Lulu's Loves (21 page)

“The thing is,” he whispered in my ear, “I know what’s under that dress, the rest of them are all just imagining.”

“Stop!” I laughed.

Nuzzling my neck, he whispered again. “I can’t wait until later, Lulu.”

Michael Davis arrived and Malayna seemed preoccupied the rest of the time we were there. The evening was a huge success. It seemed that the elite of Jacksonville were excited about the new line of suits, ties, even shirts and tuxedos. It was getting late and things were starting to wind down a bit.

Michael Davis lightly tapped a spoon on his glass. “Thank you all for coming. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Lofton, for not only hosting such a lavish event, but for taking a chance on Davis Brothers. We hope that the quality and reputation of our product brings you, and us, great success in this area. Robbie Muir and Malayna Camara were instrumental in making this happen. We are appreciative and excited to work with this team. We’ll be beginning print and television ads soon and look forward to showing you all that we’ve got.”

Robbie squeezed my hand. I looked questioningly. “I got a huge raise,” he told me, proudly.

“Robbie and Malayna will be working with our media team to make this happen. It’s going to be a lot of work. We’ll start running ads the first week of April.”

“I’m proud of you, Robbie,” I said. He slipped his arm around my waist and gave me a squeeze. 

When Michael Davis was finished with his announcement, he whisked Malayna and Robbie away for everyone to congratulate.

Mrs. Lofton walked over to me. “You have a wonderful husband, Lulu. He’s going to do big things for us. He already has, but this…this is huge.”

“He loves you two. He thinks of Mr. Lofton as a father figure.”

It was true. Robbie’s parents divorced when he was young. His father was off somewhere with a new family. Robbie didn’t even call him about the wedding.

“Lloyd will keep him on the straight and narrow and make sure that his hours are manageable for his home life. Family is most important to us. You and Robbie are family,” she added.

If he was energetic earlier, driving home Robbie was electrified.

“I had to keep it a secret. It’s just local advertising, for now, but if this goes national, and based on the market and trends there is no doubt that it will, this could be huge for us, Lulu!”

“It’s exciting,” I said.

“But?”

I turned to him in question. “No but. It’s exciting. If your suit is an example of what’s in the line, you are going to be a busy man. I can see women driving their men to the store and demanding a custom suit. I know how looking at you made me feel.”

“Tell me,” he encouraged, playfully.

“You’re a handsome man; that suit was made for you. It laid in lines that showed off your body. I didn’t know a suit could be that sexy,” I replied. “It’s the coming together of the suit and your body.”

“Coming together, Lulu?” he teased.

Even in the dark glow from the streetlights, his smile dazzled.

“I can’t wait, Robbie.”

Once we were home, he poured us each a glass of wine and led me up the stairs to our bedroom. He turned on a small lamp that sat atop the dresser while I waited.

“To the hours ahead,” he said tapping my glass with his. We had a sip, and at last, he pulled my into his arms, whispering softly in my ear as he held me close. “I love you, Lulu.”

“Hours?” I asked, with a sigh.

“I think it’s going to be a long, slow ride this evening,” he said, kissing my neck. I trembled with anticipation.

“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about what’s under this dress. Every time you moved, the light would catch your dress and flash what looked like fireworks from across the room. Everyone else noticed too. You’re a stunning beauty.”

I’d put my hair up for the evening; he pulled the clip away and it fell freely. Pulling me closer, he ran his fingers up my back to my neck, lightly caressing where they touched.

I loosened his tie. I’d done it many times before, but it never felt as sensual as this. Maybe it was the knowledge that we were about to begin an amazing journey but his touch, and mine, had me aroused. I stepped closer, tighter, in his arms. I felt the zipper at my back slide down, and his fingers trace the path from the top of the dress to my bottom.

He pushed the sleeves down my arms and pushed the dress down my hips. It landed in a soft puddle at my feet. I stepped aside and he picked it up, tossing it on the chair. He took his jacket off and threw it there, as well. Stepping closer to me once more, I unfastened his belt and pants. He took them off, kicking them away.

He unhooked my bra, sucked in a growl of a breath, and pushed it away, leaving hot breath and kisses behind. I knew I wouldn’t be able to stand there much longer; my knees felt weak. Finally, as though he knew, he led me to the bed.

“Lulu…” He whispered my name as his hands moved to my breasts. That’s the only place he touched me. I wanted more. He kissed between them, and I wanted to scream out.

TAKE ME NOW!

I arched my body to let him know I was ready. “Jesus, Robbie, I want you.”

“Say it again, Lulu,” he taunted. “Tell me you want me.”

“Robbie.” The whisper burned my throat as I said it. “I’m begging you to make love to me.”

“Not yet,” he teased. I reached for him, to touch his erection, but he moved. “Not yet.”

Moving my arm, he kissed the side of my breast and moved lower. He kissed my hipbone. The feel of his breath on my skin, so close to where I wanted him, had me begging.

“Robbie, please. Now.”

“Not yet.” He moved so that I could feel his breath between my legs. I was so ready for him, but he pulled away.

“What are you doing?” I panted, pulling him back to me.

“Making you want me.”

“How much more do I have to want, before you give yourself to me?”

He reached between my legs. His grin was wicked.

“I think I’m drowning.”

“You are, but not yet.”

“Robbie,” I whimpered. I never wanted a man more in my life. I needed him. “You want me. You can’t hide that. What are we waiting for?”

“I do want you.”

At last, he straddled my body. I felt his erection, oh so close. Digging my fingers in his back, I raised my hips. I kissed his chest and raised myself higher. I could feel him touch me.

“Please.”

He held me closer, kissing passionately and at last, he entered me.

“Oh, my God,” I whispered.

He didn’t move. He was so hard, but he didn’t move. The weight of his body eased me flat on the bed, but he didn’t move. “Not yet.”

“WHY!” I cried out.

He smiled.

“Robbie!” I yelled his name. “You’re driving me mad! I can’t take it anymore!”

He remained still. Burying his face in my neck, running my hair through his fingers, he nibbled my earlobe and whispered. “I love you, Lulu.”

Finally, it began. It was slow. I wanted it frenzied, but Robbie kept it steady. I knew that I was leaving marks on his back, clawing at his skin, urging him to hurry. Begging, “Robbie, please.”

“Not yet.” He was pleasuring me. I knew that he was enjoying it, but God, I wanted it faster. I wrapped my legs around him so that I could get closer bring him deeper. He increased his pace, harder and faster.

“Robbie,” I panted his name with each thrust, and finally, he slowed the pace and fell on me in a shudder. He fell back on the bed, breathless, and reached between my legs to bring me to an orgasm.

“Oh my God, Robbie.”

“It was good, Lulu,” he said in a sleepy, sexy voice.

“It was amazing,” I whispered, and he wrapped me in his arms. I felt loved like I’d never felt.

No one has ever brought me to this place before.

Our days were busy, mine with school, Robbie’s with his work and the photo shoots for the ads. Those were scheduled for the end of his workday. He’d come home with proofs to show me the pictures each time they met. It was easy getting caught up in his excitement. The first ad was set to go to print in three weeks.

Robbie’s days got longer and longer. I had to wrap my head around all that meant: he was working late with Malayna. I tried not to let it, but the smell of Plumeria remained constantly on my mind.

“You’ve been quiet lately,” Keelin observed. We were sitting in the break room between classes having coffee.

“Brain overload,” I laughed.

“Obvious fake laugh.” I looked, and saw him cross his arms across his chest. “It’s not school, so tell me what’s going on.”

“Just my brain, my thoughts running wild. I can’t seem to rein them in,” I said honestly.

“Robbie?”

“Yeah,” I scoffed. “Long hours…”

“Are you worried?” he asked before I finished my sentence. Keelin knew my fears.

“Yes. He’s working with Malayna on this project,” I answered.

“Trust him, Lulu, until he gives you a reason not to.”

I knew he was right, but it didn’t make it easier. Suddenly that conversation Robbie and I shared early on repeated over and over in my mind.

“I’m not a one woman kind of guy. I don’t want to be tied down, but something about you makes me want to be only with you.”

You need to let that go, Lulu. Trust him. But my heart thinks differently…I feel as though I’m waiting for the inevitable.

Robbie worked later and later and when he came in each evening, he’d fall into bed, exhausted. We hadn’t made love in weeks; it only fueled my unease.

March 2008

Our one-year anniversary was approaching, but nothing about it was exciting. Robbie worked late every night. Our sex life had been little to none. There was one more photo shoot and he’d be done for a while. I couldn’t wait. I was starving for him.

On Wednesday, he came home and went straight to shower. I followed him upstairs a few minutes later, picking up the clothes he left on the floor. When I did, I smelled perfume on his shirt, not at the collar where he could explain a hug. It was on the tail of his shirt. I smelled it on his pants. I was holding his clothes, struggling with my emotions when he came out of the bathroom.

“What are you doing?” he laughed.

“I came up to pick up your laundry.”

“I would have gotten it. The pants need to go to the cleaner.” He reached for them, but I held tight. He looked up. “What is it?”

“Not sure, smells like some cheap-ass Walmart perfume. Definitely not my scent.”

“What are you talking about?”

I shoved the pants in his face. “Smell!” I demanded.

“The photographer…” he began. The look on his face was telling.

“Was in your pants?” I asked. “Because the scent is strong and perfume doesn’t just waft across the room to get on your clothing! God damn you!”

“She was spraying it.” He was stammering.

“Why?” I asked. I felt my emotions begin to bubble to my eyes. I knew the tears would come next.