Make You Mine (2 page)

The entire outfit, including the boots, came from K-Mart, and if she didn't tell, no one would know it. Caress was glad for discount chains because she couldn't afford much else.

She decided to let her hair hang freely around her shoulders and put on only some peach-tinted lip gloss with a little blush. A few precious drops of her DKNY perfume and Caress was ready to rock and roll.

Glancing at the clock, she saw that she had some time before Tamara and Kendrick were supposed to pick her up. She grabbed the newspaper and opened it to the classifieds. She circled those jobs she wanted to apply for; drew a square around the ones she would settle for; and placed a big X through the ads she wouldn't even dare consider—like “DANCERS WANTED FOR BIG $$$$.”

Caress snorted. “Hell, my breasts aren't big enough anyway.”

She was just going over the revisions to her resume when her doorbell rang. Her ebony eyes darted to the door. She didn't know why, but she suddenly felt nervous. As she gathered her purse and her house keys, Caress thought,
If he smells like onions or has breath like a pooch, I'm going to kill Tamara
.

 

Julius stepped out of his enclosed frosted glass tub shower and reached for one of the neatly folded ivory-and-gold towels on the wooden shelves above the toilet. The scent of his soap mingled with the steam as he used his hand to wipe the condensation from the oversized square mirror over the pedestal sink.

A past lady friend once told him that his house looked like either a photograph in a home-design magazine or a hotel suite. Julius took much pride in that fact. He couldn't be comfortable in his home unless it was neat and orderly. A lot of people thought he had a maid service come in, but Julius took on the task himself at least once a week.

It was all so different from the small, cramped two-bedroom apartment where he was raised.
Everything about my life is different from back then
, he thought, before purposefully pushing the sadness of his past away.

As he brushed his teeth he thought with some dread of the night ahead. Tamara was throwing her friend on him like a shady car salesman trying to push a lemon on a dupe. If she was such a perfect woman, why didn't she have a man or at least a friend with benefits? Lord knows, if he looked into Caress's face and she resembled the character Sheneneh from
Martin
, he was going to freak out.

Turning around he looked down at the three-tiered metal shelf holding all of his colognes: nearly twenty different varieties. He splashed on the Joop!, rolled on his deodorant, and then let the plush Egyptian towel fall from his slender waist. Immediately, he bent to scoop it from the floor to place in the linen hamper. He took one last glance around the bathroom to make sure everything was in order before he strode nude into his bedroom. Passing his kingsized mahogany sleigh bed, Julius entered his walk-in closet. He flipped the switch to flood it with light.

When he first bought his home, he had the bedroom nearest the master suite converted to a walk-in closet. That left him with just one additional bedroom, but Julius thought it was well worth the sacrifice.

Here—like everywhere else in his home—was the same neat, organized, and polished decor. Everything had a place, and as far he was concerned everything belonged in its place. Tamara teased him all the time because it resembled a retail store.

Pulling open a drawer in the island located in the center of the closet, Julius extracted a folded pair of silk boxers from his selection of nearly fifty. He loved the feel of the cool material against his skin as he went throughout his day. He could never adjust to the tight, restraining feel of briefs, especially after he read they could reduce sperm production.

Not that he wanted kids anytime soon. One day…just definitely not right now. Without the entanglements of a wife, steady girlfriend, or children, he could travel on a whim for work or play. Tomorrow he was leaving for a three-month trip to Africa where he would take pictures for his first photography book,
My Africa
.

He enjoyed his freedom.

Julius surveyed his slacks all hung on wooden hangers and organized by color and season. He eventually selected a pair made of charcoal linen. Next he opened his sock drawer in the island and selected one of the thirty folded pairs before moving to the cedar shelves where he kept all of his sweaters neatly folded. He chose a black V-neck. Lastly, he turned to the opposite wall where all his shoes sat neatly aligned on shelves and selected his newest pair of black Kenneth Coles.

Within minutes he was dressed and checking out his appearance in the mirror lining the west wall of the closet. He looked good, and he knew it. His appearance was very important to him. He liked to be polished and well-groomed at all times.

Before leaving his bedroom he effortlessly smoothed a dimple in his plush mocha comforter. He caught sight of his two extra large hard suitcases sitting on a pair of luggage caddies by the door. “This date better wrap up early,” he said, just as his doorbell rang.

 

“Caress, this is Julius. Julius…Caress.”

Caress's eyebrows raised an inch in surprise and pleasure at the man who stood before her in his living room. Mister Julius Jones was fine. His jet black fade and a trimmed beard made his amazing eyes appear even more vibrant and alive in his lean handsome face. His features were keen and attractive. His tall-and-slender build was to Caress's liking because she definitely wasn't into beef-cake. And the clothes he wore fit his frame nicely, with ease and lots of style.

When she looked up into his eyes, her heart double pumped so hard in her chest that she was sure it could be seen through her shirt. Then he smiled down at her and she actually lost her breath.

 

Julius did a double take when he first laid eyes on Caress. The woman was stunningly beautiful and so obviously sexy that he wanted her stretched naked across his bed right then. She was as stylish as he and her petite size made him want to pick her up and cuddle her to his chest.

“Damn,” he mumbled, rubbing his hand over his beard to wipe away the smile of pure, unadulterated pleasure.

 

Tamara took it all in with gleeful eyes. It would be hard to miss how pleased they both were…so far. Nudging her husband, Tamara's voice was filled with satisfaction when she said, “See, I told you so.”

They all left the movie theater, laughing and talking comfortably. The romantic comedy had put them all at ease, and it was a wonderful start to their double date.

“All right y'all, I'm hungry,” Tamara offered first, interrupting the group's laughter about a funny scene in the movie.

“Food sounds good to me,” Caress chimed in, hoping no one could hear her stomach growling.

Kendrick used his muscular arm to pull his wife to his side. “How 'bout Mahogany's?”

Julius, who towered over the petite beauty by nearly a foot, looked down at her. “That's cool with me. You?” he asked.

Caress nodded, feeling heated by the look in Julius's eyes and she felt her cheeks and nape warm.
Damn, this man makes me breathless
, she thought in amazement.

As they all walked to the parking lot of the movie theater, Caress liked being by Julius's side as she inhaled the faint scent of his cologne and enjoyed the warmth of their arms casually brushing. Even with the slightly cool winds of the fall evening she immediately felt heat infuse her body. Her nipples hardened into tight aching buds and Caress crossed her arms over her chest to hide that fact.

“Cold?” Julius asked, his voice deep and warm like a hot toddy. “I have a jacket in my car that you can use.”

Cold? Hell, I'm hot!
she thought. “No, I'm fine, but thanks.”

“I still don't understand the need for different cars,” Kendrick said to Tamara, as he used his remote to deactivate the alarm on their silver Honda Accord.

Tamara shot her husband an exasperated look. “Just get in the car, Kendrick.”

Julius laughed low in his throat as he also deactivated his vehicle alarm. He moved with ease to open the passenger door of his green Range Rover for Caress.

Caress smiled her thanks to him as he waited until she was comfortably seated to close the door behind her. As he jogged back around to the driver's door, she followed him with her eyes—absorbing him.

“Buckle up,” Julius said, smiling over at her as the car started with a purr. Soon he followed Kendrick and Tamara's Honda out onto the street.

“So you're a photographer?” Caress asked, as she crossed the three-point harness belt over her chest and lap.

He nodded. “Ever since I was a kid. I've always been fascinated by what moments in time you can capture—and keep forever—with a photo. Especially a well-taken one.”

“Tamara says you've photographed some really beautiful women, some even in the nude. Must be a lot of…fun.”

“I'd like to photograph you actually,” he said, pulling behind Kendrick at the red light.

“Not in the nude,” Caress quickly balked, even as she pictured herself so easily stripping down to nothing in front of him.

Julius turned his head to give her a leisurely once over. “Pity.”

Caress flushed and the bud between her legs jumped to attention. Her heart raced.

“Please, if you've seen one set of T & A, you've seen them all,” she teased, squirming a little in her seat under his direct and piercing gaze.

“I doubt that.”

 

As the foursome walked into the restaurant's renovated brick building, Julius placed his hand at the small of Caress's back wanting to touch her. “Have you eaten here before?” he asked, as the hostess led them to the bar to await a table in the dining area.

Caress shook her head side to side to indicate she hadn't as she took in the interior of the two-level structure for the first time.

The contemporary décor was in hues of deep mahogany with rich blue-and-gold accents that were perfectly accentuated by the bright African sculptures and artwork adorning the brick walls.

“I've heard about it, of course, but I've never been,” she told him, as she swayed on the barstool to the soft, sultry music filling the air from the live band playing on the stage at the front of the restaurant.

“Welcome everyone. Julius.”

The foursome all turned to find a stunningly beautiful woman standing behind them with a beguiling and warm smile.

Julius didn't miss Caress's eyes darting between him and the woman. “Hello, Mahogany. What's special on the menu tonight?” he asked, before taking a sip of his Crown Royal and Coke.

“Roast lamb, grilled salmon, and of course, the jambalaya.”

Tamara cleared her throat.

“Oh, I'm sorry. Caress, Tamara, and Kendrick this is Mahogany Woods, the owner of this fine establishment. Mahogany, this is Caress, my date, Kendrick, one of my best friends, and Tamara, my headache.”

That earned him a pinch from Tam-Tam.

Mahogany smiled. “It's wonderful to meet you all. Julius, a pleasure as always. Enjoy your meal.”

With that she was gone.

“She's gorgeous!” Tamara exclaimed, turning in her seat to face the bar.

“You got that right. Damn, she's—” Kendrick began.

Tamara's right eyebrow shot up and the rest of her husband's words evaporated like steam.

“So I guess you're a regular here, huh?” Caress asked, as she picked up her glass of white wine from the napkin embossed with the word Mahogany.

Julius looked over at her and felt a desire to push aside her long and fine hair to suckle the long line of her elegant neck. “I've never slept with Mahogany, Caress,” he told her, surprised by his candor since he owed her no explanations on his life—past or present.

Caress took a deep sip of the liquid. “I never asked if you did.”

He just laughed low into his drink, not believing for a second that the thought hadn't crossed her mind.

Their hostess appeared with menus in her hand. “Your table's ready. Right this way.”

Caress and Julius picked up their drinks and followed the hostess across the hardwood dance floor to the wrought iron staircase leading to the stylish and hip dining area upstairs.

Julius smiled devilishly at the delectable sight of Caress's curvaceous bottom as he climbed the stairs behind her. Although he too thought she favored J. Lo, Ms. Lopez had nothing on Caress.
I really need to thank Tamara
.

Julius slid into the booth next to Caress. “I'm starving,” he said, letting his thigh brush intimately against hers. He picked up the leather-bound menu in front of him.

Caress leaned in close to point at his menu. “I'll have the Caesar salad with grilled chicken and pine nuts. Right…here.”

Her sweet scent wafted up to him, clouding his senses, as the touch of her breasts against his arm aroused him with an intensity. Clearing his throat, Julius signaled for their waitress. “I feel like steak myself.”

When the waitress promptly appeared at the table, Julius ordered Caress's meal the way she requested and then ordered a T-bone well-done with mushrooms and shallots. He also requested a Heineken with his meal.

“I'll have a margarita,” Caress said.

“Me too,” Tamara added.

Kendrick smiled cockily at his wife. “You know what alcohol does to you.”

Tamara rubbed her hand up his strong thigh to lightly stroke his member. “Problem?”

Julius winked at Kendrick, before turning to Caress with a questioning look in his eyes.

“Don't even go there,” she said, blushing.

They all just laughed.

 

Caress was feeling the effects of the tequila in her drink by the end of her delicious meal. “I want to dance,” she said suddenly, following yet another impulse.

Julius was in the restroom. Tamara and Kendrick were so deep into each other that neither noticed when Caress left the table. Her feet guided her down the stairs and onto the crowded dance floor as the band began a jazz rendition of Mary J. Blige's classic rendition of “I'm Going Down.” She found her own little space on the dance floor, closed her eyes, and let the rhythm of the music instinctively move her hips and feet.

 

Julius wanted Caress. She was beautiful, sexy, vibrant, and funny. Her touch gave him goose bumps. Her smile made his heart skip a beat.

At that moment, as he stood on a mini-balcony and looked down at her move with such abandon on the dance floor, he knew he wanted to bury himself inside her moist warmth. He wanted her grinding with him in the same fashion as she danced until their bodies were drenched with sweat and then spent.

Not once taking his eyes off of her, Julius descended the stairs slowly and crossed the dance floor to stand behind her. He grasped her wide hips with eager hands and began to rock his body with hers, enjoying the feel of her bottom cushioned against him.

 

Caress knew it was Julius as soon as his hands touched her. She already recognized his heat and his scent. With a soft smile she turned to face him, reaching up to wrap her arms around his neck and press her body close enough to feel the heat of his loins.

“Damn, I want you,” he whispered in her ear as he nuzzled her neck with his lips.

Caress laughed softly and grinded close to his lengthening erection. “I want you too,” she whispered back with honesty.

“Oh, you do?” he moaned deep in his throat.

Tilting her head back, she looked up into his eyes with want and wild abandon. “Kiss me, Julius,” she demanded softly.

He lowered his head to honor her request right there in the middle of the dance floor.

Caress sucked deeply on Julius's tongue with a lazy, satisfied moan, before ending the kiss with another touch of her lips to his. “You got me so hot.”

“Do you feel how hard I am?” Julius countered, pressing the full length of his erection into her stomach with a wicked grin.

“Ahem.”

They both turned their heads to see Tamara and Kendrick standing beside them. They had been so caught up in their heat that they hadn't even noticed them walk up.

“I hate to interrupt when y'all are having such a…ahem, good time, but it's getting late,” Tamara told them with a knowing and satisfied smile.

Both Julius and Caress waved them good-bye in an animated fashion.

Tamara pretended to look offended.

Kendrick stepped forward, obviously taking control. “Good night, Caress. Julius, you take care on your trip man.”

Trip?
Caress thought, as Julius released her to shake hands with Kendrick.

“Caress—” Tamara began.

Kendrick grabbed his wife's hand and pulled her behind him. “Say good night, Tam-Tam,” he called over his shoulder even as he continued to pull her toward the door.

“Safe trip, Jules. Call me, girl,” Tamara shouted over the music, before she disappeared into the crowd.

Julius pulled Caress's petite frame back into his arms. “Where were we?” he asked, tasting her lips.

Caress forgot everything but his heated kisses.

 

Julius pulled the Range Rover to a stop in front of the brick duplex Caress pointed out. His fingers were en-twined with hers in her lap, and he liked how it felt. “You're home, safe and sound.”

“Yeah,” she said softly, her body relaxed against the leather seat.

They both sat, not moving. He wondered if she was as reluctant as he was for the night to end. The seconds ticked into minutes as time sped by too quickly.

“Guess I better go in,” Caress said in a reluctant voice barely above a whisper.

Julius raised her hand to kiss the back before he climbed out of the vehicle and came around to open the passenger door. Holding out his hand, he smiled down at her beauty. “I'll walk you to your door.”

Accepting his hand, she looked up into his handsome bearded face and gave him a smile that was meant to beguile. “Thanks.”

Together they walked up the brick path. She led him down the stairs to her basement studio apartment. “This is me,” she told him softly, as she dug in her purse for her keys.

Julius took them from her and unlocked the door. “Here you go,” he said, placing them back in her hand.

“Thanks.”

“It was nice to finally meet you, Caress.”

She smiled, licking suddenly dry lips, as he stepped closer to her and lowered his head. “And it was nice finally meeting you,” she whispered, just before his lips pressed sweetly but firmly against hers.

They both moaned at the pure pleasure of it.

She caressed his low beard, wanting more…much more as she looked into those beautiful eyes of his. But she said, “Bye.”

“Good-bye, Caress,” Julius murmured against her lips. He turned with reluctance and climbed the steps with a final wave back at her.

“Julius!” she called out suddenly, following an impulse she couldn't fight off for the life of her.

He turned back, moving down one step to look at her. “Yes?”