“Sounds like fun. Ayana, would you like to go?”
Her eyes perked up. “Sure,” she answered with a huge smile, exposing her pearly bright teeth.
“Where are you staying? I can pick you up.”
She gave him her parents’ address. “Do you know how to get there?”
“Yes. I’m familiar with the island. I’ve been here enough times. Marigold, what time does it start?”
“Eight o’clock.”
“How about I pick you up at seven-thirty?”
Marigold looked at her brother-in-law and then back at Ayana, watching their conversation. She smiled.
“Sounds good. Let me dash. I have a few errands to run. Marigold, I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay, me love.”
Brandon watched her leave and couldn’t believe the sudden change of events. He had totally misjudged the woman he knew as Saturday Knight. Now he couldn’t wait to get to know Ayana Lewis.
Chapter 10
A cover band was wailing “Buffalo Soldier” when Brandon and Ayana walked into the open-air concert. The crowd was thick with both islanders and tourists, shoulder to shoulder, grooving to the music and drinking rum punch, Guinness Stout or Red Stripe beers. The smell of jerk chicken permeated the balmy night air. The mood of the crowd was happy and carefree, conducive to dancing the night away.
“I’m so glad Marigold told us about this. I haven’t been to a Reggae Fest in a while,” Ayana said over the music. Cameramen had been present at her last date, observing her every move. Being there with Brandon on a real date was a welcome change of pace.
“Me either.”
“Is Marigold coming out tonight?” Ayana asked.
“She had planned on being here, but a mother and her two children came to the shelter as Marigold was leaving and she wanted to make sure they settled in comfortably.”
“I’m not surprised. I know how dedicated Marigold is to the shelter.”
“She’s amazing. My brother was a lucky man to find such a good woman.” Brandon looked into Ayana’s eyes, paused for a moment and then said, “Some people are just meant to be together.”
Listening to his words and peering back into his eyes, Ayana could feel herself being drawn to him and subconsciously took a step closer. “Do you believe in fate?”
“Never really thought about it much until now, but life has a way of throwing you a curveball when you least expect it.”
“That’s true.” Brandon was the last person on earth that Ayana thought she’d be spending time with. The possibility of them getting even closer was now ever present in her mind. She tried to shrug it off. They were just beginning to get to know each other and she didn’t want to push the envelope. In an effort to dismiss her growing desire, she looked around, spotted the food vendors and changed the subject. “Do you want something to eat?”
“No, thanks. I had dinner earlier. Are you hungry?”
“No. My mother cooked a small feast and made me eat before I left. She thinks I’m too thin.”
“That’s sweet. I wish my mother was still alive to fuss over me. She died five years ago from lung cancer, which was weird because she never smoked a day in her life.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I’m also sorry about the loss of your brother. He was such a nice guy.”
“Thanks.” He didn’t want to dwell on the matter, so he quickly switched the subject. “How about a drink?”
“A stout would be great.”
“Guinness?
“Yep.”
“Wow, I would’ve never imagined you as a dark-beer drinker.”
“And why is that?” she asked, putting her hand on her hip.
“Remember, I’ve only seen you on the set all dolled up, and you look like a girl who only drinks dainty pink cocktails that are served in chilled martini glasses.”
“Well, looks are deceiving.”
Brandon raised his eyebrow. “They surely are.” He took Ayana’s hand and led the way through the throng of people toward the drink stand. Once there, he ordered two cold beers.
“To new friendships,” she said, tapping her bottle to his.
“I’ll drink to that.”
“Yo, Ana!” a voice behind them yelled.
She turned around and saw her friend Cedella cutting through the crowd. Cedella and Ayana had grown up together and remained close even after Ayana had moved to the States years ago. The two friends hugged, happy to see each other.
“Me moms told me ya were here,” Cedella said. As she spoke she checked Brandon out from head to toe. Cedella was a serial flirt with no shame in her game. “And who is dis fine bro’her? Is dis yo man?”
Ayana looked over at Brandon and had to admit that he looked sexy in his baby-blue polo shirt that complemented his milk-chocolate skin, straight-leg jeans that hugged his muscular thighs and a pair of sandals. She loved men who were confident enough to show their feet. I wish he were my man, she thought. “No, he’s just a friend from New York.”
“Ya two look good together. Ya should be a couple. If ya don’t want him, maybe me’ll have a chance,” she said as if Brandon weren’t standing there.
“CeDe, you still haven’t learned to keep your thoughts to yourself.”
“Ya know me’ll never change,” she said, laughing. “So, ya gonna introduce me or what?”
“Brandon, this is my friend Cedella. We were next-door neighbors growing up.”
“Nice to meet you, Cedella.”
“Call me CeDe,” she said, making googly eyes at him. “So ya married, Brandon?”
“No, I’m not. CeDe, would you like a drink?” he asked.
She raised a plastic cup filled with a ruby-colored liquid. “No, thanks. Me already have a rum punch. Me meeting some friends up front near da stage. Ya wanna join us? We have a good spot.”
“No, thanks. We’re good,” Ayana said before Brandon could answer. She and Brandon had melted the iceberg between them, and she wanted to continue their getting-to-know-you session without CeDe interrupting or trying to hit on him.
“Suit yourself. Be sure to call me before ya leave town,” Cedella said as she gave Ayana a hug goodbye, then disappeared back into the crowd.
“Tell me something—why don’t you talk with an accent?”
“Me can talk wit da Jamaican accent if me want to,” she said in a sassy tone. “When me interviewed for da show, Ed didn’t want me to use me accent. Me worked wit a vocal coach to perfect me U.S. accent. So whacha tink of me talk now, mon?”
Brandon started to blush. “Your accent is sassy. It suits you.”
The band was now singing “No Woman, No Cry.” Ayana turned the beer up to her mouth, drained the bottle and tossed it into the garbage can. Brandon followed suit.
“Com on, mon. Let’s dance,” she said.
They walked hand in hand through the masses and joined the concertgoers dancing to the music. Brandon wrapped his arms around Ayana’s waist and gently held her close.
The old-school reggae was soothing, transporting Ayana to a state of total awareness. She could feel her body molding into his as they swayed to the beat. Ayana closed her eyes and rested her head against his broad chest. She was so accustomed to being on the defensive that it felt good to let her guard down. Being in his arms felt comfortable, as if they were a couple that had been together for years instead of coworkers getting to know each other.
When the song ended, the band switched gears to an up-tempo beat, but Ayana and Brandon continued clinging to each other, seemingly in their own world, oblivious to the change. Brandon spun her around so that her backside was to him. He grabbed her hips and moved them to match his steps. Ayana looked over her shoulder, surprised that he was adept at a traditional reggae dance.
“I see you’ve got skills,” she said, turning to face him.
“You haven’t seen nuthin’, mon,” Brandon responded, using his own Jamaican accent.
They began doing a sensuous butterfly dance, spread
ing their legs in and out with their hands on their hips. Ayana hiked up her skirt, exposing her long legs. She bent her knees and squatted low near the ground. Brandon kept pace with her, placing his legs against hers. Together their waving limbs resembled a butterfly in heat. One song blended into another as they continued their hedonistic moves.
Brandon put his hands on his knees, easing his long, lean body lower and lower. Their legs were now intertwined, moving in sync. Brandon then wrapped one hand around her waist, pulling her close. He put his other hand on her exposed thigh, rubbing her smooth brown skin. Sweat was pouring off their bodies, dampening their clothes. The cotton gauze material of her top stuck to Ayana’s skin, accentuating her breasts. Brandon licked his lips as he stared at her sexy body. He wiped beads of perspiration off his brow.
The combination of the humidity and the heat emanating from within was igniting a passion for Brandon that she was finding hard to resist. The feel of his hands on her body was driving Ayana crazy inside. One hand was clinching her waist, while his other hand was moving slowly up her thigh, getting closer and closer to her forbidden fruit. She was wet with perspiration and desire. Ayana was craving him sexually, but she didn’t dare make the first move. She firmly believed that if a man wanted you, nothing could hold him back. And then, as if he were reading her thoughts, he leaned down and whispered in her ear.
“Come on. Let’s get out of here.” Brandon took Ayana’s hand and led her off the dance floor.
No words were spoken as they wove through the crowd toward the exit. The intensity of the moment spoke volumes. Their sensuous dance moves were a prelude for a much-anticipated night of passion.
Chapter 11
Longing and lust filled the beach bungalow where Brandon had taken Ayana. She hadn’t objected when he took her by the hand and led her out of the concert to his rented Fiat. When they reached the bungalow, Brandon didn’t turn on any lights. Moonlight bathed the small cottage, creating a romantic glow. He closed the door and pulled her to him. They stood face-to-face, looking deeply into each other’s eyes without saying a word. He took her face in his hands and rubbed her smooth cheeks. He leaned down and touched his lips to hers. The soft kiss slowly intensified, turning passionate, their tongues dancing harmoniously together, hungry for one another.
Brandon released her face, slipped his hands underneath her top and gently touched her nipples through her mesh bra. He rubbed the surface of the material, teasing her with each touch. Ayana covered his hands with hers and guided him toward the front snap closure of the bra. He took the hint, unsnapped the bra, unleashed her ample breasts and gently touched her erect nipples. He held her breasts in his hands and sensuously massaged them until he heard her moan.
“Hmm, that feels so good.”
“That’s just the beginning,” he whispered and then licked the inside of her ear.
She gasped.
Brandon abandoned her breasts momentarily and unhooked her skirt, allowing it to slip to the floor. He roamed the soft surface of her skin, looking for delicious treasures. He moved his hand down her taut stomach and fingered the edge of her panties. Brandon was a patient man and didn’t plan on rushing their first time together. He was going to savor every moment. He inched his hand into her panties. He could feel coarse hairs as he rubbed her neat bush, moving his fingers one at a time, and applied a little pressure with his index finger directly above her clit.
She gasped.
He leaned down and scooped Ayana up into his arms and carried her across the living room and into the bedroom. The room had floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the ocean. The windows were open and a soft breeze blew through the sheer curtains into the room. He laid her on top of the crisp white sheets, took off her wedge-heeled sandals, reached up and slid off her black lace panties. Brandon stood at the edge of the bed and admired her curvaceous body. She was well proportioned. Thick in all the right places—thighs, hips and butt. He licked his lips.
“Like what you see?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
Brandon didn’t take his eyes off her as he unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned his pants and slipped off his shirt, exposing his muscular chest.
Ayana’s eyes were glued to him. Standing there bare-chested, with his jeans hanging off his hips, he looked like a sexy male model.
“Like what you see?” he asked, tossing the question back at her.
“So far, so good.” She reached out and tugged at his belt.
He stepped back.
“Come here,” she said, crooking her finger.
“Let’s not rush. Do you have to get back home?”
“No.”
“Good. We have all night, then.”
Brandon kicked off his sandals and slowly stepped out of his jeans, one leg at a time. He stood in his boxer briefs with his legs slightly apart. She could see his broad shoulders and firm pecs by the moonlight.
Ayana bit her bottom lip as she gazed up at his sculpted body. The sight of him made her squirm with desire. She wanted him to devour her. She wanted to take her time as much as he did, but the anticipation of lovemaking was getting to be too much to bear. Ayana reached for him again. This time he didn’t step back. She touched the imprint of his mound of manhood, which was nice and firm.
“Take them off,” she said in a low, seductive tone as she tugged at the band of his briefs.
Brandon peeled off his underwear in slow motion. First, he fingered the elastic waistband suggestively and then eased the boxer briefs past his pubic area and down over his semierect penis.
She gasped.
He took hold of himself and began stroking the shaft of his penis, going all the way to the tip and back, causing his penis to grow with each stroke.
Ayana watched intently and could feel herself getting moister and moister. She put her hand between her legs, found her clit and started pleasuring herself too.
Watching her masturbate brought Brandon’s penis to a fully erect state. His body was now aching for her, but he wasn’t going to rush the moment. “Here, let me do that,” he said, kneeling on the bed.
She spread her legs wider. “Be my guest.”
He placed his massive hands on her knees and trailed his tongue from the inside of her right thigh, circling around to her left thigh, and back again, stopping at her exposed clit. He tasted her erogenous zone with the tip of his tongue before wrapping his lips around her clit. He alternated between sucking softly and firmly.
Ayana closed her eyes, grabbed the sheets with both fists and arched her back in ecstasy. “Ohhh, don’t stop.”
Brandon increased the pace, saliva dripping from his chin as he made love to her clit. He was a selfless lover and always wanted to please his partner first. But her oral climax was just the beginning. He reached for his jeans and retrieved a condom from his pocket, tore the foil package and rolled it onto his manhood. Brandon wedged himself between her legs and eased the tip of his penis into her ready vagina.
She gasped.
Ayana was wet and tight—a perfect combination. He wrapped her up in his arms and worked his rod, inch by inch, into her deep canal. The muscles of her vagina gripped his dick, causing him to pump faster, flexing his butt with each move. She held on to him with both hands and they rode the motion of lovemaking, pumping, pushing and panting. This was the first of many explosive climaxes.
After recovering, they changed positions. Now Ayana was on top, positioning herself near his manhood. She rolled the used condom off and replaced it with her mouth. She leaned down, wrapped her lips around his substantial manhood and went to work sucking in a rapid motion. She stopped and trailed her tongue up and down the sides of his shaft before using her tongue to tease the tip of his penis. She could taste his essence. Ayana covered him with her mouth again, and again went to work sucking and licking his penis as if it were a delicious chocolate-covered banana.
Brandon could feel himself coming. He moved her to the side, retrieved a fresh condom and rolled it on.
“Get back on top.”
Ayana did as instructed. This time, she squatted down over his erection and didn’t stop until he was all the way inside. With her knees pressed close to his sides, she bounced up and down on his penis, crying out in ecstasy with each decadent move.
“You feel so good inside of me.”
He held tightly on to her waist, thrusting upward, matching her moves with his own. “Being inside of you feels so right.” He then flipped her over in one smooth motion. Now he was on top. Sweat dripped off Brandon’s forehead as he increased his pace. The swiftness of his moves knocked the headboard back and forth against the wall. The noise of the bed coupled with their moans created the soundtrack of their first night together.
“Are you coming yet?” he panted.
“Almost.”
Brandon reached underneath Ayana, grabbed her butt cheeks and pressed them toward his crotch, bringing her closer to him. He was on the verge of climax but wanted to ensure she was on the same page. “Tell me when you’re ready.”
“Okay, just don’t stop.”
He slowed down long enough to move his hands down her legs, grab her ankles and hold them high in the air, positioning himself deep inside of her V.
She gasped.
He ramped up the pace again and again. They each gave some more until their bodies gave in to yet another scrumptious, addictive climax.
Chapter 12
Ayana began to stir underneath the crisp white sheets as the sound of waves washing against the sand brought her out of a restful sleep. With her eyes still closed, she took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh ocean air. She stretched her arms, touching the bed and pillow next to her, but all she felt was the coolness of the sheet. She expected Brandon to be lying there. She opened her eyes to look for him, but he was nowhere in sight. The small bedroom was empty. She glanced at the nightstand, looking for a note from him, but there wasn’t one.
Ayana’s heart started to beat faster, in a mild panic. Did he just leave without saying anything? After sharing an intense night of lovemaking, staying up until the sun rose, she assumed that he would be cuddled up next to her, exhausted and enjoying the aftermath. The thought of him abandoning her didn’t sit well. Maybe I was wrong about our connection. Maybe it was just sex for him. And now that he got what he wanted, he has no further interest in me. The inner dialogue was making her madder by the second. She began to feel used. The beautiful aftermath of lovemaking quickly evaporated.
Blissfully Yours (Mills & Boon Kimani) Page 6
