A Passion Rekindled

by Nolan, Rontora

  “I am glad you stopped.”

  “Why?”

  “Christian you know how I feel about this…and us.”

  “Scarlett this doesn’t make any sense we both want to be together.”

  “It’s not that easy for me you know that.”

  “I know.”

  “So where do we go from here?”

  “I don’t know but what I do know is I am going to kiss you again.”

  He pulled her back to him and placed her onto his lap so she straddled him. He kissed her neck and she began to sigh as his hands began to stroke her breast. He kissed a trail back up to her lips and began to caress her legs as she moaned removing her blouse. He kissed a trail down her neck and Scarlett could feel him on under her. He lifted her skirt and gripped her thighs. She threw her head back as he moved her lace panties aside and caressed her center. Scarlett shuttered at his touch. He pulled her lips back to his as he began to stroke her middle with his middle finger. Scarlett moaned into his mouth while he added another finger. Christian pulled his lips away from hers moving his mouth across her breast as he moved faster. Scarlett gripped his shoulders as she was on the cusp of an orgasm. He felt her walls tighten up as she let out a soft moan shaking her body. Scarlett forced herself to pull away from Christian shaking her head as she was still reeling from what happened. They remained silent for a moment as they both ponder what just happened and what was on the verge of happening between them. She turned away from him unable to keep her gaze from his throbbing member.

  “Christian I’m sorry. That shouldn’t have happened.” She paced the floor. “I’m not going to lie I want you so bad right now.”

  He stood turning her towards him.

  “So why stop?”

  “Christian things are still so confusing right now. I am having conflicting feelings here it’s like I want to be with you but I don’t just sleep around. And I certainly don’t go around letting guys I barely know do that to me.”

  “I understand how you feel. It’s me who should be sorry and I am. So let's leave it for now and go get changed.”

  “Ok.” She said biting her lip. She expected more than him just walking away. He turned to her gripping her hand as he walked her to the store. He picked out a pair of sweats for him as she did the same. Adding a pair of socks and a sports bra, she smiled slightly as she grabbed her outfit and walked to the restroom.

  After she was changed she walked onto the court, she found Christian shooting lay-ups. Scarlett straightened out her baby blue sweat suit and looked down to her matching shoes. She smiled as Christian made another shot. She glanced at the dark blue sweat suit he was wearing and beamed inwardly. He looked at her and smiled.

  “You can’t learn by watching so come on.”

  “Ok.”

  She walked over to him.

  “Ok this is a basketball.”

  She shoved him. “I know that you fool.”

  “Oh ok then show me what you got.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Block me.”

  “What?”

  “Block me.”

  “Can’t I just learn to shoot?”

  “Ok. Take the ball. Let’s see what you got.” She tossed it and hit the rim.

  “Ok you’re not as bad as I thought. You want to position yourself. Then make sure you have a good grip on the ball. Now when you go to shoot you release it mid throw.”

  “Umm can you help me with my stance?”

  “Stance?” he said with a smirk.

  “I heard Devon say it ok. Are you going to help me?”

  “Sure.”

  He went behind her and held her tight. He moved his arms to hers then helped her shoot. The ball hit the rim then bounced off.

  “Ok I could have done that on my own.”

  “Let me try this again.”

  He held her again. And shot the ball. It went in Scarlett jumped around and hugged him.

  “I made a basket.”

  “Yeah well let’s celebrate when you make it on your own.”

  “You don’t think I can?”

  “I think you are better off letting me help you.”

  “Oh I am going show you.”

  She grabbed the ball, dribbled it for a moment then shot it. It spun around the rim then went in. she jumped and screamed.

  “Yes I did it.”

  “Ok so I have a game we can play.”

  “Shouldn’t I continue to know how to play before I start playing games?”

  “Come on its simple. I make a shot you tell me something I want to know about you, if I miss the shot then you can ask me anything you want to know about me and the same goes for you if you make it ask me whatever you want if you miss it I get a question.”

  Scarlett smiled at him and grabbed the ball.

  “Ok.”

  She bounced the ball for a minute then tossed it in the air. It twirled around the rim before entering it.

  “Ok so I get the first question.”

  “Ask away I’m an open book.”

  “Why did you decide to follow your parents plan for you rather than make your own?”

  Christian grabbed the ball as it bounced towards the wall. “You go right to the tough ones huh? Well at first I wasn’t sure it was what I wanted but I figured I would humor them for a while. But as school came along and I started understanding what we were doing I started to really enjoy it. And to be honest being able to buy whatever I want whenever I want and being able to date any girl I want is a plus.”

  Scarlett smirked and shook her head. He looked at her.

  “What?”

  “Did it ever occur to you that the reason you are not finding Mrs. Right is because you look for and refer to your dates as girls.” Christian held the ball on his hip and glanced her way.

  “Nope, I never thought of that.”

  He tossed the ball and it went in.

  “My turn, I want what is that intoxicating smell you wear all the time?”

  She smiled. “It’s flirt by Victoria secret.”

  She took the ball and tossed it up. It hit the rim but bounced away. Christian rubbed his hands together.

  “Oh I get another question…hmmmm why won’t you let your guard down with me.”

  “What?”

  “I get that you don’t sleep around and I would never pressure you let alone anyone into having sex. But why won’t you date me?” Before she could speak Chris cleared his throat. As they turned to him they noticed him and a woman staring at them.

  “Chris what are you doing here?”

  “I could ask you guys the same thing.”

  “We were just playing basketball.”

  Scarlett walked over to them.

  “Hi I’m Scarlett I work for Chris and Christian.”

  “I am Jayla but everyone calls me Jay.”

  “So you’re the famous Jay? Chris talks about you all the time.”

  “He better.”

  They laughed.

  “So Chris why are you guys here?”

  “Well I was driving Jay home and saw your car.”

  “We went to Ihop and we were talking about things she wanted to do so I brought her here to teach her basketball.”

  Scarlett spoke up. “I will pay for the sweat suit.”

  “Don’t worry about it. How about we play a little one on one? Jay and I against you and Christian?”

  Scarlett smiled widely. “What about me and Jay against you and Christian?”

  Chris laughed. “No I don’t think you guys want to do that?”

  Jayla folded her arms. “Why not we can take you.”

  Chris smiled widely. “I just mean girls against guys there's really no competition.”

  Jayla scoffed. “Do you hear that Scarlett they don’t think we can beat them.”

  “I think we should make a bet then Jay, if we win and according to the guys that’s a long shot. Then they owe us a night on the town.”

  “Yes full treatment.
Limo, dinner the works.”

  Christian folded his arms laughing. “Ok what do we get if we win?”

  Scarlett beamed. “If you guys win then we will cook you guys the best dinner you ever tasted.”

  Jayla nodded. “Yeah I can back that. So do we have a game?”

  Chris and Christian looked at them as Chris tossed the ball in the air then spun it on his ring finger.

  “First team to get ten wins.”

  “Ok give us a second. Let us practice.”

  Scarlett and Jay walked over to the bleachers. Scarlett smiled.

  “How good are you at basketball?”

  “Not very good but I'm getting better.”

  “Yeah me neither so I have a plan let’s make a couple of free throws and miss them. I bet they will spot us and then all we have to do is stop them from scoring.”

  “I was just thinking the same thing. We are on the same page here I like it.”

  They begin to toss the ball at the basket. Chris and Christian laugh at them.

  “This is painful how about we make things fair. We will spot you say six points.”

  Jayla smiles sweetly. “You guys would do that for us?”

  Chris kissed her forehead. “Yeah. Every point is worth two.”

  They begin to play and within minutes the boys are up by two points. Jay called time out.

  “All right Scarlett it’s time to stop playing.”

  “Who is playing? These guys are killing us.”

  “We are women so let’s work our magic. Seduction is the only choice we have. I know what Chris likes. You just get open ok I'm going to steal the ball and toss it to you.”

  “Ok.”

  Jayla and Scarlett went back onto the court. Christian tossed the ball to Chris and Jayla bumped him with her butt. She swiped the ball and sent it to Scarlett. Scarlett tossed the ball and it went in. She smiled and ran back as Christian caught the rebound. He called time out and walked over to Chris. Deciding to take a page from Jays book Scarlett UN zipped her sweat jacket past her sports bra allowing her chest to poke out a little bit.

  Chris tossed the ball back to Christian and Scarlett blocked him while gently pushing her chest into his arm. Christian couldn’t help but enjoy her show. He knew what she was doing and it was working, he decided it wouldn’t hurt if he took a peek real quick. But as he looked down to her chest, she stole the ball and tossed it to Jay who was under the net. Jay caught it and shot a layup. It went in and they jumped up screaming.

  “Ha we win.”

  As Jay and Scarlett hugged each other Chris walked over to them.

  “No we want a rematch we shouldn’t have spotted you.”

  Jay playfully pushed Chris away from her. “Hey whatever we win you lose.”

  “But we are men…who know how to play the game and you are girls who don’t.”

  “Oh we have our own game. And it worked.”

  Chris pulled Jay to him as Christian stood beside Scarlett.

  “You girls had an unfair advantage.”

  “And you guys are sore losers.” Scarlett looked at her watch. “Oh wow it’s almost two. I need to get home.”

  Chris looked at his watch. “Yeah we have a busy day tomorrow.”

  “Jay it was a pleasure playing with you. I hope I get to see you again.”

  “You will the guys owe us a night out.”

  “They do don’t they?”

  “Yes we do and we are men of our word. Chris and I will get together and make it happen. We promise.”

  “You better.”

  “Ok well come on Scarlett. See you guys later.”

  They walked out the gym. Scarlett twirled around Christian.

  “That was so much fun.”

  “Yeah it was I don’t really get to do stuff like that. Most of the girls I date don’t really want to play me in anything.”

  “Well that was so much fun so I will play you anywhere and anytime. All you have to do is ask.”

  “I’ll take you up on that.”

  “I hope so.”

  Christian looked in her eyes and she knew where that look would take her. She backed away and smiled.

  “We should be heading back.”

  She walked to the car but Christian stopped her.

  “I know that you are a little hesitant about being with me and all I am asking is for one date.”

  “Christian let’s be honest here you asked a question and I owe you an answer, I am your assistant. I set your schedule and I know who you see and when you see them. And while I am so attracted to you I can’t be what you need.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “You were on a date tonight, and the night before that and last week.”

  “And what does that have to do with us?” She looked up to him and smiled.

  “Nothing…all I am saying is that for the first time in my life I am making it on my own providing for my family and proving that I am worth more than anyone gave me credit for and I know you and your family are helping and I am so blessed to know you and to work with you but right now you are looking for something I just cannot give you. Maybe in a few months but right now I am focusing on my family and I am just so glad we are friends.”

  Christian stared at her for a second then headed to the driver side of that car.

  “Yeah me too.”

  Chapter 4

  Feeling Good…

  6 months later.

  Scarlett smiled as she watched Devon shoot around at the gym with Maggie and Angel. They looked so happy and Scarlett knew they were. Finally after so many years of struggling to get them out of debt and to a place of happiness and seeing them playing around carefree made her feel like thinks were finally working out for them.

  Someone sat next to her and cleared their throat. Scarlett turned towards Jayla and smiled.

  “I was wondering when you were going to show up.”

  “Sorry Chris and I were otherwise detained.”

  “And that is why they call it TMI.”

  They laughed as Jayla turned towards Scarlett.

  “So tell me about your date?”

  “Uh you mean my nightmare.”

  “Nightmare? Seriously what happened?”

  Scarlett moved closer to her. “He calls me and asked me to pick him up. Now I'm ok with that but when he got into my car, his breath smelled so bad like weed and alcohol. I tried to play it off giving him a mint it didn’t work. I mean he was a sweet guy but by the end of the date I was through. But there will not be a second date.”

  “Why not he might have been nervous?”

  Scarlett looked at the kids then to Jay. “So I dropped him off at his house and he invited me in. this dude tried to make out with me and I was just not having it then he tried to guilt me into having sex with him.”

  Jayla gasped. “Tell me he didn’t.”

  “I would if I could. It was the most disgusting thing ever I mean his breath was humming he was working the love sick angle “girl I am so in like with you right now I swear I could fall in love on the spot” I was trying so hard not to laugh.”

  “Wow I cannot believe he did that. Well at least you’re rid of him.”

  “I wish. Dude still texting me talking about baby can I spend the night.”

  “Are you serious?”

  Scarlett handed Jayla her IPhone and sighed. “Jay what is wrong with me. All these guys I meet are just losers.”

  Jayla handed her phone back. “You know I am a firm believer what you put out there you will get. You keep giving off this attitude like you don't deserve love. But you do.

  Scarlett saw Chris and Christian walk into gym and she beamed. Jay bumped Scarlett’s shoulder.

  “It’s a shame you keep denying you have feelings for Christian.”

  “I don't deny it. He has become one of my best friends.”

  “Uh huh that’s what you say.”

  “He has. I love working for him and I can tell him anything and not feel stupid.” />
  “So can you tell him about bad breath guy?”

  “No way.”

  Scarlett felt Christian come into the gym before she heard the door slam. She turned towards him to see Christian run over to the kids and began to play with them.

  Chris joined in by smacking the ball away from Christian. Scarlett and Jay cheered them all on as they laughed playing together.

  Scarlett gave a low growl. “I just…I don't want to ruin anything.”

  “I know what that means.”

  “What?”

  “It means you want to be with him. But you are too chicken to do that.”

  “I am not.”

  Jay looked at Scarlett as she sat staring at Christian.

  “You know we still haven’t gotten our double date.”

  Scarlett felt her spirits lift a little. “I almost forgot about that.”

  “You think they are pulling a fast one on us?”

  Scarlett leaned back against the bench. “That could be my fault.”

  “How so?”

  “That night Christian and I kind of made out in one of the rooms and it was incredible.”

  Jayla moved closer to her lightly hitting her shoulder. “You never told me that!”

  “I know I guess I figured if I pretended it didn’t happen it would hide my feelings.”

  “But what did happen? And don’t tell me you just kissed again because I know that is bull.”

  “It’s kind of embarrassing.”

  “Did you guys have sex?”

  Scarlett’s head jerked towards Jayla. “No! I guess you would call it third base.”

  Jayla gasped.

  “Third? Girl you guys just went all in didn’t you?”

  “No we didn’t. It’s just I don’t know how it got that far and I had to stop it before it started but I really didn’t want to. But afterwards I acted like such a girl. He tried to talk to me about it but I shot him down. And it’s not because I don’t want to be with him, it’s because I don’t know if getting into a relationship with him is a good thing for either one of us.”

  “So you think they dodging us cause of that?”