Sucking in a breath through his teeth, he joined her in the dance, moving his body in harmony with hers. Pressed as close as their clothing would allow, they moved across the floor under the spell of the music—and of each other.
When the second song ended, she said nothing. She simply stopped dancing, grabbed his hand, and tugged him away from the dance floor.
They were outside and leaning against his car a few moments later.
She had her back against the passenger side, and he was pressed against her, holding her, kissing her. He felt like a teenage boy having his first encounter with a woman, all raging hormones and questing hands. He was probably wearing her lipstick by now, but he didn’t give a damn. He couldn’t seem to get enough of her intoxicating kisses.
A blast of cold air hit him as the autumn wind picked up, giving him a moment of clarity. He broke the seal of their lips, and she whined in protest.
“Imani. Are you sure? Because if you aren’t, we don’t have to—”
“Shhh.” She extended her index finger, laying it over his lips to quiet him. “I’m sure, Xavier. I want this.” She swept her hand over his jawline. “I want you.”
A groan escaped him as he speared his hands through the soft riches of her hair and captured her lips again. He held that kiss for a long moment, slipping his tongue into her mouth before drawing it out again.
She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling, her breath coming in heavy pants.
Curling his fingers beneath her chin, he whispered, “Let’s go.”
Once he had her safely tucked into his passenger seat, he climbed into the car and drove her home.
He planned on giving her what she wanted—and so much more.
* * *
As Imani unlocked her apartment door, she swung the door open and backed inside. Xavier, his hands on her waist, moved inside with her, as if they were still dancing.
She tossed aside her small handbag, not caring where it landed, as they kissed and fumbled their way toward her couch. She felt heady, almost intoxicated. But she knew the sensation wasn’t from the three sips of beer she’d had. No, the thing turning her mind to mush was Xavier and the raw male power he exuded.
She fell onto the soft cushions, pulling him down with her. The muscled hardness of his frame on top of hers felt like pure heaven.
She spent several long moments wrapped in his arms, enjoying his kiss and the feel of his big hands touring her body. Pulling back for a moment, she smiled up at him. Her voice came out as a sultry whisper when she spoke. “I think we’re grossly overdressed.”
“I agree.” A wide grin spread over his face as he lifted himself up. Standing next to the sofa, he unbuttoned his shirt and kicked off his loafers. His eyes never left her face as he slipped out of the shirt and undershirt, then his trousers. Wearing nothing but a pair of red boxers, he leaned down to kiss her cheek.
Staring at the hard lines of his body, it was all she could do not to drool. His chest and arms were sculpted, as were his abdominals and the powerful thighs crowning his long, athletic legs. As for the part of his anatomy that made him male, she could clearly see the thick hardness of it, outlined by the thin, clinging fabric of his shorts. Why did I wait so long to get with him?
She had no idea why she’d hesitated before, but she planned on making up for that now. Reaching for the zipper of her left boot, she was surprised when he stayed her hand.
“Allow me, baby.” He knelt, grasped the zipper, and tugged it down. He wriggled the boot off, then unzipped its mate. “These boots are so damn sexy.”
“I’m glad you like them.” As he began to slide his hands up her legs, then her thighs, she instinctively raised her hips off the sofa cushion. He reached around to grasp the waistband of her leggings and tugged them. The snug fit of the leggings made her panties slide down with them. When he tossed the bundle of fabric aside a moment later, she was nude from the waist down.
Wearing only her tunic and bra, she looked on with wonder as he lifted her legs, placing one over each of his strong shoulders. A shiver shot through her as his fingertips grazed the sensitive skin of her inner thighs. His touch moved higher and, before she could blink, boldly slid into her center. He parted her damp folds, and she felt a rush of liquid heat as the pad of his thumb teased her clitoris.
He kissed the inside of her right thigh, then her left. “I’ve been wanting to taste you for so long.” He murmured the words into her trembling skin. “Can I?”
As his thumb and fingers continued their wicked play between her spread thighs, her head fell back against the cushion buoying her.
He repeated his question as the tip of his finger delved into her slick passage.
“Yes.” A moan carried her answer to his ears.
He bent his head, and the moment she felt his tongue against her flesh, her whole body shook with pleasure. He moved his hands, using his large palms to put firm yet gentle pressure on her inner thighs, keeping her open to his fiery ministrations. She struggled to hold on to her sanity in the face of the ecstasy he gave her, and failed. Soon, an orgasm bloomed inside of her, making her twist and writhe beneath him. Her back arched, her toes curled, and her mouth dropped open in a silent scream.
Seemingly satisfied, he climbed up from his knees, standing before her again. As the high from her orgasm began to wane, her desire for him only climbed higher. Sitting up, she fixed her bleary eyes on the hard prize just inches away from her. Her hands gripped the waistband of his boxers and pushed them down his legs.
“You ready, baby?” He kicked the boxers aside.
“Oh yes.” Her hands reached out, encircling his erection. She worked her hands back and forth for a few torrid moments, loving the way his hips shifted forward to meet her touch.
A low groan escaped him. “Not like this, baby. I want to come inside you.”
She watched as he moved away and grabbed a condom from the back pocket of his trousers. He sheathed himself with the protection, and the moment he finished, she dragged him down onto the couch. With her lips pressed to his, she guided him into a sitting position.
She rarely ever did this with a man, and she realized how out of character it was for her to want to be on top. But there was something about Xavier that made her feel bold, reckless.
His smile in the darkness made her skin tingle. “So you want to ride?”
By way of answering him, she straddled his lap. Centering her body over his erection, she raised, then lowered herself. Her entire body sang with joy as he filled her. His thickness and length fit her perfectly, touching all the right places inside.
She began her ride, slowly rocking her hips as his hands grazed over her body. He leaned in to take her hardened nipple into his mouth, then his open palms grasped her hips, squeezing her soft flesh.
She felt as if she were on fire, with his hands, lips, and manhood bringing her such ecstasy. Increasing her pace, she continued to move against him, grinding her hips to claim every drop of passion he wanted to give. Her soft cries and his deep grunts filled the room, rising in the silence.
His grip on her hips became tighter, and their bodies rose and fell together in the ancient rhythm of passion.
“God, Xavier!” She felt tears stream down her face as her body shattered into a million brilliant pieces.
He growled, punctuating the sound with one final upward thrust as he found his own completion. Moving his hands up along her sides, he encircled her with his arms and pulled her close to him.
Lying against his sweat-dampened chest, she never wanted to move, never wanted to break the contact of their bodies. With the glow of orgasm still filling her soul, she felt drowsy and content. The heat of his body warmed her, while his protective embrace made her feel safe and cared for.
Being with him now brought back sweet memories of what they’d shared long ago. Now that she was older and had
experienced the many ups and downs life could dole out, she sensed something new, something deeper in their current connection. She didn’t want to label what she was feeling, but she knew she wanted this current state of bliss to last forever.
He kissed the hollow of her throat, murmured something against her skin.
She wanted to ask him what he’d said, but before she could form the words, her heavy eyelids closed.
Chapter 8
Getting out of her car in her practice’s parking lot, Imani tightened her gray wool trench coat against the chilly October breeze. Only an hour or so had passed since sunrise. She’d come with the intention of getting an early start to the day, since paperwork had proven to be a major drain on her time. Even though she delegated as much as possible to Maya and her nurses, there were still many documents that required her approval or signature. Beyond that, no one else in the practice had the authority to write prescriptions.
A smile touched her lips as memories of her weekend with Xavier returned. He’d treated her to an erotic feast Friday night, then spent Saturday morning discussing current events with her over coffee and croissants. Returning to reality was a bit of a bummer, but a necessary one.
She leaned back into the car to grab her travel mug full of hot chocolate and slung her purse over her shoulder. Juggling the items into position, she closed her car door and started toward the building.
She’d made it about five steps before she noticed a glint of sunlight sparkling as it reflected off the broken glass littering the sidewalk.
Her eyes widened. “Oh my God.”
Her travel mug clattered to the pavement as she rushed up to what remained of her glass door. It had been shattered, and most of the glass littered the sidewalk and the floor inside. Her eyes traveled down, toward a large, jagged stone that sat just inside the doorway. She surmised it had been the weapon used to break through her door.
A shiver ran down her spine as she recalled the scene at her father’s hardware store on that horrible day. The kids who’d robbed and ultimately killed him had come early in the morning, before the store was open. As her father had worked alone to get the store ready for the day, they’d broken his window with a cinder block, rushed in, and…
Imani staggered back a few steps, feeling the rising panic that accompanied those painful memories. Her chest tightened, her breaths coming shallow and fast.
What if I had been here?
What would they have done to me?
She didn’t want to go in, even though she could easily fit through the wide opening the stone had left. Having no idea what conditions were like inside, and unsure whether she could handle what she might find without some support, she reached into her coat pocket for her cell phone. Pulling it out, she first dialed emergency services, to report the break-in.
“Ma’am, it may be a few minutes before officers arrive. Right now they’re responding to an auto accident a couple of blocks south of your location.” The dispatcher’s monotone voice filled Imani’s ear. “We have to give priority to emergency situations.”
“Okay, thank you.” She disconnected the call. While it wasn’t what she’d wanted to hear, she understood why the police department would make the decision to respond to an emergency first. Drawing a deep, calming breath, she dialed Maya’s number. When she answered, Imani asked her to get over to the office as fast as she could.
Rather than stand out in the cold waiting for the others to arrive, Imani jogged past the remnants of her shattered travel mug and went back to her car. Once inside, she let the engine idle and cranked the heat to stay warm. She’d been sitting alone in the car for only a few moments before the tears began to flow down her cheeks. She thought of all the hard work she’d put into getting her practice open, and it frustrated her that someone else’s selfish act could set her back so far. With a leather-gloved hand, she dashed the tears away.
An RPD squad car entered the lot. She watched the car pull into a parking space, the doors opening as a pair of officers stepped out.
She cut the engine and climbed out of her car. As she approached, she watched the two uniformed officers of the Raleigh Police Department speaking on the walk in front of her practice. One was male, while the other officer was a woman.
“Ma’am, are you Dr. Grant?” the male officer, a tall figure with striking, blue eyes and dark hair, asked.
She nodded. “I am. I called to report the break-in.”
The officer tipped his hat. “I’m Officer Riley. This is my partner, Officer Suggs. We’ll do whatever we can to help you.”
Officer Suggs, a petite woman with dark skin and friendly, golden eyes, asked, “Have you been inside the building yet?”
Folding her arms over her chest, she shook her head. “No, Officer. I wasn’t sure it was safe to go in.”
Officer Riley gave her a small smile along with a pat on the shoulder. “Ma’am, you can never be too cautious with things like this. We’ll comb the inside to make sure it’s safe for you to come in. Then you can get a look at the damage for your insurance claim.”
“Thank you.” She unlocked the door, to allow them safer passage inside. Then she stood by as the officers entered the practice.
Just then, Maya’s gold sedan tore into the lot. Imani was relieved that the police had already gone inside when she saw her cousin whip the car into a spot.
Maya got out of her car, slammed the door, and sprinted over to where Imani stood. “Oh man, Imani. This is bad.”
Imani had to agree with that. “I know. The police are inside. They’ll come tell us if it’s safe to go in.”
Reaching out, Maya engulfed her in a bear hug. “I’m sorry this happened. I’ll do whatever I can to help with the cleanup, and I’m sure the nurses will too.”
She returned the embrace, taking comfort in her cousin’s unwavering support. “Thank you, Maya. I really appreciate you.”
“Hey, I’m here for you, Cuz.” Maya stepped back, tightening the belt securing the waistline of her coat. Her expression sad, she spoke softly. “This is like when Uncle Richard…”
Imani sighed. “I know.”
They stood there for a few moments in silence, each lost in her own memories.
As if to break up the melancholy that had descended over them, Maya announced, “Damn, it’s cold this morning.”
“You’re telling me. I’ve been out here for about thirty minutes.” Imani shifted her weight from side to side, hoping the motion would help warm her.
Officer Suggs came to the door then, addressing Imani through the gaping hole in the glass pane. “We’d like you to come in now, Dr. Grant, and let us know what’s missing or out of place. Try not to touch anything until the investigators have had a chance to come in.”
Imani nodded, asking, “Can I bring in Maya as well? She’s my office manager.”
“Sure.” Officer Suggs gestured for them both to come inside.
Maya grabbed the door handle, and she and Imani entered the practice. In the reception area, two of the ficus plants Imani had brought in for decoration had been upset, and the dark soil from the pots had been scattered and tracked across the tile floor. Imani frowned when she saw the dark footprints staining the Oriental rugs she’d carefully chosen to complement the office’s decor.
The walk through the rest of the practice revealed a mess of colossal proportions. Imani put her hands to her face when she saw the cash drawer behind the reception desk had been tampered with, but it looked like it remained locked. The drawers of the desk, however, had been pulled out and emptied, and Maya’s things were scattered all over the desktop and the floor.
Officer Suggs made a note of the condition of the area. “Looks like someone was searching for anything of value.”
When they walked into her office, Imani gasped. “Holy shit.”
The room looked as if a tsunami had hit. They had
attempted to shatter the glass top of her desk. The heavyweight, tempered glass bore several long, jagged cracks but still remained in one piece. Papers littered the desk and floor. Her coffee mugs, family photos, dust collectors—everything had been tossed around the space in a haphazard fashion. Her bookshelves, filled with medical volumes, had been overturned, along with her file cabinets that contained patient records. Due to privacy laws, the filing cabinets were locked, so their contents remained inside. The only thing in the office that was still in place were her degrees, hanging on the wall where she’d left them. Trying not think about what a pain it would be to clean up, she listed the damage in the notes app of her smartphone.
As Imani entered the room fully, her first thought was to collect the footage from the security camera. The camera system was digital, capturing images and uploading them to an offsite server. The camera outside looked as if it had been damaged, but there were cameras hidden in small globular structures in the ceiling of every room inside the place. “I’ll get the security company to release the footage to the police department.”
Officer Riley stood in the doorway behind them. “Any valuables missing from here?”
Imani shook her head. “No. I use a laptop, but I take it home with me at night. Maya takes hers home as well.”
He nodded his understanding. “Did you have a television in your break room?”
Imani sighed. “Yes, but I’m guessing it’s gone.”
“Yes, ma’am. They did leave you the mounting hardware though.”
Maya rolled her eyes. “Well, aren’t they just angels of mercy.”
“I think you should get a look at your examination rooms and your storage closet,” Officer Suggs offered.
Imani agreed, and the four of them made the rounds of the rest of the practice.
In all three examination rooms, the paper liners on her exam tables had been unraveled and shredded, but not much else had been damaged. To her mind, it looked like the work of a bunch of toddlers. In the storage closet, things had been rearranged, but the most valuable things remained. All of her blood pressure monitors, portable stands, and medical equipment looked untouched.
Back to Your Love Page 10
