Twice the Temptation

by Rochelle Alers

  “How long do you think you can stay away from your babies?”

  “At least two weeks.” Even if she hadn’t hired an assistant director by December, Denise knew Lisa Brown was more than capable of running the child care center in her absence. The retired social worker had spent her entire career in a school setting.

  “Make it three and we’ll take side trips to Australia and Hong Kong. I heard shopping in Hong Kong is the bomb.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” she whispered against his firm mouth. Denise kissed him again, pulling his lower lip between her teeth. “Put me down, darling. It’s time to eat.”

  Dinner became a leisurely affair. Denise dimmed the overhead chandelier, and lit a quartet of fat pillars but hadn’t drawn the drapes at the window spanning the living and dining area, and the lights in buildings and monuments in the nation’s capital provided a romantic backdrop for the two people sitting opposite each other talking quietly as a radio station tuned to soft jazz filled the apartment.

  The meal had turned out better than Denise had expected. Roasted shrimp, brushed with hot-pepper sauce and sprinkled with cumin seeds, were placed on lettuce leaves and covered with a spicy sauce made with chunks of avocado, tomato, coarsely chopped white onion and finely chopped jalapeño chiles. She’d added a couple of tablespoons of fresh lime juice and salt, putting all of the ingredients into a food processor to pulse them to form a chunky purée.

  She altered the recipe slightly for the couscous-stuffed pork chops when she’d coated them with orange marmalade and dried currants. Denise had gotten the recipe from a parent who sat on the New Visions Childcare board of directors. She’d served warm buttered pita bread and roasted bell peppers to accompany the meat dish.

  Rhett patted his flat belly over his shirt. “I think you’ve got your mother beat in the kitchen, baby.”

  “Don’t even try to play yourself,” Denise drawled. “You know my mother can cook rings around me. Even Grandma Eaton had to admit that Paulette Eaton was a better cook than she was, and that was something extraordinary coming from a woman who never took to any of her daughters-in-law. For some reason she thought they weren’t good enough for her boys.”

  Rhett smiled at Denise over the rim of his water goblet. “You don’t have to worry about not getting along with your mother-in-law. My mother adores you.” He set down his glass. “Now that we’re on the topic of weddings, do you want to get married in a church or a catering hall?”

  “I’d say a catering hall if it wasn’t a holiday. Chances are most of them will be reserved for New Year’s parties. What if we marry at my parents’ house? It’s certainly large enough to hold a hundred people comfortably if we remove the furniture from the living and dining rooms.”

  Rhett nodded. Boaz and Paulette Eaton owned a large house set on several acres in an exclusive Philly suburb. “Who are you going to get to do the officiating?”

  “My father, of course.”

  “He’s going to perform the ceremony and give you away?”

  “No,” Denise said, laughing softly. “Xavier can give me away. Do you plan to have any groomsmen?”

  Rhett nodded again. “I’m going to ask my mentor from Marshall Foote Academy to be my best man and my stepfather to be a groomsman.”

  She thought about Rhett’s choice—older men who’d impacted his and his mother’s lives. Had his mentor replaced the father he never knew and was he grateful for the man who’d changed his mother’s life?

  Denise knew if she and Rhett hadn’t separated, Trey Chambers would’ve been his best man. Both had attended the same prestigious boarding school, were college business majors and in a study group together. They’d referred to each other as “brother,” were close or even closer than brothers who shared a bloodline.

  Trey, who purportedly couldn’t be faithful to one woman, had earned the sobriquet Casanova. Denise had been exempt from his charm and advances because she’d been Rhett Fennell’s woman. She’d gone to Trey after discovering Rhett’s betrayal, staying in his apartment until she’d gathered the strength to return to her dorm. She’d submitted the paper on Statistics and Research Methods and packed up her room, arranging for the contents to be shipped back to Philadelphia. Later that afternoon, she’d gotten into her car and driven home. It had been two days before graduation. Her parents hadn’t seen her walk across the stage to receive her degree, and she hadn’t been there to watch the man she’d loved receive the highest honor bestowed on the student with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

  “Who do you want in your bridal party?”

  Rhett’s query broke into her musings. “I’ll probably ask Chandra to be my matron of honor and Belinda a bridesmaid. If you can come up with one more groomsman I can either ask Zabrina or Mia. I’d probably choose Mia, because she’s the only one who won’t become a mother this year.”

  “Speaking of mothers—have you told your mother she’s going to be mother of the bride?”

  Denise traced the stem of the wineglass with her forefinger. “Not yet. I’ve decided to tell her in person. Dealing with Mom on the phone is like pulling a wisdom tooth with dental floss.”

  Rhett chuckled. “She’s not that bad, baby.”

  “You say that because she’s not your mother. I love her dearly, but nothing is easy when it comes to Paulette Eaton.”

  “Do you want me to come with you when you tell her?”

  “No. But, thank you for asking.” Denise blew him an air kiss. “Are you ready for coffee?”

  Rhett, pushing back his chair, stood up. “Don’t get up. I’ll make it.”

  Denise waited for Rhett to walk out of the dining area and then got up and began clearing the table. He shot her an angry glare when she entered the kitchen with plates and serving pieces. Things had changed but they hadn’t. He’d cautioned her about getting up because Rhett knew she couldn’t remain seated. She’d always appreciated his help, but whenever he cleared the table and scraped plates a fork or serving piece would invariably be missing.

  “Not to worry about your silver,” Rhett drawled facetiously. “I now count the number of place settings, and if one is missing I check the garbage.”

  “Thank you, baby,” she crooned.

  He smiled. “You’re welcome, baby.”

  The rain came down sideways and Rhett turned the wipers to the highest setting. The almanac was right when it’d predicted rain for Friday and intermittent showers for Saturday. He’d told his mother the weather wasn’t a factor in canceling the soirée because he’d planned for an indoor or outdoor gathering.

  He’d conferred with Denise as to the menu for the small crowd of thirteen and then called Brooke Andersen with their preferences. They would offer a cocktail with the requisite crudités and hot and cold hors d’oeuvres on the terrace, weather permitting, or in the living room. An informal sit-down dinner, weather permitting, would be served under a tent on the terrace with a DJ providing musical selections spanning several decades.

  The event coordinator had reassured him she assumed the responsibility for ordering flowers, hiring the waitstaff, bartender, DJ and personnel to set up and clean up. All he and Denise had to do was look pretty. Rhett had invited couples he’d met at the few social events he’d attended on the Cape, in addition to his architect, who’d confirmed he would attend with his wife. Tapping a button on the remote device, Rhett maneuvered into the driveway at the same time the automatic garage door opened.

  Denise waited in the car as he entered the house to check around. He lingered long enough to adjust the thermostat and then returned to the garage to escort her inside before emptying the trunk of groceries and luggage. He’d suggested she pack enough clothes and personal items to last throughout the summer months; he was stunned into speechlessness when he stored four pieces of luggage in the trunk of his car.

  They’d worked quickly, storing perishables in the refrigerator and freezer before filling pantry shelves with staples. She’d unpacked her bags, putting everything away in the
walk-in closet, when Rhett joined her. His hair was so close-cropped she could see his scalp.

  Crossing his arms over his chest, Rhett angled his head, staring at the feminine curves so blatantly outlined in a pair of hip-hugging jeans. “I came to ask if you would be interested in sharing my hot tub.”

  Denise gave him a sensual smile, her lips parting to reveal straight white teeth. “What else are you offering besides a hot tub? After all, I do have one in my bathroom.”

  “What about a personal masseur?”

  Denise assumed a similar pose. “And what else?”

  “I’m willing to rub lotion all over your body.”

  “And what else?” Denise crooned, closing the distance between them.

  Rhett dropped his arms with her approach. “I’m going to kiss you, starting with your face and ending at your feet.” He winked at Denise. “I just might take a slight detour at a rest stop to get something to eat.”

  Heat flared in Denise’s face like opening the door of a blast oven. “Your offer is beginning to sound very tempting.”

  “What else do I have to do to tempt your further?”

  “I want to go to the rodeo.”

  Bending slightly, Rhett scooped her up into his arms. “Hee-haw!”

  Chapter 13

  Rhett walked out of Denise’s bedroom and into his. Lowering her feet to the carpet, he took his time removing her clothes: blouse, bra, jeans and bikini panties. His eyes ate her up when his gaze lingered on the slender body with curves that never failed to send his libido into overdrive.

  She was slimmer than she’d been years ago, but her breasts, although small, were firm, perky. They were what he thought of as a handful and mouthful. Cradling her face in his hands, he kissed her, teasingly at first before taking full possession of her mouth and increasing the pressure until her lips parted under his sensual assault.

  Denise held on to Rhett’s wrists as she felt herself being pulled under and down into an abyss of drugging pleasure from which she didn’t want to escape. She’d become his and he hers the first time they’d lain together in a sparsely decorated dorm. The room had become their sanctuary where they’d shared secrets and whispered promises. It had been where they’d planned for their future, a future that included marriage and children. They’d pretended they were married, repeating vows to love and forsake all others until death parted them. However, it hadn’t been death that had torn them asunder but lies and distrust.

  She’d walked around hemorrhaging emotionally. As she’d thrown herself into teaching the bloodletting had subsided and she’d stopped crying herself to sleep. Dating Kevin had become a welcome diversion, because he’d been someone she could talk to other than her family members. Someone who’d filled the empty hours when she hadn’t been preparing lesson plans or meeting with parents to discuss their children’s progress or lack thereof. He’d been there when she’d needed a date or escort to a social function, and he’d been there when the built-up sexual frustration had become so intense that it had kept her from a restful night’s sleep. The single encounter with Kevin had been blatant proof that she hadn’t gotten over Rhett Fennell.

  Denise had shocked her family and herself when she decided to open a child care center in D.C. She’d almost convinced herself that moving from Philadelphia to D.C. was because research indicated the need for quality child care was greater in that particular D.C. community than in her hometown. It hadn’t been until the contents of her co-op were loaded into the moving company’s truck that she had been able to admit her decision was predicated on the expectation that she would run into Rhett again. It had taken two years, and now that they were given a second chance at love she would cherish every precious minute of her life with him.

  Moaning softly, she undid the buttons on Rhett’s shirt, her fingers trembling in her attempt to free the buttons from their fastenings. She managed to get two unbuttoned before Rhett finished the task. Her gaze never left his when he kicked off his running shoes, unsnapped the waistband to his jeans, pushing them and his briefs down and off his hips in one smooth motion and stepping out of them.

  Rhett pulled the elastic band from her hair and a riot of curls floated around her face and neck. Her full parted lips, slightly swollen from his rapacious kisses, sensual curls and half-shuttered eyes fired the desire racing headlong throughout his body. He’d had to wait almost a week to make love to Denise again and the respite had tested his patience and resolve not to touch her until she deemed it.

  It had taken Herculean strength not to laugh when she’d mentioned rodeo, because it was Denise’s favorite position in bed. It had also become a favorite of his because lying on his back while she straddled him prolonged the intense pleasure while delaying his ejaculation.

  Wrapping his arms around her waist, he lifted her slightly while walking in the direction of the bathroom. He’d dimmed the recessed lights and opened the French doors, but had left the doors leading out the terrace closed because of the driving rain. Music flowed from concealed speakers. Rhett stepped into the hot tub, and gently lowered Denise until her feet touched the bottom. He sat down, easing her gently down as the warm soothing waters bubbled up around her breasts.

  Resting her head on Rhett’s shoulder, Denise closed her eyes. “I can’t think of a more perfect way to unwind at the end of a workweek.”

  Burying his face in her hair, Rhett emitted a guttural groan. “Ditto. We can come here every weekend if you want.”

  “I want,” she said, sounding like the children at the center. For the two-year-olds it was “no,” and the three- and four-year-olds it was “I want.”

  Rhett nuzzled her ear. “I told you before if it’s within my power then I will make it happen.”

  “What if it’s not within your power?” she asked.

  He chuckled deep in his throat. “Then, I’ll pay someone to make it happen.”

  Denise wanted to ask Rhett if that was what he’d done—if he’d paid someone to uncover that she’d leased the space before he bought the land on which the child care center sat, but knew it would open the proverbial can of worms and that was something she wanted to avoid at all costs.

  In the past they’d rarely argued, but when they had it was as if they’d unleashed all the hounds in hell. They had gone to their respective dorms and waited for the other to apologize. Three days had become the limit, and when they’d reunited the makeup sex had been explosive.

  She gasped when his hands covered her breasts, thumbs moving back and forth over the nipples until they were hard as pebbles. One hand moved down her belly to her thighs. She gasped again when he touched the sensitive nodule at the apex of her vagina.

  Denise moved her hips against his hands, the warm water serving to increase the rising heat between her thighs. A long shudder shook her when he inserted a finger between the wet folds, her pulsing flesh opening and closing around his finger.

  Rhett hardened quickly and he withdrew his hand, turning Denise around to face him. Holding his erection in one hand, he guided it between her legs, both sighing in unison when in that instant they became one with the other.

  Reaching down, he grasped her knees and her legs went around his waist. Being inside Denise without the thin barrier of latex made him harder, his fingers gripping her hips as they slammed into each other. It wasn’t lovemaking but mating as the sound of heavy breathing drowned out the soft strains of light music.

  Denise held on to the rim of the teak tub, her hips moving against the hardness sliding in and out of her body like a piston. A guttural moan escaped her parted lips when she bared her throat. Rhett had taken her breast into his mouth, his teeth nipping at the distended nipple until she mewled like a wounded creature. One of the side effects of the oral contraceptive was tender breasts, and the pain-pleasure had her close to fainting.

  The slight flutters she’d tried to ignore grew stronger and stronger and she tried thinking of any and everything except the delicious sensation of her lover’s hard se
x pushing in and out of her vagina.

  The muscles in Rhett’s neck bulged as he tried holding back. “Let it go, baby.”

  “No!”

  “Please, oh please,” he pleaded. If he didn’t come he was afraid his heart would explode.

  Denise let go of the edge of the tub, her arms going around Rhett’s neck. She buried her face against the side of his neck, her breath coming in hiccupping gasps. “Oh, oh, oh!” The litany escalated, echoing in her head like a needle stuck in the groove of a vinyl recording.

  Rhett pulled out and stepped out of the tub without releasing Denise. Walking on bare feet, while dripping water on the teak floor, he made his way out of the spa, through the bathroom and into the bedroom. He fell across the bed, bringing Denise down to straddle his thighs.

  They shared a knowing smile when Denise sank lower and lower until Rhett was fully sheathed between her thighs. Their passion revived, she rode him fast and hard, he bucking like a rodeo horse.

  Rhett’s heat and hardness responded to the newly awakened sensuality that had lain dormant for years. As her passion rose higher and higher so did his until it exploded in an awesome, vibrating liquid that scorched her mind and her body, leaving her limp, sobbing and convulsing in an ebbing ecstasy.

  The rush of his release left Rhett light-headed. Somehow he found the strength to reverse their position, breathing heavily to force air into his lungs. There was only the sound of their labored breathing in the stillness of the bedroom as they lay motionless, reliving the aftermath of a sweet fulfillment making them one with the other.

  “Hee-haw!” Denise whispered in his ear.

  “Ditto, baby. Dit-to!”

  The rain had stopped and pinpoints of light pierced the watery sky as the sun rose higher. Denise, leaning against the door frame, watched Rhett help his mother as she stepped out of her car. It’d been a long time since she’d last seen Geraldine Fennell, but time had seemingly stood still for the tall, slender woman who’d passed her features along to her only child. At forty-six, she looked at least ten years younger. A smile touched her mouth as Geraldine touched Rhett’s cheek, Denise finding the gesture loving, gentle.