by Vera Roberts
“A few times?” Eli’s admission caught Simone by surprise. “I thought you stayed with Faith from high school on?”
“We broke up a few times when we both were stupid and thought we could do better than what we had with each other.” Eli shrugged with a smile. “I went out thinking it got better than Faith and turned out she was the first, the last, my everything.”
“Like the song,” Simone nodded.
“Just like the song.” Eli smiled.
Simone finished her drink and gathered her belongings. Any hesitation she had about meeting with Eli was calmly washed away over drinks and conversation. “Well, I need to get going. I have a huge day ahead of me tomorrow and I need to get my beauty sleep.” She started to pull some money out for the waitress.
“Your money is no good with me,” Eli stopped her. He finished his drink and got up from the booth, leaving three twenties for the waitress. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
“That was a very generous tip.” Simone acknowledged.
“My mom used to be a waitress. I know they don’t get paid worth a damn.” Eli commented.
They walked out to the parking lot to Simone’s car. “Well, here I am. Thank you for escorting me, Eli.”
“You’re welcome, Moni.” He gave her a warm embrace. “I’m just glad we were able to be on cool terms. You kinda scared me earlier.”
“I didn’t mean to.” She hugged back. Damn, he felt so good in her arms. “I just wanted to do what was right for both of us.”
“I hear you.” Eli softly inhaled Simone’s hair. It smelled like strawberries and peaches. He reluctantly pulled away from her. “We’ll be in touch, Moni.”
“We will, Eli.” She unlocked her car and opened the passenger door. “I’ll see you later, Eli.”
“Later, Moni.” He began to walk away.
Simone took off her jacket and put it in the backseat. She then closed the door and began to open the driver’s door when she felt someone behind her. She quickly turned around and was met with Eli’s cutting hazel eyes. Her mouth was slightly ajar and she started to say something but there was no sound coming out.
He grabbed her face and crushed his lips onto hers. She softly moaned in his mouth and grabbed a fistful of his hair pulling Eli closer to her, wanting to feel his body pressed against hers. Their tongues intertwined, devouring each other with heavy kisses. Eli’s hands wandered all over and Simone’s body ignited with desire. They slowly ground against each other, their bodies feeling the sweetest heat between them.
Eli’s lips explored Simone’s neck while a hand softly squeezed her breasts. He trailed his lips from her neck to her jawline, softly biting it as his mouth made its way back to her lips. He wanted to taste everything about her. The smooth inside of her thighs. The creaminess of her soft and wet folds. The cinnamon ring between her ass cheeks. He wanted to devour Simone. Inhale her. Consume her.
Eli also needed to stop. As much as he loved his wife, he couldn’t do that to her. He sharply pulled away from Simone. His erection was chafing his jeans and his heart was pounding. He took several deep breaths and wiped his mouth. He took one last look at her and then left.
Nine
“Do you like that?”
“Mmm…” she licked her lips. “I like it a lot.”
“What about when I do this?” He moved the feather between her thighs, playing with her core.
“Ooh… ooh, baby…” She arched off the bed. “That’s my spot.”
“I know it is.” Eli tickled his wife’s sex with the feather. “I know what you like.”
Faith’s mother watched Nathan for the night while she and Eli had a romantic evening at home. He treated her to a nice dinner at her favorite restaurant and then a carriage ride for her birthday. When they got home, that was when the fun really started.
She was currently blindfolded and tied to the bed frame while Eli softly caressed a feather all over her body. Various candles lit up the room while soft music played in the background. He had just given her a hot oil massage and fed her chocolate-dipped strawberries. While Faith appreciated the romantic foreplay her husband did for her, she was anxious to make love already.
“You’re not playing nice, Eli.” Faith squirmed beneath him.
“I’m not supposed to,” His voice was just above a whisper. He concentrated moving the feather over his wife’s body, circling underneath her breasts, caressing her thick thighs, and softly playing with her pedicured feet. She began to squirm again and Eli quieted her down. “Shhh… baby girl…. shh…”
“I’m about to shh you in a minute if you don’t give me what I want,” she said, bitingly.
“Ooh…” Eli spread her legs apart and nestled himself between them. He softly kissed her neck while his hands caressed her body. “Is that a promise, baby girl?”
Faith wished her husband wouldn’t call her by her pet name. It was doing crazy twisted things to her psyche and only increased her desire. She swore she was able to climax on her husband’s words alone. “Stop talking.” She ordered.
“Baby girl,” he purred while ignoring her like he always had. He moved his body down to take a nipple in his mouth and play with it while the other hand softly squeezed the other nipple. His hands soon found her hot sex, slick with her moisture and ready for him. He inserted a finger inside his wife and felt her immediately clench around him. “Baby girl is ready for my cock, huh?”
“Stop talking,” she warned again.
Eli sat back on his knees and lifted Faith’s legs so that her feet cradled his neck. He then slid inside her and thought he was going to lose his mind. She was so hot, so wet, and he felt like the earth was spinning. He was thick and her pussy tightly wrapped around his cock, inch by inch. “Ooh, baby girl…” He moaned.
“Gentle, baby…” Faith moaned.
“I promise.” He moved inside her, slowly at first, then joining their bodies as one over and over again. He eased back and rested on his heels, spreading Faith’s legs apart so he could circle her swollen nub with a thumb as he moved slowly inside her and watched her reaction. “You look so beautiful right now.”
He teased her a little, recoiling until he was almost out of her, then slamming back into her, rocking her hips with his. He lay on top of her, their tongues intertwined, and moved to a steady rhythm, encouraging each other with their moans, their thrusts, and their love. Their moans and grunts filled the room as they solidified their union once again.
He felt her squeeze tighter around his cock and her breathing became sporadic. She clamped down on him as he moved faster inside her. “Oh, fuck!” Faith screamed out as the orgasm shot through her body like a gun.
Eli moved faster inside his wife and with one last thrust, followed her. He stilled his body as the orgasm moved through him, touching on all of his senses. He often thought it was impossible to love her more than he did at that current moment. After a short while, he untied Faith’s hands and removed the blindfold from her face. He lay down beside her and caressed her face as she looked back at him with dreamlike eyes.
“Happy Birthday, to me,” she smiled.
“Happy Birthday, baby girl.” He snuggled with her and Faith fell into a peaceful slumber.
Eli lay in the bed and stared at the ceiling. It had been a while since he gave it to his wife the way he just did. It was so raw, so passionate, so no-holds barred. A part of it was being her birthday. But Eli knew a big reason for it was because of the pure guilt he felt for what he did earlier. His lust for Simone was making him chart in dangerous territory.
She tasted better than he had imagined and felt softer than he dreamed of. Her nipples became so hard underneath that tight sweater of hers and he felt like he was about to burst through his jeans at any moment. He pulled away because he had to. His love for Faith was stronger than his lust for Simone.
Eli would have to admit it was becoming increasingly difficult to be around his ex. He needed to stay away from Simone now and forever.
&nbs
p; ****
As Eli lay in bed and stared up at the ceiling, so did Simone. After their parking lot rendezvous, he quickly left without even saying goodbye to her. She didn’t know what that meant—guilt, disgust, or lack of self-control. All she knew was Eli was sending mixed signals to her. He wanted her. The way he ground against her, she felt how hard he had become. She knew he sensed how wet and ready she was. She didn’t care they were in a parking lot. She didn’t care that people could see them. She only wanted him and that was it.
Except, that wasn’t it. Not by a long shot. She met with Eli with the intention of keeping their relationship professional and platonic. Instead, they both were on the verge of a heavy love affair with an obvious disastrous ending. She knew Eli would never leave Faith and she wouldn’t expect him to. Eli also knew Simone wasn’t going to sit around and wait for him to make up his mind; she would do it for him.
Still, there was a pull between them that was electric, magnetic, beyond sexual, and crazy ridiculous. It felt like they were both finishing what they had started in high school.
Was it just lust? She couldn’t say for sure. What was going on between them was that fine line between infatuation and love with a heavy serving of lust thrown in. She wanted Eli. She wanted Eli badly. But she also didn’t want to play the role of the Other Woman. If he was going to stray on his wife, it wasn’t going to be with her.
Except that she wanted it to be her. She wanted to feel Eli move in and out of her heat. She wanted him to pull her hair and spank her. She wanted him to guide her hips as she rode him. She wanted to…
Simone covered her face with her hands and thought about what she was doing. She was lusting after another woman’s husband. Simone was capable of getting her own man and didn’t need to steal anyone else’s. She needed to stay away from Eli. No more answering his phone calls. No returning his text messages. Pepper would handle the Madre’s account so there would be no need for Simone to interact with Eli at all.
“So how’s New York, katydid?” Meredith asked over the phone.
Everything is fine except for the fact I want to fuck my married ex-boyfriend. “Everything’s good, Mommy. How are you? How’s Houston?”
“Houston is great as always,” Meredith said cheerfully. “I hope I’m not calling too late, am I?”
“No, no…” Simone briefly looked over and saw it was half-past ten. “I won’t be going to bed for another hour or so.”
“Well, I hope you don’t stay up too late!” Meredith chuckled. “How’s your business coming along? Did you ever meet up with Eli?”
Did I ever… “Yes, I did. He says hello. He’s has a wife and a son.”
“Well, good for him. He was always such a nice young fella. I’m glad you two are friends. Maybe he could hook you up with somebody?” Meredith suggested.
Yeah, him. “Mother…” Simone politely warned.
“I’m just saying, katydid. You’re almost 30. It’s time you settle down and get married.” Meredith commented. “I want some grandbabies.”
“You have four by Alicia,” Simone reminded, “that’s plenty.”
“I’m not complaining at all. I enjoy my grandbabies.” Meredith replied. “Yes, I wish she had them all by the same man, but that’s beside the point. When are you coming to visit us again?”
“As soon as wedding season calms down. We’re in the middle of it and I can’t leave just now. I’ll be there for Thanksgiving for sure, though. I can’t wait to see you and Javier.” Simone promised.
“Very well, then. That’s only in a couple months. I can’t wait to see you, again. Love you, katydid.”
“Love you, too, Mommy.” Simone then hung up the phone.
Simone let out a deep breath and curled into a ball on the bed. She was going have to set some firm and unbreakable rules with Eli. No contact. No phone calls, texts or e-mails unless they were strictly business-related. And possibly no friendship. It was clear that neither of them was capable of being just platonic and it was best for her sanity. She wasn’t going to wreck his marriage. She wasn’t going to be responsible for him leaving his wife. No. No. No.
If only she could get her mind to stop saying yes, yes, yes.
Ten
“All right, everyone. Today is the big day and we need to be on our game. In a few hours, all of the hard work we have done for weeks and months will culminate in the biggest day of the bride’s life. That being said, get that coffee and water ready, those protein bars consumed, and all of the prayer you can get. Are we good?” Simone looked around at her staff and the hotel employees. “Good. Now let’s go.
“When the wedding cake is delivered, I need that cake over by the corner with the windows. Not too close to the DJ or the booming bass will make that cake crash on the floor and I’ll have one pissed off bride. Pepper, can you make sure the bridal party is getting ready and on time. And when I say on time, I mean on time, not CPT. Monte, I need you to help with the hotel staff setting up the tables. Eight to a table. Do not try to squeeze another chair, that’s why we have extra tables. Chris, Rachel, and Monique, I need the three of you to set up the candy jar table. Please don’t eat the candy but if you have to sneak some, do it so I don’t see it. Everyone else pitch in where it’s needed. If we hustle, we can have this place on and poppin’ well before the bride gets here.”
Pepper raised a hand. “What about the centerpieces and other floral arrangements? When are they coming?”
Simone hesitated upon being reminded of Madre’s. She didn’t know if Eli was going to make a special guest appearance but she had to assume he was going to since he specifically handled her account—and her. “They should be coming in a couple of hours.” Simone glanced down at her watch. If she assumed correctly, those flowers would be making an appearance within three hours. Eli’s team would stop by the bride and groom’s respective places to hand out the bouquets and corsages before they made their way over to the church to decorate it and then to the hotel to decorate the ballroom. Assuming Eli wouldn’t be with his team when they made the deliveries, it meant his first and only visit would be the hotel ballroom.
Where she currently was and staying.
She got a room in the hotel because she knew she was going to be too exhausted to travel back to her apartment after the wedding. Plus, she needed to decorate the honeymoon suite for the bride and groom and it was just easier to stay where she was.
She couldn’t let Eli know what was going on. Oh hell, she couldn’t even let him be too close to her. It wasn’t so much she didn’t trust him. She knew for damn sure she couldn’t trust herself. It was in her best interest to be nowhere remotely close to her ex-boyfriend, despite how much she wanted to bed him.
****
“So today is the big day, huh?” Faith curled the bride’s hair. “How are you feeling? Nervous? Excited?”
“More excited than nervous.” The bride, Crystal, commented. She was a young Black female with dark chocolate skin and a richer personality. She had been dreaming of her wedding day for years, planning her day since she was a little girl. She was finally marrying the man of her dreams. “I’m just ready to get married already.”
“I hear that,” Faith nodded. “I remember my wedding day. I wish I was as cool and chill like you are. I was anything but.”
“You were all over the place?” Crystal asked.
“Girl…” Faith purred. “…I took a shot of vodka to kinda calm me down, you know? One shot turned into three or four shots. You see, I chased it with orange juice, thinking that was going to somehow help…”
“How drunk were you?” Crystal smiled through the mirror.
“Girl, I was so gone!” Faith chuckled. “Even my husband was like, ‘What the hell is wrong with you?’ and I was like, ‘Nothing, honey, I’m just really excited to get married to you, that’s all.’”
Crystal smiled. “How long have you been married?”
“Almost six years. We’re going to celebrate our anniversary at the end o
f the month. Together for twelve total.” Faith nodded as she curled another piece of hair.
“Wow,” Crystal commented. “Why did you wait so long to get married?”
“I was too young and I wasn’t sure about his ass,” Faith laughed.
“Faith, you know you’re lying!” Krista chimed in as she pressed a bridesmaid’s hair. “You knew Eli was the one!”
“I did but I don’t know…” Faith slightly shrugged. “You see, we met when I was still in high school. I was still a child back then. He drove a nice car, had the fancy jewelry, and had a couple of tattoos back then. He was a total bad boy. My father is a preacher so he was like, ‘who the hell are you around my daughter?’”
“The bad boy wanted to date the preacher’s daughter?” Crystal asked.
