Her Man: An Interracial Romance (The Bentini Brothers Book 2) by Jaye McCloud Page A

my three-bedroom
apartment can fit inside his bedroom, it’s just that enormous.  Strolling over
to the far side of the room, he puts us down by the bed-bench.  Giving me a
light kiss, he tells me that he’ll be right back with my bags. Turning around
in a slow circle, I’m just stunned speechless.  Of course, I know that Antonio
has money, but somehow, being inside his house, with all its luxurious glory… seeing
it and touching it and knowing that it all belongs to my boyfriend, is a bit
overwhelming.  I’m always careful not to touch stuff at Bentini Mansion.  I go
exactly where I’m supposed to go and I don’t step a toe out of line.  This is
different.  I can touch anything and everything.  But instead of going around
the room touching stuff, I sit down on the long, wide bed-bench with the
puppies next to me.  Glancing back at the huge bed, I can’t help smiling,
recalling how Antonio’s feet hang over the edge of my much smaller bed.  Antonio
comes into the bedroom, slightly winded as if he’s been hurrying.  “I’ve
brought everything upstairs.  I fixed up the bedroom next door for the
puppies.  Their food and water and poop pads are on the floor, the puppy-pen is
set up, and their doggy-bed is in there too.”  When he takes the carrier and
leaves the bedroom, with me following him.  I want to make sure my babies are
okay, and I want to turn the television on to the animal channel in case
they’re not ready to settle down.  Sitting on the bed, I watch them rump and
play for several minutes.  Antonio must be out of patience because he yells
out, “Say good night already and come to bed.”  When I re-enter the master
bedroom, Antonio is coming out of a small room near the bathroom area.  “I hung
your clothes in the dressing room.”  Not a walk-in closet…a dressing room.  
         “What’s this?”  I ask, presented with a small
red and black stripped gift bag.  Moving the black tissue paper aside, I take
out the even smaller red-wrapped box.
         “A gift, open it.  You’re going to like and I
sure as hell need it.”  Antonio says with a mischievous grin.
         “Don’t you think you’ve already given me
enough gifts?”
         “Who are you fooling…a woman can never receive
too many gifts.”  He states with absolute conviction.
         Laughing I reply, “Well, as someone who is a bit
addicted to Amazon, I won’t argue that opinion.”  Peeling off the gift paper
and getting my first glimpse of what the present is, I peer into Antonio’s now
serious face as he sits on the bed watching my every expression.  “You said you
wouldn’t let me make love to you again until you were protected.  I don’t want
you taking the birth control pills.  I think they cause more harm, than they do
good.” 
         “Millions of women take them Antonio—”
         “Please Ti, work with me here.  You won’t let
me touch you until you’re protected and I’m now willing to do that.”
         “I know and I appreciate that you’re willing
to do this, really I do Antonio…but birth control pills are more effective than
condoms.”
         “Have you read the warning label on those
things…and the side effects?  They can be harmful Tiressa.  I prefer that we
use something that’s just as effective, but with none of the health risks.”
         Relenting, I let him have his way; after all,
he’s now willing to compromise –which is a big deal for Antonio
Bentini…especially in this matter.
         “Okay, condoms it is.”
         He has the biggest, cockiest grin I’ve ever
seen as he stands up and gently pulls me into his arms.  “Do you want to shower
with me?”
         “Nice try, but no thanks.  It’s after four in
the morning, I’m exhausted and I thought you were too.  I just want to take a
quick shower and go to sleep.  You have a way of prolonging things.”
         “Yes, I do and you know you love