Before I Let You Go

by Angie Daniels

  She stared across the table at his beautiful chocolate eyes. “Not until Saturday. School starts on Monday, and I want to enjoy the weekend because I won’t get another time to relax like this until Christmas break.”

  “Are you looking forward to the semester starting?” he asked between bites of salmon.

  “I can’t wait.” She couldn’t help the excitement in her voice.

  “What is it you like so much about teaching?”

  Kelly met Diamere’s eyes and could tell he was actually interested in listening to her talk about her job.

  “I like it when my students’ faces light up when they’ve learned something new. Nothing warms my heart more than that.” While they ate, she went on to talk about the class of students she’d had the year before. Kelly loved the way Diamere listened and only interrupted when he had a question. Devin had never wanted to talk about the students after hours.

  “I can tell you truly love your job. That’s important,” Diamere said when she finally finished.

  She nodded. “I do. I really do.”

  He took a sip of wine, then licked his lips. She found herself following the swipe of his tongue with her eyes.

  “I know Nana asked you this, but do you really see yourself having kids of your own someday?” he asked at last.

  She nodded. “Yes, I definitely want children. I think some women are meant to be mothers, and I’m sure I’m one of them.”

  “I agree. I think you would make an excellent mother.”

  “And you would make an excellent father.” Kelly wanted to mention Ryan’s daughters, but decided against it.

  Diamere looked over at her, his eyes serious. “I didn’t think I would be any good at being a father, but when the twins were born I fell in love with them so fast there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for my angels. I…” His voice broke and he reached for his glass and took another drink.

  Kelly’s stomach turned. It had been over a year, yet the pain was still there. She placed a comforting hand on his arm. “I know it’s still hard.”

  He nodded. “It is. Someday I hope to have kids again.”

  “I know you’ll be a fabulous father.”

  Their eyes met and her heart flipped as she saw his sadness. “You think so?”

  She nodded and couldn’t stop the tears that filled her eyes. “I know so.”

  “Hearing that makes me so sure about what I’m going to do.”

  Kelly licked her lips. “What is that?”

  “Kiss you.” Diamere leaned forward slightly and took the flute from her hand, setting it back on the table. His other hand slid around her neck, gliding smoothly over her skin. Excitement stirred within her, and her lips parted as he drew closer and his lips brushed hers. Diamere rose from his chair, bringing Kelly with him without breaking the kiss. He wound an arm around her waist and pulled her tight against him.

  “I want you. I couldn’t go another night without you,” he confessed. He crushed his mouth over hers, kissing her deeply.

  Kelly accepted what he offered. She wrapped her arms around his neck and met his tongue stroke for stroke, her lips softening under his.

  “Why are you here?” she asked again.

  “For you. I came here to be with you.” He caressed her breast through the sundress and squeezed her nipple between his thumb and forefinger, arousing her. How in the world did she think she could live without this? Her body ached for his touch, and to her relief he moved his hand to her other breast.

  “But why?” she asked, growing irritated by his lack of words, though simultaneously aroused by the exploration of his hands.

  “I can show you better than I can tell you,” he groaned before his tongue again explored the recesses of her mouth. “I can’t fight it any longer. You’re like a drug I’ve become addicted to.”

  He drew her dress up her knee and slid his hand underneath, pushing her panties to the side and making room for his hand.

  “Spread your legs.”

  Eagerly, Kelly parted her thighs and moaned as his finger slid inside her wetness. “Diamere,” she cried out, her trembling limbs clinging to him.

  “That’s right. Say my name,” he growled, thrusting another finger into her wet heat. Kelly shuddered, her entire body waiting for this moment. Her desire for him was too overwhelming to ignore. Any attempt to stop what was happening was a waste of time. She was lost in the feel of his fingers stroking her in the most intimate way. “You miss me touching you like this, don’t you?”

  “Diamere!” she cried. It took everything she had not to collapse to her knees. He increased the pressure and spread her thighs wider. Kelly found herself rocking her hips to the rhythm of his fingers. It wasn’t long before her body clamped down hard against his penetration and she shuddered with pleasure. “Yes, yes,” she moaned as she rode the final wave. She waited until her breathing resumed before she looked up shyly, filled with confusion about what was happening between them. The smoldering flame she saw in his eyes startled her.

  “You are so beautiful when you come apart in my arms.” With that he lowered his head and seared a path down the column of her neck, across her racing pulse beating heavily beneath her skin. He lifted her off her feet and carried her over to the table. “Lie back.”

  Kelly complied, resting her weight on her elbows and her feet on the table. Diamere slid her panties down past her knees, over her ankles and onto the floor, then pushed her thighs apart. He looked at her and she was sure he saw desire burning in her eyes just before he lowered his head. On contact, she practically jumped off the table. The feel of his tongue between her legs brought her to life. “Please…” She closed her eyes and moaned.

  He increased the pressure and circled the bud with the smooth tip of his tongue in a way she had only dreamed of a man doing. Then he spread her wider and settled his mouth even deeper between her thighs. She let out a moan as he buried his tongue inside her and stroked her with long sweeps. His teasing touch had her arching into his mouth while she gripped the back of his head and pulled him closer. He nipped and suckled her as he dipped into her sweetness.

  Kelly was burning with need. It was obvious this was another game to him. He wanted her begging for him. All she wanted was to feel him inside her body, with his hips pumping furiously to bring them both pleasure. She looked up to see him staring down at her as he loosened his pants, reached for a condom in his pocket and slid it on. Those few seconds felt like forever.

  “Shift your hips toward me.”

  She slid her trembling body off the table and Diamere wrapped her legs around his waist, preventing her from falling.

  “I can’t wait to be inside of you.” He slipped his hand between her legs. “Damn, you’re wet.” He settled himself there and lifted her bottom in the palms of his hands.

  Her eyes glazed over as he positioned himself and slid inside. Kelly exhaled on contact and tightened her muscles possessively around him. He groaned and was soon trembling for control, obviously trying to take his time and make the moment last as long as possible.

  “Diamere,” she breathed. She arched against him, her hands gripping his waist, then cupping his buttocks, urging him deeper still. “I want all of you, Diamere.”

  His response was immediate. In one swift movement, he buried himself completely, grunting with the effort. Kelly cried out in pleasure and clamped down on him hard.

  “I can’t seem to get enough of you. Nothing has ever felt this good,” he panted.

  His words were like music to her ears. Still, she knew he was caught up in the euphoria of the moment, and his words would be meaningless later. She bit back the thought and focused on the pleasure he was bringing her.

  Diamere turned her face to his. He brushed his mouth against her parted lips. “You’re mine, Kelly. Make no mistake,” he said as he pumped his hips, and she welcomed every thrust into her body with a fervor that shook her to her very soul.

  “Tell me you’re mine.”

  How coul
d she ever forget how completely he fulfilled her? How complete she felt when they were together? “I’m yours.” Today, tomorrow, for as long as he wanted, she was his. Tears burned the backs of her eyes. Who was she trying to fool? There was no way she could have ended their affair. Not until it had run its course, and she parted with a broken heart. Diamere had become too important to her and she just wasn’t ready to let that go yet.

  His heart pounded as she held him close, cradling his muscled body against her own. She wanted to keep him inside of her forever.

  “You’re mine,” he said.

  “Yes,” she answered. “Yes, I’m yours.”

  “Kelly? Look at me.”

  She opened her eyes and gazed at him, into dark eyes so tender and mesmerizing she was at a loss for words. His rhythm slowed between her thighs as he stared back at her.

  “I want to tell you why I am here.”

  Kelly felt the air surrounding them sizzle with awareness.

  “Before I walk out of your life forever, before I let you go once and for all, I have to tell to you something.” She saw a muscle in his jaw tick as he fought for control.

  “What’s that?” she asked, hanging on to every word as the tension in the room increased.

  “I love you, Kelly.”

  She blinked twice and gasped. Did she hear him right? “What did you say?”

  Diamere pressed his mouth to hers in a slow, sensual dance, then pulled back and reaffirmed, “I said I love you.”

  His words were music to her ears, but in the heat of the moment a man was likely to say anything. She read enough issues of Essence magazine to know that. However, right now she didn’t care.

  She opened her legs wide and leaned forward, trailing her tongue across his neck and shoulder, and moaning at the taste of him. He rocked his hips, penetrating her deeper than she could ever have imagined. Her pleasure built steadily, sweeping her into a world of blissful sensation. Nothing had ever felt so good and nothing else ever would. She had to enjoy every second of what he was giving her because it would be their last. She felt herself spinning beyond rational thought, caught up in the rapture of their bodies joined as one.

  “We belong together,” he growled.

  Her breath caught at his words. As his rhythm increased, her breath came out in a long, pleasured sigh. He was thick and hard and filled her completely.

  “Kelly,” he groaned, thrusting furiously, “I can’t hold on…Kelly, I love you.”

  And then she was on fire and he was pumping so hard he had her crying out in pleasure as her body surrendered to him. She gave in to the delicious heat that had her convulsing in his arms.

  Diamere grunted and let out a violent roar of release, his body tensing and then collapsing.

  Kelly woke with the sheets tangled around her legs. She pulled them up over her body and found the satin material was scented with the musk of sex. She inhaled deeply, loving the delicious reminder of making love all night. She grinned as she stretched her sore muscles. It was worth it. After they’d made love on the table, Diamere had carried her back to the bedroom for a sensational night of passion.

  Sunlight was peeking through the blinds in a clear indication that the rain had stopped, and the roads would be navigable again. The thought of their time together ending and Diamere going back home caused her to feel sick. Deep down she didn’t want their time ever to end.

  Curious where Diamere had wandered off to, Kelly sat up in the bed and listened, but heard nothing. Slipping from the sheets, she went to the oak dresser and found a pink T-shirt and cutoff blue jeans shorts to put on. She dressed, then stepped into the bathroom and washed her face and brushed her teeth. Noticing her hair in the mirror, she reached for a soft-bristle brush and smoothed it back neatly, then slid on a headband.

  The bedroom door opened and she turned as Diamere stepped into the room, carrying two cups of coffee.

  “Good morning, sleepyhead,” he said with a smile as he lowered the mugs onto the dresser. He then moved to where she was standing, and planted a kiss on her cheek.

  Kelly took a deep breath, loving his clean masculine scent. “Diamere, we need to talk.”

  He nodded. “Yes, we do.” He drew a deep breath in turn. “I shouldn’t have said those things last night.”

  “You’re right.” Oh, goodness. Here it comes.

  He gave her a considering glance. “That was not the time to tell someone you love them.”

  It took everything she had to hold her tears back. She had already understood he had said it in the heat of the moment. Didn’t he know he was about to break her heart by reminding her?

  “Please come and have a seat while I talk.” Diamere took her hand and led her over to the bed. She lowered herself onto it, cupped her shaky hands in her lap and waited.

  There was a serious glint in his eyes as he looked at her. “The last few weeks I’ve had some time to think. I realized I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, but there were things that happened that were out of my control. Unfortunately, I can’t give up living and quit being who I am because of it, and that was exactly what I was doing, putting a defensive wall up in order to keep my heart intact. I told you I wasn’t interested in a serious relationship.”

  She quickly jumped in. “Yes, you did, and I’m okay—”

  He put a finger to her lips, cutting her off. “Kelly, let me finish.”

  She wanted so desperately to tell him that it was okay, she knew he was just caught up in the moment. “Diamere, really, no apology is needed.”

  He combed a frustrated hand through his hair. “Woman! Can you please let your man finish, please?” She noticed the way his voice softened at the end. She also realized he had said “your man.”

  “Okay.”

  “Thank you.” Reaching out, Diamere took her hand and stared down at her, looking more serious than she had ever seen him. “Kelly, my life is incomplete without you.”

  Her head sprang up. Had she heard him right? “What?”

  His eyebrows furrowed. “Are you listening?”

  “Of course I’m listening. Sorry, go ahead.”

  He smiled, then reached out and cupped her chin. “What I’m trying to say, Kelly, is that I love you. I want to be with you and only you, and see where that love leads us.”

  She stared at him with her mouth wide open. Diamere really did love her. Her heart was pounding.

  “Kelly, do you hear me talking to you?”

  She nodded her head as uncontrollable tears fell. “I hear you.”

  “Do you think you could ever consider giving us a chance? I should warn you that I refuse to take no for an answer. I plan to be at your school every day to take you to lunch, and at your doorstep, doing everything I can to prove to you I am a good man and we—”

  This time Kelly pressed a finger to his lips. “Diamere, hush,” she warned, then smiled. “Yes, I’m interested. I love you.”

  She noticed the way his eyes widened and his smile deepened. “Say that again.”

  “I said I love you, too, Diamere.”

  He kissed her gently, tenderly, his lips brushing the tears from her cheeks. Happiness and peace filled her.

  “Oh, Diamere. I love you so much.”

  He kissed her lips with soft reverence, his eyes lit with love. “And I you.” He drew her into his arms and lowered his mouth to hers. When he pulled back he met her warm smile. “Come on. I’ve got breakfast ready. Let’s go eat and then afterward how about another game of Scrabble?”

  “Don’t you want to check the roads?”

  He shook his head. “Nope. As far as I’m concerned, we’re stranded here until it’s time to head back on Saturday. And I can think of a couple of things we can do to help pass the time,” he said with a devilish smile, before he leaned down and kissed her again. “I love you, Kelly.”

  Another tear slid down her cheek. She had never been so happy in her life. Together they walked toward the kitchen, and the rising sun she saw through the w
indow seemed to symbolize the bright future that awaited them.

  Epilogue

  Kellis glanced around the Sheraton Beach Hotel grand ballroom at the crowd that had come to celebrate her marriage to Diamere Redmond. She turned around just as Essence came running over to her.

  “You did it!” her friend yelled as she gathered Kelly in a hug. When she stepped back there were tears in her eyes.

  “There’ll be no crying today,” Kelly scolded, her cheeks slicked with her own tears.

  Laughing, Essence wiped her eyes. “I can’t help it. I am so happy for the two of you.” She dried her hands on her soft pink maid of honor gown.

  “Essence, thank you. Thank you for everything. I owe you and my brother big-time.”

  “Uh-huh, you just remember that when we need a babysitter,” Essence replied, and they shared a laugh.

  “You know you can count on me anytime.” Kelly hugged her again and Essence moved over to join her mother and the grandchildren.

  As Kelly looked around at the crowd of family and friends, she couldn’t remember when she had ever been this happy. Sheyna and Danica were sitting at a small table helping the children eat cake, while Brenna was at the other end, nursing her newborn son, Jabarie Junior.

  With her husband on her mind, Kelly looked over to her right, where he stood with the three J’s and Mark near the bar. He looked so handsome in his gray tuxedo, she thought. He was laughing at something one cousin had said, but spotted Kelly looking his way. He lowered his drink to the bar, excused himself and closed the distance that separated them.

  Kelly’s heart pounded as he moved closer. Tears again filled her eyes. She was so thankful to have such a wonderful man in her life. For their wedding they had prepared their own vows, and Diamere’s words of love and honor had drawn tears around the room.

  As soon as he reached Kelly, Diamere gathered her in his arms and seared her lips with a long, passionate kiss. He slowly pulled back, then gazed down into her eyes lovingly.

  “How are you, Mrs. Redmond?”

  She loved the way that sounded. “I’m just wonderful, Mr. Redmond.”