Shattered Edge (13 page)

Her mouth turned into an O at first and then dropped wide open.

I put my hand under chin to close it and laughed.

“Babe, you couldn’t possibly look any better. Seriously, I mean it as a compliment.”

She elbowed me and said, “But Justin, I don’t want your parents to think I’m a ho!”

I thought I’d fall down laughing.

We both zipped and buttoned up. I ran my fingers through my hair and then helped her with hers.

“Lipstick?” I asked her. I was wondering if she had any because I had kissed all hers off.

“Oh holy hell!”

“What?”

“You have my lipstick everywhere.”

Thinking she was referring to my face, I said, “So we’ll wipe it off.”

“No, it’s all over your shirt. On your shoulders, it’s on your neck. Justin it’s everywhere.”

I looked down and over to where she was pointing and there was no way to hide it...I was one huge lipsticky mess.

I chewed on my lips, trying my damnedest not to laugh. “Well, they will surely know now what we’ve been up to.”

“Oh my God. I’m going to die of embarrassment.”

I couldn’t hold it in any more and really let out a hearty laugh this time. Pretty soon she joined in and we were caught up in it.

“No use in trying to hide it now. I don’t have another shirt to change into so we’re stuck honey.”

“Well, I’m just going to blame it on Lexi. If she so much as whispers one word, I’m gonna kill her.”

********

We walked into the den and my mother said, “There you two are! We were wondering where you two...” And the look on her face was priceless. Terri’s face looked like the cranberry juice on the bar that my dad had used to make the Cosmo he was getting ready to hand her.

My mom grabbed our hands, pulled us out of the room and took us upstairs. When we got to the second floor she said in a low voice, “Justin, go find a shirt from your father’s closet to wear. Terri, you’ll find a brush in my bathroom. Justin, show her where it is.” And she left us with a wink and went back downstairs.

“Oh my God. We must look like hell Justin.”

Grabbing her hand, I said, “Come on. Let’s hurry.”

I took her into my parents’ bedroom and pushed her into the bathroom. She brushed her hair and fixed her make up while I changed shirts. It only took a couple of minutes and we were back in the den in no time with my mom giving us a big smile.

She came up to us and whispered, “Much better dears.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Terri

December was skipping by on winged feet. Christmas was a week away. Justin and I had done all the shopping for the children in need and had delivered the gifts last week. His office Christmas party was that night and I was getting dressed. I was going over my list of things I had to do as far as gifts were concerned. He had been difficult to buy for since he had just about everything. Lexi and Pearce had helped.

I decided to get him the Nike Sportswatch with GPS since he’d indicated that he was going to train for a marathon this year. I would also download the corresponding App to his iPhone so he could track his progress. 

Pearce also recommended a painting by a local Charleston artist, Laurie Meyer, so I bought him one of those too. I was pleased with his gifts and I hoped he would be too.

He was picking me up in about twenty minutes so I needed to get a move on. The party was a Tacky Christmas Sweater Party. Justin was going as Cousin Eddie from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation in my honor, since it was one of my all time favorite movies.

When he walked in the door I nearly fell on the floor in fits of laughter. He was sporting a pale blue leisure suit with a tight white turtleneck, a white belt and white patent leather shoes to complete his ensemble. To top it off, he’d slicked back his hair with some kind of goo.

“Clark, if I were you, I wouldn’t be wearing any short pants around Snots. He’s got him some of that Mississippi leg hound in him, if you know what I mean,” Justin said, in his best imitation of Cousin Eddie.

I couldn’t look at him without losing it. “I cannot take you seriously.”

“What’d ya mean babe? I am serious.”

We walked outside and honest to God, there was a rundown RV in the driveway.

“Oh no. Uh huh. You’re kidding me, right?”

“Now honey, this here is our vacation home on wheels. Come on, or we’re gonna be late.” And then he grabbed me on the ass.  “By the way, you’re lookin’ mighty special tonight. You gonna save some of that for your ole man here?”

Oh dear God help me. A monster has been born!
I just shook my head at him.

He was the life of the party. I thought I was funny in my sweater with furry snowmen and Santas everywhere and my cutesy little hat with the fur around the trim and the furry ball on the end. But no. Justin won the prize, and he deserved it. The only dark spot in the night was crazy Destiny.

She confronted me again in the bathroom. Why that psycho bitch couldn’t leave me alone, I didn’t know. I’m sure it was because by now, she’d been notified that Justin had filed that harassment case against. her. I was plenty surprised to see her at the party too. Shocked really.

“So, you’re still with the player, I see.”

I gave her my most withering look, if it could be called one anyway. “Not that it’s any of your damn business, but yes we are.”

“Well, count the days. It’s only a matter of time before his infidelity will catch up with him. Just wait and see,” she smirked. She tried to make me think she was hiding some kind of nasty secret.

I just shook my head. “You’re pitiful. You know that, don’t you?”

She jerked her head toward me. Clearly she had not expected me to say that. “What do you mean by that?”

“Desperate words from a desperate woman.”

“I’m not desperate!”

“Well, I disagree. Have a merry Christmas.” I turned and walked away.

I hid my trembling...or at least I thought I did. I rejoined Justin and he was laughing at something someone said. He put his arm around me and his demeanor quickly changed. Excusing us from the little group, he steered me into a private area and asked, “What’s wrong Terri?”

Not wanted to spoil his fun, I smiled and said, “Nothing. I’m enjoying my Cousin Eddie.”

“I can handle a lot of things but please don’t evade my question honey.”

“Okay. Batshit crazy woman is here.”

“Destiny? Why the hell is she here?”

“Now there’s a question I can’t answer. All I know is she confronted me again.”

“What did she say?”

I told him and I watched my relaxed, fun loving guy morph into a tense angry one.

“Do you want to leave?” he asked.

“And have her spoil our fun? Hell no!”

He kissed me then. A huge sexy wet steamy kiss. I secretly hoped she was watching.

I felt the tension flow right out of him and he slid his lower lip between his teeth. Then he smiled. “Let’s go have some fun.”

“Um Justin?”

“Yeah honey?”

“Don’t you mean, let’s go let Cousin Eddie hold court again?”

He roared with laughter again. So did I. It was contagious.

********

Christmas Eve was spent at Justin’s. Christmas Day we would be apart with our respective families, as they were doing Christmas at the same time.

He told me he had something special planned. I didn’t know what, but he told me to bring very comfy clothes and that we would be dining in.

I arrived at his house at five. Christmas music chimed in the background and his house was perfectly decorated. The piazzas were strung with tons of tiny lights and it looked beautiful. He’d set up the porch on the second level for dining. There was a fire pit and a heat lamp out there, although the night wasn’t very cold. We sat outside listening to music and then a waiter walked outside, to my surprise, with the first course of our meal. Justin smiled.

“I’ve had this specially prepared just for you.”

It was a seared sashimi with wasabi. And it was superb. We made it through three more courses and the finale was grilled lobster served with clarified butter. Justin had great taste in food selection. When we finished, I didn’t even dare try for dessert. We both decided we’d save it for later.

Justin had this sneaky look of crazy excitement on his face. He was rubbing his hands together, like he was getting ready to play with a new toy or something.

“What’s wrong with you?” I asked him.

“Nothing. Why?”

“You’re acting very strange.”

“I am?”

“Yeah!”

“Well, maybe it’s because I can’t wait for my girl to open her Christmas presents!”

He hopped out of his chair like someone put a firecracker up his butt and darted off the piazza. When he finally returned, his arms were full of wrapped packages.

“You want to open them out here?”

His face fell. “You don’t?”

“Oh I do. I just need to get yours too.”

“No, you don’t. We can do mine later.”

Oh dear God. I had definitely under bought.

“Justin...” I began, but that’s all I was able to say before he interrupted me.

“Honey,” he said as he crouched in front of me. He gently kissed my lips and said against them, “Please indulge me here.” Whenever he spoke against my lips, all my resistance to him flew right out the window.

“Okay,” I agreed.

He handed me a rather large box and I unwrapped it. Inside was a beautiful Louis Vuitton handbag. It was lovely and quite expensive I was sure of.

“Oh my,” I exclaimed, as I pulled it out of the box. “Justin, this is too much.”

“Terri, you said you would indulge me. Now you’re backtracking.”

I swallowed. I looked down and then back up at him and then back down. The truth was, my family had means. We weren’t poor. My dad had been in real estate and had benefited from the boom market in Charleston over the last twenty years. I had never lacked for anything. But I’d always been fairly frugal with my money and a Louis Vuitton was not part of my budget.

“Wow.” I blew out my breath. “I’ve never been gifted with something so lovely Justin. Thank you.” I took his face in my hands and kissed him.

“I’m glad you like it.” His smile made it worth the gift. “Okay, now here’s something I think you’ll really love.”

He handed me another box that was beautifully wrapped and tied with a satin bow. I carefully took the paper off and opened the box, but there was a ton of tissue paper in it. I glanced up at him and he was laughing. Something was up here. I dug around in the box and my hand landed on something long and...I pulled out a brand new vibrator. Justin fell backwards on the floor and kicked his legs in the air and laughed...and laughed...and laughed.

“I’m impressed,” I finally said, when I was able to speak again. My man had a great sense of humor. “So, what are we going to call this one?”

“Oh, he’ll be JJ too.”

“What about my other JJ?”

“Babe, that thing was on his last leg. Now you don’t have to worry about the neighbors reporting you for a noise violation!”

I smacked him with the box. “I must say, I’m glad it’s another rabbit honey.” I smiled sweetly at him.

“Oh, we’re going to give it a trial run tonight.”

I gasped. We’d used it together over the phone, but never physically together. “Justin, no! I don’t think...”

“Terri, I’m not asking you to think at all,” he said in his oh so seductive voice. I started to puddle into a mass of aroused Terri.

“Before this goes too far, I have some other things for you, babe.”

He grabbed another box and handed it over. It was another beautifully wrapped concoction of lovely paper and satin tied bow.

“Did you wrap these by yourself?”

“But of course!” he winked.

I opened the box and found a silk and soft terry robe. It was so amazing. I wanted to strip and put in on right then.

“Go ahead,” he said.

“What?”

“I can see it in your eyes. No one can see you. The shades are drawn out here. Strip and put in on babe.”

I just looked at him. Then I leaped up and was naked and wrapped in that heavenly thing in seconds.  I was humming and he just stared at me.

“I think I hit a winner on that,” he observed. “I’m gonna have to buy you presents more often. I love the way your eyes are glowing.”

“Mmm. I love the way this robe feels. It’s so soft and cozy.”

“Now that I have you completely comfortable and
cozy
in your new outfit, I have one last thing for you.”

I hadn’t been paying attention to him, but his hands were behind his back. He brought them to the front and held out a box. I could tell by the size that it was jewelry.

I squinted my eyes together, knowing that he’d spent way too much money.

“Justin,” I whisper
ed.

He whispered back to me. “Terri, you promised you would indulge me honey. I’ve never wanted to do this before for anyone in my life. Let me have this moment. Please.”

His voice...the tone made me delve into his eyes. They were uncertain. Questioning me and maybe himself. I couldn’t be sure. I was back to that Justin who wasn't sure of himself. The one who doubted that he deserved me.

“Oh honey, of course you can have this moment. I want you to have lots of these moments. But I also want you to know that the robe alone would’ve been enough for me. You would’ve been enough for me.”

He kissed me then, slowly, softly, sweetly.

“Thank you. Now open your gift.”

I did as he asked and caught my breath when I saw what the box held.  Nestled on velvet was a chunk of diamond that hung from a silver chain. I couldn't breathe. My hand moved to my throat. There seemed to be something stuck there. I swallowed, or tried to anyway, in a futile attempt to dislodge it. I blinked once, twice. My hand started to rub my throat and I felt him taking the box out of my hand. I was lifted in his arms and then he was beneath me.

“I take it it’s not to your liking. It’s okay honey. We can exchange it. Or just take it back.”

I was finally able to breathe again. And swallow. And speak. I placed my fingers on his lips to get him to stop talking. I only wanted one thing and that was his lips on mine.

I put my mouth on his and told him, “It’s the most perfect piece of jewelry I’ve ever seen and I feel honored that you’ve chosen me as the one to give it to. Now I’m going to kiss you Justin.”

And I did just that. And the kiss turned into lots of other things for quite a long time. Sometime during that lovemaking session, he slipped that necklace on me and told me he wanted me to wear it always, so that it would be close to my heart. I’m pretty sure I cried.

Later that night, Justin got to open his humble gifts from me. He assured me he loved them and he certainly acted like he did. I hoped he did. They paled in comparison, although he couldn’t wipe the smile off his face so I knew he was happy. So was I.

********

T
he new year arrived and I’d been walking around in a state of joyful bliss. Christmas was amazing...Justin was amazing...New Year’s was amazing. I had never been this ecstatically happy before. Justin and I have almost hit the three month mark and I was sure he was the one. I think I had known for a while that I had fallen in love with him. I tried not to admit it. I hadn't told him because I’d be damned if I’d be the first to say it. But the way he looked at me sometimes. I'm surprised I hadn't freakin’ melted already. There isn’t anything I would want to change about him.