Page 20 of Mr. Blackwood

“Why is that under a different group, and how long has it been in operation?”

Premier Realty Group, or PRG, was a real estate business I started in my earlier years before I made major changes to my life to distance myself from my past. I didn’t care to go down that path, so I looked at my watch, stood, and stated, “It’s time for us to head to our next venue, or we’ll be late for the performance.”

PRG was the first big business I purchased, and the money tied to it was dirty. Everything I’ve done since has been clean. If the government wanted to take everything I owned, they couldn’t, except that one.

“Why are you always dodging my questions?” She stood and faced me.

I stared into her eyes and asked, “Are you interviewing me, Camilla, or dating me?”

Her eyes widened, and then she lowered her gaze, but she followed me out of the restaurant without asking another question. As much as I wanted to get closer to her, my intuition warned me to tread carefully, especially considering her reporter background and natural inquisitive nature.

***

“You keep blowing my damn mind,” Camilla stated, laughing as we danced on the stage at the Fox Theater. Not only had I rented it out for the evening, but I had hired the orchestra to play all of her favorite artists: Gerald Albright, Najee, Norman Brown, Lindsey Webster, Pete Belasco, Marcus Johnson, Mindi Abair, and Boney James.

We slow danced, and she rested her head on my chest. The woman felt good in my arms, and though I knew I needed to be patient, I wanted her in my bed. I couldn’t wait to feel how she moved underneath me, wrapped around me, and was dominated by me. I wanted so desperately to taste her, and I wasn’t sure that I would make it through the night without trying.

I knew that messing with the woman was like playing with fire, but damn, she was so hot that I wanted her to singe me.

“You’ve got some smooth moves for a billionaire,” she stated after she lifted her head and smiled at me.

“Damn. So, is it a requirement that if you’ve got money, you can’t know how to dance too?”

“No. I don’t know why I said that. Must be my nerves,” she replied, covering her face and shaking her head.

“Your nerves? I make you nervous, Camilla?”

“Sometimes, you do.”

“Why?”

“I’ve never dated a man like you before, someone with so much power and presence. I don’t know—there’s something else there that I can’t put my finger on.”

“It must be that black heritage that I couldn’t hide if I wanted to.”

“Why would you want to?”

“I don’t.”

“Are you hiding anything?”

“Are you?” I countered.

Something in her gaze shut down. I took her chin between my fingers, tipped her head back, and covered her mouth in the most sensual kiss.

I could feel her body come alive with fire as I dragged my hand down her bare back and rested it just above her ass. She squirmed against me with every touch; moans leaked from her lips as I deepened the kiss, and her nipples hardened against my chest.

I pulled back from the kiss and stared into her eyes; they appeared hypnotized. I could tell she was gradually falling under my spell, no matter how much she tried to fight it. I wanted her desperately, but not enough to take her to bed just yet. I was determined to break the wall down that she hid behind. I wouldn’t be satisfied until she was not only in my bed, but screaming my name, obeying my commands and submitting to me. I wouldn’t be satisfied until she was saying, “Yes, Mr. Blackwood,” to everything I asked of her.

9 – CAMILLA

ONE WEEK LATER

“Aww, look at the hummingbirds.” I pointed to the tiny birds hovering near the flowers of the same name.

“Where?”

“Right there,” I declared, pointing again.