by Mary Smith
“What would TMZ say if they had that piece of information?” she continued to tease him.
“Well, we won’t ever know since no one will find out I have a soft spot for my sister or you,” he growled at her.
“Depends on what they’ll pay.” Her laugh made his heart jump with happiness. “Listen, I need to go, but I’ll talk to you later. Love ya.”
The call ended before he could reciprocate the endearment. However, the smile remained as he pulled up to the arena. The Bears were one of the few PHL teams that didn’t remove their ice in the off season. They hosted numerous summer leagues and like today the team came in for a friendly scrimmage. Not the whole team, just a handful of the guys.
He grabbed his duffle from the trunk and strolled in, noticing several guys were already inside. Making his way down the hall, he saw Shade. He stood at the end of the tunnel staring out at the ice with the saddest expression.
“Shade, you okay?” Jarvis asked when he stepped up next to him.
Before an answer came, a child’s squeal came from the ice. Jarvis caught a quick glimpse of Teo, the Bears backup goalie, chasing his daughter Klara, around the base of the tunnel. Everyone knew Shade and Jenessa’s son was born the same day as Teo and Nova’s daughter.
“Yeah, I’m good.” Shade turned away from the view of the giddy toddler and went to the locker room.
Jarvis could feel Shade’s pain as he walked away from him. Shade had never, ever been cross to the child. In fact, Klara seemed to seek Shade out at times, but he couldn’t imagine the heartache of losing a child.
Once in the locker room, the guys began to change, and he didn’t mention anything to Shade. He figured it was best to leave it be. Several of the guys were joking around and carrying on but stopped when Jackson walked in.
“Hey, Jackson.” Dag was the first to greet him.
“Do you guys have room for one more?” His question came with deep apprehension as he glanced at Jarvis.
“Sure,” Shade said. “Lace ‘em up.”
Jackson gave everyone a grin and moved over to his stall.
Jarvis remained quiet because he couldn’t stand Jackson’s cheating ass. He thought he should have been blackballed from the league. However, it wasn’t up to him.
The guys made their way onto the ice. Skating around in a circle, warming up their legs, some stretched on ice. Jarvis listened to some of the small talk around him. Even though this was nothing more than a pick-up game, he still wanted to push himself.
“How are you doing, Jarvis?”
Rolling his eyes, a trait he’d recently picked up from Mikayla and Joy, he had no desire to answer Jackson’s question. But he did.
“Fine.”
“Seen any good movies lately?”
He furrowed his brow and stared at him. Not because of Jackson’s nervous tone but due to the strange question.
“I’m trying to be more…friendly,” he confessed without being told. “I’m going to a therapist named Frankie, and she suggested it.”
Now, he stared at him in disbelief. “Did you say Frankie?”
Jackson smirked, thinking Jarvis made a joke. “Strange, right? But she’s actually one of the best in the business.”
Jarvis balled his fists. The problem—his gloves stopped him from forming a full fist. Joy told him someone recommended Frankie to her. Now, he knew it was Jackson. But they didn’t know each other before that night in New York City. Right? As much as Jarvis wanted to break his nose, he skated over to where Shade and Edgar stood.
Hamilton yelled out for everyone to team up. They ended with five on each team and Hamilton ended up being the ref for the game. Jarvis lined up as Edgar took the faceoff with Zerrick. He watched the puck drop and the game began.
For the next couple hours, the guys played. It wasn’t a regulation game, and no one slammed each other into the boards. Jarvis’s legs were tired and sweat burned his eyes.
Making their way back down the tunnel to the locker room, everyone felt the same as Jarvis and they all quickly showered. After washing away the smell of the workout and dressing back into his cargo shorts and polo, he reached for his phone.
Mikayla: I think this final project might cause my death.
Mikayla: Yep, going to die via final project.
Mikayla: Jean sent me four more sketches and I need to figure out a professional way to say ‘they’re garbage’.
Mikayla: Seriously, he’s using actual garbage.
Joy: Don’t forget our flight leaves at 8pm tonight. The night flights are less crowded and (sometimes) cheaper.
Joy: Did you look at those final contracts?
Joy: Look over them.
Lakota: You’ve not come over lately. Tell me what’s going on.
Jarvis had been smiling at the other texts until he reached Lakota’s. He needed to let her know the going ons between Mikayla and him.
Jarvis: L, everything is outstanding. Mikayla came to NYC and we’ve been together since then. My apologies for not contacting you back.
He knew she was much too busy to contact him back right away. Slipping his cell phone into his shorts pocket, he loaded his remaining items into his duffle and tossed it over his shoulder.
“Lunch?” Shade’s short question came as he pulled his shirt over his head.
Jarvis almost declined so he could go wait for Mikayla, but his stomach growled on cue and decided to go. Shade told him they were all heading to the new Thai restaurant.
It didn’t take long for the team to descend onto the restaurant. Luckily, they had a large table for all of them with even a few extra empty chairs. Shade sat at the head of the table, Jarvis to his left. Edgar then Dag on the right. An empty seat next to Jarvis was quickly filled by Jackson. This made him groan. Shade and Edgar gave his legs a swift kick. Jarvis could not care less about how much progress Jackson made—he didn’t trust him.
Two waitresses came to tag team the orders from the guys. As they finished ordering, a small girl’s voice called out Shade’s name. The entire table saw Teo and Nova’s daughter. Klara ran past the other guys to hug him as she called his name.
“My Shade.”
“Hey, Klara,” Shade greeted the child.
Jarvis and the guys all heard the sadness in Shade’s tone. He tried to hide it, but they always heard it.
“Klara, let’s leave Shade alone so he can eat.” Nova tried to coax the child away.
Immediately, she climbed into his lap. “No, I stay with my Shade.”
The uncomfortable look from Nova could be seen by everyone. They all knew she didn’t want to cause Shade any more pain then he was already in.
“She’s fine,” Shade spoke with a crack in his voice.
Teo came up beside Nova. “Klara, come on. Why don’t you come sit with me?”
Klara’s big crystal blue eyes glanced at Shade with a deep sadness since she didn’t want to leave his lap. She almost cried when she slid off and took her dad’s outreached hand. “Bye, my Shade.”
“I’m sorry,” Nova whispered before rushing away to the other end of the table.
“You good, bro?” Edgar kept his question quiet.
Shade shrugged. “I can’t lie. Seeing her still hurts, but it’s not her fault.”
Edgar, who had two kids of his own, patted his back.
“Hey, what’s this charity thing Greer invited us to?” Dag changed the subject.
“Which one?” Edgar groaned.
“I think it’s the foster kids event.” Dag sounded unsure.
“It’s a group home,” Shade corrected him. “It’s privately funded.
“Oh.” Dag nodded. “Well, Elexis and I will be there.”
“You and Jenessa coming?” Edgar asked.
“I know I’ll be there,” he answered.
“Everything still the same I take it,” Jarvis inquired.
“Yep,” he said looking away.
Thankfully, the food began to arrive, and everyone focused on it. Sever
al times, Klara would let out a squeal or laughter. Jarvis saw the pained expression on Shade’s face. As everyone finished and checks were passed around, Shade was the first one out the door. Jarvis couldn’t even catch up to him. He only saw the taillights of his vehicle exiting the parking lot.
Chapter Nine
Sitting on the plush carpet of the fancy mansion on the hill, Jean’s sketches were spread out in front of her.
“I redid these four,” his thick French accent said, pointing to the ones on the left.
“The use of recycled materials are the rage but not actual garbage,” Mikayla reiterated the words from her email she sent last week.
“I’m trying to be bold,” he explained while sipping from his wine glass.
“Bold equals amazing. Garbage equals disgusting.” Mikayla rose to her feet and strolled over to the long table against the wall. Her designs sat there with Jean’s. He came next to her and they began to discuss gemstones, accents, colors, and metals. Mikayla took notes in a small notebook ensuring she remembered everything.
When finished, Jean gave her a hug before she left to drive back to Manchester. With just a couple weeks left of school, she needed to finish her final project, study for finals, and work on the latest designs. Feeling stressed she drove straight to her home in hopes to get a few moments of silence.
Crossing into Manchester city limits her phone rang through the speakers. Glancing at the screen, she saw Shade’s name.
“Hey, bro, what up?” she answered the call.
“You in town?”
His solemn tone worried her. “Yes, what’s wrong?”
“Want to have dinner?”
All she wanted was to go home and rest, but she’d never say no to Shade. “Time and place?”
“Now. Diner,” he simply stated.
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.” She ended the call and drove toward the diner.
Finding a parking spot down the block, she briskly walked into the warm now setting sun. A million thoughts ran through her head because she was worried about Shade and even Jenessa. It had been almost a month since they last spoke. The longest time in either of their lives.
Walking in, she searched for Shade immediately finding him at a booth by the large window. Her eyes studied him for a few seconds noticing the sadness on his face.
Sliding in across from him, she greeted him with a small smile.
He returned it, but silence stood between them.
When the waitress came over they ordered coffees. Mikayla sat and waited patiently to speak first. She learned long ago that Shade kept a lot of himself private. He didn’t have anyone growing up. At least she and Jenessa had each other to protect each other from their parents.
The waitress set the coffee in front of them, and Shade stared out the window as Mikayla stirred in sugar and cream.
“I think I’m going to leave Jenessa.”
She froze mid-stir. Gawking at Shade’s profile she saw the tears filling his eyes. She shouldn’t be shocked, but she was.
“Do you know when?” A lump formed in her throat.
Finally, he looked over at her. “It’s just a thought.”
“I’m surprised you’ve not already left, to be honest,” she spoke frankly with him.
“I haven’t moved out,” he corrected her.
“Yet,” she added.
Shade didn’t say anything.
“I know you love her more than the air you breathe, but enough is enough. You deserve respect too.” Her voice was low, and she tried not to come across as the bitch many believed her to be.
“I’ve tried everything I can think of to get her to come around. I knew she needed time to grieve. Hell…me too. I know the pain will really never leave us, but…” He trailed off.
“But you wanted to support each other,” she finished for him.
He nodded.
“Have you thought about therapy?” Mikayla suggested.
“Yes, but neither of us really open up to strangers. Not to mention the only therapist I can think of is Cabel’s wife Caryn.” He shook his head. “I don’t want to air our private business to someone so close to the Bears.”
She understood what he meant. This was too personal. Mikayla hated to see her brother-in-law, a man she deeply respected, in pain. Then it hit her.
“I know someone.”
Shade furrowed his brow.
“I know a crisis therapist. She handles all sorts of issues according to my friend. Her name is Frankie, and my friend believes she’s the real deal. Maybe she could help?” Joy had told Mikayla all about Frankie and her session the past couple weeks.
“It’s worth a shot.” He sighed. “Because I’m completely out of ideas.”
Tears burned her eyes thinking of their relationship ending. “Shade, no matter what happens, you will always be my big brother.” Now, she turned her eyes away from him.
“You will always be my sister,” he replied with a squeak in his voice.
Netflix played Friends on Mikayla’s TV as she stared at her sketch pad. Jean texted her shortly after she left Shade and the diner asking for four new designs. However, nothing came to her. She just pushed her glider back and forth. The blank sketch pad sheet mocked her. The thought of Shade and Jenessa divorcing broke her heart. They were the first couple she’d ever been around that truly showed her love.
They were soulmates.
They were meant to be together forever.
Knock. Knock.
“Come in.” She tossed the pad on the floor certain Elexis would stroll in and try to be a diversion for her foul mood.
Instead, Jarvis appeared.
“Wh…what are you doing here?” She stood and moved toward him.
He caught her face in his hands and kissed her. Kicking the door shut, he guided her to the bed.
“Elexis went to Dag’s and I know you need a release,” he told her as he removed his T-shirt and unbuckled his shorts, letting them fall to the floor. He was going commando.
Eyeing him, he stretched out on her bed and laid flat on his stomach. He gripped her wrought iron head post.
Mikayla’s breathing sped up seeing him sprawled out for her. Just for her. She stared unblinking at his bare back, ass, and legs. Her mind pictured him covered in red welts brought on by her cane and her strength. Although nothing was in her hands, she felt powerful just by having him in this position.
However, she didn’t want to strike him. She couldn’t even explain why either. Touching his bicep, Jarvis glanced at her and rolled over onto his side. She eased herself onto the bed, curling her body to his, and closing her eyes. Without saying anything he held her close. Breathing in and out, inhaling his fresh scent, tears began to fall from her eyes. They fell for Shade. They fell for Jenessa. They fell for the stress of school. They…just…fell…and fell.
Jarvis remained quiet still keeping her close. She listened to the thumps of his beating heart. The hypnotic rhythm calmed the tears and emotions that were once in overdrive.
Slightly pulling back, she pressed her lips against his. He returned the kiss. “Thank you,” she said when they parted.
“Always. I know you’re dealing with a lot.” He brushed a strand of her black hair away from her cheek.
Gently she scratched his jaw, feeling the tiniest bit of stubble. “You just got off the plane.”
“Yes. I dropped Joy off at home and came over here right away,” he confirmed.
A look came across his face. She didn’t know what until his eyes connected with hers. She’d never noticed this before–until now. His submissive side came through clearly to her.
Slowly, she removed herself from his loving arms and stood next to the bed. The power rushed through her. It happened every time she was in this position. She felt like her true self.
“Lay flat on your stomach.” In a commanding tone, he did it without complaint. Mikayla strolled to her closet. Opening the door, she pushed her clothes to the side and displayed her ca
nes and belts on the back wall. When she made the decision to go to New York to see Jarvis and be with him, she cleaned out her locker at Passions. She picked her favorite cane and ran her fingers along the smooth varnish. It was the first one she ever purchased.
Turning back to him, she stopped and studied his naked body laying still on her bed. She loved his body. His strong muscles flexed while awaiting the strikes she desperately wanted to give him.
Slowing her breathing, she focused on the cane and thought of Lakota and the power that woman had with just a simple snap of her fingers. Mikayla felt she had a dominant trait but never to the extent of someone like Lakota. Like Jarvis said, he had submissive traits.
Mikayla let the cane crack against the middle of his back. His body tightened and then relaxed. The corners of her mouth twitched, and she placed the next strike on his tailbone. Jarvis moaned. A moan she’d never heard escape his lips before. Her mouth dried as she became wetter between her thighs.
She struck his shoulder with three quick hits. He flexed all his upper muscles, including his biceps. The man had a lickable body, but right now no one could hold a candle to him. Every part of her wanted to continue but there was something she wanted more.
“Turn over.”
He moved with ease. Obviously, she hadn’t hurt him. His skin barely showed any outlines of the cane. Once he was on his back, her eyes landed on his dick that stood at full attention for her.
Without a word, she straddled his hips and impaled herself onto him. They both let out deep gasps at the connection.
Jarvis grabbed her hips and together they found a rhythm as the bed rocked with them. Mikayla missed the deep feeling of having him inside her. In the past, she’d once described them as fitting together like a hand in glove.
But it was much more.
So much more.
“I’m not going to last,” he grunted.
“Me either,” she confirmed digging her nails into his pecs.
Their pants filled the room as they exploded together into a world of ecstasy. Once the rocking slowed, Mikayla collapsed onto him. His racing heart rang in her ears.
After they cleaned themselves up and redressed, Mikayla led him to the kitchen for a drink and food. She hadn’t eaten at the diner with Shade. She barely drank her coffee. Jarvis moved around the kitchen as if he’d been there a million times. As if he belonged.
