Something Worth Fighting For (8 page)

“Don’t tease the caveman in me, baby, with words like that. I might come to like it far too much.”

“A little dominant, are you?”

“You have no idea.” And it was probably a good thing she didn’t. Jonah didn’t know if she was ready to explore the darker side of his desire just yet. But there was time. There was lots of time. “I know you have the wand on standby, but I want you to wait before you use it. Right now I want you to touch your mouthwatering, tight pussy.”

“Mouthwatering, huh?”

“There should be sonnets written about it.” Just thinking about how good her hot sex felt around his cock had Jonah’s fist tightening around his shaft. He’d been around the block a time or two, yet in all of his previous experiences he’d never had a woman fit him as Tisha did. It was almost as if she were made for him and him alone. As clichéd as it sounded, her pussy fit his cock like a glove.

“Hmmm…”

“Hmmm?”

“Oh yeah.”

“What are you doing?”

“I’m touching myself.”

Jonah’s mouth watered at the thought. “Now I’m humming.”

“And you have me wet.”

“Only fair since you’ve got me hard.” Jonah stroked his shaft as he envisioned Tisha caressing herself for his pleasure. “I never thought I would be jealous of your hands, but I am. I wish I was there, touching you. Caressing and filling you again.”

“Not so sure you’d want to be filling me right now.”

“Why is that?”

“Because you’d have to do it slow and gentle. I’m a bit tender at the moment.”

“Don’t worry, baby, I can do slow and gentle. I can do any and everything you want.”

“Can you fuck me while I’m tied down?”

“Tied down. Tied up. You want it, I’ll do it.”

“Really, anything?”

“Anything,” Jonah insisted. “If it made you wet, turned you on, made you come hard, I’d do it.”

“Me too,” she said into the phone breathlessly.

“Damn, you sound sexy, baby. Tell me what you’re doing right now.”

“I’m fucking myself with my fingers. Thinking about you. Thinking about you fucking me again. Thinking about you doing things to me.”

“Such as?” Jonah pumped his cock with slow, even strokes as he listened intently to what Tisha had to say. This wasn’t as good as being inside her, not even remotely close, but it was still hot. Running the heel of his hand over the head of the mushroom tip, he dampened his palm with his pre-come and used it as lube.

“I’m fantasizing about you tying me up and fucking my mouth with your cock.”

That was officially on his list of things to do with her. “You know what I’m going to do after you’re done sucking me?”

“No. What?”

He closed his eyes as he concentrated on the sound of her voice and the feel of his hand. “I’m going to move down the bed and spread your legs, and bury my face in your pussy. I’m not going to let up until you’ve come at least three times.”

“Mmm…”

“Then I’m going to untie your hands, flip you over and fuck you from behind.”

“Why from behind?”

“So I can spank that sexy ass of yours anytime I want to. Something tells me you’re a very naughty little girl, Tisha.”

“One who deserves to get punished?”

“Oh yeah, at every opportunity.” Who would have ever thought his mouthy little babe would be submissive in bed. “While I’m fucking you from behind, I’m going to get my finger nice and wet and slip it into your ass.”

“Fuck, Jonah.” In the background, the sound of the sheets rustling could be heard. “I need my wand. Please.”

“You ready to come, baby? To come for me?”

“Yes. Please let me come. Please.”

He really liked the sound of her begging him. “Then get your wand, baby, and turn it on. Let me hear you get off, baby.”

A low, motorized sound filled the lines between the sweet sounds of Tisha moaning his name. “Jonah…yes…ohh…Jonah.”

“That’s it, baby. That’s what I want to hear.” He picked up his tempo, stroking himself faster and faster to the beat of her pants. He could tell she was getting closer by the choppy sounds she was making in his ear. “I want to you come for me now, Tisha. Come for me, baby.”

As if on cue, her sexy noises grew louder and louder, filling his head as his cock filled his hand.

“Jonah…yes…yes…”

“That’s it, baby.” He fucked his fist, wishing it were her pussy instead of his hand surrounding his aching flesh. Just when he was close to reaching his peak, Tisha cried out his name as she came. Her cries of pleasures sent him over the edge. Gripping his cock as hard as he could, Jonah pumped his shaft fast and furious, groaning when jet after jet of come shot out onto his stomach. “Fuck. Baby.”

And that was all he was able to get out for a few minutes that was actually intelligible. Lucky for him, he wasn’t alone. The only sounds filling the phone line were moans as they both powered down from their climax.

“Have I mentioned I like the way you call to say good night?”

Jonah chuckled. “Let’s say I’m glad you didn’t have to click over for call waiting or anything.”

“Me too. I think I’m going to sleep like the dead tonight.”

“Dream of me.”

“As if there was any doubt.”

“‘Night, baby.”

“Good night, Jonah.”

After everything that had gone on today, Jonah was surprised to be able to say that it was a good night. It was all because of Tisha though. She had turned the bad into good with one whisper from her lips. “Good night.”

Jonah waited until she hung up the phone before he did the same. He was a mess, his agreement with ReShaunda was a mess, his date night ended in a mess, yet he was grinning and happy. Tomorrow he knew he would have to pay the piper, but tonight he was just going to enjoy the good. And thanks to Tisha, there was more good than bad lately. He would have to find some way of repaying her. And find time to buy some rope.

Chapter Eight

“Are you awake? Tisha?” Letting out a heavy yawn, Tisha leaned against the doorframe and smacked her lips. Man, she was tired. “Tisha?”

“What?” The impatience as her name was repeated forced her eyes to focus on Jonah, who was watching her with a mixture of exasperation and amusement. “What?”

“Did you hear a word I said?”

“No.” Frowning, Tisha gave a halfhearted scratch to her bum and scrunched her brows. Damn, it was bright. “What time is it?”

“A bit after seven.”

“Seven!” Now that grabbed her attention and explained the suit he was wearing. “I’m going back to bed.”

Without bothering to shut the door, Tisha turned around and marched bleary-eyed back to her bedroom. It was too early in the morning for a booty call. If Jonah wanted to get laid, he would have to come back at a decent hour.

“Tisha.”

No matter how far she walked, his voice kept up with her. She took a quick peek over her shoulder and let out a deep sigh. Damn it. He was following her. Grumpy now as well as tired, she sped up and smiled with relief once she entered her room. She was safe.

“I’m not going away.”

Okay, maybe not. “No. Too early,” she mumbled as she crawled into her bed and pulled the comforter over her head. Hmmm, nirvana. But as quick as she began to sink into the heaven that was her pillow-top mattress, she was yanked back to reality by a comforter-tugging Jonah.

“Still here.” His singsong voice grated on her nerves.

Frustrated, Tisha released her death grip on the floral covering, opened her eyes and stared up at a smiling Jonah. “It’s too early for sex.” To her surprise, he burst out laughing. Apparently that was news to him. “What?”

“Honey, it’s never too early for sex.”

“Says you,” she muttered, too tired to debate.

“What time did you go to bed?”

“Elevenish.”

“And you’re still tired?”

“You have a point?”

Her snappy response caused him to laugh harder. “You really aren’t a morning person.”

“I thought you knew that already.”

“I guess I didn’t quite comprehend it.”

“Well, now that you do, scram.” Tisha made a grab for the covers but was thwarted by Jonah, who whipped the comforter all the way off the bed. “Ahhh…” Tisha squeezed her eyes tight and kicked her feet in protest, like a child in the midst of a temper tantrum. “I. Don’t. Do. Mornings.” Why did people refuse to let her sleep? Did Jonah not realize he was taking his life into his own hands?

“Yes. I’m gathering that.”

“I’m sleepy.”

“So I see. But the quicker you talk to me, the quicker I leave.”

She peeked at him. “No sex?”

“Not today.” The laughter in his voice almost earned him a smack. “But we will revisit this issue of yours at a later date.”

“Fine.” She’d ignore him then too. Opening both eyes, she focused on him. She tried hard to disregard how good he looked, especially since she knew she looked like who did it and why. She was still wearing her headscarf, for Pete’s sake. And her breath. She didn’t even want to talk about her breath. “What do you want?”

“I need a favor.”

“Before nine?”

“Technically I don’t need the favor until after three.”

Now she felt as if she wanted to cry. “And you couldn’t have asked later this morning?”

“No, I wanted to ask you before I left for work.”

Tisha didn’t want to waste time and point out the fact he could have asked her last night when he and Cami were over for dinner. Nooo, for him to do that would have been too much like right. “Ask quickly then disappear.”

“This might be out of the flover boundaries, but I want to know if ReShaunda can drop Cami off at the shop today and I’ll pick her up later.”

That got her attention. “Why?”

“My lawyer thinks it’s best we have a designated drop-off spot. This way I don’t kill her and risk jail time. It will be just for the next few visits. After last week’s little drama, he thinks it’s best for all involved, and I have to agree.”

Even in her sleep-deprived state, Tisha could see the wisdom of the suggestion, although she wasn’t sure she’d be able to keep her hands to herself either. But for Cami, she would try. “That’s fine. But I have to know, why is she even going anywhere with her?”

“ReShaunda’s youngest is having a gymnastics thingy and she wants Cami to come.” Tisha rolled her eyes at the bullshit. “That’s exactly how I feel about it. But it’s not worth fighting over.”

“You’re nicer than I am.”

“No, I’m not. Trust me. I’m not going to give her anything to use against me.”

“Smart move.”

“Plus, Cami does care for ReShaunda, and I know she loves the kids, she just hates the crap that goes with it.”

“I don’t blame her.”

“So, you’re fine with this?”

“Yes.”

“Thanks, honey. I really appreciate it.” Jonah leaned forward as if to kiss her, but stopped when Tisha held up her hand to ward him off.

She had three words for him. “Killer. Morning. Breath.”

Smiling, he pushed her hand out of the way. “I don’t care.”

Crazy man. Puckering her lips, she begrudgingly gave in to a chaste kiss but edged her hands between them to push him away after a few seconds. “Must sleep now or risk burning someone’s forehead later.”

“Fine, Rip Van Winkle. Get your rest.” He shook his head as he rose from the bed. “I’ll lock up when I leave.”

At this point she could really care less. “Good.” She rolled over to her side away from him and closed her eyes. Then as a second thought, lifted her hand and pointed to the bottom of the bed. “Quilt.”

“I’m getting it. I’m getting it.” From the tone in Jonah’s voice, he was enjoying this way too much for her peace of mind. She was going to have to make him pay later. But for now she was going to sleep.

* * * * *

Eleven hours and five customers later, Tisha spotted ReShaunda and Cami entering the salon. When ReShaunda picked Cami up two and half hours earlier, she’d acted as if she were in a rush and could barely spare a second to introduce herself. She’d merely given Tisha a once-over before snottily announcing she was there to pick up Cami.

If Tisha hadn’t recognized the other woman from last week, she would have never let Cami go with her. Now she was standing at the door, with her nose turned up as if she smelled something foul, and she had a death grip on Cami’s shoulder.

To be honest, she didn’t even think ReShaunda was going to come back in when she dropped Cami off. Tisha half expected the other woman to slow down and just push Cami out of the car seconds before she booked it out of the parking lot. But here she was, bold as day, with an attitude to boot.

And Tisha wasn’t the only one who noticed.

“Who’s that bitch?” Gigi asked softly from over Tisha’s shoulder.

“Cami’s cousin.”

“Hmm,” Gigi scoffed.

“Be nice,” Tisha warned, speaking to herself as well as to Gigi. After securing the last clip in her customer’s head, she removed the cape. “Set her up under the dryer for me, Gigi.”

“You need any help with her,” Gigi gestured with her head to ReShaunda, “let me know.”

“I’m not the one who’s going to need help if something goes down, but thanks.”

Since ReShaunda didn’t look as if she was going to go anywhere anytime soon, Tisha made her way over toward the two of them. She kept her gaze centered on Cami. From what she could see, the girl looked okay. She definitely wasn’t as upset as she had been during her last visit. Good, now Tisha didn’t have to reach out and touch someone. “Hello,” she said in the friendliest tone she could manage.

“Hello,” ReShaunda replied, finally moving her hand away from Cami and offering it to Tisha, who took it politely. “I’m ReShaunda Springer, Cami’s cousin.”

As if she didn’t know. “Tisha Nichols, friend of the family.”

“Close friend, from what I hear.”

Oh, they were going to go there, were they? “Cami, why don’t you go drop your stuff off in the back room and get started on your homework? If you get it done before your uncle picks you up,” she emphasized the word to rub it in ReShaunda’s face a bit, “then we won’t have to hear him yammer on about it later.”

“’Kay.” Like the good kid she was, Cami turned toward ReShaunda and gave the woman a brief hug. “I’ll see you next week, Cousin ReShaunda.”

The other woman returned the hug as she spoke in a false cheerful voice, “Call me if you need anything.”

“Okay.” With a parting smile, Cami headed toward the back room, stopping to say hello to the other beauticians along the way.

As if in silent agreement, both Tasha and ReShaunda waited until Cami was in the back room before speaking again.

“So,” ReShaunda began, “I only had Cami for a couple of hours but she managed to mention your name in practically every other sentence.”

“As I said, I’m a close friend of the family.”

“The whole family, or just Jonah’s?”

“The whole family.” Tisha wasn’t going to say more than she needed to. There was no way she was going to allow ReShaunda to use her against Jonah. Tisha might have been born at night, but she wasn’t born last night. “I live across the street from them.”

“How convenient.”

Tisha thought so, but she kept it to herself. “Okay then, I have to get back to work.”

“Maybe I can come in sometime and you can do my hair. I see what an improvement you’ve made on Cami’s.”

“Sure.” Tisha wasn’t sure if ReShaunda was trying to bribe her, or if she was following that old adage of keeping friends close and enemies closer. “Just let me know when you want to make an appointment.”

“What about this Friday?” ReShaunda brought her hand up to her perfectly styled hair and smoothed an invisible strand back into place. “I normally get a wash and flat iron.”

“I’m sure I can fit you in. Say four.”

“Perfect.” ReShaunda smiled. “It will give us time to get to know one another better.”

“I can’t wait.”

“Good. I’ll see you then.”

Tisha watched ReShaunda through suspicious eyes. She knew the woman was up to something. For the life of her though, she couldn’t figure out what.

* * * * *

“You did what?” Jonah was so angry he could barely see straight. To say fighting with Tisha was not the way he pictured ending the night would have been the understatement of the year.

“If you’re going to keep asking me to repeat myself, we’re going to be here all night.” From the sound of things, she was as frustrated as he was angry, but to him it didn’t matter a good goddamn. She had betrayed him.

“I’m going to keep asking you to repeat yourself until it starts making sense.” Jonah rose from the kitchen table and walked around the island, putting several feet of distance between Tisha and him. He needed the space to think, something he realized he wasn’t able to do in her presence. Especially in the state he was in right now.

What on earth had possessed her to agree to do ReShaunda’s hair? After everything he told her, after the things she’d seen with her own eyes, how could she possibly do anything for the woman who caused so much trouble for him and Cami?

Just thinking about all the ways he’d been fucked over by ReShaunda had his blood boiling. And to think Tisha, a woman he’d begun to have strong feelings for, was treating ReShaunda as if she were a long-lost friend was infuriating. Never had Jonah felt so betrayed. And he’d been abandoned by his family, so that was saying a hell of a lot.

“I’m confused here. Why are you so pissed off?”

Jonah glanced over at her in disbelief. Was she fucking kidding? “Because you made an appointment to work on ReShaunda’s hair, that’s why.”

“Whoa.” Tisha jerked back. “Let’s get something straight here. She made an appointment with me. I didn’t go out and solicit her or anything. She came to me.”

“You say that as if it makes a world of difference.”

“It does.”

“How?” The word came out louder than he intended, forcing Jonah to glance toward the kitchen door. The last thing he wanted was for Cami to come downstairs in the midst of this argument. The poor kid had been through enough already without having to deal with this shit.

“It just does, Jonah.” Tisha sat back in the chair, her face was a mask of confusion. “What’s your damage?”

“Your betrayal is my damage.” Tisha’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open, but the look of shock on her face didn’t stop Jonah from going on. He was too angry to hold back. “Are you that hard up for cash you have to take a job from my mortal enemy to get by?”

“Mortal. Enemy.” Tisha shook her head as if trying to clear her mind. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Do I look as if I’m kidding you?”

“No, you look as if you might be a bit insane though.”

“Insane?” His eyebrows went soaring. In what world was she living? Instead of calling him names, she should be apologizing. Then again, maybe she was right. Maybe he was insane to expect loyalty from his woman.