All That and a Bag of Chips (40 page)

“If I am, I'm not flashing it in your face like you are!”

Venice was visibly upset. “Jarvis, I can't help it that my family asked him to drive me home. I also can't help it that you can't deal with the agreement of seeing other people.”

“I don't give a damn! He's here! You've taken it to another level now.”

“I can't handle this kind of stress. If you can't deal with this, maybe we need to just stop everything.”

He walked up to her, tilted her chin to look him into his hurt eyes, and calmly asked, “Is that what you want?”

Stroking his cheek with her hand, she answered, “Of course not. I don't want to lose you, baby.”

Not breaking his gaze, he said, “Get dressed, Venice.”

He sat on the bed as she continued into the bathroom. Once inside, she tried to compose herself unsuccessfully. It was there she completely lost it. Crying aloud, she knew that if Jarvis would've brought someone home, she would've been devastated. His comments caught her off guard and made her a little nervous. She knew he wouldn't give a second thought about telling Craig how he felt. She tried to stop the tears. Her makeup was gone and she looked completely drained. Standing in the mirror, she tried to put her hair up, but was having some difficulty. She noticed her hands were trembling uncontrollably. About that time, there was a knock at the door.

She tearfully said, “Come in.”

Jarvis walked in, still nude, and asked, “Are you okay?”

She looked at him through the mirror and replied, “No, I'm not. I shouldn't have come over here.”

When he saw her struggling with her hair, he took the clamp and arranged it properly. After he finished, he wrapped his arms around her waist and said, “I'm sorry if I upset you, but I'm having a hard time with this. I can't stand to see you cry. Please stop.”

She flinched at his touch, turned and started the shower, then climbed in.

Since she had no response for him, so he said, “I'll see you when you get out.”

Softly she said, “You can join me if you want to.”

He hesitated for a moment, then pulled back the curtain and joined her in silence.

They got dressed and Jarvis said, “I'll let Chanelle know you're ready.” He was very quiet after that, then finally said, “Venice, I don't mean to hurt you, but I can't help the way I feel. I don't believe you know just how hard it is for me to see you with someone else. You say you want to be with me, but I'm having a hard time believing you. I need to believe you still want to be together. Do you understand where I'm coming from?”

Venice looked into his dark brown eyes and said, “Jarvis…look, I'm tired. I can't think about this anymore tonight.”

He just stared at her while his heart was taking another punch.

It wasn't long before they heard a horn blowing. He stood up and said, “Well, your ride's here. Thanks for coming over. I really did just want to talk.”

Venice walked over and hugged him. “Don't worry about it. I don't regret anything I did here tonight. I
do
love you. I'll see you later.”

She tiptoed and gave him a peck on the lips. As she walked toward the door, he pulled her to him and kissed her deeply on the mouth for one more assurance of his love. He walked her out into the cold air and thanked Chanelle for bringing Venice over. They all said their good-byes and Chanelle backed out of the yard.

Chanelle said, “O-o-o. You are so nasty.”

Venice snapped angrily, “Shut up, Chanelle!”

Sidney sympathetically asked, “Are you okay?”

Venice didn't respond. She just stared out the window, fighting back the sting in her eyes.

They drove back to the club and continued to party. The guys didn't seem to suspect anything, but were happy to see them return. After a little time passed, Venice was noticeably quiet.

Craig asked, “Are you all right?”

“I'm just a little tired. Thanks for asking.”

“Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, I'm getting a headache.”

Craig went over to Galen and told him that Venice wasn't feeling well. Galen looked at his watch and said, “It's time to go anyway. I'll get Sidney so we can leave.”

When they entered the house, Mr. Taylor was asleep in the recliner. Galen woke him up to let him know they were home.

Craig asked, “Do you need me to get you anything before you go to bed?”

She laid down across the bed and said, “No, I'll be fine, thanks.”

He leaned down, kissed her on the cheek, and said, “I'll see you in the morning. I hope you feel better.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem. Goodnight”

When he turned to walk away, Venice said, “Craig…”

He turned around and came back to her. She stood up and laid her head against his chest, embracing him.

“Yes, Venice?”

She looked up into his warm brown eyes and said, “Thanks for being so sweet.”

Smiling, he brought his lips down to hers and said, “No problem, Taylor. Goodnight.”

He closed the door and left her alone to come to grips with what she'd done earlier that night. Venice pulled her pillow to her and cried herself to sleep with guilt.

An hour or so had passed when her telephone rang. She was staring into the darkness and she answered, “Hello?”

The voice on the other end asked, “Are you sleep?”

It was Jarvis
.

“Not really.”

“Can I come over?”

“No! It's late Jarvis and I'm a little pissed off at you right now.”

“Let me come over and make it up to you.”

“No! I have to go. Goodnight.”

He softly said, “Niecy, nobody will know and I'll be out of there before the sun comes up.”

“You've lost your mind. I've already taken one risk with you tonight and I'm not going to do it again.

“Oh, I'm a risk now?”

“Look, I have a headache. I'll see you tomorrow.”

“Venice, if I come over, are you going to open the window?”

“No! Stay home!”

“I'm on my way.”

Venice rose up and said, “Jarvis!”

“See you in a minute. Goodbye.”

The phone went dead. Venice sat up in the bed, nervous as hell. When they were in high school, Jarvis found a way to climb up to the second floor using their garage. Venice was always afraid they'd get caught, but it never stopped them. She still didn't know if Jarvis was kidding about sneaking over. Her heart was pounding as she laid there in the dark. He only lived a few blocks away.

A few minutes later, Venice heard a tap on the window. She jumped up and saw Jarvis at the window. Venice was in shock that he still was playing these games. He took a serious chance by coming over in the middle of the night. She paced the floor a minute before raising the window.

She whispered, “Damn you, Jarvis! I told you not to come over here!”

He laughed, climbed in, and said, “You knew that wouldn't stop me. It's cold out there and that climb has gotten a little harder on a brotha.”

Venice backed away from him as he quietly closed the window.

“You thought I was kidding, didn't you?”

Venice went over and locked her door and whispered, “Be quiet. What is wrong with you? I told you that I was upset with you.”

“I know. It's not the first time, nor the last time.”

“Jarvis, what's wrong with you?”

With a devilish grin, he said, “Right now I'm loving the way your body is responding through your nightgown.”

Venice folded her arms to cover the obvious hardening of her nipples. She pushed past him and got back into bed and noticed the time: two-fifteen.

She set the clock and said, “You better by out of here by four. You know Daddy gets up early and keep your hands to yourself.”

He undressed down to reveal his nakedness and crawled into her bed, reaching for her.

She announced, “I said, keep your hands to yourself!”

He continued to wrap his arm around her waist anyway, pulling her to him. “Did he try to get with you tonight?”

Venice kept her back to him and said, “Mind your damn business. Now move! You're cold!”

Spooning his front to her hips, he said, “Why don't you warm me up then?”

He held her even closer to inhale her sweet, intoxicating scent.

Growing weaker to his touch and feeling his hardened desire, she whispered, “Jarvis, please!”

“Okay, girl, damn! Goodnight.”

Within minutes, he was snoring and had buried his face into the back of her neck. Venice, however, was wide awake. She could feel his strength against the softness of her skin and it felt perfect.

The next hour she laid there in the dark thinking about everything that had happened. She turned and looked at him and was glad one of them could get some sleep. The time was now about three o'clock and Venice was still awake. Occasionally, Jarvis would stir
and snuggle even tighter, pushing his heated body into hers. He wanted Venice to know what he knew, that they were meant to be together, forever.

Eventually he woke up and gazed into her tear-filled eyes as he touched her body and soul.

She wasn't supposed to be enjoying this since Craig was right downstairs. This was disrespectful, but she couldn't make herself stop.

“Jarvis…Jarvis….Oh, sweetheart!”

With his hands seeking her middle, he slowly and erotically soothed her.

Moments later, he claimed her and began his sweet torture. Her soft moans seemed to engulf her room. Jarvis smiled, knowing he'd never love or want anyone except Venice. He covered every inch of her skin with his kisses and his touch.

Venice moaned, “Oh, that feels so-o-o good.”

He whispered, “You like that?”

“Yes-s-s.”

He took his time caressing and stroking her with precision, igniting the fire deep inside her body. He kissed her intensely, driving his tongue deeper into her mouth as their tongues danced. Once again, he moved above her, pushing her knees as far back as possible to the headboard. In one swift thrust, he melted into her creamy body. He moved in and out, taking time to lick and suck her aroused tips.

He picked up his pace, needing, wanting to fill every inch of her silken canyon. He whispered, “Baby, I-I love you.”

Multiple orgasms invaded her body as her eyes fluttered and her body jerked underneath him. He shuddered also as he buried his face into her neck, which was moist from perspiration. Venice could feel his hot love enter her body as he became stiff, then relaxed.

Exhausted, he pulled her on top of his chest and covered them with the comforter. After a kiss to her forehead, he said, “I'll never stop loving you, Niecy. We're meant to be.”

She kissed him on the cheek and listened to her heart race.

The alarm went off at four o'clock. Venice cleared her throat and said, “Jarvis, you'd better get up.”

He stirred out of his sleep slowly and pulled her closer to him. “I'm not leaving.”

“What?”

He smiled and said, “I'm just playing. Come here.”

Venice turned to Jarvis and wrapped her sore arms and legs around his body and said, “You know I can get in a lot of trouble for doing this?”

“From who?”

“My folks.”

She kissed him deeply taking his tongue to hers and said, “I don't know what kind of spell you have on me, but this was wrong.”

“It didn't feel wrong to me. You are my wife. Remember?”

He kissed her again and pushed his arousal against her leg. “Let me get out of here before I get started again.”

She laid there watching him dress and before he went out the window, she said, “Call me when you get home and be careful.”

He gave her one last kiss and said, “That's a bet.”

I
t was about ten o'clock and Craig went ahead and took a shower before coming to check on an exhausted Venice.

If he only knew
.

After his shower, he sat in the den with Mr. Taylor, watching TV.

Venice's telephone rang and as soon as she said, hello, a voice asked, “Can you talk?”

It was Jarvis.

“Yes, what's up?”

“I don't want you to have any regrets about last night. I couldn't sleep when I got home because I was thinking about you.”

“I'm fine, but we can't do that again while Craig is here. Jarvis…I do care about him. I love him.”

“Bullshit!

“I'm serious.”

“Then you're confused. I know you better than you know yourself.” Jarvis fell silent for a moment before saying, “Look, Niecy, I'll talk to you later.”

“A lost for words? That's not like you.”

The phone went dead. Jarvis knew Venice couldn't have the same passion for Craig that she had with him. There was no comparison. He knew she loved him more, much more. Hearing the dial tone, she hung up the phone.

Venice finally got up and joined the rest of the family downstairs. This was going to be Craig's last night in her hometown and she felt like she needed to concentrate on him.

She entered the den and her dad said, “The dead has arisen.”

Craig laughed and Venice asked, “Do you want to get out of here for awhile?”

He smiled and said, “Let me change and then we can go.”

Venice sat there trying to decide how to spend the day. Craig didn't take long and his smile brought the guilt back to her heart. Venice told her dad they'd be back later. She thought it would be a good idea to go by the mall first. Venice was realizing that she'd betrayed Craig. But could she live with it? They walked through the mall and she began to loosen up. It was weird, but when Jarvis was around her, it was like he really did have a spell on her. There wasn't anything he couldn't get her to do.

Craig teased her about the small town mall. They enjoyed lunch and did some shopping. Craig asked her if she wanted to catch a movie, which they did. Afterwards, she drove over to Bryan's house. No one was at home, so she let herself in. They went into the rec room, started watching TV, and played pool. Craig got them some sodas and she laid against his chest as they took a break. He smelled wonderful and she was really going to miss him the next few weeks, even though she'd been sneaking around with Jarvis. Craig was special and she really did love him. She rubbed his chest and arms as they watched TV. Sinclair was out of town on a two-day convention. Bryan and Crimson were over at the Taylors.