Her Protector

by D. Camille

  “If you keep doing that, I’m going to do more than touch your ass on this floor,” he warned her.

  Lotus smiled. “I’m thirsty. Can we get something to drink?”

  “Yeah, I think that’s a good idea.”

  Kent led her to an empty booth in a secluded section and slid in beside her. A waitress appeared shortly and they ordered their drinks. Turning to Lotus after the waitress left, Kent lifted her legs across his lap causing her to wrap her arms around him and hold on.

  “I see you like PDA,” she told him.

  He shook his head. “I like PDA with you,” he said then kissed her softly.

  “You know we’re not here alone,” she whispered against his lips.

  “I told you I wanted to take you home.”

  Lotus looked at him. “We can’t just leave.”

  Kyle and Simone joined them at the booth with drinks in their hand then Lotus removed her legs and sat up despite Kent’s look.

  Lotus then smiled at Simone. “How long are you in town?”

  “A few weeks,”

  “We should have lunch or something?” Lotus offered and Simone happily agreed.

  Kyle saw the sour look on Kent’s face and smiled. “We should all do this again soon.”

  Kent turned to him with hard green eyes. “I’m straight.”

  “Yeah, we should.” Lotus gave Kent a look.

  Simone laughed. “You all are something else. I never would have put you two together.”

  “I don’t think anyone would,” Kyle agreed sipping his drink.

  Lotus knew Kent’s mouth and she didn’t want anything to jump off between these two, so she grabbed Kent’s hand and looked into his angry eyes. “Kent is an amazing man. He surprises me more every day.”

  He brought her hand to his lips. “And I’m going to keep surprising you.”

  ******

  Kent and Lotus returned to the parking lot to retrieve their cars. He followed her home then walked her inside. When the door closed, she was in his arms with his mouth on hers.

  “This seems familiar…” she whispered.

  He kissed her again. “I knew I was hitting it that night.”

  “I know.”

  Kent wrapped her in his arms. “You led me on.”

  Lotus’ eyes widened. “I did not.”

  “Yeah, you was talking all that sexy shit after the party, then we got upstairs and you froze up on me,” he told her.

  “You scared me, because I almost didn’t stop you,” she confessed rubbing the back of his head.

  He pressed closer. “Don’t tell me that.”

  “I’m glad I did though because I didn’t know you’d become a savage in Atlanta.” She pulled away and walked to her sofa, kicking off her shoes. When she sat down, he was there beside her.

  “That bothers you?” he asked.

  Lotus pulled her knees up to her chin. “I don’t know, would it bother you watching the woman who was supposed to be meant for you running through all the men in Atlanta, while she doesn’t even give you a second glance?”

  Kent stood and removed his jacket before sitting back on the sofa and stretching her legs across him. Slowly he began to stroke them while he was clearly gathering his next words.

  “I was scared of you Lotus,” he answered honestly.

  She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, you told me.”

  He shook his head. “Nah, you don’t understand.”

  “I’ve always felt something with you. The night that we chilled at the hotel, it was different from anything I’ve ever experienced. It was like being with a really cool friend that I wanted to smash the hell out of.”

  Lotus smiled. “You and those words.”

  “I’ve never felt like that with anybody else,” he admitted.

  Kent began to distractedly massage her smooth legs and Lotus waited. Without looking at her, he said, “It was like…I was connected to you.”

  “But then that was crazy, because I thought you were crazy.”

  Lotus looked at the ceiling.

  “Then I thought I was crazy because I started feeling that connection all over again after seeing you at the club….”

  “Kent.”

  He frowned looking straight ahead. “Then this whole damn thing got crazier cause you told me I was the one and you’ve been waiting for me for five years…”

  “Kent.”

  “And now I want to beat the shit out of Kyle, ‘cause you made him some damn spaghetti…”

  Lotus grabbed his sleeve. “Hey!”

  He turned to her. “What?”

  “Just shut up and kiss me before I put you out.” Lotus opened her arms and he willingly came, then began engaging her mouth. Kent climbed over her on the sofa and teased her lips and tongue. “I told you before that you don’t put me out.”

  “Oh, you will be leaving in the near future,” she told him.

  Green eyes glittered down at her. “I can’t stay the night?”

  “Sure, you can sleep right out here like Kyle does.”

  Kent was off of her in a flash and staring down at her. “Kyle has stayed here?”

  Lotus pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. “Kyle doesn’t live here Kent. I wouldn’t make him stay in a hotel when he’d come to visit me,” she explained clearly, now looking up at him. “And Kyle isn’t the only friend who’s stayed at my place.”

  He stared at her. “So, he’s seen you in your pajamas?”

  “I don’t wear pajamas,” she told him.

  “Did you let Kyle smash?” Kent questioned frowning.

  Lotus got to her feet. “And… it’s time for you to take your ass home.”

  “Answer the question Lotus.”

  She walked to the door. “You know the answer. Goodnight Kent.”

  He stood in place. “I mean what Lotus? You got pictures of him and shit! He sleeps over at your place.”

  “I told you, Kyle’s a good friend and will remain one.” She folded her arms.

  His eyes were lasers when he turned to her. “So if you came to my place and I had a picture up of a woman who crashed at my place, that would be cool with you? You wouldn’t have any feelings about that?”

  “I wouldn’t know Kent. You haven’t invited me to your place.” Lotus told him. “And I’ve had five years of women crashing at your place but I’m not tripping.”

  Kent took a seat and contemplated for a moment before saying, “Come over here Lotus.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I asked you to,”

  Taking a deep breath, Lotus walked over to where he sat and stood in front of him. “So, let’s agree not to talk about Kyle,” he suggested. “Because clearly I don’t like that subject.”

  She looked down at him. “I have no problem with that.”

  “Even if you had been with him, it’s none of my business because we weren’t together then,” he said quietly.

  “Are we together now?” Lotus asked lifting a brow.

  “You don’t know?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t take things for granted with you Kent. You could change your mind tomorrow and I’d never hear from you again.”

  Placing his hands on her waist, he pulled her closer. “Don’t do that.”

  “It’s true.”

  “I was seventeen and nowhere near ready to be with you. You would’ve been a onesie for sure, like everyone after you,” he told her.

  Lotus bit her lip. “And now?”

  Kent ran a hand down her hip and thigh then slipped up underneath her dress. “Now, my heart is getting involved.”

  “I realize that you’re not strange, you’re very special.” His hand touched her bare thigh and she caught her breath. “I could never have you one time, baby.”

  Kent pulled her onto his lap to straddle him as their passion ignited. Lotus touched his face as their mouths devoured one another. She pressed into his body as he cradled her ass. Time faded away for them in each other’s arms.

&
nbsp; Kent stood and she wrapped her legs around him as he carried her to her bedroom. Gently, he laid her on the bed and covered her with his weight. After a few minutes, he lifted his head into the dimly lit room.

  “No tapping?” he asked.

  With darkened eyes, she shook her head. “No, not yet.”

  “Can I take your dress off?” he whispered.

  Lotus nodded and helped him to remove the garment which left her in a strapless bra and panties. His green eyes glowed as he looked over her curves and valleys.

  “Damn,” was all he could breathe out.

  “Is that a good thing?” Lotus asked.

  His hand went to her pierced navel and fondled it gently. “Uh, yeah.” As his hands traveled over her bare skin, he now felt the beginnings of her tapping.

  “It’s okay. I just want to feel you.”

  “I’m not used to being touched this way,” she whispered.

  Kent smiled. “I know.” He kissed her some more until she was holding on to him.

  “Say your poem to me again…” he requested while stroking the top of her breast.

  She recited it to him in the quiet room.

  “It’s talking about me?” he asked.

  She nodded. “I wrote it a long time ago.”

  “You were calling me.”

  Lotus smiled. “You heard me.”

  Kent touched her dimple. “Yeah baby, I heard you and I’m here.”

  “You won’t disappear?”

  “There’s nowhere else to go to find this.” He smiled. “Trust, I know.”

  Looking up at him, Lotus said, “I don’t want there to be trouble between you and Kyle. You’re on the team together.”

  Kent sighed. “I’m straight with Kyle. We have work to do.”

  “I think everybody would’ve put you two together. Y’all talk about drugs and shit together,” he commented.

  Lotus laughed. “But you talk about stirring my honey pot, so there’s no competition.”

  His hand moved to said honey pot. “See, I know what’s important.”

  Lotus arched into his caress. “Yeah, you do.”

  Kent heard his phone in the other room and groaned. “I’m sorry. I need to answer that.”

  “It’s okay,” Lotus agreed.

  “I’ll be right back. Don’t start without me,” he said climbing from the bed.

  Lotus looked confused. “What?”

  “I’ll explain that later. Just don’t move.”

  Kent found his phone in his pocket and answered quickly. He’d been expecting this call.

  “This is Kent Baker.”

  “Hey Kent, it’s Dennis.”

  “What’s up Dennis?”

  “So, yeah, I wanna get that meeting rescheduled.”

  Kent smiled. “Yeah, sorry about that, but you know I do have a job.”

  “Yeah, things didn’t work out the way I’d planned either.”

  Kent nodded. “Cool. Hey, I got a place we can meet. It’s very secluded so we can talk in private.”

  Dennis agreed. “Great, I was going to suggest another location anyway.”

  Kent smiled…yeah I know.

  “I’ll text you the location and we can meet tomorrow night around eight?” Kent suggested.

  “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

  “Yeah, I will too.”

  Kent ended the call and headed back to the bedroom. Lotus was still lying on the bed in her black underwear now minus her shoes. Her hair was a curly halo around her head and her dimples were calling him.

  “Everything okay?” she asked.

  He nodded as he loosened his tie and pulled it slowly around his neck before tossing it aside. Lotus watched as he unbuttoned his shirt, sliding it from his slacks. He left it on but hanging open showing a golden, muscled chest.

  “Some late business,” he told her, kicking off his shoes.

  “Do you have to go soon?”

  Those eyes snagged hers as he climbed onto the bed. “I plan to see you when you wake up.” He kissed her hotly. “You got a problem with that?”

  “What are you planning to do here all night long?” she asked before his lips touched hers again.

  “I’ll be making a honey pot buzz…” he breathed against her mouth.

  Chapter 8

  “Kent! No!” Lotus screamed.

  Kent looked down at her in confusion. “Lotus!”

  “Don’t do it!” she yelled. “No!”

  “Lotus!” Kent shouted and shook her awake.

  When Lotus came out of her dream, she sat up quickly and focused on his face. “They’ll hurt you,” she whispered breathlessly, putting a shaky hand to her face.

  Kent gently stroked her arm to calm her. “Who?”

  “I don’t know, but don’t open the door.” She told him afraid.

  “Baby what door?” he asked confused.

  Lotus shook her head. “I don’t know but I saw it.”

  Kent took her into his arms. “You’re scaring the hell out of me right now,” he told her.

  “Please don’t forget,” Lotus held him close. “Just don’t open the door.”

  “Lotus, I can’t go around all day not opening any doors,” he said pulling back and studying her.

  Her dark eyes met his. “I’m not crazy, Kent.”

  He watched her for a few moments then kissed her softly on her lips. “I know.”

  Lotus relaxed and glanced at the window where the sun was rising. “You’re dressed. Were you leaving?” she asked looking him over.

  “Nah, I just wake up real early. I was going to run out and get you some breakfast, then I heard you calling me in your sleep,” he explained.

  “I told you I have food in my house,” she reminded him.

  Kent frowned. “I don’t cook.”

  Lotus looked at him. “You eat out every day?”

  “Nah, I eat at my Momma’s.”

  She shook her head. “How the hell are you a player and a Momma’s boy?”

  He smiled. “I just got it like that.”

  Lotus looked at the clock on her dresser, then back at him. “Well, I have time to make you something today,” she told him. “I’m not your Momma though, so don’t get used to it.”

  Kent kept smiling as he began to kiss her neck. “You don’t want to be my little Momma?”

  “Hell nah,” Lotus answered as he laid her back on the bed and climbed over her.

  “Mmm…I think I like having a sexy, chocolate little Momma.”

  Lotus wrapped her arms around him. “If you call me your little Momma, I’m going to kick your ass.”

  He laughed softly against her skin as his mouth moved up to her ear.

  “When I stir that honey pot, you’ll let me call you whatever I want,” he whispered sexily and said honey pot began buzzing.

  “You know what I think?” Lotus whispered and wiggled underneath him still clothed in her underwear from last night.

  She moved her mouth to his ear. “I think you’re the one whose mind is going to be all messed up when you get this honey pot.”

  Kent lifted to look at her. “Was this in a vision too?” he asked. “’Cause that sounds crazy as hell.”

  Lotus smiled and shook her head. “I don’t need a vision to know that.”

  He lifted a brow. “So, you think you’re going to whip ME?”

  She wrapped her legs around him. “Nah, the honey pot will.”

  Kent felt the heat of her womanhood against him and smiled wickedly. “You won’t even know your name girl.”

  “You’ll know it,” Lotus boasted.

  He looked surprised at her braggadocios tone then gave her a sexy look as his hand slid down her body to the hot spot he sought.

  “I know it now.” His mouth found hers and his fingers dipped inside her panties.

  “Good morning...my beautiful Lotus.”

  ******

  Lotus finished showering and getting dressed just as Kent returned with their breakfast. He’d kep
t her in bed doing all kinds of things to her until it was too late for her to make food for them and get to work on time.

  She opened the door for him and he gave her a smile before coming inside and placing the bags on the table. Checking his watch, he looked at her in her uniform.

  “You should eat before you’re late,”

  Lotus followed him to the table and he held out the chair for her then went around and sat himself while she unpacked the bag.

  “Thank you for breakfast, Kent.”

  He winked at her. “You still owe me one.”

  She shook her head. “Whatever, boy.”

  When all the food was on the table, they began to eat. Kent studied Lotus as she sampled some of the hash browns he’d brought.

  “Tell me why you were screaming my name this morning,” he prodded.

  Lotus paused remembering her vision. “Kent, please don’t dismiss what I said.”

  “I don’t understand it Lotus.”

  She sat her utensil aside. “I really can’t explain it.”

  Kent took her hand. “Just tell me what you saw.”

  “You were at a closed door, and on the other side was… death.”

  “Damn,”

  She looked at him. “Kent.”

  He shrugged. “I’m just trying to figure this out baby.”

  “That’s all I can tell you,” she said quietly.

  “Are these visions usually correct?” he asked.

  She nodded. “Mine are clearer than my Momma’s.”

  He smiled. “I’ve heard about your Momma.”

  Lotus frowned. “Don’t make fun of my Momma.”

  “I’m not.” He held her hand tighter. “The Black Diamonds said your mother predicted a lot of stuff.”

  She relaxed.

  “It wasn’t accurate, but she predicted it,” he finished.

  Lotus stiffened and pulled her hand away as he smiled at her. “I’m messing with you baby,” he soothed.

  “Don’t do that,” she told him seriously. “All my life, people have made fun of me and my mother.” She picked up her fork and went back to her food.

  Kent was out of his chair and at her side in a moment. He dropped to one knee next to her seat.

  “Lotus,” He waited until she reluctantly turned to him with sadness in her eyes.

  Kent felt his heart drop at the look on her face. Standing, he helped her to her feet and pulled her into his arms.