Despair: Book Two of the Negative Ion Series

by Ryanne Anthony

  In the Forrests’ dining room, I sat as far away from Greg as possible. As we ate, the band and I exchanged cell numbers then set up rehearsal times after everyone agreed we only need a few. We also agreed the final one was to happen Friday night before the wedding. I promised not to mention the title of the first dance song. Turns out, it was the same song Samantha’s parents chose as their first dance song, too, and Samantha and Parker wanted to surprise them.

  Samantha sighed. “Almost three months later, this wedding is finally happening. Good. I waited long enough. It bites hard that he isn’t here but I guess we all have to accept that he’s gone and try to move on as best we can. No matter how much we’ll always miss him.”

  Kimber put her head down then lingeringly kissed her son’s head. I frowned as Eddie and I stood to leave, wondering what that was about. Who was ‘he’?

  * * *

  As agreed, the band and I had a few rehearsals and then we had to call it a done deal. Everyone decided we had it down by the third but Greg insisted we keep the rehearsal schedule, so we did.

  Every rehearsal, I made sure to not be alone with Greg. I wanted him again but I just did not want to go there. I was swimming with need and every time I looked at him, it got stronger, but I couldn’t go there again. I literally exhausted myself trying to avoid him.

  I was surprised to get the Friday before the wedding off, but Sam explained he understood what was needed for me to prepare to perform at his son’s wedding. To be fair, he gave all the typists a paid day off. All day Thursday, they kept repeating how much they loved working at Forrest and Associates.

  We had a final rehearsal Friday morning, then the rest of the day I spent with Kimber, Samantha, Macy, Shauna, Parker’s mother Terri, and Samantha’s other bridesmaids. She had four and Kimber was her maid of honor. We all had our nails and hair done, as well as our feet, while laughing and talking… and me trying not to figure out where Greg was, go there and then go there.

  * * *

  The wedding party was beautiful. Kimber wore a black strapless dress that complimented her hair. The others had on red dresses and were equally stunning. Kimber explained she wanted it the other way; her in red and the other bridesmaids in black, but Samantha shot that down when Kimber dyed her hair black. Good choice, I thought when I saw Kimber.

  Then I saw Samantha. She was… gorgeous is the best word I could use. I was an emotional mess as soon as I saw her. Her white dress hugged her frame and the train flared from the waist. The veil was almost as long as the train and it flowed when she walked. Flowed. Literally. She was an absolute dream.

  The church was packed. The entire law office was invited to the wedding and I doubted one person turned down the invite. There were tattooed people by the dozens as well, looking fairly well-dressed, I noted. I was surprised to see some men actually wore ties. Especially this… this… gargantuan man who made me nervous just looking at him. He so reminded me of Michael Clark Duncan in the Green Mile and I rubbed the back of my neck when I thought of having to look up at him if we held a conversation.

  That huge man turned and looked around and waved in our direction. I thought he was waving at me, but then I saw Alannah’s hand come up and wave back as she whispered, “I cannot believe Gorge is here and in a tie.”

  Eddie asked in a curious tone, “Gorge?”

  “Yeah.” Alannah nodded, pointing in the big guy’s direction. “My half-brother. His real name is Xavier Sanders. He told our mother he was working all day. I cannot wait to tell her he was at a wedding and in a tie. I also can’t believe he brought her here.”

  I turned to where she was looking and saw a woman of color sitting next to Gorge, her head on his shoulder. She looked infatuated. Gorge looked uninterested as he stared at the altar. Something wasn’t right there. I made a mental note to ask Alannah what the problem was with them as the minister began the service.

  Everyone gasped when Samantha appeared at the entry. She beamed as her father walked her down the aisle. I grinned and wiped my eyes as I sat near the middle of the church with Eddie on one side and Alannah on the other.

  We silently listened to the vows and cheered when the first kiss was over and they were introduced. Parker and Samantha looked unbelievably happy as they gripped hands and went off for pictures.

  Eddie smiled at me. “That’s going to be you soon.”

  “Is it?” I murmured back, watching the wedding party follow the bride and groom from the church. That Roland guy, the best man… wow. He had an all-around handsome thing going on. He was so sexy with his brown skin and the low-cut, wavy hair. All the groomsmen, which happened to be Negative Ion, looked hot in their tuxes and red accessories. Samantha and Parker had chosen their theme colors well.

  Greg… whoo…

  I needed water, desperately. The colder the better.

  * * *

  Finally, it was time for the first dance in the crowded dance hall. I took to the stage and looked over the crowd and got a little nervous. There were at least five hundred pairs of eyes focused on me, waiting for me to start. I took a deep breath then focused on the couple who stood off to the side, waiting for the cue to dance.

  Once I got my brain to tune out the others, I nodded to the band and they began. I got my cue and sang as though my next meal depended on it. I have to say I sounded… phenomenal.

  I spotted Samantha’s parents, off in a corner, holding one another and softly swaying as Sara wept. Halfway through their first dance, Parker beckoned to Samantha’s parents to join them then the bride and groom moved to the side of the dance floor, giving Sara and John the center. I felt a tear fall as I watched them. Samantha told me that Sara had kidney disease and they were afraid they were going to lose her until Parker’s mother volunteered to donate hers. That is why they’d chosen the song as their first dance; to show Sara how much they loved her and were glad to have still her here.

  I took a deep breath and sang the lyrics then turned to Gore and our gazes locked. I blocked out everyone else as we sang that one short line about living and breathing each other, together.

  I quickly turned back and finished the song, then exited the stage while everyone applauded and another band took over.

  * * *

  At the after party at Sam and Shauna’s house, I sipped my glass of champagne as I chatted with the girls, while wistfully watching the bride and groom dance. By then, Eddie had disappeared with Sam, and I was left to chat with a law student named Kylie, who was at Harvard with Kimber. She transferred to Stanford when her family moved west, and apparently, her and Mike were an item. He’d already taken an apartment near Stanford, and word was Kylie was moving in with him. I wondered how everyone failed to notice Kylie’s new diamond on her left hand. It was really big and kinda hard to miss.

  Itsy, who was holding her now nine-and-a-half-month-old son, his head buried against his mother’s chest, drooling as he slept, joined Kylie and me at our table, along with Macy, Lala and Ren’s new wife, Cara, who I knew. She was a producer at Main House Music.

  “Look, I’m fine.” Macy sighed at Lala. “We weren’t meant to be. It happens and I’m happy he’s happy.”

  I frowned. “What’s happening?”

  “Macy was Ren’s last girlfriend,” Itsy sighed. “We were worried she would be uncomfortable with Cara being here.”

  “I see,” Cara said softly. “Ready to toss me out on my ass, were you?”

  “Yeah, to be honest,” Itsy confirmed, nodding. “Couldn’t very well kick her out of her own sister’s wedding.”

  “True,” Cara murmured then looked at Macy. “So, does it upset you, my being here? I have no problem leaving, especially since I only know two people here.”

  Macy scowled. “I’m fine! Believe me, I’ve moved on. Ren was a teenage itch that I should not have scratched.”

  “Maybe.” Cara grinned. “But he scratches back very well.”

  “I’ll have to take your word for it. We never did anything more than kiss.
”

  All of us turned to Macy, stunned. Even I knew that Ren was… sexual. Hell, every member of the band was. They all looked like they lifted weights and had for a while. All handsome and have that ‘fuck me’ look. But that Greg… Gore… there was something extra with him that I just couldn’t put my finger on. Fuck that. I wanna put more than my finger on it. Just thinking about sinking to my knees and him gripping my hair as I took him deep inside my mouth… Well, it just made me positively shudder.

  “Cass? Are you cold?”

  I startled out of my sex daydream and frowned at Itsy. “No, I’m fine. Why?”

  “You shivered just now,” Lala said across from me.

  “Did I?”

  “Yes,” they said together and giggled.

  I just shrugged, not wanting to lie and not wanting to tell the truth either.

  “Crap,” Itsy sighed. “What did Daddy do now?”

  We looked in the direction where Itsy nodded. Shauna had Sam in handcuffs again.

  “Parker,” we shouted.

  He looked over at us and shouted, “What? Dancing with my wife here!”

  “Oh, sorry,” Itsy smirked. “We just thought you’d like to know your stepmother is arresting your father again!”

  Parker scowled. “What? At Samantha’s wedding?”

  I giggled. “I thought it was his wedding, too.”

  “No, he definitely said it the right way,” Itsy laughed as the band reappeared from loading up the car to take the bride and groom to the airport. I was jealous. I’d love to hop a plane to Hawaii right about now. Just me and… Eddie. Yeah, Eddie.

  “Mrs. Forrest,” Parker shouted. Samantha giggled. “Excuse me, Captain Forrest. Care to tell me why the arrest this time? What’s the charge? Or should I say charges?”

  “Soliciting! He offered me sex in the middle of our son’s wedding just so he could work on his website later! Possibly all night!”

  “Shame on you, Sam!” Parker’s mother, Terri, laughed.

  “Right?” Shauna shouted back. “Like he just wants to do me and get me out of the way so he can spend the night with Eddie and their stupid computers!”

  “Sorry, Mr. Forrest.” Parker smirked. “I think this time it’s sticking.”

  “Son, surely you can make an argument that offering to pickle-tickle my wife is not a crime. I mean, I was offering to pay her nor was I expecting her to pay me.”

  “Pickle-tickle?” Sara laughed. “Is that a sexual term? I swear I have never heard of it. What exactly does that entail?”

  John leaned and whispered into her ear.

  “What?” Sara frowned. “Couldn’t he just have said he wanted to fuck her?”

  Everyone under the age of thirty groaned loudly and shuddered at hearing Sara say that with a straight tone.

  “What?” John scowled. “How do you think you all got here? Especially you two, Samantha and Macy!”

  “Daddy!” Samantha and her redder than red sister shouted together.

  “Oh, grow up!” Sara smirked, then walked over to Itsy. “You, too, Itsy. Mother of an almost ten-month-old son. Pretty sure you and his father didn’t make him just by looking at one another. Let me put my grandson to bed while you think about that.”

  Itsy shuddered, then pretended to gag. We laughed while she kissed her son’s head and then passed him to Sara.

  “Sara and John have a son?” I asked. “Where is he?”

  “Cass?” Macy whispered.

  I turned to her and frowned when she shook her head.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Not today, please,” she whispered as a tear rolled. “I’m sorry. Just not today.”

  We all watched as she jumped up and ran inside the house.

  I frowned, wondering what happened. Roland held up his hands and went after her. They all nodded and grew quiet. I looked around and wondered where Eddie was since Shauna was arresting Sam again.

  “Parker?” Sam called as Shauna grabbed his arm and lead him toward her squad car. “Need help from my lawyer here.”

  “Not this time, Dad,” Parker laughed, holding Samantha tightly. “You’re on your own with this one!”

  That lightened the mood and made us all laugh. I was about to take another sip of my champagne when Greg caught my gaze. Making sure no one watched, his eyes darted quickly to his left. I turned to my right and saw nothing but a door. I frowned and turned back to him. His eyes darted down his body and back up to hold my gaze. He adjusted his shirt and I looked down his body and gasped. He was sporting a mouth-watering, panty-soaking, nipple-throbbing, clit-pulsing erection.

  The glass was at my lips and my mouth was empty but damn, I could almost feel his cock in there, my tongue circling his slit. I shuddered again then choked on nothing.

  Frowning, I shook my head quickly, knowing Eddie was near and would be making an appearance soon. If I disappeared, he may get suspicious, and I didn’t want his probing questions. Greg’s gaze darted toward the house, becoming hard. I shook my head again, despite becoming wet at that look. I want him… I sooo want him, but Eddie…

  Greg’s hands rested on his hips and once again his gaze darted to the door while his head sharply gestured that way. I frowned; he silently snarled, ‘now.’ I swallowed so hard I choked again.

  Lala reached and took my glass from me as Greg walked toward that door.

  “No more for you tonight,” Lala giggled. “Seriously, can you not handle alcohol?”

  “Yeah, I can,” I breathed. “It just keeps going down the wrong pipe. Um, Itsy, where’s the bathroom?”

  “Through that door.” She pointed. “Second door on the right. Can’t miss it.”

  I shook my head. She pointed right at the door Greg went through seconds before.

  “Thanks,” I said, looking wearily at the door. I was so going to fuck him again.

  Now.

  Chapter Eight

  The Best Kind of Buddy

  I walked through the door and as soon as I shut it behind me, someone grabbed my hand and led me to the second door on the right. All I saw was the back of Greg’s head as we silently strode down the hall. He directed me inside the bathroom then shut and locked the door behind us.

  “Off,” he demanded as he started removing his clothes.

  He placed a condom on the edge of the sink beside me. Staring at his chest, I reached behind me and unzipped the long, slinky copper-colored dress Itsy picked for me. It was strapless and as soon as the zipper lowered to the end, the dress pooled to the floor.

  Greg froze, his eyes bulging. My dress didn’t call for a bra. My full C breasts were perky and the nipples pebbled and erected almost painfully under his erotic stare.

  He moved closer then kissed me while kicking off his pants. His hands gripped my waist, and once again, he tore my panties right off my body. He parted my thighs slightly as I leaned back against the sink’s counter. I gripped his neck as the kiss deepened, moaning as his shaft rubbed me, hardening my clit and drenching my core, making me throb with need and want.

  “I want to taste you,” Greg murmured against my mouth. “So badly, but I know you have enough of tongue at home.”

  “Do it, Greg,” I pleaded. “Please. Make me cum.”

  He needed no second bidding. His mouth left mine so fast he practically dropped to the floor.

  Oh, my God… drop it like it’s hot… I so get that now!

  Greg raised my right foot to his shoulder, and I gripped the sink tightly when his tongue lathed me long and hard. I moaned loud. I felt his fingers part my lips then he flicked my clit fast. My legs opened wider and I dug my copper heel into his shoulder as I grabbed his head and kept him right where he needed to be.

  He groaned and gripped my ass, pulling me closer to his mouth, his tongue flicking faster. I felt that build. That delicious build where everything inside jumps and shivers, every organ quivering. Oh, yeah, I thought as my hips grew a brain of their own and started fucking Greg’s unrelenting mouth. Fuck me, I wa
nted to scream.

  Eddie was nothing like this with his mouth.

  My nails dug into Greg’s neck and I felt myself release, screeching like a hungry cat. Greg shot back up and kissed me hard, taking my high-pitched screams of pleasure into his mouth while rubbing his hard-as-steel shaft against my sex. I shook in his arms; they tightly held me while another orgasm rocked me hard.

  My screams calmed to whimpers. Greg released my mouth. Still I shook, trembling head to toe. He moved an arm from me and reached for the condom.

  “Fuck, I wish you were on the pill, Cass.”

  I heard the condom open and tried to still so one of us could roll it on.

  “I have an IUD,” I whimpered. “Year old.”

  “No shit?”

  “No shit.”

  His mouth attacked my nipple. “You fucking anyone else?”

  “No one since you,” I whispered and arched. “Not even Eddie.”

  “When was the last time with someone other than him?”

  “At least a year before Eddie and I’ve been with him for two years.”

  Greg moved to the other nipple then softly bit it before he sucked it. “I haven’t been with anyone for a while. I use condoms. Every time.”

  “You don’t have to with me. The IUD is doing what it should. And I’m clean. Not even a cold.”

  He chuckled then gave me biting kisses up my body. “Me either,” he whispered at my ear. “I’m going to fuck you now. I want to be deep inside you and watch you shudder and come apart from what I’m going to do to you.”

  I moaned as his hot breath hit my chill-bumped skin. I wanted him deep inside me, too, but I also wanted to give back.

  “Let me return the favor first.”

  Greg kissed up my jaw. “What favor, Cass?”

  “I want to use my mouth, too,” I moaned.

  “You will,” Greg grated and settled at my opening. “Maybe next time.”

  “Next time?” I whimpered again as he slowly… deliciously… sensuously entered my body.