A Champion's Proposal

by Tina Martin

  Chapter 26

  She didn’t know what to eat, so she gave him free rein to cook whatever he wanted. He had the place smelling good. A blend of onions, garlic, butter – did Mordecai Champion know his way around the kitchen?

  She stopped looking at him and walked around the living room, observing how well it was decorated. He lived in a two-level townhouse, a nice one. Nice size. This was plenty of room for a single man. He had nice furniture, too – brown leather couches, a white rug beneath the coffee table – he didn’t go overboard with décor. Simple was always better in her opinion. A person’s place of dwelling shouldn’t look like a storage unit. It was supposed to be a home. A haven. A place to relax after a long day. That’s what this place was, and he’d have an even bigger place when the sale of the house was finalized on Friday.

  “Ready to eat?”

  She looked over at him then walked over to the kitchen where she saw two plates on the table. He’d made a stir-fry – chicken, beef and shrimp.

  Impressive.

  She sat down, got right into the meal while he went to get a bottle of wine. He poured two glasses, then joined her at the table.

  “This is really good,” she said, hiding her mouth behind a napkin.

  “A single man needs to know how to cook a lil’ something for himself.”

  “Especially when you’re tired of takeout, huh?”

  “Absolutely. Too much takeout will have my abs looking like marshmallows. You know I can’t have that.”

  She giggled. After sipping wine, she said, “This is a nice place you have here. Did you do the decorating?”

  “Nah—not my thing. Zoya and Amira came over here and did all this.”

  “Nice.”

  “They’ll probably insist on decorating the new place, but you’ll have to put your foot down and let them know that’s your job now.”

  She flashed a quick smile while he continued eating. “When are you planning on packing?”

  “I’m not doing anything until I close on the house. You never know what else might pop up. They may have another silly rule that I have to have a baby on the way to move.”

  She laughed. “I’m really sorry I didn’t know about the government mandate in that area.”

  “I know you are. Stop apologizing for it. Had you known, I probably wouldn’t have you.”

  “Have me?”

  “You heard me.”

  She rested the fork on her plate. “Okay, let’s get something straight here because you’re speaking in code, throwing out wife here and there all nonchalantly—talking about you wouldn’t have had me. What are your intentions with this situation?”

  He cleared his throat and picked up the wine glass. “My intentions?”

  “Yes. You’ve been showing up at my office, keeping me as your agent even when you knew I was struggling—I tried to run you off and that didn’t work.”

  “No, it didn’t,” he said, satisfied by that fact. “And it never will. When I want something, I find ways to get it.”

  “Meaning what?”

  “Meaning I wanted you and now I have you. Here. In my home. I have you right where I want you. Wife.”

  Oh, the cockiness…

  She could only shake her head and say, “Mordecai, does this situation have you thinking crazy, or is it the wine you’re drinking?”

  He turned the glass up, finishing it, then placed it on the table and responded, “You’ve liked me from the beginning. Did you not?”

  She hesitated to answer at first, but then said, “Yes, and I’ll admit, I like spending time with you, Mordecai, but I’m no fool. I’ve been a fool and I like to think I’ve learned from my mistakes. I’m not going to make myself believe you would go to such extraordinary lengths just to get me inside of your home.”

  “That’s exactly what I’ve done.”

  “Why? Why would you do that?”

  In her eyes, he could see a yearning for understanding, so he decided to tell her straight up. “Because I want you.”

  Her face flushed. After being dumped by her ex and dealing with feelings of inadequacy, it was definitely an ego boost to be wanted by Mordecai Champion.

  The heat from his eyes instantly gave her hot flashes. His flattery and charm were weighing her down.

  Using her hand she fanned herself, stood up and said, “I think I should be heading out now.”

  “Why?” Mordecai stood to join her. Taking a step in front of her, he asked, “Why leave when you know you don’t want to?”

  She inhaled his scent, him standing so close, pectorals shaping the body-shirt he had on. Biceps strained the short sleeves. Even the vibes radiating from him spoke to his desires, awakening hers.

  “You have a habit of foregoing what you want and I know you want me,” he said. He didn’t mean to sound cocky, but he was sure that’s how it came across.

  “You’re so sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

  “And you’re offering no rebuttals to my statement.”

  “Do you think every woman wants you?”

  “I don’t care what every woman wants. I only care what you want.” He stroked her soft cheek and watched her eyes close. With his thumb he traced her plump lips – the ones he’d kissed before and ever since that day, he’d been dying to do it again. He lowered his hand to her neck, cupped it and stared into the beauty of her face.

  Her eyes opened slowly – opened just in time to see him zeroing in on her lips. Her heart pounded fiercely in her chest because he was right, and he’d read her right. She did want him. And she was the type to run away instead of face issues head-on. But she wasn’t running this time – not with his hand around her neck. She didn’t want to run. At least, not anymore.

  She stayed in his grasp, in the heat that encircled them. She was nervous, but when their lips touched and bonded together, those nerves fell by the wayside. Mordecai captured her lips – her entire mouth like he hadn’t kissed a woman in ages. And when he kissed her, he owned her – mouth, lips, tongue and all – as his tongue swirled with hers.

  He released her mouth to look at her. To read her. To see if she was ready to take this all the way. He sent another slight kiss on her lips, her cheek. Her forehead. Then back to her moistened lips, he whispered, “Do you still want to leave?”

  If she did, he’d allow her to, but everything in him wanted her to stay.

  Staring into his eyes, she replied, “No.”

  As soon as she responded, he scooped her up in his arms and climbed the stairs, heading for his bedroom. He placed her on the bed, joined her and connected their mouths again. He’d never wanted a woman so much that his whole body ached with desire. Ached so bad and became so stiff, all he could do at the moment was enjoy selfish, greedy kisses as she tried to consume her tongue and reclaim control of his body again. A tough task…

  He couldn’t recall the last time he was with a woman. He was too busy focusing on himself. His gyms. Getting his life together. Now, he was focused on Jemisha. On her every move. Her whimpers. Her hands pulling up his shirt.

  It’s what made him realize they still had on clothes.

  He took on the excruciating, enticing task of removing her clothes only to reveal the cute cotton panties and bra she wore underneath. He folded his bottom lip beneath his top row of teeth in appreciation of how beautiful, fit and toned she was. He could tell with her clothes on that she was in shape, but now, he could see the naked truth staring right back at him. He was a man who could appreciate a nice body – the curves of her breasts. The tone of her skin. The way her stomach quivered.

  She was nervous, he knew.

  She didn’t do this usually. He knew that, too.

  He also knew there was something about them being married that made this even more special for her. He was proud of that fact. Whoever her ex was must’ve been a fool because this woman beneath him was the full package and he intended on showing her that.

  Skin-to-skin, he took her mouth again, slowly. Leisurely.
He wanted to take his time making love to her the way she deserved. She was a woman who was hurt. She didn’t trust easily and she trusted him with her body. He wanted to take care of it. Nurture that trust in a way that showed her he appreciated her. He wasn’t a playboy. Not anymore. He knew how to make love to a woman and this would be the only time he’d ever made love. The thought of it excited him.

  A soft hum escaped her mouth when he ended the kiss to lave his tongue around her neck, her chest and the moment his lips touched her breasts, she gasped in shock. In feeling. In the warmness of his mouth touching her. In the weight of his body restricting her. He was all muscles. All man. All hers.

  “Mordecai…”

  “Yes?”

  Her stomach fluttered as she tried to muster more breaths. She couldn’t talk at the moment. She could barely breathe. Forming words was an impossibility.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “Mmm-hmm,” she responded, closing her eyes to encompass the pleasure streaking through her. Was she okay? How could she be okay when her body lacked the oxygen it needed to function? When hot steel pressed against her middle? Even with her eyes closed, she could see his hazel eyes staring into hers. It amplified the feel of his lips on her body, sensitive flesh that hadn’t seen the light of day.

  He shifted his body between her legs, trapping her beneath him and began working to connect their bodies. He moved slowly at first, watching her, listening as her moans increased. As her breathing became labored. Watching her grimace. And then when he had leverage, he eased into place, calming the ache they both had in common.

  He gasped at the delicious connection, sensations already working through him and he imagined the same was happening for her from the way her body was writhing up off the sheets against his. He moved at a steady rhythm, her hands gripping at the firm muscles of his thick, impressive shoulders before trying to get a handle on the lean muscles of his biceps. Her body shuddered as they kissed wildly and made love with an intensity that nearly rendered her spineless.

  Overwhelmed with pleasure, she called out to him the moment her body spun out of control, quivering off the mattress harder than before, triggering an explosion from his body that consumed him. Set fire to him. He buried his face in the hollow of her neck and groaned while sensations tore through his flesh. Then he captured her mouth again, kissing and consuming her moans while aftershocks claimed them simultaneously.

  Chapter 27

  Jemisha sat behind her desk on Monday morning waiting for her first client of the day to show up. In the meantime, she was staring at the ring on her finger, reliving the events of the last couple of days with Mordecai. Saturday, they’d had dinner together at the Riverwalk and after spending the day together on Sunday, they’d wound up in his bed last night after he cooked dinner.

  This morning she’d gotten up early – like 4:30 a.m. early. He was still passed out when she snuck out of bed, gathered up her clothes, dressed and took an Uber home to shower and get ready for work.

  Being with him was simply amazing, but she knew she had to keep a level head about him and the status of their relationship. This was business. She didn’t want to believe that’s all it was, but given the kind of man Mordecai was, what else could it be?

  But hadn’t he changed? He was buying a home. He even told her the reason for wanting to purchase a home – that he wanted to settle down with a wife and have a family. Still, that didn’t mean he wanted that wife to be her. At this point, she was merely a means to an end – a way for him to secure his dream home.

  She didn’t want to believe that, and she knew why. She’d fallen in love. Fallen in love with everything that he was. With the man who offered her encouragement. He told her not to give up so easily. The man whose caress nearly made her lose consciousness and whose kiss made her forget how to use her own legs. He was a strong man. A handsome king. A man who women would brawl for. But he was also a man who didn’t love her.

  He just wanted a house.

  The bell dinged at her door. She could see her newest client walking in. A black woman dressed to the nines. Her referral.

  She stood up from her desk, walked over to her and said, “You must be Ms. Miller.”

  “I am.”

  Jemisha shook her hand and said, “I hope you didn’t have any trouble finding the place.”

  “No, not at all. I had more trouble trying to find somewhere to park.”

  “Yeah, it does get congested around here. Can I get you some coffee or water?”

  “Coffee would be nice.”

  “Okay. Have a seat and get comfortable. I’ll be right back with a fresh cup of coffee and then we can talk about this house you’re looking for.”

  * * *

  Mordecai woke up in the morning, late – around ten, displeased that Jemisha wasn’t beside him. He rubbed his eyes trying to figure out what day of the week it was. After determining it was Monday, he knew exactly where Jemisha had run off to. She was at the office. She had a new client to meet today.

  He checked his phone to see if she’d left him a text, but she hadn’t. No text, no note – she didn’t leave anything behind. She’d just…left.

  That didn’t sit well with him. It made it feel like last night was a one-night deal and he certainly didn’t like that feeling. Not with her. With Jemisha, he wanted something permanent. He’d already put a ring on her finger. Whether it was for business or otherwise, she was still his wife, wasn’t she?

  What frustrated him was this was business for her. All of this – their physical relationship and closeness within the past week – was a result of his proposal. After all, she’d told him about her issues with men and relationships. He knew where she stood. Somehow he thought he’d change her mind.

  Frustrated, he picked up the phone to call his brother. He hadn’t spoken to Harding since they’d concocted this plan and now, he needed some advice on deeper matters. Issues concerning his heart.

  When Harding answered, he said, “What’s up, Mordecai?”

  “Hey, what’s going on?”

  “What isn’t going on? Harley is a handful. Work is keeping me busy.”

  “That’s a good thing.”

  “It is. What’s the latest on the house?”

  “So far, so good. I’m supposed to close on it this Friday.”

  “Nice. I’m glad that rule about you getting married didn’t hold up.”

  “It did hold up.”

  “Wow. So what did you do? Choose another house?”

  “No. I got married.”

  “You did what!”

  Slightly amused, Mordecai said, “Why are you acting all surprised like you didn’t know this was coming? You’re the one who talked me into it.”

  “I was joking,” Harding declared. “I knew you wanted the house, but I didn’t know you were desperate.”

  “Well, I was.”

  “And who’s the woman? Jemisha?”

  “Yep.”

  “She went for it?”

  “She did.”

  “Let me get this straight—you went to Jemisha, laid out this plan so you could get the house and she actually went for it.”

  “She did.”

  “And y’all kept it quiet, too, I presume. Savannah doesn’t know about this?”

  “No, unless Jemisha told her.”

  “She couldn’t have because there’s no way Savannah would withhold this from me.”

  “Well, it’s out there now.” Mordecai sighed.

  “Then you should be over the moon with excitement. Why do I sense something’s wrong?”

  “Because something is wrong.”

  “What is it?”

  “I went into this thing with her so we could get the house, but it’s actually more than that for me. I don’t know if it is for her, but it is for me.”

  “Meaning what? You want the marriage to be legit?”

  “Yeah. I’m in love with her.”

  “You love her?”

  “Yes,
and don’t ask me if I’m sure. I am. My only problem is, I’m not sure if she loves me, and if she does, am I constantly going to have to worry about her past interfering with what we have?”

  “These are all things you need to discuss with her.”

  “I’m aware of that. I was just hoping you could give me some advice. I’m new to this love thing. You’re knee-deep in it. Help a brother out.”

  Harding chuckled. “Okay, bro. For starters, where is Jemisha at the moment?”

  “She’s at work.”

  “Okay, so send her some flowers with a nice note. You have to let your woman know you’re thinking about her. Always.”

  Flowers. Why hadn’t he thought of that?

  “What else?”

  “You need to make it clear that she’s the only woman for you. That may be a little tricky with your player background, but if you really want her, you’ll make the extra effort. Take her to dinner. Show an interest in things she’s interested in. C’mon, man. You know how to do this.”

  “I suppose so. I just don’t want to mess it up.”

  “With an attitude like that, you’re already ahead of the game.”

  “You think so?”

  “Most definitely. Open up the lines of communication and let her know how you feel. You won’t regret it and you won’t have to wonder if she feels the same way.”

  “You’re right. I’m on it. Thanks, Harding.

  “Anytime. Good luck.”

  Chapter 28

  Roses.

  Mordecai sent her a dozen roses!

  She’d just returned to the office after lunch when the flowers were delivered. She smelled them, then read the attached note:

  Just a little something to brighten your day.

  -Mordecai

  And boy did they brighten her day.

  She smelled the flowers again and smiled from ear-to-ear, thrilled he’d actually thought about her enough to send flowers. She took her cell phone, dialed his number and when he answered, she said, “Thank you.”