Bri became alarmed. “How much?”
“$50,000.” Trevet informed her.
“Give it to him, only if he gives up his parental rights to my son,” she stated firmly.
“Why is he demanding this?” She asked.
“He doesn’t want to pay child support, not that any court would give him child sole custody with his unsavory past, but he could still get joint custody, and demand visitation rights which would be his right, as Aaron’s father,” Trevet informed her.
“I don’t want him anywhere around my son,” she replied adamantly. “Can’t you stop him?”
“Don’t worry; he’ll give up his rights gladly.”
“Are you sure?"
“Positive Bri, trust me,” he reassured her. “Tomorrow at ten o’clock, we’ll meet with him.”
She nodded. “Come on Aaron,” she told her son.
“No,” Aaron whined, holding onto Trevet.
Trevet smiled at his young friend. “Let me take you two to lunch,” he invited. Bri smiled agreeing, finding she didn’t want to leave him either.
Trevet watched as Bri fed Aaron what he missed. He was glad to see them. Many times, he wanted to see the baby, or was it Bri he wanted to see. He did miss Aaron, but he couldn’t forget the mother either. He had seen her one day in Buckhead and wanted to go to her, but he was with another woman; why had he felt uncomfortable with her seeing him as if he was cheating on her was beyond him, but that’s what he felt like when he saw her. He stopped dating after that. He looked at her closely, shaking his head, as the realization of his feelings came to him. He wanted to see Bri; he wanted to be with Aaron. He decided he wouldn’t fight it anymore, he would see her more and often. Satisfied with his decision, he smiled.
****
Trevet and Bri sat across the large table, facing Tyrone and his lawyer. Tyrone sat there looking smug, and arrogant, glaring at Bri. She refused to look at him. Trevet spoke first.
“Ms Cleyvon has agreed to the lump sum alimony, if your client signs over his parental rights to their son,” Trevet stated resolutely.
“He’s my son too,” Tyrone said.
Bri raised her head to glare at Tyrone. “You could care less about him Tyrone!” Bri shouted at him.
Tyrone smirked. “He’s still my son,” he said snidely. Bri met his eyes.
“You’re a bastard,” she stated.
“Well dear wife, if you want your divorce and the rights to my son, I need another 50 grand,” he state confidently.
Bri’s mouth fell open, her eyes widened in surprise and disgust. She looked at Trevet with despair in her eyes leaning to Trevet and whispered. “What do I do?”
“You trust me?” He looked directly in her eyes.
She looked at him for a moment and nodded; if her father trusts him, she could also.
“Mr. Grant, we will accept your request, with the understanding, that this is all you will receive, furthermore; you will have no contact with Bri or Aaron. As for the child, he knows nothing about you and it will remain that way. A lifetime, no contact order, will be placed in the courts. You are not to return demanding more funds, when you receive this one time alimony payment, is that understood.”
Trevet pulled out the papers and slid them to Tyrone’s lawyer. The lawyer handed it to Tyrone, who looked over the divorce decree, and noticed the $100,000 amount typed on the papers. He looked up at Trevet, confused.
“How did you know I'd up the amount?” Tyrone asked snidely.
“I know your kind, Mr. Grant,” Trevet said arrogantly, extending his pen to him.
“What if I don’t except this?”
Bri put her hand on Trevet’s arm. She tensed up, looking up at him worried.
“Then, Mr. Grant,” Trevet said calmly, “We go to court, there will be investigations into your character, into your activities of the past three years or so; any criminal acts or discrepancies, will be brought out in court, and you, Mr. Grant will see repercussions of those acts, and you get nothing.” Trevet’s face stern and unreadable.
Tyrone snatched the pen from Trevet and signed quickly.
Trevet looked at his signature, opened his briefcase, and handed Tyrone the cashier’s check.
“Yes!” Tyrone said, moving from the table. “Have a nice life Bri,” he stated and left the room.
Bri sighed loudly, her hand still on his arm.
She looked up at Trevet’s handsome face. “Thank you Trevet, I don’t know how to thank you,” she said earnestly a feeling of euphoria flowing through her. She wanted to shout for joy.
Trevet’s hand covered hers. “Have dinner with me tonight?” He asked.
Bri smiled. “I’d like that.”
“Eight then?” She nodded.
Chapter Six
Bri admired herself in the full-length mirror. The candy red Givenchy dress fit her petite frame perfectly. The thin straps attached to the bodice of the dress, hugged her breast giving them a slight lift, the middle of the dress hugging her tiny waist, as the skirt of the dress swirled around her shapely legs, the red Kenneth Cole pumps completing her ensemble. Her shoulder length hair brushed her shoulder with loose curls. She smiled, pleased with her appearance.
When she went downstairs, Trevet held Aaron as he read his favorite book to when she entered the living room. Touch by what she saw Bri stopped in the archway a smile on her pretty face. She would love to paint the picture that was before her. Aaron young adoring eyes gazed into his face hanging on his every word while Trevet looked down at the book, occasionally glancing over at Aaron. The adoration in her son’s eyes made her misty. Aaron eyes were starting to get heavy, and he fought hard to keep them open. If she wasn’t sure of it before, she certainly was now; Aaron loves Trevet. If any child deserved a father, it was her adorable boy. She wasn’t sure if that was healthy for her son. Tonight she would speak to Trevet about Aaron attachment. She refuses to allow Aaron’s heart to be broken when Trevet no longer had a reason to come around.
Irene joined her smiling, as she stood beside Bri. “Isn’t that a lovely sight,” her mother said smiling. Bri smiled nodding. Irene eyes looked over at her daughter, “You look beautiful, baby, have a good time, because you deserve it.”
Bri kissed her mother's cheek. “Thanks, I will Mom.”
Aaron finally lost the battle, and his eyes slowly closed. Trevet set the book aside, rising he carried Aaron to his room, Bri following close behind him. She watched as Trevet gently lay her son down, leaned, and kissed his forehead.
Trevet turned to her. “Ready?” Bri nodded.
Trevet stopped and let his eyes journey from her beautiful face to her tiny feet. The blood flowing through him heated settling in his groin. “You’re beautiful,” he complimented softly. Taking her hand and led her down the stairs.
"Thank you, Trevet, you look quite handsome yourself,” She smiled up at him. The taupe Armani suit he wore made him look as if he stepped off the cover of the GQ magazine.
The supper club was one of Atlanta premier nightspots, famous for the blues and jazz bands that perform there. Once inside the maitre'd immediately shown to their table in one of the most intimate parts of the restaurant. After seating Bri, Trevet took his seat across from her. The wine steward was two steps behind the maitre d’. Trevet took the wine list and ordered a bottle of their best wine. After the wine steward left their server appeared, filling their water glasses, offering menus, and reciting the dinner specials before leaving.
Bri eyes scanned the interior of the restaurant. She had heard many praiseworthy things about this restaurant when she lived in Atlanta but never had the opportunity to dine here.
“This place is wonderful,” Bri commented as she looked around at the décor of the room.
“I’ve been here a few times. The food and the service are excellent. The wine arrived, after tasting it for his approval; the waiter filled each glass to the proper level, leaving the bottle in the bucket beside the table.
Bri tas
ted her wine surprised. “This is really good.” She watched as he lifted his glass and sipped, nodding his agreement.
Lowering her head, Bri gazed at her menu. When she lifted her head their eyes and met his beautiful gray eyes, her heart slammed in her chest. They stared at each other across the table for a moment, neither of them ready to break the silence. A current flowed between them strong and vibrant. Thankfully the sever return to take their orders and the moment was lost.
“I can’t thank you enough for help me get rid of Tyrone,” she commented before taking another sip of wine, and setting the glass back down. Trevet filled her glass again. She lifted and took another sip.
“There is no need for thanks; I would do anything for Mr. Cleyvon, you and Aaron.” It amazed him the difference in Bri. She was not the same person she was all those years. That spirited yet spoiled young woman was gone, and in her place, a beautiful deep but unhappy woman took her place. It made him wonder what she went through with Tyrone. He wanted to see her smiling and happy again as she was when they took Aaron to the zoo.
“Do you still plan to return to Virginia Beach now that Tyrone is out of your life?” He inquires nonchalantly, before he lifted his glass of wine. Please stay he wished silently.
She shrugged. It’s still open,” she answered. “I want to make sure Dad is better, eventually I have to return, and I have some commissioned work to complete.”
The first course of their meal arrived and the conversation move around to summer festivals coming, and the places she thought Aaron would enjoy seeing. As the meal courses followed the other, Trevet couldn’t help by compare her to the women he dated in the past. He never talked as comfortably with them as he did Bri. Their conversations jumped from politics to current events with such ease it fascinated him. He never knew one so young had so much depth.
As the meal came and gone, Bri felt herself relaxing more and more with Trevet, or could it be the wine she consumed. The band performing tonight had a female lead singer, who voice was beautiful and set off the romantic setting in the intimate ambience of the room. Bri felt a freedom; she had not felt in a very long time. The conversation they shared was light and airy, exactly how she felt this night, she was glad she came out with Trevet. A silence developed between them, when couples started to dance. Trevet took her hand and led her to the floor. The band played an old Etta James, ‘Trust in Me.”
Trevet gracefully moved her to the music causing of feeling of comfort in his arms she had never felt. She sighed, closed her eyes laying her head on his chest. She loved the feel of Trevet's arms around her, the way his strong hands held her hand to his chest as he swayed with her. So engrossed in him, she didn't hear the change in the music. Trevet gently pushed her away turning her with one hand.
Surprised by this move, and before she could gasp, found her back into his arms. She laughed a girlish giggle, as he easily moved her around the dance floor. It surprised Bri, for a man so tall that he could be so graceful. When the song ended, he led her back to the table.
“You’re a terrific dancer” she complimented him.
“I love to dance,” he admitted. Trevet smiled watching her as she smiled into his eyes. This is the first time he has ever seen her so relaxed and carefree.
“You should laugh more often, it’s a beautiful sound.”
Bri head lowered. Trevet reached out, with his finger, lifting her chin.
“Why do you lower your head?” He asked quietly.
“I didn’t realize I did,” she said softly, looking into his eyes, slowly losing all logical thoughts. Her eyes strayed to his perfectly chisel mouth, and remembered his kiss, and secretly wishing he would kiss her again. Her heart raced from the memory.
“Another dance?” He asked, extending his hand. She slipped her small hand into his large, and allowed him to lead them to the dance floor.
They swayed to a rendition of Kenny G's, 'Songbird" her head on his chest. She could hear the steady beat of his heart in her ear, eyes closed, and she exhaled.
Trevet loved the feel of her small body in his hands, her fresh, clean scent, with a hint of powder intoxicated him; if he were not careful he could fall for Bri Cleyvon, very easily.
She sighed again, and he felt her hand tighten on his back, pulling herself closer to him.
He looked down at her head on his chest. Feeling his eyes on her and her head lifted. Their eyes met. Her eyes lowered to his mouth, and she leaned into him unconsciously.
“You know not what you do, my lady.” Trevet stated seductively.
Her lips parted slightly. His head lowered and gently kissed her lips. She moved closer to him. She pulled her hand from his and wrapped her arms around his neck, rising up on her toes, still moving to her music. Trevet lifted his head, his gray eyes dark with passion as he gazed at her face. Her eyes closed, and she moaned softly.
That was Trevet undoing. He had to get her away from him, because at that exact moment, he wanted her more than he has ever wanted a woman.
“Bri,” he said softly. Her eyes opened. “I better take you home,” he suggested.
Bri frowned with disappointment in her eyes. Maybe he didn’t want to be with her, the way she wanted to be with him, she thought.
“Not yet,” she replied softly, boldly.
“Okay,” Trevet said pulling her closer to her, he wasn’t ready to leave yet, loving too much the feel of her in his arms. He couldn’t understand the feelings he had for her. It’s only been a few months after their first meeting. What was happening, the emotions he felt for her were too fast, but he’d be damned if he stop them, he just needed to slow things down for now.
Bri didn’t want this night to end. She sighed and laid her head on his chest. They danced to three more songs, where sometimes they were the only couple on the floor.
He was bringing emotions out in her, she thought were long gone. She didn’t quite understand what it was she felt. Was this how it felt when you desired a man, she wondered. The dawning came suddenly. She wanted him, she wanted him to make love to her, and she wanted to feel the fire she saw in his eyes, to know what it felt like to have a man like Trevet make love to her. It didn’t matter that they had just met; right now she wanted to feel his body beside her, stroking her, and the feel his hard body beneath her hands.
She raised her head. Their eyes met.
“Take me to your place.”
His breath caught in his throat. “I don’t think that's a good idea.”
“Why?”
“If I..,” Trevet paused, falling into her deep brown eyes, the passion he saw smoldering there, her mouth aching to be kissed.
“Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life,” she stated firmly.
****
At his home, Trevet took her shawl told her to take a seat while he got refreshments for them. Bri took a shaky breath and hoped she wasn’t making yet another mistake in her life by being alone with Trevet. Her eyes scanned his living room. The room was beautiful and elegantly designed with a masculine flair, everything made to accommodate his large size. The chairs that surround the fireplace in the room were large and extremely comfortable looking. The glass and chrome pieces accented the room perfectly.
A few minutes later Trevet returned, with two glasses of wine in his hand. Handing one to her, he took a seat beside her on the large sofa. Bri smiled her thanks.
“Trevet, do you have a girlfriend?” Bri broke the uncomfortable silence.
“No, I date,” he answered honestly. .
“Don’t you ever want to marry?”
He shrugged. “Someday, I guess.” He answered, wonder why she asked so many questions. Bri, why all the questions?”
“I don’t know,” she answered and sipped her wine. “I’ve never been alone with a man before, other than Tyrone, I guess I’m a little nervous.”
“Don’t be, nothing will happen unless you want it to,” he said assuring her.
Her head lo
wered. He raised her chin, looking deeply into her dark eyes. “What is it, you do to me Bri?” He thought.
“Do you still love Tyrone?”
“No,” she said honestly, “I don’t think I ever loved him,” she admitted. Taking a deep breath, Bri felt the need to disclose all she went through with Tyrone, only if to make him understand why she was the person she is now.
Bri took a deep breath. “He was horrible to me, he beat me, it seemed all the time,” she told him. She visibly saw Trevet’s body tense. She reached her hand out and touched his arm; she could feel his muscles tense under her hands.
“It’s alright now, he is out of my life forever,” she reassured him. Looking at him, tilting her head to the side. “You know what I hated the most about Tyrone, the way he would take me; anytime and anywhere he wanted. Just jump on me like some rutting hog; I hated it, I hated him. The only good thing was conceiving Aaron.”
Trevet didn’t comment, just listened as she talked. He was glad she was losing some of her fear now that Tyrone was out of her life. She is so damned cute, he thought with her dulcet tone and gentle smile.
“That’s because you have never been made love to, Bri,” he told her. “When the right one comes along, you’ll know what it really is.”
Her head lowered. “Will you show me what its like?” She asked so low he barely heard her.
When he didn’t respond, she raised her head, her eyes gazing into his. “Bri, are you sure you want this?”
Yes,” she whispered. “Show me how enjoyable it could be, Trevet, I never felt that. I want to know what it's like to feel passion, to feel the touch of your hands or just to be held.”
He leaned toward her, pulling her head to him. His lips touched hers, her mouth parted, feeling her sweet breath on his lips, his tongue slid into his mouth, little spasms of pleasure were darted through her now, and making her aware of a strange little twinge of need between her thighs. She never experienced anything so glorious. She slipped her arms around his neck, returning the kiss. Trevet’s lips left her mouth raining light kiss to her neck moving to the swell of her breast above her dress. Bri’s head lolled back, and moaned softly, loving the feel of his lips on her. Where his lips touched her skin, an intense sensation went through her body so strong she gasped. Trevet raised his head, their eyes met. She touched his lips, tracing her fingertip over his lips.
All I Need (Found love) Page 4
