Jamaica Dreaming (Caribbean Heat) (11 page)

“Red envelopes?”

“Yeah, it’s a Chinese tradition.”

“Oh, you meant the
Chinese
New Year.”

“Mr. Chung’s Jamaican to the bone, but he’s very proud of his Chinese roots, too.”

They passed a high white wall festooned with some kind of flowering vine in riotous bloom and pulled up in front of a closed gate. Lori pushed a button on an intercom set into one of the pillars. It squawked. The security cameras above the pillars moved to train themselves on the BMW and then the heavy gate began to move. They drove up a lit driveway with well–kept grounds on either side. Palm trees and flowering shrubs hid the house. Lori blew the horn before getting out just as Sebastian emerged from the path leading to the front door.

“I was wondering if you were lost,” he said, his face breaking into a broad smile as he locked eyes with Julissa whose heart raced even as her mouth dried. It had to be magic how the man just got sexier and sexier every time she saw him.

“Good evening, Mr. Chung. Hellloooo. I’m here, too, you know.”

“Of course you are, Lori.” His eyes didn’t move from Julissa’s face. “But, you were just leaving, weren’t you?”

“You mean…I’m not invited?”

Sebastian tore his gaze away from Julissa and it felt like a physical wrench.

“No, my dear. You most certainly are not. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir. You’re the boss, sir.” Lori snapped her fingers to her head, military style, her lips twitching while her eyes danced with amusement. “Leaving now, sir.” She jumped back into the BMW.

“Drive carefully.”

“Sir, yes, sir!”

“Bye. Thanks, again.” Julissa waved to her, trying to calm her nerves. Sebastian was standing entirely too close to her. Her heart thudded in her chest and the air was suddenly too thin to breathe. She hadn’t even gone inside his house yet! Maybe she should just scurry into the SUV with Lori and get the hell out of there while the going was good. Julissa opened her mouth to make up an excuse and shut it again just as quickly. She wasn’t a child. She could handle Mr. Sexier–Than–Thou Chung, of course she could. Could she handle
herself
around him, though, that was the question.

“No problem. Remember what I said.” Lori winked at Julissa before backing the car down the driveway.

Sebastian pointed his remote at the gate which closed ponderously after her with a soft clang.

“Impressive security,” Julissa said. She’d just noticed the additional CCTV cameras on the roof.

“We’ve got some impressive burglars. Come.” He ushered her through the thick, wooden, double doors and into a small hallway. Julissa wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting but as soon she walked into the living room she thought the house fit him to a T. High ceilings, white walls and cushy white furniture might have given the huge space a sterile look if it weren’t for the large colorful canvasses on opposite walls. One of the cartoonish paintings showed two men standing in front of a pigtailed woman with a yellow face.

“By Zhang Xiaogang,” Sebastian said, watching her. “Part of his Bloodlines series.”

“It’s amazing. Did he do this one as well?” She nodded at the painting on the opposite wall. Three bald, half–naked, laughing men sprawled beside a pool, their mouths stretched wide to show their even teeth.

“No, that’s by Yue Minjun. Do you like it? Some people find it disconcerting.”

“Are all three the same person?”

“Yes, actually.” Sebastian looked both startled and delighted by her guess. “It’s the painter, himself. He’s his favorite subject. Would you like some wine?” He told her what he had available and she chose a Cabernet. The John Lee Hooker playing softly from hidden speakers changed to Bobby McFerrin. Julissa bopped her head to the upbeat rhythm as she made her way around the room checking out all the different paintings and sculptures. She felt keyed up, full of nervous energy, as if something was about to happen.

“And that one?” She crossed the room to it. “Is that by a Jamaican artist?” The painting was actually a collage – glitter, paste–on gems, and layers of fancy wrapping paper formed a halo around a blown–up photo of a young black man who stared fearlessly at the camera.

“One of Jamaica’s best, Ebony Patterson. She’s going to go far.” Sebastian handed her a glass and steered her to the screen door. “Dinner’s ready. I thought you might like to eat outside.”

Julissa gave a little cry of delight at the view. Broad, shallow steps led down off the flagstone patio to an open grassy area which ended before a wide infinity pool. Beyond the pool, the lights of a small coastal town twinkled like jewels strewn on a bed of black velvet.

Small white lamps led the way to a cozy area underneath a spreading tree hung with elegant white paper lanterns. The scene looked right out of a postcard, a romantic postcard. Julissa’s mouth watered at the enticing smells as Sebastian pulled out a chair for her and began lifting the covers off the dishes. There was jasmine rice, curried goat, fish, fresh salad, asparagus spears and a platter of conch fritters.

Julissa popped one of the fritters into her mouth and hummed with delight. “Nice! You
can
cook.”

Sebastian looked rueful. “I bought those. But I did the curried goat early this morning and the other things while I waited for you.”

Julissa spooned some of everything into her plate and took a bite of the curried goat. The blend of spices filled her mouth with flavor. It didn’t take Julissa very long to finish off her plate as Sebastian spoke about his day and asked her about Port Royal.

“Do you think Joyce will be found okay?” Julissa asked. The girl was never far from her mind.

“The chances are good. The parents didn’t waste any time reporting her missing and the Ananda Alert system is in play. My cellphone provider sent out a photo around mid–day. Hang on.” He went inside and came back with his cellphone to show her the message and accompanying graphic. “A year ago Ananda wasn’t working properly and this wouldn’t have been sent out so this is progress. Now, they need to boost their presence on social media. Go where the people, especially the young people, are.”

They discussed the Ananda Alert for several minutes as Sebastian did his best to reassure Julissa that Joyce would be found, unharmed. She told him she was worried because the Parchments hadn’t called and she didn’t have their number. He promised to get it for her by the time they left for the racetrack tomorrow.

After that, they talked in a desultory manner about Jamaica and Chicago and the differences between island life and city life. Julissa told him she’d grown up with music all around as her family included several bandsmen and a few singers. Sebastian, too, had grown up around music as one of his cousins owned one of Jamaica’s top record labels. They traded experiences and found they shared the same musical taste though they’d grown up in such disparate circumstances. When Julissa asked him to recommend some reggae singers she should check out, he promised to do better than that and give her some CDs.

Later, for dessert, Sebastian brought out a concoction of vanilla ice cream, gooey fried plantains and rum that made Julissa moan in bliss. And take a second helping.

“Wow. This is so good. Oh, gosh, I wish I had a bigger tummy!”

Sebastian laughed. “I like a woman who enjoys her food, especially when I’m the one who’s cooked it.” He paused and there was an awkward silence. Julissa realized he was thinking that perhaps he shouldn’t have said that.

“You could cook for me any day of the week,” she said, softly, deliberately.

His dark eyes fixed on hers but she didn’t look down, didn’t look away.

“I’d like to. I’d like to cook for you every day.”

Julissa felt glued to her chair. A molten heat was spreading out from the pit of her stomach. She should stop this, stop whatever was happening but she didn’t want to. Why did she always have to do the right thing? Be the good girl? Why couldn’t she do something just because she wanted to?

Suddenly, music began playing. The speakers were cleverly disguised as rocks.

“Let’s dance.” Sebastian rose to his feet and took a step toward her. Julissa stood and swayed forward into arms that closed around her like a tender vice.

His lips found hers and a piercing sweetness stole over her. Her arms slid around his shoulders. The moist heat of his mouth felt both strange and familiar while the feel of his hard body against hers lit a flame of desire deep in her stomach.

“Julissa.”

“Yes?”

“If.” He kissed her forehead. “We.” He kissed her nose. “Continue like this.” He spent several seconds kissing her mouth. “I won’t be able to stop.”

His words snapped her back to reality.

“Stop. We have to stop.” She tried to pull away from him, but he wouldn’t let her go.

“I want you. I don’t want to stop.”

“I’m sorry.” Misery choked her voice. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have led you on. Forgive me.”

Sebastian sighed. His arms dropped and he stepped back from her, his breathing hard and his expression miserable.

“I’m sorry,” Julissa said again, wretched with lust and guilt.

“There is nothing to forgive. You told me already that I can’t have you and I’ve chosen to ignore your warning. You’ve done nothing for which you need to say sorry.”

Julissa could feel tears burning the back of her eyelids but she wouldn’t cry. In truth, she didn’t know who her tears were for. For herself, she supposed.

“Julissa, I want you to think about something tonight before you go to sleep. A question. If you’re so happy and in love with your fiancé, why do you react to me so strongly?”

“What? That’s…that’s lust. It’s got nothing to do with love.”

“Have you felt this same lust for your fiancé? For the man you’re planning to spend the rest of your life with?”

“I’m not sure that’s any of your business,” Julissa replied, flustered by his questions.

“Julissa.” She wondered if he knew that the very way he said her name was like a caress. “You can’t deny there’s something between us. I know you feel it. I can see it in your eyes.”

“There
is
something,” she reluctantly allowed. “But, you have to understand, I’ve known Earle for six years. We’re engaged. I’ve only just met you.”

“All right, fine.” He took a deep breath. The idea had come to him last night as he lay in bed, thinking of her, wanting her. “What about…” He paused. For a second, he couldn’t go on. Suppose she rejected this too. Suppose it offended her sense of propriety so much she decided she never wanted to see him again? His voice deepened, caught. His eyes searched her face. “What about if we just have sex?”

“What?” Expressions flashed across her face so quickly, he couldn’t tell what he was seeing. Surprise, apprehension but an eager desire, too.

“Sex with no strings. I mean, if you decided you wanted strings that would be fine, too, but, if not, I can live with that.”

“You want us to have meaningless sex?”

“I want to make love to you. I want to kiss your mouth without you pulling away from me. I want to lie in bed with you in my arms.” He pictured it as he spoke and felt his erection grow. “I want to taste your secret places and I want to make you cry out in pleasure. There’s nothing remotely meaningless about what I want to do to you.”

She stared at him, wide–eyed. “I can’t.”

“Why not?” he asked, forcefully. “Earle need never know. What’s to stop you? In public, we’ll act as before, but when it’s just me and you…” He moved toward her. “When we’re alone, then I’ll kiss you like this.” He pressed his mouth to hers and felt her soften against him. For one exultant moment, he thought she would agree to his proposal but then she pulled away again.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I can’t. It would be wrong. Please understand.”

It was the end of his hopes. Sebastian felt a great heavy weight settle on his chest and close around his heart.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered again, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “You’re wonderful, Sebastian. Honestly, you’re sexy as hell. You’re kind. You’re generous and gentle. But, I made Earle a promise. I can’t just go back on it like that. What kind of woman would I be if I just threw myself at every handsome man who took an interest in me?”

She was right, of course. Who could trust a woman like that? If he were in Earle’s shoes and she accepted the arrangement he’d proposed with another man, well, he didn’t know what he’d do if he found out, but murder would definitely be involved. And yet, he couldn’t give up so easily. “Sometimes when you want something you should just take it,” he said, softly.

At this, she looked utterly wretched. “Even if it means hurting someone you love?”

“How would he be hurt, if he doesn’t know?” Sebastian had lost. He knew he’d lost.

“I’m talking about myself. If I became a cheater, I’d lose my self–respect. Trust me, Sebastian, every nerve, every cell in my body, wishes I’d say ‘yes.’ Every single part of me.” She laughed shakily.

He wanted to ask her what she meant. He wanted to hear her say that she wanted to rip off her clothes and jump his bones. And he wanted her to admit she knew what was going on inside him because it was happening to her, too. He wanted her to stroke his bruised ego and he wanted to have a memory he could play and replay in his mind. It wasn’t the memory he’d hoped for but, if she was determined to resist, then it would be better than nothing.