they last saw each other.”
“Oh, yeah?” And on and on she went talking and talking and talking until they finally had set everything and all the food was set out on the table buffet style. She knew instantly why Amber and Ed were together. They could probably talk each other to death.
Julissa was pleased that it had finally settled with Ed that Quinton had the nerve to bring her. He seemed to have let the situation go for now. But it probably wouldn’t be the last she heard about this night from Ed.
“So Quinton’s told me that he’s got you taking him out to Dunwoody to look for a house?” Ed asked, over the dinner table.
“Yeah. Pretty good neighborhood and pretty good selection of homes when it comes to quality. I think he’ll find something out there,” Julissa said.
“Quinton, Ed said you had some property down in Florida. Are you selling those off to move here or what?” Amber asked.
“I’m not ready to sell just yet. I own all those properties outright, so basically I have income coming in month to month. If I sell, that cash flow stops. Of course, I would be getting one lump sum payment from the sale. But, it just makes more financial sense to hold on in this market. Plus, I get to deduct expenses from upkeep on my income tax return,” Quinton explained.
Julissa smiled. This man seemed as if he had planned everything exceptionally well. This was probably why he was so successful and strived to do so much.
“Wow! Are you gonna be the next Carlton Sheets?” Amber asked, smiling.
Quinton laughed. “I like the money without the fame, so I don’t think so.”
“Who would have known? Quinton Brennan, real estate tycoon,” Ed said, and then he turned to Amber. “Did I tell you that Quinton was a total loner when we went to middle school and high school together.” Ed held up his hands at Quinton. “Not trying to bring back bad memories or anything, man.”
“No, go on. That’s all they are. Just memories,” Quinton replied.
“I almost felt sorry for making fun of you all those years at the YMCA and church. But, somehow, he always stayed true to the family. Doing our homework and helping us with our science projects and math problems. I’m proud of you, cousin. Keep doing what you’re doing.”
“Thank you, man. Taking all the jokes you guys threw at me made me who I am today.”
Julissa couldn’t imagine why his cousins and friends would have teased him in middle school and high school for being so smart and successful. Then she thought back to her middle school days and how they made fun of kids who were know-it-alls, teacher’s pets, and suck-ups. Maybe he was that type of kid.
After each of them had a second helping of delicious food, talked about everything politics to favorite television shows, and got the run-down from talkative Amber of every single ingredient she used to make the dinner, they had wine and dessert. After dessert, Quinton took Julissa’s cue that it was time to go.
Amber waved goodbye from the doorway and Ed walked them down the driveway. Quinton helped her into his Range Rover and walked to the other side with Ed on his tail.
“Thanks for coming out, guys.” The door was closed and Ed leaned on the window frame, preventing Quinton from backing out. Ed made a tsst, tsst sound with his teeth and looked from Julissa to Quinton. “Never in a million years…”
“Ed!” Quinton passed a look at Ed that Julissa couldn’t see.
“Alright, man. This is some real Maury, Jerry Springer shit. I can’t wait to see how everything ends. Of course, it should end just like this…Q and Lissa.”
“Ed, we have to go,” Quinton spoke again, sternly.
“I know. Don’t worry. Your secrets are safe with me. Julissa knows how good I am at keeping secrets, don’t you, Julissa?”
If looks could kill, then Ed would have been dead. She wanted to open the car door, jump out, and strangle him.
“Okay, I’m done!” Ed held his hands up and backed away from the Range Rover.
Quinton pulled out of the driveway and onto the highway. “What was that all about?”
“Well, you should know.”
“I’m talking about what Ed just said about being good at keeping secrets.”
“I have no idea, Q.”
“Julissa.” Quinton slowed done well below the speed limit. “I want to apologize. Obviously this was not a good idea bringing you here if you were going to be uncomfortable.”
“I just think that things would be much better if we kept this between us.”
Quinton was quiet for a moment, while he maneuvered in and out of traffic. He stopped under a traffic light. “Do you honestly think that we can keep hiding like this? You want me to keep courting you at the hotel, while we’re both unhappy because we can’t accept the fact that we’re attracted to each other and—.”
“You’re right. From now moving forward you won’t be courting me at the hotel.” Julissa didn’t want start petty arguments with him of all people.
“What?”
“Should I repeat myself?”
“So now you want to call it quits? You want to call it quits after all this? Julissa, I have feelings for you. This is not just some fling for me.”
“I know. Pull over,” Julissa instructed.
“What?” Quinton looked at her as if she was crazy.
“Pull over. Right here,” Julissa pointed to a driveway leading into a secluded playground. Quinton pulled over, slowly.
As he pulled into a parking space, the dim street lamps shone on both their faces, illuminating the dark exterior of the Range Rover.
“I don’t want to argue, Quinton. It doesn’t make sense what we’re arguing about.”
“Well, let’s not argue. I just want to apologize for putting you…and me…in such an uncomfortable situation.”
Julissa didn’t want to hear another word about their uncomfortable situation, so she reached out and placed her index finger on Quinton’s lips. “Ssshh. Less talk.”
Her fingers trailed down from his lips, chest, and rested on the bulge in his pants. She unzipped him, unbuckled his pants, and freed his dick. “This is what I want tonight.”
“Julissa…are you gonna…do you wanna have sex right here?” His erection grew under her palms.
“Precisely.” Julissa wrapped her fingers around his erection and stroked him up and down.
Quinton turned the key to shut off the car motor. “Oh, God…yes.”
They leaned into each other to kiss, and he pulled her onto his lap.
“I can’t believe you’re doing this. Gosh, you are so incredibly hot,” he whispered.
He kissed her neck and shoulders, and pulled down the straps to her dress and bent his head to suckle her nipples.
She moaned, and moved herself against his erection.
His lips moved up to her neck and he began licking and sucking.
“No hickeys, please Q…,” she whispered.
He chuckled, softly, and met her glaze as he lifted her skirt. He developed an even bigger smile on her face when he realized that she wasn’t wearing any panties.
“Sexy.” His fingers found her center and entered her slowly. He penetrated her with a single digit.
She arched her back as he played with her clit.
“Q, please…” She needed him inside of her, fulfilling her.
Quinton reached behind him, into his back pocket and flipped open his wallet. He pulled out a condom before tossing it onto the dashboard in front of them. Using the auto controls on the side of the driver seat, he leaned the seat back and down, so that the position was just right for fucking. He tore the condom open with his teeth, and placed it over his throbbing erection.
“I want you to take what you need.” He placed his hands on her waist, but did nothing but wait for her to initiate everything.
“Q, I can’t…I don’t…” Julissa had never ridden anyone in her life before. Missionary and a couple deviations from missionary was all she knew…and was all that Michael did with her. That first day that she had been with Quinton had been the first time that she had ever had sex in that many new positions.
Quinton placed his fingers back on her clit and began rubbing. “You need this, don’t you? Don’t you want to come?”
“Yes.”
“Then take what you need,” he coaxed her.
She lifted herself and sat down slowly over his erection. The sensation felt so good to them that they both moaned on contact. She slid down on him until all nine inches were deep inside her pussy. “Show me how you like it.”
“It’s easy. Just move the way you want to.” He leaned forward and reached for the keys in the ignition, turning it slightly. Then he reached over her to his sun visor and pulled a CD out and pushed it in the player. “It’s easy. Like dancing.”
He closed his eyes and rested the back of his head on the seat.
Julissa had no problems with dancing and as they both listened to the calming R&B music, she moved up and down and back and forth over his erection, causing intense pleasure for herself. “Is that good? For you, I mean?”
Risking It All Page 12