Guilty as Charged

by Harlow James

  Just as I’m about to turn the stove burner on, there’s a knock at my door. I’m not expecting company, but that doesn’t mean that Andre and Selina hadn’t decided to pop in and say hello. They tend to keep to themselves mostly during the week since we’re all busy working, saving most of their pop-ins for the weekend, but I wouldn’t put it past them to drop by unannounced.

  Much to my surprise, I open the door to reveal Sydney standing in front of me, freshly showered, but wearing a black trench coat with a bag of takeout in one of her hands. My eyes travel down her body, pausing to appreciate the tan skin of her legs peeking out beneath the hem of her coat and the black stiletto pumps strapped onto her feet.

  Then I see the logo on the bag of food and my mouth crawls into a sly grin.

  “I see you found Dingxiang’s,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest as I study her and the sexy smirk she has on her lips.

  “Well, it was the only Chinese restaurant near the gym, so I assumed it had to be the place you were talking about last week.”

  Fuck, that’s right. I did mention a restaurant that would put Panda Express to shame when we were texting.

  “Please tell me you were wearing that get-up when you went in to order,” I tease, once again taking a moment to study how fucking sexy she looks right now.

  She scoffs before rolling her eyes. “No. I went through the drive-thru, Javi. I would never live it down if my father or one of his friends ever saw me out in public in an outfit like this. If you let me inside though, I’ll show you what I’m hiding underneath and maybe share my food with you. The smell was making my mouth water all the way over here.”

  There’s a playfulness to her voice and a fire in her eyes, intriguing me even more with what she could possibly have on under that coat. The man in me wants her to be naked, letting me give in to the cliché fantasy of a woman untying a trench coat to reveal her bare body to you—but the other part of me hopes that Sydney wasn’t driving or walking around completely naked under there where someone could potentially see what my eyes get to.

  She steps beside me into my house as I shut the door behind her, watching her move around my kitchen before placing the bag on my counter. She starts unloading the boxes and opening the lids, reaching in with her fingers to sample a piece of sweet and sour pork without searching for a fork first. The way her lips curl around her food and the purse of her mouth as she pulls her fingers from her lips has my dick growing rock hard in seconds.

  “Oh my God,” she moans around her mouthful of food. “You’re right. That is so much better than Panda Express.”

  “Told ya.” I step up beside her and reach into a bag, pulling out a spring roll. “What all did you order?”

  “A little of everything. I wanted to sample it all and I wasn’t sure what you liked.”

  “I eat it all, Princess,” I reply, just as a mischievous grin forms on my lips. I can tell by the way Sydney’s body tenses and she turns to face me with a glimmer in her eyes that says her line of thought ventured right to where my sexual innuendo was placed.

  “Oh, I know you do, Javi,” she says, taking a bite of chow mein, dropping the noodles into her mouth slowly before meeting my eyes with hers again. I never thought someone could eat noodles in a sexy manner, but apparently Sydney can. She darts her tongue out to lick the corner of her mouth and I’m instantly swallowing gruffly. “But tonight, I think it’s time I return the favor.”

  “Is that so?” I rest my back against the counter as Sydney moves to stand in front of me.

  She bobs her head. “Yup.”

  “Why did you bring food then if this was just about sex?” I mentally slap myself for asking that question at this moment, knowing that Sydney came here with clear intentions for a release. But part of me wonders why go to the trouble to bring a meal too? I mean, I’m not mad about it. She saved me from cooking and it gives us an excuse to spend some more time together.

  But that’s not supposed to be what I want, what we agreed to. We agreed no strings, and all of a sudden, I feel wires wrapping around my ankles and wrists, anchoring me to her in other ways I wanted to avoid.

  Her eyes veer toward the floor, alerting me to a shift in the confidence I saw from her before. I knew I shouldn’t have said anything, but the woman has me all up in knots with confusion.

  “I guess I wanted to say thank you in some kind of way.” She shrugs and then pops her eyes back up to me. “I’m kind of sad that the self-defense class is over because I feel so much better than I did weeks ago, and I know that’s because of you, Javi. Even though we didn’t start out on the best of terms, wanting to prove you wrong pushed me to keep going, and now I’m harboring a confidence I didn’t have before. So thank you.” She gives me a small smile before glancing down at my crotch, and then back up to my eyes. “And I guess I should thank you for all of the orgasms lately. I think they’re making a difference in my life too.” She winks her right eye at me and then giggles, before taking a deep breath and moving her hands to the belt on her coat tied around her waist.

  “You’re welcome, Sydney. I never turn down food, but I’m glad the class did something for you. That’s the entire reason we offer it.”

  She nods again, releasing the knot on her belt. “It did. And now I want to do something for you.” As her hands pull the tie open, the slit between the two sides of her coat widens, revealing her silky skin encased in hot pink lace. Sydney’s body is decked out in a pink, see-through corset that highlights her curves and the dip in her waist while the top pushes up her perfect breasts I’ve become very acquainted with. The fabric is so sheer that it gives me a peak to everything underneath, including her rosy nipples, but still teases me with covering the majority of her skin. The bottom is cut high on her thighs and just as I glance to her crotch, she tosses the coat on the ground and then spins on her heels, revealing the thong in the back that gives me the perfect view of her luscious backside.

  Christ almighty, I think I might come in my shorts. I’ve never had a woman surprise me with lingerie like this before, but I don’t hate the fact that it’s Sydney who gets to claim that first for me.

  “Fuck, Princess. You look …”

  “You like?” she asks, biting her lip while watching me move my eyes across her flesh like I’m marking a road map with which pit stops to make.

  “Absolutely.”

  “Good,” she declares as she turns back around to face me and then drops to her knees. “Now let me give you the other part of your present.”

  “Sydney, you don’t have to …” My hands grip the counter behind me as her fingers undo the string on the waistband of my basketball shorts.

  “I know I don’t, Javi. But this arrangement can’t just benefit me.”

  “Believe me, it doesn’t.”

  “Well, sometimes I like a little control too. So shut up and let me put your dick in my mouth.”

  I groan as she pushes my shorts down, freeing my cock. I didn’t bother with underwear since I was home alone. Sydney’s eyes light up as she flicks her tongue along the head of my dick before swirling it around and then taking me into her mouth. Fuck, she’s wet and hot and the noises she’s making as if she’s enjoying this more than me has me fighting off an orgasm almost instantly.

  “Fuck, sweetheart. That’s good.” My hand finds her hair and grips a handful of it, gently guiding her up and down my length as I watch her work me over with her mouth. Her hair is still damp from her shower, her face free of makeup, and even though my dick is currently sliding over her tongue and between her lips, I take a moment to appreciate her natural beauty.

  She grips the base of my shaft to work me simultaneously with her hand and mouth, teasing me with short flicks and swirling her tongue again around my head before taking me back as far as she can. I see her gag, but it doesn’t stop her and she continues to suck me, increasing the suction with each stroke.

  And I feel it—the tingle in my spine, the draw of my balls moving up in my body, the w
arning signs of my orgasm coming on strong.

  “Sydney,” I warn while trying to hold off, almost holding my breath as I continue to watch her. “I’m gonna come, babe …”

  She moans and nods with my dick in her mouth, giving me permission to let go. And with a few more strokes, I detonate, releasing my orgasm down her throat, watching her close her eyes and take it all, which is one of the sexiest things I’ve ever witnessed. I never pegged her for a swallower, but apparently this woman is full of surprises.

  She slowly releases me from the silkiness of her lips and then peers up at me beneath her dark lashes with a pleased grin on her face.

  “Fuck, Princess. I don’t even want to know how you learned to give head like that.”

  A small chuckle passes through her lips before she rises and wipes her mouth with her hand. “Honestly, I’m not sure either. I’m not really a fan of doing that. But for some reason,” she pauses and shakes her head at me, “putting your cock in my mouth is all I’ve been able to think about all day.”

  “Jesus …”

  “But now, I just want more Chinese food.” She giggles and then moves back to the food, opening up the remaining boxes. With a peek over her shoulder, she asks me, “You’re going to join me, right?”

  Still trying to gain my bearings and realizing I’m standing there with my shorts around my ankles, I nod and then right myself, walking across the kitchen on shaky legs to the cabinet where I keep my plates. I grab two forks as well and then join Sydney at the kitchen island, serving up a plate full of food.

  “Okay, Javi. You were right. This food is amazing. The shrimp with lobster sauce? I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.”

  “Told you. Panda Express is swill compared to this.” I take a bite of my spring roll and then twirl my noodles around my fork in my chow mein, waiting until I’m done chewing to take a bite.

  “Definitely not the same, but it gets the job done in a pinch. Are there any other restaurants around town that I should know about …” she continues just as there’s a knock at my door.

  We both freeze, our eyes locking and my heart pounding in my chest as I stare at Sydney standing in front of me in hot pink lingerie with her fork poised in front of her mouth.

  “Javi, open up!” My sister’s voice travels through the door as both of our eyes go wide.

  “Fuck.” I drop my fork on the plate and then scramble to clean up the mess while Sydney visibly relaxes and her face falls.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “My sister is here.”

  “Okay …”

  “You need to hide.”

  “Javi,” she says, reaching for my arm and halting my movements. “Even if I do, my car is outside so they know I’m here. Are you …” she trails off again, dropping her eyes to the floor. “Are you embarrassed that I’m here?”

  “What?” I bark out a little more harshly that I intended. “No.” I’m just more terrified of the shit talking that will commence after you leave. I’m fairly certain my sister has seen Sydney’s car here over the past few weeks, so she must know I’ve had company.

  “Then why do I have to hide?”

  “I just thought … I thought you wouldn’t want them to know that we’re …”

  “Sleeping together?”

  Another knock on the door pulls my eyes across the room. “Javi! I know you’re home. The light is on. I just need to talk to you for a second.”

  I roll my eyes and turn back to Sydney who has now put her coat back on. “What are you doing?”

  “Well, I can’t very well have your sister seeing me dressed in what I’m wearing underneath this.” She swats my chest playfully and then moves for the door. I watch stunned as Sydney turns the knob and pulls the door open, where Selena and Andre are standing, both of their brows rising when they see who is on the other side of the door.

  “Sydney Matthews?” my sister spits out, which makes Sydney chuckle. She’s either extremely nervous or she’s making the most out of this situation.

  “You can just call me Sydney. No need for last names.” She winks and then looks at Andre. “Hi, Andre. Nice seeing you outside of the gym.”

  “Uh, yeah. Nice to see you too.”

  “Well, come in guys. Javi and I were just sharing some Chinese food.” She steps away from the door so they can squeeze inside and then shuts it behind them.

  “You two were sharing food?” Selena points back and forth between us with a finger.

  “Uh, yeah,” I chime in. “We were, uh …”

  “Celebrating the self-defense class being over,” Sydney continues, smiling brightly. “I brought food over from Dingxiang’s since I know it’s Javi’s favorite as a thank you for being such a knowledgeable instructor. I really loved the class.”

  “Are you two … friends?” my sister questions, her eyebrows still inching close to her hairline.

  “Yup. Good friends,” Sydney replies with a smirk on her face. “Seems Javi just needed someone to wear him down a bit. I knew behind this broody, asshole exterior was really a nice guy.”

  Andre starts laughing as Selena’s eyes widen at me.

  “Selena, I actually wanted to ask you something. I heard you own the salon over on Madison?”

  “Yeah,” she says with a nod, directing her attention back on Sydney.

  “Well, my previous hairstylist moved away and I’m in desperate need of a color and cut. Any chance I can get an appointment with you or someone at your salon?”

  Selena grins and then bobs her head up and down again slowly, as if she’s soaking in Sydney’s presence and politeness right now. “Sure. We can make that happen. I have some availability next week, I believe.”

  “Perfect.” Sydney sighs dramatically. “I’ll call the salon tomorrow to book something.”

  “Sounds good.”

  She turns to me now and rests her hand on my upper arm. “Thanks for celebrating with me, Javi.” She winks again and smiles knowingly at me, concealing it from my sister and Andre. “We’ll talk soon.” Turning to wave at Andre and Selena, she bids them goodbye as well. “Nice to see you two. Have a good night.”

  “Bye, Sydney,” Andre calls out as she walks through the door and shuts it behind her.

  I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and then turn toward the two of them before opening my eyelids and accepting the inquisition I know is coming.

  “Sydney. Fucking. Matthews!” my sister shouts loud enough for the next door neighbor to hear.

  “Jesus Christ, Selena. Calm the fuck down,” I growl, moving on my feet back to the kitchen to start putting away the food. “We were just eating.”

  “Each other?” Andre interjects and then cackles.

  “She was wearing a trench coat, Javi. In the middle of June. I’m not stupid, ass wipe.”

  I close my eyes and blow out a sharp breath.

  “And that car,” she says before looking back toward the yard. “That car has been here a lot lately. I just thought you had a lady friend over, but … it was her, wasn’t it? Are you fucking Sydney Matthews?” Her hands are on her hips with one of her eyebrows raised, and the red of her headband brings out the fire in her eyes.

  I shoot my gaze over to her and then cross my arms over my chest. To hell with it. I’m a grown ass man, and I can fuck anyone I want.

  “What if I am?”

  Selena’s jaw drops and then she smacks her hand to her forehead. “You have lost your damn mind, Javi. Didn’t we tell you to be careful with her? Getting involved with her is just going to …”

  “It’s just sex.” I cut her off, moving back to closing the tabs on the boxes of food and then placing them in the fridge. Even as the words left my mouth, they soured my taste buds. Sydney arriving here earlier was a welcome surprise. Don’t get me wrong, the blow job was definitely worth the interruption to my evening, but just seeing her and getting to hear her voice made my night turn around.

  “Really? Because last I checked, fuck buddies don’t bring over m
eals to thank them for self-defense classes.”

  Anger floods my veins as my sister continues to ridicule my time with Sydney. I don’t want to hear anymore, so I point a finger in her direction and then raise my voice. “Why does this matter to you, Selena? Why do you care who I’m fucking? I’m a grown ass man, and not that it’s any of your business, but she came on to me!”

  Selena’s hands drop to her sides as her mouth parts. “Seriously?”

  “Yeah. Why is that so hard to believe?”

  “It’s … it’s not. I just …” She swallows while shaking her head and then moves closer to me. Andre has rested his ass on the back of my couch, watching the argument unfold between us like he normally does. He’s been around long enough to know when not to intervene when we’re screaming at each other.

  “I’m a big boy, Selena. I can handle it.”

  She brings her palm up to my cheek and stares at me with that loving gaze that tells me she’s done being mad. “I know. I just … I just don’t think this is a good idea. Her family, her job …”

  “It doesn’t matter because it’s just physical.” My voice cracks at the end, causing Andre to chime in.

  “I don’t know, Javi. I’ve been watching you two at the gym and even just now. I see something else. And babe, maybe that’s not a bad thing,” he adds, turning his sight to my sister.

  “I don’t want her to hurt him. He’s been through enough …”

  “You don’t even know her, Selena,” I add, defending Sydney for once because now that I have gotten to know her, I don’t see a vindictive bone in her body. I see a woman who’s been locked in a cage created by expectations put on her throughout her entire life. I see a woman that is passionate about helping others prepare for the unexpected in their lives and devotes herself to that fully. I see a girl who is thoughtful enough to bring over food to share because she remembered me mentioning it in conversation and she just wanted to say thank you.

  I see Sydney in an entirely different light than before.