She turned her head so she could kiss me. And she smiled. My heart did this funny little thing in my chest. If she hadn’t been tucked up right in there with me, I would’ve rubbed it, because it felt like it prodded me from the inside. I hated doing this, because I loved being inside of her, but I pulled out and turned her body around, facing me.
I ran my thumb across her cheekbone as I cupped her face. “I wanted to talk to you about something today. I was going to wait until tonight, but I find my mind wants me to say it now. Terri, I know we never brought this up in our discussion about the six month trial or anything but I want us to be exclusive.”
The expression on her face was like watching a flower bloom. Her eyes got all soft and dewy and her lips curved into a smile that, again, made my heart do that little poking thing in my chest.
“Is that okay with you?”
Her eyes never left mine but she nodded her approval. I smiled at her and she just said two words that told me everything she was feeling.
“Kiss me.” I had to satisfy my girl. So I did. It built into way more than just a kiss and pretty soon, she was on top of me. I worried about her leg. I knew she didn’t have a whole lot of flexibility in it, so I inched to the edge of the bed so she could drop it down if she wanted. That made her happy. She put her hands on my shoulders, had one knee on the bed and her bad leg on the ground. It worked like a charm. That leg on the bed was soon coiled around my waist and it wasn’t long before we were both in happy land.
“Terri?”
“Hmm?”
“There’s something else I want you to know.”
“Uh huh?”
“You’re my girl. Okay?”
“Only if you’re my guy.”
“I’d better be or we have us a serious problem.”
“Oh, no problem.”
“Okay. Good. One other question honey. And this is my bad and I’m way overdue here. Are you on birth control?”
“Yeah Justin. We’re good there.”
“Thanks honey. Not that I’d mind a little Justin running around or anything, but I’m not quite there yet.”
“What about a little Terri?” she asked, laughter lacing her voice.
“Well, that would be good too. But I don’t think either one of us is there yet.”
“No, we aren’t.”
I kissed her again. Then we got back under the covers and fell asleep.
********
“Oh no!” Terri yelled as she hopped out of bed. I sat up and wondered why all the racket. Then I looked at the clock and had my answer.
“Oh hell honey. We forgot to set an alarm.”
I watched her tearing through her room like the Tasmanian Devil.
“Oh no!” she cried out again.
I jumped out of bed, in a weak attempt to help her.
“What?”
“I don’t have any clean panties. I was going to do a load of laundry this morning.”
I let out a howl of laughter.
“It’s not funny Justin,” she grumbled.
I walked over to her and took her by the shoulders. “Just a tiny bump in the road, honey. Look, why don’t you call your appointment and push it back to give you a few extra minutes?”
She nodded and did as I suggested. Damn, looking at her standing there, with her hair all sexy messy and her lips swollen from our earlier kissing session made me want to grab her and throw her right back down on that bed.
“Justin,” she said.
“Yeah.”
“Please don’t look at me like that. That’s what I’m talking about...you know, wet panties.”
“Christ Terri.” I took one long stride and pulled her into my arms. My hand went straight down to her sex and all I felt was slick, slippery moisture, and it was just for me. “I’m sorry babe, but I can’t help myself.” That’s all I got out before her mouth was on mine and she was guiding me into her. I picked her up and let her ride me as I backed her into the closest wall. It didn’t take either of us very long before we were both falling, climaxing.
“I’m sorry babe. Now I really made you late.”
“Yeah, you did. I’m going to have to tell Margaret that my guy was wallbanging me. I hope she’ll understand. And then I’ll have to tell her that I’m not wearing any panties too.”
“You know what? I don’t think you need to wear any panties anymore. They’re very over rated.”
“I figured you say something like that. Justin?”
“Yeah honey.”
“I really need to go now.”
“Oh right.”
I slid out of her with a groan. Then I set her on the floor and leaned into her and whispered, “Just think of that all day long Terri. I know I will be.”
She quickly dressed and left me laying in her bed. I fell back to sleep because now I was doubly exhausted from lack of sleep and lots of sex.
********
It was right past lunchtime when I woke up again. As I lay there thinking of Terri, I was struck with a brilliant idea. I hunted down my phone and called my sister Ava.
“Hey bro. What’s up?”
“Where do you buy your lingerie?”
“Ew Justin. That’s a creepy question.”
“Ava. Don’t be gross. It’s for someone special.”
“You? Have someone special?”
“Don’t act so shocked.” I was getting a bit put out by her. Sisters could be so damned nosy.
“Well?”
“Well what?”
“Who is it?”
“Damn, you’re nosy aren’t you?”
“Justin, I’m your sister. I have a right to be nosy. Especially since you’re undoubtedly the biggest player in Charleston.”
She just knocked all the wind out of my sails with that comment. “That’s a little harsh don’t you think?”
Ava snorted. “Harsh? From someone who’s left a swath of broken hearts from here to Greenville? I hardly think so.”
“Okay, I’ll give you that. But that was a few years ago and I’m not exactly proud of that.”
“Hmm. Interesting.”
“So? A lingerie store?”
I heard a wicked laugh. “Oh no you don’t. I know how you operate Justin Middleton. No changing tactics here. No name, no store.”
“Terri Mitchell.”
She laughed again. “Oh come on. Do you think just I fell off the turnip truck or something? Terri would hardly speak to you at the wedding. And now you expect me to believe you want to buy her lingerie, the most intimate type of clothing a man buys a woman? Tsk tsk Justin. Like I said, no name, no store.”
I let the breath of air whoosh out of my mouth. “Ava, it’s Terri Mitchell. We made a truce and we’re seeing each other. I’m not joking. I’m calling you from her bed. Do you want to FaceTime so I can prove it to you?”
“Yes! I do because I don’t believe you.”
“Okay. Hang up and FaceTime me back.”
Damn it, she did. Once we were live, she wanted me to prove it. So I walked around her house, pointing things out to her to show her where I was. She finally came around and admitted, “Well, I’ll be damned. I don’t know how you did it Justin, but if you mess with her and screw her over, I’ll personally put a knot in your balls so big, you’ll never reproduce as long as you live. Do you hear me?”
What the hell! My sister was supposed to be on my side!
“Jesus, Ava, what kind of creep do you think I am. I’m dating her, and by the way, we’re exclusive.”
“What the hell Justin?”
“I’m not some man whore Ava. I’m not going to fuck her over.”
“Well, that’s not the reputation of the brother I know. Just a few months ago I remember...”
I had to cut this convo off fast. I was getting hot under the collar now.
“Listen Ava, don’t you dare go there. That ship’s sailed in my book and it better have in yours too. You got it?”
“Yeah, but it’s not my book I’m con
cerned about. You’re the bad boy Justin, not me.”
“Fuck.” I rubbed the tension that had grown into the jaws of life clamping down on the muscles in my neck.
“Yeah. You certainly have dear brother.”
“Ava. Listen to me. I’ll not deny my erroneous ways of the past. But I’m trying to do right by Terri. I swear it. She’s different and I’ve known it from the first time I met her.” That little thing in my chest just prodded me again when I said those words. Now I moved my hand from my neck to my chest so I could rub it.
“I hope so Justin, because I wasn’t kidding about what I said earlier. I will contort the hell out of your balls if you hurt her. I love that girl. Don’t you mess with her head.”
“Lingerie store, please,” I bit out.
“Tiny Touches of Lace. On King Street. Ask for Casey. You know her. She’s my friend. I think you fucked her a time or two.” I winced as she ended the call.
Damn it! That’s the last time I would ask Ava for help. She didn’t need to contort my balls. She already had. They felt swollen and bruised. And I felt sick. I was a shit and had been to a number of women over the years. The thing is, back when it was going on, I didn’t think for a second about what I was doing. I was always honest with them about not wanting to be involved. I was a free agent and told them. They never complained, that is until I wanted to part ways. The no strings thing was never real. There were always strings. And then I was the asshat. That’s why I had built up that wall because I had been lied to so many times. “Oh Justin, I don’t want to be involved either.” Or, “Oh Justin, that’s exactly what I want too. You can come and go as you please.” They were always lying. I never trusted women after that. I dated them as I felt necessary, slept with the ones I wanted and never cared about a serious relationship.
I showered and left for my place because I didn’t want to shop for lingerie in my scrubs. Not long after that, I found myself in the most awkward situation ever...buying lingerie from Casey for Terri. And yes, Ava was right. I had slept with Casey a few years back. It was all I could do to buy those two dozen pairs of panties, which set me back about five c notes (but they were worth ten times that much), have them gift wrapped and get the hell out of that store. I would’ve rather walked across a bed of nails.
I got the panties home and called a local courier service. They were at my house twenty minutes later. I attached a note and told the courier to deliver them to Terri Mitchell at Mitchell Properties. Then I waited for my phone to ring.
My reward came about an hour later.
“Went a little crazy in there didn’t you?” she asked. I could tell she was smiling.
“Not at all. I just heard that someone close to me was in dire need of some panties.”
“Oh? Is that a fact?”
“Uh huh. And, I had an idea or two.
“What kind of idea?”
“Hmm. You’ll just have to find out.”
“You play dirty mister.”
“You have no idea ma’am.”
She cleared her throat and didn’t say anything for a second. “Well,” she went on, her voice had now turned husky, “it’s a good thing you brought more than one pair.”
“Oh? Why’s that?”
“Because the pair I put on when they arrived are already damp. You know you have that effect on me.”
Now it was my turn to clear my throat. “Um Terri?”
“Yeah Justin.”
“How soon can you be here?”
“Not soon enough. I’m going home to JJ.”
“Oh no you’re not. I’ll meet you there in fifteen minutes. And Terri?
“Yes Justin?”
“Wear the black panties with the pink ribbons on them. You know, the thong that only has one string that runs up your ass? I want to see your ass in that Terri.”
CHAPTER TEN
Terri
At this rate I was gonna combust. One look at him and my blood roared and turned into liquid fire while my body melted into a puddle of desire. Justin should bottle whatever it was he had and sell it because it was some kind of magic. Talk about arousal. I was in a heightened state around him.
He made work difficult. I would find myself in a trance, thinking about the previous night or that morning, if we spent the night together. I’d decided to limit those nights, although he wasn’t happy about it. He was so consuming and it was all too easy to slip into the Justin mode. I didn’t want to lose the old Terri. I wanted to keep my friends and my life, and not drop everything and just be all about him. He could have me on the weekends he didn’t have call and one or two nights during the week. That was it.
I pulled out of the parking lot, headed to my place when my phone rang. Thinking it was Justin, I answered it without looking.
“I’m almost home,” I laughed.
“Terri?”
“Um yeah.” I knew immediately it wasn’t Justin.
“Hey, it’s me, Preston.”
Oh crap. Preston. My brother. The one that only calls or comes around when he needs something, like money for drugs. The ex-con.
“What do you need Preston?”
“Well, since you’re on your way home, I was planning on meeting you there to talk, so never mind. I’ll see you there.” Click. The call ended.
Damn it all. Justin would be pulling up right about the time Preston and I would be doing the same. Double damn it all.
I called Justin to warn him, but his phone went straight to voicemail. Triple damn it all.
A few minutes later, I pulled into my driveway and on my front porch sat a bedraggled Preston. Thirty seconds later, Justin pulled in behind me. He got out of his car and approached us with a dark look on his face.
Not wanting any kind of altercation, I immediately said, “Justin, meet my brother Preston. Preston, this is my boyfriend, Justin.” It should be noted here that I put a mountain of emphasis on the word boyfriend. I think Justin may have thought I did it for his sake, but I was doing it for my protection against Preston.
The two men eyed each other. Justin extended his hand while Preston twitched and his eyes darted between Justin and me. He finally took the extended hand and gave it a brief shake. I unlocked the door and we all went inside.
“So Preston, what’s up?”
“Well, sis, I was wondering if I could crash here for a while.”
This wasn’t good. My brother was a bad seed. He’d been in one mess after another, had done six months in prison and was still using.
“You’re still using Preston. Until you quit, you can’t stay here.”
His eyes flashed and his lips hardened. His whole demeanor changed and I was suddenly happy Justin was there. Justin moved next to me and put his arm around me, pulling me into his side.
“I need money Terri.”
“We’ve been over this time and again Preston. I’ll help you when you help yourself. No money, no place to live, nothing, until you get help and get clean. I mean it Preston. I’m not kidding here. I’ll not enable you on your life further down into the gutter in which you’re already living.”
“Why do you have to be such a fucking bitch?”
I felt Justin stiffen in reaction to Preston’s abusive remark. I prayed he didn’t do anything. The last thing I needed was some kind of quarrel between the two of them.
“I’m not Preston. I simply don’t believe in aiding and abetting a drug addict. Roll up your sleeves for me.”
“No! It’s none of your fucking business what I do.”
“Fine. Then you have no fucking business asking me for a place to stay or money to support your fucking drug habit. Now get out Preston. And don’t come back until you’re clean. I’ll be more than happy to help you then.”
Preston looked at me and the hatred pouring out of his eyes really scared me. His mouth scowled as he sneered, “You think you’re so high and mighty, don’t you? Well, you better watch your back sister because you never know what’s gonna creep up behind you one day.”
The tension and heat rolling off of Justin was nearly palpable by now. His voice had taken on a menacing quality when he said, “That’s quite enough. Don’t you ever threaten her again, or you’ll have me to deal with. Now. Get. Out. You heard your sister. And don’t come back until you’re clean.”
Justin had gotten right into Preston’s face and he outsized him by a couple of inches and at least twenty pounds of pure muscle. Preston wilted like a delicate flower in the middle of the August heat. He turned around and walked out the door.
I, on the other hand, started shaking like a washer on the spin cycle. I hadn’t seen Preston in over a year and a half. The last time we’d spoken, I told him he wasn’t welcome here until he was clean. He told me he respected that. I hadn’t trusted him in a while and I’d always been a little bit scared of him. But this time he was a totally different guy. Not anything like the brother I’d grown up with. I was really frightened of this Preston. He wasn’t kidding. I read it in his eyes. This was a desperate Preston, needing a fix.
Justin was pulling me to the sofa and crouching down in front of me, saying something. The roaring in my ears made it impossible for me to hear him. His lips were moving, but I couldn’t understand him. Then I got really hot and his hand was on the back of my neck, pushing my head between my knees.
“It’s going to be fine. Try to take some deep breaths honey.” I heard his voice keep repeating those words. I finally responded and started doing that deep breathing thing.
“Good girl Terri. That’s right.”
When I lifted my head, I still felt a little clammy, but I wasn’t shaking anymore.
“Better?” he wanted to know.
“I think so.”
I didn’t even notice until then that I was gripping Justin’s hand. I gave it another squeeze and said, “He scared the hell out of me. He’s never done that before. He’s asked for money and stuff but backed off when I said no.”
“He’s getting more desperate. Typical behavior, I think, for a drug addict.”
Shattered Edge Page 8
