Free Waiting For Him by Denise Johnson

almost sounded like he planned to start something right now.
    “Keisha,” he said in his deep, compelling voice.
    She rushed up to him. “I want you. Tonight. Right now.” She sucked in a needed breath. “But it has to be exclusive for as long as it lasts.”
    “Come again?” he said confused.
    “You keep…I don’t know. Sort of flirting with Alexis.”
    His face went blank. “No way. Not even.”
    “You offered to help her with the fence for her hot tub,” her tone went flat.
    He searched her face again and grinned. “You thought that was so I could spend time with her?”
    Uncertain, she bit her lip. “I don’t know.”
    His grin turned endearing. “Do you know what I did last night, Keisha?”
    She shook her head. “What?”
    He laughed. “I thought about you. All night. I considered all the different ways I want to kiss you, where I want to touch, how you’re going to feel and taste and how awesome it’s going to be.”
    That sounded amazing. “So you think it’ll be awesome?”
    “Given your expectations, I promise to give it my best shot.”
    Expectations? Oh, wow. She did make it sound like she had great expectations, and of course she did, but she didn’t mean to stress him about it. “I’m sorry if I’m making you feel pressured to perform.”
    He laughed again, and hugged her right off her feet. When he lowered her to the floor again, he said, “I have a healthy ego, honey. I don’t feel pressured. I feel challenged.” He drew her up and kissed her softly and deeply. He pressed against her mouth. “I offered to help with the fence to give Steve a leg up.”
    “A leg up?”
    “Yeah.” He turned back to the sink and started on the dishes again. “Your landlord is hot.”
    She deflated.
    “But I think you’re hotter.”
    Keisha went still, then stepped up beside him at the sink, trying to see his face. “No, you don’t.” Man, she sounded desperate for praise, but really, she only wanted the truth.
    “Do, too.” He hesitated, then with a quick shake of his head he caught her hand, dragged it around in front of him and pressed.
    Right over his straining erection.
    “That’s for you, Keisha.”
    Talk about truth! She curled her fingers around him as much as the stiff denim allowed. Wow. Unsure of what to say, she said, “Um…thank you?”
    His jaw tensed around a rough laugh. “Woman you breathe and I feel it like a stroke.”
    On cue she brought her fingers up, measuring his length.
    Stone braced his hands on the sink counter and dropped his head forward. “Alexis doesn’t hold a candle to you.”
    Keisha knew that was nonsense, but it pleased her to hear him say it all the same.
    It pleased her more to explore him. She lowered her hand, cupping him where he was softer, and he caught her wrist.
    For a suspended moment, he held her hand pressed against him, his eyes closed, heat pouring off him.
    Finally eased her hand away. “Let’s save that for later? Much more and I really will blow this.”
    Fascinating. “Blow it how?”
    He gave up on the dishes and dried his hands. “I don’t want you gossiping with the other waitresses, claiming I’m a lousy lay,” he teased.
    “I would never do that.” This all felt so special to her, she had no intention on telling anyone. This was hers, and hers alone.
    “Yeah, you won’t. Because I’m not going to be lousy.” He tipped up her chin and planted a kiss to her lips. “Back to Alexis.”
    Ugh.
    “I figured Steve would appreciate an intro. That’s all. How could you even think I’d look at her with you in the room?
    Well, he had looked enough to say Alexis was hot. He claimed she was hotter though. Keisha shook her head. “Because I’m just me. “
    Before we’re through. Because whatever they shared wouldn’t last long. He’d been very clear about that. An awful thought occurred to her.
    “What is it now?” Stone asked.
    It unsettled her how easily he read her moods. While smoothing a hand over his chest,