SEX Unlimited The Complete Volumes (10 page)

That makes me laugh and she knew it would.

“And it’s all about you right, Janette? We can’t have you messing up your lashes.” We laugh-cry and she hugs me.

“I love you,” I sniffle.

“I love you, too.”

“What am I going to do about James?”

“I don’t know, C, but you can’t let him come ripping back into your life like this, ruining all you’ve worked for over the past year. Don’t give him the slightest inclination you want him back. Unless you do?”

She pulls back and looks at me, unsure as I shake my head. “No, I can’t. I can’t ever forgive him for what he did. I doubt I ever will and a relationship can’t work with a wound that’s never going to heal.”

I lean forward and wipe my eyes. Dropping my head into my hands I laugh.

“How is this my life? Within the span of a few weeks, my life has gone from organized, predictable, and boring, to pure insanity. This must be an early mid-life crisis.”

The doorbell rings, startling me.

“Oh god, please don’t tell me he’s here again,” I groan and Janette catapults up off the sofa.

“I’ve got this shit. You stay right here.”

Oh hell.

“Janette, don’t go apeshit on him if it’s, in fact, him. Next thing I know he’ll be arresting you.”

“Fuck him and I like handcuffs.”

I can only shake my head. She’s a crazy person.

My house has an open floor plan so I can see the entryway from the living room. She opens the door without ever checking the peep hole.

James.

James and roses. Lots of roses.

I stand but don’t take a single step.

“What, in the actual fuck, are you doing here, James?” Janette’s voice is on the borderline of yelling.

James never really liked Janette or approved of her very colorful style and life. He’s clearly taken off guard by her not-so-pleasant greeting. He peers over her shoulder.

“I want to see Candace.” His brows are furrowed, his lips pressed into a hard line. I can see his jaws clenching. He does that when his temper is on the rise.

“Well, that’s too damn bad because she doesn’t want to see you, asshole.”

Janette has her hand casually propped up on the edge of the door frame and her opposite hand planted firmly on her hip.

“I don’t think that’s for you to decide, Janette.” His words are clipped and I can tell he’s trying hard not to lose his temper.

Janette turns her head to look at me over her shoulder. “You wanna see this shit stain, C?”

James’ face changes from anger to desperation. He looks at me with begging eyes, clearly hoping I’ll say yes.

“No,” I whisper. All the air in my lungs seems to disappear. In this brief moment, staring into the eyes of the man I’ve always loved, the man I chose for better or worse, I make a decision as I recall the day he broke us. The invisible tether that’s always bound my heart to him is severed and I die a small death in my heart. Almost simultaneously a spark ignites in my soul and I’m free.

Janette reaches out and takes the roses right out of his hands. He’s either in shock or just speechless because he doesn’t even try to stop her.

“I’ll take these. I’m just going to assume these roses are your last apology for breaking my best friend’s heart and your final goodbye.”

James looks at her and then to me. He sees it. He feels it. He knows it’s over. Not even he can deny it.

“Take care of yourself, Candace.” He drops his head and his shoulders slightly slump. He stares into the ground for a second then looks back up to me. “And I’m sorry.”

He starts to say something else but Janette puts up a hand.

“Nope, that was perfect - say nothing else. Goodbye, James.” And she slams the door in his face.

For the first time since she opened the door I take a full breath.

“Oh my god,” I deadpan.

Janette twists around, holding the giant arrangement of red roses. “I’m so fuckin’ proud of you.” She leans into the roses and inhales. “Smells just like sweet freedom.”

I shake my head at her and try to wrap my mind around what just happened. She walks over and places the arrangement on the kitchen table.

“So, what are you wearing for your mind fuck tomorrow night?”

I’VE BEEN TRYING TO DISTRACT myself with work all day. Thoughts of what tonight may bring are constantly invading my mind. He’s on my mind often; way too often, if I’m truly honest. Staring at my computer screen I find myself daydreaming. Thoughts of his hands, mouth, and how they feel when he touches me with them, fill my mind. Just thinking about it sends chills across my skin. I smile and try to push the images from my head so I can focus on Dawn’s manuscript. I’m running behind schedule as it is. I’m still more
into
the story than working
on
the story, though. I’ve found it has a sad overtone but, at the same time, it’s gripping and I get the feeling it’s definitely not going to end happily. I hope she knows readers aren’t going to like that. Readers want a nice, tidy bow at the end of a book. Dawn doesn’t really seem to be one to cater to what the readers want though. I have a feeling she does what she wants regardless.

The couple in this story have fallen in love, gotten married, and now they’re having a baby. It all seems like the regular fairytale formula but, with the title of
True Loss Story,
I don’t see a good ending in sight. It’s the couple’s wedding anniversary and the scene is so sweet. I hate that things are most likely going to end with loss.

Brian and I had been married for two years. Our daughter was only six months old but she was the most amazing baby I’d ever laid eyes on. Everything in our life was perfect. Brian was the most loving and doting father you could ever imagine and we were happier than we’d ever been. We planned a simple night at home for our two year anniversary because neither of us wanted to leave Willow. I bought him a new watch with a special inscription engraved on the inside:
My love for you is timeless, never-ending, and infinite.
He gave me a puzzle piece, just as he had for our first anniversary, along with a beautiful arrangement of my favorite flower, calla lilies. The puzzle pieces were his creative idea. When he gave me the first one I was so perplexed. I’d opened the small box and inside was a white puzzle piece and all I could make out on it were two words,
Dear Danielle.
This year I got two more words,
You are.
He says eventually I’ll have a complete puzzle and it’ll be his everlasting love letter to me. His thoughtfulness never ceases to amaze me. I keep the pieces together in a keepsake box in our room. I asked him once how many pieces there were and he simply replied, enough for our forever.

I nearly want to cry reading this, it’s so beautiful. Reading about such a happy couple makes me incredibly sad. I wanted that life with James more than anything in this world, a lost dream now; gone and never to be had. Not taking James back was hard, but the right thing for me to do. I have no idea what I’m doing having this gratuitous relationship with Brisban and, to be perfectly honest, I don’t want to figure it out. I’m tired of thinking and worrying.

I just want to
be
for a while. Just be. I want to enjoy simple pleasures and feel like a woman. I refuse to feel guilty for wanting, or needing, those things in my life. Tonight I’m having dinner with a sexy, beautiful man and he’s going to fuck me nine ways to Sunday. I’m not going to feel bad about that. Not at all.

I chose a simple, white scoop-neck top and black skirt for dinner. The top shows off my cleavage and the skirt is fitted to accent my curves. Not wearing panties is new for me. I can’t actually believe I’m going without them. It makes me feel bad and I never knew how much I’d enjoy feeling like a ‘bad girl.’ To give my outfit even more sex appeal, I’m wearing a pair of red heels. He likes my hair down so down it is.

Even though we aren’t calling this a date it feels like one. He’s not picking me up because we still haven’t made the step to invite each other to our homes. I’m meeting him at the restaurant in an hour which means I need to leave in thirty minutes. I’m nervous as usual. I wonder how long this nervous thing is going to last. I feel like a teenager every time I get ready to meet him.

Pulling into the parking lot of The Black Thai, I take a deep breath. My palms are even a little sweaty. This is ridiculous that I react this way.
Pull your shit together, Candace.
The valet immediately greets me and I put the car in park, get out, and hand my key to the nice valet boy. I barely glance up and I see him.

He’s standing at the entrance in a suit of perfection. No tie, just an incredible suit jacket and pants with a pastel pink v-neck shirt underneath. I love that the man wears pink. I could die right here and now at the sight of him. A smile stretches across his perfectly chiseled face, revealing teeth that couldn’t possibly get any whiter. When he smiles his entire face smiles and the little crinkle he gets on the bridge of his nose is so adorably sexy. His eyes travel from my face down to my feet slowly. I start to close the distance between us and instantly feel flushed. His eyes make their way back to mine and our gazes intertwine. He says so much without ever saying a single word. Standing right in front of him, the energy flowing between us is undeniable. He reaches out to me.

“May I?” he asks.

I give him my hand and he pulls it to his lips, leaning in to place a soft kiss on top of it. His slight scruff brushes my skin as his lips press down and then away. The skin on that one spot of my hand ignites, sending heat throughout my body. He leans in and whispers ever so quietly, “You’re stunning as always. Every man here will wish they were me. Thank you for having dinner with me tonight.” He kisses my neck just below my earlobe before pulling away.

Butterflies swarm in my stomach and I hide the reaction. I flick my eyes up to meet his. “Thank you for inviting me and you look very handsome yourself.”

Cool, calm, and collected, that’s me. I almost want to laugh at myself. If only he knew I was losing my shit on the inside.

“Shall we?” he motions toward the entryway of the restaurant.

“Yes, of course. Thank you.”

He places his large hand at the small of my back. The slight touch is reverent and makes this feel so much like a date. There are times I wish he wasn’t such a gentleman; it confuses my intentions. But, my God, I love how he treats me with his chivalrous ways. It’s such a rarity these days for a man to act in this manner.

The hostess greets us and it’s immediately obvious they know him here.

“Mr. Calloway, right this way,” the lady says, motioning toward the back of the restaurant. “We have your favorite table ready for you and your guest.”

He nods. “Thank you, April.” I can’t believe he wanted to have dinner with his fuck buddy at a place he frequents.

Once we approach the table he, of course, moves to pull my chair out for me. I tilt my head to look up at him and smile. “Thank you.”

His lips curl slightly at the edges. “It’s all my pleasure,” he tells me, just as his hand brushes against my shoulder. He does these subtle things on purpose - it drives me wild and he knows it. The hostess places our menus on the table.

“Shall I get you a bottle of wine, sir?”

“I’ll have my usual and she’ll have your best red wine.” She nods and steps away. He leans down and whisper quiet says in my ear, “Are you wearing panties, Candace? Please tell me you’re bare under that skirt.”

I feel my cheeks heat instantly and try to keep my composure. “Brisban, shh. People will hear you,” I scold him flirtatiously.

“Answer the question, Candace.”

I just nod, letting him know that I’m, indeed, not wearing anything under my skirt.

“Sexy, very sexy,” is all he says as he rounds the table to take his seat. “I’m hard for you right now, you know,” a sinfully seductive grin graces his handsome face. “I can’t control it when I’m around you. Knowing you aren’t wearing panties makes it that much more out of my control. I live a very controlled life. I enjoy how you cause me to leave all of that behind when we’re together.”