by Stacy-Deanne
She closed her eyes, sniffling.
“I see a light shining in your eyes I’ve never seen from the other women. Rena, you have a place in my heart no one will ever touch.”
She opened her eyes and slipped her fingers in his.
“You were right. Part of the reason I did what I did today was to punish you. I wanted to hurt you like you hurt me when you told Deidra the truth. Why, Rena? Why did you betray me like that?”
“Because it was the right thing to do.”
“Don’t leave, Rena. Please.”
“This is the Jonathan I fell in love with.” She took his hand. “I don’t recognize the man you’ve become since Deidra. Can you be this Jonathan again?”
“You forgive me?” He pushed her curls off her shoulder and caressed her neck.
“Yes, but if this happens again I’m gone.”
“It’s never happening again.” He kissed her forehead. “Never.”
****
Two Weeks Later
“Ooh.” Dee arched her back, lying in her bed with the peach sheet wrapped around her naked body. “That feels so good, Winston.”
He sat at the end of the bed in nothing but his jockey shorts, massaging her foot in his sturdy hands. “Relax.” He nibbled her baby toe, and she giggled. “Let Daddy do all the work.”
“Daddy.” She concentrated on her 30-inch television mounted to the wall. “I like the sound of that. I never thought I could be this happy.” She sat up against the headboard. “There’s been so much going on with Jonathan and work, I haven’t been able to concentrate on being pregnant.”
“Ten weeks now.” He kissed her foot. “Time goes fast.”
“My body’s changing already.” She rubbed her stomach. “Will you still love me when I’m eight hundred pounds?”
“Yeah.” His eyes twinkled. “I’ll love the hell out your fat ass.”
She laughed.
“Nah, you’d be beautiful no matter what size you are.” He climbed on top of her and kissed her stomach. “I didn’t think I was ready to be a parent but every time I look in your eyes I can’t wait for the baby to come sooner.”
She smiled, laying her head on the pillow.
“When do you start having the ultrasounds?”
“Dr. Bell says around eighteen to twenty weeks. I might not have to have but just one if everything goes okay.”
He rolled off her, laying on his elbow. “I thought women had to have several ultrasounds.”
“Only if you’re high risk. Everything is going great so far. She told me to watch stress though.”
He slipped his fingers in her hair. “That’s not so easy with Jonathan hanging around.”
“I knew I loved you, but when you said you’d be here for me, even if the baby were Jonathan’s I knew I’d never love another man the way I love you.”
“See how good it can be when you let me love you?” He groped her breast.
“Ah.” She flinched.
“Sorry, sweetheart. I forgot they’re sore.”
“It’s okay.” She put his hand back over her breast. “Just be gentle. What sex do you want it to be?”
“I just want it to be healthy.”
She rubbed the tiny hairs on his arm. “You want a boy, don’t you?”
“I’d like a little girl.” He scratched the back of his neck.
“I want a girl too.” She wrapped his arm over her waist. “I’d love fixing her hair and putting her in all those cute dresses.”
“What if she’s a tomboy?”
“Then I’ll force her to let me fix her hair and put her in cute little dresses.”
He grinned. “Whatever you say.”
She kissed him. “I love you so much, Winston.”
“I love you too, Deidra.” He got on top of her and sucked her neck. “I’ll never stop.”
“Dee!” Lydia burst into the room with a towel wrapped around her head and her face covered in green avocado face cream. “Get up.” She ran to the bed.
“Girl.” Dee pushed Winston off, wiping her mouth. “What the hell is—?”
“Hush, you gotta see this.” Lydia snatched the remote off the end table and hobbled to the television with cotton between her painted toes. “You won’t believe this.” She turned to the local news.
A female reporter mentioned an accident by the highway that linked Baltimore to Broadville Port and how a car described as Jonathan’s caught fire after crashing into a tree.
“Hold on.” Winston scooted to the edge of the bed. “Are they saying that’s Jonathan’s car?”
“Sh.” Dee held her breath as Detective Kelley Strickland appeared on camera.
“We don’t have additional details but the coroner has confirmed that Mr. Jonathan Wild is deceased,” Strickland told the reporter.
Dee covered her mouth, gaping at Winston.
“Can you tell us what happened?” the reporter asked.
“We don’t know for sure,” Strickland said. “The Baltimore Police will work with the fire investigator to do a thorough investigation in which I will lead to rule out foul play. What we know is Mr. Wild most likely lost control of his car, hit the tree and the car caught on fire.”
“Oh my god.” Dee’s breath caught in her throat. “Winston?”
He touched his mouth, forehead crinkling as he studied the TV.
“You can however confirm that Jonathan Wild is deceased?” the reporter asked Strickland.
“Yes.” Strickland looked into the camera. “Mr. Wild died in the fire. As I explained we’ll investigate for possible foul play but right now it looks like a terrible accident.”
The reporter spoke into the microphone, “Once again, we’re reporting that Jonathan Wild, son of the famous, late scientist Montgomery Wild is now dead. Jonathan Wild has been in the media many times in recent years. He was the leader of The Circle, a group some describe as a cult. He was also accused of kidnapping and drugging Baltimore police detective Deidra Quarter but received immunity for the crime. Mr. Wild...”
Lydia lowered the volume. “Shit, shit, shit.”
“Winston?” Dee shivered. “What? How?”
He shook his head, blinking.
“I...” Dee grabbed her cell.
“Who are you calling?” Lydia asked.
“Strickland.” She looked his number up in her contacts. “I need more details before I even wrap my head around this.”
“Jesus.” Winston slapped his hands on his face and lay over.
“Jonathan’s dead?” Lydia beamed. “Best. Day. Ever.”
“Lydia.” Dee grimaced. “You out to be ashamed of yourself.”
“That man kidnapped, drugged, and raped you, Dee. I say good riddance and it couldn’t have happened soon enough.”
“He was still a human being.”
Lydia flounced to the door with the towel loosening around her head. “The jury’s still out on that one.”
She left the room.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Okay, I understand,” Dee spoke on the phone while pinching Winston’s arm. “Yeah, please keep me informed, Kelley. Bye.” She hung up the phone.
Winston scooted beside her, his leg hanging off the bed. “What did he say?”
“The same thing he said on TV. He won’t have more information until he investigates. Winston.” She ran her hands through her hair. “Jonathan is dead. I mean he’s really dead.”
Winston pushed his shoulders back. “Hell, let’s get the invitations ready for the party.”
“Winston.” She gaped at him.
“I don’t wanna hear it, Dee.” He raised his hand. “Jonathan got what he deserved and I’m not pretending I ain’t happy.”
“He’s dead. Deep down don’t you feel a little sad?”
“Nah, I’m good.” He grabbed her waist and puckered his lips. “Where were we?”
“I can’t believe you.” She pushed him away. “I need to know how he died and unlike you and Lydia, yes I care.”
> “Why?” He rose on his elbows. “Didn’t you want him gone?”
“Yes, but—”
“Then you should be just as happy as I am that he is.”
****
“Here we go.” CeCe entered his ashen bedroom with two glasses of Coke spiked with whiskey.
In a blue and white knit top and denim booty shorts, Jessica Jacobs lay on top of the white and gray bedspread. Her reddish-brown curls, sprawled against the black-and-white checkered pillow. “I like your apartment. It’s warm and cozy.”
CeCe glanced at the bluish-gray carpet. “I hope that’s not all you like.”
She giggled, curling her sexy legs underneath her. “Why don’t you come over here?”
He held his breath, stomach bubbling from nerves.
An allusive smile hung off her Valentine lips. “You nervous?” She pulled him to the bed by his T-shirt. “Give me that before you spill it.”
CeCe chuckled, sweat peeling from the edge of his hairline.
“Relax.” Jessica sipped from the glass and cuddled next to him. “Why are you tense?”
“I don’t know.” He stared at his white dresser. “Sometimes I get a little nervous.” A bead of sweat fell off his face. “I don’t want to ruin this. It took forever to get you here.”
She gave him a teasing under look as she took another sip.
“Jessica?” He stroked his jeans. “Why are you here?”
“You invited me.”
“I mean...” He stared at her peach neck, imaging his hands around it until she lost breath forever. “What made you wanna come?”
“I told you, CeCe.” She set the drink on the nightstand and whispered in his ear, “I like you.” She kissed his cheek. “Why else would I be here?”
I don’t know. Women have so many motives.
She kissed his neck, massaging his bulge. “You’ve been coming in the coffee shop for a month begging to take me out.” The scent of cinnamon and pastry danced from her breath. “Well, I’m here.” She kissed him. “Don’t waste it.”
“I won’t waste it.” He shoved her on the mattress and kissed her, ramming his tongue inside her mouth.
“Mm.” She pushed on his shoulders as he yanked her top up and gripped her breast through her lacey, white bra.
“You want this, huh?” He seized her neck as he maneuvered her legs apart with his.
“No.” She twitched, tearing her lips from his. “I don’t like it rough like this. CeCe?”
“What?” He kept kissing her, his impeding pleasure outweighing her demands. “Like you said let’s not waste this moment.”
“Wait, CeCe.”
He gripped her neck tighter.
“Stop!” She kicked. “CeCe.”
He lifted his head, catching the horror in her aquamarine eyes. “What?”
“Let me go.” She wiggled.
He let her go.
She jerked away from him, shivering against the headboard. “What’s the matter with you?”
He wiped her raspberry lipstick off his mouth. “What?”
“I should go.” She gave him that patronizing look women did right before they rejected him. “This was a mistake.”
“You wanted to come home with me.” He snatched her hand. “Isn’t that what you said?”
“Yes, but—”
“You can’t just change your mind.”
“I thought you were a nice guy.” Tiny lines surrounded her pouty lips. “But, this feels strange and there’s a smell in here.” She sniffed. “I smelled it the minute we got here. Don’t you? It’s faint but it kinda reeks.”
“It’s a maintenance issue in the building.” He grabbed her, going for a kiss. “Ignore it.”
“No.” She jumped off the bed, pulling at her clothes. “This feels weird. The smell and everything.”
“You didn’t care about the smell a few minutes ago.” He leapt in front of her. “You didn’t care about anything but getting in my pants and now you’re having an issue?”
She darted her eyes. “Please move out of my way.”
He held his waist. “Why should I be shocked you’re a tease like all the rest?”
“That’s not true.” She trembled, rubbing her hands. “I like you but this just isn’t the right time and we don’t know each other that well yet.”
“Why can’t women ever be honest?” He gritted his teeth. “It’s me, isn’t it? You think I’m weird, right? You think I’m strange?”
Her eyes widened as if to beg for mercy. “No.”
“I’ve been down this road a million times. The script is always the same.”
“CeCe, I like you.” She touched his shirt. “We can do this another time—”
“No.” He grabbed her. “We’re doing this now. You’re not going anywhere.”
“Please.” She tried to break free. “Let’s forget this ever happened.”
“I can’t forget.” He shook her. “You women think you can just do what the hell you want with no regard for my feelings?”
“Please,” she screamed. “Let me go.”
“No, no, Jessica. You came here to have sex.” He manhandled her. “You came here flirting with your sweet words and lies.”
“No.” She wailed. “Please.” She pushed at him. “Someone, help!”
“No one’s gonna help you.” His forehead seeped with sweat. “You did this, Jessica. You got me all worked up and now you want to leave?” He huffed and puffed. “Hell no.”
“CeCe.” Her lips quivered, her bosom heaving. “Let me go or I’ll call the police.”
“You shouldn’t have come, Jessica.” He shoved her on the bed and got on top of her. “You’re finishing what you started.” He locked her arms behind her head and unbuttoned her shorts.
“No!” She wept, closing her eyes. “Don’t do this, CeCe.” She thrashed, turning her lips from his kisses. “Get off. No!”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Oh, Grayson.” Connie gripped her headboard as Grayson lay on top pounding her, their sweaty bodies slapping together with each thrust. “Yes, Grayson. Yes!”
“Ugh.” Grayson pumped with his eyes closed, the force of his strong thighs throwing Connie’s legs into the air under the sheet. “Oh, Connie. Oh.”
“Uh-huh. God!” Her vaginal muscles tightened, urging her for the big release. “Faster.” She lifted her head, digging her fingernails into his slick back. “Faster!”
Grayson used the headboard as leverage, pushing deeper inside her. “Ah.”
“Harder.” Connie wrapped her legs around him, her vulva throbbing. “Harder!”
“Oh.” Grayson grabbed her waist, lashing his pelvis against her. “Shit. I’m coming.”
Connie’s cell phone buzzed amongst the squeaking bed springs and animated moans.
Grayson panted, his sweat dripping on her neck. “Ignore it.”
“No, I...” Her right foot shivered as it always did before a monstrous orgasm. “I got to get it.”
“No, oh.” Grayson slowed his stroke. “God, I’m coming, Connie.”
“Fuck, please don’t come yet. Hold on, baby.” She grabbed the phone. “There’s no ID.”
Grayson grunted, clawing her thighs. “Forget it then.”
“Wait.” Connie answered the phone, “Hello?”
Breathing.
“Hello?” Connie repeated. “Who is this?”
Heavier breathing.
“Hello?” She hung up the phone, getting a familiar chill.
“Come on.” Grayson straddled her, resuming the lovemaking. “You’re so beautiful.”
“That was CeCe,” Connie whispered, not being able to get the call out of her head despite how good Grayson felt. “I could tell.”
“Someone just had the wrong number.” He nibbled her cheek. “Let it go.”
“No.” She went limp. “It was CeCe.”
“Goddamn it, Connie.” Grayson got off her and grabbed the sheet. “When are you gonna let this CeCe shit go? You’re ob
sessed with him.”
“I’m not obsessed. Something is wrong with him. You’ve never met him. He’s a creep, Grayson.”
“I’m sick of all these distractions in our relationship.”
“CeCe wants me, Grayson.” She sat up, clutching the sheet to her breasts. “That’s the only reason he’s working at the station. He’s probably been planning this since he met me.”
“Jesus, Connie. It’s just a crush. You can’t blame the guy.” He slid his hand under the sheet and in between her legs. “What man wouldn’t want you?”
“CeCe doesn’t just get crushes. He fixates on women and he forces his way into their lives. He’s trying to stalk me like he’s done those other women but I’m not letting him.”
“This isn’t about CeCe.” Grayson scratched his head. “It’s about Garfield Larose.”
She flashed her palm to him. “This has nothing to do with that.”
“Yes, it does. Ever since he attacked you, you’re suspicious of every man you meet.”
“This has nothing to do with Garfield Larose. CeCe is more than just weird.”
“Who do you want to spend the night with?” He inspected his fingernails. “Me or CeCe? Because if it’s me I’d like to be the only man on your mind.”
She touched his cheek. “You.”
He climbed on top of her and pulled the sheets over them. “Then forget about CeCe Babbitt and fuck my brains out.”
****
“Dee.” Rena jumped off the daybed when Dee stopped in Jonathan’s garden the next morning. “I’m so glad to see you.” She hugged Dee and stroked her hair. “You look wonderful.”
Dee pulled Rena’s fingers from her extensions. “Jonathan’s dead?”
Rena sighed, holding her dress as she sat. “I can’t believe it.”
“What happened?” Dee sat beside her.
“All we know is that he crashed into a tree.” Rena avoided eye contact, which Dee found strange. “Detective Strickland is heading the investigation. We’re getting all our info from him.”
“I can’t believe this.” Dee exhaled. “It doesn’t seem real.”
“I’ve missed you, Dee.” Rena grasped Dee’s hand. “I feel so lost without you.”
Dee grimaced, watching Rena’s fingers caress hers.
Rena gave a shaky smile. “Remember how we used to play ping pong and do each other’s hair?”