I'll Stand by You

by Wayne Jordan

  “What does your other brother do?”

  “Maxwell is the math genius in the family. He’s an accountant and is a partner at one of the largest firms on Wall Street. I think he loves numbers more than he loves people.”

  “Sounds like a young me. Originally, I wanted to be a lawyer or an accountant, but then I realized that real estate was where the money was. What does your father do?”

  “Dad became the doctor and mom the lawyer. Both have done really well in their fields and have reputations of being the best. One of the reasons I must be a disappointment to them.”

  “Why do you keep putting yourself down? Have they ever told you that you were a disappointment? I thought you told me they finally gave their support.”

  “That’s true, but there is a part of me that feels I’ve let them down. After all they’ve done for me.”

  “But it’s a parent’s job to do what they can for their children.”

  She hesitated before she spoke.

  “I’m adopted.”

  “Oh, you are adopted and that’s why you feel this way about your parents?”

  “Maybe. I know they’ve done everything they could do for me. They’ve never treated me any different from the boys. In fact, I often think I get away with a lot of stuff the boys didn’t. I know they love me. But there is a part of me that doesn’t feel as if I completely belong. Their blood doesn’t flow through my veins.”

  “I think I understand. So what about your biological family?” he asked.

  “I have three sisters, but we were separated when I was adopted. I don’t know what has happened to them. I do know, via a private investigator, that one of my sisters was never adopted, only the other two were.”

  “So you’ve been trying to find them?”

  “Yes, I started looking a few years ago when I received my trust fund. I didn’t want to ask my parents since I didn’t want to hurt them.”

  “Maybe if you’d told them they would have been all right with it.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. I wasn’t sure and didn’t want to take the risk of hurting them. I’ve hurt them enough already.”

  “Don’t worry. Things will work themselves out in time. Just be patient.” He glanced down at his watch. “It’s getting late. It’s about time I took my princess home.”

  “I am getting a bit tired. It’s been a busy day. Thanks for a truly wonderful night.”

  “The pleasure is all mine,” he responded, the heat flaming in his eyes.

  * * *

  The ride back to the apartment complex was uneventful. Eboni had fallen asleep, her head rested against his shoulder.

  He inhaled deeply, loving the soft fragrance of pinecones. It reminded him of the perfume his mother used to wear.

  He was falling in love. He knew it. He dreaded it. But he couldn’t help it.

  He hoped that when they reached home, she’d invite him up. He wanted to make love to her, but even more he wanted to sleep with his arms around her, to wake up in the morning next to her.

  She stirred next to him, and he felt his manhood awaken.

  The limousine pulled into the parking lot and he shook her gently, watching her slowly come awake.

  She smiled.

  He smiled in return.

  “We’re home. Think you can make it?”

  She giggled. “You can carry me.”

  “Fair enough.”

  He lifted her gallantly, enjoying the feel of her against him.

  Upstairs, he laid her gently on her couch. She looked up at him, expectancy on her face.

  “I thought you were tired,” he said.

  “I am,” she replied.

  “So why are you looking at me like that?” he asked.

  “Like what?”

  “Like you want to ravish me,” he said.

  “Oh, I do,” she cooed softly.

  She stood, and let her dress slip off her shoulders and down to the floor.

  “And I want you to ravish me, too,” she said, her voice husky with desire.

  She slipped out of the tiny slip of fabric and stood before him. Damn, she was beautiful.

  She hadn’t turned the lights on, but beams from the full moon outside caressed her, making her even more beautiful. He could sense the magic in the air.

  “Make love to me, Darren,” she begged. “I want you to make love to me.”

  He reached for his clothes, making quick work of them until they lay on the ground next to hers in a neat mound.

  He was about to reach for her, when she moved toward him. She pushed him onto the couch and straddled him.

  She rubbed him, causing his penis to jerk with each movement.

  He sat still, allowing her control. Inside, he felt as if he would catch on fire.

  “A condom,” she demanded, holding a hand out.

  He bent over, reaching for his pants. He found the condom, gave it to her and watched as she rolled it over his turgid flesh. With each roll of the condom, his body jerked, the bolt of lightning racing along his body, his penis hard with excitement.

  When the condom was in place, she lowered her body on his, his penis entering her slowly.

  Above him she moaned.

  “God, you feel so good,” she groaned. “I can’t even breathe.”

  As she spoke she moved her body over him as he lay on his back. She slid up and down, her muscles tightened around his erection, the sensation causing tightness in his body.

  Her eyes were closed and she moved up and down on him. Then she opened them slowly, her eyes immediately locking with his.

  They stared at each other, oblivious to everything around them.

  Slowly, he joined her, his hips thrusting upward until, with each stoke, he buried himself deeper inside her.

  Her breaths had deepened but her soft cries stirred him even more.

  He reached up for her, placing her on all fours, and entered her warmth from behind, his penis slipping easily into her womanhood.

  He stroked her firmly, enjoying the feel of his torso against her behind. He moved inside her slowly.

  “Please, faster. I’m not going to break,” she urged him on.

  Darren consented. While he loved a slow, leisurely pace, he understood her urgency.

  He stroked her deep and hard, the sound of her moans sweet and stimulating.

  She was wet and soft and with each stroke he could feel the tension build inside. But more so he felt closer to her, as if there was an intricate link between the two of them.

  Their bodies molded and entwined as the rhythm of the music coursed between them.

  She begged him, he urged her on and then he felt it. That telltale clenching of his testicles and the surge of power. His strokes became erratic, but his lower body still moved back and forth. Then he felt the muscles of her womanhood grip him, clenching and relaxing with the same urgency he was feeling. When he thought he couldn’t take the pleasure and pain anymore his body tensed with the force of his orgasm. He heard himself shout and beneath him Eboni screamed, a wondrous sound that joined his.

  Slowly, his body relaxed, and he realized he was still lying on top her. He shifted slightly, hoping he was not crushing her with his weight.

  “Don’t move,” she gasped through labored breaths. “Please don’t move.”

  He looked down at her. She was crying.

  He didn’t know for what.

  Had he hurt her? Had he been too rough?

  “Did I hurt you?” he asked.

  “I’m fine. I’ve never experienced anything like that before.”

  He lowered his head, kissing her lips gently, and when she closed her eyes, he kissed her lids.

  He shifted and this time she did not object. He re
ached for her and drew her close, and she settled against his chest.

  As he stroked her back with his hand, her breathing slowed and soon she was fast asleep.

  In the silence of the night, he whispered, knowing she would not hear.

  “I love you.”

  Chapter 6

  In the morning, Eboni awoke to the soft rays of sunlight streaming into the bedroom. Her bedside alarm clock showed a few minutes after six. She needed to get up and head to the gym. She had a spin class at seven.

  Next to her, Darren moved but did not wake up.

  She rose from the bed, wincing at the soreness of her body. During the night, she had awakened to find Darren watching her. They’d made love again, and then taken a shower and made love again. She was not surprised at the weariness she felt. Looking at Darren, she suspected he would be sleeping for another hour or two.

  She headed to the bathroom, brushed her teeth and dressed.

  Fifteen minutes later, she was at the gym, looking forward to class.

  It was an all-male class of firefighters. She’d introduced the program to her captain and had been ecstatic when he had approved it. At first, the men had been reluctant, but after a few classes they were finally beginning to enjoy it.

  She glanced around at the guys—a few worked with her but many were from other shifts. She remembered having a rough time when she first joined the group. But eventually, they’d accepted her. She’d thought that their initial response to her was because she was a woman.

  However, she’d soon discovered that their reservations had nothing to do with her being a woman. It was about trust. Each new recruit had to play their part and earn the trust of the others. The job wasn’t a solitary one. A mistake by one member of the gang could mean the death of a colleague. She’d proved herself and earned not only their trust, but also their respect. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for any of them and nothing they wouldn’t do for her.

  She glanced around, searching for Marcus, but quickly recalled he would be missing. She still ached whenever she thought about him, still heard the screams. She blocked them out of her mind and used the remote to turn the stereo on.

  By the end of the class, she felt better physically, but her body still tingled from the night of lovemaking.

  Just as she said goodbye to the boys and told them she was looking forward to being back at work on Monday, her cell phone rang.

  She glanced down where it lay on the floor.

  It was Darren.

  Her heart skipped a beat.

  “Hi, Darren.”

  “How are you doing? I wanted to call you earlier, but remembered you had the class.”

  “Yes, I’m about to head into the shower...again.”

  He laughed.

  “Do you have any plans for the weekend?” he asked.

  “No, but I return to work Monday evening.”

  “Oh, I can have you back in lots of time.”

  “Have me back?” she asked.

  “How’d you like to go to my home in Scarsdale?”

  “Scarsdale?”

  “Yes, that’s where my house is. I’ll talk to you about that later.”

  “Can I think about it?”

  “Sure, that’s why I called early. So you have all day to think about it. Just call me with your answer. I want to be on the road around six.”

  “Okay, I’ll definitely let you know.”

  She disconnected the call.

  What was she going to do? Immediately, she wanted to say yes, but caution got the best of her. She had to think about it. She’d discuss it with Cheryl—she needed another perspective before she made her decision.

  She took a quick shower, dressed and walked the short distance home.

  When she got in, she immediately called Cheryl.

  “Hey, girl, what’s your pleasure?” Cheryl’s cheerful voice came across the line. Didn’t her friend ever have a bad day?

  “I need some advice.”

  “Is this we-can-talk-on-the-phone advice or should I come over after work?”

  “I have to make the decision by this evening, so it’s going to be talk-on-the-phone advice.”

  “Well, spill the beans.”

  “Darren wants me to spend the weekend with him at his home in Scarsdale.”

  “Oh, my God!” Cheryl screamed. “How romantic! Of course, you’re going?”

  “I haven’t given him an answer yet.”

  “You’re crazy, girl! A romantic weekend, lots of hot sex and you haven’t given him an answer? Your brains are scrambled by all that good sex I assume you had on your first date—of which you’ve yet to give me the juicy details.”

  “Cheryl, it was wonderful!”

  “And you had to call me to ask about this weekend? Girl, you are tripping,” Cheryl chided. “You better go pack. In fact, don’t pack. Just go with what you have on. You won’t need any clothes. At least I wouldn’t. I’d spend every minute devouring his fine ass.”

  “Cheryl!”

  “Don’t you Cheryl me. I’m sure you didn’t spend last night singing lullabies to each other. So how was it?”

  “How was what?” Eboni teased.

  “The sex, honey. The big O! I hoped you screamed at the top of your lungs and had the neighbors wondering if a storm was coming.”

  Eboni laughed as she glanced at her watch. “Cheryl, I’ve got to go. I’ll see you on Monday.”

  “Good, that means you’ve already decided to go. I’ll be waiting for all the hot, juicy details,” Cheryl said. “I’ll talk to you later.”

  Eboni hung up.

  What had she gotten herself into?

  Before she changed her mind, she picked up the phone and dialed Darren’s number.

  * * *

  The drive to Scarsdale took a bit longer than he had expected since the traffic was heavy along I-95 to the Bronx River Parkway. But after the exit, the rest of the journey was uneventful.

  Five minutes into the drive, Eboni had fallen asleep. He could see she was tired and felt guilty since he’d been partially responsible for her lack of sleep.

  When he pulled into the driveway of his home, he felt the familiar surge of pride. Every time he drove up his driveway, he was amazed that this expansive property was his.

  He’d been fortunate. The house had gone on sale at a time when he had the money for it. He hadn’t even blinked at the three-million-dollar price tag, just wrote the check.

  The attraction of the large Tudor-style house was its grandeur. He was fascinated by the architectural details, especially the oriel windows and the decorative brickwork.

  When the car pulled up into the parking area next to the semicircular terrace steps, he reached over and touched Eboni gently. Immediately, she stirred.

  “We’re home,” he said.

  She looked at him strangely.

  “Come on, let’s go in,” he told her.

  By the time he exited and circled the car to open her door, she was already standing patiently outside waiting to retrieve her bag.

  He frowned at her.

  “I didn’t see the need to wait for you to open the door for me,” she said.

  “Why deprive me of the opportunity to be a gentleman?” he asked.

  “I assure you, there will be times I’ll let you be a gentleman,” she retorted. “Now isn’t one of those times. I’m hungry.”

  He laughed. He didn’t know any other woman who loved to eat like she did, and still maintained an exquisite figure.

  “I gave Mrs. Clarkson, my housekeeper, the weekend off, but I am sure she left dinner for us. We’ll eat as soon as we’re settled.”

  “Good, my stomach is growling,” she replied. And as if to confirm her sta
tement, he heard a loud growl. “I did tell you so,” she said with a girlish giggle.

  Before he opened the trunk to retrieve their bags, he gave her the keys to the house.

  “It’s lovely,” she said. “May I go in?”

  “Sure, I’ll bring the bags.”

  She ran up the steps to the front door, each step as buoyant as a child’s. He had hoped she would like his home. Though she was the first woman he’d invited here, it felt right. Strangely enough, he hadn’t even thought about whether or not to invite her to his home. But he’d given up rationalizing his actions when it came to Eboni. Just as he’d stopped trying to rationalize his feelings for her.

  He lifted their bags and followed her.

  When he entered he found her racing from one part of the hallway to another, oohing and aahing at everything she saw.

  She turned around, her eyes gleaming with pleasure. “You have a lovely home,” she enthused. “I’ve always preferred modern architecture, but I can see why an older house would be appealing. It has...character.”

  “I’m glad you like it.” Happiness surged through him at her words. “You want to eat first or take a shower?”

  “Can we eat first?”

  “Okay. I’ll put the bags upstairs and I’ll be back down.” He pointed along the corridor ahead. “The kitchen’s the first door on the right. You can’t miss it. Everything should be easy to find.”

  He watched her briefly as she headed down the corridor before he turned to walk up the stairs. At the top of the stairs, he heard the sound of a cell phone, but the ring was definitely not his.

  At the entrance of his bedroom, he wondered if she’d prefer a separate room, but decided against it. He wanted her lying next to him. He wanted to wake up next to her.

  He dropped the bags on the floor and headed quickly downstairs.

  As he walked along the hallway, he thought he heard a strange sound coming from the kitchen. When he entered, the sight that confronted him nearly broke his heart. Eboni was crying.

  He walked to where she sat, silently, the tears flowing down her cheeks. She looked up, saw him, raced across the room and flung herself in his arms.