Follow Your Heart--A Novel

by Brenda Jackson

  Over the weekend, Audria had racked her brain to find something—anything—that she could use as ammunition against both the woman and Roman. Now, thanks to her trusted PI, she’d been given some. From the reports she’d read last week, Victoria Madaris had an aversion to politicians and had even said so in an interview she’d given a year or so ago. She also had an aversion to being in the limelight, although she herself was a television personality on a talk show. Lucky for her, her television show was in a local market and not on a national scale.

  Well, Audria was about to make sure she was thrust into the limelight, and she knew just the tabloid to do it. She knew Buddy Fields at The Tattler and he was just the person who could spin a story that would cause a scandal big enough to ruin a person’s reputation.

  She didn’t want Roman’s reputation totally ruined—she just wanted it shredded to the point where he would decide distancing himself from Victoria Madaris would be the smart thing to do. Then he would have to seek out Audria to be by his side as the only way to shine with the Washington elites again. Of course, when Roman realized just how much he needed her, she would make demands of her own...like him placing a ring on her finger.

  He had dangled her around long enough. And when they got married, they would have the most elegant wedding the nation’s capital had ever seen. And it would be a beautiful June wedding.

  Audria moved around her bedroom doing a happy dance. Yes! That was her plan and she was more than certain it would work. Roman might be fascinated with this woman now, but that wouldn’t last because Audria, of all people, knew that nothing meant more to Roman than his political career. And now that the powers that be in DC had let him know he could be a top contender for the highest job in the land, there was no way he would choose Victoria Madaris over his political aspirations. No way.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  TANNER SPREAD THE huge blanket on the sand. Together he and Lyric took the picnic basket out of their lunch wagon, followed by a bottle of wine and wineglasses. There was another smaller basket that contained napkins, utensils, hand sanitizer and other miscellaneous items.

  Dropping down on the blanket, he reached out his hand to her. “Come join me,” he invited. She took it and eased down beside him.

  He poured them both glasses of wine and looked out at the water. “I love it here,” he said after a brief pause. It had taken a minute to get his libido in check. All kinds of sensations had swamped him when she’d placed her hand in his. Then, when’d she dropped down beside him, their thighs had innocently brushed, and he’d actually felt something akin to an electrical current spear through him.

  On top of that, he was trying to figure out why on the plane ride here, he had shared a lot about himself with her. More of himself than he typically would with a woman he intended to have a brief fling with. He had told her about his family and the things he liked doing. It was as if he was trying to convey he had other passions besides those in the bedroom. Why would it matter to him for her not to think he only had a one-track mind, when he should want her to think that? He needed to focus on the reason she was here with him. The only reason.

  “Do you come here often, Tanner?”

  He glanced over to see her looking at him. “Not nearly enough. It’s hard to get away sometimes. I’m a very busy man.” He smiled. “But not too busy to spend time with a very beautiful woman today.”

  She chuckled and said, “Maybe now is when I should tell you about my brother.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Your brother?”

  “Yes.”

  “What about him?” he asked, taking a sip of wine. Her fragrance was getting to him and he wasn’t sure how it was overriding the scent of the Gulf.

  “He used to be New Orleans’s number-one bachelor. He was a real womanizer and because of him I know all the codes men use to categorize women. I also know the lines men drop to reel women in.”

  He tilted his head to look at her. He needed to get her out of his system, and it wouldn’t go any further after that. “You think I just gave you a line?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why would you think that when you are beautiful?” Surely, she had to know that. There was nothing plain about her at all. Every part of her that he’d seen was gorgeous and she had a great-looking body. And sitting so close to her on the blanket was making him aware of her in every pore of his body. Her nearness, the scent of her and that rare sexual aura that she seemed to emit were all making it hard to remember that he had pegged her as a one and done—an OD.

  “How is the club coming along?”

  She would interrupt his thoughts to ask him about the club when she hadn’t answered his question. But then, he had given her what most would consider a line; however, in this case it had been the truth. “No thanks to you, we are running two weeks behind, but our goal is still to open by New Year’s Eve.”

  She didn’t seem bothered by the slight irritation in his voice. “I had a job to do and I did it, Tanner. One day you’ll thank me for keeping those who patronize your establishment safe. And as far as opening on time, you will. I have a feeling you can do anything you put your mind to doing.”

  “And what if told you that right now my mind is on doing you, Lyric?”

  * * *

  LYRIC TOOK A sip of wine, definitely not ready to answer that, so she didn’t. “Let’s table that question for later. Like I told you before coming here, I’m well aware of your game plan.” Why did men think they were the only ones with agendas? “I didn’t eat breakfast and I’m starving. What’s in the basket?”

  He gave her a look that clearly stated he wasn’t sure what to make of her, then said, “Take a look and see.”

  She did. There was a box of fried chicken, a container of potato salad, bags of chips, a container of coleslaw and slices of pound cake. “Everything looks good, Tanner.” He looked good.

  Nearly too good, she thought, as she put food on both their plates. What she’d told him was true. She was hungry and sitting beside him wasn’t making things better. Now she had to deal with two different types of hunger. One for food and the other for a man. She’d never had problems with the latter before, but now something was happening to her that she didn’t quite understand.

  Why was just being near Tanner causing her to feel all sorts of sensations she’d never felt before? There was the reaction she felt anytime they touched...like what just happened with their fingers when she’d handed him a plate. Then there was that giddiness she felt in the pit of her stomach every time their gazes connected. More than once his eyes had lowered to her chest. Could he see how her nipples had hardened just from sharing a spread with him?

  She bit into her chicken, determined not to let being around him unnerve her.

  “You like it?”

  “Huh?” she asked, taking time to chew and swallow her food. She then licked her lips.

  He smiled. “Umm, I got my answer. Lip-licking good, apparently.”

  She licked her lips again and smiled. “Yes, it’s delicious.”

  “I know the owner. He’s a friend of mine and I’ll tell him you liked it.”

  A short while later, she figured Tanner could tell his friend that everything had been delicious. The wine was great, too. His idea of a picnic on the beach had been a swell one and she was glad she had accepted his invitation. Had she stayed home she would have spent the day dusting and vacuuming.

  “Since you served our food, I’ll gather up our trash,” he said.

  “Okay.”

  She watched him and when his hand innocently brushed against her thigh, her heart skipped a beat. It had been innocent, right? He hadn’t given her any indication that it hadn’t been, but this man was experienced when it came to women. Thanks to Liam, she knew something about how womanizers operated, but what she lacked was experience. That had to be the reason her nerves were dancing, and her stom
ach was doing somersaults. Whatever he had planned for her today, she was ready. Anticipation had her brain racing.

  How could she want a man with this much intensity when knowing all he wanted was to get one thing from her, and one thing only? He’d even told her that his mind was on “doing” her. You couldn’t state things more plainly than that. At least he was keeping it honest.

  She’d never been a casual kind of girl when it came to sex, but curiosity was egging her on to try it, just this once. Was Tanner the one man who would give her the sexual pleasure she’d never found in another man’s arms? And what if he did? What would happen when she saw him again at the gym? Could they act like nothing had happened?

  “What are you thinking about, Lyric?”

  She glanced over at him, saw how he was looking at her, waiting for her answer. She studied his features. Why did he have to look so darn handsome? There wasn’t anything about him that she wasn’t aware of. And then there were his delectable-looking lips. Just staring at them was causing a surge of yearning to erupt inside of her.

  “Lyric?”

  His deep, warm voice saying her name brought her back to the present. “I was just wondering.”

  “About what?”

  “If your lips taste as good as they look.” Feeling bold, she leaned in and captured his mouth with hers.

  * * *

  TANNER DEFINITELY HADN’T expected this. He’d figured he would be the one making the first move, and now she was taking charge. He’d kissed plenty of women in his day and could immediately tell that although she was initiating, she didn’t have much confidence in what she was doing. However, the passion was there. And at that moment, it was the passion that had him moaning out his pleasure as she took hold of his tongue and began sucking on it...hard.

  If she thought he was disciplined enough to stay still like a statue while she played around with his mouth, then she was wrong. Fire was spreading through all parts of him and he couldn’t stay motionless, so he began roaming his hands all over her. Especially toward her chest. He needed to touch her breasts before taking them into his mouth and sucking on them. He had dreamed of her hardened nipples sliding in his mouth during countless dreams and today he intended to make it a reality.

  When her tongue began twirling around with his, he knew he was at the point where he needed to take over or else he would be climaxing before she did and that was something he didn’t do. He always made sure the woman got her pleasure before he got his, and that was under all circumstances.

  He fought for control but when she pressed her hand to the back of his neck to place pressure to their mouths, he couldn’t help but moan again. Her delicious taste was making him feel crazed. Suddenly she pulled her mouth away and drew in a deep breath. Her eyes opened and she stared into his as her lips creased into a smile, giving him the impression that she was pretty damn pleased with herself. He smiled back, glad she felt that way.

  “Now can I take over?” he asked against her moist lips.

  She stiffened for a moment as if surprised he’d spoken, then she relaxed before nodding. It was then that he slanted his open mouth over hers, deciding he was about to show her his version of a mind-blowing kiss. Over the years he’d earned the reputation of being a master in the bedroom when it came to women and kissing was one of his specialties.

  Without wasting any time, he began eating up her mouth like his survival depended on it, moving his head from side to side with their lips locked tightly together. She evidently liked what he was doing because she tightened her arms around his neck and tried imitating his tongue. Her attempt was refreshing but not needed. He had this.

  And to show her just how much he had this, he deepened the kiss to take it to the next level while sliding his hands beneath her shirt. He found the front clasp to her bra and with an easy twist of the wrist, he had her bra undone and felt the exact moment her freed breasts sprang into his hands. She knew, too, and when she almost pulled her mouth from his, he locked down deeper and his tongue moved in a way that quickly made her regain her concentration. A warmth spread in his chest as he cupped her breasts. Damn, they felt good, and when he rubbed the pad of his thumb across one of the swollen nipples, he heard her moan deep in her throat.

  Tanner wasn’t sure what her sexual experience was, but he intended to make this time the best she’d ever had. He was arrogant enough to believe that he could. Why he was so intent on doing such a thing with a woman he’d slotted as an OD, he wasn’t sure, since he didn’t plan to have any more contact with her after today. He would chalk up the three-month gym membership as money well spent for an opportunity to do this.

  But then, hadn’t she made it clear that he was an OD, as well? Why did that bother him? He should be elated she felt that way. He would dismiss his annoyance for now, and her moans were helping him do so. Things couldn’t get better than this—making out with a beautiful woman on a blanket at the beach with the scent of seawater flowing through his nostrils and the breeze floating across his skin.

  Suddenly, her moans became deep groans, and when she tightened her arms around his neck and her body began shivering, he knew what was happening to her. Apparently, some knot of desire she’d been tied up in for a while had started to unravel. Now her tongue was trying to counter the increasingly intense movement of his own, driving him to a level of want and desire that was almost unbearable.

  He felt like a sex-starved teenager about to make a score with the most beautiful girl at school. Her response to him was overwhelming and was making every cell in his body sizzle.

  Their tongues were mingling in a dance so intense and sensual that he could feel a drugging rush of desire hit him below the waist. He was aroused beyond reason, hard as a rock, and his shaft was twitching in all kinds of ways, pressing against his zipper. Bone-melting fire was quickly spreading through him. Lord knows he was trying to stay in control of the situation, but he was discovering he was losing the fight.

  Suddenly, she snatched her mouth from his when her body began convulsing in one hell of an orgasm. But he wanted it to be the one she would remember and decided to add the topping on the cake by tasting her in yet another way.

  His mouth replaced his hands on her breasts. Her body jolted again, practically shoving her breast down his throat. He loved it. He loved her breasts and all but began making a meal of them. They were firm, plump and perfect. Now his hands were touching her, moving past her panties. His fingers sought her center and found it drenched.

  He released her breast from his mouth and returned to her lips, nipping around them while his fingers began making circular motions around her body. She began moaning his name. “Tell me what you want me to do, baby.”

  The eyes staring at him were glazed, the result of two orgasms, and it wouldn’t surprise him if her body wasn’t gearing up for a third. For some reason he felt she needed a third and he wanted to give it to her. “Tell me what you want,” he repeated.

  “I want your mouth there,” she whispered against his lips. “No man’s mouth has ever been there and I need to know how it feels.”

  He blinked. Had she just confessed that no man had ever gone down on her before? This beautiful, curvaceous, sensuous woman. What kind of inept men had she been dating in her lifetime? He quickly decided he would take care of that oversight right now.

  As he eased her back on the blanket, her legs seemed to automatically open. He slid down her shorts and her panties right along with them. When he revealed her womanhood, which looked so damn perfect, he had to bite back a groan. And just to think no other man’s mouth had touched this. He felt like one lucky bastard.

  He licked his lips and when she moaned his name, he shifted his gaze to her face. At that moment, he felt a deep kick in the chest, close to his heart. He went still, glad the moment had passed, but he knew it had left something behind. A tenderness he’d never felt for a woman before. He wondered whe
re the hell that had come from and why. But he didn’t have time to ponder that perplexing question. Right now, his tongue was anxious to get inside of her and he couldn’t wait a minute longer.

  Reaching out, he began fingering her between her legs and found her wetter than before. He watched her raise her hips as a bolt of desire shot through every part of him.

  He placed his hands on each side of her hips and began tracing her own wetness across her thighs. He then eased his hands under her bottom and whispered, “I’m going to place your legs on my shoulders, baby.” This would give him easier access to the part of her that he wanted, that his mouth was watering for.

  “I want to make this good for you, Lyric.” He doubted she knew just how much he meant that. “Just close your eyes and enjoy.”

  He leaned in and buried his head between her legs. He’d never known his tongue to be this ravenous, penetrate so deeply, lap so greedily. It was as if her taste was one he’d been waiting his entire life to sample and now that it was here he couldn’t get enough. When she began moving against his mouth for deeper penetration, he began sucking hard and nibbling her clit with his teeth. If there was any way he could mark this, he would. Even if such a thing wasn’t possible, he intended to leave her with the reminder that as her first, he had been worth waiting for.

  He could feel her body jerk against his mouth and his tongue released her clit to begin doing his special kind of twirling motion inside of her. When her legs tightened around his neck, he recognized her impending orgasm and was ready for it.

  He gripped her hips tighter and his tongue went deeper and began eating away at her like it was his last meal. The scream that erupted from her lips might have scared off the birds, and might have even carried far enough to have disturbed the creatures of the sea. What it did for him was nearly push him over the edge to do something in his pants he hadn’t done since his teen years.