Tori

Jay woke me when we arrived at his beautifully stunning home in Turtle Creek. I barely had time to take in the stone façade before he whisked me inside for a quick tour. Everything was tastefully decorated in leather, dark woods and creams. The house had six bedrooms, just as many bathrooms, a media room, a wine cellar, a game room, a gym and a kitchen to die for.

The outdoor living space had a stone patio with plenty of seating for a large gathering, a lush green lawn, and the most beautiful pool I had ever seen. Between the floor to ceiling windows along the back of the house and the upper balcony that looked over it, I couldn’t fathom how gorgeous the backyard would look all lit up at night.

His house was quite simply magnificent. It was rich in taste, but not in an in your face kind of way with how expensive everything was. The perfect balance really.

After the tour, he informed me that there was a party there tonight and that I should make myself at home until people started showing up. Then he left me to go do whatever it was he needed to do.

I had no idea why I was there. While I was grateful that he didn’t just drop me off at home to leave me to wallow in my own self-pity until Kim got out of work, I didn’t appreciate being left alone in his house to do the same.

With no one to talk to, I turned on the television in the family room and attempted to lose myself in reruns of Friends. It was really hard to get my mind to stop spinning with all that had happened and all that I needed to try to figure out. Would I get the chance to see my dad again? Would Annabelle and Rich start more trouble now that I pushed back and threatened them? What did my future hold?

A few hours later a beautiful woman with skin the color of milk chocolate and a short afro came into the room I was holed up in. She greeted me like we were best friends. I wasn’t sure how to react, seeing as how I had never met her before.

Her tawny colored eyes locked with mine. “I’m Keesha. I’ve been dying to meet you. The guys haven’t stopped talking about you.”

“Oh… um… I’m sorry, but I have no idea who you are.”

She let out a giggle and plunked down on the couch next to me. “Jay said you were funny. Anyway, I came early so I could talk to you about your job.”

“My job?” I asked, not understanding how Lace factored into this conversation.

“Yeah, with Rucker Records. Now you’ll mostly be Jay’s assistant, but I’ll need you to do things for me too. Consider me the person that keeps things running smoothly around there. You’ll report to me whenever Jay isn’t in the office.”

“I’m sorry.” I shook my head, wondering if I fell asleep and was now in an alternate universe. “I’m not following you. What are you talking about? I don’t work for Jay.”

“Jay,” she said on a sigh. “Obviously he didn’t tell you that he was hiring you. Just like that man to overlook a key detail like that. Either that or he figured I’d tell you. He isn’t gung-ho on arguing if it can be avoided. And from what I’ve heard I’m going to assume you don’t let him trample on you, so…”

She turned so that her body was fully facing me and continued, “Jay wants you to come work for us. Hours are nine to five, Monday through Friday. Occasionally, we’ll need you during off hours, depending on his schedule. You’ll be compensated for that time. Any questions?”

“Is this for real?” It felt like my head was spinning. This was the last thing I expected to happen.

She gave me a grin and nodded her head.

I bit my lip and considered the proposition. I didn’t like Jay thinking that I needed a new job. I enjoyed my job at Lace and depending on the night of the week, I could usually pull in decent tips. Granted, it wasn’t exactly something I wanted to do forever, but it wasn’t like it was tawdry or anything. Then again, if I went to work for Jay, I’d have day shifts, weekends off, and I was assuming better pay. Plus, I’d get to hang with him and the guys more often.

“When do I start?” I asked her. The excitement in my voice couldn’t be contained. The new, independent Tori was finding it fun to take on new challenges.

“Monday? Or do you need to work out a notice?”

“Um, I’m not sure.” Wasn’t it common practice to give two-week’s notice? Did that courtesy even apply to strip joints? I had never been in the position to give notice before.

“Well, here, honey. Take my phone number and give me a call tomorrow after you find out.”

I pocketed the business card she had dug out of her purse.

“Let’s go get something to drink. I’ll introduce you around tonight and give you the lay of the land. There’s already some people out by the pool.”

I followed her out to the pool area where there were kegs set up and a quasi-bar off to the side where the outdoor kitchen was. There were tables set up with all different kinds of food piled high. There was already a crowd of people and I wondered how they all got in considering I hadn’t heard the doorbell ring at all.

As the night progressed, things got a little wild with some people skinny dipping and others having sex in various locations around the pool. There was obvious drug use going on around us, but it wasn’t as out of control as I had imagined it would be. It was still a far cry from the uptight, prim parties at the country club I was accustomed to. And it did make my sorority parties look tame in comparison. Definite culture shock for me.

I hadn’t seen Jay since earlier in the day when he left me in the family room. I scanned the backyard looking for him, trying not to be too obvious, but he was nowhere in sight.

A couple hours into the party, Trigger—the guy from Lace the first night I met Jay—came up and acted like Keesha and I were his best friends. He gave us both Tequila shooters. I took it from him not wanting to be rude and turn it down since Keesha graciously accepted hers.

After we downed the first round, he came back with a second. That was when Keesha excused herself to go get us “better tasting shit,” as she put it. Thus, I found myself standing there alone with Trigger. I felt strangely uncomfortable being alone with him, especially after our first encounter. He gave me the creeps whenever I caught him staring at me with hunger in his eyes. There was just no amount of small talk that could have prepared me for it.

“So, gringa. I see you’re still hanging around Jay.”

I narrowed my eyes at him and with as much attitude as I could muster said, “What’s it matter to you?”

He shrugged. “It doesn’t really. But when he’s done playing with you, come find me. I’ll show you what a real man is like. I don’t do games like Jay does. I’ll tell you straight out, I just want your pussy.”

“You’re a pig.”

“Maybe so, but at least I’m straight up about it.”

“You seen Jay?” Keesha asked Trigger as she rejoined us. She handed me a drink that upon first sip, had to be mostly Jack Daniels.

I sent a silent thank you up to the heavens for Keesha saving me from any more of our conversation.

“He’s with Nessy,” Trigger answered. His eyes held mine waiting for a reaction, but I didn’t give him one. It cost me, but I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction. For all I knew he was playing games with me too.

Keesha mumbled something to herself, and I tried to hear what it was, but with the music and laughing I couldn’t make it out.

A naked woman came up to our group and drew Trigger away, much to my relief.

My eyes skirted the crowd as I sipped my drink. On the second pass around, they landed on Jay walking out of the house with a beautiful woman. I wasn’t sure what her heritage was, but I was sure it had some Polynesian in it. She had long, dark shiny hair and exotic looking eyes. And she was hanging on him like a cheap suit.

He wasn’t showing her affection, but it was clear he didn’t mind her being there either. Just another day in the life of Jay I suppose. He could have any woman he wanted with no care or concern about the one who he left alone at his house all day. Jealousy was a knife that twisted viciously in my stomach as I watched them.

“Who’s that?” I croaked out past my dry lips. “You know what? It’s none of my business.”

“No worries. Working at the label you’ll hear all the gossip anyways. That’s Nessy. She’s the lead singer in one of the groups we have signed.”

“Are they?” I trailed off, not feeling the need to elaborate. Keesha had to know what I was getting at.

“Yeah, he hits it when he feels the need. Not quite sure why. I can say though that Nessy thinks he’s hers. She honestly believes he’s going to settle with her once he sows his wild oats.” She shook her head. “She’s crazy.”

“I see.” And I did. Trigger was right. Kim was right. I was fucked because this whole time, I thought we were building something. Something that in my heart of hearts knew would be beautiful.

I downed my drink and rustled up another at the bar. I sucked back a healthy amount and refilled it again.

Why the hell was I here? Was I just some project he was taking on? Help the poor, rich girl who’s down on her luck? Give her a job and threaten her enemies? All the while I’m going to mess with her head because I’m a sick bastard? Ugh, I wanted to go home.

I placed the bottle of Jack back on the bar and was about to head for a quieter area so that I could call Kim for a ride, when two arms caged me in. Dark hands rested on the counter on either side of my body. I looked over my shoulder to see Jay standing behind me.

“Been looking for you.”

“You couldn’t have been looking too hard, seeing as how Nessy has been your priority thus far tonight.”

“Are you fucking shitting me?” I felt a strange energy radiating from him. It seemed dark and dangerous. However, I chose to ignore it and forged on.

“No, I’m not shitting you,” I snapped at him.

“Glad to see you’re showing your true colors now.”

My back straightened and I turned around to drill my finger into his chest. “What the fuck does that mean? Why am I even here? You’ve ignored me all day. I don’t care if you want to be with her, just don’t string me along and leave me here all by myself.”

His hand cupped my neck and he brought his face closer to mine. His voice still held agitation, but also a softness that was at odds with the first emotion. “I was meeting with my lawyer earlier to get him on the case with your stepmother. Then I needed to deal with a few things at the office. Nessy got here at the same time I did. And I left that bitch as soon as I could and I went looking for you.”

“Really?” I breathed. Relief swept in and replaced the anger and resentment I was previously feeling. Did that make me stupid? I wasn’t sure. All I knew was I was immensely satisfied with the fact that he chose me over her.

“Really. If you were anyone else, T, I’d be sending you packing. Be glad I think you’re adorable and can’t get the taste of you off my tongue.”

“You shouldn’t call women bitches,” I scolded him.

“Someone women are bitches, T,” he reminded me of a sad fact. “Now if you’re done with your tiff, let’s go have some fun.”

Making the split decision to leave that one alone for now, I gave him a wonky grin and nodded eagerly. I wanted to have fun with him. I loved spending time with him regardless of what we were doing.

“Totally fucking nutty.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and led me out to the core of the party.

For the next several hours we drank, we ate, we laughed and we played games like beer pong. I had never had so much fun in my life. Not even when I was away at college.

And we never saw Nessy again. I have no idea if she was still there, lurking around—because in my mind, she was that pathetic—or if she left when she saw us together. Either way I didn’t really care.

By the end of the night, or what I assumed was the end of the night because we had been drinking for hours and hours, Jay and I were laying on a two-person lounger by the pool. I felt mellow and relaxed. Maybe too relaxed because my stomach growled really loudly. I placed my hand over it and giggled.

“Yo, Trey,” Jay called out and some guy I had met briefly earlier headed our way. “Go to Taco Bell and get a couple boxes of tacos. Some hard and some soft.”

My giggles turned into a full out belly laugh thinking of hard and soft penises in the box instead of tacos. And hard penises in soft tacos. Maybe I had too much to drink.

“I could have just eaten whatever’s still over there,” I noted after Trey scurried away to do Jay’s bidding.

“I know. Wanted tacos though.”

“Do you always get what you want?” I turned my head to face him, and suddenly I wasn’t just talking about food anymore. His eyes bore into mine with an intensity I had never seen from him before. He licked his lips, and his eyes dropped down to my mouth. I felt tingles of awareness creeping through me.

“Usually,” he said in low, husky voice. “Lately what I really want has been out of my reach.”

I took in a shaky breath and exhaled slowly. We were getting into dangerous territory. If I chose to continue this conversation, I wasn’t sure I was ready for the ramifications of it.

Taking my silence as a cue, Jay went back to looking up at the sky. I was oddly disappointed, but pushed that aside for the time being.

We watched the stars and talked to a few people that came by until Trey returned with the food. By that point of the night, most of the partygoers had left, although there were still quite a few people milling about. Some were swimming, some were playing drinking games, some were smoking weed, and there were a few that I had a sneaking suspicion were going at it on the other side of the pool.

I sat up and took the wrapper of food that Jay handed me. I eyed it unsure of whether or not I wanted to attempt this. Mexican food and beer weren’t exactly the best things to mix in one’s stomach.

“What?” Jay asked around a mouth full of taco.

“I’ve never actually had Taco Bell before,” I admitted.

I looked over to see his mouth now gaping. Even with food in it, it was still attractive. I could have nibbled and tasted it just as it was. Yes, I was definitely drunk.

“Well, today is your lucky day, baby.” He motioned towards the taco with his head.

I unwrapped it and decided what the hell. I took a big bite and moaned while I chewed.

“So good,” I said with a mouth full of food.

“Here. Eat another. And try some sauce.” He handed me a little orange packet.

“How cool is this? It has sayings on it!” I opened the packet and squeezed it onto my taco. “What does yours say?”

He flipped it over and held it up for me. It said, “Why say no when you could say yes?”

I swallowed my food, and my eyes darted to his. Our earlier conversation was still very present in our minds, and I could tell Jay was thinking what I was thinking. Why say no to what he was offering, when I could say yes and live a little?

“Jay,” I whispered and leaned towards him slightly.

“Say it, baby.”

I swallowed hard and felt the pulsing grow between my legs. Was I going to do it? Could I say the words that we both needed to hear?

“Fuck me.” No sooner did the words leave my mouth, then he was on me. My back to the lounger, his body pinned me down as his mouth devoured me.

Our hands were everywhere. Our mouths were everywhere. I was near to bursting with how badly I needed him inside me.

He lifted my skirt until it was around my waist. My hands undid his belt at the same time he worked his button and zipper. As soon as he was freed, I widened my legs and he fell between them.

Next thing I knew he pulled my underwear to the side and he was slamming into me.

“Yes!” I shouted with abandon. This was what I wanted. What I needed from him.

The lounger creaked as Jay fucked me hard and fast. We both panted and moaned as we sought out our releases. Within minutes, my mouth opened on a silent moan as I came around him. He thrust into me again and then quickly pulled out and fisted his cock as he came on the patio next to us.

We both righted our clothes and collapsed onto the lounger next to one another. Tired from the booze, the food in my belly and the O I just had, I snuggled into Jay’s arms and fell dead asleep.

I was in such a deep sleep that I didn’t wake when he cleaned up his mess on the patio, or carried me to his bed, or even when he stripped me down to my underwear. If I had, I would have seen the tender way he looked at me as he kissed me softly goodnight. And I would have known that even though he said he didn’t, he did in fact want to give me more.