“Listen, Topaz,” Casey sighed, leaning against his navy-blue-tiled bathroom counter, “besides my not wanting to do anything to jeopardize my job, Alex Rice ain’t a brotha I got the urge to anger.”
“What are you saying?” Topaz asked, bolting up from the sofa.
“The guy makes me uneasy,” Casey said after debating on how to phrase the reply, “strikes me as a dangerous guy—friend or foe.”
“Has he, um ... done anything to make you feel this way?” Topaz asked, anticipating Casey’s response.
“Nah ... it’s just a vibe I get from him. I don’t know. Maybe it’s just ’cause the nigga’s big as hell.”
Topaz laughed. “He’s a great guy, you just don’t know him very well. You’re probably just reading too much into that intense personality of his.”
“Well, whatever,” Casey responded with a shrug. “Anyway, girl, I need to go take this shower ’fore I lose all my hot water.”
“All right, sweetie, talk to you later. Bye.” Topaz set her phone down and replayed Casey’s opinion of Alex Rice in her head. She was reluctant to admit that she was somewhat inclined to agree with him.
“Enough of this, Paz,” she groaned, leaving the room. She was headed for her own shower when Casey phoned. Now she tightened the belt on her short, blue silk robe and strolled toward the staircase.
This time, she was interrupted by the doorbell. She changed directions and set off for the foyer. A look through the peephole brought a gasp to her lips. She pulled open the door to find Alex on her porch.
“Did I get the time wrong?” she asked, pressing one hand to her chest.
Reflexively, Alex glanced at his watch. “No, I’m just early,” he explained, stepping past her.
Topaz’s light eyes followed Alex as he headed out of the foyer and toward the living room. She took her time closing the front door, then followed him into the house.
“Um ... did something change with the party?”
Alex was perched on the arm of the sofa. “I came to see if you were still interested in going.”
Topaz didn’t bother hiding her confusion. “Why would you question that?”
“Do you remember what happened at lunch?” he asked, folding his arms across the front of his nautical-blue crew-neck shirt.
Her gaze faltered. “I remember,” she whispered, stepping past him.
Alex studied Topaz as though he was trying to figure her. “I hope I haven’t ruined anything,” he softly probed.
The uncertain, boyish look he wore melted what remained of her frustration. Her eyes began to twinkle then. “Well ... it was your fault.”
A second passed, and then Alex’s uncertainty cleared and his devilishly sexy smile returned. “So am I forgiven?”
Topaz tapped her nails against her chin. “I guess ... I certainly wouldn’t feel right about leavin’ you hangin’. Especially with De,” she teased, watching Alex leave the sofa to step in her direction.
“Thank you,” he sighed, toying with her fingers when he pulled her hand into his. “I knew there was somethin’ I loved about you,” he whispered.
All teasing vanished in that moment. Their bright, extraordinary gazes locked for countless moments. Alex was still holding her hand, his fingers stroking the center of her palm with such sensual slowness that she gasped.
“What?” he inquired, tilting his head as he stepped even closer.
Topaz could only lower her eyes to his mouth.
It was an effective response. Alex read her thoughts easily and dipped his head to kiss her. Topaz gasped again, allowing him adequate access, which enabled the kiss to deepen. They moaned in unison as their simmering attraction suddenly reached a furious boil. Alex held her impossibly tight, allowing her to feel every chiseled inch of his incredible body. Topaz shivered when her fingers trailed over the unyielding surface of his muscular forearms and powerful biceps left bare by the short-sleeved shirt he wore.
Alex was torn between wanting to massage her back and to indulge in the gorgeous softness of her hair. He had unraveled the loose braid she wore and threaded his fingers in the waist-length locks. When she wound her arms about his neck and arched herself closer, he suddenly broke the kiss.
“You should go get dressed,” he advised, though he still held her captive in his arms and his forehead was pressed against hers.
“I have to take a shower,” she whispered.
Alex muttered a hushed curse, his long lashes falling over his eyes.
Topaz looked up into his face, having heard the muffled obscenity. “What?”
Alex looked everywhere but at her face. “I should leave.”
“Why?”
“Because I can’t sit down here while you’re up there ... showering.”
The confusion cleared from Topaz’s dark, pretty face as she realized what he was telling her. “I don’t want you to leave,” she admitted.
“Topaz ...”
“Help yourself to anything in the kitchen, go to the den and watch TV or listen to some music. I’ll be back before you know it,” she promised, smiling at the look he sent her. She stood on her toes, intending to press a quick kiss to his mouth.
The “quick kiss” turned deep and lengthy. Alex’s tongue thrust savagely past her lips and he could feel the familiar tightening below his waist.
“De’ll hurt me if I don’t show up to this thing,” he groaned amid the kiss, knowing he couldn’t have cared less. He was consumed by her lithe, voluptuous form, pliant and eager in his embrace.
