More Than He Can Handle (8 page)

“Looks like you have some time after all,” Cleveland said.

“Looks can be deceiving because I have to go and check on the construction at my house and . . .”

“Miss Barker, chere, you know t'ain't nobody working on nothin' this week,” Celeste said.

“Thanks, Celeste. Why don't you check on those reservations that have yet to get here,” Freddie said, then turned to Cleveland. “I thought we had an agreement.”

Cleveland leaned into her, their lips inches from one another's. “And I never thought I'd see you again. See, me ending up at your hotel was just fate's way of bring us back together again.”

She wiggled her finger for him to walk around the corner. The last thing she wanted was for Celeste to hear their conversation.

“Yes,” he said in a whisper.

“I don't know what you think is going to happen, but forget it. There are thousands of women in this city who you can make beautiful memories with. I just happen to not be one of them,” she said.

“So, you admit we made beautiful memories,” he said smugly. “And there could be a million women in this city, but you're the only one I want in my bed.”

“Sorry, it was a one time lapse in judgment, flooded by alcohol and . . .”

Cleveland pulled Freddie against his body. “I don't want to hear that. I know you want the same thing that I want.” Before she could pull away or protest, Cleveland kissed her until her knees went weak. She melted against him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him deeper into the kiss. Cleveland's hands felt so good on her body and if she were honest with herself, she would admit that she didn't want him to stop. She would tell him all of the naughty things that she'd dreamed about since Lillian's wedding.

But Freddie was in no mood to be honest. Forcefully, she pushed Cleveland away. “Have you ever thought that I don't want you?”

“If I had any doubt, you erased it with that kiss.” He licked his lips. “What are you afraid of?”

“Nothing,” she said in a near whisper. “Cleveland, please, work your charm on someone else, all right?” Freddie stomped away from him, but in the back of her mind, she knew that she wouldn't have any peace until he was back in Atlanta where he belonged.

Though the party was raging on the streets below, Cleveland couldn't think of anything but Freddie's lips and the curve of her body in his arms. Touching his lips, he thought about hers again. Walking over to the balcony, he looked down over the city. There were so many people clogging the streets that he wondered what would happen if an emergency vehicle had to get through that crowd. It reminded him of the days of Freaknik in Atlanta and how many calls they could barely get to because people were dancing in the streets and having impromptu car shows.

He should've been enjoying the party, drinking hurricanes and rum punch but the only thing he wanted to put in his mouth was Freddie. If he had to bring her Po-Boys every day for the rest of the week, then he would. He did need a drink and if he were lucky, he'd run into Freddie and they could pick up where they left off in the hallway. She wanted him and the minute she stopped denying it, the sooner they could have more fun together.

But Cleveland had a feeling that there was more to Freddie than just a few rolls in the hay, no matter how enjoyable they were. She had a lot going for herself, so why was she single and why did she feel the need to deny herself pleasure? He had six days and he'd do his damnedest to find that out. He crossed the room, tearing himself away from the excitement below him. Looking around the room, he could understand why the hotel was classified as a boutique. It had all the comforts of home, with an extra long king-sized bed and black-and-white décor. What he really loved was the mini bar, which was fully stocked with bourbon, gin, rum, and any other liquor you could want. Part of him had to wonder if this room was created for him.

Cleveland was about to pour himself a stiff drink when he realized that he didn't have any ice. Though he could've called the chambermaid and had her bring him some, Cleveland decided to explore the hotel and see what he could gleam about Freddie from the way she decorated and ran her business. Obviously she wasn't a horrible taskmaster because all of the employees he'd seen her come in contact with seemed to like her and have a friendly relationship with her.

Especially the chick that had shot down all of the excuses that Freddie tried to fly his way; she had to be friends with her boss. Grabbing the ice bucket, he headed out the door and saw Freddie walking into the room across the hall from him. The night was taking a definite turn for the better.

“Well, good evening,” he said.

Freddie turned around with a startled look on her face. “Did you come to New Orleans to spend Mardi Gras inside a hotel room?”

“It's such a nice hotel, why wouldn't I spend at least one evening in here? Care to join me?” Cleveland asked with a smile.

“I'm very tired,” Freddie said, “and remember what I said, we're so over.”

Dropping his ice bucket on the floor, Cleveland closed the space between the two of them with the quickness of a cheetah, then he pressed her against the door and assaulted her lips with kisses that made her spine turn to jelly. Cleveland felt her let go as she wrapped her left leg around his waist. Though he tried to gently unbutton her blouse, he ended up ripping it open.

Freddie pressed her tongue deep into Cleveland's mouth, forgetting all of those promises she made to stay away from him. He tasted so good, his hands as they slipped underneath her skirt made her hot, wet, and filled with desire. She had to have him right now. Cleveland lifted her into his arms and pushed her room door open. It didn't matter that her bed hadn't been made and her running shoes were in the middle of the floor because all either of them saw was one another.

Cleveland laid her on the queen-sized bed and stripped her down to her pink lace bra and lace boy shorts. Slipping his hands between her thighs, he could feel her heat and he wanted to taste her wetness. Just as she'd taken the lead in their first rendezvous, Cleveland was going to be in control all night. He pulled her panties off and spread her legs apart, kissing her inner thigh and running his lips across the source of her desire. Freddie writhed underneath his faint touch with the anticipation of what was to come. When his tongue flicked across her throbbing bud of passion, she lost it—her legs shook, her body seemed to go limp and lustful cries died in the back of her throat.

Cleveland alternated his tongue and finger, bringing Freddie to climax in rapid succession. Still, he wasn't finished with her as he reversed his trail and kissed her navel, then snaked his tongue up to her breasts. All the while, he was kicking his shoes and pants off so that they could make their bodies one again. He'd longed for this moment since the wedding. He'd needed to taste, touch and feel Freddie again. She was the woman of his erotic dreams, and now she was in his arms.

“Cleveland,” she moaned. “I need you.”

Taking her nipple into his mouth, he ignored her request for the moment. He sucked her breast until her nipple hardened against his lips. “I got what you need,” he said.

She placed her hand in the center of his chest. “Protection ?”

He leaned down on the floor and pulled a gold package from his pocket. “Always prepared.”

“What a Boy Scout you are,” she teased.

Though he wanted to ask her why she ran hot and cold, his yearning for her was stronger than any question that was weighing on his mind. This was crazy, because this wasn't how Cleveland operated. No woman got under his skin, but Freddie had gotten under his skin and in his system. Looking down at her as he opened the condom package and slid the sheath in place, the only thing he could think about was melting with her.

Cleveland dove into Freddie's awaiting body, she was so wet and primed for him that he nearly climaxed with one thrust. Nothing had ever felt so good. It was as if he'd met his sexual match because as he pressed deeper and deeper, she matched him thrust for thrust. She even clutched his buttocks, silently begging for more. He didn't mind and gave her just what she wanted. Lifting her from the bed, he wrapped her legs around his waist as if they were ribbons, then backed her up against the wall. Cleveland raised her hands above her head as they continued their sensual dance so that he could feel the soft curve of her breasts. With her free hand, Freddie grabbed his shoulder as she tightened herself around him, alerting him to the fact that she was about to climax. Cleveland felt as if he could finally release what he'd been holding back and spent himself inside her. But he wouldn't let her go. For a few silent moments, they stood there looking at each other. Neither could deny the unyielding desire that had blossomed between them, and this time, Cleveland wasn't going to let her run away from it.

He carried her to the bed and laid her down. To his surprise, Freddie pulled on his arm so that he would join her. Holding her against his chest, Cleveland watched her as she fell asleep and wondered what other surprises Freddie had in store for him.

 

 

Shooting up in the bed, she screamed. Sweat poured from her face and she shivered as a hand stroked her back.

“Freddie,” Cleveland said, “are you all right?”

Hugging her knees to her chest, she shook her head. “It was just a bad dream, I guess.”

He stroked her back gently, he said, “Do you want to talk about it?”

She pushed his hand away. “No, I don't.” Tugging at the sheet, she covered herself with it. “What time is it?”

He looked at his wristwatch. “A little after two.”

Freddie pushed her hair back from her forehead. “I need to check on my night auditor. I can't believe that we've done this again.”

Cleveland forced her to turn around and look at him. “Why do you do this?” he asked. “You run hot and cold. There is no middle ground with you, is there?”

“No, there isn't and you know what, there isn't room for you in my bed either,” Freddie said as she leapt to her feet. Cleveland followed her lead, but instead of letting her force him out of the room, he pressed her against the door that she'd been trying to open.

“This is like déjà vu all over again,” he said. “Why do you give yourself so freely and then when it's over, you act as if you're ashamed or someone forced you into doing something that you didn't want to do. What are you afraid of? That you're going to like it, that you're going to have to admit that . . .”

“Everything is not about you. The world doesn't revolve around Cleveland Alexander. I have my own stuff going on and this is too much,” she exclaimed.

“What's going on?” he asked. “Are you just using me for sex, or what?”

She turned away from him and shook her head. “This is something I have to do on my own. Getting involved with you wasn't supposed to happen.”

“What is the something?”

She sighed and rolled her eyes. “I have to find my father. I have to rebuild my life. And you're a distraction to me. You can't handle my life right now, because I can barely handle it myself.”

Cleveland ran his hand across his forehead. “You know what? Let me decide that.”

Freddie shook her head and pushed against his chest. “You're here for a week, Cleveland, and then what?”

“Then it's whatever we want it to be. But if you need my help, I'm not going to leave you hanging.”

She turned her back to him and walked over to the window. “I don't want your help or anyone else's. I'm going to find my father and deal with the issues that we have. I'm going to rebuild my house and my life here in New Orleans. You, on the other hand, will be back in Atlanta doing whatever it is that you do.”

Crossing over to her, Cleveland pulled her into his arms, forcing her to look into his eyes. “Do you know what I've been doing in Atlanta since the night we spent together?”

She shook her head, struggling to meet his intense gaze. “Thinking of you,” Cleveland said. “The way you felt in my arms, the way you tasted, the way you moved. I don't know what kind of man you think I am, but this isn't something I normally do. I don't chase women. But I feel like I'd follow you to the ends of the Earth to unravel this mystery that you've become to me.”

Closing her eyes, Freddie let his words sink in. She wanted to believe it all, but she'd heard it all before. A man who wanted to help her find her father, a man who wanted her, a man who was telling a lie. That's what Marcus had done, lied to her because he wanted the fortune that went along with finding Jacques Babineaux, an escaped federal prisoner. Freddie's father had a bounty of one million dollars on his head. Everyone in New Orleans knew about Babineaux and the crime he was accused of. But Freddie never knew the details of the murder.

Her mother wouldn't be honest with her about what happened. For years, she painted Babineaux as a deadbeat and even changed their last name to Barker.

“You don't understand,” she said. “It's too much to get into it with you because . . .”

“Because what?” he asked.

Freddie looked up at Cleveland. He wasn't from New Orleans and he didn't know who Babineaux was. “Are you sure you want to give up your vacation to help me find my father?”

“I wouldn't have made the offer if I wasn't sure,” he said as he stroked her cheek.

Freddie smiled tersely. “Then we're going to have to take a trip in the morning,” she said. “It's taken me a month to get a strong lead on where he is.”