Guarding Me (4 page)

Maya rolled onto her back and stretched. She hadn’t slept so well in a long time. A noise caught her attention. She knew that sound—Levi. Excitement and fear slid through her veins. Excitement for the night before. Few men made her feel sexy and special. He did both. But fear crept into the equation. She’d stayed over with a guy she hardly knew, gotten her damned heart involved and needed to get the hell out of there.

She crept out of bed and tiptoed into the living room. She snatched her clothes from the floor. Each time she picked up another article of clothing, she glanced down the hall. The urge to climb back in bed with him battled with the need to run. She dressed, then stole one more glance at his sleeping form. Levi snored, his face smashed into the pillow. She couldn’t help but smile. He did look sexy as sin with the sheet half covering his taut body and his features so calm.

Leaving him would hurt, but she needed to trust her instincts to take things a tad slower. She spotted a notepad on the makeshift coffee table. A note seemed cowardly, just like leaving did, but she wasn’t going to leave any old
thanks-for-the-hot-sex-see-you-later
message. She scrawled a few words and then nodded.

Maya picked up her keys, stepped into her shoes, then strolled out of his apartment. Her body ached in all the right places from good sex. As much as she’d thought she might, she didn’t regret a moment of their night together.

The drive home took fifteen minutes. She strolled into her own tiny apartment and tossed her purse and keys on the table. No Nicky, none of his things or little reminders. He’d meant what he said about moving out. She twisted the locks on the door. Thank God for a day off. She’d worry about rearranging her stuff after she got her bearings. Peaches strolled in front of her, doing her best to trip Maya.

“You’re a silly dog,” she said and stooped to pet the canine. “But I love you.” Her words were rewarded with a sloppy kiss. Maya patted her on the head again, then made her way to the bedroom where she stripped out of her clothes. Taking a hot shower crossed her mind, but the scent of Levi lingered on her skin. She collapsed on her bed with Peaches beside her. The little dog turned around three times, then settled.

“You love me, don’t you, Peach?” Maya scratched behind the dog’s ears. She’d have to tell her pet about the new addition sooner or later. “We’re going to have a baby.” Telling people about the pregnancy eased her mind a bit.

Peaches perked up, her ears sticking out, then she rested her head on Maya’s hand.

“Yeah, I’m not sure what to think about it, either.” She stared into the dog’s eyes. “I met a guy, too. I know, I know, I seem to meet a lot of guys. This one is better than Nicky. Well, he seems to be.” Peaches sniffed her hand and licked once. Maya grinned. The dog had barked and growled at Nicky, cowering away from him. As far as Maya knew, he hadn’t done anything to her, but she also wouldn’t have put it past Nicky to swat at the dog. Peaches had been a good measure of character before. Maybe she would be again. “If you like him, then I’ll see him again. Sound good?” If he decided he wanted to see her again. Big if.

The dog barked twice, her tail thumping on the mattress.

“Good deal.” Maybe the rest of her life was a mess, but Peaches had good sense. If she liked Levi, then fine. If not, then Maya knew what to do. She buried her face in the pillow and succumbed to the bone-deep tiredness in her soul.

Levi sighed. “Alone again,” he murmured. The moment Maya woke, he knew. He feigned sleep while she escaped. Did he blame her? Not a bit. They’d moved at warp speed. This was supposed to be time to talk, to get to know each other, and like always he jumped from a quiet, good time to hot sex. He closed his eyes. Damned hot sex. She’d worn him out so much his cock was still hard. Just thinking about her had him ready to go.

He palmed his morning wood. A vision of her appeared behind his eyelids. He sighed and moved the sheet out of the way. In his mind, she licked her lips and sat on his upper thighs. She had her hands around his dick, and the move pushed her breasts together. The little brown nipples beaded. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders.

He grasped his erection and tugged. He imagined her riding him. The vision of her worked so much better than just beating off. He stroked himself and murmured her name. Lust poured through him and every nerve ending buzzed.

The Maya in his mind grinned. Her breasts bounced and her eyes closed. Her lips parted. She moaned like she did the night before. His balls ached. He could almost feel her juices on his cock. The memory of her heat surrounded him.

“Christ.” He pulled on his cock, then cradled his balls in his other hand. Tingles started in his lower belly. He bucked his hips. Just a little more. He pulled on his dick and dug his fingers into his balls. All he needed was her in his arms to make the fantasy complete.

“Maya,” he puffed. Levi thrust harder into his hand and gritted his teeth. The orgasm building in his groin spread throughout his body. His limbs trembled and he arched his back.

“Fuck,” he groaned. “Fuck.” The climax hit him at full blast. He opened his eyes and gasped. Cum shot from his dick and dribbled down his hands. Holy hell. Levi sagged against the sheets and fought to catch his breath. He’d bet she had no idea how she affected him.

Levi stared at the ceiling, caught up in the glow of post orgasm. As he came down from the high, he considered the night before. What was it about Maya? Because she was the first black woman he’d dated? Because she’d been nice to him? Or was it just physical—his body wanted hers?

The physical lust was definitely there. He grinned. He could make love to her a hundred times and not tire. He sighed. The color of her skin didn’t bother him. Hell, he loved the way she looked, from her blonde hair to her toes. He loved the way she fit in his arms as they slept and couldn’t wait to see her round with child. Too bad the kid wasn’t his.

He fumbled on the floor for his boxers, then wiped the cum off his dick and groin. He sat up and tossed the soiled boxers into the hamper. He’d do laundry in a couple hours. The scent of Maya lingered on his sheets and part of him wanted to keep her there. He liked the spunky waitress. Now he’d have to figure out how to tell her he liked her.

He climbed out of bed and yanked on a fresh pair of boxers, then headed to the front room. A piece of paper caught his eye.

“She left me a note?” He wandered over to where the piece of paper waited. He admired her handwriting, very linear and direct—like her.

Thank you for a fantastic night. I needed to step out to think. Call me?

555-2715

Maya

Levi scrubbed his hand across his chin. Well, she’d left him a thank you note, but asked him to call her. That had to be promising—didn’t it? Maybe? Hell, he didn’t know. He sighed again. His next shift started at 16:00. Plenty of time to call her and maybe have lunch with her or something. A thought occurred to him. She could have plans. He rolled his eyes. He was over-thinking everything. Christ. Once a woman wriggled her way into his mind, he was totally fucked.

Yet there she was, like a constant reminder—and after only one mind-blowing night and one hand job.

Totally, completely fucked.

Levi left the note on the table, then headed into the kitchen. He’d figure out what to do after breakfast and a hot shower.

“I went home with him last night.” Maya stared at her reflection in the mirror while her sister stood behind her and chattered. After a four-hour nap and sulking on the couch for an hour, she’d headed to her sister’s to freshen up her look. Her niece, Adaline, sat in the swivel chair to her left and hacked away at her doll’s hair with a pair of safety scissors. The poor doll didn’t have much hair to begin with and with Adaline’s handiwork, she’d be bald in minutes.

“Yeah?” Tia lifted a hank of her hair and added the lightening agent to her roots. “Was he good?”

“Tia! Your daughter is right here,” Maya snapped. “Besides, is this good for the baby, me dying my hair?”

“Go play with your brother in the living room for now, baby. Auntie Maya and I have got big girl things to talk about.” Tia kissed her daughter on the top of the head. “Be good and I’ll show you how to cut the doll’s hair straighter.”

The spitting image of her mother, Adaline grinned. Her deep brown eyes shone when she smiled. For a five-year-old about to start school, she was smart for her age. Her dark brown hair was captured in pink bow barrettes. Glitter twinkled on her arms. “I will, Mama.” She picked up her doll and the scissors. “Mama says I shouldn’t eavesdrop.” Another toothy grin. “Bye, Auntie Maya.”

Once the little girl exited the beauty shop part of the house, Maya sighed. “Yes, he was good.” The tips of her ears burned. “Better than Nicky by far. He even wanted to cuddle afterward. That’s impossible, right?”

“Not impossible, but damned hard to find. You are seeing him tonight, right? And he knows about the baby, so that’s good.” Tia put in the last of the foils, then set the timer and sat down beside her sister. “You’re holding back. It’s Richard, isn’t it? I told you he was a dick. Or was it Nicky? He was a dick, too. You must attract ’em. This Levi had better be a stand-up guy. I didn’t detect an inner asshole to him, but some guys can get past even my radar. Oh and no this won’t hurt the baby. I’m not using harsh stuff. You’re good.”

Nicky meant nothing to her, but Richard? Maya relaxed in her seat. She hadn’t given a moment’s consideration to her ex-husband. “I don’t even think about Richard any longer.”

“Good. We all hated him. Katja and I wanted to throw a party the day your divorce decree was legit, but Momma said no.” Tia shrugged. “Said it was bad form. Bad form my ass. He was a jerk.”

“Nice of you to tell me now. I would’ve loved to have had a party.” Maya rolled her eyes. She loved her sisters, but wished they both would have been honest before the wedding. “With Levi, it’s different. He makes me want things I’ve never wanted and consider things I thought were nuts—like happy endings. I mean, it’s not possible. I jumped the gun and slept with him. That’s not like me. I think things through for so long they never happen. I don’t know what’s wrong with me other than pregnancy hormones.”

Tia folded her arms, then crossed her legs. Her flip-flop dangled from her toes. “Part of it could be hormones, but more of it is you like this one. When you’re really hot for a guy, thinking tends to get involved on the secondary. Part of it is you’ve been burned before and when it happens like lightning, you freak out. He seems like a decent guy with his head on straight. What’s the hang up—other than only knowing him for a short period of time?”

“I’m pregnant with another man’s baby.” Talk about a huge deal-breaker. “Guys don’t want women with baggage. I’ve got a ton on the way.”

“If the guy—whom you don’t know well—is a real man, the father of the child won’t matter. He’ll pony up and take care of the kid because he loves the kid and you.” Tia waggled her foot. “Look at Levi this way. He’s a great candidate for a couple of dates and if that works out, you can always ask him to be your birthing coach.”

“You were going to be my birthing coach.”

“Good choice. He can listen to you curse when the pain hits.” Tia unfolded herself, then leaned forward and grabbed her sister’s hand. “Seriously. Give your soldier man a chance. He might be the one you’re looking for. Just give him the opportunity to show you.”

“I hate it when you’re probably right.”

“I know. I love it.” Tia stood, then smoothed the wrinkles from her shorts. “How far along are you?”

“The obstetrician said four months. She figured my due date is in early March.” Maya placed her hands on her belly. “I’m scared.”

“Of?” Tia rummaged through the cabinet next to the mirror. She tucked a bottle of shampoo, a pink bottle, and another bottle in the crook of her arm. “I’m listening.”

All the thoughts, worries and concerns she’d held back tumbled out in a blur. She’d held back long enough. “I’m afraid I’ll be a crap-ass mother. I don’t know the first thing about taking care of kids. Lookit—when I watch the twins, someone always ends up crying. I’ll probably lose the kid somewhere.” She wasn’t going to cry, but the corners of her eyes burned. “I’m afraid to fail like I did with you and Katja.”

“Oh, boy. I can’t tell you failure won’t happen. It will. Look at the twins and yeah, look at us. Some days I cannot win. Other days are perfect.” Tia grabbed Maya’s shoulders and forced her to look in the mirror again. “Look, you will be a great mom. I know, for one, because you haven’t killed Peaches yet. Number two, the twins are always causing a fuss. If they’re quiet, I’m the one who fucked up. Someone will be crying or bleeding. Number three, you’re stressing yourself out because, wow, this is a huge life change and the douche you were with walked out on you. You’re going to be freaked. Four, you were put in a position when we were all kids. You had to grow up. Back then we were all just muddling through. You lived, you learned and you’ll be fine.” Making sure not to smear the lightening agent, Tia hugged her sister. “Stop worrying about the what-ifs and be the strong, sassy sister I love.”

“Levi said something along those lines.” She half laughed. “He said the sparkle wasn’t so bright in my eyes and he’d do his best to bring it back.” The words,
that’s a load if I ever heard one
, teetered on her tongue. Instead she waited for her sister’s reply. She rather liked Levi’s declaration, liked being cared about by someone who wasn’t family.

“He sounds pretty smart.” Tia’s brows rose. “Don’t you think? What’s the dog’s impression? Peaches is a pretty good judge of character. If she bites him, kick his ass to the curb.”

She hadn’t given the dog a chance to meet Levi. But what about Maya? What did she think? She stared at herself and placed her hands on her lower belly. From the moment Nicky walked out, she’d allowed herself to freefall. Enough. The baby deserved better and so did she. No more wallowing.

“Thanks. I needed the reality check.” Maya grinned. “I also should’ve gotten his phone number.” She raised her index finger and her sister spoke in unison with her. “Never wait on the man to call when you can do it yourself.”

“Good girl,” Tia replied. “You might be the oldest, but you definitely didn’t get all the dating tips. We’ll sort you out.” She checked the timer. “Ten more minutes and we’re ready to rinse. I’m going to check on the kids.”

When her sister walked out of the room, Maya laughed at her reflection. She always did have the craziest timing. What a strange moment to have epiphanies. Her hair looked like hell, no makeup, and her eyes were puffy from napping during the day, but she didn’t care. Time for the old Maya to make her appearance and knock Levi off his feet.