When Love Comes Around (Love Conquers All) (17 page)

Breaking the embrace, Beverly turned to Starr. Starr happily greeted the elderly woman whom she was so fond of with a kiss on the cheek before she was enveloped into the warmth of a motherly hug. “Hello dear. You look lovely.”

Thank you, Mrs. Dawson, you look lovely as well.” Stepping back, she reached for her mother-in-law’s hand. “I love your gown.”

Beverly playfully rolled her eyes. “Oh, this old thing. I forgot I had it hanging in the back of my closet.”

Starr giggled. “Well, maybe I should come check out the back of your closet the next time I need a new dress.”

“You’re more than welcome to do so.”

“Don’t play with me Mrs. Dawson. I just might take you up on your offer.”

“Anytime dear, just let me know when you’re ready. And stop calling me Mrs. Dawson.” Hesitating for a second, Beverly tilted her head as she closely inspected the young couple. They were made for each other. With the wink of a sparkling eye, she smiled sweetly at Starr. “Call me Momma.”

“Okay.” Starr consented as her voice trembled. She and Kevin shared a quick, nervous glance. The mere fact his mother suggested such an intimate title made them wonder,
Does she know?

Loudly clearing his throat, breaking the uneasy air surrounding them, teasingly Kevin inquired, “Did you two forget I’m standing here?”

Releasing Starr’s hand, his mother patted his clean-shaven jaw. “Son, I haven’t seen this pretty young lady since you brought her to meet me over three weeks ago. I’m enjoying her company. Now you go on over there and talk to your business associates while I get to know Starr a little better.”

Shaking his head, Kevin let out a chuckle. His mother had never shown this much interest in any of the women he dated. Giving Starr the,
is it okay if I leave look,
he smiled when she gave a slight nod. His smile further deepened when she looped her arm through Beverly’s leading her to the non-alcoholic punch fountain. The two women walked off chatting as if they were friends.

Lingering in the spot where he stood, Kevin knew life couldn’t get any better than this. The two most important women in his life adored each other. What more could a man ask for?

♥♥♥

“I see somebody’s momma likes you.” Summer commented with a smile playing at her lips as she sipped sparkling water from a flute.

Returning the smile, Starr agreed. “She does. And I like her as well. You know I was a little nervous meeting her.”

“Why?”

“Girl, you know how mommas are about their boys. They usually don’t think no woman is right for them.”

“Well, honey, you don’t have a thing to worry about.” Summer giggled. “She’s already got you and Kevin off and married with a house full of babies.”

Summer knew this for a fact because Kevin was always complaining to her and Nick about how Beverly was getting on him about settling down and giving her some grandbabies before she’s too old to enjoy them.

Starr’s eyes sparkled as she laughed. The way things had been going with her and Kevin, the thought of them having their own Dawson Bunch was a welcomed possibility. Never before had a man treated her with so much respect and tenderness. As she spent more and more time with him, she wanted to tell him of her baby dilemma. Fear kept her from doing so. The last thing she wanted was for their budding relationship to become strained or worse, come to an end before it had a chance.

“Tell me about it. One out of two ain’t bad. The only thing we have to get working on is the baby part.”

Shock registered on her friend’s face at her admission as she squealed, “You mean you two still haven’t done it!”

“Ow!” Summer yelled as Starr yanked and then pulled her by the arm into a close by corner.

“Do you have to announce it to the entire world? I swear you can be so loud at times to be so tiny.” Starr hissed between clenched teeth. It’s a good thing Ava had agreed to babysit so Joan and Henry could attend the launch party. Otherwise, she would have two big mouths to deal with.

Summer rubbed the soreness from her arm. “My bad. I just thought…you know.”

“Drop it Summer, okay.”

She was not about to discuss her sex life. Not even with her best friend. When she did do
it
, of course they would have their usual pow-wow. But until then Starr wanted the inquiries to stop. She would sleep with her husband when she was good and ready.

Just as the thought was fleeting from her head, she made eye contact with Kevin from across the room. Starr let out an agonizing groan of want and need as her eyes locked with his. She almost became undone when he gave her the sexiest smile and winked at her causing her to blush like a giddy teenager.

Oh, yeah…she was ready. Every time the man kissed or caressed her, she nearly went up in flames. She could not take another night of rolling around in the bed stuffing pillows between her knees and counting sheep to help her fall asleep.

“Okay, don’t get all tissy with me Missy!” Summer snapped back playfully nudging her friend.

Feeling bad for talking rough to her friend, she hugged her and apologized. “I’m sorry Boo. I didn’t mean to get like that.

Summer hugged her back. “No, girl, don’t apologize. You have a right to tell me to mind my business.”

“Oh, girl, it’s not like that. You know I’m gonna tell you and Av when I get me a little somethin’-somethin’.”

As they both giggled, Summer threatened, “You better tell us.”

“Speaking of Ava, I wish she would’ve come tonight.”

“I know, but she insisted on babysitting the kids. I don’t know what’s getting into her lately?”

Concerned, Starr questioned, “What do you mean?”

“It’s like all of a sudden she’s become attached to the kids, especially Autumn.”

“Hmm, now that you say it, lately she’s always taking them somewhere.”

“I know.” Summer said thoughtfully. Every weekend she had asked to do some activity with the kids.

Before the conversation could go any further, Starr said, “Our men are over there giving us the eye.”

Slowly Summer looked over her shoulder, smiled and wiggled her fingertips in a wave at their husbands. Turning back around, “Come on let’s go get our men.” Knitting her brows together, she sighed annoyingly, “Because that barracuda in the red dress keep circling your man.”

“I saw her earlier, but I wasn’t worried.” Starr chuckled as she thought about her mother-in-law. “Momma had my back.” Every time a female swooped in to make a play on Kevin, Beverly somehow managed to block the swarming buzzard.

As they made their way over to their men, Summer laughed. “Yeah I saw how Mrs. Dawson shooed her and the others away. Girl, you in like Flynn. That Momma eagle ain’t letting nobody come between you and her baby.”

“Think so?” Starr asked wanting to believe her friend’s observation.

“Girl, please, she was ready to take a heifer down.”

Starr threw her head back and laughed. Summer was right. If Momma wasn’t politely asking Kevin to get her a drink, she was whisking him off to meet a potential client. She and Summer snickered as they watched her discreetly feed her drinks to the nearby lush green planters. When she discovered she had been caught, she winked at the two younger women. “A mother’s work is never done.”

As they got closer, Summer mused,
Girl, you’re drought’s about to end tonight.
It was hard to miss Kevin’s seductive gaze roaming over Starr.
Yep, you in trouble girlfriend.

“Why you got that simple smirk on your face, Summer?”

“Nothing…oh nothing. Have a good night. I know I will.” She sang as she hooked her arm through her husband’s and sashayed away.

The tree-lined street nestled in West Mt. Airy rested in the tranquility of quiet darkness. The late night, end of summer breeze aroused tiny goose bumps up and down Starr’s arms. Excitement and fear coiled through her innermost parts as she put one foot in front of the other. She had agreed to this, and had even packed an overnight bag with enough toiletries and clothes for two days. So why was she now having doubts? Maybe it was because five years had gone by since she’d been intimate with a man. True, she wasn’t a virgin; however, it had been a long time since she had been intimate with anyone.

Each day she prolonged
truly
consummating her marriage made her want Kevin even more. Wanting him was a deep ache that needed to be soothed, an itch that needed to be scratched. The way he looked at her, caressed her as he held her in his arms, and nibbled on her soft lips made her tremble with anticipation. However, holding steadfast and waiting to take their relationship to the next level was crucial. At thirty-two years old, Starr had no intentions of adding any more lovers to the number. Waiting and taking her time to get to know Kevin had been the right decision.

Thoughts of his large hands caressing every naked inch of her lush body made her insides hum in delight. Never before had she had an overwhelming desire to be with a man. Now older and wiser, she knew her past encounters were based on a man making her feel wanted. With Kevin, she didn’t have to worry whether he wanted or desired her. Everything he said and did was a bold declaration of just how he felt. It was in each longing gaze, in each gentle caress, in each tender endearment.

For this reason, as excited as she was, fear and doubt snaked around her heart, constricting it. By her own admission, she was not as experienced as some women. It was no secret Kevin had shared his bed with many. Women, she was sure, who were gifted in the art of pleasuring men. Women, she was certain, who could satisfy his every carnal craving. Would she be able to measure up and satisfy him? Or would he find her lacking as Marcus had accused, and use it as an excuse to end their relationship before it had a chance to really get started?

Lost in her thoughts, Starr stumbled and tripped as she stepped up onto the first step leading to the large wraparound porch. If it had not been for Kevin’s quick reflex causing him to reach out and firmly grip her by the waist, she would have fallen flat on her face.

“You all right, baby?”

Embarrassment burned her cheeks from her sudden state of clumsiness. “I’m all right.” Smiling sheepishly, she said, “Just a little clumsy. Thanks for keeping me from falling on my face.”

Gently he placed his hand at the small of her back and led her to the front door. Standing close behind her, he inhaled the scent of her perfumed body as his solid chest pressed against her back. Reaching into his trouser pocket, pulling out a set of house keys, he whispered in her ear, “Now you know I’m not about to let that happen.”

Placing a large hand firmly on her flat stomach, fusing them even closer, he used his free hand to insert the key. Starr’s heart did a rapid pitter-patter as she let herself go, melting into the heat of his solid frame. Tiny shivers ran up and down her spine as he placed soft, moist kisses along the center of her neck.

Pushing the door open, the couple moved as one into the foyer. A sudden gush of air assaulted Starr’s heated body as Kevin disengaged his hold. Her body screamed in protest as he disarmed the alarm system, locked the door, and reset the alarm to home mode. She didn’t remain in a state of protest for long. Within seconds strong, powerful arms were holding her.. “Now where were we?” came the deep husky growl as kisses rained down the nap of her neck to the slope of her right shoulder.

The kindling sparks that had been firing off all night were building into an inferno. Kevin wanted Starr with every fiber of his being. He was certain she knew how bad he wanted her as his aroused manhood pressed into her backside. For weeks he lay in bed wondering what it would be like to have her underneath him writhing as he sunk deep into her. Just the thought made him want to explode, losing it before they even got started.

Turning her around, he gazed down into her face. Pleasure like he never experienced flowed through him. The moonlight shining through the window illuminated the slow rising and falling of her breasts and slightly parted lips begging to be kissed.

Having on three-inch heels made it easier for Starr to leisurely drape her arms around his neck as he drew her closer, making them a perfect fit. The heaviness of her breasts and tingling nipples tortured her, as she wantonly pressed even further into his male firmness. She didn’t recognize her own voice as she purred, “Kiss me, Kevin.”

Happy to oblige her, his mouth swooped down on hers. He had meant for the kiss to be sweet, tender. That was until she pressed even further, making his hardness ever more strained, searching to be buried in her heat. Cradling the back of her head in his massive palm, he deepened the kiss eliciting a series of soft moans from the woman he held. Each delicious moan pushed Kevin closer and closer to the edge.