Black Obsession

by C. J. Thomas

  A man wearing a black suit approached. He flashed an employee badge and said, “I need you two to come with me .”

  Ignoring him, I looked Alex in the eye. “I can’t let you go. Not until I know that you’ll be safe .”

  “Please,” the man said more firmly this time. “Come with me. You’re distracting our guests.” He reached for my arm .

  Alex leaned in close to my face and whispered, “Look what you did. Now you got both us in trouble .”

  She swung her hair over her shoulder and told the man she was ready to follow him. He released my arm and I smoothed out the wrinkles of my dress, hoping that I didn’t get us wedged between anything Kelly couldn’t get us out of. It wasn’t my intention to cause a scene, break the rules of the club, do anything other than make sure Alex was safe and out of harm’s way .

  Quickly, I caught up to Alex. “Don’t worry, I’m sure Wes and Kelly are behind this .”

  Alex stopped mid-stride. “Wes knows ?”

  I rolled my eyes over to her, nodding once. “C’mon. We have to get to Kelly before Nash knows you’re with me .”

  “Let’s be honest, I’m sure he already knows.” Alex sighed as a rope leading up the stairs was dropped by security .

  We followed the suit up the stairs only to find Kami waiting for us at the top. “Very well then.” She glanced between Alex and me. “Alex, it’s great to see you—” she reached out to smooth her hand down Alex’s arm, “—safe .”

  My brows furrowed. “What’s going on? Where’s Kelly ?”

  Kami rolled her eyes over to me, smiling. “He’s with Wes. And they’ve requested both of you.” She raised her brows and waved for them to follow her .

  Security seemed to be everywhere and as I looked at them with a questioning eye, I couldn’t stop thinking the worst. Did something happen in that short time I was gone? And how did Wes and Kelly know that Alex was here before I did? A million questions rolled through my mind as Kami led us down a series of dark hallways. Passing through a secure door I kept close to Alex, unsure what was going to happen next .

  When Kami stopped in front of a closed door, Alex whispered in my ear, “Am I really wrong about Nash ?”

  “Sometimes things aren’t what they seem.” I rolled my neck back to Kami when I heard the door latch click .

  Following her inside, Wes was there with Kelly. They were both standing near his desk with their hands buried deep inside their pockets. But when the door closed and I saw who was hiding behind it, I swore that my heart was going to stop .

  “What the fuck?” My jaw swung on its hinges .

  Nash had only eyes for Alex .

  Her feet were glued to the ground. Her body frozen stiff. And when Nash made a move for her, I stepped between them, blocking his pursuit .

  “You bastard!” I slapped my hands down hard in the center of his chest. “You stay away from her !”

  My hands beat his chest like a drum as I squeezed my eyes shut, hating him for thinking he could use my friend like he did Maria .

  I hit him again and again until I found myself wrapped tightly inside Kelly’s arms. “No! Let me go!” I screamed, kicking my legs in the air .

  Alex covered her chest with her arms, concern twisting her face. She looked to me for answers but I had none. Kelly was supposed to save us. Nash wasn’t supposed to be here. And he sure as hell wasn’t supposed to be acting like he loved Alex .

  Finally, after a minute, I calmed myself and Kelly dropped my heels back to the floor .

  “Everything is all right, Alex.” Wes rounded the corner of his desk and kept his gaze focused on Alex .

  “Everything is not all right,” I barked back .

  Looking between them, I turned my head and flashed Kelly a questioning look .

  “It’s okay.” He squeezed his arms around me. “She’s safe.” He slid his hand around my waist, holding me tight .

  “But he brought her here.” I tipped my chin back and looked him in the eye. “Just like he did Maria .”

  Alex drew in a shaky breath. Her round eyes were wet when I looked at her. She wasn’t sure what to believe or if the man she loved could be trusted .

  “Alex, honey, you told me Nash hadn’t been himself after Kelly questioned his involvement .”

  Her hands began shaking .

  “Be honest with yourself.” I paused as the room went silent. “Do you believe Nash has it in him to kill someone ?”

  “Don’t answer that!” Kelly pointed at Alex before pulling me behind him .

  “Alex, you know him best.” Tears swelled behind my eyes. “Do you think Nash is a killer ?”

  Kelly flipped around and clamped his hand over my mouth. “Stop it,” he growled .

  “Alex.” Wes’s calm voice eased the tension in the room. “He’s not a killer, is he ?”

  Alex wiped her face as she could barely look Nash in the face .

  “No, he’s not.” Wes stepped closer. “Because Nash was with me the night Maria was killed .”

  When Nash’s hand fell to Alex’s shoulder, she jumped. Gently, he pulled her into his arms, bringing her head over his heart. As soon as her head hit his chest she started crying. “Did you love her?” she asked him .

  Nash tipped his head back and stared into the ceiling as he blew out a shaky breath .

  I watched and waited to hear his answer, needing to know if he loved Maria as much as Alex wanted to know .

  My throat felt like sandpaper, burning the back of my mouth with each swallow .

  The clock ticked and there were still no answers .

  The first tear fell just as Kelly clamped his fingers around my elbow .

  Leading me out of the office, I dug my heels in. “Alex!” I reached for her hand but she was too far. “No, Kelly. I can’t leave her,” I cried as he pulled me through the hallway .

  Kelly kept marching, his shoulders rounded and his head down. Something had happened in that office before I arrived, a revelation that changed everything. His mood. Our reason for saving Alex from the monster we thought Nash might be .

  Sniffing back the tears I wiped my cheeks dry, trying not to trip on my heels. I stumbled but gave in to trusting Kelly. He wouldn’t leave Alex with Nash if he didn’t believe she was safe. That was the kind of man he was. The knight in shining armor that I knew him to be .

  The clock kept on ticking but time was irrelevant .

  Ignoring where Kelly was taking me, all I could think about was Alex and how I’d left her with the man I said was dangerous .

  Kelly kept one hand firmly clamped on my arm while I watched him dig out a keycard from his back pocket. He flashed it in front of the reader and the lock clicked over. Gently, he guided me into the room first. Spinning around to face him, I said, “What happened in there, Kelly? We can’t just leave Alex there all alone. She doesn’t know how much danger she is actually in .”

  He hung his head and worked to remove his jacket .

  “I’m worried, Kelly.” I held my hand over my thrashing heart .

  He hung his jacket on the far wall, turned back to me, and rolled up his sleeves as he sauntered in my direction. His eyes were dark and heavy. Stress washed away his beauty. This week had been too much. More than he could handle. And I wanted nothing more than to relieve his agony .

  “Is Alex going to be all right?” I pulled at the collar around my neck. “Are we going to be all right ?”

  He took my face between his calloused hands and tucked my hair behind my ear. “I was wrong, Bella . ”

  I felt lightheaded. “Wrong? About Alex ?”

  Kelly sat me down on the velvet couch against the wall. Over the next several minutes he told me everything that transpired in Wes’s office, beginning with how Nash was with Wes the night in question. I listened, hanging on to every word, wishing that I knew what he had learned before I shared my fears with Alex .

  But it was too late. The damage was done .

  But when Kelly told me that Angel fille
d in for reporter Sylvia Neil the night of Stone’s movie premiere, I asked him, “So, what’s next ?”

  Unbuttoning his shirt, he turned his head to the bed in the center of the room. Pulling me to my feet, he unzipped my gown, letting it float to the floor. “We go after Angelina Davis and ask her why she posed as Sylvia Neil .”

  43

  Kelly

  M y eyes raked over her beautiful soft body .

  Still hiding behind her mask, I reached behind her back and unclasped her bra. Her twins perked when free and I got lost in the emotions swirling around my head .

  My cock twitched, swelling harder as I lightly stroked her pebbled nipple .

  I didn’t want to think about how wrong I was about Nash. How I trusted Sylvia with information when I shouldn’t have. Mario deserved justice and I hated that he was taking the fall for something I knew in my heart he didn’t do .

  Squeezing my eyes shut, I knew I had failed .

  Raising my hand to Kendra’s throat, I felt her pulse ticking hard in her neck. The only thing I had going for me was Madam’s images of Timothy Parker having sex with a prostitute. I was losing at everything else I had been working so hard to solve. I needed to find my redemption .

  Kendra sucked in a breath and her belly fluttered against my touch. Her skin was on fire .

  Widening my stance, I forced her to look me in the eye. There was a tornado of mixed emotions staring back at me. “I need you,” I breathed into her ear .

  Her eyelids hooded as she gasped against my touch .

  Squeezing her tit, her legs wobbled .

  Wishing I could go back and change what happened, I was riddled with guilt. Getting lost in the beauty of Kendra’s body was my only way out. The only way to stop myself from sinking into a deep depression—something I had struggled with before. Feeling like I was trapped, the next words out of Kendra’s mouth hit me like a semi-truck .

  “You’ve been obsessed, Kelly .”

  Fisting her hair, my lips brushed against hers. “Give yourself over to me .”

  Her chest rose, then fell. “You don’t even know what you almost did .”

  There was a thickness in my throat that wouldn’t go away. “I was wrong .”

  Kendra bared her teeth. “And my best friend nearly lost the love of her life because of you .”

  “I was wrong,” I admitted again, my brows pulling together. “Doesn’t that mean anything to you ?”

  Her silence spoke volumes to how she was feeling. Releasing her hair, I circled around her then pushed her shoulders down before peppering open-mouthed kisses across her neck. Her skin prickled as I listened to her breathe .

  Smoothing my warm hands over her waist, I reached up her front and cupped each of her breasts inside the palms of my hands. Her sharp nipples sliced through my fingers. Pulling her back against my chest I held her, counting off the beats of her aching heart .

  With my balls painfully tight, I released one hand, stepped back and traced my finger down her spine. Her breath hitched when I came to the crease of her strappy opened back panties .

  She looked incredible in them. Had my cock twitching, begging to be freed .

  “You need to apologize to Alex,” she finally mewed. “Not me .”

  My hand flew to her mouth. Pinching her cheeks, I angled her head and let my mouth crash over hers. Her hot plump lips worked against mine. She sucked my tongue deeper into her mouth before darting hers into my mouth .

  She was sweet, defiant, and I couldn’t get enough of her .

  Stepping around, I filled my hands with her fleshy ass and picked her up. She tilted her head and deepened our kiss. Tonguing her, I pressed my arousal against her wetness. She writhed on me until she became breathless .

  The moment the balls of her feet hit the floor, I pushed her away and moved to the wall. Opening a wooden cabinet, I grabbed the first toy I saw .

  Kendra tucked her wavy hair behind her ear, keeping her eyes down to the floor .

  Stroking the leather paddle handle with my thumb, I tightened my grip and stared at her ass .

  “What are you doing, Kelly?” Her voice was soft with a hint of hesitation .

  Stepping behind her, I squeezed her ass and gently slapped it with my hand. It shook, mildly reddening. And it was enough to get her to turn around .

  Her eyes immediately went to the paddle. “I’m not in the mood .”

  I lifted it and offered her to take it. “Punish me .”

  “Kelly—” She lowered her head and let out a heavy sigh .

  Taking her hand, I forced her fingers to wrap around the handle. “I saw the look on your face during the show.” My cock swelled at the memory .

  She lifted the paddle up to her face and I watched her eyes drift over the edges, measuring the weight, studying the angle .

  I couldn’t wait. Didn’t have the patience for her to get into the mood. I needed her now .

  Hooking her shoulder, I pulled her close to my chest and slid my hand under the front of her panties. Her chest labored through desperate little pants as I cupped her heated mound. And when my fingers sliced between her folds, she gasped .

  Her words couldn’t hide what she was feeling .

  She was soaked .

  Hot.

  And completely turned on .

  Working my finger deeper inside her, I stroked her velvety walls until she began to whimper .

  Her lips parted and her eyes rolled to the back of my head .

  “I’m sorry, Bella. ” My thumb pressed firmly against her clit. Her head tipped back and she closed her eyes. “I lost sight of you. Of us.” I curled my finger inside her and put pressure on her front walls. “It’s my fault your relationship with Alex is strained. I was wrong about Nash, and I want to make it right .”

  Increasing my thrusts, Kendra’s hips bucked as she began to unzip me .

  I felt her walls tighten around my knuckle. Before she exploded on my hand, she pushed me back onto the bed. The mattress absorbed my weight and when I looked up, Kendra was stepping out of her sexy panties .

  Her tits perked, clenching my abs .

  Lifting each one of my legs, she worked my pants down my waist, pulling them free. Tossing them to the side, she went for my boxer shorts next—a gleam of desire in her eye when my dick sprang free. She climbed on top of me and guided my phallus deep into her body .

  And just when I thought I had lost at everything this week, my mind slowly drifted away as Kendra fucked me torturously slow, reminding me that nothing else mattered .

  44

  Kendra

  S tepping out of the shower, I wrapped a towel around my naked body .

  I never did see Alex again after leaving Mint last night. Kelly convinced me that I could trust Wes—if I wasn’t ready to fully trust Nash, I had to trust Wes and, not to mention, Kelly, too .

  Alex was going to be safe .

  I already had it in my head to call her as soon as I was finished drying off. It was all I could think about last night, unable to stop myself from sending her a text on the hour, every hour. She responded to the first couple, making me feel better about my decision to leave her with Nash. Then she faded off into the darkness of the night as I assumed she found her sleep just like I eventually did .

  Without hearing him sneak up from behind, Kelly tugged on the hem of my towel, hoping to get me my attention .

  My hands flew to my chest as I latched on. “Kelly !”

  He laughed, encasing me inside his strong arms. “Thought I could get you naked one last time before leaving .”

  Giggling, I tilted my head so he could sprinkle my neck with his kisses. My body purred and I couldn’t stop smiling. Today was looking promising and I had a feeling that Kelly’s head was clearer now that he could cross Nash off his suspect list .

  It was important he let this go, because not only did I want my friendship back with Alex, but I wanted Kelly to concentrate more on me as well. Our contract with the Madam wasn’t going t
o last forever. And though our relationship often felt like it was organic, in the back of my mind I knew that our days were numbered .

  “I have something I need to take care of.” His arms squeezed me tight. “Then I’ll be heading into the office .”

  I spun in his arms and smoothed my hands up his solid chest. Hooking my fingers over his shoulders, I glanced deep into his incredible eyes. They were younger looking than only last night. Refreshed with the vitality I knew them to have. Sexy, brave, and confident .

  “Is it something I can help you with?” I asked, appreciative of the way he made sure I knew what his day was like .

  His hands ironed up and down my sides. My body warmed beneath the towel, second-guessing my decision to remain covered. “No. You stay here .”

  By the way he was acting, I knew something was up. He wasn’t one to leave out the important details unless he was keeping something from me. Though I didn’t know what it was, naturally I had to ask. “Alex is safe with Nash, right ?”

  A corner of his lip curled. “Yeah. She’s safe.” He held my gaze in his confident eyes. “Now it’s time to clear my own name.” He dropped his forehead to rest against mine. “You going to be all right here by yourself ?”

  I dropped my gaze to his lips .

  “Hey.” He hooked my jaw and brought my eyes back to his .

  My eyebrow arched and I gave him a questioning look. “I’m not staying here .”

  “I know.” His voice was tender as he stroked my reddened cheeks with his thumbs. “The credit card is on the dresser.” He pecked at my lips and tightened his grip around my waist. “Purchase some sexy lingerie for me and get yourself whatever you want .”

  I laughed, thrusting my tongue against his. He knew I wouldn’t be holed up inside the apartment all day waiting for his return. No fucking way. I had to get out, soak up the sun, let my spirit free .

  Reaching beneath my towel, his hand moved between my thighs, grazing my erect clit with the tip of his finger. My heart stuttered as I whimpered in response .