Pride and Consequence (15 page)

Tree clutched his hand more tightly around the steering wheel in an effort to keep it off Eddie. He cleared his throat and nodded. “I know the best restaurant in town,” he confirmed. “My place.”

Edwina's hazel gaze widened as she stared straight ahead. Lord, she had no idea…

“Here we are,” Tree announced, as he easily backed the fierce-looking Hummer into a reserved spot.

After a moment, Edwina's gaze focused past the passenger window. She blinked in surprise upon seeing the stark, imposing high-rise set against the night sky. She was eyeing the building in awe when Tree opened her door.

Trekel watched her intensely, smirking a little when he felt her tremble beneath the slight pressure of his hand cupping her elbow. Ignoring that, he pulled her arm through his and escorted her inside.

“Wow,” Eddie breathed, as her hazel gaze wandered over the elegant, plush surroundings. Though the building housed mostly law offices and insurance firms, its furnishings gave a different statement. The decor was comfortable, yet professional.

“I can't believe how beautiful this all is,” she remarked, as the elevator doors slid closed with a mellow hum.

Tree leaned against the paneled wall and pushed his hands into his pockets. “Yeah, it's gorgeous,” he agreed, his pitch-black eyes trailing Eddie's form with unmasked appreciation.

Eddie turned to face Tree. “So, how many people live here?”

“Just me.”

“Excuse me?”

Tree leaned his head against the elevator wall and smiled. “This is an office building…law offices, insurance people. One of my clients designed this place and since I was his lawyer, I got first choice.”

“Mmm…convenient,” Eddie slyly noted.

Tree bowed his head. “Very.”

“So are we having dinner at your office, or…”

“My offices are on one wing and my home is on another,” Tree smoothly explained.

Edwina swallowed past the lump that had suddenly lodged itself in her throat. “Oh,” she croaked.

A soft buzz sounded, signifying their arrival on the penthouse floor. Tree pushed himself from the wall and stepped over to Eddie. “This way,” he whispered, laying his hand flat against the small of her back.

Eddie nodded and followed his request. They made a left turn out of the elevator and headed toward the wide, oak double doors at the far end of the corridor.

While Eddie waited for Tree to locate his house key and unlock the door, she took a moment to admire him. Lord, he was too much the way she would have him.
Intelligent, successful, thoughtful, not to mention, incredibly handsome, sexy and built like a weight lifter. If only…

“Here we are,” he announced, when the door was unlocked and opened. “I left dinner baking in the oven, so I better check on it first.”

Edwina felt as though she were walking through a castle. The man has to have a staff of twenty housekeepers, she thought. The surroundings were so exquisite and pristine, they appeared to be taken right off the pages of a dream homes magazine. The living room was spacious, but filled with framed pictures and a mural that covered the far wall. Trekel Grisani was obviously a man proud of his mixed heritage. There were countless beautiful African hangings, masks and statues, as well as artwork of Roman origin. The furniture was comfortable-looking and oversized, which wasn't surprising considering his size. The place made Edwina want to curl up in a fuzzy sweater with a mug of herbal tea and listen to the classics.

“Eddie!” Tree bellowed from the kitchen.

“Yeah?” she returned his call.

“Make yourself at home and I'll give you the grand tour!”

Eddie pulled off her short, leather coat and hung it on the brass rack near the living room entrance. “Does the rest of the place look as beautiful as the living room?” she asked in a teasing voice.

“That depends on what mood my cleaning people were in,” he answered as he walked into the room.

Eddie laughed. “That's good to hear.”

Tree frowned, removing his watch and massaging his wrist. “Why's that?”

“Well, if you knew how to keep house that would make you too incredible.” Her eyes were wide as she realized she must have spoken aloud.

The two of them stared at each other, their gazes practically sparkling from the sexual attraction they had yet to test completely. Edwina wanted so much to be touched by Tree again, but she warned herself to cast that from her thoughts.

“We better get started,” he was saying, waving his hands toward the long stairway located through a doorway at the back of the room.

To Eddie's delight, the rest of the penthouse was as lovely as the living room. The decor was basically the same, but with subtle changes in color scheme and artwork. Each room had a personality all its own. The tour ended in the dining room where dinner would be served. Eddie trailed her fingers along the polished mahogany surface and noticed the far corner of the table had been set for two.

“Oh, Tree, this whole place is gorgeous. I'd never want to leave if it were mine,” she admitted, turning to find him standing right behind her.

The look in Tree's incredible dark eyes said he wouldn't be averse to that in the least. He stepped closer to Eddie, causing her to retreat until she brushed up against the table.

Tree placed his hands on either side of her and lowered his mouth to the side of her neck.

“Don't…” she tried to resist as her thick lashes fluttered close.

In response, Tree's mouth slid along the soft line of her neck and across her jaw to her parted lips. He kissed her deeply, thrusting his tongue in the most delicious, erotic motions.

Eddie groaned and returned the kiss with passion. Her hands stroked his bronzed forearms, visible beneath his upturned shirt sleeves. He leaned closer still, until she was lying beneath him on the table.

Their hands roamed over each other's bodies in wild abandon. The passionate kiss was filled with need, as were the words they whispered.

Tree's huge frame shuddered. Desire for the lovely woman in his arms took over his entire being.

“Tree?…” Eddie finally whispered when the delicious aromas from the kitchen drifted below her nose.

“Mmm?”

“Your food.”

Despite his need and almost painful state of arousal, Tree managed to pull away. He took a moment to catch his breath before standing and heading to the kitchen. Eddie pressed her hand to her racing heart and prayed for an end to the erotic tingle coursing through her body.

Malik dropped the stack of pamphlets on the desk and leaned back in his chair. Dr. McNeil and Dr. Burns exchanged glances as they watched him finish with the reading material.

“So, what do you think?” Dr. Burns asked, clasping his hands together.

Malik rested his head back against the chair, his grayish-black stare focused on the ceiling. “I still don't know what a lot of those long words mean, but I have a better idea about my condition.”

“And the surgery?”

Malik pushed himself upright in the padded dark green chair. “I was hoping to read that it's going to be guaranteed one hundred percent successful.”

Both doctors smiled sympathetically. Then Dr. McNeil stepped forward and slapped Malik's shoulder. “It's important that you believe the operation will be a success.”

“That's right,” Dr. Burns agreed. “You've gotta want to fight this thing. Your mind-set plays a big role where the sickness is concerned.”

Malik drew one hand through his dreadlocks before he shrugged. “So what's next?”

Dr. Burns turned and walked behind his desk. “First, we have some tests to run. Once the results are back, we'll proceed from there.”

“Will you be calling your wife?” Dr. McNeil asked, folding his arms over his chest.

Malik was silent for a moment, before he looked up at the doctor. “No.”

“Damn,” Eddie whispered furiously. She'd dropped her fork for the fourth time since they had started eating. She'd always prided herself on her cool demeanor, but that night it had deserted her. That was the last thing she needed to have happen with Tree sitting so close.

Tree decided not to comment on Eddie's obvious agitation. He couldn't blame her, since he had been fighting against losing his “cool” more than once that evening. He intended to make love to her that night. Perhaps she sensed that. He could only hope she wouldn't refuse him.

Eddie cleared her throat and sent Tree a dazzling smile. “I can't get over how good this is,” she said, complimenting him on the delicious salmon steaks.

“Thanks, I'll be sure to tell my cook,” he said, a grin brightening his handsome features.

Eddie shook her head. “I thought you'd take credit for it.”

“Ha! No, I wouldn't joke about something like that!”

“Why?” Eddie asked, melting at the sound of his deep, infectious laughter.

Tree wiped a tear from his eyes. “Because the next time, you might ask me to prove my culinary skills.”

Edwina tensed a little at his mention of “next time.” Luckily, Tree didn't notice.

“I can't cook to save my life,” he said. “The woman I marry will have to have skills in the kitchen or we'll both die.”

Eddie laughed. “That's what restaurants are for.”

Tree took a sip of his beer and nodded. “True, but I prefer eating at home. More privacy.”

The grip Edwina had on her fork tightened instantly at the suggestive comment. After a moment, she glanced up to see his dark, deep-set gaze trained on her. The message she read there told her it was time to go.

“Tree—”

“When you're done with dinner, we can have dessert in the den,” he suggested, crushing all hopes Eddie had for a quick escape.

“So what's for dessert?” Eddie asked when they walked into the small cozy den. Tree had followed her into the room without a tray or any sign of food.

“All I want is right here.” Tree told her. The wicked smirk on his lips cast a devilish light to his incredible features.

Of course, Eddie had no doubts what he meant. She began to back away, her eyes darting from left to right as she struggled to find something to say.

Tree, however, had wanted the sweet, dark chocolate beauty too long not to give it his best try.

“I don't think this is the right time,” Eddie whispered, hating the shaky quality of her voice.

A crooked smile caused the corners of Tree's smoldering midnight eyes to crinkle adoringly. “Edwina…”

“I just think maybe we should hold off a while, you know?” she reasoned, wringing her hands nervously. “Just until we know each other better.”

“Can you honestly tell me that you don't want this?” he asked, the deep mellow sound of his voice resembling a low growl.

Eddie's lashes fluttered over her eyes, as she tried to block out the image of Tree's powerful form filling her view. Oh how she wanted him, but…

“Eddie?”

“All right, all right!” she admitted in nervous anticipation. “I do want this. I want you. But I just—”

Tree didn't give her the chance to finish. He took her hand and pulled her toward him. Edwina gasped at the smooth, easy movement. Tree crushed his mouth against hers and kissed her deeply.

Her hands curled into small fists and she pounded them weakly against his unyielding chest. “Wait,” she pleaded beneath the masterful kiss.

“I can't” was his tortured response. He loosened his grip on her hand and slid both his arms around her slim frame.

Eddie's fists slowly uncurled and she softened in the protective embrace. Then slowly, with just a hint of uncertainty, she kissed him back. The force of the kiss subsided just a little when he felt her tongue gently caress his but his embrace tightened as he sought to bring her closer.

Eddie surrendered to the intense attraction she had for the man who held her so passionately. Her lips, swollen from the pressure of the kiss, trailed the strong wide column of Tree's neck. She inhaled the clean, masculine scent of his cologne as her fingers sank into his black, wavy hair. All of her inhibitions fell away to leave a shocking passion she desperately needed Tree to satisfy. Wanting to feel more of him, her fingers went to work on the buttons of his shirt.

Tree's large hands covered hers and stopped her. Edwina's hazel gaze snapped to his handsome face and, for a moment, she memorized his dark, deep-set eyes, the long black brows, the angle of his nose and the sensuous wide mouth. Somewhere in the back of her mind, a warning bell sounded. It told her to think about this and to remember all the times she had been hurt. This time, however, Eddie wouldn't let the more sensible side of her nature take over. She wanted this man too much not to take what he was offering.

Slowly, possessively, Tree's massive hands spanned Eddie's waist before they curled around her hips. Easily, he lifted her before him and buried his handsome face in the crook of her neck. As his lips nibbled at the soft skin there, Eddie threw her head back and eased her arms about his neck. She kicked off her chocolate pumps and locked her hips around his lean waist. A delighted cry escaped her when she felt the incredible bulge against the front of his trousers.