Page 26 of At Your Service
“Major, I don’t... I can’t,” she whimpered.
He knew the feeling. He couldn’t think, either, not past the need and the hunger. His mouth was on her again, tongue easing deep into her just as his finger moved slowly into her other opening. She shivered beneath him, and yelled out until he was certain anyone on the street would hear her. And with that cry came her release, pouring like liquid heaven into his mouth. Major swallowed and he held on tight to the sensation moving through his body along with her essence.
He’d never felt anything like this before and he knew he never would again.
If somebody had told Nina that she’d have a backseat sexcapade in a black limousine, she would have called them a bald-faced liar. Yet, here she sat, closer to the window this time than she had before, staring out at the New York skyline while they drove to her hotel. They’d decided to skip the restaurant and Major was on his phone arranging for dinner to be brought to them there.
She had an elbow propped up on the door, her cheek leaning against a closed fist while thoughts of what they’d done in the back of this limo ran through her mind. Her inner thighs still tingled, and thoughts about whether or not she was doing the right thing ran rampant while her hormones continued to take charge.
There simply was no more right thing to do other than what she was doing. For too long she’d sacrificed everything for someone else, namely her family. Her father hadn’t been the same after her mother had left seventeen years ago. And while only twelve at the time, Nina had known that it would be up to her to help Jacoby in any way she could. And so she had. It had never occurred to her to do anything else. It had also never occurred to her that at almost thirty years old, she’d still be dedicating so much of her time to her father and her sisters. But not for the next five weeks. This time was for her, while all that she was doing would ultimately help her family, these days in this city, with this man, doing this job, were for her. And she planned to make the best of every minute.
Even if that meant spending every minute irrevocably aroused by a man she’d never imagined being with.
“The food will be there shortly after we arrive.”
His voice jolted her out of her thoughts, and she sighed before looking over at him with a wan smile. “Thanks. I didn’t really feel like being out in public again.”
“That makes two of us,” he said with a nod. “It’s been a pretty long day.”
“I bet. How long does it normally take to get ready for a show?” She’d been learning more about the inner workings of the industry while working with RGF. The business aspect of the design house seemed to be a smooth-running machine, but it definitely took the skill and expertise of every one of its three-hundred-plus employees. Before this week, it had been easy to believe her app’s target was just the Gold family because they called all the shots and had made what was one of the world’s most influential and successful Black-owned-and-operated fashion houses what it was today. But this past week she’d definitely learned differently.
“I don’t personally do much with the planning of the shows. I make sure all the technology they need to facilitate them is up to par.”
“A man of my heart,” she said and then clapped her lips shut. It was probably best not to talk about her heart where he was concerned. This wasn’t that type of party and she didn’t want it to be. Watching her father nurse a broken heart was enough to swear her off any type of emotional connection with a man.
“The programs you’ve put in place at the fashion house are innovative and seem to be helping to keep things running smoothly,” she continued, trying to stay focused.
He stuffed his phone into his pocket and looked over at her. “Technology is the way of the future. And nobody else in my family has the patience for it, so that became my contribution to the company.”
Nina felt the same way.
Her sisters worked and sometimes—when berated and guilted to no end—contributed to the expenses associated with taking care of their father when his savings and insurance didn’t meet the need. Her love of computers and desire to create had landed her a few contractual jobs that pulled them out of a financial bind a time or two, but she wanted something more stable, something that would allow them to live more comfortably without having to go through the guilt and arguments with her sisters.
“Everyone in your family seems to have found their niche,” she said.
“Yeah. I think so.”
“Did your parents always expect you’d go into the family business?” She figured if she talked more about his family, she’d feel less depressed about her own.
“Ah, yeah, I think so. I mean we didn’t grow up with sketch pads in our hands or fashion magazines instead of literature for reading time. But we learned how much the company meant to our father and my grandfather at a very early age. We all went to college and selected a major with the notion that we’d bring that knowledge back to RGF. It was like an unspoken expectation.”
“And none of you strayed. That’s amazing and commendable. There’s something to be said about family loyalty.” Jacoby had taught her and her sisters that when they were young. While Nina knew it was her father’s not-so-subtle jab at her mother’s leaving, she could also see the overall value in the lesson.
Major didn’t reply, but it didn’t matter, they were already pulling up in front of her hotel.
Minutes later they were walking into her room.
“I’m just gonna go freshen up a bit. I’ll be right back.” She headed to the bedroom, did a quick washup and changed into leggings and a bright yellow shirt that hung past her hips, its black-sequined letters spelling “QUEEN” across her chest.
An hour later Major had removed his jacket and they’d finished the most delicious stuffed cheeseburgers, fresh-cut fries and chocolate milkshakes she’d ever tasted. When he’d suggested they order from the burger place instead of some fancy restaurant, she’d almost hugged him. Now, full from the good food and amiable conversation, she sat back against the cushions and sighed.
“I’m sorry for being such a jerk these past few days.” He was sitting with his head resting on the back of the couch, just like her, both with hands folded over now full stomachs.
“It wasn’t how I intended to start this agreement between us,” he continued.
“Me, either,” she admitted. “I mean I really hadn’t thought our pretending would lead to actual sex, but I wasn’t totally bothered by it.”
“I wasn’t, either.” He paused for a second. “At least, not while it was happening.”
