Trouble In Paradise (19 page)

“Sure it’s the door down the hall to the right.” 

She walked down the hall and into a huge room with an all-white grand piano with golden keys.  Victoria caught herself standing over it lightly touching the keys. This room was even more magnificent than the others.

Whoa, who was this guy
? She wondered. 

She still didn’t really know what he did.  He said he owned his own business but that could mean any number of things especially when it comes to black men. 

For all I know he could be Tony Montana himself.  Then all he would need to do is pull out the coke.
 

She snickered at the thought. 

“What am I thinking?” 

“Do you like this room?” 

Victoria was startled;

“Oh, um yeah it’s very nice.”  

“I had to hire a designer because I would’ve been seriously lost without one.” 

“I’m sure,” she said.  “Sorry for snooping, I couldn’t help myself, your place is so huge and spacious, there’s a good energy in here.” 

She walked toward him. 

“No need to apologize.
”

He closed
the gap. 

“You can look around all you like.” 

He was standing right over her now.  She looked up into his hazel brown eyes, and what sexy eyes they were. 

“You have some beautiful eyes,” he said.

He touched the side of her face.  She was soft, her skin felt as creamy as it looked. 
Moving in close he kissed her on the left side of her face, then on the right, then on the lips.  She didn’t back away.  She started to kiss him back and he deepened the kiss putting his arms around her.  His tongue entered her mouth and she fell into his chest.  Tingles roamed all over her; oddly enough starting in her ears, then her nose, then every other part that was supposed to tingle.  She couldn’t believe she was feeling like this and couldn’t seem to stop herself.  His hands wander about down her side and he squeezed her butt with a firm grip. 

His arms elevated her
, being a reflex she swung her legs around him and they tumbled into the wall.  Her arms up high he kissed, licked, and sucked on her neck and chest hungrily.  She heard him let out a low growl and it ignited a fire deep within her that she didn’t know she had. 

She was about to let out her inner animal when she heard a familiar ring tone.  It was her phone.

“Wait.”

Victoria was
breathing hard trying to softly but forcefully push him back.  He slowed down but kept kissing her. 

“You’re so sweet and I haven’t even tasted from your garde
n.”

This man wanted to ravage her and she wanted to let him.  Her phone stopped
ringing. They started back up kissing deeply and passionately and Victoria saw Joshua’s face.  She closed her eyes tight and shook her head. 

“You ok?” Greg asked. 

She sighed. 

“We have to stop.” 

He dropped his head then looked back up at her.

“Are you sure?”

He kissed
her again and again. Her phone started to ring.  A shutter ran down her spine.  Greg was about to go pass the point of no return.  He started down her chest and licked in circles on her lace bra.  She started to squirm and breathe heavily.  She started kissing on the top and side of his face.  A soft moan left her lips they started to kiss again.  Her phone rang again.

“Stop baby hold up.” 

Her legs unwrap from around him and she jumped down.  She smoothed back her hair and made an attempt to straighten her clothes. 

“Um, I never did get to make it to the bathroom,” she said. 

He took a step back and pointed across the hall. 

“We cool?” she asked. 

“Of course,” he sounded sincere.

Victoria walked across the hall and into the bathroom.  The lights turned on automatically. There were no knobs on the sink she lowered her hands around the faucet and the water automatically came on. After washing her hands and splashing water on her face Victoria played around in her hair smoothing it back so it would look tamed.  In the course of forty-eight hours she had been through a lot and it was starting to show.

Rest was coming her way at any moment.
  This was a mistake.  Yes she was mad at Joshua but what was this really proving?  Her feelings were hurt beyond repair.  Sadness crept into her mind and weighed her down.

Returning to the red room t
here was a glass of white wine sitting on the table in front of the spot she last sat in.  She walked over to it and took a sip.  Her flesh was weak and calling for Greg, but her heart was heavy and calling for Joshua.

Chapter 23

“Mmmm,” Victoria moaned. 

Her muscles were relaxed and the tension in her neck was gone.  G
reg massaged her from head to toe relaxing her muscles to the point where she could not move her limbs.  He squeezed more baby oil out of a container on his hands and started to rub up and down her back again softly.  Victoria was wearing her lace boy short panties while he massaged her.

“Let me turn over,” she said. 

He stood upright. 

“Do you want this towel?” he asked. 

“No,” she said. 

She turned over on her back and stretched, then placed her arms at her side.  Greg was taking in all of her beauty and he didn’t know if he would be able to concentrate on a massage.

He was ready to take in a mouth full
of her when she grabbed his hands and rubbed them together.  She placed them on her shoulders and he proceeded to massage down the side of her and around her breast. She bit her bottom lip and started to squirm.  They were on his California King Bed.

Greg move smoothly
on top of her and got in between her legs tugging at her panties. The temptation was bigger than she could handle and a test of her faith was now in session.  Sliding out of his jeans he tossed his shirt.  She was beautiful.  He kissed her thighs, up and down then in circles.  She squirmed.  At her bikini line he kissed up to her belly button, then back down again. He positioned himself on his elbows and placed her thighs over his shoulders. He lowered his mouth over her and blew softly.  She started to breathe deeply still in her panties.  The heat from his mouth weakened her resistance if you could call it that.  Immediately Victoria let out a delicate whimper.  She grabbed the sides of his face to hold him at bay.  He could feel a soft tremble coming from her body.  He wanted her bad but he wouldn’t force it she had to come to him. 

He got up on his knees and pulled her to him by her hips.  She shuttered a
nd braced herself for what was to come next.

A slow seductive smile spread across his masculine face.  He reached over on the night stand and opened up his dresser drawer, pulling out two gold packets.  He opened the first ripping the top of the package with his teeth.  The situation was in his hands now Victoria had blocked out her heart and given in to her flesh.  She could see the passion and fire that glowed in his eyes.  There was no turning back with a fierce urgency they consumed each other.

*****

Victoria rolled to the center of the bed and stretched.  She opened her eyes and noticed the rays of sunlight coming through the drapes.  She could smell breakfast cooking.  The door to the bedroom opened and Greg walked in carrying a tray.  She sat up against the headboard.

“Morning beautiful.”

He sat
the tray down on her lap.

She smiled and cleared her throat.

“Morning.”

She stayed
as far away from him as she could so she wouldn’t fry him with her morning breath.  He chuckled knowing what she was trying to do. 

“Don’t worry, there’s a brand ne
w toothbrush in the bathroom, some clean towels, and washcloths.  Eat your breakfast, and then you can clean up.”  

“So you just have spare toothbrushes available for your conquests?” she asked. 

“Conquests seriously?” 

His smile lit up. 

“No, I actually happen to have an extra one because everyone should have two of everything, always keep a backup plan right?” he said. 

“H
mm,” she said, “two of EVERYTHING huh.” 

He laughed and shook his head.  She could tell he had cleaned
up; his smile was so bright and sexy.  Dang, she thought, I must look a fright. 

“Leave it to women to want to take that the extra mile.” 

“Hey I’m just calling it like you said it, I just asked you to elaborate.” 

“I mean material things, is that clear enough for you?” 

“Yes,” she said taking a bite into one of her pancakes. 

“You ready to eat now?” 

She shook her head up and down. He turned around to walk out the door,

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll be right back,” he said. 

He made
pancakes, sausage, grits, scrambled eggs, and toast.  She swallowed a piece then said a quick prayer.  She was enjoying her meal when she focused in on the clock.  It read 10:12 AM.  Victoria started chewing slowly and then started to panic.  Was it Monday? 

“Oh no, no, no, no,” she said moving the tray to the side and sliding out of the bed. 

Greg came back into the room,

“What’s wrong?” he asked. 

“I need my phone, my purse.  Is it Monday?” she asked frantically. 

“Yes, calm down your purse is
over here,” he pointed to a corner in the room which had her clothes and purse sitting in a chair. 

She ran to it and started to search through her purse.  She pulled out her phone and powered it on.  She had turned it off last night after she kept getting call after call from Dantae.  She knew it was just Joshua trying to figure out where she was and she didn’t want to talk.  Her phone chirped a
couple of times then displayed ‘Mailbox full, 52 voicemails.’  She rolled her eyes and groaned hitting the ignore button.  She went into her contacts and scrolled down to Caroline Banks Boss and pressed send.  Caroline’s assistant answered. 

“Caroline Bank’s office how can I help you?” 

“Yes, I need to speak with Caroline Banks please.” 

“May I tell her who’s calling please?” 

“It’s Victoria Mathis.”

There was a brief silence then,

“My condolence goes out to you and your family and I have put you in my prayers. I hope everything gets better for you Victoria.”

After hearing it she realized the seriousness of the situation she was in.  Her fiancé ex-girlfriend had come to Chicago and wreaked havoc on everyone she came in contact with.  Joshua was shot, and someone had been killed.  Victoria clutched the phone to her ear and steadied herself.

“This is Caroline, Victoria is that you?” 

“Yes it’s me.”

Caroline let out a sigh of relief.

“Are you ok?  Did you get my message?” 

“I’ve had a lot going on so I have about fifty messages and I don’t want to go through them all now.” 

“I understand,” Caroline said, “well you can take the week off with pay, this is a tragedy and this won’t go against your probationary period.” 

Now it was Victoria’s turn to let out a breath. 

“Thank you so much,” she said. 

“You’re welcome and you know if you need to talk I’m here girl,”

Victoria smiled, “Thanks Caroline, I’ll talk to you later.”

“Ok, hopefully everything will be ok and you’ll be back first thing Monday?” she asked questionably. 

“Yes,” she said, “everything should be squared away by then and I hope to be able to move forward from this.” 

“Yes,” Caroline said.  “Ok take care and get some rest.” 

“Bye,”

Victoria hung up.  She stood there in a daze thinking about the mess she was in and what to really do about this relationship.  More like a circus act.  She closed her eyes and rubbed them. 

“Everything ok?” he asked.

She turned to look at him.  What to do with him she thought.  If someone told me six months ago I would be with another man besides Joshua I would’ve laughed in their face and told them to stick to their day job. 

“Yes,” she said, “everything’s ok for now, I thought I forgot to call in but my supervisor had already given me the week off.  It seems everyone saw the news last night.” 

She walked back over to her tray and finished her food. 

“
I need to get in your bathroom.”

An hour and fifteen minutes later Victoria emerged from the bathroom feeling refreshed and relaxed.  Steam poured out
from the shower and she wore her jean shorts, pink tee and flip flops, with her pink accessories to match. Her lips were glossed up and a hint of pink eye shadow lay across her eyes.  She gathered her clothes and put them in her overnight bag.  In the living room Greg was sitting on the couch flipping through channels. 

“You ready to drop me off?” she asked.

“Are you ready to go?”

“Well, I’m sure you have something to do today, I wouldn’t want to take up too much of your time.” 

“For your information, the time you take up with me is well spent, it’s not wasted.” 

He reached out for
her; she walked to him and sat down on his lap.  He looked at the time. 

“I have to be
somewhere at three, so do you want to chill with me until about one at least?  That’s not too much longer; I would just like to spend a little bit more time with you if you don’t mind.” 

“Can I smoke?” she asked. 

His eyes shot up,

“I didn’t know you smoked.” 

“Weed,” she said. 

He started to laugh. 

“What’s so funny?” 

“I’ve never known someone to be that upfront about it.” 

“Well now you know me.” 

He chuckled again. 

“Go on girl do your thang.” 

She stood up
and grabbed an ash tray, then plop back down next to Greg and crossed her legs.  In her purse was that little gold case.  Victoria put a joint in her mouth.  Greg was amused not believing this girl had joints on demand.  Once it was lit the thickness of the smoke lingered in the air and enveloped them. 

“Mmm,” he said, “it’s been a long time”. 

She looked amused and inhaled again, exhaling through her nose and blowing circles.

“Without this I don’t know how I would stay sane,” she said. 

She inhaled again then passed it to him, would he grab it?

He hesitated at first,

“Don’t let me pressure you,” she said. 

He looked pleased,

“I’m my own boss, baby,” he said. 

He inhaled and exhaled blowing circles. 

“Oh so you think you know something,” she smirked at him. 

He shook his he
ad yes while inhaling again.  Passing it back and coughing Greg sat forward his eyes watered and he tried to clear his throat.  His coughed became ragged and rough it made him stand to his feet.

“I need something to drink.”

Victoria pushed him toward the kitchen and pulled out a glass from the cabinet. Greg continued to clear his throat.  Pouring a glass of tea Victoria smirked then handed it to him.

“Are you ok?”

He took a sip and the
n a nice drink.  He cleared his throat.

“Now I am.”

She laughed.

“Y
ou might not need anymore.”

He waved her off and took another sip. 

“You might be right about that.” 

She hit it again then put it out. The poor guy almost choked to death.
She chuckled.  He’s a big boy, he’ll get over it, she thought.  He walked up to her,

“So is everything going to be
ok when you get home?” 

“You can’t be talking about my household,” she said pointing a finger at herself, “‘because you know better.”

He frowned. 

“Well would you like to stay here baby I would love to sweep you off your feet.  You’re so beautiful and fun to be around.  You’ve had a tragedy happen to you and you seem to be keeping it together.  Shows your strength,” he said. 

There was that word again she thought “tragedy”.  Maybe I should be mournful right now, w
hat’s wrong with me. 

“I didn’t really know Leon and really I think I’m still in shock,” she said. 

They lost themselves in each other’s eyes.

“I don’t think you’re
shocked I think you’re on cruise control.” 

His breath was warm and smelled like cinnamon
weed.  It tickled her nose.  He pulled her into his arms slowly, their faces pressed up against each other nose to nose.  She lifted her face and they began to kiss.  He had been eating something with cinnamon because that’s all she could taste now, slightly Victoria pulled back and put her hands on his chest, to slow him.  What is this guy trying to do, she thought, make me fall in love?  That’s not what this is about.  Get a grip girl, she scolded herself. 

“What’s wrong?” he asked.  “Why are you pulling away from me?” 

“Why not?” she stated.

He frowned.

“You’re cute even when you frown,” she said. 

He waited for an explaination.
 

“Why do you keep pulling away from me?  I would really like to kno
w.  Did I do something wrong?”