by Janice Sims
“We could spend the night in a hotel.”
“Alexandra!” His tone didn’t brook any disobedience.
Alex laughed and fastened her seatbelt. “Okay, I’ll behave.”
Once they were on the road again, Jared said, “What would Mother Maybelle think if she knew I took you to a hotel?”
“She’d probably pull a shotgun on you and make you marry me.”
Jared laughed. “You know, she probably would. And my mom would be there encouraging her.”
“Okay,” Alex said as she sat back on the seat. “What’s a safe topic for discussion?”
“You can tell me about your most embarrassing high school moment, since Mom has already blabbed about mine.”
“All right,” Alex said. “I told you I was a cheerleader in the eleventh grade? I had no time for extracurricular activities my senior year. Anyway, we used to wear these little sweaters that bared the midriff. On homecoming night, when we were cheering the football team on, my bra strap broke, and the next time I went for a midair split and raised my pompoms high, the doggone sweater rode up and one of my breasts was exposed. Unfortunately, the yearbook photographer was there and snapped a picture of me at that very instant.”
“They couldn’t put that in the yearbook,” Jared pointed out, trying not to laugh.
“No, but the little creep made sure the picture got passed around to practically every kid in the school!”
Eight
It was an overcast night, and the stars were hidden. A slightly cool breeze danced on the muggy air. The breeze, coupled with the smell of ozone in the air, told Alex that it would probably rain before dawn. She ran up the steps to the front door with Jared close behind. Her hand trembled as she slipped the key into the lock. Jared noticed and placed his hand over hers. “If you’d rather wait until next weekend, I’ll understand. I want time to make everything perfect for you, baby.” He bent his head, kissed the side of her neck, and inhaled her essence. “I want to take you someplace special where we won’t be disturbed. I want to wine you, and dine you, and then take you back to our suite and slowly undress you.”
Alex closed her eyes and sighed. The sound of Jared’s husky voice in her ear and the feel of his warm mouth on her skin sent her libido spiraling out of control.
She turned to meet his eyes. “You must have a will of steel, Jared Kyles, because I want you tonight. What if I take my fill of you now? By next week, I’ll be ready for another helping. Does that work for you?”
Jared pulled her close to him, just to show her how mistaken she was. “You’re wrong, I’m only human. I’m trying to be a gentleman.”
Feeling his aroused state, Alex smiled and kissed his chin. “Don’t try so hard. At any rate, you are a gentleman. We’ve had countless meals and gone to church together. We’ve done all the things couples do when they’re dating, and every night you walked me to my door and kissed me good-bye. We’re going to have a problem if you’re going to insist on treating me with kid gloves. This is your first time dating a woman who goes to church on a regular basis, and maybe that’s throwing you off. But, like I’ve already told you, I can take care of myself. So give me the unadulterated Jared Kyles, or get to stepping!”
“What?!” Jared’s lips curled in a sensual grin. Was he actually being called on the mat by this girl who was still wet behind the ears when it came to sexual matters? Two lovers. That’s all she’d had in twenty-seven years. Okay, what if she were sexually active by the time she was twenty-one? That meant in six years, she’d gone to bed with two men. She hadn’t really been made love to! He’d have to show her how it was done.
He grabbed her and kissed her with such skill and intensity that Alex’s legs were weak when he let her come up for air. She searched his eyes. They were determined and held a dangerous aspect in them that made her tremble. He kissed her again, laving her tongue with his, inciting wanton thoughts that crowded her mind and left little room for logic.
She still hadn’t unlocked the door.
She made an attempt to do so again, but ended up dropping the keys onto the porch.
Jared bent and picked them up. His hands were steady as he put the key in the lock and turned it. He pushed the door open with one splayed hand, and gently pushed her inside. Closing the door, he maneuvered her against it and made her raise her arms so he could pull her shirt over her head. Alex wore a lacy beige bra underneath. Her firm, full breasts heaved. Jared stared. He’d never seen her without a shirt before. Damn, if he didn’t feel like a kid seeing his first girly magazine, wholly fascinated by the female form. He snapped out of it and pulled her against his chest so that he could reach behind her and unhook the bra. He wondered if she would try to cover herself once he removed the offending article of clothing. She didn’t.
Her breasts were perfect as far as he was concerned. Naturally heavy with a gentle dip. They were honey-brown, with milk chocolate areolas and dark chocolate nipples. His mouth watered.
“You’re staring,” Alex said softly as she moved closer to him and allowed him to put his arms around her.
His callused hands caressed her back. “I know. I lost my mind for a minute there. You’re beautiful, Alexandra.”
“I’m glad you think so. You’ve got a whole other half to see.”
She placed his hand on her hip to encourage him to explore further.
Jared bent his head and trailed kisses from her clavicle to the space between her breasts. Her warm skin smelled like fresh melons. He guessed it was the lotion she’d rubbed on after her bath. Alex flinched when his mouth found one of her nipples, and his lips teased it before he started licking it with idolatrous abandon. The other one got the same treatment. Alex’s toes curled, and she kicked off her shoes.
Jared got on one knee and undid the button on her slacks. Carefully, he rolled the zipper down until he could slip the slacks off her hips. Alex stepped out of them, wearing only a pair of bikini briefs whose waistband didn’t reach her belly button. Jared kissed her stomach and rose. All the while, he devoured her with his eyes.
He coaxed his athletic shoes off with a little foot action, then said, “Your turn.”
Alex smiled at the invitation to undress him. “Mmm,” she said as she pressed her chest against his. Jared grabbed her bottom with both hands. She slowly unbuttoned his denim shirt and ran her hand over his hairy chest. “Are you hairy everywhere?”
“You’re in charge. Find out for yourself.”
Alex pulled his shirt down and Jared shrugged it off. She ran her hands over his rock-hard arm and chest muscles. The hair on his chest was soft and curly. She ran her fingers through it. Smiling indulgently, she said, “You’re a gorgeous man, Jared Kyles.” Jared kissed her for that, and Alex returned it with such fervor that it was a while before it ended. Then Alex reached languidly for the waistband of his jeans.
She took great care as she lowered the zipper. Jared lent her a hand by stepping out of his pants. He stood before her in a pair of gray briefs. She gulped inaudibly at the size of the bulge in them. When she raised her eyes to his, he gave her a knowing smile. “I’m a big man in more ways than one. Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle with you, my little church girl.” He bent and planted a chaste kiss on her forehead.
Alex gave him a saucy smile. “I’m not worried, sweetie. I know I’m woman enough for you.”
Jared put her hand on his manhood just to prove her wrong. Big mistake. He wanted her so intensely that her touch nearly made him climax prematurely.
Noticing his enhanced stiffness and shortness of breath, Alex removed her hand.
“I think we’ve had enough foreplay, don’t you?” she asked with a smug smile.
She took one of his big hands in hers and began leading him to her bedroom.
When they walked past the den, where the stereo system was, Alex suggested, “Why don’t you put on a CD while I get things ready in the bedroom?”
Jared didn’t know what she needed to get ready in the bedroom, but at
this stage of seduction you didn’t question a woman, you simply gave in to her. He got an eyeful of her shapely bottom as she turned the corner heading into the hallway, then went over to peruse her CD collection.
He was so eager to join her that he decided he’d put on the first CD his hand touched, but when he looked at the cover it was a rap CD. He might be old-fashioned, but he certainly didn’t think rap was the appropriate music to set a romantic mood. One mention of the word so many rappers insisted on calling females, and Alex would take issue.
Several CDs later, his hand fell on Brian McKnight’s latest recording. Now that was a CD to make love to your lady to. He smiled when he put it in the CD player. Then he danced down the hallway, looking like a bodybuilder auditioning for a spot in The Full Monty. Being in love made you do silly things.
In the bedroom, Alex was in her closet tossing through sexy lingerie. At last she found it: a baby-doll negligee whose hem fell just below her crotch. It was red, had long sleeves with frills around the cuffs and was completely see-through. A red silk thong went with it.
She quickly changed from her bikini underwear to the thong and put on the top. Prior to the dinner party, she’d luxuriated in a bath so she didn’t need to freshen up, or did she? She sniffed under her arms and stopped short of sniffing her bikini panties. Oh, the things you went through when you were about to make love. She’d forgotten how stressful it could be. A quick freshening up couldn’t hurt. She ran into the adjacent bathroom.
Jared danced into the bedroom. He’d seen it once when Alex had given him a tour of the house. He was glad she didn’t have one of those ultra-feminine beds that looked like something out of a French bordello, adorned with a flowery bedspread and thousands of frilly pillows. Alex’s queen-size brass bed looked firm and comfortable. Maybe it was a tad opulent, he allowed, what with the hot pink and lime green bedding.
“What kept you?”
Alex stood framed in the doorway. Jared went mute, because he definitely couldn’t find his voice at the moment. That negligee was obscene! It was worse than being naked. She was a feast for the eyes. Voluptuous breasts, small waist, curvy hips. What was that V-shaped thing barely covering her sex? He didn’t know and didn’t care. Her long legs, and what lay between them, called to him.
Alex walked slowly toward him. She reached back and pulled her long, wavy hair from beneath the negligee top and shook it out with a toss of her head. Jared’s heart beat triple-time as he watched her innocent actions. She didn’t know that she was setting off a riot of reactions in his body.
He had to remind himself to breathe.
Alex felt tender. It seemed as if her nerve endings were on alert. Her nipples were erect, and her female center was in the throes of a meltdown whose ignition had been fired when Jared had begun undressing her in the foyer. Now it was just a matter of control. Would she be able to delay the climax that she felt was so close to the surface that all Jared had to do was touch her or say something provocative to set it off? Climaxing at his touch would definitely label her as the inexperienced lover that she was.
Oh, girl, quit psychoanalyzing and go get your man!
“I wanted to pick just the right music.” Jared answered her question after finding that if he spoke, something still came out. He went and pulled her into his arms.
“Brian,” Alex said approvingly. The music could be heard in every room of the house.
They slow-danced with their arms wrapped around each other, swaying to the music and to the intoxicating feel of their bodies in sync. Jared had known that she would fit wonderfully in his arms. If this was a dream, he didn’t want to wake up anytime soon.
They danced over to the bed, and when Alex backed into it, she sat down. Jared bent and kissed her ripe lips and, as Alex lay back, he got on top of her, deepening the kiss. Alex scooted back on the bed until her entire body was on it, and Jared’s entire body was atop hers. He made sure his full weight wasn’t on her by holding himself up with his strong arms. Alex quivered with anticipation. Her hands didn’t know where they wanted to settle: on the hard muscles in the backs of his arms, or his back, or his taut butt? He had all of her senses engaged. She loved the taste of his mouth, the feel of his breath on her skin, and the crazy way he had of nuzzling her neck with his nose, as if he were trying to save her unique smell in his memory bank.
Licking the side of her neck, Jared said, “Alex, please tell me you have condoms somewhere in this bedroom.”
“Nightstand drawer,” Alex said breathlessly. “I bought them last week, just in case.”
“Good girl,” Jared said, and lowered his head to tongue her nipples. Alex closed her eyes and sighed with obvious pleasure. Jared circled her areolas with his tongue, suckled, and gently bit down on her nipples. Alex squirmed impatiently, wanting to extend the magnificent state of arousal that was building within her, but anxious to have him inside of her, too.
Jared was enjoying watching her wiggle under him. She would moisten her kiss-plumped lips every now and then, and the movement of her tongue over her lips made his manhood pulse. This wasn’t like him. He was a seasoned lover who had mastered control in the bedroom. He wasn’t some young pup who would get so excited by the sight of a woman’s naked body that he’d ejaculate before he even entered her.
Was he some kind of a satyr? A man who got off by seducing innocents? Could that be the reason why he was so turned on by Alex? She was a woman who did not give herself to a man easily, and, in fact, hadn’t had a lover in over two years. Was the prospect of being the one to get into her panties so enticing to him that he’d deluded himself into believing he loved her? He wouldn’t be the first man to covet a conquest like her.
She ran her hand on the inside of his briefs, grabbing his bare behind. “Jared,” she said softly. He looked down into her golden brown eyes. They were smoky with desire. She had spread her legs and his groin was pressed against her moist mound.
He had to get up and get the condom now, before he took her unsheathed.
Pushing up on his arms, he said, “Hold on, baby.”
Alex raised up on her elbows to watch him. After rummaging in the nightstand drawer for only a few seconds, he found the unopened box of latex condoms and wasted no time getting one out and rolling it onto his engorged penis. Alex got up so that Jared could more easily remove her thong. Jared did so gently, mindful of where the back strip was positioned. Alex took one leg out of it, then the other.
Jared looked deeply into her eyes. “No regrets in the morning, church girl?”
“None.” She clasped her hands together behind his neck and drew him down for a slow, wet kiss. Jared moaned. He’d never been kissed like this before. Most women waited to be kissed, as if the man had to always initiate it. Alex was more aggressive. She took what she wanted. He liked that in her.
She fell backward onto the bed, Jared on top of her. Again, she scooted back and he followed her lead, walking on his knees, his heavy member on her flat belly.
The head of his penis found the opening in her feminine center. He’d meant to go slowly, penetrating in degrees, but when she raised her hips his hard shaft drove all the way home. She was warm, slick, and tight. He cried out. She sighed alluringly. Jared knew then that she’d been right, she was woman enough for him. They were a perfect fit. Their rhythm increased. He grew harder. Alex met each thrust with aplomb. There was something to be said for hard work in the Georgia sun. It had fine-tuned her muscles, made her impervious to strenuous labor, and this was sweetly strenuous labor. Jared’s muscles rippled with every movement. She placed her hands on his butt, spread her legs wider, and totally surrendered.
After several minutes, she had to admit that Jared’s stamina matched her own. It was after this that the first orgasm claimed her. She quivered inside. Jared felt her come and slowed his rhythm because he didn’t want to climax yet. He wanted to make love to her all night long. He bent and kissed her. She breathed shallowly into his mouth. A thin layer of perspiration moist
ened her forehead. She clung to him, her arms and legs wrapped around him. He stopped thrusting and waited until he felt her muscles relax.
At last, she let out a little sigh and opened her eyes to meet his steady gaze.
“I think you enjoyed that,” he teased.
She smiled slowly. “Very much so. Got anymore?”
“My, my, you’re the greedy one.”
“Not greedy, just hungry for you. I’ve wanted you since we met, too. But a woman has to wait a certain amount of time before giving in to her desires.”
“Especially a church girl like you.”
Alex laughed. “Will you stop calling me that? You make me feel like I’m being a bad girl with you or something!”
“Aren’t you being a bad girl?”
“Only if you’re being a bad boy.”
“I’m trying my best,” he told her with a wicked grin.
Alex laughed again. He was still inside of her and he was still hard. She thrust upward and instantly felt his penis throb. She tightened her vaginal muscles around it and licked her lips with an excruciatingly slow, sensual premeditation. Jared couldn’t take his eyes off her. “How can this be bad, when it feels so good?” she asked, her voice breathless and rife with passion. Jared came. She smiled with satisfaction.
Alex was awakened by the sound of rain against the windowpane. She and Jared were spooning in bed. After their first session of lovemaking, they had gotten up, showered, and made love again.
Jared slept with his arm thrown across her hip, and his lower half flush with hers.
Alex lay there, content, remembering the delicious sensations of the past few hours. She was so glad that she and Jared had realized that although on the surface they didn’t appear to be suited for each other, deep down they were.
Jared opened his eyes. Alex’s back was to him, but he assumed by the sound of her breathing that she was awake. “Marry me, Alexandra.”
