Possess Me (6 page)

“I’m still not sure I do. Although I am starting to wonder about that family trait of yours. You and your mother could go on the road with that telepathic parlor trick.”

“It’s not a trick, Legs. But I guess it
is
a kind of telepathy. I can sense what you’re thinking, feeling, but only if I’m touching you. My mother’s family has always had the touch.” He grimaced. “It isn’t always pleasant, but it gives me an upper hand in business, and it lets me know when people aren’t telling me the truth.”

“Sounds like a skill I could use right about now.”

“No one’s lying to you, Legs. We’ve just left a few blanks. I’ll tell you everything I know. Rousseau sure as hell isn’t going to do it. Stubborn ass.”

Allegra looked up, frustration nearly making her growl. “That’s my first question. Is it Rousseau that’s actually interested in me? Or is it the spirit? The Loa?”

“Bone Daddy is interested in sex, period. But I wasn’t lying when I told you Rousseau wanted you. You’ve shaken him up but good.” He smiled. “Even before his, um, situation, Rousseau never had a problem attracting women, though he was so busy taking care of his family and saving to open Café Bwe that he rarely paid them any mind. I learned in high school that hanging out with him was the smartest thing a single guy could do. I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but he’s not a bad-looking man. Don’t tell him I said that.”

Allegra felt her lips quirk when he sent her a mock-threatening look. “How did it happen? When?”

“Bone Daddy? He’s been around since a few days after Rousseau’s dad was buried. I don’t know all the details, but I do know it was something his father did that brought Rousseau to the Loa’s attention. I know Mambo Toussaint told you, he’s not one of the main Loa of the religion. But he is a strong spirit, stronger and more determined than most, I think. I wish I knew what his old man did to call down that kind of thunder, but the type of Loa that BD is gives me a clue. He affects people strangely. Even me.”

They turned the corner of her building, and she reached into her purse for the key. As soon as she’d opened the door Ben swooped her up in his arms, making her shriek in surprise. “Service with a smile, Legs.”

“Thanks.” She was suddenly breathless with a sensual curiosity that surprised her. Ben’s masculine scent surrounded her, his arm strong beneath her legs. This close she noticed the warm brown of his eyes, the small scar at his temple. She thought about the night at the club, what Rousseau, well, what Bone Daddy had said. “You’ve shared women with him before. With the Loa.”

He’d closed the door and was taking his first step up the stairs when he paused to look at her. “He told you that?” His golden skin flushed while she looked on, fascinated. He continued walking. “The first time I thought it was Rousseau. Maybe a little drunk, but still just my best friend.” His voice lowered. “It was incredible. The best sex of my life, and I knew part of it was watching the woman overwhelmed with ecstasy. Watching her face as we took her together.”

Allegra clenched her fingers on his shoulders, her body heating at his words. “And after you knew?”

“When I put two and two together, Rousseau didn’t deny it. He said he’d done things he wasn’t proud of, but if he was going to share a woman, he’d rather it was with someone he trusted.”

At the top of the stairs he put her on her feet, his brow lowering in concern when she flinched as she found her balance. Ben’s hand came up to caress her hip gently in apology.

She opened her mouth, looking up at him with what she knew was confusion. Her mind was filled with images of Ben and Rousseau sharing a lover, surrounding her with their bodies, taking her higher than she’d ever been. She realized she’d replaced the faceless woman in her mind. She was the one the two men were touching, kissing.

Ben’s chest rose on a harsh breath. “I’m touching you, Allegra. I can feel what you’re feeling.”

She licked her lips. “I know.”

He groaned and lowered his head slowly, taking her lips in a gentle, almost hesitant kiss. Allegra felt warmth course through her limbs and she leaned closer. It was a lovely kiss, wonderful.

But not Rousseau.

Ben pulled back with a wry smile. “You’re perfect for him, Legs. Exactly what he needs. Don’t run away now that you know the truth.”

He moved as though to leave but turned back, his hand reaching into his pocket. “Michelle’s mother wanted you to have this. She said sleep with it beneath your pillow if you still need more answers.”

“Thank you, Ben. For everything.”

“My pleasure, darlin’. My pleasure.”

Allegra waited for him to leave before turning to unlock the door to her apartment. The phone was ringing. “Damn it.” She slammed the door shut, trying to race, but almost fell over before she got to the phone on the other side of the room. “Hello?”

“Did he fuck you?”

“WHAT? WAIT—ROUSSEAU? IS THAT YOU?” ALLEGRA QUICKLY
looked out the window and saw him, phone in hand, staring back at her. Her heart was pounding from the race to the phone and his blunt, vulgar question. If she had any self-respect she’d hang up the phone.

“I know I have no right, but I have to know. Is that where you went today? To him?”

Good-bye, self-respect. “You’re right. It is none of your business. Unless I can ask you about all the people
you’ve
been with since I met you.”

Silence. Her heart shouldn’t ache at that, but it did. Just enough for her to want to tell him. “Ben and I are friends. He was nice enough to walk me home from Mambo Toussaint’s. You know her, don’t you?”

He didn’t take the bait. “Nothing else?”

“He . . . We kissed.” And I loved it. It was better than a chocolate caramel roll. All the things she could say to wound his pride ran through her mind, but her throat closed in protest. Ben’s kiss made her warm, but Rousseau made her burn.

He lowered his head, swearing under his breath, and her hand flattened on the glass. She wanted to touch him. What was it about this man that made her long to comfort him and tear his clothes off all at the same time? “Did you want me to lie? Or avoid telling you altogether?”

She knew he heard the undercurrent in her voice. What she wasn’t saying. That she knew the stories. That she was starting to believe them. She could feel his gaze heat her body, through the space and glass that separated them.

“No. No lies. Not from you.”

Seeing him, hearing his voice, was washing all her anxieties and doubts away. Right, wrong, or insane, she wanted him. “No lies. That’s good. Then I’ll tell you that when he kissed me, I was wishing you were there, too.”

“Too? I may kill my good buddy Ben. Too much honesty could be a dangerous thing,
bebe
.”

“You don’t like it? Then I won’t share the fantasy I had about you the other morning. Or last night.” She smiled at the heart-felt groan vibrating against her ear. She could get used to being brazen.

Her smile faded as he took off his shirt, bringing the phone back to his ear as soon as the cloth cleared his head. “Why don’t you show me instead?”

Allegra hesitated. “Rousseau?”

“It’s me. I need to see you. Just this once. I’ve been thinking about you, too,
bebe
. Too much. I need you. Take your shirt off.” Allegra shuddered, her insecurity falling away with the excitement of the moment, and yes, the safety of the distance between them.

She set the phone down beside her and put it on speaker, her hand going to the top button of her blouse. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

“I can. You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever known. Fearless.”

Her fingers were shaking. She didn’t feel that fearless, but she
was
feeling sexy when he growled into the phone, coming closer to his window, as if desperate to see more.

“Don’t tease me, Allegra. I’ve been dreaming about your perfect breasts for days. Open your shirt for me . . . yes . . . yes,
bebe
. Now caress them.”

A warm breeze lifted her hair and her lashes fluttered in surprise. The window wasn’t open, yet she felt it, curling around her neck and down, moving beneath her hands to squeeze her nipples.

“What . . . ?”

Can’t be left out,
cher.
Let us show Rousseau how much you want him. Want this.

Allegra hesitated. That voice. Bone Daddy? But how, if he was in Rousseau?

Just a little magic,
cher
. Don’t think. Feel.

“Allegra? You still with me?” Rousseau’s voice was rough, tinged with need. A need she wanted to fulfill.

“Still here. Wondering why you haven’t taken off your pants.”

Two males laughed in relief, the “breeze” caressing her belly in approval as Rousseau removed his last article of clothing.

Even from this distance in the daylight, she could see his erection. So beautiful. She wished she was closer. That’s what she needed. Him. Closer. Inside her
might
be close enough.

She lowered her hands to her skirt, loosening the drawstrings until the fabric fell whisper quiet to the floor.

“Fuck,
bebe
. You’re killing me. I wish I could touch you.”

“Why can’t you?” She slid her hand beneath the lace of her panties, now simple ivory, and felt the wetness there. “I’m right here, and I want you to. I want—”

“
Don’t
, Allegra. Don’t tell me what you want. Just show me.”

Allegra bit her lip, feeling the magical caress of the air around her. It was trying to distract her, circling her nipples, riding between the cheeks of her ass, driving her crazy.

She recalled Ben’s adamancy about telling Rousseau she wanted him, and her fantasy, where her golden-eyed lover wanted her to declare her desire for him, for Bone Daddy, out loud. Was that it then? In order to have him did she have to say those words?

“I won’t say it, Rousseau. Not yet. I’ll just show you.” Where her audacity came from she’d never know. In broad daylight, with people walking below and Michelle capable of coming home at any moment, Allegra acted the part of a wanton.

One hand tugged hard on her tingling nipple, loving the sharp sensation, and the other pulled the lace aside to spread the lips of her sex to the delicate, licking breeze.

She watched Rousseau copy her movements, twisting his nipple ring and stroking his heavy cock in a slow, sensual rhythm. “What does it feel like? Your piercings?”

He didn’t hesitate. “Love bites. Your teeth on my skin. Your mouth, your nails. I can feel the pull all the way down my spine, in my cock.”

She gasped for breath. Ben had been right, Rousseau was irresistible without the Loa. But then, she’d already known that.

His husky voice came to her through the speaker. “Are you wet, Allegra? For me?”

“Yes. Oh God, yes.” She rubbed her clit faster, her body on fire for this man. Allegra lost herself to sensation, climbing higher and higher, trying desperately to keep her heavy lids lifted, to watch her distant lover as his movements grew just as frenzied as her own.

“Come for me,
bebe
. Let me see you. Let me watch you come apart for me.”

Her body obeyed his command. Her fingers slipped through her arousal, electricity shooting up her spine. She arched her back, feeling the air whip around her, intensifying every sensation, every shocking jolt of the powerful release.

She collapsed, grateful for the chair beside her as the strength in her legs gave out at her climax. “Rousseau! Oh God,
Rousseau
.”

“
Yes
.”

The intense satisfaction in his voice made her focus, certain she would be able to watch his orgasm as he’d witnessed hers. But he was standing still at the window, focused on her, one hand holding the phone to his ear once more.

She wanted to ask why but he spoke before she could. “Thank you, beautiful Allegra. Since we’re telling the truth, I’ll let you in on a secret. You’re the only woman
I’ve
had the honor of pleasuring in nearly seven years.”

She heard the emphasis as he separated himself from Bone Daddy. “Seven years? But you didn’t . . .”

She hated the resignation in his tone. “And I won’t. I can’t. But seeing you like that is worth every second I’ll be spending under the cold shower in my future.”

He couldn’t? “I don’t understand. Rousseau, I want—”

“Sleep well, Allegra.” He hung up the phone and turned away from the window, disappearing from her view. Her special breeze had disappeared the moment he’d severed the connection, leaving Allegra completely alone with her heart still pounding, naked by the window.

He’d hung up on her. Given her the sexiest, and first, phone sex of her life, then hung up without an explanation. Talk about a cold shower.