she an anesthesiologist?”
Aliyah nodded. “My seventh-grade summer, I was selected for a math-and-science program that paired students from different schools to work on a project together. I was paired with this geeky, slightly chubby girl named Shannon. We were best friends from day one. So much so that she invited me to her birthday party. She lived on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. That train ride took me to another world and changed my life.
“After that day, I spent several more at her house. One time we were in her room and I was asking how her family lived the way they did. Where they got so much money. Her mother was walking by and answered, ‘We worked for it.’ I asked her what she did and she told me that she was an anesthesiologist. Right then and there, I decided that’s what I’d be, too. Of course, had I known that such a declaration was going to cost me twelve additional years of my life after high school, I would have chosen Shannon’s father’s career instead.”
“What did he do?”
“Worked in finance. On Wall Street. He’s retired now. They both are. Shannon still lives in the home I visited but her parents spend most of their time in their villa in France.”
“Do you like what you do?”
“I love it. Money and the lavish lifestyle I saw at Shannon’s house is what sparked my interest. The satisfaction I found during the educational journey to my goal is what’s kept me here.”
“You’ve accomplished a lot. As a single mother, it couldn’t have been easy.”
“I’m not used to easy. Anytime I think of quitting I remember those on the block who chose differently, and are no longer with us. I never want Kyle to experience what I saw growing up. He’s my motivation.”
Dinner arrived. The conversation changed. From the appetizer to dessert, the food was as decadent as Aliyah’s thoughts had been ever since Terrell’s promise to satisfy her. They left the restaurant, and just when she thought the night couldn’t get any better Terrell surprised her with tickets and backstage passes to see one of her favorite artists, Janelle Monáe. The show was rocking, so much so that Aliyah was almost able to ignore all the attention Terrell received from the ladies. Even if she were interested in a serious relationship, which she wasn’t, Terrell wouldn’t be on her short list. Relationships were hard enough. One with walking temptation wrapped around fifty shades of sexy would be impossible.
After spending time with the singer backstage, Terrell placed his arm around Aliyah and pulled her to his side. They walked toward the exit. “Ms. Robinson?”
She placed an arm around his waist. “Yes?”
“Have you enjoyed the evening so far?”
“Are you kidding? This has been the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
“It makes me happy to hear that.”
“I’m happy that you’re happy.”
He stopped and turned to her. “Then only one question remains.”
“What’s that?”
“Should our next destination be the airport, to take you home and kiss you good-night at the door, or my place here in San Francisco, away from Paradise Cove’s prying eyes?”
She leaned into him. “Mr. Drake, I want you to take me wherever you can fulfill your promise of leaving me fully satisfied.”
They couldn’t reach the Drake place fast enough.
“Wow.” Aliyah stepped inside, immediately noticing the city view from their high perch in the hills. “This is beautiful.”
Terrell came up behind her, kissing her temple as he wrapped her in his arms. “So is this.”
She turned into him, desire in her eyes. The evidence of his desire was a little farther down.
“You know what I’ve been wanting to do all night?”
“Probably the same thing on my mind.”
Their heads moved in unison toward a mutual destination. The kiss was soft, purposeful, their lips rubbing against each other in a casual get-to-know. Terrell’s hands went on a journey of discovery, meandering over her shoulders, down her back and to the top of bootyliciousness. Aliyah, who at five-five had always preferred a tall man, relished how her five-inch heels made it possible to easily wrap her arms around his neck. With a swipe of her tongue against his lips, she intensified the exchange.
He sucked it in, an act that weakened her knees.
After a long moment, they came up for air. Terrell mumbled against her hair, “Damn, you feel good.”
“So do you.”
“You taste good.”
“Mmm.”
“I want to taste more of you.”
“What are you waiting for?”
He grabbed her hand and led them to the couch. Once seated, he pulled her to his lap. The fit was perfect, as if they’d been designed for each other. The kiss resumed—slower, hotter, wetter. Tongues twirling, slow and easy, hips grinding in the same rhythm. Terrell caressed Aliyah’s arm, running his hand down the length of it, coming back up to cup her breast. Seconds more, and he eased down the fabric and palmed the warm flesh beneath. His thumb brushed against a rapidly hardening nipple. Aliyah arched her back, encouraging him to move faster, to take more. Instead he stopped, hugging her tightly before sitting back to look into her eyes.
“What?”
“Girl, I don’t know what it is about you. You’ve got me so turned on!”
“And that’s a problem.”
“No. I just...”
“Just what.”
“I just want to make sure that you’re ready for this. That this is what you want.”
“You gave me a choice. I’m still happy with the one I made.”
“I want you, too. But I don’t want something done in the heat of the moment to change how we are with each other. I like you. I want you. But I also respect you. I don’t want you to feel bad afterward.”
Aliyah rolled off of him and stood. “Look,” she began, pulling her top over her head and tossing it on the floor. “We are two clear-thinking, intelligent, consenting adults who came here for the same reason.” She reached behind her and unclasped her bra. It joined her top on the floor. Her breasts swayed invitingly, nipples protruding in invitation to be licked. She undid her jeans button and unzipped them before sitting on the couch to remove her shoes. “There will be no regrets, no guilt trips and no expectations. I am as uninterested in a steady relationship as I’m sure you are. Now—” she raised her legs to him “—will you help me take off these jeans and show me what that mouth is good at besides talking?”
She watched his eyes light up and become predatory as he reached for first one leg of her jeans and then the other, removing denim to reveal smooth, flawless skin that
