HOWARD

24

I woke up to loud knocking at my door. Damn. And there I was dreaming about making love to Meeks all night, then waking up in the morning and loving her some more.

After I dropped her off, I had spent the rest of the evening, fighting a serious hard-on. No easy feat. It had been a long time since I’d gone unsatisfied. When I wanted sex, I was able to get it. Yesterday hadn’t been the case. And the thought, although painful for my loins, gave me reason to grin.

My life would never be the same.

There was that knocking again. Whoever was at the door was persistent and determined to wake me up. Reaching over, I grabbed my cell phone and glanced down at the screen.

“Damn.” I had forgotten to set my alarm and overslept. It was already after six.

Saved by the bell. Or in this case, the doorbell.

I guess I should be thankful that someone had disturbed my dream; otherwise, I’d be still asleep. I slipped on running shorts and stumbled to my front door. I turned the lock and swung it open.

Damn it.

“Good morning.”

I frowned with puzzlement to find Giselle standing on my porch. The smile on her face and the eyes that traveled up and down my body signified she liked what she saw. I guess so since I was standing there in shorts and hadn’t bothered to put on a t-shirt, so my chest was bare.

“I thought I’d be a good neighbor and bring over breakfast.” It was then that I noticed the bag she was waving in her hand and the cup holder.

“Giselle, I—”

She brushed passed me before I had a chance to stop her.

“I brought coffee and soufflés,” she explained as she sauntered toward my kitchen as if she owned the place. My eyes slid over her. She was wearing a purple paisley printed dress that molded her slender frame like a second skin. On her feet were the “come-fuck-me” shoes she’d worn the night I’d met her. She tossed a look over her shoulder to ensure I was looking at her shapely ass. I’d be blind not to be. Pleased, Giselle smiled and turned her head, sending her straight ebony mane whipping loose across her shoulders. By the time I made it into the kitchen, she had napkins on the table and soufflés at two place settings.

“Come, have a seat.” Giselle pointed to the seat closest to the window and lowered on the chair on the opposite side.

I collapsed in the chair.

“I got you a dark roast with two sugars just the way you like it.”

I reached for the Styrofoam mug and took a sip. “You remembered.”

“I don’t forget much. Especially when it’s someone I’m interested in getting to know better,” she purred.

I wasn’t sure how to respond so I took another sip instead.

“I thought you were going to call me?” Her expression was sheepish.

Damn, this was why I hated dating civilians. Too needy. Of no fault of her own, I started dating her the week before I met the woman, I intended to move heaven and earth to claim as my own. I busied myself by opening the small box that contained the soufflé. “I’ve been preoccupied.”

Giselle brought the cup to her lips and her sultry hazel eyes were fixed on me as she said, “Too occupied to call me after tasting a sample of what I have to offer.”

She slipped the plastic fork into her mouth and licked it seductively. Thoughts of her down on her knees swallowing me deep came rushing back. She was good. Really good. But I needed more than someone to pass the time. Now that I’d met Dayana, I knew what that more was.

I nodded. “I like you, but I’m looking for more than sex.”

“Me too, so what’s the problem?” Giselle asked waving dismissively. “Remember you’re the one who told me you weren’t looking for a relationship.” She pointed a finger as she reminded me.

“I’m not or at least I wasn’t until... all that changed. Look. You are a beautiful woman, but I’ve met someone.”

Her eyes widened with surprise or maybe disappointment. “And what does that mean for you and me?”

Why was she making this so hard? “It means there is no us. I’m sorry.”

“I’m not good enough for you.” It wasn’t a question. “You didn’t even give us a chance.” She was pouting.

“It wasn’t intentional,” I said, trying to let her down easy. I didn’t know what else there was to say. I discovered I no longer wanted the night clubs, hanging out with my boys, meeting random chicks, and having brief relationships. I honest to God wanted more.

“Keim, you’re making a terrible mistake,” Giselle said as though it was the worse decision she could ever imagine. “When you realize it, please come and see me. I’m sure I can be all the woman you need.”

I doubted it, but I wasn’t going to say that to her. Instead I ate the soufflé, allowing silence to stretch between us. Tension crackled as the meaning of what I said hit her fully. Her eyes met mine, momentarily startled by the realization that I wasn’t interested in her. I was probably the first man to ever turn her down.

Giselle tilted her head to the side, eyes narrowed, glittering with poorly suppressed rage. She shrugged and tried to save some pride. “Well, it’s your loss, not mine.”

I frowned. Maybe so, but I wasn’t about to admit that. “I’m going to go and take a shower. Thank you so much for breakfast. I’ll reimburse you for your time and trouble.” I stood and look down, my eyes clashing with hers.

She smiled and brought the Styrofoam coffee cup to her lips. “Since I paid for it, can I at least finish my breakfast before I leave?”

As much as I wanted to tell her to get the hell out, I figured it was the least I could do considering she’d saved me from being inexcusably late to work. “Of course. Take your time. Just make sure to lock the front door on your way out,” I said without looking back at her. I carried the coffee to my room, walked into the ensuite, and started the water. I decided to lock the bathroom door behind me just in case Giselle had ideas and decided to join me. I shook my head. There was no point in wasting her time when I already had my mind made up.

I wanted Meeks and that feeling was not going away.

I stripped out of my shorts and climbed inside the shower. Hot water beat down on my body as the dream replayed in my mind of Meeks in my bed, withering around on the sheets beneath me. I dipped my head under the spray of water and smiled. We had something remarkable that wasn’t going away. The good thing was that she was finally starting to realize that as well. I lathered then wrapped my fingers around my cock, stroking all the way to the head and back again. My hand was nice and soapy, so my fingers slid back and forth in a rhythm that had me fantasizing about how snug Meeks had felt surrounding me. For a moment I forgot the sex had only been a dream because the arousal and the desire were real and had me hard as a brick.

Fuck.

I needed to see her. She was more than just beautiful to look at, she had a big heart. Excitement built in my gut and I couldn’t wait to meet her for lunch. I might even suggest going back to her townhouse for a kiss since public display of affection in uniform was frowned upon. I sighed and caught myself chuckling. I didn’t want Meeks to think putting my lips on her was all I was after. I would have to make sure to show her how important she had become every chance I got.

Grinning, I stepped out the shower and reached for a thick bath towel. I wrapped it around me, opened the door, and walked into my bedroom.

What the—

Giselle was lying on her side in my bed, giving me a view of her naked breasts.

“Keim,” she purred with feline seduction.

“What are you doing in my bed?” I croaked at her daring act.

“You invited me to take a shower.” Her eyes were sparkling with anticipation.

“No, I didn’t.”

She chuckled with amusement, and shifted, letting the 800-count sheet slide away from covering her private gem. “Of course, you did. Why else would you have mentioned it?”

I swallowed hard, looking every bit like a horny man, especially when my dick sprung to life beneath the towel. I didn’t even respond because I could see where she might have gotten that impression. It had been stupid of me for not getting rid of her before I had disappeared to take a shower.

“When I found the door locked…” she paused with a shrug of her slender shoulders. “I figured you wanted me waiting out here instead.”

“Look, Giselle, I’m sorry that I gave you the impression I wanted you waiting in my bed, but I didn’t, and I don’t, so please get dressed.”

“I’d rather you come over here and make love to me,” she said softly, a smile glazing her lips. Slowly, she brought her hand down to stroke the dark curls at the apex between her thighs.

Giselle was a beautiful woman, so naturally my body responded just the way she wanted. Back in the day I would have been all over her despite having another female in my life. But now that I’ve met Meeks, I wasn’t about to fuck that up.

Giselle slid off the bed. Her hair was brushing against her breasts, and my dick got harder just that fast. She came close to me, breasts bouncing, hips swaying. “You know you want me,” she said with a confident smirk, setting off my temper even more.

“Whether or not I want you is irrelevant,” I told her, trying not to make eye contact with anything below her shoulders. “I already told you I’m involved with someone else.”

“Who? Meeks?”

How the hell…

Giselle gave a feminine shrug. “While you were in the shower, your phone rang.”

“So now you’re answering my phone.” I sighed and moved mechanically across the room to the nightstand and picked it up.

“No, but I saw her name and figured since you’d saved her number, she must be someone you’re seeing.” She planted a hand to her small waist. “Especially when I realized you saved her contact information as Meeks Wifey Potential.” There was no mistaking the bitterness in her voice.

I didn’t deny her claim. “She’s special to me.”

Giselle’s expression flickered with annoyance. “And what about me? I could be special if you’d given us a chance.”

I frowned. “Trust me, if I wanted a relationship with you, I would have already claimed you as mine.”

She stepped toward me, closing the short distance I tried to impose on her. I attempted to hold her rigidly at arm’s length. Caught off guard, I stepped back, but her hand had already yanked the bath towel from around my waist.

When Giselle looked down at my erection her eyes flickered with excitement. “Your mouth says one thing, but your body is telling a completely different story.” Her soft laughter irritated me.

“I’m human, not dead,” I said to distract myself. “You’re a gorgeous woman. I doubt very few men resist you.”

“Actually, none have.”

“Well, I guess that makes me the first.” I stepped away and moved over to my dresser. I opened the top drawer and removed a pair of boxer briefs and slipped them on before turning to face her.

“Nice view,” she murmured. There was wicked pleasure in her eyes.

I growled an obscenity. “Giselle, I’m trying to be a gentleman, but you need to leave.”

She started toward me. “I never asked you to be a gentleman. Hell, in fact, I like it a little rough from time to time.”

I dragged a frustrated hand down the length of my face. “I asked you to leave. If I have to ask you again, I’m going to call the police, and have you removed.” I’ve seen it before, being caught alone with a woman at the wrong time and she crying wolf. Hell no. My career and my future were just too important for that.

Giselle stopped walking and laughed. “You can’t be serious. You’re going to give up all of this?” she said with a sweep of her hand.

“Yes, because what I’ve found is worth it.” I pointed toward the bathroom. “Now, please, get dressed and get out.”

“You’ll regret this,” she muttered angrily. Saying nothing, I watched as she snatched up her clothes and stormed toward the bathroom. The door slammed behind her.

This time I kept my eye on her until she was in her car and pulling down the driveway.