Unconditional Love Read online

  The beautiful sage green walls took my breath away the moment I walked in. It was so calming and not at all what I expected from Lark Williams. There was a beautiful silk comforter that was almost the exact color as the walls but with wide light cream stripes running across it. The bench that sat along one of the windows looked almost too inviting and I wanted to sit down and just take in the view.

  Oh…and the balcony. Good Lord, who would ever want to leave such a beautiful room? It faced East, South, and West. The master bathroom looked like a damn spa with the marble floors and white sinks and tub. The tub. I let out a small whimper when I thought back to when Lark mentioned fucking me in the tub. I reached my hand down and slipped it into my skirt and then my panties. When I brushed my fingers across my clit I let out a gasp and quickly pulled my hand out.

  I stood up and began pacing. “What in the hell is wrong with me? What is he doing to me?” I whispered. I heard my cell phone go off and I made my way back out to the main living area of the condo. I didn’t even remember setting my purse down on the counter in the kitchen. I pulled it open and dug out my phone. I looked and saw that my mother had sent me three text messages. I knew she was wondering why I said I wouldn’t be over tomorrow for lunch. I gave her no reason why I had to cancel. I wasn’t ready to tell my parents about Lark. No way. No how. I tossed my phone back in my purse and decided to text her back later.

  I walked up to the door that led to the balcony and made my way outside. The cool fall breeze felt amazing against my hot skin. I needed to get out and get some fresh air. All those damn dirty thoughts I had while walking around Lark’s condo had my libido going insane.

  I put my hands up to my cheeks and tried to steady my heartbeat as I thought about Lark and I having sex in almost every room of this place. The kitchen island, the leather sofa in his living room…and oh God, the pool table. That had always been a fantasy of mine—to have sex on a pool table. I let out a sigh and was about to turn around when I saw Lark’s hands on both sides of my body. He placed his hands on the railing and I could practically feel the heat from his body.

  “Do you like the view?”

  “Yes. It’s beautiful, but at the same time, it makes me feel sick when I look down.”

  He laughed and said, “Come on, I’m starved. I’ll give you a tour of the rest of the building tomorrow.”

  “Where are we going to eat?” I asked as I followed him back into the condo and grabbed my purse.

  He walked us to the elevator and asked, “Do you like Italian?”

  I nodded my head and smiled. “Italian is probably one of my favorites.”

  “Then I think we should walk down to the Taverna. It’s one of my favorite places to eat.”

  I smiled. “Sounds good.”

  We rode down the elevator in silence. I swear it only took like ten seconds to get from the fifty-fourth floor to the first floor. The elevator opened and as we stepped out, I almost ran into a beautiful blonde.

  “Excuse me—I’m so sorry,” I said as she smiled. She looked at Lark and her smile faded.

  “Lark. I didn’t know you lived here,” she said as the smile returned to her face. But this time there was something wicked about it.

  He quickly looked at me and then back at her. “What are you doing here, Sherry?”

  She laughed and said, “I just bought a condo here. One of my best friends lives here and I fell in love with her place and had to have one of my own.”

  She looked back at me and began to eye me up and down. For some reason I instantly didn’t like her. I didn’t like the way Lark was so nervous and I certainly didn’t like the way she was looking at him.

  Lark began pulling me away from her as he started walking away. “Welcome to the neighborhood. I’ll see ya around.”

  “Well wait, Lark, darling. Who’s your friend?” she asked as she gave me a smirk.

  Darling?

  Lark ran his hand through his hair and said, “Azurdee, this is Sherry, a friend of mine. I’ve known Sherry for a few years, right before I joined the Marine Corps.”

  She let out the fakest laugh I’d ever heard. She held out her hand, almost like she wanted me to kiss the damn thing. I took her hand and shook it and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you. How do you and Lark know each other?”

  She looked at Lark and gave him the same wicked smile as before. The way they looked at each other I could tell they shared a secret together. “Would you like to tell her the story or shall I?”

  Lark gave her a dirty look and then looked at me and smiled slightly. “We met at a club one night. Sherry is a lawyer and I’ve used her a few times.”

  “More than a few,” she said as she brought her finger up to her mouth.

  “We were just heading to dinner, Sherry, so if you’ll excuse us.”

  Lark pulled my hand and practically dragged me down the hallway.

  “It was nice meeting you. Maybe I’ll see you around, Azurdee. We can get to know each other better,” Sherry called out. I turned and looked back at her and she was glaring at me.

  When I turned back, I had the feeling that Lark and Sherry were more than just friends. I peeked up at Lark and he seemed pissed off. I decided not to even ask him about her. I needed to believe that what he said to me was true.

  I was his and he was mine.

  We walked to the restaurant in silence. The longer he remained quiet the harder it was for me to not worry about this Sherry girl.

  Before we walked into the restaurant, I stopped, causing him to stop as well. He turned and looked at me and smiled. I tried to smile, but I just needed to get this over with.

  “I’m not the jealous type and I realize you have a past, but the way that girl was looking at me and how nervous you were acting is not sitting right with me. If there is something between the two of you, tell me now, Lark.”

  He went to open his mouth to talk, but then shut it again. He ran his hand through his hair again and I was quickly learning he did this when he was mad or nervous. “Sherry is just a friend. Nothing more.”

  I slowly nodded my head. “Have you slept with her?”

  “Does it matter? Are you going to ask me that question with every single girl we run in to?”

  My heart instantly sank. I knew he was right. I had no right asking and it wasn’t any of my business, but by him not answering, he actually answered my question. He had slept with her and by their reaction to each other, I was going to guess they had slept together on more than one occasion.

  I smiled slightly and shook my head. “I’m sorry. Let’s get something to eat. I’m starving.” I turned and began walking into the restaurant. I tried like hell to push this Sherry girl from my mind. I was hoping she wouldn’t become an issue, but I had a feeling she was going to become more than an issue.

  After dinner, we walked back to the condos and Lark called for a car to take us to the club. I quickly forgot about Sherry after our dinner was served. I was pretty sure I had just been hungry and cranky. Lark also seemed to snap out of it.

  When we got into the car, Lark said, “Red 7, please.”

  I settled into Lark’s side as he gently moved his fingers up and down my arm. I felt myself relaxing and had to fight to stay awake. I hadn’t slept so great the night before when I was so upset about what had happened at the fundraiser the night before with Lark on the phone.

  The car pulled up outside the club and we got out. I looked at the line to get in and let out a deep sigh. Lark took my hand and walked up to the bouncer.

  “Lark! Dude, how are you?” the bouncer asked as he looked me up and down. I was starting to regret my decision to wear this low-cut shirt.

  Lark looked back at me and then at the bouncer again. “I’m good.”

  The bouncer moved out of the way and we walked straight into the club. “I take it you come here often!” I shouted. Lark winked at me as we made our way over to the bar. I kept my head down after the first five guys eye-fucked the shit out of me.


  I wasn’t much of a club scene person but I was learning that Lark was. He was getting stopped by both men and women. One bitch threw her arms around him and kissed him with me standing right there. Lark pulled her off of him and whispered something in her ear. She looked at me and frowned before turning around and walking away.

  When we finally made it to the bar, Lark ordered us both a Blue Moon. He handed one to me and smiled. I smiled back but I felt so out of place. I looked around and was shocked at all the girls openly staring at Lark. I rolled my eyes as one girl licked her lips and tried to wave at him. I practically downed my beer I was so pissed off. I guessed I had better get used to this.

  I peeked up at Lark. He was talking to some guy, and it sounded like they knew each other. The guy looked like he was military, so maybe they both served in the Marines together.

  I was totally captivated by Lark. My eyes traveled up and down his body as he stood there and talked to this guy. Lark was tall, probably six foot one, with a short military-style haircut and breathtakingly beautiful green eyes. His body was built like nothing I’d ever seen before. He was in incredible shape and my favorite part of his body was his broad chest.

  I watched his lips move while he talked and I was glad it was loud in the club because I had let a small moan escape my lips. I was turned on just watching him talk. Good God. Why does he affect me the way he does?

  I glanced at Lark’s friend and he kept looking at me. I instantly felt uncomfortable. Lark was talking to another guy who had walked up. The way his friend was looking at me was like I was a bug that needed to be stepped on. My skin began crawling and I tried to give him a slight smile. He barely smiled and looked my body up and down quickly before turning his attention back to Lark.

  The other guy Lark was talking to appeared to be a few years younger than Lark and this other guy. The guy who had been looking me up and down grabbed Lark’s shoulder and pulled him closer and whispered something in Lark’s ear. Lark pulled back quickly, looked at me and then back at the guy and said something. I was growing more and more uncomfortable.

  I looked away and closed my eyes and tried to shake the uneasy feeling I had. Maybe it’s because they aren’t used to Lark being with someone. I felt Lark grab my hand and I was instantly calmed.

  I turned and looked him in the eyes. Something about his eyes seemed…sad. I smiled and his eyes lit up and I couldn’t help the feeling that swept over my body. Knowing that just a smile from me could affect him did things to my body…and heart.

  Christina Aguilera’s “Desnudate” began playing, and Lark’s smile grew bigger and his eyes changed. He leaned down and put his lips to my ear and whispered, “Dime tu fantasias.”

  My heart began beating harder in my chest. For some reason when he spoke Spanish to me, it turned me on so much. I motioned with my finger for him to come closer to me as I put my lips up to his ear and said, “Tell you my fantasies? I hardly think a club is the place for me to share that with you.”

  He pulled back and his eyes flashed with lust and I licked my lips in anticipation of what he was going to do. He pulled me closer to him as he began making his way to the dance floor. My insides were jumping all over the place and I wanted to let out a little squeal. I’ve been dreaming of dancing with him again after our little dance at the wedding.

  Lark pulled me to him and began moving his hips against me and I immediately felt his hard-on. He was an incredible dancer and I loved how he kept my body tight against his. I was lost in his eyes as we moved to the beat of the song.

  He reached up and pushed a piece of my hair back and hooked it behind my ear as his eyes moved slowly all over my face. When his eyes landed on my lips, I purposely ran my tongue along my bottom lip and watched as he closed his eyes. I smiled slightly knowing he was getting just as turned on as I was.

  Before I knew what was happening the song changed and “Talk Dirty to Me” by Jason Derulo began playing. The smile that spread across Lark’s face caused me to smile. He spun me around and pulled my ass up against his dick as we began dancing seductively. His hands were moving up and down my body and everywhere he touched felt like it was on fire.

  I totally let myself go and danced like I’d never danced before. Lark reached around and grabbed my breast and pulled me back closer to him as he said in my ear, “You look beautiful tonight, but I don’t like this shirt, mi amor. Too many guys are eye fucking you and it’s really pissing me off.”

  I swallowed hard and looked around quickly. When he began kissing my neck, I let out a moan and my legs felt like jello. Lark turned me around and watching his body move was more than I could take. It was building me up and all I wanted was for him to give me my release.

  I grinned as he looked at me with a look on his face that I couldn’t read. He leaned down and said, “You like when I talk dirty to you, Azurdee?”

  Did he really just ask me that? Do I tell him that I do and it drives me insane with lust?

  “Yes,” I said. His eyes grew wider as the song changed to Enrique Iglesias’s “Tonight”.

  He pulled me to him and his eyes were filled with nothing but passion. I couldn’t believe how I was grinding into him. I closed my eyes and thought of all the things I wanted him to do to me.

  His hand moved down my body and he grabbed my ass and pulled me closer to him as he lifted my leg. The look in his eyes caused me to start breathing heavier. The moment I felt his hand moving up my leg I knew what he was going to do and I didn’t even care we were in the middle of a group of people. I wanted him to touch me. I needed him to touch me.

  He slowly moved his hand up and under my skirt as he slipped his fingers inside my panties and quickly pushed his fingers into me.

  “Motherfucker. You’re so fucking wet,” he said as he closed his eyes and moved his fingers in and out of me. I buried my face into his chest and tried to hide the fact that I was enjoying this. Something about us being right out in public and Lark feeling on me had me getting so worked up and I was pretty sure I was about to have my first public orgasm.

  Then I heard someone behind me shouting something and Lark pulled his fingers out and pushed my leg back down quickly. I turned around to see Lark’s friend standing there. The way he was smiling gave me the creeps and I wasn’t sure why.

  “Mind if I cut in?” He looked directly at Lark like he was waiting to see his reaction. The song changed to “Give It to U” and Lark frowned. He pulled me to him and yelled in my ear, “Azurdee, this is Jason. I work with him.”

  My head snapped back to look at Lark and then at Jason. He works with him?

  “Jason, this is my friend, Azurdee.”

  My mouth dropped open a little. Friend? So now I’m a friend. I instantly felt the heat move into my face and I wasn’t even sure why. It wasn’t like I expected him to walk around telling everyone we were boyfriend and girlfriend, but the way he stressed the word friend bothered me.

  Jason held out his hand for me to take it and dance. I looked back at Lark and he took a step back. I slightly shook my head. I didn’t want to dance with this guy. Lark pushed his hand through his hair and turned and walked toward the bar.

  He left me. He just left me with this guy. I slowly turned and looked at Jason. His crooked smile might have caused my heart to drop before Lark had come into the picture, but now all it did was make my heart pound with fear for some reason. I took his hand and he began dancing.

  Jesus. What is with these guys and how good they dance? Probably because they are at the club every weekend.

  I turned back and tried to find Lark. I jumped when Jason touched my arm and pulled me closer to him. “I won’t bite sweetheart, I promise.”

  I smiled slightly and decided to just go with it. Lark wouldn’t leave me with someone he didn’t trust.

  He ran his hands up and down the side of my body and winked as he said, “Relax baby…just dance and have fun.” Ugh. Gag me. I smiled and tried to loosen up a little.

  He looked in the
direction to where Lark had walked and then pulled me closer to him. “How do you know Lark?” he shouted over the loud music.

  I shouted back, “My best friend is married to his best friend.”

  He smiled and looked down at my chest. Fuck. Why did I wear this shirt?

  “How long have you known him?”

  I looked back over my shoulder for Lark. I couldn’t see him anywhere. I turned back and shouted, “Almost a year.”

  “Y’all fucking?”

  I stopped dancing and stood there. “Excuse me?” I shouted.

  He started laughing, “I’m just trying to see if you’re off-limits, babe.”

  I shook my head and turned to leave, and he grabbed my arm and pulled me back to him.

  “Let go of me,” I shouted. He smiled and said, “I’m sorry Azurdee, it’s just most of the girls Lark is with are just fuck buddies. I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m sorry.”

  I pulled my arm from his and said, “Whatever. I’m thirsty and just need a break from dancing.”

  His smile faded slightly and something in his eyes changed. “Sure. Let me walk you back to the bar. You’ll never make it through the crowd alone.”

  He took my arm and guided me through the crowd. My eyes were darting everywhere for Lark. I started panicking when I couldn’t find him. “I’ve got it from here, Jason. Thanks.”

  Lark took my other arm and the way they both looked at each other caused chills to run up and down my back. Something exchanged between the two of them and I had no idea what it was. Jason nodded his head and said, “I hope you know what the fuck you’re doing.”

  What did he mean by that?

  I looked at Lark with a confused look. He smiled and winked at me. He walked me up to the bar and ordered water for both of us. I closed my eyes and tried to make sense of everything that just happened.

  When I felt Lark’s hand on the small of my back, I was calmed almost instantly. Billy Currington’s “Must Be Doin’ Something Right” began playing and Lark leaned into my body and asked, “Will you dance with me?”