After our fallout at the diner, she’d gone to her parent’s house and dug through boxes until she found the note she’d been given. Caris wanted me to know she wasn’t crazy. I take a moment to mull over the note she showed me.
Caris,
Yesterday was a pretty amusing day. I heard you had a thing for me. I laughed until it hurt. That’s never happening. Like, ever. I appreciate the thought, but I have no idea what you were thinking. You’re not for me. Not my type at all. You’re average at best.
My parents met in high school, got married, and never looked back. I believe in soulmates; you’re not it. Good luck with your next crush; maybe he’ll be attracted to you. I’m taking someone hot to prom.
Love You…Never,
Emiliano
P.S.
Take these roses as a consolation prize. Thanks for trying.
I see why she thought I was an asshole. I still want to choke the shit out of the teenage Royal; but I give the adult version of him credit for righting his wrong. That’s the past; I have big plans for our future.
“Caris, I’m giving you fair warning. We’re going to move through the next steps faster than usual.”
Caris pauses, the potato samosa in her hand hoovering in front of her lips. “Next steps?”
“Yes. We live together now.”
“We do?”
“Yes, and one or both of our houses will be on the market before your birthday.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” I take a bite of her chicken tikka. “Oh, and we really need to get started with the wedding planning.”
“You said faster, not warp speed,” she teases with a grin.
“Pfft. I’ve had feelings for you on some level since the ninth grade. This is a snail’s pace.”
“Well, with all those plans, my birthday gift to you seems insignificant.”
My curiosity spikes. “What is it?”
She gets up. “Let me grab it,” she says as she washes her hands. She disappears and returns with her overnight bag. “It’s in here somewhere. Ah! Found it.” She slides a little wrapped box across the table.
I unwrap it to reveal the box inside. I do a double-take, and my whole body gets hot. Caris laughs like a nymph and runs out of the dining room.
Dinner forgotten, I sprint to catch her in the hallway. I turn and press her against the wall; I pepper her with curry-flavored kisses.
My erection nudges her belly as I hold her close. “You can’t offer me lube and just run off.” I nuzzle and nip at her neck. “Are you sure?”
“No.” She laughs. “But, if I must do it, you are the only person I’d let do it.”
I kiss her again. “I’ll love you forever. Even if you change your mind.”
Epilogue
Emiliano
White shoes? Check. White pants? Check. White shirt? Check. A fuck hot fiancée in a body con white dress by my side. Check! Check! Check! I kiss the hand exhibiting the rock that declares to the world that Caris is mine. Caris smiles up at me. Her wavy hair is clipped on one side and flowing freely on the other. She’s accented her outfit with gold accessories and looks like a goddess. There’s that pesky word again. Mine. She pecks me on the lips.
“What was that for?”
“The nonsense that’s going on in your head, you horny toad.”
We are an hour late because I needed to test out the new cock-ring we picked and get my fix before the party. Caris kisses me again.
“And that time?”
“Because,” Kiss. “I.” Kiss. “Can.” Kiss. Kiss. Kiss. I’m laughing by the time she finishes her kissing attack. After two months, we still can’t get enough of kissing each other.
“Knock it off you two. We get it. You’re in love. Finally.” Amy rolls her eyes.
“Says the other half of the most PDAest couple ever,” I chide with a smile.
As if on cue, Connor returns and swats Amy on the ass. Amy rolls her eyes, once more. “Okay. You have a point. All three of you need to behave, so we can get invited back to Carlee’s birthday party next year.”
“Amen, to that sista,” Cher exclaims as she shimmies off to find an eligible bachelor.
Jason approaches looking dapper in his all-white suit.
“Looking good, Jason,” Caris teases with a whistle.
Jason flashes a cocky smile. “I do, don’t I.” He spins for the ladies. He sobers quickly. “Emiliano, can I have a moment of your time, please?”
I’m intrigued by the deviation from his usual light banter into a more serious tone. “Sure thing,” I consent as I follow him.
Like a hairless animal or a three-legged dog, he’s grown on me. I wouldn’t go as far as to call us friends, but I’ve grown accustomed to stopping by Hotspot every other week to shoot the shit with him. Caris has the same affliction as Carlee and seems to love him to pieces. I usually meet up with my cousins, Max and Natalia, at Hotspot to check in since his bar is meeting in the middle for us. Besides, the man makes one hell of a drink.
I follow him through the Masters’ Mansion and into an office where Remy is already waiting. He rises and shakes our hands. We gather at a round table in the room.
“What’s up, Jason?” Remy asks, getting down to business.
Jason taps his foot rapidly like a rabbit as he runs his fingers through his hair. I notice his nervous and stressed out energy.
He opens a folder and pushes it across the table. “Look, I know I’m more friends with your women, and you two just tolerate me, but I need help, and you are the two best men for the job.”
“What?” Remy and I question in near perfect unison.
“Hotspot is doing great. I make enough profits to live comfortably, but my need to expand has grown considerably in the last month or so. I need to make the numbers work to open up a second location in California, preferably near or in Los Angeles.”
“What do you want us to do? Exactly.”
“I need to boost the numbers for a higher profit,” he admits looking at me. His eyes shift to Remy. “I might also need an investor.”
“Whoa! What’s with the brash business decision? Why does it have to be LA?” Remy wanted to know.
“Yeah, man. It would be easier to open another location on the other side of town…”
“I need to be near UCLA!” Jason pleads then turns to look out of the window for a moment before addressing us again. “I mean, you get it, right? It’s necessary that I do this. I would expect for you two to understand…”
Jason leans on the table, bracing himself on his palms as he bows his head and sighs. When his head pops back up, everything falls into place. I know that look. I’ve lived it. He looks tired, defeated, and anxious like a caged animal. The tell-tale bags under his eyes put it all into perspective.
My brain travels back to that night in February. The almost-ignored reservation, getting drunk with a near stranger, and the freaking song choice. “Si Una Vez” means "If I Once.”
“Holy shit!” Remy exclaims as he understands for himself.
We look at each other then back to brokenhearted Jason. “I’m in,” I vow.
Remy shakes his head and confirms, “Me too, man. Me, too.”
About the Author
Francesca Penn lives in Texas with her husband and son. While obtaining her Technical Writing degree, a creative writing course and playwriting elective reawakened her desire to create stories. Her brain lives in fiction; even the songs she listens to on the radio have music videos in her head.
When she is not writing, she can be found hounding her loved ones with multiple “What-if” scenarios. As a true closet romantic, she is prone to filling up her DVR with Hallmark movies. A friend once told her she’d trained the whole 20 plus years she’d known her to write romance since her nose was always in a love story.
Francesca believes that love is colorblind and plans to provide a mix of couples of different races and ethnicities because – to her – men are like Skittles and we all know thei
r motto. If you want more, she can be found at the links below.
Instagram: @authorfrancescapenn
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Francesca-Penn-246072336137221/
Catalog:
Take It – Book 1 of the IT Series: https://amzn.to/2GDVK68 (An Amazon #1 Bestseller in African-American Erotica)
Admit It – Book 2 of the IT Series: https://amzn.to/2E7JBVx (An Amazon #1 Bestseller in African-American Erotica)
Oh, Christmas Fling: https://amzn.to/2Bv7RiP
And, now, a sneak peek into Book 3 of the IT Series, Chase It:
Chase It
______________________________________________
Prologue
The plane roared through the air as it climbed to the proper altitude. The aircraft’s belly shook beneath her body as she tried to keep her internal quivers at bay. The wind attacked her ponytail and face when the door slid open. Natalia closed her eyes to keep her nerves from taking control. This is it. She was really about to jump out of a plane. Her heart drummed excitedly in her chest, and her breath came out in eager yet terrified huffs. If only the plane were her only issue.
“You ready to do this?” the sexiest voice she’d ever heard spoke against her ear. Natalia nodded lest her voice somehow betray how he affected her.
“I made a celibacy vow. I made a celibacy vow. I made a celibacy vow,” Natalia chanted; her lips moved silently like it’s her prayer. She bit her lip when Ryan pulled her closer to his hard body and buckled their harnesses together. Why do I have to tandem jump with him? Her bitterness was irrational. Ryan made this possible. Without him, she would have missed her opportunity to jump while in California.
The weather had been terrible that morning, and most of the jumpers had canceled. Except for them. The company was in the middle of giving her their cancellation spiel when he walked in looking like a fallen angel ready to commit every carnal sin imaginable. Natalia’s mouth had watered, and her body had heated at the sight of him. Mischief shown in his brilliant blue gaze, his black t-shirt and charcoal sweats displayed his hard body, and his short blond waves were uncombed and wild.
“Hey, Ryan. We have to cancel,” the brunette said to him with far more remorse than she’d given Natalia.
She’d explained to him that he would be the only jumper since Natalia was a beginner who needed a tandem jump instructor. Their guy didn’t show due to the bleak weather forecast and the cancellations. Natalia was mesmerized by his smile when assured the girl that he would take the role as the instructor since he had the credentials.
Natalia’s brain jumped back to the present when Ryan rubbed her shoulders; the touch was supposed to be comforting, but her body interpreted it as seduction. Natalia’s pulse was racing; it had nothing to do with him pushing her towards the door.
“We got this, Angel. You’re in good hands.” Damn, him and his sexy voice.
Natalia sighed and cringed at the name; it was sweet that he’d given her a nickname, but she felt the guilt of lying to him. Her name wasn’t Angelina. All they had to do was make it to the ground; she would meet her adventure guide, and he would go back to Hot-topia.
After sliding their goggles into place, Ryan announced their departure. “Let’s go! Five, four…”
“Oh, shit!” Natalia yelled as he propelled them out of the plane.
Her stomach dropped, the wind whipped some of her ponytail into her face, and the freefall jiggled her cheeks. It was the craziest yet most amazing feeling she’d ever experienced. Ryan whooped his enjoyment.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” His question rumbled her body.
“Yes! This is fucking crazy!” Natalia yelled, high off the moment.
It was surreal experiencing the world unencumbered at such an altitude. The plush green of the fields and trees blending with the blues and greys of the sky and the mountains blurred as they flew. Ryan checked his altimeter.
“Get ready, Angel!” He pulled the parachute. The harness jerked against her body when the deployed parachute pulled them higher into the air. “Do you want to guide?”
“No. I’ll learn some other time. I just want to enjoy this.”
It was easier to speak to each other with the parachute deployed. They fell into a comfortable silence as they took in the scenery. Natalia was glad she decided to experience something so profound. Skydiving had given her clarity. Life is too short to settle. Her best friend was married with a child on the way. Her ovaries cried. Natalia had always imagined mothering her children in her twenties, yet she was in her last year of that decade, and no husband had presented himself.
Natalia fought back a frown at the memory of her ex. Miguel had wasted her time; he’d promised her happy ever after and never followed through. Instead of committing to her and preparing to create a family, he opted to “commit” to half of Houston. After the three-day mope-fest she’d allowed herself, she picked herself up and vowed to remain celibate until she found Mr. Right. Remaining firm with her decision, she pulled her inspiration from Ciara and Meagan Good.
She’d just celebrated her two-year streak and was proud of her resolve in the mist of the hot adventures of her friends. Nick was for Kalilah, and she was pretty sure Dex and Cayla had a promising future beyond the wild sex. While she was happy for them, she was also frustrated with her own love life. Ryan’s question pulled her out of her thoughts.
“Do you live in California?” Having him close and talking in her ear was unnerving. No one had tested her hormones the way he was; it terrified her that he wasn’t even trying.
“No, tomorrow is my last day here. Thank you for stepping in. This was the only time I could do this.”
“It was my pleasure.” Natalia inhaled to keep from groaning. The way pleasure rolled off his lips had her mind deep-diving in the gutter. “Besides, we would have missed out on all the fun I have planned if I would have allowed them to cancel.”
“What? No. I can’t hang out with you. I have a full schedule. I sighed up for the combo package with the scenic hike with an adventure guide. He or she should be waiting for me on the ground.”
Ryan’s chuckle was sexy and arousing. “They are terrible communicators. There isn’t anyone waiting for you on the ground.”
“What? My hike was cancelled? They didn’t tell me!”
“No. I just said your guide won’t be waiting for you. Okay, prepare to land in under a minute.”
Natalia’s irritation rose higher than necessary due to Ryan’s nearness. “Well, where in the hell is my guide?”
“Legs up!” She ignored her wish for him to say that in a different context. They glide into landing, she was able to remain on her feet thanks to her supreme physical condition. Being safely rooted on the ground caused the adrenaline to roar through her body in a way it never had. “Stand still, Angel. Let me unhook you.”
Ryan’s order was a simple instruction, but her revved up body thought it was a sexy command intended to make her wet. Her nipples tightened, and her core throbbed with need she hadn’t felt in years. She needed to get away from him.
“All set,” he chimed in, completely unaware of her internal struggle. Natalia turned to watch as Ryan’s body moved with ease and grace as he gathered the equipment to repack the parachute. “Do you want to learn?”
Ryan’s sapphire eyes gleamed in the sunlight when he looked at her. The goggles rested on his head and squished his hair, yet he was still delicious. Natalia shook her head. She could not work with him. The muscles in his legs flexed when he bent down. The sinewy muscles in his arms twitched with each shove of the parachute. When did a simple task become so sexy? She felt like she was watching him in slow motion. Natalia catalogued each twitch of his pecs, every ab his shirt caressed, and each time he licked his lips.
By the time Ryan stood up and stretched his body back to his full six feet two inches, Natalia was hot enough to burst into flames. He rested his hands on his hips then looked her in her
eyes.
“To answer your previous question, I would have to say…right here.”
“Huh?” Natalia feared he somehow knew that she was trying to figure out where he’d be willing to have sex if she wanted it.
Ryan’s friendly gaze turned into blue fire. He studied Natalia; his heated perusal licked all her sexual embers she’d tried to douse. He knew her mind had gone south. He clenched his jaw and stepped forward, daring her to do something. He stopped approximately a foot away from her. His pink tongue popped out to moisturize his kissable lips again. He raked his bottom lip with his teeth before speaking.
“You asked the whereabouts of your adventure guide - - not knowing that he was strapped to your back.” His clean, earthy scent invaded her nostrils when he leaned in closer. “Hello, I’m Ryan, your adventure guide. I’m in charge of your pleasure for the next few hours.”
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Love You...Never Page 18
