He groaned in pleasure as he located her skin. Without breaking the kiss, he lifted her to the countertop. She widened her legs, allowing him to rub against her. Tugging on her panties until they snapped, he sank two fingers deep inside her.
“Ohh,” she moaned, thrusting her hips forward, bringing him in even further.
Leaving her succulent mouth, he followed the neckline of her dress, laving the tops of her breasts before sucking one after another into his mouth. He grazed the nipples as he continued to thrust his fingers within her.
She dropped her head back as one hand sank deep into his hair, holding him closer. Her gasps and groans filled his ears as he unfastened his pants. Freeing himself, he sank within her heated depth in one smooth stroke.
“Oh yeah,” she whispered. “Just like that.”
He couldn’t agree more.
Chapter Twelve
Ta-Mara folded the rest of the laundry she’d just taken out of the dryer and put it in the basket waiting by her feet. She was still sore from the most recent assignation with Levi in the kitchen before she’d actually got around to making something to eat.
Thank God I’m on the pill since we’ve done away with condoms.
Jessie Mae had called and had needed some help with a broken window, so Levi had gone to take care of that and she’d begun her laundry. Well, she’d begun doing
their
laundry.
“Hell, he should just move into my bedroom.”
“Who should just move into your bedroom?”
She turned with a squeal and glared at the person waiting there. He lounged against the doorway, arms crossed, sending her an evil grin.
“Trent!” She jumped the basket and dashed to his embrace. “Oh my God, it’s so good to see you! When’d you get in? How long are you staying? Where are you staying? You know I have room here if you—”
“Damn, woman. Let a man get a kiss and a breath before you start on them so much.”
He pressed a kiss to her cheek and she returned it. “I think my question should be answered first.”
“Your question?”
“Yes. Who should just move into your bedroom?”
She flushed.
Damn it, no one was supposed to hear that.
Of course, what did she expect—she didn’t lock her house so people could, and did, just walk in.
“You were eavesdropping, so I don’t have to answer you.”
He snorted. “That’s what you think.”
She rolled her eyes and hugged him again. “You’re a horrible man.”
“Perhaps. You have room for me to crash here?”
“Of course I do. You know I have plenty. How long are you here for?”
“A while. Have some things to take care of here. So, get me some food and tell me who you are thinking of moving into your bedroom. Is he here? Locked up somewhere?”
“You know I would never let you know where I keep my men locked up.” She went to the basket and shoved it into his arms. “Carry this.”
He took it to her room before they returned to the kitchen and sat at the counter where she shoved a plate full of ham, greens and macaroni and cheese before him. There was no talking as he shoved food into his mouth as if he’d not had anything edible for a long while.
“Hungry?” she asked when the plate was cleaned.
“You have no idea. I’ve missed your cookin’.”
“More?”
“You know it. Any cornbread?”
She smirked and nodded as she fixed the second plate. “Of course. But had I known you were coming, I would have made a fresh batch of it up. Just for you. God, are they starving you up there?”
“Sometimes I think they are trying. Luckily I know I can always come back home to someone who loves me.”
She slid the heated plate before him a second time. “Who loves you?”
“You do.”
“Are you sure?”
Trent glared at her before picking up his fork and shoveling more in. When the sound of a screen door slamming hit them, she sat up with a slight bit of apprehension.
“I’m back, Ta-Mara.”
Trent paused with the forkful halfway to his mouth. “Is this who should be moving into your bedroom?”
Shit. This could end up being ugly.
“Be nice, Trent.”
He batted his eyes at her. “I’m always nice.”
“Right.”
Levi strode into view and she saw him hesitate as he gazed over the two of them sitting so close to one another. She sent him a smile. “How’s Jessie Mae doing?”
“She’s okay, the window wasn’t really broken, just stuck and she couldn’t get it fixed, being stuck in the wheelchair and all.”
“Thanks for going and taking care of that. This is Trent Babineaux. Trent, Levi Madison.” It was as if the temperature had gone down in the room and there existed an edge of danger that hadn’t been there before. She licked her lips, refusing to look away from the slight frown Levi sported, and added, “He’s my cousin.”
The man didn’t relax his protective stance. In fact, neither of them did. She groaned and shook her head.
“Knock it off, you two. Please, I don’t have the energy for all the posturing.” She slipped from her seat and moved to Levi. Placing a hand on his chest, she waited for him to meet her gaze. “Cousin.”
“My woman.”
“What?” She wasn’t following.
A sparkle returned to his gaze. “I thought we were playing word association. You say something and I say what first pops into my head.”
She pushed up on her toes to kiss him. “Silly man.” Glancing between them both she said, “I’m going up to fix a room for Trent. Y’all play nice now.” With the hope there would be no bloodshed, she went up the stairs and got the room with the attached porch ready for her cousin, well aware how much he liked staying in that room when he came.
The men were talking about college when she returned. Levi had a mug of coffee before him and Trent drank a beer.
“So you never went to college?” Trent asked.
She paused at the fridge to hear his answer. “No, I was enlisted in the Army.”
Grabbing her own drink, she went to lean against the counter. Trent frowned and swirled his beer before speaking again.
“You mean you signed up.”
“No, I had no choice.”
“There’s always a choice,” Trent argued.
She met Levi’s gaze and he shook his head. “Not in my house with my father.”
Thankfully, Trent accepted that answer. She didn’t know how they would be explaining about where he came from and all of that. She pulled out the fixings for some fresh cornbread and got to making it while they carried on a conversation around her.
Trent was a familiar fixture in her house and she couldn’t explain how grateful she was he and Levi got along. Her cousin was finishing up his last year of law school and she didn’t get to see him as much as she used to, so his visits were always important to her.
Masculine laughter had her smiling as she slid the cornbread in the oven. Once it had gone in, she joined the men who’d migrated to the living room. They watched some shark show and she merely rolled her eyes and sat beside Levi, who immediately tucked her in close to his side. Ta-Mara saw the understanding look on her cousin’s face.
A little while later she walked with Trent up to the room he’d be staying in while he was here. As expected, he grabbed her arm and held her gaze.
“You two seem serious.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Is that a problem?”
“Only for the fact he doesn’t look like a man who’s ready to settle down. How long will he be around? And what will you do when he leaves?”
Questions she had no way of answering. So she shrugged. “I don’t know, Trent. But I’m good with how things are right now. I’m not looking for forever and a big diamond ring.”
Trent frowned. “Since when do you play fast and loose?”
She scowled right back at him. “I’m not doing that.”
“Really? Have you told your parents about him? The family?”
“Well no, but—”
“Why are you hiding him then?” He crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re playing that with him and I know you, Ta-Mara, you don’t do casual. You get attached. I don’t want you to get hurt because you’re settling for what this man will give you.”
Damn it, she hated that he was right. Refusing to admit it aloud to him, she shrugged. “I know what I’m doing, Trent.”
“I hope so, honey. I don’t buy it and I already think you’re in love with this man.” He took a deep breath. “I’m your cousin, not a parent, so I’ll be in your corner.”
She smiled at him, grateful for his support.
“However,” he continued. “I have no problems beating the shit out of him, just on principle, because he hurt you.”
“He hasn’t hurt me.”
“He will.” Trent kissed her on the cheek and pushed her out the door. “’Night.”
She paused right outside his room and leaned against the wall.
He will.
Two simple words that sounded ominous when they came from Trent in that situation. Ta-Mara took a deep breath and made her way back down to find Levi in the kitchen putting away the rest of the cornbread. He looked up when she entered and gave her a smile that made whatever she might go through in the future worth it.
“Your cousin is nice. He cares a great deal for you.”
“He is and yes, he does.” She moved to his side. “You didn’t have to put that away.”
Levi pinned her between him and the counter. Her nostrils flared and her slit grew wet as she recalled what had happened between them the last time she’d found herself in this position. At the memory, a little moan slid free. Levi arched an eyebrow at her a sexy grin titling up one corner of his mouth.
“You, Ta-Mara, are one hell of a woman.” He lowered his face so his lips brushed along the edge of hers. “You know what I want to do with you right now?”
Words caught in her throat so she shook her head. His scent wafted around her. He brushed his hard body against her and she nearly whimpered at the feel of his stiffness along her hip.
“Would you like me to tell you?”
“Yes.” That one word sounded more like a croak than anything.
Levi didn’t seem to notice or care. He told her. Then showed her.
* * * *
Levi watched Ta-Mara as she stood on stage and sang with Heather. Jasmine and Rachel sat with him, talking and scanning the crowd for men they would consider hooking up with. Honestly, this time had become very confusing for him.
It wasn’t that he didn’t agree with women having rights, but he still didn’t understand why they would deliberately go out looking for a man to sleep with just for the night. He sipped his drink and kept his gaze riveted upon the woman he spent each night in bed with.
Tonight she’d dressed in a black denim skirt sporting a leather belt, which was buckled in the back. She wore a gold tank top with a black fleur-de-lis emblazoned on the front. It flattered her and showed off her figure. He had no problems watching and listening to her. She had this…this
thing
about her, he couldn’t describe it.
When she and Heather finished and left to an enthusiastic applause, Jasmine and Rachel got up, downed their drinks and sauntered up to the stage for their next turn. He leaned in for a kiss when Ta-Mara sat back beside him.
“Sounded wonderful.”
She grinned. “Thanks.”
“Can I get y’all more drinks?” Levi asked.
“Just Coke for Heather, and I’ll take the same,” she said, before Heather could speak.
He wasn’t used to Heather not drinking alcohol but kept his questions to himself. It wasn’t his business.
“Any more thought on whether or not Matthew will be coming to the party?” Ta-Mara asked.
“He wants to. I told him the day and time but he’s not sure he’ll be back from fishing by then.”
“Okay, tell him he can stop by anytime. It’s not like the doors will close.” She looked at Levi and filled him in. “Matthew is Heather’s new boyfriend.”
“Congratulations.”
Heather’s grin was a bit strained but he didn’t dwell on it. Ta-Mara glanced up to the stage and scooted closer. She was between the two of them. “All right. Let’s make sure we have all this ready because I know that woman is getting suspicious. You’re bringing her out to my house for drinks before we head out. We’ll have a small thing with just us so we can get the urge to celebrate out of our system before we could possibly embarrass her in public.”
Heather laughed. “Oh, that would be so much fun to do though. Wouldn’t you love to take her somewhere and have the staff come out with a piece of cake with a candle and sing happy birthday to her?”
The idea had her chuckling as well. Just to see the look on Jasmine’s face… She’d be pissed but it might just be worth it.
“We should do that—not on her birthday though, just on some other day.”
“Oh, she would kill us.”
“With pleasure she would. But I’d go out with a smile on my face.”
Levi listened to the women banter back and forth as they put together the final plans for the party. He was looking forward to it. He’d met a good number of Ta-Mara’s friends but now he’d get to meet those he’d not.
After loading up the drunken duo, Rachel and Jasmine, followed by Heather as well as Ta-Mara, Levi climbed behind the wheel to drive the women. When it was just him and Ta-Mara, he headed for home.
That gave him pause. He had begun to think of her house as an oasis. Not just a place he was staying, but an actual
home
for him. Slanting his gaze to her as he drove, he wondered if she thought the same.
He’d been trying to focus on something other than the odd meeting he’d had with Calliope yesterday. He was still unable to reconcile the time he’d lost during that day. None of it made sense—her comments, why he’d seen her. And honestly, it was tearing him apart inside.
He’d love to talk about it with Ta-Mara. She had, after all, accepted the fact he’d traveled to her from the past. Perhaps talking to her about seeing a ghost wouldn’t be so far-fetched. However, would she want to discuss the woman he’d loved so long ago and with such passion?
He wouldn’t want to talk about another man like that with her. He blew out an exasperated breath and slowed to turn into her drive. “Wake up, Ta-Mara,” he said, pulling beneath the
porte-cochère.