TOTAL ECLIPSE: The Evolution (Sin City Heat Series Book 7)

by S. K. Hardy

  Darrell’s hand tightened. “I didn’t know,” he told her, forcing her to meet his sincere gaze.

  Jerra didn’t answer him, but Darrell saw the skepticism that clouded her eyes. She clearly didn’t believe him.

  “I didn’t know she was back in town, Jerra.”

  “I didn’t say you did.”

  “No, but you’re thinking it. I swear I didn’t know.” His eyes begged her to believe him. He had to address this now and clear the air between them. “Come here. Please.”

  Darrell lowered his head to try and kiss her again, but Jerra kept her mouth stubbornly closed when his tongue tried to gain entry. Darrell wasn’t discouraged. He patiently traced the tight line of her lips with the tip of his tongue, demanding she open up for him. When she finally gave in, he invaded her mouth like a pirate that had gained access to a treasure chest of priceless jewels. His tongue plundered her mouth, sweeping inside and curling around hers.

  “Tell me you believe me, J.,” he mumbled against her lips. “I wouldn’t jeopardize what we have for anything.” He searched her mouth again, feeding off her sweetness until she melted into the kiss and returned it with equal fervor. “Tell me.”

  “I believe you,” she whispered. Jerra kissed him hungrily. Passionately. Imbibing every bit of what he offered until she became drunk off of nothing else but him. Her arms curled around his neck. “I believe you. I believe you,” she repeated over and over again.

  Darrell groaned fiercely as he rose from the floor and pushed her down on her back. Covering her body with his, he reached down between them and yanked at her skirt.

  “Where’s D.J.?” he asked in a hoarse voice.

  “Taking a bath,” Jerra answered. Her words came out in a breathless rush. “He…he just got in the tub.” She lifted her hips to accommodate Darrell’s impatient efforts.

  Once he managed to bunch her skirt up around her waist, he fumbled with his belt and quickly unzipped his pants. Somehow he managed to maneuver his dick out of his jeans.

  At this point, Jerra was as eager as Darrell. She opened her legs wide and pulled the wispy barrier of her panties to the side until there was nothing between them. When he drove himself forward and penetrated her, all she could do was absorb him and gasp his name.

  Darrell’s powerful thrusts were fast, frantic, and urgent. No matter how deep he got, it wasn’t deep enough. He wanted to imbed himself far, far inside of her until he touched her very soul, until there was never a question in her mind that she belonged to him and he to her. Always.

  Their bodies moved in a synchronized rhythm born of two people perfectly in tune with each other. They exchanged hot, desperate kisses. Grunting wildly, Darrell slid his hands down to cup her ass in his palms. He tilted her willing hips upward, grinding against her, working her, clenching his teeth at how good her pussy felt clenched around his dick.

  “Jerraaaa…”

  She dug her nails deep into his back, her cries mingling with his and filled with intense pleasure. She brought her hands down and covered his ass, moving restlessly beneath him, her back arching as he plunged in and out of her depths repeatedly with an urgency neither could explain...but somehow understood.

  “J…ohhhh…shit, baby. I can’t…I can’t hold on…”

  But before he could say anything else, Jerra shattered around him, convulsing into a chain of explosive spasms. Her thighs clamped tightly around his waist. She screamed in ecstasy, the orgasm claiming her in its shuddering release.

  Darrell was seconds behind her. His breathing ragged, he surged into her with several more powerful strokes until he achieved his own exploding ecstasy. The eruption shook his entire body. Spilling his hot seed and intermingling their juices, Darrell cried out Jerra’s name. Trembling uncontrollably, he rode the thrashing waves of the climax like a true soldier battling for what was his until the titillating end.

  Several long moments later, he groaned with masculine satisfaction. Darrell rolled his hips in a provocative, circular motion that caused Jerra to writhe beneath him in response. She ran her hands over the rippling muscles of his back and shoulders, sprinkling light kisses along his neck and jawline until she found his mouth. Her lips suckled his, capturing the fullness of his bottom lip gently between her teeth.

  Groaning, he kissed her softly. His tongue slid over hers with a silky smooth touch that made her catch her breath. Reluctantly lifting his mouth, Darrell looked down at her lips, which were deliciously swollen from his kisses. Unable to stop himself, he swept down and captured them once more before grudgingly pushing himself to his knees. Hovering over her, he tucked his dick back into his jeans His eyes, still hot and glowing, remained fastened on the glistening center of her splayed legs. The evidence of the culmination of their pleasure liberally dampened her thighs. Darrell reached between the pouting lips of her femininity and ran his finger through the creamy wetness they’d created.

  “Most definitely to be continued later,” he uttered in a low voice. Standing, he helped her to her feet, watching as she straightened her clothes as best she could.

  He studied her for a long time before softly calling her name. “Jerra–”

  “I’m sorry,” she cut in.

  Darrell frowned in confusion. “Sorry for what?”

  “I…I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did.” Hesitating, she raised wide eyes to his, nervously biting her lip. “I just want you to know that I do believe you, Darrell.”

  Darrell sighed. Curling one arm around her waist, he pulled her towards him and gently kissed her forehead. “Thank you, but you have nothing to apologize for.”

  Jerra circled her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. “I know that I come off being insecure every time she…Roni’s name is mentioned, and I hate that. I hate that I get so…jealous.”

  “It’s understandable because I get the same way about you. Justin just don’t know, I wanted to rip his head off every time I saw him. It’s hard to control myself whenever I think about you with somebody else.”

  She lifted her head from Darrell’s chest and stared up at him. “I don’t want anybody else but you. I love you, Darrell.”

  His liquid grey eyes softened as he smiled. “I love you too, baby. I’m never lettin’ you go, Jerra. Promise you that.”

  “Good, because you’re stuck with me.” Inhaling a heaving breath, Jerra gave him a tremulous smile that just as quickly faltered when she glance at the television. “So...why do you think she decided to come back after all this time?”

  “I don’t know for sure but I would assume it’s to attend Cheyenne’s wedding,” Darrell said.

  Cheyenne was the daughter of Bryan Hargrove. Darrell still counted Bryan as one of his best friends. At first, things had been a little tense between them when he found out Bryan lied to him about Roni being dead, but they’d talked it out and moved past it. Darrell had come to realize neither Bryan nor Angel had kept the truth of Roni’s situation from him out of malice. Besides, how could he stay mad at them? If they’d brought him in on what they were planning, things would’ve turned out completely different, and Darrell couldn’t imagine not having Jerra and his son in his life. He didn’t even want to try.

  “Roni and Bryan are more like brother and sister than cousins. She’s always been extremely close to Cheyenne. She loves her like she’s her own daughter. If anyone could get her to come home, it’s Cheyenne. I can’t imagine Roni missing something as important as her goddaughter’s wedding.”

  Jerra had forgotten that Darrell mentioned the wedding to her last week. He hadn’t come right out and asked her to attend with him, but she’d seen the question in his eyes. They hadn’t discussed it again, but with them getting along so well, it was a foregone conclusion that she would go. She hadn’t had a problem with it, but now…

  “Are you still going?” Jerra asked.

  A small frown settled on Darrell’s face. “I thought we were going along with Marcus and Aleesha.”

  Jerra shifted
uncomfortably from one foot to the other. “Well, yes, but that was before…you know.”

  Darrell’s chest lifted and fell with the deep breath he took. “You don’t want to go?”

  “I…” Jerra’s mouth snapped closed as she thought about her answer. “It’s…it’s fine. I don’t have a problem with attending the wedding if you don’t.”

  Darrell smiled in approval and gave her a quick kiss. “Of course I don’t.”

  “I guess decision made, then.” Jerra shrugged with a nonchalance she was far from feeling, then changed the subject. “How did things go with your mother?”

  Darrell’s smile slowly dimmed until it disappeared. “Exactly as I expected. No surprises. Tina’s gon’ be Tina. I think she realizes how serious I was when I told her to stay away this time. I doubt if she tries to pull this crap again.”

  Jerra didn’t say anything, but the look she gave Darrell made him sharpen his gaze. “Don’t even think about it, Jerra. I don’t trust her or her motives. I would’ve respected her a hell of a lot more if she’d just come clean about everything. I even gave her a chance to tell me before I went to New York, but got nothin’.”

  “You’re right. She shouldn’t have lied, but I think she was just afraid.”

  “Jerra–” When Darrell’s cell phone started ringing, he pulled it out of his pocket and looked at the name flashing across the screen. “That’s Marcus. I’ll call him back.”

  “No, go on and answer it,” Jerra said, turning to leave. “I’m going to check on D.J., then take a quick shower. We’ll talk later.”

  Darrell nodded then connected the call. “Wassup, bruh? Wait…hold on a sec,” he added when Jerra stopped to look at him just before leaving the room. He lifted his brows questioningly. “What is it, baby?”

  “I’ve enjoyed being at the condo, but I think I’m ready for us to go ‘home’ home.”

  Darrell bit down on his lip before asking, “When you say ‘us’…” He let the rest of the question dangle between them.

  Jerra swallowed nervously. “Our family. That’s the three of us, isn’t it?”

  His chest tight with emotion, Darrell nodded. “Yeah. It is. I’m ready too.”

  Sighing her relief at his answer, Jerra gave him a sweet smile. “Okay.”

  “Okay,” Darrell repeated.

  Their eyes held for a moment longer before Jerra left out of the room to check on their son.

  Darrell slowly brought the phone back to his ear. “I’m back, man.”

  “I’m sure you probably saw the news by now and know that Roni’s back in Vegas.”

  “Huh? Oh, yeah, I saw it.”

  “Everything a’ight? Leesh and I were just a little worried. You know, you and Jerra have been doing so good.”

  “Nah, nah. It’s cool.” He glanced back to where Jerra had been standing a few seconds ago and grinned. “Matter of fact, it’s better than cool. It’s perfect.”

  Darrell heard the sigh of relief on the other end. They talked for a few minutes more before hanging up so that Marcus could get ready to leave for his shift. Throwing himself down on the couch, Darrell leaned back against the cushions and closed his eyes. He could understand Marcus’ concern. He heart had threatened to pound out of his chest when he’d turned the television off. His greatest fear was that Jerra would decide it wasn’t worth putting up with the deep-rooted weeds of crap that constantly popped up from out of nowhere. It was like no matter how many times he pulled them up and unearthed them, another grew back in its place causing chaos before he could catch his breath. Darrell couldn’t blame Jerra if she’d grown tired of it all and decided to walk away. For a moment, he’d been afraid that was exactly what she would do, withdraw and shut down on him completely, but thankfully that hadn’t happened.

  “Darrell?” Jerra called his name softly.

  His lashes swept open to find her standing a few feet away. He must have really been deep in his thoughts because he hadn’t heard her come back into the room. He held a hand out to her, smiling when she took it without hesitating.

  “D.J. finished with his bath?” he asked.

  “Yes, but he begged me to stay in a little while longer, so I gave him ten more minutes.”

  Darrell’s smile widened when he heard that, but seeing the way she nervously bit at her lip, he frowned. “Babe, what’s wrong?”

  Jerra stared at him without moving. “I…I had planned on waiting to tell you this, but…”

  Tense and on alert, Darrell slowly stood up. Now what? “Jerra, what is it?”

  “Nothing’s wrong. I…Darrell, I’m pregnant,” she whispered.

  Darrell went deadly still. His nostrils flared and his eyes darkened. “What did you say?”

  “I…I said I’m pregnant.” Jerra placed her hand over her still flat stomach. “You’re going to be a daddy again.”

  Darrell’s eyes dropped to the hand that covered her stomach. “You’re pregnant?” Like a dimmer switch slowly illuminating a room. “You’re pregnant?”

  Jerra nodded and grinned as Darrell swept her up in his arms. Screaming, she laughed and held on tight as he swung her around. “Darrell!”

  He let her slide down until her feet made contact with the floor again. The look on his face was…priceless. The smile he sported brightened his face and eased the lines of strain.

  Darrell framed her face with his hands then rested his forehead against hers. “We’re pregnant?” he whispered. “We’re gonna have a baby?”

  “Yes. I went to the doctor this morning to confirm it.” Jerra peered into his eyes and smiled tenderly. She knew this was something he’d wanted for a while now. “D.J.’s going to have a little brother or sister.”

  Darrell placed a hand on her stomach. “It’s gonna be a girl. A little princess who looks exactly like her mama.” His voice cracked with emotion. “When? How far along?”

  “Eight weeks.”

  “Eight weeks…” Darrell repeated before smiling. “That first night you came to see me at the condo.”

  “Yes. It seems as if ‘Eclipse’ gave me just a little bit more than I asked for.”

  Darrell laughed. “I’m not surprised. You have no idea how badly I wanted you that night. You haven’t been sick or anything, have you?”

  “No, but remember, I didn’t suffer from morning sickness very much with D.J. either.”

  Darrell shook his head slowly. “I can’t believe this.” Uneasiness seeped into his eyes as another thought occurred to him. “You are happy, aren’t you? About this pregnancy, I mean.”

  Jerra’s frown came quick. “Of course I’m happy. Why would you ask me that? Are…are you upset because we’re going to have a baby?”

  “What? No! Hell no!”

  “Then…”

  “J., you’ve made me the happiest man in the world. Believe me, I’m in awe of this gift you’ve given me, but…”

  “But what?” Jerra whispered, suddenly afraid of what he was going to say.

  “I don’t want you to feel like you’ve been forced to give up your career again. I know how important that is to you. This…us having a baby…it wasn’t planned.”

  “Well, neither was D.J.,” Jerra laughed, placing her hand over his where it rested on her stomach. “That doesn’t matter, Darrell. I’ve never resented staying home with D.J. I enjoyed it. You know that, and if it came down to me having to do it again, I would in a heartbeat, but I don’t see why I have to stop working. We have an excellent company daycare in the same building where I work.”

  Darrell’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Really?”

  “Mmhm.”

  “So…you would be able to bring the baby to work with you?” Darrell sounded a little skeptical.

  “Yes. Parents can check on their babies at any time, spend lunch breaks with them, you know. However they choose to work it out. I’d basically get to see our baby whenever I chose. So…what do you think?” Jerra licked her lips nervously as she waited on his answer.

 
“What do I think? I’m upset I didn’t think about doing that at my own company. I could’ve had my secretary back a long time ago,” he grinned. “But that’s something I’ll be rectifying very soon.”

  She smiled in agreement. “It really is a great idea.”

  “It’s perfect.” He said, rubbing her stomach. “Only the best for daddy’s little princess.”

  Jerra smiled indulgently. “You’re already convinced it’s going to be a girl, huh?”

  “Of course. Men know these things. Nah, really!” He added when Jerra rolled her eyes.

  “Okay, baby, if you say so.”

  “Most definitely. When do you go to see the doctor?” His body suddenly tensed up. “We need to make sure everything is okay with both of you. I know the last couple of months have been stressful.”

  “I’m fine. Honestly. But I’ve set up an appointment with the same obstetrician who delivered Aleesha’s baby. I see her in two weeks.”

  “We see her in two weeks. I plan on being at every appointment you have, the same as I was with D.J.”

  Jerra’s face lit up. “I stand corrected. We see her in two weeks.”

  Darrell nodded before kissing her and pulling her close. “Good. I love you.”

  “I love you too,” Jerra replied snuggling in his embrace. “I think I’m finally beginning to realize that everything is going to be okay.”

  He kissed the top of her head and gently caressed her back. “Everything is goin’ to be perfect.” Darrell’s arms tightened around her, meaning that with everything in him. “I promise.”

  CHAPTER 41

  “Hi, Mr. Monroe. It’s good to see you.”

  Darrell smiled as he slowed down in front of the desk of Jerra’s secretary. “Hey, Heather. How are you today?”

  “I’m great, thank you. Mr. Sullivan’s in with Mrs. Monroe, but you can go right in. I’ve placed the order to the restaurant so the food should be here in about ten minutes.”

  Scratching his head, Darrell gave Heather a rueful grin. “Let me guess. Renaldo’s, right?” he asked, naming Jerra’s favorite restaurant.