Loe raamatut: «The Kingsleys of Texas»

Chapter 1

Alexander Kingsley Jr. stood barefoot in his dimly lit, downtown Houston high-rise office, staring out of his wall of windows. The usually immaculately dressed COO of Kingsley Oil and Gas, his family’s multibillion-dollar conglomerate, wore black jeans and a black T-shirt, clothes that reflected his mood. Alexander held a glass of single malt whiskey low at his side as he watched the rain blanket the dark city.

The eldest son of the wealthy Creole and African American Kingsley family and heir apparent to take over as the company’s CEO upon his mother’s retirement, he was used to carrying the weight of his company’s decisions, and the consequences associated with those decisions, on his shoulders, yet this new threat had him questioning his next move. Alexander heard his door open and grimaced. This won’t be pretty.

“Really, Alexander? You summoned me back to the office on a Friday night...again. And in the rain at that. This had better be important.”

“Come in, China,” Alexander ordered, his tone flat as he kept his back to her. “Fix yourself a drink. You’re going to need it.”

China Edwards, Alexander’s beautiful best friend, was an environmental attorney whom Alexander thought of as basically a female version of himself. Her sharp mind, quick wit and photographic memory made China’s position as in-house counsel for Kingsley Oil and Gas vital to the ongoing success of their company.

Alexander could hear the annoyance in her voice. He picked up a small framed photo of the two of them, taken on the day of their law school graduation. The corner of his mouth rose. “Remember that promise we made each other the day we graduated?”

China sighed, tossed her Chloé handbag on the sectional sofa placed in Alexander’s lounge, an area attached to his office but separated by a collapsible wall. “Which one?” she asked, making her way through the lounge, passing a wood and granite-topped coffee table to get to the matching bar. She picked up the bottle, read the label and said, “Nikka Forty...very nice. This must be big when you’re reaching for the good whiskey.”

Alexander turned to face China, and his eyes widened at the sight before him. He’d always thought she was gorgeous but something was different about tonight. China’s long, curly brown hair was pulled back off her face into a high ponytail, showcasing her stunning warm ivory skin tone. She wore a black sequined shorts set with gold stiletto heels that seemed to extend her legs. “Damn!” Even in his current state of annoyance Alexander’s body responded to the beauty of his best friend. Alexander had been finding it more and more difficult to keep his attraction for China under control, and tonight wasn’t helping his case.

“What?” China questioned, looking down at herself. “Why are you looking at me like that?” She leaned against the bar.

“Like what?” His eyes looked their fill at her body and his voice took on a husky tone.

“Like that...like I’m one of those women you ‘date,’” she stated, using air quotes to emphasize the point that she didn’t think he actually did anything beyond sleeping with any of them.

China bent back her left leg and released her heel from her shoe’s strap. She removed one shoe, then the other, tossing them both to the side, which dropped her to her normal height of five feet five inches. China sipped her drink as she took a seat in an oversized round chair that sat between Alexander’s desk and the bar.

“I’m not.” Alexander broke eye contact and returned the photo to its resting place on the long credenza that had been positioned behind his desk. Get a grip, man; this is China. He turned back and met her intense gaze.

“Sure you are,” she alleged before taking another drink from her glass.

“Where are you coming from, dressed like that, anyway?” His nose wrinkled.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but my date took me dancing.” China smiled as though she’d just remembered something pleasant.

Alexander felt like he’d been hit with a sharp object. “Date...you went on a date?”

China rolled her eyes skyward. “Yes, Alexander, it happens.”

“Since when?”

“Since now.” China’s phone beeped indicating that she had an incoming text. She got up and went to where her purse had landed, retrieved the phone and read the text. China laughed before typing out a response. She put her purse and phone on the coffee table and returned to the chair. “Why did you summon me back here at ten o’clock at night?” she reiterated.

“Do you remember the promise?”

She grinned. “Which one?”

“The one where we said we’d always be there for each other, no matter what.”

“Well, let’s see.” She tapped her temple twice before letting her index finger rest on the side of her head. “We’ve been best friends since law school. We have dinner together every month, which you insist on cooking. You drag me to every formal function you’re invited to in order to keep gold digging women away and I’ve worked for you and your family for the past seven years.” She dropped her hand. “I’d say we had that, ‘I’ll always have your back’ phase of our relationship covered.”

Alexander smiled and scratched his beard with his left hand.

“What’s going on, Alex?”

Alexander’s sex throbbed at the sound of China using the shortened version of his name that only she was allowed to use. It was something special just between the two of them. “The government is coming for us.”

China sighed and dismissed his concern with a wave of her hand. “Again...”

“Yes, but this time they may have a case.”

China sat up straight in her chair. “What do you mean?”

“The Environmental Protection Agency claims to have proof that we disposed of our gas cylinders illegally and to the detriment of the environment. They’re opening an official investigation and announcing it Monday morning,” he explained.

“That’s not possible,” she declared.

“Apparently it is.” He tossed back the rest of his drink and moved over to the bar to pour himself more. He picked up the bottle and showed it to China. “Another?”

“Sure.” She swiveled her chair around and reached for her glass, stretching across the chair, offering Alexander a nice view of her outstretched legs and round behind. “How did you find this out?” China offered him her glass.

“My mother has some very expensive and well-placed sources,” he said, pouring the golden substance into her glass.

“Don’t I know it? We can’t do anything about it until we know what they have, which could take a few weeks after I put in a request for discovery,” she reminded him.

Alexander took a drink and said, “Actually—”

“Actually what?” Her brows knit together.

“We’ll have a copy of what they have Monday,” Alexander promised.

“EPA investigations are secret, even the preliminary ones. What did you do?” China asked, her eyes narrowed.

“Remember that promise,” he said, giving her a sheepish grin.

“What...did...you...do?”

“I didn’t do anything. My mother, on the other hand, made arrangements for us to get a sneak peek at everything the government has.”

China shook her head slowly. “Why am I not surprised?” She tossed back her drink.

“Because you know my mother.” Alexander folded his body onto his extra-wide and extra-long sectional. He stretched out his long legs and laid his head against the sofa’s high, round back. “The rain’s really coming down now,” Alexander observed.

“Yes, it is. It looks like we’ll be here a minute. Just another late night at the office, thanks to you.”

“Hey, we have alcohol and snacks,” Alexander offered.

“There is that.” Her sarcasm came through loud and clear.

China rose from the chair and went to join Alexander on the daybed portion of the sectional. She curled up, pulled down the decorative throw that was hanging across the back of the sofa and covered her legs. China laid her head against one of the large pillows.

“You know we didn’t do anything wrong, right? Whatever this is about, we will handle it.” China raised her head slightly and said, “The right way.” She gave him a knowing look.

Alexander laughed and turned toward China. “Why didn’t you tell me you had a new man?”

“You don’t tell me about every woman you sleep with.” China laid her head back down.

Alexander’s heart sank and his breath caught in his throat. He didn’t understand why. China had never been his, so why did he suddenly feel a sense of betrayal? “Oh, it’s like that?” His left eyebrow rose.

China pushed out a breath. “No, it’s not. This was only our second date and it got cut short thanks to another one of your emergencies...nonemergency call,” she said, closing her eyes.

Alexander had refused to explore why lately he found himself having emergencies that required China’s immediate attention whenever she was out on dates. “Oh...sorry.”

“No, you’re not,” she said, keeping her eyes closed.

No, I’m not. Alexander watched the rise and fall of China’s chest with each slow breath she took. He marveled at the curve between her neck and shoulder, and the delicate way her hands lay at her sides. Alexander had always been attracted to China, but for the sake of their friendship, he’d buried his attraction and complicated feelings for his best friend. He hadn’t always had the best track record when it came to his relationships with women. Alexander never wanted to do anything that would jeopardize their friendship; however, his overwhelming feelings now had him...questioning that wisdom.

* * *

“China,” Alexander whispered.

It was a sound that sent a warm, familiar tingling throughout her body. “Yes...” China could feel the warmth of Alexander’s breath on her face and her body began to respond in ways that it shouldn’t.

“You ’sleep?”

“Maybe.” China slowly opened her eyes to Alexander’s face inches from hers.

“Can I ask you something?” Alexander pushed a strand of loose hair behind her ear before running the back of his right index finger slowly down the side of her face, and China’s nipples instantly hardened.

What the hell is wrong with you, girl? This is Alexander. “Of course.” But you really need to stop touching me.

“Have you ever wondered what it would be like?” Alexander held her gaze as he imprisoned her chin with his thumb and index finger. “Between the two of us.”

China blinked to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. After all, this was her best friend talking. The one person she trusted above all others. The only man whose friendship she cherished more than any sexual desire that she may have had for him. “Yes, but...”

Alexander captured China’s mouth in a mind-melting kiss that she responded to with just as much fervor. “I want you,” he proclaimed, coming up for air. Alexander ran his tongue across her lips, removed her hair clip and buried his fingers in her hair. He slid his tongue across her jaw and down her neck.

China’s body begged for surrender while her mind was trying to fight through the thick fog of her unrelenting desire. What the hell are you doing? This is Alexander. He’s a brilliant businessman and the best friend you’ve ever had but when it comes to making long-term commitments to women he’s just not that guy. “I...I’m not...”

Alexander raised his head, looked into her eyes and said, “I’ll stop if you want me to.” His eyes roamed her face. “Please don’t want me to.”

“I just don’t want to ruin things between us,” she whispered before leaning forward, kissing him gently on the lips. “But I can’t seem to stop touching you, either.”

“It won’t. I promise.” Alexander kissed her on the corner of her mouth. “And please don’t stop touching me.”

China had always wondered what it would be like to make love with Alexander...to be devoured by him. The thought of spending one rainy night together seemed harmless, especially with the new direction that her life would soon be taking. It was a direction she knew Alexander would support but never agree with. Now might be the only time she could satisfy her curiosity without lasting repercussions. China confined Alexander’s face between her hands and kissed him as though it would be her last opportunity. They kissed each other with urgency, as if each was afraid the other would change their mind.

Clothes were ripped off and thrown across the room. Alexander retrieved a condom from a hidden compartment inside the drawer of his coffee table. China threw her head back and laughed at the move. “Well, it is Friday night and you were a Boy Scout.”

“What?” Alexander frowned.

“Always being prepared...and you even have creative hiding places for your personal items, too,” she teased.

Alexander silenced her with another heart-piercing kiss. He ran his nose and lips along the edge of her cheek and down the side of her neck to her shoulder. Alexander slowly kissed his way down the valley of her breasts to her left nipple, where he sucked and pulled as if she was providing him with the sweetest nectar.

China arched her back and moaned, “Yes, Alex...yes.”

Within seconds Alexander had rolled the condom on, had China’s left leg over his shoulder and her right hooked around his waist, and he was buried deep inside of her. The initial thrust of his hips sent China’s body into a crazed frenzy. She had never felt so reckless and complete all at the same time, and she loved every moment of it. The idea of maintaining her celibacy was quickly fading to the background.

Their sexual roller-coaster ride was something China had never experienced before. Alexander made sure they both enjoyed every peak and valley before they took that last intense dive over the edge. They both lay naked, flat on their backs across the daybed, trying to catch their breath.

“That was—”

“Cr... Crazy!” China said between gulps of air.

“Exhilarating,” he corrected, turning toward her. “Who knew you were so flexible?”

China turned her head toward him. “You should have. How many gymnastic competitions did you come see me in?”

“Yeah, but that was years ago. I had no idea you could still do the splits, and in so many different ways, too.”

China laughed and covered her face with both hands. “Shut up.”

“I’ll be right back.” Alexander made his way to the bathroom.

China dropped her hands. “Girl, what in the hell did you just do? You can’t even blame it on the alcohol,” she said to herself, giggling.

Alexander returned and scooped China up into his arms. “What are you doing?” she asked, loving the feel of his sweaty skin against her own.

“Shower time.” Alexander carried China into the bathroom, where they showered and made love again. After helping China dry off, Alexander offered her one of his dress shirts that he kept at the office. She slipped it on and they returned to the daybed where they lay snuggling, watching the rain and falling asleep in each other’s arms.