“Not at all. I'll just run in and sign the papers and we'll get right back on the honeymoon track.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Hey, why don't you come with me? It'll only take me a couple of minutes and when I finish, we can grab breakfast.”
I tossed the sheet aside, shook my head slowly, and stretched my naked body filling my husband's eyes with a long view of me. “I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to wait right here and have breakfast waiting for you.”
I watched Kenny's Adam's apple crawl up, then down his throat. A second later, he dashed into the bathroom like he was being chased by the police. I laughed, 'cause I knew what my husband was doing. And I was right. In less than five minutes, he was out of the bathroom, fully dressed in a pair of khaki cargo pants and a T-shirt. He was gonna make this trip quick.
Kenny strolled over to the bed and snatched away the sheet that I had used to cover myself. His eyes were filled with such desire as his glance roamed over me that I actually blushed.
Really! I blushed!
I was officially a blushing bride.
Leaning over, Kenny kissed me. “I'll be right back.” First it was his eyes and now it was his voice that told me how much my husband wanted me.
I watched him walk out the room and shook my head. I was so in love with that man. I mean, I was really in love. Back in the kind of love that I had for him when we were in college. The kind of love that was in my bones, where I couldn't get enough, where I had to have Kenny all the time. I was so glad about it.
So maybe what had happened with Roman wasn't so bad.
Roman.
I hadn't thought about him for days. Well, actually, I had, but I'd shoved all thoughts of that man aside. I couldn't believe what I had done--the night before my wedding and the morning after. It was kinda like an infidelity sandwich, with Roman on the outside and Kenny in the middle. Just ridiculous!
Like I said, though: maybe it wasn't all bad. Because that madness had drawn me closer to Kenny. Roman had served his purpose and now he was gone. Thank God!
The knock on the suite door made me giggle. As I jumped up, I wondered if Kenny had just forgotten his key or had he decided that he wasn't going to go that office after all. Maybe he couldn't stand the thought of being without me, even for an hour.
I wrapped myself in the sheet, sprinted into the living room, whipped open the door and then froze.
I had just been thinking about him and now he was here. Roman stood in front of me, just grinning.
Before I could say a word, he strutted inside. “I see you're dressed for me.”
“What are you doing here?” I hissed.
He glanced over my shoulder and looked into the hallway. “Do you really want to have this conversation with the door open?”
I didn't want to have this conversation at all, but I closed the door. “What are you doing here?” I repeated.
“I came to see you, baby.”
My heart was pounding and I knew that throbbing would begin in my head at any moment. “Roman, I am not your baby.”
He chuckled like I'd told a joke. “You don't have to pretend. I know your husband isn't here.”
Okay, this was scary-weird. But I couldn't focus on the craziness that Roman had somehow been watching us. I had to do something about him being here now. Because what would happen if Kenny came back and saw me standing here, half-naked, talking to this guy?
“You have to go. My husband will be back at any moment.”
He shook his head as he sat down on the sofa. “I think we have some time.” He crossed his legs like he planned to stay awhile. “I saw him get in the car.”
My eyes thinned. “What? Are you watching us?”
“No “us,” baby. Just you.”
Was that supposed to make me feel better? I wanted to call the police, but I didn't know what Roman would do if I did that. There had to be some other way. “Kenny just went to the…store,” I lied, figuring that unless he had this suite bugged or something, he'd believe me. “He'll be right back and….”
Roman held up his hand. “I get it. But I need to talk to you.”
“There's nothing for us to talk about.”
He shrugged. “Okay, I'll just sit here and we can go back and forth about it.”
That's when the throbbing started in my head. “Fine, we'll talk. But not here.”
Standing, he nodded. “I understand; so get dressed and we'll go somewhere.”
I didn't want to go anywhere with this guy, but my first objective was to get him out of this suite. “I'll get dressed, but you can't wait here. Just leave and I'll meet up with you.”
His eyes narrowed. “I'm not playing, Jasmine. We need to talk.”
“Okay! Go downstairs, wait for me there.”
He strolled toward the door, but before he stepped outside, he turned back to me. “If you don't come down soon, I'll be back.”
“Give me ten minutes,” I said.
He nodded. It wasn't until I closed the door behind him that I realized that not only was my heart pounding and my head throbbing, but I was shaking all over, so much that I could hardly stand up.
At least I'd gotten him out, but for how long?
I had to get rid of him for good. I wasn't sure what I was going to do, but I dashed into the bedroom to get dressed.
Just minutes before, I thought Kenny had dressed in record time, but he didn't have a thing on me. I don't think two minutes passed before I grabbed the room key and my purse and opened the door.
I still didn't have a plan, but the moment I stepped into the hall and let the door close behind me, I heard, “Psssttt.”
I turned and saw just a hand waving to me from the stairwell. Quickly, I glanced around, then rushed to the stairs. And there stood Roman, grinning once again.
“I didn't want to take the chance you’d try to slip out on me,” he said. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me. “I've missed you, baby.”
I wiggled from his embrace, pushed him away, and took two steps back until I was pressed up against the wall. “This is crazy, Roman. You're….”
He frowned. “What? You think I'm crazy?”
No, I didn't think he was crazy. I knew it for a fact. But I also knew that crazy people didn't like the truth. Not that I'd had a lot of dealings with folks like this. Usually, I crossed to the other side of the street when I saw crazy coming my way, but for some reason, I was all wrapped up with this nutcase.
Finally I answered, “I wasn't going to say that you were crazy.” I spoke slowly 'cause I wasn't sure how many brain cells this dude was working with. “I was going to say that you have to stop this.”
The wrinkles in his forehead deepened. “You didn't want me to stop on Monday morning.”
I couldn't believe that he was really going there. “I know, but….”
“The night before your wedding, I had you singing in all kinds of languages.”
As if I needed that reminder. “That was then,” I said. “And that was a mistake.”
He shook his head.
“And it's never going to happen again,” I added.
It wasn't until he moved toward me, that I realized how I had backed myself into this corner--figuratively and literally.
“See, that's where you're wrong.” He leaned forward and pressed his hands against the wall behind me, trapping me inside his arms. “It is going to happen again,” he whispered. “And again. And again. And again.”
“Roman.” I whispered his name because I'd once heard that if you said a crazy person's name over and over, that calmed them down. “Roman,” I repeated. “I'm married.”
He shrugged. “So?” Then, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against mine.
Now I knew for sure that Roman was crazy. Because crazy recognized crazy, and I was completely out of my mind. I had to be, because the moment his lips touched me, that electrical shock surged and all I wanted to do was to have this man rip every piece of my clothi
ng off me.
But by the time he nudged his tongue inside to meet mine, I came to my senses a bit. “No!” I was huffing and puffing, “I can't do this. We're not going to do this!”
“Come on, Jasmine. You know you want me.”
He ain't neva lied, because all I could think about right now was that body-shivering, toe-curling, hand-squeezing, heart-stopping, mind-freezing sex that Roman had laid on me.
But I couldn't give in to that, could I? I was married, right?
Pushing him away once again, I stepped to the side, this time giving myself room. I could dash down the stairs if I had to.
“Why are you playing?” His tone had gone from lust to loathing in two seconds flat. “I'm not into games.”
“Neither am I, and that's why you have to listen to what I'm saying. It was nice, but it is over.”
Roman opened his mouth, but before he could say a word, the stairwell door swung open and a security guard who looked like he could've been a defensive lineman for the Raiders towered over us.
“Is there a problem here?” he asked, looking from me to Roman and then back at me.
Can you say embarrassed? “Uh, no. We were just talking,” I said.
The guard squinted. “Just talking? We have rooms for that. Are you a guest here?”
“Yes, I am,” I said, reaching for the key. “My husband and I are in the bridal suite.”
“Oh.” Now, he grinned as if he had a newfound understanding. “Well, I suggest that you and your husband go back to your room and handle your business because there are cameras all over the place in this hotel.” He pointed up at a little black gadget that hung in the corner of the stairwell.
“I was just going back to my room,” I said, making it clear that Roman wasn't with me.
The guard frowned again. “He's not your husband?”
It was only then that I noticed Roman hadn't said a word…and that he was backing away. As if he didn't want anything to do with this man.
“No, he's not.”
I had barely gotten the words out of my mouth before Roman dashed down the steps. The security guard and I both stared over the railing, watching Roman jump down the steps two, three at a time.
The guard took his walkie-talkie from his hip, but before he could put out an APB, I laughed, hoping to distract him.
“He's so crazy,” I said, as if the way Roman had ripped out of there was some kind of joke. “My brother could've at least said goodbye, but I guess he didn't want to be late for work.”
“Your brother, huh?” the guard said as he tucked this two-way back into its holster. “Well, like I said, there are cameras all over this place, so just be careful.”
I nodded and ducked my head. Now I was the one to rush away like I was trying to make some great escape.
Back inside our hotel room, I could hardly breathe. If that security guard hadn't shown up when he did, what would've happened? Would I have given in to that madness?
“No!” I said aloud, because I thought if I heard the word I'd be able to convince myself.
I couldn't figure out what was going on with me. I didn't like Roman and I didn't want to cheat on Kenny. Every time that man touched me, though, I seemed to forget those two facts.
But I was Jasmine Cox Larson. I wasn't going to go down like this. I was the one who was in control.
By the time Kenny came back, my decision was made and I had another plan in place.
When Kenny stepped into the suite and the bedroom, he frowned at our suitcases atop of the bed. I'd already packed everything we owned and I was ready to get the heck out of Dodge.
“What's going on?” Kenny asked.
“Baby,” I said. “I have a surprise. We're leaving.”
“Leaving?” His shoulders drooped just a bit. “For where?”
“Now don't get me wrong,” I said, holding up my hands. “I really enjoyed being here, but after you left, I started thinking that it's been wonderful making love in this room every day, but wouldn't it be great if we could do it someplace else?”
Once I mentioned sex, Kenny stood up straight. “Yeah?” The hope was back in his voice. “Someplace like where?”
“For the next four days,” I started as I sauntered toward him, “we're going to be,” I wrapped my arms around his neck, “at a bungalow,” I kissed him and then said, “in Santa Barbara. We're going to be right on a private beach.”
“Oh, yeah?” My words wiped the frown right off his face.
I nodded. “I already have visions of us making love tonight, under the stars, at the edge of the ocean.”
Kenny looked at me for a moment longer, then grabbed the first suitcase. “How long is it going to take for us to get there?”
I laughed, but inside I released a long sigh of relief, thankful that Kenny agreed and even more thankful that I would be getting away from here.
The Ritz was all that Roman knew about me. Once we left this hotel, he'd never be able to find me.
“Let's go,” Kenny said.
I zipped up my bag and then dropped it to the floor. When Kenny picked up both bags, I asked, “You're not going to call a bellman?”
He shook his head. “Nah, I'm good; I don't want anything to slow us down.” He grinned. “I'm ready to get part two of this honeymoon started.”
Now, I had never been a praying woman--at least, I hadn't been since my mother died--but right now, I sent up a little prayer to God. If He was listening, I had to thank Him for this idea.
Because now, I was safe. And this little thing that had been going on with me and Roman was over for sure.
Chapter 12
Sixteen days!
I had been married for sixteen sweet days, and that thought made me smile. I really was thoroughly happy being a wife, being Kenny's wife. That man was gentle and kind, considerate and loving.
Yawning, I covered my mouth and then took another sip of coffee from the cup that rested on my desk. But that didn't help: I yawned again. I guess I was just sleepy. I hadn't had too many restful nights since I'd become Mrs. Kenneth Larson. Even though we'd been home for a week, Kenny and I were still having that great honeymoon kind of sex. Well, great may have been an exaggeration, but it was honeymoon sex, and I was in love. Wasn't that enough?
I stood up and strolled to the window. Eight floors below, I watched the traffic crawl along Wilshire Boulevard, even though it was hours after the morning rush.
With a sigh, I allowed myself to wander back to my thoughts, trying to convince myself that loving Kenny and him loving me was enough. That man really did have my heart. But the thing was, he didn't ring my bell the way so many other men had.
The way Roman had.
Roman! Since the last time I saw him, for the last twelve days, every time I had sex with Kenny, I thought about Roman. Three people were in our marital bed; Kenny just didn't know it.
That was a really hard and horrible thing to admit, but I lied enough to know that it didn't make any sense to lie to yourself. The truth was Kenny may have been between my legs, but Roman was all up in my head.
Kenny and Roman. Two very different men.
Now I truly understood the difference between having sex and making love.
Making love to Kenny was a full body experience where my husband touched my heart and my soul. In a strange way, I think it was because of Roman that I was more in tune to Kenny. I was more aware, totally aware to all that Kenny made me feel.
But still, Kenny couldn't touch me the way Roman had. It had only been two times, but Roman had heightened my sensitivities and lowered my sensibilities. He could make me scream with just the brush of his lips. He could make me cry with just a flick of his tongue. And when he took me all the way…I'm telling you, there were moments with Roman when I came close to passing out.
But as intoxicating as that man had been, I had to get him out of my head. 'Cause crazy lovers and loving husbands didn't mix.
Pulling away from the window, I inhaled determination:
I was going to stop thinking about Roman. Cold turkey. If I wanted to build a life with Kenny, no one else could be in the equation. Not even an invisible no one. So from this moment forward, no more thoughts about Roman. For real, for real.
With my fortitude in place, I sank back into my chair, but before I could even lift my calculator from my desk, there were two knocks on the door. I didn't say a word about coming in to the person on the other side, but the door opened anyway and my boss sauntered in like she owned the place. So many days I wanted to tell Shelly to get over herself, that she was an employee just like the rest of us, that her last name was Brown and not Carnation. But since I really couldn't stand her and hardly talked to her, I kept those thoughts to myself.
“Is your report ready?” she asked me.
Jutting my chin toward the clock on the opposite wall, I said, “Uh…Shelly, the little hand is on the eleven and the big hand is almost on the three, which means….”
“I know what that means, Jasmine,” she snapped. “I know what time it is.”
The fact that she would even answer me made that funny as all get-out.
I said, “Well, since you know how to tell time, you also know that my report is not due 'til noon.”
She placed one hand on her hip and tossed her hair over her shoulder with the other. “I know what time the reports are due,” she said in a tone that reminded me she liked me about as much as I liked her. “But I have everyone else's and you know how I feel about being the best team in our department. Right now, you're the weak link.”
Inside, I rolled my eyes, but on the outside, I pasted a plastic smile on my face. “I'll have the report to you by noon.”
“Noon today?”
Okay, now see? This witch was just trying to work me. Just trying to make me come out and disrespect her. But I'd been through enough mean-girl moments in my life to just ignore her hate. All I did was smile. “Noon today,” I said as sweetly as I could, though my words came out sounding more like a bark.
She waited another moment, like she was trying to think of something else to say, just to get on my nerves. Then she spun around. I watched her sashay away as if she thought she was on some kind of runway. Right when she got to the door, she turned back and said, “Noon, please.”
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