by S. K. Hardy
Mumbling under her breath, Elena shot him a withering glare as she brushed past him and stomped into Keisha's house. She barely waited for Keisha to close the door before she started bombarding her with questions.
"Keisha, what the hell is going on? Who are those men? They look like actors from some cheesy gangster movie or something."
Keisha held her hands up to stop her. "El, don't worry about it, everything's fine." Elena began to protest, but Keisha talked over her and asked again, "What's so urgent that you had to stop by before you went to the airport? I told you I would call you later."
"I just don't understand why you're backing out on me all of a sudden. You’ve always wanted to be a part of something like this. Hell, we came up with the business plans together, remember?”
“Of course I do.”
“I understand you not wanting to commit to a partnership, but you seemed open to this position. I know how much I want you to be a part of this venture. You were so excited about getting back into photography, then all of a sudden you don’t want to do it?"
"I have my reasons, Elena. Right now, I have to do what's best for my family."
Elena threw her hands up. "Ya' know, sometimes it's impossible to reconcile the person you are now with the Keisha I knew back in the 'A'. What happened to the ambitious woman who was on the fast track to taking the world by storm? Huh? Why would you give that up to become a stay at home wife and mother?"
Keisha's brows shot up. "You say it like it's a step down. Believe me, it's not. I love my family."
"And there's nothing wrong with that, but you can't tell me you don't want more. Keisha, you were one of the most sought after photographers in the business. Hell, you could've written your own ticket if you wanted to. All I want to do is help you get back to that. You're my girl. Remember all the dreams we used to have of us making it in this business together?"
"El, that was back then. I'm not saying I'll never pursue my career again, because I will, but now is not the best time."
"Why, because your husband says it's not?" The catty response was said with an ugly sneer. "I never thought you were the kind of woman who lets a man control her and tell her what to do. Is the dick that good?"
The tight smile that stretched thinly across Elena's mouth told Keisha the question had been intended to come out as a teasing joke, but the tone in which it was delivered killed the humor.
Dumbfounded, Keisha stared at her, barely stopping herself from snatching Elena's ass up. She forced herself to respond in a calm manner. "Dominick doesn't control me. Elena, I'm not goin' to stand here and defend, discuss, or explain my marriage to you, but I will say one thing. You ask me if his dick is that good? Hell yeah, it’s good. Outta this fuckin' world good."
When Elena sucked her teeth, Keisha's eyes narrowed threateningly. Silence gathered around the two women as they faced off with each other.
Keisha thought about how much she'd grown as a person these last few years. She now prided herself on being able to curb her famous temper, which could be set off at the drop of a hat, but got dammit she was a work in progress. Elena was coming mighty close to waking up the old Keisha and she sure the fuck didn't want to do that. When it came to females outside her immediate circle of friends inquiring about her husband, she didn't play that shit. At all.
Keisha suddenly thought about what Dominick tried to tell her about Elena being jealous of her. Now she was beginning to see exactly what he meant.
Keisha shook her head and turned to open the door. "Know what? You need to leave, Elena." While you still can, she added silently.
"Why because you don't want to hear the truth?"
Okay, that's it, Keisha fumed. Whirling around with fists balled up, she had just taken a step towards Elena when a deep voice stopped her in her tracks.
"I would advise you to leave now because I promise you, my wife won't tell you again. Not with words, anyway."
Keisha looked past Elena and saw Dom slowly descending the stairs wearing a little mocking smirk. Shirtless and feet bare, the faded jeans he wore rode low on his hips and fit him in all the places that emphasized his masculinity.
Forgetting all about Elena for the moment, Keisha stared at Dom as he took his time coming down the steps. He was so damn fine, his swagger hard to ignore. The picture he made was damned near sexual foreplay. When their eyes met, he winked, letting her know everything was all good between them. He apparently had heard enough to figure out what was going on.
Keisha exhaled the breath she'd been unknowingly holding and relaxed a little, but when she glanced at Elena, her body knotted up again. Elena had an unmistakable look of raw hunger on her face as she visually devoured Dominick's muscular body.
Oh hell nah! This bitch want to die today fa' real!
Visions of her painstakingly tearing the perfectly coiffed hair out of Elena's scalp, one highlighted strand at a time, danced temptingly in Keisha's mind.
"Baby..."
Keisha turned her head towards Dom's voice...but kept her eyes on Elena.
"Keisha."
This time, she reluctantly gave him her full attention. Dom shook his head, silently telling her to leave it alone and gestured for her to come to him.
Throwing Elena one last evil glare, she walked to his side and slipped her arms around his waist. Dom's hand rested low on Keisha's hip. Kissing her temple, his eyes sent a clear message to Elena. He and Keisha were a team. They may have had a momentary hiccup in their relationship, but that’s all it was. They were good now, and there wasn’t a person on earth capable of coming between them.
Elena's mouth twisted to the side; she'd gotten the message loud and clear. Flipping her hair back, she adjusted the strap of her purse onto her shoulder. "Fine, Keisha. If you want to sit here and wallow in suburban boredom, then have at it. Do you, boo. I just hope and pray I never let a man become more important to me than my dreams and aspirations. I worked too hard to ever let that happen."
Keisha was ready to respond with a scathing reply, but Dom's hand tightened to let her know he'd handle it. "What makes you think Keisha is giving up her dreams?"
"Isn't it obvious? The only reason she decided against working at my magazine is to appease you. Let's be honest here, Dominick. You never liked me and I never liked you, but for you to deny Keisha the fulfillment of doing what she loves, what she was damned good at all because you don't want her working for me is selfish and inconsiderate of your wife's needs, don't you think?"
Dom's nostrils flared but his voice remained neutral. "You let me worry about my wife's 'needs', Elena. I take care of them very well. And since we're getting everything out in the open, let me say this. That stunt you pulled a couple of months back, if you had been a man and made a pass at my wife, you would've found your ass laid up in a hospital somewhere. I suggest you not let it happen again."
Elena's laugh was one of amused unconcern. "Or what? It sounds like there's a threat somewhere in that statement."
"There is." Dominick's smile chilled her to the bone. His tone told her that he was deadly serious.
Elena swallowed hard, nervously curling a stray strand behind her ear. Her eyes went to Keisha, but Keisha only stared back at her with an arched brow. She knew Dominick would not physically put his hands on Elena, but there were other ways of hitting her where it hurt and she knew Dom wouldn’t hesitate to use them.
"And as far as my wife working for you, my wife ain't gotta work for you or anybody else. Understood?"
Chapter 20
Elena threw her hands up and looked at Keisha as if vindicated after Dominick delivered his last sentence. "See! Did you hear that? Now maybe you can understand what I've been trying to tell you. He's nothing but a control freak."
Ignoring her, Dom pulled a set of papers he'd rolled up and put in his back pocket. He unfolded them and gave them to Keisha.
"What's this?" she asked.
Elena strained to peer closer at them, not even trying to hide her curiosity.<
br />
"I had these in my briefcase to give to you night before last, but Angel called, things got crazy...you know."
Keisha frowned, her lips moving as she scanned the documents. Suddenly her eyebrows shot up. She looked up at her husband. "What...Dominick...you did this for me? You found a place for me to open up my studio?"
Dominick caressed Keisha's cheek with the back of his fingers. "I know you sacrificed a lot staying home after you had Christian. Don't think I haven't realized that."
"It's not a sacrifice. I love you and our kids, you know that." Keisha's tone still said she was at a loss.
"I do, but I’m also aware that you've been ready to resume your career, as well you should. You were good, Keisha. Damned good.”
Keisha ducked her head and blushed, but grinned at the compliment.
“I never expected you to just give it up. When I brought up the idea of you possibly starting your own business soon, you kept blowing me off. I tried to tell you that I'd help you if that’s what you wanted."
"I thought you were trying to patronize me."
Dom shook his head, his expression telling her the very idea of her even thinking that was crazy.
Keisha went on the defensive. “Okay, but my hormones had me feeling all kinds of ways months after Christian was born.”
Dom smiled, deciding not to touch that statement. "Well, this way everything will be up to you whenever you’re ready. You can go at your own pace. And if you need my help, all you have to do is let me know. That cool with you?"
Keisha's eyes were bright as she nodded. "More than cool." Blinking rapidly, she looked back down at the papers. "And the location is…wow."
When she read the address out loud, Elena almost choked. That particular area boasted prime real estate in one of the most desirable business districts in Vegas. Keisha knew Elena herself had looked into trying to rent a floor in a building not far from where Keisha would be, but the prices had been exorbitantly high. Her money was already stretched thin because of the expense of opening up the new office. There was no way she could've afforded to rent the space that had been her first choice, so she'd settled on second best.
Elena’s eyes were thoughtful as they ran over Dominick. She knew he was doing pretty good with his architectural firm, but not this good.
Keisha frowned as a clause in the contract caught her eye. "Wait." She slowly raised her head and stared at him with her mouth gaped open. "You...you bought the entire building? For me?"
"What?" Elena shrieked. She quickly did the calculations in her head. The cost for a building like that in an area where it was located had to cost at least seven figures.
Dom ignored her and pulled Keisha close. "Yeah. I bought it. For you. It’s in your name, free and clear."
Keisha let out a high pitched, shrill cry and launched herself into Dominick's arms. Dom laughed and lifted her up. Keisha's legs went around his waist and locked at the ankles as she peppered his face with kisses.
"Oh my God! Oh my God!" she kept repeating over and over again in between pecks of her lips. "I love you so much! I can't believe you did this!"
"I love you too, babe."
Still holding the papers, Keisha framed his face in her hands and gazed at him with a serious expression. "You know I'm getting ready to fuck your brains out, don't you?"
Dominick grinned. "That’s what I was hoping for."
Squirming in his arms, impatient to make good on her promise, Keisha nibbled on his neck, straining to get closer.
Dominick turned to look at Elena. The amusement slowly faded from his eyes, leaving them cold and full of warning. "Before you leave, I want to make sure you know something. This right here?" He nodded towards Keisha. "This is me. Mine. Anything she even thinks about needing or wanting, I make sure she gets it. She never has to ask because it’s always hers." Dom jerked his head towards the door. "Now get the hell out of our house."
Elena was a beautiful woman, but at that particular moment her beauty was marred by jealousy, making her ugly, unattractive. Trying to maintain some sense of dignity, she flipped her hair back and left without a word to either of them.
Keisha muttered to herself and rolled her eyes. "I'm slipping.”
Dom raised an eyebrow.
"I can’t believe it took me so long to see the type of person she is."
"She’s been your friend for a long time, so it was hard to see that side of her. People like that love to make their lives more appealing than it actually is, especially when they see you're genuinely happy."
Keisha nodded in agreement, thinking about how restless she’d been feeling lately. She had to admit to briefly being a little envious of El's life, or rather the career she had. It was crazy now that she thought about it.
"We keep our circle tight for a reason, Keish. You can fuck with people, but you don't have to fuck with 'em like that, know what I mean? Not everyone will want the best for you."
"You’re right, baby."
Dom's eyes crinkled in amusement. "Besides, she's lucky I came in when I did. I saw those little fists of yours balled up and ready to clock her one. Or two."
"You know I was. Bitch don't know how close she came to gettin' knocked the fuck out!"
Softly biting her ear, Dom's shoulders shook as he laughed.
"I'm serious, Dominick!"
"Oh, I know, baby. Anyway..." His voice deepened and his eyes lowered to her mouth. "Elena is the last person I want to talk about right now.“
Holding Keisha's backside firmly in one hand, Dominick used the other hand to untie the belt of Keisha's robe.
"Oh?" Keisha assisted him by pulling her arms out and dropping the robe on the floor. She lowered her head and caught his bottom lips between hers and sucked it into her mouth. "What do you want to talk about then? "
Dominick squeezed her ass. Shit, he held paradise in his hands right now. "Well, let's see. You said something about fucking my brains out? I vote for that."
Starting up the stairs, he looked down at the enticing picture she made with her legs gaped open and her center flattened against his stomach.
Moaning, Keisha's hips humped forward and circled so that her wet pussy pushed against his abs.
Dom cursed under his breath. "Keep doing that," he whispered.
Slipping two fingers inside her from below, Dom gave her a slow finger fuck as they continued up the stairs. By the time they got outside their bedroom door, Keisha had exploded and was raining honeyed sweetness over his fingers and stomach.
As Dominick carried her to the bed, she said between gasping breaths, "You are in so much trouble."
"Oh yeah?" Dom laughed softly and gently threw her on the bed.
Keisha nodded. “Uh-huh.”
He carefully dragged his zipper over his erection then peeled his jeans off. Grinning, Dom stalked towards her with predatory intent, his eyes hot as they roamed over her body.
"Good. I was counting on that."
CHAPTER 21
"So with everything going on have you decided what you're going to do about Dominick's birthday next weekend, Keisha?" Aleesha asked.
Everyone, including Dillon and Olivia, was at Marcus and Aleesha’s house the next day to check on them and welcome Addison Joy home. Alexis, Marcus’s sister, along with her husband, Amir, and their two sons would be arriving next week.
Originally Dillon and Olivia were supposed to rotate between Keisha and Dom's and Jerra and Darrell's house for a little while longer until Marcus and Aleesha got settled in with Addy, but it was obvious how much they'd missed being with the Bennetts. Marcus and Aleesha missed them as well. They’d already discussed it and decided they wanted the children to stay home with them.
"We think it's time they got a sense of normalcy and security after losing their mother," Marcus told them.
Their friends had readily stepped up to be there for Liv and Dillon, and Marcus and Aleesha had tried to spend as much time with them as they could, but with both Addison Joy and Marcus S
tephen being in the neonatal intensive care unit, it had been extremely hard. However, with their son steadily improving, he should be home soon. Marcus and Aleesha were dedicated to putting all of the children’s needs first and making it work.
As was always the case when they all got together, the intended short visit inevitably stretched into several hours. After everyone finished fussing over the baby and holding her, Aleesha put her down for a nap. Christian had fallen asleep as well and the older kids were off playing. Once the adults were alone, Dom and Keisha decided to bring Marcus and Aleesha up to speed about Dominick’s situation.
Later on, Marcus, Dominick, and Darrell stepped outside, giving the women a chance to discuss Dominick's upcoming birthday. Aleesha glanced at Jerra, who was standing by Addy’s bassinet and doing her best to wake the sleeping baby up. Aleesha and Keisha exchanged looks of amusement.
"Wake her if you want to, but don't think you're leaving until you put her back to sleep." Aleesha and Keisha laughed when Jerra's eyes lit up at the prospect.
"You and Darrell need to just go on and have another one," Keisha told her. "I don't know what you're waiting on. You need a little girl."
Jerra shrugged as she curled up on the love seat. "We're talking about it. I’m not getting any younger, that’s for sure. Gisselle is throwing out all kinds of hints that she wouldn’t mind having another baby brother or sister," Jerra laughed, mentioning her oldest child.
"Awww. How is she?"
"She's doing wonderful. Starting her first semester at Columbia University this fall." It was clearly spelled out on Jerra’s face how proud she was of her daughter. "She's coming to stay the summer with us in a couple of weeks. I’m so excited I can hardly stand it."
"That's great, Jerra," Aleesha said. "I can’t wait to spend some time with her."
Jerra grinned and nodded in agreement before looking at Keisha. "Back to Aleesha's question, we know you'd planned to go away with Dominick next weekend, but now what?"