Lunch had gone off without a hitch, minus the mishap before but overall Nichelle was happy; genuinely. She hadn’t known she could be herself with him. Her true self. She was becoming distracted by his charm and the thought pissed her off.

She put on a smile regardless and tried to keep the conversation light as they walked the streets of Miami.

“So, thought anymore about that New Years Eve party yet? Only 9 days to jump on the band wagon!” She cheesed causing him to laugh.

“I still have to see. There’s stuff at home that’s really important to me.” He smiled wistfully thinking of his daughter.

Ugh, there’s that smile again. I’ve gotta get rid of this chick or at least get rid of the thought of her.

She grabbed onto his arm and let her head rest lightly on his shoulder. “Oh please, please? I won’t know anyone there and I don’t wanna look stupid standing around by myself.” Nichelle turned her head and pouted animatedly.

Justin chuckled and shook his head in defeat. “I’ll see what I can do but I won’t promise anything.”

Nichelle dropped his arm and jumped in front of him causing him to halt is walking and stare intently at her. “See, now that’s all I was asking for.” She gave him a sideways smirk and stood on her tip-toes to kiss his cheek lightly.

When she pulled away he had an amused grin plastered on his face. “You love putting your lips on me lately.” He choked back a boisterous laugh as he watched her eyes go wide with shock.

“When did I…this was the first…” Draping his right arm over the back of her neck he pulled her along as they started walking again.

“I’m kidding, calm down woman.” She shook her head and let her left hand intertwine with the hand draped over her.

They fell into a steady pace as Justin’s thoughts over took him. He wanted to tell her that he’d felt those lips not only on his cheek but on his own lips as well and he was still recovering. Hell, his cheek was still tingling from the contact and it scared him shitless. He hadn’t known her a more than 3 days and every time he looked at her he felt the light flutter of butterflies in his stomach.

He didn’t want that light flutter. He wanted sex. Plain and simple. No holds barded, unimaginable, unattached, uninhibited sex. And if he were acting like himself he would have had that already; would have had her already. But something was getting into his head. Something was making him bumble; making him want to wine and dine her instead of hit it and quit it.

His mother.

He groaned inwardly. She was always interfering in everything, especially when it came to his love life. Even from Texas she was still influencing him, ordering him around and making plans for him without his knowledge. She had called during lunch, starting off with the usual ‘hi sweetie, how are you’ routine. Until she had found out he was having lunch with someone of the opposite sex.

“Oh Justin this is wonderful! You haven’t been on a date in so long.” He knew she wanted to say since Mira but held it back.

“Ma, it’s not a date. It’s just lunch, that’s it.” He continued to keep an eye out for Nichelle from his spot in the back of the restaurant. She was sipping water and picking at the bread on her plate. He smiled and gave his attention back to his mother.

“Sweetie, you never take anyone to lunch unless it’s me, Paul, John, Stephen or Trace. This is a big deal! How long have you been dating her?” He was becoming irritated by her constant butting in.

“I’m not dating her. It’s. Just. Lunch. That’s it. Would you mind not nosing around in it?”

“Hey mister, you better watch that tone with me. I’m still your mother and entitled to get excited when my son takes a woman out on a ‘non-date’.” He had to laugh at her word usage.

“Ma, I gotta go. She’s starting to get restless waiting for me.” He watched in amusement as Nichelle began throwing the pieces of bread she’d picked at in the air catching them in her mouth.

“Okay, but hey, if this becomes a serious thing then invite her back home for New Years. I know you won't be back for Christmas. But you are coming back home for New Years?”

“I…I dunno Ma. I’m really trying.” He sighed sadly. “Where’s Lain at?”

“She’s taking a nap right now. Want me to wake her?”

“No, no. but I’ll talk to you later tonight okay? I love you.”

“I love you too sweetheart. Bye now.”

Silence over took the two as they continued to walk. She knew he was in deep thought by the way he frowned his brow slightly. He always did that, she smiled as she thought. Even in high school. During big tests those creases in his forehead would make their appearance.

Whoa, whoa! You are not reminiscing about high school and smiling at that. It was hell! All 4 years, 48 months, 1,960 days and 13,720 hours of it.

Nichelle turned when she heard the first snap, then the second and third until she had lost count. They were being photographed.

Justin tensed when he noticed where her attention was. “Oh fucking great.” She heard him mumble as he let his arm fall and grab for her other hand.

They began to pick up pace when he noticed the photographers getting closer. They were suddenly in a full out run. Looking back she saw two huge African American men trying to hold the paparazzi off. They had averted the crowed and made it back to the hotel.

She was breathing heavy and wiping sweat from her brow as they rode the elevator up.  She turned and looked at him leaning against the opposite wall. He didn’t seem winded at all making her believe he was use to running away from photographers. He looked angry with his eyes cast toward the ground. She wanted to see that smile again.

“I guess this is what you get for being so photogenic.” She offered a small smile and received one in return.

“Are you okay? I’m really sorry about that.” He asked softly and deleted the space between them.

“Yeah.” Was all she offered as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

He was so close she could smell the Irish Spring Aloe on his skin. His hands had found there way to her cheeks, cupping them. Nichelle slowed her breathing down but her heartbeat was a different story. She felt as though she were still running.

Her eyes kept sliding down to his lips. Pink and plum; she wondered what they would feel like sliding over hers. He seemed to be getting closer. She wasn’t convinced of this until they were breathing each others air. The knot in her stomach was tightening and the alarm bells in her head were going off as his head dipped down.

His lips were mere inches from hers when the elevator sounded and the double doors slid open. “I had a great time with you Justin. Thanks.” She stepped away from him and into the comfortably lit hallway.

He cleared his throat and ran a hand over his short curls. “Yeah, we’ll uh have to do it again.” He smirked as she turned and walked to her room.

When the door closed he let out a frustrated sigh and let his body lean against the elevator wall once more. What the hell was he doing? Since when was he gentle, especially when it came to kissing a woman?

And damn it, he was going to have what he wanted and he was going to have it now. He angrily stepped out of the elevator and made his way toward the stairwell. Taking the steps two at a time he made it up 4 flights of stairs in record time. When he made it to Nichelle’s floor he stalked to her door and pounded mercilessly.

“Hold on, hold on goddamn it!” He heard her muffled curses on the other side. She swung it open hell bent on tearing someone another asshole. “What the fu…Justin?” She stared at him surprised. She was clad in nothing but an ivory robe and he could hear the soft beat of water running in the bathroom.

“What the hell are you doing? I thought you were the police or something. You scared the sh…”

“Shut up.” She began to protest until he crushed his lips against hers. Her initial shock had her fighting him at first but when his hands ran up and down her sides she relaxed into the kiss. He guided her backwards as he stepped into the room and kicked the door closed with his foot, never breaking the heated lip-lock.

Baby began barking and jumping around when she heard the door slam. She ran in between the two as they made their way into the adjoining room where Nichelle’s bed was. They toppled onto it with a laugh when Baby tripped them up.

Nichelle landed on top of Justin and straddled his waist. Her hair was draped over both of their faces the ends of her hair tickling his cheeks as she bent down to kiss him. He sat up and caressed her hips through the thick material. His lips journeyed across her cheek and chin until they found a comfortable spot on her neck.

“God, I’ve dreamt of this.” Nichelle sighed as he licked and bit at her collar bone. He trailed his lips up to her face again and pulled away to look at her.

“Have you?” He smiled and ran his hands through her silky black hair.

“I meant I’ve daydreamed about this. No, I meant I…” He chuckled at her and kissed her lips softly.

“I have too.” He whispered and coaxed her with his tongue. His hands ventured to the belt of her robe and he began to undo the knot. When his task was complete he opened it up to reveal soft caramel skin.

Her breast were full and the valley between them seemed to invite him in. Her nipples stood dark and erect. He ran a thumb over them in an experiment. His hypothesis was proven right as she bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes.

“You haven’t been touched in a while. I’ll take care of you, I promise.” He whispered and let his mouth and tongue massage her skin.

This wasn’t happening, she told herself. He wasn’t touching her and kissing her as if he cared. He was supposed to throw her on the bed and take what he wanted. Instead he took his time pleasing her, leaving delicate kisses along her stomach, kneading her muscles.

Nichelle pulled his shirt over his head and threw it across the room where it landed on top of Baby. The tiny dog yipped and ran into the other room, loving this new game. She pulled, rolled and tugged at the material to escape it.

When all clothes were discarded Justin flipped them over eliciting a delighted scream from her. “So you’re a screamer?” He smirked and let his hands explore her body.

She giggled trying to cover up a moan. “No, I don’t scream. But, hey, if you work it right you never know what I might do.” She pulled his head back down to taste his lips as he pushed into her slowly.

She bit back a moan of pain, not having been with a man since Ramier. He took care with moving until he knew she wanted more. As time passed the pain turned into heat, unexplainable heat that seemed to consume her body and she never wanted it to stop. He buried his head in hair as he picked up speed. He took this opportunity to pay close attention to her neck.

He’d forgotten it could be like this. So intense and beautiful all in one. Her cheek glistened with moisture before he wiped it away with his thumb.

He loved watching her face contort in pleasure and it pleased him that he was the one causing it. They locked eyes and he spoke everything with them. He was falling and fast. His stomach twisted in knots as the familiar feeling of release drew close.

Fireworks went off in her head as she felt herself nearing nirvana. She wanted to tumble over the top with him. He pinched and tugged at her sensitive spots until she was whimpering and begging for him to let it all go.

And he did.

They lay in silence as their breathing became normal again. Justin had yet to roll off of her and she shifted to indicate he was crushing her.

“Oh, sorry.” He moved away and lay next to her; the silence taking over once more.

“So…” She began. The silence was becoming annoying and she wished he’d say something, anything to make it less awkward.

“Would you like to come home with me for New Year?” He blurted without thinking and wished he could have taken it back by the terrified look on her face.

Whoa, what? I meant something like ‘Damn that was good’, to break the silence.

“What?” She turned to him, mouth going dry.

It was way too soon to be meeting the family, he thought. Especially his daughter. Fuck. He hadn’t thought about her. He might have been putting her in danger of being exposed to the world. But when he looked into Nichelle’s eyes he knew she wasn’t like that. She wouldn’t put a little girl in jeopardy.

“I…I really have to get back home and…I don’t want you to be alone on New Year so come to Texas with me.” He continued to stare at her. She stood and grabbed her robe from the floor, wrapping it around her. She turned away from him in thought.

This is what you wanted idiot! He’s taking you home with him to meet the family. Be happy!

But she wasn’t. She felt guilt for the first time and it wasn’t a feeling she was used to. He was genuine, wonderful and goofy. All the qualities she never expected to find in a celebrity; in him.

Pushing the guilt away she still had a deadline and mission she was going to complete whether guilt took over or not. It was just him, his parents and brothers. What could go wrong?

Nichelle turned back to him with a smile plastered across her face. “I’d love to.” He stepped out of bed completely nude and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“Great.” He kissed her and let his tongue explore mouth. She wrapped her arms around his neck and giggled when she felt him untying her robe.

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