Another Chance to Love

by Cheris Hodges

  Brian pulled her into his arms. “And,” she continued. “I’m not trying to be your wife’s replacement.”

  Brian covered her mouth with his before she could continue her striptease or make any more declarations. Paige stepped back and slowly removed her bra, exposing her perky breasts. She could read the desire in his eyes and wanted him as much as his eyes said he wanted her. There was no need for any further words. She grabbed Brian’s hand, looping it around her waist. He slid his hand down the curve of her back, and then clutched her buttocks, pulling her against him with such a force that they fell on the sofa. Paige unzipped his shorts and eased back so that she could slide them down his muscular legs.

  “Wait, wait,” he said. “We can’t do this out here. If Mickey woke up and found us I wouldn’t know how to explain it to him.”

  Paige stood and nodded. Grabbing the box of condoms from the table, Brian rose and scooped her into his arms. She nibbled his neck as her carried her into the bedroom. Placing Paige on the bed, he closed and locked the door. She watched hungrily as he pulled his white tee shirt over his head, revealing his sculptured chest and washboard abs. Brian’s body was more amazing than she’d dreamed it would be. He crossed over to the bed and she ran her hand across his smooth chest as if she were feeling a fine piece of fabric. He crawled into the bed, straddled her body and grabbed her hands, lifting them over her head while, brushing his lips against her neck. Paige’s breasts heaved up and down. Without knowing it, he had stumbled on her erogenous spot. Moans of desire died in the back of her throat. Dropping her hands, Brian reached over and grabbed the box of condoms. He pulled out a golden package, ripped it open and slid it down his throbbing shaft. Paige held her breath as she waited for that blissful moment when he would take her to ecstasy. Brian spread her legs apart, stroking her inner thighs gently. She rubbed her hands up and down the satiny smooth skin of his back. He took one of her breasts into his mouth, tenderly sucking and biting her nipples. As his tongue darted over her breast, Paige shivered with anticipation. She was hot and wet, ready to feel him inside her.

  As Brian continued his sensual body kiss, she couldn’t help wondering if they were making love on the same sheets he and his ex-wife had shared intimate moments on. She froze for an instant. But when she felt his lips graze her stomach, desire chased away any thought of him and his ex-wife.

  Paige’s breathing was labored as his tongue danced across her thighs and heat radiated off her like a wood burning stove in the middle of winter. Brian sucked and licked her clitoris until her thighs quivered. She pressed her hips deeper into his kiss, clutching the sheets as Brian brought her to the brink of an orgasm. He rolled his tongue across her throbbing bud. A deep growl escaped her throat as he continued his sensual kiss, lashing her with his tongue as if it were a whip. Brian wasn’t finished, though. He reversed the direction of his tongue and headed for her heaving breasts where he suckled her sensitive nipples, nearly causing her to melt into a pool of lust.

  “Make love to me,” she moaned, huskily.

  Brian pressed into her and she responded by wrapping her legs around his waist and digging her nails into his shoulder. The feel of his skin against hers made her shiver. As he pumped his hips in and out, her body fell into his rhythm. It was as if they were playing a sensual tune. Brian was the thumping baseline and Paige was the treble. Her body quaked as he moved faster and harder. Her legs parted wider so he could dive deeper into her love-starved body.

  Paige focused her brilliant eyes on him. This felt too good for it to be wrong. It almost didn’t feel real. But she tightened herself around his cock and did a slow grind that nearly brought him to the brink.

  “Oh, Paige.”

  He threw his head back in ecstasy and moaned like a wounded animal as he came. Brian collapsed against her breasts and Paige sighed as he held her close.

  “What was that for?” he asked.

  “Nothing.”

  He propped himself up on his elbows. “Didn’t sound like nothing to me.” Brian stared into Paige’s eyes.

  “This just feels so right and so wrong.”

  Brian furrowed his brows. When Paige looked away, he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.

  “This is your wife’s bed,” she said quietly.

  Brian shook his head. “This is my bed and I’m sharing it with you. My marriage is over and I’m moving on. There are no ghosts that are going to pop out of the closet.”

  “Some people call this rebounding,” Paige replied.

  Brian rolled over on his side. “That’s what you think this is? I wouldn’t bring a rebound woman around my son. Paige, as much as I’ve tried to fight it, I want you in my life. You mean far more to me than a fling.”

  Paige’s breath was suspended in her chest. Were her ears deceiving her? Brian had said she meant a great deal to him and he wanted her in his life.

  “But earlier you said—”

  Brian silenced her with a soul-searing kiss. “Forget what I said,” he said once they broke off the kiss. “I couldn’t let you go now if I wanted to.”

  Paige smiled. “Neither can I and I’m not going anywhere.”

  Brian pulled the sheet off Paige’s body and wrapped his body around hers. She leaned her head against his chest and they drifted off to sleep.

  Brian awoke with a jolt. There was a body next to him. He gently stroked her back. Her skin was like silk. Paige, he thought happily. The woman rolled over and it wasn’t Paige. “Miss me?” Olivia whispered. “What the...”

  “She’s not me, Brian. And she can never take my place.”

  Brian sat straight up in bed. Cold sweat beads ran down his face. Paige placed her hand on his shoulder.

  “Are you okay?”

  Brian nodded and forced a smile. “Bad dream,” he said.

  “I must not have been in it.”

  Brian looked at the clock. It was after one A.M. He swung his long legs over the side of the bed.

  “Brian?” Paige said as she watched him walk over to the window.

  He didn’t respond. Seeing Olivia’s face in his dream had shook him up. But, after what they’d shared, how could he tell Paige he’d dreamed about his ex-wife? Brian crossed the room to the closet and grabbed his robe. Paige got out of the bed and walked over to Brian.

  “What’s really going on?” she asked.

  “Please don’t try to analyze me,” he whispered.

  “Fine. Maybe I should go.”

  Brian looked at her and shook his head and tied the sash on his robe tightly. “I’m sorry, it was just a dream. Besides, it’s too late for you to leave. I’m going to check on Mickey.”

  He didn’t notice Paige picking up her clothes as he walked down the hall.

  Brian glanced at his slumbering son, then walked into the room and kissed his cheek. He imagined he heard footsteps, but he dismissed the thought as he tucked Mickey underneath the sheet. Then he heard the quiet closing of the door. Brian ran to the front door and called out to Paige as she crossed the street but she kept walking. He leapt off the porch and bounded across the street to catch up with her. “Paige, what’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know, you tell me. You make love to me, then you jump out of the bed as if I repulse you.”

  “Baby, that’s not what’s going on. Don’t leave, not like this.”

  “Brian, you can’t keep doing this to me.”

  “Doing what?”

  “You’re either red hot or ice cold. I’m not going to do this to myself. You were hurt, but I’m not going to let you hurt me.”

  Brian grabbed her arm. “Paige, this is all new to me. I’ve been with only one woman before you. I love being with you and I want you—”

  “In your bed, but only temporarily, right?”

  “Damn it, Paige, I just can’t—forget it.”

  She glared at him. Brian watched the angry flames flicker in her eyes.

  “If you still have feelings for your wife, just admit it.”

&nb
sp; Brian sighed and ran his hand over his face. “Paige, I’m over Olivia. But she is the reason I got out of bed.”

  She turned to walk away, but Brian blocked her escape.

  “Paige, I had a dream that I was reaching out for you and it was her instead. That’s why I got up. Not because I still love her, but because I wanted it to be you.”

  Paige’s angry scowl softened. “Brian,” she murmured.

  He pulled her into his arms. “Come back inside. I want to fall asleep with you in my arms,” he said. His lips were dangerously close to her ear. Paige nodded and allowed him to lead her back to his house. Before they headed into the bedroom, Brian checked on his son again. The little boy was still sleeping peacefully. Paige looked at him as he walked over to her. “What’s that look?” he asked.

  She smiled. “You’re a good father. Mickey is lucky to have you.”

  “I try to do right by him. He needs to know that he can depend on someone.”

  “What about me? Should I start depending on you?”

  Brian stared deep into her eyes, seeing her vulnerability. He took her into his arms and hugged her reassuringly. He wanted to answer all of her questions. “I care about you,” he whispered.

  Paige melted in his arms.

  CHAPTER TEN

  The sun rose about the same time Paige rolled over and brushed her lips against Brian’s. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed tightly. This wasn’t a dream. Brian was actually in her arms.

  “Um, good morning,” he said.

  “Good morning.”

  Brian kissed her on the forehead. “I’m going to check on Mick before he runs in here.”

  Paige nodded. She wanted Brian to pull her into his arms and make love to her, but the prospect of Mickey catching them in the act sobered her. His devotion to his son was one of the many things she admired about Brian. And last night, he’d said he cared for her. Paige was falling for Brian and it excited her and scared her at the same time. She sat up in the bed and drew her knees to her chest. Brian Jackson was changing her life in ways she had never dreamed of. He didn’t want her to be a replacement for his ex- wife. He wanted her for who she was and she adored that. She got out of the bed, crossed over to the window and watched the sun rise. The lavender and pink sky looked close enough for her to reach out and touch it. Paige had never seen the sky look that way before. She wondered as she covered herself with the sheet from the bed whether it was the color of love.

  Brian walked into the room and touched her bare shoulder. “I have a tee shirt you can put on. Mickey’s up and I’m going to cook breakfast.”

  “You know, I think I should go. I was planning to run this morning.”

  “You don’t have to leave. I just explained to Mickey that we had a sleepover. He’ll be disappointed if you don’t show up for breakfast.”

  Paige smiled. “A sleepover?”

  He kissed her shoulder. “Well, we didn’t do a lot of sleeping last night, but you get the point.”

  Paige turned around and kissed him gently on the lips. “You’re right.” The sheet that loosely covered her body fell to the floor. Brian pulled her against his body, leaning in to kiss her.

  “Daddy!” Mickey called out. “Mommy’s here.”

  Paige blanched and Brian froze in place. “Mickey, I’ll be right out,” Brian said. Paige walked over to the side of the bed and grabbed her clothes. She could hear Mickey laughing and giggling as a woman gushed about how he’d grown. Brian walked to the bedroom door, then stopped and looked at Paige. “Come on. You’re not going to hide back here like we did something wrong.”

  “Did you know she was coming?”

  Brian shook his head. Paige, who was now fully dressed, walked over to him. “This is going to be awkward,” she said.

  “She’s not going to control my life.”

  They walked into the living room. Mickey was sitting on his mother’s lap.

  “Olivia, you should have called,” Brian said flatly. She looked up at him, and then shot a contemptuous look at Paige.

  “Well, I thought it was time for me to see my son. I didn’t realize that I needed to make an appointment. Who is your little friend?”

  “Miss Paige,” Mickey replied. “They had a sleepover.”

  Paige looked at the woman. Olivia Jackson was nothing like what Paige had thought she would be. She had an asymmetrical bob haircut and wore what looked to be green contact lenses. Her outfit was trendy, with her skirt skimming the tops of her thighs, and on her feet she wore of four-inch stiletto heel sandals. Paige tried to keep a straight face as she looked at the former Mrs. Jackson. Olivia stood up and gave Paige the once-over.

  “I think it is a little inappropriate for you and Brian to flaunt your affair in my son’s face,” Olivia said.

  “Kitchen. Now,” Brian said though clinched teeth.

  Paige sat down beside Mickey. “What do we have here?”

  Mickey held up the toy truck his mother had given him. “Are you going to stay for breakfast?” he asked.

  Paige scrunched up her nose. “I think I’d better let you and your dad have breakfast with your mom. Besides, I have to go running.”

  Mickey nodded happily. Paige could tell he was excited to see his mother, even though Brian didn’t seem very happy about it. She gave Mickey a tight hug. “I’ll see you later.”

  Before Paige could make it out the door, Olivia came storming out of the kitchen. “Mickey, go to your room and pack a bag. We’re going to visit

  Grandma.”

  “But-but,” he stammered. Olivia gently tugged at the little boy’s arm and ushered him down the hall.

  “You’re not doing this,” Brian bellowed. The door to Mickey’s bedroom slammed loudly. Brian leaned against the wall, gently banging his head. “Unbelievable.”

  “What’s going on?”

  He waved Paige away and headed down the hall. She stood up, unsure of what to do. This was a sensitive situation and the last thing she wanted to do was make it worse.

  Brian stopped outside Mickey’s bedroom with a look on his face that reminded Paige of a wounded animal. She knew she couldn’t leave him. Whether he knew it or not, Brian needed someone in his corner and she was going to be that person.

  Brian stood in the doorway of Mickey’s room, anger clouding his handsome face as he watched Mickey and Olivia pack a bag to take to his grandmother’s house. Olivia had some nerve to tell him that he was being a bad influence on Mickey.

  “Hey, Champ, go see if Miss Paige needs some orange juice. I need to talk to your mother.”

  Mickey looked from his mother to his father before dashing out of the room as if he knew a storm was brewing. Olivia whirled around and looked at Brian.

  “What?” she asked as she stuffed a pair of shorts into Mickey’s bag.

  “You have some gall to come in here and lecture me about how I’m living my life. You walked out, remember?”

  “Brian, I know what I did. But do you think I appreciate you having some strange woman in my house around my son? No, I don’t and I’m going to voice my opinion because I am still Mickey’s mother.”

  “Have I ever denied that? You’re his mother, but I’m my own man.”

  “So, who is she, Brian? A cop? Someone you’ve been having an affair with all along?” Olivia stood up and waved her hands in the air. “It doesn’t even matter. I’m here for my son but I would appreciate it if you would just keep your whores away from him.”

  Brian ran his hand over his face. “What is this? You checked out on this marriage way before you walked out on us. So don’t come in here playing the jealous ex-wife.”

  She turned her back to him. “Leaving you and my son was the hardest thing I have ever done. But I’m hardly jealous of you, Brian.”

  “Then what the hell is your problem?”

  Olivia didn’t reply at first, and then angrily whirled around. “You should welcome the time with your new girlfriend. Mickey and I are out of here.”

>   “One night, Olivia. Bring my son back tomorrow.” Brian slammed out of the room and went into the kitchen where Paige and Mickey were sitting at the table eating toast with orange marmalade. Brian rubbed his hand across Mickey’s head and told him to finish getting ready. Mickey happily dashed down the hall.

  “Are you all right?” Paige asked.

  Brian grunted, then plopped down in a chair. She walked over to him and began massaging his tense shoulders.

  “She just wants a little time with her son. This could be good for all of you,” Paige said.

  Brian grabbed her hand. “I know my son needs to see his mother, but I don’t need the stress I think Olivia is going into bring to my life.”

  Paige shook her head and continued kneading his shoulders.

  “I never knew she—” Paige cut him off by pressing her hand to his mouth as Mickey and

  Olivia walked into the kitchen. “We’re leaving. Mickey, tell Daddy bye-bye.” Mickey rushed over to his father and hugged him. Brian squeezed his son tightly. “Mind your mother, okay.”

  “Yes, sir,” the little boy replied.

  Brian looked at Olivia who was halfway out the door. The way she’d told Mickey to tell his Daddy bye-bye disturbed him. Did Olivia think she was going to take his son away from him after walking out of their lives as casually as she and Mickey walked out the front door? He had given up the job he loved to be a good dad and he wasn’t going to lose his son.

  He didn’t feel Paige’s touch anymore, although she continued to massage his shoulders. There was no comfort to be had as long as he thought he might lose his son.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Paige didn’t know how to help Brian. When she left his house because he needed some time alone, she knew it was only a matter of time before Brian and Olivia got into it about Mickey’s custody. Sitting on the sofa, she flipped absently through the pages of Essence magazine. When Brian asked her to leave, she hadn’t got upset, even though she wanted to be there for him and tell him that everything was going to be all right. What if it wasn’t? Paige stood and looked out the front window. She wondered what was going to happen with her relationship now. What if Brian decided that the best thing for Mickey was for him and Olivia to get back together? Don’t think like that, Paige thought as she walked away from the window. This woman is not going to walk into town and change everything. She left him and he would be a fool to take her back.