Essence of Desire

by Brenda Jackson

  He wanted to try things a little different tonight? Felicia didn’t think either her mind or her body could handle the idea of that happening. She thought of all the things he had done to her on Christmas night and all the ways she had responded to those things. They had made love all through the night. She hadn’t thought her body could handle that much lovemaking. Just when she thought that she couldn’t possibly take any more of him, and that he had satisfied her to the limit, he would touch her again, letting his hands and his mouth do their magic. The mere brush of his fingers and lips on her skin would have her wanting him again.

  And now, from the feel of his hand moving down her back his fingers caressing the sensitive skin of her arms, and his mouth locked tight with hers, tasting her with his tongue, she had a feeling they were about to pull another all-nighter.

  And she was looking forward to every delicious minute of it.

  Trask broke off the kiss. He’d never before in his life wanted a woman the way he wanted Felicia. And as he looked down at her naked limbs entwined with his, he thought the picture was perfect, erotic, and seductive. His gaze traveled from her breasts to her stomach, then down to a very enticing part of her anatomy. It lingered there for a moment before finally moving lower to her thighs and legs. He wanted her. All of her. Every delectable inch of her.

  “Felicia,” he murmured, reaching down and lifting her into his arms. Shifting his body, he stretched her out on top of him. Firmly holding her hips in place, he smoothly joined their bodies to a perfect fit. “Tonight, I ride,” she repeated before closing her mouth over his.

  And just as if she knew what he wanted, she rode him hard.

  The sound of Trask’s heavy sighs and quickened breathing echoed in the room. The feel of his hands touching her everywhere and the feel of his muscled body beneath her made Felicia’s body hum with desire. Her pulse raced with an urgency of fulfillment. And when she thought she couldn’t possibly give or take any more, she heard Trask growl out his release at the same moment her body shuddered into hers.

  Afterward, when she lay over him, too exhausted to move, to think, or to breathe, she felt the fullness of him inside her getting hard again. She snapped her head up off his chest and looked into his eyes, once again amazed. She was caught by the intensity of his gaze. The man had the stamina of a stallion and the sex drive of a bull. Passionate heat seemed to be a part of him and his desire for her was absolute. They would have a long and wonderful life together if they didn’t kill themselves from overindulging in lovemaking first. The thought of being stretched out over his muscled body while he was planted deep within her renewed a want and need within her.

  “Ride again,” he suggested sensuously in a hoarse whisper before lifting his hand to her nape to bring her mouth closer to his for another long and deep kiss.

  And she did just that.

  Twelve

  “You have two more days before New Year’s. None of us will think unkindly of you, Trask, if you wanted to call the whole thing off.”

  Trask couldn’t help but grin at the serious expression of the six men who had invited him to lunch. “Call off the wedding, you mean?”

  “Yes,” Milton Madaris answered. Being the oldest of the brothers, he had appointed himself their spokesman.

  Trask shook his head. “You’re suggesting that I skip out two days before the wedding? May I remind you that the woman I’m marrying happens to be your niece.”

  “And that’s why we’re letting you call it off. We love the girl dearly, but all of us recognize that Felicia is kind of headstrong, willful, and outspoken. With her past two marriages, she’s proven that she may be too much for most men to handle.”

  Trask couldn’t help laughing. Felicia being too much to handle was an understatement. He couldn’t help but remember how a couple of nights ago, she had given him the ride of his life. A very enjoyable ride at that. “I’ll take my chances.”

  “But we’re here to let you know that you don’t have to,” Lucas Madaris piped in to say. “We know that the reason you asked Felicia to marry you was because of the chance she might lose Austin. But now since the Gardners have suddenly decided to drop their custody suit, you won’t have to marry her.”

  Trask took a sip of his drink and looked at all six men. The only one who seemed slightly bored with the entire proceeding was the youngest of the brothers, Jake Madaris. Like him, Jake seemed slightly amused.

  “The reason I asked Felicia to marry me is because I’m in love with her. I would have gotten around to asking her anyway. That petition really had nothing to do with it.”

  “Let me get this straight, son,” Jonathan Madaris was saying. “You mean to tell us that you and Felicia actually love each other?” he asked in amazement. “But what about all those years the two of you spent fussing and fighting?”

  Trask shrugged. “I wish I could explain it but I can’t. I think it was meant for us to go through all of that and get it out of our systems. Now we can have a marriage of peace and harmony.”

  All six uncles looked very doubtful about that.

  “Are you sure marrying Felicia is what you want?” Lee Madaris asked for clarification.

  “I’m positive. Now do I have your blessings?”

  Nolan Madaris snorted. “Yeah, you have our blessing. But more than that, you also have our prayers. And believe us, son, with Felicia, you’re going to need them.”

  ***

  Syneda sat back against the sofa smiling. “I think what Trask wants to do is a wonderful idea and I’ll be glad to handle that for him.”

  Felicia nodded. “It means so much to me that he wants to legally adopt Austin. Steven was never a father to him and the Gardners were never grandparents. Trask wants to be what Steven never was, and knowing Trask’s family, his mom and Alex will be eager to give Austin all the love the Gardners never gave to him. Trask, Austin, and I will be a family. A real family.”

  She sighed. “I just hope the Gardners don’t try causing any more trouble.”

  Syneda smiled. “I doubt that they will. Mrs. Gardner did the right thing in convincing her husband to drop that custody suit. Things for them would have gotten ugly. I assume Trask mentioned the report Alex gave to him on Andrew Gardner.”

  “Yes.” Felicia shuddered at the information that had been contained in the report. She never knew just how ruthless her father-in-law was until she had read the report. He had been involved in a number of underhanded business deals, even some payoffs to a well-known politician from California. And the thought that he’d had the nerve to question her morals made her furious.

  “Trask wouldn’t hesitate to use the information Alex uncovered if the Gardners start causing problems again,” Syneda pointed out.

  “Yes, I know. Wealth isn’t everything,” Felicia said. “I had to find that out the hard way. I just hope one day the Gardners realize that, too.”

  Syneda’s smile widened. “So how are the wedding plans coming along?”

  “Fine. It won’t be anything extravagant, just a private ceremony with family.”

  “And Austin still doesn’t know?”

  A slow smile crossed Felicia’s face. “No. But I’m going to talk to Trask tonight. We may have to go ahead and tell him. As it gets closer to New Year’s Day, he’s trying to prepare himself for Trask’s departure. I think we should go ahead and take him out of his misery.”

  Syneda chuckled. “I agree. Will you and Trask be going to Trevor and Corinthians’ New Years Eve party tomorrow night?”

  “Yes, but we’re leaving before the strike of twelve. We want to be together somewhere private so we can bring the New Year in right. Then on New Year’s morning, everyone is to meet at Mom’s for the wedding at noon.”

  “Any honeymoon plans?”

  “We’re spending the night at this quaint little bed-and-breakfast on the Gulf that Trevor’s sister Gina told me about. Then we’re coming back to take Austin to Disney World for a few days. And later, after our trip to the S
uper Bowl, Trask and I will make plans for a much longer honeymoon. We’re thinking about going to Hawaii.”

  Syneda could see all the love shining on Felicia’s face and in her eyes. “I’m glad everything worked out for the three of you.”

  Felicia laughed. “I’m glad, too.”

  ***

  Trask and Felicia decided to tell Austin about their wedding plans when they put him to bed that night. They knew they had made the right decision after listening to him modify his prayers to say:

  “Thank you, God, for letting Santa bring me a daddy to love me. It was my best holiday ever, and I’m going to remember it as long as I live. And when my Daddy leaves me after New Year’s Day, I’m going to be a big boy and try not to cry. Just don’t let him forget me because I’ll never forget him. And I will never stop loving him as my daddy. Amen.”

  After Austin had finished, the impact of his words seemed to hang in the room for a second. Felicia’s gaze met Trask’s and she saw him swallow tightly. He then reached down, and with big strong hands, he pulled Austin up from off his knees and into his arms. He held him tight as he gently rubbed Austin’s mop of curly hair.

  For the longest time Trask didn’t say anything. He tried to swallow the lump that he lodged in his throat, but couldn’t. All he could do was hold the child he considered his own and give thanks for the miracle that brought him into his life. He cocked his head one side and looked at Felicia. Tears misted her eyes and he understood. It was time to tell their son that they would be a family and that he was not going to go away on New Year’s Day. It was time to let Austin know that he would be his forever daddy.

  Taking a deep breath he set Austin down on the bed between him and Felicia. He looked down into the child’s face, which looked so much like the woman he loved. “Austin, how would you like to be my son forever?”

  Austin’s gaze flew from Trask to his mother, then back to Trask. “That means you won’t leave me on New Year’s Day?” he asked in a hopeful voice.

  “Yes, that means I won’t leave you on New Years Day. Your mom and I are getting married New Year’s Day. The three of us will live here for a while; then we’ll build a bigger house with a bigger yard sometime later. It also means you’ll get a new name. How does Austin Gardner Maxwell sound?”

  Austin smiled. “Good! Will Mommy get a new name, too?”

  Trask chuckled. “Most definitely.”

  Austin nodded happily. “She’s had other names before.”

  Trask looked at Felicia and his smile widened. Instinctively his hand reached over for hers. “Yes, I know, but Maxwell will be the last name she’ll ever have.”

  Austin nodded with a wide grin on his face. “And you’ll be my forever daddy?”

  “Only if you want me to.”

  Austin threw his arms around Trask and exclaimed excitedly, “I do! I do! I love you, Daddy.”

  Once again Trask held his son tight in his arms. “And I love you, son.” He squeezed Felicia’s hand. “And I love your Mom, too.” Leaning over with Austin still in his arms, he kissed his future wife. “We’re going to be a family.”

  “Yes,” Felicia agreed, feeling Trask’s warm lips brush against hers. “We’ll be a family.”

  Epilogue

  New Year’s Day

  Felicia decided not to have any bridesmaids. Instead, she thought it would be more fitting in her situation to have bridesmen. And she couldn’t think of anybody more perfect than her uncles. Since Uncle Milton, being her oldest uncle, was the one to give her away, her other five uncles stood as brides men.

  Clayton, Alex, and Austin stood beside Trask as his best men. In a way, her uncles stood in as Trask’s best men as well. Just as Trask had always said, the six Madaris brothers had always been there for him, and today was no exception.

  “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride,” the minister said smiling.

  “At least the child had the good sense to save the best for last. And Trask is the best. He has to be to want to take her on.” Felicia felt her cheeks heat in embarrassment with her grandmother’s outburst.

  Trask tossed back his head and laughed. “No, I’m the one who got the best. A wife and a son—what more can a man ask for?”

  “Peace,” Lee Madaris hollered out.

  “Everlasting love,” Trask’s mother, Jolene Maxwell Thomas, piped in.

  Trask caught Felicia up in his arms and swung her around. “What Felicia and I have is truly everlasting.”

  “What about peace?” Lee Madaris hollered out once again.

  Trask lips found Felicia’s and he kissed her long and hard.

  “By golly you got your answer, Lee. I think they have found peace at last,” Nolan Madaris exclaimed, laughing.

  Trask and Felicia were too busy kissing to stop and agree with him.

  BOUND BY PASSION

  To my readers, who after reading BARE ESSENTIALS from the LIVING LARGE anthology, wanted Michelle Kincaid and Royce Parker’s story. This one is for you.

  The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

  Proverbs 16:23 KJV

  One

  The woman was going to drive him to drinking, Royce Parker thought, as Michelle Kincaid captured his attention. She had also captured the attention of every other man in the room. He watched as she moved among the party-goers under the pretense of mingling when he knew what she was really doing was targeting her next victim.

  That wouldn’t be hard for her to achieve since he would have to admit she was a beautiful woman and tonight, wearing a short black skirt that showed off her gorgeous pair of legs, and a blue pullover knit top that emphasized just what a nice pair of breasts she possessed, she looked doubly so. But her stunning looks and perfect petite body weren’t all that made her so striking. There was also that mass of dark brown hair that flowed about her shoulders and cast a sensuous glow to her creamy dark skin.

  He was partly convinced she was a witch. A beautiful, hot and sexy witch, whose goal in life was to cast a spell on a man, bring him to his knees and then proceed to tear his heart from his chest. He of all people should know since she had targeted him two years ago, and what had followed, in a darkened hotel room on the night of her sister’s wedding, was the most incredible night of his life.

  She had brought him to his knees but in a very delectable way. And he could only smile at the memory of the enticements she had used to do so. Even now he couldn’t get the taste of her, the sweetest dark chocolate he’d ever had the pleasure of savoring, out of his mind. However, it hadn’t been total surrender since he had survived the night with his heart intact. Not happy she hadn’t accomplished her goal she had avoided him like the plague since then.

  At that moment she glanced over at him and his pulse rate suddenly increased. Their gazes, to each other, were assessing with slow deliberate intent and he knew, was fairly certain, that the same memories that were flowing through his mind were also drifting through hers. And he could tell by the narrowing of her eyes that she didn’t like it. His smile indicated that he did.

  He could also tell his smile disturbed her. She pressed her lips together in a firm line and tossing her hair with a haughty air she broke eye contact with him. His smile widened at the thought that he’d hit a nerve.

  “Will you stop staring at Michelle like you want to ring her neck,” a deep voice drawled close to his ear.

  Royce took a sip of his drink before glancing over at his best friend, Jordan Prescott. “That would be hard to do since I do want to ring her neck,” he almost growled. He and Jordan had been friends for as far back as high school while living in London, Ohio. Last year they had left the prestigious Orlando law firm of Smith, Hammond and Rowe to start their own law practice, and after a year of hard work trying to build their clientele, they were no longer in the red.

  Two years ago Jordan had married Judge Dominique Kincaid and six months ago Jordan and Dominique became the proud parents of an adorable baby boy th
ey named Sawyer.

  “It’s hard to believe she and Dominique are sisters,” Royce went on to say. “They are as different as day and night.” A cold chuckle then escaped from his lips. “Even Auburn had the good sense to stay away from her.”

  Jordan couldn’t help but smile as he gazed over at his brother who was standing across the room with a beautiful woman by his side. “That’s why he brings a woman with him every time he comes to town for a visit? He picked up on Michelle’s interest the first time they met and decided to stay out of her way. And that in itself says a lot for a man who’s just as much a womanizer as you are.”

  Royce couldn’t help but laugh at that. He’d known that at one time Auburn had been Michelle’s main interest, but Auburn had figured out quickly that Michelle wasn’t manageable and had deliberately kept his distance. So with Auburn no longer a viable conquest at the wedding, Michelle had turned her attention to him. It hadn’t bothered Royce that he’d been the number two choice, especially after she’d confessed to not having sex for almost eight months.

  Even in the bedroom she tried being unmanageable and he still wasn’t quite sure who had come out the victor. The one thing he did know was that one night with her had had a lasting affect on him, one he just couldn’t shake. The woman was still deeply embedded into his system, whether he wanted her there or not.

  For almost two years she had tried her best to avoid him. At first he could have cared less, since he’d moved on to manageable women. But lately, more so than ever, thoughts of her kept popping up in his head. Thoughts that brought memories right along with them and they were memories he could very well do without.

  “How is Dominique enjoying her birthday party?” Royce asked Jordan as a way of changing the subject. He didn’t want to dwell on Michelle any longer.

  “She’s having a blast. It’s not everyday I can pull something over on my wife. I appreciate you telling that little white lie for me, man. Otherwise, she would have caught on to what I was doing and the surprise would have been ruined.”