She stripped out of her business suit and pulled the satin and lace teddy on. Her body glowed in the light of the setting sun that streamed though her bedroom windows. The contrast of the midnight black material with her skin brightened her complexion, giving her an exotic look. Jill pulled her hair up in a loose ponytail, to show off her bone structure and brown eyes.
As she looked at herself in the mirror, Jill knew she could open her heart to Darren and she could love him with everything in her. He didn’t want anything from her. He was a giver and she was ready to receive his passion, his love and everything else he had to offer. For once, she was the one getting more out of a relationship. Darren had no idea how his love was transforming her and restoring her fragile trust in men. He showed her that she could indeed have it all, man, money, career and love. She was one step closer to being one of those couples she’d envied on New Year’s Eve, she thought as she smoothed mango-scented body butter on her skin, making it feel as soft as silk. Then she misted the mango-scented body spray in the air, letting its essence fall on her. She pulled a pair of nylon and lace thigh high stockings from the drawer and slowly rolled them up her long legs, eagerly anticipating the moment when Darren would take them off. Would he use his hands or his tongue and teeth? She hoped for both. Jill rose from the edge of the bed and headed for the bedroom door.
“Darren,” she called out. “I think we have some making up to do.”
He stood so quickly that he knocked his chair over. “Whoa.” Darren closed the space between them and pulled her against his body, running his hand up and down her sides. “You feel as good as you look.”
She took his hand and placed it between her thighs. “And it gets so much better,” she wantonly whispered.
She could feel Darren shiver as she moved his hand to the snap away crotch of her outfit. He stroked the front snaps, slowly unsnapping them, exposing her throbbing womanhood. He rubbed his finger across her passion, making her knees buckle. He inserted his finger in her tight valley of wetness, stroking her ripe bud with his forefinger. Erotic sensations crawled up and down her spine, manifesting themselves in a satisfied moan. Darren backed her against the wall and prepared to feast on her body, starting with her breasts as he teased them out of her sexy outfit. Her nipples were like chocolate drops ready to be tasted and his mouth watered at the sight. Darren drew her nipple into his mouth, wrapping his tongue around her bead, licking her as if she were his favorite flavor of ice cream.
Jill held the back of his head as he fed on her. She could barely hang on as he reached between her legs, stroking her until her body purred. He dropped to his knees, kissed the wet folds of flesh between her thighs, nearly causing her to slip down to the floor. He scooped her into his arms.
“Maybe we need a change of scenery,” he said as he backed into her bedroom.
Darren carried her to the bed as if she were a virginal bride on her wedding night. Jill closed her eyes, imagining that this was indeed the night that she became Mrs. Darren Alexander. He laid her on the king-sized bed, a bed she’d spent so many cold nights alone in. Sometimes Jill would go as far as sleeping on the sofa bed in the downstairs den because she had too much bed to sleep in alone. She stroked the sheets and silently wished for more nights with Darren in her bed.
Then she reached up and cupped his face in her hands before bringing his lips to hers. Darren kissed her palm.
“I just want to look at you,” he said, “God, you’re beautiful. I’m lucky you haven’t been snapped up by some other man. I know I’m not the only one who’s seen how beautiful you are.”
Jill blushed. Most men saw her as a meal ticket, but Darren looked at her with desire in his eyes and his heart, making her feel special, dynamic and sexy, things that weren’t associated with a businesswoman like herself. Darren made her feel that she was all woman.
“I need you,” Darren said huskily. “All of you, mind, body and soul. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”
His admission stirred her soul. He needed her as much as she needed and wanted him. She answered his request with a soul searing kiss, drawing his tongue into her mouth, sucking it and savoring the taste of his sweetness. Darren broke off the kiss and slid down her body, letting his tongue map a course to her treasure. He hoisted her legs onto his shoulders, clearing the path to her wetness, lapping her sexual juices, making Jill throw her head back in satisfied bliss. Her legs shivered and she whimpered with delight when Darren’s tongue pressed deeper into her valley. But she needed more; she yearned to feel the throbbing of his manhood inside her. Reaching for his engorged sex, she stroked his erection to a near explosion. Jill wanted to melt with him, wanted to become one with him and bury herself inside his soul.
In one motion, he positioned his body between her legs, pressing his throbbing manhood against her softness. When he plunged into her wetness, Jill exclaimed his name and pressed her hips into his. Her body fell into his pulsating rhythm, and she allowed him to lead her down satisfaction’s pathway.
Making love to Darren was indescribable, wonderful, and fulfilled her every want and need. He was the kind of man she’d dreamed of but never thought she’d have because she didn’t know fairy tales still came true.
When they reached their climax, Jill held on to Darren tightly. He brushed his lips across hers. “Baby, I love being with you,” Darren said. “I love you.”
She kissed him gently. “I think I love you too,” she replied. Jill had never felt more nervous than when she confessed her love to Darren. She was raw, naked and vulnerable and had no idea what was supposed to happen next. Was he supposed to say something else? Was she supposed to explain her feelings to him in a poetic fashion?
Darren stroked her cheek, silently easing her mind. Love didn’t need an explanation, a caveat or an ironclad clause, she realized. All love needed was two willing hearts.
After they’d filled themselves with each other, Jill and Darren headed into the kitchen but neither of them wanted the leftover Chinese food. So Jill made the margaritas, pulled out some tortilla chips and a jar of salsa.
“Do you have any cheese?” he asked as he watched her put the salsa in the microwave.
“I think so,” she said, then pointed to the refrigerator. “There should be some cheese in the crisper.”
Darren opened the refrigerator, found a brick of cheese. “Grater?”
“What?”
“Cheese grater?”
Jill pointed to an assortment of cooking utensils on the wall. “There should be one over there.”
Darren gently pinched her cheek. “I forgot, the kitchen isn’t your favorite room.”
“Maybe I need to spend more time in here,” she said as she watched Darren turn generic salsa into something else.
He grated half a brick of cheddar cheese into the salsa, stirred it up and placed it in the microwave until the cheese melted. “Do you have any sour cream?”
“I seriously doubt it. You can check the fridge, though.”
Darren looked but didn’t find any. “I guess it will be all right without it,” he said as he took the salsa out of the microwave.
“It smells good,” she said. Darren set the cheesy mix in the middle of the chips.
Jill poured the margaritas into chilled glasses. “All right, to the living room,” she said.
They carried their snacks into the living room and tuned the television to ESPN. Jill handed Darren his drink as they settled on the sofa.
“Thanks, babe,” he said as she handed him his drink. She nestled against him on the sofa.
They fell into a comfortable silence. At that moment, Jill knew she should have opened up more about herself, particularly the fact that she was the CEO of DVA and not just an employee. But, she surmised, that shouldn’t even matter now. Darren loves me for who I am and not for what I have.
But what about a future with Darren? If he became her husband, she couldn’t hide it from him anymore.
“Where you a bart
ender in a past life?” he asked in between sips of his drink.
She nodded. “That’s how I made it through college.”
Darren took another sip. “I can see that. You must have made a lot of tips.”
Jill smiled and dipped a chip in the salsa. “Maybe we should open a bar.”
“Like you would leave corporate America to be the sexiest bartender in the state of Georgia.”
“Maybe I would. It depends on whether you would leave the action and adventure of the fire department.”
“So, why don’t we do it? Give up our careers and start over.”
Jill chewed her bottom lip. “Tempting, but I know you would never do it.”
Darren feigned surprise. “You wound me, woman. I would quit, but the only way I’d go into business with you is if you worked as hard for me as you do for DVA.”
“Oh, I would. I believe in hard work.”
Darren drained his glass. “And where would we open this bar?”
“Definitely not in Buckhead. We don’t want to get swallowed up by the other bars that are already there. And you know we would have to have plasma TVs to show all of the Falcons and the Hawks games.”
“Maybe not the Hawks,” he said. “We do want to make money.”
Jill smiled and took another chip. “What’s wrong with the Hawks? They’re Atlanta’s team too.”
“The Hawks are losers and no one likes a loser.” Darren stroked Jill’s cheek. “I like dreaming with you.”
“We could make this happen,” she said. “Raising the capital would be easy. I could get someone to research an area that…”
“Honey, you can’t be serious. We’re just talking.”
Jill nodded, even though she was in business-making mode. “You’re right; I just let my business savvy get the best of me.”
“So, you want to start your own business?”
“Uh, yeah,” she stammered. “It can’t be too hard.”
“They say the small business sinks or swims in the first five years. I admire people that can see it through, but it has to be tough. Could you imagine keeping up this kind of lifestyle while depending on people to buy your product? What happens in the summer when people don’t want to go into a dark bar because the action is all outside?”
“I don’t know. Outside seating and a posh patio that overlooks the street so they won’t miss anything?”
“You don’t miss a beat, do you?” he asked.
Jill could tell he was impressed.
“Maybe you should stick around DVA. In a couple of years you’re going to be running the place.”
She laughed nervously. “That would be something.”
“Your face all over the covers of magazines and newspapers. That would be something to see.”
Jill stood up and began to clear their glasses. At least one thing was confirmed. Darren didn’t pay much attention to business magazines.
“It’s NFC championship weekend,” Darren said, repeating the announcer on TV. “Think Vick can take McNabb down?”
“I sure hope so,” Jill called from the kitchen as she placed the dishes in the dishwasher. “The Eagles might be tough this year. Philly is tired of wiping egg off their collective faces in the championship game.”
Darren walked into the kitchen, catching Jill around her waist. “You know what else is coming up.”
“What’s that?”
“Valentine’s Day.”
Jill hadn’t looked forward to February 14th since she found out that Cupid wasn’t real. Every year, her employees would chatter in the office, excited about dates later that evening, gushing over flowers that everyone received. Jill would stay locked in her office, her nose buried in one file after another. Though the thought crossed her mind, Jill never sent herself roses and chocolates. That wasn’t her style.
“Valentine’s Day, huh?” she said.
“Yeah and I want to take you away from all of this—no work, no cell phones, no laptop computers, just me and you.”
Jill smiled. If Darren sent her long-stemmed red roses she would be happy. “Where are we going?”
“That, my dear, is a surprise.”
“I love surprises,” she said.
He gently kissed the side of her neck. “And you will love this one. I have to go.”
“Okay,” she replied, then pouted like a little child being ushered to bed.
Darren pinched her cheek. “I’ll see you later. Let’s do dinner tomorrow night.”
“All right, you pick the place,” she said as they walked to the door.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Jill leaned against the door as she closed it behind Darren. The night had been perfect and she couldn’t wait to close her eyes and dream about spending Valentine’s Day with her man.
Chapter Fifteen
Darren sat at the computer in his office searching for the perfect weekend getaway for him and Jill. He wanted to take her away for a week, but knowing the way she felt about work, he knew that wasn’t going to happen. He’d settle for a weekend. Nothing but the two of them wrapped in each other’s arms. Darren knew by Jill’s reaction when he mentioned Valentine’s Day that she’d never been treated properly on the day of love. But that was going to change this year. Valentine’s Day was going to be a day she’d never forget.
Darren made reservations at Charleston’s McCrady’s Long Room for their Valentine’s Day party. Then he booked a room at the Battery Carriage House overlooking the Charleston Harbor.
“Knock, knock,” Cleveland said as he walked into the office. “What happened to you last night?”
Darren looked up from the computer with a Cheshire cat grin on his face. “I went to see Jill.”
“So, all is right with the world now?”
Darren rolled his eyes at Cleveland, but the answer was yes. Jill was slowly becoming the center of his universe and there was no way he could think about a life without her in it. The last thing he wanted was to hear his brother tell him that he was making the same mistake twice or that he was rushing into another relationship that was going end in heartbreak.
“Jill is good for you,” Cleveland said.
Darren leaned forward in his chair. “Come again?”
Cleveland nodded and grinned. “I know this sounds strange coming from me, but Jill is nothing like Rita. She was scandalous and the wrong woman for you. All she cared about was herself. I could see that from ten miles away. Jill isn’t giving off that kind of vibe. I can tell she cares about you. That’s the stuff you don’t find every day.”
“Unconditional.”
“Yeah, what Ma and Daddy had. Maybe you and Jill are building that.”
“Maybe.”
“I’d stand up for you at this wedding,” Cleveland said.
Darren bit down on his bottom lip, remembering the knock-down, drag-out fight he and his brother had had when he announced his upcoming wedding to Rita.
* * *
“You’re a damned fool to marry her. You don’t know anything about her,” Cleveland said over a game of basketball that had suddenly gotten extremely physical.
Darren threw the ball into Cleveland’s chest. “You don’t know her either and if you would stop being so heartbroken over the end of your marriage, you’d see all women are not the same.”
Cleveland bounced the ball, turning his back to his brother and throwing up his elbow to shove it in Darren’s stomach.
“This has nothing to do with me and more to do with you being whipped by what’s between her legs.”
Darren shoved him hard in the back, making Cleveland stumble. Cleveland threw the ball against the wall and pushed his brother in the chest.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Darren demanded. “All I’m asking is for you to support me.”
“You’re walking into this thing half-cocked and it’s going to be the biggest mistake of your life. She ain’t the woman you need to bring into our family. That woman does
n’t love you.”
Darren punched Cleveland in the face. Dazed for a second, Cleveland countered with a punch to Darren’s breadbox, knocking him backwards. Darren steadied himself with one hand on the court and kicked his brother in the leg.
“Why are we doing this?” Darren asked. “If you don’t want to support me, then to hell with you.”
Darren pushed away from Cleveland and headed for his car.
* * *
In hindsight, Darren knew Cleveland had been only looking out for him and if he had listened to him, it would have saved him an awful lot of heartbreak and pain.
He looked up at Cleveland. “I’m going to listen to you this time. Jill is going to be mine and we’re going to build a life together. And maybe she has a single girlfriend that you can meet.”
“Please don’t play cupid. Big white diapers don’t look good on you,” Cleveland said. “Are we on for the game this weekend?”
“Jill is probably going to tag along with us,” Darren said. “She loves the Falcons.”
“Yet another reason to snatch her up right away,” Cleveland said before standing and walking out of the office.
Darren pulled his credit card from his pocket and confirmed his reservations. He wasn’t going to let Jill get away.
* * *
Jill pulled her glasses from her face. She hadn’t gotten one thing done all day because she had been fielding calls from one of David’s reporters all day. She had to give him credit, he was creative. He pretended to be an investor, he pretended to be from the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and he pretended to be from Time and Newsweek.
“Madison, if you put another call through here that isn’t one I’m expecting, you’re going to be working in the mail room.”
“Sorry, Jill, but you know you love the media spotlight.”
She bit back a caustic comment that would have burned Madison’s ears like hydrochloric acid. “Just do what I said.”
Business of Love Page 14
