Evidence of Darkness

by J L Walker

  Juanita released Reesa, then sprang up from her seat and walked up to the bar, extending her arms to Adele. Mike guided Adele over to her and they grabbed on to each other.

  Reesa looked up just as Judge Regnier looked at Farley then Mike, “Are there any questions?”

  Farley look at the judge and replied, “No, Your Honor.”

  Mike turned toward the judge and answered, “No, Your Honor.”

  “You are all excused,” Regnier stated firmly.

  Reesa was unable to contain her excitement and walked around the bar to Mike. He pulled her to him and in a quivering voice, he whispered in her ear, “It’s over. We did it.”

  She glanced up at him and smiled. “You did it, Mike…you did it!”

  The jury was swiftly escorted out of the room, and there was a flurry of activity around them as people began leaving the courtroom.

  Adele finally released Juanita and walked over to Reesa. She let go of Mike and Adele wrapped her arms around her. “Thank you so much, Reesa. You saved my life!”

  Reesa looked into her tear-streaked face. “Adele, you’re free to leave now. Let Juanita help you get your life back on track, and please make sure you get the help you need to work through all that’s happened to you, okay?”

  “Yes, I promise I’ll do that. For you.”

  “No, do it for yourself, Adele. Do it for you.”

  “Okay, I will. Thank you so much.”

  Mike and Reesa followed Juanita and Adele out of the courthouse. Once they had turned and started walking in the opposite direction, Mike wrapped his arm around Reesa, and they began walking down the sidewalk towards the car.

  He looked down at her, grinning. “I can feel you shaking, are you okay?”

  She looked up at him and laughed through her tears. “Yes, I’m fine. It’s been a stellar evening, hasn’t it?”

  “Yes, it definitely has been.” He kissed her forehead. “And it’s not over yet!”

  22

  DISSOLUTION OF DARKNESS

  “Oh, my God, Mike, I can’t believe it’s over. Adele is finally free!” Reesa exclaimed, sliding into the passenger side of the car.

  Mike tossed his briefcase in the back, then climbed into the driver’s seat. He leaned his head against the headrest and paused a moment, looking up. “Yes, she is. Finally.”

  Reesa smiled at him. “I really think she’s going to be fine.”

  He turned to look at her. “I think so too, but she has a long road ahead of her.”

  “Yes, she does. I think I may check on her from time to time, just to make sure she’s on track.”

  “That would be nice.” He started the engine then looked down and took a deep breath. “It’s late. I guess we should head back to my place so you can get your car. You’re probably exhausted.”

  “I’m so excited I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep for a week. Besides, I slept in a little this morning. You’re probably tired though. You’ve had a very long day.”

  A grin washed over his face and he shook his head. “I’m not the least bit tired. It’s going to be quite a while before I’ll be able to shake off this adrenaline rush.”

  “So, are we going to finish what we started earlier?” she asked shyly with a mischievous expression on her face.

  He looked at her longingly. “I was hoping you’d ask me that.”

  “Then we’d better get going. We may have a very busy night ahead of us.”

  Mike was still grinning as he pulled out of the parking space and started driving down the street.

  Reesa glanced over at him, tilting her head down slightly. “I guess I need to ask you…do you have something, or are they back at your place?”

  He chuckled. “Hell, yes, I have some! Are you kidding me? I’m not making that mistake again.”

  “Well, my apartment is closer you know.”

  “Say no more,” he said, quickly switching lanes so he could turn left in a few blocks.

  Mike parked his car in Reesa’s spot in the parking garage. After he grabbed his briefcase out of the back seat, they walked hand in hand to the elevator. Immediately after Reesa pressed the button for her floor, he set the briefcase down and stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her.

  She felt peaceful as she stood there, submerged in his embrace. “This is kind of nice. I think I could get used to it.”

  “I certainly hope you do.”

  She turned around and embraced him. Their lips met and they instantly became so engrossed in each other that when the doors flew open, they were unaware of an elderly woman who discretely stepped around them and entered the elevator.

  Just before she pressed a button, she cleared her throat. “Are you two getting out here, or do I get to watch you make-out all the way up to my floor?”

  Mike and Reesa immediately stopped kissing and tried to regain their composure.

  “Yes, sorry, we’re getting off here,” Mike replied, stepping out of the elevator.

  The lady snickered. “Well, you were definitely heading in that direction, dear.”

  Slightly embarrassed, Reesa covered her mouth and tried not to giggle as she followed Mike into the hallway.

  Just when the doors were about to close, the woman stated loudly, “Wait! You forgot something!” The doors reopened and she stood there smiling at them, holding Mike’s briefcase.

  He took the briefcase from her. “Thank you.”

  She smiled and winked at them. “You’re very welcome. You two have a lovely evening!”

  Once the doors closed, Mike said, “I guess we need to be a little more careful.”

  Reesa looked around, then burst out laughing. “This isn’t even my floor!”

  Mike chuckled and rubbed his forehead. “Are you kidding me? Geez, are we even in the right building?” he teased. “See what you do to me?”

  Reesa pressed the ‘up’ button. After reentering the elevator, they stood beside each other facing the doors.

  Mike shook his head and chuckled. “Did she say what I think she said?”

  “Uh-huh,” Reesa replied, trying not to laugh.

  “Do you know her?”

  “Nope – never saw her before.”

  Once they reached the correct floor, they exited the elevator and swiftly walked down the hallway. When they entered her apartment, she deposited her purse on the small table in the foyer.

  Mike immediately twirled her around and took her in his arms. “Finally!”

  When she looked up at him, her heart skipped a beat when she noticed his eyes tenderly drop to her lips. Her mouth lunged toward his, and he began consuming her with passion. A slight whine emanated from her throat just before he broke from the kiss and looked deep into her eyes. “Are you ready to try this again?” he asked in a whisper.

  “Yes,” she mumbled.

  A slight smile crossed his face as he reached down and took her hand, leading her down the dark hallway to her bedroom. Once inside, he began claiming her lips once again. She clung to him, then moved her hands under his jacket and around his waist to draw him nearer.

  Unable to wait a second longer, his hand quickly moved to the back of her neck, gently tugging down zipper of her dress. His lips tenderly trailed down her neck, landing on her shoulder while he slid the dress down her arm. Once freed, he moved his lips to the other side of her neck, then to her other shoulder until the dress slid off her body, pooling at her ankles.

  She shook off her sandals, then swiftly kicked the dress to the side. The feeling of his hands on her bare back sent a shock wave through her body. Her hands clumsily ran up his chest and guided his jacket off his shoulders, causing it to fall on the floor.

  He abruptly released her and began pulling at the knot of his tie, then tossed it to the floor. He held her waist, staring at her with an amused look on his face while she feebly began yanking at the buttons of his dress shirt, biting her lip in frustration.

  She felt her face flush when she looked up and their eyes met.

&n
bsp; “Let me help you with that,” he whispered, clearly entertained by her inability to undress him.

  She swallowed hard, then tore her gaze from his eyes to his chest to watch while he swiftly unbutton his shirt, letting it topple to the growing pile of clothing on the floor. As she stared at him awkwardly, he unclasped his belt and unzipped his pants, pushing them down his legs, taking his underwear with them. She couldn’t help but let her eyes wander the length of his naked torso, inhaling sharply when they landed on his engorged appendage that was almost touching her stomach.

  When her eyes finally made their way back to his face, she saw that he was watching her affectionately.

  He gently grasped her shoulders with his hands. “Are you okay?”

  She slowly nodded her head, attempting to smile at him through her embarrassment, then hid her face in the curve of his neck.

  He took her in his arms, holding her firmly against him. “Tell me what you’re feeling, Reesa? Are you afraid?”

  She paused a moment and held him, trying to articulate in her own mind exactly what she was feeling. “Um, I guess I’m feeling very vulnerable. Fragile, but in a strange and special way I’ve never felt before.” She felt the warmth of his body as she stood there engulfed in his embrace.

  He nestled his face to her ear and whispered, “We don’t have to do this if you feel uncomfortable.”

  “Mike, I didn’t say I was uncomfortable. Actually, I’ve never felt so comfortable in my life.”

  “I love you, Reesa Collins. Do you know that?”

  “Yes, I love you, too.” After the words left her mouth, she stood on her tiptoes and met his lips with hers. He greedily kissed her, sending a tornado of emotion throughout her body.

  He stepped backwards, landing on the bed as he clutched her too him, unable let go. Her arms were gripping his shoulders as she lay on top of him.

  She began kissing his face, then his lips, as his fingers lingered to her back to grasp the hook of her bra. This time, he was successful. She propped herself up slightly, her eyes meeting his while he slowly slid the straps down with his fingertips, then tossed it aside.

  She watched him contently as his eyes gazed over her breasts. He raised his head slightly and pulled her closer until her nipple entered his mouth. She closed her eyes and threw her head back, savoring the tingling sensation of the his tongue suckling, then swirling it, causing it to instantly harden. An overwhelming yearning sensation permeated throughout every tender nerve of her body.

  She felt his hands on her hips, gently guiding her to lie down beside him. Once she was on her back, she scooted up slightly, placing her head on the pillow. He moved up to her and began kissing her lips, filling her with desire while his hand lingered slowly down her body to her panties. Hooking his index finger onto one side, he brought them down her legs and off her feet.

  As she lay naked before him, she felt as if his gaze was penetrating her very soul, and he could sense everything she was feeling. His eyes lingered up to hers, and she instinctively wanted to look away, to hide from him, but she knew she couldn’t – she was captivated by the intense look in his eyes.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, softly.

  Lost in a delicate storm of intense emotion, she inhaled sharply. “Yes…I’m fine. More than fine.”

  He smiled, then began kissing her neck and gently tracing his tongue, intermittent with soft kisses and nibbles, down her chest to the middle of her breasts. She arched her back, unable to contain herself from the alluring sensation. A long groan escaped her lips when his mouth once again encased her nipple.

  She strained to keep from shivering when she felt his fingers slid easily between her legs, gracefully tantalized her, washing an unfamiliar and overpowering emotion throughout her body, causing her to shudder at the skillfulness of his touch. When he stopped briefly to grab the small envelope off the nightstand, her body ached for his touch.

  After quickly sheathing himself, his lips methodically lingered down her stomach, then lower. He gently nudged her legs apart. She willingly yielded to him, and his tongue drifted to her soft moist folds, lavishly swirling and tasting. She instinctively lifted her hips in response, urging him to take more until every muscle tensed and she was about to explode in ecstacy.

  She gasped for air when he suddenly stopped and repositioned himself on top of her. Her body was quivering as he looked into her eyes.

  “Are you ready?” he asked softly.

  “Yes,” she replied in desperation.

  He looked deep into her eyes and slowly slid into her. Her internal muscles tensed in response and she wrapped her legs around him to pull him farther into the warmth of her body.

  He moaned softly, breaking his stare to whisper in her ear, “God, Reesa, you feel so good.”

  Within moments, intense pleasure seared through her body and she let out an uncontrollable whimper.

  He smiled, then allowed himself to be consumed by the intoxicating sensation of being inside of her. Seconds later, he let out a long moan, clenching his teeth as he drew his head back in ecstatic euphoria.

  After attempting to catch his breath, he lowered his face to hers and kissed her repeatedly. He stopped and smiled at her when he noticed she was grinning at him. Their eyes met for an instant, then he rolled onto his back, running his fingers through his hair.

  She turned slightly to look at him.

  Still breathing laboriously, he look at her. “That was one hell of a first date, Miss Collins. Most definitely worth the wait.”

  “Yes, it was. Ah, let’s see, a superlative closing statement, a wonderful dinner, a walk in Central Park on a perfect spring evening, a winning verdict, and I made love for the first time in my life. Did I forget anything?”

  Mike propped his head on his hand and rolled onto his side to look at her. “Yes. You forgot the part where you told me you loved me.”

  She smiled at him tenderly, gently caressed his face with the back of her fingers. “That was the best part.”

  “Well, maybe not the best part, but it definitely was near the top of the list.”

  They both laughed.

  “Well? Did I perform to your satisfaction, Miss Collins?”

  “Yes, you exceeded my expectations, as usual, Mr. Jenkins. There, are you proud of yourself?”

  “Yes. I thrive on exceeding your expectations of me.”

  A few moments later, he pulled her into his arms. She could hear his heart beating as her head rested on his chest. The moon was shining through the window, casting a glow off his damp body.

  “Mike, I think I’m better. I mean, I think I can feel. For the first time in such a long time, I can actually feel – everything. I’m not afraid anymore. I’m able to love you, even though I know you could hurt me. And you know what the best thing is?”

  He looked at her tenderly, rubbing his fingers through her hair. “What, Reesa. What’s the best thing?”

  “I’m not angry anymore.”

  He kissed her head gently. “I’m so glad you finally worked through it all. You deserve to be happy.”

  They were silent for a few minutes. Then he looked down at her, cupping her chin to guide her face to his. “Reesa, I’m not going to hurt you. I love you so much, I could never hurt you. Please know that.”

  Smiling, she answered quietly, “Okay.”

  Mike raised the covers so she could climb into bed, then nestled in beside her.

  As Reesa lay in his arms, she couldn’t sleep. Finally, she looked at him and kissed his cheek tenderly. “Are you still awake?” she whispered softly.

  “Yes.”

  “I just need to tell you something.”

  “Okay, I’m listening,” he replied, turning his head to look at her.

  “I know I’ve been through a lot in my past, but I understand now that had I not experienced what I did, no matter how despicable it may have been, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I love my daughter more than life itself. I love my job, well, most days anyway, I lov
e living in New York City, and I love you.” She lovingly smiled at him. “You have become a very important part of my life. So, if everything I’ve been through brought me to you, to this moment in time, I will accept and embrace my journey.”

  THE END

  The sexual assault statistics reflected in Dr. Patricia Wilson’s testimony (pp. 239-240) were taken from RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) https://www.rainn.org.

  If you, or someone you know, is in need of assistance resulting from sexual violence, please visit their website or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE.

  About the Author

  Judy Walker lives in Auburn, Indiana, with her husband Mark and their nubby-tailed cat, Willow.

  For more information, visit her website at judywalker.net.

  You can connect with her through Twitter @Willowwriter201.

  Other Novels by J. L. Walker

  Picture My Heart (My Heart Series Book 1)

  Dream of My Heart (My Heart Series Book 2)

  Both are available for purchase in electronic and paperback versions, and are free to read through Kindle Unlimited.