A Constant Reminder (14 page)

“Hey.” Roxanne watched as Adam pulled out her chair. She smoothed her dress and sat down.

Adam sat back in his seat. “Hey.”

“You seem happy to see me.”

“I am. You look really nice.”

“Thank you. You do too.” Roxanne truly thought he did. He was wearing a fitted purple long sleeve shirt that showed off his chiseled upper body. His black jeans fit just right and she wanted to grab his butt when he walked back to his chair.

“Is it okay that I ordered for you? I knew what you would like because we’ve talked about food. I remember everything you say.”

Roxanne smiled. “A man that listens.”

“No, I don’t listen all the time. I do listen to you all the time.”

“Good to know. What college did I go to?”

“Northern.”

“What company do I work for?”

“MetLife.”

“Okay I’m going to give you a hard one. Did I tell you the one food I refuse to eat?”

“You refuse to eat beets but you refuse to eat olives because they make you gag. So that was sort of a trick question.”

“Okay I’m not trying to be rude, so please take this as a compliment. If you can remember details like this and you are good with numbers, then why change oil?”

“I like it. It’s a job. I don’t need anything more than that right now in my life. I’m single. That could change but for the moment, it’s all I need. I rent a townhouse. I have my Jeep. I’m okay with that.”

“I understand.”

“Do you?”

“No I really do.”

They enjoyed each other’s company and before Roxanne knew it they were being served. Roxanne had a shrimp pasta dish. Roxanne enjoyed the entrée Adam ordered for her. She felt completely at ease with him. She felt safe with him.

As the night progressed Adam realized he couldn’t go through with it. Roxanne was the only woman he had a connection with since he was out of prison. He couldn’t just ignore that. She was bright, beautiful, sexy and smart. Only an idiot would let her slip through their fingers.

Plenty of guys were idiots but Adam had served time. He emerged with a higher clarity of all things. He knew a good woman when he saw one. He had dated around when he first got out of prison. His time away from women made it that much easier to spot the real from the fake and the good from the bad.

They stayed at the restaurant for three hours. He ended the night with a kiss although he wanted more. He needed time to think. All he could think of was that he couldn’t let her get away. She was too good for him but he couldn’t see a future where she wasn’t in it.

He wondered why he never addressed the baby doll he’d spotted in her backseat. He wouldn’t press the issue. He was holding on to secrets also.

CHAPTER 11

Roxanne looked in the mirror as she applied her makeup. She didn’t wear much. Her deep brown skin was even toned and had a natural glow. Erika laid across Roxanne’s bed watching her paint her face.

“So what is this? The sixth date?”

“Yeah.” Roxanne applied mascara.

“So did he kiss you or try anything yet?”

“We kissed. We touched a little. I told you he’s a total gentleman. He’s a welcome change from the losers that usually come calling.”

Roxanne ran her lipstick slowly across her lips as Erika watched.

Morgan is spending the night at your mother’s?”

“Yep.”

“So that means you’re going to sleep with this dude?”

“Adam. Yes I am. I can’t wait any longer.”

“So soon?”

Roxanne turned back and looked at Erika and rolled her eyes. “ASAP.”

“Well damn. It’s like that?”

“I don’t care. I want him. He wants me to come over to his house. If his place is clean, if his sheets are clean then he can get it. I prefer him to come here.”

“Do you know what you’re doing?”

“Do you forget how to? That’s new.”

“No I mean this guy seems experienced.”

“Not really but I haven’t had sex in two years so even if this goes nowhere I still want to. I don’t know. I’m just tired of being horny. He makes me horny so I know he wants to. Maybe he can teach me a thing or two or three.” Roxanne giggled.

Erika didn’t find it funny. “What if he’s terrible?”

“Why would you say something like that?”

“Because he white and his dick may be little.”

“That’s stupid.”

“What about protection?”

“You know better than that. You know my flow is heavy and I’m always on the pill.”

“What about STD’s chick? Did you buy condoms?”

“No I didn’t. Adam said he’s been tested.”

“And you believe him?”

“Adam doesn’t lie.”

Erika rolled her eyes. “Well you might freak out.”

“Why would I do that?” Roxanne gave Erika the evil eye. She swore she would slap her if she brought up the one topic that she knew was off limits. But Erika didn’t make a sound. “I might enjoy myself. I might not. Who knows? I wish you would find you a man so you could get you some business. There aren’t any old men at the nursing home?”

“Cute.”

“There aren’t any guys at the gym for you to push up on? There isn’t anybody’s husband available for you to sleep with?”

“Well damn. You just shooting shots at me left and right?”

“Why do you get to sleep with whoever you want and I have to be a nun?”

“Do whatever you want to do.”

“Thanks for giving me permission.”

Erika’s feelings were hurt by Roxanne’s jabs and she wasn’t sure why. She didn’t want Roxanne to be mad at her but she didn’t care for Adam. She wondered why Roxanne wouldn’t let her meet him. “So what time you want me to pick Morgan up from your moms tomorrow?”

“Early, I got a doctor’s appointment for her at ten o’clock.”

“What’s wrong with Morgan Fairchild? Is she sick?”

“No. Well I don’t know. She’s just like the clumsiest kid on the planet. The nurse is always looking at me like I’m a child abuser. Morgan’s got this ridiculous bruise on her arm. Not to mention that bruise on her leg that hasn’t healed. She barely eats.”

“She is tired a lot. Maybe you should give her some vitamins.” Erika added.

Erika didn’t even have a kid. Of course Roxanne already gives Morgan vitamins. Vitamins don’t explain why her daughter bruises so easily. “First I’ll take her to the doctor and see what he says. Do you want to come with us?”

“Sorry I got to meet Teri for lunch. Call me and tell me how it goes at the doctor.

“Teri, that’s the girl from your job?”

“Yeah I got to hang out with someone since you’re so into Mr. Adam.”

Roxanne turned from the mirror to roll her eyes at Erika. It was clear Erika didn’t like Adam but she really didn’t have any reason to feel that way. Erika never liked any of Roxanne’s boyfriends.

Roxanne felt hot and sexy in this outfit. She was wearing her leopard print pencil skirt and her shiny blue button up blouse. She pushed her size eight feet into her red Casadei peep toe pumps. These were the most expensive shoes she owned but she thought the occasion called for them.

“Whatever. How do I look?” Roxanne asked although she didn’t really need Erika’s approval.

“Like a high class hooker.”

“What? Is that good or bad?” Roxanne frowned at Erika. “You got to go. I don’t want to be late.”

“Of course you want to be on time for Adam. What’s his last name?”

“Hardwick.”

“Adam Hardwick.”

Roxanne grabbed her purse off the closet doorknob and dropped a tube of lipstick in the side pocket.

Erika moseyed off the bed and followed Roxanne out the bedroom door.

***

Roxanne’s romantic date with Adam went just as planned. They had a nice and cozy dinner at a restaurant in the city. They ended up going back to her apartment. She preferred to be on her own turf. She tried to remember the last time she’d been with a man and she couldn’t actually come up with a date. She knew it was about two years ago.

She was nervous at first but as soon as their lips met she melted into him. Somehow this just felt right to her, not rushed or forced.

Adam couldn’t keep his hands off of her. They had both grown tired of holding back their animal attraction to each other. Roxanne threw caution to the wind and wherever else caution wanted to be thrown. They were connected at the mouth. Adam spotted the direction of her bedroom as soon as he entered her apartment.

Adam pushed her bedroom door. Roxanne’s bedroom door swung open and hit the wall hard. Adam had her in his strong embrace. They were blended together in all the right places, starting at the lips. He emerged through the doorway with his arms and hands in various places all over Roxanne’s body.

In the heat of the moment they stumbled and almost fell over a pair of tennis shoes while en route to Roxanne’s queen sized bed.

Their bodies fell hard on the bed. Adam had completely latched onto Roxanne’s neck in a vampiristic fashion.

Roxanne’s face was overwhelmed with passion. She started to claw at Adam’s shirt until he finally pulled it over his head in one swift motion.

“Oh God I want you so bad.” Adam mumbled into her neck and his deep voice sent ripples to her chest.

Adam had somehow missed his undershirt. He pulled back and hovered over Roxanne. He removed his undershirt and tossed it to the wind. The sight of Adam’s bare chest forced Roxanne’s mouth to gape open. His body was better than she imagined, smooth, hairless and muscular.

Adam closed the gap in Roxanne’s mouth with his wet tongue. He unbuttoned her blouse with one hand exposing a fiery red satin brassiere. He gazed at her smooth round breasts before her kneaded them in his hands.

Roxanne’s eyes wandered upwards to the motionless ceiling fan. She moaned into the air. She gently bit down on her bottom lip. Her eyelids fluttered like a butterfly. She succumbed and closed her eyes.

This would be the best mistake she made. This relationship probably wouldn’t last long. She knew Adam was going to make her fall in love with him. Somehow she just knew it. Somehow she knew he practiced what he preached.

Within minutes she reached into his pants and learned he had the tools needed to back up all of his arrogance. He removed her hands so he could make moves of his own.

Adam masterfully removed all of Roxanne’s clothes. He had stripped her of her bra. He pulled her from her tight leopard print shirt. He played with the fabric of her satin panties before ridding her of them. She was lying underneath him completely nude. He admired her body before he touched her. His eyes roamed over every inch of her.

The lights were on but she didn’t feel shy. She felt empowered. She felt he was mesmerized by what she had to offer.

“You are so beautiful.” Adam opened her legs wide with his hands. He looked inside her hole. She was coated with cream. He made her this way. He made her ooze and that gave him a sense of pride. He grinned as he imagined gliding inside her.

He decided to stop being a voyeur and become a willing participant. He removed his pants and boxers. He took his comfortable place between her legs. He got on all fours and watched her squirm as he lowered his body down onto hers. He licked her lips and kissed her deep.

He watched her body buck off the bed to meet him. She directed her hot box to his throbbing manhood and the head brushed against her moist opening. She was growing impatient.

“You want it.” He asked into her mouth. He knew she wanted it.

“Yesssss.” She groaned back into his mouth. She wrapped her arms around his back and tried to pull him down and inside her. Adam’s muscles flexed as he strained to remain above her. As much as he wanted to slide into her he was practicing restraint. She looked so delicate, horny and delicate. He didn’t want to hurt her.

He moved to one hand and took the other to guide the tip of him into her hot milky opening. Roxanne pushed off the bed and sucked him deep into her hole. Adam squeezed his eyelids shut as she forced him to burrow into her cave.

“Ohh!” She screamed out as he filled her up completely with his hulking size member. She was snug. If he made any moves he would stretch her insides. He knew she hadn’t been around and he could clearly feel it while inside her taunt tight snatch.

Adam crumpled as she slowly moved in and out of her. He latched onto her neck and sucked at her creamy skin. He got caught in the moment and stopped moving.

“No Adam don’t stop.” Roxanne dug her fingernails into the muscled skin of his back. She felt so good that he knew he was about to lose himself. His brain was connected to his cock and he was getting over stimulated and emotional.

They had never discussed birth control or condoms and they briefly discussed STD’s. He wasn’t even sure of what was sexually off limits. He knew she was clean but he was breaking every rule, especially the condom rule. Adam thought that the three beers she had might have been why she didn’t ask him to wear a condom.