Her moans echoed throughout the room, mingling with the groans that escaped deep within his throat. This was it. This was the type of kiss she’d felt like she waited her entire life for. There wasn’t any part of her mouth that felt untouched. His hands felt as divine as his lips, his thumbs rubbing soothing circles across her skin. She didn’t stop his hands from traveling farther up her thighs, inching closer to the part that craved him with a fierceness she’d never felt before. Without warning, he broke the kiss and searched her eyes.
“Are you okay?” he asked. She nodded her head yes, unable to formulate words with his hand still near her core. She assumed he’d asked her another question because he looked as if he was still waiting for a response. Yet talking was the last thing she wanted to do. She wanted more. Needed more. She scooted closer to his fingers, hoping he got the hint that she wanted him to continue. When he raised a questioning eyebrow, she nodded her head again in agreement.
Since they weren’t talking, she wasn’t sure what she was agreeing to. All she knew was that she didn’t want him to stop. She needed him to continue. The next look he gave her was a warning that she had about three seconds to stop him before he did whatever caused him to give her a sly grin. She returned his grin with one of her own. One that she hoped said I’m game for whatever you’ve got planned. With the swiftness of a cheetah, his fingers traveled to her core and moved her lace panties aside. She prepared herself for him to push his fingers inside her core, but instead he played with her lips before rubbing his thumb over her clit.
Her hips rose off the boxes, only to be gently coaxed back down by Jaleen. Just like his kisses, he took his time exploring her core, maintaining eye contact the entire time he did so. Usually she hated maintaining eye contact when she was doing anything intimate. However, Jaleen’s gaze was so erotic that she literally could not look anywhere else besides deep into his eyes. He increased the motion of his thumb and slipped two fingers into her core. Slowly he worked his fingers in a nice rhythm that could only be described as the beginning cords of a smooth R & B ballad.
The more his fingers played with her insides, the harder it was to maintain eye contact. She dropped her head back when he increased his rhythm.
“You’re breathtaking,” he whispered before placing soft kisses along her neck and collarbone. Her thighs opened wider, the fabric more constricting than she wanted it to be. He must have sensed her urgency to move her skirt out of the way because he expertly lifted her off the boxes to push her skirt above her waist before continuing his objective of pleasing her in ways she hadn’t imagined.
He fell to his knees and placed her legs on either side of his shoulders, dropping provocative kisses along her thighs. Instead of removing his fingers like she assumed he was going to, he kept them buried deep inside her and ran his tongue along the same places his hands had already explored.
I should have known it would feel like this. She should have known that there was no way it wouldn’t be this explosive between them. No way could she tell him about her desire to be thoroughly kissed and think that Jaleen wouldn’t take on the challenge. Jaleen was all about challenges. She’d watched him dare others to underestimate his abilities so that he could prove them wrong. He hadn’t become as successful as he was by doing anything mediocre and the way his tongue was dipping deep within her, exploring places that had otherwise been left untouched for entirely too long, was his way of confirming that her expectations hadn’t been set too high. If anything, they’d been set too low because what Jaleen was doing to her didn’t compare to her fantasies. It surpassed them.
Her orgasm approached quicker than she’d realized. She opened her mouth to warn Jaleen and wasn’t sure if she made sense. From the squeaks she heard in the room, she’d hoped she’d gotten at least one legible word out, but instead of slowing the onslaught of his mouth, he only increased the pressure.
She’d once overheard a couple of women talking in a café about experiencing the type of orgasms that made a woman forget where she was and what time it was. The kind that had her questioning backward from forward and left from right. The kind that had a woman forgetting her entire name...first, last and middle. That conversation was the only thing Danni could think of to describe the explosive orgasm she experienced as a result of the expert hands and mouth of Jaleen Walker. Now she knew why all the women in Chicago had been bending over backward to go on a date with him. Being on the receiving end of a man like Jaleen wasn’t just a chapter to add to your memories. It was the entire damn book.
Chapter 8
Jaleen glanced inside the restaurant at Danni who was enthusiastically talking to Christian Serrano and his manager. They’d just arrived in Barcelona that morning, two hours before Danni had scheduled the meeting. They hadn’t even checked into the hotel yet, which left Jaleen sitting with their luggage at a table outside of the vintage restaurant.
“Here is your food, sir.”
“Thank you,” Jaleen said to the waitress with the beautiful Spanish accent. He didn’t know much about fashion, but Danni had informed him on the plane that Christian’s family owned the restaurant. It was rich in history and recipes passed down from generation to generation. Jaleen really hoped the meeting was going well because carrying Serrano’s swimsuit designs in the Bare Sophistication boutiques would be a huge opportunity for Danni and the Dupree sisters.
After spending Friday night locked in a storage room with Danni, he’d been disappointed when Autumn showed up twenty minutes after the most erotic experience of his life. When they’d gone back to his place, Danni had teased him about that night being the best unplanned second date she’d ever had. In hindsight, it was the best date he’d ever had, too.
He’d had every intention to continue the night with Danni when he’d received an urgent phone call from his cousin Jasper who was still in Europe. After two hours of working out an issue with a property overseas, he’d gone to check on Danni only to find she’d fallen asleep. As much as he’d wanted to wake her, she’d needed her sleep, so instead he’d lay next to her on the couch until he’d fallen asleep, too.
Sleeping with a woman for comfort instead of sex was entirely new to him, but he welcomed the feeling. Danni wasn’t just sexy as hell. She oozed sex appeal more than any woman he’d ever met in his entire life. He’d dated a range of women, including an award-winning actress, an up-and-coming reality star, a gorgeous plus-size model, a famous chef—and no, not Artemela Rojas—he’d even dated a well-known politician. However, none of those women even came close to making him feel what he was beginning to feel with Danni.
If he thought back to the first time he’d met her, he realized that he’d always known she’d be different. He’d always known that the minute he tasted her, he’d want more. He’d want something deeper with her. He’d desire what he deemed impossible. In his situation, he couldn’t afford to fall in love with someone he cared about the way he cared about her. Not only did it spell trouble for him, but he feared the damage it would do to her would be irreparable.
His phone rang, interrupting his thoughts and meal. It’s Taheim... He had a feeling his friend was calling about Danni and contemplated not answering, even if he did have an international phone plan.
“What’s up, Taheim?”
“Not much, man. I just called because I heard you were in Chicago for a day and now you’re in Barcelona...”
“Yeah. Sorry I couldn’t hit you up while I was there, but I had meetings with my family all Friday.”
“I heard,” Taheim said. “Winter mentioned that you flew down here with Danni and that she went to work at the shop while you went to your meetings. Then you guys got locked in the storage room?”
“Sure did,” Jaleen said with a laugh. “I accidently locked us in there, but it was only for, like, three hours or so.”
“What’s going on with you two?”
As his best friend, Jaleen knew that tone in Taheim’s voice. Taheim wasn’t really one to ask him any questions about the women he hung out with, so Taheim was fishing for information.
“We’ve been hanging out together a lot lately, so I asked her if she wanted to come back to Chicago with me for the weekend. She needed to go to Barelona for an impromptu meeting and asked if I’d join her since I’ve been here a couple times. That’s all.”
“Are you sure that’s all?”
Jaleen took a sip of water before responding. “Why don’t you tell me the real reason you called?”
“You know why I called,” Taheim said, sterner than before. “Jay, what are you doing, man? Danni’s like family to Winter, Autumn and Summer. She’s a part of our group of friends.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning you can’t date her then discard her like you do all those other women.”
“This coming from the man who used to be my partner in crime,” Jaleen said. “Let’s not forget that you used to be just like me, but you changed. You went from having eyes for multiple women to only having eyes for one. Why is it so hard to believe that I won’t treat Danni like I do those other women?” His voice was rising, but he didn’t care.
“That’s not what I’m saying and you know it.” Taheim sighed. “Look, I know you well enough to know that you’ve always felt differently about Danni. Hell, anyone who hangs out with you two for any amount of time can see the chemistry. But my guess is that you aren’t frustrated that I called to ask you about your intentions. You’re frustrated because you’ve probably already been asking yourself the same questions. I’m the only one who knows why you can’t fall for Danni, so I’m assuming you knew this call was coming but are pissed all the same.”
Jaleen let out a frustrated breath as he let Taheim’s words sink in. “You’re right,” he finally said. “All of it. You’re right. But, man, I don’t know what it is. I know that I should stay away from her. I know I’m no good for her. And I know in the end we will both end up hurt. But I can’t help myself. When I’m not with her, all I do is think about her. At this point, I’m not sure I could stay away if I tried.”
“I know the feeling,” Taheim said. “What’s going to happen in a few months when you turn thirty-five? What will you do then?”
“I’ve been thinking about that, but I’m not liking any option I come up with. When the time comes, I guess I’ll follow my obligations, but I damn sure won’t like it.”
“Then maybe you should tell her,” he suggested. “Maybe you should tell her the real reason why your relationship can’t last long.”
Jaleen didn’t want to sound vulnerable, but he couldn’t help feeling that way when he thought about Danni. “What if she decides she doesn’t want to talk to me again? What if she doesn’t understand that a marriage based off love is not in my future?”
“Telling her will be the most difficult conversation you’ve ever had. But she deserves to know the truth,” Taheim said. “And who knows...she may surprise you.”
He highly doubted that, but Taheim was right. She did deserve to know the truth. Deep down, he knew he and Danni couldn’t go on like this. What would happen if he and Danni did fall in love and then he had to let her go? What would they do if they started developing strong feelings for one another?
He could be lost in thought for hours if he let the questions he had about his relationship with Danni cloud his mind. Hell, in some ways they already were. However, despite the fact that he could cut off some of his worry by only living in the moment and not thinking about the future, there was one main thought that continued to float around in his mind, setting up a permanent place in his psyche. Maybe you’ve already fallen too hard.
* * *
A few hours after her meeting with Christian Serrano, Danni was still elated that she’d landed one of the most sought after swimsuit designers for Bare Sophistication.
They still had to work out the contract, but she’d been impressed by Christian and his manager. It was obvious that Christian not only valued his work, but also understood what it meant for the Serrano name. Now, she knew why Bare Sophistication and other smaller boutiques appealed to Christian. He was from humble beginnings and was very family oriented. An hour into their meeting, she’d had the pleasure of meeting his parents, two sisters, and two brothers who had made an appearance.
Jaleen had eventually joined in on the fun and once the Serrano’s learned that Danni and Jaleen were residing at a quaint resort-villa in a coastal town just outside of Barcelona, Mr. Serrano had recommended an oceanfront restaurant in the area.
Being the gentleman he was, Jaleen had invited Christian and his manager the join them for dinner. The gesture had really impressed Danni because she sensed he’d rather spend the only night they had in Barcelona dining alone.
They were scheduled to meet their dining companions in an hour and a half, however, Jaleen had just phoned her to ask that she be ready in thirty minutes. After putting on her lilac maxi dress, fluffing her wavy hair, and applying a little makeup, she was ready to go.
Danni glanced at the clock on the nightstand by the bed. “Hmm, I still have ten minutes to spare,” she said to herself.
They were staying in a two-bedroom villa, so Jaleen was right down the hall. Although Danni figured he was probably ready as well, she decided to take some time to think about everything that had happened over the last few days.
Opening the sliding door to the balcony, Danni sank into the plush cushion on the wicker outdoor chair and placed her cell phone on the round, glass table. The ocean was beautiful and calming, offering the piece of tranquillity that she needed.
To say that her time with Jaleen in Chicago had been uneventful would be a huge understatement. She’d expected to enjoy the time she’d spent with him, but she hadn’t expected to enjoy their time together as much as she had.
And he knows about my list. They never got the opportunity to discuss how much he actually knew about her “Thirty Things To Do Before I’m Thirty” list, but she assumed she’d said enough for him to know he was on it. He obviously knew that kissing him had been on the list.
She’d thought about bringing it up on the plane ride to Barcelona, but she’d been so nervous about her meeting with Christian Serrano that she’d spent most the time preparing.
Just thinking about the time she’d spent in the storage room with Jaleen sent desire spiraling through her entire body. She couldn’t have prepared herself for what had happened, but she didn’t regret a moment they’d spent trapped in that room. Unfortunately getting trapped in the storage room hadn’t been the only unexpected thing to happen in Chicago. She hadn’t anticipated the call she’d received on her way to Bare Sophistication, however, looking back, she probably should have been prepared for the call.
It had been almost four years since she’d made one of the worst decisions of her life and almost two years that she’d been paying someone to keep her secret. When she’d initially moved to Chicago from Tampa, it had been easy to ignore the decisions she’d made. Now it seemed like her past mistakes were coming back to bite her in the butt and her biggest fear was that someone she cared about would get hurt in the process.
Her mind drifted to her mother. Whenever she was overwhelmed with thoughts, her mom was the only person in the world who could calm her down. She picked her cell phone up and checked the time zone for Florida before she dialed her number.
“Hi, Mom,” Danni said. “I hope I didn’t interrupt you.”
“Oh, no, sweetie, I wasn’t doing anything important. Why did you call me through FaceTime audio?”
Shoot! Danni didn’t have an international calling package, so she’d tapped into the hotel’s Wi-Fi. She was glad her iPhone allowed you to call with a Wi-Fi signal, but she didn’t want her mom to know she was in Barcelona. Any time she went out o
f the country, all her mom did was worry. She wanted to tell her mother about Christian Serrano, but she’d mention that after the contract was finalized.
“No reason. I was just thinking about you and wanted to give you a call.”
“Are you okay, Danni? I get the feeling something is going on.”
More like so much is going on I don’t even know where to start. Danni would be the first to admit that her mom was one of her best friends. There was nothing she couldn’t share with her and, oftentimes, her mother knew her better than she knew herself.
“Well, I’m glad you called,” Regina said after Danni remained silent. “You can tell me what’s wrong when you’re ready. In the meantime, how about you tell me more about this young man you started dating. Unless he’s the reason something is wrong.”
“What makes you think I’m dating someone?”
“Let’s just call it a mother’s intuition. Or maybe it’s possible that I called your job when you didn’t answer my call yesterday and was informed that you weren’t in the office.”
Danni laughed. “And why would you think that means I’m dating someone?”
“Well, I remember calling your job last month when you hadn’t answered your phone and you were driving back from visiting me in Tampa. I had wanted to make sure you’d arrived. Summer informed me that you hadn’t arrived yet, but was excited to tell me all about how well your celebration dinner went. Including the fact that one of your friends, Jaleen, was in town for the dinner.”
“He wasn’t in town for the dinner. He’s in town for work.”
Nights of Fantasy Page 8