by Stacy-Deanne
“Please leave,” he said, knowing she wouldn’t.
“I will.” She went to the door and locked it. “After we’re done.” She unbuttoned her blouse, revealing a satin black bra with white lace around the cups.
“Jesus.” His cock vibrated.
“You hard?”
He cleared his throat. “No.”
She slid off the skirt, flashing her thin, black lace panties. “You’re lying.”
“Shit.” He slid the papers off his desk, his dick in full control. “Get over here.”
“Yes.” She ran to him, tits swaying. “Fuck me, Shad.” She straddled him. “Like you never will again.”
“What’s this effect you have on me?” He pushed his face into her cleavage, savoring her lemony scent. “Get rid of this shit.” He removed her bra and threw it across the room.
“God.” She panted, holding his face to her tits.
“Why can’t I stop wanting you?” He kissed between her cushiony breasts.
“I ask myself that question all the time.” She crawled her fingers through his hair as he sucked her nipple. “If you ever find the answer let me know.”
****
“You can come into the kitchen, Mr. Ace.” Gloria walked with Max past her living room the following evening. “I’m making dinner.”
“Call me ‘Max’ please.” He smiled, checking out the way her ass protruded from the snug jeans.
“Have a seat.” She went to the counter where she had a cut up chicken and can of seasoning waiting. “I’m making fried chicken.”
“I love fried chicken.” He sat at the table. “I hope you don’t mind me showing up without calling.”
“I admit I’m surprised.” She poured oil into a pan on the stove. “Is this about my brother?” She had her hair tied up in a loose ball.
“No, uh—”
“How well did you know Preston again?” She dredged a drumstick in flour.
“We did business together that’s all. Your brother was something else.” Max cringed getting the words out. “A brilliant businessman and a kind human being.”
She laid the drumstick in the oil and floured a wing. “What can I do for you, Max?”
“Like I said I’m a business man.” He clicked his jaw. “Always looking to make a deal. I wanna present a deal to you.”
“To me?” She laughed, setting the wing in the pan. “Business was Preston’s world not mine.”
“This deal is up your alley. In fact, it would work in both our favors.”
“You’re losing me, Mr. Ace.”
“Max.” He waved his finger.
“Max.” Redness sprouted in her cute little cheeks. “I don’t see what deal you’d need me for when I have no business sense or money.”
“This deal takes neither.” He propped his arm on the table. “Your beauty and charm is all I need.”
She turned from the stove with a speck of flour on her cheek. “I’m lost.”
“Has a man ever told you how sexy you are, Gloria?”
“Not with flour on my face and a piece of chicken in my hands.” She grinned, winking. “No.”
“Trust me, you’re a woman who takes a man’s breath away.”
“Max.” She shook flour from her hand. “I don’t mean to be rude but this conversation has me uncomfortable. Please explain in plain terms what you want.”
“I need you to keep your ex-fiancé away from my wife.”
“Excuse me?”
“You and Shad share history together.” He rocked his head. “It’s no secret you still have feelings for him.” He relaxed against the chair. “I saw it in your eyes when I paid my respects after Preston’s funeral. The way you looked at Shad spoke volumes.”
She fidgeted, blushing.
“Did I embarrass you?”
She wiped her hand with a paper towel. “I think you should leave.”
“I haven’t even told you my proposal yet.”
Her mouth twisted. “I’m not interested.”
“Hear me out.” He lifted his hand. “It has to kill you to see Shad running after a married woman when you’re single and willing.”
“I haven’t thought about Shad or Osana.”
“Liar.” He licked the corner of his mouth. “They can’t keep their hands off each other. Seems like me telling them to stay away from each other doesn’t work.”
“They’re still seeing each other?”
Max stretched his legs out. “I followed her to his place last night, and it’s obvious things haven’t cooled off between them.”
“Just because she went to his place doesn’t mean anything.”
“Trust me it does. I saw him walk her to her car.” He cracked his knuckles. “He was whispering in her ear and touching her in places you shouldn’t ever touch another man’s wife. I want my marriage to work, Gloria. I’ll do anything for that to happen.”
She leaned against the sink. “Forgive me but people say your marriage isn’t authentic.”
“That’s because Shad keeps hanging around.” He stood, slipping his hands in his pockets. “But if he’s distracted by a sexy, beautiful woman…” He approached her and touched a strand of her hair. “That no man in his right mind could resist then that might get his mind off my wife.”
She swatted his hand away. “You’re barking up the wrong tree.”
He put his hand back in his pocket. “I don’t think so.”
“Leave.” She pointed to the doorway. “I have no interest in what you’re offering.”
“Then you’d be a fool.” He shuffled back to the table. “You should never walk away from something you want, Gloria. I never do. If you try hard enough Shad will take you back.”
“I love Shad, but I couldn’t live with myself if I did something so conniving.”
He got a green apple from the fruit bowl. “You’d be surprised what you can live with.” He bit into the apple.
“I want you out of my house.” She stood from the sink. “Do I have to call the police?”
He shook his head, chewing.
“Then goodbye.” She turned over the chicken in the pan.
Max headed out then stopped at the doorway. “Oh, wait. I forgot to ask. How long have you been sleeping with Mr. Lattemore?”
She jerked, almost dropping the chicken breast. “What?”
“Mr. Lattemore, your bosses’ client? You are a paralegal for Woodley and Nash, right?”
She watched him, her lips shivering.
“I bet it would be the end of your job, hell your career in law if your bosses knew you had an affair with one of their biggest clients.”
She marched to him. “How—”
“Woodley and Nash is one of the most prestigious law firms in California.” He bit off another chunk of the sour-sweet apple. “You’ll never work as a paralegal or anything decent in this city again.”
“It was just a few times.” She gasped.
“Right.” He nodded. “Two ships that kept passing in the night?”
“We didn’t plan it.”
“I bet Lattemore had it on his mind the minute he met you. Either way you knew it was wrong to fuck a client.”
“I broke it off months ago.”
“Mr. Lattemore is married too, isn’t he?”
She closed her eyes. “Separated.”
“And you think that makes you less of a slut than you are?”
“I’m not a slut.” She waved her narrow fist at him. “What is this? Blackmail? You’ll tell on me if I don’t keep Shad away from Osana?”
“Bingo.”
“You don’t have proof. Who would believe you over me?”
“Gloria, this is not my first rodeo.” He pulled out his phone and showed her the pictures of her and Lattemore in various places being cozy and hand-in-hand.
She grabbed the phone. “How did you get these?”
He took the phone and secured it in his pocket. “I’ll release these pictures and you’ll be ruined and Woodley
and Nash wouldn’t piss on you if you were on fire.”
“How did you get those?” she screamed. “Tell me.”
“I never do something without having all my cards lined up.” He tossed the rest of the apple on the table. “I’ll keep my mouth shut if you think about my offer.”
She sobbed. “How can you be so cruel?”
“You’re a causality of war, Gloria.” He touched her cheek, catching a tear. “It’s nothing personal.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
A Week Later
“Ah!” A shattering orgasm traveled Osana’s body, penetrating her bones. “You called me over for dinner.” She panted against Shad’s headboard, sweat running between her bare breasts. “I didn’t know this is what you had in mind.”
Shad moved his head from between her sweaty thighs. “You should by now.” He caught her nipple in his teeth, his face red from putting the work in with his tongue.
“Ouch.” She laughed. “Why are you always biting my titty like that?”
“How’s your husband?”
They laughed.
“It isn’t right to bring up the asshole after fucking my brains out.” She put her arms around his shoulders. “I told him to stay out my business. He’s not gonna stop me from seeing you. I don’t care how weird he gets.”
Shad kissed her chest. “What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know.” She rubbed his hair as his mouth praised her stomach. “He drinks a lot sometimes, and he gets hostile.”
“Hostile how?” Shad’s brows dipped. “Has he hurt you?” He guided her head so their eyes met. “Osana?”
“He’s never hit me or anything if that’s what you mean.”
“You sure?”
She pinched his cheek. “I wouldn’t put up with that.”
“Be honest with me.” He rolled off her. “Has he ever gotten out of hand with you?”
She pulled the sheet over her. “He’s grabbed me a few times.”
“Grabbed you?”
“Shad, it’s nothing.”
“Nothing my ass. He shouldn’t be putting his damn hands on you in the first place.”
“It’s fine.” She patted his damp chest. “Usually he passes out right after he drinks, anyway.”
“Why is he drinking so much? Jesus, Osana this man could be an alcoholic. You’ve brought a stranger into your home not knowing what he’s capable of.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“Don’t give me that shit.” He kicked the cover away, exposing his semi-erection.
She touched his cock. “Looks like there’s more important things we should concentrate on.”
“I’m serious. I’m worried.”
“About me?”
“Mostly about Max because if he lays one finger on you I’m gonna beat him so bad he’ll be shitting out his ears.”
“Calm down.”
“I swear to God.” He shook his head, grunting. “I’ll kill him if he touches you.”
The doorbell rang.
“You expecting company?”
“Hell no.” Shad got out the bed.
A moment later, Osana heard loud stomping as if King Kong raced upstairs.
“Mr. Sidney,” Abby yelled from the hall. “There’s a man—”
“Get out the way!” Max’s voice boomed through Shad’s bedroom door.
“It’s Max,” Osana whispered, holding the sheet to her breasts.
“Osana!” Max beat on the door.
She gasped. “I can’t believe he came here.”
Looking angrier than Osana had ever seen him, Shad slipped on pants and opened the door. “Ace, you better get your ass—”
“You son of a bitch!” Max curled his hands around Shad’s neck and pushed him to the wall.
“Max, stop!” Osana stood, wrapping herself in the sheet.
“Oh my god.” Abby fidgeted, raising her hands. “Should I call security?”
“Yes!” Osana shouted.
Abby ran out.
“Get off me!” Shad punched Max, knocking him to the floor.
“Max, what are you doing here?” Osana screamed. “You’ve lost your mind!”
He got up. “You sneaky bitch.”
“Don’t talk to her like that.” Shad shoved Max. “Get out of my house!”
Max shook his finger at Osana. “I’m not going anywhere without my wife.”
“Oh yeah?” Shad aimed his fist toward Max.
Max ducked and head butted Shad in the gut.
“Oh!” Shad stooped over, struggling to catch his breath.
“Shad?” Osana ran to him, her feet twisting in the sheet. “Are you okay?”
“Get your clothes on now,” Max ordered her, split flying from his lips. “I’m not playing with you.”
“Tell him to go to hell.” Shad coughed. “Tell him.”
She couldn’t. Not with what Max had over her.
Abby ran inside with Shad’s head of security.
“Mr. Ace, you need to leave,” the hefty guard said.
“No fuckin’ problem.” Max got Osana’s clothes and grabbed her by the hand. “We’re leaving.”
“Osana?” Shad straightened up, wincing.
“Mr. Sidney?” Abby ran to him. “Are you okay?”
“Osana?” Shad begged with his eyes. “Don’t do this. Stay with me.” He held his stomach, coughing. “Whatever it is I’ll help you out of it. You gotta trust me damn it. Call this off. For your own good.”
“I can’t.” She burst into tears. “Shad, I love you but—”
“Come on.” Max pulled her from the room by the sheet.
****
An hour later, Shad sat on Gloria’s sofa slumped over, gripping his head. “What should I do?”
She wanted nothing more than for things to be like they were years ago between her and Shad, but seducing him for Max made her skin crawl.
Yet, what choice did she have?
She rubbed his soft hair as he pondered over his love for another woman.
“You need something to take your mind off tonight.” She stood.
He sat back, sighing. “Nothing’s gonna do that.”
“Not even my strawberry and walnut cupcakes?”
He smirked.
“Were they really your favorite dessert or was that a line you used to throw at me?” She chuckled.
“Oh, man.” He licked his lips. “I could eat nothing but those cupcakes for the rest of my life.”
“I’ll be right back.” She went to the kitchen and got the cupcakes from the container on the counter. She covered them in chilled frosting and joined Shad back in the living room. “Here you go.” She passed him a thick cupcake.
He bit into it, frosting covering his top lip. “God.” He moaned, chewing. “I’m in heaven.”
She laughed, grabbing a cupcake for herself. “Glad to see I haven’t lost my touch.”
“You have the magic touch for food.” He chomped. “One of the reasons I fell in love with you.”
“Oh?” She scooted beside him, crossing her legs. “Not the only reason I hope.”
He glanced at her thighs jolting from under her robe, which she’d expected. “Uh, Gloria—”
“What are you doing, Shad?” She licked frosting off her cupcake. “Why do you allow Osana to torture you like this?”
He looked away, breathing through his nose.
“You know how many women would kill to have you?” She touched his shoulder. “Osana’s married now.”
“It’s not a real marriage.”
“Osana will do anything to get what she wants.” She tore off a piece of cupcake and ate it. “Maybe she likes dangling you on a string and seeing how high you’ll jump. What’s in it for you?” She stroked the back of his head.
“She tears your heart out every time you see her.”
He closed his eyes and moaned the way he used to when she’d touch him.
“Look what happened tonight. She sleeps with y
ou then goes off with Max leaving you a mess. Is she worth all this trouble?” She set the cupcake on the table. “You deserve better than a woman who uses you for entertainment.”
“Uses me?”
“That’s all she’s doing.” She put her arm around his shoulder. “She married another man. What else does she have to do for you to let her go?” She kissed his cheek. “Love only works when both people are interested.”
“Gloria.”
She touched his thigh, feeling his leg muscles clenching. “We loved each other for a long time. You’re the love of my life.”
“That was a long time ago.”
“I never got over you.” She massaged his solid chest. “Can you be this close and tell me you don’t have any feelings left?”
He flinched, his body tightening underneath her touch. “I didn’t come here for this.”
“I think this is exactly why you came.” She propped her leg over his lap and took his mouth in hers.
“No.” He ripped his lips away. “Gloria—”
“Shad.” She straddled him. “You remember how good we were together?” She kissed him, shoving her fingers through his hair. “How passionate it was? How when we were together nothing in the world could touch us?”
He yanked his head away. “I want Osana.”
“Osana’s not here.” She sucked his neck.
“Gloria.” He squirmed. “Stop, okay?”
“She’s at home with her husband.” She unbuttoned his shirt. “Probably doing the same thing we’re about to.”
“No.” He pulled her hand from his shirt. “You’re wrong on both accounts.” He moved her off his lap and stood. “Osana is not sleeping with Max, and I’m not sleeping with you either.” He left the living room.
“Shad, wait.” She chased him to the front door. “Shad?”
“I’m disappointed in you, Gloria.” He opened the door. “I needed a friend tonight and you try to take advantage of me?”
Shit.
She held her hands out to him. “No—”
“Then what was that in there?”
“I still want you.” She tugged on his shirt.
“I’ll always have feelings for you and no one will ever take your place in my life.”
She smiled.
“But, that chapter is over, and I’ve moved on.” He pulled her hands from his shirt. “And you should too.”
“What if I can’t?” She backed away, voice cracking.