Eternally Yours - Brenda Jackson [57]
Vivid memories of their room, a romantic suite, filled her thoughts. It had been large and spacious with a king-size bed. The room had been cool, supported by the air-conditioning that had provided relief from the already hot “Nawlins” afternoon. But even the air conditioner had not withstood the powerful heat that began surging to unbearable degrees once Clayton had closed the room door, locking them inside.
He had ordered room service and the food had been delicious. But it was the things that had happened after the meal that still had her nearly groaning aloud at the memory. It was when he had scooped her up into his arms and had taken her into the bedroom, making beautiful, passionate love to her.
The ringing of the phone startled Syneda so much that she jumped. A part of her became angry at the intrusion. She picked up the phone.
“Yes?”
“Hmm, I like a woman who says yes right off the bat,” a husky masculine voice said.
Syneda smiled as she stretched across her bed. “I was just thinking about you.”
Clayton smiled. “Were you? Good thoughts I hope.”
“The best.”
“Enlighten me. And be specific,” he said mildly.
Syneda closed her eyes and blushed as her mind did a sort of instant mental replay. However, this time it zeroed in on more things in detail. She could see herself, how she had been that night in New Orleans, naked, languorous, in his arms. She could feel the silk bedsheet against her bare back and the weight of his body, hard as a rock, upon hers. She could conjure up the taste of him in her mouth as he kissed her senseless.
“Syneda?”
“Hmm?” She refused to open her eyes just yet. She could visualize more that way.
“You’re moaning into the phone, baby.”
Syneda’s eyes snapped open. “I’m not.”
“Yes, you were. Did you enjoy our time together in New Orleans?”
“Oh, yes. Tremendously,” she whispered.
“How would you like to meet me again next weekend?”
Syneda felt her mouth arrange itself into a smile. “Where?”
“Atlanta.”
“Atlanta? What’s happening in Atlanta?”
“We’ll be what’s happening. How about it?”
Syneda began to tremble at the thought of being with Clayton again. It had already been two weeks since they had last been together. A part of her wanted to say yes, just name the place and the time, and I’ll be there. But then another part of her, the one that had always kept her levelheaded where men were concerned, wanted her to call time-out and take time to examine the feelings and changes slowly taking place within her.
She heaved a sigh, rolled onto her stomach and buried her face into the pillow.
“Hello? Syneda? Are you still there?”
“Yeah, I’m still here.”
“Well, then, what about it?”
Syneda sighed. The “I don’t need a man” part of her was tempted to tell him no, but the “I enjoy being with Clayton Madaris” part of her overruled.
“Yes, Clayton. I’ll meet you in Atlanta.”
“Celeste?” Braxter whispered.
“Hmm?” she answered, her voice sleepy.
“Do you want to spend the night?”
She opened her eyes and smiled up at him. “Since it’s past midnight and I’m still in your bed, I think that’s not a bad idea.”
Braxter grinned. They had just finished making love. She was everything he wanted in a woman and more. “I’m going to have to leave town for a while.”
She came awake and sat up in bed. “Why?”
He got out of the bed and stretched. “Reelection time. It’s time for the senator to take his campaign on the road, back to his home state of Texas, and I’ll be going with him.”
Celeste frowned. She was clearly not happy with this news. She had spent one month with Braxter already, and had not been able to find out anything of particular interest about his employer. As far as Braxter Montgomery was concerned, Senator Lansing walked on water. The only thing she had stumbled on was the fact that around the same time of month in May of each year, Senator Lansing cleared his calendar