Chapter 16

MORGAN

And so this is how I found myself at Jabari’s parents’ house.

SOME HOURS AGO

“Not happening. No, no.” I quickly interposed.

“Why not?” He asked calmly. I stared at him with my eyes raised, as if to ask him why me.

“I just can’t so kindly find someone else to go with you.”

“I'm not going with anyone else apart from you. It'd be fun, trust me,” he spoke calmly again.

“I said no. I'm not going. I don't know you, I don't know anything about you or your family, how can I possibly be your company to a family dinner.”

“Would you have gone with your best friend if he had asked you?” He asked. Irritation in his eyes and voice.

“Of course, he's my best friend after all. He doesn't even need to ask because I'd go on my own.” I replied.

“So go with me because I wanna be your best friend, too.”

“Not gonna happen. Is this why you asked me to come?”

We were quiet for a while. The silence felt too loud and annoying but then he cleared his throat, loud enough to make me look at him. “What can I do to make you go with me?” He asked rhetorically. “Maybe, I could keep your best friend hostage, or, maybe, I could—”

“Are you crazy?” I bellowed. I never knew being an escort had to be mandatory. “You better find someone else to go with you, Jabari. Because my answer is a big no.”

“It is not a request. I want you to go with me and that's exactly what you will do. I always get what I want. Don't forget that, Morgan.”

I could not believe him. My wide eyes stared back at him in anger. I watched him put a piece of his steak in his mouth and relax right after that. Like he was not threatening me moments ago. If I have learnt anything in the last few days I've known Jabari, it would be the fact that he doesn't take no for an answer, just as he said himself, he gets what he wants.

“I'll go with you,” I stated. The evil smile that kicked in was sickening.

“What changed your mind?” he asked insouciantly. “Mm, you haven’t touched anything on your plate.”

“I've lost my appetite,” I replied.

“From here, we’ll be going to my house so—”

“Wait, that wasn't part of your request.”

“Are you afraid of me now?” he asked with quite a tease in his voice. Are you afraid to be with me alone? Come on, you really shouldn't be because I think you've seen a side of me no other lady has seen in a long long long time, Morgan,” his voice dropped to a whisper as his leg traced mine under the table and his eyes never leaving mine. “It's just going to be fun and no harm, okay?”

I fought my words in my head. I wanted to say something but my words were stuck in my throat and the heat in between my legs was even more unbearable for me to speak. At last, I took a sip of the glassed—water in front of me, calming my thoughts and nerves. My rapid heartbeat settled to a normal beat. I lowered my head immediately, ashamed of losing control of myself like that. ‘Jabari, Jabari, Jabari. What are you doing to me?’ I questioned myself in my head as I also undressed him with my eyes. The thoughts of running my hand all over his broad chest down to his divine abs had me drooling mentally. ‘What is wrong with me?’ I snapped out of my thoughts when he snapped his fingers at me.

“You keep looking at me with those eyes, Morgan.”

“Which eyes?”

“You're doing it again. You look at me like you want to be devoured,” his brows raised and his eyes softened.

“Can I leave if you're done?” I asked him. All I kept thinking about was being pinned beneath him, so maybe he was right after all. I wanted to be devoured but on second thought, I just wanted to go home and take a cold bath and sink in bed.

“You're going with me. We can leave right now.” He stood up, walked briskly to my seat and asked for my hand, while he helped me get up. I was in heels but my height was no match for him. His eyes fixated on me. I could swear he was getting close inch by inch. I could feel the heat sparkling again. Little did I expect him to swiftly pull me to his body by my waist, sending all the dead butterflies in my stomach back to life. “I can't wait to have you.” I gasped a little from all the built-up pressure I was feeling.

“Are you ready?”

“Huh?” In my confused state, I asked him what he said.

“Are you ready to leave?” He asked again with a smile. I shook my head in disbelief and took a step back. He put his left hand in his pocket and led us outside to his car.

An hour later, three dinner dresses were presented before me. Two ladies and a young man also stood by me, the young man whose name I got to know as Darryl spared no time in styling my hair, making me feel comfortable in my skin. His assistants, the two ladies, couldn’t hide their fondness for Jabari as they kept whispering things about him.

“Have you both no shame at all?” Darryl asked the ladies. “Speaking about Mr Tejada when his woman is right in front of us.”

“No, no, no. I um, we’re just friends, not the other way round.” I stated, hoping to clear any misunderstandings.

“It’s fine if you don’t want to disclose your relationship with him. We are not going to let anyone know. We have worked with Mr Tejada for years now, and not once has he asked us to get his, in quote, woman ready.” Darryl explained, doing the quote sign to emphasize the word woman.

“That’s what he told you?” I asked, clearly not knowing how I was feeling about that piece of information.

“Yes, Miss June. Rest assured, no one is going to find out.” I nodded slowly, words failing to come out of my mouth. “Voila!” Darryl announced with a touch of a French accent. He turned me around in my seat to see my reflection in the mirror.

I was awed. The make-up on my face was minimal, to my taste, my hair was pulled into a beautiful tight bun and I liked the way the nude lipgloss made my lips look plump. Of all the three dresses, in the end, I chose the three-quarter length, mocha brown, V-cut, sleeveless dress. It was paired with a white coat, not-too-long black pencil heels and a Channel purse.

“Damn! You look so good, Miss Morgan,” the first lady with short blond curly hair spoke, blushing more than I was.

“Thank you,” I smiled politely. “You guys are so good at what you do.” I simply stated.

“Yes,” Darryl started to talk, “but you are naturally beautiful, Miss June.”

“Oh, enough with the formalities, Darryl, call me Morgan,” I said.

“As you wish, Morgan,” he replied.

I stood up from my seat, looking at my reflection in the mirror one last time, I was indeed satisfied. I couldn't hide the smile on my face anymore. Then I saw his figure in the mirror. He looked alluring as ever. I saw him talking to Darryl while the ladies packed their items. From there, he walked gallantly toward me. His attire was on point. I stood still like a tree, watching every step he took until he got closer to me.

“You look very beautiful,” he complimented me.

“Thank you, you don't look bad yourself.”

“Hmm, that means I can do better than this. I see.”

“No, this is okay. You don't even need to try too hard since everything suits you so well.”

“So, are you saying I’ll look hot as a skivvies model?” He asked with a smirk and I instantly rolled my eyes.

“Do you necessarily have to turn everything I say into something dirty?” I asked.

“What's dirty about me asking if I would look good as a model?” he asked back, trying to prove his point. I, on the other hand, was not ready to start niggling. A moment passed away and we just stood there, looking at each other in silence. At this point, I wanted to kiss him so badly that I felt my lips begin to itch. How bleak.

“Ready to go?” He asked and I nodded, denoting with my hand for him to lead the way while I followed back silently to his car. The ride was quite a long one and I was nervous.

I turned to look out the window, watching every building pass by in a rush. I watched cars on the road, and people who had closed from work and were in a hurry to get to their destinations. At the point when the car came to a stop due to brief traffic, I felt Jabari’s hand rubbing soothing circles on my thigh. I sighed in contempt. My eyes slowly drooped while my head was on the car window.

“Are you okay?” He asked, bringing my wandering sanity to a halt. I nodded immediately and smiled.

“Are you nervous?” He asked. Who wouldn't be nervous when they're going to meet Jabari’s parents? I mean, we’re not even going out. “You don't have to be nervous. I'm going to be by your side the whole time, okay? And I'm going to answer any questions you may not want to reply to. I got you.”

“You should have let me know a week ahead. That's what normal people do,” I replied. The cars ahead started to move, giving us the chance to also move.

“Are you implying that I'm not normal?” he asked with a giggle. “Well, I don't mind being abnormal to you.” I rolled my eyes, not wanting to give in to his laughter.

“Till now, I've been wondering why people are intimidated by you, Jabari.”

“They respect me and that's how it should be. I can't just laugh openly with everyone. I set boundaries with people and I like it that way. Aside from my family, friends and of course, my lady, no one gets to see this side of me.” He explained, and I couldn't agree with him more.

But I just had to ask, “Who's your ‘lady?’” For a brief moment, he turned to look at me before turning his attention back to the route.

“You’ll meet her soon,” he replied with that calm smile of his.

Suddenly, I felt sick in the stomach. I didn't know whether I was happy that he was going to be off my neck or I was mad at what he said. The feeling I was having was something I wished to call unsolicited feelings. We all went quiet again. After what felt like forever, he finally pulled his car over in front of an elegant building. I could only imagine what the inside of the building was like. The scene in front of me was magnificent. I took in a long breath and let it out seconds later. I had no idea how tonight was going to turn out to be but I was already nervous.

“Are you okay?” He asked and I gave a little nod. “Wait a minute,” I heard him say before he got out of the car and he immediately appeared at my door side, opening it for me to step out as well. “The lady I was talking about is you, though. You've got no choice in that.” He remarked and smiled his annoying yet charming smile before asking, “Shall we?”

He took the lead, with my hand in his. His parents had a beautiful house and it was a home indeed. I silently followed him as he called out to his mum and dad.

“Mum! Dad! I'm home.” Some seconds later, a petite woman in fancy clothing appeared from what seemed to be a garden behind the house. A wide smile brightened her face the moment she saw Jabari. She took off the garden gloves that were on her hands and immediately hugged Jabari.

“My baby! You're finally home.” She landed a kiss on his cheeks. Ugh, look at you, it looks like I haven’t seen you in forever.”

“Mum, I was here just two weeks ago and you're making it seem like years have passed by,” Jabari replied with a mockery tone. All the time he was talking to his mum, he held my hand in his. “Where’s dad?

“Oh! You know your dad, he's in the garden but he should be here anytime.”

“Um, mum, this is Morgan, and Morgan this is my mum.” He introduced us with a smile on his face but his mother's face was void of any emotion. After a split second, her lips stretched into what seemed to be a smile but it looked so unreal. I felt chills run down my body and I wished to have been home at that moment.

“Hello, Morgan,” she called my name in a low voice. Her eyes never left mine. “You're welcome,” she finally added.

“Thank you, Mrs. Tejada.”

“Mm! So, Morgan, tell me, who are your p...” but before she could continue her sentence, a voice was heard from behind me and that was Jabari’s father. He came closer to where we were and gave his son a big manly hug. He had garden gloves on his left hand which only made Mrs Tejada’s words earlier about him being in the garden true. He smiled at me when he noticed me by his son’s side.

“And who do we have here?” He asked.

“One of Jabari’s many women. Mm,” Mrs Tejada was quick to interject. My heart sank instantly.

“Mother, when last did you see me with a woman? Dad, meet Morgan, Morgan, my dad.” Jabari simply introduced us to each other and his father gave an easy smile, a heartwarming kind.

“Hello, Mr Tejada,”

“Please, call me Michael. You're welcome to our home. It's not always that our son here brings a girl home.”

“Well, everyone, to the dinner table. We don’t want our food getting cold.” Mrs Tejada chimed in, pulling her son with a little force, leaving me behind with her husband. At that point, I was screaming in my head.

At the dinner table, several meals were served. It was like a feast but in reality, we were only four at the table. In the beginning, the atmosphere was friendly. Jabari had my hand in his under the table and I felt welcomed. The family were in their world, which seemed pretty normal and nice.

All of a sudden, I felt Jabari’s hand roam down my thighs, tracing my skin, and sending sparks through my body. I turned sharply to look at him and he looked so calm. He smiled and turned to join in on a business topic his father had raised. I could feel my cheeks going red.

“I think the people only need someone they can trust and rely on, and so far, that's what you’ve been doing. Just keep doing the good work, Dad.” Jabari spoke out. I was lost in what he was doing to me under the table. I barely paid attention to the conversation. He had his hand in my thong and my legs were spread enough for him to touch my pulsating spot but he wouldn't. His fingers roamed everywhere but that particular spot. I grabbed his hand and gave him a stern look but he didn't even care.

“Miss June, what do you do?” Mrs Tejada asked and I cleared my throat slightly, shifting in my seat as if it'd give them answers but Jabari beat me to it.

“Morgan just started working with Nadelle on her new project she's about to bring to the market soon.” I was tongue-tied by both his answer and what he was doing to me.

“Oh, you mean Nadelle as in your friend?” Mr Tejada asked. “That's impressive,” and he genuinely sounded impressed. While Jabari finger-fucked me till I almost neared my orgasm under the table, I fought hard trying to pay attention and also eat my food. He knew it, that motherfucker just knew that I was close to a release but he stopped. It felt like I was on life support and he cut me off it. I straightened myself and stood up, how his parents did not catch up on what was happening between us some minutes ago was shocking but I gathered myself and stood up.

“Please, excuse me. I need to use the restroom.” I said in a low, exhausted voice, refusing to look at Jabari.

“Oh, the guest restroom is on the first floor, the first room on the left.” Mrs Tejada gave me the directions and went back to talking to her husband.

“Thank you.”

I walked out of the dining area and headed straight to the restroom. Oh, boy! What a relief it was to be out of there. I reached into my purse and took out my lipstick to reapply it. “Bari,” I sighed. “You will be the death of me,” I whispered to myself.

“Are you sure about that?” I gasped at the unexpected reply. One minute I was alone in here and the next second, Jabari was here. I put my hand on my chest as if it’d magically calm my beating heart down. I watched him slowly walk to where I stood. “I just can’t get enough of you, Morgan. I want you so bad. I just want to bend you here and fuck your brains out. I want to hear me moan my name out loud but since you can’t do that, I want you to be silent when I fuck the shit outta you.”

“Bari,” I whispered. “I—”

“Say you want me as much as I do you.”

“We need to be out there so your parents don’t suspect anything.”

“I know that,” but I want you right now.” At this point, he was in front of me, standing so close to me that my back was touching the mirror behind me. He hooked his hands under my thighs and raised me, having my legs wrapping around his waist and my hands firmly wrapping his neck. I looked down at his face, his eyes red with desire. Seconds later, our lips were crashing, all I could think about was him being inside me. My mind was a mess and I didn't want it to change. Before I could mentally psych myself, he rammed into me. I tried to moan but he firmly told me not to. I had no time to get used to how big he was and he rammed into me again. It hurt a little but I loved it. My eyes filled up with tears and my moans were forced to be silent. He let me down and turned me around so my back was facing him. He held onto my shoulders, making my back form an arch. Nothing in the world mattered anymore other than what Jabari and I were doing. How we became one. I was near my orgasm, and I could feel his too. He didn't stop, he kept going until I was a mess and his head fell softly on my shoulder. He left trails of kisses on my neck while I sighed silently.

“We need to go back,” I finally said after some minutes of silence and he nodded. Immediately, he got wipes to clean us up, dressed well and left after giving me another kiss. “Fuck.” I thought as I reapplied my gloss.

Back at the dining area, Mr Tejada and Jabari were not in sight. It felt weird sitting by this woman who could not fake the fact that she did not like me around her son. We sat in silence as someone came to clear the table.

“What is your deal with my son?” She asked blatantly. “Trust me, Morgan, I know women like you, you slut around all your life and at the end of the day, you want to tie yourself around one rich man who you think can clear your past. So, what is your actual deal with my—” Before she could complete her words, I cut her off.

“Ma’am, I don’t know what you have seen or the kind of girls your son has introduced you to, but I can assure you that I’m not that low. I have no deal with your son. He is the one chasing me not the other way round.” I stated firmly.

She scoffed. “A slut, will always be a slut. No amount of decent clothes you wear can cover that up.”

I stood up, taking in a long breath, “It was nice knowing you Mrs Tejada. Have a lovely evening.” I walked out and I could feel her staring daggers at me. I forced myself to not let the tears burning my eyes drop because I refused to cry over some petty person.