“Yes.”
They drove along in a charged silence until Brent spotted a secluded road to the left. “Pull over there,” he said.
“Why, what’s wrong?” she asked as she turned down the road.
Brent reached over and placed the car in Park. “I told you, I am starving,” he said, then lifted her dress. Mimi shivered as she felt the heat of his breath against her panties.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a long time,” he said as he pulled the crotch of her lace panties to the side. He licked her wetness as if she were melting ice cream. “Brent,” she cried out as he lashed her throbbing bud. “Brent.”
“You taste so good. Missed your sweetness,” he said before wrapping his lips around her wet ones. Mimi squirmed and moaned as his tongue darted in and out of her. Her slit was wet with desire and her thighs trembled with anticipation. Lick. Suck. Lick.
“Brent!”
Suck. Lick. Suck.
“OhmigodBrent, I can’t take it.”
“Come for me. Let me taste you.”
Shivering, Mimi exploded as his tongue brushed against her sensitive pearl one more time. His face was shiny with her release. “I-I, whoo!” she exclaimed as her heart rate slowed to a normal pace. “That was... I’m not sure if I can drive right now.”
He stroked her inner thigh with his fingertips. “Maybe you don’t need to drive right now. I think I need to taste you again and twelve miles is a long way away.”
“Brent, you’re so bad.”
“But you feel so good. You can’t blame me.”
She shook her head. “But we can’t go to jail in Orleans Parish, either. Can you imagine the scandal?” Mimi laughed.
“You do have a point because what I want to do to you right now is very scandalous.” He slipped his hands underneath her dress and pulled her panties down.
“What are you...”
“Step out of them. I just need a reminder of what I have to wait twelve miles for,” he said.
Mimi shook her head, but followed his directions. “Who are you and what have you done with Brent Daniels?” she asked as she tossed her panties at him. He tucked the lacy undies into his pocket.
“I’m right here, ready to claim what’s mine.”
“You think it’s going to be that easy?” Mimi teased.
Brent leaned back in the seat and smiled. “I know it is.”
The drive to Mimi’s place seemed to be electric. Her body was tense and ready to be claimed, even if she tried to pretend she wasn’t going to make it easy for him. Pulling up to the pink boardinghouse, Brent smiled. “I can see you staying here,” he said. “Did you bring the PlayStation?”
Mimi laughed. “No. Who would’ve hung the TV? You were in Atlanta, in your feelings,” she said.
“That’s not funny because it’s true. I mean, what was that Dear John note supposed to do, make me happy?”
She faced him, the playfulness gone from her face. “Brent, can we be honest for a minute?” she began. “I left because you and I don’t see eye to eye on how this is supposed to work.”
“This is how it works,” Brent said. “I love you. I love everything about you. There’s nothing about you I want to change.”
“But you want a traditional life and I’m not about that life.”
He stroked her cheek, then pulled her face close to his. “You seem to think you have me all figured out,” Brent said, then brushed his lips across hers. “I’ve had some time to think about this whole picture-perfect life and maybe it isn’t everything I thought it would be. Let me be clear on one thing: without you none of this matters. I didn’t come to New Orleans to change anything about you.”
Mimi wanted to melt in his arms. “Brent, I don’t...”
He put his finger to her lips. “Mimi, I want a future with you in it.”
“What if my future is here in New Orleans?”
“There are these things called planes, trains and automobiles. Ever heard of them?”
“Smart-ass,” she quipped.
“What do you want, Mimi? You want to keep hiding behind your computer or do you want to have a real life with a man who loves you?”
Her mouth formed the shape of an O. She wanted to say yes. Brent made it sound so simple, so easy. But...
“What is it, Mimi?”
“I’m scared,” she said. “I’ve never felt this way before and you struck a chord when you said I hide behind my blog. But it’s become a part of who I am. If you think I’m going to give that up...”
“I don’t,” he said, then kissed her on the tip of her nose. “The only thing I need you to give up is...” Brent pulled her panties out of his pocket and twirled them around his index finger. “Let’s take this inside.”
Mimi nodded and opened her car door. Brent followed suit and they dashed inside. Trembling, she unlocked the door. They walked into the spacious room Mimi had called home for the past month. Brent didn’t take a moment to absorb the interior, the sea-foam-green walls and yellow curtains, didn’t care about the aqua-blue bedspread with the pale pink roses. As soon as she closed the door, Brent pressed her against the wooden door. He brought his mouth down on top of hers as he lifted her leg and wrapped it around his waist. Their tongues danced a tango as his fingers toyed with her throbbing clit.
Mimi’s soft moans filled the air as Brent lifted her up and carried her a few feet to the bed.
“Brent,” she whispered as she watched him strip out of his clothes. His naked body was a sight for sore eyes and hungry lips. She released a slow breath as he lowered himself on the bed.
“Mimi,” he said as he eased the strap of her dress down. “You’re so beautiful.” Their lips met and Brent devoured her mouth as if it were the sweetest fruit he’d ever tasted.
She moaned as his tongue traced her lips. With one hand, he exposed her breast and kissed her satin skin. Brent’s tongue flicked across her pebble-hard nipple. With his free hand, Brent massaged her other breast while continuing to nibble on her nipple. Mimi arched her body into him, giving Brent carte blanche to control her and give her the pleasure she desired.
Pleasing her was his mission as he dropped his hand from her breast and slipped it between her thighs. His nimble fingers darted in and out of her wetness.
“Yes,” she cried, tossing her head back in bliss. Brent peeled her dress from her body as he eased down to her hips. Brent spread her legs and planted his face between them. She was wet, hot and delicious. Brent licked and sucked her until Mimi grew hoarse from screaming his name.
Brent pulled back from her, taking joy in watching the sated look on her face. She ran her hand down the center of his chest as she caught her breath. “Umm,” she moaned. “Need you.” Mimi reached down and stroked his erection. “Need this.”
“It’s all yours.” Brent drove deep inside her. Mimi wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him in further. She ground against him slowly. Brent matched her rhythm. Rocking at a pace that made every sensation and tingle feel like an ocean wave hitting them in the face on a cold day. Explosive.
“Mimi, Mimi,” he groaned as he reached his climax. Wrapped in each other’s arms, they drifted off to sleep—satisfied and sated.
* * *
Mimi woke up with a start, almost believing that the past few hours had been an amazing Technicolor dream. Sure, she was in bed naked, but she was also alone. It wasn’t until she heard the faint sound of the shower that it sank in. Brent was here. Brent had proclaimed his love for her. He’d said all of those amazing things about wanting to be with her. But what did she really want? Was she truly ready for this?
“Glad to see you’re awake,” Brent said as he walked into the room with a towel wrapped around his waist.
“It’s even better to know that I wasn’t dreaming,” s
he said as she inched toward the edge of the bed. “Good shower?”
He shrugged. “Could’ve been better. You should’ve been there.”
Mimi laughed and yawned. “Next time.”
Brent sat on the bed beside her and stroked her wild hair. “Mimi,” he said with a smile, “you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. Inside and out. I love you more than I thought I’d love someone.”
“So, how do we do this?” she asked. “I never knew real love until now. Honestly, I’m scared.”
“Don’t be.”
“I have a few more days here with my assignment and then I was going to look for some property.”
“You want to move to New Orleans?”
She shrugged. “I thought I did. Then again, I have a mobile career and I just need a base of operations.”
“Louisiana isn’t a bad place,” he said. “I mean, if that’s where you want to be. We can get a nice place in the Quarter if you like.”
“We?”
“Yes, we’re in this together. Whether it’s Atlanta or New Orleans, we’re going to make our life together.” Brent kissed her lips gently. “You just have to answer one question for me.”
“What’s that?” she asked.
“Will you marry me?”
Tears sprang into Mimi’s eyes. “Are you serious?”
He held her face between his hands and brushed his nose against hers. “Very. Marry me, Mimi.”
“Yes, I will.” Brent kissed her and wiped her tears at the same time.
“I love you, Mimi.”
“I love you, too,” she replied.
Epilogue
“Mimi Collins is getting married,” MJ said as she pinned her friend’s veil on her head. “I still don’t believe it.”
Mimi glanced at her reflection in the mirror. “Amazing, isn’t it?”
“I think I just walked into the twilight zone,” MJ said as Mimi stood up. “You ranted against marriage for years. You didn’t want to be Mrs. Anybody. Remember that?”
“I also remember you saying Nic was the man for you and look at you and Jamal.”
MJ blushed and turned away from her friend. “I’m just taking it one day at a time,” she said. “No rushing into my feelings this time.”
Mimi rose to her feet and smiled at her reflection. Three months ago, she wouldn’t have believed that she’d be standing here in a wedding dress. The ivory dress hit her right above her knees and the heart-shaped neckline gave just enough cleavage to be sexy and classy. Her mother’s diamond pendant hung right above her breasts and she knew Brent would love it.
Last night had been the first night in three months that they’d spent apart. But he still had his traditions, and spending the night with his wife-to-be before the wedding was one thing he wasn’t giving up.
He hadn’t even responded to her sexy text messages until this morning. You better live up to all of this. I have it in writing.
Mimi took a deep breath. “I’m getting married.”
* * *
Brent tugged at his bow tie. In less than thirty minutes, he was going to be married to the woman of his dreams. A woman he couldn’t wait to call Mrs. Daniels. Glancing to his left, he saw his mother watching him with pride gleaming in her eyes. She’d met Mimi last month and immediately fell in love with her.
“She is going to keep you straight,” his mother had said after dinner.
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, Miss Mimi is something else. She says what she thinks and she isn’t that impressed by you, son. I like her a lot.”
“Good,” he had said as he refilled her glass of wine. “We’re getting married.”
“Thank God! I’m glad you’re marrying a real woman and not those vapid women who have no more to offer than their bodies and the promise of getting pregnant. Don’t get me wrong, I want a couple of grandkids. Y’all are going to make cute babies.”
“No pressure, right?” Brent laughed as his mother took a sip of her wine. Mimi had returned to the dining room with cheesecake and when his mother rose to her feet and gave her a tight hug, Brent knew he’d made the best decision of his life.
“You breathing?” Jamal asked, breaking into Brent’s thoughts.
“I’m good, just ready to say ‘I do’ and get on with the honeymoon.”
Jamal shook his head. “Man down,” he said as he buttoned his jacket.
“You’re next. I’ve seen you and MJ together and you know what they say when best friends get married.”
“MJ isn’t like that. Her mind is on her money,” Jamal said, and Brent could’ve sworn his friend looked a little upset about it. “Anyway, Daveon is excited you’re letting him be a part of your big day.”
“Where is he?” Brent asked.
“Last time I saw him, he was trying to sneak some cake squares from the baker.”
Brent smiled. “That’s my little brother.”
“Mom’s going to try to keep his suit clean. I have to say, I’m surprised this isn’t more traditional. I expected your wedding to be one of those affairs in a castle and whatnot. But here we are in a historic plantation in New Orleans. You said Mimi took a tour of this place and had to get married here, huh?”
Brent nodded. Instead of wedding gifts, their guests made donations to preserve the historic landmark. The idea of giving back made Brent love Mimi even more.
“This was Mimi’s idea and it was a good one. That’s why I agreed to putting pictures from the wedding on her blog.”
Jamal clasped his hands together. “Then let’s get y’all hitched. I’m glad you both came to your senses.”
“Let’s go. I’m ready to kiss my future.”
Brent and Jamal headed into the foyer, which had been converted into a pink and white altar. It had been his mother’s idea. Brent would’ve jumped through a neon-green circus hoop and stood in the middle of a boxing ring to say “I do” to Mimi.
Turning toward the door, Brent waited for his woman to walk in. And if he was expecting to hear “The Wedding March,” he was mistaken. The sounds of Prince singing “Adore,” made him look at the door. MJ walked in with a big grin on her face. Brent cast a glance at Jamal, who seemed mesmerized by her body-hugging silver gown. Their eyes met and Brent didn’t miss the undercurrent of desire that bubbled between them. That was quickly pushed out of his mind when he saw Mimi in the doorway. Beautiful was an understatement. Stunning. Amazing. Breathtaking.
“Mimi,” he whispered as she approached him. He drew her into his arms as he drank in her image. He should’ve known not to expect a princess dress or a gown featured in a bridal magazine.
“Slow down,” Jamal quipped. “You have to get married first.”
“Shut up,” Mimi gritted out before kissing Brent.
“Well,” the justice of the peace said as she cleared her throat. “We haven’t gotten to that part yet.”
The group gathered in the room laughed. “I’m going to have to make this quick,” the justice said. “Dearly beloved, these two are here to get married. They love each other and love the community. Now, Mimi, do you promise to love, honor and cherish Brent Daniels for the rest of your life?”
“I do,” she replied as she stared into his sparkling eyes.
“And,” the justice said, “do you promise to give him a better name on your blog when you write about him?”
More laughter. “Or maybe don’t write about me at all,” Brent said, leaning in and kissing her cheek.
“Don’t give me a reason,” Mimi replied with a wink.
“All right,” the justice said. “Brent, do you promise to love, honor and cherish Mariah Collins for the rest of your life and don’t give her a reason to write about you on her blog?”
“I do,” Brent sa
id with a huge smile.
“By the power vested in me by the state of Louisiana, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may...”
Brent didn’t wait for clearance; he pulled Mimi into his arms and kissed her: slow, deep, like he could do this forever.
“Umm,” Mimi moaned as their lips parted. “I definitely have a new name for you on the blog.”
“And what’s that?” he asked as he pulled her closer.
“The love of my life.”
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from ILLUSION OF LOVE by Nana Malone,
Book One in THIS IS LOVE.
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Feel the Heat Page 17
