Black Obsession

by C. J. Thomas

  Raising my hand to his face, I touched his smoothly shaved skin. I liked having it not be disguised and hidden with a mask. A face as beautiful as his deserved to be shown to the world .

  Submitting myself over to him, he fucked me with his finger. My hips lunged and I moaned the moment his finger hit my tender ball of nerves, sending my eyes fluttering closed .

  Memories of last night filled my brain as I relished in the memory of fucking him at the club. The sex was hot, but not as rough as I would have preferred. Though I had to give him credit for turning me on after feeling so cold .

  But last night wasn’t about me, it was about him. And I had used my vagina to remind him what he should be focusing on .

  My lips rounded as my muscles flexed. Holding my breath, I shuddered through a mini orgasm while Kelly kept me from collapsing to the floor. When I could breathe again, he dropped me to my feet and busied himself with finishing getting ready .

  From the bathroom I watched him put on a red silk tie over his white shirt. His suit jacket and pants were classic Kelly Black, jet black and pressed to perfection. He looked amazingly confident and whatever he had planned, I was already jealous of whoever got to spend the day by his side .

  “I was going to take Maxwell with me,” Kelly called from the bedroom closet. “But if you need him I’ll drive myself .”

  “No,” I responded while working my lashes in front of the mirror. “You sound busy. Use the time to prepare for whatever you have going on .”

  Kelly’s head peeked inside the bathroom. “Have I told you how amazing you are ?”

  “Yes.” I smiled, biting my bottom lip. “But you can always tell me again .”

  His eyes dilated as he raked them over me. “You’re fucking amazing .”

  He vanished in a flash leaving me to chuckle to myself. And as I brushed my hair, then my teeth, all I could think about was what I could do to surprise him later tonight .

  Padding into the bedroom, Kelly scooped me into his arms. Our eyes swayed as I murmured, “Do you have to work today ?”

  “This needs to be done.” He kissed me .

  My body responded affectionately .

  “Tonight, we celebrate and I’m all yours after that.” He grinned .

  My skin tingled at the promise. The sincere look he was giving me made me feel alive and wanted, like he couldn’t live without me .

  Gripping his tie, I pulled his lips over mine. Thrusting my tongue against his, I wanted to leave him with something to keep me on his mind. Hell, I wanted to make certain he obsessed over me, because there wasn’t going to be a passing minute today that I didn’t think about him; where he was, what he was doing .

  “You be good,” he said, stepping away .

  Folding my arms over my chest, I kept a yearning eye on him .

  I followed him to the living room and watched him sling the leather strap of his briefcase over his shoulder before glancing one more time behind him to blow me a kiss .

  Then, once the front door clicked shut, a quiver rolled through my stomach .

  There was little doubt in my mind he was keeping something from me. And I had a sickening feeling that it had to do with Timothy Parker .

  Turning on a heel, I headed back to the bedroom and immediately picked up my cell phone. Scrolling to Alex’s number, I hit the call button, inhaled a deep breath, and lifted the phone to my ear .

  As I listened to the line ring, I plucked the credit card Kelly left for me off the top of the dresser. The feeling of euphoria hit my eyes as I started daydreaming of what I could purchase. I knew it had to be something sexy, something that would make fucking me good and hard totally irresistible .

  Spinning around, I took in the bedroom, thinking that I should probably go back to my own place soon. Just to make sure it was still standing .

  “Hey, girl.” The line clicked over and Alex answered .

  My lips tugged to my ears. “What’s up, bitch ?”

  She giggled and I knew right then that everything was going to be all right .

  “Look, about last night — ”

  “—forget about it. It’s over. Nash is with me now .”

  Dropping my face into my hand, relief swept over me. I could almost see her through the line looking at Nash with a sparkle in her eye .

  “I know why you did it, Kendra.” Her voice was light but strong. “Wes explained it all to me after you left with Kelly .”

  “I don’t want anything to happen to you .”

  “Don’t worry. I’m a big girl.” I could hear her smiling from the tone in her voice .

  “Hey, I was thinking,” I folded an arm over my belly, “maybe you and I could hit up that gym I was telling you about ?”

  I could hear her breathing through the line, mulling it over. I knew she wasn’t excited about the idea, but neither was I. But it was a reason for us to get together. Especially knowing that both of our time would soon be filled up by the men we were dating .

  “Only if I don’t have to go on a diet .”

  Feelings of joy filled my body. “What you eat is up to you .”

  “Then let me know when you want to go,” she said .

  I ended our call, promising to call tomorrow. Telling her Kelly was taking me out for a romantic evening on the town tonight, she suggested she might have to whip Nash’s ass in gear to do the same. I had to laugh at that, hoping that she could rebound from her failed reunion she had worked so hard to plan but never did get to enjoy .

  Putting on clothes, I started singing. Slowly, my voice grew louder until it filled the entire penthouse apartment. I was feeling good. Confident in my relationship with Kelly and thrilled to be getting my friendship back on track with Alex .

  Moving to the kitchen I gathered my things and packed my tote for the day ahead .

  I didn’t have the patience to wait until tonight to see Kelly again. I wanted him to be home now, wining and dining me between our bouts of fucking .

  Swiping my thumb over my cell’s screen as I headed out, I put in a request to be picked up by an Uber driver in my usual spot down the block .

  Leaving the building, there was an extra bounce in my step. Holding my chin high, I soaked up the sunshine, singing to myself .

  I saw the familiar car and knew it was him. Opening the back door, Lucky smiled and greeted me. “Good morning, sunshine .”

  “You’re in a good mood,” I said as I slid inside the back of his vehicle. “Does it have anything to do with that woman you said you were seeing ?”

  He took the car out of park, looked over his shoulder, and pulled away from the curb with a big smile plastered across his face. “Perhaps .”

  “Right, you don’t kiss and tell.” I smirked, turning my head to look out the window .

  “That man you were with, the one in the news.” His eyes flickered in the rearview mirror .

  Leaning forward he had my full attention, meaning to ask him what, if anything, he had discovered .

  “I’ve been keeping my eye open.” His smile faded from his face. “See if I could see him around town .”

  My fingers curled over the back of the seat as I stared at the side of his face, intently listening .

  “I thought you would like to know — ”

  “What is it?” I asked as I watched my knuckles go white .

  He turned his head the moment he stopped at a light .

  My brows raised and I leaned my body closer .

  The sound of my beating heart ticked like the timer on a clock .

  “I have not seen him .”

  Closing my eyes, I dropped my chin to my chest and blew out a sigh of relief. “You scared me.” I hit him on his shoulder. He laughed and didn’t let up until I said, “He’s taking me out tonight .”

  “Very good.” His head nodded .

  “Tell me, what is this woman like who you’re dating ?”

  “Very beautiful. Like a movie star. Hmm hmm.” He grinned. “Curvy body. Long wavy hair. Eye
s that sparkle like the stars .”

  And as Lucky continued describing the many features of his new lady-friend, there was only one face that came to mind—Angel’s friend .

  Slowly, I drifted into my head, thinking back to the night of Ty Lemon’s party .

  Angel’s face appeared behind my lids, her words echoing between my ears. What she accused me of being, how she knew who Madam was, and what kind of business she knew Madam ran. And when remembering the specific details of the night—everything from her snide remarks to the way she ridiculously flirted with Timothy—it wasn’t hard for me to also see her friend’s narrowed slits for eyes, closely watching my every move .

  “Kendra—” Lucky’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “We’ve arrived .”

  Blinking, I glanced out the window and wondered how long we had been stopped .

  The shopping strip was bustling with activity, yet I couldn’t stop thinking about how I should tell Lucky he wasn’t that woman’s only boyfriend. Yet, without a name I was only speculating. But there was one thing I could ask to make sure my assumptions were right .

  “Lucky, does your woman have a birth mark on her lip ?”

  His brows pinched .

  “A mole.” I pointed to the location on my own face. “Right about here .”

  His lips parted. “How did you know ?”

  I sighed, opening the car door. The hairs on my neck stood on end as a dark tunnel clouded my vision, remembering the fear I saw in her eyes the day I saw her running for her life inside Emmanuel’s new salon .

  “Just a lucky guess,” I whispered .

  45

  Kelly

  T he elevator car slowed to a stop .

  Lacing my fingers together, I extended my arms and cracked my knuckles .

  Rolling my neck, I loosened my muscles, preparing for attack .

  And as soon as the metal doors slid open, I stepped onto the top floor and was immediately drawn to the Parker Holdings emblem filling the wall in front of me. It was a bold sign, welcoming me to his world headquarters .

  Curling the corners of my mouth into a knowing smirk, I couldn’t wait to see his face when I showed the pictures of him and his mistress. “How much is your empire worth to you, asshole?” I mumbled under my breath at the sign before turning to reception .

  Sauntering up to the front desk, I pulled on my suit jacket and was quickly met with friendly eyes. She was young, attractive, and full of promise. Sadly, it was apparent she didn’t realize the man she worked for was a sexual predator and was about to be greeted with the wakeup call of his life—a story I was sure to expose to the world if Parker didn’t meet me on my terms .

  “How can I help you?” her warm voice greeted me .

  “Mr. Parker in?” I casually asked .

  “Your name ?”

  “Kelly Black .”

  “Mr. Black, Mr. Parker is currently on a conference call.” She turned to her computer screen, her finger clicking on her mouse. “I’m afraid I don’t see you on his schedule.” Her brows pinched .

  “That’s because I don’t have an appointment.” Slowly, I stepped around her desk, heading to the doors of Parker’s office .

  “If you have a seat, I’m sure we can work you in .”

  “That won’t be necessary.” I held up my hand, glancing between her and Parker’s office doors. “This won’t take long .”

  She stood, openly staring at my brazen move. “Mr. Black — ”

  Barging into Parker’s office, his secretary’s voice vanished as soon as the door shut behind me. Parker stood facing the floor-to-ceiling windows and when he turned around and saw me walking toward his desk, his brows lifted. “Charles, I apologize, but I’m going to need to call you back .”

  Pulling my hands free from my pockets, I picked up the framed photo he had perched on his desk. He stood in the middle, arms draped over the shoulders of his two grown children. No wife. Just the three of them, happy and smiling .

  Ending the call, Parker fixed his gaze on me. “Next time make an appointment and I would be happy to have my lawyer join us .”

  Setting the frame back where I’d found it, I said, “I didn’t mean to interrupt your call, it sounded important.” I pulled out the chair facing his desk and let my body fall into it. Crossing one leg over my thigh, I gave him a knowing look .

  “What can I do for you, Kelly ?”

  He found his way into his own chair as anger flared inside me. Not wanting to waste another minute of my time dealing with this asshole, I dove my hand inside my jacket pocket and pulled out the images Madam gave to me. Slapping them down on his desk, face-up, I didn’t need to say anything for him to get the picture .

  His eyes were glued to the image on top and I swore he stopped breathing. After several long seconds of him blankly staring at it, he leaned forward and shuffled the deck, studying each photo with a careful eye. “What’s this ?”

  “The next big story about to get leaked to the press.” I flashed him a bright-eyed look .

  He eyed me for a second before continuing to finger his way through the stack for a second time around. There was fear twinkling in his gaze, and I liked what I was seeing. He was getting backed into the corner and the tables were turning. “Where did you get these ?”

  I didn’t have to ask if it was true. If what he was doing to that woman was real. The look on his face was enough to prove his guilt. He’d done it. And, until now, I was certain he didn’t have any regrets .

  Smirking, I said, “You had no chance when you came after me .”

  Falling back into his chair, he turned away, rubbing his face with his hand as he did. Stealing a glance between me and the images on his desk, he finally started talking. “I didn’t want to, Kelly. I have nothing against you .”

  “Are you sure about that?” My forehead pinched as I thought about the night I stole Kendra away from him .

  “Anyone crazy about Kendra would have done the same.” His posture relaxed. “She’s an incredible woman. But you’re clearly the better man .”

  A ball of fire spun in my gut as a possessive rage spread across my chest. I didn’t like hearing him mention Kendra by name. She was mine. He had no right to say her name. He’d destroyed any chance at me being civil when handling this. I could have lost my career, been devastated and sunk deep into a dark abyss similar to the time when Nora died. “I know about Oscar threatening you .”

  He blew out a heavy breath. “I had no choice, Kelly. I couldn’t allow him to put my business under the microscope like that. Not with me about to close on my latest acquisition .”

  I uncrossed my leg and dropped my foot to the floor. Leaning forward, I spun the photos around to face me. “What’s her name?” I asked, plucking the image off the surface and turning it around to face him .

  He sighed. “Tonya .”

  “Last name?” My brow formed a perfect arch .

  “Craig.” Parker brought his elbows to the desk and held a photo of Tonya in front of his face. “Met her at Ty Lemon’s party.” His gaze flickered up to me. “I saw you there that night, too .”

  “I was there.” I nodded .

  “Look, Kelly.” He lowered the photo of Tonya. “I didn’t know she was a call girl until after the fact .”

  “Call girl, you say ?”

  “Cut the crap. Like you didn’t know .”

  “Depends.”

  “On?” His expression pinched .

  “Whether or not you go forward with the trumped-up assault charges you pressed against me .”

  He turned his head to the window with a clenched jaw. “Who has a copy of these ?”

  “Only me,” I lied .

  “I can’t have this get leaked to the press .”

  Spinning his desk phone around to face me, I picked up the receiver and held it out for him to take. “Then call the DA’s office. Now .”

  His eyes narrowed at the phone .

  “Retract the charges, and consider your se
cret safe .”

  “Kelly, you know it’s not that easy.” He crossed his arms tightly over his chest. “If I do that, then the DA will be investigating me for financial crimes. If only out of spite. You know Oscar, he’s a dog when it comes to things like this .”

  My cell started ringing inside my pocket. “Don’t worry about Oscar, he’s being handled as we speak,” I said, freeing my phone. “Keep these.” I tapped the photos of him and Tonya. “You can have the originals when I know the charges are dropped .”

  Parker’s face grimaced as he watched me stand .

  “Giselle,” I answered. “I’m in the middle of something. What is it ?”

  “Where are you ?”

  “Parker Holdings.” My eyebrows drew together. “Why ?”

  “Judge Smith stopped by .”

  My heart paused to take a breath. “And ?”

  “I’m afraid the news isn’t good .”

  46

  Kendra

  I titled my head to the side .

  My nose wrinkled as I bit the inside of my cheek .

  Stretching the waistline between my fingers, I lifted the crotch of the panties over my head. Peering up through the hole in the middle, the ceiling light caught my eye like a bullseye .

  “What do you think?” the redheaded woman who was assisting me asked .

  Tilting my head to the other side, I said, “Really ?”

  Red snickered. “A line from the drive through menu .”

  Peeling my eyes away from the panties, I gave her a look. “That’s a thing ?”

  Her shoulders shrugged. “You wouldn’t believe .”

  Hanging the skimpy pair of slutty underwear back on the hook, I reminded her that I was here to look sexy, not get my prostitute on. My man had stamina and enough patience to take his time and last the night. He wasn’t an in-and-out kind of lover .

  “Don’t get me wrong,” I said, “I have nothing against offering my man a quick meal, but that’s not how I want tonight to go .”

  Red chuckled. “I totally get it .”

  “I think I’ll go with these,” I said, holding up the sexy set I’d first gravitated toward .