Once You'Ve Touched the Heart (17 page)

James looked at her with that smile on her face, laughed, walked over to her and gently kissed her lips. “I know exactly why, you.” He turned to walk out the door.

“James.” Not knowing what to say to him, she said, “Friends?”

“Always. I’ll be in touch and please don’t forget what I said: any time, any reason.” He smiled.

Once James and Angela were gone, Ashley was standing in Tracy’s doorway with Monica. Tracy was sitting at her desk.

“Okay, what gives?” Ashley asked with her hands on her hips.

Tracy sat there, not knowing what to say or how to say it. She started shaking her head with disbelief and laughing. She put her hands over her face and laid her head on the desk. “Oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God.” She looked up at Ashley and Monica, tears started coming down her face, and she still couldn’t say anything.

Tears were coming down Ashley’s face now. “It took you two long enough,” she cried.

Tracy really started laughing and crying all at the same time. Ashley and Monica joined in.

“I want to know every detail,” Ashley stated.

“Me too,” Monica joined in.

L
ife was good,
JD thought. Having Tracy in his life this way was what he needed; he just hadn’t known it. After talking to Al, he was ready to take the relationship with Tracy to the next level. He did not want to rush her, but it was getting hard for him to be with her without making love to her. JD accepted the realization that Tracy was now a part of him. He loved being with her and watching her become more confident about him. Tracy was at a point where she could be herself around him, like she was that day in his office years ago. JD could kick himself for letting her go back then, but he was going to make sure it did not happen again.

Every now and then it seemed Tracy became a little uneasy around his friends or when they went to certain places. The average person would not notice, but he could tell, and so could Ashley. To anyone else Tracy appeared to be the most confident person in the room. But now, she was becoming more comfortable with him. Every so often one of his old girlfriends would stop by the table and say hello while they were out. JD would introduce Tracy, and most were very polite. However, one or two of them let their jealousy show. Tracy would say hello and excuse herself to allow him time to get the situation under control. He loved her tactfulness, but didn’t like her being in that position. There was even a time when the two ran into Carolyn, who was now very angry with him for not returning her calls. She made it very clear to everyone, in the club that night, JD and Tracy were now on her proverbial “shit list.”

JD admired the way Tracy handled herself in that situation. He apologized and vowed not to let it happen again. But for a week or so afterwards, Tracy would not go out in public with him. He tried to understand and be patient, but he could not help himself. He had gotten to the point where he wanted her with him, wherever he went. To be clear, JD did not mind staying in with her. Hell, he would be content to come home from work, take her in his arms and just be with her for the rest of his life. But he knew with his career, they would eventually cross paths with Carolyn again. This was one of his issues and JD was going to have to find a way to control it. He did all he could to reassure Tracy that he had no interest in anyone but her. Nevertheless, Tracy had developed a serious complex when it came to Carolyn.

About a week later, after a lot of begging and pleading, JD persuaded Tracy to go jogging with him in the park. She was hesitant, but decided to go anyway. As luck would have it, they had just come out of the park when they ran into Carolyn and Jackie. JD was carrying Tracy on his back and her arms were around his neck. The two were laughing and not paying attention to their surroundings when they heard her voice. “Taking your little friend for a piggyback ride, are we, JD?” Carolyn asked.

JD put Tracy down. “Oh, shit,” he whispered under his breath. “Hello, Carolyn,” he replied.

Tracy immediately started brushing her hair down. She felt so insignificant around Carolyn.

“Hello.” Carolyn sneered.

“Hi, JD, Tracy,” Jackie spoke.

“Tracy, you remember Carolyn,” JD said as he held her close.

“Yes, hello, Carolyn.”

“Oh, yes, I remember meeting you now. You were with James Brooks if I remember correctly.”

“Yes, he’s a client of mine.”

“Really, is that all? I was under the impression there was more going on there.”

JD pulled Tracy a little behind him. “Where’s Calvin, Jackie?” he asked.

“I thought he was at the basketball court with you.”

“No, I didn’t make it today.”

“Well, what are you two up to?” Carolyn mischievously asked.

Tracy held on to Jeffrey’s hand. “Just hanging out,” he replied, in a warning tone. “How is Gavin?”

“Gavin’s fine,” Carolyn replied testily.

“Well, we are going to go now,” Jackie interceded. “It was nice seeing you, Tracy. Bye, JD,” she said as she turned to Carolyn. “Come on, Carolyn, it’s time to go.”

Carolyn put her hands on JD’s chest. “I’m sure we will talk later.” She smiled seductively. “Bye, Tracy.” She snickered.

JD looked at Tracy and could see the immediate effect Carolyn had on her. “Tracy, she is nothing for you to be concerned about.”

Tracy laughed and tried to pull her hand away. JD was not going to let go. They had come too far to slide back because of Carolyn. He pulled her to him. “Hey, we won’t let outsiders come between us; not now, not ever.” He kissed her long, hard and deep, then picked her up over his shoulder, smacked her butt and walked to the car. Tracy couldn’t help but laugh at him.

When they got back to the condo, JD asked, “Where’s Ashley?”

Tracy put the key in the lock and replied, “It’s Saturday. She is probably out shopping with Cynthia.”

They entered the foyer at the bottom of the staircase that led to the living room. “Hmm, that means we are alone.” He smiled mischievously as he picked Tracy up over his shoulders and carried her up the stairs.

Tracy laughed. “Look, Tarzan, you better not drop me.”

As they reached the living room, he stopped at the hallway leading to Ashley’s master bedroom and looked in. “Just making sure,” he said laughing. He proceeded through the living room, just past the fireplace, to the door that led to Tracy’s master bedroom. He walked in and threw her on the bed. “Me Tarzan, you Jane.” He jumped on the bed beside her.

She smiled. “I’m not sure I’m speaking to you yet.”

“All right.” He stretched. “Then you’ll listen.”

“Wait,” Tracy said, “is Carolyn Roth in one of the closets waiting to jump out at me?”

JD laughed. “I certainly hope not.”

He pulled her on top of him. She straddled her legs on both sides of him. She sat there with her hands on his chest and he covered them with his. Now JD’s mind was having a private battle, trying hard to stay focused on what he needed to say to her—but Tracy sitting on top of him was playing havoc with his concentration. Even in her sweats and ponytail she was a vision of pure sexiness. The white cotton tee shirt she was wearing showed the
outline
of her breasts, her flat stomach and tiny waistline. Yes, he was having a very difficult time thinking clearly.

She squirmed to settle herself, but he reached out to stop her. “Don’t do that,” he said as he wrapped his hands around her waist and adjusted himself. He smiled at the sight of her and realized she had no idea what she was doing to him. “I’m sorry about Carolyn. She is one of those issues I told you about,” JD began.

Tracy looked down at him. She hesitated to have this talk, but knew it was needed. “Jeffrey, we really need to talk about her. I remember thinking the first day I saw the two of you together that Carolyn was the type of woman you should have beside you. She is beautiful and full of self-confidence.” She shook her head. “I don’t have any of that. Cynthia has told me for a while now that I did not fit into your world; maybe she is right,” Tracy said sincerely.

“Tracy.” JD stopped her. “Listen to me, babe, I need you beside me.” He smiled at her. “With all your little quirks and insecurities. As for Cynthia, I ask you again: Why do you listen to her? I am not so sure she is a friend to you, Tracy.” She wiggled a little, and he held her still. “Don’t do that,” he said, and then continued. “A friend would not do the things Cynthia does to you. I see, she is a friend to Ashley, not you.”

“She may not be a friend to me, but she is real with me. Cynthia never once concealed her feelings towards me. She has always been honest about that. I have to respect her for that, and she has my friendship, whether she wants it or not.”

“All right, you can think that way if you want to; I have different thoughts on her,” JD replied irritably.

“Cynthia is not important, but Carolyn and Turk are. Jeffrey,” she said, looking down shyly. “I don’t know a lot about relationships, sex or things that happen between a man and a woman. But,” she hesitated for a moment, “I know I love you and I would not do anything intentionally that I thought would hurt you. It would be too much like hurting me. My connection to Turk would hurt you professionally if it were ever exposed. So,” she breathed heavily, “before this goes any further, I will step aside with no drama, no issues and no bad feelings.”

JD let her waist go and folded his hands across his chest. “Oh, you would?” he exclaimed.

“Yes,” Tracy replied sadly.

“You mean as in leave me, not see me anymore?” He asked almost in a whisper.

“Yes,” Tracy said, missing the vein that was threatening to explode in his neck. “I’ll just step aside.”

“And on what planet do you think I would let you?” JD bellowed.

Tracy raised her eyebrow. “Don’t raise your voice at me,” she said as she tried to move.

He held her in place. “Then talk like the intelligent woman I know you are and not like a stupid little schoolgirl.”

Tracy did not like the tone or volume of JD’s voice and began to move off him. He grabbed her, pushed her backwards, and then rolled on top of her. JD was mad; not pissed, not a little upset, but mad.
How in the hell could she even think about leaving me now?
He thought.

Tracy could not believe how quick and strong JD was. As she looked up, recovering from the sudden moment, she actually thought she would see fire coming out of his nose any moment. His breathing so heavy with anger, she knew instantly she had said something wrong. She looked up at him with innocent eyes, “I take it this was not a good time to say that.”

JD looked down at her and he wasn’t sure if he saw fear or confusion in her eyes. Either way, he did not like what he was seeing. Taking a moment to compose himself, he adjusted her beneath him placing his legs on the outside of hers and relaxed his body. “There will never be a good time for you to say that to me, Tracy. I love you. I don’t think it, I don’t wonder about it. I know I am in love with you. The thought of you leaving me for any reason is unacceptable.”

JD gently pushed her hair back off her face with his finger, looked at her and smiled. What he saw reflected in her eyes was all he could ever want or need in a woman: Love. It surprised him when he said he loved her, but he did. He gave her a feather-light kiss. “Right now I am not interested in Carolyn, Cynthia or Turk. All I’m interested in is right here,” he said, looking up and down her body.

Tracy didn’t know if it was the way Jeffery was looking at her or the fact that she could feel his manhood against her thigh. Whatever it was caused her body to respond with a need to feel more of him. She placed her arms around his neck and pulled his lips to meet hers in a passionate kiss. His hands ran down her body and she followed his lead with her own exploration. Her hands traveled up his muscular arms, across his wide shoulders and down his back.

Jeffery wasn’t sure if it was the kiss or her hands exploring his body, but the heat between the two of them was unbearable. He reluctantly left her lips to pull her shirt over her head, exposing her breasts. He kissed each mound, but then returned to her lips when she gently moaned. He kissed her gently at first, but the intensity grew as he parted her lips with his tongue and delved deeper.

He instinctively pulled her closer, but it wasn’t close enough for Tracy. She wanted to feel his naked skin against her, so she tugged at his shirt. Jeffery stopped and pulled the shirt over his head and threw it to the floor. As he began kissing the base of her throat, Tracy reared her head backward. He heard her moan softly and felt her body begin to move beneath him. He ran his tongue down to her breast, circling one while he caressed the other with his hand. He sucked, licked and massaged both, getting his fill, until her nipples were erect.

Tracy held him tight, not wanting the warm feeling that was surging through her body to stop. She pushed her body closer to his and ran her hand down his back. Just the touch of her hand on his naked skin almost rendered Jeffery senseless. He released her breasts and went back to her lips, kissing her with an urgency that she matched.

He moved to her side, not breaking the kiss, then ran his hand down her flat stomach to her thighs. Reaching inside her sweatpants he moved her panties to the side, and then pressed against her warmth. He heard a moan escape in her throat as she pressed her hips up to his hand. His mind registered how soft and moist she was, and he needed to feel more. He slipped a finger inside and reveled in her reaction. Jeffery moaned.
She was wet and ready
.
Stop, damn it, stop; something isn’t right
. But his fingers were not listening, as another one entered her.

There was an invasion in her body that Tracy had never experienced, but she wanted more of it. She pressed her body upward into Jeffery’s hand and held him so tight he couldn’t think. Jeffery was losing control, and that was unusual for him. He broke the kiss, pulled his hand away, and whispered, “Please stop,” as Tracy continued to move under his hand. He was trying hard to get control of the situation, but Tracy did not want to stop. She didn’t want him to stop and now she was truly confused as to what she had done wrong.