Rhythms of Love Read online

  Reggie was helped out of the town car by the driver. Even though she made her exit smooth and nonchalant, inside her heart was pumping. She was immediately greeted by a woman in a blue pantsuit who carried a walkie-talkie. She introduced herself as Crystal Gonzales, then announced that she was a member of the security team assigned to escort Reggie up to the Premier Suite. That Jamal was waiting for her in the hotel’s most lavish suite put a sweet weakness in her knees, but she hid it well. As they made their way to the elevator and stepped inside, Reggie’s head was spinning with amazement and her heart was beating fast.

  When they exited, Ms. Gonzales knocked on a door.

  Moments later, it was opened, and there stood Jamal. Reggie’s knees went weak again. He was so mesmerizing that she barely noticed the smiling Ms. Gonzales’s departure. The depth in his eyes obliterated everything. “If you’re trying to impress me, you’re doing a good job.”

  “Good to know. Come in.”

  His voice was like a summer night.

  The heat coursing between them would have sent a thermometer into cardiac arrest. She opened the buttons on her gray wool coat. She slowly removed it and let him get his first good look at her in her little black dress. He smiled.

  The soft crepe snugly followed the lines of her body to the knee and showed off her lean, sheer-hosed legs in black suede pumps. The capped sleeves of the dress rode just below the crown of her shoulders, offering the eye a teasing line of brown skin above a neckline cut high enough to be demure but low enough to make a man interested, and he looked all of that. Around her neck, she wore a chain anchored by a simple gold heart, and in her ears the fancy gold hoops Trina had given her for her birthday.

  “You are gorgeous.”

  She thought he was gorgeous, too, in his black cashmere sweater and fine wool pants.

  The male in Jamal wondered how quickly he could convince her to bypass dinner and head straight to his bed. Lord knew she looked good enough to eat, and he was ready to get his fill, but the man in him wanted to take this slow.

  That in mind, he took the coat from her hand and laid it across one of the foyer’s brocaded chairs. Tilting her small chin up, he looked down into the face he’d flown across two continents to see. “You’re the only woman who’s ever made me fly back like this.”

  “And I suppose you’re looking for a reward,” she tossed back.

  “Any bone will do.”

  Rising up on her toes, she kissed him, and it was all the incentive he needed to wrap her in his arms and drown.

  They fed on each other with a lazy fervor that left them both breathless. He brushed slow heated lips over the warm scented skin of her neck and savored her soft gasps of response. As he blazed a meandering trail back to her lips, he knew that if he didn’t make love to her sometime tonight he might explode.

  Reggie was losing her mind now, and to a man who obviously knew what he was doing and doing it so well, she was lost—lost in heat, lost in the feel of his hands and lips and lost in a body that was throbbing with drumbeats of desire. She wanted him like no other man before and if this was just a game to him, she didn’t care. She’d at least have these memories.

  She was so out of touch with reality that it took her a moment to realize he was carrying her. The kisses didn’t stop; if anything the intensity increased. Then she was gently deposited in a chair and treated to a few more kisses that made her melt before he pulled away. She had no idea where she was, or even her name. After a few pulsating seconds in the silence, she recovered enough to look around and what she saw spread out before her made her cover her mouth in awe. She was seated at the most elegantly set table she’d ever seen. There were candles and roses, beautiful china, heavy ornate silverware and crystal flutes, all perfectly placed on an expensive, cream-colored damask tablecloth fit for a queen. Her eyes flew to Jamal. “What is all this?”

  “I think it’s me courting you.”

  “Courting me? Nobody courts in the twenty-first century.”

  “Maybe they should.”

  And as she took in all the beauty, she thought maybe he was right. “I’m speechless.”

  “Good.”

  Reggie met his gaze across the candlelit table. First a ride to work in a hired Land Rover and now this. “You’re spoiling me.” She couldn’t even imagine how much all of this must have cost him.

  “That’s my intent.”

  “But why?”

  He shrugged. “Not sure. I told you I’d lost my mind.”

  “And I believe you.” Maybe she had, as well. All she wanted to do was find a bedroom and spend the rest of the night in it with him. To distract herself, she gazed around and realized they were in the suite’s dining room. Above her head hung an ornate chandelier. The table was in front of floor-to-ceiling windows and the heavy drapes were tied back to let in the night. “Jamal, this is crazy.”

  “I know.”

  She was truly speechless.

  “Look. Men are not known for telling a woman what’s going on inside, but you blow me away. I couldn’t get back here fast enough.”

  Reggie studied him in the flickering light and wondered if it was really possible to fall in love in the span of a few days. Logically, she knew that didn’t make sense but none of what she felt for him made sense either, and this night certainly wasn’t helping.

  “I guess what I’m trying to say is, I know we just met and this could be the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, or the smartest, depending on the outcome, but I want you in my life, Gina. You make me want to write songs singers will be covering thirty years from now—fifty years from now. I’m not asking you to marry me, but can we see if being together fits?”

  Now it was Reggie’s turn to be blown away and she was unable to hide the wonder she felt inside. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

  “Yeah, baby. I am.”

  She was speechless again.

  For a long few moments there was only silence.

  He asked, “So, yes? No?”

  “I’m not being punked, am I?”

  “No. I’d never do that to you.”

  Reggie assessed what she could see of his face and came to a decision. “Yes.” As he’d stated earlier, this could be the dumbest or smartest decision she’d ever made, but if he was willing to give it a shot so was she. How often did Prince Charming walk into the life of an everyday girl like herself? “Yes,” she repeated.

  His smile showed his pleasure. “Good. Shall we eat, or—celebrate?”

  The embers of the earlier fire leapt back to life. “I’ll take door number two for a thousand, please.”

  Making love with him turned out to be the most erotically charged experience of Reggie’s life.

  He played her body like an instrument—strumming, bowing and plucking until her legs parted with wanton invitation and hips rose in greedy need. Reminiscent of the dream, he enjoyed her nipples as if they were his favorite hard candies, and left them damp and hard before moving on. She was twisting and sighing, crooning and dying in response to his wicked mouth and scandalous hands. He prepared her so vividly and so well that by the time he slid his condom-wrapped heat into her core, she came, screaming his name.

  His blood on fire, Jamal watched her ride her orgasm and did his best to hold himself in check, but being sheltered so deliciously in her rippling warmth was more than he could bear. She was the sweetest little thing this side of heaven and he had to stroke her or die. Enticing her to join him, he began slowly. Soon, the rising pleasure became so breathtakingly good that he filled his hands with her soft hips and increased his pace. With her purring and rising beneath him so sexily, it didn’t take long for his first orgasm to explode. He roared under the force and stroked her until he thought he might die, then slowly collapsed into a harshly breathing heap.

  Afraid he was crushing her with his weight, Jamal rolled away. “Goodness, woman.”

  Reggie felt boneless. “That was very good, Mr. Reynolds. Do you give free refills?”

>   He laughed. “I can see now that you’re going to be a handful.”

  To his surprise and delight, she reached over and cupped his scrotum with her warm hand. “And so are you.”

  “Come here,” he growled, dragging her over on top of him. He could see her shadow-shrouded smile. “There’s a word for women like you.”

  “Yep.” She leaned down and gave him a humid kiss. “The word is insatiable.”

  His hands began doing marvelous things behind her and the flames rose again.

  “Spell it,” he groaned in a voice harsh with desire.

  Reggie was dissolving under his magic. When he slid a finger into the dampness he’d been toying with so beautifully, she had no idea what he was talking about. “Spell what…” He slid in another finger and she melted. “Insatiable.”

  “I— Oh,” she moaned. His touches took her breath away.

  “I, what, baby?”

  As he gently stroked her in and out, her body responded languidly to the scandalous rhythm. “I—N—S— Oh, Jamal.”

  He grinned in the dark. “There’s no letter called, oh, Jamal.”

  His fingers left her. She protested. “There’ll be more,” he assured her. “Promise…”

  He kissed her possessively. With her positioned on top, the twin temptations of her breasts were easily accessed and he helped himself until she groaned.

  “You’re supposed to be spelling.”

  In the end, she only got as far as the A. Being filled with dark hard splendor was way more satisfying.

  When the round ended, they showered. They thought they were spent, but being under the hot spray resulted in yet another passion-filled go-round that left them both panting and wet.

  They toweled off and wrapped themselves in the fat white robes provided by the hotel.

  Reggie looked over at him and wondered what fairy godmother she had to thank. Kind, generous and a wizard in bed, who could ask for more? “I suppose our food’s cold by now.”

  “Nope. It’s warming in the kitchen.”

  “This place has a kitchen?”

  “Along with four bedrooms, servants’ quarters, a small movie theater and a baby grand. That’s the short list.”

  “How in the world am I going to be with any other man after this?”

  “That’s the point. Got you a gift, too.”

  She shook her head. “You don’t have to buy me things.”

  He eased her back into his arms. “I do, and I will, so get used to it.” The kiss silenced any further protests. He took her hand and led her to the kitchen.

  The meal was wonderful. Roast chicken, shrimp, veggies, warm rolls. For dessert there were strawberries, chocolate cake and French vanilla ice cream. To top it off, Reggie had her first taste of an imported champagne. It was a night she’d never forget.

  He left the table for a moment and when he returned handed her a large square something wrapped in elegant silver foil. After eyeing him quizzically, she opened it and inside there was a large black velvet box. Lifting the lid, her eyes widened. Pearls. “They’re beautiful.”

  “Yes, they are. I saw you had on a strand at the school concert, so I thought I’d get them for you.”

  They were glorious. She removed them from the box and they were so smooth they felt like balls of silk. She slipped the strand on and he gallantly came over and did up the clasp. The string was long enough for her to wrap them twice around. With one loop sensuously hugging her throat and the other hanging on her chest she turned so he could see.

  For Jamal it was a fantasy come true. Almost. But as if she knew him well, she soundlessly eased the robe off her shoulders. He looked down at her brown skin illuminated by the wavering light of the candles and the dimmed glow of the chandelier and rubbed a pearl slowly over her breast. “We’re going to wind up back in the bed.”

  Her nipple tightened in response to the erotic play. “And?” she quipped heatedly.

  He drew her to her feet, then brazenly slid the pearls over her skin until her lids slid closed. “Come with me,” he invited.

  Over the course of the night, they made love in three different bedrooms and Reggie learned that a strand of expensive pearls in the right hands could be quite scandalous indeed. By the time she and Jamal entered the fourth bedroom, the only thing they had the strength for was sleep.

  The following morning, breakfast arrived courtesy of room service and a sleepy Reggie poured herself a cup of tea. She had the day off and would probably need the full twenty-four hours to recover from being loved half to death by Jamal. He was seated across the table, watching her over his raised coffee cup and looking pleased. “Thank you for last night, Gina.”

  “You’re welcome,” she responded. Just being near him made her want him all over again.

  “Do you mind if we take a minute to talk some business?”

  “Nope. Shoot,” she replied, cutting into her waffle.

  “Got an e-mail this morning from the office. One of the major companies is having an open audition next week and I want you to try out.”

  She stopped. “Where?”

  “L.A.”

  She resumed cutting for a few more silent seconds, and then poured the warmed syrup. “What’s the winner get?”

  “Recording contract for one CD and the company picks up all costs for studio and recording time.”

  “Not bad. How long will the audition run?”

  “One day. The invite was sent to the top ten producers and agents only. Each of us gets one slot.”

  “Shouldn’t this go to someone who’s been waiting longer?”

  “Maybe, but I’m going with the best voice and the singer with the most marketing potential, and that’s you. I want to get this demo done, then bring you out to L.A. I’ve a guesthouse you and your grandmother can use.”

  “Wait, wait, wait. Slow down a minute. I haven’t even decided whether to say yes or not and you already have me on the plane and landed.”

  He studied her for a minute. “Sorry.”

  They assessed each other and she asked, “And if I say no, what happens with us?”

  “I’ll be disappointed, I’m not going to lie. But it won’t be a deal breaker, not the way I feel.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  The honesty reflected on his face and in his voice helped finalize her decision. “Then my answer is…” She paused dramatically.

  “Quit playing now.”

  Her grin showed. “The answer is yes.”

  “Finally,” he replied in mock relief. “Hallelujah!”

  Chapter 6

  They spent the rest of the day sequestered in the suite, talking, laughing and making love. From the talking she learned that he played three instruments—piano, sax and clarinet—and that growing up he’d never had a birthday party. That saddened her. He learned that she hated squash, liked old movies and had been captain of her high-school swim team. Through it all, Reggie thanked heaven above for bringing him into her life, and Jamal did the same.

  As the evening approached, it became time for her to head home. She had to work in the morning.

  “You could call in sick,” Jamal said, watching her put her dress back on.

  She gave him a rueful smile and used his brush to do her hair. “Don’t tempt me.”

  Jamal didn’t want her to leave. He wanted to spend the rest of eternity sheltered there with her, but he knew how much her job meant to her economically and how conscientious she was about showing up. Granted, his ego didn’t like playing second chair, but he knew they’d be together tomorrow after her workday ended and he’d have to be content with that.

  In the backseat of the hired car, they crossed the border back into Detroit and a short while later were idling in front of her modest home.

  “I had a wonderful time,” she said to him.

  They got out and he walked her up the steps to the porch. They fed on the sight of each other in the hope it would hold them until they could be
together again. He traced her lips with a worshipping finger, then kissed her tenderly. “Go on inside before I tell the driver to take us to Mexico.”

  She let her feelings for him fill her up, then said softly, “Bye, Jamal.”

  He waited until she undid the locks and disappeared inside before descending the steps again. As the driver drove him away, Jamal was convinced that he was the luckiest man in the world.

  Two days later, it was raining when the hired car pulled into the parking lot of Davidson Studios. Jamal checked out the battered old building with its razor wire security fence and glanced over at Reggie skeptically. He’d seen some out-of-the-way studios before but none had been housed in a place with the words Al’s Auto Parts painted on the bricks outside.

  “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” Reggie told him. “It’ll be fine.” Or at least she hoped. She’d finally talked to Kenny last night. To say he’d been surprised to hear from her after all this time was an understatement. “By the way, he’s an old boyfriend.”

  Jamal swung his eyes to hers.

  “Just so you’ll know.”

  “Thanks for telling me.”

  She heard the distance in his tone. “This is strictly business. We broke up a long time ago. We’ve both moved on.”

  “Why him, then?”

  “Because he’s the best producer in the Midwest.”

  Jamal had never been jealous before, but reasoned he was now because he’d never felt this way about any other woman before. “Should be interesting.”

  “You’re not going to trip on me, are you?” she asked softly.

  The amused tone underlying the question pricked his ego’s balloon. “No, baby. I’m not.”

  Reggie wasn’t sure she believed him, but she hoped he’d conduct himself like the professional all the hype proclaimed him to be.

  Under their raised umbrellas, they hurried through the rain and across the cracked concrete lot to the big steel door and, following the instructions Kenny had given her during the call, she pressed the doorbell. A male voice answered from a speaker somewhere. “Yes. May I help you?”