Authors: Marilyn Lee
How could he want someone else when she was willing to do anything to please his cheating ass?
She gave an angry shake of her head. Damn him!
When another man asked her to dance, she nodded, and followed him onto the dance floor. And if he wanted to take her home and fuck her, she'd let him. Clay wouldn't be the only one not sleeping alone that night.
She spent the rest of the evening at the club with the man who introduced himself as Jamal. He was tall, dark, and had a slow, warm smile that warmed her each time he turned it on her. Nevertheless, when he asked for her phone number at the end of the night, she stammered.
“What's wrong, Darbi?”
She moistened her lips and met his dark gaze. “I'm sort of seeing someone.”
“Is it serious?”
She was in love with another man who apparently didn't share her view of the importance of fidelity in an exclusive relationship. She shrugged. “It is for me.”
“But not for him?”
Even now Clay might be lying in bed with his jailbait lover, holding her and whispering sweet words as he fucked her into an incredible climax. “Unfortunately not.”
“But you're not ready to break it off?”
A shock of pain flashed through her at the thought of ending her relationship with Clay. “I don't know. I ... I have to think about it and weigh my options.”
“Can I give you my number in case you decide it's time to move on?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“So what's wrong, Darbi?” Jadan asked as she drove Darbi home after dropping Willow off.
Darbi sat in the passenger seat, staring straight ahead. “Nothing.”
“Then why did you spend so much time slow dancing with that tall, dark, hunk with the ready smile?”
She sighed. “I saw Clay at the club.”
“Why didn't you introduce us ... oh, my God. You mean you saw him with someone else?”
“Yes. She looked about sixteen. She was probably older than she looks, but still. He’s a 39-year-old ... pervert.”
“What did he have to say for himself?”
“I ... I didn't confront him.”
“Why not?”
“I supposed I should have, but I wasn’t ready for a scene.”
“Are you going to?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“What would be the point, Dani? He'd just lie and deny it and make it worse.”
“How do you know if you don't at least give him a chance to explain himself? As strange as it seems, he might actually have an explanation.”
“There's no explanation that will satisfy me. It's over between us.”
Jadan sighed. “If you need to talk.”
She nodded. “Thanks, but I just want to go home and ... sleep on it.”
* * *
The private line in Clay's bedroom rang as he stepped out of the shower the next morning. Wrapping a towel around his body, he walked into his bedroom, glancing at the clock on his tallboy. It was just after six a.m.
He sat on the side of his bed and picked up his cordless phone. Noting Darbi's number, he smiled. “Hi, honey.”
“I hope I didn't wake you, Clay, but I wanted to reach you before you left.”
Noting the cool tone, he frowned. “Did you want me to stop and pick up something on the way over? I'm just about to dress and I'll see you in about forty minutes or so.”
“Actually I called to cancel our date.”
“Why?”
“I'm not feeling well. I think I just need to stay home and be lazy today.”
“We don't have to go out or make love. Why don't I pick up some soup, give you an hour or so to sleep in, and then come around ten or eleven?”
“That sounds great, but I just want to sleep and rest today, Clay. I have a long day tomorrow and need the rest.”
He sighed, feeling disappointment settle on his shoulders like a lead weight. “Okay. I'll talk to you later tonight --”
“I'm going to turn the ringer off, Clay. I just want to rest.”
He raked a hand through his hair, frowning. He couldn’t recall the last time she’d been too tired to see him. “Is there something you want to tell me, Darbi?”
“No. I'll talk to you.”
“When?”
“What?”
“When will you talk to me?”
“Soon. Bye!”
“Darbi --”
“Bye!”
He sat holding the phone after she'd hung up. He dialed her number and got a busy signal. When he tried five minutes later, he again got a busy signal. So instead of turning off the ringer, she’d taken the phone off the hook. Women. If she didn't call him that night, he'd visit her at her office the following day and insist she tell him what the hell her problem was. Damn if he was going to allow her to start jerking his chain.
With his plans for the day shot to hell, he decided to go work out. He pulled on a pair of shorts over his briefs, put on socks and sneakers, and went to the weight room.
Chapter Eight
Darbi spent the morning lying in bed, fighting the urge to cry. Around eleven, her sadness turned to anger. If he'd wanted to date a girl young enough to be his daughter, he shouldn't have promised her their relationship was exclusive. And if wanted other females, he had no business fucking her ass as if he owned it.
If he thought she'd allow him to get away with making a fool out of her, he was nuts!
She got up, showered, dressed, and got in her car. At his condo, she stood outside the high, black, ornate gate with her finger pressed on the bell. To her surprise, she heard the buzzer that released the lock, almost immediately. She opened the gate and walked into the private courtyard! His car and his SUV occupied two of the four parking spots in front of his condo.
She crossed the brick courtyard to the front door and rang the bell. One of the double hung oak doors opened. The slender blonde who Clay had spent the night before with stood there. She arched a brow and turned to call over her shoulder, “Ms. Chocolate P is here to see you, Clay.”
Darbi blushed as Clay, dressed in a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt appeared behind the girl, his green eyes narrowed.
The girl laughed and disappeared behind him into the condo.
He stared after her, the muscles in his jaw clenching. When he turned to look at Darbi, his eyes softened and he smiled. “Darbi. This is a pleasant surprise. I didn't -- hey!” He broke off, his right hand shooting out to catch and immobilize her wrist before her palm could connect with his cheek. “Look, I know you heard what she said, but that's no reason to try to slap me!”
She jerked at her wrist and was surprised when he immediately released it. She glared at him, blinking rapidly to hold tears at bay. “I don't ever want to see you again, you liar!”
“Liar?” His lips tightened. “I don't lie, Darbi. Suppose you tell me what you think I've lied about and we'll work your problem out together.”
“You're my only problem! I don't want to see you again. What else do you need to know?” A lump of misery rose in her throat and she turned and walked away.
“Darbi!”
She kept walking towards the gate.
He followed her. His hand closed on her arm just as she reached the gate. He swung her around. Noting the angry look in his eyes, she thought he was about to shake her.
She tried to jerk away. “Let me go!”
“The hell I will!” He tightened his grip on her arm. “What the hell is your problem?”
“My problem? It was trusting you, Clay!” She swung her left hand up towards his cheek.
As before, he caught her wrist before she could slap him. “Stop trying to slap me and tell me what's wrong.”
“She's what's wrong!”
“She? She who?”
“I saw you last night, Clay. I saw you with her.”
“You saw me with who? What the hell are you babbling about?”
“That blonde jailbait inside! I saw you together at the club last night.”
Although he arched a brow and stared at her, she saw no evidence of guilt in his green eyes. “You did?”
“Yes! So don't bother denying you were with her.”
“Why should I deny it? Of course I was with her. If you saw us, why didn't you come over?”
“And say what? Do what? Last night wasn't enough? She's still here with you!”
His gaze narrowed and he suddenly laughed. “You get more gorgeous every time I see you, but you are being a silly, twit, Darbi! That's Amber inside!”
“I don't care what her name is!”
“It's Amber,” he said again.
“So?”
“Amber. My little sister, Amber.”
“I don't care who ...” She stopped struggling to get away from him. “Your sister?”
“Yes, you lovely, jealous twit! Are you nuts, Darbi? I'll be forty years old in a few months. Why the hell would I want to waste my time with a flat behind eighteen-year-old when I have you?”
She stared him, blinking hard to keep the flood of tears of relief from spilling down her cheeks. “How was I supposed to know she was your sister? You never introduced us.”
“That's because you never expressed any interest in meeting her.”
“So it's my fault you're so secretive?”
He released her. “You're an insecure idiot, Darbi!”
She sucked in a breath and stared at him. “Don't.”
“Don't?” He took a deep breath and when he spoke again, his voice had softened. “Look, I understand that your ex was unfaithful and in addition to hurting you, it probably made you more inclined to think all men are cheaters. I understand that and I can sympathize with you, but I'm not him. I don't lie and I don't cheat.
“Please tell me what the hell have I done to make you jump to the conclusion that you can't trust me out of your sight? There’s something you’d better understand, right now. If I wanted to see other women, Darbi, I would and I wouldn’t bother lying to you about it either. I'm not seeing anyone else for one very good reason -- because I have no desire to date anyone but you.”
She swallowed and wiped at her cheeks. “I'm sorry. I'd better go.”
He reached out and drew her into his arms. He held her close, pressing his lips against her cheek. “You're not going anywhere. Come and meet Amber, my very own pain in the ass.”
He lifted her chin and wiped at her cheeks. “Why are you crying? Did it hurt when you thought I was with another woman?”
“Why should I care? I just didn't like the idea of your trying to be sneaky.”
“I see. So you'd have been okay with my seeing another woman, as long as I'd told you beforehand?”
“Yes.”
“Liar!”
“Who says I'm lying? I spent the night dancing with this tall, ebony hunk.”
“Did you?” His gaze narrowed and then shrugged. “If that's supposed to make me jealous, it doesn't. You might have spent the night dancing with him, but you're here now with me.”
She lighted her chin. “Who says all we did was dance?”
“I do.”
“A lot can happen during a dance ... kissing, grinding ... even fucking.”
“Really? You might have kissed him, but you sure as hell aren’t going to convince me you slept with him.”
His confidence annoyed her. Why the hell was he so sure of his hold over her? “Why not?”
“Because you're a one-man woman and I'm your man.” He bent his head and kissed her lips. “I meant it when I told you I don't sleep with more than one woman at a time. As long as we're sleeping together, I won't be warming any other woman's bed. Okay?”
She averted her gaze and nodded. She hated that while he was so sure of her, she was not yet sure of him.
Almost as if he understood her fears, he smiled at her. “You're my woman and I'm your man, Darbi. You are the only woman I want in my arms and in my bed. I haven’t thought about another woman since the night we met. You satisfy all my needs and I have no interest in any other woman. Okay?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” He kissed her again, put his arm around her shoulders, and urged her back across the courtyard to the open front door where Amber stood with a smirk on her face.
Clay bent to whisper in her ear, “Don't mind her. You'll like her once you get to know her.”
She cast him a dubious look, but smiled and extended her hand when he introduced her and Amber.
The introductions over, Clay turned to Amber. “Take the keys to my SUV and get lost.”
Amber grinned. “How long do you want me to stay lost?”
“Call Damien and spend the night with him.”
“What? You know he only has one bedroom. He'll expect me to sleep on his sofa.”
“So?”
“So, I’m not sleeping on his sofa. Why should I? How long does it take you to eat pussy? Is she a nympho you have to do all night before she’s satis--”
Feeling an angry flush spread across her face, Darbi clenched her hands into fists.
Clay swore softly and pointed towards the front door. “Get out of here before you make me forget myself, Amber.”
She bit her lip, casting a brief, contrite look at Darbi. “That was mean. I'm so --”
“I’m not interested in hearing anything you have to say, Amber. Get out! Now!”
“But, Clay! I said I was so --”
“Out!”
Darbi watched her snatch up a set of keys on the hall table and run out the door. She sighed and looked at Clay. “Go after her and tell her it's okay, Clay.”
His jaw clenched. “The hell I will! She’s a brat and it will do her good not to get away with the shit she dishes out for once.”
She tugged at his hand. “She's upset, Clay.”
“So am I.”
“Yes, but you’re not an insecure teenager. Go after her and tell her everything is okay.”
He hesitated, swore softly, and then left.
Darbi closed her eyes and leaned against the wall near the front door. Taking several deep breaths, she savored the knowledge that she was still the only woman in Clay's life.
“Are you all right?”
She opened her eyes as Clay reentered and closed the door behind him. She nodded. “What about her?”
“She's a pain in the ass. I don't know what happened to the sweet, little teenager who never had a bad thing to say about anyone. For the last few months, she's gone out of her way to be disrespectable and as nasty as possible.” He stood in front of her, cupping his palms over her cheeks. “I'm sorry if she embarrassed you.”
She smiled. “I'm too relieved she's your sister and not your jailbait lover to be anything but pleased.”
He pressed his body against hers. “Yeah? Does that mean you're ready to take our relationship seriously?”