Oh Baby(8)

"Aww," everyone cooed appreciatively. "How romantic!"

"It was romantic," Hayden said with a blissful sigh. "I'll never forget it."

"No kidding." Taylor grinned, hugging her stepsister around the waist. "So does this mean you're moving to Atlanta? Or will Derek join you in D.C. after you're married?"

"Nooo," Lexi groaned. "Please don't take away any more of my guys. I miss the hell out of Percy, Jagger and Gabe. And I still haven't recovered from Liam deserting me for Africa."

Everyone laughed sympathetically.

A Spelman graduate, Lexi's friendship with the Morehouse Nine went back more than two decades. Girlfriends had come and gone over the years, but she'd remained the one constant in the fellas' lives. They shared a special bond that had only grown stronger over time.

"I'm not taking Derek away," Hayden assured Lexi. "We've been talking things over, and he knows I'm ready and willing to relocate to Atlanta. In fact, I'm close to inking a deal to get my own show on CNN." 

"Really?" the others exclaimed. "Congratulations, Hayden!"

"Thank you." She grinned sheepishly. "I don't admit this very often, but it definitely pays to be the daughter of a powerful political strategist who can pull strings. Having my own show on CNN will not only give me an even bigger platform than I already have, it'll also allow me to move here to be with Derek."

"That's awesome, Hayden," everyone said warmly. "We're so happy for you."

"Thanks, girls." Hayden's voice softened. "You've all been so supportive of my relationship with Derek. It means the world to me."

Lexi grinned. "As long as you make Derek happy, that's all that matters. So keep him happy, y'hear?"

"Yes, ma'am." Hayden gave a mock salute and grinned, then turned excitedly to Samara. "Your mother has to design my wedding gown. Can you ask her for me? Pretty please with lots of sugar on top?"

Samara laughed. "Of course I'll ask her. I can't make any promises, but I can definitely ask."

"Oh, thank you!" Hayden hugged her tightly, making Samara laugh again.

They all stood around discussing wedding plans until the fellas returned with Derek, slapping him on the back and offering warm congratulations to Hayden. The beaming couple stood in the center holding hands and receiving more well wishes from other guests until dinner was announced.

As the five couples headed toward their reserved table, Marcus caught Samara's hand and drew it to his lips. He tenderly kissed her knuckles, smiling when her lashes fluttered and her lips parted.

"I love you," he whispered.

She almost melted on the spot.

"I love you too, Marcus," she whispered back. "Love you so much."





After the lavish dinner had been consumed and the humorous speeches had been made-including a gut-busting monologue by Quentin-the dance floor was opened up. Marcus and Samara joined the flow of other couples headed to the floor as the jazz band began playing Luther Vandross's "Every Year, Every Christmas."

Marcus pulled Samara into his arms, holding her possessively close with one palm resting flat against her bare back. Shivering under his touch, she wound her arms around his neck and smiled up at him.

His answering smile was lazy and sensual. "Having a good time?"

"I am," she murmured contentedly. "You?"

"Always." His eyes gleamed. "I'll have an even better time when I get you home and out of this sexy dress."

She let out a throaty laugh. "You're insatiable."

"Since when is that a bad thing?"

"It's not," she purred, staring into his ebony eyes as they swayed to the music. "Believe me, Mr. Wolf, I have no complaints about your insatiable appetite. In fact, I'm glad the kids are spending the night at their grandparents' house so I can have you all to myself when we get home."

"Yeah?" Marcus trailed a lazy finger down the smooth curve of her back, causing her to shiver against him. "And what're you going to do to me when we get home?"

"Mmm." Samara licked her lips seductively, smiling at him. "Guess that's for me to know and you to find out."

Marcus grinned, slow and wicked. He was enjoying their sexually charged repartee as much as she was. "How soon?"

"How soon what?"

He leaned down until their foreheads were touching, his mouth just inches from hers. "How soon can I find out what you're gonna do to me?"



       
         
       
        

Samara flicked her tongue across his lower lip, too quickly for him to catch it. Smiling into his glittering eyes, she whispered, "Just two more dances and then we can sneak out."

His arm tightened around her waist. "Promise?"

"Yes, husband," she purred coyly, biting at his lip. "You have my word."





6





After another decadently steamy night of lovemaking, Marcus and Samara were still smiling the next afternoon when they arrived at his father's place, turning down a long cobblestone driveway that took them past a shimmering lake flanked by acres of manicured lawn.

Marcus drove with one hand on the wheel and the other clasping Samara's hand, their fingers intimately twined. Every time he smiled at her sideways, her insides got all warm and tingly. They were like two teenagers in love for the very first time.

Marcus parked in front of a sprawling redbrick house with tall French windows and an upper balcony overlooking the lake.

After shutting off the engine, he leaned over and kissed Samara, drawing her bottom lip into his mouth and running his tongue over it. She purred with pleasure, her hands sliding up his leather jacket to spread across his broad shoulders.

He pulled her closer, one hand threading through her hair as he deepened the kiss, teasing her lips apart. The hot stroke of his tongue set off a reaction she felt everywhere.

By the time he drew back and gave her a wolfish grin, her belly was quivering, the flesh between her thighs was throbbing and her nipples were as hard as the diamonds encircling her ring finger.

She weakly licked her lips. "Um, maybe the kids can spend another night with their grandparents."

Marcus laughed. "Isn't that what I suggested last night?"

"Yes." She grinned. "You were right."

"Aren't I always?" He pressed another kiss to her mouth and smiled into her eyes. "We'll hang around for a couple hours, then slip out and conveniently leave the kids and dog behind."

Samara burst out laughing as he climbed out of the Escalade and sauntered around to the passenger side. Under his leather jacket, he wore a ribbed gray shirt over a pair of low-slung blue jeans and black Saint Laurent boots.

Before Samara could step down from the truck, he put his hands around her waist and lifted her out. She grinned up at him as he set her down gently on her booted feet, then tweaked her nose and winked.

She winked back.

Grinning, he took her hand and led her up the walk toward the large house. The front door was made of mahogany with frosted glass on the front and matching glass side panels. It was adorned with an elegant evergreen wreath woven with silver silk ribbons. 

Marcus unlocked the door with his key and gestured Samara inside. The warmth of the house enveloped her like an embrace. The air smelled of fresh pine and cinnamon and apples. The railings of the butterfly staircases were draped with garland, festive topiaries flanked the bottom of the stairs, and silver bowls filled with pinecones and sprigs of holly decorated the glossy mahogany sideboard tables.

A burst of laughter from down the hall had Marcus and Samara grinning at each other. When they reached the entrance to the high-ceilinged living room, their grins widened at the sight that greeted them.

Sterling Wolf was stretched out on the floor playing Monopoly with Matthew and Malcolm. They were laughing and joking boisterously as they added houses and hotels to the board, trying to bankrupt one another. Matthew was wearing Sterling's lucky porkpie hat slanted crookedly across his small face as he waved a wad of multicolored cash at his opponents, gleefully taunting them.

Across the room, Asha sat in a richly upholstered chair with her sleeping granddaughter cradled in her arms beneath a quilted blanket. She was smiling serenely, enjoying the antics of her husband and grandsons while Shadow dozed nearby with his head resting on his paws.

With lights shining on the tall Christmas tree and a cozy fire glowing in the fireplace, the whole scene was like a Norman Rockwell painting.

Matthew was the first to spot his parents entering the room. "Mom! Dad!" he called out excitedly. "Look, I'm beating Malcolm and Grandpa!"

Marcus and Samara chuckled. "You are?"

"Yeah!" he boasted. "I have the most money and the best properties!"

Everyone laughed.

Everyone but Malcolm. He hated losing to his twin brother, who was far from a gracious winner.

"I think this boy might have a future in real estate development," Sterling predicted, tweaking Matthew's nose.

"Do real estate people make a lot of money?" Matthew asked curiously.

"The successful ones do."

"Cool," Matthew exclaimed, fanning out the colorful bills in his hand. "I'm gonna be rich like my daddy!"