Key To My Heart (Love Conquers All) (29 page)

“Monday?” Langston parroted, lifting a brow and looking down at Ava. Langston wasn’t used to making snap decisions. Janet calling and announcing to Zoe that she and Dominic were going to take her to Disney World in three days wasn’t sitting well with him. What happened to discussing things like this with the parents first?

Ava mumbled, “Oh, boy” when Langston instructed Zoe to hand him the phone. He didn’t have to voice how annoyed he was with her parents. It was etched across his handsome, dark features.

Before Langston could get a word out, Janet rushed into explaining how she and Dominic wanted to spend some time with Zoe before she started back to school. The woman had no shame as she stressed to Langston that she and Dominic had lived seven years wondering about their only grandchild. And now that they were blessed to have Zoe in their lives, it was their obligation and duty as grandparents to make up for lost time.

Langston was finally able to interrupt to tell Janet that he and Ava were planning on taking Zoe to Disney World during the Christmas school break, but apparently that was not going to help his cause. Langston could only roll his eyes toward the ceiling when Janet dramatically exclaimed, “Christmas! Oh no, no! Not Christmas, Langston, dear. Dominic and I are having a big family dinner. You, Zoe, and Ava must be here in South Philly for Christmas.”

Initially Janet’s sermon had grated on Langston’s nerves. But the more the woman talked, he knew in his heart each word was spoken out of love for Zoe. How could he deny Janet and Dominic this request? Zoe deserved grandparents who loved and doted on her the way Ava’s parents did. Lord knew the child never had that from his parents. And besides, Zoe absolutely adored her grandparents. Spending a week with her grandparents would be good for her.

Langston looked at Ava, who was nervously chewing on her thumbnail, and then to Zoe, who was still skipping around singing, “I just can’t wait to be king!” from the
Lion King
. He threw up his hands in defeat. Letting out a deep chortle, he said, “OK, Ms. Janet, I give up. What time Monday do you want Zoe ready?”

When Monday arrived, Ava and Langston stood on the sidewalk and waved until the black Lincoln Town car was out of sight.

“Are you sure you don’t mind her going to Disney World with my parents?” Ava asked, a touch of uneasiness in her voice.

Ava loved her parents, but sometimes their spur of the moment wackiness drove her crazy. It wasn’t anything for them to suddenly jump up and say, “We’re going to the Caribbean, or Hawaii, or France, or Italy.” As a child, Janet and Dominic were always dragging Ava and Dom on some impromptu family vacation. And now it seemed that they were going to do the same with their first grandchild.

Smiling down at Ava, Langston said, “I told you I was OK with it.”

Standing on tiptoes, Ava gave Langston a quick peck. “Thanks for understanding, Lang.” Taking his hand in hers, she started for the front door. “I hope you know this is just the beginning of them pulling stunts like this.”

“Oh, really?” Langston asked as he followed Ava into the house.

Ava nodded and laughed. “Yup. Dominic and Janet Peretti are the king and queen of last minute vacationing. Don’t be surprised if you get a call from them telling you and Zoe to have your bags packed for a weekend at their cabin in the Poconos.”

“Oh, hell,” Langston drawled, feigning annoyance. But on the inside it pleased him that he was becoming a part of a loving family.

Ava laughed, elbowing Langston in the side. “Leave my parents alone. They mean well.”

Chuckling, he agreed. “No doubt, no doubt.” Leaning down, he kissed the tip of Ava’s nose. “Listen, I have to get back to the office for a few hours. You want to go out to dinner tonight?”

“Like on a date?” Ava asked, a demure smile playing around the corner of her lips.

Wrapping an arm around her waist, Langston pulled Ava’s soft curves flush against his solid form. “Yes, like on a date,” he whispered as he tenderly kissed her lips.

It was a good thing Langston was holding her, or else she would have ended up on the floor from the lightheadedness overtaking her. The kiss was so gentle it made her want to cry. Her voice quivered when she spoke. “OK, I’ll be ready when you come home.”

“You do that,” he told Ava, wishing he didn’t have to leave her. As he drove back to the office, her words kept replaying in his head.
I’ll be ready when you come home.
Langston prayed he wasn’t imagining things, because Ava had said
home
as if that was where she belonged.

Soft musical notes floating on the air and the smell of sandalwood scented candles greeted Langston as he entered the house. Setting his briefcase and keys on the table in the foyer, he walked through the dark, shadowy living room and hallway, illuminated only by the heavenly scented candles. Entering the brightly lit dining room, the air was literally knocked out of his lungs at the vision before him.

Ava was oblivious to Langston’s presence as she filled the beautifully crafted crystal glasses with water. The table was already set. She had placed the tossed salad on salad plates and had the wine on ice in a silver bucket. Now all she had to do was wait for Langston to get home so she could serve the main course by candlelight.

Tilting his head to the side, Langston’s took in every inch of Ava. Her tresses were piled up high, held in place by sparkly, decorative hairclips. A few spiral curls hung loosely, framing her lovely face. The red spaghetti strap dress she wore was perfectly molded from her breasts to her waist, flaring at the hips and stopping mid-thigh. Three inch heels made her shapely legs look temptingly longer. Langston had to stifle a groan as he imagined how they would feel wrapped around his waist as he made love to her. He whispered, “Oh, dayum,” at the sight of her red painted toenails. He wanted her. Bad.

Weeks. Langston had waited patiently week after week to have her. After that fiasco with his mother showing her natural black behind, Langston had made a decision to allow Ava to come to him on her own. Although she was affectionate with him, she hadn’t made a move to take things any further. And then there was Zoe. They had chanced it the first time they made love with the precocious seven-year-old in the house. If she happened to wander during the night to his room—as she prone to do—she would have a million and one questions as to why Ava was in bed with him. But for tonight this was of no consequence, since she was in Disney World with the grandparents.
The wait is over.

It was the sound of a low growling that caused Ava to look up and see Langston gazing at her with passion glazed eyes. Just as she was about to tell him she wanted to stay home to have a romantic dinner, and perhaps go out for dessert, the words died on her lips. Dude was advancing on her like a wolf on an open chicken coop.
Oh geesh,
Ava thought as she took a step back.

Langston only allowed her a split second to set down the crystal water pitcher. Curving a large hand around the back of her neck, Langston pulled her mouth to his. As he held her in place, plunging his tongue into her mouth, he used his other hand to remove the hairclips, dropping them to the floor, loving how her hair tumbled free.

Ava eagerly accepted Langston’s plunging tongue as she reached up, her hands frantically working to loosen his tie. Breaking the kiss, she panted out, “Hurry up and take off your jacket.”

After shrugging off the jacket, Langston’s hands worked at removing his onyx and silver cufflinks as Ava’s hands unbuttoned his shirt. Ava’s fingers glided up the ripples on Langston’s muscular chest and across his broad shoulders as she finally slid off his shirt.

She had no intention of this happening. All she wanted was a quiet, romantic dinner. Something they hadn’t been able to do with Zoe around. Her intent had been for them to talk about where things were heading with them. However that little discussion was going to have to wait, because this man,
her
man, had her body on fire!

Langston let out a stream of hot air when Ava started placing butterfly kisses across his broad chest. He groaned when her tongue circled his nipple. Traveling hands unbuckling his belt made him bite his bottom lip. When she reached inside to massage his already engorged manhood, he took a step back. Grabbing her wrists, he demanded, “Stop.” The caress of her soft, warm hands was too torturous. If he didn’t pace himself, he would lose it.

When she started to protest, Langston silenced her with a deep kiss. Gently he slid each strap of her dress from the curve of her soft shoulders, causing the ultra sexy dress to pool at her feet. Ava shivered from the predatory stare Langston gave her as she stood in nothing but a lacy red thong and silver strappy stilettos.
Oooh, this is going to be goooood!
Ava thought. Langston was now looking at her like a wolf in chicken heaven.

Ava wrapped her arms around Langston’s neck and her legs around his waist as he lifted her off her feet, cupping her soft but firm derriere. She let out a long moan as he drew a pouting nipple into his mouth.

Backing up to the edge of the table, Langston never missed a lick as he switched to the other breast. Holding Ava up with one arm, he used the other to clear a path on the dining room table.

Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and mushrooms went airborne, along with everything else in his way. The crashing and breaking of crystal, china, and an expensive bottle of wine, along with clinking silverware was of no concern as Langston lay Ava on the table. Tiny shivers traveled the length of her body as he took his time teasing her with tender nibbles, exploring her breasts and the valley between. Ava’s hips bucked off the table when he traveled lower, his tongue circling and dipping into her bellybutton.

She became self conscious when his fingers gingerly stroked the faded stretch marks on the lower part of her belly. Just as she was about to tell him to stop, Langston’s kisses grew hotter as he set the inside of her thighs on fire. Her body trembled when he pulled her thong to side and began to intimately kiss her. Ava felt like she was floating on clouds as the only man she had ever known loved her so tenderly.

There were times when others had tried to invade
his
space. However, with each attempt, before things went to a point of no return Ava’s heart, mind, and body would go on lockdown. Only Langston held the key to her heart, mind, and body. In spite of everything, she had never let go of her love for him . . .
and I never will.

Falling…falling…falling. Ava crashed into wave after orgasmic wave until her body shattered into a million pieces as she let out an ear-piercing scream, nearly rupturing her eardrums. Ava’s thighs were still quivering as Langston stepped back, yanking off her thong before kicking off his shoes and pulling off his trousers, briefs, and socks. Easing back between her legs, he firmly gripped her hips, bringing her to the edge of the table. Lifting her bottom, he entered Ava with such force that he growled and she screamed.

Perspiration coated their bodies as they mated with reckless passion. Ava’s pelvis rose to meet each and every demanding thrust Langston’s hips delivered. She thought she would die when he untangled her legs from around his waist bringing them to rest on well-built, sturdy shoulders. Each thrust and stroke was deeper, stronger than the last, pushing her to the edge. Ava nearly lost her mind when Langston kissed her, his tongue imitating the motion of his hips.

With every thrust of his hips, Langston struggled not to explode. He was in heaven right here on earth as he made love to Ava. As he went deeper and deeper, her cries of ecstasy were pleading with him to come closer to the edge with her.

Slowing his pace to long, penetrating strokes served only to fuel the passionate fire, not subdue it.

A spectrum of colors burst behind Ava’s closed lids on a deep down stroke, sending her tumbling over the edge again.

A loud roar rent the air as Langston threw back his head. His jugular veins distended, appearing as if they were about to rupture as his body jerked in powerful orgasmic spasms. He collapsed on top of Ava as the last spasm exited his massive frame. They could each feel the drumming in the other’s chest as they held each other, savoring the aftermath.

“Lang, why you make me do this?”

The smile in her voice was unmistakable. Langston let out a deep chuckle as he answered, “I didn’t make you do anything.” Lifting his head and staring down at Ava, he winked. “You seduced me.”

Langston buried his face in the crook of Ava’s neck when she tried to push him away. Laughing, she fussed, “I did not seduce you! You’re the one who came in here acting like a Neanderthal, throwing stuff all over the place and then throwing me on the table.”

Ava moaned as Langston sucked her neck. In between tastes he said, “I come home…to…music…candles and you…in that…red dress…and you expect me…to…sit back…and chill?” Lifting his head, he gazed down at Ava before leaning in close, mere centimeters from her lips. “I had to have you.”

Langston kissed her long and hard. As much as she was enjoying the kiss and their lovemaking, her spirit was troubled. Was it all about the sex for Langston? She knew he cared for her. But did he love her? Or was she just a convenient piece of tail?

Breaking the kiss, Ava firmly pressed against Langston’s chest. “Please get up.”

Langston complied with her request. Just that quick he could tell something had changed in Ava. Reaching down, he helped Ava off the table. His eyes followed her as she stepped around him, retrieved her dress from the floor, and put it back on. Following her lead, he put his briefs back on.