The Lion

by D. Camille

“I came to tell you that I'll have your evidence soon and to ask you to dinner.” His eyes connected with hers.

  She removed her glasses and pinned him with a look. “I've had dinner with you the last two evenings.”

  He shrugged lazily. “I wouldn't mind having dinner with you every night Tauri.”

  “You could have called me on the phone to tell me about the evidence,” she told him.

  He smiled. “You know I wanted to see you.”

  Tauri pursed her lips and his eyes darted directly to them. “Well you've seen me.”

  Rion placed his hands on the desk then leaned toward her. “I haven't nearly seen what I want to see of you goddess.” He looked her over slowly, causing a slow burn to start within her.

  She stood to her feet and stared at him across the desk. Mimicking his stance, she placed her hands on the desk and leaned forward.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” she whispered.

  “All night long baby,” he whispered back.

  Tauri straightened before reaching into her desk and retrieving her purse. Walking to the door she grabbed her trench coat and turned back to Rion where he was still standing by her desk.

  “I'm hungry. Let's go.” She walked out the door leaving Rion staring at an empty doorway.

  He shook himself back to reality. “Damn, that girl...” He licked his lips and followed her.

  Rion caught up with her at the exit and escorted her to his car. After settling her inside he climbed into the driver's seat. Tauri slid him a look as he started the vehicle.

  “I have a surprise for you,” he told her as he maneuvered through the streets.

  Tauri looked out the window. “You always do Orion.”

  He slid her a look. “And you like it.”

  She finally turned to him. “I can't say that I don't.” He smiled at her and she turned away as her stomach flipped. Soon they arrived in Rion's parking garage and Tauri turned to him.

  “I thought we were having dinner?” she questioned.

  “We are,” he answered and began exiting the car. He came around and met her at the door that she had opened and was now exiting.

  “At your apartment?” She raised a brow and crossed her arms.

  Rion moved closer. “Relax lioness, we're still in the playful petting stage. I'm not going to pounce.” He winked at her. “Not yet.”

  He led her to the elevators and punched in a code before the elevator began a smooth ascent. Tauri watched the numbers change until they reached the roof and she turned to him in question before the doors open.

  Rion led her out onto a rooftop deck that showcased a three-sixty view of the city and skyline. To her left was a table set for two and to her right was an outdoor living area including a sectional, chairs and end tables.

  Tauri turned to look up at him. “Boy, I swear...” She shook her head and he smiled as he led her to the table. Holding out her chair, he seated her first and she looked around again.

  “What's next? Dinner in a helicopter? Trained monkeys as the servers?” she asked.

  Rion took his seat and looked at her. “You want some trained monkeys to serve you? I don't know where to find that, but I'll try if that's what you want.”

  Tauri's eyes narrowed. “You know damn well I don't want any trained monkeys.”

  Rion laughed then looked into her flashing hazel eyes. “I will do whatever it takes to make you happy Tauri,” he told her softly and she felt her heart begin to melt.

  She looked around at the scenery again and noticed the care he had taken. Glancing back at him she said just as softly, “Thank you Orion.”

  The servers arrived and served their meal before they began to eat in silence. Their eyes connected several times as they both were lost in their own thoughts.

  “How are things with your deal for the team?” Tauri asked.

  Rion looked up. “I met with some of the officials and Council members today. One of them is someone you will be prosecuting.”

  Tauri grimaced. “That had to be awkward for you.”

  “What? To look into the face of a man who I know would rather see me dead than own a team, yeah, awkward as hell.” He ran a hand down his face. “I can't tell you what I wanted to do.”

  The grimness of his tone gave her pause. “I'm sorry Orion. This is so unfair.” She reached across the table and placed her hand over his. “He won't get away with this.”

  “I know you probably want to do some damage to him, but I need for you to let me do my job. Okay?”

  Rion looked down at the soft hand on his and nodded. “If this way doesn't work, then I do have another alternative.”

  Tauri raised a brow. “What kind of alternative are you talking about?”

  “The Black Diamonds,” he answered.

  “Who are The Black Diamonds?” she questioned.

  Rion enfolded her hand. “They're three guys that I'm glad to have on my side. One day I'll tell you all about them. They have some very interesting stories.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly before she pulled it away gently and resumed her meal.

  “Let me do my job Orion,” she repeated. “I'm very good at what I do.”

  “I know. You graduated at the top of your class at the University of Detroit. Your winning percentage is in the nineties and you're basically feared by every attorney in the city.”

  Tauri smiled smugly. “All true.”

  “Humble too huh?”

  She shrugged. “Hey, if you don't rep yourself, who will?”

  Rion held her gaze. “Not humble, but undeniably beautiful.”

  Tauri looked down at her plate. “I know what you're trying to do.”

  He waited for her to continue.

  “You're trying to get into my panties.” She raised her eyes back to his and he smiled.

  “Actually I'm trying to get you out of your panties...” He looked her over. “And everything else.”

  Tauri sat her utensil down as she felt warmth in those same panties he was discussing. “My Granny says that once boys get into your panties they forget how to treat you.”

  Rion stood and walked around to her side of the table and squatted next to her. Gently he took her hand. “I would never mistreat a goddess that possesses such strength, beauty and intelligence.” He kissed her hand softly.

  She stared down at him and felt her heart continuing to melt. “You're too much sometimes Orion.”

  He smiled at her. “You're always too much Tauri.” Rion held on to her hand and helped her to her feet. Under the darkening sky, he led her over to another part of the roof where a high powered telescope was set up in a nearby corner.

  “This is your surprise. I want to show you a T-Tauri star.” He gave her a side look. “Since you didn't believe me.”

  “I never said that.”

  He laughed. “Believe me, the look on your face said it loud and clear.” She laughed with him before he moved to look through the large scope. When he had it positioned, he turned to her.

  “Now, come and look. It's a clear night so you can see it perfectly,” he told her.

  Tauri moved to place her face against the instrument. She squinted in one eye as she looked inside and her face spread into a wide smile as she looked into the heavens.

  “So the blinking ones are the T-Tauri,” Rion explained.

  “What are the others?” she asked excitedly still looking into the glass.

  “Some are other stars and some are other planets.”

  She kept looking in awe. “This is amazing!”

  Rion smiled at her excitement. Who knew this would interest her? However, he was glad it did because he got to see another side of this very complicated woman.

  “There's also a full moon tonight,” Rion told her and she turned to him.

  “What does that mean?” she asked.

  “It's a time of receiving manifestations,” he explained. “A time to receive the things your mind and heart have desired and focused on.”
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  She studied him for a moment. “So you'll get your team?” she asked.

  “My team and my future,” he answered watching her.

  They stood underneath the night sky looking at each other, both were wondering what exactly was happening at this moment before Tauri looked away first.

  “Well thank you for dinner and the astronomy lesson,” she said quietly glancing up at the sky again.

  “It's not over.”

  Tauri looked at him. “It's not?”

  Rion shook his head. “I thought we'd watch the moon cross the sky.” He pointed at the bright full moon. “It's going to start there and make its way all the way across.”

  “We're just going to stand out here?”

  “No, we can sit on the sofa and watch it.”

  Tauri glanced back at the bright circle against the darkened sky. Who sits and watches the moon, she pondered. Who wouldn't want to sit with Orion Shaw and watch the moon was a different question.

  She turned back to him. “I'd like that.”

  Rion smiled and led her over to the sofa settling back against the cushions while she sat next to him making herself comfortable.

  “What do we do now?” she asked as he reached for a nearby blanket, which he unfolded and placed over both of their legs before placing his arm along the sofa behind her.

  “We can talk, we can kiss or we can get you out of those panties,” he suggested.

  Tauri eyed him. “We can talk because these panties are staying on tonight.”

  He laughed softly. “What do you want to talk about?”

  “Tell me why you stopped playing.”

  Rion shrugged. “It was time. I never intended to play baseball my entire life. I had a plan and a purpose.”

  “Do you miss it?” she asked.

  “Baseball is my true love. I've loved it for as long as I can remember, so yes on certain days I miss it a lot.”

  Tauri watched him. “It's amazing that you're trying to be the first black owner after so many years.”

  “Yeah, it’s funny because African-Americans really are the ones who made the game exciting in our own leagues then we integrated into the white leagues and lost all of our bargaining power.”

  “Did you ever experience any racism while playing?”

  Rion looked up at the night sky. “It doesn't matter how popular or rich a black man is Tauri, because at the end of the day that's all he is still...a black man who has to survive in a system created for his demise.”

  “My granddaddy has suffered a lot of racism in his time. He's not bitter about it but I can tell he still has scars,” she said quietly.

  “They try to make us feel that our dark skin is a badge of shame when really it's sign of pride and honor. It's a source of our strength.”

  Tauri touched his face. “I love your dark skin. It's beautiful.” Slowly she leaned closer until her lips were touching his.

  “Now we can kiss...,” she breathed against his mouth.

  Rion pulled her closer while tasting the lips he'd fantasized about for the last two days. They were as soft and as sweet as he'd imagined and he just wanted to savor them. Tauri for her part was not nearly as patient. Orion had been setting her on fire from the jump and now she wanted him to give her a taste of what she was longing for.

  Tauri greedily slipped her tongue into his mouth as she wrapped her arms around his strong neck. When Rion joined her in the activity she moaned into his mouth. He began to suckle her lips and tongue until she could not breathe. She pulled back and her passion filled hazel eyes looked into his.

  Rion watched her closely still reeling from her initial assault. Damn, she was hot and sexy. The way she was looking at him now made him want to lie her down on this sofa and bury himself deep inside of her underneath the moonlight. Instead ,he kissed her again allowing himself to absorb all the fire she lavished upon him while tasting and touching her.

  When Tauri had reached her designated stopping point, she pulled back with her breathing heavy. They stared at one another as she calmed herself.

  “So, we talked and we kissed...the third option is still on the table.” Rion offered.

  “You're supposed to show me the moon crossing the sky,” she reminded.

  Rion smiled. “Okay, so you can tell our kids this is what we did on our second date.”

  Tauri looked at him. “Boy...stop.”

  Rion turned her to face the glittering sky and settled her back against his chest. He leaned and whispered in her ear.

  “Just so you know, you're not going to be able to tell them what we did on our fourth date...”

  Chapter 5

  Rion quietly watched as the sun began to rise while Tauri was snoring loudly against his chest. She had fallen asleep halfway through the moon show. Rion knew he should have awakened her hours ago but he'd been content just to hold her silently. She was warm and soft, yet solid and strong. During the night she had burrowed into him like a kitten wrapping herself around his body.

  Rion had no complaints and found that he liked this other side of her as well. He wasn't sure how often he would get to see this, so he savored the moment. When she awakened, he knew she'd have the gloves back on and the game would continue. He thought about what it would be like to wake up beside her every morning and see those beautiful hazel eyes staring back at him blissfully.

  Speaking of those beautiful hazel eyes, they were now staring up at him and it wasn't exactly bliss that he saw in them. Tauri pushed against his chest and sat up. She looked around as the day dawned above them.

  “Orion, why did you let me sleep all night?” she demanded.

  Rion sat up too and looked at her. “You seemed tired and comfortable so I just let you sleep,” he explained.

  She jumped to her feet. “I didn't come here to spend the night with you!”

  “Well technically you just camped out.” He looked up at her.

  Her eyes narrowed. “I can't with you right now...where is the bathroom?”

  He got to his feet and she grabbed her bag before he led her down into his apartment. He directed her to the guest bath and made his way to the master. In the guest bath, Tauri took a moment and admired the décor before releasing the steam from her ears.

  She'd slept all night lying against Orion's body, in his arms. He'd felt like the warmest, firmest pillow she'd ever laid her head on and he'd smelled like heaven. The last thing she'd remembered was inhaling his scent and it had lingered throughout her dreams.

  Tauri looked at herself in the mirror. Her hazel eyes looked bright and eager while her lips still held traces of being kissed on and off throughout the night before she'd eventually fallen asleep. She turned and relieved herself before moving to the sink and washing her hands. She opened her bag and removed her travel items she carried with her. She washed her face and brushed her teeth before applying a light dusting of mineral powder.

  Looking in the mirror again, she warned herself that this was moving too fast. She'd known Orion for two days and she'd already spent the night with him. He was way too smooth and charismatic. At this rate, she should just take her panties off and hand them to him.

  “Get it together Tauri...”

  She exited the bathroom and saw Orion waiting outside the door for her. Tauri prepared to give him hell for letting her sleep the entire night at his apartment but before she could begin, he gently took her hand.

  “I didn't intend for you to stay the entire night Tauri. When you fell asleep, you really seemed like you needed the rest so I didn't wake you. I don't want to upset you and I won't let it happen again.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it gently while watching her closely.

  Tauri felt the air blowing out of her sails. How could you argue about something after that?

  She lowered her head. “It's too fast Orion.”

  Rion came closer and lifted her face. “Okay, I'll fall back a little but you can't pull away. Agreed?”

  Tauri nodded slowly and he lower
ed his mouth to hers kissing her gently. She hesitantly wrapped her arms around his neck as he pulled her closer.

  “I know it's only been a few days Tauri, but I know that you are here to help me fulfill my purpose. I'm not going anywhere beautiful and I'm going to show you how a young god wins the heart of a fearless goddess.”

  Tauri held on to him tightly. “What are you saying Orion?” she whispered.

  Rion looked into her eyes. “I'm about to make you one helluva foundation.” He captured her mouth kissing her softly and holding her close. Rion held her for a few minutes while she tried to comprehend all that he'd said to her.

  “Can I make you breakfast?” he asked.

  Tauri shook her head. “No, I need to go home and prepare for the office.”

  Rion nodded and went in search of his keys that were still on the roof deck. While he was gone, Tauri glanced around his apartment. It was a beautiful space with gleaming hardwood floors, large windows and an incredible view. She reminded herself that Orion was a very rich man and could live wherever he chose. When she was with him, it was easy to forget that fact. She couldn't let her heart get involved because she still wasn't sure he was staying.

  Rion returned and smiled at her. “Ready?”

  She nodded and he led her down to his car in the garage. When they were on the road, he glanced over and saw the pensive look on her face.

  “You're thinking...and that's not good,” he commented.

  Tauri turned to him. “You don't want me to think?” she questioned raising an eyebrow.

  Rion frowned. “Not about anything that makes your face look like that!”

  She turned to look out the window.

  Rion sighed. “Talk to me Tauri. Tell me what the problem is.”

  She was silent for a moment before she turned to him. “The problem Orion is that I don't know you. I don't know who you are or what you will do.”

  He nodded. “What exactly is your concern?”

  “For all I know you could have another life out there.”

  Orion rubbed his chin. “Okay Tauri, I've never been married. I don't have any children out there or crazy ass exes. I'm not attached to any other woman. My life is here now.”

  She watched him quietly. “Anything else?” he asked.