I wave and turn around and Miguel puts his hand on my back.
“Have a good night, y’all,” Devin says in a sing song voice.
Miguel turns and shoots him the finger and Normani and I laugh.
The drive back to the apartment is quiet. The car filled with question and tension.
Alone.
We’ll be alone in the apartment and my palms start to sweat as I rub them against my skirt.
“You okay?” Miguel asks glancing quickly at me.
“Fine, I’m fine,” I say my voice a bit higher than normal.
“I’m not gonna bite you, Aless. Slow, remember?”
“I… I know that.”
We pull up outside the apartment and walk up the stairs. Miguel unlocks the door and turns the lights on as we walk into the entrance. I drop my purse on the front table and take off my heels.
“You goin’ to bed?” Miguel asks.
His voice is filled with tension and I watch him through my lashes.
“I… yes, probably, are you?”
“Yes.”
“With me?” I whisper.
“If you want me to.”
We stare at each other, neither one of us knowing how to proceed. I want him so badly, but I also want to take things slow. I promised myself that the next man I slept with would be special. Miguel is special, so, so special but I’m petrified. I haven’t felt intimacy with a man in so long, I don’t even know if I’m capable of it anymore.
I watch him walk forward, stopping in front of me and he traces a finger down my cheek. I close my eyes and let out a sigh. His touch soothes me, relaxes me, but the nerves are still there.
“I'm not gonna hurt you, Aless. This is on your time, okay?”
I let out a breath I was unaware I was holding, and Miguel wraps his pinky around mine as we walk towards his bedroom. I smile, the simplest and smallest gesture but the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
“Sleep with me tonight?” he asks brushing my hair behind my ears.
I nod silently and put my arms over my head as he smirks and starts to unzip my dress on the side. His eyes stay on mine as he moves the zipper down, inch by inch until it stops.
“Hands down,” he whispers.
I drop my hands and my dress drops to the floor. Miguel’s eyes never stray from mine and I lick my lips, my center painfully throbbing for a release.
“You have impeccable self-control, Mr. Jameson,” I say with a small smile.
His green eyes hold my blue one’s hostage as I reach behind me and unclip my bra, letting it fall to the floor. His eyes still stay on mine and I see his jaw flex.
“Still not budging, huh?” I ask biting my bottom lip.
He groans but his eyes stay open, not dropping down to my bare breasts.
“I’m… I want you to know this thing between us is not just about that, Aless. Sleep. We’re just gonna sleep tonight,” his voice uneven.
“Is that really what you wanna do, Miguel? Sleep?” I ask, tracing his jaw.
His eyes finally close and when they open, they fall to my breasts.
“No,” he rasps. “No, I want to make you feel good, Alessandra. I want to make you come.”
His eyes find mine on the word “come” and I swear I felt myself drip down my leg.
“H-how do you wanna do that?” I ask taking my hand off his face.
“Lay on the bed,” he commands.
I stand in front of him and watch as he unbuttons his shirt, one by one. He loosens his tie and it takes all of me not to yank him to me by it and smash our lips together. I remain still, ignoring his words to lay on the bed as he unzips his dress pants and I see the bulge I’ve been dying to touch.
“Not tonight, Alessandra. This is about you, please lay down.”
I nod and turn to the bed, laying back, my head against the headboard. Miguel crawls up my body, his lips brushing against my ribs, up one side and across my collarbone. I look down and watch those swollen, sexy lips wrap around my nipple and an agonizing groan is ripped from my throat.
“F--fuckkkkk.”
I cover my mouth with my hand, and I hear Miguel chuckle as he kisses around my breast.
“Where did that dirty mouth come from, Ms. Thompson?”
“Miguel…” I whine.
He smiles and drops down, capturing my lips with his. Our lips move together with expert strokes, as if we’ve been kissing like this for decades, instead of days. His tongue invades my mouth and I slide mine against his, the warmth against my own elicits a moan from my throat.
“You. Are. Mesmerizing.” he says in between kisses.
He crawls up higher next to me and wraps his arm over my stomach, moving his hand further and further down until his middle finger connects with the lips of my pussy.
“Oh my… shit,” I whisper.
“Relax, Alessandra. Feel. Just feel. Close your eyes and just listen. My fingers running through your wet lips. I can listen to that sound all fuckin’ day. You’re so wet for me. So ready to succumb.”
I’m panting as if I just ran a marathon and I grip Miguel’s hand as his fingers work against my clit, helping him rub against me faster.
“I… Miguel it’s… it’s not going to be long,” I admit. “I… no one… it’s been… oh my God, I’m so close.”
“Let go for me, Aless.”
His words and then two fingers slipping inside me is my undoing. The warmth of bliss shoots down my legs and the orgasm crashes into me. A euphoria I haven’t felt in a long, long time, maybe not ever, drowns me and a tear slips out of my eye. The tenderness of his touch opens something in my heart I thought died the day I walked into the club.
“Did I hurt you?” Miguel asks softly cupping my cheek.
“That was amazing, Miguel. I… let me…” I say reaching down between us.
He stops my hand and squeezes it, bringing it up to his lips and kissing the top.
“Sleep, Aless. Sleep.”
He doesn’t have to tell me twice and I roll on my side, as he pulls my body close to his, wrapping an arm around my waist, his breath against my neck. I’ve never felt this pure comfort and I fall into the most peaceful sleep I’ve ever had.
Chapter 14
Alessandra
“I’m a little nervous leaving y’all here without supervision,” Bella says from the front door of her house, looking inside to Devin, Damon, Nico and Miguel and the kids, Mia, Mason, Cooper, Joanna and Grace. Avery, Tucker and Harrison come plowing into the house from behind us and Bella gasps.
“What the… what is… Mama? What the hell are y'all doin’ here?” Bella asks as Charlotte, Gabe, Savannah and Jackson come up the stairs.
“Mani invited us to the bachelorette party. Your daddy and Uncle Jackson came by to help the boys babysit.”
“Oh Lord, my poor house. Y’all are cleanin’ tomorrow, I am off duty!”
“Easy angel. Don’t stress that pretty little head. We’ll be fine,” Damon says kissing her lips and rubbing her belly.
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go y’all. I need to sniff some wine.”
“Mama, you sure you want in on this? I plan on gettin’ wild tonight,” Lacey says loudly looking over her shoulder.
“Keep it up, Blondie! You want me to sp-” Nico stops what he was saying and looks over to Jackson.
He shakes his head and points at Lacey.
“You don’t need a reminder. Behave yourself,” he growls.
“Love you Hulk!” She says in a sing song voice, blowing him a kiss.
“Y’all don’t know wild, right Charlie?” Savannah says slapping Charlotte’s butt.
“I can’t even remember the last time we got crazy, Sav. I don’t wanna be pukin’ all night. I’m takin’ it easy.”
“So, what’s on the agenda?” I ask as we all pile into the limo waiting outside the gates of Bella and Damon’s house.
“Strippers?” Bella asks waggling her eyebrows.
“No!” Lacey says quickly. “You’re k
iddin’, right?”
“Ha! You fraud! You talk such shit to Nico, you’re such a fake!” Bella teases.
“Bella June, do you see the size of that man? When he spanks me, I swear I can’t sit for a week. I mess around but my ass needs a fuckin’ break,” Lacey grumbles.
“I do not wanna hear this,” Savannah says covering her ears.
“Hey! Y’all wanted to come party with us, this is normal conversation,” Lacey says reaching over to the bar and popping the champagne bottle. “To Ms. Muhammad Ali Mani! May your marriage be blessed with kids, kinky sex and…. kickboxin’! Ha! Look at that, what a speech. Cheers. My job is done for the night,” Lacey says raising her glass and chugging it down.
We all laugh and grab our own glass raising them and then clinking them together. I keep mine in my lap, my fingers itching to bring it to my lips. Just a taste, but I command my hand to stay where it is.
You're in control.
“You nervous?” Bella asks Normani.
“Not at all. This is just official stuff. We’re already bonded together stronger than any piece of paper. We have Jo and Cooper, this is just the party,” she says smiling.
Her cheeks blush and I sigh, envying the love she has for Devin, the life they share together.
“I couldn’t have picked a better daughter-in-law,” Charlotte says hugging Normani to her side.
“Thanks Charlie,” Normani says smiling.
“You ladies okay back there, or need some more air?” Asks the driver, rolling down the partition.
“We’re good, thank you,” Bella answers.
He rolls the partition back up and Bella pours everyone another glass of champagne, eyeing my glass. My pleading gaze registers and she keeps her lips together, topping off everyone else.
“Y’all are drinkin’ for me tonight. You know I go hard,” she says laughing instead.
“Oh, believe me, we know,” Lacey smirks.
“Don't start, Lacey Lee!” Bella warns.
“Just sayin’, you're the pregnant one. You don't know how to behave yourself,” Lacey smirks.
“Says the girl who practically banged a complete stranger against the bar wall the first night they met,” Bella laughs.
“You screwed Damon’s brains out the night y’all met! Kept me up all damn night,” she says back.
“Yes, in the privacy of my apartment, ya hussy,” Bella says shaking her finger at Lacey.
“Are you regretting your decision to come yet?” I ask Charlotte and Savannah.
“You would think we’d be used to this by now,” Charlotte grumbles.
“Oh Lord, remember that time Jackson came to the office and caught Yeargen all flirty with me? God, I kicked over a lamp and everything, I swear I thought my desk was gonna go right through the damn wall,” Savannah says fanning herself.
“Jesus Christ,” Lacey groans covering her ears.
“Call it even, Lacey Lee. You do not want me to continue,” Savannah says arching an eyebrow.
“Fine, fine. Steer the conversation away from you and Daddy having office sex please!”
“Here, ladies. I’ll be waitin’ around the corner when you’re ready to head back home,” says the driver.
We all slide out of the limo and make our way to the front of the nightclub. The bouncer checks all our ID’s and we walk to the back of the club where two tables are set up with bottles.
“I feel old as fuck!” Savannah says over the music.
“That’s because we are!” Charlotte laughs.
“I can still keep up with these youngins’ let’s go y’all. I ain’t drivin’ tonight,” Savannah says lifting up a shot glass. “To the next woman that captured the heart of another baller! Welcome to the family, Mani!”
We all clink glasses and I put the shot back on the table quickly as if it burned me. The music pulses through my veins and I flashback to another time, a time with Frankie at a college party at the beginning of my addiction. I close my eyes tight, fighting past my brain, commanding me to just have a sip, just one to take the edge off.
“No,” I whisper. “No.”
“Hey, you okay?” Bella asks putting a hand on my shoulder.
I nod and give her a tight smile.
“Fine, yeah, sorry. I just haven't been feeling good lately.”
“You're not....” Bella's eyebrows shoot up and she eyes my stomach.
“No! No! I mean that would be kind of like the immaculate conception so… no,” I say laughing.
Bella narrows her eyes at me and hands me a water bottle. I guzzle the whole thing down, feeling my body relax as it hydrates. I fiddle with the wrapper of the bottle, keeping my hands busy, my brain busy and ignoring the voices telling me to give in. My ability to deny in an environment like this would probably evaporate if it weren't for this group of women right now, Peter or Miguel, so I focus on them instead.
After another round of shots, we make our way out to the dance floor. We stick to dancing in our group, avoiding the few occasional men trying to break through. A familiar scent hits me and then the silhouette of a man, a man I once knew plows into me.
I stumble back a little as his face comes in and out against the lights of the club and Savannah steadies me, recognizing the panic in my eyes.
“Not tonight buddy,” Savannah says blocking him from coming towards me.
“I don’t want you,” he snaps. “I want the blonde.”
He points at me and Lacey steps up next to Savannah.
“No blondes or brunettes in this group want you, so I believe my mama said to back the fuck off,” she snaps.
“And what are you gonna do about it?” The man asks laughing.
His voice, oh God his voice. I close my eyes again, turning away from him.
“How about we back up buddy, or I’ll do a magic trick. It’s called shove my foot up your ass and it’ll come out your nose,” Normani yells.
I don't hear his next words but Savannah, Normani and Lacey come up next to me, putting a hand on the small of my back.
“You okay?” Savannah asks.
“Fine I just...I knew him. I… thank you.”
She nods and we walk back to our booth, sipping our drinks and I need some air. Being here, seeing Frankie, was it Frankie? God, I need to collect myself.
“I'm gonna go use the restroom,” I say to the group as I stand.
“I'll come,” Bella says. “Lord knows I have no bladder these days.”
We walk through the crowd, as I push a path for Bella to get through. I open the bathroom door and stop in my tracks when I see a woman stumbling out of the stall, a black band around her arm above her elbow.
She eyes us, turning to the garbage and throwing something away, taking the band off her arm.
“What a night, right?” Say's the girl with a droopy smile.
She looks at me, her eyes empty and the deja vu hits me right in the heart. I close my eyes, willing the memories to go away, holding on to the strength I've gained, the ability to deny. She needs some of this strength, a lost girl trying to fill a void. I forget my earlier turmoil and plunge into action, wanting to fix her, wishing someone helped fix me before it was too late.
“You good?” I ask her as she stumbles on her heels a little.
I catch her under the arm and eye her track marks, keeping my breathing under control.
“Never better. Took a second there, but I'm good now,” she says righting herself.
“Listen, I know it feels great right now, all your problems feel like they're floating away. You're calm, you feel like nothing bad can touch you, right? It can, it'll catch up to you and sometimes it's too late. I know none of this is making sense, you're high you don't care just… take this if you need someone. You're not alone.”
I reach into my bag and take out my business card, putting it into the front flap of her purse. She lets me of course, because her reflexes are too shot to stop me.
“I don't need help, I can handle it,” she slurs.
<
br /> “I know you can, but you shouldn't have to do it alone,” I say giving her shoulder a squeeze.
She rolls her eyes and stumbles past me and Bella out the bathroom door. I go to the sink, splashing water on my face, waking myself up and patting myself on the back for another moment of weakness avoided. I could have followed her out, tracked down her supplier and been in a back alley somewhere finally feeding the monster but I didn't.
Last Round (Double Play Series Book 6) Page 12
