She was about to go into the shower when her phone rang. It was him.
“I just wanted to know if you reached home safely,” his deep voice vibrated in her ear and she felt her body tightening.
“Yes, thanks,” Faith said a little stiffly.
“You’re in my head Faith, so you had better learn to deal with it,” he warned.
“And if I don’t?” she asked coolly; her back rising.
“You will,” he told her a little arrogantly. “I am incredibly attracted to you and I am sure you feel the same way. I am going to give you a little space to deal with that but I can’t wait for very long.” Without waiting for an answer he hung up.
The nerve of the man, she fumed, throwing the phone on the bed and heading for the bathroom. We’ll just see about that. She murmured in determination.
*****
She went in the next morning with a fight in her steps; determined to show him that she was not in the least bit intimidated by what he said last night but he was very polite to her all day. As a matter of fact, he went out for most of the day to meetings, leaving her alone with her resolve to avoid him. How can you avoid someone who is not even there? She thought in frustration. She was kept busy for the rest of the day and during the afternoon she got a call from Gladys.
“Oh my dear, I cannot thank you enough!” she exclaimed.
“So I take it you got the job?” Faith asked with a smile, her heart swelling.
“I am here right now and I am adjusting quite nicely. Thank you my dear, I am taking you out for a meal as soon as I get my first pay check.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Faith protested.
“I insist,” Gladys said firmly, saying goodbye.
It was almost four o’clock when a slender blonde woman bustled in. “May I help you?” Faith started to say and stopped; the woman was the older female version of Joshua.
“Hello my dear, I am looking for my son,” she said with a smile.
Faith stood up hastily and came from around her desk. “Hi my name is-“
“Faith, I know,” she took the girl’s hand in her delicate ones. “My son has been harping on your name for the past two weeks and he is right, you are beautiful.”
Faith blushed and stood there a little shyly. “Thank you.” She murmured. Just then Joshua came in, his eyes lighting up as he saw his mother.
“Mom, I didn’t know you were coming in,” he exclaimed, hurrying over to give her a big hug. Faith felt her eyes burning with unshed tears as she watched the two of them.
“I tried calling to tell you I would be coming into town but your phone was off,” she told him gently, reaching up to push aside a stray lock of hair that had fallen on his forehead.
“I was in meetings for most of the day,” he told her, his gaze going over to Faith’s. “This is my mother, Claire O’Connor.” He told her.
“So I notice,” Faith told him, feeling a little awkward.
“I am afraid I have put my foot in my mouth by telling Faith that you talk about her a lot and that you told me she is beautiful.” Claire said with a charming smile.
“Mom, be careful you don’t frighten her away,” he protested, meeting Faith’s eyes above his mother’s head. Just then the phone rang and Faith turned away to answer it; by the time she had finished they had gone into his office.
She left just before closing time and came over to Faith’s desk. “Nice to meet you my dear, and I know I will be seeing more of you,” With a smile she headed for the door.
Joshua came out as soon as his mother had left and came and sat on the chair next to her desk. She did her best to ignore him; typing furiously on the keyboard.
“Aren’t you going to ask me about the meetings?” he asked her lazily, his hand on the desk.
“I suppose you’ll tell me when you’re ready,” she told him, refusing to look at him.
“We got two more clients,” he told her. When she did not respond, he asked teasingly, “What no hugs?”
Faith stopped typing and looked at him. “This is all a big joke to you, isn’t it?” she said heatedly. “And exactly what did your mother mean by saying that she will be seeing more of me?”
“What I feel about you is no joke,” he told her soberly. “And as for what my mother meant – you would have to ask her when next you see her. You’re under my skin Faith, whether you like it or not.” With that he got up, leaving her staring after him in frustrated anger.
Chapter 5
The dance went on for a week; both of them pretending that everything was as it should be. Faith went out of her way to avoid touching him and he made it easy for her by not going near her. They were kept busy with clients and were getting a lot of walk-ins and people who advertised the business by word of mouth. Apart for the obvious sexual tension between them; Faith enjoyed her work immensely.
“I want these documents typed and collated for a meeting tomorrow.” He came out of his office and handed her some sheaves of paper. It was Friday afternoon and she had just finished dealing with a client who had been successfully placed in a Laundromat up town. She looked up at him and her heart skipped a beat; he had unbuttoned the two top buttons of his black dress shirt and she saw the beginnings of a sprinkling of hair on his chest. She averted her eyes hastily as soon as she took the papers from him. “I am going to a meeting; I’ll probably get back just before you leave.” His tone was polite and very businesslike. Just as well, Faith thought dismally; because if he had sounded any less she would be begging him to take her.
“Okay,” she responded without looking at him. The good thing about it was that she did not have to pretend to be busy because she actually was.
He hesitated a moment as if expecting her to say something else then he turned and strode from the office; leaving him staring after her with abject misery. She busied herself with the typing he had left for her to do and made preparations for the coming week. They had acquired quite a few clients and had placed several and it gave her a sense of deep satisfaction. She was no longer anxious about the future because as much as there was tension between her and Josh, she knew she had make her mark here.
In spite of his protests, she had gone to several yard sales and acquired pieces of artwork that she hung on the walls; giving it a chic look and had also found a well preserved mahogany table that had only required vigorous polishing to restore the sheen and had placed it before the chairs with a vase of fresh flowers that she replaced as soon as they were wilted. An old bookcase had been rescued from the dump and polished and had stacks of not only magazines but also Christian literature and some novels.
He came back just as she had finished tidying up her desk. The last client had left for the day and looking at the wall clock she had discovered to her surprise that it was a little after six.
“I thought you had left,” he sounded a little breathless as if he had come by in a hurry.
“I had some things to finish up,” she told him coolly, shutting down her computer. “I left the letters and some messages on your desk and Mr. Walters from Business Solutions wants to meet with you first thing Monday morning, the particulars are there as well and what you need to take with you.”
“How about dinner?” he asked her as she made to leave.
“Excuse me?” Faith stared at him; stopping just short of putting her pocket book on her shoulder. He had come by the desk; something he had not done since last week.
“I am inviting you out to dinner,” he clarified, shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his khaki slacks.
“Why?” Faith asked suspiciously.
“Because we both have to eat Faith,” he said with a sigh. “Dammit, Faith. Why does everything have to be so hard where you are concerned?”
“You have not paid me the slightest bit of attention since last week and now you’re inviting me to dinner?”
With a frustrated groan, he dragged her into his arms and took her lips in a savage kiss, his hands moving over her back
restlessly. At first, Faith was too startled to respond but after she had gotten over the initial shock of his mouth on hers, she opened up underneath him, like a flower about to receive its first nectar. His tongue fought with hers then gentled as he tasted her and molded her to him.
With a muffled moan, he released her lips, leaving her stinging and jumpy from pent-up desire. He held her within his arms and rested his forehead against hers; his heart hammering against hers. “You told me you wanted to be professional and I have been trying to adhere to your wishes but it has been killing me and I can’t do it anymore,” he told her huskily. “I want to make love to you but I want to feed you first, I’m just giving you a heads up.”
“Okay,” she whispered huskily.
“Okay?” he lifted his head and looked at her uncertainly. “Did you hear what I just said?”
“I heard,” she told him with a slow smile. “Let’s go eat.”
“You are a strange woman Faith,” he murmured, easing away from her and heading to his office. “I’ll be right back.” He told her.
They had dinner at a small intimate restaurant near them. She had the spicy curried shrimp and he had roast chicken with baby carrots and steamed vegetables.
“I like this place,” he murmured in satisfaction as he leaned back against the soft cushioned seat and stared around at the dimly lit room. “It’s not too crowded and the service is excellent.”
“I have not been here before,” Faith told him. She was enjoying the meal immensely and was glad she had chosen to wear her rose pink blouse and black pants. The outfit made her look like a woman on the go.
“Now you know what you have been missing,” he told her with a grin; his eyes on her mouth as she chewed her food delicately. “You’re a very sexy woman Faith.”
Faith swallowed the food with difficulty. “What are you doing?”
“Giving you a prelude to what’s going to happen between us later,” he told her, leaning forward to wipe a finger over her full bottom lip and putting the finger into his mouth. Faith stomach twisted and her legs felt weak.
“Stop,” she told him hoarsely.
“Stop wanting you so badly that every time I think of you I get an erection? Or stop feeling like I am falling and I cannot help myself?” he asked her softly.
Faith felt numb and her appetite had fled. She could not answer him; she did not have the words.
“Let’s get out of here,” he said hastily; pulling out some cash and leaving it on the table, not even bothering to count it.
They took his car and left hers in the parking lot at the office. Joshua told her he would take her to pick it up later; much later.
His house was a three bedroom at the top of a small rise and offered a spectacular view of the small town and a park with a small lake. The flower garden was rioting with flowers that had just started to bloom and the scent wafted heavily in the slight breeze.
They barely made it to his bedroom. Faith caught a glimpse of an unmade king sized bed and a huge armoire. “I’ll give you the tour later,” he promised; standing within an inch of her.
“All right,” she said breathlessly.
“Faith, I promise I will not hurt you,” he told her soberly. “You don’t have to be afraid.”
“I am not afraid,” she told him achingly. She badly wanted him to touch her.
He came to her slowly, reaching out to trail a finger down her soft cheek. “I think about you so much,” he whispered.
“Stop talking,” she told him, reaching up her arms to twine around his neck.
“Okay,” he grinned, pulling her into his arms. Their lips met and fused and explored gently at first then feverishly as if they were making up for times lost. Faith felt the shudder starting from deep within and she pressed closer; wanting more.
“I know,” he whispered, reaching between them to cup her full breast. He stepped back and started unbuttoning her blouse and she helped him; hastily getting rid of her clothes; standing before him in black lace bikinis and matching bra that cupped her breasts lovingly.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured hoarsely. He pulled off his shirt and pants, flinging them on the floor. Faith gasped as she saw his erection; her heart shuddering as she wondered if she was going to be able to accommodate him. “Don’t worry, you’ll adapt,” he reassured her. “I will never hurt you,” he told her again slipping off the bra and exposing her pert breast, their nipples hard. “So beautiful,” he murmured, ducking his head and taking a nipple inside his mouth. Faith gave a sharp cry as the sensation lanced through her body. His tongue licked and pulled mercilessly; one hand reaching down to her panties; pushing it aside to feel her before probing further inside. She was already wet and he slowly worked a finger inside her careful not to breach her yet.
She was panting, She had never known it could be like this and she was trembling with the magnitude of it all. He pulled out his finger and released her breast; and without a word he picked her up and laid her gently on the bed. He stood there looking at her, her eyes slumberous, her body flushed with the sensations he had caused inside her and his erection strained against his underwear. He pulled it off abruptly and knelt over her for a moment, staring at her beautiful face. Then he went down, tonguing her breasts and venturing down to her quivering stomach before reaching her pubic area. Faith went rigid; her hands holding his head fiercely – she did not know what to expect.
“It’s okay baby,” he whispered, his tongue reaching out to touch her; plunging inside her causing her to cry out in intense pleasure.
“Josh, please,” she cried out, her hands gripping the sheets, her body bucking. But he continued until she felt as if she was about to burst into tiny pieces. Then he stopped, moving over her. He had to be careful and rein in his emotions. He was bursting to be with her but he had to take it slow. He entered an inch at a time, his teeth gritted with the effort; then he pushed against the barrier and when it did not budge he pushed harder, seeing her eyes widen in pain and his heart shuddered within him. “I am sorry baby,” he muttered. With a final push he entered her fully; his mouth capturing her cry of pain. He was still for a moment, giving her time to get accustomed to him; his body tensed with the effort but it was she who started moving underneath him and with a broken cry he moved with her; her unbelievable tightness gripping him and pulling him in.
Faith had never felt anything like this – she felt as if she was being carried on a wind tossed boat and her legs widened as she took him inside her; moving with him as the sensation built up inside her. She gripped his shoulders; her mouth opened underneath his; never wanting him to stop. She felt it; like a wind rushing through her unsuspecting body and with a cry she called out his name; twisting her body beneath him – almost sure that she was somehow dying. He gripped her hips and lifted her, meeting her frenzied movements with his. He held out until she was ready and he came with her; his hoarse cry mingling with her cries of pleasure and he emptied himself inside her; his body shuddering against hers.
They lay still for a while to allow the shivering to stop and then he shifted; not wanting to crush her with his weight. Faith murmured in protest.
“I don’t want to crush you,” he whispered against her cheek.
“You won’t,” she murmured drowsily, snuggling against his chest. His heart turned over and he gathered her closer to him.
“How do you feel?” he asked.
“A little sore but otherwise wonderful,” she murmured. “Maybe if I had known sex was this great, I probably would have done it years ago.’
He laughed, his laughter rumbling against her cheek. “No you wouldn’t,” he teased. “You are a good Christian girl who is supposed to hold out until the Lord finds you someone suitable.”
Faith angled her head to look at him. “And are you?” He looked at her uncomprehendingly. “The someone suitable,” she clarified.
“Take a wild guess,” he told her casually. “I am your first and I want to be your last,” he avoided h
er eyes.
“That’s a tall order,” she told him; her heart hammering inside her chest.
“Just letting you know,” he told her. His hand ventured down to cup her bottom pulling her against him to feel his semi erect penis. “I want you to be my last,” he whispered as his head lowered and his breath feathered against her cheek.
“Josh-“ She began huskily and he stopped her; his lips claiming hers in a tender but soul stirring kiss. Faith spread her fingers against his chest, tangling into the fine chest hair as she moved against him restlessly.
He opened her legs and his fingers sought her warmth; still wet from their combined orgasm and he parted the lips going further and working his fingers inside her; plunging in and out quickly. Faith rode his fingers, her eyes closed; her mouth working his furiously. She came violently, bucking against him – his fingers buried inside her as she clamped her thighs against him- her breathing labored; her heart thundering. He shifted her and knelt above her; using his fingers wet from her come to moisten his pulsing penis before he plunged inside her; staying still; his eyes boring into hers. “You’re mine.” He told her harshly. Before gathering her legs and wrapping them around his waist; and gripping her hips to pull her closer to him; moving within her; speeding up the momentum as she started moving. He came before her this time and waited until she came; her cries echoing around the room as her pleasure flooded through her body.
They slept for a little bit; his penis buried deep inside her. It was she who woke up first, pulling back slowly to look at him. He was gorgeous, even in sleep and Faith noticed how his lashes fanned his cheek and the growth of hair on his face. His hair was mussed from the many times she had gripped it and the blond highlights stood on end.
‘Like what you see?” he murmured without opening his eyes.
“You were awake the whole time,” she pushed against his chest.
“Just a little while ago,” he grinned at her; his eyes more hazel than green as they stared at her. “I don’t want to come out of you.”
Love So Heavenly (A Clean Christian African American Romance) Page 17
