Something Worth Fighting For (10 page)

Well, when she put it that way… “The actions of a desperate man.”

“Desperate enough to serve me cyanide-laced Kool-Aid then throw me in a well with only a dog named Precious for company?”

“Okay,” Jonah was all kinds of confused. “You lost me at the Kool-Aid. I just came to talk.”

“Talk,” Tisha walked past him and slipped her key in the lock, “isn’t necessarily your strongest suit.”

“It does seem that way, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. It does.” After opening the door, she turned and glanced over her shoulder at him. “You might as well come in.”

“Thanks.” It was less than welcoming, but right now, Jonah wasn’t going to be too picky.

Jonah followed her into her house and shut the door behind him before following her into the living room. After dropping her keys and purse on the coffee table, she sat in one of the chairs, removing any possibility he would be able to sit next to her on the couch.

Refusing to dwell on the bad, Jonah sat on the couch on the side nearest to her. “Thanks for letting me come in.”

Tisha shrugged her shoulders as if it didn’t matter one way or the other to her. “You wanted to talk. So talk.”

“Okay.” Where to begin? Jonah had come up with a million and one talking points, tens of thousands of things he’d thought of to say, and yet only one thing came to mind. “I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, I know. You said that already.”

“Apparently not in the right way or else you would have forgiven me by now.”

“Look, Jonah, it’s nothing personal, I’m not big on forgiving.”

“And I’m not big on giving up, so it seems as if the two of us have a problem.” Jonah ran a hand through his hair before continuing. “It’s probably the understatement of the year, but I have a few issues with trust.”

“No.” The mockery of her tone did not go unnoticed. “I would have never figured that out.”

Jonah arched his brow but continued on, feathers unruffled. “I’m just going to keep talking here. Feel free to throw in any sarcastic remarks you think might fit at any time.” His calm demeanor seemed to take a bit of the wind out of her sails. “I’ve never been one to lay blame on anything. Being beat when I was kid would no more give me the right to beat Cami than having people lie and mislead me would give me a reason to doubt you. This thing with ReShaunda has me on edge. Losing Cami isn’t even an option for me. I couldn’t love her any more had she been born of me instead of Gilbert, and like any parent, I put her safety and well-being above all else.”

“I ne—”

“That being said,” Jonah said loudly, steamrolling right over whatever it was Tisha was about to interject. “If I ever plan to be a decent parent to her, I need to learn how to balance my relationship and responsibility to her with that of any relationship I have with someone else. That someone hopefully being you.”

Jonah paused and searched her eyes for any hint she was thawing a bit. Unfortunately, there was still only anger and hurt brimming deep within the brown depths of her heated gaze. “I’m sorry for hurting you. More sorry than I could ever express. I know you would never intentionally hurt Cami or me. I need you to know my reaction to what you said was more of reflex than anything else. I feel a need to protect her first and worry about all else later, which is of course wrong. In my defense, I’m new to this parenting gig. It’s going to take awhile for me to figure it all out. I just hope at the end of the day, you’re there by my side when I do.”

“May I speak now?”

“Please.”

“You’re stupid.”

“O-kay.” Not exactly the response he was hoping for.

“Controlling, bossy, and I have to say it, a bit of an asshole.”

“Have to?” Jonah questioned warily. “I’m not so sure that was a necessity. Maybe even borderline overkill.”

“I don’t think so.”

“I figured as much.”

“And to chance sounding utterly and completely childish, I’m really mad at you.”

“For good reason.”

“You hurt me and I heard you apologize, but sometimes saying sorry doesn’t make it right.”

“Then what does? Tell me and I’ll do everything in my power to make it better.”

“That’s just it, Jonah. I don’t know if you can.” Tisha shook her head ruefully. “Sometimes things take time.”

“I can give you time, Tisha, as long as I don’t have to give you up.”

Tisha stood suddenly and walked over to the front window, looking out on her lawn and across the street to his house. “I don’t want to lose you either.” Jonah sat up straighter at this first sign of good news. When she turned, however, he sat back again at the confused and hurt look on her face. “But that doesn’t mean I’m ready to forgive and forget.”

“I under—”

“No, you got to talk, now it’s my turn.” She sighed heavily. “You said you had issues with trust. Maybe I have my own issues. I don’t enjoy being called a liar. And when I feel burned by someone I have a hard time forgiving them. You need to earn back what you stole from me.”

“I’m willing to do that.” Hell, he was willing to do whatever it took. He had run the gantlet in college during fraternity hazing. He could do this. “You just have to give me a chance.”

“I’m willing to do that,” she echoed his words with a small smile. “But if you make me regret it…”

Jonah rose, went to her and took her in his arms. “I know. I know. There will be hell to pay.”

“Honey,” Tisha wrapped her arms around his waist, “hell’s got nothing on me.”

“I’m not afraid of you, just of losing you.”

“Then you better play your cards right.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.”
Ever again
, he added silently. Next to Cami, Tisha was the most important person in his life and he wasn’t going to fuck up again.

Chapter Ten

“Can I ask you a question?”

Tisha pulled back so she could look into his eyes. “Yes.”

“Are we okay?”

“We’re,” Tisha paused for a second to come up with the right word, “okay-ish.”

“Which means?”

“Which means I’m still leery, but I don’t not want to see you.”

“Which parts of me do you not, not want to see?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, are we going back to first date rules?” Jonah moved his hand to hers and gripped it tightly. “Hand-holding only, chaste kisses on the cheek and dates with a chaperon and a chastity belt.” Then, with a wicked smile, he released her hand and moved it to her ass and squeezed. “Or since we proved we excel at the fighting part, can we try our hand at the making-up part?”

Tisha wanted to shake her head at his manlike behavior, but to be honest, she was more than ready for the kiss-and-make-up part as well. Of course she couldn’t just come out and say that. Oh no. She had to make him work for it. “Sex, huh?”

Jonah moved his hand off her ass and held it, along with the other, up in the air. “I’m just asking. I’m perfectly fine with either choice.”

“Perfectly fine.” Hell, even she wasn’t perfectly fine with starting back at the beginning.

“Well…fine-ish,” he admitted with a hint of a grin before lowering his hands back to her waist. “Just know, I’m willing to put in the time, in and out of the bedroom, to make things right with us again.”

“I see.” Not only did she see, she appreciated where he was coming from and where hopefully he was going. The only problem was that although she loved his noble act, she really wasn’t feeling it. Tisha wanted him even though she was still slightly pissed, but she refused to be one of those women who used sex as a weapon in the war of love. She was a grown-up, more than capable of putting aside petty differences to get her freak on. Or at least that was the lie she was going to tell herself as she sated her desire with him. “How about we start off in the living room and eventually make our way back to the bedroom?”

“Hey, I’m a self-starter, and more than willing to work from the ground up.”

“Look at you, all prosy now.” Stepping out of his embrace, Tisha hooked her finger in his belt loop and began to walk backward toward the couch. “A few days ago you couldn’t talk around that massive foot of yours.”

“I may be slow, but I do eventually learn.”

Good to know. When she felt the edge of the couch against her legs, she turned him around until his back was to the couch. “And what was the lesson of the week?”

“Don’t be an ass.”

“Good.” Tisha pushed him lightly and nudged him backward until he was seated then climbed over his lap and sat herself over the large bulge protruding from his jeans. “You’ll be at the head of the class in no time.”

“I’ve always wanted to be teacher’s pet.”

“We can sit around, trading witty repartee all night, or we can make with the loving.”

“You know which one has my vote.” His hands gripped her hips and he pulled her tight against him.

“How long do we have the sitter for?”

“I can’t be gone too long, or else Cami will take it in her head I’m failing big-time and try to sneak out to intervene.”

“Then I guess we’ll have to make this quick and dirty.”

“If we must.”

“Oh, we must.” She sat back on her haunches, trailing her hand down his chest to the waistband of his jeans. With nimble fingers, she unbuttoned his pants and drew down the zipper. Her hands delved inside, searching for the one part of him that never failed to satisfy her. Just before she reached her hard, sought-after prize, Jonah covered her hand with his.

“Let me.” He nudged her fingers away and made quick work of releasing his hard shaft to her hungry gaze. “Keep looking at me like that and this really will be quick.”

The way she felt at the moment, the quicker the better. “You say that as if it’s a bad thing.” Giving in to her desires, Tisha reached out and took his thick erection in hand. Jonah let out a deep groan as she began to pump him. “You carrying?”

“Yes, but you’ll have to get up for me to reach my wallet.”

“Pity.” With a pout, Tisha released his cock and rose from his lap to slip off her shoes and pants. “But hurry.”

“In a rush?”

“Yes.” If she didn’t get him inside her soon, she was going to explode, and not in a good way.

“A woman after my own heart.” Jonah eased up and slipped his hand in his back pocket to retrieve his wallet. After taking out his billfold, he tossed it on the couch then pulled his shirt off before shoving his pants down to the floor. As Tisha undressed, she watched him rip into a condom and sheath himself in record time. Apparently, she wasn’t the only person in a hurry.

As soon as he was properly covered, she positioned herself back over him and lined his cock up with her overly saturated sex.

Their moans came out as one, both of them groaning in unison as she sank all the way down on his turgid length. The heady sensation took Tisha out of herself for a moment, preventing her from talking or moving. She was too busy enjoying the feel of being filled by him once more. And from the deep moan drifting up from Jonah, she wasn’t the only one. “Damn, baby.”

Licking her lips, she looked down at her lover. “Missed me, did you?”

“More than I can ever say.”

“Then don’t say a word.” She began to move on top of him, slowly at first, making sure her pussy became accustomed to his length and width once more before she lost her mind and rode him hard. “Show me.”

“My pleasure.” Jonah slipped his hands under her shirt and gripped her ass cheeks tightly. Using the strength of his arms only, he urged her up and down, fucking her with long, deep strokes.

The passion between them was as good as she remembered, if not better than the beginning, but Tisha being Tisha, just couldn’t let bygones be bygones. Not entirely anyway. “You know you’re not completely out of the doghouse, don’t you?” Closing her eyes, she tried to concentrate on speaking coherently. “I mean, I still have to run…run you through the wringer, as per the official girl rules…of dating.”

“I’m so okay with that.” He groaned, digging his nails into her hips. “Just don’t stop fucking me.”

“Doesn’t quite…seem like punishment though.”

“Oh, I’m hurting on the inside. Trust me.”

Biting her lip to stifle her moan, she gripped his shoulders and used him for support as she rode him. Her thighs ached from the workout she was giving them, but she wasn’t going to stop until they both came, no matter how much she knew she’d pay for it tomorrow. Sometimes pain was worth the pleasure that preceded it.

“Ride me, baby. Fuck my cock with this sweet pussy.” Jonah held on to her hips, controlling her movements, no longer playing the nice guy. When she tried to speed up, he slowed her down, letting her know in no uncertain terms, who was in charge. “Still in a hurry? Have I mentioned,” he groaned, rocking into her, “how much I’m enjoying your idea of punishment?”

“Who’s punishing who here?”

“I’m just trying to show you,” Jonah dug his fingers into her hips, stilling her frantic movements, “how bad I feel.”

“Feel good already then,” she begged, wanting him, no, needing him to work her faster on his cock. “And let me come.”

“Forgive me first and I’ll give you everything you need.” He thrust his hips upward as he pulled her down on him, causing her to groan in ecstasy.

“Bastard.”

“I know.” He began to pump into her faster and harder, stilling her breath with every stroke. “Say it. You know you want to.”

“The only thing…” she groaned, “I want is to kill you.”

“The only thing?” Jonah slowed down, his threat so obvious it made her want to scream.

“Oh, no, no,” she moaned. “Fuck. No. I forgive you. Now please…please.”

“That’s all I wanted to hear.” Jonah gripped her tightly and, in a move that had her head spinning, twisted their bodies until she was lying on the couch and he was above her, pounding into her pussy good.

The new position freed her to just lie back and enjoy the ride. And enjoy it she did. Three to four pumps after they shifted positions, Tisha was coming.

Her orgasm radiated through her body, gripping her tight before the release. Just a few scant moments later, Jonah shouted his own climax as he collapsed over her. Trailing her fingers over his back, Tisha realized forgiveness wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

Although Jonah would have loved nothing more than to scoot Tisha over on her couch and spoon her until they drifted off to sleep, he couldn’t. He had a little one waiting at home for him, but that didn’t mean he had to rush right off.

After easing out of Tisha’s all-too-tempting body, he stood and went into the downstairs bathroom and disposed of the used condom. Coming back into the living room, he found Tisha in almost the exact same position she was in when he left, thighs parted, eyes closed, a soft smile upon her lips. Chuckling, he walked over to the couch and stooped over, scooping her up in his arms before she knew what hit her. The second he lifted her into the air, she let out an unholy scream and threw her arms around his neck.

“What the hell? You have to give a girl a warning before you do something like that.”

“Hey, Tisha, I’m picking you up.”

“Well, I’m awake now, put me back down. You’re messing up my glow.”

“I’ll put you down all right. Right after we’re upstairs.” Jonah eyed her speculatively. “If I may say so myself, you’re looking mighty…tired.”

“Can’t imagine why, can you?”

“Not a clue.” There was a deeply sated look in her eyes, which hadn’t been there when she first arrived home, one that made Jonah feel all kinds of proud.

“Well, Jeeves, since you’re insisting on throwing your back out, mind dropping me off in the bathroom? I need to shower.”

“Only if I can shower with you.” He started up the stairs, prized package in hand.

“I’m sure we can arrange something.” She tilted her head. “How are you, time wise, I mean?”

“There’s time to shower.”

“Just…shower?” she asked with an arch of eyebrow.

Jonah stopped outside the bathroom door and lowered her to the floor. “Maybe more.”

“I like the sound of ‘maybe’,” she murmured as she stepped into the bathroom and turned on the light.

“I knew you would.” Jonah went to follow her into the room but was stopped by Tisha, who held her hand out to ward him off. “What?”

“I need a girl alone moment in the bathroom for a minute or two. Thank you.” She stepped farther into the bathroom and smiled then shut the door in his face. “And don’t stand out there and listen to me pee.”

Jonah chuckled at her girlie behavior. “Prude.”

“I may be a freak,” she hollered through the closed door, “but I’m not that freaky.”

Still laughing, he turned and made his way downstairs to check the front door lock and gather up their clothes. By the time he climbed back upstairs, the door to the bathroom was open again and the shower was running. Jonah made a quick trip to her bedroom to drop the clothes off then joined Tisha in the bathroom. She was already in the shower, all wet and soapy, a sexy combination to be sure.

Steam was just beginning to build as he pulled back the floral curtain and glanced around. The area wasn’t all that large, but it would be enough room for the two of them to test the acoustics, and that was good enough for him. Even though he’d come just moments ago, the sight of Tisha’s brown skin, all shiny and lathered up, had his cock stirring anew. He watched for a bit as water rained down on her. While he’d been downstairs, she’d gathered her hair and placed it up in one of those plastic hair thingies, leaving her slender neck bare and available. Nice. He’d have to make sure he familiarized his lips with that area.

Just as he began to get into complete voyeur mood, Tisha turned her head and looked at him over her shoulder with a shameless, lustful look in her big brown eyes. “Are you going to come in or stand there and watch me?”

“Can’t I do both?”

“Yes, but watch from the inside of the shower. You’re letting all the cold air in.”

“I wasn’t sure if I was invited in yet,” he teased as he joined her in the tiled stall. Once he was in, he tugged the curtain closed and took a deep breath, inhaling the pomegranate scent wafting up in the air. “You done with your chick stuff?”

“Shut up.” Tisha spun around and smacked him in the chest with a soapy bath scrunchie before turning around to face away from him. “Mind washing my back?”

“Only if I can do the front too.”

“You better.”

Despite the bubbles foaming over the side of the yellow scrubber, he picked up the scented liquid soap and added even more before replacing the bottle on the shelf. Moving closer to her, he began to meticulously wash her back, covering every square inch of her enthralling brown flesh before pulling her against his body.

He dragged the scrubber across her beaded nipples, down her flat stomach, into the valley of her parted thighs. He used the tightly gathered netted material as he would his fingers, rubbing it against her clit until she started to beg for more. “God. I’m clean. Very clean.”