Sweet Taboo Page 14

“Aw, honey. You welcome.” She shook her head then swatted at DeSean. “Why didn’t you tell me she so perfect for you, huh? All this worry and fuss over nothing.”

  I smiled and swiped at my eyes. “Can I ask you one favor, please, Mama Delta?”

  She nodded. “Anything for you, chile.”

  “Would you be willing to bring the whole family over after church on Sunday? You could teach me how to make southern fried chicken, and I’ll make all the sides?” I reached out and squeezed D’s hand hopefully.

  “You gonna get DeSean to church on Sunday?” she asked, her brows arched. “We’ll make chicken. The whole family.” Then she smiled. “I told you I would like her. I don’t know why you hid this girl away.”

  I grinned. We were doing this. We had Mama Delta on our side. If she was in, the rest of the family would follow.

  As we waved and watched her drive away, D’s arm wrapped around my waist. “You did it. And now we can make some light skinned babies,” he teased.

  I shook my head and sighed.

  “Wait. No mixed babies?” He frowned.

  “Just babies, D. Just a little bit of you and a little bit of me.” I turned in his arms and hooked my hands around his neck. “If we’re married.” I laughed and rushed toward the kitchen, but he quickly caught up to me and hauled me back against his body.

  “You mean that?” I could feel his heart pounding in his chest against my ribcage.

  “Actually, no. I’m cool with a little bit of you, but I’m secretly hoping for a whole lot of me. A girl would be nice…” I let my voice trail off and I giggled.

  “Not that…” He spluttered.

  I held his face in my hands and stared at him just long enough for him to calm down. “I knew what you meant. You heard what I said.” I shrugged. Against my leg, I could feel an erection growing.

  “Now look what you’ve done,” he growled in my ear.

  “Oh, and look at the time,” I teased. “You need to get ready to go. And I need to get Keyon ready for bed.”

  “Is it safe to come up yet?” Tommy called from the family room downstairs.

  “Why would it not be safe? Get your ass up here.” DeSean huffed and rolled his eyes.

  “I don’t know. It seemed mushy up there. My stomach was turning,” he joked. Tommy leaned on the island after trudging up the stairs. “I gotta tell you, Tegyn. You done something to my boy. He don’t laugh. He don’t smile. Only with you, he do.”

  My cheeks burned and D held me a little tighter.

  “I don’t want to go,” he whispered against my shoulder. “And I always want to go to work. You’re going to ruin my business.”

  I laughed. “Well, while you’re at work, I’ll get my stuff done too. And…I’ll wait up for you.”

  “Promise?” he asked sadly.

  “Of course,” I nodded. “Just like old times.” I waited and hoped he’d make the connection. When his cock jerked against me, I knew he figured out what I meant.

  “You sure know how to make it hard for a man to leave,” D murmured in my ear.

  I turned to gaze into his eyes. “And I sure do know how to convince you to hurry home, huh?”

  He grinned and my heart raced. “Yeah. You really do.” D groaned and we reluctantly pulled apart.

  “Okay, I’ll see you tonight. Get out of here so you can get back.” I pushed him lightly on the chest and felt his muscles flex under my fingers. This man was going to be the death of me. But he listened. And twenty minutes later, we were tucking Keyon into bed right before I kissed him on his way out the door.

  What surprised me was how good I felt. I expected to be scared or lonely in his big house, but instead, I was calm and confident. Part of it was probably a desire to be strong for Keyon. The rest was knowing he’d be back as quickly as he could.

  So, I made my way into the office once I was sure Keyon was asleep. I pulled my laptop from my bag and set it on the desk. In a matter of minutes, I’d checked my email and I was booking flights and hotels, scheduling cruises, and making sure others had the vacations of their dreams. Because I had hours to kill, I started to do some of my own dreaming. I pulled a notepad from my bag and went digging in the depths of it to locate a pen with zero luck.

  Opening the top drawer, I found a few pens, but when I tested them on the paper, they were all dried out. I pulled out the middle drawer. No pens, but the file on top had my name on it. I frowned. I shouldn’t touch it. This was DeSean’s desk. At the same time, he said I could touch anything.

  Taking a deep breath, I pulled it out of the drawer and opened it on the desk, carefully pushing my laptop aside. The top paper was my most recent newspaper article. I bit my lower lip. This had come out before we’d started talking again. I flipped it over and checked out the next one, which happened to be a magazine article where I’d been featured for organizing group travel and offering tips. I turned one page after another and realized every single page followed my career. I swallowed hard. He’d been paying attention all these years and honestly, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.

  I glanced at the clock. It was almost nine at night. Maybe I shouldn’t call, but I could text. I grinned as I picked up my cell phone.

  Me: You busy?

  * * *

  I bit my lip as I waited for her response. Annie didn’t disappoint me.

  * * *

  Annie: Not too busy to gossip with you.

  Annie: I mean…catch up with you.

  * * *

  I laughed. I knew exactly what she meant.

  * * *

  Me: I think we established that I’m staying with a guy.

  Annie: Right. The guy you don’t want me to talk about, but who is obviously the security guard from your past. Continue.

  * * *

  I laughed. She texted just like she talked. I could even hear her accent in her words.

  * * *

  Me: So, I might have found a file in his drawer.

  Annie: Is it porn? Don’t be so hard on him. Lots of guys read porn. I hear Playboy has very nice articles.

  * * *

  I snorted. Yeah. The articles.

  * * *

  Me: No, not porn. It’s me. There was a whole file about me.

  Annie: Is he your stalker?

  * * *

  The thought had never occurred to me, but now that it had, I quickly dismissed it.

  * * *

  Me: Nah.

  Annie: Then why are you messaging me at almost my bedtime?

  Me: Because obviously he never forgot about me. Obviously, he has followed my career.

  Annie: Because he is obviously still in love with you.

  * * *

  I didn’t know what to say, so I said nothing. I stared at the screen. He’d said it to me, but now I could feel how much he meant it. And the very idea of it kinda rocked my world.

  * * *

  Annie: And I bet you’re still in love with him too.

  * * *

  Whoa. I had to nip this in the bud.

  * * *

  Me: I didn’t say that. I don’t know what to think. How do I know it’s not just convenient? How do I know this isn’t about me being afraid to be alone?

  * * *

  Her response was swift and she didn’t hold back.

  * * *

  Annie: If you were afraid to be alone, you wouldn’t have bought your house. And if it was only about convenience, you wouldn’t have been playing the ‘what if’ game about him all these years.

  * * *

  I gasped.

  * * *

  Me: How did you know?

  Annie: I didn’t. It was a guess. And now I know I’m right.

  Annie: So, what’s the problem?

  Me: I’m scared. It feels too soon. And it’s not just him anymore. He has a son we need to consider.

  Annie: Do kids still need a lot of love?

  * * *

  I made a face. What kind of question was that?

  * * *

&
nbsp; Me: From what I’ve heard, yes.

  Annie: You’re full of love. So stop hiding. Stop running. Start embracing this second chance you get with a guy you’ve loved for a long time.

  * * *

  I took a few deep breaths. She was right. Dammit. Now she’d be impossible to be around.

  * * *

  Me: Okay, maybe I could start to embrace this and not be scared. I hope…

  Annie: Good. Feel it. Give it a chance.

  Me: Damn it. I don't want to. Feelings make a person vulnerable. I hate being vulnerable.

  Annie: I know but let it flow. You've got all the good signs going on…

  Me: I know. That's when it gets scary. Look at the horrible mess I've already made of things.

  Me: It's like in Seinfeld where I've lost the upper hand. SMH. Stupid honesty.

  Annie: No, stop! You're fine! He hasn't given you any reason to think that way yet.

  Me: Bahaha. I know.

  Annie: I get it though.

  Me: Stupid emotions!

  Annie: Right. I hate being a girl sometimes.

  Me: I'm all cool until I start feeling.

  Annie: We get caught up in our damn hormones too much. He’s hot, right?

  Me: I think so. His skin is like dark chocolate and he melts me with one look in his eyes. He has this muscular build and when he holds me against him…we just fit.

  Annie: Now, have you tried fitting other places?

  Me: Years ago. It was perfection.

  Annie: So, what’s the problem? Nothing is wrong. Everything is right.

  Me: Oh, something is wrong. I have no idea how to trust my damn hormones and my emotions!

  Annie: LOL. So, when did you first notice the problem?

  Me: I think it began yesterday morning.

  Annie: What happened?

  Me: He was showering…and I wanted to be the water…

  Annie: Perfectly normal! See, worrying for nothing.

  Me: OMG. I'm gonna fall hard for him. FML

  Annie: No, no FYL...this is good. Fall...let him catch you...he's willing.

  * * *

  All the emotions that had been threatening to burst forth finally did.

  * * *

  Me: Tears. Seriously. Tears.

  Annie: Hey, Tegyn?

  Me: Yeah?

  Annie: I think this guy is going to be your happy ending.

  Me: I hope so.

  * * *

  Then I pulled myself together. I brainstormed a list of blog topics. From there, I selected one for the first of several posts I’d schedule tonight: Travel to Beat the Winter Blues. And using my travel business back end software, I put together the top seven travel destinations for escaping the long, miserable winter.

  Now, if I could just figure out what to do with myself for the rest of the night. I had about three more hours to kill. Of course, maybe I’d better get ready because before he left, I rather strongly insinuated that I wanted to have sex with him. Maybe I should check to make sure we were on the same page. I licked my lips. We would text once in a while when he was at work in the past. I wondered if he could still do it. I seemed to be living my life from one chance to another. What was one text message going to hurt?

  * * *

  Me: Do we have plans when you get home?

  * * *

  My heart raced and my face flamed while I waited for his response.

  * * *

  DeSean: Definitely. I got my paperwork. It’s time for you to start sleeping in my bed, Tegyn.

  Me: So, we’re just sleeping.

  DeSean: No.

  Me: So, we’re having sex.

  DeSean: No.

  Me: So, we’re training for the Boston Marathon.

  DeSean: Not in this lifetime.

  Me: Then what?!

  * * *

  I shook the phone and groaned in frustration.

  * * *

  DeSean: We’ll be making love, Tegyn. I’ve said everything I can to convince you. Tonight, I plan to show you.

  * * *

  My skin broke out in goosebumps. He planned to show me. Then I probably should tell him.

  * * *

  Me: I’m not on the pill.

  17

  DeSean

  * * *

  My mouth was instantly dry.

  Tegyn just said that. Whew. I rubbed my face and stuffed my phone in my pocket. What was supposed to be a few quick texts was now taking up space in my head, when I needed to focus on the job. First night back open and I couldn’t afford to be distracted…but I was.

  There were no more texts and I wondered what was going on at my house. I worried over her, but more than that, I wanted to be with her so badly I could barely concentrate on anything else. As I was doing rounds an hour later, Tommy called me over.

  “You good, boss?” he asked with a frown.

  I gave one curt nod. “I’m fine.”

  “Really?” Tommy shook his head. “You been looking but not seeing for almost an hour now.”

  I groaned. “So, what’d I miss?”

  “Nothing much. I stopped a drug sale and Raven managed to squash a fight between some sistahs trying to get some brotha’s attention.” He shifted his feet and glanced down at me. “But heads up. We in the home stretch.”

  “I know, we get out of here faster with no blood shed and no illegal activities. Thanks.” I started to continue my rounds when he stopped me.

  “So, you gon’ tell me what’s up? I saw you looking at your phone.” Tommy smirked. “What’d she say?”

  I took a deep breath. “She isn’t on the pill.”

  His eyes widened. “Well, ain’t that something right there.”

  “Exactly.” I shook my head a few times to clear it. “Okay. I’m focused. Let’s do our jobs and get the fuck outta here. You with me?”

  “That’s right, boss. I sure am.” Then he clapped me on the back and I circled the perimeter of the club.

  By two thirty, I wasn’t taking shit from anyone.

  “Let’s go. Take this party elsewhere,” I droned over and over again to those lingering even after last call. “This ain’t no weekend. You know you got to go to a damn job in a few hours.”

  Tommy smirked as he helped me clear the bar. “Where’s the fire?” He teased. “I’ve never seen you so eager to get home before…ever.”

  I nodded while I fumed. “Go home, people,” I said to group of guys hanging in a back corner. In the booth across from them, I found a couple making out. “Get a room or go to one of y’alls places, but you can’t stay here.” Then I waited there until everyone had stood and filed toward the door.

  “Wow. Look at you, Mr. Motivated.” Tommy chuckled. “The last time you were like this was when you two were dating.”

  I nodded sadly. “I know.”

  “Hey, you was never like this over Camilla.” Tommy tugged at his chin.

  “I know,” I grumbled.

  “Tegyn is really cool though.” Then he whispered under his breath, “And hot.”

  My nostrils flared. “You can stop messing with me any time.”

  Once the bar was cleared, I looked at my crew. “Peace. I’m out.” Then I practically ran to the door. The whole ride home, I was thinking what she meant by her last text. Was I supposed to buy condoms? Was I supposed to pull and pray? I scrunched up my face. Lord, I know I’ve asked you for a lot over the years, but please if you could find it in you to let me build a life with this woman… What? Where was my bargaining chip? Church! I’ll go. I’ll raise my family in the church. I’ll be a Godly man. I mean, I like to think I’m pretty good already, but damn I love this woman. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for her.

  Maybe it was just about saying it out loud. Maybe it was because somewhere deep down I still believed, even after I thought Camilla had turned my heart against religion. After all, she claimed to be deeply religious, but I’d spent the last five years being married to a hypocrite.

  Tegyn…the first I’d heard abo
ut her going to church was in front of my mama, but every bit of her being made me believe in God again, because she had to be heaven-sent. I thought about how I felt staring into her golden-brown eyes, the scent of her sleek honey brown hair, and my stomach started to get all weird. I was too fucking old for butterflies, but damn sure I had them.

  I pulled into the driveway and hit the remote to open the garage door. As it rose, I found Tegyn standing in the laundry room doorway, a coy look on her face. It was after three in the morning, and she was so eager to see me she didn’t even wait for me to enter the house. Instantly, I forgot how tired I’d felt. The guy who was dragging only an hour ago was now full of life.

  “Baby,” I murmured as I stepped out of the vehicle. “You’re up.”

  Tegyn grinned. “I told you I’d wait up for you.”

  I took the steps to the door two at a time and had her in my arms in a matter of seconds. I backed her into the laundry room, grabbed her waist, and lifted her onto the dryer where she promptly wrapped her legs around me.

  “Hi,” she whispered, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

  “Hi yourself.” I buried my face in her neck so I could inhale her scent. “What perfume?” I asked, determined to make a mental note. We were going to have birthdays and so many holidays together in our future. I planned to spoil the hell out of her.

  “Dolce & Gabana Floral Drops. I love it,” she responded in a husky voice.