“All that money.” Levi met her gaze. “I’ll pay you back, Ta-Mara.”
“Don’t worry about it.” She shrugged. “You need help and that’s what I am doing.”
“I need to pay my own way.”
“If you could, you would,” Ta-Mara assured him.
Levi didn’t say anything further about it. She opened the back of her SUV and he set the bags inside.
“Let’s get some dinner. I know it’s early but I’m hungry.”
He nodded. Ta-Mara got behind the wheel of the vehicle then drove them to her favorite bar where she parked along the street. It was owned by her friend Rachel and she experienced a brief moment of panic as they crossed the parking lot until Ta-Mara remembered it was Rachel’s usual day off. Although Rachel had helped her yesterday, Ta-Mara was relieved she wouldn’t be in. She wanted some more time with Levi before she
officially
introduced him to her friends. Ta-Mara didn’t want to get to deep into why she wanted him for now just for herself. She just did.
They went in and with it being the early dinner hour, it wasn’t that busy so they were served quickly after they were seated.
As they sat there eating hamburgers, he looked at her and said, “Skin color doesn’t matter anymore?”
She gazed around and saw the room from his point of view. “Not like it used to in your time but there are still instances where stuff gets ugly.”
“I have much to learn.”
“Well, I have a computer so you’re free to read all you want on it. Or I could take you… Nope, never mind. It’s probably best you read stuff online. Don’t need you getting overwhelmed.”
“Whatever you think best, Ta-Mara.”
Shit, the way her name rolled off his tongue had her envisioning all kinds of things they could do to pass the day. Determined not to let it show on her face, she merely shrugged and ate some more fries. Even though they’d kissed, she didn’t assume it would lead to anything further than that. He ate and observed. She watched him, amused by his constant look of amazement.
Not having his attention on her also helped her cool down. She ran over what they’d purchased and figured he had everything he’d need.
Look at me sitting here all calm with a man from the eighteen hundreds, as if our dining together is nothing out of the ordinary.
Huh, would you look at that.
Thinking about it made her chest tighten and heart pound all that much faster. So, perhaps she wasn’t as okay with it as she was trying to convince herself or her friends, as well as Levi.
And why should she be? One stormy night, Ta-Mara was reading a story about a man named Levi, a Confederate, who is willing to die for the woman he loves then the lights went out. When she got them back on, she found herself with a stranger in her building, soaking wet, who said his name is Levi and he’s a Confederate.
Coincidence? Who knew? She obviously didn’t. Perhaps it was time to make an appointment with a shrink.
Wonder how long they would allow me to be free before they decide to lock me up.
She shook off the thought.
She was fine as long as she didn’t think of him as coming from a time before the Civil War had actually begun. So what if he shared a name with the book’s hero? Who cared if he was from the same time? All that mattered was that he heal up and figure out whatever it was he needed to remember.
And in the meantime, the dude was fucking fine, so it was no hardship to be around him. She shook her head at herself and looked over to discover him avidly watching her.
“Everything okay?” she asked. “Still hungry? We can order dessert, if you like.”
“I’d like that.”
She handed him the menu and watched him as he skimmed the listings. When he lifted his gaze, she turned her attention to something else.
“What are you having?”
“The lemon cream cake. You?”
“This cheesecake sounds delicious. I’ve always enjoyed it.”
“I heard theirs is good here.”
“You’ve never had it?”
“Not a cheesecake fan.” She pursed her lips. “Although if it’s deep fried bites, I’ll make an exception.”
His grin set those butterflies a-fluttering in her belly again. It wasn’t fair, really, for him to have such magnetism. Even in here, people looked at him. She understood—there was just something in the way Levi carried himself which demanded attention.
Levi stared at Ta-Mara as he ate his cheesecake. The more time he spent in her company, the more he found himself falling for her. It didn’t make sense. He’d not even known her for a full two days yet in his heart, he
knew
.
Flashing back to the day he’d almost died, he recalled the voice of the woman in his ear and her exact words. “
Levi, you are a man whose love is pure. In a world divided by color, you never faltered. Despite everything put to you, you stayed true to your heart and never turned your back on your soul mate. For that, I tell you this… Rest now. Fear not, for you shall be returned to the arms of your love. Trust your heart, for it won’t lead you astray.”
Which brought him back to his current dilemma. Returned to the arms of his love. Calliope. Not Ta-Mara. But if he were to trust his heart, it was pointing him in the direction of his lovely host. He hadn’t lied earlier about wishing he could go farther with the kissing.
He homed in on her mouth as she ate her cream cake. She had such plump lips. He was already addicted to them. Kissing her in the small room he’d changed in wasn’t something he’d soon forget. She’d been so responsive. He’d nearly forgotten anything but the feel of her against him.
And now, how she ate was sending him to distraction. He shook his head to clear his thoughts. This wasn’t like him at all. What he was experiencing was for young, untried men. Boys even.
He was well past the age when a pretty face turned his head. Wasn’t he?
Not when that face belonged to Ta-Mara. He blew out a breath and finished his dessert.
“You ready?”
Snapped from his reverie, he glanced up to see her watching him.
“Yes, ma’am.”
He watched, disgruntled, as she paid for their meal. After she signed a receipt—he’d already asked how she paid with a small card—they got up to leave. Levi noticed how other men stared at her and he moved up closer to her. With a smug grin, he settled his hand on the small of her back.
The bare skin that met his palm sent fire surging through his veins. He’d forgotten her shirt had an open back. Staring down at her, he loved the difference in their skin tones. He could make out the bumps of her spine and he had this urge to drag his tongue up her skin. Then back down and around until… He stopped that line of thought.
Holding the door for her, he followed her out into the muggy early evening sun. His gaze fixated on the simple bow that split the dark skin of her back as it kept her shirt on by connecting the top and sides. Not that he’d mind it falling off, of course, he wouldn’t want any others to see her. Her pale yellow shirt beautifully contrasted her skin tone. All it would take to release would be grab a single strand and pull.
He moved his gaze down to rest along the top of her jeans, which rode low on her hips. Damn, she made him think things that one shouldn’t be debating doing in public.
As they walked down the street to where she’d parked her car, he took in the sights and sounds of this city. Things had changed so much, it really was a bit of a shock. He’d spent a good deal of time playing with her electronics at her house. It amazed him, what people had been able to accomplish.
He hoped a closer look at her car.
No, wait, she called it a sports utility vehicle.
A Mariner. He wanted to try driving it but she’d shaken her head and said something about rules. He wasn’t a fan of riding in it with others racing around them and coming at them, their speeds high.
But he looked to her and she didn’t seem the least bit fazed by any of it so he forced himself to copy that. Even now as they streaked by, she barely paid them any mind, just continued on.
At the lot, she unlocked the door and got in. He followed suit and she got them on the way. When she pulled into her drive, he sat up and smiled. He liked her house. It brought him great peace.
Gathering the bags, he then trailed her into the house and up the stairs to the room she’d allowed him to use.
“Why are you helping me?” he asked, as she set her items down.
“Would you rather I didn’t?”
“No. I’m just curious as to why you would help a man who by all accounts came into your life dressed as a Confederate.”
“You
were
dressed as a Confederate. I have the clothing downstairs to prove it.” She crossed her arms and sat on the bed, beginning to empty out the nearest bag. “Still couldn’t ignore you. You looked lost and like you could use some goodwill.”
He couldn’t argue that. “But you could have let me go to the hospital.”
“You didn’t seem too keen on that idea.” She stacked his pants beside her and his shirts by them.
Levi moved to her side, the fading light of day sending in a faint golden hue through the windows. Reaching out, he cupped a hand around her cheek and tipped her face up to him. She gripped his shirt in her lap but didn’t move, holding his gaze without blinking.
“You are a unique woman, Ta-Mara.”
She attempted to shake her head, but his grip refused to allow her that. “Anyone would have helped.”
“No. You are unlike anyone I’ve known.” He put his second hand on her face. The smooth skin was such a temptation.
“I…I should let you put your things away. I’ll set up my computer so you can look up whatever you wish to try and catch up on.”
He dropped his hands and let her stand. However, he refused to move back so she had to press up along his body. When she did, he gripped her hips and lowered his mouth to hers. Despite the fire in his body, which demanded he claim her as his own, he kept the exchange gentle.
Nibbling along her lips, he waited for her to open and allow him entrance. She did and he sank his tongue into her heat. In and out he stroked, licking where he could reach, allowing her taste to embed itself onto him.
Gathering her tight, he wound his arms around her waist before deepening the kiss. He thought he had it all under control, thought he could keep it together and maintain some semblance of restraint. How wrong he’d been.
A small whimper slipped from her mouth into his and that was what snapped any remaining self-discipline he might have had. The urges that had been hounding him since he’d woken up on the floor of her shop now overflowed. He made short work of the single bow tie along her back. Going around to her front, he grabbed the bottom corner and tugged.
The pale yellow material fell away and he drew back to stare at her exposed body. Her breasts were perfect, full yet pert. Her nipples the color of dark chocolate, were pebbled and pointed. He cupped her breasts in his hands as he hefted their weight. As he teased the points, she trembled beneath his touch and he dipped his head.
She gasped aloud as he took nipple in his mouth. She pressed his head closer as her back arched. He sucked, tugged and rolled the nipple. Releasing it with a pop, he blew over the wetness before turning his attention to her other breast and applying the same treatment.
She gripped his shoulders, her short nails digging into his skin. Pushing her back onto the bed, he lowered his body over hers. She cradled him between her legs and moved her hands to his back, clenching the material of his new shirt. Back and forth, he moved between her breasts, unable to get enough. Her moans and mewls continually encouraged him.
When his shirt bunched up around his shoulders, he looked at her.
“Off,” she demanded.
He didn’t disappoint. Rising up enough to rip it off, he threw his shirt over his shoulder before he kissed her again. Her breasts, damp from his ministrations, pressed into his chest. She ran her hands over his back before grabbing his ass. He flexed his hips, driving his hard length against the seam of her jeans.
Levi stared at her. Her eyes swirled with desire, her lips were parted, emitting small, panting breaths. Her tongue snuck out, tracing a path and drawing his gaze back to her tempting mouth. He thrust again and she shook her head.
“Keep that up and I’m going to come, now.”
“That is a problem.” He ground into her, making another high-pitched moan slip free. “I want to feel you come. I want to taste your cream.”
She shuddered and he nipped her chin before he moved down to make short work of removing her jeans. Her clothing soon joined his on the floor. Naked, he dropped to his knees, ignoring his demanding cock. It jerked as his gaze landed upon her pussy.
Very nearly hairless, she had a small strip above her dark lips which glistened with dampness. He leaned forward and dragged his tongue along her slit.
“Fuck!” she cried out, her hips bucking up against his mouth.
He slipped his hands under her thighs and hauled her closer, draping her legs over his shoulders. Using the flat of his tongue, he lapped at her—up and down. Circling her clit, he held her where he wanted her. Ta-Mara’s taste flooded him. Rich, heady and oh-so addicting.
Her thighs clamped around his head, blocking her cries of pleasure. He moved one of his hands and dipped a finger inside her. She was so tight, and he took his time working his way in until his digit was buried completely in her. Her internal muscles rippled around him and he groaned. Back and forth, he moved his finger, until he slipped in a second one.
Thrusting with his fingers while his tongue worked on her clit, he fucked her. Her hips undulated faster and he knew she was close. Replacing his fingers with his tongue, he stabbed it deep inside her as he pressed his thumb against her clit. That did it.
Her release hit him. He continued to lick until there was no more for him to have. With care, he lowered her legs and kissed his way up her body until he reached her mouth. Hesitating right before their lips touched, he murmured, “Taste yourself on my kiss, Ta-Mara.”
She drew hard on his tongue, her body writhing against his. He groaned as her slickness coated his shaft.
“Inside,” she panted, releasing his back and reaching toward the side of her bed. “Just…protection.”