A totally unexpected pang of an unfamiliar emotion snaked through Alana; it was jealousy, pure and simple. It was ridiculous to feel anything remotely like jealousy about some woman that he probably hadn’t laid eyes on in years, but there it was. And there she was being possessive, how crazy was that?
“Well, you learned a lot from her. How can I repay you?”
“You can do mine next time,” he said with a grin. They both laughed.
“Since you’re bald I’ll skip the shampoo, but I give a great massage. Ooh!” she gasped as he finished rinsing her hair and started guiding the handheld shower spray all over her body. He let the water cascade over her breasts before changing the pressure to a pulsing massage. The hard pulsing brought her already sensitive nipples to huge points for Roland to feast on while he plied the spray between her legs. The twin sensations made her knees go weak and he had to abandon the hose in order to hold on to her hips.
“Okay, that’s enough for now. I don’t want you to fall,” Roland said. He reached over and turned the water off with one hand before wrapping her in a towel off the warming rack. She returned the favor.
“I thought that was an extravagant gift when Aunt BeBe sent it to me for my housewarming, but I love it.” She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and shook her head. Her relaxed hair stood out in wild spirals, a marked contrast to her previous sleek look.
“I have no more secrets, Roland. You’ve seen it all now,” she said ruefully.
He cupped her face with both hands and kissed her deeply. He pulled her lower lip into his mouth and gently sucked it before teasing her mouth open with his tongue. After a long, satisfying exchange, Roland looked down at Alana and assured her that she was beautiful.
“There’s nothing I’d change about you. Nothing,” he told her. “Everything about you is just perfect. Your skin, your smile, those dimples, your body and your beautiful hair,” he said, running his hands over it.
“You’re very sweet, but I dare you to run your fingers through it,” Alana said with a sigh. “You’ll cut your fingers on this stuff.”
Roland picked her up, carried her to the bedroom and dropped her on the bed, making her laugh aloud. “Don’t be disparaging the woman of my dreams,” he said in a mock-fierce tone. “You forget that I already knew every inch of you before I touched you. When I saw you the first time at Alexis’s crazy party that Jared and I drove all night to get to, I knew. You were sitting on the floor playing with the puppies he brought her and I knew. And I started having dreams about you and I saw you exactly as you are and I knew I was right. Everything about you is just the way I knew it would be, so talk what you know,” he said, removing his towel.
“You’re more than I expected,” she said demurely. “My dreams were very detailed and specific, but there are some things for which your subconscious can’t prepare you. But those things are very nice surprises—stupendous, huge surprises, as a matter of fact.” She lowered her eyes to his most potent attribute and smiled. “Get comfortable so I can make another dream come true. Lie on your stomach,” she said, turning to the dresser for a spray bottle of Moroccan oil.
She removed her towel and straddled his long body, spraying the lightly scented oil over his magnificent back and shoulders. While stroking and kneading until he moaned with pleasure, she talked to him in a soft, dreamy voice that drove Roland crazy.
“I’ve done this to you before,” she murmured. “Lots of times. We’ve made love so many times in so many places, at least in my dreams.”
“We’ll make love so many times you won’t be able to remember them all,” he vowed. “And it’ll all be real.” His words stopped because she’d reached his butt and the feel of her hands on his ass was driving him crazy. Sounds of pleasure were the only sound in the room while she treated his thighs and calves in the same way, all the way down to his feet. When he felt her supple fingers on his feet, he turned over quickly.
“I’m sorry, Alana, but my feet are extremely ticklish,” he confessed. “It’s my one weakness.”
“Everybody’s entitled to one,” she said. “But as long as you’ve turned over, let’s do this side.”
She began working her magic again but it was much more intense because she used more than her hands on his nipples. She was once again astride him as her hands smoothed the delicate oil up and down his chest and stomach. He shuddered as her mouth surrounded the hypersensitive skin of his flat nipple, heating his flesh as she breathed on it, and then licked it like it was her favorite candy. She teased it gently with her teeth and sucked hard, creating a sensation like heat lightning flashing all over his body.
She treated the other side to the same delight before licking him down to his navel. When her tongue plundered the little cavern he felt like he was levitating off the bed. It was a shock to find out how responsive that part of his body was, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it because she continued her exploration.
By now Roland was totally mesmerized. He watched her through half-closed eyes and the sight was arousing, amazing and humbling. The way her cocoa skin looked in the dim light, the wild curls floating around her face and the pure sensuality she exuded combined in an explosion of passion that could have been another of his nightly visions. When she cupped him and put her soft, luscious lips around the crown of his manhood it snapped him back to reality.
This was as real as it could get.
She licked him up and down, swirling her tongue around the tip before treating every inch of his heavy length to the same delight until he reached the point of no return. A low growl came from deep inside as he swiftly changed positions so that she was in the receiving position and he was the giver.
He buried his face between her thighs and began to devour the sweet nectar that gushed from her, exploring every bit of her secret treasure until his tongue found the source of her magic. He licked and sucked until he could feel every throbbing pulse that let him know she was exploding from the pleasure he was giving her. She was trembling and her hips were moving to get more of what he was giving her, and he continued on his quest to satisfy her like no man ever had.
When he knew she’d come again, he kept on until her cries of passion filled the bedroom. He finally relented, reluctantly slowing his pace and kissing his way up her shaking body until their mouths met and locked and they could taste their elixir on each other’s tongues.
If there was anything else more profoundly sensual that could happen between a man and woman, he had no idea what it could be. After a series of long, amazing kisses, they finally fell asleep and he held her all night long.
* * *
Alana was blissfully asleep, basking in the warm bed and enjoying a restful slumber without a single dream. A wet kiss on her cheek dragged her back to consciousness, but she didn’t open her eyes, she couldn’t; it just felt too good to be where she was.
Another lick followed, which made her stifle a laugh. Then something small, cold and wet touched her neck and her eyes flew open. Domino was next to her on the pillow wearing her most winsome smile. Actually, she looked like she was laughing.
“How did you get in here, little girl? What have you been up to while I was sleeping?” Alana yawned and put her hand up to smooth her hair away from her face, cringing as she felt the tangled mess that now crowned her head.
“I let her in here because she was wondering where you were. We’ve been up for a long time, honey. I had a shower and got dressed, then took her for a walk. After that, I made you breakfast. We’ve been very productive while you were sleeping.” Roland sounded both amused and affectionate and he looked way too good. He was indeed dressed, but in different clothes.
Alana sat up, pulling the sheet up with her. “You’re way too handsome, I hope you realize that. You make me feel like a true hag and it’s so unfair. Did you go home and change clothes or something?”
Roland shook his head and tried not to let his smile show. She had no idea how adorably sexy she was with no makeup, her wild mass of curls and no clothes. Especially the no clothes part.
He walked over to the bed and sat next to her, which gave Domino a thrill, as she ran to jump in his lap. From her wary expression, Alana was less thrilled. She pulled the sheet up over her mouth while he answered her question.
“No, I didn’t go anywhere. I always have some clean clothes in the car because in the restaurant business you never know what could happen. You might have to work a double or triple shift. You might wreck a shirt or whatever. I’m always prepared for any disaster because I’m kind of particular about my appearance.”
“I hadn’t noticed,” Alana mumbled. “I need to get up and brush my teeth and things, so why don’t you and your girlfriend give me a little privacy?”
“What could you possibly be hiding from me at this point? There are no secrets between us anymore,” he said with a satisfied smirk.
“I can sterilize cattle with my morning breath, so unless you want a sample, I’d get out of here.”
“Liar. I smelled your breath this morning when I kissed you and it was just as sweet as you are. And by the way, I’ve never seen a woman who looks as cute as you do first thing in the morning, so we’re not gonna have that conversation again. I’ll leave, but only so I can set the table for you. Breakfast is served as soon as you’re ready. C’mon, sugar-pup, let’s leave Mommy alone so she can have some privacy.”
It didn’t take Alana long to shower and dress, especially since despite the grouchy face she’d given to Roland, she was in a fabulous mood. She sang in the shower and hummed as she slathered her body with lotion and body cream, finishing up with a generous spray of eau de parfum.
Her hair was a hot mess, but she could always go to Sanctuary, Alexis’s salon/spa. For now she slipped into her normal work clothes, jeans and a teal long-sleeved polo shirt with the Custom Classics logo. She applied her usual workday makeup, which consisted of a tinted moisturizer, a little blush and a couple of coats of mascara.
She pulled her damp hair up into a ponytail and tied a scarf around the elastic band. It was an Afro-puff; there was no getting around it. Maybe people would think it was retro, she thought as she added some gold hoop earrings.
As promised, breakfast was waiting for her. Roland had sliced a banana, covered it with her favorite pineapple Greek yogurt, drizzled it with honey and cinnamon and sprinkled it with granola. There was also piping-hot coffee and a muffin that he’d obviously made from scratch since she had no packaged mixes in her pantry.
Her heart was filled with happiness and gratitude. He pulled out her chair and gave her a sweet kiss. Domino was busy with one of her dog biscuits, but she carried it over to Alana and sat down at her feet while she devoured it. Everything was happy, domestic and peaceful, almost too much so. Alana sipped her coffee and took a bite of the muffin, which melted in her mouth. It was also banana, with the addition of chopped walnuts and it tasted like heaven.
“Roland, thank you so much for this. This is a wonderful breakfast,” she said. She took a good long look at him, looking relaxed, sexy and totally at home. Without thinking about what she was saying, she blurted out what was on her mind.
“Why aren’t you married? How is it that a tall, beautiful man with a great personality, incredible sex appeal and mad kitchen skills is walking around unattached? Or are you hiding a wife and six children somewhere that I should know about,” she muttered as she took a spoonful of yogurt.
He laughed before taking a sip of his coffee. “I’m not married because I was taking my time. I had my birth father as a horrible example of how not to behave in a marriage and I was determined to take my time and do it right. I plan on getting married one time and one time only. Marriage is serious business and after what my mother went through I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it at all. My granddad, her father, was a great role model for me—he was married to my grandmother until the day she made her transition and he never looked at another woman, ever.”
“He sounds like a great man,” Alana said thoughtfully. “So you’ve never had a serious girlfriend, never been engaged or anything? How could the women in Chicago miss a man like you?”
“Who says they did?” Roland teased her. “I will be more than glad to share my checkered past with you anytime, but I have a couple of appointments this morning. How about we take this up later tonight? Dinner, dancing, bungee-jumping, parasailing, whatever you like,” he said with the smile that made her heart rate accelerate every time she saw it.
“Sounds like the plan of a crazy man,” she answered. “Call me later and we’ll decide. Thanks again for this,” she said, indicating the pretty place setting.
He kissed her again, but this time was longer and sweeter and tasted like the excellent coffee he’d brewed. “Talk to you later.”
Domino scrambled to her feet as she realized that her hero was leaving. He scratched her between her ears and assured her that he’d be back later. Both she and Alana stared at the door after he left.
With a deep and heartfelt sigh, she polished off her meal, cleared the table and put the dishes in the dishwasher. If every day could start like this one, it would be a wonderful life.
“Let’s go, sweetie. Time for work,” she said cheerfully, and Domino ran to get her leash.
* * *
Roland was still overwhelmed by his night with Alana, so much so that it was difficult for him to focus on the task at hand. He went to the drive-thru window at his bank and made a withdrawal, but his mind was still on Alana. He wished with all his heart that they were still in bed because there was no place else that he wanted to be, but he was on a mission.
Even as he drove to his first appointment, he couldn’t stop thinking about the amazing woman he’d held all night. He’d always known that she was smart, successful and intelligent, but nothing had really prepared him for the depth of her passion. A slight tremor of memory passed through him as he recalled their lovemaking in great detail. He’d been prepared for her sensuality, but she’d exceeded every expectation. It was actually hard for him to keep driving because all he wanted to do was go get his woman and take her right back home to pick up where they’d left off.
He almost missed his turn because his mind was filled with images of his beautiful goddess and her siren’s charms.
His destination was the law office of Royce Griffin. He’d met Royce when Sherri and Lucas got married; he’d been one of the groomsmen, as a matter of fact. Royce was a funny, down-to-earth guy as well as being a very skilled attorney. While Alana was still asleep, he’d called Royce to ask for a favor which he was happy to grant. He had drawn up a contract to handle Roland’s request and he was here to pick it up. He located the building with no problem and entered Royce’s office, which was a bit eclectic, to say the least.
Everything about the place looked like Royce; it was spotlessly clean and furnished in an artsy, bohemian style that reflected the personality of the owner. He was amused by the large bird in the brass cage in the reception area.
“Client! Client! Get out here, don’t keep him waiting!” the bird squawked.
Royce stuck his head out of his private office and waved Roland in. “That’s Thelonius, my alarm system, intercom and part-time receptionist. My secretary had to run to the courthouse, so he’s earning his sunflower seeds,” he chuckled. “C’mon in, man, it’s all done.”
The pristine reception area gave way to organized chaos in Royce’s office. There were stacks of files on every level surface, including the desk and one of the chairs in front of the desk. “I need a bigger place in the worst way, but it’s on my to-do list. This building is old and in need of serious remodeling, but the price is right, so I stick around.”
Roland looked at the office with great interest since real es
tate was his sideline. “You know, I might have a few ideas to run by you about this place. We’ll have to get together and talk about it soon. Meanwhile, thanks a lot for doing this, man. I really appreciate you being able to draw it up with basically no advance notice.”
“No problem, man, I’m sure it’ll cover all your bases, but if you need anything else just let me know. You should be good, though.”
The two men chatted a bit more and Royce told Roland he’d send him a bill for his services. Thanking him again, Roland left for his next appointment, a far more important one. It didn’t take him long to locate the Starbucks and park his truck. He went inside and looked around for the person with whom he had a critical meeting. He was still standing near the door, scanning the customers, when a woman approached him.
“Are you the man I talked to last night about the dog?”
She was medium height, superficially attractive with perfectly applied makeup and long auburn hair that he had no reason to believe was hers by nature. Her figure was spectacular, if you were excited about seeing a 44DD crammed into a 42C, or the sight of a middle-aged woman wearing skin-tight leggings that were at least one size too small, squishing her chubby legs down to her thick ankles teetering on Lucite-soled platform shoes. Roland wasn’t, but this wasn’t a date, it was a business transaction.
“Yes, I’m Roland Casey. And you’re Mrs. Humphrey, I assume? Let’s find a table,” he suggested and led her over to a corner with some privacy. After going to the counter for coffee for two, he sat down and got right to the matter at hand.
“My fiancée found a little dog about a week ago and she ran an ad on Craigslist as well as the local paper, and you believe that this is your dog, am I right so far?”
“Yes, that’s about it. And please call me Shimmer—it’s my stage name and whenever someone says ‘Mrs. Humphrey’ I think my ex-mother-in-law is behind me,” she said with an overdone shudder and batting of her obviously false lashes.
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