Safe Place Series

by Shani Greene-Dowdell

  “That would’ve been too late, Kemara. I needed a fair warning,” I argued, now stuck with the image of entering the bathroom and finding Jeb half-naked. I could still feel my face flushing at the mere sight of him.

  “It won’t be a bad thing, though. If you get a chance to know him, you’ll see that he’s a good guy,” Channing interjected.

  “With all due respect, Channing, I can’t fathom what a few days would do to change my mind.”

  I turned around to storm out of the kitchen, but Jeb was standing in the doorway. His five-o-clock shadow said ‘hello’ before words could leave his mouth. His square chin and dark brows screamed to be kissed along with everything in between. I looked away from him. It was hard to hide my attraction while looking at him.

  “This place is big enough for us to share one week together,” he said, but I didn’t want to hear logic. I wanted him gone. Why? Because I didn’t have the strength to resist him.

  “No, it’s not. I’ll just take the next flight home,” I said.

  “No, that’s not necessary. If anyone leaves, it’s only right that it’s me.” Jeb turned to walk away, and I didn’t do anything to stop him.

  I shrugged and asked, “If he wants to leave, why should I stop him?”

  Kemara’s nonverbal cues begged me to stop him and apologize. She said, “Tameka, you’re my sister, and I love you, but it’s not fair to him to have to leave just because you can’t deal with your feelings. Put on your big girl panties and deal.”

  “Oh, is that how you feel?” I asked then turned to Channing. “How about you? Is that how you feel, too?”

  Channing threw his hands up, professing his innocence, so my attention went back to Kemara. She had no right to belittle me in front of her husband.

  “I don’t appreciate your tone with me,” I said plainly.

  She put her fists on her hips. “I don’t appreciate you kicking Jeb out of the house, just because you’re not in control of your feelings. We wanted him here, and he’s staying. You both are our guests,” Kemara demanded.

  I threw up my hands. “Fine! Let him stay.” I stormed out of the kitchen and went back up the stairway to my bedroom where I flopped down on my bed, thinking about when I walked in on Jeb coming out of the shower.

  I had heard a noise in the room across the hall from mine and followed the sounds. I thought the room was empty and that maybe someone had left the shower water running by mistake. Imagine my surprise when Jeb’s towel fell to the floor, and every rippling muscle of his body greeted me for old time sake and new. I was nervous about being in the same house as Jeb for six more days and nights—long, hot, summer nights.

  I wasn’t nervous about what he would do but of what I would do. I couldn’t control my feelings for him as long as he was in my presence. I put up a believable front that what we shared was only one night of lust, but I’d dreamed of that man and yearned for his touch many nights since we made love. But maybe, just maybe, if we set boundaries we could both stay here in this big ass mansion for one week. I hopped off my bed and went across the hall to talk to Jeb and found him coming out of the room with luggage in his hands.

  “Where are you going?” I asked, and my breath caught in my throat at the thought of him actually leaving.

  “You wanted me out, so I’m leaving,” he said with a hard glare.

  “Look, I apologize for what I said down there. And…” I paused. “I’d like for you to stay,” I said softly.

  “I was wrong for coming like this. I thought we could get to know each other better and enjoy time together in Aruba, but I didn’t know you felt so strongly against me.” He took a few steps toward the stairs. “Enjoy your vacation, Tameka.”

  “Please,” I said in a rasp, and he stopped walking and turned to look at me. His heated look sank inside of me and warmed me to the core. I walked over to stand in front of him. I placed a hand on his luggage bag. “Stay…”

  I understood how that one word could hold so much power, and so did Jeb who shifted his weight from one foot to the other and looked at me with mystery in his ocean blue eyes.

  “If that’s what you want,” he said, his deep voice sounding hopeful.

  “I do, but we do need to set boundaries.”

  “What kind of boundaries are we talking about?”

  “You stay on your side of the house, and I stay on mine. That’s the first one.”

  He chuckled slightly. “You’re on my side right now.”

  When he winked, I glared at him. “Second rule…no flirting.”

  He shrugged. “I can live with that.”

  I frowned. That wasn’t the response I wanted to hear, but I was the one setting boundaries. “Third rule…”

  “Yes,” he said, smiling.

  “Under no circumstances is anything sexual going to happen between you and me. Got it?”

  He smiled as he inched closer to me. I stood my ground until his breath brushed against my lips.

  “Boundaries, Jeb.”

  “I would think the third rule is a given since there’s no flirting.” He bit down on his bottom lip. His face was still dangerously close to mine.

  When a light moan left my mouth, I knew there was no way I would make it. “Goodbye, Jeb,” I said as I backed away toward my room.

  “Wait. Do I get to add a rule?” Jeb asked.

  “Sure, if you want to.”

  “There’s just one thing you need to know…”

  He took three steps to close the space between us. I watched him move with easy strides. When I felt he was too close for comfort, I stepped backward and eyed him carefully.

  “I don’t do rules, Tameka. In fact, you could say that I break all sorts of rules. So do you really want me to stay?” he asked.

  Yes. Was it so hard to say?

  The way Jeb saw through my smokescreen had me both perplexed and excited. Panting, I spun on my heels and sped-walked back to my room without saying a word. His chuckles could be heard in the background.

  Once in my room, I shut the door behind me and fell against it. I had passed off all these rules to him and didn’t know why I wanted to break every one of them before nightfall. But they were for our own good, and I had to keep telling myself that.

  ***

  Channing suggested we all go to a restaurant for dinner. I didn’t want to be a party pooper, so I went along with it. On the ride over, Jeb’s deep voice filled the car as he told stories about different characters that came into his bar. I had to cross my legs to keep my body from reacting to the sound of his masculine voice. I looked out the window the entire way, trying my best to tune him out. I was glad when we finally arrived.

  Channing opened the door for Kemara. Jeb rushed around to open my door, but I was out the car when he made it to my side.

  “I was going to get that for you, Tameka.”

  “Got it,” I said and walked off.

  The hostess greeted us and took us to our table that was hidden away in a corner. Jeb slid into the seat next to me, and his woodsy scent teased my senses. I wanted to look up at him, but I would have been done in by both his scent and looks.

  I picked up the menu and preoccupied myself. “This looks like a wonderful restaurant,” I said.

  “Channing found this place online,” Kemara said. “He always finds good places to eat.” She kissed his cheek, and I returned my attention to the menu.

  When I looked up, Jeb was staring at me with questions in his eyes. “Got it memorized?” he asked.

  “I know what I want,” I said.

  “Are you all ready to order?” the waitress asked.

  We placed our orders, and the waitress left. I was grateful when the salads came. It gave me something to focus on other than Jeb. Servers brought our dinner out fifteen minutes later. Kemara and Channing talked about their entrees and fed each other, while Jeb and I ate silently.

  “How was your steak?” Jeb asked after we’d finished eating dinner.

  “It was fine. How wa
s the veal?” I asked.

  “It was very good, but that could be because I’m in the best company,” he said, and a piece of my heart melted when he looked at me with his sparkling blue eyes. Just the way he looked at me had me willing to break at least one rule.

  “Would you dance with me, my beautiful wife?” Channing asked Kemara.

  She giggled and grabbed his hand as he pulled her to her feet. “It would be my honor, my lovely husband,” she said.

  “Have you ever seen two people more in love?” Jeb asked as my sister and her husband embraced each other and began dancing.

  It was easy to get lost in their love. My eyes were glued to the dance floor, so much so that I didn’t notice Jeb’s hand reaching out to mine.

  “Would you like to dance?” he asked.

  “No.”

  “Come on. Just one dance.”

  “No, Jeb. I don’t feel like dancing,” I said.

  “Do you plan to spend the rest of this trip acting stuck up?” he asked.

  “Huh? Who said I’m stuck up?”

  “Your actions say it. At least, you should tell me what I have done to you that makes you treat me so cold,” he said, and our eyes locked in this bewildered stare.

  “You got into my head and got me in your bed,” I admitted.

  “That was consensual, baby. If you didn’t want it, I had no idea with the way you were giving yourself to me.”

  “In all fairness, you are stalking me now. Don’t you think?”

  “No, I wanted to see you again, but I wouldn’t take it as far as stalking,” he said with an innocent look on his face, but he’d shown up at my house and now in Aruba.

  “Following a woman to another country is stalking,” I mumbled.

  I scanned the room to avoid Jeb’s heated stare. Another romantic song started, and Kemara and Channing were still glued together as if they were the only two people in the room.

  “Your eyes light up when you watch them dance. We could have that too, baby.”

  “You don’t know what I want,” I said defiantly.

  “I know you’d rather ignore the fact that we’re in a beautiful country, and the mood is perfect for us to explore the way we feel,” he said with a smile that could melt butter. “Did I tell you that you look amazing tonight?”

  All night long, his baritone voice had filled the space with seduction. My body was betraying me as my mouth started watering, my nipples hardened, and wetness pooled in my panties. I wanted to get on that dance floor and dance chest to chest…with him.

  “Let’s dance, but remember we have boundaries,” I said and reached for his hand.

  Jeb guided me to the dance floor and wrapped his arms around my waist. I caressed his neck as he held me securely in his arms. An irrevocable current charged through us as we swayed to the melody. He pulled me closer, and I came alive. This was exactly what I’d fought so hard not to feel again.

  “This isn’t so bad, is it?” Jeb asked.

  “I need to get some fresh air,” I said.

  “Tameka—” I heard him call out, but I didn’t turn around as I sped-walked to the door.

  “Hey, where are you going?” Kemara asked, catching up to me before I left out.

  “I’m not feeling well. Can we leave?” I asked her.

  “Huh? Well, yeah. Let me go get Channing and Jeb.”

  I walked to the car, and minutes later, the rest of the crew were inside. It was a quiet ride home. Channing held Kemara’s hand, and Jeb and I looked out of our windows in silence. When we finally pulled up to the mansion, I went upstairs to my room.

  “What’s wrong, baby?” Jeb asked once we were at the top of the stairwell.

  “I just need to lay down,” I said.

  “Tameka?”

  “Talk to you tomorrow.” I closed the door to my room, leaned against it, and sighed heavily.

  Chapter 12

  Jeb

  Once again, Tameka ended our dance prematurely. I tried not to take it personally, but I was starting to get a complex about dancing with her. Either I couldn’t dance, or she didn’t like to be near me. I was going with the latter.

  The ride back to the house had been quieter than the drive to the restaurant. Tameka didn’t say a word. She stared out the window apparently preoccupied with her own thoughts. Then, she rushed out of the car and ran up the steps to her room as soon as we made it back here. I caught up to her at the top of the stairs and asked her if she was alright, but she shot me down.

  Her sweet honey fragrance lingered in the air after she shut her bedroom door. I took deep breaths to inhale every possible morsel of it into my lungs. Then, I went back downstairs and found Channing in the kitchen, getting a glass of water.

  “Some women are just slower to warm up, but I’m sure in time…” he began.

  “In time, she’ll bury me. Did you see the way she glared at me after we danced?” I shrugged. “At some point, I’ll just have to know when to fold ‘em.”

  “Sorry, cuz. I thought it would work out,” he said and gave me a sympathetic look.

  “It’s fine. I’ll get over it.” I hope. “I’m going to head to bed and see what tomorrow brings.”

  “Now, that’s the Jeb I know. Give it another try in the morning.”

  “She’s a tough cookie to crumble, but I like cookies, so I’ll bring milk next time.” I chuckled.

  “That’s my boy!” Channing said and pumped his fist at me.

  I went up the steps to my bedroom to get dressed for bed. After lying in bed restless, I decided to sneak off to the indoor pool to relax. I could see her door from my room. The coast was clear, so I made my way to the pool.

  After an hour in the heated pool, I felt relaxed. I hopped out and walked back to my room, once again, without being noticed. I turned the light off and fell onto the bed, which was illuminated by moonlight. I closed my eyes, but sleep didn’t come to me right away. Without Tameka in my arms, it was destined to be a long night.

  ***

  She smelled like honey as she crawled on top of me.

  “Baby, you’re here,” I whispered against her lips.

  Having Tameka in my bed was like every fantasy coming true all at once. I couldn’t believe she was really here.

  “I couldn’t stay away,” was her sweet reply. Her tongue slowly moved between my lips as she crawled on top of me. She grabbed my cock and slowly pushed me inside of her, gyrating her hips like a professional pussy thrower.

  I couldn’t take it anymore. I flipped her onto her back, and my erection filled her to her core. The feel of her warmth had me moving in quick, even strokes. I wanted her more with each pound. The fire inside of me heated to a burning blaze.

  “Yes, Jeb…,” she screamed out my name. The sound was music to my ears.

  I kept growling as I pounded into her. Her hands wandered down my back, and the passion and rhythm reminded me of our first night together. Her body seized beneath me. I pulled her close as we came together.

  My lips went back to hers. I could see her smile through our kiss—so bright and lively. No moment would be as fulfilling as what she’d given to me right then. I closed my eyes and basked in the glory of our lovemaking.

  “That was amazing,” her hot breath whispered in my ear.

  “Yes, baby, it was,” I murmured.

  “Too bad it’s a dream,” her voice turned wicked and her breath felt as cold as ice against my skin.

  My eyes popped opened, and I was alone.

  My cock throbbed, and my heart raced. It felt so real. In fact, I could still smell the faint aroma of honey all around me. I looked at the door, wondering had she come into my room, made love to me, and left her essence there to linger. I pushed myself up and tried to get Tameka off my foggy brain.

  I pulled back the covers and sat up in bed, thinking of what could help me relax. A cold dip in the pool would cool me off. I grabbed my swim trunks from the bathroom and changed into them. I grabbed a towel and left my room, heading
to the pool that had cold water.

  After rounding an ever-winding corner, I realized I wasn’t the only person who had the idea of swimming. I considered turning around and leaving her to be in the pool alone, but I couldn’t stop watching her through the glass window. She was arching her back and turning her head as if she were trying to rid her body of soreness when, suddenly, she sensed someone was there and looked in my direction. Tameka’s eyes latched onto mine, and I instantly regretted the decision to watch her.

  “I didn’t know you would be in here,” I said quickly.

  “Couldn’t sleep,” she said in a soft tone. “Come on in, Jeb.”

  I walked in hesitantly. I didn’t want her to think I was stalking her.

  “Are you sure? I mean, I don’t want to make you uncomfortable,” I said with a smirk as I dropped my towel on a nearby pool chair.

  “Sure, there’s plenty of room,” she said. “Come.”

  It was a state of the art swimming pool that was big enough for an Olympic swimmer, but I wasn’t sure any amount of space could contain the heat that started whenever I was near her. And why was she being so nice to me? I needed to explore that change.

  I dipped one foot into the water.

  “Yeah, it’s cold.” Tameka chuckled. “But it feels great after you’ve been in here a while.”

  I sank into the cool water and breathed a sigh of relief. It did feel good.

  “I hope me being here in Aruba isn’t messing up your vacation too much,” I began.

  She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I came to get away from many things. Not just you.”

  “Ouch! So I was one of the reasons you took the trip?”

  “I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “Well, what did you mean?”

  “I talked to my daughter tonight. Things aren’t going well with her visit with her father. My kids are supposed to stay with him for a month, but Eva is miserable,” she said, and I was surprised she was opening up to me.

  I had heard Rodney was a dipshit. Just from the brief encounter I had with him at her house, I could sense he wreaked havoc on Tameka’s mental state.

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Tameka,” I said. “Is there someone who can pick her up before you get back to the states?” I asked.