by Ancelli
Did he just say love? Jewel’s heart sped up. Maybe it was just a slip. They passed the patrons waiting to get into the club, and went straight to the front of the line, approaching a buff Hispanic bouncer, dressed in black with a badge hanging from his neck.
His lips were thinned, making him look pissed. He was standing with his bulging biceps crossed over his chest. As soon as he saw José, the guy’s frown turned upside-down.
“Hermano.” He gave José a bear hug. “Como estas?”
“Bien, y tu?” José backed away.
“Good. Haven’t seen you around lately. I thought you went back home.”
“Naw, been busy working.”
“You got a job?”
“Yeah.” He gripped her waist. “This is my girl, Jewel. Babe, this is Manny.”
He shook her hand, eyeing her. “Damn, you have really good taste in women. You Dominican?”
“No, I’m just black.”
“I love black women.” His smile widened.
Jewel could feel her face flush. José drew her hand away from Manny’s. “Watch out pendejo, she’s already taken.”
“Relax.” Manny put up his hands in a sign of surrender. “Just giving your lady a compliment.”
“Keep your compliments to yourself. I give her enough,” José joked, passing by Manny as the bouncer lifted the velvet rope to let them in.
“Have fun!” he yelled at their retreating backs. “No charge!” He must have shouted at the brunette woman at the register, making the people in the line upset.
“What the fuck?” groused a woman. “They just skipped us.”
Jewel glanced back, and Manny was back to being mean.
Another bouncer opened a set of double doors. “Buenas noches.”
José nodded, and led her into the club.
There were two bars on opposite sides of the room, each with illuminated counters. Blue lights and round, dim lights hung from the ceiling. The club was packed. She wondered if they were going to let anyone else in. There was a live band playing on the stage, right in front of the dance floor. The lead singer had a beautiful, deep voice, dancing to the music, shaking the maracas in his hands. Other musicians played the congas, piano, trumpets, and tambourines. She could barely hear herself think over the blast of the music.
José clutched her hand tighter as he maneuvered them through the crowd. They passed by a luxurious VIP section to the right. The seats looked like they were made of silk, with blue and gold pillows. Looking from the outside, the club looked like a dump until you came in. That reminded her not to judge a book by its cover.
He reached another entrance to the VIP section and moved her in front of him with his hand on her waist. José nodded and a bald-headed black guy let them into the private area. There was a table in the middle of the lounge with a bottle of Hpnotiq on it.
He picked up a glass, handled it to her, and served her some of the blue liquor.
José bowed his head, kissing her. He leaned in toward her ear, making sure she could hear him over the music. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” Jewel smiled, taking a sip of her drink.
“Do you want to leave? I know this isn’t your type of place.”
She placed the glass down and wrapped her arms around his waist. “José, my type of place is wherever you are.”
***
Jewel was everything he wanted in a woman. She could handle her own no matter where she was or whom she was with. Jewel didn’t care about material shit, or where he’d come from.
“Ready to dance?” José stepped back, taking both her hands.
Jewel began swaying her hips from side to side, moving her feet. She became one with the music, reminding him of his mother when he was younger. Maria was always dancing and laughing.
“La morena tiene sabor!” someone yelled from the crowd.
“And she’s mine.” José pulled her forward, and they started dancing together. He turned her around, her back to his front. She followed his lead. “Where did you learn to dance?”
She twisted her head, moving away from him. José spun her around in a circle and back again. “Watching Dancing with the Stars.”
José arched his brow. Sweat beaded his forehead.
“Kidding.” Jewel wiped his face. “I love all types of music. It’s in my blood.”
“You’re in my blood.” José was tired of her being so far away from him. He pulled her in closer, flush to his body.
Jewel’s moves slowed down. She gazed at him.
“José Martinez,” the lead singer from the band called him. “Get your ass down here. The congas are waiting for you.”
José looked up at the stage, and then at her.
***
“Go. I’ll be fine.” She touched his chest.
His face lit up. “I won’t be long.” he kissed her, stepped out of the roped-off section and maneuvered himself through the crowd toward the stage.
He sat behind the two congas, and began beating them with his palms. Damn, Jewel was getting horny watching her man play that instrument. The crowd was going crazy as he played to Marc Anthony’s No hay nadie como ella in english. She picked up her drink and took another sip; it was hot in the club. She swayed to the beat.
The singer sang. “There’s no one like her…”
José stared at her as he hit the canvas, winking at her. Water poured off his body, making his shirt cling to his muscular frame. His arms tensed and relaxed to the staccato rhythm he beat out on the congas. Jewel was behaving like a teenage girl, getting moist between her legs. Damn, she had it bad. The things she was thinking of doing to him! Those hands had her seeing stars yesterday, the way they’d pleasured her pearl. She worked herself up, thinking of the things he did to her.
“He’s going break your heart,” someone yelled over the music.
Jewel turned in the direction of the voice. There was a tall, slender woman in front of her, wearing a mini-skirted jean dress. Her black hair was up in a French braid.
“Excuse me?” Jewel shouted.
The lady got closer. “He’s a heartbreaker. Ask any of the women in here.” She waved her hand in a circle.
“I don’t have to ask anyone anything.” Jewel leaned closer. “I don’t care.”
The woman’s eyes widened in surprise. “You don’t care?”
“Nope. No me importa…” Jewel continued dancing, watching her man.
The woman didn’t move. She just looked at Jewel, shaking her head. “Que estupida!”
Jewel wouldn’t let what José had done in the past affect how she felt about him now. All she cared about what he was doing now. Women like her wouldn’t take away how she felt for him. He made her believe in love again, after Phil had broken her heart. During her three years of being single, she’d learned how to be content with being alone, but there was something missing and now she’d found it.
Jewel eyed the lady.
The crowd started clapping as they finished the song, and José rushed to her. “Is there a problem?” José glared at the woman.
“I was telling your friend here what kind of man she’s messing with,” she snapped.
José nervously watched Jewel, until he saw her smile.
“We came here to dance.” She took his hand and started moving, which pissed the chick off.
“Whatever! I warned you.” She stormed off.
“That was the old me.” He cupped her face, gazing into her eyes.
She got on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. “That was your past. I can’t judge you on any relationships that happened before us.” She smiled. “I am your present, and you haven’t given me a reason not to trust you.”
She saw something in his caramel eyes as he stared at her. His lips descended on hers, making her obey his request. José’s tongue parted her lips, and he sucked hungrily, exploring her mouth.
He backed away. “I was losing my faith until I found you.”
They were sweating from dancing. La
ughing, having fun. Jewel had met some of the friends he’d made since he moved there.
“Dude,” someone said coming up to the VIP area. “Long time no see.”
José shook the man’s hand. He was a chubby man with black hair and brown eyes, wearing a tailored, white suit. “Who’s the new lady?”
“Jewel, this is Saul, the club owner.” José volunteered. She didn’t like the way the man gawked at her breast as he licked his lips.
“Nice to meet you.” Jewel extended her hand.
He grabbed her hand and gently squeezed, making her uncomfortable. Jewel pulled back and gripped José’s arm.
“Where did you meet this one?” he asked, rudely dismissing her like she wasn’t even there.
“Excuse me!” Jewel spoke up. “I have a name.”
“Feisty.” Saul’s smile was lecherous.
“Don’t disrespect my girlfriend.” José’s jaw clenched.
“Girlfriend?” Saul laughed.
José glared at him, then turned his head to look at her. “Babe, it’s time to go.”
José moved her in front of him, and they started down the step.
“Hey, when you get tired of her, let me know.” He chuckled.
She’d never seen José move as fast as he did. Within a split second, he was in Saul’s face. José towered over the man, shouting at him. The bouncer ran up.
“I warned you, man,” he roared, balling up his fist.
Saul stepped back, his smile disappearing behind the frame of the guard. “Oh shit, she’s the wifey. I’m sorry, dude. I didn’t mean no disrespect.”
José turned on his heels.
Saul yelled at him. “We need to talk business when you calm down.”
“We don’t have shit to talk about!” José yelled over the music. “Motherfucker thinks he can say anything because he has money.” José gripped her hand, maneuvering them between people.
They were about to leave the club, but Jewel stopped, making him look at her.
“What’s wrong?” He stared at her.
She could see the vein throbbing in his throat. She moved closer to him, getting on her toes so he could hear her. “I want you…”
José looked at her, confused. “Say again?”
“Seeing you go all macho got me all hot and bothered. I want you. Now.”
José clutched her hand, rushing her around the corner, up some private stairs. He opened a door that had a sign that said “Employees Only”, and kicked it closed behind him, clicking the lock. She could barely hear the sound of the music playing downstairs.
“Muñeca…” His hands circled her neck, as he backed her up against the wall. “If another man ever touches you, I won’t be able to control myself.”
Jewel couldn’t resist. She hurriedly unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned him, and took care of his zipper, then pushed his pants down. “I’m yours.”
José grabbed the hem of her dress, pushing the material up over her hips, and picked her up. He moved her panties to the side, and in one swift move, he was deep inside her. He moaned against her collarbone.
Jewel panted, as his thrusts got harder. She knew he wasn’t going to last long. All she needed was five minutes of his loving; he could take care of her later. José pushed her up higher against the wall. His cock felt good going in and out her cove. She bit on his clothed shoulder. She’d never done anything like this before.
“Look…at me…” he said, gasping.
Jewel pushed up on his chest.
José stared into her eyes with his mouth agape. “Whose…pussy…is this?”
“Yours…” she chanted. “Yours!”
José fucked her with no mercy, hitting all the right spots. She could hear someone coming up the stairs, but that didn’t stop them. The excitement of getting caught made her get more into it. Jewel rotated her hips, thrusting down as he stroked up. She wrapped her legs tighter around his waist and ground down on his dick, and José’s cock started hitting her magical spot. “Yes!”
“Baby.” He bit her neck. “Come for me!”
As if on demand, Jewel’s pussy contracted, and her climax hit her like a ton of bricks. Her arms encircled his shoulders and she screamed against his throat. José’s knees buckled and he leaned heavily into her body, but held her up. Jewel flexed her inner muscles, making him come deep inside her.
“Te quiero!” José yelled. “Shit!”
There was a knock on the door. José placed her on the floor, and they hurriedly fixed their clothes. José pulled his pants up, buttoned them, and Jewel slid her panties back in place and lowered her dress.
“Is there someone in there?” the person asked. “I heard someone yelling.”
“Shhh.” José put his finger to his lips.
The next thing they heard was footsteps going downstairs. Jewel burst out laughing.
“You’re crazy.” José nipped at her bottom lip.
“I know.” She shifted against him. “That was exciting.”
“It was…teacher gone wild.” He chuckled.
He was no longer mad, and at the moment, that was all that mattered. José unlocked the door and cracked it, making sure no one was outside. He opened it wider, then grinned at Jewel. “Let’s go home.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
José’s eyes fluttered open. He looked down Jewel’s naked body. The sheets were tangled at the foot of the bed. Her full breasts were flush against the side of his chest, and one of her legs rested across his waist. José roamed his hands down the arch of her back to her butt. They’d been together for five months, and he was still happy. Usually by this time he would’ve been bored, looking for another piece of ass. Now, that was the furthest thing from his mind. Jewel had ruined him for all other women.
She pressed minute kisses along his neck, her hands caressing his nipples. “Hmmm. Why are you up?”
“Thinking.” José moved up on the fluffed pillows, and Jewel turned to lay on her stomach, resting her chin on his chest.
“About?”
“Us.” He touched her nose. “Do I make you happy?”
Her thin brows came together. “Yes.”
He stroked her ear. “Jewel, I want you.”
Her lips curled up at the corners. “You have me.”
“Do I?” José stared into her brown irises.
Jewel pushed off his torso, grabbed a sheet, and pulled it over her form. “What does that mean?” she grumbled.
“Jewel.” He tilted his head, watching her. “I want the real deal with you.”
“What we have is genuine.” She moved closer, but barely touched him. “We already live together. How much realer do you want it?”
“I want things I never thought I’d want. Things you’ve had before.” He studied her face for a reaction.
“Like what?”
She didn’t get what he was asking. What he had with Jewel was unexpected, but so sweet. “Some day in the far future, marriage, maybe.” He surprised himself when those words came out of his mouth. He’d never thought about marrying anyone. José had enjoyed being single, until five months ago. Now he could see white picket fences, babies, family vacations…but first he needed to accomplish his goals.
“José, what I had before wasn’t real.” She leaned against the headboard next to him and met his gaze.
He could see the hurt in her eyes. José hadn’t meant to hurt her by bringing up the past, but he needed to know where her head was about their relationship. For the first time in his life, he wanted to settle down, and he wanted to do it with Jewel. But did she want the same?
“I fell in love with an illusion,” Jewel lamented. “Phil was everything I thought I wanted in a man. He treated me like a queen at first.”
José could hear the pain in her words. “At first?”
“Two months after we got married, he changed on me. He went from supporting my dreams to destroying them.” She glanced at the wall. “He thought I was his possession. That fool started telling me what I c
ould wear, where I could go, and he even went as far as having me fired.”
“What?” He raised his voice. A woman, especially this woman, was no one’s possession.
“Well, not fired. He took a resignation letter to the school.”
“And they accepted that?”
“Yes, because he works for the Department of Education.” She twisted to the side and placed her legs over the edge with her back toward him. “He went freaking crazy. He hid my keys so I couldn’t leave the house. Phil didn’t like me going to see my family. He cancelled my phone service, so I couldn’t talk to Emma or Jazmine, but he messed with the wrong woman. He locked me in the house a couple of times, and then he would deny that he’d done it, saying the doors got stuck.”
“Both doors?”
“He replaced the locks when I wasn’t home, twice.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “The last thing he did was cut up all my clothes and throw them away.”
“I heard something about that, but I thought they were exaggerating,” José responded. He thought Javier had been blowing things out of proportion, but he’d been telling the truth.
“They weren’t. It was awful.” She stood, and stared down at him. “He tried to mentally and emotionally break me.”
“Why did you stay?” José’s heart ached, listening to the things Phil had done to her.
“I didn’t. He wouldn’t leave.” She picked her T-shirt up from off the floor, and pulled it on. “I tried to put him out, but each time he came back, and I was hard-headed. I wasn’t going to leave the house I built for no one but me. He couldn’t get me to obey him.” She exhaled. “Phil took our vows to another level. I didn’t agree to be anyone’s slave. I filed for divorce six months later. I didn’t know…” Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears.
“Know what?”
“He’d replaced my birth control pills with placebos.” Jewel slipped on her panties.
“What’s a placebo?”
“Sugar pills. I thought I was taking birth control and I wasn’t,” she said in a stern voice. “He fucking got me pregnant.”
José clenched his jaw in shock. “Huh?”
