"I'm a man of my word and I recall saying I would make love to you all night... I'm behind schedule."
Erica trailed kisses along his shoulder towards his neck. "I don't want to make a liar out of you so we should get started."
The rest of the night they spent indulging in love making while slipping in and out of sleep. They explored each other's body with their hands and mouths, whispering accolades of praise and admiration. Erica absorbed the delicious poundings and the achingly slow but decadent moments. She straddled on top of him riding him with no regard to his pleasure and he'd flip her over and grab on to her ass and pound into her for his.
By morning, they covered more ground than a couple married for ten years. At least that's how their bodies felt. Erica felt wobbly as she tried to stand up. Incapacitated, Derrick laid on his back the covers off of him, and his flaccid penis hung over his left thigh.
Erica looked back at him. He looked peaceful. He lay in Shavasana, corpse pose, except for one leg bent up off to the side of his body. His body, a lesson in perfection, his skin tanned and stretched over his muscles displaying each one in detail, and his hands were large and strong. His wrists thick and they gave way to muscular forearms. The surface of his skin revealed his bulging veins that served as a reminder of the blood that moved through his body bringing such a handsome man to life.
Derrick opened one eye. "Are you checking me out?"
"Yes, and I've concluded that you mislead me."
"Explain." He turned towards her his flaccid penis now draping down on the sheets.
"Well, taking in the size of that thing when it's soft," she pointed to his cock, "changes my perception of last night."
"How so?"
"Well, you acted like you were in such dire straits but maybe you weren't as hard as you said you were." She teased.
"Let me get this straight; you're accusing me of exaggerating? I mean you saw it."
"Well, yes I saw it and felt it, but maybe you exaggerated because if he's that size when he's soft maybe that hard on last night wasn't as hard on as you claimed." Erica used air quotes as she spoke.
"So I mislead you so you'd sleep with me."
"Correct."
"And if you're right how does that make you feel?"
"Terribly used," Erica pretended to be affronted.
"So how can I make it up to you?"
"I have a few ideas." She stared down at his growing cock.
Derrick grabbed Erica and pinned her down beneath him. He kissed her mouth, moved down to her neck, and found her plump nipple waiting to be next. Erica ran her hands over his skin. His skin warmed by his desire. She tilted back her head moaning his name as he nibbled on her nipple.
Her cell phone rang.
Derrick grudgingly moved off her body, reached for her phone on the nightstand, and handed it to her. Erica jumped up when she saw the name illuminating her screen.
"It's Jen, Get dressed."
"Why? She's not here. She's on the phone, calmly pick up and say hello." Derrick resumed his position on the bed.
Erica took in a few yoga breaths and pushed the button. "Hello."
Derrick stroked Erica's back as he listened to her talk to Jen. He could hear Jen's shrill voice talking without taking a breath and every few minutes Erica answered with a yes or uh- huh, until he heard nothing from the other end of the phone and Erica spoke. "Okay Jen, call me when you get back." Erica disconnected and threw her phone at the foot of the bed.
She turned to look at him. "She's getting out of town, she doesn't want you anymore, and I need not contact you," Erica paused, "I wish she told me that before yesterday."
"Erica, you regret being with me?" Derrick looked wounded.
"Yes and no, just too soon. That's what makes it wrong in my mind." She dropped her head in the palms of her hand. "What was I thinking, you're my friend's fiancé for Pete's sake!"
Derrick officially became smitten with Erica. She said for Pete's sake for Pete's sake. "Erica, I know it looks bad but what we did meant something so it's not as cheap and tawdry as it sounds. Besides, I knew you before I knew Jen."
She agreed with him. It meant something to her. Erica sat on her knees and took Derrick's hands in hers. Before she spoke, Derrick spoke.
"Erica, you are such a welcome change from the girls I date. I needed this... you. You’re carefree and my life is stressful. Last night was a welcome distraction, one I hope we can do again."
Erica stared down at her lap where she held his hands until she dropped them. Turning her attention back to him, she reached out and touched his cheek. She had this all wrong, and she was thankful Derrick explained his feelings for her before she spilled her guts to him. "Derrick, this has been a welcomed distraction for me." She lied by repeating his words back to him. The tightness in her chest reminded her of how big a lie she told. "But let's put time and space between us and then we can see what happens."
"How much time and space?" Derrick hated this idea.
Erica sat with his question before she answered him. "Six months or so."
"We can't talk for six months."
"They say it takes double the time to get over a heartache so if you dated Jen a year it should take you two to get over her."
"But I feel no sorrow. I'm happy. I should never have proposed, hell, I never should have asked Jen out!" Frustrated by all of this he jumped out of bed.
"The only feelings I'm having are..." He stopped himself and changed course. "Sex with you is incredible."
"I feel the same but I need time to let what happened settle in." Erica didn’t want to be someone’s distraction.
"Time? You had no problem jumping into bed last night." As soon as he said it, he wanted to take it back.
Affronted by his words, Erica gulped what she intended to say and instead walked away.
"Erica, wait, I'm sorry." Derrick rushed over to her.
"You can go, Derrick. We're finished, here." She walked into the bathroom and locked the door.
Derrick stood outside the door. "Erica. Please open up the door. I don't want things to end like this."
"You should have thought about that before you insinuated I was a whore. I'm not easily offended, but that did it. And trust me, I'm not like other girls, I'm not telling you to go but deep down hoping you'll stay and beg for my forgiveness. Now go, I'm serious, I want you to leave."
Erica turned on the shower water. She waited a few minutes, heard the door slam, walked into the shower, slumped down on the floor and cried. Erica took no offense to what he last said. However, his depiction of her as a distraction offended her, but she'd never admit it to him. Erica knew Derrick meant no harm, but the only way she'd get him to leave was feigning anger. Erica liked him, really liked him but she also knew you couldn't force someone to feel the same way back. Could she continue to carry on a sexual relationship with him? Erica had to clear her head because it betrayed her, or maybe her heart betrayed her. She needed time to get back to that rooted place where she kept things simple and light then maybe she'd consider seeing him again.
Two weeks after that...
"Oh Erica, he is the hottest, most successful man I've ever dated. He's the one!" Jennifer sighed one of those, I'm so in love, like a stupid teenager in love, sighs.
"Well, I'm thrilled for you, but like I said fifteen minutes ago, I need to get back to work. There is a slight emergency I need to tend to." Erica tried five times to tell Jen she couldn't talk.
"Yoga apparel emergency? Really?" Jen mocked.
"Yes! They sent me the wrong shipment of material!" Erica tried to explain again, this time frustrated by Jen rather than the actual problem.
"Can't you make it work?" Jen patronized Erica.
"Baby Bottles and Ducklings? Not the statement I am trying to make with my new yoga collection."
"But, I'm in love Erica. Didn't you hear me? I'm in love."
"I heard you and I'm happy for you but I need to go, so I'm hanging up right now!" Eric
a disconnected the phone
Chapter 4
That Rooted Place
"Erica, that guy keeps staring at you," Rebecca said as she brought a martini glass up to her lips.
"Why do you assume he's looking at me and not you?" Erica didn't turn to look at the guy.
"Because they are always looking at you. You don't care? He's hot. He's really hot." Rebecca put down her glass and stretched her head a little more to get a better look at the guy staring at Erica. "Oh shit, he's coming over."
Erica turned around and recognized the hot guy staring at her. He looked better than she remembered.
"Hi." He came up and stood between Rebecca and Erica.
"Hi." Erica kept her poker face.
"So I've been staring at you since you walked in." He paused long enough for Erica to say, uh-huh. "And I had to come over all this way from my seat all the way over there." He pointed in that direction. "To tell you I think you have the hottest tits."
Rebecca's mouth dropped open while Erica stood and wrapped her arms around his neck. She stared into his eyes and said, "Thanks." She smashed her lips to his and gave him the slowest, most decadent kiss.
As he remembered, she tasted sweet and spicy. Her full lips covered his, and they moved together effortlessly. Her fingers combed through his hair, and she grabbed and pulled at his strands.
"What the hell is going on?" Rebecca threw her fisted hands down on either side of her body. "Why are you kissing a stranger that told you he likes your tits?"
Erica moved away but kept her hands on Derrick's shoulders while Derrick dropped his hands to Erica's hips. He kept his eyes on Erica, but she turned her head to address her friend's outrage. "But Rebecca, he said I have the hottest tits." Her voice sounded like 1980's ditsy valley girl.
Erica turned back, wrapped her hands around Derrick's neck and planted her lips once again on Derrick's lips. At that moment, Erica realized how much she missed him and how foolish she felt ending it the way she had. Erica should have continued carrying on a casual sexual relationship with him. What the hell was she thinking at the time?
He stood in front of her. Now they could make up for lost time.
"Erica, have you lost your mind?" Rebecca yelled out while stomping both her feet on the floor beneath her.
Erica and Derrick laughed while their lips stayed touching each other.
Erica moved away from Derrick. "Rebecca, I'd like you to meet Derrick Anderson." Erica looked at Derrick.
Derrick extended his hand to Rebecca, who dropped in her seat, relieved.
"Thank God! I thought you lost your mind." Rebecca's entire body relaxed as she realized the joke. "How do you two know each other?"
"The first time I met Derrick he told me I had the hottest tits."
"That's not what happened. I was engaged to Erica's best friend. And if I recall, the first time we met, you dragged me to my car to make out." He explained.
"Best friend? Jen’s title now stands as college roommate rather than friend. And that's exactly what happened." Erica corrected Derrick.
"Have I met her?" Rebecca asked as she picked up her glass to resume drinking.
"No. I haven't talked to Jen in about a year." Erica looked at Derrick.
"Really?" He questioned. "Around the same time, she stopped calling me."
"The last time she called she'd fallen in love, and we haven't talked since." Erica looked behind her to see if the person vacated the barstool.
"I know she called to tell me she fell in love. When I heard she knew the guy for only two weeks, I worried her feelings a little premature." Derrick rested his hand on the back of Erica's barstool.
"It surprised you?" Erica asked not believing for one second that Jennifer's instant love affair shocked Derrick. Jennifer fell fast in love with every man she dated.
"I guess not. That's what happened in our situation. Jen worked so fast that I took a year to realize what happened." All of them laughed though deep down they knew Jennifer plowed through relationships and the poor unsuspecting bastards never saw it coming.
"Would you like to sit?" Erica turned again to see if a stool opened up.
"Here take my chair. I'm heading out." Rebecca gulped down the rest of her cocktail. She air-kissed Erica and shook Derrick's hand. "I'm sure you two want to catch up. It was nice meeting you." She released Derrick's hand and pointed to Erica. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Rebecca left, and Derrick sat in her now vacated chair. He waved to the bartender to order drinks. The bartender walked over. "Do you want me to bring your food here?"
Derrick looked at Erica, and she nodded her approval. "Yes, please and can I have another Manhattan and." He turned to Erica. "What would you like?"
"Vodka seltzer with lime." She pointed to the almost empty glass in front of her.
"And something to eat?" He asked.
"Sure, I'll have the bacon cheeseburger, medium, and the fries with truffle oil."
"So two orders." The bartender looked at Derrick.
"The guy sitting next to me at the bar said this place has great burgers," Derrick explained.
The bartender set their drinks in front of them. Derrick edged his seat a little closer to Erica's and held up his tumbler. Erica smiled and clinked her glass on his. She took a long sip and placed the glass down on the bar.
"Are you here on business?"
Derrick studied Erica's face before he answered her question. She looked more beautiful than he remembered. Her face etched in his mind. He thought about her every day for the past year and every day he thought he'd pick up the phone and call her but her disappointment in him stopped him from picking up the phone. He insulted her and in no way did Erica deserve it. She'd been so open and loving to him, and in return, he threw it in her face.
He called right after it happened and left her a message that she never returned. Next, he sent her a text apologizing for his abhorrent behavior. After that, he decided not to contact her, give her space while he counted his losses, again. Seeing her tonight brought everything back, and he realized how much he needed to be with her.
Enough time passed since their last time together. When Erica walked into the bar, he knew what she meant to him. Derrick felt free when he made love to her, and it was something he needed to feel again. Especially before he was about to embark on this new life ahead of him. Heavy responsibilities waited for him starting next week. Another passionate night with Erica would fuel the fire he needed to take it on.
Derrick waited for what felt like the right opportunity, and Erica's friend opened the door for him, she snagged him checking out Erica. His nerves took over as he walked up to her. She was so beautiful, and there was something so open and honest about her. His thoughts went right back to that night in the garden.
A definite risk, but he thought what's the worst that could happen. She'd slap him. Big deal. He could handle a slap. However, instead, she kissed him. It may have been a ruse for her friend, but the intensity of the kiss told him otherwise. It made his year of waiting all worth it.
She now sat in front of him, a cosmic gift. She made everything so easy. There was no pretense about her. Somehow, he knew it would feel comfortable once in front of her. He spent a year deciding when and how, or if he'd ever contact her again. In the short moment he spent with her, he felt he'd known her his whole life. His struggle for an entire year ended.
Tonight she walked into the bar where he sat. When he saw her, his head spun, his stomach churned, and his cock, it got hard.
"Business, yes, but eventually I'll be here permanently." He took in a deep breath. "I started with a new firm. Their headquarters are here in New York, but they are sending me to London," he paused and swallowed hard. "For a year."
Erica's face dropped. "When?" She swallowed her question. "When are you going to London?"
"Next week." With his long fingers, Derrick spun his tumbler around.
"Are you engaged to anyone? Or maybe you're married." Erica hoped the ans
wer was no. She had her feet rooted to the ground and knew she could handle a night of passionate sex with Derrick with no commitment.
"Single." As he answered her he looked over his shoulder, a somewhat familiar face, one he'd only seen in pictures, reminded him of his real purpose there tonight.
"Derrick?" A short petite girl with blond hair approached him. Her features were small but not unattractive. Her hair, a little stringy but highlighted a nice shade of blond and her thin body with its flat chest showcased her athleticism. She wore a sensible outfit: black slacks, black pumps, and a white blouse- all very tasteful.
"Hi, Maureen." Derrick stood and shook the girl's hand. Erica turned away from Derrick to face the bar. Her instinct told her this girl appeared for a date. Based on the look Maureen gave Erica, Erica's presence was unwelcome.
"Maureen, I'd like you to meet an old friend, Erica Grant."
"Nice to meet you, Erica." She shook Erica's hand then turned back to Derrick. "Shall we sit over there?" Maureen wasted no time separating the two of them. She pointed to a pub table far off in the corner.
Derrick felt sick. He forgot about this blind date his friend insisted he go on. Maureen travels to London for work, and his friend thought it would be a great ice- breaker. When Derrick saw Erica, he forgot his initial reason for being there. And he felt like a jackass; or at least, he was sure Erica thought he was one.
Derrick looked at Erica who avoided all eye contact with him. "Maureen, I hope you don't mind I ordered food, Mike didn't give me an exact time when you'd be here, and I hadn't eaten all day."
"I know my work schedule is crazy..."
Erica cut in before Maureen could finish her sentence. "Derrick, I'm telling you if your head wasn't attached..." Erica shook her head and sighed, "don't you remember you ordered two meals in case Maureen showed up when your food arrived." Erica looked at Maureen. "He didn't want to start off on the wrong foot with you." She paused, "You two go sit down, and I'll tell the bartender to bring your food over." With a tilt of her head, Erica gave the sweetest closed lip smile.
Derrick couldn't understand why Erica covered for him. He looked closer at her face hoping to gain insight into what she was thinking, but Erica turned away. Maureen gave a nice to meet you wave and walked towards the table. She turned back to make sure Derrick walked in tow. "Are you coming?"
The In-Between Girl Page 5