“It’s so good,” Jackie said softly, out loud to her imagination.
“You know it is. Look at me, ma.”
Jackie could feel her throat tighten, as if a pair of strong hands were around her neck. Strong, familiar hands. She moved her own hand to that very spot, trying to simulate that feeling as close as she could. Her other hand was furiously using the vibrator on her clit, which was slick with heat and need.
“You gonna come, beautiful? Use your words. Say yes, Jacqueline. Say yes for me, Lucky, baby…”
Soon, the voice was joined by an image of Antonio, shirtless, hovering over her. The fraternity brand on his smooth, deep brown chest flexing with every stroke. Beads of sweat dotting his forehead, which was creased in concentration.
“Yesss!” Jackie yelled as the orgasm nearly rocked her off the bed.
Jackie’s eyes flew open, and she looked around, trying to gather her bearings. Her face was flushed, the edges of her bangs sticking to her forehead. Where the hell had that come from? She threw her vibrator across the bed in disgust.
Now he was invading her self-care time? She hadn’t had a sexual thought about this man in ten years. Okay, maybe five years, if she was being honest. Still, he had no reason to be in her mind at any time, especially inthisway. Damn that Antonio Steele!
Jackie grabbed a pillow and screamed into it.
CHAPTER 8
Antonio stared into the nearly full glass of whiskey on the table. He’d let the glass sit untouched for so long that the ice cube had completely melted. He and PJ sat in the back booth of Lucky’s SoHo. Antonio was friends with the owner, who so graciously squeezed them into the posh eatery at such short notice. It was a nice, private spot, and he liked the name of the place for obvious reasons.
“How you gonna ask me to come have a drink with you and you ain’t drinking?” asked PJ as he took a sip of his beer.
Antonio pushed the drink aside. “I just didn’t want to drink alone, but I guess I forgot about the drinking part.” PJ looked puzzled, so Antonio elaborated. “I fucked up today.”
“How?” asked PJ. “I mean, you saved the shoot with your suggestions. Who knows what kinda weird idea Louis would have come up with next?”
“That’s the thing. I keep stepping on Jackie’s toes when it comes to you. I’ve already given her enough ammunition to hate me for a lifetime. I don’t need to give her anymore.”
PJ nodded slowly. “I mean, I get that you don’t represent me, but you are…close to me. You know?”
It wasn’t lost on Antonio that PJ never could verbalize that he was his dad, not just some random “close” friend. Antonio could place the blame on Marilyn, who had long-ago told him to stay away from PJ and keep the checks coming. But Antonio should have fought harder to develop a connection to his son. Their relationship shouldn’t have started as PJ was entering the league. It was too late by then.
Antonio sighed. “I know, but I need to respect Jackie’s boundaries. I still have to work with her at the agency. And I’m always going to look out for you. It’s about balance.”’
PJ raised a brow. “Balance, huh? You know, it would be easier if we just came clean.”
“That’s easier said than done, PJ.”
“Why?”
