Chapter 3

How she said the word ‘lawyer' had his senses warning him that something was wrong.

"You don't like lawyers?"

She felt a jolt at his acute perception and his ability to detect her particular aversion to his career.

"Why would you ask that? I work at a law firm, remember?"

He stared at her for a few pulsing minutes, and she had to force herself not to squirm.

"That you do." Taking a sip of the brandy, he continued to stare at her. He had kissed her in that very public park and felt his body shuddering from the incredible desire roaring through him.

But something about her warned him she was going through an issue. How she had said the word lawyer had him wondering if someone in his profession had hurt her.

"Do you like it?"

"I wouldn't be doing it otherwise." She murmured evasively. "Why aren't you with someone? Or did you leave her at that party while you followed me home?"

He could not understand the slight hurt he felt that she would peg him as someone like that.

"You think I am the type of person who would leave a date somewhere while I pursue another woman?" he asked lightly.

Tilting her head slightly to the left, she gave him an amused smile that made him feel like an awkward schoolboy. "You are a man."

His thick brows lifted. "Meaning?"

"Meaning, one rule for you and another for the opposite sex."

"Is that right?"

She shrugged and emptied her glass. "It doesn't matter."

"Well, for your information, I do not see anyone."

"Good for you. "Shall we?" She nodded toward the doorway, and he had to force himself not to pursue the topic. The emotions raging inside his body were bewildering him.

Putting down his glass, he followed her up the winding staircase into an open-concept area with a moderately large bedroom, bathroom, and another room she used as a closet.

"It's nice." He murmured as he looked around. She had a silk robe folded neatly on an ottoman at the foot of the bed and colorful quilts on the floor.

"You don't have to say that I am certain you are accustomed to much better."

He had to tamp down the surge of anger at her offhanded comment and told himself that he should not do anything to spoil their time together. "It doesn't mean I cannot compliment your style."

She had the grace to look chastened by his remark.

"Sorry." She muttered, turning towards the bathroom. "Make yourself at home."

He watched as she walked towards the room and closed the door behind her. Shrugging out of his sports jacket, he draped it across the sofa behind him before lowering himself to take off his shoes. She was prickly, that much was obvious, and he would allow it.

He would insist they see each other again and not take no for an answer. Unbuttoning his light blue cotton shirt, he shrugged it off and placed it on his jacket.

He was about to remove the rest of his clothing when she exited the bathroom. He went still as he stared at her. She had removed the pins from her hair, and the curls were tumbling in prosperous and healthy waves over her shoulders.

Her hair was dark brown, and she had tipped the ends with a fetching blonde. The loosened curls around her face made her appear very young, and he wondered how old she was.

"You are still dressed." She pointed out. She had put on the black silk robe, which was loosely tied around her waist, the sagging gap revealing the mounds of her breasts.

"I am." He finally managed to say, his voice rough with emotions.

"There is something else."

He was dragging off his undershirt when she spoke.

"That is?"

"I have not done this in a while, so I did not see the need to go on contraceptives."

He stared at her. "You are asking if I have protection."

"Do you? If not, I am afraid this is not going to happen."

"I do."

Her eyebrows lifted. "You just happen to be walking around with condoms."

"And isn't it fortunate for both of us that I am prepared?" he said, finishing taking off his shirt and belt.

"Does that mean you were hoping to get lucky tonight?" She demanded.

"I did get lucky." He smiled at her stubborn expression, which told him she would not be put off.

"Like I said, I am just coming out of a relationship, and it has always been drilled into my and my brothers' heads that we should be responsible." He was unzipping his pants when he realized she had turned around to give him privacy.

A puzzled frown touched his brow as he continued to watch her. On one hand, she appeared to be this sophisticated woman of the world, and then she would behave as if she were an inexperienced virgin. He could not keep her with her.

Keeping his underwear on, he went to the bed and climbed in next to her.

"Want to talk?"

"Why would you think that?"

"A gut feeling." Tucking his hand under her chin, he forced her to meet his curious blue gaze.

"You are nervous."

"Why would I be?" She challenged, avoiding looking at his chest.

"You are shaking."

"It's – the air conditioning- "

"Is not the reason. I want you to relax."

"That's kinda difficult to do." Her hands touched his chest as if in wonder, and she felt a jolt in the springy hair covering the tanned and muscular skin.

His hands cupped her face, fingers stroking her soft cheeks. "This is a first for me."

"If you say what I think you are, I will ask you to leave my room."

"What?" He chuckled softly as he stared at her. "No. It"s not the first time being with a woman. The first time I ever do this on the first meeting,"

Her eyebrows cleared. "It's a first for me too." She found herself admitting, her hands moving across the expanse of flesh.

"Good." His body surged to alarming life, but he would take his time. He was going to persuade her to let him spend the night. Bending his head, he kissed her forehead so gently that she had to struggle not to be too affected.

His mouth drifted to her nose and cheek, trailing hot kisses that increased her tremors. She did not want this – she wanted him just to hurry up and be done with it. But he was taking his time, and when he reached her throat, she was already so hot and bothered that it felt as if someone had turned on the flames to a fever pitch.

Her fingers were digging into his chest by the time he eased away the robe so that he could kiss the top of her breasts.

Marcus had been a passably good lover – when he had first made love to her, she had thought he was terrific, but she had not known any better. After a while, the lovemaking had become pedestrian, and he had not succeeded or had even been interested in giving her pleasure. But this was so different.

When he circled his tongue around the nipple, she felt as if she was going to die from the pleasure. Her fingers drifted to his hair, clutching at the thick black strands. She pulled lightly as if she wanted to make him stop.

As if sensing her inner turmoil, Antwan tugged the nipple into his mouth and started suckling hungrily. April cried out, her body arching as the sensations tumbled like a maelstrom.

"Please." She gasped, her body writhing under his. Ignoring her feverish plea, he transferred to the other nipple and gave it the same thorough treatment. She could not bear it. Never had she imagined that there could be so much pleasure.

Letting go of the nipple, he hurriedly took off her robe and his underwear. He had taken the box of condoms with him. Trapping her body between his powerful thighs, he hypnotized her as he took out a thinly wrapped rubber and unfolded the condom.

His eyes were on her face as she stared in fascination, unable to tear her gaze away as he slowly eased it over his throbbing erection. Her eyes lifted to his, her expression one of dazed uncertainty.

"I won't hurt you." He promised thickly as he lowered himself on top of her. Using his hands for balance, he entered her slowly, an inch at a time. A frown touched his brow when he met with resistance, her tightness gripping him like a glove.

He had suspected she was inexperienced, of course, and was about to ask for an explanation when she wrapped her slender legs around his waist, forcing him to go in even more profound. A ragged sigh escaped him as he drove into her, filling her.

Bending his head, he took her lips with hers, capturing her moans, his body moving against hers, heart pounding inside his chest.

Her hands were racing up and down his back, marveling at the velvety skin wrapped around solid muscles that bunched and flexed beneath her touch.

The orgasm took her entirely by surprise. It had been like a pop with Marcus, and the sensation had disappeared. This time, it was as if someone had let loose a violent storm that seemed to have no ending. Tearing her mouth from his, she buried her head in his neck, her teeth sinking into his flesh.

Antwan felt as if an electric prod had been jammed into his flesh. His body went rigid, the blood roaring through his body and settling into his lower region. He came then, the climax so earth-shattering that it tore a groan from deep inside his chest.

He felt when she let go of his flesh, her arms dropping weakly from around his neck, her slender body still shuddering. It took him a few minutes to shift to the side, pulling her against him tight. Easing out of her, he used one hand to drag off the sodden rubber and dropped it to the floor. He turned back to notice her staring at him.

His eyebrows quirked as he returned her gaze and waited for her to comment.

"Are you expecting some sort of compliment?" She asked finally.

He stared at her for a second before bursting into laughter. "Would you like to offer me one?"

"No."

"Then why did you bring it up?"

Her eyes shifted from his, and she noticed, in horror, the large bruise on his left shoulder.

"It doesn't hurt, not that much."

"I am so sorry. I- "She bit down at her bottom lip as she continued to look at the bruise that marred an otherwise perfectly tanned skin.

"I am not."

"What?" Dragging her eyes away from the bruise, she stared at him.

"I am thrilled. I am going to call it my battle scar."

"What?" She repeated, wondering if he had lost his mind.

His hand lifted, and he brushed away tendrils of hairs from her cheek. "It tells me that I did something exceptional." His cerulean blue eyes were alight with laughter. "I made you so out of control that you could not help yourself." He grinned at her frosty expression and easily resisted when she tried to pull away.

"Just making an observation. Mind if I asked you something?" He had his arms wrapped tightly around her so she could not escape.

"No." She answered, instinctively knowing what the question was going to be.

Ignoring the sharp note in her voice, he plunged on. "Was that your first orgasm?"

"You are flattering yourself."

"Was it? And before you deny it, I must tell you the question was purely rhetorical because you revealed that much by your reaction."

"So why the hell are you asking then?"

"There are several things about you that are puzzling me."

"Such as?"

"How old are you?" The abrupt question threw her for a minute. Deliberately giving him a scornful look, she responded. "Didn't they teach you that asking a woman her age is improper?"

"I might have forgotten that part of the lesson. How old are you?"

Giving him a fulminating look, she shrugged. "Twenty-eight."

"My God." He whispered. "You look like you are twenty." His eyes wandered over her features, admiring the smooth skin, the upturned nose, and the large liquid dark brown eyes. "You are not a virgin."

"What gave it away?" She answered, injecting a note of sarcasm in her tone.

"But you might as well be." He continued, watching her closely.

"What's the question?"

"How many relationships have you had?"

"In case you are wondering, this is not one."

"Okay, this is not a relationship. How many other men have you been with?"

"That's a completely inappropriate question, and I would like you to leave."

"I am going to hazard an educated guess, and I am pretty certain I would be on the mark. One." He noticed her struggle to keep the surprise off her face.

"So?"

"What happened?"

She bristled at him. "That's completely none of your business."

"Okay." One hand drifted up to cup the back of her neck. "I am flattered."

"Whatever. Now, are you going to leave or not?"

"Not." Shifting her back against the pillows, he threw one powerful leg over both of hers as he reached for the packet of condoms,

"Now look- "

"We are not finished." He ended further arguments by claiming her lips in a kiss.

*****

Turning over onto her stomach, April stretched luxuriously, feeling the unfamiliar soreness of her nipples and between her thighs. Her eyes flickered open, blinking as the ray of the brilliant sunshine filtered through the lime green drapes at her windows.

Something momentous had happened, and- Turning over, she shot up against the pillows, eyes roving around the room frantically.

She had spent the entire night with Antwan Collins. And they had barely slept. Ignoring the shaft of disappointment that he had left, she scrambled off the bed. She had promised to go to work for a few hours and was running late.

Refusing to think about what had happened between them, she rushed into the bathroom and took a quick shower.

Picking out slim green cotton trousers and a pink and green top, she dragged them on. Sitting around the vanity stool, she was about to scoop her tangled curls into a bun when she noticed the man coming into the bedroom with two cups of coffee.

He was still here! And he had taken a shower. He was dressed, the undershirt stretching across his broad shoulders and chest and warming her.

"You are still here." She had to force the disgruntled tone in her voice and tamped down the pleasure that he had not just left.

"Good morning. "His deep voice was intimate, and his blue eyes had her heart skittering in her chest.

"You looked so peaceful; I did not have the heart to wake you." He brought her to coffee, one hand rubbing the back of her neck.

"I have to go." Putting the cup down, she jumped up. "And you should leave."

"I am afraid that is true. I am late for an appointment." He caught her around the waist with one hand, the coffee in the next. "I would like to see you later."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because this was supposed to be a one-night deal, and you spent the night. Which means you got a bonus."

His lips quirked in a smile that had her heart racing. "I am afraid I am not taking no for an answer."

"I have a date!"

He merely stared at her in silence until she broke. "Okay, fine. I do not have a date, but I don't want to see you."

"Any particular reason why not?"

"I don't have to give you a reason. It was fun, but I am not interested in a relationship. Was that what you were thinking?"

"It is." He confirmed.

"Then you have my answer. Just go."

He stared at her for a minute, and April had to force herself not to squirm. The man had a distinct gift of boring holes with those lethal eyes, and she wondered if it was a trick he used in the courtroom. If that was the case, the other party didn't stand a chance.

Bending his head, he brushed his lips against hers and had her going weak. Her hands came up to his chest, and the feel of his warm skin through the shirt made her feel faint.

He deepened the kiss, his tongue driving into her mouth, sending hot jolts of flames throughout her body. He did not stop until she leaned into him, her fingers curled into the shirt, her body vibrating.

He ended the kiss, and she almost cried out in disappointment as he released her.

"Something to think about.' He told her with a whimsical smile, eyes wandering over her face and lingering on her swollen lips. Shoving a hand into his pocket, he drew a card and left it on her nightstand. "Call me if you change your mind."

"I won't."

Giving her an enigmatic smile, he turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

She had the mind to disengage the alarm from her phone before sinking back down on the vanity stool, her knees weak and unable to hold her up. Touching a hand to her lips, she closed her eyes and felt his heat against hers.

This was ridiculous! She told herself sharply. It was one night and morning- she acknowledged. So what? It was not going to happen again, and she was not stupid enough to fall into that damned trap a second time.

The sex- pressing a hand to her wildly beating heart, she had to take several deep breaths to compose herself. She took another deep breath and spun around to continue attending to her hair when her gaze fell on the champagne-colored embossed card.

She would get rid of it because she had no intention of calling him.

*****

He met his mother descending the spiral staircase just as he ascended and realized he did not care that she would know he had not spent the night here and was wearing the same outfit he had on for the party the previous evening.

"Mother."

"Darling." Laying a hand on his arm lightly, she forced him to stop. "It's safe to assume you did not come home last night."

"You should have been a detective." He told her with a grin.

"And you are positively beaming."

"Am I?"

Her blue eyes studied the rakish glint in his eyes and the tousled disorder of his ink-black hair.

"Anyone we know?"

"I doubt it."

She gave him another assessing gaze. "Is there any need for us to be concerned?"

"None whatsoever. Going out?"

She nodded absently. "I have lunch with Gwendolyn and Cynthia."

"Dad's upstairs?"

"No. He left a few minutes ago to play golf with James. Which reminds me- "

"I have to go and play nice with our new clients. I am aware. I am just going to rush upstairs and change."

"You took a shower before you came home?"

He grinned at her. "Mother, I know what you are doing, and I am not ready to divulge anything yet."

"You are my baby- "

"I am twenty-eight."

"You are my baby, and no matter how old my boys' are, it is my right as a mother to be concerned. Should I be?"

"No, Mother," he told her in a resigned tone. I will tell you everything—"he shook his head and grinned. Well, maybe not everything, but the relevant details will be provided as soon as possible."

She squeezed his arm gently. "Have a care."

"Always." Leaning forward, he kissed her on the cheek and bounded the rest of the way up the stairs.

Turning to gaze after him, Angeline felt her heart twisting a little. He was her youngest, and she was not ready to let him go. She was also concerned because out of all her children, he was the most vulnerable and most likely to get hurt.