Private Melody

by Altonya Washington

  He decided it was best not to seek an answer on that yet. Therin only knew that Kianti Lawrence had him curious and he wanted to find out more.

  Bringing fist to chin, he settled in to observe her behind the glossy black piano. The animated look on her rich cinnamon-toned face, as she talked with the members of the group, brought a smile to Therin’s face. No doubt she was a lovely thing to look at. He wondered how much of that played into her success, though no one could argue against her talent.

  Therin recalled their breakfast conversation then and the relaxing mood he’d sensed surrounding her. He remembered the feel of her small foot when he’d held it and grinned on the memory. He’d never enjoyed breakfast or a conversation more.

  The set was nearing its end, tugging Therin from his reverie as he once again observed her with the band—especially the drummer. It was clear that they were close, which had him smiling but not in a completely amused way. He thought back to her entourage—the four men who’d given him the distinct impression that they’d lay down their lives for her. How could they not feel that way? he queried silently as the muscle twitched along his jawbone when her drummer friend pulled her in for a hug.

  Get the hell out of here, Therin, he warned himself. He should go before she had any idea he was near. An involvement like this would never work. He lived in Canada, for Pete’s sake! Watching her near the stage and chatting away, Therin’s grim expression vanished and a smile emerged.

  “Could I bring you anything, sir?”

  Therin looked up at the young woman who’d approached the table. She held a pen poised over the small round tray she carried.

  “I’d like to have a drink sent over to the pianist.” He nodded slowly toward the stage.

  The waitress smiled while jotting down the instruction. “Shall I tell Ms. Lawrence who’s being so generous?”

  “I’ll remain anonymous.” Therin’s bright gaze was still focused on Kianti.

  “Not a problem.” The waitress cast one last lingering and blatantly flattering gaze at her mysterious customer.

  Therin stood and dropped a few bills to the woman’s tray and then graced her with a sly wink before turning to make his way out of the club.

  Dammit, Key, get over it!

  Kianti smacked the soapy loofah pad against her thigh while issuing herself the order. She was acting like some love-struck girl whose family was moving away and taking her from a boy she’d known all of two seconds. Granted, she’d known the sexy ex-ambassador for a little longer. Still, nothing had happened that meant anything meaningful or otherwise would come from it.

  Otherwise. She let the word linger in her head and felt a heat that had nothing to do with the shower spray hitting her skin. She would have enjoyed experiencing otherwise with Therin Rucker.

  She smacked herself again with the loofah pad. All that would have gotten her was a trip to the hospital. If her heart struggled to withstand exertion from a piano performance, how would it withstand a sexual encounter?

  Smirking then, she told herself that it might withstand just fine. Therin Rucker came across as quite the gentleman. If that persona carried over into the bedroom, perhaps there wouldn’t be much exertion required.

  Kianti applied more gel to the pad and considered the idea. Something told her the dashing politician left his manners at the door when pleasure was at stake. She sensed a fire, something unrelenting at rest beneath that polished exterior. Yes, there was a side to the man that, if unleashed sexually, could require much…exertion on the part of its recipient.

  She pressed a hand to her belly and moaned. She’d gone so long without indulging in that very enjoyable pastime. Only to herself would she admit that given another couple of days in Therin Rucker’s presence, she would’ve had him in her bed and exerting herself to the fullest.

  The loofah smacked her thigh a third time. “Get over it,” she growled.

  Somewhere a phone rang. Kianti leaned out of the shower to grab the wall mount next to the stall.

  “Ms. Lawrence…Casey O’Dell down here at the gate. You’ve got a guest here. Mr. Therin Rucker.”

  Her hand returned to her belly and then to her mouth where she tapped her fingers to her lips.

  “Ms. Lawrence?”

  Kianti took stock of her appearance in the mirror across from the shower. “Send him up.”

  Therin inhaled the second he stepped from the elevator that deposited him in the middle of a room that whispered serenity and expansive comfort. Softly lit, the living room’s mellow appeal was evident not only by the cream-on-gold furnishings but also by the long window overlooking the ocean from the home’s rocky perch. He smiled then, further eased by the sound of her voice.

  “Mr. Ambassador.”

  Therin turned and any ease he was experiencing was quickly replaced by need. Somewhere—somehow he was able to latch on to restraint.

  “I’m sorry…” He bowed his head while uttering the apology. “I, um… Your guard didn’t tell me you…”

  Kianti tossed back her head. “It’s okay. I told him to send you on up.”

  “I promised to say goodbye.” He spouted the first thing that came to his mind.

  She bit her lip on a smile. “Well, I hope you’re not about to do that.”

  Therin rolled his eyes. To hell with it. It’d serve her right for greeting him in a towel with that gorgeous mane of hair piled atop her head and bubbles still clinging to her cinnamon skin. With that in mind, he bounded over, snagged the front of the towel and drew her close.

  Kianti was an eager and immediate participant in the thorough kiss. Her moans raised an instant after his tongue began its enthusiastic duel with hers. Wavering and shamefully erotic, the sounds came from the back of her throat. She stood on her toes and her fingers curled tight into the tails of the burgundy shirt hanging outside the black carpenter’s jeans he wore.

  Therin needed to cast off the heat about to consume him but he was already caressing the seductive swells of her breasts. His sleek ebony brows drew closer and he deepened the kiss. Any second, and her towel would be on the floor.

  He pulled away then. “You need to get dressed.” His tone was gruff and he turned away. One of them had to exercise a cool head. Why? He had no idea, but the thought had managed to give him pause regardless.

  “I didn’t ask you to stop,” she sweetly reminded him.

  “Unfortunately,” he winced and realized he’d spoken aloud, before massaging the bridge of his nose. “Get dressed.” His tone was almost pleading then. While he intended to have her—all of her—it was far too soon to indulge in the many things he wanted to do with her. “Kianti…”

  She waved toward the living room. “Have a seat, I’ll be right back.” She watched him stroll toward the window instead. Yes, manners left at the door when pleasure was at stake, she silently confirmed on her way out of the room.

  “Is this better?” she asked minutes later.

  Therin tried not to stare. Her gray lounge dress had its wrist-hugging sleeves and was made of a clingy cotton material. While covering every inch of her skin, it emphasized every dip and curve she possessed. The only thing on his mind then, was whether or not she was nude beneath it.

  He waited on her to choose a seat. Kianti noted that he seemed pleased that she didn’t select the sofa but curled up on one of the overstuffed chairs flanking it.

  “May I get you anything?” she asked once he’d settled on the chair before her.

  “I’m good.” His light, deep-set eyes scanned the room in one continuous take. “Some place you’ve got here.”

  “Isn’t it?” She propped a fist against her thick hair trussed up in a flouncy ponytail and smiled. “Got it from an elderly scientist I met after a concert. The lower level where you came in used to be his lab. I converted it into a private studio.”

  “Impressive.”

  “Very. That elevator was once the only access—comes right up through the cliffs the house sits on.”

  T
herin whistled.

  Kianti shrugged. “The guys forbid me to take it. But if it gets stuck, the top panels open and there’s a ladder that leads up to the house.”

  “Good to know.” He laughed.

  “They had me have the top-level access constructed.” She smoothed her hands over the dress’s long snug sleeves. “If you’d come past the other houses, I could’ve greeted you personally.”

  “Or not—considering you were in the um…shower.” He cleared his throat over the last word.

  Kianti shifted on the chair. “You must’ve just missed us when we left the other day,” she added quickly to change the subject. “Not to mention I wasn’t expecting you.” She gave Therin a slight wink.

  “Yeah.” A quick frown marred the sensual elegance of his features. “There was business.”

  “Not good business?” She tilted her head inquisitively.

  “Is there such a thing?” He shook his head and rubbed his hands together. “I only wanted you to know that I hadn’t broken my promise.”

  “And I appreciate you coming all this way to tell me that.” Her dark eyes twinkled knowingly.

  He braced his elbows to his knees. “I did have an ulterior motive.”

  “Shall I guess?”

  Therin’s thoughts returned to the kiss. “You, uh… You know about my involvement with EYES?” he asked, figuring that line of discussion was safest. At her nod, he continued. “I’m hoping to organize an event—a weekend thing. I already have a host of performers lined up, but when I heard you play, I knew I had to have you.”

  Both pairs of eyes faltered on the suggestive tone of the last few words. Therin focused on the bridge he made with his fingers while Kianti shifted once more in her chair.

  “I’d be honored,” she said, smiling when he looked up. “We’ll have to talk about the time—schedules, locations and such….”

  “You’ll probably need to spend time in Vancouver—to practice at my place there. Get a feel for the venue… The piano’s top-of-the-line but I don’t profess to be a musician, so—” he smirked “—I’ll leave things like tuning and pitch up to the professionals.”

  “I’ll check my schedule and we can go from there.”

  “Sounds good.” His gaze narrowed toward the window. “I didn’t mean to disturb you so late in the day. Have you eaten?”

  She pulled her legs out from beneath her and scooted toward the edge of the chair. “I was about to put something on. I’d love it if you stayed.”

  Again, the kiss resumed its place at the front of his thoughts. Therin knew a lengthier stay might not be the best idea.

  “I shouldn’t intrude on your night,” he said.

  Kianti shrugged and toyed with a lock of her hair. “I usually spend the first few days after a performance holed up here just to get my bearings.”

  “Is that something you usually do alone?” Therin averted his gaze as his voice dipped into a softer octave.

  “Yeah…usually… Why?” She caught the smile he gave at her response.

  He leaned back and propped an elbow to each arm of the chair. “Your…entourage. It’s hard to believe not one of them has made a play for you.”

  “Hmph.” Kianti grinned as though the summation wasn’t a surprise to her. “Few people understand our dynamic. They nod and smile when I say we’re like family but no one really believes it.” She smiled off into the distance. “We do tease each other relentlessly but we trust each other, love each other, stick up for and bully one another when we feel it’s necessary. But they’ve got their own love lives.”

  “And you?” His bright stare was probing then, daring her to look away. “You expect me to believe your work is all you need?”

  “No.” She shook her head slowly yet decisively. “There’ve been involvements.” She flopped back on the chair. “Any Google search could’ve told you that. But nothing has gone on in that area for years now. So…” Her tone sounded more refreshing then. “No need to worry over being a home wrecker, Mr. Ambassador. Will you stay? I’m a pretty decent cook.”

  He smiled. “What’s for dinner?”

  Vancouver, BC, Canada~

  “The old man won’t breathe a word about it,” Morgan Felts snapped when he slammed down his office phone.

  “Is there anybody on his staff who might know why he wants to talk to Therin?” Peter Stanson asked.

  “The general’s retired,” Vaughn reminded them while he sat on the edge of Morgan’s desk and tossed a wad of paper back and forth. “Most of his staff is back in D.C. on other assignments.”

  Gary Bryce turned from the coffee tray. “Could still be worth checking out,” he said. “See if he made remarks about anything before he left his post.”

  “Has Therin ever met with the general before?” Peter watched the other men shake their heads in response to his question.

  Morgan threw a pen across his desk. “This is weird—an uncomfortable weird. Guess we’re stuck waiting ’til Therin gets back. Where the hell is he, anyway?”

  “Being real tight-lipped about it.” Vaughn shrugged beneath the crisp baby blue of his shirt. “Said he’d be back in a few days.”

  “Gary, man, maybe if you checked out the general’s former staff, somethin’ might turn up.” Peter tugged at his earlobe and looked doubtful.

  “We could be wasting our time,” Vaughn warned.

  “Maybe, but we need to be a step ahead on everything from here on out. Especially after what happened with Ruby.”

  Gary agreed with Peter’s assessment and raised his coffee mug in mock toast. “I’m on it,” he said on his way out of the office.

  “Say, Vaughn,” Peter called while they shuffled from Morgan’s office. “What’s up with Ther, seriously?”

  Vaughn clapped Peter’s back. “For a change, the guy has got something other than politics on his mind.”

  “Who ever said musicians aren’t paid well?” Therin asked as he and Kianti rounded out their after-dinner tour of her home. It went without saying that he was very impressed.

  “Well, Dr. Chapin and his wife really loved my music.” Kianti smoothed her hands up and down her arms as memories resurfaced. “They came to all the shows I had in the area back when I was just starting out.” She stopped to lean against the railing along the walkway where they strolled.

  “Later, I found out they had all my CDs—even the little promotional ones I put out when I was trying to get noticed.” Her dark eyes held a poignant gleam as she stared out at the Pacific crashing against the rocks below. “They left me the house. His foundation got all the scientific equipment and the youth home they supported got all the furnishings.”

  “Nice.” Therin appreciated the artwork lining the wall along the walkway. “Very nice,” he added when they entered the studio.

  “I do most of my practicing here. It’s one of the few places where I don’t feel pressured.”

  Therin watched her fingers graze the glossy top of the baby grand piano. “You’re lucky. There aren’t even a few places I could claim.”

  “Must be nice to be needed.”

  “It’s been nicer.”

  Kianti leaned against the piano. “Do I sense another career change?” She braced her elbows back on the baby grand and regarded him with playful suspicion. “Just exactly what do you do for a living?”

  He chuckled, smoothing a hand down a sideburn. “Guess I do whatever I damn well please. But I choose to torture myself for a worthy cause. Basically, I connect people with similar interests.”

  “Interests here being educational.”

  He nodded. “I know a lot of philanthropists who not only like giving money to various endeavors but appreciate knowing about others who share their interests in those endeavors.” He shrugged and strolled around the piano. “My family and my work put me in contact with many of them. I spend a lot of time bringing them together for worthy causes.” He frowned, not wanting to speak much about work when he was with her.

  The feel
ing of serenity he’d experienced backstage with her after the concert, and again the next morning, had returned. He only wanted to savor the moment and cast out all the rest.

  “May I make a request?” He motioned toward the piano.

  Kianti’s grin sparked the faint dimple she possessed. “Your request, sir?” she asked once she’d rounded the Baby Grand and claimed her place.

  “Do you know ‘Skating’?”

  Her laughter filled the room at his mention of the Peanuts tune by the Vince Guaraldi Trio. “Take a seat.” She waved in the direction of the navy-and-tan living set across the room.

  The performance began. Therin was, of course, captivated, mesmerized by the eloquence with which she played. Gradually, his attention turned from the playing to the woman. Instead of relaxing in the living area, he propped an elbow to the top of the piano and watched her. Her body was tiny albeit curvaceous beneath the lounge dress, which hadn’t ceased driving him out of his mind since she’d returned to the living room wearing it.

  He enjoyed the look of her coarse hair piled in a high ponytail. The locks bounced about her lovely face like a storm cloud.

  “Is that what you had in mind?” Kianti asked once the piece had ended.

  “Almost,” he said and leaned down for a kiss.

  She whimpered before his mouth even touched hers. She clenched her hands, praying for the will not to grab him for fear that he might back away. She let him command the kiss, giving in more eagerly as she stood and he drew her flush against him.

  A low sigh of male satisfaction left his throat when Therin straightened and drew Kianti snug against his chest. Resting against the side of the piano, he deepened the kiss thrusting his tongue slowly yet unrelentingly.

  Kianti’s hands kneaded his forearms and biceps to test the strength at rest there beneath the dark fabric of his shirt. She moaned in the midst of suckling his tongue. Arching closer and rubbing herself against him in shameless abandon, she cursed the dress covering her skin.