Behind the Shadows of Deception-Chapter 19
JC hadn’t known how serious Mya had been about waiting for the party to end before they could talk until they were the last two people in the hotel room. Now he was sitting at the bar area where Mya told to him to wait while she searched the large hotel room for her shoes. He offered to help her on two occasions, but she declined, saying that she knew where they were, “under the table somewhere.” That was a half-hour ago.
JC shifted anxiously on the stool, as his patience had reached its limit. He could not manage to delay their conversation any longer. He had some things to get off his chest before Mya shifted whatever feelings she’d displayed tonight to the back of her mind.
He jumped down from the stool. “Mya! Where are you?”
“Stop yelling. I’m over here.” Her voice echoed in the empty room.
“Where?” He heard her sigh at his question.
“Um, follow my voice. I’m near the exit.”
“Keep talking.” JC ordered, however Mya didn’t abide. He heard the screeching noise of a chair scraping the floor and her frustrated sighs instead.
“Ugh!” JC heard her irritated scream before he found her underneath one of the round tables on her hands and knees. She had her dress hiked up around her thighs to prevent damage to the fine material.
“Mya, are you okay?” His question startling her, Mya stiffened, jumped, and almost banged her head on the tabletop.
“JC!” She crawled from underneath the table and glared at him. “I almost hit my head.”
“Sorry.” He kneeled down beside her and grabbed her close as to place a kiss in her hair where damaged nearly occurred. “What are you doing?”
“My shoes. I told Chris to put them over here and he must’ve tied them to the table leg because there’s a knot.” She pointed agitatedly to the area where her shoes lied, wrapped around the table stand.
“Why the hell would he do that?!” JC asked, prior to taking up her previous position underneath the table.
“I don’t know.” Mya folded her legs beneath her bottom. “Maybe he didn’t want them to get stolen.”
“Hmm, still not a bright idea.” JC’s voice floated over to her while he lay flat on his stomach, stretching his arms out and attempting to untie the knot. He struggled a few times before taking a break. “Mya, this is one hell of a knot. I tell you, it takes Chris…” His words drifted off into an incoherent mumble as his teeth close around the tight knot. He figured he had a better chance at using his teeth than the nubs that was supposed to be his nails.
“What did you say?”
“Mmm…” JC pushed the knot through his lips. “I said next time give me your shoes, I’ll wear them on my shoulders the entire night so we won’t have to do this again.” Afterwards, he resumed his previous task.
“I can’t believe it is taking desperate measures to get these shoes. I swear if they weren’t one of my favorites, I’d-”
“Mya, come here. I need your help.” JC expelled a discouraging breath of air. He waited until Mya joined him on the floor in the same position as him, flat on her stomach. He contemplated telling her that she was ruining her dress, yet thought better of it at the last minute. Without useless conversation, the quicker they could get her shoes and leave.
“I’ma hold the knot between my teeth while you pull it loose.”
“With my teeth?” She raised an objecting brow at his request.
“If you prefer.” He sighed when she continued resisting and only staring at him. “No, okay? Just pull the knot.”
“Wow, someone’s a little demanding.” Mya began while taking the string between two fingers.
“Frustrated is the right word. Hey,” He mumbled over the knot. “We look kind of stupid down here, huh? Well, I look stupid, you look…wild, sexy. Sort of like during your performance when you were sprawled out on the floor earlier. Aaahh…good memories.” JC grinned.
“JC, now it’s not the time. You promised to save your thoughts for later.” She replied annoyed, working hard on loosening the knot.
“Oh I am.”
She paused and yanked the string through his teeth. “I got it!” Mya gasped. “I got my shoes JC!” She scrambled to merrily throw her arms around his neck. “Okay, let’s go.”
“Umph.” They uttered simultaneously, both struggling to stand. JC remained on the floor to assist her in putting on her shoes. He retrieved one heel from her grasp and took hold of her left foot. He covered her entire foot with both hands. His fingers grazed the sensitive creases of her sole, slightly caressing them and she tensed.
“Ticklish?” He winked up at her from his kneeled position.
Mya hesitated. It didn’t matter what answer she would give him, he’d only continue his ministrations just to spite her. However, if she was honest with herself, she needed the massage, especially in her calves. She wouldn’t dare admit that to JC though, he’d take advantage, just as he was taking advantage of her being shortly lost in her thoughts.
“Huh?” He took his time lacing the straps up her calf. “Can I get a response out of you for once?” He gently kneaded the muscles there and she instantly jerked her leg from his grasp. “I guess that’s a yes.”
“That was unfair, that’s what that was.” Mya smirked, unconsciously pouting.
“What?” JC feigned ignorance, quickly slipping on her other shoe and lacing it up her calf.
“You know what?”
JC sighed, standing to his feet. “I know. I’m just tired of everything being so one-sided between us.” He confessed before he could stop himself. He knew she’d take offense to his admission. Screw it, he thought, finally putting to use Justin’s advice.
“What do you mean?” She asked while sliding her arms into her coat with his help.
“I mean I have feelings for you Mya, real feelings that go beyond simple friendship, which you know, and I can’t ignore them like you do.”
“I don’t ignore them JC.”
“You do, even if you don’t mean to. Like the kiss-”
Mya rolled her eyes. “Why you gotta mention that again? I understand, your pride was hurt, I get it.”
“Yeah, but that wasn’t it. You made it seem as if you never wanted that kiss, like you never thought about it once. And you were mad because once it happened you couldn’t take it back.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong. I never said I wanted to take it back.” She stalked over to the bar area where she snatched up her purse and headed to the exit.
JC, dumbfounded, remained glued to his spot. He thought he had the upper hand in this argument, obviously, he was indeed wrong. He could read every journal entry she had ever written and she would still manage to surprise him.
Grabbing his blazer, he finally exited behind Mya. He met her at her car where she was waiting inside for him. He pulled the door open and slid inside, immediately embraced by the comforting heat surrounding him.
She didn’t say another word to him as she shifted gears and reversed out of the parking space. Besides the music playing low, they rode most of the fifteen-minute distance to his house in near silence. When Mya turned the corner leading to his address, JC decided he had one more thing to say.
“Can I ask you a question Mya?” She pulled up in front of his house without a response. “Please, before I go.”
“Okay.” She sighed, giving into his charms once again and turned off the ignition.
“If I wanted to kiss you again, no regrettable statements afterwards, and you’d have to allow yourself to enjoy it, that’s means keeping your thoughts away during it, would you let me?”
Mya immediately tucked her bottom lip between her teeth. She didn’t know what to say to that. He was asking her to let her guard down, she wasn’t used to that. To not think about her decisions before she’d made them, she didn’t do that either.
“Alright.” Mya finally nodded. As his eyes grew wide, she bit back a laugh. “Lay one on me.” She smiled lightheartedly.
JC reached out, his hands framing her face. He paused just as he was lowering his head “You have to act by your instincts and not your intellect.”
“Got it. Oh and I’m sorry for you leading you on all these weeks. I should’ve said-”
JC lowered his head again, expressing no interest in what she had to say. The instant their lips touched, he felt her tense. “Mya.” He warned against her lips.
“Sorry, sorry.” She relaxed again.
JC shifted his body for a better angle as his hands traveled to her nape. He stroked the skin there and felt her resistance slipping away. She released a soft, moan almost, and allowed her arms to wrap around his neck. JC breathed a sigh of excitement before staking a claim on her parted lips. He indulged himself with their lush texture and pure addictive flavor. He savored them a moment longer prior to forcing himself to focus on what was hidden behind those lips: a warm tongue, one he had always envied whenever she’d eat ice cream. He nudged her lips apart with his own seeking tongue. She willingly accepted after such passionate coaxing.
In record time, JC found what he had been searching for and latched onto it. His tongue swirled around hers, hitting all necessary corners of her mouth. This time around, Mya uttered a clearly identifiable moan as she fisted her hands into his hair. Their tongues battled for a few more moments before JC pulled away and allowed them both to catch a much-needed breath.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” He exhaled deeply, resting his forehead against hers.
“No…not at all.” Mya sighed into his mouth.
“No regrets?” JC smiled.
“Not from me, now see if you were a bad kisser-” He placed a kiss to the right corner of her lips. “I was going to say you were a good kisser-” Interrupting her again, he shared the same treatment with the other corner.
“Good night Mya.” JC unwillingly pulled back, her arms falling to her lap.
“Night.” Not knowing what else to do, she reached back over to hug him. “Oh and now you have something to report to counselor Justin. I’m sure he’ll be glad to know I didn’t reject your kiss this time.” She smiled, jokingly.
“He will.” JC laughed, opening the car door and stepping out onto the pavement. “Call me when you get you home.”
“Will do.”
“We can talk some more.”
“Oh alright.” Mya rolled her eyes heavenward, nonetheless sporting a wide smile. “Smooches.” She teased, waiting until he closed the door before pulling off.
Smiling from ear to ear, JC turned and walked the short distance to his house. He inserted the key, unlocking the door and entering the house. Hanging his coat in the closet, he began humming an unidentifiable tune. Still humming, he shut the closet door and headed to the living room.
“Mmm hey,” Heather stretched, looking up at him from her reclining position on the couch. “Where’d you go? The party’s been over.” She scooted over as JC moved to sit beside her on the couch.
“Aaahh.” JC sighed, enjoying the comfort of the plush cushions. “We ran into some problems with Mya’s shoes. Chris tied them to a table.”
“Oh man. I wish I could’ve seen that.” She laughed heartily.
“I had to use my teeth to get them loose.”
“Wow, un-believ-able.”
“Yeah, all is cool now.” He smiled at Heather, who’d been eyeing him curiously ever since he entered the living room.
“Mmm hmm, what else happened?”
“What do you mean?” He asked, sounding very much like Mya earlier, even though he knew exactly what she meant.
“How about what that grin means, huh?” Heather reached out and rubbing her thumb across his bottom lip. She looked at her finger; it was shiny like- “Um, is that lip gloss?”
Gushing excitedly, she grasped onto his chin for a closer inspection. “Oh yes it is! Tell me what happened, right now!” Heather demanded.
JC laughed as his tongue crept out to taste the evidence of the kiss on his lips. Heather caught him fantasizing and pushed his shoulder roughly.
“JC!”
“What?” He managed to get out between laughs.
“Tell me, did you get an extra birthday day gift in your bag of goodies tonight?” He nodded. “Hmm, could it have been a kiss?” She grinned as JC nodded again.
“Ooh, let me guess with who-”
“It was Heather.”
“That bitch!” She shrieked. “JC, I don’t like what I’m hearing.” She shook her head, “Not one bit.”
“Kidding, kidding. Mya, it was her.”
“Really? Why would she kiss you?” She asked teasingly as if the idea was just absurd.
“Heather!” JC huffed, pretending to be offended.
“What?” She shrugged.
“I don’t know maybe because I asked her to.”
“And she said yes?” Heather folded her arms across her chest as a sudden thought entered her mind. “How many drinks did she have?”
JC rolled his eyes. “None.”
“Hmm, any history of mental illness?”
“Heather, you’re not right.” He sulked, rising to his feet. “I’m going to bed.”
“JC wait-” She grabbed his arm. “I was only playing; I know how much you like Mya. And to hear that you actually made some progress in getting with her, I’m happy.”
“Well, not exactly…” JC began and Heather’s smile faded. “We’re still stuck at the same place, all we did was kiss, and what a kiss it was, but I’m sure Mya wants us to remain friends.” He pouted; still not keen on accepting that fact.
“Aww, well Justin wants you to call him.”
“Why?” Heather shrugged in response. JC sighed. He didn’t feel like talking to Justin right now. He was more interested in waiting for Mya to call him. In fact, he knew he would value their conversation more-well that is if she said what he wanted to hear. And that was to give a relationship between them a chance.
“I’ll call him tomorrow, I’m going to bed. Good night.” He exited the living room.
“Yeah you had a wild night. By the way,” She called out to him just as he started up the staircase. “You have to tell Mya to teach some of those moves next time you talk to her. That performance was breathtaking beyond belief. I mean, when she dropped to the floor, every guy looked as if he wanted to jump her bones!” Those were the last words JC heard from Heather before he crossed the threshold of his bedroom and shut the door.
Retrieving his cell phone from his pocket, he tossed it on the bed and began undressing. He loosened the first few buttons on his shirt before his phone rang. He immediately answered, already knowing who was calling.
“Hey JC,” Her smooth voice filtered through the receiver. “I’m home safe so you can rest now.”
“Good.” He released an exaggerated breath of air. “I was worried.”
“Oh please, it has only been twenty minutes since you’ve seen me.” She smiled into the phone.
“Yeah, twenty minutes too long.” JC’s laugh faded until the result was awkward silence.
“JC, about tonight…”
“I was waiting for this.” JC retorted.
Mya sighed. “About the kiss-”
“La la la. We’re not having this conversation.”
Annoyed, she sucked her teeth. “JC can you stop being immature for one minute?”
“Can we not have this conversation?” He countered her question with one of his own.
“We have to.”
“No we don’t. Who needs to hear your regrets now that you’ve had a chance to think of some? Certainly not me.” She must’ve forgotten that she had agreed not to regret the kiss. Now she was going back on her word because she was in the privacy of her own home.
“You really don’t want to hear what I have to say?” Her question came out as more of a whine. He almost didn’t resist it.
“Unless it’s what I want to hear, no.”
“Fine.” She snapped. “Good night.” Seconds later the dial tone buzzed loud and clear.
“Shit.” JC flipped his phone shut. He hadn’t meant for the conversation to take a negative turn. He only wanted to hear some honesty on her part.
JC quickly dialed her number back. “Come on Mya, pick up.” She answered on the second ring.
“Yes?”
“Go ahead, tell me what you have to say.”
“I don’t know about that now.”
“Please, I’m sorry.” He urged with an apology that Mya couldn’t disregard.
“I didn’t regret the kiss as you had assumed. Why would I? It was nice, haven’t had one that good in a while.” Her admission brought a slow smile to his face.
“Still, I’m at a place in my life right now where I don’t need to be focus on things that make me feel good. You get where I’m coming from?”
“Yeah, my rejection meter is going off.” He sulked. “You know Mya, my ego can’t take much more of this. The woman I want doesn’t want me.”
“Want you? That is not the issue. I can’t have you.” She announced. “Relationships never work out for me. I get wide open, jump in head first, only to crash and burn.” He had read about that at one time, but it was obvious by the cracking of her voice that her reservations ran much deeper than her journal entries portrayed.
“I’m not doing it again until I’m ready.”
“I won’t rush you.”
Mya sighed. “Oh I know you won’t.”
“We can take it slow. And what do you mean you can’t have me? You can have me any way you want, whenever you want, I will not object.” His promise was definite.
“JC.” Mya warned.
“I think about you all the time.” Defying her warning, JC continued. “Especially in my dreams…mmm the things that happen in those dreams.” He instinctively licked his lips.
Mya breathed, overwhelmed. His words told her just what kind of dreams he was referencing. And since she had had practically seen him naked earlier, those same words painted a clear image in her mind. Not liking the territory her thoughts had traveled to, she resumed her conversation with JC. He was still talking about his fantasies. She caught the end of one.
“…you had your whole body wrapped around me. It was incredible.” He finished. God only knows what he had been saying prior to what she heard.
“Um JC.” Mya cleared her throat. “I’m going to go to now.”
“No.” That one word seemed to float through the receiver, into her ears, and affecting her senses. “Don’t go now. I was just getting started.”
“I just bet you were.” Mya retorted. JC rewarded her with a light chuckle.
“I see you got jokes. Why don’t I come over?”
“Uh, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not? You’ve never turned me down before. What’s different about this time?” He spoke softly as if trying to break down her barriers.
“This time you’ve decided to overwhelm me with all of your feelings, including those fantasies of yours.”
“Damn, those fantasies.” His mind drifted away again.
“I don’t think I can handle you, right now. So it’s better that you stay home.”
“Why, Mya,” JC grinned, “It sounds like someone has a few fantasies of her own.”
“If I did I wouldn’t tell you.”
“Well, I wish you would tell me something. Like how you feel about me, perhaps? I mean is there a chance in hell for us?”
Mya moaned. “Under different circumstances sure.”
“Different circumstances, how?” He was confused as to what she meant.
“If you initially expressed feelings for me before we formed such a close friendship, we possibly could’ve had a chance.”
“You have got to be kidding me!”
“What?” She yawned, the physical strain of performance finally catching up with her.
“Are you telling me that when I approached you that first night in Barnes & Noble and if I talked some good game to you, we could be in a relationship right now?”
“Possibly.” She uttered simply.
“I’ve heard enough, Good night.” He paused, “Oh and for the record I was attracted to you when you first walked through the door that night and I didn’t even know it was you. How’s that for expressing interest?” Those were his parting words as he ended the call.
Mya sighed and closed her phone. How did she let JC develop feelings so deep? Reaching into her nightstand, she retrieved a blank sheet of paper, hoping that she could effectively sort out her mass of confused thoughts in a long awaited journal entry.