"No," she answered just as stonily.
"Suit yourself," he slammed out of the car and went to his house.
Faith stared at him in frustrated anger. To hell with him, she thought, her face flushed with anger. She had been looking forward to being with him and spending a nice Sunday afternoon just being in his arms but he can just go to hell.
She spent a miserable afternoon and night and several times she expected the phone to ring. But it didn't and she had a hard time dealing with his not calling. Why, oh why hadn't she kept the relationship neutral? Now they would have to work together in an uncomfortable atmosphere.
*****
She went to work very early the next morning. She had gotten a key from him just a week ago and she was determined to ignore him; after all she was here to work and that was exactly what she was going to do. She was anything if not professional. She had worn cream slacks and a blue silk blouse; her wild curls tamed somewhat at the nape of her neck. Blue earrings dangled at her lobes and matching bracelet sparkled at her left wrist. He would never know how much make-up she'd had to put on to hide the telltale sign of tears. It was only seven o'clock and they did not open until eight thirty but she had some things to file and an appointment to set up for him to see some business personnel.
He came in at seven thirty and to her immense satisfaction she saw that he looked like hell. His hair was sticking up in places he had obviously dragged his fingers through and his eyes looked slightly swollen as if he had not gotten enough sleep. But by God, he was still so damned attractive, she though in despair, taking her eyes off him.
"Good morning," he murmured, standing just inside the doorway.
"Morning," she barely answered, not looking at him.
He stood there as if expecting her to say something else but Faith continued typing the document she had in front of her. He turned and went inside his office and slammed the door behind him. He did not come back out and she went and unlocked the door to welcome in their first client.
It was mid-morning before he came back in the outer office and told her he was going out for a while.
She had her hands full dealing with clients and being a Monday it was very busy. She made a call to two companies and placed several clients.
It was almost five o’clock before he came back; looking as if he had lost his best friend. The office was empty by then and he stood by her desk.
She did not look at him and he stood there for a while. "I need to talk to you," he told her softly.
"I am listening," she told him coolly, placing some things in her in tray.
"Will you at least look at me?" he asked her achingly.
She looked at him and what she saw made her heart skip a beat. His expression was anguished. Before she had time to say anything, the door opened and she had to go and attend to a client. It was not until after six and she had locked the door before she decided to seek him out. His door was partially opened and he was sitting behind the desk his head resting back against the chair.
"What's wrong with you?" she asked him bluntly.
"I am in love with you and I don't know how to deal with it," he laughed harshly, swiveling around to face her.
"And that's what has put you in such a lousy mood since yesterday," Faith asked softly, venturing further inside.
"They were holding you and I saw red," he told her wearily.
"Who was holding me?" Faith was puzzled.
"Those guys at church."
Faith stared at him in disbelief. "You mean my church family? The people I grew up with and have known all my life?"
"When you say it like that it makes me sound like a jealous fool," he told her, standing up and moving towards her.
"You have nothing to be jealous about Joshua. I gave you my innocence willingly, not anyone else." She told him.
He stood right in front of her; his hands at his sides. "I saw them touching you and I wanted to rip them apart with my bare hands," he said his voice harsh. "I cannot bear the thought of someone else touching you and that makes me feel totally vulnerable. I don't know where I stand with you."
"I have asked you for time and you need to give me that," she told him softly, one hand reaching up to smooth the anguished expression from his face. "I am with you because I want to be with you Josh."
"You're making me crazy," he whispered hoarsely, capturing the hand touching his face.
"I don't want to," she told him her hand resting against his strong jaw.
"I didn't sleep well," he confessed pulling her towards him. "I had a lousy night and I kept picking up the phone to call you. You're in my blood stream Faith and I can't do anything about it."
Her heart pounded at his words and she went willing into his arms. He held her tight against him and stayed that way for a minute and then he reached down, seeking her lips with his hungrily. His overnight growth rubbed against her sensitive skin as he lifted her against him. He was ravishing her, drowning in her kisses; his hands gripping her; his erection painfully obvious. He wanted to take her then and there but he controlled himself.
With a loud sigh he tore his mouth from hers, his breathing ragged.
"Ah Faith what have you done to me?" he rested his head against her forehead. "I want you so much that I ache."
Without a word, she held him close to her; her eyes brimming with tears. She was starting the feel the same way.
Chapter 7
“You’re sleeping with him,” Maureen said casually; stirring her fruit juice with her straw. They were at a restaurant for lunch after Maureen had called her and invited her to have lunch with her. Faith had prepared to be interrogated. She had told Joshua she would be out for about an hour and he had nodded. Things were still a little strained between them and Faith did not know what to do about it. She certainly did not want to discuss it with Maureen; at least not yet, not until she had sorted out what she felt for him. “Don’t bother to deny it, it’s pretty obvious.” She added.
“Okay fine,” Faith gave a helpless shrug, pushing aside her half empty plate of baked beans and chicken and rice. “We have kind of a thing,”
“Is that what they are calling it now?” Maureen raised her pencil thin brows. “The man is clearly in love with you Faith and he’s gorgeous. If I weren’t so in love with Mark I would scoop him up in a minute; not that he would look at me; he has eyes only for you.”
“We’re taking it slow,” Faith told her defensively, her heart jumping a little in anxiety.
“What are you afraid of?” Maureen stared at her curiously.
“I am afraid of being wrong; I am afraid after all the newness is gone then we will become one of those couples who barely speak to each other and I am afraid if I don’t get to know him well enough then I would have found I have made a terrible mistake.”
“You mean like I did?” Maureen said shrewdly; placing her empty glass on the table.
“Oh Maureen, I didn’t mean that!” Faith said stricken.
“It’s okay,” Maureen shrugged her round shoulders. “I made a gigantic mistake in my marriage to Donald. I saw the signs long before we got married but was so afraid that it was my last chance of being with someone that I ignored them and told myself he would change after we got married – big mistake. Don’t fool yourself Faith; there are always signs before and it’s for you to ask yourself if this is something you can or want to live with. I know without a shadow of a doubt that Mark is who he is right now.”
Faith remained silent for a little while then she spoke. “He is so achingly handsome that every time I see him, my heart give a thump and I want to jump on him,” she smiled a little weakly. “He has told me he loves me and I don’t know how to say it back to him; at least not yet and I know if he wants to hear it.”
“But girl that’s wonderful!” Maureen exclaimed; with apparent excitement.
“He wants me to meet his mother,” Faith added with a grimace. “He dotes on her because she was a single parent and they are very clo
se.”
“Trust me she’s going to love you,” Maureen reassured her. “So tell me about the sex.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. What are we sixteen?” Faith looked at her friend in amusement.
“Wanting to hear about a man’s sexual expertise has no age limit,” Maureen retorted with a grin. “So dish.”
“Unbelievable,” Faith told her with a dreamy smile. “He took into consideration that it was my first time and he was so gentle with me – he took me to a place I did not want to come back from.”
“Goodness,” Maureen breathed, fanning her face with her napkin. “Girl you are definitely in love with him and I suggest you sort out what needs to be sorted out and put the man out of his misery!”
*****
When she got back to work Joshua was in the middle of dealing with several clients and Faith hurriedly went to her desk to answer the phone that was ringing. She then went and provided beverages to some clients who were sitting and waiting to be attended to. It was two hours later before they were able to sit down and take a breather.
“Why didn’t you call me?” Faith asked him reproachfully as she handed him a cup of coffee and sat at her desk to turn on the computer.
“To let you know the office falls apart when you’re not here?” he asked her dryly, sipping the coffee in appreciation. He was sitting on the chair beside her desk, his stance relaxed.
“You did not call me but I found out that fact for myself,” she told him saucily.
“Cute,” he said shaking his head. “Had a good lunch?”
“Yes,” she nodded, her attention caught on what she was doing on the computer.
“Mention anything about me?” he asked her casually.
Her head snapped up and she stared at him; her eyes narrowed. “Why do you think we were talking about you?”
“Because women tend to do that,” he told her with a grin. “And because I am so damned adorable, you must be talking about me to everyone you know.”
“Fat chance,” Faith retorted; her face glowering as he laughed at her. Before she could add anything else, the door opened to admit a client.
They were kept busy until closing and it was Faith who locked the door and went to look for him in his office. He was on the phone and gestured for her to sit while he finished the conversation.
“That was Mr. Masters from the meeting I had earlier in the week. He wants us to provide him with a few temps because some of his staff will be going on vacation for several weeks.” He told her leaning back against his chair and looking at her.
“I will see who we have available.” She told him.
“You have come into my life and now I can’t remember what I did before you,” he murmured softly. “Come here Faith.”
She sat still for a moment and then she got up on trembling feet. “What?” Her throat was dry. He reached out and pulled her onto his lap.
“What have you done to me?” he asked her huskily, pulling her back against him.
“I assume it’s the same thing you have done to me,” she said hoarsely, leaning back against him.
“I eat, drink and sleep you,” he whispered against her neck, his breath soft against her skin. “I can’t get you out of my mind.” His hand reached up and moved the curls from off her neck; his tongue snaking out to lick her exposed skin.
“Josh,” she breathed.
“Baby,” he reached around to cup her breasts covered by her red cotton blouse. “Undress for me,” he told her achingly.
Faith let out a shattered sigh and without a word, she unbuttoned her blouse and stood up; without even feeling the least bit self-conscious as she turned to face him in her pink lace bra. She shimmied out of her dark blue skirt and stood before him in her matching pink lace panties that barely covered her mound. He sat there staring at her, his eyes a smoky gray; then he stood, taking off his clothes, including his underwear; his erection like a proud flagpole; pulsing and ready. “Take off the rest,” he told her throatily. And she did, flinging them onto the pile of clothes on the ground. “Touch me,” he ordered harshly; his eyes never leaving hers.
Faith looked at him uncertainly and then she reached out and touched him tentatively; her hands closing around him. His body stiffened and she looked at him. “Don’t stop,” he told her hoarsely. She moved her hand up and down his shaft; venturing down to the tip; her finger exploring and wondering at the moistness she felt there. “I can’t baby,” he said brokenly, pulling her into his arms and crushing her mouth beneath his. He moved over her mouth restlessly, his hand going between them to touch her; his fingers moving inside her and exploring her wetness; working within her furiously as he ravished her mouth hungrily, his movement frantic as if he could not get enough of her. Faith rode his fingers; her fingers tangled in his soft hair as she felt the intense pleasure work its way through her. He lifted her and placed her on his penis, her gasp lost inside his mouth as he plunged inside her; lifting her higher and backing her up against the wall; his hands gripping her hips. Faith hung on tightly and moved her hips against his; her movements hurried and frenzied; her expression wild and the longing blazing through her – she did not want him to stop and she told him so.
He pulled out suddenly and she protested; then he set her down and went down on his knees in front of her; burying his face on her mound, breathing her in before his tongue reached out and tasted her; reaching inside to lick and taste and savor. Faith came immediately; flooding his mouth with her orgasm; her body sagging weakly against the wall. He continued to lick her tenderly and just when she thought she could bare it no longer, he stood and with a sudden movement; turned her around and entered her from behind bending her back a little and gripping her hips firmly as he plunged inside her over and over. The new experience was unbelievable and Faith felt the sensation flooding her body. They came at the same time; their cries echoing inside the small office. He did not pull out immediately but pulled her back against him; slowly undulating inside her causing her little spurts of pleasure. “Did I hurt you?” he whispered against her ear.
“No, but if you had it would have been totally worth it,” she whispered back, her head resting back against his chest. His hand cupped her breast; touching the pebble like nipple causing her to shiver.
He pulled out and lifted her in his arms, backing up until he reached the chair where he sat with her on his lap. “My mother wants us to come for dinner on Friday,” he told her softly. He felt her stiffen in his arms and he waited with bated breath for her answer.
“Okay,” she told him, resting her head on his shoulder, drowsy and contented.
“That was easy,” he said with a small smile.
“What if she doesn’t like me?” she asked him; her fingers playing with his nipple; causing ripples through his body.
“She already does,” he reassured her.
“How do you know that?” she asked him suspiciously; sitting up and looking at him.
“Because of the way I talk about you and she told me that you are a beautiful young woman and I had better treat you right,” he told her with a grin.
“I like her already,” she smiled; reaching out and kissing his jaw; liking the feel of the hair roughened texture of his skin.
“What are you doing?” he growled.
“Just returning the favor,” she murmured; her tongue snaking out and touching his lips. “You make me feel like I am on a cloud and I wonder if I do the same for you. I have no one to compare you with but I find that I don’t need to,” she reached between them and stroked him.
“Faith,” his voice was trapped inside his throat and he could hardly utter her name.
“Don’t say anything,” she told him, sliding around and facing him, placing his erection inside her. He groaned deep inside his throat and started to move. “Don’t” she told him. She positioned herself and rode him slowly at first then furiously, her eyes on him. He gripped her hips to steady her and lifted himself off the chair and plunged inside her
. He bent forward and captured a nipple in his mouth; sucking on it furiously. With a harsh cry they slid off the chair and he cushioned her fall with his hands as they landed on the carpet; still fused together. Joshua put her legs on his shoulders; plunging in and out; his control shattered as he gave her all he had. Her scream rent the air as the orgasm built up inside her and he pulled her closer to him; his mouth capturing hers as he emptied himself inside her; his body shaking uncontrollably; his cries hoarse against her mouth. They lay on the floor in each other’s arms and Faith slept while Joshua watched her sleeping; his expression unbelievably tender. He had never felt this way about another person in his entire life and the feeling of fear invaded him; he wanted her by his side constantly and the fierce possessiveness he felt towards her made him want to hang on to her. He knew he had to give her time; but how much time was enough? He needed her so much that at night it was like a physical ache and for a long time he had not prayed but he found himself praying to a God he knew exist that she would want to spend the rest of her life with him because he did not want to be without her.
*****
“Ah, the woman who has my son tied in knots,” Claire O’Connor greeted her at the door with a smile. Her long blonde hair was twisted on top of her head and there was an apron over her jeans and simple floral cotton blouse.
“Excuse me?” Faith stared at the woman.
“Mom,” Josh murmured in exasperation as he kissed her cheek gently. “Are you trying to drive her away?”
“I am sure I am not able to do that,” she chided her son. “Come in my dear, and welcome to my home.” She ushered Faith inside and they went into the living room. It was a simple one story house that felt cozy with furniture that looked like it had been around for years. It smelled of lavender and baking.
“Leave us alone for a minute, darling and go and get the cake out of the oven,” Claire told her son who was hovering over Faith like a mother hen. “Go on honey, I am not going to eat her.”
Josh left with a shake of his head. Faith was feeling a little apprehensive. She had changed about four times this morning because Josh had told her they were leaving straight from work to his mother’s house. She had chosen to wear white cotton pants and an emerald green blouse with matching accessories and hardly any make-up. Her hair was tamed somewhat and in a bun on top of her head.
Love So Heavenly (A Clean Christian African American Romance) Page 19
