Travis nuzzled his face into her hair, gently kissing the top of her head. Tierra turned in his arms and touched her lips to his. “And I also know that if I had to marry any man, right now, I think you would be the man I would want to spend the rest of my life with.”
Travis chuckled. “I think I like what you know! So, finish telling me about our daughter and her wedding.”
As Travis stepped out of the shower, he was grinning from ear to ear. He couldn’t begin to explain how incredible he was feeling. They were scheduled to check out before noon and head back to Dallas, but truth be told, he didn’t want to leave. A part of him was afraid that if they did, the magic they were feeling in this place might disappear and move them back to the place where Tierra wanted to push him away instead of holding him close to her.
He grinned as she eased into the room, slipping past him into the downpour of water that sprinkled from the showerhead.
“It’s cold!” Tierra exclaimed.
Travis laughed. “I told you to get up and get into the shower with me.”
“I needed a few more minutes of sleep. You could have saved me some hot water.”
Travis laughed. “Are you pouting?”
“Yes,” Tierra said as she stepped out of the spray of water and reached for a plush towel.
Travis was brushing his teeth in front of the sink. He passed her a toothbrush coated with mint-flavored toothpaste. They stood side by side polishing their enamel, brushing and rinsing with mouthwash. Tierra passed him a washcloth to wipe his mouth. As they stared at each other in the mirror, she leaned her head against his shoulder.
“I leave next week, Tierra. I have to report back to base by Friday.”
Tierra entwined her fingers between his. She nodded. “I know.”
They exhaled heavily at the same time.
Moving back into the other room, neither said another word. Reaching the bed, Travis pressed a kiss to her shoulder, his hands snaking around her abdomen and up to her breasts. His rising erection pressed eagerly against her back. He kissed her neck and her shoulders.
Bending her forward, Travis caressed her buttocks, squeezing one cheek and then the other. Dropping to his knees, he kissed the small of her back, drawing his tongue across the curve of her behind. When he softly nibbled the lush tissue, slowly suckling a love bite against her flesh, Tierra wiggled from side to side, her excitement mounting.
She laughed. “You’re going to leave a mark,” she whispered huskily.
Travis grinned. “Good, that way everyone will know you belong to me,” he answered as he continued to tease her.
When his fingers slipped down between her legs, tickling her most private spot, Tierra gasped loudly, clutching the bed for support. Travis fingered her gently, teasing and taunting her feminine core. She moaned his name, biting her lower lip as waves of pleasure swept through her.
“You are so sexy!” Travis exclaimed. He pushed her gently, rolling her onto her back.
Air caught tight in Tierra’s chest as Travis trailed a path of damp kisses against her inner thighs. Meeting his gaze, Tierra felt her body pleading for him to touch her, to taste the sweetness of her honey. As he drew closer, Tierra’s body arched upward, eager to experience his intimate kiss.
When his mouth touched her, his tongue eagerly searching the petals of her secret garden, Tierra bit her lower lip again to stifle a loud moan. Her dark eyes were clouded with desire. As she moved her hips against him, Travis knew she was close, her body ready to explode.
He moved his ministrations up her abdomen, his tongue slipping in and out of her belly button. Reaching her breasts, he suckled one nipple and then the other, kneading the handful of flesh eagerly. Reaching for a condom on the nightstand, Travis sheathed himself quickly, then plunged his body into hers.
Dropping his weight against her, Travis eased his left arm around her neck, his cheek pressed tight to her cheek. His right hand reached down to the back of her thigh, lifting her leg around his back as he moved himself in and out of her slowly and then faster and harder as his own excitement mounted. Tierra met him stroke for stroke, every nerve ending in her body screaming for release.
Relief came quickly, their worlds exploding into a million pieces, ecstasy spreading through both their bodies as waves of pleasure washed over them. Lying side by side, the moment couldn’t have been more perfect.
Chapter 15
He had been eyeing the buxom blonde and her redheaded friend like they were both meat on a hook. The two young women giggled foolishly at the attention he had been showing them, both women captivated by the soldier in uniform.
Damien Porter had turned on the charm during their layover at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and was still going strong by the time they’d reached Dallas/ Fort Worth. When the redhead had gestured for him to follow her into the plane’s restroom, her friend sound asleep in the seat beside them, Damien had followed willingly.
Stepping out of the terminal, Damien had programmed both telephone numbers into his cell phone, promising to give each a call the first chance he got. He’d winked at the redhead and had blown the blonde a kiss after hailing himself a taxicab and waving goodbye.
Glancing at the watch on his wrist, Damien now debated whether or not he should call Tierra and let her know he was coming. After much thought, he decided not to, thinking he would be better served if he surprised her instead.
The man peered out the taxi window. It felt like it had been forever since he’d last been home to Dallas. He thought he would have missed it, but he hadn’t. He hadn’t missed anything or anyone.
The taxi driver eyed him curiously, striking up a conversation. “So, you home for a while, soldier?”
Damien shrugged. “Nah, just a few days. Need to handle some business is all, then I’m back to the front lines.”
“I don’t envy you guys over there. I know y’all is doing some hard work. We really appreciate it.”
“Oh, yeah, thanks,” Damien said.
“You got family here?” the man asked.
Damien nodded. “My girl is here.”
“Oh, you’re married? You got any kids?”
Damien laughed. “No, dude. Not yet, at least. I was hoping to stay single, but you know how it is. Sometimes we got to play the game to keep them hanging on the line. This one’s a keeper. She’ll do anything for you while you get to do whatever you want to do for yourself.”
The driver laughed with him. “So, it’s like that!”
“Yeah, man. It’s like that!”
And it was like that, Damien thought, falling back into self-reflection. He’d had Tierra on a thin leash since forever. He’d lost count of the promises he’d made to her and had broken, the girl forgiving him each and every time. Tierra was good like that.
Damien knew that Tierra loved him. He wished he could return the favor, but he had to admit he didn’t love anyone but himself. Women were a dime a dozen, falling all over him as the moment moved them. He couldn’t help that he sometimes needed to catch one or two to soften their landing when they fell head over heels for him.
Damien had to be honest and admit that he just liked women. He liked a lot of them, and he wasn’t ready to settle down with just one. It just wasn’t always necessary to admit it to other people. What Tierra didn’t know wouldn’t hurt either one of them.
The last fling he’d tapped had come closer to moving his heart than anyone, even moving him to break off his engagement to Tierra. Then he’d made that pit stop in London, meeting the tall, thin Jamaican sister who’d turned his head, and he just couldn’t help himself. His fling hadn’t been happy about that indiscretion. Women were so sensitive about the damndest things, Damien thought.
Now he was regretting his breakup with Tierra. The two of them had worked out a nice arrangement. He was certain Tea would give him another chance. He’d turn on the charm, sweet talk her out of her clothes and work that magic while he got himself a taste of her goodies. Then he would t
ell her how much he loved and missed her and be back in before he could blink an eye. Tierra was a sure thing like that.
At least Damien was hoping so. Uncertainty furled his brow. He had at least expected her to call and try to talk him into taking her back. But she hadn’t. He’d not heard a single word from her, and she hadn’t returned one of his calls. Maybe she had finally gotten over him. Damien grunted. That wasn’t likely, he thought, his mouth bending into a knowing smile. Damien was sure of his magnetism if he wasn’t sure of anything else.
What was most important, though, was finding out what Tierra had done with the money in their joint account. When he had tried to access those funds, the bank had advised him that his name had been removed from the account. Since it was highly unusual for any woman to beat him to the punch, Damien had figured a quick trip home to resolve the matter was in definite order. And if Tierra wasn’t willing to play his way, he might as well get his engagement ring back, too. He’d dropped a pretty penny on that thing to just walk away without demanding she return it to him.
Shifting in his seat as the driver navigated traffic, Damien crossed his arms over his chest. He wasn’t so concerned. Like he’d often thought before, Tierra was a sure thing like that. And he always bet on a sure thing.
The front door opening and then closing pulled Damien out of a sound sleep. Tierra hadn’t been home when he’d arrived, and he’d been sitting around for two whole days trying to figure out where she was. He needed to get her straight about her comings and goings, he thought, as he rose from where he’d fallen asleep on the sofa. He suddenly cringed when he heard the matriarch’s deep voice calling out his name.
“Boy, what are you doing in my child’s house?” Mama Dee said, her voice rising.
Damien wiped at the sleep in his eyes, suddenly wishing he could wake up from what was sure to be a nightmare.
“I’m not going to ask you again,” Mama Dee said, her hands gripping the sides of her hips. “When did you get into town, and why are you here?”
“Good morning, Mama Dee. I was just waiting here for Tierra. Do you know where she is?”
The old woman’s stare was chilling. Behind her, Tingin Braddy stood with his arms crossed over his torso, taking it all in. Damien flipped his hand in a quick wave. Tingin gestured with his head in response.
Mama Dee responded. “Damien, I don’t think Tierra is your concern anymore, son. In fact, I know my grandbaby is no concern of yours.”
“Mama Dee, I made a huge mistake, but I was scared. I’m here hoping Tierra will forgive me.” Damien’s look was pleading.
Tierra’s grandmother continued to eye him with reservation. After a few quick minutes she directed her comments to her grandson.
“Tingin, put those containers in the refrigerator, baby. I don’t want that food to spoil. Then just go check the back rooms. Make sure Tierra’s stuff is where it’s supposed to be.”
Mama Dee cut her eye at Damien. Moving to the upholstered wing chair that rested across from where he sat on the sofa, she took a seat, still staring at the man. Damien couldn’t help but wish he could drop into a hole and disappear, or, even better, throw the old woman into a hole and make her disappear.
“Mama Dee, I’m very sorry,” he started, prepared to plead his case.
The woman held up her hand, stalling his words. She slowly crossed one leg over the other as she leaned back in her seat. Her stare was still focused on Damien, the look she was giving him like a dagger gutting him from stem to stern. He knew, though, that he was going to have to sit quietly through whatever it was she was planning to dish out to him. He also knew that he’d have to get Mama Dee to consider forgiving him if he had even half a chance to reconcile with Tierra.
The matriarch cleared her throat before she began speaking. “Damien, son, I’m not sure why you’re here. I imagine, though, that Tierra has something you must want real bad.”
“No, really, Mama—”
The look she gave him made him bite back his words. Contrition painted his expression, and he apologized for interrupting.
Mama Dee continued. “I’m sure you want something, Damien. Since you were a little boy you rarely did anything that didn’t benefit you first and everyone else last. You’ve always been selfish like that.
“I don’t have to tell you that I’m not at all happy with you. And Tierra knows that I do not support this relationship. She deserves better than you, Damien. She deserves so much more. You’re still a little boy trying to be a little boy. Tierra needs herself a good man, and there is nothing good about you, child.”
Mama Dee paused, allowing her words to settle against Damien’s ears. She stood back up as she finished. “Tierra will be home later this afternoon. And I imagine that you two will probably have a lot to talk about. And when that conversation is over, I really want you to try and do better, Damien. I know you can do better. The next woman who comes into your life will want that from you.”
Damien came to his feet, drawing his hands up and down against the wrinkled pants he’d slept in. “I think Tierra and I can make this work, Mama Dee. I want to be a better man for her.”
Mama Dee laughed, shaking her head. “Boy, you just don’t have a clue,” she said, moving back to the front door. “Good luck, Damien. Whatever the future has for you, I wish you much good luck.”
Gesturing her head in Tingin’s direction, Mama Dee pointed her finger at her grandchild. “Tierra should be here in the next hour or so. You need to stay until she gets back. Make sure he don’t take nothin’ that doesn’t belong to him,” she said as she adjusted her sweater around her shoulders.
As the front door closed behind her, Tingin turned toward his former friend, his two fists clutched tightly at his sides. “You know you’ve got a beat-down coming, right?”
Damien held up both hands, a cautious air falling over his shoulders. “Hey, dude, let’s not do this. No harm, no foul, right?”
Tingin shook his head as he took another step closer. “It would give me great pleasure to hurt you, but I don’t have to. You’ve used my sister for the last time. I think Tierra’s got a thing or two planned for you, buddy boy!”
Damien shrugged. “I don’t know what Tierra told you, but—”
Tingin interrupted the man. “Brother, you need to just sit down and shut up before I lose all of my patience. Hitting you might make me feel better, but it won’t change anything, so if you don’t talk, the chances that I won’t slam my fist into your face are in your favor.”
Rolling his eyes, Damien sat back down. Right now he needed to focus on carrying through with his plans for Tierra. He’d make things right with Tingin some other time.
The trip back to Dallas had been quiet, the duo reveling in the silence. As the Stallion family jet landed safely on the airstrip, Travis and Tierra met each other’s gaze. Their extended getaway was officially over. A limousine sat in wait at the end of the tarmac, the driver gesturing in their direction as they made their way down the airplane’s steps.
Travis greeted the man warmly. “Good afternoon, Mr. Landry.”
“Mr. Stallion, sir. Welcome back. Good day, Ms. Braddy,” the Stallions’ long-time driver said with a slight gesture of his head.
Tierra smiled sweetly, the gesture brightening her face. “Hi!”
“Will you two be returning to the ranch, sir?”
Travis looked toward Tierra. “We’re actually going to Ms. Braddy’s apartment, Mr. Landry.” He gave the man the address.
“Yes, sir.”
Inside the vehicle, the two held hands. The conversation was limited, polite chitchat filling the emptiness. Nervous tension seemed to rise out of nowhere, wrapping them tightly in an awkward embrace.
“So, what now?” Tierra finally asked.
“I wasn’t kidding when I said I wanted to marry you, Tierra. I want you to be my wife, and I want that to happen before I have to report back to Afghanistan. We just need to figure out how to make that happen.”
; Tierra nodded her head slowly, an easy sigh slipping out of her mouth. She met his intense stare, searching for the answers to her future in his eyes. She nodded slowly. “I… We…” she stammered, the right words seeming to elude her. She took a deep breath. “Can we please talk about this later,” she whispered. “Please?”
Travis squeezed her hand beneath his, no other words needed to assure her that when she was ready, he would be, as well.
The limo stopped short in front of her apartment building. Tierra flashed him a wide smile despite the confusion that was still swimming in her head.
As the driver opened the door to let them out, Tierra leaned to kiss Travis’s cheek. “You’re still coming up, aren’t you, Sergeant Stallion?”
The man smiled. “Yes, ma’am, of course I am!”
Arm in arm, the two moved from the building’s lobby into the elevator and up to the twenty-second floor. Laughter had risen easily, pushing their earlier anxiety away. Just as Tierra was searching the bottom of her handbag for her keys, the front door swung open, her brother standing on the other side. Startled, the couple both stared.
“Hey!” Tierra exclaimed, the surprise registered in her voice. “What are you doing here?”
Tingin Braddy smiled weakly. “Hey.” He met Travis’s questioning stare, extending his hand in greeting. “Hi, I’m Tingin Braddy, Tierra’s brother.”
“Hi, Travis Stallion,” the man said, shaking the hand that had been offered to him.
“What are you doing here?” Tierra asked again, concern suddenly washing over her face.
“Mama Dee and I stopped by to check on the place like you wanted. She asked me to stay until you got back.”
“Is something wrong, Tingin? Mama Dee’s fine, isn’t she?”
“Oh, yeah,” Tingin answered. “She’s good. But when we got here we found—”
The man’s comment was suddenly interrupted, a voice coming from behind him.
“He found me here waiting for you, Tea.” Damien Porter stepped up behind her brother, a broad grin across his face.
Promises to a Stallion (Kimani Romance) Page 11