Only One for Me

by Candace Shaw

  “You do realize I’m standing still,” he whispered in her ear. “I’m only moving you. Let me know when you want me to begin.”

  “Begin.”

  Cannon chuckled and kissed the side of her neck as he began to thrust into her, once again sending her almost over the edge of the hot tub, but she knew he wasn’t going to let her go.

  His thrusts became more powerful as his groans began to match hers. The pain and pleasure he was bestowing upon her seemed to go on forever, and knowing Cannon’s stamina, it was, especially when she glanced up and saw that the moon had moved. When she finally felt him about to release he shuddered behind her, slamming into her over and over. His scorching tongue on her neck sent her into a state of oblivion as her orgasms began to overlap each other.

  He pulled out of her, and she turned back to see why the hell he stopped. In one swift move, he jumped out of the hot tub and picked her up, carrying her to the outdoor couch under the veranda. Cannon grabbed a condom from under the throw pillow and rolled it on as she almost began to laugh, and he winked at her. He was always prepared for anything no matter what the situation.

  He laid down on top of her and raised her legs—that had turned to jelly—around his middle and entered her this time slowly. He moved at a steady pace, which she was grateful for, and he rested his forehead on hers, reaching for her lips in between breathing. She closed her eyes and let the passion and love for him over take her, meeting his unhurried rhythm that was in complete sync with each other. His sweat dripped down on her face. She could taste the saltiness of it, but when she opened her eyes she could make out in the moonlight that it wasn’t sweat. The salty taste was falling from his eyes, and she reached up to kiss them. He smiled and kissed her deep as her own emotions welled up.

  “Never … letting … you go, dammit.” He cupped her face in between his hands as tears ran down her cheeks—hers and his. “You hear me?”

  “Yes, baby.” She placed her hands over his.

  Cannon’s body quivered against hers, and she could feel the pulsating of his penis inside of her, and she tightened her muscles around it.

  “Goodness, Yaz! Shit … awwww … baby! Yes … woooo.” He stopped thrusting, and his body shivered as if it was fifty below zero even though it felt more like two hundred degrees, since they were both saturated in hot sweat and tears.

  They held onto each other’s hands on her face, staring at each other for a while until their breathing returned to normal.

  “You look so beautiful with the moonlight shining on you,” he whispered.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Angel face.” He kissed her softly. “Can you think about something for me?”

  “What’s that, Cannon?”

  “Moving back to Memphis permanently.”

  “I can definitely give that some consideration.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Yasmine sat on Cannon’s couch reviewing her syllabus for the regular semester to see how she could reduce it to only eight weeks. She wanted to get her own personal tasks out of the way because Sherika was flying into town tomorrow and getting married four days later. Yasmine knew once her best friend arrived, she wouldn’t have any free time. There were last minute fittings, airport pickups, final payments to drop off, and shopping. Sherika had been a nervous wreck the last time they spoke so Yasmine scheduled a massage for just the two of them as soon as Sherika arrived tomorrow morning. Yasmine knew she needed to be with her best friend as much as possible, which meant time away from Cannon, but he had a list of things to do with Doug as well.

  Cannon was still at the practice but would be home soon. Dinner was already cooked, and she sighed as she realized she was getting used to their routine.

  Her cell phone ringing interrupted her thoughts. She picked it up and saw it was Dean Patrick, who oversaw the English Lit department. Yasmine had left her a voicemail earlier.

  “Hello, Dean Patrick.”

  “Hello, Dr. Dubose. I received your message about the syllabus information.”

  “Going over it right now.”

  “Perfect, because I wanted to ask you something. I’m looking at the online enrollment for the class, and it seems that there are more students registering to take the online version. You did an awesome job with the online class last summer, and I wanted to know if you could do it again?”

  Yasmine’s ears perked up. “Oh. I see. So I’ll be teaching the online class in addition to the one on campus?”

  “No. I know you’re still in Memphis with your mother, so I thought maybe you may only want to do the online one instead. You can teach it right there if you aren’t ready to leave your mother yet.”

  Yasmine’s heart stopped, and a wide grin crossed her face. She shook her head in denial. She’d been battling within herself lately because of the fact that she didn’t want to leave her mother or Cannon, especially since he’d ask her to consider moving back to Memphis. They hadn’t discussed it again, but she knew it was definitely on his mind. She loved living back home again even before Cannon entered the picture and didn’t miss the hustle and bustle of her busy life in Atlanta.

  “Dean Patrick, I would love to teach the online class this summer. That actually would be perfect.”

  “Wonderful. I’ll email you the new contract and a different version of the syllabus along with some other information. Also, I’m conducting a conference call in a few weeks with everyone about the upcoming school year. I’m making some changes in the department because of budget cuts.”

  “Am I being cut?” Yasmine always knew that was a possibility considering she was the last adjunct professor hired. Even though the thought of being cut wasn’t upsetting her at all now that she was moving back to Memphis eventually.

  “I don’t want to cut you. I’m thinking about making you one of the full-time professors. The students like you, and you’re a very good teacher. I think it’s because you started in elementary school first and have a little more patience.”

  “Wow. Thank you for the compliment and opportunity.”

  “Well, nothing is set in stone yet. I’m still going over some numbers. Think it over just in case, and I’ll contact you when I know something more concrete.”

  “I look forward to it.”

  After Yasmine hung up, she went to the kitchen to check on her roast beef in the crock pot and to think about everything Dean Patrick said. Teaching the online class this summer would mean she could stay in Memphis for a little while longer until she decided when she was going to move back permanently. However, the possibility of being a full-time professor was scaring her. Yasmine had always been determined and goal-oriented. When she accomplished one goal, she set another one. But for some reason being a full-time professor had never been one. She enjoyed her freedom of teaching two classes a semester and doing educational consulting on the side. She set her own schedule and wasn’t tied down to a nine to five. Full-time professors had more responsibilities on campus with organizations and extracurricular activities. Plus, those extra duties would mean fewer trips to Memphis to visit her mother and Cannon.

  The door chimed, and she looked up to see Cannon taking purposeful strides toward her. He picked her up and twirled her around.

  “You certainly are in a good mood,” she said as he set her on her feet. “Great day at work?”

  “It’s always a great day at work,” he said, loosening his tie and tossing his white coat on a barstool at the island. “And it’s an even better day when I come home and you’re here.” He pulled her close to him and kissed her fully on the lips. “Baby, you taste like strawberries.” He kissed her again, licking his tongue on her lips.

  “That’s because I made you strawberry shortcake.” She broke from his embrace and went to the stove to make his plate.

  “Okay, you’re spoiling me.” He encircled his hands around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. “I’m going to have a nervous breakdown when you go back to Atlanta after the w
edding.”

  A huge Cheshire cat smile expanded on her face, and she could hardly contain her news. “Well …”

  “Well what, woman?” He playfully spanked her butt. “You want me to have a nervous breakdown so that I end up on Sean’s couch spilling my guts to him. He’d love that. He’s been trying to analyze me for years.”

  She giggled.

  “What’s so funny?”

  She turned in his arms and placed her hands around his neck. “You know I mentioned to you earlier that I was revising my syllabus for this upcoming session. So Dean Patrick called and asked me to teach the class online this summer. I did it last summer as well.”

  He smiled, but then shook his head. “So, before I get too excited, are you doing this in addition to teaching on campus?”

  She kissed his cheek. “Nope. Online only. I can do it from anywhere in the world as long as I have Internet access. She’s emailing me the new contract.”

  “So … you’ll stay with me in Memphis this summer?”

  “Yes. I do need to go back home for a little bit to take care of some business, but other than that, I’ll be here.”

  “With me?” he whispered, his lips but a centimeter from hers.

  “With you and my mother.”

  He kissed her mouth, cheeks, forehead, and back down to her lips. “Too bad you can’t teach the online class in the fall, too. Then you could always be here with me and your mother.”

  “Oh … well … about that.” She turned back around and continued fixing their plates.

  “More good news?” He kissed the back of her neck.

  “Um … okay you know I can’t concentrate when you do that. I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but when I spoke to Dean Patrick earlier she mentioned the possibility of me being a full-time professor when I return in the fall, but it’s not set in stone.”

  “Oh … well, that is good. Isn’t it?” he asked reluctantly and backed away from her as she carried the plates to the table.

  “I don’t know. I didn’t apply for it. It just happened, and she’s not sure yet. I think she wanted to put that bug in my ear so I would know.”

  He went to the butler’s pantry, poured a drink, and sat with it at the table, swirling it around in his glass.

  “What do you want to do? I mean, that’s an honor. You’ve worked hard, Dr. Dubose.” He smiled, but she could tell it was a fake one. “Would you still do your educational consulting on the side?”

  “I haven’t thought that far, but I know being full-time I would have other responsibilities that I didn’t before, so I’d have to see. I don’t even know if I want the position.” She shrugged.

  “Yasmine, that’s an opportunity you don’t just shrug at.”

  “But what about us? I may not be able to come here every weekend, or even every other weekend, plus I’m moving back here eventually.”

  “Yasmine, I’m not going to stand in your way of an opportunity like this. You sacrificed for me. I would be selfish to not do the same for you. We’ll just deal with what happens.”

  “Okay … but like I said, it isn’t set in stone, and I don’t have to take it if it’s offered to me.”

  “Why would you not take it? You’re an intelligent woman who has worked hard over the years to obtain your goals.”

  She simply nodded her head and tried to eat her food, but her appetite was lost.

  That night, Yasmine laid in bed wide awake and alone. Cannon was in his home office on a conference call for Doctors Unlimited, which had been taking up some of his time lately. He’d briefly told her one of the newer clinics, that he didn’t help set up, was having some funding issues or over-spending in some areas, and he wasn’t happy about it at all.

  She tried not to think about the conversation earlier with Cannon. She knew he meant well. She just wasn’t sure if she actually wanted the position even if it was a choice. She glanced at the clock. It was almost midnight, and she needed to be up early to pick up Sherika from the airport. Doug was flying in later and since he was staying with Cannon, Yasmine was going to stay at her mother’s house. She cuddled with Cannon’s pillow, inhaling his scent, and tried not to worry about the future. He said he would never let her go again, and she trusted that he wouldn’t.

  *****

  “Damn it!” Cannon slammed his fist on the desk. “What do you mean there’s money missing and he’s disappeared?” he asked Dr. Armand Phillips, one of the doctors in Ghilaua, a small village in Argentina

  “I honestly don’t know what’s going on Dr. Arrington. All I know is Jessie is gone with all of his belongings and most of the funding in the account. We’ll be fine with the supplies that we have now for maybe the next month or so unless something really drastic happens.”

  Jessie was the director over the medical center that the board hired who Cannon was never thrilled about.

  Cannon logged into his Doctors Unlimited account. He had money in a reserves account so that wasn’t an issue, but the thought of someone running off with close to one-hundred thousand dollars was pissing him off.

  “Okay. I’m going to do some readjusting and get some funds to you after I meet with the board for approval, but first I need to close that account. He may still have the access number. In the meantime, do you think you can run things until I find another director?”

  “No problem, Dr. Arrington.”

  “I’m going to rearrange my schedule and try to come there maybe next month after I meet with the board. I …” He was so mad he really didn’t know what to say or do. Everyone involved with Doctors Unlimited had always been hard-working, honest people who wanted to make a difference. He couldn’t believe this was happening.

  “Thank you, sir. I’ll make sure everything runs smoothly. I look forward to finally meeting you,” Dr. Phillips said in a chipper tone. “You’re the reason why I joined Doctors Unlimited.”

  “Well, I appreciate that. You came highly recommended. I’ll be in touch sometime tomorrow.”

  Cannon check his planner over the next few months. He was speaking at a medical conference in Vegas the following week and then his calendar was clear until another conference in October. He sighed as he thought about Yasmine’s news of being in Memphis this summer, but now he may be in Ghilaua straightening out this mess.

  Shit! I told the board I didn’t think Jessie was a good candidate.

  He unlocked his desk drawer and pulled out a small, black velvet box. He opened it, and smiled at the gold wedding band he was keeping for Doug. He then reached into the drawer and pulled out another small, black velvet box and opened it. He beamed at the three-carat princess cut solitaire engagement ring he bought when he came back from Hamilton Beach. His original plan was to ask Yasmine to marry him before she moved back to Atlanta for the summer session, considering she was going to move back to Memphis, but he didn’t want her to move back without them being engaged. But now there was a hole in his plans. Yes he was glad she would be able to stay in Memphis a little longer, but now she may have an opportunity to become a full-time professor in the fall. And he may be away this summer, and his love would be in Memphis. What kind of cruel summer was this?

  He placed both ring boxes back in the drawer and locked it. Moments later, he climbed into the bed and pulled Yasmine close to him. She was in a little ball on his side of the bed. He kissed her forehead.

  “Are you awake?”

  “Yes,” she said sleepily.

  “Well, I guess today is news day.”

  “Good or bad?”

  “Horrible.”

  She sat up and stared down at him. “Something wrong with Doctors Unlimited?”

  He briefly explained the situation with Jessie, and that he may have to go down there to take care of some business after the medical conference.

  “I’m so sorry this has happened, but don’t beat yourself up over it. I’m sure you’ll find another director of the center soon.”

  “I’m having an emergency board meeting tomorrow m
orning via Skype. I want to get everything somewhat planned before the wedding this weekend.”

  “It will all work out. Have faith.” She kissed his cheek before turning over. “Good night.”

  “Good night.” He snuggled behind her and was relieved she didn’t lash out at him when he mentioned he may not even be here this summer.

  *****

  “Girl, I’m so glad you decided to arrange massages for us,” Sherika said as the masseuse kneaded her back. “I so needed this. Maybe I won’t be as stressed this week.”

  “Nothing to be stressed over … oh … right there on my shoulder …” Yasmine said as the masseuse massaged her tensed spots. “I went through the check list last night and everything is set. Your wedding coordinator really did a great job.”

  “No, you and Cannon did a great job. I don’t know what Doug and I would’ve done without you. So, how’s that going?”

  Yasmine sighed, the pain in her neck returning once more at the thought. She told Sherika about her online class this summer, his possible trip to some village she couldn’t pronounce, and the offer for the full-time position which was now a go since Dean Patrick called her that morning while she sat in the airport waiting for Sherika.

  “That’s awesome about the position. How long do you have to decide?”

  “She didn’t say. She told me to mull it over.”

  “What did Cannon say?”

  “I haven’t told him about this morning’s phone call yet. However, last night, he pretty much told me to go for it. I was surprised, considering he’s been talking about me moving back to Memphis. Um … if I’m in Atlanta how am I going to do that? He’s definitely not leaving the family practice. We’ve discussed taking things one day at a time, but I don’t know. I just thought …”

  “Thought what?”

  “Well … I thought he was going to propose since he wants me to move back here, but I guess not if he’s telling me to take a full-time professor position.”

  “Maybe he’s just being supportive,” Sherika suggested.

  “I guess, but I was already contemplating moving back home even before Cannon came back into my life. My mother is getting older, and when she had breast cancer I thought I was going to lose her. She’s in remission now, but it could come back. I don’t want to think negative, but I have to think logically.”