It was one of the things Clement had loved most about her. No coy, passive-aggressive games. No pouting endlessly over some imagined slight. If something upset her, he knew about it. He never had to ask because she was too honest and up front, especially with people she cared about.“Are you sure?” she asked quietly. “I’m still learning all of this and I don’t want to mess up, so if I do, you have to tell me, otherwise I’ll never know how to correct the mistake.”He kissed her, hugging her tightly against him. “You did nothing wrong, Sandra. And if you had, I have every confidence that it would have been done innocently. You’re too honest and straightforward about things. It’s one of the things I most admire about you. There’s no guessing with you because you tend to take the bull by the horns.”She relaxed, some of her worry dissipating. “I’m sorry. I know I sound defensive, but this is very important to me. I need you to understand that. This isn’t a game to me. It isn’t me seeking
“That’s because you wimped out on me and Karla and e-mailed us,” Sophia said in a dry tone.Sandra laughed. “Yes, I did. I figured it would be easier to just e-mail you both and get it out. It would certainly take less time than a phone call because you both would grill me mercilessly.”A grin tugged at the corners of Sophia’s mouth as they entered Derrick’s living room. Sophia glanced around and when she saw no one she turned to Sandra, lowering her voice.“Is he good to you, Sandra? You look happy but are you really?”Sandra smiled, letting her happiness show on her face as she looked at her friend. “He’s very good to me, Sophia. Things are better than I imagined they could be. I really am happy.”Sophia reached out and squeezed her hand. “Then I’m happy for you. I know I didn’t seem that way in the beginning, and I’m sorry for that. I was just worried about you. I do want you to be happy, Sandra. I hope you know that.”“I do. I love you. Don’t ever forget that.”Derrick entered the
“If you don’t apologize to Sandra right this minute, I’ll ask you to leave, and furthermore, you will come into the office on Monday only to clear out your desk and tender your resignation,” Derrick said in a frigid tone. “What is between me and her is none of your business. She doesn’t require your approval or blessing, though she’d like to have both. She loves you and she’d cut off her arm before ever purposely hurting you. But you’re hurting her and that’s bullshit. I won’t have it and I damn sure won’t allow you to come into our home. Yes, our home, Sophia. Sandra is with me, and you have two choices. Accept it and be happy for her or get out. Which is it going to be?”Sandra felt the color bleed from her own face, a match to Sophia’s. She shook uncontrollably and it seemed to anger Derrick all the more. His hold tightened around her to the point that she could barely breathe. No, she hadn’t expected Sophia to take it well, but neither had she expected Sophia to lash out at her li
“What the hell is going on here?” Karla demanded. “Sophia bolted like a bat out of hell the minute the doorbell rang.”“Long story,” Sandra muttered. “Derrick is bringing in James Brown as a partner, and Sophia didn’t take the news well at all. That’s him at the door. He’s coming over to meet everyone. We invited Sophia earlier so Derrick could tell her in private, and she freaked. Like really freaked. She said some pretty harsh things. To me.”Karla’s eyes widened. “Really?”Sandra nodded. “Derrick was pissed. Extremely pissed. He basically threatened to fire her if she didn’t apologize and he told her if she ever came at me like that again he’d fire her on the spot.”“Wow,” Karla breathed. “Not that I don’t agree with him protecting you, but wow.”“Yeah. My thoughts exactly.”Karla grabbed the tray as Sophia reentered the kitchen, as though she’d come over to help.“Grab the wine, Sophia,” Karla said cheerfully. “We’ll go serve up Sandra’s yum-yums to the menfolk.”Her pretend obliv
She smiled and then shooed him toward the kitchen.“If y’all don’t get the meat on, we’ll never eat. We’re hungry!”Laughing, Derrick headed in James’s direction, Ken following behind. After a moment the three men disappeared into the kitchen, and Sandra heard the door to the patio open and then shut as they went out to tend the grill.Noticing Sophia’s and Karla’s wineglasses were nearly empty, she went to fetch a bottle and refilled theirs as well as hers.She motioned for them to sit and get comfortable, knowing they had half an hour before the steaks were ready.It was just like old times, only Clement wasn’t there. He was the only missing component, and now there was James, filling that void. It would never be the same, and for the first time Sandra felt optimistic about that fact. No, nothing would ever be the same, but it was certainly possible that it would be better.AS if knowing how trying the evening had been for Sandra and how emotionally fragile she was, Derrick made lov
Supposedly women were the moody, emotional creatures. According to men. But men were far more guilty of being volatile. Up and down. One minute he was sweet, tender and absolutely adoring. The next? Silent and brooding over God only knew what.Maybe he just wasn’t a morning person. Admittedly, until recently, she had zero experience with him in the mornings. She’d never had cause to see him or interact with him in the early hours of the day. Her exposure to him had been limited to afternoons and evenings, and he’d been nothing but charming on those occasions.Oh well, she’d have to have enough morning cheer for both of them apparently. She’s always been an early riser and what she considered a morning person. Clement had teased her about being disgustingly cheerful the moment she rose from bed.Thoughts of Clement brought back the disturbing dreams from the night before. Her lips turned down into an unhappy frown. What did they mean? Dreams were inexplicable, a manifestation of the su
He was a quick study and soon she didn’t have to direct him. He learned her body, absorbing the knowledge of what made her crazy with want.He placed an openmouthed kiss to her pussy entrance and then thrust his tongue as deep as he could get into her liquid warmth.He wanted her to cum in his mouth, an instant hot rush of release. He maneuvered his fingers, two of them below his mouth, and plunged them inside, caressing the silken walls of her vagina.He probed gently, seeking the spot where the texture was more plush and different, slightly rougher. He pressed upward, eliciting an instant cry from her. She grew wetter and panted, the sounds an aphrodisiac to his ears.His cock was flat against his belly, so hard and pulsing that he was nearly out of his mind with the need to claim her. But he’d deny himself that ultimate satisfaction. For her. This was all about her. Only for her. His silent apology for being a bastard and taking out his black mood on her.He didn’t like feeling jea
“You will never shame me,” he said gruffly. “There is nothing you could ever do that would bring me shame. It’s not possible.”She smiled back at him, her eyes warm and full of . . . love? Dare he hope for that so soon? He pulled back from that thought, not wanting to set himself up for disappointment, no matter that he’d just told her he could never be disappointed in her. That was the one thing that could shatter him. Her not returning or being able to return his love.“What time would you like to go? And what shall I wear?” she asked.There was excitement and anticipation in her eyes. She was looking forward to their excursion. Already his mind was alive with the possibilities. He would be very exacting in his plans for her. He wanted this to be perfect.“Something sexy,” he murmured. “A short cocktail dress that shows off your gorgeous legs. And heels. Definitely heels. I want to fuck you in them in front of everyone.”Her eyes went cloudy with answering lust. She shivered delicat