Love After War

by Cheris Hodges

  Adrian shook his head. He was about to tell Dana to have the bike towed when Heather Williams called out his name. Dana looked at her and then back at Adrian. “Friend of yours?”

  “This will only take a minute,” he said as he dashed over to Heather.

  What in the hell? she thought as she watched the two of them talk in hushed tones. The valet brought Ian’s bike around to the curb and handed Dana the helmet. “Thanks,” she said as she glanced over her shoulder at Heather and Adrian, assuming that Heather was his revenge or backup plan in case she and Ian were serious. She was about to start up the bike when Adrian ran over to her and hopped on the back of the Harley. He wrapped his arms around Dana’s waist. “Are you going to give me ride or what?”

  “I thought you were setting that up with Heather.”

  “That was strictly business. She’s hosting an after-party at my club tonight,” he said.

  Dana paused and glanced over her shoulder. “But I thought you had—”

  “It’s been taken care of,” he said. “So, are you going to take me for a ride or what?”

  She flipped the visor down on her helmet and smiled before taking off from the curb, giving Adrian a jolt as they took off. He held her tightly, almost understanding why this dangerous hobby of hers was so thrilling. But he wasn’t about to get one of these death machines and he wasn’t going to make a hobby of riding with Dana, even though he’d asked for the ride.

  When she brought the bike to a stop at the curb of the Beverly Hilton, Adrian was happy to hop off. “So, we’ll take a cab from here?” Adrian asked.

  “Or we can walk and you tell me all about your business with Heather Williams,” she said as she locked Ian’s helmet on the back of the bike.

  “All right,” he said. “And then you can tell me what was up with you and Hollywood Ken.” Adrian folded his arms across his chest and raised his eyebrow at her. “I don’t have anything to hide.”

  “And Ian and I are just friends. Imani introduced us because she thought . . . You know what, I’m not the one who has a history of lying.”

  “Touché. But if we’re starting over, when are you going to let that go?”

  Would she be able to let it go? Would she be able to truly trust Adrian and give herself to him freely? “That’s going to take some time.”

  He took her chin in his hand, forcing her to look into his sparkling eyes. “You’re going to give me the time to make it up to you? I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you and if I could—”

  Dana placed a finger to his lips. “I don’t need you to sell me on that,” she said. “Just promise me that you won’t keep things from me again.”

  Adrian kissed her to stop from telling her another lie. He held her close, nibbling at her bottom lip. “Let’s get out of here. My car is actually two blocks away at my club. I want to show you something.” Before she could say yes or no, Adrian scooped her up in his arms and they took off down the street laughing. Dana couldn’t believe she was having such a good time with Adrian. He was relaxed, seemingly the man she fell in love with two years ago. Now, riding the motorcycle was new. She wondered if this could become a new habit?

  “You can’t keep me out too long,” she said. “I have a photo shoot in the morning at the Sony studios and I have some pictures to edit.”

  Adrian gritted his teeth. “So, am I going to be denied the sight of your face in the morning?”

  “Have you always been this corny or is it a new development?”

  He nibbled at her chin and stroked her cheek. “And you’ve become a comedienne, huh?” Adrian placed Dana on the ground as they arrived at his club. As expected, the place was packed. Adrian scanned the crowd looking for Solomon or Heather. When he saw the two of them approaching each other, he couldn’t wait for the explosion. He wasn’t disappointed as he saw Heather haul off and slap Solomon. The camera phones flashed and Adrian was sure there was a video going as well. He could imagine more protests at the construction site, more headlines and more trouble for that “family values” book.

  “Is that Solomon Crawford?” Dana asked as she took a glance over Adrian’s shoulder. “This can’t be good.”

  Adrian pretended not to care. “And why would that be? He probably hit on the wrong woman.”

  “That’s Heather Williams and from what I heard, they have a history. The tabloids are going to be all over this. Aren’t they building a hotel in Los Angeles?”

  Adrian glanced at Dana, wondering how close she was to the Crawford family. “You know them pretty well or something?”

  “Ever yone in New York knows of them,” Dana said, entranced by the scene going on below Adrian’s glass encased office. “Seeing Solomon and Kandace together, you’re reminded that real love exists. There was a big feature on NY One about them.”

  Adrian grabbed his chest and pretended he was having a heart attack. “Was that jab at me?”

  “If the body blow hurts.”

  He drew her against his chest. “How many times and how many ways can I apologize?” His lips brushed against her forehead, sending a tingle down her spine that caused a rippling of desire between her thighs.

  She smiled. “I can think of a few.”

  Seeing the passion in her eyes, Adrian slipped his hand inside the halter of her jumpsuit, teasing and massaging her breast until she moaned as her nipple hardened. Exposing her breast, he covered her nipple with his hot mouth. Dana closed her eyes, tossing her head back, forgetting that there was some drama going on behind the glass. Her knees quaked as the top of her suit fell down and Adrian’s hands roamed her back while his mouth pleasured her breasts.

  “Step out of this thing,” he said, pulling back from her for a brief moment. Dana shifted her hips, allowing the suit to flutter to the floor, and mentally patted herself on the back for ditching her underwear.

  Adrian let out an appreciative whistle. “Damn, woman, you look good enough to eat. As a matter of fact”—he spread her legs—“I think I will.” He dropped to his knees, then coaxed her to straddle his face. His tongue sought out her throbbing bud, lapping the sweetness of her desire as she called out his name.

  “Oh yes,” she cried. He held her thighs tightly, kissing and licking her wet folds until she nearly collapsed on top of him. Adrian pointed to the plush sofa in the corner and silently told her to go there. On shaky legs, she crossed the room as he shed his clothes, then joined her on the sofa. Her eyes fell on his hardness and in the back of her mind, she decided she needed to make him moan as he’d done her just moments ago. Propping up on her knees, Dana reached out and grabbed Adrian around the waist. “Let me taste you now,” she said huskily. Before Adrian could say a word, Dana’s lips and tongue had him in her grasp and he loved it. She was so sensual and sexy. But when she locked eyes with him, she nearly brought him to climax. “Need. Inside. You. Now.” He stepped back from her and she seductively licked her lips, which made him harder than a concrete column.

  He grabbed his pants and fished a condom out of his wallet and slid the sheath in place. Crossing over to the sofa, he grabbed Dana’s waist and pulled her against him. She wrapped her legs around his waist, giving him direct access to where she needed him most.

  “Damn, damn, damn,” he moaned as he plunged into her.

  Dana gasped, moaned, and gripped his shoulders as he ground against her.

  “Adrian. Adrian. Adrian.” Her climax was near; she could feel the explosion building, and when he thrust forward, she let it go.

  Adrian nibbled on her neck, slowing his pace, just following the rhythm of her moans, and finally, he came. Falling against each other, they rested on the sofa, breathing in sync and for that moment in time, all that mattered to Adrian was the woman he held in his arms.

  “Too bad we can’t spend the night here,” he whispered against her ear as he stroked her bare back. “I don’t think I want to let you put clothes on ever again.”

  “Mmm,” she moaned. “Too bad I have to work tomorrow.” />
  “Pictures of the stars?”

  “That is why I’m here, though I’m sure you’d like to believe I’d come two thousand miles for you.” Dana laughed.

  “I’d go twenty-two thousand miles for you,” he said, suddenly growing serious. “Dana, I never should’ve let you go. Never should’ve—”

  She placed her index finger to his lips. “You’ve apologized enough. Let’s move forward, together. But don’t expect me to give up my motorcycle this time. You’re going to have to deal with it.”

  “Can’t get you to trade it for another Corvette? The new Mustang?”

  Dana tweaked his nose, then kissed his cheek. “Nope. Maybe you should learn to ride.”

  Adrian shook his head furiously. “I’ll leave that to you. Just promise me, no racing. And no long rides with Hollywood Ken.”

  “Give that a rest. Imani was just trying to hook up every single person she knows, since that’s her duty as a happily married woman.”

  Adrian sucked his teeth. “She doesn’t care for me much, huh?”

  Dana shrugged. “She doesn’t know you. But that’s neither here nor there. I like you.”

  “Just like?”

  She brushed her lips against his. “You know it’s more than that.”

  He held Dana’s face between his palms, looking directly into her eyes. Adrian missed the days when they could freely say I love you. He missed the days when she was all that mattered. If his father had been worth a damn, Adrian wouldn’t be on this quest for revenge. He would’ve never lost her in the first place if Elliot Crawford hadn’t shirked his responsibilities as a father.

  “What?” she asked.

  “I’ve never stopped loving you.”

  “Will you tell me why you did what you did one day?” She bit her bottom lip. “I don’t want to ruin this moment, but you’re going to have to tell me at some point.”

  “You’re right, let’s not ruin the moment. Hungry?”

  “A little. And I know just what I want.”

  “What’s that?”

  “One of your omelets, so let’s go to your place.” Adrian smiled, remembering how she would devour his cheese and tomato omelets—the only dish he was able to cook.

  “I guess we’re going to have to stop by Albertsons on Venice, then,” he said as he released her and they got dressed.

  When Dana went into the bathroom, Adrian remembered the drama he’d set into motion and glanced out at the club while pulling his shirt over his head. Solomon and Heather were gone. He wondered if Solomon, like his father, had taken Heather away so that he could cheat on his wife.

  “I’m ready,” Dana said, breaking into his thoughts.

  “And you’re still half naked. What’s going on?”

  “Nothing, just looking out there to see what’s going on.”

  Dana nodded. “Did you ever get things straightened out?”

  “What? Oh, yes.”

  She gave him a surreptitious glance but kept quiet. Adrian slipped his pants on, crossed over to Dana, and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Let’s get out of here before you change your mind or remember how my omelets really taste.”

  Chapter 10

  After a quick stop at the grocery store, Dana and Adrian arrived at his penthouse ravenous and ready to cook. Well, in Dana’s case, watch Adrian work his magic with the eggs. She wasn’t going to lift a finger to cook. As Adrian unloaded the groceries and Dana made herself comfortable on a bar stool in the kitchen, he wished this was an everyday occurrence, coming home and looking into her smiling face. Sure, they wouldn’t eat omelets every day, but he would spend many days and nights doing whatever made her smile.

  “What?” she asked when she caught his gaze.

  “Nothing.” He set the eggs on the counter and leaned into Dana. “How in love with New York are you?”

  “That came out of nowhere.” She grinned. “New York is a part of me—now. Why?”

  “Because I want you to come back to me, back to LA.”

  Dana sucked in a deep breath. “Don’t you think it’s a little early for that?”

  “I made the mistake of letting you go before, and I’m not going to let that happen again.”

  “Who says I’m ready to take that chance with you again?” Honestly, Dana wasn’t sure how much she was willing to give up for love this time. “Why can’t you move to New York?”

  He gritted his teeth. Moving to New York would mean being in the place that caused his mother nothing but pain. He’d be within striking distance of his father and he wasn’t sure that he could be that close to Elliot Crawford and not want to kill him.

  “New York has never been one of my favorite places.”

  “And I hate LA. The traffic, the smog, and the air kisses. Ugh. Most of the people out here are plastic. New Yorkers are real.”

  Adrian reached for a mixing bowl from above the refrigerator. “Then I guess we’re going to have to find some sort of midway point, huh? Chicago?”

  “Are you serious?” she asked as he cracked the eggs in the bowl.

  Adrian nodded and whisked the eggs. “These last two years without you have been hell and I don’t want to lose another day.”

  “Then why?” she asked, her voice low and dripping with leftover hurt. “Why did you push me away when all I wanted was to be there for you? I know how much your mother meant to you. I was fond of her as well. You robbed me of my chance to grieve her too.”

  Adrian placed the bowl on the counter and crossed over to Dana. “I’m . . . Sorry isn’t enough,” he said as he drew her into his arms. Part of him knew he should come clean. He should tell her about his father, the secret his mother told him on her death bed. But still, he didn’t want her involved in the ugliness that was about to envelope his life. “Dana.”

  “Don’t ‘Dana’ me. I really feel like you’re holding something back,” she said.

  “Why do you say that?” Tell her the truth, his conscience called out.

  “I know you.”

  “Dana.” He stroked her cheek and smiled. “There’s nothing I need to confess other than I love you.”

  She eyed him suspiciously. Adrian kissed her softly, gently sucking on her bottom lip because he recognized that look she’d given him. “Let me start cooking,” he said when he released her.

  Dana wasn’t convinced by his act. He was hiding something. While he cooked, Dana decided to make some mimosas. “I know you have some champagne in here.” She crossed over to the refrigerator and fished out a bottle of Perrier-Jouët. She held the bottle up as Adrian sprinkled a handful of cheese over the eggs. “I see you still keep the good stuff.”

  “Yes, and you’re the only one who I want to share this with,” he said as she popped the cork. Dana shook her head at him.

  “Laying it on a little thick, huh?” she asked as she crossed over to the cabinet and grabbed two champagne flutes.

  Adrian flipped the eggs and added more cheese; then he turned the heat down and walked over to the edge of the bar where Dana stood, pouring orange juice into the glasses. He took the juice from her hands, pushed the glasses, juice, and champagne to the other end of the bar. “Let me show you how I lay it on thick.” Adrian lifted Dana up onto the edge of the bar, then kissed her with a hot and smoldering desire that shook her to the core. When he untied the halter of her jumpsuit, Dana moaned in anticipation. Adrian massaged her breasts until her nipples were diamond hard. Just when he was about to take one of them into his mouth, the buzzing of his smoke alarm put the brakes on. “Shit,” he muttered, realizing that he’d dropped a pot holder on the eye of the stove. He put out the small fire as Dana laughed hysterically.

  “What were you thinking about?” she asked as she hopped off the counter.

  Adrian tilted his head, focusing a stare on her bare breasts. “If you have to ask . . .”

  Dana pretended to be scandalized and covered her chest with her arm. “Well, sir, I can’t believe you’re lusting after my body when I’m starv
ing.”

  Adrian glanced at the omelets in the pan. Satisfied that they would be good, he plated them and asked, “So, how do you plan to earn your supper, ma’am?”

  Dana shrugged out of her jumpsuit and placed her hands on her hips. “I guess we can work something out.”

  Adrian dropped the plates on the bar. “Hot damn,” he exclaimed.

  Dana sauntered over to him and took a plate off the counter. “Not until I eat,” she said. “You’re welcome to watch.”

  Adrian picked up his plate and the mimosas, then followed a naked Dana into the living room. He’d missed times like this. Missed watching the sway of her hips in front of him on quiet evenings at home. How many more moments like this would they have together?

  “Let’s toast,” he said when he joined her on the sofa.

  Dana took the glass he’d offered and smiled at him. “What are we toasting to?”

  “Second chances.”

  Dana clanked her glass against his. “I’ll drink to that.”

  Adrian watched as she sipped from the glass. Her lips were so enticing and he really didn’t want to eat the omelet that he’d cooked. He had a taste for Dana. She set her glass on the coffee table and planted herself on Adrian’s lap. “I’m suddenly not very hungry,” she whispered as she thrust her hips forward.

  “I could eat . . . something.” He lifted her until he was facing her feminine mound of desire. Slowly, he kissed her thigh, licking her as if she were an ice cream cone as she spread her legs. She was so wet and ready for his mouth. Adrian felt her quiver as he brought her closer to his lips. His tongue split her wet slit and she moaned in delight.

  Her passionate cries made him go deeper, suck harder until his erection ached, seemingly jealous of his tongue. He peeled his mouth away from her, ready to feel her warmth, needing to be inside her.

  “I need you,” he intoned as he unzipped his pants.

  “You got me,” she replied as she eased down his body to assist in removing his pants and boxers. Dana smiled at the sight of his erection, then stroked it gently.