Chapter Five
The Aston Martin pulled to a stop in front of Samiyah’s townhome.
“Thank you, Jonas; I’ll catch a taxi to the bar to pick up my car. She touched his arm, “Lunch was wonderful.”
“Indeed, it was. Listen, I don’t mind taking you to get your car. It’s not a problem at all.”
“I couldn’t take up any more of your time, but thanks anyway.”
“Hey,” Jonas spoke. Samiyah turned back to him. “Is everything okay?” He noticed how her mood changed after her phone call.
“My ex-husband is a pain, but I have to take care of this, so it’s cool.”
Jonas reared his head back to get a look at her house. David was leaning into the front of the townhome trying to get in through a window.
“I’ll walk you to your door.”
“No please, I don’t want to involve you in my messy life. I can handle it. I promise. It’s okay.”
Samiyah opened the door and quickly made her exit. Jonas watched her. When she stepped to the door an argument instantly ensued. Jonas couldn’t shake the overprotectiveness he felt for her. True, he wouldn’t let any man be rude to a woman in his presence. However, the need to keep her safe was feeling etched in his soul. When she’d touched him, her soft fingers danced along his skin sending a wave of heat prancing along his nerves. Her touch was dangerous, erotic and downright carnal. However, this was her life, and he didn’t owe her anything, and yet...
With his eyes still watching them, David stepped closer getting in Samiyah’s face. She folded her arms, defiant with whatever was happening. David screamed something unintelligible and banged his palm against the front door. Swiftly, Jonas exited the Aston Martin. His length and pace taking him to the door within seconds.
“Samiyah, is there a problem?”
She unfolded her arms and spun around caught off guard by his manifestation.
“Man, who are you? Wait you look familiar…” David said rubbing his chin in thought.
Jonas ignored him, keeping his eyes only on Samiyah. “Sweetheart, are you okay?”
Samiyah melted at his endearment when she knew she shouldn’t have.
David frowned. “Sweetheart?” he turned to Samiyah, “Man who is this? You know what? Nevermind. I’ve been gone all of what twenty-four hours and you’re already entertaining someone else? Just goes to show that you weren’t faithful like you said.” He twisted his lips, “I knew it. It’s okay though because this pretty boy will only be around long enough to screw you and be off to the next jungle bunny. David laughed, “I thought you were better than that? when he drops you like a bad habit don’t say I didn’t tell you.”
Samiyah turned back to him and released all the pent-up anger she’d been holding back. She slapped him across his face so hard it stung her palm. Holding her finger out at David, Samiyah spoke.
“First, you’ve been gone for two years now. I just didn’t find out about it until a year ago and what I do in this day and time is none of your concern. I could care less how you feel about it. I’ve felt more passion from this man in twenty-four hours then I felt with you for six years. So why don’t you crawl back to your homewrecker! If you want your stuff, it will be on the side of the road in fifteen minutes. You’re more than welcome to wait by the trash can while I dump it out!” Rage vibrated through her causing her hands to shake.
David lifted his hand to return her assault, but it was caught in midair by Jonas. “You heard the lady,” he said; his voice low and ominous.
David snatched his hand out of Jonas’ and swung at him. Big mistake. With ease, Jonas stepped to the side and punched David in the nose causing blood to spring forth.
“Aaaaa!” David wailed covering his face with his hands. “This is not over. I’ll sue you!”
“Unhuh, send the bill to my lawyer,” Jonas replied.
David scrambled, stretching the length of the yard to his car and jumping in.
“I’m sorry about that,” Samiyah said.
She took her keys out and searched for the correct one. Her hand shook as she tried to insert the key. Samiyah was a ball of nerves now. She didn’t want to fight anymore; she didn’t want to hurt anymore, she just wanted to be left alone. Seeing her struggle, Jonas covered Samiyah’s hands with his and removed the keys.
“Is this the right one,” he asked.
Samiyah nodded. He opened the door, and they went in. Samiyah flew up the stairs as tears fell from her face. She went into David’s closet and grabbed the remaining clothes that hung there and slung them on the bed. Back and forth, back and forth she went about the business of getting his items out. Quickly, she moved to the tall mahogany dresser and removed more items. Her single tears turned into a full outcry, and she dropped to her knees in front of her bed stuffing her face into the sheets.
Warm, strong arms enveloped her, lifting her up from the floor cradling her in his chest. Samiyah cried and spoke, “I don’t know what I did wrong? Why was I not good enough? I did everything for him and then some. And all he did was crush me!”
Jonas lifted Samiyah’s chin. “He’s a clown. Don’t ever feel like you weren’t enough. A real man knows when he’s in the presence of a jewel and the right man will love you unconditionally with no strings attached.”
They shared a riveted stimulating moment. Jonas kissed away Samiyah’s tears, his lips landing on each spot that was stained by her sadness. Jonas was sincere about his words. Although he hadn’t known her but a minute, Jonas knew she was intelligent, driven, and determined, and he wanted to know all there was to know about her. That surprised him. Jonas kissed her lips and dried her eyes. He wanted to teach David a lesson, but he was aware that fighting him would be unfair. David wouldn’t have a chance. It was that moment when he knew he’d do anything to protect her. It was quite silly actually, but Jonas couldn’t reason with the emotions that built up every time she talked or laughed, nor could he explain them. He hated to see her cry. It pained him to the point of lunacy. Samiyah drew away from Jonas, and stood to her feet. A regretful sigh escaped her.
“Jonas, I need you to leave.”
Taken out of his reverie, Jonas cast a long look at her. “Did I do something wrong?” He thought about what occurred outside and wondered if she was upset about him for getting involved.
“I just need to be alone right now to clear my thoughts.” She cast her eyes downward and ran a hand through her hair. “Don’t worry about my car; I’ll get a taxi to pick it up.”
“I don’t want you to take a taxi, it’s unnecessary.”
“I suppose it’s a good thing it’s not up to you then,” she snapped.
His brows furrowed and he slid his hands into his pockets. Jonas wanted to question her further but instead, he tilted his head in agreement.
“Whatever you wish.”
With that, he turned and descended the stairs. When Samiyah heard the door shut she sank to the carpet. It was true, she needed to get a grip on reality. She’d just spent the last six years of her life in a marriage that ultimately failed. The last thing she wanted to do was spend more of her life with a man who would be here today and gone tomorrow. She thought about David’s words.
‘This pretty boy will only be around long enough to screw you and be off to the next jungle bunny.’
The truth was it shouldn’t have mattered to her, but it did. As much as Samiyah tried to convince herself that she was done with men, she wanted someone to love her as completely as she love them in return. As it was now, Samiyah was damaged, and who could ever love her like that?
A gust of wind spun past Jonas’ face as his feet hit the pavement in a sprint. It was unusually hot and humid early this Monday morning which meant he could look forward to another scorching afternoon. Jonas’ long strides carried him down the riverbank and through a courtyard surrounded by blooming garden flowers and trees. Determined to beat his brother’s record of one mile in nine minutes, Jonas increased his speed. The challenge had been well accepted since he could use it to focus on anything other than her.
It had been a week since Jonas left Samiyah’s townhouse, puzzled about her abrupt withdrawal from him. Many times, Jonas told himself to let it go, but thoughts of Samiyah controlled him. A part of him detested it. No woman had ever come close to filling his mind with saccharine images, and he was still trying to figure out what it was about Samiyah that made him want to find out.
“Time!” Jaden yelled bringing the run to an end. “Brother, you’ve gotten worse!” Jaden threw his head back and howled with laughter.
Jonas gritted his teeth and snatched the stopwatch out of Jaden’s hands bewildered at the time displayed. Fifteen minutes thirty seconds. With a ravenous whip of his head toward his brother, Jonas grabbed Jaden’s shirt.
“You played me!” He seethed.
Jaden snatched his arm flinging it away from him. “You played yourself!”
Jonas suppressed a growl and strolled to a nearby bench to sit down. He bent slightly, resting his forearm on his thighs. Jaden joined him.
“What’s going on with you? Last week you hit eleven minutes. Talk to me.”
Jonas slid him a glance then sat against the bench allowing his head to fall back, the sun shining on his face. He knew his brother would tease him about what he had to say, but it was imperative that he get it out.
“I met a woman,” Jonas started. “I can’t seem to get her off my mind.”
To say Jaden was more than intrigued was an understatement. He knew his brother’s history with women, and they were never given a second thought.
“Continue,” Jaden said.
Jonas relived the activities between him and Samiyah, all the way up to the point of his eviction.
“But you’ve had beautiful women before, so what’s so different about her?” Jaden questioned.
“You don’t understand,” Jonas began. “The atmosphere when I’m around her is compelling. She’s sexy, daring, charming, intelligent, but most importantly, I want to listen to her when she speaks. I feel the need to solve her problems. I feel like she’s my responsibility. How do you explain that?”
Jaden gave his brother a slap on the back, “Sounds like wife material to me.”
A crease formed at the edge of Jonas’ eyes following through to his forehead. “Nah, now you’re tripping.”
Jaden held his hands up. “No you’re trippin. If I even come close to finding a woman that makes emotions rise in me like that. I’m taking her off the market, fast.”
“Let’s go; I need to get back to the office.”
“You always change the subject when you get uncomfortable with the topic. What are you going to do,” Jaden asked.
“Don’t you know, after all that, I didn’t even get her number,” Jonas replied, shaking his head.
“But you know where she works, right?”
He did, and he knew where his brother was going with this.
“I’m not here to push you off the deep end, but if you ever want to find out if this thing you feel has merit, you know what you need to do,” Jaden offered.
Jonas didn’t respond. Instead, he rose from the bench, and they jogged their way back to his car.