New Sensations Page 14

  “Oh…fuuccckk…Janay,” he called out.

  The hot splash of his seed against the tip of my cervix sent me tumbling over the edge of reality. My back arched up sharply and I my cunt pushed down hard as wave after wave of ecstasy ran over me. My milky pearl drops splattered over Jackson’s throbbing cock and onto the sheets. I remember calling out his name at the top of my lungs and then falling into a heavy slumber as exhaustion overcame my spent body.

  The bright sunshine filtering in throught the thin beige curtains of the window urged my eyes to blink open.

  I sat up and had to quickly recall exactly where I was.

  I touched the place beside me and found that I was alone in bed. Jackson had already left the room.

  I sat dazed and unsure of what I had allowed to occur last night. I gathered my senses and rolled over to the edge of the bed to drop my bare feet on the carpet below. As I sank my toes down into the fibers, my eyes caught sight of a note pad and a folded white hangerchief on the bedside. The handwritten letters on the paper told me to come downstairs after I finished dressing and the unfoled hankerchief contained my black bikini underwear that Jackson had slipped into his backpocket during our first encounter at the rear of the bar. I laughed out loud and shook my head at the discovery.

  When I stood to go retrieve my clothing from the bathroom across the hall, I found that the garments had already been washed, pressed, and folded neatly at the end of the bed.

  Annie, I thought with a smile.

  She must have found the clothes there and taken care of them for me. How sweet and motherly of her.

  After I washed up and did my best to smooth down my hair, curled in bouncy spirals from last night’s shower, I dressed and made my way to the kitchen.

  “Well, look who decided to join us for a late breakfast,” Jackson called from the square kitchen table.

  “What? What time is it?”

  “Jackson, you let Janay get her bearin’s straight before you start in messin’ with her. Good mornin’, sweetie,” Annie’s pleasant voice chimed in on my defense.

  “Good morning, Annie,” I smiled and nodded in her direction. “Thank you so much for taking care of my clothes but I could have washed them myself.”

  “Oh, you’re welcome, dear. You’re a guest and I don’t mind at all,” she said and went back to washing her dishes at the sink.

  “Come here, sweetheart,” Jackson beckoned to me. His hand was opened for me to join him at the table.

  I went and eased down in the seat next to him, every joint in my body was stiff and in need of another hot shower.

  “Good mornin’, Janay.”

  Jackson kissed my hand and then my cheek. His touch actually helped to relieve a degree of my body’s discomfort.

  “Janay, help yourself. There’s plenty left,” Annie tossed over her shoulder.

  Despite the fact that I hadn’t jogged or participated in any form of dietary fasting since last Saturday, I fixed a big helping of fried potatoes, hash, and scrambled eggs, and savored every last bite. I don’t think I had eaten so richly since I last visited with my grandparents in Jersey City. Even then, I wasn’t fully allowed to enjoy the meal since my mother keenly watched every forkful I placed at my lips with a menacing eye. I might be adding a few extra pounds to the dial and a half-inch to the hips but I honestly didn’t care. I loved to eat and I was glad to finally get an opportunity to do so without a judgmental gaze following my every move.

  Annie flipped her dishcloth over her shoulder and joined us at the table.

  “Janay, how did you enjoy the spring?”

  Her blue eyes were bright and jubilant. There was no doubt that she understood the significance of her son, Jackson Bryant III, taking me there since she had probably had a similar experience with his father.

  My face flushed as rapid snapshots of my time with Jackson flashed through my mind.

  “It was wonderful, ma–,” sharp eyes, like Auntie Bea’s, stared back at me with eyebrows arched high, daring me to greet her with any formal title, “Annie.”

  Her jovial smile returned. Until that telltale sign surged, I saw no similarities between Annie and her sister. Where one was thin with brownish hair and light eyes, the other was pleasantly plump with blond hair and dark blue eyes. That stern face must have been the family trademark because it sealed the two women as definitely being blood sisters.

  “I’m glad to hear it. Maybe you two will be havin’ an announcement to make at the family dinner tomorrow?”

  She watched us both carefully, her smile never wavering. When no immediate response came to mind, I looked to Jackson for help.

  “Ma, weren’t you the one who just told me to let Janay get herself together before startin’ in on any questions and such?”

  He had pulled her card so she changed the subject.

  “Alright, I get it. Keep your poor mother as the last to know,” she said while using the dishtowel to wipe crumbs from the table, “So, what do you kids have planned for today?”

  My eyes quickly darted around the bright room. They landed on a clock shaped like a cat grabbing onto the wall to keep from sliding down. The cat’s back held the circular face of the clock. The hands pointed out the time to be nearly 9 AM.

  “Oh shoot, I’m late.”

  “What time does your classes start, sweetheart?” Jackson asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

  “About an hour ago.”

  My voice was calm. There was no need in getting all flustered. I was an adult and I had made the conscience decision to skip seminars and hang out late with my new guy and I didn’t regret not one single choice I had made – thus far.

  “Well, then we better high tail it back into the city. Ma, I’ll be back later to check on you.”

  Jackson kissed his mother and then grabbed my hand.

  As I followed behind, I stopped mid-step. Without completely understanding why I felt the need to do so, I turned and walked back to Annie. I leaned over and gave her a polite hug, and she kissed my cheek and patted my back.

  “You have a good day, Janay. I’ll see you later, too, sweetie.”

  I smiled at her naturally warmhearted return of my affection and commenced following Jackson back to the front of the house.

  When we reached the door, as Jackson turned the handle pull the door inward, another large body was already angling itself to step in.

  The large man, with a heft gut protruding from his front, was wearing all black from button up shirt to pressed slacks and spit-shined shoes. Even his cowboy hat was the color of midnight. His aged features were twisted into a hard scowl and capped with pinched thin lips. I was sure that he and Jackson were going to barrel into one another but Jackson pulled back at the very last second so that the stranger could stomp heavy footsteps into the foyer.

  Jackson tightened his grip on my hand and half of his body covered me slightly. As I watched the rude man make his way into front room, though his face was not positively recognizable to me, he did seem familiar. Where had I seen him before and why did his presence disturb me?

  “Just the man I wanted to run into,” the man spat out without so much as a howdy.

  “Can’t this wait ‘til later? I have some other business to attend to,” Jackson’s reply was crisp.

  “No, it cannot. I need to speak with you now, boy.”

  Boy?

  I watched Jackson reign in his mounting anger. I didn’t even know this man’s name and I already didn’t like him one ounce.

  The man turned his round gut back toward us and fierce eyes landed dead on me. He narrowed his dark lenses and then looked over at Jackson with an unwritten question smeared across his lined face.

  “Janay, this is my business associate…and uncle,” Jackson hesitated at the last two words, “Chett Bryant. Chett, this is my woman, Janay Parker.”

  I didn’t offer my hand in greeting and neither did he.

  A flimsy nod of his head was all the salutation that he afforded to me
.

  “Since you have…company…I think it’s best we discuss this matter outside.”

  Chett stomped by Jackson and I without awaiting a response.

  Jackson touched the soft curve of my jaw.

  “I’ll be right back. Then, we’ll be on our way.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Sure it is.” His weak smile didn’t quite convince me that was the absolute truth.

  Jackson squeezed my hand again and walked out of the front door.

  I stood by the door with my arms folded. I contemplated going back into the kitchen to sit with Annie then decided not to. If she hadn’t come to the front to see who was entering the house than she must be busy in the back, probably getting ready to head over to the B&B and start the rest of her day.

  I shifted from foot to foot, my pulse uneasy, and my mind wondering if Jackson was all right. After five minutes of dry air and no sign of his return, I couldn’t wait any longer and my instinct to seek him out kicked in.

  I walked briskly out the open front door and when I didn’t catch sight of anyone, I wandered around toward the side of the brick home. When I heard the murmur of gruff voices, I slowed up my steps and stopped at the juncture before turning the corner.

  “If you don’t listen to what I’m sayin’, boy, you’re gonna’ get yourself into a whole heap of trouble.” It was Chett.

  “I hear you, Chett, but I’m tryin’ real hard not to,” Jackson countered.

  “You better reconsider the offer that I’m makin’ you, ‘cause this is gonna’ be the very last time that I come around askin’.”

  “My answer is the same today as it was the other night at the bar. I don’t like the changes that you’re suggestin’. My father’s bar was a community gathering place and you want to turn it into a spot for peep shows and cheap lap dances. I won’t have his memory tarnished like that. I just won’t do it, no matter how much we need the money.”

  Chett must have been the man that I had seen Jackson arguing with on Monday night.

  A small twig cracked under the weight of my foot. The two voices paused and then dropped down another octave. I hugged myself closer to the red brick and stood stone still so that I could tune into the heated conversation once more undetected. I knew that this was none of my business but my curiosity and concern for Jackson got the better of me.

  “My brother was a small-minded man,” Chett started in and Jackson immediately cut him off.

  “You watch your mouth when you’re speakin’ of my father.”

  “Oh, Jackson, come on, you know I don’t mean no harm. I only want what’s best for you and your ma’.”

  I heard Jackson hmph in reply.

  “Son, you don’t know what you’re gettin’ yourself into. All of my clubs are real money makers and I can do the same for the Crystal Spring’s Bar & Lounge by addin’ a little extra spice to the joint.”

  Jackson remained silent. I wish I could see his face or at least stand by his side while he held his temper against this foul man. How could the two men have descended from the same family tree? Had Jackson’s father been anything like his brother Chett during his life on this earth? Would he have welcomed me so easily into his home as his sweet wife had done? As these thoughts walked through my brain, the conversation picked up again. Chett was still trying to draw Jackson down a darkened path with twisted words and ill advice.

  “Jackson I wish you would take a good look at yourself and the choices that you’re makin’, son. I mean look at that gal you brought home to meet your ma’.”

  My heart stammered. The motivation for his next few sentences had been sorely obvious from the instant that terrible man was introduced to me. The experience of that cold and harsh stare was one that I never wanted to have to revisit.

  “You already know that she won’t hardly fit into this family. Do you really think that’s the kinda’ legacy you wanna’ leave the next generation of this community with…race mixin’? She looks like she can satisfy a sweet tooth but –.”

  Hard footsteps thudded over the dirt and grass. Even though I was standing some distance away, I felt the vibrations from each step shoot up my leg. The sound of a small scuffle sounded.

  Jackson’s voice boomed in after the commotion ceased.

  “I’m not your son and glad of it, and if you say one more syllable, I swear you’ll leave this property with a limp.”

  I angled my leg to motion toward the two men. I couldn’t simply stand idly by and allow this disagreement to continue on this way. Just as one foot rose up, a polite but firm voice cut in and I halted my step.

  “Janay, sweetie.”

  When I turned to face Annie, she must have seen the shock and horror on my face. She smiled evenly and waved me over to her side.

  “Why don’t you come on inside with me and sit, while the fellas talk out their business.”

  “But –,” I was going to tell her that I think that they might have been in some kind of physical altercation.

  “It’s fine, dear, come on inside with me.”

  She placed her slim arm around my shoulder and guided me back under the white lattice over the door and toward to couch.

  Annie had already set out a white ceramic tea pot, decorated with lavender flowers all around the circumference, and matching tea cups placed on a sterling silver serving tray. When she had settled me on the sofa, my body shaking a little from the bits of conversation I had overheard, Annie went to the low leveled coffee table at the center of the living room where the tray was sitting and poured out a steaming cup of tea. A cube of sugar and dollop of cream were next into the tiny cup and then she brought the hot liquid over and carefully folded it within my hands.

  She patted the outer side of my hands as she sat next to me.

  “Pardon my manners, but Chett Bryant is one mean and hateful SOB.”

  I heard her voice as she spoke but it was as though she were speaking from a far off distance. I had to focus hard in order to bring myself back from wherever my mind had floated off to.

  “My husband, God rest his soul, always said that his little brother came out of their mother’s womb with a snotty attitude and was disgusted with the world before he could even form the words to spit out all of his hate.”

  “So…Mr. Bryant…Jackson’s dad…he wasn’t like that? I mean…what Chett was saying about race mixing and the other things.”

  “Lord, no,” Annie huffed out.

  I was relieved to hear that answer.

  “Other than my little boy, Jackson the third, Jack Jr. was the kindest, most gentle man I have ever known. Even my father-in-law, Jack Sr., isn’t quite sure why his youngest is so foul.” Annie shivered and rubbed her arms lightly. “I tell you the truth when I say Chett is the only person that I avoid as often as I can. You see that I didn’t bother to come greet him when he barged in like he owned the place, like he always does. I put up with him for the sake of my husband, my son, and their patriarch, and that is the extent of my allegiance to any awful person like him.”

  I sipped my tea but my taste buds had gone numb so there was an empty flavor sitting on my tongue.

  “Why is Jackson even dealing with him if he is as bad as he seems? Both of you are too kind to have anything more to do with him.”

  Annie sighed and nodded her head.

  “Well, firstly, he’s still blood relation to my son so I can’t turn him away from here. Jackson is the only one who can set a limit on Chett’s visits to this home.” Her next words trembled on the edge of her rosy lips before she spoke them. “On top of that, Jack Jr. never had a chance to renew his life insurance so, when he passed on, we used most of our savings, first, for the funeral and then to start paying off the taxes and other debts on the bar that were under his name and relatively past due. We don’t get as much out of town business as we use to and that causes a strain on the local finances. The trickle down is that everyone always wants his or her money in a lump sum so they can push off some more of the
ir own bills. Poor Jackson had to leave school earlier than planned so he could come home and help out. He was goin’ for his Bachelor’s but had to finish up with an Associate’s instead. The past nine months have been a really stressful period for all of us, yet we work through it all as a family. We pull together and get the job done.”

  I sat with the cooling cup in my hand, trying to digest every event of the last twenty minutes. It was a huge chuck of information to take in all at once. I marveled at Jackson’s strength and determination. His dedication to his family’s continued well-being – not to mention his seemingly fierce devotion to me – was beyond praiseworthy. One week truly wasn’t nearly enough time to spend sharing my life with this wonderful man – my man and perfect lover.

  “Janay…are you in here?” Jackson thudded into the room.

  Relief washed over his furrowed brow when he laid his blue eyes on me. He rushed over to me and placed his big hand on my cheek.

  “Are you all right, sweetheart?”

  “She’s fine, Jackson,” his mother chimed in from next to me. “Janay was just sittin’ and chattin’ with me while you and your uncle hashed out your differences. I was assurin’ her that he most certainly does not speak for any other members of this family.”

  Annie eyed him and smiled, and her son immediately understood that I had overheard a harsh part of the two men’s conversation.

  Jackson’s eyes filled with worry and he stroked my cheek with his thick thumb.

  “Come on, sweetheart, let’s get you to your destination.”

  He took my hand and folded it with great care within the protection of his own. “Thank you, ma,” he nodded to Annie as we exited through the door.

  My encounter with Chett Bryant had tugged my eyes open regarding the cruel reality of how outsiders might react to my relationship with Jackson. Though Jackson and his mother had both done their best to shield me and lift my spirits concerning the matter, I wasn’t sure that I had an ounce of Jackson’s strength or enough of his mother’s resolve to handle the kind of pressure our relationship would face in the outside world. It was a vast and unforgiving place where sometimes even love wasn’t strong enough to conquer the challenges that would undoubtedly present themselves.