NO SECRETS NO LIES (SIN CITY HEAT SERIES Book 3) (16 page)

   
He deftly loosened the towel and let it drop to her feet. Jerra's breath became
lodged in her throat for a completely different reason. Darrell stretched her
out on the bed and kissed his way down her body. Jerra opened her legs,
inviting his mouth to continue the journey to her promised land, and when his
tongue made contact with her wet center and engorged pearl, her fingers curled
tightly around the bedding as her hips undulated in time to his rhythm. Her
orgasm slammed into her with the quickness and accuracy of a lightning storm.
But it had been like this between them from the very first time. Their
chemistry couldn't have been any stronger if it had been formulated and
perfected in a lab. That connection could never be broken because it was built
on love, respect...and trust.

    
As Darrell stood up to rip his jeans off, Jerra's thoughts briefly turned to
the picture stuffed in the drawer of her nightstand. She had finally confided
the secret she'd kept to herself all these years to Keisha and Aleesha, and she
planned on telling Darrell soon – she should’ve told him a long time ago.

    
Over an hour later, the two of them lay under the covers exhausted but with a
level of satisfaction they could only achieve with each other. Darrell
tightened his arms around Jerra, who was fast asleep, and kissed the top of her
head. His chest rose in a deep sigh as his thoughts went back to the photo he'd
found on the floor. It wasn’t lost on him that Jerra never did answer his
question about it.  He knew she'd been trying to distract him away from
the subject and he'd let her, but he hadn’t forgotten about it. He would just
have to let her come to him in her own time.

    
Until then, something about that damned photo was going to bug the ever lovin'
shit out of him – but what was it?? Darrell frowned as he mentally went over
every aspect of the picture before his face cleared. The mole. That's what
bothered him.

    
Jerra's beauty mark was located above her upper lip on the right side of her
face. But the little girl's beauty mark was on the
left
side. That
wasn’t a photo of Jerra when she was a little girl.

    
This created even more questions: why had she led him to believe it was her in
the picture? And if the little girl wasn’t Jerra...then who in the hell was
she??

    
Jerra lay quiet and still, listening to the steady thumping of Darrell's heart
against her cheek. She knew her husband well and was aware the photograph would
stay uppermost in his mind until they addressed the subject, and she planned to
do so soon. She had made contact with the man who adopted her baby and planned
to meet her for the first time in two days when they flew to Vegas. A small sad
smile crossed Jerra’s mouth
. She had to stop calling her
daughter a baby. At sixteen years old, she was far that.

    
Her arms tightened around Darrell as she snuggled closer. She loved her husband
so much. He had saved her life, both literally and figuratively. She would be
forever grateful to him for convincing her to get counseling in order to deal
with the violent assault she'd endured as a teenager. Jerra hadn’t realized
that she’d subconsciously been blaming herself all these years. From the
counseling sessions with her therapist, Jerra had come to the realization that
there was nothing she could’ve done to stop the attack. None of it had been her
fault. Releasing the shame, fear, and anger of what her stepfather had done to
her put her on the road to healing and recovery. It also manifested the desire
she'd been suppressing to meet the child conceived as a result of the rape. But
it was a journey she felt she had to do...
needed
to do alone before she
told Darrell and cleansed herself of the secret she'd kept from him all this
time.

    
She still remembered the overwhelming emotion of instant love which seeped
through her veins the moment she first saw a picture of her child. A lone tear
fell from her eye and landed on Darrell's chest as she mouthed her daughter's
name: Giselle.

     
Most astonishing of all was the fact that she lived in Nevada, just outside of Lake
Tahoe. From the file the private investigator had given her, Giselle and her
adopted father, Robert Valentine, had moved from the east coast when she was
only five years old after he separated from his wife. Once Rob, as he insisted
on her calling him, agreed to see her she'd flown to Nevada several times until
he felt comfortable about her meeting his daughter. Jerra assured him her
intention wasn't to disrupt Giselle's life, only to be a part of it in any
capacity they allowed.

    
At the second meeting, Jerra learned Giselle’s adopted mother had decided she
didn't want to be tied down with a wife and child. Rob willingly took over the
task of becoming a single father to his child. From what Jerra gathered,
Giselle was an extremely happy and well-adjusted young girl. She knew she was
adopted, so when her father told her that her birth mother wanted to meet her,
she was open to doing so - even excited. Rob told Jerra he would make it a mini
vacation for himself and Giselle.

    
Jerra was torn about how much to reveal to Giselle, but one thing she was
positive about was that she never wanted her daughter to learn the ugly
circumstances in which she was conceived. Jerra tried to think about it as
little as possible. Her alcoholic stepfather had been a mean, filthy animal
who'd harbored deranged fantasies about her from the day he married her mother
– Jerra had been eleven years old at the time. After Jerra's mother died from
cancer several years later, he'd wasted little time taking what he wanted.

    
Once she escaped from Mississippi to Atlanta, Jerra found out she was pregnant.
Young and alone, she'd chosen to put her child up for adoption. Knowing that
Giselle was safe and happy reiterated the fact that Jerra had made the right
decision.

    
"Babe...you woke?"

    
The quiet words rumbled from Darrell's chest, but Jerra pretended to be asleep.
The burden was beginning to weigh heavily on her. Before she met Darrell, she'd
looked at the rape as a horrible nightmare that had happened to someone else. After
her stepfather had been arrested, the entire story of what she went through had
come pouring out to Darrell like a cleansing balm to her emotional wounds.
Still not ready to face the emotional upheaval she'd gone through with the
pregnancy and adoption, Jerra had kept that part of her ordeal a buried secret.

    
Now, she was ready to confront the last chapter of her past. Once she did, no
more secrets, no more lies.

Chapter 21

     “What do you mean you won't talk to her
about Amir?”
 

     Marcus had come home and immediately told
Aleesha about meeting his sister and the news about her and Amir. He
thought
Aleesha would feel the same way
he did, but apparently he was wrong. He didn’t get upset with his wife very
often…but this was one of those times.
     Aleesha took a deep breath and tried to remain calm.
She was just as shocked as anyone to find out that Amir and Marcus’ sister were
involved – even more so when he told her that Amir had a ten year old son. In
all the years they’d known each other, he had never even breathed a word to her
about having a child. However, what Marcus wanted her to do was out of the
question.
     “Baby, I know you feel protective of your sister, but
she’s a grown woman. I haven’t even met her yet, and you’re asking me to
interfere in her relationship.”
     Marcus stood in front of Aleesha with arms folded and
leaned down towards her. “So, even knowing what you do about your ex-fiancé
you’re just going to let Alexis ruin her life over that bastard?"
     Aleesha raised an eyebrow and looked Marcus up and
down. She just
knew
he wasn’t trying to intimidate her. She stared at
him until he got the hint and straightened up. Taking a deep breath, Aleesha
tried to reason with him again.
     “Marcus, she’s already asked you to stay out of it. If
Alexis is anything like you, she can take care of herself.” Leesh gave him a
smile to try and get him to lighten up a little bit.
     “Aleesha. I haven’t been able to be there her entire
life. That choice was taken away from us. But I’m here now, and I refuse to let
Amir
…” Marcus couldn’t even stand to say the name. “I refuse to let him
treat her like he’s treated you and countless other women. I know you might
think I’m being overprotective, but she’ll thank me in the end.”

     “I still don’t see why we couldn’t have just rented a
car. We didn’t need him to come and pick us up.” Amir stared at the numbers
above the elevator door. Marcus had called from the lobby and was waiting to
drive them to his house. Amir was not looking forward to today.
     “Baby, don’t be like that. You said you were okay with
this. And he’s promised to stay out of our relationship. You two are going to
have to learn how to get along with one another, because neither of you are
going anywhere.”
     Amir twisted his mouth, but remained silent so he
wouldn’t say the wrong thing and ruin this day for her.
     “Can I ask you a question?” The elevator stopped to
let a couple of people off.

     Amir looked at Alexis curiously. “Of
course.”
     “Are you looking forward to seeing your…to seeing
Aleesha?”
     Amir's eyes never wavered. “Honey, I wouldn’t say I’m
‘looking forward’ to seeing her. To be honest, it just feels a little…weird. I
don’t know how to explain it.”
     “You loved her very much at one time, though, didn’t
you?”
     Amir slipped his hand beneath her hair and rubbed her
neck. “Alexis, whatever feelings I had are gone. You’re the only woman I love.
The only woman I want to be with...okay?” Alexis nodded and lifted her mouth to
his for a kiss.
     When the elevator doors opened, Amir silently repeated
the little speech he'd been giving himself all morning.
You promised Alexis
you would get along with everyone - ESPECIALLY Marcus, so put ya game face on
and just  concentrate on getting through the day without any altercations.

   
 He
tried to pump himself up to believe everything would go smoothly, but no matter
how much he said the words, he didn’t believe them. He already knew: the shit
was going to hit the fan today - he already saw it coming.

     On the ride over to Marcus' house, Amir was in the
back of the SUV while Lexie sat in the front. He knew she was chattering
nonstop due to her nervousness. Not that he could blame her. When he and Marcus
had seen one another, they’d tersely nodded, and that had been the extent of
their communication. Alexis had tried to engage them in a conversation that
left them no choice but to interact, but she soon gave up when they continued
to offer only one word answers.
     Forty-five minutes later, they pulled up to Marcus’
house, an ultra-modern, two story structure which sat on a half-acre lot. Amir
reluctantly agreed with Alexis when she complimented her brother on how
beautiful his home was. Marcus turned off the ignition, noticing that Dom and
Keisha along with Darrell and Jerra had already made it. Amir frowned when he
noticed the extra cars parked in the circular driveway. What the...??
     “Your friends are here already?” Alexis asked Marcus.
     “What friends?” Amir asked.

     Marcus ignored Amir and addressed Alexis'
question. “I guess so. I told them twelve-ish, which to them usually turns into
one or two, but I guess they were anxious to meet you.”
 

    
As they got out of the
truck, Amir stepped in front of Alexis. “What friends?” he repeated to her.
     “I thought I mentioned that Marcus was having a
cookout for us. Just a small gathering,” Lexie said as she avoided Amir’s gaze
and suddenly made herself busy digging in her purse.
     “No, you didn’t,” Amir answered through clenched
teeth.
     “Is there a problem?” Marcus stared at Amir with a
look of outright dislike.
     Amir shot Marcus a cold look, and was getting ready to
tell him that he wasn’t talking to him when he felt Lexie’s hand touch his arm.
He glanced at her and saw the pleading in her eyes. Sighing, he turned back to
Marcus. “No problem.”
     Lexie smiled and slipped her arm around Amir’s waist.
Marcus looked at Amir with a mocking grin and shook his head. He’d never
understand what his sister saw in this busta.
     “Thank you, baby.” Alexis whispered in a voice
dripping with gratitude. She knew this wasn’t easy for him, and she loved him
all the more for trying to keep the peace. Amir’s look softened as he leaned
down to give her a quick kiss.
     “Come on Lex. I want you to meet my wife.” He
emphasized the word and looked at Amir as if trying to elicit a response.

     Amir refused to give him one. “After
you,” he told him sarcastically.
     “Thanks,” Marcus answered in the same tone as he led
the way to the front door.

     Alexis squeezed Amir’s hand. Amir's
expression held a hint of concern. “You okay?” he whispered. She nodded and
tried to smile, but she couldn’t hide the tense set of her mouth. The first
person Amir saw when they stepped into the house was Aleesha standing in the
foyer.
     “Hi, baby.” Marcus leaned down to kiss her then
reached for Lexie’s hand and made the introductions with a wide smile on his
face. “Sweetheart, this is my sister, Alexis. Alexis, my wife, Aleesha.”
     Alexis held out her hand, but Aleesha smiled and
stepped towards her and gave her a hug. After a moment’s hesitation, Alexis
returned the hug, surprised at Aleesha’s warm greeting.
     “It’s nice to finally meet you, Alexis. Marcus has
been beyond excited since the agency contacted him.”
     “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you too.”
     Aleesha looked at Amir. A smile small came to her
face. She hesitated before reaching over and giving him a hug as well. “Hi,
Mir. How are you?”
     “I’m good Aleesha. You’re looking well.”
     “Thank you.” There was an awkward silence before she
said a little bit too brightly. “Well, come on in, I didn’t mean to keep you
just standing here. I’ll introduce you to our friends.” She wrapped her arm
through Alexis’ and drew her into the family room.
     Amir followed them, lost in his thoughts. He had
wondered how he would react when he finally came face to face with Aleesha
again, although a scenario like this had never entered his mind. She looked
happy. Amir smiled to himself as he realized he truly didn’t have any feelings
for her other than wanting her to be happy - even if it was with Marcus.
     He watched as Aleesha introduced Alexis to Jerra and
Keisha. He knew Aleesha's friends had each gotten married as well and moved to
Las Vegas. The three of them had always been close for as long as he’d known
Aleesha. They hadn’t been too happy with him after the break-up, but they’d
been civil. Hopefully time healed all wounds. His gaze moved to the two men standing
beside them.
     “And this is Darrell, Jerra’s husband, and DJ, their
son. This is Dominick, Keisha’s husband, and Samantha, Dominick's daughter.”
Alexis was being enveloped in hug after hug. The only thing this tight knit
group of friends needed to know was that she was Marcus’ sister, which made her
family to them.
     “Amir, of course you know Jerra and Keisha…” Both
women stepped up to greet Amir and give him a hug. They didn’t hold any ill
will towards Amir. Things had worked out the way they were supposed to.
     “Amir, I’d like you to meet my husband, Darrell,”
Jerra said with a smile. Amir didn’t miss the look she sent Darrell who
reluctantly gave Amir the briefest of handshakes before walking off.
     “Darrell….” Jerra hissed, frowning at him.