Velvet Roses Ch. 10

* * * *

At just past seven a.m. the next morning, Jeneda entered her apartment, and after slipping out of her shoes and tossing her jacket onto the couch, she made her way to the bedroom. She only took a few steps forward, however, before she suddenly halted her progress, and directing her gaze to the living room window, she found herself wondering if Dane had paid her another late night visit.

Jeneda pushed the curtains aside, and after seeing that there was a white rose placed next to the red one that he'd given her the previous night, she climbed out onto the metal deck of the fire escape.

As she glanced down at the white rose, she couldn't help but admire its pale, almost cream color, and although she tried her best to resist from doing it, she reached down to pick up the flower.

Positioning the rose next to her nose, she took a sniff, relishing its exquisite fragrance. Then she lightly ran the petals over her lips, enjoying the velvety feel of them.

So lost in indulging her senses with the fragrance and texture of the beautiful flower, Jeneda forgot that she was supposed to be mad, and as her heart softened, she found herself wondering if she should forgive Dane.

She didn't have long to ponder the thought before the sound of her ringtone beckoned her back inside, and after retrieving it from the inside of her jacket pocket, she pressed the receiver against her ear.

"Hello?"

"Hi, is this Jeneda?"

Not recognizing the voice on the other end of the line, she hesitantly answered. "Yes. Who's this?"

"My name's Cassie. I'm a friend of Dane's."

"Okay. What is this about?"

"I know I shouldn't be calling, and I'm sure he's gonna be really pissed off that I did, but I have to know this." She gave pause, as if to reconsider, then blurted out her question. "Why did you break up with him?"

"I don't think that's any of your business. And how do you know it was me who broke things off?"

"Because he's heartbroken."

"And why should I care? I'm hurting a lot more than he is right now."

"I highly doubt that."

"Oh really? And what makes you so certain?"

"Because I know Dane. He wouldn't go through all of this unless he really cared for someone."

"Go through what?"

"He's risking his life for you."

"What are you talking about?"

"He's in a lot of trouble right now. And I've got a pretty good feeling It's because he's trying to protect you."

"Look, I don't know what he told you, but whatever he's involved in is due to his own bad decisions. I am *not*the cause of his problems."

"You may not be the cause of them, but he's still risking his ass for you."

"How?"

"You mean you don't know?"

"Clearly I don't, otherwise I wouldn't be asking. Now what's going on?"

"It's not for me to tell. All I can say is, if he goes through with this whole thing, he'll either land up dead or in jail."

"What thing? What are you talking about?" Her voice had risen, and worry laced her tone.

"You wanna know, ask him. I just called to let you know that this man is willing to sacrifice himself for you, and that It'd probably be a good idea for you to start appreciating him before he's gone."

"You're just trying to scare me. He put you up to this, didn't he? He knows I won't answer his calls, so he got you to contact me for him."

"He knows nothing about this. I'm doing it on my own."

"Then how did you get my phone number?"

"I have my ways," she simply said.

Jeneda fell silent, as if brooding over Cassie's statement. Then in a voice which conveyed her irritation, she spoke. "Whatever went down between me and Dane is our business. I broke up with him for a very good reason, and I am *not* forgiving him, so you can just tell him to give up.

"Alright, have it your way. I only did this because I care about him and can't stand to see him heartbroken. But now that I know you're such a heartless bitch, I'll let him know he's wasting his time."

"Great. Maybe now he'll finally stop bothering me."

"Yeah, whatever. You just lost the best thing in your life, you stupid girl."

Before Jeneda could utter another word, Cassie hung up on her. For a few moments Jeneda did nothing except stand stupidly in the middle of the room. Then angrily, she tossed the phone toward the couch, yet instead of meeting its target, it fell noisily to the hardwood floor.

Too riled up to care, Jeneda went back out through the window and onto the fire escape, and after retrieving the note that Dane had left, she read it.

~I miss you. I need you. You're all I want, and I think of you all the time. You can keep pushing me away, but I won't give up on us. We're meant to be together and you know it.~

That last bit was what really got her, and although she was reluctant to admit it, she knew that it was true. The tug on her heart told her so, and the way her eyes were repeatedly drawn to the last sentence only confirmed that something within her resonated with the words.

Perhaps they *were* meant to be together, but even if that was so, how long could an ill-fated relationship like theirs last? If what Cassie had told her about Dane ending up dead or in jail was true, then their time together would be short. So what would be the point of getting back together with him if it would only lead to further emotional suffering? Still holding the white rose in her hand, she offered it a lingering glance, then bent down and placed it beside the red one.

Having already endured more than her share of sorrow, Jeneda knew that she couldn't take anymore heartbreak, so clearly her only decision was to make it clear that this thing between them was truly over.

After reading the note one last time, she crumpled it up and left it next to the roses. Then she went back into her apartment and shut the window behind her, trying her best to ignore the raw feeling that seared in her stomach.

* * * *

Jeneda woke to a nearly dark room that was illuminated only by the light of the TV, and after lifting her head from the couch pillow, she reached out to grab her cell phone from the coffee table in front of her, then pushed a button to illuminate the screen.

Surprised to find that it was well after eleven p.m., she got up from the couch and shuffled into her bedroom. She stripped out of her clothes and took a shower, then slipped into a floral print nightgown that reached just above the knee.

The day had been long, and although she was exhausted from doing revision after revision on a sculpture than had been commissioned by a demanding and very wealthy client, she still chose to put off going to sleep. As if pulled by an invisible string, she was drawn to check the fire escape, and after parting the curtains to have a look, she eagerly glanced outside.

To her disappointment, nothing had changed since earlier that morning, and as her eyes came to rest on the two roses that lay on the metal slats, she noticed that the crumpled up note was still in the same place beside them. Clearly this meant Dane hadn't yet shown up, and although she was trying her best to pretend as if she didn't care, the truth was that she did.

Ever since her conversation with Cassie earlier that day, she'd found herself wondering what kind of trouble Dane was in, and couldn't help but be in an almost constant state of anxiety.

According to Cassie, he was currently involved in some sort of dangerous situation, and although Jeneda was aware that not knowing was often better than being enlightened, she still longed to find out what he was entangled in.

The minutes ticked on but still he remained absent, and as she sat there on the window seat glancing out at the empty fire escape, she found herself steadily becoming more nervous. Her stomach was beginning to cramp and her palms were getting sweaty, and as an unshakeable feeling of dread suddenly came over her, she became certain that something terrible had happened to her ex-lover.

Taking another glance at the display screen of her cell phone, she saw that it was just after midnight, and as she continued to anxiously wait, she felt her gut tighten even further. Ten minutes turned into twenty, and as it drew closer to half past twelve, she emitted an impatient sigh.

Past the point of worry, she was now fearing the worst, and realizing that she needed something to help soothe her nerves, she headed for the kitchen so that she could make some tea. After putting the kettle on and retrieving a mug from the cabinet, she contemplated calling Dane, and even dialed in his number, yet instead of pressing the call send button, she only allowed her thumb to hover above it.

Why she kept herself from doing it, she didn't exactly know, but she supposed it was partially out of uncertainty of what she would say to him. If she admitted that she'd been worried, he would surely see it as her wanting to get back with him, and while that was true, she knew it wasn't the best idea. So rather than putting the call through, she pressed the cancel button, then poured her cup of tea.

Upon returning to the window seat, she sipped her beverage, and as the faint noise of someone climbing up the fire escape ladder reached her ears, Jeneda gazed out into the darkness. Only a few moments passed before Dane came into sight, and as she rested her eyes on his tall, darkly-clad form, she felt her pulse quicken a little.

Not wanting him to know that she was at the window, Jeneda pushed the curtains together, allowing only a small crack so that she could watch him unobserved. With only a dim lamp on in her bedroom, the front of the apartment was nearly dark, so this only added to the optimum opportunity she had to observe him without being noticed.

With eyes keenly fixed on Dane, Jeneda watched, observing as he kneeled down to pick up the flowers that were laying on the deck. Holding the roses so that they were level with his eyes, he studied them intently, then with a clear look of disappointment on his face, he set them back down.

His eyes then drifted to the note that Jeneda had balled up, and after picking it up and smoothing it out, he tucked it beneath the roses. For a long moment he remained motionless, kneeling with his head hung and shoulders slumped. His long black hair obscured his face, so she wasn't able to see the expression on it, but his body language clearly conveyed defeat.

After a few moments of being in this position, he reached into his pocket and pulled something out, yet due to the fact that it was dark outside, she wasn't able to make out the object in his palm. Directing her eyes to his face, was surprised to see that he'd closed his eyes, and still holding the object in his palm, he closed his hand into a fist.

Thoroughly intrigued by his meditative-like state, she watched him intently, curious as to not only what he held in his hand, but also what had led him to suddenly close his eyes. Jeneda didn't have long to ponder this, however, because the sound of her landline ringing suddenly cut through the stillness in her apartment.

She jumped at the sound of it, then directed an annoyed glance to the bedroom where the phone was located, but instead of going to answer it, she remained put. Once again peeking through the crack in the curtain, she allowed her attention to rest on Dane, and as she saw that his eyes were open and fixed upon the window, her heartbeat quickened.

As she looked at him, he looked at her, and their orbs locked into an impenetrable gaze. Darkly beautiful and hooded, his eyes seemed to hold a number of mysteries, and she was suddenly reminded of the power that they held.

Nearly a minute passed before she opened the curtain wider, baring her silhouetted form for his eyes, and as his gaze briefly dipped to take in her lingerie clad body, she felt pleasant tingles coil in her lower belly.

She watched as he slowly rose to his feet, and with a look in his eyes which was akin to a starved man eyeing a gourmet buffet, he wordlessly implored her to invite him in.

Although they were separated by glass, she swore she could feel the heat of his body, and as she watched him watch her, she was filled with an insatiable need to feel his body against hers.

In what seemed like barely a second, she'd unlocked the window and opened it, allowing the cool night air to drift inside. Then keeping her eyes fixed intently on him, she took a few steps backward, sending the signal that he was welcomed inside.

He moved quickly toward the window, and after climbing inside, he took her in his arms, grasping her tightly about the hips as he gave her a passionate, lingering kiss.

She returned his oral embrace with identical enthusiasm, marveling at the warmth of his mouth as she bumped and slid her tongue against his in a hot, wet dance.

Her fingers tangled into the waves of his hair, and as his hands slid down to caress the curves of her ass, she let loose a heated moan. Their kiss was hot and feverish, filled with intense need, and although they would have gladly continued on, the need to take in air forced them apart.

"I missed you so much," Dane breathlessly said.

"Missed you too."

He tenderly kissed her forehead, then cradling her face in his palms, he offered her a loving gaze. It had only been a week and a half since she'd last seen Dane, but it felt like much longer, and taking the opportunity to study his face, she allowed herself a moment to drink in his handsome features.

Her eyes roved from his nearly black eyes to his jutting cheekbones before coming to rest on the strong line of his jaw, and allowing her hand to rest against his cheek, she gently stroked it.

His lips curled slowly into a little smile, which in turn encouraged her own mouth to tug upwards as well, and curious as to what he found amusing, she inquired.

"What's funny?"

"Nothing." He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against his body. "I'm just so happy to see you. Almost seems like a dream, me standing here with you."

"Well It's not a dream." Her eyes drifted to his lips, and as she snaked her arms around his neck, he leaned in even closer. "But if it was, I wouldn't let you out of it until you gave me what I needed."

This brought another smile to his lips, and as she pressed her heated center against his, he emitted a low groan. Their lips came together in a soft, languid kiss before deepening, and as Jeneda's lips parted to allow him better access, Dane slid his tongue hungrily into her mouth.

His kiss inflamed her with passion, and as his hands slipped beneath the bottom of her nightie, her breathing grew heavier. Moving his hands to the pulsing heat between her legs, he allowed his thumb to caress her swollen clit, moving it in small, lazy circles that increasingly grew tighter.

This coaxed a heated moan from Jeneda's lips, and as he allowed his other hand to palm her left breast, she arched her back and pressed her crotch more forcefully against him.

"Dane," she moaned, nearly overwhelmed by the heat between her thighs. "I need you."

More than happy to fulfill her request, he withdrew his hand from beneath her nightie, then gazing deep into her eyes, he huskily spoke.

"Then take me to your bedroom."

Clasping her palm with his, she led him to the back of the apartment, and as they reached the edge of her bed, he slipped the straps of her nightgown off her shoulders.

The silky material slipped off her body to reveal soft, firm breasts that were capped by dark nipples, and a pair of sheer bikini panties that sat low on her hips. He slid them down her legs so that they fell around her feet, then gently pushed her back onto the bed.

His hands worked quickly to remove his clothing, tossing aside his coat and sweater before kicking off his boots and unbuttoning his black jeans. With each article of clothing that was shed, Jeneda felt her arousal heighten even further, and as he stripped out of his boxer briefs, she lowered her gaze to his erection.

Thick and firm, it jutted proudly from between his legs, and although he still had yet to push it inside her, her vaginal muscles clenched in anticipation. Just the thought of him thrusting into her caused a pulse to beat heavily between her thighs, and as she lifted her gaze to meet his, she saw that a feral gleam had come into his eyes.

He climbed onto the bed, spreading her legs open to rest on either side of his hips so that he could position his body on top of hers, and as his hard cock pressed against her overheated sex, her breathing quickened.

She was ready and waiting for him to penetrate her, yet instead of immediately pacifying his lover, Dane took a moment to indulge in some breastplay. Dragging his tongue lazily over the swell of her breast, he allowed it to slowly circle her areola before flicking it back and forth against her puffy nipple.

The warm, wet sensation caused her peaks to stiffen even further, and as he began to greedily suckle them, she arched her back and let loose a carnal moan.

Her hands tangled into his thick hair, hips thrusting upward in an effort to create friction against his steely length, and as he suddenly thrust two long fingers into her slippery heat, she uttered a throaty moan.

His digits moved slowly and sensually, caressing her taut, warm hole as his skilled tongue continuously toyed her erect bud. She was so aroused that wet, sloppy noises accompanied the movement of his fingers, and as the scent of her sex filled the room, she bucked her hips and moaned his name.

"Dane...." she cried out, her eyes beseeching, and as he removed his fingers from her slick passage, she whimpered at the loss.

She didn't have long to mourn the absence of them however, because he promptly guided his cock towards her tight, hot entrance, and as his rock hard shaft pushed in to the hilt, she emitted a cry of sheer pleasure.

She moaned at the feel of him stretching her, and as he braced himself on his forearms and began a steady rhythm, she wrapped her arms around his neck. He pushed in and out slowly, carefully controlling the rolling of his hips so that her arousal steadily built.

With his face hovering just inches above hers, Jeneda was able to gaze deep into his eyes, and as he continued to thrust into her velvety softness, she matched his movements with her grinding hips.

Dane's lips moved closer until they pressed against hers, and as he claimed her mouth with a wet, lustful kiss, she allowed the tip of her tongue to dance erotically against his. As their kiss grew more passionate, so did their lovemaking, and it didn't take long before she was shifting restlessly beneath his attentions.

Driven on by her throaty whimpers, he gradually built up the pace, putting more force behind each of his thrusts. The mattress rocked beneath them, causing the bedframe to knock against the wall, and as his breaths came quicker, so did hers.

She threw her head back, exposing her neck to his mouth, and burying his face in the crook of it, he gently licked, then sucked over the pulse in her throat.

The heat from their bodies filled the room, and as he repeatedly prodded her tight, wet pussy, she dug her fingers into his back, his name tumbling from her lips like an erotic mantra. She felt herself get tighter around him, and as his thrusts became more demanding, his ragged moans mingled with her desperate cries.

As he pumped harder and deeper, she clutched at his shoulders, loving the way he pinned her feminine body effortlessly beneath his strong, masculine one.

Her moans of ecstasy were continually becoming louder, and wanting to feel his muscles flex as he worked himself inside of her, she tenderly palmed his slender, well-toned ass.

Lost in the velvety heat of her warm vessel, Dane tirelessly thrust in and out, his breath hot and moist against her cheek. His eyes were half mast and clouded with pleasure, and with each impassioned cry that she gave, he only seemed to become more stimulated.