by Aliyah Burke
“They called a lawyer.”
“I’m sure they did. Are they from California?”
She nodded and leaned back in her chair. “Did Ms. Bonher say any more about them?”
“Not a word.” He rested his arms on the tabletop. “To be fair, I didn’t ask.”
“Fuck,” she uttered. “I don’t need this in my town. This is the shit I left Atlanta because of.” She closed her eyes and rubbed the back of her neck. “Where is she?”
“Showering.”
A wry smile cracked her mouth. “I’m surprised you even answered the door.”
“It wasn’t an easy decision, that’s for sure.” He drummed his fingers on the smooth wood. “Want me to bring her down to the station?”
“No, I’ll swing by tomorrow. Sheriff ain’t going to let them get bail tonight. He doesn’t much care for people who break up stuff in his town either.”
“Thanks, Vicki.”
Her smile didn’t reach her eyes as she stood. “Be careful, Vance.” She slapped her hat on her head. “I’ll see you later.”
Vance walked her to the door and waved as she departed. He appreciated that she was worried for him but wasn’t about to stop caring for the woman because of who may think Kendria was theirs. He closed the door and turned to see Kendria standing across the way from him. His shirt covered her body to mid-thigh.
The uncertain expression in her eyes threw him for a moment. Then, as quick as he’d seen it, she blinked, leaving only desire in her gaze as she neared him.
“I missed you in the shower,” she said, spreading her hands over his chest.
“Missed joining you. Vicki stopped by.”
Another flash of the indescribable emotion. Her nails raked along his skin, shoving all thoughts of Deputy Boshay from his mind. Kendria gave him a temptress smile as she dropped to her knees and drew down his sweats.
“Kendria,” he ground out her name on a long breath.
“Shh. Didn’t bring it to me in the shower, I get to enjoy it now.” Her breath teased the head of his cock seconds before she took him in her mouth.
The slickness of her mouth had him groaning. “Fuck,” he uttered.
She swiped her tongue along the underside of the crown before she bobbed her head, dragging along the shaft, drawing him in deep. Up and down, she moved, alternating the pressure on his cock as she fondled his balls with one of her hands.
He dropped his head back to the door, hands sinking into her curls. He tightened his grip and began pumping his hips, going until he hit the back of her throat. She remained there, taking what he demanded, her moans adding to his own pleasure. Her right hand clutched his thigh, nails biting as he fucked her face.
Tearing open his eyes, he stared down at her. She watched him, eyes full of desire and lust. Asking for more. Seeing his dick slip between her lips did something to him. She looked so fucking hot pleasuring him, and he wanted more. Wanted to be buried deep inside her pussy as he came. Wanted that velvet heat around him, gripping and milking him. His balls tightened, and he knew he was ready to come.
When he went to pull out, she narrowed her eyes at him, her grunt of disapproval vibrating along his length, and drew harder on him. Adding her hand to the base of his shaft, she pumped him while she continued to suck on the head. He couldn’t hold himself anymore and shot his load in her mouth with a low roar. Her gaze never wavered as she knelt there, taking all his seed. Only when he finished coming did she release him, slowly.
She sat back on her heels and dragged her tongue along her lips. As she stood, her hand found his length and began stroking him. “Fuck me, Vance.”
He didn’t want to acknowledge the weakness in his legs or the way his hands in her hair shook. “All night long, kitten.” He drew her closer and laid his claim to her lips as he turned them so her back was against the door.
It was a long night, full of sex. Hard. Slow. Fast. Gentle. When they finally collapsed into bed, he’d barely had anything left to get them there and cover them with the blanket. He tucked her close and shut his eyes, nose buried in her soft curls.
He woke around six and reached for her, ready to pick up where they’d left off. The bed was empty. He sat up with a yawn and gazed around his room. When he checked his entire house, his mood had fallen past the soles of his feet. Kendria was gone.
Chapter Six
Kendria scowled at her reflection in the elevator as she rode it up to the top floor of the building. Her fear had returned, and she wanted to push the lobby button and get the hell out of Dodge. The doors slipped silently open, and she stepped out onto the plush burgundy carpet.
Barely slowing to acknowledge the secretary at the desk, she walked to the large door at the other end.
“He’s in a meeting,” the woman with the pinched face said, pushing away from her desk, looking to intercept her.
“Get the fuck out of my way, Johanna.” Kendria glared. “I’m done seeing him only on his schedule. He’ll see me, but you may want to call the cops anyway.” Grasping the handles, she threw the doors open.
She blinked and took a few seconds to make sense of what she saw before her. Joe had a young woman bent over his desk, fucking her from behind, her red hair gathered in his fist as his bare ass pumped.
“We need to talk, Joe,” she snapped.
“Kendria? What are you doing here?” He shoved away from the woman on the desk before him. “This isn’t—”
“I don’t give a flying fuck who you fuck, Joe. We’re not a couple. Never were. I thought we were friends. But, I’m done now. You sent fucking goons after me because you want to control me. They tore up a shop, and I expect you to pay for the repairs. All of them plus interest for the inconvenience you caused.”
The woman slunk to sit behind the desk, but Kendria kept her gaze on Joe’s face. “You need to accept, once and for all, that I don’t belong to you, and just because you use brute force to get what you want doesn’t mean it will work for me. Or on me. You come after my friends again, and the entire world will know what you did to that other man in the parking garage as well as sending people after me because you have a stupid idea of ownership.”
“Who’s the fucker who called me?” He moved toward her, oblivious of his nudity.
“What’d he say?”
“Bastard claimed to be your husband.”
Warmth pushed through her. “He didn’t lie. It’s over between us, Joe. Not that there was anything to begin with. You aren’t a mobster; stop acting like one. Leave me alone. Go back to fucking all your interns and secretaries. I just hope they all know to get checked. Not to mention about your tendency to hit people.”
His gaze shuttered, and an angry mask settled over his body. “Don’t be spreading rumors that may get you hurt.” He stepped closer.
Tired of being scared by this man and running, she didn’t back down but took a step of her own. “Are you sure about this, Joe? You’re naked before me. Think very carefully before you do anything else. I have no qualms ripping off that thing swinging there. Or kneeing you and putting the heel of my stiletto into your balls.”
He paled, gulped, and moved back. “You’ve changed.”
“I’ve learned what a real relationship is like. Learned what it means to be truly cared for. And, it’s not what you were doing. Stay out of my life, Joe. Just send him the money. I know you know where he is, so do it. Don’t make me come back here.”
She wheeled around and walked out of the door, feeling freer and lighter than she had in years. Ever since Joe first walked in on one of her sets at a club. Johanna stood by the door, eyes wide as she looked between Kendria and the scene behind her.
“You may need to go in there and help him get up again, Johanna. I know you’ve fucked him, as well. He seems a bit shriveled right now, and I don’t think Red in there got her orgasm.” Tossing her head, Kendria continued on to the elevator and pressed the button. Stepping in, she sighed as she turned around and saw Joe and the two women talking b
efore the door closed.
“I don’t know why I waited so long to confront him.”
That’s not true. I didn’t think I deserved better, not until I met Vance.
She went to her apartment and took a long shower, needing to get the vision of a naked Joe out of her mind. Then, she napped and went down to the theatre to see how things were going.
This wasn’t her production, but she knew a good number of people who were going to be in it. Being with them made her feel better. Although in the back of her mind, she missed Vance. That didn’t change over the next two weeks as she settled back into her routine.
She missed him, and he occupied her thoughts. Once, as she woke from her nap, her fingers were between her thighs as his name poured from her lips. She shook her head at herself. “This is getting insane.”
She cleaned up and got ready for her night at the club. As she smoothed lotion over her body, she stared at the dress she would be wearing tonight. It was a new one, and she hoped it looked as good on her as it did on the hangar.
Beautifully made of satin, the gown was turquoise satin with black lace trim. The plunging neckline had French style eyelet lace along the cups and shoulders. The hemline was also topped with the same lace over soft tulle. The formal silhouette made it perfect for her to use at the club. She didn’t want to wear something that said she was out clubbing. Regardless, it made—or hopefully would make —her look sexy.
Once her body had dried, she shimmied into the dress and zipped it up. Staring at her reflection, she smiled.
“New dress, new songs, new club. This will be a good night for me.”
She walked to her shoes and slipped them on. The classic high-heeled platforms with peep toes were also black. They had small bows at the vamps, and she loved these shoes. To top off her outfit, she reached into her jewelry box and withdrew a silver necklace with a solid heart pendant that accompanied some diamonds on her rings.
A final glance at her appearance, and she gave herself a low smile. “Let’s go knock ‘em dead.” She grabbed her clutch and walked out of her place to the waiting limo.
At the club, she stood before her mirror and stared at her reflection. “Thank God for makeup,” she said.
The bags under her eyes were hidden. She’d not been sleeping well since leaving Cottonwood Falls. She was still jumpy and expecting Joe to show up once more.
“Five minutes, Kendria.”
“Thanks, Tom.” She sipped some of her water and closed her eyes, mentally going over the words to the songs she’d be performing tonight. As the clock ticked toward her show time, she grew more and more relaxed. She was in her element here. This or on stage, she knew her ability. Standing up to Joe may have been out of her normal, but she didn’t have the confidence when she wasn’t singing.
Her heartbeat calmed, as did her breathing.
“Ready to go on, doll?”
She turned to face her manager. “You got it.” Tom was an older gentleman who took great care of her. He beckoned to her, and she put her hand in his. Routine. He squeezed it and pressed a kiss to the back.
“Knock ‘em dead, doll.”
“You got it.” She kissed his cheek, made her way to the stage, and stepped out onto it.
Vance stood toward the back of the club and watched Kendria walk out onto the stage after the introduction. The crowd applauded and whistled for her. He rolled the bottle of beer in his fingers and ogled her.
He’d been searching for her since he woke to find her gone. This was her first appearance since she’d left Georgia, and he had come for it, and her. The club was dark and screamed of the older jazz clubs from times long past.
His breath caught when she stepped into view. The lights shimmered off her dress. The color beautiful combined with the hue of her skin. He drank some beer to keep himself from striding up to the stage and claiming her before all those gathered.
The man on the piano began playing, and Kendria began to sing. Silence reigned in the club aside from her pure alto vocals. He realized, then, how good she truly was. What he’d heard at the school had been a small sample. This, where she was in her element, blew his socks off.
When she finished her first song, the whistles and catcalls began. Without missing a beat, she flowed into the next. The waitresses who floated around delivering drinks weren’t that busy, for most people were entranced by Kendria’s performance.
His beer was gone when she completed her set and walked off the stage to a thunderous applause. He pushed from his spot and made his way to the bouncer who blocked the way to backstage.
“Sorry, man, no one’s allowed back here.”
“I’m here to see Kendria.” Vance put his hands in his pockets when he really longed to punch the man for slowing down his reunion with her.
“Aren’t you all. No way, man.”
“Tell her her husband is here.”
The man narrowed his gaze but talked to someone on the radio. “Husband?”
“That’s what I said.”
A moment passed before a response got back to him. “Name?”
“Vance Hendrickson.”
The man ran his eyes over him but stepped back. “Second door on the left. Her name’s on it.”
“Thank you.” Vance moved by him and up the hall toward the door. As he walked, a few people back there eyed him with confusion. He nodded at them and stopped before Kendria’s door. With a deep breath, he knocked.
She swung it open, her big eyes warm and welcoming. “Vance,” she said, immediately reaching up to put her arms around his neck. “I’ve missed you.”
He took possession of her mouth until her whimper tore through his haze. “Missed you, too,” he rasped when they separated.
She backed into the room, and he kicked the door shut behind them. Then, he set her away from him and crossed his arms. “Why’d you leave without a word, and how the hell did you if your car is still in my shop?” He shook his head. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous, kitten. And to hear you sing…” He stepped closer and kissed her again, his relief at finding her safe flowing strong through his veins.
She melted into him, her hands gripping the cotton of his t-shirt. “I’m sorry. I knew if you knew I planned to confront Joe, you’d try to stop me.”
He clenched his jaw. “You’re damn right I would have. That man is insane.”
“But, I did it, Vance. I had to find the strength to do that instead of continuing to run from him and allowing him to do what he wanted. So, I went to his office and did just that. I was confident because you showed me I deserved more.”
He ran his hands up and down her bare arms. “And?”
“I caught him fucking some redhead. I told him off and told him to leave me alone. As well as pay you for the damage he did.” She tipped her head back. “Did you get the money?”
“I did.” He kissed her again, unable to stop. “You walked in on him?”
“I did. Nothing I’d care to see again, but I faced my fear.”
“And, you didn’t call, why?”
She smoothed her hands over his chest. “I must have picked up the phone hundreds of times, Vance. But, I wasn’t sure where things were between us. I didn’t lie when I said I’ve fallen for you, and I wasn’t sure where I stood in your eyes.” She plucked at the hem of his shirt. “I’m sorry, I guess, I just handled that all wrong.”
“Five minutes, Kendria,” a man called through the door.
“Thanks, Tom.” She ran the back of her hand over his face. “I have to get back out there. Are you staying?”
“How’d you get out here?”
“Sarah took me to the airport.”
“Figured she had something to do with it. Yes, I’m staying. You and I have a few more things to talk about.”
Her smile melted his heart, and he knew he was in love. No more could be, may be, possibly. It was concrete.
She reached around him and opened the door. “I’m glad you’re staying. I’ll see you soon.” She slipp
ed by him and walked out, only to stick her head back in. “Husband.” With a grin and a wink, she vanished.
Vance stood with Tom as she sang the rest of her songs. He waited while she mingled and spoke to those who’d come out to see her. And, he rode back to her place with her in the limo.
“Is it always like that for you?” he asked, smoothing his hand over the silk of her dress. “And, just so you know, this dress is killing me here.”
“No, that was a small, intimate gathering.” She rested her hand on his cock and applied gentle pressure. “I’m glad. Here I was wondering if the dress did anything to you.”
“I’d show you just how much if you tell me how long of a drive we have.”
“Long enough,” she said, pulling her dress up and straddling him.
҉
Epilogue
Seven months later
“When are you coming home?” Vance asked as he watched Kendria walk around her apartment.
“What do you mean?” She looked at him over her shoulder.
He readjusted his pants as he watched her shimmy into the jeans that did amazing things to her ass. Her spaghetti top didn’t hide anything from his imagination, especially since he knew she had no bra on under it.
“Home. Georgia. Cottonwood Falls.”
She buttoned them and cocked her head to the side. “I just got back from France, Vance, and you are asking me when I’m going to Georgia?”
“Yes.”
She stubbed her toe and hopped around cursing. He smiled, and she scowled at him. “Not funny.”
“Kitten, you have such a sailor’s mouth, at times, but when you’re up at the mic or on stage, you have this air of innocence about you. I love these sides of you.”
She stopped and stared at him. “What did you say?”
He readjusted on her sofa. “I said I loved these sides of you.”
“You said you loved me.”
Vance beckoned to her. Her steps weren’t as confident as they had been as she neared. Drawing her down on his lap, he readjusted so she lay partially beneath him. He slid his arm around her back and pushed the strap of her shirt over her shoulder. He placed his other hand on her hip.
