by Nicki Night
“We haven’t even started our date yet,” she teased.
“I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to do that for months!” Hunter stepped back and assessed her again. He shook his head, gnawing on his bottom lip. “You look amazing!”
Chey blushed. “Thank you.” Hunter didn’t look so bad himself in a blue pin-striped suit, ivory shirt and stylish tie.
Hunter took her by the hand. “Are you ready?”
“For what?”
“To try new things.”
“Oh, yeah. Where are we going, again?” Chey acted as if she’d forgotten.
Hunter looked at her sideways. “I never mentioned where we were going.”
“Oh!” Chey snickered. “I guess that didn’t work.”
“You of all people should know that I’m great at keeping secrets.” A naughty glint flashed in his eyes. Chey laughed. Hunter swallowed her laugh with another kiss. Pulling away, he rested his forehead against hers while they caught their breath. “I can’t help myself.”
“Don’t try to.” Chey was still breathless. This time she drew his lips to hers.
“If we keep this up, we’ll never go on our date.” Hunter’s stiffness pressed against her lower stomach.
Chey looked down and giggled. “Maybe we should go now.”
Hunter groaned. “Yes. We should.”
Downstairs, Hunter had a car waiting to take them to an early dinner cruise. Chey was in awe of the beautiful view of New York and New Jersey along the Hudson as they ate. They took to the floor and danced until Chey’s stilettos started giving the balls of her feet grief. To her surprise, Hunter was an incredible dancer. His sexy moves reminded her of his skills in bed and had her swooning by the time the cruise was over.
Chey thought their date was over and was more than ready to go back to her apartment for an after-dinner drink. When the driver continued past several turns that would have taken them back to her neighborhood, she asked Hunter where they were going.
The car pulled up in front of a theater in the heart of Times Square. Chey tapped her feet excitedly as the driver rounded the car and opened the door to help them out.
“Welcome to your first Broadway show, sweetheart!”
Chey threw her arms around Hunter’s neck and squeezed tight. Then she held his face in her hands and planted kisses all over him.
“This has been the most amazing day. It’s almost overwhelming.” Chey wiped the tears that escaped. She’d sacrificed to send her parents to the show the day before, not knowing when or if she’d ever get the opportunity to go herself. Now Hunter was making it happen for her. She hugged him one more time. Hunter took her by the hand.
“I’m glad that I could be a part of it.”
Just as they started for the theater, her phone rang.
“Mom! I tried to call you.”
“Chey?”
“Yes. I tried to call you.”
“Honey, what’s all that noise?”
“Oh. I’m out in Times Square.” Chey held her hand over her mouth and the receiver. “I was saying that I tried to call you.”
“We all fell asleep. I can hardly hear you.”
“I’ll call you back when I get home tonight.”
“Huh? You’ll call back?”
“Yes, Ma. I wanted to ask about an order. Love you!”
“Okay.”
Chey would have to handle that later. Right now she was getting ready to see her first Broadway show with a man who’d hijacked her heart. She looked up to see which show they were seeing and decided that it didn’t even matter. She held Hunter tight as they entered the theater.
When the show was over, she was still in awe. Chey had wept during a few scenes, having no idea that she would be so affected. Their car was waiting outside the theater. On the way home, she invited Hunter up for a cocktail. All she had was one bottle of wine, but that would have to do because she wasn’t ready for him to leave.
Inside her apartment, she poured two glasses of cabernet and joined Hunter on the couch.
“Today was...” she shook her head “...unbelievable.”
“Did you enjoy the show?”
“Didn’t you see me crying an ocean? You have to ask?” Chey laughed and sipped as she reminisced about the day. “Oh! I forgot to tell you. I got the job!”
“You did!” Hunter leaned forward.
“Well, not officially. I have to go in for an interview on Monday, but the lady said that it’s just to go through the motions. The crazy thing is that she said they were impressed with the products that I sent in but I hadn’t sent anything to them. I have to find out how they got my stuff.”
“So does that mean you’re staying in New York?”
“I’m staying!” Chey held up her glass and Hunter touched his against hers in a toast. “So much happened today—graduation, the new job, the dinner cruise, my first Broadway show. Whew! This was the best.”
“My lady is worthy of the best.”
“Wait! I’m your lady now?” Chey tossed him a narrowed sideways glare.
“You have a problem with that?”
Chey pretended to ponder his question. “Hmm. I guess not.”
“I’ve waited a long time for this, but to make you feel better about it, let’s make it official. Chey Rodgers, will you be my lady?”
“Yes, Professor Barrington. I’ll be your lady!”
Hunter took her face in his hands and kissed her deeply. Without disconnecting, Chey straddled him, nibbling his lips. Their hands roamed each other’s bodies urgently. They paused long enough to appreciate the hunger in each other’s eyes. Hunter reached around to her back and unzipped her dress. She squirmed free of it, as well as her bra and matching lace panties.
Chey continued kissing Hunter and she freed him of his clothes. Forfeiting the delight of foreplay, he rolled a condom over his erection, lifted her up and sat her down on top of him. Her head snapped back as he filled her. She rode him. Hunter flicked at her nipples with his tongue. Soon the friction became too delicious for Chey to stand any longer. The walls of her cavern squeezed, suctioning his erection. Chey bucked. Hunter growled. He held her hips, pulling her down harder and faster. She quivered—no longer able to control the shuddering of her muscles. He lifted her off just as his pleasure shot from him, bending his back into a rigid arc. His body folded and released repeatedly until he was finally able to catch his breath.
They started round two by taking turns tasting each other and then satisfying each other’s hunger. When they were spent, she lay in his arms until their breathing became steady—his chest to her back, rising and falling as they gave in to the lure of a peaceful slumber.
Chey heard him say, “Finally.” She smiled and closed her eyes.
Chapter 31
Hunter quietly removed his clothes, tiptoed into the bathroom and snatched the shower curtain back. Chey’s screams pierced his ears and he laughed.
“That’s not funny!” She pouted with her hand over her heart. Hunter leaned over into the stream of water and kissed her pouting lips. “I didn’t even hear you come up the stairs.”
“How can you hear anything with this music blasting?” He motioned toward her phone resting on the countertop.
“That’s my get-up-and-go playlist. It gets me going in the morning!” She chuckled, rinsing the lather from her body.
Hunter suddenly felt hot water splash on him. He ducked. “What was that for?”
“I found out how Estelle London got my products. I spoke to my dad and he said the only order that he shipped to New York went to a company named Barrington and Associates.” Hunter remained quiet. “Mm-hmm! Nothing to say, huh?”
“You’re welcome?” Hunter roared, happy his meddling had worked for the best. Fortunately, she didn�
��t seem upset. “How long will it be before you’re ready to go?” Hunter said, reaching for his toothbrush.
“Just give me about twenty minutes.”
“Yeah, right,” he said under his breath before brushing.
“I heard that!” Chey pushed the curtain aside and peered at him. “Are you getting in?”
“Mm-hmm.” Hunter bobbed his head to her music as he brushed his teeth. “I’m all sticky from helping my parents set up the backyard for the barbecue,” he said after rinsing his mouth.
Hunter joined her in the shower, and because Chey had been hard to resist since the first day he laid eyes on her, an erection swelled at the sight of her slick naked body. He palmed her breasts from behind.
“Hunter! I’ve already washed.”
Pressing his body against hers, he kissed the back of her neck and behind her ears, muting her protests. Chey turned around, lifted onto her toes and met his lips as the water rained down on them.
“We...have...to...go,” she said between kisses.
“Then let’s make this quick.”
“You’re so bad.” She giggled.
Hunter disappeared into the bedroom and returned with a condom. He lifted her. Chey wrapped her legs around his waist and he entered her slickness. After a while, she slid her feet back to the shower floor, turned and bent over. Hunter eased into her from behind, held her by the hips and thrust until his release made his legs too weak to stand on, but he didn’t stop until she met her release and crooned his name. They washed each other and exited the shower.
In his room, they dressed—Chey in a short floral sundress and Hunter in jeans and a designer T-shirt.
“Is that what you’re wearing?”
Chey looked down at her attire. “Yes. Why?”
“I planned on taking the bike.”
“Oh. You hadn’t told me. I’ll change.” Chey dug in her overnight bag and pulled out jeans and a beaded tank. Hunter loved that she had taken a liking to his motorcycles.
“I need to make room for you to put some of your stuff here.”
“Is that an invitation?” Chey raised a brow.
“Who knows?” Hunter walked out of the room, letting his ambiguous response hang in the air. “Come on, lady. Let’s go,” he said, briefly peeking his head back in. He huffed at Chey in the mirror combing her hair.
“Had you let me shower in peace, I’d be ready by now.”
Hunter glanced into the room once again, wearing a silly smile. Down on the first level of his four-floor brownstone, Hunter pulled out a light riding jacket and helmets.
They had been inseparable since her graduation in mid-May, but today would be her first time meeting his parents face-to-face. He’d accompanied her to Virginia for Memorial Day weekend, and each weekend since then, they’d explored different areas in Brooklyn. Hunter made it his duty to make her fall in love with his borough the way she’d fallen in love with Manhattan. He hoped that she would be convinced enough to move there when her lease was up in October.
Chey came strolling down Hunter’s steps as if she belonged there. Hunter handed her the light jacket he’d bought for when they went riding and a helmet that matched his. They mounted his Ducati and headed to his parents’ home in Long Island for their annual Fourth of July party.
Naturally, holiday traffic was atrocious and it took double the usual amount of time to get there. When they finally arrived, his hands were numb from the bike’s vibration.
“Are you nervous?” Hunter asked, helping her out of her helmet.
“Of course.” Chey adjusted her jeans, which had ridden up her leg.
“Don’t be.” Hunter pecked her lips. “My parents are some of the coolest people on this side of the Mason–Dixon Line.” He took her by the hand and led her to the backyard.
“Drew’s here,” he acknowledged, inclining his head toward his brother’s motorcycle.
Music and laughter met them as they drew closer to the backyard. Hunter could hear splashing from the kids in the pool. Adrenaline surged as he prepared to introduce Chey to his parents.
He pushed open the gate with authority and yelled, “Hey! What’s with all the noise back here?”
At first people paused, then laughed as they realized it was Hunter.
“Hey, man. What’s good?” his uncle said and hugged him before assessing Chey approvingly over the top of his glasses. “Who’s your friend, young man?”
Hunter introduced them. Yelling erupted at some commotion near the grill. Hunter looked over to see his mom and dad in the midst of their usual antics, dancing—this time doing the bump while the crowd cheered them on.
“See.” Hunter pulled Chey to him. “I told you they were cool.”
When they finished their routine, Hunter presented Chey to them. Floyd shook her hand. Joyce pulled her into a tight embrace, shifted her back to arm’s length and looked her over.
“Oh! She’s a pretty one, Floyd. Isn’t she?” Her smile was warm.
“Thank you, ma’am.” Chey smiled back.
“Wow! And she says ‘ma’am.’ Good ole Southern manners. You’re welcome, baby. Make yourself at home and enjoy the party.” Joyce let her go and craned her neck in her son’s direction. “Hunter, get the lady something to eat.”
“Will do, Mom.”
Joyce went to walk away and turned back. “Wait. You can have babies, can’t you?”
Chey’s mouth fell open.
“Mom!”
“Now, Joyce!” Floyd chided.
Joyce’s hearty laugh made everyone within earshot laugh. “I’m just messing with you.” Her expression turned serious and she looked over her glasses. “But you can, can’t you?”
“Mom!”
“Alright. Alright!” Joyce laughed all the way back to the house.
Blake, Cadence, Drew and Alana came out and greeted Chey. Then Cadence and Alana took her to the gazebo to do what girls did. Hunter wasn’t quite sure what that was but saw that she was comfortable, so he let her be.
For the next few hours, Chey seemed to enjoy herself in the girls’ company, while the brothers mingled with family and friends. Kids swam, music flowed, people danced and everyone ate.
Floyd banged on the table, garnering everyone’s attention. “I want to make an announcement.” He waved his wife over and put his arm around her. Staring at her lovingly for a brief moment, he cleared his throat. “This wonderful woman—” he looked at her again “—my amazing wife, is being honored by her sorority for her many years of community service and her selfless contributions to the lives of underprivileged women and girls. I, for one, am extremely proud of her and I’m glad to see that she is being recognized for all the wonderful work she does.” Joyce beamed as Floyd leaned over and kissed her forehead.
“I’d like to invite you all to the gala, which is next Saturday evening. I’m very excited about this honor and hope many of you can make it. That includes you, too, Chey,” Joyce said.
Chey smiled sheepishly and nodded. “Thank you so much for the invitation, Mrs. Barrington, and congratulations.”
Hunter sidled up behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist. “I guess we’ve got a gala to attend.”
“But I don’t have a dress.” Chey looked genuinely concerned.
“Don’t worry about the details. I’ll take care of those.” Hunter fulfilled that promise. Before they left the barbecue, he asked for Cadence and Alana’s assistance.
The next week, Chey met up with the girls and went shopping. Hunter had no idea what she would look like when he pulled up in front of her building in his convertible, the car he saved for special occasions. He took the steps two at a time, anxious to see his lady.
When Chey opened the door, the air left Hunter’s lungs in a rush. Several moments passed as he stared
. She spun around, giving a three-dimensional view of her form-hugging red halter gown and silver shoes. Hunter always thought she was beautiful, but tonight she looked exceptionally stunning.
Lifting his chin, Chey closed his mouth. “A bug is going to fly in there.” She pecked his lips. His arms slid around her back and he pulled her tighter.
Pulling back, he rested his forehead against hers—something that had become a familiar gesture between them. “I think I’m in love.”
Chey swatted him, laughing and shaking her head. “Silly! I guess that means you like what you see.” Chey twisted from side to side, presenting her ensemble and relishing in the compliment.
“No. That means I really think I’m in love.”
Chey’s smile vanished. She looked at the serious expression on Hunter’s face. He nodded. Now her mouth hung open.
“I love you, Chey.”
Impulsively, she covered her mouth with a shaking hand. “Oh my goodness, Hunter. I love you, too.”
They collapsed into each other’s arms and stayed there for a while before sealing their love with another kiss.
Taking her by the hand, Hunter led her down the steps. He truly felt like a prince. Gently, he placed her in the car as if she were a delicate doll and sauntered to the driver’s side. They held hands all the way to the gala and remained devoted to each other’s sides throughout all the festivities. No one seemed to be there but them.
When the event was over, they cruised with the top down, enjoying the breeze. Hunter took her to a park along the west side of Upper Manhattan. First they got out, walked and talked for a little while, taking in the scenery and the lights at night. They went back to the car and, instead of getting in, sat on the hood, letting the moon cast its treasured light over their newfound love.
Hunter put his forehead against hers and said, “You’re mine now!”
“Finally,” Chey said and lifted her lips to his.
* * * * *
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