Summer’s Reign

Chapter One

“Must be 18 or older to enter,” Summer read from the inside of her car. “That’s all,” she wondered? “Shouldn’t you have to be just a little bit older to go into one of these stores and see the sexually explicit items dangling from the racks and displayed on the shelves,” Summer asked Monica, but never taking her eyes off the store. “Well,” Monica started, “my kids won’t be going in there until they are good and thirty,” they laughed. Summer was parked outside of Roxanne’s, Memphis’ Adult Store. Monica, Summer’s sister-in-law, had suggested she take a trip to the store for some excitement.

Monica was on the hunt for something to entice her husband to cut his night on the town a little short. She was planning to help Summer pick some items out, then grab something for herself. D’Angelo, Monica’s husband loved it whenever Monica would take pictures of the items she chose, then text him to come to the store and purchase the items left at the register. That always made him hurry home.

Monica and her husband had the most exciting marriage Summer had ever seen. They even had a swing and stripper pole in their bedroom!

Summer’s marriage, however, had lost its spontaneity. She needed to spice things up between her husband and herself. Her reserved personality had never thought to visit a store so raunchy before, but desperate times, called for desperate measures. Summer entered the store and was blown away, literally. There were games, toys, lingerie, whips, videos, books, bags of “tricks”, mouth gags, and anything you could imagine. For a second, Summer thought about doing an about face and sprinting out of there, but there was this couple that seemed to be having the time of their lives. From behind, the man seemed strangely familiar, and the woman was definitely way too young to be with a man his age. Their enthusiasm encouraged her to stay and find something her husband would enjoy.

The woman was telling the man how much she would thank him when they got home. “How sweet,” Summer thought. “I can’t wait for my husband to adore me the way that this man obviously adored this woman,” she said to herself.

She stopped coveting the couple’s relationship long enough to shop around the store and realize very quickly that a Ben Wa Ball was definitely something she was not interested in. There were so many things to choose from, and she was concerned about providing a fantasy without going overboard. This was all so foreign to her. Summer finally settled on two costumes, a couple of games, a whip, and a video, and headed to the register to purchase her items.

For the first time, she actually noticed the man she saw earlier from a few aisles over. The earth beneath her started to spin and her head screamed, “I can’t breathe. I am going to faint!” The air left her lungs. Summer instantly became sick and weak. Now she knew why this man seemed so familiar. He was actually Jason. Her husband! Her initial instinct was primal. Everyone inside the store was about to have a well-whipped ass. When Monica tore her attention away from the cover of a video, her eyes followed Summer’s gaze and you could see flames take the place of her pupils. Summer snatched Monica towards the back, and instructed her not to say a word. As she paced in the rear of the store, with her mind going 100 mph, her husband and his mistress moved towards the register. It was almost as if you could see the light bulb go off above Summer’s head as she headed to the register behind them.

Summer overheard the woman say, “I can’t wait until you leave that old boring ass pluck, and be with me.”

“Oh, So this young heifer knows he’s married?!” Summer nearly said aloud.

Just then Summer stepped to the register and said, “Well before you leave, you wouldn’t mind purchasing these few little items for me would you?”

“Summer!” Jason practically screamed.

“Jason, you are aware that the sign on the door reads that you must be 18 to enter right? You may want to take this man’s daughter home.” She smiled in the young ladies direction, and then looked back at Jason. “Take your time. I’ll deal with you when you get home.” At that, Summer patted Jason’s chest and gave him a sly smile that oozed venom.

“But don’t take too much time! Cause I will call and report your ass for rape of a minor,” Summer’s boisterous sister-in-law Monica yelled over Summer’s shoulder. “And you already know I’m telling mama,” Monica yelled as she pulled out her cell phone. “Hell that girl probably still gets her ass beat with a switch!

Summer laid her items on the counter, winked at the couple and walked out of the store. She held her head high, shoulders back, and dignity in tack. She even added an extra sway in her step. “He had better walk in that house with armor,” Summer said to Monica between clenched teeth.

“Girl, I know that’s right,” Monica added. “It’s about to be world war three up in that piece.”

Chapter Two (Two hours sooner)

“Let’s shower and go out for toys,” Skylar told Jason excitedly. “You go ahead and jump in; I’ll be there in a second. I just need to check my voicemail to see if the office phoned me.” Jason lied. Everything he had ever told this young girl was a lie, but Skylar made him feel young again. She was twenty-three years young, no kids, and attending the University of Memphis finishing up her Masters in Business. When he met her, she was having lunch at a chic little bistro downtown. He asked to join her and she obliged. Shockingly, Skylar had great conversation. She had such a bubbly personality and a body any man would not only take notice of, but also covet; that was part of her irresistible appeal.

You could tell she worked out and was confident. That day, she wore black, wide-legged, high-waist slacks with a sleeveless yellow top with ruffles at the neck. It showed enough and left enough to the imagination. I offered to pay for her lunch, but she stood up, laid a twenty on the table along with her card and said, “No, lunch is on me, but dinner and dessert are all you.” She winked at me and sashayed off. Jason envisioned her in three different positions stretched out in the back seat of his Armada before she stepped onto her trolley.

He never meant for this booty-call to turn long-term. It was supposed to be that one time, but something about Skylar intrigued him. No, that’s a lie. He was addicted. Too bad this sexual addiction had Jason thinking with his little head instead of his big head.

To avoid unnecessary drama, Jason made sure he was always up front with Skylar about his wife, Summer. He let her know that he was unhappy with they way things were at home mostly because Summer was so boring and rigid. She worked, came home and cleaned and cooked, called the kids, read a book, and went to bed. How had this become his life? Where was the woman who was once so vibrant and down-to-earth?

Skylar did all she could to make sure Jason was satisfied in every way before sending him back home. There were even times he told her that he would leave Summer for her, another lie. Realistically, it’s cheaper to keep her. He told her what she wanted to hear, and she gave him what he wanted to feel.

As Jason keyed in his cell phone’s pass code, Skylar walked across the room naked as the day she was born. Her breasts were perky, peaked, and perfect. The voluptuous ass that sat plumply at the bottom of her small waist made a fire stir inside of him. When she turned to ask if he was coming or not, the diamond that met at the center of her firm thighs seemed to perform as a magnetic force. He quickly hung up the phone just as Summer’s voicemail message was playing back that she was about to go somewhere. She could go to Timbuktu for all he cared. He was about to dive into an abyss of lust.

Once inside the shower, Jason was so turned on that he grabbed Skylar by her hair, bent her over and rammed his bare soldier inside her brigade. It was something about the way the lighting sparkled off her skin and water cascaded down her juicy fat round ass that made him desire her so intently. She was always so wet and warm. Those muscles she used in that young tight pussy gripped him and hurriedly Jason had to pull out to keep from spraying her womb with his kids. He pulled her to him kissing her passionately and she wrapped her right leg around his waist. He picked her up so she could ride him under the steamy running water of the shower.

“My God this child knew how to please me.” Jason thought to himself. Never mind the fact that she was a year younger than he and Summer’s son and actually took a class with him.

When her breath hitched, she broke out into convulsions, and screamed his name, Jason didn’t give a damn who she went to school with. He pulled her up and made her hold onto the towel rack while he eased her legs over my shoulders. The walnut shape of her pussy made his knees weak.

Jason devoured her. Summer never got this treatment. All she wanted was missionary. Hell the moment they were done she was always ready to change the fucking sheets!

Skylar came again and squirted all down his throat; He knew she would be ready to return the favor. “Let me down Jason,” she said in this sultry voice that always made him feel barbaric. He did as she asked and she immediately dropped to her knees. She licked her lips and he disappeared in Skylar’s mouth. Any woman that could do that was all right with me. First she blew him slow and lifted her chin ever so often to deep throat him; that shit made his ass hairs straighten! His mind wandered to how to get her to bring her friend Dominique into the fold. She had the type of ass you could slam dominoes on!

Skylar sped up and used her hand to keep a constant contact on Black Jack (her name for his boy.) When he felt that tingle at the tip of Black Jack, he contemplated on putting his kids down her throat or up her chutes and ladders. He was dumb, but he wasn’t stupid. Down the hatch they go.

Later when Skylar and Jason arrived at Roxanne’s, he had forgotten all about Summer’s voicemail message. Skylar was showing him all types of X-rated shit and telling him how excited she was they would get to role-play tonight. He liked her, but if anybody was getting gagged and spanked it was going to be her ass. Sometimes Skylar mistook Jason for one of these little youngsters she’s fooled around with.

As they walked through the store, he smelled the fragrance of the woman at the end of the aisle and she smelled just like sweet nectar. “Why couldn’t Summer wear a scent like that?” Jason thought. The fragrance was light and sweet and faintly familiar.

They finally made it to the register, and once again Skylar was bad mouthing Summer and talking about how she couldn’t wait for us to be living together. The more he thought about it, he liked her better when she was facedown. Just when he was about to tell Skylar to shut the hell up, he heard a familiar voice and turned to see whom it was.

“Well before you leave, you wouldn’t mind purchasing these few little items for me would you?”

His whole life flashed before his eyes and his tongue fell to the inside of his pinky toe. Hell, if he didn’t know any better, he was probably shaking. Standing right there behind Jason’s little secret lover and him was his wife; it was Summer! “How the fuck could I get out of this one?” Jason thought.

Skylar was hanging all on him and here Summer’s ass was smiling and asking him to buy her some kinky shit before he left her for another woman! Jason couldn’t say anything other than, “Summer!” He saw her lips moving but didn’t hear shit she was saying. Now Summer was reserved, but she made herself that way. She was straight out of North Memphis, Dexter and Hollywood to be exact. Then he heard her say, “Take your time. I’ll deal with you when you get home.”

It didn’t help that his sister was with her yelling and making a scene. He was sure mom and pops would know about this before morning. Monica couldn’t hold water in a bucket if you handed it to her.

Summer turned and walked out with Monica in tow. For about 3.5 seconds Jason forgot how afraid he was because of how damn sexy Summer looked. She was assertive and seemed to have that fire back that she had a while ago. Skylar snapped him out of his trance with all her bitching. “No that bitch didn’t try to fuck up our night out!” He grabbed her by the arm and practically dragged her out of the store. He didn’t have time to hear her be a badass now that Summer was out of earshot. He had to figure out where he was going to lay his head tonight.

Chapter Three (Summer)

I stopped by the nearest liquor store on my way home and practically begged Monica to give me some time to sort through my thoughts. The truth was, I wasn’t in the mood to hear Monica’s yelling and cussing. She meant well, but some times she could be over the top.

As soon as I walked into the huge empty house, I lost it. I had never felt so alone and lost. I cried in the shower for what seemed like hours. By the time I even thought to pick up the soap, the water had turned ice cold.

Later that night, I was sitting on the chaise lounge in my bedroom drinking a blackberry Merlot, and hoping to find the answers to my problems in the bottom of that bottle. After thinking a while, I had to admit that I had been distant with Jason lately. It all stemmed from the fact that he just didn’t turn me on anymore. The romance was gone. All Jason ever did was work, which meant I rarely ever saw him. Now I understood why.

Somewhere along the line we had fallen out of sync. He never wanted to talk anymore, or spend time; he only wanted to have sex. Even that felt like a chore. The truth was so hurtful. There were so many signs, but I was oblivious to them because I was falling out of love and my husband stopped being my husband long ago. Jason was working out again, had a lock on his cell phone, and was acting down right shady.

When Ava, our eighteen-year-old daughter, asked when was the last time her dad and I had gone on a date, it became apparent to me the downward spiral my marriage had truly taken.

Since the kids were both away at college, I didn’t have anyone to care for but myself. Ayden, our son, was working at the University of Memphis as a graduate assistant in the admissions office while finishing his masters in business administration. He had really been talking about some little girl he wanted his father and me to meet soon. Too bad he would have to take her to two separate houses to introduce her to us.

Ava was adamant about going away for college. She attended a small college in Murfreesboro, TN, and was really growing into a young lady there. I was so happy that Ava and I had such a close relationship. She called and talked to me every night about everything. She had decided to stay in Murfreesboro for summer school, and to spend more time with this new guy she was seeing. She begged me not to tell her father that she had lost her virginity to Kai this past school year.

I had always encouraged her to speak to her father the same as me, but it never worked out. After she told me about her sleeping with Kai, I took off for a week and spent time with my daughter. It was unfortunate that Kai was out of town that week; however the main focus was educating Ava. I took her to get birth control and took her shopping and we talked about things I wasn’t quite ready to talk about with her, but I was relieved that she was comfortable enough to come to me about it.

I wasn’t sure whether it was the alcohol or just the simple fact that my family had entirely fallen apart before my eyes. I always wanted to show my children what a healthy and loving relationship looked like. Now my husband was having that healthy and loving relationship with another woman. The tears rolled down my cheeks and dripped off my chin into my glass. How could Jason do this to me? After all I’ve done for him and our family, he decides to cheat on me with some child?!

I laid back and knew then that I needed to get myself together. The last thing Jason Rayne would be doing is allowing his feathers to be ruffled. It was those very characteristics about Jason that attracted me to him in the first place. He was always so smooth and laid-back. His demeanor was consistent. He never ranged from one extreme to the next like me. Even in the middle of a family crisis, Jason would just call a family meeting, ask for everyone’s input, and then make a decision. He truly exhibited what it meant to be the head of household. He had a certain savoir faire to him that demanded respect.

His Hershey’s kiss colored skin and brown eyes had a way of melting me and causing any quarrel we had to cease. Just the thought of losing him and sent me spiraling back into the abyss of depression where I nearly drowned in my own tears. I couldn’t stop replaying the entire scene in my head. I’m sure it was the second bottle of Merlot beginning to affect my thought process. I sat there sobbing as I shifted backwards and forward through the five phases of grief.

First it was the denial and isolation. When I walked into what I thought was “our” home I turned off my cell and convinced myself that he was not with that little girl that way. By the time I made it to the shower I was filled with rage! The anger that overcame me was almost demonic. All I wanted was immediate revenge. Then I began bargaining with myself concerning my marriage. By the time I sat down and began drinking I had a heap of things I would do to fix the problems that I obviously had created. Now I was stuck at the fourth stage, depression. This damn Merlot had me all over the place. I’m sure that if I kept it handy, I would never make it to the fifth and final stage, acceptance. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t think straight. All I could do was cry.

Chapter Four (Jason)

I damn near wore the carpet to just a thread in that small hotel room. I had been pacing for what seemed like days. I didn’t have the strength to deal with Skylar, and going home to be a victim of domestic homicide wasn’t an answer either. I didn’t know what to do. When I realized that I was somewhat short of breath and had sweat dripping from my forehead, I decided to sit down to calm my nerves. My phone vibrated and I nearly jumped out of my skin.

Skylar had been texting and calling since I dropped her off. She was starting to get on my fucking nerves! After all the shit that just popped off, she had the audacity to give me an attitude when I dropped her off. She left a voicemail.

I decided to check it, just to see what she wanted. The first couple of messages were from the office. The next message caused me to go numb and allow the phone to slip from my hands. It was the message I cutoff when I ran to make love to Skylar in the shower. It was Summer. She was letting me know that she was going to Roxanne’s and had a surprise for me later. If only I wasn’t thinking with my little head, I would have heard her message and all of this could have gone down differently. I felt like shit. Summer and I had been having our share of problems, and here she was trying to get us back good and make it work and I was out giving her time to someone else.

My initial thought was to call up my boy Anthony and have him to run the “rise & fly.” Whenever one of us got a text that read, “rise and fly” we knew some shit popped off and to say that the chick was really with me. Summer knew the game though. She saw me run that game and she was a part of it years ago. I racked my brain for about thirty minutes trying to come up with the best way to slide out of this shit I had stepped in. I remembered something my daddy would always tell me, “Son, sometimes you’re the puppy and sometimes you’re the hydrant.”

I had to man up and deal with this one. Out of all things I’ve done, and all the times that I’ve cheated, I’ve never been caught. Hell, Summer probably didn’t even know that I was cheating.

I can’t even believe to think about what the kids would think if Summer and I went our separate ways if she can’t get past this. Ayden has always looked up to his mother and me, telling us that he would find a wife just like his mother, and treat her just like his dad would. He still says the exact same things now.

I respected the fact that my son never hopped from girl to girl. He played the field, but he was so smooth with it. That boy really took after his old man. He had the utmost respect for women and it showed in his actions towards both his mother and sister.

I always shook my head at the men who instilled their trifling ways in their sons, and by the time that adolescent monster developed, that “rolling stone” was long gone.

Summer and I had always agreed to be our children’s advocate. Even when we trust them to make wise decisions, we still back them up.

As I stood in the mirror looking at my own reflection, I saw that I had become the one person I swore I would never be. Looking at me from the mirror was my father. All of the feelings of neglect and anger came flooding back and before I knew it, “SMASH”!

I was standing amid broken glass with a bleeding hand. I wasn’t even aware that I put my fist through the mirror until after it was done. How in the hell could I let myself turn into that low-life?! He never thought twice about what he did to momma, and had no idea what it was doing to my brothers, sister, and me. That gigolo didn’t give a damn about nothing, or nobody except his third leg. I remember how momma would just keep going on with her life, like she hadn’t just caught daddy in their bed with Ms. Frazier, the lady that lived at the end of the block.

Momma still made his plates, kept the house clean, drew his baths, and loved him unconditionally. Even though she never broke her routine, she lost the sparkle from her eyes. Momma once had eyes that could tell stories and move mountains. It was like pops stole tiny pieces of her with each woman he ran his dick into. Now, here I stood, in the middle of a grimy hotel room with a bleeding hand and was that same heartless bastard that was stealing tiny pieces of my wives sparkle. I’ll never forget that empty look. It was the same look I saw in Summer’s eyes just before she walked out of Roxanne’s. On the outside she was smiling and walking with confidence, but the eyes are the mirrors to the soul. The look in her eyes, before she walked away, was equivalent to that of a child whose world had just been shattered after realizing Santa Clause was merely a figment of his imagination.

Chapter Five (Summer)

Summer was sitting on the chaise lounge gazing out the window with tears still running down her cheeks when she realized the sun was coming up. She hadn’t slept all night and felt like hell. She was depressed, confused, and hung-over.  Her face felt tight and puffy, and her head was pounding. No matter how hard she tried, she could not control her tears.

Although she powered her phone off last night, Summer was shocked she hadn’t heard from Jason. Come to think of it, that trifling bastard didn’t even have the decency to bring his punk ass home after everything that had happened! “If he didn’t care enough to at least come home and apologize, then why in the hell am I sitting here crying,” Summer said aloud. She stood up to head downstairs; it was time she got herself together.

Summer guessed she stood up too fast because as soon as she was upright she had to run to the bathroom to violently spew all the liquor she drank on a completely empty stomach last night.

After that painful ordeal was over, Summer went to retrieve the empty Merlot bottles from the floor and trash them. The house was silent and cold. Summer stopped at Jason’s office and wondered what she would find tucked away somewhere in there. Reluctantly, she continued on downstairs to the kitchen. She poured a tall glass of orange juice and grabbed a banana off the counter and headed back upstairs to draw a hot bubble bath.

After turning on the steaming hot water and adding her favorite Bubble Bistro fragrance, she grabbed her cell phone from her purse and powered it on. She sat the phone down on the dresser to finish her banana and headed to the closet to find the perfect outfit for the perfect day.

Ordinarily, Summer never spent money from the joint account, if it wasn’t an emergency, but she was certain that today’s depression would be considered an emergency and a full day of pampering would be just what the doctor ordered.

Deciding on a coral and tangerine colored floor length summer dress and her favorite Five North sandals, Summer headed into her bedroom when she heard a consistent buzzing. She realized it was her cell phone. Thinking it may have been Jason calling, she picked it up only to see that she had seven new voicemails! “Well at least he thought enough of me to leave messages,” Summer said.

Feeling somewhat relieved, she sat at the vanity and listened to each voicemail on speaker so she could pin curl her hair.

The first message was from Tamara, Summer’s assistant, reminding Summer that she would be about an hour late for work because her son had an interview at MUS-one of the most prestigious all-male grade schools in Memphis.

The second message was someone holding the phone. So was the third, fourth, and fifth. She assumed it was Jason, and he just didn’t know what to say. The sixth message was a female voice. Summer was so stunned she had to replay it just to be sure she heard the voice correctly.

“I tried waiting for Jason to come home, but he hasn’t yet. So could you please tell my fiancée to come home? Please stop begging and pleading with him to stay there. We’re buying a house together in Germantown where we can raise our unborn child. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it is definitely over between you two. So could you please let Jason come home? I would appreciate it if you did.”

Summer sat there literally with her mouth in the shape of a perfect letter O. She was amazed that this child had the audacity to call her! Within five seconds she envisioned the most effective and efficient way to kill both of them and not get caught. How did she even get Summer’s number? Had he really purchased her a house in Germantown? That was a very exclusive part of town!

Summer played the message over and over again, and each time she heard the young girl say, “…where we can raise our unborn child,” she felt sick to her stomach. Had she really been that bad of a wife? Had she really failed her marriage and family this way? Summer was shaking with seething anger.

Somehow she managed to save that message and move on to the next. The next and thankfully last voicemail message was apparently a recorded sex session between Jason and his “jail bate”! This was definitely the straw that broke the camel’s back. She needed to get out of this house and clear her head. With tears in her eyes, Summer jumped up, knocking the vanity stool over, and turned to leave when she saw Jason standing in the doorway, looking terrified, holding a Jared’s bag and a dozen red roses. This was certainly nothing that flowers and jewelry could fix. Did he really think that materialistic objects would make up for him fucking another woman??? The tears flowed freely once she laid eyes on the one man who had annihilated her world in one fell swoop. She finally understood what overcame those women on that television show about women who had snapped and killed their significant other. She was headed in Jason’s direction with tunnel vision and her fist balled. When she neared the bathroom door, which was directly between where she and Jason had been standing, it was then that Summer noticed that the tub water was overflowing. A lot like her anger.

Chapter Six (Skylar)

Skylar, sat on her living room sofa waiting on Jason to show up. After the run in they had with his wife, she was sure he would need some loving. Skylar could not believe that Summer was actually in the same place as they were. Talk about irony. She was a little anxious about the run-in but mainly relieved that it had finally happened. She was beginning to think that Jason would never leave his wife and be with just her. It was because of his little hesitant behavior that Skylar had begun taking matters into her own hands.

Here it was almost two in the morning and Jason had yet to walk through the door! He wasn’t responding to any of her text messages or answering his cell phone. If she didn’t know any better, she was certain he was forwarding her calls to voicemail.

Skylar had become afraid, agitated and desperate. She wasn’t willing to lose Jason. He was an amazing man who had money, status, and could lay some serious pipe! How could she maintain her lavish lifestyle without him? Honestly, she was beginning to fall for Jason.

If Summer was handling her business, then he wouldn’t have to look anywhere else, and she was damn sure he wasn’t leaving her for anyone else.

Skylar picked up her phone, pressed the code that would make her number private and dialed Summer’s number. It went straight to voicemail. The videotape was set to play at the perfect moment.

Jason had suggested that they make a sex tape the other night. He normally insisted on keeping them all in his possession, but he seemed to forget about this one. He left in a rush one night, saying something about his kids needed him.

When Summer was giving her standard message, Skylar pressed play. She allowed the video to play long enough for Summer to hear her scream Jason’s name and long enough for Jason’s distinctive voice to be recognized. Then she hung up. After a couple more glasses of Moscato, Skylar was certain that she just hadn’t done enough. She wanted Jason to have a clean getaway. So, she decided to call back. Grateful to not have to be confrontational, Skylar spoke in her most sincere and endearing voice on Summer’s voicemail. She explained her relationship with Jason to his wife. Surely this would be enough to fuel the fire a while longer.

Skylar sat on the plush ivory sofa wearing one of Jason’s blue button-down shirts, with her fourth glass half-filled with Moscato. She fingered the tassels of the throw pillows while thinking of the first time she and Jason made love. It was the most beautiful and innocent experience, if you can even call adultery innocent.

Jason had told his wife he was out of town for the weekend, so they were free to be free. She was a little nervous about being alone with him like that for so long, and was beginning develop feelings for Jason. They had come so close to making love a few times before, but him being a married man made making that leap a little harder for Skylar than Jason. So, on the Thursday before they were set up to rendezvous, she participated in some diminutive retail therapy to help ease the tension. There was nothing better than spending Jason’s money to put her in a better mood!

The two of them were on their second movie, final plate of take-out, and third bottle of Moscato, when Skylar needed to use the restroom. Stumbling down the hallway, she heard Jason say to use the one in the bedroom instead.

When she opened the door, her mind was blown by what he had done. Rose petals, and soft music filled the room. There was even lingerie at the foot of the bed. When Skylar turned to go ask Jason how he had time to set this up, she walked right into him. He grabbed the back of her neck and kissed her passionately. Damn! Either this was true passion or the wine. Either way, she was much more relaxed and that kiss had lifted her at least four more levels. Jumping on Jason and wrapping her legs around his waist, the rendezvous had begun, and they never came up for air. He walked her to the bed where he undressed her slowly. First he raised her shirt and kissed Skylar’s stomach, stopping at her breast. The girls were alert. There was a gulf rushing between her legs at this point.

He caressed her breasts in each hand as he kissed gently down her neck. His tongue flicked over each nipple and ever so often he would bite, then suck them.

Without warning, Jason pushed her knees back and sucked every ounce of life out of her… Or so it seemed. He sucked on her clit and flicked his tongue on the tip at the same time, how the hell he did that she had no idea, but that shit had Skylar seeing unicorns and leprechauns at the end of rainbows.

She heard the crinkling sound of a small package. It was time, and Skylar was ready. Jason kissed up her body, making one hundred percent sure to hit every corner. He kissed her again and that time she kissed him back with the same hunger he gave her. Her intense feeling could only be compared to starvation. She needed him.

She wrapped her arms around Jason and lost herself in the moment. Slowly, Jason slid his manhood inside of her. “OHHHHHH!” Sklar yelled loud enough to receive a noise complaint. He took his time, but that shit hurt like all hell. It was one of those pleasurable pains. Skylar came violently when Jason aggressively thrusted deep into her. This orgasm was nothing like the ones Skylar had given herself lately. This one radiated throughout her entire body. She lost control of everything. It was like every inch of her was awake. The sexual sounds and heavy breathing they created filled the room like smoke in a small cabaret.

Jason rested her feet on his chest, but never missed a stroke. Skylar grabbed the headboard and held on for dear life when she felt that tremor simmer below. “Oooo baby I love the shit outta you.” She thought she heard Jason whisper. She wanted to profess her love to him too, but that simmering tremor turned into an eruption. Skykar’s moans were so euphoric, that she almost didn’t recognize her own voice.

When he kept hitting that small sensitive spot that’s up high and to the right, she moaned loud and deep. She yelled Jason’s name and he sped up. He was so forceful that she kept climaxing, he let out a barbaric growl, and their pleasures became one. It was colorful, dark, twisted, and unraveling all at once. They collapsed on the bed in each other’s arms. Jason pulled Skylar closer to him and rested his chin on her head. She allowed herself to let go of her inhibitions, realizing that unlike her past flings, Jason wanted her there afterwards. She knew at that moment that this was where she wanted to be as well.

Chapter Seven (Summer)

Summer never gave Jason the time to saying anything to her. She immediately brushed past him and headed downstairs. Jason dropped his gifts on the bed, ran into the bathroom to shut off the running water and followed closely on her heels.

“Summer! Baby, please let’s just talk about this!” Summer was moving so quickly that Jason was basically screaming for her to listen. He was extremely worried that if she left without hearing him out, they would definitely be destined for disaster. He had to make it right and he had to make it right at that very moment.

Summer moved at the pace of a lioness preying for her next meal. Her pace was quick and furious.

Summer reached for her keys located in the bowl on the table near the garage door.

“Baby, please don’t leave like this. I’m begging you to please just give me a chance to explain.”

Summer stopped in her tracks with her hand on the doorknob.

“Don’t you dare call me your baby!” She spat out. You have the audacity to bring your black ass in here telling me to give you a chance when you didn’t even have enough common sense to come home after I caught you with that damn middle school girl?

Summer was walking towards him slowly and saying each word through clenched teeth.

“Just give me a chance—-“

SLAP!

“You don’t deserve a chance, or shit else that I have to offer a man for that matter,” Summer shouted, cutting him off.

Jason reached out for her hand, because it was possible that some sort of physical contact would comfort her. Summer smacked his hand away as hard as she possibly could. She looked like a mad woman. The fury in her eyes scared Jason for a split second.

“Don’t you even think about putting your hands on me! I can honestly say that I have no idea where they’ve been.

She walked up so closely to Jason that he could feel her breath on his face.

“You know, sometimes we try so hard to runaway from the inevitable. But the truth is that you are no different than your no-good ass father.”

Jason’s shoulders slumped with the verbal haymaker Summer had just delivered. His eyes welled at the mention of him resembling his father in any shape, form, or fashion. It was bad enough that he thought that very same thing about himself the night before in the hotel room.

Then to hear those exact thoughts spoken from his wife and best friend, tore him down piece by piece.

“Baby please, hear me out! Think about us!”

“Jason are you fucking serious? Think of us? I’m the only one who gives a shit about us apparently! I’ve spent over half of my life making decisions for everyone else except myself! I moved back to Memphis for YOU! I got married for YOU! I had our children for YOU!”  Summer was poking her finger into Jason’s chest with each “you”.

“Then I spent the last twenty plus years making decisions based on what was best for my children! After all of that, this is the thanks I get? You sleep with someone else? I’ve done all of the things that I don’t agree with, and for what? I tried being submissive and cooking dinner every night, keeping a clean house, raising the children alone so that you could work sixteen to eighteen hour shifts. You should have had the courage to just slap me in the face if that’s how you felt.”

Summers voice began to crack as she looked away from Jason. “I gave up everything for you.”

With that, Summer turned on her heels and walked out the door. She hit the garage opener on the wall and got into her Infinity SUV, wanting to get out of there as quickly as possible. She started the engine and began pulling out of the garage. Summer paused in the middle of the driveway long enough to see Jason standing in the doorway looking at her with pleading tearful eyes. For a split-second, she wanted nothing more than to be in his arms allowing him to make this situation nonexistent like he does any other problem in the family. But this time, he was the problem. As she sped off, she wondered if things would be better if he were nonexistent.

Chapter Eight (Jason)

 Jason hit the button to lower the garage and shut the door. He stood in the middle of the kitchen while he cried silently. He was in so much pain and the only person he could blame was himself. Nothing mattered more at this moment than fixing his marriage. He had no idea why he even cheated in the first place.

         It was true that he and Summer had grown apart from the lack of sex, affection, and making time for themselves, but nothing could justify him stepping outside of his vows. He truly did love his wife with all his being, and would not know what to do without her. But because of his sexual addiction, his marriage had completely deteriorated. The sad part was that there were so many women before Skylar. Women in the neighborhood, at the church, on his job, in the building at his job, at his gym, wherever he met a beautiful woman, he had the charm it took to have her. Jason was always up front with the women he fooled around with. They always knew that he was married and had no intentions on leaving his wife. He made it clear that he was happily married, but only needed more sexually. Somehow he ended up pacifying Skylar rather than dismissing her, which is how he ended up knee-deep in this load of shit.

         It was something about Skylar that captivated him. She was much younger than him, but she had a certain level of wisdom, and spontaneity that made him feel youthful whenever he was with her.

After everything that had happened, Jason knew that none of it was worth his livelihood. At that very moment, standing in the middle of his kitchen alone, he felt that he had the motivation to go back to being the best at everything-The best husband, the best father, the best anything he put his mind to if he could get a grip on life. He didn’t want to recreate the disconnect that grew in his family because of his father’s actions. He worked hard to get his family where they were and it seemed as if he had worked just as hard to tear it all apart.

Jason sat at the kitchen table and buried his face in his hands as he released a river of emotions. He never wanted to admit that he was a lot like his father with his womanizing ways because that would mean he had to acknowledge the pain and bitterness that he had masked deep within.

As Jason sat at the table crying his silent tears, he picked up his cell phone and decided to call the one person he knew would keep it straight no matter what. He called his sister Monica.

The phone rang three times. Right when Jason was about to hang up someone answered. “I knew your trifling ass would call sooner or later,” Monica said when she answered.

“Hey, I’m great thanks for asking,” Jason replied in a less enthusiastic tone.

“Jason where in the hell have you been? Summer hasn’t answered her phone since she dropped me off last night, and you couldn’t be contacted. Ava has been calling the two of you all night to tell you about her grades.”

Monica had rattled off so much so fast that Jason almost regretted calling her.

“Listen up Monica, I did not call you to hear this shit! I wanted you to let me know what was Summer’s reaction when you two left the store last night. I know this is some serious shit! I know I messed up! I know, and I don’t need you to tell me something I already know,” Jason exploded.

The line went silent. Monica had a lot of sass, but she was extremely sensitive. He knew that his screaming at her had taken her by surprise and probably hurt her feelings.

“I apologize sis. I didn’t mean to take this out on you.”

“I know you didn’t. Look she was much too calm and relaxed for me. When I offered to stay with her until you came home, she told me that she was fine and needed some time to herself,” Monica replied.

“Calm? Summer is never calm when she’s pissed off.”

“I know,” said Monica, “She had a blank look on her face and was talking low. I ain’t never seen her like this before Jason. Maybe she just needs some space.”

“Space? Monica we ain’t some suburban couple on TV! I promised momma that I would never go to bed mad with Summer and that I would always remain under the same roof with my wife and work through our problems. Now that has been true up until last night.”

“Then don’t leave the house. Just go out back to the guesthouse. Leave her a note letting her know where you are and that you want to work this out, but you’re sure she needs her space.”

“You may be right Monica. Thanks lil sis. Talk to you later.”

“Hey, Jason? You and Summer are made for each other. Yea, you messed up, but you can make this right. You’re not him, so that means you can fix this. Now go put in some work.”

They hung up and Jason felt a glimmer of hope. In the last 24 hours he had been made to feel like he was no different than his father. However, when his little sister said he was nothing like him, he knew exactly what she meant and it made him believe that he could change.

He decided to fix a little dinner, because he was sure Summer hadn’t eaten. He fixed her a spring salad with pecans and a vinaigrette dressing, Parmesan chicken with mashed potatoes, and grilled asparagus. He chilled a bottle of white wine and had flowers delivered. He ran out to pick up candles and a thoughtful card to express his feelings. He decided to add a personal touch to the card he bought and wrote from the heart.

Summer,

I want to spend the rest of my life making this right. Just as you’ve spent most of your life loving me. I love you more than you know and I know that you don’t deserve any of this. I messed up baby. I’m sorry. I could say that a thousand times and I’m sure it doesn’t move you now, but know that I mean it. I know I can’t say nothing to take back how I made you feel. My actions may not have reflected it, but I am. You are the perfect wife, mother, and woman. Any man would be lucky to have you and I am. I was just selfish and I wasn’t thinking about how this would affect our family. I have to gain your trust back. I know I have some flaws that I need to fix and I’m willing to work on it for however long it takes. But baby I need your help in identifying those flaws and faults. I want us to work through this and grow old together. Right now, I’m sure you need your time and space, so enjoy this salad and dinner is in the oven. I’m staying in the guesthouse until you’re ready to talk. I love you baby.

J

  Jason had pulled out all the stops in hopes that he and his wife could see past this hiccup. After packing a few items, on his way out the back patio, he picked up a wedding photo of him and Summer. He had to put the glimmer back in her eyes. He stood in the doorway and looked out towards the sky. “Alright God, this is me. My momma always said that You have a way of knocking us down on our knees, and I’m there now. I know that I haven’t come to You like I should or gone to church with the best intentions, but I’m here now and I need You. I know that I’ve done a lot of wrong in my past, but God I’m begging You not to take my family from me. I love my wife, in spite of all the wrong I’ve done. I love her with all my heart. The look in her eyes last night and before she left… God I just can’t take it. Please show me how to make this right. Teach me how to be a better man for Summer. Please God.”

Jason walked out towards the guesthouse with the photo in tow.

Chapter Nine (Summer)

With the soulful acoustics of India Arie’s “Get It Together” playing in the background, Summer sat in her SUV wondering why she had ever gotten married in the first place. She had driven aimlessly until she ended up on Riverfront Drive. While she overlooked The Mighty Mississippi River, angry lines creased her mouth and forehead. She thought about her husband and all he meant to her. Summer and Jason had grown up together. They met in middle school and had been inseparable ever since. From middle school sports, to high school organizations, to college sweethearts it had always been just the two of them.

Like any relationship, they had their problems, but everyone knew that Summer and Jason had the type of love that could withstand any dilemma. Summer and Jason chose different paths after high school, which resulted in a breakup during college. Against her better wishes, she moved back to Memphis to be with Jason. He had gotten in touch with Summer out of the blue one day and they instantly picked up where they left off. The earth shattering sex, the sweet conversations, the genuine kind gestures, were all enough for Summer to pack up and haul it back to Memphis.

About six months after relocating, Jason proposed. They attended pre-marital counseling and the pastor said something Summer knew she would carry with her forever. He asked Summer what made her not only fall in love with, but agree to marry Jason? Summer’s reply was instant and it didn’t take much response time. “He completes me. Without him, I’m whole, but with him I’m so complete. His love makes me feel full, the kind of right-after-Thanksgiving-dinner at MaDear’s house type full. He makes me high and forgetful, and I desire him the same now as I did years ago. Pastor, it’s always been him. No man makes me cry tears of pain and joy in one setting, but him. He’s my other half. No matter what he brings to the table, he has my support, even when I don’t agree. I want to give him the love that I feel in my heart because I want him to know how it feels to be loved that much. I never want to let him go. I never want to go a day without inhaling him and breathing his love. My desire for this man runs deep, so much so, that I’m certain that no other man will ever experience it. He is the only person that deserves my love.”

Summer cried from the overwhelming force she felt when she thought of the love she had for her husband. That love always brought a smile to her face, even during the worse times they faced, she could always rely on the love they shared.

Summer realized that her cocaine-high love suddenly turned into a deadly overdose affair. Jason had another woman that he was spending quality time with. A man can have casual sex and walk away, but when he spends his time, in public, he’s not just gone physically, but he’s gone emotionally. For Jason, Summer’s love wasn’t enough to keep him. Sure she could admit that she had not been making love to Jason nearly as much as she had been. It was almost like they had gone from being the best of friends to common roommates.

Summer didn’t know whether to save her marriage, or walk away and accept that things were just too far-gone. How could she miss the warning signs? Although she knew that she never wanted to move back to Memphis, Summer applied for a position here and was hired. That was the cover up she used to move back home, without being questioned.

Maybe Summer and Jason were still high off of the high school love that they shared and didn’t spend enough time getting to know the adults that they had become.

Summer feared that she had spent the last twelve years being in a marriage on her own. She was oblivious to the fact that there was ever another woman. How could she be so naïve? For the most part, she thought she and Jason had a great marriage. They were successful and social and for the most part had achieved all of their goals.

As Summer sat in her SUV watching the flow of the river, she couldn’t help but wonder if her life had taken on the same rapid flow of the water, spinning out of control all around her while she watched. But this was one time she wouldn’t take a back seat in the story of her life. Summer felt as though she was sinking, and she would take every asshole down with her.

Chapter Ten (Ava)

Fuck  it. It’s now or never. Ava thought as she walked toward the building she had been circling for the last 45 minutes as she struggled to find the nerve to enter the club.  She was relying on her mom to talk her out of going in the first place, but when she didn’t answer, Ava threw caution to the wind.

“Twerk  twerk twerk twerk twerk dat ass!” banged through the speakers as the half-naked girl exited the stage.

“Y’all show some love for Moet. Next up we got one of the baddest bitches out of Houston hitting the stage.”

         Damn! Sure hate I missed Moet. It must’ve been one hell of a show because the crowd definitely made it rain for her.  It was my first time inside a strip club, and I had on so many disguises that I barely recognized myself. I had no idea what to expect. But I didn’t want to run into anybody I knew.  Attempting to be low key, I took a seat at a table near the back of the club.

“Can I get you something to drink?”

“No thanks. I’m good for now.”

“You sure? Cause you really look like you could use a lil sumin right about now.”

“What do you mean I look like I could use summin?”

“It’s just that…this is your first time in a strip club am I right?”

“Of course not. I hit the strip club all the time. This is my first time coming to this one, but not my first time in the club, come on now.”

“Yeah okay, whatever you say. You walk up in this bitch lookin like you in the witness protection program sitting way in the back, and I’m supposed to believe you hit the club on the regular?  Boo please.”

“I really don’t care what you believe. I said I’m cool right now. Tell me something, Cherry is it? Does your manager know how you speak to his customers?”

“Whoa!  Hold up sweetie. I didn’t mean to get all up in your business like that. I’m just trying to make sure you have a good time that’s all.

“Who says I’m not having a good time already?”

“Well for starters, you’re sitting in the back of the club, wearing shades, looking scared to death with this jacked up wig on.  It’s cool though, cause I’m bout to bring you summin to take care of all that, give me one second”

“I said I’m goo…”  Well, whatever then. If she wants to bring me a free drink then who am I to say no? I didn’t want to admit it but she was right. I was looking kind of stupid in that wig. I was 207 miles away from home. Plus if I did run into somebody I knew what could they say to me? After all, we would be sitting in the same place doing the same exact thing.

I don’t know what Cherry brought me but it was good as hell. I had already downed two glasses and was working on my third.  I had loosened up so much that I even agreed to a private lap dance. Now I have received lap dances from men in the past, and don’t get me wrong they were hot; but this shit here was off the fucking chain!  I Like by Jeremih filled the room as Flap JaXXXs made her way over to me after sliding down the pole seductively to 50 Cent’s Ayo Technology. Up close she was even more gorgeous than she appeared on stage. She had Caramel soft skin with big saucer shaped green eyes. She had a seductive smile that enticed her victims into her web of temptation. She dropped to her knees and crawled towards me. “Damn,” I thought. “There’s that feeling again.” I allowed my eyes to caress over her shoulders and down to her succulent breasts. I tried to bury that “feeling” like I had for so many years. I watched the way her hips swayed as she crept my way. The way her round ass swallowed that green thong made something in me stir. I succumbed to that feeling. I couldn’t stop. I wanted to kiss her breasts. “Shit,” I said barely above a whisper. Flap JaXXXs had rolled over to her back and had her face between my legs. What she didn’t know was that she could have me if she wanted. There. I said it. I. Like. Women.

That was the first time Ava had admitted to herself that she was gay. She couldn’t even consider herself bi-sexual because Kai didn’t please all of her totally. Admitting her sexuality was like having the weight of the world lifted off her shoulders. Now that the hard part had been done, it was time to indulge…

I took a twenty-dollar bill out of my pocket and rubbed it between her plump breasts. She sat up just enough to retrieve the money between her teeth. The song changed to Juvenile’s Back Dat Ass Up. She wore a look that said, “Aw hell yea!” This woman threw her hair and twisted her body around so I could see her slide her hand between her thighs. Why was she fucking with me? She stood up, and gyrated her hips to the beat. When the hook played, her ass bounced like it had a mind of it’s own! I was mesmerized. Impressed to say the least. She straddled my lap, grabbed my hands and made me hold her ass. “I know you want to,” Flap JaXXXs purred. Maybe she did know she could have me. Right on cue, as if reading my thoughts, she squeezed both of her breasts together and put her left nipple on my lip like a mother would to a newborn. So like a newborn I took it in my mouth. I tickled her nipple with my tongue and immediately knew I would have Flap JaXXXs in my bed that night. I hated to cheat on Kai, but this bitch was bad. She threw her head back and said, “I get off in about two hours, don’t leave.”

“Give me a reason not to,” I told her. The flirting had me wet as hell.

She leaned back a little, reached between her legs, fingered herself, then slid her finger into my mouth. “That’s why,” she said then sashayed off.

She smelled like water and tasted like honey. Not realizing we had a small crowd surrounding us, I smiled and started texting on my phone. I tipped a few more dancers and had Cherry to bring me a lot more drinks. I sat my horny broke ass there for two and a half hours. Right when I was preparing to leave, one of the other dancers slid a piece of paper on my table as she walked by. Stupefied, I opened it. Flap JaXXXs had written her number and address on the paper. Her note told me she left about thirty minutes ago and wanted to freshen up before I got there.

“Don’t keep me waiting.

xoxo,
JaXXXs”

was how she ended her note. I finished my last drink and walked out as smoothly as possible. The liquid courage Cherry kept bringing gave me the gall to drive the three blocks to JaXXXs’s house. I sat in her driveway with eight million questions booming through my head. What would I do to her? What would she do to me? Would this be a one-night stand? Did she already have a lover? Was this a set-up? The front door opened and there stood JaXXXs in a red silk robe, wide open. Not another question clouded my judgment. I didn’t know what I was walking into, but I damn sure was walking in!

Chapter Eleven (Summer)

Summer decided to get a hotel room at the Double Tree downtown to sort through some thoughts without being distracted by Jason’s lies. No matter how hard she tried to swallow her anger and hurt, it felt as if her chest burned from holding it all in.  Jason set off a walking time bomb; ready to explode at any given moment.  After checking in, she dropped her overnight bag in the closet and went to relax on the plush burnt orange-colored recliner. As she sat there, taking in the elegant décor of the room helped her to settle down. The earth-tone hues in each room gave the suite warmth.

Summer sat in the quiet room, too afraid to turn on the television, knowing she would only see another person’s horror story. “Even though misery loved company, she had no room with me tonight,” Summer thought aloud.

Glancing over at her purse and realizing her phone was still powered off, Summer contemplated leaving it where it was because of the last catastrophe that took place dealing with unwanted voicemails. Nevertheless, she headed to the refrigerator to grab a bottled water, grabbed the phone from her purse, and plopped back onto the recliner. While drinking her water and waiting for her phone to power on, she thought about how Jason met that young girl. Did he charm her? Did she seduce him? Did he take her to lunch? Did she invite him to dinner?

The constant vibrating snapped Summer from her thoughts.” Seven Voicemail Messages,” her phone read. “Here goes nothing… again,” she said as she pressed one to retrieve the messages. The first one was from Monica. She was concerned and checking on Summer. Outside of her loud and boisterous demeanor, Monica had a sweet and caring spirit. The next three messages were all from the office. She had forgotten about the properties that she was scheduled to show in Harbor Town, Central Gardens, and South Bluffs.

Luckily, Alisha had been able to show them. She had to be sure to send her a thank you card. Message five was from Ava. “Hey mom it’s Ava. I’m thinking about checking out this new club tonight and I’m a little nervous because it’s a different type of atmosphere. Just wanted to hear your thoughts. Call me when you get a chance; All my love!” Message six was from Ayden. “It’s my favorite girl! Hey ma, I needed a little help on choosing a good gift for my lady. We haven’t spoken in a few days, with finals and issues with her family. I want the gift to say I support you and I love you. Shoot me a few ideas via email; all my love!”

Summer missed her kids so much, and she hated the way this bullshit Jason had dragged their family into pulled her away from their kids. She just didn’t want to face anyone or talk to anyone about anything. After saving both messages from the kids, she listened to the last message, and it was from Jason. Summer’s blood pressure skyrocketed at the sound of his trifling ass voice! Needless to say, he claimed he had cooked dinner and was living in the guesthouse to give her space. “Do I have ‘damn fool’ written across my forehead,” Summer screamed. “He probably poisoned the food so he and his mid-life crisis could collect my insurance money and live the golden life on some island. Jason could sit and rot in that damn guesthouse for all I care!” Summer listened to the voicemail a few more times to see if she could tell whether or not Jason was being sincere. The only thing Summer got from the message was a deep feeling of resentment.

Finishing off the bottle of water, Summer pulled out her laptop bag and decided on responding to Ayden.  If it’s one thing Summer knew, it was jewelry and lavish gifts. She’d have Ayden and his little girlfriend back on track in no time. Remembering how stressful exams week were during college, Summer thought diamond studs and a certificate to a massage parlor would do the trick. After emailing Ayden back, Summer decided to return Ava’s call.

The call went straight to voicemail. Summer instructed Ava to go to the club and have a good time. It would be good for her to get out and meet new people and take in new scenery. She was so glad to know that Ava was willing to step out and try new things. Ayden was the social butterfly while Ava tended to be the fly on the wall.

After ending the call, Summer was about to power off her cell phone when another text came through.

Hey Summer! I left a message at the office a couple of days ago. I’m looking for a new property in the Annesdale Snowden Historic District, and I definitely want you to be my realtor. Call me. Let’s do lunch! –M.S.

Summer sat there completely dumbfounded. She hadn’t heard from him in years with the exception of the occasional high and bye via social media! Summer quickly powered off her phone before her vengeful thoughts became her actions. She finally decided to take that hot bath she so desperately needed. It was time to wash away the worries and stressors from the day. Surely she could find some peace tonight, right?

Chapter Twelve (Skylar)

Skylar knew that she had to do something and it had to be done fast. Jason wasn’t answering and it was a strong possibility that he was back with his wife. She was sure she had done enough damage to make Summer walk away, but why in the hell was Jason not answering his phone? Was it possible that they were able to talk this out and move past Jason’s indiscretions? Although Skylar still dated other men, that did not necessarily mean she was willing to completely give up the one man that made her feel as though the world revolved around her. In spite of her occasional friends, she actually was in love with Jason.

Last night when Jason didn’t come home, Skylar called over Cory, her trainer from the local gym, to take care of her during her “fragile state.”

After realizing Jason wasn’t coming, she needed someone to hold her to control the racing thoughts in her head. Cory was cool and they had never slept together. The two of them usually clubbed and socialized. Cory showed up at Skylar’s door with a bottle of wine, Chinese food, and Skylar’s favorite game of Taboo. Cory was so sweet. He had the potential to be an amazing boyfriend. The only problem was, Skylar didn’t want a relationship with Cory. All she wanted was Jason.

While Skylar fixed their plates, Cory put on a movie. He brought a comedy because he figured it was what she needed. Skylar only called when she needed cheering up, however tonight Cory had another plan to make her smile. Tonight he would make his move.

Skylar was so naive that she walked around Cory in her boy-cut underwear and a tank top. She sat down beside him in Indian style and handed Cory his plate. The two of them ate, drank, laughed, and had a great time.  Skylar asked Cory for relationship advice. He told her, “get out while you have a free pass. Sleeping with a married man is definite admission to heart break and access to problems that have nothing to do with you,” he told her. “Now that his wife knows, that’s a whole new set of problems you have to deal with and she’s his problem, not yours.”

Skylar placed her face in her hands and groaned.

“Listen,” he said to her. Steve Harvey always says, the thing with sin is it makes you pay more than you want to pay and stay longer than you want to stay.”

Seeing the vulnerable look shadow her face, Cory knew it was almost time to make his move. “Hey, look at me,” Cory said as he placed his hand on her leg. “I know you love him. I can tell. But you’re a beautiful girl and you can have any man you want.” Skylar dropped her head and fought back tears. She didn’t want any man, she wanted her man.

“Jason ain’t the only man who can treat you like you need to be treated.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Cory almost laughed out loud. “This shit works every time.” He thought.

“Come here,” he said softly. Skylar obliged. She slid closer to him.

“Let me show you,” Cory whispered as he kissed Skylar behind her ear. He cupped her right breast in his hand as she leaned closer for him to kiss her. Cory was gentle, yet she could tell that he had tons of pent up tension. She let her hand travel to his zipper and almost gasped at the hardness poking through his pants. He had to be working with at least seven inches. She thought to herself, “I’m about to ride him like Seabiscuit.”

Cory had pushed her back on the sofa and was now on top of Skylar. He heard her phone vibrating on the table. She heard it too and it slightly jarred their rhythm. Cory decided to step it up to get her head back in the game. He dove his head between Skylar’s thighs. The phone vibrated again, but Skylar’s moans drowned out the sound.

The third time the phone vibrated, Skylar jumped up and said, “that might be Jason!”

“Who gives a damn!” Cory was pissed.

Without even looking at the phone, she picked up and breathlessly said, “Hello?”

Apparently the voice on the other end was not one she wanted to hear. Cory watched her body tense up and her mouth drop open.

Skylar hoarsely answered, “Summer, how did you get my number?”

Chapter Thirteen (Jason)

Jason had grown tired of staying in the guesthouse. It had been almost two weeks and Summer still didn’t have anything to say to him, so Jason made the leap to begin counseling. He knew it was time to get himself right to be a better man for his family.

Jason was scheduled for another therapy session, and he was hesitant about going. Ordinarily, he would have made a pass at his therapist. She was a beautiful woman probably in her early fifties. She reminded him a lot of Phylicia Rashad from the Cosby Show. He loved the way she carried herself, and sometimes found himself fantasizing rather than listening to her advice.

So far, she’d actually been very helpful. Jason was going once a week because he wanted Summer to know he was serious. Here it was week two, and he didn’t realize he had so many suppressed emotions concerning his dad. Those suppressed feelings, Jason learned, were the cause of his sexual addiction.

“I can’t believe I let this shit ruin my marriage.” Jason grunted as he benched pressed the two hundred and thirty pounds in his home gym. It was Thursday, and he decided to workout to clear his thoughts after meeting with Annette, his therapist.

Annette suggested Jason take some time to figure out what he really wanted. If he really wanted to save his marriage or if his competitive nature was kicking in and he wanted to simply “clear his name.” Annette had said something he thought crazy at first, but the more he thought about it, the more it made sense.

“Men are physical creatures and women are emotional creatures. Men move on, not dwell on the situation. Women, have to process the situation and figure out which way to go next.”

Jason sat up on the bench for a sip of water. His thoughts slid their way over to Skylar. About a month ago, he told Summer he was going on a business trip, but took Skylar to a lake house about three hours away. Things were fun and laid back because I told Skylar not to get up here whining and begging for unnecessary shit or we would head back home. Hell, I don’t even have to tell Ava half the shit I have to tell her. I guess what they say about women and daddy issues may have some truth in it.

We got there Friday and came home Sunday. Friday was cool. We chilled, played a few games, and smoked some weed until we went to bed. When we made it to the bedroom, Skylar laid beside me and put that plump ass snug against Black Jack. As bad as I wanted to get some sleep, I wanted her ass more. I kissed the back of her neck and she moaned softly. She reached back for my hand and put my index finger in her mouth. When she released my hand, she put it her breast. I sat up to slide her pajama bottoms down, and she pulled my t-shirt over my head. I dove my head between those thighs and until she sat straight up. “Baby, I need to feel you,” she purred. I tried to wear her ass out too! I stood on the side of the bed, and put her ankles over my shoulders. Looking down at her beautiful face, I could tell she enjoyed each stroke. Her eyes were closed and she was biting her bottom lip. At some point I was trying to get so deep I planted both of my feet on the wall behind me! I super manned that ohhh! When my high went to another level, I pulled out and went back to the cookie. I was so through that I fell asleep face first in the cookie. Skylar woke me up a few hours later for round two. My girl…

Jason didn’t know how much more of this Summer expected him to take. He was ready to move past this and didn’t understand why Summer was still punishing him. Plus, he needed some ass BAD! As time went on, he realized that she was truly hurt and was probably confused on where both the marriage and the family stood.

“Then to shake salt in her wound, Skylar left that bogus ass voicemail! How in the hell did I forget to take that video from her? This time I hung myself with my own damn rope,” Jason said after the we weight slammed from his last rep.

After two hours of strenuous cardio and strength training, Jason decided to go into the main house to shower. He needed more clothes and he needed to give Magnolia, the housekeeper, his dry cleaning. He also wanted to see Summer and hoped she was home. When he walked into the house, he inhaled the sweet vanilla scent.  He loved that faint sweet scent. He instantly felt himself become overwhelmed with stabbing grief at the thought of losing his family. Jason took his time traveling up the stairs to the bedroom shower. Partially because he was apprehensive about what to say when he saw Summer, and hoped she was up there.

Slowly, Jason opened the door, and was disappointed in what he saw. Summer was nowhere in sight.  The bedroom had appeared as if she hadn’t been there at all.  Jason showered and changed into a fresh pair of Ralph Lauren khaki’s and a coral colored Ralph Lauren polo styled shirt. He took his dry cleaning downstairs for Magnolia and decided to head out to meet his son Ayden for lunch. Before leaving he left a note for Summer letting her know that they would have dinner tonight.

“Baby, I’m so sorry. I’m tired of not being able to look you in your eyes to tell you that, and I can’t even imagine how you are feeling, but it’s time we stop running and stop being angry. Tonight we will get answers and move forward. Tonight we heal. Dinner will be at 7:30. I love you.”

Jason walked out of the house with his mind set on placing the pieces of the puzzle back together.