Bella grabbed Zach’s arm and winked at me. As much as I loved seeing Bella, I was glad that her insatiable need to network gave her an excuse to leave. I could have Porter all to myself and try to focus on these feelings that were tugging at me. It was like pulling the string of a rug. I was unraveling, but in a good way.
I turned to him. “Now, where were we?” As soon as I asked, the band struck up a jazzy, instrumental version of Anthony Hamilton’s “The Point of It All.” My heart leaped. I absolutely adored that song. Porter extended his hand.
“Ms. James? Would you do me the honor of taking a spin on the dance floor with me?” I looked at Porter.
“It would be a sin not to dance to this song,” I said. “Of course, I would, Mr. Harrison.”
We swayed to the rhythm of the band as if we were in our own world. It felt as if there were only the two of us on the dance floor. I looked up at Porter. He was staring directly at me. Tonight, his eyes looked and felt different. There with a passion and yearning I hadn’t seen before. I put my head on his chest and he bent down, kissing the top of my head.
“So, the whole girlfriend thing,” I said, hoping he could hear me as I almost buried myself in his chest. I inhaled and exhaled the unfamiliar scent of him. I’d have to get used to it.
“I wanted to know... If you wanted that. If you wanted there to be an us,” he asked softly. “I know it’s complicated with work, but...”
I stepped back a bit and put a finger up to his lips. I had to say this before the moment was over and I lost my nerve.
“I’m scared,” I confessed, in disbelief those words had left my lips, but it was true. “I’ve been fighting my feelings because I’m scared. The past, like you said, was haunting me. I’m ready to move forward with you, Porter. I don’t want you to pay for some other man’s mistakes. I know you’re not Maurice. You’ve been nothing less than amazing. A gentleman. I had a wall up with a moat around it, not allowing anyone to get close to me. But all my defenses come crashing down when I’m with you.”
Porter’s voice cracked slightly as he responded. “That’s...that’s good. I’m glad you feel that way around me. Tonight, seeing you with my family, it just felt right. Everything just felt like it fell into place. You know, my mama loves you!”
I laughed. “And my mama loves you... Smokey.”
“I guess the nickname is sticking, huh?”
I put my arms around his neck, audaciousness replacing my nervousness. “From the moment I saw you, I wanted you.”
Porter’s eyes narrowed, the green gleaming in the soft light of the dance floor. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted you.”
I laughed. “I have a pretty good idea.”
“And you’d still be wrong.” Porter leaned down and kissed me. At first, the kiss was tender. Then, quickly, the level of heat and intensity increased. He pulled me in closer, his hands still on my waist. I moved my hands to his chest, trying to allow space for hands to roam freely. His lips drew me in as his tongue met and danced intimately with mine. I felt his hands grasp my face as his kisses became faster, harder. He sucked my bottom lip, grazing it slightly with his teeth before finally letting me go.
“Wow,” I said breathlessly. I looked at him and laughed. Amazingly, my $40 lipstick was worth every penny. There wasn’t a trace on his face at all.
Porter wiped the corners of his mouth with his index finger and laughed. “Wow, is an understatement.”
I looked around and realized the music had stopped. The dance floor had cleared out, and it was just me and Porter standing there. I looked over his shoulder to see Eloise with her hand to her chest, smiling. I could not suppress my smile, either.
The band began to play an instrumental version of “The Wobble.” Every elderly Black person in the house ran or hobbled to the dance floor, including Des and Eloise. A geriatric line-dance stampede.
Porter whispered in my ear. “Maybe we should get out of here?”
I looked at him, puzzled. “Porter? You want to leave? Now? We haven’t even had dinner and I know you don’t want to waste $500 of your hard-earned cash.”
“What would be a waste is not getting you out of that dress fast enough. You’re coming home with me, Ari.”
My stomach muscles clenched at the husky, primal tone of his voice.
“Are you sure?” I asked. My voice trembled with excitement and nervousness. We were going at what seemed like warp speed.
Porter moved a strand of hair stuck to my face. “Before this night is over, I’m trying to make you come a record number of times.”
A devilish grin was plastered on my face. “Oh yeah? How many?”
“However many the woman I love wants.”
I looked up at Porter. The look on his face was all lust, joy and want. It was all too much for me. I closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath. “You love me?”
“Yes, Ari. I love you. If you don’t love me, you don’t have to say it if you don’t...”
“I love you,” I softly whispered, interrupting in a voice that was barely audible, unsure if Porter had heard me. But he had.
Without another word, hand in hand, we ran out of the ballroom.
As soon as we entered the elevator to his loft, Porter wasted no time claiming me. He leaned into me against the wall. His tongue was uncontrollable, and his hands were all over me. First in my hair, pulling me deeper into his kiss, then along my waist. His hands glided between the split in my dress, palming my thighs. I moaned and bit my lip. I wanted him. Badly. I had never fucked in an elevator, but I’d give it a shot.
“I want you,” he whispered as he kissed along my jawline. “I want you right now.”
“I want you, too,” I said, barely able to breathe between kisses.
The elevator stopped on Porter’s floor. He opened the door with one hand and led me inside with the other. His loft building used to be an old sugar mill. Porter’s loft was on the top floor of the building, which had the most amazing view of the Atlanta skyline. The building was a U shape with his windows facing another set of loft windows. I walked over to his large, expansive windows and looked at the rain falling. I traced my fingers along the cold window, making a heart out of the condensation.
I felt Porter come behind me. He moved my damp hair from my shoulders and slowly zipped down my dress. He took his time, kissing along the way as the zipper slowly moved down. I felt his tongue follow my spine, and a shiver overcame me. I closed my eyes and leaned into the amazing feeling of his lips.
That was until I remembered the two layers of control top shapewear I was wearing.
“Stop,” I said in horror as I turned to face Porter.
A look of confusion replaced Porter’s previously hungry eyes. “What’s wrong?”