“Damn, damn,” he exclaimed.
“Need you.”
“I’m here. I’m yours.” DeShawn leaned into her and kissed her on the forehead. Then he eased on the bed beside her, caressing her cheek. She brought her mouth down on top of his. Sweet, tender, and delicious, Kayla knew she could get used to the taste of his kisses and the feel of his body against hers.
DeShawn wrapped her leg around his waist, and though he wanted to dive into her wetness, he knew he had to protect them.
“Need you inside,” she moaned as she ground against him.
“Protection. Give me a second.” As hard as it was to let her go, he did, and sprinted to the bathroom to grab a condom. After sliding the prophylactic in place, DeShawn returned to the room and licked his lips while staring at Kayla’s naked body on his bed.
“Do you know how many times I’ve dreamed about this moment?”
“Then come over here and make all of our dreams come true.”
DeShawn crossed over to her and spread her legs apart. Then he planted his face between her thighs, lapping her sweetness. She gripped the back of his neck, pushing him deeper into her wetness. DeShawn lashed her until she exploded, showering his face with her sweetness.
“DeShawn,” she cried.
“You taste so good,” he said as he pulled back from her. “Sweeter than my dreams.”
“I need you.”
He inched up her body. “You got me.”
Plunging into her valley, DeShawn moaned. “You feel so good. So good.”
“You’re making me feel like this.”
Their bodies rocked back and forth, their hearts beating with one rhythm. Kayla’s body tensed as the waves of her orgasm kissed her senses. She’d waited for so long to feel this heat and passion. This was better than any dream—even the one she had last night. She opened her eyes and DeShawn was staring at her. He cupped her face and kissed her, slow and deep. She pressed her hand against his chest and pulled back from him.
“Wow,” she whispered.
“Doesn’t even begin to describe what just happened here.” He kissed her forehead.
Nestling against his chest, Kayla released a satisfied sigh. “So, where do we go from here?”
“Nowhere. If I had my way, we’d stay in this bed to make up for all the time that we’ve missed.”
She pinched his forearm. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. DeShawn, this is something we wanted, but do we want what comes next?”
“Us being together and having the future that we deserve. That’s what happens next.”
She turned her head away from him and blinked back tears. “Maybe we’re moving a little too fast,” she said.
“We’re not moving too fast.” He turned her face so that she was looking into his eyes. “I know you’ve been hurt, and you may be cautious about falling in love again . . .”
“That’s not . . .”
“Kayla, I’m not going to hurt you. I’ve loved you too long to allow this chance to pass me by—again.”
“What if I’m not ready?”
He dropped his head for a moment, then looked up at her with a smile on his face. “I’m ready to wait until you’re comfortable. But you have to promise me that you’re not going to run off back to California.”
“There’s nothing I want in California.”
“Good. Then you can stay here and be the best Christmas gift that I’ve ever received.”
“That’s all you want for Christmas?”
“Well.” He slipped his hand between her thighs. “I could use a lot more of this.” DeShawn ran the pad of his thumb across her clit. Kayla shivered in anticipation.
“You can have as much as you want. From now until New Year’s.”
Chapter 8
It was after six p.m. when Kayla and DeShawn pulled themselves out of his bed.
“I’m pretty sure my mother is wondering where I am,” Kayla said as she stretched her arms above her head. DeShawn licked his lips as he marveled at her naked body. A body he’d tasted every inch of. He especially enjoyed the sweetness between her thighs. He smiled as he thought about her nails digging into his shoulders while he sucked her wetness.
“What?” she asked when their eyes locked.
Smiling, he crossed over to her and pulled Kayla against his chest. “I’m sure your mom realizes that you’re an adult and workouts take a lot of time.”
She thrust her hips forward and DeShawn’s body sprang to life. He’d wanted nothing more than to get right back into bed with his woman. He was claiming her as his and she would be his, real soon.
“I’m taking a shower,” she said as she broke out of his embrace.
“Kayla, be my date for the Christmas social tomorrow night,” he said with a wink. “Let’s think of it as the prom we should’ve had.”
“And why didn’t we go to the prom together?”
He grabbed her bottom and grinned. “Because you didn’t ask me.”
She pushed his hand away. “Oh please! You had every chance to ask me. And it was the prom, not a Sadie Hawkins dance.”
“Kayla Diane Matthews, will you go to the Christmas social with me? I’ll even bring you roses and chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies, along with these lips.”
“That’s an offer I can’t refuse.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek.
After the couple showered and ordered Chinese food from their favorite restaurant, they decided to meet later for a midnight showing of It’s a Wonderful Life. Kayla had told him that she was willing to walk home, but DeShawn wasn’t having it.
“You realize it’s dark outside, right?”
“And? I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself.”
“Just humor me. I don’t want your mama asking why I didn’t bring you home, and if something happened to you . . .”
“You can stop the guilt trip.” She snatched his half-eaten spring roll off his plate.
“That was just cold. You know I love spring rolls.”
She winked at him as she chewed. “Of course I do.”
DeShawn shook his head, then leaned in to her and gave her a quick peck on the lips. “That was better than the spring roll.”
“Umm, we’d better get out of here before we—” The doorbell rang and DeShawn frowned.
“I hope this isn’t Mrs. Grant with another fruitcake,” he said as he padded to the door.
Kayla scooped up some rice from DeShawn’s plate and added it to hers. She was about to scoop some in her mouth when she heard a female voice say, “DeShawn, we need to talk.” Kayla dropped the fork and told herself to remain calm.
DeShawn wanted to slam the door in Taylor’s face. But he was too much of a gentleman to do so. As she walked inside, DeShawn wished the floor would open up and swallow him.
“Now is not a good time, and you need to stop popping up at my house.”
“Why? I’m trying to save your job and—” She stopped short in the hallway when she spotted Kayla sitting on the floor in the living room. “Oh,” Taylor snapped. “I guess this is more important than the school you say you love so much.”
Kayla rose to her feet and looked from DeShawn to Taylor. “You two need a moment?”
“Yes,” Taylor began.
“No. Taylor is leaving.”
“Who are you?” Taylor snapped.
Kayla scoffed and shook her head. “You guys can discuss this among yourselves.” She speared DeShawn with an icy look, then crossed over into the bedroom.
DeShawn glared at Taylor. “You don’t get to question who’s at my house or what I do here. We work together, that’s it.”
“Did you ever love me? You replaced me without a beat or a second thought.”
“Don’t do that, Taylor. We weren’t happy for a long time, and you know that.”
“I know you’re an asshole and you always put everything and everyone else above me. She’s not going to stick around and take that. I was a fool for staying as l
ong as I did.”
“Get out, and for the last time, if you want to talk about work with me, use my email.”
Taylor turned on her heels and stomped to the front door. When he heard the door slam, DeShawn dropped his head. How was he going to explain this? Heading for the bedroom, he expected Kayla to light into him about Taylor. But finding Kayla calmly sitting on the edge of his bed, tying her shoes, actually gave him pause.
“Kayla?”
She looked up at him. “I’m ready to go.”
“Can we talk about what just happened?” He walked over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder.
“There’s nothing to talk about. At least not on my end. You and Taylor obviously have something to work out, and I’m not going to get in the middle of this.”
“You’re not in the middle of anything. Taylor and I are over and—”
She threw her hand up and rose to her feet. “Women don’t just show up at their ex’s house without a reason.”
“Negative. Kayla, you’re the only woman I want in my house, in my heart, and in my bed.”
She rolled her eyes. “Take me home.”
“No. Not until I know that we’re okay.”
She folded her arms across her chest. “We’re fine.” Her face told a different story, with her eyebrow arched and a scowl on her lips.
Not wanting to press the issue, DeShawn pulled on a pair of gray sweatpants and his sneakers.
Kayla sighed and turned to DeShawn. “All right, we’re not okay. Is everything done with you and Taylor? Because what I’m not going to let you do is blindside me because you changed your mind about who you want to be with.”
“I know who I want to be with and who means everything to me. That’s you. Taylor’s on the board at the school, and we dated for nearly a year. But we were over before you came back to me.”
“Wait a minute. She works at the school, and you want to bring me into that powder keg?” She laughed sardonically.
“Now you see why I need someone on my side.”
She shook her head. “I’m pretty sure hiring me would lead to more drama, and that’s the last thing I need in my life right now.”
“No drama, but you know your stuff, and I need you.”
“I’ll think about it. But—”
“No buts, you’ll think about it and that’s enough for me.” He kissed her on the forehead and stroked her cheek. “I’m sorry about that scene before.”
“Umm-huh. I will say this, Mrs. Grant was right. She is uppity.”
* * *
By the time Kayla made it home, she was happy and confused at the same time. Part of her had serious reservations about Taylor and DeShawn. The last thing she could take was another heartbreak. And then there was the way DeShawn made her feel. In his arms, she felt as if their love was a fairy tale that had come true. His kisses heated her like an oven. His touch filled her soul with desire and passion. Things that she had prepared herself to never feel again.
“Why are you so quiet over there?” DeShawn asked as he pulled up in front of Nora’s house.
“Just thinking about how everything has changed and what this means going forward for us and . . .”
“Kayla, what are you not telling me? I see so much hurt in your eyes, and I don’t want to think that I’ve put any of it there.”
A single tear slid down her cheek. DeShawn leaned over and kissed it away.
“I’m not him. Whatever he did, I won’t do it.” He held her face in his hands. “I’ve waited too long to love you. I’m not going to mess this up.”
Just as he was about to lean in and kiss her, a knock on the passenger-side window startled them. Kayla turned her head and saw Autumn standing there with a huge grin on her face.
“Get out of the car.”
Kayla shook her head. “Only Autumn would pick this moment to come by and knock on the window.”
“That’s your sister. I believe she’s the reason it’s taken me this long to actually kiss you.”
Kayla laughed as she remembered their first almost kiss in the basement while they’d been studying Othello for their English class. As they’d discussed Desdemona and Othello’s relationship, DeShawn had inched closer to her, and Kayla had been ready to kiss him until Autumn burst through the door.
“Great timing as always,” Kayla said as she opened the door to get out of the car.
“What are you talking about?” Autumn asked as she hip-checked her sister. Then Autumn turned to DeShawn. “What have you two been doing all day?”
“Chilling and catching up on old times,” he said.
“With or without your clothes on?”
“Autumn!” Kayla exclaimed as she pinched her sister’s arm.
“What?” she asked, pretending to be innocent. “I’m just making sure he didn’t take advantage of my big sister.”
“Shut up,” Kayla said and tried to hide her smile.
“Looks like somebody finally got it right,” Autumn said, then dashed up the front steps.
DeShawn wrapped his arms around Kayla’s waist. “I guess we are a little transparent.” Then he pointed to a red hickey on her neck. “And there is this little love mark.”
“You really did that?”
“I couldn’t help it, you tasted so good and I got carried away.”
“What are we, in high school?” Kayla laughed and DeShawn kissed her on the cheek.
“Put some toothpaste on it.”
“And how do you know this?”
Winking at her, he said, “Years of practice.”
Kayla rolled her eyes as they walked into the house. She was happy to see her brother-in-law sitting on the sofa talking to Nora.
“Rodney, nice to see you.” Kayla crossed over to him and gave him a hug.
“Good to see you after all this time. I thought Autumn had run you back to Cali.”
“Rod, stop. I told you we’ve made up and now that she’s getting some, we might be best friends.”
Kayla looked around for something soft to throw at her sister as embarrassment turned her cheeks crimson. Picking up a pillow, she tossed it at Autumn just as Nora stood up.
“Y’all better stop acting as if you don’t have home training,” she admonished as she crossed over to DeShawn. “Good to see you. Did you two have a good workout?”
Autumn started coughing, and Kayla turned her head. “It was good,” he said as he linked his finger with Kayla’s pinky. “Ms. Nora, you know Kayla has always challenged me.”
“Yeah, because she was always faster.”
“Boom,” Kayla said. “I told you, and now we have proof.”
He let her finger go and pulled her into his arms. “I’ll admit it, you were faster, and if Coach had listened, you might have won the gold in Sydney.” DeShawn kissed her on the forehead.
“If I ever see that stupid coach again, I might punch him,” Nora said. “Let me get you two some eggnog. Kayla, come in the kitchen and help me.”
She nodded and followed her mother as they headed into the kitchen. When they were alone, Nora turned to her daughter.
“You look so happy,” she said.
“I’m happy-ish,” Kayla said as she crossed over to the cabinet.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Nora opened the refrigerator and pulled out the eggnog. “Hand me that bourbon. And by the way, you look more than happy-ish. Did you see the way that man was looking at you? Don’t open your legs and close your heart.” Nora pointed to the red love mark on Kayla’s neck.
“Ma!”
“I’m not blind, and know that most people don’t return from workouts smelling fresh like soap.”
Kayla passed her mother the bottle of liquor and thought about telling her about the scene with Taylor at DeShawn’s house, but she just pulled the glass mugs out of the cabinet.
“You care about him, don’t you?”
Kayla nodded. “It’s crazy, Mom. It’s as if we were meant to be and it took us this long to figure i
t out. But when we’re together, it’s like no time has passed at all.”
“Let that be a lesson to you. Second chances don’t come around often, and when they do, you have to take it.” Nora stirred the eggnog. “Now, pour the eggnog and get back out there before Autumn scares that man away.”
Kayla laughed and filled the mugs with her mother’s potent mix. She took a sip of the nog, and she was thankful for her mother’s heavy hand. Maybe she could drown out all of her second thoughts about DeShawn with the strong drink.
But why was she having second thoughts when she’d loved this man for so long? Had she really allowed Raul to harden her heart this much?
“What’s taking so long with the eggnog?” Autumn called out.
“Coming,” Kayla replied as she picked up the tray.
DeShawn rose to his feet and crossed over to Kayla. “You know your sister is crazy, right?”
“Known that for years.” She grinned as he picked up a mug of eggnog.
“I can hear you both,” Autumn said. “Kayla, stop keeping all the good stuff over there.”
DeShawn took the tray from Kayla’s hands and walked over to Autumn and Rodney. “Your Highness, here are your libations.”
Kayla broke out laughing as DeShawn bowed to her sister.
Autumn took a mug from the tray and smiled. “I’m glad someone recognizes royalty.”
Rodney shook his head. “Thanks for making my life harder, bro.” Autumn shoved her elbow in Rodney’s side.
“Remember that when you get hard later,” she muttered, then took a sip of her drink.
“I’m going to back away now,” DeShawn said as he set the tray on the coffee table.
“Good move,” Kayla said as she sat on the love seat in the corner.
DeShawn crossed over to her and kissed her on the cheek. “This is fun.”
She nodded and took a big gulp of the eggnog. He stroked her cheek and brought his lips to her ear. “But it doesn’t compare to the fun we had earlier. I really want to taste you again.”
Kayla nearly choked on her eggnog as she turned to face him. “You really need to stop talking like that.”
“Why? Because you want it, too?” He held his mug up to hers. “Let’s toast to the future. One with you and me being together.”
The Perfect Present Page 15