by Xyla Turner
One of them had the nerve to laugh, so I stepped in his space and let my South Bronx days rise up and take charge.
“I am not laughing.” I stared the man in his eyes and refused to back down.
“W-what?” they stuttered, but looked around at each other.
“Any questions?” I followed up. “I figured.”
Whatever was in the microware, they left and they scurried out of there.
“Oh my gosh! What did you say to them?” Tammy rushed over to me.
“I didn’t like what I was hearing.” I sat back down as Sheryl came through the door. When she saw that I was there, she stopped in her tracks, and her mouth opened.
“W-what are you doing here?” she asked as her assistant decided it was time for her to make her exit.
Sheryl watched Tammy leave, then swung her head back to me.
“What’s going on?” She looked at her smart watch as if she was waiting for it to explain.
Standing, I methodically walked toward her as I explained, “I came early because I wanted to see you. There has been something off, and I wanted us to have some time to chat. It’s what we agreed upon. Therefore, your calendar was free for the rest of the afternoon, so I am here.”
Looking up at me, she nodded and said, “Why didn’t you let me know? I just spoke to you yesterday.”
“I didn’t want excuses. I wanted to solve this face to face.”
I kept my voice low, because the wrinkle in her eyebrow looked ready to pounce in defense or attack.
“What is there to solve?” she asked as she shifted her weight to one side and twisted her head to view me.
“That’s my question for you,” I asked. “I have reservations, let’s go.” I leaned down and kissed her on the lips, then moved past her to open the door for her to leave.
“Is this another one of your top-of-the-line places?” Sheryl asked while crossing the lounge threshold after pausing to momentarily stare at me.
“Something like that,” I chuckled as I followed her to her corner office.
Ship-ish was located on the top ten floors and overlooked all of center city. It was a coveted space, full of smart and savvy people. Her office door was glass with the name and title etched in what I thought might be gold within the glass. This was the type of tempered material that could change with a switch of a button to make it go dark. I knew because I had the same.
She was a scenery person, I noted for future references. Her condominium was high up and overlooked the Delaware river. These things meant something to her, so I catalogued that away for homes to present.
“Ready?” I called as she continued to stare outside of the floor-to-ceiling window.
Jerking out of the temporary trance, she shook her head, grabbed her purse, and said, “Ready.”
We boarded my vehicle and drove out of the city toward New Jersey. We were so busy talking about what types of homes to buy and what we both wanted that Sheryl didn’t recognize that we’d been driving for almost an hour and that we were coming up on a beach. By the time she realized I was stopping, she looked up and asked, “What restaurant is out here? Is that the beach? Where are we?”
I laughed and exited the vehicle.
“Let’s go, South.”
“Where did you bring me?” she asked while half keeping her body in the car and one leg touching on the ground in a semi-squat. Those assessing eyes went back and forth to take in her surroundings.
“We’re going to the beach,” I told her as I pulled a go bag from the trunk. “Trust me.”
“You always say trust me, but you don’t hear me when I say I don’t like surprises,” she hissed. “I DON’T LIKE SURPRISES.”
Moving toward her, I nabbed her wrist and pulled the rest of her body out of the car, pushing her against the open door, and kissed those red lips.
“Trust me,” I coaxed and pulled her into me. “Now come on and explain to me why you want to have your own suite within our home.” I pulled her, allowing her time to grab her purse and close the door.
“Because I want to have my own space. That’s why” was her only explanation.
“We are not getting a two-family home, Sheryl.” I led her to the home I’d booked at the luxury beach inn courtesy of Harvey Black and his wife, Zora Black. This was their beach home, and it wasn’t occupied at the time.
He’d called me out the blue, talking about there had been Jacquez sightings around his city. I should have known that going to the restaurants that I was getting reservations and special treatment for would cause some mouths to talk. Honestly, I didn’t give one bloody hell, but I know that people talk. I needed to tell Noah as soon as possible, because I didn’t want him to hear it from another source.
“Sheryl South, huh?” Harvey had probed.
“Did you want something, mate?” I didn’t answer, because I honestly didn’t want to hear any shit about her.
“Not a bad way to go. Smart, a mover and shaker, pretty. Though I think she’s out your league, mate,” he commented, but I knew he was fucking with me.
At least about the mate part.
“The woman has two jets.” He chuckled. “Do you even have one?”
“Hardy, har, har.” I mocked. “Nothing useful, eh?”
“Oh, just kidding. Just fuckin’ kidding,” he joked. “Well, since you’ve been gracing my city with your presence…thought you’d like to come by. Bring South. Or not.” He laughed. “Since you don’t support and stay at my hotel, like you normally do.”
He was leaving that open for explanation, but he’d get none.
“Damn, tight-lipped, huh?” Harvey mused, but I remained silent. “Shit, I understand. When I was going after Zora, I didn’t tell a soul, but she damn sure knew she was mine.”
If my memory served me correctly, the man had proposed in front of a championship game.
“Harvey, you still haven’t got to your point.” I put the phone on speaker and went to retrieve my lunch from my hidden refrigerator.
“All business, mate?” He was still laughing. “Well, don’t say I didn’t warn your ass. South is a fierce negotiator, I’ve heard. Also, I heard…”
“Harvey,” I warned, ready to let this wanker have it.
“Oh fuck, I knew it. You and South are together. You don’t get territorial about anyone, last I checked.” He was outright laughing. The son of a bitch was baiting me.
“How can I help?” he finally asked.
“Why?” I replied.
“I found love, man. Zora’s the best thing that’s happened to me. She’s out here playing match maker, so I guess I was bit by the bug too.” He was no longer laughing, which made me pull my defenses down.
I had heard this about him. That he had changed. Not that he wasn’t a powerhouse of a businessman, but he and Noah were very close, since they were in business together. We’d operated in the same circles for a while before this, but now I had a more intimate knowledge of him, his wife and family. He was insanely devoted to them and protective. Stand-up guy.
“We’re doing a thing,” I admitted to the man. “Not for public knowledge, per se. However, I am trying to find ways to…”
“Impress her?” Harvey interjected.
This caused me to pause. Was I attempting to impress her? On some level, usually I was. The nice restaurants and all.
“I guess,” I reluctantly answered.
“So this is the thing,” Harvey started. “With women like Zora and South. They are not impressed by us. Shit, Zora shut me down the first time I tried to get with her. I mean, kicked me out of her fucking office.”
We laughed at that, because the story was bloody brilliant. She was my type of woman. Just like Sheryl.
“So I had to do other things,” Harvey continued. “Anything I could get her, she could get herself, so I had to show up and give her a different experience. I had to show up and be there for her. One example that she always remembers was when she was sick. I came over and took care of her
. She noted that no one had done that for her. Not really in her adult years. It’s a small thing, but for her, it spoke volumes. Fancy restaurants are nice and all, but sometimes it’s simple shit. I bought a beach house in Jersey and who knew, Zora loved it. The kids love it and when life just gets crazy, that’s where we go.”
What he said made sense—a lot of sense. Nodding my head, I took a bite of salad with tuna.
“So I should get a beach house?” I asked.
“Well, big money. Yeah, but you can also use mine. It’s empty, and I hate renters. The only people I want going through a house I own is at the hotel. So just hit me up when you want to get in there. Until you get your own, of course.”
“What about next weekend?” I pushed.
“Sure, we’re out of town, so you got it for as long as you want,” Harvey confirmed.
Hence why Sheryl was standing in the sunken living room with her mouth wide open in the Blacks’ beach house, looking quite perplexed. “What is this, Jacquez?” she asked.
“A beach house.” I put her go bag down on the side table.
“Why are we here?” she clarified.
“You’re a workaholic. You’re ovulating. You need to rest. Tammy cleared your schedule and I’m here.” I walked up to her and rubbed her arms so she would relax. “I’ve got some things for you to change into. We’ll go to the beach, get some food and relax while watching the waves come in. Work is done now.”
The woman eyed me, then shook her head. With a big sigh, she turned to leave, then stopped herself.
“You’re trying to top dog me,” she commented. “Boarding and clearing my schedule. Just so you know, I don’t like that type of shit, but I’ve been trying to be calm and cool. It’s running low.”
There she was.
Moving in so that my nose was mere centimeters from hers, I whispered, “I told you before I’d fuck the snark out of you. Please do me a favor and lose that patience so I can really show you who’s the alpha. Now, do you want to get your ass ready or do you need me to get you ready?”
“Still an arrogant asshole, I see,” she mused and pursed her lips before she chastely kissed my lips before turning to walk through the home. Nabbing our go-bag, I followed her as she did her own tour.
“Is this yours?” she asked me without turning around to look at me.
“No, a friend’s,” I replied. “I am looking to buy one for us.”
This had her turning around to face me.
“Are you serious?” she asked.
“Very,” I answered.
She stared at me for a bit, then shook her head.
“I’m going to learn that you are crazier than a loon, and I’m just as crazy for going along with this foolishness.”
“Match made in heaven,” I commented and put the bag on the bed.
Without any further words, Sheryl began to unzip and pull out the clothes that I had ordered for her, all while murmuring something about the fact that I was able to get her size right. I just laughed, nabbed my trunks and T-shirt, and began to strip out of my suit. It wasn’t until I was in my briefs that I realized the woman was staring at me.
“Don’t look if you’re not trying to touch,” I remarked. “We both need to eat lunch and go to the beach, so do what you need to do. Before I have you screaming.”
This caused her to laugh, but she did take her clothes to the en suite and returned after a few minutes with her clothes on and folded suit in hand. Knowing that we were both very hungry, we went straight to the restaurant that was closest to the beach. Once we finished, I rented some lounge chairs for us, laid down some tiles, and positioned us under the umbrella. Sheryl watched me do all of this with a smirk and without saying a word. She lay down and removed her coverall before pulling out the suntan lotion.
“Where is the bathing suit I bought you?” I asked, looking down at her barely covered nipples and trying to nab her coverall.
“That was a one-piece,” she commented. “I’m not eleven.”
“No?” I asked. “Well, you’re sure not available.”
I scoffed back and this time stood over her to block anyone’s view.
“Move your ass,” Sheryl laughed.
“Fuck no,” I snapped back and squatted on her legs. “Cover up.”
I didn’t find a bloody thing funny. Pure heat began to course through my veins as I saw her lying there with barely anything on. Just a bra, which barely covered her nipples, because I could clearly see the dark circles that I loved to suck on. Meaning she had on panties, the shorts I’d bought and that coverup she’d just ripped off.
“Jacquez, if you don’t like me showing my body, you’re going to have a problem. I have no issues with showing what I have.” She slid her sunglasses on to her nose so I could have her eyes.
“When you’re with me, South,” I said, using the term that Harvey introduced me to, “I’m the only one that gets to gaze upon your beautiful body. Nobody else gets that. Do you understand?”
I moved closer to her face so she’d see that I was stone serious.
“You’re asking a lot, Jacquez,” she replied. “I don’t do relationships for a reason. I keep asking you. Over and over again. What is this? We’re moving in a pace that feels like I’m about to get shackled, and while I do want a baby, I don’t want to be shackled. And Jacquez, so you know, if I start to feel that way, please note, that is when I will pull out of this thing.”
That was a threat.
“Noted.” I nodded. “Now cover up.”
Yes, I didn’t give one fuck about her threats because she must have forgotten who she was dealing with. I owed her for old and new now. Tonight, when we conceived our child, I’d give her something to think twice about before she tried to pull that alpha move on me.
With the pace of a snail, Sheryl laid the top on her chest but didn’t put it on. I let that go and sat in my chair. To my surprise, instead of an attitude, she laughed and said, “You and Noah must be cut from the same cloth. Apparently, this happened on their honeymoon. Just so you know.”
I got her point, but I still didn’t care. She was going to be the mother of my child, and we were actively fucking.
As far as I was concerned, she was mine. In every aspect of the word.
Chapter Eleven
Sheryl South
This man was about to drive me crazy, but despite his alpha ways, he surely had me begging that night. Between spanking my ass, withholding orgasms from me and then letting me cum multiple times, it was more than enough. I had a new understanding of fucking the snark out of somebody. I had NOTHING to be snarky about, let me tell you. Not a bloody thing, as he would say.
We stayed the entire weekend, and the oddest things he whispered in my ear turned me on and, like a button being pushed to come to life, had me cumming hard.
It couldn’t be categorized as sweet nothings because they meant everything. Slowly stroking into me, he whispered at one point, “Take my seed.” Then he said, “I can’t wait for that belly to get full with our child.” The one that had a sex tear, because that’s the only thing it could have been, was when he murmured while coming, “Our son will be here soon.”
Fuck me.
The man was good.
He swore that we conceived that night, but after that first miscarriage, let’s just say I had a bit of trauma about believing anything that I really wanted was actually coming.
Maxine was back from her honeymoon that next week, and I wanted to tell her so bad. We had lunch scheduled on Monday because Jacquez left on Sunday. We’d picked our favorite restaurant and ran up to each other when we both caught eyes. It had been soo long. I missed my friend, but I’d been too much in my own sex bubble to take notice until I saw her smiling and glowing face.
The hug lasted for so long and I knew why. She was in a sex bubble herself, but there was nothing like a good friend. A best friend.
“Girl.” I pulled away. “You are glow-ing!”
“Am I?” She looked
me up and down. “Shit, you are GLOW-ING!”
Goodness.
“Stop.” I shook my head and hugged her again. “Wow, it’s good to see you. Now your honeymoon, you got to tell me all about it.”
“Girl.” She laughed and waved me away as we took our usual seats. “First of all, thank you. Second of all. Girl, I think I got a limp. Third, I’ll take this limp any day.”
We burst out laughing, because it was no secret that Noah Wolfe knew how to throw down. I don’t know if Max knew, but a few times they were in the office and it was loud. I know, because Gladys, the office manager heard it and well, you know how rumors go. It was a good rumor, but according to unidentified sources, he put it down, and she loved it. I was not mad. Never was. I got mine in. Well, I still did, just with one man—and check that out, I didn’t melt or turn to salt.
Maxine walked me through her honeymoon, the adventures and all of the pictures that they took. She looked so pretty and relaxed and had a nice tan. I was happy for her. God, I was. It also made me think of something that I never really wanted. A marriage of sorts. Yet it felt like I was entering into one with eyes wide open. The more I thought about it, I guess my face must have morphed into panic or just confusion, because Maxine asked, “Girl, what the hell is wrong?”
“Girl, I’m trying to have a baby with Jacquez!” I blurted without even thinking.
“Come again,” Maxine whispered while leaning in toward me. “Did I hear that right?”
She began to rummage through her purse and waved me to finish, as if she expected me to repeat myself. With two presses of a button, she nodded and said, “Say that again, Sheryl.”
“You heard me.” I lowered my voice. “Now come on with it.”
I turned my head because I knew Maxine didn’t judge me for my choice of no attachments. Yet, in this case, it would be my own words that she could use against me. That’s how I felt. All that shit, I was talking about being tied down and all those “she stupid” comments and I was being stupid. I knew it and wanted her to confirm.
“Wait until Noah hears about this.” Maxine was nearly coming out of her seat. “He owes me money. I told him y’all would get together in your own way. I told him, but he thought Jacquez was too much of a bachelor. Said the man liked his independence. Though he’s a family man. Takes care of his mother and all. I love it. I mean, love it. We can go on double dates and then take vacations together. It’s going to be so much fun. Oh, and I can even…”
