by Candace Shaw
“Goodness, I love how naughty you are, Elle.”
She continued to ravish him senseless and he knew he couldn’t contain himself for much longer. Pulling her up to him, he set her on his lap and reached for the condom packet he spotted earlier in the pocket of her lacy cover up.
“You read my mind,” she said, snatching it from him and opening it. She lifted her bottom up and rolled the condom on him and then proceeded to take her cover-up and nightgown off.
“No, you read my mind. I was ready to tear that off you.”
A seductive, devilish grin formed across her face as she slid back down until he was completely engulfed in her. A fervent gasp educed from her mouth. Resting her head on his forehead, she wrapped her arms around his neck as her body began to rise up and down at a very slow pace on him. Her breathing unraveled on his mouth and her legs shook around his waist.
Grasping her hard by the hips, he raised her up and down, speeding up each time as she bounced on him deeper and harder. He held her firm in his arms as her passionate moans filled the air.
“You didn’t really think you were in control, did you?” he asked gruffly against her lips.
She didn’t answer. She quivered against him and whispered a few words mixed in with his name. He knew her climax was near. He hated to admit that his was as well, thanks to her lips on him some moments before. He wasn’t finished reminding her that she was all his, and they were beautifully connected, heart, body and soul. Always had been. His connection with her was so powerful and right that it was scary at times. He’d tried over the years to forget about her but he couldn’t. Elle was his soul mate. His one true love. No matter what, he wasn’t going to ever let her go again. That had been his biggest regret and the hardest thing he’d ever done in his life.
Clutching on to his shoulders, Elle buried her head into his chest and sounded off a long gasping-for-air orgasm. He held her close as he began to meet her pace with upward thrusts as her back hit against the keys to a tune that was in beat with their lovemaking. He made a quick mental note to remember the abstract piece that she’d unintentionally created.
As Elle calmed down, she lifted her head and stared at him with hazy eyes.
Wiping her brow, he kissed her softly. “Hi there.”
She smiled weakly. “Hi.”
“You good, babe?”
“Mmm-hmm. You didn’t climax with me,” she said with disappointment.
“I’m not done. Just wanted to pay you back for driving me totally insane.”
“Oh, I see. By driving me crazy? I don’t mind at all. What’s next, Maestro?”
“Get up for a minute.”
She did as he commanded and he stood in front of her, taking off his pants and boxer shorts. “Not fair that you were the only one naked.” He winked, and then turned her around to face the piano.
* * *
Nervous excitement shook through Elle as he parted her legs and placed her hands on top of the piano. She took a few short breaths to prepare herself. She was still coming down from her last orgasm and she knew this position with him would send her over the edge, it always had. His hands glided down her neck, back and stopped at her hips as she felt his erection press against her butt. She glanced over her shoulder and caught his heated stare on her and a naughty smile as he eased in with one long stroke that sent vibrations through her veins and a sound from her she didn’t recognize. One of her hands slipped to the keys, shutting the cover but he quickly reopened it and whispered in her ear.
“I’m curious to see what kind of music we’ll make this go-round. I might have to it put on my next CD.”
Leaning over, he kissed his spot on the back of her neck but he didn’t move yet. Her abdominal muscles clenched. Even though he hadn’t begun, she could feel all of him inside of her throbbing and ready to begin. In this position he’d always felt harder and bigger and she’d required a moment before he began. Slowly, he drew her by the hips to him in short yet sensual strokes over and over that sped up to longer and deeper thrusts as he dug his hands firmly into her butt.
“Goodness, Braxton,” she yelled out unable to contain the fervor building inside of her.
Her orgasms began to overlap and the sounds she made were practically incoherent. She could no longer control herself as he hammered into her making her shudder so many times that her voice was hoarse from screaming his name. Elle slumped over the piano, completely exhausted and satisfied but needing more of his exhilarating passion that was sending her over the edge. His tempo never slowed as he delved into her over and over.
Encircling his arms around her waist, he held her close to him as she could feel his vibrations begin to rock through him and she sensed his end was near.
“Feel good, Elle?”
“Yes, Brax. So damn good.”
“You’re all mine, you hear me?” he groaned in her ear. “All of you. Heart, body and soul.”
“I know, baby,” she panted out. “I know.”
“I’m never letting you go again. I love you. You hear me? I love you, Elle.”
His thrusts by this time were out of control as he shook hard against her and roared out her name loudly in the air as she quivered against him.
His last coherent words resonated in her ear, but she couldn’t answer him. Did she love him? With all her heart. But the fear of his leaving her again tugged at her, as well.
* * *
The next morning, Braxton carried her bags out to the Escalade that awaited to drive her to LaGuardia Airport for her flight to Los Angeles. She was headed to the West Coast to check on her store in Beverly Hills and meet with a celebrity client who was filming a reality show. The client had asked Elle to make an appearance and she agreed. She sat on the couch scrolling through emails on her cell phone since Braxton had instructed her to let him handle her luggage.
He strode in with a half smile on his face. “You’re all set.” He pulled her to him. “Goodness, I hate that you have to go. I had a great time.”
“Me, too.”
His facial expression changed from joyful to serious in a flash, and she had a notion where this conversation was going, if she knew him like she thought she did.
“Elle, I meant what I said last night. I love you and I’m not letting you go. Ever.”
Her body froze against his. She’d hoped that perhaps he’d said that in the heat of the moment, considering what he was doing at that point in time. Though, deep down, she knew that wasn’t the case.
“Brax...” she sighed, hoping he’d avoid this conversation on their minivacation.
“Elle, just listen. I know I made a mistake years ago, but I know in my heart, we’re meant to be. I love you and I want to marry you.”
“Marry me?” She stepped away from him. “For someone who didn’t want me years ago, now all of sudden you love me, and want to marry me?”
Puzzlement washed over his features as he closed the gap between them, but she stepped out of his personal space once again. “Elle... I thought... I mean our time here...”
She put her hands up to hold him back. “Just stop it! You’re just going too fast for me. We agreed to take it slow and get to know each other again. That was the point of our phone conversations and coming out here but then we made love and...I don’t even know if I can...” Her pulse sped up as the fear crept back in her veins.
“What?” he demanded.
“Braxton... I...” she stopped. She couldn’t get the words out.
“Trust me,” he said barely above a whisper. “You don’t know if you can trust me.”
Her heart sank as she realized he’d been hurting as well. She went to him because she wouldn’t want anyone else to comfort him but her. That had always been their bond and connection. Their motto. Placing her hand on his face, she stared up at him and she no
ticed the tears well in his eyes.
“I love you, too, but I’m scared, Brax. I’m admitting to you that I’m scared that you’d leave me again. I need time to process all of this. You just reentered my life all of sudden and everything is happening so fast. Just give me time. Please, baby.”
He pressed his lips together and nodded his head in silence. “How much time?” he asked as if he was in physical pain.
“I don’t know.”
She stood on her tippy-toes to kiss him goodbye, but he yanked her to him and crushed his lips on hers hard showing no mercy of his passion and possession over her. Elle responded with a deep, enticing kiss, and a heart-wrenching moan rumbled from his throat. He entangled his fingers into her hair, exploring his tongue farther into her mouth. The desire that soared through him reciprocated in her and shook her to the core.
The ringing of her phone reminded her she had a plane to catch, and she reluctantly broke away from him and grabbed her purse from the couch.
His chest rose up and down as fire burned in his eyes. “This is not over Elle. I will fight for us. I will fight for you.”
“I have to go or I’ll miss my plane.” She glanced at her phone to see Ciara had called and texted five times. She and Mya were probably already at the airport.
They walked out to the SUV in silence. The driver jumped out when they approached and attempted to open the back door for Elle but Braxton waved him off and did so himself.
“Call me when you get to the airport,” he said, as she hopped into the backseat.
“I will.”
He stared at her for a moment longer with loving eyes before shutting the door.
Elle rested her head back on the seat and closed her eyes as she tried to shut out the tears.
Chapter 11
“Why is that so hard for you to understand?” Elle yelled at the intern who was organizing the clothes and accessories for the Classic Elle Collection fashion show that evening. “All I’m asking you to do is to separate the outfits on the different racks according to the models. Each model has her own rack. I gave you the models’ names, measurements and what outfits they’re wearing. They will be here in less than an hour for fittings and dress rehearsal.” She spun around the backstage area in confusion. “Where are the rest of the shoes in the collection? I only see ten. There’s sixteen for the show.”
“I... Ms. Lauren... I don’t know. I...” the girl stuttered as Elle walked away to the other side of the backstage area that had been set up with comfy white couches, white roses and refreshments. Kirk and Ciara conversed at a table going over the order of the show.
“Who hired her?” Elle inquired, grabbing her coffee from the table and taking a long sip hoping it would calm down her nervous jitters.
Ciara tilted her head and stared at Elle in puzzlement. “Um...you did. You said she reminded you of yourself when we were in Paris. Young and eager yet ready to learn. Your words.”
“She is nothing like me.” Elle sighed and turned toward Kirk. “Are you sure everything is set up correctly?” she asked, strutting away to the main hall where the show was to take place. Ciara and Kirk followed behind.
Kirk smacked his lips and looked Elle up and down. “Honey, how many times are you going to ask me that? Everything is fine.” They entered the stage area and Elle saw that the runway was indeed set up and the workers were assembling chairs while her other assistant, Cindi, placed the celebrity and other notable names on the front two rows.
Elle nodded happily, yet secretly chastised herself for being worried. Kirk always had her back and went overboard when it came to the shows and to her in general.
“Elle, sweetie,” Kirk began. “I promise you this is going to be the best night of your life. All the fashion editors from the magazines will be here, the A-plus celebs, and some more fabulous people who want to see your new collection. It’s not even fashion week yet! The Classic Elle fashion show will be a success and then we’re going to head on over to the after-party where you can party like its 1999. I’ll even have the DJ play that song. I know how much you love Prince.”
“Oh, yeah. The after-party. I probably won’t stay long.”
Kirk coughed and glanced at Ciara. “Um...but you have to,” Kirk stammered. “I mean you are Elle Lauren. People are coming to see you, doll.”
“People are coming to drink, eat and be merry off my money. I’ll show my face and then go back to Jersey for a few days.” Puzzled, she glimpsed around the room. “Um...where’s Mya? She’s supposed to be here. We have a million things to go over.”
Kirk blurted out, “At the airport picking up your parents.” However, at the same exact time Ciara answered, “At the after-party venue going over last-minute details.”
Elle looked back and forth between the two with a frown.
“Why is she picking up my parents? I sent a car to pick them up and the event planner is taking care of the party arrangements. Mya didn’t have anything to do with that.”
Kirk glanced at Ciara again who hooked her arm with Elle’s and led her backstage to the sitting area. “Girl, I really don’t know. I’ve been telling you for years to fire that girl.”
Elle plopped on the couch and focused on the other side of the room as the models she’d selected began to enter and Kirk and a few of her stylists greeted them.
“C, you know I’m not going to fire her. She’s a wonderful worker bee, but she needs to be here, not running errands that weren’t even assigned to her. She must have forgotten to arrange the car for my parents.”
“Elle, is everything okay with you? You seem extra jittery today. I know it’s the big day but you’re never like this. I’m the one always running around like a mad woman fussing at everyone and you’re usually the calm, sane one trying to keep me relaxed. Of course once the ball gets rolling, I won’t be, but that’s mine and Kirk’s job. Not yours. So what’s up with my best friend? And do we need wine for this?”
Elle sighed, and shook her head. “No. More like vodka. I... I miss Braxton.”
“Oh, sweetie, you’ve missed him since I’ve known you.”
“No, no. Not like that. Now that he’s back in my life it’s different. I haven’t seen him since the Hamptons. That was two weeks ago, and I told you everything that happened there. Ever since I told him I don’t know if I trust him he’s been quiet. I mean we talk on the phone about our day or world affairs but he hasn’t said anything about us. It’s like we’re best friends again, but that’s it. I think I pushed him away.” She sipped down the rest of her coffee, halfway wishing it was wine.
“Well...um...maybe he’s just doing as you asked him to do. You did ask him to give you time so perhaps that’s what he’s doing until you tell him otherwise,” Ciara suggested with a sympathetic expression. “He’s giving you space. He popped back into your life without warning and he knows he can’t expect you to pick up where you left off over ten years ago.”
“Mmm...no. I know him, Ciara. Since I was five years old. I grew up with the man, and I know how he thinks. I can’t put my finger on it but I just have a strange feeling. Like I don’t know. Just this weird feeling and I can’t shake it. Plus, he hasn’t mentioned anything else about the club here in New York he was contemplating on purchasing. He said something about a trip to Memphis for a jazz fest, and he may look around there or even Miami.”
“So? What’s wrong with that? You want the man to expand, right?”
“Yes, but I guess I was under the impression that he wanted to open a jazz club in New York because of me. Silly, right?” Standing, Elle walked over to the refreshment table and grabbed a bottled water.
“Ha. Sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh but its business. He’s not opening a club here just because you live here. That’s absurd.”
“I know. It’s just how he said it like he would be here overs
eeing the renovations and...oh... I don’t know. I’m just frustrated. I invited him to the fashion show, but he’s in the studio with some other jazz musician producing his album in Atlanta. I guess perhaps it wouldn’t work anyway. My life is here and his is in Atlanta. He could open ten jazz clubs around the United States but trust me, he’s not leaving Atlanta to live anywhere else permanently.”
Ciara’s cell phone rang, and she looked up at Elle momentarily before sliding it in her pocket.
“You’re not going to answer your phone?” Elle was rather taken aback. Ciara always answered her phone and could hold two conversations at the same time while checking her email.
Ciara shrugged. “I’ll call back. It’s just the hubby. He’s knows I’m busy right now. Sheesh. So have you spoken to Braxton today?”
“Briefly. He called to wish me luck on the show tonight but he seemed to be in some sort of rush. I heard a bunch of people or some kind of commotion in the background and then he hung up.”
“I’m sure everything will be fine. That man loves you. Today is going to be a long, busy day. Stay calm and let me worry about all the details.” Ciara gave Elle a warm, comforting hug.