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  Before the words were out of his mouth Candy by Cameo boomed through the speakers. Everyone jumped to their feet and made their way to the dance floor. Anyone that really knew this couple knew how much both of them loved to dance. The fact that they were in black formal wear did not affect the intensity of party time for them. Next up, the DJ mixed smoothly into the Electric Slide, and the Cupid Shuffle. To take it down a notch before people began to drop, the DJ followed up with Before I Let Go, then Joy and Pain by Frankie Beverly and Maze.

  Within a matter of minutes the party was in full swing. After a few dances, Tracy and JD left the floor and began to mingle. Tracy met up with Ashley and Cynthia near the entrance. “Everything is really great, Cynthia.” Tracy huffed as she tried to cool down from dancing. “Thank you for pulling this together.”

  “It’s what I do,” Cynthia replied. “But in all honesty, it really is nice to see everyone together, even Gavin and Carolyn.”

  Tracy and Ashley looked at each other, surprised at Cynthia’s comment. “You’re happy to see Carolyn?” Ashley had to ask.

  “Don’t be silly. I still don’t like that heifer. But it’s kind of nice to see Gavin happy.”

  “Okay, that’s better,” Ashley smiled as Roz walked over. “You’ve finished in the kitchen?”

  “Actually, we turned everything over to the trainees.” Roz replied as she looked around the room. “We’ll evaluate their performance tomorrow.” She continued looking around the room.

  “We’re looking at a location in Northern Virginia.” Cynthia added. “The manager of that location will be selected based on tonight’s function.”

  “That is wonderful Cynthia.” Tracy beamed. “TNT is growing.”

  “Yes it is. However, we are going to need your support once you move into the White House. We expect a lot of business from you.”

  Tracy’s smile seemed surreal. “I guess now is as good of time as any to tell you this.” All eyes turned to her.

  “What?” Ashley asked.

  “Jeffrey received a call from Stanley Davenport. According to the polls he is double digits ahead of his opponents.”

  “Oh my goodness,” Roz declared. “It is really going to happen.”

  Cynthia put her hands on her hips and smiled up at Tracy, “Damn right it’s going to happen.”

  “Oh Tracy,” tears formed in Ashley’s eyes. “You’re going to be the first lady of the United States.”

  “We still have months to go. And according to Jeffrey it will not be easy.”

  “Nonsense,” Cynthia smacked Tracy’s hand. “You might as well get ready. Come next January we will be partying at the White House.”

  “You don’t party at the White House,” Roz responded, as she began looking around the room again. “You have functions.”

  “Same difference,” Cynthia snidely replied. “And who in the hell are you looking for?”

  “Ryan. Have you guys seen her?”

  All of them began looking around, “As a matter of fact I haven’t.” Cynthia replied. “Hell after all the work we put into that girl over the last two days, her ass better show up.”

  “You know, you are going to have to clean up your vocabulary when we move to DC.” Roz said as she continued looking for Ryan.

  “Why? The people in DC curse like sailors.”

  “WOW!” Tracy exclaimed. “She just walked in the door.”

  Al had his back to the door while talking with Lena and Senator Roth, when Lena suddenly changed the subject. “You know, I usually stay out of your business son. But...”

  “That means she is about to get into your business,” Senator Roth chuckled as he took a drink.

  “Thanks for the support, Bottles and James,” Lena smirked.

  “No. Lena knows better,” Al replied as he stared at his mother. They were doing better at the talking thing, but his days of needing a mother were long gone.

  “Alright, I won’t say anything. But your woman just walked in the door and was immediately surrounded by a number of rather good looking young brothers. How old are you now, Al?”

  Al turned to the door to see Ryan surrounded by several men. Exactly who they were never came into focus as his eyes were on the dress that was clinging to her body. He was used to seeing her in skintight jeans and knew she was curvy. But the dress she was wearing tonight revealed just how well endowed she was. The sleeveless, Chinese collared black gown fit over her body like a glove. There was an opening from the bottom of her breasts, until it reached the top of her hips; it showed the curve of her small waist. The Commodores line from the song, Brick House, 36-24-36, what a winning hand, was the only way to describe the woman.

  “Son, I don’t mean to get into your business either,” Senator Roth chuckled, “But if you have any plans on getting that you better make a move.”

  Al turned to look at the Senator, somewhat conflicted. Then he turned back to see Ryan walking onto the dance floor with a man.

  For an hour Al literally stood in a corner and watched Ryan dance with one man after another in that dress. Every time she did a dip or swing, he could feel himself groan in pain as his manhood strained against its zipper.

  “I’ve been watching you watching her and frankly I can’t take it anymore,” JD stood behind Al and pushed him on the shoulder. “The time is now, Al. Go get your woman.”

  Al reached back, practically throwing his drink into JD’s hand. “It’s time.” He stormed across the room onto the dance floor, grabbed Ryan by the hand and practically dragged her off the floor, and through the French doors leading to the backyard. A few people stopped and stared at the commotion, as Brian yelled out, “It’s about damn time.” The crowd clapped and continued dancing.

  Chapter 12

  Literally pulling her behind him, he could hear her protesting. “This is not prehistoric times. You don’t drag me around like a damn caveman.”

  Ignoring her protests he continued his determined pace to find a secluded area, as his mind came to terms with his actions. The mild mannered Al had just lost all his cool points in front of a roomful of people. Why did the mere sight of her invoke an increase in his heart rate? Why now, after years of securing his heart from all women with the exception of Tracy, did this woman make him want to throw caution to the wind? Just a few steps away and his respiratory system was wreaking havoc on his body. He could feel the sweat beads forming on his forehead as the gazebo in Tracy’s backyard came into view. In the past he had watched this woman in her jeans and spiked heels, with her gun strapped to her waist, day after day. But nothing had prepared him for the vision that stepped into that room tonight.

  Pulling her up the steps, he released her hand. She pushed him away. Chest heaving, eyes narrowing, he walked in a circle in an attempt to ease his temper. Why in the hell was he so mad at her? Jealousy. He frowned at the word that came to mind. Al Day doesn’t get jealous. He could have any woman he wanted at any time. He stood there and just stared at her, with her hands on her hips ready to beat the crap out of him.

  There was barely a step between them and damn if he didn’t like her boldness. Staring into her dark seductive eyes, Al tilted his head slightly to the side and gave her a half smile. “I don’t intimidate you at all, do I?”

  “Should I be?” She asked shifting the balance of her stance to one hip and folding her arms.

  “Some believe me to be an unrepentantly powerful man.’’

  “Yeah, well Al you may be a powerful man, but it kills you every time you have to step on a bug. You can save the unrepentant,” she put up quotation marks with her hands, “for somebody that’s going to buy it. I see something different.”

  Al prevented the smile that was itching to appear on his face. Damn if she wasn’t the sassiest woman he had ever met. Then it hit him. She reminded him of a young Lena. Keeping his thoughts from his face, he took a step back. He wasn’t sure he wanted to lose his heart to a woman like his mother. “Don’t fool yourself Morgan, I will kill if threa
tened.”

  “What are you going to do? Shoot me because I make you feel?” Ryan bent over, pulled up the front of her gown and pulled her revolver from the strap around her thigh. “Here, use my weapon.” She shoved the gun towards him, as she stared him in the eyes.

  Al laughed, jerked her hand and pulled her closer to him. With their lips a breath apart he whispered as a single brow rose, “Don’t tempt me.” He watched the play of emotions on her face as her chin raised and she met his eyes.

  “Don’t call me Morgan,” she breathlessly responded.

  He ran a finger down her cheekbone, not surprised by the silky feel of her skin. “I like the name Morgan.” He mumbled against her lips as he slowly took the weapon from her hand. “Morgan is a very sensuous name.” He gently kissed her lips. “Almost as sensuous as the woman it belongs to.” He ran his tongue across her bottom lip then took it between his and suckled until he heard her moan. He smiled against her lips, “You like that.” It was a statement more than a question. “Good, I like it too. But I want more.” They held each other’s eyes as the tension surrounding them steadily built. He watched her eyes narrow and felt her body shiver. She was hesitating. “Before you decide, know I play for keeps. There is no turning back.” He pulled her body flush with his. “Can you give me more, Morgan?”

  Ryan wasn’t sure in what direction to go. Her heart and body were clearly betraying her mind. The steel of her weapon in his hand flush against her back was as hard as his manhood, which was positioned at the very core of her. She wasn’t sure which turned her on the most. The way they stood, at that moment, had been her mind’s nightly companion for years now. And she expected it to remain that way. However, there was something in his light brown eyes that screamed sincerity, loyalty, and the wildest sexual experience of her life. How in the hell could she walk away from that? She wrapped her arms around his neck, then took his lip between hers and returned the sensual assault he had graced her with moments earlier. “I got more,” she murmured then released his lips. “But I don’t share and I don’t play nice with others.”

  Momentarily engrossed in the feel of her lips assaulting his, Al simply moaned his response before taking full control of the kiss. His tongue liked the cranberry taste of her lips, but now he longed for the mango flavor of her tongue. Slowly, he began stroking his tongue with hers, taking his time, tasting every bud, every crevice, every juncture of her mouth. He left no corner of her mouth untouched with his oral assault. Without breaking contact, he placed the weapon in the small of his back and gathered her more snuggly around her waist. Then his hands followed the same leisurely assault of her body as his tongue continued to tango with hers.

  The July heat was nothing compared to the temperature rising in the gazebo. It was becoming dangerously hot, and there wasn’t a damn thing either of them could or wanted to do to reduce the heat. When her fingers entwined with his locs, his senses soared and nothing or no one could pull him away from that moment. His male grunts and moans of pleasure broke the silence of the quiet night as he pulled the bottom of her gown up to her waist, feeling the silkiness of her thighs against his fingers. The heat soared as his hands captured the globes of her soft naked behind. That blew his mind. There was not a string or barrier between her sex and him, except his own clothes. He lifted her by the waist, braced her body against the pole and held her in place while he released his belt, unzipped his pants and allowed them to fall to the ground. Her legs tightened around his waist as he entered her with one powerful thrust. The air they were breathing became one as they both sucked in at the touch, the feel of the moment. Life ceased to exist as their lips stopped moving, their eyes wide open, staring, amazed at each other. Holding her stare he lifted her by the waist from his sex until only the tip of him remained. He thrust into her again. “Ah.” They both closed their eyes as the feeling of sheer ecstasy built.

  This was five years of longing, wanting, wondering, and fearing. Both fought a good fight, but now they’d surrendered. And there was absolutely nothing either of them could do but ride with the tide. This was not going to be a sweet first love excursion. This was a joy ride of the highest magnitude and they were both ready as Al slammed into her again, savoring the feel of her surrounding him. Each thrust was more powerful than the last. The more Ryan pulled on his locs, the harder and deeper he went. When she bit into his neck, sucking on the vein that throbbed with each thrust, his control vanished and all he wanted—needed was to hear her scream his name. He plunged deeper, holding her as if his very life depended on her pleasure. “Free me, Morgan. Take all of me,” he whispered in her ear.

  Her body shivered at his words. The pure power of him inflamed the desire she had carefully suppressed for five years. There was no defense against the yearning building within her. No mechanism to stop the inferno that was now raging with each thrust. All she could do was throw caution to the wind and ride. She squeezed her inner muscles to feel the steel of the man. God, he was so hard, so smooth and so damn hot. She wanted every inch of him deeper inside of her. She crossed her legs behind him and threw her head back, arching her body. Holding on to his arms, her body leaned across the banister. Al couldn’t hold back a second longer. He pulled her waist to him with a force so strong he heard the banister crack as they both screamed out their release that was five years in the making. His juices flowed, mixing with hers as they were both suspended in time.

  He pulled her body up to him and held her tight. Her breasts to his chest, heaving until the sensations eased within them. He slowly lifted her from him and placed her on her feet. They both moaned at the loss of the connection. Holding her with one arm around her waist, he lowered her dress and brushed it down neatly. “Where are your panties?” he asked.

  “I didn’t wear any.”

  Those light brown eyes were as dark as grey coal as he stared at her.

  Her boldness was making him hard as a rock—again. He reached down and picked up his pants and the gun that had fallen to the ground.

  “Where are your panties?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “I don’t like being confined,” he replied as he zipped his pants.

  “I don’t either.”

  “You’re a woman.”

  She smiled. “Yes, I know.”

  He stood and stared at her with his crooked smile. “Damn,” he said as he took her hand and practically dragged her down the steps, across the yard into the pool house, kicking off his shoes as they entered. Closing the door behind him, he pulled the dress over her head and threw it across the room. His suit, shirt and tie soon followed.

  “You’ve got to stop with the caveman action.” She pulled off her sandals and threw them across the room as he pulled her into the walkthrough shower. Al hit the cold water button and six powerful showerheads rained down on them.

  Pushing her back against the shower wall, he allowed the cold water to hit his back, hoping it would diminish some of the heat emanating from his body. But in his mind, he knew it was hopeless. He held her hands above her head and stared into her eyes. “I want you, Morgan, to be my woman.”

  The intensity of his stare, seeing his eyes change from dark to light brown again caused Ryan to inhale. He must have sensed her fear of the moment for he pulled slightly away and stared at her. He cupped his large hands, with the long fingers around her face, making her a hostage to his eyes.

  That’s when she saw it—the vulnerability. He was just as afraid as she was. The irony astounded her, but it aroused her as well. He rubbed his thumb across her lips as if to ensure they would stay in place. She took his thumb into her mouth, as she held his glaze. She could feel his manhood growing against her thigh. His eyes narrowed at the touch and it was in that moment, Ryan knew this man would love her like no other dared. No one could or would ever, pull her away. “I’m yours,” she whispered.

  The kiss that followed began as sweet as a gentle rain that could barely be heard on the inside but it soon grew into a raging storm. Al’s
lips and hands were everywhere, leaving burning sensations with each touch. He knelt at her feet, and his hands slowly ascended up her calves, then her thighs. He reached under her, squeezing the round meat of her buttocks. Each squeeze caused her inner lips to release more moisture as freely as if it were a waterfall. Slowly, he kissed her inner thigh. Before she could grasp the action, his mouth gulped her feminine center and was drinking as if he were a man dying of thirst. The sensations shot throughout her body demanding more, deeper, powerful strokes of his tongue. Her hands reached for his head, holding it in place at the same time praying the onslaught would not stop. Her prayer was answered a split second later when his tongue hit a spot that caused her body to jerk repeatedly, losing all control.

  Al’s smile was one of pure male satisfaction when he emerged from between her legs. The look on Ryan’s face was one of unbelievable pleasure. He pulled her fingers from his hair and raised them above her head. “Tell me what you want, Morgan,” he whispered as he captured one of her nipples between his lips.

  “You.”

  “Where?” he switched to the other.

  Still reeling from the wondrous feeling his mouth had given her; she still hadn’t regained control of her body. She licked her lips, then slowly opened her eyes. “Everywhere.”

  The heated look tore through Al, sending his blood to a boiling point. As if guided by radar, he entered her slowly. His body knew exactly where it needed to be. Hesitant, he closed his eyes and allowed his forehead to rest against hers. He knew, this was going to be his last first time with any woman. “There’s no turning back,” he barely mumbled before filling her completely. The second time around was more amazing than the first. It could be because he was taking it slow, savoring the feel of every glorious inch of her inner body.