Fire and Ice

by Carla Fredd

  "It's just one piece. It can't hurt you," he said, before taking a bite.

  They ate the sinfully rich dessert in silence. Holly turned down his offer of coffee and followed him into the den. "I don't think I could take in another thing. Tell Henry he did an excellent job," she said, as she sat on the overstuffed sofa.

  "That dinner is going to make me almost useless at work tonight." Mike sat next to her. His long legs stretched out in front of him.

  "What time do you have to be there?"

  "Ten o'clock." He looked at his watch. "That gives us two hours."

  A lot could happen in two hours, she thought. Mike reached for her hand.

  "I know that I didn't tell you this earlier, but you look lovely tonight."

  "Thank you. It's the suit." She gestured to her purple outfit.

  "No. I don't think it's the suit. It's you."

  Holly tugged her hand away from his. "I told you that you don't have to say things like that to me. I'm well aware of how I look."

  Mike shook his head, then stood up. "Come here." He held out his hand to her. She placed her hand in his and moved from the sofa. He led her to a large mirror across the room. Standing behind her, he put his hands on her shoulders. "Look in the mirror, Holly." He took his hands off her shoulders and moved her hair off her shoulder, leaving her neck vulnerable. Slowly, he smoothed the back of his hand from the base of her neck to her chin. She watched his actions in the beveled mirror, shivering at the sensual expression visible on his face.

  "I don't know why you think you're not sexy," he whispered. "Your skin is so soft. I want to touch each and every part of your body." His eyes met hers in the mirror. Leisurely he lowered his lips to her neck. His teeth caught her skin, then his tongue soothed the small bite.

  She watched as he slid the collar of her jacket aside and he kissed her shoulder once, then twice. His hand went to her shoulders, then traveled lazily down her arms. Nuzzling her neck, he carried her hands to her waist with his arms surrounding her. His fingers entwined with hers briefly before he released his grip. He pressed his body against hers. She could feel the strong proof of his desire and the rapid movement of his chest. His hands moved from her waist slowly upward. Holly held her breath when his hand gently cupped her breast. Softly, like the wings of a butterfly, his thumb brushed her nipple. She heard a harsh sound and realized that she was making the noise. She closed her eyes when he circled her nipple with his thumb.

  "You are so beautiful," he said, his breath brushing against her neck. His hands made short work of the buttons in front of her jacket. She tensed when he opened the jacket. "Don't, Holly. I want to see you."

  Watching, he opened her jacket, revealing soft, brown skin and breasts barely covered by a skimpy navy lace bra.

  "Oh God, sweet. Oh God," he cried. With trembling hands he unfastened the hooks at her back and pushed the thin bra straps and the jacket down her arms.

  "Perfect," he said, as he cupped her breasts. "So perfect."

  She placed her hands over his and squeezed. His callused hands felt wonderful against her. She leaned against him, letting his hands wander across her chest. He turned her around to face him. He spread open-mouthed kisses upon her face before devouring her lips. He was like a thirsty man who had come upon a cool spring. He kept kissing her as if he couldn't get enough of her. He fell to his knees before her, kissing the smooth skin on her torso. He wrapped his arms around her hips and pressed his face against her. He caressed her hips and moved his hand down her thighs until he reached the hem of her skirt.

  She looked down and met his gaze. She felt his hands move under her skirt and travel up her thighs. His eyes widened when he reached the top of her stockings and felt her bare flesh. He paused to caress her thighs before moving up and pulling her lace panties down her thighs, past her knees, and finally, to her feet. She stepped out of them.

  Her knees became like water when his hands traveled up her legs and touched the soft hair that covered her femininity. He guided her down on her knees to the carpet beside him, then edged her down farther until she lay on her back.

  He leaned down until his chest covered hers, taking most of his weight on his elbows. Their legs entwined and he pressed his hips against hers. "I want you. Let me give you pleasure." Then he kissed her. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders and she could feel the soft silk of his shirt. He lowered his head and suckled one nipple while his hand milked the other. She felt as if she were drowning. Wave after wave of longing flowed through her body.

  "Mike, Mike," she cried. Her fingers clutched at his shoulders. He left her breast and kissed her stomach, his hand pushing her skirt up her legs until he uncovered the soft black hair that shielded her. She made a wild crooning noise when his fingers raked through her shield and found the small nub. Gently, ever so gently, he touched her. Her hips bucked wildly against his hand. He lowered his head again to her breast and suckled. He kissed, stroked, and touched her body with a single-minded intent. Holly felt as if her body was being ravished with pleasure. He whispered raw, sensual phrases of desire, encouraging her to let go, telling her how beautiful she looked to him. Tears filled her eyes as she raced to that height of desire. Then it happened. She reached the pinnacle of satisfaction and desire.

  He felt her body tense, then heard the sweet cry of her release. He almost lost it then. He looked down at her face. She looked as if she were in the most exquisite pain, but the tremors from her body spoke of the pleasure she'd received.

  He kissed away the tears that streamed down her face and gentled her until the shaking stopped. He felt as if he could conquer the world. He never thought that he could receive so much pleasure by giving pleasure to another, and that was exactly what happened tonight. He kissed her trembling lips and stroked her hair away from her face. Black lashes formed half-moons on her cheeks. He kissed her eyelids and rolled them both to the side.

  Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked at him.

  "You're beautiful, you're sexy, and from this night on, you're mine."

  Chapter 8

  She was floating on a sensual cloud, boneless and weightless. She felt the soft carpet beneath her and the heat of Mike's body beside her. Opening her eyes, she looked at his face, so strong, so handsome. He lay on his side with one hand supporting his head. He watched her and his eyes met hers, dark and filled with desire.

  "You, you didn't . . ." Her voice trailed off as she stared helplessly into his eyes.

  He reached down and brought her wrist to his lips. He kissed the soft, silky skin and felt the rapid beat of her pulse. He spread kisses from her wrist to the middle of her palm. "Tonight is just for you, sweet," he said, placing her hand beside her head.

  "Mike?"

  "Shh." His fingers brushed her lips. "Let me give you pleasure tonight."

  She groaned. "I don't think I can take any more pleasure."

  Mike's smile was wicked and sexy and promised her the world. "A woman's body is capable of abundant pleasure." He proceeded to prove it to her.

  For the first time in his career, Mike was almost late for work. He usually arrived at the studio a couple of hours ahead of time, but tonight, he had only ten minutes to review the list of questions he had for each guest. But it was worth it.

  He smiled as he remembered carrying an exhausted Holly upstairs to his bed. He doubted she'd remember him removing her purple skirt, shoes, and stockings. He, on the other hand, would never forget the sight of her nude body lying on his bed. The groan that tore from his lips caused her to stir in the bed.

  She was beautiful— achingly, wonderfully beautiful. His gaze feasted over her body from her long graceful legs, over her rounded, shapely hips, up her flat, firm stomach, to her full breasts, along her graceful neck, to her full lips, which were slightly parted. Her high, exotic cheeks were fanned by long black lashes. Her shoulder-length black hair spread out on the pillow beneath her head.

  How could she possibly think that she wasn't sexy? He felt a sharp wa
ve of desire spread down to his groin. He turned and walked to his bathroom. As he shed his clothes, he turned on the shower. The cold blast of water took the edge off his desire. He would like to get his hands on Trey Christian and strangle him if he was responsible for the self-doubt that Holly had about her sexuality. With a sharp twist, he turned off the shower and toweled dry. He quickly put on his clothes and walked out of the bathroom.

  Holly lay on her stomach, one leg bent and one hand under her cheek. He spread a lightweight blanket over her and kissed her cheek. Long lashes fluttered and she barely opened her eyes.

  "Go back to sleep, sweetheart. I'll see you when I get home." He watched as her eyes closed once again and she burrowed beneath the blanket.

  "One minute, Mike." The voice of his assistant, Andy Kurtz, broke through the pleasant memory. Mike stood from his desk and walked to the door where Andy stood. They walked quickly through the back of the studio.

  Bright lights followed his path as he walked out on the stage. As the applause died down, he looked out into the crowd.

  "How many people out there work full-time?" The majority raised their hands. "Now, how many of you would like to run the company that you work for?" Most of the hands stayed up. "How many of you think that you could run the company better than it's being run now?"

  Mike looked over the crowd and spotted his cameraman with her hand raised. "Wait a minute. Move the camera over here." He walked to the cameraman. "Come on down here." The audience laughed when they realized it was one of his crew.

  "You think you can do a better job than me, running this show?"

  "Yeah."

  "Well, ain't that a blip?"

  "Of course, it would be called the Brenda Reese Show."

  "Oh, you want me totally out of the show?"

  "No. You can run the camera."

  "Get back up there. My own people want me gone. I've got to rethink letting them run the show on Friday."

  "Oh, no, you don't." A voice came from the sound deck. "You said we could run the show Friday, and we're going to run it."

  "That's the producer, Diane," he laughed, then said, "I guess I don't have a choice. Seriously, on Friday the crew gets to run the show for a day. I have no say in the format—or anything else, it seems. This ought to be interesting."

  "You just get here on time," Diane said.

  "Do you hear this?" He looked out into the crowd. "I wasn't late, just a little behind schedule."

  "You were late."

  "Okay, once in five years I wasn't here at least an hour early, and now I'm late. I walked out on the stage on time." Mike said to the audience, "Somebody, tell me what time it is." Someone yelled out the time. "See? I'm right on schedule, Diane."

  "Just don't let it happen again."

  "Rough crowd tonight."

  Holly slowly opened her eyes. The bed didn't feel familiar. Why was she sleeping without her gown? Pale beams of moonlight filled the room, making the room look surreal, almost fairylike. She sat up in bed. The blanket fell to her waist. That was when she saw Mike sitting in the shadows of the room.

  A single beam of light illuminated his face. She could tell from the way he lounged in the chair that he had been watching her for a long time. Silently, he rose from the chair and walked to the bed.

  Holly reached for the blanket to cover her breasts. She was so embarrassed. She had never given herself to anyone but Trey, and she had only made love with him after they'd become engaged.

  "Don't do that, Holly." He reached for the blanket.

  "I should go home." She looked down at the hand tugging on the blanket. Mortified, she realized that she didn't know where her clothes were. "Please, I've got to leave." Tears welled in her eyes.

  "Look at me." He touched her chin and sat on the edge of the bed. Through the tears, she saw his handsome face filled with warmth and desire. "Don't ever feel embarrassed about what we shared tonight. There's nothing to be ashamed of."

  She looked into his eyes and her embarrassment faded away when she saw the honesty in his face. "I really should go home." She looked away.

  Silence filled the room. "On one condition," he said, and waited until she looked at him. "I want to see you tomorrow. We can go out or have a quiet night at your house, but either way, I want to see you."

  "I want to see you, but I don't know if I can give you what you want, Mike. I don't sleep around, and tonight ..."

  "We'll take it one night at a time. But Holly, we will become lovers." He stood beside the bed and gestured to the set of double doors. "Your clothes are in the closet. I'll wait for you downstairs."

  Holly threw off the blanket and rushed to the closet when he closed the door behind him. She couldn't believe that she'd let him do the things he'd done tonight. What was more unbelievable was the fact that she'd enjoyed every minute of it.

  She spotted her clothes the minute she opened the closet doors. Her feminine suit looked out of place among the rows of heavier masculine suits. She felt heat rush to her cheeks as she imagined him collecting each of her discarded garments from the floor, carrying them upstairs, and carefully placing them on a hanger. Her stockings, bra and panties were draped over another hanger.

  She nearly put a run in her stocking as she hurriedly dressed. She stepped into her shoes, which were neatly placed between a pair of black wingtips and some burgundy loafers. When she was finally dressed, she left his bedroom.

  Mike sat on the stairs. When he heard the door open, he stood.

  Her legs felt like rubber. She didn't think they would support her as she walked down the stairs.

  "Well, I guess I'll be going," she said, when she reached the last stair. She raised her gaze briefly to his chin, unable to look him in the eye before lowering her head.

  "We need to talk." She was shaking her head "no" before he finished the sentence. Mike stared at her in frustration. Her body language was unwelcoming, her head was bent, and her shoulders were rolled forward. He knew then that she wouldn't remain in his presence any longer.

  "I'll follow you home." He reached out, touching her arm.

  "You don't have to." She stepped back until he no longer touched her. "I'll be fine."

  "I'll follow you home. I can't have you driving around town this late at night."

  He followed her to her house. She felt safe, knowing that he followed her through the dark, empty streets of Atlanta. They drove down the deserted street to her house. He parked his car behind hers and walked her to the front door.

  "Thanks for following me home." She put the key into the lock. She felt his fingers on her chin. She looked up at him. Inch by inch he lowered his head. The kiss was sweet, soft, and nonthreatening. "Goodnight, sweet. I'll see you tomorrow."

  Holly didn't regret what she and Mike had shared last night. It was just unnerving to learn that after years of believing that she was plain, the sexiest black man in America found her attractive.

  She took time with her makeup this morning and paused to really look at herself. Warm brown skin stretched over high cheeks; her eyes tilted up at the edges. Overall, she didn't look bad.

  When she arrived at her office, the same reporter waited as she walked to the door. She ignored him and walked inside the lobby. Robyn and Pam did a double take when she walked in the door.

  "Two days in a row," Pam said in amazement, when she saw Holly dressed in a bright red pantsuit. "Is there snow predicted in the weather forecast?"

  "Stuff it, Pam. Good morning, Robyn."

  "Good morning, Holly." Robyn said. "I like your suit."

  "Thank you." Holly picked up her mail and headed down the hall to her office.

  "Wait just a minute." Pam walked after her. "This must be serious. I've never seen you like this."

  "Like what?"

  "Like this." Pam waved her hand toward Holly. "You're dressing to attract attention. You didn't do that when you were engaged to Bozo."

  "I like this," Holly said, as she sat in her chair, dropping her mail on her des
k.

  "Hello. Remember me? The woman who knows you." Pam looked at Holly with a serious expression on her face. "I don't want to see you hurt, Holly."

  "You're the one who encouraged me to go out with Mike."

  "I know, but I didn't think you'd change. You're really beginning to care for him, aren't you?"

  Holly took her time in answering. "Yes, I care for him."

  "What about Seattle? Are you still planning to move?"

  "Yes, I'm still planning to move. Our relationship is just temporary. He knows I plan to move soon."

  "You're not the temporary-relationship type. Can you move knowing that you care for him?"

  Holly lifted her chin at a stubborn angle. "Yes, I can."

  Pam looked at her with skepticism. "I don't believe you can. I think you're fooling yourself if you think you can." Pam held her gaze for a long, uncomfortable moment before she walked out of Holly's office.

  Holly frowned. Could she leave him? Couldn't she? She wanted to believe she could. She had to leave. She knew that she couldn't stand another round with the press when their relationship ended . . . and it would end. Looking at her desk, she spotted the crystal container full of candy kisses. She took off the top and selected a piece. She would have to treat their relationship like she did chocolate. As much as she wanted to, she couldn't have it whenever she wanted without paying the price. The price of caring for Mike Williams was more than she could afford.

  Holly pushed that thought aside and began to work. She would take care that she didn't get hurt and enjoy her time with him.

  She told herself that she was buying the sexy underwear for herself. But deep down inside, she knew that she was buying it for Mike. She had already gone to the drugstore to buy protection for both of them. There was no denying that she wanted to make love to Mike.

  She still was embarrassed at the way she had responded to him last night. Seeing their reflection in the mirror had aroused her more than she could ever believe. She wandered through the lunchtime crowd at the suburban shopping mall. She felt happier today than she had in a long time, freer somehow. Making her way back to the parking lot, she smiled because for the first time she felt attractive. Not the unmistakable beauty her sister was, but pretty, and maybe even a little sexy. With a bounce in her step, she walked to her car and drove back to her office.