Twisted Obsessions (SIN CITY HEAT SERIES Book 2)

by K, S

  “Marcus, this ain't funny. We had two false alarms already. The doctor says if Jerra doesn’t have the baby by the end of the week, they’ll induce labor. You think I don’t have a reason to be stressed?!” Darrell raised the bottle and finished off the beer.

  “Marcus, is that you?” The two men turned in the direction of the soft voice and watched as Jerra waddled in. One hand rubbed the lower part of her back while the other held the phone to her ear.

  Marcus smiled as he took in the pretty picture she made. Sometimes, pregnancy could be unkind to a woman, but Jerra didn’t have that problem. Already a beautiful woman, she was even more so now, but Marcus noticed right away Darrell was right. She seemed miserable as hell.

  “Hey baby girl, how are you?” Marcus walked over and gave her a kiss and a hug. “You about ready to drop that load?”

  Jerra playfully punched him on the shoulder. “That’s not funny, brother-in-law! Not one bit! Keep it up and I‘m gonna make your woman here get on your ass.” Jerra nodded to the phone. “She’ll straighten you out.”

  Marcus frowned. “Who is that? Aleesha?”

  Jerra rolled her eyes. “Do you have another woman other than my best friend?”

  “I’ve been trying to reach her for the last three hours. I was beginning to worry. Can I talk to her for a minute?”

  “Sure.” Jerra handed him the phone before carefully sitting down at the kitchen table and turning to Darrell. “Baby, will you bring me a bowl of ice cream with pickles on the side? Oh, and pour a little pickle juice over the ice cream, please.”

  Darrell and Marcus looked at her as if she’d lost her mind, but both men knew better than to comment. Shuddering, Marcus put the phone to his ear and walked a few feet away.

  “Aleesha?”

  “Heyyy baby! How are you??”

  Marcus frowned. “I’m fine,” he slowly drawled. “I called you but kept getting your voice mail. I was beginning to worry, baby.”

  “I’m sorry, I should’ve called you. The battery in my cell phone went dead and I’m not at home.”

  Marcus’ eyebrows rose as he heard the loud voices and music in the background. “Apparently not.”

  “Yeah, we finally finished the audit today and things came out perfectly. A few of us decided to go out and celebrate after work for happy hour, and happy hour turned into a few hours of being happy.’’ Leesh laughed at her own joke. She definitely was not feeling any pain at the moment.

  “How much have you had to drink?” A small smile played around Marcus’ lips.

  “Ummm, you don’t wanna know.” Again Aleesha burst out laughing because she thought that was so funny. “But don’t worry, we have a designated driver. How are you, honey? I miss you.”

  Before Marcus could respond, he heard a deep male voice in the background speaking to Aleesha. “Come on baby, you promised me another dance, with your lil fine Nia Long lookin’ self.”

  All signs of amusement left Marcus’ face. “Who is that?” He heard Aleesha saying something to the man, but her voice sounded muffled as if she’d placed her hand over the phone. “Aleesha….”

  “Yes. I’m here baby. I’m sorry. What were we talking about?”

  “We were talking about who’s calling you baby and waiting on another dance.” By this time Marcus had raised his voice, causing Jerra and Darrell to look at each other then over to him.

  Aleesha became a little bit more alert when she heard the anger in Marcus’ tone. “That was no one, some jerk. We were all actually dancing as a group, and then he came over to join us. I told him I would dance with him later just to get him out of my face.”

  Marcus tried to keep his temper in check and waited a moment before he responded. “Aleesha, I’m here thinkin’ maybe you’re stranded on the side of the road somewhere.”

  “I told you the battery in my cell-”

  “You found a way to call Jerra, didn’t you? I was worried and you there having a good ole time drinking and dancing at a club? That’s some straight bullshit.”

  Aleesha knew he had a point, but she was a little tipsy and didn’t feel like listening to the lecture she felt coming on. “Oh, so now I can’t even go out? You act like I’m supposed to check in with you every hour on the hour? I don’t think so!”

  “I didn’t say you had to check in with me.” Marcus snapped his mouth closed and ran a hand over his face. “You know what? Forget it. Do you, baby. Here’s Jerra.”

  “Marcus….” Aleesha called his name but Marcus angrily walked over to Jerra and placed the phone on the table in front of her.

  “I’m outta here.” His voice was tense and controlled.

  “Yo, Marcus….” Darrell went after Marcus.

  When Jerra put the phone to her ear, her voice had a chastising edge to it. “Aleesha…you were dead wrong.”

  Darrell caught up with Marcus right before he opened the door. “Hey, wait. Man, what was that all about? Ya’ll having problems or something?”

  Marcus shook his head in disgust. “I don’t know. If you had asked me that question two weeks ago, hell even a month ago, I would’ve told you it’s all good but now - I don’t know what the hell is going on.”

  “You want to talk about it?”

  “Nah. Look, I’ll holla at you later, ai’ight?”

  In less than thirty minutes, Marcus was walking into First Down Sports Bar. He spied his friends at a large round table near the back and went over to join them. After shaking everybody’s hand, he determinedly pushed the conversation with Aleesha out of his mind. She wasn’t thinking about him so he'd be damned if sat here and worried about her all night.

  Marcus looked down at the caller ID when his cell phone rang. He didn’t recognize the number but saw that the area code was from Atlanta. Oh, so now she can fuckin’ use someone’s phone to call me? Whatever.

  He hit IGNORE and ordered a drink from the waitress. She flirted with him for a few seconds and suggestively asked him if there was anything else he needed. Marcus smiled and told her he’d think about it, but he knew he was not that pissed off to cheat on Aleesha.

  After a while, he began to get into the game they were watching on the huge plasma mounted on the wall and started talking shit when his team started winning. He was laughing and shaking his head when he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. Still grinning, he turned around and was surprised to see Melanie Blalock staring down at him.

  “Well, hello you,” she said.

  “Hello yourself. How are you?”

  “I’m good, just here with a couple of coworkers who took pity on me being the new girl in town not knowing anyone. It’s so crowded I didn’t see you until I came from the ladies room.”

  Marcus was aware that his friends had suddenly become very quiet at the table. Turning around, he saw they were all staring at Melanie. “Can I help y’all with somethin’?”

  They shook their head and continued to stare. Marcus glared at them then stood up. “You’ll have to excuse them. They’re not normally this rude…well, yeah, sometimes they are when it comes to a beautiful woman.”

  Melanie tilted her head to the side. “So you think I’m beautiful?” she asked with a small smile.

  Marcus knew exactly what he’d said. “I didn’t stutter, Dr. Blalock. Just stating the obvious.” Thoughts of Aleesha at the club spurred him on. “Can I buy you a drink?”

  Melanie’s smile widened as she nodded. Marcus stepped in front of her to lead the way to the bar. It was so crowded that he grabbed her hand to help her through the throng of people. Once they were at the bar, Marcus bent down to speak close to her ear in order to be heard over all of the noise. “What would you like to drink? “

  “I’ll take a Long Island Iced Tea, please.”

  Marcus gestured to the bartender. “Nick. Can I get a Long Island for the lady and I’ll take another beer.”

  “Sure thing, Marcus.”

  Melanie arched a brow when she heard the bartender call Marcus by name. “You come he
re often?” Melanie asked him.

  “Yeah, not as much as I used to. When I need to wind down and chill, I’ll stop by every now and then.” Marcus held up a bill to cover the tab plus a generous tip when Nick placed the drinks in front of them on the bar. “Keep the change, bruh.”

  When Marcus handed her the drink, she took a sip and nodded her approval. “So, you don’t have a girlfriend to help you…‘de-stress‘?” she asked in a flirty tone.

  “Yes and no.” She looked confused, and waited on him to clarify his answer. “Yes, I have a girlfriend, and no…right now she’s not exactly helping me to ‘de-stress’ as you call it.” Marcus drank from his beer and absently scanned the crowd.

  “Problems?”

  Marcus hesitated. He had probably said too much already. “Well…let’s just say we’re going through a rough patch, but things will work themselves out.”

  Melanie nodded, looking a little disappointed. Then she took a step closer to Marcus and said, “Tell you what. If they don’t - work themselves out that is - let me know. I’ll be waiting.” She held his eyes for several moments to make sure he understood her meaning before stepping back to leave. “Thanks for the drink.”

  “You’re welcome.” Marcus once again stood there and stared at her ass as she walked away. She had on a pair of tight jeans that she was wearing the hell out of, and he was felt the stirrings of an erection just from looking at her. Before he could stop it an image of her naked, face down and ass up, flashed through his mind.

  “Damn…”

  Chapter 4

  "Heffa, are you crazy?!"

  "Keisha, please...not now."

  Aleesha cringed as she walked into her house. Keisha was right on her heels practically screaming in her ear.

  Aleesha had called Keisha to come and pick her up from the club after she'd hung up from talking to Marcus. She could tell none of her coworkers had been ready to leave just yet, but Marcus had brought down her little high because she knew he was angry with her. It hadn’t helped her mood when she'd tried to call him several times, and the calls went straight to his voicemail.

  "‘Keisha please’ my ass! Leesh, what's wrong with you? Marcus is a sweetheart. He's successful, fine as hell, and crazy over you...AND he has a big dick!"

  Aleesha stopped in her tracks and cut a look at Keisha that was razor sharp.

  Keisha innocently looked back at her. "What? Well, he does. Everyone saw it at the bachelorette party. Granted, you got to see it a little better than the rest of us later on that night...."

  Keisha cracked herself up as Aleesha smacked her lips and kicked off her shoes. "Girl seriously, though, you’ve been acting like you're trying to make him break up with you or something." Aleesha avoided her eyes as she headed towards the bathroom with Keisha still following her. "The man is flying out here almost every other week to be with you, has been for damn near a year..."

  Aleesha stopped when Keisha tried to come in with her. “Do you mind?" Before Keisha could answer, she slammed the door in her face and shouted. "And it’s been about eight months since we've been seriously committed, not a year...!".

  "Bitch, you know what I mean!" Keisha yelled back.

  Aleesha rolled her eyes and put her hands over her ears to shut out Keisha’s voice. She was already on the verge of tears, and hearing Keisha go on and on about what a great catch Marcus was wasn't helping. As she washed her hands, she avoided her reflection in the mirror. She didn't want to see it accusingly staring at her too.

  Aleesha opened the door and spoke before Keisha could continue. "I don't know why I acted like that tonight. I just, I don’t know….I find myself pushing him away on purpose sometimes."

  "Yeah. You do. The question is why? How many times has he asked you to move to Vegas to be with him?" Aleesha remained silent. “Well, I’m gonna say this. I wish you'd hurry up because I'm ready. I hope you and Jerra don't think you're leaving me here by myself," Keisha said, rolling her neck at the thought.

  Seeing Aleesha's miserable expression, Keisha's voice softened. "Leesh, let's be honest here. Real talk, okay? We’ve always been able to say anything to each other, so I’m just gonna spit it out. Marcus is a good man, but he's not a saint. I know you told me about the little webcam sessions you two have. Honey, that’s all well and good, but that doesn't take the place of actual sex. You said he seemed frustrated the last time you two talked and you couldn’t come and visit him. How long do you think it’s going to be before one of those skanks in Vegas catch him in a weak moment?"

  Aleesha stared at her with tears welling up in her eyes. Keisha was only stating what she'd been subconsciously thinking since she and Marcus became a couple. "Better now than later like..." Aleesha's wouldn't finish the sentence.

  Realization dawned on Keisha. "Like Amir?" Aleesha nodded. "Sweetie, is that why you've been holding back?"

  "Keisha, I don't want to be hurt again. After Amir and I broke up, the truth about his incessant cheating started leaking out faster than water from a busted pipe. What if the same happens with Marcus?"

  "So…what? You've been trying to help him along?? Aleesha, come on. Marcus is not Amir. You don't get any guarantees with this love thing. If that's what you’re looking for, I'm afraid you're going to be by yourself for a long time."

  Aleesha was silent as she sat down in the chair with her legs curled up under her. "What’s even worse is that I could’ve flown to Vegas when he asked me, but…sometimes I'm just so scared because I love him so much." Aleesha leaned her head back against the chair and stared at Keisha.

  “Hell, Jerra says he practically lives at their house when he's not working. You know her eagle eyes are sharp and watching out for you!" They both laughed as they thought about their girl who didn’t let anything get by her.

  After a minute, Aleesha sighed. "I've been screwing up, haven't I?"

  "Uh, yeahhh..." Keisha grinned as she drew the word out. "Shit, if you don't want him, let a sista know. I’ll gladly take his fine ass off your hands." Keisha laughed as Aleesha playfully glared at her.

  “I will cut a bitch over that man - including you!"

  “Anyway,” Keisha continued. “The way I see it, y’all shady bitches owe me. You go to Vegas and find a gorgeous doctor who's crazy over you and Jerra creeps around and fucks Darrell without anybody knowing. Couldn't you have found a fine, successful stripper for me....or sumptin'?" Keisha laughed.

  "Don’t even get me started on you. Weren’t those strippers the wrong gender? Now, if they'd had tits and ass we might’ve been able to work something out for you." Aleesha tried to hold in her laughter as Keisha gave her the finger.

  "Hmph. You know I swing both ways, Ms. 'So Not Funny'. I'll take some dick as quick as I will pussy. I‘m an equal opportunity bitch."

  "Hmmm. I'm beginning to wonder. It’s been a minute since you've been with a man…" Aleesha’s eyes were full of curiously.

  "You're right, although I've been getting the urge to change that lately. I mean, I love a woman's soft, feminine body, but I have to admit there's nothing like hard muscles and a stiff piece of Grade A prime beef between my thighs that sometimes can’t even compare."

  "Amen! Speaking of which, let me try to call my baby again. Maybe he'll answer now that he sees I'm calling from home."

  "Better yet, you need to take your ass to Vegas and surprise him next weekend. Then give him the best sex he’s ever had to make up for being so damned silly."

  Aleesha’s expression became thoughtful. "Not a bad idea. Not bad idea at all..."

  Friday morning…

  Marcus checked his patient’s vitals and looked at her chart again. He was more than satisfied with her progress and if she kept improving, she’d be going home sooner rather than later.

  “You get some rest, Mrs. Shalosky. The nurse will be in to give you your medication in about an hour.”

  Mrs. Shalosky grabbed Marcus’ hand. “Bless you, Dr. Bennett. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”

&
nbsp; Marcus patted her arm. “No thanks necessary. You did the hard work by fighting and getting stronger. I’ll be back to check on you before my shift is over.”

  As Marcus turned to leave, he spied Melanie standing in the doorway waiting on him. “Your patients love you, you know. You have a rare quality which a lot of doctors lack.”

  Brushing off the compliment, Marcus gave her a teasing smile. “Okay. What do you want? Flattery will get you everywhere.”

  She laughed as she pushed his shoulder. “You are so silly. Well, since you mention it, I was wondering if you’d like to watch a movie tonight. I rented that thriller that just came out on DVD and I’m dying to see it. It would be nice to have a little company…” Her voice trailed off as she sent him a puppy dog look and blinked her eyes.

  Marcus glanced down at the folders he was holding in the pretense of thumbing through it. Neither of them had made reference to the brief conversation they’d had last week at the sports bar. He’d been a little worried things would be awkward between them, but they’d settled into a professional relationship which had the promise of becoming an easy friendship. They’d been spending almost twelve hours a day together at the hospital and discovered they had many of the same interests.

  Marcus and Aleesha got past their disagreement the same night they argued. In fact, she was flying in Sunday evening because they were admitting Jerra to the hospital Monday morning to induce her labor. Looking at Melanie again, he opened his mouth to decline the invitation. He didn’t want to give her any mixed signals because he had absolutely no intention of cheating on Aleesha. That wasn’t even an option.

  Sensing he was getting ready to turn her down, Melanie hurriedly added, “You’re not going to make me watch it alone, are you? I’m so bored, and you’re my only friend.” Her mouth stuck out in a pretty pout.

  Marcus laughed. “I’m hardly your only friend, Mel. I’ve seen the way the men around here ogle you. I know for a fact several of them asked you out, too.”