Antonio walked into his bedroom, grabbed a few condoms, then headed down the hall and looked in on A. J. His little boy was sleeping soundly, but had kicked out from underneath his blanket, something he’d been doing since he was a baby. Antonio pulled the blanket around him, then kissed him on the forehead. The little boy stirred slightly but didn’t wake up.
Slipping quietly out of his son’s room he headed back outside to Serena. Wrapped in the blanket she looked like an angel as she slept. He lifted her into his arms and took her into the house. As soon as he laid her against the soft cotton sheets of his king sized bed, Serena’s eyes fluttered open.
“What’s going on?” she mumbled.
“You went to sleep. It’s obvious you’re tired. Go ahead and rest,” he said as he eased into bed beside her. “I’ll be right here when you wake up.”
She snuggled against him and Antonio fingered her silky hair. It wasn’t long before they were sound asleep.
As the sun began to peek over the horizon, Serena stirred in Antonio’s arms. Had they simply slept all night? Yes, and she felt so good waking up in his arms. She ran her finger down his arm. So, maybe Jade was right. She did like Antonio. She liked him a lot and she was scared as hell because this was the time when things went bad. What if Antonio only wanted sex?
That’s not even the case. If it was, he wouldn’t have allowed you to sleep last night. Stop being an idiot. He’s not Emerson and you don’t have worry about him walking out on you, she thought as she watched him sleep.
Antonio woke up and smiled when he saw Serena watching him. “Morning,” he said.
“I’m sorry I went to sleep on you last night.”
“It happens to the best of us. I figured you needed your rest.”
Serena rolled over on top of him and straddled his body. “Well, now that I’ve had my rest, what are you going to do about it?” She ground against him and he was instantly aroused.
Antonio gripped her hips, resisting the urge to dive into her wetness without protection. He slipped his hand underneath his pillow and retrieved one of the condoms he’d placed there last night. Serena took the package from his hand and eased down his body.
“One thing I want to do before we strap up,” she said as she hovered over his erection.
Antonio’s body tingled with anticipation as he felt the heat from her breath across the tip of his penis. When Serena took him into her mouth, he struggled not to come immediately. Her mouth was so hot and wet and when her tongue danced up and down the length of him, he groaned in pleasure. She took him to the brink and just as Antonio felt as if he couldn’t hold back any more, Serena ended her sweet torture and rolled the condom in place. He pulled her hips forward and eased into the wetness between her thighs.
“Yes,” he moaned as she rode him slowly, grinding and twisting her body in a sensual dance that sent waves of pleasure thoughout his body. But the greatest pleasure he received was watching the satisfied look on Serena’s face. She was feeling as good as he was and that was all he wanted. He wanted to please her just like she was pleasing him.
Antonio gripped her hips as the explosion built inside him. Serena arched her back giving him deeper access to her desire. He released himself and she collapsed against his chest as she reached her own climax. “Amazing,” she whispered.
“That’s one way to describe it,” Antonio said as he kissed her cheek. “I can’t get enough of you, baby.”
“Me either,” she said as she snuggled against him.
“As much as I wish we could just lie here naked, we’d better put some clothes on before A.J. wakes up.”
“Well, that’s easier for you than me since my clothes are downstairs,” she said as she pulled the sheet around her body.
Antonio pulled on his boxers and nodded. “I’ll go get them for you,” he said, then headed out the door.
While she lay in the bed, Serena looked around Antonio’s bedroom, realizing that was the first time she’d been in his bed. She was struck by the fact that there didn’t seem to be a trace of his dead wife in the room, which was decorated in deep earth tones, giving it a decidedly masculine feel. On his dresser, she half expected to see a picture of him and his wife, but there wasn’t one—just a few bottles of cologne and deodorant. Was he truly over his wife? Her mind wandered to what they’d meant to each other. What if she was his one true love?
Why does it even matter? I’m not trying to slip into those shoes, Serena thought. But she was trying to downplay the fact that her feelings for Antonio were growing into something bigger than sex. She did want more from him, but she was afraid she’d find herself on the wrong side of love again.
As much as she wanted to forget that Emerson Bradford was in Charlotte, his image crept into her mind as she waited for Antonio. She had to find out what Emerson wanted, and get rid of him and the ghost of his heartbreak if she was to ever be able to truly open up to Antonio.
The bedroom door opened and Antonio walked in with her clothes and purse. “Here you go,” he said as he crossed over to her and handed her the items. “I think you’ve missed some calls because your purse was beeping. Since my son might get up and head for the TV, I put your bag with the drinks in it underneath the sink.”
“Good thinking,” she said as she put her blouse on. Antonio climbed into the bed with her and pulled her against his chest.
“But, when I looked in on the little boy, he was still sound asleep,” Antonio said. “So, don’t button that up just yet.” As he was about to bring his lips to hers, Serena’s cell phone sounded.
“Damn it,” she muttered.
“Ignore it,” Antonio intoned as he stroked the tops of her breasts.
Moaning, she was poised to ignore the phone when a small voice called out.
“Daddy.”
“That you can’t ignore,” she said.
Antonio hopped off the bed and headed down the hall to his son’s bedroom. While he was gone, Serena grabbed her phone and looked at the missed calls log. There were six, all from an unknown number, but she knew who the caller was.
Emerson.
Emerson glanced at his cell phone. It was after seven and he still hadn’t been able to reach Serena. He figured she wasn’t at the restaurant since she’d been there the night before. Sure, she could be sleeping, but he remembered she woke up at the same time every morning, despite what she’d done the night before. That’s why he’d loved working with her on the set. She had been a professional, unlike some of the other actresses he’d worked with. But there was more that he missed about her. Seeing her had fired up emotions he’d tried to bury with their film.
Damn, she was still as sexy as he remembered. His dreams had been tortured with memories and fantasies of Serena. The feel of her supple body against his and the sweet taste of her lips kept him tossing and turning all night.
Focus, he thought. She needs to sign the release. Anything else that happens is gravy. I can’t let lust get in the way again. But hot damn she looked so good. Knowing Serena the way I do, she’s never going to love anyone the way she loved me.
He dialed her number again.
“Stop calling me,” she snapped after picking up on the first ring.
“Serena, we need to talk.”
“No, we don’t,” she replied.
“Yes, we do. Serena?” When he didn’t get a response, he moved the phone from his ear and saw that she’d hung up on him. He started to call her back, but decided he needed to see her in person. The only way he could do that would be to wait her out at her restaurant. From the tone of her voice, he figured she wouldn’t show up to their scheduled meeting.
Chapter 18
Serena smiled as A.J. set her plate of turkey bacon, eggs, and banana pancakes in front of her like a perfect gentleman.
“Thank you, A.J.,” she said.
“You’re welcome,” he replied with a smile as he pulled up a chair beside her at the dining room table. “Did you and my daddy have a sleepover?”
“A.J.,” Antonio called out from the kitchen. “Eat.”
“Yes, sir,” he replied, then cut into his pancakes with the side of his fork. Before stuffing a huge piece of food into his mouth, he turned to Serena and whispered. “Well, did you?”
“Yes,” she whispered back.
A.J. smiled, then packed his mouth with food. After chewing, he asked Serena, “Are you going to sleep over more? Maybe next time we can all watch a movie instead of just you and Daddy.”
Antonio walked into the dining room with his plate and shook his head. “A.J., please allow Miss Serena to eat before her food gets cold.”
“Yes, sir.”
“He’s fine,” she said. “And a sweet little boy, too.”
A.J. beamed at her compliment and ate his food in silence. When A.J. finished his breakfast, he took his plate into the kitchen, then asked if he and Serena could watch cartoons. She looked down at her half-empty plate.
“She hasn’t finished eating yet,” Antonio said, trying to hide his smile. “And you know the rules. No one leaves the table until they’re finished eating.”
Serena nodded. “I have to follow the rules, but you find some SpongeBob and I’ll come watch it with you as soon as I’m finished.”
“Okay,” A.J. said excitedly, then dashed into the den to turn on the TV.
Antonio turned to Serena. “Somebody likes you,” he said with a smile.
“He’s a nice kid.”
“He doesn’t usually take to strangers. Then again, he’s never seen me have a sleepover. I’m sorry he asked you all those questions.”
“There’s no need to apologize. He’s a curious kid. I can’t tell you how many times I had this same conversation with my dad and his women,” she said, then cringed.
“I remember you telling me about that.”
She nodded. “Yeah. Breakfasts like this were a common occurrence with Dominic and his women. Only, they didn’t know they were just spokes in a wheel.”
“Well, that’s not how I do things around here,” Antonio said. “To be honest, I haven’t had a sleepover, ever.”
Serena shot him a look that said yeah, right.
Noting the look on her face, Antonio leaned over and placed his hand on top of hers. “I’m serious. When my wife died, A.J. became my focus. The last thing I wanted or needed was some woman coming into my life trying to be A.J.’s mother.”
“So, you still love your wife? Do you think anyone will ever mean as much to you as she did?” she asked. Where the hell did that come from?
“That’s a topic for a day when A.J. isn’t within earshot. But I will say this. I don’t go to sleep with ghosts at night,” he said, then took his plate into the kitchen.
Serena wondered if there was more behind what he said. Why did she care? Because you care about this man, Jade’s voice whispered in her ear. Serena picked up her plate and followed Antonio into the kitchen.
“Listen,” she said as she met him at the sink. “I wasn’t trying to suggest that you parade women around your son. Whatever you do really isn’t my business.”
“What do you mean it isn’t your business?” he asked as he turned around and looked at her. “Here’s what you need to understand about me. I don’t sleep around, I don’t play with people’s emotions, and I want you to know what I do. You’re a part of my life now.”
“Antonio,” she said.
He stroked her cheek. “Serena, life is too short for me to beat around the bush. As much as I enjoy making love to you, I want more than that.”
She wanted more as well. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him but she just looked at him, afraid. She didn’t want another heartbreak.
“Miss Serena, I found SpongeBob,” A.J. called out.
Glad for the chance to walk away, she nearly sprinted into the den to watch cartoons with A.J.
Way to be an adult, hiding behind SpongeBob, she thought as she took a seat on the sofa and smiled at a beaming A.J.
Antonio washed dishes and thought about the look in Serena’s eyes when he told her he wanted more. Was it fear? Was it disinterest? He’d spent his time with a woman who didn’t want to be with him and he was not going to do it again. Still, he needed a better feel of what Serena was really thinking. If she didn’t want to be with him, he knew Serena wouldn’t have a problem saying so. If she was interested in a physical relationship only, why was she in the den laughing with his son?
Drying his hands, Antonio decided he’d give her a little time to determine what she wanted, but he knew exactly what he wanted. He was falling hard and fast for Serena Jacobs.
“Antonio,” she said as she walked into the kitchen.
“What’s up?” he asked as he turned around and faced her.
She sighed and walked over to him. “I can sometimes be a bit of a punk. I can say just about anything I want to say except for how I feel about things some—most—of the time. I want more,” she said. “I like being with you in and out of the bed.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I don’t want you to be afraid to open up to me. I want to know everything about you, what makes you happy, your fears, your joys. I plan to share the same things with you.”
Serena hugged him tightly. “I’m going to work on sharing everything with you. But I have to tell you that I’m carrying some serious scars.”
“Then let’s get together later tonight and compare wounds. Because we have company right now.”
Serena turned around and saw A.J. standing in the doorway of the kitchen. “May I have some juice?” he asked with a smile.
“Sure,” Antonio said. “There is a juice box in the refrigerator.”
“Miss Serena, would you like some juice, too?”
“No, thank you, A.J. I’d rather have some coffee.”
Antonio handed her a mug and pointed her to the coffee maker. “I know you can make coffee.”
“What self-respecting, moonlighting bartender can’t make coffee?” she asked as she pulled out the coffee filters.
A.J. took his juice box into the living room and Antonio turned to Serena with a smile on his face. “I want you to know that A.J. doesn’t share his juice, so you’ve obviously impressed him.”
“Good,” she said as she waited for the coffee carafe to fill. “Because I want to finish watching SpongeBob with him.”
Antonio laughed, happily surprised Serena was interested in spending time with his son.
After fixing coffee for herself and Antonio, they headed into the living room and laughed at the antics of Sponge Bob with A.J. until mid-afternoon when Serena had to leave and head into the restaurant.
“Bye, Miss Serena,” A.J. said from the door as Antonio walked her outside.
“Bye A.J.,” she replied and blew him a kiss.
At her car, Antonio wrapped his arms around Serena’s neck and brought her against his chest. “This was nice,” he said.
“It was,” she said as she stroked his back.
“What are you doing after work? You still owe me that drink,” he said, flashing her a slick smile.
“Well, I think I can make that happen, but keep in mind, the Serena punch is powerful.”
Antonio winked at her. “I can handle it. I’d better let you go,” he said as he dropped his arms from around her.
“Yeah,” she said, but neither one of them made an effort to move. “Jade, Alicia, and Kandace are waiting.”
“Duty calls.”
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his lips. “I just don’t want to answer.”
Antonio cupped her booty and smiled. “I don’t want you to either, but I have some calls I need to make for a project we’re starting next week.”
Sighing, Serena let him go and unlocked her car. “All right, we’re going to be adults and go to work. I’ll see you later.”
When she got in her car and backed out of the driveway, Antonio could do nothing but smile. He headed inside and saw A.J. had been watching him and Serena.
&nbs
p; “Daddy,” the little boy said, “is Miss Serena our girlfriend?”
“Our girlfriend?” Antonio asked with a smile.
“Well, I like her too,” he said.
“She’s our friend, but possibly my girlfriend,” Antonio said, then scooped his son up into his arms. “Listen, are you okay with Miss Serena spending more time with us?”
“I guess,” A.J. said with a shoulder shrug. “She likes SpongeBob and she doesn’t want to drink all my juice.”
“Right,” Antonio replied. “There may be more sleepovers, but know that you’re still the most important person in my world.”
“Do you think Mommy would like her?” A.J. asked innocently.
“I don’t know. It’s just important to me that you like her.”
“I like her,” A.J. said. “She makes you smile.”
Antonio tussled his son’s hair and sat him on the sofa. “What do you say we go to the lake in University City after I take care of some business?”
“Okay,” A.J. said excitedly. Antonio headed to his home office to get some work done, but all he could think about was Serena and how easy things were between them. He was happy for the first time in a long time.
Chapter 19
As Serena sat in the office of the restaurant with Jade, Alicia, and Kandace, the smile on her face spoke volumes to everyone. Though they were supposed to be meeting about the relaunch event, the topic of conversation quickly turned to Serena.
“Your smile is creeping me out,” Alicia said when she looked over at Serena.
“What?” Serena said, the smile not leaving her face.
“This new and improved Serena is a bit much to take,” Alicia said. “But I don’t have to ask why you’re so happy.”
“That’s all Antonio Billups’s doing,” Jade said knowingly. “I know this has to do with more than just good sex.”
Kandace grinned. “Yep. That’s the same look Solomon had when we woke up this morning.”
His Sexy Bad Habit Page 16