by C. J. Thomas
And, most importantly, it was about committing through submission and finding our escape.
Circling her tongue over the tip of my helmet, my hips bucked uncontrollably. And when she flipped her hair over to one side, I clamped my fingers around the base of her skull and guided her mouth further down my shaft.
Swallowing the entire length of me, she choked me down as I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, keeping the tires straight and steady. “Tell me how much you love sucking my cock.”
She spit me out and licked the entire length of me before saying, “I fucking love getting throat fucked by you.”
Laughing, it was impossible not to speed up after that. Kendra was a dirty girl. A woman who I would do anything for. And I didn’t want to lose her—lose this. What we had was special, an unlikely match.
“Shit,” I moaned when she swirled her tongue and did something she hadn’t ever done before.
Heat spun at the base of my spine, my entire body sweating. Glancing down at what she was doing, I refused to allow myself to come. This was the escape I was seeking—the only way I could truly take my focus off of everything else crumbling down around me. Living in the moment, fast and furious.
“That’s it.”
Her mouth was hot and tight. Flexing my muscles, I bit back my need to come.
Suddenly, I looked up at the road and quickly yanked on the wheel. The tires squealed and Kendra flew across the car, her shoulders hitting the door. Avoiding a near collision, I swerved around the car and took the first exit with a racing heart.
There was shock in Kendra’s eyes, but when I slowed the car to a stop we both started to laugh. Sliding out of her panties, Kendra crawled into my lap and slid herself down on my dick. Cupping her breasts and ass, I guided her up and down, saying, “Look what you made me do.”
11
Kelly
I snuck out of bed with the moon still shining.
I was careful not to wake her. She was wiped out. Exhausted from last night and how I was ready to devour her for a second time the minute we got home. The thrill of last night was still jolting through my body and it was impossible to find restful sleep with her tucked up under my arm.
All night, Tonya’s death haunted me. And the note I couldn’t erase from my mind—Look what you made me do—kept playing on repeat, even finding its way into my vocabulary unintentionally.
Kendra was the light at the end of this dark tunnel I was currently traveling. With sex still plastered on me, I jumped in the shower with hopes of finding some kind of closure after the day’s end. Though my shower was quick, the cold water I washed my body in proved to be invigorating. Now fully awake, it didn’t take long to have my thoughts drift back to Tonya and the whereabouts of Timothy Parker.
Reliving the past events, I kept my thoughts turned inward.
There was nothing more important than staying on top of any new revelations or breaks in the case that may have happened overnight.
Stopping in front of the bathroom mirror, I thought about last night.
I was grateful for it to be paparazzi-free—drama free. There were too many unknowns that wanted to split us up. Oscar Buchanan and Sylvia Neil were just two names of many possibilities that seemed to want to make my life a living hell. And then there was Madam herself. I didn’t have it in me to think too much into her and the deep hole she seemed to be digging for us all.
Slipping my legs through a fresh pair of briefs, I moved to the closet, quickly following the trail of clothes Kendra and I had left behind in our pursuit to get out of them as quick as possible. Smirking, I couldn’t deny how much I needed last night. Just those few hours. I mostly forgot about the obstacles standing in my way.
The way my socks were tossed over the floor next to Kendra’s heels. Her bra laid next to her dress, my underwear hidden beneath it all. It wasn’t hard to put the pieces of what happened here last night together. The story told itself in the sight unfolding before me—and it was turning me on.
Once inside my walk-in closet, I flipped on the overhead light.
Heading to my dresser, I needed dress socks to wear with whatever suit I decided would fit today’s activities. Reaching for the handle on my drawer, I didn’t think too much into it at first. But Kendra’s drawer was open just enough to have it be annoyingly in the way of mine. Pushing it closed, something new caught my eye.
A crisp white envelope.
Now I was curious to know what it was and what information laid inside. Stepping to the door, I glanced to the bed. With Kendra still soundly asleep, I dropped back to the dresser and gently opened the drawer all the way, diving my hand to the envelope tucked halfway beneath a pile of lingerie.
Curiosity drew me in as I peeled back the tab, pulling the document out from the inside.
Kendra let out a little adorable snore from the bedroom, getting me to smile. Not worried about her waking, I continued reading each line on the first page of the document. It didn’t take me long to know it was a family inheritance. With her name on it.
Taking my gaze away from the text, I wondered why she had this in the first place. Why she’d brought it here and if there was something she wasn’t telling me. Especially since the document was dated several years ago. Having it here now really didn’t make any sense.
“So you come from money,” I mumbled as I flipped the paper over to see if anything was on the back.
A phone number. Scribbled in pen as if it was an afterthought. And not just any phone number. A California area code. Whose? And why? The questions about this document kept piling up. Did more of her family live in California than just her uncle?
Folding the papers back up, I thought how Kendra’s family was a complete mystery to me. Other than her uncle, she never did talk about her parents or possible siblings, and after learning what her uncle did, I didn’t blame her. I wanted to kill him myself. Give him the justice he deserved for damaging her innocence in the worst possible way.
A shiver worked up my spine thinking back to how she mentioned I was the reason for her trigger. That was one of the worst days in recent memory and just thinking about it hurt. She was so fragile, broken, and the torment tremoring through her body as she broke down crying that day destroyed me. Tore my heart into thousands of pieces.
The bed covers wrestled, stealing my attention.
Tucking the envelope away, I memorized the phone number, saying it to myself again, reminding myself to do my own investigation as soon as I was at the office.
God, I hoped we were past that drama. But I feared that just like the death of Nora, Kendra’s past trauma was also impossible to forget. No matter how hard we tried, those memories forever lurked in the backs of our minds.
“Kelly?”
Pushing my arms through my buttoned-up shirt sleeves, I stepped into the ironed slacks as I came back to the bedroom.
When our gazes met, her lips tugged at the corners. She looked sexy with her long messy dark hair fanned above her head. Sleep was in her eye, and her naked body was wrapped inside my silk sheets. A calm settled over me.
Lowering myself to the edge of the bed, it crumbled beneath my weight. Rubbing her shoulder inside my grip, she asked, “What are you doing up so early?”
Trailing the tip of my finger along her collarbone, I responded, “There’s something I need to do at the office.”
“Can’t it wait?” She frowned.
“Sleep in as long as you need.” I gently pinched her earlobe. “You’re tired. And work is going to consume most of my day.”
Her hand hooked onto my forearm. “Doesn’t it always?”
Lowering my head, I pressed my lips against hers. “Maxwell is available for you. He can take you wherever you need to go today.”
“That’s silly.” She giggled. “I can find my own way around. You take him.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” I brushed her bottom lip with the pad of my thumb. “Besides, I’ve already let him know.”
She
rolled her eyes.
I squeezed her hand and stood. She held my gaze for a minute before I finally released her hand. “I’ve got to go now.”
“I’ll be thinking about you,” Kendra said as I made my way to the front door.
Me too.
As soon as I stepped out of my apartment, my cell phone rang. Taking it out of my pocket, I answered. “Giselle, I’m on my way to the office now.”
“Good.” She was wide awake. “Then I won’t have to ask you to get down here.”
“What is it?” My chest tightened.
“There’s no good way to explain it.” Her words were laced with concern. “I think its best you see it in person.”
12
Kendra
Feeling light as a feather after my hot night with Kelly, my head was still spinning.
After he left, I dozed in and out of orgasmic dreams for another few hours before finally fully waking. The sun was blasting through the blinds with thoughts of my parents.
Their faces also managed to appear in my dreams, and simple reminders of them were everywhere I looked. From the legs I took from my mom, to the complexion of my father.
Tucking my arm under my head, I rolled onto my side.
I debated calling my parents as I stared at my cell phone silently resting on the nightstand.
It’d been forever since we’d talked. I couldn’t even remember what their voices sounded like sometimes. Nor could I recall what our last conversation was even about.
I gnawed on the inside of my cheek feeling flustered for having to deal with a less-than-ideal situation.
They didn’t know anything about me. Didn’t know what kind of person I was or that I had received a degree in law and made my way in this tough world all on my own. The school of hard knocks was where I came from—the reason I grew into the woman I was today. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Grandma’s inheritance fast tracked my pursuit, but I swore when I received those monies that I wouldn’t let it change me. Only my parents would know if it had.
My cell phone continued to tempt me with making the call. Realizing I didn’t even have my parents’ phone number memorized, I finally tossed off the covers and got out of bed.
The air was cool against my naked body as I dragged my feet toward the walk-in closet. Stepping over the mess of clothes from last night’s fuckfest only drew a smile to my face. I’d had fun last night. Kelly made me feel relaxed and I liked his willingness to share the adventure my body craved. It seemed like that was my only way at getting off lately. It had to be extreme, rough, and highly passionate. Anything less wouldn’t cut it.
Flipping on the light as I entered the closet, I bent down to open the dresser drawer. Stopping short of grabbing the envelope, it was clear to me that it had been tampered with.
My heart froze as a quiver rolled through my stomach.
Kelly had seen it. Probably this morning. Though he didn’t say anything about it, I didn’t know what to make of him knowing about my inheritance or that I had a copy of the will here, inside his apartment.
Shaking my head, I pulled it out along with a fresh pair of underwear and a bra.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to keep this a secret from him forever. I just needed some answers before fully letting him in on the family drama that was sure to follow.
Turning the paper over, I had a bad feeling the moment I glanced at the phone number. I couldn’t call. Didn’t have it in me. Not before I learned more about the reason Tonya was killed. That was the more pressing matter. Not my parents.
After a quick shower and getting ready for the day, Maxwell was waiting for me out front. “Ms. Kendra,” he greeted me.
“Good morning, Maxwell.” I smiled.
“What will it be for you today?”
“Madam’s place.”
His forehead wrinkled.
I nodded. “I know you know the way.”
“That I do.” He tipped his head forward, closing my door.
I appreciated his lack of protest. I wasn’t sure what kind of instructions Kelly had given him this morning. But I was certain that this was Kelly’s way of keeping tabs on my whereabouts, as well as what I was up to when he wasn’t around.
We drove much of the way in silence, leaving me plenty of time to think about what Kelly now knew about me. It wasn’t that he didn’t know I didn’t have my own money before. But I never told him how much, or how it had come to me. Now he knew, and I figured it best that I bring it up before he found a way to get to it first.
When Maxwell pulled in front of Madam’s, I thanked him for the ride and said, “That will be all, Maxwell.” I pulled the handle, opening the door. “I’ll be finding my way home from here.”
“I can wait,” he said over his shoulder. “It’s not a problem.”
“I would prefer it if you wouldn’t.”
He gave me a questioning look.
“I know you’re here to spy. And I don’t blame you for doing your job.”
He let out a heavy sigh.
“If Kelly asks, you can tell him I’ll be here.”
“And after here?”
I ducked my face and glared at him under a sunken brow. “Don’t push it.”
Shutting my door, I stepped away from the vehicle just as Maxwell took his foot off the brake. I watched him slowly drive away with a determined face. I liked how he respected my wishes. It couldn’t be easy dealing with me, especially when guessing what Kelly’s reaction would be when he learned I insisted Maxwell leave. But I didn’t know how long this would take, and Madam didn’t even know I was coming. Today, my visit was a complete surprise.
Locking eyes on Janine, I entered the building with questions swirling between my ears. I burned to talk with Angel, to learn what she knew about Tonya, when the last time it was she saw her. Ever since Ty Lemon’s gala, Angel had become much more of a central figure in the questions I had about what the hell was happening around me. She knew exactly who Timothy Parker was, but did she also know more than I did about Madam? It made me sick to think that I had to ask my nemesis if I should be worried about my own future. But that was exactly what I was hoping to accomplish.
“Hold up, Kendra,” Janine said with a squished brow.
I shortened my stride but never stopped to wait.
“I don’t see you on the schedule.”
“Are you looking at Jerome’s?” I said with a bite of attitude.
She stuttered through confusion.
“That’s who I’ll be seeing first.” I turned my back and kept walking with a wide grin stamped on my face.
I didn’t have an appointment with Jerome, and was certain he didn’t even have a schedule to have my name on. But it wasn’t a lie. Because as soon as I hit the top step on Madam’s office floor, there the big man was, waiting at the door, looking bored as ever.
“Hey, can I ask you something?” I asked as I approached him.
Jerome gave me a sideways glance.
“What is it you do exactly?”
“This.” His answer was classically short.
“That explains a lot.” I nodded. “Is she in?” I pointed to Madam’s closed door.
Clamping his big hands around my arm, Jerome towed me away, leading me down the hall.
“Hey! What the fuck? Let go! You’re hurting me,” I cried as Jerome pushed me into an empty room.
“I’ll get you when Madam’s ready.” He shut the door.
I lunged forward and shook the door handle. It was locked. And without a way out I paced the small empty room, letting my curiosity go wild. Something was happening. Something Madam didn’t want me to see. Needing to know before my chance escaped, I marched back up to the door, rapping my palm against the wood, demanding to be let out. A second later the door flung open.
“She’s ready.” Jerome allowed me through.
Following me down the hall, I peeked inside the waiting room to find Madam’s door now open. Jerome stopped in his usual spot in the hal
l and turned his back.
“What the hell is going on?” I said when entering Madam’s office.
Madam stood from behind her desk. “What a pleasant surprise.”
Looking around, my senses were on high alert. “Who was just in here?”
Madam’s eyes brightened as she subtly shook her head like she didn’t know what I was asking. “What brings you in? Is it about Kelly?”
I fell into the empty seat across from her desk. My visit had nothing to do with Kelly, my contract ending with him, or the deliveries I had to make for her. “I assume you heard about Tonya—”
Madam closed her eyes. “Yes. Sad.”
I didn’t have to ask. I knew Tonya worked for her. Was another girl in her harem just like me. And I couldn’t escape my thoughts that it was possible Madam also had her killed. “What did she do to deserve the punishment she received?”
Madam lowered herself in her seat, folding her white-gloved hands on her lap. As she stared at me, my gaze drifted to her ears. All I could think about was how I saw the same tanzanite earrings Madam given to me dangling off of Tonya’s ears the day I made my last delivery to Emmanuel’s new salon.
“What is it, dear?”
Rolling my eyes back to hers, I said, “Tonya was there with Timothy Parker. I saw them together.” But I wasn’t telling her anything that she didn’t already know.
“How is Kelly doing?” Madam changed the subject.
Feeling offended, my face tightened. “No. You can’t do that.”
Madam’s expression pinched. “Do you think that Kelly’s assault charges just disappeared without a reason?”
Falling back into my chair, I didn’t know. I was too consumed by my parents and what my uncle insisted I should learn about them. I should have asked Kelly what he knew, but didn’t want to risk tainting the fun night we’d shared. And on top of that, I was afraid to tell him what I saw that day for fear he would demand to know more about the deliveries I was making for Madam.
“What?” I felt the beginnings of a headache coming on.
