AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Everything, as long as it has got a decent beat so I can shake my hips."
Samantha giggles and scrolls through her phone. "I have the perfect song."
My lips curl at seeing the utter pleasure on her face. "Okay, hit the button, girl. I'm ready," I say, placing one hand on my hip and one in the air.
A second later, Beyonce's "Single Ladies" bursts through the speakers.
"Oh yes, I love this song. Let's go, girl." I hold out my hand, and when she takes it, we spin, dance, and on the line ‘put a ring on it,’ we lift our hands while pointing to our ring fingers. The joyous expression on Samantha's face causes my chest to puff with a sense of fulfillment. As we continue to have fun, I don't experience any of the constantly lurking fear or anxiety. At this moment, I'm free, and I love it.
12
COLE
I pace through my office,and as I listen to the person at the end of the line, I remove my tie with my unoccupied hand and throw it on my hard wooden desk stocked with work documents.
"Are you ignoring me, Cole?"
A frustrated sigh leaves my lips as I walk to the floor-to-ceiling window. "No, I'm not ignoring you, Mother. I've been busy with business these last weeks, and I'm calling to tell you I want to drop by the house tomorrow. We need to talk."
"Will you stay for dinner?" Her voice sounds doubtless, and I drum my fingers on my thigh.
"No, Mom. Don't have time for that."
She keeps rambling, but I lose my focus when I hear catchy music coming from another part of the house. What is going on out there? I peek at the clock.
Dinnertime.
"Mom, I love you, but I need to go. See you tomorrow." I hang up.
I sit back in my chair, and after organizing my documents, I push myself away from my desk and rise. The moment I open the door, the sound of music joined with laughter makes me increase my steps. I stop near the opening leading into the kitchen when I get a glimpse of Alisha and Samantha through the full body mirror hanging in the kitchen. Their infectious giggles make me crack a smile. Both girls are dancing around the kitchen island while singing the lyric, "I’m worth it, baby."
Samantha's genuine smile is warmer than the Sun, and I know who put it there. From the start, Alisha has given my daughter openness, kindness, and a tad of silliness. The sight of these two women together, having this much fun, fills me with satisfaction, but it also triggers an old memory of my youth. The fun they have isn't something I had much as I grew up. In our household, academic achievements were everything. Since I had no siblings, my parents were determined their only child would succeed in life. Only if my grades and performances were to their standards would they praise me. I stop my mind from wandering back and focus my attention back on the girls when Samantha's phone rings. She stops dancing and glances at the screen.
"My best friend, Rachel, from Los Angeles is calling. Do you mind?"
"No, go talk with her." Alisha offers a smile. "The pancakes are ready and warm, so take your time."
Samantha disconnects the speakers and leaves through the other side. Alisha pulls out her own phone, and a moment later, other music fills the room. My heartbeat pounds in my chest when the song "Talk With Your Body" floats in the atmosphere. This was the song she was dancing to the first time I saw her at Six-Pack. Like then, her red outfit and holy lips tease me. I move forward and lean against the doorframe. The slight grin appearing on the edges of her mouth tells me she knows I'm here. Without acknowledging my presence, she starts dancing and luring me into her web of sensuality. God, when this woman dances, her sensual personality bursts through, painting the air like fireworks on a clear night. Her palms move up over her thighs, and my hands yearn to touch. Once she reaches her face, her fingers roam through the strands of molten gold tumbling out of her scalp and cascading over her back like a waterfall.
My breath halts when she stops right in front of me and places one hand on my chest. Without another thought, I grab her hips and change our position to where her back is pressed against the doorpost. I place an arm on the door panel above her head to steady myself while gliding my other hand over her left thigh. The song stops, and our breaths are the only sounds I hear. Her sweet fragrance intensifies the spellbinding effect she has on me. With my lips inches from her silky skin and withstanding the urge to touch her. "Your body sure talks when it dances." I lift my head and catch her pupils dilating when the fingers of my right hand press deeper into her hip.
She places her palms on my waist. "Do you like what my body is saying to you, Cole?"
I swallow when my mouth becomes hungry as I gaze at her red lips. "Yes, I do, but that doesn't mean I will act upon it, I say, bringing my eyes to hers. "We both know that—"
Without getting another word out, she claims my mouth. Not naïve, but hot, fiery, passionate, and demanding. I should pull away, but I’m not able to. Her kiss is an aphrodisiac, mixed with Pandora's box effect. With a mind of their own, my fingers move over her thigh as her tongue seduces mine with every touch and brush. She moans against my lips, and with the last bit of self-control cruising through me, I pull away and taking two steps back.
Leaning my ass against the kitchen island, I roam my hands over my face.
"Damn. Why did you do that?"
"Because I needed to test my theory."
"What?" I ask, while pressing my fingertips on my forehead. This doesn't sound good.
"I need a favor, Cole."
My eyes narrow. "Okay…"
