Jaded Hearts (3 page)

His eyes were hot and fixed on my face. I
flashed a brief smile, trying to lighten the tension I felt, but he
merely raised a thick brow at me. I looked away and averted my
attention to the dance floor as I suddenly longed to disappear into
the throng of partygoers. The DJ was playing a great mix.

When the drinks arrived Jackie poured me a
Goose and cran as the server popped the champagne open. Julian
handed everyone a glass of the bubbly pink liquid.

"To new beginnings," he toasted the table,
never taking his green eyes off me.

I welcomed the buzz of my first drink as it
loosened me up, and decided that rosé was my new drink. Julian
finally excused himself from the table and went to socialize with
another group in the VIP section. I noticed a tall blonde
possessively wrap her arms around him.

Thank God!

I was relieved to finally be rid of the
silent Spanish Inquisition. I don't think I have ever been more
uncomfortable in my life.

Ana turned her attention to me as Jackie and
Edward discussed the boutique.

"So, Jade, tell me about yourself. Were you
born in Miami? I lived there with Julian's father until he was
fifteen. Then we moved here to New York." I instantly felt at ease
with her and began to tell her my story.

"Well, I was born here in Brooklyn, where my
mother and aunt lived together after moving here from Jamaica. My
mother was devastated when she found out that my father was already
married and had a family in Jamaica.  She traveled back and
forth, I guess in hopes of winning him over but it didn't work so
she dropped me and my younger brother Andrew off with my paternal
grandmother in Miami, and moved back to Jamaica to be closer to my
father. My grandmother took on my father's responsibility and
raised us until she passed away when I was seventeen.  I
worked two jobs to take care of my brother while I went to the
University of Miami."

I've told that story so many times I had
washed out any tone of emotion. She looked at me with sympathetic
eyes.

"Oh my! You're a tough young woman my dear.
We are lucky to have you on our team."  She didn't ask any
further questions and I was relieved. Most people wanted the whole
run down like it was going to change something.  There was
nothing worse than reliving the worst thing that ever happened to
me. Even the passing of my grandma paled in comparison of being
dumped by my own mother. I gulped down my second glass of
champagne.

*

After another hour or so Ms. Garza excused
herself for home.

"I'm going to leave the partying to you
young folks." She smiled and hugged us all as she left. Edward took
the opportunity to go mingle. I was able to finally talk to Jackie
for the first time.

"So, what's the deal with Edward? He
couldn't ask you enough questions,” I teased.

She arched her brows in response.

"Oh no honey! Do not try to shoot arrows
over here. You and Jules had the whole temperature of the club
rising by the minute! WTF!"

She fanned herself in mock heat exhaustion.
I felt my blush rise again, but shook my head in
discouragement.

"I don't know what that was about, but I
think he is ridiculous. Who just stares and stares at someone like
that?"

I hoped she believed my denial, but she
narrowed her eyes in disbelief. Damn!

"Ridiculous huh? I guess that's why you kept
undressing him with your eyeballs! Was that some sort of payback?"
James Brown dancing around popped in my head and I laughed.
"Whatever Jackie! You could have warned me about Mister
Soul-Snatching Eyes before I got here!" I snapped. She just
shrugged her shoulders.

"There was nothing to tell, really. I've
never seen Julian so, so engrossed with a woman before."

I absorbed her response as I shot back,

"Well, what? Is it usually men?"

We both laughed at that. Jackie was so
tickled by it she threw her head back.

"Oh Jade! I'm so glad you're here," she
squealed.

My eyes crinkled at her openness. "Me too!
Now let's dance!"  

I was three sheets to the wind by the time
we headed to the dance floor. Pit Bull commanded us to drop it to
the floor and I moved to the beat enthusiastically happy to finally
let loose. My hips swayed back and forth to the music and I dropped
it low as the song suggested. Jackie smiled at me with what looked
like pride as she did her thing.

This was my favorite part of clubbing. I
could dance all night. I was approached by a few guys but turned
them all down, until I spotted a real cutie smiling at me as he
watched me make my moves. I slowly made my way towards him and he
came to me, instantly grabbing my hands to guide me. He smelled
good, and man could he move!

Rihanna's Only Girl In The World prompted my
inner seductress to let loose. I guessed my partner stepped away to
watch me because I didn't feel him behind me anymore. Then he moved
in again gripping me by my waist. His movements matching mine.

Damn, he smells incredible!

I turned around when it dawned on me that
his scent was now different. My eyes met Julian's gaze as my
original partner looked on in envy.

"I had to cut in. Can you blame me?" His
voice low and sexy. Maybe because I was in my element I felt better
able to react to him.

"That's a little rude, don't you think?" I
teased as I continued to move, mouthing the words "...cause I'm the
only one who understands, how to make you feel like a man…” His
eyes narrowed seductively as me pulled closer to him, sliding his
hands across the exposed flesh of my backless dress.

"Rude? No, I'm just used to getting what I
want." He pulled me tighter against his body so I could feel his
muscles tight and taught under his clothes. Intoxication. If the
liquor hadn't gone to my head, this man certainly was. His spiky
black hair was slick with sweat and his scent was wrapping me in a
cocoon of sheer lust. I didn't understand how a stranger could have
such an affect on me. My brain shut down, and my body came alive in
his presence. Julian rubbed his lips across my neck, causing me to
shiver as he whispered in my ear.

"Can't wait for you to make me feel like a
man..." Tingles, quivering and heat spread through me at once.

Shit! I. Cant. Breath.

I tried to pull away from him, but he just
held me against him, his sexy eyebrows arched sinisterly. I was
torn between abandon and panic. I could feel his arousal growing
against me. Too close to ground zero. I pushed against his chest to
not even a quarter inch of him budging. His face surprised me with
a flash of amusement as he shook his head. He spun me around so my
back was to him.

I can deal with this; I'm a big girl.

Jamie Foxx's Living Better Now flowed
through the speakers. I moved my waist alone for a few moves and
then let my whole body flow to the rhythm. I heard him hiss into my
neck.

Focus on the music, not him!

Again he matched my movements exactly. He
ran his hands up and down my sides as he slowly caressed me while
whispering his need in my ear. My body was not cooperating with
'Mission Keep It Together'. I could feel the goose bumps rise up on
my skin, and every inch of me was beginning to ache for more. I
closed my eyes and tried to refocus. He turned my body around to
face his and put my arms around his neck. Without thought, my body
molded to his. The way his hands slipped down my back, and then
wrapped around my waist was the most erotic thing to happen to me
in months.

Julian moved like no other man I had ever
danced with. I could imagine him doing this without clothes...
Stop! I pushed that thought to the side, or tried to at least. He
began caressing my cheek with his smooth tan fingers. Again I
closed my eyes to the overwhelming feelings, intensifying as we
danced.

"Jade, open your eyes," he demanded my
attention.

No! Don't look into his eyes!

But, I ignored my own pleas to obey his
order as I gazed at him through lazy, lustful eyes. His eyes
radiated some unfathomable emotion that held me in an invisible
web. Julian lowered his head and nuzzled his way from my right ear
to my lips. I willing parted them, allowing his warm tongue access.
He slowly explored my tongue with his with the sweetest kiss I ever
tasted. Any reserve I had left diminished, and I pressed against
him with desire. I couldn't help the small moans and whimpers that
escaped my throat. The urgency of his kiss increased, and he began
to suck my lips as if he could get juice from them. I returned the
favor and was rewarded with a long groan as he leaned into me. Our
bodies where calling to each other through our clothes. His
erection pressed hard and heavy against me.

"Ay, Jade! Let me fuck you tonight," he
implored.

That snapped me to my senses. What the hell?
I did not want to be fucked! I stiffened my body and pulled away so
fast he didn't have a chance to stop me. As I was trying to regain
my sanity at a safe distance I saw Ms. Tall and Blonde staring at
us with folded arms. She filled in the space between us and began
to loudly profess her displeasure at what she just witnessed.

Julian's expression went from bewilderment,
disappointment, and then to a scowl like a gear shifting. He tried
to brush her off as he glared at me. The look in his eyes was that
of a hunter.

I'm going to get you, they said.

Blondie refused to be pushed aside and
intensified her tantrum. His eyes never leaving mine, he addressed
her with a few words of warning and her tone lowered. She began to
whine and complain in a much smaller voice, turning to glare at me
before she blocked his view of me entirely.

Time for me to get the hell out of here!

*

The next morning I awoke to a familiar
buzzing. I groped around until I found my phone to see Jackie's
number register on my Android. I answered apprehensively.

"Hey Jackie! Up early for a Saturday." I
hoped my tone would detract her from harassing me too much.

"Woman! I've been waiting two hours to call
you! What was that NC 17 moment that I witnessed last night? And
why did your ass just vanish like that?" Her excitement was
infectious.

"Girl, I have no clue what happened! One
minute I'm dancing, having a great time, and then the next I'm
being asked to fuck! Yes, you heard it right. 'Ay mamita, let me
fuck you tonight!'" I did my best Julian impersonation.

She laughed hysterically at my replay.

"Then his girlfriend comes over and throws a
hissy fit. In the middle of the freakin' club! Yeah, I had to
leave. He really frightens me,” I continued.

"He asked you just like that? Wow... Was
that before or after the kiss?" She was too amused.

I tensed at the memory of our kiss. It was
so passionate and intense, truth be told he probably would could
have had his way with me had he kept his mouth closed.

"It was after, and yeah just like that. I
can't say I've ever had someone ask 'let me fuck you tonight'
before." I sucked my teeth in dismay, but her amusement of my
situation didn't lessen.

"Wow, that is a turnoff, I guess. I still
have to admit that I have never seen him act like that before.
Yeah, yeah, there are always women around him, but he's always so
cool and laid back. Oh, and Nina is not his girl. She came there in
hopes of hooking up and was pissed to see him give you so much
attention." Her words were thick with implication.

What was she, his damn spokesperson?

"Well, whatever, what have you to all of
that. I am not interested. Yes, he is sexy, but I don't have time
for the drama. Really." I was trying to convince myself.

"Really?" She reaffirmed my response.

"Really," I repeated.

"Well, that's a damn shame 'cause from what
I saw, there was a lot of interest oozing from both parties." Her
observations were not accurate.

"No, what you saw was lust not interest.
Lust!" I corrected her. She laughed again.

"OK. OK. Well, don't shoot the messenger,
but Jules said to tell you he had a great time with you and looks
forward to seeing you soon. Bye!" Then, she hung up.

I sagged back into my pillow and sighed. I
could only hope to not ever again, be in the same vicinity as that
man.

The rest of the morning was spent sleeping
off my drinks from the night before. I made a note to myself to
take it easy on the bubbly next time. No matter what I did, Julian
always managed to creep into my thoughts. I couldn't stop thinking
about the way he kissed me, and how hot I got just from him doing
it. His eyes, his voice, and his scent where all like some secret
kryptonite sent to destroy me.

What was it about him?

The first day of work arrived in a blink. I
woke up before my alarm and lay in bed for a few minutes. I enjoyed
the last couple of months getting reacquainted with my hometown,
and there was so much about the city that I loved. My thoughts
always seemed to drift to sensual green eyes and long kisses. It
had been like this for the last few weeks. I hadn't seen Julian
since that night in the club, but he hadn't left my thoughts.

As I showered, I imagined his hands all over
my body, caressing me slowly, and I couldn't get his voice out of
my head.

I'm going to need a hobby!

I've never really been a head over heels
kind of gal. I don't like to get caught in the moment, but then
again, I've been with Evan for the last six years.  Before
that was my high school sweetheart. This was new to me. This felt
like insanity. This was not what I wanted. This was time for me to
find myself, and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Not
get wrapped up in some nefarious playboy who was used to women
throwing their panties at him. I pushed my moment of weakness aside
and got ready for work. I would have to tell Jackie not to invite
me out if Julian Garza was going to be around.