Breaking All My Rules (18 page)

Chapter 23

I
t was dark outside by the time Erica finished looking over the shipment of new products, checked a few e-mails, and called her father to let him know that the jars had arrived. He was busy, rushing her off the phone, embroiled in his own hectic work. But he promised her they'd go out and celebrate next week. While she worked, Jerome browsed the boutique and then walked the block, observing the stores, people, and happenings in the upscale neighborhood.

Now she and Jerome were sitting in her office, trying to decide where they should go for dinner. Tonight was supposed to be their first official “date,” with Jerome picking her up to take her out on the town. But their day had been thrown off course ever since Ms. Slater's collapse, and now they had to figure out what they were going to do next.

“I know we never discussed it, but is there a particular restaurant you had in mind?” she asked as she logged off her computer.

Jerome leaned back in the comfortable leather chair in front of Erica's desk. “It's up to you. The whole idea of playing it by ear was so we'd have options. I'm flexible.”

“I really don't want to go anywhere crowded, but that's kind of impossible at this hour on a Friday night.”

“Something quiet and intimate would be nice.”

“I'm with you on that.” Erica rose from her chair, came around to the front of her desk, and leaned against it. “Since we know what kind of atmosphere we're looking for, we just need to decide on the cuisine. What do you have a taste for?”

When she saw the unmistakable look of desire dance across Jerome's deep, sexy eyes, she knew exactly what he had an appetite for, and she didn't shy away from returning the same look.

Jerome stood to his feet and came close beside her. “I think we both have a taste for the same thing.”

“Well, let's go get it.”

 

 

Fifteen minutes later Jerome was parking his truck next to Erica's car inside her garage. As they walked through her back door leading to her kitchen, Erica could feel the nervous anticipation building in her body. This was a bold move for her, but she was ready to take it. All her life she'd played by a safe, structured set of rules. Private school, excellent grades, overachievement, perfect manners, don't kiss on the first date—these things were part of the handbook of life from which her parents had taught her. But now she was writing her own script, and tonight she planned to pen her first chapter.

She'd thought about this moment during the quick but congested ride over—finally being alone with him.

“Welcome to my humble abode.”

“You have a nice place. Just like I knew you would,” Jerome said, looking around before closing the door behind him.

“Thanks. My parents still don't understand why I bought a house in the city. They hardly ever come to visit, because they say the traffic and street parking are just too much.”

“You live in a great neighborhood. But back in the day you couldn't pay people to move to Dupont Circle. Now folks can't afford to get in.”

Erica opened the refrigerator, surveying its contents. “Yeah, it's a gentrified neighborhood, but I love it here. You can't beat the convenience of all the shops, restaurants, and access to the metro station.” She pulled out two plastic containers and sat them on the counter. “It's so convenient.”

“Yes, but convenience comes with a price.”

She thought about what he'd just said, and she wondered what was behind his statement. She leaned against her stainless steel double sink and watched Jerome as his eyes surveyed her spacious galley kitchen. She knew he was appraising the work. She'd had the room remodeled a few years ago, outfitting it with new cabinets, flooring, countertops, and appliances. The design had been taken from the floor plan of a chef's kitchen she'd seen in one of her favorite cooking magazines.

“So, what do you think of the work?” Erica asked.

Jerome ran his hand across the expensive slate-gray granite countertop. “You didn't scrimp on anything, that's for sure. It's high in quality and design. The work is tight, and your contractor really knew what he was doing.”

“Coming from you, that's a huge compliment.”

“You think so?”

“Yes, you're a true craftsman.”

Jerome tilted his head to the side. “What makes you so sure? You've never even seen my work.”

“I don't have to. I know you're great at whatever you set out to do.” Erica smiled as she looked into his eyes. It was an invitation that welcomed him into what they both wanted, and he willingly accepted.

Without any words, Jerome walked over to where she stood, planting himself in her space so that their bodies were aligned. Erica inhaled deeply as he pressed himself into her, gently moving his pelvis against hers. She could smell the cinnamon Altoids that lingered on his breath, and it made her feel gloriously dizzy.

Slowly, he raised his hands, cupping each side of her face as he looked into her eyes. “You're so beautiful,” he whispered.

Erica's breathing became shallow at his touch. Her body shivered when he placed a slow, soft whisper of a kiss on her forehead, before planting a gentle peck on the bridge of her nose. “So beautiful,” he whispered again.

She moaned out loud when his pelvis began to move in a gentle grind as he nibbled the lower part of her earlobe. His hands and body were hard and rugged, but his movements were soft and graceful, like a delicate feather. She threw her head back when she felt his lips slide to the center of her throat, his tongue teasing her skin until her legs became liquid. “Ooohhh,” Erica murmured as she exhaled, releasing the desire that climbed up from her core and passed through her lips as sound.

Jerome moved his hands down the small of her back, then slowly eased them lower, gripping her round ass in his large palms. Erica's entire body trembled as he pulled her closer into him, his warm breath coating her skin. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his mouth as it traveled the sweet distance that led to her lips, which he softly grazed with his own.

Over the past week she'd imagined their first kiss and what it would feel like, but her fanciful musings hadn't prepared her for the wanton sensation of his soft, warm lips melting into hers. He parted her mouth, covering it in heat, giving her a taste of his cinnamon tongue. He kissed her sensually, with an intensity that let her know this was what he'd been longing for. She wrapped her arms tightly around him as she moved in sync with the increased pace of his rotating hips.

“Mmmm, baby,” Jerome whispered into Erica's ear, pushing himself into her so far that her back pressed against the sink's faucet. “Baby, I want you right here,” he breathed heavily, continuing to grind against her.

He held her as they slid to the floor, not missing a beat. The surface was cold and hard, but they kept going, lost in their desires. Erica's back banged against the terrazzo tile, and Jerome's knees scrubbed it like a mop. They worked vigorously to find a comfortable position, but the rough surface proved more a challenge than a romantic venture. Their lust-driven fantasies had led them there in a heated frenzy, but Erica's stiff back and Jerome's aching knees quickly brought them face-to-face with the reality of their mid-thirties.

“How do you feel about a soft bed?” Erica said.

“Baby, you just read my mind.”

Chapter 24

W
ith slow and careful steps, Erica and Jerome climbed the stairs, headed to both comfort and pleasure. He nestled his lean, muscular body behind hers, holding her close, lifting one foot in front of the other as they walked as one. Her slender back was pressed against his strong chest while her head rested on his shoulder. They moved upward in perfect unison, relishing the journey. He wrapped one arm around her waist and the other around her chest, finding the softness of her breasts, gently rubbing and kneading her delicate mounds through the fabric of her blouse.

Erica felt his erection rub against her ass, and for a moment they both felt like stopping and making love right there on the stairs, but they remembered the kitchen floor, and the thought propelled them to travel the ten feet to her bedroom.

With Jerome still holding her from behind, Erica stumbled over to the nightstand on the side of her bed and turned on the lamp. They both squinted, adjusting their eyes to the light filling the pitch-black room. It was brighter than was necessary for creating a romantic mood, so she pulled away from Jerome, removed her blouse, and draped it over the silk shade, sending the room into a gentle amber glow.

“Damn, you're sexy,” Jerome whispered, smiling at Erica with desire. He walked over to her and enveloped her in his arms, kissing her, holding her, and caressing her soft skin. “I knew your skin would be soft, but, man,” he said, anticipation dripping from his voice. “Soft, sexy, beautiful, and you smell good.”

They took their time, removing each other's clothes as they inspected one another's body, slowly and purposefully. The sensual heat of their desire made them each pant, kissing and exploring as they went along.

Within minutes they were naked, lying atop the chenille duvet on her king-size bed. Their bodies molded into one fine creation as they picked up from where they'd left off downstairs.

Jerome's hungry mouth journeyed to Erica's breasts. He kissed her soft, supple flesh, circling his tongue around her dark nipples before lightly grazing them with his teeth until she whimpered in pleasure. Erica watched with heated lust as he worked his way back and forth, sucking one while rubbing the other with attentive care.

His hands caressed the soft skin on her arms as he moved down to her stomach, gently kissing every inch of her flesh that his lips could cover. He swirled his tongue around her navel as she trembled and moaned in ecstasy. Slowly, he parted her thighs, situating himself at her creamy center. She was wet and warm and ready.

“I'm going to enjoy this,” Jerome softly whispered.

He gently parted her lips with his fingers, taking his time as he rolled his tongue over her glistening skin, stroking her soft folds up and down. He licked and sucked and plied and searched and nibbled and kissed and prodded, darting deep inside her, savoring the tastiness of her sweet juice until she moaned his name.

She bucked her hips, grinding her sensitive flesh against his mouth as she laced her fingers around his sleek bald head. She held him in place, arched her back, dug her heels into the firm mattress, and bore down into an orgasm that made her body spasm and flow like water.

Erica could barely catch her breath. She was drunk with so much pleasure, it made her head spin. “That was so good,” she said, panting as she worked to catch her breath. “Now it's my turn to please you.”

“You already did. Pleasing you pleases me.” Jerome kissed her mouth, his chin wet with the taste of her. He reached over to the nightstand for the condom he'd placed next to her alarm clock. He ripped open the plastic and slid the latex sheath over his rock-hard erection as Erica watched, ready for a thrilling ride.

Jerome parted her thighs with his knee as he prepared to enter her. He went slow, taking his time, letting the tip of his large, swollen head make its way inside her. She gasped when she felt his first few inches—hard and throbbing—enter her empty space. Slowly, he filled her, expanding her walls, spreading himself as far as he could go. Once his entire length was cocooned within her warmth, he began to thrust. He stroked her with loving, gentle force as she wrapped her legs around his waist, moving her hips in tandem with his. He pumped in and out of her wetness, making sure she felt every inch of his desire.

“Oh, Jerome!” Erica cried out, clinging to him.

His strokes became deeper, harder, and more intense. Then he slowed down the tempo, taking hold of her hand, weaving his fingers with hers in a soft grip. They looked into each other's eyes, holding hands, making beautiful love as their bodies rumbled with intense heat, shaking the bed beneath them.

Erica's orgasm was bursting at the edge, waiting to break free. She pushed her hips upward into his thrust as he pumped, keeping her rhythm steady until she felt an intense explosion that made her call out his name, over and over and over again.

Hearing her call his name, and knowing that he'd pleased her, Jerome felt his erection stiffen so hard, he could barely control his movements. His thrusts increased, his excitement escalated, and his body felt the weight of a climax right on the verge of erupting. He charged ahead, and after a few quick strokes he crossed over into paradise, joining Erica in the land of long-awaited pleasure.

 

 

Afterward, Erica and Jerome lay in bed, feeling wonderfully exhausted. Jerome looked down at Erica's head resting comfortably on his shoulder and thought about how much he'd changed. There was a time when after he had sex with a woman, the only sound he wanted to hear was the thud of the door closing behind him as he made his escape from her bed—his escapades had rarely, if ever, taken place at his apartment. Very few of his women had even known its exact location. But now he couldn't think of anything else he'd rather do than hold Erica and listen to the gentle sound of her breathing.

He knew he was bordering on what his boys would consider “going soft.” His cousin Tiny would shake his head and call him a punk-ass bitch, and Jerome didn't even want to think about what some of the guys at work would say. Ironically, the only person he knew he could share his newfound happiness with was his father, who had been a forgotten ghost until ten years ago.

Jerome had always longed for a relationship with Parnell Kimbrough, who'd abandoned the family when Jerome was a little boy. During the first year after his father left, Jerome used to wait anxiously every night, hoping his father would walk back through their door. But when the second year rolled around, his hopes faded with his father's memory.

Two days after the deadly car accident that had injured Jerome's son, had nearly killed his mother, and had caused him to change his life, his father reappeared. He found out that his parents had never lost touch over the years, but because his father had been so heavily involved in drugs and dalliances with other women, his mother had told him to stay away and never come back. But when word got to Parnell out in California, where he'd built a new life, that Mabel had been badly injured and might not survive, he caught the first thing smoking back to the East Coast and had been there ever since.

In the years that his father had been back in his life, Jerome had learned many lessons from his dad. He'd learned that being a man meant owning up to your mistakes, taking responsibility for and protecting your family, and always living in your truth, no matter how hard it seemed or how much it hurt, because that was what separated the real men from the boys. Theirs was a relationship that was built on the present, not the past, and right now Parnell was the only person Jerome felt he could talk to about the delicate matter of his heart.

“That was amazing,” Erica said, pulling Jerome away from his thoughts.

Her dreamy after-sex voice made him want to start round two. He kissed her forehead. “Yes, it was.”

“I hope you'll respect me in the morning.”

“Baby, I respect the hell outta you right now. You got skills,” he teased.

Erica playfully jabbed his shoulder, lifted her head, and looked at him. “I'm being serious, Jerome.”

“So am I.”

“I don't want you to think that I sleep so quickly with every guy I meet.”

“I don't think that. Besides, I'm not every guy, and you're not every woman, right?”

She nodded in agreement. “I just want us to do things the right way, you know?”

“There's no right or wrong when it comes to you and me. We just make it do what it do.”

Erica smiled, sat up, and gathered the sheet around her chest.

“Don't cover up,” Jerome said, gently pulling the sateen fabric away from her skin, circling her left nipple with his right finger. “I like looking at you. You're so beautiful.”

Erica blushed. “I want you to know that I do have moral standards.”

“Erica, I know what kind of woman you are. Why you sweatin' this? Are you regretting what we did?” Now Jerome was sitting up beside her, looking at her with a mind full of questions. Erica was the first woman to voice such concerns after sex. In the past, if there were conversations, they were generally quick and involved only questions pertaining to their next hookup, and never their moral code of conduct.

“No, I don't regret anything. I loved every moment we shared, and that's my point.” Erica fiddled with the edge of the sheet. “I don't want this to be a hit-and-run type of thing. I was serious about what I said during lunch today.”

“So was I. We're on the same page, baby.” Although the room was dim, Jerome could see the doubt and questions in Erica's eyes. He saw hurt, fear, and insecurity lingering where there should have been light. A profound awareness came rushing to him, and that was when he realized something that completely blew him away. He loved her. “Erica, don't worry. I got you.”

“I'm going to hold you to that.” She leaned over and gently kissed him.

“Now, that's what I'm talkin' about. You can hold me to that day and night.”

She looked at the clock on her nightstand. “Speaking of day and night, I can't believe it's almost eleven o'clock. We never got to eat dinner.”

“No . . . but we had some delicious dessert.”

“Yes, we did,” she purred. “You hungry? I took some food out earlier, and it's still sitting on the counter. I can warm it up in the microwave.”

Jerome reached for her, pulling her back down to the mattress. “What I want to eat is right here.” He smiled and slowly slid down to the meeting of her thighs.