For the Love of You

For the Love of You

By

Candace Shaw

Copyright © January 2016 by Candace Shaw

Edited by Melissa M. Ringsted

Shaw Press

Atlanta, Georgia

Smashwords Edition

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. This novella, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from Candace Shaw.

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Blurb

Zaria Richardson is determined to make her event planning company, Precious Moments, the most sought after on St. Simons Island, Georgia. When Dr. Garrett Braxton approaches her with shocking information about their rendezvous last year to Las Vegas, the perfect life she’s created for herself comes crashing down. All of her mixed emotions over the suave, irresistible doctor rise to the surface, and now she’s faced with a life-changing decision.

Garrett has been in love with the ravishing, sassy beauty since he first laid eyes on her. However, with an unexpected circumstance, he now knows more than ever that Zaria has always been the one for him. Can he convince her that they’re truly meant to be?

For the Love of You is the first novella in the Precious Moments Series.

Prologue

Dr. Garrett Braxton leaned against the column and sipped his champagne while he gazed intently at the long-legged, mocha beauty that at the moment was the only thing in his vision. Sure there were people in front of him on the dance floor, including the blushing bride and groom who were everyone else’s focus. However, the wedding coordinator was the only woman who held his attention as she strutted around the Memphis Cultural Arts Center’s banquet hall, making sure everything ran smoothly for Justin and Shelbi Richardson’s wedding reception. While Zaria Richardson had a knack for remaining calm and reserved, whenever Garrett locked her stare with his and raised a slick grin, she’d either roll her eyes or turn her head in a way that her sheets and sheets of black tresses, which fell to her waist, would cover the side of her face. A strain pressed against Garrett’s pants at the mere thought of grasping all of her mane while trailing his tongue along her graceful neck and back to her tempting, kissable lips.

Sipping his drink, he nodded his head in her direction—it caused her to purse her lips and saunter away in her four-inch heels, adding even more height to her already five-foot-seven frame. Garrett chuckled and moved along the crowd, smiling and acknowledging people he knew until he reached his best friend since medical school, Dr. Sean Arrington, who was busy typing on his cell phone.

What’s with the serious expression? Something wrong with one of your clients?

Sean glanced up with an amused smirk, then back to the screen. Got these two honeys texting me. Both want to come over later on, so I’m trying to convince them we can all have fun. You wanna hang?

Naw. I’m good.

Sean twisted his lips to the side. Uh huh. I see you scoping out Ms. Diva.

Garrett shrugged and downed the rest of his Moet. I just like teasing with her. Zaria is hella sexy when she’s mad. Wanting to change the subject, he glanced around the room and spotted another topic to discuss. Can you believe Rasheed Vincent caught the garter? he asked, referring to the groom’s best friend.

Better him than me. I have no intention of marrying anytime soon. However, if he keeps eyeing my sister all night like she’s a piece of meat, he’s gonna have to answer to me, Sean stated seriously.

Man, he and Bria are just friends. You know he’s a player for life like you.

Dipping his gaze at his beeping cell phone, a wicked grin emerged across Sean’s face. Yep, and the two honeys have agreed to my request. Sure you don’t want to come?

Garrett barely heard what his friend asked when he caught Zaria’s dark, tempting eyes flash his way as she ushered the bride and her two sisters out of the reception hall. Nope, I already have plans.

*****

Zaria’s heels had barely touched the hardwood in his foyer before Garrett meshed her body with his, and slammed his mouth on her juicy lips in a wild, aggressive kiss. He shut the door by backing her against it, and travelled his hands roughly down her side until they clutched her shapely hips. Letting out a fervent gasp, she wrapped her leg around his torso, and he raised the hem of her fitted, black dress around her stomach to expose black satin panties.

You’re late, he muttered against her neck while sucking on it hard.

Pushing him away, she eased her dress and panties down to the floor and stepped out of them while leaving on her heels. Stop trying to brand me. She pulled him back by the collar and gritted her teeth. I don’t belong to you.

Chuckling, he unbuckled his belt and pants. Reaching into his pocket, he slid out a packet and opened it as a sexy smize crossed her lips, which were swollen from his kiss.

And yet your body responds to me as if you do. Lifting her leg again, he teased his rod around her opening before plunging in with one fluid stroke. She grasped his shoulders tightly as amorous moans continued to escape her lips while he thrust into her over and over.

Garrett loved hearing Zaria for there was no faking from her. If she enjoyed it she always let him know with her mouth, hands, and the beautifully erotic faces she’d make. If she didn’t, she’d demand what she wanted, how she wanted it, and he always obliged. She wasn’t a woman afraid of her sexual side. With her he never had to hold back.

*****

Zaria strolled out of the bathroom wearing his tuxedo shirt opened with the bow tie hanging loose around the collar. Her perky breasts bounced as she moved toward the bed and Garrett couldn’t wait to get a hold of her chocolate mounds once more. Focusing his gaze to her belly button and continuing below to the neatly trimmed triangle, he licked his tongue across his bottom lip as his mind wandered to what he wanted to do next to her. She raised a cocky eyebrow at his gesture as if she’d read his mind, and crawled seductively up his naked body until she sat on his chest. He loved being intimate with her because her wild sex drive matched his. They both relished being in control of their secret rendezvous sessions, and he highly enjoyed when she would take over the reins.

Reaching up, he unclamped the clip that held her hair in a tousled, sexy mess on the top of her head. It fell sensually around her face and cascaded down to her elbows. He intertwined his fingers into her thick tresses. You know I prefer it down.

Zaria scrunched her nose and bent her head over him, resting her forehead on his. You don’t run me, Doc, she reminded, pointing her finger on his bare chest.

Chuckling, he slapped her bottom. He always enjoyed her sassy mouth … especially when it was on his. "Oh no? I think I just finished running your freaky self up and down the front door."

She swished her lips to the side before letting out a yawn and rolling off of him. Lying next to him, she settled in his embrace. It’s been a long day. No, a long week with all of the wedding activities, and its Christmas Eve. I’ve had to squeeze in shopping, along with helping my parents set up the tree and decorations.

Glancing at the clock on the nightstand, he kissed her forehead. It was just a few minutes past midnight. Actually, it’s Christmas Day. Merry Christmas.

Oh. Shrugging, she paused and sat up on her elbow to stare down at him. Merry Christmas. So why didn’t you bring your girlfriend to the wedding?

Taken aback by the question, he wrinkled his brow. They rarely discussed their dating lives unless it was necessary. Um … maybe because I don’t have a girlfriend.

But you’re dating someone, right? She sat all the way up and tucked her legs underneath her. What’s her name? Shelia?

Zaria fastened a few of the buttons of his shirt much to his chagrin. He was ready to slip it off of her and slide back into her, not talk about his barely there dating life. Since he’d met her