Nights of Fantasy

by Sherelle Green

  The knock on the door let her know that Jaleen had arrived. The minute her eyes landed on his, she immediately felt better than she had all day. That’s what Jaleen does to me, she thought. Even on the bad days, he makes everything better. He’d chosen to wear dark jeans, a French-blue colored top and blue-and-white Nike gym shoes. It didn’t matter if Jaleen was dressed to the nines in a suit or adorned in casual everyday clothes, the man looked sexy in everything he wore.

  She welcomed his arms when they wrapped around her body.

  “I missed you,” he said, staring into her eyes. “How have you been today?”

  She rubbed her hands up and down his muscular arms. “Better now that you’re here.” His lips were on hers before she barely got out the last word. As were most of his kisses, his taste was intoxicating and overwhelming in the best way possible. When he kissed her like that, she could almost forget about all the sadness she’d been filled with lately.

  “Are you ready?”

  “Yes, let me just grab my bag.”

  When he’d asked her to pack an overnight bag, she hadn’t hesitated. They needed a night together. She needed to get lost in the only thing that could be described as the Jaleen Walker experience.

  “No blindfolds this time?” she asked, sitting in his car.

  “I have the same blindfold from our last date in my trunk if you want me to get it out,” he teased.

  Halfway into the ten-minute drive, she’d guessed where he was taking her.

  “I hope you’re not disappointed,” Jaleen said as he led her into his penthouse. Danni walked down the hall and followed the music she heard coming from the living room. His balcony doors were open and there was a tray with a bottle of wine and two glasses, cheese and grapes. The tray was sitting on a large blanket with two square pillows in the center.

  “I forgot that Music Under the Stars was going to be taking place across the street,” Danni said when they stepped onto the balcony. She tried not to think about the fact that just last week she was living one building over. “It’s supposed to be one of Miami’s most popular date-night destinations.”

  “I heard that, too,” Jaleen said, coming to stand closer to her. “And I couldn’t imagine a more relaxing night than listening to neo soul music underneath the stars...with you.”

  Her cheeks heated at his statement. Jaleen had always been a sweet-talker, but ever since the situation with her sisters, he’d been even more of a charmer than usual. How am I going to say goodbye to him if he wants to end this? The question had been looping in her mind even before the situation with Sonia and her sisters.

  Jaleen hadn’t just been a good friend to her since they’d started going on dates. He’d been her rock. Her support system. The one person she couldn’t wait to see whenever she needed a pick-me-up. After being forced to put distance between her and her sisters, how was she supposed to let Jaleen go, too?

  “Are you okay if we stay in tonight?” he asked.

  She glanced at the romantic setting, looking at the two candles that were lit on the table, right before she stepped outside to the balcony.

  “It’s perfect.” Every moment with you is perfect.

  “You’re in the highest balcony in the area.”

  Danni looked over the balcony at all the people in attendance. It had to be hundreds of couples littered around the area, but she was glad she was with Jaleen, away from the crowd.

  “Yes, I am.” She glanced over her shoulder just in time to catch the naughty smirk that crossed his face.

  They got settled on their comfy pillows and blanket right before the music started. Danni closed her eyes as the opening guitar chords mingled with the piano keys of the first neo soul song of the night. She wasn’t sure why, but the melody hit her harder than she’d expected and within minutes she was thoroughly wrapped up in the song. Lyrics soon followed that didn’t leave to question that the song wasn’t one that had a happy ending. It was filled with heartbreak. Disappointment. Missed opportunity. She didn’t open her eyes until the end.

  “You were mesmerizing,” Jaleen said as he passed her a glass of wine.

  She took a sip of her wine. “I wasn’t doing anything.”

  “Yes, you were.” He moved closer to her. “You were enjoying the moment. I mean, truly enjoying the moment.”

  He didn’t need to expand on what he meant. All week, she’d been acting overly happy, trying to compensate for the fact that she was nowhere near that. Clearly, her acting skills needed work.

  “How has everything been going at work?” she asked.

  “Frustrating,” he said, taking a sip of his wine. “I think the renovations are finally going to go smoothly from here on, but I’ve been trying to have an important conversation with my father and I haven’t been able to because he’s been avoiding me.”

  “Maybe he’s been tied up with work,” Danni said.

  “No, he’s definitely avoiding me because he doesn’t want to hear what I have to say. I think he has an idea of what I want to talk about.”

  She placed her hand on his shoulder. “Is it anything you want to talk to me about? Maybe I could help.”

  An emotion she couldn’t quite place crossed his face. He reached out and touched her hand. “There are so many things I wish I could talk to you about, but I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

  She smiled. “How about the beginning?”

  He smiled back at her, but his didn’t reach his eyes.

  What if he wants to talk to you about the five date rule? What if this was his way of ending what they started?

  “Are you trying to find a way to tell me that you don’t want to keep dating after our fifth date?” She hoped like hell that wasn’t the case, but if it was, she had to be prepared.

  “What? No,” he said, squeezing her hand tighter. “If anything, I don’t want to put a limit to how many dates we go on. I don’t want to stop dating you at all.” He gazed into her eyes. “Can’t you tell by now that I’m crazy about you? That you’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met?”

  His words warmed her heart. “Jaleen, you just helped me—and are still helping me—through one of the craziest times of my life. The amount of support you’ve selflessly given me has been more than I could ever repay you for.”

  “I’d do anything for you.” His eyes briefly dipped to her lips. “You have to know that already.”

  “I do know that,” she said, lightly touching his cheek. “So you should understand that I’d do anything for you, too.”

  “I know,” he said. “I know you would.”

  “Then why don’t you let me help you?”

  A battle of emotions crossed his face, but the most prominent one was secrecy. After everything they’d been through, he was still holding something back and, by the look of it, it was a way bigger issue than she’d originally thought.

  He had a few additional stress lines that hadn’t been there last week. On the one hand, she knew she could have been the cause of one or two, but she had a feeling that the problem he didn’t want to tell her about was the real cause.

  Danni thought back to that day they’d been in her condo. The day she’d told him about a few items on her list and the response she’d gotten when she told him that she trusted him. Don’t put too much trust in me, Danni. He’d meant the words then and, until now, she hadn’t really thought about them. How was she not supposed to trust him when he did so many things that were worth her trust?

  When Jaleen had originally made the bet, she’d accepted, knowing that their relationship would take a physical turn but never imagining that her heart would be as invested as it already was.

  Yes, you did, her inner voice teased. You knew how you felt about Jaleen before you even accepted the terms of the bet.

  It was true, he’d always had p
art of her heart. Guaranteed, it had been the part of her heart she’d reserved solely for those who annoyed her to no end, but still, it had been his.

  But now he has your complete heart. Now, he had more of her heart than he’d ever had before. More than he’d ever asked for and more than she’d been willing to give.

  But I gave it to him anyway. She’d given him a part of her that she’d sworn she would never give unless she knew the other person was as invested in their relationship as she was. Sitting there, looking into Jaleen’s dark brown eyes, she knew it was too late for her to take back what she’d given so freely.

  Was he crazy about her? Yes. Did he think she was amazing? Yes. Did that mean she was any less confused about where they stood? No. He may not know how he felt about her. May not share the same strong feelings. But it didn’t matter. I’m in love with him. Deeply, passionately, irrevocably in love.

  He clenched his jaw in the way that he did when there was so much he wanted to say but couldn’t. Or wouldn’t. Can he tell what I’m feeling? What I’m thinking? It was so amazing to her that although many things had changed between them—in a way—a lot was still the same. They still “vibed” off one another’s energy. They could still talk to each other without saying many words. Still notice when the other was uncomfortable.

  Danni felt broken, tired, confused about where her life was headed and what steps she should take next to fix her circumstances. Looking at Jaleen, observing his behavior, it was clear that he was dealing with the same inner struggles. However, she saw something else when she looked at him, too. She saw a man that, despite what he may be going through, wanted to love her. Wanted to give his heart to her.

  Which begged her to ask herself what was standing in his way? And since he wasn’t going to tell her how she could help him through this, what was she going to do while he worked it out on his own? The answer was obvious and she was overwhelmed with a clarity she hadn’t had in a long time. She’d do what she’d been doing ever since she’d realized she was falling hard for him. She’d love him. And when the moment came when he was ready to talk to her about what was holding him back, she’d listen.

  Danni wasn’t sure who made the first move, but their lips danced together in an intense lip-lock that had her entire body shaking in need.

  Their kiss was filled with unrequited emotion and feelings they hadn’t yet discussed. Danni poured years’ worth of secrets into that kiss. Months of anxiety over what she should do about her issues and weeks of sadness over the turn her life had taken.

  She kissed Jaleen with all she had. His kisses were like her lifeline and were filled with so much passion, it almost brought tears to her eyes.

  Her fingers touched the edge of his shirt and lifted it over his head. She went to his jeans next, unbuttoning and unzipping them before easing them down his muscular thighs.

  The night wind caught hold of the bottom of her dress as she assisted Jaleen as he removed it with ease. One of his hands played in her hair while the other unsnapped her bra. Danni softly placed her hand on the inside of his boxers, rubbing up and down his shaft before pushing them completely off. The way he grabbed her breasts and sucked her nipples was more erotic than he’d ever been before.

  When they’d had sex the previous times, their lovemaking had been patient, exploratory, yet gentle. Hungry yet in no rush to be fulfilled. They’d known it wouldn’t be the last time they’d made love. But tonight? Tonight there wasn’t anything patient about what they were doing.

  Their movements were almost desperate as they worked together to remove her panties. Their kisses harder. Touches bolder. Had Jaleen been a less-prepared man, she wasn’t even sure they would have stopped to protect themselves. Honestly, she couldn’t have cared at this point. All she could do was feel and live in the moment.

  As frantic as they’d been, he entered her slow...smooth. The change of pace caused her to moan loudly into the night air, not caring if she was waking up his neighbors. There wasn’t much she cared about right then...except relishing in the feeling of fulfillment she received with Jaleen buried deep inside her.

  * * *

  If any nosy neighbors were watching the act unfold, he was sure he looked like a man possessed as he threw back his head and howled into the sky.

  He was pouring his entire soul into their lovemaking and he knew Danni was doing the exact same thing. He could feel it in the way she kissed him, in the way she stroked him, in the way she gazed into his eyes as if he was the answer to her present and future.

  As non-poetic as it was, the only word he could think of to describe the feeling coursing through his body was jealousy. He was jealous of all the men in the world who loved a woman like he loved Danni but had no problems expressing their feelings. He was jealous of the couples who could love freely without having to experience the drama and heartache that he and Danni had faced and would still face when he finally had to tell her to truth. He was jealous of who he was three years ago. The Jaleen who had met Danni and had had more time with her than he had now. That Jaleen was a dumbass because he’d spent years not loving her. Not knowing that she was the woman who’d make him feel emotions he’d never felt before and, the entire time, she’d been right there all along.

  He’d stayed away because he’d known she was the one for him. He’d known she would be the one woman he couldn’t let go. Even so, knowing it didn’t make him any less pissed at his former self.

  Losing her was not an option. Not when he’d convinced himself that a woman like Danni didn’t exist for him.

  He leaned down to kiss her, needing to feel her lips on his. He was selfish. And even knowing that he was being selfish didn’t stop him from wanting more of her...in every capacity. He’d made that bet with her knowing that it wasn’t fair since she didn’t know his whole story. Then when he’d realized he was falling for her, he still couldn’t let her go.

  “I’m close,” Danni said, rotating her hips to meet him stroke for stroke. The rotation combined with her tongue placing kisses across his chest...his arms. Any place she could kiss was his undoing.

  Danni shuddered, quivering with need as she exploded in a passionate release.

  Jaleen felt his entire body jerk right after hers, tossing his head back and forth at the magnitude of every emotion he’d ever felt ricocheting through his body at one time. He collapsed at Danni’s side, pulling her over on top of him.

  She lay on his chest, panting as much as he was. Words weren’t spoken. Words weren’t needed. Some things one could only experience... Loving Danni was one of those things for Jaleen.

  Chapter 18

  Danni awoke sore and achy in places she never had before. Not that she was complaining. Last night with Jaleen had been one of the best nights of her life and exactly what she’d needed. It had been indescribable. The only thing better than spending an entire night making love to Jaleen was waking up next to him in the morning.

  “Hey, beautiful,” he said in a gruff voice.

  “Good morning.” She rubbed her hand against his five-o’clock shadow. “Did you sleep well?”

  “Amazing,” he said, pulling her to him. His stomach growled. “Maybe I slept a little too well because I brought dinner, but we never got around to eating it.”

  “And whose fault was that?” she said, playfully hitting his chest.

  “How about I warm up the food while you stay here in bed?”

  “Sounds like a plan to me.”

  Danni admired Jaleen’s naked body leaving the room before easing back into the covers. I could get used to this, she thought as her eyes drifted closed. She was almost back to dreamland when the constant chimes on Jaleen’s phone kept going off, indicating he had messages or emails. She tried to ignore it, but she couldn’t.

  Danni picked up his phone to turn it off but the name across the screen caught her eye.<
br />
  Cordelia? Why is the appraiser sending so many messages this early in the morning? While she was staring at the phone, Cordelia sent two images back-to-back.

  Don’t look at it, Danni. It’s Jaleen’s private phone. She was just about to turn away when the third image caught her eye. She didn’t even have to open the image to see what it was. It was a picture of Cordelia and Jaleen together in a pose that didn’t look like two old friends at all. They looked more like a couple. Danni hated to seem suspicious, but it also looked pretty recent.

  Now I know something’s up, she thought when another picture came through that appeared to have been taken the same day. In this picture, Cordelia was sitting on Jaleen’s lap and his arms were wrapped around her waist.

  “The food has arrived,” Jaleen said as he walked in with a tray of what was supposed to have been dinner. Danni pretended as though she’d been stretching and not looking at his phone. She was no longer hungry. Her mind was occupied by the picture on his phone, but she didn’t want to ask him and make it seem like she didn’t trust him.

  “Are you okay?” he asked. “You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.”

  Nope. Just a bunch of ruffles wrapped around my man. “No, I’m fine.”

  Jaleen observed her a few seconds more before walking to his side of the bed. His phone dinged another time and then another. He finally picked it up.

  Danni watched Jaleen read through the messages, noticing for the first time that he wasn’t able to hold his poker face as well as he usually did.

  “Did you look at my phone?” he asked.

  Danni shrugged. “I glanced at it because it kept going off.”

  “What did you see?”

  Danni took a bite of the rice that was in the bowl nearest her. She was nervous, although she had no reason to be. He was the one who had to explain the picture. “I only saw two pictures of you and Cordelia together.”