His Sexy Bad Habit

by Cheris Hodges

  “That might not be such a bad idea,” Jade said. “Lord knows you were sick over that man.”

  “I’m coming to the party, taking a few pictures with the other owners, and then I’m off to spend the night with my man.”

  The women waved good-bye to each other and Serena headed upstairs. After getting ready for the party, she went to see Antonio to make sure she hadn’t spent the afternoon dreaming.

  Chapter 29

  Norman and Kamir sat in the living room as A.J. grabbed his fishing gear.

  “Thanks for taking him with y’all,” Antonio said. “But are you sure this isn’t too much?”

  “Not at all. I love hanging out with A.J.,” Norman said. “He and Kamir are the best fishermen I know.”

  Kamir smiled proudly under his grandfather’s compliments.

  “Besides, Kamir needs to hang out with someone his age. His brothers are into other things these days and they don’t want little brother hanging around.

  “I don’t want to play no stupid video games anyway. But they can’t have my fish,” Kamir said.

  “That’s right, no fishing, no eating,” Norman said.

  Before Antonio could respond, the doorbell rang. Since the door was open, he saw it was Serena and he beckoned her in. Dressed in a strapless black lace dress that hit her at her knees all the air was sucked out of the room when she walked in. Her skin seemed to glow and with her hair pulled back from her face, her eyes were expressive and shining. Antonio stood up and inhaled sharply as his eyes roamed her body. Even Kamir smiled appreciatively at Serena.

  “Hi,” she said as she walked over to Antonio.

  “Hi,” he said.

  Norman cleared his throat to remind everyone that he was in the room.

  Serena turned to him and smiled. “Hello, Norman, long time no see.”

  The older man stood up and smiled at Serena. “Yes, I see you’re still wearing those sky high shoes.”

  “Well, when I walk in the restaurant tonight the floor will be finished. You guys did a great job,” she said, then glanced at Kamir who hadn’t taken his eyes off her since she walked in. “Hi, there.”

  “Hee-hee, hi,” he giggled, then buried his face in Norman’s arm.

  “This is my grandson, Kamir,” Norman said. “He’s not usually this shy.”

  “Where’s A.J.?” Serena asked. “I wanted to see him before I headed to the party.”

  “You’re just in time,” Norman said. “He was about to join us for a fishing trip. So, I guess I’ll have to wait and go to the next party with you. Antonio will take my place tonight.”

  Serena and Antonio laughed as A.J. ran into the living room with his fishing gear. “Miss Serena.” He dropped his gear and hugged her around her legs. “You look pretty.”

  “Thank you. So, you’re going fishing. Does that mean I get to eat some more cole slaw and fish?” she asked as she stroked his head.

  “Yes! Tomorrow we can have a fish fry, right Mr. Norman?”

  “We sure can,” Norman said. “Right here in Antonio’s big kitchen.”

  “That’s fine with me,” Antonio said, thinking that Serena was going to wake up at his place anyway.

  Norman seemed to have the same thought. “I’ll call before we bring all the fish over,” he said knowingly and Antonio nodded in silent thanks.

  “Ooh, Miss Serena,” A.J. said. “I have a present for you.” He turned and rushed upstairs.

  Serena stood beside Antonio and squeezed his arm. “So, this means I have a date tonight?” she whispered.

  “Yes,” he replied in a low voice. “And you can help me get dressed.”

  “Or undressed,” she said, then turned to the staircase when she heard the pitter-patter of A.J.’s feet. He stood at the bottom of the staircase proudly holding her Mickey Mouse ears. Serena headed over to him and took the ears from his hands and stuck them on her head. Antonio couldn’t help but smile. Serena didn’t care about messing up her hair or anything.

  “It matches your dress,” A.J. said.

  “Then I will keep them on during the party,” Serena said.

  “People might laugh at you,” A.J. said with a giggle of his own.

  Serena shrugged. “Are you kidding me? I love Mickey Mouse and I don’t care who knows. Thank you for my gift, A.J.”

  A.J. hugged Serena again. “You’re welcome.”

  “All right,” Norman said. “We’d better get going so we can set up camp at the lake.”

  A.J. picked up his gear, then he, Norman, and Kamir told Serena and Antonio good-bye.

  Once they were in the house alone, Antonio grabbed Serena and pulled her against his chest. “I’ve been wanting to do this since you walked through the door,” he said, capturing her lips in a hot wet kiss that made her swoon. A soft moan escaped her throat as Antonio’s tongue danced around inside her mouth. His hands danced across her back and he felt her shiver against him.

  Serena pulled back from him and placed her hand against his chest. “If we’re going to go to the party, you can’t kiss me again. You’re going to have to go and get dressed,” she said breathlessly.

  He winked at her. “Too bad you’ve already taken your shower. I could use some help upstairs.”

  Serena unzipped her dress revealing she didn’t have anything on underneath. “You can never be too clean,” she said with a wink.

  Antonio lifted her into his arms and dashed upstairs. Though they’d made love a few hours ago, feeling her soft skin underneath his fingertips and her lush lips brushing against his neck, Antonio was aroused beyond words. His erection nearly leaped from his boxers as he laid Serena against his sheets. She was a goddess, even with the Mickey Mouse ears on the top of her head. He was about to take them off when Serena locked her arms around his neck and kissed him hot and deep. With her strong legs, she pushed his pants down his thighs as they kissed and she pressed her body against him. Desire grew inside him and his erection ached for her wetness. Serena ground against him, teasing him with her wetness. Without even thinking of the protection they needed, Antonio dove inside her and Serena cried out with pleasure. She tightened her muscles around him, nearly bringing him to climax. Raw pleasure surged though his body as he and Serena rocked to the sensual rhythm of their throbbing heartbeats. She squeezed her thighs around him and Antonio dove deeper inside her, lavishing in her wetness.

  “I love you,” she cried as he felt her climax exploding around him.

  “I love you too,” he breathed into her ear. He slowed the pace of their lovemaking, in and out, in and out until her thighs shook and he released himself. Antonio’s climax escaped like an atomic explosion.

  They drifted off to sleep, spent from their lovemaking. It was another hour before they were up, showered, and dressed for the party.

  Antonio channeled his inner Eric Benet with a pair of blue jeans, a white button down shirt, and black sports jacket. He slipped a pair of aviator sunglasses on to look cool as Serena stepped into her dress.

  “Sexy,” she said as she smoothed her hair, then picked up her Mickey Mouse ears.

  “You don’t have to wear those,” he said with a smile.

  “I’m going to take a few pictures in them to make A.J. smile. He looked so happy when he saw they matched my dress.”

  Antonio walked over to Serena as she put her shoes on and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you.”

  “For what?” she asked.

  “For thinking about my son. I know in the beginning you weren’t sure about us dating because of my son.”

  “I’m the first to admit I’m glad I was wrong. I love A.J. How could I not?”

  “Exactly. He’s a chip off the old block,” Antonio quipped. He stared into her eyes, thinking Serena was everything he and his son needed in their lives.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Nothing. Are you ready?”

  “Yes, the sooner we get there, the sooner we can leave,” she said with a wily smile. “Because I want to sleep und
er the stars with you on top of me.”

  “Then we’re wasting time,” Antonio said, lifting her into his arms and heading downstairs.

  When Serena and Antonio arrived at Hometown Delights, Kandace met the couple at the door. “It’s about time you got here,” she said to her friend as she hugged her. Kandace looked up at the Mickey Mouse ears Serena was wearing. “What’s up with that?”

  “My son gave them to her and told her they matched her dress,” Antonio said.

  “Okay, so who is this woman and what have you done with my friend?” Kandace joked.

  “I’ll tell you who I am, as soon as you tell your husband to buy new furniture for our office.”

  Kandace blushed and led the couple over to the table where Solomon, Jade, James, Kenya, and Maurice were sitting. A few photographers snapped pictures of them and Serena pulled her ears off and set them on the table.

  “Did you think this was a costume party?” Jade asked.

  Serena rolled her eyes and kicked her friend underneath the table. “I did that for A.J.”

  Maurice leaned into Antonio and said, “Congrats for still being alive.”

  “I heard that,” Serena said over Maurice and Antonio’s laughter.

  “Right now, I’m not scared of you,” Maurice said.

  Kenya pinched her husband on the arm. “Play nice,” she said.

  “That’s right,” Antonio said. “Y’all must have my lady confused with someone else.”

  The table erupted in laughter. James leaned over to Antonio. “There are stories that I could tell you, but I’m afraid you’d walk out the door.”

  Antonio took Serena’s hand in his and kissed it. “That’s not going to happen,” he proclaimed.

  “And James, I got stories too,” Serena shot back with a smile on her face.

  Jade shook her head. “Leave Serena alone. Antonio, ignore them.”

  Solomon chuckled as he sipped his drink, then glanced at his wife.

  “What?” Serena asked. “No smart comment?”

  “No,” he replied. “I was always taught that if you can’t say anything nice, wait until the ladies leave.”

  “Stop it, Solomon,” Kandace said. “But Antonio, we’re really glad that Serena met you.”

  “I’m the one who’s glad,” Serena whispered to Antonio, then slipped her hand between his thighs underneath the table.

  He leaned in to her and whispered, “If you do that again, we’re out of here.”

  “Promise?”

  “Hey,” Maurice said, “no whispering. Share with the class.”

  Kenya smacked him on the arm. “Leave them alone,” she said again. “You remember when you couldn’t keep your hands off me?”

  “Oh yes. Every day I’m reminded.” Maurice pulled his wife against his chest and kissed her forehead. “And later, I’m going to remind you how you can’t keep your hands off me.”

  “It’s getting thick at this table,” James said. “Y’all could at least wait until you get home.”

  Maurice rolled his eyes at his brother. “Put both your hands on the table then.”

  “Mind your own business,” Jade admonished, causing another chorus of laughter.

  Alicia walked over to the table with Devon Harris, the celebrity chef who had been running the kitchen for Hometown Delights and filming his popular Food Network show there. “Hey,” Alicia said as she hugged her girlfriends. Everyone noticed the coolness between Solomon and Devon but didn’t acknowledge it. The two men, mostly Solomon, were leery of each other because Devon and Kandace dated in college. For a brief moment before Kandace and Solomon met in Sugar Mountain, Devon had been trying to ease his way back into Kandace’s life as more than a friend and business associate. But Kandace hadn’t been interested since their relationship ended badly. Since her marriage, Devon knew they’d only be friends and business associates, but Solomon didn’t trust the guy. Before marrying Kandace, Solomon never allowed a wedding band to stop him from going after a woman. He couldn’t help but think that Devon was harboring feelings for his wife.

  “Devon has a great idea,” Alicia said. “Instead of me introducing Babyface, he should do it. It would give the women a jolt and at the end of the first set, we can all get our pictures with Face.”

  “That is a good idea,” Kandace said.

  Solomon muttered, “Anything to get him out of my way.”

  Kandace stomped on his foot.

  “Ouch,” he said, then drained his drink.

  Devon and Alicia ignored Solomon and ordered another round of drinks. “This is a really good crowd,” Alicia said, hoping to ease the tension as she and Devon took their seats.

  “Yes,” Devon said. “And the menu is being executed perfectly. You ladies should be proud of what you’ve done here.”

  Jade smiled, then kissed James on the cheek. “Now all we need to do is make sure nothing happens here to put us on the evening news for all the wrong reasons.”

  “Exactly,” Kandace said. “Because no matter what people say, all publicity is not good.”

  When the waiter came to the table and set everyone’s drinks in front of them, Kandace tried to quietly send hers back, but soon all eyes were on her.

  “What’s up with that?” Jade asked.

  “With what?” Kandace coyly replied.

  “Oh, play if you want to,” Alicia said. “You’re not drinking, so does that mean you’re—”

  “Knocked up?” Serena said.

  Solomon smiled proudly revealing the answer that Kandace was trying to avoid.

  “Wow,” Jade said. “This is so beautiful.”

  “Wait a minute, guys,” Kandace said. “I don’t know for sure yet, but—”

  “She’s pregnant,” Solomon said. “I have eight home pregnancy tests to prove it.”

  “Oh, those things are accurate, right Jade?” Serena joked.

  Jade tossed the lemon from her drink at her friend. “Shut up.”

  “Are you sure y’all are just friends and not family?” Antonio asked.

  “That’s the question we’ve all asked at some point,” James said. “Welcome to this dysfunctional group.”

  “And please don’t leave,” Devon said. “I’ve never seen Serena smile this much.”

  “Why do they keep saying that?” Antonio asked.

  “Because these losers never gave me a reason to smile,” she joked, then kissed his lips gently.

  Chapter 30

  Emerson wasn’t surprised that he’d gotten into the restaurant. The security officers at the door had abandoned the guest list and were allowing anyone with the cover charge inside the restaurant. Emerson gladly paid the fifty dollars and tipped the doorman twenty. He saw Serena and her friends sitting at a table near the stage. None of them noticed him as he slipped into the crowd near the bar. Before he’d come to the restaurant, he’d gotten a call that had put him in a sullen and angry mood. Lionsgate was passing on releasing the movie. Luther had told him he wouldn’t be interested in any other future projects that Emerson was a part of.

  “Basically,” Luther had said, “your career is over. There’s talk about you not writing your own projects and what you did to Serena Jacobs has turned many studios against you. I had no idea you were going to marry her but left her at the altar when the movie didn’t materialize. Women, who buy most of the movie tickets, don’t like that.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Emerson had said.

  “No, I’m not. Give it a couple years and allow this to die down. During that time, write a hit, film a hit, and maybe you will get out of this muck you created. All you had to do was get her to sign off on the film and we would be getting ready for the release.”

  Emerson had slammed his phone against the wall of the hotel room and smashed it to pieces. As he looked at Serena, his anger rose again. He wanted to smash her as she’d done with his career.

  “What can I get for you?” the bartender asked Emerson.

  “A shot of whiskey,” he said,
not taking his eyes off Serena and her friends. Somehow, he had to get her alone. Then he’d seek his revenge.

  The bartender gave Emerson his drink and he gulped it down. Turning his back to the bar, he pretended to be excited about the start of Babyface’s set, as Devon Harris introduced the crooner.

  Emerson’s eyes were glued on Serena. He felt as if he’d lost everything because of her. At no point did he think his downfall was his own fault, although he was the one who had put out crappy movies and hadn’t tried to improve his craft.

  It didn’t matter to him. She was the person who had shut down the movie. The one who had been his muse was now his enemy.

  “Give me another one,” he said to the bartender, as the lights dimmed, then slid a fifty dollar bill across the bar. “Keep them coming until the money is gone.”

  As Babyface began singing “Soon As I Get Home,” Emerson saw a few couples get up and start dancing. He smiled when he saw Serena stand up and head toward the back of the restaurant. Slamming his glass on the bar, he bounced through the crowd, nearly knocking over a few couples. Finally, he made it to the back hallway just a few feet behind Serena.

  He watched the sway of her hips as she walked into a door marked OFFICE. Looking over his shoulder, he didn’t see a security officer or one of Serena’s friends behind him, and knew it was time to make his move. Emerson walked into the office and slammed the door behind him as Serena walked out of what he assumed was a bathroom.

  “Did you really think I was going to let you do this to me?” he hissed when he and Serena locked eyes.

  “What are you doing in here?” Serena asked.

  “What am I doing in here? You and your lawsuit sank my movie and ruined my reputation with the studios. No one wants anything to do with me.”

  “And that’s my fault?” she snapped as she attempted to push past him.

  Emerson grabbed her and pushed her against the wall, holding her there with a hand on her chest.

  “Get off me! Let me go!” Serena flailed at his hand, trying to free herself.

  He caught her hand. “No, you bitch. How could you do this to me? All you had to do was sign off on the film, but you wanted to fight me,” he growled as he slammed her against the wall.