Duke (15 page)

“That’s my girl. Now, let’s go home.”

“Okay.”

T
akiyah sat
at the bar on a stool. She raised her glass to her mouth and took a sip. The music blared all around her, and people gyrated to the beats. Across the room, amid the crowd, she spotted Talicia. Her soon to be cousin-in-law watched her husband on the stage as Stefan rocked the house with his deep, sexy tones. Many of the women didn’t give a damn that he was married. They wanted him to notice them, so they flocked the stage, wiggling their hips and bouncing their boobs. Stefan was in his own world, totally loving the music. Every now and then, his gaze roved the audience. The women sighed and trembled, but Takiyah knew him well enough now to know he had eyes for one woman alone.

Thinking of a possessive Marquette man, Takiyah scanned the crowd again. This time she searched for her man. She found Duke at the far side of the club. His intent gaze never missed anything, and she couldn’t help staring at him, dressed in his black tee and slacks, the little white bud and wire hanging over his ear. She didn’t know if he was getting reports from his men or if he gave orders. Duke took his job at Stefan and Talicia’s club very seriously, and she knew by the energy he gave off every night that he loved it.

Tonight, she was bone tired, but she had come to support Duke and the other Marquettes. To her surprise, Creed had also come a couple times. She’d heard how he started a sensation with his massive bodyguard tailing him. After all the hoopla, Stefan had declared his brothers weren’t allowed to visit the club at the same time, and Creed’s visits couldn’t be more than once every six months because he was too important. Takiyah thought that was hilarious, but word had it his head swelled over the treatment he received. All was forgiven in Marquette Land between the brothers.

The alcohol started to get to Takiyah, so she set her glass down. Her eyelids grew droopy, and she thought she would fall asleep right there. Her head kept dipping forward no matter how many times she tried to get a hold of herself.

A male voice spoke in her ear at the same time he touched her arm. “Here, drink this to wake up.”

Without thinking, she took the glass, muttering her thanks. The glass was almost to her lips when it was nabbed away. She tumbled forward and fell into a hard chest. When she forced her head up, she met Duke’s gaze. He frowned at her. “You know better than to drink something from someone you don’t know.”

“Don’t talk to me like a child.” She complained, but her head was still fuzzy. Duke let her lean on him, and when she looked to right, she found a man being hauled away by two others on Duke’s staff. “Who was that?”

His hand touched her lower back, sending chills racing along her spine. “Nobody. Come on, baby. You’re going home to sleep.”

“I don’t want to sleep.” She yawned.

Duke snapped his fingers, and it was more about the signaling than the sound. No one could hear him over the noise, but apparently he had a man watching. Takiyah didn’t recall his name because of her dull mind, but Duke gave orders to the man who was at least six-foot five if an inch.

“I’m taking my wife home. You’re in charge,” Duke told the guy. “Don’t forget all the check points. Call me when you close shop. I don’t care what time it is.”

“You got it, boss.”

Takiyah warmed all over. Duke had started referring to her as his wife the day he proposed and she accepted. She thought it was a ploy to get her to shorten the engagement, but he should be satisfied. They lived together. As far as she was concerned nothing mattered. He was hers, and she was his. That settled it.

At home, Takiyah shuffled up the stairs to the bedroom she shared with Duke. He stayed on the first floor for a while, checking things out. No matter how hard she listened, she never seemed to hear him moving about. When they first moved in, there was a creak in the hall floorboard. Since she never heard it now, she assumed he fixed it. The man was a ninja.

Takiyah stripped naked and readied the shower. She would sleep like the dead tonight and wake up early so she could pick up Keen from Shada’s house. Her son was in a new school now and doing great. Creed had offered to pay for him to go to private school, but after Takiyah and Duke discussed it, she turned him down. Maybe in time, but for now, they were fine. Duke felt just like she did. It was important for them to make their own way in the world, not take handouts all the time. Duke was already working hard, and he had plans to open his own security firm. She was proud of him. He hadn’t been arrested since they got engaged.

“Hell, yes!”

She yelped in alarm at Duke speaking behind her. She smacked his arm. “You scared me. Stop sneaking around.”

“I walked normally.” His gaze was locked on her bare breasts. “I made a great choice.”

She shook her head. “With what, my boobs? Up here, buddy.”

“Naw, my eyes are right where they belong.” He held out his arms. “Come here, and let me enjoy myself.”

“I’m sleepy.” She darted into the shower. He tried to follow, but she shoved him back. “You’re still dressed, crazy.”

Duke stripped off his clothes so fast, he must have set records. Takiyah did everything she could to make the man keep his hands to himself, but failed. He grabbed the shower gel and squeezed a heap into his palm.

“That’s for the sponge.”

“My hands will do it.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

He grinned. “Bring me that ass.”

“Go away, horny.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist and hauled her backward to his chest. Before she could suck in a breath, he had his soapy hand down between her legs and carefully washed her pussy. She squirmed and tried to bite off a moan. Duke wouldn’t let go. The more he massaged, the more it turned her on. Her clit swelled at his touch, and her core wound tight.

Wiggling her hips didn’t do any good because it rubbed his hard cock against her ass. She tried to reach the shower floor with her toes to get a grip, but Duke hauled her higher.

“Almost clean,” he teased.

“My cootchie isn’t that dirty. You’ve washed it three times!”

“Oops, one more spot.” His thumb strummed her clit, and she clenched her teeth. The bastard was going to make her come. He knew what the hell he was doing. She grabbed onto his forearm and shut her eyes. The orgasm crashed down over her.

“Not fair,” she moaned as she came out of the haze of pleasure.

His lips touched the sensitive spot beneath her ear. “Should I treat you unfairly one more time?”

“Shut up.”

He chuckled and set her on her feet. She thought she was free, but he grabbed the sponge this time and lathered it up to wash her from head to foot. After he did the same to himself, he let her out of the shower. She quickly dried off and ran into the bedroom to find a nightie. Being naked only gave the idiot ideas.

With a nice warm nightgown on that was anything but sexy, she climbed into their bed. She made it under the covers, about to sleep in her favorite position—on her belly with one leg raised. Duke stalked out of the bathroom naked as the day he was born. His cock was still solid. Takiyah burrowed deeper beneath the covers, hiding her eyes so she couldn’t see him. Too late though, she was turned on again. Why did he have to be so damn hot?

Duke drew the covers off her, and the chill brought goose bumps to her skin. “Duke, I’m cold.”

“Not for long.”

She cried out his name again when he stretched his big, heavy form over her body. He raised her hands above her head and pinned her face down under him. When he kissed her shoulder, another chill touched her, but it wasn’t from cold. Now she was on fire, and her pussy clenched in anticipation.

Duke moved his hips, and the tip of his cock touched her opening. She tried not to arch her hips, but her body refused to obey. She wanted him bad.

“Duke,” she whined, feeling weaker by the second.

He nuzzled her neck and nipped her skin. “Are you telling me you want this inside you?” He gave a small push, and the tip pierced her. She cried out in ecstasy. No way in hell could she lie. He pulled back, and she almost wept. Another push, and an inch slid inside. “Not at all?”

“Bastard, you know I want you.”

“Hard?”

He was killing her. “Yes, damn it!”

He thrust in, hard and rough. She screamed and arched so she could get all of it, every single inch. His grunt rumbled against her back. “Again?”

“Yes, please, Duke.”

“Mm, I like when you beg me, baby.” He drew his cock out and slammed it in again. Her breath whooshed out of her body, and sanity left. She dropped her head against the pillows. He followed, claiming her mouth. She surrendered to his tongue but then forgot how to respond when he pounded his thick cock in and out of her over and over. “Your tight pussy is going to make me come, Kiyah.”

She uttered a sound that made no sense whatsoever. Speech was beyond her.

“Is it too much? Do you want me to slow down?”

She didn’t answer.
Let him never stop
, she pleaded in silence.

He clicked with his tongue in rebuke. “You know better.”

“Don’t stop—
ever
. Please, Duke.”

“That’s my girl.”

He released her hands and extended an arm under her, hoisting her up toward him. For long moments, he claimed her body. She clutched the sheets and bit down on her bottom lip as he took her. A second orgasm shook her core. She gave in to it, just feeling, and in to Duke because he was everything she wanted and more.

Much later, after the fourth or fifth orgasm, Duke let her rest, and she curled in his arms, yawning. He stroked her hair and tugged her nearer to his chest. When she shivered, he pulled the covers over them.

Takiyah sighed in contentment. “You don’t admit it, but working at the club keys you up. I think the only way you can sleep is if you come in me.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Uh-huh. We’ve had sex every night since you started there.”

“Doesn’t sound familiar.”

She slapped his chest. He smacked her ass.

“Sleep, baby. We have to be up to get Keen.”

She hesitated. “Duke, do you think you can love him?”

He moved, and she felt his gaze on her. Confusion colored his handsome face. “I already love him as my son. Have I done something wrong?”

“No, I was just wondering.”

The usual grin was absent from his face, and he seemed to mull something over. “I’ve never been into kids and thought I’d run if ever a woman I was with had one or suggested we have a baby together. Keen is different.”

“Because he thinks you hung the moon?”

He winked. “I did.”

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

“He’s different, and so are you. One day soon I’m going to prove that by becoming your husband officially. I’m going to work hard to make a good life for both of you. I’ll become responsible.”

A lump filled her throat. “I love you the way you are, Duke. I truly do. But thank you from the bottom of my heart. I never imagined you were the one for me, but I’m sure you are now.”

He kissed her and rested his forehead against hers. “I didn’t know at first. I was chasing the same old dead end. You and Keen gave me purpose, and I like it a lot. I want to make you an official Marquette. Marry me tomorrow.”

“Duke!” Her stomach tied in knots. “You’re the same impulsive man.”

“You said you love me just as I am.”

She laughed. “You know what, you’re right. Why wait for tomorrow. Let’s get Keen this morning and get married today.”

He whooped and crushed her in his arms. “Now you’re speaking my language!”