Strategic Seduction

by Cheris Hodges

  Vivian rolled her eyes. “Sounds like him. These days he thinks he’s the second coming of his annoying brother. Someone should take him down a peg or two.”

  “Who’s his brother?”

  “Solomon Crawford.”

  “I guess the more things change, the more they stay the same. Alicia is still getting by because of her friends. I guess that’s how she and Richmond became so close.”

  “How close are we talking?”

  “Let’s say this, if you needed to prove he’s been having a long-term affair with her, I could help you with that. Kind of makes sense as to why he’d leave the big city to come here right around the same time that she returns to Atlanta.”

  “Your use of logic is mind-blowing, and I think I should let my attorney know what’s going on,” Vivian said. “And what do you get out of all of this?”

  “We can work that out, I’m sure.”

  She placed her hand on top of his. “We sure can.”

  Chapter 17

  Paris, France

  Richmond unlocked the door to the suite and ushered Alicia inside. Closing the door, he pressed her against the wall. First, he went after her neck. Kissing and licking her, Richmond could feel her body melting against his. Her neck was definitely one of her erogenous zones. Slowly, he moved down to her regal shoulders. His tongue danced across her skin. She reminded him of a salted caramel brownie, sweet and spicy.

  Next, he slipped the straps of her dress down her arms, happily exposing her perky breasts. He ran his fingertips across her diamond-hard nipples. She moaned as his fingers danced down her sides.

  “You feel so good,” he said.

  “Mmm,” she moaned as he slipped his hand between her thighs. Richmond’s fingers sought out her throbbing bud and when he found it, Alicia let out a yelp.

  “She likes that,” he said as he stroked her again. This time she leaned into him and bit him on the neck as she screamed.

  Richmond lifted her into his arms and her dress fluttered to the floor. Carrying her to bed, he laid her against the spread and smiled at her naked body. “You’re beautiful.”

  She reached up and stroked his cheek. “Make love to me.”

  “I plan to, all night long,” he said as he leaned in and kissed her slow and deep.

  Alicia unbuttoned his shirt as they kissed, running her hands across his chest. He pulled back from her and stripped out of his clothes. She watched him with a gleam in her eyes. He was beautiful, he was spectacular, and Alicia realized that she wanted him for more than just a trip fling or just for a short fling. She realized that Richmond could be the one.

  Reaching for a condom, Richmond ripped the package open and slid it in place. Easing toward him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in bed with her. She wrapped her legs around his waist as they faced each other in silence for a moment. She didn’t know what to say or how to tell him that she was falling for him. He brushed his lips across hers.

  “Alicia,” he whispered. “You’re so damned beautiful.”

  “Richmond, you . . . this has been really special. Thank you.” She kissed him slow and deep, their bodies melting against each other. He plunged inside her and they rocked back and forth slowly. He cupped her cheek as they matched each other stroke for slow stroke. She moaned with delight as the waves of an orgasm began to wash over her.

  “Oh, Richmond, Richmond,” she called out.

  “Yes, come for me, baby. Let me come with you.” He dove in deeper and Alicia screamed out in delight. Feeling her release, Richmond allowed himself to explode along with her. Holding each other, they drifted off to sleep, thinking how much better things would be once they returned to Atlanta.

  Atlanta, Georgia—

  Vivian woke up in Felix’s king-size bed wrapped in a satin sheet. She didn’t remember much about how she ended up here, but there had been a lot of alcohol involved. And he’d given her a lot of information about Alicia Michaels.

  And from what she’d learned, Vivian knew how she could take care of her. If Alicia was as self-conscious as Felix said she was, then using that would be the key to getting what she wanted from Richmond.

  “Morning, beautiful,” Felix said as he walked into the bedroom with two glasses of water.

  “Morning,” she said. “I can’t believe I spent the night here.”

  “I’m glad you did. Made the start of my summer just amazing,” he said as he handed her a glass.

  “Too bad I don’t remember such a good time,” she replied as she stepped out of bed and searched for her clothes.

  “What are you trying to say? You didn’t have a good time? I can show you the video.” He winked at her and Vivian shivered in disgust.

  “Video?”

  “You know, these days you have to protect yourself and keep receipts. I learned that with my situation from college. Besides, if Richmond is going to give you all of the money that you’re looking for, it’s only fair that I get a cut. The video just makes sure that you don’t go back on your word.”

  “You slimy bastard.”

  “And you’re a gold-digging bitch, so we’re perfect for each other.”

  Vivian narrowed her eyes at Felix as she snatched her clothes on. “I don’t believe this. You lured me here so that you could set me up?”

  He shrugged, then nodded. “That’s the crux of it,” Felix said as he leaned against the wall and sipped his water. “You want me to call you an Uber, or can you hop on the MARTA to get back to your hotel?”

  “I’ll get back without your help, thank you very much.”

  “Just remember that I’m due ten percent of what you’re getting or I’ll have to make my own money. And this video would give me a grip. You’ve made quite a name for yourself. There are plenty of tabloids that will pay for this.”

  “And you’re willing to risk your career for a small payday?”

  “Do you really think my face is visible in your sex tape?” Felix laughed. “Make sure you call me after your meeting.”

  Vivian stormed out of his house feeling like a fool. Richmond and Felix were going to pay for this.

  Paris, France

  Alicia settled into her seat on the plane, wishing for another twenty-four hours in the City of Lights. Richmond slid into his seat and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Back to reality.”

  “Do we have to?”

  “It’s going to be pretty hard to take over Atlanta while making love in Paris,” he replied.

  “Guess you’re right,” she said with a sigh. “But this was a great trip.”

  “We’ll have to make it an annual thing.”

  She glanced out of the window to hide the huge smile on her face. Alicia was glad that he saw a future with her. Because she really spent part of the night dreaming about an intercontinental future with Richmond Crawford.

  “You’re not sleeping over there already, are you?”

  “Not yet. But soon I will be.” Turning to face him, Alicia leaned her head against his shoulder. “We’re supposed to be this happy, right?”

  “No one deserves this more than us,” he said, then captured her lips in a hot, passionate kiss. Alicia figured she was seconds away from joining the mile-high club, until she heard, “Sir, we’re about to take off. You’re going to need to buckle your seat belt.”

  Richmond broke the kiss and turned to the flight attendant. “And I thought we were already flying.”

  The woman smiled. “You and your wife must have had a great honeymoon. Let me see if I can get you some complimentary champagne.”

  “But we’re not—”

  Richmond placed his finger against her lips. “Thank you very much,” he said. “She’s still getting used to being my lady.”

  Alicia laughed and licked his finger.

  “Woman, you’re lucky I’m strapped into this seat belt.”

  “You’re too much. How miserable were you in your previous life to keep this man hidden?”

  “You don’t know the half
of it. Thank God for small miracles. The worst thing you can ever do to yourself is marry the wrong person and try to make it work.”

  Alicia chewed her bottom lip, silently wondering if Richmond was actually over his ex. What would he do if she tried to come back into his life? Would be remember how happy they were together and try again?

  “Why didn’t things work with you two?” she asked, though she really didn’t want to know.

  “Because I married a woman I wanted to love and have a family with. She married a name and a bank account. When I realized that, I felt as if I couldn’t divorce her because I had a reputation to uphold. Solomon was doing his thing with the tabloid headlines and I was the good son.” He laughed sardonically. “As it turned out, everything that we believed was damn lie.”

  “Have you thought about finding your . . .” Alicia’s voice trailed off. She wasn’t even sure that she should ask Richmond that. How would she feel if she found out the family she thought was hers wasn’t. And in image-conscious New York, she could only imagine how hard things had been for Richmond. “Never mind.”

  “I know what you’re thinking, and yes. I thought about my real father and finding him. But what’s the point? I’m a grown man who was raised by an asshole who had his own secrets.” He shrugged. “It’s better to not know and blaze my own path.”

  “I can understand that,” she said.

  “I’m glad you can, because I can’t.”

  She stroked his cheek. “When you’re ready, I’m going to be right here beside you.”

  Richmond took her hand in his and kissed it. “What did I do to deserve you?”

  “You moved to Atlanta at the right time, I guess.”

  “It’s more than that. You showed me something I never thought I’d see in my life.”

  Alicia tilted her head to the side. “And what’s that?”

  He stroked her cheek. “Real love can exist in my life too. So, I should be thanking you.”

  “We sound so corny right now,” she said with a laugh.

  “Maybe, but if I’m going to be corny with someone, then it’s going to be you.”

  The flight attendant returned with two glasses of champagne. “Congrats on the wedding,” she said as she handed them the glasses. “You’re going to have a beautiful marriage.”

  “Thanks,” Alicia said as she and Richmond clanked their glasses together. After they drank their champagne, Alicia leaned on Richmond’s shoulder and closed her eyes. She actually couldn’t wait to get back to Atlanta and spend more time with her man.

  And somehow, she was going to have to break the news to Kandace that she had fallen for her brother-in-law.

  Chapter 18

  After an uneventful flight, Alicia and Richmond were back in Atlanta. All she wanted to do was go to sleep. But the businesswoman inside her knew she should stop at her office and check her messages. Alicia had purposely left her cell phone, because she didn’t have an international plan and she wanted to enjoy Paris. She’d given her two clients the heads-up that she’d be out of the country so they wouldn’t be looking for her. Now, she had to check in.

  “We really should just go back to my place,” he said. “We could use a nap.”

  “Just let me check in on my clients and then I’d be happy to go to your place and sleep for a week.”

  Alicia walked into her office and sat down for a few moments before she booted her computer. Then she checked her voicemail. She paused when she heard Vivian’s message. “I understand that you’re seeing my husband. We should really talk about that. By the way, I’m Vivian Crawford. I’ll be in Atlanta for a couple of days and we should meet.”

  Alicia pulled the phone away from her ear. Wife? Richmond clearly said he was divorced. Maybe she’s just trying to throw her weight around. But Alicia had to wonder what brought the former Mrs. Crawford to Atlanta and if she was still around. Before she could replay the message and take down the number that it came from, Richmond walked in her office.

  “Ready?”

  “No, I have some things I really need to take care of before I can leave here.”

  “I can wait for you, if you’d like.”

  Alicia smiled and shook her head. “No, I don’t want you to miss out on your nap.”

  “I’ve gotten spoiled with having you in the bed beside me. I’ll wait.”

  She sighed, wondering if she should share the voicemail message with him or ask him about his relationship with his wife. It was back to reality, and she had to get to the bottom of what was going on. “All right, Richmond. I got a call from your wife while we were gone.”

  “My what?”

  “Your. Wife. So, tell me something. Are you divorced, or did I spend the last few days in Paris sleeping with a married man?”

  “I’m not married,” he said. “And whatever game Vivian is trying to play, we’re not going to let her win. Why would she call you and what’s her game?”

  “Listen to her message,” Alicia said as she replayed the message and pressed the speaker button.

  Richmond had never wanted to choke someone as much as he wanted to choke the breath out of Vivian as he listened to the message that she’d left Alicia. That bitch never wanted to be known as my wife when we were married, but now she’s playing the matrimony card?

  “We’re not married, and I have a framed divorce decree to prove it. Now, I don’t know what kind of game she’s playing, or if she’s trying to just get money out of me to make her disappear, but I’m not going to allow her to intrude on my future when she wanted nothing but to be a footnote in my past.”

  “So, what’s changed? Why would she be in Atlanta looking for you all of a sudden?”

  Richmond shrugged. “Because now that we’re divorced and I’m not the Crawford she thought I was, New York is a cruel place.”

  “Yeah, but she’s in Atlanta trying to be messy. I don’t have time for the drama.”

  Richmond folded his arms across his chest and shook his head. “There’s not going to be any drama because Vivian knows our marriage and our business is done.” He pulled his cell phone out and Alicia started to ask him why he was going to call her.

  “Solomon,” Richmond said. “I got an issue.”

  Alicia rose to her feet and headed out of her office. She needed a minute to wrap her mind around all of this. She was about to walk out of the office when the door opened and a woman walked in.

  “Is Richmond Crawford here?”

  “Who are you?” Alicia asked as she looked at the woman. Medium height, caramel complexion and a killer weave. She had a shape that would stop traffic, but Alicia couldn’t tell if it was the blessing of genes or a surgeon’s scalpel that gave her those dangerous curves.

  “It doesn’t matter who I am, I’m not here to see you,” she snapped. “Unless you’re his secretary and he has you screening his visitors.”

  Alicia rolled her eyes, sure she was talking to Richmond’s ex. It occurred to her that in the entire time Kandace and Solomon had been married, she’d never met Vivian Crawford. And if this raging bitch was Vivian, Alicia was glad not to have met her.

  “Are you the same Vivian Crawford who was looking for me a few days ago?” Alicia asked.

  “Oh, you’re Alicia. Enjoying life with my husband?” She smiled coldly and Alicia wanted to wrap her hand around her throat and toss her across the room as if she were a wrestler. But Alicia remained calm. Her issue wasn’t with Vivian. She needed to know from Richmond if his marriage was officially over.

  * * *

  “You should’ve put your foot down with that bitch a long time ago. How did she find you?” Solomon asked.

  “Fool, I’m not in the witness protection program and I was on CNN. This makes no sense as to why she’d want to come down here and start shit.”

  “So, you went to Paris and fell in love with Alicia? Nah, but you were probably in love with her before you left because no one takes a woman on a fake business trip for no reason.”

 
; “There was some work done, and you’re jumping the gun with this love talk.”

  “Whatever. I know how these things turn out.” Solomon laughed. “But if you want to live in a state of denial, knock yourself out.”

  “I’m not in denial. Maybe I should just say, yet. Being with Alicia makes me feel like I’ve found the one.”

  “Is that so? And you’re sure about this because she deserves all of you. Not some rebound, not a man who doesn’t know what he wants.”

  “I wouldn’t do that to Alicia, and if I had any doubts about where I want to see this thing go, I wouldn’t have taken her to Paris.”

  “I knew it. Don’t even try to put the cost of that trip into the Atlanta project.”

  “Listen, this is about more than money.”

  Solomon laughed. “I know. But I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t give you shit about this,” he said. “And I hope you’re ready to be peppered by my wife with a lot of questions about your intentions with her friend because . . .”

  Richmond shushed his brother when he heard raised voices outside in the lobby. “Something’s going on out here, let me call you back.” After hanging up the phone, he rushed out of the office and stood between Alicia and Vivian. “What in the hell is going on? Vivian, why are you here?”

  “Not happy to see me, darling?” Vivian asked as she crossed over to him.

  Richmond stepped back from her and folded his arms across his chest. “What do you want?”

  “We need to talk, and your little guard dog here,” she said, nodding toward Alicia, “thinks that she can stop that.”

  “Who do you think you’re talking to?” Alicia barked.

  “Touchy. I thought I was talking to an employee. Please don’t tell me he has you believing that you’re more than that.”

  Vivian laughed and Alicia clenched her teeth. She said a silent prayer that she wouldn’t punch this woman in the face. Then she wondered if her anger was being focused on the wrong person. Richmond was acting pretty relaxed right now.