When It Rains...

by Angie Daniels

  “I was hopin’ maybe you had changed your mind.” His gaze traveled over her attire. He liked the way she looked in the brown leather skirt with high splits.

  “What are you gonna do now that your date has canceled?” She couldn’t help wondering who was stupidenough to call off a date with him.

  “Sit in front of my television with a bowl of Edy’s ice cream and a new video game.” Jay crossed his arms. “I bought Halo yesterday for my X-Box.”

  She swung around, eyes wide. “X-Box! You have an X-Box?” He nodded. “I’ve been wantin’ one of my own, but the price of those things is ridiculous.” With a sigh, she moved to lock the cash drawer.

  “Why don’t you come over and help me break it in this evening?” he suggested, drawing nearer.

  She shook her head. “I don’t think so. I already made plans to have dinner with Darrius.”

  He studied her face. “You really don’t want to go out with Mr. Stockbroker, do you?”

  She shrugged, not trusting herself to speak.

  “Come on, Honey. It’s Valentine’s Day. Why don’t we spend the evening hangin’ out like ole’ times? I’m sure Darrius would understand.”

  Honey was tempted. She’d wanted to hold the joystick to that game for weeks. But the thought of being alone with Jay scared her.

  “I even have cold Busch beer in my refrigerator.”

  She was almost swayed by his warm brown eyes, but dutifully declined. “Tempting, but not tonight. Maybe some other time.”

  Jay took a step forward. “You promised me a date.”

  Honey tried to move away, but damn if her body wasn’t listening. For some unknown reason, her feet felt cemented to the floor. Desire was apparent in Jay’s eyes as he moved in even closer.

  He took another step, closing the distance between them, and backed her into a corner until she was trapped against the wall with his hands planted on either side of her. After gazing into her gray eyes, he let his eyes travel from her mane of brown hair down to the orange cashmeresweater hugging her itty-bitty breasts.

  Honey drew in a swift breath mixed with fear and anticipation as she saw his gaze wander back to her mouth. He was so near and his lips so close she wanted him to kiss her. Even though she knew it would be a big mistake, she wanted it anyway. Rather than pulling away, she found herself swaying toward him.

  Eyes roaming over her delicate face, Jay reached out and stroked her soft curls with the back of his hand. He could see the battle she fought within, but still leaned forward until she could feel his breath against her skin.

  “Quit fightin’ it, Honey. No one will ever be able to make you as happy as I can.” He spoke in a low, husky rasp that caused her to shiver.

  “Why do you keep doing this?” she gasped.

  “You shouldn’t be so damn fine,” he said, his cinnamonbreath hot against her throat.

  Honey knew she should run, but couldn’t. Even as his face moved closer, she couldn’t. Even when his lips parted, she couldn’t. For several seconds, she focused on his lips and she shuddered remembering how they felt. Her mouth went dry, making it impossible to speak. She felt caught beneath his brown gaze. Jay ran a thumb across her lips and she trembled, powerless to do anythingbut stand there frozen to the wall. His arm went around her waist, pulling her against his solid form.

  Under dark lashes, Honey stared up at him with wide eyes, looking young and fragile. Her mass of curly hair was clipped away from her face, exposing a sensuous neck that was begging to be kissed. She dropped her eyes, and Jay rested his chin on her head. Taking a deep breath, he inhaled the scent of freshly washed hair and the herbal conditioner she liked so much. With her nipplespressed against his chest, he felt the throb of her heart. He allowed his lips to travel down the side of her face, then down the length of her neck, where he nibbledat the smooth honey flesh. Thinking of her with someone else made him furious with wanting to claim what was his. He’d sworn to take things slow. He’d made a pledge to allow her to initiate the relationship. But he was powerless against his desire.

  With their faces only inches apart, he cupped her chin in his palm and drew it near. He dropped his head and claimed her mouth, her lips parted in shock. Then, cradling her waist, Jay pulled her closer to him.

  “It could be so good between us,” he whispered as he felt her heart flutter against his chest.

  She took a deep breath, caught in a tidal wave of sensation as he showered her with kisses that made her shudder. She wanted his tongue in her mouth. There were no words for what she was feeling. She knew she should pull away, scream, even slap the shit out of him, but she could do none of that. Instead, dropping her head back, she leaned into him, allowing his tongue access,and he tasted, then explored as the fine hairs of his beard teased her. She tried to resist but found herselfreaching out; she placed her hands on his shouldersand moaned.

  “Let me love you,” he whispered against her lips.

  The kiss became so powerful Honey thought her knees would give way beneath her. Brushing her mouth back and forth in a coaxing movement, he plunged his tongue deep into her mouth, tasting lips softer than he remembered. Her hips pressed against the narrow heat of him and her thighs were nestled between his legs. He gyrated his hips against her, causing her to weaken.

  The knock on the door ended it. Jay took his lips away. Still standing close, taunting her before backing away, he locked his eyes on hers. “We wouldn’t want you to keep your date waiting.” With that, he walked to the door and opened it, and found himself once again face-to-face with Darrius. The two looked at each other for a brief moment before Jay finally nodded, then brushed past him.

  Leaving Darrius standing there, Honey escaped to her office, where she sagged against the office door. She raised trembling fingers to her throbbing lips. The passion-filled kiss had rocked her to the core, and had been every bit as explosive as the last time. Like before,Jay had left her nipples erect and her panties wet. If only he knew how damn close the phrase “I love you” had been ready to erupt from her smothered lips.

  This had to end. She was weak around Jay, and if she wanted to keep him from finding out her secret, she needed to stay away from him at all costs. Regardless of how much she loved him.

  She just wished it were that easy.

  As he steered in the direction of home, his cell phone vibrated.

  “Jay, this is Kendra. I just hate to bother you on Valentine’s Day, but I’m not feelin’ too good.”

  He heard something unsettling in her voice. “What’s wrong?”

  “I—I’m not sure. I’ve been having lower abdominal pains all day. Ow! There it goes again.”

  “Hang tight, Kendra. I’ll be right over.”

  Natalia arrived at Houlihan’s to find Jacob already there, seated at a small table in the back, and her heart soared. She was dressed in the navy blue blazer and slacks she had planned to wear to his mother’s birthday party before he declined her attendance.

  “Sorry I’m late,” she said as soon as he was in range. Moving to him, she planted a kiss on his cheek, loving the smell of her man, before taking the seat next to him. “I had a busy day at the office. You wouldn’t believeall the last-minute problems I’m having with the designers. The spring season begins in four weeks, and I don’t know if our new line is gonna be ready in time.” She paused at seeing the distracted expression on his handsome mocha face, and smiled. “Listen to me, rattlingon like a broken record. Happy Valentine’s Day, baby. Ms. Kitty and I have a gift waiting for you at home. I hope Mandingo is up for the challenge.”

  Turning away from the suggestive look in her eyes, Jacob cleared his throat. “I have something for you.”

  Natalia bubbled over inside when she saw him removea small black box from under the table. Oh my goodness, she thought, this is it. She took the gift and opened it.

  Suddenly the joy left her face.

  What the hell is this shit? She lowered her lashes to disguise her displeasure, then reached down to remo
ve the two-carat diamond brooch. “It’s beautiful.” When she lifted her eyes, disappointment still flickered there. “Thank you.” She opened the clasp and pinned it onto the lapel of her jacket.

  “I have something to tell you,” Jacob said, taking her hand in his. But then he paused.

  “What is it?” she probed uneasily. She hadn’t noticed the strained tone of his voice until now.

  “I’ve been offered an opportunity to design a databasefor a large military installation.”

  “That’s wonderful!” She knew he’d always dreamed of such an opportunity. “When do you start?”

  His expression stilled as he looked at her. “I’ll be moving to Germany at the end of the week.”

  Natalia felt her mouth go dry, and confused thoughts began to race through her mind. Was he really leaving? “What about us?” She tried to keep her voice steady, even though her heart was thundering.

  Jacob dropped her hand. “I would like for us to remainfriends.”

  She was stunned. “Friends. What the fuck do you mean, friends? I thought you loved me ...” Her voice broke. “... that you wanted to marry me.”

  “Things have changed since my father passed,” Jacob said, his voice heavy with emotion. “I spent my life trying to make him happy. Now it’s time for me to live my own life. I’m not ready for marriage.”

  Natalia looked at him, angry, her mind working overtime. She stared across the table at him, wishing she had a bat so she could bust his head in two.

  “I’m so sorry.” Jacob lowered his eyes to the table when he spoke; his tone was apologetic. “I never meant to mislead you.”

  Natalia felt her heart break in two. How could she have been so damn stupid to believe that she had finallyfound love? How could he break her heart like this?

  “You no-good mothafucka!” Her throat tight with rage, she rose from the table and scurried out of the restaurant.

  Once home, she quickly undressed and crawled into bed, knocking the lacy negligee she had bought for Jacob onto the floor.

  Ms. Kitty wouldn’t be stroked tonight.

  Honey looked down at the empty bowl of ice cream. She felt like a pig. Instead of eating a bowl, she’d eaten the entire carton. What a way to spend Valentine’s Day.

  Right after dinner, she had Darrius take her home. Even though she’d faked a headache, she had a strong suspicion Darrius knew the real deal.

  Sighing, Honey let her head fall back against the couch and closed her eyes. Visions of Jay danced beforeher. She had tasted his lips throughout the depressingdinner, and even now as she sank back onto the couch. She could still smell the scent of his body, feel his breath against her earlobe, his dick pressed against her stomach. God, she was a damn fool. There was no harm in spending an evening with Jay. What was wrong with a harmless evening of video games?

  She jumped off the couch and went in search of her cordless phone.

  She let it ring five times before she hung up without bothering to try him on his cell phone. A pain squeezed at her heart as she thought of him with someone else. It was Valentine’s Day; what did she expect him to do, sit and spend the evening alone? Jay had decided to spend the evening with another woman.

  “I’m sorry, Jay. I didn’t mean to ruin your night,” Kendra said as they entered her apartment.

  “No harm done,” he said reassuringly. “Dr. Gaye said Braxton-Hick contractions are common in this stage of the pregnancy.” He shrugged. “I didn’t have any plans tonight anyway.”

  “I just assumed since you were all dressed up—”

  “My date canceled,” he said. Actually, he hadn’t had a date. It had just been a ploy to make Honey jealous. An unsuccessful ploy after all.

  “Oh.” Kendra tried to hide a smile as he helped her slip out of her black cape.

  While hanging it in the hall closet, he added, “Besides,I told you to feel free to call me. That’s my kid growin’ inside your body.” He strolled into the living room with a proud grin lifting the corners of his lips.

  Kendra moved to the couch and with Jay’s assistance,lowered herself onto the soft cushions. “Thanks. I don’t know how I manage anymore.”

  “No problem.” He propped a pillow behind her head, then moved to elevate her feet onto the couch. “You don’t have to apologize. Regardless of our differences,I said I’d be there for you, and I meant it.”

  “Thanks,” she said, smiling. “You know, this is our second Valentine.”

  “It is?” Jay gave her a questioning look before he remembered.He had arrived home after a date with a schoolteacher to find Kendra lying across his bed, butt-assnaked and covered in rose petals.

  He cleared his throat. “I’m gonna head on home.”

  “But you can’t leave,” she said. Seeing his puzzled expression, she quickly added, “I’m still not feelin’ good. Can you please sit with me for a while?”

  After a brief pause, he nodded. “Sure.” He had made a pledge to help her through her pregnancy. He took a seat at the end of the couch, raised her feet to his lap, and reached for the remote.

  “I think I found a lawyer that can handle the adoption,”she said in slow, precise syllables.

  He stopped channel-surfing and his eyes swung to her. “Let’s hold off on that for a while.”

  “Why?” she asked. Lowering her chin, she regarded him through her lashes.

  “Because I don’t want to give my child up for adoption.”There. He had said it.

  She clapped her hands with glee. “That’s wonderful! I—”

  “Just give me a little time. Then we’ll talk.”

  “All right.” For the time being, she wouldn’t push. Instead, she reached down for a small woven bag and pulled out a ball of yellow yarn and two needles.

  Hearing a clicking sound, Jay turned to face her again and was stunned by what he saw. “What’re you doing?”

  “What does it look like I’m doin’? I’m trying to knit a sweater for the baby. What do you think?” She held up something that looked like a dysfunctional sock.

  Jay’s head fell back in laughter.

  Kendra pouted for the rest of the evening.

  At the end of the ten o’clock news, Kendra switched off the television and, stretching her arms over her head, she released a restless sigh. She looked over at Jay, who was nestled comfortably against a pillow, snoringpeacefully. From the end of the couch, Kendra watched the rise and fall of his chest. Damn, he was fine. Her coochie throbbed as she thought how good it would be to feel him inside her once again. It would take a little work on her part, but he loved it before and he would enjoy it again. Like they say, pregnant pussy is the best kind.

  With little difficulty, she slid off the couch and got down on her knees in between his parted thighs. She then reached up, and gently unbuckled his pants. She watched Jay’s face the entire time, making sure he didn’t wake up. Lowering his zipper, she reached inside his boxer and found what she was looking for.

  “Come to Mama,” she whispered as she took hold of his big fat dick.

  Kendra licked her lips as she gazed at its size and thickness. The brotha was truly blessed. Slowly, she stroked the head, then worked her way down the length and back up to the tip. His dick grew brick-hard and a low moan escaped from his lips.

  Kendra tried to stifle her laughter as she moved in closer and filled her mouth with as much of his length as she could handle. She took him in and out, sucking his dick like a well-seasoned pork chop. It wasn’t long before his hips began to gyrate against her mouth.

  Jay couldn’t believe how real his dream felt. He was in Honey’s bed. Her legs were wrapped around his waist as he thrust in and out of her red-hot pussy. Oh, she was tight! The walls contracted and felt so fuckin’ good wrapped around his dick. He was about to explode when he opened his eyes, wanting to see her face when he came. His eyelids fluttered open. He had to blink several times before he realized where the hell he was.

  He looked down at his crotch to find Kendra’s head bo
bbing up and down.

  “What the hell are you doing?” He gasped although he did nothing to stop her.

  “What does it look like I’m doin’?” she said with a bit of amusement before she took him deep in her mouth again. The she reached up and cupped his balls, massaging them delicately.

  Jay knew he should put an end to her actions but he couldn’t. He was too damn close to coming to stop now. He closed his eyes and lowered his head back against the couch.

  “Yeah, baby. Just like that,” he moaned.

  Kendra didn’t need any instructions. She knew exactlywhat he liked. She knew exactly how to perform her magic.

  “Aaahh ... oh, shhiiit! I’m gettin’ ready to come!”

  Kendra worked faster and harder and within secondshis cream spilled inside her mouth.

  Jay waited until his breathing had returned to normalbefore he rose and went into the bathroom to clean himself up. He returned to find Kendra sitting on the couch pretending that shit never happened.

  “What the hell you do that for?”

  She sucked her teeth, then gave him a long penetratingstare. “I didn’t hear you complaining.”

  “Girl, what-the-fuck-ever! You just don’t know when to quit.” Damn! She had played his ass again. And he had thoroughly enjoyed it.

  Jay shook his head, reached for his jacket, and headed for the door.

  “Come back anytime. I aim to please!” she shouted.

  He could hear her laughter even after he shut the door.

  “Damn!” he hissed as he slammed his car door. She had played him like a fuckin’ harmonica. Kendra alwayshad this unexplainable power over his dick that he never could understand. Nevertheless, he would have to learn to control his sexual urges around her. But damn, he hadn’t had any pussy in months. Never in his life had he ever gone this long without getting some. He hoped to remedy that problem real soon. Only it wouldn’t be with Kendra’s triflin’ ass. He wanted Honey.