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Tiara
“You’re resigning with immediate effect? Tiara? Are you out of your mind?” Trevor Blackey kicked up a storm the moment he marched past Tiara’s front door along Kerrigan Drive, Oakland the following Friday.
“I meant to stop by your office tonight,” she replied pushing herself off her beige fabric 3-seater couch to get on her feet.
Furrowing his forehead, Trevor shrugged off his light green suit jacket and hung it on the coat hanger in the closet along the entry hall.
“What’s going on, Tiara? You’re throwing away ten years of solid work and professionalism for what?”
Plopping back down on her sofa in the living room, Tiara patted the spot beside her.
“Sit down, Trevor.”
“I’m not going to watch you throw your career away for some reprobate ex-military douchebag.”
“Trevor!” She raised her voice. “What has got into you? Why are you calling Hunter names when you’ve never even met him? Besides, you’re not my dad, you can’t stop me from doing anything, so sit down and let’s talk like adults and best friends.”
Fuming as he paced her living room, Trevor shook his head.
“You resigned without breathing a word to me. I’m supposed to have your back. Then you resign with immediate effect. Did he force you do this?”
“Hunter didn’t force me to do anything!”
“Then did he put a gun to your head?”
“Do you know how old I am? I’m a responsible adult and I make my own decisions. If I make a bad decision, I’ll learn. Stop acting like an over-zealous older brother I can’t stand, Trevor Blackey.”
Cocking his head, her best friend sneered.
“You’ve known this guy for how long? Less than two months and you want to burn the only stable thing in your life to the ground?”
Exhaling, Tiara rested her back in the chair.
“I’ll admit the timing is odd. But I’ve always had this at the back of my mind. I love being a therapist but I’ve also got bigger dreams.”
“Did Hunter make a pass at you? I know guys like him. He enters into your life, takes control and call the shots. He’ll isolate you until you lose your mind.”
“Mm-hmm. Are you talking to a high school student? Anyway, that’s not why I’m leaving.”
“Don’t lie to me, Tiara. You feel duty bound to resign because the asshole compromised you. It’s either you resign, or your you lose your license.”
“That’s not entirely true. I could’ve reported it and moved on. But this is what I want to do at this point in my life. Wrap your head around it fast, Trevor because it’s happening.”
“Do you love him?”
“I don’t know. That’s beside the point.”
Narrowing his eyes, Trevor picked up the decorative pot from the white sideboard.
“I always thought you were the sensible one. Always making the right decisions. But here you are throwing away your future for someone who isn’t worth it.”
Tilting her head, she stared at her confidante.
“My future is exactly what I want it to be, Trevor. I choose to be happy. Just be happy for me.”
“I thought you were happy as a therapist.”
“Yeah. But I want to do this for me, something new, something more exciting, something I need to do.”
“Grow up, Tiara! You’re not making sense!”
“Why are you so mad? Is there something else on your mind, Trevor?”
“What’s your plan?” He threw his hands open. “Sit at home like a dutiful girlfriend and do what?”
“I want to travel the world, Trevor. It has always been my dream, you know that. I just realized life is very short. There’s no time to waste. So, I’m going to travel. Stop acting like an angry dad.”
Seeing Shannon Dirk last week on her dying bed put everything into perspective for her.
“I’m not acting like your dad! I’m not old!”
“When my time comes to meet my Creator, I don’t want to have any regret.”
Sitting in her pretty box office like Hunter called it was not how she wanted to spend the rest of her young life. Now was the time to achieve her dream. She was going to take it and enjoy life.
“I’m worried about you, Tiara. How long do you intend to travel?” Trevor continued with his ‘be careful’ sermon.
She shrugged and smiled. “I’m not sure. It depends. I’ll go to the Caribbean, Europe, Australia and Asia. It could be as long as six months to a year.”
Always striving for control all her life, she was relieved not to know what next year had waiting in store for her.
“A year? I’m going out of my mind right now. You’re my best friend, Tiara. Did you consider my feelings?”
“You’ve got a life, Trevor and a great relationship.”
He shook his head, making different gestures with his hands. “My relationship isn’t that great.”
“You’ve got, Nicki. If you’re not happy, see a counsellor. Do something about it. But I’ve got to do this for me. I’m single. Now’s the time to travel.”
“Has it ever occurred to you I could be in love with you, Tiara Williams?”
She gasped.
For a long minute, neither of them said anything.
It might have taken two minutes before she recovered from the shock of his confession.
“Are you out of your mind? You’ve been my best friend for over a decade, Trevor. I like Nicki. You two are great together, so I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that, okay?”
Trevor raked his fingers through his hair as he exhaled through his mouth.
“Is Hunter travelling with you?”
“Nothing is certain. I only know about my plans. Jealousy is what’s been eating you up. Whoa!”
Trevor pulled her to her feet and hugged her tight. “I made the biggest mistake of my life–”
Hunter
Entering through the unlocked front door of Tiara’s house at that moment, Hunter found his way to her living room and stopped short.
Some black dude with crew cut dark hair, five-eleven, had his arms around Tiara. Something inside Hunter snapped in two. But for the second time in years, he counted to twenty instead of ranting and throwing punches. After counting, he stood with his legs apart and clapped his hands.
Tiara pushed out of the guy’s arms and stepped back. When she saw Hunter, her eyes glowed and she beamed. Her full-on smile shone brighter than a diamond. In that moment, Hunter’s congealed heart melted completely. Jealousy dried up in his gut and he winked at her.
“What’s going on here?” Hunter nodded at Trevor. “Who’s he?”
Tiara went over to where Hunter stood and took his hand. “Come and meet my best friend. His name’s Trevor Blackey. Trevor, meet Hunter Chase.”
Instead of exchanging firm handshakes, Trevor eyeballed him and knifed him from head to toe.
“I’m holding you responsible for Tiara’s crazy decision,” Trevor accused pointing one hand in his direction. “Talk her out of it because this is all your damn fault!”
Raising one brow, Hunter grinned. “Nice meeting you too, Trevor. If Tiara’s crazy, then I’m the guy for her. I support whatever decision she’s made and I’ll stand by her. Can she say the same about you?”
“Ruining her career is how you support her?”
“Why don’t you run along to meet, Nicki and leave Tiara the hell alone?”
Hunter knew his eyes blazed with fury. The guy had some nerve calling Tiara names.
“Dude, you only came into her life two minutes ago and you’ve turned everything upside down. How can you live with yourself?”
“Does Nicki Harmon, the family lawyer know you’re crushing on your best friend?”
“Stop it you two!” Tiara seethed standing between both men who seemed on the verge of exchanging punches. “What’s got into you, Trevor? I need you to respect my decision. Can you do that?”
“I’ve known you for over a decade, you’ve never made a reckless decision. You’re doing this for him.”
“So what?” She glared at her therapist and bestie. “You’ve made decisions in the past I didn’t agree with but I respected each one. Respect mine, Trevor.”
“He’s in love with you, that’s why he’s heartbroken.” He stated it clearly as if he was reading the words from the poster on Trevor’s forehead.
Trevor lunged forward in a bid to attack him. Tiara raised both hands to block his approach. Standing still, Hunter did not twitch a muscle, or move.
“One wrong move and I’ll break two bones.”
Hunter’s words were not vague.
“The only reason you’re standing is because Tiara still thinks of you as her friend,” Hunter stated in a deadly calm voice. “I’m not taking your friend from you, Trevor. I’m going to marry Tiara, so if you want to be in our lives, you better behave like her friend. Got it?”
“What the hell?” Trevor almost choked on his saliva. “Tiara! Is he joking? You’re not going to marry a man you don’t know, right? Does he even know anything about your life?”
“Stop it! I don’t know about tomorrow, Trevor. Today, I’m packing. We’ll see what happens.”
Trevor picked up his car keys from the coffee table and headed toward the door. “I need to have a word with your mom.”
“Go ahead if it makes you happy.” Tiara folded her arms and thrust out her chin.
Meanwhile, Hunter took several steps back and blocked the doorway.
“Get out of my way,” Trevor ordered.
“Look, I know how you feel. Contrary to what you think, I’m not going to hurt, Tiara. And, I’m not going to let anyone hurt her, including you. But I’m not going to stop her from doing whatever she wants to do because I respect her choices. I love her. I fucking love Tiara Williams. If you love her, you’ll want her to be happy. Believe me when I say I’ll make her happy. I give you my word. I don’t want you to turn against her because of me. I want to make things right, Trevor.”
Hunter extended his hand for what seemed like an hour before Trevor did the same and both men shook hands in understanding.
“You’re one damn lucky guy!” Trevor muttered. “And I hate you for it.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Hunter chuckled. “Why do you think I’m on a hot chase? I want Tiara and I’m not going to stop until I make her my wife. I know I’m not the favourite guy, or the type of guy you think she needs but I’ll chase her until she’s mine.”
Tiara stood watching the two men with her hands akimbo and her lips pressed into a line.
“Tiara’s one stubborn, feisty woman. If you can tie her down, I’ll buy you a drink, Hunter.”
“Shut up, the two of you.” Tiara waved her fingers at the two men, and they all chuckled.
“I’ll see you around.” Trevor took out his jacket from the hallway closet, and strode out without a backward glance.
“Say hi to Nicki,” Tiara called after him.
Winking at his girlfriend, Hunter followed Trevor to the door and turned the lock. Just as he moved to turn around, he felt warm hands slide up his chest from behind. Tiara pressed her body to his own from the rear and pinned her face to his back.
Damn! His groin jerked awake. It had been such a long time since any woman turned him on by simply hugging him, or by not even staring at him.
“Hmm...your winter overcoat feels so cozy, Hunter.”
When he picked out the pure wool solid-grey long overcoat with a stylish funnel collar and wore it over a white t-shirt and ripped grey jeans, his only goal was to impress her. He had achieved his goal. Before he met Tiara, he only ever wore practical clothes.
“I like you in the abstract shirtdress. It’s sexy.”
“Did you mean what you said to Trevor just now?”
Grinding his teeth together, he stood still before lifting her hands to kiss her forearm. He turned around, captured her hips and pulled her closer for a warm hug. Bowing, he inhaled her scent from her neck. The fragrance inspired a romantic heat in his heart.
“Every word. I love you, Tiara.” He tightened his fingers across her upper back. “I’m still wearing your hair tie. It keeps you close.”
“How can you be so sure, Hunter? It’s too soon.”
He pressed her thighs closer, and tapped his lips along her temple. “What? That I love you?”
“Mm-hmm.” She pinned her lips to his chest.
“I can’t stop thinking about you. I need you like the air I breathe.”
She arched her neck and peeked at him. “I feel the same way, believe me. But I’ve got serious doubts.”
He dipped his head and pelted her lips with his own. “Doubts I can drown if you let me. Will you?”
“Umm...”
“This kiss seals my love for you. From the moment, I walked inside your office, the expression I saw in your eyes captured my heart. I don’t deserve you but I hope you’ll see my heart and give me a chance to see yours.”
“Stop saying you don’t deserve me.” She brushed the flat of one finger along his bottom lip. “Right now, I’m overjoyed just being in your arms.”
“That’s what I want to hear, Tiara.”
“It’s the truth. I know many people would find this weird but I choose to be with you. It’s crazy. It’s risky. But I want to do it. That’s the risk I’m willing to take.”
“Being with me is the best risk you’ll ever take.” He traced a line along her spine. “I’m sorry you had to give up your career for me.”
“That’s not true, Hunter. I gave up my career for me. For my freedom.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. And, travelling the world with me will be the craziest thing you’ll ever do.”
“I agree. But it’ll also be the best thing I’ll ever do. I need this as much as you do, Tiara.”
She slid her arms along his chest before cradling his neck with both hands.
“Thank you for not getting mad when you walked in on Trevor and I. Why didn’t you?”
“I almost did. Then, I counted to twenty like you suggested. As unbelievable as it sounds, your simple technique works. I’ve tried it a few times.”
Giggling, his girlfriend smacked his jaw lightly. “Doubting Hunter, well done!”
“When I thought about how disappointed you might feel, I swallowed my wrath. I don’t want to hurt you anymore, at least, not intentionally.”
“That means a lot to me.”
He slid his fingers through her hair, removed her hair clip and threw it somewhere on the couch.
“Leave your mane free, it reminds me of a lioness.”
“Lioness? Hmm.”
“Sure. You’re one formidable opponent, Tiara.”
Laughing, she cuddled his blushing ears.
“A little bird mentioned you’d walked out of your job.” He swiped one forefinger across her bottom lip. “When did you intend to tell me?”
“After I sorted it out in my head.”
“Planned on running away from me?”
“Maybe. I was scared of my strong feelings for you, Hunter. It’s too deep, too soon. It doesn’t make sense. So, I want to take things slow.”
He ran his hands along her upper back. “Then I’ll go with you to wherever you want. We’ll figure it out together and we’ll take it as slow as you want.”
Arching her back, Tiara let out a mock gasp.
“Hey! I thought you hated flying?”
“For you, I’ll endure a lifetime of flying.” Inclining his head, he nibbled her chin. “I’ll chase you across every country and continent.”
She giggled, filling every corner of the living room with a pleasant sound he could listen to for a lifetime.
“You sound corny, Hunter.”
“If you say so. I’m not going to sit here and wait while you travel the world, meet someone new and possibly fall in love. It’s not gonna happen. Wherever you go, I’m going with you. This is a hot chase. Get ready to fall in love with me for real.”
Tiara spread her hands over his chest, stroked his neck with warm fingers before caressing his nape.
That was all it took to ignite his hidden naughty emotions. He grabbed her hair, pulled her head back and slammed his lips over hers.
Tiara moaned and slipped her tongue inside his mouth. Ambushed by her sweet acceptance, he let her lead. She thrust her tongue along the inside roof of his mouth.
Warm icicles pricked his skin and heat blazed down to his chest, coursing through his groin with lightning speed. Hardened between his legs already, he reached for her butt and ground his concealed erection across her thighs. As he held her firm against his body, a pleasure storm rolled from her tits to his chest.
“Do you see what you do to me, Tiara?” Breathing hard, he cut off the kiss as easily as he started it.
“Hunter, falling for you is the easy part.”
“What else do you think will be more challenging?”
“Getting to know you.”
“Then I’ll open up to you, Tiara.” He caressed her hairline and earlobe with his fingers. “I’m ready to wait for however long it takes for you to fall in love with me.”
“Are you sure about that, Hunter?”
“Which part?”
They both laughed, staring into each other’s eyes for a while after that.
“Thank you for settling your fight with Trevor,” she murmured. “Now you’ve got to meet my mom. But before then, you and I need to have a long chat.”
“About not kissing you?”
She darted her tongue along her lush lower lip.
“Of course not!”
Giving her a cheeky wink, he chuckled. He turned his gaze to the opened suitcases and boxes lying around.
“Ask me anything, and I’ll tell you the truth. I see you’re packing up. Do you need my help?”
“As a matter of fact, I do.”
“Before that, I’ve got other things on my mind.”
He curled one hand behind her neck and caught her half-parted mouth with his lips. He slid his tongue across her thick lips, before slipping inside her moistness. Flames singed his chest and burned through his body. He caressed her teeth with his tongue and listened to her make soft sounds that got his body shuddering with a need the size of the country. Her hands palmed his back and shoulders, burning a hole in his skin, he pulled back abruptly.
While their breathing returned to an even rhythm, he caressed her hips. If he did not occupy his thoughts with something else, he would hurriedly unbutton her shirt dress, push her against the wall, part her smooth thighs and shoot his dick inside her moist pussy. A woman as passionate and expressive as Tiara would be hot and moist, ready for him. He would pump the gas until she screamed out in mindless surrender.
“I want to take you to dinner. When are you free?”
“Dinner? Okay. Sunday?”
“Sure. What’s your favourite thing to eat?”
“Soul food. Spanish food. And you?”
“Anything with meat. When you eat out of the tin half your life, you don’t think about food much.”
“Gotcha. I’ll pick the restaurant and menu.”
“Let me impress you, Tiara. I’ll come get you at six.”
“Okay. I’m looking forward to it.”
“What are you going to do with this place?”
“My mom will keep an eye on it while I’m away. What do you think?”
“Do you own it?”
“Yeah. I bought it three years ago.”
“As an alternative, you could rent it out?”
“This is the only place where I feel free, my own safe place. Besides, where will I store all of my stuff?”
“Move them to your mom’s or mine. I’ve got plenty of storage space.”
“I don’t even know where your place is, Hunter.”
He stroked her right cheek. “We’re going to fix that. When are you free to come over to my house?”
“We could see your place tomorrow, Saturday? It’ll be a quick stop. Not an elaborate visit. Just so I know where to find you.”
Chuckling, he kissed her lips, grabbed her butt cheeks and squeezed softly. “As long as you stay long enough for me to screw you.”
She giggled, gripped his ass in return and crushed hard. “We’re taking things slow. We’re not screwing.”
Electricity surged through his groin so fast, he jerked forward. Tiara set his ass free and hugged his waist instead.
Snuggling a lot closer to her, he whispered. “You’re my beautiful, feisty, black queen, Tiara Williams. Fucking you is going to be an adventure.”
“Take your mind out of the dirty sink, Hunter Chase. For an ex-military guy, you clean up good.”
His heart went burst with the type of happiness he had never experienced.
“I’m relieved you like my style. Where’s our first country stop?”
“Trinidad and Tobago or the Dominican Republic?”
“Whoa! Trinidad? I’ve always wanted to visit the wealthiest Caribbean country. We’ve got to book our flights. When do we leave?”
“In two or three weeks. I’m leaning toward the Dominican Republic. We could do both.”
“Great. I’ve got time to take you on an overnight trip to Memphis, Tennessee. We need to get to know each other outside of our current therapist-client relationship.”
Slanting her head, Tiara smiled. “Memphis?”
“Mm-hm. We didn’t start this the usual way, so I want to do things right. We’re going on a trip to the largest pyramid in the world.”
“True. I’ve heard about the 321-feet megastore in Memphis. But I didn’t think of booking a trip.”
“I hear it’s a dope place. Freestanding elevator and all. We’ll stay in the hotel inside the megastore. Would you like that?”
“Yeah. We could stay longer if it was really nice.”
He chuckled. “Here comes our dream vacation.”
Lifting her hands as she laughed and rocked within his hold, she chanted.
“We’re going on an adventurous ride, Hunter!”
Laughing with her, he admired her joyful trait. She found it easy to express her emotions, something he had struggled with for over a decade.
“I love your approach to life, Tiara. I love how willingly you show kindness and how happy you are now. You’re optimistic and you’ve got a heart filled with gratitude.”
“When I’m with you or even away from you, I can’t turn off the happy feelings you’ve unleashed in me.”
Looking into each other’s eyes, they laughed together for some time.
“When do you want me to meet your mom?” he asked much later.
“In a few days. Before we fly to Memphis?”
“OK. Pick a day and I’ll clear my calendar. Do you think I’ll get on with your mom?”
“Yeah. Why not? My mom is on the side of love.”
“You think she’ll accept a badass guy like me?”
“Maybe?” She winked. “Who knows? Southern black moms can be a little rough at the start. But don’t take it to heart. My mom loves hard but she also gives tough love.”
He bowed his head and kissed her lips again, chewing her bottom lip until she caught his upper lip between her teeth. Tiara nibbled his skin softly. She linked her arms around his neck, moaning and wriggling against his body. The soft blaze kindling inside his chest caused a tremor around his groin.
Gasping for air several minutes later, he gathered his girlfriend in his arms and cuddled her hips, intent on soaking up every drop of warmth her body supplied in abundance.
