by Tina Martin
Preston sat down next to her. “You know why else I wanted to do this?”
“Why?” she asked, looking at him, completely overtaken by his gesture.
“Because it seems our entire relationship has revolved around food, so I figured we could have our very own food festival and after we’ve tasted everything, we can taste each other.”
Tamera nibbled on her bottom lip as a ripple of nervousness ran through her entire body. She picked up a meatball with a fork and said, “Open up, husband.”
Preston opened wide, chewed then said, “Pretty good. I’ve never had a cranberry meatball. Try one.”
“Only if you feed it to me,” she said playfully.
“My pleasure.” He picked up the meatball and brought it to her mouth. She opened her mouth to take a bite from it.
“No. Don’t take a bite,” Preston said. “Take it all.”
“Ugh…okay.” She opened wide, this time, took the whole meatball inside of her mouth then after chewing, she mumbled how good it was.
They sampled the cheesy pizza balls, Cajun shrimp scampi, blueberry cream cheese scones and white chocolate-covered, burst-in-your-mouth strawberries.
“How about we try the buttercream rum cake?”
“My mouth is watering already,” Preston said.
“You feed me a piece and I’ll feed you a piece.”
“Deal,” he said, picking up a slice.
She picked up one, too, and they proceeded to feed each other.
Tamera smiled. The trade reminded her of when they fed each other wedding cake hours ago.
Preston arched his eyebrows. “Well?”
“It’s good,” Tamera said. She took a swipe of buttercream frosting on the tip of her index finger to taste it again, but Preston said, “I’ll take that.”
He brought her finger to his mouth and took more than the buttercream tip in. He nearly devoured her entire finger.
Tamera gasped, felt a flutter tickle her stomach as Preston sucked on her finger.
“Now that’s good,” he said when he’d lowered her hand.
Tamera swiped more frosting on her fingertips. This time, she rose up to her knees and moved closer to her husband, straddling him. With the frosting on her fingertip, she spread it across his lips. Then she connected her eyes with his before leaning forward taking a full kiss, licking and sucking lips she’d already tasted before. Already loved.
Preston’s hands settled at her waist, locked there as he pulled her closer to him. Automatically his hands went for the zipper of her dress sliding it down slowly as he lowered the straps.
She pulled away, looked at him. From the look in his eyes, she knew this taste test was over. At least with the food.
He lifted her from the floor. Physically she couldn’t comprehend how he was able to do so with the awkward position she was sitting in, but somehow, he’d managed to stand to his feet while holding her, lowering her slowly until her feet touched the floor. Tamera’s gown fell slowly, leaving her body bare except for the ultra-sheer, white lace bra and panties she wore.
“Beautiful,” Preston said, taking in all of her.
“Your turn,” she said.
He unbuttoned his shirt, starting from the top, working his way down. Ironic. That’s what he’d planned on doing to her…
He’d be gentle with it. She hadn’t been intimate in a long time and he would move at her pace.
He dropped his shirt and when he began loosening the button of his pants, Tamera felt her heart thumping fiercely in her chest. He lowered them. Holding her gaze, he reached for his boxers, lowering them, too.
Tamera’s gaze shifted to the very core of him, taking him all in. She gasped, nervously chewed her lip and he leaned forward so their bodies touched, kissing her while his fingers worked to unclasp her bra. He exhaled a satisfying breath thinking how gratifying it was to feel the heat of her soft flesh pressed against him.
He eased her to the bed, seductively removing her panties, leaving them on the floor along with their other clothes. Lowering himself on top of her, he matched up their lips. “Now the real taste test begins,” he said, diving into her mouth like he was more than ready to own it. And own it he did, losing control with the kiss. He’d kissed her plenty of times before but feeling their naked bodies touch while he did so was a whole new feeling – one he wasn’t prepared for no matter how much he had dreamed about it. So he kissed her until he had his fill of her mouth, her tongue, her lips, then kissed his way to her chest, touching her there. Kneading. Feeling. Loving.
The warmness of his mouth on her was enough to make her hyperventilate. It stirred heat inside of her – desire she hadn’t felt in so long. She felt it now, more than ever as Preston used his mouth, his sense of taste to drive her insane. And he kept on doing so with long delicious laps of his tongue around her navel, to the very heat at the center of her and on to her toes. He made her entire body tremble beneath him. He had to have more.
Making his way back up, their bodies still touching and fusing together he whispered in her ear, “I need to be inside of you, Tamera.”
All she could do was gasp when she felt the ridge of him against her thigh. She moaned when she felt him introducing himself to the core of her and closing her eyes when their bodies connected slowly. Seemed like forever before he settled into place, deep within her soul.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yes, Preston,” she said panting.
“Sure?”
“Yes. It’s going to take some getting used to again,” she panted. “Oh my…”
“Oh, baby,” he said overwhelmed with the feeling of being intimately connected to her.
“Oh, Preston,” she hummed.
“Yes, sweetheart,” he said looking down at her face, loving the way the lights made it glow.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too,” he said, leaning down to leave a kiss on her forehead. “Love you so much, Tamera and I want you to know that I will never hurt you. I only want to love you.”
He moved slowly, giving her time to adjust to him, then he steadied the pace purely reacting to what he thought she would want. When he saw her pupils dilate and the blush of being loved creep across her face, it drove him to increase his rhythm.
“Pres…Preston,” she cried out before her body splintered into tiny fragments. Her trembling, moaning and muscle-clenching drove him over the edge as he felt pure, liquid fire leave his body and travel into hers. She was his.
She would be his forever.
Epilogue
One Month Later
Charlotte, North Carolina
Preston got out of bed and took a few lazy steps down the hallway to where he knew he would find Tamera at eight something in the morning. She was in her office, putting the finishing touch on the business card designs for her new website launch – Different Tastes Food Reviews.
She looked up when she saw him standing at the door, looking sexier every time she laid eyes on him. The muscles, the boxers – goodness. She still couldn’t believe he was hers.
“Good morning,” he said, leaning against the door frame.
“Good morning,” she said, having aftershocks of the way he made love to her last night. Her heart rate increased just thinking about it.
“Are you making progress on the business cards?” he asked stepping into the office, walking around the desk and standing next to her.
“I think so,” she told him. “And guess what? I finally finished my article. I’m going to publish it on my website today. First, I want to know what you think about it.”
“Okay.”
Tamera picked up the printed article and handed it to him.
He sat on the corner of her desk and began reading:
REVIEW: A Taste of the Beach – A Food Lover’s Paradise
Outer Banks, North Carolina
By Tamera Michaels for Different Tastes Food Reviews
About seven weeks ago, I took an assignment for a mag
azine that would not only serve to give me a break from the norm, but the article (if I wrote it just right) could help to boost my writing career. Looking at this trip as a vacation rather than an assignment, I dived into it right away.
Beneath a sunny sky with no clouds in sight, I headed to the beach to sample a variety of fine foods provided by local area restaurants. To start things off, I tried fried shrimp. It was the first booth I passed and the smell of hot grease made me want to stop. The taste of the shrimp proved to match the delicious smell of it. Spicy, crunchy and full of flavor, its taste lingers on the tongue.
To wash it down, and to relieve myself of unforgiving rays of ninety-degree sunlight, I stopped by a fresh-squeezed lemonade booth, nearly drinking the eight-ounce cup of deliciousness in one huge gulp. When life hands you lemons, you should seriously consider making lemonade. Trust me, it’s better from scratch.
Somewhere between sampling lemonade and trying fish tacos for the first time, I ran into Preston Michaels, the man who would become my husband just three weeks later. I didn’t know it at the time (he claimed he knew I would be his) but whatever the case, we continued on together at the festival sampling roasted corn and a funnel cake.
Trying to keep my composure with a man who was as hot as the sun against my skin was quite the challenge. Several times, I found myself fanning, seeking relief from the heat that was him.
But back to the food…
We tried the roasted corn – a favorite at any festival. He spread just the right amount of butter on the piece he bought for me and then he did something that I’d never tried – he sprinkled, not regular salt, but seasoning salt on my corn. I never thought to try it that way before. Of course, we have different tastes, so I assumed he’d try to convince me that I would like it just because he did. Well, I tried it and loved it.
He’d never tried a funnel cake (if you can believe that) and I added powdered sugar and strawberry topping to it. It was amazing – a sweet, melt-in-your-mouth, doughy treat – in all of its golden brown glory. He liked it, too.
We joked about having different tastes, but apparently, our tastes are not so different after all.
My festival boy-toy, now husband, taught me a thing or two about trying something new. If you truly want to sample something, do something or be somebody, you can’t just take a small bite. You have to go all in – take a big bite – and that applies to food, life, relationships or goals. Go for it. You’ll never know how good something could be until you’ve given it your all.
___________
Preston lowered the paper and looked at her.
“What did you think?” she asked.
“I love it.”
“Yeah?” she said, watching him inch closer to her.
“Mmm hmm…” he said, a breath away from her lips. “Just as much as I love you.” And then he proceeded to take a morning kiss from her lips, enjoying her delicious taste.
* * * * * *
You’ve just finished reading, Different Tastes. Please take a moment to leave a review.
Different Tastes is a spinoff novel from The Alexander Series. Do you want to know how Tyson and Gabrielle got together? [Read Books 1-4 in order.] Interested to find out if Gabrielle’s ex (Dilvan) found love? [Read Book 5.] Does Heshan Alexander finally catch the eye of the woman he’s been obsessing over? [Read Book 6.]
The Millionaire’s Arranged Marriage
The Alexander Series, Book 1
Dilvan Alexander and Gabrielle Robinson are entered into an arranged marriage agreement by Dilvan’s mother, Padma Alexander. Dilvan doesn’t want Gabrielle and makes it clear to her that he doesn’t find her attractive. Shortly after the marriage, the abuse begins, but Gabrielle is rescued by Padma, who sends her to live with Dilvan’s cousin, Tyson Alexander.
Watch Me Take Your Girl
The Alexander Series, Book 2
Tyson doesn’t want to become involved in any relationship drama, but he develops feelings for Gabrielle that he can’t simply brush off. Seems Dilvan has had a change of heart and wants her back. It doesn’t help matters that Dilvan and Tyson can’t stand each other.
Her Premarital Ex
The Alexander Series, Book 3
Can Tyson and Gabrielle be happy when Dilvan is lurking around, seeking the perfect opportunity to be alone with Gabrielle? Also, in Book 3, Heshan Alexander thinks about settling down and Dilvan tries to mend his relationship with his brothers.
The Object of His Obsession
The Alexander Series, Book 4
Dilvan’s obsession is clear – he even feels like he may be the father to Gabrielle’s baby, even when he and Gabrielle are no longer together.
Heshan overhears a conversation between his mother and Lalita (Prasad’s wife) and now, he struggles with telling Tyson that the baby he has on the way may not be his.
Dilvan’s Redemption
The Alexander Series, Book 5
Dilvan is on a path to redemption but knows he has to leave North Carolina to truly focus on himself. Therefore, he leaves for Belize and settles into his vacation home there.
Heshan Alexander hires a woman he meets online, Eden Eason, to look after Dilvan while he’s in Belize. But when Dilvan discovers that the woman was hired to watch him, will it send him off the deep end yet again?
His Charity Challenge
The Alexander Series, Book 6
Now that all the family drama seems to have dwindled down, Heshan is free to focus on Charity Eason, a volunteer at Padma’s Food House. He’s had his eyes on her for a while, but she’s been busy rolling her eyes at him. Baggage from a previous relationship has taught her not to trust anything a man says, and how can she like Heshan when his mannerisms reminds her of an unfaithful ex?
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For more information about the author and upcoming releases, visit her website at www.tinamartin.net.
Enjoy Tina Martin books? Check out other books by the author below:
The Blackstone Family Series
*All books in this series are standalone novels.
Evenings With Bryson
Leaving Barringer
A Lennox in Love Series
*All books in this series are standalone novellas.
Claiming You
Making You My Business
Mine By Default Mini-Series:
Been In Love With You, Book 1
When Hearts Cry, Book 2
You Belong To Me, Book 3
When I Call You Mine, Book 4
Who Do You Love?, Book 5
Forever Mine, Book 6
The Champion Brothers Series:
*All books in this series are standalone novels.
His Paradise Wife
When A Champion Wants You
The Best Thing He Never Knew He Needed
Wives And Champions
The Accidental Series:
Accidental Deception, Book 1
Accidental Heartbreak, Book 2
Accidental Lovers, Book 3
What Donovan Wants, Book 4
Dying To Love Her Series:
Dying To Love Her
Dying To Love Her 2
Dying To Love Her 3
The Alexander Series:
The Millionaire’s Arranged Marriage, Book 1
Watch Me Take Your Girl, Book 2
Her Premarital Ex, Book 3
The Object of His Obsession, Book 4
Dilvan’s Redemption, Book 5
His Charity Challenge, Book 6
Non-Series Titles:
*Individual standalone books that are not part of a series.
Secrets On Lake Drive
Can’t Just Be His Friend
All Falls
Down
Just Like New to the Next Man
Falling Again
Vacation Interrupted
The Crush
Making You My Business
[Excerpt]
Prologue
Giovanni Lennox stepped inside Bryson City Barbecue, a small, family-owned restaurant in the downtown area of Bryson City – nothing fancy about the place but the food was off the hook, especially the award-winning beef brisket – precisely why Remington wanted to meet here. But Giovanni wasn’t in the mood for dinner or the loud country music blaring through tacky, wall-hung speakers. He’d much rather been at his home on Fontana Lake sitting on the dock fishing, a Saturday pastime that gave him an opportunity to reflect. But duty called, and he was answering. Besides, Remington made this impromptu meeting sound urgent, so this is where he found himself – wading through tightly arranged tables occupied mostly by fat-belly white men wearing plastic, restaurant-provided bibs, dripping with vinegar-based barbecue sauce.
Giovanni shook his head. Remington just had to meet here didn’t he? A place that provided hardly any seating and the seating it did provide was subpar – chairs looked like those plastic porch chairs you could get from a cheap variety store. Chairs that came with a manufacturer weight capacity. Chairs you’d find on your grandmother’s front porch. Chairs like that didn’t belong in a legitimate restaurant. They belonged, well, on your grandmother’s front porch.
