Billionaire's Black Secret Baby (BWWM Second Chance Romance)

by Ciara Cole

  “Stay,” he said.

  Tamira was staying.

  Chapter Four

  Was it just three years ago Tamira chose to open her own business focused on reintroducing brands into different markets? Even her parents thought that she was crazy. They were so sure that the larger PR firms would have that angle down pat. But word of her talent and insight blew quickly through New York City like wildfire. Now Tamira was beating customers off with a stick.

  Long before that, she’d started off wanting to design herself but couldn’t pick if she was interested in fashion or home décor. So she’d began specializing in merchandizing and set dressing. Basically, from cheeseburgers to chariots, she made it look good when it was on display for public viewing.

  Her job allowed her to work with it all—finding something new each day to keep her ADD persona satisfied and her creative juices pumping. The fact that she could easily fit in front of the camera with her stunning African American good looks definitely didn’t hurt in her line of endeavor.

  Too bad the same triumphs weren’t mirrored in her private life. Tamira longed for companionship with someone like-minded and with the same level of chemistry between them. It just never happened—not lately.

  But the weekend with Raphael gave her a whole new perspective.

  He’d been smart, personable, and urbane to a fault. And damn he was fine. Tell your mama and your friends kind of fine. She hadn’t expected such a swift physical connection with a white man, and the intellectual exchange had been an eye-opener as well. They’d found interesting enough topics to discuss, had certainly flirted, but kept the talk away from anything work related. He possibly hadn’t wanted to reveal who he was, and Tamira was more than happy to play along with the game. She’d figured he was more of a normal guy who got entrance into the big-boy bar, because of how easily he seemed to fit in without even trying.

  She liked him. He was cool, funny, and turned out to be a gentleman too, when she’d ended up almost flat on her face with a sprained ankle and ruined heel. The next thing Tamira knew, she’d accepted a ride home with him in his chauffeured car.

  The fact he had a driver should have sent up alarm signals. When the car led them to a penthouse overlooking Central Park, suddenly Tamira realized that the man hadn’t wanted to tell her what he did for a living because he didn’t just have a great job—he either had an awesome job or an amazing trust fund. At first it had seemed surreal, the gorgeous home and stylish interior fit for a movie set. He’d given her first aid with the cold compress, and a number of factors had Tamira feeling reckless. One, her freakish attraction to him, plus the fact she was a little bit tipsy, and then the whole sense she was lost in a fantasy with her handsome stranger.

  She was in a new, sexy dress, with a new, mysterious, sexy man in a penthouse that cost about the same sum most major lotteries gave away on a weekly basis. Maybe Tamira got drugged by the sheer appeal of it all, and she allowed herself to act totally out of character. By Sunday, she’d spent most of her waking moments having wild sex in the man’s California king-sized bed.

  Chapter Five

  Tamira got to work on Monday with Nisha informing her of her meeting with Rafe Cavendish that afternoon.

  “He called and said he was sorry he missed you at Sky Bar, and wanted to make it up to you with an in-person meeting. Guess he wants to continue wooing you for their portfolio,” said Nisha, smiling.

  “I should look more into the company. Considering Rafe Cavendish is a third-generation CEO, I’m not surprised he’s interested in the bigger picture for the brand. The team informed me about his wish to get the department stores to take them more seriously,” said Tamira, thoughtfully stroking her chin. “They’ve got the designs and a complete first-run line already prepared for launch, which means we’ll both have to come to terms as soon as possible.”

  Nisha nodded in understanding. “I did a bit of research myself. Looks like Rafe Cavendish isn’t really a fan of hiring outside his company. He likes the company to be known as a brand that works in-house for everything. But you’re right, he finally had to admit they needed a change. They definitely want their new line of athleisure clothing to look more upscale than their normal rough-hewn organic look.”

  “If they need to nail the big department stores, they came to the right business,” Tamira said with no hint of false modesty. After all, she was known as the best in the field for creating new spaces in venues for brands.

  “There’s only one problem I foresee,” added Tamira with a huge sigh as she sat back in her chair.

  “What’s that?” Nisha asked curiously.

  “You of all people should know the answer,” Tamira said wryly. “As you can tell, I currently don’t really have the time to take Cavendish on. I mean, they’ll be one of my biggest clients ever, but I’m thinking that I’ll have to drop everything else if I’m going to give their project the effort it deserves.”

  “Well, the Cavendish people are nothing if not persistent. They called that impromptu meeting last Friday, and now you’re to meet the CEO today—definitely to further their suit. From what I hear about Rafe Cavendish, his charm and looks are of the irresistible kind.”

  “I’ll have to see about that. It would take more than his good looks and charms to sway me,” said Tamira, shaking her head and smiling as she sat forward and began to go through her schedule.

  Nisha stood there cocking her head to the side, and Tamira looked up quizzically after a few moments. “What’s wrong?” Tamira asked.

  “Why is there something different about you?” Nisha half teased. “I can’t put my finger on it, but… there’s just a brighter spot on your whole demeanor.”

  Tamira’s eyes widened with innocence. “I don’t know about that. But I guess it’s Monday, and you know how much I love Mondays.”

  “All right, if you say so. I’ll go set the smaller conference room for the meeting,” Nisha said with a twitching smile and then left the office.

  Chapter Six

  Tamira was waiting in the meeting room when Rafe Cavendish arrived. He was right on time, which was great. What wasn’t great were the mixed feelings she still had about this. She wanted the Cavendish portfolio, but did she need it? She wasn’t trying to bite off more than she could chew. Oh, but the challenge of taking on something so big and worthwhile was almost too hard to resist.

  Well, she’d just have to wait and see how persuasive the Cavendish CEO would be. And speaking of him, he was now walking through the door, led in by the smiling Nisha.

  Tamira opened her mouth in greeting, while offering a handshake. She looked up at the imposing figure before her, caught the hazel-hued gaze, and froze.

  Oh. Shit.

  The man she had left only some hours earlier now stood in front of her. She saw the same look of amazement on his face, before he schooled his features and smiled amicably.

  “It’s nice to see you again, Tamira.”

  Her suddenly cold hand slipped in his. Suddenly aware that Nisha was looking on with curiosity, Tamira tried to gather her composure. What was going on? Her head was swirling as she felt the familiar warm clasp around her frozen fingers. Suddenly it hit her squarely in the gut. Oh no… R. is Rafe! Raphael and Rafe Cavendish are the same person. No no no!

  To think she had completely forgotten her weekend of a hazy mist of tasty takeout and even yummier sex. She remembered feeling like she’d won the lottery on her first night as an official single girl. And now after finding out that same man, who could easily put the most award-winning porn star out of the running, was the Rafe Cavendish?

  Chapter Seven

  Last Friday night…

  “Guess the next best thing to sex?”

  Raphael’s brow crinkled at Tamira’s teasing inquiry. Then he said somewhat dubiously, “Ah… food?”

  “Got it,” she said, grinning. She was already reaching for her phone. “I’m starved.” She knew loads of awesome places to order the best late-night takeout.r />
  Rafe couldn’t help but smile at Tamira’s enthusiasm, and he got into the spirit. Nothing wrong with getting the midnight munchies, he thought. It almost felt hard to believe they’d met just hours ago. Apart from being the most desirable woman he’d ever met, Tamira was also too damn likeable for her own good.

  Beneath her poise and model-like beauty was that girl-next-door vibe that had Rafe feeling at ease with her. He learned early on never to let his guard down around women. Especially those he’d been opportune to get sexually involved with. Just because they shared an intimate act together, some felt they could put their hold on him. Somehow, they always wanted something. Money, status, and even the wedding ring—you couldn’t put anything past them. That was why he steered clear of certain types of women for now. He just couldn’t get himself to feel that trust just yet.

  Tamira… she was different. And not simply because of the fact she was African American. He saw himself wanting to spend more time with her, even if it didn’t come with sex. Just the scent of her perfume had him hard, and he could barely swallow just thinking about seeing her come for him the way she had. And yet, he found he liked her as a person and not just some woman he needed to fulfill his raging needs.

  Little did he know they’d spend the weekend together. When their delivery arrived, they’d gorged on the delicious late-night feast, washed down with wine from Rafe’s cellar.

  Not exactly the way he’d expected the night to go, but Rafe definitely wasn’t disappointed by the outcome. Sometime later he looked to his side and found Tamira’s sleeping head resting on his shoulder, and a wry smile escaped his lips. Soon, he was tucking her into bed inside the guest room, after carrying her from the TV room where she’d fallen asleep next to him while catching some late-night shows.

  It was the first time ever a woman had spent a night in his home. Rafe didn’t make a habit of inviting women over and instead chose any of his other dwellings in the city, unless invited back to the woman’s place. Tonight’s circumstances had called for Rafe bringing Tamira here since it was closer to the location she’d injured her ankle. He didn’t regret it in the slightest, though. Watching her beautiful face as she slept, he felt something stirring within him. He wanted nothing more than to share that bed with her, and rouse her with hot kisses, caresses, and such, culminating in wall-shaking sex till the early hours.

  But he wasn’t so insensitive. She needed more time to heal after the accident. In a way, he liked the idea of having her sweet company for the night, even if separated by a few doors. Heading back to his room, he didn’t try to dwell too much on his strange whims. What was it about Tamira that had him doing things he’d never thought he’d do?

  The next morning, he made her breakfast. He’d seen her eat so he knew she was a woman who liked her food, and he found that endearing. He was much too used to those females who ate birdlike portions or treated food like a nasty word. Rafe smiled, knocking on the guest bedroom door and thinking how lucky Tamira was to get to eat what she liked and keep her fantastic figure. Being into fitness himself he knew what—

  Rafe’s thoughts broke off as he walked into the bedroom and found the rumpled sheets empty. A trail of discarded clothes and underwear led from the bed to the en suite bathroom. Hearing the sounds of the shower running, Rafe already felt himself get hard thinking about a naked, wet Tamira. Wet. Fuck, she’d been wet all right, last night when he’d pushed his hand between her legs and stroked her to a quick, pulsing climax. Now he’d better drop the tray and leave before he gave in to the urge to barge into the shower and join her.

  Just as he spun to leave, the bathroom door opened and Tamira walked back into the bedroom. She had a towel wrapped turban-style round her head and another wrapped around her body. She took one look at Rafe and her eyes brightened. “Hey, you.”

  “Hey yourself,” he said, a slow smile teasing his lips. Damn she was hot. Tall and shapely, with that sexy chocolate skin which glowed, making him hungry to touch, taste, and ravish.

  “Good to see your ankle seems better,” he said as she walked up to him.

  “Yes. Loads better. I see you made breakfast.”

  “Figured you might be hungry. I know I am—but for something other than food.”

  There, she was either going to smack his face, or give him the answer he needed. Rafe’s eyes burned over her, and he knew she could tell from the hard-on straining through his jeans that his appetites were more of the carnal kind. He had an ice-cold shower and a restless night of tossing around in bed to show for not having her the night before. He wasn’t about to let another opportunity pass him by.

  He was only a man after all. And even a saint would be tempted to revoke his calling for a woman with a body like Tamira’s. A body he slowly unwrapped for his viewing pleasure, as he took hold of the front knot that lay between her cleavage. Not breaking eye contact, he pulled the towel apart and let it fall to the floor. Tamira’s breath was heaving fast in her chest, her beautiful toffee-colored nipples stiffened from the shower. He drank in the lushness of those full, high-profiled, and natural boobs to her flat smooth belly and then her equally smooth, baby-soft mound in between her sexy thighs.

  “I was right. You’re beautiful.” His hands on her bare shoulders tugged her closer till they were chest to chest. His eyes blazed into hers for another moment or two, and he felt a shiver run through her body. Rafe needed no other signal.

  He took her lips in a bruising kiss. His powerful body pressed against hers, crushing her naked frame to him. She writhed, her hands reaching to his chest, and Rafe thought she’d be pushing against him but moments later she whimpered and rubbed her hands over his shirted chest and shoulders. Her touch drove him insane.

  Rafe grabbed and twisted her nipple and with his other hand delved between her legs. His mouth crushed against hers, his tongue penetrating her the same way his fingers pushed through the wet folds of her sex. The sounds of her whimpering under his pinching, probing touch made him even harder. He could tell she liked it rough. Some women couldn’t handle it, but Tamira’s body quivered in violent spasms as he squeezed, smacked, and wound her nipples while his thick finger pummeled her inner walls. He slipped in his index finger to join the middle one, and her slick entrance stretched around his invading thrusts. He pounded in several more times till he felt her wetness coat his fingers down to the hilt.

  He reached up and flung the towel off her hair. Then he dragged her to the bed and tossed her down on the sheets.

  “Oh!” Tamira cried out, staring widely up at him. Rafe liked the look of awe and excitement on her face. She could never imagine how much she sent the fires racing through his veins. He couldn’t remember ever wanting a woman this much. She had a uniqueness about her that he couldn’t wait to savor, inside and out.

  He ripped off his clothes while she watched, and just the way her eyes followed his every move made his brain want to explode. She was a mix of innocence and temptation, and she was his to feast on for as long as he wished.

  And Rafe planned on taking his good time with his brown-skinned beauty.

  He soon joined her on the bed, and his hands dragged her shaking legs apart. He liked the contrast of his skin against hers, as his fingers dug into her flesh. She was so damn soft and smooth to the touch. He wanted nothing more than to drive himself deep into her wet, warm flesh.

  And that was exactly what he did. He gripped the base of his thick, hard length and penetrated her fully in a single, violent thrust.

  “You like it, baby? You like how I fill you up?” Fuck she was so hot and tight. His every thrust was hard and even brutish, their bodies meeting with slapping sounds that filled the room.

  “Please,” she whimpered. “You’re too big. And hard.” She was shaking her head, even while her body arched under him, her hips rising to meet his thrusts.

  “You need more,” Rafe groaned. He watched her swinging breasts as he plowed her deep.

  “I… please… don’t…” Tamira panted
and squirmed.

  “Tell me what you want, Tamira,” growled Rafe.

  “Please… don’t stop.” Her body moved more urgently beneath him. Her clinging walls began to contract. Rafe bit down a curse and pulled out.

  Tamira sobbed, looking crushed at being left empty and gasping. Her denied body shook with longing.

  “Please,” she begged, rocking her hips in need. Rafe could tell she’d been inches close to her orgasm, but there was still plenty of time for that. She had many, many orgasms to come if Rafe had anything to do with it.

  He let out a gruff chuckle, moving off the bed to stand next to it. He seized her by the hair and dragged her face toward his hard, wet shaft. “You’ll get what you want, baby. When I get what I want.”

  Her eyes were widened in shock. Rafe had enough experience to know she’d never been handled this way in the bedroom. He would have to teach her that there was so much more than just the vanilla sex she was accustomed to. Rafe enjoyed dominating his women in bed, and though his tastes ran a bit more hard-core, he didn’t plan on taking Tamira beyond her boundaries. So long as she consented, he’d introduce her to his special brand of BDSM and make their time together one neither would forget in a long, long while.

  He dragged her closer and then pushed himself against her mouth, his long hard shaft piercing her lips. She moaned and instinctively bobbed her head, letting Rafe use her mouth as he gripped her hair and guided her movements. Each time she tried to use her hands he smacked them away, till she knew to keep them at her sides and only use her lips and tongue on him. His other hand pulled and pinched her tits, and occasionally slapped them with controlled force. Everything about Rafe was dictated by control. That was the only way he could keep this safe and sane, ensuring he never hurt his lover whether she was a practiced submissive or one new to the experience.