“Like what?” Harmony giggled, taking a sip of her drink. She needed some liquid courage to get through this evening.
“We’ll start with the basics, of course. What’s your favorite food? What’s your favorite thing to do? That sort of thing,” Blake said nonchalantly.
“We should also talk about the weather,” Harmony chimed in. “That will help us make it through dessert, at least.”
“I don’t care what we talk about, as long as it’s not exes or sisters,” Blake joked.
“Agreed! Well, I’m not sure if I have a favorite food . . . I have several favorite foods, in fact.” Harmony tapped her right temple in deep thought. “Man, I guess that makes me really greedy. But you’ll figure that out soon enough,” she said, laughing.
“Okay, good to know. I’ll make sure our next date is at one of those all-you-can-eat buffet places. Don’t worry, I’ll pick one of the classier places, like a Brazilian steakhouse.” He winked and raised his glass in a toast.
Their glasses clinked, and they both took a celebratory drink.
Harmony shook her head. “My turn now. So what’s your favorite food?”
He twisted his lips and looked up and to the left. “Steak. I love a good, well-aged rib eye with just enough pink in the middle,” he explained.
“Steak, hmm? Why doesn’t that surprise me? I love a man who knows exactly what he wants.”
“And your favorite thing to do? We are going down the list, right?” Blake jested.
“My favorite thing to do is teach at the dance studio,” Harmony said truthfully. “There are so many talented young girls out there. I love finding those little diamonds in the rough and polishing them until they shine.”
Blake nodded. “I love your dedication, Harmony. It’s what really attracted me to you in the beginning.”
“Thanks, that’s sweet.” She didn’t know how to respond to his compliments. They made her feel slightly uncomfortable. She wasn’t used to so much attention and praise.
“The day you had the flood at your place I could see you were more devastated about the girls not being able to attend class than you were about the cost of the damage or your profit margins. You’re a giver, a soul put here to help others. You show others, even during their darkest hours, that there is still some light.”
Harmony exhaled. She had never heard herself described in such angelic terms. She was no saint, to be sure. But she did feel like her greater purpose in life was to serve others.
“Thank you, Blake. No one has ever so eloquently put into words how I feel.” It was unnerving how much this man could read into her. Was she such an open book?
Blake smile, his heart in his eyes. “Thank you for coming back. For your honesty tonight. And for the beautiful flowers, of course,” he added.
Harmony shook her head at his playful banter.
“You are not going to get over the fact that I brought you flowers in front of the other guys, are you?” she teased.
“Trust me, I will never hear the end of it. I’m expecting to get prank flowers from my men for the next two months. They’ll leave them in my bed, on my desk, in my shoes, in the truck. You have no idea what you’ve started.” Blake said, his voice going low and sexy.
“Good. It’s not every day that a man gets courted by a lady. You should enjoy it while it lasts,” Harmony winked suggestively, blowing a kiss in the air.
Blake picked up her right hand and kissed the top of it.
* * *
After dinner, Harmony was on cloud nine when she agreed to go back to Blake’s place for a nightcap. Things were progressing at warp speed, and she didn’t want it to slow down. Blake was such a welcome distraction. It was finally time to put her needs first. Over the past five months, she had learned that if she didn’t take care of herself first, she would never be able to take care of anyone else.
“This is my humble abode,” Blake announced, opening his arms wide as he ushered Harmony inside.
“Blake, this . . . is gorgeous,” she said, awestruck. “This view is amazing. I could look out this window all day long,” she gushed. The wall of floor-to-ceiling windows displayed the full night’s sky, like an in-house planetarium. Harmony looked down at the city in wonder and amazement. She felt like she was on top of the world, standing next to him. Harmony didn’t know what good she had done to deserve him, but she silently thanked God for sending him her way.
“I’m glad you like it,” Blake said, placing his hand on the small of her back. “I’m glad I could share this with you,” he said, gesturing to the view below. His hand moved lower down her back, stroking her lightly.
Harmony’s pulse quickened. The sexual tension between the two of them was palpable. She wasn’t sure if it was the candid conversations at dinner or the wine that was making her feel so relaxed.
“What is it?” Blake asked, noticing her silence.
“Nothing. I’m fine,” Harmony lied, turning back to the windows. She was thinking about Ron and how badly he’d hurt her. Revenge was never something Harmony practiced; however, the fruit of temptation was being dangled right before her nose, and she desperately wanted to take a bite. It had been five long months since she last had intimate relations with her husband. Standing in the sexy glow of the moonlight with a gorgeous man at her side, she realized just how easy it was to take the plunge and become a two-timer like Ron.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Blake said, his smooth baritone sending prickles of desire down her spine.
Harmony grabbed Blake’s head and pulled his six foot two frame close, until their bodies met at the hips and chest. She pressed her lips against his, their tongues instantly tangling together.
He sucked on her tongue softly, which caused a jolt of electricity in her southern parts. Blake gently placed his hands on each side of her face, tilting her head slightly for better access to her mouth. Harmony moved her body suggestively against his, rubbing her erect nipples against his muscular chest. His iron-stiff erection throbbed against the top of her pelvis.
“You feel so good,” he whispered in her ear. “Are you sure about this?”
Her body tingled with desire. She wasn’t going to fight it. She wanted to be loved. She wanted to be appreciated. She wanted to feel more beautiful than her sister Melody. Most of all, she just wanted to be wanted.
Blake grabbed her hand and led her to his bedroom.
Harmony eased down onto his bed, and he climbed on top of her. Their hands explored each other in a frenzy of passion. The only thing that remained between them was their clothing.
“Are you sure about this?” Blake asked again, his hands poised above her breasts. Harmony didn’t answer; instead, she pulled his shirt out from his pants and hoisted it above his head.
Blake followed her lead and began to unzip the back of her dress. He smiled down at her—part wicked, part sensual. Harmony ran her hands slowly over the curves of his perfect muscular chest.
“Damn,” she huffed, her fingers lingering over the ridges of his abdomen. “You’re perfect.” She never thought she’d say those words to another man. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. She fought hard to keep them from falling. Her marriage was over, and this was proof of it.
“No, I’m far from perfect,” he said, his voice gruff with lust.
Harmony moved from under Blake and signaled for him to lie down. She stood in front of his prone figure and let her inhibitions fall away. She wanted to be different with him than she’d been with Ron. She was always shy and inhibited with her husband; they never had sex in the daylight, for example, and the room always had to be dark.
She slipped out of her dress slowly and quickly unsnapped her bra. Her breasts sat up taut and perky, seemingly winking at Blake.
He groaned. “You’re so sexy,” he whispered. “Come here, before I die,” he beckoned with his finger.
Harmony’s body quaked with nerves and anticipation. She slowly shimmied her hips, pulling her sexy, black lace panties off, and letting them d
rop to the floor. Without a word, she climbed onto the bed, pushed Blake back down, and leaned over him.
For a brief moment, she saw Ron making love to Melody in her mind. Harmony gasped and shook off the image. He’s not the only one who can do it. I can do it too. She licked Blake’s neck. Again, flashes of Ron and Melody invaded her mind. This time, Harmony arched her back and slithered a little farther down, trailing her tongue over Blake’s pectoral muscles and gently biting the right one.
Blake hissed in pleasure. His reaction combined with the wine she consumed at dinner was an intoxicating mix. She continued down his abdomen, taking special care to run her tongue over every ridge on his sexy, firm six-pack. He moaned in pleasure. She smiled mischievously and bit her bottom lip seductively.
Blake sat up and flipped Harmony over onto her back before she could react or protest.
“Wait,” she whispered. A pang of fear gripped her chest. It was too late for second thoughts now.
“I won’t hurt you. I won’t ever hurt you, Harmony,” he said. His manhood was large and throbbing.
She closed her eyes, trying valiantly to fight off the tears. Fuck you, Ron! Fuck you! Fuck you! Whatever Ron could do, she could do too.
Blake slid a condom on. He used his knee to gently part her thighs; then he slowly guided his manhood into her deep, wet center.
Harmony let out a song of soft moans and groans as he grinded into her.
“Oh,” she cooed, digging her fingers into his gluteus muscles. He felt so good. They fit together perfectly.
“Damn,” Blake huffed, picking up speed from the excitement. After a few minutes of pumping, she suggested that they switch positions.
“Let me,” she whispered gruffly. Harmony wanted this to be on her terms. She wanted to feel empowered that she’d made the decision to take it to the next level with him.
Blake flipped onto his back, pulling her on top of him. She lowered her body over his stiff tool and grinded down until the angle was just right. He grabbed her hips and helped her move up and down until she was riding him with abandon. She felt the tension building inside, almost to the point of pain.
“Oh God,” she yelled. “Oh God!” Her whole body was tense and focused on a release that was sure to be most pleasurable.
Harmony thought no other man could ever make her feel like Ron had—at least when things were still good between them. She never imagined she could feel so wonderful and desirable.
“Yes,” he growled, clutching two handfuls of her bottom. She rocked back and forth, swirling her hips. The movement caused Blake’s pubic hairs to rub ever so slightly against hers. The combination of deep penetration and the friction against her clit made her body buck. She screamed and clutched onto Blake’s shoulders as small fireworks exploded in her head and squirms of light filled her eyesight. She didn’t want the good feeling that flooded her body to stop. She rocked harder and faster now. She leaned down slightly, close enough for Blake to lick her rock-hard nipples. Another explosion erupted in her loins. Her entire body shook with her release. Blake’s body tensed at the same time, and his climax followed.
Harmony collapsed on top of him, out of breath but utterly sated. She closed her eyes in total relaxation and peace. She was right where she belonged. Maybe this was meant to be.
* * *
Two weeks later, Blake pulled his car into Harmony’s driveway. She had started out the door, saving him the trouble of ringing the doorbell. Still, he was a gentleman, so he got out of the car to meet her.
“Beautiful as usual,” he said, kissing her cheek.
“I’m in jeans and a T-shirt. Hardly beautiful. Cute maybe, but not beautiful.” She still had difficulty with accepting compliments.
“I know what you look like under those clothes. You can’t fool me,” he pretended to leer at her. She laughed and swatted at his arm.
“Here you go, sweetheart . . .” Blake said, opening the car door for her. His smile quickly faded. Harmony’s eyes followed his gaze. She gasped in shock.
“Harm?” Ron said, walking slowly up the driveway toward them. Harmony’s heart thrashed against her chest bone. Her breathing became labored.
“Are you all right?” Blake asked her, concerned. Harmony swallowed hard.
“Harm . . . It’s me. I . . . I’m home,” Ron said nervously. She could tell that he’d cleaned himself up.
“Ron,” Harmony finally found her voice. “What are you doing here?” she croaked.
“I came home. I needed to see you and Aubrey,” he replied. “I went to detox. See, I’m all cleaned up. I’m back. The real me is back.”
Harmony shook her head and closed her eyes for several seconds. She stared at her husband, and then at her lover. Heat consumed her entire body. She felt sick to her stomach. She was both angry at Ron and embarrassed at herself for being caught with Blake.
“I came back for you, Harmony,” Ron moved closer, ignoring Blake’s stony expression.
Blake let go of the door handle and stepped aside. Harmony could see disappointment wash over his features.
Although Ron had hurt her in the worst possible way, she didn’t want him to find out about her and Blake like this.
“It’s me, sugar,” Ron said, calling her by the familiar endearment.
Harmony looked from one man to the other. She was stuck between her future and her past. She never thought she would find herself in the middle of a love triangle.
“I . . . I . . . need some time,” Harmony stammered, rushing away from Ron and Blake in a hurry.
What now? What now?
To be continued . . .
2 Timers Page 21
