Blackgentlemen.com Page 11

  “Damn, Julian, how did you get this gorgeous woman to go out with you? Tell me your secret, Man,” George joked with him.

  “Guess somebody upstairs likes me. But not that much ’cause this woman was supposed to be my wife,” he replied jokingly, but seriously as he noticed Clarissa shifting around in her seat.

  “Well, I heard the word ‘supposed’ so, how’d you mess that up?” George realized too late that he’d stepped into uncharted water.

  “Long story, Man. One I hope I’ll have a chance to talk about.” Julian looked at Clarissa. She stared back defiantly.

  “Ooo-kay. I think that’s my cue. So, what will it be tonight?” George began to recite the specials of the evening. After deciding that they needed a little more time to look over the menu, he ran off to get their drinks.

  Julian hid his face behind the menu. “Let’s see…I think I’ll have the honey-glazed beef short ribs and for you, Madam, how about the stuffed shrimp?” He peeked over the top of the menu, trying to see if he’d remembered.

  Clarissa smiled at him. “I’m impressed.”

  George came back with their drinks and quickly took their orders, leaving them alone once again.

  The entire evening was spent enjoying good food, drinks, and each other’s company. Clarissa couldn’t remember the last time she’d enjoyed herself so much.

  After the fantastic meal and spectacular service, they made their way out to the car. The drive was filled with laughter and chatter about old times and new. It didn’t take long for Clarissa to realize that memory lane was a place she really enjoyed revisiting.

  “Well, Mrs. Keller, did you enjoy yourself tonight?” He placed his hand over hers as she rested it on the seat near his leg.

  “I wondered if you’d caught that. You have to realize that it’s out of habit. Not pride.” She turned her hand over to grip his.

  “So there’s trouble in paradise?” he boldly questioned.

  “What makes you think a thing like that?” Clarissa asked, on the defensive.

  “Well, let’s see, Rissa…I may call you Rissa, right?”

  Clarissa gave a short frown as she cocked her head to the side, wondering where he was going with this conversation.

  “All evening, we’ve discussed nothing but all the good times we used to have in the past. You’ve mentioned nothing about your present, nothing about your life in Atlanta, and nothing about Clark. And don’t think I haven’t paid attention to the fact that you and Clark have been married six years and there are no children. I would have thought good ’ol “Clark the Shark” would have had you knocked up, oh at least four or five times by now…He always has had something to prove.” He chuckled.

  “I’m working on a career, Julian…,” Clarissa sagaciously replied.

  “Okay, if you say so. But if I know my Rissa, which I think I do, I’d say that I hit the nail right on the head.”

  Clarissa took her eyes away from her date and began to concentrate on the atmosphere beyond their Lincoln Towncar. She was in no mood to go there with Julian. After all, he was the one who had some explaining to do. Not her. Hell, if it hadn’t been for that fateful day six years ago, Clark wouldn’t have even been an issue. The way she saw it, it was all Julian’s fault that she was miserable right now.

  Noticing her sudden solemn expression, Julian asked, “Wanna talk about it?”

  “I’m on vacation and I’m trying to have a good time, Julian, so let’s just drop the subject.” She took a short pause before continuing, now in a perkier disposition. “Where to next? A late night show?”

  Following her lead, Julian decided to drop the issue and replied, “I thought you’d like to take a horse-drawn carriage ride through Central Park. It’s turned out to be a beautiful October night and if you get cold, I’ll warm you up.” He smiled as he pulled her close.

  She stared into his beautiful brown eyes. “I’d like that.”

  Julian informed the driver of the change in plans upon which he let them out alongside Central Park South as they spotted an available carriage. After flagging down the tuxedo-clad driver, Julian helped Clarissa climb into the carriage. A slight breeze blew around them and she instinctively snuggled close to him. He pulled her in closer and she pressed her head against his chest.

  “Told you I’d keep you warm,” Julian whispered in her ear.

  Clarissa felt as if she was in the most secure place in the world as Julian held her in his arms. He began to run his fingers through the soft tendrils of curls that draped the nape of her neck. As she basked in the enjoyment of their contact, it felt as though they had never broken up—like the years had been mere hours. She could not deny that this was where she belonged.

  “Umm.” A soft moan escaped Clarissa’s throat.

  “So it still works.” Clarissa opened her eyes and looked up at Julian. An evil grin was pasted on his handsome face.

  Clarissa sat up. “You sure have memorized lots of things about me.”

  Julian turned so that he could look directly in her eyes. “It’s hard to forget about someone when you loved them as deeply as I have loved you.”

  Clarissa’s heart fluttered. She sank back into his embrace, enjoying the feel of being held in his arms. She couldn’t help but focus on the rhythm of Julian’s heartbeat as he gently massaged different spots on her back. Something in Clarissa came alive with each stroke and she was overcome with a desperate urge to have him love her.

  A guilty voice reminded her that she should’ve been thinking about Clark and their marriage vows, but Julian’s presence made it absolutely impossible.

  She looked up to find her ex-beau staring lovingly down at her as he stroked the side of her face gently with his finger.

  As if connected to a forceful magnet, their heads began to slowly gravitate toward each other. Before she could protest, Julian began to place soft kisses on her lips. Seeing that she was receptive, his tongue longed to reunite with hers. Unable to fight the feelings any further, Clarissa reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  Finally coming up for air, Clarissa asked, “How far do you live from here?”

  He glanced around at their surroundings. “No more than ten minutes in a cab.”

  “Pay the man.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I asked, didn’t I?”

  “I mean, I don’t want you to have any regrets in the morning.”

  “No regrets here,” she said as she leaned up to kiss him.

  Julian tapped the driver, signaling that the ride was over. Just as he’d said, ten minutes later they were walking up the steps to the front door of his brownstone. He unlocked the glass front door and then the solid wood one that led into the living room. He clicked on the lights and helped Clarissa out of her coat. Within a moment’s time, he had removed his coat and she was aggressively pulling at his shirt.

  Clarissa undressed Julian with an urgency she couldn’t contain. Before long, Julian stood before her in all his glory, his clothes piled at his feet. He scooped Clarissa up in his arms and carried her to the bedroom.

  He gently placed her in the middle of the king-size bed as he slowly removed her clothing. Bare of everything except her bra, panties and her seductive boots, he draped her right leg over his shoulder to free her from them. Methodically, he slowly zipped her boot down and exposed her beautifully pedicured toes. Stopping long enough to shower each one with attention, he went on to the other leg and repeated the steps.

  Clarissa moaned with delight as she felt her middle become slippery wet.

  Julian stood at the side of the bed and pulled Clarissa up to him. She immediately wrapped her arms and legs around him and hungrily searched his mouth. He relieved her of her satin chocolate bra—one of her many Victoria’s Secret purchases. Like a skilled scientist working on a special brew, he pulled away from her kiss so he could explore her breasts. He traced his tongue along the areola before taking the entire nipple into his mouth. He then pressed them both together in a
n attempt to pleasure both simultaneously. His manhood slapped up against her stomach as it throbbed for what was to come.

  “Oh, Julian. I want you so bad, Baby. Please love me. Love me now,” Clarissa begged.

  “I will, Baby, but slowly. I’m going to make love to all of you.” He went back to suckling on her breast.

  He laid her back on the bed and slowly began a downward trail of kisses until he reached her inner thigh. He propped her legs up on the bed so that he could have a full view of her dripping wet center. Pausing long enough to register the look of pure satisfaction on her face, he knelt down and lapped his tongue across her, flattening out his tongue so that he would leave no spot untouched. Massaging her bottom as he lifted her up closer to him, Julian worked his tongue skillfully up and down until he tasted the rich cream that burst from her center.

  Clarissa thought she was going to explode, as he took her to heights she hadn’t reached in a very long time. She gripped the back of his head and ran her fingers through the soft, loose curls on top of his head.

  “Oh, Julian, damn Baby, ooh shit!” she cried out.

  Julian was pleased with her satisfaction and after making sure that he’d lapped up every drop, he slowly climbed up to join her on the bed.

  He stopped momentarily to give a quick kiss to her perfect C-cup breast before continuing his climb upward to her mouth. He proceeded to kiss her neck, her eyelids, ultimately finding his way to her swollen lips.

  Julian had done such a wonderful job down low that she thought it was only appropriate that she return the favor. She pushed him up so that she had enough room to free herself from under him and forced him on his back, repeating the steps he’d just performed on her.

  Julian was blown away when Clarissa ran her tongue over the head of his penis. She grabbed hold of it with both hands as she hovered above it. Slowly taking in inch by inch, until his entire shaft was lodged inside her warm moist mouth. She began to work her cheek muscles to intensify the sucking motion. As she drew him deeper into her mouth, she reached between his legs and softly massaged his sack.

  In all the years they’d dated, he’d never been able to get Clarissa to quench his oral desires. The thought of being in her mouth sent a sudden urge to release himself, but before he reached the point of no return, Clarissa released her mouth-hug on his piece.

  “Damn, Baby,” he moaned.

  She gave his rock-hard part one last lick and became upwardly mobile. She paused. “Where’s your shield?”

  He motioned to the nightstand near the bed. She reached over and grabbed a blue-wrapped condom from the top draw, tore it open, and began to roll the contents over his shaft. She stood over him again and gently eased down on top of it.

  Clarissa moved up and down in a slow and sensuous rhythm. Julian enjoyed her taking control. She slowly leaned forward until they were eye to eye.

  “Feel good?” she huskily breathed into his face.

  “Yeah, Baby. Feel good to you?” He grabbed hold of her hips.

  “Yesss. So good,” she hissed. Kissing him, she continued her up and down rhythm enjoying the ride.

  The sexy sounds she made intensified Julian’s need to fill her. He began to thrust his hips in an upward motion, matching her every move. But now it was his turn to be in charge. Overcome with an urge to push all he had deep inside of her, he quickly flipped her over and held her legs straight up in the air. He thrust deeper and deeper in her. The sound of skin slapping against skin filled the room as the scent of lovemaking filled the air.

  “Oh, Julian! I’m coming, Baby. I’m coming!” she yelled out.

  “Come, Baby,” he demanded as he worked at getting her to that point for the second time in less than ten minutes.

  “I’m coming! Come with me!” she cried out.

  “Yes, Baby. I’m coming.” The dialogue intensified as they informed each other that the edge was near. Reaching their climax together, they collapsed.

  “Oh, God! Yes! Yes!” Clarissa cried out as she locked her legs over his shoulders.

  “Baby, baby, oh, baby.” Julian grunted out as he tried to control the involuntary spasms that his body was experiencing. He clung to Clarissa as if his next breath depended on it.

  Drenched in after sex sweat and breathing as if they’d just run a twenty-mile marathon, they clung to each other tightly. Unable to control her emotions, Clarissa began to cry.

  Feeling the warm moisture against him, Julian looked down at her. “What’s wrong, Baby?”

  Clarissa shook her head. “Nothing. I’m just…” She tried to collect her thoughts.

  Julian rolled over, sat up, and pulled her into his chest. He gently began to brush the hair away from her face.

  At that moment, Julian wished he could place her inside his chest and keep her there forever. His hand explored her soft skin. Looking down at her, he knew it was time to set the record straight about the night that took away his greatest love.

  “Why wouldn’t you take my calls?” he began.

  “I-I, I was so devastated. I mean, all I could see was her…lying there, and you…standing there. Why? I thought you loved me and only me.” She sat up, searching his face.

  Julian stroked the side of her face. “I did. I mean, I do. Rissa, I haven’t been able to get you out of my system and I don’t think I ever will. Brie was to me what Clark was to you.”

  Clarissa cringed at the mention of their names. “What are you talking about?”

  “She wanted me, but knew my heart belonged to you. When I began to piece it all together, I realized I had been set up. Brie knew who you were when she saw you at the door that night. You don’t remember meeting her before?”

  Clarissa tried to think back. After all these years, the only thing that she’d recalled was the scene in the bedroom. But now that she gave it another thought, she remembered the evil grin she had on her face when they were at the door.

  “You’d met her before,” Julian continued.

  Clarissa gave him a confused look.

  “After the homecoming game. Remember? The party we went to at the Marriott?”

  Just then, a light began to shine in her eyes. The memory of that day had come back to her like she’d pressed the rewind button on a VCR.

  “Yeah. She was with Kevin’s girl. What was her name?” She snapped her fingers.

  “Sharon.”

  “So why the hell she was at your house that night? And what in the hell was she doing in your room while you were in the shower!?” Her emotions began to flare. She tried to pull away from him, but he held her tight.

  “Listen to me. I called out for Manny to bring me a towel and she told me that he’d just stepped out. So, she offered to bring it to me. Before she could get back with it, you and Nette got there. When you walked into the room, I’d just walked out of the bathroom and I was just as shocked as you to find her damn near naked lying in my bed,” he explained.

  Clarissa stiffened up and with a raised eyebrow asked, “After all these years how do I know you’re telling the truth?”

  “What reason would I have to lie to you now? I’ve already lost you. You married him. He won.”

  He turned to her so he could look into her eyes. Her face was illuminated by the moonlight glare that peeked through the open curtain. “Did you know that I’d planned to ask you to marry me while we were in the Bahamas?” He rolled over and reached inside the top drawer of the nightstand. He retrieved a small square shaped box and handed it to her.

  She sat and stared at it for a moment.

  “Open it. I’ve kept it all this time,” he continued.

  Clarissa slowly opened the box to reveal its contents. Perched in the center, was a one-carat, princess-cut diamond ring set in platinum.

  Mouth gaped slightly opened, she looked up at him. A fresh set of tears glistened in the bottom of her eyes. “Oh, Julian, I, I…” She struggled to find the words.

  Placing his finger over her mouth, he silenced her. “I’ve been trying
to figure out what went wrong since that night. So when I got that email from Nette, I knew God was giving me a chance to make things right.” He kissed the tears as they fell from her eyes.

  “A second chance? I wish it were that easy,” she whimpered.

  He smiled at her. “Are you talking about Clark? Well, there’s more to the story. Look, after everything went down, I blamed Brie for ruining my life and refused to talk to her ever again. I couldn’t understand why she did it. I’d never given her any reason to think that she had a chance with me. But about a month after graduation, I ran into Sharon. She told me that I really needed to call Brie so that I could get the real scoop on what had happened that night. Needless to say, my curiosity made me give her a call.”

  Clarissa hung on his every word.

  “Come to find out, Clark and Brie went to high school together. She told him that she was at Georgetown and he asked her if she knew of me. She went into how she felt about me and I guess he knew, at that moment, he’d found a way to get you. Brie told me that she’d met him at Tyson’s Corner the day before and he told her his plan and said he’d make sure that you were there,” Julian explained as he adjusted the bed sheet.

  Clarissa’s eyes reddened with anger as she remembered how he’d been so anxious to come to her with his findings, how he’d told her that he was there for her, and how quickly he’d offered to drive her up there. Ashamed and embarrassed, she buried her face in her hands. “Nette tried to warn me. She’s always believed that he’d played a bigger role than messenger in the whole thing. How could I have been so blind?! Oh, Julian, I’m really sorry.”

  “Shh…don’t cry. Everything is going to be okay.” He cradled her in his arms.

  “I’ve spent many nights thinking about what our lives would’ve been like if it hadn’t been for that night,” he continued. “For the longest time, all I could think about was righting the wrong we’d been dealt.”

  “Rissa, I love you more at this very moment than I did then.” He kissed her. Right then, his mind was on taking advantage of the second chance he’d been given. Thus, they made love well into the wee hours of the morning.