Bedding the Best Man(11)

“Now you want to throw names around?” He tossed his hands up. “You’re unbelievable.”

“Then leave me alone.”

“Oh, love…I’ve tried more than once. Even went to a college in the next state to keep away from you when I’d worked hard to get into the college I discovered you were aiming for.”

What? Travis had changed colleges? This was news to me. I thought Travis attended the same college Ronnie went to because my brother was his best friend.

Unaware of the confusion in my mind, he continued, “For two years I managed to stay away from you. Then Ronnie called and said you were struggling, needed help and I came. Do you know how hard that week was for me?”

That spring break, he and I had the whole campus to ourselves. We studied on blankets spread out over the lawn, the library, some of the local restaurants and any place we wanted. More importantly we talked and laughed and shared dreams in that week.

“You didn’t have to come. I never asked you to.”

“But you didn’t turn me away.”

Because I needed him. “I struggled, but I would have figured it out. Gotten more tutors.”

“You’re smart. You would have figured it out when you weren’t stressing over it or putting yourself down. Tell me. How many of the men you’ve dated or even Mr. Ballroom Sleaze knows about you?”

I backed away. “My private business is no one’s concern.” My throat was getting tight and it pissed me off more. Fighting the rising emotions I attacked. “You think I need a reminder of my shortcomings. You think I need you.”

“Only shortcoming you have is your thick head.” He matched my steps, moving toward me as I headed for the escape. “I bet Patrick has never looked beyond your hot body, that beautiful sienna brown skin, or those full lips that make a man hard just thinking about them.”

I licked my lips, then pulled the bottom one in.

“Tell me, Kamari. Do you think he’s ever taken a moment to learn that in spite of your dyslexia you graduated from high school and college with honors? Do they know you are the top ranking consumer product analyst on the east coast? Or that every Saturday you spend time with special needs kids? Do you think that would have won you points in his bed?”

No. I doubted Patrick knew anything about me, because I showed him the same thing I showed the world, what they wanted to see—a pretty, wild and flirtatious black woman. Even at work I allowed most to believe I used my charms to sway the clients and the executives to gain my status. Anything that kept people from looking too close or knowing how much work I carried home every night to stay two steps ahead.

Only my family knew…and Travis.

“Patrick sees what I want him to see and because of that he treats me like Serita and every other girl. That’s what I want. So, forget what happened and leave me alone.” I hurried toward the hotel door and reached out for the handle.

In a blink, I found myself pressed against the inside of the room door. Travis was pressed along my back, his body trapping me, keeping me in place. I could feel not only the impression of his hard cock against my ass, but his heartbeat as well. Pounding in time with mine. That scared me. Travis and I couldn’t really be connected heart and soul. Not someone who knew me, my flaws.

He pressed his lips to my ear. “What did you think, Kamari, that I would let you just walk away,” he demanded in a hoarse, rough voice as he slid his hand around the front of my body, up the inside of my thigh and under my skirt. “Pretend in a few hours while we sat across from each other at breakfast, that you hadn’t used me as a replacement for someone else.” His fingers were inside my panties now, stroking my sex.

I tried to think, formulate every reason in my mind why I should tell him to stop, to leave me alone. He isn’t Patrick, my mind called out, fooled by my veneer.

Three of Travis’s thick fingers pressed inside of me deep, thrusting in and out. Forcing me to take them, receive my pleasure.

He isn’t Patrick. He’s Travis, my heart screamed.

My body started shaking, winding tighter as a climax built inside dragging me rapidly toward the cliff of ecstasy.

“Ahh…” I whimpered, rocking my hips against his hand, needy, as if I hadn’t just come so hard my heart had stopped a little while ago.

“Tell me, love, who am I? Who do you want fondling you…bringing you pleasure?” His fingers slipped out and circled my clit, causing me to undulate, chase his touch.

“Please…” I begged.

“Who?” The one word was sharp, demanding.

I knew what he wanted, his name on my lips. I wanted to hold back, protect myself. Somehow I understood that if I said his name, allowed my lips to confess, I would be forever changed—unable to go back. Back to the façade I hid behind. He would make me accept myself…and his love.