by Ali Vali
She was squeezing Shelby’s ass so hard she was sure she would leave fingerprints when they were done, but she wanted to hold out and let Shelby set their pace.
“Now, baby, give me what I want,” Shelby said.
Muriel rolled her over and lifted herself up a little so she could move her hips more freely. When she felt Shelby’s nails dig into her shoulders, she pumped harder and watched her breasts bounce from the force of her thrusts. All the stimulation brought her to the brink where she couldn’t stop, but Shelby begged for more.
The headboard was starting to thump against the wall, and Shelby spread her legs farther apart in encouragement. Somewhere in the house a cell phone started ringing but went unanswered as Muriel felt her orgasm wash through her. She held on long enough to feel Shelby meet her thrust for thrust before she arched her back and said her name. Once she heard it, Muriel slumped down, pinning Shelby to the bed with the length of her body.
“My boss warned me about you today,” Shelby said, the tips of her fingers skimming over Muriel’s skin from her neck to her butt in a way that soothed rather than excited.
“Funny, my cousin warned me about you too.” Muriel rolled off so they could change positions. “What’d you tell the esteemed Agent Annabel?”
“The woman is an accomplished and decorated agent, but why is it every time you say her name you make her sound like a hick?” In their new position Shelby found new territory to trace and moved to Muriel’s forehead.
“The name Annabel opens you up to a certain amount of witty sarcasm, unless you’re the mascot for a milk company. Then it’s perfectly acceptable.” Muriel had to move quickly to capture Shelby’s hands when she reached down and pinched her.
“Behave and answer my question.”
“I told her what I’m sure you told Cain—we’re just friends.”
“You mean you didn’t say friends with benefits?” Muriel joked, then hissed when Shelby pinched her with a lot more force. “You’re going to bruise me.”
“I’m going to beat the crap out of you if you’re paying out benefits to anyone else.”
Muriel laughed and rolled over again so she could kiss her. “As if,” she said when their lips parted. “I’m sleeping with an FBI agent who follows me around all day. Pretty stupid of me to break the rules, don’t you think?”
“You’re a Casey, honey. You’re programmed to break the rules.”
“Touché, but being a Casey means I’m as loyal as they come.”
Shelby reached up and ran her fingers through her hair. “That’s the only reason you got into my skirt. My problem now is that I happen to really like having you there.”
“You see that as a problem?” Muriel kissed her again and rolled off so she could sit up.
“I didn’t say it to make you mad,” Shelby said, draping herself on Muriel’s back.
“I’m not mad at you, just at fate.”
“How do you mean?”
Muriel smiled when she felt Shelby’s lips on the back of her neck. “Nothing important, just something Cain once told me about safe havens.” Fate was indeed a cruel bitch, thought Muriel. She’d finally found the woman who stirred her in every possible way, but was also the one person in the world in whom she could never confide--—not without life-changing consequences.
“You think this won’t work, don’t you?” Shelby asked.
“For once I don’t have all the answers, but I do know what I want. The real question is, can I have it without one of us turning our backs on something we hold dear?”
Shelby sat next to her and took her hand. “Don’t you mean someone? I’m not asking you to betray Cain. All I’m asking for is what you can give me. It’s enough.”
For now, thought Muriel, but didn’t voice the words. She only nodded and followed Shelby to the bathroom for another shower. The impossible had happened, she thought as she watched the sway of Shelby’s hips; she’d fallen in love with a woman who’d taken an oath to destroy her family. She’d never voice the words “I love you,” either, and that was the cruelest fate of all.
Chapter Nine
Five black limousines turned into the Piquant, and Cain frowned as the pack of paparazzi got their cameras ready. They were almost as bad as the feds.
She and Emma emerged from the first car, both laughing when the wall of guards ruined any good shots. Muriel and Shelby, in the second car, nodded to them as they arrived and stood beside them, waiting for the others. The only person the photographers truly recognized got out next on Remi’s arm, and they started shouting Susan’s name. Ramon, Marianna, Mano, and Sylvia followed them, and in the last car were Dwayne, Steve, and their wives.
“Emma, you look stunning,” Remi said as they walked in together. “And that’s a beautiful dress you have on, Susan.”
“What dress? You mean the strings hanging over her tits and ass. That’s a dress?” someone said.
“Thank you. You’re looking dapper yourself tonight. Maybe once this is over we could go somewhere more intimate?” Susan asked as she hung from her arm.
“Let’s see what the night has to offer, shall we?” Remi said as they entered the packed ballroom a floor up. “Good turnout, but maybe it’s just the crab puffs.”
“The drinks are on me, so shall we?” Cain said, guiding Emma to their reserved table.
“Let’s give ourselves thirty minutes, then we’ll get this over with since I know you love big crowds as much as I do,” Remi said to Cain. “Guys, meet me at the bar in twenty,” she told Dwayne and Steve.
The purchase of Gemini was a joint venture, but Remi and the guys would be the front men on the project, which was how Cain had wanted it set up. With the acquisition of the studio, she’d found the perfect business to account for all the money she made, since moviemaking had a lot of accounting loopholes. Most important, she trusted Remi to keep her investment safe.
“I’ll gladly dance with my wife while you do all the heavy lifting on this one,” Cain said, taking Emma’s hand. “Ramon, Marianna, join us?”
Remi left her date talking to a director and couldn’t believe her luck as she neared the bar. She took in the vision in the black dress who sat nursing a drink and appearing bored with the whole process, and her curiosity grew. “Hello, stranger, come here often?” she whispered into Dallas’s ear.
The low voice made Dallas visibly shiver. “My, but black is definitely your color,” Dallas said. “Love the tux.”
“Flatterer. I must agree on one thing though, Ms. Montgomery. Black is definitely my color,” Remi said, looking from the top of Dallas’s head down to the black pumps. “You’re a vision. I can see why the movie was named Lady-killers. Are you here alone or is that just wishful thinking?”
“No, Bob’s around here somewhere pumping the flesh.”
“Not a flesh pumper yourself?”
“Actually, I’d much rather be people watching in the French Quarter, but these gatherings are necessary in the industry if you don’t want to be passed over. Hopefully this guy won’t be too long-winded and we can slip out of here early.”
Remi had opened her mouth to tell Dallas to go home and do just that, when the voice she remembered from the plane boomed in her ear. “I thought I told you to stay away from her, pervert. You could ruin her image just by standing next to her,” Bob said as he wrapped a proprietary arm around Dallas’s waist. “Get lost.”
Remi was about to comment he needed to have the jacket and the pants of his tuxedo let out some, but decided not to waste her time.
“Dallas, it was nice seeing you again. I’ll do what I can about any long speeches.” With that Remi turned and disappeared into the crowd.
“Bob, that was rude and unnecessary.” Dallas pulled his arm away and wondered what her new friend meant by her long-speech comment.
“Looking after my property, babe. Can’t have people thinking ill of you, can we? Look, the program’s starting. Let’s move where we’ll be noticed.” Bob pulled her off the bars
tool and started pushing people out of the way to get closer to the stage.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen and distinguished guests. I’m Robin Burrus of Gemini Studios, and I’d like to welcome you to our simple gathering tonight to welcome our new CEO.
“I’ve known Remington Jatibon for quite some time and am glad to see a Jatibon finally take the reins of the main offices of Gemini. This is a family who’ll work tirelessly until we dominate the moviemaking industry. Remi, I know you’ll do your parents Ramon and Marianna proud. Please help me in welcoming Remington Jatibon.” He turned and hugged Remi when she stepped on stage, patting her back several times before letting go.
When Remi turned to face the gathering Bob hissed, “What in the hell is she doing up there?”
Dallas felt weak for a moment and uttered, “Oh, dear God, I’m screwed.”
Lisa, standing behind them, answered Bob’s question first. “She’s up there because, Dickey, that’s Remi Jatibon.” Then turning to Dallas she said, “Not yet, sweetie, but we’re working on it.”
“Thank you, everyone, for coming out tonight. I won’t keep you long since someone just reminded me how people feel about long speeches.” Her eyes cut to the right of the stage and met Dallas’s. Remi shrugged and smiled. Dallas crossed her arms and frowned slightly in return obviously not happy with her lie of omission as to who she was.
“Starting Monday, a new era will begin at Gemini. My team and I intend to build upon the great work you in this room have already done since the inception of the studio. Together we’ll succeed in making Gemini better and more progressive than anyone else in the business.
“Through your craft you’ll be present at many of our audience’s first dates and first kisses. You’ll touch people in ways you might not even realize. Our job is to help you continue to make the magic that has brought us to this point. My door is always open if any of you ever need my assistance.” Remi looked back toward Dallas and smiled again.
“In closing, I’d like to introduce the new management team for Gemini Studio, Dwayne St. Germaine and Steve Palma.” Remi waited for them to join her. “Thank you all for coming and good night. Please stay and enjoy the food and drink, and we look forward to Monday.”
The inevitable press to the stage came, swallowing them as they stepped off of it. When they emerged, Dallas saw a striking woman take Remi’s hand and figured she was Remi’s date for the evening. “I’ll be lucky to get cast as a stand-in extra now.”
“Okay, babe, we’ve got some major damage control to do, starting now,” Bob said from behind her. “But this isn’t anything we can’t fix.”
“We? Who is we, Dickey? I’d get used to the name because, believe me, she isn’t going to forget it anytime soon. I am so screwed. Do you think she’ll forget, let’s see,” Dallas started counting off on her fingers, “‘Dyke,’ ‘shit for brains,’ ‘moron,’ and ‘pervert’? Oh, yeah, she’ll be in a big-ass hurry to forgive us both.”
*
The furor in the room died away when the doors the Caseys and Jatibons had departed through closed. Some people returned to the dance floor and most went back to the bar, but Muriel and Shelby kept their seats.
“Are Cain and Remi Jatibon going into business together?”
“This is a date, Shelby, not a fishing expedition.” Muriel took a sip of her whiskey and thought about how quiet Cain had been around them in the short time she was there. It wasn’t anger in her face, more like disappointment.
“Just a simple question.”
“Tell me truthfully that the simple answer won’t end up in some official report.” She drained the glass and along with it went any good feelings left from the beginning of their evening.
“I can’t do that.”
“Then it’s not really a simple question, is it?” She stood and held out her hand. “Let’s call it a night.”
“Cut me some slack here. I’m sorry.”
“No need to be sorry, I’m just ready to go.” There was no commotion when they left and no conversation in the limo on the way to Shelby’s small house uptown.
“Thanks for coming,” Muriel finally said when they stopped and she walked Shelby to the door. “I’ll call you.”
As Muriel turned, she thought she heard Shelby say “I bet you don’t,” but she couldn’t be sure.
*
“We have one thing going for us,” Merrick said as she and Katlin got ready for bed. Katlin had moved out of Jarvis’s pool house and in with her.
“We have plenty going for us, but what are you talking about?”
“Cain might not be thrilled we’re together, but Muriel’s love life should shift the limelight, don’t you think?” She pulled the covers back and draped her leg over Katlin as soon as she lay down.
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around that one. My Uncle Dalton is probably spinning in his grave at what she’s doing.”
Merrick ran her hand down Katlin’s abdomen and sighed. “We can’t always pick who we fall for.”
“But sometimes we can make sacrifices for the sake of what we believe in, if the person we choose doesn’t respect it.” She slapped Merrick softly on the ass and pulled her closer. “That’s for Muriel to decide, though, and right now I’m not worried about her and her problems.”
“How long will you be gone this time?”
“Just a few days while we close the Capri deal. You’ll barely notice I’m gone.”
Merrick laughed at the gentle teasing and decided to do some of her own by squeezing Katlin’s upper thigh between her legs.
“Need help with anything?” Katlin asked.
“You’re still here? I didn’t notice,” Merrick said, letting out a shriek when Katlin slapped her ass again, making it sting this time. The night would have to last them until Katlin got back.
Chapter Ten
“Tell me, Simon, why are women so complicated? You’d think I’d know since I’m a woman, but I’ve never been able to find an answer.”
“That question has no right answer, since all women are different. The best solution I’ve found, instead of wasting my time trying, has been to give diamonds for every occasion and in any circumstance.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Remi said as she walked through the Quarter to the address her assistant Juno had given her that morning.
Juno had worked for her mother in Cuba and defected with the Jatibon family. Marianna had accepted the young girl’s relationship with the quiet Simon, who at the time was Ramon’s bodyguard, for what she saw it, love. As Remi grew and her father gave her more responsibility, he also gave her Simon. The strong woman would kill someone, if necessary, to protect one of Ramon’s beloved children. Juno came along as part of the package, and together they kept Remi’s life centered and on schedule.
“Just remember we have to be at the airport at ten,” Simon said as they stopped in front of a plain building on Bourbon Street.
“The cup of coffee I’m planning on should take ten minutes.” Remi glanced back when Simon cleared her throat. “What? You think she won’t like coffee?”
“I’m sure she loves coffee, but telling her you’re taking ten minutes out of your busy schedule isn’t going to win you any favors.”
“You should write a self-help book.” Remi smirked as she pushed the buzzer.
“Can I help you?”
Remi recognized Dallas’s voice and was surprised she’d answered the buzzer. “Good morning, Dallas, it’s Remi.”
“I’m sorry, who?”
She took her finger off the intercom and looked at Simon. “Hell, ten minutes might have been an overestimation.”
“In these situations groveling and heartfelt apologies work just as well as precious stones.”
“Remi Jatibon,” Remi said, returning to the paces Dallas was putting her through.
“Sounds familiar…hmm…have we met?”
“I have some aliases you might recognize.” Remi shook her head and took her finge
r off the button, then pointed it at Simon to make her stop laughing. “There’s ‘dyke,’ ‘shit for brains,’ and ‘moron.’ Did I leave any out?”
“You left out ‘pervert,’ I believe,” Dallas said, then laughed. “You have to realize Bob suffers from a chronic case of foot in the mouth.”
“Let’s not waste our time talking about Dickey. Can I come in?”
A buzzer sounded, unlocking the door, and the plain exterior gave way to a beautiful courtyard and garden sprinkled with pieces of outdoor art and wrought-iron furniture. The place felt more like home than a temporary location rental. One of the chairs under the largest shade tree had a book on it, and Remi figured that must be Dallas’s reading nook.
She stepped onto the patch of grass, curious as to what Dallas was reading, and smiled when she saw Turn Back Time, by Radclyffe, with a bookmark close to the end. “Now I’m more curious than ever,” she whispered.
Footsteps on the slate floor made her look up to find Dallas wearing worn jeans and a loose white shirt, with her hair pulled into a ponytail.
“Good morning,” Remi said.
“Yes, it is.” Dallas stopped when she reached the edge of the grass. “You’re here, we both know who we are, and no one’s wearing a tux.”
“Not much on studio parties, are we?”
“I’m more of a barefoot and jeans girl, actually.”
Remi glanced down at the sandals. “You put on shoes for me? That’s flattering.”
“I figure if you’re here to fire me, it would be more professional if I was dressed somewhat like an adult.”
The reasoning made no sense to Remi, and she glanced back at Simon. “Your ideas on women are sounding better all the time,” she said, then laughed and shook her head. “I’m not here to fire you, since at the moment you don’t actually work for me, but I am here to ask you for a favor over coffee.”
“Have a seat and I’ll go make some.”
“We can go somewhere for coffee. I didn’t mean to put you out.” She nevertheless picked up the book and sat down.