He was more than simply attracted to her. He could admit that now. He’d been attracted to plenty of women before, but this was deeper and almost tangible. It was more personal—more intimate. Being with Anika made everything better. The wine sweeter. The sun brighter.
Her subtle sexuality was completely addictive, manifesting into a sensation that gripped him by the chest and refused to let go. She helped him forget the uncertainty of his future and every minute they spent apart, he longed for the next time he’d see her. Their constant interaction was not enough, and he worried about this growing attachment to her when he’d never needed anyone before.
Reed’s jaw tightened, and when she opened her eyes, he barely resisted the urge to drag her into his arms and kiss her. All day he’d pondered the taste of her lips.
“Glad you enjoyed yourself,” he said.
She eyed him, as if trying to figure out what he was thinking. She didn’t want to know.
“I guess I better go to bed. I’ll see you in the morning,” Anika said quietly.
She smiled a little smile, the same one he often caught on her face. It filtered into her eyes the way sunlight broke through the clouds and illuminated the early morning sky.
“Bright and early for breakfast,” he said, not moving.
Neither budged from their positions, and that’s when he knew, if he made a move right now, she would let him not only kiss her, she would let him make love to her. They were in Italy, after all. And they’d just taken a gondola ride in one of the most romantic cities in the world. But he didn’t want to start something he couldn’t finish, and she struck him as a forever kind of woman.
Reed swallowed. “Go inside, Anika.” Being a gentleman sucked.
Hurt filled her eyes, but she straightened her back. “What if I don’t want to,” she whispered.
An unusual tightening caught hold of his gut. “Then I won’t be responsible for what happens.”
“I’m willing to take that chance.”
A decent man would recognize her vulnerability and walk away; and he wanted to, except no one had ever accused him of being decent. He couldn’t imagine leaving when he’d thought of little else but sleeping with her for the past few days. Sweet, sweet Anika. That’s what he thought of her. In her pastel colors and sleek ponytails.
What would she look like naked, her golden brown body bared in its entirety for his hungry gaze? With her long hair mussed and spilling across her shoulders in unruly disarray? With her lips swollen from his kisses even as they offered him more sensual bliss?
“You sure about that?” Reed asked. Crushing tension built in his groin.
“Yes.” Three letters, and among the most powerful words in the English language. Three letters that took him one step closer to the fantasy that plagued his thoughts and tortured his body at night.
Without hesitation, Reed bent his head and slanted his mouth over hers. She didn’t flinch or pull back, but the initial introduction of their lips to each other was an awkward and tentative act. Once he relaxed into it, white hot heat spiraled through his veins. The next thing he knew, he had her pushed up against the wall, the brutal pounding of his heart ramming against his rib cage. Cupping the back of her head with one hand, he devoured her mouth, kissing her with demand. Kissing her with the certainty of how the night would end.
A soft mewl echoed in the back of her throat as she drew him closer by fisting a hand in his shirt. He ran his hands under her skirt, bunching the material around her upper thighs. Dragging her hips into his, he gripped her tight little ass, and when she made the same sound again, Reed knew there was no turning back.
“Key,” he ground out.
Anika fumbled in her purse for the card and then turned toward the door. Reed took the opportunity to grab her by the hips and press his hard erection against the pliable cushion of her bottom. With his lips on the side of her neck, she let them into the room.
He took charge immediately and filled his hands with her breasts, all the while savoring her flavor and the pillowy softness of her lips. They were as succulent and sweet as two ripe plums, and he couldn’t get enough as he backed her toward the bed. His mouth returned to the side of her throat, and on a breathy moan, she arched her neck. His tongue slid over the salty skin, and her little sigh encouraged him further.
She started stripping him of his clothes, pulling the shirt over his head and going for the zipper of his jeans with the same enthusiasm with which she’d accepted his kisses. He impatiently helped her with the removal of his pants, tugging them past his hips along with the boxers, and then went to work on her clothes.
He continued to ply her mouth with kisses as his hands busied undressing her. When he’d removed her blouse, he tossed it aside and took in the lovely picture she made—her breasts lush and full, covered in pretty black lace. Off it came, and he hastily he pushed her onto the bed and continued to undress her. She lay there, biting her bottom lip with a mixture of excitement and shyness. His body ached to claim her right away, but he wanted to give her the utmost pleasure.
Within minutes they were both naked and on top of the cool sheets, his hands moving over her soft skin in wonder. Dipping his head, he flicked his tongue over a rosy brown nipple. Breath stuttering, she grabbed a handful of his hair and arched her back. Reed cupped one of her breasts and sucked the pebbled peak into his mouth, listening to her make sounds of pleasure somewhere between a moan and a sigh. So beautiful. So sensual. He felt it all the way down to his groin and was willing to do whatever it took to hear those noises repeatedly throughout the night.
He moved down her sternum toward her belly button, making sure to glide his hands over her skin. She moved restlessly on the bed as he continued his relentless advance even lower.
Reed paused when he saw two faint scars below her belly button, on either side of her abdomen. He touched the one on the right with his forefinger, and she tensed.
“What happened?” he whispered.
“Childhood accident.”
“What kind of—”
“I fell on my bike. It was bad. I’d rather not talk about it.” Her voice sounded strained. The mood in the room had shifted.
“Hey, I’m sorry.” Reed didn’t want to spoil the moment, but the thought of her suffering prompted him to press his lips to one scar and then the other—ever so gently to ease her distress.
She relaxed beneath his touch, and he took his time licking every inch of her. She almost jerked off the bed when he claimed the sensitive spot between her legs with his tongue, but he held her down and lapped at the moist flesh, listening to her broken cries of pleasure and choppy pleas for him to stop. Only once he’d had his fill did he continue his descent. He wanted to know all of her, right down to her toes.
Gathering her in his arms, Reed kissed between her breasts.
“Reed,” Anika murmured, cradling his face in her hands. She urged him up to her mouth, and they resumed an earth-bending kiss. Skin to skin, their warm bodies became entangled in each other, and Reed slid his hand down her waist and cupped her lush bottom. He squeezed and caressed, grinding his hips into her hers in an erotic simulation of sex.
“Now, sweetheart. I have to have you now.” He barely got the words out, panting them against her collarbone.
“Yes, please. I can’t wait.”
Propelled by the urgency in her voice, Reed retrieved a condom and swiftly came back to the bed. Looking down at her shapely body, his breath caught. Damn, she was incredible.
Bracing on his arms, he fed his body into her glistening sex. He almost lost it right then and had to stop for a moment. One eyelid twitched as he fought to reign himself in. Grinding down on his teeth, he plunged deeper. Anika tossed her head back and lifted into the thrust.
A groan caught in his throat. Goddamn, she was tight. And so wet. The taut clasp of her body felt incredible. She was incredible, completely giving herself over to the sensation. Her skin was flushed, eyes half-closed, hands gripping his biceps as
she moved in time to his same rhythmic motion.
Her hands shifted all over his skin, his back, his neck, as if she was at a loss to decide where to touch. She pressed her mouth to his jaw and then claimed his lips again, shoving her fingers into his hair, all rough and careless. Her less-than-gentle handling only inflamed his lust. Gritting his teeth, Reed lifted her bottom and angled her hips for a deeper thrust.
The movement made her gasp, inhaling deeply.
“Fucking good, isn’t it?” he muttered against her lips. He thrust hard and deep again. This time she cried out louder.
He kept thrusting. She was so warm and slick, he could only keep up that manic motion. Losing himself. Drunk on lust.
Anika gripped his ass, and they moved as if they were made for each other, their lovemaking mixed with heavy pants and frantic kissing.
Until...pulses rocked her body as she came undone, saying his name with an achy cry at the end. Her ragged breathing feathered over the shell of his ear.
Shit.
Reed’s control crumbled. He ejaculated so hard and so suddenly, his fingers gripped the pillows on either side of her head as his hips exploded into a frenzy of sporadic pumping. Shuddering as the last bit of cum left his body, he dropped his head into the scented corner of her neck and released a belly-deep groan.
She was perfection. Reed dragged his nose along one soft shoulder, inhaling Anika’s delicate floral scent. He sucked on her damp skin—helplessly, tasting more of her even though he should be satisfied.
He rolled onto his side but pulled Anika into his arms so the full length of their bodies meshed together.
“Reed,” she said on a sigh. Her eyes were closed and a beatific smile crossed her face.
Gazing at her, Reed finally got the answers to the questions he’d posed to himself earlier. A naked Anika with swollen lips and messy hair was unbelievably sexy.
Chapter 11
She was overdressed.
Anika sat in the car, waiting for the valet, staring down at her tan, ankle-length fitted skirt, her right leg peeking through the split on the side. Both arms were bare in the cream one-shoulder top she’d paired with it.
Too late to go home and change now. Besides, she’d tried on three different outfits before settling on this one, rushed out of the house so she wouldn’t keep Reed waiting, and still she was running late.
The valet approached and she exited the vehicle and handed over her key.
Paschal’s Restaurant was one of her favorite places to eat. Not only did they serve delicious food, but she had fond memories of eating lunch after church with her parents, brothers, and grandmother, discussing the morning’s sermon or having spirited but good-natured arguments. And it wasn’t unusual for her father, God rest his soul, to strike up a conversation with a nearby table and drag both parties into a political or religious debate.
Anika scanned the restaurant in search of Reed as she waited her turn behind a small group at the hostess stand. The gentle hum of well-dressed patrons, their quiet discussions and soft laughter filled the room. Male and female servers deftly maneuvered around, carrying trays of colorful drinks and steaming plates of soul food.
After the group before her had been escorted to a table, Anika stepped up. “Hi, I’m meeting someone here.” She peered into the dining room. “I don’t think he’s here yet, but—”
A warm hand settled at the base of her spine, and instinctively, Anika inhaled sharply. The scent of citrus and pine filled her nostrils. She should step away, but the sensation of his touch overtook her entire body, heating her from head to toe and holding her in place.
“Hey, there,” Reed said.
He flashed a smile, all charm and sizzle, temporarily rendering Anika unable to speak, unable to breathe, unable to function like a normal human being. As was his habit, he’d forgone a tie, choosing to wear a dark jacket over a crisp white shirt with dark pants.
“You made it,” she said.
“Sorry I’m late. Brielle thought it would be funny to hide my shoes. Tickling and threatening didn’t work to convince her to tell me where they were.”
“What finally worked?”
“Begging.”
Anika laughed, albeit shakily, still a bit overwhelmed by his presence. “It’s clear who has the control in that house.”
“Oh, there’s no doubt. And she knows it.”
The hostess escorted them to a booth near the back wall. As they sat down, Reed surveyed the loft-style interior, consisting of exposed pipes in the high ceilings, with one wall offering a view of the outdoors through large windows that looked out onto the street. Yellow sconces on the columns projected soft lighting to the interior and cast shadows on the black and white photos of Civil Rights leaders hung on the exposed brick walls.
“I’ve never eaten here, but I vaguely remember hearing about this restaurant.”
“So you don’t know its history?” Anika asked.
“No, I don’t,” Reed admitted.
Excited to share her limited knowledge, Anika set down the menu. “Paschal’s was founded in 1947 by brothers Robert and James Paschal. My grandmother told me they started out selling sandwiches and sodas and the business grew into what you see today. They’re a black-owned restaurant that was financed by a black-owned bank and insured by a black-owned insurance company. My grandmother said it wasn’t unusual to see civil rights leaders eating in the restaurant.”
“Like who?”
Anika pointed at the wall above them, where hung a photo of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and one of Joseph E. Lowery receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama. “Dr. King, Representative John Lewis, Ralph David Abernathy, Joseph Lowery—any of them.”
“Wow.”
Anika nodded. She’d loved hearing the stories her grandmother recounted and was amazed at how African-Americans managed to flourish during times of such adversity. “Rumor has it, Dr. King loved the vegetable soup.”
“Have you tried it?”
“Yes, and I agree. It’s good.”
“What else is good?” Reed skimmed the menu.
“My favorites are the catfish and fried chicken. And you can’t go wrong with the macaroni and cheese—oh, and the collard greens. Or the yams. Any of the dishes.” Her mouth watered thinking about the choices.
Reed laughed and set down his menu. “How about I order the fried chicken, mac and cheese, and the collard greens. You get the catfish and whatever sides you want, and we could share?”
Anika tilted her head. “Deal.”
Her eyes didn’t leave his, and a sense of the familiar shadowed the table. They’d shared meals in a similar fashion in Venice, making sure to always order different items so they could sample a variety of food. One time she’d ordered the pumpkin gnocchi and he’d ordered the seafood vermicelli. Another time his meal had consisted of roasted lamb chops while she’d craved grilled fish. Despite all the time that had passed, it seemed only natural to do the same during this meal.
Moments later, they’d placed their orders and had beverages in front of them. As an appetizer, they shared an order of green tomatoes, fried with aged Parmesan cheese.
“How is it?” Anika asked, slicing into a tomato.
Reed finished chewing. “Delicious.” He set down his fork. “I know I’ve said this before, but thanks again for helping with Brielle.”
“I was happy to help. Now stop thanking me.” Anika held up her glass of ginger ale. “To little girls with the lungs of an opera singer.” She took a sip.
He laughed softly. The sound was warm and inviting, as if he were laughing at a private joke. It made her want to lean in and find out what the secret was. “You’re in a good mood tonight.”
It was true. Dating, especially the first few dates when a man and woman were initially feeling each other out, could be tense and quite nerve-wracking. That wasn’t the case here. The initial nervousness didn’t exist and a comfortable familiarity was firmly in place.
“I’m trying to be nice. Don’t spoil it,” Anika said.
“Okay, okay. I won’t. I’m enjoying this moment, that’s all.”
Reed sipped from a bottle of Full Moon lager, watching her the entire time. “So tell me, what have you been up to during the past seven years or so? I mean, other than interior design.”
Anika shrugged. “Nothing much. Work has consumed a lot of my time.”
“What about boyfriends?”
The direct question made her skin tingle. “Alrighty then. Just come right out and ask the tough questions.”
“Too personal?” he asked.
“I wasn’t expecting that question until dessert. I haven’t even had my meal yet. We’re still on the appetizer.”
“We can wait if you prefer, but it’ll come up again.”
“Hmm…then I’d rather bite the bullet and dive right in.” Anika brushed a strand of hair from her brow. “Like I told you before, I’m not seeing anyone seriously. I’ve dated, of course. Lately I’ve met men through online sites.”
He tapped a finger on the table. “How’s that working out for you?”
“I’ve had good and bad experiences. Mostly good, but every now and again there’s a bad one in the bunch.” She shrugged.
“Any bad ones recently?”
She thought for a moment. “A few weeks ago I went out with a guy who was nice enough, but halfway through the dinner I knew he wasn’t right for me.”
“So this was a first date?”
“Yes.”
“After one date, how can you be sure he wasn’t right for you?”
“No spark.”
His finger stopped tapping. “Oh. Gotta have spark. It’s a lot more important than people think.”
“Agreed.” Anika dug her fork into a piece of tomato and popped it into her mouth. He wasn’t eating, his sharp blue eyes rested on her as he leaned back in the chair and gave her his undivided attention. “How about you? Are you dating?”
That Time in Venice (Love Unexpected Book 6) Page 7