Lust and Lies (The Jamie Reynolds Chronicles #1)

by Casandra Charles

  Toni was pretty good in bed mainly because he found pleasure in pleasuring me and I loved this. Once in a while I would go down on him, but he usually came too fast, so he’d rather me not do it. Not to pat myself on the back, but it kind of made me feel pretty good to know my head game made him come fast. So the tables got turned and I got to enjoy all of the benefits of his head between my legs, or the dildo.

  “I created a monster,” Toni said just as I was lying on my back and getting ready for round two.

  “You’re about to leave in a few days, so I’m trying to get it all in,” I joked, but I was so serious. Ever since Toni introduced me to his tongue and ice, I was like a crack fiend for his lips between my legs, which led to some good sex. We had sex once or sometimes twice a day for over two weeks. Now that I was working at Macy’s, I had a more regular schedule and Toni loved this. Our relationship was stronger than ever. Was it because he was leaving, or maybe because I was under less stress not working production. Whatever the reason was, I was enjoying this time together and I was truly happy.

  ***

  In less than twenty-four hours, Toni was leaving for Illinois and I was really going to miss him. I was working late and Toni surprised me at Macy’s and wanted to take me to lunch. As we walked through Macy’s, he stopped at the jewelry counter and pointed to a ring I’d seen in the Macy’s catalog and said I liked. It was a one-carat ring cluster and I thought it would make a great fashion ring.

  “Is this the ring you said you liked in the catalog?”

  “Yup,” I said as the sale rep Denise walked over.

  “Hey, JR,” Denise said. “Is this Mr. Toni I hear so much about?”

  “This is Toni. Toni, this is Denise.”

  “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I can see why JR has you under lock and key,” she said as I gave her the look, like cut it out.

  “I don’t know why she has me under lock and key, but it’s all good, and nice to meet you,” Toni said as I pulled him away from the counter.

  “We’re heading to lunch, Denise. I’ll see you later,” I said as we walked away.

  “Are you excited to go?” I asked Toni over lunch.

  “I guess, but I’m going to miss you, but I promise to call you every day or at least write every day.”

  “You act as if you’re going to prison or something.”

  “I’m hearing stories about how it’s like a prison. These next eight weeks will be hard but worth it in the end. There’s a graduation after the last week and naturally I want you to come. I know you was bummed about not having that getaway before you started this nine to five or should I say ‘tax job,’” he jokingly mocked me.

  “I never been to Illinois; how far is it from Chicago? That’s the only part of Illinois I know.”

  “You crazy, I’m going to miss you.”

  “We’ll be fine. You forget we started the first part of our relationship from a distance,” I reminded him.

  “How can I forget?” he said as we cleaned up the mall table and made our way back to my job.

  “I’ll be off at six, so I’ll see you at home,” I said as I gave him a hug and walked back to my department.

  It’s a Promise…

  As JR walked back to work, I wanted to go check out that ring she wanted. I made my way back to the counter and saw Denise again.

  “Hey, Denise. Can I see that ring JR liked?”

  “Hey, Toni, welcome back. Let me grab the key so you can check out this ring.”

  “This is a nice ring and I know Jaime would like it.”

  “Jamie, is that JR’s real name?” Denise asked, laughing.

  “Yeah, her name is Jamie Reynolds. That’s where she gets JR from.”

  “I guess I never even asked why everyone calls her JR since it’s on her name tag. Okay, so here’s the ring and it’s on sale. JR… Jamie says you’re leaving for Illinois soon.”

  “Yeah, I leave for boot camp.”

  “Oh, boot camp, I guess I also never asked what you was doing in Illinois,” she said, laughing. “My cousin was at Great Lakes.”

  “Hey, I’m also going to Great Lakes.”

  “He said it was nice but a lot of work. You know, they break you and then build you back up,” Denise said.

  “Thanks,” Toni said sarcastically. “So how much would this ring be?”

  “It’s on sale, but you know JR gets a twenty percent discount and since she has a ton of Macy’s money—”

  “What is Macy’s money?”

  “Macy’s money is great. It’s money you can only use at Macy’s. Every time we open up a credit card account we get Macy’s money, and JR also gets bonus Macy’s money because she’s a CSM.”

  “CSM?” Toni asked.

  “Yeah, a customer service manager. You don’t know what she does here at Macy’s?” Denise says, laughing. “Besides shop, of course, JR can always find the best deals sometimes. This is why she has so much Macy’s money, because she only buys stuff on clearance. I’m guessing she has about two hundred dollars in Macy’s money left, plus her twenty percent discount plus the sale we have going on; you can’t beat it.”

  “How do I go about using the discount and the Macy’s money? I wanted this ring to be a surprise for her.”

  “Don’t worry about that, I got you. Also, if you want a real surprise, you should look at this ring. It was returned early in the week because a customer found a small hairline crack in the inside of the diamond, so it’s on sale for sixty percent off, plus an extra twenty-five percent plus her twenty percent discount and the Macy’s money, it’s going to be next to nothing.”

  “Wow, this is a nice ring.”

  “Nice ring? This is an amazing ring. It has a one-carat center and half-carat clusters each side. She would love this ring; nothing says good-bye better than this ring. It can be a promise ring to keep her out of trouble while you’re gone.”

  “This is a promise ring?”

  “Anything can be a promise ring. She would love it.”

  “How do I go about getting all of those discounts you mentioned?”

  “Leave this up to me.” Within fifteen minutes, Denise and another manager did something, and next thing I knew the ring was boxed up and in my hand.

  “She is going to love this,” both Denise and the manager said.

  “Thanks, guys,” I said before walking away from the counter.

  “Now what?” I said to myself. First I hoped Jamie didn’t find out I had to put this ring on her Macy’s card to get all these discounts, but by the time the bill came, I should have at least two checks and I could send her the money to pay off the bill.

  I couldn’t believe I was leaving for Illinois tomorrow. As I began to pack, the ring watched me from the nightstand. I’d never done something like this before, but it felt right. I loved Jamie and I was going to ask her to marry me if all went well after boot camp. This ring was just a promise of my love and she could look at it and think of me while I was gone.

  Jamie should be home in an hour. How do I present this gift to her? I quickly zipped my duffle bag and made my way downstairs, with the ring in hand.

  I decided to cook dinner. Her favorite was chicken breast and veggies so this was what I would cook. While dinner was cooking, I decided to write Jamie a poem to tell her how I felt.

  Ring, ring. “Hey, I’m off work. What are you doing?” Jamie asked.

  “You’ll have to see when you get home,” I replied.

  “Excuse me, well, it’s your last night, so I’m game to do whatever. So, I’ll see you at home.”

  As soon as I hung up the phone, I knew I had only ten to fifteen minutes to finish up everything before she got home. I had the lights off and candles all over the house, including upstairs in the bedroom, where I placed the ring and poem. I knew any minute now JR would be home and our lives were about to change.

  I looked out the window as I heard her heels walking up the stairs. As the door opened, I stood in front of the door t
o greet my beloved with a kiss.

  “Oh my,” JR said as she opened the door and began to laugh.

  “Hey, honey.” I gave her a big hug.

  “This is so sweet, thanks, babe.”

  “This is just the tip of the evening. There are more surprises to come,” I said as I walked her over to the dining room, where I had two plates laid out for dinner. I pulled out her chair and made her a drink.

  “I’m not a professional, so I hope you like the drink,” I said as I ran back to the kitchen to grab a drink.

  JR placed the drink to her lips and the look on her face said it all. “I told you I wasn’t a professional,” I said after realizing she didn’t like the drink.

  “It’s cool, babe. It’s a little strong and warm, just add some ice and some lime juice and it’ll be fine. Thanks for dinner, this looks great. You are like my little chef when you cook.”

  “I know how much you love to eat,” I jokingly said because I was really the one who liked to eat, but JR had been helping me control how much I eat. “I know this is our last night together and I wanted to make it special.”

  Over dinner, we spoke and laughed and just enjoyed each other’s company. I truly missed this, but the last few weeks had been great between JR and me. I didn’t know if it was because I was leaving or because she was working an easy job with set hours. I felt like I had my soul mate back and I hoped she would enjoy my gift.

  “Dinner was great,” she said, trying to be nice, but I know it was just okay because JR always said I overseasoned food or cooked things for too long. I had to laugh as JR tried to cut into the chicken and she moved the whole plate. So I agreed the chicken was tough and the vegetables were a little too soft, since I forgot them on the stove while I was writing the poem.

  “Glad you enjoyed it. Now for dessert.”

  “What’s on the menu?” JR asked, sounding cute like she didn’t know what dessert meant.

  “Join me upstairs and find out.”

  “What kind of dessert is upstairs?”

  “Just wait and see.” I grabbed her hand and led her upstairs to the bedroom, which was still well lit with candles. I stood her in front of the bed, but I was blocking the box and poem. She leaned towards me, but I stopped her. I knew what she wanted, but tonight she had to wait until after the gift.

  “What?” she said as I took a step to the right so she could see the bed and the envelope and ring box next to it.

  “Aw, Toni, what could it be?” she said, but I knew she thought it was the one-carat cluster ring she wanted from Macy’s.

  I grabbed her hands and walked her to the bed and sat down next to her and gave her the envelope first so she could read the poem.

  Your eyes are the key to my soul,

  my eyes are watery, full of tears and my spirit is glowing

  ever knowing that eventually you and I are like a once-in-a-lifetime comet that has arrived and this is our moment.

  Our moment to see the beauty that is released from we

  you allow me to go places most men are afraid to reach.

  I released tears of joy, pain, anguish, happiness, pleasure and peace

  with you there are heights that I know we will see

  you are my reflection, this destiny it’s got to be

  my heart melts over and in my mind you are all I see

  there is no limit to the joy and love we be.

  when we become one I know we would be strong, but know we are not only growing as one mentally, spiritually but emotionally

  not just in tears and of love

  but in selfishness, impatience, things that should not and will not get the best of we

  I love you greater than I ever thought I could naturally

  you are me and I am you

  we are growing into something more special and natural very methodically,

  our souls are mated and our days are great

  our future is full of promise and our odds are slim to those without God in their heart and vision in their thoughts

  but you are one of the kind of this love is far and blind

  but it’s so natural it’s not for everyone

  I love you and am truly blessed beyond the physical realm

  “Aw, babe,” she said after she read the poem.

  “I wanted to give you something to remember me by.” I picked up the ring box and placed it in her hands.

  “I wonder what this can be,” Jamie said, still thinking she knew what was in the box.

  She slowly opened the box and almost dropped it on the floor when she saw what was inside. I steadied her hands and helped her hold the box.

  “Oh my god,” Jamie said.

  “I want you to know how much this past year has meant to me. I know we had our ups and downs, but I never loved anyone more than I love you. You are truly my soul mate and I know this journey is just the beginning, but we are in it together to the end.”

  Jamie was still quiet and didn’t say anything.

  “Babe, are you okay?” I asked, but she had this pale look in her eyes. “This is a promise ring, and I want you to wear it while I’m gone to remember me by.” I could see the sigh of relief after I said this.

  “Oh, oh. I’m sorry, I’m at a loss for words, but this ring is beautiful. Thanks so much.”

  I was expecting a more excited response from her, but I let it go.

  “Here, let me help you put it on,” I said as JR used her left hand to try to pull off the ring on her right hand. I stopped her without hesitation and placed the ring on her left hand. I didn’t realize that was her wedding finger, I just placed the ring on the hand that was free, and the ring was a perfect fit. I felt so proud at what just happened. It all felt right and I just knew JR was happy as we made love until the candles were all burnt out.

  I Am at a Loss for Words…

  I got up pretty early while Toni was still sleeping. After last night’s match I figured he would be asleep for a while. I couldn’t lie, sex last night was amazing; there was so much passion between the two of us. Naturally I was out of it because I was still trying to wrap my mind around what just happened. I had to call Angela.

  “Hey, girl, what’s up?”

  “Hey, JR, how is everything?”

  “I need to talk; you have a minute? Or should I say an hour?” I said, trying to joke but was so serious.

  “What’s wrong? I can hear it in your voice, is everything okay?”

  “You know Toni is leaving for the navy in a few hours, right?” I kept on going without even letting Angela reply. “Well, yesterday I think he asked me to marry him.”

  “What?” Angela said, sounding like how I felt last night. “Start over from the beginning. What happened?”

  I told Angela the full story, starting with us checking out the cluster ring at Macy’s until he presented it to me.

  “So what did you say?” she asked.

  “I froze up and didn’t say anything; then he said it was a promise ring, but I felt he only said this because my reaction was so bad. You know I can’t hide my emotions on my face. I mean, I love him and all, and I was totally thrown off by the switch. I really thought it was going to be that cluster ring. I really love this ring, but I’m a little confused about it all.”

  “Confused is good; at least you are not, like, disgusted by the thought of it being an engagement ring.”

  “I even have it on my left hand; it was natural this morning when I put it on. I put on my college graduation present from Rob on my right hand like always and then I just put the other ring on the left hand.”

  “You still have that ring from Robert?” Angela asked. “I thought you would have thrown it away after all you went through with him.”

  “Girl, stay focused. Besides, I like that ring, and even though he gave this to me and he treated me like crap, it’s still a diamond ring, and it was the ring I wanted, unlike this other ring. Okay, that sounded bad; I’m just still shocked. Am I a bad person?”

  �
�Girl, you are not a bad person. You say you love him and he loves you; just wait it out and see what happens. You never know what can happen between now and those two months he’s gone. I know you never thought about settling down, but maybe your plan for your own life is wrong. Maybe you are meant to settle down and enjoy your life. I’m not saying you should settle for anything less than what will make you happy, but he leaves in a few hours, so go back home and enjoy those last hours with him and just let things happen.”

  “Thanks, girl, I needed to hear that. Anyway, let me go. I’ve been outside the house for a minute now. I just ran to the store to pick up some breakfast before he gets up, but after last night, I bet that fool is still asleep,” I said.

  “Alright now, I’m not mad. Enjoy,” Angela said right before hanging up the phone.

  I walked back in the house a few minutes after hanging up, and just as I expected, Toni was still asleep, but I was wide awake and wet as ever. Morning sex was my favorite time of the day. I made my way into bed and took off all my clothes and reached into the nightstand drawer and pulled out my favorite neon pink dildo and added a little spit to the tip and inserted it inside of me and began pleasuring myself. After about thirty seconds of moans and moving in the bed, Toni finally got up and just smiled.

  “Good morning to you,” he said as I was biting my bottom lip from the pleasure. This was the first time Toni had seen me pleasure myself. He used to hear me do it via phone when we were apart, but he got so turned on as I inserted the dildo in and out.

  “Oh, so this is how you like it,” he said as he watched me insert the dildo at a rapid speed and as I turned it around in a circle. He began kissing my lips. At first I was able to take his kisses and me pleasuring myself; then he started kissing me with passion and massaging my breast and helping me masturbate by holding my hand as I inserted it in and out of me. I almost lost it and finally felt the sensation of having to pee. I was so ready for it, but after about sixty seconds, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I had to pull it out as my body was beginning to shake. I was trying my hardest to continue, but the feeling was too good, and I pushed his hand off my dildo since he wasn’t allowing me to pull it out. I was kind of pissed now because I just learned something new and he was about to leave.