Life After Dark: Book Two of the Dark Series

Chapter 52

'Better watch your step

Or you're gonna die...'

Keesha could hear the pulsating beat of Janet Jackson's rock tune long before she reached the hallway which led to her apartment. Since only she and Gina were Ruby's tenants at the present time, the culprit could only be one person.

Normally, Keesha wouldn't mind having her privacy invaded by her friend's music, but not tonight. Tonight, she needed peace and quiet. Thoughts of apples and oranges had permeated her mind most of the day. She had been there for her clients, but always in the back of her mind, her subconscious began to compare the fruit.

Apples. Red and delicious. Granny Smith. Gala. Fuji. Macintosh. So many different varieties with so many different tastes. Sometimes, tart and other times, sinfully sweet. AJ was definitely apples, she had decided. All of the different kinds wrapped up in one package.

He had been tart, and rightfully so, on the day she told him about Jason. He was in pain, and he lashed out. His apology earlier that day warmed her heart and reminded her of his sweetness. She was also reminded of how sinfully delicious he could be when his lips found hers. When she pulled away from his embrace, she did so with a heavy heart. She hadn't wanted to pull away, but a vision of an orange popped into her mind, and she couldn't help herself.

Mm...oranges, Keesha thought as her footsteps took her closer to Gina's door. Big, plump, and juicy. Biting into the perfect slice was like tasting a piece of heaven on earth. The sweet juice of the fruit would explode in her mouth and leave a refreshing feeling in its wake. Oranges made her feel alive. The tangy fruit awakened her taste buds and sent shivers up and down her spine. Since becoming reacquainted with Jason, she realized that he was the orange.

Jason awakened her senses in ways she had never realized existed before. Sweet and caring one moment and in the next, sexy and flirtatious. She never knew what to expect whenever her eyes met his. One touch, be it accidental or intentional, could make her tingle from head to toe. He knew how to get to her, and it excited her. His softly spoken statement at lunch brought wicked images to her mind. She tried to admonish him with her eyes and tone of voice, but she knew he saw through her.

Not wanting to deal with the images and different tastes, Keesha shook the thought of fruit from her mind and heart as she knocked loudly on the solid, wooden door. No answer. She contemplated whether or not a good swift kick would get Gina's attention, but she decided against it. Ruby might not appreciate having damage done to her property. Keesha decided to use a tried and true method to reach her friend. She yelled.

"GINA!"

~*~

AJ smiled to himself as he slammed the front door shut. His mind wasn't on his eccentric family. His thoughts were on Keesha and the time they had shared on the Twenty-third floor. Just talking to her set his soul at ease, but kissing her... Kissing her made his body ache with longing.

He wanted her back. As they kissed and later when he held her, he knew that she wanted him, too. He was almost positive that if he had gone after her, she would not have pulled away from him again. But, instead, he remained in the enclosed garden. Alone.

He wanted all of her, and he wanted her to be sure that she wanted all of him. A healthy libido could be a dangerous thing as his one night with Carly had taught him. He didn't want sex to be the driving force in having Keesha back in his life again. He wanted love to bring her back and nothing else.

AJ's feet were headed in the right direction as he moved to climb the stairs. He needed the sanctuary of his bedroom and peace and calmness he would find there. The rest of the house provided little cover for any Quartermaine who wished for his or her thoughts to remain private and untarnished by a negative point of view. In AJ's present state of mind, he was determined to keep and hold only positive thoughts. In order for him to stay true to himself, he had better get up the staircase, and quickly.