A Kiss Before Lying: A BWWM Romance

by M. Skye

  “No you can’t,” she shook her head. “I can walk myself to my car and I will be just fine doing so.”

  “Draya...”

  “Rico,” she leaned in to kiss his cheek. “I’m fine. I’ll text you when I get there.”

  Smiling he nodded his head and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Okay.”

  “Okay,” she nodded. “Have a good night.”

  Walking out to the car, Draya smiled the entire way, thinking about Rico and his protective nature. She was sure this was all for nothing, and she would be fine. She was convinced that everyone just needed to understand that she was capable of managing her own life.

  Slipping into her car, she slid her bag into the passenger seat and started her car. Adjusting her mirror, she almost came out of her skin when she saw a hand reaching forward from her backseat. “What in the hell?”

  “I needed to talk to you and you’re not taking my calls. Where are your bodyguards?”

  “Inside, should I call them? What should I expect with this visit? Are my tires on flat or should I be inspecting my backseat for glass?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Damien, you messed my car up. Are you seriously wondering why Rico doesn’t want you around here?”

  Sighing and getting out of the backseat, he walked around and pulled her passenger side door open. “I didn’t touch your car. What happened, are you okay?”

  “Cut the bullshit,” she hissed with confidence and venom dripping from her words. “I got your apology flowers and your bullshit notes and pictures. You think you know something and you don’t. For your information, Liam is just my trainer and I’m free to do whatever I want.”

  “Liam?” He ran his hand over his face. “The white boy from the party? You kicking it with him?”

  “I can do what I want, and you need to get your black ass out of my car.”

  When she clutched the steering wheel tightly with one hand, his eyes shifted down to her other trembling hand. “I’m not going to hit you. I told you that was over. I’ve been trying to check on you since the fire and you won’t see me. Do you hate me that much, baby?”

  “Stop calling me that. Hell yes, I hate you. You’ve turned my life upside down, and you think showing up and sending flowers will make it all better? You’ve been terrorizing me for months. You need to let go.”

  “I... I sent the flowers because I’m sorry for the way I’ve treated you over the years and because I love you. I sent you one bouquet and that’s it. There is no motive. But when did your car get vandalized, and what is this about a picture?”

  “Don’t act like you don’t know,” she looked at him like he was a stranger. “Please, just leave me alone.”

  “You don’t want that,” he reached for her and she drew back.

  “Don’t tell me what I want. You’ve done enough thinking for me over the years, and I’m done. We’re done! I wish I never met you.”

  “Draya, baby—”

  “Get out or I’m gonna call Rico and every guy in the building out here to kick your ass.”

  “I love you, Dray—”

  “Well, I don’t love you,” she cut him off. “I don’t think I ever did. I was stupid and you were charming in the beginning, but this isn’t what I signed up for. I want my life back. I want to be free of you, and that starts now. Please just go, and never think about me again.”

  “That will never happen. I always think about you.”

  She was crying, she didn’t mean to, but, of course, she loved him at some point. The time apart to sit and reflect let her know that she had before, but it vanished the minute she knew she was really in danger. He had been so much to her up until now, but she finally realized that she could stand on her own. She didn’t need him or anyone else holding her down. She was going to start making her own way.

  Looking defeated, Damien gave her one last glance, undoubtedly checking to see if she was wavering, but her stern expression held firm. She wasn’t playing games, and she suspected that he figured this out. Opening the door silently, Damien stepped out of her car and gave her one last look before she sped off. In her mind, it would be the last time she spoke to him. She knew their lives collided too much, but she had a solution for that; it was time to find a new church.

  Chapter Ten: Workout

  “You’re late. Get changed and get back out here,” Liam barked and Draya just rushed past him into the locker room. He wasn’t sure what was up with her, but he saw tear streaks on her face when she brushed by and hoped she hadn’t seen Damien’s worthless ass. He was so over that guy it wasn’t funny. He only wished the last time they saw each other it wasn’t at a church. He would have taken a swing at him otherwise.

  Standing in the workout room for a second longer, Liam began to grow impatient and went to the locker room, knocking on the door. “Draya, what’s up? We doing this or what? Do you want to just go home?”

  “No, I’m fine,” she swung the door open, brushing past him once again. He reached out to catch her, but she was too fast for him. Following her back into the workout room, he tried to gauge if he should ask what was on his mind, but before he could, she was on her back looking up at him. “You coming or what? Let’s get to work sergeant.”

  “Jokes,” he laughed but knew it was just her hard exterior trying to cover her obvious pain. Leaning over her, he brought her knees up and held her feet down. “Give me fifty. You know you promised me fifty sit-ups this session.”

  “Okay, okay, just keep my feet down,” she snapped and he knew something was up. Any other time, she would have fought him tooth and nail on this, but now, she just caved. Watching her do her fifty sit-ups, Liam let her get to a stopping point and pulled her from the floor. “Good work, hot stuff. I want the barbells in your hand and you standing on the mat.”

  Watching her walk over, quietly, he couldn’t hold his peace any longer. He had seen her bouncing off the walls and he had seen her sad, but never this. She was like a shell of what he was used to, and he had to know why. “Draya?”

  “Yeah,” she snapped around to look at him and tripped on the barbell in the process. He raced for her, but she went down hard on the mat, and he sprinted over to make sure she wasn’t hurt. “You okay?” He ran his hand down her ankle that was already starting to swell. “You hit it pretty hard.”

  “I’m fine,” she hobbled back with pain evident on her face. She was squinting and breathing heavily while he reached out to stabilize her. “I’ll be okay. I’m sure I can... Ouch,” she screamed out trying to put pressure on her foot and he shook his head.

  “Draya, you need to ice it. You’re not going to be able to walk in the morning if you don’t.” Leaning away from him, she tried to balance herself on one foot, but he wouldn’t let go of her waist. “Come on, I’ll take you home.” When she tried to step away, he saw a tear streaking her golden cheeks and scooped her up. “Okay, enough fighting me. I’m taking you home, well actually, would you mind my place tonight? I got this new movie for you to check out.”

  Looking at her when she shook her head no, Liam felt the sting of her rejection. “I should get home. I have a lot to do, and if you’ll put me down, I’ll limp my way to the car.”

  “No deal, gorgeous. Someone has to look after you and this beat up ankle. I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t—”

  “Liam,” she hissed. “Just let me go. I don’t want company, and I don’t want to be yours. I just have a lot going on, and now…” She looked down at her ankle. “…we can just stop hanging out for a while. Now maybe you can focus on the clients that actually pay you.”

  Looking at the beautiful woman before him, Liam knew she was covering. She was way too defensive and she had never been this way with him. She was usually the bright spot of his day, and he looked forward to her. Now, he felt cheated. Instead of arguing with her, he just kept holding on to her and dropped down to grab her bag on the way out the door.

  She looked as if she wanted to protest but d
idn’t. Placing her in his car and going back to lock up the building, he turned to face her in the passenger seat and they locked eyes. “You know I would never make you do something you don’t want to, but I want to be sure you’re okay. I’ll take you home, check on your ankle, and then I’ll leave. I won’t bother you for long, I promise.”

  The look on her face as he spoke was hard at first, but then it grew softer. Feeling his skin shiver as she reached out to touch his face, he kissed her palm. “I’m sorry, Liam. I didn’t mean to be an ass. I just have a lot going on.”

  “Would you like to talk? I can stay for a little while.”

  “Could you?”

  “You never have to ask.”

  Driving to her house, Liam couldn’t help stealing peeks at her. She was extremely quiet, as if she was contemplating her whole life, and all he wanted to do was get inside her head. He wanted to know what was behind those gorgeous brown eyes and what mysteries her heart held. He needed to know what made her tick.

  Pulling into her parking space, he got out of the car and was careful lifting her into his arms. Holding her against him was probably one of the best feelings because she felt so soft and her smell was intoxicating, like a mix of vanilla and freshly bloomed roses. Leaning in and inhaling her scent, he had no idea how he had been so strong over the past few months.

  He wanted her. He had admitted that much to himself, but even he, the self-proclaimed permanent bachelor, had to abide by the rules of a broken heart. Damien may have been nothing to him but he was everything to Draya at one point. No matter how done she wanted to be, he had to give her time to let that simmer out. He wasn’t in the art of picking up the pieces just for another man to reap the benefits.

  Once they reached her door, Draya dug in her purse and came out with her keys. Unlocking the door, she gave him a smile and he walked her to the couch. Placing her down gently, he backed away and went over to fish through her freezer for ice. Getting the ice bag together with a towel, he joined her on the couch and reached for her ankle. While she slid it over hesitantly, he saw the pain on her face and slipped the ice over it.

  “This will help soon. Hopefully, we can catch that swelling before it gets too bad.” He was talking to distract from the fact that he felt like his skin was burning from the inside out. He was close to her almost every day, but there was something so intimate about being the one to take care of her. He wasn’t sure of she had ever been taken care of before. With her stubborn streak, he highly doubted it.

  “Thanks for coming after I snapped at you. My head is just in a million places.”

  “Understandable.” He had been wanting to ask how she was doing regarding the fire, but he never knew the right words. She had been putting on a brave face, but he knew it had to be scary that someone would set the restaurant on fire just minutes after she left. She could have still been in there for all they knew. “Draya, if something was wrong, you would tell me, right?”

  “Why would you ask that?”

  “You’ve been distant. I noticed it earlier when I called, and I just want to know if it was something I did. Did I make you uncomfortable?”

  Shaking her head quickly, Draya looked like she wanted to lock herself in a room from embarrassment. “No, you’re so sweet to me. You’re a great friend, and I’m lucky to have you. You make me feel... I don’t know... actually,” she laughed. “You make me feel like it’s okay to be myself and have fun. You make me laugh and I really need that in times like these.”

  “Why are you so on edge?”

  “Things with Damien and my dad are crazy right now. I’m just trying to make sense of everything.”

  “I’m sure, even with all his craziness, your dad loves you, and as for Damien, I hope that’s done. Is it done?”

  “It’s done. Without a doubt, it’s done. I want more than what he can offer.”

  Rubbing the ice over her ankle, he dropped his eyes to hide the excitement he felt hearing her words. He had been waiting to hear her say he she was done with Damien, and here it was. He couldn’t believe it gave him so much pleasure, and now, he felt the desire, oozing from his pores.

  “And what is it that you want?”

  “Love. I want real love that is only mine. I want excitement and passion with a man that can only imagine that with me. I want him to want me so bad that I’m the only one he needs.” Locking eyes with her, he felt the fire between them burning high. He had been wanting another moment as hot as the first kiss they shared but stayed his distance out of respect for her. Now, he saw his desires mirrored in her bright eyes, and he couldn’t fight it any longer, this was his moment.

  Leaning in, leaving the bag on her ankle, he slid his tongue across her sweet lips just to get a taste. Licking her bottom lip and tugging it out for him to nibble, he moved his hands, slowly, up her body and rested them on her shoulders. Tilting his head to the side, he pushed her mouth open with his tongue and swirled it around her mouth. With the dizzying sensations taking over, he braced himself, sliding closer, taking her into his arms.

  Moaning his name, her eyes fluttered and he could feel her kisses growing stronger. After a few more seconds of the smoldering kiss, she slid her hands into his shirt and he tangled his fingers in her hair. Holding her to him, he took in every breath as if it would be his last and pulled back to see if he could read what she was thinking.

  Looking at the pink tint on her cheeks and nose, he ran his hand over her face and her head dropped. Kissing the inside of his palm, she panted heavily, and he was wondering where her head was. “Draya...”

  “Liam, just... can we stop this...”

  “Fuck,” he hissed. “I’m sorry. I just thought—”

  “No,” she interrupted. “Not here. Can you take me to the bedroom? I don’t want to do this here. I was trying to say I want to stop and take it to my bed. I want you to be comfortable.”

  Letting off a laugh, he leaned in to kiss her and when he let go, she clung to him, digging her nails into his arms. “Comfort is the least of my worries.” Closing his eyes, trying to take his excitement down a notch, he looked to her room door and scooped her up, grabbing the ice bag. “What do you want from this? What do you want me to do?”

  “Whatever you want.”

  Whatever I want. He was going to do everything he wanted, all night long. Kicking her door open, he looked around her neat room and saw that she had made the bed and gently placed her on top of it. When his eyes landed on her window, he crossed his arms, and she sat up, looking at him skeptically.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s a little hot in here. Do you mind if I open the window?” Shaking her head, she gripped the sheets in her hands and peeled them back. Opening the window, he was met with a gust of wind and the cooling sensation from the storm beginning on the other side of her walls.

  Turning to look at her, he smiled his first real smile in years and eased over her. Running his hand over her ankle, he massaged for a while until he felt her hand stop him. Pulling his fingers up her trembling skin, she let him touch her and he closed his eyes, letting the thumping of her intense heartbeat, soothe his conflicted soul.

  “You want me, Draya?”

  “Do you want me?”

  “I do, but I need you to want me too. Only me. Are you done with him?”

  “I can’t promise much, but I can tell you that I don’t want to live my life feeling ashamed. I’m not dealing with him anymore, but it doesn’t mean I can be someone else’s property. I can’t replace his shackles with a different set.”

  “I don’t want to own you. I want to please you.” He ran his hand up her smooth legs. “I want to make you feel like a woman should, and just when you think it’s over, I want to make you explode all over again. I don’t want to own you, sweetheart; I want to worship your body and make you feel alive again.”

  He slipped his fingers past her panties, into her velvet tunnel and she bit her bottom lip. Working his fingers inside her, he loved the warm sens
ation of her flowing wetness. She was drenching his fingers, and he knew once he was inside her, he was going to have to hold on tight to keep his climax at bay. Keeping this up for a few more minutes, Liam let her first orgasm engulf him, and contemplated what he was going to do next to keep the momentum going. He knew entering her at this point was out of the question, but he had other plans, other ideas.

  Attempting to prolong the inevitable, digging his fingers into the ice bag, he fished out a cube and slid it into his mouth. Dropping the rest of the bag on the floor, he let the condensation of the cube drip on her skin and he felt her pulse race. Pulling her closer, starting at her ear, he let the liquid drip down her neck, while he worked his tongue and the ice cube against her skin. Kissing her, sucking on her neck with his lips and tongue, he let the coolness soothe her hot skin, causing her to moan quietly.

  Running his mouth down lower to the top of her chest, he pulled back to look at her and swore he had never been more intoxicated by a woman. Lifting her shirt and tossing it to the side, he unhooked her bra and pushed it away as the sexual tension swelled around them. He could hear the rain falling, but he swore it was a hundred degrees in that room. Greedily, he hooked his mouth to one of her hardened nipples. Her skin had to be the softest he had ever felt and he let his tongue, accompanied by the ice cube, enjoy her. The noises she made while he pleasured her would forever be imprinted on his brain. Switching to her other breast, he gave it equal treatment as her fingers ran through his golden brown locks.

  As her pleasure filled moans clouded the room, bringing him to a sexual high, he moved further down and reached for the bag to secure another ice cube. Stopping at her stomach, his tongue outlined her belly button and she almost came off the bed. Making her body react in such a glorious way was making him crazy, and as his anticipation to be inside her built, the strokes of his tongue became more erratic as he made his way to her inner thigh. Pausing for a moment to peel her shorts off, he leaned in and slid her black lace panties down her long, toned legs. Letting out a sigh, she lifted herself and fluttered her eyes, no doubt, realizing that she was completely naked.