She Ain’t the One Read online

  Yeah, right! So you just called me out of the blue because you’re not interested. This is going to be easier than I thought.

  “If you say it’s not a date, it’s not a date. Now, where can I pick you up?”

  “I’m staying at the Grand Hyatt on H Street near the Convention Center. Do you know where that is?”

  “I’ll find it. How about I pick you up around two?”

  “Sure. I’ll meet you in the lobby. Bye, Jay.”

  “Ashlee, wait. What’s your cell number…just in case?”

  “713—”

  “Cool. Later, Ashlee.” I clicked off the phone, grinning from ear to ear as I saved Ashlee’s digits in my cell. I hadn’t been this excited about a date or whatever you wanna call it in years. Ashlee did something to me that no woman had done to me in a long time—she excited me in every way. I could hardly wait to run my fingers through her long, pretty hair.

  CHAPTER 4

  Ashlee

  Sunrays burst through the sheer drapes, warming the purple baby-doll nightie that barely covered my naked ass. I rolled over and spread my legs, allowing the sunshine to kiss my kitty, warming me from the outside in. I sure could’ve used some dick last night instead of going to sleep horny as hell. Tilting my pelvis toward the stimulating rays, I couldn’t believe this Jay guy, but at the same time, I couldn’t get him off my mind.

  Fantasizing about Jay, I teased my pubic hairs. Sprawled atop the king-sized comforter, I double-checked to make sure I’d hung up my cell phone before tossing it on the pillow. Didn’t want Jay to accidentally overhear me talking about him. Throwing my head backward, I laughed out loud. “Playa-playa…is he for real or what?”

  Enjoying myself, I spread my lips wide and rotated my hips clockwise. At first I was thrilled about going out with Jay, but now I wasn’t so sure. He might just be something or someone to do to take my mind off my issues until I leave tomorrow. At least that was what I was telling myself.

  Neither my parents nor my ex knew where I was, and since I didn’t know anyone in D.C. and didn’t have anything better to do, I decided I could spend time alone tonight after Jay dropped me off in the lobby. Worst-case scenario—I’d have someone to think about as I masturbated myself to sleep.

  I’d given Jay way too much credit. Jay was definitely a slickster, yelling, “Will you stop fucking calling?” in my damn ear before he even said hello. Clearly, he’d pissed some woman off, or she’d pissed him off. Hell, he’d pissed me off too, asking, “Ashlee who?” like he could ever forget me.

  Jay acted as though I’d been the one running game on him in the club, with his casual effort to remember who I was. Or maybe he was so accustomed to handing out business cards that he’d lost track—if he’d ever kept track—of the women he gave his number to. But whoever he’d upset this early, he’d probably messed up her entire day.

  That’s how women were—easy. Easy to upset. Both easy and eager to please. Desperate might be a better adjective. It was probably that woman I saw flirting with him at the club twirling her finger in his hair. If it was her, I was sure she wasn’t feeling all giddy and shit right about now. I’m sure he’d flip her to one of his boys to fuck next. I knew the routine all too well. I’d been “that woman” before.

  That’s how men were—users. Like the president: “Whatever you do, don’t destroy the oil.” At the club last night, Jay was probably saying to himself, “Whatever you do, just let me hit that pussy and then I’m out.” Men. Orgasmic opportunists. As long as they got what they’d come for, a woman’s desires rarely mattered.

  I closed my fluttering eyelids and whispered, “Jay. Jay. What was his last na—”

  Jay’s thick lips suctioned my nipples into perfectly erect bulbs. I knew what I wanted from Mr.…Mr. Jay. Grabbing his head, I pushed until his lips pressed against mine like warm sunshine. Each time he licked, I rotated up and into his mouth. My juicy pussy pulsated. I wanted badly to come in Jay’s face. “I can’t hold back any longer. I’m ready. I’m come—”

  Beep. Beep.

  “—ing.”

  Damn it! I’d awakened to my cell phone chiming in my ear, indicating someone had sent a message. “Oh my gosh! What time is it?” I’d slept two hours.

  Sitting on the edge of the bed, I felt moisture between my thighs, so I ran my hand over my vagina. I was soaking wet, and my clit was still throbbing. “Aw, damn!” I’d come in my sleep, dreaming about Jay.

  Quickly, I went into the bathroom, turned on the water, more hot than cold, and then chucked my nightie into the laundry bag hanging behind the door.

  Returning to the bed, I grabbed my cell phone, pressed a few buttons, then laughed at the picture Jay had sent me. He was so silly and so damn good-looking. I’d saved his smiley, perfect-teeth pic in my phone to match his number, so every time he called I could see his chocolate dimples. Then I assigned him a special ring tone. I took a picture of myself with my phone, then sent it to Jay.

  I was happy as hell, knowing I could have that big dick swaggering inside me if I wanted. Retrieving my purse from the nightstand, I fumbled through more stuff than I used, removed the golden bottle with my name printed on the label, and shook two antidepressant tablets into my hand. I opened the five-dollar bottle of Evian water, tossed the pills to the back of my throat, and gulped half the liter.

  I eased into the tub, the hot water suppressing my “bad-relationship” memories. Jay wasn’t Darius. I focused on being happy, imagining Jay making love to me. I nestled my fingers over my pussy and massaged my clit. My body stiffened, so I let go, reassuring myself I could have the real thing tonight. I inhaled slow, deep, and long, allowing my lungs and stomach to expand. Exhaling, I felt the meds beginning to relax my muscles. Stress escaped my body.

  “I will have a good time this afternoon,” I repeated ten times. My shrink had said if I repeated anything ten times consecutively, negative or positive, I’d believe it. “I will only speak positive words. I won’t fall in love with Jay’s dick.”

  Maybe I could fall in love with Jay instead. I dried myself off. I slipped into my ultra-low-rise boot-cut denims and a long-sleeve midriff cutoff top that tied my naked breasts together, exposing great cleavage. With my flat abs on display, I headed to the elevator to meet my new man. On the ride down from the twelfth floor, I convinced myself I wasn’t a bad person and what had happened to my son truly wasn’t my fault. Just like Darius, I deserved to be happy too. And happy I was, when the elevator doors opened. The first person I saw in the lobby was Jay, standing proud.

  Jay swaggered in my direction. “Hey, Ashlee. Damn, girl, you look good,” he said, slipping his arms around my waist.

  Despite everything I’d told myself about not readily trusting men, I melted in Jay’s strong embrace. He felt good. Made me feel safe. Desirable. Womanly. In time, he’d make me feel loved.

  “Thanks. You don’t look so bad yourself.” I stepped back and softly caressed his dimple.

  “You look hot. I’m going to be the envy of every man everywhere we go,” he said, opening the passenger door to his BMW.

  I don’t know what it was. There I was, sitting next to a complete stranger who excited the hell out of me. I didn’t know his mother’s name, his father’s name, if he had kids, or a wife, or a woman, a man, or both, or whether or not he was a serial killer, serial dater, if he had any STDs, or his middle name. “So where to?” I asked, settling into his sports car. “Nice car; I love the color red.”

  Jay’s grin resembled a child’s. I shut my eyes, then opened them quickly. Don’t go there, Ashlee. Stay focused. Happy, remember?

  “You know us boys and our big toys. I just got divorced, so I figured I’d buy a little somethin’-somethin’ for myself.” He reached into the backseat and handed me the most stunning clear box of long-stemmed white roses. “A little something for you.”

  I wanted to ask him if he had kids but I couldn’t…. Great, Jay was on the rebound too. Fortunately for me, men remarried faster than wome
n, so I too could have a fiancé, if I played my cards right. Then Darius would beg me back, like he’d pleaded with Fancy to call off her engagement to that other guy. That’s it—I’d give Darius a reason to come after me. Worst-case scenario—I’d marry Jay.

  Opening the box, I sniffed the flowers, smiled, then bit my bottom lip. “Aaah, Jay, did you get these out of the lobby? I saw some just like these in a vase by the check-in desk.”

  He looked into my eyes to see if I was serious. When I grinned, he grinned back at me. “Oh, so you got jokes. I guess the box they came in and the card were in the lobby too, huh?”

  “I’m just kidding. Relax,” I said, seizing the opportunity to softly touch his thigh.

  Damn! Was that his dick all the way down there? The card read Closer to my dream. I reassured him, “I’m your reality. They’re gorgeous. Thanks.” I closed my eyes and took one long inhale of the petals. I moaned, imagining they were a bridal bouquet and Jay was my groom, sweeping me away on our honeymoon. I placed the roses on the seat behind me. “So what was going on this morning? What woman was you cursing out and why?”

  Did he buy the roses for her, then decide to give them to me? Ashlee, why can’t you enjoy the man and the moment and stop analyzing every damn thing?

  “Aw, hell no! You know better than to question me, woman!” Jay sped along the B/W Parkway. “Don’t make me stop this car!”

  Cracking up, I held my stomach. “You are so adorably dangerous; I like a man who’s fearless like me.”

  My thoughts drifted, while Jay test-drove his toy at almost 120 miles per hour, smoothly swerving and dodging cars in both lanes. I enjoyed the fifteen-should’ve-been-thirty-minute ride from Washington to Baltimore. The colorful leaves—orange, purple, yellow, red—were a blur. I felt like there was nothing I couldn’t do with Jay, including have sex with him tonight.

  My period was due in two days, and my sex drive revved higher than his engine, making me tightly press my thighs together. Thankfully I had on jeans; otherwise Jay’s leather passenger seat would’ve been juicy from that hot leather seat rubbing up against my panties…I exhaled.

  After opening my car door, Jay held my hand all the way from the parking garage to the Inner Harbor. “Uh-uh, woman, don’t you dare touch a door when you’re with me.” Jay waited for me to enter the mall.

  Legal Seafood was crowded, so Jay suggested the ESPN Sports Zone. I appreciated a take-charge type of man. I looped my arm underneath Jay’s, hugging his biceps. He was all mine.

  Strolling inside the Zone, I playfully said, “I bet you can’t beat me rock climbing.”

  “Who said that?” Jay glanced around, pretending he couldn’t see me, so I poked him in his side. He looked down. “Oh, you? Down there. In those heels?” He gestured toward my feet.

  “Don’t let the stilettos fool you; I do some of my best work in high heels.”

  “Like that?”

  “No, like this”—I held out my pinky finger—“bet?”

  “What you got to lose?”

  “Nothing”—except you. And that would make me sad. Very sad.

  A quizzical look flashed across his face. “Everybody’s got somethin’ to lose. This is my lucky shirt.” Jay seductively unbuttoned his shirt, exposing his chest as if he were Taye Diggs in How Stella Got Her Groove Back.

  Damn, Jay was definitely finer than Taye. My heart raced. “Not winners.” I’m never losing anything again, especially Jay. I kicked my slip-on heels in the air, one at a time.

  Jay caught them, flexed, gazed into my eyes, and then confidently replied, “Then let’s do the damn thing, woman. Winner claims his or her prize.”

  Was he talking about rock climbing or climbing me? It was too late to back down, so I mounted the wall adjacent to his muscular body, pretending I was straddling him while trying not to touch him; else I’d forfeit before we started.

  The operator pressed a button, and the mechanical wall gradually rotated downward. Jay was cool, his movement fluid. Each time his foot raised higher, his dick hung lower.

  My left foot slipped off a rock so big I could’ve damn near sat on it.

  He smiled. “Looks like you should’ve kept on those heels.”

  “Forget you, Jay.” I regretted calling out his name, when I noticed the vultures buzzing around to prey upon my man. Reaching up, I gripped the first rock in sight, then yelled to the operator, “Speed it up!”

  Jay grinned, easing his way up the wall, as if the operator hadn’t increased the speed at all, while I scrambled.

  Suddenly, I realized I hadn’t worked out in almost a month. Unfortunately, my meds didn’t give me a boost.

  I’d just found my pace when Jay yelled, “Faster!”

  By now a crowd had gathered behind us, I’m sure, to literally watch Jay’s sexy ass make love to the wall.

  I’ve got something for these sideshow hussies. Climbing sideways, I wrapped my leg around Jay’s waist and crawled onto his back. My arms were now choking his neck.

  Jay kept climbing. “You are so precious. I guess this means I’m your daddy.”

  Playfully I bit him in his back. Jay moaned a most provocative moan, and that shit turned me on so much my pussy puckered.

  Surrendering, Jay let go and stumbled to the mat. He looped his arm around my waist, rotating my body in front of him, and I wrapped my legs snug about his waist. “Damn, woman, bite me again.”

  Breathing in his face, my lips almost touching his, I asked, “So did I win?”

  “Only if you bite me like that later.” The softness of his lips came to mine. “Shit! Let’s go,” he said. Jay lowered me to the floor.

  I paused when my pussy grazed his dick. Instantaneously, my hips jammed into his dick before sliding down.

  “I like that shit.” Jay eyed my ass as I gathered my shoes.

  Smiling up at Jay, I didn’t ask where we were going, hoping our date—I mean outing—was over and my hotel room was his final destination. Within a blink of my eyes, my man disappeared from view when a woman’s ass slid right in front of my face.

  “Jay, right?” She didn’t wait for his response. Pleasantly, she continued, “You look just like Jimmy Jean-Louis. We met last night…at Zanzibar…Nikki.”

  I knew I shouldn’t have called out his name. Besides, how many hints was this Nikki woman going to give before Jay opened his mouth? I’d heard the women in Baltimore were bolder and less tactful than the women in D.C., but damn, this trick totally disrespected me. Keeping my mouth shut, I stood in their space, trying to recall if I’d seen her at the club. She didn’t look familiar, but after this episode, I’d never forget her face.

  Wrapping his arm around my waist, Jay shook his head, speechless, and hunched his shoulders at this Nikki woman.

  “Hi, I’m Nikki,” she said, this time extending her hand toward me.

  Ignoring Nikki, I leaned into Jay, snuggled my arm behind his back, placed my hand on his stomach, and seductively asked, “You ready, baby?”

  As he turned away from Nikki, Jay’s eyebrows lifted and then his eyes widened, as if he was saying, Sorry, Nik.

  Well, I didn’t feel sorry for her at all. Nor was I going to compete for what was already mine. If Jay wanted her, she would’ve been his date.

  As we walked away, the woman waiting for Nikki said loud enough for us to hear, “I can’t believe you let him play you like that.”

  Racing around Jay, Nikki handed him his business card and flipped it over to his cell phone number written on the back. “I won’t be needing this.”

  Do not get mad, Ashlee. If you show her that she’s pissed you off, she’ll get the satisfaction, and you’ll end up hating yourself.

  Ignoring Nikki for the last time, we continued our stroll. Why couldn’t she just let it go, leave him alone? Obviously, Jay wasn’t interested. He was being polite, and she’d definitely made her point. I intended to continue having an enjoyable evening with my new man.

  Jay held my hand as we walked along the pier. He
stopped in front of the paddleboats. “Wanna ride?”

  I stared at the yellow boat. Hell yeah, but not that thing. This man knew what he was doing to me, but I wasn’t going to give it up to him that easy. “But the sun is going down,” I protested, “and we haven’t eaten yet.” I teased my stomach, closer to my pussy than my navel.

  “I know.” He led me inside the boat. “I’ll feed you…eat you too. Later. Now have a seat.” Jay sat behind me and straddled his thighs around mine.

  “This is not how you’re supposed to ride a paddleboat. Besides, who’s going to paddle?”

  “Who’s your daddy? I won, remember.”

  “Well, if I’m paddling, we’ll float the entire time.” And we did.

  Jay leaned my head against his chest, untied my hair, and massaged my scalp. My eyes rolled to the back of my head. The tingling sensation crept along my skin, when Jay snuggled his dick in the groove of my spine.

  “Ashlee, you’re wonderful. I meant what I wrote on your card. Now that I’ve met you, I am closer to my dream.”

  “I don’t live here, Jay.”

  “I’m not surprised. Isn’t this how it always happens? Well, I wish you lived here.”

  “I love Dallas,” I lied. If I never went back, that would be okay with me, but eventually I had to attend another court hearing.

  “Well, I could love you.” Jay’s words traveled into the fading sunset. He continued to knead my shoulders, occasionally tracing his fingertip to my cleavage.

  I had to have him. Untying my top, I cupped his palms over my breasts.

  Jay squeezed my nipples between his thumbs and pointing fingers and caressed my breasts. He gently pressed his lips inside my ear, whispering, “You are so beautiful.” Instantly, I came.

  When the moonlight replaced the sunset, I’d drifted for so long I hadn’t realized we were back at my hotel.

  “I enjoyed you, Ashlee. Hopefully I can take you out again before you leave.”

  There goes that word leave again. No. No one’s leaving. “You’re welcome to come up to my room, that is, if you don’t have other plans.”