Black Butterfly Read online

  “This puts your swing in a ready position that allows power behind your shots.” He released her, and cool air replenished her lungs allowing her to breathe normally once again. Trish’s laughter and the thump of the ball in the neighboring room told her that their game was in full swing. Standing up straight, she looked back over her shoulder at Nolen, half-expecting to see a full erection like the invisible one she had, but he looked calm and collected.

  He smiled at her and picked up his racquet. “I’ll go first.”

  Trish bounced from foot to foot, running forward and whacking the soft, yellow ball, sending it back with rocket speed at Todd who panted hard, trying to keep up. With her ponytail swaying, she swung one-handed to give her shots more power.

  Todd wheezed. He kept missing the ball. Once he nearly took it in the face. He backed up and fell against the sidewall, struggling for his breath.

  Trish whirled; excited she pointed her racket at him. “Point!” Todd braced himself against the wall, bent over with his hands on his knees, and looked up at her. He was breathing through his mouth, his hair falling in his eyes. “Hell, I can’t do this with you. What are you, some kind of professional or something?”

  She shook her head, and a look of concern melted her smile.

  “I’m ok,” he reassured her. “Just give me a minute.”

  “What happened to your face?”

  The question delivered a sucker punch to his gut. At some point he’d have to tell her who he was. Did Portia mention him by name when she shared the story of her incarceration? He smiled weakly and stammered a reply. “An accident.”

  “Does it still hurt?”

  “Only if I think about it.”

  Trish shrugged and walked away, her tennis skirt spinning around her hips. He stared at her creamy thighs as she crouched down, reaching for the water bottle. Most women he knew would have bent over, putting on a free peep show.

  Trish picked up the water and brought it back to him. “Here you go,” she said, and tossed him the bottle.

  “Thank you, Trish,” he said as he caught it mid-air. He opened it and downed the cool drink.

  Trish twirled the racket in her hand. “I can play alone if you need a break.”

  “I think I might like to watch you play. See your moves,” he mumbled, with pointed desire.

  “Ok take a seat,” she responded, ignoring the flirt and pointing at the seats behind the glass. Todd picked up his racquet and headed to the lounge facing the court where he plopped down in one of the seats.

  The girl was better than Nolen when she played, and her energy seemed boundless. Watching the muscles in her thighs and enjoying different views of her rump as she hit the ball back and forth, he wondered how long it would be before he could get a taste.

  Sydney missed Nolen’s serve three times in a row, and he couldn’t stop laughing.

  “You’re hitting it too fast and hard,” she said and pouted.

  Laughter echoed off the walls louder than the strike of the ball. Nolen dropped to his knees unable to stop. She couldn’t believe he would laugh at her. Wasn’t he trying to seduce her? He failed miserably. He shook his head, trying to stop the laughter, and then fell over onto the court. “No, butterfly, you just don’t have the rhythm.”

  “Oh, I’ve got rhythm!” she gasped, appalled.

  Nolen wiggled his brows at her. “I’m afraid not. It’s a dance with your feet, a coordination that you seem to be missing.”

  “The hell it is!” she said. She pointed the racquet at him. “You get up."

  Nolen rose on his elbows. “Make me!”

  Sydney knelt beside him to grab his hand, and he pulled her down on top of him. She gasped, but before she could respond, he rolled her over onto her back. His face came in close, his lips closer. Sydney shut her eyes and lay very still. A soft brush of his cheek to hers made her warm all over for him and he whispered in her ear, “I want you to be mine, Butterfly.”

  Sydney’s lids flashed open. Her breasts rose and fell rapidly, taut against the pressure of his chest. “I um, wait!” Before she could say more, the moist tip of his tongue crept into her mouth. She parted her lips and invited the kiss to go further. The game was exhilarating but her heart pounded harder when pressed against his, and intense passion swept through her within the kiss. Each moment of their kiss allowed vitality to seep through her love-starved body. Nolen slid his hand up her exposed thigh, pushing up her skirt as he rolled on top. Sydney, now losing control, parted her legs and felt his maleness press at her center. Her mind willed her body to break the kiss, but instead her hips moved, causing his hardness to stoke the heat spreading through her core. Desperate for him now, her hands in his hair she tugged hard, lifting her ass to feel more of him.

  Raising his mouth from hers he gazed into her eyes. “You taste and feel so good.” he pressed his groin down to emphasize his point.

  “Maybe we should stop,” she whispered, tilting her head up to capture his lips once more.

  “You don’t want this?” he asked, leaving her lips yearning for more. His eyes are a sensual warm shade of brown, vibrant and alert.

  She let go a thoughtful sigh. “I’m sorry, seriously, I can’t.” She sucked in her bottom lip for a brief pause before continuing. “It complicates things for us, and I just can’t afford that right now. I know I encouraged you by um, giving you mixed signals and all, but I really want to stop.” Nolen appeared disappointed. He didn’t move away from her. Instead his hand slid over her then under her thigh. He pushed it back so that it was bent at the knee. His actions opened her up to him. He buried his face against her neck and breathed his kisses there before saying words she could barely understand. “It can be good between us Sydney,” he groaned. She didn’t respond. She believed every word.

  Nolen’s lips seared a path down her neck to her shoulders. She thought he’d lift and help her stand. He didn’t. Instead he kissed her bent knee, he lifted her leg straight into the air and she pointed her foot in a dancer’s move to show the definition of her sculpted thigh. This pleased him. He brushed his lips across her inner thigh and under the crease by her knee while keeping her pinned beneath him. Sydney closed her eyes and suppressed the urge to bolt. Feeling him lower her leg and pull down her skirt, she opened her eyes and met his stare.

  “You don’t fool me, beautiful. I know you want this, and I can be patient and wait until you accept it. Or I can touch you like this—” he put a hand between them and rubbed two fingers against her swollen clit. The vibration of sensations he stirred had her curling her toes in her tennis shoes.

  “Ok, I’m attracted to you. Who wouldn’t be? But if I give in, then what?” she asked, wanting him to convince her that she meant something to him.

  “We’re having fun. Does every single moment have to be analyzed? If you give yourself to me, I don’t know how far this thing between us will go. I’m drawn to you, have been since I first laid eyes on you. I won’t throw in the towel until we find out what that means,” he added, the last words said against her lips as he initiated another kiss.

  She lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck. She sensed the exaggeration in his words but loving them all the same. Reclaiming his mouth she was crushed beneath him. The kiss was now slow and thoughtful, giving her a full sample of his desire for her. His tongue traced the soft fullness of her lips, explored the recesses of her mouth, it sent the pit of her stomach in a wild swirl. A knock against the Plexiglas shattered the moment. They ended the kiss and looked over to see Trish and Todd watching them. Trish was grinning, and Todd was smirking. Nolen looked back down at Sydney. “I guess the games are over.”

  “I hope so,” she said, somewhat relieved.

  Chapter 8

  Save the Last Dance

  After a cold shower, she returned to the changing area of the locker room and put her tennis outfit in the hamper. As she dressed, Sydney thought about how quickly things were moving between her and Nolen. It had been nearly three wee
ks since they first met and already the man was stroking her between her thighs. Her thoughts were flooded with reasons to indulge while warning whispers invaded her mind with reasons to run.

  “So you’re falling for him, huh?” Trish asked, slipping on her boots and pulling her pant legs down over them.

  Sydney buckled her belt. “What makes you say that?”

  “That little make-out session on the court, for starters,” Trish answered.

  Sydney sat down next to Trish. “Can you do me a favor?”

  “What’s that?”

  “Today—our coming here and doing all of this—can it remain between us for now? Until I figure out this thing with me and him.”

  “You mean keep it from Portia? We don’t keep things from each other.” Sydney blew out a frustrated breath and sat back on the bench with her hands resting on either side of her. “This morning she all but said that I got the part because of him, and she’s talking to Ricky. I don’t want him thinking that I’m sleeping with the man financing the show.”

  “But you aren’t, are you?”

  “Of course not.” Sydney blushed, reminded of how close she was to giving in. “I don’t know the man.” Trish studied her face. “A relationship that you have to hide from the people who care for you isn’t healthy. I don’t like secrets, Sydney. They eat away at you.” Sydney looked at her, irritated. “Then why don’t you tell me why you ran away from home when you were seventeen? Or what your full Christian name is?”

  Trish flinched.

  Sydney immediately regretted her harsh tone. She touched Trish’s hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

  “It’s ok,” Trish said, blinking away tears. “You’re right. Who am I to talk about secrets when I can’t share mine?”

  Sydney moved down the bench and put her arm around her. “Hey, some things are better left unsaid, and I get that.”

  “Yeah, some things are.” She flashed a weak smile. “Portia loves you. She just has a hard time showing it.

  I understand if you don’t want the drama. I won’t mention anything about today. Besides, Todd asked me to do sort of the same thing.”

  “He did? Why?”

  “Oh, he wants me to paint him. Willing to pay, but he doesn’t want Nolen to know. I guess it’s a macho thing.”

  “Yeah, they’re both oozing with testosterone.”

  Trish nodded. “Come on. Let’s go.”

  Sydney smoothed over her ponytail, then pulled on her sweater. Trish held the door for her and they walked out where Nolen and Todd greeted them.

  Sydney checked her watch. “I think we should be going. Our roommate’s probably back, and tonight we’re going to open mic night at Nirvana.”

  “You want to leave? I thought we could all go out for lunch after that workout,” Nolen said.

  Trish looked at Nolen and interjected. “Thanks, but I think we should leave now.”

  “Can I talk to you for a moment over here?” Todd asked, touching Trish’s hand. She moved it from his reach, but nodded, then followed him to the other side of the penthouse.

  Nolen moved closer to Sydney, studying her face. “Why are you leaving? The truth?”

  “I start my first day tomorrow, and—”

  “The truth, please.”

  “I just think that it’s best if we keep this on a friendly level. To be honest, Ms. Minetti’s ballet means a lot to me, and I don’t want to jeopardize that. You’re involved with her.”

  “I see, you said differently last night.”

  She looked away. “I can’t deny I’m attracted to you. I say no, it means yes, it’s getting out of hand. I’m just not comfortable feeling anything for you when we barely know each other. Especially after that kiss we shared.” He tilted her chin up so that he could look into her eyes. “How do we get to know each other if every time I get close, you run away?”

  “I never run.”

  “Ok, shove me away.”

  “You don’t know what you want, Nolen Adams. I think you like the chase. Even if I were looking for a guy, which I’m not, I’d want one I could give myself to. You know the kind of man’s attention that doesn’t fizzle out with his erection.” She smirked and he smiled too.

  “Fair enough. You deserve a long lasting erection, and much more.”

  “How poetic.” Sydney said. “Are you the man for the job, for the something more I mean?”

  “To be honest, I wish I were.”

  “I can’t trust you, can I?” she asked softly,

  “I must admit, Sydney, you’ve inspired me to want to be trusted. But I’m not really good at being that guy.”

  Touching his face, she marveled at how young he was with so much success. She sensed there was a fascinating story behind what made Nolen Adams the man he was today. Her eyes lowered to his lips and the tiny hairs that collectively made up his thin mustache. His lips were the best part of his face, but she resisted the urge to run her tongue across them. “I do see you, Nolen. That’s the man I want to know, not the mogul you show the world.”

  Slipping his arms around her waist, he pulled her to him. “If I show you that man, you may find he’s not what you think. There’s no guarantee that he’ll be enough for you because this cool exterior is a part of me too.

  Even a man who has slept with as many women as I have deserves a chance at happiness, Sydney. Let’s just figure it out as we go along.”

  Pushing free of his hold, she shook her head. “I must be crazy,” she chuckled.

  “Crazy?”

  “Here is one of the richest men in the city making a play for me, and I think I’m the last woman standing who wants to walk on principle.”

  “That’s what makes you so sexy.”

  Sadness swelled in Sydney’s chest. He was giving her a line. She had hoped they were past this. “I’m sorry, but from where I stand I have more to lose than you.” Sydney stepped back and caught the disappointment in his eyes. He seemed to be battling whatever was keeping him from revealing his true self to her.

  He grabbed her hand once more, preventing her from moving farther away. “The next time I hold you, damn it, I’m not letting you walk away.”

  The conviction behind those words burned through his touch.

  “You ready?” Trish asked. She returned from the foyer.

  Still holding Nolen’s hand and caught by the magnetism of his eyes, Sydney couldn’t respond. Part of her was enchanted by the mystery that surrounded him, wanting for once to throw caution to the wind and experience everything that he wanted to do with her. Slowly, she nodded, resisting him again.

  “Let me have my driver take you girls back,” he said. He refused to release her.

  “No, thanks. We’d rather take the train,” Sydney answered.

  Her fingers slipped from his and she retrieved her jacket, avoiding his eyes.

  Trish walked up to him and extended her hand. “I had a great time. It was nice meeting you again.” Nolen smiled at her. “Thanks, Trish. I’d still like to see that art sometime.” Trish looked over at Todd, and they exchanged a meaningful nod.

  Sydney handed Trish her jacket and headed for the door.

  “Sydney,” Nolen called out after her.

  “Yes?”

  “Good luck tomorrow.”

  She smiled. “Thanks, Nolen.”

  “She playing hard to get?” Todd asked.

  “Not everyone plays games, Todd.”

  He walked off with Todd on his heels. “Wait! I didn’t mean it that way.” Nolen headed straight to the bar and poured a drink.

  “I mean, she’s not like the others, right? She and Trish, they seem a little too perfect to be true. What’s up with that?”

  Nolen drank the whiskey, he didn’t bother to answer. He was disappointed that Todd took that as an invitation to sit down in his favorite chair. “Her friend is really special,” Todd said.

  Nolen looked over his whiskey glass at Todd. “Special?”

  “You saw her, man. The
re’s no pretense. She’s just who she is.”

  “She’s young,” Nolen said dismissively.

  Todd cut his eyes. Nolen always teased him about liking them young. How ironic that Nolen now found himself in the same position. “So that’s the hot tamale you’re prepared to turn in your bachelor card for?”

  “I never said that.”

  “You don’t have to. I see the way you look at her. I hear the way that you speak to her. It’s me, man.

  Name another woman, other than Marilynn, that you—”

  Nolen turned and gave his friend of countless years a murderous look. “Don’t push me, Todd! Don’t fucking throw Marilynn in my face!”

  Todd looked mildly amused. He hadn’t seen an angry reaction about Marilynn in several years. “Hey, man, fuck it. I’m sorry.”

  “If you mention her name again, I’ll crack the other side of your head.” Nolen seethed, and then stormed out, leaving Todd alone and perplexed.

  “Where the hell have you two been?” Portia demanded as Trish and Sydney came in together, bubbly with laughter. “I’ve been waiting for hours.”

  Trish flashed a smile. “Hello to you, too, Portia.”

  Portia rose from the sofa with her arms folded, she glared at them. “Did you go shopping without me?” She pouted.

  “No, girl. We just got something to eat. I didn’t know you would be back so soon,” Sydney said.

  “Well it was pretty easy to choose a photo . . . when you’re working with perfection.”

  “Sydney told me, Portia. I’m so happy for you. We all have to celebrate because I finally got a paying gig too.” Trish said.

  Portia cocked her head to the side with a curious squint. “You did? With who?”

  “This rich photographer who wants me to paint him.”

  “It looks like good luck comes in threes!” Sydney added, pulling off her jacket. “Let’s skip Soho today and just wear what we’ve got. My body’s sore.”

  “Why are you sore?”

  She shrugged. “Too long a walk home. Just tired is all.”