by Zuri Day
“What?”
“I need you to jump up from the table and run into the bathroom.”
“What?”
“I’ll explain later, but as soon as you see Dina returning, you need to do this.”
Shayna’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, so that’s how it is.”
“No!” Michael hissed through clenched teeth. “I’ll explain about her later, Shayna. Just do it!”
“What, like a Nike commercial?” Shayna wiped her mouth with the pristinely white linen napkin before slowing rising from the table. “I don’t know about this now, Michael. I don’t want to interfere with whatever’s—”
Hearing the click-clack of Dina’s heels and seeing the flash of red out the corner of his eye, Michael gave Shayna a not-so-subtle push away from him. Her face registered mild shock as she almost instinctively turned and rushed from the room, partly because he’d asked her, but mostly because the forward-propelled motion of his push suggested she keep her feet moving or fall down on her face.
As it were, in the process of leaving, she almost knocked Dina down instead.
“What’s going on?” Dina asked after righting herself and rushing to the table where Michael now stood.
“Not sure,” Michael quickly replied, reaching for his wallet and pulling out a couple hundred-dollar bills. “She began to feel nauseous. It came out of nowhere.”
Dina watched as Shayna fled the room with her arm raised, her hand over her mouth, Dina presumed. “Maybe she’s pregnant,” she drawled, partially believing what Michael told her, and partially not. The plan had been for her and Michael to spend the night together, but she’d seen the way he’d eyed her potential spokesperson all evening.
After tossing the money on the table, Michael placed a hand on Dina’s shoulder. “Sorry, Dina, but I’m going to have to cancel our late-night meeting. I need to check on Shayna, make sure she gets back to her hotel okay.”
“How convenient,” was Dina’s dryly delivered response, spoken to Michael’s back as he rushed from the room.
He found Shayna near the foyer. With a firm hold on her arm, he ordered, “Let’s go.”
Within minutes, Shayna was ensconced in a limousine next to Michael, looking back at the Belfry Inne and Bistro. Whether from nerves, fear, embarrassment, or genuine humor, Shayna couldn’t tell, but she burst out laughing.
“What?” Michael asked, a big old “cheese” spreading across his face.
The more Shayna tried to explain why she was laughing, the more hysterically she guffawed. Soon, Michael’s deep chuckle joined hers and the back of the limousine was filled with laughter. After a few comical moments, Shayna regained control of herself and wiped tear-filled eyes. “This is crazy,” she said at last. “I felt naughty back there, like I was lying to the coach to miss practice or skipping school or something.”
Baby, I’m getting ready to show you how naughty really feels!
She sobered. “But now that I’m here, I don’t know if asking to see you privately was the right thing to do.”
“I’m glad you did,” Michael quickly reassured her. “I wanted to see you, too, just . . . didn’t know how to ask you. Didn’t know how you’d feel about it and I didn’t want to come off as being forward or presumptuous or . . . any of those things.”
Shayna turned toward him, oblivious of the fact that when she did so, her dress rose up to midthigh and one juicy, cocoa orb peaked out from the dress’s bodice. “So you first. What did you want to talk to me about?”
“Mine can wait,” Michael replied, reaching for Shayna’s hand and looking into her eyes as he continued. “What about you?”
“Mine can wait, too,” Shayna replied, suddenly feeling shy and a bit lost under his intense perusal. She deftly slid her hand from his before turning to look out the window.
Sensing her nervousness, Michael placed them back on neutral footing. “This your first time to the Cape?”
Shayna nodded. Then realizing the gesture might not be seen on this dark night, replied, “Yes, you?”
“I’m not a stranger to the area; used to attend Sean’s white parties on Martha’s Vineyard, and have a friend who moors his boat near Chatham.”
“What, a yacht or something?”
Michael shook his head. “Fishing boat. A little . . . never mind, it doesn’t matter what type it is. One of my high school buddies fancies himself a fisherman and likes to go bass fishing in the summer.”
“You like to fish?” Shayna asked, not hiding the difficulty she was having in drawing a picture of Mr. GQ holding a rod and reel, let alone bait.
“I can take it or leave it. But I do enjoy the camaraderie with my boys, hanging out on the lake. There’s something peaceful about fishing, being out on the water. After dealing with business twenty-four/seven, and the pace of the city, it’s a nice change that I try and enjoy at least once or twice a year.”
Shayna eyed the passing scenery as she pondered Michael’s comments. More than once, she’d thought she sensed a kinder, gentler soul beneath Michael’s playboy personality and the fast-paced lifestyle. Before, she’d dismissed these as figments of her imagination, but now she wasn’t so sure. As it were, there was no more time to ponder the issue. Surprising to Shayna, they’d reached their destination within minutes and with a quick thank-you to the driver, Shayna was being led up the stairs of a private home.
“Is this your place?” she asked.
“My friend’s,” Michael responded, placing the key in the lock and turning it. “After you, baby.”
He’d probably used the term of endearment a zillion times, but that didn’t stop a mini explosion from happening in her furnace of love. His hand at the small of her back as he entered behind her didn’t help either. She hurried out of his grasp, trying to get in control of her emotions, trying to remember that she was the one who was supposed to be seducing him, and not the other way around.
Michael sensed Shayna’s nervousness. Oddly, he too felt uneasy, something he hadn’t experienced since giving Skittles to Robin before he was a teen. Michael pondered this thought as he observed Shayna. Perhaps that’s it, he thought as he eyed the vulnerability seeping through the strong stare. The way her eyes flittered oh-so-briefly to the side before she determinedly locked vision again with him. Shayna was a most interesting mixture of opposites: athletically strong on the outside but emotionally vulnerable on the inside.
He tried to put her at ease. “Would you like something to drink?”
“Sure. What do you have?”
Michael walked to the bar. “I know you don’t drink alcohol so—”
“I’ll try something light.”
Michael looked up at her. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, like maybe a . . . wine cooler?”
“Ha! I haven’t heard that phrase since high school. Do they still make that alcoholic Kool-Aid?”
Shayna shrugged, feeling some of her nervousness leave on the wings of his laughter. “You know that I never was much of a drinker.”
“No worries. I’ll hook up something for you, something fruity with a little kick. How’s that sound?”
“Okay.”
While Michael made the drinks, Shayna took the time to look around her. The decor was simple and rather neutral; the place could have been owned by a man or a woman. There was an extra-long couch that sat beneath a bank of windows facing the street. On the right wall was a fireplace flanked by two wingback chairs. A small love seat and tree-stump end table sat between the living and dining spaces with the kitchen just beyond. The art reflected the area: seascapes and lighthouses, clam shells and fishing boats. The shades of blue and gray broken up with uncannily authentic-looking potted plants was soothing, and by the time Michael walked over with her drink, Shayna was fairly certain that her heart wouldn’t jump out of her chest.
Then Michael handed her the drink, and their fingers touched. They both felt the spark.
Shayna took a sip of the drink that Michael had prepared for her. It
was fruity, and carbonated, and tasted as if it contained no alcohol at all. “What’s in here?” she asked.
“Perrier, fruit juice, and a splash of Grey Goose.”
“That’s vodka, right?”
“Right.”
Shayna took another sip. “It’s good.” She noticed Michael had poured himself a glass of wine. “I see you like wine.”
“Not so much. When I drink, which really isn’t that often, I’m more of a beer guy. I just poured this because it’s what I started with tonight.”
“Oh.” Shayna took another sip.
Michael lightly touched her arm. “Let’s sit down.”
They sat on the couch. Shayna took another sip of her drink and told herself to relax. Michael reared back against the sofa, sipping his wine, watching Shayna. “So,” he began, his voice husky and silky smooth at the same time, “what did you want to talk to me about?”
Shayna took yet another sip of her drink, trying to buy time and remember all of the cute little lines her friends had supplied her with. In the light of reality, they all sounded . . . well . . . whack. She decided that the best approach was a straightforward one. So, taking another sip, followed by a deep breath, she turned to face him.
He was a good two feet away. Way too close.
“Nothing in particular. Just wanted to”—Shayna forced herself to look him in the eye—“get to know you better.”
The message couldn’t have been more clear had it been texted to his cell phone. Without breaking eye contact, Michael set down his glass on the coffee table. He lessened the distance between them, removed the drink from Shayna’s hand. “There’s something I’d like to know better, too,” he murmured, running a finger along her cheek, across her jawline, and down her neck.
Shayna’s swallow was almost audible. “What’s that?” she whispered.
Michael ran his finger across her lips. “These.”
His kiss was gentle, the merest of touching as he slowly moved his lips across hers. Shayna worked to control her breathing, content to let Michael take the lead in what she now knew was an inevitable dance. He pulled her to him, placing her neck in the crook of his arm while turning his body to better connect them. Still, the kiss was soft, a whisper really, even as he began to rub her arm, up and down, slowly, gently, massaging her shoulders, and back down again. He placed kisses on each side of her mouth, the tip of her nose and eyelids before raining them down her cheek until he finally nuzzled in the crevice of her neck. He lifted his head and looked at her. “You smell good.”
As soon as she opened her mouth, he kissed her, his skillful tongue pushing back her answer. Shayna was surprised that such a forceful move could be delivered in such a sensitive way. His mouth was pressed firmly against hers, yet his tongue was tender, searching, initiating a playful dance with hers. He moved his head in the same circular motion as his tongue. Belatedly, she realized that his hand had moved from her arm to the front of her dress and his thumb was recreating the same lazy circle over the material of her nipple. It was just a kiss, but Shayna felt herself about to burst. Michael’s approach was so different from Jarrell’s, the only other man with whom she’d ever been intimate. Her ex-boyfriend’s kisses were hard and unyielding, and while Shayna had thought she liked his rough-and-tumble caveman approach, she now realized that when it came to lovemaking, she had a lot to learn. As Michael’s mouth left hers and once more began a journey down her neckline, she also realized that he was probably a very good teacher.
24
“Your skin is so soft,” Michael murmured after placing kisses on her arm and hand. “I want to feel you all over.”
“I want that, too,” Shayna heard herself saying. Oh, wait, did I say that out loud? A drunken tongue speaking a sober mind, her Big Mama would say. Through the haze of her tipsiness she realized that somewhere the tides had turned and the seduction that she was supposed to be planning was being handled the other way around.
“Let’s go upstairs.”
They wordlessly mounted the stairway, hand in hand, both lost in thought. Michael was experiencing a rare moment where he was questioning his actions. He’d never thought twice before bedding a willing female, but with Shayna he was actually weighing the repercussions. You said you’d never again do this, man. What if this causes insurmountable problems in your business relationship? What if she falls in love with you, man, and turns out to be like Ms. Lovin’ Basketball . . . insane! And then there was the thought that bothered him more than the others. What if you hurt her?
They reached the bedroom. Michael flipped on the light and then adjusted the dimmer switch to that of a romantic mood. Shayna sat down on the bed, then leaned back, resting on her elbows. “I’m kinda scared,” she admitted.
“Me, too.” Michael surprised himself with his own truth.
“We don’t have to if you don’t want to. . . . ”
“Baby, I’ve never wanted to more in my life.” He sat on the bed, gazing at this girl-child before him. She was twenty-five, but here, with her toned, compact body and vulnerable eyes, she seemed younger. He reached up and fingered her hair, feeling the tresses before pulling the pins away that held it aloft. He leaned down and kissed her, softly at first and then, as Shayna’s hands began an exploration of his arms and back, with a little more urgency. She shifted her body until they were almost facing each other. Michael deepened the kiss as he began an exploration of his own, down her back, across her backside, thighs, and back again. Her skin felt softer than the jersey material covering it, Michael noticed, and realized that having any part of her body covered was a problem.
“Here, sit up. Let me undress you.”
Shayna quietly obeyed, lifting her hips so that he could pull the material from around her thighs and then over her head in one fell swoop. Michael took in the perfectly formed breasts encased in a lacy black bra. Noticing the front clasp, he reached for it, undid it, closed his eyes against the beauty that greeted him in the form of large blackberry-colored nipples, already hard and waiting.
“You’re beautiful.” He leaned forward, kissing her gently as he lightly massaged one nipple and then the other. He ran his lips across her neck and shoulders before easing her body on the bed and immediately lowering his head to the nipples he’d just massaged. His long, stiff tongue circled one and then the other. Shayna hissed at the assault. Michael smiled and thought, We’re just getting started. He stood and removed his shirt, slacks, shoes, and socks in short order. Shayna rose to remove her heels, but Michael stopped her. “Not yet.” Still wearing a black silk undershirt and matching boxers, he rejoined Shayna on the bed. He moved her to the middle of the large, king-sized paradise and covered her body with his. Their tongues once again worked to get better acquainted as their hands traveled each other’s bodies. Shayna became emboldened with desire, finding and squeezing Michael’s round, taut buttocks, a move that caused Michael to grind his hardening desire into her stomach.
“Ummm.” He lifted slightly from her and once again began a descent down her body. It seemed that he was determined to kiss each and every part of her, starting with her neck and shoulders before moving on to first one nipple and then the other, where he lingered for a while. He alternated between licks, nips, and a teasing rolling between forefinger and thumb, all while his other hand roamed across her stomach, hips, and the insides of her thighs. Shayna squirmed as Michael continued to come close to but not quite reach her heat. She gasped as his finger skimmed the top of her matching lace thong. Her body shivered as he slid a hand inside it, over her bare mound, down the inside of her leg, and back out. He moved his body lower still.
Licking, kissing, treating her body like the finest porcelain as his tongue touched her seemingly everywhere between her chest and hips. He reached her thighs and kissed the outside before spreading her legs apart and nuzzling the sensitive insides. His head rubbed her hot spot as he kissed her legs, on purpose, she thought. The friction of his head and the fabric of her thong was almost unb
earable. Shayna had never been this turned on before, couldn’t believe how hot she felt simply from Michael’s kisses. But as he continued, she realized that there was nothing simple about them. She forced herself back into the moment, and focused on how he continued down her leg, massaging her stomach with his hands while he licked and then kissed her knees, ankles, and back up to the inside of her thighs. He pushed her legs farther apart and licked the triangle of her thong.
“Ahh!”
A deep, knowing chuckle escaped Michael’s lips as he licked the fabric again, long and hard, and then a third time. Shayna’s head went from one side to the other as she tried not to thrash around on the bed. Michael turned his head slightly until his tongue ran under the fabric, near her folds. And then more kisses, gentle, probing, until Shayna thought she’d burst. Finally, with one swift movement, he rid her of her thong. Within seconds, he’d tossed aside her heels as well. Then, with the precision of a seeker missile, he dove into her treasure, lapping, nipping, sucking its sweetness. He moved his head as he swirled his tongue, creating a sensation that sent Shayna shaking, blindly reaching for his head as her legs went into the air of their own volition. His tongue went deeper, making love to her body, each move seemingly orchestrated from one to the next. Suddenly, he was off her. Shayna’s eyes flew open. Her body felt betrayed, bereft, like an addict needing a fix.
“What?” she asked breathlessly.
“This,” Michael answered, holding up a square packet of golden foil.
“Oh,” Shayna managed. She stared, transfixed, as she watched him shield his massive member. In that instant she wondered if she could handle the thickness and length of him, whether it was possible for all of that to get up inside her.
“Don’t worry,” he said, sensing her sudden unease. “We’ll go slowly. I won’t hurt you.”
He lay back down and once again began his oral assault. Within minutes, Shayna had forgotten all about potential pain and was fully and completely focused on pleasure. Michael did a repeat performance, giving her a tongue bath that started at her upper lips and ended at her lower ones. His tongue was probing, unforgiving, relentless, until Shayna felt her body quaking from the inside, felt an intensity in her core unlike any she’d ever felt and before she knew it she was spiraling out of control, going over the edge of ecstasy. It felt like an out of body experience and while she was still up in that stratosphere, among the stars and the moons, Michael entered her.
