Crystal would love to have a sliding contest on the polished hardwood floor. She closed her eyes, wondering how she could explain her arrangement with Trae. She swore she would never tell anyone, and Trae held all the cards. Even though Trae and Skeet never showed their darker sides in front of Crystal, she didn’t want to raise her child anywhere near their world.
She looked toward Richard’s room. She had told him everything she could. Surely, he could see she wanted what was best for her child.
Once she graduated and got some money together, she could at least move out of the neighborhood. That would be a step in the right direction.
The evening’s events had aroused an uneasy stirring in Ebony. In her heart of hearts, she had known Trae would give her more trouble about dating Richard. His backing off didn’t compute. Shame quickly washed over her.
She recognized her growing unease as ego and pride. It was hard to admit, but knowing Trae would fight for her had given her a rush. She wasn’t in love with him, and had no desire to pursue a relationship with him, yet she felt power in knowing he cared so much for her. She bit her lip, convincing herself that had to be the reason he backed off.
She lightly laughed at herself for being so arrogant. Trae bursting her bubble was just the kick she needed. Yes, he’d given Richard a hard time, but his backing off so easily showed he wasn’t fighting for her affection, but control.
She prided herself for moving on and looked down on Trae for being stuck in the past. She now realized she was the one who had not truly moved on.
Richard stepped out of the bedroom wearing a Bulls T-shirt and black shorts. Her eyes traveled over his athletic build, eating him up. Like Trae, he was only an inch taller than her.
“Do you play basketball?” she asked.
He knelt before her, sending her heart racing. “I haven’t since I left Texas last month.” He stroked the outside of her legs, gently kissed her lips. “I hear your stomach growling. Let me show you the kitchen.” He stood, pulling her along. “I’m the master of stir-fry.”
“You’d better stop teasing me.”
“What?” he asked over his shoulder.
“That little brush of the lips thing you do. You’re a tease.”
He took the cutting board out and set it on the kitchen island. “You’ve been teasing me since you took off your scarf this morning. I know my limits. You only get a brush of the lips.” He pointed to the glass containers on the counter. “Do you want rice or noodles with your stir-fry?”
She laughed at his change of subject. “Can I do something to help?” She reached for the jar of linguine. “I know how to boil water. Give me a touch of olive oil. I make a mean pasta.”
He pulled a saucepan out of one of the lower cabinets. “Let me feed you, then I’ll ravage you. I promise.” He set the pan in the sink, took the pasta from her, then brought a stool around. “Sit here and look pretty.”
Images of ways he could fulfill his promise to ravage had her hotter than the fire on the stove. Embarrassed by her thoughts, she forced herself to focus on something else.
She watched him work his magic in the kitchen. He maneuvered the knives like a pro, glancing up occasionally from the chopping and flashing a quick half-grin that sent her heart racing.
“You love cooking, don’t you?”
“Nonno was a chef. I grew up running around the kitchen. I guess I picked up his love of cooking.” He rubbed his washboard stomach. “And eating.”
He tried to cover the pain behind his words, but she caught it. She watched him fill several small bowls with carrot shavings, pea pods, bean sprouts, peas, spinach, mushrooms, cabbage, onions and a mound of minced garlic.
He set the garlic and onions aside. “I think we’ll skip these.”
“Your closeness with your grandfather is beautiful. That’s rare to see these days.”
He took the marinated chicken strips out of the refrigerator. “Nonno understands me. I think he felt sorry for me, so he took me under his wings.”
“Both of your parents are alive, right?”
He washed and dried his hands, then stood between her legs, resting his hands on her lap. “What do you want to know, Ebony?”
“I’m sorry. I’m prying.”
He pulled around a second stool and sat knee to knee with her. “You’re not prying. Nonno took me to live with him when I was five. I lived with him until he had a stroke when I was eight. Then I went to boarding school while Nonno recovered. I still call him every day.”
“Why did you move in with him?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. It’s one of many buried secrets in our family. All I know is Mother wanted daughters. My sisters were…are the world to her. I think Nonno felt sorry for me, so picked up the slack.”
She caressed his face. “That’s so sad. What about your dad?”
“He was working his way up the corporate ladder at the time. Now he’s CEO of Tex Federal,” he boasted. She bit her bottom lip. “What do you want to know? We already have enough working against us. I won’t lie. My family dynamics are a mess, but I’m trying to be open.”
“I don’t understand why they gave you up so easily.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t easily. Nonno is extremely hard headed if he wants something. He told me he battled my mother for years before she let him keep me.” He took her hands into his. “I guess we both grew up without our parents.”
“But you were only a baby,” she said softly, afraid to ask if he felt unwanted by his parents. The pain on his face said
yes
, the same
yes
she felt about her father. She was thankful Crystal would never have to feel this type of rejection.
He returned to the stove. “Your stomach’s growling again. I’ll be done in ten minutes.”
She didn’t hear or feel her stomach growl, this time. “If you ever want to talk about your relationship with your family, I’m here for you.” It was too late for her to heal the relationship with her father, but he still had a chance with his family.
“Thanks, but I’m fine with how things are.”
He continued cooking their dinner. Ebony saw him battling demons with every sprinkle of seasoning, touch of oil and flip of the wrist. For someone who liked to speak his mind, he wasn’t ready to speak about or fight his own demons. She knew everyone had his limit, and she had found his.
She watched him toss the stir-fry about the wok. Instead of forcing the issue, she would wait until he was ready.
“Time to eat,” he announced a short time later.
His bedroom surprised Ebony. Unlike the rest of the condo, it felt inviting. She could smell the light scent of vanilla candles burning. The king sized bamboo bed and chest of drawers fit perfectly into the nook built into the wall. The wood floors, forest green walls and burgundy ceiling had a warm, cozy atmosphere. “This is great.”
He set their plates on the oak desk beside his door. “Your reaction when you saw the front was priceless.” He chuckled. “You were trying to be so polite.” He handed her the remote control and pointed to the chaise lounge. “Have a seat. The bedroom and kitchen were easy to fix up. I ran out of creativity by the time I finished them.”
“You’ve done a great job in here.”
“I liked your place. Maybe you can help me out.”
“Maybe.” Dark rooms can produce a boxed-in feeling; however, this room was spacious enough to offset that feeling. A built-in bookshelf and combo entertainment unit took up the wall opposite the bed. “Huge television.”
“Wait until you hear the surround sound.” He searched through his DVD collection for something she might like.
“I can help.”
“No, no. I’ll take care of everything. Just sit and look pretty. You’ll get the full effect of the speakers if you sit against the headboard of the bed.”
Her brows rose.
“I’m not trying to seduce you—yet.” A half grin slipped out along with bouncing eyebrows. “Surround sound is something you need to experience.”
She kicked off her shoes and moved to the bed, curious to see what he meant by yet. He brought a her plate of food and a glass of wine on a serving tray. “Thank you, kind sir.”
“The pleasure is all mine.” He kissed her lightly.
“Tease.”
They ate while enjoying the large-screen television and surround sound. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had such a relaxing evening. It was as if the stress of the world was on the opposite side of Richard’s front door. She found a comforting sense of security being with him.
She followed him to the kitchen with the empty plates and helped him clean up. The sight of him at the kitchen sink busting suds actually turned her on. It had been too long since her last sexual encounter, but she repressed an urge to approach Richard from behind and slip her hands under his shirt.
Dishes dried and put away, they returned to the bedroom. “Would you like more to eat, dessert perhaps?” he asked.
“No, thank you.” The only dessert she wanted was Richard. Wanting to leave before she embarrassed herself, she looked for her shoes.
He came up from behind and began massaging her shoulders. “Are you relaxed from the long day?”
She dropped her head to the side, exposing her neck to his feather kisses. She wanted to give in, but they had just met. It was too soon.
He turned her around to face him. “Did you enjoy the entertainment?” He gestured toward the Loony Toons playing on the television and returned to her neck.
“Excellent entertainment and food.” This was a dangerous game, but she wasn’t ready to quit—not yet.
He held her close. “Have I met all of your needs thus far?”
His acceptance of her, his warm whisper, his loving caress, his masculine scent all weakened her self-control. “You have been a most gracious host.”
He lightly kissed her nose, then rested his forehead on hers. “Can I continue meeting your needs?” His mouth lowered to hers.
Ebony always strived for as much control as she could have over a situation, but kiss after succulent kiss forced her to face reality. She combed her fingers through his hair. She had lost all control and fallen in love with Richard.
This is impossible.
She turned away from him and the truth.
“Is something wrong?” He held her from behind, grinding gently.
“No,” she whispered, rotating in his arms.
They delved into each other’s eyes with an unspoken understanding. He moved his hands up from her hips, tracing her torso and lifting her sweater along the way. She kissed the edge of his grin. No holding back, no fear. She would give their relationship an honest try.
He tossed her sweater to the side, then took off his T-shirt and threw it. Their lips met and tongues probed, claiming the passion they felt for each other. She had never felt like this before. He was meant for her, perfect in every way.
He turned her, closely fitting his arousal into her rear. He held her around the waist as they ground to their own music. Lightly brushing her neck as he moved her microbraids from around her ear, he nibbled, licked, tasted.
Ebony loved the feel of his teasing on her neck. She pushed her body into him harder, wanting to be closer, wanting to be one.
His hands traveled lower to her thighs, rubbing them, causing him to deepen the grind. They both moaned as passion’s storm continued to surge.
She didn’t know how he did it, but one second she was riding the storm, the next they were completely undressed. The subdued lighting did not hide his powerful physique.
Once in bed, he ran his hands along her luscious body. “You are the most beautiful woman in the world.” He kissed her, and she knew he meant it. She had never considered herself beautiful, but that was how Richard made her feel.
He cupped one of her breasts in his hand, kissing, kneading and teasing until she begged for relief. He relieved her sweet agony by slipping his fingers into her, slowly fondling and exploring while showing her other breast due consideration.
Ebony whirled in bliss and sought to share the pleasure he gave her. She wrapped her hand around his hardness, slowly stroking, working him into the frenzy he had put her in.
She enjoyed watching him fight to maintain control. Her grabbing him so intimately must have been a wondrous surprise.
He reached into the nightstand and took out a foil wrapper. She kissed him gently, then helped him protect them both.
As he entered her, she felt the same feeling of “ah” seen on his face. Their rhythm matched perfectly, and the glorious sensations grew as they journeyed together on their adventure to oneness.
* * *
Richard lay watching his ebony angel sleep. She had asked him to wake her at four. He glanced at the clock. Two minutes to go. He took a foil wrapper from the nightstand and prepared to wake her. He slid the covers off and admired her body. He wondered how long it would take her to wake if he started licking her heat and if she would kill him for it. Thinking how she had called him the devil tickled him.
She cracked open an eye. “Why are you staring at me?”
He cuddled close. “I’ve fallen in love with a madwoman.”