Mad About Her

by Serenity Snow

  Sabrina arched a brow at her. “I know McMasters was your lover,” Sabrina said evenly. “I want this to be an honest story, Chloe.”

  “It is,” she said quickly. “I swear. It’s objective. I have interviews from her staff, and her assistant promised me pictures from yesterday’s shoot—”

  “You sat in on a shoot?”

  “Yes. It wasn’t planned, and I talked to the models and the company’s advertising rep Veda Price.”

  “Veda Price?” Sabrina demanded. “I can’t believe this! Her company is great. They have an eye on women’s fashion that’s awesome. Their line for the plus-size woman is going to take them to the top of the fashion world.”

  “I guess,” she said with a shrug and then smiled as she recalled the lingerie. “The lingerie is hot.”

  “Hmm.” Sabrina touched a finger to her chin and gave Chloe a curious look. “Saw something you liked?” she teased. “Having a model girlfriend could be interesting.”

  Chloe laughed. “Darice did a job great on the set and the models were fabulous, but no,” she said. “I got back together with Darice.”

  Sabrina studied her for a moment and then nodded. “Okay, just make sure the piece is stellar. I don’t want this to be a skewed tribute to your girlfriend.”

  “It’s not. I promise. I already have part of it done.”

  “Hard copy?” Sabrina asked.

  “Yes.” She turned to the folder on her desk and pulled the pages free. She handed them over feeling more than proud of her work so far. Chloe hadn’t allowed any prejudice to color her work ever and now wasn’t an exception.

  She waited as Sabrina read through watching her face for a reaction and saw none. Her computer chimed discreetly announcing she had mail, so she opened it. The first two messages were more or less nothing. The third came with an attachment that made her frown. She clicked on the message even though she didn’t recognize the sender.

  Chloe,

  You think you have Darice wrapped. Think again.

  This is good so far,” Sabrina said jerking her attention back to her even as Chloe went cold inside.

  Darice couldn’t have lied to her, played her so well. Could she?

  Chloe forced a smile hoping it looked natural. “I told you. No favoritism.”

  “Good. Keep it up,” Sabrina said. “We’ll talk soon.” She got to her feet and headed for the door. “Selena, you’re late. Is everything okay?”

  As they talked quietly, Chloe opened the video and popped in a pair of headphones to listen as she watched it. The woman sitting on the bed, their bed—the air went out of her lungs. The woman was gorgeous with pale skin and luminous eyes that glowed with the pleasure the woman at her feet was giving her.

  The dark head moved, hands holding slim thighs down.

  The woman moaned. “Oh, Darice. Eat my pussy. I bet your girlfriend doesn’t taste this good.”

  “Oh, my god.” She breathed roughly as she watched the video of Darice giving the woman oral and using her fingers to fuck her to orgasm.

  “Porn at work? You are so bad,” Selena purred from in front of her desk.

  Chloe looked up guiltily and jerked the headphones from her ear. “I-er-hey, Selena.”

  Selena giggled and quickly rounded her desk. “You are so busted,” she exclaimed.

  Chloe fumbled to close the window, but Selena was there first. “She’s hot. Who’s the other woman?” Selena asked. “They’re the reason you couldn’t come over last night?”

  Selena didn’t recognize Darice?

  Okay, so maybe it wasn’t her. It was just someone’s idea of a sick joke.

  “Uh, actually, its—someone sent it to me,” Chloe said willing herself to push away that doubt that tore at her heart.

  “Hmm. Why? What porn site are they advertising?”

  “I don’t know,” she said and closed the file. She would not bring this up to Darice.

  Trust.

  Her stomach tightened as fear coursed through her. She trusted Darice.

  “I have something to finish up,” Chloe said.

  “I bet. Need to make a trip to the ladies room?” Selena teased.

  “Oh please,” she muttered and gave Selena stare of mock disdain. “As if that did anything for me.”

  Selena laughed. “You do look a little pale.” She shook her head and went to her desk.

  ****

  She could do this, Chloe thought as she smiled at Darice that afternoon. Darice had not cheated on her.

  “Why didn’t you wait for me in your office?” Darice asked with a cursory glance around the reception area.

  “I wanted to save you the trip,” Chloe said softly as fear leaked into her mind making her tense.

  Darice frowned and stroked Chloe’s cheek before giving her a soft kiss. “Okay, then, let’s go. This shouldn’t take too long and then we can grab a quick lunch.”

  “I’m up for lunch,” Chloe admitted as Darice took her hand and led her out to the parking lot.

  “Is everything okay?” Darice asked. Seems a little like something’s on your mind.” She unlocked the door of her car but didn’t pull the door open yet.

  Chloe found it hard to meet her gaze, but did. “No.” She shook her head. “Nothing, but this place you’re going to show me.” She beamed. “I can’t wait to see it.” That much was true and so was her suspicion.

  Maybe Darice was right. She should have thought this over before getting back together. Would she ever be able to trust her again?

  Chapter Twelve

  Darice hadn’t missed that fear in Chloe’s eyes, and her gut had tightened. Had Marie sent her something?

  She would beat her to death if she had done anything to fuck this up for her. Chloe was her heartbeat, and she wouldn’t let a slut like Marie take her chance at happiness from her now that she’d decided to grab on with everything she had.

  She pulled up to the curb of the house, and the realtor’s car was already in the driveway to her delight. Darice couldn’t wait for Chloe to see the house. The cute little Craftsman style had been completely renovated but the hardwood floors were original. They’d done two additions but kept them true to the house’s style.

  She leaped out after cutting off the engine. This could be their forever home even if they had two children. There was plenty of room to entertain too since they didn’t have scores of friends.

  She pulled the door open for Chloe and patiently waited for her to climb out before taking her hand. “Be honest okay?”

  “It looks good from the outside,” Chloe said, her gaze sliding over the front yard and the little porch shaded by bushes at the side of the house. “Could use a little curb appeal though.”

  “That’s nothing. You can pick out all the flowers you like,” Darice commented leading her up to the porch.

  The front door opened before she could reply. A tall male stood framed there for a moment. His gaze went from one to the other and back to Darice. “Hello, Ms. McMasters,” he said giving them a brief smile.

  “Mr. Butcher this is my girlfriend, Chloe,” Darice said.

  “Chloe.” He gave her a nod. “You wanted to see the house again? Does that mean you’re thinking of making an offer?” He ignored Chloe and Darice told herself not to react. Maybe he was one of those jerks who thought there was something wrong with being gay.

  “If Chloe likes it, yeah, if not then we’re looking at more houses.”

  He chuckled. “I swear we’ve already seen a month of houses in the last three weeks.” He looked at Chloe then. “Why didn’t you come the first time? You could have saved me from this.”

  “We just got back together,” Darice said. “So, let’s see it.”

  He showed them the house and Darice could tell Chloe loved it especially the master with its two walk-in closets and en suite. The deck-like patio and the swimming pool held a lot of sway too, she was certain. After all, that yard was big enough for a little garden for Chloe.

  “So, what do yo
u think?” Darice asked Chloe.

  “It’s beautiful. You should get it.”

  Darice laughed. “I guess I’m making a bid, Mr. Butcher.”

  “I’ll get the paperwork ready and call that friend of mine about the home inspection,” he said with a congenial smile. “I’ll call you later?”

  “Please.”

  They left the house and Darice drove them to a nearby drive-in for lunch.

  “I can see changing the carpet in the master and all the bedrooms,” Chloe said. “But everything is great. Well, the appliances aren’t my style but the kitchen is so open and that backyard. Darice we could put a patio table out there and have a garden.” She smiled widely. “I would love that house.”

  Darice smiled and put a hand on Chloe’s thigh. “But?”

  “No buts,” she said softly.

  “Yes there is,” Darice said. “Talk to me, Coe. What did I do?”

  Chloe shook her head and opened her mouth but stopped when the carhop brought their meal. Darice paid and passed Chloe a drink and a bag.

  Chloe took a sip of the shake and sighed. “This is heaven.”

  “You always say that,” Darice said not pushing while they enjoyed their meal. When they had finished she still didn’t say anything, deciding Chloe was having second thoughts.

  She was still going to buy the house. She could turn one of the bedrooms into a darkroom.

  “I understand,” Darice said when she walked Chloe into the reception area at Feminine Confidence Magazine. “You’ve changed your mind.”

  Chloe didn’t meet her gaze right away. When she did, her gaze was hesitant. “I got a video in my email this morning.”

  “What is it?” Darice demanded. “Let me see it.”

  “Darice, it’s not that I don’t trust you—”

  “You don’t,” Darice said softly. Hurt was a cutting blade across her heart. “Was there a note?”

  “Yes.” She nodded.

  “Show me,” Darice said. “Or did you get rid of it?”

  “I still have it, but I—”

  “Show me, Chloe,” she ordered in a low hard tone. “I deserve that much before you throw me away again.”

  Chloe glared at her and then turned and stomped to the elevator. They were silent as they rode up. “It’s not that simple, Darice and you know it,” she said when they got off the elevator.

  “It’s never going to be, but if you don’t share things with me how can we work them out?”

  Chloe strode to her office and tossed her purse on the desk as she rounded it. She turned on her laptop and brought up the letter. Darice read it over her shoulder with a hand on Chloe’s waist. Her fingers tightened.

  “That bitch,” she muttered. “Show me the video.”

  Chloe brought it up and walked away as Darice watched.

  “It’s our bedroom, Darice. It’s the way the bed looked when I got home that evening.”

  “Except my clothes were on the floor not the bed,” Darice told her coldly. “This never happened and that’s not even me, but I guess you were so wrapped up in the fact that I’d lied—”

  “I wasn’t,” Chloe snapped.

  “Don’t raise your voice to me, Chloe,” Darice said icily. “I would never hurt you by having someone in our bed.”

  “But you did sleep with her?” she demanded raggedly.

  “No, sweetheart. I never touched her. I told you that. Now, I have to get back to work. I don’t want to be late tonight.” She pulled her phone from its holster at her hip and removed the SD card. “I want a copy of this.”

  “Why?”

  “Chloe, you have to trust me or we aren’t going to make it,” Darice told her. “We’ll talk about this later, okay? I don’t want all our business all over your office.”

  Chloe started to speak but Darice gave her a warning look that stopped her. Darice copied the video.

  “I’ll see you tonight,” Darice said and cupped Chloe’s face before kissing her softly.

  Chloe sighed. “Don’t be late, okay?”

  “I won’t.” Darice kissed her again and then headed out the door.

  ****

  Chloe sat down at her desk shoulders tight with tension. She loved Darice, but she wasn’t going to be her fool.

  She covered her face with her hands as tears swelled inside her. Her stomach twisted and nausea assailed her.

  “Hey. I heard you guys arguing,” Selena said and Chloe grimaced.

  She jerked her hands away and met Selena’s gaze. “How much?”

  “You showed her the video? You think she’s cheating on you?”

  She nodded grimly. “Yeah.” Her tone was thick with the tears she wouldn’t cry here. She didn’t want anyone to witness the meltdown she knew was coming.

  “You know I don’t really go for that interracial thing,” Selena murmured coming to put a hand on Chloe’s shoulder. “Don’t let bullshit tear you apart. Just dump her and be done with it or give her just enough rope to hang herself.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Darice was no longer fuming by the time evening rolled around. She understood that she’d left herself open to Chloe’s suspicion by even talking to Marie after the night Marie came onto her.

  She should have broken off all contact with Marie and accepted the contract as a loss. She had her ambition to blame as well as her desire to never lose.

  Her father and her uncle to a lesser degree had taken so much power from her as a child that she saw losing or quitting on someone else’s terms as unacceptable. It had served her well for the most part, but it could very well have cost her the love of her life.

  However, she’d made a few plans to show Marie just what she thought of what she’d done today. Allowing her to get away with messing with Chloe was intolerable.

  Darice stepped into the reception area with a half smile as she headed for home. Part of that was due to the fact that she would be seeing Chloe and part was due to the plans taking shape for Marie. She spied Angeline still at the reception desk. Her pretty face was pulled into lines of consternation as she spoke quietly to Marie.

  Darice went cold inside. Her jaw clenched.

  “There you are.” Marie headed toward her leaving Angeline to glare at Marie’s back. “Your receptionist said you’d left.”

  “I am leaving,” Darice said coldly. “What do you want?”

  “Well—” Marie moved closer to her and slid her hand up Darice’s arm. “I thought we could have dinner and talk things over. I got your message.”

  She had called Marie about the video. She arched a brow at the attractive woman clothed in too much perfume as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Did you send Chloe that video?” Darice asked flatly.

  She shrugged. “I had that made the first time you turned me down. Getting into your apartment wasn’t that hard,” she said and laughed. “The security was awful, and no one really noticed.”

  “You are so pathetic,” Darice muttered. “I wouldn’t touch you if you were the last piece of ass on earth because I’d never be that hard up.”

  Marie drew back to slap her and Darice caught her wrist. “Before the week is out, I’ll have your girlfriend so pissed off with you she’ll never speak to you again,” Marie snapped.

  Darice glared at her, tightening her grip on Marie’s wrist. “Leave her out of this, Marie.”

  “I’m not going to leave her out it because she’s a part of it, and no one stands in my way, Darice, do you understand?” Marie tried to jerk free but Darice tightened her grip. “You’re hurting me,” Marie snapped loudly.

  “I’m going to do more than that if you don’t leave Chloe alone,” she retorted in a low tone and then released Marie. “Now, get the fuck out and stay away from me.”

  Marie looked around to find three employees watching them intently. “You’re going to pay for this, Darice.”

  “You’ll pay more,” Darice murmured keeping her voice low and then going to open the door. “Get out or I’ll thr
ow you out. Better yet I’ll just kill you.” She heard the hardness in her own tone, felt the nothingness inside of her that had allowed her to kill without feeling a thing.

  She had to grip her pants leg to keep from jerking Marie back as the other woman quickly exited.

  Zyra joined Darice at the door moments later. “What the hell? Five of us just heard you threaten to kill her. Are you crazy?”

  “I am going to kill that simpering whore if she keeps fucking with Chloe,” she gritted out. “I don’t care if she plays her games with me.”

  “Wait. What did she do to Chloe?” Zyra demanded and pushed open the door and pulled Darice out of it.

  “She was in our apartment,” she snarled and waved a hand in the air. “She made a video on our bed, and Chloe thinks I fucked Marie there.”

  “Oh, my god,” Zyra exclaimed. “Look, I’m going to call Simone,” Zyra said. “I want you guys to stay with us. The apartment could be bugged. Cameras could be everywhere.”

  “We can’t do that.” Darice sighed roughly and ran a hand over her hair.

  “You can.” Zyra contradicted her. “She’s an alpha female that you just humiliated in front of a crowd. There’s no telling what she’ll do now.”

  Darice gritted her teeth. She preferred going head-to-head with other alphas. That made whatever she had to do to them easier. And this was a game Marie would lose one way or another.

  “Okay. I’ll talk to Chloe.”

  Zyra grabbed Darice’s arm. “Order her to do this if you have to,” she warned softly. “I’ll help you bury a body or alibi you, but don’t let it come to that.”

  She had left that life of violence behind. She didn’t want it to touch Chloe now.

  “One can only hope,” she said tonelessly and hurried out into the night. She meant every word she’d said. She wasn’t going to let Marie ruin her life.

  ****

  Chloe climbed out of her car in the parking lot of their apartment. Then, she bent into the back seat to grab her laptop case and was shoved down face first into the seat. She gasped and tried to scream but a hard hand pressed against her head sending her face into the cloth of seat.