“I don’t know if I can. Things don’t usually work out when people let their hearts guide them. My mother died of a broken heart.” She fiddled with her thumbs and became suddenly interested in her hands. She nibbled on her lower lip for a moment before continuing. “We didn’t have a lot, but for the most part she was happy with her husband and kids. When my father left her…left us, she lost all that happiness. She worked hard to take care of my sister and me. But she stopped taking care of herself. And when she died, the man she loved with all her heart didn’t even come back for her funeral.”
Carlton felt a sharp pain in his heart, and he thought about his own parents. They, too, had been unlucky in love. He opened his mouth to respond to what she’d shared. He wanted to tell her that they could learn from their parents’ mistakes and make it work. He wanted to share his own demons, but he didn’t think he was ready.
A nervous laugh escaped her lips and she mumbled, “Wow, I don’t think I have ever shared that with anyone before. There must be something special about you. Because I keep telling you all my business!”
Smiling, Carlton pressed his lips against her forehead. “Maybe your heart knows it can trust me even though you’re still trying to figure me out.”
She slanted her eyes slightly as she considered what he’d said before saying, “Maybe.”
He kissed her again, slowly probing her delectable mouth and savoring her sweetness. He let his hands trail her body as he slowly stood, taking her with him.
“Wait.” She halted the kiss and ran her hand nervously across her face. She took a deep breath and exhaled. “I need to be up-front about something. I’m not exactly experienced. I’ve never actually done—”
Watching her lips move, he suddenly got an inkling of what she might be trying to say. “You’ve never been with a man before?”
She took a deep breath and shook her head. “I understand if you want to change your mind. I—”
Amazed, he cut her off, looking deep into her eyes so there was no misunderstanding between them. “I still want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in the world,” he said honestly. “I’m just glad you let me know that this is your first time. The last thing I’d ever want to do is hurt you.”
He bent his head to take in her mouth again and caressed her succulent body. Every curve on her seemed to be made just for his touch. He’d never felt such a surge of pleasure just from touching a woman, a virgin at that. He had her where he’d wanted her from the moment he first laid eyes on her.
Slowly removing her clothing, he led her to the bed. She started to place her arms over her body in an attempt to cover up. However, he moved her arms, admiring her beauty before he bent his head to take her nipple in his mouth. As he suckled, his hands roamed her generous backside.
Every part of him came to attention as he moved his lips down her body, finally stopping between her thighs. The salty, sweet taste of her almost made him lose it. He thought that he would gladly continue to please her this way forever because she was just that addictive. Her essence tasted better than he ever could have imagined. When he felt her shake with her first orgasm, he lapped every bit.
Stopping only after he heard her moans followed by soft sighs, he moved to take of his clothes and get a condom.
Pulling her in his arms again, he kissed her as he guided his muscular body between her thighs. Assuring she had no doubts about what was to take place, he spread her legs and penetrated. Feeling her soft heat envelop him, he shuddered and reminded himself that he had to go slow. When he broke her shield, he hesitated again to make sure she was okay.
He noticed her eyes were tightly shut and her top row of teeth bit down hard on her bottom lip. He swore, thinking that she would draw blood if she bit down just a fraction harder. “Baby, did I hurt you?”
She opened her eyes and shook her head.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’m sure.” Her husky voice came out in a whisper that he was positive would send him over the edge.
He covered her mouth with his as he completely filled her.
Latonya refused to cry out even though she felt as if she were being spilt in two. The pain of their initial joining was sharper than she’d expected. She marveled at how she could go from feeling such intense orgasmic pleasure to the pain of the penetration.
Just as she thought the pain couldn’t get any worse, suddenly she felt the unmistakable pleasure of his sure, slow, soulful strokes. He cupped her behind in his hands, moving her in tune with him.
His lips connected with hers again, and she found herself releasing cries she tried to hold in. He kissed her gently, probing her mouth so that the movements of his tongue matched the movement of his hips.
As he moved his kisses to her neck and then her breasts, she began to move her own hips, tentatively at first, but as he picked up a more vigorous pace so did she.
She let her hands roam his strong back and his solid chest. His muscles felt like slippery steel under her hands as she glided across the sweat-soaked skin. She felt his body shiver at her touch, and his muscles flexed and rippled under her hands.
She’d taken a quick peek at him before he joined her in bed and she couldn’t decide which was better, looking at him or touching him. Carlton’s muscular body was perfect from the top of his head to his feet, which were big and strong. His naked body was like one of those statues of Greek gods dipped in sweet dark chocolate with just a hint of milk. Letting her hand trail his back, she decided that she liked touching more than looking. A lot more.
“Oh, baby, you feel so good. So good, I feel like I could never get enough of you. There is no way I can only have you once,” he said, his voice interrupted by grunts and moans.
The accuracy of his statement caused her to close her eyes. She wondered what she was going to do.
Her lids flew open as she felt a tightening in her belly that soon exploded in a release so magnificent it shot from the middle of her thighs to the tips of her toes. Her body writhed and she swore her eyes rolled to the back of her head.
“Oh. My,” she heard herself murmur in a voice that was at least two octaves lower than her normal husky voice.
He moved faster and deeper, nibbling on her neck. Soon she felt another explosion more intense than the first two. This time Carlton followed her orgasm with a release of his own.
They remained still wrapped in each other’s arms for what seemed like an eternity before he rose from the bed to remove their protection.
While he was in the bathroom an unexpected sense of horror and shame came over Latonya. She never guessed she would feel this way so soon after she had been made love to for the first time. She assumed that it was because she really hadn’t been made love to. What they’d shared was probably no more than a romp in the sack for him. But she knew it was so much more for her.
Not wanting to outstay her welcome—or worse, be asked to leave—she slowly got up from the bed and reached for her clothes. She ached between her legs in ways she never thought possible, but she managed to stand. Latonya wondered if the nice maid would be able to call her a cab.
“What are you doing?” The sharp sound of Carlton’s voice caused her to jump.
She pulled her shirt over her head. “I’m going home.”
“No, you’re not. The deal was you spend the night with me.”
“What? The deal was we’d have sex. We did. Now I’m going home.” No way could she stay the night with him. She didn’t think she could take more of his kisses and caresses tonight, and she knew she’d never receive them again.
“Stay the night, Tonya. Please,” he almost begged.
“Look, Mr. Harrington—”