by Nana Prah
Gia’s nostrils flared as her breaths became harsher. “That son-of-a-bitch played me. He has no power. None. And I just threw all of mine at him. Damn me for giving in so easily when I should’ve fought harder for myself. Un-fucking-believable.”
In the thralls of a hot rage, she didn’t seem to recognize that her rant was out loud. Lamar’s grin spread as he listened. Now inspired with knowledge, Gia would take everyone down.
It took her a while to calm down. “Thank you so much, Lamar.” Then as if she remembered who she had been talking about the whole time, she added, “My friend will be relieved to receive the information.”
“No problem. If you need anything else just let me know. I’m here for you.”
They spent the rest of the ride in their own thoughts. He could practically hear the wheels turning in her mind as she tossed around ideas to remove herself from under her boss’s thumb.
He parked in a space near her house, got out and jogged to her side. She’d opened the door before he’d reached it, but he extended a hand to help her out.
Her gaze slid down to his palm and then back up to his eyes. She placed her hand in his and the contact sent electrical jolts up his arm. He laced their fingers once she was out and closed the panel with his other hand.
At the top of the stairs he had to release her so she could rifle through her bag to look for the keys. Once she’d unlocked it, she faced him. “I had a great time.”
The sexy raspy voice she’d developed from yelling all night and then cussing her boss out had him swallowing hard.
“I’m glad you came today. Everyone enjoyed your company.” He grinned down at her. “I’m sure you made many new friends.”
Her eyes went soft in the light above her door. He couldn’t resist. He didn’t even try to. Another kiss wouldn’t destroy them. Just one.
He nibbled her bottom lip. Teasing them both. Angling his head, he pressed his mouth full against hers and tasted what he’d desired all night. His tongue rounded the edges of her lips and when she opened, he deepened the kiss. Desire exploded, making him hard as she kissed him back with a passionate aggression that elicited a moan from his throat. Palming the back of her neck, he pulled her closer as he attempted to get his fill. It wasn’t enough.
From the way she pressed herself against him and whimpered as she wound her arms around his shoulders, it wasn’t for her either.
It would have to be. He had too much to lose.
Lamar willed himself to stop. To separate from the temptation she presented.
She slid her hands down the sides of his ribs, clutched at his shirt and took a step backwards, he matched her movement. Five coordinated steps later and they were enclosed in her hallway grabbing at each other and kissing.
They littered her home with her T-shirt and then his as their mouths and hands explored. By the time he’d unhooked her bra and let gravity do its job with the garment they’d made it to an upstairs bedroom.
Palming her breasts, the rigid peaks of her nipples pressed into his skin. His erection strained against his jeans as he swirled his tongue around the dark pebble before sucking it into his mouth. Her moan drove him to suckle harder. The sweet floral scent of her skin enticed.
He wanted her beyond all rational thought. He had ever since their first real workout where she’d refused to let him hold back. Getting to know her had been an aphrodisiac that he hadn’t expected. Repercussions no longer existed, only pleasure. Nothing else mattered but sinking deep into her wet heat until they both burst with the power of their joining.
Her nails digging into his shoulders as she arched her back would leave a mark. He didn’t care as he teased the other peak with the tip of his tongue before drawing it into his mouth.
“That feels so good, Lamar.”
At the sound of her breathy voice, logic overpowered need for a single second. Long enough to make him halt and stand to his full height with his hands at his sides itching to hold onto her silky soft skin. Wanting to balance her perfect peach-sized breasts in his hands again.
They needed this moment to talk. At least he did. His mind knew that he should put an end to it. His body had different ideas. “Is this what you want?”
She slid her fingers along his abdomen. His dick got harder as her eyes darkened with desire as they met his.
“Yes.”
Chapter 16
Gia couldn’t believe she was actually touching the hard, responsive muscles of the man she’d been salivating over for weeks. Reality was above and beyond any fantasy she’d created with Lamar. Her eyes had rolled to the back of her head with the moisture of his mouth around her nipple as he’d teased the other between his deft fingers.
And then he’d stopped to ask her if she wanted to have sex with him. It had taken a moment for the words to push through the haze of passion. His sensitivity enamored him even more to her. If he only knew just how much she’d wanted him from the first day they’d met. Her desire had gone on an upward trajectory for this magnificent man ever since.
Her erotically-charged brain could only respond with a discernably murmured yes as she pressed her hands against his chest and stepped into his alluring heat. She licked the smooth dark skin to find it a little salty. Delicious. When she went to do it again, her lips were intercepted with his. The kiss stole her breath as she clung to him. Every swipe of his tongue stoked a greedy thirst in her that she needed quenched.
Her core throbbed as his mouth nipped at her neck and traced wet lines along her body.
He grabbed for the button of her jeans as she attacked his. Fingers shaking, she did her best to get him out of his remaining clothes. Failure.
“Let’s take our time, beautiful.” The air from his breath tickled her ear. “I’m not going anywhere.”
His husky voice calling her beautiful dampened her panties even more.
She trailed her hand along the hairless skin of his chest and abdominal muscles, delighting in their rippling contraction.
His adroit fingers made easy work of her jeans button and zipper. Hooking his thumbs into the side of her panties, he slid them and her jeans down her legs stopping to kiss her stomach as he went. She held onto his shoulders and stepped out of the garments.
Naked, she stopped herself from crossing her arms over her body and hiding. She wasn’t the same woman she’d been a few weeks ago. A newfound confidence in her curvy fullness guided her to stare into his eyes waiting for what she longed for.
She swiped the tip of her tongue across her lips as she took in his perfect physique. “You now,” she croaked out as she pointed to the enticing bulge in his pants.
“I’m admiring.” He glided a gentle finger along her waist, down to her hip and around to her ass which he squeezed with his calloused hand.
The scent of her essence rose to meet her nostrils. She squeezed her legs together to help relieve some of the throbbing. It didn’t work. Only one thing would.
He was taking too long. Her hands reached for his jeans again. This time her fingers were more adept at the task with the goal of having him inside of her. Button and zipper undone, she slid the pants down his legs following them until she was on her knees.
Before he could step out of his jeans, she pulled the front of the boxer briefs down. Her imagination had been nowhere close to the actual. She gripped his erection, holding it steady as she rimmed her tongue around the head, then licked the pre-cum from the tip. The saltiness was welcomed on her tongue as she opened her mouth and took him in. Lamar gasping air in through his teeth emboldened her.
She slid him back as far as she could before easing her lips along his length as she released him. Again and again she took him. Lost in the extraordinary length and thickness, she was shocked when he grabbed her under the arms and brought her to her feet.
“I wasn’t done,” she said gliding her tongue against her lips.
“I would’ve been if you’d kept going.” The deep huskiness in his voice brought her nipples to a heighte
ned state of attention.
She admired his form as he stripped off the rest of his clothes before picking up his pants and digging through the back pocket.
Her eye caught a single tattoo on his upper left thigh as he removed the condom from his wallet and tore it open. She’d wondered if he had one. The yellow, orange and black butterfly appeared as if the wings were fluttering. Different from any tough guy ink.
She took a step forward and touched it. “Not what I expected.”
“Keisha loved butterflies.”
She swiped her lips against his in an acknowledgement of the admission before grabbing the condom from his fingers. They watched as she slid the sheath down his hot hard length.
One minute Gia had her hands just where she wanted them, then she found herself flying. She landed on the bed in a fit of giggles. “Could you be any more macho?”
Lying beside her, he grazed his lips against the side of her neck. “Would you want me to be less?”
She curved her hand along his cheek absorbing the intensity of the moment. “Not one bit.”
The growl from low in his throat had her leg bending around his hip to draw him to where she needed him most. He wasn’t having it as he stayed on his side and skated his fingers down her belly. Her legs fell open as his blazing touch roamed lower.
Dark hooded eyes mesmerized her as he slid his fingers between her folds and skimmed her clit before circling it with a pressure that made her hips jump off the bed.
He delved a finger into her core. “You’re so wet,” he whispered as he proceeded to add a second. When he curved his digits, she moaned. The intensity built with each stroke of that magical spot he hit with precision.
Her eyes closed as she placed the responsibility of her pleasure in Lamar’s capable fingers. He sucked her nipple into his mouth adding to the electrifying sensations building in her. Her skin dampened as she clutched onto him, panting as her hips rotated in tune to his rhythm. So close. She opened her eyes, knowing exactly what would take her over.
“Please, Lamar. I need you.”
She didn’t have to issue another plea as he settled himself between her thighs. His gaze held hers as he filled her so completely that her vision blurred with tears. She’d wanted him and now she had him. All of him. Nothing could feel better than this union.
Lamar froze. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”
She squeezed her inner muscles.
“Fuck,” he ground out.
She contracted again. “Yes, please.”
He pulled out leaving her with a deep hunger before driving back in to bring her renewed completion.
Hips thrusting up to meet his every stroke, she accepted all of him each time. Her heart filled, ready to burst with elation.
The way he’d gotten to his knees and lifted her upper body from the bed at the same time would forever impress her. She kissed his sweat-sheened shoulder just before sucking the salt from it as she took control. His taste was an addiction and she wanted more as she moved to another area of his skin while lifting herself off of his length and then rocking back down onto him. Rotating her hips as she controlled the pace had her whimpering out his name as her core tightened around his shaft, squeezing and releasing as she exploded with a climax so powerful that lights detonated behind her eyelids.
Not yet having recovered from her breath-snatching orgasm, he lifted and flipped her onto her stomach. His strength got her even wetter as he pulled her onto her knees.
She glanced over her shoulder. Lamar held himself with one hand as he guided his length into her with a slowness that had her pushing back so he’d fill her faster.
She groaned at their joining. He grabbed her hips, pulled out and drove back in. She would’ve flown into the headboard if he hadn’t been holding her. She braced her hands on the bed at his retreat. The sound of slapping flesh and the musky smell of sex enhanced the feel of him deep inside.
He reached around her waist and touched her sensitive bud. The combination overloaded.
“Yes, Lamar. Yes. Right there.”
Her channel clenched his thickness with her release. Milking him as she came with more force than the first time. Her upper body collapsed onto the bed when her arms gave out.
He held her in position as he continued to thrust.
His grunt of release vibrated throughout her body a moment later as he buckled onto her.
She whimpered as he slid out and lay beside her. She’d think about what having such earth-shaking sex with him meant when her mind returned to her body.
Using the last of her energy, she turned her head to the side to view him. Arm slung over his forehead, the most remarkable smile graced his face. It was the last thing she saw before she slept. Exhausted, yet thrilled that she’d possessed the sexual prowess to satisfy him.
Chapter 17
Elbow propped on a pillow, Lamar watched Gia sleep. He hadn’t realized how short and curled her lashes were. Had he kissed her adorable nose like he’d wanted to every time he’d seen her? Rectifying the oversight, he perched his lips against her face and grazed them along her satin soft skin.
She didn’t move. She needed the rest. He’d woken her up twice to make love. What they’d shared had been spectacular. She’d been completely uninhibited once she’d gotten accustomed to him.
His groin twitched at how he’d taken her against the tiled wall when they’d showered together. He shook off the memory of her powerful limbs surrounding his dick as they moved with the ease and flow of the water sluicing over them. She was beyond remarkable and he missed having her dark eyes focused on him.
His phone alarm had buzzed at three. Time to train, yet his dominant desire fell more towards making love to Gia until either the world ended or they died. Whichever came first.
They had three weeks remaining to complete the contract with her ball-busting sister. Until then he needed to make sure Gia kept working out. An easy task because the woman seemed addicted to their boxing regimes. This week he’d throw some floor work into the self-defense portion of their sessions. Seeing how much she’d enjoyed the MMA tournament, that should keep her running to the gym.
Would she regret what had happened between them? From her moans of satisfaction, he knew she’d enjoyed it, but was she looking for more than a night of sex? Was he?
He’d been burned before. The flamethrower he knew as his ex-wife had taken his trust and destroyed it. Along with his ability to love again. Gia deserved more. She was the kind of woman who would thrive in a relationship. A nurturer who deserved to be pampered and loved until her smile became a permanent feature. He doubted that he could provide her with anything other than a physical connection and the friendship they’d established.
Trista would go berserk if she found out. The women’s bond went beyond sisterhood so he didn’t doubt that mind-blowing sex was the type of thing Gia would want to discuss. The way things had gone, he was tempted to do some telling himself. Not gentlemanly, but that shit had been incredible.
Her sister already had an idea of who she thought he was from the rumors on the internet. Yes, he liked spending time with women, but he didn’t fall anywhere near the man whore category that they portrayed.
The gym’s reputation would be shot if Trista found out. After all, he’d crossed a professional line. One that even now felt like he’d latched an anvil around his neck. Would he do it again if he could turn back time? Hell, yes. There would be no sleeping for either of them if he had another chance.
He skated a finger against her chin and smiled. He’d never met anyone like her. Resisting her contagious sense of humor and kind spirit had been impossible. Tagged with the trust she’d placed in him by telling him about the bullying happening at work, he hadn’t stood a chance.
He couldn’t undo the glory of the experience they’d shared and refused to regret a moment of it.
Now to make sure Gia never found out about the contract with Trista and why he’d been training her. She’d take it as a
betrayal. Something he never wanted to put her through, especially after the hell she’d been experiencing at work. Her parents hadn’t done well by her either. A shiver went down his spine at the possibility of her hating him if she found out.
Maybe she’d understand. Maybe not. He wasn’t willing to risk it. There’d be a time when whatever they shared would fizzle out. It always did. It wouldn’t matter then. But for now, he had dreams to protect.
The thoughts were too heavy. He would’ve preferred to focus on the best part of the situation. Getting to know every facet of Gia.
His commitment of returning to the cage prodded him to stroke a palm down her arm. “Gia.”
She groaned as she turned onto her side, placing her body in the perfect position for cradling her round bottom against his semi-erect state. He resisted her unconscious invitation.
Shaking her shoulder, he returned her to her back. Her eyes fluttered open, and she blinked a few times before her lips spread into a wide smile.
So beautiful. His stomach fluttered as he lowered his head to hers. At the light touch of her lips he battled against draping his body over her and reaching for the variety of condoms she’d brought out from her nightstand last night.
“Good morning, sweetheart.” The endearment felt light on his tongue.
Her eyes crept open. “Good morning.”
Did he really have to leave? The push to restore his pride and career insisted. “I had a great time last night.”
“Me, too.”
He tugged her close and kissed her cheek, her nose and then her mouth. Separating became harder with each caress. His calendar alarm rang, reminding him of his obligation to himself. “I have to go.”
She pulled the sheet that had slid away from her breasts up to her neck and looked toward the lace-curtained window. “It’s still dark.”
For a split second it crossed his mind to be honest. Would she be supportive of him fighting? He grazed the scar on his brow as he settled on a half-truth. “I like to exercise early, before everyone else gets a piece of me.”
