Owner of a Broken Heart

by Cheris Hodges

  “I’ve never felt like this before,” she said through her labored breathing.

  “That’s because you’ve never had a man who put your pleasures before his own,” Clinton said. “But tonight, that’s going to change.” He pressed his lips against her neck, making her moan even more. “Because tonight is all about you.”

  Nina licked her lips in anticipation of Clinton’s next move. On so many levels he was right, no other man had taken the time to find out what her needs and desires were. It was all about what she could do to please him.

  With Nina on her back, Clinton rose from the bed and stared at her body as the moonlight danced across her. He stepped out of his pants and boxers, showing her just how aroused he was. She inhaled sharply as he eased onto the bed, slipping in between her legs.

  “What do you want me to do first?” His lips were so close to her ear that she could feel the heat of his breath.

  Closing her eyes as she listened to him open a condom wrapper, she said honestly, “I just want to be loved.” When she opened her eyes, she half expected Clinton to have retreated or to be showing some sort of disgusted look on his face, but he smiled at her.

  “That’s what we all want,” he said. “I can give you that, if I’m the person you want. I’m not just talking about sex, no matter how amazing it is.”

  Nina felt his thickness against her thighs. “I want you in every way,” she moaned as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Every way. Give me what I need.”

  Silently Clinton vowed to be that one man to show Nina that everyone wasn’t like Lamar and anyone else who’d ever hurt her. He was going to give her the love, protection, and passion she needed. Diving into her valley, he sealed his promise with each thrust. Nina matched his intensity as if she were asking him did he really mean what he said.

  Spent from their lovemaking, Nina and Clinton lay in each other’s arms. She rested her head against his chest and stared up at him. “I have to tell you something,” she whispered.

  “What?”

  “I’ve never experienced anything like this.”

  “Neither have I. You’re an incredible woman, you do know that, don’t you?”

  She shrugged. Clinton propped up on his elbow and looked at her. “You’re telling me that no one has told you that before?” he asked.

  “I’ve had a few editors say that but . . . Clinton, you know my history with the opposite sex. So when you say things and do things to me, I don’t know how to respond.”

  “Like this, you lean in and give me a soft kiss on the cheek,” he said as he leaned in and placed his cheek against her lips.

  Nina kissed him sweetly. “Thank you.”

  Clinton hugged her against his chest and kissed her on the forehead. “Let’s get some sleep. You wore me out, woman.”

  * * *

  The next morning as the sun rose, Nina watched Clinton sleep. His chest moved against the sheet and he snored lightly. She wanted to stroke his face and kiss him until he woke up. Instead she just watched him. Was he really the one? Was he really going to give her the love that she had been longing for? Still, when was the other shoe going to drop?

  Stop being so negative, she thought as she gently ran her fingers across his cheek. Clinton has no reason to lie to you and you have no reason to believe that he’s going to disappoint you. For once you and a man are on the same page.

  Quietly she tipped out of the bed and grabbed Clinton’s robe from the back of his closet. Once she wrapped it around her body, she headed downstairs and grabbed her cell phone to check her messages.

  “Nina, it’s Lamar. I know what you said, but I know that look, too. You want me just as much as I want you. That guy can’t compare to me and what we shared.”

  She deleted the message and pressed her phone against her forehead.

  “There you are,” Clinton said, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. “I was beginning to think that last night was just a great dream.”

  “It wasn’t,” she said as she whirled around and pecked him on the lips. “Did I wake you?”

  “No, the coldness where your warm body used to be did.” Clinton noticed her cell phone in her hand. “Is everything all right?”

  “Oh, yeah.” She tossed the phone on an armchair. “I was just checking my messages. It’s a habit of mine.”

  “Coffee and voice mail messages to start your day, huh? What do you say I cook us some breakfast and get you that coffee I know you’re dying to have,” he said before kissing her on the cheek.

  Nina’s eyes followed Clinton into the kitchen and she knew she’d made the right decision. She knew he would give her the respect she deserved, the love she wanted and needed.

  “Hey,” Clinton called out, “you’re going to come taste this coffee or what?”

  “I’m coming.”

  Through breakfast, Nina promised Clinton that she would eventually learn how to cook. “Yeah, right,” he said as he loaded more cheese eggs on her plate. “I’ve come to the realization that you don’t want to learn.”

  “You may be right. But keep in mind that as long as I need to learn, you will have to teach me.” She winked at him and Clinton took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. “You’re so cute.”

  “So, what are we going to do on this beautiful Saturday morning? And you better not say Alex expects you in the office.”

  “I have the day off. Are you telling me that your family doesn’t know you’re here? You scandalous little lady.”

  Nina shrugged. “They will find out eventually. Right now, I’m all yours.”

  Clinton smiled. “That sounds so good. How are we going to take advantage of this good fortune?”

  “We could head into town and pretend we’re tourists.” Nina took a bite of her eggs.

  “That sounds good.”

  “And promise that this won’t turn into a business trip. I don’t want to hear a word about the bed-and-breakfast.”

  He gave her a salute. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “But I probably should let my family know I’m in town sooner rather than later. Think we should have lunch at the bed-and-breakfast or no?”

  “You know your sister has been a lot nicer to me lately. Should I be afraid?”

  “We all should be. Alex being nice is sign of the apocalypse,” Nina quipped as she rose to refill her coffee mug. She could feel Clinton’s eyes on her as she poured. Turning around, they locked eyes and smiled at each other.

  “That robe has never looked better,” he said. “You know what would make it look even better?”

  Nina leaned against the counter and grinned at him over the rim of her coffee mug. “What’s that?”

  “You taking it off.” Clinton stood and crossed over to her. Then he untied the sash, slipped his hands underneath the robe, and gripped her hips. Nina placed her mug on the edge of the counter.

  “What happened to playing tourists this morning?”

  Sliding his hands up and down her sides, he said, “This is what I want to tour right here. These hips, those thighs, and those lips.” Leaning in, he kissed her deep and hard, then lifted her up on the counter. “Can we start the tour now?”

  Nina pushed her mug aside so there would be no roadblocks for Clinton. “Let’s go.”

  Starting at her navel, he began traveling the contours of her body, treating her as if it were the first time he’d touched her. Nina was putty in his hands as he kissed her neck and massaged her breasts just the way she liked it.

  Then, he headed below her navel, re-kissing every spot that he’d kissed on his first trip. When he reached her thighs, Nina quivered in anticipation of feeling his tongue against her throbbing femininity. Clinton made her feel so sexual, so alive, and so wanted. Her excitement spilled onto her thighs and Clinton lapped it up. Then he buried his face in her wetness, wrapping his tongue around her sweet bud until she screamed for mercy.

  He wasn’t ready to stop yet. Lifting her from the counter, Clinton h
eaded for the sofa in the living room. Gently he laid Nina against the cushions and spread her thighs apart. She was so hot and ready to feel him inside her. Neither of them thought of protection as he slipped inside her valley. She tightened herself around him, and they were both on the verge of climax as they tumbled off the sofa. Clinton laughed and held Nina against his chest.

  “Didn’t mean to end up here.” He brushed his lips across her cheek.

  “Guess we got a little carried away.”

  “You do that to me,” he said. “When we’re together it’s like nothing else matters.”

  “I feel the same way. Maybe that’s why I keep coming to Charleston every time I have a free moment,” she said as they linked fingers.

  “You sure that you’re not running from something?”

  “Like what?”

  “Lamar?”

  Nina dropped his hand. “What makes you say something like that?”

  “It’s a fair question,” he said. “When I met you, you were hung up on this guy and you’re both in the same city.”

  Sitting up, Nina stared at him incredulously. “What are you saying, Clinton?”

  “Nothing, I’m just thinking out loud,” he said, rising from the floor and holding his hand out to help Nina up.

  She ignored his hand and stood on her own. “Why not put all of our cards on the table? I’m not the only one with secrets.”

  “Meaning what?” he asked.

  “Your father and your family.”

  “My father and I aren’t close, so why would I talk about him? He’s made it clear that I’m a disappointment to him and he wants nothing to do with me.”

  “But he’s your father and family is important.” She turned her back to him.

  “Are you trying to change the subject? How did we go from talking about you and Lamar to me and my father?”

  “Because I have questions just like you do. If you want to ask me something about Lamar, then just do it.”

  “Are you over him? Or am I just a diversion to get your mind off him?”

  Nina focused her gaze on him. “You really think that’s what’s going on? I don’t play those kinds of games,” she said. “Maybe I need to get dressed and head to my father’s.”

  “So, you’re over him?”

  “Clinton, I would never play with you the way he played with me. I want one man and that’s you. If you’re questioning that, then what is all of this?”

  “What if he comes back and says what you want to hear, where would that leave us?”

  She ran her hand across her face. “I don’t want him back. I know you care about me, but I feel like you’re holding a part of your life back from me.”

  “Because of my father? I don’t have a relationship with him, so why would I introduce the two of you?” Clinton said. “Nina, be sure that I’m who you want because I love you and—”

  “What? You love me?”

  “Yes and I’m not ashamed to say it. I love you and I don’t have a problem saying it. I love you.” He closed the space between them and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t break my heart.”

  “I won’t,” she said. “But you can’t break mine, either.”

  “Why don’t we shower and get out of here?” Clinton gently kissed Nina on the forehead.

  As he walked into the bathroom, she watched him with a warm feeling in her chest. He said he loved her and she could tell by the look in his eyes that he was sincere.

  About an hour later, Nina and Clinton were entering downtown Charleston. “We’re doing the carriage ride?” she asked as Clinton pulled into a parking lot.

  “Why not? We can pretend to be tourists and get a romantic tour of the city.” He kissed her on the cheek.

  “I know there’s one thing we don’t have to pretend about,” she said as she slipped her arms around his waist.

  “What’s that?”

  “That we’re happy and going to have the greatest time today.”

  They walked over to the Palmetto Carriage Works booth and waited for the attendant. Nina leaned in to kiss Clinton on the neck.

  “Well, isn’t this a pretty picture?” Birmingham said as he approached the couple. “Romancing the boss’s daughter is a great way to get a promotion.”

  Nina and Clinton turned to face him. “What the hell do you want?” Clinton snapped.

  “Do I really have to spell it out? Clinton, you know we have unfinished business.”

  She leaned in to Clinton and asked. “Who is this guy?”

  “No one,” Clinton said. “Let’s go.”

  Birmingham smirked. “You can’t run forever. We’ll talk soon.”

  Nina and Clinton walked for several blocks before she asked him, “Now do you want to tell me who that guy is?”

  “Someone who thinks I owe him something because he helped me out a long time ago.”

  “You’re not in any trouble, are you?”

  Slowing his pace, Clinton turned to Nina. “Not at all. I used to work for that guy and after my mother’s death, my father had some financial issues. He helped me out, but I paid him back every cent that he loaned me.”

  “What does he want from you?”

  “It’s not important.”

  “He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy that you can ignore and he’ll just go away,” she said.

  “Don’t worry about it, Nina, this is my mess and I’ll clean it up,” he said a little more forcefully than he meant to.

  “That’s what I’m talking about, Clinton. You shut me out of so much but expect me to be an open book. I don’t want to play tourist anymore. Why don’t you take me to your place so that I can get my car and you can take care of your business.” Nina stomped away, ignoring his pleas to stop.

  Chapter 16

  Nina sat in the parking lot of the bed-and-breakfast, not really wanting to go inside and not understanding the argument that she and Clinton had gotten into earlier. What was that all about downtown? Nina rubbed her hand across her face and sighed. Then she rose from the car and headed inside. She was surprised to see Alex at the front desk.

  “Dad finally demoted you, huh?” she said with forced gaiety.

  “What are you doing here?” Alex asked as she looked up from the computer.

  “Just visiting, I had a few days off and I decided to come here.” Nina leaned against the desk.

  “And I’m sure Clinton’s going to walk through the door at any moment, right?”

  Nina shook her head. “I doubt it. We’re not speaking right now.”

  “Aw, trouble in paradise?” Alex rolled her eyes. “It’ll be fine. I’m sure the two of you will be back to being all kissy faced before the sun sets. Don’t quote me on this but I think Clinton is good for you.”

  Nina’s mouth dropped open. “Who are you and what have you done to Alexandria Richardson?”

  Shaking her head, Alex rolled her eyes. “You have to decide what you want. Do you want me to be happy for y’all or not? I’ve seen a different side of Clinton and I like the way he treats you.” She tossed one of the bed-and-breakfast’s signature mints at her sister.

  “What time are you getting off from here? Where’s Dad?”

  “Dad is at a business seminar in Richmond, but I think he’s really checking on Robin. Something’s going on with her and she’s not talking about it.”

  “You know how Robin is,” Nina said. “She thinks she can be Superwoman and never wants us to help her or know that her life isn’t perfect.”

  “That’s because we’re all too busy cleaning up your messes,” Alex said.

  “Whatever, Alex.”

  “I’m just kidding with you. So, you and Clinton must’ve had a big blowup? What did you do?”

  “So, it’s automatically my fault?” Nina slapped her hand on her hip.

  Alex tilted her head to the side. “I’m going to mind my business as you and Yolanda like to tell me all the time.”

  “Alex, I don’t want to get into this. I’ll clean
up my own mess this time.” She offered her sister a plastic smile. “What’s the dinner special tonight?”

  “Turkey meat loaf and mashed potatoes.”

  “Oh my God! I’m going to eat my feelings for real.”

  “Then let’s get it started. Elaine will be here in a few minutes and everyone has been checked in.”

  Alex placed a BACK IN FIVE MINUTES sign up on the front desk and headed to the restaurant with Nina. Just like when they were little kids, they ate in the kitchen with the cook.

  “So,” Alex said after she and Nina had fixed their plates. “What happened?”

  “I thought you were going to mind your business?” Nina dropped her fork against her plate.

  “And you should’ve known that I was going to ask. If this guy did something to hurt you, then I’m going to kick his ass.”

  “It’s nothing like that. Clinton just seems a little secretive.”

  Alex pounded the wooden table. “He’s married, isn’t he?”

  “No. It just seems like he’s trying to hold back parts of his life and then there was this guy who said they have some unfinished business. It sounded kind of sinister,” Nina said.

  “Who was the guy?”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “He didn’t make any introductions. Just that he used to work for him.”

  Alex nodded thoughtfully. “Interesting. You know, before you and Clinton got so close, I had my suspicions about him and why he wanted to work here and why he’s trying to make Dad his new best friend. That guy may have been Randall Birmingham. He’s been trying to get this property for years. Clinton used to work for him.”

  “There’s no way he’d do something like that,” Nina said defensively.

  Alex picked up a roll and broke it in half. “How do you know? What if he was only using you?”

  Nina snatched half of the bread from her sister’s hand. “You would think that.”