Page 11

Chapter Eight

Dereck

M iranda is dating someone. I don’t know his name, but I do know that I want him far away from her. No, I want him dead. But I haven’t seen her smile that wide for a year now.

She is fucking glowing again, and it’s killing me.

Miranda has begun college. She got a full scholarship. The truth is I paid for her full college tuition under the guise of a scholarship. I am determined to care for her and my son even it is from afar.

She was busy, with a one-year-old and college…when did she get time to date. Where the hell was my son?

I always take time to drive or fly down to Charleswood, it’s only four hours away from Lakeshore. I don’t show up for two weeks, because my son was sick and at home. And I come back to this.

A smiling Miranda, a happy flirting Miranda. I should be happy that she is happy. But not like this and not with him. Look at her sitting, her fingers twirling the side of her afro, it’s making my blood boil.

I bend my head, struggling to catch my breath. This is all my fault. Looking up, I press my clenched fist to my mouth.

I pushed her away. I told myself this was the right thing to do, to leave her so she can live her life to the fullest. It would have been easier, but she has my son. I have to stay to protect them, even if they never know that I am here.

Through the burger joint’s window, I watch them share a milkshake together. His forehead almost touched hers. My insides are falling apart. Is this how she felt when she saw me getting married to someone else?

“Fuck me,” I groan. I love her. I don’t want to but God dammit I love her. Everything about Miranda holds me captive. I have become a slave to her.

My world has dimmed without her love, I feel like my life is black and white and all the color, the joy, she took it with her.

When I close my eyes at night, when the world quiets, my mind doesn’t. I am kept awake by the thoughts of Miranda and my children. For hours with my eyes open, I lay in my bed needing to talk to her. To find out if she is all right. I want to ask her if her heart is as heavy as mine. I want to know if she feels the emptiness too. I have become obsessed with a love that I can never have. All I can do now is sit and watch from afar as she falls in love with another. I have never known a pain like this before.

* * *

PENNY

There is something sobering seeing your best friend with someone who makes them happy. It’s like my heart feels settled watching Zeeta glow. Sunday was the day that belongs to the lord, that’s what my mom would say. Thus it’s ingrained in me to attend church on Sunday. What I didn’t expect was meeting Zeeta’s boss, now turned boyfriend, opening my best friend’s front door.

Rhet Banner is just the sweetest. We spoke for a long time about business acquisitions and mergers. All the while Zeeta was getting her mom ready. Every time Zeeta passes near the living room, Rhet’s eyes track her. I know he is not paying attention to anything I say, and that was okay. It’s nice to see someone love my bestie just as much as me.

Of course we were late for church. Nothing irks me more when the ushers carry you to the front of the church when you are late. Like why? I turn away and walk to the back row. I squeeze into a pew next to some newcomers. In all the topics Bishop Bartholomew had to pick today was honesty and marriage.

“My brothers and sisters, trust is the foundation of a good marriage. Without trust, love will struggle. It will never grow,” Bishop Bartholomew’s voice echoes throughout the church. As the Bishop speaks of love, I think about Tarek. My thoughts stray to the wonderful night we had, and I woke up to an empty bed. I should feel relieved that he left, but I don’t. But then again, it’s not like I was going to invite him to stay for breakfast.

Just as I was about to sigh my watch begins to “ding”. That small ding echoed through the middle row of the church. Ms. Johnson turns her head around, lifts up the flap of the hat that is covering her face and gives me the stink eye. Of course, she doesn’t like me. I dated her son some years ago. It didn’t work out because, duh, he cheated. He doesn’t come to church anymore. Guess who she blames for that?? Me.

“Sorry,” I said shyly as I raise my hand to apologize.

As the Bishop continues his sermon, my phone buzzes.

Again Ms. Johnson turns her head, this time she presses her index finger to her lips and says, “Shhhhhh.”

The “Shhh” sound Ms. Johnson makes is louder than the buzzing on my phone.

Ignoring her, I open my phone, and I see the most alarming text.

Tarek

Where are you?

Me

at East Valley and fifth. The church is on the corner.

Tarek

Okay On my way.

I blink rapidly, what does he mean “On my way?”

Me: I am in Church so see you later.

No response.

Me: Tarek it’s okay. I will see you after church. In like three hours.

Still no response. Shrugging my shoulders, I put my phone away.

Some minutes pass and Ms. Palmer begins to read the scripture. I hear the two doors at the back of the church open. Behind me I hear a slight commotion, some women were talking, others are tittering. Something tells me to look back, and I do. Only to see a dark, tall figure, surrounded by the light from outside. Shit its Satan, no, no it’s just Tarek. Oh god Tarek!

My heart drops, and my legs develop a mind of their own, because I am speed walking down the side isle to get to the back of the church. I reached him just in time as the usher is pointing Tarek down the aisle to sit in the front. Oh my god, oh my god!

“No. It’s okay,” I reach pass the usher and grab Tarek’s hand.

“Is it?” Tarek asks, nodding to the back pew onlookers as I drag him away from the main auditorium.

I can see Ms. Johnson hat rising out of the sea of people.

“No, no,” I murmur. I walk down the back hall, turning the doorknobs of the Sunday school classroom and the confession room all lock.

“Where did she go? Making all that noise, that girl,” I can hear Ms. Johnson’s voice, and I think the she, that she is referring to is me.

“When you said you were in church, I thought hmm maybe I should start going to church more often.” Tarek pulls me to a stop. “Then I figured I’d probably burst into flames the second I walked through the door,” he adds with a crooked smile.

Two things occurred to me; One, Tarek really is allowing me to move him, this man is strong, and two if he doesn’t move the whole church would be back here wanting to find out who Tarek is. Why? Because church women love to gossip.

I inhale trying to calm my nerves down. “Listen Rhet is already in the front causing a mini commotion.”

Tarek eyebrows rise in excitement. “Rhet is here I gotta tell the guys this.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I reply. I wonder if the bathroom door is open. As I am about to touch the door. Annette Robinson, a cute teenager with dark long sister locks comes out. She looks at me and then at Tarek. I drop his hand.

Annette raises her eyebrow at me, and I did the same because I am not about to be intimidated by a child.

“Don’t go in there it’s packed,” Annette says casually as she walks away.

Packed? I grab Tarek hard pulling him down the hall around the bend. A dead end. The only door available is the janitor’s closet.

Tarek folds his arms and leans back and props himself up on the wall. “You know I always had a fantasy of fucking in a confessional. I should make one at Nowhere.”

“No cursing, Tarek!” He is driving me insane.

“Are you ashamed of me, Penelope?” The question feels sincere like my answer matters.

I can hear the click clack of someone’s shoes.

“No, I am not ashamed of you, but the gossip mill will have a field day with this,” I reply, I reach for his arm and pull. The heifer is strong, he doesn’t even budge.

“She has no respect for the Lord, ringing phones, loud talking,” Ms. Johnson’s voice echoes down the hall.

I walk to the janitor’s closet and thankfully it’s open. I point at the dark closet. “Get in.”

Tarek raises his eyebrow and smirks. “Fuck, no.”

“Tarek, this is a church. No cussing. Get in.”

He chuckles. “No, and I am in the perfect place for cussing. My sins will be forgiven faster here.”

I blink rapidly trying my best to understand what the hell he just said. “You really are hedonistic.”

Tarek laughs with his head back. “When did I ever tell you I was a moral person, Penelope? I own a sex club, for God’s sake.”

My heart skips. “I don’t care about any of those things. If I’m being honest, it’s your hedonistic qualities that I find most attractive.”

Tarek eyebrows almost touch his hairline. Tarek pushes himself off the wall, and slowly he strides toward me. “So, you find me attractive.”

I shake my head, fighting back a smile. “I do. Now get in the janitor’s closet.”

“Maybe I will develop a new kink, by fucking in a janitor’s closet.” Tarek pushes his head in, taking a peek. “It’s so dark in here.”

“She has no discipline. When I get a hold of her mother.” Ms. Johnson’s nasal voice is coming closer. Without a second thought, I lean into Tareks’ back with all my strength. Tumbling us both into the closet. I reach forward and close the door.

“What the fuck, Pen?” Tarek fusses.

My hands search for his, then go up his shoulders and his neck. I quickly cover his mouth. “Shh, please.”

Darkness settles around us.

“Where did they go?” I hear Ms. Johnson asks someone right outside our door.

Tarek takes the opportunity to lick the inside of my palm. His tongue slowly glides against it. I try my best to hold in my giggle.

Covering my mouth to hold my laugh.

I can hear the door knob turning and my heart is pumping. Both Tarek and I stay very still. If we are discovered I know next week, I will be the topic of the next sermon. The door opens and the light from the hallway spills into the room.

“Johnson, girl, what the hell are you doing?” someone asks.

“What you need?” Ms. Johnson asks.

“Bishop called your name twice for the reading. If you don’t come, Hattie will read.”

“She just has to be in everything. I’m coming.” The door shuts and Ms. Johnson click-clack shoes move farther away.

My shoulders fall, and a hot puff of air leaves my body. I move my hand from Tarek’s mouth. In the darkness, I tip toe and feel for a hanging beaded chain. The light around us flickers.

Revealing a compact damp room lined with shelves. There are spray bottles, detergent containers and a neat stack of individually wrapped toilet paper. There are mops and brooms clipped to the wall, a yellow bucket is right behind Tarek’s leg. The yellow wet floor sign leans against the small industrial sink.

“My nostril may just hemorrhage from the stench of bleach,” Tarek teases.

I giggle taking in how silly we look. “It’s all about the ambience after all darling.”

“Yes, the wet dirty mop is very haute couture,” he replies, we both laugh until his hand reaches up to my face, his thumb grazing the side of my cheek.

Tarek’s gaze soften as if he was trying to work out a puzzle in his head. “I missed you,” he murmurs. The words almost sound like a question as if like me he was surprised by his own confession. Something flickers in his eyes as his gaze holds mine.

“Then you shouldn’t have left,” I reply calmly, feeling vulnerable.

* * *

TAREK

I missed her. Why the hell did I say that? What the fuck is wrong with me? Nothing, I guess. The truth is as I drove out from her house. I felt…weird, like I was doing something wrong.

Sunday is normally my rest day, I play golf or hang out with the guys, so was I just dilly dallying around the house? Even Walter watched me like something was off. I became alive when my phone dinged, and it gave me an excuse to see Penny. I wanted to see Penny because I missed her.

I nod. “You’re right. Now about the ding.”

She sighs and stomps her feet. “This is a church.”

“Exactly the perfect place to be, so our child can be blessed,” I shrug, walking up to her.

Penny folds her lips trying to hold back a laugh.

I press her against the shelves, my hands braced on the ones above her, caging her in.

“You didn’t miss me Treasure?” I ask, bending my head to get a whiff of her floral perfume.

She plays with the buttons of my dark blue shirt. Her innocent eyes hold mine. “I did.”

Two words shouldn’t have an effect on me, but I drop my hands to the side of her beige dress, rubbing her hips. I lean forward brushing my lips against hers. Her fingers grip on my t-shirt pulling me closer. She presses her lips against mine; my hands hold her lower back. I take pleasure in her small moans and the way her hands grip my hair.

Slowly I slide her dress up her legs, I hook her underwear with my thumb. I kneel not bothering to look at the state of the floor. I drag her underwear down her legs.

“Step out of them Treasure,” I command. Thankfully, she doesn’t protest. She lifts her legs, and I stuff her underwear in my pocket. I place one of her legs on the shelf.

I slip my head under the dress. She presses her hand down. “Tarek? Really?”

I come from under the dress and sit back on my knees. “God invented fucking.”

“Oh my God, Tarek.” She stares at me in amusement.

“The scripture says he told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. We are multiplying.” I move her hand away.

I hoist her dress to the side. “Hold this up,”

Penny grabs the dress, looking at me she tries one last time. “This is a place of prayer.”

“It’s the janitors closet.”

“Well, it’s still a place of prayer,” she whispers.

I chuckle as I lean forward pressing my nose against her pubic bone and inhale. “Let’s pray, Hail Mary full of grace, bless my lady’s curves and waist.”

“Tarek,” her voice warns me.

I place one hand on her ass, the other I massage her clit with my thumb. “Bless the way she rides me raw.” Her jaws open, I stare up at her in reverence. “Bless her no gag reflex.”

I lick and slow rub the entrance of her pussy, my eyes never leaving her. “Bless the scratches down my spine. Bless her pussy.” I insert my finger enjoying the way her eyes widen. “Lord make it mine.”

My thumb massages her clit, her chest rises and falls. “Bless the moans she makes at night.”

She trembles and bites her lips, her hips lifting. “Bless her thighs that grip me tight.”

“Oh my God, Tarek,” her hips undulate, her stomach quivers.

I love the feeling of her warm flesh clenching around me. Naughty Penny, a raunchy prayer is making her weak.

“Bless her lips so soft.” I lean forward and suck her clit. “So sweet.”

Her hands slide into my hair pulling me closer “Bless her tongue that sucks me deep.”

“Tarek please I need more,” Penny cries.

I add another finger increasing the speed a little. “May she continue to fuck my face,”

I suck her clit harder, taking it in mouth then letting go. “May you bless the way she tastes.”

I begin stroking her faster, my hand gripping her ass.

Penny holds the dress in her mouth, her both hands on my head. “Please, T.”

My tongue lashes against her clit. Her moan is low. I enjoy the way she is grinding her pussy on my face. Fuck I am hard.

“Shh baby, let me worship you,” I whisper, while my fingers pound into her harder.

“Yes just I like that, I want to come,” Penny whispers.

“Not without me.” I stand quickly, unzipping my pants and taking my cock out. Fuck the belt. I hold her waist and thrust into her. I take pleasure in the way she gasps as I look down at her, her eyes dancing over my face.

“You’re so beautiful, Penny.” I begin moving with long deep strokes.

All she does is nod, her mouth hangs open, her nails biting into my biceps. “Oh shit.”

I begin slowly pounding to her, the rolls of toilet paper tittering to the end.

“You’re soaking my cock, Penny. Are you feeling that baby?”

“Fuck, Tarek.”

“Shh, no cursing in church remember.” I grip her ass, slamming into her. Something falls to the floor; we don’t bother to look. We are just focused on each other.

“You’re such a bad girl, fucking me in church, Penny,” The sound of our slapping flesh surrounds us.

“Shit. Harder, baby,” she grips my waist pulling me forward. Fuck, she is going to make me come in this pussy.

“Take your breast out. Let me see those beauties.”

Penny fights her dress, and she pulls the dress up higher. A grey satin bra greets me. No lace, no nothing it’s the sexiest bra I have ever seen. She pulls her breast out the bra and just like that I feel like I want to come.

“Pinch those nipples for me, Treasure.” My voice is rough filled with need.

As she pinches them my spine tingles. “You ready to come with me?”

She bends her head and flicks her tongue against her own nipple. Fuck me that is hot.

“Yes Tarek, please.”

“Fuck Treasure. Let me complete my prayer,” My hips become frantic, enjoying the way she plays with herself, the way her head flicks back in pleasure.

“And when she prays on her knees,”

Penny raises her leg to another shelf, which makes me go in deeper. “I am going to come.”

“Bless the sin she gives to me,” I lift her higher.

“Yes, please, Daddy,” The daddy made my balls clench, fuck me this woman.

“And when I come, let me burn,” I smash my hips harder, making the shelf rock against the wall.

“I am coming, fuck Tarek,” she grabs my shirt and screams into my chest.

“No salvation.” I was coming, shooting myself in her pussy. “No return…Amen.” My body spasms and a high pitch note rings through my ear. Fuck, this orgasm is about to make me deaf.

We both sag, forehead touching. I swallow trying to gather my bearings.

“I can still feel the aftershock of the orgasm,” I close my eye.

“You’re so naughty,” she says as I pull out of her. I turn away from her stuffing myself into my pants.

Then I see the chaos we created, toilet paper rolls, bottles of disinfectant, bleach and wait is that a flask? All of it scattered across the floor.

“Can I have my underwear please?” Penny says. I turn, and she has fixed her dress. The only evidence of our liaison was the smeared edges of her lipstick. I dip into my pocket, taking out the cotton wonder.

“I want it as a souvenir.”

Penny smiles. “Fine keep it. The hot cute bishop will be talking to me later and maybe he will realize I have on no undies.”

A beat pass…the fuck he would. “Here,” I throw the underwear at her. She catches it and quickly puts it on.

“Where are you going after?” I ask already reaching into my pocket.

“Lunch with Rhet and Zeeta. Wanna come?” Penny fixes her hair and the brushes her dress down.

“No, Rhet will make this into…no but here,” I dig into my pocket taking out my money clip peeling away money.

“Um, I don’t need money I have my…no give it to me.” Penny stretches out her hand, And I decide to give her all the money in my clip. Was $3,000, enough for brunch? Yeah, it should be. I place the money in her palm.

“Thank you, for the ding.” She giggles softly, her eyes glow with mischief.

“Never a problem,” I reply gazing around the room. “Should we clean this?”

Penny bites her lip. “No. We need to leave now. They will blame it on a cat.”

We exchange a knowing look before hurrying to the door. As she reaches for the handle, I hold her wrist pulling her close for a lingering soft kiss.

“You go first I will buzz you later,” I murmur against her lips.

Her eyes shines with contentment. “Okay, Until our next ding.”

With that she slips out the door, leaving behind her faint flora scent and the thrill of sin hanging in the air.