Ties That Bind (5 page)

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Authors: Brenda Jackson

BOOK: Ties That Bind
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Ross took another sip of his beer before saying, “Okay, so what's the problem? I'm sure in your lifetime you've met a lot of women you're attracted to. Can you be a little more specific than that?”
Randolph shook his head, wondering why he had wasted his time coming to see Ross. His brother clearly didn't understand the ramifications of being attracted to someone, probably because he'd never been attracted to
anybody.
Academics had always been the number one thing in Ross's life. That and his love for music. Ross had a gift for being able to pick up and play basically any instrument. “What is there to be more specific about, Ross? I met this woman at a party Saturday night and I can't get her out of my mind. From the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew I wanted her.”
“And what do you know about her?”
Randolph was not surprised by Ross's question. After all, he was studying to be an attorney and everyone knew attorneys had inquisitive minds. “Her family isn't well known if that's what you're asking.”
“Then you might as well forget her. Grandmother Julia would never go along with you getting involved with someone she would consider a nobody.”
Randolph leveled a dark frown at him. “Then it's a good thing I don't lose sleep at night caring what Grandmother Julia will or won't go along with. I'm more like Dad than either one of us.” Both of them knew that their father, Ross Senior, had defied his mother when he married Adrianna Denison, a girl from what Grandmother Julia referred to as the backwoods of South Carolina, a girl without any strong family connections or ties. Julia Fuller was determined to make sure her two grandsons didn't make the same mistake.
“Why cause yourself unnecessary grief?” Ross shuddered at the possibility of having to deal with his grandmother's wrath. She could be very unreasonable when she wanted to be, which unfortunately was most of the time. But then he knew Randolph was the defiant one and had stood up to their grandmother on a number of occasions.
A smile touched Randolph's lips after taking a hefty sip of beer. “Why cause myself unnecessary grief you ask? One good reason is for something you seem to know nothing about, Ross. Something that's called passion.”
 
Noah and Leigh lay together on rumpled sheets after having made love once already. Yet as far as they were concerned, it wasn't enough. He quickly put on another rubber to protect her, lifted her into his arms and placed her on top of him as sweat sheened his skin and dampened hers.
His sex was thick and hard again and jutted proudly and boldly from the apex of his thighs, waiting for her to take it inside of her. A shudder went through him as he watched her straddle him, parting her legs wide to flank his hips, but not settling her weight on him yet. Instead she leaned down and kissed him, the way he liked, sweetly, tenderly and with a hunger that made every part of him burn.
Using his fingers he reached out and found what he wanted, that part of her he loved, craved and needed. Touching her, he saw she was still wet. His fingers gently slipped into her, stroking her to make her body ache with the same need as his. He heard her inhale a gasp then slowly exhale a rush of pure pleasure as his fingers withdrew
then slid inside her again, moving to the sound of the rhythmic music he heard in his head. Heat poured through him as she continued to attack his mouth, her tongue mating with his with an intensity that was depriving him of all thoughts except for one—making love to her again. “Now, Leigh,” he whispered softly, not able to take any more. He wanted her now.
He felt her shift as she lowered her weight onto him, fitting the opening of her hot center to the tip of his arousal. He shuddered when they made contact. The scent in the room was male, female—sex. He placed his hands on her hips to lead, to guide. And when she eased down on him, taking him into her body, hot pleasure tore through him, making a whispery rumble pour forth from his throat, setting fire to his flesh. Like always, his need and desire for her was so intense, everything about her inflamed his senses, driving him near the brink.
And when he was embedded deep within her, he felt her move, slow at first, up and down, in and out, while she continued to kiss him long and hard, using the same rhythm on his mouth that her body had set in motion below. His hand moved from her hips and began rubbing her back as she rode him over the edge, her every movement branding him as hers more and more, and making every cell in his body fully charged and ready to explode at any minute.
And then it happened, the explosion—that intense pleasure he knew he would find with her. Only her. The sensation hit straight in his loins. He knew she felt it as well and he hardened even more inside of her as she continued to ride him wildly with mindless passion. His mouth captured the scream she threatened to make, as ecstasy ripped through them both and they soared high among the clouds.
Moments later when they finally came back to earth, Leigh's body sank down on Noah. Still connected to him, her breathing was hard and fast. “I love you,” she whispered, knowing he meant everything to her and knowing how life could end in an instant, like it had for her brother.
“And I love you,” he answered softly, nestling her in his arms as she
lay atop him, still a part of him. He kissed her before pulling the sheet over them.
“I'm tired,” she said sleepily.
He smiled. “And you should be, baby. Go to sleep.”
And she did as he held her in his arms, close to his heart where he knew she would always and forever belong.
Saturday evening, after finishing all the school assignments she needed to complete, Jenna decided to go to the football game using the free pass Randolph had given her. They were playing the Hampton University Pirates.
Green Stadium was already crowded by the time she got there. She quickly found her seat before the pregame show began. Turning when she heard someone call her name, she looked up and saw Leigh and Noah sitting not far away. She smiled and waved back at them. There was another guy sitting with them who was looking at her strangely, and she immediately knew he was Randolph's brother. She didn't want to stare but she could clearly see the resemblance, and like Randolph he was a very good-looking man.
During halftime she and Leigh met up at the hot dog stand. “So what do you think?” she asked Leigh as she put mustard and ketchup on her hot dog.
“We're going to win,” Leigh said, pretty sure of herself.
Jenna wasn't too sure. “You think so?”
“Yes. A lot of our key players haven't been on the field yet, including Randolph.”
Jenna nodded. She couldn't help the smile that touched her lips. While standing on the sidelines, Randolph had looked up in the stands and had seen her and smiled. “That guy sitting with you. That's
Randolph's brother, isn't it?” she asked after taking a sip of her Coke.
“Yes, and I hope you don't mind but I mentioned to him that Randolph was the one who gave you your pass to attend today's game.”
No wonder he had looked at her funny, Jenna thought. He was probably trying to figure out what his brother saw in her. “No, I don't mind,” Jenna assured Leigh.
After returning to her seat for the beginning of the third quarter, Jenna looked over her shoulder. Randolph's brother was staring at her, and surprisingly, he smiled. Recognizing it as a friendly gesture, she smiled back at him.
Leigh had been right. In the end the Bisons won, beating the other team by five points. She had watched with admiration when Randolph had gone onto the field, earning his team points with a touchdown, and at another time stealing the ball from their rivals with an interception.
After the game it had been her intent to leave and return home. She was surprised when Leigh approached her with Noah and Randolph's brother in tow. “See, I told you we would win,” she said happily, grabbing her arm.
“So you did,” Jenna said, smiling, as she gave Noah a hug.
Leigh then introduced her to Randolph's brother, Ross.
“Nice meeting you, Jenna,” he said, smiling down at her.
“It's nice meeting you too, Ross.”
When Leigh and Noah invited her to join them for something to eat, she declined, saying she was going back home.
“You're not going to wait around for Rand?” Ross asked her. He actually seemed surprised at the notion that she wouldn't be.
“No, I hadn't planned on it. Besides, I'm sure he has plans.”
Ross chuckled. “I doubt it.” He could see why Randolph was taken with Jenna. He thought she was a very pretty girl and she didn't act like the other girls Randolph had dated before who treated him like he was the next best thing since bread pudding. “I plan on waiting around for him. Would you wait with me?”
Jenna wondered why he would want her to do that and decided to come right out and ask him. “Why?”
Ross smiled and Jenna immediately thought it was a smile very similar to one she had seen on Randolph. “I think he'll be glad to see you.”
Jenna wondered why he thought that but instead of asking him she told him she wasn't sure that would be a good idea.
“And I happen to think it's a wonderful idea. Trust me.”
And for some reason she did, which was why moments later the two of them were standing outside the players' locker rooms talking while waiting for Randolph to appear. She was enjoying Ross's company. She noticed there were other girls around, too, waiting for players as well. She noted Ellie among them.
Tyrone was one of the first players to come out amidst the loud cheering from the crowd. He went straight over to Ellie and kissed her soundly on the lips. Other players soon followed and it seemed that each had a special girl waiting for him whom he greeted with a kiss. Jenna began to feel uncomfortable. She wondered what Randolph's reaction would be when he saw her standing there waiting for him. Although he had pressed her about them seeing each other again, he hadn't made it clear exactly what their relationship was.
Her heart nearly stopped when he walked out. He wasn't looking around the crowd for anyone in particular and Jenna's breath caught when she noticed Lena Weaver walk over to him.
Randolph greeted Lena with a smile but didn't kiss her. Then, as if he had some kind of internal radar where Jenna was concerned, he glanced over in her direction and saw her.
Surprise flitted into his eyes and the smile on his face widened. Excusing himself from Lena, he quickly headed over in their direction, his gaze dead center on Jenna.
Jenna couldn't take her gaze off Randolph any more than it seemed he could take his gaze off her. Her stomach twisted nervously in knots and the rest of her insides began to stir with the heat from his gaze. In the distance she thought she heard thunder rumbling—or was it the sound of her body trembling?
Moments later he was standing in front of her and without saying a word, he leaned down and captured her lips with his. Sharp thrills of sensation flooded Jenna's body, taking her breath away.
“Hi,” he said, smiling after ending the kiss. “I'm glad you came.”
A part of Jenna was glad she had come, too. She didn't know why but she was glad he had kissed her. That kiss had basically made a statement to everyone that she meant something to him.
Taking her hand in his, he turned his attention to his brother. “You two know each other?” he asked curiously.
Ross smiled. “No. We met officially after the game. Leigh introduced us.”
“You know Leigh?” Randolph asked Jenna.
Jenna chuckled. “Yes, Leigh and I are roommates. Small world, huh?”
“Yeah, but not small enough,” he said, frowning at his brother, wondering how he could get rid of him so he could be alone with Jenna. Thankfully, Ross caught his drift.
“Well, I guess I'll be going.”
Jenna turned to him, surprised. “You're leaving?”
Ross chuckled. “Yes. I was only waiting around to make sure Rand didn't have any broken bones or anything. You know how it is, big brother looking out for little brother and all that nonsense.”
Jenna felt the brothers' closeness and thought it was wonderful that they were friends as well as brothers. “It was nice meeting you, Ross.”
“It was nice meeting you, Jenna, as well.”
After Ross walked off, Randolph's hand on Jenna's tightened. He looked down at her. “You want to go and get something to eat?”
Since she had eaten a hot dog and drank a Coke earlier, she wasn't very hungry but she figured that he would be after playing such a grueling game. “I'm not hungry but I'll go with you if you'd like.”
He smiled. “You don't know just how much I would like.”
 
“So what do you think of Ross?” he asked as they walked down the paved lane toward her building, after leaving the restaurant where they had gotten something to eat.
“He's nice,” she said, looking at him under lowered lashes. “You may want to keep him around as a brother.”
Randolph laughed. “Believe me, I intend to.”
“Do you remember a lot about your parents?” she asked him,
remembering that he had been ten when his parents had gotten killed in a car accident.
“Oh, yeah. They were the best. My father was a prominent attorney in Virginia, but he still found the time to spend with Ross and me. He and my mother were very close, too. They loved each other very much. I think that's why God took them away together because he knew it would have been hard on one without the other, even with me and Ross.”
When they reached her building, they stood and talked a while under the light. She finally got the nerve to ask him something she had been wondering about all evening. “Today when you saw me, why did you kiss me?”
He thought about her question for a minute before answering. “Because it seemed like the right thing to do,” he responded quietly. “It was something that I wanted to do.” He looked at her, studying her. “Did it bother you?”
Jenna shook her head. “No, it didn't bother me.”
“I'm looking forward to our date next Saturday night,” he said, drawing her to him.
“Me too,” she said honestly, allowing herself to be drawn into his arms when he reached out and lifted her mouth for his kiss. Just like earlier that day, the kiss was special, sweet and tender. It tempted her to put her arms around his neck and get closer to him.
Moments later when the kiss ended, he continued to hold her. “What will you be doing tomorrow? Studying?”
She shook her head. “No, I've completed all my homework.”
He nodded. “Would you like to go to the movies?”
She smiled. “Sure. What time do you want me ready?”
“How about around five?”
“Okay.”
He then leaned down and kissed her again. This kiss was a little deeper and lasted a little longer than before, and she gloried in the feel of his lips on hers.
“I think I better let you go inside while I have the mind to do so, Jenna.”
She nodded. “Good night, Randolph.”
“Good night. I'll see you tomorrow.”
Jenna nodded before turning to go inside her building.
 
Jenna awoke the next day to hear the news that a big demonstration had erupted on some college campus up north that was protesting the United States' involvement in Vietnam.
At breakfast in one of the cafés on campus, Johnny was glad to fill her in about it. He also told her that a group calling itself the Black Panther Party was growing in membership across the country and demanding the end of racism and class oppression on constitutional grounds. Johnny even admitted that he had gone to one of the secret meetings and said he was thinking seriously about joining the group. He claimed the leaders of the party weren't street thugs, but highly educated individuals who had gotten sick and tired of the government dragging their feet to do what was right by black people.
When Randolph picked her up for the movies, Jenna asked him what he thought of the group. “I think that like a lot of organizations, they started out with a really good cause but now their ideology is questionable, especially with the group on the West Coast. Rumor has it that one of its leaders was arrested for the assassination of a police officer. I don't know if it's true or if the group was framed. If I were your friend Johnny, I would be very careful before thinking of joining. I hear J. Edgar Hoover's men are watching them like a hawk, just waiting for them to make a wrong move.”
Jenna nodded, hoping Johnny was doing as Randolph suggested and thinking things through before joining the group.
 
The following weekend Randolph and Jenna went to the concert and afterward met with some of his friends for dinner. The more they were around each other, the more they enjoyed each other's company.
“So, Jenna, you and Randolph have been dating for a couple of weeks now. What do you think of him?” Leigh asked her one night while they were still awake, lying in the darkness listening to the soft music playing on the radio. Ellie claimed she was staying out all night
with a friend. Both Jenna and Leigh had a feeling that friend was Tyrone.
Jenna smiled. “I really like Randolph, Leigh. I like him a lot.”
“Oh, is that all?” Leigh said grinning. “I was hoping it was a little deeper than that.”
“We've only known each other for three weeks, Leigh. We're trying to take things slow.”
“Why bother taking things slow?”
Jenna raised her eyes to the ceiling. She knew Leigh was only teasing but she felt the need to answer her anyway. “Because we don't want to rush into anything. We want to make sure what we have and what we feel is right.”
“Trust me, Jen, it is. I think of how right it is every time I see the two of you together. You and Randolph make such a cute couple. Nearly as cute as me and Noah.”
And with Leigh's statement they both laughed.
“Leigh, can I ask you something?” Jenna whispered hesitantly, a few minutes later.
“Sure. What?”
“When did you know that you loved Noah?”

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