by Anna Black
Tony rushed to her side to comfort her. “Hey hey hey, calm down, Madi. Relax, baby.”
She jumped up and started searching the dimly lit room for her panties. “Tony, this is not who I am. My mother told me to be careful, but did I listen? No! I do not mess with other women’s husbands or men, as a matter of fact, and what we did—” she cried gathering her belongings.
“Okay, you’re right. We went too far. It’s just after seeing you, Madi, I started thinking about you nonstop. I’m sorry. We won’t do this again.”
“You’re damn right things went too far and, we will never do this shit again,” she spat. She dressed as quickly as she could and hurried out.
She got into her Suburban and headed home, feeling like shit. She slept on the sofa in the den. It was one in the morning. No way was she going to chance her mother coming in to talk to her if she went upstairs to her bedroom. She couldn’t lie to her mother’s face and say she and Tony had just “talked.”
She felt awful. Even though she was no longer close to God, she prayed and asked him to forgive her. She had stopped talking to him after he took her men away, but that night, she needed his mercy, because she knew she was wrong.
Tony came over a couple of days later for Sunday dinner, and as soon as he left, her mother said, “I don told you about that damn Tony, Madison. You play with fire, and you will get burned.”
“Momma, I’m not sleeping with Tony,” Madison defended.
“Madison Grace, stand in my face and tell me another lie and I will slap you to the floor.”
“Okay, Momma, I’m sorry. I did the other night. And it will never happen again.”
“Somehow, I don’t believe that. I saw the way you two carried on at the dinner table. I saw the lust in both of your eyes. In my day, many’ah women fought over men, but I’ve never respected one that opened wide for one that had a wife. Now, I’d give them gals a run for their money for a single stud, but I’ve never wanted to share anything in my life, especially no man. Don’t let Tony reel you in, Madison,” Martha said and brushed Madison’s hair behind her ear. “As your friend, I don’t want to see you hurt, and as your mother, I don’t want to see you hurt.”
“I know, Mother, and I have this thing with Tony under control.”
Or so she thought.
The night she moved into her house, he was inside of her again. He and a few of his friends helped her move into her new place, and after everyone else left, he stayed behind. She tried to resist but gave in again and not proud of it, she knew she had become Tony’s mistress.
Chapter Five
“Oh my God!” Deena gasped.
“What?” Gina asked.
Deena nodded toward her brother-in-law Chase and his companion. “This boy is a piece of work. Where is the rest of his date’s dress?”
Tasha’s eyes widened. “Oh, hell naw. Let me find Damon right now. They have to do something about him. This is an elegant affair, and Chase will not embarrass this family.” With Gina and Deena in tow, she stormed off to find her husband. “Go and get your brother,” she said when they found him. “That ho he has on his damn arm just strolled up in here looking like she belongs on a corner. We worked too hard to put this tasteful night together, Damon.”
Damon turned to see what his wife was talking about. “Aaaaw, Tash, it’s not all that bad.”
She scowled. “Damon.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll go and talk to him.” He hurried over to Chase and tapped his shoulder. Chase turned and smiled when he saw his brother. “Hey, bro, you know Sarah, right? Sarah, you remember my brother, Damon.”
“Hey, Damon,” she said. Her shrill voice drawled the words. Damon smiled at her; then he pulled at Chase’s arm. “Hi. Would you excuse us for a sec?”
“Go ’head, I’m ready to get my drank on,” she cheered and then bopped over to a server holding a tray of champagne.
“Chase, seriously? You bring that up in here?”
“I know. I told her something sexy but elegant.”
“And when you saw that dress two inches below her pussy, you should have left that trick on her corner.”
“Chill on that, Damon. I asked her to come, and I couldn’t just tell her she was suddenly uninvited.”
“Chase, do you really want Mother to see her in that dress?”
Chase took another look at Sarah and the bottom of her ass cheeks peeking from under her dress. He had to admit that his big brother was right. It was more than trashy. She looked like a working girl for real. “Okay, I got you. I’ll take her home.”
“Now,” Damon demanded.
“Okay, bro. Damn, I’ll take her now.”
Lance and Travis hurried over, both with identical scowls on their faces. “Oh hell,” Lance said.
“Oh hell is right,” Damon said. “I just told him to get her ass out of here.”
“What in the hell was he thinking?” Travis asked as they watched their baby brother practically drag his date out of the ballroom.
“We have to do something about him,” Lance said. “He’s going to end up being killed by one of these crazy women or contracting something a shot can’t cure. Not to mention tarnishing our family’s name. The Storms get married; we don’t keep company with whores. Chase is almost thirty-four. It’s time for him to grow the hell up and start acting like the valor men of this family. I mean, we’ve all played the field, but Chase has outplayed us all, and we need to do something about him before he gets any worse.”
“Yes, indeed, and tonight we talk to him,” Damon added.
“And say what?” Travis inquired. “It’s going to have to be a sweet deal for him to listen to us. We’ve been preaching the same damn sermon for years, and he hasn’t changed, and if there’s something worse, I’d hate to see it.”
“How much are you willing to gamble to tame this young beast?” Lance asked.
Damon raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“What if we challenge him to a little wager? Like, let’s say if he stays with one woman and gets to know her for at least six months, we’ll each give him a mil?”
Travis agreed first. “One million for six months? I’m in. No way he’d last that long,” he said shaking his head.
“Hell, I’d offer two million just to see him settle down and act like Storm blood is running through his veins,” Damon said. “Do you know he showed up at my house with three women the other night? Asking if he could use my hot tub.”
“What?” Travis frowned. “I know Tasha was heated.”
“Heated is an understatement, bro. She was on fire. Cussed his ass out and told him to get the hell away from our front door with that bullshit.”
Lance shook his head. “Why, when he has a hot tub of his own?”
“I know, but Chase don’t be wanting these crazy women to know where he lives. All this using our model homes for his sexcapades has to stop, Lance. I’m serious. I told Deena the other day not to give him that list or another key ever again.”
“You’re right,” Lance said. “I’m in for a mil. He has to calm down and settle down. He’s running through his money like water, and it’s time he grew the hell up. The right woman will make that happen. And we’re going to find her for him.” He pointed at a curvaceous, plump woman in a red dress. “Her.”
Travis and Damon looked in her direction.
“Her, right there?” Damon asked in disbelief. “Chase is not going to be interested in someone like her.”
“Yes, her,” Lance confirmed.
“Man, are you crazy? Do you know who that is? Deena would have a heart attack, and Chase would laugh his ass off,” Travis said.
“Deena?” Lance tilted his head.
“That’s Madison, her friend from high school who lost her husband and kids a few years ago.”
“Yes. That’s Madison Atkins-Morgan, Martha Atkins’s daughter,” Lance said. “She bought a house not too long ago from us, and regardless of what Deena or Chase may say, I say she’s
the one.”
“I say good luck with that. My wife is going to freak out, and Chase is not going to go for her.”
“If he wants the money, he will. Chase is not going to turn down $3 million—money that he doesn’t have to work for handed to him on a platter. Oh, he’ll bite. I promise he’ll do it for the money.”
Travis looked nervous. “And my wife?”
“Listen, brothers,” Lance said, “I understand your concerns, but I’m sure she’s the one. She’d whip Chase into a real man. He needs a real, mature, grown-ass woman, and she’s it. This is between us. We don’t have to tell anyone about the offer. And if Madison can tame him, it will be a win-win. Deena wants him to settle down just as much as we all do,” said Lance.
Damon shrugged but then agreed. “Count me in.”
They continued to discuss their plan of approach while they waited for Chase to return. As soon as he walked back into the ballroom, they rushed over to him and escorted him to a smaller, empty room.
“What is this, some type of intervention?” Chase grinned devilishly.
Lance spoke first. “You can say that.”
“Well, save your breath, because I love my life, and I’m not about to change how I live because you three don’t agree.”
“What if there was a reward involved?” Travis rubbed his hands together, nodding.
“A reward?” Chase cocked an eyebrow. “I’m listening.”
Damon’s baritone voice boomed in the empty room. “We’ve discussed it, and we all agree that it’s time for you to settle down and find a wife. You can’t find a good girl if you keep bed hopping, so each of us is willing to give you a million dollars apiece to date one woman for six months. That will give you time to get to know, and possibly even get close to, her.”
“Man, you guys are kidding me, right?” Chase laughed out loud and looked at his brothers like he was waiting for someone to laugh with him.
Travis took the floor. “No, li’l bro, we are dead serious. One million each, for six months.”
Realizing that they were dead serious, Chase quickly agreed. “That’s a bet,” Chase said. He shook their hands one at a time. When he got to Lance, the eldest Storm didn’t let go right way.
“Not so fast there, little brother, there are two tiny details,” Lance added.
A frown immediately took over Chase’s face. “Oh shit, here we go. I knew this deal was too sweet to be true.”
“No, the offer is real. But we have to pick her, and no smashing on the side.”
“Oh, hell no!” Chase shouted. “Absolutely not. Hell no. No deal!” he disputed.
“That’s the deal, Chase,” Damon said. “We have your best interest at heart, so you know we are not going to toss you just anybody. And if you are still fucking around with other women, what would be the point of this? We want you to settle down, so we’re going to choose someone that we think will be good for you.”
Chase settled down after hearing Damon out. “I don’t know. I mean, I know I’m capable of getting to know the right woman, but I want her to be gorgeous. And no sidepiece? What if she’s holding out for marriage or some shit like that? My dick can’t bear the thought of no pussy for six months, man; come on now. That’s being unrealistic.”
“She’ll be gorgeous, and I believe she’ll be good enough to make you wait if you have to. Or, she just might be willing. Those are tiny details. Besides, Chase, according to your reputation and track record, you’re charming enough,” Travis winked. “I’m sure you’d be hard for her to resist.”
“Chase, you have to turn over a new leaf and try something new for a change if you want a wife and kids,” Lance said. “All of this whoring around you’re doing is not a good look. We settled down long before we were your age. And the way you’re running through women, you’re going to miss the opportunity to find a good one while you’re young enough to enjoy her, have kids, and pass on your legacy.”
“Okay okay okay. You don’t have to lay it on so thick. It’s a deal, but she’d better not be a troll, I swear.”
“Man, we’d never do that,” Travis said. “She’d be the mother of our nieces and nephews.”
“So, do we have a solid deal?” Damon asked. “You can’t back out, and you have to be a man of your word, Chase Storm.”
“It’s solid.” Chase shook all three of his brothers’ hands again, and they headed back to the party.
Satisfied that they had convinced Chase to agree to their terms, the Storm men worked out the plan for Chase to be introduced to Madison. Since Travis knew her, and Lance had met her at closing, Damon, who was the smoothest, was elected to be the wingman.
“Madison, right?” he said, approaching her.
“Yes,” Madison turned.
“I’m Damon, Damon Storm. I heard you were the one to get that gorgeous house by the lake in our newest development.”
“Yes, that was me.”
“Well, congratulations. I know you’ll love it.”
She smiled, and Damon noted how beautiful she was.
“Yes, I do love it. Every morning before I head out to work, I sit out back and enjoy my morning coffee.”
“I bet. You’re Deena’s friend, right?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m sorry about the loss of your family. I can imagine that was tough to go through.”
“Yes, my husband and boys passed away a few years ago. It was tough at first, but I’m better now.”
“That’s good. And I’m glad you are doing better now.”
“I am.” Madison gave him another smile.
Damon smiled back at her. “Well, a woman as beautiful as you are won’t stay single for long.”
“So I’ve heard, but I’m starting not to believe it.”
“You know, I have someone I’d like to introduce you to. Do you mind?”
“No, not at all.”
“Come with me.” He walked her over to where Chase stood. The youngest Storm’s eyes widened when he laid eyes on her.
“This is my brother, Chase. Chase, this is Madison. She’s the one who snatched up the lake property in our new development.” Damon could see the lack of interest, but they had a solid deal. His baby brother had no choice.
Chase extended his hand politely. “Nice to meet you, Madison.”
“Likewise,” Madison smiled.
“Well, I’ll leave you two to chat,” Damon said and hurried off.
* * *
“Why in the hell is Chase grinning in Madison’s face so damn hard?” Deena said between clenched teeth. She was about to march over and tell Chase to get the hell away from her friend, but Travis grabbed her arm.
“Now, baby, they’re just talking. And they are grown, so don’t march over like you’re their mother.”
“You’re right.” She let out a deep breath. “I don’t know what that Chase is up to, but Madison is one of the good ones. She’s been living under a rock for the past few years, and I’m sure she has no idea that he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
“And you’re not going to tell her, either.”
“Hell if I’m not. Baby, I love your brother, but he’s a dog, and I can’t stand back and watch him play with her. You know she’s not his type. I’ve never seen Chase with, let alone date, a girl who wears double digit-sized clothing.”
“Well, this may be just what he needs, so let grown folks be grown. Madison is a smart woman, baby, so can you please promise me you won’t meddle?”
She hesitated. “Baby, Chase is a do—” Travis kissed her, cutting off her words. “No meddling.” He kissed her again, this time on the nose.
“Baby, she’s my friend. She’s been through enough as it is.”
“Deena, Deena, darling. They’re only chatting, baby. You have no reason to warn her.”
“Okay okay okay, I’ll stay out of it. But if your brother is up to no good or if he hurts her or-or-or—I’m going to gut him like a fish,
is all I’m saying.”
Travis laughed and pulled his wife close, thinking he’d beat her to it.
Chapter Six
The older Storm brothers stood outside and watched Chase walk Madison to her car. The men had kept their wives from interrupting the couple that night, and they were surprised that Chase hadn’t headed for the hills. They watched him give Madison a friendly hug, and he even closed her door after she got in. He waved as she drove off, and the brothers were a little impressed.
Chase approached the group. “You guys are so full of shit. You know damn well I don’t date big girls.”
His brothers laughed.
“She is beautiful, and she carries her weight well. You have to admit that,” Damon said.
“You can handle her, can’t you?” Lance joked.
“She can’t possibly be too much woman for a Storm man.” Damon and Travis joined him in laughter.
“You know what? Fuck all of y’all. In six months, after I have romanced her and gotten to know her, I’m going to let her down easy with the ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ line; then I want my money. All of it.”
Damon chuckled. “You’ll get your money, but you’d better play by the rules. You have to date her, Chase. Meaning introduce her to Momma and Daddy, bring her to get-togethers. Actually date her, or else all bets are off.”
“I bet you once you get a chance to be between them warm thighs of hers, your take on plus-sized women will change,” Lance teased.
“You know it,” Travis agreed. He, Lance, and Damon high-fived.
“Whatever,” Chase barked. “I’m going home.”
“Alone, right? If we catch you smashing and dipping, no deal,” Damon reminded him.
“Yes, alone. I know the fucking rules,” Chase yelled over his shoulder.
* * *
Chase headed home, cussing and fussing at himself. He hated that he had made a deal such as he did with his brothers because he couldn’t go back on his word. It wasn’t about the money so much, because he had plenty of money; he just wanted to be an honorable man about his decision to accept the bet. They already didn’t have any respect for him or see him as a responsible man, so if he caved, they would never in a million years let him live it down. And the chance of them ever respecting him would be slim to none.