A Family Reunion (24 page)

Like a tidal wave, the force of her words, her surrender, engulfed him. He suddenly surged up, and without disengaging their bodies, he flipped her on her back, stretched out on the sofa, and began moving in and out of her body, with long, deep strokes. The dam inside of him had broken and his floodwaters were filling her to satisfaction.

Alexia lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist. She lifted her body to meet him stroke for stroke, getting caught up in the rhythm of his thrusts as he went deeper, making her feel she was a part of him and reinforcing the fact that this part of her did belong to him.

She closed her eyes and appreciated the fact that her sofa had good springs and a comfortable cushion, because Quinn wasn’t letting up any. He was making love to her hard, fast, complete, pulling all the way out, then thrusting all the way in again. Every part of her body felt the impact as he claimed her with demanding mastery while relentlessly exploring the depths of her mouth, making love to it as well.

Moments later she broke her mouth free when she felt a tremor move through his body to hers, igniting every nerve within her. “Quinn!”

He lifted her hips to receive more of him, going deeper, feeling stronger, hotter. He met her gaze and before he could demand that she say the words again, she tightened her legs around him, demanding the same of him that he’d demanded of her. “This is mine! Say it!”

He gave her the words without hesitation as he pushed deeper inside of her. “This is yours.”

Alexia wrapped her arms around him as her body accepted his words to be true. An idealistic calm settled over her.

But not for long. Every thrust he made into her body ensnared a piece of her soul.

The pace of Quinn’s lovemaking increased, bursting an inner flame within her. She became swept away into the maelstrom he had created as he continued claiming her, consuming her until there was no way she could take any more. A deep guttural sound erupted from his throat at the same time a powerful climax slammed into the both of them. She felt the hot fiery release from his groin shoot deep into her womb, pouring into all depths of her body.

“Alexia!”

The explosion was powerful. It was earth-shattering. It rocketed them to heights they’d never imagined possible.

He pushed himself farther and farther inside of her, flooding her insides with the very essence of him. Her womb milked him for all it could get as the force of their orgasm propelled them into a world of incoherent passion.

When he had given her all that he could, he whispered her name one last time and wrapped her in his arms. Exhausted. Satisified. Complete.

“Tell me about him.”

Eyes closed, Alexia lay under Quinn in contentment. Her body satiated, still panting and shuddering from what they had just shared. She rubbed her nose against his chest, inhaling his scent and the robust aroma of sex. It took all the strength she could muster to open her eyes and meet his gaze and ask, “Tell you about who?”

“The man who made you so distrustful of others,” Quinn responded softly. “The man who’s to blame for your always being on your guard and not wanting to share a long-term relationship with another man.”

Alexia thought about Quinn’s question for a moment, although the feel of his body still connected to hers made thinking about anything other than making love to him again a challenge. “Richmond Fulton wasn’t anything spectacular,” she tried to say lightly.

Quinn cupped her chin with his fingers when she tried looking away from him. “But you loved him.”

She took a deep breath as she remembered just how much she had loved Richmond and how he had effectively destroyed that love. “Yes, I loved him.”

“Then I want to know about him.”

Alexia studied Quinn’s features and was once again amazed at the extent of just how far he assumed he could go with her. The man was a tad bit arrogant, to say the least. But then she had to inwardly concede that she sort of liked his arrogance. No man had ever really stood up to her before. In the past after making love with a man she would immediately put distance between them, dismissing him from her thoughts as well as her bed and sending him on his way, real quick-like and in a hurry. None had ever given her any flack about it, not that it would have mattered if they had. Quinn, it seemed, came from a different breed of men. With him it was all or nothing. The man was artful when it came to getting what he wanted, but not in a manipulative kind of way. She supposed in his profession as an attorney he had to be sharp, shrewd, and clever. There was no doubt in her mind that she had definitely met her match with him.

Her thoughts drifted back to what he’d said. He wanted to know about Richmond. She had never discussed her marriage with any of her past lovers. But Quinn was asking her to do that very thing. He wanted her to open up to him.

“Why?” she finally asked. “Why do you want to know about my ex-husband?”

“So I can fully understand what I’m up against.”

Alexia shifted and turned her head so she was no longer looking directly into Quinn’s eyes. “You’re not up against anything or anyone.”

“I believe that I am.”

Alexia snatched her gaze back to Quinn’s, more than slightly irritated. How could he think such a thing after what they had just shared? He practically had carte blanche to her body. “I don’t understand why you’d feel that way. He means nothing to me anymore. He—”

“—hurt you, damn it.”

Quinn’s words ripped into her and she buried her face against his chest. She heard the anger in his voice and was overwhelmed at the thought that it was there for her. “Yes, he did hurt me,” she admitted, whispering the words softly against his throat.

Moments passed before either of them spoke again.

“Alexia?”

She kept her face buried. “Yes?”

“I can’t take away the pain he caused, but I can promise not to ever hurt you. Will you trust me on that?”

She raised her head and met his gaze. He was pushing too far, asking too much. “You’re always demanding something of me,” she snapped.

Her words drew a soft chuckle from Quinn’s throat. “Yes, but only because I want what’s best for you.”

“And just what do you think is best for me?”

Quinn’s gaze intensified as he looked at her. “I am,” he whispered hoarsely before leaning down and capturing her mouth, branding it the way he had branded her body, making it his.

His kiss was everything she’d come to expect. It was intoxicating, exhilarating, and by the time he ended it, it had her body quivering in need, in desire.

Quinn pulled himself up and sat back on his haunches, looking down at Alexia. Reaching out, he let his hand drift over each and every part of her naked body that he had touched, had tasted. His eyes were locked on her face, watching her reaction to his touch. “Will you, Alexia? Will you trust me or at least try?”

Alexia was trembling, not only from the feel of his hands on her, but also from the way he was looking at her. There was an intensity in his gaze that almost took her breath away. “Why should I?” she asked, barely breathing out the words.

Quinn inhaled deeply. He could easily explain in just a few words that the reason she should trust him was because he loved her. Deeply, completely. But he knew she wasn’t ready for something as heavy as that just yet. So instead he said words that he knew she could handle and would accept. “I want you to trust me because I want you. There’s a lot of chemistry between us, too much to let go to waste. For the time we’re together I don’t want any misunderstandings between us. I have to know that you believe I won’t deliberately hurt you and that you’re safe with me. I won’t let you put up your guard around me, and you can only let your guard down if you trust me. Will you trust me, Alexia?”

It was a long moment before she answered, “Yes.”

Smiling, he reached out and stroked her cheek with his thumb before leaning down and sealing her mouth with his. Unknowingly she had also sealed their lives together. There was no way he would ever let her go. Like he’d said, he would prove that he would not hurt her, and in the process he would heal her heart of the pain her ex-husband had caused her. In time, she would discover she could love again, and he intended to be the man she loved. He was a patient man, but then he was also a persistent man. Already he had jumped two hurdles tonight in building a relationship with her. She had let him lay claim to her body, and now she’d agreed to let her guard down and trust him.

He broke off the kiss and gathered her into his arms, hugging her close. “I think it’s time for us to go into the bedroom, don’t you think?”

Alexia took a deep breath, then smiled up at him. “Definitely.”

Rae’jean chided herself for being nervous as she entered the Heritage Building. She had a one o’clock appointment with a private investigator who she hoped could locate her father.

Now that she’d made the decision to act, she should have been feeling calm, relaxed, less stressed. But the unknown had her tense. Was the man who had fathered her still alive? Would he want to see her? If he had known about her, then why hadn’t he taken the initiative to find her? Locating her would not have been difficult, since he knew where her grandparents lived. She sighed deeply. And knowing that had been the hardest thing for her to swallow. He had not sought her out, which put niggling doubt in her mind that she was doing the right thing spending her money to find him.

She immediately crushed that thought. From the time she’d been old enough to understand that other kids had fathers and she didn’t, she had wondered about him. Who was he? What did he look like? Why couldn’t he be there with her and her mother?

Since her mother, nor any other family member for that matter, hadn’t been willing to provide answers to her childhood inquiries, she’d grown up speculating, curious. Now she hoped, with Ryan Garrison’s help, her speculation and curiosity would come to an end soon.

She had gotten Mr. Garrison’s name out of the phone book. When she checked with Consumer Services it appeared he had an astounding record of success when it came to locating people. He’d been highly recommended. His former clients had only good things to say about his professionalism and his manner of getting the job done. From what she’d heard, he was a man of action. She only hoped he wasn’t backed up with assignments and would be willing to take on her case.

Since today was her day off from the hospital, she was dressed more comfortably than usual, having chosen a slim calf-length printed skirt and a rib-fitting blouse. The sandals she wore she had purchased during her shopping spree while attending the family reunion. Alexia had seen them first, and the both of them had ended up buying a pair. They were cute as well as comfortable. Deciding she hadn’t wanted to be bothered with her hair, she had swept the long strands up on her head in an elegant French twist.

Entering the main lobby of the building, she immediately went to the elevator. When the elevator door opened, she stepped inside. By the time she had reached her destination the nervousness returned. She shrugged, determined to go through with this.

It wasn’t hard finding Mr. Garrison’s office. His nameplate was big as day on his office door:
RYAN J. GARRISON, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR
. Inhaling a deep breath, she opened the door and went inside. An older lady, who she assumed to be Mr. Garrison’s secretary, was seated in the spacious and elaborately decorated outer office. The woman looked up upon hearing her approach. “Yes, may I help you?”

“Yes. I’m here to see Mr. Garrison. I have a one o’clock appointment. I’m Rae’jean Bennett.”

The woman smiled. “Yes, Ms. Bennett. You’re early. Mr. Garrison hasn’t returned from lunch. Do you mind waiting?”

“No, not at all.” Sitting in one of the chairs, she picked up the latest issue of
Black Enterprise
from off the table in front of her. She had read several of the articles by the time the secretary called her name to get her attention.

“Mr. Garrison just returned and I’ve told him you’re here. He’ll be out in a minute.”

Rae’jean nodded. Since she was certain no one had come through the room where she’d been sitting for the last half hour, she could only assume there was a back door to Mr. Garrison’s office. She returned her attention to the article she’d been reading.

Moments later when she heard the door to Mr. Garrison’s office open, she lifted her head. As soon as she looked into the man’s face, she was stunned. She blinked twice, then a third time, not believing who she saw. Walking toward her was the man who’d been her neighbor. The man she’d lusted after on many occasions.

She took a deep breath, forcing air into her lungs. From the look of it, Ryan Garrison was just as shocked to see her as she was to see him. He stopped his approach and stared at her.

Rae’jean took another deep breath, not knowing what to do. She noticed the secretary had stopped typing and was eyeing them with curiosity. Mr. Garrison noticed his employee’s interest as well and cleared his throat. He then took the final steps over to her. He cleared his throat again. “Ms. Bennett?”

She could only nod as she got to her feet.

He offered her his hand. “I’m Ryan Garrison.”

Rae’jean wasn’t aware she had given him her hand until she felt it encompassed in the firm, warm strength of his. After he had released her hand it still tingled from his touch. She somehow found her voice and said shakily, “I’m Rae’jean Bennett and I have an appointment with you.” For some reason she felt the need to explain why she was there.

A quick smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Would you come into my office?”

Rae’jean thought that as long as he continued talking to her in such a deep, sexy voice she would go just about anywhere with him. And his smile wasn’t half-bad, either. She took another deep breath, forcing herself to get a grip. She didn’t want to be any form of entertainment for Mr. Garrison’s secretary, who was still watching them.

Adjusting the straps of her purse on her shoulder, Rae’jean allowed Ryan Garrison to escort her into his office. He closed the door behind them, shutting them off from the secretary’s prying eyes.

“Please have a seat, Ms. Bennett.”

She immediately took the seat he offered, not sure how much longer her legs would be able to support her. She had begun to feel them buckling under her the moment she saw just who Ryan Garrison was.

“Well then,” he said, sitting at his desk in a chair directly across from her. “What can I do for you?”

Rae’jean met his gaze and thought his question was a loaded one, with numerous possibilities. Her heart began thumping wildly against her rib cage. She was reminded of the first time she had seen him when she’d stood at the window, watching him move into her apartment complex. There had been something about him that had drawn her to him even from two floors up and across the span of the parking lot. It had been something immediate, tangible, forceful.

Pretty much like right now.

She watched his eyes probe deep into hers and knew that, like her, he was remembering that day and was probably also remembering another time their paths had crossed. It had been the day she’d been rushing to work and had accidentally bumped into him. He had touched her to keep her from falling. That touch had seared her insides. It was a contact she could not forget.

And from the looks of it, neither could he.

“You’re no longer wearing an engagement ring,” Ryan Garrison said, lifting his brow questioningly.

His words, soft yet husky, filtered through the room. She was not surprised he had decided to clear the air by confronting the strong sexual attraction that neither of them could deny.

“I’m no longer engaged,” she said as she continued to meet his gaze. “We decided to be just friends.”

He nodded slowly as he continued to watch her through dark, intense eyes. “I liked him, your former fiancé.”

Rae’jean raised a brow. “You know Grady?”

He shrugged. “Not on a personal level. I know that, like you, he’s a doctor. We ran into each other on the elevator a few times when he was visiting you. He’s a friendly person.”

Rae’jean couldn’t help smiling. That was Grady all right. “How did you know I was a doctor?”

He hesitated before answering, “I saw you leave the apartments a few times dressed the part.”

Rae’jean nodded. She wondered if he’d often done what she’d done, stand at the window and watch him come and go. “You moved,” she suddenly blurted out, unintentionally making it sound like an accusation, a personal affront. She didn’t know if he took it that way, since his expression didn’t change. It was still intense.

“Yes. My house was finished.”

“Your house?”

“Yes. I was having a new one built. My wife got the old one.”

Rae’jean continued to stare at him, but that one word
wife
made a lump form in her throat. “Your wife?”

He nodded slowly. “My ex-wife, actually. I’m divorced.”

“For how long?” Rae’jean didn’t think for a minute asking him that was none of her business. For some reason she felt she had a right to know. Evidently he thought so, too, because he answered.

“Six months.”

Which would have been about the time he had moved into the apartments, she thought. “Any kids?”

“No, and I take it you don’t have any children, either.”

“No, I don’t have any.” She waited for him to ask the next question, and when he didn’t say anything but continued to look at her she chuckled softly.

“What’s so amusing, Ms. Bennett?”

“This entire situation. I think the both of us can agree that it won’t work?”

“What won’t work?”

“My using your company to find my father.”

“And why wouldn’t it work?”

Rae’jean shook her head, wondering if she really had to spell it out to him. “Because…” She hesitated, looking for the right words to use.

“Because we’re so attracted to each other that neither of us can think straight.”

His straight-to-the-point, no-beating-around-the-bush attitude caught her off guard. She shifted in her seat and nervously crossed her legs. “Are you always inclined to say whatever’s on your mind, Mr. Garrison?”

“It depends on timing. I was very much attracted to you when we were neighbors, but the engagement ring you wore made doing anything about it impossible. I don’t believe in invading another man’s territory.”

“And now since you know I’m no longer engaged?”

He sighed deeply as he continued to look at her. “Bad timing again, since I have a policy of not getting personally involved with my clients.”

Strange, Rae’jean thought, she should have been elated that things would be strictly business between them, since she wasn’t ready to get involved with anyone again just yet. But still, his saying things would be strictly business between them was easy. The challenge would be in making sure things stayed that way. “And you’re sure things will remain strictly business between us, Mr. Garrison?”

“I’m positive, Ms. Bennett.” He sat up straighter in his chair. “Now that that’s out of the way, let’s discuss the real business at hand,” he said, pulling out a writing pad. “You indicated that you want me to find your father.”

Satisfied that things would be kept on a business level between them, Rae’jean began talking. For the next thirty minutes or so, she told him about her history and the information Uncle Victor had shared with her regarding her father. She watched as he periodically wrote down notes, thinking that he had a really nice set of hands. She mentally shook herself. She shouldn’t be thinking of his hands, or any other parts of him for that matter, although she had to admit he looked just as good sitting across from her dressed in a suit and tie as he did the other times she’d seen him wearing T-shirts and jeans. She quickly decided she liked him better in jeans. He looked awfully good in them, she reflected.

“Ms. Bennett?”

Rae’jean blinked as she met his intense gaze. While he’d been talking to her, her mind had drifted elsewhere. She wondered what he’d think if he knew she’d been thinking about him. “Yes?”

“Like I was saying, finding your father shouldn’t be much of a problem, since you have a name and a place where he was working thirty years ago. I’ll keep you updated each week.” Fees were then discussed and agreed on.

“How long do you think it will take?” Rae’jean asked and stood after he did.

“It depends. I’ll have a preliminary report to you in a week. Do you want my courier to deliver the report or do you want to come by here and pick it up?” He came to stand in front of her.

Rae’jean weighed his question with serious consideration. If he had it delivered to her then she wouldn’t have to come in contact with him. “You can have it delivered.”

He nodded.

She reached her hand out to him. “Thanks. I appreciate all your help.”

He took her hand in nothing more than a businesslike handshake. “And I appreciate your giving us the business.”

With nothing further to say, Rae’jean turned and walked out of Ryan Garrison’s office.

Ryan Garrison walked over to the window and looked out. His breath got caught in his throat the moment he saw Rae’jean exit the building and begin walking along the sidewalk. His senses heightened as he watched her retreating back as she crossed the street to her car. How many times had he stood at his apartment window and watched her walk across the parking lot? More times than he cared to count and then some. He’d gotten to pretty much know her schedule and would have his coffee in his hand as he stood at the window and watched her while sipping his coffee and admiring every damn thing about her. Especially her walk. It was pure sensuality in motion. He’d had no idea that a woman’s walk could be a total turn-on. Even when she had turned to walk out of his office he’d gotten a rise out of it. Big-time. He was glad nothing had compelled her to glance back at him. There was no way she would have missed seeing the huge bulge straining against the zipper of his pants.

It was a considerable time later before Ryan could summon the energy or the inclination to go sit at his desk. He wished there was some way his mind could do an instant replay of what he’d just seen. Back at his desk he picked up the writing pad and glanced down at the notes he’d taken. Swearing creatively, he tossed it aside and rested his head back against his chair. If this just didn’t beat all. In his line of business coincidences never ceased to amaze him.

When he had moved out of his apartment, he’d thought he would never see his sexy and gorgeous neighbor again, although he’d known he would continue to think about her and that images of her would sneak into his dreams at night. He’d hated the idea of lusting after another man’s woman, especially a man who seemed to be such an OK guy.

He wondered why she and her fiancé had decided not to marry. Irreconcilable differences perhaps? That was a good one to use. At least that’s the reason Cherise had come up with when she had divorced him. He guessed it wouldn’t have been kosher to use the truth—that she had gotten pregnant from another man—as the real reason she’d wanted him out of her life, so she could be free to marry her baby’s father.