by Rochelle Alers, ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Brenda L. Thomas; Crystal Lacey Winslow
She could not stop her moans when his mouth moved lower, exploring every inch of her body. Her legs trembled of their volition as Drew buried his face between her thighs and drank deeply from her pool of feminine nectar.
Suddenly she was falling, slipping away from reality as waves of pleasure stiffened her body. Drew moved up her body, mapping her belly and breasts with his tongue. The lull in pleasure lasted seconds; he’d slipped on a condom. Nina gasped in sweet agony and welcomed Drew into her body, his tumescence easing into her with a slowness that set her teeth on edge.
“Easy, darling,” Drew crooned softly.
The texture of her satiny skin and sampling the flesh between her silken thighs threatened to make him climax before he had the opportunity to claim all of her. He wanted to bring her more pleasure before taking his own. He moved his hips, pushing into her body. Her flesh closed around his like a glove that was a size too small.
Nina trailed her fingertips up and down the length of Drew’s back, intertwined her legs with his. He increased his thrusts, and she followed, matching him stroke for stroke, thrust for thrust. Her body melted against his, and her world tilted crazily on its axis as pleasure, pure and explosive, hurtled her to a place she’d never been.
She screamed his name over and over until her voice faded to a whisper. Contentment and peace washed over her before she closed her eyes and succumbed to the numbed sleep of a sated lover.
Drew buried his face between her neck and shoulder and shuddered violently, his passions erupting and the strong sensations milking him until he felt as weak and vulnerable as a newborn.
Collapsing heavily on her slight frame, he waited for his heart to settle back to a normal rate. Somehow he found the strength to roll off Nina, she moaning softly as he pulled her hips to his groin. They lay together, his fingers splayed over her belly, and slept.
Chapter 6
Nina turned over and found the space next to her empty. Glancing at the clock on the bedside table, she realized she’d been asleep for almost three hours. She rarely napped in the middle of the day, but this time she had a wonderful excuse. Sleeping with Drew was an incredible experience, one well worth waiting for.
She sat up and picked up the slip of paper on the pillow that bore the imprint of Drew’s head. She read the note, a smile softening her mouth: “I’ll be back. Hugs, D.L. P.S.—You do snore, but I like it—big-time!” Her smile became a full grin. A warm glow swept over her as she recalled what she had shared with a man who was more than her sexual counterpart. She was certain that once this summer ended, she would have no regrets.
She slipped out of bed and padded on bare feet over to the window. It was still raining. A song from her parents’ music collection came to mind: the Carpenters’ “Rainy Days and Mondays.” It may have been raining, but it wasn’t Monday, and she wasn’t down. In fact, she hadn’t felt this good in a long time, and for her that was a very good thing.
Turning away from the window, she returned to the bed and removed the linen, then walked into the bathroom.
As soon as Nina reentered her bedroom, she felt the chill. She had planned for her and Drew to eat on the patio, but now those plans had to be scrapped. She would offer him a choice: the dining room or the kitchen.
Mentally going over what she intended to cook for dinner, she made her way to the kitchen. She’d just opened the refrigerator when the doorbell rang. Glancing up at the clock over the stove, she noted the time. It was two-twenty.
She went to the front door, opened it and stared at Drew. He was wearing a beige baseball cap withWRIGHT GROUP stitched across the front, a matching waterproof slicker with the same logo, jeans, and running shoes. He cradled a large wooden crate against his chest.
“Please come in.”
Drew put down the crate on the floor of the porch and took off the poncho and his cap, hanging them on a nearby wicker coatrack as Nina peered into the crate.
“What on earth did you buy?”
He smiled at her shocked expression. “Just a little something from a farm stand that I saw on the way over.”
Her gaze met his. “A little something?”
Drew picked up the crate and walked into the living room. “Corn, watermelon, potatoes, some Granny Smith apples, snow peas, and salad fixings,” he said over his shoulder as he headed toward the kitchen. “I also picked up a few bottles of wine, cheese, and ingredients to make our own bread. I hate store-bought bread.”
Nina followed him. “I don’t know who’s going to bake bread, because yeast, dough, and I don’t get along.”
Drew placed the crate on the floor in front of the sink and began emptying it. “I’ll bake the bread.”
Crossing her arms under her breasts, she gave him an incredulous stare. “You bake bread?”
He stared at her under lowered lids. “You got jokes, Nina?”
“No, Drew,” she countered quickly, attempting to hold back the laughter bubbling up in the back of her throat. “I never would’ve imagined you as Betty Crocker.”
Before the name was out of her mouth, Nina found her body molded to Drew’s from chest to knees. Not only did he look good, he also smelled wonderful.
“You smell so nice,” she whispered softly.
“So do you, honey.” His voice was low, sensual. “You also taste good.”
Her cheeks burned in remembrance. “Will I like your taste?” she asked.
He chuckled. “I don’t know. But you can always find out.”
“When?”
“Later. But only if you’ll allow me to spend the night.”
“Yes, Drew. You may spend the night. I’d like for you to—” Her words trailed off when the telephone rang. “Excuse me.” His arms fell away as she went over to pick up the receiver on the wall phone.
“Hello.”
“Hey, girlfriend.”
Nina bit down on her lower lip. “Michelle?”
“Hey-y-y-y!” She’d drawn out the word.
“You are?”
“Yes!”
Nina screamed, then placed her hand over the mouthpiece as Drew shot her a questioning look. He went back to emptying the crate, placing foodstuffs on the countertop.
“When, Michelle?”
“The doctor gave me a date of March twenty-third.”
“You won’t finish the school year.” Most teachers planned their pregnancies to coincide with the end of the school year so they could spend the summer months with their babies.
“I don’t care. Lloyd and I have been trying for over a year for a baby. I’d given up, then bam!”
“Congratulations to you and Lloyd.” She made a mental note to send them flowers. “How’s Lloyd taking the news that he’s going to become a daddy?”
“He’s acting real stupid. Just because my obstetrician said the first three months are the most critical ones, he’s not permitting me to lift anything, or do housework. The fool hired a maid.”
“Enjoy it, Michelle—once the baby comes, you’ll appreciate it.”
“I know you’re right, but I’m not used to doing absolutely nothing.”
“I’m going to give you your words back nine months from now.”
“You’re probably right, girlfriend. I’m going to hang up on you and call Kim. She’s been calling me every day since Carmen’s wedding.”
“That’s because she’s nosy as hell,” Nina said, smiling. “You can’t mention anything to her without her either haunting or interrogating you.”
“That’s why we love her.”
“You’re right,” Nina said. “If you and Lloyd want to come out and spend some time away from the city, just let me know.”
“Thanks for the invitation, but Lloyd has made plans to go to Memphis to see his folks.”
“Have a safe trip.”
“We will. Love you, Nina.”
“Love you back, Michelle.”
She ended the call, feeling her friend’s joy. Michelle would be the first of the quartet to become
a mother. Carmen had confided that she and Wayne were going to try for a baby as soon as they were married. Now that left Kim Stewart, who said she and her husband would begin planning a family next year.
Turning back to Drew, she stared at the countertops. He had purchased two whole chickens and filet mignon.
Leaning against the counter, Drew angled his head. “What if I cook for you tonight, and you return the favor tomorrow?”
Nina nodded. “What about breakfast?”
A slow smile spread over his handsome face. “We’ll eat out.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “You have everything planned, don’t you?”
His smile faded quickly. “That’s how I run my life, Nina. I plan out everything in advance.”
He had plans, and so did she.
Nina sighed softly. Her legs were sandwiched between Drew’s as they lay on a blanket on the living room floor. She had placed a dozen votive candles in the fireplace before turning off the floor lamp, and the flickering flames reflected off the wall and floor like twinkling stars.
Drew shifted and rested an arm over her hips. “Are you ready for dessert?”
She rolled her eyes at him, knowing he probably couldn’t see her face clearly in the diffused light. “I ate too much to even think about dessert.”
He chuckled softly. “I told you to save room for dessert.”
“Yeah, I know,” she drawled. Nina knew Drew was right, but she hadn’t been able to help herself when she had two helpings of salad. “Who taught you to cook?”
“No one. I taught myself.”
“You’re kidding, aren’t you?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Did you ever think about becoming a chef?”
Drew smiled. “No. I’d planned to become an accountant like my father, but I dropped out of college in my junior year.”
“You never got your degree?”
“No.”
“Have you thought about going back to college?”
“No,” he repeated.
“Why not?”
Shifting, Drew moved over her body and dipped his head. “I think I need dessert,” he crooned against the side of her neck. He did not want to talk about himself.
“Don’t, Drew. I’m too full.”
His right hand moved slowly along her ribs before resting over her belly. “It is a little bigger than it was this morning.”
“You’re going to make me into a porker.”
His fingers stilled. “You could use a little more weight. I can pick you up with one arm.”
“I weigh enough.”
“You’re a tiny little thing,” he countered.
She giggled. “I’m hardly anorexic. Give me a few years, and I’ll probably be battling the bulge once I hit the big four-oh.”
Drew’s forefinger made tiny circles around her belly button. “You have a long time to go before you’re forty.”
“Six years.”
“I’ve got you beat by four years.”
She went completely still. “I’d never take you for thirty-eight.”
“How old did you think I was?”
“No more than thirty-three, thirty-five tops.”
He kissed the end of her nose. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
Nina decided to ignore the endearment. “Are you looking forward to turning forty?”
“Yes, I am. The day my father turned forty, he announced he was quitting his accounting job and going to Chicago with his band. He’d put together a small band after graduating high school, and he and his friends became quite popular once they played a summer season at the Catskills.”
“Was he good?”
Shifting his head, he stared directly at her. “He was an incredible sax player. He loved music, but he went into accounting because he knew he couldn’t support his family with the money he earned playing weekend gigs. I was sixteen when he quit his job and took his band on the road. They played every major city in the country, including some of the Caribbean resorts. They finally settled in California, becoming a studio band for a record company.”
“How did your mother take his leaving home?”
“She wasn’t surprised. She said he’d stayed longer than she expected him to.”
“Not many women would support a man who decides to leave her and their children to live out his dream.”
Drew registered the wistfulness in Nina’s voice. “My mother loved my father and had always told him that she never wanted him to use her as an excuse not to follow his dream. Whenever he returned to New York we celebrated big-time, eating out at our favorite restaurants and going to Broadway plays. It ended eight years ago when my father came back to New York, complaining of chest pains. He thought it was indigestion. By the time my mother convinced him to go to the doctor, it was too late. He died in the doctor’s office from a heart attack.”
Nina buried her face between Drew’s neck and shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
Cradling the back of her head in his hand, Drew pressed his mouth to her hair. “Don’t be, Nina. He died in my mother’s arms, content with the way he’d lived his life.”
There was a moment of silence. “Are you content with your life, Drew?”
“Very. How about you?” he asked after another pause. “Are you content?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t you want more than your career?”
“What more is there?” she asked.
“Marriage. Motherhood.”
“There was a time when I wanted both, but now it doesn’t matter. I have a lot of school holidays, and I use that time to travel,” she continued. “I usually get together with my family in Alexandria at Thanksgiving, go to the Caribbean during the Christmas recess, hibernate at home during the winter recess, and go abroad during spring break. And for the past six years I’ve spent my summers here.”
“There’s no doubt that you keep busy. What’s your favorite European city?”
“I’d have to say Venice, then Paris. But there’s also Istanbul and Mykonos.”
Nuzzling her scented neck, Drew caught her earlobe between his teeth. “I think Venice is the most romantic city in the world. I like Venice, Paris, and Nina Watkins, but not necessarily in that order.” He angled his head and kissed her, increasing the pressure until she parted her lips.
Nina moaned softly and returned his kiss with reckless abandon. The touch of his lips on hers sent a shock wave through her entire body. Drew gathered her off the floor and carried her to the bedroom. Her breathing was labored as Drew stripped off her clothes. A minute later he stood before her naked. They moved over to the bed and offered each other the most sensual dessert either had had the pleasure of partaking.
Chapter 7
Nina and Drew shared a smile as they sat in Spinnakers sipping lattes. They had spent the past five weekends together in what had become an uncomplicated, easygoing relationship.
Reaching across the table, Drew placed a hand over Nina’s. “A friend of mine is hosting a party in Southampton next weekend, and I’d like for you to come with me.”
Nina stared at Drew in astonishment. It was the first time he had offered to take her to meet any of his friends. All of their encounters took place either on Sag Harbor or in a surrounding community.
“A friend or a business acquaintance?”
Drew stiffened as if Nina had struck him, and his mouth tightened into a thin hard line. Although she had not asked him about his business dealings since their first date at B. Smith’s, there was no doubt she continued to believe he was involved in something illegitimate.
“Afriend, ” he said, stressing the word.
Nina heard the censure in Drew’s voice and flashed a tentative smile. She thought he sounded a little defensive. “Okay. I’ll go with you.”
Drew smiled, his expression softening. “Thank you.”
The two words were barely out of his mouth when a shadow fell over the table. He glanced up to find a casually dressed African-American man gri
nning at Nina.
Seeing the direction of his gaze, she looked up, her jaw dropping. One second she was seated, then she was on her feet, her arms going around the neck of a man she hadn’t seen in fourteen years.
“When did you get back to the States?” she asked him before he kissed her flush on the mouth.
“A couple of days ago.”
Dropping her arms, she turned to face Drew, who had risen from his chair. “Drew, this is James Sparks. James, my friend Andrew Lancaster.” The two men shook hands. “James, his brother, and my brother were inseparable whenever we summered here.”
James’s dark eyes lingered on Nina’s upturned face. “Are you going to be here through the summer?”
“Yes, I am.”
Leaning over, he kissed her cheek. “I’ll drop by early next week, and we can catch up on old times.”
“I’d like that, James.”
Nina waited until James walked to the rear of the restaurant, where tables were set up under a faux pergola, then retook her seat, Drew following suit.
“How long has it been since you’ve seen James?”
Picking up her cup, Nina took a sip of her latte. “Fourteen years.” She smiled at Drew over the rim. “James is a doctor with the World Health Organization. He’s currently practicing in Namibia.”
“Do you keep in touch with one another?”
“We always exchange birthday and Christmas cards.” She took another sip of her drink. “James was my first boyfriend. He took me to my high school prom.”
“How does his wife like living in Africa?”
Nina shook her head. “James isn’t married. He’s always joked that if he didn’t marry me, then he’d never get married.”
Oh, it’s like that, Drew mused. “Maybe it’s not a joke, Nina. It’s apparent he’s still carrying a torch for you.”
“I doubt that.”
Drew wanted to tell Nina she was being naive. He’d seen the way James looked at her. He had to admit it was no different from the way he looked at her himself.