Her Kind of Man (25 page)

The woman he loved, the woman on top of him, had shocked him with her energy. Her desire to be with him, to learn from him, touched his heart.

He never wanted her to feel afraid or like she'd have to defend herself with a gun. But he was glad that she wasn't cowering in fear anymore. She needed to be aware, ready for anything. He made a mental note to talk to Morgan. He would feel better if he was able to find out more about Isaac and what he was capable of. That way they could keep an eye on the situation. He didn't see why Isaac would risk his cushy life and freedom by coming here, but he also didn't want to take any chances. If Allina got hurt, he'd have to kill that man.

Tickling her back, he whispered. As much as he wanted to wake her up and do it again, he had an early meeting that he couldn't miss. “Allina, baby. Wake up.” She wiggled her ass and he muttered a curse. “You…you have to get up.”

“I'm tired,” she whined, nuzzling her face against his chest.

“I know. You can go back to sleep. I just need you to roll over.”

She sat up straight, her eyes still closed. Beams of sunlight streamed in through his blinds, shining on her glowing skin.

He tried to fight his body's response but, considering her position and her beauty, he knew it was a futile attempt.

When she realized where she was and what she was sitting on, her eyes bulged out of her head and her gaze dropped down. Her mouth fell open and she swallowed visibly.

She shifted. He moaned. His pulse raced when her eyes locked on his again.

Fuck it
.

He flipped her over on her back, chuckling at her yelp of surprise.

“What are you doing?” she asked, a wide grin on her face. “I thought you had an early meeting.”

He winked at her. “I have some time.”

About an hour later, Kent stood before his full-length mirror, buttoning his shirt. He was late. Again.
It's for a good reason
.

He glanced back at Allina, who was watching him silently. “I don't plan on being at work all day. Remember, I have a big meeting and you won't be able to reach me for a while,” he reminded her.

“Okay. I'll probably try and get some work done on a wedding Cali wants me to help with.”

“Do you remember how to get into the safe?” he asked.

“Yes.” She scooted out of the bed and grabbed her nightgown off the floor. Slipping it on, she followed him to the living room.

Gripping her shoulders, he squeezed. “I'll call you when I can.”

“Okay,” she said with a quick nod.

“And if you need anything and you can't reach me, call Morgan or Red.”

“Yep, I got it.”

“And make sure you—”

Allina pulled him to her, cutting him off with a kiss. He gripped her hips, tugging her closer to him.

Reluctantly, he broke the kiss, pressing his forehead against hers. “I just want you safe,” he told her.

“I know. And I promise I'll take care of myself,” she assured him.

Right
. Her reassurance didn't stop him from feeling nervous. He rubbed the back of his neck and gave her another kiss. “I have to go.”

“Bye, babe,” she said, waving at him. “I'll be fine.”

Turning, he walked out the door, locking it behind him.
She better be
.

A
llina yawned and stretched as she woke up. Rolling over, she smiled. Kent was scribbling in his sketch pad. “You're up,” she said. “What time did you get in last night?”

It had been a few days since Isaac had been released from jail. Her father had been keeping her in the loop about his whereabouts, but she was still on edge. Kent had worked late at the Ice Box. She'd tried to wait up for him, but fell asleep watching Lifetime.

“About midnight,” he answered, setting his book down on the nightstand and smoothing a hand up her stomach. He ran the pad of his thumb over her nipple. “I was hoping you'd wait up for me,” he murmured.

“I was trying to, but…” Her words died there when he leaned down and ran his tongue over her lips before he slid it into her waiting mouth.

Every single kiss left her breathless, craving more. Her nerves tingled as his hands moved over her body, as he plied her with his expert fingers.

She smoothed a hand down his chest until her fingers brushed the waist band of his boxer briefs. Slipping her hand underneath the thin fabric, she wrapped around him and stroked him up and down until he let out a low groan.

He lifted her shirt up and off as she pushed his underwear down. Raising her hips to help him, she watched him tug off her panties and toss them behind him. Rolling on top of her, he rested between her thighs. “I love you,” he murmured against her lips.

Smiling, she whispered, “Show me.”

His lips met hers again in a hungry kiss as he entered her. When she opened her eyes, he kissed her nose and withdrew only to push into her again. She locked her ankles behind him. They settled into a slow rhythm at first, taking their time with each other. Rocking her hips against his, she marveled at the friction they created and the synchronicity of their movement. Making love to him was unlike anything she'd ever imagined; being with him was everything.

Eventually and inevitably, though, the need for completion grew and the pace picked up. They raced to the finish, clinging to each other as they moved in sync, in a rhythm created solely for them, to a beat only they could hear. Allina needed this, she was desperate for his loving. She needed him.
Just
.
Like
.
This
.

The world melted away and the only thing that mattered was Kent, inside her, in that moment. There was no place she'd rather be, no person she'd prefer to be with.

As waves of pleasure rolled through her, she met his powerful thrusts with a fire of her own. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she dug her nails in his scalp as he pounded into her. When her eyes drifted open, his hooded eyes met hers. Grabbing her wrists, he pinned them over her head and pushed into her faster. Harder. She felt her body unravel and shudder beneath him, screaming his name as she exploded. His lips met hers, muffling her cry. Soon, he was right behind her, growling out her name.

They lay still for a moment, still…joined together in the most intimate way. He captured her lips with his one more time, then rolled off of her.

“Wow,” she breathed.

Picking up her hand, he brushed his lips against the inside of her wrist and chuckled. “Exactly.”

Being with him got better each time. Not just the act itself, but the all-around experience. Waking up in his arms and going to sleep dreaming about his kisses.

When they weren't together, Allina kept busy working on a business plan with Cali and putting the finishing touches on Sydney's wedding gown.

“I missed you,” she murmured, brushing her lips against his chin. “How's Mama?”

Kent had been spending a lot of time taking care of Mama. She'd taken sick over the weekend and Allina suspected it had more to do with Den being missing than anything else.

He shrugged and trailed his fingers down her shoulder. “She's okay. I go back and forth between wanting to find Den and wanting to beat the shit out of him for putting everybody through this.”

“I'm sorry, babe,” she said. “I hope he gets the help he needs.”

“Let's hope so.” He kissed her brow. “I talked to my boss, took next week off.”

She and Kent had made plans to head to Cleveland by the end of the week. Ultimately, she was still hoping Isaac would just slither away with his tail between his legs. But she knew that was unlikely. He was stubborn and entitled, and he wouldn't give up. And she wanted to be prepared for the worst.

“I called Red today. Did he tell you?” she asked.

“I haven't talked to him today. What's up?”

Allina had contacted Red because he knew people. And it just so happened that he knew someone who worked for the Prosecutor's Office. She'd asked Red to ask his “friend” if they could send the police file on Isaac. Her father had been coming up against a brick wall trying to get it.

“Good. Hopefully, we can put this behind us very soon. What are your plans for the day?”

She rested her head on his chest. “I'm meeting with Syd at the bar.”

“Okay. I have to stop by Mama's house after work. Do you need me for anything today?”

“No, I'm good. Go on to work, and I'll update you if I hear anything.”

He placed a quick kiss to her lips and hopped out of the bed. After she joined him in the shower, she made him a plate of leftover fried chicken and he left for work.

After his morning meeting, Kent closed his office door and walked over to his desk. His project was almost done and he couldn't wait. Tempted as he was to give his notice and say “Deuces” to his boss, he had to be careful. He would quit soon enough. Then he could start on what he really wanted to do.

His cell phone beeped and he picked it up. The number was blocked, which made him curious as to who would be calling in the middle of the morning. He'd already spoken to Allina earlier.

Tapping the talk button, he answered. “This is Kent.”

“It's me.”

Kent sighed, gripping his phone. “Den? Where the hell are you? Mama's been worried sick.”

He'd spent the past few days nursing Mama back to health. After a trip to the emergency room, the doctor had sent her home with a dose of antibiotics for walking pneumonia and strict instructions to rest. But his mother wasn't the resting kind. She'd been beside herself worrying about the ass on the line with him.

“I'm sorry,” Den grumbled. “I had to leave that hospital. I needed to get myself together. Find my own way for once.”

Kent wanted to blast Den for once again failing to consider anyone but himself. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“I left the hospital and checked myself into another one, in Traverse City.”

Traverse City was about 240 miles north of Ann Arbor. Kent had never been there himself, so he didn't know much about the area—except that it was on Lake Michigan and was the Cherry Capital of the World.

“Den, if you're going to just check yourself into a hospital and not actually do the work it takes to get better, there's no point.”

“That's why I'm calling you,” Den said. His voice sounded hollow, flat. “I wanted to apologize for everything. Can you tell Syd that I won't bother her again?”

“Why do I have to tell her?” One of the biggest lessons his father had taught them was to take responsibility for their own actions. Den failed at that best. “You did it, you fix it.”

Grumbling, Den said, “That's so easy for you to say. Your life has never been anything but easy.”

“Den, fuck you,” Kent snapped. “You're a selfish son of a bitch. You walk around here thinking somebody owes you something. At the end of the day, you have to be responsible for your own shit. Everything you're going through? You caused. Take your damn meds!”

“I don't know why I called you.”

“Why
did
you call me?” Kent asked curiously. “Den, you checked yourself out of the hospital and disappeared. You didn't tell me, Morgan, or Mama where you were! That's some bullshit.”

“I had to get out of there, man. I feel like the only way I'll get through this is to be far away from her. Looking at her baby, her happy life with my brother? That sucks.”

“I'm sure it does, but whose fault is that? Let's not forget, you and Syd would be married if you hadn't cheated on her in her own bed. You need to grow the hell up. Man up, and get your shit together. Because if my mama gets sick because she's worried about your ass, I will fuck you up.”

“That's what I'm trying to do, Kent,” Den said in a gruff, defeated tone. “I called you because I need your help.”

Kent knew it was coming. For someone who hated drama, tried his best avoid it, he always found himself smack in the middle of it. And eight times out of ten that drama was not a direct result of something he did.

But no matter how much he wanted to tell his brother to take care of his own shit, he couldn't. He didn't want his mother to take on any more stuff and he wanted Den to succeed. If his brother actually followed through, everyone's life would be better. But most of all, Den would be the man they all knew he could be.

“What do you need?” Kent said.

About an hour later, Kent walked into his mother's bedroom. Mama was sitting in the bed, propped up on a mound of pillows, watching her favorite soap opera.

“Hey, Mama,” he said, kissing her forehead and climbing on the four-poster bed with her.

She patted his knee. “What brings you here in the middle of the day? You know my story is on.” She covered a cough and blew her nose. “We can't talk until it's over.”

Kent chuckled. Growing up, he always knew that every afternoon between twelve-thirty and one-thirty, his mother was not to be disturbed. Although his father made a lot of money in his job, his mother worked as a part-time nurse. And her shift always started after three o'clock. Once he was old enough, he'd told her about herself. She'd cracked up with glee that he had caught on to her.

Glancing at his watch, he noted that her soap was just beginning and settled in to watch it with her. He'd been around long enough to know who Victor and Nikki were, and the stories recycled so much he could catch on quickly.

On the next commercial break, she shot him a look out of the corner of her eye. “Can you believe that man ran her off of the road? This is getting good.”

Kent shrugged. “Ma, you know that chick isn't dead. I don't even know why you fall for it.”

“Don't you have some work you need to do?” she argued.

“Are you seriously going to kick me out for a TV show?” he retorted. “Besides, I do have something I need to talk to you about—”

She shushed him. “Hold on. Wait until the next commercial.”

Grumbling, he pulled out his phone. While cheesy music played on the TV, he checked his e-mail, sent a few texts, observed the lines in his hands, and played his next move in online Chess.
Yes
. He did a fist pump when he moved his Queen.
Checkmate, Roc.

He set his phone on his lap and waited. Like he'd expected, a ding sounded, signaling he had a text.

The text from Morgan simply read:
That's some bullshit, man.

Kent snickered and responded:
Next time, play to win
.

“Kent?” his mother called, cutting his gloating off. “Commercial. What did you want to talk to me about?”

He glanced at her. “It's Den. He called me.”

Her tired eyes lit up. “Really? Is he okay?”

Nodding, he explained, “He checked himself into a different hospital up north. But he wanted me to tell you that he's doing well and he wants to make you proud of him again.”

Mama's chin trembled and she covered her mouth with a hand. Closing her eyes, she shook her head. “I'm so glad he's okay. Can I call him?”

“Not right now,” he informed her. “Maybe in a few days.”

She slumped forward and wept quietly. Kent rubbed her back slowly. He'd promised Den he would help him. Watching his mother react with such relief, seeing the love for her son glistening in her eyes, he would do whatever he could to make sure Den stayed on track this time. And maybe, in the process, other relationships would be healed. Namely, Morgan and Den's brotherhood.

Kent's birthday was coming up soon. The last one had ended with Den storming out of Morgan's place after breaking a few dishes, then getting into a car accident. This year, he thought it would be a great gift to have his entire family under one roof again, celebrating. No fighting, and no drama.

Clearing his throat, he gently shook his mama. “Ma, you have to stop crying. You're killing me, here.”

She chuckled and turned to him, brushing tears from her cheeks. “I'm sorry. I know how you hate that. I'm just so relieved. I've been so worried.”

He smiled at the woman who'd made them all the center of her life for so many years. He wanted her to be happy. “I know. But you don't have to worry anymore. Just focus on getting better.”

“Does Morgan know that Den is safe?” she asked.

He nodded. “I told him on the way here.”

She laid her head on his shoulder, her television show forgotten. “Now I can rest.”

“You should have been doing that anyway.” He squeezed his mother's hand. He studied her hand in his and remembered so many nights when she would hold his hands while he struggled to fall asleep after a bad dream or horror movie. “It's going to be okay.”

“So, tell me about Allina.”

The abrupt change in subject didn't shock him. He snorted. “You don't waste any time, do you?”

Then she peered up at him, a loving smile on her face. “Well, I know that she's been staying with you. And I know she's had feelings for you in the past. How do you feel about her?”

“You're nosy,” he teased.

“Hey,” she said, nudging him with her shoulder. “I'm your mother. I need to know these things. Besides, I won't be around forever. I'd love to see all my sons settled with
good
women who love them and treat them well. And I need more grandbabies.”