Page 18 of The Aries Alliance (BLP Signs of Love #14)

Sweet Thang

Scarlett had every nerve ending in my body on alert in the jacuzzi as she presented her model for protecting the most vulnerable at EFU.

With her locs in a high bun and glistening skin calling out to me under the natural lights in the bathroom, I wanted to lift her on my dick and command her to ride me like a mechanical bull until we sloshed every bit of soapy water onto the mat outside the tub.

Instead, we made slow, sensual love that had my toes curling with each of Scarlett’s sucks to my neck and chest.

Since we finalized our plans early, grilled outside, and still had a day left in the weekend, we decided to part ways so Scarlett could prepare for her student’s dissertation defense early in the week.

We would execute our plan officially starting Monday.

With her suitcase in my hand and a tote in hers, we walked to the covered front porch and stood silently holding hands and staring at each other.

“Can we really do this? No one ever wins against the establishment. Are we on a suicide mission?”

“We can do it. Whatever happens, happens to both of us.” I released Scarlett’s hands and opened my arms.

When she entered them and wrapped her arms around me, I rested my chin on the top of her head.

Scarlett stepped back and held my hands again, her body positioned so I could take in the fullness of her natural beauty and gorgeous legs in a knee-length black cotton dress.

She looked like an approachable queen as she took a big breath and bowed her head.

I lowered mine, too, out of respect, but kept my eyes open and on Scarlett, observing her perfectly arched brows and tempting lips that made me want to kiss her again.

I watched her until she opened her eyes.

Her high cheekbones rose as she smiled before speaking.

“I was thinking of my ancestors and all they went through to be free. If they could push against an entire country for freedom, I can do this for the people at EFU. It’s a seed I’m willing to plant.

With you.” She stepped forward and lifted my hands to the spot above her breasts and held them there, boosting my confidence and warming my insides.

I leaned forward and kissed her forehead, inhaling the vanilla scent that I’d become accustomed to over the past day. I’d never been overly spiritual, but I felt led to share a quick declaration with Scarlett.

“I declare that we will be protected by our Creator as we press into this next place of justice. May we save lives and shift systems in ways the world has never known.”

“Amen.” Scarlett squeezed my hand. “Who would have thought that two hardheaded Aries would become allies so easily? We didn’t start this off on the right foot.” Scarlett lifted her fingers and rubbed them over my cheek.

“I knew you were the one.”

Scarlett’s face became serious. She searched my eyes like she was trying to understand the meaning of my words.

Although I wasn’t referring to a relationship, I wasn’t going to take back my words. I held her hand to the area she rubbed, then slowly lowered it to kiss her inner wrist, a spot that was sensitive to Scarlett. As I expected, she squirmed and blushed.

“I’m going to have to take a hot bath after all that clawing.” She turned her head and pointed to a couple of faint marks on the side of her neck.

I rubbed and then kissed them.

“I don’t regret a single mark.”

Scarlett blushed again.

“Neither do I.”

Scarlett stepped back and descended the steps of the porch.

I followed behind, walking toward Scarlett’s car, which was parked behind mine in the driveway.

She unlocked it and tossed her bags in the back seat.

She held her hand on the door handle, staring into the driver’s window and meeting my eyes in the window’s reflection.

When she didn’t move, I rested my hand on her shoulder.

“What is it?”

She held her keys in her hand and drew them to her chest before turning back to me. The sunlight shone in her eyes like chocolate diamonds, mesmerizing me again.

“You taught me a lot about myself this weekend.”

“Really?” I pulled one of the locs hanging over her shoulder.

“Yes, like not to judge a book by its cover. You’re very different from what I expected. Thanks for being so transparent.”

“Glad I could prove I wasn’t a sellout.”

Scarlett rolled her eyes and glanced at a car that drove past the house. With a tightly drawn smile, she asked, “You’re not going to let me live that down, are you?”

I shook my head.

“Never, oh Harriet Tubman.”

She rolled her eyes again, but this time with a smile plastered on her face.

“Despite that, thank you for being so empathetic. It matters that someone cares for the people at work. You are refreshing and comforting, Warrick.”

I raised my brow at how Scarlett spoke my government name for the first time since we became intimate.

“Why’re you calling me Warrick again?”

She placed her fingers over my lips and tilted her head back to meet my eyes.

“Because I must get used to putting my mask on and keeping it on. I need to remember not to look at you with the admiration I now feel.”

Although she spoke the words so softly I barely heard her, my heart thumped at her compliment. I kissed each of her fingers and removed them to kiss her lips a final time.

“No matter what I say or how I treat you in front of others, hold on to this feeling and the bond that we formed here. I’m only a message away, day or night.” I said the words and meant them.

Scarlett’s eyes lingered a long time as we stood in comfortable silence.

I rested in the peace of the quiet breeze and the warmth of the sun.

This moment with Scarlett allowed me to reflect not only on the seriousness of our plan but the beauty of executing those plans with a fearless woman like her.

She patted my arm and squeezed my bicep.

“Thank you,” Scarlett spoke with such sincerity that I wanted to wrap her in my arms and take her home with me.

Instead, I waited as she opened her car door and started the ignition. She rolled down the window and lingered a few seconds longer.

“See you at work.” She gave me a gentle wave.

I waved back.

“See you, Scarlett.” I placed my hand over my heart as she backed out of the driveway.

“Bye, War.”

When she said my name, I grinned hard. Even when she was out of my sight, I couldn’t stop smiling.

This was one of the best weekends I’d ever had, at least with a woman. Who knew that letting my guard down would teach me so much about myself?