Her mother had been a beautiful woman, and he told her so. “I see where you got your good looks from.”
“Thank you. She would have adored you,” Phaedra responded, laughter shining in her eyes.
“I’m sure she and I would have been great friends,” Mason said.
Phaedra grabbed his hand. “Let me show you around,” she said, guiding him through the dining area and kitchen, then to the bedrooms on the second floor.
“We’ll sleep here,” she said, leading him into her bedroom.
Mason smiled, his eyebrows raised mischievously. “I imagine we might not be getting much sleep,” he said teasingly as he wrapped his arms around her torso and hugged her to him.
Phaedra giggled as Mason blew warm breath against the side of her neck, following the warmth with his tongue. “Are you trying to get something started, Mr. Boudreaux?” she quipped.
“Yes, ma’am. I am definitely trying to get something started. Are you going to let me?”
Phaedra giggled again. “I’ve never had a man in my room before. My mother would be having a fit if she knew.”
“I assure you that your mother would have loved me so much that my being in your room wouldn’t have been an issue.”
“Mmm,” Phaedra purred as Mason assaulted her mouth, kissing her voraciously, their tongues twisting wildly together.
Without a moment’s hesitation Phaedra wriggled out of her slacks and top and stood in front of Mason with nothing on but her tiny black thong. Mason grabbed her by her thin waist and lifted her up onto the wooden dresser. Phaedra gasped, her arms wrapped around his neck. Her thin brown legs instinctively spread open, wrapping around his waist, and Mason licked his lips in anticipation. Guiding her movements, Mason pushed her legs up until her feet were resting on the dresser top. Spread open in all her glory, she was absolutely delicious, a sweet expectation at the ready.
“Do you have any idea what I’m going to do to you?” Mason asked.
“What?” Phaedra whispered.
The man smiled, not answering out loud as he took his index finger and teased the mound that pressed against the black triangle of fabric. He was staring in her eyes when he ripped the garment with his hands, tossing the remnants to the floor. Still staring into her eyes, Mason drew his fingers in bold strokes through the folds of her femininity, blatantly teasing her.
Phaedra inhaled swiftly, lust sweeping in bold waves through her. Every time Mason touched her she was in awe of the sensation. Every muscle in her body quivered for more.
Taking a quick glance around the room, Mason reached for a desk chair and pulled it to where she sat on the dresser. As he rested his knee against the cushioned seat, settling himself comfortably in front of her, he inhaled the sweet fragrance of her intimate scent. Phaedra’s eyes widening in anticipation, he licked his index finger, sucking on it slowly. Phaedra took a deep breath and held it, her body beginning to convulse with wanting. She watched in wonder as Mason slowly slid his moist finger across her swollen nub with wanting.
Phaedra gasped. “Mason! Oh, baby.”
Phaedra was on fire and when Mason placed a damp kiss against her inner thigh she thought she might combust. He started slowly, allowing her temperature to rise to an unreasonable level. As he dipped his tongue into the sweetness of her inner folds, he began to lap at her more furiously. Phaedra ran her hands over his head as her body shook with pleasure. She screamed his name, her body twisting and turning as every inch of her flesh tingled.
Savoring the intimate delicacy, Mason pushed his tongue deeper into Phaedra’s private garden to savor the sweetness of her nectar. As Phaedra rode the tumultuous waves, speeding closer and closer to her orgasm, Mason pulled her to him, clamping his arms around her thighs to hold her steady. She arched her back and cried out with joy.
“Ohhh!” she screamed, locking her hands behind his head. “Don’t stop! Please don’t stop! Ohhh, baby!”
Mason doubled, then tripled his efforts, desperate to bring Phaedra to the explosion of a lifetime. He quickly licked his finger and slid it deep inside her. She was hot and tight and as he pushed a second and then a third finger in, Phaedra bucked hard, loving the sweet intrusion into her secret box.
She moaned, calling his name over and over again. Mason held her tight as he maintained his oral assault, lavishing long, wet strokes against her swollen button.
Phaedra screamed, her senses on overload. She raced higher and higher toward ecstasy, giving in to the wanton abandon. Suddenly Mason stroked her deeper and deeper, hitting her sweet spot until her passion crested. Phaedra bucked, her back arching as her legs locked behind his head, holding him hostage between her legs. She sobbed as he buried himself into her wetness.
“Ahhhh!” Phaedra shuddered as Mason lapped every drop of her sweet liquid. As her passion ebbed and flowed he gently stroked her damp thighs, continuing to kiss the soft, damp skin. He smiled as he felt her continue to shiver in ecstasy. Rising to his feet, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed, laying her gently against the handmade quilt that decorated the bed. Lying down beside her, he curled into her warmth, the lovers drifting off into a sound sleep.
Chapter 21
Mason woke to the aroma of fresh-roasted coffee and thick bacon sizzling in a cast-iron frying pan. The smells wafting through the small bedroom were transforming, shifting him from a state of total unconsciousness to bright-eyed cognizance. Taking a deep breath, he rolled over onto his back, taking in the sight of Phaedra’s childhood bedroom. The decor was an amalgamation of black-and-white photographs, remnants of college paraphernalia, trinkets from her travels and rich, lush fabrics in bright, vibrant colors. The space was warm and inviting, invoking the spirit that Mason had come to love about the beautiful woman.
Making his way into the bathroom, he tossed off the clothes he’d slept in and stepped into the shower stall, turning the water to superhot. Moisture rained down over his head and shoulders, the invigorating stream pulsing over his muscles. As he soaped his body, rinsing the suds down the drain, he was excited to start his day with Phaedra, anxious to see where they would be headed together.
As he stepped out of the shower, Phaedra knocked on the bathroom door, calling his name. “Hey there, do you want some breakfast?” she asked, peeking inside.
“Good morning,” Mason said, grinning brightly.
“Good morning. I thought you might be hungry,” she said as she stepped into the room and passed him a plush white towel.
“I could eat,” he said as he swiped the towel across his body. “How long have you been up?”
“Not long. You were sleeping soundly, so I figured I’d let you rest.”
He smiled as she reached to help him dry his back, her fingers lingering longer than necessary as she swiped her hands across his skin. She stepped in and planted a moist kiss against his back and shoulders. Turning an about-face, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her gently, relishing the comfort of the embrace. He kissed her cheek before releasing the hold. “So, what would you like to do today?” he asked, wrapping the towel around his waist.
“Actually I really don’t want to do much of anything. I have a stack of mail I need to go through, the paperwork to settle my mother’s estate that needs to be completed and I need to figure out where my next photo assignment is going to be. I figured we’d just hang out for a while and then maybe head downtown later?”
Mason nodded. “Sounds like a plan. I actually have a few things I need to do, as well.”
“Well, you get dressed and I’ll go pour your coffee.” Phaedra smiled. As she turned to walk out of the room, Mason gave her a swift pat against her backside.
Down in the kitchen the two enjoyed a breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast and coffee. Their conversation was easy and relaxed, the two enjoying each other’s company. Mason asked questions
about her mother and their history, enjoying the slide show of photo albums that documented them together. He sensed that Phaedra was missing her mother, and talking about the joyful times they’d shared clearly lifted her spirits.
After breakfast Phaedra retreated to her office and Mason to the screened porch that bordered the backyard. Neighbors had kept the grass cut, flowers blooming in no particular order around the perimeter of the fenced area. With his laptop resting against his knees, he accessed the home’s Wi-Fi to retrieve his emails, responding to a lengthy list of messages. Turning his cell phone on for the first time since leaving for Thailand, he returned some necessary telephone calls. At some point he dozed off, a cool breeze wafting comfortably through the space. When he woke Phaedra was curled up at the opposite end of the sofa, her electronic reader resting in her hand.
He stretched his body upward and yawned. “How long have I been asleep?” he asked.
Phaedra shrugged as she answered, “Most of the afternoon. I think the time difference and jet lag finally caught up with you. Plus, you’re still recovering from your trauma.”
She rested her e-reader against the floor and shifted her body easily over his. Mason wrapped his arms around her as she leaned to kiss his mouth. “Ready to get out into the sunshine?”
Mason smiled as he glided his hands over her buttocks, sliding them beneath the T-shirt she wore. “I can think of something else I’d rather be doing,” he said as he kissed her again.
She grinned, moving her pelvis to meet his. “Are you trying to get some again, sir?”
He lifted his eyebrows, his fingers still teasing her flesh. “Yes, ma’am.”
She giggled softly as she lifted herself from the sofa, stretching out her hand to take his. Following her lead, Mason trailed after her as she led him back into the house and up the stairs, both leaving a trail of clothing behind them.
* * *
Phaedra couldn’t have imagined a more romantic evening as they strolled through Woldenberg Park, enjoying the evening sunset. The sun danced across the mighty Mississippi as they strolled along the river. A procession of ships floated by on the river, and interesting sculptures dotted the landscape near the docks. As they sat on one of the many benches, a violinist stopped to serenade them, the enchanting strings setting a starry mood.
As the sun disappeared in the distance, the sky gleaming in vibrant shades of red, orange and purple, Mason led the way to the Napoleon House. Cocktails at the dimly lit, rustic bar were a quiet preamble to dinner at the restaurant Lola’s, where they enjoyed a tantalizing meal of Spanish food, Mason insisting that the paella was the best he’d had since visiting Spain. The restaurant was charming and quaint with only a few tables and a strict no-reservations policy. As they’d waited for a table, Mason had held her close, his arms wrapped warmly around her.
After dinner they swung by Jackson Square and grabbed a late-night ride around the French Quarter in the back of a horse-drawn carriage. The picturesque views reminded them both of what they loved most about the exotic city, and by the time they’d found their way back to Phaedra’s home, the mood was set for a night of making sweet, sweet love.
Hours later Phaedra slumbered comfortably against him, her naked body curled around his. Every so often she’d draw her fingers along the curve of his buttocks, the gentle sensation against his skin soothing. She snored ever so slightly, and listening to her breathe made him smile.
In that concrete room, delirium clouding his thoughts, he’d been afraid that he’d lost her, and the thought of her being gone from him when she had just moved into his life and heart had left him broken.
Phaedra had been fearful of them moving too fast, their relationship coming on the heels of too many obstacles. He’d been more confident about the two of them, believing that God had heard and answered his persistent prayer, blessing him with a partner who would fill the emptiness that had been his life. And the more time they spent together, the more they discovered about each other, the more convinced he was that he was right.
Phaedra shifted her body closer against his, seeking out his body heat. Her breathing shifted as she tossed one leg over his. Mason smiled into the darkness.
“Are you asleep?” she whispered, wrapping an arm around his waist.
Mason shook his head against his pillow. “No, I’m wide-awake.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Perfect. I was just thinking about you. About us.”
“I like us,” she responded, caressing his side and abdomen. “I like us a lot.”
Mason rolled onto his back. Phaedra cradled her body over his, resting her head against his chest. “Me, too,” Mason said, tracing his hand along her profile.
Phaedra closed her eyes and relished the sensation of his touch. She took a deep breath, then lifted her body above his, straddling him comfortably. “So, what’s next with us, Mr. Boudreaux?” she asked as she palmed his chest.
“I know what I want, Phaedra. I guess the question is, what do you want?”
Phaedra paused. She took a deep breath, blowing it slowly past her lips. “There’s so much for us to consider,” she said, reflecting on their two situations. “Where is business going to put you?”
“What I need to do for your brothers is going to keep me traveling for a while. I don’t see myself settling down in any one place for at least the next year. Maybe two. And I’m sure you will want to spend time in Dallas getting to know your family. Have you given any consideration to moving there? Because I’m sure John is going to bring the idea up to you. I know I would.”
“I’ve thought about commuting between here and there, but no, I hadn’t thought about moving.”
“It’s something that you might want to consider,” Mason said matter-of-factly.
Phaedra nodded. “So, where would that leave us? Will this be a long-distance relationship?”
“It doesn’t have to be. Depending on our schedules, you can travel with me wherever I go or I can travel with you. Money isn’t an issue for us, so you’ll be afforded the opportunity to take pictures all around the world if that’s what you want to do.”
“Money isn’t an issue for you, Mason. I make a comfortable living, but that’s all it is, comfortable.”
“No, it’s not an issue for us because whatever I have, you have. Most especially after we’re married.”
Phaedra laughed. “And you’re planning to marry me?”
“Was there any doubt?”
She paused, taking a quick moment before she responded, “In all honesty, Mason, I hadn’t thought about marriage. I’ve just gotten used to the idea of us being a couple.”
“Well, I have thought about it and I can’t imagine us being together and you not being my wife. And I’m not saying we have to be married tomorrow or next week, but when it feels right and you’re ready, I want to marry you. I want you to know that I am committed to our being together forever. I love you, Phaedra.”
Phaedra leaned to kiss him, her lips gliding like silk against his. “I love you, too, Mason,” she said as he wrapped his arms around her.
His wiggled his pelvis beneath her. “So, just how much do you love me?” he said, his voice dropping to a seductive whisper.
Phaedra squirmed against him, feeling the rise of nature that surged anxiously for her attention. She grinned widely as she stroked him with her body, his erection hardening like a rod of steel between her legs. “Let me show you,” she said as she reached a hand between them, her fingers wrapping around the length of him.
Mason reached toward the nightstand and the box of condoms that rested behind the lamp. He pulled a prophylactic from the container and passed it to her. Tearing the wrapper from the rubber, she shifted her body to give herself enough room to sheathe the length of him. Mason’s smile pulled ear to ear in anticipation.
Dr
opping her mouth down to his, she kissed him sweetly. She teased him, taunting him with anticipation as her body glided firmly against his. As Mason began to thrust himself upward, grinding his body against hers, Phaedra lifted her hips and plunged her body down against him. Mason gasped at the sensation, pleasure surging through him like a wildfire that refused to be contained.
As Mason grabbed her by her hips, guiding her motion, Phaedra rode him in earnest, propelling herself up and down against him. With the length of himself nestled nicely between her legs, Mason savored the sweet sensations, Phaedra hot and delicious around him. The feelings through his body were out of this world. Mason knew that he wouldn’t last long. He could feel his orgasm slowly building as Phaedra sped up her strokes. At the point of no return, Mason pushed himself into her, hard, causing her to cry out, and a second later he felt her contracting around him as she had her own climax. Collapsing against him, Phaedra nestled into his embrace, reveling in the love that spiraled in deep swirls around them both.
Mason kissed her ardently. It was like kissing an angel, he thought, nothing else nearly as perfect. Phaedra was beautiful and delicate, graceful and lithe. As he explored her body with his hands, he was drunk with lust after what they had done and what else he planned to do before the night was over.
Chapter 22
The ringing cell phone startled them both from a sound sleep. Mason jumped and Phaedra jumped with him, her body sprawled over his. She laughed huskily. “I think that’s for you,” she said as she rolled to the other side of the bed, pulling a pillow over her head.
Reaching for the device that rested on the nightstand, Mason pulled it to his ear. “Hello?”
The familiar voice on the other end moved him to sit upright in the bed listening intently. Phaedra peeked up at him, curiosity pulling her awake.
“Yes, sir…yes…I…but…” Mason heaved a deep sigh. “Yes, sir, I will,” he repeated as he disconnected the call. The man shook his head, a smile pulling at his mouth.
Forever a Stallion Page 16