Passionate Night Read online

  Rotating around to face him, she met his hot gaze as she rested her back against the door. She dropped her purse to the hardwood floor, and he followed suit with her shoes and the to-go bag. Running a finger down her cheek, he settled it on her mouth that parted and she kissed it softly. A slow, seductive smile drew across his face, and she knew there was no turning back. Her heart screamed yes, but her head screamed no and she always followed the latter. However, not this time.

  Yanking her by the waist to him, Hunter smashed his lips against hers as she welcomed the kiss she’d craved from the moment she’d laid eyes on his enticing, tempting mouth. His tongue met hers in a seductive salsa over and over, causing moans she didn’t recognize as her own to escape from her throat. They were mixed with his intense groans, and she loved the symphony they composed. She tossed his hat off and ran her hands up to his smooth, bald head and back down to his face as the intensity of their passion amplified with each passing second. The surreal feelings rushing through her body unraveled all the common sense she’d had at the beginning of the evening. Now she was where she wanted and needed to be: wrapped in his warm embrace.

  “You taste way better than that damn cheesecake,” he groaned on her lips before delving back into her mouth once more.

  “I told you that you’d enjoy it.”

  “And you were right. You’re driving me crazy, woman.”

  His hands journeyed firmly down her side and slipped around to her butt with a hard squeeze. She clenched his shoulders at the same time for the fear of falling over as his manly physique pressed hard against her. She couldn’t fathom being anymore close to him than she already was. They were super glued together and nothing could be wedged between them.

  Kissing Hunter was even more passionate than she’d imagined. He awakened emotions and desires in her that had been suppressed thanks to the Great Wall of China she’d placed around her heart. She’d dated and had a couple short relationships since her ex in New York, but she would never let them near her heart. Now Harper’s emotions blossomed with an overzealous fervor that wouldn’t shut off. It caused her to fall into an abyss of an unknown universe that waited for her, and she yearned to experience it only with Hunter.

  The passion soaring through her veins made her high and alive. She loved the way he’d turn up their tempo with wild, untamed kisses that she matched with every stroke. Then they’d simmer down to sweet, savory brushes across her lips that made her ache for more fervent kisses. Hunter was in control of their tryst, and for once she didn’t mind offering the reins to someone else. Harper loved being in control of every aspect of her life but not at this moment. His commanding touch wreaked havoc on her system, and she would need a valium to calm down her soaring high.

  Her center filled with heat at the very notion of him being there indulging in her essence just as she’d suggested at dinner. She couldn’t believe she’d been that forward with him, especially on the first date that wasn’t a date. Or least that’s what she wanted to convince herself of. Nevertheless, after she witnessed Hunter handling the scumbag in the club, it turned her on so fierce she needed to be alone with him. Crazy, sexual thoughts of him handling her body with the hands that had protected her drove her insane. Now she experienced it and loved his tender as well as rough-in-a-wonderful way caress on her.

  His lips left hers and trailed gentle, succulent bites down her neck. A disappointed cry shrieked from her because she didn’t want him to leave her mouth. Although, at the same time she longed to know what else he could do with his lethal tongue.

  Hunter chuckled quietly at her response. Raising his head back to Harper, he kissed her forehead and landed a soft smooch on her lips. “I’m not done ravaging you,” he informed her with clenched teeth as his eyes darkened from light brown to a deep chocolate. “I can’t get enough of your erotic moans in my ear, beautiful one.”

  “Mmm … then don’t stop anytime soon so you can continue to hear them, handsome one.”

  She collided her lips against his and this time she controlled the intensity of their ardent adventure. He didn’t seem to mind as she pulled his tongue farther into her mouth with deep, winding circles. His manhood pulsed against her and a tremble charged through every inch of her body. Yanking the hem of her dress up to her thighs, he intertwined his finger with the band of her lacy thong. Her breath wedged in her throat as she thought for sure he would pull her panties down and then there could be no way she would reject anything he requested. However, he didn’t as his hands roamed back up her side and massaged her breasts. In a way she was grateful that he possessed more willpower than her. She wasn’t supposed to ask him up but she had. Heck, she wasn’t even supposed to go to dinner with him but she did, and there were no regrets from her. Especially considering the man knew how to kiss her as if she belonged only to him.

  “Maybe we should take this inside,” he muttered against her lips. “I wouldn’t want the neighbors calling the police.

  “We can, but I don’t have any neighbors. I own the entire floor.”

  Hunter glanced around the hallway. “There’s cameras and another door,” he stated, nodding his head in its direction.

  “I’m the only one who has access to the hallway cameras but not the elevator one. The door leads to my private rooftop terrace. You can see downtown from up there.”

  He raised a curious eyebrow. “But can we be seen?” he asked, biting his bottom lip.

  Harper snickered at his question and at the ideas that were probably running rampant in his dirty mind. Okay, and in hers as well. “We aren’t going up there tonight, but we can go inside.”

  “Will the kissing continue inside?” he asked, gliding his tongue around her ear and to the side of her neck.

  A soft purr emerged from her, and Harper had to restrain herself from yelling out what she really wanted to say to him. However, if she was going to hang out with him even after blatantly informing him and herself that she didn’t mix business with pleasure, she had to exercise some restraints.

  “No. I think we should leave that out here.”

  Turning her around, he lifted up her hair which elicited a pleased moan to escape her. He wrapped his other hand around her waist and meshed her against him. “Then we’ll stay for a moment longer.” Hunter landed his lips on the back of her neck in an intoxicating kiss. “Is that all right with you?” he asked, gliding his hand up to her breasts.

  “Um … a few … more minutes … um … mmm … won’t hurt,” she managed to stutter out as he continued the enticing assault on her neck. He glided his tongue around to her collarbone, her shoulders, and then captured her mouth in a slow, deep kiss. Her emotions were spiraling out of control with pure pleasure, and she steadied herself against him while trying to ignore his erection on her backside. This was all so wrong and so unlike her, but the carefree feeling of their intense ecstasy drowned out all of her common sense as she found herself freefalling into a breathtaking oblivion.

  Turning around to face him, she smiled when Hunter pushed her hair behind her ears. She knew it had to be a wild bird’s nest thanks to him playing in it, but she didn’t care. He stared down at her as he swayed with her back and forth to a soft melody that only they could hear.

  “You are an amazing woman, and I’m not going to lie, I want you right now. But I promised to be a gentleman even though I guess I did sort of break that, huh?”

  “It’s fine. I enjoyed myself immensely.”

  “Me too.”

  “You can still come in, though,” she suggested. “You can eat your cheesecake.”

  He pressed his lips together and rested his forehead on hers. “Please tell me you’re referring to the dessert in the bag.”

  She lightly punched him on the upper arm. “There goes your perverted thinking again. Not that I mind. And yes, I was referring to the dessert.”

  “Okay. I’ll be good,” he promised, raising his right hand. “Scout’s honor.”

  Sliding her hands off of him, she
stooped down for her purse and rustled around until she found her keys. Opening the door, she flicked on the light switch which turned on three small chandeliers in the foyer hallway.

  “You can leave mine and your shoes by the door.”

  She set her purse on the wood chair by the credenza and strolled into the living area. It was one large room with a stainless steel, industrial galley kitchen along one long wall which faced the dining and the living area. Antique-white sofas and chairs flanked with light gray, oversized toss pillows, glass coffee tables to match the six-seater glass dining table, and huge white candles sat in tall hurricanes. At times she replaced them with fresh flowers such as roses or peonies.

  Her heartbeat sped up as she heard him shut the doors and his shoes hit the walnut wood floors. Inviting him inside wasn’t on tonight’s agenda, but she wasn’t ready for the evening to end either. Taking a deep breath, she turned around and found him in the kitchen standing behind the stainless steel island opening the bag with the two slices of cheesecake.

  He smiled as his eyes perused the living area and landed on the closed opaque sliding doors as if he knew what was on the other side.

  “Is there a television in there?” he asked, setting the to-go box on the counter.

  There was a flat screen on her bedroom wall, but she wasn’t going to divulge that tidbit of information.

  She headed toward the cabinets in the kitchen and pulled out two saucers. “I have a media room down the hall,” she answered, taking two forks out of the drawer. She placed everything on the island. “Third door on the right. I’ll meet you there in a moment. Going to change into something more comfortable. And before your brain drowns in the gutter, by comfortable I mean sweats not sexy lingerie.”

  “I’m sure you’re adorable and sexy in anything you wear.”

  “Oh, so I can put on my avocado face mask as well?” she teased, pivoting on her heel and walking toward the master bedroom suite.

  “If that’s the only thing you’re going to wear?”

  He asked in a joking manner, but she had an inkling he was halfway serious. Shaking her head at him, she slid one of the doors back and slipped in before shutting it quickly.

  Unzipping her dress, she let it fall to the floor and made her way over to her expansive bathroom and closet that at one point had been one of the loft apartments. However, she had a ton of clothes, purses, and shoes and each needed their own separate space in her neatly organized and color-coordinated shelves. A huge island with ten drawers on each side contained her comfy casuals as well as her lingerie. Laughing off her ridiculous thoughts of teasing him with a sexy nightgown, she pulled out black yoga pants along with a Howard University sweat shirt and slipped them on. Grabbing a scrunchie from one of the drawers, she pulled her hair into a messy ponytail at the top of her hair. She didn’t even bother to glance in the mirror. Instead, she said a little prayer on the way to the media room that she could make it through the rest of the evening without wanting to continue … or rather finish what they’d started, followed by cooking him breakfast in the morning.

  Chapter Five

  When Harper stepped into the media room, Hunter’s eyes were instantly drawn to her fiery ones and her luscious lips that were plump at the moment from their tryst earlier. Even in sweats, no make-up, and a messy updo, she still possessed a sexiness to her that exuded confidence and charm that never shut off. That impressed him, as well as how passionate she was during their first kiss. He’d had quite a few first kisses but none that shook him to his core and stayed on his mind and lips.

  Hunter knew he shouldn’t have come up to her loft, and had debated his decision in the elevator ride. His plan was to make sure she got in safely, kiss her cheek or forehead, and then skedaddle back to his hotel for a long, cold shower. However, the sultry way she’d rested her eyes on him along with the subtle rise and fall of her chest, signified she wanted him at that very moment. Of course he had to oblige and make her happy. Right? Harper Bennett wasn’t the kind of woman to be refused, and he wanted nothing more than to please her.

  Her lips on his had surged so much passion and desire to coast freely through him that he couldn’t explain his own emotions. What he’d begun to feel for her was uncanny and refreshing. They’d just met, but kissing her for the first time wasn’t awkward or odd as it had been with other women. No, kissing Harper seemed natural and familiar. Peaceful in a way. They were in sync from the second his lips touched hers and for a moment time had stood still. If he didn’t know any better, he thought for sure her lips were created exclusively to kiss him and only him.

  While Hunter completely understood her disdain for long distance relationships, at the same time he knew he wouldn’t be able to stay away now that he’d kissed his beautiful one. He didn’t even know where in his brain he’d snatched that term of endearment. Most of the time he called women he was interested in or dating baby or babe. Beautiful one fit Harper perfectly considering she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on.

  He knew he shouldn’t be seated at that moment in the oversized, leather theatre chair in her home eating cheesecake. He’d promised to be a gentleman as well as not cross the line of starting something meaningful with her considering he would only be in Atlanta for a few more months. Who knew where life would take him afterward for he was always jetting off to another country and sometimes with only a few hours’ notice. His heart cringed at the notion of having to leave Harper. For the first time, he’d begun to feel at peace in his life. Perhaps Cannon was right—maybe it was time to settle in one place. And while he’d just met her, Hunter wanted to see where their relationship could go. She wasn’t a one-night stand or fling kind of a woman, otherwise he wouldn’t be sitting there watching the third quarter of a basketball game. Instead, he would’ve followed her through the sliding door of her bedroom and tore the red dress off of her.

  “Hey, beautiful one.”

  Carrying two bottled waters, Harper plopped into the seat next to him and sat the bottles in the cup holder of each chair. She curled her feet under her and turned toward him.

  “Hey, yourself. I see you found the remote control.”

  “Yep … I’m a man. We’ll find it quick. I can turn to something else if you’re not into sports.”

  “Nonsense, I love basketball and my favorite player is on the court.” She swiped the saucer with her cookies and cream cheesecake from the TV tray stand and let out the reclining part of her chair. “You better turn that up. I’m not a girlie girl who despises sports. I know how to hang with the fellas, too. I grew up watching and going to the games with my dad and my brothers.”

  “Cool. My kind of woman.”

  “Thank you. There’s beer in the mini fridge behind the bar,” she offered, pointing to the bar area behind the three rows of theatre chairs. “There’s also top shelf alcohol for when my dad or brothers stop by. Help yourself to whatever you want.”

  A sly grin crossed his face. “All right, woman. Don’t tempt me to pull you on my lap and finish what we started.”

  Chuckling, she shook her head. “Your toffee cheesecake will have to suffice … for now.”

  For the next hour, they watched and cheered for their teams. He was pleased that she wasn’t one of those women who watched the game just to see sweaty, hot men run up and down the court. She actually knew what was going on, yelled and cursed at the flat screen more than him, and drank her beer from a bottle. She was so into the game that at one point he swore she’d forgotten he was in the room.

  Once it was over and her team won, she did a victory dance. “In your face, boo.” Laughing, she crashed into her chair and took a swig of her beer. “I told you my team would win.”

  “Yeah, whatever,” he grumbled, slightly aggravated that he’d lost a friendly wager with his brother Chase. “My team will make it to the playoffs.”

  “If you say so. I say not likely.” She grabbed the remote from his lap and changed to the sports channel. “Sports Fa
natic is on. Have to see what Rasheed Vincent’s hilarious comments about tonight’s game are going to be. The man is a riot.”

  “He’s married to my cousin Bria, and yes, he’s funny at all times. I think he missed his calling as a comedian.”

  “Really? He’s your cousin-in-law? Oh, wow. He’s one of my favorite basketball players. I hated when he hurt his knee for the second time and made the choice to retire. He still had some good years left.”

  “He’s one of the greatest.”

  Yawning, she leaned back in her chair and stretched the recliner out. Her yawn caused him to do the same.

  “Tired?” she asked in a sleepy tone.

  “Nah, I’m good.” He leaned back in his chair to raise the recliner part up and propped his feet on it.

  “Me too,” she said, followed by another yawn and relaxed her head on his shoulder.

  *****

  Harper sat up and stretched her arms out. The light from the flat screen that was on mute blinded her, and for a moment she had to remember where she was. Glancing around, she remembered she was in the media room and upon turning her head to the left, she spotted Hunter lying in the chair next to her sound asleep with a light snore. Normally, snoring bothered her, but his was more of a peaceful one. She had no idea what time it was and since the media room used to be a walk-in closet and bathroom in one of lofts she’d converted, there were no windows.

  Letting the recliner down quietly so as to not disturb Hunter, she lay the blanket that rested on the back of his chair over him and tiptoed out of the room. Closing the door back softly, she trekked down the hallway until she made it back to the living area and saw the sun shining through the huge wall to floor window. Turning toward the kitchen, she discovered the clock on the microwave read 7:30 a.m. She contemplated waking him up or letting him rest, but she had no idea what time he had to be at work.