She looked around his mailbox for any loose rocks for a key. Hopefully, he wouldn’t mind. They always visited each other back home, but so much had changed in their relationship recently. She decided to take the chance. She lifted a rock that bore his house number, and discovered a shiny key. Bingo.
She unlocked the red front door, tucked the key back under the rock, and slipped into the town house.
She placed her clutch on the table in the front hallway. Walking farther into the house, she poked her head into the living room. From what she could see, the home was lovely. Blake had great taste. Almost felt like it had a woman’s touch. A woman. She heard her before she saw her, coming from the back. Shit!
She could hear Blake’s voice as well, talking to the woman.
She retraced her steps to the front hallway. Just when her hand touched the door handle, his voice stopped her. “Donia?”
Damn . She turned slowly. “Hey, I—I…” She pointed at the door. She didn’t know what to say. How do you tell someone you showed up, uninvited, from out of state and just let yourself in, without sounding like a complete lunatic? He helped her by breaking the silence.
“What are you doing here?” He looked annoyed.
She plastered a fake smile on her face. “Wow, what a greeting.”
“I wasn’t expecting you.”
She looked him over. He wore a dress shirt and pants, his tie hung loosely around his neck—obviously work attire. His hair, dark as a raven, looked a bit disheveled. “I wanted to surprise you, but you have a guest.” Donia looked beyond Blake at a petite blonde standing in the doorway.
“Marcia, this is a friend from back home, Donia.”
Marcia stepped around Blake and extended a hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Donia lied, never taking her eyes from Blake. His eyes, an unusual shade of green, turned darker when she continued staring at him.
“Um, if you will excuse me,” Marcia said, clearly feeling the awkward tension. “I need to use the restroom, Blake. I’ll use the one upstairs.” She trotted up the carpeted stairs.
“New girlfriend?” Donia asked when she heard the door shut up stairs. She could hear his teeth grind. Wrong button to push obviously .
He took a step toward her, hooking her arm and grabbing her purse from the table in the process. He opened the front door and escorted her out, shutting the door behind him. “Again, what are you doing here?”
She grabbed her purse and shrugged her arm out of his grasp, staring at him. She didn’t know what she expected coming here, but it sure as hell wasn’t this. “I…I don’t know,” she stuttered.
He tapped an impatient foot. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks, at first out of embarrassment, then anger. What the hell ! “Hey, what is up with this attitude?” She glared right back at him. “I came down here because the gang is coming down…”
“They will be here on Friday, Donia. It’s Wednesday.”
“I know what day it is. I came early so we could talk.”
“About what?”
“Obviously nothing.” Her gaze ran over him again. God, he looks…great. The more he scowled at her the more her attraction grew. Broad shoulders, taut stomach, visible through his tailored shirt—she finally noticed him, after all this time. Now of all the freaking times…
He stood, looking at her like he wanted to strangle her. She didn’t care. She would get back through to him. “Who is that woman?” she asked with an accusatory tone.
“Why?”
“Because, I asked you, damn it.” She could feel herself choking on the words. Is this jealousy; what the hell?
“She is a friend.” He crossed his arms in front of him.
“Is she your girlfriend?”
“You don’t get to come here, in my house, uninvited, and ask me questions about who I have in there, Donia.”
“Then I guess I’m headed back home then.” She turned from him, but he caught her arm.
“Tonight?”
She looked at her watch. “I’ll catch a flight in the morning.”
“Where are you staying?”
She hadn’t booked a hotel. She didn’t know what would happen here. She hoped… hell —she didn’t know what she hoped.
“I have a reservation,” she lied. She hadn’t even called to see if she could get a room.
He looked at his watch. “I’ll call you around nine. We can get a drink before you leave.”
“Don’t do me any favors.”
Anger flashed across his face. He moved to her, his breath inches from her ear. His hand moved to her waist moving her closer him. “I’ve missed you, damn it. I will see you at nine o’clock for a drink. Do not give me your usual bullshit, Donia,” he said, moving away from her.
Her eyes wide, she watched him watch her as he shut the red door.
Chapter Six
At nine o’clock she paced her hotel room floor. Luckily, the Waterfront had rooms available. She took a quick shower to get rid of the grime from her trip, then slipped into one of the three slinky dresses she brought with her. The simple, little black dress hugged every curve she had. She opted to pull her hair up and went light on the makeup. She ordered a bottle of champagne, maybe for later , and a martini for herself. She nursed it while she waited for his call. Something was different about him. She didn’t know how she felt about his indifference. He’d treated her like a stranger today and not like the object of his affection. The one thing she could always fall back on wasn’t there anymore. Maybe that was getting to her. She didn’t know, but she intended to find out. Her feelings for Blake were shifting. She wanted to know what could happen between them.
* * * *
He read the text again to make sure he got the name of her hotel correct. At nine o’clock he stepped into the hotel lounge and looked around. It wasn’t at all busy on a Wednesday night, so he knew she wasn’t there.
He had moved to Baltimore to get away from her and the feelings that had continued to grow. He needed to clear his head and mend his heart, and maybe find love. Obviously a two-hour flight wasn’t far enough away. He felt his heart in his stomach when he walked into his foyer and found her standing there. My caramel-skinned beauty.
How dare she come here and throw him back into the tailspin of emotions. The only glimmer of hope he had that she may care about him was the way she aggressively asked about Marcia. Why would she care? He hadn’t told Donia he hired Marcia to decorate his house. He sure as hell didn’t know how to decorate. He didn’t tell her because he liked the fact she might be jealous.
The more he stopped running after her the more she seemed to come to him. He liked it—a lot. He pulled his cell out of the clip on his belt. She answered on the second ring. He smiled at the anxious sound in her voice. She’s waiting for me. “I’m down stairs at the bar. Whenever you are ready, I’ll be here.”
She confirmed she would be down momentarily. He flagged the bartender. “A shot, please—whatever you can make quick,” he said falling into a seat.
The bar tender smiled. “A woman?”
“Isn’t it always?”
The bartender poured bourbon whiskey into a shooter. “Here, buddy, a double.”
He shot it back in one gulp. It burned the whole way down.
“Another?” the bartender asked.
“Yeah, another, but make it a boilermaker with whatever light beer you have on tap.”
“Thirsty?” she asked, sliding in next to him.
She didn’t have to speak. The scent of strawberries and champagne gave her away. She always smelled so sweet. He closed his eyes briefly and drank in the scent before he turned to eye her. “Hey.” He tried hard not to ogle her, but that black dress—low-cut front and back with thin straps. What is she doing to me? She is doing this on purpose. Her hair, pulled on top of her head, allowed him full view of her soft neck, shoulders, and cleavage.
His failed attempt at ogling did not go unnoticed. She watched him, waiting for him t
o say something. He tried even harder to will away the hard on already mounting just from the scent of her.
The bartender came back over. He gave Donia a once-over, then raised a brow.
Blake frowned. He didn’t like other men looking at her. He also knew it couldn’t be helped. She is stunning.
“What are you drinking?” she asked looking at the beer and shot of whiskey.
He dropped the whiskey in the beer and watched it foam over. “Boilermaker,” he answered without looking at her.
The bartender gave Donia his full attention. “What would you like, pretty lady?”
She smiled at him lightly. “Sex on the beach,” she answered, her voice low.
Blake’s cock jumped. Oh hell .
“Hmm, okay. I can see why this guy is drinking doubles.” The bartender joked.
“Touché,” Blake mumbled.
Chapter Seven
He wouldn’t look at her. He drank his beer and watched the Orioles game on the flat screen above the bar. She wanted to stomp her foot and scream to get his attention. You asked me to have a drink. I thought we were going to talk! The more frustrated she got, the more he didn’t seem to care. “So… how do you like living down here?” she asked grasping at straws.
“It’s different, but I like it,” he said, sparing her a side glance.
“I miss you back home.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
He drained his beer and set it on the bar in front of him. She reached out to grab his hand, squeezing it in between hers. He looked down where their hands joined. “What are you doing?” His voice was raspy.
“Trying to get you to see I really miss you.”
He finally looked up at her. His green eyes collided with hers. She didn’t know how to read them. “I’m sorry for not giving you the chance to talk to me while you were still home. I was being really selfish and stupid,” she prattled on, waiting for him to stop her. “You aren’t saying anything, Blake, and that is making me kind of nervous. I don’t want anything to change between us.” She drained her drink, signaling for another.
“Nothing has changed, Donia. You’re sorry things are the same as always. Okay, I heard you.”
His voice sounded dejected. She didn’t like it one bit. “I don’t want you to be angry with me. I…I want my friend back. I’m… Will you look at me, please?”
The bartender brought the second drink. “Put that on my bill and let me know what I owe you,” he asked, taking his hand from her grasp. He reached for his wallet.
“Are you leaving?”
“I work tomorrow.”
“I thought you wanted to talk more. You’re ignoring me.”
“Donia, I don’t want to be rude, honestly I don’t, but what do we really have to talk about?”
“Us!” Her voice sounded shrill and she hated that. Why is he making this so hard? She cleared her throat and swallowed a large amount of her drink.
Blake looked at the check before pulling out a couple of bills and laying it back down. “Keep the change, buddy,” he said over to the tender before turning from the bar.
She almost choked on the current sip. He really is going to make me chase him. Setting her empty glass back on the bar, she got up to go catch him. She caught up with him in the hotel lobby. “Stop! Damn it.”
He sighed heavily. “This is not the best place to have this conversation, Donia,” he said, looking around the lobby.
“Then come back to my room with me.” She saw the lust the minute it flashed in and out of his eyes.
He gently took her arm and pulled her to him out of earshot of the other guests. “That isn’t the wisest place,” he growled.
“I…I don’t care,” she mumbled. “I need to tell you how I feel right now.” Hell, she didn’t even know how she felt. She did know the way he looked at her caused an ache between her thighs she hadn’t noticed before. His gaze dropped to her mouth and she whimpered. “Blake, let go of my arm.”
His hand slid down her arm and laced with her fingers. “What floor are you on?” he asked walking her back to the elevators.
Chapter Eight
They entered the hotel room, chilled by the AC softly humming in the corner. Her nipples immediately hardened, and he seemed to notice. She could feel the heat in her cheeks as his eyes roamed over her body. She put her purse on the dresser, turning her back to him, allowing her body time away from his attention.
“This is a nice room,” he commented.
She rolled her eyes before turning back to him. “Have we reverted back to small talk again?” she asked stepping toward him. He held his ground watching her. “I don’t know why I was scared something could happen between us. I don’t know what I thought, but I’m sorry for treating you so poorly. I didn’t even realize I felt this way about you until you left.”
He closed the distance between them, snaking an arm around her. He pulled her into him. “Feeling…what?” he asked. She looked at his lips. “Tell me,” he said softly.
“I want to know what it’s like to be with you,” she said, closing her eyes. She heard his response, a low moan that vibrated against her. “Just don’t hurt me, Blake.”
“Hey, look at me.” She opened her eyes. She saw the concern for her in his eyes. “I would never hurt you, baby,” he said, capturing her chin with his fingers, he lifted her mouth to his.
She stopped the kiss, turning her face from his. “Emotionally, I can’t handle another verbal abuser or a cheater or a man who says he loves me and turns his back on me or…leaves me.” Shaking the thought away, she stepped back from him, sliding the thin straps of her dress down her arms. “If we do this Blake…we are going to do this right.”
* * * *
Donia stood in front of him in a strapless bra and panty combo. Her beautiful breasts almost spilled out of the cups. “Sweet baby Jesus,” he breathed, taking a step toward her. She put a finger to his lips, taking his hand and moving it to her right breast. His eyes darkened with desire. She moaned her pleasure as he took control and massaged at her hardened nipple through delicate material. She held onto his toned arms for dear life as his other hand captured her left breast. “Wrap your legs around my waist,” he crooned in her ear.
“What?” She sighed against his lips. His warm tongue moved over her lips until she opened up to him. She moaned and sighed against him. His hands moved over her butt, hoisting her up. “Put your legs around my waist,” he said again. This time she understood through the haze.
He backed her against a wall, and slipped his hand between their bodies, working at the front clasp of her bra. He raked a heated gaze over her freed breasts. “You are so beautiful.” She felt her cheeks warm at his compliment. All thoughts faded away when his agile fingers moved over her nipples. A gasp escaped her lips as his mouth moved over the hardened peaks. “You taste as delectable as I knew you would,” he said in a breath against her breasts.
Pinned against a wall, legs wrapped around his waist, she surrendered to the assault on her breasts. “Blake,” she moaned. “Please…”
His arms stiffened around her, his mouth slowed. “Are you okay?”
She chuckled. “You know how to make a girl breathless is all.”
He moved them toward the massive, king size bed with heavenly pillows and mattress. “These beds are so comfortable,” she informed him.
“Anything I share with you will be fine.” He lowered them to the soft bed.
“You said you wanted to talk while we were downstairs.” She closed her eyes enjoying the sensation of his heated words against her jaw.
“You want to talk right now , Donia?” he asked, rubbing his hand down the side of her body.
“Not particularly, but I feel…I owe you…since you…have been so… What are you doing?” His hand snagged the thin strap of her panties as he kissed the pulse at her neck causing it to quicken.
“Something I’ve wanted to do for far too long,” he whispered in her ear.
The feel of his warm breath in her ear caused her to shiver in his embrace. “You okay?” he asked, splaying his hand over the front of her body, capturing her breasts once more. He worked her nipples to a hardened pearl and lowered his head to feast on his newfound jewel. She rolled her eyes shut, enjoying the sensation of his warm mouth.
“Yes,” she sighed.
His wayward hand, trapped in her panties, found the way to the V between her thighs. “If you want me to stop you need to say so now. Once I start loving you, I don’t know if I will be able to stop.” He nuzzled at her breasts.
“Please, I don’t want you to stop,” she heard herself comply. Please? Am I begging this man to have sex with me? She had never done any such thing in her life. With Blake it felt different. She wanted him to explore her body. She needed to find out if they would fit. His fingers teased the trimmed curls between her legs. “Blake, don’t tease me,” she moaned.
She heard his low chuckle. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
His fingers found their mark, over her sensitive clit causing her to arch her back. His touch caused a rush of pleasure to take over her body. Evidence of her pending release dampened his hand as he worked two fingers into her waiting body. Her breath hitched in response. If his fingers felt this hot moving into her core, how would the erection he pressed against her thigh feel? She needed to know. Right now, in this moment, that is the only thing she wanted, the feel of him loving her. “Blake,” she moaned.
“Tell me baby…tell me what you want.”
She moved her hips against his fingers matching his thrusts. The blinding climax took her surprised her. She hadn’t expected to come this way, not like this. The sheer pleasure of it blinded her. After her release she opened her eyes.
He made sure she could see him before he inserted both digits, wet with her juices, into his mouth. The sight of him taking her essence into his mouth turned her on, again. She still needed to feel him. He leaned forward to kiss her. “Tell me, Donia. Until you do…” He moved down her body, trailing kisses in his wake. Her head fell back against the pillow.
Simply Amazing Page 2