by L. K. Below
His fingers worked to open the packet while he returned to devouring her mouth. She savored his rich, dark coffee taste. Closing her eyes, she reveled in the exquisite friction of his tongue against hers. Then he lifted her leg.
Against the door, it is! Her pulse quickened with anticipation. She’d never been particularly adventurous in sex, but Seb brought out the hoyden in her. Off-balance, she was completely at his mercy. He didn’t seem to mind supporting her extra weight. She reached around their bodies, curling her fingers around his stiff erection, and guided his cock to her entrance. He slid home.
Oh, God. She forgot about being self-conscious as ecstasy flooded her. Holding her steady, he set a frenzied pace. She tried to match, but could only helplessly wait for his next move. With each pass, the cool wood of the door proved a counterpoint to his heat. Each thrust tightened her, sending blinding jolts of passion. Her moans mingled with his like their breaths as their mouths melded. So close… When Seb slid his thumb between their bodies, seeking out her sensitive clit, she reached her peak.
Seconds later, Seb joined her.
Her sex spasmed. She held herself in place for as long as possible, fighting to hold onto the feel of Seb deep inside her. With a last groan, he slid out, severing the contact. She fought to catch her breath as she lowered her foot to the ground. Her legs didn’t want to support her. Leaning on Seb, she let him lead her to the bed, where she drifted off to sleep.
* * * *
Much later, Amy slipped into Seb’s bathroom alone. He was busy making the rice dish he’d promised her. Meanwhile, she decided to take another shower. After all the time they’d “spent” together today, she needed to wash some of the sweat off her body.
As soon as she stepped under the spray, her mind turned to the man making her dinner. A part of her–perhaps a bigger part than she cared to admit–wanted to trust him. The Seb he’d shown her today was a good man. Sexy, attentive to her needs, but funny and thoughtful as well.
Why are you thinking thoughts like these?
Within days she would be gone. Back to New York, back to her old life. It didn’t hold the appeal it once had. New Orleans was more vibrant. Being here made her feel more alive. Or maybe that was all thanks to the man she’d shared most of her time with since arriving here.
Again, Monique’s words echoed through her head. Begging Amy to stay in New Orleans. Could she make the move?
You’re being ridiculous. Even if you decided to, what you and Seb have is only temporary. It would dissolve the moment she stepped onto a plane heading north. Hardening her heart, she concentrated on washing and rinsing out her hair.
The bathroom door opened. A minute later, Seb stepped into the shower with her. She felt his heat like a brand, even without turning around. He slid a hand around her hip, fastening her to him. She felt every hard inch of him, from his chiseled abs to the erection prodding her ass. With his free hand, he plucked the soap from her fingers.
After lathering his palms, he set it aside. He started at her shoulders, soaping, kneading her muscles until she thought she might collapse from the pleasure. Then his fingers slid around, moving over her breasts. His cock twitched against her backside.
“Again?” The weary word escaped her lips without her permission. Over the past twenty-four hours, she’d had more sex than in a month with Tim.
Why was she thinking about Tim? Since meeting Seb, all thoughts of her ex had been blessedly absent. But strangely, the thought of Tim didn’t hurt so much anymore. Sure, it definitely wounded her to think about how he’d left her for a slimmer woman, but while she was in Seb’s arms, she couldn’t bring herself to care. Seb made her feel sexy. Desirable. He never turned off the light or conducted his amorous activities under the covers. Even now, in the shower, he could see her body through the steam. And from the erection he sported, he liked what he saw.
But boy, was she ever tired. And a little bit sore, to tell the truth.
Seb’s hands traveled over her stomach, aiming for the nest of curls covering her mound.
Amy stiffened. “Seb, I…”
“Shhh,” he whispered against her hair. “I’m only cleanin’, cher. Let me take care of you.”
Beneath his kind, gentle touch, she wanted to let him. Wanted to open up, and trust him. More than anything, she wanted to keep him after her visit to New Orleans was over. And how crazy was that?
* * * *
Amy roused to the shrill ring of the phone. Fortunately, not hers. Seb’s gravelly voice answered. “Hello?”
Amy heard the musical lilt of a woman’s voice, though she couldn’t make out the words.
Seb bolted out of bed. “I’ll be right there.”
Rolling over, Amy looked at him in askance. Who would be calling at this time of night?
“I need to run for a spell. Go back to sleep, cher. I’ll pass for you later.”
What? She opened her mouth, but Seb was already shoving his legs into jeans. Within seconds, he’d run out the door.
Where had he gone? Again, that voice filtered through her skull. He couldn’t have a…a girlfriend, could he? She had to know for sure. Despite the late hour, she dialed Monique’s cell. When her friend answered, she asked, “Seb doesn’t have a girlfriend, right?”
“Amy? No, sug, of course he doesn’t. Why?”
Amy swallowed, glancing to the door. “Someone called. He just ran out of here pretty quickly. Guess I can’t hope that was you, huh?”
“He’s not at my beck and call anymore, sugar. But that boy’s as loyal as they come. Don’t worry.”
Even though Monique couldn’t see, Amy nodded. Then her friend’s words registered. “Wait. Anymore? What are you talking about? Monique, did you…”
There was a pause on the other end. Oh, God. Monique had slept with Seb before.
“Now that was a long time ago–”
Amy flipped the phone shut. She didn’t want to hear more. God, how could she have been such an idiot? She knew better than to fall in love with a man who looked as good as Seb. Not that she was in love. After forty-eight hours? Impossible. But she’d definitely worn her heart on her sleeve these past two days. The way he’d treated her, she’d almost thought he found her desirable. More than desirable. Sexy. Irresistible. But if his type leaned more toward thin girls like Monique, she could be nothing more than a distraction. He was probably out right now with another woman, just like she’d thought.
Man, had he ever made a fool out of her.
Her phone rang. Monique calling back. Amy couldn’t talk to her right now, not in her frame of mind. In fact, she couldn’t continue sitting here, in Seb’s bed, where only hours ago they’d made love. His scent wafted around her, enticing even when he wasn’t in the room. She didn’t want to be enticed. She didn’t want to be reminded of him at all.
Launching out of bed, she dressed in a panic. She needed to get the hell out of New Orleans.
Chapter 5
Seb signed the release form and crossed his arms over his chest. He glared at the door as a short, plump woman was led into the anterior of the police station and given her things. “Mama…”
“Don’t give me that look, boo. He was fixin’ to scout the bayou.”
“At night?”
“Closer to sunset when I found ’im. Should I be taking me a Walgreens beside my house, r’what?”
Sighing, Seb rubbed his head. He smiled in thanks at the officer and led his mama outside. “It’s my job to think of it. I’m the lawyer.”
“Well then boo, why don’t you lessen that fine they say I’m to pay?”
“I’m not that kind of lawyer, Mama. I’ve said this before.”
The blinding light inside the building emphasized the gray threading through her brown hair. If she kept this up, he’d have just as many. He waited until they’d entered the car and he revved the engine before speaking.
“This can’t go on. Even if this yat was a scout for a corporation, you can’t whack ’im over the head. Th
at’s assault, Mama. It’s wrong.”
The woman huddled in the seat, distaste curling her mouth. “And who’re you to tell me? I raised my boy to have respect for his mama!”
“I do respect you, but I can’t keep bailing you out of jail. I won’t.”
Mama flapped her arms. “What are you fixin’ to do at this time of night that’s more important than your mama?”
“Just so happens, I have a visitor.”
The city lights had disappeared as he drove farther into the bayou. He couldn’t see his mama’s face as he drove.
After a moment, she scoffed. “One of your hussies.”
He nearly slammed on the brakes. “She is not and I won’t hear you calling her such names.”
Mama didn’t speak, clearly surprised at his vehemence. It surprised him, too. Who was Amy but a stranger he’d met yesterday?
She’s special.
“You got a ring in the nose, r’what? Why haven’t I met this charmer?”
Seb focused on driving. “I haven’t known her for long. I don’t want to scare her away. She ain’t from the bayou.”
Even as he made the excuse, his insides churned. Ring in the nose? He wasn’t in love. Certainly not after two days, amazing though they might have been. Love needed more of a foundation than physical attraction and mind-boggling sex.
Even after he deposited his mama at home and drove back to the city, he couldn’t help but think of Amy. An amazing woman to be sure, and he’d been honest when he’d said he didn’t want to scare her off. She was skittish enough already. One meeting with his family might convince her to return to New York sooner than expected.
He grinned at the thought, until he recalled that he only had a few days left with her at most. He’d better make the best of them. When she left… He didn’t know what he’d do. After all, he couldn’t ask her to stay, could he?
His apartment was dark when he arrived. Good, she’d gone back to sleep. Tiptoeing closer, he sat at the edge of the bed to shuck his pants. Odd, it didn’t feel like she balanced the other side. He reached over, but all he felt was tangled sheets.
Soc au lait!
He rose, fumbling for the light. It only confirmed his fears–he was alone. Amy was gone.
Pain tore through his chest, more than he would have thought possible after scarcely knowing her. What could he do? He could check with Monique, but he had a hunch she’d fled all the way to New York. Halfway across the country. What could he do to see her again? Could he ask her to come back, to live here?
Letting her run from his life wasn’t an option. He had to at least try. Pulling out his phone, he dialed Monique’s number.
“Where y’at?”
“Amy’s gone.”
Monique swore. He felt the same. Swallowing, he said, “Tell me her address in New York. I’m going after her.”
Chapter 6
Amy stepped into her apartment drained of energy. The flight had been torturous, a strange parody of the one she’d suffered only a few days ago. She was still heart sore, but this time not over Tim.
Tim… Funny how she hadn’t thought of him at all while in Seb’s arms. She should be grateful he’d been able to displace those sour memories, even if his comfort had been but temporary. I should have left the morning after. Then I wouldn’t feel so shitty now.
She sighed, dropping her suitcase on the floor. It impacted with a surprisingly loud noise. Good going, Amy. Way to wake the neighbors. But at this point, she didn’t much care. She just wanted to sleep the day away. Heck, maybe the rest of her life, too.
“Amy?”
And the day just keeps getting better…
Amy glanced up, blinking her bleary eyes. “Hannah, what are you doing here? It’s five in the morning.”
The curvaceous blonde put her hands on her hips. “I came in before work to get the rest of Tim’s shit into the Dumpster. But what are you doing here? I thought you said you were coming back on Wednesday.”
Amy didn’t feel like arguing with her boisterous friend today. Rubbing her eyes, she said, “Look, I know what I said. But I couldn’t stay any longer, okay? I’m over Tim. One hundred percent. And now I just want to sleep.”
“Over Tim? After only two days?”
Amy retreated to the bedroom, but Hannah trotted after her. When Amy collapsed on the bed, her friend flicked on the light switch. “What, did you meet a guy?”
Ah, bright. Amy burrowed her face into the pillow. In a muffled voice, she replied, “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Oh, you did!”
“I said I don’t want to talk about it. It was just a one-night stand, okay?”
Hannah snorted. “Sure. And Colleen only wanted a one-night stand with Dan. You’re clearly a goner. Apparently, I’m the only one of the three of us who can actually handle casual sex.”
Amen to that.
Turning her face to the side, Amy pleaded, “Hannah, will you please just go? I’m tired.”
“Fine,” Hannah said, her voice resigned. It wasn’t as if she had just been dumped twice in the same week.
Seb didn’t dump you. You ran away.
Amy quieted that voice.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t do the same with her friend.
“I’ll leave, but we’re having a girl’s night on Thursday. No excuses. Tim’s kept you closeted away from us for six months. Away from your cousin, too. That’s just unhealthy. We’re going to go out and get drunk and dance on tables. And you can tell me all about this ‘one night stand’ you’re having.”
Amy groaned. She didn’t even have the energy left to speak. Fortunately, Hannah turned off the lights as she exited Amy’s apartment.
* * * *
Seb clutched the airport flowers in his hand as he stood poised to knock on Amy’s door. Some good Samaritan had let him into the building, but now that he was here, fear clogged his throat. What if she’d left because she simply didn’t like him? Maybe flying up had been a bad idea. He should have phoned instead.
Too late now. He was here, and he had to try. Gathering his courage, he rapped on the door.
Amy opened the door, dressed in voluminous grey sweats. Her auburn hair snarled around her head. Her eyes were puffy. From crying? He peered over her shoulder, but saw no one else in the apartment.
“Seb.” Her plump lips parted, but he couldn’t read her expression. Was she happy to see him?
He offered the flowers he’d picked out. “May I come in?”
For a minute, he feared she would turn him away. But then she stepped aside. Entering the apartment, he shut the door. He didn’t take his eyes off her. Just where did they stand?
“Why are you here, Seb?”
“Why’d you leave?” he countered. Feigning confidence, he adjusted the strap of his overnight bag, crossed his arms and leaned against the door.
Her tongue darted out to her lower lip. She didn’t seem inclined to answer. As much as he would like an explanation, he didn’t want to push her. He straightened.
“Are you fixin’ to invite me in, or what?”
Some of her spunk returned, a narrowing of the eyes. “You are in. What’s the bag for?”
“I figured, as you stayed by my house, I’d stay by yours.” He looked pointedly at the mat by his feet. “And you’ve got me fenced in here.”
She didn’t move, not even to speak a word. She seemed afraid to breathe, even. At least she hadn’t thrown him out yet. That was promising, wasn’t it?
“You look like you ain’t slept in days, cher.” Not complimentary, but the words slipped out without his permission. In an attempt to recover, he joked, “My fault, I know.”
“What do you want from me?” Amy asked, voice defeated. The question stabbed him in the gut.
A kiss. A lifetime. But he sensed that she wasn’t willing to hear either of those answers right now. Had she even slept since leaving him? Dropping his bag, he herded her into the kitchen.
“Sit, cher. Let me fix you a lit
tle something.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Amy protested, but she sat.
He ignored her, choosing to rummage through her cupboards. Finding ground coffee, he started the coffee maker and fished out cups while it heated.
“Sugar’s in the yellow jar,” she said.
He shot her a smile in answer, but she still clenched her fists over the table. Like she didn’t quite trust him. She methodically picked apart the petals of the flowers he’d given her. If that signified the state of his relationship with her, they were in bad shape. After searching and failing to find a vase, he plucked out a tall glass and filled it with water. What kind of man didn’t bring home flowers for his girlfriend? The thought of Amy’s ex left a sour taste in Seb’s mouth. Rescuing the flowers from her grasp, he stripped away the plastic and slid them into the glass.
“You’re supposed to trim the ends,” Amy said. Her eyes no longer held that dull expression. Was she starting to warm to him again? Better not to ask.
Mustering a smile, Seb said, “Sorry. I don’t normally do that bit.” Finding the cutlery drawer, he pulled out a knife and sawed off the wet tips of the stems. By then, a quick glance showed that the coffee pot had filled.
After he poured coffee into both mugs and added sugar, he peered into the fridge. No cream. Pulling out the milk carton, he added a dollop to each mug. Then he brought the peace offering to Amy.
She gulped down a sip, burning her tongue, if he read her expression right. Why was she so nervous around him? They’d gotten along famously in New Orleans. He sat across from her.
The mug clinked as she placed it on the table. “I have to ask. Who phoned you?”
Seb felt his eyebrows knit together as he tried to understand her meaning.
Her fist balled beside the mug. Not a good sign. “Our last night together.” She met his gaze, but clenched her jaw. “The woman on the phone. Who was she? Your girlfriend?”
“Girlfriend?” The muscles in his shoulders loosened in a rush. “That was my mama.”
“Your mother.” From the way she stared at him, she either hadn’t thought of that possibility or didn’t believe him. He hoped for the former.