Love In Arms_BWWM Romance

by Erica A. Davis

  “Getting there,” she said with a short laugh. “I keep asking myself if I made a mistake; if maybe I should have stayed with him because he loved me and maybe I could get to love him too.”

  “That’s a whole lot of maybes Dawn.” Kimone was very concerned about her friend. When the break up had happened some years ago she had almost become unhinged but she had gotten through it; now, it appeared she was facing something similar. “Are you sure you are not in love with him?”

  “I am sure,” she said with a small smile. “I might not be sure of much these days but that one I am sure of. It’s just that it seems that my life has taken on a pattern. First I was deeply in love and he left and now he loved me and I left him. What if I never find someone who loves me and I love him? What if I never find what you have with Peter? What if I am just reaching for the stars?”

  “Nothing is wrong with reaching for the stars.” Kimone told her. “We are supposed to reach for the unattainable and not settle for what’s within our reach; that’s what’s wrong with a lot of relationships these days honey, we settle. I make no apologies for it but I refuse to settle for the mediocre; it has to be something out of this world. Can you imagine spending the rest of your life with someone you can barely tolerate for years to come? I for one, think that’s a slow death. Wait for that someone Dawn; he’s out there and in the meantime; stop beating yourself up on telling a man you do not love, the truth. If you had gone ahead and married him because you felt pressured into doing so then both of you would be very unhappy and he would end up resenting you for it.”

  “When did you get to be so smart?” her friend teased; the light coming back into her dark brown eyes.

  “Since I have become an old married woman.” She said teasingly; glad to see her friend smiling.

  “Thanks.” Dawn reached out to close her hand over Kimone’s on the table. “I really needed that.”

  “You’re welcome,” Kimone told her sincerely. “And I want to invite you over to the house for a small dinner party I am having this weekend with just you and this girl I met recently and mom and a friend of Peter’s. I figure it’s time I started being a wife to that husband of mine.”

  *****

  “Will you just relax?” Kimberley Bailey told her daughter for the third time in the last half hour. “It’s going to be fine, I am here aren’t I? And you have the very capable Annabelle here as well, so please get out of the kitchen; you are of no use here anyway.”

  Kimone left the kitchen to the two women and went to the living room. Dawn had promised to come over shortly but she was not here yet and Peter had gone to look at a building his company had acquired ,promising faithfully to be back in time to shower and change.

  “You had better,” she had warned him. “I am not used to doing this and I need you by my side.”

  “No place I would rather be,” he had told her, pulling her into his arms and capturing her enticing lips. “I wish we were going to be alone, I just want to be with you.” He had told her huskily as he felt the weight of her small breasts against his chest.

  “We are going to be alone later tonight.” She said wrapping her arms around his neck, feeling the heat racing through her body. They were combustible together and ever since they had declared their love for each other the flame had been fanned to red hot intensity.

  “Too long,” he murmured against her mouth. “I want you now.” And he had taken her right there in the hallway, bracing her up against the wall; her legs wrapped around his waist as he took her swiftly; his pants around his ankles and her panties ruined as he ripped them apart in his haste to get inside her. He had left her there weak and shaken with a bruising kiss on her lips before heading out the door. Kimone had to go and take a quick shower before Annabelle came back because she had gone to the store to get some more vegetables and as soon as she came from the bathroom; her mother had rung the doorbell.

  She had planned the menu with her mother and Annabelle and they had decided to prepare scalloped chicken, chicken teriyaki and Japanese ginger pork with wild rice and a salad with vinaigrette dressing. Her mother had made a chocolate delight for dessert which would be served with homemade vanilla ice cream and black coffee.

  Dawn came by shortly, bringing with her a change of clothes and looking far better than she had a few days ago. “Aren’t you going to give me the grand tour?” she asked, taking off her lightweight jacket and hanging it on the peg just inside the door. It was her first visit to the house and her eyes widened as she took in the elegance and sheer luxury. “You are one lucky woman,” she murmured as Kimone took her through the many rooms with the expensive yet tasteful art hanging on the walls but it was when she came to the master bathroom that she stopped and stared. “This is absolutely beautiful!” she told her friend, taking in the elegant claw footed bath, the mirrors going from one wall to the other; the dazzling pink tinged ceramic tiles and the huge shower stall.

  “The house belonged to Peter’s parents before and they left it to him and he made some changes.” Kimone told her guiding her to a guest bedroom where she could shower and change for the dinner party. “I am glad you are here.” She gave the girl a tight hug before going back to the hallway to answer the door. It was Sandra and the girl hugged her before hurrying off into the kitchen to the delicious scent coming from the room.

  Peter came back as promised and greeted everyone warmly before going off into the bedroom to take a shower. Kimone followed him as soon as she introduced Sandra to Dawn and left the two girls chatting away.

  “I think they hit it off,” she told her husband as she entered the bathroom where he had started undressing.

  “Who?” he paused in the act of shedding his underwear.

  “Sandra and Dawn,” she clarified as she pulled the loose dress she had on over her head. It was a Sunday and the day had proven to be quite mild.

  “Hmm,” he murmured as she came over to him.

  “Peter we don’t have time,” she warned him seeing the light in his dark eyes and feeling the rush of feeling inside her body.

  “We can always find time,” he told her picking her up into his arms and taking her into the shower stall. “Nothing is wrong with bathing my wife is there?” he murmured, turning on the shower and adjusting the temperature of the water.

  “We never just bathe,” she reminded him, closing her eyes as he ran the sponge down her nipple and further down to her pubic area.

  “We always make stops along the way,” he agreed, rubbing the sponge against her mound. Kimone sagged against him and opened her legs to his ministrations; her heart thundering inside her breast.

  *****

  The dinner party was a huge success. Peter’s friend; Donald, a tall friendly African-American and a graphic designer, was very easy to get to know and during the course of the evening she noticed that he had singled out Dawn and they were having a very avid conversation.

  The meal was delicious. Annabelle and her mother had outdone themselves and for dessert they went on to the patio to enjoy the beautiful weather. The flowers in the garden sent off its heavy scent in the air and as it was approaching seven o’clock, there was still light out, enough for them to engage in a game of cards.

  “I love this,” Kimone said with a sigh, leaning back against her husband as they left the group and wandered into the yard. She had seen the gardener, a Japanese gentleman whom Peter had told her had been with the family for a number of years, pruning and weeding and tending to the many flowers and vegetables there.

  “What do you love?” Peter asked her, resting his head on top of her head.

  “Being with you like this,” she bent her head back to look up at him. He had put on a light blue short sleeved shirt and dark blue pants and she had chosen to wear a long electric blue dress that exposed her shoulders and back.

  “So do I,” he murmured, bending his head to kiss her small upturned nose.

  “I think your friend Donald likes Dawn,” she said with a smile, inhali
ng the scent of petunias that were to their right. There was a lovely gazebo further in the yard that Kimone was considering having a cook out there in the summer and invite the many staff her husband had. She had not run it by her husband yet but she was sure it would be no problem.

  “Playing matchmaker?” his voice was amused as he nuzzled her neck. “Why don’t we get rid of our guests and try out the other rooms in the house?”

  “Sounds like a good plan,” she murmured, putting her arms up around his neck and sighing in pleasure as his mouth traveled down her neck to her throat.

  They went back to the party to find Donald and Dawn still in conversation and Sandra talking to her mother. Kimone sat across from her friend and watched as her friend laughed at something the guy said. She did not care what her husband said; it looked like it was the start of something good.

  *****

  They were in her bathroom where Dawn was freshening up before leaving when Kimone asked her casually, “So I noticed that you have been talking to Donald for the entire evening.”

  “I think he is interesting,” her friend said equally casually as she applied the lip gloss on her lips. “Okay fine! I can’t be casual about it! Kimmy I like him so much but I am afraid of it not turning out good, what with my record and all that and I think he likes me too.”

  “Honey I am so happy for you and stop doubting it is going to work out,” Kimone clasped her hands in hers. “Just go with your heart and let your head lead you. So when are you guys going out?”

  “We are going out tomorrow for dinner and we have so much in common. We talked about anything and everything, he is so easy to communicate with; I have a good feeling about this.”

  “Oh honey I am so happy that you are getting back on your feet and the light has come back into your eyes.”

  “Thanks to you,” Dawn said gratefully giving her friend a tight hug. “Even though I messed up as a friend you were still there for me and for that I will always be grateful.”

  “You’re welcome sweetie, that’s what friends are for.”

  “And speaking of friends, I really like Sandra. We should have lunch one day this week.”

  Kimone gave a pleased smile as she linked her hand with her friend’s as they went back to the hallway to join the others. “Most definitely.”

  Chapter 11

  “Here’s to girlfriends’ power!” Sandra raised her glass with a smile on her lips. She had invited Kimone and Dawn to lunch with her because as she put it ‘she needed some girl time’.

  Kimone and Dawn clinked their glasses with hers. They were in a restaurant downtown and Sandra had insisted they had a bottle of champagne even though it was only noon and both Kimone and Dawn had to get back to work.

  The weather was sunny and beautiful as it was near the ending of spring and the ending of May was proving to be spectacular.

  Dawn and Donald had become a twosome and the girl was positively radiating with happiness. Sandra was still with her husband but now she was concentrating with working with underprivileged children and helping Kimone’s mother do volunteer work at the residential home.

  “And a big thanks for our wonderful Kimone who had a huge part in our happiness,” Dawn added, leaning over to kiss her friend’s cheek.

  “Hear hear,” Sandra said raising her glass again.

  “Guys, you are going to make me blush,” Kimone said with a big grin; glad to see that her friends were happy for a change. Sandra had stopped wearing so much make-up and her face looked softer and more serene and she had confessed to her the other day that her husband had been paying more attention to her because she wasn’t sitting around doing nothing and she refused to be put down by him anymore. “I was just doing my duty as the best friend you girls could ever have, no biggie,” she added with an impish smile, showing the delightful gap between her teeth.

  “And humble too,” Dawn said dryly. “For the first time in my number of years, I think I have finally discovered what love is, and I mean true love.”

  “That’s news worth celebrating,” Sandra told her. Kimone reached over and gave her friend’s hand a squeeze. She had called her a few days ago and told her that she and Donald had finally made love and it was like she was floating on a cloud, even long after they were finished.

  “We do everything together and you know how we often dish about black guys being the worst possible guys to fall in love with and how they are nothing but players? He is the exception and I don’t think, I know I am in love with him.”

  “That is really great news girl!” Kimone told her with a huge smile. “So very soon we will be hearing wedding bells!”

  “I really hope so,” Dawn said softly. “He has been hurt before and he is taking it slow too but I know he feels the same way.”

  *****

  “Okay how about this dress honey?” Kimone held the dress up against the doll’s naked waxed figure for the little girl to tell her.

  Sally shook he blond pigtails quickly, a small frown on her forehead. They were having a big fashion show with all the dolls and they were making preparations. The store was quite different from the way it was before and even though Kimone had overseen the renovations she still could not believe how the changes had made the store look different. There was a large dollhouse in the corner complete with tiny furniture that looked so real you had to look closely to tell that they were just toys. She had them custom made because with the money Peter had given her plus now she had access to his account because he had added her name to it. Three days a week she had tea parties in the afternoon which brought in a number of children and their parents. She had also started a reading program where the children would read to their dolls; it had been a roaring success.

  Today was Friday and there was a big fashion show planned for three o’clock and she had invited Dawn and Sandra as well as her mother. She had casually mentioned it to her husband not really expecting him to be there because of his busy schedule. She was aware that he was a very busy and important name in the business world but had not fully appreciated it until she had seen his pictures in the paper several times and had gone to his offices one day after work to keep him company as he tried to finish up a business deal and realized that his job and what he did was a big deal and yet still this same man would bend over backwards to make sure she had everything she needed; she had been properly humbled.

  “This one I think,” Sally picked up a beautiful summery dress with thin straps that Kimone would wear herself. The girl had changed from being a shy retiring girl to one who displayed confidence. The girl’s mother had been effusive in her thanks because of what Kimone had brought out in the child.

  “I think you are right.” She took the dress and they started dressing the doll together.

  *****

  Peter gave the spreadsheet another look; his forehead creasing into a heavy frown. The figures said one thing but the sales said another and he knew with a sinking of the pit of his stomach that what he had been thinking was right all along. Someone was stealing from him and he had a very good idea who it was.

  Peter had grown up with parents’ who did not believe in judging others and also who did not believe in solving anything with violence, even though he had been taught Japanese martial arts since the age of five; he had not used it on anyone except a boy at his school when he was fifteen years old and he had almost beat him to a pulp. His father, instead of punishing him, had sat him down and told him that walking away from a fight showed more courage than being involved in one and that he had been at an advantage because he had been trained to fight so his opponent had been at a distinct disadvantage. He had never raised his fists in a fight again. Instead he had learned to go through life with a calm that had sustained him throughout the years.

  But now he felt the anger boiling through his body and the rage building up inside him and he knew he had to remain calm no matter what.

  “Amy please tell Bradley that I need to see him right away,” he told his sec
retary, his voice very calm.

  “Right away Peter.”

  It was a matter of minutes before Bradley Matthews came strolling into the office. He considered himself to be a ladies’ man and he could probably pull it off with his brown hair streak with blond, dark blue eyes and tanned skin. He had been with the company for the past three years and had come highly qualified with an MBA from Harvard. He was always dressed as if he wanted to make an impression or show the world that he was something he was not. He was a little older than Peter and had a way of talking as if he wanted to say that he had a business degree so he should rule the world.

  “Ah I see you have the spreadsheet right in front of you, Peter so I won’t have to explain anything to you. I have been telling my team that we need to do something to get the figures up a little bit more.” His white capped teeth flashed in a smile that was supposed to be charming but fell short and Peter realized that he had never liked the guy. He had done some checks on him and had found that he had a pent house apartment and he drove a brand new Rover. He liked fast women who in turn, liked expensive jewelry and as much as he was very well paid, there was no way he could afford all that; unless he was supplementing his income.

  “Have a seat,” Peter told him indicating one of the chairs in front of his desk. “And for the record it is ‘my team’ not yours.”

  For the first time since he came inside the office he felt his confidence slipping and with a quick smile he held up his hands. “Did not mean to offend boss, just trying to be a team player.”

  “But you are not are you?” Peter asked softly, leaning back against his chair staring at the man coolly.

  “I am sure I don’t know what you mean,” Bradley blustered; his heart hammering inside his chest.

  “I do not have a business degree but I am a very good businessman. As a matter of fact one of the best and I can see from looking at these spreadsheets that something is drastically wrong when compared to the sales that have been recorded for the quarter, now tell me ‘Mr. MBA’ why is that?”