Role of a Lifetime Read online

  “My people called human two-leggeds and animals four-leggeds.”

  “Okay, I understand.”

  “She escaped death by climbing into the mountains. Cold, hungry and lonely, she was very sad. One day an eagle came along and began talking with her. He also brought food and wood for a fire. They became very good friends and he even allowed her to hold onto his legs as he soared over the valley. Even with his companionship, she remained forlorn.

  “The Great Spirit spoke with the eagle and told him he had a choice to make. He could remain an eagle or become a two-legged like the woman. He thought long and hard and it took several days for him to make his decision. He stayed away from the woman and she missed his company. Just when she thought she’d never see him again, a man came out of the woods sounding like the eagle and with the same warm, brown eyes. They became a couple and went onto to repopulate the Earth. That’s why the Lakota revere the eagle.”

  “Powerful. Yeah, that’s the right word to describe your eagle.” Her forehead scrunched up for a second before continuing, as she searched for the right words. “Can you explain why you won’t consider the part Dennis offered you? I know it’s not the lead, but—”

  “But what?”

  “It’s a foot in the door.”

  “I don’t want to discuss—” He tried to roll away from her, but she grabbed hold of his muscular arm and he stopped.

  “Hear me out, okay?” Once he settled down, she took a deep breath and began talking again. “This part can take you to the big time, Joseph. Broadway, hell, Hollywood will be at your feet.”

  “And they can all go fuck themselves. I won’t change my mind. I’ve taken a look at Sammy’s lines. He’s nothing but a drunken buffoon. Do you realize what alcoholism has done to my people?”

  “Why are you being such an ass about this?” This time she was the one to pull free and he allowed her to sit up on the chaise. “To make it big, sometimes you have to put your pride on the shelf and give in. Lord knows I’ve had to do it.”

  “We’re not talking about my pride, Sharese. This is my heritage, Lakota heritage. Like I said, I’m willing to do almost anything for a part, and in the past I’ll admit I did some really demeaning things to put food on the table, but none of them involved what you’re asking.” He ran his hand through his thick, black hair and stood. He didn’t like the path this conversation was taking. “Maybe coming here with you was a mistake.” He took a step toward the door but stopped when he felt her hand on his back.

  “Don’t go,” she whispered in a tiny voice. “I’m sorry for upsetting you, but—”

  “But what? Why are you so hell bent on getting me to change my mind?”

  Casting her gaze downward, she hunched up her shoulders and spread her hands before her in supplication. “I’m not trying to force you to do anything. I just want to make sure you have all the facts.”

  “Are you sure that’s what this is all about? You’re not running a game on me, are you?” When she didn’t quickly answer, he took a few more steps. “I’m out.”

  “No games!” she shouted as he reached the door. “Please, don’t go. I, I need you,” she said in a shuddering breath. “I won’t talk about the audition again. I promise.”

  With a grunt, he whirled around, swept her up into his arms and headed for the stairs. “Bedroom.”

  She guided him to a large room on the right once they reached the second floor. As soon as her feet hit the floor, he began to remove her clothing, almost ripping them from her body. She trembled as he haphazardly tossed her expensive togs on the floor. Without breaking eye contact, he quickly shed his jeans and once again lifted her in his arms and strode toward the bed. He gently set her down, all the while kissing her sweetly, tenderly.

  A pang of guilt shot through her body, along with the realization that she really wanted this man. What if he found out that she lured him to her home to talk him into taking the smaller part in the play? Would he have anything to do with her after that? All rational thought disappeared when he captured one of her breasts with his hot mouth, teasing the nipple until it became a hardened nub.

  “So sweet, so sweet,” he murmured as he switched his attention to her other breast, giving it the same treatment. His hands alternated between tweaking her tits to smoothing them alongside her curves.

  She whipped her head back and forth on the pillow, overwhelmed by the sensations he aroused in her body. How could he have this effect on her so soon? She’d only met him earlier today and knew beyond all reason that he was someone special, someone she wanted to spend more time getting to know, possibly love. Her hands reverently touched the black, silky strands flowing down his back. His hair was untamed and strong, a perfect description of the man himself.

  After giving her mouth another crushing kiss, Joseph’s lips continued their journey down her overheated body and planted kisses on almost every part he passed. When his tongue dove into her bellybutton, she almost bucked him off the bed.

  “I think I’ve found the spot,” he said while continuing to tease it with his clever tongue.

  Her breath speeded up and she felt as if she were about to lose her mind when he moved his mouth lower and straight into her hot channel. He pushed her legs further apart to allow him full access to her pussy. The man certainly knew how to please a woman.

  He took a moment to sheath himself with a condom then flipped her over onto her stomach. After he crammed a couple pillows underneath her body to prop her ass in the air, he slowly entered her, filling her completely. He felt so good behind her, his cock stretching her pussy in an almost painful manner. In and out he slid, slowly at first. But when she yelled for him to give her more, he quickly complied. The headboard banged against the wall with each thrust. Her shouts could probably be heard throughout the house, but she didn’t care. She came first, her voice now hoarse from her screams. He soon followed, pumping into her body a few more times before he sagged onto her body.

  Once her heartbeat returned to normal, she let out a loud breath and smiled. She could get used to this kind of loving if she wasn’t careful. He was turning her body out and her life upside down.

  “I hope that smile means you’re happy,” he asked when he returned from the bathroom and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

  “Beyond happy,” she admitted. The remnants of her orgasm continued to radiate throughout her body.

  “Joseph?”

  “Yes,” he replied sleepily.

  “Can I ask you one more question about your tattoos?”

  He rolled onto his side to face her. “You can ask me anything.” He planted a kiss on the tip of her nose and winked at her.

  Urging him to lie on his stomach, she bit her lip while tracing the intricate, circular design on his back with her fingertips. The tattoo took up most of his back, spread from one shoulder to the other.

  “It’s a dream catcher.”

  “I’ve seen them before. What are they used for?”

  “The elders gave them to the children. They snagged the child’s bad dreams in the netting and allowed the good dreams to filter through the feathers at the bottom.”

  “Oh,” was all she could say as she continued to study the design. The feathers he mentioned dangled from the edges of the tattoo, skimming the top of his perfect ass. Not able to resist, she bent over and used her tongue to trace the path of the longest feather.

  He quickly rolled onto his back and placed a giggling Sharese on his chest. “My, you’re being a bad girl.”

  “And what are you going to do with this bad girl,” she responded, wriggling her eyebrows.

  Before she could say another word, he proceeded to kiss her with a passion that honestly surprised her. She could feel his cock swelling against her abdomen once more and automatically spread her legs, allowing him to enter her in one stroke. They made love without abandon, their gazes locked onto each other as their bodies moved in unison.

  She didn’t know what was going on between them
. Of course she was sexually attracted to him: four rounds of sex within one day proved that. But there was something else happening, something she didn’t want to delve into right now. For the moment, she wanted to enjoy this man, savor his lovemaking, and store away these erotic memories for later.

  Too soon, they both climaxed, and she slumped onto his prone body, deliciously worn out. She was too tired to do anything other than rest her head against his chest and try to catch her breath. As she fell into a deep sleep, she felt him kiss her on the top of her head and whisper “sweet dreams.”

  Chapter Five

  Joseph set the phone on the table and sat back with a smile on his face. It took some work but everything was in place. Hopefully he could talk Sharese into going along for the ride. There was so much he wanted to show her, explain to her. He sent up a prayer that all would go as planned.

  The view from her patio was breathtaking. From this position, he had a clear view of the ocean, the surf pounding away at the shore and seagulls soaring high above his head. No wonder she tried to escape here as much as possible.

  When he left her in the bed, she still slept peacefully, a slight smile tipping her lips. The man in him hoped he had something to do with putting that smile there. Was it only yesterday that they'd met? Seems like he'd known her for a lifetime. Or maybe that was an unconscious wish on his part. Get that out of your head, man. You don't know if thing is going to last beyond the weekend let alone for a lifetime.

  But something deep down told him this wasn't an ordinary affair. That had to explain why he got up so early and called in a few favors. He hoped she'd understand what he was doing.

  “Good morning.”

  His head swung around as Sharese crept into the room, her arms raised high over her head in an exaggerated stretch. She had his shirt on and although it was two miles too big for her, it allowed him to see plenty of leg and thigh. His cock stirred as he remembered how those legs encircled his waist as he pounded into her hot body. “Good morning to you, too. How'd you sleep?”

  She slid into a chair next to his and gifted him with a wide smile. “Wonderfully. I can't remember the last time I had such a restful night's sleep.” She reached over and placed her hand over his. “I may have to keep you around for a while.”

  “Because of my ability to put you to sleep?” he teased.

  Her hand travelled down to grasp his now erect cock. “That and your other gifts.”

  As much as he wanted to show her how much he appreciated her praise, he didn't have the time right now. Gently prying her hand away, he stood and pulled her to her feet. After giving her a toe curling kiss, he swatted her bottom, loving the way she gave out a little yelp. “We need to get ready.”

  “Ready for what?” she asked while rubbing her body against his.

  Joseph stepped back, putting a few feet between them. If she kept it up, they'd be back in bed in a flash. “We're going on a trip.”

  Her face lit up and she bounced on the balls of her feet. “A trip? Where? What should I pack? How long will we be gone?”

  “You ask too many questions.” He planted a kiss on the tip of her nose and twirled her around to face her bedroom. “I'm not going to say where we're going, but it'll only be for one night. Pack some jeans, hiking boots and a mid-weight jacket.”

  “So we're going hiking?”

  “I didn't say that.” He smiled as he watched her scrunch up her forehead. When she opened her mouth to say something else, he gave her a gentle push into the bedroom. “Let's move, sweetie. The plane will be ready to go soon.”

  With that, she took off into her bathroom, a giggle trailing behind. He hoped she felt some of that same giddiness when they arrived at their destination.

  “Will you at least tell me in which direction we're heading?” Sharese sat on the edge of her seat, looking out the window of the small jet. They'd been in the air for over an hour, most of the time with her spent in his lap after they reached cruising altitude. Now they sat across from each other in soft leather seats.

  “West,” Joseph said as he leaned back in his reclining chair.

  “Okay, west. That's a good start. Are we headed to Vegas?”

  “Nope.”

  “California. We're going to San Francisco, right?”

  “Nope, again.”

  She got up from her seat and settled onto his lap once more. “What do I need to do to get a straight answer from you?”

  He wiggled his eyebrows and leered in the direction of her breasts. “I can think of a couple things.”

  She leaned forward, gave him an eyeful of her ample cleavage, and then hopped off his lap when he reached for her. “Come on, Joseph. Give it up.”

  He was going to give it up all right, but not in the way she thought. With a wolfish grin, he whipped his shirt over his head and tossed it to the side. As she watched, he then toed off his shoes and slowly lowered the zipper on his jeans. His straining cock sprung out, causing her to gasp. “Still wanna talk?”

  Her head whipped around toward the cockpit. “What about the pilots?”

  “They're busy. Plus I let them know there may be a little something something going on back here, so they assured me we'd have plenty of privacy.”

  She licked her lips and stepped forward to take his engorged member in her hands. After pushing him down into a seat, she sank to her knees and gave his cock a quick squeeze before sliding it into her hot mouth.

  His head rolled back as she began to suck, taking him deep, the head of his cock bumping against the back of her throat. As her tongue twirled around his length, he thought he'd lose his mind. His fingers dug into her hair, simultaneously pushing her away and pulling her closer. He almost shot his load when she allowed his cock to pop out of her mouth and then quickly took it back inside. The little tease did this several more times until he couldn't stand it anymore.

  Before she could object, he flipped the script and pinned her to the floor of the plane. In an instant, she was naked and panting for him. After he removed the rest of his clothing and rolled on a condom, he quickly covered her body with his and plunged into her hot channel. As much as he wanted to extend their lovemaking, he was close to the edge. One, two, three strong thrusts and he climaxed, grimacing as he filled her. Too soon, he slumped onto her body, gulped down air and attempted to slow down his heartbeat.

  It took him several moments to come back to himself and remember that he was lying onto top of Sharese. He quickly reversed their positions with his slowly deflating cock still inside her body. In just that short amount of time, she'd fallen asleep in his arms. He snagged a nearby blanket, covered both of them with it and made himself comfortable. It would be a couple more hours before they landed in South Dakota.

  “South Dakota?” Sharese slowly twirled in a tight circle, taking in all the new sights and sounds around her. Of all the places she imagined they'd end up, this was not even on the list. What the hell?

  “So?” Joseph helped her alight from the plane and smiled in her direction, apparently waiting for a response from her.

  “This is quite a surprise. Not quite what I expected when you said we were getting away for a while.” She edged away from him and peered into the ratty pick-up truck parked near the runway. “And is this supposed to be our transportation? Where's the limo?”

  He chuckled and bent down to pick up their bags. “Girlfriend got jokes, huh? Ready to hit the road?”

  “And just where is the road leading us?” She climbed into the passenger side of the truck and did her best not to touch anything other than the tattered seatbelt.

  “Home,” he responded as he started the truck. It took a couple cranks before it rumbled to life. “It won't take us long to get there. Why don't you sit back and enjoy the scenery.”

  She doubted there was anything she'd enjoy about their journey. As they made their way down the two-lane highway, the only thing she saw was a series of run down shacks and a couple gas stations. She opened her mouth to make a snid
e comment but luckily caught herself. Joseph said this was home. “You grew up here?”

  “Just down the road, yes I did.”

  “Where are we, exactly?”

  “Pine Ridge. It’s an Oglala reservation.”

  “It looks kind of desolate.”

  “Desolate would be a step up. This place is a dump. It's like the feds set it up and forgot all about us.”

  She curled her lips inward and stared at the people they passed. Most of them stopped in their tracks to watch them drive by. Probably didn't get a lot of strangers in these parts. And definitely not a lot of African-Americans. “Wow. I had no idea--”

  “Most people don't. They think a lot of us live in the lap a luxury because of the casinos and the revenue they generate. But I can attest that the majority of us haven't seen a dime of those riches, either because we aren't part of the tribes running the places or because of politics within the tribes.”

  “Tell me about your childhood.” She turned in her seat to face him.

  “What's to tell? My ma and dad were a couple crazy kids in love. They got married, had me, then died.”

  “Oh my God! Joseph, how?”

  “Auto accident. I was in the car but didn't have a scratch on me. Lucky me,” he added with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

  “How old were you when this happened?”

  “Two. I barely have any memories of them. Just smells mostly.” He took a deep breath before continuing. “My mom smelled like lilacs, from head to toe. My dad bought her some cheap perfume and shower gel for Christmas one year, and she used it every day. I remember pressing my nose against her neck and taking big sniffs.”

  A tear rolled down her cheek, then another quickly followed. She could see him, a baby in his mother's arms, relishing her smell, feeling loved. “So what happened next, after they died?”

  “I went to live with my mother's father, my papa. He raised me.”

  “Is he still alive?”

  “Very much so. We're on our way to see him now.”