Second Chance at Love (Love Conquers All) (12 page)

“Yeah, that was pretty funny. I didn’t know my mom could jump so high.” Turning serious, Dom put his hand on Karen’s thigh. “Are you okay with the kids having the pets? If not, I can take them home with me.”

Karen put her hand on top of Dom’s. “It’s fine. They’ve been asking me to get a pet for some time now. As long as they clean up and take care of them, they can keep the little beasts.”

“Cool. I’ll call the kids every day to make sure they’re doing right.”

Leaning over, Karen kissed Dom on the cheek. “Thanks.”

He frowned at her. “Damn, Karen. That was a pretty lame kiss.”

Karen giggled. “Is that so?”

“Yeah,” Dom huffed, feigning annoyance.

Straddling his lap, Karen began stroking the stubble she found so sexy, on his jaw. “Is this better?” she murmured, her lips touching his. She could immediately feel him becoming aroused as she slowly licked the corners of his mouth. She didn’t hesitate to explore when Dom opened up, giving her free access.

Reaching up, Dom settled his hands on her waist. Karen let out slow purr when he lifted her up, settling her middle directly over the bulge in his jeans. Karen didn’t stop to think what had come over her as she slowly began to rock in an attempt to ease her throbbing center. She mildly protested when Dom broke the kiss. Protest was replaced by a long, satisfied sigh at the feel of Dom nibbling the side of her neck, his hands working to free the buttons on her cardigan.

Excitement coursed through Dom as Karen let go and opened up to him. With the flick of his wrist the front clasp of her bra was released, setting her breasts free. He took a second to admire perfection as he held them in his hands. Stroking the tips with his thumbs until they became pebbles, he voice was a rugged rasp. “You are so beautiful. I want to taste you.”

Sucking in a sharp intake of breath, she nearly choked as Dom’s head dipped, taking in a chocolate nipple. Letting out a long moan, Karen never wanted him to stop. The things he was doing to her with his mouth were driving her crazy. With each swirl of his tongue her hips rotated against his engorged manhood. Karen’s breath came out in short gasps as the swirling was replaced with suckling, then nibbling, causing her pelvis to alternate between rocking and rotating.

Oh, hell. This woman was about to make him explode like a horny teenager. He tried to remain still as she gyrated on top of him. But images of them in the same position completely naked with nothing between them kept tormenting him. Now his hips were thrusting, matching each one of her moves. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he continued to pleasure her breasts with his mouth. If they didn’t stop soon he was about to embarrass himself in the worst way.

Just as Dom was ready to bring things to an end, one of Karen’s hands eased from his sturdy shoulder to hold his head in place where it belonged: feasting on her breast. With one last final buck, Karen threw her head back, letting out a strangled moan. If she had screamed the kids would have surely been awakened. When the last tremble left her body, Karen fell forward, collapsing onto Dom’s broad chest. She was certain Dom could feel the loud pounding in her chest. She certainly felt his.

Wrapping his arms around her, Dom gave Karen a tight squeeze. “You alright?”

Snuggling even closer, she purred, “Mmm-hmm. That was…that was…I never…”

Dom chuckled. “That good, huh?”

Karen laughed. She didn’t dare tell him not to be so cocky. Brotha had every right to be though. How in the world had he made her feel so good, giving her an out-of-this-world orgasm without getting her out of her clothes? Without penetrating her? She had never felt anything so wonderful.

Sitting up, Karen gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Yep.”

Wow. I wonder if this was…nah it couldn’t be. Didn’t her husband take care of business?
Although he made light of the situation, it troubled him to think she was deprived in having her needs met. Just the thought made him want to strip her and have her screaming so loud she wouldn’t be able to talk for a week afterwards. He wanted to show her what it felt like to go to heaven and come back again.

Dom gently pushed Karen back so he could look in her eyes. He Softly stroked her satiny cheek with the back of his hand. “Your husband didn’t take care of you, did he?”

Embarrassed, Karen could feel her face getting warm. How did he know? Gregory hadn’t exactly been a generous lover. The only time she’d ever experienced any sort of satisfaction was if she had reach completion before he had. But even those few times hadn’t compared to what she’d just shared with Dom. And after the children had come along, their sex life was almost nonexistent. She had tried everything to make herself appealing to her husband. She exercised daily, bought beautiful lingerie to wear to bed and sprayed expensive perfume on all her pulse points. None of this excited or enticed her husband. What it did was left her feeling inadequate as a woman.

Dropping her head, she answered truthfully. “No. Gregory acted as if I repulsed him.”

How could he have treated her that way? When he should have been loving her, cherishing her. Instead, he was creeping with another woman on the internet and making plans to meet her. Karen was a good woman. She was a woman any man should be proud to call his wife. Angry, Dom spoke through clenched teeth. “He was a fool.” Tilting her head up with his finger, he promised, “I’ll never make you feel that way.”

Karen eased off Dom’s lap and stood. Before she could back away Dom grabbed her by the wrist. “Did you hear what I said?”

“Yes.”

“Do you believe me?”

“I want to.”

Karen didn’t refuse when Dom pulled her into his arms. She’d been hurt by her husband’s callous treatment. She deserved so much better. She deserved to be loved.

“Baby, I know Gregory hurt you. Please don’t compare me to him. I want to show you what it feels like to be loved and to be made love to. Don’t shut me out when we’ve come so far.”

Perhaps he was being a little presumptuous to infer that her husband hadn’t loved her. But what was he supposed to believe when the man all but told her their children was a mistake, was a selfish lover, was cheating on the internet and no longer found her desirable?

Karen eyes began to mist at Dom’s pleading words. For years she had suppressed her feelings of wanting to be loved. She had told herself that maybe love wasn’t in the cards for her. She had even come to believe that she didn’t deserve love. And now here this beautiful man holding her had just shattered everything she had felt and believed.

“I believe you,” she whispered squeezing him tight, never wanting to let him go.

Dom kissed her until she was breathless. He wanted her so bad, but knew he couldn’t have her.
Not yet.

Taking a step back he said, “I better get going before I take you upstairs and make love to you until the sun comes up.”

Take me…take me...take me!
Karen wanted to scream. Every nerve ending on her body was humming with anticipation of what making love with him would be like. If he could bring her to the point of orgasm with her clothes on, what would he do to her with her clothes off? Karen wanted to fan herself; it was getting hot. “I want you to.”

Dom’s lips curled into a sexy grin. “Don’t tempt me. If the kids weren’t upstairs I wouldn't hesitate for one second to throw you over my shoulder caveman style.”

Karen laughed. “And I’d let you.”

“Come on woman and walk me to the door.”

Karen pouted. “I wish you didn’t have to leave.”

“So do I baby, but we both know I can’t stay the night.”

“I know.”

Karen followed Dom to the front door. When he turned to kiss her good night, Karen held on to him just a little longer. Letting him go was becoming more and more difficult.

“Lock up and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.”

After locking the door, Karen slumped against it. When did Dom wiggle his way into her heart? When had she fallen so helplessly in love with him?

Two days after Christmas

The city at this time of the year was absolutely gorgeous. Olde City Philadelphia could have easily been a scene out of Charles Dickens’
A Christmas Carol
. The lightly falling snow glistened against the cobblestone as they rode under the lighting of the old fashioned lamp post. Karen snuggled against Dom as she lay in his arms, listening to the slow rhythmic click-clack of the horseshoes from the horse drawn carriage.

Each day since Christmas Eve leading up to now had been perfect. Christmas morning had started with an early morning call from Janet inviting Karen and the children over for brunch. Zoe had arrived late the night before with her parents and Grandmother Beatrice and had insisted on seeing Ashley and Kyle. Of course Karen hadn’t minded giving up fixing breakfast since she knew Dom would be at his parents’. It was mid-afternoon by the time everyone had eaten and exchanged gifts before they climbed into their vehicles and headed to Summer and Nick’s place in Chestnut Hill for Christmas dinner.

The tension in the air had become thick the second Beatrice Warrington, Ava’s mother-in-law, entered the home. Karen had picked up a hint of it at the Peretti’s during brunch. With the kids riding in the car with his parents, Dom was free to share with her that things were still a little strained between the families over the role Beatrice had played in keeping Ava and Langston apart all those years. Dom confessed to Karen that the woman wasn’t exactly his favorite person especially after learning how she had been so cruel to his niece Zoe. But because Beatrice was making a conscious effort to the right her wrongs, the family agreed to tolerate her. This however, made it no easier for them to forget all the heartache and pain she had caused.

A part of Karen did feel sorry for the older woman. Although everyone was cordial to her, it was apparent she really didn’t fit in with the other mature women. From the moment Joan Stiles, Nick’s stepmother, Nita Jackson, Summer’s mother, Donna Wahl, Karen and Starr’s mother, and Janet Peretti, Dom and Ava’s mother met, the women became a tight bond of sisterhood. Anyone on the outside observing their camaraderie would have sworn the women were old college friends. Karen and the other younger women weren’t so sure if the mothers and Joan were ever going to accept Beatrice into their circle.

The highlight of Christmas dinner was Beatrice’s heartfelt confession after a number of cocktails. Everyone was stunned into silence when a tearful Beatrice approached Ava. They all held a collective breath as the alcohol gave the older woman courage. “Ava, I was so wrong about you. You do love my son.” Every set of eyes darted from person to person as Ava stood ramrod, still staring at her mother-in-law. “I know I was just awful to you and Zoe.” Wiping her eyes, she continued her tearful confession. “For so many years I had resented my son for how his father had treated me. When I came to my senses and wanted to show my son the love and affection a mother should have for her child, you came along. I was jealous of you because you had done what I could never do as Langston’s mother. You made him happy. I felt betrayed again. I saw you as the other woman taking my son away from me, just like before. It didn’t help that you looked so much like Langston Sr.’s mistress. I thought once I got rid of you and Zoe I could have my chance with my son again. But then Langston was adamant about keeping Zoe. And she too gave him a measure of happiness.” Taking in a shaky breath, she reached out with a trembling hand and took hold of Ava’s hand. “But it was you and your love that fully restored his happiness. I didn’t want to believe you loved him. But I can see why you love my son so much. Being around your family and friends has shown me what I’ve been missing out on by being a mean, evil, vindictive woman. You all love each other so much.” When she looked at her son who had come to stand beside his wife, fresh tears began to spill again. “I guess when you’re surrounded by love it’s easy to give love. Thank you for loving my son,” Beatrice murmured as she released Ava’s hand, turning to walk away.

Where she was going? She didn’t know. She just had to get out of there.

Before Beatrice could leave the room, the most amazing thing happened. Ava closed the distance between herself and the older woman. Hugging her, she simply said, “I forgive you.” Beatrice’s heartfelt apology had tears in all the women’s eyes. The men quietly left the room as each of the women one by one embraced Beatrice, who had been reduced to a trembling, shaking mess.