by Imani King
At the time I thought that she and I could be together, and that being together with her would be at best wonderful, and at worst, better than being alone forever. What I didn't count on was that she would want to take advantage of me and having my name dragged through the mud. Threaten to ruin me.
After my youth hardened me, my time in the foster home shaped me, and my parent’s relationship ended in its tragic way, I didn’t think I’d ever open myself up to anyone. When Sabrina came along, I somehow did. And if I was that wrong about Sabrina, how can I trust my judgment with Odell? My heart is opening to her now, I can feel it. And I know that’s dangerous territory, but I feel like it’s past the point of no return.
I think for a moment, then pour another glass of water. I worked hard today. On the field and in between the sheets. At least I'm good for something, I figure, as my mind turns to a more pleasant topic—the feeling of her legs and her pussy wrapped around me.
There’s a hand on my arm.
“Hey, Griff. What's on your mind?” Odell says softly, her eyes warm and soft. “Is everything all right?”
“Yeah,” I say and put down my glass. “I was just thinking about things. It’s nothing you need to trouble yourself with, though.”
“Look, I'm sorry I brought up the trial,” she says. “I didn't want to ruin the nice time we were having. I just want to make sure that everything goes as well as possible for you.”
“You didn't ruin anything.” We turn to each other and I take her in my arms. “Not at all. I don’t know why, but I started thinking about my past.”
She looks doubtful. “You want to talk about it?” she asks, her nose scrunching up. I give her a kiss. “Off the record, of course.”
“I dunno,” I say. “Is there anything to talk about?” I scratch my head. “I've made some poor choices in my life, but it's not surprising considering where I came from.”
“Where did you come from?” she asks, laying her head on my chest. Her nails run up and down my back, sending tingles through my body.
“Is that something that you really want to know?”
“If you want to tell me.” She pulls away for a second and looks up at me, her big doe eyes so soft and beautiful.
And I guess I do, because I find myself talking. Telling her about growing up in the trailer park, my mom was a mess and my dad even worse, until she shot him for cheating on her. Shot him dead and went to jail. How I was so skinny, because even when we did have food in the cupboards, I was too anxious to eat. I’d just hide food in my room, even though I never did get around to eating it. My stomach was always too upset. How they moved me into the foster system and my foster dad beat me. How I had to fight to get anything I could in that home, how my foster sister was even worse off, but kept a smile on her face. How I didn't fit in with all the rich kids at my high school. How they treated me like a second-class citizen until I worked out and got big and muscular, and made their football team a national sensation. How I made the first real friends of my life in Brooks U, and belonged somewhere real for the first time. How all my friends, Kaden, Mack, Jackson, Brando and all the rest of the gang got picked up to different teams, and I lost my crew. Sure, we're still friends and we see each other on the field every now and then when our teams compete, but it doesn't mean we still can have each other's backs in the same way we once did. We weren’t just a team, but a real gang of friends, not like in the pros.
I miss those guys. In fact, this is the first time I’ve really been able to let go and open myself up to someone since I had them in my life. Guy friends who didn’t need anything from me but friendship, and who would be there for me.
And I guess that's what left me vulnerable to a girl like Sabrina. She seemed to know sports, and she said all the right things at the right times, until she also said things to get me into more trouble than I've ever been in my life. She wanted my money, and if she couldn't marry me, the second best way to get it was to sue me.
Odell listens quietly to the words pouring out of me until they finally slow and come to a halt.
“Look,” she says finally, lightly running her hand up and down my arm. “I get some of the things you're dealing with. I do.” She clears her throat, and then her voice vibrates in a soft purr against my chest. “Not everything, for sure, but I can empathize. Life hasn't been a walk in the park for me either. I know just how shitty people can be. But I haven’t gone through the same things as you, and I can't imagine what a lot of those things were like. In my case, my parents were upper class, and they wanted the most for me. But that didn't mean that they supported me in any way other than with their financial means. They just wanted me to be the best in whatever I was doing, and if I wasn't, then I wasn't one of them. I was ostracized. Not a proper “Williams.” And when I did succeed, it was all just to be expected and they took no notice. So I didn't have much of a home life at all. I was raised by nannies, and you were raised by foster parents. I'm not saying my life was anywhere as hard as yours has been, I’m just saying that we're not as different as we might seem, you and I.”
“So you became a lawyer like I became a football player.” I nod. “Right out of high school, you knew what you wanted to do and you knew how to succeed.”
“Yeah,” she sighs. “I did it to try to prove something to my family, and to myself. And you know, they still don't care that much. They didn't even come to my graduation, barely even acknowledged it when I made partner. I’m sure they look down on the accomplishment because my dad was involved in this firm, and I share his last name, and that helps when you’re trying to get ahead. Still I couldn’t have done it if I hadn’t’ve worked my ass off every waking hour of every day in college. Anyway, all that doesn't matter to me right now. What matters is that I am a hard worker, and I am good. Just as good as you are on the field. And I am going to figure out exactly how to get this Sabrina Forbes person off your back, so that you can live your life freely, so that you can concentrate on playing your game. It's going to be my own personal mission.”
I didn't realize exactly how much stress I was under, but as she speaks, it ebbs away in a long slow exhale. Maybe I can trust her after all? Maybe she’s not like the rest of the women who’ve taken it upon themselves to make my life difficult.
It would be nice to trust someone in this life, besides my old friends at Brooks U. But if I trust her with my heart, is it all going to turn out like it did with Sabrina? Like, once the first flush of being with the big star QB is over, she'll just try to take me for whatever she can get? Or worse, leave?
“My personal mission,” she says, looking me in the eyes and punctuating her sentences by a tap on my naked pecs.
I'm on the edge of this leap of faith, but I'm not sure I can fall over the edge. I have been in this place one too many times, and I can't pretend that just because I feel something strong doesn't mean it's not dangerous.
But by the way she's looking at me, I don't know if I can walk away either.
“It feels like it's a bit late to say this, but Odell ... can we take things slow?” I tilt her head up gently to look in her eyes.
“Yeah,” she says quickly. She looks away. “Of course, we can. I wouldn't want it any other way.” She sees the glass of water and turns away to take a long draw. “That's better.” When she looks back at me, she’s smiling, but it’s colder. Emptier. “Anyway, like I said, I guess I better be going. Big day tomorrow.”
“Odell,” I say.
“Hey, it's all right.” Now her eyes are different. They're more guarded. Somehow closed. But she's still smiling. I’ve hurt her. “It's been really fun, Griff. And now that I know your name, it's nice to be able to yell it in bed.” Her smirk belies her pain. I know that well.
I grab her and plant a long, slow, lingering kiss on her mouth.
“It's more than that,” I whisper. She smiles again, but turns away. “What we have.”
“I'm going to get dressed,” she says softly as she pulls away.
�
�Can I give you a ride?” I ask.
“Nah, I'mma just call an Uber. It's no problem.” Her voice is bright again. False.
“Ok, well I think we have a meeting tomorrow, so I'll see you then,” I tell her. I hope she's not pissed off at me. “I need you on my side, you know,” I wink.
“Oh hell yes you do,” she grins. “That is for sure.” She breaks away and goes to grab her clothes.
I slug down some wine to quell that feeling in my stomach and follow her. She's pulling on her shirt, her lovely, lithe brown body moving gracefully. When it's over her head, she affixes me with her eyes.
“You getting a good look?” She smiles, throwing my line back at me like a comeback pass.
“Doing my best,” I grin. “Hey. You know I don't mean that we should stop seeing one another, right Odell?” I ask her. “Because seeing you like this makes me want to see a hell of a lot more of you... right now.”
She brightens and playfully swats me as I pull her into my arms. “Are you serious, Mr. Take-Things-Slow?” she asks.
“Serious as a heart attack,” I say. “I can't help it. I want you again.” I grab her around the waist.
“So wait,” she says, pulling away. “You're sure that the reason Sabrina charged you is to extort money from you, right?” she asks. “But do you have any proof? Anything at all?”
“We're going to talk about that whole mess again?” I ask, disappointed. “Right now?” I stroke her cheek and her neck. “Can't we save that for the meeting? I’d rather concentrate on other things since I have you naked in front of me.”
“Well once my brain gets going on a topic, it's really hard for me to get off of it.”
“I take that as a personal challenge,” I say, drawing her close to me again. “Getting your mind off of all that? Piece of cake.”
“Oh, I know that,” she smiles wickedly. “Believe me, I know that better than anybody. But you know that feeling when you're bringing the ball down the field, and you want to make a touchdown, how everything else disappears and you'll do anything to get it?”
“I do,” I smile. “Yes.” I felt that a few times tonight. It's one of the main pleasures of my life.
“Well that's how I feel when I have to win a case, and I believe I can.” Her gorgeous eyes narrow. “And you're my touchdown right now, Gryphon James.”
“I can see why you're a good lawyer.” Her hard-core determination is obvious. And attractive. And reassuring.
“So if you don't have proof, I have to find some.” Now it's her turn to kiss me on the cheek. I grab her ass and give it a good squeeze as she stands on her tiptoes to reach my rough, stubble-shadowed jaw.
“Well if you can do that, more power to you,” I say.
“See you in the meeting tomorrow, champ,” she says and pats me on my ass. “Isn't that how they do it on the field?”
“That's how they do it, but this is how I do it—to you,” I smile, and grab her luscious ass to persuade her one last time into round two.
She melts against me now, and I feel her resistance weakening, and her desire taking over. I’ve never been with a woman like her and she drives me wild—the way she kisses me and our tongues intermingle, twining together she squeezes me closer.
I want to claim her—take her as mine, write MINE across her, sign my name on her pussy. I want her more than I’ve wanted anyone in my entire life. My hands trace the hem of the shirt she just put on and pull it up over her head. She’s squirming in my arms. Slipping my hand underneath the waistband of her the lacy thong, I draw it slowly down her legs this time and she steps out of it. She kisses me hard, her lips soft, her tongue wild.
Damn, I could fuck this girl forever. I love feasting my hands on her beautiful body. Every curve of her figure, the softness of her taut skin, and the raging heat between us. I grind up against her as she wraps her legs around me. Every swipe of her tongue sends electricity down to my cock, making me harder and harder. I can sense how ready she is for me right now, but I’m teasing her, taking my time to enjoy each jolt of electricity that we’re sending through each other.
I pull off each last wisp of fabric, and she stretches her arms over her head, her breasts standing at attention. My tongue swirls over her skin, hot and salty in my mouth. She kneels down, looking up at me, eyes wide. Her hand grasps my hard length, and her she kisses and licks me.
Before she takes my cock into her mouth, I tilt her chin up and run my thumb over her rose-petal lips. She kisses my fingers, taking one into her mouth, a prelude to sucking my cock, teasing me back. Then she runs her tongue over the head of my cock and swallows me so I’m inside her mouth. As she swirls her tongue around the head, I’m overcome and need her to take me in, the full length pushing down into her throat. She responds, opening up and moaning vibrations through my stiff length.
“Yeah, that's it, good girl,” I murmur. My head falls back. She wraps her lips around me and draws my cock deep inside her again and again as she slips her tongue around the most sensitive parts. Her hands are running up and down my legs, my sack, my ass, until I need to pound myself inside her. I have to fuck her sweet little pussy.
Dragging her over to the bed this time, I lay her down, and kiss down the length of her body. She’s squealing, and when I plunge into her sweet softness, it's beyond any pleasure I’ve ever felt. Everything about her, the way she smells, tastes, feels—it’s perfection. Our hips buck wildly as we fuck, tempting and teasing and dying to get closer. There’s a hot core of energy building and building inside me. I try to keep myself under control, I want to fuck her forever, but the contractions from her pussy as she comes push me over the edge. I’m falling into her. We’re crying out, screaming each other’s names, writhing, bucking. I jet inside her, and I watch her face change as she hits orgasm one more time. Our bodies shiver and quake and finally come to rest, and for a long time the only sound in the room is our breathing synching as we recover.
You’re so sexy,” she says. “The way you smell … the way you taste.” She kisses my neck softly. “The way you make love to me.”
“I was just thinking the same about you.” I pull her closer and we hold each other, each of us wondering what is happening to us.
10
Odell
I do my best not to bite my lip—I know it makes me look unprofessional, but damned if Carlton hasn’t pegged exactly how to make me feel unprofessional. Breathe, Odell. I place my purse in my lap, one hand resting on my phone inside, ready to hit record at any moment. Carlton is going to try to intimidate me, and I’m ready for him.
“Now whatever's going on between you and Gryphon James has got to stop, and quickly, Odell, or you're off the case.” His eyes look about twice their normal size, and his face is a fiery red.
“To what are you referring, Carlton?” I say coolly, and take a slow sip of my coffee. Don't choke. Don't choke, I tell myself. I manage to swallow it and look back at him, chin high. “You know, I’m thinking of recording this conversation.”
He scoffs. “Do what you like, Odell. Our conversation certainly isn’t going to be painting you in a good light. After your, what should we call it…your little performance in the conference room,” he says, “and our conversation, I thought that we understood each other.” He shakes his head. “But that was before I knew that you went home with Mr. James after the football game—a man who is a client in our law firm! I expected so much more of you, Odell.” He shakes his head in a parody of paternalistic outrage. “Honestly, if your father only knew what your reputation had in store.” He huffs and puffs, and revs himself up for another attack. “Personally, I’ll have you know that before any of this happened, I never wanted to see you made partner, or at the very least, not this early in your career. I told them you weren’t ready, that you might never be ready.” I try to keep my cool. So he’s had it out for me all this time, has he?
“You've only been working here for a short time for crying out loud, and it’s already been made one hundred perce
nt clear that I was absolutely right in all regards. It’s just shameful.” He shakes his head ruefully, disbelief warring with sheer anger on his face.
“Where do you get your information, Carlton?” I ask. I don't want to accuse him, but I won’t admit to an unproven charge against me. How could he have any clue what happened without spying on me and Gryphon both? It seems that Carlton Smith has a little too much interest in my business. Whatever he’s up to, I don’t like it.
“That's not really your concern, Miss Williams, but I suppose you should know that we do keep a pretty close watch on our associates here. And why? Because your reputation affects our firm’s reputation. In fact, that's the biggest reason that I’m firmly of the position that women do not even belong in the workplace. But, you’re here now for the time being at least. You are a partner, and you should start acting like it. And if you don't take things absolutely seriously, then you will be the one who pays for it. And you’ll pay for it with your job.” He skewers me with another big-eyed stare. “Neither the client nor the firm will suffer because of your unprofessional activities. Just you, Odell Williams. Just you.”
“Nothing I do in or out of the office or courtroom will ever, and I do mean ever, negatively affect our clientele. I resent the implication that because I am a woman that I might jeopardize the firm. I have worked extremely hard to be here and regardless of what either of my parents might think of any of my behavior, I did become partner because I deserve it. I won my position at Smith Williams Smith fair and square.” I'm fuming now. “And if you were watching me, you would know that nothing that’s any of your business happened when I went to Gryphon James’ home. I took care of my client, my case, and found out more of what I need to know about his situation with Sabrina Forbes. And that has resulted in a lead for our case.”
I stand up now, warming to the subject. “And I'll have you know that I will win this high profile case for our firm. Even if I were to fall in love with the client, which would also be none of your business, I will always stand up for justice and my profession before anything else. In short, I won't be bullied out of my position here at the firm by you or by anyone. So you can take your sexist and regressive attitude, and stuff it!”
