by Parker, Ali
My head bobbed up and down. “Yes.”
“When do you leave?”
“Saturday,” I answered, dreading the day for more than one reason.
“I guess that leaves tomorrow night. Are you available?”
I grinned. “Yes, absolutely.”
He rose to his feet and came around the table, helping me out of the chair. “Then I will pick you up tomorrow night.”
“Can you give me a hint about wardrobe?” I asked nervously.
“Wear whatever you’re comfortable in,” he replied, which told me nothing.
He took my hand and guided me around the tables and out front to where Richie, Julia, and Khloe were all laughing and talking at the edge of the restaurant.
“Thanks again,” I said, feeling nervous.
“I want to kiss you right now,” he said, his voice low, his eyes on my mouth. “I won’t because I know those three hooligans will make it weird, but just know, I really want to kiss you.”
“I want to kiss you, too,” I whispered.
It was like a switch was flipped. He wrapped one arm around my waist and pulled me close, dropping his mouth to mine and taking the kiss he’d been wanting. I sank into it, greedily accepting it and trying to take so much more. It was the hoots and catcalls in the background that stopped me from climbing the man.
He leaned his forehead against mine. “They are so not invited the next time.”
I giggled, sighing with a little disappointment. “I agree. Animals.”
We shared another quick kiss before I turned to face our hecklers. They were all grinning. I glared at Julia and Khloe, promising to scold them when we got in the car.
“You guys are going with Bentley back to the hotel,” he said, walking with his hand on my back toward the waiting car. “I have another ride for Richie and myself.”
“Thank you for everything, and I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said before getting into the car.
Julia and Khloe gave me shit the whole way back to the hotel. Thankfully, they kept it somewhat restrained. Bentley was Trent’s friend, and I didn’t want them saying too much.
As soon as we were back in the suite, it was open season.
Chapter 19
Trent
I had been like a little kid waiting for Christmas morning all damn day. I was anxious for my night alone with Sade—truly alone. No parties, no friends, no public. Just me and her. I hated that it was our last night together. I kept pushing the thought from my mind, focusing on the evening ahead and trying to remind myself to be positive and not focused on the negative.
I left work early and was on my way home. I could feel energy buzzing through me. My feet were tapping the floorboard in the backseat of the car, anxious to get home, shower, change, and check on the preparations for our romantic dinner in.
After giving the matter some thought last night, I had decided to go all out and order in. I wanted her all to myself. I wanted to be able to kiss her whenever I felt like it without worrying about who was watching and what would be gossiped about the following day.
“You okay back there?” Bentley asked, looking in the rearview mirror.
I grinned and nodded. “I am. Just a little anxious.”
“She’s a nice girl,” he said, offering his approval. “I like her.”
“Thank you. She’s different, right?”
He nodded. “She is that. Humble. I like a humble woman.”
“Me too,” I answered.
He dropped me off at home before heading back to the hotel to be ready to pick up Sade to bring her to me. I took a quick shower and changed into a fresh pair of dark slacks and a pale-blue shirt. I rolled up the sleeves as I walked out of my bedroom.
“Mira?” I called out.
“Out here,” she replied.
I headed for the patio and smiled when I saw the table set with candlesticks and fresh flowers. It was perfect and rivaled the table setting of any fancy restaurant.
I grinned, walking toward the table and noticing every detail. “This is perfect.”
“I know,” she said.
“Thank you for doing this,” I told her. “She’s going to love it.”
“You’re welcome. It isn’t often you entertain a woman. I figured I would help you out.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “I need all the help I can get.”
“Dinner was delivered about twenty minutes ago. It’s in the oven on the warm setting. The wine is on the counter. You’re all set. All you need to do is be your charming self.” She smiled fondly.
“I can do that. I hope.”
“I would suggest you put Leia away,” she warned, looking at Leia who had made herself at home on one of the patio lounge chairs.
“I’ll play catch with her for a bit and then put her to bed in her room.”
“Good thinking. No woman wants dog drool on their clothes. Or hands. Or anywhere else.”
“Sade likes Leia,” I retorted.
“I’m sure she does, but that doesn’t mean Leia gets to be a part of whatever it is you’re doing here,” she said, giving me that look that said she knew what she was talking about. “Trust me on this one.”
“I do. I will. Leia will be a good girl, huh, Leia?”
The dog jumped off the chair and raced toward me, eagerly rubbing her body against me and begging for attention.
“Have a nice night. I’m going to go now.” Mira left me and Leia alone.
“Let’s go get your ball,” I said to the dog.
She barked once and took off, running for the basket of toys I kept on the patio for her. She reached in with her mouth, pulled out her ball, and headed down toward the beach. She did drool a lot and could be a little on the bouncy side, but she was smart as a whip.
I tossed the ball several times, letting her run as much of her natural energy out as possible. We played on the beach for close to an hour before I got the text from Bentley, letting me know he was on his way.
“Come on, girl, it’s time for bed,” I ordered.
Leia bounced along on the way back to the house. I made sure she had plenty of food and water and tucked her in for the night. Then, it was all about waiting and pacing. I heard the doorbell and felt like Leia in that moment, bounding toward the door, anxious to see my person.
“Hi,” I said, trying to sound cool but having a feeling I failed miserably.
“Hi,” she answered.
I took a minute to drink in the sight of her in a pretty dark purple dress with a scoop neck and no sleeves. It was pretty and flirty and perfect, just like the woman wearing it. “Come in.”
“Are we dining in?” she asked with confusion.
“Yes,” I answered, taking her hand and leading her out to the patio with the flameless candles flickering on the table, creating a perfectly romantic dining experience.
“Wow, this is beautiful,” she exclaimed. “You cooked?”
I would have loved to tell her I had, but I wasn’t going to lie. “No, I ordered in.”
She burst into laughter. “Thank god.”
I frowned, looking at her. “Were you afraid of my cooking?”
“No, I was afraid you were going to add cooking to your long list of qualities,” she said with a giggle. “A man can only be so good.”
I laughed, nodding. “You can definitely cross cooking off the list. I’m basic at best. I can make a mean sandwich, but the actual cooking or baking is just asking for trouble.”
“Well thank god you’re rich or you would be living on sandwiches the rest of your days,” she teased.
“That was exactly my thought. I’ve thought about taking cooking lessons, but I’m a firm believer you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I’ll stick with my sandwiches and freezer meals.”
“What did you order?” she asked, following me into the kitchen.
“Italian. I hope that’s okay?”
“I love pasta. I am not one of those girls who denies herself the sheer joy of pasta because
it’s a carb. I like carbs.”
“Good. I do as well. I ordered a lasagna that I’ve had before, and it’s great. I’ll pour us some wine. Do you want to eat now, or would you prefer to wait?” I hoped for the first.
“I’m good to eat now,” she said with a shrug.
“Great. Have a seat at the table, and I’ll bring it out.”
“No, I can help,” she insisted.
“I got it. You’re my guest.”
She paused at the glass doors and turned to look at me. “Where’s Leia?”
“In bed for the night,” I answered. “I wanted us to have a chance to be alone—really alone. Leia can be a little invasive.”
She smiled. “I don’t mind her. I truly do like her.”
“I know you do, and I’m glad for that, but tonight is about me and you,” I told her, letting her see the heat in my eyes.
“Can I pour the wine?” she asked softly.
“Please.”
She came back to the kitchen, grabbed the wine, and carried it outside. I watched through the window, the gentle breeze blowing her hair as she poured. It was our last night together. I planned on soaking up every moment.
I grabbed the meal out of the oven and carried everything to the table. Sade was sitting in one of the chairs, a serene look on her face as she stared out at the setting sun over the water.
“This is beautiful. Just amazing. I love this view.” She sighed.
“It is nice,” I told her. “This is why I stay home so often. I don’t see the need to go out and party when I can sit right here, drinking whatever I want and enjoying the peace and quiet with my girl.”
“Your girl?” she asked, one eyebrow arched.
“Leia,” I assured her.
She laughed. “Oh, of course.”
She helped herself to the meal. We both ate and chatted, enjoying the peaceful evening. Once we were through, I insisted she leave everything where it was when she started to clean up.
“Let’s go for a walk,” I suggested.
“I’d like that.”
Darkness had fallen. The lights lining the dock guided us as we made our way down to the beach.
“Want to take off your sandals?” I asked her.
“Yes, I want to feel the sand between my toes,” she said with a laugh.
We both put our shoes on the end of the dock. I rolled up my pants to just below my knees and set out for the water’s edge. We held hands, walking with our feet in the water. We found ourselves moving back to the dock. I walked with her out to the end.
“Let’s sit,” I said, sitting on the edge and dangling my feet in the water. It was something I often did when I was alone. Leia would usually dive off the end and splash me before coming up and lying beside me while I was lost in thought.
“I’m going to miss it here,” she murmured.
“I’m going to miss you being here.”
She leaned her head against my shoulder. I couldn’t remember a time when I had felt like everything was right. Like I was in the right place at the right time and I felt completely at peace. Her company calmed me. It soothed a part of my soul I didn’t realize was uneasy.
Of course, being with her also stirred up some other feelings. Sex was on my mind. Not in the kind of way that was typical of a one-night kind of thing. I wanted to be with her. I wanted to share our bodies with one another.
I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and tugged her in close. “Stay?” I asked in a quiet voice.
I could feel her hesitation. “Okay,” she answered.
It wasn’t exactly the excited yes I was hoping for, but I would take it. I wasn’t going to push her into anything. Instead of dragging her back up to the house and taking her directly to bed, I steeled my libido and opted to sit and watch the water for a little longer.
“I love summer,” I commented.
“I do too. Do you ever get out to LA or anywhere on the west coast?”
I shrugged. “I’ve been a few times. It’s very crowded.”
She laughed. “Yes, it is, but sometimes, you can walk the beach and find yourself relatively alone.”
“Is that safe?” I asked with concern.
“Probably not. I don’t do it often, but it is nice. It’s a lot like this. Just you and the water and the moon. It really makes you feel at peace. The stress just melts away. I hate the noise of our world sometimes. I used to imagine running away and living like a hermit far away from everything. It always seems like there is noise somewhere. I think our world would be a happier place and we’d have a lot less angry people if there was more quiet.”
I tended to agree. “You’re right. Noise is a stress factor. People don’t realize it until they get a chance to experience stillness. Our world is constantly moving and humming and buzzing, and it can be all consuming. I think it’s yet another reason I bought this massive house. I have my own world. I don’t have to worry about neighbors being too close because the house is so damn big.” I laughed.
“Good thinking. That’s one way to buy yourself a little peace and quiet. I’m going home and living in a condo. I will not be getting any real peace for a while.”
The reminder of her leaving spurred me into action. I didn’t want to waste another minute. “I’m ready to go in. Are you?”
She looked at me and smiled. “Yes.”
I got up, helped her to her feet, and walked to the end of the dock to grab our shoes. She was quiet the whole time.
I hoped nothing was wrong.
Chapter 20
Sade
I had to tell him. It wasn’t a secret I could keep if I was going to do this with him.
My stomach was twisting and turning with nervousness while the rest of my body was humming with excitement at the very idea of what was to come. I did want him. I had made up my mind I was ready to take this next step with him, but I couldn’t do it and not tell him the situation. I wasn’t sure if he would know, but I had a feeling he’d figure it out.
We walked into the house, and he started to move toward a hallway I assumed would lead to his bedroom. It was now or never. I knew once things got started, there was no turning back. I didn’t want him to think I was duping him.
I took a deep breath and pulled his hand, telling him to stop. He turned to look at me, concern and what I thought was disappointment on his face.
“Sade?”
“I need to tell you something,” I started.
“What is it?” he asked, dropping my hand.
I bit my bottom lip, suddenly very embarrassed. “I’ve never done this before.”
He nodded with understanding. “Were you in a long-term relationship before?”
“No. Never.”
He looked a little confused. “Sade, I won’t pressure you to do anything.”
“I want do it,” I blurted out.
He grinned. “All right then.”
“No, you don’t understand,” I groaned, realizing I was going to have to say the words. “I’ve never done this before.”
He looked at me for several very long seconds. “Sex?”
I slowly nodded. “Yes. I mean no. I have never had sex before.”
I watched as he digested the information. I was expecting him to point at the door and order me out. He was a man that had experience and didn’t want to waste time with a newbie that would probably suck at the whole thing. I wasn’t athletic or coordinated, and I kind of felt like those were two traits that would be desirable in a sexual partner.
Just when I was about to turn and walk away, he spoke. “And you want to now?”
“I do,” I whispered.
Before I could say or think anything, he reached for me. His hands held my face as his lips pressed against mine. There was something slightly ferocious about the way his mouth plundered mine. I loved it. I gave as good as I got, giving it my all, wanting him to know I wasn’t afraid to take this very big step.
He picked me up—actually lifted me up—and began walking down
the wide hall. I felt jittery and anxious and beyond thrilled that it was going to be him. I trusted him to make the experience special, and I couldn’t wait to know what it was like to be with a man.
He gently placed me on the bed, staring down at me like I were the best-tasting cake on the planet. I thought I saw him actually lick his lips. “I want to see you,” he said in low growl.
I looked down at myself and had a brief moment of confusion until I realized what he was saying. I wanted to say no and demand he turn off the lights.
He must have sensed my apprehension. He moved back to the doorway and hit the lights before moving to the bedside and turning on a soft lamp. I immediately relaxed.
I got back to my feet and turned my back to him, letting him unzip the dress. It fell in a pool of fabric to the floor. I stepped out of it, turning to face him in the new bra and panties Khloe and Julia had helped me pick out with this very moment in mind.
“You’re beautiful,” he rasped. His hand trailed over my breasts before reaching out with the other and cupping them. He groaned low in his throat before stepping forward and dropping his mouth to one, then the other.
“I want to see you,” I told him, desperate to see all of him.
He nibbled on my nipple through the lace bra before stepping back. He yanked his shirt open and shed his pants with record speed. He stood before me wearing nothing but a pair of sexy dark boxer briefs. The man was built. I reached out and ran my fingers over his chest, moving down to his flat stomach and relishing in the feel of his hard body.
He stepped forward, crowding me until his mouth was on mine once again. His tongue raked over mine as his hands slid down my body. He rubbed and teased at my flesh until he was pushing me back onto the bed. With a skill I had not thought possible, he had unhooked my bra and was pulling it away from me as he laid me on the bed.
His mouth dove between my breasts. His hands massaged and rubbed over my nipples as his mouth suckled one, then the other, as if he were a man feasting for the first time in weeks. He was ravenous. His mouth moved to one of my pebbled nipples and sucked it in his mouth. Heat pooled between my legs as he suckled me.