* * * * *
Jonah sat on the stool, watching with delight as Tisha finished cooking. He’d spent the entire time she worked slyly relieving her of all of her clothing, one piece at a time. The only concession he allowed her was to wear his shirt, just so she wouldn’t burn anything important.
Although she wanted to button it up, he wasn’t stupid enough to agree to her request. Instead, he teased himself by glimpsing her luscious dark skin as she moved around the kitchen. The shirt barely covered her ass and every time she reached up to retrieve something from a high shelf he could see the curve of her rear. And what a sight it was to behold.
No matter how many times he and Tisha were intimate, her beauty never failed to blow him away. Her body was a cornucopia of wonder for him. Not only was her shapely form cock-hardening delicious, so was the smooth chocolate satin of her skin. Even now he couldn’t help but compare the white shirt that fluttered against her ever so slightly every time she moved to that of her brown skin. Just as he did any night they lay side by side, the moon pouring through the window their only source of light.
Moments such as those, when the only colors that mattered on his personal rainbow spectrum were white and brown, made Jonah realize just how much she meant to him. The idea hadn’t come to him out of the blue. It had been something he’d thought about over and over, since the moment they’d gotten back together again. Being apart from her had been unspeakably difficult. And not just for him. Even Cami had been down in the dumps, which only made him realize just how important Tisha was to their family dynamic.
She fit. No, she made them fit together. Things had been nothing but good since the moment she barged into his life, brandishing the curling iron as if it were a weapon, and Jonah realized it was time he let her know it.
“Dinner is served,” Tisha announced as she brought the last of the dishes to the peninsula. Despite the orders she’d been working under, she’d still cooked what appeared to be a very good meal. “I want you to know it wasn’t easy sautéing onions and bell peppers barely clothed. I have a couple of burns from the oil popping up.”
Jonah reached out, grabbed her hand and pulled her around the island. “Maybe I should kiss them and make it better.”
“Maybe.” Smiling, Tisha wrapped her arms around his neck. “But then the fajitas will get cold, and we wouldn’t want that to happen.”
Nuzzling her neck, Jonah pressed his growing erection against her lower body. “That’s why microwaves were invented.”
“So you could have your wicked way with me in the kitchen?”
“Exactly.” Jonah slid his hand down her back and under the hem of the shirt, placing the flat of his palm against the soft curve of her ass.
“But what about dessert?” she murmured. From the husky tone of her voice and the way she pressed into his touch, Jonah knew she wasn’t putting up much of a fight. “I have the makings for strawberry shortcakes, with fresh whipped cream and berries.”
“Whipped cream.” Now she really had his attention.
“Yes.”
Jonah released his hold on her and pulled back. “You did work awfully hard. We shouldn’t allow your efforts to be in vain.”
“That’s right.”
“So let’s eat. Starting with dessert first.”
“Dessert?”
“Yes, and since you cooked, it’s only fair I clean the kitchen.”
“Naked?”
“Sure.” He laughed. Fair was fair. “Naked, but I hate to dirty up any more dishes than necessary. I guess you’ll have to be my plate.”
Tisha’s eyes widened with surprise. “Plate?”
“Yes.” The more he talked about it, the more he liked the idea. “And I’m willing to bet the strawberries and whipped cream will taste extra good from between your legs.”
“We
should
do our part for the environment.”
“Yes, we should.” Jonah bent down and scooped Tisha up. Laughing, she encircled his neck with her arms and held on tightly as he carried her into the dining room.
Moving to the head of the dark oak table, he nudged the matching chair out of the way then sat her exactly where he would have set his plate. “Make yourself comfortable but don’t move from this spot. I’ll be right back.”
“You’re the boss,” she said with a teasing smile.
“Hmmm…I could get used to hearing that.” For a lifetime or two.
With a smile, Jonah headed into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and spotted a clear glass bowl filled with whipped cream sitting alongside a matching bowl piled high with ripe, large strawberries. Smiling, he pulled out the two containers then closed the door with his shoulder before heading into the dining room.
To his immense pleasure, with the exception of moving her arms back behind her to brace her weight, Tisha had stayed exactly as he placed her. She was the perfect easel for his soon-to-be culinary masterpiece. “Anyone ever tell you you look good enough to eat?”
Cocking an eyebrow, Tisha slipped the shirt off one shoulder and parted her legs. “
Bon appetit
.”
Fuck
. If he thought he was hard before, when she’d been flashing him little glimpses of her delicious body, seeing her in all her glory shot his cock into overdrive. Words alone couldn’t describe how overtly desirable she was to him, lounging before him like a sumptuous feast. On the one hand, he wanted to forget all about his plans for dessert and fuck her as he wanted to, hard and fast. But on the other, Jonah wanted to make her as crazy for him as he was for her. Drive her to the edge of madness until she was begging him to come deep inside her.
He smiled wickedly, decision made.
After setting the bowls down, he pulled the plastic wrap off before tossing it carelessly over his shoulder.
“Slob,” she teased.
“Shh…” He grabbed a strawberry and pressed it against her lips until she opened and took a bite. “No talking with your mouth full.”
Amidst her laughter, he picked up another berry and dipped it in the cream. Then, using it as a paintbrush, he swiped it across her pebbled nipples, one at a time, coating her dark tips with the sweet confection.
Once her nipples were decorated to his satisfaction, Jonah stepped back to take in the provocative, arousing sight before him. The pale whiteness of the cream against the dark brown of her skin made his cock ache. She was the epitome of every sexual fantasy, thought and dream he’d ever had come to life. He didn’t know what he’d ever done to deserve her, but he was thankful nevertheless. “Damn, I’m good.”
“Yes, you are, but that’s a little cold.”
“Let’s see if I can warm you up.” Setting the berry back in the bowl, Jonah leaned forward and took her cream-coated nipple in his mouth. He swirled his tongue around the aroused peak until he’d cleaned it of every last drop.
“I’m feeling warmer already.” She moaned, pressing closer to him.
Pulling back, he blew lightly against the damp tip. “Then I guess you don’t need me anymore.”
“No,” Tisha reached out and entwined her fingers in his hair, pulling his mouth back to her breast, “I’d never say that.”
“
Good.” He chuckled, capturing her nipple in his mouth and drawing the tight bud between his teeth. Tisha arched her back, offering her breast up to him like a pagan at an altar.
“God, yes.”
Jonah cupped her breast as he pulled way, brushing his thumbs against the damp peak for a few seconds. “Did you like that?”
“Hmm, very much.” Her eyes were closed and a small smile hovered over her lips.
“Good.” Releasing his hold on her, he reached in the bowl again. “Dessert isn’t over yet though.”
After dipping another strawberry in the whipped cream, he brought the berry to her mouth and coated her full lips with the white froth before allowing her to take a bite of the ripe berry. “Hmm…” she moaned, closing her eyes as she chewed.
Juice trickled from the red fruit. Enraptured by the sight, he used his thumb to wipe up the excess then slid his fingers between his own lips.
Tisha opened her eyes again and sent him a look of unfettered desire that called to him. It was a look he couldn’t ignore a second longer. Capturing her mouth in a searing kiss, Jonah slipped his tongue between her lips and indulged in the erotic taste of berries, cream and Tisha. It was a heady combination that damn near stole his breath.
Before he lost his head and took her where she lay, he broke their kiss and stepped back for a moment to regain his composure.
“Are we done playing then?” Tisha’s breathing was as heavy as Jonah’s.
“Not hardly.” Jonah grasped her by the hips then lifted and set her back farther on the table. “Lie down, bend your knees and open your legs.”
“I don’t think I can take much more,” she said, even as she moved to do as he said.
“Too bad.” Jonah ran his hands up her calves then down her thighs, spreading her legs in the process. He kept his touch light and feathery as he explored her body, all the while avoiding touching her sex.
“Jonah. Don’t tease me.”
“Why not? Don’t you like my touches?” He placed a small kiss on the inside of her thigh. From the angle he was at, he could smell her arousal. Her intoxicating scent was so enthralling, it took everything out of him to refrain from burying his face between her legs.
“Please.” Tisha arched her back, lifting her hips in invitation. It was one he could resist no longer. Drawing his finger through the white whipped topping, he traced it along the seam of her pussy, mixing it with her own creamy essence. “Jonah…”
“Yes?” Jonah brought his finger to his mouth and licked it clean. Mmmm…better than he’d even imagined.
“Please,” she whimpered again.
“Please what, pretty baby?” Parting her lips, he gently ran his index finger and his middle finger against the damp opening of her heated sex. It was light enough they didn’t slip into her but heavy enough to get her attention.
“Are you really…going to make me…ask?” She moaned. Her hips undulated toward him, wordlessly asking what she would not.
“I think I am.”
“Fine,” she groaned. “Please, eat me.”
“My pleasure.” Answering the plea in her voice, Jonah lowered his mouth to her slick slit and gave them both what they wanted.
Anchoring her hips in his cupped hands, he used his mouth, his teeth and his tongue in every way imaginable to bring her pleasure. Only he wouldn’t let her get off. No. He made her earn it with the cries from her lips and the pull of her hands in his hair. He forced her over and over to the brink of release, pulling back just shy of orgasm, wanting the moment to last until neither of them could take a second longer. He made it last until she begged him to finish.
“No more, please, Jonah,” she pleaded in a choking voice. “Let me come.”
Thrusting two fingers deep within her heated core, he raised his mouth a fraction of an inch and ordered hoarsely, “Come for me, baby. Now,” before taking her clit and sucking hard, giving her just the right pressure she needed to soar. Like a fragile shattered plate, she came apart, her body quivering as she chanted his name.
As she lay trembling before him, Jonah straightened and wiped his hand across his mouth. “Dessert was…wonderful. Now I’m ready for the main course.”
Chapter Thirteen
Tisha snuggled under the warmth of the comforter and tried to ignore the bright light shining down on her face. It was way too early for her to wake up. The misplacement of the sunlight, combined with the masculine smell of the sheets and the tingling feeling of the satisfaction of a woman who had been well-loved the night before reminded her whose bed she was in.
She stretched her legs and felt the pull of muscles that had gotten quite a workout. Jonah had been relentless this weekend. She lost count of the number of times he brought her to orgasm. The man had made a meal of her body, licking, sucking and tasting every inch of her, and she’d loved every minute of it.
The first night he’d done things with the ingredients for strawberry shortcake the good lord never intended. There was no way in hell she was ever going to be able to cruise the produce section without experiencing a sexual flashback. It was only after exhaustion began to overshadow her orgasms that Jonah allowed her to actually sample the nuked meal she’d made for them earlier.
Last night had been even better. This time it involved a candlelit picnic in the backyard, followed by a rousing bout of lovemaking under the stars. Just thinking of the naughty way he teased her body from head to toe made Tisha smile. If she weren’t so lethargic, she might have slipped her hand under the blanket and used her memory and her nimble fingers to get herself off once more. Jonah hadn’t wasted a single minute of their weekend alone. He really took the meaning “when the cat’s away the mice will play” to a whole other level.
“Good morning, sunshine.”
Without opening her eyes or changing her expression she spoke. “Don’t let the smile fool you. I still hate mornings.”
“But not this morning.”
“What’s so special about today?” Tisha opened one eye and peered over at Jonah, who was dressed only in gray sweatpants. He was standing at the foot of the bed, holding a tray brimming with food. His dark, shoulder-length hair was slicked back and looked damp, as if he just stepped out of the shower.
“Breakfast in bed, for starters.”
“Breakfast?” The man knew her so well.
“Yes, bacon, eggs, and French toast.” Jonah turned the tray so she could see the handle of a white coffee cup. “And piping hot, caffeine-laden java.”
“Ahhhh.” With both eyes open now, Tisha sat up. Maybe there was something to this morning thing after all. After placing two pillows behind her, she raised the comforter and tucked it under her arms. “I’m ready.” She patted her lap for emphasis. “Feed me.”
“See, if I knew all it took to get you in a good mood in the morning was a thorough fuck the night before followed by breakfast in bed the next day, I would have done this ages ago.”
“We didn’t know each other ages ago,” she reminded him as she picked up her coffee cup and took a small sip.
He joined her on the bed, sitting down near her lap so they were facing one another, the tray between them. “It feels like it though, doesn’t it?”
“What, getting tired of the old ball and chain already?” She smirked as she set the cup down again.
“Not at all. Quite the opposite in fact. ” Jonah picked up a piece of bacon and offered it to her, rubbing the tip against her bottom lip suggestively. “Open up.”
Wary, Tisha raised her hand and took the piece of meat from him. “I sincerely hope you’re not planning on doing anything with that bacon but eating it.” She took a bite of the crispy slice before returning the remaining part back to her plate. “A woman has to draw the line with food play somewhere.”
“Of course.” Smiling, Jonah picked up a small floral gravy boat and tilted it so she could see inside. “But the syrup is an entirely different matter in itself.”
Even though his tone was teasing, there was a sudden heat to his gaze that made her quiver. She didn’t know how he did it but with a simple look he made her feel as if she were the most beautiful, desirable woman alive. “Jonah. Sweetie. I love you, I really do, but you’re going to have to give a sista a second to catch her breath.”
“Never.” With the tray still between them, Jonah leaned forward to brush his lips over hers. “I’m not going to give you a chance to ever get away from me.”
“If you keep fucking me then feeding me like this, I can assure you, I’m not going anywhere.”
“Can I get that in writing?”
“I’ll hire a pilot to write it in the sky if you’d like.”
“That won’t be necessary. You can simply say yes to my next question.”
“Question?”
In lieu of replying, Jonah picked up the napkin off the tray to reveal a small black jewelry box.
“Ohmygod.” She said it so loud and so fast, the three words blended into one. Open-mouthed, she stared like a slack-jawed yokel at the velvet box, willing her brain to begin working again so she could speak, but her mind was too busy tripping over itself to function correctly. Wide-eyed, she raised her gaze to meet Jonah’s, who was staring intently at her. “Is that…is that…” Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Tisha tried again. “Wow. I’m in total shock right now. I’m torn between laughing hysterically and throwing up.”
His expression shuttered for a moment and his smile went down a watt or two. “Not exactly the reaction I was going for.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s normal.” Happiness and vomit occasionally went hand in hand.
Her answer seemed to relax and amuse him. “So, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.” Jonah reached out to tuck a stray hair behind her ear.
“Not necessarily.” Bad was nowhere near how she felt.
“I know proposing in sweats over a tray of overcooked bacon and microwaved French toast isn’t exactly romantic, but I was hoping maybe you could forgive my lack of finesse as you did my lack of manners the first day we met.”
“I…” Tisha raised wonder-filled eyes to stare lovingly at Jonah, who looked as if he too was having trouble keeping his emotions at bay. “I’ll overlook it this time.”
“Thank you.” Jonah picked up the box and opened the top, tilting it toward her so she could see the ring. The sunlight hit the solitaire princess-cut diamond in such a way it almost appeared as if the diamond winked at her. “I’d get on one knee, but then I’d be proposing to the mattress and I wouldn’t be able to tell if you said yes or no.”
“Is there even a doubt?” Tisha tore her gaze away from the beautiful ring, but it took great effort to do so.
“Maybe a small one.” Tisha could hear the small sense of uncertainty in his voice. “As wonderful and charming as I am, I do come with a lot of baggage. I sincerely doubt single fathers fighting for custody of precocious pre-teens are exactly on the most desirable list.”
“I guess it would depend on the father and the pre-teen, because from where I’m sitting, it’s pretty damn attractive.”
“Enough to maybe convince you to say yes?”
“I don’t know,” she teased, brain firing now on all cylinders. “I haven’t actually heard a question yet.”
“True.” Jonah palmed the ring box and stood then picked up the tray from her lap and set it on the floor before joining her on the bed once more. He pulled the ring out then took her left hand in his. “Tisha Nichols, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Just hearing him say the actual words brought tears to her eyes. Even though Tisha prided herself on being strong, she did nothing to stop the tears from pouring forth. “Yes, Jonah, I will.”
Jonah brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed her bare finger before sliding the ring on. Without bothering to see if it fit or how it looked against her skin, Tisha slipped her hand behind his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. She could stare later. Right now she had to show her fiancé just how pleased she was.
* * * * *
“Were you able to get in touch with her?” Tisha asked when Jonah joined her back at the restaurant table.
“No,” Jonah said with a small frown. “It went directly to her voicemail.”
They were enjoying their first outing as an engaged couple, but their little excursion wasn’t as wonderful as it could have been because there was a black cloud hanging over their heads, in the form of one little girl who wasn’t answering her phone. Jonah had attempted to get in contact with Cami since they’d finally untangled themselves, but so far, he’d no luck. “That’s not like her.”
“No, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she put her phone down somewhere, forgot all about plugging it in and now the battery is dead.” Jonah paused to take a bite out of his manicotti. “See, this is why a nine-year-old shouldn’t have a cell phone.”
“Right, as if you let her go anywhere without that thing handcuffed to her wrist.”
“You can’t be too trusting these days. People are crazy.”
Tisha laughed lightly and sat back in her chair. He was so cute when he was doing his whole Papa Bear thing. “People aren’t any crazier now than they were when we were growing up. The only difference now is we have better technology.”
“Are you suggesting I take the phone away?”
“Hell no.” The thought of Cami, out there alone with no backup, in ReShaunda’s incapable hands, sent a shiver of revulsion through Tisha. “We need to be able to get in touch with her 24/7.”
“That’s what I thought.” Jonah smirked.
Feeling a little sheepish, Tisha smiled. “I was just saying.” It was going to take some time to balance out these new feelings. On one hand, she wanted to let Cami experience the world as it was, yet on the other, she wanted to tether the girl to her and keep her safe from harm.
“Uh-huh. I can see it now. You’re going to be as big of a worrywart as I am.”
“Probably more so. I know how girls’ minds work.”
A look of pain crossed his face. “God. Stop. I don’t even want to think of that yet.”
“Try as you might, Papa, the time will come.”
“Thanks a lot, Momma.” The emphasis he put on the last word made her pause in thought.
“Momma,” Tisha repeated, testing the name out on her lips. “Weird.”
“What’s weird?”
“Being a momma.”
“Too weird? I know insta-family can be a bi—”
“Hush. I’m a fan of weird. I did agree to marry you after all.” Not that he was really weird. In fact, he and Cami seemed like the most normal family she’d ever met.
“That you did, but you know,” Jonah picked up her hand and placed a kiss against her engagement ring, “the correct way to finalize an engagement is to spend the rest of the weekend in bed. I mean, if we don’t, I’m not sure it can technically count.”
“We wouldn’t want that.”
“No, we wouldn’t.”
“How much time do we have before Cami comes home?”
Jonah looked at his watch then back up at Tisha with a wicked grin. “Long enough.”
“Then by all means, let’s make this official.”
Jonah raised his hand and signaled to the waiter for the check. “Have I told you lately how much I love the way you think?”
“No, but why don’t you take me home and show me?”
“It will be my pleasure.”
The way he said pleasure made her quiver and Tisha knew it wouldn’t be his pleasure alone.
* * * * *
After pulling into the driveway, Jonah turned off the engine and exited the car. Smiling he walked around the hood of the car to the passenger side to open the door for Tisha. “My lady.”
“Is this the sort of treatment I can expect from my husband-to-be?”
Jonah took her hand and helped her from the car. “Most definitely.”
“You want to show Cami what a real man is like, huh?”
“What do you mean?” he asked as he shut the door.
Tisha leaned back against the closed door and slipped her index fingers through the front belt loops of Jonah’s pants to pull him closer to her. “My mom always said girls with good fathers look for good men. You’re an excellent dad, you treat her so well, love and spoil her to distraction, and now you’re turning that same attention on me. Through me you’re going to show her how she should expect a man to treat her. In other words, you’re going to prevent her from ever dating because men like you don’t come around often.”
“That’s what I’m counting on. I like both my girls where I can see them.”
“Think you can handle one more girl, or maybe a boy?”
At one point in time Jonah would have never thought he’d be able to imagine his life with one kid, let alone two or three. But the joy he experienced on a daily basis from rearing Cami, and the mere idea of watching Tisha grow heavy with his child was all the convincing he needed. “I think the only way we’ll know for sure is if you give them to me.”
“I’m up to the challenge. Are you?”
“Bring it, wo—” Before Jonah could finish his sentence, a gray sedan pulled up behind his car in the driveway. Startled, he turned his head and stared in wonder at the familiar man dressed in jeans and a light blue polo stepping out of the car.
“Who’s that?” Tisha released her hold on him and stood straight once more.
“Eddy,” Jonah answered as he watched the tall African-American man approach him. “ReShaunda’s husband.”