Excerpt: Mr. Right Now

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Part One

Luby
"He took my breath and my heart too."

Chapter 1

I am black, but comely. . .

Song of Songs, 1:5

My life changed the day I walked into the elevator of my apartment building behind a tall young white man, who held a small box of books. I pushed the button, and drew in a sharp breath as my legs as they grew weak with sexual arousal and I realized dampness collecting between them.

I craned my neck and darted a glance at him. His eyes met mine for a split second, a green glint, and then an onslaught of desire hit me like a splash of steamy water.

I bit my lower lip to keep from licking it. I wanted to reach out and touch him so much, I curled my right hand into a fist. What was going on?

I never noticed any man in the elevator before. I never wanted to throw any man up against the wall and grind my body against his.

I never looked at another stranger's face and memorized their features at a glance. His hair was dark brown, a little too long. His face was lean and chiseled, his cheeks covered with stubble. Peaked brows hovered over the greenest eyes I'd ever seen.

Close to his body, he held a box that appeared filled with old books. He stared up at the numbers that flickered at the passing floors.

The aura of sex and passion that almost visibly rolled from his body was overwhelming in this small space. It took all my self control not to hit the button that stopped the elevator and beg him to take me.

Instead, I bit my lower lip between my teeth. So hard, I wouldn't have been surprised to feel warm blood. He gave me a nervous glance as if he knew exactly the effect he was having. Then he said, "Maybe I should have taken the stairs."

Saliva trickled down my throat with my gasp of shock. I coughed and sputtered. He steadied me with a touch that made my arousal increase.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" I got the words out with difficulty.

He looked guilty. "My name is Jake Kosevo. I recently moved into the building."

"Luby Jones," I mumbled, not able to meet his eyes, because of the thick heat trickling between my legs. "Welcome."

The elevator doors opened. "This is my floor," he said. "Nice to meet you."

He'd started out of the elevator and the box suddenly gave way and books tumbled everywhere. He swore something in a language I didn't recognize.

I tried not to gasp when I saw the titles of the books. There were words like "magic" and "sorcery" in them, one even said "demonology." A shiver of fear went through me.

"Will you hold the elevator button for me while I gather these?" he asked.

I stabbed at the open button with a stiff finger while he scrambled to collect his books. I tried hard not to breathe or look at his rear-end. Did I mention that his voice was wonderful, totally masculine, like rough dark silk?

It obviously had been way too long since I'd been with a man.

"Let me help you carry them to your place." The words tumbled out of my mouth. I almost clapped my hand to my mouth in astonishment. Did I invite myself to the man's apartment? A man for whom I felt I'd barter with the devil for his touch?

"I appreciate it," he said.

I stumbled behind him through his door, awkwardly holding awkwardly onto an armful of books whose titles scared me half to death. Apparently fear didn't affect my sex drive, because my gaze fastened to his rear like it was glued when he bent over to pile the books on the floor.

"I'll take those," he said, reaching for the books. His closeness flustered me so much I almost dropped them.

I dragged my gaze from his body and looked around his apartment. He had no furniture and what looked like a sleeping bag lay in the middle of the floor.

"Thanks a lot," he said.

"It's okay." I'd never seen a porn movie in my life, but all the imagined naughty scenarios that ended up with me bare-assed on the floor were flitting through my mind.

Inner alarms rang. "Um, I better get going," I said, edging toward the door. "Nice to meet you. Welcome to the building." Then before I could shame myself, I wheeled and fled.

Back at my apartment, I sank to the sofa without kicking off my shoes the way I usually do. My mouth was dry, and dampness was still sticky between my thighs.

The phone rang.

"Luby, can I borrow your car?" Danni asked. "I need to take Allen to a birthday party in an hour."

"What happened to your car?"

"Marcus took it."

"You're joking. You allowed that rusty Negro to take your car when you know you needed to take your son out tonight?" I asked. What was the matter with that girl? She was addicted to a certain type of man and too much of her brain was wired to between her legs. The thought reminded me of Jake.

"I didn't let Marcus take my car, he took it on his own." Continued