by Skye Turner
My eyes widen at her declaration. I smirk. “Yeah? How wet?”
The gleam in her eyes brightens and she grabs my hand and pulls me into the maze. Chuckling, I follow her. She seems to know exactly where she’s going, so I just hold on. We turn one more corner and she smirks at me before she ducks through a small, almost invisible gap in the hedges. She pulls against my hand and says from the other side, “Come on. Hurry.”
Why not?!
I push through and look around. We’re in a little clearing. There’s a small fountain and some wildflowers cover the lush grass. It’s beautiful. It’s small, only about twelve feet wide and almost a circle.
Turning, I take in the entire secret garden in the maze. As I come full circle, my gaze centers on Tifanie. She’s staring at me with a sexy smile as she drops the black dress to the ground. She’s in nothing but her light blue panties and bra. She’s already kicked off her shoes.
Her finger beckons to me and, as if I’m a puppet on a string, I cross the short distance to her. As I reach her, I huskily whisper, “What are you doing, Tifanie?”
She leans up and wraps her arms around my neck as she stands on her tiptoes to brush her lips against mine softly before whispering, “Exactly what I want to.”
Groaning, I grab her and cup her ass through her panties. She hops up and wraps her legs around my waist. Her mouth is once again on my ear. “Why don’t you see just how wet?”
She’s crazy. We’re in a secret garden in a maze at her family’s mansion and there are people who dislike me everywhere, yet, I can’t deny her. Setting her on her feet, I kneel and look up at her. The sun is behind her, so she’s got almost a halo around her head and her beauty astounds me.
This woman wants me. She’s offering herself to me. Her family hates me and she doesn’t care.
My hands trail up her thighs and stop at her hips. I take in the darkness of my skin against the olive skin of her hips. She doesn’t care. She accepts me for me. She’s fought for me. I realize the treasure that she is and it’s like a lightbulb goes off. She’s mine.
The satin of her panties almost floats down her legs and joins the dress at her feet. She reaches back and unhooks her bra. She’s completely nude before me in the glow of the sun. Grabbing her, I lean my head into her stomach and just hug her tightly.
Her hand touches my head and cradles it before turning my face up to look at her. She kneels down before me. Her husky whisper wakes me up. “You have far too many clothes on, Cruz.”
I do have too many clothes on. Her smaller hands help my large ones as we unbutton my shirt before slipping it off my shoulders and down my arms. Her mouth follows the trail of the shirt and stops at my waistband. Before I can unbuckle it, her hands have accomplished the task and she’s reaching into my slacks and encircling me. My head falls back and I moan.
Her hands are soft and warm against my steely hardness. She gently rubs the tip and my eyes snap open.
The undiluted pleasure on her face just from touching me is my undoing. Pulling back, I quickly remove my slacks. Within seconds, I’m just as naked as she is. Using my shirt as a blanket, I spread it out and lay her back against it. The sun is kissing her skin and it appears to be glowing. I can almost believe she’s a mythical creature.
Smiling at me she says, “Are you just going to look at me, Cruz?” Her hands trail over the curves of her body and I can’t look away. “I think you’re supposed to be checking something.” She slowly spreads her legs and I focus on the shimmering pink folds nestled there.
Swallowing, I look away from the slick treasure trove below and focus on her face. Her cheeks are pink and her eyes are dilated with intense passion. Reaching out, my hands trail up her calves and over her thighs before stopping at the juncture there. Watching her face, I slowly run my fingers through the wetness. She moans and her legs fall further apart.
I want to dive in, but I’m still worried about someone seeing us out here. We’re in the open.
As if she can read my mind, she closes her legs, trapping my hand. “No one knows this is here. It’s my secret place. No one is going to see us.” Her come-hither smile is my undoing.
I start to move my fingers and she opens her legs again. I’m fascinated with my dark fingers disappearing into her pink folds. She’s gripping me and pulling at me. Her head is thrown back and her neck is arched. She’s gorgeous.
Her moans are making me twitch and my cock is jerking in time to them.
She looks at me. “Lie back.”
She wants me to lie back? What?
Pulling away from me, she sits up. I feel the loss of her warmth immediately. Pointing to my shirt, she says again, “Lie back.”
I don’t argue. I lie back and she leans over me and tickles my abdomen with her hair. Her head is millimeters above my skin, so she’s not touching me, but her breath is an intimate caress. It’s strangely erotic and gives me goose bumps.
My eyes close as her hair whispers against my skin. She stops and my eyes flash open. My cock is jutting out proudly and she’s over it, just looking down. Her lips are moist from her tongue but her eyes rise to mine. As they meet, she leans down and takes me into her mouth. Watching myself become engulfed by her lips is quite possibly the single hottest thing I have ever seen. Still watching me, she starts to move. Her mouth is gliding over me and my hips automatically move in time with her suction.
My hands weave through her hair and guide her mouth at the speed I want. It’s too much. I’m going to blow.
Releasing her hair, I pull back and the suction makes a popping sound as she releases me from her mouth. She smiles as she straddles me. I’m so hard and she’s so wet, no guidance is needed. I slip inside of her with no assistance. We both groan as I settle home.
She starts to move and I help. Within seconds the sound of slapping flesh is echoing throughout the clearing. She’s moaning so loudly, I’m certain they can hear it at the house. I sit up and take her mouth to try to quiet her some as she rides me.
Our mouths and tongues are in perfect sync with our fucking and the combined sensations have both of us on the brink within minutes.
She bites my tongue as she shatters around me and her spasms send me over the edge as well. I roar into her mouth and she swallows it.
My body is jerking and convulsing and I shoot streams of semen into her. I wonder where it’s all coming from. Finally, I’m spent. She leans her forehead against mine and I open my eyes.
She stays in my lap while I soften inside of her and she takes my mouth in another sweet and gentle kiss. Her hands cradle my face. Mine mimic her stance and my hands are buried in her hair as we kiss and our heartbeats return to normal. Her breasts are against my chest.
Eventually, she leans back and takes a deep breath. I lean back on my hands and she smiles at me. “Wow, Cruz.”
She makes me smile. “Wow, yourself.”
She rakes her nails gently down my stomach and the muscles jump. She smirks. “You’re so fucking sexy. You make me crazy. You know that?”
I think about it for a second. I like that I make her crazy. The fact that I, Cruz Edwards, make this amazing woman lose her mind… that’s kind of a good feeling. It’s an unexpected feeling, but a damn good one.
This is too good to be true. Tifanie is too good to be true. Too good for me anyway. Shut up, Cruz. Just enjoy it. She cares about you. Stop looking for reasons to run.
For once, I want to defeat the urge to run… I want to stay. Right here. With Tifanie.
Chapter Eighteen
Tifanie
I’m speechless. Again. I have nothing in my brain, no thought of speech. Dear lord, Cruz is perfection. He’s freaking amazing and he deserves the platinum record for lovemaking.
Best. Sex. Ever. In. The. History. Of. The. World!
And mine! Finally, all mine! Hallelujah!
I just seduced Cruz in my secret garden. This was always my place. My special place. When things would get insane and my family would get to be
too much… I would come here. No one knows about it. Just me. I found it when I was six. I’ve never shared it with anyone before. It was always my secret place. My sacred space. Now, I’ve shared it with Cruz…
We’re still naked and I flop down next to him on the crushed flowers. I want to stay here forever… in my secret garden, but alas we can’t. There’s a party up at the house and my family is also there. Reluctantly, I sit up and search out my clothes. I can feel his gaze on me as I crawl across the crushed wildflowers to grab my undergarments. Standing, I turn and look at him as I slip into my panties. He just watches me with his hand shielding his eyes from the sun.
He looks content. He looks… happy.
“You’re too much, Tifanie.”
I smile. “No, I’m just enough.”
He smiles back as he stands and stretches. His skin is gleaming in the reflection of the sun. He’s so defined. His body is perfection, but then you add in that face and those eyes and I have no defense. I’m just a goner. Is there any wonder I’m completely in love with him?!
Stop that right now. If he had any idea on what you’re thinking, he’d be out of here faster than Usain Bolt!
Baby steps. All in good time, Tifanie!
He smirks at me as he slips his slacks back on. “What’s that look for? What’s going through that head of yours?”
Chuckling, I take in the picture of him with his slacks unbuttoned standing in front of me in my favorite place. Holding out my hands like a camera, I wink at him. “More than you want to know.”
Smiling, he slips his shirt back on and starts on the buttons. I just watch him, as that body I’m fascinated by, is covered back up. He stops and rolls the sleeves before he tucks the tail back in and buckles his belt. I’m so distracted by him I completely stop getting dressed as I watch him.
A voice suddenly approaches the clearing. Putting my finger over my lips, I stare at him to convey that he should be quiet.
He nods as they get closer. I slip my dress on and listen to see who it is. My sister’s voice comes through loud and clear. It sounds as if she’s on the phone. I don’t hear anyone else. “I don’t know what Tifanie was thinking bringing him here. She’s always snubbing her nose at us. I’m so embarrassed. Why can’t she ever think of anyone but herself?
“That… man… He’s black! Why would she do that? She can’t really be interested in him!”
How dare she?! How dare she say that! Stupid bitch! I’m furious and I want nothing more than to storm out of here and light into her.
Cruz reads my face and shakes his head to stop me. He shrugs and smiles at me. Wait, is he ok?! He’s not pissed that she just said that?!
I look at him questioningly. He smiles and crosses over to me as AnnaBeth’s voice slowly gets farther away. She’s still close, but no longer right on top of us. Taking me in his arms, he leans down and kisses me softly. I look at him in wonder. I whisper, “What was that?”
He smiles and brushes his mouth against mine again before whispering back, “Just kissing my amazing girlfriend.”
My heart seems to lighten and I’m surprised I don’t float off the ground. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pull his head back down to me and kiss him with all of the pent up emotions I’m feeling. I put all of the love in my heart into my kiss and tell him without words just what he means to me.
We only break apart as we hear more footsteps on the path. Both of us listen. These are fast and seem angry.
A voice cuts off AnnaBeth’s conversation. “What the hell are you doing, AnnaBeth?!”
She shrieks and something falls to the path. “Jesus! What the hell? What am I doing?! What the hell are you doing? Are you following me?!”
Looking at Cruz, my shock must be comical on my face. That’s Ty!
We hear a slight struggle and then a curse. “Yes, I am. I cannot believe you just allowed that douche canoe to say those things about Cruz! You’re such a piece of work, AnnaBeth Bellaforte!”
Her enraged voice spits out, “I’m a piece of work?! Me?! I’m not the one making a spectacle of myself! I’m not the one parading my lover around father’s constituents just to embarrass my family!”
“No, you would never do anything to embarrass the family, now would you?! You’re so worried about what daddy thinks that you don’t give a damn about anyone else. The perfect princess!”
Her painful gasp shakes me to my core. What the hell?!
“Go to hell, Ty! You don’t know anything! You go to hell!” Her voice cracks before her footsteps recede rapidly.
The hedges rattle as if someone hit them and Ty mutters, “I’m already there, princess! I’m already there.” before he stomps farther down the path as well.
My sister and Ty?! What the shit did we just hear?!
My eyes are shocked as I glance at Cruz. I whisper, “That was my sister… and… Ty!”
He looks at me wryly. “Yeah, I gathered that too.”
“What the fuck?!”
He grimaces. “I have no idea, Tif. I don’t know.” Taking my hand, he squeezes my fingers. “We should get back to the party.”
I nod. My sister and Ty… The fuck!?
We head to the party and for the next few hours, we mingle and eat and drink. I keep an eye out for AnnaBeth and Ty, but both keep their distance. AnnaBeth stays at Stanton’s side and Ty stays near Grandma Clarabelle putting away a good amount of liquor.
We sing Happy Birthday and a giant cake is brought out and consumed. Grandma Clarabelle talks to Cruz and laughs a lot. She seems to like him.
The party wraps up as it starts to get dark and my parents head inside to change clothes for some fundraiser they are attending. AnnaBeth disappears with Stanton and eventually it’s just Grandma Clarabelle, myself, and Cruz. Ty is passed out on the sofa in the den. He drank a lot of alcohol.
After checking his phone, Cruz excuses himself to make a phone call and it’s just Grandma Clarabelle and me in the parlor. Grandma orders tea and I ask for a coffee and the housekeeper heads off to fix it. We sit in comfortable silence for a bit.
Grandma breaks the silence. “So, dear. You’re in love.”
My gaze swings to her and I laugh at the expression on her face. I’m not going to lie to her. Glancing at the door to make certain Cruz is not there, I nod. “I am.”
She chuckles as she sees my glance. “You don’t want him to know. He’s got some things with him. Some secrets.”
I shrug. “He has some stuff, yes. But, no secrets. I know about everything.”
She nods and leans her head back against the velvet chair. “He’s a beautiful man with a wonderful demeanor. He’s good for you, belle fleur.” The housekeeper quietly delivers our tray of refreshments and excuses herself from the room once we thank her.
I smile as I stir creamer into my coffee. The color reminds me of Cruz’s skin. “He is beautiful. But it’s more than that. He’s just as beautiful on the inside as the outside.” I sigh. “And good Lord, is that man beautiful!”
Grandma Clarabelle chuckles. “Yes, he certainly is.” She looks at me and I notice the light in her eyes. “He did well today. He was scared, but he did well. This family is a lot to deal with. The stigma associated with him and his parentage is an old one. My stuck up son and his wife, your parents, are not going to approve of you being with a creole, a mulatto.” She reaches over and covers my hand with her wrinkled one. “But then again, you’re my grand-daughter. You are very much like me and you don’t care what they think. You shouldn’t.”
I smile at her. She’s right. I know people will disapprove of me being with Cruz, but the fact of the matter is that I don’t care what others think. I care what I think. “I know and you’re right. I don’t care what anyone thinks. I only care what I think and what he thinks. And I think that I love that man. He’s my future.”
She chuckles again as she pats my hand. “For what it’s worth, belle fleur… I approve very much of your choice.”
My heart warms. Grandma Clarabell
e is the only person whose opinion matters to me. “Thank you. It does matter. In fact, your opinion is one of the only ones that I give one hoot about!”
She squeezes my hand and cackles. “I know.”
Leaning back, I close my eyes as I hold her hand and we stay that way until I hear her deep breaths, relaxed in slumber. I’m sure today was exhausting for her. She’s not a spring chicken anymore. Getting up, I grab a throw from the fainting couch and place it over her as I kiss her forehead.
Heading across the hall, I check on Ty. He’s snoring on the couch. I place a blanket over him as well and head toward the front of the house to find Cruz.
I check the front rooms and they’re all empty, so I cross to the kitchen and let the housekeeper know Grandma Clarabelle is asleep in the parlor and she can head up. I’ll wait around to help her to bed before we head out for the night.
Pouring myself a refill from the coffee pot before rinsing it and discarding the grounds, I head outside in search of my boyfriend.
I hear him on the phone and he sounds agitated.
“I will not! I have no desire to see him. I’ve told you that. I don’t even understand why you want me to. I love you, Momma, but I’m not and you need to stop bringing it up.”
He says a few more things and then he tells her goodnight. I don’t want to seem like I was eavesdropping, so I make certain to make some noise as I open the door. His head whips around and I can see the pain and frustration in his eyes. My heart aches for him. I’m assuming that was about his “father” again.
Crossing the porch as he hangs up, I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him. He hugs me back. Tightly.
Chapter Nineteen
Cruz
I don’t know why Momma is so insistent that I meet with that asshole. I don’t want to. There is nothing he can do or say that will make me forgive him for what he did. I’m not strong enough to do that. I refuse to. He’s up to something and I am not going to be a pawn in whatever game he’s playing.