Derrick lifted his finger. "Give me one minute. I want to say goodbye to Erica since I will not see her for a year."
Erica looked at Derrick. Derrick caught the faint tremble of her lip. Tears pulled in her eyes. "It was nice seeing you, Derrick. Good Luck in London."
"No." He said as he leaned in to talk to her. Derrick couldn't allow this to happen. "Erica, I'll explain to Maureen..." Erica didn't let him continue.
"Derrick, we have bad timing. Awful timing but I want to tell you how sorry I am that I ended things the way I did a year ago. I took no offense to what you said. I used it as an excuse to relieve myself of some of my guilt. A week later Jen called me and told me she fell in love, again, and I felt like a real ass because I didn't see it coming. I should've known she'd pull something like that. We shouldn't have felt guilty. We shared a beautiful night together." Erica said as she checked to see if Maureen watched, luckily, a group of guys passing by blocked Maureen's view, so Erica leaned over and kissed his mouth. "Good Luck with everything, Derrick." The waiter came over with their food. "I'm sorry, could you bring it over to that table?" Erica pointed to the table where Maureen sat with a puss on her face. "And I'll need an order for me."
The bartender looked confused but did as she asked.
"Derrick, go enjoy your date. You're making her feel bad, go to her." Derrick turned around and caught sight of his date's scowling face.
"Can I call you?"
"I don't know Derrick. You're going to London in a week, and you never know maybe you and Maureen will hit it off. At least, give her a chance, she looks perfect for you." She turned away from him and lifted her glass to her lips to take a sip. "Please go."
Without turning back to see, Erica knew he walked away.
Derrick forced himself to eat but watching Erica alone at the bar being approached by men made his stomach twist. He hoped none of them appealed to her because one way or another he wanted to be the guy in her bed tonight.
Maureen talked way too much but not interesting enough to distract him. Maureen, too busy selling herself, didn't realize Derrick paid no attention to what she said. When he finished eating and threw his napkin down with way too much force, Maureen became aware.
"Are you okay?" Maureen looked at Derrick then over to Erica. A guy stood close to Erica as she backed away. "Your friend looks like she's enjoying herself." Maureen lied.
About five minutes earlier Derrick glanced over at Erica and saw the scene playing out, and he didn't need to see it again. "Maureen, I'm sorry. I'm not ready for blind dates."
"You love her." Maureen said.
Derrick shot her a look. "No, she's an old friend who's having relationship problems, and I feel terrible for her." He lied hoping to spare her feelings.
Maureen dropped her napkin on the table, stood up, grabbed her purse and walked over to Derrick. She held her hand out and ignored everything Derrick said. "She's very lucky and if she loves you back, so are you. Girls don't like to admit certain things about their competition but the girl is beautiful, and she seems sweet. When I walked in, I knew I didn't have a chance but I gave it a shot, plus, I got a free meal out of it."
Derrick insisted on carrying out his lie because he was a blind idiot and he didn't want to insult Maureen. "I don't love her. She's a friend who's having problems."
"Sure, keep telling yourself that. Listen, if you still want to meet up in London as friends, text me." With that, Maureen walked out of the bar.
Derrick paid the check and watched as Erica still conversed with the guy next to her. He stayed back and watched as the guy crept closer to Erica. When Derrick felt the guy stood close enough, he stood up and walked over to her.
"Hi, sweetheart." He stood behind her, rested his hands on her shoulders, and kissed the side of her neck.
Erica looked up at him then she looked around to see if Maureen hovered. She turned to Derrick and kissed him back. "Hi Honey, the babysitter finally showed up?"
"She did..."
"You're married? Fuck, you have kids." The guy didn't wait for a response. He and his drink walked away.
Derrick took the vacated seat. "Erica, I'm sorry about that."
"Is Maureen okay?"
"Yes, Maureen needed to make it an early night. We'll meet up when I'm in London."
Erica ignored that piece of information. "So we have a week?" She had studied his face before she continued. His eyebrows raised and a slow smile crept across his beautiful face. "We shouldn't waste any time here."
Derrick raised his finger to flag down the bartender. "Check please."
Within ten minutes, Derrick hailed a cab, Erica shouted out her address, dropped her doggie bag on the seat and hopped on Derrick's lap, cradling him between her thighs as she devoured his mouth and rubbed against his hard cock. The inside of the cab reeked of bacon, burgers, and sex.
Derrick let her have her way. Accustomed to girls so tightly wound, Derrick invited the welcome change right from the beginning. She didn't care that the cabbie glanced into his rear view mirror every chance he got. She wanted him, and it felt good to be wanted by Erica.
Derrick only cared about how good she felt. Derrick moved his hands up and down her back taking her shirt with them every time. Erica's body invited him to explore. She took him and welcomed every kiss, every touch. She gave back so much in return. She moved over his hard cock like she already owned it; there were no well-established hang-ups that needed attending.
When the cab came to a stop, Erica lifted her hands from Derrick's body. "We're here."
Standing on the sidewalk, the food bag in hand, She looked up at her apartment building as if she saw it for the first time. She turned towards Derrick, "You're sure I'm not some rebound from your blind date gone wrong."
"Nope. You were the reason my blind date went south." Derrick answered.
"Oh no, I ruined another one of your relationships."
"Stop it." Derrick scolded her. "And it's only fair I ask you a question... Are you going to freak out and push me away or become offended because I love having sex with you?"
Erica felt a twinge of something but planted all sides of her feet in the ground beneath her. "Nope. Last year was different. It was all too soon," Erica's responded. "And tonight I need this."
The cabbie yelled out the fare. Derrick reached into his pocket and pulled out his cash. He gave the cabbie the bill exceeding the fair and leaving enough room for a generous tip.
Erica's apartment building was like any other apartment in the city. A brick building, not a skyscraper but at least eighteen or more floors high. A security guard stationed at a desk upon entering the building sat more for show than service. He barely looked up at them until he realized it was Erica.
"Hi there, Miss Erica." The man and his toothy grin beamed at Erica.
"Hi, Jerome. Quiet tonight?" Erica made polite small talk.
"The only action I've had was old lady Anthem and her bridge group."
"Well, now that's the only action anyone needs. Those girls can be quite a handful." Erica teased.
Jerome laughed a deep throaty belly laugh. "You have a good night."
"I intend to, Jerome." Erica gave Jerome a flirty wink.
Erica and Derrick waited in silence for the elevator doors to open. Once inside she pressed the plastic circle with the number sixteen in black. The button glowed. She pushed Derrick's back to the back wall of the elevator and continued to have her way with him.
Between kisses, Derrick had to ask, "what did you mean by you need this?"
"Sex." She nipped his ear. "I don't do random sex. The last time was with you." She giggled.
"But when I first met you..."
Erica didn't let him finish his thought. "There was something about you. I can't explain it. I would have been happy kissing you but out of nowhere, I wanted you inside of me but I was glad you didn't have a condom."
Derrick didn't respond, but he knew what she meant because he felt the same way. He continued e
xploring her skin with his mouth. A warm, seductive musk smell exuded from her as she warmed. He wanted her scent covering him. He inhaled and rubbed his hands over her exposed skin. The deeper he inhaled, the stronger his need for her.
The elevator door opened, and they stepped out into a long hallway dimly lit by old -fashioned wall sconces with small peach lampshades and glass beads hanging from them. The carpet and walls were a shade of dingy beige. It carried you back to the 1940's. Derrick followed behind Erica. She stopped at the door with a letter C on it.
Stepping into her apartment felt like stepping into Zen. The wide-open space and tall ceilings allowed for the full view of her apartment. Large windows covered with gauzy white fabric spanned one wall. A charcoal microfiber couch placed in front of the windows faced the open space, and a rectangular basket filled with books and magazines sat on the floor next to the sofa. To the right, sat a small kitchen with lower cabinets and shelves where the upper cabinets would be, and a small island in the middle that served as an eating space. To the left, a king size platform bed with a fluffy comforter covering it flanked by matching side tables took up most of the space on that wall. The furniture had clean, modern lines and above the bed hung a large picture of Erica doing triangle yoga pose on a mountain with the sun setting behind her. In the far corner, a tall, dark wood framed mirror leaned against the wall and next to it, a sea grass basket housed yoga mats and scattered around the basket were yoga blocks made of cork. The other corner of the room had two doors, which Derrick assumed one door had to be the bathroom and the other a closet. The entire room anchored by a fluffy white rug. The parts not covered by the carpet exposed wide plank espresso colored wood floors.
Derrick expected Erica's space to look like this; minimalist, clean lines, with a Zen vibe.
Erica heel-toed her shoes off by the front door and Derrick mimicked her.
"Would you like something to drink?" Erica asked as she dropped her keys in the large colorful glass bowl placed on a side table near her front door.
"No, thank you. I like your place. It's very peaceful." Derrick dropped the doggie bag on the tiny island in the kitchen, slipped off his suit jacket, and hung it on the stool near the island.
"I love it, too, and that's the exact vibe I was going for." Erica turned in a circle giving Derrick a quick tour. "The bathroom is that door in the corner, and the other door is my closet."
"I need to use your bathroom." As he walked past her on his way to the bathroom, he stopped, lifted her chin with his thumb and index finger and planted a kiss on her lips. "I'm glad we ran into each other."
With her big jade greens eyes, she smiled. "I am too. Now, use the bathroom so we can get naked."
Derrick didn't close the bathroom door while he pissed. "Erica, do you have condoms?" He yelled out over the noise his stream of urine made as it hit the bowl.
Erica stood leaning against the bathroom's doorjamb talking to his back. "Let me guess... you don't have one."
"None." He shook his cock and zipped up his suit pants. As he washed his hands, he asked about the nearest pharmacy.
"About four blocks down. I am still on the pill."
"Like you, there has been no one since you." He shook the water from his hands as Erica gave him a white fluffy hand towel.
That revelation surprised her. Erica walked backward out of the bathroom as Derrick reached for her waist and pulled her close to him. "There's been no one?"
"Nope. I was preoccupied."
"Right, your new job..." Erica didn't get to finish her thought because Derrick's lips on her neck distracted her. He moved her towards her bed, and she stretched out on it. Derrick stood over her, his eyes roaming over her body.
Where to start? He felt like a kid in a candy store.
He waited an entire year for this. He fantasized about making love to Erica, again, and here she lay on her back giving her body to him. Her silky black hair splayed out around her on the pure white comforter. Her perfect skin was soft and warm. Her jade eyes went on forever like the color of a still pristine lake. Her pink lips made swollen from kissing.
Derrick wrapped his fingers around the hem of her shirt and glided it over her skin. He lifted it off her head and tossed it on the floor. He did the same to her skinny jeans. There in her black lace bra and panties, she waited as Derrick undressed.
"I'd help you with that, but I'm enjoying watching you undress," Erica said as she stretched her hands above her head.
"Oh yeah." Derrick moved to his last article of clothing... his boxer brief. His large bulge ached to get free, but instead of taking them off, Derrick crawled over to Erica and lay next to her. He moved his hands over her stomach and goose flesh appeared on Erica's skin. With one hand, he moved under her and unclasped her bra. She helped by removing it and flinging it behind her.
Derrick took her breast in his mouth and sucked on the hardened nipple. Erica gripped the back of his head and pulled and tugged on his hair. She squirmed a little under his touch, and he moved to her mouth.
Their kisses grew more intense as their hands moved over one another's body. Derrick removed her panties, and Erica helped him remove his boxer brief. A small gasp escaped her mouth as his cock sprung free.
"Are you okay?" He asked her.
"Yes, I forgot how beautiful it was," she responded as she looked down at his cock.
"Beautiful?"
"Well, yes, beautiful. Size, shape, it's beautiful." She explained then grabbed him by the shoulders and brought him down to cover her body once again. "God rarely blesses someone with everything. I expect to find something wrong, eventually."
Derrick laughed and continued his assault on her lips.
An undeniable heady need simmered between them. They explored each other's body like they waited a lifetime for this moment. Erica opened her legs, and Derrick slightly pushed the head of his cock at her opening. The warmth that radiated from her elicited a deep moan from Derrick. She lifted her hips towards him, and he pushed deeper inside of her. They sighed, which turned into deep throaty moans as Derrick moved inside of Erica.
His warm breath tickled her ear as he spoke through each thrust. "You." Thrust. "Feel." Thrust. "So." Thrust. "Fucking." Thrust. "Good."
Erica lifted her hips more towards him to take him deeper. She said nothing because she couldn't speak. Erica saw stars behind her lids and her eyes rolled back in her head. She gripped Derrick's shoulders as if she would crumble into pieces if she let go.
Still grasping his skin she crumbled into pieces, her toes curled, while a powerful wave of pleasure took over her body. She barely heard Derrick encouraging her to let go.
Forget about letting go, she had an out-of-body experience, and he soon followed. The feel of his erection pumping his thick warm cum inside of her brought her even more pleasure. She pulled him as close to her as possible, and he basked in their closeness. Derrick performed like a skilled lover, and the Lord above blessed him with all the finest attributes.
"When are you leaving for London?" Derrick's skin muffled Erica's question.
"Was it that bad this time?" He teased as he dropped on his side off of Erica.
"No, quite the contrary, I hope we could do this a few more times before you leave." She turned her body towards his. He ran his hand over the curve of her waist and rested on her hip.
"I leave next Tuesday Morning."
"So what do you say to my proposition?" She asked as she ran her fingers through the light, silky hair on his chest.
"I've got one better... Let's spend every day together before I leave."
"Except when we are working."
"Yes, but every other moment besides when we are working." Derrick couldn't believe his luck. He had one week with this girl before he left for London for a year. Derrick had no plan for the week, or for what followed but he knew by the end of this week Erica wouldn't be able to walk.
Sated after eating leftover burger and fries followed by more sex, Derrick and Erica laid in
bed next to each other staring at the ceiling.
"Can I ask you something?" Erica turned to face him propped up on her elbow.
"Anything." He moved his arm and repositioned Erica, so she cuddled in the crook of it, her head resting on his shoulder.
"We never completely discussed what I said to you the night of your engagement party, did that push you over the edge?" She stretched her hand across his stomach and outlined the lines of muscle.
"No. You brought clarity to the situation. I made a mistake asking Jennifer to marry me. I didn't love her, hell, I didn't even like her." His fingers stroked up and down Erica's spine.
"It sounds like I did." She lifted her head off his shoulders to look at him.
"You didn't. Driving to the party, I was having second thoughts. I made the decision to postpone the wedding right before I caught you with your top off. I've dated a lot of girls; Jennifer was the most manipulative, sneaky, and fast moving of them all. If I married her, I would have been miserable and divorced."
Erica resumed her position on his shoulder and became quiet. A few minutes later Derrick looked down and saw Erica sleeping. He laid there staring at the ceiling thinking back to that night at the engagement party and the night at her hotel. He wasn't sure what part Erica played in changing his mind all Derrick knew was he was thankful he canceled the wedding.
The next morning, Erica woke before Derrick. She made a pot of coffee and showered while it brewed. She walked out of the bathroom to find him seated at her island sipping hot coffee. An empty cup sat next to him; with his foot, he pulled out the stool as an invitation for her to join him.
"Good Morning." Derrick leaned over and kissed her as she settled on the stool next to him. Her towel turban hid her long black hair. Her silky cotton robe barely covered her bottom, and it's sheerness revealed everything.
"Good Morning." She responded after she kissed him back.
Derrick reached for the coffee pot and poured coffee into Erica's mug. "Milk, sugar?"
The In-Between Girl Page 6