She popped him on the shoulder. “You’re not funny.”
“No?” He frowned. “Maybe there’s something wrong with your funny bone. I should take a look at it.” Lucius pulled back the top sheet and pretended to look under her breasts.
“What are you doing? My funny bone isn’t under there.”
“Shhh. I’m in charge of the inspection here.” He tickled her side and giggled. “Oooh. Maybe your funny bone is over here.” Lucius moved over and placed a kiss against the curve of her hip.
Beverly sighed.
“Nope. That’s not it.” He slipped down farther and could tell by the way her stomach muscles tightened that she was holding her breath, waiting for his next move. Smiling, he dipped two fingers inside the fat folds of her pussy. Her wet walls quivered around his fingers. “Maybe it’s here.” He kissed those same fat lips. “Should I check inside here, baby?”
Beverly managed a weak whispered reply. “Y—yes.”
Without missing a beat, Lucius scooped her firm thighs into his hands and then began to lick each side of her throbbing clit.
Beverly shook and moaned.
“Oh, this is some good candy here,” he praised. “You can give a brother a sugar high.”
She smiled as she squeezed her big breasts together and pinched her nipples.
Lucius’s long tongue slithered and snaked its way inside her, lapping up her sweet juices until her thick, chocolate thighs began quaking again around his head.
“Oooh, Lucius. You’re going to make me come again,” she moaned.
He licked harder, faster.
“Aaaaaaaah.” She swirled her hips, grinding her wetness against his open mouth.
Lucius waited until he knew that she was hot and ready, then slipped two fingers inside her moist cave.
Beverly’s nails clawed at the soft sheets. New tears surfaced and rolled from her eyes as bliss blossomed and enfolded her. Before she knew it, she was crying—really crying.
Lucius glided up her tall body, gathered her in his arms and rained more kisses across her face. “Shhh, baby. Don’t cry, it’s going to be all right,” he promised.
Would it? She didn’t know anymore. Beverly curled under his shoulder and washed his chest with her tears. Why was she crying? She wished she knew. Maybe it was nothing or maybe it was everything. Tomorrow she would probably hate herself for this—to allow herself to be this vulnerable with Lucius, but for right now, she didn’t care. She just wanted him to hold her.
It was a long time before her tears subsided. When they did, she was both surprised and relieved that there didn’t seem to be any awkwardness hanging in the air between them. However, something did change—something small and invisible that was growing stronger by the second.
The question was whether or not she could handle it. She closed her eyes and tried to block it out, but love nipped at her heart, determined that it would not be denied. No strings. No strings, she chanted inside her head. But she imagined that there was another voice, laughing at her futile attempt.
Beverly vowed that she would hang on, by the tips of her nails, if need be.
I won’t fall in love. I won’t fall in love. Her tears started up again.
“Awww, sweetheart. Don’t do that.” He started kissing away her tears again.
She clung to him and said without thinking, “Make love to me.” What? What did I just say?
“Yes, baby. Anything you want.” Lucius maneuvered around, slid on a new condom and entered her so deftly and smoothly that she came on the spot. When she caught her breath again, she locked gazes with him. She was getting accustomed to seeing that same hunger and passion in his eyes and she was loving it as much as she was afraid that she was falling in love with him.
Beverly pushed and then rolled him over to take the top position.
Lucius licked his fat, juicy lips as he watched her wind her hips. Her first strokes were so slow and deep that even though he didn’t say anything, his twisting facial expressions said it all. She picked up speed, causing her round butt to slap hard against his legs and hips. Suddenly, he wasn’t so quiet, sucking and hissing through his gritted teeth.
Beverly knew he was on the brink of exploding, but was also struggling to prolong the moment. She smiled and pounded down on him without mercy. As far as she was concerned, she was in control of this groove and she wanted him to come when she wanted him to come.
Lucius was swept away at how good Beverly looked gliding up and down, and then grinding every other stroke. Her full breasts jiggled and bounced and were causing a brother to get dizzy. But he knew that he had to give up the ghost when he felt that familiar tingle in his toes. He reached around and filled his hand with her bouncing booty. Soon he was moaning and groaning so loud, he wouldn’t be surprised if people thought there was a wounded animal in the room.
Beverly’s wet walls started to contract and before he knew it, they were both crying out to the heavens and then floating somewhere in the clouds.
Chapter 15
For two bliss-filled weeks, Lucius and Beverly continued with their farce of a no-strings-attached relationship and everyone working at Hoops took notice of Beverly’s remarkable change. Not only would she sing “I’m Every Woman” but she had added “Tell Me Something Good” and “Sexual Healing” to her musical repertoire. Bottom line, she felt good—damn good—and there was no point in pretending otherwise. Of course, now her good mood brought out the green monster in her friends.
“Now I’m just flat-out jealous,” Clarence admitted after watching Beverly flit around the store, smiling grandly to all the customers that flowed through her door. “I know I said I wanted you to relax, but I don’t know if I can handle all this saccharine, bubble-gum B.S.”
“I guess that means you still haven’t found yourself a new man?” Beverly asked, ignoring his attempt to rain on her parade.
“Don’t worry about me, sweetheart. I’m just sitting on the bench for a couple innings. I’ll be back in the game before the seventh-inning stretch. You can believe that.”
“Well, I think it’s wonderful,” Leslie said, refolding a stack of sweaters at one of the display tables. “Life is too short to be miserable. If your man is giving you what you need, then more power to you.”
Beverly held up her hands. “Well, I wouldn’t exactly call him my man. More like my very good friend with fringe benefits.”
“Don’t you mean French benefits?” Clarence started making annoying kissing noises.
Beverly didn’t break her stride, but flashed him the bird for his heckling. “I don’t know how many times I’ve told you that green is not your color.”
Clarence rolled his eyes. “Whateva. My next man is gonna be fine and is going to put your big-dick playboy to shame.”
“Clarence!” Beverly stomped her foot. “Boy, I have customers in here,” she hissed.
He glanced around the store. “Please, we all grown folks up in here.”
Leslie snickered.
“Don’t you have customers today?” Beverly asked.
“Not until two o’clock—and don’t change the subject,” he warned. “We’re in the middle of stirring your fruit punch right now. Are you and Mr. Lover-Lover spending Thanksgiving together tomorrow or are you going to your parents’?”
Beverly’s cheeks flushed guiltily. “Well, Lucius has mentioned that since his ex-wife was taking his daughter to Boston that he would be alone for the holiday.”
Clarence and Leslie shot a look at each other.
“What?” Beverly asked.
“You know when you start spending the holidays together it means you taking things to another level.”
Beverly glanced away. It felt as if she and Lucius were advancing to another level, despite her having a few conflicting emotions.
Clarence crept over to her, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. “Do you want things to move to a new level?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m just going with the flow r
ight now.”
“Oh, my God,” he gasped, pressing a hand to his chest. “You’re really feeling this brother.” Suddenly, Clarence threw his arms around Beverly. “I was just playing before, but, girl, I’m so proud of you taking this huge step.”
“Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.” She tossed up her arms and wiggled out of his embrace. “I didn’t say all of that. I’m just taking baby steps.”
Clarence’s neck swiveled back. “Baby steps? Girl, you slept with him on your first date—well, I don’t even know if you can call it a date.”
“Will you please keep your voice down?” Beverly hissed. After another glance around, she said, “Contrary to what you might believe, I don’t want everybody to know my business.”
“Please. You just scared that everybody is going to think that you’re a ho. Screw ’em. Hos need love, too.”
Beverly pressed two fingers against the center of Clarence’s head and pushed him away from her. “Boy, you’re too much.”
“All right. All right. I’m happy for you. I think it’s great that you’re diving back into the pool of love.” He held up a hand before she could protest. “I know. I know. You didn’t say anything about being in love, but—” he locked gazes with her “—it’s written all over your face whether you want to admit it or not.”
The bell above the shop’s door jingled. Beverly turned and then immediately her face lit up. “Kyra!” She rushed over and embraced her friend. “What are you doing here?”
“I came by to see you, silly. And to show you this—bam!” She threw out her hand where a white diamond solitaire sparkled back at them. “Your girl is engaged.”
Beverly’s eyes bulged. “Oh, my God.”
Clarence literally hip-bumped Beverly out of the way. “Ooooh, girl. Who the hell are you marrying—Michael Jordan or some damn body? Leslie, come look at this chick’s rock.”
“Isn’t it gorgeous?” Kyra giggled.
Beverly stood with her mouth hanging open. “You and…”
“Terrence,” Kyra supplied. “He popped the question. Can you believe it? After all these years, we’re actually going to get married. Bev, it was sooo sweet, he proposed to me at the same exact spot where we met ten years ago at Hollington.” Her bubbling excitement was infectious.
“That’s wonderful,” Beverly finally said, opening her arms and embracing her friend. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks. My other good news is that Terrence accepted the coaching and teaching job at Hollington. So we’ll be staying right here in Atlanta.” Kyra stepped back and smiled at her. “I keep pinching myself every ten minutes to make sure I’m not dreaming.”
Knowing the history between Kyra and Terrence caused Beverly’s heart to overflow with joy for her friend.
Clarence beamed. “Sounds like love was all up in the air at that college reunion shindig. What—this makes the third engagement?” he asked, looking to Beverly for confirmation. “I wonder if my hair college throws reunion parties. Maybe I’m missing out on something.”
“Speaking of which,” Kyra said, beaming. “Did you hear about Tamara Hodges and Micah Ross?”
Beverly folded her arms. “Yeah. We read about it in Luster magazine.”
“Stunning, huh?” Kyra giggled. “No doubt Micah is going to throw her some fabulous wedding out in La La Land, but I tossed in a good word for Hoops to Tamara. So don’t be surprised if she drops in.”
Beverly blinked. “I don’t do wedding gowns.”
“Not the gown, silly. But for her engagement party dress. The dress will get a lot of attention since Micah is a big-time mover and shaker in the music industry.”
Beverly lit up. “Thanks, girl.”
“C’mon. You know I’ll always have your back. Plus, I was hoping by hooking you up it will mean I’ll get a little discount on my own engagement party dress?”
“I’ll do better than that. Your dress with be my wedding gift to you.”
“Aww. Thank you.”
They shared another hug and then Beverly led Kyra to the alteration room, where she could take down her friend’s measurements and discuss her vision for what type of dress she’d like for a quaint engagement party. Leslie brought back a couple of flutes of champagne and before Beverly knew it, two hours had passed and Kyra had to go.
“’Bye, I’ll see you in a couple of weeks,” Beverly said, waving.
As Kyra was leaving Clarence was returning to the store.
“Finished with your afternoon appointment?” Beverly asked.
“Mmm-hmm,” he said, following her to her office with a slick smile.
She stopped, not liking his calculating smile. “What?”
“What-what?” He played dumb.
Beverly folded her arms beneath her chest and waited him out.
Clarence finally relented. “I just keep thinking that with so much reunion love in the air that possibly it’s infected one more couple.”
She quickly caught his meaning. “I’m not in love.”
He folded his arms to match her stance. “Methinks thou protest too much.”
“Mr. Gray, I have a Kevin Stayton on line one,” Maggie chirped over Lucius’s speakerphone.
Surprised, Lucius pulled his nose out of the piles of legal briefs and picked up the phone. “Kevin! How the hell are you?”
“I’m doing good, man. I’m doing good,” Kevin said. “I know it’s been a minute since the reunion and when we talked about the CHRIS Kids Foundation.”
Lucius eased back in his chair. He had forgotten about Kevin’s request about helping the charity foundation.
“I’m sorry about taking so long getting back to you, but things have been a little hectic dealing with wedding preparations.”
“Hey, it’s cool. I completely understand. I’ve been meaning to congratulate on your pending nuptials. That was really cool taking the stage at the reunion dance party. I kept telling Beverly that something was going on between you two.”
Kevin’s deep laughter rumbled over the line. “Yeah. I don’t think I’ll forget Chloe’s stunned face when my proposal finally sunk in. Priceless.”
“I’m happy for you, man.” Lucius was unprepared for a sudden stream of fantasy images of him dropping on one knee before Beverly. Only problem was he suspected her response wouldn’t be anything like Chloe Jackson’s at the reunion dance party, but more like a screaming heroine in a horror movie. For now, he had to settle for the pretense of a no-strings-attached relationship, despite the fact that they practically saw each other every day now. In fact, she spent more nights at his place than hers. A lot of times, she used the excuse that his house was a lot closer to her shop than her own, but he knew the truth. She was starting to care for him—maybe even love him—but she was nowhere near ready to admit it.
Lucius forced himself to concentrate on Kevin’s phone call. He was more than happy to agree to do pro bono work for the CHRIS Kids Foundation. He’d heard a lot of good things about the charity based there in Atlanta and was extremely impressed at Kevin’s passion and dedication to the group. After the call, he glanced at his watch and smiled when he saw that it was exactly five o’clock.
“Time to go.” He quickly tossed a few case files into his briefcase and grabbed his suit jacket.
Maggie entered the office, carrying a new stack of legal briefs, but then stopped and stared at him. “Leaving?”
“Yep. I’m calling it a day,” he said, wondering whether he should stop by the store and surprise Beverly with a home-cooked meal tonight.
His secretary set the briefs down on his desk and then crossed her arms. “All right. What gives?” she asked cautiously. “I’ve never known you to just work forty hours a week.”
“And if I recall, you always said that I worked too much.”
“And since when do you take my advice?”
He walked from behind his desk. “Heeey, better late than never, right?”
Maggie shook her head as she followed him out of the office. “Some
thing is going on with you—I’m inclined to believe that it may be a woman.”
“Are you now?” he said, refusing to sate her curiosity.
“It’s that or you jumped the fence and are seeing a man,” she goaded.
“Hmmm.” Lucius refused to take the bait, and pressed a button for the elevator.
“Oh, you’re good,” she said.
Lucius chuckled as the elevator’s door slid open. “Good night, Maggie.”
“This isn’t over,” she warned, laughing.
In the parking deck, Lucius hopped into his Crossover and turned over the engine. Lauryn Hill’s CD was still in his CD player, which only boosted his good mood. Unfortunately, that all ended when his cell phone rang five minutes later. “Hello, Erica,” he said flatly.
“What time are you going to be home?” she asked without preamble.
He frowned, recognizing an Erica trap when he heard one. “Why?”
“Because I’m bringing your daughter over. Is that a problem?”
“Of course not,” he said, insulted.
“Good—because you’re keeping her through the Thanksgiving holiday.”
“All right.” Lucius waited for an explanation, but when clearly there wasn’t one forthcoming, he asked, “I thought you were taking her to Boston?”
“Well, I’m not. Okay? There’s no reason why she can’t stay with you. You’re her father, remember?”
Lucius drew a deep breath and counted to ten. “I’m not complaining about keeping her, Erica. I just wanted to know why there was a change in plans. I’d love to have her for the holidays. I just wanted to know—”
“Great. It’s settled,” she snapped. “Now what time will you be home?”
“I—I guess in about ten minutes. Why?”
“I’ll see you in ten minutes.” She hung up.
Lucius pulled the phone from his ear and stared at it. “What the hell was all that about?” He didn’t have to wait long to find out, because Erica and Ruby were standing on his doorstep waiting when he pulled into his driveway.
Tender to His Touch Page 12
