Hearts Aflame Collection II: 4-Book Bundle Read online

  Passing boats bounced along the whitecaps, leaving foamy contrails in their wakes. Watching the graceful arc of yacht, sails briskly flapping in the wind, Eden poignantly recalled happier days when she and Gaylen had spent weekends cruising down the coast. Stopping off at scenic marinas and harbors along the way, they had enjoyed fine meals, gorgeous views, and most of all, each other’s company.

  This was in the days before Gaylen’s freelance financial consultancy had gone global, and her fashion design business for plus-sized women transformed from hobby to full-time career. In the early days of their relationship, seated before the fireplace with a glass of wine or on the deck, nibbling on sushi, they had made plans to work jointly and expand their businesses together. Those were days of giddy excitement, energy, and anticipation.

  When had things started to change? Eden tried to remember, but they had been so caught up in their respective visions that had lost sight of each other somewhere along the way.

  Her eyes misted as she gazed at the ocean. Feeling a sudden chill, she wrapped the fluffy cream towel more tightly around her body and wandered aimlessly through the house. Ascending to the rooftop level that had housed both her studio and Gaylen’s office, she felt a pang of sadness at she gazed into the empty, sunlit room.

  Only the contemporary ceiling fan remained, the furnishings and fittings removed. The absolute emptiness of the space reminded Eden of a body stripped of flesh until only a bleached skeleton remained, and not even the stunning view could console her. She quickly closed the door and stepped into her studio.

  Illuminated by sunlight streaming through skylights and floor to ceiling glass walls, her domain was an eccentric cross between a showroom, office, movie set and futuristic airport lounge. Eden’s designs had evolved from creative dabbling in college to an internationally recognized label.

  The studio revealed both the dynamic and quirky sides of a mind that could transform a crumpled paper towel into a dazzling gown or accessory any fashionista would die for. Piles of notes, printouts, and folders cluttered the surface of multiple glass desks, battling for space with computers, tablets, white boards and other office equipment. Her pride and joy, a Quattro sewing machine boasting an LCD screen and a dazzling array of features and accessories, sat like a monarch holding court on a custom-designed table.

  Bathed in the morning sunlight, mannequins draped in Eden’s stunning creations strutted like still life images, posing for an imaginary audience. A partially-mirrored wall reflected them, creating the sense of a milling crowd. Vivid colors teased the eye while bolts of fabric and sample bins of every richness and design vied with walls crammed with articles, awards, posters and autographed photos from countless celebrities. It was organized chaos, but it was the core of Eden’s existence.

  Her gaze fell on one of the mannequins draped in a gorgeous robin’s egg blue one-shouldered Grecian style gown sprinkled with a glittering constellation of Swarovski crystals. Diaphanous folds of chiffon grazed the floor, and sparkling in the light, it resembled a spun sugar confection fit for a deity.

  Eden approached the gown. She gazed at her creation, a unique piece commissioned by an actress for an upcoming award event. Dropping the towel to the floor, she carefully removed the gown from the mannequin and slipped it on. Her breath caught in her throat when she turned to the mirrored wall and swirled around. Clinging to the voluptuous curves of her body, the gown transformed her into the goddess whose images she had researched for design inspiration.

  With each pirouette, the graceful lines of the dress flattered her figure no matter which pose she struck. Complementing the rich tones of her hair and the dusky tone of her skin, her Rubenesque beauty was almost ethereal. Eden ran her hands along the gauzy fabric, reveling in its sensual feel.

  Gaylen had once caressed her in the same manner. The recollection of his touch and the searing heat of his lips on her naked skin elicited an instant reaction, and she felt the dull ache of desire rise from her core. Her nipples hardened, and moisture teased the swelling lips of her pussy.

  “Stop it!” Eden cried, frustrated and angry that her physical needs had come to control her like a puppeteer jerking her strings. She shook her head in an attempt to clear her mind of the tormenting thoughts, but it was useless.

  Ever since an early adolescence when her body had matured like a ripe fruit, she had struggled with her burgeoning sexuality in an environment that did not lend itself to open discussion or expression. At twelve, she had already discovered the secrets of self-pleasure while her friends fretted and giggled over clothes and boys. Attention from both boys and men had given her conservative parents cause for concern.

  Insatiably brilliant, curious and creative, Eden had openly experimented with her mind and body.

  By her junior year in high school, she had enjoyed sexual experiences with boys, and surprisingly, had also discovered an attraction to girls. A shiver of illicit excitement coursed through her as she recalled Marisol, a lovely Latina and member of the tennis team.

  The day had been unusually warm for spring. Eden had been paired with Marisol, who, although new on the tennis team, showed exceptional skill. They decided to wait until after school when it was cooler to play a few games, but they soon worked up a healthy sweat. By the time they returned to the gym, they were both ready for a cool shower.

  Eden was instantly taken by how unaffected Marisol was by nudity. Many girls felt shy or awkward about showing their bodies, but Marisol had not even bothered to fully draw the shower curtain. Eden had finished her shower first and was walking past wrapped in a towel when she noticed Marisol rinsing off.

  Glistening beneath the water, Marisol’s lithe, petite body and flawless olive skin exuded such sensuality that Eden was unable to stop staring. Inky black hair spilled down her tapered back in a wet curtain, and for a moment, Eden was tempted to grab it and twist the glossy strands in her hand.

  At that moment, Marisol turned and looked at Eden with sable eyes that drew her into a secret place. Eden’s reaction had been primal, her response immediate as she dropped her towel and allowed Marisol to feast on her full, luscious body. Marisol’s eyes followed every curve and valley before reaching for Eden’s hand and pulling her into the shower.

  Bodies pressed together, their lips melted into kiss, their hands eagerly exploring hot flesh cooled by the water. There was little time. At any moment, someone might enter the shower area, so they quickly brought each other to a gasping, jerky climax with their fingers. Marisol had yelped like a wounded animal, her pussy twitching beneath Eden’s aggressive touch.

  Eden had stifled her own cries against Marisol’s shoulder as she succumbed to an explosive orgasm ignited by Marisol’s assault on her swollen clit. The encounter was over in less than five minutes, but it was one of the most memorable five minutes Eden had ever experienced. Even as she stumbled off to shower again in an adjacent cubicle, her body continued to throb beneath the cold water.

  Their relationship had lasted until the end of the school year, after which Marisol’s father was transferred and the family moved out of state. They had been discreet but passionate, and from that point, Eden had developed an appreciation for the female body.

  Quickly removing the gown, Eden carefully arranged it on the mannequin. She paused to study her body in the mirrors before turning and glancing at herself over her shoulder. Running her hands along the plump contours of her ass, she allowed her fingers to stray to her warm crevice.

  She bent forward, and spreading her cheeks wide apart, gazed at her smooth, plump pussy lips and the tight ring of her dusky asshole. It twitched like a hungry mouth as she lightly rimmed it with her nails, and a sudden image of her oiled fingers sliding deep into her hole sent a delicious shiver through her body.

  It had been too long since she had used her dildos, the divorce and catching up with client orders consuming her time. She had always hated sleeping alone, and the emptiness of the king-sized bed she had shared with Gaylen had somehow tra
nsformed into the dimensions of a football field...vast, lonely, and cold.

  Feeling the pressure of her mounting arousal, Eden spread the towel across the floor and lay on it. Bathed in a golden pool of sunlight, she closed her eyes and basked in pleasant warmth that caressed her body like phantom fingers. She raised her legs and spread them, savoring the touch of the sun on her pussy.

  Soon, warmth became heat, ushering droplets of nectar from her hole. Eden’s fingers strayed to the sticky wetness and gently tapped her rigid clit. Many times, Gaylen had watched as her body heat melted a chocolate kiss he had pressed against her swollen bud before slowly licking it off. The combination of Gaylen’s relentless tongue and probing fingers had brought Eden to an orgasm so intense her flailing legs had almost knocked him out.

  From that point, they had become more adventurous and Gaylen developed a fetish that included inserting chocolate bars, bananas and strawberries into her pussy and then devouring her. His ultimate creation had been his version of a banana split, including fudge sauce and whipped cream, which he had consumed with gusto.

  Eden had responded in turn by creating a cocksicle by layering Gaylen’s cock with melted chocolate, whipped cream, and chunks of strawberries. The exercise had been hilariously messy, and had soiled more than a few towels, but it remained one of her fondest memories.

  Aroused by the graphic image in her mind, Eden’s fingers began vigorously rubbing her clit. A few fingers strayed into her hole and began thrusting, her wetness causing a slushy squelching. Moaning softly, she closed her eyes and trailed a juice-saturated finger toward her asshole. Plunging it deep inside her gripping tightness, she cried out and began furiously bucking as she simultaneously fucked her pussy and ass.

  Within moments, Eden came, her spasms exploding from her core like contained detonations. Juice gushed from her twitching pussy and asshole, her shower-cooled body now glistening with sweat and reeking of her musk. Surrendering to blissful release, she collapsed onto the towel and lay softly panting.

  Through half-closed eyes, she gazed at the blue expanse of sky, watching a flock of seagulls as they flapped by. She envied their freedom and wished that she, too, could simply spread her wings and soar through the sky. But she was land bound, a prisoner of gravity, and whatever her fate entailed ultimately depended on the choices and decisions she made about her future.

  Eden sighed and slowly rose to her feet. She had work to do and orders to fill. No doubt, her phone would already have a dozen waiting messages. Tossing the soiled towel over her shoulder, she stepped into the combination bathroom/dressing room adjoining the studio and turned on the shower.

  ***

  The morning had given way to a glorious afternoon, the temperatures mild and invigorating. Emerging from the house dressed in one of her delightful yellow and white jogging ensembles, Eden was about to start a brisk walk around the neighborhood when she noticed an expensive silver Lexus parked across the street.

  Secluded among densely shaded hills, the scattering of upscale homes flanked a street culminating in a cul-de-sac and was strictly residents only. Eden knew everyone on the block as well as their vehicles, so she instantly noticed the car. A moment later, a stunning ebony-skinned woman emerged from the secluded house across the street. Dressed in a gorgeous cream and black edged suit that beautifully augmented her lithe, statuesque figure, she moved with regal poise. Her shoulder-length mahogany hair brushed her shoulders in a stylish flip that framed a sculpted face, full lips and soaring cheekbones.

  Eden curiously watched the woman approach her car, speaking into a phone with a slightly accented voice. Not wanting to appear too inquisitive, Eden had just started to walk away when the woman glanced toward her. She smiled, and while it was warm and friendly, it was the woman’s startling green eyes that snared Eden. Quite simply, she was the most beautiful woman Eden had ever seen.

  “Hello,” the woman said.

  “Hello,” Eden replied, catching a subtle whiff of floral perfume. “Can I help you with anything?”

  The woman approached and extended a beautifully manicured hand. Eden grasped it, and felt the silken warmth of her flesh. Her grip was firm and assured, the grip of a successful woman.

  “Aminah Yakubu,” she said with a voice as rich as burnt chocolate.

  “Eden Valmont,” Eden replied, scrutinizing her. “I don’t know why, but your face seems familiar.”

  Aminah laughed with appealing huskiness. “I wish I could say I had that effect on everyone, but I’m a realtor, so you’ve probably seen my face on a billboard or a bench somewhere.”

  “My God,” Eden said with a smile. “I have...on a bus stop bench near the supermarket, in fact.”

  Aminah shrugged. “Well, it may not exactly be the cover of Vogue, but it works.”

  Eden laughed. Aminah’s charm was so contagious she already felt like the two were the best of friends.

  “I assume you know the Kleins?”

  “Very well,” Eden said. “Are they selling?”

  “They’ve hired me to sell a rental property of theirs in the neighborhood. I have to admit, I’ve never been to this delightful area before, though. It’s absolutely gorgeous.” She paused to admire Eden’s house. “That’s a lovely contemporary home. Custom?”

  Eden nodded. “Pretty much like everything else.”

  Aminah suddenly looked closely at Eden. Lined with black kohl, Aminah’s almond-shaped eyes were seductive, almost hypnotic. Eden felt as though she could float into their seafoam green depths.

  “Wait a minute,” Aminah said with a grin. “I’m not the only face about town. I know you...I know your name.. but I’m not sure...”

  “Boldly Bodacious?” Eden offered.

  “I thought so!” Aminah said. “My mother adores your creations. She has one of your amazing Evening in Paris gowns, that fabulous black and gold ensemble.”

  “A happy customer, I hope,” Eden said with more than a little pride.

  “Oh, trust me; if she knew I was talking to you now, she’d be on the next plane here.”

  Eden laughed. “I hope we’re not talking about a lengthy trip.”

  “Charleston,” Aminah said. “My parents fell in love with the South when they visited some years ago. My father was a diplomat at the UN.”

  “You must have had an adventurous childhood.”

  “You have no idea,” Aminah said. “Army brats have nothing on me.”

  Watching Aminah speak with such animation, Eden felt as though they were childhood friends reconnecting after a lengthy absence. She realized that it had been too long since she had enjoyed the company of her friends.

  “Would you like to come in for some coffee?” Eden blurted out. “That is, if I’m not keeping you.”

  Aminah smiled conspiratorially. “Well, I was actually hoping for an invitation,” she said. “I have nothing else scheduled for the rest of the afternoon, and it would make Mom’s day if I could get a look at your designs.”

  “I have a better suggestion,” Eden said. “How would you like to model one of them?”

  ***

  Staring at herself in the mirrors, Aminah’s smile engulfed the room. The pale bronze silk figure-hugging sweetheart gown embellished with topaz crystals gleamed like fire in the light, rendering her almost ethereal. Aminah slowly turned, her posture that of a queen, her beauty such that Eden could only stare.

  “You look absolutely stunning,” she said.

  Aminah ran her hands along the shimmering fabric. “You have a talent from God,” she said. “To create such beauty...I envy you.”

  “We all have our gifts,” Eden said. “It’s just up to us to use them.”

  Aminah glanced at the reflection of the other gowns. “Those are all one of a kind as well?”

  “Those are my custom orders,” Eden said. “So they range in all sizes. I designed those myself, but Boldly Bodacious is my ready to wear plus line that I create with my team.”

  Aminah’s gaze rested on the
state-of-the-art sewing machine. “I’m interested in commissioning a dress,” Aminah said. “Your creations are stunning.”

  “I’d be honored,” Eden said, feeling the genuine warmth of her words. “Would it be for a special event or occasion?”

  “My tenth wedding anniversary is coming up in November. I wanted something special, since my husband and I plan to celebrate in Sydney.”

  Eden felt a pang of sadness. Next year would have been her thirteen anniversary, but thirteen had definitely not been a lucky number for either her or Gaylen.

  “That sounds wonderful,” she said. “I may be heading that way myself for a show. Getting a lot of orders from that part of the world.”

  “Let me know,” Aminah said, fumbling to reach the zipper. “If I’m there at that time, I’d love to attend.” She laughed. “I give up. Can you help me, Eden?”

  “Of course,” Eden said, unzipping the gown.

  Her eyes followed the parting fabric as it revealed a satiny expanse of obsidian skin. The contrast between light fabric and dark skin entranced Eden, and she found her fingertips lingering against Aminah’s back.

  When Eden glanced up, she noticed Aminah watching her in the mirrors. A moment passed as their eyes held each other.

  “It really is beautiful, isn’t it?” Aminah asked.

  “Aren’t all beautiful things meant to be admired?” Eden asked, pondering Aminah’s words.

  “Perhaps I should make an appointment to discuss my dress,” Aminah said. “What’s your schedule, like?”

  “Pretty hectic at the moment, but if you could give me an idea of what you’re looking for...”

  Aminah smiled and ran her hands along her hips. “You’re looking at it,” she said. “I would need a smaller size, but apart from that, this is exactly what I want.”