His tongue traced a path from her belly to the moist curls. His fingers searched and found the distended, blood-engorged nub at the apex of her thighs, and then his mouth replaced his finger, worrying the flesh with his teeth. She screamed and arched her back, her breasts trembling violently above her rib cage.
“Please. Oh, please,” she pleaded over and over as jolts of ecstasy shook her like a fragile leaf in the wind. “Don’t tease me.”
He moved up her body and kissed her. With one hand sandwiched between her thighs, he reached for the condom on the pillow beside her head. “I should tease you, because you’ve teased me from the first time I laid eyes on you.” Smiling, he kissed her again.
He let go of her moist heat because he needed two hands to put on the condom. He slipped on the latex sheath, remembering her desire to have a child. He knew he wasn’t ready for fatherhood: he did not want history to repeat itself. His greatest fear was to father a child and have that child grow up without him in his or her life.
Slowly his hands skimmed the sides of her body to her thighs. Resting his hands on her thighs, he spread them wider. He reached up and took Hope’s right hand, guiding it to his penis.
He saw her staring up at him. “Let’s do this together.”
Hope’s fingers closed around him, and she closed her eyes. She welcomed him into her body, sighing in pleasure. Theo began moving in a measured rhythm that made her gasp in sweet agony. His lovemaking was slow, unhurried, and she responded in kind.
She felt her defenses weakening as she opened not only her body for his possession but also her heart. A profound feeling of peace carried her to a place where she’d never been. The heat of his body coursed down the entire length of hers and curled her toes. Her skin grew hotter and hotter until her breath came in long, surrendering moans.
The passion radiating from the core of Hope’s body pulled Theo into a vortex of whirling passion that hurtled him to a dimension that was both exciting and frightening. What, he thought, was there about her that made him forget all of the promises he’d ever made to himself? His claiming her body had become a raw act of possession. She had become his.
Their passions peaked simultaneously in a shuddering explosion that left them shaking uncontrollably. Afterward, they lay together, savoring the aftermath of their lovemaking. Theo withdrew, gathered her to his chest, and held her until their respiration resumed a normal rate.
Hope savored the feeling of satisfaction that made it virtually impossible for her to move. She was awed not only by the magnitude of her own desire but also by the passion Theo had aroused in her. She wanted to kiss and taste his body like he’d done to hers. A smile softened her lips. Next time, she mused, as she closed her eyes.
She woke with a start. “It’s okay, sweetheart,” said Theo close to her ear. She was in bed, but the room was dark. “I just put everything away and locked the door.”
“Aren’t you going home?”
“Not unless you tell me to.”
Hope reached out for him, her hand grazing his thigh. “Not tonight,” she said, laughing softly. Her fingers closed around his flaccid penis. She slid down his body, lowered her head and took him into her mouth. He hardened, his breath coming quickly.
“No!” he gasped. But it was too late for protests as her mouth worked it magic.
It was later, after he had ejaculated inside her, that the enormity of what he had done swept over Theo. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he said over and over.
Hope savored the weight of the body pressing her down to the mattress. “Sorry for what?”
“I didn’t use a rubber. It’s… it’s the first time that—” Her fingertips stopped his explanation.
“You can’t get me pregnant.”
He grasped her wrist, pulling her hand down as he tried to make out her expression in the darkened room. “Why?”
“I’m on the Pill.”
Theo let out an audible sigh and reversed their positions. His fingers feathered up and down her spine. He kissed her mussed hair and smiled.
“Go back to sleep,” he said softly.
She kissed his chin. “Good night.”
“Good night, sweetheart.”
Twenty-four
We are born to live in peace and freedom, giving and receiving, loving and being loved.
—Iyanla Vanzant
“Don’t get up.”
Hope noticed slivers of light coming through the curtains of the bedroom windows. “What time is it?” “Almost five,” Theo whispered. “I’m leaving.” He kissed her forehead. “Will you come for dinner tonight?”
She nodded. “What time?”
“Six.”
“Okay.”
He kissed her again. “I’ll see you later.”
He was there, then he was gone. Hope turned over on her side and rested her head on an outstretched arm. Her mind burned with the memory of what she and Theo had offered each other.
The second time they had come together their lovemaking had been passionate, unrestrained, and totally uninhibited. This coupling had stripped away her insecurities, allowing her to give and receive love on equal terms. She rolled over and turned on the bedside lamp. After completing her morning toilette, she would write for several hours, call Marissa, then go to Savannah for a scheduled day of beauty. She had made the appointment because she was grossly overdue for a facial, manicure, pedicure, touch-up and a trim.
Hope waved to Brandon and Noelle as she maneuvered her car into a space next to the Lexus. She turned off the engine and reached for the large white box on the passenger seat. Brandon wasn’t wearing his glasses, and his resemblance to Theo was uncanny. Instead of their usual shorts, T-shirts, and bare feet, he and his sister had on clothes that would be more appropriate for school. It was the first time she had seen them wear footwear other than sandals or running shoes.
“Hi, Miss Hope.”
She handed him the box. “Hello, Brandon. Here’s a little something for dessert.”
Noelle moved closer and touched her hair. “Your hair looks beautiful.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
The stylist had relaxed her new growth and cut her ends before blowing it out and bumping the ends. Each time Hope moved her head, layers of coal-black hair rippled as if they had taken on a life of their own.
Noelle slipped her hand in Hope’s. “Come inside. Theo has a surprise for you.”
Brandon glared at his sister. “Big mouth. You weren’t supposed to say anything.”
“My bad,” Noelle said, wincing.
Hope squeezed her fingers gently. “I promise to act surprised.” She followed them into the house, wondering what the surprise could be. As soon as she saw Helen, Christian and Theo, she knew they would not dine at home.
“Miss Hope brought dessert,” Brandon announced loudly. He gave the box to Helen.
“I’ll put it in the refrigerator for another time.”
Hope stared at Theo staring back at her. He wore a pair of oatmeal-colored slacks with a matching jacket over a black silk T-shirt. “Where are we going?”
He gave her a mysterious smile. “It’s a surprise.” Closing the distance between them, he kissed her cheek. “You look very nice.”
Noelle nodded. “Isn’t her hair the bomb, Theo? Maybe when I take my braids out I’ll have it styled like Miss Hope’s.”
“We’ll talk about it.” He turned to Christian. “You’re the designated driver tonight.”
“Woo-woo,” Christian said, grinning. “Somebody plans to get lit up tonight.”
Theo looked at him under lowered lids. “Let’s go, mister.”
After everyone was settled in the SUV, Christian backed out of the driveway and drove toward the ferryboat landing. Helen sat beside him, while Hope and Theo flanked Noelle in the rear seat. Brandon sat in the cargo area for the short ride. The ferryboat was waiting when they arrived, and at exactly 6:55 it sailed.
A light breeze lifted Hope’s black-and-white st
riped silk dress around her legs as she stood at the rail with Theo, feeling the heat of his gaze on her face. The rain had stopped and the sultry heat had returned.
“What are you celebrating?” she asked in a quiet voice.
“My pilot was accepted, and network executives want a total of thirteen scripts.”
Turning, she smiled at him. “That’s wonderful news. Congratulations.”
His smile was modest. “Thank you.”
She turned back to stare at the water. “You never told me what it’s about.” Theo would have told her if not for the stranger taking their photograph.
Theo rested his arms on the railing. “It’s a dramatic series about a group of highly successful businesspeople who become targets of a government investigation after one is deliberately set up by a rival group. It opens with him being charged with bribing an elected official to approve a construction contract.”
“Are the lead characters black?”
“Yes.” There was a hint of pride in his voice.
“Why cable and not regular network television?”
“Some of the episodes are a little too graphic for regular programming.”
Hope glanced at his profile. “Language?”
He glanced down at her. “Language, sexual content, and occasionally violence.”
“When is it scheduled to debut?”
“Next February.”
She nodded. “I’ll be certain to watch it.”
Noelle joined them at the rail, and Hope curved an arm around her shoulders. She was rewarded with a warm smile as Noelle returned the hug. The ferryboat reached Savannah and they traded one boat for another, boarding one of the old-fashioned riverboats for dinner on the Savannah River.
Theo ordered two bottles of sparkling cider, and everyone raised their glasses several times in congratulatory toasts. Live music from a combo added to the festivities. Brandon and Christian sang along with some of the songs, adding their own hip-hop baseline beats.
Hope laughed at their antics, which seemed to amuse Helen. “It’s apparent you don’t have a lot of experience with teenagers.”
“I don’t. My sister’s and brothers’ children haven’t reached that age.”
Helen crossed her chest. “I pray for them.” She smiled at her employer. “Theo has no idea how many novenas I’ve said for him.”
He winked at his housekeeper. “The power of prayer is amazing.”
“Miss Helen, are you going to miss Chris and me when we leave for college?”
Her blue eyes misted. “Of course I will, Brandon.”
“Don’t rush it, Little Brother,” Theo warned, smiling. “You guys still have another year.”
“That’s true,” Christian added, “but it will come fast.”
“Have you selected a college, Chris?” Hope asked.
Chris glanced at Theo. “That depends on where we live. If we move here, then I’ll probably apply to schools in North Carolina or Georgia. I’m kind of partial to Duke.”
Hope looked at Brandon. “What about you?”
“I’d probably apply to the University of Virginia or Georgetown because of their political science programs.”
“Why don’t you both go to the same college?” Noelle asked.
Theo touched Noelle’s braided hair. “I told them it would be all right if they decided not to go to the same college.”
He had suggested it more for Christian than for Brandon. It was apparent that Brandon was intellectually gifted, and despite being a year younger than Christian, he still achieved higher grades. Attending different colleges would eliminate what had become an inconspicuous competition between brothers.
The musicians played a slow number from the early sixties, and Theo extended his hand to Helen. “May I have this dance?”
She blushed to the roots of her silver hair. “Oh, Theo.”
Christian touched her shoulder. “It’s your kind of music, Miss Helen.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “What would you know about my kind of music?”
Theo stood up and pulled back her chair. Everyone clapped as he led her out to the dance floor. Brandon rose to his feet, offering his hand to Hope. “Miss Hope, may I have this dance?”
She gave him a perplexed look. “But it’s not my kind of music.”
“Neither is it mine,” Brandon countered, refusing to be denied.
Hope pushed back her chair and took his hand. “I do like a persistent man.”
Noelle and Christian touched fists after their brothers exchanged partners, Brandon and Miss Helen dancing with at least three feet of space between them, while Theo held Hope so close they could have been one.
The celebrating continued when the riverboat docked and Theo suggested they go to a restaurant known for their ice cream concoctions. Conversation was nonexistent as the amount of ice cream decreased and waistlines increased. Theo patted his belly and smothered a yawn. He smiled at Christian. “Now you see why you’re the designated driver.”
Christian flashed a brilliant, white-tooth smile. “Everyone knows old folks have to take a nap after they eat.”
Theo bit back a smile. “I thought I warned you about old folk jokes. I’m going to be the first to give you back your words once you’re forty with a wife and a couple of knuckleheaded kids giving you grief when they break curfew, rear-end the car, and invite all of the neighborhood thugs to hang out at your house the minute you darken the door.”
Shaking his head, Christian said, “You’re forty, and you don’t have a wife or kids, so what you say won’t matter.”
Theo’s expression was a mask of stone. “I don’t need kids. I have you guys.”
“We’re not your kids, Theo.” Brandon had decided to contribute to the conversation.
“You’re our brother,” Noelle added.
Christian folded his arms over his chest. “You need your own kids.” He stared at Hope. “Shouldn’t he have his own children?”
Shaking her head, she held up a hand. “Please, don’t drag me into this. Theo has the right to decide whether he chooses to become a father.”
Noelle tugged on Hope’s arm. “What about you, Miss Hope? Don’t you want a baby? If you and Theo got married and had a baby, then I’d be an aunt. You can always count on me to babysit for you.”
Theo hit the table with the palm of his hand. “Night court is adjourned. All rise.”
Christian and Brandon exchanged a knowing smile. It was apparent they had gotten to their older brother. It was just a matter of time before they would wear him down completely. They’d had years of practice with Mary Anderson.
Helen fell asleep before the ferryboat sailed away from the Savannah landing, Noelle a few minutes later. Brandon and Christian stood at the rail, pointing out constellations in the night sky.
Theo cradled his sister’s head to his chest, while his free arm curved around Hope’s shoulder. “I’d like to apologize for Chris and Brandon’s meddling.” His mouth was pressed to her ear.
“There’s nothing to apologize for,” she whispered. “They’re just looking out for you.”
“Their not-so-subtle attempt at matchmaking doesn’t bother you?”
“No, Theo. They’re just kids.”
“Kids on a mission.”
She grasped the long fingers hanging over her shoulder, squeezing them gently. “In a couple of months they’ll be back in school, and then you’ll be off the hot seat.”
A couple of months, Theo mused. Everything and everyone would change by summer’s end. He hoped to complete at least script number five, and although he wanted to purchase property on McKinnon Island, he knew realistically he would not be able to finalize a closing before returning to Los Angeles.
In a couple of months Hope would close up her summer home and return to New York and whatever awaited her there. He closed his eyes as a foreign emotion swept over him. Sleeping with her had changed him; in the past it had been he who had always walked away from a woman. The table
s were reversed now, though, for he did not want to acknowledge what had become so apparent. He had fallen in love with Hope.
The ferryboat docked at the McKinnon Island landing and Theo changed seats with Christian. He dropped everyone off, then drove Hope to her little house on Beach Road. They stood on the porch, arms around each other.
Hope broke the silence. “Thank you for a wonderful evening. I really enjoyed your family.”
He smiled down at her. “They like you, Hope.”
She returned his smile. “That’s because I like them.”
“I like you—a lot.”
She dropped her gaze, staring at his throat before glancing up again. “Thank you, Theo.” Rising on tiptoe, she brushed a light kiss over his mouth. “Good night.”
His arms fell away from her body. “Good night, sweetheart. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Hope nodded. She unlocked her door, opened it, and closed it softly behind her. She stood, listening for the sound of an engine. She waited for several minutes before opening the door. Theo hadn’t moved. She smiled and held out her hand. He placed his hand in hers, and she pulled him into the living room. He followed her to her bedroom, and once there they began a dance of desire that ended when their bodies were in exquisite harmony with one another.
Twenty-five
Chance says, come here, chance say, can you bear to part?
—Hilda Doolittle
“How long has it been since McKinnon Island’s Sophie Ladies shared afternoon tea?”
Hope smiled over the rim of her cup. “At least a month.”
Rebecca flashed her attractive dimples. “We’ve been bad, Hope.”
“Speak for yourself, Rebecca. I’ve been here practically every afternoon. You’re the one who has been traipsing all over the island.”
“Traipsing, campaigning, and weaving baskets. I’m close to finishing my first one.”
“Is Janie amenable to helping you set up the preservation project?”
“She is willing to co-chair it with me.” Rebecca glanced at her watch before she took another sip of her blackberry currant tea. “Lee and the kids should be here soon. He called me once he boarded the three o’clock Hilton Head ferry. Ashlee and Kyle are really excited because they can’t wait to reconnect with Theo’s family.” She peered closely at her neighbor. “Speaking of Theo.”
Lessons of a Lowcountry Summer Page 21