by Lisa G Riley
Only time would tell if she wanted him as well.
“Want to go and grab a bite before the beer distributor arrives?”
Simone glanced up from her desk at Amber and shook her head. “No, I’m not hungry.”
“But you need to eat. You don’t look well.”
Yep. She looked like shit and knew why. She missed Shaun. All week he’d been sending roses with personalized messages to the club but not one phone call.
Isn’t that what you wanted?
Simone briefly shut her eyes and inhaled deeply. She didn’t know what she wanted anymore. She had told Shaun it was over and had gotten what she wanted—a weekend of knockin’ the boots. Only it wasn’t as easy as she thought it would be. Since Sunday, all she could do was think about him. Shaun interrupted her every thought, haunted her dreams, and filled her mind until she couldn’t even take a single deep breath without remembering how good he had felt inside of her.
Amber walked across her office slowly, keeping her gaze locked with her boss’s. “Simone, you need to quit fooling yourself. You’re in love with that man and you better call him before it’s too late.”
She was right. Logically, the time frame was too short to fall in love but Simone had. Shaun was the other half of her. He provided comfort and strength. He gave her friendship and love. They were a good mix. She hugged herself, wishing his arms were around her. In her mind, she could hear his voice. As she took a deep breath, his smell flooded her senses. With her lids shut, she saw those magnificent green eyes staring into hers with the same explosive force as his erection when it penetrated her body. Who was she fooling? It didn’t matter if he was white or black, rich or poor, she was miserable without him and the sooner she admitted that, the better off she would be.
“Should I take your silence as a sign that you’re thinking about what I said?”
She returned her tearful eyes to Amber and couldn’t resist a smile. “You think you know me.”
“I do know you. That’s why I know you need to give that man a chance. Sweetie, I hate to see you so unhappy when you don’t have to be. I’ve read his notes and that man loves you.”
“What if it’s too late?” Simone asked with sudden apprehension.
“It’s never too late for love.”
She took a deep breath and prayed that what Amber said was true. Maybe love hadn’t worked out with Cedric, but for the first time in years, she was willing to take that chance. She wasn’t her mother and Shaun was absolutely nothing like her father. Shaun was worth the risk. As soon as the club closed tonight, she was going to tell him how she felt.
Shaun stepped out of the shower and heard the doorbell. His brow bunched. It was after midnight. Who in the world was at his door this late at night? After wrapping a towel around his waist, he moved downstairs and swung the door open.
Simone.
“Hello.” She glanced down at his towel and he saw her swallow. “I’m sorry—did I interrupt something?”
He shook his head. “No. Come in.”
She gave him a tentative smile, then brushed past him and entered his foyer. He watched as she moved into his spacious living room, her eyes traveling around. While he waited for her to get to the reason for her visit, he stood back and admiring her body in black gauchos and a white blouse. High-heeled sandals were on her feet.
“You have a beautiful home. Is this one of your designs?” she finally said, breaking into his thoughts.
He nodded. “Yes, it is.”
Shaking her head, she took a deep breath. “You’re probably wondering why I’m here.”
“That thought has crossed my mind. Shouldn’t you still be at the club?”
She shrugged. “I left Amber to close up.”
“Why?”
“Because I couldn’t wait to ask if you’d go out with me tomorrow night.”
Taken by surprise, he reared back. “Tomorrow?”
She nodded. “Yes, or the day after. Whatever day works best for you.”
He hesitated. “Is this another visit to Exxxtasy?”
“No, nothing like that. Dinner…at my house.” Simone chuckled and he realized how much he missed hearing her laugh.
He shifted his weight onto his other leg and nodded. “I’d like that.”
Her shoulders sagged with relief. Shaun stared at her for a moment, fighting the urge to hold her. “Is there anything else?” he asked after several seconds had passed.
“Yes, there is.” Simone began as tears welled in her eyes. “I’m tired of being alone. I’m tired of running from relationships. Things didn’t work out with Cedric, but I can’t give up on my life because I am afraid.” She paused and moved toward him. “I’m crazy about you, Shaun.”
He nodded, then waited impatiently for her to finish.
“This has been the worst week of my life. Without you, my days and nights have had no meaning. All it took was one weekend for me to get so used to sleeping with you that my bed feels cold and lonely.” She shook her head. “I can’t go back to that.”
A husky laugh escaped his lips as he felt the weight on his heart lighten. “I’ve missed you.”
“Then why haven’t you called?” she demanded to know. Shaun found her pouting lips quite sexy.
“Because I wanted you to figure out what you wanted and then show me how badly you wanted it.”
She sniffled. “I do want you. I’ve missed you so much.”
“Come here.”
Simone practically ran into the circle of his arms. Shaun pushed his wet hair away from his face and brought his lips down hungrily against hers. His tongue slipped inside, touching the tip of hers in a teasing caress.
Finally Simone pulled back to look at him. “I’ve been a mess without you.”
“So have I, baby.” He stole a quick kiss then pulled back and stared into her eyes. “You think you’re ready to meet my family?” He was ready to share her with his world.
“Yes! I look forward to it.” Shaun started unbuttoning her blouse, and she jumped back, giggling. “What are you doing?”
“Taking your clothes off.”
Desire brewed through her. “Why?” she asked quietly.
“Because I’m going to carry you up to my room and make love to you,” he answered as her gauchos fell around her ankles.
“But I…”
His smile turned devilish. “Baby, it’s been a long week. Too long.” He lowered her panties and his knuckles brushed across her clit. She gasped at the contact. “I gotta have you now. I’m—”
Simone reached for the towel around his waist and snatched it away. At the sight of his arousal, her eyes sparkled, then rose to meet his again. “The word is fienin’. And good, because I’m fienin’ for you, too.”
Epilogue
Simone stepped out of the ladies’ room and was heading back to her table when someone tapped her lightly on the shoulder. Looking to her right, she met a wide, dimpled smile.
“Excuse me, sexy, but I was curious as to what B.S.A. means.”
Briefly, she glanced down at the letters proudly displayed on a T-shirt she’d personally designed and back up to the appreciative gleam in the young man’s eyes.
“Sorry, sweetheart, but if you have to ask then obviously you’re not the man for the job.” She brushed past him and moved over to the booth where her friends were sitting.
“What did he say?” Melinda asked, eyes burning with curiosity as Simone lowered onto the seat across from her.
She pointed to her friend’s matching shirt. “He wanted to know what B.S.A meant.”
“And what did you tell him?”
“I told him that job has already been filled,” Simone replied with a triumphant smile.
“I know that’s right.” Reaching across the table, Melinda gave her a high five.
Lilliana agreed. “The only ones who know are the men who matter most.”
While reaching for her lemonade, Simone glanced down at the platinum engagement ring on her
finger. She had discreetly slipped it back on her finger while in the bathroom. It was the reason why she had invited her two best friends out to lunch, wearing their B.S.A T-shirts.
It had taken her almost a year to get past her insecurity and trust that what she had with Shaun was real, and now she was ready to spend the rest of her life with the man of her dreams. Just like her friends.
Lilliana and Joshua eloped last year and now her very pregnant friend was due any day now. Melinda and her husband Nicholas were now the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl, named Sophia. Both women had given love one more chance and each had been blessed with a wonderful new life.
Melinda leaned back on the bench, eyes glittering with excitement. “I can’t believe that it’s been more than a year ago that we sat at this same booth and came up with that silly ad idea.”
Lilliana nodded and laughed. “What I can’t believe is that it actually worked!”
“Neither can I,” Simone murmured. She then reached for her lemonade again and made a show of waving her left hand in front of their faces, hoping it wouldn’t be long before they noticed her engagement ring.
Lilliana’s eyes grew round. “Oh. My. God! What is that?”
Simone wiggled her fingers and couldn’t resist a smirk. “This little old thing? Just something that Shaun gave me last night while down on one knee.”
Lilliana started kicking and screaming, and Simone gave her a worried look. The last thing she needed was for her to go into labor. Melinda jumped out of her seat and grabbed her hand for a closer look.
“Simone, it’s gorgeous. I’m so happy for you.” She wrapped her arms around her.
“Thanks, Melinda.”
While she returned to her seat, Lilliana pulled her arm across the table and took a closer look. “Girl, I must say, that man has good taste.”
Simone snorted rudely. “Of course he does. He chose me.”
“So modest,” Lilliana laughed. “When’s the big day?” she asked as she placed her hand back on her protruding stomach.
“We haven’t set a date yet, but we’re thinking about a Christmas wedding. Shaun and I are anxious to start a family as soon as possible.” Simone’s eyes clouded with happiness.
“I’m so happy for you,” Lilliana said and Simone saw the tears shimmering in her friend’s eyes.
“I want to make a toast.” Melinda held up her glass of lemonade. Lilliana and Simone reached for their own glasses and held them up as well. “Here’s to a lifetime of happiness.” Gently, they tapped their glasses together.
Simone quickly jumped in. “Oooh! And to our big spankable asses.”
Lilliana chuckled. “Okay? If it wasn’t for B.S.A. we wouldn’t be as happy as we are today.”
Melinda nodded and raised her glass again. “All right. Here’s to B.S.A.”
“B.S.A.,” Lilliana repeated.
“To our big spankable asses!” Simone shouted with glee.
The three clicked their glasses again. Noticing the stares coming from the nearby tables, the friends looked at each other and then started cracking up laughing.
Wasn’t nothing wrong with having a big spankable ass, Simone thought on a happy sigh, as she and her girls took healthy swigs of their drinks and settled back into their favorite booth at Hooters. It was the same booth they’d sat at over a year where they’d hatched the crazy plan to find men who knew how to handle a B.S.A.
What they’d found in the process was love and happiness beyond their wildest dreams.
APHRODISIA BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
850 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
“Just Lay Down” © copyright 2007 by Kimberly Kaye Terry
“Caught” copyright © 2007 by Lisa G. Riley
“Fienin’” copyright © 2007 by Angie Daniels
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
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ISBN: 0-7582-2773-6
