by Yvette Hines
“Hell yes! For hours.”
They both started laughing at the double entendre. Trenton knew his brother was far from a prude. They had spent many days in their first two years of college in and out of several co-ed beds before Stiles met Celeste and fell in love.
As their humor subsided, Trenton said, “I hope you know I do everything I can to be honest with the women I’m with so they don’t get hurt.”
Stiles glanced at him. “I know. I guess I just wish to see my older brother find a special woman and be as happy as I am.”
“No one can be as elated as you.” He purposely stayed away from the talk of him settling down.
“You may have a point.”
As they continued into the city their conversation turned to business. Something Trenton was a lot more comfortable discussing. He would leave matters of the heart to his brother and the kind of people who stayed at chocolate houses.
****
“Rayner here.” The husky timber came through the line.
Jolie swallowed. All of a sudden her mouth went dry at the sound of his English accent. “Hello, Trenton. It’s Jolie Tymber.”
She had debated with herself all day whether to call Trenton or not. Every time her heart talked herself away from calling him, her body countered with images of his body, face and voice. A man that dark natured had to be wicked and delicious in bed.
“What are you wearing?” he asked.
“Excuse me?” Maybe he had forgotten which woman he’d given his number today. She didn’t fool herself in believing she was the only one he was attempting to get with. But she at least wanted to be remembered.
“I asked what you were wearing. Was that not clear?”
Sitting on her couch in her plush living room with the fireplace roaring, her shoulders tensed. She was getting pissed. “I’m sorry, I think you have me mistaken with another woman.”
“Jolie Rayner, a beautiful black lady who probably stands about five-seven if she wasn’t in sexy four-inch heels. Jolie Rayner, the owner of an ass that should either be thoroughly licked or fucked. Jolie Rayner, the woman who smells like oranges and summertime. Anymore questions about if I know who I’m talking to?”
Hell, she couldn’t even breathe, let alone think of a question. The fire in the room that had originally made it feel warm and toasty now with her temperature elevated to the point of boiling her blood, the fire was too much accompanied with his words. She pulled her large T-shirt away from her body trying to cool down.
“No,” she croaked, still attempting to get herself together.
“Just because I enjoy having uncomplicated sex with different women, doesn’t mean I just go around handing out my card every minute of the day.” There was a slight edge to his voice as if he were aggravated about something.
She felt like apologizing for offending him, but held her tongue. He was the one offering a one night of pleasure arrangement, so she wasn’t going to feel bad if people read him wrong.
“Back to my original question, Jolie.”
She had to smile at his persistence. “Why do you want to know how I’m dressed?”
“Or not dressed would be my preference,” he volunteered. “Normally, when I invite a woman to a rendezvous and they call me after the dinner hour they usually want me to come over.”
“Maybe it means that they’ve been debating the wisdom of calling you.”
“If you’re having second thoughts, then why did you ring?”
Settling deeper into the couch, she stared through her curtains at the star-speckled sky. With the lights out in her house the stars were vivid. “I don’t know.”
“Let me help you out, Jolie.”
She heard the sound of a chair squeezing and she wondered if he was still at work.
“You desire me just as much as I desire you. We are both clear about that. However, if you don’t want to do this I won’t make you. Neither will I make this easier for you by telling you lies to get into your panties.”
She bit down on her bottom lip. What he was saying was similar to what he’d told her earlier in the day. “I appreciate that.” Taking a deep breath, she let it out and confessed, “I want to be with you.”
“Then make us both happy and invite me over.”
She laughed at his eager boldness. “Oh, no. We’re not going to make this a late-night booty call. If we’re going to do this then it will be on my terms. You said you wanted me to show you the more romantic side of sex. I need time to set it up.”
“Hmm. A woman who takes control of her own sex life. You are turning me on more, Jolie.” His voice lowered. “How about if I give you a few days.”
“That’s good. When are you free?”
She heard him flipping through pages as if he were going through a schedule of some sort. Another hint that he was possible still at work at seven o’clock at night.
“I have to fly out of town tomorrow afternoon to meet with a prospective client. I’ll be back late Monday,” he rattled off. Sounding as if he were speaking more to himself then her. “How about Tuesday. I could probably get away from work around three.”
She wondered if he realized that Tuesday was Valentine’s Day. For a man who didn’t believe in romance, he was truly setting himself up.
“I have a few things to take care of around here that day. How about you come by my house around seven thirty?”
“Seven thirty it is,” he confirmed. “You live in the main house correct?”
“That’s right.” There was nothing left for them to talk about, but Jolie found herself reluctant to get off the phone.
“Anything else I should know?”
Guard your heart, Jolie girl. “No. I’ll see you then.”
“Until Tuesday, Jolie. Try not to think about me too much at night, laying in your bed wear something satin and sexy.” His voice held a playful tone.
She stared down at herself. “More like a big T-shirt and toe socks.”
“Ah-ha. I knew I could get you to tell me what you were wearing,” he chuckled.
Jolie smiled enjoying his deep rumble that came through the phone. “Good night, Mr. Rayner.”
“She hurts me deep.” She heard him sigh. “Good night, Jolie.” His voice was low and his accent came across with a great intensity becoming a caress to her senses.
Inhaling, she pressed the button on her cell phone and ended the call. The days until she saw him next week would be long.
Chapter 3
“Good evening, Mr. Rayner.”
When Jolie opened the door Trenton’s gut clenched and his cock jumped then began to rise. He had already been halfway to a full-blown erection all day just counting the hours until he got to put his hands on Jolie. Now he was speechless as she stared at her in some kind of black one-shoulder dress, sheer, sexy and flowing. There was another layer below the see-through material keeping him from seeing her body, but his imagination was working overtime detailing the form possibly hidden beneath. The dress stopped mid-thigh and she’d done the blessed thing of leaving her legs bare and sporting sliver slip-on sandals. The single sleeve revealed her arm as clearly as the one that was left free.
As the man who had the treasure of spending the evening with her, he was thankful she had chosen something alluring and easy to remove. His fingers tightened around the stem of the flower he held.
“If I’d known you would dress like that tonight, I would’ve never made it through the day.” Pulling his gaze away from her delectable body, he handed her the single rose he’d brought her.
“Thank you. Please come in.” She took the flower, ensured her fingers didn’t brush his and then stepped deeper into the foyer.
Her lips, painted with a dark gloss that he could only call a “please me” red, pulled up high in the corners as she smiled.
Entering her home with a different frame of mind then the last time he was there, Trenton noticed the lights were out in the one room he and Stiles had been in last week. The rest of the
lights were all on low setting. In the sitting room with the plush carpet he could see the flickering glow of a fire. She had truly set the stage for romance.
He could have told her that she didn’t need to go to all the trouble. He needed little encouragement to want her luscious body beneath his. Then he reminded himself that he was only here because he told her that he would allow her a chance to show him the romantic side of sex.
“It smells wonderful in here. Did you cook?” He asked closing the door behind him. The house was filled with the smell of food, but he could still detect the hint of her orange scent.
“I did. But, nothing elaborate I must confess. I’m a crock pot chef.” A small laugh bubbled past her lips.
“I have no clue what that means.”
“Nothing but that I threw a small roast with vegetables together and slow cooked them all day. I love food, but I cook to survive.” She led the way to the kitchen.
“Well, you’re two steps ahead of me since I don’t cook at all. All of my meals are from a restaurant, when I eat.” He followed her. He loved to watch the sway of her little black dress. Without the boots and sweater dress he could see how toned her legs were as his eyes were trained on the play of the muscles in her thighs and calves as she walked.
Once in the kitchen, Jolie pointed out the electrical pot on the counter beside the stove. He also saw another pot on a rear burner with a little steam coming from underneath the lid even though he could see the burner was off. Jolie stooped down and took a tall glass vase from under the sink. Filling it with water she placed the long stemmed rose inside and set it on the center of the island, placing the granite top between them.
“I didn’t realize it was Valentine’s Day until late this morning when my co-workers’ desks became flooded with balloons and flowers. If I hear one more singing telegram my head may explode.”
She laughed. “I guess for someone that isn’t a romantic, this day can seem silly and a bit much.”
He shrugged. Now that he thought about the fact that most female’s really believed in this day he realized it was a little shoddy to just give her one flower. “I probably should have bought a bouquet or had one sent to you.”
Jolie used the back of her fingers to caress the rose petals. Her golden brown eyes met his and he had that strange shock go through him again as if he was being struck by lightning.
“It’s perfect.” It seemed as if she were miles away with the granite top between them.
“I remember you saying that this was a busy week for you. That SC has guests all week. Is tonight going to be a problem for you?” The last thing he wanted was to be buried balls deep inside of her and have some emergency line ring and one of her guest needing more bath towels.
She shook her head, causing her side bang to slip over her eye for a moment. She fingered it back in place. A gesture so simple and flirtatiously sexy at the same time. Even more so, because he doubted Jolie was doing anything to make herself appear sexier, but his body was still reading every breath and move as an invitation.
“No, this is perfect.”
“So, how is this supposed to work now?” he asked, wishing she would come closer.
The tip of her tongue came out and licked the center of her top lip, then disappeared again. “We could start talking about our day over dinner…if you’re hungry.”
Oh, he was hungry, just not for whatever was simmering in the pots and pans on her stove. His mouth watered for one thing and only one thing, Jolie. “I’m not in the mood for food at this moment. What’s my other choice?”
She lowered her hand from the flower and he noticed it was trembling. He hoped it was because she was feeling the same rampant need as he felt, not fear.
“We can eat later and go to my bedroom now.” Her words came out breathy and seductive.
He realized what she was doing with the counter and keeping her distance from him since he arrived. She was nervous. He didn’t know if it was because she’d never had a one-night stand before or something else. “Come here, Jolie.”
She only hesitated a moment, then she made her way around the counter to him. His gaze remained fixed on her as she moved to stand before him, the connection so strong she was unable to look away. Taking a step closer to her, he narrowed the gap between them to less than a foot. He didn’t touch her with anything but one hand. Lifting his hand he lightly brushed along the side of her face. The heat of her smooth skin greeted him as his finger moved down below her chin, caressing her neck.
“Do you know what I’ve been thinking about all day?”
“No. What?” Her eyes darkened. The topaz color appeared more brown then golden and held him transfixed.
“You. I thought about the many ways I was going to join my body with yours. I wondered about the taste of your lips.” He stroked the underside of her full bottom lip. “I sat at my desk and repeatedly attempted to guess at the scent and flavor…” He allowed his words to drift away as he lowered his hand, grazing her nipple and continued to travel to the narrow indention of her waist. He paused when he touched her hip and took hold of her and rested his thumb against the top of her sex. “Of you.”
Jolie’s breath was entering and exiting her mouth in a rush, matching the rate of his heartbeat. He’d never desired another woman as much as he yearned for the one before him.
It was true that he had thought about her in a sexual way during the day. However, it was her smile, her laugh and her joy and confidence that surrounded her he couldn’t get off his mind. He wanted to spend hours between her legs, but he wanted to talk to her too. And the latter part scared the shit out of him.
“I’m going to kiss you, Jolie.” It wasn’t in his nature to warn a woman of his attention. He was used to just taking command and seizing sexual fulfillment for himself and giving it to his partner. But with Jolie, for a reason he was not going to delve into, he wanted her to know he would offer her tenderness and care this night.
“Okay,” she said, raising her hands and dragging them around his shoulders.
That’s right hold on, baby.
Lowering his head, he brought his lips against hers. Feeling her press into him, he licked the seam of her lips and sighed when she opened to him. Slipping inside, he slid along her tongue to the deep recess of her mouth. Pulling back he teased the tip of her tongue with his.
She shivered against him and circled her tongue around his.
A firestorm ignited between them, the blaze started from their mouths and continued through their bodies, consuming them both. His hands circled her waist and moved upward until they pressed the center of her back and brought her breasts in contact with his chest. He couldn’t get enough of kissing and touching her.
Jolie was an equal participant. Her hands were cupping the back of his neck as her fingers buried in his hair.
He growled and fought against the urge to push her back against the counter or lay her over the table and bury himself inside her, taking them both to the climax they needed.
Pulling his mouth away, he set his forehead against hers and breathed deeply as his hands clenched and unclenched in fists at her back. “Sweetheart, if you have plans for us at this moment that doesn’t involve me fucking you, you better say so.”
There was no doubt in his mind that his choice of words may have been a little harsh, but he was about to go out of his mind with the compulsion to be with her in one basic and elemental way.
****
Trenton may not be a student of romance, but he had mastered the art of seduction, Jolie thought. She’d never had a man turn her on and make her forget everything in the world but him, with a kiss. But, that’s what Trenton had done, blown her mind. She was shaking inside with need. If it wasn’t important for her to show this man that romance could be just as erotic as the act of sex itself then she would have said forget it and allowed him to take her right where they stood.
Kissing him gently on the side of his mouth, she took his hands. “Come with me.”
“Swimming? Cause that’s the only thing that is going to cool me down.” He walked behind her allowing himself to be led.
“It’s still winter. I love to swim, but an icy cold dip I can do without.”
“Speak for yourself.”
She laughed. “Are you sulking, Englishman?”
“But of course.”
She guided him up the wide staircase to her room. The main house had three bedrooms upstairs. The large master suite and two others she hoped one day to turn into children’s rooms. But that was something way off in her future and this man with her now would be long gone from her life.
She stumbled on the last step and Trenton’s quick hands caught her around the waist, steadying her.
“Are you okay?” his voice was filled with concern.
“Perfect.” She looked over her shoulder and caressed his cheek. Why the words to the blues artist, Adele’s, song “One and Only” went through her mind as she stared into Trenton’s mystifying hazel eyes, she had no clue. Everything about this man told her he kept his heart as guarded as the US Mint. She had to make sure by the time this night was over her tender heart didn’t open for him. Protect your heart, Jolie.
Moving out of his arms, she continued their path to her room and used the couple of minutes to get herself together and focused. Once in, she faced the man dressed sexy in all black. Black suit jacket, shirt, pants and shoes made him look both mysterious and appealing. “Please remove your jacket and shirt and lay down on the bed.”
“I like this already.” He winked at her.
She smiled. “It’s just a massage.”
“Your hands are going to be on me, it’s good enough for me.”
Moving around the room, she lit the multiple thick white candles she’d set out earlier. Once they were done, she turned off the two lamps on the side of her bed.
He shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it to a chair on the side of her king-size bed. Toeing himself out of his shoes, he said, “Can you help me with my shirt?”
Absolutely. She crossed the room to him.
He dropped his hands to his side and waited.
