by Naomi Chase
If she could survive all those things, she could survive a broken heart.
That evening, Tamia met her best friend, Shanell, for drinks at their favorite downtown bar.
Shanell and her husband, Mark, had just returned from a ten-day Caribbean cruise. Shanell’s hair was beautifully cornrowed, and her skin was toasted a deeper shade of brown from romping in the sun.
Tamia smiled at her. “You’re glowing.”
Shanell glanced up from her margarita. “What? My face is shiny?”
Tamia laughed. “You know what I mean. You look totally happy and relaxed.”
Shanell smiled. “I am happy and relaxed. Mark and I had a wonderful time on the cruise.”
“I know. I can tell from these gorgeous pictures.” Tamia scrolled through the remaining images, then sighed enviously and handed the smartphone back to Shanell. “You two did some amazing things on your shore excursions.”
“We sure did.” Shanell’s cognac-colored eyes glinted wickedly. “But not half as amazing as what we did all over that boat. And I do mean all over.”
Tamia shrieked with laughter. “TMI!”
Shanell grinned, sipping her margarita. “I brought you back a souvenir. It’s in the car, so remind me to give it to you when we leave.”
“Okay,” Tamia said, smiling. “But you didn’t have to get me anything.”
“Are you kidding?” Shanell exclaimed. “After you brought me those badass shoes from Italy?”
At the reminder of Tamia and Brandon’s romantic trip, the mood at the table abruptly changed, becoming tense and heavy.
Tamia lowered her gaze to her appletini but didn’t take a sip. Her throat was so tight she was afraid she might choke.
Shanell eyed her with gentle concern. “How are you doing?”
Tamia exhaled a deep, shaky breath. “I’ve been better.”
Shanell nodded slowly. “I’ve been afraid to ask. . . . Did he go through with marrying Cynthia at the JP?”
Tamia shook her head.
Shanell’s eyes widened. “What? He didn’t marry her?”
“No.”
“Oh my God! Why didn’t you tell me? Before I left for the cruise, I specifically told you to text me if Brandon changed his mind about marrying Cynthia. When I didn’t hear from you, I just assumed he went through with it. What happened?”
Tamia sighed heavily. “They’re still engaged.”
The excitement in Shanell’s eyes dimmed. “What do you mean? You just said—”
“He didn’t go through with it that day. But he still intends to marry her.” Tamia downed the rest of her martini and plunked the empty glass on the table.
Shanell shook her head slowly. “I don’t understand.”
“What don’t you understand?” Tamia retorted bitterly. “He got cold feet on Friday, but not cold enough to make him call off the engagement. He wants to marry Cynthia and be a father to his child because, you know, it’s the right thing to do, the honorable thing, and God forbid Brandon Chambers should ever do something that’s not right or honorable.”
Shanell regarded her sympathetically. “I’m sorry, Tamia. I really am.”
Tamia swallowed hard, blinking rapidly as tears stung her eyes.
“Let me buy you another drink.” Shanell signaled for the waiter, who bustled right over and scooped up Tamia’s empty glass.
“Another appletini?”
“Nah, give her something stronger.” Shanell eyed Tamia. “A ‘Wild Wet Dream.’ Heavy on the rum.”
As the waiter nodded and moved off, Tamia gave Shanell a wry look. “Don’t forget I have to drive home.”
“Girl, you’ll be fine. You just need something to take the edge off.”
After Tamia’s new drink was served, she and Shanell fell silent, sipping their cocktails as they observed the crowd of young singles packed into the trendy bar. An attractive caramel-toned brotha seated a few tables away was blatantly staring at Tamia.
When their eyes met, he smiled flirtatiously and winked at her. She flashed a cool smile before looking away, not wanting to encourage his attention.
Catching the exchange, Shanell chuckled. “I bet he’s gonna buy you a drink.”
“I hope not.” But even as the words left her mouth, Tamia saw the guy whispering to the waiter, who glanced over at Tamia and grinned.
She groaned.
“Told you.” Shanell laughed, licking salt off the rim of her empty margarita glass. “That reminds me. You know Gavin’s been asking Mark about you. He said the last time he spoke to you, your boss got on the phone and told him you had to work late.”
Tamia rolled her eyes. “That was Brandon, acting like a jealous fool.”
“I figured as much. That man is hella possessive over you. God only knows what he’s gonna do when you start seeing other people again. Which brings me back to Gavin. Now that you’re . . . available, maybe you could give him another chance.”
Tamia sighed. “I don’t know. Gavin’s a really nice guy and all—”
“But he’s not Brandon.” Shanell smiled ruefully. “I hate to break it to you, girlfriend, but there aren’t too many Brandons out there. That brotha’s one of a kind—the rare total package.”
Tamia glowered at Shanell. “Is that supposed to make me feel better about losing him?”
Shanell was spared from answering when the server reappeared with the drink from Tamia’s not-so-secret admirer. “The gentleman wanted me to tell you that he’d love to give you another ‘Wild Wet Dream’—just name the time and place.”
As Shanell burst out laughing, Tamia smiled sweetly at the waiter. “Tell him the place is nowhere, and the time is never.”
“Ouch.” The waiter grinned before moving off.
Deliberately ignoring her admirer’s hopeful gaze, Tamia slid the new drink across the table to Shanell. “Knock yourself out.”
Shanell laughed. “You are a mess.”
Tamia snorted. “Can you believe he came at me with that weak-ass shit? Nigga got no game.”
“You ain’t never lied.” Shanell picked up the glass and drank. “So . . .”
Tamia eyed her expectantly. “What?”
“Is that little heffa still staying with you?”
Tamia laughed. “Who? Honey?”
“Yeah. Her.”
“Nah, girl, she went back to her crazy boyfriend.”
Shanell harrumphed. “Good.”
Bemused, Tamia shook her head at her friend. “What do you have against Honey?”
“Who says I have anything against her?”
Tamia gave Shanell a look.
She huffed out a breath. “I don’t know. She seems awfully young and immature, and hood as hell.”
“Hey, I resent that,” Tamia protested. “I’m from the hood.”
“True, but you’ve got class, Tamia. Honey doesn’t know the meaning of the word. Remember how she approached you at your homecoming party last month? Breathing all up in your face, asking you to autograph her titties, propositioning you for a threesome?” Shanell wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Nasty-ass heffa.”
Tamia chuckled. “So she was a little star-struck. Cut her some slack.”
“Whatever.” Shanell frowned deeply. “Honestly, I don’t want her pulling you back into that life.”
Tamia arched a brow. “What life?”
“You know . . . hanging around with sleazebags . . . selling sex.”
“Oh, I see.” Tamia grinned teasingly. “You know what I think? I think you’re jealous of Honey.”
“Jealous?” Shanell sputtered indignantly. “Why the hell would I be jealous of her?”
“Because you think she’s trying to take your place as my best friend.”
Shanell scowled. “Bitch, whatever.”
Tamia threw back her head and laughed.
“I’m glad you find my concerns so damn amusing,” Shanell grumbled. “I was being serious.”
“I know.” Sobering at once, Tamia reached ac
ross the table and placed her hand over Shanell’s. “I appreciate your concern for me. Really I do. But you don’t have to worry about me anymore. I have no intention of getting pulled back into my old life or my old way of thinking. I’m putting the past behind me, moving onward and upward.”
Shanell studied her for a moment. “Onward and upward, huh?”
“Yup. That’s my new motto.”
Shanell smiled. “I’ll drink to that.”
As they clinked glasses, Tamia decided not to tell Shanell about her new partnership with Dominic. She knew Shanell would think she was crazy for getting involved with him again.
And the sad part was, she’d be absolutely right.
On her way home from the bar, Tamia’s smartphone rang.
She picked it up and glanced at the display screen. When she saw Brandon’s number, her heart skipped several precious beats.
Yesterday she’d removed Usher’s “My Boo” from her phone, giving Brandon the same generic ringtone as everyone else. He wasn’t her man anymore, so he didn’t deserve a special song.
The phone rang again.
Tamia stared at it, pulse drumming.
Be strong, girl. Don’t answer it.
Two more rings . . . then silence.
She slowly exhaled, then set the phone down and returned her attention to the road, passing shops and skyscrapers that flanked the downtown streets.
Two minutes later, Brandon called back.
Tamia frowned, her fingers tightening around the steering wheel.
Before she could stop herself, she reached over and snatched up the phone. “What do you want?” she demanded.
There was a long pause.
“So you’re ignoring my calls now?” Brandon murmured, his deep voice curling through her to settle lusciously between her thighs.
She shifted on the seat. “I thought I told you to leave me alone.”
“You know I can’t do that.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
He was silent.
She waited, throat dry.
“Where are you?” he asked softly.
None of your damn business, she wanted to say. But she didn’t. Couldn’t. “I’m driving home from the bar. I had drinks with Shanell.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Tamia hesitated, biting her lip. “What about you?”
“I’m still at the office.”
“Oh.” Tamia fell silent.
“I miss you,” he told her.
She closed her eyes for a moment, praying for strength. “Don’t do this, Brandon.”
“Don’t do what?”
“You know damn well what.”
“I can’t stop thinking about you,” he confessed huskily. “I can’t sleep without dreaming about you. I can’t eat without tasting you. I can’t breathe without smelling you—”
“Stop,” Tamia whispered. “Just stop.”
“I can’t, Tamia. You think I haven’t tried? I have, and nothing works. I’m going outta my fucking mind without you.”
Tamia clenched her jaw, trying to steel her emotions against his anguished words. “You can’t do this, Brandon. You don’t get to have your cake and eat it, too.”
“I know, damn it. I know.” He exhaled a ragged breath. “Are you fucking him?”
Tamia nearly swerved into another lane. “What?”
“You heard me. Are you fucking Dominic?”
“How dare you? You have no right to ask me that question! You don’t see me asking you about Cynthia—”
“I’m not sleeping with her.”
That shut Tamia up for a moment.
Narrowing her eyes, she prodded, “What do you mean?”
“I’m not sleeping with Cynthia,” Brandon repeated, his voice pitched low. “We haven’t had sex since before we broke up.”
Tamia sucked her teeth. “Like I’m supposed to believe that.”
“It’s the truth.”
“She’s your fiancée, Brandon. You’re marrying her. How long do you honestly think you can get away with not sleeping with her?”
“I don’t know. I can’t . . .” He trailed off.
“Can’t what?”
“I can’t touch her without thinking about you.”
Tamia’s throat tightened.
“Don’t do anything with Dominic,” Brandon quietly implored.
Tamia shook her head, slowing to a red light. “This really isn’t fair, Brandon—”
“Please, Tamia. This is the only thing I ask of you. Don’t give yourself to Dominic.”
“And what about other guys?” she challenged. “Am I supposed to stay celibate while you and Cynthia get your freak on all over the place? When her pregnancy hormones are raging and she can’t keep her hands off you, are you gonna be able to resist the pussy?”
Brandon was incriminatingly silent.
Tamia smirked. “I didn’t think so.”
“One month, Tamia.”
“What?”
“I’m asking you not to sleep with Dominic—or anyone else—for at least one month. Can you do that for me?”
“You have no right to ask,” Tamia said curtly.
“I know,” he conceded, “but I’m asking anyway.”
Tamia frowned, staring at the red light until her vision blurred. When the traffic signal changed to green, she murmured, “I have to go, Brandon.”
Before he could say another word, she hung up.
And slowly exhaled.
Onward and upward . . .
Chapter 15
Brandon
Brandon went to bed thinking about Tamia.
He dreamed about her throughout the long night.
When he awoke the next morning, she was still on his mind.
She stayed there as he climbed out of bed and shuffled into the bathroom to brush his teeth and take a shower. He saw her face as he stood beneath the hot spray of water, eyes closed, head thrown back as he washed himself.
He imagined the foamy clouds of soap streaming down his body were Tamia’s soft lips running along his naked skin as she chased rivulets of water with her tongue.
Before long he felt himself growing hard, swelling with arousal.
Unable to resist, he reached down and wrapped his fingers around his throbbing shaft. He squeezed the base, then slowly pumped up and down, imagining the walls of Tamia’s succulent pussy gripping him.
Suddenly he felt a cool draft across his skin.
“Good morning,” Cynthia greeted him, stepping into the large glass stall.
Brandon quickly released his dick, feeling guilty because he’d nearly been caught masturbating to another woman.
Cynthia gently stroked his shoulders. “You’ve been in here a long time.”
“I know,” Brandon murmured. “I was making mental notes for a meeting I have this morning.”
“Hmm.” Cynthia slid her arms around his chest, pressing her small breasts against his back. Her nipples were hard as pebbles. “I can’t get enough of seeing you naked, Brandon. Especially when you’re all nice and wet. Sooo sexy.”
As Brandon reluctantly turned around, Cynthia’s eyes traveled downward—and widened.
“Oh, my,” she breathed, licking her lips as water pelted her black shower cap. “Talk about morning wood.”
Brandon tried to smile, but his facial muscles wouldn’t cooperate.
He still hadn’t forgiven Cynthia for the malicious stunt she’d pulled the other night, though he knew she’d had every right to be mad at him for coming home so late. He’d slept in the guest room that night and avoided her at the office the next day. When he’d come home that evening, she’d had dinner waiting for him. After they ate—mostly in silence—she’d humbly apologized for playing the Mystique video and entreated him to come back to their bed.
“Mmm,” she purred now, curling her fingers around his heavy shaft. “Wanna fool around?”
“Can’t,” Brandon said apologetically. “I don’t want to be late for t
hat meeting.”
Cynthia smiled, dropping to her knees. “At least let me give you a proper sendoff.”
When Brandon realized what she was about to do, he shook his head. “Baby, no—”
She wrapped her mouth around his dick.
As she began sucking him off, Brandon let out an involuntary groan.
Closing his eyes, he imagined Tamia kneeling before him, milking his shaft with hot pulls of her mouth while her hand massaged his balls.
With Tamia on his mind, it didn’t take him long to get off.
As he started coming, Cynthia pulled his dick out of her mouth and purred with satisfaction as white ribbons of come spurted across her breasts. She didn’t like to swallow, but she loved having him ejaculate on her as if she were his property.
When he’d finished, Brandon reached up and directed the shower head toward Cynthia, letting the warm water rinse his semen from her body.
As he gently helped her to her feet, she smiled seductively, then leaned up and kissed him. Her lips were warm and slippery. “Sure you don’t have time to fool around?” she purred, rubbing her slick thighs against his. “I could make it worth your while.”
Brandon smiled. “I’m sure you could, but I still have to take a rain check.”
“But we—hey!” she squealed in protest as he snatched off her shower cap and held it out of reach. “Give that back! You’re getting my hair wet!”
Brandon laughed, passing her the plastic cap before ducking out of the shower stall.
“I am so gonna get you for that!” Cynthia called through the glass.
He chuckled, draping his bath towel around his hips as he strode from the steamy bathroom.
Inside the walk-in closet, he chose a pressed white shirt, a gray silk tie, and a navy suit from a collection of designer suits that lined both sides of the large space.
Returning to the bedroom, he slapped on some deodorant and hurriedly dressed, eager to be on his way so he could be alone with his thoughts again.
Cynthia emerged from the bathroom with a fluffy towel wrapped around her slender body. Humming cheerfully, she strolled over to the dresser and opened one of the drawers that she’d commandeered when she’d moved in with him.
“Do we have any plans this weekend?”
We, Brandon mused. Like they were one of those couples who were joined at the hip, who couldn’t go anywhere or do anything without consulting each other first.
