by Candace Shaw
However, there she was standing outside with irritated eyes while praying that her short, flared leather skirt didn’t do a Marilyn Monroe blow up as she waited with Sean for the next trolley to arrive. Since he’d parked his car at the Peabody and walked the few blocks to Beale Street, he decided to leave his car there for now. Traci still couldn’t believe she formed her mouth to invite him to her little one room loft. She’d invited only two other men there, but it was after plenty of dates, and they didn’t go past first base. She hadn’t even been on a date with Sean, and she was fantasizing about sprinting past all of the bases to a home run.
Sean had grabbed her hand earlier as they’d walked through the crowds of people still waiting to get in and it was still nestled in his. Her fingers intertwined with his was warm and comforting like a bowl of homemade chili, and she almost didn’t want the trolley to arrive anytime soon just so she could be joined with him for a little while longer. At the same time, she couldn’t wait to get back to her apartment to be joined with him in other ways. When the Riverfront Loop trolley arrived, not once did he let go of her hand. In fact, he squeezed it harder when they stepped onto the almost full trolley, and he glanced over his shoulder to grace her with an alluring smile. After he paid for them both, he led her to an empty seat and pulled her onto his lap. She was surprised she didn’t protest, but A) there wasn’t anywhere else to sit and B) that’s where she wanted to be: nestled in his strong arms that were now wrapped around her waist, and her body meshed against his hard chest. His enticing scent filled their small space, and the noise from the other passengers was blocked from his breathing in her ear.
“Comfortable?” Sean asked as his tongue flicked against her earlobe when he spoke.
Traci didn’t know if it was on purpose or not, but that didn’t stop the tingling sensation to swirl through her like a tornado.
“Yes. Are you?”
“Very.”
The noisy college-aged crowd of about ten got off at the next stop making the seat next to Sean available. She tried to slide off his lap, but instead he held her tighter and kissed her softly on the lips.
“Where are you going?” he asked with a cocky smirk followed by a gentle tug of her bottom lip with his teeth.
“Nowhere,” she whispered, returning the kiss but deepening it as their tongues twirled around slowly together. She couldn’t believe the power this man possessed over her. She was never one for public displays of affection. Maybe a peck on the cheek or holding hands, but not sitting on his lap and kissing him as if no one else was there. However, with Sean she forgot the world around her, and she was able to let go of her inhibitions, not caring about what others were witnessing or thinking.
He ended their kiss when the trolley stopped, and she opened her eyes to peer out at her surroundings. People were passing by them to get off, and she realized this was her stop as well when she noticed one of her neighbors. Reluctantly sliding off of Sean’s lap, she grabbed his hand.
“This is our stop.”
Afterwards, they walked hand-in-hand until they made it to her second floor loft apartment. She rattled her brain trying to remember whether or not her clothes were still scattered on the bed. She’d had an inkling Sean would show up tonight at the restaurant, and she wanted to wear something sexy which was why she settled on the black, off-the-shoulder blouse and the leather skirt with heels. At least the four-inch strappy sandals gave her a little extra height. At five-two and a half—she always claimed her half—she felt so tiny next to men his height, and considering she was barely a size four she felt even smaller. She remembered overhearing his mom and sisters saying that Sean preferred the model-type, such as the girl who was at his house the other day. Or even Zaria, who should’ve been on a catwalk in every fashion show for Givenchy and other iconic designer brands.
Once she unlocked the door, Sean followed her in. When she tossed her keys and purse on the little table by the door, her breathing became unhinged as she felt his overwhelming presence behind her. She was scared to move or look at him. Now that he was there, she was terrified of his next move. When he didn’t say anything, she turned toward him.
“You want something to eat or drink?”
“What do you have?” he asked as his eyes glanced around her cozy loft and rested back on her.
“Water, wine, and juice.”
“Wine sounds good.”
“You can have a seat on the couch,” she said, motioning toward the little seating area as she trekked toward the kitchen. She kept an eye on him while she pulled the glasses out of the cabinet. He hadn’t sat down yet. Instead, he roamed around the room looking at her décor and the few pictures of her family she had displayed on a bookshelf. She glanced at the bed in the corner when she noticed him look in that direction. Thankfully, she did hang up her clothes, but now she was wondering if he would even fit in the bed with her. She shook her head of those thoughts as anticipation trembled through her and she almost dropped the bottle of wine.
“This is a nice place you have here. I love the exposed brick and the ceiling beams.” He plopped on the off-white couch and sat his car keys on the coffee table next to her chess set. “I see you play chess.” He fiddled with a few of the pieces. “Are you any good?”
She handed him his wine and sat next to him. “I was on the chess team from middle school to college, and I have plenty of trophies at my mother’s house. So yes, I’m good. Quite good actually.”
A curious expression washed over his face while he sipped the pinot grigio. Placing the wine glass on the table, he leaned back on the couch and pulled her toward him. He rested his forehead on hers and his pupils turned dark; she recognized the gleam in his eyes. He wanted her, and he was in luck for she wanted him as well. She definitely knew why she’d invited him back to her place, and it wasn’t to admire the architectural designs or discuss chess. Her curiosity had gotten the best of her, and she could no longer hold out.
He traveled a finger down her arm. “I would love to see just how good you are,” he said in a heavy, amorous tone.
She gulped and her breathing unraveled. “Do you have any … condoms? I’ve never had unprotected sex before.”
An amused smirk appeared before he burst out into a loud, sarcastic laugh. He backed off of her. “Um … I was referring to us playing chess.”
Her face flushed with heat as she shook her head back and forth as the embarrassment of her question filled the atmosphere. She tried to speak but couldn’t. She couldn’t even glance in his direction. Instead, she stared straight ahead at her father’s chess set.
He handed her his wine glass. “Would you like some wine?” he asked with a muffled laugh.
“N–no. I’m so embarrassed right now. I thought … well, I mean … you … I never know with you.”
“Its fine, but at least I know you prefer condoms. That’s makes two of us. So do you want to play chess with me?”
She finally looked at him. “You can play?”
“I play very well. I, too, have some trophies at my parents’ home.”
“All right. Let’s see what you can do.”
He snickered and grabbed her to him once more as a meek gasp escaped her throat. “Okay … but I’ll have to take a trip to the drug store first,” he said jokingly with a wink.
“Ha ha. Very funny.” She wrestled out of his embrace and stood. “I’m going to take my contacts out and then come back to whip your ass.” She paused, remembering the whip she saw on his kitchen island. “In chess.”
His stare turned wicked. “Nah … I think it’s safe to say I’ll be the one doing the spanking no matter what game we’re playing.”
*****
For the next hour they played chess and sipped wine while trying to outsmart the other. Sean was quite impressed. She could indeed play, and her concentration was impeccable. He tried to break it by gazing at her intently in a seductive manner or running his foot up her bare leg under the kitchen table. Nothing he did could faze he
r except the one time he ran his tongue over his bottom lip. She winced for a second before clearing her throat and knocking his last knight out of the way. He was stumped. Dumbfounded. He’d spent so much time to break her concentration that he hadn’t realized what had happened. No matter which way he moved any of his pieces, she’d set it up where his king would be defeated.
“You wanna play again?” she asked, peering at him over her glasses before setting them on the table next to all the chess pieces she seized from his side.
Chuckling, he poured himself another glass of wine. “No. It’s clear to me I can’t play chess with a pretty girl.”
She nodded her head with a gloating expression. “Uh huh. You spent all that time trying to break my concentration and ended up losing, but you made some smooth moves as well.”
He bounced out of the chair and drew her up to him. “You want to experience some more of my smooth moves.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Wait right here.”
Remembering the crate of records he saw on the floor in front of her bookshelf, he skipped off in that direction. He stooped down and thumbed through her jazz collection.
“Sweet,” he said, holding up a Thelonious Monk record. “You have all of the classics.”
“They belonged to my father. I grew up listening to jazz and blues thanks to him. He played them all the time.”
Sean raised himself back up and noticed the record player on the second shelf. Turning it on, he placed the record on it. He hadn’t played one in years, so he carefully set the needle on the first song as to not scratch it. He was certain her father’s collection was sentimental to her.
“Brilliant Corners” filled the room, and he made the few steps back to her and pulled her to him once more, encircling his arms around her waist.
“So you’re going to show me your dance moves?”
“For now.” He twirled them around as she giggled uncontrollably.
Sean was surprised at himself tonight. When he’d first arrived, his intent was to grab her to him and kiss her senseless before she could close the door. His manhood was still half awake from spending all day with her planting his garden. However, for some reason he knew it wasn’t time yet even if she thought it was.
After the third song, they crashed on the couch with her straddling his lap while facing him and still laughing. He glanced at the clock on the bookshelf. It was after midnight. He’d been having so much fun with her he hadn’t thought about the time. Usually when he was with a woman, or women, they’d be on round two by now, but with Traci he was enjoying himself and sex wasn’t even on his mind, or at least not in the forefront. Not that he didn’t want her for he did. He couldn’t believe the willpower he possessed. If she was any other woman, he would’ve carried her to the bed after their dance. No wait. There never would’ve been a dance or a chess game. His idea of foreplay were things such as hot oil massages or kissing her all over until she begged for him to put it in.
“What are you thinking?” she asked, running her tongue over his mouth. He caught it between his lips and sucked on it.
“That you taste like heaven.”
Delving his tongue into her mouth, he deepened their kiss as moans of relief escaped her. She was more passionate than he expected which rippled into him as he reached under her skirt and grasped her hips to steady himself from her fervent kisses. He could feel her panties through his pants and they were hot. He wanted to glide his hand down to witness just how hot and wet she was for him, but he didn’t. Instead, he left her mouth and slid his tongue down her neck, rolling it around and gently nibbling as she held unto his head. Her soft moans mixed in with her whispering his name were doing him in. Sean didn’t know how much longer he could hold on, but he wanted to taste all of her before going any further.
“Oh, Sean. That feels wonderful.”
He skated lower to her collarbone and down to the top of her blouse. Pulling it down, he exposed her strapless black bra. She yanked the blouse and the bra down to her waist to reveal her bountiful breasts. They weren’t too big or too small. They were just right. He figured she was a B cup. Maybe 34 or 36 bra size. Whatever size they were, they fit into his large hands as he massaged them while returning his lips to her neck which released another erotic moan from her. Moving her body up and down on him, he gripped her butt cheeks and pressed her harder onto him so she could feel the rock solidness of his erection through her panties. She leaned her head back as he planted kisses along her collarbone and down to her breasts, teasing and taunting her nipples. Squeezing his shoulders, she wrapped her legs around his waist as he lifted her and flipped her over on to the couch. Taking a nipple into his mouth once more, she let out a long purr and streaked her fingernails down his back. Traci was like a little wild cat, and she was throwing him off his game as her untamed moans resonated in the air.
“Sean … please?”
He lifted his head and positioned his lips over hers. Her eyes were feral and dark. He knew the look; she was past the point of no return.
“Please what?”
She grinded against his manhood and tightened her legs around his waist.
He captured her lips with his, kissing her intensely as she matched him with the same powerful rhythm. His body shook at the thought of being joined with her, but in the back of his mind he knew it wasn’t time yet. The more he kissed her, the deeper under her spell he was falling and he needed to get a grip … and quick. He couldn’t remember the last time this had happened; however, when he looked down into her hazy eyes he knew there hadn’t been a time before this one. She was different. Special. She was the woman who was making him think about taking it slow. As much as he wanted her right then, he also knew now wasn’t the moment no matter how much he yearned to be one with her.
Sean lifted his head and ran a loving hand along her cheek. Her dimples indented, and he kissed them both. Raising himself up and then her, he shifted so she was back on his lap facing him.
Traci ran her tongue down his neck and began to unbutton his shirt. She was making it hard for him to keep his will power in tact but he needed to. He gently clutched her hands.
“Dimples … let’s just take this slow.”
“I love when you call me dimples,” she said breathlessly, diving to his neck again to begin sucking and nibbling on it.
“You feel so good, woman, but I’m trying my damnednest not to unzip my pants.”
“But I want you to.” She kissed his lips. “I really do.”
“I know … I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I really want to continue getting to know you before we go any further. Okay?”
She stared at him with wide eyes and shook her head in disbelief. “Really?”
“Yes, really. You seem very surprised.”
“Well, I am. I just thought … well …”
“Traci, for the first time I want to take things slow. I’m literally shocking myself, too, but I like you. A lot. There’s something about you that shakes me to the pit of my stomach. When I look at your beautiful face, my heart warms up and I have this … overpowering feeling of peace and serenity. I’m surprising myself right now because I don’t pour out my heart like this, but you’re doing something strange to me that I can’t explain.”
She slid off of his lap on to the couch, but leaned back over and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you for being a gentleman.” She pulled up her blouse and tossed her bra over to her bedroom area.
“You’re welcome. I think I should be going before that goes out the window.”
They stood at the same time and he bent down to kiss her forehead. “Good night. I had a great time.”
“Me too,” she answered softly, resting her arms around his waist and straining her neck to look up at him. “You’re so tall. I’m going to have a crook in my neck from staring up at you while trying to hug you.”
He gathered her up in his arms, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. “Is that better?”<
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“Yes, but you can’t always pick me up to hug me.”
Walking with her to the door, he kissed her gently before placing her back on the floor. “I can and I will.” He opened the door. “Good night, dimples.”
“Good night.”
He strolled to the elevator and was surprised to see Garrett coming out of an apartment a few doors down from Traci’s. “What’s up, man?”
“Hey. I was just chilling with Cait,” Garrett said as the two men got on the elevator.
“Cool.” Sean pressed the ground floor button. “You’re going to see her again?”
“Um … maybe. I don’t know. She’s nice, but … I doubt it. So how was your evening? It’s only one o’clock in the morning. I’m surprised you aren’t spending the night.”
“Yeah, I’m surprised, too.”
“She turned you down?” They stepped off the elevator and headed to the double doors that led to the street.
“No. We agreed we’d just get to know each other first. No point in rushing.” The more he spoke it out loud he was still in shock. He had a chance to be with her tonight. Even had two magnums in his wallet.
“Wait? What? Man, you’re falling hard. Real hard.”
“Yep. I can’t believe it either, but Traci is the type of woman I’ve been searching for. She’s my kind of girl, and I intend to make her mine.”
Chapter Seven
Sean strolled into Raven’s home a few minutes before the family meeting was supposed to begin. Delicious aromas drifted to his nose and perked his taste buds. He stopped by the dining room first and peeked his head in to see the display of food that Justin set up for everyone to sample. Zaria had emailed the menu selection, and Sean couldn’t wait to taste the blackened salmon and the kale salad. He heard voices from the great room and decided to head in there even though he wanted to grab a plate of food.