Come To Me (3 page)

Chapter
Four

Baron
could tell from their first kiss she was just as caught in an unfamiliar flood
of emotions as he was. It was good to know he wasn't the only one out of his
element. When he’d called his best friend and business partner, Tony, to let
him know he’d be gone for a few days to meet a woman, Tony told him the harsh
truth. “Man, you are nuts.”

“Maybe,”
Baron had replied. “But I won’t know unless I try.”

“I
hope she’s worth it.”

“Hey,
she’s got me jumping on a plane at six in the morning to travel some
twenty-five-hundred miles just to spend a day with her. Yeah, I think she is.”

But
he’d always known twenty-four hours would not be enough. Which was why he took
the rest of the week off. With the weekend, that would give them four days
together. After actually holding her and having a little taste of her, he also
knew it wouldn’t be near enough time.

She
pulled into a parking spot in front of a ten-story condo unit. Without saying a
word, he followed her out of the car and into the building. At the elevator, he
watched her press the number seven. A lucky number. Once the door closed, he
had to touch her. He tugged her to him and claimed her mouth. Her arms snaked around
his neck, drawing him closer. The ding of the elevator opening had them
reluctantly separating.

“This
way.” Her voice came out breathless.

He
took her hand and let her lead him. Stopping in front of a condo midway down
the hall, she opened the bag strapped across her shoulder. Her fingers trembled
as she got her key ring out. It fell to the floor. Bending down, he picked it
up. There were two and one was on a silver heart-shaped ring, a little smaller
than the other. He tried the larger of the two first, and the lock clicked.
Turning the knob, he pushed against the wood and returned the keys to her.

“Thank
you,” she whispered, brushing against his chest as she passed him.

He
inhaled sharply from the heat of her touch. The scent of honeysuckle wafting
off her had him stifling the groan threatening to erupt from his depths.
“You’re welcome.”

After
they entered, he closed the door behind them. They stood in a small hallway
foyer with a narrow, waist-high wall separating it from the rest of the room.
On the other side, a spacious living area boasted a white rattan furniture with
large, comfortable and colorful cushions dominated the room. A narrow kitchen
on the left seemed ample enough to accommodate two people working side-by-side
to prepare a meal. Directly ahead of him, windows composed the entire back
wall. Beyond the panes, a deck overlooked a beautiful view of vast blue water.
He stepped further into the room, dropped his things on the carpet, and then
headed toward the sliding glass doors. Jasmine already stood in front of them,
fiddling with the latch, trying to get them open.

He
covered her hand with his. “Here, let me try.” He flipped the level and pushed
the latch back.

“Thanks,”
she said. “Sometimes it sticks.”

They
stepped onto the balcony, and he drew a deep breath, inhaling the smell of pure
sun, sand, and Pacific Ocean. “I love this scent and the view’s beautiful,
too,” he said. But he no longer looked at the ocean.

“Wanna
take a stroll?”

She
didn't wait for him to reply but moved past him toward the front door. Before
she reached the entryway she paused, glancing down at his travel bag he’d
dropped there.

“Let
me show you where to put this and then we’ll head for the beach.”

He
got his stuff and followed her to the hallway that ran to the right of the
kitchen. Scenic pictures lined one wall of boats on the water, and two open
doors stood directly across from them. Jasmine stopped in front of the first
room and turned to him.

“You
can put your stuff in here.”

She
moved aside for him to enter, and he glanced around. The queen-size bed in the
center of the room took up most of the space, and the windows behind it offered
a great view of the ocean beyond. Even this room reminded him of a beach home
in that the walls were painted the color of sand and the short headboard was
also white rattan matching the four-drawer dresser with sea-shell handles. The
aqua-tinted comforter offered most of the color in the room. He placed his bag
down on the sandy-colored rug.

“Come
on,” she said.

They
left the building and strolled through a little hedge flower garden with four
stone benches scattered around it. A brick walkway wound them past the garden.
The path led to a locked iron gate taller than an average man.

Jasmine
used the second key on her ring to open it, this time without fumbling and
dropping them. They followed a bridge over the dunes, descended a few steps,
and at the bottom, stopped. She removed her sandals, left them on the steps,
and rolled up her pants. Baron followed her example and did the same. He
straightened, offered her his hand, and she took it.

His
chest expanded. He loved the feel of her soft skin touching him and the way the
fingers on her other hand wrapped around his arm like she was claiming him. He
hoped she would, because he’d like to claim her. The thought seized hold of him
and wouldn’t let go.

They
began walking. She led them straight down to the water's edge, stopping only
when the tide surrounded their feet. He planted his toes in the warm sand and
closed his eyes. Raising their joined hands to his lips, he kissed her
knuckles. He paid homage to the lady at his side for making him so complete and
satisfied, and all with nothing more than her presence. He couldn’t remember
the last time a woman affected him more, if ever.

“I'm
glad I came. I hope you are, too.” A presence of peace enveloped him, and he
opened his eyes and turned his head to look at her. Making no attempt to hide
his feelings, he wanted her to see his sincerity and his yearning for whatever
was happening between them. His willingness to accept it all, even the fact
they had different skin tones. None of it mattered, only that they were
together, as they were meant to be.

“I'm
glad you came, too.” Her voice came out whisper-soft against the breeze. But it
blew in his direction, and he heard the words.

The
top of her head only reached his shoulder, but her height was perfect for him.
She placed her palm on his chest and tilted her head back as he curved his down
to meet her raised lips. Their first kiss had been a claiming, but this one
became a promise. They had time to fulfill it. At least he'd try his best to
give them time. But he wanted—needed her now—had needed her for the
last six months. Hell, maybe for all of his life.

He
pulled away. “Come on, show me your beach.”

They strolled aimlessly along the shore for hours, twice paused to just sit on
the sand and talk, touch or kiss. Mostly talk.

“I
feel like you're an old friend,” she said, brushing the hair out of her face.

“I
know, it’s like we're an old comfortable couple, as opposed to having met for
the first time only hours ago.”

His
admission caused her breath to catch in her throat. “A couple. Is that what we
are?”

“Yes.”
And just like that, he had her. In truth, she was his the moment he stepped off
the plane.

They
reversed their path back to her place. The sun hadn't quite gone down when
Jasmine opened her front door. At least this time she wasn't Ms. Butterfingers.
She watched him look around her space again and wondered what he thought of her
home. It didn't take him long to cross the room until he stopped in front of
the sofa. He held his hand out to her. Like a marionette, whose string had been
tugged, she went to him and grasped his outstretched hand. After sitting down,
he rested her against his side.

“For
now, I just want to hold you, okay?” he said.

The
long, wide sofa could easily accommodate both of them stretched out full
length. He lowered her with him, placing her snuggly in front of him and rested
his leg over hers. She felt a wall at her back and solid muscle covering part
of her body. Baron encircled his arm around her waist, she leaned into him, and
he rubbed his nose against her hair.

“Mmm,
soft. I love the smell of your hair. Reminds me of honeysuckle.”

She
responded by entwining their fingers. The sigh near her ear came from one
contented man. Embraced in his strength, she let herself go and drifted into
slumber.

Jasmine
had no idea how long they slept. The sun had been sinking past the horizon when
they’d returned to her home, and glancing out the window now, she saw stars
peppering a dark velvet sky. She didn’t move for a moment, absorbing the feel
of the man behind her. Then she realized what had awoken her—the bone digging
into her rear. She pressed back against it, and the owner’s hand rose from her
waist to encase the lower part of one breast.

“I
thought you just wanted to hold me,” she said.

“Mmm,
I am. I want to hold all of you. I want you to hold me, too.”

She
turned on the sofa to face him.

He
leaned into her palm and she stroked the side of his face. He moved his cheek
back and forth to deepen the caress.

“What’s
happening here?” she asked. She wanted him there with her and she was never
surer of anything in her life. She’d recognized him on sight as he had her. He
belonged to her, and she to him. Yet it was all still hard to take in, and she
was fully immersed in whatever it was.

“Whatever
it is, we’re in it together,” he replied. “Never doubt that.”

The
way they naturally drew toward each other didn’t seem to hold sway to reason of
any sort. When he kissed her palm, his touch reached into her soul. He moved his
mouth to the inside of her elbow, and his caress ignited every cell throughout
the rest of her body. She momentarily seemed to forget how to inhale.

“I
guess what you say is true,” Jasmine finally managed once she had breath to
speak again. This time she cupped his elbow and sat up, pulling him up with her
when she rose.

“Come
with me.” But he surprised her. He turned her to him and held her face.

“Are
you sure?” he asked. “Because, once we give ourselves to each other, there’s no
going back.”

“I’m
sure,” she replied as she leaned forward and kissed him.

Chapter
Five

She
tasted smooth and silky, like fine scotch. Taking her backwards a few steps,
Baron managed to maintain contact until he had no choice but to release her
lips. When she opened her eyes and started to protest, he picked her up and
covered her mouth with his again. She tightened her arms around his neck and
held him there. He passed the guestroom and headed straight for her bedroom. He
placed her on her feet beside the bed, and she fell back onto the mattress. He
followed her down, sinking into her intoxicating softness.

He
lay perfectly nestled between her legs, their clothing not quite enough to mute
the erotic sensation of his hardness pushing against her, but enough to create
a hunger for more. She moved her arms from around his neck and tugged at his
clothes.

It
took him a moment to register what she wanted, but he ceased kissing her to
help her remove his clothes. Once his shirt hit the floor, he pulled her
T-shirt off and, sitting up, he straddled her to unbutton her pants. Scooting
back, he tugged them free one leg at a time. While he worked to remove her
clothes, he noticed her gaze drawn to his chest. He hoped his body fascinated
and enticed her as much as hers did him. He’d never had complaints before, but
other women hadn’t been really important to him. They didn’t matter. Jasmine
did.

He
gained his reward as she sat up, raising her hand to touch him. The tips of her
fingers barely brushed the area above his nipple, and a hiss passed between his
lips. Moving backwards and off the bed, he quickly shed his pants.