CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Paige set the scene for seduction in her backyard. A crisp white sheet covered a spot underneath a tall pine tree. Fruit and Chardonnay were chilling in a bucket of ice with crystal goblets on either side sat in the middle of the cloth. She was dressed in a sheer black gown that skimmed the tops of her thighs, with a black lace bra and matching panties peeking through the material. Paige hoped none of her neighbors saw her running around the backyard in her man-bait outfit. She walked over to the fence that divided her yard from her next door neighbor’s and snatched a few petals from the rose bush snaking up the privacy fence, and then sprinkled them on the sheet.

I hope this works, she thought as she ran into the storage room and grabbed a tiki torch. She stuck it in the ground near the sheet then lit it. The orange flame illuminated her watch. It was almost time for Brian to get off from work. Exhaling loudly, she sat down Indian style on the sheet. I hope I’m not making a fool of myself.

Moments later, she heard Brian’s truck pull into his driveway. Paige stood up and then headed across the street. “Brian.”

He turned around and looked at her. She could tell from the look in his eyes that he liked the outfit.

“Wow,” he said. “You look amazing. But, don’t you think you should be inside the house dressed like that?”

“Come with me.” She reminded herself that arguing with him wasn’t her plan for the night. They crossed the street and she led him into the backyard.

“Paige, what is this?” He glanced around the scene she’d created.

“A place for us to talk,” she said, then picked up the bottle of wine and opened it. She poured Brian a glass and handed it to him.

“I don’t know how much talking you think we’re going to do with you dressed like that,” he said as he took a sip of wine.

“Then just listen to me,” Paige said. “I’m not crazy. Fighting with Olivia was wrong and that’s not who I am. But I’m scared. I keep thinking that one day you’re going to wake up and go back to your ex-wife.”

Brian brought his finger to Paige’s lips. “That’s not going to happen.”

She nodded, wanting to believe him. “I know that you have a lot going on right now. You don’t need me bringing more drama into your life, but I want to be here to support you. I know Mickey is the most important thing in your life and if you still want me to be a part of your life too, I promise not to be a problem for you.” She stroked his cheek gently.

“You’re not a problem,” he said as he eased down on the sheet. Brian stroked Paige’s leg and coaxed her into his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “But you can’t let Olivia get to you and you need to have a little more faith in me.”

Paige bent her head downward. Brian lifted her chin and looked into her eyes.

“I know you’re scared,” he said. “But you don’t have to be.”

He leaned into her lips and captured them. Slowly, he kissed Paige, igniting a fire in the pit of her stomach. She could taste the sweet wine on his lips and tongue as he kissed her deeper, pressing her back on the sheet. Brian removed his gun belt, but his Kevlar vest pressed against her chest. Paige pushed him off her.

Brian smiled. “I guess that is a lot to drop on you,” he said. “You know, as romantic as this looks back here, we’re going to have to move this party inside.”

He rose to his feet and then scooped her up into his arms. Carrying her into the house, Brian ran his finger down the length of her leg and she shivered at his touch. He couldn’t get her in the bedroom fast enough. But when he did, Paige could barely contain herself, ripping his shirt open and snatching the Velcro apart on his Kevlar vest. He grabbed her hands. “Wait, darling,” he said. “My gun belt.” He removed the vest and headed outside with his tee shirt and uniform pants on.

While he was outside, Paige lit the cranberry candle on her nightstand and leaned back in the bed, awaiting his return.

He walked into the bedroom, now shirtless, carrying the fruit and wine. “Now I couldn’t leave this outside and let it go bad.” He set the fruit next to the candle, then blew it out and climbed on top of her.

Paige smiled as she looked at his perfect washboard abs and smooth skin. She ran her index finger down the middle of his chest. His skin was like the finest silk. She reached for the button on his pants, but Brian grabbed her hand. “Slow down,” he said, then reached for a ripe strawberry. He rubbed it against her lips, then kissed the traces of the fruit away and slid the berry into her mouth. Paige bit into the succulent fruit, slowly chewing it. Her mouth looked even more delectable.

“Give me some of that,” he said, seizing her lips and devouring the fruit in her mouth. Paige wrapped her long legs around his waist, pressed her body against his, reveling in the feel of Brian’s thick hardness, which pressed against his zipper, ready to explode. Paige’s body was primed to feel him. Her nerves stood on end and desire pooled between her thighs.

Brian reached underneath her dress and touched the outside lace of her panties, then slipped his index finger inside, immersed it in her hot river of desire. Her muscles quivered as he made circles inside her, seeming to write his invisible brand on her, marking her as his. Paige’s breasts heaved up and down as Brian replaced his finger with his tongue. She clasped her legs around his neck as he kissed her throbbing bud. With one hand, he gently squeezed her thigh while with the other he pulled a piece of ice out of the bucket. Brian slipped the ice cube between his lips and dove between her thighs — seeking her sweetness and making her call out his name. Paige shivered as the sensations from the cold ice and Brian’s hot tongue ravaged her body, causing her to thrash about like a fish out of water.

Paige was on fire and she needed him to end this sensual torture by entering her. But Brian had other plans. His tongue crept up her flat stomach, teasing her navel, heading for her taut breasts. Her nipples poked through her thin bra like two dark diamonds. He sucked on her perked nipples as if he were seeking sustenance from her. Grabbing Brian’s shoulders, she groaned lustfully as he turned his kiss to her neck. Unable to control herself, Paige reached down and ripped his zipper down. He kicked out of his pants in one swift motion.

His hard dick bounced out of his boxers and skimmed Paige’s thighs as he slid between her legs. Paige thrust into him, urging him to give her what she wanted. He grabbed her long legs and wrapped them around his waist. When Brian found his way to the center of her sexual energy, she bucked like a wild pony as sensations of pleasure washed over her. He gripped her hips and rhythmically moved against her, touching every sensitive spot inside her. Paige no longer had control of her body; it was under Brian’s silent command. As his mouth found its way to her breasts again, Paige felt as if she was about to explode and then she did. But Brian wasn’t finished. He was only getting started. He eased out of her and guided her to lie on her stomach. Then he gently massaged her smooth back. “How does that feel, baby?” he whispered.

Paige’s only response was a moan. Her body was hypersensitive and her brain was consumed by lust. She couldn’t form a single thought. Brian ran his tongue down her neck and over her spine. He clutched her buttocks and kneaded them as if he were preparing dough for a loaf of bread. Paige’s toes curled at his touch. When she flipped over and looked into his eyes, he stroked her cheek and whispered, “See, baby, we couldn’t have had this kind of party outside.”

She nestled her head against his chest. “Now it’s time for the after party.”

Brian smiled. “Woman, you are insatiable.”

The shrill ringing of a phone woke Brian up. He looked down at the floor and saw his cell phone vibrating. Paige was lying on her side, sleeping soundly, a white sheet half covering her body. Brian nearly forgot about the phone as he looked at the contrast of her caramel skin against the sheet. He ran his finger down the length of her leg before reaching over to pick up the phone.

“Jackson,” he said in a gruff whisper.

“Brian, it’s Gerald. I got the amended claim from Olivia’s lawyer. We go to court tomorrow morning. The judge moved the court date up because Kittles got the new papers to him fast.”

Brian mumbled under his breath. “Fine,” he said.

“Don’t try to contact her,” Gerald warned. “We can win this. She did abandon your family. Your life is a lot more stable than Olivia’s and your son loves you. He’s happy with you and that’s what judges look for in these cases.”

Brian disconnected and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He could hear Paige moving beside him. “Are you all right?” she asked, her voice thick with sleep.

“Yes. That was my lawyer. We have a court date tomorrow morning.”

Paige stood up, still naked. “I’m going with you,” she said as she opened her closet and pulled out an oversized tee shirt. “You don’t have to go through this alone.”

Brian smiled at her. Paige’s devotion warmed his heart. He couldn’t believe she was willing to stand by his side. Olivia was going to fight dirty and he knew it. Paige didn’t have to put herself in the line of fire. “Paige, this isn’t going to be pretty,” he said.

“I don’t care. Mickey needs you in his life and I can’t just sit by and watch you go through hell without me in your corner.”

Brian walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. “You make it seem like you really care about a brother.”

Paige blushed. “You can’t tell? I must not be trying hard enough.”

Brian kissed her gently. “Why don’t we get dressed, pick up Mickey and head to Soul to the Bone for breakfast?”

“As long as you promise not to dump orange juice on me,” she ribbed as she bounced into the bathroom.

Brian followed her into the bathroom, walking in just as she stepped into the shower. Brian studied Paige through the clear shower curtain. Her body was his wonderland. He loved her curves, the way her legs stretched from here to eternity, the way her breasts sat up, as if they were begging for his kiss. And what a wonderful ass—round and taut. Brian pulled the shower curtain back and stepped inside. He took the bar of soap from her hand and brought his lips to her ear.

“Let me take care of this for you.” Brian backed Paige underneath the spray and water sluiced through her hair, ran down her face and across her chest. Brian lathered the soap and stroked her breasts, making small circles around her nipples. Moaning, she threw her head back. Brian leaned in and kissed her collarbone as his hands roamed down the sides of her body.

“If you don’t stop, we’re never going to make it to breakfast.”

Brian grinned. “I could feast on you and be a happy man.”

She ran her finger down the center of his chest. “But man can’t live on my body alone,” she said as she reached back and shut the water off. Brian pulled her against him and kissed her with a blinding passion that she was helpless to resist. He cupped her behind and introduced her to the thick hardness between his legs. Moans of pleasure issued from her throat as he grabbed her leg, clearing a path to her burning mound of desire. When Paige rolled her body across his erection, giving him the green light to come inside, Brian pushed her back against the wall. She gripped his neck for support as they did their sensual dance and buried her face in his shoulder, crying out as he thrust hard, long, and slowly. Brian couldn’t get enough of the hot wetness that surrounded him. He felt as if he were floating in the ocean. They were connected, mind, body and spirit. As he felt his climax coming, Brian brought his lips to Paige’s ear. “I love you.”