Not Always

by Ancelli

  José leaned in and whispered in her ear. “Next time we won’t be interrupted.”

  Janice pulled Chris to the side, next to Jazmine and Javier, and resumed dancing, but Chris continued to stare at Jewel and José.

  Jewel stopped dancing, pointing at him. “I’m so hot right now.”

  “We can take care of that later.” He smirked.

  “Not that type of hot.” Her thin brow arched. “I’m hot like a fish in grease.”

  José’s chuckle was deep and loud at her description. Yes, she was tipsy. “Don’t let Connie get to you.”

  “Oh, she hasn’t, but I’m trying to—” Jewel frowned as Connie came up to them.

  “Jewel, is it okay if I stay here tonight?” She lifted her glass. “I’ve been drinking.”

  Jewel’s eye twitched, and her nose flared. José knew the signs. She was about to blow, and not in a good way.

  “No, Connie, you can’t stay in my house.” Jewel narrowed her eyes at the other woman. “Call a cab.”

  “Excuse me?” Connie’s voice dropped an octave.

  “Are you hard of hearing? I said, you cannot stay here.”

  Jazmine rushed over. “Jewel!”

  José knew Jewel could take care of herself, but he stood right by her side just in case things got out of hand.

  Jewel pointed at Jazmine. “Don’t ‘Jewel’ me. I’m tired of your little friend thinking she’s better than everyone, because she isn’t.” Jewel’s voice rattled as it rose. “I’m good enough!”

  “What are you talking about?” Connie yelled.

  Jazmine gave them both a dirty look. “I don’t know what happened between you two, but this is not the time or place for this.”

  José tried to keep things calm. “Connie, please leave.”

  “Why should I have to leave? You pay rent here, too.” Connie watched José. “Be a man, for once.”

  Olga shook her head and strode down the hall that led to the bedrooms. He knew she must be biting her tongue. In the past, she would’ve been all over Connie. And what the hell did she mean, be a man for once?

  “What do you mean, be a man?” Jewel leaped in front of Connie. “That’s the issue. He was too much of a man for you.”

  Connie swung her hands in the air. “Really, Jewel! José only wants you because he couldn’t have me.”

  “What the fuck did you just say?” José stepped in front of Jewel.

  “You heard me. I see the way she looks at you!” Connie shouted. “Following you like a damn lost puppy, begging you for your attention.”

  “Did you just call me a bitch?” Jewel took a step closer, and slapped Connie right across her cheek, and then pushed her.

  Connie rushed forward, and Javier stepped between them, using his shoulder to angle her away. “Jazz, get her stuff. We’re taking Connie home.”

  Jewel ran for her, ready to pounce on Connie, when José hefted her up by the waist.

  “Let her go!” Connie yelled. “I will fuck her up!”

  “Come get me!” Jewel tried to pry herself out of José’s embrace. “Let me go, José!”

  “Dude, let her go.” Chris tried to clutch Jewel’s arm. “I got her.”

  José glared at Chris, moving Jewel out of his reach. “No, homie, I got her.” He hauled her away, opening the glass doors to the backyard.

  “Let go of me!” Jewel screamed, pulling on his arms. She wasn’t a match for him, but her fingernails clawed his biceps.

  “Babe, my parents are sleeping,” José stated, hoping she would quiet down.

  Jazmine stepped out. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you and Connie.”

  “Seriously, Jazmine!” Jewel’s voice trembled. “She thinks she’s God’s gift to Earth. Remind me again, why you hang with her?”

  “She has my back at work, and she’s been a good friend. But regardless of that, you’re my sister, and you will always come first.” Jazmine spoke quietly, watching her sister. “When we’re sober, we’ll talk about this.” She walked over and hugged José. “Calm her down.”

  “I hope you guys aren’t driving,” José said, concerned.

  “Janice is driving us home. Nicolas and Haven are staying with your parents.”

  Jewel paced from side to side, trying to get hold of herself, he assumed.

  “Bye.” Jazmine glanced over at Jewel before entering the house.

  José moved in front of Jewel. “Muñeca, cool down.”

  “I heard her.” She huffed. “She said l don’t compare to her.” She laughed sarcastically. “She can give you so much more. Then why didn’t she?” She took a deep breath. “I’m not good enough for you.”

  José cupped her face with his hands. “Baby, Connie is shit to me.” He touched her cheek, then kissed her nose. “You are more than enough for me. You are more than I dreamed of or deserve.”

  “José, you are so much better than you think. When will you see that?” Jewel gave him a peck on his lips. “I’m going to take a shower, and then I’m going to sleep.” She moved out of his embrace.

  As he watched her enter the house, he hoped the night’s events didn’t change her mind about being with him.

  ***

  José entered the house, and to his surprise, Chris was still there

  “How is she?” Chris asked as he came out of the guest bathroom.

  “Jewel is okay.” José started cleaning, picking up empty beer bottles from the table and counter.

  Chris looked over to the glass doors. “Where is she?”

  José glared at Chris. “She went to her room,” he said with a little attitude. “She’s fine.”

  “When I stepped up earlier, I didn’t mean to overstep, but I know how to calm Jewel down. She gets tunnel vision when she’s angry. I usually sit her down and let her vent.”

  José threw the last bottle in the trashcan, frustrated. “I know what Jewel needs.”

  “Jewel means a lot to me,” Chris stated calmly. “We would be married by now if she would’ve accepted my marriage proposal.”

  José snapped his head around. “What did you just say?”

  “We dated and I proposed.”

  “She said you guys are friends.”

  “I thought a year after the divorce was long enough, but it was too soon for her.” Chris stood. “That asshole of a husband did a number on her.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out his keys. “Those things she said Connie thought about her were the same things he would tell her: she wasn’t good enough, she wasn’t anything without him… Thank God she didn’t believe any of that shit, but it still had to hurt, hearing the man you loved and married say those things.”

  “I’ll make sure she knows he was fucking wrong.” José was angry, throwing things in a trash bag. Though he could feel the vein in his neck throbbing, he let Chris say his piece. He wanted the man gone so he could find out more about Jewel’s ex-husband from her. He’d never seen Jewel act the way she had that night. She was normally so mellow. The words Connie said must have brought back bad memories.

  Chris arched his brow. “I know she’s your friend, but I want her to know I’m here for her, too. When she’s ready to move on, I will be waiting.”

  “Jewel won’t need you,” José peered at Chris. “She has a man!”

  “She told you that?” Chris smirked. “She doesn’t have a man.”

  “Yes…”

  “Who? She never mentioned it.”

  “Me!”

  “Huh, no way,” Chris blurted out.

  “I’m her man and you don’t have to worry about her. I’ll take care of my woman from now on.” José stalked to the front door and opened it, sizing Chris up. “Get the fuck out of my house.”

  Chris sneered and strolled toward him. “No disrespect, man, but if you are her man as you say, you guys sure didn’t act like it tonight. I have one word of advice. You shouldn’t be hiding the fact that you’re with that amazing woman in there.” He pointed down the hall. “When you fuck up, I’ll b
e waiting to pick up the pieces.” Chris stepped out the door.

  “Is that a threat?” José glared at his retreating form, trying hard to remain relaxed. Being good was harder than he thought. He followed him to the door.

  “It’s a promise.” Chris turned, looked back at him. “Eventually you will fuck up.”

  José shook his head. “I have one piece of advice for you, homie.” José stood right in front of him as they eyed each other. “Keep away from my woman, or else…and that’s a fucking promise.” José stepped into the house and slammed the door in Chris’ face.

  José had to admit Chris was actually right. He and Jewel shouldn’t be hiding what they felt for each other. He dug into his pocket pulled out his cell to text Javier.

  I’m falling for Jewel, he typed, then swiped his cell phone off, and smiled. The pieces of the puzzle of my life: my son, Jewel, education, and a job, are all falling into place.

  Chapter Nineteen

  He was about to turn the knob to Jewel’s room.

  “José,” Olga called out.

  He sighed. “Yes?”

  She stood in front of him. “You know what I need.” She skimmed her fingers along his chest. “It’s been a long time since we’ve been together. My body misses you.” She got on her tiptoes, ready to kiss him. José stepped back.

  “We can’t continue to live in the past.” He watched her as her lips thinned. She was beautiful, and what she wore left nothing to the imagination.

  “We’ve been playing this cat-and-mouse game for years,” Olga said. “I will always love you.”

  “You will always hold a special place in my heart. You’re the mother of my son.” José grazed her cheek. “But we can’t continue to use each other.” He dropped his hand. “I want the best for you.”

  “I do too.” She reached for his palm.

  “Carlitos said you have a boyfriend.” He stood still, watching her.

  “I do.”

  “So why would you want to fuck that up by sleeping with me?”

  “Because it’s what we do.”

  He placed his hand on the door handle. “Things have changed, and me too.”

  “I see.” She frowned.

  “We will always have a bond that no one can break.” José exhaled. “But I have a girlfriend.”

  Olga chuckled. “That has never stopped you before.”

  “For once in my life, I intend to be faithful.”

  “I guess I always wished that one day, that woman would be me.” Olga turned away. “Good night, José.”

  He opened the door to Jewel’s room and could hear the water running from her bathroom. José treaded in closing the barrier behind him, and strolled over and slowly shoved the door to the bathroom wider, then stared at her naked form. Jewel had a Coke-bottle shape, curves in all the right places. He smiled, ogling her ass. She was thick. The women he usually dated were often thin, but there was something about the way Jewel carried herself, about her smile. The way she always seemed to make him happy, just by being around.

  Jewel was under the spray of water, her hands resting on the wall, and her head laid on them. Strands of her hair curled around the nape of her neck. He preferred it like that, her natural fro. Damn, she was sexy. His dick instantly got hard.

  Jewel’s body trembled, as her fingers wiped at her eyes. José felt something he’d never felt before; when he realized she was crying, it was like someone had stabbed him in the heart. He strode across the area, opened the shower stall, and hopped in, wrapping his arms around her.

  “Honey, what’s wrong?” he whispered as the both stood under the water. “Please don’t cry.”

  Jewel slowly twisted in his arms. Her makeup was a mess, running down her beautiful face. “That wasn’t me out there. I shouldn’t have let her get to me.”

  José wiped her eyes with his thumbs and cupped her face. “Connie deserved it.” He chuckled. “Remind me never to make you mad.” He smirked, trying to get her to smile.

  “Connie just wanted to stay because she was drinking.” She looked away. “I should’ve controlled myself.”

  “Maybe you needed to lose control for once.”

  “My sisters…your family…” Her eyes widened. “Your son.”

  “My son, parents, and sister were sleeping, and Javier and your sisters are fine.” He stared into her emotional, fear-filled eyes, as tears continued to spill. “I’m guessing your sisters have seen you mad before.”

  “Oh yes, they have. Normally it’s aimed at them.” She laughed.

  He grinned. “So don’t worry. I bet they won’t remember anything tomorrow.”

  She studied him, touching his drenched T-shirt. “Your clothes are wet.” Jewel grabbed the hem, and started pulling it up, exposing his abs. “Hmmm…yes.”

  José helped her, tugging the heavy material off over his head.

  Jewel slid her palm up his chest, and circled her fingers around his nipple. “Do you know what you do to me?” She stared at him.

  José gently wrapped his hand around the back of her neck. “You…are beautiful.” He caressed her. “You are enough.”

  “I needed to hear that,” she said against his lips. “You, too.”

  “Don’t ever question that.” He leaned down grazing his lips on hers, making her open up to his tongue. He released her neck and trailed his palms down over her stomach, slipping his finger through her nether lips.

  “Yes!” Jewel moaned, rearing back and hitting the shower wall.

  Her eyes mirrored what he was feeling: desire, passion. Her mouth was slightly open with just the tip of her tongue visible. José’s middle finger found her channel, and he began pumping in and out. She was so wet, his dick throbbed against his wet jeans. They gazed at each other.

  José was the first to speak. “I promise you…I will always cherish you.”

  “Oh God…” Jewel muttered. She ground against his hand. Then in one move she slapped his hand away and started unbuttoning his jeans.

  He chuckled, pushing his pants and boxers down his legs and kicking them off. They landed with a wet plop on the tile floor. “There’s no hurry. I’m not going anywhere.”

  José’s rod stood at attention. Jewel turned around, placing her hands on the wall and arching her back. He smiled and smacked her butt, making her ass jiggle.

  “Again,” she mumbled.

  José slapped her rear a little harder. “More?”

  “Yessss…” She bent down, spread her legs, grabbed her ankles, and exposed her pink pussy.

  José couldn’t wait any longer, he swatted her behind again, got down on his knees, and kissed and bit that same spot. “Jewel,” he said between nibbles. He placed his cheek on her ass. “You mean the world to me.”

  She didn’t say anything. He saw her finger graze her pussy.

  He got closer, and tongue-kissed her sweet spot from behind. Jewel must not have expected that move because she almost fell over, but he grabbed her waist. “I got you.”

  “Stop teasing me,” she said, placing a hand on the wall and squeezing her breast with the other. “Fuck me.”

  José gazed at her. “Yes ma’am.” In one swift move, plunged into her sweet core. Jewel placed both hands on the wall as he thrust into her. “Mami…you feel…so…damn good,” he growled, his voice echoing in the bathroom. “Coño…”

  With every drive, Jewel thrust right back to him. Her pussy fit him like a glove.

  “Yes!” She threw her head forward.

  “Damn, mami.” José gripped her waist, feeling her walls contracting around his cock. “Come for me!”

  Jewel moved uncontrollably. His balls tightened. The water streamed over their connected bodies.

  Her whole body shook and she slowly slid down on all fours. “Oh shit…” she moaned over and over as she came around his dick, “José!”

  He followed her down, giving her long, fast strokes. He thrust faster and before he knew it, he was growling her name and shooting into her core. He f
ell on his ass under the spray of water.

  Jewel couldn’t control herself; she started laughing hysterically, and sat down next to him. “You can’t handle me!” She continued giggling in his arms.

  José chuckled, too. “I’m getting old.”

  “Excuses, excuses.” Jewel said, her eyes getting heavy.

  José kissed her lips. Damn, she was becoming his addiction. “Hey, you can’t fall asleep in the shower.”

  “I’m tipsy, and sleepy.” She giggled. “Oh damn, my hair.” She sat up, touching the tight curls.

  José stood, extending his hands, and helped her up. “Let’s get washed up, and then I’ll do your hair.”

  “You’ll do my hair?”

  “I know how.”

  “Uh huh.” Jewel arched her brow.

  “I saw the way Jazmine oiled Haven’s hair. I can do it.” He took her washcloth and began lathering her body, and noticed the cream slipping down from between her thighs. Fuck! How could he have been so fucking stupid? They’d forgotten to use a condom. That was why her pussy had felt so overwhelmingly good; there was no barrier between them.

  “What’s wrong?” Jewel asked.

  He pointed at her legs, making her look down.

  “What?”

  She wasn’t aware, but he would never lie to Jewel. “Muñeca, I didn’t mean for it to happen.” He sighed. “We didn’t use protection.”

  Her eyes widened. “Oh God!” She grabbed the cloth from his hands and started wiping herself.

  “It’s too late for that.” José watched her. “I’m sorry.”

  She threw the cloth on the floor, and stepped out of the shower. “It’s not your fault.” She shoved her arms into her robe.

  José turned off the water, and picked up his clothes from the floor. “Jewel, I wasn’t thinking.” He stepped out, placing the items in his hands in the bathtub and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around his waist.

  “José, stop blaming yourself. I seduced you…again, so if it’s anybody’s fault it’s mine.” She looked at her reflection in the mirror.

  He walked up behind her, and watched her image. “I’m clean, if that’s any consolation.”