energy. Caress wore him out last night until he felt like he could be knocked over by a toddler. It took all the strength he could muster to get out of her bed so he could go home to shower and grab his suitcases and make it to the airport on time.
He didnât want to meet any new women.
He didnât want to talk with anyone.
He didnât want to do a damn thing but sleep off last night.
Julius cushioned his head with the pillow he requested from the flight attendant. Just before he drifted off to sleep, he thought of one of the moves Caress put on him in the shower as she straddled him with her feet braced against the wall. A shiver raced from his toes straight to his head.
âDamn it, girl,â he muttered to himself.
Chapter Three
Three Months Later
Julius was excited about all of the great photos he took while in Africa. He was anxious to get home, unpack, and get right into the darkroom he set up in his basement for times he didnât feel like driving to his studio.
His agent was expecting the photos in two weeks and that wasnât a problem. He had hundreds of rolls of film that Dwayne and he were going to work overtime to get printed.
For the past three years, Julius had been throwing around the idea of a book. At first he hadnât known the particulars of when and what, but he knew he wanted to do it. Finally choosing Africa as his backdrop made perfect sense. It was a land rich with his culture, his history, and his ancestry. Julius Jones: My Africa would be in bookstores everywhere next year.
A fabulous career. A fabulous three months in Africa. Now a fabulous book. Life couldnât be any moreâ¦fabulous.
âThanks, man,â Julius told the driver who double-parked the green-and-white taxi in front of his house.
As the man hopped out to remove his passengerâs luggage from the trunk, Julius dug enough money from his wallet to cover the fare and a hefty tip.
He was just about to climb out of the cab when his cell phone rang. It was an unusual sound to him since his phone hadnât worked while he was out of the country. Julius flung his leather carry-on onto his shoulder and reached into the inside pocket of his leather blazer for his tiny silver flip phone as he climbed out of the cab.
âJulius Jones here.â
âWelcome back, Julius Jones. You truly have been missed.â
He had to pause for a moment to catch the sultry, feminine voice on the line.
âThis is Karina, silly boy.â
Julius smiled as he envisioned the model. âOf course I recognized your voice,â he lied, as he moved to allow the driver to place his two large suitcases on the sidewalk.
âI hope you havenât forgotten our date tonight.â
Damn. He had.
âWe never got to finish what we started at the photo shoot and you told me youâd be returning today and to give you a call.â
He remembered it now.
âIâm naked in my big Jacuzzi tub and just thinking of you. Iâve been waiting three whole months for some of you, Julius. Donât let me regret waiting.â
Julius waved the driver off. âI wonât, I promise.â
âGood,â she sighed huskily. âOh, and Julius? Your assistant sent me the photo. Itâs hanging over my bed. Donât worry youâll get to see it. I love it almost as much as youâre going to love the real thing .â
He smiled broadly. âReally?â
âDefinitely.â
âIâll pick you up, say aroundââ Julius began, glancing down at his Jaeger-Le-Coultre watch.
âNo, Iâll pick you up around six,â she asserted.
âOhâ¦okay.â
âSee you then.â
Julius smiled, shaking his head as he closed the phone and slid it back into his pocket. What the hell. His time in Africa had been more work then play. A date with Karina would be a good way to cap off his return home.
Then again so would a home-cooked meal at Kendrick and