Page 9

CHAPTER 8

Jourdan

I ’d left Tayla and Brice back at my house. Brice had come in a few minutes ago as I was preparing to leave. I didn’t know if they planned on staying with me, but I’d explicitly told them that no sexual relations were to be had in my damn house. They looked at me like I’d grown two heads, but I was serious. I was going through a long, dry spell. The only person who would be fucking there was me.

Very fucking long. Longer than a damn pharmacy store receipt. Ugh! Tsk. The only biscuits getting sopped at thirteen-three-ten are mine.

I lived in a two-story modern home on the outskirts of Cypress Crest. Sitting at just under two thousand square feet, it was modest. It was painted tan with oversized black windows, black trim, and stonework. After wasting so much money on home rentals, I decided to buy a house while I was here, and fell in love with a home near Cypress Crest. Cypress Crest was where all the wealthy black people lived. There was another neighborhood called Cypress Heights. However, that one had a mixed population, and the houses there were more traditional, whereas Cypress Crest held more modern-style homes. I constantly asked myself why I was laying down roots in a place I didn’t plan to stay. Yet here I was with no plans of leaving.

Brice is going to love hearing that, JoJo.

Then there was him, Stephon Rockwell. The man who was so close to me, yet so far. The man whom I didn’t know if I could trust.

Could you fully trust any man, though? Why did he have to be in the fucking drug game? Could I even date someone who wasn’t?

I was so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t even realized I was pulling into the Hard Rock Gym parking lot. That twenty-minute drive had flown by. After finding a place to park, I quickly skimmed through my work bag to ensure I had everything I needed to conduct a successful presentation. After confirming, I got out of the car and headed inside.

When I entered, I heard metal clanking and the hums of several treadmills. I could count the number of bodies in the room, which wasn’t good. I was confident I could help change that. Approaching the desk, the young woman gleefully greeted me.

“Hi, welcome to Hard Rock. You must be Mrs. Washington,” she said.

“Oh, it’s Miss, but yes, that’s me. I guess I don’t quite look like I’m here to work out, huh?” She looked over me and my attire .

“You definitely look like you work out because your body is tea. It’s because you’re very punctual, it’s four on the dot, and Justin told me to be expecting you at that time. Let me let him know you’re here.” Her fingers moved deftly over the numbers as she called back to his office. While I waited, I took one more look around the gym. It was just blah. No colors, no flow, no anything. I wasn’t an interior designer, but I knew this wasn’t what it should be. It was just gym equipment sitting in a boring ass white and gray room. I continued exploring before a man I assumed was Justin came from behind to retrieve me.

Justin Evans called me last week asking for my help. I can honestly say that his voice matched the man. He was fine. Tall, bearded, and with a muscular frame covered in smooth, milk chocolate brown skin. As he walked ahead of me, I couldn’t help but look at his ass. I loved a man with a good ass. It’s one of the reasons why one of my favorite pastimes is watching football. I wondered if he played because he looked like it.

Damn, Justin!

My mind had gone off on a tangent because I was supposed to be looking around. I hadn’t missed anything because the back was more of the same white and gray. I smiled as we entered the office, which I assumed had a table set up to the right for meetings. He led me to the table, which had eight chairs around it. I chose the first chair, and Justin sat diagonally to me at the head of the table. He glanced down at his watch before speaking.

“My apologies, my business partner is running just a few minutes behind,” he said .

“Your business partner?” I questioned, but before he could answer, the door opened.

“I’m so sorry, but there was an accident up the road, and I couldn’t easily get around. I’m usually very punctual.” I didn’t need to turn around to know it was Stephon. The goosebumps formed all over my body, and I will never forget his voice's deep timbre. I turned my head just in time to lock eyes with him, where he paused by the door. Stephon Rockwell commanded my attention in a crisp white button-down shirt unbuttoned at the top, with the sleeves rolled up on his forearms. He’d paired it with gray slacks, accentuated with a black leather belt, oxfords, and the harness that held the two guns around his back. He was mouthwatering. His eyes traveled all over me, just like mine had him, making me wonder what he was thinking. I wanted more of him on me than just his eyes.

As if reading my mind, he came and sat beside me. He slid his chair up so close to me that our legs touched. I quickly crossed mine to create a barrier. All it did was draw my attention to the fact that this man made my pussy thump. I was going to fuck this man. I took a deep breath, and why did I do that? He smelled so damn good.

Lord, help me get through this meeting! I can’t believe he owns this place. I need to conduct more research on this man.

“ Miss Washington,” he said as he studied my face. He took his bottom lip into his mouth and exhaled before shaking his head. His eyes never left mine .

“I see you have both of your lashes on today,” he said, smiling. Before I could stop myself, I’d giggled and softly slapped the back of my hand across his hard chest. He grabbed it and held it in his hand while it still lay on his chest.

“Oh, you got jokes,” I said, holding his gaze.

Shit, this man has me giggling. Me, Jourdan Nichelle Washington.

Not only had I giggled, but I’d just put my hands on this man like I’d known him for years. I quickly drew it back from his possession at the sound of Justin.

“You two know each other?” Justin asked. I’d forgotten he was even in the room.

“Something like that,” Stephon answered and winked at me. I was completely rattled.

Get your shit together, Jourdan.

Somehow, I found my damn sense and took out my laptop. I uncrossed my legs and slid closer to the table.

“Let’s get started, gentlemen,” I said. I went into my bag, passing out the copies of the presentation I’d printed out. Luckily, I was an over-preparer because I’d printed three copies. Justin quickly opened it and started to skim through the document. I noticed that Stephon hadn’t bothered to open his. Instead, he leaned over closer to me to see my computer screen.

“Ahem,” I cleared my throat and reviewed the current enrollment membership compared to other local competitors. Then, I showed my new logo and website plans .

“Damn, Baby, this shit looks good as hell,” Stephon said. Then, his hand grabbed my thigh in what appeared to be a thoughtless act. He leaned further into the table to inspect my designs. His hand slid to my center before stopping while he used his other hand to scroll the mouse pad up and down my computer screen. His hand resting between my legs started up that familiar thump he seemed to cause with little effort. Then his hand started to move back and forth around my thigh, grazing my pussy and stimulating my clit. Even though it didn’t appear that it was meant to be sexual, I couldn’t help but feel it. It intensified as he let his thumb trace circles on the top of my thigh. Then he added a gentle squeeze, all as he continued to admire my work. I was sure he hadn’t realized that he was about to make me cum because he was steadily strolling through my presentation with laser focus.

I didn’t think it was possible to feel my favorite chilling feeling and be hot simultaneously, but I felt both. I knew he could feel my heat when I crossed my legs around his hand. I let out a small gasp, signaling my orgasm. I began to jumble my words. I also couldn’t ignore something else that was present in his touch: care. I let it flow through me. I stopped talking to see Stephon staring into my eyes. Then he dropped them to where his hand was and abruptly drew it back like it was on fire. He knew. That’s when he straightened up and opened the documents I’d printed, looking at the design there instead.

His touch was wildly inappropriate, especially given our current non-relationship and professional environment. Also, I was disturbed by the fact that I’d been so long without intimacy; the first sign of it threw me over the edge. However, I wanted him to do it again. Justin had no clue what had happened, as evidenced by his excitement and verbal praises about my work. The truth was that I wanted his hands on me; I wanted him badly. I didn’t only feel the sexual tension of his touch. I felt the comfort, intimacy, and praise I’d been craving for a long time. Then I thought of snatching his hand to put it back. I didn’t. I continued my presentation, touching on social media management and engagement before finishing, opening the room for their questions.

“That is all I have for you; feel free to request any changes you may have. I also understand that you all are looking to remodel. I can also contact your designer to work together to make everything seamless. Do you have any questions?”

“So, what are your projected costs for this project?” Jason asked.

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll pay whatever she charges,” Stephon followed up.

“Thank you so much, Jourdan...” He paused as if tasting my name on his tongue. He swallowed deeply before continuing.

“Miss Washington, thank you for your time this afternoon. I would love to move forward with what you have planned. Unfortunately, I have to leave. Justin will review the particulars and get everything squared away,” he said, staring into my eyes as he stood to leave. I let the way he said my name wash over me, then nodded, watching as he exited, never turning back around so that I could see his face.

Something had changed just that quickly. Instead of letting myself feel this familiar sadness from his departure. I tucked it deep inside. I decided that I would finish up here and take my ass home. Even though Justin would never be able to tell because I was smiling. I’d gone from shocked, giddy, and aroused with Stephon to my current pissed-off state. Not showing on the outside was my mind having an erratic, irrational rant. It was so bad that my leg was bouncing uncontrollably under the table.

Jourdan, calm down. Stephon is not your man. I fucking can’t believe he just left like that. Oh ok… Could I get away with shooting him in broad daylight? I should run out there and shoot his ass.

Then, the next thing I knew, I was sliding back in my chair and running outside. I powered through the main workout area, which had been filled with the after-work crowd, as fast as I could.

“Stephon,” I yelled after him as he briskly walked to his car. He was almost there, so I called out again. Increasing my pace.

“Steph...,” I tried to call out once more before he swiftly turned around. I was standing chest to chest with the man I’d just mentally threatened to shoot. He was tall but stood over my five-foot-nine frame, even wearing heels. We stood there, having an intense stare-off. The longer he looked at me, the angrier I got. My breathing was getting faster and faster; I was gearing up to give him a piece of my mind for leaving like that.

“Why in the fu...”

“I apologize,” he said as I’d begun to cuss his ass out for having me in this current state of mind .

“For what...” I softly started because I was taken aback. However, I didn’t get the opportunity to finish before he brought his hand to my neck, gripping slightly as he spun me around until my back was to his truck. I was pinned in between, feeling every bit of his heat.

“I want to kiss you,” he whispered.

“So do it, Stephon.” Then I felt his lips on mine, timid at first, then growing urgent before his tongue sought entry. With each precise and skilled swipe of his tongue, I began to melt further into his needy embrace, moaning my arousal. His hand traveled down over my breast before slipping underneath my shirt to caress my bare skin. His other hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me into his body. I could feel his erection, and the moisture was pooling in the seat of my already wet panties.

“Tell me to stop, Jourdan; please tell me to stop,” he whispered.

“Mmmh,” I let out because I was seconds away from letting this man fuck me in this parking lot for everyone to see.

“Shit,” he huffed out, breathing erratically as he suddenly stopped. His eyes were closed, and his forehead was against mine. A horn blowing in the background brought him out of his haze. I was out just as quickly as he placed me in his embrace. He spun me around so he could enter his car. He stopped after his door was open to finally give me that eye contact I was looking for the last time he left my presence .

“Go back inside, Jourdan,” he gently commanded as he nodded toward the gym doors. I did exactly what he said and walked my ass back inside.

If he can tell me what to do, he can tell me what to do!