They’d been introduced through mutual friends at a dinner party, and the next thing he knew they were going on dates, meeting up at her suggestions. In a week they were in bed together and he couldn’t even remember making the move to officially ask her out or date her for real. It had just happened. Chloe, who worked as a successful fashion buyer, was one of those assertive women who didn’t bother about who got to make the first move.

She did what she needed to do to get her man and by the end of the month, was firmly ensconced in Jordan’s life as his ‘girlfriend’. But only because he’d let it happen, of course. He’d had the mistaken belief that just because she was beautiful, smart and successful, she was his type. But Chloe was in that category of female that could easily top the ‘sexiest women’ lists with her looks, figure and personality, but was actually rubbish in bed. Too uptight, too self-conscious, too squeamish.

All of the things Tiana wasn’t. She’d been enthusiastic about everything he’d been willing to try. For the first time in a long while, he’d got to enjoy rough sex just as he liked it. Ramming a woman so deep her whole frame jolted; taking control of her body and its needs and not being interrupted with pleas to stop or slow down. As fast and hard and deep as he’d taken Tania, she’d given right back, pushing him over the edge until he’d cum so forcefully his brain had almost shut down from the intensity.

It had been hard keeping things in perspective with Tania. That night, the sex had been very, very good for him. Probably the best ever. Maybe it was the circumstances; the role play. The fact that he was fulfilling a fantasy for her while at the same time, indulging in one he’d never even known he’d had. Every moment had been powerfully erotic and vividly sexy especially when Tania responded with so little inhibition. That had definitely made it all more than worthwhile for him.

And this time, he knew he could keep up the act of playing the professional gigolo just as well as the last time. She’d never guess the truth unless he told her.

The truth…

Even as they rounded up the call after confirming the time, Jordan replaced the receiver feeling a twinge of guilt. No matter how great the sex was, it still remained at the back of his mind that Tania deserved the truth. And yet, Jordan convinced himself that the truth wasn’t necessary to giving her a good time. All she wanted was sex, not romance. So long as she was satisfied and not getting harmed or hurt in any way, Jordan reasoned he was doing nothing wrong. At the same time, he was still interested in finding out who’d put his profile up there.

But even that took second place to the knowledge that at around 8 pm, he’d be meeting Tania at her apartment. She’d mentioned going to dinner and dancing, but he knew what she was really wanting was another red-hot session of sex. As his secretary let in his morning’s appointment, Jordan did his best to focus on the business at hand and keep his roving thoughts from a certain brown-eyed beauty with gorgeous, upturned breasts with nipples so thick and round he felt he could nibble on them for ages. Shaking off that distracting image, he rose to greet his client with a professional demeanor.

***

Tiana found it impossible to tell Alyssa about tonight’s planned meeting with Jordan. It was embarrassing and humiliating to admit she was hiring Jordan again. God! She felt pathetic just thinking about it.

It was an effort to get through the day. As it happened, Mondays were usually pretty slow and she could duck out before five to rush home and make minor preparations for the evening’s date.

She gave Alyssa some excuse for not being able to meet her after work for a drink and when she was finally home, let out a deep ‘whoosh’, letting herself exhale for the first time that day, since she’d called Jordan on the phone.

He’d sounded really pleased to hear from her again. Had she been a good client? She hoped so. She was glad he’d agreed to a second encounter. Tiana liked to think he’d enjoyed the last one. Maybe as much as she had?

Because hot damn she’d enjoyed every moment. The conversation, the dancing, the sex, the sensual massage – the total package. Jordan had never allowed for even an inch of awkwardness. He’d made it clear he was interested in her sexually, not as a paying client, but as someone he’d like to date. That the sex was a result of the natural chemistry between them and not because she was paying for his time.

If she could, she would imagine Jordan was just like any other male she might

have met on a night in town or at a bar or maybe even through friends. A casual acquaintance who turned out to be just her type and they’d ended up spending the night getting intimate. That wasn’t a bad scenario at all, was it? A pity it was far from reality.

Jordan was a male escort, a gigolo. Somehow, he managed to know exactly how to push her buttons and she’d melted like goo in his hands. What was more, she’d let him take full control of the proceedings. And yet never once had she ever felt ill at ease with the way he maintained authority. She’d got a thrill being dominated and taken by him.

Why the hell couldn’t more men be like him?

She slipped out of her scented bath soak half an hour later. She dried her body leisurely and as she tossed the towel aside, she caught a glimpse of her nude form in the floor-length bathroom mirror. For the first time in a long while, she ran a critical eye over her body. Great skin, with an even, smooth tone; breasts full and still firm with those large nipples she’d always disliked but seemed to drive men crazy – her small waist and rounded hips and long, toned legs.

She turned to the side and twisted round to check out her ass, what her ex-boyfriend had sworn was her best feature. But then he’d been an ass man and he’d always liked more than a handful. Tiana felt her skin flush as she thought of how much attention Jordan had paid to her rear that night and figured he was partial to that particular female attribute as well. Just thinking about the things he’d done made her start to grow moist between her folds again.

An hour later, she was waiting at her apartment with a bottle of wine and two glasses keeping cool on the table. Deciding she was already too excited to start on any alcohol, Tiana focused on changing into something slinky and enticing for Jordan’s arrival.

A few minutes later, she heard a firm knock at the door. Heart pounding, Tiana didn’t even think of hesitating but hurried for the door. She twisted the lock open with shaky fingers and then backed away as Jordan appeared, his jacket draped over his arm.

He came in, kicked the door shut behind him and flung his jacket on a nearby chair.

She saw his eyes barely skim over the wine cooling along with two glasses on the side table. And then his gaze swung to her, the grey orbs darkening when they rested on her silky black dress clinging tight to every curve.

Tiana’s words of greeting gurgled in her throat when she felt the full laser heat of his scrutiny. Something passed between them as their eyes met: something primal, dangerous. It made her stomach drop as she let out an audible gasp.

Everything that followed happened so fast.

In one smooth move, he backed her up against the wall. Tiana was whimpering, clutching at his shirt front. She felt him yank up the hem of her dress as he cupped her ass and lifted her off the floor.

Oh shit. Tiana wrapped her legs around his waist as they immediately started kissing. Red-hot and wet, so fucking wet. She moaned against his roughly eating mouth, her breasts rubbing into his chest. Her fingers rode up and sank into his deliciously silky hair and she clutched tight at the same time his palm spread over her breast, squeezing passionately over the lacy satin bra.

“Bloody hell, Tia,” he groaned, totally losing all cool. Keeping one hand grabbing her ass, he worked on his zipper and freed his cock. Tiana held tight to him with her arms and legs as she felt him working beneath to roll on a condom before aiming his already granite-hard cock straight for her pussy.

She was so moist and ready. It took just one powerfully driven thrust to have him seated deep inside her vagina.

Tiana heard him gasp as her walls, slippery and inviting, contracted snugly around him. Tiana clung desperately to his shoulders as she felt her inner passage start to pulse at the incredibly deep angle of his penetration. He moved her away from the support of the wall, keeping her up just by the strength of his arms and her legs still hooked tightly around his waist. He pushed her ass cheeks lewdly apart as he began to lift her up and down on his thick, long tube of a cock.

“Jordan. Oh baby,” she moaned mindlessly, blindly seeking his lips. He let out a growl of pleasure and caught her mouth with his in another fevered kiss of passion. There was nothing business-like or professional in the way he fucked her. They went at it like two long-time lovers coming together after months of separation.

Tiana felt the world start to rock as his thrusts grew deeper, choppier. Her eyesight blurred and she squeezed her lids tight to fight back the wave of dark ecstasy. Breathless for air, she tore her mouth from his and flung her head back in abandon. His mouth slid to her neck, working his lips over her collarbone, nibbling and sucking right before he bit her with enough pressure to make her cry out.

Everything felt so impossibly sweet; his cock buried inside her at the perfect slant to reach up into her most delicious spots; his hands squeezing on her ass with possessive passion while his fingers edged close to her clenching anal ring. It was hot, so freaking hot.

It was the most desperate sex ever. He hadn’t even taken an inch of clothing off except for the jacket he’d flung on a chair. He drove Tania up and down on his dick, making her feel him in amazingly far-flung corners of her pussy. Again and again he pushed her buttons, had her rocking on top of that cock and hitching to it like a lifeline each time she bounced on it.

“Oh God. So good,” she moaned, instinctively working her muscles to milk out every plunge his cock made deep inside her.

“Yes,” he rasped, edging his nose lower and nuzzling her cleavage before shifting to one thick, hungry nipple. He grabbed it in his mouth and pulled, causing a shrill cry of agony to spill from Tiana’s lips. Nothing made sense but her ring of muscle clutching and releasing on his pumping stem.

He squeezed her ass as he drove her down on him again and again, slanting his hips and delivering thrusts like a power drill. Torn up, shot right through, Tania clung to him with all her might and began to feel the burn spread deep within her pussy.

Passion and heat never felt so good. They coiled around inside her core until she was bursting for release. Her inner walls started to spasm around him and he must have felt it from the way he groaned her name. Tia. Whoa. Her head spun and her fingernails almost ripped groves through his shirt. She buried her face in his throat to muffle the strange earthy sounds breathing from her throat.

“Don’t hold back. Give it to me,” Jordan commanded on a grunt, tearing his lips from her nipple. He drove into her faster, deeper. Harder. The friction, the angle and the pressure proved too much to endure for much longer. Tiana opened her mouth wide and shuddered out a moan before her teeth closed over his exposed flesh, biting hard on the side of his neck.

“Fuck,” he let out, his breathing harsh as he chose the next moment to slash his hips sharply, sending his cock so deep inside her passage it felt like he was plowing a path up her throat. She heard the keening cries filling the air and it took a few moments to figure out they were coming from her. She felt so helpless, her lower body exposed as his hands on her ass kept her spread open as he bounced her to his rhythm. He was squeezing on her ass so hard it was almost painful. Coupled with his razor-edged thrusts hammering like a stake through her, it was a marvel she wasn’t screaming the roof down.

He was so ferocious, so unrepentant in his every lunge that she shuddered, feeling his show of power. Even her legs could no longer keep her braced to him as she felt herself go limp with bliss, almost like a ragdoll in his strong arms which were now holding her up as he fucked the shit out of her.

Tiana wasn’t even conscious that he’d moved until she felt the giving expanse of the bed underneath her. Her mind was in a whirl as she felt him grip her by both wrists which he stretched out high above her head. His other hand shoved her left knee back so far it bumped against her chin. With one leg folded so high he had her at a steep angle that gave him even deeper access to her deliciously pulsing pussy. To her delight, he bent to catch her lips, kissing her so hard their teeth clashed. His pace never slowed, battering into her like a fuck machine. Tania felt her lips go slack against his, unconsciously breaking the kiss as her body started to convulse. Everything slammed into her at once. There was the grinding friction from his pelvis rocking against her naked clit while deep inside her, he rode her like a beast - finally sending her over the edge with one carnal twist of his powerful hips.

Fingers twitching where her hands were pinned high above her, Tiana tossed her head from side to side and succumbed to her almost painful orgasm. Sobbing out helplessly, “I’m coming. Oh lord I’m coming,” she came and came.

Pleasurably sore and but not yet overly sensitive, she lay passive and dazed as Jordan thumped his way to his tumultuous release minutes later. In that time Tiana had basked in a few mini-orgasms that had her twitching beneath him like her pussy was injected with a hundred electric eels.

He let out a choked curse as he climaxed, his face just inches above hers and mirroring his every intense expression. Tiana gasped at the visual, shivering at how powerfully he lost control, just like he did everything else. No holds barred. She whined, straining against his restraining fist still wrapped around her wrists. With a groan, he let her go, burying his face in her throat for a moment.

Tiana’s hands and legs fell to the mattress, her breathing ragged in the cool room as she stared up at the spinning ceiling. What the hell just happened?

Suddenly he rolled off her, muttered something about the condom and left to go to the bathroom. Tiana heard water running as she painstakingly edged herself upwards to the other side of the bed, leaving room for when he returned. Her legs still hadn’t stopped shaking. She didn’t understand what had come over her.

For months, she’d thought nothing about sex apart from the occasional self-pleasuring at those unbearable times of the month when her libido was to the roof. But even then, sometimes she was just too busy to dwell on her lack of sexual gratification and now here she was; unable to go a week without wanting some. Jordan had done something to her and she couldn’t decide if she liked it or not.

She was propped up on her elbows when Jordan returned, still in his pants and dress shirt. Tiana stared at him and still couldn’t believe he was a male escort. Not that she’d met any to make that assumption, but there was just something about the way he moved and looked. Everything about him spelled power, refinement and intelligence. A man like him couldn’t really be making a career of entertaining women for money, right?

Tiana still didn’t get it, but thinking about Jordan being with other women the way he was with her suddenly made her feel…icky. Now that the sexual high had dimmed, she could look at this with a lot more perspective. She was wildly attracted to him though.

She’d quickly gotten over the fact that they were different in a lot of ways. Culturally, they probably didn’t really move in the same spheres. Socially, she could tell he was one of those Ivy League types even without being told while she’d basically started from the rough side of the tracks before dedication to succeed got her the scholarships that had taken her through respectable colleges. Tiana was no genius but she could read a lot about people – after all she was in the PR business and successful at it. And there was something about Jordan that spelled much more mystery than she’d expected to deal with.

“You okay?” he murmured with that same cocky grin that on another man, she’d have liked to slap off. But hey, the man had made her see stars – again. He deserved to be cocky. He stretched out next to her, turning his head to view her now modestly half-covered by the comforter.

“I’m good.” Her smile was a little wry. “How about you, big boy?”

Jordan smiled, linking his arms behind his head. “You called me baby.”

“Oh shit. Sorry. Got carried away.” Tiana’s cheeks felt hot as she remembered doing just that. What had she been thinking?

He laughed, but didn’t push it. “So, anything in particular you want to do tonight? I mean we still have two more hours.”

Just then he reached out, flicked her hair over her shoulder and then pushed down one strap of her dress, exposing more and more of her flesh as he drew it down to her elbow. One brown nipple popped free, and Tiana felt it go rigid just with him staring at it. His eyes gleamed brightly for a moment.

“You have a beautiful body, Tiana,” he said almost conversationally though his eyes grew hooded. “And your breasts are gorgeous.”

“Thank you,” Tiana said, her throat tight as she felt his hand hover over the uncovered tit, before skimming over it with the pad of his fingers. Tiana’s breath caught as he began to roll her fat nipple between his thumb and forefinger. Spurring her desire back into life, making her pussy twang. Uh oh.

Her eyes involuntarily flicked to his groin and sure enough, there was a substantial wedge rising. Goodness me, thought Tiana, her heart rate accelerating despite herself.

He looked up into her face and cocked a brow. “Don’t you like it? You want me to stop?” he said, tweaking her nipple with sensual skill. Tiana’s eyes blinked and she resisted the urge to fall back and purr. Damn, but just the touch of his hand set off her triggers. She’d cum so hard just minutes ago so how come her body was thrumming again?

“I like it. Please don’t stop,” she said evenly to hide her much her insides were trembling. He nodded, and trailed his fingers round and round her areole. Her eyes watched his face as he stared at her breast, his concentration fixed. He liked touching; he liked touching her.

She didn’t exactly understand what was happening. She hadn’t really thought this far ahead about tonight’s appointment. She’d wanted Jordan to fuck her again and he had, though she’d pretended to both of them that she was booking him for dinner. But now he was sketching those skilful hands over her most sensitive regions.

She loved feeling his hand on her skin; it had never felt strange even on the first night when all this had begun. Her breath shortened as he flattened his hand over her belly, the weight somehow soothing even above the satin of her bra. His thick dark lashes downcast, he swept the fabric upwards, revealing the smooth V of her sex half-hidden between her clamped up thighs. He slid his hand down one knee and then slowly, drew it apart from the other.

Tiana felt like a very young woman again, about to be really touched for the first time. When Jordan started to work on her pussy mound with that inquisitive, knowing hand, she felt lost. What was he doing to her? He’d awoken a she-wolf within her and now she couldn’t imagine not ever being able to feel his tender touch, splitting her sizzling folds apart and stroking her vulva into swollen abandon.

“So hot and tight,” he murmured, quietly sliding two fingers into her pussy. Tiana gasped and clutched at the sheets beneath her. He elbowed her knees further apart and now her thighs were spread almost lewdly, leaving every bit of her open to scrutiny. Tiana couldn’t help staring at his hand, the lightly tanned fingers inching in and out of her creamy brown-skinned sex. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head at the sensation of his fingers probing sensually inside her.

“I’ve never met a woman like you, Tiana,” Jordan said lightly, startling her out of her erotic daze as she tried to focus her vision on his handsome, studiously blank face with his eyes still fixed on her pussy. “And I’ve been with a lot of women. But you…there’s something about your body that makes me want to drop everything each time you call.”

Tiana’s spine arched with a gasp as he delved his fingers in deep to the last knuckle, hitching to that invisible hot spot deep inside her. Her lips went slack as she stared at his face with the light sheen of perspiration now coating his temple. “You make me want to…forget that this is supposed to be just about giving you what you need. Now it’s getting to a point that this is what I need, too.”

Tiana’s head was spinning. Why was he telling her this now? What did it all mean? She couldn’t process, couldn’t answer his question, not sure he required a reply. All she could truly focus on was the slick sweep of his fingers over her clit, teasing the hard bud out of its hood. Making her so dizzy with awareness her pleasure-points throbbed.

Tiana looked up into his face and found he was staring right at her now, his piercing grey gaze dark and pinned to hers. Tiana gulped, fighting down the squirming edge of desire making her pussy walls contract on his fingers still buried inside her.

A grimace that looked like pain crossed his face for a moment, before he shook his head and growled, “Tiana, you need to know I…”

But then he stopped short, surprising her by suddenly pulling out his fingers. He looked almost pained, but then to her inner glee he was straightening up and grabbing her by the waist, turning her over before she could even steal her next breath.

Caught between wondering what he’d been about to say, to wondering what he was about to do, Tiana twisted her head round to look at him as he knelt behind her. “Never mind. I’m going to fuck you now,” he told her, and Tiana’s chest constricted with a tight, heated rush of passion. “Unless you have other ideas?”

Tiana swallowed, her palms resting flat on the bed as she felt him station her lower half the way he wanted. She felt a surge of panic as she thought of this position and how some parts of her belly still felt faintly punctured from the last time when he’d fairly gone on rampage when he’d taken her from this angle against the table. Her greedy inner walls now screeched with both eagerness and trepidation.

“I…I…,” Tiana began, feeling like such an idiot for not being able to frame what she was thinking even as she saw him reach for a condom, rip it open and roll it unto his freed cock, already so hard and angry-looking her eyes widened as her pussy responded in twitching anticipation.

A shadow of need stamped over his face, making his chiseled cheekbones look more prominent as he now gripped her hips and jerked her back into position. “It’ll be good, I promise,” he said a little thickly, as if reading her mind. “I can go as slow as you want, Tia. Or as fast. Just let me know either way. I aim to please.”

Those last huskily delivered words had her trembling even as he slid his length into her waiting, soft and pliant sheathe. It pained her that she was helpless to fight her sexual need of him even as she began to wish there could be more. He made her feel so good when he was inside her. Treated her like she needed to be treated; anticipating her desires even before she could articulate them. He was indeed a master lover but she saw in him the potential to be much more.

A friend – a real lover. She must be a damn fool.

Jordan was careful this time, but no less thorough.

He slid in to the hilt and then withdrew slowly until just the tip remained inside her. Then with agonizing patience, he filled her up again, making her sweat as her inner layers quivered at the steady, smooth pressure. Keeping her on all fours, he built up a rocking, continuous pace that was maddeningly delicious. Tiana had to force herself to keep her arms straight as Jordan’s body pitched against her with libidinous potency, strong enough to bounce her forward with each thrust. She listened for the sounds they made as he fucked her; and even as he held on to his control she could hear the chopping hitch of his breathing.

“Tia,” he suddenly groaned, reaching down underneath her to press insistent fingers over her aching clit. Tiana’s arms finally buckled as she planted her face into the mattress, tits swaying as he began to really bump and grind her. He jockeyed her clit as he smacked into her faster and faster, going deep yet never too rigorously to hurt. It was hot and wild and sweet, especially when he took the time to zip her beady clitoris in conjunction with his thrusts.

He held back until the last moment when she finally overflowed with the immense tingles that were taking control of her pussy. For the second time that night she came, and came. Only Jordan made her climax like that, as if wave upon wave of bliss was washing over her in a cascade.

“Damn,” he growled, as her muscles clenched and wiggled around his cock. His fingers gripped her hips just that bit tighter but only for a second before he loosened his grip and whispered, “I’m gonna come.” Which made Tiana shiver into another mini-climax as he sent in several careening thrusts that almost pitched her to the side as they sped him into his orgasm.

Tiana finally rolled over when he pulled out of her seconds later. She glanced over her shoulder and saw the strange pained look on his face that was so endearingly cute; as if he was lost, confused. Damn, so was she. Their bodies played too well together. The sex was getting too good. Like two romantic lovers attuning their passion to each other after long months of fitting together like a jigsaw puzzle.

She couldn’t blame him for looking so gobsmacked as he backed off the bed and all but stumbled into the bathroom. “I need to take a shower,” he muttered, throwing her a glance. Tiana nodded, pushing her silky dress down on her frame as she crawled back under the covers.

She kept thinking about what he’d said earlier. About needing this too. That hadn’t sounded very professional of him. She could tell he felt things were fast getting beyond client and escort. Tiana didn’t know what to do, or think.

In the beginning all she’d wanted was to hire somebody as her date for a few hours. She hadn’t wanted to meet anyone, not in the state she was in where she’d lost all faith in romance.

Then Jordan the gigolo had walked into her life and had put an exciting and mysterious quality to the mere act of sex. She knew he was probably seeing other women. Getting paid to see other women, she reminded herself. So why was she getting the tingles every time she looked at him? That girlish lurch in her chest that made her feel shy and hot all over just being in the same room with him? God! Was she getting infatuated with this guy?

Tiana shuddered as she realized she would only be an idiot if that happened. This was already turning into an embarrassing and humiliating situation. She couldn’t keep paying him for “dates” when they both knew what she really wanted was to be fucked long and hard by him. The only thing worse would be if she was actually paying him for sex!

A crazy thought suddenly crossed her mind. Surely he didn’t think that was what she was doing? She shook the outrageous thought away before it took hold. No, of course not. He wanted it too. She knew it.

It was best she never tried to see him again, she told herself firmly.

Jordan walked back into the room, and she looked at him quickly, searching his face while her expression stayed wary. To her surprise, he was grinning. Showered and dressed neatly, there was no tension at all in his face or body. She hadn’t realized he had a cloth in his hand until he came to her side on the bed and drew down the covers, making her stiffen as he reached to pull open her legs again.

“Relax,” he said lightly, and she looked down and saw the warm, wet washcloth he began to use to clean between her thighs. He did this gently and soothingly, and Tiana bit on her lip as she fought back that silly shyness. He was just being thoughtful, she told herself as she thanked him softly. He nodded with a smile and then returned the washcloth to the bathroom.

When he returned, Tiana had herself more under control. She was sitting back in bed when he came to stand at the edge. He pushed his fingers through his dark hair, that same cocky smile she wanted to hate but couldn’t spreading over his handsome face.

“Next time, you’re going to have to tell me exactly what you want. Tonight I came charging in, rearing to go – just like the last time when I took things up right after we walked through the door. In future I’m going to give you the chance to actually call the shots.”

Tiana couldn’t tell him that she’d liked it that way. It had felt very spontaneous, natural. Like a lover so hungry for her he couldn’t wait before slamming her against the wall or table. Also, Tiana knew for sure that she liked her lover to be the dominant one in the bedroom.

And then his words really sunk in. Tiana frowned. “I never said there’ll be a next time.”

Jordan had moved to where his jacket lay, and now paused in the act of shouldering it on. He cocked a brow at her. “My apologies. I simply assumed you’d wish to extend my services. Pardon me if I seemed presumptuous. But it wouldn’t be a bad idea to schedule any future arrangement now. Just in case.”

Tiana’s lips twisted ruefully. Just in case his calendar got too full to squeeze her in, huh? Tiana had no doubt he must be in high demand. It was a wonder that both times they’d got together, he’d made the time at such short notice. Maybe she was just lucky.

“I might be interested in scheduling your services again,” Tiana said, surprising herself. “I’ll need a date for a charity event I’m attending next week on Thursday. Do you think you could be available?”

Tiana felt somewhat self-conscious. What if he said no? She couldn’t be sure until he answered and she waited with bated breath.

He shrugged on his jacket smoothly. “Thursday next week’s doable,” he said, nodding. “You can email me the details for the event. Dress code, time and duration of the date. We can work out logistics before then.” As he spoke he glanced at his watch, eyes narrowing slightly.

“Okay,” Tiana said, staring at him. When he talked and looked like that, he reminded her of some high-powered banker or corporate mogul. All business-like and whizzy.

He caught her look and his eyes suddenly blazed. “You alright?” He was sweeping his warm gaze over her prone frame as he added, “If you want, we could…”

Tiana had no doubt that he could; but in her case her whole body felt like it had been wrung round an industrial washing machine. A deliciously tender feeling throbbed in her hidden muscles and tissues, but she’d be fine if she took it easy for a week. Or month.

Tiana looked at the clock on the bedside table. She knew there was still fifteen minutes to go but she wasn’t about to be crass and make a point of insisting that he stay and talk with her a few more minutes.

“No, I’m fine. Thank you. And I mean that,” she said quickly, blushing as she explained.

His lips slanted in a quick smile as he came over to where she lay, bending over her. Tiana thought he was going to kiss her but all he did was brush back her hair from her face. Tiana hoped she didn’t look too messy after their energetic romp of the past couple of hours.

“I’ve never slept with a stranger before,” Tiana heard herself say, to fill in the silence. It unnerved her the way he was looking at her; very tenderly. A gentle look of a friend and lover.

“I mean, guys I’ve been to bed with were guys I was with at the time. Guys I knew well.” Tiana was blundering on but she couldn’t stop herself. Jordan up close did something to her brain and she couldn’t tell if she was coming or going. She felt confused by the emotions that arose where he was concerned. When they weren’t going at it, she had nothing to distract her from what an intensely fascinating man he was. And how much she would have really liked to find out more about him. What really made him tick, his interests and pursuits, his background and trials or achievements. What made him Jordan.

“What does it take to really know a guy anyway?” Jordan asked mildly, his eyes humorous as they lifted to meet hers. “And I thought you wanted it this way.”

Tiana shook her head at herself, looking away and breaking the spell of his mesmerising, searching gaze. “You’re right. I shouldn’t be feeling weird about this now. I’d never have dreamed of going to bed with a guy I just met, but this is different. I pay you for your time. And that reminds me…there’s an envelope in the drawer. Your fee. I was supposed to give it to you beforehand but…”

“Yes, I can imagine. I got carried away,” Jordan said with a light tone as he withdrew smoothly and moved to the drawer she indicated. He withdrew the envelope and without even counting the contents, slipped it into his jacket. “Too bad you’re not interested in a ‘next time’ or I’d have shown you I’m not a total caveman.”

He cocked a questioning brow at her, and Tiana was tempted to say she’d think about it, but couldn’t. Much as she liked having sex with Jordan, suddenly she was feeling like it was taking a lot out of her already. When he touched her…his kiss – it felt far more than just sex to her and that was scary.

She should have known that sleeping with a man she found so deeply attractive both physically and intellectually, wouldn’t be as easy as if he was someone she wasn’t really into out of the bedroom.

It was hard to explain to herself but the truth was, she was getting to really, really like him. Hell, she’d called him ‘baby’ when he’d been inside her. And then he did that thing when he called her “Tia” and damn if it didn’t make her heart sing when she heard that.

“No; that’s okay. I just need you for that one social outing and that would be it. This was meant to be just a one-off anyway.”

He nodded, and then looked like he was about to say something. Tiana held her breath, not even sure what she was hoping he’d say. And then he smiled a casual, easygoing smile. “I understand. So…Thursday?”

“Yes,” she said, biting on her bottom lip. When his dark grey eyes followed the motion, they grew even darker.

“I’m sorry for the times I was too rough,” he said suddenly, surprising her. It looked almost like he was reluctant to leave.

Tiana’s cheek flushed. “I would have let you know if I didn’t like it.” She’d liked it too much in fact. No man had ever been that rough with her – not in the way she enjoyed. Her stomach clenched with excitement just remembering how good it had felt to be taken with such vigor as Jordan had done a few times.

They finally said goodbye and he was gone. Tiana flopped back into the pillows, clutching her fingers in her hair and wondering what the hell was happening to her.

She’d blown away some good hard-earned cash just for the services of a escort pro and though she wouldn’t deny it had been a satisfying experience, she felt emptier than she had even before she’d taken the bold step and hired Jordan.

Being the kind of man he was: good looking, obviously intelligent and refined – not forgetting downright sexy – it wouldn’t be hard for any normal woman to fall for him. Tiana couldn’t say she was in love but damn if he hadn’t gotten under her skin in just the one week since they’d met.

It should never have happened this way. It was something she’d have to get over, and quickly, Tiana knew. There was no way she was going to risk getting personally involved with a male escort, no matter how hot or nice he was. For one thing, she knew next to nothing about him and had only met him a week ago. This was just a passing phase since he was far from what she was used to and she’d certainly never been in this kind of situation before.

And now it was time to get out of the situation. She needed to start dating again – meeting men in normal circumstances. Even if it meant going on one of those annoying blind dates or hook-ups arranged by her friends or family. Hell, she might even let herself get picked up at a bar or club just to know how it felt to actually connect with a real guy. Telling herself she was only imagining the slight lingering hint of Jordan’s gorgeous scent around her, Tiana closed her eyes and willed herself to edge into a restless slumber.

Chapter Seven

“I really don’t need you on my case right now, Tom,” Jordan said shortly, turning to face his friend and lawyer again. Jordan had been too busy thinking about last night with Tiana to really focus on the last ten minutes or so of Tommy’s nagging.

“Good thing you mentioned the word “case”. Think of the law suit you’ll have on your hands if Ms. Tiana finds out you’re a fake,” Tommy said.

Jordan huffed dismissively as he went to flop into his chair behind his desk. “Don’t be ridiculous,” he growled. “You and I know that’s not possible. For one thing, I haven’t done anything wrong. Questionable, maybe, but no crime in the real sense. The lady picked me out of all the others available so it’s not like I really had anything to do with it. She wanted me, Tommy. No one else. And I gave her what she paid for.”

“Under false pretenses,” Tommy told him firmly. “She thought you were a male escort. You’re not. You might be right and she can’t sue you for this if she finds out but there’s no way she’s going to like being fooled.”

“You’re acting like I asked to be put up on that escort site,” Jordan said with deep sarcasm. Shaking his head, he looked away and tried to rein in his temper. Tommy was right on all levels but Jordan couldn’t help pointing it out that he’d been a victim here as well. He’d been set up in some way and Tiana just happened to get caught in the middle.

Now if only he’d done the honorable and sensible thing and told her the truth from day one. But being the cocky ass he was, he’d decided to play along. He hadn’t been able to resist the opportunity to get into Tiana’s bed and damned the consequences. But the fact remained that no one had forced her to choose him. She’d seen what she’d liked and gone for it. Was it so wrong that he’d provided exactly what she’d required from him?

Which was something she didn’t seem to need anymore, he thought, recalling how last night had ended. Had he managed to put her off male escorts for good? He’d really thought she’d like a man with a take-charge approach. Jordan had sensed her submissive persona even beneath her calm, professional attitude. He knew enough about women to tell when they enjoyed when a man wasn’t afraid to take control in the bedroom.

Jordan had been pretty rough at certain intervals but not once had she complained. But obviously the novelty had worn off and she was no longer interested in continuing the sex angle. Jordan told himself not to be too disappointed. He couldn’t play gigolo forever. And after the charity event she’d mentioned she needed an escort for, he was sure he’d never see her again.

Why did that fact give him a sudden clinch in his chest?

Suddenly, he realized Tommy was speaking and forced himself to listen to what the other man was saying.

“Well, we both know you never asked for any of this but you seem to be getting too much fun out of playing it out. And anyway, you no longer have to worry about being up on that site because your profile has been taken down,” Tommy informed him.

“What?” Jordan asked in surprise, sitting up. Without waiting for Tommy’s reply, he clicked on his computer and got on the Gents4Ladies site. His profile was gone. He looked up at Tommy questioningly.

“I had nothing to do with it,” Tommy told him with a shrug. “It just disappeared. I checked it out yesterday and it was gone.”

Jordan felt relieved. Whoever it was who’d put up the profile must have tired of the game or whatever. The prankster probably noticed that Jordan hadn’t pooled as much attention as was probably planned. After all, he’d only got a call from one client – Tania. No other women in need of the services of Jordan with the money back guarantee had surfaced. Thank goodness. Maybe his reputation as a respectable financial consultant didn’t need salvaging after all.

“Any headway with finding the guilty party?” Jordan asked. He was still going to murder whoever had thought this was funny.

“My guy’s working on a few leads. We’re assuming that’s the only site you were profiled on and that your details aren’t spread around the web on other escort sites.”

Jordan groaned at Tommy’s factual words, throwing his hands up in exasperation. “Please! Get your guy on that as well. Do what you have to do to make sure I don’t end up with any of my real clients, family or friends stumbling on my pictures on any of those sites. I’ll never live it down.”

Tommy snickered, his goofy side resurfacing as he grunted, “So you’re saying your success with Tiana hasn’t opened you up to the possibilities of taking up a new past time of selling your commendable sexual favors?”

“I wouldn’t exactly term it a ‘success’,” Jordan said somewhat bitterly, staring into space.

“I’d call getting a repeat appointment a success,” Tommy rejoined with a humorous smirk. “What I don’t get it why you still went through with it. Again. Did you really have to?”

Jordan merely shook his head. Tommy would never understand. Tommy hadn’t met Tiana. He couldn’t know.

Jordan had meant it when he’d told her last night about how she made him feel. At that point he’d been very close to exposing himself. But it was true; he’d never met a woman like her who could so easily make him lose it. There was something about her that set something loose inside him. His inner beast; his primal side that was nothing like the Jordan his friends or close acquaintances knew.

He was different when he was with her; he could be himself which was weird because he’d never really known what he was capable of until he’d first made contact with her. From the first sound of her distinctive voice on the line, he’d been intrigued by her. He’d met her and it had felt like a spell had been cast.

“You aren’t that hard-up for pussy, that much I know,” Tommy went on relentlessly. “Why keep going back for more with this woman?”

Good question, Jordan thought with a deep sigh. He should have told her the truth. The moment he walked in the door yesterday. But she’d been waiting in that slinky black dress, setting off her medium brown complexion tantalizingly. He didn’t think. He couldn’t. He’d let his hormones lead the way and for the second time, he gave in to his darkest urges.

But he’d be lying if he claimed it was all about getting a piece of her delectably juicy pussy. Getting a woman in his bed had never been an issue for him. He was single now by choice and there was always the random ‘booty call’ he could count on if the need arose. With Tiana, it was something significantly deeper. Maybe it was too soon to call it, but he called it anyway. He had a thing for her, big time. But now he’d blown any chances of being with her for real by sticking to his role of gigolo. He’d sensed she was beginning to feel uncomfortable with the procedure as she showed signs that things were getting way ahead of her. He couldn’t blame her for putting an end to it-at least the sex part.

Jordan felt a squint of hope from the fact that at least she wouldn’t mind seeing him again and spending more time with him even if just for a social event.

“Well, it’s over,” Jordan said firmly by way of response to Tommy’s last question. “I can’t explain what came over me but there it is. Thursday’s the last time I’ll get to play gigolo, I promise. And then game over.”

Tommy nodded approvingly. “But you still don’t think you should tell her the truth?”

Jordan flinched. “What would it serve? Except to complicate things further? No, I think it’s safe to just keep her blissfully in the dark. I don’t want her hurt feelings on my conscience as well.”

Jordan had enough to feel guilty about. He could categorically say he’d never done a dishonest thing in his grown up life, be it in business or personal matters. He existed in black and white and this thing with Tania was the one gray area in his conduct and he certainly wasn’t proud of it.

He’d convinced himself in the beginning that he’d been doing her a favor but that was not enough excuse. He was wrong, plain and simple. He could never be sure how Tania would take it but he wasn’t eager to find out.

“A week from now this would be all behind us; my one guilty secret,” Jordan said aloud almost to himself. Tommy was busy looking through his smartphone, not even listening as he suddenly frowned.

“Hey, did you say you were supposed to be with her for a charity thing on Thursday?” Tommy asked thoughtfully. “Could it be that fund-raising dinner you're meant to attend for the Beecroft Foundation?”

Jordan’s eyebrows rose. “I’m not sure. I’ll have to ask my secretary. You’re sure the Beecroft thing’s on Thursday?”

“Yeah,” Tommy said. “We both got invites last month, remember? But I’m going to be out of town by then on business and will miss the whole shindig. What are the chances it might be the same event Tiana expects you to attend with her?”

“She hasn’t emailed me yet with the details, but there’s a possibility,” Jordan said, somewhat worriedly. He was meant to deliver a brief speech at that function. He was a major sponsor of that charity and always used his links with the big corporations to gather support for its cause. Imagining that he might just have to attend the event as Tiana’s male escort made him break out inexplicably in a sweat.

Tommy was looking at him interestedly. “I think you should wait to hear from her before you start to feel concerned. It could be two different events and you’ll just have to cancel with her. But what if it’s one and the same? She’d definitely find out who you are when you give your speech. How are you going to explain that a big-time city financier mastermind is doubling as a gigolo in his spare time? Somehow, I don’t think she’ll buy it.”

Jordan placed fingers to his throbbing temples. Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Looks like you may just have to come clean after all,” Tommy said with a grunt as he sat back, looking far more pleased than the situation warranted. Jordan didn’t expect his friend to feel sorry for him but he needn’t look so smug.

***

Tiana could confide in Josie the way she couldn’t with Alyssa. Josie had been living next door to Tiana for the past year and both women got along so well you’d think they’d known for ages. Ever since they found out they came from the same hometown in the South, they’d gotten closer and spent a lot of time visiting each other’s apartments. They led different lifestyles; Tiana had a career in the corporate environment while Josie turned her hobby into her trade; she was a successful fine artist who sold her portraits in upscale art galleries and also did private commissions which fetched a pretty sum.

She’d let Tiana into her studio within her apartment and Tiana sat in a comfy chair nursing a coffee mug while Josie worked on a painting for a client’s young child.

“You don’t think me too much of a degenerate for hiring a male escort, do you?” Tiana blurted, her cheeks pinking. She’d told Josie everything and her friend and neighbor hadn’t batted a single eyelid. Though Josie did look back from her canvas in surprise at Tiana’s blunt choice of words.

“It’s not something I’d ever do but there’s no doubt I admire your guts,” Josie said, pushing up her trendy glasses higher on her rounded nose. She was very slender and petite, her skin tone several shades lighter than Tiana’s due to her mixed Eastern Asian and Trinidadian ancestry. Tiana had always openly envied Josie’s girlishly slight figure while Josie complained that she’d give anything to be able to put on some padding to match Tiana’s gifts in the curves department.

“I know it’s far from common,” Tiana said glumly, staring into her dark brew. “I was just so desperate for a date and then I got in way over my head. I don’t know what I’ve been thinking.”

“But you did say this Jordan fellow came highly recommended from a friend’s friend,” Josie pointed out as she went on with her painting.

Her portraiture style was very realistic and Tiana couldn’t help admiring the adorable rendering of the cheeky child as it progressed.

Deep within, she told herself how she hated being reminded that Jordan had been with other women in his capacity as a gigolo. She tried to convince herself it was similar to meeting someone who just happened to have a lot of ex-girlfriends or past lovers. But Tiana knew this was entirely different. She had men in her past too and most probably in her future but she didn’t indulge in casual sex with them. That’s what Jordan did and though she couldn’t judge him for it she still felt tortured that she was so drawn to him despite his way of life.

“So we can definitely say you’re not the only one who’s tried it,” continued Josie with a sensible tone. “It’s probably not as popular a market as men using female escorts or call girls but the market exists all the same.”

“I know that; of course.” Tiana sighed heavily, turning to look out of the window at the bright lights over the city showing from the high-rise apartment.

Josie glanced at Tiana and then placed her brush down, wiped off her hands and came to sit on the arm of Tania’s chair, her expression kind. “You aren’t really bothered about the hiring a gigolo part, are you? You’re more cut up about falling for one. So now what are you going to do?”

Josie had hit the nail on the head, Tania felt as she shook her head in confusion. “I don’t know if it’s really so much about falling for him but being so struck by him I find it hard to back away. I’m supposed to be attending a function with him next week and yet I’m itching with the thought that I shouldn’t be seeing him again knowing I’m not as immune to him as I should be.”

“He’s really that hot?” Josie asked with interest.

Tiana had to smile, though ruefully. “Even you couldn’t resist him.”

Josie drew back with eyebrows raised high. “Hmmm hmm. I can’t deny I’ve always been curious about the black woman-white male dynamic,” Josie mused, rubbing her chin with impish contemplation. “Never really had the opportunity to be tempted but then there’s that one time seeing James Franco in cornrows got me really thinking: I’d do him in a heartbeat.”

Tiana elbowed her playfully. “I’m serious here! Jordan’s just so…he’s different. I keep saying that to myself even though I can’t really explain how.” She sobered as she wrapped her hands around her mug. “It’s not even about the race thing – at all. That never came through as an issue even from him.” She closed her eyes briefly and just pictured him the way she remembered. Charming and self-assured with loads of savoir faire but not in an over-smooth way. And his touch – dear heaven, his touch…melted her down like a Dali painting.

Tiana only had to close her eyes and she could see his face; lean-jawed and cleanly cut with slashes in his jaw when he smiled. His eyes were a blazing dark grey that could cut through her belly with just one look; his blue-black hair so thick her fingers twanged in need to run through the luxuriant locks. His chiseled nose; finely outlined and just as kissable as his lips. Damn, those lips. The things he did with them be it on her mouth above or below…Tiana felt a hidden tremor course through her veins at the memories.

“I’ve never believed great sex should be a foundation for true emotion,” Tiana said softly, eyes downcast. “A man’s prodigious expertise in bed didn’t automatically buy him a place in a woman’s heart. I’m not saying I’m totally sure, but I feel in my heart that it’s more than just his hot bedroom skills that makes Jordan so captivating to me. I really wish I had the chance to explore where it could lead. But I can’t.”

Josie regarded Tiana thoughtfully for some moments, before saying gaily, “Why don’t we go out tonight? Check out my new favorite bar and grill. Just picture it: monster burgers – I’m talking eye level size here, plus meatloaf and cream cheese mashed potatoes -”

“Um…I’m not really hungry…,” Tiana began doubtfully but Josie held up her hand.

“Now now, Tiana Cole, hold up lemme finish. There’re at least twenty prime beers on tap – and it’s playoff season so you’ll absolutely love the big screens. And oh, best of all it’s very dude-friendly. We’re bound to make some new friends.”

She wriggled her eyebrows meaningfully, a grin splitting her pretty face. Tiana still felt tentative about socializing especially in her mood but she figured going out beat sitting around in her old sweats and tank going on and on about Jordan. Josie was genuinely fun to be with when they went on. She got along with anyone and had no problem at all meeting people especially guys. Besides they were both young and single so there really wasn’t anything to stop them hanging out in a bar and grill and having fun.

Just the effort of dressing up and leaving the house gave Tiana something to look forward to though she wasn’t so sure about the ‘making new friends’ part – new friends meaning the male variety, of course. Tiana had been unattached for more than a half-year now but she still wasn’t enthusiastic about diving into the dating pool just yet.

Giving Josie a smile, Tiana let herself get dragged to her feet. Looking sheepish, she said gamely, “Sorry if I sounded so needy – and I promise not to be a wet-blanket tonight. Let’s do this.”

“Alright!” Josie hurrahed, patting Tiana’s shoulder firmly. “We’ll have you over your Jordan crush in no time!”

It sure as hell felt more than a crush – how about a full-on obsession what with daydreaming about him all day and then fantasizing about him all night…But Tiana let Josie’s comment slide and went over to her place to get ready for their impromptu outing.

Chapter Eight

Jordan felt the blood course straight from his brain down to his groin at the sound of Tiana’s voice. She’d barely spoken five words, “Hello Jordan. It’s me, Tiana.” And already he got hard as a plank. Her cultured, smooth-lined voice did things to his senses no woman ever could. Just hearing her speak brought the stimulating visual of Tiana saying his name breathlessly as he’d fucked her face to face, bringing her to a headboard-banging climax.

He was at his desk, and the moment he heard her voice on the line, he dismissed his secretary who’d been taking notes on some correspondence he wanted sent out to clients. Once the door shut behind her, Jordan rose and held the phone to his ear, looking out the window at the cityscape.

“Hi, Tiana. Great to hear from you.”

“Thank you.” She paused, and he waited, willing his cock to stop going crazy and diminish from its bulge that had his pants feeling too damned tight.

“I know I was supposed to email you details about the event on Thursday,” she continued.

Again she paused and Jordan felt like running his fingers through his hair in a state of disturbance. How the hell had he let this female get to him so bad? What was it about her? She wasn’t like any woman he’d ever been with but she already knew that. Was it just to do with the exoticism of being with a black woman? Some might look at it that way. Here was Jordan Hancock, having his first sample of some ‘brown sugar’ and he couldn’t get enough, right? She’d called him on Monday, just days after their first encounter, and he hadn’t hesitated to meet her for a few hours of sex. Paid for, no less. He remembered slipping the money he didn’t want or need into his pocket and feeling like an absolute shit yet telling himself at least, he was giving her what she craved.

Yeah, sure. Jordan the Good Samaritan to sex-deprived women. How noble, he mocked himself. And the worst part was that if she suggested they meet up again, he knew he’d agree. He’d drop everything again and show up wherever she wanted, to whatever she wanted just to have her one more time. Even though it was all a farce; with him pretending to be what he wasn’t. But then was that so corrupt? He’d become what she wanted him to be for her. No one else. Wasn’t that enough to show he wasn’t a bad guy?

“Tiana,” he probed when the silence went on and on. “Are you okay?”

He was worried now. Was she about to call off the arrangement to join her for the charity event? He knew he should be relieved if she did. He still hadn’t figured out how the hell he was going to handle that improbable situation.

“Yes. I’m fine. It’s just that…well, I didn’t have your email so I went back to the Gents4Ladies site and then couldn’t find your profile there anymore,” she explained in a sudden rush that made him stiffen. “You took it down. Why?”

Jordan’s brain was trying to work on overdrive. What could he tell her? That he was retiring, getting out of the game? Or why not the truth? That whoever had his details registered on that site had apparently got bored with the prank and deleted the profile they’d set up? Would she believe him? Would she forgive him for whatever slight she might feel?

Jordan wasn’t ready to admit to himself why it mattered what Tiana thought. “I had it taken down. I didn’t need an online presence anymore.”

He decided to break it to her gently. And not on the bloody phone. But then she started speaking again.

“Oh I see. I guess you’ve been getting so many referrals you wouldn’t need to advertise your services as much as before. After all I heard about you from a friend so…”

Jordan’s eyes narrowed. So Tiana hadn’t just stumbled on his profile and picked him. Someone had told her about him. Jordan was sure he could get to the bottom of this whole fiasco if he could find out more.

“A friend? Could you tell me who it is? Someone I might know?” He gritted his teeth holding in his impatience for the facts. Dammit he wanted to shake someone! Why would anyone have thought this was a good joke? It was fucking up his freaking life. He’d met this amazing woman he’d have loved to get to know better but it was all messed up because she believed he was a flipping male prostitute!

“I’m sorry. She distinctly asked that I not mention her name. But you can at least know that she’s not a past client of yours,” Tiana said reluctantly. “Although she did hear glowing recommendations about you from others.”

Jordan stifled a groan. Great, just great! He had a bunch of women out there claiming they knew him as a commendable gigolo. That was doing a lot for his self-esteem right now. Not. Someone was having fun at his expense and he didn’t like it. One bit.

“I wish you could just give me a name,” Jordan pressed, his fingertips jabbing into his eyes as he winced. “Give me anything.”

“I don’t know what to tell you. Does it matter whom I heard about you from? Perhaps the women would prefer to hold on to their privacy the same way as you would.”

“You’re right,” Jordan said, calmly. He had to cool the fuck down. He could still get to the bottom of this but that was second place right now to what was between him and Tiana. That was all he could really focus on for the moment. “So what do you want, Tiana?”

“I was wondering if you were still free for Thursday. The charity dinner is at the Ursula Beecroft center. It’ll be for a few hours and it’s black tie. The event’s to begin at seven pm and is billed to end before ten.”

Jordan’s head flung back and he stared up at the ceiling. Moment of truth. What could he say? He paused a few moments and tried to think. Think, think, Jordan. You’re smart; you help your clients make billions of dollars every year on well-picked investments. You’ve got a foot-long list of clients to prove how smart and successful you are. What could be hard about thinking up a way to get through this mess you got yourself into?

***

Tiana held her breath as she told herself she knew what was coming. Jordan was going to say no; she could feel it. Had he sensed something the last time? Could he tell she was getting too personally attached to him already? She must have let something slip; something she must have said or done gave her away. Now he was having second thoughts, reluctant to continue any interaction with her since this was meant to be just business. He couldn’t have clients getting too romantically attached to him. That would complicate everything.

Tiana knew firsthand how complicated it had become. She had proof enough of that - considering she’d called to cancel the appointment. She’d planned to go alone after all, to end her dealings with the dashing, enigmatic gigolo that had managed to get under her skin. But then he’d answered the phone and another thing entirely had come out of her mouth. Pathetic. And damned complicated

“Tiana. About the charity dinner on Thursday,” Jordan began, and the pen Tiana had been doodling with on her notepad grew more agitated as she waited.

“It’s going to be pretty hard to explain,” he said with obvious reluctance. “I do want to attend this thing with you – but it’s not something I can possibly do as your gigolo.”

“I understand,” Tiana said calmly, not really listening. She’d put up a self-defense mechanism the moment she’d heard the finalistic note in his voice. She’d known something was up from the moment she’d found his profile gone from the escort website. And now obviously he was done being her gigolo and she should be glad he was coming right out and saying it.

She’d screwed up one way or another and being the astute man he was, he had been able to decipher that her feelings were getting involved. He wasn’t a fool; he was probably used to this kind of situation. A client acting too clingy and entitled – becoming too attached. He was wise for backing out and she had to respect him for that.

“Look, it’s fine,” she cut in when he started to speak again. “It would have felt weird anyway. I’ll just move on to plan B.”

“Plan B?”

She could hear the sharp ring of curiosity in his voice. Tiana hadn’t really had any plan B but her pride was at stake here and she found herself saying airily, “Oh, I just meant about someone I met two nights ago at this trendy bar and grill. It’s been fun messing about with a male escort but maybe I should try getting myself some real dates for a change. You know, one that could actually get to mean something.”

There was a silence and Tiana wondered why the hell she was going there. What would Jordan care? She was just being silly talking trash but the truth was she had met someone that night she’d gone out with Josie and he’d make a perfect date for Thursday. And he was well interested and kept calling her up to meet again. She hadn’t wanted to give him a second thought but now she was considering the possibilities.

Tiana didn’t expect Jordan to reply but then he was saying, “That’s good. I’m happy our brief time together has been enjoyable and I hope you feel you got your money’s worth. And I’m sorry you think it would have felt weird to continue.”

Tiana laughed, making it sound humorous and not as nervous as she felt. “You have to admit we make a peculiar match.” She was trying to be funny but she hadn’t really meant to bring up the race card. She had friends who were dating and even married interracially. She hoped Jordan wouldn’t notice the slip-up.

Looked like he did. “If you knew we’d look peculiar together, then why did you choose me to take to the wedding? You could have picked a black escort or anyone who wouldn’t look so conspicuously mismatched next to you.”

“Yeah well,” Tiana said, pen gripped tightly and scribbling gibberish on her pad. “I guess I felt like a white guy would really put my boss in her place – and I never thought it would go past the first night. Well, whatever the case it was fun, Jordan. I’m happy I had the experience. I wish you the best and nice knowing you.”

Tiana hung up with her face burning and her heart pounding sickeningly. She’d never acted like such an ass in her life! It was petty and unworthy of her and she wanted to ring up and apologize – maybe even explain. She was grown up enough to face her emotions and it would have cost her nothing to tell Jordan the truth: that she was getting way too attracted to him and she’d understand why he didn’t want anything more to do with her for professional reasons.

But the damage had been done. They were parting with him thinking the worst of her and maybe that was for the best. This would keep her from being tempted to call him up again, hoping to book a few hours more of his time. No way he’d ever be interested in getting involved with her again on any level.

Wow. Dumped by her paid gigolo. Now if that wasn’t just the bottom of low. Tiana shook her head and almost wanted to burst out laughing. She must have been out of her mind, harboring secret wishes that somehow, she could ever be with Jordan for real. Deep down, she’d had that hope; somewhere at the back of her mind she’d imagined he must have felt it too. The way they’d connected like only few people could hope to do. There had been those things he’d said, that last time...when he’d told her he’d never met a woman like her. That she made him want to drop everything each time she wanted him. Well, so much for that, Tiana thought twistedly.

And so much for him saying it was no longer about what she needed – but also what he needed too. He’d told her he needed her. And now this.

Damn, she must have read it all wrong. Maybe that was just the sex talking, Tiana told herself as she tried to get back to work. Well, to hell with that. She’d take someone else to the charity dinner and have the time of her life.

And, vowed Tiana, she’d go out there as soon as possible and find herself a real man to be there for her without her pay check having to get involved. She deserved better than this.

Chapter Nine

Tiana arrived at the venue of the event accompanied by her very handsome and charming companion – Bryant. He was more than a boost to Tiana’s ego with his dark-skinned good looks and polished personality. She was more than glad that she’d let him chat her up that night she’d gone to the bar with Josie. Both girls had ended up hooking up with two well-mannered hunks who’d been happy to drop the girls home with just a few chaste kisses.

Tiana had liked Bryant on sight; his smoothly bald head went well with his angular-faced gorgeousness and he was built like a basketball player. Tiana had never really gone for the overly tall types but something about Bryant’s endearing white grin had drawn her from the start when he’d offered to buy both girls a beer. She soon found out he was single, working in IT, and ready to mingle. With Tiana, apparently.

Now here they were, walking into the prestigious hall that was brightly lit in a sweep of colors that added an Oscars-night feel to the event. There were massive chandeliers dazzling from the ceilings, and elegantly set tables were spread all around the hall, with spaces cleared for dancing. Pillars and drapes dotted the corners, and as the venue filled with more elegantly dressed guests the night took on a glamorous spin.

Tiana was glad she’d taken a lot of effort with her appearance; she’d opted for a nude-colored gown that fell in Grecian folds to the floor, the bodice cut in a modest mono-strap design. She’d opted to forgo exposing any cleavage and instead, left one shoulder bare to reveal her buffed brown skin. Her hair was pinned up while some thick, wavy locks had been left to frame her jaw.

Her make-up was a little more dramatic, her eyes smoky and lashed thickly while her lips held a deep pink shade. Judging from the admiring glances she kept getting from her companion and other guests, she felt she’d hit the right note for the evening.

On their arrival there was a drinks reception to be followed by a three course dinner with wine. The organizers had planned for an after-dinner speech, awards presentation as well as a live auction to be followed by entertainment o close the evening. Judging from the buzz the event had received as well as the celebratory atmosphere surrounding them, Tiana told herself it was going to be a fun night. If only she could stop wishing she had Jordan by her side instead. She felt really dumb for saying they made a peculiar couple. She knew how well they fit together. He was just the right height, above six feet without towering over like Bryant did, making her feel like a dwarf next to him. He was a really nice guy, seeing to her every concern and looking as handsome in his tux as any other man in the room. But still. He was no Jordan.

And just as if she’d conjured him up with her thoughts, there he was.

Tiana could hardly believe what she was seeing. Jordan walked into the hall with an ebony beauty that looked like she’d stepped straight off the runway at New York fashion week. She stood almost as tall as Jordan and Tiana couldn’t help staring at her in her silky red dress that seemed sewn on her; every inch fit so snugly to her perfectly slim frame that it was a wonder how the woman could move. She had a face so beautiful you could spend a whole day looking for one single flaw and never find one. Cheekbones seemed almost diamond-shaped, with a small, blunt nose, wide brown eyes and lips shaped like a bowtie, and painted as red as a dress. She was fucking gorgeous.

Tiana couldn’t get over the shock that Jordan was here – and with some cover model on his arm. There was no doubt she was a model; it was in the way she moved and gestured as she laughed at something Jordan leaned in to say in her ear. Tiana had to blink several times to tell herself she wasn’t seeing things.

This time she was staring at Jordan and it was like she’d never seen him before. In his black tux, tie and dress shoes, he’d never looked hotter. In Tiana’s eyes he outplayed every man in the room with his whipping good looks. His dark hair seemed freshly cut, framing his head perfectly while his clothes looked every inch as expensive and well-made as they had to be.

Tiana looked at his face with an unwavering stare and it was almost like she was willing him to meet her gaze. She kept telling herself it had to be some clone or maybe Jordan had a twin she knew nothing about. Anything to explain how he could be here, with someone else. And looking like he fucking owned the room.

He must have felt her burning regard because he chose that moment to glance her way. Just like that, his dark and dangerous handsomeness smacked her in the chest, making her pulse pound and her pussy twitch just holding the line of his piercing grey gaze. In that moment, the hot hours of passion they’d shared sped through her mind like a flashing reel of film, leaving her breathless and weak-kneed.

He smiled thinly, inclining his head slightly in recognition even as Tiana gasped in utter shock and outrage. It was him.

Before anything more could pass between them, his attention was seized by a group of organizers who showed him to a vantage table close to the stage. Jordan didn’t spare Tiana another look as he placed his hand low on the back of the woman by his side, guiding her along as he returned the greetings of the other prominent guests as he walked by.

I don’t believe this, Tiana thought stormily as Bryant found them their table and they were seated by one of the many waiters. Tiana’s eyes kept flying to Jordan’s end of the hall as she wondered how on earth this could be happening. Why was he here? She couldn’t figure out how come he was attending as an escort to his model-type companion. Was that why he’d stood her up? He’d had a hotter client to take to the ‘ball’?

When she’d first asked him, he’d assured her he could make it only to change his mind when she’d called to confirm. He should have told her he was a guest as well, or was attending with a guest. Whatever. She didn’t care. He was little more than a stranger to her and it didn’t matter if he was actually the freaking governor – which he probably was if the attention people were paying him was anything to go by.

The evening took on a surreal quality all of a sudden and it was all Tiana could do not to betray her inner turmoil to her attentive and amiable companion. The live jazzy music playing in the background seemed to buzz in her ears as she gulped down glass after glass to calm down her nerves. Her PR firm had spent several hundred dollars for the tickets to the event and it was being organized by one of her favorite charities – in aid of medical research – all these reasons keeping her from jumping up and leaving the room to compartmentalize her confusing emotions.

She barely tasted any morsel of the well prepared three-course meal. As more and more minutes passed and her eyes were drawn to Jordan’s lively table, she began to wonder just who he could be. Was he some kind of dignitary she hadn’t heard about? How could he be getting so much attention? Of course she always suspected that his male escort pursuits were just one part of his lifestyle. But seeing him sitting there, fitting so perfectly with the dignified and opulent environment, made her realize that there was far more to Jordan than met the eye.

Even worse was watching him with that coffee-skinned model next to him, their heads bumping intimately as they shared one conversational tidbit or the other as the dinner progressed. Her teeth gritted around her soup spoon as she watched Jordan flick his companion’s long dark hair off her slender shoulders in a proprietary manner. For some reason Tiana felt he was making some kind of point with his choice of female partner. Jordan had known Tiana would be there and she could only tell herself he was sending her a very clear message.

But things got even more bizarre as the dinner ended and the host for the evening announced the after-dinner speech was to be delivered by one of the charity’s top patrons as well as key city finance expert, Jordan Hancock.

Huh? What the hell?

Tiana straightened in her chair, watching in amazement as Jordan rose from his chair to widespread applause, walking up to the podium and shaking the hand of the host before speaking into the microphone.

When he spoke he was the same collected, cool and charming Jordan she recognized, but he was also different. Tiana listened with widening eyes as her ‘gigolo’ made a short yet arresting speech that had the crowd tuned in right to the end where he closed off with a well-received joke that had everyone laughing good-naturedly as he asked them to enjoy the rest of the evening.

“Are you okay?” Bryant asked, his large hand on her arm and his deep voice tinged with concern. Tiana turned to him, blinking.

“I’m perfectly fine,” Tiana said on a voice sounding too squeaky for her liking. “Why do you ask?”

“You don’t look too good, sweetheart. We could leave if you’re feeling unwell.”

Bryant’s well-meaning hand closing over hers would have been calming but Tiana had too rough a tempest whirling around inside her. Nothing about the evening made sense but even she knew she’d had one jolt too many. Giving him a grateful smile, she nodded as she only just managed to remember to pick up her shawl and clutch. “Yes – please. I suddenly don’t feel too good.”

Tiana was glad for Bryant’s strong supporting arm as they made their way out of the crowded hall just as the host announced that the live auction was about to start. Tiana was more preoccupied about making it out without stumbling as her mind filled with conflicting thoughts she couldn’t shake off.

***

For Jordan the evening lost most of its allure when he saw Tiana walk out of the room with her handsome, hulking companion. He’d been well aware of her confused gaze as the night had progressed and he’d have given anything to know what she was thinking. He knew she’d never expected to see him there and she’d certainly never imagined what his real identity could be. Well, now she knew but he could tell the shock had really gotten to her.

He’d wanted to rise and go after her when she made her way out of the hall leaning on the arm of her escort. He knew he’d hurt her in some way and now he felt irritated with himself for how much he cared and wished he didn’t.

But really what had she expected? The things she’d said on the phone had been uncalled for and it had hit home harder than he’d have imagined. He’d thought she’d enjoyed every moment she’d spent with him but then she’d made it up to be nothing more than a joke by saying how ill-fitted they were. It was bad enough she thought he was a gigolo, but for her to believe they could never suit each other as a couple...That had hit him out of nowhere – he hadn’t seen that coming at all.

She’d said it herself that he’d never made being with him feel odd – but then maybe she was just talking about the gigolo part and not him as a person. God forbid that Tiana would actually want to be with a white guy, no, Jordan thought with a grim self-derision.

He was just some exciting experiment for her and judging by her companion, she was well back to dating her preferred type of male in terms of race anyway. Jordan felt like a fool for thinking none of that had mattered to her when they’d been together.

Forcing himself to stay put, he turned to his beautiful companion who was pouting her sensually curved and full lips at him. “I feel like you’ve had only half your attention on me since we got here,” the black beauty said, smiling teasingly. She was the daughter of one of his biggest clients; at twenty three she was a bit young for his tastes but he’d always admired her. He felt guilty now for picking her for the sole aim of making Tiana jealous – if such a thing was possible. And to make Tiana eat her words by showing her he had no problems dating or being seen with a woman of color.

His date, Asha was a successful lingerie model and Jordan had promised her father he’d be on his best behaviour with his daughter tonight. But as he felt Asha plant her hand on his thigh beneath the table, he almost started.

“What does a girl have to do to keep you captivated?” she asked on a purr, her voice low even as her small dark hand ventured dangerously higher up his thigh.

“I’m already captivated,” Jordan said, smoothly taking her errant hand and kissing it gallantly on the knuckles. “I promised your dad I’ll have you home safe before eleven and I’m a man of my word so...” He grinned endearingly when she looked disappointed, releasing her hand which he placed on the table. But then he soon had her smiling again when the fundraising auction began and his final bid won an all-purpose day visit to a luxury spa - which he told her he’d meant just for her.

By the end of the night he dropped the ebony beauty home, wondering why there was only one woman – Tiana - who seemed to suit his needs in every way. Each moment he’d spent with her stayed burned in his mind and now no other female could even hold his attention for a moment. What would it take to win a chance at her heart? Could it be too late to tell her the truth and hope she took him in with open arms?

He’d felt the magic thrill between them and couldn’t believe it when she’d made it seem like he wasn’t her type. When he’d been inside her...the way they’d fit. The way she melted even before he’d started to play her with his tongue, his fingers; she responded in ways that made his heart swell along with his loins. She pulled strings within him that no other woman could.

Jordan had never known how staid and unexciting his life had been until Tiana’s voice first came on the phone, interested in booking his services as a ‘male escort’. Since meeting her he’d lost many of those hang-ups he’d had both inside and outside the bedroom. Tiana made him want to try new things; spice up his life. And there was only one person he could see sharing that with.

When they’d met, she’d made it clear she wasn’t ready for any conventional romance. Tiana wasn’t looking for love. Jordan didn’t care about her barriers or whatever reasons she might think of for them not to be together. Whatever it took to win his place by her side, he’d do it...

Chapter Ten

Jordan had put his relationship with Chloe long behind him. And one point he’d thought they’d make a perfect match due to the link between their two families. Her parents and his had been friends for years, and Chloe had been roommates with his little sister in college. Chloe had seemed to suit him on a basic level; they cut a ‘perfect’ picture together and she’d have made just the right trophy wife for a successful investment mogul.

But they’d never had any true physical chemistry and he’d made her know that sexually, she needed to let go of her inhibitions. Chloe had acted like she’d hated sex and was only going through the motions. Jordan couldn’t imagine ending up with a wife like that – that would mean he’d be forced to cheat and that was one thing he swore he’d never do once he was married.

Jordan knew he needed a woman who fulfilled his every desire. Not just in the bedroom but in every way. He’d known all the things that were lacking in his relationship with Chloe and even though it was just two months to the wedding, he’d broken it up as gently as he could.

He’d always felt Chloe’s ego was bruised more than anything. It certainly couldn’t be that her heart had been broken. She was the kind of woman who thought all men wanted to be with her or had her in their fantasies. She’d been shocked when Jordan said it was over but he didn’t think she would moon over his loss for long.

Now he showed up at her place to hear her say it face to face that she didn’t have anything to do with his details coming up on that escort directory. He’d been holding back a confrontation, hoping that Tommy would get to the bottom of things by now but it was taking too long. Tiana was fast slipping from his fingers – if she hadn’t already – and he couldn’t go to her without knowing the real truth himself.

Chloe didn’t look in the mood to be helpful as she reluctantly let him into her classy penthouse apartment. Jordan looked at her and wondered how he could have ever thought for a minute he could spend the rest of his life with someone like her. She was beautiful, but cold. She had no interest in passion, if she even knew what that meant. She only had love for material things; diamonds, designer clothes and gear, and high-standing society. She found more joy in the latest fashion and gadget trends than in spending quality time with the man in her life. Jordan wished any man who’d end up with her the best of luck.

“I had nothing to do with this,” she said with a careless shrug of her bony shoulders, turning disinterestedly away to pad barefoot around the living room of her art deco home. But there was something about her tone that told him she might know more than she was letting on.

“This was a very vindictive act, Chloe and if you know anything about who’s behind it, you might as well tell me. You may say you had nothing to do with it – but sounds to me like you probably know who did.”

She faced him with an impatient expression, met his hard glare, and sighed fretfully. “I really don’t want to get caught up in any of this. I can’t imagine why you can’t laugh over it and let it go. It’s just a silly joke, Jordan. Nothing more. I thought you’d be happy to get yourself out there – probably find yourself a woman to suit your appallingly animalistic sexual urges.”

Jordan had to force his temper down and not grab her to shake the truth out of her. Instead, he played it cool. “So you do know about it. Care to tell me who’s responsible?”

“She said she’d do it – but I never dreamed she’d have the nerve. I mean she was totally on my side when you broke up with me and assured me she knew just how to pay you back for your  ill-treatment,” Chloe said airily, regarding her fingernails closely and avoiding Jordan’s eyes.

This time, Jordan did grab her – and shook her until she cried for mercy. “She? Who’s she? Tell me right now or...”

“Okay! Ow! Do you have to be such a brute!” Chloe exclaimed, rubbing on her bare arms when Jordan abruptly let her go and turned away to keep from throttling her.

“Are you saying you can’t even guess who it could be?” Chloe asked sulkily. “I mean, who else would have the guts to pull a stunt like this, knowing that if you found out, you wouldn’t have the heart to get mad at her. Someone who was close to me as well as you. Someone who has pulled practical jokes on you for your entire life. Are you really that dense?”

Jordan didn’t want to believe it even as he picked out a name that stood impossibly in his mind. “Alyssa?” What the hell had his sister got to do with this?

Chloe smirked at Jordan’s expression. “You know Alyssa has always been a prankster – even when we were roomies in college she always thought up the funniest gags. Anyway...when she asked me for a few of your photos I had with me, I knew she was up to something. She said something about putting you up on a male escort site and setting you up with one of her friends. Obviously she got bored with the whole thing because when I spoke to her two days ago, she said she’d deleted your profile. So I guess you should be happy now.”

She still had that smirk on her face and Jordan didn’t even know what to say. His own sister would do this to him! But then his mind whirred and he remembered the things Tiana had said and how it clicked with Chloe’s words. Someone had recommended Tiana to Jordan’s page – obviously, for some reason, his sister had wanted Tiana to meet him. His only relieving thought was that Alyssa hadn’t thought to hook him up with any more of her friends. He was still going to skin her alive though, the first chance he got.

“Thank you, Chloe. You were a great help,” Jordan muttered, his mind already elsewhere as he headed for the door.

“Was she anything like you were looking for?”

Chloe’s soft, unexpected question made Jordan pause. He turned around in surprise. “What?”

“Alyssa couldn’t help letting it slip that you did get to meet someone. You didn’t have to follow through but you did. She must be something to make you act so out of character. The Jordan Hancock I knew would never have gone along with something like that.”

Jordan could have easily told her that maybe she never really bothered to know the real him. Instead, he smiled lightly and said, “Yeah...she’s really something.”

Chloe nodded, a small smile lifting her lips in response. “You know I only wanted you to be happy, don’t you? Even if it wasn’t with me. I was mad for a while but...the things you said back then really made a lot of sense when I thought about it. I guess I’ll be looking out for that special someone that can switch me on the way she does you.”

Chloe moved forward to where he stood, coming close and staring searchingly up into his face. “I’m not even sure how I know, but I can sense you’re different. Something’s...changed.”

“If I’ve changed, then it’s been about time,” Jordan said, dusting a quick goodbye peck on Chloe’s cheek and left her looking less disgruntled than she’d been when he’d first come in.

As Jordan drove off he thought about Chloe’s uncharacteristic perceptiveness. He had changed and it took someone who’d once been close to him to notice. Would Tania ever realize the impact she’d made in just the brief time they’d shared together? At face value it had seemed like just the sex and the passion. But on a deeper level, it had taken over his subconscious and made him realize he’d had a missing piece all along.

As he reached for his phone, he filled his mind with thoughts of how he could make up for lost time and show Tiana they had some unfinished business – and he wasn’t backing out until she saw things his way.

Chapter Eleven

Alyssa walked into Tiana’s office with a breezy ‘good morning’ even as she noted the pensive look on Tiana’s face.

“So how was the charity dinner last night? Did you have a good time?”

Tiana didn’t seem to hear her, but after a moment she shut her laptop and faced Alyssa with a deep frown. “I’ve been trying to work a few things out but can’t seem to come up with a reasonable explanation.”

“About what?” Alyssa asked lightly, crossing her legs as she swayed back on forth on the swivel chair in front of Tiana’s desk.

“Jordan. That male escort you recommended so highly.”

Alyssa’s lips lifted in a grin. “Looks like he lived up to his top billing, huh? At least you had your walk on the wild side.”

“That’s not what I mean,” Tiana said, her cheeks flushing. “I’m talking about last night, at the dinner. He was there, Alyssa. At first I thought he was attending as someone’s male escort, but then it turns out he’s some successful investment whiz I’ve never even heard about who earns at least ten times what I do. How could that be even possible?”

Alyssa shifted in her chair, suddenly looking uncomfortable. “Well, I can’t really tell you. I mean, who’s to say with these male escorts? You never know who they could be in real life; your doctor, your next-door neighbor…”

“Your brother?”

Alyssa started and she looked up to meet Tiana’s accusing look.

“Did you honestly think I wouldn’t find out? Alyssa, he has the same surname as yours. Hancock. I did a bit of snooping and I discovered Jordan Hancock happens to be your elder brother. I just don’t understand why you did this. I don’t even understand what you did.”

Alyssa’s expression looked guilty. “I should have known it would all come back to haunt me. What was I thinking?” She shook her head with a sigh. “I just don’t know how to begin.”

“Why not start with the truth?” Tiana said, sitting back and folding her arms with eyebrows cocked.

Alyssa sighed. “It’s all my fault. And I take full responsibility even though everything was based on probabilities. Would you like Jordan enough to pick him from the other choices on that escort site? And would he play along with it even though he knew someone had set him up to be something he wasn’t?”

Something seemed to click inside Tiana’s head and she jerked forward suddenly, asking, “He’s not really a male escort, is he?”

Smiling ruefully, Alyssa shook her head. Then, looking shame-faced, she confessed to Tiana how she’d registered Jordan on Gents4Ladies, building up a fictitious profile for him using pictures she’d taken from Jordan’s ex-fiancée.

“The idea came to me when you kept going on about how you so desperately needed a last minute date,” were Alyssa’s rueful words as she faced her incredulous friend. “So I thought, Tiana needs some excitement. Something different from what she’d ever done. But instead of letting you go for just anyone, I picked my brother since I figured both of you were looking for the same thing. He’d just broken up with his fiancée simply because according to him, she lacked that bit of spark – that extra spice. So I set him up as a male escort, hoping you’d take my advice and select him. If you didn’t select him, I would’ve told you immediately. I never dreamed Jordan would play along but I knew that at least, you two would come in contact and something could work out from there. I was really surprised when I realized he went right along with the whole ploy.”

“Why would he do that?” Tiana breathed, looking hurt, confused. “Why would he want to fool me like that? Why didn’t he just tell me the truth? I feel like such an idiot.”

Alyssa was chewing hard on her lip. “I honestly don’t get it. Jordan’s supposed to be the cool-headed brother – the sensible one in the family. I never dreamed he’d go with it but then maybe you took him by surprise. Maybe it’s been his secret fantasy all along and I just helped him actualize it the same way I helped you with yours.”

Tiana’s eyes blazed as she jumped to her feet. “Gee thanks, Alyssa. I really needed to be hooked up with a fake gigolo to add some spice to my life. Have you any idea how embarrassing this is?”

“I’m sorry,” Alyssa said simply, rising to her feet as well. “I never meant for anyone to get hurt. I just thought things would work themselves out. Jordan would say there was some mistake and you two would laugh it off, and then decide to meet up anyway. I don’t know. I just felt you two were so much alike in what you were seeking from a partner. I never meant to play ‘god’ and now I wish I hadn’t started shit. At first I was happy, seeing both of you having so much fun but I never dreamed it would go as far as it did.”

Tiana sighed impatiently at Alyssa’s apology, shaking her head and turning away to walk to the window. “I don’t even know what to say or who to believe. I feel like such an idiot. I’m just one big joke for my best friend and her brother. I really don’t appreciate that between you and Jordan, I got myself being played like a pawn. Well, I hope you both had your fun.”

With that, she snatched up her purse, ignoring Alyssa’s crushed look. “I can’t stay another second. I need to go home right now to rest my head and rid it of these murderous thoughts I’m having right now about a couple of siblings who think it’s a game to mess with someone’s emotions.”

“Tiana, please. Come on…,” Alyssa began as Tiana began to walk by, but one shrivelling look from her friend had her shutting it.

Alyssa watched Tiana storm out and sighed deeply. She hoped her friend would forgive her because at the bottom of it all, she’d only meant well.

She’d always thought Tiana would be the right woman for her brother but Jordan had always been with someone else. When Jordan had broken up with Chloe, Alyssa had seen the perfect opportunity to bring Tiana and Jordan together. She knew she could have easily tried to introduce them normally but this way had seemed so much more exciting. Obviously Tiana didn’t see it that way, naturally.

Alyssa didn’t even want to think about what Jordan would do when he found out. She wondered if she should do the smart though cowardly thing and just go into hiding until everything blew over.

And then she smiled to herself as she thought of the way Jordan had been acting since he’d become Tiana’s ‘gigolo’. She’d seen the subtle changes in him those times they’d met during the week at their parents’ home for dinner. He’d seemed more laid back, revived – happy and fulfilled. And Tiana had been flushed with happiness day in and out since the very first time she went on that date with Jordan.

Alyssa consoled herself with the assurance that one way or another, things would work themselves out in the best way for everyone and who knew - maybe one day those two would actually thank her…

***

Tiana almost howled with furious agony as she opened her fridge and hunted for ice cream but found none. How could she wallow in self-pity without some decent ice cream? There wasn’t even a nibble of chocolate to be seen. Damn her infernal diet that had her focusing on eating healthy which meant no temptations within reach. Now she was in need for some serious comfort food and there was nothing in the fridge to write home about.

She didn’t even think twice about grabbing her phone and ordering the biggest pizza she’d ever tried.

“That should do it,” she muttered to herself, flinging her phone on the couch and then making for her bedroom, deciding to pull on some jeans underneath the thin t-shirt and ruffled ankle socks which were her only items of clothing. After returning from work she’d slipped straight into her favorite, thigh-skimming cotton tee and socks.

Before she could make it to the bedroom, her doorbell rang and she started in surprise. The pizza couldn’t be here so soon. Without thinking she headed for the door and flung it open, expecting it to be Josie from next door. She’d called her neighbor up once she’d arrived and Josie had promised to come over to share a cup of coffee once she was done with what she was doing.

But instead of Josie, Tiana came face to face with the last person she’d ever expected – or wanted – to see again.

She couldn’t explain what it did to her to find him standing there. She couldn’t read his expression but there was a dark, stirring flickering in his grey eyes as he scanned her figure, barely concealed in her skimpy attire. Jumping behind the door, she poked her head round the side and glared at him.

“Go away, Jordan.”

He sighed deeply. “We need to talk.”

“We don’t need to do anything. You and Alyssa can go on with your mind-fuck games without me. I’m done.” Tiana made to slam the door to but then his arm shot out, keeping her from pushing the door closed.

“Tiana.” Her name was like a growl in his throat but then he sighed again as if to calm himself.

She stared at him suspiciously and saw his expression soften as he added, “I’m sorry, okay? That’s what I came to say. I never meant to lie to you or make a fool out of you. I just…I had every intention of telling you the truth the moment we met. I planned to. But then I walked in and saw you…and after that I was on auto-pilot. I wanted to be that man to give you what you sought. I told myself I was playing a role and so long as I met your needs it couldn’t be wrong. But it was wrong. You deserved the truth and I didn’t give it to you. I’ll regret that for a long time but what I regret the most was messing up the chance for something that could have been real between us.”

Tiana didn’t realize he’d taken his arm from the door until he finished speaking. She could shut the door in his face now if she wanted to. But did she?

“One thing I simply need to know…was it all just a joke to you? Were you laughing at me the whole time?” Tiana asked stiffly.

Jordan had the same crushed look on his face that reminded Tiana of an identical look on Alyssa’s face just an hour earlier. Tiana couldn’t help staring at him and feeling the ever-present dangerous attraction. He was dressed smart-casually in just a dark, fitted button-down shirt that complimented his lean, muscled torso and shoulders while his lean hips and long legs were encased in sinfully snug grey pants.

“I know that it seems like that now but believe me I never laughed at you. And I never considered it a joke,” Jordan said, his jaw clenching as he reined in his emotions. “It wasn’t supposed to happen after that one time. But then I realized I couldn’t stay away from you. I didn’t want to stay away. I warned myself you weren’t looking for romance or a relationship and this was the only way we could be together even for a few hours at a time. As time went on though, I started to need something more.”

Tiana didn’t know what to think. Her teeth worried her bottom lip as she listened to the deep throb of agonized sincerity in his voice. His face was a mask of self-accusation and guilt, but as he watched the confusion play all over her expression, his gaze softened once again. Tiana felt him gently take hold of the door and she found herself stepping back warily as he opened it wider and let himself in, never taking his gaze from hers.

Tiana shivered, not sure she wanted him to stay or leave. She told herself she just needed to hear what he wanted to say then he’d be gone. He shut the door behind him, the lock clicking shut and causing Tiana’s heart to pound realizing he was alone with her in her home. The crackling electricity they produced so easily sizzled in the air around them causing her breath to hitch.

“I don’t want to let you go,” he said plainly, not moving from the door. Tiana couldn’t be sure she wouldn’t bolt if he did.

“You never had me to start with,” she said on a huff, her eyes rolling even as she caught the look of challenge on his face.

“Is that what you like to tell yourself?” he asked, advancing into the apartment. Tiana was too angry to back away as he closed the gap between them.

“What do you mean? You never really wanted to be with me or you wouldn’t have lied to me like you did.”

“But then you lied too,” he told her, now standing right in front of her before she even realized it. He cupped her face in both hands and stared deep into her eyes. “You told me we felt good together. And then you turned around and made it look like I wasn’t even your type because I was white.”

Tiana couldn’t hold back a shiver as she became aware of his stimulating closeness. She seemed to be running out of air pretty fast. Her unbound breasts grew heavy beneath her tee and somewhere between her thighs started to thaw and puddle. Goodness. How could she keep telling herself she hated him if she still felt like melting into his arms?

“You’re the one who changed your mind about attending the dinner with me,” Tiana accused, unable to keep the hurt from her tone and expression.

“I told you I couldn’t go with you as your gigolo,” he reminded her firmly. “You never let me explain. What I meant was that I wanted us to go together as a real couple but you were too busy telling me you already had someone else lined up and that we were both too much of an ‘odd pair’ anyway.”

Tiana’s eyes fell and she felt really dumb now that she knew the truth. But he could have tried to make her see sense – instead of giving her the shock of her life by showing up at the dinner with that ebony-skinned model on his arm. She still squirmed with jealous hurt but all those other thoughts seemed trivial to what smoldered between them now.

He took both her arms and slowly linked them behind his neck. Tiana forgot how to perform the simple act of breathing when she felt her breasts press close against his torso. She told herself she could feel his heart pounding to the same dizzying rhythm as hers. His head loomed lower and she didn’t pull away as he planted soft, searching kissing around her lips, sensual and sweet. With his hands on her waist, he tugged her hips even closer and let her feel what being this close to her was doing to him as he hardened against her belly.

“Does this feel odd to you, Tia?” he murmured, right before swiping the tip of his tongue moistly between the seam of her lips. Tiana let out a gasp and Jordan covered it with his in an open-mouthed kiss so passionate it made her head spin. His hands smoothed round to cup her ass, massaging the heavy globes and lifting her up on her tiptoes as he ravaged her mouth with a possessive yet patient kiss. He wanted her to feel it in her womb and she did. It spread out like a blooming flame, licking at her core until she was just a slippery mass between her legs.

He pulled his lips away and let her come up for air. When she managed to pry her eyes open, she found him gazing into her face with awed tenderness.

“How could you think we’re nothing but perfect together?” he asked softly, lifting one hand from her buttocks to pinch her chin in his fingers and tip her head back so she could hold his gaze as he went on soberly, “We could have had those many hours of passion and then we could have never seen each other again. I told myself all this over and over and yet, all I really wanted to do was place my heart at your feet and plead with you not to walk all over it.”

Tiana bit down a whimper as her fingers sank into the silky curls at the base of his head, her eyes growing hooded beneath the mesmerizing quality of his voice and eyes. She wanted him so much it tightened every bolt and screw within her.

“I wanted to tell you the truth especially when I found out we had invites to the same ball,” Jordan went on deeply, his lips hovering over hers. “I hadn’t realized the mix-up before it was too late. It then became paramount to let you know who I was – and that I didn’t really moonlight as a gigolo. I told myself you might never forgive me but at least I’d be able to face you with a clear conscience.”

It felt so good to feel his lips on her face, kissing every spot he could reach. She felt treasured and desired and the flip-flops in her belly gave way to the liquefying ball of fire threatening to jet down to her knees.

“Just once, I told myself. Over and over…just once,” Jordan groaned as he mouthed a path from her jawline to the base of her neck, burying his nose there and nuzzling. “I thought that would be all I needed: one night with you and then I’d have my fill. But now I know that it’ll never be enough.”

Tiana’s senses soared even as her heart sank. Her body…was that all he wanted? To take her again and again to satisfy his aching void?

The doorbell pealed, shattering the glass bubble surrounding them. Jordan lifted his head up with narrowed eyes as he half-glared down into her shocked face. “Are you expecting someone?”

She could see he was jealous – did he think she’d left work early to keep a steamy rendezvous with a lover? She couldn’t help give him a mischievous eye roll as she pushed against his chest. “I ordered pizza. I was hungry. And pissed.”

He suddenly grinned, and that just had her staggering. He was such a mix of angel and devil when he flashed that white-hot smile, so boyish and cocky.

He set her gently aside, and Tiana let him prop her against the wall as she tried to catch her breath while he turned and went to get the door. He settled the delivery and then returned, the front door securely closed.

Jordan was staring at the load of food he had in his arms. There was an extra-large pizza with thick crust as well as a two liter bottle of soda plus side dips and one dessert pizza. Tiana made a face as she realized she hadn’t even been thinking straight when she made the order.

“Wow. You must have been really hungry. Or really pissed,” he said with a slant to his grin. Tiana quickly made room on table in the dining area of the apartment and helped him set everything down.

“I wasn’t probably going to get through one slice anyway - and then everything else would get chucked in the freezer,” Tiana said, staring at the food and wondering why her stomach suddenly felt full – of butterflies. Especially when she felt Jordan come up behind her, his hands resting heavy on her shoulders which he kneaded with a sweet insistence.

Tiana bit hard on her lip to hold down a moan as his solid, enticing frame wedged her against the table, his maleness nestling between the rounded curves of her buttocks like a thick steel pole. Desire like one she’d never known ripped through her middle and left her gaping to be filled, claimed.

“If you aren’t that hungry…I’m hoping you aren’t that pissed anymore either,” he said, his pelvis rocking suggestively against hers in a way that made her want to sway her rear with equal seductiveness against his burgeoning staff.

Holding on tight to her common sense, she stiffened against him, clutching hard to the edge of the table for support. “Jordan…I don’t think we should. A part of me tells me not to trust you. A part of me just can’t.”

He rested his temple against the back of her head with a deep groan as if she’d just punched him hard in the gut. “Oh fuck, Tia.”

As always when he said her name like that, she trembled. If he only lifted the hem of her top and cupped in between her wobbly legs he would tell her much her body trusted and needed his touch. But her heart and brain were telling her different.

“Don’t say it. Don’t tell me it’s over before it’s even begun. I don’t want to let you go.”

His tortured words vibrated deep in his chest, stirring her spine as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and embraced her hard against him for a few moments, breathing deeply into her hair. And then to her surprise, he released her.

He was backing away and Tiana spun around, barely concealing her surprise and fear. Was he giving up so soon? Didn’t he think they were worth fighting for at all? Maybe he didn’t believe it was worth the effort. The damage done must seem too insurmountable for him. Tiana’s heart sank in her toes and she had that feeling again of not being good enough – of not being worthy of winning a man like Jordan who should be willing to do anything to be with her for real. All he wanted was the way they made sense when they fucked. Without that he wasn’t interested, obviously.

“I know you need time,” he said quietly, his voice a contrast to the way his body seemed coiled tight, like he would spring for her again if he saw one ounce of weakness on her part. Tiana longed to let out that whimper of surrender that would have her being grabbed in his arms again. She could just see him spreading her over that couch on her back, her legs pinned back to her chin as he knelt to slide deep into her waiting wetness. Pumping his thick cock in and out of her pulpy walls as she moaned and moaned, her spine arching to offer her thick, hard nipples to his sucking mouth and stroking hands. Oh shit. She felt her pussy lips swell and throb just picturing it happening – if only she could make the move. If only she wasn’t so damned scared.

“You don’t need to tell me I messed up,” Jordan continued, pushing a hand through his already beautifully mussed hair. “I was a fool if I thought I could be satisfied with being just your passing fancy. I wanted – I want – to be in your life, to mean something. To be the man you could count on to stand by you whenever you needed him. Someone you knew that all you had to do was pick up the phone and call and he’d drop anything just so he could be there for you.”

He expelled a ragged breath, his chest rising and then settling in a sigh. “You might not think I deserve another chance but if you just say yes I can take my time showing you I’m a man you can trust with your heart. My sister knew me even more than I knew myself and she must have known that once we met, I’ll find it hard to keep things simple. I don’t want to be your friend, Tiana. So don’t bother telling me that’s all we can share. I want for keeps and I’m ready to prove, no matter how long that takes, that I can earn a future with you.”

A future. Those words did things to Tiana’s insides. Her soul flared with hope and she asked herself if she dared believe. But then as she stared into his compelling eyes she realized that even if she didn’t know how he would do it, she knew he meant every word he said. He was willing to try and heaven help her, so was she.

And yet a lingering self-doubt kept her rooted, her lips pressed together even as her eyes betrayed her deepest emotions. As always, Jordan could sense her submission; knew that she needed him to take that last bold step. His gaze blazed with a searing flame as he reached for her arm, slid his fingers down to link with hers and pull her slowly forward. Giving her the chance to break away, to stop him. But Tiana didn’t protest, her feet moving her steadily to meet him where he stood waiting. He took her fingers to his lips and kissed the back of her hand with passion and adulation. He took that same hand and rested it against his heart, his breathing going shallow as she began to take up initiative, sliding her palm down his torso to his belt buckle.

“I’ve waited much of my life for a chance at real happiness…but I guess now I’m done with waiting. Why can’t the future start right now?” she asked softly, lashes quivering as she lifted her eyes to his. Her fingertips skimmed over the thick wedge of masculinity straining at his groin and his breath caught audibly.

The message in her shy gaze was clear and she almost smiled to see the flush of arousal deepen on his cheekbones. “Bedroom?” he said more than asked, smoothly sweeping her off her feet with his arm underneath her knees and back. Tiana cupped his face in her hands and shook her head, her chin pointing directly behind him. He looked back and groaned deeply. “Couch. Yes.”

Tiana giggled at his raspy words, burying her heated face in his neck as he carried her over to the waiting couch. But then he commanded softly, “Kiss me, Tia.” And her lips found their way to his, locking with a woman’s pliant hunger to his. His hot tongue filled her mouth, making her moan with fevered arousal. He tasted as sweet as she remembered, and he was as masterful as ever, taking and giving. Damn, he gave so much in his kiss and Tiana just wanted to bare her heart and soul to him.

Their lips still locked, she felt him place her on the couch, resting her sideways on the cushions as he crushed her with his weight for a moment. Loving the sensation, she wrapped her arms around his broad back and pressed him tighter, closer. The intimacy and sweetness of the moment made her wetter than ever.

They kissed so deeply it felt like they were making up for all that time they’d been apart. He sought out her tongue and sucked on it with a growl, his whole body shivering slightly. Tiana felt his hips settle between her parted thighs, his hand cupping the back of her knee which he stroked sensually. His other hand slid in between their snugly fitted bodies and went searching beneath the hem of her tee-shirt for her naked sex.

Jordan’s lips broke from hers and he kissed his way hotly down her arched throat while his fingers keenly stroked her folds. Tiana once again felt her body flush with embarrassment to feel her vulva so drenched his fingertips seemed to slip over her swollen mound. It was almost mortifying - just as if an invisible tap had been turned on inside her and now she simply gushed.

She went hotter than ever in the neck and cheeks, her arousal reaching terrifying heights despite her best efforts as he pushed a finger then another into her slick pussy.  From somewhere above the haze in her mind she heard Jordan groaning, “Oh fuck…oh God” before shoving deep in and out of her cunt, filling the room with the sounds of her lust. His face was buried in her neck and he was mouthing a piece of flesh, worrying it with his teeth. As Tiana’s inner walls involuntarily pulsed around his penetrating fingers, he growled deeply and bit her.

Tiana cried out, head spinning round and round.

Chapter Twelve

Jordan wanted more.

Tiana was wet – so fucking wet. She made him mad for her when she always seemed so eager and ready for his touch, his passion. If only she knew what she did to him to find her pussy melting and puffy with the same hunger that powered his loins.

He whispered her name and felt her shudder. Sometimes he didn’t realize when he did it – when he called her Tia. It just felt right rolling from his lips; it felt intimate and warm and helped him express things he’d once been wary to say. But Jordan was fed up with holding back. He needed more. He craved for all she had to give.

His body snaked lower and he rolled up her sexy little tee-shirt with one hand while he thrust his fingers relentlessly into her juicy vagina. Now the folds of her shirt rested high on her chest, revealing her brown-skinned nakedness to his ravenous gaze. She was one perfect tone of caramel goodness, her fat nipples two chocolaty nuggets winking at him so temptingly he couldn’t make up his mind which one to pop into his mouth first.

Hot damn. Her curves should be a crime. Luscious handfuls of flesh, they begged to be groped and squeezed and sucked. Her full breasts, her thighs, her hips, her itty bitty waist. His thumb reached up for her ruby clit and he stubbed the small nub, rubbing in circles while his two fingers fucked in and out of her snug pussy. Groaning deeply with lust, he bent to her heaving chest and suckled one thick, hard bud. The sensation of her nipple in his mouth went straight to his head.

“Your taste…good lord. I love your taste. What is it? Tell me,” Jordan groaned, looking up to meet her glassy gaze, her lips full and panting.

“I don’t know,” breathed Tiana, writhing against him and making him even harder and madder.

“Liar. You do know. You know exactly what you’re doing to me,” he growled as he bent to her breast again.

Tiana moaned and arched into his mouth, her hands cupping his head. Jordan’s lips pulled strongly on the whole surface of her aureole and when she whimpered he knew he was tugging too forcefully but he couldn’t help himself. To tease and soothe her, he slathered her nipple with his tongue and her shuddering sigh told him he’d hit the right balance of rough and tender.

He sucked and sucked until his need popped like a champagne cork in his head. He drew his mouth away, craving for more as he shifted to the other breast. He rested his face against her soft, firm flesh and fought back the heady rush coursing straight down to his cock. He straightened up slightly as he felt her shift, her hands moving in between their bodies to palm his cock. Oh shit. He gritted his teeth as she spent the next few moments unfastening his belt buckle and releasing his fly. When she drew out his cock and settled it within her soft, stroking fingers, Jordan felt close to erupting in her palms.

She stroked him shyly at first but then her touch grew bolder, her fingers encircling his shaft and pumping firmly. Jordan groaned and felt him tug out of her grip before the disaster could occur and see him spurting all over her flat brown belly.

Jordan needed to slow the fuck down or the intensity of his needs would embarrass the shit out of him before he was ready. But damn her tit felt so good in his mouth and when she stroked his cock her touch was like heaven. It all swirled in his brain and it took superhuman effort on his part to channel his focus on giving her the utmost pleasure out of this because it wouldn’t take much for him to reach his own stampeding release. Pulling his fingers from her snatch, he lowered on his knees and tugged her hips to rest on the edge of the couch. When he pushed her legs wide apart he was greeted with the amazing visual of her juicy secrets put on display.

He vaguely heard her whimper his name but he was so past reality his head was buzzing. He spread her folds apart with both his thumbs and then he lowered his face to slam his tongue deep inside her pussy.

***

Tiana had known from the start that Jordan was different. She hadn’t met any other gigolos to judge by but the moment their lips had touched that first time, she’d known there was much more to him than met the eye. There was nothing practiced or over-polished in his manner; his personality and interaction had shown a depth of sincerity that had made Tiana open up to him from the start.

She’d always had a good radar with people and with Jordan, the green light had blinked early on telling her to trust him, that he was for real. Even when he’d been playing the part of male escort, she’d been truly turned on and attracted by him. He understood her body like no one had, revealing her deepest secrets to her own eyes. Now that she knew he was playing for keeps, her body eased up with him even more than ever before and now, when his tongue started to dance within her sex and then over her clit, she gave in completely.

“Jordan baby,” she gasped, almost cracking her hipbone on his jaw as she bucked into his face. His mouth felt so good on her it was insane. He stroked her with his fingers, massaging her soaked mound while he fluttered her pussy lips with that dangerous tongue.

“Hmmm mmm,” he murmured, eyes pinning her to the seat as he looked up at her briefly. Tiana couldn’t hide the dazed bliss from her face and she almost doubled over when he took her clit in his mouth just then and sucked greedily.

He made her sob with ecstasy. He nuzzled her some more, his nose, lips and chin building up the pressure that was bearing on her womb. To feel the passionate attentions of the man you loved was the most thrilling aspect to sex a woman could ever hope for.

The man she loved…

Tiana’s eyes blinked repeatedly as those words echoed in her head. She loved Jordan – she did. Impossibly. Crazily. And she didn’t care how silly it seemed that he’d so easily won his way into her heart. She was old enough to know what she wanted and that was him. And she swore to work as hard as him to see this through until the end.

The room filled with her hums and moans as she drew closer to the edge. She clutched his hair in her fists and wriggled wantonly beneath his carnal ministrations. She begged and pleaded for him to stop but only when she balanced on the needle-point of trance-like pleasure did he pull aware, his lower face smeared with her juices. She grabbed his head in her hands and drew him to her mouth, kissing him frenziedly and sharing the thick taste of her secretions on his lips and tongue. He growled with approval at her passionate involvement but then grunted in surprise when she began to push at his chest.

Without speaking, she got him to stand and gazed up at him with a sexy smile. Her fingers pulled at his pants and drew them down along with his black silk boxers. Jordan threw his head back with a groan as she took his rearing cock in both hands and began to stroke him. She’d never seen him so hard, his thickness pulsating in her palms. She slid closer to the edge of the couch so she could reach him with her lips. Not peeling her eyes from his hooded gaze, she licked at the first offerings of precum at his slit. He shuddered deeply but otherwise kept still as she began to run her tongue all over his length, swooping her head in every direction to make sure she didn’t miss an inch. There was so much of him and she trembled to think how deeply he always took her, giving her his full measure until her insides felt the impact for long after. She loved that and couldn’t wait for another chance to have him buried inside her.

She pressed little kitten-like kisses on his crown as if to appease the deep purpling redness of his arousal that made his cock seem almost angry. And then she opened her lips wide and closed them around his girth, using the tip of her tongue on that sensitive V underneath his broad tip. She felt exhilarated by his texture and aroma, and the way he tasted on her tongue; so firm yet silky.

She felt his hands on her hair, smoothing and caressing, on her shoulders, breasts and then lower, sliding his fingers into her wet passage. Tiana bobbed her mouth on his cock with breathless abandon, her eyes glazing over as she felt his thick base stretch her lips as she took him deeper down the back of her throat.

“Jesus, Tia. You’re killing me.” He gripped the loose curls on her head, doubling over to seize her lips in a kiss before he pulled away again. Tiana smiled sultrily and lapped at his gorgeously tight balls, jacking his cock a few more times before lifting to suck him into her mouth once again, her cheeks hollowing out. He jerked within her mouth, his groin straining forward before once again, he drew out of her clinging lips.

“My love, enough,” he rasped, bringing her to stand and kissing her with a molten sweetness that tightened the tension between them. Their hands began to scrabble at their clothes and it took under a minute to have them both naked and pressing against each other from neck to knee.

“What do you want, baby?” Jordan crooned, cupping her face and pressing repeated kisses on her lips. “I want this to be extra special for you.”

Tiana knew exactly what she wanted. She had her hands on his chest pushing him down to sit upright on the couch before she straddled him, her knees resting on the cushions on either of his hips. She could feel his burning gaze as he gripped her waist. Tiana rested on hand on his shoulder while the other hand reached behind her to stroke on his cock, making him growl deep in his throat. As she guided his tip to her sodden entrance, he buried his face in her tits and squeezed so hard on her waist she felt he would snap her in two.

Lifting her hips, she edged herself unto his cock and then sunk down inch by inch until he was buried halfway inside her. They both gasped, their eyes locking as her walls shivered around his pipe-like root. “Ooh f-fuck,” Tiana moaned, easing her sheathe the rest of the way until her ass was bumping against his thighs and the whole length of him filled her to the balls.

She cried out and arched her spine, feeling the volts of lightning shooting through her veins. He felt so deep, so good and so thick that she whimpered and instinctively started to spring up and down on his cock. Jordan’s arms wrapped around her like steel bands as he moved in unison with her, their bodies joined in perfect harmony.     

Each minute had their dance growing wilder and hotter. Tiana heard her moans increase in pitch as his thickness felt ready to split her in half and yet leaving her eager for more. It felt exquisitely torturing to be so full and yet needing him to take her further and further past the brink. His lips latched to her nipples as they swayed in front of his face while her hips ground on his thighs, her ass slapping on his flesh with every downward bounce. His pumping thrusts met hers and he grunted against her succulent tit, their passion turning primitive.

Within her inner walls, her lover pounded and rocked, taking her roughly and then smoothly in turns. The urgency of their passion sent them higher and higher until it felt like they were floating, twirling in their own cobwebby bubble.

“I need you,” Jordan said huskily, plucking his mouth from her breasts and taking her lips instead, stealing a moan from her lips.

“I need you too,” Tiana gasped; shocked by the raw emotion in his eyes which was echoed in the feral thrust he pushed deep inside her core. She felt her eyes cross and darken.

“Then tell me you love me,” Jordan commanded. “Tell me you feel this same sharp edge of pain in your chest that I do whenever I think I might lose you.”

“You’re not going to lose me,” Tiana whispered firmly, hips undulating silkily over his as she slid her clenching pussy along his throbbing member. “I love you so much, Jordan.”

He groaned, his arms closing around her impossibly tighter. “I love you too. Like you wouldn’t believe. We can make this work, Tia. You and me.”

Yes, Tiana thought, clutching tighter to that battering stem turning her insides to liquid lava. She couldn’t catch a breath. Helpless to the warring sensations shuddering through her body, she clung to him and danced to the reckless tune overtaking her being. Tiana tried to focus and caught Jordan’s blistering gaze as he matched her surge for surge.

“Baby,” she whispered, unable to break that sweltering gaze of ownership as he claimed her with every stamp of his cock in her womb. The friction of flesh on flesh and the agony of pleasure swelled within her until she was bursting with the force of her screeching orgasm. She bucked wildly atop him, screaming out his name as she got lost in the maze of ecstasy.

As she shattered to pieces around him, his cock jerked and swelled and then he was roaring out a raspy oath as he filled her glove-like canal with his cum. Tiana’s walls spasmed as she felt him throb to a pulsating finish deep within her womb, bathing her channel with his potent heat. The world crashed to nothing but they were still standing, clinging to each other and merging their lips in a sloppy, unifying kiss of oneness. The storm was over…and now the rainbow burst through to bask the glow that settled on their slick, jointed frames.

A buzzing sound filled the air and it took a while for Tiana’s senses to clear and figure out what it was. Giggling slightly, she drew her mouth from Jordan’s. “My phone,” she explained, leaning to the side and reaching for the item buried in the corner of the couch where she’d flung it after ordering the pizza.

Jordan’s hands were heavy on her waist and he was kissing on her shoulder as she answered the call. “Hello?” she breathed, still dizzy from their recent coupling with Jordan who stayed embedded within her still.

“It’s me,” said Josie’s dry voice on the phone. “I saw a gorgeous dark-haired hunk making for your front door a while ago – and since no one has called the cops yet, I’m figuring you and your fancy man have kissed and made up. Probably done more than kissed but no need to fill me in with details.”

Tiana bit down a chuckle knowing full well her neighbour was itching to hear details. And then Tiana remembered Josie had meant to come over to chat – until she must have seen Jordan making for Tiana’s front door.

Tiana’s face went hot and she squirmed atop her lover who growled deeply as he ran his large hands down her back to cup her bottom with devilish entitlement.

“Everything’s fine, Josie. We’ll um…talk later,” Tiana managed, stifling a moan as Jordan bent to flick her thrust-out nipple with his tongue. His cock stirred deep within her and she shivered. He was insatiable!

“Oh fucking right we will. I’m dying to know how I can get me a tall, tanned and tasty hunk like the one you’ve got holed up in there with you right now. Talk to you later honey and I’m glad things are good now with you and Jordan.”

“Yeah…things are good,” Tiana finished with a happy inner grin as she ended the call and tossed the phone aside. Jordan picked that exact moment to tug on her nipple wickedly with his teeth, nibbling on her flesh and making her whine.

“I want you to keep believing that,” Jordan said gruffly, picking up on her last comment as he lifted his head from teasing her breast. “And that it can only get better. I want to let you into my world and you’ll take me into yours. We’ll share everything; nothing will ever come between us.”

“Okay,” Tiana breathed, nodding helplessly. The flames in his eyes seared her flesh. “And about something between us…Jordan, we didn’t use a condom. And I’m not on the Pill – haven’t been for months since I stopped uh…you know. Doing it.”

“I understand,” Jordan said, his expression sober yet fiercely passionate. “Do you think you could get pregnant? I hope so.”

He saw her pink face and grinned. “We might as well make it official in some way. Because I fully intend to walk this luscious booty down the aisle very near in the future,” Jordan declared with a gleam in his smile as he scooped her generous buttocks in his hands.

“Oh Jordan, seriously,” Tiana groaned, half-humorously. The other half was filled with excitement and anxiousness for the future. He really wasn’t kidding. He really believed this could work.

Heart singing, body thrilling, Tiana decided with a heaving deep breath that she would start believing it too…

***

Tiana shook her head at her only recently forgiven best friend Alyssa. “Are you sure you can handle things okay while I’m gone?”

Alyssa sighed and nodded exaggeratedly. “I handled it fine when you and Jordan went for that one-month honeymoon in February,” Alyssa reminded her. “We’ve hired a truckload of assistants and I’m no lightweight myself. Things won’t come crashing down the moment you get on the plane. Now hurry home before my brother decides to totally disown me. You know he doesn’t like you staying on too long at work.” Alyssa threw a grin over her shoulder as she headed out the door.

“I hear ya,” Tiana had to say with a mild smirk as she rose easily from her chair on her high-heeled pumps even with the evident bump beneath her suit. She was five months gone and only beginning to really show and no matter how well she went about her day, Jordan seemed convinced she’d topple flat on her face if she didn’t slow down. Though since the doctor revealed they were having twins, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to heed Jordan’s advice.

Grinning to herself, she knew that was why she’d decided to let Jordan convince her they needed to go away for a summer’s vacation in picturesque Italy. Jordan was intent on showing her and ‘the babies’ a bit of the world, planning a trip which included a lot of visits to the opera, museums and historical locations within the region. In addition, he’d been busy with work in the past few months and decided they needed to ‘rekindle their passion’ which he told her was never going to get the chance to wane even for a minute.

Tiana huffed thinking their passion was blazing just fine on its own, considering they’d made love almost every day since that afternoon he’d walked into her apartment what seemed like a lifetime ago. Three months after that, they were married in a lavish wedding ceremony well-attended by both their families and friends.

Now they’d been married for almost six months and sometimes Tiana wanted to pinch herself to be convinced it was all real. She had a gorgeous man who adored her and satisfied her every need in bed and out of it – and she was truly in love for the first time in her life with no sign of losing her starry-eyed passion for her husband that burned as hot as the first time they’d met.

Tiana shuffled up her things and had to smile to herself at what she had in mind for the evening before Jordan showed up in their beautifully designed home. He’d cut down on his workload to make it home earlier each day and Tiana loved to have a hot meal waiting. Funny how well she’d fitted into the domesticated role which was fine with her because she loved to cook for her man.

He proved handy with a hammer himself and had done up a large room for the nursery done in colors pink and blue – and yes they already knew the sexes of their little ones coming soon. Tiana loved the room and could spend hours just walking around and looking at all the bits and pieces Jordan had set up inside the bright and sunny room. She could feel the love already embedded in every square inch and knew that the twins would feel it too the moment they arrived and were placed in their little prince and princess cots.

Heading down to where her car was parked in the office lot, Tiana smiled as she thought about how everything had happened. Meeting Jordan may have always been in the cards considering he was Alyssa’s brother. They’d have run into each other one way or another at some point in the future but Tania had to admit, the way things worked out gave their sweet romance a fascinating twist.

It wasn’t always perfect; they’ve had their ups and downs like every normal couple even when they’d been ‘courting’. She’d been touched and surprised by the loving welcome from Jordan’s parents though hers were a bit wary when they realized their daughter wanted to get married to a white man and who was from such a different background. Her parents were a humble bunch who’d worked hard most of their lives to see their family through but in the end, Jordan convinced them with his killer charm that he would be the best son-in-law they could wish for.

Checking on her watch, Tiana sighed and hoped she’d make it home well before Jordan. Sometimes he surprised her by showing up earlier than expected with flowers or presents.

“If I can tear myself away from work then so can you,” he’d say firmly with his hand smoothing over her bottom. Their doctor had assured them that a bit of rough sex and play was nothing to worry about and the adventurous Jordan enjoyed taking the advice on to the fullest as they both continued to enjoy the hot pounding sex that was still going as strong as that very first time.

Tiana couldn’t deny she enjoyed it immensely as well – maybe more than she should. They’d begun to explore more of a kinky edge to their lovemaking and Tiana felt hot beneath her suit thinking the things they’d got up to in the past several months since they’d married.

She giggled just thinking about when she’d found out what he’d done with the money she’d paid him as her ‘gigolo’ – he’d never spent it and had kept it, he told her, with the full intention of using it on something they could both enjoy. Tiana hadn’t found out what that was until much later and she had to admit, Jordan was right about it being for their mutual enjoyment.

Under-the-bed restraints, fluffy hand-cuffs, naughty adult toys and other elements relevant to very deviant sex play were delivered to their door soon after their return from the honeymoon. And when Jordan asked if she thought his gigolo funds had been well spent, Tiana blushed and agreed that indeed they had.

Tiana could only guess which one of their kinky toys they’d try again soon. There’d been that one time months ago, with that little bullet thingy he’d had her place inside her vagina and then they’d gone out to a night club. Only for her to get those amazingly stimulating buzzes deep inside her walls when she least expected!

Jordan the culprit kept grinning while holding on to the remote which he used to quicken or slow the vibrations that were driving her insane just against her g-spot. It had taken her a lot to conceal her shivery reactions in public and she could tell Jordan was enjoying every moment of her torment.

Heavens above she’d hardly been able to wait until they got home that night before ripping his clothes off and mounting him after the long hours of teasing with that hidden vibrator.

Since she’d gotten pregnant they’d had to cut down on a few of the games with toys but Tiana was sure that knowing Jordan, he’d always think of something. And there was that Italian trip to look forward to in a couple of days and all of a sudden, Tiana couldn’t wait to leave everything behind and enjoy a romantic holiday with her hot and sexy husband who’d more than lived up to each and every promise he’d made when he’d told her all those months ago that it could only get better…

THE END

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If you’ve enjoyed this book please check out the other titles by Dez Burke.

About the Author

Dez Burke grew up in rural Alabama and spent most summers reading worn copies of her Grandmother's Harlequin Romances. Even as a young girl, she noticed the absence of African American characters. So today, she writes hot, steamy romance books featuring black women and gorgeous men of all races.

Copyright 2013 Dez Burke

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