Secret Liaisons (5 page)

Chapter Eleven

After eating, Charlotte said, “There's some people I want you two to meet.”

Terrance asked Mona, “Are you up to it?”

Mona was reapplying her lipstick. “I'm fine. Thanks for being concerned.”

Terrance got up and held Mona's chair as she stood.

Charlotte said to Sean. “Baby, I'll be back.”

Terrance placed his hand on the bottom of Mona's back when they walked as if they were a couple more so than just colleagues.

Terrance noticed the glances Mona was getting in her emerald green dress. He wanted to take off his jacket and cover her to stop some of the men's penetrating glares.

They stopped behind Charlotte. Charlotte said, “Charles, how are you?”

Charles gave Charlotte a hug. “I'm great. How are you, dear?”

“I wanted you to meet Terrance Beckham.”

Charles extended his hand out first. “Terrance, I've heard so much about you. Can't wait to hear more about these ideas of yours.”

Terrance shook his hand. “Mr. Osgood, I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to present. This is my co-producer, Mona Johnson.”

Mona placed her hand out. Charles took it and kissed the back of it. “A beautiful woman. You're a lucky man to have a woman like this by your side.”

“We make a good team,” Terrance responded. He didn't bother to correct Charles's way of thinking.

He noticed Mona frown but she then smiled again.

“Charles, I know you have other people to see. I just wanted to formally introduce you two,” Charlotte said.

“I look forward to seeing you all next week,” Charles responded, right before walking away.

Terrance gave Charlotte the thumbs up signal.

“My fiancé is trying to get my attention. So now that my job is done, I'll leave you two on your own.”

“I'll call you tomorrow,” Mona said. She faced Terrance. “I thought you would get a chance to pitch our ideas to him.”

Terrance placed his hand on the small of Mona's back. “No, that's not how it always works. Charlotte just wanted us to meet tonight. Monday, I'll present our material and hopefully walk away with a deal for us.”

Terrance kept Mona near his side as he mingled with other people in various forms of entertainment.

“I appreciate you introducing me to your colleagues, but I'm a little beat. I think I'm going to sit the rest of the night out.”

“It is getting late. We can go.”

“Don't rush on my account,” Mona said.

“I've schmoozed enough. Come on, let's get out of here.”

Terrance sent a text to the limousine driver. The driver was waiting for them outside on the curb of the hotel.

Once inside the limousine, Mona removed her shoes. “Remind me not to wear shoes like this ever again.”

Terrance laughed. “I don't see why women like to torture themselves.”

“Because men like you love seeing us in these shoes,” Mona responded.

“I can't deny that.” Terrance couldn't help but notice her toned legs. “Let me help relieve some of your discomfort.”

Terrance reached down and held her foot. He began massaging it. Mona leaned back in the seat. “Don't stop. That feels good.”

The driver opened the window. “Mr. Beckham, are you going to your house or the office?”

“Why don't you drop us off at my place? I'll drop Mona back at the office myself,” Terrance said.

“Yes, sir,” the driver said. He closed the window.

Mona moved her foot. “Don't you think you should have checked with me to see if I had other plans?”

“I'm sorry. I should have. Do you? I can always have him get off on the next exit and take us to the office.”

“No…I don't have any plans.”

“I apologize for assuming you didn't have anything else to do. I'm just glad you feel comfortable enough for me to drive you home. ”

Mona rolled her eyes. “Please. I'm alone with you all of the time. Get over yourself.”

“I just got dissed.” Terrance pouted.

Mona laughed. “Please don't make that face again.”

“I can tell the driver to turn around.” Terrance reached for the button to open the window.

Mona placed her hand on top of his.

“No. It's okay. I'll let you drop me off.” Mona removed her hand and moved her body closer to the door opposite of where Terrance sat.

Terrance didn't like small talk but found himself doing just that as they rode to his house.

“I've always loved your house,” Mona said, as the driver pulled into the circular driveway.

“Thanks. I hate to say it, but my mom helped me pick it out.”

“She does have good taste,” Mona said, right as the driver opened the door.

Terrance helped Mona out of the limousine. Terrance tipped the driver. “Thanks Mr. Beckham.”

“You're welcome.” Terrance pulled out some more money and handed it to him. “Buy your wife something nice.”

“That was sweet of you,” Mona said.

“I know I can be demanding, but I'm really a nice guy,” Terrance responded.

“I didn't say all of that,” Mona laughed out loud.

Terrance removed his keys from his pocket and unlocked the door. He held it open and allowed Mona to enter first.

He closed his eyes as he inhaled the sweet fragrance of her hair as she walked in.

Chapter Twelve

Mona had been to Terrance's house many times so she wasn't a stranger to the layout of his home. She'd always liked the spiral staircase and the chandeliers that hung above in the vault ceiling.

“Make yourself comfortable. I need to get something from upstairs and then I'll be ready to go,” Terrance said.

Mona went straight to the kitchen. She was thirsty and wanted a cold bottle of water. She flipped on the lights as she made her way down the long hallway. The walls were filled with framed movie posters and autographed photographs of different actors Terrance had worked with over the years.

Mona turned on the light revealing a spotless kitchen filled with stainless steel appliances. The yellow and gold decorative tiles and accessories seemed to brighten the room even more.

She opened the fully stocked refrigerator and pulled out a cold bottle of water. She left the kitchen with the water in one hand and went to the living room. She stood in front of the fake fireplace and admired the pictures of Terrance in various stages of his life that sat in frames on the top shelf.

Mona was wondering what was taking Terrance so long. She glanced at the antique clock on the wall. It was almost ten o'clock. That meant it would be near eleven before they made it back to the office.

She located the remote to the stereo and turned it on. The music blasted loud. Mona kept hitting the button on the remote until she decreased the sound. She hit skip on the music until she got to a song she liked. The voice of Luther Vandross sang out through the speakers.

She swayed back and forth to the soft music.

“May I have this dance?” Terrance asked from behind her.

She turned around and saw his held out hand. She took it and he pulled her close to him. She laid her head on his chest. She could hear his heart beat that mirrored her own. They slow danced alone in his living room.

The song ended. Mona moved to pull away. She looked into Terrance's eyes. She felt hypnotized. Just like a magnet, their lips connected. Her body jolted when the electric current flowed from his body to hers.

Another slow song played in the background, but this time instead of their bodies dancing, their tongues danced to the rhythm.

Moans seeped out of both of their mouths.

“I want you,” Terrance whispered.

Mona didn't want to think about tomorrow. Instead, she placed her arms around his neck and pulled his lips back on top of hers. Without stopping their kiss, Terrance used his hands and unzipped Mona's dress. Mona slipped out of her dress and it fell to the floor revealing her naked breasts and pink-laced panties.

Terrance led Mona to the black leather sofa. He got down on his knees and, without removing her panties, used one hand to push them to the side while devouring her precious jewels with his warm and inviting mouth.

He flicked his tongue across her clit causing her legs to tremble. Mona tried to steady herself. Terrance used both of his hands to hold her as he made love to her with his mouth.

Mona moaned out in pleasure. She'd never felt this much pleasure before. She wanted Terrance like she'd never wanted another man.

He stood and swooped her into his arms. He carried her up the winding stairway and into his master bedroom. She could have stopped him at any time but she didn't. Her body trembled from the aftershock of how he'd just made her feel.

He laid her down on the thick black and brown comforter on his king-sized bed. She watched with eyes filled with desire as he undressed himself. He got on top of the bed and near her. He kissed her again but more gently. He used one of his hands to remove her panties. His fingers dipped into her moist center.

Terrance caught her moans in his mouth as he used his fingers to bring her to climax. She reached for him when he stopped briefly. But he wasn't gone far. He moved to the side of his bed and pulled out a condom. He opened the wrapper and without saying a word, rolled it on to his stiff, long member that stood straight out needing attention.

Mona lay with eyes wide open. Terrance leaned down and instead of kissing her on the mouth; he took each one of her breasts suckling and licking her nipples causing Mona to beg for him to make love to her.

“I need to feel you inside of me,” Mona moaned.

Without saying a word, Terrance stared into Mona's eyes and lifted himself on top of her and entered her. Mona closed her eyes and sighed with pleasure. She wrapped her legs around Terrance's waist as he thrust in and out.

“Oooh,” Mona moaned.

“Baby, you feel so good,” Terrance said.

Mona opened her eyes and gazed into Terrance's eyes which were filled with desire. Terrance's lips covered hers. Their moans got lost within each other's mouths. He elevated himself and gently raised her legs above her shoulders and re-entered her, causing Mona to scream out with pleasure. The sounds of the bed squeaking mixed with their moans filled the room.

They continued the naked dance with their bodies as Terrance rocked Mona's world. They both cried out in pleasure as they climaxed together.

Terrance fell down on top of Mona. He squeezed her tight as if he didn't want to let her go. Mona held on for dear life because she didn't want him to let her go. With their heartbeats in synch with each other, Mona closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep feeling satisfied.

Chapter Thirteen

Terrance watched Mona as she slept. He didn't regret sleeping with her but he didn't know what they were supposed to do after this. He'd been around plenty of beautiful women so it wasn't just Mona's beauty that attracted him to her. Somehow their spirits seemed to connect.

When he saw her enjoying the music he was immediately drawn to her. All that night he'd felt more like her protector than her employer. He wanted other men to think they were a couple so he made it a point to not leave her alone.

He'd hoped they would get a chance to talk but his sexual desires overtook his senses and he acted purely on those desires.

Terrance felt Mona's body stir. “Good morning, sunshine,” Terrance said.

Mona blinked her eyes a few times. “Good morning, I think.”

“Being here with you makes it a good morning,” Terrance said. He brushed her hair from off her face.

Mona sat straight in bed, using the comforter to cover her nakedness. “Where are my clothes?”

“Downstairs. But you don't have to put those on. What's your size? I'll have someone deliver whatever you need.”

“I have clothes at home,” Mona said.

“Stop being stubborn,” Terrance said.

“Now this is the man, I'm used to. The bossy one,” Mona said.

“Fine. Call me bossy. There's a new robe hanging behind the door in the bathroom. Everything you need is there. So what's your size or do you want me to guess?”

“You've been around enough women so figure it out,” Mona teased.

She got out of the bed dropping the comforter allowing Terrance to see her full naked body in the daylight.

Terrance wanted to reach out to her and pull her back in the bed. Instead, he watched her storm away into his master bathroom. She closed the door.

He put on the boxers on the floor on the side of the bed. He went downstairs and picked up her discarded dress. He looked at the tag on the dress and got the size off it. He called a boutique and placed a clothes order. He gave him his credit card information and his address.

He went back upstairs and heard the shower running. His first instinct was to join Mona, but he thought second of it. Instead, he went to his huge walk-in closet and took down a starched pair of jeans and a Polo shirt off the hangers. He went to his dresser and got him a pair of clean boxers and then went and used one of the other bathrooms.

After he showered, he dressed. He went back to his bedroom but Mona was nowhere in sight.

He eased down the stairs and found Mona in the kitchen cooking breakfast.

“Since I'm here, I thought I would cook us some breakfast,” Mona said. “What do you want in your omelet?” she asked.

“Surprise me,” Terrance said.

Terrance liked seeing Mona in the kitchen. He wished the tie on the white robe would loosen so he could see her body naked once more.

Mona caught him looking. “Last night was a one night thing. I hope you savored the moments.”

Terrance licked his lips. “It doesn't have to be. Maybe we should pursue this and see where else it leads.”

Mona mixed the batter. “Business and pleasure usually don't mix well.”

“There's always an exception.” Terrance moved closer to Mona.

“We're two grown folks so what happened between us doesn't have to spoil our business relationship.” Mona moved out of his way. She increased the fire under the skillet. She poured the egg batter into the skillet.

“I don't know if I can forget about what happened last night, so easily,” Terrance confessed.

“T, you don't have a choice. Besides, I'm seeing someone,” Mona said.

“Who? When and where is this guy because I've never heard you mention a man?” Terrance felt a little disappointed hearing this news.

Mona stirred the omelet as she spoke. “I don't talk my personal business with you so you wouldn't know him.”

“You come to all of my events. If I were your man, you wouldn't be attending them by yourself.”

“Maybe he understands that I'm working and gives me my space.”

“Maybe he's the wrong man for you because if you were my woman, we would be spending as much time together as we could. Job or no job.”

Mona sighed. “Truthfully, we haven't made a commitment but I'm sure in time he will be asking me for one.”

“If he hasn't asked for a commitment then that means you're fair game.”

Mona held the spatula. “Not to you, I'm not. Mr. Afraid of Commitment.”

Terrance took a seat on the barstool at the counter and watched Mona cook. “I will commit to the right woman.”

“So you're telling me out of all the women I've seen you with, not one of them were worthy of committing to?”

“No, I'm not saying that. But you know as well as I do, those women were only trying to get ahead in their careers. They weren't trying to get to know me on a deeper level.”

“I agree with you. But it's your own fault. You wouldn't even know what to do with a woman of substance like myself because you keep surrounding yourself with the shallow ones.”

The doorbell rang.

“Saved by the bell,” Terrance said.

They both laughed.

“You know I'm right,” he heard her say as he left to go answer the door.