Black Obsession

by C. J. Thomas

  Biting the inside of my cheek I struggled, knowing I couldn’t mention anything about the delivery and what I’d seen. No matter how much I tried to deny it, the raw ache of having to keep a secret from Kelly was eating me alive .

  He deserved to know. He’d earned the right to be the one to help me through this .

  Lifting his head off the back of the couch, he angled his gaze toward me. The crease between his brows deepened as he searched my soul for what I knew he could feel boiling up inside me. “What is it ?”

  Turning my head away, I dropped the balls of my feet to the floor, reaching for my glass. Bringing it to my lips, I tossed what little liquid remained into my mouth before moving to the kitchen and pouring myself another .

  Not once did he take his eyes off of me .

  He watched me float through his apartment, his forehead wrinkling with concern as he watched me down another half a glass before pouring another. “Bella, is something wrong ?”

  I was afraid to tell him—frightened to see where it would take us—but I caved. “Today I was being followed .”

  He shifted his weight on the couch and draped an arm over the top. “By who ?”

  Casting my gaze into the white wine I took a minute to mull over my response, not wanting to pick a fight with him. From beneath my brow, I fixed my eyes on his and said, “I think it was paparazzi .”

  Kelly rubbed his face inside his hand before standing and finding me near the island counter. Standing behind me he wrapped me up inside his large arms, swallowing me whole. Together we swayed like the wind—back and forth, holding each other as if our lives depended on it .

  “This is my fault.” His breathy words swirled over my ear, making me feel loved. “I did this to you and I’m sorry .”

  Shaking my head, I breathed, “No. I agreed to go to that party with you .”

  “But I demanded it.” His lips brushed my neck as he kissed me .

  Desire slowly replaced doubt. Feeling emboldened by the trust radiating off of him, I twisted around inside his arms, hooking my hands around his muscular neck. Staring into his gorgeous eyes, I loved how I could believe in us even after a day that made me think that I couldn’t .

  Stroking my hair and smoothing his hands down both my arms, Kelly searched me for wounds. “Did they hurt you? What did they say ?”

  “Kelly, I’m fine.” Palming the back of his skull I stood on my toes, pressing my lips against his. “Really. I think they only managed to take a couple of photos .”

  “Until these charges go away,” his forehead rested against mine, “I’m afraid this won’t stop .”

  Thinking how strange it was for them to find me at the new salon—which wasn’t even opened—I asked Kelly, “Should I be worried ?”

  “If they come after you …”

  Tucking my chin into my neck, I looked at him out of the corner of my eye. “Like, threaten me ?”

  Kelly tightened his grip as he cleared his throat, nodding .

  Freeing myself from Kelly’s arms, I turned my back and stepped away. “I just want this to go away .”

  “I know you do. I do, too .”

  Hugging myself, I felt paralyzed knowing I could no longer completely control what happened to me. “I don’t like being followed.” Kelly rolled his neck as if it was sore. “It reminds me of when I kept seeing my uncle last week .”

  A cold breeze filled the air and I could see the hurt rolling through Kelly’s dark eyes. He didn’t like this any more than I did. But at least I knew he was listening to what I was saying. He was taking into account my fears and concerns .

  “Kelly,” I inched closer to him, “you can make this all go away .”

  He turned his head and I watched his gaze fall to the bottle of wine. There was a glimmer sparkling in the center of his eye that made me think that he wished he could have a drink, that he wanted to forget the feelings of having the world close in on us and all that we tried to accomplish .

  Reaching out, I pinched his suit jacket between my fingers and tugged him closer. “Tell me this will get better .”

  He couldn’t look me in the eye. Instead, he stared over the crown of my head, deep in thought. “I was told the media may intentionally be trying to escalate the feud between me and Parker to increase ratings.” His eyes darted across the room. “I’m afraid that this will only get worse before it gets better .”

  Without wanting to judge too quickly, my heartbeat raced to tell Kelly what I swore I wouldn’t. Then, when his eyes fell to mine, I finally gave in. “I think Timothy Parker is working with the Madam .”

  His eyes hardened and he began breathing fast. “How do you know this ?”

  My head fell forward, hitting his chest. There was no turning back the hands of time. I couldn’t retract my statement. He knew, and now I had to tell .

  His strong fingers curled over my shoulders as he pushed me back. “Kendra, how do you know this ?”

  My throat closed as if being strangled. I could feel my eyes beginning to swell, but I refused to cry. If I was to get out from Madam’s tight grip, then telling Kelly about the deliveries would hopefully be what would make him angry enough to try to help me .

  Glancing toward the windows, I began to feel trapped .

  Then again, telling Kelly my secret could also do the exact opposite and come to bite me in the ass, possibly ruining everything I loved about who we were .

  Shaking me, Kelly growled, “Tell me, Kendra. What makes you think this ?”

  “Angel’s friend was there,” I cried. “With Parker. She’s Madam’s girl .”

  Leaning closer to my face, Kelly asked, “You saw Madam today ?”

  Unable to hide it any longer, I yelled, “But I thought you knew .”

  His brow quirked as he flashed me a questioning look .

  “I saw you there.” I furrowed my brows, confused about how he didn’t already know this. “In the SUV .”

  “Shit.” He stepped away and turned his back .

  “You don’t have to spy on me .”

  With one fist rooted into his hip, he held his forehead in his other hand. “You were there .”

  “Madam said you were the reason Nora killed herself.” My fingers extended out, reaching to touch him. “Why would she say that ?”

  “That wasn’t me you saw.” Kelly turned to face me, his eyes grey .

  Shuffling my feet, I thumbed my ear .

  “It was Maxwell.” He sighed .

  “Maxwell? What was he doing there ?”

  “He called me. Told me I needed to see something. I arrived not long after .”

  My heart thrashed between my ears, my eyes darting over the floor. I glanced at Kelly, but I couldn’t hold my gaze for long .

  What was he saying? And why was he also at Madam’s ?

  Remembering Jerome rushing in and hearing him say it was “time” I could only assume Kelly was the reason my meeting was cut short. He was the meeting after me. The meeting Madam didn’t want me to see .

  “But …” I stammered. “Why ?”

  Clamping my wrists inside his impenetrable grip, Kelly said, “It’s about Nash .”

  “No. Stop it!” I thrashed against him. “This is about why Nora killed herself .”

  But before I could say anything else, Kelly crashed his lips over mine .

  And, silently, I begged him to take me away. To make it stop .

  34

  Kelly

  S he coiled her tongue over mine with the taste of wine exploding against my senses .

  My cock swelled as I yanked her hard against my bare chest .

  Her naked hips writhed over my length with a sense of urgency I’d come to expect from Kendra. She was impatient, needy, willing. And with closed eyes, I promised I would get her to explain what it was she’d seen—how she uncovered the secret of Parker and Madam’s scheme to make my life miserable .

  Hooking her leg around the back of my thigh, Kendra thrust her tongue over my teeth, duelin
g with my velvety muscle, pleading with her body for me to fuck her .

  A needy ache spread to my groin as bright flashes of light popped behind my lids. The heat intensified around my core like champagne popping over the rim of crystal. The alcoholic taste was familiar, causing visions of a little boy running toward me with arms spread wide to flex every muscle in my body, making me go tense .

  Cupping the globes of her soft ass I pulled her up, pushing the memories of the past behind me. Hanging off me she looped her arms around my neck, hooking her ankles around my waist and peppering kisses across my face .

  I sucked her tongue deeper into my mouth and my lips pressed aggressively against hers, sharing hungry thrusts before retreating with gentle tip-of-the-tongue flicks .

  Kendra mewed and whimpered. “Kelly, tell me about Nora .”

  Feeling her razor-sharp nipples slice over my aching heart I deepened our kiss, not wanting to hear Nora’s named mentioned again tonight. I already understood that Nora was half the reason my mind was bringing me back to the little boy running toward me .

  This was our time—mine and Kendra’s .

  An intimacy between us—only us .

  And not one second of it was intended to be shared. I would tell her about what happened with Nora—the full story—when I was good and ready. But now she held the secret I was after .

  Fisting her hair, I yanked her head back hard, breaking the seal of our mouths .

  Her naked body shivered in my arms as fear filled her eyes .

  “Bella, you never did answer my question,” I growled. “How do you know Parker is working with Madam ?”

  A watery gaze filled her eyes as she tried to turn away .

  Keeping a firm hold on her roots, I couldn’t help but think that maybe Sylvia was right. Kendra was in trouble and it had something to do with her knowing things she had no business knowing .

  Threading her fingers through my hair she pulled my head to hers, taking my bottom lip between her teeth. Clamping down hard, I refused to flinch. The glimmer of worry I saw in her eyes—the way she was looking to me for safety and a way to escape—confirmed what I already knew to be true .

  She was up to something—something she shouldn’t be doing .

  Now it was up to me to calm those emotions pouring through her. Up to me to get her to talk. Then, and only then, would I know exactly what kind of trouble she was in .

  Pinching her cheeks she bit down harder, drawing a little blood. The warm metallic taste filled my mouth and she still refused to release her hold. Not until I reached behind her, finding my finger slicing through her moist folds and pressing on her erect clit, did she finally let go .

  Fucking her with my finger, I said, “Tell me .”

  Her full lips rounded into desperate pants as her warmth wrapped around my finger. Her eyes fluttered closed and she quickly got lost in the moment .

  “How do you know?” My finger wiggled inside her .

  “I can’t,” she spat, letting her head crash down against my shoulder .

  Feeling her tongue flick against my skin, I peeled her body off of me. Tossing her face-first onto the bed of my master bedroom, I let my hand fly down over her ass. Hitting it raw, I spanked her aggressively in quick bursts of frustration until her skin was glowing red. “Then I’ll just have to force you into submission .”

  Marching to my closet, I left Kendra to catch her breath. She was face-down on my bed with ass in air and I couldn’t deny how easy it would be to take her like that. But with her resistance to give me the information I needed, there was only one solution to get her to talk. And that was the black leathered upholstered sawhorse tucked away in the back .

  Pivoting around, I wheeled it to the middle of the room. It was like the Greek Trojan horse used to take down powerful kingdoms, and I was sure it would do the same here with her .

  Kendra’s eyes rounded as she took in the sight. “I’m not scared of you .”

  I dove back into the closet to collect the cuffs. Chuckling, I squeezed my cock, pumping the blood to keep the rod steeled .

  “You should be.” I smirked as I sauntered over to her .

  Smoothing my hand over her beautiful round ass, I took a minute to appreciate her delicacy. The silky feel of her hot skin was a nice complement to the fire raging inside her. She had forgotten her submissive role—overlooked the rules of our agreement. We had a contract. A signed document that was as good as stone. And she’d forgotten .

  “Don’t want to tell me?” My fingers closed around her ankles, tugging her legs out from under her. She fell flat on her stomach, quickly pushing her chest up off the bed with her hands. “Fine .”

  “You won’t like what I have to say.” Her voice was like sunshine on a rainy day, but it did little to calm the excitement coursing through me .

  This was going to be fun .

  Then again, sweet loving torture always was .

  Crawling on the bed behind her, I squeezed her legs together, straddling my way up her body. Concentrating on my controlled breath, I took myself at the root and guided my tip to her glistening pussy lips. They were bald and beautiful like the glitter on a dress. And just like the dress, I wanted to take it off and ruin what was beneath .

  But I couldn’t do it yet. First, she needed some reminding .

  Falling forward, my body crashed down over hers. The bed bounced, cushioning most of my weight, but Kendra still gasped like the air got knocked out of her. Fisting her hair, I angled her head toward mine, sealing my lips over hers. Kissing her deeply, I got lost in the cool taste of her mouth. “You will tell me .”

  “Make me.” Her lips brushed against mine .

  My cock twitched as I flipped her onto her back and pinned her arms down with my knees. Then I took myself inside my hand and guided the tip to her lips. The bead of pre-cum glistened in the light and I dabbed it over her bottom lip, spreading it between the seam of her mouth .

  Her tongue traveled from one corner of her mouth to the other and I knew she liked what she tasted. I could see it in her eyes .

  Nudging my hotness inside, I slid it over her tongue nice and slow. Further I pushed, continuing my dive deep inside until I made her choke and gag. Pulling myself out tortuously slow, she coughed and I asked, “Now are you ready to confess ?”

  Slipping her arm out from under my knee, her hand lunged to my cock. With narrowed eyes, I watched her wrap her pretty little fingers around my throbbing shaft before she lifted her head off the mattress to take me back inside her mouth .

  Watching her head bob on my dick, I flexed the muscle between my balls and anus, letting her take me to new heights. I needed this to last and refused to come .

  She stared up at me with hooded lids, watching my face twist with subdued pleasure. Palming her head, I guided my arousal in and out of her mouth, taking her to where I wanted her to go, my chakras spinning wild .

  I knew she wasn’t ready to talk. Kendra was as hard-headed as they came. She would do anything to make me forget what it was I was after. And with my vision blurring, she almost won .

  Almost.

  Leaning back, I pulled my dick out, slapping her face with it before flipping her over onto her stomach. She giggled into the mattress as I reached behind me, gathering the cuffs and latching them to each of her wrists. As I secured the cuffs to her ankles, I said, “Remember, you’re my submissive .”

  Her pulse ticked in her neck with anticipation of what it was I was about to do her. There was no reason to be nervous or scared. She was in good hands with me. Though anxiety was a normal response, soon the pleasurable pain would take all that away, erasing her mind clean .

  Pushing her legs together, I pressed my thick girth against her entrance, working my way past the gatekeeper. One powerful thrust later and I was moving inside her. Her hot walls stretched as I rocked in and out to the loving tunes of whimpers whistling over her teeth. Slamming into her tight cunt she cried out, begging me to give her the orgasm she craved . />
  “Not yet, honey,” I said close to her ear, making sure to not get lost in the mission at hand .

  After a couple of minutes of pure enjoyment, I reluctantly left the safety of her hot cavern, knowing that if I wanted to get her to confess I needed to increase the pressure .

  Taking her by the elbow, I pulled her up off the bed and spun her around to the sawhorse. Flinging her body over the top, she landed on her stomach, her sweaty skin hitting it with a deep grunting thud .

  Stroking my shaft, slick with her lubrication, I raked over her beautifully shaped body, grinning with delight. I liked how she looked hung—arms and legs draped over the sides, dangling like an animal about to be skinned .

  She was mine. All mine. And I could do as I pleased .

  “I’m going to ask you again,” I murmured, fixing my gaze on hers. My fingers were busy latching each of her limbs securely to the trestle. “How do you know Parker is working with Madam ?”

  Her head raised as she let out a taunting laugh. “Go fuck yourself .”

  My lips parted with surprise before curling into a smirk .

  The more she resisted my questions—my demands—the more I believed that Sylvia was right about Kendra being in trouble. Whatever it was she was hiding had to be something she knew I would care about. Something that could destroy us both .

  Hooking her chin, I pulled her head up. I watched her eyes cross as she zeroed in on the tip of my cock. “If you’re not careful I’ll gag your mouth, prevent you from saying anything.” I paused, judging her reaction. “Including our safe word .”

  “Even if I wanted you to stop,” her eyes uncrossed and met mine, “I wouldn’t dare say her name with your cock inside me .”

  With muscles flexed, I stared into her soggy eyes, realizing that it had to be done. She gave me no choice. If there was ever a time I needed to remind her to obey her Dom, the time was now .

  Slowly, I marched to the closet and took the flogger off the wall .

  Circling back to Kendra, I snapped it sharply against her skin .

  She gritted her teeth and hung her head .

  Flicking it over her back, I quickly moved between her legs letting the tips snap against her battered pussy. With her head to the ground, she grunted, holding her breath, before letting out an agonizing scream .