Their Now and Forever (Book III) (The Allen Trilogy 3) Read online

  Their Now

  And

  Forever

  Chevelle Allen

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

  Cover Photography and Design

  By

  Petite Shards Productions

  .

  Copyright © 2016 Chevelle Allen

  All rights reserved

  ISBN-13: 978-0692633458

  ISBN-10: 0692633456

  Visit:

  www.chevelleallen.com

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  As always, I’m deeply thankful for my family’s continued support and love. When this journey began, I never imagined Janine and Michael’s story would resonate with so many. What I thought was a simply love story, revealed so much more begging to be told about a world often maligned and rarely understood. From the first chapters, I have been blessed with a wealth of encouragement, advice and expertise to guide me. My deepest gratitude to DB3, CSC, SLK, CBM, PMC and of course RaynStorm and Mr., early readers, my editor and advisors who have been with me from the beginning. Thank you all!

  -Chevelle

  “Love Never Fails”

  CHAPTER 1

  He still couldn’t believe it. After all these years Janine was finally with him. Less than twenty-four hours earlier, she arrived at his D.C. office unannounced from Indianapolis. She effectively resigned her powerful position as President of the Remington Foundation to be with him. Her stunning revelation left his head spinning and his heart overwhelmed. Even as she lay beside him, he still couldn’t get over the reality of it all.

  They were beginning their lives together in earnest after too many false starts and disappointments. Yet through it all, they continued loving each other deeply. As she lay sleeping, Michael watched her in the faint early morning light before rolling over to embrace her. Gently kissing her forehead and relishing her presence, all he could think of was how beautiful she was, how grateful he was and how this time, they’d get it right.

  From the moment he met her in law school, he found himself drawn to her effervescence, brilliant mind and devilish wit. He’d soon learn she could also be reserved and thoughtful exuding a gentle spirit. A friendship rooted in common interests and mutual respect turned into a love so profound it impacted each of their subsequent relationships.

  They rekindled their romance a few times over the fifteen years since graduating. But issues between them seemed too complex to overcome. He hadn’t seen or talked to her in years but a recent trip to Belize with mutual friends ignited their passions once more. Certain their pattern would repeat, he was abundantly clear he no longer had the will to wait for her to choose him. But she did choose him and here she was, in his bed—to stay.

  As the minutes ticked by, he hated that he’d have to get ready for work. His firm was doing well having taken on several new clients after winning high profile cases. Even with six stellar attorneys and a support staff, his caseload had increased significantly forcing long, grueling hours. In the midst of all stress, he looked forward to nightly chats with her that began after the Belize trip. She’d listen patiently occasionally offering to help even though they were hundreds of miles apart.

  He carefully moved his arm when she nuzzled closer placing her leg over his. Trying to ease away without waking her, she moved even closer, rubbing her labia against his leg. Her hand then moved to his chest before she slowly lowered it to his penis. Her breathing was steady as her hand gripped him and a smile crept onto her face.

  “Good morning,” he whispered.

  “Good morning,” she replied. “What time is it?”

  “A little after six.”

  “Uggh! It’s too early to be getting out of bed.”

  She opened her eyes for the first time as her smile widened. Raising her brow and making clear what she had in mind she began moving her hand up and down his shaft.

  As good as it felt, he placed his hand over hers and said, “I have to get ready for work, Baby. I’ve got a few appointments to make up from leaving early with you yesterday.”

  “Do you want me to go in with you?”

  Janine was a brilliant lawyer. Her added expertise dealing with the nonprofit sector would make her a valuable asset to his firm. But he needed to notify his team first and find the right tasks for her. She only offered to help temporarily, but he also knew she had to wrap up other duties at the Foundation.

  “Why don’t you stay home today? Tomorrow is probably better anyway,” he replied.

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah, but thanks for the offer.”

  Kissing him on the cheek she removed her leg.

  “I can make breakfast while you get ready, okay?”

  “I’ll just grab a bagel and go. I’ll get coffee on the way or at the office.”

  “At least let me make you some coffee and save you a stop.”

  “Thank you,” he said smiling.

  Touching the side of his face she said, “I’m happy to do it.”

  She watched lovingly as he climbed out of bed. Despite all her protestations over the years, she never knew love the way she understood it with him. Having spent so much time afraid of losing herself to him, she finally realized how lost she was without him. Everything about him made her want him more. From the way he looked at her with his deep brown eyes that always seemed to convey what he wanted, to his strong body begging to be touched. After all these years, he still had the capacity to ignite her every passion. He stimulated her mind, soothed her soul and set her body on fire. He belonged to her and she to him.

  As he got in the shower, she got out of bed, grabbed a tee shirt from her suitcase and went to the kitchen to prepare the coffee. After getting the mugs and turning on the coffee maker, she walked to the large floor-to-ceiling windows. She watched the stunning sunrise over the D.C. skyline with the Washington Monument in the distance. She was at peace and very happy with her decision to join him. But she also chuckled recounting when the mere suggestion caused one of the biggest fights they ever had. Shaking her head she thought God, who would’ve thought!

  The coffee maker sputtered the last of its brew and she returned to the kitchen to fill their mugs. Walking down the hall to the bedroom, she waited for him to exit the shower. He stepped into the room with a towel wrapped around his waist and water still glistening on his skin. It used to drive her crazy when he came out of the bathroom dripping wet and tracking water with each step. But now it seemed like a small annoyance—at best.

  “Coffee’s ready,” she said setting the mug on his nightstand. She sat on the edge of the bed watching him.

  “Thanks.”

  Opening the towel, he slid it back and forth across his hips, shoulders and body, drying himself off. He was oblivious to the effect he was having on her. Her clit twitched mercilessly just watching him put his boxer briefs on over his ample penis and muscular ass. After grabbing an undershirt from the dresser, he moved effortlessly to the closet to select his suit, shirt, tie and socks. Focused on his task, he’d look back at her with a smile but said nothing. Once dressed, he finally reached for the coffee, sat beside her and took a sip.

  “This is good. Thanks.”

  “Glad you like it.”

  “So what are you going to do with yourself today?”

  “I’ve got emails to return and some calls to make. There are a lot of people who ha
ve no idea where I am…including my mother,” she laughed.

  “You didn’t tell your mother you were doing this?”

  “No. I took care of work, got things set with my house and prayed like hell you’d want me here.”

  “I’ve always wanted you here,” he said with eyes fixed on hers penetrating her very soul.

  “God knows I love you.” She hugged him tightly and kissed him deeply.

  “I love you, too.”

  “You’d better go. It’s almost seven.”

  He let out a long sigh. “Yeah. Listen, if you need to go out while I’m gone, the spare key is in the cedar box on the dresser. I’ll let the doorman know you’ll be living here on my way down.”

  “Okay.”

  “And feel free to use anything you need in the office. You can log onto my desktop with the guest access if you need to.”

  “I have my laptop. But I do need your Wifi code.”

  “It’s under the keyboard. If you need anything else, just text me.”

  “Thanks, but I should be fine.”

  “I’ll call you later to let you know when I’m coming home. I’ll try not to be too late and then we can go out to dinner or something.”

  “Michael, I don’t need to go out. Just come home to me.”

  He smiled, gave her a light peck on the lips and stood up to put on his suit jacket. After adjusting his tie, he extended his hand to her saying, “I have to go.”

  “I know.”

  Walking with him towards the door, she picked the mug lid from the kitchen counter “Do you want this for your coffee?”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  “Have a great day. I’ll see you this evening.”

  “See you this evening.” He picked up his messenger bag and walked out the door.

  Having left her mug in the bedroom, she retrieved it, returned to the living room and perched on the sofa. She turned on the TV and watched the morning news until she got bored with the same stories recycling every twenty minutes. Her mind started to drift thinking of the night before when they made love with abandon.

  The more she thought of it, it became harder to focus on any thing other than the feel of his hands and lips moving over her body. Her body shuddered as her arousal began to build all over again. Shit! She couldn’t tame thoughts of every touch, every sound and every deep thrusting movement. Slowly lowering her hand to her mound, she leaned back on the sofa, spread her legs and began masturbating. But she stopped knowing the way she was feeling would bring an ache so intense she’d need to counter it.

  She got up and went back to the bedroom heading towards the large bureau in the corner. She knew what was inside and hoped it was unlocked. Reaching for the knobs she pulled to no avail. Letting out a sigh of frustration, she looked on his nightstand for the key but it wasn’t there. Maybe it’s in the cedar chest, she thought. She opened the small drawer and saw the spare keys he mentioned along with a small L-shaped notched key. Removing it, she placed it carefully in the slot praying it would unlock the bureau. With a turn and a click, the bureau opened.

  Leaving the key in the lock, she pulled the doors back and looked at all the toys inside. Hanging on the interior sides of the doors were crops, paddles, floggers and feather ticklers of various sizes and lengths. Against the back panel were ropes, restraining devices, chains and clamps. The shelf held cuffs and collars. There were also two drawers. Opening one, she found an array of condoms, lubricants, oils and a box of cleansing wipes. The second drawer held the prizes she sought. There were at least a dozen vibrators, dildos and anal devices of various shapes, textures and sizes. Any one of them could serve her purpose, but one in particular caught her eye. The small two-pronged vibrator with the remote was what she chose.

  Wiping it down, she squirted lubricant on it and lay across the bed. Carefully inserting one end and adjusting the other against her clit, she turned it on. The intermittent pulsations were extraordinary as her mind drifted to the first time he shared it with her. They’d met in New York years earlier to attend their friend Kelly’s baby shower. He brought it along as a “little surprise” for her.

  The more she thought of their time together, the more fevered she became. She vividly remembered the smirk on his face and his penetrating gaze as he adjusted the setting with each orgasmic wave that washed over her. Even now, just thinking of him she began to peak. Inside and out, the device pulsated bringing about a powerful and satisfying orgasm that continued to ebb and flow until she removed it. All alone, she’d managed to wet the sheets. But given what happened the night before, the stain simply became part of the others dotting the bed.

  She lay still for a moment, before getting out of bed and heading to the shower. Feeling hungry, she dressed quickly and made herself some breakfast. It was just shy of eight thirty and she knew the first batch of emails would be coming through. She got her laptop and set up in his office to begin the task of personally notifying friends and colleagues regarding her decision and whereabouts.

  Work related emails simply informed colleagues and associates she was taking a leave of absence for personal reasons while reassuring them the cause wasn’t health related. Careful to craft the messages in accordance with the agreement with her board, she kept those relatively brief. Personal messages—less than a dozen or so- were more specific. Her message was clear, she resolved to spend the rest of her life with the love of her life—Michael Josey.

  One by one, responses came through wishing her the best, offering congratulations and expressing surprise. And then the phone rang and the name popped up.

  “Hi Kelly,” she snickered.

  “A damn email? Girl! Are you serious?”

  Janine giggled. “I’m just trying to be efficient.”

  “Fuck efficient. You’re wrong for that shit and you know it!” she laughed. “So spill it. How in the hell did this happen.”

  “Belize. All I can say is I came to my senses in Belize.”

  “I knew it! I knew something was stirring between you two. There always is. So what? Y’all hit it in Belize and now you’re finally trying to live happily ever after?”

  “Actually, we didn’t. But we did talk a lot about the past. We shared things we hadn’t before. But when I left, I honestly thought I’d never see him again and that broke my heart. So I called him and we starting talking and… truth is I’ve never really been happy without him.”

  “Girl, there are no words for how happy I am for you both. Please don’t fuck this up. You two belong together and always have.”

  “I’m going to do everything in my power.”

  “Is Michael there? Let me talk to him.”

  “No. He had to go to work. Things are pretty insane for him right now. So I’ll help out for a while until he can find a more permanent solution.”

  “Oh J, this is terrific! Now fill me in on the other details…like when and where’s the wedding?” she chuckled.

  “What? Michael and I haven’t…”

  “Oh there’s going to be a wedding, even if the crew has to haul your asses down the aisle!”

  “I tell you what, you’ll be the second to know.”

  “I’d better be! And you better not send it in another fucking email either!”

  “I won’t! I promise!” she laughed. “I’ll call you later. I have to call my mom.”

  “Okay, Booboo. Tell her ‘hi’ for me.”

  “Will do.”

  As the call ended, Janine smiled realizing a wedding never crossed her mind. Things were all so fresh that broaching that subject with him seemed terribly premature. As far as she was concerned, she was perfectly happy to enjoy their journey one day at a time.

  She dialed her mother’s cell for what she knew would be a quick call. Her mother was back on the day shift and likely on her morning rounds in the hospital burn unit. As expected, the phone went to voicemail.

  “Hi Mom. I know you’re working, but give me a call when you can on my cell. I’m in D.C…to stay.”
>
  Just as she disconnected, her mother was calling back.

  “Janine? Hi Honey! Are you okay? You don’t usually call this early.”

  “I’m fine! I just left you a message.”

  “Are you at work?”

  “No, I’m in D.C. with Michael.”

  “Really? When did this happen?”

  “I got in two nights ago and connected with him yesterday.”

  “I see. So what does this mean?”

  “It means we’re together. I’ve left Indianapolis and starting my life with him here.”

  “What? Are you sure about this?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s a big step. You worked so hard.”

  “But I’m happy.”

  “Then I can’t wait to meet him, Sweetie.”

  “We’ll come down as soon as we can. Okay?”

  “Okay. Can I tell everybody here what’s going on?”

  “Of course! And kiss Grandmama and Granddaddy for me.”

  “Will do. Listen, I’ve got a group of interns coming any minute so I’ve gotta run. I’ll call later tonight, if that’s okay.”

  “It should be.”

  “All right. I really am happy for you, Sweetie! Truly!”

  “Thanks, Mom. Talk to you later.”

  It seemed so peculiar. As many times as she talked to her mother about him, they’d only met briefly at graduation. Unfortunately, her memory of him faded into the many faces she’d met that day. But Janine knew her mother would love him simply because she did. She also knew once she had a chance to spend time with him, she’d better understand why this man had captured her daughter’s heart so completely and for so long.

  CHAPTER 2

  Wrapping up his weekly team meeting, Michael went to his office to prepare for a client call. As he settled in, Lacy tapped on his doorframe.

  “You got a minute?” she asked.

  “Sure. Come on in.”

  “That was some staff meeting.”