Looking For Trouble (21 page)

PJ paused for a moment, as if mulling over something. “You're reading my mind, aren't you?”

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. It just happened.”

“Shit, Ali. You can really read my mind!”

“Like I told my mom this afternoon, I didn't know I had this ability until today. It just happened. I looked at you and, poof, I knew.”

PJ leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I don't have anything to hide. But the fact that you know what I'm thinking and you can read my mind . . . that's kind of unnerving.”

Alexandria nodded. “I know. It's intrusive and I'm going to work on controlling it and figure out exactly what I can and can't do with my gift. I'm learning as I go.”

PJ nodded. “Okay, but we need to get some ground rules straight.”

“I won't go around reading your mind. I promise.”

They were silent for a few moments before PJ spoke up. “So, about our parents, it's wild, right?”

“Yes, and problematic.”

PJ raised his brow. “Why do you say that? They had a past, but that was over before we were even born.”

“Think again.”

“Wait a minute. What do you know that I don't?”

Alexandria told him that their parents had been deeply in love, that it was very serious, and their feelings for each other were still high when she and PJ had met in kindergarten. She also told him that her mother had come close to cheating on her dad with his father, which had caused even more tension between the two men who had never cared for each other. But she held off on divulging the fact that she was almost certain her mother secretly harbored feelings for his dad.

PJ shook his head. “This makes sense now. I guess that's why my dad sounded so concerned when I told him about us. He asked me a million questions about you and your mom. Which isn't like him at all.”

“He did?”

“Yeah, but in his defense, I guess he was curious because he's never heard me talk about anyone the way I talked about you.”

Alexandria knew she shouldn't do it—because she'd just promised she wouldn't—but she couldn't help herself. She wanted to know what he'd said to his father, and if he had indeed talked about her in a special way. She looked into his eyes to see if what he was saying was true. She blinked and saw that not only was it true, he'd told his father that she was “the one.” She saw that Mr. Brightwood had told him to slow down, and that he was moving too fast.
“Let's talk about this over drinks when I get in on Friday night,”
she heard him say.

“Ali, you're doing it again, aren't you?”

She lowered her head and nodded. “Yes, I—”

“You just promised you wouldn't.”

Alexandria felt awful. “I know, and I'm so, so sorry, PJ. It won't happen again. I'm
really
for real, this time.”

“This is gonna be a problem. I can't have you reading my mind and knowing my thoughts. I'm a secure man, and, like I said, I don't have anything to hide. But I don't want you knowing every little thing I say, think, or do.”

Alexandria looked into his eyes, but PJ looked away. “Don't do it, Ali.”

“I'm not.” She reached out and held his hand. “I want you to trust me, and I don't want you to be afraid to look me in the eye. I was wrong for what I did, and it won't happen again.” She could see that he was still unconvinced, and she couldn't blame him. She felt terrible. “I'm sorry, honey.”

PJ's head turned back to her when he heard her whisper her words with sweetness. He let out a heavy sigh and shook his head. “Damn, see, this is why my dad's concerned for me. You got a brothah sprung, and we haven't even—”

Alexandria raised her brow.

“Hell, you already know what I was gonna say.”

Alexandria nodded and looked him in the eye. “I'm serious, PJ. I'm going to work on controlling my abilities.”

“I'll help if I can.”

“I have a feeling this is something I'm going to have to learn myself, with the help of Grandma Allene, of course.”

They paused for a moment. “So,” he said, breaking the silence again, “do you think there's something still there between your mom and my dad?”

Alexandria didn't want to lie, but she also didn't want to speak out of turn about her mother's feelings, so she told him what was true. “I'm not one hundred percent sure.”

“That means there's a chance there is.”

“Yes, it does.”

“Does that bother you?”

“Of course. Does it bother you?”

“Hell yeah. That would be too weird and complicated for a number of reasons. But I'll find out what's going on when I have dinner with my dad this Friday night.”

Now it was Alexandria's turn to raise her brow. “You're going to ask him?”

“Yep, man-to-man. My dad and I have that kind of relationship, and if there's anything going on, he'll tell me.”

Alexandria was filled with contradictory feelings. On one hand, she was happy that she was no longer afraid to claim her gift, and that she'd embraced the fact that it was a blessing that was handed down to her. But there was also a part of her that was already beginning to see what a burden having the gift could be. She didn't have to wait for PJ to confirm what she already knew—that both their parents still had feelings for each other after all these years.

PJ held her hand and rubbed her soft skin with his fingers, pulling her back into the moment. “Are we still going to the Lazy Day tonight?” he asked.

“I didn't think you'd be up for going back again so soon. Don't you have early rounds in the morning?”

“Kyle wants you to perform tonight, right?”

“Yes, but I didn't commit to it. Besides, it's late—”

PJ cut her off. “Then we have to get going. This is your future.”

All Alexandria could do was smile. She was going to grab hold of her future, and she knew PJ was going to be a definite part of it.

Chapter 29

I
t was Thursday night, but Alexandria couldn't tell whether it was Friday or Saturday, because every day had felt like the weekend since reconnecting with PJ.

They talked on the phone every day. His was the first voice she heard when she awoke in the morning, and the last to whisper in her ear before she went to sleep at night. They had even managed to carve out time to meet for a quick cup of coffee in the hospital cafeteria during lunchtime yesterday, in between his rounds. Alexandria had thought he looked good enough to sip through a straw when she saw him in his lab coat, with his stethoscope hanging around his neck, and she had to control herself when he hugged her tightly before they said good-bye.

Now she was meeting him at his place for dinner, and she was slightly nervous. When they were at her house, she felt more in control of what might happen; but she knew that once they were on his turf, all bets were off. She'd quickly learned that although he was one of the sweetest, most compassionate men she'd ever met, he was also a serious alpha male, who was used to getting what he wanted. His bravado was sexy, and it gave him an edge, which she found irresistibly appealing, but also a little dangerous.

When she came up to PJ's building, Alexandria felt a twinge of déjà vu, as if she'd been there before. She tried to shake the feeling as she pushed the intercom button for PJ's unit. Once he buzzed her inside the elegant lobby of his luxe building, the sensation she couldn't quite explain grew even stronger.

Alexandria looked around the opulently decorated space, inhaled the scent of fresh-cut flowers, which sat inside a huge bronze urn on the table in the center of the lobby, and tried to figure out why this place seemed so familiar. She knew she'd never been here before; yet she felt a very real connection to everything around her.

She forced her mind to push away the puzzling feeling as she entered the richly paneled elevator on her way up to PJ's unit. Her stomach fluttered, replacing her nervousness with excitement and anticipation about the evening ahead.

“Your building is really nice,” she said when PJ greeted her at the door with a warm hug. She looked around as she walked inside. “I knew you were a high-end brother.” She smiled, nudging him with her elbow.

PJ laughed. “I've got to be, if I want a princess like you on my arm.”

“Now this is really getting weird.”

“What?”

“ ‘Princess' is the nickname my dad calls me.”

“Really?”

“Yes, he's called me that ever since I can remember.”

PJ looked at her with seductive eyes. “See, I told you we belong together. This is a soul connection, baby.”

Hearing him call her “baby” made her smile. Five minutes later, Alexandria was sitting on PJ's couch as she watched him move about his small gourmet kitchen, gathering a bottle of wine and glasses. He'd already called ahead for their Chinese takeout and told her that their delivery would be there any minute. Just then, his doorbell rang.

“Can you get that?” PJ called out from the kitchen. “It's probably our food.”

Alexandria strolled over to the door, accepting the bag of delicious smelling food. Instead of eating at his small dining-room table, they opted to kick their shoes off and enjoy their meal in the living room on the comfort of his soft leather couch. Alexandria used her chopsticks to remove their food from the containers onto their plates, while PJ lit a candle and poured the wine.

“Chinese is my favorite,” he said.

“It's my second favorite, next to Italian.”

“Italian's my number two, so now we know we can switch up the next time.”

They enjoyed laughter and seductive flirting throughout their meal. A subtle smile here, a light touch there, and a hint of suggestive sexual banter was tossed back and forth between them. Alexandria was feeling more and more aroused; she wondered if she could continue to maintain her desires as the evening went on.

After they finished eating, PJ put away their dishes, selected a vintage bottle of after-dinner wine, and settled back on the couch next to Alexandria. She looked at him and wondered if he was feeling the same wanton desires and thoughts that were running through her body and mind.

She'd been seeing him for less than a week; and even though she disagreed with her mother about the quickness of the relationship she and PJ were building, she did agree that sex shouldn't be a part of it so soon. From her experience, sleeping with a man too quickly usually led to disaster. She knew PJ was different from other men she'd been involved with in the past, but she still didn't want to test the law of averages. On the other hand, life had recently taught her that nothing was for certain, and things could change in the blink of an eye.

“To us, and to new beginnings,” PJ said as he held up his glass in a toast.

Alexandria tipped her glass against his and took a small sip. The wine, just like PJ, was strong, with subtle notes of sweetness that went down smooth, with a little kick to let you know what you had.

“This is good,” she complimented as she took another sip. She sat back and looked around, giving his home a closer inspection. She took in the floor-to-ceiling windows, strategically placed recessed lights, and warm, earth-toned walls, which matched the living room's rich décor in both design and comfort. “I see why you wanted to come home and crash last weekend. Your place is very relaxing.”

“Thanks, and, actually, this is my dad's place.”

“It is?”

“Yeah, he purchased this condo a few years before I was born and he never sold it. Over the years, he rented it out, but when I decided to do my residency at Emory, he told me I could live here as long as I wanted. So I did a few minor upgrades, slapped some new paint on the walls, and here I am.” PJ smiled. “My dad doesn't own the building, like your father does yours, but it's worked out pretty well and saved me a ton of money.”

Now she understood the familiar feeling she'd experienced when she first approached the building. She'd been there before, through her mother. When she'd looked into Victoria's eyes last Sunday and saw flashes of her with PJ's dad, this place had been one of the many things that played out in front of her eyes in a matter of seconds. She now realized that her abilities ran much deeper than she'd ever imagined.

The thought of what she could do was too much for Alexandria to process at the moment. So instead of killing the intimate mood with her surreal vision, she tucked her new revelation away and kept the conversation flowing. “Well, I'm impressed. You did a great job decorating.”

“Thanks, I'm glad you like it.”

“I'm really glad I'm here.”

“So am I. Having you here feels good.”

His deep voice oozed of raw sensuality and it made Alexandria's heart beat fast. She shifted in place from her right hip to her left and took a deep breath. “What we're building is really special, and I want us to be careful with it, you know?”

PJ swirled the wine in his glass, took a sip, and raised his brow. “What're you trying to say?”

“I want us to develop our relationship the right way.”

“Ali, relax. This is the second time you've said that.”

“It is?”

PJ nodded his head. “You said it yesterday when we had coffee.”

“Oh. I'm sorry. I just want to be clear about certain things.”

“Like sex?” he said in a serious tone. “I know you can look into my eyes and tell how much I want you.”

His directness turned her on even more, but she knew she had to fight against it and also set the record straight. “Yes, I was talking about rushing to bed too quickly. But, PJ, I want you to know that I haven't used my gift to read your thoughts since the other night. I told you I wouldn't do that again, and I meant it.”

“I appreciate that. But it still doesn't change the fact that I want you, and you know that, don't you?”

“Yes, I do.”

“And you want me, too.”

Alexandria swallowed hard, but she didn't say anything.

“Ali, when it comes to us, there's no right or wrong, fast or slow. The dating rules we applied to others in our past don't count when it comes to what's happening between us. You're different from any woman I've ever known.”

“I am?”

“Of course. Our whole vibe is different.
This,
” he said, pointing between the two of them, “is different. Can't you feel it?”

Alexandria nodded. “Yes, I can.” She took another sip of wine and uncrossed her long, shapely legs. She could see PJ's eyes glued to her smooth thighs, which peeked out from beneath her pencil skirt. The sexual tension between them had been building all night, and now it had reached a crescendo.

PJ picked up the remote from the coffee table and hit the play button. When Sade's sultry voice crooned through the Bose speakers, Alexandria knew he was setting the mood for what was sure to turn physical.

“Want a refill?” he asked, motioning toward her half-empty glass.

She shook her head and set her wineglass on the coffee table. “Um, no. I'm good.”

“Me too.” PJ smiled seductively and set his empty glass beside Alexandria's. “I'm a man of action, and I don't believe in beating around the bush.”

In one quick move, he slid closer toward her so they were now sitting side by side, with only a few inches separating their bodies. He took her hand into his and held it, stroking her palm with his thumb. It was a sensual gesture, which made her stomach do small flips. She was sure he could feel her excited jitters as he held her fingers gently in his grip. Things were moving fast, and Alexandria wondered if she could slow them down, or if she even wanted to at this point.

“Ali?”

“Yes?”

PJ looked at her, but he didn't say another word. Slowly he leaned in so close that Alexandria could feel his warm, wine-scented breath on her skin. His nose almost touched hers as he planted himself in her personal space. His breathing became slow and steady, while hers grew short and rapid, matching the pace of her pounding heart. Her body was flush and hot, and she could feel the wetness starting to form on the cotton strip of her silk, hot pink–colored panties.

PJ looked into her eyes, wrapped his arms around her waist, and lifted her onto his lap with such comfort and ease that Alexandria found herself giving in to the very thing she'd tried to fight.

Once she settled on top of him, she pulled her skirt up a little farther and rested her round bottom against his bulging hard-on, causing her to let out a small gasp of excitement. She smiled at his arousal and leaned into him, touching her forehead to his. With delicate care, he pulled from her hair the jewel-toned clip, which had been holding it in place, and released her massive bundle of curls as they fell into a cascade around her slim shoulders. She shook her thick, curly brown mane, threw her head back, and let out a slow moan.

“Damn, you're sexy,” PJ said as he pulled her in even closer.

Now they were both breathing heavily, rocking back and forth. Their lower bodies began to roll in a slow, grinding motion as they grew more and more aroused. She placed her hands on his shoulders while he gently caressed her back. All the reservations Alexandria had held were starting to fade, and the only thing she wanted to do was please and be pleased.

“I want you,” PJ softly whispered into her ear.

He pulled her in for the kiss she'd been fantasizing about all day. When she felt his soft lips press against hers, tiny bursts of light spread through her body. It was so bright that it outshone the stars in the night's sky. She eagerly opened her mouth and accepted PJ's gentle tongue as he pushed his erection against her slightly dampened crotch, which was growing more wet with desire. His kiss was wanton and warm, giving her just the right amount of lip and tongue to make her body crave more. His strong hands moved slowly as he rubbed her thighs; then he gripped her hips as she gyrated them in a slow, circular motion.

They moved in one spot—touching, kissing, caressing, and feeling their way into uncharted territory. Alexandria watched PJ closely as he removed his shirt, and then his cotton T-shirt, revealing a broad, muscular chest.

She paused when her eyes narrowed in on his right shoulder. Slowly she traced her fingers over the diamond-shaped tattoo on his upper bicep.

She stared into PJ's deep brown eyes with intensity as feelings and memories from last Saturday night came rushing back to her. The warm sensations she'd felt several times that day were the same tremblings that ignited her skin at PJ's touch. The memory she'd recounted of her grandparents holding hands was the same sweet gesture PJ now made with her. And as her eyes ventured back to the tattoo on his arm, she knew she was right where she needed to be.

Whatever small hesitation lingered in her mind about jumping into bed too soon was now tossed out the proverbial window, and she was ready for everything that was going to happen.

“Let me help you out of that,” PJ said, tugging at the base of Alexandria's silk blouse.

She lifted her arms into the air, allowing him to pull her blouse over her head before tossing it to the side. Slowly he unhooked her bra, letting her full breasts fall to their natural position. She leaned forward and moaned as he circled his finger around her sensitive flesh before taking her into his mouth. She moaned again with newfound pleasure when she felt him gently suck her right breast, then roll his tongue around the rim of her hardened nipple.