Black Diamond

by Ja'Nese Dixon

  Marc turned Camille to him and securely wrapped his arms around her. She could not recall the last time she felt so secure. He stopped kissing her, but she could feel his hands roaming her lower back and then dipping inches to caress her bottom. She arched her back, bringing her breasts closer to his chest and her bottom securely into his hands. He rewarded her need with a soft squeeze. Was he deliberately trying to torture her?

  Tired of waiting, Camille placed one hand behind his head. A mere breath away, she licked her lips before aggressively placing her mouth on his. He moaned, encouraging her.

  She was not usually so aggressive, but he made her feel something raw and carnal. Cupping her bottom, they merged. The contour of his firm body enveloped into the softness of her feminine form.

  Camille was lost in him. Marc released her mouth and traced the tip of his nose along her neck, placing a moist kiss against her rapid pulse. Journeying south, he toyed with her breast through her blouse, teasing and nibbling. Camille pulled her lower lip between her teeth as her nipples peaked, welcoming his focused attention.

  Marc sat Camille on the counter. He looked deep into her eyes as if requesting permission as his hands reached for the hem of her shirt. He removed her shirt and pulled her to him as her legs straddled his body. The full blaze between her legs became crippling when he allowed his left hand to massage her inner thigh.

  His thumb moved slightly to the right and began massaging the cause of her angst. Camille’s head fell back and Marc moved into full assault of her bodily senses while rubbing her with constant pressure while skillfully inching the lace of her bra to the side giving him unobstructed access to her bare breasts.

  The feel of his mouth on her breast was her undoing as she felt the edge drawing near.

  “Baby, let it go,” he said, between his teeth.

  “Marc…” she responded cupping the back of his head.

  “Mmmm…” He increased the pressure of his suckling on her breast. His thumb continued to massage her and Camille knew that if she did not experience release soon she would explode.

  “Marc…” she said in a distant, breathy plea.

  “I’m here, baby.”

  Flickers of multi-color stars flashed before Camille’s closed eyes. Her head fell back as her body burst into a million pieces.

  Marc stood to his full height and held her close. He rested his chin on the top of her head as they struggle to slow their racing hearts.

  What had they done?

  She held his shirt in her clinched fists. She was speechless. Camille wondered what he was thinking. She let the rise and fall of his chest calm her, turning her head as she listened to the drum-like rhythm of his heartbeat.

  Marc kissed the top of her head below her hairline. He whispered, “I’m sorry, baby. I lost it.”

  Sorry? Camille sat up and saw that his eyes were closed. She placed her hands on his cheeks and moved his face close to her. She all but forced him to look at her. She did not like what she saw. Was it regret?

  The words she wanted to say lodged in her throat. Camille felt the burn of impending tears. She wanted to put him out of his misery. The phone rang, startling them both before she could speak.

  He picked up the phone and looked at the caller id. “It’s Derek.”

  “Hello,” he answered the phone, while she tried to halt her runaway feeling. The more she waited, the more questions assaulted her senses. She pulled herself from her isolated thoughts to hear him talking with Derek. His expression sifted as he took several steps back, leaving her perched on the counter. He retraced his steps and paced the length of her living room.

  Camille hopped down from the counter righting her clothes. She joined him in the living room and sat on the couch. She could only hear his side of the conversation. He gave a yes, a couple of no’s and several uh, uhs. The hard expression on his face worried her. Marc passed her his phone.

  “Hey, Derek, what’s going on?” she greeted him.

  Marc quickly exited the room and walked towards her bedroom. Where was he going?

  “Camille, things are worse than I expected,” he said. “We received the results from the Houston Police Department. Harold was poisoned. They are still waiting on the identity of the drug, but it resulted in him dying in his sleep. They searched the house for fingerprints but they only found those of his hired keepers, Saul, and Ashanta. The detectives did not find anything out of order, which does not help.”

  “Okay, there has to be more.”

  Camille sat back on the couch. She noticed Marc enter the living room. He must have gone to get his shoes because he looked like he was ready to leave. Her feelings were crushed.

  “You’re right. I expect they will know more once the identity of the drug is determined. What escalates the situation is when the officers went to question Ashanta.”

  That got her attention.

  “What, Derek, what happened?” Camille tightened her hold on the phone. Marc appeared from nowhere and sat next to her.

  “Breath, baby,” he whispered close to her ear, rubbing her back. She nodded, as a somber vibe fell over her.

  “Camille, they found her dead in her condo. Apparently, she was killed by the assailants who broke into her home. The police didn’t find any prints and they don’t believe it was a forced entry.”

  Silent tears trailed down Camille’s face. Marc wrapped his arm around her. She let him comfort her as she listened to Derek. She knew something was not right.

  “Where is her body?” she asked, thankful for Marc’s presence.

  “They took her to a morgue and she will be shipped home, however, Camille, you are prohibited from going to see the body. I know you are concerned and so am I, but I am charged with your safety. Exposing yourself could ruin your case and make you a walking target if someone learns that you’re an agent. This is the second dead body on your watch and it is cause for concern.”

  Ashanta was dead.

  “Camille,” Derek paused, “I think it’s time to cut our losses and pull you from the case.”

  Camille tightened. Marc felt the tension, and whispered “What is it?” She lifted her hand to silence him.

  “No, Derek, I’ve put two years of my time and career into this case. And now you tell me that my friend is dead. I want the murderer found.” Camille’s concern was quickly becoming anger.

  “Camille, don’t take this personal. I know you and Ashanta formed a friendship, but this is still your job. I will not risk your life. This is not why you were placed on this case.”

  “Do you doubt my abilities as an agent, Derek?” Camille asked with one brow lifted. She stood and began walking the length of the room. Marc did not move from the couch, instead, he sat back and watched her every move.

  “Camille, this is not time for your ‘I am woman hear me roar’ speech. I will not risk your life.” He emphasized every syllable. Camille did not care. She would not let him pull her from this case, especially with Ashanta’s death.

  “No, Derek, I can handle this. I am so close. We have the information from Ashanta and we’re on our way to Dallas later today.” She took a few minutes to tell him about the contents of the letter and package.

  “All right, is Marc still with you?”

  Her eyes flashed to Marc. “Yes, he is.”

  “I am going to trust your judgment, but Camille,” he paused, “we cannot have a repeat situation like your case with Ron.”

  Camille paused and looked Marc's way. “Derek, why would you say that? You asked him to help. It was not me, but you who asked me to fill him in.”

  She knew he would bring Ron up and smack her in the face with it. Her break-up with him was messy and it happened during a major case. She was almost fired and she resented Ron for his betrayal and Derek for constantly reminding her that a double standard existed.

  Camille stopped pacing, feeling the pull of Marc's eyes. He heard his name, and judging by the look on his face, he didn't like her response. She now knew that
their possible future would not happen. It was bad timing and she was not signing up for heartbreak. She ached, feeling a sense of loss for something she never really had.

  “Don't make me regret this. Let me speak with Marc.”

  Camille passed the phone to Marc. She watched as he nodded his head. He gave a few affirmative responses and passed the phone back to Camille. She searched his face for any indication as to the content of their discussion, but found nothing.

  “Camille, take Marc with you. I will fly into Dallas and meet you.”

  “Derek, that’s not necessary. I can make the trip alone,” she whispered into the phone. She turned her back to Marc and walked into her bedroom.

  “That was not a request, Camille.”

  She looked over her shoulder to see Marc standing in the doorway. His mouth was firm and his arms were crossed over his chest. Camille knew that he had heard her by the look in his eyes, but she meant it. She would not drag another person into this case. Derek was right about the danger. They could not take that chance.

  “Derek…”

  Derek cut her protest short. “Goodbye, Camille, I’ll see you in Dallas.”

  He disconnected the line and she was left with Marc. She pressed the “End” button. She stared at the phone before walking toward him. She tried to move past him, but failed as he shifted to block her way.

  She stepped back and waited.

  “Are you trying to get rid of me?” he asked in a growl and lowered his head. She could literally feel him getting under her skin, and she didn’t like it. All she could hear was his words of regret.

  Camille would take him, according to Derek’s orders, but she didn’t have to like it. Pushing her hurt feelings aside, she squared her gaze, “I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Now, please let me by.”

  Camille walked toward Marc again. The mini standoff ensued. She could feel the heat from his body and she hated her body for physically reacting to his nearness. She could feel her nipples tighten against her bra and the low hum between her legs returned. Traitor, she thought.

  She noticed Marc looking at her breasts. Camille knew he could see her erect nipples through her blouse. Their eyes met and he smiled stepping aside leaving just enough room to let her pass. She turned sideways, yet her breasts skimmed his chest.

  She hated that smug look on his face. How would she survive riding five hours alone with him? Camille snapped out of his spell to stomp off toward the kitchen, leaving him standing in her doorway, laughing at her expense.

  Chapter 16

  “Camille…are you there?”

  She looked from left to right and realized she was at work. Where had the day gone? She was still caught in the whirlwind called Marc. Sighing, she reached across her desk and grabbed the phone’s receiver. She could hear the concern in Lee’s voice.

  “Yes, I’m here.

  “I thought you slipped past me or something. I’ve buzzed you several times.”

  Damn him. He had her scrambling to focus.

  Camille still tingled from their heated exchange this morning. Closing her eyes only made matters worse because her mind would invoke the images of him gliding his large hands across her body, touching her in spots that were dormant.

  Snap out of it, girl. Yet, chastising herself did little good. Her mind-blowing high suddenly crashed before her eyes when she recalled his words of regret.

  “I’m sorry…” he said as a sweet endearment hung on the end like a sore thumb. How could he call her baby, yet regret the intimate moment they shared?

  The man was an enigma and now she was stuck with him. Derek trusted him, and her respect for his judgment and leadership would have to carry the two of them to Dallas and back. She thought, just maybe, they could be something more, but what could they possibly share with regrets hanging between them?

  “My apologies, I’ve been working on these reports, and I lost track of time. What did you need?”

  Camille listened as Lee covered the list of calls she’d missed while daydreaming. She grabbed a pen and began writing notes. She would return the phone calls before leaving. She was anxious to get to Dallas. On the drive into work, she began questioning Ashanta’s reasons for including the locket.

  It did not appear to be an heirloom. It was beautiful, yet nothing fancy, which made its presence with the other incriminating documents more intriguing.

  Finishing off the last note, Camille advised Lee to reschedule her appointments for the next few days. Camille glanced at the clock and noticed the time.

  “Lee, it’s after noon, did you take your lunch yet?”

  Camille dropped the pen and leaned back in her chair. She liked her assistant. Lee was thorough and she missed very little. Camille once held on to several files from key overseas distributors, reviewing the list of transactions. She had stacked them with her existing files for Lee to file away. Lee thumbed through the files and looking over her glasses, she asked, “Should I return these to Ashanta?”

  Camille stopped and took in the woman’s cool green eyes and wondered how much she knew about IJDC and the inner workings. She made a mental note to ask her one day soon. That day was still coming, but she learned a valuable lesson; don’t sleep on Lee.

  They talked for a few minutes longer, closing with Lee taking Camille’s lunch order. Camille would work through lunch and call Marc about leaving at three o’clock, which would place them in Dallas by nightfall.

  Camille grabbed her cell phone and searched for his number. Her heart was racing a mile a minute as she dialed. She swiveled in her chair, watching the sea of lunch-goers moving about downtown Houston.

  “Hello, beautiful.”

  She paused. His voice was low in his sexy timber range. It was noon, yet he had his bedroom voice working overtime on her senses.

  “Hey Marc, it’s me, Camille.”

  “Yes, I know it’s you. What’s up?” She noticed the change in his voice. He sounded more alert.

  “Everything is fine. I’m calling to see what your plans are for the day,” her voice dropped to nearly a whisper, “since we didn’t talk much this morning.”

  “I guess we didn’t.”

  She could hear him moving around and wondered where he was. She knew he had family in town, but was he staying with them? Or someone else?

  For the first time since meeting him, Camille began to wonder if he was seeing anyone. Here she was all hot and bothered and she didn’t know whether he was committed or not.

  Camille groaned, lightly tapping her head against her desk. Here she was a big, bad super agent and now she was playing Miss Loosey Goosey for some man.

  “You sure everything is all right?” She could hear the humor in his voice. Since when had she become the source of amusement to him?

  “Yeah, so what are your plans?” She snapped, annoyed with herself. She had never let a man run her through the ringer and she wouldn’t start now. She had bigger fish to fry, namely this case. She would not let the tempting Marc distract her.

  “I have a few errands and some calls to make. That’s about it. After that, I’m all yours.”

  Avoiding Mr. Hershey and his magnetic pull would be her greatest challenge yet. Hoping to help her wavering nerves, she decided to set him straight now.

  “Do you have any objections to leaving early?” She explained her plans and he agreed to pick her up. She ended with a reluctant, “And one more thing…we can’t have a repeat of what occurred this morning.”

  “Really,” Marc's voice was laced with disbelief. He had been honest about his intentions and the chemistry between them. She, on the other hand, needed to slow things down. Her plate was full and he would only complicate an already complicated situation.

  Camille wanted him to say something, anything to fill the silence. She reached for the spiral phone cord and played with it, twirling it around her finger. Saying it now was best, but something deep inside her wanted to feel his body next to her again. However, her first priori
ty was fulfilling her job requirements for this case; nothing more, nothing less.

  “Yes.” She wiped the palm of her hands along her skirt and waited. Why did he have to come now? She could not recall the last time she was even remotely attracted to someone and if she could, it would make a normal woman insane. She wanted a relationship, someone to share her days and nights, but the reality of her life made that impossible. She had to keep too many secrets and a relationship built on lies was doomed to fail.

  “Baby, how about we deal with the Dallas trip, and we’ll decide together, what will or will not happen. Don’t worry so much. I will see you in a few hours. Bye.”