3/ The Way She Makes Me Feel

Dean’s POV

I happily whistled, a large bath towel wrapped around my waist, walking into my closet to decide what to wear. My cell phone rings, and it’s my friend and partner, Franklin, who thinks he’s my conscience, trying to help me see wrong from right. But I always came back with a good defense for my actions.

“I’m the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar technology company, Franklin. Is it so wrong for me to want to expand or get on the ground floor of the new and upcoming technology AI?”

“No, it’s how you are going about it that I’m questioning.”

“You have your ways, Franklin, and I have my methods to achieve success.”

“But your methods, I fear, are going to backfire on you one day.”

“Tell me, how is it my fault that I fell for her bright smile, those almond-shaped eyes, and the face of an angel, with thick, bouncy hair and a curvy body. Whose fault is that, Franklin? Didn’t you hire her? I’m not blaming you for putting that temptation in front of me, even though you knew I made it a policy not to date our employees.”

“So, why did you change our policy on that?” Franklin asked.

“It was something about our chemistry whenever we were in the same space. I just couldn’t resist her. That sweet, innocent smile she gave me when we passed each other in the corridors or when I saw her in the breakroom, she had worked her way into my heart. Too bad she didn’t know what she had been carrying with her for all this time. Franklin, I tried to resist this girl, but to be brutally honest, it was more than mere want with Janiya. She was a craving I knew I couldn’t fulfill.”

“What are you going to do, now that Brooklyn is all the way in the picture? For heaven's sake, you are officially engaged!”

“You see, my strategy is to keep Janiya at a distance, to protect her from the danger of heartbreak. You have got to give me some credit. I didn’t purposely plan to meet Brooklyn, so why should I let Janiya go, at least not entirely? Now that I can’t have her the way I want to, it doesn’t mean not having her in my life at all. I’m only going to keep her at a safe distance.”

“This isn’t good, Dean. I’m trying to tell you. I went through a nasty divorce because of acting like a greedy dog.”

“Well, I don’t want to live my life where I don’t get to see Janiya’s sweet face occasionally, after I’m married to Brooklyn. I just want to make sure she breathes easily, lives a good life, and is simply happy. Is that so wrong?”

Franklin went silent.

“Hey, Franklin, are you still there?”

“Yes, I don’t get it.”

“Okay, okay, maybe this will help you to understand what I plan on doing. I’m helping by donating to those in need. Just look at it as me, giving a good monthly donation to charity. Is that so wrong? If it is Franklin, then I don’t want to do right.”

“I think you are dealing selfishly with Janiya. Tell her and let her decide if this is how she wants to be in a relationship with you.

“Tell her? Are you crazy? You sound ridiculous. She’s never complained, and I have no reason to mess up a good thing by telling her. I’m the one who is in control. The master of our time together. Oh boy! Speaking of time. Well, Franklin, I've got to go. I’ll talk to you later.”

I got dressed and sprayed on my most expensive cologne. ‘For Janiya to invite me to her apartment filled me with excitement and energy. Because she usually comes to my place. But she told me she had a special treat for me.

"What if she finally got up the nerve to wear a trench coat and high heels and nothing else, as I suggested to her months ago?” My head fell back in laughter as I tried to imagine it. This girl got my mind going wild. I can't believe the things I've been thinking and wanting to do lately. It seems like the closer I get to marrying Brooklyn, the more I’m craving Janiya and all the fun we are going to have tonight.

And if Franklin thinks I’m going to let Janiya go. He must be crazy because I never fantasized about Brooklyn. Chemistry just isn’t the same. When I’m with Brooklyn, it’s about business, and sure, we have sex, but there’s no chemistry. But it was different with Janiya; we could lie in each other’s arms and talk about standard stuff like family, friends, and sometimes work. She made me laugh, something I never do with other girls. She’s the kind of companionship I need in my life, not to mention the girl can cook. But there was something I noticed that made me desire her even more.

When I exited the elevator, I immediately got a whiff of the most enticing smells. The hallway was filled with the smells of delicious food escaping. "My goodness! Janiya had to be cooking something delicious.” The thought of what I might see and experience tonight made my chest tighten. My imagination was getting the best of me. Before ringing her doorbell, I could hear soulful music being played inside. I leaned against her door frame and imagined her seductively dancing in something sexy. I whispered her name against the door.

” Janiya.”

Then I knocked on the door. When she opened it, I stood there, surprised as I glanced at her from head to toe. She was wearing a thigh-length black trench coat with stilettos. She shrouded her almond-shaped eyes in the perfect smoky eye makeup and painted her lips crimson to match her mood. Her long black hair was pulled back from her shoulders, revealing the ideal contours of her face: a narrow chin, high cheekbones, and a pert nose.

I reached out to take her in my arms, but she extended out her hand, palm down. I took her hand and kissed it.

“Hey baby, you look fab. What's going on? Are you heading out?”

“No, I’ve been waiting on you. Come in and have a seat.”

Where was my innocent Janiya? I thought, chuckling. Even though the touch of her hand brought fiery shivers down my spine. By no means was I complaining. I would be a fool to do so. That little physical contact brought on a cascade of emotional sensations that I couldn’t get to subside, but I had to settle for a chaste kiss on the hand before she let me enter the front door.

I grinned down at her. She grabbed my hands after kissing her.

“Come on in, you silly boy.”

Then she led me into her house and closed the door. I walked behind, quite pleased with the view. I smiled sultrily as I took a seat with my head spinning as I looked at her, wondering what was going on here. I tilt my head, placing my hands slightly together, as my legs slide apart, my feet firmly planted on the floor.

It was hard to think about anything else while my gaze took in everything about her. She didn’t waste any time. The minute I was seated, Janiya had already removed her coat, which dropped to the floor. She's wearing a diamond champagne top, perfectly proportioned for her tits. Her bikini panties are white, with lace stockings up to her upper thighs; her legs look incredible. She spins in place, showing off her delectable booty butt cheeks. She was too good-looking for her own good, not to mention mine.

I teasingly lick my lips reflectively, as she glances at me over her delicate shoulder.

"Do you like what you see?" she asks, her voice laced with salaciousness. Her smile is wide and genuine.

"Ver... very much," I say, stumbling even to get a simple sentence out. She is so ridiculously gorgeous that it's throwing me off. I’m so used to being the seducer, not the one being seduced. My cute, innocent-looking little lady has got me about to jack off sitting here just looking at her.

Janiya looks perfect, not a bit slutty. But expensive with a perfect face, body, and attitude. It's almost too much to handle.

We sat across from each other; she looked at me with those bedroom eyes. Finally, she drew a careful breath. "Dean, if you could have anything in the world, what would it be?" She asked as her words exited her full lips, so soft and sweet.

I smiled, obliviously. "You, of course."

She smiles in return, grabbing hold of my arm and squeezing my bicep. Her words were like honey dripping from a sweet honeycomb.

"You have big muscles,” she then says, "Let's see about the most important one."

Before I could respond, my phone buzzed sharply on the coffee table, a jarring intrusion. I glanced down: a new message, no name attached. Just a single line:

"Secrets don't stay buried forever."

Janiya paused. I could see her eyes flicking at my phone. I hurried and picked it up.

The room held its breath. I reread the message. Was this a threat? A warning? Or something else entirely?

My mind raced, torn between the heat of the moment and the cold spike of uncertainty. I realized that how I responded could change everything for both of us right now.

The passion inside me was burning, and I was determined for this special night not to be ruined by some text message. There was no way Janiya knew about my secret and what I was up to. But my mind wouldn’t let it go. Doubts begin to creep into my thoughts, especially when I saw the intense way she looked at me. But I desperately tried to dismiss it. But deep in my soul, I felt it all was about to blow up in my face.

“Who sent the text? And did Janiya know my secret, and if so, how?” I kept nervously questioning myself, hoping and praying that my secret would never come to light.