Love UnCharted (Love's Improbable Possibility) (9 page)

“Can I get you a drink? You look like you’ve just walked out of the arctic. Is it really that cold out?” I asked, and at that time noticed that she had her own little private focus. I looked down at her eye-level view and realized she was gazing into my chest.

“Pardon me for being indisposed. I wasn’t exactly expecting company. Were you doubtful that I’d read the proposal in good timing?”

She licked her lips just before snapping out of her lustful trance. “Errrrm…good timing is a subjective phrase. I want the job, Azmir.” Her words seemed to have a double meaning, but I still wasn’t prepared to go there.

“How did you even know where I was staying?” I couldn’t help my clipped tone. I wasn’t too keen on surprise visits.

“Your friends, Mark and Eric, told me.” She sucked her teeth and clapped her pumps into the floor while flaunting her bright smile. “C’mon, Jacobs! I promised Shayna that I could deliver on the Cobalt launch. Don’t make a liar out of me!” It was like a teenaged daughter begging her doting father for a new car.

Without a smile, I relented, “Come on in.” I led her to the television room. “I was actually just working on the proposal and made a few notes. I guess we can go over some seeing that you are so earnest in your pursuit.” I didn’t think this was the best idea and didn’t like being hustled, but I couldn’t knock the persistence of budding entrepreneurs. “Have a seat. I’ll go slip on something more appropriate to discuss business,” I informed as I made my way out of the room.

“Or we can discuss anything that calls for your current dress code,” she purred slickly and added a wink.

I shook my head and headed to my room. When I’d returned, I noticed she had fixed herself a glass of brandy and was casually sipping it, quite comfortably nestled in the single sofa chair. This woman was dangerous. My buzz had become an inconvenient truth.    

We’d been talking for nearly thirty minutes and as promised, Dawn answered all of my questions satisfactorily. I still had more thinking to do. Unbeknownst to her, I had a second proposal that I was expecting in the next couple of days.
Taylor & Bacote Planning and Public Relations Corp
. was ahead of the curb because they acted expeditiously.

“You keep nodding and saying, ‘
Umm…hmmm
’ but not giving much feedback. I’m going insane over here. Give me something!” she trilled in exasperation, gesturing with her hands midair. Her agenda-consumed smile never left her face, which always concerned me. There was something behind her  eyes.

“Poker-face, Ms. Talyor. You should develop one,” I murmured before pouring myself another glass.

“That you do so well,” she murmured pensively while fixing her gaze on something towards the floor. She licked her lips before speaking again. “Tell me, Mr. Jacobs, why have you been ignoring my texts and advances?”

Bingo! ...
though I was slightly confused
. I didn’t recall ignoring any texts, I’d never received any from her.

“The advances can’t be ignored, but what texts are we referring to?” My expression was quizzical.

“The ones in Vegas when I invited you to lunch. You never responded.” She looked unusually bashful, causing me to believe she was dead ass serious.

“That’s because I never got them,” I offered, reclining back in my seat, stretching my arms out on either side of me.

“You know lying is such an undesirable trait.” Her eyes were squinted and her voice icy.

“That is true, but I’m being totally honest here. I never received a text from you or Shayna. I am a subscriber of two mobile phone services and have been for nearly fifteen years, I can assure you that I’m a master at keeping up with both. Had you texted me, I would have returned it in due time. My word.” I kept my tone even, though I resented the accusation.

She searched my face for the truth. I had nothing to hide and didn’t want to give her the impression that I was the type of man who gave a shit enough to have to. I wasn’t pursing her, giving me no motive to lie.

“Hmmmmm…okay. I believe you,” she spoke slowly while bending over in her seat to retrieve her glass and took a sip. “The question now is how did it get lost in cyber space? Or did your lady of the week intercept me?”

My eyes shot up while I sipped my brandy. I wasn’t expecting that. This Dawn Taylor is a damn firecracker. I see that I need to switch gears to keep up with her.

I chuckled. “That would be a negative.”

I didn’t feel the need to explain any further, but Rayna would have never touched my phone. She would have to let down her guards long enough to
care
to play the jealous role. I swear, being involved with her was like fucking a woman, but being emotionally entwined with a man most of the times. She still had a problem with expressing her feelings. Shit, even in the cafeteria there at the rec center when Dawn called me into a private conversation to spite Rayna, Rayna didn’t react with rage as most women I know would have. And while her coolness
in that
incident worked to my favor, it was becoming increasingly difficult for me to deal with Rayna’s heightened guards when my feelings for her were growing so fucking intensely.

“You sound so confident,” Dawn challenged smoothly while arching an eyebrow. I could tell she was a little nervous by how her fingers toiled with the hem of her dress.

“Because I know her.”

“How well?”

“Why are we asking, Ms. Taylor?” I snapped, becoming a little ill-patient.

With a tone of righteous indignation she spat, “I’m trying to get to know you, Azmir. It’s what someone does when—”

“When?” My tone was pithy as my eyes shot straight to her face.

Who the fuck did she think she was pimping? I had to admit, she was coming strong with her audacity, and that was somewhat appealing, but I wasn’t about to lay down my
G
for her to pick up and use against me.

My repositioning tactic worked, Dawn was at a loss for words. I needed to gain the reins of this conversation. Rayna wasn’t up for discussion; she was a sensitive part of my private life. If I wasn’t emotionally involved with Rayna, Dawn still wouldn’t be a strong contender; I would have just fucked her right then and discarded the Taylor & Bacote proposal after she left for the night. She needed to be handled properly.

I sat up in my seat, inclined towards the coffee table. “Listen, Dawn, pardon my…apophasis, but if there is something you want to ask me about my personal life, do it with caution. I will answer whatever questions you have no matter what answers I believe you’re looking for, but what we will not do is dance around shit under the guise of small talk. When you’re negotiating potential relationships, it’s best to avow with no filters so that in the end if something go awry, you’re not left with the liability.” A hint of agita was in my tone, but I didn’t give a fuck, she was pushing me to my limits.

There, before me, her eyes filled with some type of emotion and her cerise lips parted.
Yeah
. Just the way that I liked her, fucking consternated. It took her quite a few seconds to collect herself, that gave me time to pack away my things. It was after twelve thirty in the morning. I didn’t have a lot of time.

“Well, I’ve been told,” she spoke just above a whisper. “Ummmm…I guess I’ll be moving along.”

“Give me a sec and I’ll walk you out.” I tried sorting a few papers.

“No, no need. I think I can find my way to the door.” Dawn had suddenly regained her forcefulness.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I snorted as I stood to my feet and rounded the table to lead her out. Behind me, she maintained a steady stride to the door. I could hear her shoes click clack down the corridor and into the foyer. As I grabbed the knob of the door, my mood had started to settle. I don’t know if guilt had hovered in about chewing her out because of my sensitive issues, but whatever it was, I wanted to end her visit on a good note. “I’ll have an answer on the proposal by the week’s end.”

The sound of my voice arrested her tread and her stance settled and softened as she acknowledged my words. She gave a lungful exhale, taking her chin down with it, contemplatively, and immediately brought it back up. Without provocation, she pounced on me, bringing her delicate right hand up to my shoulders and taking the other to pull my head down. Dawn dashed her tongue down my throat with determined force. Her tongue was lithe and the taste of brandy mixed with traces of mint along with her unique flavor turned me on.

Without deliberation, I lowered my head and took her at the small of her back, welcoming her in. Her movements slowed at a rate that told me she had switched from impulsive to cruise control in her audacious move. Her left hand stroked the back of my neck. She was getting comfortable on my person. Not wanting to be overtaken, I flickered my tongue in her mouth seductively, causing her to push out a gut-felt moan. When I let her catch my tongue, she sucked on it and moved her right hand down my abdomen in search for the hem of my T-shirt.

She was aggressive and I’d suddenly come to the realization that
that’s
what drew me to her. I enjoyed her initiative, her fierce nature. She was out on the prowl for my attention and had been making that damn clear. Any time before the present-day it would not have been an issue for me at all, I’ve been pursued by countless women and regularly, but that was the one thing that I didn’t have with Rayna. Dawn lacked indifference. It felt good to be assured of. Dawn’s hand brushed passed my pelvic area, sending a tingling sensation down to my groin. That fractured my lewd state. If I didn’t stop, I would be fucking her against the foyer wall.

I pushed back. “Dawn, you need to go. We can’t do this. It isn’t possible right now.”

Her eyes were lost on my words. She was hungry. Within the blink of an eye her face crinkled as if reality had finally hit her at the moment.

“Shit,” Dawn panted heavily and with both her hands she rubbed the frustration from her face. “Azmir, I hope I didn’t fuck anything up.” She couldn’t even look me in the face. It was probably for the best.

“Don’t sweat it. It never happened.” I tried to sound as assuring as possible, but I needed convincing, too. I couldn’t believe my lack of restraint. I exhaled while holding my head. “Are you going to be okay getting back to wherever you’re staying?” My voice was involuntarily calm.

“Ummm…yeah…yeah, I-I’ll be fine.” She moved up to catch the handle of the door and took two steps before turning back to me. “I’m sorry for...” She was at a loss for words, something I didn’t think was possible.

I shook my head as a means of telling her that all was cool then I watched her leave. My head was spinning in confusion and self-abasement overtook me as I padded to my room. I didn’t know how I was going to pull off the upcoming Facetime chat with ol’ girl.

I went into the bathroom to splash water on my face, hoping it’d help clear my mind. Hesitantly, I took a furtive glance in the mirror and noticed the red stains of Dawn’s lipstick around my mouth.

Fuck!

My chest tightened. Since Rayna, I’d grown obsessed with traces of lipstick on my body. But only from
her
lips. The gloss and matte colors that matched
her
divinely soft skin, not another woman’s.

How the fuck did I get here?

I mulled over that question as I scrubbed my face and brushed my teeth, ridding myself of Dawn’s essence, though I could still smell her. Her fragrance was foreign. I only knew
Cool Water
. That’s what my heart responded to.
Then why in the hell did I slip the way that I did?
I contemplated that question as I crept toward the bedroom.  

Within minutes, my iPad chirped and my heartbeat raced as a direct result of it. I was feeling fucked up before this moment, but now I’m feeling…paranoid. I knew I couldn’t keep her waiting, so I accepted the call and waited for our connection.

Connecting…

As I read the word, it suddenly took on a new meaning for me. I’d been begging Rayna to connect with me in the most intimate way for months now. And for the most part, she’s been making every effort  to do just that. We are making strides, and now…Dawn Taylor. I’ve not suddenly developed feelings for Dawn after kissing her. I’m just experiencing a bout with guilt for indulging her on Rayna’s watch.

Rayna is precious to me, something that I don’t want to fuck up. I have to get a fucking grip on this situation now before it warps into something that will destroy everything that I’ve been building with Rayna and want with her.

My life.

The screen changed, and suddenly I saw a portion of my bedroom—our bedroom—appear. It was the headboard of the bed. Rayna moved the iPad down to the lower end of the bed, giving me a full view of her and then laid lazily on the pillows stacked against it. She appearing relaxed, comfortable and unhurried…
unguarded
.

Fuck!

Her hair was up in a ponytail and her beautiful face was makeup-free, giving her flawless caramel skin a demure and youthful look. Her lips were nude and plump. Her eyes were heavy and hooded. My girl wanted to fuck around.

Damn!

“Heeeeeeey, Mr. Jacobs,” she murmured lasciviously, before abruptly picking up on my pensive state. “Is everything okay?” She wrinkled her forehead, causing my stomach to twist.