How could such a wonderful day turn into a huge mess? Every room in the school had a fresh coat of paint and the floors were clean. The number of volunteers increased as the news of Silk’s presence leaked out. Of course, Mable was contributing the successful undertaking to Carl through every news media source that would listen. But Siri didn’t care. The important thing was that when the children arrived at school next week, they would have a better learning environment.
Carl crossed her mind as she walked through the hallway ensuring all trash was gone and there was nothing out of place as Roscoe had ordered. He did step up to get the paint they’d needed to do the job. For the first time she actually heard him apologize for his mother’s behavior, that in and of itself, was an accomplishment. She was still leading him around like a puppy, at some point Carl would have to cut the apron strings. As much as she loved him at one point, there was no way she could go back to him. The cut was too deep and the wound had just begun to heal.
Putting the keys Roscoe had left with her in the office and locking the door, she looked around one final time. Eric “Silk” Davies did this. At least his celebrity status did. If it had not been for that, they probably would have gotten only half the number of rooms painted. People loved him and his music so much that they came out and accomplished a great thing. “Of all the people you could have sent into my life, why him Lord? The man is walking temptation to every woman on earth. I couldn’t resist him that night and as much as I try I can’t resist him now.” She shook the outer doors to make sure they were locked then walked around the building towards her car thinking—Jason and TK seemed good for each other. She didn’t know a lot about him, but she had never seen TK so happy. Young love is a wonderful thing, she thought, but it also had the potential to hurt. Carl was her first and the only man she had ever been with until Eric.
Tired to her bones and starving, the thought of him eased her weariness. He was quite a man. She certainly understood why women all over the world went crazy over him. That extraordinary night was proof. Never in her life would she have slept with a total stranger, much less want more. She stopped walking as the thought settled in. She wanted to make love with him again. The first time was unplanned, spontaneous, uncontrolled. The next time she wanted to be fully aware of all that occurred. Easing into her car she placed her head on the steering wheel and wondered what was she going to do? She had the hots for the brother of her sister’s new man. He was a music superstar who woman would kill for and she wasn’t sure if he felt the same for her. “You really got yourself in a fix this time Siri Octavia."
♪
When she reached the two story split-level house she called home, there were two SUV’s parked in front. Shrugging she pulled around them and parked in the driveway. The sounds of laugher and conversation could be heard from the front porch as she inserted her key into the doorknob. The sight that greeted her was unusual, but very familiar. It reminded her of the way the house was when Daddy was alive. It was always filled with people laughing, eating, and just enjoying life. Closing the door, she walked through the foyer and searched the small crowd of about ten people to identify at least the residents of the house. As she stepped down into the family room TK and Kerri were sitting near the fireplace, on the floor, flagged by Jason on one side and Eric on the other. The guys from the band were around them with plates piled high with food and laughing at photos. As if sensing her presence Eric looked up and smiled then looked back down at the pictures. Siri’s eyes followed the direction of his and she gasped. “Mommy are you showing my baby pictures?”
“Hey Siri,” TK beamed looking up at her. “It’s about time Roscoe let you go. Is he locking up?”
“No, Roscoe left the building around six. I just finished cleaning and locking up.”
“He left you in that building alone, this time of evening?” Kerri asked in a motherly tone.
“I was fine Mommy.” Feeling a need to get all eyes off of her, she looked to the guys. “Did you guys leave any for me?”
“Nope, J-bird ate it all,” one of the men joked. The man she assumed to be J-bird sucker punched the other guy and the battle was on.
“There’s plenty in the kitchen.” Kerri stood with Eric’s assistance. “You worked so hard today, baby. Why don’t you go up and shower while I prepare a plate for you.”
“You worked just as hard. I’ll run up and make a quick change. Then I’ll come down and eat. You guys continue, but not with the baby pictures please.”
“Why not? She embarrassed me. Now it’s your turn,” TK laughed. “Besides, Eric asked to see them.”
Her eyes found his. The warmth of his stare streamed over her like the effect of a waterfall. Looking around she wondered if anyone else noticed the tremors flowing through her. “I’m afraid there isn’t much to see.” Turning she walked up the steps and hoped everyone would be gone by the time she returned—well maybe not everyone.
An hour later as she emerged from the well deserved shower, dressed in a short jean skirt, a sleeveless midriff top, and flips flops, Siri’s wish seemed to have been granted. The family room was empty of everyone, including her mother and sister. Walking through the kitchen, disappointment touched her with the realization that Eric was not there. What could she have been thinking; he would have no reason to be there. To him she was just a one night stand, regardless of how she felt. In the kitchen, the plate her mother prepared for her was on the stove. Having worked all day and having her appetite taken away by Eric’s presence, she was now starving. Taking a seat at the table, she savored each taste of the meal as she closed her eyes and chewed.
A sound startled her and she turned. Standing behind her at the open patio door was Eric. Looking stunned she asked, “Where is everyone?”
“The guys went back to the hotel. They are flying back to Atlanta tonight. Jason and TeKaya went out for the evening. Your mother indicated she had a very long day and asked if I would stay to keep your company while you ate dinner. I decided to wait on the patio.” Before he could stop them, the words came out even though he deplored them, but he had to know. “Are you still in love with your ex-husband?”
That was the second time today she had been asked that question. When she stepped out into the hallway with Carl earlier today, he apologized for being several hours late. It seemed his mother had set up appointments for him to meet with contributors who requested a dinner meeting in order to continue the conversation. Therefore he had to cancel their date. Anger had set in from his mother’s earlier attack and she released her frustration on him.
“It’s the same old thing with you Carl. Your mother tells you to jump and you just keep jumping until you think she is satisfied. Contrary to what you say, you will never change, you will never be your own man. We could never think about starting over as long as your mother controls you.”
“Things have changed I just can’t discuss them with you right now. I want to make things right Siri. I want to make up for all the hurt my Mother caused. I love you Siri, I never stopped.”
“Then why didn’t you defend me against your Mother’s attacks or her public humiliation of me. You stood back and allowed her to destroy my reputation and career. You don’t do that to someone you love.”
“Siri I’ve been taking steps to correct all of that. I got your job back. I made sure you got here, where you wanted to teach. I had to stand up against my mother to get those things accomplished. I admit I made some mistakes with us, now I am doing all I can to right a wrong. All I need to know is that you still love me—that’s all I need.”
At the time, she did not have an answer for him. She just replied, she didn’t know. Now she was being asked the question again and not sure, why he asked the question, she had to think it through. The love she had for Carl was damaged along with her reputation, simply because he could not stand up to his mother. “I can never go back to Carl.”
“That’s not what I asked you.”
“I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it much since the divorce.” She wiped her mouth with the napkin and sat back in the chair as she tried to think it through. “There were so many harsh words between us, it’s hard to forget. I care for him and would not want anything terrible to happen to him, but I don’t think I’m in love with him any longer.”
The answer pleased him more than he wanted to admit for the sight of this woman was rendering certain parts of his body out of control. “I’m glad to hear that. He seems like a nice enough guy, but nowhere near man enough for you.”
Dressed in a pair of black slacks, a black silk blend t-shirt, his locs hung neatly around his shoulders. He had the most amazing face anyone could imagine. He was certainly man enough for her and probably a few other women. Uncertain of her reaction, she stood and put her plate in the sink. His presence was too much for her to control. “It was nice of you to stay, but I’m sure you have plans for the evening. You don’t have to hang around.”
“Actually I do. Jason drove, and I don’t know my way around.”
“Oh. Would you like for me to take you back to your hotel?”
“No, but I would enjoy you sitting with me out back.”
With her insides tightening at the memory of the last time they were alone, she smiled. “Sure.” Sitting out back couldn’t hurt anything.
When she reached him he took her hand. His touch caused sensations to surge throughout her body. Maybe she was wrong.
Pausing he took in the entire package of Siri Austin, from the fresh clean face, to the black doe like eyes that looked up at him. In flats, the top of her head fell right at his chin. He was tempted to kiss her standing there in the doorway, but knew that if he did he would not be able to stop. All day he’d endured people belittling her, shouting at her, and making demands on her. There was nothing he could do because she did not want anyone to know about them. All he wanted to do was to kiss her senseless, make her feel cared for, loved, and, at the very least, appreciated. Instead, he continued on to the secluded area he found in the back yard.
Siri followed as he guided her to the swing set behind the tool shed. Before the shed was built the area was where she and TK would play in the sandbox, on the sliding board, and swing set. Her mother had never removed the items. She was patiently waiting for grandchildren to come along and put the area to use again.
“Eric, why are we coming back here?”
He stopped abruptly, which caused her to run into him. “If I don’t taste you soon I’m going to explode.”
Shocked by his blunt honesty she looked up at him with sultry eyes. “Oh.”
He growled, “If you continued to look at me like that I will drop you to your knees and take you right here and I won’t care if your Mother sees us.” He turned and continued pulling her around the tool shed. As soon as they cleared the end of the building, he pulled her into his arms, cupped her face in his hands, and gently kissed her lips. “That’s for looking out for the children.” He then trailed his tongue along her bottom lip and pulled it between his lips, gently sucking it. “That’s for putting up with your asshole of a boss.” He slid his tongue inside her mouth and played tango with hers. “That’s for your spineless ex-husband. And this is for the bitch of the day.” He placed her arms around his neck and pulled her up into an embrace as he allowed his kisses to sooth all the ills of the world that had touched her that day.
The first kiss loosened her resolve not to make out in her back yard with her mother upstairs in the house. The second kiss eased the guilt, but the third kiss killed any chance she had to resist the urges building inside of her. This kiss gave her the nerve to do exactly what she wanted to do from the minute she turned and saw him. She wrapped her legs around his waist and melted into the kiss that was again threatening to take her good girl status away again.
The moment her legs surrounded him the blood pumping through his groin increased. Bracing her between his body and the tool shed, his hands touched the smooth skin of her thighs. Fire ignited in his system from the touch causing a groan to escape his throat. Positioning her lower until the core of her connected with his undeniable arousal. The jean skirt moved up as her body was lowered. The only thing separating his fire and her desire was the silk of her lace panties and the cloth of his pants. Not thinking twice he reached in to remove the barrier by unzipping his pants and freeing his arousal. “Tell me to stop Siri,” he murmured against her lips, “tell me to stop.” Her pulse was racing, her mind void of thoughts and her body leaping with desire, “Please don’t stop Eric. Don’t stop.” Their tongues met in midair. No lips. Just tongues touching until she couldn’t stand any more. “Eric, please----.”
Before she could complete her plea he inserted a finger under her panties and into the desire she was sharing with him. Moving the frilly material aside he entered her with an inexplicable urgency.
He swallowed her cry with a kiss as he filled her to the hilt and they both sighed with satisfaction, “Hmm.” Neither moved, as they panted hard against each other.
A sense of completeness consumed him as it had that first night and he wanted, needed, to savor the moment. This woman was his muse. She inspired him in more ways than he’d first thought. “I want you, Siri,” he said as he kissed her cheeks, her eyelids. “I have wanted you again since that night.” He moved slowly within her savoring her moistness, the snugness, the warmth of her. She tightened her legs around his waist pulling him closer as pure unadulterated lust engulfed her. That was the only way she could explain her wanton behavior and she was powerless to stop. She had committed to memory the feel of him that night and had dreamed of it, craving him night after night. “Eric,” she moaned against his ear.
He eased their bodies down to the cool green grass beneath their feet and gently placed her under him without breaking contact. His body began delivering deliberate thrusts within her leaving no space untouched by the sweet torture. He wanted her to feel every note of the music playing along with the rhythm in his mind. Her body responded to every beat as if she was hearing the music with him. Her hands moved down his back and her legs widened, allowing him to plunge deeper and deeper into her folds. He raised himself above her and began to move like a man possessed. And at that moment the only thought that drove him was to bring both of them over the crescendo of their joining. The intensity of their movement magnified as he called out her name. “Siri, open your eyes. I want to see us through your eyes.” Drawn to his words, she wanted to see herself though his eyes, she slowly opened them.
The look in his eyes caused her body to explode into tiny pieces and moisture cascading over her body. Her explosion ricocheted through him as the words heaven’s gate came to mind. That’s where he was, at heaven’s gate and the doors had just opened as the two of them flowed through. They were both spent, neither could move, think, or breathe. As his senses began to return, he realized he had taken her in a raunchy way. He wrapped her in his arms and turned onto his back pulling her atop him and held her. “I wanted you so badly Siri, but not like this. You deserve better.” He continued to hold her as she panted against his chest.
“Why?” was all she could manage.
He rubbed her back as he spoke. “I don’t know why. I just know I want to make love to you in a bed where I can kiss and taste every inch of you. I don’t want a quickie or a one night stand. I want to see you, touch you, feel you, take my time showing you how much I enjoy your body.”
Confused by his words, she breathily joked, “You know sexing a woman senseless, then leaving her to think it was only a dream could be interpreted as cruel and unusual punishment.”
“Disappearing from a man’s bed before he could get his fill the next morning should be punishable by death.”
She gently laughed against him and replied, “Then we are both guilty and deserve whatever we get.”
He liked the idea of making her laugh. “How did you end up in my room that night?”
She told him the story of leaving the party and searching for somewhere to hide. When she finished he told her he thought she was a call girl Jason had sent to his room.
“Ahhh, the reason you keep condoms in your wallet.” She felt his body tense and his breathing changed. She looked up at him, “What is it?”
He moved her to the side, came to his knees, and began righting her clothes, and then his. He stood and held out his hand to her. She took it and stood. “Eric, what is it?”
“I was careless. I did not use protection.”
Siri stared at him. “This wasn’t planned. In the heat of the moment neither of us thought.”
“That’s what causes death these days, not thinking.”
Sensing his anger she began brushing her skirt off. “I was tested after my divorce which was nine months ago. I’m clean. I have not been sexually active, well other then you, since that time. You’re safe,” she stated then proceeded to march off.
He grabbed her arm as she walked by. “I’m sorry, that came out wrong. I’m not angry with you. I’m angry with myself.” He pulled out his wallet and retrieved several gold packets of condoms. “This may not have been planned by you, but it was by me, the moment I saw you at the school.” He replaced his wallet. “After finding you, I was not leaving Richmond without touching you again.”
Siri stood there, not sure how to respond. This god of a man who had women swarming over him planned to seduce her, a woman who had limited knowledge of how to please a man. “Why didn’t you use them?”
“I couldn’t stop, I didn’t want to stop.” He pulled her into an embrace, “You haven’t asked me.”
“I don’t need too. I know about all the charity events you sponsor about HIV it is well documented.”
He kissed her forehead, “You still need to ask. I get tested every six months whether I’m sexually active or not. I’m concerned about something a little different.”
“What’s that?” she asked now holding his hands.
“Pregnancy.”
Siri laughed. “You don’t have to worry about that. The entire time I was married I wanted a child, but it never happened.”
“You’re not using any type of protection?”
“No, I’m sorry,” she replied solemnly looking up at him.
He placed her head on his chest. “We’ll worry about that when and if it becomes an issue.”
Subconsciously he knew what he was doing; he wanted to feel her with no obstructions, nothing between him and her. The cost of that moment may take a lifetime for him to repay. It was at that moment he realized what he wanted from her. “Let’s go inside and clean up.”
The two sat at the kitchen table and she listened as he talked. Eric talked about his career, the effect of constantly touring, performing night after night. He loved the fans, but it was hard work and you had to be dedicated to be successful. How much he liked the small intimate venues as opposed to the larger ones. He told her about his mother, whom he and his brother were close to although they were on different sides of he world. Then he talked about Jason. It appeared he worshiped the very ground his big brother stood on. There was nothing he would not do for him, including continuing touring. What he really wanted to do was write music for others. But since any changes he made to his career directly impacted Jason’s, he was reluctant to stop touring.
Listening to him made her realize he was just as vulnerable as she was. Yes, he was rich and famous, but he had to make sacrifices to get to this point in his life. It also occurred to her that he was ready for a change. He talked about meeting someone and having children, but in his world it was difficult to know if someone is with you for who you are as a performer or a man.
They acknowledged that they had a strong sexual attraction to each other; however they both knew it would be difficult to pursue it any further, and neither wanted to over shadow the budding relationship between Jason and TK.
Siri went to bed that night tired, but refreshed. She had a new take on life and looked forward to what it would bring. She also had a man that had touched her soul and a clear understanding of the concept of sexual healing.