Shelby placed her tray down and looked around her bedroom for her mobile phone. Turning back to her locked door she snuck a peek and then slowly made her way to her bathroom to look for it. She hoped that she had not left her phone down stairs. Honestly, Shelby couldn’t remember where she placed it last and did not want to have to face Daxton again tonight. Jeez she hoped that it was still in the bathroom.
Thank goodness her phone was in the bathroom on the counter. It looked as though it hadn’t been tampered with but who knew what app or whatever Daxton might have placed onto her phone when she was looking or even when she was looking. Shelby desperately wanted to call Evelyn. She needed a sane person to speak and her bestie always had the right idea; but Shelby knew who she needed to call now. She was also quite sure that she would regret making this call sooner than later.
Shelby dailed Stacey’s cell number and waited for her to pick. “Hey Sis, what’s up? Is that sexy man next to you? Well, I hope not because then you should not be wasting this call on me?
“What Sexy Man, Stacey?” Shelby had to ask because you never really know who her sister was thinking of. She was excited about any man. Dalton, of course, although Xavier is pretty sexy too, I heard that he and his crew were over here yesterday.
Yeah, what did you hear about that?
Nothing much really, they did leave Ma a note and some roses on her seat.
There was a note for you too.
Really, there was?
Yes there was, I was dying to open it but Ma wouldn’t let me – she still has it. You want me to grab it and tell you what’s in it or do you want to stop by for it?
Shelby really did not like the idea of Stacey reading her messages AND she knew that there was no chance that she would be able to get out of there tonight without an entourage. She took a deep breath. “ No hun, its okay I’ll be by to pick it up tomorrow or the next day. No rush.
You sure? Stacey fished she was really eager to get her hands on that message.
I am sure thanks – I think that I will head to bed. I’ll chat with you later. Looks like I am getting another call anyway.
It was just as well. Have a good nice Stacey.
They disconnected and Shelby clicked to the other line.
“Hello, Shelby answered the call.
It was only after Shelby ended one call and accepted the other that she realized that she hadn’t paid any attention to the number or name of the caller.
“Caramela, how are you?”
Shelby screamed and dropped the phone onto her bed as though it was on fire.
She heard feet pounding up her steps and then there was pounding on her door. Babe, Babe, are you alright?
She cleared her thoat. Walking towards her bedroom door. Leaving the lock in place and putting her right hand to the door just in case he tried to open the door. Shelby replied, “Yes, of course I am fine. I got to this especially riveting part of my book. I am not used to having company – sorry to have startled you.”
“I could come in and look around.” Daxton offered.
“No, there is no need. I really want to finish this chapter and get to sleep.”
“Hmm, alright Babe, I am here if you need me.”
“Sure,” she replied already rushing back to her bed.
As she picked up her phone, she heard him ordering his men, “I need to get over to her residence now. I want three men outside her home. “
Shelby needed to diffuse this now. Hey Xavier, what are you doing?”
“Caramela, you scared me half to death – why did you scream? Do you need help?”
“No, no I am fine I am shocked that you were on the other line. I was just on another call and I had not realized that you even had my number. I don’t recall ever giving it to you.”
He chuckled. Even though Shelby was annoyed by the fact that he had chuckled at her, she found herself even more annoyed by the fact that his deep baritone had made her inner walls tingle. Her hair was standing on end.
“Xavier, really there is no need to head over here. All is well and I am about to get some well -deserved sleep.”
“Are you sure, Caramela?”
“Yes, yes – please don’t come over. Oh, my goodness, she just prayed that he was not in his car already. Having both Xavier and Daxton here would not be a good thing. She likely wouldn’t be able to calm either one of them down and she did not want them to destroy her home.
“Alright”, he cooed. “I will stay here if you let me hear that sweet voice of yours.”
“Sure, you know that I will. What do you want to talk about?”
“I want to talk about you.”
“Me?” Shelby asked.
“Yes, you.” He replied. She could almost see him shaking his head as if he was in front of her.
“Well, I would rather see your face but I know that you might not be up to Facetime so I will accept this audio call for now. We need to discuss how things will work between us going forward. I hadn’t heard a response from you yet.”
“Response…..” she whispered after he stopped speaking
“Yeah, you know to the card that I left for you.”
She sighed, “Oh, yeah, my sister just told me about that. I haven’t been over there yet and haven’t read the message. She mentioned flowers so I figured that it was probably just an apology for what you and your crew were up to.”
“I don’t apologize”, he stated in this growl. Impossibly deeper than his normal baritone.
She could barely keep her voice steady and was squirming in her sheets.
Shelby steeled her voice and asked, “Well if you didn’t write the note to apologize, then what could you possibly have to say to me?”
“There is so much that I want to say and to do to you – to be quite candid but the note was asking you to meet me for dinner tonight at my club.”
Xavier was the owner of the most exclusive club in town. It was gorgeous and very well appointed. Membership was by invitation only and most were not invited or recommended because who wanted to incur the wrap of Xavier Dominquez if your recommendation wasn’t up to par. Shelby had gone once with Tina, they’d had a great time.
“Babe”…his voice pulled her out of her daydream
“Oh”, Shelby replied tentatively, “Well yeah, I only just got the message at all and anyway tonight would not have worked for me. I needed to relax.”
“I could have helped you relax. Every now and then I can watch movies and chill.”
“That’s cute, Xavier, but I didn’t need any company and just wanted to enjoy a long bath and relax. Seems like I don’t often get what I want though.”
“What do you mean by that, Babe?”
She shook her head and rolled her eyes. Xavier couldn’t see her anyway. “ Oh nothing. I need to get to bed. I am pretty tired,”
“No problem, I understand. Hey before you go, Can I see you tomorrow? I want to talk to you. You made quite an impression and I want to spend more time with you.”
“I am not sure what you mean.”
Well, let me explain, You are incredibly well put together. I noticed you before but you stood up to me when very few do and even fewer get to brag about it.
Wait, Shelby said, “I never told anyone about our conversation in the stairwell. I wouldn’t do that.”
“I know, Caramela, that wasn’t what I meant. In fact, you haven’t mentioned it to anyone, although I did get a call from an interested party. He even sent some people over to my restaurant.
“Oh yeah”, Shelby played dumb. Daxton likely didn’t want to waste time getting people set up to get into the club and just headed to the restaurant instead.
“Yeah”, he paused a few seconds. “So, are you his girl?” Shelby felt butterflies fluttering around in her belly.
“His girl?”, Shelby stumbled over the words. “No, I just recently met him and he is under this strange impression that we are a couple. Until a few days ago, I didn’t even know that I had met him.”
“Really, that’s strange because he had a lot to say about how you were his property and recommending that I take heed and back off.”
“It’s too late for this conversation – I need to get going”
“What do you mean, too late. I can be over there in just a few minutes. I really want to get this straight.”
Shelby replied, she needed to change his mind immediately, “I don’t know if we could do that tonight. I really don’t even understand it myself. We aren’t together, per se.” At least they weren’t in a relationship because he clearly was there in her home. “I am not even sure why he believes there is a relationship and what is going on. Look – can we do this another time. I am exhausted?”
“Another time would be great, I’ll see you tomorrow night at 7 for dinner at the club. I won’t take no for an answer.
There was no use in fighting with him now. She wouldn’t be able to change his mind and she wasn’t even sure what she would say to him. “Yeah, ok” she gave a noncommittal response hopeful that she would figure something out between now and dinner so that she would be able to get out of it.
“I’ll meet you there at 7, Shelby confirmed.”
“Okay, I will leave your name at the door.”
“Thanks, I’ll see you then. Goodnight.” Shelby wasn’t comfortable hanging on the phone with him much longer.
“Sweet dreams.”
“Bye”, Shelby whispered. She wasn’t sure what to make of this.
She plugged in her cell phone, then tuck herself under her covers.
Shelby felt her eyes getting heavy, she was trying to fight it when she saw Daxton standing over her. His muscular chest was prominently facing her and he took deliberate steps over to her. His lips gently met hers and Shelby could barely catch her breath as he kissed her deeply. She closed her eyes and surrendered to his kiss. Soon she felt hands moving up her legs, she still had on her jumper but it stopped at her upper thigh leaving her legs fully exposed.
Daxton was still kissing her deeply and began moving the zipper of her jumper down. He slowly zipped it to her waist never breaking the kiss. Meanwhile, she also felt soft kisses up her legs and inner thigh, she leaned her head back slightly as Daxton softly suctioned his lips around her breast and she gasped as she felt a light stroke over her mound. Opening her eyes and looking down, she saw Xavier gently sweeping her legs apart and moving closer to kiss her lower lips. Xavier soundly kissed her rubbing his hands up and down her legs gently. All the while, Daxton continued stroking her right breast before moving to the other.
Shelby relaxed in their hands, so pleased that Daxton and Xavier were finally working together and focused on her pleasure. She let her eyes drift closed again and enjoyed the kisses, nips and touches these men were giving her body as they brought her to climax.
Shelby woke to the sounds of her own moans in sweaty sheets and confused. She slowly sat up to look at the clock, it was 5:45am, dang she had to get up at 6. She laid there for a while wondering just what was happening to her. What did this all mean. And just maybe, she wouldn’t have to choose?
What should Shelby do?
Olivia Paon Author 