This Time (7 page)

Authors: Ingrid Monique

BOOK: This Time

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“But yu' do know that I'm here for a short time?”

“I know. An' I intend to make the best of it.” He gave her an infectious smile.

Sean took her to a restaurant/bar called Haven. Haven was a house in a valley surrounded by a thriving garden. It was one of the exclusive hot spots that couples frequented.

The hostess, a pretty white woman, greeted them. Sean told her he wanted a deck table and she led them around a path illuminated by tea-tree lights at the back of the house. A large deck extended from the back of the house. Small intimate candlelit tables created a romantic setting. Couples were scattered about the deck. A part of the deck served as a dance floor where three couples were locked in an intimate embrace. The night air was cool with the fresh scent of flowers from the gardens.

They were seated at a small table where they could see into the dining area. It was just as intimate with candlelit tables.

“This place is great,” she said, taking in the intricate details of the glass candle on their table.

“Thank yu'.” He smiled at her and she paused, looking at him.

“Yu' own it?” She was surprised.

“Yes, but I keep it a secret.” He grinned.

“Why?” she asked, curious.

“In my line of work, the less people know about me the better.”

The waitress came over to take their order.

“What do yu' suggest?” she asked him. His hazel eyes smiled at her.

He ordered the mama's cake for both of them. She ordered a white wine and he ordered a Heineken.

“Mama's cake?” she asked, curious.

“My mother perfected the recipe. It was passed down from her great-great grandmother. Haven is well known for her cake.”

“Where is yu' mother?”

“Miami. She and my father moved there to be with my sisters and their grandchildren,” he responded gently.

“Sounds like yu' miss them.” She noted his solemn expression.

“I jus' came back from Miami a few weeks ago.”

“So all yu' immediate family is in Miami?”

“Yeah.”

“Ever think of relocating?”

“No, I love St. Pala too much.” He smiled. She could see he did. He was devoted to his island and his people to the point that he had chosen to protect them. She couldn't help but admire him.

The waitress arrived with their dessert and drinks. Mama's cake was absolutely delicious, it was a layered cake filled with mixed fruit accented by a hint of liquor.

“This is really good,” she said between bites.

“I knew yu'd like it.” Sean nodded as he ate his cake.

“My compliments to yu' mother.”

“I'll pass on the compliment,” he said, pushing his empty plate aside and reaching for his beer.

A slow reggae tune came on and she started to rock to the tune. “Dance with me?” she asked.

He smiled and obliged. They moved out onto the dance floor, where Sean pulled her close into an intimate embrace. The heat and the smooth musk scent of his cologne filled her senses as she pressed her body into his muscular frame. She wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder. His arms circled her waist, one resting just above her rear as he held her close. They moved to the music, allowing the smooth rhythm to flow over them. A sense of belonging washed over her. He felt right, too right. He was starting to evoke feelings within her that scared her. His hand caressed her back, molding her into him. She closed her eyes, giving in to the safe, soothing feel of him. His hand moved up to caress the back of her neck. He gently pulled her head off his shoulders. She gazed at him, opening her eyes. The look in his eyes took her breath away. He wanted her and it was all there in his eyes. The blatant knowledge of it sent shivers down her spine. Kelee couldn't deny the fact that she wanted him, too. Her heart raced at the thought, the possibility of being with him in the most intimate way. He lowered his head to hers and Kelee closed her eyes as his lips covered hers in a slow heated kiss. Her senses went wild with the feel, the taste of him. Gently Sean's lips and tongue caressed her lips until they parted. She welcomed the smooth invasion of his tongue. She moaned softly, tightening her arms about his neck. Kelee caressed his tongue with her own, loving the taste of him. For how long they danced and kissed, she didn't know. The song changed, and they pulled back, gazing into each other's eyes. There was an undeniable connection between them. Kelee's heart raced with excitement. Sean St. John was a man she couldn't deny. What she was feeling was far too intense. He pulled her back into his arm and they resumed their dance. Kelee laid her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes.

They went back to their table at the end of the song to finish their drinks. Sean pulled his chair close to her, cuddling her in his arms as she sipped the last of her wine. Their conversation turned to their likes and dislikes. Kelee found out that they loved swimming, movies, and sightseeing. They talked about their families and being apart from them and the strain it caused at times.

“Wha' do yu' like?” Sean asked, caressing the back of her neck.

“In general or in a man?” She gazed at him.

“A man,” he said.

“Honesty and respect is key.”

He looked at her deeply, as if mesmerized by her words.

“An' if a man can't be honest right away, for some unknown reason?”

“As long as he comes clean at some point, it's good.” She smiled.

“I'm gonna hold yu' to yu' word.”

“Yu' got something to tell me?” she asked cautiously.

“Not yet,” he teased, kissing her lightly.

“As long as it's not bad,” she whispered against his lips.

“Trust me, it's not.” He caressed her ear, sending shivers down her spine. “Come; let's go,” he whispered. Kelee simply followed him.

Tyce watched Sean and Kelee drive away from the Haven. He was seated in his car at the far end of the parking lot, hidden from sight. He had been following Sean all day unnoticed. Tyce prided himself on his surveillance technique. He pulled out his cell phone and hit speed dial. His boss answered the phone on the second ring.

“She's good,” he told the boss.

“Good; yu' know what to do.”

Tyce ended the call. He started his car and pulled out of the parking lot, heading home for some much needed sleep.

Sean drove Kelee back to Lori's house. They didn't say much, as they simply enjoyed each other's company. At the house, Sean walked her into the dark living room, a sure sign that Allan and Lori had retired for the night.

“When can I see yu' again?” Kelee asked, turning to face Sean. Sean immediately pulled her into his arms, kissing her until her senses were spinning out of control and she was breathless. She clung to him, wanting more than his kisses. She wanted him to make love to her. She needed to feel him inside her. The severity of her thoughts shocked and excited her.

“Is the guest room empty?” he asked, referring to the room just off the washroom to the back of the house.

“Yes,” she whispered and felt her entire body tremble with excitement. In one swoop he lifted her and took her down the hall to the guest room. Inside the small room with only a twin bed and a dresser, he placed her in the middle of the bed, coming down on her. She moaned, wrapping her arms about his neck. His mouth covered hers in a scorching kiss. He unsnapped the top of her dress, exposing her pink bra. He pushed her bra off her shoulder, exposing her left breast, which he covered with his hot mouth. She moaned, crying out his name as he suckled her hungrily. He pulled back briefly and with one quick move he unsnapped her entire dress, exposing her hot flesh. His eyes devoured her body and a pleasant smile curled his lips. She loved the way his eyes made love to her body. He reached down and cupped her through her panties and she moaned loudly. He applied pressure, caressing her through the thin lace. He covered her breast, suckling her. She gripped his head, arching her back, opening her legs more. She felt his harden sex rise up against her thigh. His fingers found their way under her pink panties and into her wet folds. She pulled his head up to her, kissing him hungrily. His fingers sank farther between her folds and inside. The sweet invasion took her breath away. She couldn't think straight or even hear what he had said to her. He stopped his sensuous assault on her. She opened her eyes, looking at him.

“Do yu' have protection?” he asked.

“No,” she whispered, catching her breath.

“No'ting upstairs?” he asked, his hand working in small circles against her. She moaned, closing her eyes. She didn't want him to stop.

“No,” she told him, breathless as his fingers moved in and out of her with delicious slowness. She felt the tightness start in her toes and work its way up to her breasts.

“Too bad,” he continued and lowered his head back to her breast, gently biting at her nipples as his fingers quickened their pace. Kelee thrust her hips into his hands, praying he wouldn't stop.

“Don't stop,” she cried.

“I don't intend toâat least not this.” He covered her mouth with his tongue, mimicking the movement of his fingers. He was driving her crazy. She felt her body peak and her senses exploded into a million stars.

“Yu' wicked.” She smiled, opening her eyes.

“At least yu' know wha' to expect when we do this the right way,” he told her, caressing her breasts. She caressed his face, looking deeply into his eyes, wondering why he felt so right to her. He kissed her lightly as he sat up, pulling her up with him.

“I can't wait,” she moaned.

“Neither can I.” He kissed her long and hard before saying good night.

Chapter 6

Kelee's dreams were filled of Sean that night. In her dreams they had made endless love. She woke with a huge smile on her face, recalling how Sean had her, literally, melting in his hands last night. She couldn't wait to be with him, but the first thing she needed to do was buy some damn condoms. She was impressed with him respecting her by not going any farther other than pleasing her with those magic fingers of his. It showed a sense of responsibility, which she respected him for.

After lingering in bed with thoughts of Sean, Kelee finally ventured downstairs for breakfast. She found Lori on the back veranda, sipping tea. She poured herself a cup of coffee and joined her.

“Allan's off already?” Kelee asked, pulling up a chair. The late morning air was cool with a light breeze. The skies were a bit overcast with the promise of rain.

“Yeah; so how was dessert?” Lori asked with a wicked grin.

“Enjoyable.” Kelee couldn't help but smile.

“Yu' give him some?” Lori asked, excited.

“Almost did,” she admitted.

“So wha' happen?”

“No protection,” Kelee said.

Lori nodded her head in approval. “Told yu' he was different.”

“There's something so familiar about him.” Kelee recalled the sense of being so comfortable with Sean.

“Wha' do yu' mean?” Lori asked, curious.

“It's like I know him.”

“That's good, isn't it?”

“Yes, but it's really strange. He's so familiar, like I've known him before.”

“Yu' two made a connection, that's good.” Lori smiled.

“I guess, but I can't shake this feeling of knowing him.”

“It was almost like that with Allan an' me. It was instant, we both knew it.”

“That must be it.” Kelee sighed and sipped her coffee. “It's just so strange connecting to someone so quickly. Yu' know how long it takes for me to really trust someone.”

“I know but sometimes yu' just have to let 'tings happen.”

“Yu' right,” Kelee admitted, looking at the clouds as they rolled in. She heard the roar of a distant thunder.

“He does understand that yu'll be going back to New York?” Lori asked. Kelee could hear the concern in her voice.

“Yes, we talked about that.”

“An'?” Lori pressed.

“He understands,” Kelee told Lori. However, she couldn't help but wonder if getting involved with Sean was a good idea. She couldn't deny the fact that she wanted him. She knew he felt the same; last night had proved that. There was some level of danger in getting involved with Sean, regardless of their mutual attraction. She had to be careful not to fall for him. Men like Sean were easy to fall for, which made them a danger to any woman with an open heart. She had to guard her heart well against him. She took some comfort in the fact that he understood their situation and was comfortable with it.

Sean sat at his desk reminiscing about Kelee. He loved the way her body had responded to him last night. He couldn't wait to make love to her. He wanted to feel her wrapped around him. He wanted to hear her cry out his name. Last night he knew he had put his mark on her. She would have given in to him regardless of the condom issue. He laughed under his breath because last night he did have a condom. He wanted to make sure that she really wanted him and she did. His plan to seduce her was going along just fine.

“I see she still have yu' smilin'; must be nice,” Jack said, entering his office. Sean pushed all thoughts of Kelee aside.

“Wha' yu' have for me?”

“Yu' not goin' to tell me who she is?” Jack asked.

“No,” he insisted.

“Mus' be good.” Jack grinned.

“Can we move on?” he asked, pretending to be annoyed.

Jack laughed. “Now I can't wait to meet her.”

Sean glared at him and Jack got serious, briefing him on a potential bad situation involving some deportees who were actually from Africa looking to start up a drug ring.

“Put Hall and King on it; the minute they do some'ting I want them locked up,” Sean told Jack.

Deportees were the leading cause of violence in the Caribbean these days. Many of them were too embarrassed to be deported to their native island so they told the U.S.A., Canada, and England immigration that they were from other islands. Many of them were starting to create gangs, causing violence to escalate on some islands. Jamaica was having a big problem right now with its deportees. Sean wasn't about to have any of itânot in St. Pala. The minute they did something illegal he was locking them up for good.

“Wha' 'bout Mike?” he asked.

“He's still in Cayman.”

“I want to know the minute he sets foot back here,” Sean insisted.

“Yu' got it.” Jack nodded.

“No'ting on Adams and Penn?”

“No'ting'. I'm runnin' out of 'tings to tell the families,” Jack told him.

“Tell them they had to go to Cayman to do an investigation.” Sean was grasping at straws and they both knew it. Jack gave him a questioning look. He also knew that Adams' and Penn's wives wouldn't buy it, but it was all he had to give right now. He had run out of places to look for them; it was like they had disappeared into thin air. Sean had to keep the faith. He wouldn't believe anything until he saw his men, dead or alive, preferably alive.

“Yu' sure yu' want to do that?”

“Jus' tell them.” He sighed, frustrated. He didn't want to give them anything to worry about when he didn't have any proof.

Jack left his office. Sean sat in silence listening to the rain beat against the air-conditioner unit in the window. He needed to find his men. He had exhausted just about all his possibilities, but there were still a few people he could call, so he got on the phone.

Sean spent a great part of his day on the phone. By the time he had gotten home he was drained. As he relaxed with a Red Stripe beer, his thoughts drifted to Kelee. He picked up the phone.

Lori answered the phone on the third ring. “Hello?”

“Hey, baby mama,” he teased, and Lori laughed.

“Keep it up,” Lori warned, amused.

“How yu' feelin', by the way?” he asked on a more serious note. She was on the last leg of her pregnancy and he knew it wasn't always pleasant. He had heard enough stories from his sisters to know.

“Not too bad,” Lori told him.

“Good.”

“Yu' want to talk to Kelee?” she asked before he could say anything else.

“That would be nice.” He smiled.

“She's in the shower; want her to call yu' back?” Lori asked.

“Yeah.” He closed his eyes, allowing the tension of the day to flow out of his body.

“Where are yu'?”

“At the house.”

“Yu' sound tired.”

“I am,” he admitted.

“She's startin' to like yu',” Lori said and a sense of guilt washed over Sean. He had the utmost respect for Lori. She was like family. He wondered what she would think of him when she found out what he was doing to her sister. He wondered if Lori really knew what her sister was like back then. How she had used him, then left him without so much as a good-bye. He intended to make Kelee regret what she had done to him.

“Yu' still there?” Lori asked, pulling him back to the present.

“Yeah,” he said, clearing his throat.

“Yu' OK?” The concern in Lori's question made him feel guilty, but he pushed the feeling aside. There was no time for guilt; he was sure Kelee never regretted what she did to him back then.

“Yeah. Tell her to call me?” he said in a cheerful tone.

“OK. Good night,” Lori told him.

“Night,” he said and hung up the phone.

A part of Sean knew what he was doing wasn't right, but he couldn't stop now. He couldn't just come out and tell her who he really was. He would see this game to the end. Sean got another beer and waited for her call.

“Mornin',” Kelee greeted Lori and Allan as she entered the kitchen. They were seated at the dining table.

“Mornin',” they said in unison.

Kelee joined them at the table for a hearty breakfast of fried sweet plantains, thin slices of honey ham, scrambled eggs, and toast. Nadine bought her a cup of coffee, as Kelee loaded up her plate. Her morning breakfast usually consisted of a yogurt, coffee, and maybe a muffin depending on how hungry she was.

“Oh, by the way, Sean called for yu' last night,” Lori told her.

Kelee paused. “He did?”

“Yeah, he wanted yu' to call him back, but yu' were asleep by the time I got upstairs,” Lori said.

“Oh,” she moaned, disappointed.

“His house number is by the phone, but I doubt he's home. I'll give yu' his cell.”

“I don't want to disturb him, especially if he's at work.” Kelee reached for another slice of ham.

“I don't think he'll mind.” Allan grinned. Kelee blushed, hiding a smile.

Sean was just about to get into his jeep when his cell phone rang. He pulled it from his hip, glanced at the number and smiled.

“Hello,” he answered, leaning against the door of the jeep.

“Hi,” Kelee's soft sultry voice came over the line. He'd been expecting her call. He had fallen asleep on the sofa, waiting to hear from her last night.

“I've been expectin' yu' call,” he told her.

“Sorry. Lori just gave me yu' message. I was asleep by the time Lori came upstairs.”

“Dream of me?” he teased and she laughed.

“Maybe,” she teased back.

“Hope it was good.” He grinned.

“Like I'd tell yu'.” Her voice was laced with amusement.

“Yu' wouldn't?” He pretended to be hurt.

“Yu' busy?”

“Not right now,” he told her.

“So when can I see yu'?”

“I have a meetin', but I'll be free after three. I could pick yu' up around four.”

“Where are yu' taking me?”

“Don't know yet.”

“I just wanted to know how to dress.”

“Any'ting' yu' wear is fine,” he told her, getting into his jeep.

“OK, four then?”

“Yu' got it.” He smiled. He had to admit that it pleased him that she wanted to see him. She was an intoxicating, beautiful woman who was easy to talk to and be with. He recalled her telling how familiar he was to her and the tinge of guilt that came over him then. He had managed to keep his emotions in check at that moment. In good time he would reveal who he really was, but for now he had to make sure he maintained her interest.

Kelee must have changed outfits at least six times before she settled on jeans, a rayon wrapped shirt, and mules. She asked Lori to do her hair in a single braid down her back.

“So where's he takin' yu'?” Lori asked.

“Don't know,” Kelee said, excited.

“Yu' really like him?”

“Yeah,” she admitted. “Is there something I should know about him?” she asked, concerned.

“No, Sean's a good man.”

“But?” Kelee waited for her to continue.

“I jus' don't want to see yu' end up hurt. Women fall so easily for him, and he knows it. He's not conceited or anything like that, but he does have them falling at his feet.”

Kelee told her, “Don't worry about me, I can take care of myself.”

“I know that, but how will yu' handle walkin' away from him when yu' have to leave?”

“I'll handle it,” Kelee reassured her with a smile.

“Yu' sure?” Lori looked at her, concerned.

“Yes, Mommy.” She laughed and kissed Lori's cheek.

Sean picked her up a few minutes after four. As always, he looked good. He was a bit wrinkled and sweaty, but still, he looked good.

“We have to stop at my house so I can take a shower before we go; is that OK? Or I could swing back and pick yu' up in an hour.”