by Donna Hill
She was staring at the blank computer screen when Stephanie walked up to the front desk.
“Hey Ann, what has your lip hanging?”
Ann Marie’s eyes rose slightly. She shrugged. “One of dem days.”
Stephanie leaned with her elbows on the counter. “Which one is it?”
“Huh?”
“Terrance or Sterling?”
Ann Marie pouted. “Both. Well sort of.” She sighed heavily. She turned to Stephanie and looked her in the eye, kept her voice low. “I slept with him the other night.”
“Oh,” Stephanie said, wide-eyed. “Well…”
“Well what?”
“How was it girl?”
Ann Marie giggled. “Loss for words.”
“You? I don’t believe it. That good huh?”
“Better.”
“Dayum.” She thought for a moment. “So what’s the problem?”
“Don’t think I should get involved with Sterling until I clear up this mess with Terrance.”
“Never stopped you before.”
“This is different.”
“How?”
Ann Marie struggled to put her emotions into words that made sense. Every scenario she came up with sounded juvenile and naïve. “I care about him.”
Stephanie’s expression twisted. “Color me slow, but is that really such a bad thing, Ann?”
“For me it is.” She shook her head. “I can’t go down that trail again. Falling in love, being committed, really caring about another person.”
“But Ann, that’s what being in love is all about.”
“Not for me. I lose myself. I lost myself with Terrance and it damn near ruined me for good. Maybe it did.” She raised imploring eyes to Stephanie. “And I know if I give in, the same thing will happen with Sterling.”
Stephanie steepled her fingers in thought trying to make sense of Ann Marie’s logic. Here she was with two men who obviously cared about her and apparently gave it to her so good she turned into putty. Most women would give their two front teeth to be in Ann Marie’s shoes. But if anyone knew the devastation brought on by becoming sexually addiction to someone it was Stephanie. Especially when it was the wrong someone.
“Sis, listen to me. Sterling is not Terrance. What Terrance did or didn’t do, you have to let it go. You’ll never know what the future will hold if you won’t kick the past to the curb. Take it from someone who knows. Conrad had me hooked, not only sexually but financially, as well, and it took him raping me to make me finally open my eyes to what I was doing to myself.” She took a breath. “But then I found Tony.” A slow smile bloomed across her polished mouth. “And it’s all good. But you have to be willing to take that chance.” She covered Ann Marie’s hand with her own. “Call him,” she said softly.
Ann Marie pushed her lips together.
“You know you want to talk to that man.”
Ann Marie smiled. “Yeah.” She dragged out the word like the last note of a song. “I do.”
“Then call the brother.”
The front door opened and Tony peeked his head in and waved.
“Duty calls,” Ann Marie teased.
“We’re going to see The Color Purple.” She put on her coat and tucked her purse under her arm.
“Have a good time.”
“I will.”
Tony walked up to the desk. “Hey Ann, how are you?”
“Not bad. Busy, but that’s a good thing.”
“I see some new faces.”
“Yes we hired four people in the last week. Two massage therapists, a front desk hostess and a trainer for the exercise rooms. Tomorrow I’m scheduled to see three people for the café.” She turned to Ann. “Oh, and a guy may come in tomorrow, a Drew Hawkins. He was the one referred by Ron to do security.”
“Security?” Tony quizzed.
Stephanie heaved a breath, thought about dancing around the truth and decided for the time being that was the best option. “Yes, we decided that we needed it. We can’t be too careful.”
“That’s true. Hey, we better get going or we’ll be late.”
“See you tomorrow, Ann.” She lowered her voice. “And don’t forget what I said.” She mouthed, “call him.”
“Have a great time you two.” Ann Marie chuckled as she watched them leave. It was still hard to believe that with all the bad vibes that had existed between her and Stephanie for years, they were ultimately the ones each other turned to. Funny.
She turned the computer screen toward her and pulled up Sterling’s profile. For several moments she simply enjoyed looking at his picture. He did say he loved a challenge, she thought. She was happier with him than she had been for a long time. He knew about Terrance and was still willing to try to work things out. He was good to look at and great in bed and, as usual, when she was backed into a corner by emotion, she turned into a bitch.
Sterling didn’t deserve that. She reached for the phone and dialed his number. Hopefully, if and when he answered, she would have figured out something to say.
“Oh my goodness,” Stephanie gushed as they exited the theater. “It was absolutely incredible.” The light of her smile was like a beacon as they walked arm and arm down the street. “The singing…” she pressed her hand to her chest. “Makes you want to run out and go to church or something.”
Tony chuckled. “It was good. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“I can’t thank you enough. I had an unforgettable time. Wait till I tell the girls. They are going to be soooo jealous.” She giggled.
“You’re going to rub it in their faces?” he asked pretending to be appalled.
Stephanie jerked her head to the side. “I sure am. They all have a man. Let their man take them like mine did.” She hugged his arm tighter.
He looked down at her. “I’m your man.” His tone wavered between a statement and a question.
Stephanie stopped walking and looked directly into his eyes. “Yes. You’re my man.” She reached up and kissed him on the lips. “Don’t forget it,” she said against his mouth before stepping back.
“That would be pretty hard to do with you being my woman and all.” He grinned.
“Let’s go home,” she said, the three simple words full of invitation.
“You won’t get an argument from me.”
“Make yourself comfortable,” Stephanie said. She took his coat and hung it up in the hall closet. “Thirsty?”
“No, I’m good.” He walked into the living room and sat down.
“I’m going to change I’ll be…” The ringing doorbell cut her off in mid-sentence.
Tony glanced over his shoulder toward the door as Stephanie went to answer it. She pulled it open a bit and drew in a sharp breath.
“What are you doing here?”
“Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
“No. Leave. Now.”
“Steph, what’s wrong?”
She turned halfway. Tony got up from his seat and came toward her.
“It’s okay, Tony.”
“Tony! Who the hell is Tony?”
Chapter 14
Conrad looked Tony over, sizing him up. He spoke through clenched teeth. “This is none of your business.”
“If it has to do with Stephanie it is my business. I’m pretty sure she asked you to leave. I won’t be so nice.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Take it anyway you want.” Tony took a step forward. Stephanie pressed her palm to his chest.
“Did she tell you about us?” Conrad taunted.
Tony’s eyes widened for a split second. “No need. There’s nothing to tell. Now leave.”
“I want you out of here Conrad,” Stephanie shouted. “Do you understand? Now!”
Conrad’s face went crimson. The veins in his neck pulsed. “This isn’t over until I say so,” he spat, wagging a finger at Stephanie.
Tony lunged for him. Stephanie stepped up and shut the door seconds before Tony grabbed Conrad. She quick
ly locked the door.
Tony’s chest heaved in and out. His nostrils flared. “Who the hell was that?” he shouted pointing to the door.
Stephanie paced in a small circle, biting down on her thumbnail. “My old boss,” she mumbled.
“What?” He craned his neck forward in disbelief.
She swallowed. “Come inside. There are some things I need to tell you.”
Tony sat down with his arms draped across his knees, his head lowered as he listened to Stephanie’s sordid tale of her affair with her boss.
“I know it was stupid to get involved with him…he’s married.”
Tony’s head jerked up but he remained quiet, knowing that if he said something he would lose it.
“At first it was just about the sex,” she admitted and flinched when she noticed the tight expression on Tony’s face. “But as time went on and I got promotions and higher commissions, it all helped to take care of my sister Samantha. I felt trapped. I knew if I broke it off he would blacklist me in the industry. Then what would I do?” Her eyes begged him to understand. “Then when my friends decided to open the spa I saw it as my way out. I broke off the relationship and quit my job.” She blew out a breath. “But he refuses to accept that it’s over. He came to the spa the other day. That’s why we got the security,” she admitted.
Tony ran his tongue across his lips and slowly shook his head. “Why didn’t you tell me all of this before?”
“I…I knew…I thought you would think the worst of me.”
He was silent for a long time. Stephanie’s heart raced. She twisted her hands in her lap.
“We all make mistakes. Most times we think that they’re for the right reasons.” He looked at her. “Come here,” he said softly.
Timidly Stephanie came to stand in front of him. He took her hand and pulled her down to sit beside him.
“Is that everything, all of it?”
She nodded. It was everything. Everything except the rape. She wasn’t ready to tell him that, not yet, maybe never.
He gathered her close. She rested her head on his strong shoulder. “You’re going to get a restraining order against him. I’m going with you. And you’re going to stay with me for a while especially after he gets served. I’m not taking no for answer. I don’t want you to think about it. Just get your things together.”
Stephanie was so stunned she couldn’t react. This was a brand new Tony. Not the easygoing, fun-loving guy she’d met in a diner to discuss brochures.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“There’s nothing for you to say unless you disagree.” His gaze didn’t falter.
“Tonight?”
“We can stay here tonight. It’s late. Tomorrow we go down to the court and file the order and tomorrow night you stay with me.”
Slowly she nodded in agreement. “Okay.”
He stroked her hair. “It’s going to be all right. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
She’d never had a man stand up for her, want to protect her. The men in her life had all wanted something. If it wasn’t sex it was what she could do for their careers. This was all so new and scary.
“Why are you crying?” He tilted her chin upward and wiped a tear from her cheek.
“I don’t know. Overwhelmed I guess.” She sniffed and laughed nervously.
He kissed her forehead. “You don’t have anything to worry about. I’m here.”
That only made her cry harder.
“Steph,” he held her closer. “What is it? Tell me.”
“I…it’s been so long…” she sniffed and wiped at her eyes. “That I’ve had someone…” her voice broke into little pieces of pain, “take care of me.” Her body shuddered as she tried to hold in her sobs and failed.
Tony held her tighter. “Sssh, it’s okay babe. You have me now. And I’m not going to let anyone hurt you ever again,” he breathed into her hair. “Never. Understand?”
She bobbed her head up and down against his chest. Tony caressed her back soothing her like you would a wounded child.
Stephanie always came across to him as totally together, tough and resilient. This was a side of her he’d never seen or imagined: soft, dependent and vulnerable. Right at that moment he wanted to be able to shut out the world, stomp out all those who’d caused her a moment of anguish and make everything right in her world. He was falling for Stephanie. The truth was he’d already fallen. Hard. When that guy showed up at her door something inside of him snapped. He wasn’t naïve enough to believe that Stephanie didn’t have a life before they’d met. But he didn’t want her past in his face. And from tonight on, he’d make sure it wasn’t in hers either. If she let him, he knew that he could make her happy, make her forget all about the past and heal all of her wounds. Tonight was a new beginning for them both.
“Tony…”
“Hmmm.”
“Make love to me.”
He pulled back and looked down at her. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “Very.”
His eyes slowly rolled over her face, looking for any signs of doubt or hesitation.
She leaned upward and kissed him. He ran his fingers through her hair and pulled her closer. She parted her lips and let him in. Their tongues danced slowly together, in and out, exploring.
Stephanie moaned softly when his hands trailed down her back, playing along her spine. She arched forward, needing to be closer. She fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, finally opening it. Her fingertips grazed his chest down to his belly. She felt the muscles there shudder beneath her fingers.
“Not here,” she whispered against his mouth. She eased away and stood in front of him. She pulled her T-shirt over her head, unzipped her jeans and stepped out of them.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured. His eyes ran a hot path along the length of her curves.
She stretched her hand out to him. He took it and followed her into her bedroom.
For Stephanie everything moved in slow motion, like a movie, frame by frame. She captured it all. Each kiss, each touch. Tony was gentle, patient, willing to take eternity if it would make her happy.
They tumbled onto the bed, legs, arms and mouths entwined, unwilling to let even a breath of air separate them.
Tony unfastened her bra and freed the heaviness of her breasts. A sharp intake of breath filled the air when his tongue laved over one taut nipple then the other. His fingers strolled along her waist until they reached the band of her thongs and pushed them down. Somehow she managed to wiggle out of them and kicked them to the side of the queen-size bed.
He tore off his shirt and tossed it to the floor then quickly returned his mouth to hers. She sucked on his bottom lip while she worked to unfasten his pants. The kiss grew more frenzied as he pumped against her. He got out of his pants and boxers and they both gasped in stunned surprised when their bare flesh came fully in contact with each other.
He pushed her legs apart with a sweep of his leg and rested between her thighs. She bent her knees and Tony cupped them above his arms, raising her legs until they braced his shoulders.
Her heart raced furiously with anticipation. The pulsing head of his penis beat against her wet opening, longing to be filled.
Tony snatched a pillow and shoved it under her hips, raising her even higher. He looked down into her eyes. Her lips parted. The air caught in her throat. The sensation of him entering her stilled her heart. Her stomach quivered. He pushed a little more. More. He groaned. Stephanie’s head rocked back and forth. His hands held her hips, immobilizing her as he pushed in and out, slow and steady.
Stephanie’s mind spun. Her body desperately needed to surge against Tony’s. But he wouldn’t let her. It was deliriously maddening. He raised her legs higher; draping them around his neck then spread them high and wide. Tony rotated his hips.
“Tony!” Her neck arched.
He got on his knees still holding Stephanie’s legs wide open. He jammed into her until they both shuddered. H
e did it again and again.
“Ooooh…” Stephanie moaned.
“Give yourself to me,” he urged.
Stephanie’s gaze met his demanding one. She pushed hips upward. Tony sucked in air from between his teeth. Stephanie smiled. She squeezed her inner muscles. Rocked her hips. She cupped her breasts in the palm of each hand offering up the fruit to Tony. She clenched her muscles again. Tony shivered, lowered his head and took one nipple into his mouth and feasted.
Stephanie moved in slow circles beneath him. Then faster, faster. Their breathing escalated in syncopated rhythms until it became one unified high note that shattered into millions of bright lights and bursts of electricity that shot through their veins.
“Agh,” Tony growled as he surged into her, his spine freezing as life shot out of him.
“Ooohmygod,” Stephanie wailed. Her insides clenched in a wild frenzy. Her body shook uncontrollably.
Tony squeezed her to him, burying his face in her neck. Stephanie wrapped her limbs tightly around his body, binding him to her until the last of their vibrations were spent.
Stephanie slowly lowered her legs, the muscles screamed. She snuggled against Tony. He brushed her damp hair away from her face and kissed her tenderly on her cheek.
“In the morning,” he said his voice raw and gravelly, “pack a bag. We can come back for anything else that you need.” He kissed her lips.
Stephanie locked her fingers behind his head and nodded. “Are you sure?”
“Never more sure about anything.” He eased off her and lay on his side facing her. Stephanie draped her arm across his waist. “I want you to be just as sure.”
Stephanie swallowed. If she did this, took this leap, she would once again be putting her well-being in the hands of a man. She looked into his searching eyes. Is that what she really wanted?
“I’m sure,” she said, the words, soft but strong.
“Steph…”
“Hmm?”
“We didn’t use protection.”
She drew in a slow breath and looked into his eyes. “I know.”
