Lost in a Stallion's Arms (Kimani Romance) (6 page)

As the two locked gazes, a rush of heat flushed Joanne’s face with color. She inhaled deeply to stall the quiver of butterflies that suddenly danced deep in her abdomen. Before she could form a coherent thought, the man had excused himself from the group, extracting himself from the other woman’s grip, and was striding eagerly in her direction. Joanne could feel herself grinning back as his wide smile greeted her warmly.

“Hey, you!” Luke yelled over the din of music and loud conversations bouncing off the deep red walls. “I was afraid you weren’t going to show up!” He leaned in close to her, pressing his cheek next to hers as he whispered loudly into her ear. His hands rested lightly against her waist, his fingers heating her flesh through her clothes.

Joanne inhaled swiftly. “Why’s that?” she answered, forcing herself to take a step back away from his touch. “I told you I would meet you.”

Luke shrugged. “I know, but I didn’t do a great job of letting you know how badly I wanted you here. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you’d changed your mind.” Luke reached for her hand, pressing his fingers between hers. “I have a table over there for us.”

Leading her past the throng of revelers, Luke guided her across the room to a corner table some distance from the dance floor, the bar and the wealth of noise. It wasn’t nearly as loud as the lower level they’d just passed, making it easier for the two of them to hold a conversation.

“So, where are your friends?” Joanne asked as he pulled out a chair for her to sit in.

Luke moved to the other side of the table and sat down. He smiled, a smug expression washing over his face. “I was thinking you’re the only friend I wanted to spend time with tonight. I didn’t get the impression that you would have come if you thought it would only be you and me here.”

Joanne crossed her arms over her chest, eyeing him with some reservation. She hated to admit that he was probably right. She’d been more than ready for some group activity. The very thought of him and her spending time one-on-one would have made her too nervous. Nevertheless, there they were.

Joanne met his gaze, the deep stare shooting heat straight to her southern quadrant. A sly smile pulled at his mouth, and she couldn’t stop herself from smiling back. “This amuses you, doesn’t it?” she said, chuckling softly.

Luke nodded. “You amuse me. You’re a hard woman to read, Joanne Lake, and you’ve really been giving me a run for my money.”

Joanne laughed. “You don’t say.”

The man nodded. “So, are we friends now?”

She shrugged. “We’ll see,” she answered, her eyebrows raised ever so slightly. “I’ll let you know when the night is over.”

Conversation flowed like water. Joanne found herself enjoying the laughter that billowed warmly in the air between them. Luke had taken the liberty of ordering dinner before her arrival, and within minutes of their sitting down, a waiter was serving them a spectacular meal of lobster ravioli with a chocolate soufflé for dessert. Between them they polished off a bottle of very expensive wine, and Joanne found herself falling head over heels into a state of blissful relaxation.

Luke couldn’t stop himself from staring at her. Dropping into the dark depths of her gaze, he felt as if he’d found something that had been lost to him since forever. The emotion was startling and comforting at the same time. As they sat in deep discussion, enjoying the meal and the company, he marveled at how easily he was able to open up to her.

Joy spilled out of her eyes as they talked about the center and her business. He marveled at the glow that shone in her face. She spoke passionately about her love for her work and the families she’d come to care for. Time flew as they became acquainted with one another. Luke found himself talking a lot about his life and asking question after question about hers.

“One of the ladies at the center was telling me that you live near the center with your mother. Were you raised in that area?”

Joanne paused, a lie threatening to spill past her lips. She evaded the question instead. “I was raised here and there, nowhere special.”

“You don’t like talking about yourself, do you?”

“There’s not much to talk about.” She smiled. “Besides, I’m enjoying talking about you more.”

He leaned back in his seat, folding his hands in his lap as he studied her expression. “So, what else can I tell you? What do you want to know about me? I’m an open book, so ask away.”

A glint of mischief danced in Joanne’s eyes. She leaned forward, her elbows propped on the table as she dropped her chin against the back of her cupped hands.

“How many stamps do you have in your passport?”

“Not enough.”

“Have you ever had sex on a first date?”

“No.”

“Never?”

Luke smirked. “Never, but I’ve had sex on a few
last
dates.”

Joanne chuckled, shaking her head. “That’s so wrong in so many ways.”

“Never said I was a Boy Scout. What’s the next question?”

Joanne paused for a brief moment. “What’s your definition of
foreplay?
”

The man’s eyes widened in surprise. He suddenly laughed, mirth rising out of his midsection and flooding his entire body. He laughed hard, the intensity of it moving him to tears. He pressed the cloth napkin in his lap to the corner of his eyes, dabbing at the moisture that had clouded his vision. “That was a good one!”

Joanne laughed with him. “I know. So answer the question.”

Luke nodded. “Wow! My definition of
foreplay
,” he repeated, enthralled by the energy that spun from her eyes. Pausing, Joanne could see his mind racing for an answer. “Why don’t I just show you,” he said finally, lifting himself from his seat and extending his hand in her direction.

Joanne was clearly curious as Luke entwined his fingers between hers and pulled her to her feet. She couldn’t help but follow behind him as he led her back to the front of the nightclub and the dance floor, which was jam-packed with couples shimmying hot against each other.

The music had a rich Caribbean flavor, calypso beats with a hard bass line. One couldn’t help but be moved by the pulsating tones. Pushing his way to the center of the crowd and a small area of empty floor space, Luke turned to face her, his shoulders starting to bounce in time with the music. He raised his arms to chest level, his large hands clasped into tight fists, his torso waving from side to side. Taking a step toward her, his pelvis gyrated seductively, his hips swaying for attention. His eyes were locked on hers, and Joanne could feel herself falling fast into the stare he was giving her.

Joanne began to gyrate her own hips. She danced slowly at first, her body moving instinctively with his. Moving with him was intoxicating. Heat was rising quickly between them, and Joanne suddenly wanted to strip right out of her clothes in exchange for a rush of cool air. When Luke took another step closer, his pelvis meeting hers as his hands fell to her waist, pulling her to him, Joanne thought she could easily pass out from the sudden rush of emotion that flooded through her.

The man was moving against her, his gyrations tight and precise. Joanne couldn’t remember when her arms had swept up and around his shoulders until she became aware of her fingers lightly caressing the nape of his neck. Their bodies were pressed so tightly together it was as if they were one unit instead of two. Then Luke pulled some fancy footwork on her, spinning her around so that her back was against his chest as he pushed himself against her buttocks. Unable to resist, Joanne gyrated with him, savoring the sensation of his rock-hard frame kissing the cushion of her soft curves. She raised her arms over her head, her fingers snapping in time to the music. Dancing against him like a stripper on a mission, she lowered herself to floor level and slithered back again, her body never losing contact with his.

Luke slipped his arms back around her waist, spinning her around to face him. The look in his eyes was pure, unadulterated lust, his hunger setting every nerve ending in her body on fire. Both of them felt like they were going to combust, heat radiating from every open pore. As Luke continued to move against her, his left arm holding her tightly around the waist, his right hand moved up the length of her back and his palm came to rest against the back of her head. Then without warning, Luke slipped his fingers into the short length of her hair, his palm cupping the nape of her neck. He tugged gently as he dipped her over his arm.

The gesture took her by surprise, causing Joanne to gasp loudly, and then he leaned down over her, pressing his mouth against the curve of her neck. The sensation of his lips against her bare skin was electrifying, overwhelming her senses, and Joanne moaned loudly, forgetting that they were surrounded by a crowd of people. Desire raged rampant between them. The sensations were intense and unyielding.

Luke planted a soft trail of kisses up the length of her neck toward her chin. Joanne tried to murmur an objection, but only a low hum bubbled past her lips. Her eyes locked with his, and before she could draw her next breath, Luke slowly caressed her mouth with his own, grazing her lips once, and then again, the soft touch teasing.

Joanne pressed her palms to his chest. Her clarity was suddenly skewed, desire sweeping every coherent thought from her. She could barely remember her own name as he lifted her back up. Luke smiled, moving to wrap both arms around her as he pressed his cheek to hers.

He whispered into her ear, his breath blowing hot against her flesh. “I’d say that was just my intro to foreplay. To give you a full definition, I would need a whole weekend alone with you.”

Joanne struggled to breathe, words caught tight in her chest as she tried to ignore the hands that glided like hot coals against her skin. The music had transitioned to a slow and seductive tune. Without missing a beat, the two had slowed their roll, their gyrations measured as they continued to move one against the other. A slow smile pulled at her lips as she lifted her eyes back to his.

“I think I get the picture,” she said softly, stammering ever so slightly.

Luke smiled back, his expression smug. “Are you sure? Because I don’t mind painting a complete portrait for you. I don’t mind at all!”

Pushing herself away from him, Joanne glanced quickly around the room. “I’m sure,” she said, her gaze returning to his. “I’ll have to pass.”

Luke eyed her curiously. “Why?”

“Because we’re friends. And I don’t engage in foreplay with my friends.”

I
t had been a good night. Luke was still riding high from his time with Joanne. She had allowed him another dance as the music changed and the tempo shifted to something a little faster. Sometime later, both perspiring lightly under the warm lights, he’d pulled her to him tightly, whispered into her ear and guided her back to her seat.

Settling herself back in the cushioned seat, she’d waited patiently while he ran to the men’s room, returning to her side as quickly as he could manage. A waiter had appeared with two glasses of merlot, depositing them carefully onto the table. Nodding, Luke had flashed her a toothy smile, winking all-knowingly as though they shared some deep, dark secret.

“Thank you,” he’d said loudly over the music, his smile warm and alluring. “You dance beautifully.”

Joanne had smiled sweetly in response. “No, thank
you
,” she’d said warmly. “Twelve years of dance lessons finally paid off.”

He’d chuckled, nodding. They’d talked for a while longer and then she’d left, wishing him a good night as she departed. It would have been a very good night if he had been able to convince her to stay, but she wasn’t hearing his arguments.

“I would really like to,” Joanne had said. “But I’m going to be out of town for a few days. I need to get home and pack. My ride is coming early in the morning.”

“Oh? Where are you off to?” Luke had asked, curiosity pulling at him.

Joanne had smiled sweetly, her mouth curving easily toward the ceiling. “I thought I would surprise my mother for Mother’s Day.”

Luke had nodded his head. “That should be fun. I’m sure she’ll love getting out of town for a few days.”

Joanne had simply smiled, not bothering to respond or correct him before wishing him a good night. As she had made her exit he had been left staring anxiously after her.

Luke sighed, and then he took in a deep breath of air, filling his lungs. He really liked that woman. It felt good to be in her company. It had felt great to hold her close in his arms. Joanne amused him. She said more with a simple tilt of her head than some women were able to say in hours of conversation. Staring into her eyes he’d thought of a chocolate pool, the warm orbs cool and calculating.

Noting every detail of each other, the evening had gone better than expected. Luke knew she had been feeling him, as well. He was sure of it. His face bloomed into a wide grin. He was certain Joanne Lake was feeling something for him, too, and he knew one way to be sure.

Pulling his car off the main roadway, he came to a stop, shifted the transmission into park and reached for his cell phone. He dialed the last number in his call list, anxious for the party to answer on the other end. When she did, Luke fought to contain his excitement.

“Joanne, hey! I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time.”

The young woman chuckled softly. “Not at all. Is something the matter?”

“No, why would you ask that?”

“Maybe, because I just left you? I thought we just said goodbye for the night.”

“We did, but I had a brilliant idea,” he said, wincing. He was suddenly thankful that she couldn’t see the embarrassment that crossed his face. He could only imagine what she must have been thinking. Maybe his good idea hadn’t been that good after all.

“And what was that?” Joanne asked curiously.

“Lemon meringue pie!” His excitement registered over the phone line.

Joanne laughed again. “Would you care to elaborate?”

“There’s a great little place I know that serves the best lemon meringue pie in the whole world. I’m dying to share a piece with you, and I figured it’s still early, so why not? You game?” He paused, anxious for her reaction.

“You mean right now?”

“Yes. Now is as good a time as any.”

Joanne was suddenly intrigued. She stammered, trying to think of one good reason why she shouldn’t. “I have to…pack…and…tomorrow, we—”

“It’s not even ten o’clock yet and it’s only pie. One slice. Besides, I’m not ready to end our evening. I would really love to spend just a little while longer with you. What do you say?”

Joanne smiled into the receiver, touched by the hopefulness in his tone. “I guess one slice can’t hurt me.”

Ten minutes later Joanne pulled her car into the empty parking space beside his. By the time she had shut off her engine and unbuckled her seat belt, Luke was standing at her door, his hand on the latch, ready to open it. Joanne took a deep breath before stepping out of the vehicle.

When Luke leaned forward, gently kissing her cheek, she hadn’t been at all prepared for the affectionate greeting. Her knees began to shake uncontrollably, her legs threatening to drop her back down to her seat. Before she realized it, he’d taken her hand in his own, clutching it tightly as he entwined his fingers with hers.

“I’m glad you came,” he said, his voice dropping to a low whisper.

Joanne smiled sweetly. “Lemon meringue is my favorite.” She looked over her shoulder toward the entrance to the twenty-four-hour diner. “So this is the place that serves the best pie in the world?”

Luke laughed, shaking his head. “No. This was just a convenient place for us to meet.” He opened the passenger door of his car, gesturing for her to take a seat. “Let’s ride!”

As Luke guided her to the waiting helicopter, Joanne’s eyes widened, reluctance dropping like a blanket around her. She couldn’t begin to fathom how or why the two of them were standing in wait on the heliport atop the Stallion corporate office in search of some lemon meringue pie.

The copter’s pilot greeted them both cheerfully, as if flying folks around in the middle of the night was something he did every day. Both men ignored Joanne’s feeble protests as Luke helped her into the aircraft, strapping her securely in her seat.

“This is ridiculous,” she sputtered, glancing from side to side.

Luke chuckled warmly. “Maybe, but since we can, why not?”

She rolled her eyes skyward. “Where are we going?”

“We’re going to shoot down to Houston. That’s where my favorite little café is.”

“In Houston?”

He nodded. “Yep, and the best coffee, too!”

Secured in his own seat, Luke dropped a casual hand against her knee, his palm caressing her gently. He seemed to sense her misgivings as he leaned in to whisper into her ear.

“You don’t look relaxed. Is everything okay?”

Joanne closed her eyes briefly, taking a deep inhale of breath. She couldn’t begin to tell him that nothing was okay, as a wealth of emotion exploded within her. Her mind and her body were suddenly battling for control. She wasn’t supposed to be feeling the swell of sensations sweeping through her, desire rising like a rampant fire. Instead, she just nodded, lifting her gaze to meet his. “I’m fine, thank you,” she muttered before turning to stare out to the darkened sky.

The city of Dallas swelled full and large beneath them, lights shimmering against the nocturnal landscape. Staring below, Joanne could just make out the Fairmont Hotel, the Dallas Museum of Art, Lincoln Plaza and the Trammel Crowe Center before the city disappeared from sight. As the helicopter moved swiftly toward its destination, the trip was feeling quite surreal to her.

Luke moved his hand from her knee, draping his arm along the back of her shoulders. The gentle glide of his fingertips over the length of her arm wasn’t helping the situation. His touch was like lighter fluid the way heat exploded from the center of her feminine spirit. Joanne resisted the urge to let herself settle comfortably against him, the desire to be cradled against his side consuming. She desperately wished she could move, to put a hint of distance between them, but there was nowhere for her to go.

The 240-mile trip from Dallas to Houston lasted just under an hour before the helicopter was touching down on the helipad. Joanne didn’t need to ask where they were, as the Stallion logo loomed high above the building on the roof. She heaved a deep sigh. Something in the back of her mind was whispering that she should have told the man no.

The owner of the Little Moccasin Café was a spirited soul with a bald dome the color of honeyed nuts. The old man greeted them both warmly, tapping a heavy hand against Luke’s back.

“Good to see you again, kid! It’s been a while. And who might this pretty little thing be?”

“It’s good to see you, too, Mr. Jessup. This is my friend Joanne,” he said, introducing the two. “You’re not closing up already, are you? We came a long way for some of your wife’s pie.”

Mr. Jessup grinned a toothless grin. “Nah! You know we open all night long, kid.” He led them to a side booth, gesturing for them to take a seat. “Your usual?” he asked, not bothering to wait for a response as he headed back toward the kitchen.

Luke laughed softly. “Thank you, Mr. Jessup,” he called after the old guy.

Joanne tilted her head. “How often do you get down here?” she asked, her curiosity heightened.

Luke shrugged. “Every now and again.”

“You just saddle up your helicopter and jet on down when the moment moves you, huh?”

Luke smiled, his eyes widening as he noted the cynicism rising in her tone. “Something like that.”

She shook her head. The man was unbelievably spoiled, she thought. She couldn’t believe how nonchalant he was about having flown miles just to get a slice of dessert. Then she tasted the pie.

The two slices of savory lemon confection the restaurant’s owner sat down on the table before them were heavenly. The sweet dessert sat in a puddle of warm, dark chocolate with a dollop of fresh whipped cream adorning the picture-perfect meringue.

Luke’s gaze was locked on her face as Joanne took her first bite, savoring the decadent flavors slowly. The smile that suddenly pulled at her mouth, lifting her lips, dazzled him. “I told you it was the best,” he chimed excitedly.

Joanne stifled a laugh, pulling a yellow paper napkin to her mouth as she swallowed. “Yes, you did,” she said as she pulled a second bite to her lips. “And you were right. It’s very good.”

“Worth the trip?”

Joanne lifted her eyes to stare into his. The look he gave her shimmered with excitement. Joanne was mesmerized by the energy that seemed to detonate her own. She nodded her head slowly, joy washing over her expression as she answered. “Very.”

When Joanne crawled beneath the sheets of her bed, turning off the light on the nightstand by the bedside, it was almost three o’clock in the morning. She was still trying to absorb the events of the evening—everything about her time with Luke Stallion was like nothing she’d ever experienced on any date before. Drunk with joy, Joanne’s excitement still bubbled like water from a fresh spring. With the way she was feeling, she fathomed that she’d never be able to fall asleep before her alarm announced that it was time for her to rise and shine.

Joanne couldn’t remember the last time she’d had so much fun. Their conversation had continued without skipping a beat as they’d enjoyed their pie and coffee. The man had made her laugh, eventually acknowledging his reluctance to even ask her to join him on their excursion. Joanne couldn’t help but admit that despite her initial reluctance she’d been thrilled that he had.

She also couldn’t help but admit that she was feeling guilty about them having shared such an extravagant evening when so many of the clients she served couldn’t begin to fathom such an opportunity. Luke hadn’t helped her with her conflict, the man having not an ounce of regret for his actions.

“I wanted to spend time with you,” he’d said, leaning back against the cushioned booth seat. “Why does my wanting to show you a good time have to be a crime?”

“It isn’t,” Joanne had answered, his admission moving her to lift her eyes in wonder. “It’s just—”

“Joanne, I don’t often meet a woman who I want to share moments like this with. You’re an incredibly beautiful woman, inside and out. I have the resources to show you a spectacular time, and I want to do just that. I want to share the things I enjoy most with you. Let me. Please?”

The man’s smile had been as sweet as a gentle rain on a sun-kissed afternoon. He’d leaned forward in his seat, reaching for both her hands as he’d clasped her fingers beneath his large palms. His look had been beseeching, his glazed eyes peering deep into hers. Joanne had fallen headfirst into his dark stare, completely enamored with Luke and the moment. With her resistance weakened, she hadn’t been able to find the words to give him a counter argument.

Rolling to the other side of the bed, Joanne heaved a deep sigh. As she drifted off into the warmth of a good night’s sleep, Luke Stallion filled her thoughts, nicely flooding her dreams.

Joanne was still thinking about Luke as she made the cross continental flight to Paris, France. She was grateful for the reprieve, a few days of down time to reflect on what she was feeling and get some perspective from an unbiased party. She smiled, knowing her mother would surely have an opinion about Joanne and her relationship with
any
man. She also knew it would hardly be impartial.

Joanne hadn’t given it much thought before, but she was grateful that she and her mother had a relationship at all. No thanks to her father, the two women had been able to form an extraordinary bond with one another. Joanne was acutely aware that not everyone was as fortunate.

Luke had told her he had no memories of his own mother. The woman had died when he’d been very young. During one of their many conversations he’d admitted to feeling like he’d missed out on something very special.

Joanne turned to stare out the airplane’s window, her eyes skating across the ice blue sky. Luke had mentioned on more than one occasion how much he looked forward to meeting Joanne’s parents. And Joanne had promised to make those introductions. She just hadn’t assured her new friend that it would be any time soon.

As the pilot turned on the seatbelt sign, announcing their descent, Joanne shook her head. She had much to tell her mother. She trusted that her mother would have a wealth of advice to give back to her.

Lillian Taylor was standing in wait in the terminal of the Charles de Gaulle International airport. A wide grin spread across Joanne’s face the moment she saw the woman smiling warmly and waving her arms excitedly in Joanne’s direction.