“Miki, and you? Are you okay? Are you feeling better now?”
Miki scooted up in his seat, placing his elbows on his knees. He turned his body towards his girlfriend. “I’m good if she is. I am sorry, Finia. I really am. I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”
Finia crossed her legs and continued to look at the floor.
“Miki, you said ‘I’m good if she is.’ Why do you feel that your emotions have to coincide with hers?” Mrs. Knight asked.
“Because I’m in love with her. Of course, I want to be in sync with her. If she’s feeling sad, then I feel sad. If she’s happy, then I’m happy. If she’s stressed, then I’m stressed. My main goal is being there for her, so if she’s feeling down, I hope she knows that she can come to me for help.” He took a deep breath. “I’m in love with you, Finia.”
“Because she’s the mother of your child?”
Miki shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck. “No, that’s not it. I loved her the second I saw her. It was love at first sight for me, then we had a long term relationship, and I fell even harder for her. I’ve never hid my feelings. It’s much more than her being Jahlin’s mother. I think of her as my family. I want to be with her. I love her.”
Mrs. Knight turned to face the love of his life. “Finia, how does that make you feel?”
She glanced up, meeting Miki’s stare, hesitating before answering, “It hurts. I don’t trust him anymore. I used to love him, but not now. I just see him as Jahlin’s father. Nothing more. Nothing less.” She paused. “It would make things so much easier if he’d move on.”
“You don’t mean that,” Miki said, his voice gutted.
“That’s exactly what I mean. That’s why I said it.”
“No, you’re just trying to hurt me because I hurt you.”
Damn it. No make-up sex tonight. How dare she not give in to his “vulnerability.” There was only so much rejection he could take. He’d have to blow off steam with someone else.
Chapter Eleven
Miki, wearing sunglasses and a Yankees cap, pulled his Mustang into the parking lot near a hair salon and movie theatre. He walked up the sidewalk in the shopping plaza and entered the “spa.” His duffel bag draped over his shoulders. Ever since the “spa” came along a few months ago, he was a regular customer. He and Rob had heard about the services through a drunk man at the bar one night.
He was holding out for Finia, but he was only human. Masturbation could only do so much. He wanted a warm body underneath him. He wanted to run his hands over perky breasts and a round backside. He wanted to hear moaning from someone that wasn’t him.
The friendly receptionist greeted Miki. The place was run by an Asian family. The “massage therapists” were all young Asian women who could barely speak English, but the owners definitely spoke good English, none of that broken English shit.
“Hello, Mr. Reeves. Would you like your usual today?”
“Yeah, I’ll take a shower and a bed. An hour please.” Miki needed to let out a lot of aggression after his first therapy session with Finia. How could she say he should move on? It sounded so definite, but of course, she didn’t mean it. She couldn’t have.
“Anyone you’d like to request?” the receptionist asked as she keyed in the codes on her register.
Miki winked. “I’m not picky.”
Winking back, the receptionist giggled. Miki’s muscles relaxed when he placed his arms on the counter. So far, he’d had sex with all the women. They all pretty much knew his routine, probably thinking he was weird and lonely, but he didn’t care. Why would he care what prostitutes thought?
Ming Lee, a woman resembling a mouse, appeared. She wore heavy make-up with a trendy bob. She was really skinny—no ass, no curves, but she had big breasts. She’d have to do.
Miki smiled at her.
Ming Lee covered her mouth with her hands, hiding behind her laugh. “Hello, Miki.”
“Hi, Ming Lee.”
She grabbed his hand and led him into the back room. He shut the door behind them. They gave each other a quick peck on the lips, then he let go of her hand, bent down, and placed his bag on the floor. He rummaged through it, pulling out a black wig. He handed it to her, and she walked over to the mirror to make sure she didn’t put on the fake hair crooked. Miki studied her, licking his lips. Finia wasn’t Asian, and she definitely had curves, but whenever Ming Lee put on the wig, it helped set the mood. It helped him pretend that she was Finia who he was making love to.
She twirled around seductively in her red lingerie. “Like what you see?”
He laughed. “I definitely do. You should come here, so I can show you.”
After crossing the room, Ming Lee pushed him onto the bed. He loved when she got aggressive. It reminded him of Finia. She knew how to get her way in the bedroom. He fell on the satin sheets and scooted up to rest his head on the pillows. He placed his hands behind his head with his elbows sticking out. For now, he wouldn’t have to do any work. He could relax.
She crawled towards him, never leaving his gaze. He smiled as she rubbed her palms on his thighs. If only his jeans weren’t covering them, so he could feel her sultry touch. As if reading his mind, she unbuckled his belt and pulled down his jeans. Miki kicked them off with the help of her pulling the denim from his ankles. She licked her lips when she noticed his erection. She bit the top of his boxers and slid them off his body with her teeth.
“Shit.” Miki grunted.
When she held his boxers, she twirled them like she was in a rodeo, then she threw them on the floor. Before he had time to process the moment, she already had her head down. He stared at the top of her head as it bobbed up and down. He sucked in his breath, picturing Finia pleasing him.
On all fours, Miki grabbed Ming Lee by the hair, making sure not to rip off the wig. Without warning, he thrust behind her. Every moan that escaped her lips turned him on even more. “Oh, God, Finia!”
Miki fell on top of her, both breathing heavily. He slowly inched off of her and lay on his back, then he turned to face her. She lay sideways and scooted closer to him.
A lazy smile formed on her lips. She placed her head to rest on her elbow. “That was amazing.”
“Was?” He smirked. “I’m not done with you yet.”
They kissed. She grabbed the sides of his face with both of her hands and caressed his face. Miki closed his eyes to savor the moment. Images of the first few times he and Finia made love surfaced in his mind. Knowing that he couldn’t touch Finia, knowing that she refused to touch him, knowing that they’d never sleep together turned his heart into a cold, black piece of coal. Even if he brought her around, she’d damaged him beyond the reach of love. He frowned when his penis went limp.
No, no, no, he thought. This couldn’t be happening now. Why wouldn’t Finia stop being so stubborn? They needed to make up. Make up sex was the best in letting out aggression. Imagining having sex with her, Miki sighed in relief when he got another erection.
Taking charge, he squeezed Ming Lee’s wrists and pushed her on her back. Within seconds, he spread her legs and thrust inside of her fast. He still held onto her wrists, lifting himself up, so their chests weren’t touching. His eyes were closed the entire time; he pictured Finia beneath him. He pictured her experiencing sweet pain. He pretended like Ming Lee’s grunts were Finia’s. His head bowed down, sweat dripping off his forehead. He pounded harder and harder, faster and faster like they were on a bumpy car ride. Her grunts bounced off each other like echoes.
Miki’s voice was high-pitched in ecstasy. “Say you love me.”
“I love you, Miki.”
“I love you too, Finia.” He opened his eyes and stared at Ming Lee’s big breasts that peeked through her lacey bra. Her breasts remained his focal point as he continued to thrust inside her, never slowing down. She was lighter skinned than Finia, but they shared the same brown, erect nipples. As long as he could concentrate on that, he could stay in the fantasy.
Finia alway
s said he was a permanent resident of Denyville—moments like these were the reasons why. “I love you too.”
He collapsed on top of her, releasing her wrists. Slowly, she ran her hands through his hair. He sighed and placed his head near her sweaty neck. Ming Lee wrapped her arms around him as he put his hands on her hips. He’d do anything to have a moment like this with Finia again.
Finia had said that he was trying to manipulate her, which was the truth. Why shouldn’t he be able to cut corners, or do anything necessary to get his happy ending—no pun intended? What was so wrong with fighting for what he wanted?
He and Ming Lee stayed in that position for a long time. Even though the air conditioner roared, it was very hot and humid in the room. He was tempted to get up and turn on the fan, but that position was comforting to him. As long as he kept his eyes closed and as long as Ming Lee didn’t talk, then it would be Finia with him. He wasn’t at a “spa” having to pay to get laid. He was on vacation at a spa resort on an exotic beach with his future easy-to-control wife.
Chapter Twelve
Pulling her car in the driveway, Finia sighed. Miki and Jahlin should’ve been gone by now, she thought. Not only were they still in her house, but her dad’s pickup truck was still parked there too. Who knew what those three were up to? It was Miki’s weekend to take Jahlin, so she had planned to enjoy her free time listening to music as loud as possible and dancing the night away in the comforts of her own home. It’d been years since Finia had gone out on a date. It didn’t help that Miki hovered over her all the time. Besides it was a pretty small town, so she was already “claimed” as his by the young townies who knew their situation. No guy would even approach her, knowing Miki used his fists.
He had hid his secret well, not giving off any red flags until she dumped him. Oh, how Miki was talented. She wondered if his mom knew how her son truly was. If only Finia hadn’t met him…if only he hadn’t moved into town…if only her friends hadn’t broken down in front of his house…
She grabbed her purse, got out of the car, then shut the door behind her. She wiped sweat from her forehead and pulled a half-empty bottle of water from her purse and drank from it.
Entering the front door, Finia found her dad, Miki, and her son on the couch with pizza, beer, sodas, chicken wings, and chips. They were watching a basketball game. She closed the door and kicked off her sneakers.
Jahlin smiled a big toothy grin and waved. “Hi, Mommy.”
“Hey, Jahlin.” She caught her dad and Miki sharing a look with each other. “Hey, Dad.” She ran her fingers through her wet, stringy ponytail. “Hi, Miki.”
They all greeted her, except Miki, who sat on the edge of his seat, tapping his foot. He looked her up and down. Ignoring his anxiety, Finia turned her head towards the big screen. “What are you guys doing here? Don’t you have tvs in your own home?”
Her dad laughed. “It’s my fault, sweetheart.”
She doubted that. She had asked her dad to watch Jahlin for an hour; the plan, unbeknownst to her dad, was for him to meet Miki alone. She didn’t want to be here when he picked up their son. So much for that idea. She should’ve known that Miki’d weasel himself in her house, not only that, but stay until she came back.
Her dad continued, “We got caught up watching Heat versus Lakers. We can’t watch basketball without food and drinks, so we had to order something. The game is on the second quarter, help yourself.”
Folding her arms across her chest, Finia said, “Help myself? I don’t want any of that nasty, greasy food. To help myself, I want to take a hot bath. I can’t do that with you guys here.”
Miki relaxed his posture and gave a playful smirk. “We’ll be gone after the game. I’ll even clean up first. Come on, the way you feel about football is the way I feel about basketball.” He looked her up and down again. “How was your Zumba class?” He studied her reaction.
She caught herself before asking how Miki knew her whereabouts. Since her dad thought she got along with him, she didn’t want to cause any suspicions. Miki was accepted with open arms in her family. On her dad’s side, Miki would join all the cookouts, watch sports, and play pool over the weekends with her dad, uncles, and cousins. He’d even stop by on holidays to pick up Jahlin, staying longer than necessary. On her mom’s side, they liked him too. He didn’t visit as much, but when he did, it was always more than civil, polite conversation.
Even though Finia was civil and polite to Miki’s family, there wasn’t a bond or closeness like he had with hers. It was like his relatives were tired of trying to engage with her because of her just tolerating mood. Before she broke up with Miki, she had been close to his mom. Not now. Maybe his mom took his side. As long as they didn’t treat Jahlin as an outsider, then Finia didn’t care how they treated her.
“Miki, can I talk to you for a minute?” She masked her irritation with kindness in her tone of voice.
Immediately, Miki stood up. She led the way upstairs to her bedroom. After shutting the door behind them, he leaned against the door as though he was trying to block the way in case she tried to escape. She walked backwards and plopped on the edge of her bed.
He tugged at his shirt, then disheveled his hair, not able to hide the nervous tick of his hand. “I know you were being sarcastic earlier, but maybe there was some hint of truth in there. I hope it’s okay that I’m still here. You know I like spending time with your dad. We just got caught up in the game. You used to love basketball.”
“It hasn’t been the same since Michael Jordan retired.”
Miki laughed, relaxing his shoulders.
“How did you know I was in Zumba class? I didn’t tell dad where I was going.”
“I should’ve known you didn’t want to talk about basketball when you asked to be alone with me.” Miki sighed and lowered his eyes to the floor. “I was sort of hoping you’d ask me and Jahlin to stay a while after your dad left. Maybe we could watch a Disney movie with him or something?”
Finia shook her head. “Zumba. How did you know?”
“I’ll never reveal my sources.” He smiled weakly.
“Miki,” she whispered in a harsh tone.
“I can never win with you. I try and be charming, you hate me for it. I try and be nice, you hate me for it.”
“Oh get over yourself. You never listen. Never. I’ve asked so many times that I’ve lost count. Don’t stop by unannounced. Call first. Pick up Jahlin and go. There’s no need for you to stay longer.”
Miki raised his head and glared at her. She met his eyes and didn’t back down from his intense stare. “How do you really feel?”
“I’m telling you, but you’re not listening.”
“My friend’s a personal trainer at the gym. He’s seen you in there a couple of times but on different days, different times. When you came walking in with workout clothes, I put two and two together. By your reaction, I knew I guessed right.” He pouted. “This is the first time we’ve seen each other since therapy. I wanted today to go perfect. I wanted to show you that I’m not an awful person like you think I am.” He paused. “But, you didn’t even want to see me. You weren’t here. You can’t avoid me, Finia. I’m in your life whether you like it or not.”
“Yes you are, as Jahlin’s father. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“Then why do I keep saying it?” She stood and headed for the door. He still blocked the way. “Miki, move.”
“We’re not done talking yet.”
“Yes we are. Move.”
Miki reached for her hand, but she hid it behind her back. He grabbed for the other one, so she did the same. He bit his lip and fidgeted with his hands. “I don’t understand why I have to call first. I don’t bother you. How can it be bad that I want to spend time with you and Jahlin? I’m never disrespectful. I just don’t get it.” He sighed. “Are you seeing someone else?”
Now would be a great opportunity to get back at him. She could lie and say she’s da
ting, that she has a boyfriend, or that she has to get ready for a date tonight. But, that would open a whole can of worms, and it wouldn’t help things. In fact, it’d probably make matters worse. She shuddered when she imagined how Miki could stalk her, park his car up the block late at night, and stare at her house, investigating who leaves and who comes in if he ever wanted to.
She could tell the truth and say that she would like to start dating again but it’s none of his business. No, she’d torture him like he kept playing mind games with her.
“Perhaps it’s something we should discuss with Mrs. Knight,” she answered.
He took a step closer.
She took a step back.
“I don’t want random guys near our son.”
Finia rolled her eyes. “Duly noted.”
“I mean it.”
“And, I said I heard you. I wouldn’t bring a random guy home when Jahlin was here. They wouldn’t meet until I considered it a steady relationship. You won’t have to worry about that. But, I don’t care if you let Jahlin meet your girlfriends. Just make sure they treat him right.”
“I’m not seeing anyone…Is there someone I should know about?”
“We’ll discuss it with Mrs. Knight.” She patted him on the arm in a playful way, then she smirked. “Look at it this way, we’re talking about our issues and feelings. It may not seem good, but it is. We’re making progress. She’d be so proud of us.”
Chapter Thirteen
Miki couldn’t sleep. In the dark, he stared up at the ceiling and listened to the steady rain hitting the window pane of his home. He had to stop Finia from seeing this mystery guy. Miki didn’t do all this hard work to have it go down the drain. Refusing to go backwards, he had to up the ante. He had to put Finia in a vulnerable state, so she definitely wouldn’t turn him down.
He already knew what to do. Make her damaged goods. Make her self-esteem so low that she wouldn’t have a choice but to settle for Miki.
Twisted Obsession Page 4
