One Sure Thing (Mamma Lou Matchmaker Series)

by Norfleet, Celeste

  His dimple, barely noticeable beneath the silken hairs of his beard, slyly winked at her. “How do I look?”

  She lowered her eyes not wanting to show the inner turmoil she was going though just by seeing his half naked body lying there.

  “That bad, huh?”

  “You look like you have a virus.”

  Ever the jokester, he muttered slowly. “Good, ‘cause that would explain why I feel like I have a virus.”

  “I see you haven’t lost you sense of humor.”

  “Always the last to go. How long have I been asleep?”

  “I don’t know but since I got here, about four and a half hours did you take anything before falling asleep?” He shook his head from side to side. “Good, then take this.” She reached into a white paper bag and pulled out a medicine bottle. She unsuccessfully twisted at a small white cap several times. She stopped, and then twisted again. “I hate these bottle tops. They never open when you want them to. Although, just give it to a four year old kid and viola, the cap pops right off.”

  “Give it to me.” Raymond rose up on his elbows then reached out to take the bottle from her.

  She chuckled. “To do what?”

  “You can barely sit up. You’re as weak as a babe.”

  “Ah, that’s where you’re wrong. I’m not as weak as I appear. I’m reserving my strength for,” he paused to leer at her, “later.” She laughed at his attempted seduction. “Come on, give me the bottle.”

  “You don’t have the energy to argue with me so just shut-up, lay back and do as I say.”

  “You’re loving this, aren’t you?”

  She nodded with an impish grin.

  Raymond plopped back onto the pillows. “You need to work on your bedside manner.”

  “So I’ve been told.” She finally opened the bottle. She poured two pills into her hand and picked up a glass of water from the nightstand. Raymond took the pills, swallowed then sipped at water.

  “I assume I’m no longer delirious and hallucinating. So, tell me,” he breathed heavily, “What exactly are you doing here?”

  “I’m apparently making a house call.”

  “How did you get in?”

  “Jimmy. Your grandmother left the key with him.”

  He nodded and smiled, “So that’s what you’re doing here. Mamma Lou sent you.”

  “She was concerned so she asked me to stop by.”

  He nodded his head slightly then placed his hand over his eyes. “Is it bright in here or is it me.”

  Hope looked around the darkened room. “It’s you.”

  She reached down and placed her hand on his forehead. He was warm but not as hot as he was earlier. “You still have a fever.”

  “Thanks doc.”

  She picked up a cold glass of water again. “Here,” she placed the glass to his lips, “you’re dehydrated. You need to drink more of this.”

  Raymond caressed her with his eyes drawing an instant blush as Hope looked away. “You look tired.”

  “I am,” she answered still holding the glass to him.

  “Lay down.”

  “I will, as soon as I get home.”

  “No. Lay down here, next to me.”

  “Raymond, my being here is a professional courtesy. I don’t lay down with my patients in ER and I have no intention of lying down here with you. Understood? Now, finish your water.”

  Raymond smiled as he half sat up and took a few more sips from the glass. He collapsed as she placed the glass back on the nightstand. “You need to rest.”

  “I intend to rest. I have the next few days off. I am going home to sleep for at least twenty hours.”

  “You can sleep here.”

  “You have one bed in a four bedroom apartment. So much for sleepovers.” She gasps silently, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. Your personal life is none of my business.”

  Raymond smiled weakly, “Doctor Hope Adams, frazzled, I kind of like that. And, I believe that now you are my personal business.”

  “Drink,” she demanded softly holding the glass closer to his mouth.

  “You’re not being very nice.”

  “I know, drink.” He did, until the tall glass of water was empty. She placed the glass on the nightstand and sat down on the bed next to him. She placed her hand across his forehead and approvingly nodded.

  “Still warm?” he asked. She nodded. He reached up and stroked the side of her face just as he had down in the cafeteria. This time she didn’t pull away. “You are so beautiful sitting there like that.”

  “You’re delirious.”

  “True. But you’re still beautiful.” She blushed.

  He peeked under the sheets seeing that he was completely undressed. The dimple winked again. “One of us is entirely overdressed. See what you can do about that.” He yawned, lay back, and then promptly fell asleep.

  Raymond’s tender words echoed through her mind as she stood and went into the bathroom. She turned on the faucet, took a washcloth from the basket, and then dipped it into the cool running water. Slowly she held the cloth to her face and let the coolness refresh her. After wringing the cloth dry she looked up at her reflection in the mirror.

  Detached, she moved her face from side to side. She never considered herself as anything special. She had an average face with average features and an average body. Suddenly she smiled as naughty thoughts skipped through her head. He said I was beautiful. She dampened and puckered her lips, and yawned. She looked at her watch. It had gotten late, she was exhausted and going home at this hour would be ridiculous.

  She walked back into the bedroom. She looked down at Raymond asleep then to the opposite side of the bed. Inviting, she decided to lie down on top on the comforter next to Raymond. The silky satiny softness was just what she needed to relax her. She rolled over and watched the slow rhythm of his breathing. She closed her eyes and fell right to sleep.

  The dream was divine. Soft, warm, floating, she snuggled deeper into the curve of secured comfort. Breathing serenely, she drifted on a pool of still water troubled only by the molding of her body to the gentle waves. In luxurious self-indulgence, she bathed in lavish comfort. With a sigh of contentment, she snuggled deeper and closer to the source of her pleasure.

  Soon her soothing solace became an arousing yearning as she felt the tender whispers of a tantalizing embrace. Against a caressing curve she murmured keeping her eyes closed for fear that the illusion would vanish. “What are you doing?” She moaned still half intoxicated by the feel of his body intimately pressed against hers.

  “Kissing you,” he said as he continued to shower tiny kisses onto her shoulder. She savored the feel of his mouth.

  “You can’t do that.” She moaned, half inaudible.

  “Can’t do what?”

  “That.”

  “Oh,” he continued, “why not?”

  “‘Cause.”

  “‘Cause, isn’t a valid reason.” Raymond attested.

  “‘Cause,” she began, than sighed deeply, and began again. Her voice was thick with emotion. “‘Cause it wouldn’t be right.”

  “Why wouldn’t it be right?” Never moving his hands from his side, he continued kissing her tracing a burning trail of desire along the curve of her neck and shoulder. Hope squeezed her eyes tighter. The ember of desire made her body tremble.

  “Because of the situation,” she barely rasped out.

  “What situation?”

  “Me, here, lying in your bed like this, with you. You’re still sick.”

  Raymond didn’t answer. She turned and looked at his face and instantly saw the difference. “You shaved.”

  “Don’t tell me that you prefer the beard?”

  “What are you smiling about?”

  “Technically we’ve just slept together.”

  “Technically, I fell asleep on the opposite side of the bed while you were incapacitated. So, nothing happened.”

  “The evening is young.” He smiled seductively.
>
  She sighed pleasantly. “All that proves is that you were unconscious and I was exhausted. But now that we’re both,” he began kissing her shoulder again, “in our right mind. We can,” she moaned when he nibbled her earlobe. “We can, we can-” Raymond’s kisses drizzled to the hollow of her neck causing a series of tantalizing sensations to erupt. She shuddered, loosing track of her thoughts.

  “Yes we can,” he readily agreed.

  “Think more clearly.” She quickly added. Unfortunately, thinking more clearly was the last thing on her very clouded mind.

  “I am thinking clearly.” Raymond assured her.

  “Your temperature is close to 102 degrees. You’re hardly capable of a roll in the hay.”

  “My temperature is 99.2. I’d hardly qualify that as critical.” Her expression questioned how he knew his exact temperature. “I got up while you were asleep.”

  She looked down the length of him. He had slipped into a pair of sweatpants. “Be that as it may, you’re still sick.”

  “You obvious don’t know me very well. I’m a man of many talents. This, you will learn.” He ran his finger down the length of her arm.

  Hope quickly sat up and slid her feet to the side of the bed. “Since you’re obviously feeling much better, I’ll leave.” She stood and turned away.

  Raymond reached and captured her hand. “Hope.”

  She went still. Her heart pounded in her chest. There was nothing she wanted more in this world at this moment than to make love with this man, but she knew it wouldn’t be enough. She refused to turn around knowing that if she did, she’d be lost in his eyes forever. She turned further away to face the opposite side of the room. She looked at the armoire, the dresser, the paintings, and the sitting area, anything, not to look at him.

  “Hope,” he repeated softly.

  “You’re vulnerable right now Raymond. You don’t know what you’re saying. You’re going to wake up tomorrow morning and be glad that I didn’t stay. Believe me.”

  “I feel so much for you, it scares me. I’ve never felt this way before. I love you Hope.”

  “No. You don’t mean that.” Hope shook her head repeatedly. Nervously she placed her free hand over her scar to sooth her aching heart.

  “Yes, I do.” He whispered softly as he sat up and gently pulled her back onto the bed beside him. “Ever since that night I saw you in the doctor’s lounge. You were crying. You were so beautiful, so fragile and delicate. I wanted to climb the tower, slay the dragon, be your hero and rescue you. I wanted to save you from whatever demons troubled you. At that moment I knew that there was something special about you. I needed to know you. I mean really know you, know everything there is to know about you. I still do. But one thing I already know and that is you’re someone I need in my life.” His declaration was heartfelt.

  Boldly she turned to face him. “Your chivalry is commendable Raymond, but I don’t need your protection, or your pity, or to be rescued.”

  “Pity? You? Are you kidding?” He chuckled slightly. “You, Hope, are the strongest, toughest, most indomitable woman I’ve ever met. You’re also the sexiest woman I’ve ever met. I crave you. And, I know that you’re just as attracted to me as I am to you.” Their eyes locked. His, painfully sincere, hers, undeniably tempted, but still, on the brink of denial.

  In her heart, there was no denying her feelings for him. He was right. She was attracted to him. But she knew that there was more. She was in love with him. She closed her eyes, muted against the truth.

  “Kiss me and prove me wrong.” He leaned in, his mouth just inches from hers. “Kiss me.” She didn’t move. He kissed her lips gently.

  “I can’t.”

  “But you want to.”

  Looking at him was her undoing. One night with Raymond was all she had ever imagined. Tonight, a second night, would only cement her feelings. She knew that. She also knew that in their very different worlds, they could never share anything more than a brief moment in time. But, one more moment was all she needed to fulfill a fantasy. So, with all the urgency and passion she had locked up inside of her, in loving infatuation, she dived off of the highest cliff into the shallow stream called love.

  She kissed him.

  Surrendering to his taste, she reeled dizzily at feeling the force of his mouth on hers. Her thoughts, a clouded mass of colors and images, swam in the endless pool of passion. She floated on the very real possibility of making love to him again. Her body soared, anticipating more of his arousing urgings. She closed her eyes and soaked in the heavenly rapture of the moment.

  The sound of his moan edged her further into the solidness of his embrace. Intoxicated with wanton passion, her mind whirled with desire. The splinter of need that had been planted the first night she saw him, had now emerged into an uncontrollable force. Consuming all that she was.

  Deepening in intensity, the kiss consumed both of them. Then, slowly the intensity faded into gently pleasing passion. His lips pressed tenderly until she felt a mere whispered caress.

  Raymond leaned back, his eyes riveted to her face. He soaked in every loving inch, memorizing the moment to immortalize for an eternity. He smiled, his eyes loving and adoring. “You are so beautiful.” His allure beckoned her.

  He drew her closer. She fell onto his bare chest. Her heart pounded riotously as she held tightly to his firm body. A body designed in heaven and made to please a woman. She spread her hands wide over his chest, and then entwined her fingers in the gentle hairs. His nipples hardened instantly as a low rumbled groan purred from him.

  Hope closed her eyes. This was far better than any fantasy she could have imagined. His body grew hot as the fire within raged. He laid her back positioning himself on top of her. He braced her hands up against the overstuffed pillows. His hands drifted over her shoulders then down her arms then over the flat of her stomach. Slowly he unbuttoned her white shirt and spread the ends wide revealing a white lace bra. A crooked smile of satisfied pleasure spread wide as he unsnapped the front hook and released her.

  Hope inhaled quickly when his mouth covered her. Her moan excited him, prompting an increased intensity. She bit at her lower lip holding the scream begging to be released. Without breaking his rhythm, his hands slipped beneath her waist and lifted her up. He pulled her closer against his body as he slowly rolled. She sat up looking down on him. Her legs comfortably straddled. She instantly felt the hardness of his desire through the soft material of his pants.

  Holding her firmly, he tantalized each breast. The teasing torture sent a shock wave surging through her body. She quaked arching forward allowing him full access. He lifted her upwards kissing, and caressing his way to the flat of her stomach. She floated precariously until he rolled over gently laying her to his side.

  Silence.

  He stopped.

  Something was wrong. He changed his mind, He doesn’t want me. Hope opened her eyes with a flinch. Her chest heaved rapidly. The split-second of panic lasted an eternity. It ended when she looked up seeing Raymond smiling down at her. “You are so beautiful.” Erotically, he ran a single finger across her lips, down her neck, encircled each breast then delved lower to the waistband of her jeans. Her breathing increased instantly.

  Still smiling, he took each of her hands and placed them above her head. “I just want to look at you.” He nearly begged. Hope began to lower her hands to her face. “Don’t. Let me see you. All of you.” He took each hand kissed it, and then placed them back above her.

  “I…”

  “Shh,” his dimple winked at her playfully. “You undressed me, it’s only fair.” She squirmed when he slowly unbuttoned her jeans and pulled the zipped down. The metal ripping sound lasted longer then she imagined.

  Enticingly, he rubbed her stomach sending a scolding blast of heat through her. Her quick intake and low throaty moan was his provocation. He freed her from her pants. “I like these,” he said toying with the thin elastic lace of her waistband. He drew a finger around the elastic p
ulling just enough to peek at her possibilities. She squirmed. A low guttural groan emanated from his primal need.

  His hands traveled down the length of her eliciting the desired response. She surrendered. Then, she felt the moist wetness of his mouth as he tasted her soft brown thighs. He kissed her knee while caressing the form of her legs.

  The torment of his body so close and her need so strong was torture. “Raymond. Now.” She commanded.

  He shook his head from side to side. “Not yet, my Love. I’ve only just begun. We’ve got all night I’m not going anywhere this time. I want to memorize ever inch of you by dawn then start all over again.”

  The unimaginable possibility of his assertion sent a shot of fire to her core. “Raymond,” she called out.

  He kissed her softly. “Shh, let me love you.” He whispered in her ear as he leaned over her. His detailed promise gripped her into a dizzying state sending a swirl of images through her mind. He intended to make love to her all night long.

  His talented hands began the fateful promise of his words. He sat back, observing her every reaction. “I want to know what pleases you. Does this please you?”

  She gasped, her eyes blinked closed. A bright flash of light blinded her at his touch. The medical profession had surly taught him well. He truly knew how to manipulate the female body to his will. “Do you like that?” he asked.

  Hope had no idea if she answered or not. Her mind was a total wash. She could only bend to his skillful touch.

  The surging hot burn intensified. She was on the verge. “Raymond now,” she nearly demanded of his escalating torment.

  “Yes, now.” He said increasing sensation of her pleasure. “Does this please you?”

  Her body writhed in quickened anticipation. She moved against him. Faster and faster, she held her breath as she soared blindly, higher and higher. Her body jerked, then spasm, and rocked as she screamed and cried out his name.

  He fulfilled his promise yet his torturous skill continued.

  She spasm again, writhing on the wings of her pleasure. He took her to that wondrous place again and again. Each time she soared higher and higher, never ceasing to reach the pinnacle of pleasure.