Her Protector

by D. Camille

  “You’ve fucked up my mind and I can’t even start to try to figure out what the hell happened tonight,” he confessed.

  Lotus smiled. “So you liked it?”

  “Did you like it?”

  She removed the cooled cloth and handed it to him. “I don’t need this. It didn’t hurt at all, because I was made for you.”

  Kent tossed the cloth to the floor. “I loved every minute Lotus. I loved the taste of you and the feel of you. I loved that you took my breath away and set me on fire.”

  He laid her back across the bed. “I loved how you called my name. I loved how you tightened those beautiful chocolate legs around me.”

  Kent began to kiss her softly. “I loved how your pleasure sounds in your throat. I loved the feel of your hands on my body. I loved feeling your honey pot spill over and flood me with your warmth.”

  “Did that answer your question?” he asked holding her gaze.

  She nodded. “I liked it too.”

  “Oh, you liked it huh?” Kent lifted a brow at her. “That’s all you got to say?”

  “What do you want me to say?”

  Lowering his head, he kissed her slowly. “Oh my god Kent! You are amazing! No other dude can ever compare.”

  Lotus caressed his face. “I guess I should just remember those lines.”

  “They always apply,” he told her softly and she laughed.

  Kent moved over and reached for another packet and applied it quickly. He positioned himself over her body and studied her face.

  “Lotus, I love that you are who you are baby. I don’t want you to be like anybody else.” Lotus bit her lip, touched by his words. “You’re made special, just for me.”

  She enfolded him as he began their journey again. They both sighed at the pleasure that overtook them as she opened to accept him.

  In his ear, she whispered. “Oh my god Kent…You are amazing…No one could ever compare…”

  ******

  Near dawn, Kent saw his phone light up the nightstand. He was both an early riser and a light sleeper so any disturbance awakened him. Reaching across a sleeping Lotus, he checked the screen and saw Sean’s number.

  “Hey Sean, hold on a sec.” Kent muted the call and kissed Lotus on her forehead.

  “What time is it?” she asked groggily.

  “It’s still early baby, go back to sleep. I’ll wake you up in a little while.” He kissed her again as she settled back into slumber.

  Kent scooted out of the bed then grabbed some pajama pants from the dresser before heading out the bedroom, closing the door behind him. After he slipped into the bottoms, he directed his attention back to Sean.

  “Sorry about that. What’s up?”

  “Trent said that you’re usually up early so I wanted to touch base and update you,” Sean told him.

  “I’m good. What’s going on?” Kent walked to his kitchen.

  “Kyle didn’t have to make the call because Dennis’ body was found last night.” Sean informed him. “So there’ll probably be a lot of news around that today.”

  “I’ve made an appointment with Warren’s father to find out exactly what the Hardings want. I want you and Kyle to be there.”

  Kent nodded. “What time?”

  “Nine am.” Sean answered.

  “That’s cool. I need to drop Lotus off at work around eight,” Kent commented.

  “Didn’t her car check out fine?” Sean asked.

  Kent rubbed his chin. “Yeah.”

  “And you’re still driving her around?”

  “Yeah.”

  Sean sighed. “Okay, meet us at Warren Harding Sr.’s office fifteen minutes earlier. I’ll text you the information.”

  “I’m on it,” Kent confirmed.

  “We’ll meet up tonight after you get off work to debrief.” Sean told him. “After you take Lotus home, of course.”

  Kent smiled as he stared out of the window over the sink. “Yeah, I need to do that.”

  “Fine, I’ll see you later this morning.”

  “I’ll be there,” Kent affirmed. “I just need to make sure that she’s taken care of first.”

  Sean paused. “You should probably wake her up soon so that you can be on time.”

  Kent laughed softly. “I’ll do that.”

  “And double check when you’re muting a call…”

  He nodded. “I will definitely do that.”

  Kent ended the call with Sean and shook his head. “Real smooth Kent,” he said aloud then looked up as Jill Scott’s “The Way”, began to play in the speakers. He turned and a chocolate vision, dressed in one of his shirts stood in the door way.

  Kent sat the phone on the counter and beckoned her with one finger. Her dimples flashed as she walked over to him then found herself in his arms being moved slowly to the music around the immaculate kitchen.

  Lotus held on to his solid frame with her face against his neck. “This is one of my favorite songs,” she whispered.

  “Jill is that deal,” Kent agreed continuing the slow dance with her in his arms.

  “And Lotus is…” he whispered in her ear.

  When he didn’t finish, she looked up at him. “Is what?”

  Kent dipped her over his arm and stared down into her face. “Is about to get it in the kitchen.”

  “I hope ‘it’ is some food, because I’m hungry as hell.”

  He lifted her back into a standing position. “So you just gone kill the mood like that?”

  “A monster took all of my strength away and now I need to refuel,” she told him, touching his bearded face. “I’m empty inside.”

  Kent smiled. “Yeah, that monster is something else.”

  Lotus slid a hand down his chest then lower and squeezed. “Yes, I know.”

  “You keep doing that and you won’t be empty inside for much longer,” he told her.

  “Can I get some food please?” Lotus looked at him. “Or do you not have any?”

  He frowned. “I got food.” His frown then turned into a sly smile. “I went shopping yesterday.”

  “Thank the Universe for small favors.” Her stomach growled loudly and Kent looked at her in surprise.

  “Damn, you are hungry.”

  “I told you that.”

  He slipped an arm around her waist and moved closer. “Okay little Momma, let me feed you.” Kent lowered his head and began to inhale her neck.

  “Kent! Stop smelling me and give me some damn food!” Lotus protested.

  “You still smell good even after me licking on you all night.”

  Lotus frowned. “I’ll just order something.” She turned to walk away and he grabbed her quickly from behind.

  “What do you want for breakfast?” he asked, kissing her jaw.

  “Some food, boy…I don’t care.”

  “Good morning Lotus,” Kent whispered in her ear, holding her close.

  Lotus reached behind her and cradled his jaw. “Blissful risings, Kent.”

  He turned her in his arms and kissed her softly then winked at her before he headed to the sink to wash his hands. Lotus looked around the clean kitchen as he moved to the fridge.

  “Did someone come in and clean up from last night?” she asked.

  Kent had his head in the refrigerator when he answered. “I got up after you fell asleep and put everything away.”

  “I should have helped you,” Lotus told him. “I made you help me.”

  Straightening with items in his hands, he smiled at her. “I’ve got a dishwasher…and I use it.”

  Lotus smiled in returned. “I didn’t get my banana pudding.”

  “You can get it tonight.” He gave her a sexy look.

  “You’re not talking about banana pudding.”

  He nodded. “You can get that too.”

  Lotus walked over to the sink and quickly washed her hands before joining him at the counter where he’d laid out items for their breakfast. She looked them over and asked, “Omelets?

  He nodde
d. “Is that cool?”

  “Yes, let me help.”

  They began to chop items for their breakfast and Kent glanced over at her. His eyes darkened as he looked at her shapely bare legs that hung beneath his shirt.

  “That’s my favorite shirt,” he told her.

  Lotus turned to him. “It is not.”

  “It is now.”

  She laughed. “I don’t know why you haven’t driven me crazy yet.”

  Kent sat his knife down and looked at her. “Because I’m crazy about you.”

  Lotus went to chopping green peppers. “That’s interesting…because I’m crazy about you too.”

  “You still hungry?” he asked in a sexy voice.

  She turned to him. “Yes, just because you’re sounding all sexy, doesn’t magically diminish my hunger.”

  Kent laughed and went back to chopping some mushrooms. “Okay little Momma, I’ll leave you alone for now.”

  With the breakfast completed, the couple moved into the dining room that still held the floating lotus flowers. Sitting across from him, Lotus studied the handsome man eating his breakfast. He looked up and caught her perusal.

  “Oh, you ready?” he asked.

  “Do you think about sex all the time?” Lotus asked.

  Kent scrunched his brows as if in deep thought. “Hmmm…let me see. A beautiful, sexy woman is sitting across from me in nothing but my shirt. Am I thinking about sex right now?”

  “Hell yeah,” he finished. “Sex in all kinds of ways.”

  Lotus hid a smile as she went back to her food. “I think about it too.”

  “How interesting…tell me about it,” he said leaning forward as if she was about to share the secrets of the Universe.

  She glanced at him. “Lily says that I should make sure you give me enough to hold me over for a few weeks while I’m gone.”

  “Aww, hell yeah Lily. I always liked her.” Kent said earnestly.

  Lotus laughed and shook her head then stared at him. “Are you going to miss me while I’m in LA?”

  Kent sat back. “I can’t even think about that Lotus.”

  “Why not?”

  “’Cause I’ll just start tripping,” he told her.

  “And tearing up shit…” she finished.

  He nodded. “Exactly.”

  “Well that answers my question.” She looked over at him. “I’ll miss you.”

  “You won’t be there that long,” he vowed.

  “I know that you will do all that you can to make that happen.”

  Kent sobered. “How did you meet Warren Harding?” he asked.

  “It was a charity event for the hospital and Warren was representing his family’s business. He asked me out and seemed nice enough, so I accepted.”

  Lotus looked at her plate. “I asked him about his cousin Wayne, but I never knew that he’d hurt my sister. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have looked at him twice.”

  “He was just to pass the time anyway,” she finished.

  She reached across the table and took Kent’s hand. “I was waiting for my green-eyed, twin flame.”

  Kent kissed her hand. “You got dudes all over.”

  Lotus smirked. “Uh, I would not even venture into that territory.”

  “Whatever happened with that doctor who came to the table when we were all having dinner?” Kent asked.

  She frowned. “Dr. Banks? Well apparently he messed with the wrong woman and the story is that her man beat him into the ICU.”

  “He lost his license after it was confirmed that he was taking advantage of his patients,” she told him.

  Kent, of course, knew all of this, including the fact that it was Trent and Marc who beat Dr. Banks into the ICU.

  “Have you heard anything from him?” Kent asked.

  Lotus shook her head looking suspicious. “No, not at all.”

  Kent nodded then changed the subject. “Are you looking forward to seeing your mother and the kids?”

  She smiled. “I have to admit, although I didn’t want to go, I do miss them. The X-Men are getting so big and Lilac is my little mini-me. They all have the gift too.”

  Kent frowned. “That’s scary.”

  “Don’t start that.”

  He smiled. “What? You got me scared to walk through doors and shit. People looking at me like I’m crazy.”

  Lotus blinked and squeezed his hand. “Please don’t forget Kent. It’s real…I feel it.”

  “I believe you, that’s why people are looking at me like I’m crazy, creeping up to doors.”

  “Please be careful,” she whispered. “I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you. Losing my Daddy was hard enough.”

  Kent led her around the table to sit gently on his lap. “He was murdered, right.”

  She nodded. “He was killed at the Art Museum, where he was in charge of security.”

  “You were young,” Kent commented.

  “A teenager,” she answered as he gathered her closer.

  Lotus looped her arms around his neck as he kissed her softly. “I’m sorry baby.”

  “What do the Diamonds really do Kent?” Lotus asked catching him off guard.

  “What did Lily tell you?” Kent questioned.

  “She’s never told me anything,” Lotus told him. “She and Momma are keeping a lot of secrets.”

  Lotus watched him. “And Kyle only told me that the Diamonds help people, but I can see it’s more than that. Agents…private cars…guns…”

  “Kyle was right; we do help people.”

  Lotus gave him a look at his hedging. “Okay, if you can’t tell me now, will you tell me one day?”

  “Yes I will,” he promised and knew this was one he would keep. “Just know that the Diamonds will do anything for you.”

  Lotus stood and smiled at him. “There’s one Diamond that can do something for me.”

  Kent lifted a brow. “Which one?”

  “A really handsome one…” she began. “His name starts with a K.”

  Kent stood with a deep frown and she backed up with a smile.

  “He’s smart and I know his favorite dish…” Lotus teased as she kept walking backwards. “His picture is in my apartment.”

  She turned and ran screaming as Kent chased her to the bedroom. He caught her as she dived onto the bed and pinned her arms above her head from behind.

  In her ear, he whispered, “Say his name…”

  Lotus said breathlessly over her shoulder, “Make me…”

  “Yeah, I was hoping you would say that.”

  Chapter 13

  Kent took Lotus home to get dressed for work and then dropped her off at the hospital, promising to pick her up later.

  On his way to meet with Warren Harding Sr. along with Sean and Kyle, he finally reflected on last night. Had he expected to make love to Lotus? Hell yeah, he’d tried to get with her years ago. Had he expected to make love to Lotus and have his world shaken? Hell nah, where did that happen?

  Where did a woman make you lose your breath and set your entire body on fire? Where did you feel as if you were going to die and not even give a damn? Where. Does. That. Shit. Happen?

  She was magic in a sexy ass chocolate package. A sweet, hot, delicious treat that he could feast on and never get enough. Lotus Masters flipped his heart and fucked with his mind…a dangerous combination.

  Kent was the master of putting it down then picking it back up and walking away without a backwards glance, yet here he was feining for another hit of Lotus. Little Momma had put it on him in a way nobody had before and in a way he’d never thought possible.

  “Damn Lotus…” Kent said inside his car. His phone buzzed with a voice message that had arrived while he’d been absorbed in his thoughts. He pressed the button to listen.

  “I feel you thinking about me and I’m thinking about you too.” Lotus’ voice spoke inside the vehicle.

  He smiled as he listened to the rest. “Last night was more incredible than I’ve ever envisio
ned because you’re more incredible than I ever thought. Have a wonderful day and please be safe because I more than like you too.”

  Kent groaned. “See, that shit right there. That’s what she does.”

  He turned a corner. “Making me feel all giddy and happy because she was thinking about me. Women think about me all damn day, but my heart’s jumping because Lotus ‘more than likes me’.”

  “I sound like I’m twelve,” he complained to himself.

  “Nah, I’m not going out like that. Shit, Kent Baker is a monster.”

  He arrived at his destination earlier than planned and pulled out his phone. He’d leave her ass a message too and let her know that he was that dude in this relationship. She was supposed to be the one on the swivel, not him and she needed to get with the program. Kent dialed her number and waited for her voicemail.

  “Hey pretty eyes,” she answered.

  He frowned. “Aren’t you working?”

  “No, my patient was delayed. Did you get my message?”

  “Yeah, I got it.”

  “I figured you were busy when I got your machine,” she explained.

  “Nah, not yet. I’m actually at my appointment a little early.”

  Lotus waited a few moments then asked. “Is something wrong baby?”

  Kent sighed and looked out the window at the passersby. “You said last night was incredible?”

  “For me it was,” she answered softly and did that thing to his heart.

  He touched his chest. “It was for me too.”

  “This morning was too,” Lotus added.

  He smiled. “Yeah, this morning too.”

  “But?” she whispered.

  Kent shook his head. “But what?”

  “I definitely hear a ‘but’ in your voice.” Lotus said quietly. “Just tell me what’s on your mind Kent. I’m a big girl and my life will go on.”

  He paused before answering, thinking about her life going on with Kyle, Dr. Banks, Warren or whatever other dude out there checking for Lotus; and he was sure there were more because she was a sweet, beautiful, and accomplished doctor.

  He also thought about how it felt to be in her arms and deep inside of her body. He remembered how she kissed and touched him, making him burn. Something that no one else had ever been able to do.