by Mimi Tulane
“Sounds to me you are embracing a little more than you care to admit. Peaches, just what brought all this on? Just the other night you were ready to bolt out the door! I’m not trying to discourage you in the slightest. I hear you about him wanting to reach you, Mac was pretty much the same and Ahmad went to some pretty far stretches for Jocelyn. I just want to make sure that this is something you really want to try, not just for him but for you?” Ebony felt her sister’s concern and reassured her.
“Well I admitted to him that most of what I write is really my fantasies. Things I’d love to do if I was a bit more daring. Honestly at dinner I was just plain scared by my own attraction to him. Memories of Tremaine’s mistreatment had its part to play but underneath that, Imani, I long to be as outgoing as some of the women I write about…and Rasheed thinks I am that woman. Can you believe that?” Her sister smiled at her and nodded. “Well, he told me he wants to be my hero. Says he’ll be the hero and I’ll be his heroine. So we’ve made plans to have our first play date after the book signing at U City Books. He’s even going to give me a ride there on his motorcycle!” Imani did a double take.
“Uh, who are you and what have you done with my baby sister?” she quipped but was all grins. “I think this is wonderful, Peaches! What happens between two consenting adults is no one’s business!” she sassily retorted before turning on the dishwasher. “I’m thrilled you and Rasheed are going for it. I’ll be rooting for you both from the sidelines.”
By the time Ebony got home she was riding on cloud nine. Her talk with her sister was just the boost to her self-esteem she needed. She felt good inside and apart from being nervous about which book and what scenes Rasheed might want to begin with, she was definitely on board with the idea of role playing with him. The talk with her sister had put things in a new perspective. What she and Rasheed decided to do truly was their own affairs. He was a wonderful person and she was feeling quite happy with the way things were going so far. It was still pretty early, but her heart was saying she was on the correct path. Taking in part her conversation with Imani on how fast things seem to occur when involved with a Mackenzie, it would seem that she and Rasheed were progressing at a decent clip!
Twenty minutes later, dressed comfortably and lounging, she called him. “Hey you. I’m back from my parents. Imani said to tell you hello.” At the sound of his voice, she couldn’t help but heat up, remembering how hot and bothered he’d made her feel after the motorcycle ride to her car.
“Damn we must have been on the same wavelength. I was about to call you.”
She smiled. “Anxious?” Ebony was feeling a little flirty and with her reservations melting, she didn’t think he’d be put off.
“Anxious, girl, you have no idea how bad I want to do this with you.” His confession was having the same effect upon her as the bike ride, she was instantly aroused and growing wetter with each passing moment.
“I’m curious as to which book series you want to try first?” If he read her material the way he claimed then she had a pretty good idea which series he’d start with.
“Why don’t we take it from the top with the Rodeo series? After all I’ve been told I’m pretty handy with some rope.” Ebony couldn’t help but laugh. A few days ago his statement might have given her pause.
“Okay, so you’re going to be a cowboy? Now there are seven books to that series, which book did you want to try out?” Leaning back on her loveseat she let her mind sort through her catalog of work, scene by scene, and was dying to get started herself.
“Book three, Rodeo Nights. Sparky Hudson had the right idea when he tied up Felicity in that barn. I’m thinking I know the perfect place for us. Question is—when did you want to start?” His voice had deepened, causing her heart beat to race just a bit.
“What about after the reading? I don’t have plans after that or the next day.”
Now she was in dangerous territory. Nothing about this said morning after, but she was going for it. Worse case they’d have a good time, ease some sexual tension, and be no worse for the wear. At least that was what Ebony was trying to convince herself. That if nothing came of this, she would have at least broadened her sexual horizons.
“All right, if that is what you want, then that is what I want to give to you. Do you have a problem coming back to my place afterward? I want to take care of you. I’m not the fuck them and leave them type. Not that I am assuming you’d want to have sex with me. I’m open to your needs, whatever they are.”
Now Ebony’s heart stopped stock-still in her chest and did a back flip. “You want me to come home with you, Rasheed?” She needed to be sure she wasn’t inventing her own version of this conversation, reading into it what she wanted.
“Yes. I want to bring you home with me,” he replied evenly.
* * * *
The line had grown quiet. He heard her breathing hitch but she wasn’t saying anything. Fuck, he pressed it too soon. He’d chosen that particular book to start off with because in one instance, a barn scene, the hero and his lady got slightly kinky but didn’t consummate their first encounter. That didn’t happen until a bit further along in the story, when they returned to that same barn and rekindled what had begun previously. Rasheed surmised that if Ebony really wanted to, she could write a very sensual BDSM-themed cowboy novel. Her rope scene, minus the terminology, was spot on. He wanted to show her that her sensual nature was just asking permission to be set free. So his gut told him to press and so he did. He’d never been one to second guess himself. Yet he had a personal stake in the matter at hand. He wanted Ebony in the worse way.
“I’d like that, Rasheed. I just didn’t want you to think too badly of me. Listen, it’s not like I’m a virgin, I understand the workings. Before things got sour with my ex, I had a pretty good sex life. I mean in terms of my own desires, I don’t mind expressing them with someone who is mutually receptive.”
His cock stood up and noticed, butting in to add his two cents worth. Damn. Now this was more like it! “Girl, I’m like an antenna right now, picking up on all your signals. I’ll take this as slow as you need me to, or fast as you can handle it. I just want you to know that with me, your pleasure is my pleasure.”
All day long she had been on his mind. He’d gone in to work, did his shift by rote, because his mind had been as far from the Velvet Fantasy as it could have been. Jocelyn had noticed, even teased him a bit about having something or someone on his mind, but she didn’t press him for details. He caught her and Ahmad looking him over a time or two, their heads bent, whispering conspiratorially. Once they saw that he noticed them…they’d go on about their business, smirking. Nothing could stay a secret for long in this family. He figured Mac must have spoken to Jocie and clued her in to his activities.
Shit, technically, he and Ebony only had one dinner together and coffee. When he thought about that he really did begin to wonder if what he was always told was true. Mackenzies didn’t waste time. When they found the one, and knew it…nothing short of Armageddon could get in the way of them pursuing that special someone.
“I’ll tell you what. Since you’re coming home with me, I’ll pick you up in the coupe. We can go bike riding in the morning. How does that sound? I’ll even make you breakfast.” Now that he was officially in pursuit mode, his mind was already busy on the avenues he’d employ to win her affections.
“That sounds like I can’t wait.” Her answer gave him all the confidence in the world at that moment. The sound of her voice filled with approval, a little shyness, and laced with desire was like nitro in his veins.
He needed the weekend to hurry up and get the fuck here.
Chapter Eight
When Friday finally arrived, Rasheed decided to clear his deck for the entire weekend. This weekend would be all about Ebony and what she needed. He got the okay with Jocelyn to switch schedules with Damien. Damien was a newly promoted Dom and the other assistant manager. Rasheed was never bothered with working weekends because he seld
om made plans. His lack of a love life was speculated among the females at work, but they wisely never mentioned it in either his or Jocelyn’s presence. He wasn’t going to be inviting anyone he worked with home. No, his private invites extended to only one female, Ebony Stuart.
He went to check in with Jocelyn, who was in her office with the door open. Big man was noticeably absent. “Hey Lady J, where’s Ahmad?” He strolled in and at her motion, closed the door behind him. His brows knitted because something wasn’t right.
“He’s following up on a lead on Mark Comfry. Asshole was spotted hanging around Pijae’s.” Pijae’s was an underground joint that didn’t follow any sort of code of ethics. Safe, Sane, and Consensual was something they skirted at every opportunity. It would figure if he was lurking around trying to get back in on the scene, he’d have to do it below the radar. “Ahmad got a report and put a tail on him. Our concern is Donna and not wanting him to be working his way back in for a move. After she served the papers, her attorney got a resounding no from his. He’s contesting the divorce.” As she spoke, her jaw showed the tension lines that he had somehow missed.
“Then maybe I need to be on hand, handle things here while you go take care of Donna,” he offered, concerned. The last thing that poor woman needed was a setback. Why couldn’t that muther just stay his ass out of her life?
“No, Cub, you have a life of your own. You let me and Ahmad worry about this battle. So…how are things with you and Ebony?”
Aw, damn, I knew she knew!
“Things are great. We’re, uh, getting to know each other. Taking our time…” Why did he feel like he was sitting in the principal’s office? Jocelyn had her eyes pegged on him, had laced her fingertips together as she stared a hole in his cranium.
“Cub, you know I’m not the one to get in your business. I’ve known both Imani and Ebony for a long time, since we were girls. Ebony is a sweetheart, trusting and very vulnerable given her past history with Tremaine.” Rasheed sat straight up in his seat, a name had finally been mentioned belonging to the elusive ex that Ebony had briefly told him about.
“Jocelyn, I’m in deep waters with her. I care. I want to believe that I can have something meaningful with her if I can reach beyond her insecurities. I already know she’s not aspiring to embrace a BDSM lifestyle, she’s said that much to me. I don’t need her to be my submissive partner.” He was speaking with candor. Mac and he were very close, as close as any brothers. But he worked side by side with Jocelyn and she was as much his older sister as she was his cousin. Not to mention she was a woman—a dominant woman, but one none the less.
“That is precisely why I am cautioning you to not rush anything with her. Court her, woo her, show her that she will be an important part of your life every bit as important as your choice in living a dominant lifestyle. But let her set the pace, and decide this is what she wants.” Jocelyn sighed and began to fill him in. “Tremaine did a number on baby girl’s heart and head. She was always the quieter of the two siblings, and had her own strengths and weaknesses like anyone else. Sadly it was always the observations of outsiders that compared the two, pitting their outward appearance into some sort of beauty competition that neither of them subscribed to. But, you have to know that somewhere along the way, those thoughtless few with their meaningless opinions had an effect on Ebony.” Rasheed felt the protective urge in him raring to the forefront as Jocelyn continued on with her story. “Tremaine was no exception. Ebony as far as I or Imani knew had been a virgin until her relationship with him. He was the first guy that she’d been intimate with and at the time was yo-yo dieting to appease him. He was caustic sometimes with his criticism. Bold enough to tell her that she should care more about her appearance and even asked her why wasn’t she as slim as her sister.”
The more Jocelyn spoke the angrier Rasheed grew. The pulse in his left eye was ticking.
“When Imani found out about that remark, let me tell you there was going to be hell to pay. But I have to give baby girl credit. Up until he said that, she put up with his mental abuse, his public humiliations, and his lack of caring for her sexual needs. However when he started in on trying to drive a wedge between her and her sister, using physical attributes like a weapon? Well, she saw the idiot with clear eyes for what he was—a sniveling little narcissist.” Jocelyn was shaking her head.
“Cub, those two are as close as you, Mac, and I. It hurt my best friend to no end to see the devastation that conceited asshole had left in his wake with her sister. Cub, she’s come a long way, and no one expects you to make up for the hurts of her past. My only advice to you on the matter is to pace yourself with her. I know you, and if there’s a man in this world that can be what she needs…it’s you.”
“Damn, I had a feeling, you know, that she’d been through something. I’m glad you shared this with me. I was going to ask her sister for help but, now I think I know what I have to do.”
Jocelyn came around her desk and as he stood she embraced him warmly. “Cub, she’s a lovely soul, sweet as peaches. Take good care of her okay?”
He nodded. “Peaches. Maybe that’s why her family calls her that, because she’s so sweet?”
Jocelyn laughed. “Go on, get out of here, enjoy your weekend.”
He spent the rest of the day cleaning his place, then grocery shopping. He was looking forward to the book signing and listening to her read a passage from her book. He was even more excited knowing that she was coming home with him later after their session and quite possibly would share his bed for the night.
After his errands he had one last thing on his to-do list and that was to call Reese Jackson and confirm the use of his barn. Since he was in need of a barn and a place nobody would question them for using, he sought out the richest deviant on the planet, his affectionate moniker for Reese, if only to himself. Reese owned a ranch out in West County. His family spent quite a lot of time there and considering the kinky play he had in mind with Ebony, it didn’t hurt having a location owned by a person who would respect their intimacy without judgment. Ten minutes later he hung up with a smile. Reese would have Carl prep the barn with the items he requested.
Tonight would be the first time they came together but if he had his way it wouldn’t be the last.
* * * *
That evening when Rasheed arrived, Ebony was feeling all the nervous energy she always did when she was about to go before a crowd of strangers. The promotion of Conquered Love had been nonstop. The reading engagement was just one of many she was booked to do. The publisher had set everything up in advance, making sure she had ample advance copies of the book and reserves of her other titles to be on display at the book store. However Ebony wondered how much of her nervous energy was in fact the book reading, or the fact that later she and Rasheed had a date in a barn…with some rope. She never thought, when she wrote that particular passage, of that being a form of bondage as it pertained to the BDSM lifestyle. She just wanted a hot kinky scene between the cowboy and his lady, and the first thing that came to mind was being tied up. After all, didn’t cowboys often carry a lasso back in the old western days?
If anything she should have felt at ease in knowing that her cowboy of choice was so well versed with rope tying! However that scene, although left unconsummated by penetration, didn’t fall short on the meter for hotness. She had allowed her fantasies to run free when she wrote that part! And to think Rasheed had even suggested she try her hand at writing a BDSM-theme cowboy romance. She just might, using him as her muse!
“Wow, you look fantastic, ready?”
She felt herself blushing under his close scrutiny. “You’re looking very handsome yourself. I’m all set! Oh before I forget…” She responded in kind by handing him his own copy of Conquered Love. His smile lit up his entire face and in that moment Ebony knew she was going to lose her heart. She’d give anything to have him smile at her like that forever. He flipped open the book jacket and read out loud, “To Rasheed Mackenzie, the sweetest Conque
ror I know, yours, Heavenleigh Skye”. Two seconds later she found herself pulled against him in a searing kiss, his lips brushing against hers, his tongue licking the seam of her own until she parted them at his urgent insistence and returned his kiss with equal fervor.
“Damn, how lucky can one guy be?” he murmured to her.
She didn’t have words at the moment, his kiss had seen to that, so instead she wiped the traces of her lipstick from him, smiling. “Maybe we’ll find out later,” she offered, a slight promise, hinting at what was to come. He placed his hand about her waist, guiding her out the front door, removing it long enough for her to lock up, and then promptly returning it, as he walked her to his car. From her apartment complex, they were only a good six minutes away. They arrived at the bookstore in short order, the lot already packed.
“Damn, we may have to find a parking spot a bit further away,” he muttered. “I’ll drop you off then park the car.”
“Don’t worry, there’s parking in the rear of the bookstore designated for myself and my guests—just head that way,” she reassured him and just as she’d said, security was there along with the bookstore owners. Once they recognized who she was, security guided Rasheed to a spot marked reserved. They entered the bookstore from the rear and with a soft peck to her cheek, Rasheed headed toward the reserved seating area. To her delight, Mac, Imani, and her parents were already there beaming with pride.
