Then he stood and went around to stand behind her back. Bending low, he whispered in her hair.
“Will you accept my gift as a sign of what tonight means to me?”
Smiling, she corked her head so she could stare at him. “What does tonight mean to you?”
“I want to move forward with you.”
She shrugged. “Okay. I accept. Thank you.”
He clasped the precious jewellery around her neck and kissed the back of her earlobe. His body tensed.
Giggling, his dinner date stood and hugged him.
To be honest, he felt butterflies flop inside his stomach, so he pulled her a lot closer and it felt good.
Shortly after, the waiter served their dessert.
A thought intruded his mind. So, he got up again, moved his chair around the table and sat next to her.
Staring wide-eyed, Lola shifted her neck to glance around the room.
“No one is staring,” he assured her with a wink. “It’s just you and me.”
“OK.”
“Don’t worry. I chose this spot for privacy.”
“What are you doing now?” she whispered, smiling.
“Open your mouth. I’m going to feed you dessert.”
Laughing, she covered her mouth with one hand. “No. I can feed myself.”
“I know that. But I want to do it for you.”
She shook her head. “You’re crazy!”
He scooped a spoonful of vanilla ice cream paired with gooey brownie and held it in front of her mouth.
“Open up, Lola. It’s an order.”
Giggling, she shut her eyes and opened her mouth. He placed the dessert inside and she closed her lips over the spoon. Then she clasped her fingers on top of his as she opened her eyes.
Chuckling, he squeezed her hand. “You excite me.”
She touched one palm to his shaven jaw.
Thunder sounds exploded along his jawline. He ground his lips together and shut his eyes to hold back the steam flooding his chest. As if she knew he was caught under her spell, she caressed his chin and cheek, tracing her fingers to the top of his nose and down to his lips. He opened his eyes and she slipped her forefinger inside his mouth. Tasting her finger with his tongue, he sucked on it. Flames erupted in his groin and he jerked on his seat. Damn! Though caught up in his arousal, he heard her moan softly.
Raw awareness flowed between their skin. Her eyes scurried to his own and they whispered sweet nothings for a moment before she removed the spoon from her mouth. He slid his tongue along her finger just before she pulled out her hand.
Groaning, he crooned. “What just happened? What are you doing to me, Lola?”
“I don’t even recognize the woman you’ve turned me into, Maxwell. One date and I’m acting different.”
They both smiled as they exchanged hot glances.
“Maybe this is who we really are,” he murmured, kissing the back of her hand.
“Maybe,” she agreed fluttering her lashes.
Her words tasted like honey in his gut.
After that, he fed her more ice cream along with the brownie and she did the same to him. When they were done, he instructed the waiter to put the bill on his suite number. But he handed a few dollar bills to the young guy.
Later on, Maxwell held out his hand to his date and led her out of the restaurant. Once inside their suite, he stood in front of her bedroom door. But Lola turned her back on him. Naturally, his eyes dropped and he checked out her curvy butt wrapped in the clingy dress. Moulding her butt cheeks with his hands crossed his mind. But he would probably get in trouble with the woman who had rules he respected.
“I’m not inviting you inside my room,” she purred, glancing over one shoulder.
Her words said one thing, her body said another.
Pushing his hands into his pants pockets, he whispered back. “I won’t come in even if you did. I’ll see you in an hour downstairs.”
She spun around.
But he strode away and ducked inside his room.
Just like Lola, his mouth and body gave out different signals.
Without doubt, Lola Lawson was a very attractive and sexy woman. In the past, he had made out with women he had no emotional connection with but this woman had an admirable personality and values that aligned with his own. Throughout dinner he had a hard-on that distracted his mind and body. He was not ashamed to admit it. Even though they had great sexual chemistry, he would not snatch what she had not offered.
Feeling frustrated at the moment however, Maxwell stroked his throbbing erection.
“Double damn! The woman was hot!”
But she also came with a long string.
So, he asked himself a tough question.
“Can I handle her total baggage?”
Chapter 8 – Thongs or Panties
Maxwell
An hour, or more later, Maxwell circulated among the guests in the insta-party, Joe organized on his behalf. Everyone hid their faces behind assorted masks. Flashing dim coloured lights added a bit of quirky mystery. Music bashed out from multiple speakers while laughter rang out from every corner.
After chatting with several male and female guests, Maxwell discreetly searched the masked female faces. There was one woman he wanted by his side. One person he needed. Every now and then, he got pulled over by a female guest to chat.
“Hello, I hear you’re the host,” one dark-skinned woman–with extra wide lips plastered with purple lipstick–purred, sidling to his body. “I want a photo and a kiss,” she gushed.
“The photo is fine, but the kiss is not on.” He posed with her while she clicked her phone and took a selfie.
“Why? Do you have a girlfriend?”
“Have a good time, excuse me.” He literarily pulled himself out of her clingy hold.
It was not the first time one of the ladies had tried to get overly flirty tonight.
Joe came up behind him. “Come over, bro, I want you to meet someone special.”
“Tell me it’s not one of these ladies,” he grumbled.
Before he arrived in Nigeria, Maxwell had an understanding with Joe that they were going to have a good time with the ladies. But his plans had since changed.
His friend chuckled. “Are you bored already? The party is just getting started. I see the ladies throwing themselves at you. Enjoy yourself. Play the field.”
“I’m spoilt for choice, yes, but I’m not interested.”
“This is my country, bro. Let me show you the good life.” Joe thumped his shoulder.
Maxwell clamped one hand over his friend’s shoulder in turn. “I’m serious. I met someone already. She’s a real lady.”
Joe’s steps ground to a halt while people chatted and laughed, drank and danced around them.
“Whoa!” his friend yelled. “You’ve been here a little more than a week and you already hooked up with a woman?”
“Not hook up. I said I met someone,” Maxwell clarified, holding his ground.
“Why do you sound so serious as if you’re getting married? Look, meet this girl and tell me if she isn’t the one.” Joe continued weaving between the crowd.
Following behind, Maxwell remained quiet. There was no point arguing.
Moments later, Joe turned around, a big smile on his dark, bearded face. He gestured at a light-skinned petite woman in a black fitted dress with a thigh-high slit and a pair of heels. Her dark eyes peeped out of a black mask. Red painted lips grinned at him.
“Hello Maxwell. My name’s Camilla Diya. Joe has told me nice things about you.”
“I’ll leave you two to talk.” Joe waved as he slipped back into the crowd.
“Hey Camilla. I hope Joe hasn’t over sold my qualities? I’m actually here with someone.”
The smile on her face did not fade, as she said. “May the best woman win.”
He grinned. “It’s not a fair competition.”
“Why not?” She drew closer, sliding one finger along the stem of
her wineglass.
“Because I chose her already.”
“You’re a hard sell. With me, you don’t have to worry about getting scammed in Nigeria. I work in Zenith Bank. I’m from a wealthy family.”
Some women had no understanding of the phrase, I don’t want you. “You’re a beautiful woman, no doubt and I’m sure another guy will find you fascinating. Have fun and have a drink on me.”
Before another word came out of her mouth, he made a quick U-turn and headed in the opposite direction.
Where the hell was his date for the night? What if Lola had changed her mind and decided to stay in her room?
His stomach bottomed out at the thought. She would not do that to him. Dinner had been fun. It exceeded his expectation. He decided to find a spot to stand and observe to make it easier to spot Lola.
As he moved past the makeshift stage where a few women provided lap dances for fun-thirsty guys, one of the ladies clasped his hand with her fingers and ground her bottom against his crotch. He backed away, trying to find another exit route.
Just then someone tapped his upper back from behind. He glanced over his shoulder and his heart instantly launched out of his chest. It was her intoxicating perfume that reminded him of gardenia, or lilies and her delicately scented long, glossy flowing hair that gave her away.
Maxwell turned around in a rush.
Robed in a gorgeous red gown with tiny sleeves that fastened around her curves, the woman who stood in front of him gave him a hard stare through her flirty gold mask. In the shaded light, he saw the fiery glow in her sandy-brown eyes. Alluring but feisty!
“About time,” he grunted, pulling her into his arms and lodging his head in her spread-out dark hair with gold streaks. There were no streaks at dinner. He would have noticed. But under the lights now, her hair attracted his eyes.
She braced her palms along his waist, but she did not hug him back.
“Gosh! Where have you been?” He groaned, pressing her soft body against his own.
“Trying to find you. Wearing a mask doesn’t exactly make it easy to find anyone.” Her tone held a gentle rebuke he did not miss. “Besides, you forgot to mention you invited half of Lagos.”
“Are you mad at me?”
Leaning her head back, she opposed. “Should I be?”
He drew back, but cupped her shoulders as he stared at her. “I didn’t invite that woman to grind on me. I was searching for you.”
“Did I accuse you of anything? I hate parties for this reason. People think you’re easy once you show up.”
“The reason I wanted this party was to numb my pain, to make it disappear. I’d originally intended to have ladies dance on my laps.”
“Don’t let me stop you, Maxwell. I’m not in the mood for this rubbish.”
Lola turned away sharply, dashing between guests as she fled from him. The hem of her elegant dress swept the floor as she escaped.
His heart pounded with fear. Heat suffused his face as dread constricted his chest. No! This was not happening. He could not let her run from him.
Intent on following Lola to the ends of the earth, he dodged several women along his path. When he almost got distracted by Joe, he pushed head on, until he caught up with her by the exit door. Clamping her upper arm with bold fingers, he swung her around and cushioned her lower back with one firm hand.
“The idea of lap dancing fled from my mind after spending the whole day with you, Lola.”
She slid one hand up to his chest. “If you want, I can go back to the hotel. Call me when the party is over, that way you spare me watching women grind their bottom across your thigh. I don’t want you to think I’m being territorial. You’re not my boyfriend.”
He stretched his right hand along hers and danced with her on the spot. “I want you to be territorial.”
Her dark brows arched above the mask.
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing? I can be over-the-top jealous, Maxwell. Don’t mess with me.”
“It means you care. I like that. I’m sorry you had to see her do that to me.”
“It was upsetting.”
“Forgive me?”
At first, she pursed her lips, then she smiled. “OK.”
Relief flushed out the tightness in his chest.
“So, did any guy ask you for a kiss while you were searching for me?”
“Some guy almost groped my backside. Being in a room with complete strangers is bad enough for me. But everyone wearing a mask, that’s scary.”
He caressed her back. “I should’ve just walked hand-in-hand with you into this place. My decision for us to come in separately wasn’t a good idea.”
“Clearly. When I saw that lady grinding into you, I wanted to hit her over the head.”
He laughed. “You should have.”
She giggled. “What would you have done?”
“Apologized on your behalf and sent her home.”
They threw their heads back as they laughed. Moving her around slowly, they danced very close, their bodies sticking together as if glued.
“Do you want a drink?” he asked when passion piled up in his chest.
“Yes, please.”
“Okay. Follow me to the bar. I’ll hold your hand. Don’t let go.”
“I can do that,” she said, smiling.
One step at a time, he led his date to the bar. He sat her on a bar stool while the drinks were served. Afterward, he clinked his glass with hers, took her hand again and led her to a quieter part of the room, half-panelled with glass.
“We can chat here without interruption, Lola.”
He helped her move around the low table and guided her to sit on the sofa resting against the wall.
She curved in the seat to stare at him.
“What pain are you masking, Maxwell?”
Her question came before he even sat on the sofa.
“Why don’t we talk about something else?”
“Like what?” she queried, leaning back.
“What kind of toys do your kids love?”
Her face spread into a big smile.
“You saw them play Whot cards. They also play Ludo and Ayo. Playing outdoors is what they love.”
“Ludo? Ayo? Never heard of that.”
“They are our local indoor games. Grandy taught them how to play, now they win more than they lose.”
Chuckling, he nodded. “I saw them mock her. Do you think they’ll show me how to play some time?”
She leaned toward him, grabbed his thigh and squeezed. “If you want them to, I guess.”
“I want your kids to like me.”
The thought of her twins disapproving of their relationship was a possibility. That bothered him.
Lola laughed. “I’ve never introduced any man I’ve dated to them in eight years. I was surprised, Amaka teased you so much after she attacked you. I know my daughter likes you already.”
Grinning, he played with her hair and brushed the ends across her shoulder and arm.
“Amaka was a breath of fresh air. I think Nonso’s more reserved. Do you think he’ll give me a chance?”
“Yeah. He’s never had a male figure in his life. I’ve been careful not to introduce someone I wasn’t sure was willing to be part of our lives.”
“Of course. Why did you allow me meet them?”
Her eyes widened. “I didn’t. It just happened. I wasn’t supposed to be working for you today. You made it happen.”
Winking, he caressed her arm. “It’s my fault then?”
“Hundred percent.”
They both chuckled.
He leaned across and pressed his lips to her upper arm. “I want you to be my girlfriend.”
“Let’s take it one date at a time, Maxwell.”
Nervous already, he caressed her wrist. “You’re not turning me down, right?”
Giggling, she caught his arm with hers. “No ooo! I’m excited. I’m just being cautious and letting you off the hook in case you change
your mind.”
“I’m not going to change my mind. I’ve seen your world and I want to be a part of it because you make me feel virile and giddy.”
“We’ll see.”
He decided not to push it for now. “What’s your favourite language in the world?”
Placing her chin on his shoulder, she peered up at him. “French for sure. What’s yours?”
“Probably Japanese.”
She burst out laughing. “Now that’s extreme.”
Chuckling, he stroked her cheeks. “Are you saying I can’t learn it?”
Lola waved her hands in the air.
“Oh no! But I think that’s super ambitious. The language sounds–”
“Impossible is probably the best way to describe it.”
His date smacked his arm lightly. “Yes! That’s it.”
He clutched his arm as if in pain.
Snickering, she stroked his arm to soothe his pain. “Black women love to hit out when we’re excited. I’m sorry.”
“You know it didn’t hurt, right?” He pulled her closer hoping their hips would make contact.
“I know that. I want to touch you.”
That was all the invitation he needed. He shifted along the sofa, placed one hand behind her head and brushed his lips along hers.
Sighing, she parted her lips.
Hot rod slammed his chest, urging him not to stop. He pressed his mouth over hers and traced his tongue inside her lips. She tasted like exotic honey mixed with pure vanilla. Breathing in her scent, he felt her fingers graze his chest.
Multiple shudders ran through his spine.
“Are you wearing thongs, or panties?” he breathed near her ear, lifting her hair with his nose.
He heard her breathing grow noisier.
“What?” she sounded disoriented.
“Thongs, or panties?”
“Unwrap me if you can and at your own risk!”
A blast of heat blew up between his thigh. He groaned, sliding his hand down from neck to her side breast. “Is that a dare?”
“Briefs, or boxers? She countered with a sexy smile, chewing on his bottom lip.
His erection blazed with need. “Seamless boxers,”
She slid one leg between his as she leaned back, bracing herself with her hands.
“Melons, or apple boobs?” She caught her bottom lip between her teeth.
Irresistible Driver ~ A BWWM Sexy Romance Page 9