In the Market for Love

by Joy Avery

  Vivian’s lips parted, but no words escaped. Delivering a powerful stroke, she sputtered a whimper. While her mouth had felt excellent on him, there was no comparison to how good it felt being inside of her.

  He drove several faster, harder strokes, then pulled out of her wetness.

  Vivian attempted to protest. “Don’t—”

  He covered her mouth with his, halting whatever protest she had. Pulling away, he said, “Do you want me back inside of you?”

  “Y-yes. R-right now.”

  He chuckled. “There’s no rush, baby. We have all night. Just lie back and let me love on you.”

  “I—I want you to love in me.”

  Alonso peppered kisses to her collarbone, causing Vivian to shiver under him. Inching farther down her torso, he glided his tongue over one of her taut nipples, then sucked it into his mouth. His tongue twirled, flicked, lapped before moving to the opposite breast and giving it equal attention. Damn, he loved how her body responded to him.

  Venturing lower, he placed a tender kiss to her belly button. At the warmth between her thighs, he spread her wide and brushed his stiffened tongue across her clit. Once. Twice. A third time for good measure.

  Vivian whined. “Please...Alonso.”

  His tongue glided across her again. “Please, what, baby? Tell me what you want.”

  “I want...I want you to taste me. Eat me. Devour me.”

  Well, he believed in giving his woman whatever she wanted. His lips closed around her clit, and he suckled her gently. Vivian’s cries filled the room. The beautiful sound only made him more determined. He curled two fingers inside of her and moved them in and out slowly.

  When she slapped both hands on the back of his head and ground herself against his mouth, he knew she was close to the edge. A moment later, she erupted, her body bucking and arching off the bed.

  Vivian’s body still trembled when he entered her again. The feel of her pulsating around him aroused him even more. His swift strokes slapped against her again and again. It wasn’t long before he experienced the sensations of his own impending orgasm.

  He rested his hands behind Vivian’s knees and pinned her legs to her chest. He drove himself in and out of her with speed and force. A sweltering fire burned through his veins and threatened to ignite him. Sweat streamed down his forehead and into his eye, but the sting wasn’t enough to deter him. He was too close to the finish line.

  Unable to fight it a second longer, the orgasm tore through him. He gripped the wooden headboard to keep from toppling over. Once-sturdy strokes turned clumsy, but he continued until he had nothing more to give.

  Alonso collapsed next to Vivian and pulled her into his arms. He loved feeling her naked body against his.

  “I can’t wait until you open your birthday present,” Vivian said. “I think you’re going to love what’s inside. Blanche thought so, too.”

  His head jerked forward. “Blanche...from the lingerie shop in Carolina Beach?”

  Vivian smirked. “She ships.”

  An image of the very revealing patterned body stocking with the lace-up back, cupless bra and open crotch played in his mind. It renewed his hunger. “Why wait?” He made a move to get up, but Vivian urged him back down.

  “We have all night. Right now, I just want to be held.”

  How could he argue with that? Silence played between them. This was okay, because there were truly no words that could possibly contend with this moment.

  “I love you, Alonso Wright.”

  Well, he was man enough to admit when he was wrong. And he’d been wrong. There were three words capable of trumping this moment. “I love you, Vivian Moore.”

  And he was sure he would for the rest of his life.

  Chapter 21

  Sitting across from Tressa on the patio of the Mediterranean bistro they’d stopped at for lunch, Vivian felt a wave of sympathy for her friend. This should have been the happiest time of her life, but nothing about her impending wedding appeared to be bringing her much joy.

  “Everything is going wrong, Vi. The venue for the engagement party overbooked. Guess who got the boot? The invitations to the engagement party are missing in action. I kissed Roth in your kitchen. I haven’t made any wedding plans.”

  Vivian’s head jerked as Tressa’s nonchalant confession filtered through her brain. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Back up. You did what in my kitchen?”

  Tressa groaned, then planted her face in her hands. She shook her head as if doing so would alter her reality. Finally facing Vivian again, she said in a whisper, “I kissed Roth. The night we were at your place prepping for Alonso’s birthday party.”

  Vivian remembered the night well. It’d been the night she and Alonso pledged their love to one another. It’d only been a few weeks ago, but it felt like they’d been in love for forever. Pushing the happy thought aside, she gawked at her friend. “Tress.”

  “This is bad, I know. I don’t know what happened, Vi. One minute my lips were wrapped around his saxophone, the next they were wrapped around him.”

  By no means was this a laughable situation, but Vivian had to bite back a chuckle from Tressa’s choice of words. When Tressa touched her lips, Vivian had an idea her friend was reliving her lip-lock with Roth. And if the faint smile was any indication, she’d enjoyed it.

  Tressa snapped out of her trance. “It only lasted a few seconds. And we both admitted it was a huge mistake. Well, I admitted it was a huge mistake. Roth really didn’t have a chance to say anything. Luckily, you and Alonso arrived. When Roth and I left your place, I hurried to my vehicle just to avoid having to rehash what’d happened.”

  “Tress.”

  “I know, Vi. I’m an awful person. What kind of woman cheats on her fiancé?”

  Some would attribute this more to a temporary lapse of good judgment than cheating. Either way you labeled it, it wasn’t an ideal situation.

  Tressa slumped in her chair and cradled herself in her arms. “I wasn’t going to tell you. I just wanted to forget it ever happened. But I’ve been riddled with guilt. It’s not like I slept with Roth.” She kneaded the side of her neck. “I have to tell him. I have to tell Cyrus I kissed another man.”

  Vivian was all for truth and honesty in a relationship, but she wasn’t sure it was necessary to rock the boat over a kiss that had only lasted a few seconds. Unless... Nah. Could it be possible? Could Tressa hope by telling Cyrus he would call off the wedding? Was Tressa having second thoughts?

  Tressa speared a forkful of salad, then allowed the utensil to drop into the bowl. “I don’t know what to do. I feel like I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t.”

  Vivian reached across the table and took Tressa’s hand into hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You and Cyrus seem happy together, Tress, but are you sure you’re ready to commit your life to him? If you’re having second thoughts...”

  Vivian started to insert the short time they’d known each other, but considered her own situation. She’d known Alonso less time than Tressa had known Cyrus and she was head over heels in love with Alonso.

  Hell, maybe they were both crazy. But hey, wasn’t that love? Daring to risk it all.

  “He’s good to me, Vi. He spoils me rotten. And I know he loves me.” Tressa’s gaze slid away. “I’m just not...”

  “You’re just not what, Tress?”

  Tressa shook her head. “Nothing. I love him. And I do want to marry him.”

  Though Tressa flashed a brilliant smile, Vivian wasn’t wholly convinced happiness was what her friend truly felt. She would support Tressa in any decision she made. She just hoped her friend was making the right one. In love, there weren’t supposed to be doubts.

  * * *

  Alonso rested his elbows on his desk and stared at Roth. It’d been a long time sin
ce he’d seen him rattled. Hell, now that he thought about it, he wasn’t sure he’d ever really seen the man frazzled. The troubled man sitting across from him in his office was in stark contrast to the stern man Roth normally displayed to the world.

  “I know, man. I know. You don’t even have to say it. It was stupid and foul as hell.” Roth pushed to his feet and paced back and forth. “But I couldn’t resist. When her mouth touched mine, it was a done deal.” He sighed heavily.

  Alonso definitely understood temptation. He recalled how hard it’d been resisting Vivian before they became an item.

  Roth scrubbed a hand over his head. “Enough about me and my bullshit.” Roth dropped back into the chair again and grinned. “Should I be getting fitted for a tux, or what?”

  Alonso barked a laugh. “Why in the hell do you and Ham keep trying to marry me off?”

  “Probably because we both see where this is leading.” Roth’s expression turned serious. “On the real, bro, I like Vivian. She’s good for you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this happy.”

  That would be because he’d never been this happy. He massaged his cheek. “She threw me a birthday party, man. I still can’t get over that. Do you know how much that meant to me?” Yeah, it would probably seem insignificant to some, but she’d given him something he’d never had. “Thank you again for helping her out.”

  “Anything for you, bro. You know that.”

  Alonso’s desk phone beeped, then his assistant’s voice boomed over the line. “Pardon the interruption, Mr. Wright, but Garth Garrison is on the line for you again.”

  Alonso’s face hardened. “Take a message, Jessica. Tell him I’m in an all-day meeting.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Uh-oh. Trouble in paradise?” Roth said.

  Alonso hadn’t shared with Roth how Garth had gone ballistic in his office and how he’d had to jack him up. He washed his hand down his face. “He wasn’t too keen on the idea of me changing the plans for the downtown Raleigh project. Money truly is the root of all evil.”

  Roth leaned forward and rested his elbows on his thighs. “I imagine that weasel is trying to secure every dime he can get. Word on the street is he’s got some serious gambling debt.”

  “Huh.” Now it made sense why Garth was so pissed by the decrease in revenue. “What’s up between you two? You clearly have never liked the man.”

  “He and his boys came to the club once and were disrespectful to a few of the female staff.”

  “You never told me that.”

  “I knew you two had a working relationship.”

  When Roth stood and moved to the table display, Alonso joined him.

  “I love what you’ve decided to do in the community. Vivian really is a good influence on you.”

  “The love of a good woman...it changes you.” And he was truly a changed man.

  Chapter 22

  Vivian made haste down the brightly lit corridor. At eight in the evening on a Wednesday, the ER should have been calm—or at least calmer than it had been the past couple of hours. Unfortunately, every time it rained, automobile accidents kept them moving nonstop.

  “Pediatric trauma. ETA, ten minutes. Pediatric trauma. ETA, ten minutes.”

  Vivian always hated when that particular indicator blared over the PA system. Pediatric traumas always rattled her. You never knew what you would see; you just knew that nine times out of ten, it would be bad.

  Two hours later, Vivian stumbled into the nurses’ lounge and dropped onto one of the leather lounge chairs. She eyed the Keurig machine sitting on the counter. She could really use a cup of coffee but couldn’t will her body to make the short trek across the room to get it.

  If her feet could talk, she was sure they’d praise her for giving them mercy. On second thought, they’d probably blast her for not giving them a reprieve sooner. Where was Alonso when she needed him? He gave the best foot rubs.

  Alonso. The thought of him mimicked a calming elixir. He’d been so concerned when they’d briefly spoken. Especially when she’d broken down crying as she told him about the toddler they’d lost. It hadn’t been the first child they’d lost in the ER, but something about this one got to her.

  Maybe it’d been the god-awful sound of grief the child’s father had released when he’d been given the devastating news that he’d lost his only child.

  We were going to get ice cream, he’d repeated several times.

  The words were stuck in her head.

  “Vi, you in here?”

  “No, there’s no Vi here,” she said in response to Tressa’s query.

  “Ha-ha. Very funny.” Tressa took her arm and coaxed her off the chaise. “I need you to come with me.”

  Vivian whined. “Tress. No. I just want to relax, possibly eat, and consume several cups of coffee.”

  Tressa ignored her and shepherded Vivian’s weary body to the door. They moved down the hall, coming to a stop in front of one of the several patient consultation rooms on the floor. Tressa directed Vivian inside. Instead of Tressa joining her, she closed the door leaving Vivian standing alone in the small vestibule that led into the sitting area.

  “Tressa—”

  When someone cleared their throat, Vivian rotated. She gasped. “Alonso?” Her brow furrowed. “What are you doing here?”

  He held out his hand and she moved toward him. The sight before her garnered a huge smile. Several Chinese take-out containers sat atop the wooden table. The delicious aromas wafting in the room made her stomach growl. This was just what she needed: food and quiet time with her man.

  Vivian looked up at him with adoring eyes. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  He kissed her gently. She’d missed the feel of his lips against hers. She moaned when his hands glided down her body and squeezed her ass. After what seemed like an eternity, she broke their connection. “You’re going to make it hard for me to return to work.”

  Alonso glided a bent finger along her cheek. “Well, for the next hour, you don’t have to think about work. Nothing but relaxing.” He led her to the table, pulled out her chair and guided her down.

  Vivian grinned. “You are just full of surprises.”

  Alonso eased into the seat across from her. “You’re not the only one with a few tricks up their sleeve.”

  After enjoying their meal, Vivian and Alonso moved to the two-person couch. He lifted her legs into his lap, removed her black clogs and kneaded her feet.

  “Mmm. You don’t know how great that feels.”

  “Judging by the moan, I would say pretty spectacular.”

  “Thank you for all of this. You’ve made my night. But it’s late. And I thought you were prepping for the huge meeting you have in the morning?”

  “Everything stops when you need me. And I got the impression you needed me. You do need me, right?”

  “Absolutely.” Admitting that should have been a lot scarier than it actually was. She was making beautiful progress.

  Alonso winked at her. “Good.”

  “Do you want kids, Alonso?” The question had come completely out of left field, and she wasn’t sure why she’d even asked it. Maybe because of the father she’d sympathized with earlier or maybe out of sheer curiosity.

  Alonso paused and eyed her. “No.”

  Though the response bothered her—mainly because she did want kids, a house full of them—he’d been honest and she respected that.

  Alonso returned his attention back to her feet. “At least not until I find the one. The one I’m so in love with that I would show up at her job at a ridiculous hour, in the pouring rain, with Chinese takeout. When I find that woman, with her I want everything—kids, white picket fences, dogs. With her I want it all, including forever.”

  Alon
so never looked at her; he simply kept his eyes on her feet. Was he afraid of what he would see? Did he believe his words would unnerve her? If so, he was wrong. If anything, they’d done the complete opposite. Instead of unsettling her, they empowered her. Hadn’t he just told her he intended to spend his life with her and that he did indeed want children?

  “I love you, Alonso P. Wright.”

  This drew his attention to her. “Never stop. Doing it or saying it.”

  “Trust me, I won’t.”

  The hour sailed by. Vivian said a reluctant goodbye to Alonso and she returned to the floor. Several eternities later, the clock finally struck 8:00 a.m. Thursday morning, making Vivian a free woman.

  Unfortunately, before she could make her clean getaway, Gemma called out to her. Vivian loved Gemma like a sister, but she refused to work one more minute. Her bed was calling her name. Turning, Vivian had to smile at the very pregnant woman wobbling toward her. Though Gemma was only five months, it looked as if she would pop any second.

  Gemma pushed a large caramel-colored envelope toward Vivian. “Someone left this for you.”

  Vivian’s nose crinkled. “For me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Huh.” Accepting the envelope, she tucked it under her arm, deciding not to open it until she got to her vehicle. “Thank you and I’ll see you tonight.” Vivian rested her hand on Gemma’s protruding belly. “Take it easy, momma.”

  Gemma saluted her. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Outside, Vivian pulled in a lungful of the crisp and humid air. Luckily, it’d stopped raining. Hopefully it would hold off until she made the drive home. She disliked driving in the rain.

  The scent of something delicious—and artery clogging—invaded her nostrils. Whatever it was, she wanted some. The Chinese food Alonso had brought the night before had long been worked off.

  “Need a ride to your vehicle, Ms. Vivian?”

  Vivian turned toward the familiar voice. Ronnie, one of Tender Hearts’s several security personnel, rolled up on his golf cart. If someone were truly in danger, she wasn’t sure how much help Ronnie would be. He was in his early sixties and round as a parade float. But what he lacked in physical appearance, he made up for in sparkling personality. He was one of the most kindhearted people she’d ever met.