Better Late Than Never Read online

  Landon picked up his keys off the dresser and was almost out the door when the phone rang. He glanced at his watch, then at the ringing phone, then back at his watch as the phone continued to ring. He sighed annoyedly and grabbed it off the charger just before the answering machine picked up.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, sweetheart,” his mom said.

  “Hey, Mom.”

  “Just calling to let you know I made it to Vegas.”

  Landon smiled. “Great, Mom.”

  He had been trying to get his mom to take a vacation for more than three years. She had always gently but firmly rebuffed these efforts, saying she didn’t feel up to it, she was too busy, they didn’t have the money, etcetera. There was always some excuse why she couldn’t go.

  Fed up with his mom’s intransigence, Landon finally decided to take matters into his own hands. Working clandestinely with two of his mom’s girlfriends, he’d planned—and paid for—a three-day Las Vegas getaway. Presented with the non-refundable fait accompli, Landon’s mom had no choice but to accept.

  “The girls and I are headed to dinner, then a show at the Tropicana.”

  “Sounds great, Mom,” Landon said with a smile, glancing at his watch again. “Don’t go molesting any Chippendales’ dancers.”

  She laughed. “Right. And you be careful on your date with Desiree, okay?”

  “I will, Mom.”

  “And I do mean careful. You’ve got a bright future ahead of you, son. Don’t jeopardize it by getting a girl in trouble.”

  Landon rolled his eyes. Getting a girl in trouble. He was pretty sure they didn’t call it that anymore. “Of course, Mom. You didn’t raise a dummy, you know.”

  “I know I didn’t.” She shifted gears deftly—as moms are so good at doing. “So, the plan for your date?”

  “Dinner at Humphrey’s, then a walk along the Bayfront. Drop her off by eleven, home by midnight.”

  “Good boy. I love you, son. Be safe.”

  “Love you too, Mom. Bye.” Landon hung up the phone before she had the chance to impart any more motherly advice.

  Landon took one last lingering glance in the mirror. He decided he still liked what he saw, and smiled at his reflection. “Let’s roll, Landon,” he said to his grinning counterpart.

  * * * *

  Across town, Desiree was also getting ready for her date with Landon.

  She had selected a purple dress that accentuated her curves perfectly. It showed what she and Danita had both agreed was ‘the right amount of cleavage’.

  The phone rang. Desiree picked it up on the first ring. “Hello?”

  “Hey, girlfriend,” Danita said.

  Desiree grinned. “Hey yourself.”

  “Ready for the big night?”

  “Been ready for weeks.”

  “I know. The guys have been really busy with football. Playoffs, you know, and all that mess.”

  “Whatever.” Desiree wasn’t into football at all. She barely tolerated it.

  “Mm-hmm. So, what’s the plan for tonight?”

  “Landon’s been keeping it a secret,” Desiree said. “But he’s not the only one with a surprise or two to spring.”

  “Mm-hmm,” Danita replied. Desiree could see her lifelong friend’s evil grin through the phone. “Get ya some, girl.”

  “Oh, I’m planning on it,” Desiree said. “It’s going to be good. I know it.”

  “It will be,” Danita agreed. “I’m guessing Landon knows how to handle his business and then some.”

  “Oh, I have absolutely no doubt of that.”

  “I’ll let you finish getting ready,” Danita said. “I’ve got your back. Be safe, and I’ll talk to you tomorrow sometime.”

  “Okay, ’Nita. Later.” Desiree hung up and went back to applying her makeup.

  * * * *

  It was a few minutes after six PM when Desiree and Landon were shown to their table at Humphrey’s, one of the best restaurants in San Diego.

  Desiree was impressed with Landon’s taste in restaurants. His taste in wheels? Not so much. A 1973 VW bug in 1983? Seriously?

  But everything else—Landon’s demeanor, his gentlemanly way, not to mention the fact that he was damn hot—was damn near perfect, Desiree thought as she touched up her makeup yet again in the bathroom.

  Since arriving at the restaurant, the young interracial couple had drawn a few sideways glances, but Landon and Desiree ignored them. Desiree’s best friend Danita had been dating her white boyfriend, Joe, since eighth grade, and Desiree had been out with them on numerous occasions.

  Haters gonna hate, Desiree thought, shaking her head disgustedly and adjusting her dress to fix the cleavage and make sure it was doing its intended job.

  She made her way back through the packed restaurant, finding their drinks—virgin pina coladas—waiting for them. Desiree noted with a smile to herself that Landon had waited for her return before diving into his nonalcoholic beverage. The perfect gentleman, she thought. Derek would have already downed at least one drink and been halfway through a second. A real drink.

  “So, what looks good?” Landon asked as Desiree scanned the menu for what must have been the sixth or seventh time.

  “All of it.” She grinned. “This place is a bit above my usual fare. What about you?”

  “I hear the seafood’s really good,” Landon offered helpfully. “And this place is a bit out of my league too. But we’ll figure it out, right?”

  “Right,” she said with a demure smile.

  The pair eventually decided on a lobster-steak combination. Throughout dinner, Landon and Desiree got to know each other better, the conversation ranging from school to work—both held down full-time jobs to help their families—and their plans after graduation.

  Finally, Desiree decided it was time to up the ante. “So, what other fun activities do we have planned for this evening?” she asked casually as the waiter brought their dessert.

  “I thought we’d walk along the Embarcadero for a bit,” Landon said. “Maybe go see the Star of India, walk down to Seaport Village if it’s not too late. We need to get you home by eleven.”

  That’s what you think, Desiree thought wickedly. She’d told her parents she was spending the night at Danita’s house after a girls’ night out in Chula Vista. The perfect alibi for the night of sexual shenanigans she had planned.

  “Sounds good,” Desiree said with a polite nod, taking a bite of her strawberry-covered cheesecake and being as sly and seductive as she could in the process.

  Landon swallowed hard. “Check, please,” he said to the passing waiter.

  * * * *

  A cool sea breeze chilled the evening air as Landon and Desiree strolled along the Embarcadero, a strip of Bayfront land that featured several San Diego landmarks.

  The sun was setting over San Diego Bay as Landon and Desiree stopped for a moment near the Star of India to take in the view.

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Desiree remarked.

  “Sure is,” Landon agreed with a vigorous nod of his head. “Just like you.”

  Coming from another guy—or especially, coming from her ex-boyfriend, Derek—the line would have sounded lame and induced an internal eyeroll from Desiree. But coming from Landon, it somehow sounded sincere.

  “Awww,” Desiree said, snuggling closer to Landon. “Such a charmer.”

  Landon winked. He glanced down at his watch. It was a few minutes before nine PM.

  “I don’t want this night to end,” he said with a heavy sigh,

  It’s not going to, Desiree thought, suppressing the urge to grin. “It doesn’t have to,” she offered, conjuring up her sexiest, most seductive smile.

  “It eventually has to,” he said. “I have to have you home by eleven—”

  “No, you don’t,” she interrupted.

  “Huh?”

  Desiree made her move, wrapping her arms around Landon’s neck and kissing him hard. Neither cared who might be staring as their kiss grew mo
re passionate, deepened, and eventually ended.

  “I said, it doesn’t have to,” Desiree purred into Landon’s ear, running her tongue along the edge of it.

  “It doesn’t?”

  Now Desiree really wanted to roll her eyes. “No, it doesn’t, Landon.”

  “How so?”

  “I’m not expected home tonight.”

  “You’re not?”

  “Nope,” she cooed, moving in and kissing him again. Desiree broke the kiss and again moved her lips over to Landon’s right ear. “I thought we’d just go to your house,” she whispered, again punctuating the thought with her trailing tongue.

  “We-we can’t,” he began to protest weakly. “My mom—”

  “Is in Las Vegas on a girls’ weekend,” Desiree finished.

  Desiree smiled. She’d heard about Landon having the house to himself from Danita, who’d employed Joe to casually extract the sensitive information from Landon.

  “Well, I guess we could head over there for a little while,” Landon said uncertainly.

  “Glad that’s settled,” Desiree purred.

  Landon swallowed hard.

  * * * *

  “Nice place,” Desiree said, glancing around Landon and his mom’s modest two-bedroom Chula Vista apartment as she took off her coat.

  “Thanks,” Landon called out as he headed to the kitchen, stalling for time as he tried to figure out how to deal with Desiree’s apparent plans. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “Sure,” Desiree replied as she draped her coat over the oversized sofa and plopped down on it. “Soda will be fine.”

  Landon poured two tall glasses of Coke and breathed deeply.

  “Getting pretty thirsty and lonely out here,” Desiree said, an annoyed-but-playful edge to her sultry voice.

  “I’m coming, I’m coming.”

  Landon took another deep breath, exhaled, and returned to the living room, where Desiree smiled seductively, patting the spot beside her slowly.

  “You’re going to have to learn not to keep a sista waiting,” she cooed.

  Landon nodded with a weak smile as he sat down beside her.

  “And that’s not all you’re going to learn, white boy.” Desiree moved suddenly but confidently, planting herself on Landon’s lap and kissing him again, her tongue invading his mouth greedily.

  He responded to her renewed assault with one of his own, wrapping his arms around her and rolling over on top of her.

  They kissed passionately for a few moments until Landon broke the kiss and moved his lips along Desiree’s neck.

  “Nice, baby,” she purred. “Keep going.”

  Landon was nearing the boundary of his extremely limited experience. “Desiree…” he whispered.

  “Yes, baby?”

  “I’ve never…” His voice trailed off, and he looked away in embarrassment and shame.

  Desiree smiled. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “We have all night.”

  She rose suddenly from the couch, pulling Landon up with her.

  “Let’s go to your room,” she whispered softly. “We’ll be more comfortable there.”

  Landon nodded, completely under Desiree’s spell. “Second door down the hall on the right,” he said, his voice barely rising above a whisper.

  Desiree winked as she started down the hall, her curvy ass swaying with each seductive step.

  Oh boy, Landon thought. I’m in deep shit.

  * * * *

  Desiree surveyed Landon’s room as she entered. It was pretty much what she expected: neat, tidy, everything in its place. And, of course, chock-full of the anticipated sports posters and other assorted guy shit.

  Especially pleasantly surprising to Desiree: a full-sized bed. She’d been expecting a twin-sized bed.

  Desiree smiled wickedly. She closed the door gently, and it made a soft click. She turned to face Landon, who was sitting apprehensively on the bed.

  Desiree decided to adopt the aggressive approach. She moved slowly and seductively over to Landon, a demure, coquettish smile on her face.

  Without warning, she pushed Landon down on the bed, kissing him hard. He kissed her back, passionately.

  Desiree eventually broke the kiss, reluctantly. Smiling wickedly all the while, she shrugged out of her dress. It fell to the floor in a pool at her feet, revealing a purple bra and panty set underneath.

  “You like?” she purred seductively.

  Landon nodded.

  “You’ll like what’s underneath this even more.”

  Landon smiled.

  Despite Desiree’s intention to draw out the stripping process and torture Landon further, even she wasn’t able to hold back. She was naked within thirty seconds.

  She moved silkily toward Landon and kneeled in front of him. “Your turn, Landon,” she whispered breathily as she began to unbuckle his belt. “Help a girl out here, huh?”

  Landon gulped and began unbuttoning his shirt as Desiree slid his pants down.

  A sizable bulge tented Landon’s nondescript blue boxers. “Nice,” Desiree breathed. “Is that for me?”

  He nodded.

  Desiree winked as she slipped a hand inside Landon’s boxers, freeing his very hard cock. She admired it for a moment, then began to gently stroke it.

  “I know you’re not going to last long this first time,” Desiree whispered in Landon’s ear as she continued to stroke him. The contrast between her dark hands and Landon’s white cock both intrigued and excited her. “So, we’ll just go ahead and get this first load out of the way right now. Then the real party can start.”

  Desiree kissed Landon again, still stroking his erection, then trailed hot kisses down his chest. She bit both nipples gently before continuing a slow, tantalizing trail down Landon’s hairy chest. With a sultry smile and a coy little wink, she took his entire cock in her mouth.

  “Damn, Desiree,” Landon groaned as his hands moved to her head. “Slow down,” he pleaded.

  Desiree let out an exaggerated sigh as she let Landon’s member fall out of her mouth with an audible plop.

  “Sorry, boo, but I’m in charge here. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.” She returned Landon’s glistening cock to her wet mouth, bobbing up and down on it even faster than before.

  With an upward lunge, he exploded in her mouth.

  Desiree kept sucking and swallowing until Landon’s cock finally began to soften. “Damn, Landon,” she said, licking her lips. “That was a bigger load than I was expecting.”

  “Thanks,” he said.

  Desiree laughed at his obvious discomfort and decided to milk it for all it was worth. “You’re welcome. There’s plenty more where that came from.” She emphasized the word ‘came’ with a seductive wink. “You’re doing great for a newbie. Keep up the good work, white boy.”

  Landon winked. He kissed Desiree deeply, their tongues tangling. He let his hand wander down Desiree’s body, stopping at her breasts to gently tweak her nipples, which were as hard as rocks.

  He trailed kisses down Desiree’s body, briefly sucking on each nipple as he tried to repay her teasing with a torture session of her own.

  Reaching that sweet spot between Desiree’s legs, Landon paused. He ran his fingers over her swollen, wet pussy lips.

  “Damn you,” she growled. “Get to it, white boy.”

  Landon smiled. He took a deep breath and dove in.

  Desiree’s back arched involuntarily as Landon’s tongue stabbed tentatively into her pussy. “Ooh, yeah. That’s good. Right there, baby.”

  He began to swirl his tongue around her needy pussy, carefully avoiding her engorged clit.

  “Lick my clit,” Desiree implored.

  “Mm-hmm,” Landon mumbled, still avoiding Desiree’s clit as he began to nibble her pussy lips ever so gently.

  “Mmm,” she moaned, her breath coming in short gasps. “That’s so fucking good…”

  Finally, Landon flicked his tongue across Desiree’s clit, eliciting a shiver that shook her
entire body.

  “Ohhh, fuck yes,” she groaned. “Just like that. You learn fast, white boy.”

  “Glad you approve, beautiful,” he said, peeking his head out and locking eyes with her for a long moment.

  He smiled at her, then returned to his ministrations. He kissed the swollen nub of flesh gently, then took it in his mouth and began to suck lightly. His left hand snaked up Desiree’s torso until it found her left breast. The index finger from his right hand slipped slowly inside Desiree’s soaked pussy.

  “Oh, shit!” Desiree screamed. “That’s the spot. Just like that. Ohhh… I’m cumming!”

  Landon continued to lick as Desiree’s climax hit like a Southern California earthquake. Her needy pussy clamped down like a vise on Landon’s probing tongue. She screamed out in ecstasy as the most powerful orgasm she’d ever experienced racked her body.

  Landon held on for the ride. Finally, he released his lips from Desiree’s trembling pussy.

  “Was that good?” he inquired innocently.

  “Oh, hell yes,” Desiree gasped, still trying to regain her breath as her racing heartbeat gradually returned to normal. “That was absolutely amazing.”

  “Glad you approve, beautiful,” he said. “Not bad for a beginner, huh?”

  “Not bad at all, boo,” Desiree said with a big smile as she curled up into Landon’s arms, her face burrowing into his hairy chest. She reached for Landon’s cock. “And I see you’re ready for round two.”

  Chapter 19

  The alarm buzzed relentlessly despite Landon’s feeble attempts to ignore it. Cursing under his breath, he shut it off: six AM. More than enough time to hit the snooze bar a few more times, despite the fact that he hadn’t slept a wink all night.

  But Landon thought better of it. He rose out of bed purposefully, despite his body’s protests. He put on a pair of blue Navy running shorts, a gray Navy t-shirt, and topped off the ensemble with a pair of blue Nike running shoes, no socks.

  A quick morning run would give Landon time to collect his thoughts for his unenviable task later that day: eulogizing his lifelong friend, Joe Mawhorter.

  Landon had written and discarded several speeches over the past few days, with input from Desiree during long conversations on Skype. He’d finally decided to chuck them all and just speak from the heart, going wherever his emotions took him.