The Rhythm of Blues (Love In Rhythm & Blues Book 1)

by Love Belvin

  The short guy reached for Ragee with open arms. Raj had to bend to return the embrace, though he only offered one side of his body and one arm. The guy’s eyes squeezed shut as he hugged Raj. That’s when I noticed his sunglasses hidden in his dark, silky hair that fell in clunks. It looked oily.

  When the two broke away, the guy air kissed Raj on both sides. French air kiss. Raj pulled away, standing erect and the guy took a step back and clapped his hands like a season-aged woman. He damn near bounced on his toes. But instead, he narrowed his eyes and faintly sashayed his shoulders.

  Oh, my fuckin’ god. Dude wants Ragee…

  “Whaddup, broadie,” Raj tried to initiate pleasant conversation. “You meet my lady?”

  That’s when the guy paid me an ounce of the attention he did Raj. His smile didn’t falter. In fact, his eyes lit anew.

  “This is her!” That’s when I caught the thick accent. “She’s here!” He tossed his arms in the air, his head went back and eyes rolled back. “Oh, I’ve been eager to meet you. Did Myisha tell you?” He feathered his fingers, inviting me into a hug.

  Remembering my champagne, I slowly moved to accept him. He then offered me the French air kiss, too.

  “Ah?” he asked.

  I blinked, remembering his last comment. “Nuh—no.” I shook my head. “She didn’t tell me at all.”

  “Those cheekbones! The depth in your eyes!” He breathed as he circled me, studying. “We must work together, honey!” The excess of champagne almost had me giggling at his pronunciations.

  “Cool. Just the two of us, though,” I teased, unable to help myself. I tossed my head to Raj’s broad frame beside me. “I don’t share.”

  “Oh!” Basso chirped. “I can handle you both. No worries. I’m a pro.”

  I shook my head with lifted brows. “You’re not understanding.” I smiled. “I don’t share him.” Basso’s face fell as his gaze on Raj lingered from head to toe. I caught the shocked expressions from his companions around him. It took every bit of seriousness I possessed not to laugh my ass off. I couldn’t help myself when I stepped closer to his small frame. “If you knew what swung between those ridged thighs or the fluidness of his tongue, those rumors would be credible,” I whispered.

  Basso gasped. I was so tipsy at this point, I couldn’t give a shit. I’d been having a good time. Raj’s heat was so close his scent pierced my veins, seeping into my bloodstream. That was an intoxication I wasn’t used to. It had me at the edge.

  Apparently, it had the same effect on Franco Basso. His eye turned heavy and his head began to bounce with sass. I swear he growled when his hungry eyes turned to me. “You’re the most envied bitch around. For the first time in my life, you’re the reason I had pussy.” His narrowed eyes brushed against Raj as he walked off, leaving an odd scent of cheek in his wake.

  I swung around to face Ragee.

  “Basso wants to fuck you?”

  Raj glanced around before licking his lips. His eyes lazily landed back on me. “What you know about what swings between my legs and my tongue.”

  Sharp on my wit, I curled my lips, shrugging my face. “I’m only your wife. Shouldn’t I know about those qualities?”

  He snorted with a smile only in his eyes. My sex clenched. He leaned into me, putting his mouth to my ear.

  “I’d like to show you more of what’s swinging between my legs…”

  My eyes fluttered closed and breath caught in my lungs like a fucking teen.

  “I’d like that very much.” I could hardly deliver the words, my heart pounded loudly through my ears.

  Raj stood straight, studying while piercing me with a penetrating gaze. “There’s so much about me you don’t know.”

  “I know.” I did. Boy, did I know he had issues. “I don’t care.” I let go of a deep breath, my eyes falling from his. “I’ve worked with enough troubled men to know I’m married to one. You don’t have to tell a word of anything until you’re ready.” My voice was perceptively low.

  His eyes narrowed. “And you’re good with that?”

  “I have to be. I don’t have a choice. We’re married. Remember?”

  “Not by choice. Remember?” That was sardonic. “By circumstance. You were never checking for Raj before then. Remember?”

  I took the last of my champagne in one big gulp without removing my gaze from him. “And lucky for you, now I wanna fuck him.” I licked the remaining bubbly from my bottom lip. “Over and over and over again.” I swallowed.

  He seemed to have paused, examining me again. He still didn’t trust me, and that was fine: I wasn’t exactly ready to share my all with him either. I just wanted…his incredible body. I craved that connection.

  Finally, he removed his heated gaze from me, eyes circling over my head. He pulled out his phone and punched in a few keys.

  “Let’s go,” he ordered throatily.

  “We haven’t eaten yet.” I pulled the empty flute to my lips, catching the disturbed glint in his eyes. But I couldn’t help my glib. “I’m hungry.”

  “I’ll feed you.” His jaw twitched with that information.

  And I knew, Raj had an agenda.

  Me.

  The minute the revolving door opened to the brutal Minnesota temps, a blast of freeze smacked my face. But not even eighteen degrees Fahrenheit could chill me when Raj’s big aggressive hand held me at the small of my back while we whisked past flashing cameras and catcalls of paparazzi and fans. My thick winter coat couldn’t block the electricity in his touch as he guided me into the high truck and waited for me to scoot over. Seconds after the driver pulled off, my body was yanked next to him, but Raj didn’t touch me. For a beat, he wouldn’t even look at me, but it was understood he wanted my attention. When he finally did look at me, beneath the sensual darkness of his eyes was that presence of hesitation I’d learned that accompanied him each time we were this close. A haze he struggled with. Raj wanted me. He knew it and so did I.

  Without thought, I swung my leg over to straddle him. It was an artless move: I hit my knee on the armrest of the door, the dress synched up to my waist, and my hosiery tore right down the middle. A blast of cool air hit my bare ass, but between my thighs was a blazing inferno.

  “Kiss me!” I breathed into his mouth, pressed my lips to his.

  That’s all the provocation he needed. Raj’s full lips brushed against mine so sweetly. He pulled on my bottom one then quickly lashed his tongue into my mouth. My belly leaped in excitement and I moaned as my mouth moved with his fluidly. I tasted his desire on the top film of his tongue. Beneath it was something I hadn’t figured out yet. I couldn’t help my pussy dragging against his coat. I couldn’t feel his erection, but knew it was there. His hands crept underneath the tail of my coat, and he moaned as his cold hands roved over my mounds, pulling me into him. We kissed hard and long. Our breathing synced into choppy chaos until he pulled away.

  Raj rested his forehead against mine.

  “I’ve never wanted anybody as bad as I want you.”

  I rubbed his ears, brushed my nose against his. We stayed that way for a spell. To me, there was no need for words. We’d both consented.

  Then my phone rang. I reached over to grab it from my clutch.

  Myisha: Hows everything over there? I kinda wish I was there to make sure he’s on his best behavior and not being a pain in the ass.

  The phone pinged again, in my hand this time.

  Myisha: Did everything work out with the Ase Garb stockings? You able to find them?

  What Ase Garb?

  I thought about that. Then I recalled her matching a pair with my Super Bowl ensemble. A pair I didn’t have. Myisha asked me to go down to her room where she had a brand new pack of them. The question was could I fit them. I may have lost a few pounds, but she was size six - seven to my new ten. She said she’d have a pair shipped tomorrow if they didn’t work. Luckily, though a little snug, they fit.

  A warm tongue lashing my neck had me release an unexpected m
oan; my crotch rolled over him. I bit my lip, trying to remain lucid. Raj’s mouth could make me forget my middle name.

  My shaky fingers moved quickly.

  Me: Yes.

  My mouth moved to find his. I used my tongue to trace his lips. Damn! I couldn’t wait to get him naked. Before tonight, I hadn’t seen Raj fully unclothed.

  “I wanna see you naked,” I whispered into his mouth.

  He laughed into mine, warm sweet breath hitting the roof of my mouth, his eyes half-mast.

  My phone sounded again.

  Myisha: Damn girl! You hit me back with one word. You okay. That asshole fuckin with you? I been tryna call him all night but I can cuss his stubborn ass the fck out if you need me to.

  “Yo, who that?” he grumbled beneath me.

  I licked my lips as I typed. “Myisha threatening to fuck you up if you’re fucking with me. I’m telling her I’m good. I’m about to fuck you.”

  Me: LOL. He’s right here. Just weird typing like that. I’m good. Hit you in the morning.

  “Man, stop playing.” He tried chuckling.

  I kissed his lips, knowing he didn’t exactly enjoy my coarse language.

  “Would it be a problem if I told her that?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Why?”

  “Because ain’t none of her business. I don’t talk to her about stuff like that.”

  I bit the inside of my lip as I processed that. There was so much to learn about Ragee. The incredible dynamic with his inner circle. I was too hot and revved up to question him. So, I kissed him again instead. Hard, fast, and expressively. We fell into a kissing frenzy once again. I got caught up in his scent, heat, and tongue skillset.

  At some point, I felt successive squeezes on my ass. Raj withdrew.

  “We’re here,” he croaked.

  I glanced around and saw bright lights pushing through the tint of the windows and recognized the door to the hotel lobby. Gingerly, I pulled away from him to let myself down. Raj helped and gave me a few minutes to right my dress before he opened the car door. We moved briskly into the lobby with his security on our heels. The elevator was magically waiting when we approached it.

  On the ride up, Raj murmured to his staff, “We’re good to the room.”

  After a few curious stares at each other then him, they nodded their understanding.

  We arrived at our floor and Raj tossed his chin, telling me to go first. He joined me and turned back toward his security.

  “I’ll hit you in the morning.”

  They nodded again just before the doors moved to close. The minute they were, I was carried to the wall behind me and lifted to straddle his waist. Raj managed his heavy coat off. He peeled mine off right after. My dress was conveniently at my waist again and his mouth was on mine, tasting and probing. I answered by matching his oral pace and ripping his shirt open, popping the buttons off. Right away, we were out of breath again. I could feel and hear him unzip beneath me.

  “You good with this?” he panted.

  “You wanna feel what’s inside my thong to know?”

  I wanted him so bad. My breasts tingled and sex throbbed at this point.

  Raj shook his head, eyes blinking. “I need you to say it. Tell me you’re good with this.”

  I searched his eyes. What was this about? Why was consent so important to him? Was he one of those accused of touching someone inappropriately in his grandmother’s house?

  I gritted, “Unequivocally, fuck yea—”

  “That mouth,” he growled before his teeth clashed into mine.

  His tongue swept my mouth and just then, I felt the head of his dick swipe over my sex. His fingers worked overtime to push the small triangle to the side and feel me skin on skin, directly over my weeping pussy.

  Fuck!

  I didn’t think I’d ever been so wet before meeting Ragee. My head slammed against the wall and I moaned unabashedly. I didn’t give a damn we shared the floor with another suite. Right here, in the hall, I was losing my mind.

  Raj lined his swollen head with my entrance and plunged. No warning, no gentleness, just one sweep until at least half of him was inside. I could feel my pussy pulsate around him. His eyes were squeezed closed and lips pulled back, exposing his beautiful teeth.

  “Wynter…” he whispered.

  I moved, pushing my sex into him. I wanted to drive him crazy. That was all he needed, because Raj pulled back and rammed into me again. I saw stars behind my lids, but my belly stirred and groin churned.

  “I’m gonna come,” I breathed, eyes so relaxed, I could cry.

  I caught Raj’s expression go wild before he caught himself. Then he began to stroke. His thick ridges brushing against my walls, my thighs squeezing around him, so I wouldn’t fall. Shit… He felt too good to fall. Raj moved in and out, and I felt myself soften for him.

  The sounds of our smacking pelvises and his pounding deep into my wet core were crude, dirty—publicly lewd. Yet somehow I knew he didn’t care. The strange guy who freaked when I touched his cock in the privacy of his bed was unmistakably fucking me hard and loud in public. Too preoccupied in a web of pleasure, I couldn’t unravel the antinomy.

  “Oh, god!” My head fell back.

  I was coming and hard, feeling the barbell rocking against my walls. My pussy clamped down on him, throbbing against the swollen ridges of his thickness, enhancing the pressure. Pleasure shot from my core to the heated soles of my swaying feet. My hips locked and arms tightened around him while bliss rained over me. Roughly, my chin was yanked down.

  His dark narrowed eyes shot like bullets into mine. His lips pursed and the vein running the center of his forehead raised as he hammered into me even harder. My mouth held open, empty cries echoing out in breaths.

  As my body vibrated from the energy plummeting into me and my lungs squeezed, I realized Raj was exploding himself. He thickened inside me, and his thrusts turned urgent and less fluid. I watched as his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he collapsed onto me, on the wall. His breaths were violent on my neck, dick still pulsating deep inside me.

  “That was…” I could barely speak with his heavy weight crushed into me. My lungs working past their capacity. “…a head trip.”

  “That was dangerous,” sloughed from his belly.

  15

  I watched her and she watched me as she pushed her half-eaten plate away and grabbed a bottle of Evian. She twisted off the cap and took a few gulps. When she was done, she tossed me a wink, reaching over to put the bottle back on the table.

  I decided to look away. The crackling fire blazed almost at the erratic pace of my brain. I was too drawn to Wynter and too fast. A month ago, I didn’t know her and was good with it. Now, I couldn’t get her out of my head. And no matter how recently we’d had sex, I craved more.

  “How was your chicken?”

  The sound of her voice brought me back to the table. I looked down at my plate with a few greens remaining.

  “It was pretty good.” I sat up, taking a deep breath.

  Wynter’s eyes wouldn’t leave mine. She was a distraction herself, wearing just my shirt at the dining room table. After we finished in the hall, we finally came into the suite where she used the bathroom in the bedroom, and I headed straight to the one in the hall. Afterwards, I asked her what she wanted to eat then went into the living room to order dinner.

  “I was surprised you ordered a salad.”

  “I’m on a diet.”

  I scratched my brow. “You know, you don’t talk about yourself much.” Wynter took another sip of her water. “We’ve talked. A lot. And every time I reflect back on a conversation—because I do often—I realize you’ve never given much of yourself.”

  She swallowed the bubble in her cheeks. “What do you wanna know, Raj?”

  My head reared and I blew out a breath as I tried to think of something significant, now that I had the opportunity. It’s not that Wynter was a closed book, but there was so much about her I didn�
��t know. That wasn’t fair to me, considering I’d been lowering my guard around her almost every day over the past few weeks.

  “I don’t know. Maybe why did you wait until now to start losing weight.”

  Without a hint of a smile, she came back with, “I don’t know. Maybe because I now have the lifestyle to do it. For years, I was in the rat race, similar to you, only my accumulation was in tens and not millions, so I had little time for personal recreation.” She tossed her hand into the air, shrugging. “It took a year and a half to put on and I never got the time to address it.”

  “So, you weren’t always this size?” Wynter shook her head, her eyes going over to the fireplace in the living room.

  That one room lit up practically all the common areas of the suite.

  “I got into a car accident. Pretty bad. Tore my ACL from banging the side of my knee. That set me back for a few months.” With pouted lips, she inhaled deeply. “Then I let depression set in while out on medical leave. When that was up, one hundred percent healed or not, I had to go back to work. The rat race.” She smiled tightly.

  Wynter always kept things light. Except with me. When I kicked it with her, she didn’t make me feel humor was a part of the equation.

  “Anybody with you in the accident?”

  She cleared her throat, sitting up and closing the shirt around her cleavage. “No. Just me.” And there was that crafty smile again. Wynter was nervous about the topic. “And thank God. I was a mess all by myself.” She began to fiddle with the cap of the water bottle, eyes squinting as she studied it. “So grateful no one else was involved.”

  “How much you still wanna lose?”

  “I was almost one hundred forty-five pounds before the accident. Had been maintaining that for a while.”

  “You’ve lost a lot of weight. You’re good—look good. Why the push?”

  She rolled her eyes, but I didn’t feel like it was toward me, probably the subject.

  After taking a deep breath, she answered, “Because I need to get it off of me. The weight’s turned me into someone I don’t know. I held on to it so long, it feels like more than my appearance changed.”