Chapter Eight

Scott remained smiling and sitting on Alexis’s worn, yet comfortable couch for a minute, basking in the revelation that she wanted him as much as he wanted her, before unfolding his muscled body to follow her.

He bypassed the room he’d slept in the night before and paused at a second. It was wall-to-wall with books: medical textbooks, medical thrillers, Shakespeare, and more. There was a laptop computer on the desk that had a caduceus screensaver floating back and forth on it, changing colors as it went.

There were a few pictures of her naval career on the spaces of the wall not covered by bookshelves. He noticed only one of her family, which was on the top of a bookshelf not in the main line of sight. She had an overstuffed chair beside the window with a stuffed unicorn propped up against the pillow. Leaving the room as silently as he entered, he was left with one other doorway.

Her bedroom. He knocked with one knuckle. “Alexis,” he called to her through the door.

Her naturally husky voice reached him. “Come in, Commander…Scott. I am just getting some things together.”

Pushing open the door, he stopped and took in Alexis’s sanctuary. She had a medium-sized room with two large windows that allowed in the light. A queen-sized bed was against one wall. Everything was neat and orderly.

The colors were subtle and warm of pale purples and soft golds, although her bed was accented by a rainbow of multihued pillows. Her furniture was all dark wood but the somber tone didn’t detract from the serenity of the room.

“What did you need, Commander? I can drop you back off at your hotel since I am on my way out. I have to get some more things for tonight’s dinner.” She was standing in front of the mirror and examining how her shirt looked, totally oblivious to the reaction of the man in the room with her.

Coming closer, Scott looked at her in the mirror. “I’m not a dream, Alexis. I won’t disappear if you touch me.”

With a swallow she said, “I know you aren’t a dream. But I have things to do and I am sure you do as well.”

“I want to spend time with you. Get to know you. All of you.” He moved even closer to her until his large body stood directly behind her, allowing her to see them together.

She opened her mouth but he reached around her and placed his fingers over her lips. “Don’t give me that same speech. I want to spend time with you. Come away with me.” His eyes held hers prisoner in the mirror and were full of promise.

“Okay,” she said as if a daze. “I can’t leave until tomorrow, since I have the dinner tonight.” But then panic and shock came across her face.

Oh, no. I’m not letting you out of my sight and giving you the chance to change your mind. I have you now, Alexis. You are mine! “I’ll hold you to that,” he vowed. The back of his hand ran down the side of her face and she instinctively pressed into it.

“Lex! Lex? Where are you, girl?” The screech reached them all the way back in the bedroom. Immediately, Alexis slipped out of the room, glad for a reprieve from Scott’s intensity.

In the middle of the living room stood her neighbor from a few houses up, Shirley Allen, a very happy, very loud, very beautiful black woman. “Hey, Shirl. What’s up?” Alexis asked as she approached. Stay back there, Commander. Please stay back there until she is gone.

“Well, two things. First off, I hear we are making ribs tonight. Is it going to be a block party?” She waggled her eyebrows at her friend. “You know it’s gonna end up as one, so it’ll be smart to plan for it from the jump.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Sure, why not? Spread the word, tell people we eat at six-thirty and the fun begins whenever they arrive.” Alexis shook her head as she imagined her night. No quiet evening at home for her!

“Now, Lex, tell me what’s this I’m hearin’ about some fly-lookin’ white Navy officer being here in your house?” Shirley asked in her sly tone.

Alexis felt her whole body blush. “Who told you that?” she hedged.

Shirley ignored that question and pushed for her own answer. “Come on, now, you know damn well I know just about everything that goes on here on this street. Now give!” Arms crossed and one finely plucked eyebrow rose as Shirley waited for the answer.

“There is a guy here I know from the ship. I’ve seen him around a few times. That’s all.” She held up her hands and crossed her heart.

“Umm-hmmm. And since when you let white men you’ve seen just a few times stay here? I ain’t never seen you let any man stay here. Hell, I ain’t ever seen a white man visit you!” Her foot began to tap. “What’s going on with you two?”

“Nothing!” she spit out. As Shirley tilted her head, Alexis repeated it in a calmer voice, “Nothing.”

That “nothing” went right out the window as her body trembled, telling her that against her most fervent prayers, Scott had returned to the living room. Alexis watched as Shirley’s eyes grew wide and moved slowly up and down the large man who stood behind her. Raw appreciation turned to lust and Alexis found herself not really liking the predatory gaze Shirley suddenly wore.

“Alexis.” His deep voice moved over her. “I’m ready when you are. Oh, excuse me.” His voice turned almost professional. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure.” Stunning blue eyes settled on the woman who stood across from him, moving her eyes over him as if he were a tall glass of water and she were in the desert hankering for a long sip of him.

Alexis took over. “Shirley, this is Scott Leighton. Scott Leighton, meet my friend, Shirley Allen.”

A low whistle left Shirley’s full, dusky lips. “Damn, you are one fine man. And a whole lotta one. Look at all them muscles you got. What do you do?”

His large body moved up beside Alexis, almost touching her but leaving enough space between them so not to cause suspicion. Yet it was still less than the amount he would leave between them on the ship. “It’s nice to meet you, Shirley. I do a little bit of everything.” He nodded his short-cropped head at her before putting those beautiful eyes back on Alexis.

“What does that mean?” Shirley moved closer with a noticeable sway to her hips.

“I do things all over,” his rich voice said, even as his eyes briefly met Shirley’s before migrating back to Alexis.

“I bet you do,” she replied as her tongue snaked out and over her lower lip. “Are you staying for the party tonight?”

“Yes, and I am looking forward to it.” Again his eyes moved to Alexis.

“So am I, now.” Shirley blinked and looked back at Alexis. “Okay, Lex, I will spread the word. I am going to go home and find something to wear that will make the rest of you women look…well, look like men. See you later, Navy man.” With a brief wave to Alexis she turned around and sashayed her shapely behind right out the door.

“Well, now, she was right friendly.” His voice was right beside her ear.

She was acting like a damn ho! “Yes, that’s Shirley for you,” she ground out.

Moving behind her so their bodies were touching, Scott slid his hands down her arms, over her hips, and back up to lace his fingers by the button on her pants. “Come now, Alexis,” he purred. “Don’t be jealous. Ever since I met you two years ago there hasn’t been another woman who could pull my attention from your beauty.”

His touch totally turning her to mush, Alexis found her body leaning back and settling comfortably in-to his hard one. Closing her eyes and allowing herself to enjoy the moment, she asked skeptically, “And you expect me to believe that for the past two years no woman—not a single long-legged, busty blonde, brunette, or redhead—charmed her way into garnering your attentions?”

He chuckled. “Two years. Two long years with nothing but dreams and visions of you. You aren’t the only one who has explicit sexual dreams.” His tongue swiped along the back of her ear. “If you tell me yours, I’ll tell you mine,” he offered in a voice that would make the devil give up his kingdom.

“I…I…I don’t know what you are talking about,” she stuttered.

“You weren’t having a dream when you so delightfully told me all about your dreams. At least I am the man you are dreaming about!” He sucked on the sensitive spot behind her ear. “All you have to do is say the word and we both can turn our dreams into reality. Just say my name,” he coaxed.

Alexis swallowed, her knees shaking so badly that she was surprised her butt wasn’t on the floor. Her mouth was dry from images of her being able to act out her fantasies with the man behind her, who was nibbling on her neck as if it were a sumptuous pastry. “I…I have to get to the store.”

One of his hands splayed across her flat abdomen while his other moved to her mouth. His thick index finger slid over the velvet feel of her lips before he separated those lips to slip his digit into her warm, wet mouth.

Instinctively, Alexis drew it in farther, her tongue moving along it as she sucked on it harder. She could feel his erection twitching against her back, telling her insistently what he wanted.