“I’m not expecting any company. Jahlin’s with my dad at a softball game. I wanted my free evening to relax.” She cleared her throat. “Then you came along, so here we are. Come in.”
She stepped back. He entered the house and shut the door behind him. She strolled into the kitchen to finish her meal. Miki followed and sat down in the chair on her left side.
He fidgeted with his hands like a junkie. “That shit isn’t healthy. Frozen food is disgusting. You wouldn’t have to eat that shit if you’d let me cook for you.”
She grinned. “I like this nasty shit. I can’t live without it.”
He shook his head and pouted.
“Are you all right, Miki?”
“Yeah.” He took a deep breath, still avoiding eye contact. “Why?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. You don’t seem like yourself today.”
“I have a lot on my mind.”
“Have you talked to Mrs. Knight about it?”
He smiled weakly. “Do you care?”
Finia placed her hand over his. “Of course, I care about you. You’re Jahlin’s father.”
For a brief moment, he looked up to see the embrace. “So, you just see me as Jahlin’s father?”
His repeated questions were beginning to sound like a broken record. She decided to try a different approach. “You’re my friend too.”
Miki slowly glanced up to meet her gaze. His vulnerable eyes turned hopeful. He remained silent as he intertwined their fingers. “That means a lot. You have no idea. So…I’ve been thinking of your car situation.”
“No.”
“What do you mean no? You haven’t even heard what I have to say!”
“I’m doing this on my own. I don’t need your help.”
“Like hell you don’t. You can’t keep driving that raggedy car with our son in it.”
“You don’t think I know that. I’m getting a loan.”
He scoffed. “You don’t have to if you’d just listen. Rob is selling a Jeep from his lot. I’ll get it for you. Problem solved.”
Finia removed her hand from his grip and slouched back into her seat. She scooted the frozen food tray away from her. “Absolutely not.”
“Why not? Got another guy taking care of you?”
“I’m really getting tired of you asking me about other guys. It’s none of your business.”
Miki stuck his finger in her face. “You are my business, and you better never forget it.”
She stood and walked to the counter.
He followed, standing in front of her.
“Move, Miki.”
“Who’s the fucking guy?”
“Move, Miki.” She pushed his chest, but he wouldn’t budge. He grabbed her arms. She barked, “Get off!”
She fidgeted, trying to get out of his grasp, so he squeezed her arms tighter. He leaned his body into hers and whispered in her ear, “Calm down, I’m not going to hurt you, Finia. I could never hurt you.” He kissed her cheek.
“Let me go!”
With a hint of arrogance in his eyes, he smirked. “What if I don’t?”
When he eased his grip, she moved quickly towards the door. “You should go.”
He followed her. “We’re not done talking yet.”
“Yes, we are.”
Miki shook his head. “Like hell we are.” He walked backwards and plopped on the couch. He rested his arms on the back of the couch in a comfortable position, placing his legs on the coffee table. “Make me leave.”
“I hate you!”
He leapt off the couch, grabbed Finia by the waist, and made them fall backwards onto the couch. She landed on his lap, her legs spread, sitting on his crotch. He placed a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re so beautiful when you’re upset, when you’re sad, when you’re happy. You’re beautiful, period.”
She pushed his chest when he squeezed her butt cheeks. “Stop it, Miki.”
“You love me, admit it.”
“No, I don’t.”
“You did until I fucked up. Can you at least admit that?”
Silence.
“Let me make things up to you, Finia.”
Her body shivered when his finger ran along her stomach.
“You want me as much as I want you.”
His erection poked her, causing her to gasp in pleasure. She closed her eyes and covered her mouth with her hand.
“I know you want me by the way your body is responding to my touch. Let me make love to you. Let me make things right.”
“We can’t.”
“Are you seeing someone?”
“We can’t, Miki. Let me go.”
She lifted her body up, but he pulled her back down. He squeezed her butt cheeks again, grinding her body up against his. Involuntarily, she licked her lips, placing her hands on his shoulders, trying to put distance between them. “Miki.” She panted.
“Your body is wet for me.” He kissed her neck, rubbing his hands up and down her back. He squeezed her waist and kissed down to her breasts. The thin fabric of her white t-shirt exposed her erect nipples. He bit the left one gently through her bra.
She moaned. “Miki, no.”
He bit the right nipple. She grabbed his hair, pulling his head up, so they could make eye contact. He smiled, then locked his lips with hers. This time she didn’t fight back. She grinded up against him. He broke their kiss to rub her breasts in a circular motion. She bit her lip, massaging the back of his neck. He slowly lifted up her shirt, followed by her bra. Her breasts smashed together. He rolled his tongue around each nipple, then sucked on each breast.
Finia moaned as she lifted Miki’s shirt off his back. She tossed it onto the floor. He smiled as they kissed again.
“Do you have a condom?” she asked.
“In my wallet.” He removed his wallet from his back pocket and handed it to Finia. She found a wrapped Trojan near dollar bills. She placed the wallet on the cushion, then examined the wrapper. “There are no holes,” he said as though he could read her mind.
Her shoulders slumped, she hugged him and closed her eyes. A tear strolled down her cheek. She frowned and said, “We shouldn’t be doing this.”
He breathed heavily. “Why? Because you don’t trust me.”
She began crying.
“Look at me, Finia.”
She didn’t move.
“Look at me please,” he pleaded. She met his intense stare as he wiped her tears. “I can’t take back what I did, but I promise you I’ll never do it again. I was scared that I was going to lose you, which doesn’t make things right. I’m so sorry, Finia. I’m so sorry for what I’ve done.”
If only he never betrayed her…
If only he wasn’t controlling…
If only he wasn’t jealous…
But he loved her, and deep down she knew she couldn’t fight her feelings for him no matter how hard she tried. But, she had to let him go. She’d rather be alone instead of smothered. She’d rather try a new relationship instead of repeat the same cycle with Miki.
“I’m dating someone,” Finia said.
He sighed, closing his eyes. “Then let this be our goodbye.”
“Miki.” It hurt to continue talking.
He caressed her face and planted a kiss on her lips. “Let me say goodbye to you. Let me make love to you.” His hands roamed down to her shorts. He unbuttoned and slid them down.
“Miki.”
“Shush, don’t fight it.” He stood up, her legs wrapped around his waist. He placed Finia on the couch as he kneeled down between her legs. He pulled off her shorts—they’d fallen to her knees. He glided her panties off next. He unbuttoned his shorts, sliding them down with his boxers, the fabric landing at his ankles. They both moaned, making love on the couch. He whispered in her ear, “I missed you. I missed you, Finia.” He went deeper as he grabbed her butt cheeks to raise her body closer to his.
If only she wasn’t weak to his touch…
Chapter Ninete
en
A lazy, satisfied smile formed on Miki’s lips. He was watching Finia sleep. They were both naked, cuddled on the couch. Her light snoring eased his mind. He kept replaying their lovemaking in his head. The way they moved in sync. The way she kissed him with all abandonment. The way she trusted him not to hurt her. She had even told the truth about that bastard. Miki was proud that he won her over.
Reality was way better than fantasy. The “massage therapists” had nothing on Finia.
Never in a million years would he think Finia would give herself to him, but she had. Nothing could hold him back now. They made love, and he hadn’t even needed to resort in tricking her. Well, he had lied about being sorry, but that wasn’t tricking her. That was just getting his way like he always did. Nothing wrong with that. If he would’ve lasted longer, he would’ve found a way to slit his nail along the rubber to tear a hole in the condom, or after changing positions, slide the condom off without her noticing.
Who knew? Protection from condoms and birth control weren’t one-hundred percent effective. Maybe some of his sperm managed to enter her, and maybe she’d ovulate and get pregnant. Couples accidentally got pregnant all of the time. Maybe they would get lucky with number two.
Finia’s cell phone rang. Yawning and stretching, she rose, but Miki pushed her back down. “No, I’ll get it.” He walked to the kitchen table and pulled her phone out of her purse, then handed it to her.
“Thanks…Hey, Jahlin. It sounds like you’re having fun.” She laughed. “Have you eaten dinner yet? Then no, you can’t have ice cream first. Are you still on the field?...I’ll pick you up, and we can go to your favorite place, then we’ll go to Sweet Frog...Tell your granddad that I’m coming to get you. See you soon.” She hung up. “Jahlin wanted dessert before dinner.”
“Yep, sounds like our son.” He leaned down and gave her a kiss.
She caressed his cheek then sat up. She gathered her clothes off the floor and began putting them on. “I need to go get him.”
Miki walked around the couch and sat beside her. He gathered his clothes too. “I’ll go with you.”
She avoided eye contact as she put on her shirt. “You don’t have to.”
“Do you want me to?”
“You can if you want.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
Within seconds, she was fully dressed and crossed the room to put on her flip-flops near the stairs. “Miki, don’t start.”
Pouting, he disheveled his hair. “Start what? Have a conversation with the woman I love.” He watched her go to the table and grab her purse. She dug her keys out of the main pocket. “Finia?”
Silence.
After he finished getting dressed, he walked over to her. He put his hands on her waist and kissed the back of her neck. “When should we set the date?”
Her body tensed. “Date for what?”
“Our marriage, of course.”
She spun around slowly, her hand covering her mouth. “I’m so sorry. You’ve got it all wrong. I should’ve told you earlier but…I may get a promotion, transferring me out of town. I’m so sorry, Miki. I can’t marry you.”
Chapter Twenty
Shoulders slumped, Miki leaned into the Paddy’s counter. His buddy Rob slouched beside him. They had just taken six shots of rum. The laser blue lights gave Miki a headache. He slurred his words as he said, “Finia’s a fucking bitch.”
Rob glanced around the crowded room. “Then sleep with one of these thots. It’ll make you forget her.”
“She’s played with my heart too many times. She’s made me look like a fool too many times.”
“It’s time to move on, buddy.”
Miki ignored the advice, glaring at the bartender’s breasts. Her tight crop was cut into a very low v-neck, leaving nothing to the imagination. He licked his lips. If only she was a slut like the rest of them. He’d take her to the bathroom and let out his aggression.
“Did you hear me?” Rob asked.
“I’m going over there to give her a piece of my mind.” Miki staggered off the stool, almost tipping it over.
Rob stood, holding Miki up by the shoulders. “Be cool, man. You need to sleep it off.”
“I need to talk to that bitch.”
“Not like this.”
“Who does she think she is? She can’t leave me. I’ll kill her first.”
Wide-eyed, Rob shook Miki. “Shut up! Don’t talk like that. People are looking.” He glanced over at the bartender and smiled weakly. “My buddy’s just venting. We’re leaving now.”
In the parking lot, Rob pushed Miki down to the ground. “What’s wrong with you? You almost got us kicked out of our favorite bar. Don’t be stupid.”
“I’m going to kill her. Are you helping or not?”
“When?”
“Now!”
“Listen to yourself. Your little boy’s home. You want to traumatize him? His father killing his mother. Dude, sleep it off, then talk to Mrs. Knight in the morning.”
“Forget you!”
Raising his voice, Rob said, “Call Mrs. Knight in the morning, or I will.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Finia woke up to her cell phone ringing. A blocked number. “Hello?”
A husky voice said, “Watch your back.”
Then he hung up.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Finia jumped out of her seat when someone banged on her office door. “Come in.”
Miki stormed in. He had pushed the door so hard that it shook the wall. He made his way to stand over her. Feeling trapped, Finia scooted her chair away. She was afraid that he’d make a scene at her work place. Besides keeping his creepiness from her family, she had also managed to keep it somewhat from her co-workers. Only Patrick knew the truth.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I want you to tell me about your promotion.”
She hesitated. It was best to do as Miki said. The sooner he calmed down, the sooner he would leave. “Nothing’s set in stone, but Loretta’s Chocolates is opening branches in different cities, and they may want me to oversee all the accounting and finances in the New York City office. I would have to be up there for two months.”
Miki glared at her. “Two months! I’m not staying away from our son for two months! Over my dead body!”
“Calm down. No one’s asking you to stay away from Jahlin. Can I finish?”
“You’re leaving for New York, for work?” he asked suspiciously.
“If I get the promotion, then yes.”
His eyebrow rose. “Just you?”
“They want two accountants, so a coworker would go with me.”
“Are you for real? Are you lying to me?”
Finia’s eyes watched the door. She wondered if anyone could hear the conversation in the hallway. “Of course not.”
“Well, what am I supposed to think? Out of the blue, you say your job may promote you to New York City for two months. I know how much you’ve always wanted to go. How do I know you don’t want to just get away from me, to get away from your life in West Virginia?”
Slouching back into her chair, Finia folded her arms across her yellow blouse. “I have no reason to lie to you, Miki. You’re the one who’s a natural born liar.”
“I’ve never lied to you.”
“Yeah right, you lie all the time, and they aren’t even convincing lies. You do it until you have something to lose, then you finally tell me the real deal.”
“Oh what the fuck ever. I’ve never lied to you. I show you nothing but respect.” Miki stuck his finger in her face. “You didn’t forgive me after all, did you?”
When Finia stood up from her chair, Miki pushed her back down. He leaned his body near hers and whispered in her ear, “I’m not going to hurt you. I could never hurt you.” He kissed her cheek. “I love you.”
When he tried to kiss her lips, she moved her face to the side. “No, Miki, stop.”
“I’m not letting you
take Jahlin away from me. I’ll go to court if I have to.”
She challenged him, never leaving his intense gaze. “It’d never come to that. If you would’ve let me finish, you would’ve known that I don’t plan on taking Jahlin with me. I don’t want him in the big city, too many risks. I would hope that you could take care of him, and I could pay child support. As long as I didn’t have to work the weekends, then I could drive back down here or take a plane. If you couldn’t have Jahlin full time, then my mom or dad could. Then, you’d have to make arrangements with them for your visitation if I get promoted.”
If Miki didn’t leave soon, he could ruin her chances. Maybe that was his plan all along…
She heard someone come into her office. She was relieved, yet embarrassed, to see that it was Patrick. He stared Miki up and down. “Finia, are you okay?”
She couldn’t keep allowing Miki to disrupt her life. If she never spoke up, then she could never get help. She couldn’t keep living like this. It wasn’t healthy. “I want him to leave.”
Miki squeezed Finia’s arms as he rested his forehead on hers. “You don’t mean that.”
Patrick crossed the room and tapped Miki on the back. “Come on, you need to go.”
Hatred in his eyes, Miki continued to stare at Finia. “This isn’t over. I deserve an explanation.”
She swallowed a knot in her throat. Would her nightmare ever end?
Chapter Twenty-Three
With his hands balled into a fist, Miki followed Bastard out of the building. He focused on the back of Bastard’s head, wishing he had super powers to blow a hole into it. He kept calm because he couldn’t afford anyone to call security. He had a reputation to uphold.
In the parking lot, Bastard spun around to face Miki. “You need to leave Finia alone. She wants to move on.”
“Fuck. You.”
“You have no rebuttal because you know it’s true. Go ahead, keep resorting to high school behavior. That’s how you lost her in the first place. She needs a man in her life, not a boy.”
Twisted Obsession Page 6
