“You’re tripping. Sorry but you got the wrong bitch. I don’t do jealous or crazy.” With that I rolled my eyes and stormed back to my office. I still couldn’t believe what had just happened. How dare he accuse me of meeting another mothafucka around the corner? Back in the day, maybe, but the new me was all about him.
I had just turned on the light and flopped down onto my chair when I glanced up to see Kaleb standing in my doorway.
“The exit is that way.” I pointed toward the front of the restaurant.
“Look… I’m sorry.”
Seriously? Did he think it would be that easy? “Whatever.” I mumbled under my breath.
“I’m serious. I guess I got carried away. I saw the dude looking at my woman all night and I didn’t know what to think. For all I knew he could have tried to bust me upside my head.”
“Puhleeze. That’s what I got security for.” I turned on the seat and rolled my eyes. It was going to take a lot more than that before I forgave him.
“I’m sorry. I saw that dude and I just went crazy thinking about someone else being with you.”
Anyone else I would have sent packing but Kaleb just intrigued me too much that I felt myself being drawn in again by his charm.
“Babe, I apologize for going crazy like that. Can you please find it in your heart to forgive your man?” He was shaking his head and looked so full of remorse as he stepped into my office. “Baby, we’ve got so many plans. A life together. A restaurant to expand that we can’t let some fool come between what we’re tryna build here.”
Did he say expand my restaurant? Cha-ching bitch! I was about to cash in. I acted like I was still considering his apology even though I had already made up my mind. I pretended I was looking through a file. Hopefully he wouldn’t notice it was upside down.
“I’ve got so much going on in my life and I need a good woman but it has really been hard for me to be able to trust anyone. I have females running game and trying to get their hands on my money. If you haven’t noticed, well, I’m pretty wealthy and I just need someone in my life who’s ready for some next-level-type shit. Can you understand where I’m coming from?”
All I heard was wealthy. I could already see us getting married and he buying the vacant space next door, eliminating my student loans and everything else I wanted and needed. That was reason enough to keep hanging in there with his jealous ass. I just had to remember that nothing got past Kaleb and what worked with the other dudes wasn’t going to work with him.
But it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle.
“Okay,” I said like it had been a difficult decision. He just didn’t know how easy it had been. “But don’t you ever try to embarrass me again!”
“Thank you, babe.” By the time he leaned down my head was tilted waiting for his kiss. “I love you,” he said between kisses.
“I love you too.” I heard myself say and I wasn’t sure if I meant it but I knew in my heart that was what I was feeling at this time. He was gorgeous and the sex was decent so what more did I need?
When he finally broke the kiss, I gazed up into his eyes and there it was, love, uncertainty, and swag, all rolled up in one. And let’s not forget he was rich. A girl couldn’t possibly ask for more.
“Since we’re alone, how about I give you a little of my hands-on experience?” I purred then reached down for his zipper.
15
NYREE
Why when you’re in a rush everyone wants to move so damn slow? I just don’t get it.
We had just landed at St. Louis International Airport and the door was open yet everyone was moving like they had all the time in the world. I didn’t want to push my way down the aisle but I was eager to see Jeremy.
I finally got off the plane dragging my rolling suitcase behind me. I decided to dip into a restroom and freshen my make-up. The whole time I was putting on my mascara my hand was shaking. I couldn’t believe how nervous I was to see him. I was wearing Rocawear jeans, a form fitting chocolate blouse that dipped low in the front and brown pumps. I looked good. Hell, I looked better than good. I looked fierce! I popped a few breath mints in my mouth then hurried toward the exit.
And there he was.
Jeremy was standing right at the end of the exit holding a bouquet of flowers and looking nervous, with that boyish grin of his that I liked so much. His melon shaped head was even starting to grow on me.
“Hey, beautiful,” he greeted, and stared at me as if I was Mariah Carey or somebody.
I blushed and moved toward him, swaying my hips, hoping he hadn’t missed all these curves. “Hey, Jeremy.” When I was close enough, he wrapped me in his strong arms and squeezed me tightly. I wasted no time tilting my head, and then our lips met. It was like the Fourth of July. I got these sparks that shot through my entire body. I’m serious, warmth flooded through me and when his tongue touched mine I had to fight back a moan. I loved the way Jeremy kissed. He had this way of making me feel beautiful and wanted. Something that Rock had never been able to do for me no matter how much I tried to convince myself otherwise. This man made me feel like the luckiest woman in Missouri.
When we finally broke off the kiss, Jeremy handed me my flowers. “These are for you,” he said.
I looked briefly down at the beautiful spring bouquet then back up into his eyes that were waiting for affirmation. “Thank you. It’s beautiful.”
He sighed and I noticed how his shoulders sagged with relief. There was just this innocence about this man that intrigued me. I hadn’t quite put my finger on what it was but it was almost as if he was unsure what to do or say at the risk of making a mistake. I wasn’t sure if it was because his marriage of ten years had ended badly or that he really wanted things between us to work.
“We better get outta here,” he said and took my rolling bag and my hand in the other. We walked down to the lower level, bumping playfully into each other while grinning like school kids.
“I missed you.” He was honest like that.
“I missed you, too,” I replied.
“After I had made it clear to Timmy I wasn’t interested in rekindling, Jeremy and I spent the rest of the week talking on the phone getting to know each other and there were so many things about this man I admired. He was interested in being a student of my past and I never thought about relationships that way. Nevertheless, the fact that he was interested in learning everything he could made me feel important.
“So where do you want to eat?” he asked once we had my bags and were in his Tahoe, heading away from the airport. He was holding my hand and looking at me with so much adoration I felt like I was floating.
“Anywhere is fine with me.” My mind was already on the days ahead. I know I was probably moving fast, especially since I’ve been burned before but I couldn’t help it.
He pulled into Olive Garden’s parking lot. I hated their food but since I had already said it didn’t matter, I decided to keep my mouth shut for now. The man was nervous enough as it was.
Ten minutes after our orders had been taken, Jeremy reached across the table for my hands. “Hey beautiful,” he teased.
“Hey handsome.” Jeremy was getting cuter with every passing minute. I think with him his inner beautiful was starting to outshine everything else.
“What are you feeling right now?”
I drew in a shaky breath. “Excited… scared.”
He nodded. “I feel the same way. What are you most afraid of?”
“How much I really like you,” I said, in a rush of words.
Jeremy looked confused. “What do you mean?”
I squeezed his hand. “I mean how quickly you have become such an important part of my life. It’s like I’ve known you for a long time.”
Jeremy nodded. “I feel the same way. I had a long talk with my dad yesterday and I was telling him about you. He said, “Son, this is the first woman I’ve heard you talk about like this.”
Of course I was grinning.
He squeezed my ha
nd. “I don’t know why God brought you in my life, but I do know it was for a reason. I’m looking forward to finding out what that reason is.”
Our food arrived and he took my hands again and we said grace. I had always believed in God but there was something about Jeremy that made me want to dig deeper and develop a stronger relationship. I truly had a lot in my life to be thankful for.
“…And Lord, thank you so much for bringing my Angel back home safely to me. In your precious son’s name I pray, Amen.” Before he released my hand, Jeremy brought it to his lips and kissed it. “You don’t mind me calling you Angel, do you?” he asked and he released his hold.
“No, not at all.” Hopefully I could live up to the name.
I reached for my fork. I was so excited just being here with him I didn’t have much of an appetite, which was crazy since I hadn’t eaten anything since lunch and it was already after seven.
“What you got planned for the rest of the night?” he asked.
I didn’t even hesitate. “Spending it with you.”
Jeremy nodded. “I like the sound of that.”
Leaning closer, I whispered, “I even have a clean change of clothes in my suitcase.”
He stared across the table at me then down at his plate, as if gathering the guts to say whatever was coming next. “I can’t promise you I’m going to behave with you lying in the bed beside me.”
“I would be disappointed if you were,” I said and Jeremy nodded in response.
We talked and flirted the entire ride to his apartment. We stepped inside and I barely had time to look around his place when Jeremy pressed his mouth to mine. Nothing rough or persuasive. Just a few nervous pecks. Really? I had never been considered the aggressor but with this dude I could tell I was going to have to jump into the driver’s seat.
I parted my lips and pushed between his with my tongue and slipped inside. Within seconds I had him eagerly following my lead. Despite his insecurity, Jeremy was really an amazing kisser. He just needed a little push, that’s all. He wrapped his arms around me and I tilted my head back slightly and stepped out of my heels so I had a better angle. He was so gentle and his strokes so fluid and slow I might come on myself by the time he figured out I was tryna give him my kitty-kat on a silver platter. Hell, I gave up sex with Timmy because I wanted to make sure I was good and horny the next time I got some.
“I want you to make love to me,” I whispered.
He drew back, appeared surprised and finally nodded.
I was amazed when he reached for my zipper, dropped to his knees, and pulled my jeans down over my hips. I knew what was coming next. Jeremy brought his lips to the side of my stomach and around to my hip. Oh my! His lips were so soft, he was driving crazy and I could already imagine how his tongue would feel lapping at my clit. Only he didn’t pull my jeans down quickly. Instead, he lowered it inch by inch, the slow motion caressing my pussy. Damn, he was torturing me.
Once my jeans fell to the floor, I thought he would have ripped my panties off. Instead he sat back on the carpet and leaned against the couch as he stared at me.
“I can’t believe how beautiful you are.”
There I was standing in low rise panties, acting shy. It’s crazy but I wanted him to like me. I needed him to want me to be in his life.
He smiled. “C’mere.”
I lowered and straddled his waist and he wasted no time lifting my shirt over my head then reaching behind me and fumbling with my bra.
“Let me help you with that,” I offered and unclasped it and tossed it to the side. The way he was looking at me made me feel so beautiful. Jeremy finally reached out and stroked my breasts. When he grazed his thumb over a nipple, I gasped. I didn’t know if it was the anticipation or the gentle way he teased the tip. Whatever it was, I moaned and closed my eyes while I enjoyed. I couldn’t believe he was playing with my breasts.
Oh, this little choir boy had skills.
Jeremy finally leaned forward and sucked a nipple into his mouth. Need ricocheted through my body. I caught myself leaning in close to his lips while he sucked and teased with his tongue. I had to grab onto his shoulders to keep from falling over.
I think what I liked most was that he was gentle. Rock had always been rough like he had to prove a point but Jeremy performed as if we had all the time in the world. And I guess we did. There was no one waiting at home for me. In fact, everything I wanted, everything I needed for the moment was right here in front of me, although this foreplay was starting to go into overkill.
While he feasted at my nipples, I ran my hands down his back and tugged at his shirt. “Take this off.”
He lifted his arms and I dragged it up over his head and tossed it away. I wish I could say his body was all that but at least he didn’t have a gut or anything. I was hoping his chest had been cut up the way Timmy’s was, but I guess you can’t have everything.
I rose from his lap and slowly lowered my panties like I was doing a striptease.
“You like what you see?” I asked with a saucy grin.
“Wow!” was all he said but that one word spoke volumes.
I lowered my panties to my feet and was pleased I had remembered to trim my girl up this morning in the shower. Reaching forward he slid his hand between my thighs.
He caught me off guard so I stumbled and fell across his lap. Wow was right! His touch was amazing. It has been a long time since a man has finger fucked me and even longer since a man knew what he was doing.
Maybe I had underestimated him. Jeremy’s fingers were long and calloused as they stroked and penetrated me.
“Open your legs,” he whispered against my cheek. I was draped across his lap, so I rolled off his legs, resting my weight onto my elbows and parted my thighs.
“Come and get it,” I cooed.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said playfully. He was grinning and I liked that. And then he was licking me. I hadn’t even noticed he had shifted until he was practically lying across the floor on his stomach, and his tongue was right where I needed it. All warm and wet, I was moaning and in a matter of minutes I was crying out his name
“Jeremy, yes!” The orgasm was mind-boggling. As I regained my breathing, I gazed at his smiling face.
“Satisfied?” he asked.
“Yes, but what else you got?” I said still sounding breathless.
He rose and lowered his jeans and his drawers. He had nice legs and a decent size dick. I definitely liked what I saw. The only complaint was he was hairless. Armpits, chest and pubic were all smooth like a baby’s ass.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing,” I lied. “Nothing at all.” I spread my legs and waited while he settled between my thighs.
“Shit,” I heard him mutter under his breath.
I raised my gaze and looked at him. “What’s wrong?”
Jeremy lowered his eyelids. “Just give me a moment.”
He started slapping the head of his dick along my kitty and I immediately knew what the problem was. Jeremy couldn’t get it up.
I then tried to give him a hand job and even tried slobbering on his knob, but it was useless.
“Wow! I’m sorry,” he said and was clearly embarrassed. Jeremy rolled over onto his back and was gazing up at the ceiling.
“Hey, I’ve been known to have that effect on men,” I joked hoping he would relax only it seemed to make matter worse.
“I never have this problem.”
I knew he was probably lying but honestly it didn’t matter. His tongue skills had been on point and he looked so cute lying there beside me. “There will be plenty of time for sex. Right now I’m happy just to be with you.”
Jeremy scowled with disbelief. “Yeah right.”
“I’m serious.” I moved closer so I could look down into his eyes. “You might not believe this but I really like what we have. And sex, whenever it happens, will just be an added bonus,” I commented with a wink.
Finally smiling, he dragged me into his a
rms and kissed me.
16
JANELLE
“Oh hell nah!” I gasped as I pulled into an empty parking space and brought the car to a quick stop.
Please tell me it’s not too late!
I climbed out and stepped into the street without even bothering to look both ways. Of course some fool in a Fiat slammed on his brakes to avoid hitting me. My heart was racing out of control. He gave me the evil eye then zoomed by. Okay, so maybe I did step out into the middle of a busy street, but I was under the impression the pedestrian always had the right-of-way.
After looking both ways, I dashed across Broadway in mustard-yellow pumps and a slamming chocolate suit I had found at Macy’s. As soon as I reached the sidewalk I hurried over to the space next to my restaurant and stepped inside.
“Excuse me,” I said and the two men inside turned and both greeted me with a smile. Naturally, they were captivated by my beauty.
“I noticed the sign was gone from the window. Did someone buy this space?” I asked.
The carpenter in white bib overalls nodded. “Yep, some management company took it off the market yesterday.”
“Damn,” I scowled. That was truly disappointing.
“Hey, haven’t I seen you in the restaurant next door?” asked the one with a hammer in his hand.
I nodded. “Yes, and this space would have been perfect for expanding.” I turned and was heading toward the door when he called after me, and I paused.
“Hey, I have a contact name if you want it.” Before I could respond, he reached inside his pocket. “He dropped by this morning and left his card.” I took the black business card from his hand and gazed down at the name on the card.
“Alphonso Rucker?” I looked up. “He owns this space?”
He nodded. And I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. “Yes. He’s planning on opening a store.”
“Yeah, a tacky store,” I mumbled under my breath. “Thank you.”
I stormed out the door. How dare that bastard buy the space next door to me! His hip-hop gear and hoodlum clientele would be bad for business. Sure he was the top real estate developer in the city, but his name was also linked to several crack houses and juke joints, not to mention his little tacky clothing shops.
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