by A. C. Arthur
“I’m taking you on a tour.” He started the engine and eased out of the garage. “You know Ace the model and the famous underwear guy. I want you to see another side.”
He reached over and took her hand in his. London felt the same fear she’d experienced all those years ago, that intense feeling that threatened to overwhelm her, to take her to emotional places she’d never been. But this time, the urge London felt wasn’t to run away from the feeling. It was to move closer to Ace and make it stronger.
Chapter 10
“We’re headed to Oakland?”
“Yep.”
“That’s where you grew up?”
Ace nodded. “I have some business to handle real quick.”
“Not a problem.” London looked out the window as they crossed the Bay Bridge. “I don’t know why, but I would have guessed you grew up on the East Coast. You have more of that vibe to me.”
“I can understand that. Northern California has a bit of that feel. So many easterners moved west and settled here. If you look at San Francisco’s architecture and structure, it’s a lot like Philly or Boston, definitely nothing like LA.”
“That’s for sure.”
“How’d you like living there? I imagine you fit right in.”
“I’m not sure how to take that comment, but yeah, I loved Los Angeles. Sure, there’s a lot of phony people and fake smiles and two-faced ridiculousness, but I didn’t have to deal with much of that.”
“Maxwell kept you shielded from it?”
“The people in his circle are all successful. They don’t have to fake it—they actually live the big life.”
“Do you miss it?”
“No. I enjoyed the Hollywood lifestyle, I won’t lie about that. His making the movie and me starring in it was the common interest we talked about most and bonded around, really. Outside that, it was always the parties and screenings and dinners, always something going on. But when it was just Max and me—which, with all his assistants and the maid and the chef and the nonstop entertainment schedule, wasn’t often—something was missing. I can’t explain it other than to say it didn’t feel the way forever should. We were in the relationship for very different reasons.”
Ace made a disgusted grunt. “I can definitely relate.”
“Tell me about it. Since you told me you’re all grown-up and only have special sex—” the way she said it made him laugh “—how does that work, exactly?”
“Once you fully commit to a relationship and are then betrayed, it changes you.”
They were quiet as Ace exited the bridge onto the I-80. It was late evening. Traffic was still heavy in certain places but he navigated with ease, neo-soul music playing low, caressing London’s body the way she wanted Ace to do.
“My mother introduced me to Jessica. They taught at the same school.”
“You were engaged to a teacher? Wow, considering the women who’ve been on your arm, that sounds totally unlike you. She must have been something special.”
“She’s a beautiful girl. On the outside, anyway. Came across as caring, thoughtful. My mom has a program where she works with young girls, teaches life skills, etiquette and stuff like that. Jessica volunteered to help her, seemed very enthused about shaping young lives. She’s a great actor. The girls loved her. She reeled them in, along with my mom...and me.”
“What happened?”
“To make a long story short, she wasn’t in love with me as much as she was with my money. So much so that she helped herself to quite a lot of it without my knowledge.”
“She stole from you?”
“Not in a way I could have had her prosecuted. And believe me, I would have. But yes, she took advantage of the access she had to a couple of my accounts and drained them without asking. I think that was always her agenda. She loved the lifestyle I gave her. I was all in, and she knew it. So there was an underestimation of how I’d react. She tried to excuse her behavior and change the facts, but trust had been broken. It wasn’t even about the money. It was about the trust. I forgave her. But I was done.
“It took me a long time to get over that, over a year, really. OTB Her is my woman right now. Totally unpredictable but much more faithful.”
They drove by Lake Merritt. It was an area where Ace spent a lot of time as a kid, and he plied her with tales of youthful ignorance. They drove by the school where his mom taught, and the old neighborhood where he’d grown up. London learned the reason Ace had driven over when they stopped by a neighborhood store, one she found out Ace had bought for the man who ran it, a man who’d been like a father figure before his stepfather entered his life. That man was now in the hospital, battling cancer, and the business had suffered because of it. Ace dropped off a loaded debit card to the nineteen-year-old who was running the place in his dad’s absence. Told the young man he’d help in any other way he could. That he would do something so selfless didn’t go without notice. As they rode back to San Francisco, London was extremely aware that she sat next to a very good man.
Ace headed toward the freeway that would take them back over the bridge. A comfortable silence settled between them as he programmed the address she’d given him into the GPS.
“You’re in a condo, not a hotel. Friend of yours?”
“No. It belongs to us.”
“Who’s us?”
“My family.”
“Dang, girl. What does your family do? Y’all own everything!”
“Real estate—I thought I told you.”
“When do you think that happened? I just found out your cousins own a vineyard. Wait a minute. The building downtown, Ten Drake Plaza—that’s not you, is it?”
“Actually, yes. Owned by the company my dad started in Paradise Cove.”
“Is that where you still live?”
“Yes. All of my family is there except a brother who’s married and lives in New Orleans, another finishing his doctorate and my sister, Teresa, who splits her time between there and Alaska, where her husband has a business.”
“How many of you are there?”
“Eight altogether.”
“And you’re the baby.”
“How’d you guess?”
He gave her a look. “Really?”
“Shut up.”
“How long are you going to be in town? Long enough for us to get a fitting in tomorrow?”
“Sure.”
“Any plans for tonight?”
“Yes, with you.”
“There you go again. Acting like London, when a strong brother like me needs to hang with Clarisse.”
“Ace, I’d like very much for you to come in and share a cup of tea and then tuck me into bed.”
“That’s all you want from me in bed...a little tucking?”
“I want a lot of tucking from you, Ace. But this is all about business, right?”
“Right,” Ace said with a serious face London thought worthy of an Oscar. If Ace came inside the condo tonight, she’d make sure he didn’t leave until morning.
Chapter 11
They arrived back in San Francisco. GPS directed Ace to an upscale neighborhood on the city’s upper south side.
“In a quarter of a mile, your destination is on the right.”
Ace glanced at London. “This is where your condo is, Presidio Heights?”
“Not mine. My family owns it.”
“You almost could have walked from the restaurant.”
“In these heels? I don’t think so.”
“You know I’m kidding. I wouldn’t have let you walk home, heels or not.”
“Ah, you’re such a gentleman.”
“I try.”
“I’m going to try, too.”
“What?”
“Nev
er mind. Take a left at the next stop and then your first right to the garage.”
The two kept up a casual banter until they reached the living room.
Ace stopped in the middle of the floor, hands on hips as he looked around. “This is very nice. Was it professionally decorated?”
“My mom would love hearing that question. She’s furnished so many houses that calling her a professional is probably not too much of a stretch.”
“It sounds like you have a wonderful family.”
“They’re all right. Let me take your coat.” He peeled out of it. She hung both of theirs in the hall closet and continued to the kitchen. “What type of tea would you like?”
He followed her. “What type do you have?”
She turned and stopped him. “Why don’t I make you a special caramel and cinnamon blend while you light the fireplace and find some good music on the sound system?”
“That’ll work.” He returned to the living room. “Where is it?”
“The fireplace? It’s that big open square on the far wall.”
“Stick to your job as a model,” he yelled, “because you suck as a comedian!”
“You know you laughed. The stereo is controlled by that panel near the hallway. Push the button to the right to open it up and turn it on. Everything is self-explanatory from there.”
London poured water into the teakettle, pulled down a box of assorted teas and then went to the pantry for one of two types of caramel she intended to serve with the tea. Soon, the neo-soul sounds of Amel Larrieux floated around the wall and into the kitchen.
“Great choice.”
She heard fingers popping, smiled when she saw the lights dim. The teapot hissed, mimicking the heat London felt between her legs. She dressed the tea just the way she liked it and hoped Ace would, too. After unwrapping the other caramel ingredient, she picked up the mugs and edged toward the living room to peep Ace’s location. He sat on the couch, head bobbing. She imagined his eyes closed. Perfect. Her stilettos made soft clicks against the hardwood floor as she walked into the room.
He slowly lifted and turned his head, then jerked his whole body around. “London!”
“What?” She continued toward him, completely naked except for the heels.
“What is this?”
She placed the mugs on the table and climbed on Ace’s lap. He was too shocked to move. It was exactly as she’d expected and hoped. She then reached around for one of the mugs. “It’s cinnamon tea with a caramel twist.”
“The caramel being you?”
“Some of it. Here. Taste.”
“London...”
“Shh. Just taste it.”
He blew on the hot concoction, then took a sip. “It’s delicious.”
She set down the cup. “Now, taste this.”
Her head lowered. She placed determined lips over his, swallowed his objection and felt a part of Ace’s anatomy coming out of shock. A slow grinding of her hips encouraged this unruly member to keep doing what came naturally.
“London, stop...” An objection, true enough, but without much conviction.
She outlined his lips with her tongue, slid it to the earlobe she remembered as sensitive and swirled it inside.
“You know we can’t do this,” he whispered, even as his hands slowly, almost begrudgingly, came up and cupped her booty.
“We can, and we should,” she whispered. Running her hands across his chest, she bypassed the buttons on his shirt and went straight for the belt buckle. Who knew how long the shock would last? She reached back for the packet she’d set next to her mug. “I promise to give you Clarisse Alana tomorrow,” she said, ripping open the packaging with her teeth and retrieving its contents. “Let me be London tonight.”
He’d been stiff, guarded, but either at her request or the sound of foil being torn, his body relaxed. Strong thighs that could have made him a star of track and field as well as the runway lifted them both up slightly, enough for him to slide the slacks down and expose a pair of the underwear he’d made famous.
London didn’t hesitate. Her body already thrumming, her folds already slick with anticipation, she reached between her legs, slipped the condom around his missile, and guided it home. With a sigh, Ace leaned toward the nipple within sight and gently pulled it into his mouth. He placed his hands around London’s taut waist and aided her exuberant ride. Up. Down. Swirl. Grind. The connection was electric. Their sexes were a perfect fit. Both had been without it for too long. When London’s pants increased and soft oohs spilled from her mouth, Ace put those thigh muscles to work, repeatedly tapped her hot spot and sent them both over the edge.
Ace had barely stopped pulsating before lifting London off his lap and into his arms. He stood. “Where’s the bedroom?”
“Upstairs. But that’s okay. I’ll wash off in a bit.”
“Wash off? Do you think this is over? You started this, London, against my wishes. Now I’m going to finish it.”
Several positions and a few hours later, Ace had done just that.
The next morning found the two lovebirds totally satiated, sexually satisfied and absolutely starved. London went downstairs and pulled a menu from one of several kept in a kitchen drawer. An hour later the table was laden with enough food to feed a family: blueberry waffles, turkey bacon, pork sausage, scrambled eggs, English muffins, hash browns and, for Ace, a pot of coffee, piping hot.
“Food’s here!”
Ace ambled down the stairs, his hair still damp, body fresh from the shower. At London’s suggestion he’d scrounged through drawers and closets and found a black button-up and a pair of black jeans. He looked like what he was: model, lover, boss, conducting business on his cell phone as he entered the room. London had put her freshly washed hair up into a ponytail and pulled on a halter-style minidress. She had no idea whether it belonged to her sister, Teresa, or one of her brothers’ ex-lovers. Whoever it was she thanked them. It was cute, loose and comfortable, and since she wore no underwear, it would provide quick and easy access to what she hoped for—another lovemaking round.
“Shoot the pictures over and I’ll have a look,” Ace said, his brows arched and eyes wide at the amount of food. “She’s still in town, so I’ll see if we can get her in for a fitting. No, don’t worry about it. I was going to call her anyway.” He kissed London’s lips softly and gave her a wink. “This afternoon, say around one?” He reached for a cup and poured coffee into it. “Let’s arrange a tentative photo shoot, as well. Lucien is sending over pics of some of the finished pieces. We can take the publicist’s advice and use them to start creating buzz for the show.” He nodded and sipped, picked up a link of sausage and took a bite. “Listen, Mira, I need to run. We’ll meet later at the office. I should be there around ten or so. All right, let’s talk then.”
He hung up, pulled London into an embrace and then set her away from him for a head-to-toe scan. “I thought you said I’d see Clarisse this morning.”
“You are seeing her,” London said, pairing a demure look with the innocent-sounding delivery.
“All that leg I’m looking at screams London. Clarisse would have on a maxidress.”
“Guess I’m rubbing off on her a bit. Dig in! I know you’re hungry, because I’m starved.”
“Yeah, and you worked me like a sex slave.”
“You seemed to enjoy it.”
“Think we’ve got enough food?”
London laughed. “This is what happens when you order while hungry. Their food is good, though.” They loaded up their plates and sat down. “Bon appétit.”
For several seconds the only conversation was between the silverware, the china and the food. After putting away a good chunk of the meal, Ace wiped his mouth with a napkin and reached for the coffeepot. “Whatever happened with those flowers you asked me abo
ut, the ones you thought came from me. Did you find out who sent them?”
“No. Diamond, my cousin, looked into it for me. But the floral company’s privacy policy forbade them from giving her the name of who purchased them.”
“What did the card say?”
“There wasn’t one. You’d think someone who’d send an extravagant gift like that would want credit. That’s why I assumed it was you. Because there wasn’t a card and we’d spent the previous day together.”
“It’s an upscale hotel with affluent clients. It could have been anyone who saw you there.”
“I guess.”
“Speaking of seeing you, is there any way you can come to our offices for a fitting today? Lucien has a few pieces ready, and as much as I enjoy you without clothes, I can’t wait to see you in them.”
“I’m staying until Sunday, so sure, I can come by.”
“Oh, really? Plans in the big city, huh?”
“My sister-in-law’s best friend lives here part-time and is in town now. Oh, it’s Trent. For a sec I forgot you know him. Anyway, Quinn is flying up tonight and we’re going to hang out a couple days and go home on Saturday.
“What are you doing tonight? We don’t have any firm plans yet, but maybe you can join us.”
“I don’t know. We’ll see.”
Casual chitchat continued as both refilled and demolished a second plate. Ace’s email and text indicators pinged throughout. After receiving an urgent one from Mira regarding a world-renowned photographer lined up for the shoot, he finished the glass of water London had poured him and stood.
“Thank you for an unexpected yet amazing evening, and a delicious breakfast. Duty calls. I’ve got to go.”
She stood, as well. Together they climbed the steps to the master suite and found Ace’s clothes, the evidence of hasty disrobing evident in pants inside out and a shirt thrown across the room.
“You can wear the jeans if you want and either keep them or give them to me later.”
He nodded and gathered his things.
“Let me find a tote for you.”
She did, and after placing his clothes inside the black leather bag, they headed back downstairs to the garage.