by Posey Parks
“Well beautiful, I’m going to let you get your beauty sleep.”
Her smile was nowhere in sight. “Ok, good night.”
She didn’t wait for me to tell her goodbye, she disconnected the call. I’m sure I pissed her off. Being vague with the only woman I wanted to share the truth with, was complicated and selfish.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
SIERRA
What the fuck was that? Damn he’s so hot and cold in two weeks, I thought.
I rocked back and forth, trying to rationalize why I should keep talking to him. He’s too dark. A part of me knows I need to leave him alone. I’m attached to him, like he has this hold over me. The way he stares at me. The way he touched me today. I’ve never been touched like that by a man.
Shaking off the thoughts of how good he ate my pussy earlier, I knew I had to break it off. Lying down upon my cold pillow a tear swept across my face.
∞
Jeff called while I was on my way to my first jobsite. “God, I’ve become predictable,” I said aloud.
I didn’t answer. He called again. I still didn’t pick up.
Entering the building I placed my phone on vibrate. Once on the sixth floor, I began spot checking the offices.
“Good morning boss lady!”
“Good morning, Corelay. There is dust around the window seal, be sure to wipe down the desks with disinfectant.”
Corelay, gently tapped my arm. “Boss lady, what is the matter?”
“Nothing.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “Are you and brown eyes having problems already?”
I shook it off. “No, same worries as always wish we had more help.”
“Seriously Mrs. Crawford, I know the difference in your moods. Rather if its payroll plaguing you, your ex-husband, or if it’s about being short staffed. This is something else, it’s that love bug every woman knows that look. You are sad, distant, and your special attention to detail is a dead giveaway. Yeah, he messed up real good!”
I dropped my head because I could feel the tears burning the back of my eyeballs, then quickly I turned away, darting down the hall. “We need to finish up!”
“I’m here when you want to talk!” she yelled out.
Talk, shoot. I haven’t even gone into detail with Emoni about Jeff. That’s a good thing. Who knows what she will say if I told her its Lindsay’s ex. I sat in one of the offices, when it hit me. Lindsay was cheating on Jeff with Blake. She’s such a bitch. Nope, nope, not going to feel sorry for him. I’m going to move forward with my life. I need to write him a check for the security system.
I glanced at my cell, no more calls from Jeff. I exhaled. I felt a little at ease. I helped my team clean, so we could finish earlier. I will text Jeff later informing him me and the kids can’t go to the aquarium with him.
“No, she is unavailable!” Corelay shouted.
“I know she’s here.”
Poking my head out the office door, I gawked down the hall.
“Don’t worry boss lady, I got it handled!”
Jeff’s angry gaze met my somber one.
Walking down the hall, I waved my hands toward her. “Corelay, thank you. I’m ok.”
“Alright, I’ll be in this office right here if you need me,” she pointed.
I waited for Corelay to disappear into the office.
“Jeff, why are you here?” I asked. My eyes burned a hole into the floor.
I couldn’t bear to look at him. He held his baseball cap in his hand. His woodsy cologne lingered in my nostrils. He smelled so damn good.
“Can I talk to you for a moment?”
“No, you’ve said enough.”
Jeff stepped in front of me, snaking his arm around my waist, pulling me close. “Just for a minute,” he whispered against my forehead.
I felt him sweep me off my feet into his strong arms, into an empty office down the hall. I was in a trance, just wanted to get through my day and start to get over him.
He placed me in one of the chairs, then closed the door.
Sitting down next to me, he grabbed my chin softly, I snatched my face away.
“Jeff, just go, please.”
“No. What I said was fucked up and wrong. I should never have said that to you. It’s messed up how I expect you to trust me and the truth is we don’t know each other well.”
My cold eyes bore into his worried ones. “Jeff, I need a man in my life who will trust me with his darkest secrets.”
Jeff grabbed Kleenex from the desk then dabbed my face dry.
“I’m from Newark, New Jersey. I haven’t been home in fourteen years.” He twisted the baseball cap in his hands.
“I told you I witnessed something terrible. I can’t ever go home again because…”
“Jeff, because?”
“I witnessed my father beat my mother half to death. I fought him, but I wasn’t strong enough back then to save her. I heard sirens. The police came to our house, arresting my father. My Mother begged me to leave and never return. So, I did.”
I placed my hand against his cheek. “I’m so sorry. Where is your mother?”
“She died in the hospital.”
I wrapped my arms around him. “I’m so sorry.”
“I miss things about New Jersey, but I won’t ever go back. Doesn’t matter if my father is in prison. I have no home to go back to.”
“Why did you change your name?”
“Certain people in my extended family aren’t happy my father went to prison. It’s better this way. I have to keep my children safe. In my old neighborhood people live by a different code; a street code. They want me to pay with my life.”
“I understand needing to keep your children safe. That is my first priority too.”
He glanced at me. “What I said last night, wasn’t to hurt your feelings. Not sure I know how to trust anymore. Sierra, I told you I was broken. I’m here telling you about my past, because I don’t want to lose you.” His gaze was sincere.
My lips grazed his.
“Sierra, I’m asking for us to continue to get to know each other.”
I dropped my head against his as my fingertips brushed his shoulders.
His delicious lips took mine with need, and a bit of relief. I couldn’t imagine never telling anyone who I really was.
Jeff stood to his feet. “I’m going to let you continue working.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
SIERRA
I stood, pushing him against the door. My finger nails dug into his huge muscular chest through his black plaid long sleeve shirt. His large hands gripped my ass.
“I only want to be with you Sierra.”
“Jeff, it was tearing me apart inside to stop seeing you.”
“I want us to find a way to spend the night together each week and on our free weekends. Your house or mine.”
“That would be nice.” I jumped into his big strong arms, slipping my tongue past his lips. I pulled back biting my bottom lip, staring into his brown eyes.
“Jeff, are those contacts in your eyes to help you see?”
“No, to change my eye color.”
“You have to promise you’ll remove them the first time we make love.”
“I can do that,” he smiled.
I ran my fingers up the back of his hair.
I wrapped my arms around his neck again. “Jeff, since we are both business owners we should either take long lunches or take off work early a couple of days a week and spend time together.”
“Yeah baby, I can do that for you. For us. I’ll let you get back to work.”
Jeff placed me on my feet, not before squeezing my ass. He scooped his hat out of the chair. Jeff opened the door, grabbing my hand.
“Walk me to the elevator.”
We approached the elevator. “Corelay!” Jeff called.
“Jeff, what are you doing?” I asked.
Corelay stormed out of the office toward us. “Yes!” she stood, hands on her hips.
> “Corelay, I was in the wrong. I apologized to Sierra. Try not to stay mad at me.”
“I appreciate you admitting you were in the wrong. That means a lot to us women.”
“Corelay, I’m happy she has you looking out for her,” he flashed his handsome smile.
“You’ll be seeing a lot more of me.”
“Good! Bye Jeff.”
“Bye.”
“Sierra, I am sending dinner over for you and the kids tonight. I don’t want you to cook just relax.”
“Awe, thanks baby,” I cooed against his lips.
I stood running my fingers across his thick brown eyebrows.
He hit the button again for the elevator. The elevator doors opened. We said our goodbyes again. He looked so fucking sexy. I’m so happy he is all mine.
∞
Friday night was relaxing. Jeff texted me to find out what the kids and I wanted to eat. The kids chose pizza for dinner of course. I requested a Greek salad.
Two dozen white roses arrived right after our dinner was delivered. The card read:
Sierra Baby, you mean a lot to me. Very soon I’ll be sending red roses to show you how fast I’m falling for you. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.
Yours Only,
Jeff
I love his words. My heart fluttered. Every woman wants to feel special. God, thinking back to this afternoon. Jeff showing up the way he did caught me off guard. I was going through it over a man I hadn’t even known that long.
Why? Was it the way he stares at me with those dreamy brown eyes? Maybe the way his lips make mine shiver when he devours them. What kept me from texting him this morning? I should have told him to fuck off.
My thoughts crept back to him taking me in his office yesterday. I thought we were about to have sex on his desk, sadly I wasn’t going to stop him. I was horny, but only wanted to have sex with Jeff. Nobody else could have pleased me. I’m definitely sure of that now. Shit, his large hands staked their claim on my ass, my breasts, and my pussy. The way he ignored me, going for what he wanted. Fuck he was a pro. The way he maneuvered around my slickness. Shit, nerve endings I didn’t know I had came to life. If I would have known it felt that good to have a man eat my pussy, shit that should have been a deal breaker. You have to eat my pussy and be a pro at it.
Jeff certainly deserved a trophy for eating my pussy that, good. He deserved another trophy for the multiple orgasms. Fuck, the way his lips curled at the ends right before he licked my goodness. My fingers slipped through his brown curly hair, then gripped it tight. My body reacted in ways I didn’t know it could. Throwing my pussy against his tongue was shocking, but earth shattering.
His New Jersey accent drove me fucking insane. I love the way he talks to me. He takes charge. Someone knocked on the door. He told them not now. I wasn’t shocked. He wanted me, needed me, and had to have me. The second Jeff made me cum, he groaned as he drank and licked up every ounce of my goodness as he called it.
Jeff’s sexiness brings out another side of me, I didn’t know existed. I couldn’t believe I asked him to jack off during our Face Time call. Not sure why I thought I was going to get a private show, oh no he wanted to see me please myself too. His voice is like smooth silk. Listening to him tell me how to rub my clit to make myself cum was stimulating. Again, my body was awakened.
Shit, my thoughts were interrupted by Lindsay’s face popping in my head. Her smug expression about Jeff and me. The way he pleased me, did he do the same to her? If so how could she cheat on him? I remember Emoni telling me Blake was Lindsay’s first love. Maybe Jeff just never had a chance. Maybe because he wasn’t the Grammy award winning Blake Shafer.
She shouldn’t have married Jeff and fucked him up the way she did. The insensitive statement he made about me possibly getting to know the real him. I was floored. I hate how fucking guarded he is toward me because of his fucked-up life.
Jeff showing up at my jobsite was completely unexpected. My heart plummeted to my feet when I heard his voice. Making eye contact with him wasn’t an option. Jeff held me in his arms like I was a wounded puppy, his wounded puppy. I’m relieved he opened up to me. Not having Jeff in my life isn’t an option.
Sitting on the couch cuddled up with a nice glass of red wine and my salad was nice. Jeff is thoughtful. I love that about him.
“Shana, Jason. Come here.”
“Yes mommy.” They said running down the stairs side by side.
“It’s bath time. We are going to the aquarium tomorrow.”
“Yes, yay!” they said one after another.
“Jason, I will give you a bath first then you Shana.”
“Ok mommy.”
“I’m going to pick out both your outfits for tomorrow. While Jason’s bath water is running.” I sat my wine glass and salad on the coffee table.
“Can mommy get a hug from her love bugs?”
Their faces lit up as they jumped into my arms. “I love you two so much.” I kissed their cheeks.
“We love you too mommy.”
Later that night. I sent Jeff a text telling him goodnight.
I knew we had a long day ahead of us and I wanted to be well rested.
CHAPTER THIRY-EIGHT
SIERRA
The kids and I arrived at the aquarium around 10 a.m., after driving two hours to Newport, OR. Flashing my cell against the scanner at the entry window, the associate gave me three wrist bands.
“Enjoy your day at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.”
“Thank you,” I replied.
Nervously, I stood with the kids staring at the colorful fish behind the giant glass wall.
“They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”
“Yes.” I glanced over meeting his handsome brown eyes.
Jeff’s smirk was devious. “It’s good to see you again Sierra,” he said extending his hand for mine.
“Yes, it is,” I smiled shaking his hand.
“Dillon, Lily say hello to Mrs. Crawford.”
“Hello.”
I crouched down in front of them. “Hello. I work with your daddy.”
“In construction?” Dillon asked.
“No, I own a cleaning business. Sometimes my team comes in and cleans the offices, making sure there’s no saw dust before people began working in the buildings.”
I placed my arms around my children. “This is Jason and Shana.”
“Hello,” said Dillon then Lily.
“Hello,” replied Shana.
Jason waved.
I stood. “Kids, what is your favorite fish?”
They began answering at the same time.
Jeff and I smiled at each other.
“Shana, Jason, do you like the pretty fish?”
They glanced up at me.
“It’s ok to speak,” I replied staring into their little faces.
They glanced back at Jeff. “Yes.”
Jeff kneeled down to the kids’ level. “Since we are all here at the same time, how about we visit the exhibit’s together?”
They looked at one another. Then shook their heads yes.
Jeff smiled. “Great!”
I retrieved snack sized bags filled with Goldfish and juice boxes from the small cooler in my purse, for all the kids. “Jeff, can you pass these out please?”
“Sure.”
“Thank you!” they stated respectively.
Jeff stood to his feet.
“Daddy, will the fish get mad? We’re eating fish!” Lily whispered.
She raised the little gold fish in the air.
Jeff and I stared at each other then laughed.
“No Lily, they won’t,” he stated.
We strolled around the aquarium. I could see Jason was getting irritable from walking so much. I began peeling the portable stroller from my arm, Jeff grabbed it.
“Let me open it for you.”
“Thanks Jeff.”
After Jeff set up the stroller, I scooped Jason up, strapping him inside.
The m
oment we walked into the tunnel, Dillon was excited. His little gray eyes lit up.
“Dad, this is so cool! Sharks!”
Jeff gave Dillon a high five. “It is cool Dillon!”
Shana held onto my leg for dear life when the shark swam above us.
Pulling Shana up into my arms, I pointed to the other sea creatures in an attempt to calm her down. Her face began to brighten just a bit.
“Lily, do you like the sharks?”
“Yeah, but they are a little scary.”
“They are Lily,” said Shana.
“Alright, we should be done with this exhibit soon, then we are going to lunch.”
“Yeah, lunch,” the girls cheered.
I distracted them with questions.
“Shana loves chicken nuggets. How about you Lily?”
“I love chicken nuggets too!” she gleamed.
“Good! Chicken nuggets it is!”
~
The café was crowded. We stood in line for a long time. The kids discussed the exhibit’s while Jeff and I made short talk. I was enjoying our outing.
After filling our trays and paying for our order, Jeff found us a table.
“Are you guys having a good time?” asked Jeff.
“Yes!” they replied one by one.
I smiled. “Maybe, we can schedule a play date.”
“Yeah!” Lily yelled.
“Yes, mommy!” said Shana.
“Ok. We will see what we can do,” I replied.
I didn’t glance around once. I was consumed with what was going on at our little table. It was ok that Dillon wasn’t excited about a play date. Jason is only three. I get it. We listened to Dillon tell us all about the scary sharks who just swam around us.
“Dillon, I think it’s cool how you love all the cool sharks that just scared me and the girls.” I smiled.
Dillon laughed.
Jeff nudged Dillon. “Hey buddy. You’re supposed to do what?”
Dillon stared at Jeff then glanced around the table.
“I’ll protect you!”
Jeff tickled Dillon. “That’s my boy!”
“Thank you, Dillon. We appreciate that. Don’t we Lily and Shana?”
“Yes!” they smiled.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
SIERRA
After lunch we visited a few more exhibits. We all enjoyed the sea lions and sea otters. Jeff rubbed my back while the kids were engrossed with the sea lions.