questions later.” He stared at her. “But that's not a sure bet.”
“Okay, I can respect that.” She nodded and made two steps before he grabbed her.
“Wait, I want to see you again.” She stared up at him, confused.
“I'm not ready for a commitment. Besides, I'm still married, the divorce isn't final.” She reminded him.
“I know. But we can get to know one another better, build on what we already know.”
She crossed her arms. “What do you know?”
“Besides the fact, you are a beautiful, caring woman with a big heart. Despite all the pain you've suffered, you still ache for your friend who wronged you. You're smart and independent, insistent on paying your way. You've learned from your mistakes, yet you are still flexible and open to new possibilities. Your sense of family is strong, your moral code high and most importantly, you are an unselfish lover.” He smiled as she looked on in awe.
He pulled her close and kissed her thoroughly. “I don’t operate on the down-low. I know you've been hurt, give me a chance to love you. To be here for you. I want more than sex, as good as it is, I want the woman. The total package.” He nipped her lips before sliding his tongue into her mouth.
Cocooned in the warmth of his arms, Lena looked upward and said a prayer. Desperate for a chance at love and happiness, she returned Kurt's hug and nodded. “Okay, we’ll give it a shot.”
He spun her around on the porch and headed for his car.
“Where are we going?” she asked as he closed the door.
“My place,” he leered at her. “To celebrate as loud as we want.”
***The end***
The following is an excerpt of Elijah’s story, which is a companion book to this one. Each can be read alone but the reading is more enjoyable when read together.
Keeping Pace
S.J. Nelson
Chapter 1
Elijah Pace, Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church didn’t care for house visits unless absolutely necessary. Too much could go wrong. However, one of his staff members, the music director, hadn’t been to service in a week. His wife, Lena, worried about their friend’s absence and suggested he visit Anthony to check on him. She had some other errands and couldn’t visit today, but would if anything cancelled. Using the key his former college roommate insisted he have, he let himself into the two-bedroom apartment.
“I came by to check on you.” Pocketing his key, Elijah walked into the bedroom and froze. Anthony, his best friend and employee, lay on the bed stroking his erection, moaning softly. Elijah wasn't positive, but it sounded like his name escaped through the full lips of the younger man.
Anthony's eyes opened slowly. They appeared unfocused as they gazed at him. “Elijah?” He whispered, his voice unsure.
“Yeah.” He coughed. What was the proper etiquette for something like this? He turned to leave as Anthony closed his eyes and rolled to the side of the bed. Unblemished skin the color of butterscotch covered a wide muscular back that tapered to a smaller waist and ended with full round globes. Elijah’s face heated as he stared a moment longer than appropriate at the high, smooth cheeks on display. Perfectly formed thighs and long full calves shielded the more intimate portion of Anthony’s body from him. Swallowing hard, he finally turned toward the doorway, thinking to give his friend some privacy.
“I came to check on you. Secretary said you called in sick again.” Elijah paused, not wanting to stay but afraid to leave. They'd been best friends for a long time and had recently crossed a line. It was one of those things unspoken “What’s…? What's wrong?” Common decency demanded he ask since he’d come on the excuse to check on the man’s health, although his racing heart warned him the answer would be trouble.
A crude chuckle escaped Anthony's lips. Elijah's body responded to the sound, and he hated it. Hated the entire situation. “Talk to me, are you sick?” Fear
“Okay, I can respect that.” She nodded and made two steps before he grabbed her.
“Wait, I want to see you again.” She stared up at him, confused.
“I'm not ready for a commitment. Besides, I'm still married, the divorce isn't final.” She reminded him.
“I know. But we can get to know one another better, build on what we already know.”
She crossed her arms. “What do you know?”
“Besides the fact, you are a beautiful, caring woman with a big heart. Despite all the pain you've suffered, you still ache for your friend who wronged you. You're smart and independent, insistent on paying your way. You've learned from your mistakes, yet you are still flexible and open to new possibilities. Your sense of family is strong, your moral code high and most importantly, you are an unselfish lover.” He smiled as she looked on in awe.
He pulled her close and kissed her thoroughly. “I don’t operate on the down-low. I know you've been hurt, give me a chance to love you. To be here for you. I want more than sex, as good as it is, I want the woman. The total package.” He nipped her lips before sliding his tongue into her mouth.
Cocooned in the warmth of his arms, Lena looked upward and said a prayer. Desperate for a chance at love and happiness, she returned Kurt's hug and nodded. “Okay, we’ll give it a shot.”
He spun her around on the porch and headed for his car.
“Where are we going?” she asked as he closed the door.
“My place,” he leered at her. “To celebrate as loud as we want.”
***The end***
The following is an excerpt of Elijah’s story, which is a companion book to this one. Each can be read alone but the reading is more enjoyable when read together.
Keeping Pace
S.J. Nelson
Chapter 1
Elijah Pace, Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church didn’t care for house visits unless absolutely necessary. Too much could go wrong. However, one of his staff members, the music director, hadn’t been to service in a week. His wife, Lena, worried about their friend’s absence and suggested he visit Anthony to check on him. She had some other errands and couldn’t visit today, but would if anything cancelled. Using the key his former college roommate insisted he have, he let himself into the two-bedroom apartment.
“I came by to check on you.” Pocketing his key, Elijah walked into the bedroom and froze. Anthony, his best friend and employee, lay on the bed stroking his erection, moaning softly. Elijah wasn't positive, but it sounded like his name escaped through the full lips of the younger man.
Anthony's eyes opened slowly. They appeared unfocused as they gazed at him. “Elijah?” He whispered, his voice unsure.
“Yeah.” He coughed. What was the proper etiquette for something like this? He turned to leave as Anthony closed his eyes and rolled to the side of the bed. Unblemished skin the color of butterscotch covered a wide muscular back that tapered to a smaller waist and ended with full round globes. Elijah’s face heated as he stared a moment longer than appropriate at the high, smooth cheeks on display. Perfectly formed thighs and long full calves shielded the more intimate portion of Anthony’s body from him. Swallowing hard, he finally turned toward the doorway, thinking to give his friend some privacy.
“I came to check on you. Secretary said you called in sick again.” Elijah paused, not wanting to stay but afraid to leave. They'd been best friends for a long time and had recently crossed a line. It was one of those things unspoken “What’s…? What's wrong?” Common decency demanded he ask since he’d come on the excuse to check on the man’s health, although his racing heart warned him the answer would be trouble.
A crude chuckle escaped Anthony's lips. Elijah's body responded to the sound, and he hated it. Hated the entire situation. “Talk to me, are you sick?” Fear
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