One week later.
Meeting Jason in a leaky storefront with construction workers crawling all over the place wasn’t happening. Where would the closeness be? What about the eroticism? Thankfully for Amber, there was always a plan B—meeting Jason in front of the Lilly Ruben Salon at Somerset.
She knew it wasn’t his night to work late, having called and rescheduled their next rendezvous. As usual, she wanted to look spectacular for him. Though in his eyes, Amber Marie Donohue could say, do, or wear no evil, all five-foot-six inches of her.
For Jason, every minute working with even the faintest idea of her being in the mall somewhere was setting his nerve endings aflame. That’s why they decided on her meeting him at another store instead at his. Any woman other than Amber who strutted in there for shoes was just out of fucking luck if Jason’s eyes met with Amber’s.
However, they remained less than worlds apart since the salon was almost across the way from Roma Shoes, and Jason caught a side glance at her; she looked fantastic in a pair of red leather, skintight pants, red heels and a flowery red and yellow lacy blouse. Naturally, the signature V-neck was there to arouse anything on him that wasn’t already sky-high. She had that knack. Jason could smell the sex in the air and couldn’t wait to take flight into her jet stream. Someone with her sex appeal had sexual aromas circling her head in waves of passion, and Jason, well, he simply wanted to be her pilot.
The minute the last customer left, so did Jason, leaving two of his coworkers there to pick up the slack. He seemingly floated across the aisle, smiling as he approached, taking her hands into his. “As I live and breathe, the original Helen Blazes.”
They shared a brief kiss.
Amber, hating to break the kiss, realized where they were. The place was still on jam at almost nine at night. She stared into his wonderfully exotic face. “Now, tell me who the heck Helen Blazes is.”
“Someone that’s so hot the flames dance around her, vibrate around her, mix and mingle with every essence of her persona. And that red really sets you off.”
“Glad to accommodate you.”
“And you do it so well. All I have to do is close my eyes and you’re there.”
“I’m here now, and thankfully you are, too.”
“I’m always going to be here, Amber, especially now.”
He glanced at the last-minute shoppers who were doing everything in their power to hit the rest of the stores in the remaining twenty minutes before closing time. He said in a rushed voice, “Let’s get outta here.”
A quirky smile brightened her face. “Anything in mind?”
“You betcha!”
Where they went wasn’t exactly what she was expecting. He selected a cozy, out-of-the-way club a few miles from the mall called Innuendos. Amber loved the sound of it but preferred sipping amaretto by his fireplace—better yet, in his bed.
They selected a nice secluded table that was deep, dark, and in the back where no one but the waitress saw them. Amber ordered an Absolut Vanilla on the rocks. For him, a scotch and soda, a man’s-man drink!
He smiled at her choice of beverage. “You sure you can handle Mr. Absolut? It is vodka, you know.”
“This is a rare occasion for me, so I figured I’d go all the way live tonight.”
“Like last night?”
“Absolut-ly.” Suddenly, as if second-guessing her behavior the evening before, a bit of skepticism filled her mind. “Do you think I’ve been too forward? I mean, after all, we’re still new to one another.”
“Have you been enjoying it?”
“Do I look like I’ve been enjoying it?”
“You look like you were born to do it, with me, and it’s been out of this fucking world.”
“But how do you feel now about making love to me?”
“That’s exactly what it was, Amber, making love. For me, it wasn’t just sex. Like I said before, I don’t know what it is about you, but I had to have you, and I still do.”
Their drinks came, but Jason’s eyes never left Amber’s; he simply reached for his drink while getting an eyeful of her. “A better way to put it—if this wasn’t a public place, I’d be on top of you right now.” He swallowed hard, setting his glass down. “Don’t ever think you’re too wayward for me. I like it wild and crazy, and the more I see you, the wilder I want sex with you to get.”
“Then I’m not just a fling?”
“I’m still here, aren’t I?”
“Most definitely, and, baby, the view is fine.”
He finished the rest of his drink in one gulp. “Glad someone thinks so.”
Amber detected the sudden ambivalence. “What do you mean?”
“What I mean is that not everyone has the free mind you have. I admire that about you.”
“What happened today? Jason, you know you can tell me.”
“Gina happened. My ex. She’s making it hard to see my son, saying I suddenly skipped out on her and Keith. That’s not what I did. She and I shouldn’t have gotten back together because I knew it wouldn’t last—it can’t with someone like her.”
“What’s she like?”
“Self-absorbed, into whatever money she can get from me and spending it all on herself. She says it’s in Keith’s best interest, but she doesn’t spend anything on him. I do!”
“Well, I guess that answers the question I wanted to ask.”
“Really? What?”
“What’s it like to be married. I’ve been alone for thirty-two years, and I’d actually like to give it a try one day.”
“The previous men in your life were crazy. I’m so shocked that you haven’t been snatched—well, not counting by me. If you’ll let me, I’d be glad to take up the slack from those poor dopes who were too stupid to take advantage of a good thing.”
She slid her empty glass aside. “That’s just it. Maybe I was too much of a good thing before, giving myself too freely and being left in the dust. That’s why I was wondering about my actions with you. I don’t want to turn you off.”
“Girl, that’s the last thing you could ever do. The thing about it, you’re so different. You made me want everything you have, right away and to savor for years to come.”
“So you’d try another relationship again?”
“Yes, definitely. But only with you.” His hand slid up and down her leather pants, slowly, softly. “Just by knowing you a few weeks, you make me want what my parents have—forty years of nothin’ but love. They had their ups and downs like everyone, but basically they loved each other enough to have four kids.”
“And where are you in that line up?”
“Second. There’s Jane, myself, James, and my baby brother, Justin.”
“All Js. But what about Keith? Shouldn’t he have been named after the sexiest man I’ve ever seen?”
“Well, if you’re referring to me, which I hope you are, then I was just unlucky enough not to have my own son named after me. My daughter, Justine, did get the J. She has a different mother than Keith. I guess both he and I are unlucky.”
“Actually, I think Gina is the unlucky one. She doesn’t know a good life when she sees one.” She leaned over and delivered a delectable nibble across his bottom lip, then slowly pulled away. “Umm, if I keep that up, you may very well get your Jason Jr.”
“Don’t stop the flow, girl.” He leaned into her, sliding the tip of his tongue into her willing mouth, savoring her, physically crying out to do more, yet keeping it to a low moan. “You are really something, Ms. Amber Donohue, and you smell so good, natural.”
“Do I smell good enough to dance with? Phyllis Hyman’s “Be One” is playing in the background. Hear it?”
“Isn’t it just like you to know a romantic tune when you hear it?”
“Not exactly. It’s from School Daze. I’m a big Spike Lee fan.”
“And I’m a big Amber Marie fan.” He took her hand, bringing her to her feet. “That song sounds too good not to be sliding against you to it. Hold me tight and I’ll make the world disappear for us.”
“It already has.”
Mood music; that was exactly what Phyllis Hyman filled the club with and was exactly what Amber wanted. Having not gotten her fill of him the night before, she capitalized on the opportunity to be close to him again, slowly, methodically, as Jason’s body gently pressed against hers. Her arms encircled his shoulders, lacing her fingers around his neck. She relished the fact that he was already sweating for her, from her.
Her cheek pressed intimately against his, feeling his moist, warm flesh, remembering how hot and satisfying he was to her last night—awesome, a feeling never to forget as long as she lived on the face of the earth. The fact was he was so unconsciously wonderful to her; so sexual and intimate in an embrace that her clothing began to cling mercilessly to her. Her only thought was reliving their lovemaking right there on the dance floor, feeling his body as it swayed against hers in rhythmic vibes. No man before him got her to the point where she’d be a fool for him. Hell, she knew she fell fast for men, but this was something different, something new and exciting, and she wanted it to continue into future lives, whatever they would be.
As his hips continued to sway and move her practically into an orgasmic bliss, she could feel the very tool that could take her there, a colossus of an erection wanting, needing, trying to satisfy her every which way. The only words for that kind of assault were pleasurable torture. An orgasm shot through her so fast that it made her tremble, edging her to stretch her arms tighter around his shoulders.
Her reaction didn’t go unnoticed. He loved how her body molded to his, reacted to him, accepting his pressure. “You okay, baby?”
She looked into a face barely visible by the sultry nightclub hues, feeling his words as he spoke. “I’m fine.”
“I know that already. Your body tells me everything I need to know. Was it a good one for you?”
Yes, he knew exactly the response he forced from her, and telling him a lie would be as see-through as glass. “Every time you touch me I do that.”
Needing to know, hear, and feel more, he pulled her closer, whispering against her crystal-clad lobe, “Then let me do more. No one will know what we’re doing. They’re too into Ms. Phyllis to give a good damn about us.”
“No way. They’ll have to mop up what’s left of me.”
He briefly kissed her lips. “Those words, girl. You can make a man come just by talking to him, let alone touching him.”
“That was my plan from day one.”
“It worked.”
He swayed her pliable body to yet another song from the School Daze soundtrack, “The Perfect Match.” That’s what they were, and they bonded tighter together than cement. The way her body moved delicately against his shaft tantalized him, made him harder, thicker, juicier; so tight and stiff within her presence that he had to back off. “If we don’t sit down, you won’t be the only thing they’ll have to mop up.”
Amber reached between his thighs and palmed him, acknowledging his obvious pleasure. “Making love is so real with you; more real than life itself.”
“It is life; life pumping out of me and into you. The only kind of life to really live, and you gave that to me after so many years of needing it.”
He took her hand and led her back to the table. It took him longer to sit, and they both knew why and smiled over the situation, so thankful for it.
Before their second round of drinks arrived, their perfect evening was interrupted. Approaching their table mouth-first was an old family friend of the Donohues’, Cassie Morgan, eying Jason suspiciously as she spoke in her fake, upper-crust accent. Everyone knew Cassie was from Detroit’s Lower East Side; no upper-crust accents going on there.
Amber acted glad to see her, but it was actually a drag being pulled from desire and into doom. Cassie had been known to spy dirt on perfectly clean people. Amber could hear her mother mentioning her and Jason at a secluded little table in a sultry nightclub, compliments of the mouth of the century. What she did and who with was no one’s business but hers, but it would be common knowledge now. The family would be as giddy as junior prom queens at the very idea of Amber being out with another man. Nothing was sacred in her family. They were masters of making mountains out of molehills.
As usual, Amber was her usual pleasant self, but acting surprised over the ghetto Joan Rivers was a pure acting job that she’d no doubt get an Academy Award for.
“Cassie, how nice to see you.”
“Darling, you too. It’s been ages.”
Amber felt a little sickened. It was two damn months ago at my nephew Eric’s graduation party.
However, Amber was not the true hot spot. For some reason, Cassie couldn’t take her suspicious eyes from Jason, and it wasn’t due to his looks. No, something scandalous was cooking; Amber saw it and tried to steer the situation. “This is Jason DeMaras. I might be selling my jewelry in his store.”
She reached out a hand. “Really? How nice. I always knew Amber’s jewels would sell…eventually. I don’t have any of my own but—”
Jason stood, taking the already outstretched hand. “Amber makes the best I’ve seen anywhere, and I’d be glad to showcase them. By the way, nice to meet you.”
Amber loved the way he got to the point with the mouth of Detroit and the surrounding suburbs, putting her in her place before she said something really stupid.
All Cassie could do was regroup, pathetically. “Yes, she is good. I should know, I’ve been everywhere, seen everything, including good jewelry; just getting back from Paris, you know.”
Well la-dee-fucking-dah, was what Amber’s mind was saying, but her mouth remained polite. “Jason is the assistant manager at Roma Shoes.”
Eyes stared big time. “No wonder your name and face are so familiar to me. You probably sold me my last pair of shoes. I’m always in there.”
“I can’t place the face, but I do see a lot of women, Ms….?”
“Morgan, and that’s perfectly fine, darling; there is a lot of traffic in Roma.” Her eyes rolled back to Amber. “I must be going; Damon awaits. Just wanted to say hello, having not expected to see you here, Amber Marie. Tell the family hello for me.”
What for? Surely, you’ll see them before me as you spread news of my appearance with Mr. Fine as Wine. And who better to do it? You work faster than the six o’clock news. “I’ll make sure to tell everyone. See you soon.” Only if hell should freeze over!
Jason said his good-byes, then turned to Amber. “Is she always that gauche?”
“She’s a pain in the ass, literally speaking.”
That evening, Jason took her back to her car, which was still parked near the entrance of Lilly Ruben, but took her hand before she exited. “One more kiss good night?”
Without a verbal response, she moved into his arms, kissing the corner of his mouth in tiny nibbles before planting a wet, juicy kiss across his lips that he’d never forget. Their mission was so undercover and secretive that she could feel the seat of her lacy panties get wet all over again. His plundering fingers certainly didn’t help the situation as he slid slowly in and out of her in strong, even strokes. She never wanted to leave his arms or the inside of his car, fearing she’d never regain quite the same magic they’d discovered. But with Jason, each time they were together was an entirely different world of sexual desire. The only thing that scared her: love was quickly following; the id was certainly on overdrive, but along for the ride was a heavy dose of superego, the very thing that forced reality back into a world of unbridled passion. She slowly pulled away, fearing the love aspect was still a one-way street.
“I have to go, Jason. You know what happens in the morning—work, work, work.”
“Right, getting everything prepared for your opening.”
“There’s always a lot to do for one of those things.”
“I know, but can’t you leave from my house in the morning?”
Though she wanted to be there, she also didn’t want to wear out her welcome mat, something she feared had happened to her and Maurice. Jason was different, special, and she wanted him to stay that way. Mystery always keeps a fire hot, words her mother constantly repeated, and for once, the advice was correct. “I have so much still to do tonight. I have to make sure the crimp pliers are sharpened, the bead cord in supply, the—”
“I get it. Another time then?”
The disappointed look on his face saddened her. Her gentle fingers caressed his cheek. “I’m sorry. I just don’t want to wear out my welcome with you.”
“You could never do that, Amber. I know you have a life, and I’m just thankful for the time we’ve shared.” He shut off his ignition. “I can walk you to your car, can’t I?”
He walked her to the car, waited for her to disarm it, and watched as she slid into the seat. “You go right home, Amber. Wouldn’t want anything to happen to you. Hell, I just got you, and I want to hang on for possibly another one hundred years.”
“I’ll call you when I get in, tell you I’m okay.”
“Good.”
Before her door was closed she said, “Wait! I have something for you.” She reached into her purse and handed him a tiny satin bag. “I almost forgot these.”
“What are they?”
“Crystal studs. I wanted to give you something special.”
“You’ve done that already just by being with me, but what made you think to give me these?”
“There’s a tiny crack in the one on your left ear.”
“I never noticed.”
“I did.”
He kissed her briefly on the lips. “You notice everything, don’t you?”
“Only when it matters, and it does with you.”
“Get going before I make you stay the night with me, Ms. Wonderful.”
Amber watched Jason drive off, already missing him, already counting the minutes before she’d be in his arms again.