Icing on the Cake (6 page)

“You used to live over by A&T?” Aerial hugged herself. “That must’ve been
fun
.”

“Sure.”

“I was being sarcastic.”

“I know.”

She gazed out of her window as the traffic light turned green. The sports car lunged forward, smooth as silk, gliding through traffic effortlessly, hugging bends the way he wanted to hug Aerial—close and tight. Holding his breath, he waited to see how many more questions would come from her. For the first time since purchasing the sleek car, he didn’t have the urge to speed.

“Where do
you
live, Aerial?” he asked, aware that he had automatically started in the direction of his house. It seemed so natural to just take her home—to his home. Somehow that made more sense than taking her someplace else.

“Oh, right off of West Market, close to UNCG campus. I didn’t know you had a sister.”

“Lily.”

He didn’t want to divulge too much, but Aerial had a way of making it easy. Already she knew more about him than most of the people he’d spent the last five years working with at C.A.K.E. At yet another traffic light, he snuck a peek at her. She had gorgeous skin, flawless and midnight dark. Her sunny disposition and radiant personality seemed in direct contradiction. Aerial must’ve felt his eyes on her because she turned from the window and caught him.

“What is it? You’re staring again,” she teased and winked at him.

“You are remarkable, Aerial. I’m sure you’ve heard that before,” he said, surprising himself that he’d confessed his thoughts to her. She could use it later against him. He tried to emotionally retreat, but parts of him already felt it was too late.

Aerial’s blood thundered through her ears, nearly drowning out Brice’s words. Throat dry, hands sweaty, and her clit pounding, she couldn’t believe he’d just paid her another compliment. She tried to pretend like it wasn’t as big a deal as it felt to her. Brice had paid her several compliments. Plus, he’d been engaging, even open in conversation. Aerial wanted to clap her hands in glee, but she didn’t. Instead, she reached for his hand and laced his fingers with hers. Their palms touched and he did not pull away.

“Is Lily older or younger?” she asked, eager to know some new information. Brice had extended his trust to her. She wouldn’t betray it.

“Younger by three years.”

“I have three older brothers and Tawana.”

“Three brothers, well, I guess I better be on my best behavior.”

“You’re sooo right! You feel that way about your sister?”

Brice nodded.

She laid her head on his shoulder as he drove. Outside, the night slid by without interruption. Inside the cool air of the car, the shadowy interior illuminated by the electric blue of the dashboard, made it cozy. She inhaled his scent in the close compartment. With her eyes closed, she relished the feel of his breathing, even and calm. A part in
Hamlet,
double the wages at the café, and Brice’s body heat warming her heart—that definitely was icing on the cake.

“Where about do you live on Market Street?” Brice asked.

His tone deepened, soft and quiet, like he didn’t mean to disturb her. Brice proved once again he was capable of much more than others had given him credit for. Kindness turned his voice gentle and deeply erotic. She opened her eyes and looked up at his profile.

“1256. Green house on the corner,” she said, sadness making her sit up. She couldn’t believe she’d arrived at home so quickly. The ride had come to an end too soon for her liking. When the car crawled to a stop in front of the old Victorian house, her heart was heavy. She didn’t want the night to end.

“We’re here,” Brice said.

Was it her imagination or did he sound disappointed too?

He gently untangled himself from her and climbed out of the car. She watched him walk around the front of the vehicle and longing swelled inside her. With grace, he opened the door and offered his hand. She gave it to him, and let him help her out of the low-riding sports car. Swallowing her desire to moan and wail at the unfairness of it, at the intrusion of Time and Fate, she met his hungry gaze. The burning fire, dark with passion, she found in those now deep amber eyes gave her pause.

Brice closed the door, but kept his attention on her. Emotionally falling so fast, she closed the distance between them and glanced down at his mouth, lips currently curved into a small smile.

Brice smiling had to be some sort of miracle.

Unable to look away, the world fell away—the roar of cars zipping down West Market Street, the blare of television programs filtering through open windows, and the whirling of fans propped into windows in an attempt to alleviate the muggy humidity, none of it registered anymore. Aerial’s skin burned, but not from the heavy hand of humidity. No, her flesh sizzled for Brice’s touch. She found his stare down incredibly sexy, like a tiger who meant to devour her.

When his arm slid around her waist, Aerial gasped. Not breaking his gaze, his hands swept across her lush curves, the dress’s fabric gliding across her skin. He tugged her to him, greedily pinning her to his body. It turned her on! The fact he could handle her, not an easy feat for most men. He squeezed her hard against him, and a tiny moan escaped his mouth. Not willing to break the spell, Aerial ached with need at the feel of his other arm wrap around her waist. His eyes held so much longing, it tore through her. She moaned in pleasure at feeling that solid muscle pressed so tightly to her. Resting both hands at the small of her back, Brice bent his head toward her.

No. Way. Brice Middleton meant to kiss her! Glee rolled through her, bubbling up from her belly, into a full-fledge giggle. He untangled his arms from her waist and brought them up to cup her face with one hand. This allowed the other hand to slide around to the back of her head. His fingers stroked the fine hairs at her nape.

Her giggling made him stop.

“Brice,” she whispered.

“Yes, Aerial,” he replied, his eyelids lowering.

“Kiss me already.” With her heart galloping like a team of angry mustangs, she closed her eyes.

He inclined his head and did just that.

Chapter
Seven

Aerial tasted like soy sauce and spearmint, a strange salty sweetness, two contradictions in flavors. Perfect. It didn’t surprise him in the least—Aerial’s personality had been one of opposing contradictions. A deep half-groan rose up from his belly when she gently wrapped her arms around his neck. Deepening the kiss, his tongue further explored her mouth, bumping and teasing his own. Oh, how he could have done this very thing for days, but the blaring of car horns wrenched him back to the reality of where he stood. His eyes opened as the truck brimming with college students roared by. Breaking the kiss, he stepped back from Aerial, but kept her in his embrace. With her head titled and her eyes still closed, Aerial puckered her lips and when she didn’t feel his, she straightened and looked at him.

“Oh. You stopped.”

He smiled in spite of himself. “Was it so good you didn’t even notice when it was over?”

“Oh yes,” she replied completely missing his sarcasm. “It felt like a dream, so when you stopped, I figured if I wiggled my lips, you’d kiss me some more.”

“I would really like to, but, um, you should get inside,” Brice said.

For a few minutes, he’d allowed himself to indulge in the possibility of her, having her to himself. But only for a brief time. He meant every word, but the truth came with a sharp pain, making him wince internally. To continue to hold her, kiss her, and let her further in to his emotions, could mean his doom. She’d get the keys to his heart and with it, opportunity to hurt him. Best to chalk tonight up as a flight of fantasy, a good time, but not an event he planned to duplicate. If he entertained her further, if he toyed with the
hope
any more, he’d only hurt her or she’d crush him. He liked her too much to hurt her. She deserved so much more than him.

“You want to come in? I can make us some killer margaritas,” Aerial said, grinning at him. “It’s early yet. We got time. No work tomorrow for you, right?”

“No, no work for me…”

She took his hand and started for the house, humming some little song.

“Aerial, I don’t think so.” Releasing her hold on him, he bit his lip to keep from saying more.

She froze, the big loopy smile slipped from her face. It pinched his heart to see her disappointed, so he looked away, to his sports car still idling beside them. Swallowing the guilt, he didn’t talk—couldn’t speak around the lump of emotion lodged in his throat.

“Brice, don’t do this,” she said quietly. She turned back to him, reclaimed his hand. “Don’t shut me out.”

“I’m not. It’s just that…” Brice licked his lips and tried to find the right words. Her happy tone had fled. In its place confusion and more than a touch of hurt, soured her words. It tore through him to do this, but he had no choice. He couldn’t risk it.

“Look at me, Brice. Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on here.”

He couldn’t. It amazed him how much it hurt to leave. But leave he must.

She touched his face and turned him toward her. Wide eyes shined with confusion and hurt.  It nearly broke him. Aerial, funny, vibrant, and joyful, now injured. And he had done it. Why did she care this much for him? She barely knew him, so why waste her tears for him? Perhaps it had nothing to do with him so much as it did with his
rejection
of her.

“Aerial, I’m not rejecting you,” he began to explain, his heart bleating in its sorrow. “Please don’t be upset. I’m a difficult man to date, and I don’t want you to get hurt and…”

Brice caught himself before he rambled on some more, but also because Aerial laughed.

“What’s so funny?” He couldn’t stop the question from popping out. Tears spilled out of her eyes and raced down her face, and into her smiling lips. He swore—the woman was a walking contradiction.

“You. You’re funny, Brice.” She shook her head. Using her two hands she put air quotes and said, “You’re a difficult man to date.”

“Yes, I am.” He stiffened at her doubt that dating him would be an arduous exercise.

Aerial put her arms back around his neck and with surprising strength pulled him closer to her.

With her lips close to his, she said, “Dating, love…heck fire, life is difficult. Not just for you, but for everyone. It also comes with risk. Just like getting on an airplane or driving your fancy sports car. We all take risks every single day. You’re not getting away from me that easily.”

He had put his hands on her wrists and intended to remove them from his neck. But her words stopped him.

“You think I’m scared?” Great. Now she thought of him as a coward. How could he get her to see this would end badly? Either for him or her. And he liked her too much to let it be her.

She looked him dead in the eyes. “Yeah, I do. Obviously, someone hurt you. Bad break-up because you’re very skittish. Don’t let it trap you.”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m not trapped.”

“No?”

“No.”

“Then what do you call that fortress around your heart?” Her fingers lightly raked across the nape of his neck, sending chills down his spine. It felt incredible and arousing at the same time, but he couldn’t let her distract him.

“It keeps danger out,” he confessed. He’d never told anyone about his defenses, but Aerial had managed to, once again, make him give her information without so much as a threat. She was just so damn easy to talk to.

“It also keeps out the love,” she added, and popped a kiss on his lips.

Love.
As if she could
ever
really love him. He sobered and ducked out of her arms again. The buzz of her kisses tingled on his lips. Surprised that he escaped her embrace, Aerial put her hands on her lush hips, smirking at him. Risk. He knew life came with them but gambling with his heart had always proved reckless. Brice could be called many things, but reckless wasn’t one of them.

“You don’t love me, Aerial. You don’t know anything about me, so let’s not pretend this is some romance novel. I had a good time tonight. Can’t you just leave it like this?”