vittanos willow (5 page)

She sent him a shaky smile. “Well, being Friday I didn’t really

want to take papers home with me, so I finished grading them here.

Will I see you at the game tonight?”

His eyes brightened a bit at that. “Of course. I will see you then.”

He walked off with barely a nod to Osten.

“I don’t think he liked seeing me with you,” Osten observed.

“Marvin doesn’t like much,” CJ countered. She began walking to

her vehicle as he fell into step beside her.

“Except you,” Osten remarked, frowning over the possessive

way Marvin had looked at Chantoya. He had decided she was his

woman, and no man should be looking at her like that Physical Educa-

tion teacher had been.

Osten sat inside the black Escalade as CJ drove them to the

game. She had on a pair of blue jeans and a sweatshirt with the school’s

mascot on it. In the back seat she had a thick coat and gloves for later on

in the night. Her thick hair was free and fell around her shoulders.

While he gazed at her, CJ watched the road and tried to pretend

that she hadn’t noticed the way he looked as he walked into her apart-

ment. He wore a pair of black jeans that should have been deemed

illegal the way they cupped his lower body. He had a Navy sweatshirt

on that was gray with black lettering. A black leather jacket lay in the

back next to hers.

Pulling into the school’s lot, CJ parked a short distance away

from the stadium’s entrance. Parking spaces were rapidly filling up.

They got out together and Osten waited while she grabbed her jacket

and slid it on, hiding her full chest from his searching gaze. As she

locked the vehicle, he put his jacket on.

Together they walked to the gate and CJ waved at the teacher

standing there. Then they proceeded on to the bleachers where CJ

stopped to chit and chat with many adults and students. It was appar-

ent she was a very well-loved teacher.

As they climbed up to their seats, CJ stumbled. Osten’s strong

hand was there to make sure she didn’t fall. “Are you okay?” he asked

in her ear.

“Yes, I’m fine. Embarrassed, but okay. I have climbed these so

many times, I shouldn’t be tripping.” CJ loved how protected she felt

with his hand on her elbow.

“Just so you are okay.” Osten reluctantly released her arm and

sat down beside her after she chose a spot.

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Aliyah Burke

“I am,” she reassured him.

“Well, I could kiss it if you think that will help,” he teased softly

as the crowd began cheering for the home team as it took the field.

CJ trembled. What a wicked thought that gave her. “I’m okay,

really.” She shoved him playfully with her shoulder. “It may hurt later,

though.”

The look he sent her banished each and every chill she had on

this cold evening. It was full of promise and a primal hunger that

should have scared her. “I’ll make sure to kiss away all your pains,” he

vowed.

They focused on the game, yet were constantly and most assu-

redly aware of each other throughout the night. Osten bought her a hot

dog and some hot chocolate at halftime. CJ was having a ball; while she

loved football, tonight’s game was extra special and she knew it was

because of the man with her.

Her school’s team the Raiders won in the last two minutes of the

game. CJ was hoarse from yelling and cheering on her boys. Osten got

into the game right beside her and was shouting just as much as she.

They stayed in their seats while everyone else headed out. When

the crowd had thinned considerably, Osten stood and offered his hand

to CJ. Together they walked down the bleachers and headed to where

she had parked her SUV.

At the gates, Marvin stepped in front of them. “Evening, CJ,” he

said. His dark eyes moved over Osten and he frowned. “Mr. Scoleri,”

Marvin added almost like an afterthought.

CJ smiled, her arm hooked through Osten’s. “Evening, Marvin.

It was a great game, wasn’t it?”

“It was,” he conceded. “I didn’t know you were dating anyone.”

CJ halted for a moment. “I’m not. I know Osten through mutual

friends who got married recently and he agreed to come to the game

with me, but we aren’t dating.” Her head cocked to the side as she

played close attention to the Phys Ed coach.

Beside her, Osten tensed. He hated the words that had just come

out of her mouth. However, he did notice how Marvin relaxed a bit at

the news.

“I see,” Marvin said. “Well, I’ll see you on Monday. I have to get

going. Goodnight.” He walked off without waiting for any response.

Vittano's Willow

37

CJ began heading towards her vehicle when a hand grabbed

hold of her. Osten spun her back toward him. She cocked an eyebrow at

his action. “What?”

“What’s so wrong with me?” he demanded. His pride had been

tweaked, and while he didn’t need to be overly arrogant, he was still a

proud man.

“What are you talking about? There is nothing wrong with

you.”

“But I am not good enough to be dating?”

Frowning, CJ just stared at him.

Osten held her gaze and raised a thick eyebrow. The longer she

remained silent the more he wanted to show her just how good they

were together. “Well?” he prompted, sounding downright surly.

Now CJ smiled at him. Not a coy or cutesy smile, but one that

was gentle and full of understanding. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

Mindless of the fact they were standing on school property, Os-

ten gathered her body close to his. He didn’t speak, just cupped her

heart-shaped face in his hands and pressed his lips to hers.

The shockwave passed through them both instantly brought a

heat that belied the late fall conditions. CJ slid her hands inside his

leather jacket to rest upon his lean sides, fingers scrunching his sweat-

shirt.

His thick tongue swept through her mouth. He tasted mint and

chocolate. Osten’s body reacted almost painfully to her nearness and

touch.

CJ trembled, her body weak with desire. There tongues danced

with one another as his callused hands cradled her cheeks, his fingers

moving slightly in her hair.
Dear God, this man is deadly!

Slowly and reluctantly, Osten drew away from her tempting and

lush mouth and stepped back. His dark brown eyes swirled with barely

controlled passion. “No offense taken, because if I really didn’t mean

anything, there wouldn’t be sparks like that between us.” He spoke in a

deep voice that simmered with assuredness and sensuality. In the

hushed lighting of the parking lot, Osten reached out and rubbed his

thumb over her kiss-swollen lips.

Loud whistles broke the sexual tension between them. Both

adults looked toward the entrance to the locker rooms and saw six of

the football team’s starting offensive line watching with smirks on their

faces. Mikhail was in the middle.

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Aliyah Burke

“Way to go, Ms. J!” the young black man hollered, hefting his

duffle bag in a silent salute.

“Oh, shit,” she groaned. “All those boys are in my classes. I’m

never going to hear the end of it.”

Osten preened, clearly loving it. “Maybe they’ll spread it

around. And
Marvin
will stop drooling over you.”

Shoving him in the chest, CJ shushed him. “That’s not helpful.”

At least he gave her the satisfaction of a grunt. “Best I could do,”

he teased.

“Great game, guys,” Chantoya yelled back as she swallowed

down her embarrassment and headed towards the six students.

With a smile, Osten spun on his heel and followed the woman

who enamored him. His eyes took in her gently swaying hips as she

moved in front of him. Unconsciously he shifted his full erection so it

didn’t feel so uncomfortable in his jeans.

Standing under the overhang of the equipment shed, he watch-

ed her. He had seen her at the game with that other man. “My woman

needs to be cleansed. Shame on you for being out with someone else!

You should never have let him touch you, you slut!” he hissed to the

dark.

It had been difficult talking with her. All he had wanted to do

was kill the man with her. He was no dummy; he could interpret the

sidelong glances and frequent touches that Navy man gave Chantoya.

His
Chantoya.

He had watched them sitting together on the bleachers. Saw

how they’d cheered together for her students. And his fury had grown.

But what got him the angriest was how romantic their interac-

tions at the game had gone. He had wanted to yell at her, demand she

shower him with the affection he deserved. Her devotion was created

for him and him alone. She was ignoring that and it infuriated him.

So now as he stood in the shadows watching her, his rage at her

blatant disregard for her true place—by his side—causing his nails to

draw blood in the palm of his hand. The pain made him focused

enough that he remained hidden.

“Soon, Chantoya, you will be mine. You will be cleansed of this

degradation you have allowed to touch your body. Soon, the only touch

Vittano's Willow

39

you will have or crave will be mine. No more being a slut or whore, for

we will be one.”

The image of CJ being his to touch and caress as she lay beneath

him naked brought him quickly to full arousal. He fondled himself to

the sound of her husky laughter as she spoke with the students. He

remained hidden until after she left with the man who had defiled her

with a single touch.

Osten stayed by the door of CJ’s apartment. “Are you sure you

don’t want something to drink?” she asked as she hung up her coat in

the closet.

He groaned as her jean-clad derriere moved past him to put her

keys on a hook beside him. “Maybe one drink…”

“Well, come on in.” She flashed him a shy smile. “I know my

place is small but make yourself at home. I’ll make some coffee.”

Shrugging out of his jacket, Osten draped it over the chair by the

door. He swept his gaze around her apartment, taking in the roses he

had given her the night of their first date.

Moving into the kitchen, he watched her pull out two mugs and

set them beside her Senseo machine. He positioned his body against her

counter, taking in her elegant motions.

“Do you take anything in your coffee? Sugar? Cream? Milk?”

her husky voice broke through his stare down with her butt.

“Sugar, please,” he managed to say.

“Are you okay?” she asked without looking over at him, intent

on fixing his cup.

Nothing you can’t cure.
“I’m fine.”

Handing him the steaming mug, Chantoya Willow Jackson

wondered about the expression on his face. She gulped as their skin met

during the transfer of the mug. Obviously struggling to control her

emotions, she turned back and put in a packet for her own cup.

She pointed to a crystal dish. “Sugar’s right over there in the

glass bowl.”

Osten knew she was nervous. He wanted to kiss her and make

love to her, but instead he headed for the container she indicated.

Lifting the lid, he smiled.

There was a divider separating white and granular brown cubes

of sugar. A spoon and pinchers were also there. On some instinct, Osten

40

Aliyah Burke

spooned brown sugar into his drink and recovered the dish. He stirred

in the sugar with the spoon in his cup.

It wasn’t long before CJ led him to the living room. They sat to-

gether on the couch.

“Thank you—” they both said at the same time.

“Go ahead,” CJ said.

“No, you go. Ladies first.”

Putting her cup down, she looked at him. “I just wanted to

thank you for such a lovely evening.”

“Thanks for letting me tag along.”

She grinned. “I was the envy of everyone there, having you ar-

rive with me,” Chantoya gloated.

Osten felt the same way. He hadn’t been blind to all the appre-

ciative gazes she got from single and married men alike. “I’m not sure if

I should be glad or not.”

CJ smacked him playfully on the arm. “You know what I

meant.”

His eyes darkened. “Are you going to kiss my boo-boo and

make it all better?”

In a second the mood switched to something where sexual de-

sire was first and foremost as they remembered the byplay in the

bleachers. Osten placed his mug on a coaster that rested on her coffee

table and faced her.

“If that’s what you want,” she whispered.

“What I want,” he told her in a velvet tone. “What
I
want is to

kiss you again.”

CJ was amazed at the strength in this man. They were similar in

height and she was a solid buck and a half. It seemed effortless for him

to hold her.

He reached for her sides and picked her up to settle on his lap,

her muscled legs on either side of his lean waist. His hands were gentle

as they brushed her hair away from her face.

For a moment he merely looked at her. Took in how full her lips