her with a long, low growl, his come filling her to overflowing. Their bodies were slicked with sweat and their breathing harsh. Dare released her legs, easing them down to the bed before falling over her, taking her mouth in a heated kiss.
Dare broke the kiss and whispered against her lips. “I lov e you, P recious.” The sated smile she gave him went right to his heart. He held her a while longer before rising and going into the bathroom. Cleaning himself, he then wet a cloth with warm water and returned to the bed. Stopping at the foot of the bed, he took in her body with the moon shining on it through the open curtain, the hint of sweat on her caramel skin made it glow. She was so beautiful inside and out, and she was all his. Climbing on to the bed, her soft, sated moan filled his ears as he cleaned the folds of her sex. After dropping the cloth on the small nightstand b eside the bed, Dare lay beside Alia, taking her hand in his. He looked down at their entwined fingers , and once again noted their differences —his , large and white, hers , small and brown.
“You know our skin tones don’t define who we are, Dare.” Her drowsy, sated voice reached his ears.
“Yes baby, I know. I wasn’t even thinking that. I was thinking about how small your hand is compared to mine.” He couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out when she snatched her hand away and swatted his chest. He pulled her closer and fell into a contented sleep with the best thing he’d ever had wrapped in his arms.
Chapter One
Summer of 2006
Darius McKade stood in the enormous library of his father’s home, looking between his mother and father as if they had lost their minds. He had always loved this room with its cherry wood book cases built into the walls filled with books that he had read many times over. Now, he just stood there not believing what he was hearing. He was twenty-four years old and they still wanted to run his life.
“You can’t be serious!” Dare looked at his father, with the same dark hair and gray eyes as his own. Davis McKade crossed his arms over his massive chest and glared. Darius had once admired the man before him…now he only despised him.
His rage only grew as his father continued to speak. “Quite serious. You slept with Tracy and got her pregnant. Now you’ll do the right thing by her.”
He should have known his drunken stupidity would come back to bite him in the ass. “Do you know how many people raise children without being married?” he asked.
His father narrowed his eyes and all but spat his next words. “You’re a McKade, Darius. McKades raise their children as a family. I will not have a bastard for a grandchild.”
Darius returned his father’s words with just as much venom in his voice. “And you will not force me into a marriage I do not want.” He stared at his father with equal determination to win. He would not continue to let his father rule over him. Dare knew exactly what this was about, and he wasn’t going to let it happen. His parents didn’t approve of the woman he loved because she didn’t come from wealth; she wasn’t some waif - thin debutant. She was one of the most beautiful black women he had ever seen —on the inside and out. Well he didn’t care and they could both go to hell. Lia would be his wife. He wanted and needed no one else.
He turned to his mother sitting on the leather lounge chair, only to see the sad resolve on her face. He knew she would be of no help to him, so he looked back at his father. The man had a smirk on his face and a handful of papers in his grip.
“What have you done?” Dare asked as a sense of dread filled his body.
“These are ten new construction contracts that Alia’s father bid on. He did not win, but came in second. I can make sure that he is awarded them. Landing these contracts would set his dying business back on the right track.
Dare broke the kiss and whispered against her lips. “I lov e you, P recious.” The sated smile she gave him went right to his heart. He held her a while longer before rising and going into the bathroom. Cleaning himself, he then wet a cloth with warm water and returned to the bed. Stopping at the foot of the bed, he took in her body with the moon shining on it through the open curtain, the hint of sweat on her caramel skin made it glow. She was so beautiful inside and out, and she was all his. Climbing on to the bed, her soft, sated moan filled his ears as he cleaned the folds of her sex. After dropping the cloth on the small nightstand b eside the bed, Dare lay beside Alia, taking her hand in his. He looked down at their entwined fingers , and once again noted their differences —his , large and white, hers , small and brown.
“You know our skin tones don’t define who we are, Dare.” Her drowsy, sated voice reached his ears.
“Yes baby, I know. I wasn’t even thinking that. I was thinking about how small your hand is compared to mine.” He couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out when she snatched her hand away and swatted his chest. He pulled her closer and fell into a contented sleep with the best thing he’d ever had wrapped in his arms.
Chapter One
Summer of 2006
Darius McKade stood in the enormous library of his father’s home, looking between his mother and father as if they had lost their minds. He had always loved this room with its cherry wood book cases built into the walls filled with books that he had read many times over. Now, he just stood there not believing what he was hearing. He was twenty-four years old and they still wanted to run his life.
“You can’t be serious!” Dare looked at his father, with the same dark hair and gray eyes as his own. Davis McKade crossed his arms over his massive chest and glared. Darius had once admired the man before him…now he only despised him.
His rage only grew as his father continued to speak. “Quite serious. You slept with Tracy and got her pregnant. Now you’ll do the right thing by her.”
He should have known his drunken stupidity would come back to bite him in the ass. “Do you know how many people raise children without being married?” he asked.
His father narrowed his eyes and all but spat his next words. “You’re a McKade, Darius. McKades raise their children as a family. I will not have a bastard for a grandchild.”
Darius returned his father’s words with just as much venom in his voice. “And you will not force me into a marriage I do not want.” He stared at his father with equal determination to win. He would not continue to let his father rule over him. Dare knew exactly what this was about, and he wasn’t going to let it happen. His parents didn’t approve of the woman he loved because she didn’t come from wealth; she wasn’t some waif - thin debutant. She was one of the most beautiful black women he had ever seen —on the inside and out. Well he didn’t care and they could both go to hell. Lia would be his wife. He wanted and needed no one else.
He turned to his mother sitting on the leather lounge chair, only to see the sad resolve on her face. He knew she would be of no help to him, so he looked back at his father. The man had a smirk on his face and a handful of papers in his grip.
“What have you done?” Dare asked as a sense of dread filled his body.
“These are ten new construction contracts that Alia’s father bid on. He did not win, but came in second. I can make sure that he is awarded them. Landing these contracts would set his dying business back on the right track.
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