Page 64 of The Impact (Parachutes #3)

Chapter Sixteen

Vin

“Hey.”

Vin chewed on the inside of his lip. Her strawberry voice used to raise the hairs on his arms. Now, it was grating. When he didn’t reply to her lazy one-word greeting, she cleared her throat through the phone.

“Okay. So…Doll is getting dropped off from Alyssa’s house to you around 6:30.”

“Bet.”

More silence, as Vin whipped his Mercedes into his driveway.

“Dalvin.”

“Yeah?”

“Are we cool?”

Fucking Tahli. “Why wouldn’t we be?”

“Are you okay? How are you holding up?”

“I’m straight. Anything else?” He grabbed the paper bag of his Italian takeout in the irritating quiet that tailed.

“Drew knows what happened with us.”

Vin froze, hand on the food, stare on his garage door. If she wanted to forget it, they could forget it. But this? Scrambling his sanity like eggs? Vin polished his teeth with his tongue.

“Yeah?” he replied. “And?” He wouldn’t anticipate hope. But his gut twisted.

“We’re gonna work past it,” she sank his ship, and Vin sneered. Shook his head. Grabbed his food, slamming his driver’s door with his foot.

“Of course, you are. ‘Cause the shit is more about me than you.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“It’s a language only men speak,” Vin wouldn’t get into it. But it was warfare. “Aye, look. I’m glad y’all got that real shit that can get past anything. I guess it’s only dependent on who’s doing the deceiving.”

“Don’t do that. That’s not fair.”

“Yeah, whatever. This shit’s outrageous. Y’all mothafuckas go be corny together.”

“Wait a minute, nigga. Not you judging me after keeping your twelve-year secret. I could literally do anything to you, and it still wouldn’t equate to the damage you’ve done to me.”

“And you. Again. Wit’ ya tit for tat bullshit, Tahli. Enough!” Vin blared from his porch, still with the front door closed. Two neighborhood kids on bikes gave him startled eyes.

“Aye, look…it’s not like I didn’t know how it was gonna go. You got ya shit off. I owed you one. Go live happily ever after now. But you called our shit a moment of weakness.” Vin tried not to reveal how much that bruised him.

“Compared what I did with Sophie to me and you. But let me be real fucking clear. Back then, I was still using sex as a distraction. To not deal with whatever shit I didn’t want to face.

That shit wasn’t about need or desire. But you…

? Me? That wasn’t a moment of weakness, Tahli.

That was instinct. Or at least I thought it was.

I don’t fucking know anymore. But all that shit is in the wind ‘cause you wit’ possum-face, and just when I thought this nigga couldn’t get more pussy…

” Vin couldn’t even finish. “Tahli, get the fuck off my phone with this shit.”

Vin ended the call. A few more days to process, and he’d compartmentalize it all. Come to terms as he had when she first left. Right now, the shit stung all over again.

“Hey.” Bianca’s fluffy voice was a pleasant contrast. Actually made him smile as Vin entered his kitchen, pulling his food from the bag.

“How’s your day?”

“Eh,” she replied. “Typical. Dull. How is yours?”

“Annoying.”

She laughed. He didn’t.

“What are you doing this weekend?”

“Nothing,” she sighed, sounding as bored with life as she often confessed. “My son is staying on campus with his girlfriend. It’s just me and Derek Shephard.”

“Who?”

“Grey’s Anatomy,” Bianca snickered. Vin snorted.

“Thought you were trying to make me jealous. Look, cut Derek a raincheck. I got my daughter tonight but I’m coming to get you tomorrow.”

“Oh,” her unmistakable pleasant surprise rang in his ear. “You wanna grab dinner or something?”

“More like pack a bag. We’re getting lost for a couple of days.”

Nervous, stunned giggles and then. “Wait, are you serious?”

“Heart attack.”

“Okay,” she caved right away. “What kind of clothes should I pack?”

“Clothes are optional.” She laughed like he was joking. “Just bring you. Leave your worries and your wallet at the crib.”

“Oh my God,” she exclaimed, still audibly giddy. It made Vin grin. Made him feel appreciated. “Okay. I’ll be ready.”

The following night, Vin had Bianca bent over the edge of the jacuzzi in his Azure Heights, North Carolina home.

Tahli had chosen the $30,000 jacuzzi and Vin sprang for it.

Italian luxury with VTR paneling, wood finishing, 28 jets, comfort seats and headrest cushions.

A spa in a box that melted away Bianca’s inhibitions.

Out of the panoramic wall-size windows sat a stretch of mountains, and as Vin drilled into her, splashing jacuzzi water all over the floors of the main suite, he compared both views.

Fingers digging into her hips, he only paused to gingerly lick up her spine, suck on the back of her neck, before dipping his tongue into her ear canal, channeling his retired nickname.

The unpredicted affection made her quiver, Get ‘Em Wet style.

A hard smack on her ass resumed the backshots.

The type of balance that made a good girl a freak. But made a bad girl behave.

“Dalvin, are you serious?” Bianca’s eyes had sparkled when they arrived at the Robbinsville home he typically rented out. “This is yours?”

He affirmed, before drawing her a bath. Had food and champagne delivered. Listened to her bitch about her boss while he rubbed her feet. Then he did everything he knew Tahli would hate.

Larry would be disappointed. Vin didn’t give a fuck. Tahli went home to her fiancé dripping his nut and he still chose her. She still chose him. It was beyond time he moved on.

So, Vin ate Bianca until her honeybun icing creamed in his mouth.

Came up and tongue-kissed her for an eternity.

By the time he withdrew from the kiss, a long silk of saliva still connecting their lips, she had a puddle between her thighs.

Vin didn’t let it go to waste. He stroked her slow until her body quivered.

Then he bent her over this tub and fucked her brains out until she was pulling at her own hair, cursing Vin and the God that made him.

When they finally collapsed into jacuzzi water, both strapped for breath, Bianca was wild out of her mind. Laughing slowly, before letting it grow.

“You good?” Vin questioned, a little nervous. He had his fair share of crazy. Couldn’t stomach another Sophie.

“Good? Am I good? Am I good?!” Her naked body leapt from the water, springing out and twirling around the suite. “Did you just ask me if I’m fucking good? I am great . Baby…I am so fucking great.” That wide, contagious smile spread across her face.

“I am…oh my God. I am alive!” Vin’s eyes inflated. “I am in a house…in the mountains…with lobster and fruit and champagne and a man,” she growled, naming off very-regular shit.

“A man that owns this fucking house that looks like you, with a dick like yours, and…” She sank to her knees and Vin could only gawk.

Shit was outrageous. “I mean, did you really just eat me off the bone like that? My God…Dalvin,” she panted, starting a slow crawl back to the jacuzzi.

Kind of turned him on. “Did you really fuck me until I heard angels? You’re the kind of man I make Sunday dinner for on a fucking Tuesday. ”

Vin stretched his jaw until he heard it crack, choosing careful words.

“I aim to please. Long as we’re both having a good time.” A good time, B. Remember.

“I am,” she insisted with a lip bite. “Now, I wanna do whatever you like. Let me cater to you,” she started to sing, and Vin bit the bullet, but the cringe broke through.

“No? My singing’s that bad?”

He tugged on his bottom lip.

“Oh. A Tahli song? I see. How about… tonight I’m gonna dance…”

Vin shook his head regrettably. Tahli had those two songs lined up on his returns home. Mellifluous voice serenading in his ear while massaging his back. His favorite dish prepared. Candles. Her.

“Okay. No Beyonce. How about no singing?”

“Yes, please,” Vin swiped his lids.

Bianca, grabbing his arm, snatched his attention, and she leaned into the tub to kiss the tip of his nose.

“Seriously, baby. What do you like? I wanna adore you.” Bianca delivered pillowed kisses to his abs. “I wanna worship you.” Her husband must have molded her into submission. Physically? It was arousing as fuck. Mentally? Vin needed a challenge. Submission with spark. The balance of Tahli.

Vin stepped out of the jacuzzi, water spilling from his body.

“Stay on your knees and take it in your hand,” he ordered, and Bianca’s lenses glinted with thrill before she obliged, taking his semi-erect shaft into her cushioned palm. Vin wet his lips. “Now stroke it slow.”

She did, eyes on his, awaiting further instruction. “Move your hair to the other side, so I can see your face, baby. Then give it a kiss.” Bianca obeyed readily.

“Good girl. Now suck. Easy.” Vin drew air between clenched teeth when her warm mouth engulfed him. “That’s it. Slow. Take more. You can take more. There you go…”

The next two days were packed with hot sex, cool nights, sleeping in and staying up.

Bianca was a breeze blowing wherever he needed.

By the time Vin returned to Jersey, his grudge with Tahli had waned.

She owed him one. She got him back. That was life.

His father used to always say, Sometimes you get the rabbit. Sometimes the rabbit gets you.

Tahli

Tahli’s key still worked. Vin always promised it would.

This is our kids’ home. Why would you not have access to it?

Same for his bank accounts. Tahli could pull up any of Vin’s checking, savings, IRAs, or stock accounts and move or withdraw whatever she wished.