Lace clung to her curves, framing her hips and letting her breasts spill over in a perfect tease. The cute ribbon tied around her waist completed the look on her perfect hourglass figure.
There was a knock on her front door and she smiled into the mirror.
It's showtime!
She inhaled deeply as she walked to the front door and exhaled a smile as she opened it.
Standing in front of her, at six feet and two inches with the sculpted athletic body of an African God, was Dwayne Jackson. He flashed a dimpled smile, his pearly whites contrasting against his rich chocolate-toned skin. Even at five-foot-seven, she felt dwarfed by his size.
Dwayne and McKenzie attended the same high school in the town's poorest district. Despite him being the classic jock: the captain of both the rugby and hockey team, surrounded by the prettiest and most popular girls in school, he chose her; the girl who was dismissed as trailer trash.
While dating, Dwayne didn't just make her feel special, he fought for her. He defended her and made her feel seen and heard, lifting her self-esteem in ways she never thought possible. But as with many high school romances, their puppy love couldn't withstand the challenges life threw their way.
His athletic talent secured him a full scholarship to study abroad, and with that, he left her behind. Now, he was back on U.S. soil as a lawyer at one of the country's most prestigious firms.
"Hey, what's with all the candles?" Dwayne asked, nuzzling into her neck, pulling McKenzie from her moment of nostalgia.
"Can't a girl try to create a romantic mood?" McKenzie teased as she moved closer to him.
His arms slithered around her waist and he lifted her chin to guide her lips towards his. Her heart fluttered as his lips met hers and commanded her tongue.
His hands moved downwards and cupped her ass and pulled her into his erection that strained against the fabric of his jeans.
Slowly, he moved them until her shins were touching the sofa and gently lowered her onto it.
Hovering over her, his tongue moved from her lips, and traced the contours of her neck before finding the gentle swell of her breasts. His thumb explored her pink hardened nipple through the delicate fabric prompting a soft moan from McKenzie, "Fuck."
Eagerly, she tugged at Dwayne's t-shirt until it lay in a heap beside the sofa. Dwayne planted a trail of kisses on her shoulders as he shifted the delicate straps of her lingerie down her arms. Panting, McKenzie shimmied her arms out the fabric, giving Dwayne full access to her now-exposed heaving breasts.
He smiled at her wickedly before he nibbled on each one, sending electric bolts coursing through her body. Her nails scored his biceps as her juices dampened her panties. Desire throbbed through her wet lips, the need to feel his thick length filling her almost driving her over the edge.
She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer to her. She reached between them and gently massaged him through his jeans, releasing a pleasurable moan from Dwayne.
"I want you to fuck me…hard," McKenzie whispered into his ears as she began to unzip his jeans.
"Your wish is my command," he moaned huskily in her ear.
Suddenly, a cry echoed from the bedroom causing McKenzie to jerk upright, almost knocking Dwayne off the sofa.
One minute she was drenched in desire. The next, she was drenched in fear.
She darted from the sofa and into the bedroom, along the way hastily adjusted the lingerie straps onto her shoulders.
When she got to the bedroom, Jasmine, her one-year-old daughter, was standing in the crib, tears streaming down her cheeks. McKenzie gently pressed her hand against Jasmine's forehead, her brow creased with concern.
"Oh no, baby, you're burning up."
She needed to get rid of Dwayne so she could focus on Jasmine. She kissed her cheek and whispered, "I'll be back in a bit, Jazzy."
McKenzie closed her eyes for a few seconds as she tried to get her breathing under control. Her anxiety level always rose when Jasmine got ill because it always ended with a visit to the hospital.
Opening her eyes, she re-entered the living room wearing a fake smile, hoping that Dwayne wouldn't see beyond her façade.
Dwayne, now seated on the sofa, with his t-shirt on, was waiting on her.
"Are you planning on telling me what's going on?" he asked, his voice gentle and his eyebrow raised.
McKenzie looked him squarely in the eye as she stood in front of him. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Why do you have the candles out?"
"To set the mood," McKenzie insisted, sticking to her fabricated story even though she knew Dwayne had caught on to her.
"Zee," he looked at her in disbelief and continued, "Why didn't you tell me they cut your electricity?"
With a defensive edge to her voice, McKenzie snapped, "Because it's none of your business, Dwayne, you don't live here."
She rubbed her forehead lightly, her tone softened, "Look, I'm sorry I invited you over and wasted your time, but you have to leave."
Dwayne rose from the sofa, and reached for her hand. The warmth of his touch travelled through her fingers and straight to her stomach where butterflies swarmed uncontrollably.
"Is Jazzy ok?" Dwayne's voice was laced with concern.
Reluctantly, McKenzie stepped away, her voice hardening slightly. "Jazzy is fine, but Dwayne you really need to go."
Dwayne sighed heavily, his brown eyes narrowed. "Please, let me help you."
"You can help me by leaving. Dwayne, please, go."
"Fine, I'll leave."
He pulled a few hundred dollar notes from his wallet and held them out to her.
"I can't take this, I didn't complete the job," she protested, stepping backwards.
Before he could object, Jasmine's sharp cries pierced the air causing McKenzie's heart to leap into her throat. Panicked, she raced to the bedroom, where Jasmine's screams had escalated into uncontrollable sobs.
McKenzie scooped Jasmine into her arms and made her way to the bathroom bumping into Dwayne on the way.
"What's wrong with her!? How can I help?"
"You can't. Move! You're in my way!" McKenzie snapped.
"Dammit, Zee! Tell me what the hell is going on!" Dwayne's hands flew up in frustration as he stepped aside allowing her to pass before he followed her to the bathroom, where he stood at the entrance.
"She has a fever, a very high fever," McKenzie uttered, her voice almost in a whisper as she hastily ripped off Jasmine's outfit and diaper.
She turned on the tap and allowed the water to run over Jasmine's heated body.
"I know baby, I know," McKenzie murmured soothingly as Jasmine squirmed in her arms, screaming at the top of her lungs.
A few moments later, she switched off the tap, brushed past Dwayne and headed to the bedroom. After she had dried Jasmine and placed a fresh diaper on her, she took her in her arms and some wet rags and headed to the living room.
Dwayne sat on the sofa looking on as she opened all the windows, hoping the cool breeze would reduce Jasmine's fever.
"Zee…"
"What?" she hissed, tears streaming down her face.
"I'm not leaving." he stated firmly.
"You are free to do as you wish, but don't expect me to act as though I want you here," McKenzie retorted.
A fleeting smirk seemed to cross his face, disappearing almost as quickly. She clutched Jasmine tightly and stood up.
"Goodnight, Zee," Dwayne said softly.
Ignoring him, she headed to her bedroom, locking the door behind her.
Exhausted at 3:15 a.m. McKenzie, now dressed in a vest and a pair of shorts, faced the reality that in three more hours her day would officially begin. Though Jasmine's temperature had subsided, she was hesitant about going to bed in case her temperature rose unexpectedly.
She knew she couldn't tell Aunty Lia, at day care, what had happened last night. She needed someone to look after Jasmine so she could go to work. With Jasmine's frequent hospital visits over the past three months, she had used up all her casual and sick days. She couldn't risk losing her job at the pizzeria.
Leaving her bed, she went to the kitchen for water. In the living room, she saw Dwayne looking out the window. The candles were all out, but the streetlight cast a long shadow of his silhouette across the room.
"Did you get any sleep?" he asked without turning to face her.
"No, but I'll be ok. I always am," she mumbled as she passed.
Entering the kitchen, she filled a glass with water before she headed to the living room. She curled into the floral-patterned armchair that once belonged to her mother; the only thing she salvaged from her childhood. Something about that chair made her feel safe, as though she could get through anything.
On days like this, she yearned for the comforting presence of her mother, both her physical and emotional support.
The hardest thing about being a mother was pretending that everything was ok when you felt broken inside. McKenzie knew her life hadn't unfolded as she expected, but despite the unexpected turns, motherhood was the best thing that ever happened to her.
As if sensing her pain, Dwayne took her glass of water, setting it on the nearby coffee table. With an effortless sweep, he gathered her into his arms, settled into the chair, and cradled her on his lap and held her close.
"Zee, you know, I'll do anything for you and Jazzy." His voice was soft and comforting.
She did know, and that was the problem. It was a reminder of the love they shared all those years ago. The love that refused to stay buried, always threatening to rise to the surface every time she was with him.
She rolled her eyes to mask the ache in her heart. "You pay for your two hours three times a week, and I forget we ever had a past. That's the deal, Dwayne."
"Why are you being so stubborn, woman?" Dwayne asked shaking his head.
Dwayne still saw her as the girl he fell in love with. But, she was no longer that girl; she died years ago.
He was just a means to an end, his money was going towards her exit strategy. Taking help from him outside of their agreement would give him the wrong idea. When she disappeared with Jasmine, she didn't want him to come looking for them. She needed to make sure that whatever happened between them stayed strictly business.
She sighed internally, feeling a headache coming on. No doubt, courtesy her lack of sleep.
Ignoring his question, she tried to get up, but Dwayne refused to let her go.
"I need to get back to Jazzy."
"Zee, if you want to do what's best for Jasmine, hear me out. At least, let me pay off your light bill so Jasmine could be comfortable. It's unfair to have her here without any lights," Dwayne pleaded.
McKenzie elbowed Dwayne in the ribs and stood up.
"Owww, crap, Zee!" He grimaced in pain, clutching his side.
"Hear you out?!" McKenzie yelled, whirling around to face him.
Her blood was boiling.
Who the fuck did he think he was?
"Who are you to tell me what is best for my child? All of a sudden your "daddy genes" kicked in and you care about a child that's mine? Where were those genes when I told you seventeen years ago that I was pregnant? You didn't want any part of that, remember? You left! So, don't you dare come into my home and tell me what is best for my child! Leave! Now!"
Pissed, McKenzie stormed over to the front door and yanked it open.
"Furthermore, this little arrangement that we have is done! Don't come back. This was a mistake, one of many I've made in my life."
Dwayne stood up. He stepped towards her as if about to speak, but pressed his lips together and left. McKenzie locked the door behind him.
She'd find someone else to fill his gap. She knew it was a mistake to let Dwayne back into her life after he abandoned her all those years ago.
Walking back to her bedroom, McKenzie noticed a shadow passing by the living room window. Her heart raced as she inched towards the window and cautiously moved the curtain.
Across the road sat a heavily tinted black panel van, a vehicle she knew all too well. An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of her stomach as she watched it drive away.
McKenzie knew she was caught and it was only a matter of time before she was dragged back to the very thing she fought so hard to escape.