Beginning of an Eclipse (SIN CITY HEAT SERIES PREQUEL)

by K, S

  “You don’t appreciate it?! How do you think I felt when I heard him bragging to every one about how he’d….” Darrell stopped and clenched his teeth. He couldn’t even verbalize the words.

  “You’re joking, right?”

  “Roni, you know me better than anyone. Do you think there’s anything even remotely funny about what I’m asking you? Do you think I’d joke about something like this?”

  “I don’t know, because if anyone had asked me five minutes ago if you’d come storming into my office and accuse me of sleeping with someone else, I would’ve thought they were crazy.”

  “You didn’t answer my question, Veronica.”

  “That’s because I can’t believe you asked it!”

  They both stood glaring at one another, neither giving an inch. Bryan let out a string of profanities then walked back to the table. He connected the conference call they’d been having, and after apologizing for the delay, made arrangements to call them back in five minutes.

  After hanging up, he angrily strode back towards Darrell and Roni. “I don’t know what in the hell is going on….” He pointed at Darrell. “But you are out of line. This is a place of business, not some school yard playground.” He looked from one to the other. “You need to get your shit together and do it now! This is fucking ridiculous….” He walked out muttering to himself and slammed the door behind him.

  Roni and Darrell barely noticed he was gone. Roni slowly shook her head at Darrell. “I cannot believe you accused me of such a horrible and cheap thing.”

  “You didn’t hear what that mutha-”

  “No! You said, or rather yelled, what you had to say! Now it’s my turn! Did Nate say my name specifically?”

  “No, but….”

  “Yes or no?”

  Darrell bit back an expletive when she turned his words around and used them on him. “No,” he growled.

  “So you just automatically assumed it was me he was talking about…”

  “Who else could he have been-”

  “Yes…or no!”

  Darrell’s eyes narrowed. “Yes.”

  Roni studied him closely, looking deep into his eyes to try to find a hint of indecision or uncertainty about what he was accusing her of. His flashing gray eyes were direct and demanded answers. Fine. She angrily walked over to her desk and pushed the intercom.

  “Yes, Roni?” Mrs. Hayward sounded worried and anxious. When Bryan had passed her on the way out, the only thing he’d called over his shoulder to her was that everything was okay. She’d been sitting there wringing her hands, wondering if she should go in and check on Veronica.

  “Mrs. Hayward, find Linda and tell her to come to my office. Now.”

  Roni released the intercom button, knowing she’d have to apologize to Mrs. Hayward later. She never used that tone with her, but she was so mad she was trembling. She kept her back to Darrell, afraid that if she looked at him, she’d follow through on the temptation to slap the ever loving hell out of him.

  Darrell scowled and walked up behind her. “What are you doing? Why did you call Linda?! Roni, I want some answers and I want them now.”

  He closed his fingers over her arm with the intention of turning her to face him, but Roni jerked away as if he had touched her with a branding iron. The look she threw over her shoulder caused his lips to tighten but it was enough to make him remove his hand.

  “I’m warning you. Do not touch me.” Her voice was quiet but her eyes told him she was hanging on by a thin thread. They glared at each other until there was a soft knock on the door a few moments later.

  “Come in!” Roni snapped.

  The door slowly opened. Linda stuck her head in before coming inside. Darrell spared a quick glance in her direction, absently noting she’d had her hair down when she brought Nate down and introduced him. Now she had it twisted to the back and pinned up.

  “Roni?” Her voice was soft and tentative. “Mrs. Hayward said you wanted to see me?"

  “Come in and close the door.”

  Linda did as Roni ordered, silently waiting to find out what this was all about. Her eyes nervously went from Darrell to Roni. Finally, Roni tore her eyes away from Darrell and zeroed in on Linda and got straight to the point.

  “Did something happen between you and Nate earlier today?” Her voice was crisp and razor sharp.

  Linda’s eyes widened. Her mouth opened and closed several times. She started to pretend as if she didn’t know what Roni was talking about, but the look in Roni’s eyes told her she'd been found out.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered. Roni had a strict policy about becoming involved with the dancers. Linda’s eyes went to Darrell. She really didn’t think it would matter so much now that Roni was sleeping with Darrell, but apparently it did. She’d never seen her employer so livid.

  Roni had hired Linda three years ago after her husband left her for a younger woman. When Linda met Nate earlier today, she hadn’t seen the harm in having a little fun. He was so young and sexy. She’d told him that the encounter would have to stay between the two of them - she should’ve known better.

  “What happened?”

  Linda cringed at the freezing tone of Roni’s voice. She looked at Darrel who was intently watching and waiting for an explanation. “Can I talk to you in private?”

  “No! You can’t! And if you want there to be any chance of keeping your job, you’ll answer my question now.”

  Eyes welling up with tears, Linda told them how the decision had already been made to hire Nate, but after the other women left, she told him to wait. And that’s when she’d let him….do things to her.

  Darrell watched her for a long minute and noticed how embarrassed and upset she seemed. “Are you saying you slept with Nate? Not Roni?”

  Linda looked at him in shock. “Roni? Oh my God, no! Is…is that what this is about? You thought Roni slept with Nate??” She looked at him in much the same manner Roni had when he’d burst through the door accusing her of just that. Got dammit!

  Sighing, Darrell turned his attention back to Roni’s unyielding face. “Baby…”

  Rolling her eyes, she directed a stern glare towards Linda. “That’ll be all for now. I won’t fire you - this time. We’ll discuss it later.”

  Linda bobbed her head up and down then eagerly dashed out the office, her relief evident. Once she was gone, it was so quiet in the office they could've heard a mouse piss on a ball of cotton.

  “Roni….” Darrell took a step towards her, but she held out a hand to ward him off.

  “Don’t. I think you should go.”

  “Baby, I’m sorry, it’s just that-”

  “Do you really think so little of me that you would believe I slept with someone else when I…when we….” She was so angry and hurt she couldn’t even think straight.

  “Roni…”

  “For your information, I decided to delegate some of my responsibilities, and hiring dancers was one of the jobs I assigned to Linda. I didn’t feel right auditioning dancers knowing that you and I were serious about one another - or at least I thought we were.”

  Darrell inhaled in relief and exhaled with a softly spoken 'aw shit!' He felt about ten inches high. Going back over what Nate had said, Roni was right. Nate never mentioned a name. They all just assumed…

  “Roni, I’m sorry.”

  “You’re sorry?! Darrell, how could you even think that?”

  “I just…I just lost it. You told me you were interviewing, and then when he came in there and started mouthing off about what happened after the interview and….”

  Darrell’s voice trailed off as Roni stared at him with reproving eyes.

  “I told you. What happened between us at your audition has never, ever happened before. I’ve never done anything even remotely close to what I let you do. Apparently, you don’t believe me. I guess you think I give a test drive to every potential dancer that comes through the door.”

  “I know you don't, Roni.” Darrell slipped
his arms around her waist, ignoring how she tried to push him away. “Baby, please forgive me. The thought of someone else putting their hands on you, kissing you….touching you...” Darrell briefly closed his eyes. “It just makes me crazy.”

  “Welcome to my reality.” When Darrell looked at her in confusion, Roni explained. “I have to live with women groping you almost every day. I know it’s part of your job, but I don’t like it. I hate it.” There. She’d said it.

  “Baby, you know I love you. I don’t want nobody else.”

  “And the same goes for me.”

  Darrell’s jaw tightened, not believing he'd been so out of control. “I’m a very possessive man, Roni. I will half kill a muthafucka who even thinks about getting out of line with you." When Roni stubbornly kept her head averted, Darrell put a gentle finger under her chin and lifted her face to look up at him. "I should’ve trusted you.”

  Roni's lips remained pushed out in a hurt pout. Darrell leaned down to touch his forehead to hers. “I’m sorry, baby,” he whispered.

  When he felt the tension leave her body, Darrell lifted his head. “Do you forgive me?"

  Roni dropped her eyes for a moment before meeting his. “If this is going to work, you have to trust me the same way I trust you.” She held his eyes until he nodded, then slipped her arms around his waist before a tentative smile tried to blossom and spread over her lips. “I guess you’re forgiven. This time.”

  Darrell returned the smile then softly kissed her and hugged her tight, thankful that all was once again right between them.

  At least for now.

  Rakeem hung up the phone and sat back. He thought about what he’d just discussed with the person on the other line.

  Ceelo, his childhood friend and number one soldier, looked at him. “Rakeem, it ain't worth it, man. That shit happened a long time ago. Why bring unnecessary attention to ourselves?”

  “I don’t give a fuck how long ago it happened. That muthafucka and that bitch was probably laughin' behind my back, had ere'body in the streets thinkin’ I was a joke. Hell, nah. It’s a matter of pride, Cee. I done already made Jade’s ass pay. Now it's his turn.”

  Ceelo thought about Jade. By the time Rakeem had finished with her, she’d had to stay in the hospital for two months and still hadn’t fully recovered.

  “Yo', everybody tried to warn you about that trick. Our own people told you she didn’t leave ole boy's place until early the next morning.”

  “I don’t need you tellin’ me this shit. I didn’t take care of it then, but I’m damn sho' gon’ take care of it now. He out in Vegas livin’ large, not a care in the world…?” Rakeem shook his head. “Hell nah. It’s time to put a end to pretty boy's happily ever after.”

  Chapter 11

  Roni stood back and studied the table one last time, making sure everything was in place. The “good” china which she rarely used was evenly centered in front of the two chairs sitting there. The wine goblets sparkled beside the plates. Linen napkins were neatly folded and placed in the middle of each plate, and on the table were two long stemmed white candles which flickered softly in the dim light.

  Roni couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at her lips as she thought about what a special evening it would be tonight. Today made ten months to the day that she and Darrell had officially been together. Just thinking about it that way made her feel juvenile and silly, but she didn’t care.

  Roni glanced at her watch with a small frown. Darrell should be here in about fifteen minutes and had no idea about the evening she planned. All he knew was Roni told him she needed him to be home by seven o’clock. No excuses.

  Roni studied her reflection in the mirror and ran her fingers through the silky tresses of her hair. She’d taken off early today and pampered herself with a relaxing massage and gotten a mani/pedi. She'd sat in the salon for five hours to get her hair done, and for once, had not complained about how long it had taken because the outcome was worth it. Jean-Paul always did a fantastic job. Now that she’d been letting him cut and style it, he was over the moon. He’ been telling her for years her hair was too beautiful to keep pulling it back in a bun.

  Roni smoothed her hands over the fitted dress. The secret smile that crossed her lips conveyed how giddy she felt as she imagined the expression on Darrell’s face when he saw the result of her practically pouring herself into the tight, black dress and the way her breasts eagerly spilled out over the top. She’d added a pair of very sheer, silk stockings with garters. The sky high, red-soled, black stilettos completed the outfit.

  Giving her hair a final pat, she turned the music down low and went back to the kitchen to check on the food warming in the oven. As a favor to her, their favorite restaurant had delivered a romantic meal for two, plus dessert. All she had to do was keep the food warm on a low temperature until they were ready to eat.

  Good.

  Biting her lip, she thought about the surprise she had waiting for Darrell after dinner. She pressed her hand against her stomach to quiet the butterflies. She had never done anything like this in her life, and was extremely nervous - but also excited.

  Taking a deep breath to calm down, Roni was getting ready to take another look at the “surprise” when she heard the key turn in the door. She whipped around and stood waiting. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw Darrell walk in. He was so incredibly handsome.

  Her eyes went to the fresh cut he must’ve gotten sometime today. Her fingers itched to run themselves over the low trimmed curls of the smooth fade. He wore a pair of tailored, gray pants and a crisp, white button down shirt. Two buttons had been left undone to give her a peek at the soft hairs on his chest.

  He smiled as he stood there and took in her sexiness the same as she was doing to him. “Wow.”

  The one word held a wealth of meaning. His gaze lingered at the sight of her breasts greeting him and demanding his attention, which he gladly gave. “Turn around.”

  Roni dutifully did as he requested, smiling even more when she heard the hoarse curse he uttered as he took in the rounded curve of her ass in the dress that enhanced her enticing womanly shape.

  “Beautiful,” he whispered.

  Roni turned around and let all of the love she felt for him show in her eyes. His reaction was everything she’d hoped for and everything she’d expected. By now, she knew him almost better than she knew herself. She knew what he liked and what turned him on. Any doubts she had about the “surprise” she’d planned for him later instantly vanished.

  “Ditto.” Her eyes hungrily ran over the body she knew those clothes hid. She was ready to say to hell with dinner and head straight to the bedroom when he pulled his arm from behind his back. She’d been so busy devouring him with her eyes that she hadn’t noticed he’d been standing there hiding something. She gasped when he presented the bouquet of flowers with a flourish. They were a gorgeous arrangement of pink French tulips, white Oriental lilies, orange snapdragons, and silver dollar eucalyptus.

  “Oh my God! Baby, they’re exquisite.” Her eyes lit up at how unique the arrangement was then lifted her lips to his for a soft kiss.

  “They reminded me of you. Elegant, graceful….pure beauty.” He slipped his arms around her waist and smiled down at her. “Happy ten month anniversary, sweetness.”

  Roni’s face showed her surprise. “I didn’t think you’d even remember.”

  “Of course. I remember every single detail, every moment, and every breath I took since I met you. This is only the beginning, Roni. Bet on that.”

  Roni pulled her lips in and pressed them together, trying to keep the tears at bay. She loved this man so very much. And she told him just that. Darrell smiled as he thought about the small, square jewelry box practically burning a hole in his pocket.

  “I love you too Veronica Winston.”

  They smiled at each for a moment and shared several more tender kisses, in no hurry to pull apart and break contact with one another. Finally, Darrell lifted his head. His
lids drooped as he looked down at her.

  “Mmph. You are so damn fine.” He pushed the hardness bursting to get out of his pants between the soft V of her legs and nudged her backwards. “What say we get right to the main course. I’m fucking starving.”

  By the lecherous look and suggestively lewd grin, Roni knew he wasn’t talking about food. She laughed and put a hand on his chest to stop him. Even though her very core was moist and throbbing with need, she refused to let him make her deviate from the carefully laid plans she’d made.

  “Slow down, 'Eclipse'. Not so fast. All in good time….” She giggled as he groaned and dropped his head. “Good things 'cum' to those who wait,” she teased. “And I mean very good things. Be patient.”

  Darrell pinned her with a scorching look. “Alright, but I’m warning you. My patience only goes so far.”

  “It’ll be worth it.” She gave him a quick kiss and turned to sit her flowers on the table behind her. When Darrell smacked her ass and squeezed it, she looked over her shoulder and smiled.

  “Down, boy…” The words were meant for the imprint of his dick clearly discernible through the material of his pants. Darrell laughed and picked up the wine and the corkscrew.

  Roni went to the kitchen and brought the warming dishes out and arranged them on the serving tray set up next to the dinner table.

  “Anything you need me to do, babe?” Darrell asked.

  “No, just take a seat. Everything is ready.”

  As they sat down, they reached across the table, joined hands and bowed their heads as Roni said grace. Afterwards, she began to dish up some of his favorite foods to the plates. She laughed as Darrell's eyes glowed at the feast before him.

  “So much for being starved for my body.”

  Darrell’s eyes met hers. “Believe me. This is substance. I’m gonna need this fuel to keep me going, because I plan on rockin’ that thang all night.” His eyes dropped to her breasts.

  “Oh, really?”