Have I Told You

by F. L. Jacob

  Not letting me go, he took my chin between his thumb and finger and made me look up at him. “Never look away from me. You are a beautiful woman, who deserves to be treated with respect.”

  My eyes started to water again. No man has ever told me I was beautiful before.

  “What’s wrong? Please, don’t cry.” He stroked my hair until I calmed down. “What’s wrong?” he repeated. I shook my head.

  Realizing I was still in his embrace, I stepped back out of his strong arms. “I’m sorry, I usually don’t cry so much,” I said, as I wiped my eyes with the backs of my hands.

  The crowd around us felt thick, and was making me feel claustrophobic. “I have to get out of here. Everyone is staring at me, waiting to call Mark to report what I’m doing.”

  Looking around he noticed what I was talking about. “Can I drive you somewhere? I do not want you to be alone tonight.” Panic washed over me once again. Where was I going to go? As if reading my mind, he took my hand and led me through the crowd, away from the party.

  The sounds of the party grew fainter as we made our way down the street hand in hand. Caston retrieved a key fob from his pants’ pocket and hit the unlock button. The lights on a blacked out Jeep Altitude flashed. He opened the door for me, helping me into the massive vehicle. I looked over the expensive interior; the technology alone on the console put my little flip phone in my pocket to shame. Caston climbed in next to me, started the SUV with a push of a button, and pulled out into the street heading away from the party. He played with some other buttons on the steering wheel, bringing the stereo to life. Looking over at me he asked, “What would you like to listen to?”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “It doesn’t matter to me, I like everything. Surprise me.”

  I saw him smirk in the dim light of the street lamps. “Fair enough.” He pressed a button and Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics played through the speakers.

  I let out a laugh. “Didn’t peg you for a 80s fan.”

  “You would be very surprised to see my iPod. I am very diverse,” he chuckled in return.

  Pulling off into the darkness, we rode in silence for a while. We were heading away from campus and out of the city. I turned toward him. “Thank you, by the way. I’ve never had anyone stand up for me before.”

  Watching the scenery fly past the window I became a little uneasy, “Where are we going? I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but I don’t know you.”

  He laughed. His laugh was intoxicating. “Sabrina, I am taking you to my house. I would hope you do not make it a habit to leave with people you do not know, but I could tell you had nowhere to go. I did not know anyone at that party, and since I did not want to leave you with a possible serial killer, I figured I would take you home tonight.”

  “Oh,” I said, facing forward again, biting the inside of my cheek, “You can call me Bre, and Mark’s not really that bad. He only gets like that when he’s drunk.” Or when he’s mad, I said to myself, which was all the time. I didn’t want to sound pathetic.

  “Do not make excuses for him, Sabrina. Any man who makes a woman feel like they are worthless is a piece of shit. And I will call you Sabrina. That’s your given name, and I think it is as beautiful as you.”

  I smiled, thankful for the darkness right now, because his words made me blush. He has called me beautiful twice now. I tried not to look over at him, because I knew he was staring at me with those eyes that made my insides flush.

  We continued on in silence, listening to the music play. He did have a very diverse collection. It was fun to see what would come up next. ‘Five O’clock Somewhere’ started playing and I laughed. “I could really use a strong one right now.” I said.

  “I’ll help you out with that as soon as we get back to my place,” Caston stated. My mind started imaging his strong one helping me out. I chuckled to myself, hoping he only thought I wanted a drink.

  We finally arrived at a huge gated mansion. “You call this a house? I’d say it is more like a palace or mansion,” I stated.

  He pulled up to the black iron gate and the sensor on the dash of the Jeep flashed, making the gate open. We drove along a winding brick drive, lined with landscaping lights leading the way. I wished it was light, so I could see just how beautiful the grounds were.

  We pulled up in front of the house. It was beautiful, a huge three story beige brick house with multiple wings. The up lighting around the front made the exterior look magical. The front door had a large canopy over it, and the landscaping around the front of the house was perfectly manicured. I felt like I was entering a fairy tale. There was no way this guy was for real.

  Caston parked under the canopy, got out of the car, and walked around to open my door. My mouth was agape and my mind couldn’t process the magnificent house, or the angel, in front of me.

  Caston laughed. “You will catch flies in your mouth if you do not shut it.”

  I quickly shut my mouth and bounced out of the Jeep, while tugging my skirt down, so he could shut the door. Caston grabbed my hand and raised it up to his lips to kiss the back of my hand, as a tall dark military looking man dressed in all black appeared in the doorway.

  He looked like he was about to speak, but Caston started talking first. “Terrance, please put the Jeep away. Also, do not start with me about leaving without you tonight. I had to get out of here. Please, tell Jules we will have a guest for breakfast, so she will make an adequate amount of food. Oh, and I will pass on the daily security update tonight. Thank you and good night.”

  “Very well, sir. Oh, and sir, please at least tell me where you’re going next time,” Terrance said with a sigh.

  Caston nodded his approval at the man’s statement. I cleared my throat behind him to remind him I was standing there. “Oh, Terrance, this is Sabrina. Sabrina, this is Terrance. He is my personal security guard.”

  Terrance put out his hand for me to shake. “It is a pleasure to meet you, ma’am. If there is anything you need please let me know.”

  “Thank you, and you can call me Bre,” I stated.

  Caston took my hand and led me through the massive oak door. We walked through the two story foyer to a great room with floor to ceiling windows. The furniture looked comfortable and not uptight, like I thought it would. There were blankets hanging on the back of the couches, and the center of the wall had a massive fireplace that gave the room a beautiful warm glow.

  “Make yourself comfortable,” he said, as he gestured toward the overstuffed couch, “I’ll be right back. I have to go check my messages.” I nodded in understanding, and turned to walk into the massive room.

  I stepped down into the living area. The carpet seemed to sink under my feet, and I realized my feet were killing me in the black high heels I had on. Suddenly, I felt underdressed in my fishnets, extremely short skirt, and tight tank top that definitely showed off my features. Here in this house, I felt cheap. Oh God, I hope he didn’t think I was like that. Terrance must think the same about me with the way I’m dressed. I became very embarrassed and wanted to turn and run out of the house without looking back.

  “What is going on in that head of yours, Sabrina?” Caston questioned with a smirk interrupting my thoughts. He had silently returned and was leaning on the pillar connecting the great room to the massive kitchen, holding two crystal tumblers of amber liquid. I wonder how long he was standing there watching me. He had changed, and was now dressed in grey sweat pants that hung low and a tight white tank top that showed off every curve of his hard chest. Instinctively I licked my lips at the site of him, my panties became damp. Running away from him became a distant memory and I decided I needed to find out everything about this man.

  Caston strode toward me, and handed me the glass of liquid. I took it from him, and took a sip. The liquid burned my throat, but it was exactly what I needed to feel comfortable enough to stay. He sat on the couch, and patted the seat next to him. I removed my heels, curling my feet under me as I sat down. I leaned forward to set my glas
s down, and pull my skirt down as far as I could get it.

  “You did not answer me,” Caston stated.

  My eyes dropped and said “I suddenly feel like a whore in this outfit, and I was hoping you didn’t think that’s what I am.”

  Caston sighed, and pushed my chin up to meet his eyes. They sparkled in the firelight. “Sabrina, you were at a party. A college frat party, no less. I would hope under normal circumstances you would not wear outfits like this and you would have less makeup on. It never crossed my mind that you were anything less than a beautiful woman. Please, do not let me hear you call yourself a whore again. Never drop your eyes for anyone, look them in the eye and show the confidence that I know is deep inside you. It displeases me to see you belittle yourself.”

  I didn’t realize I was biting my lip while he was talking, until he used his thumb to remove it from my teeth. The sensation sent a shiver down my spine. He dropped his hand from my lip, and then ran it through his hair. His muscles flexed in all sorts of ways that I cannot even describe. He brought his glass to his lips, taking a drink. I watched the liquid flow through his lips and his Adam’s apple move as he swallowed. My mouth was suddenly dry and my mind went blank. All I could picture was my lips on his neck and my hands roaming his hard body, pushing that tank up so I could feel his bare chest pressed against mine.

  I shook my head to bring myself back to reality, trying to keep a clear mind. I needed to find out everything I could about Caston, before I let myself go down a path that I felt I wouldn’t want to leave.

  I felt stronger and more confident than ever before. I knew Caston was the reason. Turning to grab one of the blankets off the couch, I said, “Tell me about yourself, Caston. Do you have a last name, and how come I’ve never seen you before tonight?”

  “My name is Caston Black.” Looking surprised, he asked, “Sabrina, did you honestly not know my last name?”

  I shrugged my shoulders. His name sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place it.

  He looked away, shaking his head in disbelief. “I am no one. Just a man with a big house,”

  “No way. I’m not stupid. You saved me from Mark, you have a mansion, you have a housekeeper, and you have a body guard. People who have body guards are somebody.” I reached out to brush his hair off his brow and questioned him again, moving closer to his side, “So, tell me Caston Black, who are you?”

  Caston let his head fall back and let out the most beautiful laugh. It made my lower half come to life, and I squeezed my legs to keep the feeling alive. He turned to look at me and there was a fire in his eyes, “My dear Sabrina, I do not know your last name, much less anything else. You at least know mine.”

  “Bennett. Sabrina Bennett. Now you know everything about me,” I laughed.

  “Hardly, but I will let it go for the moment,” Caston smirked. “I own a lot of companies. However, one you might recognize is Rose Builders. We are the leading construction company for commercial and residential building in the tri-state area.”

  “I think I’ve heard of it.”

  He continued, “I was meeting with the president of the university to discuss the new building I am donating and building. When I was leaving, I overheard someone talking about the party of the year. Since I skipped college, I wanted to see what they were all about, so I came home wrapped up my work and headed back. Thank God I did, because I would never have met you otherwise,” he said, while lightly stroking my shoulder.

  “It sounds weird, but I do get death threats, and even though I could handle things myself, my second in command at Black Enterprise insisted I do something about it, so I hired Terrance. In all honesty it has been nice having him around, because I get a lot done, while he is driving, and he is now the head of security for all my companies, so I know everything is consistent.”

  He stood up to refresh his drink. “Let me see—what else did you ask? Oh yes the housekeeper, Jules. She is the only reason I am still alive. If it was not for her, I would never eat and this place would probably be a pig sty. I work over one-hundred hours a week, so finding any time to myself is slim.”

  He walked back to me, but I couldn’t focus on his words, because I was hypnotized by the big bulge in his sweat pants. My eyes glossed over. “Earth to Sabrina,” I heard, and my eyes snapped back up to his, but I was heated with a full body blush. “Did I answer all your questions?” he laughed.

  “Why did you skip college? How old are you, anyways?” I asked.

  He sighed. “I started college, but never finished. I felt I was not learning real life skills, so I quit. My parents were furious, but I had to do what was best for me. I guess I did the right thing. I do not like to tell that story, though, because I do advocate finishing college. Let me see, how old am I?” He sat down next to me again. His closeness was sending shock waves through my body. I adjusted the way I was sitting because my panties were about to combust. “Well, my dear, I am the ripe old age of twenty-six.”

  “Oh, in that case,” I moved to stand up, “I can’t hang out with an old geezer like you.” I squealed, as he grabbed my arm and pulled me back down on to the couch. I fell over his lap and our eyes locked. One arm was cradling my shoulders and his other arm was draped across my thighs, where my skirt had ridden up. I took a deep breath and licked my lips, willing him to kiss me. His eyes were full of fire. I could feel his cock grow on my back.

  Caston suddenly sat me back on the couch and stood, walking away from me. I was left breathing heavy and wanting. What just happened? Am I not good enough? I should have known better. Of course, I’m not good enough. I hung my head and gathered the blanket, pulling it up to my chin, suddenly feeling more self-conscious than ever before.

  “I am sorry, it is getting late. Let me show you to your room,” Caston rambled, obviously as flustered as I was. I nodded, keeping my eyes cast downward in response to his statement, and stood up to follow, keeping the blanket draped over my shoulders, covering my body.

  I followed him through the hallway and up the stairs. We passed many closed doors. I wondered what one person needed with so many rooms, and what was behind the doors? We arrived at the end of the hall to a large double door. Caston opened the doors and let me walk in first.

  Once again, I was in awe at the beauty filling the room. It had magnificent dark cherry wood walls and coffered ceilings. There was a wall of French doors that were draped by rich, heavy fabric. The massive four post bed was sitting diagonally in the middle of the room and it was piled high with duvets and pillows that looked like satin. This bed had to be hundreds of years old. I would love to run my fingers along every hand carved groove into the beautiful headboard. The air conditioning made the hardwood floors cold under my feet, but there was a large oversized oriental rug under the bed that looked soft and inviting. There was a mirror, bigger than any I have ever seen, on the wall. It reflected the bed and the massive fireplace on the opposite wall. The lights were dim and the fire flickering in the fireplace made the room seem magical. There was no way this was the room I’d be staying in. This has to be the master suite.

  I looked over at him in confusion. He had just turned me down on the couch and now he was inviting me to his bedroom? “Isn’t this your room?” I asked, walking over to the bed to run my hands along the footboard.

  “I am not sure if Jules has the other bedrooms properly stocked, so I felt this was the best place to have you stay tonight,” Caston stated.

  Caston walked into the closet and brought me out a black t-shirt. Handing me the shirt he said, “I will be in the room next door, if you need anything.”

  He turned to walk out, before I could even say anything. I stood at the foot of the bed, with the blanket still wrapped around my shoulders, holding his shirt. The tears that were welling up finally reached their capacity and began to fall down my cheeks.

  My heart sank. I really wished there was another reason for bringing me in here. I felt all the rejection that Mark had made me believe for so long. He was right. No
one else would want me.

  Laying the blanket on the bed, I removed my skirt and let it fall to the ground. My tank top was next, leaving my breasts exposed to the cool air. I pulled his shirt over my head; his smell was on it, almost as if he had just taken it off. My nipples hardened and longed to be touched. I walk to the side of the bed and crawled on to the softest sheets I have ever felt. I snuggled down into the bed, still crying, and reached over to the empty side. How I wished Caston was there with me, looking at me with those eyes, feeling his hard body pushed up against me, cuddling, and kissing his soft lips. The tears began to fall harder. Eventually, I drifted off into a light sleep.

  I was awakened by the bed next to me dipping slightly. I hoped this was not a dream when I felt him wrap his arms around me and pull me close. He didn’t say a word. His face was right next to mine, and I was able to snuggle into his neck. My body was awakened by his scent, and I was able to finally open my eyes to look up at him. He was looking down at me with such feeling. “I couldn’t sleep while you were alone in here crying,” he said. “No one should have to be alone when they are sad. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for, Sabrina. Please, don’t cry.” He stroked my back with his strong hands.

  “Why did you leave me?” I sobbed.

  “I never should have left you, but I am not accustomed to having such strong feelings for a woman who is with another man.” He kissed my forehead, letting his lips linger there for a few extra seconds.

  “I’m not with him anymore. You heard him at the party. We’re over.”

  “Oh, Sabrina, he is far from over you, and you from him. Physically, yes, you might be, but mentally you are not. Do not get me wrong, I want you. I want you more than you’ll ever know, but I need your body and soul all to myself. I cannot share any part of you with anyone.” I tried to respond, but he quieted me. “Sleep now. Tomorrow I’ll take you anywhere you want to go, and we will figure this out together, okay?”