Dark Or Cream

He reached out a manicured thumb and Kaja’s brown eyes followed its approach to her face. With the pad of his thumb, he curved dark blue frosting from her cheek. Then, he brought the finger to his mouth and his luscious lips wrapped around it to su*k away the sweetness. The whole time, he kept his eyes on Kaja. “My pleasure,” he murmured in that soul-stirring voice.

Kaja put a hand to her chest and turned away. She had a birthday cake to finish. The whole time she sculpted and assembled the fitted-cap shaped cake with candy gold chain and blinged-out candy watch, her eyes kept straying to the sexy man entering and exiting with trays, filling up the van. Kaja didn’t know if it was the length of time since the last time or the fact the man was just flawless that had her fantasizing about Rashan. He wasn’t usually her type; she stayed away from handsome men who seemed too sure of themselves. Men like him had “player” written all over their faces. But, Kaja couldn’t deny the instant chemistry, and she noticed he couldn’t stop staring at her either. It was obvious to the point one of her staffers pointed it out.

“New boyfriend, Ms. Crenshaw?”

Kaja shook her head, giggling. “No, girl! He’s just helping with the catering for my brother’s birthday party.”

“Hmmph, looks like he wants some cake, alright!” said the girl, laughing as she walked away.

“Hush your mouth,” Kaja shooed her, chuckling.

Moments later, Rashan reappeared. She was just about done with decorating, and she placed the last sugar-glass rhinestone into the watch. “All packed up, Ms. Kaja. Ready for me to take the cake?” he asked. Kaja didn’t reply because his sexy query dripped with innuendo. She simply nodded and smiled. He assisted transferring the wooden platter to the rolling cart to be rolled out. “I can drive the van with you, if you need,” he offered.

“I have a driver, thanks. Why don’t you follow us?”

“I wouldn’t mind if you rode with me. I could bring you back after the party.”

Kaja’s eyes flew back to his mouth at the invitation. Ordinarily, Kaja considered herself a flirt, but something about this sensual brother had her rethinking her normal approach. It seemed if she played with this match, something might spark, and she wasn’t sure if she was ready for the fire. When he looked at her, her pulse raced and she felt an ache in the place between her legs. Jesus, be a fence, she silently prayed. This man was temptation incarnate.

She didn’t know him personally, but he was Ramses’ friend; so, she trusted him to get her to the party and back safely. She accepted the ride and followed him to his Range Rover, but once inside she crossed her shapely legs, lest the man next to her hear the cry for attention from below her waist. She was slicker than a greased pan!

“I just love a woman who knows her way around the kitchen.” He made small talk, his eyes glancing from the road to her, and there was palpable tension in the air. “You don’t have to be shy with me. I see you over there all bunched up like you gotta hold back. I’m not gonna bite,” he promised.

“Oh, no—I was just…My mind is on the party. You said you were a friend of my little brother?” Kaja squirmed under his scrutiny. The lust was intense.

“Yeah, we go to college together.”

“So, you must be pretty young, huh?”

“Well, actually, I was in the military. Got a late start. What? You tryna see if I’m old enough to handle you? I’m twenty-eight. How about you?” That sexy smile crept back to his lips, and Kaja found herself smiling back.

She answered, “I’m twenty-seven.”

“Hmm, I thought you were older. Then, again, you look younger—you just carry yourself more maturely than most twenty-something year-olds. Y’know, you are one fine woman.”

“Stop it,” Kaja giggled, blushing. He was down to earth and not the least bit intimidating. Her reticence to be friendly and chatty had more to do with the very s*xual response her body had to him, but she let down her guard, realizing that this had probably been a setup from the start. Ebony’s matchmaking ass was on a mission to get her paired off, and Kaja had to admit that her sister was looking in the right places. “But, thank you.”

“I’m being honest. You don’t have to thank me for telling the truth.”