Her breath rose with his touch. “A dog or a cat can’t talk back, they can’t tell you that they love you or give you a hug at the end of the day.” Venus wanted to say more, but unable to think clearly once his fingers pushed inside her.
Jake tilted his head, still smiling. “You’re right about that. I know what else they can’t do.” From where she was lying, his long dark lashes fanned out in perfect even length over his almost closed eyes. He brushed closer, his face finding a home against the coolness of her breast, closing his lips around the thick skin of her nipple. He pulled the sheet completely away, pulling her body into position. He kissed her first before disappearing into the center of her thighs. His tongue moved softly, searching for the tip of seduction. Stroking and lapping with gentle affection, lingering on the smooth firm surface that grew more sensitive with each pass of his tongue. She closed her eyes, clutching him near his ears, under the smooth line of his jaw. Her breath rose higher. Her mind soared, then sailed back to easy. She would take it like a woman, even though her hands were digging into the fabric of the couch. He worked her over, silently, effortlessly, as he tested and trailed in search of new information for the next time, and the time after that
There, right there. Venus threw her head back.
A dark low hum escaped her lips. She wanted to run, save herself before it was too late. She held on while the helix rose, her hands pressing his face deeper into her center. She couldn’t stop to care if he was receiving oxygen, breathing for life, because she was in her own world, her own selfish, hungry world. She rumbled, her body shook, involuntarily, bringing her to a melting spot. She could understand how it could all get confusing. Love, lure, lust. They all started with L, four letters, easy on the tongue. The tongue so sweetly dipping into her sex, moving up and down. She throbbed with relief against his mouth.
He only gave her a moment to recuperate before starting over where he’d begun. Making her understand there was more that she needed. Companionship? Stability? But there was so much more. He turned her over, pulling her to the edge of the couch. He slipped inside of her from behind. His arms wrapped tightly around her waist pulling her hips flush against his pelvis. She twisted around to watch him, the sheen of moonlight glistening on his chest The sweetness of her sex still fresh on his lips.
The rhythm of their dance changed rapidly. From slow and methodic to fast and dangerous. Every nerve, every cell in her body screaming his name. The message was clear, he didn’t want her to ever forget that it was he at her center, moving through her core. Driving harder with each stroke. There would be no room for doubt or confusion. “Where are you? Tell me …” he breathed in her ear. He wanted to hear her say it.
“With you, Jake. I’m here with you.”
His hands spread wide, controlling the angle of her hips. He moved with her at his mercy. He slid out, pulling away for only seconds, which felt like an eternity.
“Please.” Her whisper quickly fell into a whimper. “Please, baby.”
He took his place and began again. Starting over once again. It had to be clear and understood. With each blow of reason, Jake was telling her where she was, who she was with and why. She would never forget, he made sure.
When she thought she couldn’t take any more, he fell into her body, taking her with him, melding himself into her. Their bodies collapsing in unison.
“What was that game called?” Venus asked, breathing hard, needing air.
“I don’t know,” he said as he rolled over, perspiration coating his chest as it rose and fell, “but I think you won.”
STORM WATCH
EXHAUSTED, she drifted off to sleep. It wasn’t a deep, lost sleep. She could still feel the world around her. Hear the sound of the ocean as it rolled and landed in the shore. Feel the rambled beat of the music coming through the walls.
When she’d awakened, cold surrounded her. She was on the floor in the living room with a blanket and sheet wrapped around her. Venus looked up and saw the shift of daylight, but it was gray, dark. Fog low and heavy hovered over the beach. She looked at her watch, realizing Jake was probably gone. She cleaned up and got dressed with more speed than the mornings she’d overslept in college, rushing out of the dorm wearing her shirt wrong side out, or the same thing from the previous day because nothing else was clean. Funny how time moves but nothing changes. She rushed back down the stairs, and called Jake’s name one last time. The house was quiet, missing an integral part of its appeal, its owner.
She drove on the freeway, faster than what was reasonable in the downpour that covered the city. The rain fell in huge pellets, thumping the hood and the cloth top of her BMW. The window wipers worked feverishly to keep the surface clear. She turned the music down when she thought she heard her phone ringing.
“Venus Johnston.”
“Girl, it’s me.”
“Wendy, where are you?”
“I’m sitting in your friend’s living room, well, I guess you can call it a living room. There’s no walls, but it’s where the couch is.”
“Legend,” Venus said with more disdain than she wanted, “is not my friend. He’s an associate. He works for me, although he wouldn’t admit the later part without a gun to his head. What happened? You two do the watoosi?”
Wendy laughed, then clearing her throat, said, “We’ll talk about that later.” Her voice lowered. “He’s getting out of the shower. And where were you all night?” She chuckled. “Oh yeah, I remember … how’s Mr. JP himself this morning?”
Venus ignored the quip. “Go with Legend. He’s coming to the studio, then you can take my car back to the apartment.”
“He asked me to stay here and wait for him until he got back.”
Venus swerved, nearly running into the back of a Continental. “What the hell? I don’t think so.”
“Right. What am I thinking?”
“I don’t know. Something in the air.” Venus flipped the switch of her windshield wipers, making them go as fast as they could. What the hell had gotten into both of them?
“I’ll see you in a few.” Wendy hung up the phone.
Venus pressed the gas even harder. She wanted to use the very same foot to deal with Legend. The arrogance, to think Wendy had nothing to do but sit around and wait for his return like some concubine. Venus knew he wouldn’t have made an offer like that if there were any chance he couldn’t get rid of her. Married with children was always more appealing. If she was single and free he would have been escorting her to the door at the break of dawn.
She had no choice but to come to a dead stop. The traffic had piled up, probably an accident
Men. She thought again. No, not all men. Not Jake. Yes, Jake.
She parked and got out, trotting and splashing in the small puddles to cross the street. The building was open, but empty. She wondered if Jake was even inside. Just because he wasn’t home didn’t mean he’d beelined it to work. He could’ve gone to work out. A body like his wasn’t maintained by doing pencil-and-paper push-ups all day.
Jake’s office door was slightly ajar. She listened for a second before knocking. She pushed the door open and stepped inside. Empty. Venus walked around his desk and looked for a sign of life, a steaming cup of coffee, his briefcase, but saw nothing. She sat down in his chair and scooted close to the front of the desk, letting her hands run along the edge. The drawer handle was calling her name. She pulled it lightly, expecting it to be locked. It rolled out easily. She looked at the doorway before looking down into the contents of the drawer. Office supplies, pens, notepads, paper clips. She shut it and moved to the next one. She rummaged with her hand, lifting up from the bottom. The weight of a picture frame between her fingers. With one jolt, she pulled it out from underneath everything else. It was Jake and a woman. They were outdoors in the snow. Ski gear, hats and gloves. She was soft and beautiful. They shared the same perfect smile, the same warm eyes. Her skin was a tad bit lighter, but still the same toasted brown.
Venus almost droppe
d it when she heard Jake’s voice.
“Did you find everything you were looking for?” He walked around the desk and took the picture out of her hand. “That’s my mother. You would have found better stuff if you hadn’t rushed out of the house. I pulled up as you were taking off.” He held up a small white bag. “Breakfast.”
Venus moved to sit on the edge of his desk and watched what must have been his routine, taking off his jacket, opening up his calendar, settling into his chair. Venus opened the bag and pulled out the cinnamon twist. She took a deep breath and then put the donut to her mouth and took a bite. A small dust of sugar remained on her lips while she chewed. Jake stood up and kissed her, taking the sugar with him. He opened the drawer and put the picture back.
“Why do you keep it hidden?”
“Because everyone thinks it’s my girlfriend, gets kind of annoying.”
Venus smiled. She’d thought girlfriend, only because she knew he didn’t have a sister. “She looks so young.”
“She was young when she had me.”
“You made her sound like an old battle-ax, yelling at you through the window.”
Jake smiled. “She reminds me of you. Strong, opinionated, smart, but really a softy on the inside, just doesn’t want anyone to know it.”
“So, I remind you of your mother, exactly what I needed to hear. What about your dad. Where’s he?”
“He’s here, in L.A. He and my mother split when I was about seven or eight. Never really saw much of him after that. What are you trying to figure out?” he asked, slightly annoyed.
“Who you are,” she answered point-blank.
“You know that song’ ‘If you don’t know me by now …’ ” He threw up his hands, in aggravation. “… guess you’ll never know. Why can’t you trust what’s happening here, between us? What makes it so unbelievable?”
“I know you’re real.” Venus put her hand out to him. She felt his lips kiss the smooth ridge trailing from her wrist. She closed her eyes while he pressed his face to the center of her palm.
“Then don’t run.”
She stood up. The air was still moist and cool, even in the confines of his office building, sealed away from the rain and wind. A quiet grayness moved over them, probably a cloud swelling above the city, ready to unleash more of the storm.
He took tighter hold of her hand. “After last night, you’re still going to go?”
“I have to” was all she said before walking out of his office and closing the door quietly, as if she could stop from disturbing him. As if she could leave him the way she’d found him.
Venus went straight to the conference room. The building was starting to fill up with people. She put her head down and perused her handheld organizer, looking over her schedule. Wendy’s flight was changed so they could fly out together in the morning. Her mother’s next chemo appointment wasn’t until next week. She wondered how it was affecting her.
Henry answered on the first ring. He sounded full of energy, she tried to pump herself up so not to bring him down. “Dad, how’s everything?”
He explained that Pauletta had been sleeping nonstop for the last twelve hours. Good for her, Venus thought No one else had. “I’m going to D.C. tomorrow. I just wanted to let you know, but if you need to reach me, call my cell phone. I mean for anything, Dad.”
He was tinkering with his train, she could tell by how long it took for him to respond. “We got it covered around here, Precious. You go do what needs to be done. Take care of yourself, me and your mother aren’t going anywhere.”
“Okay.” Venus looked up and saw William and Beverly go by she quickly put her head back down. “Tell Mom I’ll be back Monday. Give her a kiss for me.”
“Will do.”
She dialed Chadnum next. She hadn’t checked in for a while. William had been the liaison, essentially covering for her while she dealt with her family drama. After Venus finished leaving messages and giving updates, she focused on what she was going to say when she saw Airic. She didn’t want to accuse him of anything. He’d probably had enough of that with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
She couldn’t help herself, her fingers started dialing, easily, without the assistance of her brain. He answered on the first ring. “It’s me.” Venus pressed her knees together to keep them from shaking.
“Hey, you.” Airic didn’t sound like a downtrodden man, beaten by the system of unjust accusations.
“Wendy’s here, she told me about your company, Airic. About what’s happening to you.” She blurted the words out like a four-year-old tattle-tale. There was a long pause. She gripped the phone tighter, frustrated that he had nothing to say. “Airic, what’s going on?”
“You’ll be here tomorrow. Can it wait till then?”
The same anger and humiliation she’d felt when Wendy brought it up, the same slap of astonishment fresh as it had been that day, crept like a needling itch all over her body. “No! I don’t want to wait until I get there. I want to talk about it now.”
“Tomorrow, Venus.” The line went dead. Venus was cut off. She threw the phone back in her purse stood up and paced along the long glass wall of the conference room.
“Hey.” Wendy came in smiling. Legend was right behind her, the classic smugness all over his face. He was dressed in a suit Venus hadn’t seen before. His long dark locks cascaded over his shoulders like ivy.
“Delivered in one piece.” he said to Venus, all smiles. His dark skin was supple and healthy, and his eyes shone light, the same glow radiating on Wendy’s dark skin. They sat side by side, their shoulders touching.
“We had the best time … dancing,” she added deliberately. No one would guess Wendy wore the same clothes she had on yesterday, her hair and makeup still in place.
“Here are my keys.” Venus tossed them over the table. “The car is right out front You probably should go and get some rest, a nap or something.” Venus pulled her collar away from her skin searching for relief. “You know what, I’ll walk you out.” She checked her watch.
Legend stood up. “I got it. Relax.”
“No, I’ll go.” Venus stood up.
Legend looked at Wendy as if he expected her to side with him. There was no contest Venus rolled her eyes, sucked her teeth. “Ssssh.” Walking out the door, she didn’t look behind, hoping Wendy knew better than to leave her hanging.
“WHAT was that all about?” Wendy caught up to her side. They stood in front of the red-doored elevator. It was time for secret conversations.
Once inside, Venus looked Wendy in the eye, “He’s an arrogant jackass, and now my best friend finds him appealing. Makes my skin crawl.”
“Well, what’d you leave me alone with him for?”
“I didn’t know you were going to be screwing him by nightfall. You’re married, Wendy.”
“Oh, right, and you’re not?” The elevator stopped.
“No, I’m not” They both pushed out at the same time.
“You may as well be and that didn’t stop you from falling for what’s his name, Jake. By the way, I see your dilemma.” She tried to add a touch of softness. The click of their high heels echoed in sync on the hard enameled floor.
“Still, I’m not married. Yon are,” Venus said while they walked out the double doors. The wind and rain sprinkled their faces. She welcomed the coolness.
“I plead temporary insanity.” Wendy held up her right hand. “But I had a good time. Once in a while, it keeps the doors from closing in on you, the difference between being locked up like a lunatic in your own mind.”
“So, you’ve done this before?” Venus asked, trying not to show shock.
“Seventeen years … honey, please.” Wendy said, leaning in to hug Venus when they reached the car. “You’ll see what I mean when you get married.”
YOU’LL see what I mean when you get married. Those words stuck with Venus throughout the morning. No. She wouldn’t know what Wendy meant once she was married. Venus shook her head while she sat in
the conference room. No. Once she was married, there wouldn’t be a need for any extracurricular behavior. She wouldn’t be lonely in her marriage. That was the point of finding a partner in the first place. Someone she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, someone to grow happy and hairy with, accepting the good with the bad, the highs with the lows. Sticking together against whatever trouble may come. That was her ideal of a happy and fulfilled life; why would someone risk a lifetime of love for a one-night stand?
Before she could contemplate the answer, Jake walked in holding two Starbucks cups. He set one down in front of her before sitting next to her. “You didn’t get your morning coffee.” He didn’t do his usual distance routine, trying to maintain a professional atmosphere. He remained in the chair next to her and even rolled it closer.
“Thank you,” Venus said, clearing her throat. Her eyes darted to check the look on Legend’s and William’s faces. Nothing, not even a question mark appeared over their heads. They simply had taken it for granted that Jake would know whether or not she’d had her morning coffee since she’d obviously awakened with him. Was she being paranoid?
Venus took a sip, ignoring her instantly scalded tongue. “Where’s Beverly?”
“She’s downstairs, she’s got deadlines,” William answered.
“I think she should be in this meeting. I’ll go find her.” Venus was geared up to remove herself from the table.
“Trust me, she’s got her own problems to handle.” Jake touched her arm. “I’ll fill her in later. I just got a call from Lila Kelly’s manager. Seems she has other offers on the table similar to ours.”
The first thing Venus thought of was the T-shirts that probably had landed on every competitor’s front porch like the daily news. “I knew it.” Her eyes went into one heavy line. “I knew this was going to happen.” She faced Legend. “This is the last time, you hear. I’m sick and tired of you trying to undermine me. I’m sick of the disrespect. I’m sick of your attitude. Once we’re through here, you’re out” She said it with a finalized thumb over her shoulder.
Would I Lie to You? Page 26
