Worth the Wait

chapter 4


The next morning, Jared was running at full speed on his treadmill when the doorbell rang. He cursed at the interruption and jumped off without stopping. He’d barely slept the night before, yet he’d woken up full of energy. He’d spent the morning doing every energy sucking workout he could think of, but exercise wasn’t helping — at least not the type of exercise he was doing.

He’d been rock hard and aching after leaving Tasha the day before. He’d flipped through the names on his phone, but with each name he passed his frustration grew. He didn’t want any of them. There was only one set of thighs he wanted to get between: Tasha’s.

She was last person he needed to sleep with, but he’d known his answer before leaving. He was going to do it. Her favor was the last thing he’d ever expected, but he was flattered she’d chosen him. Even with the male whore comment. He wasn’t a saint. Maybe it was male pride and barbaric, but the thought of being her first excited him. He’d never slept with a virgin. It would be a welcome change from the usual chicks he dealt with. Plus, she would remember him for the rest of her life. He couldn’t deny the satisfaction of knowing she would never be able to forget their time together.

The problem was when. A part of him wanted to have sex with her tonight when she came over, but, surprisingly, a bigger part rejected that idea. It was her virginity and regardless of her eagerness, losing it should be special. They’d only discuss the details tonight, and then he’d plan for a night she’d never forget. Thank goodness her birthday is soon, he thought. He couldn’t live with this frustration for long.

He jogged up the stairs from his home gym. He jumped up and down to get rid of some restless energy before opening the door to where his older brother Malcolm stood with a grin on his face that could only be described as goofy.

With a raised eyebrow, he eyed his brother. “What’s wrong with you?”

Malcolm kept smiling. “Man, nothing’s wrong. I’m just the happiest man on earth right now.”

Jared laughed. “Okay, why are you so happy?” He stood aside and let Malcolm in. They walked into the kitchen and he pulled a bottled water out of the refrigerator. When he turned around Malcolm was still grinning.

“Kenyatta finally said yes. We’re getting married.”

Jared choked on his water and coughed.

Malcolm came over and hit him on his back. “Are you okay?”

Jared nodded and stepped to the side. “Yeah, yeah, I’m cool. So you really want to marry her?”

Kenyatta was Malcolm’s girlfriend of two years. Although he liked Kenyatta and was happy his brother finally hooked up with her after lusting for her for so long, he couldn’t believe Malcolm wanted to get married. Then again, Malcolm didn’t know how fickle married women were.

Malcolm continued to smile like a lovesick puppy. “Yes. I’ve known ever since that crazy crap with Brad. After thinking I’d never see her again, I knew I wanted her in my life forever.”

Malcolm had worked with Kenyatta for years, but had never acted on his desire for her. It wasn’t until she’d agreed to marry someone else that he finally made a play for her and won. Unfortunately her fiancé at the time was a psycho who tried to kill her when he found out, but he was killed by an ex-lover after kidnapping both her and Kenyatta. Two years had passed and Malcolm and Kenyatta had remained inseparable. It shouldn’t have been a surprise for his brother to marry her, but Jared was still upset. He knew firsthand how unfaithful married women were. Malcolm would do better keeping things as they were.

“Can’t you two just live together or something? You know once you marry them everything changes. Kenyatta might not be so wonderful once you put that ring on her finger.” It was the first thing that came to his mind.

Malcolm’s smile fell. “C’mon man. I thought you would be happy for me. Just because you never want to get married doesn’t mean you have to rain on my parade.”

Jared shrugged. “I’m not trying to do that, I’m just pointing out the facts. Once women get married they become bored. Before you know it she’ll be tired of you and out trying to find some other man to keep her happy.”

Malcolm stiffened and pointed at Jared. “Kenyatta’s not like that.”

Jared scoffed. “That’s what you think.”

Malcolm frowned and took a step toward him. “Hey, man, watch yourself. I’m in a good mood today, but if you say anything else about Kenyatta I’ll knock the shit out of you.”

Jared held up his hands. “My bad, I meant no disrespect to Kenyatta. Hey, maybe she is different.”

Malcolm threatening to knock sense into him was nothing new. Although they hadn’t fought since they were young boys, it wasn’t unusual for them to disagree on things. Not only were their personalities different — he considered Malcolm a choir boy and Malcolm considered Jared a playboy — but they looked different too. Malcolm had the darker, more rugged looks of their father while Jared shared the lighter, more refined features of their mother, a resemblance Jared secretly hated.

Malcolm pushed away from the counter with a curse. “Damn, man, I should have known not to tell you first.”

Jared plastered a smile on his face. Today wasn’t the day to talk some sense into his brother. “I’m just messing with you, man. Truly, I’m happy for you. When is the big day?”

Malcolm looked skeptical but the goofy grin resurfaced. “We’re thinking a fall wedding. September or October.”

Jared put his water bottle on the counter with a loud thud. “That’s only a few months away.”

Malcolm shrugged. “We’ve been together for two years, there’s no need for a long engagement.”

Jared shook his head. “All right, man. Just let me know when and I’ll be there to stand beside you.” And I’ll be there when she breaks your heart later, he thought.

“Thanks, man, I’m glad to hear that.” Malcolm narrowed his eyes and studied Jared. “Are you training for something? You haven’t stopped sweating since you came to the door.”

Jared used his shirt to wipe the sweat off his brow. “No, why would you say that?”

“’Cause it looks like you’re working your ass off. What’s up?”

Jared sucked down the rest of the water. “Just trying to work off some excess energy.”

Malcolm scoffed. “You usually say that when you’ve got some woman around. Since I don’t think anyone is here, she must have turned you down?”

Jared sucked his teeth. “Never that. She’s coming over tonight.”

Malcolm laughed. “At the rate you’re going you won’t be any use to her tonight.”

Jared blew air through his lips. “You forget who you’re talking about. Besides we’re not sleeping together tonight. I’m trying to wait.”

Malcolm’s head snapped back. “You’re trying to wait? Hell must be freezing over.”

“Man, I can wait, when it’s worth it.”

Malcolm raised an eyebrow. “Someone who’s worth the wait? Damn, man, I never thought I’d hear you say that. Who is she?”

“It doesn’t matter who she is, and I’m not waiting long. I just need to find the right place.”

Malcolm laughed. “What’s wrong with down the hall in that massive bed you’ve got?”

Jared shook his head and frowned. “Nah, she deserves better than that for her first time. I’m not going to treat her like any other chick.”

Malcolm stopped laughing and held up his hands. “Wait, wait, wait. Did I hear you right? Her first time? What, you’re playing with virgins now?”

Jared cursed. Malcolm didn’t need to know what he was doing. His brother was such a moral high roller he wouldn’t approve, but Jared didn’t turn down beautiful women, and since Tasha offered, he wasn’t about to pass up the chance to be her first.

“It’s not like that. She asked me to be her first, so I agreed.”

Malcolm crossed his arms and scowled. “What the hell is wrong with you? You don’t F around with virgins, man.”

Jared laughed at Malcolm’s shortening of the curse word. “I’m not f*cking around with a virgin. She’s almost thirty and wants to lose it before her birthday. I was her choice, so why deny her?”

“Because her first time should be special. You’re the last man to make something special with a woman.”

“Whatever. I know how to make a lady feel special.”

“It’s more than that.”

Jared lifted a shoulder and held his hands out. “Since when do I need your permission to sleep with someone? She’s a grown woman and knows what she wants. Besides, the way she was palming my dick yesterday lets me know that she’s more than ready.”

Malcolm shook his head. “Man, you’re something else. You’re right, it’s your business. I’m just saying this whole situation may blow up in your face.”

“I doubt that. I’m going to take my time with her and make it good. It’ll just be this one-time thing, and then we’ll move on.”

“Sure, I’ll believe that when I see it.”

Jared was tired of the conversation. “Look, man, I’ve got to get back to my workout. Did you want anything else?”

Malcolm sighed nodded. “Mom’s birthday is coming up. I wanted to rent out the community center in the old neighborhood and have a party for her. Sixty-five is a big deal.”

Jared smiled tightly while inwardly he cringed. Pretending an interest in their mom was nothing new. Malcolm never questioned why he always had to relay messages between the two, and Jared had no plans to change that. He’d rather let Malcolm assume he was a less than stellar son than reveal they had a less than stellar mom.

“Sure, man, that’s a good idea. Just let me know what you need.”

Malcolm nodded and headed toward the door. “Don’t work out too hard. You might tire yourself out before you can deflower your virgin.”

“Ha ha, very funny.”

“I’ll holla at you later.”

Jared waved his brother out the door before going back down to his gym, but he no longer felt like working out. Malcolm’s announcement had killed his energy. His brother was getting married. It felt like it came from nowhere, but he should have known. They did seem perfect for each other, so maybe it could work. But his parents had seemed perfect for each other too, and he knew that had been a damn lie. Hopefully Malcolm would be luckier.

His cell phone rang and he walked over to pick it up. Monica’s number popped on screen under a new name: Clingy Snoop. He ignored the call, noting that it had been her fourth call for the day.

He crossed the gym to his home office. He needed a distraction, and the work on his desk would do. He was finishing up a fitness manual based on his exercise philosophy, and he needed to call Cassandra, his public relations manager in Los Angeles, for an update on her trip to his production facility.

After work he would decide how to handle Tasha’s first time. He meant what he’d said to Malcolm — she did deserve better than just one night in his bed. Even though they wouldn’t be together afterwards, he wanted her to look back with a smile for the rest of her life.