Forgiveness and Second Chances (14 page)

“You’re her mom, Lanie.” Jeremy squeezed her hand. “Come on.” They walked out to the back yard.

“I really like her.” Stefanie told her husband.

“Me too. She makes him happy. It was about damn time,” replied Derrick. “I hope you didn’t tell her that sob story about boot camp and me following him around.”

She giggled. “But you did.”

“I did not. It just happens we always get stationed together.”

“Yeah, right, baby.” She grabbed his hands. “Whatever you say. Let’s go eat.”

“I won!” Malanie laughed at Jeremy after she threw the last basketball through the hoop.

They were at Chuck E. Cheese with Alanie and her friend, spending some family time together.

“You cheated!” he said, grabbing her waist. “You pushed me.”

At that moment, he remembered how much fun they used to have as teenagers. This was what he’d missed the most during the years apart: his best friend. They always seemed to be able to make each other laugh.

He could see Alanie looking at them, giggling with her friend.

“I love to see you laugh,” he said, turning her around, fixing her hair.

“It’s all because of you guys,” she said, gazing at him. “I missed so much.”

“Don’t you dare get sad.” He took her hand in his and pulled her to the hockey table. “New memories, remember.”

She smiled. “New memories,” she said, and began playing without giving him any warning. “Score.”

“Cheater!” He laughed.

Malanie invited Jeremy to Tabú, an upscale seafood restaurant. Things never seemed to change. It had been over twelve years and he still couldn’t say no to her. She wore a conservative but sexy black suit and he wore black slacks and dress shirt without a tie. As he looked around, he felt a little out of place.

“You look great.” She must’ve sensed how he was feeling. “Remember what I always said, as long as were together, that’s all that matters.”

“You’re right.”

“Do you want to go somewhere else?”

“No, this is fine. I think I can afford it.” He chuckled.

Malanie stopped, and got serious. “I invited you, so I’m paying.”

A woman that was more successful than him never intimidated him, but he wanted to give Malanie more. “I was kidding, Lanie. I understand that you make more than me, and that doesn’t bother me, but I make enough to take you out and give you what you want. Even if it breaks my bank account.” He laughed. “Just kidding.”

She smacked his arm, and continued walking. They strolled up to the hostess stand hand in hand.

“Good evening. Welcome to Tabú. My name is Amy. Do you have a reservation?” the vibrant hostess asked, gawking at Jeremy.

“Yes,” Malanie answered.

“Under what name, ma’am?”

“Jeremy Wood.”

The hostess stopped what she was doing and stared at them, holding her hand to her mouth. “Oh my God.”

He could tell Malanie was getting a bit frustrated. “What’s wrong?”

Amy turned to the other hostess. “Cover for me. You guys don’t recognize me?” she asked them. “It’s me Amy Carter from high school.” She ran from behind the podium and hugged Jeremy. “It’s been so long.”

Jeremy smiled. He finally recognized her under all the makeup. She’d changed a lot. Her hair was no longer blond, it was auburn, and she’d gained a couple of pounds and tattoos, but she was still pretty. “Amy, how have you been? It’s been over
eleven years since I last saw you.”

“It has. I have four kids!” She dug for something in her pocket and pulled out her key chain to show them a picture of her kids.

“They’re beautiful,” Malanie said looking at the two boys and two girls.

“Life can’t get any better. I can’t believe you guys are still together,” she said, now hugging Malanie. “I see life has treated you good…you’re beautiful.”

“Thank you. You look beautiful, too.” Malanie replied honestly.

“What have you two been up to since high school? Malanie, I know you didn’t graduate with us, but you were still a part of us. Jeremy missed you a lot. You were all he seemed to talk about when you left to live with your dad.”

Jeremy’s cheeks turned red and Malanie kept quiet as he answered. “I joined the Navy and Malanie is an accountant,” he said proudly.

“Wow, big shots.” She giggled. “You two deserve it, after what some of the kids and teachers put you through because of your relationship. I say you can’t help who you love.”

“You’re right about that. You can’t help who you love.” He gazed at Malanie. “And we have a beautiful daughter.” He pulled out his wallet, showing her a picture of the three of them together.

She took his wallet away from him and stared. “Oh my, she’s beautiful. She has your nose and dimples, but she looks like her momma,” she said, giving it back to him.

“I have to say thank you again.” She looked at him. “Because of you, I graduated high school. If it wasn’t for your tutoring, I would’ve failed.”

Malanie just gazed at him. He’d been wonderful then, and he was more than wonderful now.

She walked them to their table. “Amy, it was nice seeing you again. Take care.” Jeremy said, giving her a kiss on her cheek, making her blush.

He pulled the chair out for Malanie and pushed it in once she was seated. He’d always been a gentleman. He moved his own chair a little closer to her and sat.

“You were her tutor?” Malanie asked.

“I guess so. She could never really grasp how the teacher explained it, so I just helped her in a way she would understand.”

“She must think I’m a horrible person for what I did,” she said, turning away.

He tilted her face so she had to look at him. “No one in high school knew you were pregnant. We only had a few months left to graduate, and Carmen told everyone you went to Canada to live with your dad. So you see, you shouldn’t let this little reunion with Amy get you down.”

She stared at him with all the love she felt for him but was afraid to voice. Her first love had become the love of her life. He accepted her with all her faults and baggage. With him, she could be herself.

He caressed the side of her face. “Lanie, you’ve become such a wonderful woman. I’m so grateful you gave me a chance to get to know you.”

“You already knew me.”

“As a teenager.”

“I guess I’ve changed,” she whispered.

“Yes, you have. As a teenager you were awesome, but as a woman you’re amazing.” He took her hands in his. “Lanie, the last couple of mouths have been amazing, getting to know each other all over again.”

She squeezed his hands back. “I know what you mean. All these years, I pictured the young boy I fell in love with, but you’re not the same boy anymore. You’re more than I ever thought you would be.” She leaned over and kissed him. “Thank you for becoming the man of my dreams.”

He couldn’t help it, he was in love with his first love all over again. “I thank God for believing in second chances.”

“Alanie, be a good girl for your grandparents,” Jeremy said over the phone. “I miss you.”

“I miss you too, Daddy.” Alanie was spending the weekend at his parent’s house.

He had a romantic evening planned for Malanie. Not wanting to confuse her daughter, she’d never spent the night when she was around.

He got his dining room set up for two, with candles and champagne. He couldn’t believe it had been months since they’d started dating again.

The doorbell rang. He walked over and pulled it open. Malanie had her back turned, making sure she set her car alarm.

He stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her waist, kissing her neck, inhaling her scent. “I’ve missed you.”

“Mmm, I missed you too.” She turned and kissed him. Jeremy pulled her closer, opening his mouth, allowing her tongue to take control, tasting every corner of her sweet mouth. “We should move this inside. Won’t want to give your neighbors a show,” she whispered against his lips.

“I don’t mind letting them know you’re mine,” he said, being naughty, nipping at her bottom lip. He pulled her in, closing the door behind them, leaning her against the wall, kissing her, making love to her tongue. He pulled away slightly. “I wanted to wait until later, but I can’t. I need some of your brown sugar now.” He caressed her ass.

She giggled.

“I want you so bad, Lanie,” he said, leaning her up, rubbing is erection against her crotch.

She placed her hand in his pants and stroked his cock. “I can’t wait.”

He gasped, picking her up, wrapping her legs around his waist. He took her to his room, never breaking the kiss, and laid her on the bed he’d covered in rose petals.

“Mmm…roses.” She smelled one. “Nice touch.” Then she looked on the nightstand, where he’d set out cherries, strawberries, and whipped cream. “Mmm, fun.”

He grabbed a cherry by the stem and dipped it in cream and brought it to her lips. Seductively, she wrapped her lips around it and began licking the cream.

“Damn, baby….”

He began stripping her clothes off, her pants, then her shirt. He paused, gazing at her sheer black lace bra and panties. “I like these,” he said, taking them off, observing her body. “Beautiful….”

She sat up, pulling him closer, helping him pull his shirt over his head. She ripped his belt off and unbuttoned his pants. He stepped out of his pants and she caressed his cock through his boxers.

“All this is for me.”

He seductively stripped off his boxers and climbed on the bed with her.

She pushed him down in the middle of the mattress and placed wet kisses from his lips all the way down his waist, stopping at his cock.

“Mmm…” She took a strawberry and dipped it in cream, making sure to get cream on the base of his cock. She gave him feathery kisses until she reached his lips, then fed him the strawberry. He opened his mouth and bit a piece, spilling some of the juices on his chin, and she licked them off and passionately kissed him. Then she made her way back to his cock, and stroked it, making him exhale.

“Damn…”

She licked off the whipped cream and then turned around, with her ass facing him.

He smacked her ass. “Damn, girl, make it clap for me.” He chuckled, watching her ass bounce.

She took his cock in her hands and sat down, taking him in reverse. She rode him slowly, taking her time, as he rotated her hips.

“Oh God, baby this feels….” He groaned between his teeth, squeezing her ass cheeks, watching his cock disappear in and out of her pink pussy. His toes were curling up and they’d just started. He smacked her ass again. “The things…you do to…me….”

She slowly took him, moving her hips up and down. “Oh…damn…” she said between murmurs of pleasure.

He squeezed her waist. “Lanie…I can’t…do this anymore….”

She stopped moving her body. “What?”

“Why you stop?” he asked, thrusting up into her. She slowly shifted around without getting off his cock, and glared at him.

“You don’t want this?” she whispered.

She’d misunderstood, and he cupped her chin, kissing her. “I love you…I couldn’t go another night without telling you.”

She stared at him, not moving, just gazing at him. “You love me….” she whispered.

“Yes…I never stopped.” He squeezed her ass.

“Why?”

“Because you’re everything I’ve ever wanted. You will always be my first and only love.”

“I never stopped loving you.” She bent her head, kissing him, moving her body in a rhythm with his, taking him as much as she could. “Je-re-my please don’t stop.” She began to move faster, rocking her body over his.

“Damn, girl…”

She screamed his name as the friction of his cock took her over the edge. Her pussy was pressuring his manhood, taking control of him. He tried holding it back, but couldn’t. He, too, yelled in ecstasy, until they both collapsed.

“It’s always been you.”

She covered her mouth in surprise when she entered the dining room. “All this for little old me?” she asked playfully.

She wore his T-shirt and he wore his PJ bottoms. “I just wanted tonight to be special. You know, when I said I love you.”

“All you needed to do was tell me.” She kissed him. “Every moment I spend with you is special.”

He sat down and placed her on his lap, and started feeding her, eating together from the same plate.

“Mmm, this is delicious.”

“Not as delicious as you.” He kissed her.

There was a knock on the door. “I’ll get it.” He kissed her one more time before leaving the dining room.