Page 7 of Beacon Grove Chronicles 1: Hassan & Sylvia

“With some things but I know I’m lacking in others.” I kept staring at her so she could hear the unspoken thoughts. She obviously got the message because her head dipped slightly and she smiled.

We ate and continued to talk about what we’d missed about one another over the last twenty years. I spoke on the places I’d gotten to travel and she spoke about her kids. The love for her kids was clear and it had me wanting to get to know them myself.

“Do you mind me asking what happened with your eye? I know you said war but were you attacked?” We’d finished our dinner and I’d switched from the Shirley Temple blacks to a glass of Prism. She’d asked for a few sips of it and the intimacy of sharing the glass had us moving closer to one another.

She was trying to soften her question but it never bothered me when people asked about my eye. It was hard to miss and everyone in the Grove that I’d run into had the same question. That was the joy of people knowing you since you were a kid. Her asking had me wondering if she was thinking I had unchecked PTSD or something. Her concern was double-edged and made me wonder if she was thinking about the future.

“I got into an accident when I was in the military. Glass got me in the eye.” Her full lips spread delicately and I could see sympathy written all over her face. My story was a lie but that was the official story on record.

“I’m sorry I asked. That’s got to be difficult for you to talk about. I apologize for bringing up something that painful.” Her hand covered mine trying to comfort me but all it did was make my dick swell.

“You’re good, Sylvia. You think I wouldn’t have answered you if it was going to be too much for me? I’ve come to terms with it.”

“I can’t imagine you in the military. You don’t seem the type to want to follow rules. Was it hard for you to lose your career?” Her fingers toyed with the straw in her drink as we focused solely on one another.

“I know how to take direction and I damn sure have no problem with giving it.” I winked at her and she shifted in her seat. “The great thing about it was that I was able to find a new career path that allows me to use the skills I learned in the military.”

“Oh! That’s Wonderfull. I’m glad that worked out well for you.”

I wondered if she would feel the same way if she knew I was still a sniper. I was thankful that the injury I’d suffered hadn’t prevented me from being recruited into the Order. Cardinal had advised against it but after Jahmir brought me in for a marksman test he refused to rescind the offer they’d given me. That combined with the money the government paid me for being wounded in action along with the dividends from the hotels, I was more than set for life.

“‘Preciate it. But the beautiful thing about all of this is that I’m still here. Losing something makes you remember that gratitude isn’t something to neglect.”

“That’s a beautiful way to look at it. I feel like I’ve been neglecting myself all this time.” She’d leaned in conspiratorially like she didn’t want everyone else to hear how she really felt.

I leaned in closer to her to the point that I could feel her breath on the side of my face as I spoke in her ear. “Maybe it’s time you stopped.”

When her hand dropped from her drink and slid up my thigh I was only mildly surprised. I didn’t think Sylvia was one to be so forward. Was I happy about it? Hell yeah, but I didn’t want her to have regrets about me.

“Maybe you’re right.” She’d started to softly stroke the head of my dick and it swelled at her touch. She was doing it discreetly enough so that no one could tell but me and that shit was erotic as fuck.

“You been drinking all night. Are you sure you’re wanting to do this?”

“I’ve been with the same dick for years and I’m ready for something new. I know you, so why not?”

“Because you’re not sober.”

“I’m sober enough to know I want to feel your dick at the back of my throat before you make me forget how devastating today has been for me.”

I almost snatched her ass up off that stool with the way she was teasing me. “Damn, you giving my dick a lot of responsibility.”

“Can’t handle it?”

“Never said that. I’m pretty sure I could absolutely do what you’re needing and then some.”

“So what’s the issue?”

“The issue is that I’m still not trying to be a rebound. Especially when you’re not in your right mind.”

She laughed but she kept her hand on my dick like she had taken possession of it. “Get over this shit, Hassan. I told you what it is I’m on. If you don’t find me attractive just say so.”

I grabbed her hand tired of her downing herself to because a fuck nigga had her questioning herself. He was pissing me off for how he’d fucked her over but

“When was the last time you had an orgasm, Si?”

She bit her lip and it was a damn shame that she had to think this hard about it. Especially since she was married. “That I didn’t give myself? At least two years.”

My resolve was weakening hearing how badly this woman had been neglected. “That’s fucked up.”