A Lassiter's Christmas (The Gems & Gents Series Book 4) Read online

  Samuel smiled. “Pearl is fine.”

  “How long are we going to let this go on?” Timothy asked.

  “Until Pearl drops to her knees.” As soon as the words left Joshua’s mouth, Pearl slumped in Theo’s arms.

  “See, now I’m happy. I’m out,” Joshua smiled then literally disappeared.

  Theo picked her up and turned to her siblings. “Which of you did this?”

  Mathew stood and gave Theo a thump on the shoulder. “Have fun tonight.”

  Ruby took a good look at Pearl. “Or maybe not.” She looked up at Theo. “She is going to be pissed in the morning.”

  “You know, Theo.” Diamond stood. “It’s okay for Pearl to stay at your place tonight.”

  “Yeah, we’re going to stay at Diamond’s and Pearl’s place.” Opal smiled. “So, have fun.”

  “You need any help with getting Pearl to the car?” Adam asked.

  “I’m good.” Theo adjusted Pearl in his arms, as everyone except Samuel left the room.

  “You know we wouldn’t leave Pearl in just anyone’s hands.”

  Theo nodded. “I know.”

  “Take care of her. Pearl is unique. There is only one like her.” Samuel grabbed Pearl’s coat and walked Theo to the car. “You can wake up now.”

  Before opening her eyes, Pearl asked, “Is everyone gone?”

  Samuel nodded and smiled. “Yes, they have all dispersed in one direction or another.”

  “I don’t like that game you and Joshua just played. But thanks for getting us out of there, Sammy.” She opened her eyes and smiled.

  He looked at Theo. “You owe me one.”

  “For keeping your brother from kicking my ass or for trusting me with your sister.”

  “Joshua doesn’t kick ass. He kills you,” Samuel said and just walked away.

  Theo looked down at Pearl. “Interesting family you have.”

  “Yes, and scary how well you fit right in.”

  Theo set her on her feet as he opened the car door. “Is that a good thing or bad?”

  “I don’t know.” She looked past him in thought. “I just don’t know,” she said as she sat in the car.

  Theo closed the door then walked to the driver’s seat. Before getting inside he looked at the house with the lights beaming, the candles in the windows and the beautiful red bow on the door. He liked the Lassiters. He liked them and their daughter a lot. He got inside the vehicle. “Allow me to show you how good this really is.”

  Chapter 7

  The first thought that entered Pearl’s mind when she walked into Theo’s condo was bland. The place was beautiful, but…there was no warmth inside. It seemed like a place to just sleep.

  She stepped inside the foyer to high ceilings, wall-to-wall windows, elegant hardwood floors, white walls, and no furniture. “Do you live here or is this where you bring women when you don’t want to take them to your real home?”

  The rumble of his laughter made her smile. “Sorry, I have this habit of saying the first thing that comes to mind.”

  “That’s a little dangerous for someone in your line of work.” Theo hung her coat in the closet and stood back and watched her wander around. His main focus was on her jean-clad legs, the curve of her behind.

  “True.” Pearl nodded as she took a step into the living room. She did a twirl with her arms spread wide. “Nice open concept. A little empty. Don’t like furniture?”

  “Haven’t found what I want.”

  She turned to face him. “What are you looking for?”

  Theo leaned against one of the pillars that separated the living room from the foyer. He stood there taking in the essence of Pearl Lassiter with her natural hair. “Something with a classic look, vibrant with just a touch of excitement.”

  Pearl held his gaze then looked away. She turned towards the fireplace. “I would place a long sofa here, with an ottoman, no table. A Persian carpet here, in front of the fireplace to sit on to have a glass of wine, and munch on grapes and cheese while we talk.” She then walked towards the row of windows. “I would put a chaise here to read, a table next to it and for Christmas, I would put the tree right here in the center for all to see.”

  “Let’s do it.”

  “Do what?” She turned towards him.

  “Let’s get a tree, put it up and decorate it.”

  Pearl stared at him a bit confused. “I thought you were in a hurry to jump into my panties.”

  “We can do both.” He walked over, took her hand and pulled her towards the door. “Live or fake?” Theo asked as he pulled her coat from the closet.

  “Live,” Pearl replied still not believing.

  “Live, it is.” He put his coat on then opened the door.

  Pearl didn’t move. “You really want to do this?”

  Theo took a step to her, ran his tongue over her lips, then kissed her. “Yes, I really do.”

  He saw the confusion in her eyes, then watched as excitement crept in. “Okay.” She smiled. “Let’s do this.”

  When they walked back into the condo, it was well after eleven. They carried the tree in and placed it on the floor. Theo ran back out to the car to bring in all the accessories for the tree. Pearl grabbed two of the bags from him as he placed the others on the floor.

  “Which bag is the tree stand in?”

  Theo went through the bag and pulled out the stand. He then pulled out the tree bag. “Where do you want the tree to go?”

  “Right here so it will be in the center of the window.” Pearl pointed.

  Theo placed the bag on the floor then set the tree stand in the middle. He slid the tree trunk inside the stand, then turned to Pearl. “Is the tree straight?”

  “A little to the right, not too far….okay, right there.”

  “Alright, hold it in place while I tighten the screws into the trunk.”

  “I’ll hold it, but you are pulling the needles from my hair when this is done.”

  “Sounds fair to me. Now hold it straight.” Theo laid on the floor to tighten the screws until the tree was balanced. “Okay, let it go.”

  Pearl did as he instructed and the tree fell forward.

  “Whoa,” Pearl exclaimed as she reached out and grabbed the tree. “I don’t think it’s ready for me to let go.” She laughed.

  “Okay, hold it again.” Theo loosened the screws, adjusted them to the tree again. “Okay, slowly let it go.”

  Pearl let it go slowly and to her surprise the tree stayed. “Is it secure?”

  Theo stood. “Let’s check it.” He moved the tree, shook it some. “I think it’s ready.” He stepped back to where Pearl stood. “What do you say we get this baby decorated?”

  “Cool.” Pearl went through the bags. “We have to check the lights first to make sure they all work.”

  The next hour the two worked together decorating the tree with the gold and ivory dressings Pearl had selected. The two stared at the tree once it was finished.

  “This is a first.” Pearl looked as if she had tears in her eyes.

  “The first of many.” Theo pulled her close.

  Pearl stepped out of his grasp. “Don’t say things you don’t mean. I don’t need that.” She began picking up discarded package wrappings and bags.

  Theo watched, as she kept busy. He wasn’t sure but he thought he had just hit on a nerve.

  “You have a problem with relationships?”

  She was on her knees putting trash into a bag.

  “No, I’m saying I don’t need a relationship for us to enjoy having sex together.”

  Theo bent down in front of her, then took her hands in his. “Look at me, Pearl.” Pearl looked up. “I’m not just looking for sex.” He inhaled and sat on the floor. “My life has been one accomplishment after another. The one thing I don’t have is someone to share those moments and others with. I wasn’t looking for you or anyone to fill that role. But then you appeared in the middle of the night, banging the hell out of a car, in a mini skirt with legs that
extended forever.” Pearl smiled. “I knew in that moment that you were out to change my life as I knew it. For the last three days that’s exactly what you have done. And I like it. As crazy as it sounds I like you. The mad woman with the crowbar, dangerous brothers and a smart-ass tongue has captured my attention and a little part of my heart. I don’t want just sex from you. I want the essence of you. “

  The declaration stunned Pearl. She was used to men wanting her for her body and nothing more. She was okay with that because she didn’t want them anywhere near her heart. But this man, with his short cropped hair, hazel eyes and delicious lips wanted more and damn if she didn’t want to try. It was just…she didn’t know if she could. A relationship with someone had been a foreign thought for her. She expected it for others, but never for herself. Now here was Theo asking her to believe in something she’d closed her mind to years ago.

  “I’m not good at the long term thing. I’m much better at friends with benefits. It’s what I’m used to.”

  Theo put his hand under her chin and held her face up so she was looking directly at him. “Get used to it. I want an exclusive…one-on-one relationship with you. And I mean to have it.”

  “How’re you going to make me be in a relationship with you?”

  “I’m not going to make you do anything. You want this as much as I do. You’re just afraid for some reason.” He gently kissed her lips. “You want me, Pearl Lassiter. You might as well admit it.”

  Pearl smiled at him. “Where in the hell did you come from, Dr. Prentiss, and where did you get those compelling eyes? You should have been a lawyer.”

  “Well the eyes come from my father and the compelling argument is courtesy of my mother. So, what do you say, Pearl Lassiter. Will you be my girlfriend?”

  Pearl laughed. “Your girlfriend.” She shrugged. “I haven’t been a girlfriend in a long, long time.”

  “Is that a yes or no?”

  “You are too cute for your own good.”

  He smiled, then kissed one corner of her lips. “Is that a yes,” he kissed the other corner of her lips, “or a no?”

  She sat there a breath away from his lips. “I’ll take yes for a hundred.”

  Theo smiled then pulled her onto his lap. “I like you, Pearl Lassiter.”

  “I like you, too, Theodore Prentiss.”

  “Are you ready to turn it on?”

  “Yes.” Pearl was beaming with excitement.

  “Okay, wait, let’s turn all the lights off.” Theo ran over, turned the main lights off. “Okay, now.”

  Pearl put the cord to the lights into the socket and the tree came to life. She stood and walked over to his arms that were open and waiting for her. It felt good standing there in silence, enjoying the moment with him. “I think it’s time for you to turn me on.”

  Theo looked down at her. “Come with me.” He took her hand and walked from the great room to a hallway behind the fireplace. The hallway had a doorway leading to a kitchen, bathroom, sunroom and at the end was a set of double doors.

  Behind the doors was a sitting room with another fireplace with a large screen television mounted above it, floor to ceiling windows and furnished with a burgundy leather sofa, and cocktail table with books scattered on top.

  “This is where you spend your time.”

  “Guilty.” Theo held onto her hand and walked through the arch leading to the bedroom. “More time is spent here.”

  “Aha, Theo’s Throne. How many women and how often?”

  Theo pulled her to the bed. She sat and laid back. Theo lay on top of her then pulled her legs around his waist. He settled in, and then used his thumbs to caress her cheeks. “One woman, first time.”

  “You’ve never had anyone here?” Pearl asked not believing him.

  “You are my very first visitor. Know why?”

  There was something in his eyes that held her as she shook her head.

  “Because I’ve never wanted to share this part of my life with anyone. You’re the only one I’ve ever thought of in my bed. I’ve had others in their beds, hotel beds, but never in my bed. Only you.”

  “Why me?”

  “The hell if I know.” He smiled. “But here you are. Now, if I remember correctly…” He cleared his throat. “You mentioned something a few days ago about great sex.”

  Pearl smiled as she wiggled beneath him. “I recall something like that.”

  “So was that just talk?”

  Pearl flipped him over until she was straddling him. She pulled her sweater over her head revealing a purple front clasp, lace bra. “No, Dr., that is a fact.” She then pulled his sweater over his head. Underneath he had on a collared shirt. “Okay, two things. One, you’ve got to stop wearing so much clothing. It takes too long to get you out of them.” Theo’s hands circled her waist. The warmth of his touch distracted her momentarily. That was new. Men had touched her body before and that particular sensation had never occurred. It took her a second to recover. “Two, if you experience the greatest sex of your life you have to let your hair grow and then have it braided.”

  His fingers roamed under the bottom of her bra, brushing against her breast. The light touch startled her. “Agreed.”

  After a few buttons she realized he had on a t-shirt under the collared shirt. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  Theo laughed. “Hey, I have to make you work for it.”

  Pearl pulled both shirts over his head. As he lay back down, the smooth caramel skin covering his broad chest and leading to six-pack abs caused her to gasp. She spread her hands across his chest, then down his abs. “You should never hide this,” she said as she licked her lips.

  Theo unclipped her bra, then pushed it over her shoulders. “You should never hide these.” He sat up, ran his thumb across her moist lips, cupped her cheek, then covered her mouth with his.

  Their bodies touched. Hot skin to hot skin and both their worlds, as they knew it changed in that instant. Pearl wrapped her arms around his neck as Theo’s arms circled her waist. The heat from their touching spread throughout their bodies. Their tongues merged in an exploration of tasting, enticing and savoring the wonder of this new experience.

  Theo flipped her onto her back then placed kisses down her cheek, her neck, between her breasts, taking one dark chocolate nipple between his lips. His wet tongue, with the suckling motion of his mouth caused Pearl’s body to arch up. Her hands grasped the back of his head encouraging him to take more into his mouth. Theo turned to the other nipple and caressed it with his thumb. He traveled down to her navel, paying homage to the flat stomach, small waist and honey flavored skin. He unbuttoned her jeans, then zipped them open. Next, he pulled her boots, and jeans to the floor. She lay on his white comforter with her mahogany skin, purple lace boy shorts and he thought she was the most magnificent sight he had ever seen. Never taking his eyes from hers, he unzipped and dropped his pants to the floor. “If you experience the best sex in your life, I want you to tell the next five people we see you are in a relationship with me.”

  Pearl would have agreed to anything as she gazed upon the man in all his glory. He was long, thick and from the looks of things eager to touch her. Pearl’s tongue touched her lips as she continued to stare at the wondrous sight of the man before her. God had certainly blessed him with brains, looks and length. “Do I have to use the word?” she asked as she looked up at him.

  “Yes.” She reached out to touch him, but he stepped back. “Yes or no?”

  “Arrgh,” she pouted. “Agreed.” She licked her lips.

  Theo reached into the nightstand and pulled out a condom. He tore open the package then smoothly covered himself. He then bent down and pulled the purple lace panties down her long, shapely legs and dropped them to the floor. Putting his hands behind her knees, he pulled her to the edge of the bed then stepped between her thighs. “Thank you,” she said as he entered her in one long, powerful stroke. The feel of her around him rendered him powerless. He could not move. Did not wan
t to move. He wanted to hold this position with her warmth around him forever and a day.

  Pearl’s eyes closed and she groaned at the feeling of completeness that filled her. Never had a man’s entrance rendered her motionless. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper inside of her. She wanted to feel the heat of him throughout her body. “Theo,” she moaned.

  He immediately fell into her arms. “Pearl.”

  They were content to lay there, entwined, embracing the arising of something neither was able to articulate. Their bodies took over and instinctively knew exactly what to do. Theo pulled out, then entered her again, this time more powerful than before. Pearl’s nails scraped across his back as he branded her over and over again with each thrust. Their joining wasn’t sweet, it was primitive and Pearl was calling out for him to give her more, and more as he pumped furiously, ravishing every inch of her within his reach and some places that weren’t. The heat escalated to a scorching point, but neither could stop, they were in a zone where a mixture of sensuality from their raw sex battled for dominance. It was raw sex that won out when Theo pushed up on his hands leaving nothing but his sex inside of her and her legs wrapped around him. He pumped and pumped and pumped until Pearl screamed and her nails bit into his skin. Theo continued until he could not hold back any longer. He exploded with his head thrown back and his breath caught in his throat. He fell on top of her, turned onto his back and brought her over him.

  They both lay there struggling to breathe. Then suddenly they both began laughing as they realized both had won the bet.

  Later, after they were sated with another round of lovemaking, with their bodies still entwined, Theo caressed Pearl’s thigh. “Tell me about him.”

  “Who?”

  “The guy from high school.”

  Pearl absent-mindedly trailed her finger across Theo’s chest. “You don’t really want to know.”

  “Yes, I do. I need to know. It seems to be the one thing that has defined your life over the last few years.” He took her fingers in his hand, brought them to his lips and gently kissed them. “For me to understand you, I have to know what happened.”