Clearing his head of that particular train of thought, Tiberius located his house key. “Droopey?” he called, glancing toward the backyard. “Droopey?” he called again, shrugging when the dog didn’t appear. Going through the kitchen, he sat his briefcase on the counter and continued undressing as he headed upstairs to shower.
Capri had just donned her underwear when the doorbell rang. “Damn,” she whispered, glancing at the clock on her nightstand and
realizing that she’d taken much longer on her hair and makeup than she’d planned. Pulling a short gray silk robe over her lacy black garments, she ran downstairs.
Tiberius’s unforgettable light eyes narrowed and he groaned deep in his chest when he saw Capri standing before him. Hoping she hadn’t heard him, he cleared his throat. His eyes slid down from her curly hair, upswept into a French roll with loose tendrils dangling along her neck, to her beautiful round face before staring helplessly at her barely clothed body.
Capri, on the other hand, was so busy apologizing for not being ready, that she didn’t notice the blatant male desire radiating from Tiberius’s sexy stare. “It was so crazy at the studio today I couldn’t get away on time,” she rambled, even though Tiberius was hardly paying attention to her words. “Come on in,” she invited, her dark eyes taking in the cut and fit of the long-sleeved olive-green shirt across his wide shoulders and muscled back. The linen shirt had a stylishly oversize collar and cuffed sleeves. The matching trousers molded to his lean waist and hips without appearing too snug. They hung loosely over his strong thighs and long legs, while showing just a hint of the considerable bulge between his legs.
Patting her hand against her chest, Capri cleared her throat and headed back upstairs. “I’m gonna finish getting dressed. Help yourself to anything,” she called over her shoulder.
Tiberius clenched his large hands into fists and ordered himself not to take her offer the way he really wanted. He actually ached to touch her, and when she disappeared upstairs he headed to the kitchen for something cold to drink.
He was still there when Capri found him a few moments later.
“Are you okay?” she asked, concerned by the dazed look on his handsome face.
Tiberius ran on finger along the sleek dark line of his brows and closed his eyes. “Mmm-hmm…great,” he grumbled, wishing the sight of her didn’t affect him so. Unfortunately, the outfit she’d
chosen for the evening would not allow that. The little black slip dress flared at mid-thigh. It had triple spaghetti straps that crossed over her back and allowed her to go braless. The front emphasized her exceptionally full breasts and small waist. When Capri finally walked away from him to check the back doors, Tiberius let out the breath he’d been unconsciously holding and poured another glass of lemonade.
“Lewey? Lewey?” Capri had ventured to the patio to call for her dog. When he didn’t show, she shrugged and headed back in. “Looks like he’s itching to get out of the house for a night. He’s done this before so he should be fine.”
“Droopey does the same thing sometimes,” Tiberius said as he watched Capri lock the French doors leading to the patio. He waited for her to grab her wrap and purse, then escorted her out to his truck. Though his hand rested lightly against the small of her back, the touch still sent shivers down Capri’s spine. Tiberius knew that she was just as affected by the closeness as he was, so he pulled his hand away.
When Capri settled into the passenger seat, Tiberius couldn’t help but enjoy the way the strappy high-heeled sandals emphasized the shape of her legs. He ordered himself to focus on something else and slammed the vehicle’s door shut with more force than necessary.
T
he engagement party was held at a club that boasted a choice location right on the water. It was an old warehouse that had been converted into a stylish state-of-the-art facility. The main light source was the myriad electric candles on the walls and glass tables. Vintage disco balls hung from the ceiling, casting countless sparkles around the room. On the deck surrounding the building, moonlight reflected off the water and provided an even more exquisite source of lighting.
When Tiberius pulled to a halt in front of the club, Capri was speechless with surprise. Rod had said the party would be simple, but she should’ve known he’d go to the limit.
“Hold on,” Tiberius called, when he saw Capri about to step out of the truck on her own.
Capri did as he asked and watched him get out of the car and walk around to her side. She admired his easy, unhurried stride, and the way his stylish attire molded to his large, athletic build.
Pulling her door open, Tiberius’s deep-set gaze fell once more to her shapely legs and thighs. He offered his hand and smiled when she rested her slender fingers against his wide palm.
As they made their way into the club, Tiberius kept his hand around Capri’s upper arm. His grip was light, yet vaguely possessive. Capri decided she was imagining the latter. Still, her lips parted slightly as she took several deep breaths to keep her cool.
“Champagne?” a waiter asked, holding out a tray of flutes filled to the brim with the sparkling liquid. Tiberius handed Capri a glass and took one for himself. Then they followed the waiter through the crowded club as he showed them to their table for the evening.
Tiberius and Capri had only been seated five minutes when people began stopping by to speak. Tiberius remained social, though he was more interested in watching Capri. He settled back in his seat, crossed his long legs at the ankles and simply enjoyed the sight of her. The way her dark eyes lit up and her smile dimpled held him entranced. Several people stopped to talk and Capri always seemed eager to hear what they had to say. She never appeared to be bothered or too tired to chat. If anything, she appeared even livelier with each visitor.
“Oh, isn’t this nice?” Capri asked Tiberius later, when the waiter left with their dinner orders.
“Yeah, Rod went all out, didn’t he?”
Capri nodded and looked around the club. “I’m so glad he finally proposed to Kiva.”
“Yeah, I suppose I am, too.”
Capri frowned and sent Tiberius a questioning look. “You don’t sound very excited about it.”
Tiberius shrugged and toyed with the thick black curls on his head. “It’s just not a big thing to me, that’s all. Marriage usually results in divorce, so I really never understood what the point was.”
Capri was somewhat taken aback by Tiberius’s cynical viewpoint and wanted to find out more. “Well, they don’t always end up that way, Tibe.”
“I didn’t say they did, I said they
usually
did.”
“I take it your parents are divorced?”
A muscle in Tiberius’s jaw jumped fiercely. “You take it right.”
Capri leaned across the table and patted his hand. “I’m sorry.”
Tiberius’s brown gaze settled to Capri’s hand resting over his and he shrugged. “It’s not a big deal, really. I mean, I spent much of my childhood wondering why they even bothered in the first place. Hell they weren’t the only ones in my family who divorced.
I grew up around it, and that makes me not want to go through it with anybody.”
“But you might not,” Capri quietly pointed out. “Just because everybody else in your family split up, it doesn’t mean the same thing will happen to you. What about your grandparents? They had a fantastic marriage, right?”
The look in Tiberius’s warm brown eyes became cold and guarded. A humorless smirk crossed his mouth as he shook his head. “They were different, and I just prefer not to take the chance…ever.”
Capri lowered her dark gaze to the table to hide the disappointment there. She didn’t know what to do with the discovery and felt it best just to put it away from her for the time being. A part of her celebrated the fact that she hadn’t fallen for him, but a more sensible part of her was forced to admit that she already had.
“Capri? Is that you, girl?”
“Well, hello.” Capri smiled as Avery Erikson pressed a kiss to her cheek.
Avery leaned against a vacant chair at the table and pushed one hand into the pocket of his tan designer trousers. “I can’t believe you took out enough time from that studio to come to a party.”
“Well, he
is
my boss,” Capri jokingly pointed out.
Avery laughed and noticed the large, intense-looking man also seated at the table. “What’s up, man?” he asked, reaching over to shake hands.
Tiberius nodded and shook hands with Avery.
“Tiberius Evans, this is Avery Erikson.” Capri supplied the introductions. “Avery’s going to be the
face
for the new fragrance Bare Minimum.” She ignored the humorous glint that flashed in Tiberius’s eyes and turned to Avery. “Tiberius is an obstetrician and, I’m pleased to say, my new landlord,” she explained.
“So, Capri, could I get you to share a dance with me?” Avery
asked, glancing at Tiberius once the two men had nodded over each other’s respective careers.
Capri looked over at Tiberius as well. Her lovely onyx eyes were wide in silent question.
Tiberius waved one hand lightly in the air. “It’s okay,” he assured her.
Avery led Capri out to the dance floor, but didn’t take her too far from the table. Tiberius’s pensive gaze followed every movement of Capri’s small, sensual form. It was crystal clear that he wanted her. He settled on allowing Avery Erikson a few moments to enjoy having Capri in his arms. Of course, it wasn’t long before he’d had enough of watching the twosome twirl around the dance floor.
He recalled their brief conversation about marriage and its results. He’d always felt his views for or against the institution were something to be admired. After all, the divorce rate was high enough without him added to the mix. But it might not turn out that way. Tiberius shook his head and recalled what Capri had said. He supposed anyone who had ever taken vows believed the same thing. His parents had at one time, at least he hoped they had. Grimacing at the thought, he tossed back the rest of his vodka tonic and pushed himself from his seat.
One thing was certain: Capri Timmons was far too special to wind up with someone who held such jaded views toward the institution of marriage. Because of his background, with the ugliness he’d witnessed between his parents, aunts, uncles…how could he believe that he was destined for a path that was anything different? Sure his grandparents had been happy, even blissful. Deep down, however, he’d always considered the success of their union a fluke—a beautiful fluke but a fluke nonetheless.
“Avery, what are you doing?” Capri’s eyes widened slightly when Avery stopped swaying to the music. He was staring over her head,
so she followed the line of his gaze and saw Tiberius standing behind them.
“You mind?” Tiberius asked Avery, who didn’t argue about being cut in on.
Avery smiled down at Capri and then released his hold on her.
Tiberius slid his arms neatly around Capri’s waist and held her firmly against him. Capri couldn’t stop her gasp and stared up at him as her hands lay weakly against his chest.
In a world of their own, they took advantage of the chance to discover the feel of one another. Capri relaxed, rested her forehead against Tiberius’s chest and inhaled his unique scent, enhanced by the cologne he wore. Her small hands smoothed over his muscular abdomen, before moving back up to knead his taut biceps.
Tiberius’s hands weren’t still, either. His fingers caressed Capri’s bare back beneath the straps of her dress as his mouth caressed the soft hair along her temple. He didn’t want to pressure her, but it was as though his hands had a will of their own. They lowered from the straps of her dress and down the small of her back to cup and briefly caress her buttocks. Capri lifted her head from Tiberius’s shoulder, just as his lips slid down her temple to find her mouth.
The seductive atmosphere combined with the sensual crooning of Kem overhead provided added stimulus to what was happening between them. Erotic thoughts drew their body heats to a fevered pitch. When Tiberius thrust his tongue into the dark moist cavern of Capri’s mouth, they both moaned. Capri’s soft cries were smothered in the hot, wet kiss. Her fingers massaged the hard muscles in Tiberius’s back as his tongue rubbed across her own. Capri’s repeated gasps gave him more room to explore her mouth.
Tiberius grumbled something needy and incoherent. Capri wound her arms around his neck and the kiss deepened. The two of them almost forgot where they were, until clapping and shouting filled the room. Rod and Kiva had just arrived and everyone was crowding around them near the front of the club.
Capri pulled her mouth from Tiberius’s and tried to push herself out of his arms.
“No,” Tiberius whispered in a tortured, raspy voice. His embrace tightened around Capri’s waist, as he pressed his face against her neck.
“Tibe…Rod and Kiva are here and we have to speak,” Capri insisted, trying to catch her breath.
Tiberius held on to her a while longer, his chest heaving against hers as he took several deep gulps of air. Finally, he made himself let her go and they made their way through the crowd.
Kiva tugged on Rod’s sleeve when she saw Tiberius and Capri walking toward them.
“You two came here together?” Rod blurted before anything else could be said.
Kiva pushed her elbow into his ribs. “What do you think?” she whispered.
Tiberius and Capri made a joint silent decision not to discuss it and pulled Rod and Kiva close for hugs. When the congratulations and best wishes were given, the engaged couple ventured out to the dance floor. Capri and Tiberius went back to their table.
Capri kept her eyes cast downward, unsure of what to say. Tiberius watched her for a while before moving into a seat next to her. He trailed a finger down the satiny-smooth line of her cheek and beneath her chin. Nudging her head up, he waited for her eyes to meet his before he spoke.
“I’m sorry if I just did something I shouldn’t have, but…oh never mind, I—I’m just sorry.”
The softly voiced admission caused Capri’s heart to flutter madly, but she otherwise remained calm. “No, you didn’t do anything wrong Tibe. There’s nothing to apologize for. What’s a little kiss between neighbors?” she said lightly.
Silently, Tiberius thanked her for that, though his narrowed gaze widened slightly. Clearing his throat, he reached for a fresh drink
and took a long swallow. “Your honesty continues to surprise me.”
Capri shrugged and let her eyes settle on Tiberius’s wide, sensual mouth. “It’s all a person really has,” she intimated.
The electricity crackling between them was undeniable. They would’ve kissed again but their food arrived. Suddenly famished, Capri dug into the delicious shrimp fettuccine alfredo, unable to believe how hungry she was. Tiberius concentrated on his chicken cacciatore and silence settled.
It wasn’t long before Rod and Kiva arrived at the table they were sharing with Capri and Tiberius. Laughter and conversation returned with the arrival of the happy couple and the celebration really began.
After the party ended about three hours later, Tiberius took Capri home. The ride was quiet except for the jazz vibrating from the stereo speakers.
When Tiberius shut off the silver Navigator’s purring engine, Capri silently prayed that he would go home and let the evening end there. Of course he didn’t, choosing to help her from his truck and follow her to her house. Capri didn’t make a fuss but decided that once they were inside she’d make it clear that perhaps they should leave things at the friends-and-neighbors level.
No sooner had Tiberius slammed the front door shut behind them than he grabbed Capri’s wrist and pull her to him. He was kissing her before any words could be spoken.
Capri would’ve slipped right to the floor beneath the erotic mastery of the kiss, but Tiberius didn’t give her the chance. Determined to continue what they’d started at the club, he lifted her high against him and increased the pressure of the kiss. The last thing on Capri’s mind was resisting. Threading her fingers through Tiberius’s silky crop of hair, she was focused on returning the kiss with equal passion.
Tiberius let his hands mold to Capri’s form like an artist creating a clay sculpture. He memorized every dip and curve time and time again. His large palms cupped her bottom before sliding around her thighs and silently ordering her to wrap her legs around his back. Capri complied and didn’t realize they were headed to the sofa until she felt the thick cushions beneath her back. Tiberius ended the kiss and trailed his moist lips down the silky column of her neck. He pressed his tongue against the base of her throat while one hand sought her breast. Capri pushed her head farther back into the cushions and cried out so softly she was barely heard.
Tiberius massaged the soft, ample mound of her breast before easing the straps of her dress across her shoulder. He raised his head and watched as he tugged the bodice across one voluptuous breast. Groaning, his eyes narrowed and he took the firm nipple between his lips.