she was contemplating my offer. “I don’t know, Jay. I was really planning on spending some time alone; I’ve got a lot of things to think about.”
“Come on, Ashlee. I’ll even throw in dinner. How about Legal Seafood? I know you like seafood, don’t you?”
“Of course I do; I love fish but I don’t eat shellfish.”
“Well, all right. Then it’s a date.”
“Okay, but I don’t want you to get the wrong impression—this is not a date; I am not looking for a man, and I am nobody’s one-night stand.”
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
