Love Me Carefully

by A. C. Arthur

  A ringing phone interrupted her thoughts. Taking a deep breath she tried to push thoughts of Terrell out of her mind as she moved to the other room to answer the phone. “Hello?”

  “It’s about damn time! Where have you been? I’ve been looking all over the city for you! Girl, I got some news for you. You are not going to believe what’s going on!” Nikki’s voice rattled on the other end.

  “Let me guess, the FBI’s looking for Donald, who is off somewhere on a cruise with Ms. Rosie. Two agents came to the shop yesterday morning and questioned you and Keesha, and you’re calling me to find out what I know.” Rolling her eyes toward the ceiling, Leah listened to her friend’s silence. “Is that about right?”

  “How did you know? What’s going on, Leah? You’re not telling me something.”

  “I know, there’s a lot I’m not telling you, but right now I desperately need a bath. Can I call you back later?”

  “Hell no! Not after I’ve been searching high and low for you. Uh-un, I’m comin’ over right now. You go on and get in the tub but leave the door unlocked so I can get in. I want to hear everything, and I want to hear it now.”

  Before Leah could respond Nikki disconnected. Slamming the phone down, Leah walked over to the door and disengaged the lock, then hesitated for a moment. Was it wise to leave her door unlocked with all the mess that had gone on around her in the past two days? But this time of morning traffic wouldn’t be too bad on the highway, and Nikki would be here in a few minutes. Besides, if Donald was on a cruise somewhere he couldn’t hurt her. Shrugging, she went into the bathroom and began to undress.

  Five minutes later she was in a tub full of hot water with steam rising to cloud the bathroom mirror. Lying with her back against the porcelain, Leah closed her eyes and tried to block out the events of the past two days.

  * * *

  Terrell knocked several times without getting an answer. He was sure this was the right apartment because he’d read her name on the mailbox. Fear simmered below the surface as he thought of some of Donald’s henchmen finding her. Desperately, he tried the doorknob. It was unlocked, further panicking him. Stepping into the apartment, he glanced around the room quickly. It was empty.

  Walking into the kitchen, he surmised that she wasn’t in there either. Without hesitation he started in the opposite direction. The bathroom door was ajar but he didn’t hear anything. When he cautiously poked his head in the doorway, his heart stopped, his tongue swelled in his mouth and his manhood throbbed painfully as he watched Leah pick up her loofa sponge, fill it with water, hold it aloft and dribble water over her breasts. Repeating the motion, she drenched her back and neck. Eyes closed in apparent deep relaxation, she reached along the wall until her hand found the soap and lathered the sponge. In long, languid movements she washed her arms, lifting them above her head, one at a time.

  Terrell swallowed as her breasts rose and fell with each movement.

  Dragging the sponge over her neck, she applied a soapy film to her skin. As she lifted one breast at a time, the sponge left a bubbly trail around and between the twin mounds.

  Terrell licked his lips.

  Lifting one long leg she covered it with soap. Then she lathered between her thighs.

  Terrell’s heart stopped as the ache in his groin grew too much for him to bear. He had been holding his keys and his fingers—curse their clumsiness—chose that precise moment to drop them.

  The crowded key ring fell to the floor with a loud clinking.

  Leah’s eyes shot open.

  Terrell’s closed with embarrassment.

  * * *

  In the bathroom, alone, Leah rinsed the soap off her body. As the water rolled in heavy rivulets over her smooth skin she tingled all over at the memory of Terrell standing in the doorway. His desire had been undeniable, giving her ego an overwhelming boost.

  She knew she should be upset, outraged at the nerve of him walking into her house and watching her while she bathed. But all she felt now was desire that was stuck in her throat like an unmovable lump. Quickly she finished in the tub and got out, pulled the heavy terrycloth robe over her shoulders, and knotted the belt around her waist.

  When she entered the room, Terrell braced himself for the attack he undeniably deserved. He couldn’t believe what had just happened. He’d only been concerned for her safety. He hadn’t meant to spy on her. But when he’d seen her in that tub, gloriously naked, only an act of God could have taken his eyes off her. His feet had been glued to that spot as he watched her lather her gorgeous body.

  “Well, hello.” Standing behind the sofa, she looked at him calmly.

  “Hello. Ah…Leah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—” Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he stammered over the words.

  “What? You didn’t mean to be a Peeping Tom?” She chuckled to cover the anxious feelings bubbling inside her, threatening to come rushing to the surface.

  “Yeah, I guess that’s what I was doing. But really, I didn’t mean to. I knocked and knocked and didn’t get an answer. Then I found the door was unlocked and I got worried.”

  He was worried about her. It was a good thing she had already decided she wasn’t angry with him, because the look he was giving her now, combined with his admission of concern, would have diffused any anger.

  “So what are you doing here? I thought you would be heading back to Agent Tobias’ office.” Moving quickly before her knees gave out, she sat on the far end of the couch and motioned for him to take a seat.

  “Thanks,” he muttered before sitting at the opposite end. “I am going to see him, but I needed to see you first.”

  “See me? What for?” He’d showered and shaved. She could smell the soap still fresh on his skin. She knew it wasn’t her because it was a fresh deodorant smell and she used a beauty bar that smelled more feminine. He wore jeans and a neatly tucked-in button down plaid shirt. The rim of his crisp white t-shirt showed at the base of his neck, where he’d left the first few buttons of the plaid shirt undone. Briefly she let herself imagine what he hid under all those clothes. His goatee had been trimmed, and the stubble that she’d felt against her face a few hours before was long gone.

  He was nervous and his clouded eyes danced as he watched her. But that was the only giveaway.

  “I know where my mother and Donald went,” he began.

  “Really? Where?” A bolt of disappointment moved through her—he wasn’t here to talk about them at all. It was about his unwavering concern for his mother’s safety.

  “I know a PI who owes me a lot of favors.” He took a deep breath. “They boarded one of those fancy cruise ships heading for Montego Bay, Jamaica, on Wednesday afternoon. I’ve booked a flight out tonight.” His legs were spread slightly, his elbows resting casually on his knees. He folded his hands beneath his chin and looked at her.

  “Oh.” He was going to Jamaica to get his mother and confront Donald, no doubt. A feeling she’d gotten too used to surfaced, and she struggled to keep it at bay.

  “I wanted to see you before I left.” He looked at her seriously. “There’s something I need to say before I go.”

  “Terrell,” she began. She stopped because she wasn’t sure what to say. She was certain he was going to say something about what had happened between them. An hour ago she’d known exactly how she was going to deal with this moment. But right now, sitting mere inches away from him, she wasn’t sure.

  His two fingers to her lips silenced her. “I heard everything you said about your relationships, and while I don’t understand your reasoning, I can clearly see what prompted you to think the way you do. But you’re wrong, Leah. Relationships can work, marriages can last. I believe that, and I want to prove it to you.”

  She started to speak, raised a brow at him, then moved his fingers from her lips, giving him a leery gaze while she did.

  Terrell shrugged, gave her a crooked grin.

  “I’ve been thinking over my little four-step method and realize that it may have been
a little rigid.”

  “A little?” Terrell sighed. “Falling in love is as natural as breathing, Leah.” He turned to her, his hand cupping her cheek. “And ever since that night I bumped into you I’ve been having problems taking a deep breath whenever you’re not around. You are like air to me, sweetie. Do you understand?”

  His brown eyes were intense as they bore into her. She understood alright—she understood that she was about to suffer a breathing deficiency of her own. He was so close, his words so surreal, she wondered if she could possibly be dreaming. All her life she’d secretly wondered what it would feel like to be loved—and even though he hadn’t said the words, the look on his face, the gentleness of his touch, gave her hope. She tried furiously to blink away the tears forming in her eyes. “I understand that, since meeting you, something in my life has changed. You’ve changed me, and I’d be lying if I said that didn’t scare the hell out of me.” She chuckled even as one fat tear rolled down her face.

  Terrell’s heart swelled with emotion as he watched her struggle with new feelings. It couldn’t be easy for her after believing for so long that she’d never be in a meaningful relationship. But that was where he came in. He’d show her what it felt like to be loved, to be cherished. He’d put all her doubts to rest, that was a promise. “It’s okay to be afraid, baby. But I’m right here to chase all those fears away. I’ll take care of you.” He pulled her close enough so his lips could lightly brush hers.

  Leah allowed the contact, reveled in the sensations swirling through her and sighed. “If we do this, it’s all or nothing, Terrell.”

  He pulled back slightly, his fingers moving to massage her scalp, the nape of her neck. “I’m willing to give you everything I have, Leah. That’s how serious I am about us.”

  Leah shook her head. “I don’t want all your material possessions, I have my own,” she said, thinking of the end of his previous relationship. “I want you, all of you.”

  Terrell heard her words, knew exactly what she was saying. Now he was the one overwhelmed with emotion. “Tanya was a stepping stone in my plan for my life, Leah. I know now that was all she ever was. But you, you are my life. I don’t want a future if it’s not with you.”

  With an unsteady finger she pushed his glasses up on his nose and smiled. “I’m going to hold you to that, Mr. Pierce.”

  He smiled. That smile effectively melted every bone in her body, and she knew that she was doing the right thing. No four-steps could have ever led her to this moment. She hadn’t dated Terrell, not one time, not six or seven times. He’d simply waltzed into her life and shaken her to the core, reducing that plan of hers to gibberish.

  “I just want to hold you, Ms. Graham.” And with that he pulled her into his arms, placing light kisses on her neck as she embraced him.

  She was locked in his arms when the sudden potential for danger hit her and she felt panic creep slowly up her spine. “You’re going to Jamaica to confront Donald, aren’t you?”

  Terrell heard the panic in her voice. “I have to make sure my mother is safe.”

  “But Donald is involved in things that are way over your head, Terrell. You can’t save her all by yourself. You have to think logically for a minute.” He had to think of how she’d feel if something happened to him. “Your mother would much rather you be safe and cautious than for you to do something irrational. It would kill her if something happened to you. Why don’t you just let the FBI handle it?”

  “I can’t.” Pain and turmoil were clear in his voice. “I owe her everything. Don’t you understand?” His eyes softened as fear and concern for one woman mixed with desire and longing for another.

  His words gripped her heart, squeezing desperately. He would go to Jamaica, she knew it positively, regardless of what she said or did. He had to save his mother. She’d think less of him as a man if he didn’t at least try. She realized then that he was so much more than just a good man—he was her man.

  “I do understand, baby. I do.” She caressed his freshly shaven jaw, biting her lip to keep from crying and begging him to stay.

  “When I get back—” he began.

  This time it was her lone finger on his lips asking for silence. “When you get back I’m going to make you never want to leave again,” she whispered.

  Oh God, I don’t want to leave you now. He kissed her finger, then the next one, until he’d loved each one and moved to her lips.

  Opening his mouth, he deepened the kiss, drowning in her sweetness. On a soft moan Leah granted him access. Tongues dancing, mating, joining them in a way words could not. They clung to one another with hopeless longing.

  Nikki walked in to find her best friend in a heavy lip lock with Ms. Rosie’s son, of all people. Yeah, Nikki thought, Leah had a lot of explaining to do.

  Clearing her throat loudly she said, “Hello?”

  Cold water could not have been more effective than the shocked sound of Nikki’s voice. Leah backed away from Terrell who, for a brief second, stared irritably at the woman who’d entered the room.

  “Hey Nik.” Leah pulled her robe closer and faced her friend. “Um, you know Ms. Rosie’s son, Terrell,” Leah said, chancing a quick look at him.

  Terrell pushed his glasses up on his nose and closed the space between him and Nikki. With an outstretched hand he spoke. “Hi, Nikki. Nice to see you again.” He remembered her from the times he’d gone to pick his mother up at the shop.

  Nikki shook his hand with a barely suppressed smile. They both looked like two teenagers that had been caught necking by their parents. “Even though I’ve never seen you like this, I suppose it’s nice to see you again, Terrell.”

  “Ah, look, I have to go.” He turned then to Leah. “I’m gonna go and see Agent Tobias, and then I need to go back to my apartment to pack some things. I’ll call you when I get back.”

  “Terrell.” Her voice cracked. She was moving toward him now, wanting to hold him one more time.

  He held his hands up to stop her progress. If she touched him again he’d never make it out that door. Nikki’s interruption was a good thing, because he’d been headed straight to the bedroom with that kiss. Once he secured his mother’s safety, he and Leah would have the rest of their lives together. Of course he planned to start in the bedroom, but they’d have sufficient time after that. “When I get back, Leah. I’ll talk to you soon.” He turned and left the room before she could say another word.

  The clicking of the door closing was like a knife through Leah’s heart, and she plopped down onto the couch, her arms folded, her lips pouting like a child’s.

  “Well, well, well, we certainly have a lot to talk about.” Nikki dropped down beside her. “Shall I order lunch?”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  “I know we’ve already talked to the authorities in Kingston. This guy here,” Agent Tobias pointed to a picture on the bulletin board in his office, “he’s the head man, Rohan Bernal. He’s been controlling the shipment and sale of massive amounts of marijuana between the U.S. and Jamaica for about ten years now.”

  “You’ve known this for ten years and you haven’t caught him yet?” Terrell asked incredulously. He stood in front of the bulletin board and looked at the pyramid of pictures the FBI had assembled. He didn’t see Donald’s picture anywhere.

  “It’s taken ten years to build up enough information to finally arrest him, Mr. Pierce,” Agent Tobias said with a grim look.

  “You can call me Terrell, since we’ll be working together.” Terrell turned to face the agent and waited for his argument. He’d been in his office for about an hour now, going back and forth about the pros and cons of him going to Jamaica to get his mother.

  “Terrell, you have to understand that this is a very delicate situation. I can’t just let a civilian walk into a carefully planned operation and start shaking things up.” Moving to his desk, Agent Tobias sat down. More importantly, he didn’t want this civilian messing up the case he’d spent years building.

  “My mo
ther is also a civilian. I just want her safe. I won’t bother Donald or whatever investigation you have going on. I just want to bring my mother home.”

  “I understand,” Agent Tobias began. And he did, even though he doubted Terrell would agree. For a brief second he entertained the thought of telling Terrell everything. Maybe then the man would relax and let him do his job. But he couldn’t risk it. He couldn’t risk anything more going wrong at this point. It was bad enough Donald had disappeared on him. Any more shake-ups and his case would quickly go down the tubes. That he couldn’t have.

  “Do you? Do you really understand?” Slamming his fist down onto the agent’s desk, Terrell leaned over so he was closer to Tobias’ face. “This is my mother we’re talking about here! What would you do if it were your mother, or your wife, or someone you loved? Would you sit on your hands and hope that everything turned out right or would you go and make things right yourself?”

  Agent Tobias stared at the man for a moment. His eyes were wild, and the veins in his hands pumped with the anger and outrage soaring through his body. He knew the feeling, knew it all too well. Just as he knew that he couldn’t stop Terrell Pierce. Unless he handcuffed him to a chair and locked him in a closet, Terrell would be on the next thing smoking to Jamaica. The only thing he could do was stall him.

  “Alright, look, if you’re gonna go down there we need to put some sort of game plan in place. You can’t just go waltzing around on foreign soil playing rent-a-cop. The native criminals will sense you without a doubt. I’m coming with you. And we’ll go by boat.”

  “But flying’s faster. I don’t want my mother alone with him any longer than need be,” Terrell argued.