Shawnie's POV

The next morning, I woke up in Joe's bed. I slept damn good too. I haven't gotten sleep like that in a while probably since he left. Maybe my stress isn't the reason I've been getting bad sleep, maybe it's the fact that I didn't feel safe enough to get the sleep, or maybe it was because Joe wasn't there, I don't know.

I reach over to the nightstand and I grab my phone. The time was 12:38. I can't believe I slept that long. I turned around to see if Joe was still laying there and of course he wasn't. I slowly got out of bed and grabbed his robe, wrapping it around me. I go to the bathroom and fix my hair to make it look presentable and splash some water on my face. I always carry a toothbrush in my bag so I brushed my teeth as well. Olivia was having everything delivered this morning so I should have everything to get myself together shortly.

I walked out of the bedroom, and I saw Joe sitting on the couch in a lime green shirt, black shorts and black cats on his feel. His hair was up in a bun with some hanging out the bottom. He was  laid back on the sofa talking on the phone. I looked in the kitchen and saw roses sitting in a vase on the kitchen table.

"Yeah, I know mom...she's awake now. I'll call you later." He smiles at me and ends the call. "Good morning!"

"Good afternoon!" I say. "Are those for me?"

"Yes." He says with a smile.

"Thank you. I can't believe I slept that long."

"It's all good!" He says

"That was your mom?" I ask

"Yeah..."

"How is she?"

"She's great. She wants to meet you."

"Aw really? I would love to meet your mom." I'm flattered she would want to meet me. I'm all for it.

"I don't know about all that."

"Why not? That's not making long-term decisions or taking relationship steps, just your friend meeting your mother." I say with a smile.

"But.... it makes me feel like my girlfriend is meeting my mom."

"Joe, we have an understanding that we will be strictly friends and keep things how they are and if either one of us decides that we want something more then that's on us. You don't wanna be in a relationship and neither do I, so I don't know about you, but I plan on keeping it that way."

"My mom is just...so extra and she makes me nervous sometimes."

"Stop making it a big deal out of nothing." I say

"I guess you're right. I have met your dad and a lot of your family and you've only met my cousins.... It's fine..." he laughs. "She wants me to pick her up some groceries anyway so I guess you'll just ride with me and you can meet her."

"Yay!" I say clapping my hands.

"Why do you want to meet my mom?" He asks

"I don't know, seems right." I say

"I got you something else—."

We were interrupted by a knock on the door. Joe walks over and answers.

"Hi..."

"I'm Olivia, Shawnie's assistant. These are for her." I hear.

"Hey!!" I walk over to the door and Joe takes my bags.

"Come in. I didn't know you were going to deliver them yourself." I'm super surprised she flew here just to bring me clothes.

"I tried to order them, but they said like two or three days, so I just said I'll go buy everything and jump on a flight." She says with a smile.

"I really appreciate this. How did you get the address?" I ask, watching Joe sit them on the coffee table.

"You share your location with me." She says

"Oh that's right. I completely forgot about that. Thank you so much." I turned to Joe. "This is Olivia, my assistant, she was hired the day after you left."

He smiles, "Nice to meet you."

"And Olivia, this is Joe even though he had just left, he's head of security. You will be seeing a lot more of him when he comes back to work..." I look at Joe. "...whenever that is."

Joe laughs as they shake hands.

"Thank you so much Liv." I say

"Anytime." She smiles, "You guys have fun." She leaves and Joe closes the door behind her.

I smile and my eyes land on the Gucci bag on the table.

"Yeah, did she really have get you Gucci? I could've gone to the store and got you something to throw on." He says and I laugh.

"Do you really think I'm going to just throw on something? Come on Joe, you know me."

"I know you like all of your expensive things, but I know what you like too. I could've just gone and picked you up something." He says

"Thank you, but it's okay. Olivia brought over everything I needed. So I'm gonna go take a shower and get dressed." I say

"Hold on... I want to enjoy this a little longer."

"Enjoy what?" I ask

"You know I like you before you get all dolled up." He smiles. I don't know why he likes me like this. I look horrid.

I walk over and sit next to him on the sofa.

"So like I was saying, I got you something."

I get excited. "You got me something? What?"

"When I went out this morning, I passed your favorite..." he picks up a small bag from the side of the sofa, which was sitting on the floor. When I saw that little Tiffany blue bag, I got even more excited than I was before.

Joe went to Tiffany's? This is such a shocker.

"You went to my store?" I asked, super surprised as he handed me the bag. 

"I did." He smiles. There he goes with the nervousness again. "If you don't like it, I can take it back."

"No, I love it."

He laughs. "You haven't even seen it yet."

"Anything from Tiffany's I love." I take the box out of the bag and then open the box. There was a smaller box inside of that one. I got a little nervous because I know my Tiffany boxes and the earring and the ring boxes are very similar in size. I know he's not proposing, but it still makes me nervous. I get chills every time I open the Tiffany's box. Not to mention I have flashbacks from when Chris bought my actual Tiffany's engagement ring.

It was earrings, and I know these earrings. They're the signature one carat solitaire diamond stud. These are $1900. I have a couple pairs of these they're pretty much my go to, but Joe doesn't have to know that. It's the thought that counts and I really appreciate the thought.

"Aw, see, I love them. Thank you!" I give him a hug. "What made you go to Tiffany's?"

He shrugs, "I was out, and I just wanted to show my appreciation for you coming here to talk to me. Plus I just wanted to get you something."

"Aw, thank you. I'm surprised you went there."

"Well, I know how it's your favorite and you like expensive gifts and things like that. I just wanted to get you something I figured you'd like." He says

"Well, I like gifts, yes, but you didn't have to buy them for me."

"I wanted to." He says with a shrug. "It's okay as long as you like them."

I smile. "I love them. I'll wear them today."

He just sat there watching me. It was a little awkward.

"What's up?"

"Nothing." He smiles.

I lightly hit him on his shoulder. "Stop being weird." I laughed, I could feel him staring at me. "Stop!"

He laughs. "I'm not doing anything. I'm just looking at you. Shawnie, I really think you're beautiful." He says

"Thank you Joe. I appreciate that. Trying to make me feel special?"

"Well you came here and I feel special. I'm just returning the love."

"You're so sweet, Joe." I say, looking down at my phone, scrolling Instagram.

He didn't say anything but he was smiling at me. What is up with him?

"What thee entire FUCK!"

"Why are they out to dinner?" I ask out loud. "And where's Aeko?"

"Maybe they've reconciled. She was with him and he did those shows over there." He says

"But he's with Jasmine so I don't understand why he's out with Ammika."

"Let him live." Joe says

I roll my eyes. "Whatever, I guess that's not my problem, huh?"

"It's not. If they're on good terms, then they are on good terms. They have a son together. Just like you and Drake. I don't know if they're having sex or anything but going to dinner could be harmless. You should know firsthand how coparenting has to work."

"I know, but I just don't like her. You weren't around when she was making my life hell. I really can't stand that woman. But I do know that she was hurt by him and she was just lashing out and trying to make his life hell. I don't think it was necessarily geared towards me, but I guess I can say I understood if it was." I say

"Exactly cause you know heads will roll if he was doing that shit to you."

"Well, he was." I say

"He cheated on you a lot, but he didn't do to you what he did to her. I told you I did my homework when I started working for you, so I know all of that bullshit that went on and like I said heads would roll if he did that to you. And she wasn't the only one he did it to, he was with a Diamond as well."

"Oh my gosh, I know I was there. I don't want to relive any of that."

"I'm just saying, he dropped his main chick, and the one who thought she was a main chick a.k.a. Ammika just to be with you." He says

"Like I said, I know she has every right to be mad and I know he wants to work things out with her to be on good terms because they have a son, but they don't have to be going to dinner." I say

"You're jealous." Joe says

"I don't wanna admit it, but I'm a little jealous." I laugh

"But you're sitting in my living room." He says

I smile and put my phone down. "You're right. I'm sorry."

"I know you still care for him. I'm okay with that. You were engaged to him. It's all good... but you have feelings for me and I don't want you to be thinking about anybody else while you're sitting on my couch." He says with a seductive smile on his face.

"Oh?" I say amused.

Whaaat? Okay Joe.

"Yeah, and it's not a jealousy thing. You know I don't get jealous. I guess it's kind of a respect thing." Joe says

"That's so true. I'm sorry." I say, "So tell me, what should I be thinking about then?" I smile

He leans over, grabs the back of my head and kisses me, then he pulls me into his lap. His hands went right to my ass, grabbing with both hands. We made out for a few minutes and his hands slid to the front of me and I pulled away.

"You're making this friend's only thing hard." I say

"You're making me hard." He says with a smirk.

I laugh. "I can feel it.... "

He smiles.

"Things seem a little different with you today."

He smiles and shrugs his shoulders. "Nothings changed."

"I'm gonna go take a shower." I say, then kiss him again.

"Was that an invite?"

I laugh. "No!" I removed his hands from my panties.

"Well I'll just pull these to the side then."

I laugh. "We said we weren't going to have sex."

"I know what we said but...you know... we always say one thing and do another." He laughs

He almost convinced me but I'm deciding against message around with him. I want to, but I'm not. But it's hard to turn him down. If he pushes this I might cave.

I kiss him one more time then I climb off of him. "I'm going to go shower."

I don't wait for him to respond, I just walk off. I heard him say "aight" but I didn't say anything.

I go into the bathroom and turn on the shower. Joe got me all horny now. I put my hair into a bun, take off my clothes and I step in the shower.

A few minutes into my shower, I see the door open and Joe walks in naked. He has no respect for closed doors. Lol

"Why?" I say laughing.

He opens the shower door and steps in.

"I haven't taken my shower yet. This way it saves water." He laughs.

He is full of shit.

I burst out laughing. "You're funny."

I don't have any words. I glanced over his body and I instantly smiled. I didn't mean to, that was just my response. He takes that as an invitation and he walks over to me. He smiles as his hands grab my waist, and his lips crash against mine.

I deepen the kiss but I let him take control, his left hand gripping my ass, and his right hand trailing up my body, until it's wrapped around my throat, my legs around his waist.

Soon, he breaks the kiss, moving his hand to the back of my neck.

"I have a confession to make." He smiles.

"What's that?"

"I want you."

"I can see that." I laugh. "It's hard not to want you too."

"Do you want to do this?" He asks

"This is a bad decision." I say

"I know, but do you want to....because I do."

I nod my head yes. He smiles, latching his lips to my neck, kissing and nipping at the sensitive skin.

He walks me back against the wall, his lips trailing kissing down to my collar bone, before making their way to my breasts. He takes the left one into his mouth, while simultaneously massaging the other one.

"Joe..." I breathe out, as his feather light touches over my clit, drives me insane.

He acknowledges my moan with a flick of his thumb against me, before teasing me again. I breathe out, as he continues his descent down my abdomen, his left hand still softly massaging my clit as he leaves a trail of kisses and bite marks. He kisses his way up my thigh, his tongue tasting my skin. He teases the edge of my entrance, licking around it, driving me up the wall.

"Don't move." He says, before kissing the entrance of my pussy.

He and I lock eyes, his peering into mine, his demeanor shifting, becoming more dominant.

"Hold on to me." He says, lifting either leg on either shoulder.

I do as I'm told, as his lips latch onto my lower set. His tongue slides inside of my pussy, stroking in and out. He inhales, sucking me, forcing a back arch, my eyes closing in pure bliss. I'm reminded that I'm in the shower as the water flows over my face as I hang my head back in pure pleasure.

After a few moments, I feel my release coming, but he stops, retracting his tongue. I whimper in protest. He lifts me off of him, placing my back against the wall, keeping my feet from touching the shower floor.

"Not yet." He says, attaching his lips with mine. I reach down to grab his cock. It lays heavy in my hand, thicker than I remember.

I begin to stroke his length, deepening the kiss, his hips jerking a bit as I tighten my grip.

"Put it in" He says between kisses.

I open my eyes, looking down into his as I slide him inside of me. His lips attach to my neck, I take his ear into my mouth, as he's long stroking me. My lips kiss whatever skin I can reach, as he does the same, before they find one another, sending shock waves throughout my body.

My nails find their way into his back, digging into him as he continues to fuck me. I run my hands over the scratch marks before running my hands up to his hair and pulling it. He grabs my face, deepening the already breathless kiss.

He pulls back and looks at me. I try to read his eyes, and I'm a bit scared of what I see, but I can't deny that or the same lustful passion that's feeling mine. I begin to feel it coming, ready to release.

"I'm..." I tried to tell him but it came too fast and I cum without warning.

He smiles but it quickly fades as he tightens his arms around me, keeping me in place, slow stroking, allowing me to fully release.

"I'm pulling out." He says, and I nod my head. What am I supposed to do, tell him not to? Hell no. No more babies for me.

He strokes a few times before removing himself from me. "Fuuucccckkkkk......" He groans in pleasure. Resting his head on my shoulder, breathing hard.

After a few seconds he places me down on my feet. "Are you okay?"

"I'm great!" I say with a smile. "You fucked up my hair though."

"No big deal. Jon's wife owns a salon. I'll call her as soon as I get out."

I smile. "That's nice of you but I don't let anyone just play in my hair."

"Shawnie, she's licensed and the owner. I think you're good. Plus you can meet another member of my family. Trust me, you'll be okay." He says, then kisses me on the lips.

"Fine." I say, watching him step out of the shower.

He smiles, wraps a towel around his waist and leaves out.

I continued my shower and when I got out I threw it up in a tight bun and got dressed.

Aubrey's POV

I have been calling and calling and calling and she is not answering her phone. What the fuck is she doing? I called her dad and he said she was out of town but he wouldn't tell me where. I should've known that asshole wasn't gonna give up any information. When she was here, she said she might be going to Vegas. I can't imagine what she would be going there for. She doesn't know anybody in Vegas, unless she's just having a girls trip but pictures would have been out of her hanging out if she was there, so that leads me to believe she's not in Vegas right now. I don't more where she is and I don't like it. I think I should know regardless of our relationship status.

When she left my house, I knew she said it was going to be the last time we did anything but I know she ain't serious. She's never serious when it comes to me. That's one thing I can say, she's always gonna come back to me because she's still in love with me. She's too wrapped up in me. She says she's gonna leave me alone and I know she's not. Well, I'm hoping she's not serious. I miss her so much and it's really starting to take a toll on me.

We had a serious conversation when she was here, and I believe she knows I was telling the truth. I was very sincere in what I said, and I meant every bit of it. I see how bad I've made things and I just want to make it right and I want my wife to come home. That's why I've been trying to get in contact with her, because I think it's time for us to change things up a little bit. I know I waited too long to finally understand the situation. We're divorced. But married couples get back together and remarry all the time. I am ready and willing to make our relationship stronger and I am ready to do what I have to do. I put that on everything...I just need her to answer my call. I am desperately begging for her to do so.

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