A Heart to Heal Page 10

  His thrusts were steady, strong, and deliberate. Just like him. He placed one hand on her hip, shifted to anchor her better beneath him, and added a twist to his movements, rubbing every thick inch of him against each crevice inside her. Her passion built. The heat and intensity grew until she couldn’t hold back. Her body cracked. The wave ran over her skin, exploded where they were joined. Her nails dug into his back and her legs locked around his waist, pulling him deeper. Her vision blurred as tears came to her eyes.

  Devin’s lids lowered, he bit his lip and groaned as his body tensed. His dick pulsed jerkily within her from the power of his on climax. He buried his face in her neck, and Shayla let the tears flow. She’d just experienced perfection and would never see it again.

  Chapter 11

  After leaving Devin, Shayla went home only to change clothes and hurry out of town before her mom could catch her. It was time to escape the pressure of Helena and seek refuge somewhere else. So she’d decided to finally come to Columbia and visit her best friend Tasha. She suppressed a smile as she sat on the floor of her friend’s nursery and watched Tasha hurry across the room. Every shade of pink known to man adorned the walls, furnishings, and accessories in the nursery. It looked like a Pepto-Bismol explosion. Shayla hated pink, but the color brought out the happy glow in Tasha’s tan skin. Contentment and excitement practically oozed from her friend, who looked like an extension of the room with her natural curls pulled into a high ponytail and pink sundress dress hugging her slightly rounded belly.

  Tasha stuffed the toddler dresses Shayla had brought in the overflowing closet. The dresses were an attempt at a peace offering for neglecting to call Tasha since returning to Helena. Tasha was only an hour away in Columbia; Shayla had no real excuse for ignoring her friend’s calls. Despite the fact that Tasha married a former player after asking him to take her virginity, she would always be her “good girl” friend. The moral yin to her immoral yang.

  “So, are you going to tell me why you finally decided to call me? I know you’ve been in Helena for a few weeks.” Tasha said turning and cocking brow.

  Shayla leaned back on a huge pink stuffed bear on the floor. “Come on, Tasha, you know why. It was bad enough facing my family after that disaster in Atlanta. I didn’t want to face you, too.”

  “Have I ever judged you?”

  Shayla picked an imaginary piece of lint off the bear. “No.”

  “So why would I start now?”

  “I judged myself. My instincts told me Mark wasn’t through with his wife, but after she moved out and filed for divorce I ignored common sense.”

  “Did you love him?”

  She shook her head. “No, just the idea of him. It was nice to think a man that put together would be interested in me.” She gave a half hearted smile. “Silly, huh?”

  Tasha nodded. “Silly for you to think that, yes! I never understood why you think good men wouldn’t be interested in you. There are always dozens of men drooling over you. You’re smart; you had a great job and will get another one. Dang, Shayla, grab some confidence.”

  Shayla covered her eyes and groaned. “Man, you sound like Devin.”

  “Wait, I thought you two didn’t get along. Have you seen him?”

  “I did a lot more than see him.” She said. She kept her eyes covered or else she’d cry.

  She heard the shuffle of Tasha’s feet as she came to sit in the rocking chair beside her. “What does that mean?”

  Regrouping with a deep breath, Shayla dropped her hands. “You remember Roxanne and Peaches?”

  Tasha nodded, even though she’d never met them. Although she and Shayla became friends after meeting at cheerleading camp, Shayla kept Tasha far away from her friends at Helena High. Shayla could be herself around Tasha, which made her a refreshing relief from the constant show she had to put on when hanging with Roxanne, Peaches, and the rest of their clique.

  When Shayla didn’t continue Tasha raised her eyebrows. “And … ”

  “They threw me a welcome home party. Devin came.”

  “That’s good. You know, that he came. When he saw you at our reception he seemed pretty stiff.”

  “He did me a favor by coming.” She quickly recounted everything that had happened with Devin since coming home, ending with them having sex. When she finished, Tasha sat there, her eyes blinking slowly as if she were trying to process everything Shayla had said.

  “Damn, Shayla, you’ve lived an entire drama in what … two weeks.” Tasha smiled and Shayla playfully hit her leg. “I don’t know where to start … I’ll skip Tony; my feelings haven’t changed since that situation. He raped you.”

  Shayla flinched. “Don’t say that. You make it sound worse than it was.”

  “That’s what it was, Shayla. Stop making excuses for it. You told him to stop, he didn’t listen.”

  Shayla jumped from the floor and crossed the room to the window. “I didn’t try hard enough.”

  “No. Don’t do this. Leave me alone. All of that should have been enough.” Tasha said.

  She smirked at her reflection. Tony was right, she’d only said no once, but she’d said everything else Tasha mentioned. Before closing her eyes and turning her head away until it was over.

  “Why didn’t you tell Devin that?”

  “I don’t know. I guess I’d rather him think I went along with it, than let him know I was too drunk to do much of anything.”

  “From what you said, he already knew you were too drunk to do anything and that’s why he took you upstairs. Tell him the truth.”

  With a sigh she turned around. “Why? So he’ll magically fall in love with me? I haven’t changed much since high school. I’ve returned home after an affair with a married politician became headlines. I still get drunk and pass out at parties. And to top it off, I have no damn idea when I’ll get another job. That’s the perfect type of woman to be on the arm of the town’s all around outstanding citizen.”

  Tasha held up her hands. “I can’t talk to you when you’re like this. I don’t understand why someone as gorgeous as you has low self esteem. You need a therapist.”

  “To tell me what? My mom has told me I’m just as no good as my dad for as long as I can remember. I lost my virginity after getting drunk at Homecoming. Since half the town already thought I was as trifling as my dad, people easily believed I broke Devin’s heart for fun.” She sighed and turned back to the window. “I already know why I’m messed up. As long as I exude confidence — no matter how fake it may be — if people buy it, I’m cool.”

  “You left out a whole lot of other issues in that list of yours. What happened after — ”

  Shayla squeezed her eyes shut. “Stop, Tasha, please. It’s over.” She gripped the heart charm around her neck. She’d done what was necessary after Homecoming and then refused to discuss it ever again.

  “Fine. You want to act as if everything that happened was nothing, go right ahead. Although, I should knock some sense into you.”

  Other than Devin, Tasha was the one person who took her for what she was, and told her the truth. It was one of the reasons she loved her. Despite Tasha’s strict family lifestyle — a Baptist preacher father who refused to speak to his pregnant daughter until after Jared married her — she never judged Shayla. Tasha always listened, gave her a shoulder to cry on and a kick in the butt when she needed it.

  Shayla pasted a smile on her face. “Don’t think I won’t hit you because you’re pregnant again.”

  Tasha laughed. “Bring it. I’ll still whip your ass.”

  Shayla joined in the laughter. Their moment was interrupted when Tasha’s husband walked in. Jared was tall with smooth brown skin, handsome features and a body well honed from years of personal training. Shayla couldn’t hide her surprise when his eyes lit up after seeing Tasha. Not because Tasha wasn’t completel
y loveable, but to see the former playboy still look like a lovesick teen one year after their marriage.

  Tasha grinned. “Hey, you’re home.”

  He rushed over to help her out of the rocking chair and kissed her forehead. “Yeah, we played a few games before Devin and Malcolm agreed to come over and watch the game. Malcolm can’t wait to hold his niece,” he said, referring to their first child.

  Shayla tried to smile past the lump in her throat. Devin was here. Crap, she’d forgotten he and Jared were friends. Well, maybe not forgotten, but she wouldn’t have expected him to be here today of all days.

  Tasha giggled. “Malcolm’s going to be disappointed. My mom and dad picked her up earlier so I could get a break. She’ll be back later.”

  Jared frowned. “Are you okay? Do you feel bad?” His hand went to her stomach. Tasha had mentioned that Jared was concerned when she’d gotten pregnant so soon after their daughter was born. Luckily, her health was good. Shayla’s only advice was for her and Jared to stop screwing like rabbits. Tasha said that was out of the question.

  Tasha shook her head. “Not at all. Those were their words, not mine.” She looked at Shayla. “Besides, Shayla came over to keep me company.”

  Jared smiled. “What’s up, Shayla. Good to see you.”

  “Same here, Jared.”

  Tasha patted his chest. “Did you say Malcolm and Devin are here?”

  “Yeah, I hope that’s not a problem.”

  Tasha shook her head. “No problem. Did you know Devin and Shayla went to high school together?”

  Jared looked at Shayla. “For real? Cool, come down the hall and watch some of the game with us.”

  Just the thought of seeing Devin so soon made her palms sweaty. Shayla waved her hand. “I really gotta get going.”

  “No you don’t, you just got here.” Tasha said. She smiled at Jared. “Go on, we’ll join you in a second.”

  He looked between the two, before shaking his head. “Okay,” he drew out the word. “Whatever you two are up to, I don’t want a part of it.” He playfully swatted Tasha on the butt before running out of the door, dodging her swing at his head.

  Shayla rushed over to Tasha. “I can’t face him.”

  “Yes you can, and you will. Tell him the truth.”

  “It doesn’t matter — ”

  “Yes it does. You’ve loved Devin since high school, maybe now’s your second chance.”

  Shayla’s lips twisted as she gave Tasha the side eye. “I thought you stopped believing in fairy tales and romance.”

  Tasha grinned. “That was when I thought Jared was walking out on me and our baby. But since the day he put it on the line and asked me to marry him, I’m all roses and hearts again. I’m going to the den,” She picked Shayla’s keys off the dresser and dropped them in the pocket of her dress, “and you’re going to join me.”

  For the first time in Shayla’s life she contemplated assaulting a pregnant woman. She took a deep breath, wiped her hands on her jeans, smoothed her hair, and plastered on what she hoped was a nonchalant smile before following Tasha.

  Chapter 12

  Devin didn’t have time to absorb Jared saying Shayla was visiting Tasha before the two joined them in the upstairs den. He stared like a fool as she breezed into the room and smiled graciously as Tasha introduced her to Malcolm. Devin knew Malcolm was happily married, but it didn’t stop jealously from churning in his gut when Malcolm’s gaze quickly ran over her.

  He couldn’t blame Malcolm. Shayla looked like a burst of spring in the middle of fall. Her pink shirt had a v-neck that drew Devin’s eye to her cleavage, her black leather jacket accentuated her small waist, and she must have poured herself into the tight jeans she had on. He sat there mesmerized by the way her high heeled boots caused her hips to sway as she walked. When she finally met his eyes he was fighting back memories of her legs wrapped around him, her soft moans as he entered her, and the way she’d become putty in his hands. She, on the other hand, gave him the same serene smile she’d given Malcolm and Jared. There wasn’t a hint in her expression that she was thinking about that morning.

  He rejoiced and inwardly groaned when she sat next to him on the small leather sofa. She sat sideways, one knee curled up on the chair, the other leg stretched out in front. “What’s up, Devin?” she said resting her elbow on the back of the chair and supporting her head in her hand.

  Her lips curved in a teasing smile, tempting him to kiss her. The scent of her perfume drifted over him, and although it excited him, he preferred the way she’d smelled earlier, when the scent of his body wash mingled with hers. Despite himself, his dick grew hard and he leaned toward her. Desire — remembrance — flashed in the brown depths of her slanted eyes before she looked down, hiding it with her lashes. But it was enough to send hunger rushing through him.

  He didn’t know what to do. He wasn’t used to sex-only relationships. Should he follow her lead and act as if it were nothing, when all he wanted to do was rush her out of Jared’s house and find out what she was thinking before losing himself within her silky walls again?

  He didn’t know how long he stared at her before he became aware of someone standing over them. He turned to face Jared’s raised eyebrow and knowing smile.

  Jared waved a brown beer bottle in his face. “Want one?”

  “Yeah, sure.” He snatched the beer from Jared.

  “Can I get one?” Shayla asked. She looked at Tasha, “Unless you mind. I don’t want to leave you the only one not drinking.”

  Tasha crinkled her nose. “I hate beer. Please, don’t mind me.”

  Jared handed Shayla a beer. Devin stared as she screwed off the top and her lips wrapped around the edge of the bottle. She drank slowly, her lips tugging and pulling along the rim. When she finished, her tongue glided around the edge before she licked the moisture from her lips and smiled. What was his asinine reason for stopping her from doing the same thing to his dick earlier? Right now, his need to control the sex seemed unimportant with the thought of her lips wrapped around him.

  He tore his eyes away, looking anywhere but at her. He caught Malcolm watching them and glared back. Malcolm smiled and looked away. When he looked at Jared, his friend was grinning. A “go for it” look in his eye. Damn, he’d have a hard time escaping their jokes later.

  He shifted in his seat and stared at the announcers talking on the big screen television. “When will the game start?”

  Jared laughed. He sprawled back in a recliner, Tasha beside him in a matching one. “We got a few minutes. So, Shayla, tell us about Devin in high school.”

  Devin groaned and shook his head. “No, Shayla, don’t tell him anything about me in high school. He’ll only use it to blackmail me later.”

  “Damn right,” Jared said.

  Shayla laughed and shifted closer in the chair. “Well, Devin was always the sensible one.”

  “Boring,” Malcolm said, “he’s the sensible one now. Tell us about the non-sensible things he did.”

  Shayla grinned. “I wish I could give you more, but I can’t. If you were about to make a dumb decision, or had made a dumb decision, he wasn’t afraid to point it out.”

  Malcolm sighed. “Always was, and always will be, the voice of reason.”

  Devin pointed at Malcolm with his beer bottle. “Hey, you appreciate my honesty.”

  “Most of the time,” Malcolm said with a smile.

  “Boring,” Jared said.

  Shayla held up her hand holding the bottle. “He wasn’t boring. He had fun and partied with the rest of us, but he knew when to throw in the towel and say ‘that’s enough’. He kept our clique out of a lot of jams … most of the time.”

  Jared shook his head. “Okay, you gotta give me something. I’ve been looking for dirt on this brotha for years.”

  D
evin faked a wounded look. “I’m hurt.”

  “Well,” Shayla said. “He did wear braids.”

  Jared laughed. “What? Dr. Jones with cornrows?”

  Malcolm joined in. “Hell yeah, I remember. You had braids our first year of college.”

  Devin rubbed his head. “Hey, man, quit laughing. I might bring them back.”

  Shayla reached over and ran her hand along his head sending heat through his body. His hair was long enough for her to pinch it between her fingers, reminding him he needed a haircut. “I like your hair longer.”

  He met her eyes and she slowly lowered her hand, her fingers brushing against his earlobe as she pulled away. “It was always soft when I braided it.” Her words were spoken quietly, he doubted they heard it across the room, but it was as if she’d screamed the way they bounced within his head.

  “What are y’all whispering about over there?” Jared asked.

  Devin cleared his throat and looked at his friend. Jared and Malcolm shared a glance and Devin bit the inside of his lip. They were going to dig into him for every detail about his relationship with Shayla. While he’d happily offered advice to them when needed, he wasn’t thrilled with the idea of receiving any. He trusted his friends, but baring his innermost feelings with them wasn’t what he did. He was the giver of guidance, not the recipient.

  Shayla scooted away. “I was just telling Devin that it’s time to come clean about his secret.”

  Malcolm sat forward. “What secret?”

  Devin raised an eyebrow and looked at Shayla. “Yeah, what secret?”

  She grinned. “About your hip hop dance lessons.”

  Devin groaned and rolled his eyes as Malcolm, Jared, and Tasha burst out laughing.