Velvet Roses Ch. 15

"Lemon squares. Come inside and I'll cut you a piece."

Jeneda had finished drying off her body, so she followed her mother into the house, and after pouring themselves each a glass of iced tea, they sat down to indulge in the lemony treat.

"So, we haven't had a chance to really sit down and talk since you arrived in Key West," Monica said between bites of her dessert. "How are things in San Francisco?"

"Okay, I guess."

"Only okay?"

"Things aren't great right now." The ice cubes in her glass clinked as she took a sip. "To be truthful, my life is a mess."

"Yeah, I know. Your father told me about this person you're involved with. Daniel, right?"

"Dane."

"I hear he's caused quite a bit of trouble."

"He has a shady past, but he's worked hard to overcome it. He's a good guy, just a little flawed."

"A little?" Monica rose an eyebrow. "Your father told me what he did."

"Alright, so he's done some questionable things. But he's still a good man."

"Then why is he in jail?"

"Just because he's in prison, that doesn't mean he's a bad person."

"I didn't say that. But clearly he committed some type of crime to end up in there."

Jeneda averted her eyes to her dessert, then sliced off a piece with her fork.

"If you don't tell me, I'll just ask your father," Monica said. "So you may as well come out with it."

"It's a long story."

"We have time." She briefly looked at the clock on the wall before adding, "We still have half an hour before going to visit Riley, so start talking."

"He was forced into planning a robbery."

"By who?"

"Some guy. I don't know who he is, but Dane told me he's a drug dealer."

"So along with being a thief, he's also an addict." She let out a soft, humorless laugh, then said, "Wonderful."

"He's not an addict."

"Then why was he hanging around with a drug dealer?"

"He wasn't. This guy was after him, because of something that someone else did."

"Baby, come on. This guy is playing you for a fool."

"He is not." Jeneda's voice has risen, and she dropped her fork, causing it to clang against the saucer in the process. "You know nothing about who he is as a person, and you definitely don't know anything about our relationship."

"You're right, I don't. That's why I wanted to sit down and have this talk with you."

"Then let me talk, and stop acting as if you know everything."

"Watch your tone of voice, young lady," Monica sternly said. "I will not have you yelling at me."

The two women engaged in a heated stare down that lasted several moments, then finally Jeneda lowered her gaze.

"I'm sorry, mom, but I'm just tired of people acting as if I'm some kind of idiot for being with him."

"I don't think you're an idiot, Jeneda. But it scares me to know you're being manipulated by some man."

"I'm not being manipulated."

Monica placed down her fork, and with a sigh of exasperation, began rubbing the bridge of her nose.

Look, I know how this sounds, mom, but he's not as bad as you think. Sure he's done some questionable things, and dumping Vincent's body was a horrible thing to do-"

"Not horrible, evil," Monica interjected. "How can you even stand to be around him? Vincent was like a father to you."

"I know that. You think I've forgotten what a wonderful man he was?"

"No, I don't. But I do think you're downplaying what Dane has done to lessen your guilt."

"I'm not downplaying anything, and just so you know, I didn't instantly forgive him. It was a process, and I didn't make the decision lightly."

"There are plenty of free men," she angrily said. "Why do you have to date a convict?"

"Because I love him, that's why. And I'm not going to throw away what we have just because he's in prison. Dane is a good man, and I'm staying with him."

"Alright, fine. It's your life, do what you want." She scooted her chair back, then rose up from the table and collected their saucers, which still had their partially eaten lemon bars.

Jeneda got to her feet as well, then followed her mother to the kitchen sink. "Please don't be upset with me." She placed her hand on Monica's shoulder, then lightly rubbed it.

"I'm not upset." Her back was turned to Jeneda, and her voice was thick with emotion. "I just don't like this guy you're with."

"You haven't even met him yet."

"And I don't want to."

"Mom, come on. At least give him the opportunity to meet you in person."

She said nothing, her posture tense as she stared out the window.

"Please?" Jeneda pleaded in a soft voice.

Monica took in a deep breath, then slowly let it out of her nose. Her body became less tense, and as she turned to face Jeneda, her face softened just a bit.

"You really love this man, don't you?"

"More than anyone else I've ever been with."

She nodded sadly. "Then I'll try my best to get to know him. When he gets out prison, bring him out here to meet me."

Jeneda pulled her into a hug, and after a long moment of embracing, the two women pulled away and smiled at one another.

"You ready to go see your brother?" Monica asked.

"I've been looking forward to it all day," Jeneda said. Then pulling her by the hand, she led her mother to the door.

* * * *

For the past four days, San Quentin State Prison had been on lockdown. No mail was delivered during this time, and phone calls weren't allowed. Visitors were banned from coming to see the inmates, and instead of eating in the cafeteria, meals were delivered in brown lunch bags.

Rubbery bologna sandwiches, a few tough prunes, and a carton of milk were the preferred menu items, but with Dane's appetite nearly nonexistent, the food he was given went mostly untouched. With showers restricted to every three days, the cell block stunk of unwashed flesh, so the last thing on Dane's mind was ingesting any food.

Thankfully he had a few blank sketchpads and plenty of writing instruments at his disposal, so he kept himself busy by working on graphic novels.

When his hand cramped up from hours of drawing, he killed the time by doing crossword puzzles, and at least twice a day, re-read the letters that Jeneda had sent him.

Judging by the steady, monotonous hollering that echoed along the corridor of the cellblock, the other prisoners didn't have much to keep them busy at all, and although Dane tried his best to tune them out, it sometimes proved impossible to do so.

Dane hadn't been informed directly as to the cause of lockdown, but through snatches of conversation that were shouted back and forth between the inmate's cells, he'd been able to deduce that a guard had been killed. By whom, he wasn't sure, but he had heard the name 'Mad Dog' being mentioned more than a few times.

Having spent the majority of the afternoon creating rough sketches of his graphic novel, Dane decided to take a break from drawing and reached under his bed to retrieve the shoebox where he kept all of his received mail.

Once he had the most recent letter from Jeneda in hand, he unfolded the sheet of paper and began to read. He'd read it nearly half a dozen times, so he nearly memorized it word for word, but her script was so graceful and feminine looking, that he couldn't help but read it once again.

Dear Dane,

How are things? I hope everything is well, and that you're safe and doing okay. As usual, I'm missing you terribly, so I thought I would write a letter and update you on what's going on. For the next two weeks, I'll be visiting my mom and brother in Key West, so I won't be able to come see you. Hope you aren't too disappointed.

You got a few royalty checks in the mail yesterday, so I deposited them in your checking account. You also received a call from your agent. He said a Japanese Publisher contacted him, and is interested in obtaining foreign rights to Odd Souls. But he needs your okay on it before the deal can go through. He seemed excited about it, so I'm guessing this will be really good for your career. So proud of you!!

I think of you all the time and wonder what you're doing. I know you're going through a lot in there, and just want you to know that I miss you tons and can't wait to have you back home.

I miss the sound of your voice, the feel of your warm body next to mine, and I miss kissing you and having you hold me in your arms. And yes, I miss the sex too, but most of all, being able to touch you and look into your eyes.

I hardly spend time at my apartment anymore. Just stop by every now and again to make sure that everything is okay. Being in your loft makes me feel closer to you, so I've made it my second home. And even though you haven't slept in your bed for six months now, I can still smell you on the pillowcases. I know it sounds gross, but I haven't washed them since you've been gone. If I did, It'd be harder to pretend that you were in bed with me.

By the way, I'm sending you a care package, so you should be receiving it within the next few days. I included some shampoo, a couple bars of soap, a few books, and some of those coffee candies you like.

I'm counting the days until your release, and as soon as I return home from Key West, I'll come out to see you. Until we talk again, take care sweetie, and be safe.

With all my love,

Jeneda

Dane brought the letter up to his nose, then deeply inhaled the sweet scent of her perfume before folding up the paper and slipping it back into the envelope. Then he rose to his feet and paced back and forth in his small cell.

He did it partially out of restlessness, but mostly out of excitement. Selling foreign language rights to a Japanese publisher was definitely good news, and would give his career a considerable boost. Not to mention the graphic novel market was huge in Japan, so he undoubtedly stood to make a sizable amount of cash.

The mere thought of his graphic novels being translated and distributed overseas filled him with anticipation, and now, more than ever, he couldn't wait to be released from prison.

But even his excitement over this new opportunity still couldn't match the enthusiasm he felt at being reunited with Jeneda. It was hard to believe that 151 days had gone by since they'd last seen one another, but at the same time, the six months he'd served so far felt more like a year.

He sat back down on the bed, then positioned himself so that he was reclining. With arms crossed behind his head, he allowed his eyes to drift to the photos of Jeneda that he'd taped to the wall. In every one of the snapshots she'd sent, Jeneda was clad in either a dress or skirt that showed off her long, shapely legs.

Dane wasn't sure if he'd ever told her how much he loved those long, gorgeous legs of hers, but he damn sure was going to as soon as he got out of jail. He couldn't wait to have them wrapped tightly around his waist, and the mere thought of her warm body beneath his was enough to send a rush of blood to his nether regions.

"Just one more month," he whispered. "Four weeks, that's nothing."

But something inside of him told him that the next thirty days would be the longest month of his life.

* * * *

After five hours cramped on an airplane filled to capacity, Jeneda wanted nothing more than to collapse in bed and fall asleep. But she wouldn't feel completely at ease until she gave her face and body a thorough washing, so she dropped her travel bags in the doorway of Dane's loft and made a beeline for the bathroom.

She emptied her bladder first, then brushed her teeth and washed her face. She took a long, hot shower, and after changing into a fresh pair of underwear and a pajama tank top, she headed to bed.

The mattress was incredibly soft, and as her cheek came to rest against one of the fluffy pillows, she contentedly murmured. She snuggled beneath the covers, cocooning herself in their warmth, and as slumber beckoned, her body went boneless.

In the last few minutes before sleep took her, Jeneda found herself reminiscing about her time in Key West, and she remembered how good It'd felt to see her brother, Riley, again. It had been nearly six months since he'd made the move to Key West, but somehow the time seemed longer than that.

In the days leading up to her trip, a part of her had wondered if he'd even remember who she was, but her worries had been put to the rest the moment she walked into his room at the convalescent home.

She'd never forget the huge grin that had spread across his face, and she fondly recalled how wonderful It'd felt to hug him again. Of course he hadn't been able to hug her back, but it made no difference, because his love for her was very apparent.

During her two week stay in Key West, she'd made a point to visit Riley on a daily basis, and although he still wasn't able to hold a proper conversation with her, he had managed to speak a handful of intelligible words.

As far as his vocabulary went, it was still at an elementary level, but there was no mistaking that he'd made a definite improvement. Ever since his bicycle accident two years ago, Riley had been unable to emit anything except incomprehensible speech, so the fact that he was now speaking actual words gave her immense hope.

Although she knew that chances were slim, she couldn't help wondering if he'd also regain use of his motor skills. The mere possibility of it caused her heart to swell with happiness, yet before her elation could grow any further, she reminded herself that he still had plenty of hurdles to overcome. And yet still she found herself rejoicing in the progress that he had made, and was already looking forward to her next visit with him.

She pressed her head deeper into the pillow, and as an image of Dane came into her head, her heart quickened. Only two weeks remained before his release from prison, and words couldn't describe the excitement that she felt.

She'd already purchased brand new lingerie, and had also splurged on expensive champagne. She also had a dinner menu all planned out, and had created a list of his favorite foods so she could pick them up from the market on the day before his release.

Jeneda was already in a state of hysterical elation, so she was at a loss as to how she would get through the next fourteen days. But she guessed the best way of passing time would be to pour herself into her work.

She'd spend her days in her art studio, working on commissioned sculptures, and when evenings rolled around, she'd hang out with Luna and Ethan.

Just keep busy and he'll be home in no time, she said to herself, and as her thoughts drifted off, her lids closed and sleep overtook her.

* * * *

It was just after ten thirty on a foggy June morning when Jeneda arrived at San Quentin State Prison, and after parking her car in the designated pick-up location, she opened the door and got out.

Although it was summer, the weather was bleak and chilly, which was pretty typical for this time of year in the Bay Area. But if the past few days were anything to go by, the fog would burn off by noon, and once that happened, the sun would come out.

She leaned against her car with arms folded against her black leather jacket, staring expectantly at the iron gates which served as a barrier to the sprawling prison. As she eyeballed the imposing facility, she tried to imagine what daily life had been like for Dane.

She'd questioned him many times about his day to day experiences, but he'd given her very few details. She supposed he'd done it to protect her and keep her from worrying about him, but his unwillingness to communicate about it had only made her wonder more.

During his incarceration, Jeneda had done a bit of research on the prison to try and find out more about its history, and had even joined a forum that was dedicated to girlfriends and wives of imprisoned men.

What she'd read on the forum was sometimes quite shocking, and more than a few times, she read things that made her downright scared. But the website had also given her the chance to converse with other women who were in the same situation that she was, and as a result, helped to put her a little more at ease about Dane's incarceration.

Now, as she stood here waiting for Dane to walk through the iron gates, she found herself incredibly grateful that he'd finally reached the end of his imprisonment. Soon they would be face to face, and free to hug and kiss all they wanted, without some guard eyeballing them and watching their every move.

Jeneda was so excited she would hardly stand still, and as she anxiously waited for him to appear, she found herself wondering if he had had changed at all.

Lookswise, she expected him to still be as gorgeous as ever, but she was concerned about the psychological effects of his captivity. While seven months wasn't exactly that long of a stretch in prison, it certainly wasn't a cakewalk, either, and she was curious if he would have to readjust.

She didn't have long to ponder this thought, because the iron gates that led to the prison entrance parted. The moment she caught sight of Dane, Jeneda felt the urge to run toward him, yet at the same time, it seemed as if her feet were rooted to the ground.

After seven long months, it was hard to believe he was really free again, and as her eyes locked with his, Dane broke into a mad grin. She did as well, and when he finally reached her, they came together in a hug so fierce, that Jeneda almost lost her footing.

For a long moment, they just stood there holding one another, as if afraid to let go for even one second. Then they slightly pulled back so that they were face to face. Dane cradled her cheeks in his palm, then drew her into a passionate kiss.

His mouth was hot and his lips were soft, moving against hers with undeniable urgency. She looped her arms around his neck, pulling him even tighter against her body, and as their oral embrace deepened even further, she released a heated moan.

It was a desperate, hot, and sensual kiss, and if not for the fact that they were both eager to get home, they would have remained locked together.

Their lips parted wetly, yet instead of immediately getting into the car, they stood there for a few more moments, looking wondrously into each other's eyes.

"This is really happening," he breathlessly said. "It's real. I'm not dreaming, right?"

"Want me to pinch you?" A crooked smile graced her lips.

"I want you to do a number of things to me, but pinching Isn't one of them."

Her grin widened, and after sharing with one last peck, they both got into the car. As soon as they pulled away and merged onto the road, Dane blew out a heavy breath and relaxed in his seat.

"Damn It's good to be out of that place."

"And It's great to have you coming home with me. I missed you so bad."

"Missed you too, baby." He stretched out a hand and rested it against her jean clad thigh. "I thought of you all the time."

"So did I. And every night when I went to bed, I hugged a pillow just so I could pretend that you were sleeping next to me."

"I would have done the same, but I didn't have a pillow."

"You never got the one that I sent you?"

"I did, but the day after I received it, it got ruined."

"How?"

"Some guard peed all over it. And it was just my luck that I didn't find out until I put my head on it."

"Oh my gosh, that's awful. How did you find out that it was a guard?"

"One of the other inmates told me the next day."

"Well what the hell was the matter with him?" She angrily asked. "Why would he do something like that?"

"Because he could. A lot of those people who work in there are pretty messed up."

"So they do stuff just because they know that they can get away with it."

"Pretty much."

"That's disgusting. I'm sorry you had to go through that, babe," she sadly said.

"You don't have to be sorry. It's my own fault I ended up there in the first place."