Hate At First Sight, page 7
“Sheldon?” I felt the whisper on my neck as her lips brushed my skin gently. It took every ounce of control in me to keep my body under subjection. The last thing she needed to feel was my hard cock under her thigh.
“Yes?”
“Thank you.” She took a deep breath and looked up at me. Her eyes were already a bit puffy from crying.
“You’re welcome. Sometimes you don’t know what you need until you get it. You’re a strong woman. But even the strong need a moment of weakness sometimes.” I ran my thumb along her jawline. I should not have done that. I felt my groin twitch as she continued to look at me. It would be so easy to lean down and take her lips-
“Let’s get that cake and get your dinner put away.”
I slid her off my lap, noting that she moved reluctantly. We stood and went back to the kitchen. She put away her leftovers and got the dishwasher started while I cut two big helpings of cake and went to the living room. The wine was long gone so I took our water instead. I looked up as she came into the living room with a platter.
“I made dipped fruit as well.”
“Nice.”
She placed the fruit on the coffee table beside the cake before curling up on the end of the sofa. I handed her a slice. I watched as she took a bite and closed her eyes, a smile on her face. “So good!”
“I just love how expressive you are with your food.” I laughed as I bit back, I wonder if you’re the same in bed. I had gained some good ground since our first meeting, and I did not want her to think I was just another guy intent on getting her between the sheets.
“It’s really good though. Try it.”
I bit into my cake and my mouth was flooded with rich chocolate. “You’re right.” I reached for a strawberry from the platter and bit into it. The tartness was a perfect complement to the sweet. I reached over and placed the strawberry against her lips. Obediently she opened her mouth and took a bite. I instantly had an image of feeding her fruits and other delicacies after a moment of passion and we were recovering from our pleasure. Our eyes locked and held. I felt as though I was on the verge of crossing a line. But it was a line I did not want to cross prematurely. I looked away first.
“So, tell me some more about your family and why it is you feel the way you do about them.”
“You sound like a psychiatrist. Don’t tell me you moonlight as one.”
“Nope. I’m just a good listener. Now talk. Why are you the odd one out?”
She shrugged. “I guess it’s because I’ve never really fit in with the image of a spoiled and pampered rich girl. My older brother Stephen is my parents’ golden child though he’s a first-class asshole. They think the sun rises and sets in him.”
“So why isn’t he in charge of Blake?”
“Because my father knows he’d run the business into the ground. So the next best option is to barely tolerate the daughter who graduated at the top of her class with a Masters in tourism and hospitality management.”
“How old is your father?”
“He’ll be sixty this year.”
“So, he retired early.”
“Yup. I think he just got tired of running the business. And neither of the twins show any interest. Besides, they were too young at the time.”
“How old are they now?”
“Nineteen. And neither of them know what they want to do with their lives except live off our parents. When I was their age, I was already working my way through my third-year college courses.”
“That’s impossible. That would mean you left high school at fifteen.”
“Sixteen. I skipped a year and picked up college courses when I was still in high school.”
“A bit of an over achiever aren’t we.”
“It was the best way I could think of to get out of that house. The day I left for college was the best day of my life. I haven’t looked back.”
“You’ve done well for yourself, though.”
“Yes. But I want more. You see, I’m still under the Blake canopy. If tomorrow my father decides that he wants his hotel back I have to give him. If later on, he decides to give it to my brother or the girls, I have to step aside. And I would be left with nothing apart from what I have saved and invested. I need my own brand so I can preempt any such action.”
“Why would you think that, though?” I frowned slightly.
“Why wouldn’t I? Sheldon, I am literally the only one in my family who works as hard as I do. Everyone else lives on this income from the chain. It pays for their lifestyle.”
“I thought you said your brother had a supermarket.”
“Which he has almost run into the ground at least twice and my father has had to bail him out.”
“The family dynamic sounds like shit.”
“It is. Which is why I’m figuring my way out of it.”
“What’s your plan?”
“To get my own brand. RDB. I want a chain of bed and breakfasts. I’ve put in and offer for my first property this week. I’m thinking of taking existing properties and renovating them. Then rebrand them as RDB Bed and Breakfast.”
“Is that the business you wanted to discuss earlier?”
“It is. I’d need a contractor for the renovations.”
“Let me know when you’re ready and we can work out the details. Have you seen this property?”
“I have.”
“In person?”
“Yes. It’s about three hours outside of Henderson heading west.”
“Okay. Keep me posted when the deal is complete and you’re ready to begin. I may not be able to be physically on-site. But that’s why I have an excellent team of foremen.”
“Speaking of foremen, what actually happened at the start of my project? If you don’t mind my asking and if it does not breach any protocols.”
“Josh walked off the job. When we caught up with him, he just said he’d gotten a better offer. He’s been with my company since we started over ten years ago.”
“That was rather unprofessional of him. Over ten years? You’ve been in the business for a while. How old are you?”
“Thirty-five.”
“Wow. So, you were already working when I was still in college.”
“Yup. But you’re far from being a featherweight. I like the idea of launching out on your own to give yourself more independence.”
“Me too. I want to walk away. Preferably sooner than later. But I want to have at least three up and running before I do.”
“What will your parents do when you leave?”
“They’re going to throw a fit for sure. And I’ll be cussed every which way they can and probably disinherited. But they can’t force me to stay. And being disinherited means nothing to me as I’ll have my own wealth.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
I took up another strawberry and held it to her mouth. As she bit into it, I felt the juice slide down my finger. Instinctively, her tongue reached out to lap at it and I felt electricity shoot from the tiny spot and spread through my body. I took a deep breath as I stared at her. It would be so easy to slide over and take her in my arms and kiss the hell out of her. I took a deep breath and dropped my eyes before standing. She looked up at me with a strange expression. I was torn. For the first time in my life, I did not want to take advantage of what I knew would not be refused. Instead, I fought my desire. I wanted more than a romp in bed with Rasheeda. I genuinely wanted to get to know her better.
“I think I want to call it a night. Is it okay if I take some cake and fruit with me?”
She blinked a few times before my words seemed to sink in. “Oh. Sure. No problem. You gave me dinner. The least I can do is give you dessert.”
“Thanks.” I took up the platter and headed to the kitchen. She joined me and began emptying the dishwasher. Silently we put the utensils away and I made sure I left her kitchen in the same pristine state in which I found it. She handed me a plastic container and I cut a healthy slice of cake. I piled in some of the fruits and closed the lid.
“Well, thanks for a lovely evening, Rasheeda.” I smiled as I looked at her.
“Thank you. You were right. I do feel better after that little talk.”
“I’ll send my bill in the mail.”
“Bill? I think you’re holding your payment right there.” She pointed to the cake. I laughed and shook my head.
“Dinner was in exchange for this. So, you still owe me.”
“I’m sure we can work something out to clear my bill.”
“I’m sure we can. Something like a real date? Just Sheldon and Rasheeda getting to know each other a little better?”
She cocked her head to the side. “A real date? I haven’t had one of those in a while. What did you have in mind?”
“To be honest, I haven’t given it any thought as yet. I just came up with it after all. But trust me when I say, I’ll make it worth your while. I know I can’t go wrong if I make sure to include feeding you.”
She laughed. “I don’t doubt that.”
“But until then, fair lady, again I thank you for a wonderful evening.”
We walked to the door. I opened it and stood there.
“Drive safely.”
“I will.” I took a deep breath and without thinking, I reached down and brushed my lips against hers for the briefest moment. “I’ll let you know when I get home.”
“Okay.” She smiled.
I felt as though I was sailing on a cloud as I headed down to the parking garage. The whole drive home I replayed the evening in my head. I thought about the many opportunities I had had to take the evening to the bedroom. The fact that I was heading home spoke volumes. There was something about Rasheeda. I wanted more.
As soon as I got into the house and set the alarm, I pulled out my phone and dialed. She answered on the first ring.
“I’m home.”
“Great.”
“How do you feel about the theatre?”
“The theatre?”
“Yes. There’s a Patrick Brown play I’ve been meaning to see. We could go see it together.”
“The theatre sounds like a good start for a date.”
“Great. Is Friday night, okay?”
“Friday night is good.”
“Great. So I’ll pick you up around seven?”
“Seven is good.”
“Great.”
Thus began the start of a tentative relationship with Rasheeda. We kept things as discreet as possible. But there were times when we were out and recognized. Thankfully, those times were when we were with a professional group, so the meeting was construed as business. But there were enough close calls to make us more careful. As the summer weeks rolled by, I became more and more attached to Rasheeda. I found out that she was a sucker for horses. Unfortunately, she had never gotten the opportunity to learn how to ride. So for one of our dates, I arranged for her to get a riding lesson at a ranch a few miles outside the city. When she thanked me with a heated kiss when I dropped her off, I knew that had she done that at the door of her apartment, I would not have been leaving that night. The sexual energy between us was tangible and we both knew it. There were times when we made out that I felt it could easily escalate. But one of us usually pulled back. But we both knew the day was coming when we would cross that bridge.
The hotel building was making good progress and several stories had been completed. We were actually a week or two ahead of our project deliverables. If all things continued on this path, I would be able to hand over the building early in the new year. After the hotel was completed, I would be starting her bed and breakfast project. The sale that she had discussed with me had fallen through. At the last minute, the owners decided to take it off the market and will it to the family instead. I had told her it was probably for her good as I would have wanted to do and inspection before putting in an offer anyway if she was going to work with my company for the renovations. We spent a few weekends at auctions and driving all over the suburbs looking for possibilities. But if I were, to be honest, it was spending time with Rasheeda that was important. Before I knew it, she had become a constant part of my life. And it was more than friendship. There was a feeling developing that I dared not name. That was a hurdle I was not yet ready to cross.
Chapter 9:
Rasheeda
“I did not! That’s a bald-faced lie and you know it!”
“I’m sure I can ask the restaurant to pull up the camera footage. You ate two slices of cake and I had only one.”
“I had one slice that I cut in two.” I giggled as Sheldon tickled my side playfully. “I’m full. Don’t make me throw up! Stop!”
I laughed and swatted at his hand as it crept along my bare stomach.
“At least you’d be throwing up that extra slice of cake.”
“Would it help to balance the equation if I gave you something sweet to nibble?” I raised my eyebrows and looked him dead in the eye.
He smiled. “That depends on what it is you’re giving me to nibble.”
“I was thinking of two things.” I laced my arms around his neck.
“If it’s the same two things I’m thinking of, I gladly accept that compromise.
The last was said as a whisper against my lips before his mouth possessed mine. I sighed and leaned into his embrace. His lips pressed against mine, gently persuading them to part. My body grew hot with desire as he stretched me out on the couch and followed. His body pressed into mine and there was no doubt that he wanted me as much as I wanted him. He pressed his leg between mine and I groaned softly, biting his lip. I was pleased to feel him shudder above me as he captured my hands and pressed them against the arm of the couch. The action automatically made me arch into him, a trick he had discovered a few weeks ago. His lips traveled from my mouth to my neck as he nipped at the pulse beating there.
“Will you stop teasing me?” I sighed breathily and closed my eyes.
“You promised me something sweet to nibble. I’m taking what was promised.” He rasped.
“I have much sweeter things you know.”
He leaned up then and my eyes flew open. He looked at me. “I know. A down payment is good for now, though.”
“Okay.” I could not hide the disappointment in my voice. He kissed me softly once more before sitting up. He pulled me into his lap. On impulse, I turned and straddled him, sinking into his hard length and grinding against him.
“Fuck! Rasheeda! You’re going to be the death of me, baby.” He rasped.
“You haven’t seen death yet.” I kissed him hard as I caressed his chest. He moaned as he held my buttocks, encouraging me to grind harder. I did not disappoint. I felt his body twitch beneath mine.
“Fuck. We have to stop, baby. I don’t want our first time to be like this on a couch.”
“I have a perfectly good bed a few meters away.”
“And I want you in mine a few kilometers away.”
“You can’t have things your way all the time.”
“We’ll see about that.”
He kissed me hard one more time before reluctantly sliding me off his lap. As he stood, he turned away from me, pulling his shirt out to hide the tightness of his groin. It was little things like this that endeared him to me even more. Based on how he had behaved when we had first met, not that I excuse his harassment- I thought for sure we would have already had sex. After all, we had been going out for weeks now. But he had always been a gentleman, even when I teased him as I had just now. I reached out and slapped his ass, giggling as he jumped.
“You, young lady, are out of control. I’m going to get a drink.”
He went to the kitchen, and I followed. He looked over his shoulder at me.
“Juice? Water? Beer?”
“Water.”
“Water is right. Need to cool your little hot body down some.”
“You’re a fine one to talk.”
He thrust his groin into the cool air coming from the refrigerator. “I’m cooling off so don’t worry about me.”
I doubled over with laughter as he handed me a bottle of water and slid onto a stool with his own. I moved to stand between his outspread legs. He wrapped an arm loosely around my hips and looked me in the eye.
“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are, especially when you’re up to mischief?”
I put on an innocent air. “Me? Up to mischief?”
“Yes, you. You’re a little tease.”
“So are you.”
“I know. But no one can see your wet pussy. They can see my hard cock. That was a nasty trick under the table tonight.”
“The tablecloth was long. No one saw anything.”
“Exactly. So, I look like the little perve with a constant hardon.”
“I can help you get rid of it.” I kissed him lightly and he grinned.
“Promises promises.”
“I’m a woman of my word.”
“Really now. Make sure you can put your money where your mouth is when the time comes.”
“Make sure you can do the same.” I kissed him gently again before stepping away. I leaned against the island, playing with the end of my ponytail while I sipped my water.
“You still want to cut it, don’t you.”
“I do.”
“You should. I, for one, would love to see what your natural curls look like.”
“You would?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll give it some more thought, though. It’s not a decision to be taken lightly. What if I hate it?”
“Then you wear a wig until it grows back, and you straighten it again.”
“Short hair would be easier to take care of for sure.”
“You women. You’ve got options. Me? Gotta keep it short.”
I reached across and ran my hand through his hair, allowing my fingers to tangle just enough to get a grip. “I like it like this. A girl’s got to get a grip you know. I smiled and winked.”
“There’s that mischief that no one else sees.”
“For your eyes only,” I whispered in my seductive voice.
