“Does that scare you?”
She shrugged and gave him a wink. “It’ll take a lot more than harsh words to scare me off. I found it very annoying at the start. Now I guess I’m stuck.”
“Phew! That’s a relief.”
For a brief moment, he wondered if she wanted to dump him. His driver chuckled, making a deft manoeuvre past two cars.
“Why are you relieved?”
“I don’t want to do anything to scare my cupcake.”
Lola giggled. “How did we go from enemies to boyfriend, girlfriend? I didn’t see that coming at all.”
“Neither did I. Are you happy being with me?”
“Of course. Do I know what tomorrow holds? No. That terrifies me. You jumped into my heart and my life when I wasn’t expecting it. A part of me worries about what’ll happen if you suddenly decide it’s over and you want to return to the states.”
“Let’s take it a day at a time, my cupcake.”
For sure tomorrow was unclear but today he knew what he desired. Again, that delectable smile rocked her face. He reached across and squeezed her arm.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” She exhaled, giving him a pleading glance.
“Turn right and then go straight for about a mile.”
“OK. I hope the suspense is worth it, Maxwell.”
“Trust me. It’ll be.” At least he hoped.
“Tell me what your dreams are. We never got around to you sharing yours at the party.”
Chuckling, he shoved his fingers through his hair.
“When I was growing up, I wanted nothing more than to wake up to see my dad waiting to talk to me and to teach me to play baseball like other kids. I gave up on that dream when I was nine.”
“I’m sorry he never showed up. It’s his loss. My life was filled with pretty much the same expectation. But I learned a long time ago that it was an idle dream.”
He nodded and murmured. “It feels great to know you truly understand.”
“Oh yeah, I do. As you grew older, did you allow yourself to dream about something different?”
“Like have more realistic hopes?” he supplied.
They both chuckled.
Lola nodded, muttering. “Something like that.”
“Yes. I wanted to become a medical doctor to help people who are sick. I wanted to be a better man than my dad. My dream is to be a better dad, the kind I always dreamed about.”
His girlfriend reached over and touched his thigh as traffic slowed. Lightning from her fingers scorched his skin and muscles. He tensed, grinding his teeth.
“Relax. I’m not going to eat you,” she teased.
“I wish you would,” he ground out. “In a few minutes, you’ll arrive at our destination.”
Lola pulled back her hand and stared around.
“All I see is a massive green field. What’s going on?”
Grinning, he gestured ahead. “Do you see that?”
Ducking her head to look far ahead through the windshield, she squealed. “Hot air balloon? Is this what I think it is?”
Laughing at the glee on her face, he licked his lips, pleased she was excited. Prior to the trip, he had no idea whether, or not she was afraid of heights.
“Yeah. Been in one before?”
“Never.”
She cut off the engine and covered her mouth with her palms. “Am I dreaming?” She sounded dazed.
“No, you’re not, my cupcake.”
After she locked the car, he took her hand in his own and walked the short distance to the take off point. Before he could explain, they were ushered into an empty colourful balloon. He helped her inside and she hugged him tight, leaning her head on his shoulder. Slowly, he moved his hand up and down her back and tightened his hold, before lifting her along his body. Moments later, he heard her sniffing.
“No tears, cupcake. I want you to be happy.”
She clung to him and kissed his reddening cheeks.
The male host came along and explained the details again. Several moments later, they drifted up leisurely in the sky. He kept his arms around his girlfriend and she stared up at him with adoring eyes. Moved by her silent warmth, he caressed her lusty lips with his own, tasted her sweetness with his tongue.
Lola traced the inside of his lips with the tip of her tongue, setting hot crackers loose inside his stomach.
“Champagne!” the host chimed.
Lifting his head, Maxwell collected two flutes and handed one to his girlfriend.
“Thank you,” he said to their host.
He clinked glasses with the most beautiful woman he had ever met as they leaned against the barrier.
“The view from up here is breath-taking. Look at the ocean, sparkling blue under the sunrays.” Her voice sounded stuffed with awe.
Giving her a sidelong glance, he sipped his drink. “Not half as breath-taking as you. Not even close.”
Giggling a lot, she edged nearer and arched her neck. Tempted, he pressed his lips to hers, tasting the fruity flavour of the drink.
“I wanted you to forget about everything else for an hour, or more,” he revealed in her ear.
“This is perfect, Maxwell.” Her breathing quickened as she spoke. “No one has ever done anything this romantic for me. You’re my first.”
Cuddling her waist with his free hand, he whispered. “Hopefully, your last.”
His ego got a huge boost.
Her eyes bulged. “Is that what you want?”
“Hundred percent. I’m in this for the long haul.”
“Then that’s what I want too.”
Dropping his head again, he kissed the top of her nose and traced down to the spot above her top lip and the corners of her mouth. Her breathing came out shallow as she lowered her gaze.
“I love you, Lola Stephanie Lawson.”
Although he had not intended to say the deep words today, his heart felt it was time to speak his truth.
Her eyes sprang open and she gasped. “I love you, too, Maxwell Gael Legend, my troublesome client.”
They laughed and he embraced her tighter. He cooed in her ear as flames flared from his chest to every part of his body. He had not expected the words to blow out of her lips. The fact she also loved him made it worth the risk. Happiness in its raw form drenched him whole.
“Whoa! I wasn’t expecting you to say that at all.” She swirled her tongue inside his mouth. “I thought I won’t get the chance to say it, or be confident enough to tell you how I felt.”
He gulped his drink before placing it on the tray.
“Now you’ve got the time to tell me how you really feel. I knew you’d changed me from the first day, I just didn’t expect to fall in love with you so hard, so fast.”
“Honestly, I’m still in shock. I’ve never dated outside my race. Never dated anyone who treated me like I’m special. My heart has never pounded after a man. When I see you, hear your voice, or think about you, my heart jumps. It just skips and my stomach fills with nerves. I didn’t think it was possible for someone like me to feel this way.”
His chest wall vibrated. Feeling overwhelmed, he pushed his hands inside her hair, arched her neck and claimed her lips with his own.
“I love you a lot, my cupcake. You’ve brightened my life. Nothing else matters except hearing your voice, spending time with you, sharing your world, your pain and laughing with you.”
He laughed, took her glass out of her trembling fingers and fed her the champagne drink.
Closing her lips, she purred. “Enough. I’m driving.”
“My bad.” Setting down her glass on the tray, he moved to stand behind her, so she could appreciate the view. He slid his arms under her boobs and locked his fingers there.
To his satisfaction, she leaned back against him and clasped his arms with hers. They stood staring at the passing scenery in silence.
His heart pumped fast as if he had gone on a sprint. This was the very definition of happiness and peace.
After wrestling with deep-seated emotions most of his life, he was finally home within Lola’s arms.
“I’d to travel to Africa to find home in your arms,” he whispered along her neck.
“And I’m so happy my God brought you to me. There’s one thing though.”
“What is it?”
“Say yes first,” she insisted with a cute smile.
“Is that how it works?”
“Ehn.”
“Then, it’s a yes.”
“Faith in Jesus Christ is important to me and my family. Becoming a Christian is the only way this can work for us. As you know, my faith is vital to my life.”
“I wasn’t brought up in the church,” he owned up. “But I can learn what it means to be a Christian.”
Lola beamed. “Phew! Thank you. I’ll invite you to church and we can have a chat after that.”
“I’d like that.”
In truth, he was open to exploring the Christian faith. Being without faith all his life had not served him well so far. Might as well embrace Lola’s beautiful faith that kept, she and her family strong and hopeful in the face of tragedy, impossible challenges and lack.
She skewed her neck and pursed her lips.
He pasted his lips to hers, tickled the insides of her mouth for minutes until they needed to get some air.
“Our love will never die, my cupcake,” he prayed because he believed it in his heart.
“Amen.” Lola’s grin widened. “You just prayed!”
“I just did.”
Chapter 11 – Lacy Thong
Lola
Spending the last two weeks with her boyfriend had dispelled Lola’s insecurities and given her clarity. At the start of their relationship, she had worried about the fact she was not good enough for him. Then she assumed that as a single mum she was not the right fit for a sexy, extra good-looking, muscled white guy.
Before now she had been reluctant to date because of her twins. In the last few weeks, she had reminded herself, Maxwell Legend could have any woman he wanted in Chicago, or in Nigeria. When she was with Maxwell however, those issues seemed stupid.
Since their hot air balloon date, he had taken her horse riding on the beach, and they had gone on several romantic dates that brought tears to her eyes.
Earlier today, Maxwell had called and invited her to go with him to Ikoyi area of Lagos. He claimed he had something he needed to show her. So, at the moment she was in a hurry to get dressed.
“Grandy, I’ll probably be back late. I’ve got to collect, Maxwell,” she informed her grandaunt when she was done.
Her grandaunt displayed her left hand.
“Tell Maxwell I like my wristwatch. Is he going to come and visit me soon, so I can thank him?”
Lola gave her grandaunt a warm hug and pecked her on both cheeks. “He knows you’re very grateful, Grandy. He doesn’t like anyone to fuss when he does something nice.”
“I don’t care what he thinks. That man needs a lot of love, my child. Tell him to come and see me.”
Smiling, Lola nodded. “I will.”
Waving goodbye, Lola tiptoed out of the house because her kids were taking a nap on a Saturday afternoon–a rare feat. Earlier in the day, she had taken them to play in the field near the house. After that she drove them to a popular eatery to get snacks and ice cream. So, when her boyfriend asked to meet, she did not think twice about saying yes.
Shortly after, Lola was on her way. At the hotel lobby a while later, she bumped into Maxwell. He stood tall and rascally in a blue sleeveless hoodie and short tracksuit with his luggage beside his feet.
Lord have mercy! Maxwell’s super fine ooo!
His muscles jumped and hopped, from his broad shoulders to his arms and legs. The tattoos decorating both arms gave him an appearance of a heartless rogue but he was nothing of the sort. A refined gentleman when he put his heart to it, Maxwell Legend was an attractive treasure.
Warmth spread through her cleavage. She smiled, rushing forward to meet him.
Laughing, he cupped her waist with his arms and lifted her along his body until her feet flailed in the air. He bent his head and their lips partied until she begged to breathe. When he set her down, she caressed his groomed jawline and angled features.
“It’s always a pleasure to see you, my sausage roll.” It was the first time she coined a pet name for a man. The words slipped out like it belonged on her tongue.
“Wow! Sausage rolls?” Maxwell quipped smooching her lips while he braced her hips with his palms. “Is that your favourite snack?”
“Yeah! Nigerian sausage rolls are very tasty, like your lips.” She teased the corner of his mouth with the tip of her tongue. “I love to indulge especially when I’m working. Our sausage rolls are pastry wrapped around well-seasoned sausage filling.”
“Oh! We’ve got what we call, ‘pigs in a blanket’ or ‘franks in blanks’, but that’s hotdog baked in croissant or biscuit dough.”
Laughing, she shook her head. “That’s not it at all.”
Cradling her butt cheeks, he whispered. “So, am I the pastry, or the sausage filling?”
They both chuckled.
“Both, Maxwell. On the outside, you’re a hard pastry, but inside, you’re my well-seasoned filling.”
He rocked as he laughed. “We’re both true foodies. You’re my cupcake and I’m your sausage rolls.”
“Yup!” she agreed. “Like it?”
Her body burned with awareness.
“Um-hm.” He chuckled, tasting her bottom lip.
Giggling, she stroked his attractive shoulders. His skin was warm and solid, a sweet treat for her fingers.
“Where are you going all packed up, ehn?”
“You’ll see. Let’s get in the car. Drive toward Ikoyi.”
“Yet another surprise?” Her chest popped with joy.
He winked. “Tired of them already?” His voice grew huskier as he spoke.
“Never. I love surprises!” Her nerves relaxed.
He carried his two luggage, shoved them in the boot of the car and held her door open.
She reached around his neck, stood on her toes and kissed his lips. “Thank you, my sausage roll.”
“My pleasure, cupcake.”
After she was seated, he shut her door, rounded the vehicle and climbed in to sit beside her.
“Did that scene remind you of day one?” her boyfriend asked with a teasing grin.
“Yeah. Shows how far we’ve come and how we’ve grown to understand each other. I know I’m never offering to carry anything for you again.”
They laughed for a while.
Minutes later, his fingers still lingered on her arm.
“Lesson learned the hard way,” she murmured through half-parted lips.
He leaned across the seat and kissed her shoulder. Many stars twinkled in her stomach as heat flushed between her thigh.
“There’s something so sexy about you driving me. It must be one of the reasons I fell hard for you.”
She skewed her head and toyed with her seat belt. “Really? You like me doing all the hard work, ehn?”
Maxwell erupted in a deep-throated laugh. His whole body vibrated as his head lolled forward.
“Yeah! Because you’re my irresistible driver!”
Lost for words, Lola laughed so much, she hit her fingers against the steering wheel as she drove along the busy road.
“That sounds about right,” she concurred. “So, I’m your irresistible driver ehn? I like the compliment.”
At the T-junction, she inched forward in the bumper-to-bumper traffic for the next ten minutes.
“When you drive, you do this thing with your neck hanging to one side and you’re so relaxed, it turns me on. And when you’re tense, you flick your hair and bite your bottom lip. That’s also hot!”
She giggled, shaking her head.
“Whoa! I’d no idea I did that. But I can see how that can come across as flirty. It’s not deliberate.”
“And irresistibly sexy. I love it. Don’t stop.”
Moaning, she caught her bottom lip between her teeth. “What am I going to do about you? I’ve never been happier, honestly. I don’t want this to end.”
“Say you want to be with me, Lola.”
Her head whipped right. She stared at him as her heart wheeled out of control. Swallowing, she queried.
“What are you saying, Maxwell?”
“As crazy as you may think this sounds, I can’t imagine my life without you, the kids and Grandy.”
Tears pricked the back of her eyes without warning. “I don’t think it’s crazy because I can’t imagine you not being a part of our lives as well. It’s amazing how quickly the kids have got attached to you. That reminds me. Amaka asked me to give you something.”
His blue eyes popped with curiosity. “What?”
“Open the glove compartment.”
Without delay, he clicked it open.
“See the blue card?” She didn’t take her eyes off the road. “It’s yours. Open it with care. There’s a little something inside.”
“It’s a handmade card.” His voice now had a jagged echo. “And two wrist bands. Amaka made me a card?”
She gave him a quick glance.
While he gazed at the card–painted with heart shapes, stars, a huge house with Amaka’s idea of a family living inside–in his hand, his face and neck turned a pink colour. Her chest tightened.
“What? Don’t you like it? Amaka hand designed it and made the friendship wrist bands for you. She says you should keep both in case you lose one.”
When he still did not speak, she nudged his elbow. “Maxwell? Are you okay?”
Blinking slowly, he gave her a cursory glance. Yet she saw his beautiful baby-blue eyes flooded with tears. And her heart exploded with tenderness. She quickly exited on to a quiet spot and parked the car.
Gently, she eased out of her seat and slid to sit across his thigh. “Talk to me, my sausage roll.”
“The card is lovely. I can’t believe your daughter made me a thank-you card and two friendship wrist bands.” Tears slid down his cheeks unchecked.
She hugged him and stopped the tear drops with her tongue. Though salty to taste, she licked his cheeks dry until he started to chuckle. Then he cuddled her head and crashed his mouth over hers in a dramatic twist of event. When he released her lips, he slipped the blue and red band on to his left wrist and the yellow and blue band on to her left wrist.
Irresistible Driver ~ A BWWM Sexy Romance Page 12