After Dark Tropes

  Lissa stretched and did a soft yawn. She turned on her side and looked at Derrick who had his back turned to her while he slept. She couldn't sleep. They had made love and in his usual fashion, he would hug her a little then complain that he was hot, turn on his side then fall asleep.

   Jason drove into Ochi early the next day to purchase 'morning after pills' for Carli. He never told her his plan to buy it because he didn't want her to be upset. But as her husband and the one who would now guide the pace of their relationship, he wanted to make sure their love did not come under any undue strain. He wasn't sure if he would convince her to take it, but he hoped she would listen to him.  He loved her and there wasn't anything in the world he wouldn't give to her, once it was within his power to do so. He definitely wanted her to be the mother of his children, but he also wanted her to fulfill her potential in other areas. 

    "Lissa. I have feelings for you. Always have. I didn't approach you before because deep down I didn't think I deserved you. But now I want so much more for myself. One thing I know for sure is I want you. I want to be your man. I want to take care of you, make you feel special every day."   Lissa dreamed that her phone was ringing and she was running to answer, but the faster she ran, the further the ringing phone seemed to be from her. She was running through a dark place, she tripped and fell ... and was falling ... falling ...

    "She may have been yours, but she's mine now. Mine!"   Shane stretched and yawned quietly. He turned on his side and looked at the beautiful woman sleeping beside him. After they made love the second time, it was late, she convinced him to sleep over. He didn't mind, her bed was comfortable, but having her as beautiful company was even better. 

    "I love your daughter. I want to marry her very soon if she will have me." When Lissa woke up in the morning, Shane was already making breakfast for the two of them. She left the cosy, warm bed to pee. She washed out her mouth with toothpaste and water, wishing she had her toothbrush with her. 

  "Shane, baby, whatever you did, whoever you were, you are not that person anymore, and I will not allow you to go back to being him. Your Bible says in Christ you are a new person the old is past and the new has come. Maybe your past has not forgotten you, but you don't live there anymore." Lissa stretched and rolled onto her side sleepily. She opened her eyes but was disappointed to see that Shane was not laying beside her. She yawned and turned her head to look for him in the room, but he wasn't there. 

    "I don't know how to say it, but since I found out you're pregnant and the last time we made love, I feel different around you. It's kinda like this fits. Us. You and me. We feel right. Like you were made for me and I'm made for you." Shane walked into his bedroom and watched Lissa sleeping. He loved watching her sleep. She looked so beautiful and peaceful. He wished things were different. It seemed that retribution was knocking on his doorstep for all the things he did when he was trying to find answers about his friend's death. 

  "Lissa is everything I have ever wanted in a woman. I'm not perfect,  but I would rather die than to see her hurt.  I can promise you that my blood will be spilled before there's a scratch on her." "Shane! Shane! Oh my god!" Lissa screamed. She heard three more shots fired, she felt paralyzed. She ran into the house. Her dad met her in the foyer. He grabbed her arms, "What's happening?" he asked. "Shane! Someone is shooting at him!" she screamed. Sandra, Carli, Jason and Brandon rushed out of the kitchen. Marcus ran upstairs to his bedroom to retrieve his licensed firearm. 

  "Then the sweet loving you give to me ... I'm addicted to your sweetness, I'm trying to be good because I'm supposed to be waiting until marriage, but you make it hard for me, Lissa. I would go crazy if another man had that; your sweetness. I don't think I would take it well if for some reason we broke up."  Shane wrapped his arms around his woman. She felt warm and soft. He kissed the back of her neck. They were laying in bed. He moved his left hand down to gently rub her belly. He lifted his head and smelt her hair. Intoxicating . Lissa stirred and opened her eyes. She smiled.  She scooched her butt back on him. Shane chuckled, bent his head and playfully kissed her neck. He pressed himself on her. Lissa reached her hand up and rubbed his head.  "Good morning, handsome," Lissa said with a happy sigh. She yawned quietly. "Good morning, sweet baby," Shane said softly. He continued to rub her belly. Gently, he kissed her shoulder.  "S...

  "I am here to see if you are okay," she paused, "but I'm also here because I want you to do something for me." "Anything," he said looking at the love of his life's mother.  "I want you to stop seeing my daughter, please," she said, her eyes boring into him.     Note: Jamaican patois is used heavily in this chapter. Please see translation in brackets beside the characters' dialogue. Shane moved stealthily through the sugarcane. He saw his colleagues move quickly ahead, chasing after one of the perpetrators. There were seventeen officers on the ground in total, but Shane also knew that numbers did not always guarantee individual safety as a police officer.  He looked around him, his eyes carefully scanning the rows of cane plants. He had his gun ready. He chose to breathe in calmly through his nose and breathe out through his mouth. This was to help him keep his heart rate steady and his anxiety as minimal as possible.  As he moved f...

  "There's a traditional saying from my mom's Arabic roots. It's this: a lḥubbu dawāʼu al-qulūb, which in English says 'love is the medicine of hearts'. This means that love is like medicine. It can heal emotional scars; a broken heart. It can soothe any deep spiri tual pain, and bring hope and joy. I want to be that for you Branno, if you will let me." "Mhm… Brandon, aahh, right there! Right there! Mmh ... feels good! Ahh! Deeper! More, give me more! Mmh!" "Right here?" "Mhm, yes. Harder! Branno aah! Oh god please! Deep, go deep! Mmh! Ohh you're so good! Mmh. Haa! You feel so good."

  "We have been friends for nearly forty years. Almost forty long years, good and bad times. I have always been loyal to you. I have covered your tracks and your ass a million times, as you have done mine. But it seems my loyalty almost cost me my zuhūr na'imah (زهور ناعمة - delicate flower). I am your friend but I will choose my family every time."  Zuzu felt weirdly dazed with Branno laying on top of her. She looked up at his face. She saw fear but also something else. She wasn't sure if it was anger or determination or both. Glass shards fell around them. He flinched when they hit him but he didn't move away from her. He held her close to him. She wrestled a little to get her arm out of the sheet wrapped firmly around her.

  She turned her upper body towards him. "Wouldn't it be weird for the counselor to seek counsel from the client?" she asked, a slight smile on her lips. He shook his head, a charming smile graced his lips. Lissa was captivated by it. "Not at all," he said, "once the counselor accepts that the client is open to being a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on."   Lissa dreamt that Shane was laying beside her. He circled his arms around her and held her close to his body. She turned around and placed her hand on his chest and felt his heart beat. "Baby, I love you. I will never leave your side again," he said. He touched her face and kissed her lips. Lissa woke up. She felt at peace. The dream felt so real. She turned on her side and went to sleep with a smile on her face.

  "You're safe. I got you. I won't let anyone hurt you."  Lissa looked into his eyes. Could she believe him? It seemed like all the men in her life, except her dad and Branno, were the same. She was tired of having her trust betrayed; tired of having her heart trampled. Could she trust him? He touched her face then leaned forward and hugged her. His arms around her shoulders made her feel secure. "Thank you," she said. She was grateful he showed up when he did. If he hadn't ... No, she didn't want to think like that. He released her from his embrace and looked at her. "I told you, I'm here if you need me." She felt a little perplexed. Was he following her the whole time? He was very brave. "Surely you being here when I need you has limits, you have your own life and ..." She paused trying to calm the stormy thoughts inside her head. She was very attracted to him. "I'm limited because I'm human, but that doesn'...

  I'm falling for you, Lissa. I find you very attractive. You turn me on in the strongest way. I don't think I have been this forward with any other woman I'm just getting to know ...  Gently, he caressed her, telling her she was beautiful, that he wanted her; he needed her. Lissa moaned and opened her arms to him.  He lay on top of her. His body weight was intoxicating. His smell, the feel of his warm, smooth skin made her weak. Lissa arched her body up to him.  It was strange, but she couldn't see her lover's face. But his touch felt familiar, his voice was velvety smooth as he told her she was beautiful and he loved her.  She lifted her head trying to catch a glimpse of his face, but it was a blur. What was clear was his hands caressing her body: Touching her breasts, her thighs, resting carefully on her belly. His chest was large, but she vaguely noted that it didn't look like Shane's. 

  "I won't hurt you. I would never hurt you, and I won't force myself on you. I want your love willingly. I want you to want me and willingly give yourself to me ..." He woke up and did his Sunday morning routine as usual. He went for a jog, came back home and did 200 push-ups then did several reps of squats with a 250 pound barbell, then a few bench presses: 100 reps. He had a small space in his apartment he turned into a mini-gym. Later, he showered, cooked breakfast for himself, got dressed and went to church. When Ryan came back from church, he took a nap and woke up at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. He turned on the data on his phone and saw a new message pop up from Lissa. He decided to first look at the messages in his family chat and replied to a few from his siblings. He smiled as he saw their answers, and told them that he loved them.  He sat up and rested his back on the bed's headboard and tucked his pillow behind his back. He was about to open Lissa...

Lissa and Ryan   "Lissa, I want you. Can I have you, not just in my bed, but in my life?" he asked her. "I want to be your man. I want to give my love to you. I want you to fall in love with me," he said making his plea. He touched her face. Lissa woke to the smell of fried eggs, bologna and toasted bread. She sat up in bed and smiled. She remembered that she had slept over at Ryan's place. She listened to the sound of footsteps coming closer. She looked up to see Ryan coming towards her wearing the shorts from last night but he also had on a white marina that barely covered his muscular pecs. In his hands was a tray that held a plate filled with delicious smelling food. She grinned as he placed it on her lap. "Good morning, Beautiful," he said.

  For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:16-17 NIV)   Shane parked his car in front of the Dixons' house and took a deep breath. He looked down the road and then at the house. He saw that a few of the bullet holes were already patched, and was grateful that Corporal Stewart was doing such a great job.  The insurance finally came in and he was relieved. He decided to upgrade to a plum colored SUV, something sleek looking. The glass was slightly tinted. It was a four seater vehicle that was spacious with nice, comfy seats.  He was told by the sales rep that the engine was very fuel efficient, which he was glad to hear. He also told him that the vehicle's RPM was between 1500 - 2000. Shane smiled and told him he didn't believe him. He was allowed to take it for a ride an...

  Jordan and Lissa I care about you. Dana. I don't want to hurt you. You are beautiful and sweet, but I know I'm damaged." He cleared his throat again.  I am flattered by your attraction for me. Maybe we shouldn't take this further. Shane woke up and watched Dana sleeping. He was tempted to touch her face, but didn't want to wake her. He rolled onto his right side and moved slowly to the edge of the bed to get off it.  As he sat up to rise to his feet, she stirred and opened her eyes. She smiled and stretched out her hand to touch his back. He turned around, leaned forward and kissed her hand while it rested on the bed. "Morning baby," he said with a smile. Dana smiled at him, her eyes inviting. He crawled to her and kissed her slowly. When he leaned back her eyes were closed. He touched her face. "Gonna take a shower, okay? "Okay," she replied with a whisper.

  Shane wrapped his arms around her and felt the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she slept in his arms. After he prayed for Dana and himself, he snuggled up to her, covering her protectively in his arms. He had woken up but she was still sleeping. Carefully, he moved away from her and watched her for a little while.