by Peyton Banks
But in all honesty, I’d been slacking on the home-care front the last ten months, so it needed to get done. Besides, what if Karmena got cold and wanted to come inside and hang? I needed to be prepared. I smiled, thinking about the possibility of her tight little body pressed against mine as we sat on the couch.
When I finally finished cleaning, I jumped in the shower, which took forever because it was wash day. The washing I could handle, but the combing and detangling had been Niqua’s domain. I did the best I could, using my fingers and smoothing it into a low ponytail.
I dressed in my standard all-black, only instead of a short-sleeved V-neck with my skinny jeans, I did a long-sleeved Henley. The sun had set and we’d be outside.
In the yard, I plugged in the string lights, helping out the lone light on the back porch. Next, I lit the fire pit and spread out the thick, knitted blanket on the grass, then stood up to admire my handiwork.
My yard was shaped in a perfect square, but was on the smaller side. I’d put the firepit in the center and set up a table with drinks, popcorn, the fixings for s’mores, and paperware adjacent the pit. The Bluetooth speaker Shaniqua had gotten me for Valentine’s Day last year was perched on the edge and the sounds of Chris Brown played at a respectable volume. I’d stationed a couple chairs nearby incase sitting on the ground on a blanket was too forward for my date.
Thinking of the not-so-subtle innuendos Karmena had been dropping in our text and phone conversations, I smirked. Something told me if I were to be even the slightest bit forward with her, she would eat me alive—and gladly at that.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, while a ding simultaneously came through the Bluetooth speak.
I had a text message from Karmena.
Outside.
Nervousness overtook me. My mouth went dry as I repeatedly tried to swallow. It’d been forever since I’d dated. Let’s see if I remembered how to do this.
Making my way around to the front of the house, I stepped out of the gate just in time to see Karmena getting out of her car.
“I see you got that tire fixed,” I called by way of greeting.
She jumped in surprise, glancing back at me as she closed the driver’s side door. A smile graced her face, lighting up the dark night with a bright flash of white.
“I did,” she replied, rounding the back of the car. “But now how am I going to meet sexy men who ride motorcycles?”
As always, her bold comment caught me off guard, but I was swiftly learning to just roll with it. What man wouldn’t want a gorgeous woman with curves for days who made it clear that she couldn’t wait to get him into bed?
Smiling, I responded, “I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
She came to a stop a few feet in front of me, awkwardly fiddling with her phone and keys. I knew she was wondering the same thing I was: should we hug or...shake hands?
I decided to just go for it. Taking a step forward, I wrapped her in a loose hug. She felt small and warm in my embrace. I kept the hug brief, but still caught a whiff of the intoxicating perfume she wore. It smelled like jasmine and mangos.
“Follow me,” I instructed, leading the way around to the side of my house and into the backyard.
“Wow,” Karmena breathed, gazing around. “You did all this yourself?”
I grinned, nodding.
“The string lights are a really nice touch. And you got the fire-safe ones, which scored you major points with this firefighter.”
That drew a genuine laugh out of me.
“What’s my score now, with all these points I just seem to keep scoring?”
She deposited her keys on the table and sank to her knees, settling on the blanket.
Winking one of those gorgeous eyes at me, she replied, “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
I shook my head wryly.
“Can I get you anything to drink? I’ve got wine, beer, water, and even the fixings for hot chocolate since there’s a slight chill in the air on this Fall night.”
“I’ll have whatever you’re having.”
I arched a brow in surprise, but kept my comment to myself as I grabbed two beers from the cooler. I cracked hers open first, then joined her on the blanket and opened mine. The first sip, cool and refreshing helped temper my nervousness.
“I see you found the place okay,” I remarked.
She stared at the open flames dancing out of the firepit, and nodded.
“As it happens, this neighborhood is part of our assigned territory at the station.”
“Wow, so if my elderly neighbor’s cat gets stuck up on the roof again, I might see you in full uniform trying to get it down?”
A throaty laugh filled the air and to my surprise, caused my groin muscles to tighten. She had a sexy laugh.
“Yes, you might,” she replied. “But let’s hope not. I hate those kinds of calls!”
We shared a laugh.
A new song began playing on the Chris Brown Pandora station and Karmena snapped her fingers in time with the beat.
I smiled at her.
“What?” she asked, not the least bit self-consciously. “This...is...my...jam.”
I sat back and listened to the explicit song by Tank. Of course she liked this song, it was all kinds of sensual and sexual—just like her. She swayed from side to side, slowly gyrating her hips. I wondered if she could ride dick as well as I suspected she could. If Karmena had her way, I was going to find out sooner rather than later.
When the song ended, I clapped lightly. She bit her lip and ducked her head, smiling bashfully.
Who knew I could make this brazen woman blush?
A cool gust of air blew, gently ruffling her hair which was out this time instead of in a ponytail.
“You warm enough?” She wore a thick sweater dress with leggings and heeled boots—but no jacket.
She started to shake her head, but then stopped. “Actually, I am a bit chilly.”
“Let’s go inside,” I said, preparing to stand up.
“No,” she said quickly. “I’m not that cold. Besides, you went through all the trouble of setting everything up. Let’s stay out here a bit longer.”
I looked at her, playfully narrowing my eyes in suspicion. She giggled girlishly.
“Hey,” she said, raising her hands in mock surrender. “If you insist on getting me in the house and into your bed so early in the evening, I’m not going to fight you!”
Our eyes connected and I could see that although she tried to make light of it, the woman was dead ass serious. If I told her to get up and come to bed with me right now, she’d be down.
Balking, I looked away first and stood up.
“At least take my jacket and I’ll go get us another blanket.” Shrugging out of it, I carefully draped the leather jacket over her shoulders. She was so petite, the thing swallowed her up like a cloak.
She buried her nose in the collar and inhaled.
“You smell amazing,” she half-whispered.
The way she was looking up at me with those mesmerizing eyes, it was like she wanted to put me in her mouth and eat me alive. A shock of electricity streaked through me.
“I-I’ll be right back,” I muttered, speed-walking to the house and through the back door.
In the kitchen, I tossed back two shots of Jack in rapid succession. The warm liquid lit a fiery path down my throat, helping me keep a lid on my hormones.
I looked down at the floor and shook my head. If Karmena kept it up, she was going to get exactly what she was asking for—and then some. I may have been a man in mourning, but I was still a damn man.
A few minutes later, I went back out to the yard with a couple of wool blankets, finding Karmena in the process of making s’mores.
“I started without you,” she said sheepishly, bouncing her eyes back and forth between me and the marshmallow she was dangling over the fire. “I mean, who can resist chocolate when it’s just lying around?”
I shared those same exact sentiments. Wit
h her smooth dark skin, she was like a piece of chocolate that I wanted to put in my mouth and savor.
I rejoined her on the ground, laying one of the blankets I’d brought out across her lap. We talked about some of the festivals coming to Pittsburgh during the fall, while she made s’more after s’more and stacked them neatly on the tray. When she was done, she offered me one.
“Mm. I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I had one of these things,” I said, chewing.
My eyes followed the movement of Karmena’s tongue as she licked excess marshmallow from the rim of the s’mores sandwich.
I swallowed...hard, watching raptly as she took a bite and more marshmallow got stuck on her lip.
Without thinking about it, I leaned forward. I swear I intended to just use my finger to wipe the sticky substance away, but when I got closer, so close that the warmth radiating off her warmed my skin, so close that I could see the flecks of gold around her irises, all I could think about was kissing her.
So I did.
10
Karmena
Before I had time to prepare myself, Adryen’s lips were on mine. For such a mammoth of a man, he kissed me softly and tenderly. He tasted of marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers, as I’m sure I did.
* * *
The tenderness was too much for me, a woman who wasn’t out here looking for a relationship. When our tongues met, I gently sucked on his, wanting to show him just what I could do with this mouth.
* * *
I expected him to pull away, but to my pleasant surprise, Adryen leaned in, cupped my face, and deepened the kiss. He took over, devouring my mouth when it was supposed to be the other way around. My head was spinning so fast that I could barely keep up.
* * *
Goodness. When was the last time I’d been kissed like this? Had to be, well, never.
I didn’t like not being in control. It was time to take things up a notch and put myself back in familiar territory.
* * *
I felt along the ground until my hands found his muscular legs. Slowly, I began inching my way up, heading for the pot of treasure. Just as I reached his crotch area, Adryen abruptly broke the kiss and simultaneously captured my hand in his. I opened my eyes.
* * *
Ignoring the tingling in my lips, I said, “If you were trying to delay the inevitable, then you should have thought twice before doing that.”
* * *
The corner of his mouth hitched up in a coy smirk.
* * *
“Before doing what?”
* * *
“Kissing me like that.”
* * *
Though it was dark outside, the light from the string lights made it easy to see the desire glimmering in his eyes.
* * *
“I’m not trying to delay it,” he replied slowly. “All I said was, we should share a meal before sharing a bed.”
* * *
I gestured at the tray laying on the ground.
* * *
“S’mores definitely don’t count as a meal,” Adryen said lightly.
* * *
I pretended to pout as I reached for another and took a bite.
* * *
“Have it your way then,” I said, chewing. “But one way or another, we will share a bed.”
* * *
Adryen shook his head, raking a hand through his already messy ponytail.
* * *
“Can I get you another beer?”
* * *
He was changing the subject. I’d let him—this time.
11
Karmena
A firehouse ran smoothly thanks to one thing, and one thing only: rotation. We rotated everything from who cleaned the trucks, to who went out when the siren sounded right on down to who took out the trash.
Every three weeks or so, it was my turn to stay behind with a select group of other firefighters. To my dismay, loudmouth Jerome was ‘acting lead firefighter’ while Kelise Tyrion was out on leave. This meant that he was essentially in charge of the entire station and would call the shots if a second fire required another truck be sent out into the field.
However, the odds of that happening in a small, suburban town like Yellow Bridge, were slim to none. So when Adryen texted, saying he couldn’t wait to see me again, I decided that he didn’t have to. Things had been going well with us the last few weeks, ever since the bonfire. Slow on the whole us having sex front, but, hey.
I pulled out my phone and called him. He answered on the first ring.
“Hey you,” he greeted me.
I fought the oncoming smile and lost.
“What’s up with you?”
“Nothing much. Just did some graphic designs for a client and sent them over. Now I’m just waiting with nothing to do until I hear back.”
I nodded. Adryen had told me weeks ago that he was a graphic designer who worked from home.
“Well, why don’t you come have lunch with me at the station and we can chill for a bit?”
There was no hesitation as he replied, “That sounds like a plan to me.”
I chuckled. “Great. I’ll order us something from the pizza shop around the corner and see you here around 12:30?”
“Yes, you will.”
Smiling, I hung up and sagged back against the couch. I don’t know if it was the ever-growing sexual tension or the easy banter that we always seemed to have, but talking to Adryen just…did something to me.
I needed to hurry up and have sex with him so that this childish ass giddiness would go the hell away.
At quarter past twelve, our food arrived. I didn’t know what Adryen liked, so I’d ordered a variety of pizzas and several different flavors of wings.
I was balancing all of the food, which was piled precariously high as I made my way toward the kitchen, when the front door buzzer sounded.
Shit.
“I’ll get it, you look like your hands are mighty full there, newbie.”
As soon as I heard his annoying ass voice I groaned inwardly. Jer-fucking-rome. No way did I want him meeting Adryen and being his normal loud-mouthed self. Then, I thought about it, Jerome was a big guy, but Adryen was bigger and rougher around the edges. I decided he could definitely handle Jerome.
“Thanks,” I replied, continuing down the hall to the kitchen.
I was setting the food up on one of the tables, when I heard voices and footsteps approaching. I rolled my eyes when Jerome walked in, followed closely by Adryen. His hair was down and looked slightly wet, like he’d just washed it in the shower. As was customary for him, he was decked out in all-black everything, which if you ask me, only made his blue eyes stand out even more.
“Hi,” I said, shyly.
“Hey you.”
For a second, we just stared at each other, both grinning.
“Well,” Jerome said loudly, killing the vibe. “Let me get up out of here before I suffocate from all this sexual tension. But, before I go, you don’t mind if I help myself to some pizza, do you, newbie?”
Before I could reply, he was already opening up the nearest box.
“Double pepperoni and sausage? Score!” he exclaimed.
I shot Adryen an apologetic look, but he waved it off, signaling it was no big deal. See, I knew the man could handle himself as well as he handled that bad-ass Harley.
Jerome helped himself to six pieces of pizza and a few wings before leaving the kitchen without so much as a thank you.
As soon as he was gone, the vibe changed to a relaxed one.
“Let’s try this again, shall we?” I said, smiling. Walking up to Adryen I stood up on my tip toes, wrapped my arms around his neck, and kissed him.
His large hands settled on my waist and I held back a moan. If he wanted to, I was sure he could pick me up like I weighed nothing and fuck the shit out of me. Before my thoughts could drift any further south, I broke the kiss and pulled away.
Motioning toward the table, I said, “I
hope you brought your appetite. I didn’t know what you liked, so I got us a little bit of everything.”
“Actually, I’m starving,” he replied.
After washing our hands, we settled at the table and piled a little bit of everything on our plates.
“Mm,” Adryen remarked, chewing wolfishly.
“I take it you like the wings?”
He nodded enthusiastically. “These seasoned wings are on point.”
I swallowed a bite of pizza. “And what do you know about properly seasoned wings?” I teased.
Adryen laughed, taking the dig in stride.
“Before I started dating black women? Not a goddamn thing.”
I leaned forward with interest. He was always broadcasting how his life had changed for the better since becoming part of the ‘swirl life,’ and I was always down to listen.
“My last girlfriend, she could make some mean chicken, but it was her fried catfish that was my personal favorite.”
I made an impressed face.
“What did she pair it with?” I queried. He’d just taken another bite of his pizza, so I had to wait a minute for his reply.
“She usually made it for breakfast, so cheesy grits, bacon, and home-fries.”
“Wow. Sounds like your girlfriend could really throw down.”
He held up a finger. “Old girlfriend,” he corrected before shoving the pizza crust into his mouth.
I took a sip of my water and wiped my mouth. I was so full I felt like I needed to unbutton my pants, only I was wearing leggings.