A Walk in the Park

by Brenda Jackson

  “Good night, Precious.”

  “Wait!”

  “Yes?”

  She thought of what she wanted to say, but decided there was no way she could voice it. He’d said he would call back, and she had to believe that he would. “Nothing. Good night, Ren. I hope you enjoyed our conversation.” She gave him the closing statement she gave all her callers.

  “What I enjoyed, baby, was touching you and licking all over your breasts and belly. Trust me. Your mango scent will be with me for a while. Good night.”

  “Good night.”

  The call was disconnected, and Raquel drew in a deep breath and shifted in bed. Too weak to move just yet, she stared up at the ceiling wondering just what she had gotten herself into.

  * * *

  QUEST STEPPED INTO the shower. A cold one. His sex talk with Raquel had gotten out of hand, affected him right below the gut in every possible way. His groin was still throbbing, needing the release she’d gotten.

  And the thought that she’d actually come. He had heard her on the phone, and there was no way he would believe it had been an act. It had been too perfect, the timing just right, her moans and groans on cue and believable. But then, he should know, because the sounds had aroused him to the point where he’d had to hold himself in check. This cold shower was a damn lousy way to end the evening.

  No wonder men called her on the hot wire. She had the sexiest phone voice and had gone along with everything he’d asked. And like he’d told her, he would be calling her back.

  But what if she’d only been acting? Hell, then she had done a damn good job of it. In his bedroom, he had actually gotten into the thick of things to the extent that he was convinced his nostrils were still filled with the sweet scent of warm mango.

  And when he had told her he had been fingering her, he had honestly imagined doing just that to the point he had sucked his fingers when the call had ended. Her taste, the one he imagined, was simply delicious—mouthwateringly good.

  A few moments later he got out of the shower and dried off. In his subconscious mind, he could swear the scent of mango was in his room, still lodged in his nostrils. Yes, he would be calling her again, but not too soon. For now, he wanted both of them to savor the memory of tonight.

  * * *

  IT HAD BEEN A WEEK. He hadn’t called back and a part of Raquel wondered if he would. Maybe not calling was a good thing. But if she really thought that, then why had she been in a bad mood for the past few days?

  “Okay, Raquel, what’s wrong? Your concentration hasn’t been the best lately.”

  She was pulled back into her phone conversation with Whitney. They had been discussing the need to hire more women—ten at least—to handle the increase in phone calls. She had informed Whitney that in a few months she would need to come off the call list for a while. She needed to put in more study time with her classes. Plus the responsibility of taking care of Smookie and her pups would be a job in itself.

  Thinking of Smookie’s pregnancy made her think of Quest. Her vet had called to say they’d received Bandit’s medical history and were pleased with the care Quest had given his dog.

  And later that day, Quest himself had called to check on Smookie. He had a sexy phone voice, and there had been something about his voice that reminded her so much of Ren. But then she knew why she thought there was a similarity. That night during her phone call with Ren, when she’d closed her eyes it might have been Ren’s voice, but it was Quest she’d fantasized was the one touching her while saying all those naughty things to her.

  “Raquel!”

  “What?”

  “Okay, that does it. Time out. What is going on? Is all that studying getting the best of you? Is something wrong with Smookie? Your parents? What? You need to get laid?”

  Raquel couldn’t help but laugh, because with the latter her best friend had hit the nail right on the head. Oh yes, she needed to get laid and all because of Ren. She had talked to the man once, and her hormones seemed to ooze all over the place whenever she remembered that episode.

  “It’s probably your fault,” she told Whitney.

  “My fault?”

  “Yes. Who is Renaldo and how did he get special privileges to call the hot wire?”

  “Renaldo?”

  “Yes, but he prefers to be called Ren. He called my direct number. He has a real sexy voice and, needless to say, he reminded me of just how long it’s been since I slept with a man.”

  “He sounded that good?”

  “It wasn’t just the sound of his voice, it was what he said. He called once but hasn’t called back, although he said he would.”

  “And he probably will, but you know I have no way of checking on anything, especially the identity of the clients who call the hot wire, and most will give fictitious names to protect their privacy. All we can track is the amount of time they spend on the call to make sure we’re getting paid.”

  “Well, he certainly made my night. I hope he calls back.”

  “Umm, I’ve never heard you this eager to hear from a caller before.”

  “I know, and in a way it’s kind of scary. It was as if he was really here with me and we were doing everything he said on the phone.”

  “Wow! Maybe he’ll call tonight.”

  “Maybe.”

  Later that evening, after she had taken three calls on the hot wire, Raquel was about to opt out of taking another when, around ten-thirty, she decided to take just one more.

  “Hello, this is Precious.”

  “Precious, this is Ren. I’ve missed you.”

  Sensations swirled in the pit of her stomach, and the area between her legs clenched in response to the sound of his voice. “And I’ve missed you, too, Ren,” she said, knowing she shouldn’t admit such a thing. He probably didn’t believe her anyway and only assumed she was playacting.

  “Nice to be missed and I’m going to make up for it, because tonight I plan to make a meal out of you, baby. In other words, I plan on eating you alive.”

  * * *

  DAMN, HE HAD MISSED talking to her, Quest thought, leaning back in the recliner in his family room. All the lights were off, except for a lamp burning in a small corner. The television was on, but the sound was muted. Instead, Usher’s “Lay You Down” was playing low on his stereo system, and the sound was vibrating through the house.

  The mood was set, and already his groin was throbbing in anticipation of their talk. He had tried not to think about her over the past week, but had done so anyway. And doing so had filled him with a degree of animal lust he hadn’t been aware he possessed.

  More than once he’d thought of coming clean, calling her and revealing his true identity. But then he would talk himself out of it. He was a paying customer like any of the other callers she spoke to. So didn’t he deserve to enjoy himself? And hadn’t he made sure she enjoyed herself as well?

  His imagination had run wild that night. He’d actually imagined touching her hardened nipples, feeling his fingers working inside her, stroking her clit. It had been throbbing as he gave it the attention it deserved, then held her when she climaxed. And when it was over, he’d tasted her on his fingers.

  And all in his imagination.

  “Ren?”

  Her saying his name brought his mind back to the present. “Yes?”

  “What do you want tonight?”

  Her question was asked in a ragged breath, and he wanted to think she’d looked forward to this call as much as he had. “I told you, baby. I plan to eat you alive, lick you all over and swallow you whole.”

  She didn’t say anything, but he felt it, all the way across the mobile network. An electrical charge that connected them with smoldering intensity. It couldn’t be helped. He didn’t know her excuse, but for him there wasn’t one. He found her attractive and desirable. Extremely so. From the first time he saw her.

  “Ren, are you still there?”

  “Yes, I’m here. And I want you to strip. Take if all off and talk
to me while doing so.”

  He could hear the rustling of her clothing. “Okay,” she said. “I’m shimmying out of my skirt and kicking it out of the way.”

  In his mind he could imagine her doing that, and the thought had his mind bristling with heated lust. “What are you doing now?”

  “Removing my panties.”

  His groin stirred and his erection throbbed. “I like that color on you,” he said, knowing he hadn’t a clue what color they were but hoping she would tell him.

  “Thanks, I prefer black to colors. Always have.”

  So she was wearing black panties. He bet they looked sexy on her brown flesh.

  “Now I’m taking off my shirt, pulling it over my head. Oops, my hair just got caught.” A few seconds later, she said, “There, I got it now. It’s all off. I’m naked.”

  His erection continued to throb mercilessly. “What about your bra?”

  “I wasn’t wearing one.”

  He drew in a shaky breath, closing his eyes and imagining her standing in the middle of her bedroom with her clothes scattered around her naked body. He could picture that body—long neck, beautiful shoulders, uplifted breasts, flat tummy, shapely hips, firm ass and a pair of gorgeous legs.

  “Okay, what’s next?”

  He kept his eyes closed when he said, “Cut off the lights and go to the bed. I’m joining you.”

  He swore he could hear the sound of her feet moving across the floor, and his stomach tightened in desire and an intense need filled him to capacity. He knew the moment she had gotten into bed by the sound of her body rustling the sheets.

  After a few moments, she asked in a whisper, “Where are you?”

  And he responded, “I’m here, not far. Close your eyes and listen…and enjoy.”

  He began speaking, talking softly and in a low voice, not even trying to hide the urgency, need and hunger in his tone. First he stroked her cheeks tenderly, needing to reacquaint himself with her soft skin, before moving his hands upward to run his fingers through the silky strands of her hair. It carried the scent of cherry vanilla to his nostrils.

  And then he straddled her body, lowered his mouth to her neck. He placed a passion mark there before licking his way down to her breasts. He didn’t need the lights on to see they were full and ripe. They felt that way underneath his mouth. His hands palmed the twin globes, loving the feel of them, before drawing a nipple toward his mouth to lick, suck and nibble at the hardened tip. He heard her moans while he told her what he was doing and how he was doing it.

  He felt her move under his mouth, in pleasure and in torture. He could imagine her gripping the bedcovers, but he couldn’t stop devouring her breasts like a madman.

  At that moment he had to do something he hadn’t done yet, which was to kiss her…even if it was only in his mind. He leaned forward and went straight for her mouth, sliding his tongue between parted lips. And in his mind, he kissed her the way he’d been dying to do for days, the way he’d done in his dreams. He felt it all the way to his groin, where it sent electrical shocks up and down his body.

  And when she took hold of his tongue and began mating with it the same way he was mating with hers, he let out a guttural groan. He broke off the kiss and drew in a deep breath and growled out his need. It was then that he lifted her hips and lowered his head between her legs, letting his tongue slide between the slit of her womanly folds.

  She cried out when he found her clit and began lapping it with a hunger he’d never felt before. Desire slammed into him, almost knocking him out his chair. “Yes, baby, feel what I’m doing to you, what my tongue is doing to you. You taste good and I have every intention of eating you alive as I told you I would.”

  And then his mind went to work, eating away at her like a madman, like a man who needed her taste then, there and now. “Wrap your legs over my shoulders.”

  He could actually feel her doing so, her scent continuing to take him over as he sucked the swollen clit between his teeth, holding it hostage while his tongue licked it like crazy. He felt his erection press hard against his jeans and moaned at the torture.

  And when she began to tremble the moment he did, and her hips quivered beneath his mouth, he knew what was happening to the both of them as his tongue continued to explore her with deep, sensual strokes.

  He breathed out a deep breath when the last eruption passed through him, and was glad he had thought to wear a condom during this phone call. Otherwise he would have exploded in his jeans. The sensations he felt had been spectacular. And they had shared the climax together during a phone conversation over the hot wire.

  “You okay?” he asked when his breathing was back to normal.

  “Yes. What about you?” she asked in a choppy voice.

  He chuckled softly, satisfied. “Yeah, I’m okay, but it has me wanting more. Call me a greedy ass, but I can’t help it. The next time I’ll want more.”

  “More?”

  “Yes, more.”

  There, he’d said it but wasn’t sure exactly how he could get it. Maybe he ought to be concerned as to whether or not sharing phone sex with her would be enough.

  For some reason, he had a feeling that it wouldn’t.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “RAQUEL, you got a minute?”

  “Sure, Whit. What’s up?”

  “We’ve been hacked.”

  Raquel raised a brow. “Hacked?”

  “Someone has your direct hot wire number and is calling you without coming through the proper channels.”

  A frown settled on Raquel’s face. “But how, and who is it?”

  “I’m suspecting it’s that guy named Renaldo. Is he still calling you?”

  “Yes.”

  “When was the last time?”

  That was easy enough for her to remember, since she still had dreams about that particular call. “Four days ago.”

  “Aha! He’s our man. Do you have any idea who he might be?”

  “No, I assumed he was a client.” She nervously began nibbling on her bottom lip. “Should we call in security?”

  “Umm, not yet, because we’ve also received an anonymous cashier’s check in the mail with no return address that equals the amount of time for the calls. So although he didn’t come through proper channels, he’s honest enough to pay for the calls.”

  “How did he get my phone number?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Raquel’s forehead furrowed. “That doesn’t make sense. My number isn’t listed anyplace. The only people who know it are us and the phone company.”

  “True. The only thing I can figure is that someone has managed to hack into our system for the hot wire.”

  “Then why didn’t we go through the phone company and trace his phone number?”

  “Because evidently he wants to keep his identity hidden. I talked to our attorney and she said we could find out his identity, but in the end we would spend more money trying to find out who he is than what he paid for the calls. She feels we should count our blessings that he’s being honest and not worry about it.”

  Not worry about it?

  “Unless he becomes a nuisance. Has he?” Whitney asked.

  Raquel licked her lips. No, he hadn’t been a nuisance, unless you called him revving up her hormones a nuisance. Ren had a way with words, and it was amazing how her body would react to them. The man could get her fired up in an instant, when it should be the other way around. It was as if he was servicing her instead of her servicing him.

  “Well, has he been a nuisance?”

  Raquel blinked, realizing Whitney was waiting for her answer. “No. And like I told you, I enjoy his calls.”

  “Umm, I wonder why.”

  She knew her best friend was teasing her, since she’d told her before how much Ren’s call turned her on. “You know why, and if that’s all you want to know, I need to go out for a few errands.”

  “You go do your errands. I think I’ll check out a few things.”

  “A fe
w things like what?”

  “Oh, nothing important. I’ll chat with you later.”

  Raquel ended the call thinking Whitney had too much free time on her hands.

  * * *

  “SORRY IF MY happiness is making you ill, Quest,” Quincy said, smiling to his twin as he eased into the chair across from him.

  Quest rolled his eyes. His brother had just returned from his honeymoon and dropped by his place to aggravate him. “It’s not making me ill. I’m just surprised you and Kandi have finally allowed each other space. I was beginning to think you were joined at the hip.”

  “Funny. Make your jokes now, but your day is coming.”

  “Hardly.”

  “And what’s this I hear about Bandit being an expectant father?” Quincy asked.

  Quest had figured the news would reach Quincy soon enough. He took a sip of his beer and then asked, “What of it?”

  “Well, if you’re giving the puppies away, Kandi and I want one.”

  Quest stared at his brother. He had to be kidding. If he recalled correctly, Quincy was the one who’d tried to talk him out of owning a dog, saying they weren’t anything but time and trouble. “You want to take on dog ownership?”

  Quincy took a swig of his beer and leaned back against the sofa. “Hell, if you can do it, then certainly I can. Whatever you can do, I can do better. And I definitely won’t make the mistake of hiring Tawny as a sitter. And you better believe I’ll get my dog fixed as soon as the vet recommends it can be done. It’s called being a responsible owner.”

  “Okay, I dropped the ball. Bite me.” He checked his watch. He hoped he’d timed it right to take Bandit out for a walk at the same time Raquel would be walking Smookie. He wondered why they never ran into each other at the doggy park and figured she liked walking Smookie midmornings and early evenings, whereas he preferred early morning and late afternoons. The puppy park tended to be less crowded during those times. However, he would make today an exception.