Stuck in Between (Bound by Your Love)

by Bennett, Blakely

  Bond had asked me to come by his apartment before he had to work at the club. His stupid photo album of all the topless women he had fucked or dated or whatever, lay out on the end table near his black leather couch.

  Just the sight of it left me on edge. “New additions?” I asked nonchalantly but inside I bristled with anger.

  “See for yourself,” he said as if it was completely natural to convince all your lovers to let him take a Polaroid of them naked from the waist up.

  I fanned to the back of the album and found three new photographs. Heat infused my entire body and I struggled to hold back the tears.

  “I have more film if you’re ready to pose for me.”

  “I haven’t changed my mind about being part of your photo album, but I have changed my mind about you,” I said, snatching up my purse and heading to the door.

  “Come on, Jacqs, we’ve been through this before,” he said, grasping my arm and pulling me toward him. “That’s just something for fun and I don’t feel about those women like I feel about you.”

  “I beg to differ,” I said, shaking him off. “You want me to be another notch on your bedpost, only for you, it’s a picture in your fucked up photo album.” I threw my hands in the air and shook my head. “Forget it. Why do I keep doing this to myself?”

  “Come on baby, you know I love you. Please let me show you.” He wrapped his arms around me, but I held myself rigid.

  The longer we stood there, his scent of warm skin and sandalwood filling my nostrils and his hard cock pushing against my stomach, the more my anger dissolved. I hated that he had that kind of power over me.

  Tears fell on my cheeks as he began to coo at me and grind his erection against my mound. As my body responded to him, I tried to will away my jealousy. “Don’t you have to get to work?”

  “We have plenty of time for me to make you feel better.” He led me to his bedroom, undressed, and pulled my shirt over my head. After he had slipped off each black pump, he shimmied down my tight red jeans, pulling my panties off with them. He fingered my clit and said, “Hard and wet for me as always.” Lying down next to me, he took his time caressing all the places he knew drove me wild. He suckled my neck and tugged on my large nipples, running his hand down my belly.

  Like an addict, I succumbed to his advances. His penetrating stare and attention swayed me and in that moment I convinced myself, yet again, that he really did love me. That I needed him, and he needed me.

  I rolled onto my side and clutched his face, bringing his lips to mine. As he thoroughly possessed me with his deep kiss, he lifted my top leg over his and reached down between us to stroke my clit.

  “This is what’s important,” he said. “How it is between us, where nobody else matters. I love you, baby.” After bringing me right up to the edge of release, my nipples taut, my pussy wet, he said, “Come for me.”

  My body responded to his order and thrashed against his hand as I called out, “Yesss.” Swimming in a sea of bliss, I rolled onto my back to recover. Dazed by the orgasm and Bond’s sole ability to bring me to climax, I welcomed him into my body as he drew my legs over his waist and penetrated me from his side position.

  He reached over the top of me, grasping my shoulder for leverage and with his free hand, pushed my arm down so my palm rested over my mound.

  I knew what he wanted from me as he manipulated my fingers so they swirled around my clit. The deep invasion of his steel hard cock coupled with the rubbing of my hooded bud brought me ever closer to another orgasm.

  Bond began to grunt as I felt his cock swell inside me. I clutched the bed cover, careening my body against him as both of our fingers played in my wetness and he forcefully buried his cock as deep as possible.

  “Oh lord,” I cried out and at the same instant he deafened us both with his fierce roar. We lay there panting, flying high on endorphins and our reconnection.

  After we slowly recovered, he said, “Come by the club for a drink before you head back home.”

  “I would just get in the way,” I said as I sat up, trying to collect myself.

  “Not at all. I’m going to take a quick shower and head out. Take your time.”

  I dozed for a bit, dressed, fixed my hair and makeup, and went down to the club. I thought it was a good sign that he wanted me to drop by to see him. Once I opened the door to The CroBar, the loud dance music spilled out onto the street. Stepping inside, I could see all the people crowded around the main bar. I moved closer to the dance floor where reflections of lights bounced off the people gyrating to the beat.

  Bond sat in the DJ booth with three tall blondes surrounding him. I watched him hand one of the women his cell and she typed something, which I assumed was her number. Just as I decided to leave, he glanced up. I shook my head in his direction and walked out.

  *****

  That was the last time Bond and I had been a couple. Bond later explained the woman was a friend of Red’s whom I met at a gathering at his place, but at that point it didn’t matter. Even if he could manage to keep his cock in his pants, I couldn’t take all the women surrounding him all the time. I took a deep breath and willed the memory back into the past.

  I slipped on the black pumps and looked at myself in the full-length mirror on the back of my bedroom door. Lainie had a crepe satin, black dress with a sweetheart neckline and tapering shoulder straps that fit my small curvy frame perfectly. The hem fell to about mid-thigh. I would have much preferred the bright red one she also carried, but overall it gave me a sexy yet classy appearance.

  After lining my eyes in black and adding some mascara, I pulled the sides of my hair back and secured it with a barrette to expose my silver dangling earrings. I had a small black purse for such dismal occasions, and I filled it with lip gloss, eyeliner, and some tissues. Chucking my cell phone in as well, I took a deep breath and headed out to my car. Before taking off, I sent a text to Bond to let him know I was on my way.

  “You look great,” Bond said as he pulled on his seat belt.

  “So do you. You know, you look great in a tux. And I’m guessing the shiny boots are a rebellious statement?”

  “Ah, maybe or the lack of dress shoes.” He flashed one of his dangerous smiles.

  “Why do I have to dress in dreary black?” I said as I drove down the street. “I feel like we’re going to a funeral instead of a party. What’s wrong with one of my colorful flowing dresses or skirts?”

  “Can we just blend in tonight? I’m not in the mood for conflict.”

  “That’s not like you. You’ve always enjoyed razzing your people.” I glanced to the right and changed lanes. “What gives?”

  “I want to know who you’re dating.”

  “You’re making me wear dreary black attire because you think I’m dating someone? I just said I was interested in somebody.” I drove up the north ramp to I-95.

  “No, I’m changing the subject.”

  After I had merged with the traffic, I said, “Change it again because I have no intention of discussing it.”

  “I think we should try again.”

  “Of course you do. You love the chase when I’m unavailable. The only problem is that you get bored once you catch me again. No thanks. I’ll pass.”

  He turned in his seat and raised his voice. “That’s not true and you know it! We didn’t break up last time because I got bored. I’ve been thinking about us a lot lately.”

  I glanced at him and back at the road. “When exactly? Between each new fucking conquest? Give me a break, Bond.”

  “You’re the one who ended it. Tell me what to do. Do I need to stop dating altogether before you’ll give me another chance?”

  “I just don’t think we work.”

  “When will you understand that my dating other women doesn’t take away from my love for you?”

  “Well … ummm … how about never? Do we really need to keep going over this ground? This is not a date. We aren’t going to have sex when the night is over. This is
simply a favor I allowed you to talk me into, against my better judgment. That’s it.”

  “I love you, Jacqs.”

  I took a couple of deep breaths to calm myself and said, “I know you do and I love you too, but that’s beside the point.”

  “How can love be beside the point?” he said, touching my knee.

  Brushing him off, I said, “Because we aren’t a good fit. You know that as well as I do.”

  “I can change.”

  “Uh huh.” I rolled my eyes.

  “I’m serious.”

  As we got closer to the exit to Delray Beach, I switched lanes to the right. “Okay, so why don’t you drive?”

  “That has nothing to do with us dating.”

  “It has everything to do with it. You don’t trust me with your deepest darkest secrets.”

  “I don’t trust anyone with them.”

  “You trust Red,” I said, turning on my right blinker.

  “That’s different and how do you know that?”

  After driving down the off ramp, I turned onto Delray Beach Boulevard. “I asked him and he said I could only get that info from you and I got the distinct impression he knew the truth.”

  “Since when do you and Red talk about us?”

  I swallowed and said, “Well ... you know ... we’ve called a sort of truce and he helped me find a new job. He’s not so bad once you get past his overabundant need to control everything.”

  “Red said the same thing.”

  “That I’m controlling?” I asked, in a louder voice than I intended.

  “No, that you called a truce.”

  “Oh,” I said, lowering my shoulders and focusing on driving.

  “What’s gotten into you lately? You seem different.”

  “Nothing … I don’t know … stress from work, Sammy, you, all of it.”

  Bond guided me through the streets to his family’s beach home. The resort-like house with two pools and a Jacuzzi had a long meandering path that led to the ocean. It was the very home where Bond grew up.

  As we drove up the street, he said, “Pull over there and park.”

  “How long do we have to stay?” I said, standing by my VW Bug and shutting the door.

  “At least until after dinner.” He took my hand and we walked up the long, red-brick drive lined with several cars.

  Bond’s nervous energy flowed into my hand and I prayed to the finicky gods that tonight would go smoothly. I craved a strong alcoholic drink to get me through the evening, however, Bond would refuse to get in the car with me for the ride home if I drank. He, of course, was free to drink, and it seemed a little unfair. His people intimidated the crap out of me.

  Just a couple of steps away from the ten foot dark wooden doors, a man I didn’t recognize slapped Bond on the back and said, “Hey there, Mitchell, I haven’t seen you around in a long time.”

  “Hi Uncle Jack. I didn’t know you planned to come into town for the event. Have you met Jacqueline?”

  “No, I sure haven’t but she’s a looker, isn’t she?” he said, reaching out to shake my hand.

  “Hi,” I said.

  He scanned my body in a way that left my mind screaming, Old lecherous man!

  After he had stepped away, Bond said, “Watch out for that one.”

  “I figured that out for myself,” I said, and then whispered, “Do we have to go say hi to your parents? Your mother really doesn’t like me.”

  “Yay!” I heard from across the entrance room. Lily slipped off her heels and ran into Bond’s arms. He immediately lifted her up and spun her around in a big hug. I could see her whisper into his ear and he nodded.

  Lily’s white-blonde hair complimented the same light brown eyes her brother had. Perched on the edge of eighteen, she had yet to fill out to womanhood. She had slight hips and small breasts, and it was easy to see the maturity that lurked behind her eyes.

  “Jacqs, look at you! Looking so sophisticated!” she said, throwing her arms out wide to hug me. “Can I steal her for a few?” she asked Bond. “I want her to see how I’ve redecorated my room.”

  “Sure, but don’t keep her too long. She’s my shield.”

  “I won’t!” she said, looping her arm through mine.

  “It’s no longer pink?” I asked as she led me up the palatial center staircase.

  “Not a lick of pink.”

  Once she opened the door, I couldn’t believe the transformation. Gone were the bed canopy, white furniture and pink walls. On the far side, behind the red, hardwood bed was a multicolor block graphic that filled the whole wall.

  “Wow,” I said. “Nice job.”

  “Thanks. How did you manage to drag Mitch here on this day of all days?”

  “He dragged me,” I responded but my heart dropped at her meaning.

  We both sat down on the edge of her bed.

  “I’m surprised he would come on the anniversary of the accident,” Lily said.

  “I didn’t know—” I said, folding my hands in my lap.

  “He never told you? You of all people! What’s wrong with my brother?”

  “I guess he doesn’t trust me,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

  “No, it can’t be that. He probably doesn’t want you to see him in a bad light.”

  “Maybe,” I said, my heart ached for Bond.

  “Mitch was engaged to be married—”

  “He was? Wait … I’m not sure you should tell me.”

  “Too late for that now, isn’t it? Celeste had a hard time with all of Mitch’s flirting but he was completely committed to her.”

  “How long ago was that? I’ve known Bond for eight years—that would make you, what, nine or ten at the time?”

  “I was actually younger, but I’ve heard the story a billion times over the years. When I was fifteen, Mitch told me himself, dispelling some of the myths I had heard. Mostly from Donny. Do you still call him Bond? That’s interesting. Anyway, Mitch was twenty-three at the time and he went with Celeste and Donny to a party where they all were drinking. Celeste got sick of Mitch’s flirting, so she tried it out for herself, only she took it too far and kissed a guy. Mitch punched the guy out and then he and Celeste argued in front of the whole party. Can you imagine? Anyway, they left shortly after the fight. On their way home Mitch lost control of the car. He was in the ICU for weeks, but Celeste was killed.”

  “Oh my god! That explains so much.” Tears filled my eyes and I tried to wipe them away.

  “There’s more.”

  “More?”

  “Her parents believed he killed her on purpose and he was charged with manslaughter. Her family wanted him charged with murder.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. So what happened?”

  “He got sentenced to ten years and served three.”

  “He was in jail?”

  “Prison, yes.”

  The tears fell down my cheeks and I almost wished she’d never told me. I became so angry I could barely see straight. “Why would your parents schedule this party on the anniversary of his tragedy and then force him to come?”

  “Here,” she said, handing me a tissue. “I can’t answer that for you. I’d like to think they’re just ignorant or oblivious, but I don’t know.”

  “What about Donny? He must remember!”

  “Donny has always had a bone up his ass about Mitch. I think it’s because he was older, but all the girls wanted Mitch, even some of his girlfriends.”

  Using the tissue, I blotted my eyes. “But Bond never—”

  “No, but Donny thinks otherwise.”

  “Jesus Christ! I don’t even know what to say. It explains so much—”

  “We should go back down before Mitch comes looking for us. You can use my bathroom to clean up your eye makeup.”

  “Okay, I’ll meet you downstairs in a minute.”

  We embraced and I did my best not to breakdown in her arms. In her innocence, she must have shared Bond’s story because she thought I had a rig
ht to know. I had longed to learn the truth for years, but it left me feeling tainted. In hindsight, maybe Bond had tried to protect me from the truth.

  In the bathroom, I sat on the settee and cried for Bond. I wept for myself as well. Would I have felt differently all those years had I understood the real story? Not wanting Bond to come looking for me, I took a couple of deep breaths and dried my eyes. I removed my makeup and reapplied it. He would notice something was wrong and I had no idea how I would explain it. I didn’t want him to know what I’d found out.

  I squared my shoulders and stood as tall I could manage before I descended the staircase. Just as I rounded the bottom, Donny intercepted me.

  Before I could stop myself, anger still boiling in my gut, I blurted out, “Why did you do it? How can you be so callous and unfeeling?” I glanced around us and felt relief when I didn’t see Bond in earshot.

  Somehow he knew exactly what I meant. “Don’t give me your sass, short stuff. I didn’t want him here and never imagined he’d show.”

  “You’re the lowest form of maggot I have ever had the displeasure of meeting,” I said, placing my hands on my hips. “Why not grow the fuck up and leave Bond alone. You are thirty-seven and still jealous. You’re a real piece of work.”

  “I’m the maggot?” Donny said, raising his voice. “You are a very confused little girl.”

  “Bond has more worth and integrity in his little pinky than you’ll ever—”

  “Excuse me, but you’re causing a scene,” Bond’s mother said with her husband in tow.

  “You too,” I said, turning my wrath on his parents. “Have you lost all sense of common decency?”

  “You will not talk to Eleanor that way,” Bond’s father said in a quiet but vicious tone.

  “Do you know what day it is? Does any one of you even have a heart?” I couldn’t stand to be near them for one more second and stalked off to find Bond so we could leave.

  “I never did like her,” I heard Eleanor said.

  “The feeling’s mutual,” I said to myself as I hurried through the house. “There you are,” I said, pulling Bond away from a group of older men deep in conversation. “We have to go.” I tugged on his arm again.