Soul Temptation (Souls Entwined) (14 page)

There’s nothing wrong with me.

The knowledge that she could come with a partner filled her with joy. Overcome with emotion, Serene fought to hold it together as Oliver moved to lie next to her. She couldn’t find the words to express what she was feeling, how he’d effectively destroyed a shortcoming she’d hated about herself for so long.

“Are you okay?” Oliver kissed her shoulder.

Okay? For the first time in her life she felt like a whole woman.

Chapter Nine

Oliver lit the last wick of the trio of candles on the table alongside with the impromptu picnic, courtesy of room service. He glanced up as Serene joined him on the lanai, pleased to see that a smile had returned to her face. He’d been concerned that he’d pushed her too far when she’d disappeared into his bathroom to shower after he’d asked her if she was all right. She’d answered yes, but her emotional state had been evident. “Nice shirt.”

Serene gave him a faint grin as he poured them both a glass of white wine. “I couldn’t put that tube top back on.” She sat in the lounge chair next to his, drawing his attention to her bare legs.

“That color looks better on you than me anyway.” Oliver offered Serene an oval dish of sushi. “Wasabi?”

“Ginger.”

Oliver used chopsticks to pick up the fragrant spice then placed some on the side of Serene’s plate. He watched her deftly use her own chopsticks, applying ginger to a piece of sushi then popping the morsel into her mouth. “Tasty?”

“Delicious. I’m starved. What time is it?”

Oliver reached for his cell on the little table in front of them. “Almost ten thirty. We ate hours ago.” He put his phone back then dipped his Maki roll in a saucer of soy sauce before tasting it.

They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes and Oliver didn’t think he’d enjoyed a better night in Tahiti. His cell vibrated and he picked it up again to see his father calling. Holding back a curse, Oliver silenced it then went back to eating.

“Shannon?” Serene asked before taking a sip of her Chablis. She waved her hand when he raised an eyebrow. “That was nosy of me. Sorry.”

Oliver shrugged. He liked that she wanted to know. “It was my father. Calling about business.”

“Could’ve been about something else.”

“It never is.”

Serene sat her goblet down. “I should get my phone and see if there are any messages.”

“From Shawn or Brady?”

“I still can’t believe you spied on my incoming calls.”

“Spied is too strong a word. I
observed
those two gentlemen’s calls on your phone, which has a big display by the way.”

Serene glared at him. “Semantics.”

“Can make a difference.” Oliver chuckled when Serene shook her head with exasperated sigh. “How long have you been dating those two?”

“A few months.”

“How did you meet them?”

Serene shifted in her seat. “An online dating site.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. Why is that surprising?”

Oliver shrugged as she finished her last bite of sushi. “I would think a gorgeous, successful woman like you would have a calendar full of dates with various suitors.”

Serene snorted. “It’s exactly the opposite. Successful—”

“Don’t forget gorgeous.”

Serene smiled. “Successful, gorgeous black women often find the dating scene the most difficult to navigate.”

“Why?”

“There are many reasons, Oliver, but often, not always, our successful, gorgeous
counterparts
are more interested in dating outside their race.”

“Does that bother you?”

Serene swirled her California roll in her soy sauce. “I say the heart falls in love with another heart. I don’t think race should ever determine who we love.”

“You mentioned other ‘reasons’.”

“I did.” Serene studied him as if she were trying to decide what to say. “Well, the good-looking, financially stable black man knows he’s a hot commodity with at least a four to one ratio of black women looking for Mr Settle Down, depending on his location. Some of those guys choose to play with the plethora of possibilities, dangling that marital karat with a ‘k’ while searching for that perfect ten trophy wife.” Serene snorted. “I suppose that last part could apply to most men.”

“Hmm.”

“Sorry. I’m sure I gave you more information than you cared to know.” Serene picked up her wine and took another sip.

“On the contrary. I don’t think you can ever have too much information.” Oliver lifted the lid off a platter of fresh fruit with chocolate dipping sauce.

“Mmm. This looks divine.”

“Yes, it does.” Oliver handed Serene a fondue stick. “I do have a question for you, though.”

Serene pierced a strawberry then dipped it in the milk chocolate. “Shoot.”

“You made it sound like single, attractive black women with great jobs are
only
searching for a black Mr Settle Down. They aren’t exploring those
plethora of possibilities
like their male counterparts?”

Serene finished her bite as she slowly nodded. “Usually, yes. Again, I’m not making any sweeping generalizations.”

“I know, but my question is why?”

Serene sighed. “Oliver, there are so many answers I could give. It’s complicated.”

“It’s unfortunate.”

“Agreed.”

Oliver picked up a piece of mango. “So are Brady and Shawn black?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve never even considered dating a white man?”

Brown eyes held his for a moment. “Honestly, no.”

“Why?”

Serene stabbed a cube of pineapple. “Didn’t think we’d have anything in common.” She looked at him when he roared with laughter. “What?”

“You said that like you’d be dating not just outside your race, but out of the
human
race. Am I not human to you, Serene?”

“Of course, don’t be insulting.”

“I’m not trying to be.” Oliver admired her smooth skin in the flickering candlelight. It was rare to see a woman bare of makeup and still breathtakingly stunning.

Serene glowered at him. “Well, you are.”

“I should point out that we’ve got plenty of things in common.”

“No need.” Serene munched her fruit as she leaned back in the lounge chair.

“We’re both committed to our families. We both like early morning runs, white wine, the ocean, sushi, fresh fruit dipped in chocolate—”

“Yes, I know. We’ve got things in common. You don’t have to give me a list.”

“I want to.” Oliver pierced another pineapple cube and this time dipped it into his wine glass. He leaned over, offered it to Serene, giving her approving look when she parted her mouth and accepted his bite. “We both like pineapple drenched in wine.” He picked up another piece of the fruit and gave it the same Chablis treatment.

“I didn’t say I liked it.”

“Don’t have to. I can see it in your eyes. You also don’t have to tell me you want more.” Oliver didn’t want for her to respond before giving her just that. His cock thickened as Serene licked her lips and he recalled the sweet suction of her mouth on him. She was an amazing woman—smart, sassy, sweet and sexy. A lethal concoction that aroused and delighted the hell out of him and he had to have her again.
Now.

Serene’s eyes widened when Oliver got up from his chair. She caught sight of the obvious bulge in his white linen pants before he knelt in front of her seat. Good Lord, the man was insatiable. Warmth spread throughout her system, his desire for her delighting her. She’d decided to forgo her bra after her sanity check shower. Her half-dressed state added to her arousal.

A shiver of awareness zipped along her skin as Oliver caressed her knee. Her body ached in places she hadn’t known needed attention. She’d struggled not to squirm in the lounge chair while they’d eaten with every twinge emanating from her tender pussy. Despite her soreness, the longing evident on Oliver’s face in the dancing candlelight made her instantly wet, ready for him to take her again.

“You know what else we have in common?”

“What?” Serene breathed as he parted her legs, moved between them, opening her bare pussy to the warm night air.

“We are both turned on by voyeurism and kinky sex.”

Kinky sex? Her?
No
. Serene shook her head. “No.”

Oliver grinned. “I find your unwillingness to agree whole-heartedly amusing.” He gave her a cat-swallowed-the-canary look. “Oh, yes, you do, Serene. You received the most pleasure from me when I tied you up, took away your control then fucked you fast and hard, but what truly sent you over the edge was a little bit of pain. It centered your thoughts, forced you to focus on what I was doing to your body and not what was going through your head. Isn’t that true?”

Serene tried to swallow the bit of fruit that seemed to be lodged in her throat as Oliver unfastened the three buttons she’d done up on his shirt. Her pulse raced as she realized he was right. She was getting wetter by the second just listening to him break it down for her. It was almost too much to process. She felt as if she’d finally faced her sexual identity and she wasn’t sure how her exposed needs changed who
she
was.

“You seemed unnerved by what I’m telling you. Why?” Oliver tugged on the shirt, revealing her stomach.

“Hearing you say all those things…”

“Hearing me say all those things what?”

“Makes me feel like a sexual freak or something.” Serene exhaled, aware of Oliver’s gaze dipping to her visible pussy.

Oliver chuckled. “You’re far from that.”

“There’s nothing normal about needing a little bit of pain to come with a lover.”

“Stop thinking so black and white.” Oliver smiled when Serene giggled at his choice of words. “Forget about what you think is normal and explore what works for you. Besides, a little pain may not be the only way you could come with a partner.”

Serene sighed, torn between her need and her concern about where they were when Oliver pushed the shirt open until he bared her breasts and embarrassingly hard nipples.

“Someone might see us.”

“The angle of this lanai affords us more privacy than others. The only occupant of bungalow that could see us would be you, and you’re not home.” Oliver skewered another piece of pineapple and swirled it in his Chablis.

“Someone could be walking along the beach.”

“Uh huh. Does that excite you?” Oliver brought the fondue stick over Serene’s belly and some wine fell on her. She drew in a tight breath when he lowered his head and licked the droplet. “I can smell your arousal. I think maybe exhibitionism is something else we have in common.”

Serene gasped when Oliver reached out and encircled both her nipples with the alcohol laden fruit. The sensitive flesh puckered even more as a sultry breeze moved around them. “I don’t think so, Oliver.”

“No? The thought of someone seeing me playing with your breasts doesn’t turn you on?” Oliver munched the fruit he’d just had on her breasts, pierced a piece of mango, gave it the same vino treatment then brought it over to Serene’s nipple and teased her with it.

“I would die if my friends or family saw me doing”—she gestured between them—“this.”

Oliver studied her for a moment then blew out the three candles on the table, blanketing them in the darkness with just the light of the moon peeking in and out of clouds. “Feel better?”

Serene nodded and shuddered as he drew the fruit down the center of her chest. “Yes.”

“Good.” Oliver trailed his hand along the sticky path he’d drawn with the mango all the way down to her pussy. He dipped his finger into her and Serene moaned. “You’re soaking wet. Being out here in the open with the possibility of complete strangers seeing me pleasure you does excite you. Admit it.”

Serene briefly dropped her gaze from Oliver’s. “Okay. It does. I can’t believe it does.”

Oliver pulled his hand from between her legs with a deep laugh. “I love that about you.” He grabbed hold of her hips and pulled her bottom closer to the edge of the chair. “Are you sore?”

“A little.” Serene moaned as he gently stroked his finger in and out of her. “But don’t stop.”

“I had no intentions of doing that.” Oliver moved back, stood and offered his hand. Serene placed her fingers into his grasp and he pulled her up and wrapped his arms around her. “You’re intoxicating, you know that?”

“Intoxicating?” Serene shuddered, flattered by his compliment. “No.”

“It’s true.” Oliver kissed her as he guided her backwards until she was against the wooden banister of the lanai. “I want you again. Tell me no. I know you’re tender.” He cupped her ass and she reveled in the feel of him, so hard for her.

Serene gulped in air as Oliver dragged one hand up from her derrière, fondling her breast before skimming his fingers back over the curve of her backside. “I can’t say no. I want you too.”

“Out here, like this?” Oliver squeezed her ass cheeks with his fingers.

“Yes.”

Oliver took a slim foil package out of his pants pocket, opening it as Serene tugged on the drawstring of his pants. She took the condom from him and rolled it onto his thick cock as his pants slid to the floor. Her pulse quickened in anticipation of the ecstasy she knew awaited her. She gripped his arms in surprise when he lifted her up, started to question the sanity of what they were about to do then wrapped her legs around his waist instead. Oliver entered her, erasing any lingering rational thoughts as he eased his cock into her. Serene moaned with each of his gentle thrusts. Oliver claimed her lips with a possessive kiss, making her whimper with delight as her little twinges blended with the exquisite friction of him filling her so deeply once again.

“You love being on display.”

Serene placed her forearms on the banister, anchored her position and Oliver increased his pace. “No.” Her breathless denial belied the surge of wetness on his dick.

“Yes. Your slick pussy betrays you.”

Serene responded with a muted groan when orgasmic spirals spun out of control faster than before as Oliver moved within her and she imagined being fucked with an unfamiliar audience watching.

“Oh, yes. I think you like the idea.” He bounced her faster up and down on his cock. “All eyes on you coming for me.”