TOTAL ECLIPSE: The Evolution (Sin City Heat Series Book 7) (31 page)

CHAPTER 35

Ignoring Darrell for the moment and giving Charlene all of her attention, Jerra’s eyes traveled over the skimpy outfit the other woman wore. “
Our
son is spending the night, so I’m afraid you’ll have to find someone else to
work out
with.” Her tone made it clear that she knew exactly what type of “exercise” Charlene had been hoping to get in with Darrell.

Darrell gave her a hard stare, which she defiantly returned. “Jerra, I don’t think you’ve met my neighbor, Charlene Jameson. Charlene, my wife, Jerra Monroe.”

“Oh, uh, hello,” Charlene’s face turned beet red as she stammered out a greeting. “Nice to meet you.”

“I’m sure.”

Darrell frowned. “Jerra.”

But Charlene took the not so subtle hint. “Darrell, I’ll get that pudding sometime tomorrow.” She gave Jerra a sly look. “Maybe if you’re free we can get that workout in then. Have a good night.”

Jerra stared after the woman with a sneer. It may have been his imagination, but Darrell almost swore he heard her growl. He opened the door wider for her to come in, his eyes following her as she walked inside glancing around the condo.

“Looking for something?” he asked with a slight edge in his voice.

Jerra swung around to face him. “No. Should I be?”

Darrell’s frown deepened. Closing the door, he headed towards the kitchen. “What’s wrong with you? You didn’t have to be rude. She was only returning a container.”

Jerra followed him, placing her purse on the counter. “I’m sure she wanted to give you a lot more than that, and from what I observed, you didn’t look opposed to the idea.”

Darrell stood on the other side of the counter staring at her. “Okay, what’s got you so pissed off?”

“Nothing,” Jerra muttered, still thinking about ‘Workout Barbie’. It had taken everything in her not to snatch that witch’s red hair out by its black roots.

And
him
. Jerra glared at Darrell. He’d stood there and actually…
flirted
with that woman. What would’ve happened if she’d decided not to stop by tonight? How far would the flirting have gone? Would he have invited her in and…and…

Jerra felt nauseous. The mere thought of Darrell having sex with anyone else was enough to make her crazy and insanely jealous. As much as she hated it, it was true.

“It seems like you’re enjoying your freedom quite a bit,” she continued when he remained silent. “First, you’re in
Club Ecstasy
taking pictures with other women and acting like you’re single, then I catch you flirting with your skimpily clad neighbor while she’s running her hands over you. I mean, is this what you do when you have my son? Wait until he’s asleep then invite random women over to do God knows what?”

The moment the words left Jerra’s mouth, she knew she’d made a huge mistake. The look Darrell leveled at her was one of absolute fury. “What did you say?” he asked, his features cold and stiff.

“Or you going to deny it?”

“Hell yeah, I’m denying it. Tha’ fu–” Darrell caught himself just in time. He took a deep breath, struggling to keep his temper in check because he didn’t want to go to the place Jerra was taking him. “Look, I don’t know what’s wrong with you, but I think we need to end this conversation now before things are said that can’t be taken back.”

“Whatever.” Jerra muttered in a dismissive tone. “I want to see D.J.”

“He’s asleep,” Darrel growled through clenched teeth.

“And? Does that mean I can’t look in on him?”

Darrell just stared at her through eyes narrowed thin to crinkled slits. Jerra shifted under the unrelenting weight of his scrutiny. Swallowing, her eyes darted around the kitchen. What was wrong with her, acting like some jealous shrew? She couldn’t believe she’d gone off like that and said something so ugly to him.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. About you bringing women here, I mean.”

“You’re right, you shouldn’t have,” Darrell snapped. “You can come at me all day if you want to, but don’t ever try to imply that I don’t proper care of my son.”

“That’s not what I…I didn’t mean to say…” Jerra clamped her lips shut for fear she would say something else to put her foot in her mouth. As things stood, she already felt about two inches high and knew she deserved every bit of his anger.

“Why are you even here?” Darrell fired the question towards her, his voice still angry and gruff. “I thought you said you were goin’ straight home?”

Feeling like the village idiot, Jerra grasped the first excuse that came to mind. “I…I was just thinking about D.J. and…and since I pass your exit on the way home, I thought it would be okay to stop and look in on him.” Great. Now she was bringing their son in on her lie.

Darrell placed his hands on the island located in the center of the kitchen and leaned forward. Without speaking, he gestured for her to go to D.J.’s room. Unable to meet his eyes, Jerra was almost to the door when Darrell called her name.

“Yes?” she asked, turning to face him.

“Why are you
really
here?” When she hesitated, he sighed, his anger fading, and slowly walked around to Jerra and stared down at her. “Baby, look we’re on our way to gettin’ things back on track, or at least I think we are. But it’s still fragile. For it to work, we’re gon’ have to put it all on the line and be completely honest with one another.”

Jerra looked up at him with wide eyes as she tried to find the words she was looking for, but for the life of her, her mind drew a blank. “I…well…”

Darrell placed a finger over her lips. “Tell ya’ what,” he said. “Go on and look in on D.J., then we’ll start over when you get back. Deal?”

Her throat working up and down, Jerra nodded and turned to go, hoping like hell that she could find a way to fix the mess she’d made, and salvage the progress they’d made if it wasn’t too late.

Darrell remained in the kitchen thinking about how things had gone left so quickly. He knew it was because Jerra had seen him talkin’ to Charlene and gotten jealous, but throwing D.J. in the equation as a means to get back at him was not going to happen. That was something she’d never done before. His mind continued to dissect what just happened until he heard her heels on the hardwood floors. Turning his head, he watched her approach with slow, reluctant steps. When she came into the kitchen and stopped a few feet away from him, he waited.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly.

Looking at the expression on her face Darrell had to bite back a smile. She looked so ashamed of herself he didn’t have the heart to give her a hard time. “It’s okay. No apology needed.”

Jerra looked down at the island and traced an imaginary pattern on it with her nail.

Darrell’s gaze roamed over her face. “Did D.J. look the same as the last time you saw him this morning?” he asked innocently.

Jerra raised embarrassed eyes up to his, but when the corner of his mouth lifted up in a teasing smile, her body lost some of its rigidity. She actually managed a half-hearted smile of her own. “Yes. He did.”

“See?” he smiled. “Have you eaten yet?”

Jerra automatically started to nod, but then she thought about it. “Not since lunch, but–”

Darrell’s lips tightened. Without a word, he went to the cabinet and took out a plate, then opened the oven to get the casserole and vegetables Mrs. Henderson had cooked for his and D.J.’s dinner.

“Darrell, no, it’s okay,” Jerra protested. “It’s late. You don’t have to do that.”

“Sit down.”

After doing as she was told, Jerra watched him in silence. When she saw how much he piled on her plate, she held her hand up. “That’s too much. I can’t possibly eat all of…”

A loud growl of hunger that rumbled from her stomach completed the rest of the sentence.

Darrell arched a brow as he put the plate into the microwave. “You were saying?”

Jerra pressed her hand to her stomach. “I guess I was saying, thank you. That looks delicious.”

They stared at each other for a moment before bursting out in laughter. Seated at one of the high-backed stools at the island, Jerra kicked her shoes off and curled a leg up under her. The minute Darrell placed her plate on the counter, she dug in with enthusiasm. Her taste buds had a party the second she started to chew.

“Oh my God, this is so good. Mrs. H. has got to be the best cook ever.”

“Wait until you taste the banana pudding she made,” Darrell said, placing a glass of wine in front of her.

Jerra glanced at the bottle he held and noticed it was her favorite. Smiling her thanks, she took a sip before placing it back on the island. “Is this the same banana pudding you were trying to give away to your neighbor when I walked up?” Jerra asked casually. Taking another bite of her food, she watched him closely as she waited on an answer.

Darrell pulled out the stool beside her and sat down. “It is.”

“Hmph.” After swallowing the food in her mouth, she took another couple of sips of wine before saying, “As long as that’s all you were planning on giving away.”

Darrell looked at her in surprise and laughed. “I see somebody’s feelin’ a little possessive tonight. I like it, though.”

Emboldened by the wine, Jerra made no move to deny it. “I guess I am.”

“I ain’t givin’ away nothin’ that belongs to you, and you better not be givin’ away nothin’ that’s mine.”

“So, does it? Still belong to me, I mean.” Jerra finished the last of her wine and handed him her glass for more.

Darrell’s eyes melted into hers before he answered in a husky voice, “You know it does.”

The sexual tension in the room grew thick. Their gazes held for a few more minutes before Darrell got up and went to the refrigerator. He poured her another glass of wine, but this time kept the bottle out.

Sitting down again, he leaned back and watched in satisfaction as she ate. Jerra asked him about the therapy sessions he’d had so far, listening with interest until Darrell brought the conversation back around to what they were talking about a few minutes ago.

“So I answered you, now you answer me. You haven’t been givin’ away what belongs to me, have you?” he asked. “Who else besides me been tasting my ‘pudding’?” 

CHAPTER 36

Jerra giggled at Darrell’s question but his expression was deadly serious when his eyes dropped to the spot between her legs as if he could see underneath her skirt. Jerra knew she was tipsy because hearing how he substituted “pudding” for “pussy” was just…hilarious. Wiping her mouth with her napkin, she tried her best to get her amusement under control.

“I’m sorry. It’s…it’s the wine. You know I can’t really drink without everything turning into a comedy show.”

“Yeah, I know,” Darrell nodded.

“It’s just that…” Jerra snickered. Then she started laughing so hard tears ran down her face. “Oh God, I’m so sorry. It’s just the way you said ‘pudding’ when actually you…you meant…” Jerra covered her mouth with both hands to try to keep the giggles inside.

Darrell stood up and towered over her. Turning her around on the stool, he stepped in between her thighs. Lifting his hands to her hair, he gazed into her eyes and started removing the pins that held her bun in place in order to free her hair.

“You haven’t answered me, baby.” He dropped a couple of hairpins on the granite surface in front of them. “Who you been givin’ my pudding to besides me?” Eyebrow cocked, his fingers paused as his look intensified. “And I better get the right answer.”

Hearing the underlying seriousness in his voice Jerra sobered quickly. Her eyes turned liquid soft as a pool of warmth spread throughout her body and settled at the very core of her femininity. She loved when he got that look in his eye that was playful…yet dangerous. It turned her on.

“Jerra?” Darrell prompted her to respond to his question.

“Nobody.”

“Nobody?” Darrell repeated. “You sure? Justin ain’t been gettin’ out of pocket? He been stayin’ in his lane?”

Jerra nodded dutifully. “Yes. He thinks we need to try and work things out.”

“Does he now?” Darrell ran his fingers through the silky strands of her hair, fluffing it around her shoulders.

Again Jerra nodded and took another couple gulps of wine. When she started to set it down, Darrell took it out of her hand and moved it far enough away so that it was out of her reach. Jerra closed her eyes when he started massaging her scalp around the area where her hair had been confined in the tight bun all day.

“Smart man,” Darrell drawled. “So Justin’s gotten with the program. Good for him. Nobody else been sniffin’ around my shit?”

Jerra frowned in concentration. “Well…someone tried tonight on the way home.” She moaned in protest when he stopped massaging her scalp.

“Oh yeah? Who?”

“I don’t know, some guy tried to pick me up at the stoplight,” she laughed. “I thought he was going to follow me at first, but he didn’t.”

“He just don’t know, that was the best decision he’ll probably ever make in his life.” Darrell started unbuttoning Jerra’s blouse. When she laughed, he looked at her inquiringly, a smile playing around his own lips. “What’s so funny now?”

“I…I have to tell you something.” Giggling hysterically, she leaned forward so that her head rested against his chest.

Darrell chuckled, kissing her temple. “What? Tell me.”

She lifted her head, eyes shining bright with amusement. “Re-remember when I let myself in a couple of weeks ago and fell asleep on the couch?”

“Yeah.”

She continued to tell the story in between tittering laughs. “Wh-when I woke up and saw you and H-Hawk standing there, for a minute, I th-thought you wanted to h-have a threesome.” Jerra was laughing so hard that tears gathered in her eyes. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I find that so funny.”

“Neither do I.” Darrell took a step back so that he could see her clearly. His eyes were now as hard as concrete blocks. He definitely didn’t find a damn thing funny about that.

Jerra noticed his reaction right away. She reached out and pulled him back to her. “Oh, come on. Don’t get mad. Don’t you think that’s funny?”

“No the hell I don’t.” His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Why, is that somethin’ you’ve been thinkin’ about because–”

“Of course not.”

“If it is,” Darrell continued, talking over her. “You can get that shit out of your head right now.”

“Darrell–”

“Don’t ‘Darrell’ me.” He cupped her face in his hands and positioned his thumbs underneath her chin to make sure her eyes were on him. “Now Dom and Keisha, I love them dearly. You know that. Ain’t no judgment here about the kind of lifestyle they choose to lead. But all that ménage à trois shit they’re into, that ain’t my thang, and it never will be. It damn sure better not be yours either.”

Her brown eyes now wide and solemn, Jerra stuttered and made an effort to explain that’s not what she meant, but Darrell placed a finger over her lips.

“Nah, I get it. But just thinking about some other man touching what’s mine…that fucks me up, Jerra. The very thought of you being with somebody else…”

He didn’t complete the sentence, but he didn’t have to. Jerra could see the anger churning in his eyes, could feel the fury rolling off his body in waves. She bunched his t-shirt up in her hand.

“Then why can’t you understand how much it fucks me up when you turn to another woman instead of me?”

“Jerra–”

“No, listen to me. It’s the same thing. I don’t care
what
the reason was for what you did, I’m your
wife
. We’re supposed to go to each other if there’s a problem,
then
make the decision on how to proceed…
together
. If it meant calling Roni, then I would’ve understood. You don’t sneak around and do it then keep it from me.”

Unable to stand the hurt in her eyes, Darrell shook his head and looked away. He knew better than anyone how much damage he’d inflicted on his family.

Jerra placed a hand on the side of his face and turned him back to look at her. “I need to be able to trust you, Darrell, because quite honestly, if I can’t trust you, there’s no need for us to ever be together again.”

“You know you can trust me with your life, J., the same way I trust you with mine.”

“If…if we decide to try again, no more half-truths. No more hiding things from each other.”

Darrell slipped a strand of hair away from her face and lovingly soaked in her features. “You’re the most important person to me on this earth. I never…” He stopped and swallowed hard. A grimace covered his face, as if tasting the bitter flavor of regret. “I know this sounds like a broken record, but I never meant to hurt you. I’m sorry.”

Her eyes luminous, Jerra hesitated then nodded.

“I’m taking steps to be the kind of man you need me to be, the kind of man you deserve. Just don’t give up on me, alright?”

“I won’t,” she whispered.

Darrell stepped closer and brushed his lips over hers sweetly. “Promise?”

Jerra nodded.

“Hm?” He nudged his nose against her nose.

“Yes. I promise.”

“Thank you. Now, do I get to have some of my pudding?” He smiled as she laughed and shook her head.

“What am I going to do with you?” she said in exasperation.

His smile slipped a bit. Darrell put all teasing aside. “Just love me. That’s all.”

As serious as he was now, Jerra lifted her mouth in invitation. “I do. Very much.”

The kiss happened naturally. Darrell’s lips glided over Jerra’s. He slipped his tongue past her lips, taking his time tasting her sweetness before deepening the kiss. Finished with the buttons on her blouse, he slipped it down her arms and dropped it to the floor, followed by her bra.

Still standing in front of her, Darrell placed his hands at the back of her thighs and lifted her up. Jerra automatically slipped her legs around his waist, her lips seeking and finding his again. Darrell palmed her ass, kissing her with an eager hunger, and carried her out of the kitchen to his bedroom where he made quick work of dispensing with the rest of her clothes.

After she climbed in bed, Jerra eagerly watched him undress with unabashed desire. She never tired of looking at Darrell’s body. He reminded her of a perfectly proportioned Greek god. His rippling muscles, wide shoulders, and powerful arms could’ve easily been sculpted by Michelangelo himself. When he pulled his shirt off, her eyes ran over the solid wall of his chest, which was pure, sinewy muscle. Jerra’s palms itched with the urge to touch him. She waited impatiently. The hard slab of his abdominals flexed and contracted when he pushed his sweatpants and boxer briefs down over lean hips and past his hard, muscular thighs.  She actually sighed out loud when he straightened to his full height, wonderfully naked and deliciously aroused.

Darrell’s laugh was deep and low when her attention remained riveted on his engorged sex. He brought his hand to his shaft and stroked his length nice and slow.

“See something you like?” 

The honey smooth timbre of his tone prompted Jerra to squeeze her thighs together in reaction. “Yes,” she answered hoarsely. Almost desperately.

Jerra’s hungry gaze never left the hypnotizing motion of his hand. Breathless with excitement, she felt like it was Christmas in July, and the one thing she’d been praying for was indeed wrapped neatly under the tree, just for her. Jerra was enthralled by her gift.

Darrell strolled towards her with the gracefulness of a lithe tiger, strong, virile and incredibly…male.  He glanced down at his erection then back up at her with grey eyes that seduced and enticed.

“Taste it for me.”

Although the words came out a husky whisper, there was no mistaking the fact that it wasn’t a request. Jerra’s pussy purred in response.

When she moved to get out of bed and kneel in front of him, Darrell shook his head. “No, stay there. Lie on your back,” he instructed. “Put your head this way.”

Jerra reclined across the bed on her back so that her head hung over the edge. The height of the bed placed her face in front of his groin at the perfect angle. Drawing her legs up, she bent them at the knee and placed her feet flat on the mattress.

Still priming his dick like a well readying to blow, Darrell stepped closer to her but his eyes remained locked on the sweet spot between her thighs. “Open your legs for me. I wanna see that pretty pussy. That’s it,” he murmured in soft approval when Jerra spread her knees wide apart.

Darrell’s tongue swept over his lips. Jerra was so aroused and wet that her flesh glistened, reminding him of early morning dewdrops clinging to fresh blades of grass. His mouth moved in that direction like a heat seeking missile, Jerra’s passion-moistened depths being the target, but she threw him off by extending her tongue and licking the throbbing vein on the underside of his shaft. Aborting the mission he had in mind for the time being, Darrell looked down at her with eyes full of lust. A low rumble of desire rolled off of his chest.

Jerra lifted her head a bit and whimpered as she tried to get more. Obliging her unspoken request, Darrell leaned within her reach. Giving him a grateful groan, Jerra’s lips greedily latched onto the bulbous head and lovingly swirled her tongue around the thick tip.

Darrell’s teeth gritted like an animal that had just gotten hold of a piece of meat and refused to let go. Slowly rotating his hips, he pushed himself deeper into her warm, wet mouth, an inch at a time, pausing at intervals to give her the opportunity to adjust to his significant girth. A guttural curse escaped him when the very tip of his dick touched the satiny lining of her throat. He paused when he encountered a slight resistance. Jerra’s eyes widened and welled up.

Darrell slowly pulled out. Jerra was the only woman who’d ever been able to literally swallow a good bit of his length, but it was a process that he let her set the pace for.  “Shhh, it’s okay, baby. Take your time.”

Nodding, she placed her hands on his hips and guided him back into her mouth. Biting his lip, Darrell was careful to let her handle the depth. This time she controlled her gag reflex, pushing her tongue out to open and create a passageway for him to glide down easier. She pulled him in deeper, a little bit at a time.

Darrell moaned when she swallowed as much of him as she could down her throat. Her muscles massaged his dick, keeping him snug in her oral canal. The feeling was…indescribable and never failed to make him cum. He struggled to control himself. Jerra held him there for several seconds before pulling back to suck on the head. Losing himself in the pleasure of it all, Darrell rocked back and forth, fucking her mouth, before she inhaled him deep again. The sight of her neck expanding, bulging, and working to accommodate his length nearly caused Darrell to spill his seed this time. The visual element was erotic as fuck, even more so because Jerra serviced him with skill and enthusiasm.

“Damn, baby,” he breathed hoarsely. “What you try’na do to me? You suckin’ the fuck outta this dick.”

Pulling himself free from the secure lock her mouth had on him, he lifted Jerra to her knees. He effectively quieted her protests by capturing her lips with his. Darrell threaded fingers that trembled through her hair, clutching the strands tight, holding her in place while his tongue ravaged her mouth.

Moaning, Jerra tried to get closer. Her head fell to the side, shivering when his mouth nibbled a ragged path over the sensitive skin on her neck, heightening her pleasure. Impatient, she urged him onto the bed.