No Other Lover Will Do (25 page)

She moaned his name over and over again as she exploded against him over and over again.

Kandace tugged at the button and zipper on Solomon's pants and used her feet to pushed them down to his ankles. Solomon inched up her body, licking his lips. Kandace shivered as she felt his erection against her thighs. “Solomon,” she moaned as she pressed her body against him. For a second, Solomon thought about taking her without protection, taking her and possibly filling her belly with Solomon Jr.

Not until you marry her,
a voice said in his ear. It startled him, made him pull back from her and stare down into her angelic face.
She's the one. She's the woman I've been looking for.

“What's wrong?” she asked when she opened her eyes and saw Solomon staring at her.

He stroked her cheek, then leaned down and kissed her lips gently. “Nothing's wrong,” he said when he broke the kiss. “Everything is right. I love you, Kandace.”

“What?” she asked, not trusting her ears.

“I love you,” he said as he kissed her neck. “I love you.”

Kandace knew logic should've taken over. How could he love her? How could he love her after such a short time?
The same way you love him,
she thought. Kandace wrapped her arms around his neck as his mouth covered hers. She wanted to tell him that she was in love, wanted to tell him that she loved him too, but fear stopped her. Caused her to keep her mouth closed around his lips. Kandace wrapped her legs around his waist, deepening her kiss and hoping that she could convey her feelings to him without saying a word.

Solomon pulled back before he lost his control. “Protection,” he said. “And since it's in your room, let's take this to the bed.”

“All right,” she said as she rose to her feet and walked slowly up the stairs. Solomon smiled as he took in the sight of her shapely bottom and quickly followed her up to the bedroom. A sliver of silver moonlight shone through the thin curtains and the light danced off Kandace's skin, giving her an angelic glow that made him harder than he ever thought possible. Solomon nearly tripped over his feet as he rushed to his overnight bag and snatched a condom out of the pocket.

When he was covered, Solomon bolted to the bed and joined Kandace as she unsnapped her bra and tossed it on the floor. “Lie down,” she told him. “I wouldn't want you to strain your shoulder.”

“Yes, ma'am,” he said as he lay on his back. Kandace mounted him, guiding his erection into her wetness. Solomon moaned as he felt her tighten herself around his pulsating manhood. She rocked her hips and rolled her body against him. Up and down she thrust, and Solomon mirrored her movements. Fast, then slow like Coltrane's sax, and intense like Miles's horn. She was so wet and so hot. Solomon relished the feeling as he wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tightly. Kandace ground against him until she felt as if she was about to explode. Solomon could feel her body tremble against his as she leaned forward, pressing her breasts against his chest as the pleasure of her orgasm rippled through her body. She rubbed her lips against his collarbone and sighed.

Solomon stroked her hair and kissed her cheek. Kandace followed a bead of sweat down his chest with her fingertip. “Is it really possible for us to be this happy?” she asked.

“You don't think we deserve it?” Solomon asked. “And if you think this is happy, you haven't seen anything yet.”

“I love you, Solomon,” she said.

He smiled brightly, happy to hear those words slip from her lips. But in true Solomon Crawford fashion, he said, “Why don't you tell me something I don't know?”

“Ooh, you're lucky you're still nursing a wound or I would kick you out of this bed,” she joked.

“But I have no doubt you'd welcome me back,” he replied.

Kandace laughed. “You're too much. Still the same cocky asshole I thought you were.”

“But you love me,” he said as he kissed her gently on the lips.

The Superior Court judge in Newland, North Carolina, read the documents on his bench and then cast a glance at Carmen. She didn't look capable of such horrible crimes, but after twenty years on the bench, he'd seen baby-faced killers and beautiful women who had committed horrific crimes. He cleared his throat, then said, “I'm ready to render my ruling.”

Carmen's public defender tapped her fingers on the table as she waited for the judge to issue his ruling.

“I'm ordering that the defendant enter the Behavioral Health Center in Charlotte for a thirty-day evaluation. At the end of the evaluation period, I will take the doctor's findings into consideration before ruling on the defendant's extradition to New York,” he said.

“Your honor,” the assistant district attorney from New York County said as he stood up. “New York County has the most serious charges against this defendant. We can have our doctors examine her, but she needs to face the—”

“Mr. Becoats, I understand you have serious charges against the defendant, but I have a concern for her mental state. Before she goes anywhere, she will be evaluated. I don't want to hear anything else on the matter,” the judge said, then banged his gavel. “Next case.”

Carmen hid her smile. This was even sweeter than she imagined it could be. Going to Charlotte would put her close enough to Kandace to make her suffer. After she disposed of her, then she'd get back to New York and make Solomon pay for turning his back on her. Still, she'd get the one thing she always wanted from him before she slit his throat.
Maybe I can steal some Viagra from the hospital and spike his drink. Then he'll have no choice but to make love to me,
she thought as the sheriff's deputy led her to a holding cell.

Carmen didn't pay attention to her public defender telling her what the ruling meant and when she could expect to be shipped to the hospital. Carmen was too busy imagining jabbing a knife into Kandace's chest.

 

Solomon sat in the waiting room of the clinic wishing he could skip physical therapy today. Despite the fact that he was on time for his appointment, he still had to wait for some reason.
This would not be happening in New York,
he thought as he walked up to the receptionist. “Excuse me—how much longer?” he asked.

“I'm not sure,” she said. “Your doctor is working with one of the Panthers right now.”

“Oh great,” Solomon said sarcastically. As he went back to his seat, the door opened and Carolina Panthers star wide receiver Maurice Goings walked into the waiting area.
Hope this means Philadelphia is going to win Sunday,
he thought, looking at Maurice as he talked on his cell phone.

“Nah, coach, I'm cleared to play,” Solomon heard him say.

“Damn,” Solomon muttered as he picked up an old copy of
Sports Illustrated.
Maurice glanced over at him and nodded as if he thought Solomon was a fan. Before Solomon could say anything, he was called back to the exam room.

“Sorry about the delay, Mr. Crawford,” Dr. Elis Sanford said.

“Yeah, I've been waiting an hour.” Solomon tried to keep his tone even since this man was about examine him.

“I would suggest that you schedule your appointments for Tuesdays. It's a lot slower here then.”

“I'll keep that in mind,” Solomon said. The doctor began the examination of Solomon's shoulder but didn't start therapy that day because he felt the shoulder wasn't healed enough to begin rehabilitation.

“The last thing you want to do is rush a tendon injury,” Dr. Sanford said.

“I'm just hoping to get better sooner rather than later,” Solomon said.

“Well, I think we can make that happen with my course of treatment. I'm going to prescribe you a mild pain reliever,” the doctor said as he wrote a prescription. “And I'll see you in a week.”

“On a Tuesday,” Solomon said.

The doctor nodded and smiled. “Yes, next Tuesday,” he said as he handed Solomon the prescription slip.

Solomon walked up to the front desk, paid the fee for the service, and then pulled his phone out to call Kandace.

“Hello?” he heard Kandace say.

“Hey, babe, I'm all done at the doctor.”

“All right, I'm wrapping things up at the restaurant, so I'll be right there. What did he say about your shoulder?”

“It's too soon to start rehab, so no lifting you up on the wall tonight.”

“Funny,” she said. “I'm leaving now.”

Solomon ended the call and headed outside. He was surprised to see Maurice Goings signing autographs for some nurses out front.

“Hey, guys,” Maurice said, “make sure you check out Hometown Delights when you get ready for lunch. The food is great.”

“I've been there,” one of the women said. “I was hoping to see that fine Devon Harris.”

The other two women laughed. “Me too,” another woman said.

Solomon leaned against the wall and muttered, “Should've been there last night.”

Maurice turned around and looked at Solomon. “You say something, my man?”

“No, just talking to myself,” Solomon replied.

One of the nurses looked up at Solomon. “Aren't you Solomon Crawford?” she asked. “Oh my God, I see you on E! all the time.”

“What is this, famous man day in the Queen City?” one of the other nurses asked.

“I wouldn't say that I'm famous,” he said.

“I would,” Maurice said. “If you're looking for property, I should put you in touch with my brother.”

Solomon smiled as he saw Kandace's Lexus pull up. “You know what. Let me give you my card and we'll set a meeting up. I think expanding in Charlotte is a great idea.”

Kandace hopped out of the car and shook her head as she watched Solomon hand Maurice a business card. “Now, this is scary,” she said.

“What's up, Kandace?” Maurice said, then gave her a quick brotherly hug.

“What are you two plotting?” she asked as she took Solomon's hand in hers. The three nurses sucked their teeth and walked away.

“I should've known Solomon Crawford was waiting on a woman,” one of them said.

“You two know each other?” Maurice asked. Solomon remembered that Jade was married to Maurice's brother.

“Yes,” she said. “But you still didn't answer my question.”

“Just talking about some possible land deals,” Solomon said. “Maurice, it was nice meeting you and good luck next Sunday.”

“Next Sunday?” he asked. “We have a game this Sunday.”

“I know. McNabb's my man, I can't go against him,” Solomon said.

 

It was about three
P.M
. when Carmen arrived at the Behavioral Health Center. She looked at the doctor asking her questions about her mental state, but she didn't say a word at first.
I know what they want me to say, what they want me to do, and I'm not going to play this game right now. Then again,
she thought as she looked at the baby-faced doctor,
I know just what to do.

“Chelsea, we can sit here and say nothing, but I really want to help you,” Dr. Hovis Clarke said.

“Please don't call me that. My name is Carmen,” she said in a soft voice.

“Why don't you want to be called by your given name?” Dr. Clarke asked as he scribbled in his notepad.

Carmen sighed and bit the inside of her lip until tears sprang into her eyes. “No one loved Chelsea,” she said once she stopped biting her lip.

“What's the difference between Chelsea and Carmen?” he asked.

Please, you have got to be kidding me,
she thought as she stared at him with a blank look on her face.
What does he want to hear? What is going to get this man out of my face?
She dropped her head in her hands and pretended to hyperventilate.

Dr. Clarke dropped his pen and rushed to her side. “Carmen, are you all right?”

She made her body go still, and Dr. Clarke called for a nurse and a doctor on his cell phone. In her mind, Carmen was wearing a huge grin because she hadn't expected things to work this well.

Poor Dr. Clarke,
she lamented.
Apparently young and not very bright. North Carolina must be desperate for doctors.

The nurse and the doctor rushed into the room and checked Carmen's vital signs.

“She's unresponsive,” the nurse said as she shone a penlight in Carmen's eyes. “What should we do, Doctor?”

Carmen began to pretend she was having a spasm, hoping to spur the doctor into action.

“Call for transport to CMC,” the medical doctor said. “Clarke, you're going to have to ride with her and let the staff know what she's in here for.”

“All right.”

Within seconds, Carmen felt herself being secured on a gurney. She tuned out the conversation the paramedics were having as they loaded her in the ambulance.

As the paramedics hooked her up to machines and tested her blood sugar and took her blood pressure reading, Carmen prayed they wouldn't figure out that she was faking everything and send her back to her padded room.

“This is weird,” one of the paramedics said. “Everything is checking out as if its normal.”

“Doc, what were you two doing when she crashed?” the other paramedic asked.

“Just talking. It's possible that she has a psychosomatic condition,” he said. “But just to be safe, I want her to be examined thoroughly.”

And, Dr. Clarke, if you don't get in my way, you might survive,
she thought as she felt the ambulance stop.

 

Kandace watched Solomon typing on his laptop while she was supposed to be typing a press release about Alicia's business seminar. He looked so focused as he worked. Every now and then he'd grunt and start typing faster. One thing she could say about her man was he was intense when he worked.
My man,
she thought.
I can't believe this. Never would I have imagined that I was going to have a date for Thanksgiving dinner.

“Damn,” he muttered, then picked up his cell phone and made a call. While Solomon talked to his New York office, Kandace finished the press release and e-mailed it to Alicia for her to approve. Two weeks ago, she would've moved on to her next project and buried herself in more work, but right now, all she wanted to do was bury herself underneath Solomon.

The door to her office swung open and Jade walked in with Jaden in her arms. “Kandace, I'm glad you're still here,” she said. “I know I was supposed to be here for this dinner party tonight, but Jaden has a fever. Can you please stay here until Serena comes at eight?”

Jaden whined in his mother's arms. “We sure can,” Solomon said as he hung up the phone and walked over to Jade. He placed his hand on the little boy's forehead. “You get him out of here and don't worry about this place.”

“I was wrong about you,” Jade said. “And I'm glad.”

“Call me and let me know how my godson is doing,” Kandace said as Jade rushed out the door. When Jade was gone, she turned to Solomon with a wide smile on her face.

“What?” he asked.

“That was so sweet of you,” she said. “I was planning on taking you home and rubbing your shoulder.”

Solomon closed the space between them and wrapped his arms around Kandace. “Had I known that, your friend would've had to stay here with the sick baby,” he joked.

Kandace pinched his cheek. “Such a liar. I saw how concerned you looked when Jaden started crying. I guess Solomon Crawford isn't the big bad wolf he wants all of New York to believe he is.”

“Shh, woman. If someone hears that, I'm going to have to try and tear down a playground or something to rebuild my image.”

Kandace gently kissed his lips, then said, “You wouldn't dare.”

“No, I wouldn't,” he said. “I got a soft spot in my heart for kids.”

She cocked her head to the side. “Really?”

“Yes. One day, I hope that I have a few kids of my own,” he said, revealing a thought he'd never shared with another woman.

“You're showing me a side of you I never thought I'd see,” Kandace said. “Where was this guy in Sugar Mountain?”

“Oh please, had you met him, you would've succeeded in trying to ignore me,” he said, then squeezed her bottom. “Is your chef here?”

“I'm sure he is,” she said. “But all I have to do is sit in this office in case a problem arises.”

Solomon let her go and walked over to the door and locked it. “Is that so?”

“Umm,” she said as she began unbuttoning her blouse. “You must be reading my mind because I was wondering when you were going to get around to locking that door.”

She shrugged out of her blouse, revealing a leopard print bustier. Solomon expelled an appreciative breath. “Lovely.”

Kandace unzipped her skirt and revealed a black garter belt holding up her sheer black thigh-highs. “Damn,” he said as he walked over to her and held her hands above her head as he drank in her stunning image. He ran his hand down her chest, down to her shapely hips, and pulled her against his throbbing body. Just the sight of her made him hot and hard with desire. “I want you so bad right now,” he said.

Kandace pushed him backward onto the small sofa where she had slept many nights after spending more than twelve hours at the restaurant.

With Solomon in the seated position, he opened his arms to her. Kandace sauntered over to him with a smile and planted herself on his lap. “You know,” she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and legs around his waist, “I've never done this before.”

“Well, I'm so glad I'm the one to break your office cherry,” he said as he felt himself hardening against her thighs.

“So am I,” she said as she reached down and unbuckled his belt, then unzipped his pants. Kandace slipped her hands inside his boxer briefs and massaged his hardness until she felt the first drops of his desire pooling.