Feel the Heat

by Cheris Hodges

  “So wet,” he whispered as he dipped his finger inside her. Mimi screamed when the pad of his fingertip touched her clitoris.

  “Brent!”

  “Mimi, I need you,” he breathed against her ear. “Want you.”

  “Take me. I’m yours.”

  Brent had been glad he noticed where Mimi had tucked a few extra condoms underneath her pillow because he wasn’t sure if he had the willpower to be responsible and protect them. Rolling the sheath in place with one hand, he took his other hand and pulled Mimi against her hardness. Slowly, he thrust in and out of her awaiting body.

  Her soft round bottom was a sight to behold as she bounced up and down with each thrust. Shifting his hips, Brent pulled Mimi on top of him.

  “Ride me,” he commanded.

  She gripped his shoulders and tightened her thighs around him and ground against him. Slow. Deep. Wetter. Wetter. Mimi threw her head back, her breasts jutting forward, and Brent reached up to stroke her globes.

  His touch sent Mimi into overdrive. She thrust harder; her body was filled with sensations that built her explosion.

  Brent, though on the brink of his own climax, wanted and needed to hear her call his name. Thrusting forward, he finally heard her breathless scream. “Brent, Brent, Brent!”

  Finally, he gave in to the pleasure of her wetness and exploded. Mimi collapsed against his chest. He felt their hearts start to beat in sync as they began to bask in the afterglow.

  “Never work a case for me again as long as you live,” she said.

  “How about you don’t get sued again and I will never work for you again,” he said, then kissed her forehead.

  “I make no promises. After all, people are interested in what I have to say,” she said then snuggled closer to him. Then as if a bucket of ice had been poured on her, Mimi shivered. Her latest blog, the blog she’d posted in anger, was all about Brent and it was live. She’d done it again.

  “What’s wrong?” Brent asked. “Do you have another lawsuit looming? Remember, I quit.”

  “No,” she said, looking into his eyes. “No pending litigation. I was just thinking about all of my deadlines. The book, the blog.” Inwardly she shuddered. Maybe she’d catch a break. Brent wasn’t a regular reader of her blog and since the case was over, he probably wouldn’t give it a second look.

  She sighed and closed her eyes. Brent stroked her arm. “Is this your not-so-subtle way of telling me to get out?”

  “Not at all,” she said, then gently smacked his chest. “I’d love to lie here with you all day and forget about all of my adult problems. But I’m sure you have a court case and a person to save this morning.”

  Brent glanced at the clock on Mimi’s nightstand. It was three minutes after seven. As much as he wished he could spend the day inside Mimi, he did have a court date. Groaning, Brent shifted in bed. “You’ve been going through my calendar, huh?”

  “No, but you are Brent Daniels, Atlanta’s most wise legal mind,” she said, then kissed his nipple. “People need you.”

  “But I need you,” he said as he placed her hand on his growing erection.

  “Here I am,” she said as she spread her legs.

  Hours later, Mimi was listening to Brent in the shower while trying to take a look at her blog. Much to her dismay, the blog about her kiss with Brent had thousands of views and just as many comments.

  “Damn it,” she muttered as she heard the water shut off. Mimi closed her iPad and took a deep breath. Maybe she could explain it to him. Or, she prayed, he wouldn’t see it. She climbed out of bed as the door to the bathroom opened.

  “My showerhead does none of the magical stuff that yours does,” Brent said as he stood in the middle of Mimi’s bedroom. “A few more minutes and I might have been trying to reschedule court appearances.”

  “That showerhead can’t be that amazing,” she said as she closed the space between them. Brent’s fresh scent filled her nostrils and made her want to rip his towel away and keep him wrapped up in her arms all day. Then she could explain to a sated Brent why she published that blog. As she looked up at his smiling face, Mimi figured that it wouldn’t be such a big deal,

  He might even be flattered.

  “All right, Mimi,” he said as he reached for his discarded slacks. “I have to go. What do you say we meet for dinner around seven? I owe you sushi.”

  “And sake,” she said with a grin.

  “There you go with that sake talk. I’ve seen what sake does to you and I think we’ll stick to sweet tea.”

  “Whatever,” she said, then planted a kiss on his cheek. “We could always skip dinner and go straight for dessert.”

  “I like the way you think, Mimi,” Brent said, then captured her lips in a hot kiss that left her breathless. When he pulled back from her, Mimi licked her bottom lip. That man was so sweet.

  “You’d better go before...”

  “Yeah, I know,” he said with a wink. “I can’t wait for tonight.”

  “Me either.”

  She walked Brent to the door and drank in his image, his shirt open and chest glistening with a few beads of water. His pants hanging low on his hips. Much better than her dreams had ever been. She just wondered if this was going to be the last time.

  Chapter 17

  It was only nine forty-five and Brent was having a great day. His case was dismissed and his client wouldn’t have to pay a dime to the complainant. Now as he headed back to the office, he was sure that he’d wrap up his day early and head over to Mimi’s for some early dessert and maybe some dinner.

  He’d definitely feast on her. All day he thought about how her body felt against his, how sweet her lips and tongue were. It’s a good thing he didn’t have to appear in front a judge for a substantial amount of time today. He would’ve lost his case for sure. Mimi Collins was more than he’d ever dreamed she could be. More woman than he’d ever expected. Hell, she was the last kind of woman he expected would carve a place in his heart. But she was just what he needed. A breath of fresh air, a woman who could hold her own and didn’t need a man to complete her.

  Mimi was nothing like any woman he’d ever dated and that was a good thing. He owed Jamal an apology, because he’d been right. Brent had dated as if he’d been holding auditions for perfection when he should’ve been looking for happiness. Who knew he’d find it across the hall in a woman who was everything he thought he didn’t need or want. Now he couldn’t imagine being without her.

  Walking into his office, Brent smiled at Rocky as he passed her desk. Was she smirking at him and giggling? Brent brushed it off. He knew his receptionist was always online looking at something borderline inappropriate.

  Crossing through a group of paralegals, he stopped and listened to their hushed conversation. “She can’t be talking about him,” one said.

  “Please, Mr. Law and Order is not Jesse L. Martin. It has to be Brent.”

  One of the paralegals looked up and locked eyes with Brent. “Oh shit,” she said.

  All of the women focused on their boss. “What’s going on here?” Brent asked.

  “Nothing,” they said in unison. Then, like roaches when a bright light hit them, they all scattered. Brent crossed over to the computer they’d been huddled around and saw they were reading Mimi’s blog.

  He gave the page a cursory glance and when he saw Mr. Law & Order and he’s my neighbor, Brent was livid. Stalking into his office, he pulled up Mimi’s site and read the blog post. On one hand, he could’ve been flattered, but the implication of her post made it seem as if something was going on while he represented her. Brent knew he didn’t have to admit the post was about him, but why would she share something so intimate online? Brent read the post again—so a relationship wasn’t her thing? Then what in the hell was last night and this morning about? What wer
e they doing? Brent knew he shouldn’t have, but he started reading the comments.

  Maybe he’s gay, someone wrote.

  Brent shook his head.

  Mimi, why are you trying to ruin a relationship before it even gets started. It was just a kiss.

  Brent nodded in agreement. That was a good question. Maybe she had “relationships” so that she’d have material for her blog. Was that what Mimi was all about? Page views and comments, no matter what?

  Pulling his cell phone from his pocket, Brent dialed Mimi’s number. Straight to voice mail.

  Later that afternoon, Mimi was a bundle of nerves as the page views on her blog grew.

  “Are you insane?” MJ asked as they talked on the phone. “Why did you write about Brent?”

  “No one knows that I’m talking about him.”

  “Please,” MJ said. “He will know.”

  Mimi looked at her phone as it beeped and saw Brent’s name scroll across the screen. She hit the deny button out of fear. Mimi sighed. “You know what, I messed up.”

  “Duh,” MJ said. “But your comment section is blowing up.”

  Mimi’s text alert chimed in her ear. It was Kita. Good job! Looks like you’re back.

  “At least the publisher is happy,” Mimi said. Then another text chime. This was the message she’d been dreading. Brent’s message was short and she could feel his anger through the fonts. We need to talk. Mr. Law & Order.

  “Damn it, MJ, he read it.”

  “Are you surprised?”

  “He just sent me a text.”

  “Then get off the phone with me, be a grown-up and talk to him. Do not respond to the text, call him.”

  “Nope, I don’t want to adult today. I’m going for a run.”

  “I’m hanging up on you.” Mimi could feel MJ shaking her head though the phone. When the call ended, Mimi tossed her cell phone on the desk and dropped her head. Seconds later, she picked up the phone and dialed Brent’s number. Voice mail. Well, she’d done her part. Mimi headed upstairs and changed into her running gear. After three miles, she’d call him back. Then maybe she could explain why she posted about their kiss.

  * * *

  Brent parked his car in the lot of the complex and headed for the stairs with a head full of steam. Even though he’d missed Mimi’s call, he knew they needed to talk face-to-face. As soon as he reached their floor, he saw Mimi walking out of her place dressed as if she was ready to run. Brent planted himself in front of her.

  “We need to talk.” The gruffness of his voice sent chills down her spine.

  “Brent, I tried to call you...”

  “Mimi, we’re not doing this in public, though I know you like to do things that way.”

  She deserved that, Mimi thought as she nodded her head. Reaching into her fanny pack, she grabbed her keys and unlocked the door.

  Brent was seething as he crossed the threshold. It seemed unreal to him that mere hours ago, he’d been in here making love to her. Kissing those lips, stroking that body. Brent cleared his throat and forced himself to focus on why he was standing there.

  “What in the hell were you thinking?” he boomed.

  “I wasn’t thinking, but...”

  “You know my reputation is my calling card. I’ve done everything above reproach my whole career. Now, with this little blog post, I look like a sleazy attorney sleeping with my clients!”

  “That wasn’t my intention and no one knows...”

  “Stop! Just stop. If you wanted to talk about how our kiss made you feel, you knew where to find me. I’m not a damned subject for you to cover on your blog. Tell me something, did you have cameras in your bedroom last night so that you can do a video blog about what happened after the kiss?”

  “Don’t. I wrote that post because I was confused and angry. You’d already told me that I wasn’t the kind of woman you wanted. You want the white picket fence and that’s not me. But you couldn’t keep your desires to yourself.”

  “And you couldn’t open your mouth and say that to me?”

  Mimi closed her eyes. Why didn’t she question him, instead of giving in to her carnal needs?

  “Mariah,” Brent groaned. “You hide behind your blog and this persona of Mimi Collins because you’re a coward.”

  “Excuse me?” she snapped.

  “Did I stutter?”

  “How dare you!”

  “Really? You’re going to ask me that. You put my business out there for what? Needed more page views? Didn’t have another online dating site to bash? I was an easy target for you?”

  “Get out,” Mimi roared.

  “Truth hurts, doesn’t it?” Brent turned for the door and Mimi started to call his name, but it died on her lips. If he wanted to leave, then he could go. This was the reason she didn’t do relationships in the first place. Men left when things didn’t go their way and Brent was no different. The fact that he wouldn’t listen to her explanation about why she’d written the blog and posted it made her believe that Brent wasn’t any different from the other men who’d broken her heart. And she wasn’t going to take that risk again.

  Hours later, Brent was feeling regret for the way he’d talked to Mimi about her blog. Despite his anger, Brent knew he could’ve listened to Mimi. He’d allowed his father’s mistakes to hold him back again. Mimi may have been wrong for sharing their intimate encounter, but he knew she wasn’t trying to hurt him. But at this moment, he wondered if he’d let his past destroy his future.

  Brent turned to Mimi’s door and started to knock, but he dropped his hand. He had a right to be angry and she needed to know that.

  But he didn’t have the right to hold her responsible for his own hang-ups. Still, knowing that people could compare him to his father’s ways would always make him cautious about how he lived his life. Maybe it was time for him to stop living in his father’s shadow and follow his heart for once. And Mimi had taken up residency there.

  Across the hall, Mimi packed an overnight bag. She had to leave. She couldn’t face Brent and his anger. He knew who she was and what she did when he burst into her life and kissed her senseless.

  Senseless, that’s what was going on when she wrote that post. She was angry, confused and ready to do that one thing she always did when it came to affairs of the heart. Ruin it and run. She could blame it on her heartbreak, but it wasn’t as if she didn’t see real love. Her parents had been a perfect example. Her mother, a saint for sticking with her dad after he’d cheated on her. The pain her mother tried to hide from her, Mimi saw and vowed to never allow that to happen to her. But it had happened and she only needed one time to feel that pain. She only needed that trampling of her feelings one time to realize she was no saint like her mother. Mimi would be damned if she’d allow Brent Daniels to make her feel like the dirt on the bottom of his shoe. She wasn’t going to change who she was to make him love her. Love her like she loved him.

  As much as Mimi liked to believe that she was a trailblazer, living life on her own terms, if she was honest with herself, she was afraid. She was everything Brent said she was and Mimi didn’t want to face it.

  Her cell phone rang and she started to ignore it. But when she saw MJ’s name scroll across the screen, she answered.

  “Yeah?” Mimi said.

  “So, did you put your big-girl panties on and talk to Brent?”

  “He yelled, I listened, now I’m about to head out for a few days.”

  “What? Mimi, don’t leave. You have to realize he has a right to be upset.”

  “And I don’t?” She hissed, “You should’ve heard him, he acted as if I ruined his career.”

  “I’m sorry,” MJ said. “So what are you going to do?”

  “I’m taking a trip,” she replied. “I’ll call you when I get where I’m going.”r />
  “Which is where?”

  “I don’t know, I’m going to get in my car and drive. Maybe I’ll end up in Memphis or New Orleans.”

  “You sound crazy.”

  “Whatever.”

  “Mimi, you don’t have to run.”

  “I’m not running, but I won’t stay here and be subjected to him.”

  “Then I guess you’re going to move, since he is your neighbor?”

  “Bye, MJ,” Mimi said, then ended the call. She zipped her bag and grabbed her keys. As Mimi headed out to her car, she glanced over her shoulder making sure she didn’t see Brent lurking around. When she didn’t spot him, she hopped into her car and sped out of the parking lot. Mimi headed up Interstate 85 North, thinking that she would end up in Charlotte or Richmond for a few days. Sighing, Mimi realized that she was running and this had to stop. She pulled off on the exit for the Mall of Georgia.

  * * *

  Brent knocked on Mimi’s door hoping to apologize for his earlier actions. He started to call her, but his cell phone rang. It was Jamal and Brent was disappointed, but he couldn’t expect Mimi to call him after what happened at her place.

  “What’s up?” Brent asked when he answered the phone.

  “I see Mimi is back. Let me guess, you’re Mr. Law and Order.”

  “Shut up.”

  “I’ll take that as a yes.” Jamal laughed. “The comments on this post are blowing up. I think it’s bigger than her Fast Love piece.”

  “Jamal, what do you want?” Brent gritted out. He was irritated and didn’t need to hear his friend’s ribbing.

  “Look, I know you and how you react to things.”

  Brent sighed. “I messed up, man.”

  “So, Mr. Law and Order acted like a jackass.”

  “Look, this isn’t the kind of publicity I need in my life,” Brent said.

  “You’re an idiot.”