Revenge Is Best Served Hot: 3 Novella Bundle (Revenge Is Best Served Hot (Powerful Women Series))

by C. C. Morian

  Lisa’s lips found Lori’s, taking the first step, this kiss shorter, and yet more meaningful, than even the first one. And then the second step, kissing Jamal, having to stand on her toes.

  The third step was the easiest, as Lisa led both of them to the bed, the blank canvas on which she would paint the most beautiful scene of her new life.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  THE KISSING GAME

  A POWERFUL WOMAN REVENGE STORY

  by

  C. C. Morian

  “It’s so good to see you! You look great!” said Kris as she gave her friend Brin a hug.

  “So do you!” said Brin.

  “I can’t believe it’s been five years since we graduated!” exclaimed Kris.

  “I can’t either,” said Brin. “Reunion will be fun.”

  “Here, I brought you some muffins from this little bakery near my place. I really appreciate you letting me stay here this weekend. Hotels in the city are so expensive.”

  “No problem,” said Brin, leading her friend into the apartment. “We’ve got plenty of room. Patricia does, anyway. It’s her place, you know. I never would have been able to afford anything like this on my own.” She gave Kris a quick tour of the apartment. “If Patricia hadn’t let me move in with her, I’d be in some hellhole.”

  “Where is Patricia, anyway?” asked Kris, glancing around the apartment. She had to admit, it was really nice. Patricia must be doing really well at work. It galled her a little that Patricia made so much more money than she did, even though Kris thought she was smarter than Patricia and worked harder. But Patricia had always been able to talk a good game, and she did everything she could to leverage her good looks, and especially her big breasts. Kris subconsciously put her arm up against her own flat chest.

  Brin handed Patricia a glass of wine and invited her to sit on the couch. “She’s out of town. In fact, she has to leave early Sunday morning again to go to London. She’s really busy. But you’ll get to see her later tonight when she gets back for the weekend.”

  Kris took a sip of her wine to hide her frown. She wasn’t too crazy that she’d have to be spending time with Patricia. The three of them had been fast friends in college, doing everything together, but Patricia was the best looking of the three, she had always snared the best looking guys. Sometimes she had done it just to one up Kris; Patricia was very competitive and had a bit of a superiority complex. Worse, Brin, who was caught in the middle, was always trying to be nice to both of them. She was the one who had invited Kris to stay at the apartment for the weekend. Kris wondered what Patricia thought about that. She probably didn’t care one way or another. Or maybe she just thought it would give her a chance to show off her success.

  “I can’t believe you won’t be here the entire weekend, we have so much to catch up on!” said Brin.

  “I know. But my mom’s birthday is on Sunday, and I don’t want to miss it. But I can fly out around noon Sunday.”

  “But you’ll miss the Sunday afternoon party.”

  “You’ll just have to go for me and tell me all about it later.”

  “You know I’m not much of a partier,” said Brin. “You and Patricia were always the party girls. You can relive some old times this weekend! Speaking of which, do you want to go out for a while? Patricia won’t get home for a few hours, her plane doesn’t land until eight.”

  “Okay, let get changed,” said Kris. A fun night out and a little drinking would put her in a better mood for Patricia. She tried to remind herself that they all had had a lot of good times together while in college. She hadn’t keep in close contact with Patricia; maybe Patricia would be on good behavior.

  “Great. Let’s start the party early!”

  Brin’s idea of starting the party was a very quiet little bistro, but Kris didn’t care, she really liked Brin and though they kept in touch by phone, it was different in person, and she just wanted to talk.

  They caught up on everything, especially men. Brin didn’t date much, it wasn’t that she wasn’t interested in men, but she was quite shy. Kris knew Brin had a great figure, but she dressed in very conservative clothes, and never flirted. Patricia, on the other hand, had always been flamboyant and outgoing. Kris was in the middle, maybe a little more like Patricia. She’d had her share of men in her life, but nothing like Patricia.

  “Maybe you can connect with some nice guys at the reunion,” said Kris. “Will Joe be there?” Joe had been a guy who Brin had dated a few times in college.

  “I don’t know. We haven’t really been in touch,” said Brin. “I’m not really going to the reunion just to meet men, I just want see some old friends.”

  “Nothing says you can’t do both. Me, I haven’t gotten laid in months, I’d be happy to hook up with someone.”

  Brin laughed and turned away. “Shh!”

  “Oh, don’t worry,” said Kris. “I’m not going to make a scene. Unless there is a good looking guy around.” She looked around the small restaurant. “Nothing. Just my luck.”

  “You were always the craziest one, even more than Patricia,” said Brin. “I wish I had your spirit.”

  “And I wish I had your boobs,” said Kris.

  “Or Patricia’s.”

  “Does she still look good?” asked Kris, trying not to sound too interested.

  “She does. I don’t know how she does it. I’m at the gym twice a week, and I play hours of tennis, and I just manage to keep from putting on weight. Patricia barely exercises, drinks a ton, and still looks amazing.”

  “It’ll catch up to her.”

  “Maybe someday.”

  “Is she seeing anyone?”

  “Oh, you know Patricia. On and off. And she always pretends she’s not that interested in a relationship. But remember that guy she had the hots for in college, Shaun?”

  “The one she threw herself at, but didn’t get anywhere?” Kris remembered him, he was hot, she would have gone after him herself but knew she didn’t have a chance against Patricia.

  “Yes, him. Patricia’s been talking about him all week, she heard he’s coming to the reunion.”

  “I actually thought Shaun was more your type,” said Kris. “Hey wait, didn’t you used to play tennis with him?”

  “I did. I do like him, but, you know. . .”

  “You thought Patricia was interested, so you didn’t do anything.”

  “I wouldn’t do anything anyway. You know I don’t like making the first move on a man. I’m not comfortable.”

  “Is he a good tennis player?” Kris knew that Brin was excellent, she had played on the college team.

  Brin shrugged. “He’s okay.”

  Kris burst out laughing. “Which means you are a much better tennis player than he is. So you must have been wanting to hang out with him for more than just tennis.”

  Brin reddened. “I don’t think I’m his type.”

  “I bet he liked looking at you in a hot tennis outfit.”

  Brin smiled shyly. “Well, I admit, I sometimes let him win so that he’d want to keep playing. But I don’t think he thought twice about me for anything other than as someone to play tennis with.”

  “I think you and Shaun would be a good match. For something serious. He’s probably done sowing his wild oats.”

  “I think I’d have to wait in line after Patricia. She seemed pretty interested in him.”

  Kris raised her eyebrow. “You wouldn’t mind? I mean, if Patricia went out with him first?”

  “Why not? You’ve never dated a guy who went out with someone you knew?”

  Kris thought about it. “Well, once or twice. But not someone I knew as well as you or Patricia. Might be awkward.”

  “I don’t think so. What better way to get the inside story on a guy than from your closest girlfriends?” Brin looked away. “I never would have said this when you were seeing him, but I always liked Bob.”

  Bob was Kris’s boyfriend in college. “He’s married now.”

  “I know. But if he was
n’t, and things hadn’t worked out between you, and it was okay with you, I would have been interested.”

  “It would have been fine with me,” said Kris. “And I could tell you some stories!”

  Brin laughed. “I’m not sure I want to hear them!”

  “I’m only kidding. He was a good guy. Listen, I’m maybe not the one to give you advice, it’s not like I’ve had perfect relationships. But you need to be a little more—open. If an opportunity presents itself, take a chance. You never know when you might get another one.”

  Brin appeared thoughtful. “That’s good advice. Maybe a little of you will rub off on me this weekend.”

  “Or maybe I can help you find a guy.”

  “Let’s not set our expectations to high!” laughed Brin.

  Kris raised her glass for a toast. “To taking chances!”

  That night, Kris and Brin met up with Patricia at one of the bars near the campus that they had frequented while in college. Quite a few of their classmates were already there, getting an early start on the reunion.

  When Patricia arrived, Kris had to admit that she looked pretty good. She was still in her work clothes, a form fitting sweater and a skirt with heels, the outfit flattering, just at the edge of appropriate for work, the tight sweater showing off her nice breasts. Patricia wore her hair long, and it cascaded down her shoulders, with just a bit of highlighting.

  Guys in the bar checked Patricia out as she made her way across the crowded room, some openly staring. She came up to Kris and gave her a kiss buss, her earrings dangling.

  “Kris! I’m so glad you could make it. You look amazing!” Patricia gushed.

  Kris knew it was all for show, although she had to admit, she was probably in better shape now than she had been in college, and secretly she thought she had better legs than Patricia. She knew she was being a little petty, but Patricia had gone out of her way to always show off, making Kris often feel a little inferior.

  This wasn’t the time for that, though. She gave Patricia a good hug and said, “I can’t believe you look this good after a day at work and a flight. You’re the one who’s amazing.”

  Patricia made a it’s nothing gesture, as if to say, Of course I look amazing. “Where can a girl get a drink around here?”

  Two guys standing next to them immediately offered to buy her a drink, getting into a friendly tussle over who would be first.

  “Boys, boys, no need to fight over me!” said Patricia coyly.

  Kris turned her head and rolled her eyes. She’s started already. Still, she wasn’t going to let Patricia ruin her weekend. “Brin tells me you are doing really well,” she said.

  “I am, but I’m working too hard. I have to go to London on Sunday, can you believe it? Thank god I get to fly first class and I’ll be staying in a four star hotel.” One of the guys handed Patricia a drink, and she gave him a sexy grin.

  “Brin mentioned that,” said Kris.

  “But of course you can stay in my apartment as long as you need to,” said Patricia. She lowered her voice. “Unless you get lucky tomorrow night!”

  “I don’t know if I can hang out with you two,” said Brin. “If all you are going to do is chase men.”

  “I never chase,” said Patricia. “I allow a selective few to catch me. Now and then.”

  Kris couldn’t help herself. “I heard Shaun is going to be at the reunion. Maybe you’ll make an exception for him?”

  Brin reddened, but Patricia only laughed. “No exceptions! He’ll come crawling, or I’m not interested!”

  Kris laughed in spite of herself. That was the old Patricia, the one who had made her laugh, who kept things light, who could put men in their place. “You better be careful! Someone else may hook him first.”

  “I don’t do seconds!” said Patricia, finishing her drink in one swallow. She smiled over at the two guys who had competed to buy her a drink, and they quickly ordered another round, this time graciously including one for Brin and Kris.

  Kris shook her head at the offered drink. I don’t do seconds, either, she thought.

  The next day was the usual flurry of reunion activities, a basketball game, a fundraiser. Kris and Brin spent most of the day together. Patricia flittered in and out, her eyes constantly roving. Kris thought she was on the lookout for Shaun.

  The three women went back to the apartment to change before the big dinner. Brin let Kris use her bathroom to get ready. Kris, like anyone at a reunion, wanted to look her best. She had brought along what she considered her most flattering outfit, a slim black pencil skirt that rode a few inches above the knee, enough to show off her best asset, her slim, toned legs, yet not so short as to appear cheap. She matched it with a blue silk top, to match her eyes, and snapped on a nice roped gold chain, along with amber earrings, to match her natural blond hair. She’d had her hair done the day before. Standing in front of the mirror, she gave herself a good once over. Everything looked good, not bad if she had to say so herself. Just the breasts. . .

  She’d brought a nice jacket, maybe a little too formal, but it was nicely structured, and would set off her figure, and take the attention away from her breasts. Or non breasts. She had a true B cup, but next to Patricia, or even Brin, toned down as Brin would be dressed, Kris would seem flat.

  Three inch heels. Her new Christian Louboutin pumps, which she had bought just for the reunion, the most expensive pair of shoes she had ever owned. Elegant and classy. Just high enough to really accentuate her tight calves, not so high as to appear slutty, or worse, to be taller than the men; Kris was a tall five eight. She looked at the heels in the mirror, they looked spectacular. It was amazing how good a chic pair of shoes could make a woman feel. It was one of her weaknesses, whenever she felt a little down, or needed a bit of a crutch, she’d go out and buy a pair of shoes.

  The only thing missing was a man on her arm. Superficial as that was, she knew that a lot of women came to reunions just to show off their husbands. But that was something to think about at the tenth reunion; she was sure a lot of her classmates were still single, just as she and Patricia and Brin were.

  Kris gave up the bathroom to Brin, who made Kris pose for her. “Nice!” said Brin. “And those shoes! They must have cost a fortune!”

  “I splurged,” admitted Kris. “Hey, it could be worse, I could have spent it on. . . I don’t know. Something impractical. At least I can wear these.”

  “Your legs look incredible.”

  “Oh Brin, you say the nicest things!” joked Kris, batting her eyes. But she was happy that Brin noticed. Now if only some men would.

  Kris went into the living room to wait, passing the time with a glass of wine, flipping through some of the magazines on the coffee table. Brin actually came out first, even though she was the last to start getting ready.

  Brin looked like she was going to the office, not a reunion party. She certainly looked fine, nicely pulled together, a classic dark gray skirt and jacket outfit. But the blouse was plain white, the skirt was hemmed below the knee, and the heels were low.

  Brin noticed the frown on Kris’s face. “What?”

  “Are you going to an office party hosted by your boss? Or a reunion?”

  Brin looked down at her clothes. “Too frumpy?”

  “Not frumpy. You look fine. Just so—corporate.”

  Brin sighed. “I don’t get dressed up much to go out. Most of my wardrobe is for work.”

  “Come on, I’ll help you.” Kris led Brin back into the bedroom and started going through the clothes in the closet. “Take off that jacket.”

  “It’s a suit,” said Brin, but did as she was told.

  “I know, that’s part of the problem.” Kris held up Brin’s other jackets, none of them would work. “Let’s try the other way. Do you have a shorter skirt?”

  “Not much shorter, look in the back, there’s one I never wore. It’s blue.”

  Kris found the skirt, it still had a tag. “This is nice, why haven’t you worn it?”
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  “I thought it was too short.”

  Kris held it up against herself, she was only an inch taller than Brin. “Put it on, let me see,” she said, handing the skirt to Brin.

  Brin swapped skirts. The blue one cut a little above the knee.

  “Perfect,” said Kris. “The jacket you have will be fine with that. Now the blouse. Do have anything that’s not so stiff?”

  Brin went into the closet and pulled out a few blouses. “How about these?”

  “I’m taking you shopping next time I’m here,” said Kris, choosing one of them. “This one will have to do.” She rummaged through Brin’s shoes as Brin changed her blouse. “No, no, no. Where are your taller heels?”

  “I don’t have any, really. Only the green ones I wore to my sister’s wedding.”

  “Green? Never mind.” Kris finished looking through the closet, her hands on her hips, looking at Brin. Brin did look much better, but the effect would be lost with the wrong shoes. Flats definitely would not do, and Brin wasn’t the wedge type.

  Brin was a beautiful woman, inside and out, and Kris loved her. But Brin never did anything to attract the attention of men, not even in a mild way. Kris knew that Brin was dying to meet a guy, but would never really admit it, or do much about it. So Kris really wanted to help Brin look her best because—who knew? Maybe the reunion would give Brin an opportunity to meet someone.

  “Probably a little late to go shoe shopping,” mused Kris.

  “We could, but we’d miss part of the dinner,” said Brin. “Besides, I don’t need new shoes.”

  “You do for tonight.” Kris glanced down at her own new pumps. “Here, try these,” she said, slipping them off. “I think they’d look great with your outfit.”

  “I couldn’t! You just bought them!”

  “Which means I’ll get to wear them again. Come on, we’re the same size, we used to do this in college. Here,” insisted Kris.

  “Not with Louboutin heels we didn’t.”