Shades of Cool: 26

Throughout my life I've always promised that I would do something in this world that means something to me, that I would be successful and make my dreams come to life. Now I could say that my hard-work has paid off, although one would say that I didn't do shit but suck and fuck to get where I am. But hey, it is a job.

Being blessed is an understatement. I've been able to pay off most of my debt, buy property in full, in my name, and start a full business. You don't find men like Tobias everyday, the ones who just want one woman sexually and would pay you however much you needed. Then I got a bonus deal with him, he's not too much of an asshole. We're still working out some kinks to accommodate for our relationship but for the most part he's a wonderful man who just loves to work and have sex.

In the morning I woke up peaceful. It was nothing like I'd imagined it would be, instead I woke up on time and started to freshen up. Christina and Marlene were the two man ones behind the uniforms for my employees and myself. They were the most excited about this part especially, they never missed a meeting that we had scheduled to talk about. It was a bit of work because Christina couldn't get through her mind that I didn't want my crew walking around like it's a fucking fashion show and have glitter everywhere.

Finally they were able to come up with a cute and simple shirt. It was pastel blue like the accent walls and had our store logo above the right breastbone, it was a chocolate cupcake with a grey cupcake liner and pastel blue polka dots. And to top it off, literally and figuratively, was a bright red cherry and had The Sweet Spot written in white cursive on the cherry. A pang of some kind of emotion goes through my chest when I look at it, it's a good emotion I just don't know what it is.

You know why bitch. My conscious tells me as I bite my lip and take a sip from my hot tea. My whole cafe has a part of my friends in there. Uriah made the name, Shauna, Will, and Zeke helped with schemes, Lynn found amazing decor, and Christina and Marlene made the uniforms and Tobias made the logo. I grin slightly at the memory of those day he helped me, then sadness washes over me as the thought turns bittersweet. We had our first real argument that week.

|Flashback|

The hard rain drops hit the window, and thunder shakes the windows. Thunderstorms were always beautiful and relaxing to me, just having the weather draw out the noise of the city and neighborhoods. The storm was actually unexpected but I guess it was just August doing it's thing. I didn't mind though because I was in no rush to go home as I was lying comfortably in Tobias bed. I don't know if it was the man's sheets or his dim lighting that made his room so comfy despite the rest of his house. I always tell him to add a pop of color somewhere in your house, but the browns, black's and grey in his bedroom made me just melt in his soft cotton sheets.

"I still can't believe your not tired yet." I yawned as Tobias kissed on my neck obviously trying to get somewhere but I was too tired to even lift my finger. My back was to him and I was looking at his window, the lightning making shadows of trees appear on it. We were supposed to be sleeping but he didn't have that in mind as he pushed his erection on my bare skin.

He scoffed and bit the tender flesh on my collarbone as his hand snaked between my legs. "Never." Is all he said.

"We talked about this, after our shower we were going straight to bed." It baffled me how we argued like we were a married couple sometimes. I turned to look at him in the dark room, I threw my arms around his neck as we faced each other on our sides now. I looked at him in the dark room the best I could, I wish the lights were on though so I could look into his sexy, deep blue eyes that just captivated me. Those eyes would make me do anything for him. Of course I wouldn't tell the man that because he'll probably have me bent over somewhere in public with just one pleading look.

My body jumped slightly as he kissed me on the lips, it wasn't hard but it wasn't soft either. My eyelashes fluttered against my cheeks as I closed them and kissed him back. Slowly I climbed on him and gently ran my hand through his pillow-y curls. Although I haven't kissed many men in my life, he was definitely the best kisser I've kissed. Although it killed me, I decided to give my pussy a rest and I pulled away from his luscious lips and rest my head on his chest.

His fingertips trailed up my spine, drawing patterns that made me want to just fall asleep on him. "You're a giant pillow." I yawned, not really making sense, "I needed this, I've been so busy."

He placed a kiss on my forehead that sent shivers down my spine, I've just started to accept his small gestures than just push them away and be rude. That was a step forward. Right? Whenever he would kiss my on the cheek and make me cuddle up next to him I just let it happen, I couldn't lie it felt nice to be held fully clothed as well. But nothing beats old skin-to-skin.

"I know you have been. You should be finished now huh?" he said and I shook my head and looked up at him.

"Most of it is done but those finishes touches are killing us because there are so many. I mean down to the bathrooms." I expressed as I rest my head on my flat palms to look at him, "I still don't have a logo and Vanessa needs that by Wednesday. That's three days." I sighed and shook my head. I was in deep doo-doo.

"A logo? That should be easy, I can help you with it. I'm a professional in Microsoft paint if I do say so myself." He said smugly and I laughed, "But we can make a blueprint and I'll send it to one of my friends and he can make it come to life."

I smiled at him and thanked the heavens I wasn't on my period or else I would be teary-eyed. What is it and these men helping me? Fernando, Tobias, Uriah as just a few and I had so many other friends I couldn't be more thankful. I couldn't forget my girlfriends either. For once in life things were going fucking amazing and I don't know what I did to deserve this all but I decide to not think too much about it before the opposite occurs.

"You'd do that for me?" I questioned in a small voice, looking up at him. He was breathtaking his dark eyes stared into mine as his messy hair brushed over his eyes, his plump bottom lip swollen from all the kissing and nibbling, his stubble so rough yet appealing. He looked so fuckable right now.

"Of course, I have to take care of my girl." My heart clenched the same time my legs did. His girl. I didn't know if he meant that in a providing manner like our relationship should be or cute girlfriend shit. Either way I didn't seem to care as I grinned at him and pressed a kiss to his lips.

"Let's get started on it now."

Although I was excited I was still very tired and worn out, "Now?" I tried not to sound bratty as I hid my yawn behind my hand and stretched like a cat, "My brain can't even function right now and I don't want to slack off while we do it." He looked giddy and wide-awake like it was the afternoon and not past midnight.

"Fine," He said as I noticed it didn't take much bribing, "But tomorrow morning I'm taking you out for breakfast and we're discussing it, so get some sleep now my daring." After placing a kiss to my cheek he cut off the light and left me to fall asleep, and much like every night with him, I fall asleep with a smile on my face.

In the morning he was up before me and already getting out of the shower by the time I woke up. As I lay in his warm inviting sheets, I peeked through the bathroom door to see him standing over the skin running his hand through his beautiful hair, water droplets ran down his godly body and the sun coming through the bathroom window bounced off of his tan skin giving him a sexy glow.

When he came out of the bathroom, I pretended to be asleep so he wouldn't know I was watching him like some creep. I expected him to kiss me awake or even nudge me, what I didn't expect was him ripping the sheets off of me. I gasped as the cold air came in contact with my heated skin, "Ugh! Tobias!" I whined and threw my arms over myself as he just chuckled at me.

"Waking you up normal was out of the picture. We have a lot to talk about discuss today, and we need to get a start on our day." Was I spending the day with him? I mean I didn't have anything else to do besides "homework" I needed to turn into Vanessa, I didn't mind it. I bit my lip at the thought of having his presence near me.

"You belong in the Military." I mutter grumpily as I rub the sleep out of my eyes and slip the discarded sheets over my body as I sat on the foot of the bed, "I need to go get clothes from my house." I said with crossed arms.

As smug look breezed across his face briefly as he gave me a curt nod, "Will do." When I arrived at his doorstep in my nice and comfy t-shirt dress I didn't think he would rip it to shreds along with my panties. I could only thank the heavens that I didn't wear a bra. "But we can't do that if you're still in bed." He playfully squeezed my cheek before he disappeared into his large closet.

After freshening up in the bathroom, I snag one of Tobias' tee's and his smallest pair of sweats that was deep in his drawers. "Sexy." He playfully winked at me as I came down the stairs with the shirt dangling off my frame and the waistline of his sweatpants rolled all the fucking way up.

"Oh shut up." I rolled my eyes and slipped on my sandals I left at the door. "You're talking about being on time but your the one lagging, sir."

He just grinned at me as he held the door open to his clean car and I slipped inside, one thing I could say is that his neighborhood is very quiet and safe so my raggedy car would be fine parked across the street from his place. I relaxed into the comfortable leather seats of his car and watched him start the engine, we had a little while to get to my side of town and the soft sound of music lured me into a light sleep.

I awoke quickly to the light taps of his fingers on my thigh. "We're here." He announced, I sat up and stretched out my limbs before looking around to in fact see we are outside of my apartment. I couldn't wait to move once I got my footing with my bakery. I didn't know if I wanted to continue this relationship with Tobias. If my bakery is going to be as successful as I hope, I wouldn't need his help anymore and I would be stable.

A part of my conscious told me that I only used him and it be weird if I left now, another part of me said that was the plan all along. Tobias and I knew that this was to help me get on my feet, I even explained to him I didn't need the lavish gifts that came with being his sugar-baby, it was just to help me get some bills off of my back and make my dream happen. Now that it is actually happening, I'm starting to realize how unprepared I am and how close I've gotten to this man.

"You can come in if you'd like." I told him as I slipped out of his car.

He didn't hesitate to walk me in with a look of distaste on his face. He didn't have a problem with the rougher side of town, he knew things wasn't peachy-keen like it was in Lake Forest where he lived. He just didn't like me living here and he wanted to get his point across.

We went up in the dingy elevator as we waited to get to the second floor, every time I get into this elevator I look at the silver, finger-stained doors of the lift and just imagine where I am going to be living at soon. I don't know where but I do know it's not going to be here. I could've gotten an apartment by now and a car if I wanted to but I want to play my cards right. Who knows, this bakery could be a bust and the last thing I need is a nice car and fancy apartment bills weighing on me, I'll be sucking Tobias off for the rest of my life.

As soon as we stepped off I saw my neighbor sweeping in the hallway, her name is Ms. Hernandez as she is the old lady of the building that will snatch whoever the hell up if you rub her the wrong way. She was shorter than me and had caramel skin with wrinkles on her face, to any ordinary person she looked like a sweet old lady with curly grey hair but she is one hell of a trip.

"Beatriz ¡Le digo que, nadie limpia alrededar excepto usted y el I!" [I tell you, nobody cleans up around here except for you and I.] She says while shaking her head, did I forget to mention that she is Hispanic and loves to keep things tidy around here. Although I'm not Mexican we're still Latina's nonetheless, together. We all kinda had the same upbringing and she reminds me of my mom a little bit.

"Hola Sra. Hernendaz." I greeted her with a smile and I pulled Tobias straight to the door before she could say anything, but I was too slow.

"¿Ooh, esto el hombre que tiene usted está gritando como un gato?" [Ooh, is this the man that has you screaming like a cat?]

I gasped and chuckled a little bit as my cheeks start to redden, "¡Basta!" [Stop it] Her loud, joyful laugh filled up the hallway as I pulled Tobias into my apartment and I shut the door.

"She seems sweet." Tobias laughed once we were inside.

A sarcastic laugh escaped my lips as I slipped into my bedroom to change, "If only you knew." I shook my head at the thought of my funny, elderly neighbor. I opened my the door to my small closet to see all of my clothes somewhat organized. Tobias will always take me shopping every now and then or just have someone deliver a ton of fucking bags to my apartment filled with the season's necessities in clothes. It was nice but I didn't have any fucking room for clothes in my shoe-box of a closet.

Quickly, I skimmed through my choices and I saw my olive tube dress, it was a little tight but it ended a little over my knees making it appropriate for brunch in the city. Two years ago, I wouldn't have seen myself dressing like this and now look at me.

"You know your bed is surprisingly comfortable." I jumped out of my skin as I turned to see Tobias sprawled out on my full sized bed, his legs and arms dangling over slightly.

"You scared the shit out of me." I rolled my eyes at him as I took of my shirt and threw it square in his face.

He closed his eyes and relaxed into the mattress, "This is way better than your couch."

"You know what's even better?" I pressed on as I took off my bra and slid on the dress, "Outside and not on my freshly made bed." I walked over to him and start to push on his arm.

"Fine, fine. We need to get-" He stopped and looked at my outfit, "No."

I stood up and crossed my arms over my chest as a humorous look etched into my face, "No? Why?"

"Thompson is an absolute freak, he'll eye-fuck you the whole time." He slid to the edge of the bed, "As much as I love your body in this, no." I walked over to him and he placed his hands on my waist.

"Well I've already made up my mind." I told him matter-of-factly as I gave him a smug look.

He just simply shook his head and took the defeat, he placed his head on my stomach, "What am I going to do with you?"

To be Continued

There is more to this chapter but my week is going to be a bit busy as well as my weekend so I didn't want to keep you waiting any longer. The next chapter really gets to the part that we all wanna see *wink* *wink*