S.K. Hardy's Blog

The only person you are destined to become is the one you decide to be. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson EPISODE 12PART 1 Brandon sat in the chair with his shirt off as Quincy finished putting the wire on him. RaShaun paced back and forth, still fuming. “I can’t believe it’s not against the law for a person to videotape someone without their consent.” Quincy shrugged. “She was in her own home. She can basically do whatever she wants. Not saying it’s right, that’s just the way it is. But. It is against the law to send a letter threatening to distribute the tape if Brandon doesn’t do what she wants.” He glanced down at Brandon and gave him an amused look. “What the hell did you put on her for her to go to this extreme to force you to fuck her again?” Quincy looked at RaShaun and they both snickered. Brandon glared at them. “Well, I’m glad to see you two find this shit so funny. That bitch is crazy.” “Don’t worry about it man. After we finish with her, we won’t ever hear a peep out of her again. To be honest, if you were to pursue the issue legally, she probably would only get a slap on the wrist, but I’m betting on the fact that she doesn’t know that.” Quincy stepped back and checked out his handiwork. He nodded in satisfaction after he saw that everything was ready. “So you’re clear on the plan, right? I have the wire taped down pretty good, but be careful not to let her get too close and feel if under your shirt.” Brandon’s face showed his distaste at even the thought of Kiki touching him. He pulled his shirt on and started buttoning it up. “Don’t worry. That won’t be a problem.” Quincy handed Brandon the phone to set up the meeting. “Now remember, everything you say will be recorded. When you see her, just get her to admit to taping you without your consent, and then sending you the letter. I’ll take it from there.” With the phone on speaker, Brandon dialed Kiki’s number then brought the phone up to his ear, biting back a sigh when she answered the phone. “Yeah. It’s me.” “Well, Brandon. Can’t say that I’m surprised you called.” They all heard the self-satisfied tone of her voice. “What can I do for you?” “I think you know. I got your little package. We need to talk.” “So now you wanna talk. When I saw you a couple of weeks ago, you spoke to me like I was a piece of trash.” Brandon opened his mouth to agree with her assessment but closed it after Quincy gave his head a quick shake. “Why should I see you now?” Kiki asked. Brandon took a deep breath. “You’re right. I was wrong to speak to you like that. Especially after the night the three of us had.” He continued with an effort after Quincy nodded his approval. “Actually seeing it on the screen brought back memories. I didn’t know you had taped us.” “Terri didn’t know either, but that night was something I wanted to relive again and again. You don’t know how many times I’ve watched it…and I want some more. Until I say it’s enough,” she added defiantly. “Okay, but like I said, first we need to talk about the little note that you sent with the DVD. Then we’ll go from there.” “You’re in no position to make demands, Brandon. I’m running this. It goes my way or no way.” Brandon bit his tongue until he tasted blood. This fucking cunt… “Fine. Is it alright if I come over now?” When she hesitated, he added, “If it’s not a good time, we can do it later…” “No!” Kiki quickly came to a decision. “The sooner the better. You can come now.” “Good. I’ll be there in about forty-five minutes.” Brandon hung up the phone before she could respond. Jumping out of the chair he started pacing back and forth, so frustrated he felt like hitting something. “Brandon, you gotta calm down. So fucking hot-headed.” RaShaun shook his head at him. Both Brandon and Quincy gave him an incredulous look, which he promptly ignored. “Ready?” PART 2 Brandon stood outside Kiki’s apartment, but before he rang the doorbell, he glanced one last time at RaShaun and Quincy, who were sitting in Quincy’s car in the parking lot. They would be listening to everything he and Kiki said. Turning back to the door, he rang the doorbell, and had barely lowered his hand when the door swung open. Kiki stood in front of him wearing a pair of high heels and a short, silk robe. It was obvious that she was naked beneath it. Brandon lowered his eyes to hide his revulsion. “You made it.” Kiki stepped back to allow him in. Brandon stepped inside the apartment. Looking around, he noticed the curtains were closed and various sized candles were lit around the room. Brandon shook his head. This bitch. Did she think this was a fucking date or something? “Would you like something to drink?” Kiki’s hungry eyes moved over Brandon’s body. She licked her lips as her attention on his crotch. “Nah, I’m good. So, how are you?” “Better now. And yourself?” “I was a helluva lot better before I got your li’l package earlier today. What’s up with that, Ki?” “Well, I had to get your attention some kind of way, didn’t I? It worked. You’re here.” She shot him a triumphant look. “Why would you try to blackmail me with that shit?” “Lets just call it ‘friendly persuasion’. Blackmail is such an ugly word.” She stepped closer until her breasts touched his chest. Brandon drew an imaginary line from the hollow of her throat down to the center of her breasts. “You could’a just come correct with a brotha if you wanted a repeat. That night I saw you at the club, I had some problems I was tryin’ to work out in my head. I told you I wasn’t in the mood for company.” Kiki pouted. “You were really mean to me. I could’ve made you forget all about your problems.” She inhaled sharply as Brandon push the front opening of her robe to the side and lightly ran his fingertip over her nipple. Kiki’ mouth went slack. She closed her eyes and started panting like a dog in heat. “So instead you send me a recording and a threatening letter?” Brandon abruptly removed his hand and moved back a few steps. Kiki swayed from the absence of his touch. “Brandon…” She walked up to him and tried to slip her hands around his waist. Brandon caught her arms and held her back but leaned down and brought his lips a whisper away from hers. Kiki’s lips parted eagerly. She wanted to kiss him so bad she could almost taste it. “Business first. Then pleasure,” he whispered. Kiki pouted, but nodded reluctantly. “Answer me this. Why? I mean, how did you even record us without me or Terri knowing anyway?” Kiki wanted to hurry up and get the talking out of the way, so she began to speak fast. “I had a camera set up above my closet. I bought it in one of those spy stores. It was easy to hide.” “Would you really have distributed recordings around like you threatened to do? You would’ve gone to that extreme, to hurt Tara and my sister just to get back at me?” Brandon’s hand covered her breast again. “N-no, baby. I told you I only sent you that letter to get your attention. I never would’ve let anyone else see it.” She reached down and grabbed Brandon’s dick through his jeans and squeezed. “Now, will you please just fuck me already?” A knock sounded at the front door. Brandon knew it was RaShaun and Quincy. As previously arranged, after Kiki incriminated herself and Quincy felt they had what they needed, they would come to the apartment. Kiki frowned. “Who in the hell is that? I’m not expectin’ nobody.” She gaped at him in confusion when he went to the door without commenting and opened it. Kiki’s eyes almost bucked out of her head when she saw RaShaun, Quincy, and a policeman standing in her doorway. “What’s goin’ on? What are ya’ll doin’ here?” RaShaun came in the apartment first, his eyes never leaving her face. Kiki took stumbling steps back as RaShaun advanced forward until she bumped into a chair. “What are we doing here? I’m here to make sure you leave my family alone once and for all.” “Your family?” Kiki laughed, but when she saw she was the only one who found anything amusing, she looked more confused than ever. “What are you talking about? Since when did Brandon become anyone’s family?” Brandon stood next to RaShaun and glared at Kiki while RaShaun answered her in a cold voice. “Brandon is my brother.” PART 3 Kiki looked from one of them to the other and cackled. They had to be joking. “Whatever. You two can’t stand each other, let alone be related. Brothers? Please!” She glanced nervously at the officer. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on here, but if you don’t leave now–” This time it was Quincy who laughed as he placed the case he was carrying on top of the dining room table. “You’ll what? Call the police? As you can see, there’s no need,” he taunted. “And before you say anything else, I want you to listen to something.” “Wh-What?” Kiki’s wide eyes went from the case to Quincy. “Did you know it’s against the law to videotape someone without their knowledge or consent? And then to add blackmail on top of that?” Quincy folded his arms and looked at Kiki. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Not a smart move, Ki. Not smart at all.” Kiki had the nerve to give Brandon an accusing look as if he’d betrayed her. She pushed him past him to go and stand by the window to put distance between them. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. He knew all about it. It was his idea,” she bluffed. Brandon scowled. “You lying, little–” “Brandon.” Quincy held up a hand up to stop him. “I got it.” Kiki smirked at them. “It’s your word against mine.” “Actually, its your word…period.” Quincy pushed a button on the recorder. Kiki’s mouth fell open as the conversation she’d had with Brandon floated into the room. She looked sick when she heard herself admitting to videotaping them having sex and sending the threatening letter. Quincy turned the recording off. “You were saying?” “I…I…” Kiki looked around the room before her blistering gaze landed on Brandon. “I can’t believe you did this!” Brandon squinted at her like she was crazy but he didn’t bother to respond. Kiki started trembling when the police officer walked towards her and took out a pair of handcuffs. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can, and will, be used against you in a court of law…” He turned her around and pulled her arms behind her back. Slapping the cuffs on her wrists, he ignored her high-pitched sobs and screams. “Do you understand the rights as I’ve read them to you?” Kiki’s words came out jumbled and incoherent. Tears mingling with her mascara caused wet, black streaks to smear down her face. She looked a hot mess as she continued to plead with them not to arrest her. When she saw that Brandon and RaShaun’s expressions held no sympathy her knees collapsed. She would’ve fallen to the floor in a pathetic puddle if the police officer hadn’t been there to hold her up. Quincy gestured for him to bring her over to the couch. Once she was sitting down, he propped a foot up on the cushion next to her and put his elbow on his knee. Leaning close to her, he gave her a menacing glare. “You can just stop with the tears. You wanted to play in the big leagues well this is what happens. The courts don’t take cases like this lightly, although with this being your first offense, you’ll probably only get five to ten.” Quincy shrugged. “You could be out in less than three with good behavior.” Kiki stared at him with her mouth wide open. Snapping her eyes closed she threw her head back and wailed even louder. Quincy glanced over at Brandon and nodded, who took his cue. “Quincy, hold up. Let me talk to you for a minute, man.” Kiki quieted down to hiccupping whimpers as she watched Quincy whispering with Brandon across the room. RaShaun cut his eyes at her and went to join them. As he listened he vehemently shook his head in protest. “No! Absolutely not!” he hissed. Quincy held his hands up to calm him down. “Rah, it’s Brandon’s decision.” “How can you think about not pressing charges after everything she’s done?” RaShaun glared at Brandon for Kiki’s benefit. “I think she’s learned her lesson, Shaun,” Brandon countered loud enough for Kiki to hear. Kiki scooted to the edge of the couch. “I have learned my lesson. I swear I have,” she cried desperately. The three men turned to look at her. RaShaun shook his head. “People like you don’t learn lessons. You lay low for a while, then after you think everything has been forgotten, you go back to your same old ways. You’re not happy unless you’re hurting other people.” Kiki shook her head forcefully from side to side. “No! I won’t bother you! I’ll never bother you again! Please! Please don’t arrest meeeeee….” She started blubbering and sobbing again at the top of her lungs. “How do I know you haven’t made other copies?” Brandon asked. “I only made the one I sent to you,” she sniffed, answering him quickly. “The original is in my room. I can get it.” Quincy nodded to the officer to take the cuffs off. “Go with her Mike.” Mike grabbed Kiki’s arm and led her to her room. When they came back, he gave the DVD to Quincy, who popped the DVD in the DVD player. After seeing the images displayed on the screen, he took it out and gave it to Brandon. “Well. It’s your call.” PART 4 Brandon was silent for a moment. He stared hard at Kiki as if he were trying to come to a decision. Then he looked at RaShaun who shook his head. Kiki held her breath as she waited to see what her fate was. Sighing heavily, Brandon turned to glare at Kiki. “I swear to God, if you ever come near me or my family again I’ll have your ass thrown in jail so fast you won’t know what hit you. You understand me?” Kiki almost collapsed in relief. “Yes! Yes! You’ll never hear from me again, I promise!” “Your promises ain’t worth shit. Just remember that Quincy will be keeping everything as evidence and I wont hesitate to press charges if you even think about pulling a stunt like this again.” Kiki nodded vigorously. “I understand.” Quincy went to retrieve the case with the recorder and lifted his brows at Brandon and RaShaun. “A’ight. We good?” RaShaun’s face wore a dark scowl. “I still think this is a mistake, but like you said, it’s up to Brandon.” Looking at Kiki, Brandon nodded slowly. “Yeah. We good.” The four men filed out of the apartment, silent unit they got to Quincy’s car. They stood there for a moment looking at each other with solemn expressions. The next instant, they grinned and gave each other high fives. The police officer laughed and shook his head. “Man, ya’ll are crazy, you know that? That was some fun shit.” Quincy shook his hand. “Thanks, Mike. I appreciate you helpin’ us out, man.” “No problem, Q. I owe you after getting me out of that situation a few months back. I’ll talk to you later.” He shook hands with Brandon and RaShaun then went to his car. Brandon looked at Quincy. “Hey, man, I, uh, I appreciate everything you did.” He shook Quincy’s hand and leaned forward to give him a shoulder bump. “Don’t mention it, man. I don’t think you’ll have to worry about her anymore, but…” Brandon frowned. That didn’t sound good. “But what?” “I think we need to clear some things up about…Terri’s accident.” Brandon’s features grew stiff. Now what? He should’ve known this all was too good to be true. “Q., I really done said all I wanna say about that so–” “The accident wasn’t your fault, Brandon.” Brandon swallowed hard and glanced away. “Look, I know what you doin’ and I appreciate you tryin’ to–” “No, listen. Terri was taking the exit to get onto the interstate when a car cut in front of her. Terri lunged the steering wheel hard to try and avoid a collision but when she slammed on breaks, an eighteen-wheeler plowed into her from behind. The pile up was a chain reaction as other cars crashed into them.” Heart racing furious, Brandon listened to Quincy with an intense expression. He heard what he said, but his mind refused to calculate the words into a satisfactory explanation that his head would understand. “Quincy–” “We had no idea you were blaming yourself all this time. Terri’s death wasn’t your fault.” Brandon blinked rapidly. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Clearing his throat, he tried again. “You, uh, you sure you not just tellin’ me this. So that, you know, I won’t feel guilty about what happened?” “He’s telling you the truth, Brandon,” RaShaun said quietly. “I have a copy of the police report at my house any time you want to look at it.” Brandon tried to swallow past the lump of emotion that had settled in his throat. All this time, he thought he’d been the cause of Terri driving recklessly and having an accident. It would take a while to process the facts of exactly what happened, and even when he did, Brandon knew he would always carry a measure of guilt around because of what took place the last time he and Terri saw other. “Thank you. Both of you. I…” He looked from Quincy to Shaun, still in shock of what he’d just learned. Honestly, he didn’t know how to put his gratitude into words. “Shaun…” RaShaun shook his head to let him know no words were necessary and slapped Brandon on the back. “Come on. Let’s go home.” *** Thirty minutes later, as the three of them walked up to RaShaun’s house, Brandon stopped RaShaun before they went in. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” Quincy glanced at them then went inside and closed the door to give them some privacy. “RaShaun, before we go inside, I just want to say thank you again. Other than Brenda, I never had nobody that cared enough to try and look out for me. I…thanks for having my back.” RaShaun rubbed the back of his neck as he looked at Brandon. “I don’t mean to sound like a greeting card, but I tried to tell earlier, that’s what family is for. I know all of this is new to both of us, and believe me, we’ll probably butt heads more times than not. It’ll take some time. But when it comes down to it, family helps family.” Brandon nodded, finally beginning to understand. RaShaun threw his arm around his shoulder as he opened the door. “Now, come on. We’re already late as it is. Just so you know, I’m blaming you when the women start fussing and nagging about us delaying dinner.” As the two of them walked into the living room, everyone there, Yvonne, Tara, Gina, Brenda, Diane, and Charles, stared at them in shock. RaShaun still had his arm around Brandon’s shoulder, and the two of them were laughing and arguing back and forth about who would take the fall for being late. Finally they stopped and got quiet when they noticed they were the center of attention. RaShaun grinned at them and shrugged. “What? Let’s eat.” PART 5 One year later… “Come on, ole man. You act like you can’t hang or somethin.” The whole family had come to the park for a cookout, but Brandon, RaShaun, Mike and Quincy were playing their second game of basketball. Brandon bounced the ball from one hand to the other, knees bent and crouched low. He moved this way and that, faking RaShaun out and talking smack. RaShaun growled. “I got your ‘ole man’ you cocky, little sonova–”“Ohhhh!!!!” Brandon screamed in RaShaun's face as he dashed around him and smoothly rolled the ball off his fingertips into the net. He and Mike gave each other a high five and laughed as RaShaun and Quincy began bickering amongst each other. “Damn, Rah! You can't hold his ass?” Quincy snapped. “I didn't hear your mouth when Mike dunked twice in a row over you while you just stood there. Didn't have nothin’ to say then. Don't worry about me, you just hold your got damn man,” RaShaun sneered. Brandon and Mike laughed so hard they could barely breathe. “Damn, ya'll fightin’ and shit. So much for team work!” Mike said. Brandon smirked as RaShaun threw the ball at him a bit harder than necessary to check it in. “Sup, big bruh. Am I sensing a little attitude there?" “Brandon, you talk too fuckin’ much, just play ball,” RaShaun grunted threateningly. Brandon chuckled and started dribbling. “No need to be so hostile, Rah. I know you just had a birthday. Them knees ain’t as young as they used to be, are they?” He leisurely bounced the ball as he continued talking shit to RaShaun. Mike broke away from Quincy. Brandon passed the ball to him without turning his head and ran closer to the goal. Mike spun around, shaking Quincy off, and passed the ball back to Brandon, who was open. With lightning speed and eye on the net, Brandon moved towards the goal, intent on scoring the winning basket. He had just jumped up when RaShaun plowed into him, causing his feet to slip out from under him and trip. Brandon landed on the concrete. He lay on his back staring up at the blue sky for a moment seeing stars and trying to catch his breath. Quincy scooped the ball up and shot a three pointer, winning the game for himself and RaShaun. The two friends raised both hands in the air and double high fived. “Now that’s what I’m talkin about! Nice shot, baby!” RaShaun shouted. “Nahhh! Foul! Nice shot my ass! Foul!” Mike cried. “What the hell was that?” He went over to Brandon and reached out his hand to help him up. He spat out a few words in Spanish and gave them the finger. Quincy nudged RaShaun in the side with his elbow. “Aww, shit, that’s when you know he mad. He done brought the Cuban side out.” Quincy smirked at Mike and taunted, “English, papi, English. We no understand Spanish.” Mike’s dark brows bunched together. “I said ya’ll some cheatin’ ass mothafuckas, that’s what!”“Waa, Waa, Waaa. Cut out the whinin’ Mike. This is street ball. Ain’t no fucking fouls in street ball,” RaShaun jeered. “You want to play that soft shit, take your ass to the Y or somethin.” He and Quincy started laughing and gave each other some dap. Quincy jerked his head and directed RaShaun’s attention to Brandon, who was still bent over with his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath. “You a’ight? Youngblood like yourself shouldn’t have that hard a time shakin’ off a little tumble.” Brandon looked over at Quincy with a scowl on his face. Quincy cupped a hand behind his ear and leaned towards Brandon. “I’m sorry, what was that? Did you say somethin’?” “Yeah, I said go to hell, Q.!” RaShaun walked past Brandon on his way to get his bottle of water sitting at the edge of the court. “Not bad for an ole man…is it?” he smirked. “Whatever. Mike right, ya’ll cheated and you know it.” Brandon limped behind him and pushed him in the back. Laughing, RaShaun glanced over his shoulder and threw Brandon’s words back at him. “Ohhhhh! Do I sense a little 'attitude', lil bruh?” Brandon cut his eyes at him hard and proceeded to ignore him. Opening his Gatorade, he took long, deep swallows, guzzling the sports drink until it was gone, effectively quenching his thirst. “Dad! Did you win?” Wiping his mouth with his forearm, Brandon smiled as he saw Jonathon running full speed towards him. “Hey! Wait for your cousin.” Jonathon came to a screeching halt and ran back to Faith who was pouting from the frustration of trying to catch up. Jonathon grabbed her hand and slowed down to match his steps to hers. Brandon watched until they were in front of him. “Did you beat Uncle Shaun and Uncle Q. like you said you were gonna do?” “Yeah, Brandon. Did you win?” RaShaun goaded with a grin as he reached down and picked up his daughter. Brandon glared at him before turning back to Jonathon. “Well, it’s like this. Sometimes when people like Uncle Shaun are sore losers, you have to be the bigger man and decide it’s not really worth it to almost fight to the death over a basketball game.” He stressed the words with force as he looked at RaShaun. “In other words, Jon, no. Your Dad didn’t win,” RaShaun laughed. Faith squealed when she saw her Daddy laughing and clapped her hands. RaShaun smiled back at her and gave her a kiss. “That’s right, honey. Your Dad’s a winner.” Brandon just shook his head. Faith looked over at him and gave him an angelic smile that never failed to melt his heart. “Unca Bwanda…” She reached her arms out and stretched her body towards him. “That’s right, mami. Come to Uncle Brandon. Daddy’s a cheater. Yes he is.” RaShaun laughed. “You’d better stop trying to turn my daughter against me.” He turned to Jonathon. “Come on, lil man. Lets go and play a quick game of horse before we go back and get something to eat.” RaShaun jogged after Jonathon, who took off like a flash to retrieve the basketball. “Mama…” Faith pointed back towards the picnic table where the rest of the family was. “You want to go to your Mom?” Faith nodded and looked at him with her big brown eyes. Brandon smiled. She was going to be a heartbreaker when she grew up. He definitely did not envy RaShaun having to keep the boys away when she got older. “Okay. Come on.” He called to RaShaun and Jonathon that he would be right back. RaShaun looked at him and nodded. Brandon’s glance lingered on Jonathon. His son. His and Tara’s. The adoption had just become final. They were officially Jonathon’s parents, and couldn’t have loved him any more if he were their biological son. The little boy was like a completely new child from the one Brandon had met over a year ago. He was happy and outgoing and loved his new family as much as they accepted and loved him. He and Tara had been married almost a year, now. They’d seen no reason to wait. Life was too short. They loved each other desperately and were happier than they’d ever been in their lives. As Brandon started back towards the rest of his family, he looked down at Faith, who turned her face up to his. She smiled sweetly again, showing the dimples that RaShaun had passed down to her. Yes, he was Faith’s uncle, but he and Tara were also her godparents. Brandon’s mind wandered back eight months ago when he, Faith and RaShaun had gone to the doctor and gotten another paternity test. As before, the results showed a 99.99% chance that RaShaun was Faith’s father. Brandon had to admit a small part of him had still been wondering if he could be the father, and apparently, RaShaun had been thinking the same thing. Brandon had been shocked when RaShaun came to him and told him he’d like them to take a paternity test. Just to be sure. RaShaun said he and Yvonne had been talking, and although nothing could make Faith any less their daughter, they needed to know without a doubt that RaShaun was her father, for Faith’s sake as well as all of theirs. They were all relieved and able to let go of the past when the results came back. It was as it was supposed to be. As Brandon approached everyone, Faith started wiggling her little body, letting Brandon know she wanted to get down. As soon as her feet hit the ground, she took off running towards Yvonne who was holding her baby brother, RaShaun Dwayne Patterson II. Yvonne smiled as Faith leaned down and gently kissed her brother’s cheek then reached up with lips pursed to give her mother a kiss. “Brandon, where is your brother and my grandson?” Diane shielded her eyes from the sun as she looked towards the basketball court. She shook her head when she saw Jonathon and RaShaun playing. “He was supposed to be telling you all to come and eat.” Diane turned to Brandon with her hands on her hips. “And I suppose if I send you to get them, you won’t come back either.” Brandon smiled at his mother and leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Ma, everyone will eat when they get hungry. Besides, RaShaun’s loss if my gain. More food for me.” Diane smiled as she shook her head at her son. She didn’t know where he put all the food he ate. “Brandon…” “Diane, leave the boy alone. He’s right, when they get hungry, they’ll find their way to the food.” Diane rolled her eyes at Charles and threw her hands up as she went to join her daughter and daughters-in-law. “Sup, Pop. You know your oldest cheated, right?” “I know, son. I saw him. You should know by now he hates losing to you. The last time you beat him, he bugged you incessantly until you gave him a rematch, remember?” Brandon laughed as he nodded. “Speaking of rematches. I have the chess table set up and waiting.” He gave Brandon a challenging look. “Come on now, Pop, and you talk about RaShaun. Whatever happened to losing gracefully?” “No such thing. Now come on.” Charles walked over and took a seat in one of the chairs and waited on Brandon. Chess was their thing. No one else liked to play except Brandon, and he was damn good at it. Charles had told Brandon he inherited his love of the game from his father, Nathan. “Okay, but gimme a minute to check on my wife. She looks miserable, poor thing.” Charles nodded. He was studying the board and already planning his strategy. Brandon walked over to where Tara was and squatted down in front her. “Hey, sweetie. You alright?” “Yes, I just cant seem to get comfortable.” Brandon placed his hands on her six months pregnant belly and almost immediately felt her stomach move and shift slightly underneath his palm. He smiled as he thought about his babies. Twins. He leaned down and kissed her stomach. “How are daddies babies doing? Huh? Did Mommy feed you enough?” “Boy, did she,” Yvonne said, smiling as Tara shot her a dirty look. “What are you trying to say? You want me to starve myself?” “No, honey, I was just joking.” Yvonne tried to keep a straight face. Tara was so grouchy. Brandon grinned at Yvonne. “I wish you’d leave my wife alone. I seem to remember you had RaShaun running out all hours of the night picking up bags of chocolate bars, ice-cream, and waffles to satisfy your ‘healthy’ cravings.” Yvonne glared at him. “Whatever, Brandon. Isn’t Dad waiting on you to play chess or something?” Brandon laughed as he kissed Tara before he stood up. He noticed Brenda standing a few feet away smiling up at Mike. Brandon shook his head when he saw the familiar expression on Mike’s face that most men seemed to wear when looking at his sister. Mike had only met Brenda a couple of times, but from the first moment he saw her, he’d fallen head over heels. He could barely put two sentences together. When Brandon mentioned this to Brenda, she said she didn’t want a boyfriend right now. That changed when she saw Mike out on a date a couple of weeks ago. All of a sudden, she seemed to have a change of heart, and had started pursuing Mike, who was doing his best to play hard to get. “When is he gonna put our sister out of her misery?” RaShaun walked up behind Brandon and followed his stare. Brandon shrugged. “It’ll do her good to finally meet someone who’s not falling at her feet for a change.” “I give him a good week before he gives in to her.” Brandon laughed. “A week? Three days. Tops.” “Brandon. I’m waiting.” Charles called out. RaShaun looked over at his father and grimaced. He couldn’t stand chess. He decided to go the other way before his father tried to sucker him into playing. Brandon laughed as he watched RaShaun walk the opposite way. As he turned to join Charles, the smile stayed on his face. Sometimes, he still found it hard to believe he had the one thing he never thought he’d have in his life. A family. When they were all together like they were today, he enjoyed every second of it and wouldn’t give it up for anything. Brandon looked up in appreciation at the clear, blue sky. With each day, his life’s destiny unfolded to reveal more and more of the kind of man he strived to be. He knew without a doubt, if he hadn’t gone through the experiences of his past, he would not be able to appreciate the treasures he had in his present. The future was something he eagerly looked forward to.I hope you enjoyed Tara and Brandon’s story! I’ll be taking a “season break” in between posting Brenda and Mike’s story while I focus on the first book in The Pattel Series. I did post a little sneak preview for your pleasure below, though. Enjoy.SK Hidden Truths Unspoken Lies (Brenda and Mike) “Everyone out!” Quincy stormed into the precinct locker room and gave the order in a no-nonsense tone. The pitch of his voice bellowed out with a ferocity that left no mistake as to the type of mood he was in. The male chatter stilled. The good-natured laughter came to an abrupt halt as the men turned to stare at him without moving. Quincy’s eyes darted around the room, meeting the inquisitive frowns and murmurs. Seeing them standing there motionless as if they didn’t understand English raised his pisstivity level off the charts. “Did you hear me! I said get out! Now!” Although they looked around at one another and grumbled underneath their breath, they filed out of the room one by one. No one dared to call Quincy on his attitude. It was a well known fact that Quincy could be an asshole when he wanted to be and didn’t take any shit. He was also never one to back down from a challenge. It didn’t matter if he was right or wrong, he would go toe to toe until he got his way. Mike had been standing in front of his locker reaching for a fresh shirt. As he turned to walk past Quincy, Q. held up a hand and pushed him none too gently in the chest to stop him. “Not you,” he said in a low voice through lips that barely moved. His eyes held Mike’s until the last person left the room. As soon as he heard the door close, Quincy took a step towards Mike until their faces were inches apart. “Just what in the hell do you think you’re doing?” Mike’s jaw clenched and unclenched as he gritted his teeth, but he remained silent. He didn’t even try to pretend not to know what Quincy was talking about. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out?” Quincy held the younger man’s gaze until his eyes slid away. Mike turned back to his locker. “Quincy, its really not any of your–” “If you tell me its none of my business, I will wipe up the floor with your ass from one end of this room to the other. Now, lets try this again: What in the hell do you think you’re doin‘, Mike?” Taking his time answering the question, Mike pulled a shirt on before reaching down in his locker to take out a pair of dress shoes. He hesitated then glanced at Quincy. “I like her, Q. I like her a lot.” Quincy’s eyes never wavered from Mike’s. He didn’t want Mike to mistake his next words. “Whatever is or is not going on…end it now.” He continued to glare at Mike for a few more moments to let him know the statement wasn’t a request before turning to walk to the door. “And if I don’t…” Quincy paused with his hand on the doorknob. His eyes held a warning that Mike read loud and clear. “Let me make this simple for you. Either you deal with me, or you deal with her brothers.” Without another word, Quincy left the room. Mike stared at the spot where Mike had been standing a moment ago. With a deep growl, he turned and forcefully slammed the locker door closed and pounded it with his fist. The men who’d left out a few moments ago made their way back in, glancing curiously at Mike. They were wondering what he’d done to invite Detective Johnson’s wrath. They knew Mike was Quincy’s protégé and was on the fast track to becoming detective himself. However, something had happened to cause a rift between the two. Whatever it was, they were just relieved they were not in his shoes at this moment. Quincy stalked back to his desk and sat down. He leaned back in his chair and stared absently ahead, his mind was going back to this past weekend when they’d all been at the park with RaShaun’s family. Everyone had a good time. Funny how much things can change within a years’ time. From the moment RaShaun had found out that Brandon and Brenda were actually his brother and sister, he’d made a concentrated effort to let go of the explosive past he and Brandon shared. Nothing was more important than family, especially the circumstances that had been unveiled over a year ago. Unbeknownst to him, RaShaun’s’ mother had given up her twins for adoption over thirty years ago. After many bumps and bruises along the way, much progress had been made in that family. A smile lifted the corner of Quincy’s mouth as he thought about Brandon and Tara. He still couldn’t believe they were married and expecting twins. The smile left his face as his thoughts went back to the confrontation he’d just had with Mike. Mike had been at the picnic as well this weekend. Quincy hadn’t noticed at first, but as the day wore on, he began to pay more attention to how much time Mike and Brenda spent together. The more he watched them, the more he saw that there seemed to be some serious flirting going on. Brenda was a gorgeous woman. Quincy could tell that Mike was enthralled by her intelligence as well as her beauty. And under any other circumstances, the two of them would have made a perfect couple…under any other circumstances. Sitting at his desk with the frown still on his face, Quincy watched Mike walk from the locker room carrying a small duffel bag over his shoulder. He’d changed clothes and was wearing a pair of black slacks and a white pullover shirt. Several of the women in the office turned their heads to ogle him as he passed by. He flashed a sexy smile at something one or two of them said but kept moving. When he was right up on Quincy’s desk, the smile left his face. He and Quincy stared at each other for a moment. The negative tension between the two men was so thick you could almost cut it with a knife. “Damn, del Monte, your sexy ass sure does clean up nice, papi.” Zoila, one of the few female detectives in the department, grinned at Mike and winked flirtatiously. Mike pulled his eyes away from Quincy, and gave Zoila a distracted smile. “If that’s a compliment, Z, thank you.” “Oh, it most definitely is. So where you off to?” Mike brought his eyes back to Quincy and said almost defiantly, “I have a date.” Quincy’s mouth tightened, but he didn’t say anything. Satisfied that he’d gotten his point across to Quincy, Mike continued to the door and left without a backwards glance. Quincy’s eyes followed him until he’d disappeared. After a couple of minutes, he turned his chair back towards his desk and pick up the phone. After dialing a number, he brought the phone to his ear and waited for the call to connect. Seconds later, the other party answered. “Hello.” “Rah, it’s Q.” “What’s up, man?” “Where are you?” Quincy was direct and to the point. RaShaun answered in a puzzled voice. “Just left the office, on my way home. Why?” “We need to talk.” “Can it wait, Q.? I had a hectic day and all I want to do is go home to my woman and get some tender loving care.” “No, it can’t. Meet me at Rotoni’s. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” “Quincy–” “It’s about Brenda.” All of a sudden, the weariness left voice RaShaun’s voice at the mention of his sister’s name. “Brenda? What about her? Is she okay?” “No, no. Nothing’s happened. But there are some things you need to be made aware of.” With no further hesitation, RaShaun said, “I’ll see you in twenty minutes.” Quincy replaced the receiver as he stood up. He had warned Mike once. He’d be damned if he ran up behind him and begged him to listen to reason. Quincy had hoped to not have to involve RaShaun and Brandon, but he’d never forgive himself if something happened to Brenda and he had remained silent about the situation. Quincy shook his head. Mike would’ve been better off heeding his warning. Now, he was going to have hell to pay dealing with RaShaun and Brandon.© 2017 S.K. Hardy ALL RIGHTS RESERVED All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means without the written permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

EPISODE 11PART 1Brandon looked at the clock on the bedside table and saw that it was only three o’clock in the morning. Damn. He could’ve sworn it was a lot later than that. Maybe because he’d been staring up at the ceiling for what seemed like hours. No matter how hard he tried, his mind wouldn’t let him rest.He turned his head and glanced at Tara, who was still fast asleep beside him. Brandon smiled. Knowing he wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep, he decided to go to the living room so he wouldn’t wake her up with his tossing and turning.Climbing out of bed, Brandon reached for a pair of sweats he’d thrown over a nearby chair and pulled them on before quietly going downstairs. Grabbing a bottle of Hennessey from behind the wet bar, he sat on the couch in the darkness and finally gave his mind free reign to dissect the events from earlier this evening.Not quite ready to delve into the situation with his mother yet, he thought about his talk with RaShaun. He still couldn’t believe he’d known all this time that he and Terri had been involved.Brandon remembered the first time he’d met her at a club opening. Terri had been an extremely beautiful woman, so she’d caught his attention with away, and he, hers. Brandon hadn’t approached her, though. That wasn’t his style. Instead, he’d sat back and waited, and just as he’d known she would, Terri finally made her way over to his table. Less than an hour, they’d left and gone to her place.The relationship between them had been casual, more friends with benefits than anything else. Weeks after meeting when Terri first broached the subject of Brandon helping her get her ex back, he’d been more amused by the request than anything. Having just sold his agency, he’d been a little bored and at ends with what he wanted to do with his life, so he’d agreed with Terri’s request.She had introduced Brandon to Kiki days later. It was then that he’d discovered Kiki and Yvonne were friends, or so Yvonne thought. That’s how she’d known about Terri being RaShaun’s ex-girlfriend. Terri was the first person Kiki had thought about to break up RaShaun and Yvonne. Brandon watched with interest as, together, the two women formulated a plan. Early on, he’d peeped out that Kiki was jealous of Von, but it wasn’t any of his business. He was just passing the time until he found something better to do…Brandon ran a hand over his face as he thought about the night the three of them slept together. It had been Terri’s idea. She had told Brandon that Kiki was dying to have sex with him, especially after she’d heard all of the details from Terri about how good he was in bed. Brandon did it more so to please Terri than any desire he had for Kiki. That had been the one and only time he’d been with her.Afterwards, the plan was put into place to break up RaShaun and Yvonne, and was successfully executed before the two lovers even realized what happened. All it had taken was Yvonne confiding in Kiki that she wasn’t sure she was ready to settle down. Kiki encouraged those feelings and suggested that maybe she needed some time away from RaShaun, to be on her own and enjoy life.By the time Brandon made his move, Yvonne was primed and ready for a change. So began the unraveling of RaShaun and Yvonne’s relationship.When Terri found out she was pregnant, Brandon immediately suspected it was his. However, after she took the test that determined RaShaun to be the father, Brandon had backed off, but Terri hadn’t been quite ready to let him go. She’d told him once that he was like a drug to her, a habit she couldn’t kick. Eventually her obsession shifted from RaShaun to Brandon. Her sexual appetite was even more voracious as her pregnancy progressed, and quite honestly, Brandon was there to feed it.When he finally broke things off with her for good, she refused to leave him alone. That last day he went to see Yvonne at her job, she had followed him, jealous and demanding why he was there. It hadn’t been pretty…“Terri, I done asked you to leave me alone, a’ight?” The two of them were in the parking lot in front of Yvonne’s office arguing.“What are you doing here, Brandon? You do understand you were just supposed to be playing a role with her, don’t you? You act like you’re obsessed with that little bitch.”“Nah, what I understand is that you’re the one who seems to be obsessed. How many ways do I have to tell you that I don’t want you no more?”“But you want Yvonne?”“Terri–”“Because if that’swhat this little visit is all about, you’ve wasted a trip. Why would Yvonne want someone like you when she’s married to a man like RaShaun Patterson?”That had stung. At that point, Brandon had gotten tired of her bullshit and went gutter on her. “The question is if I ain’t ‘bout shit why tha’ fuck do YOU still want me, huh? The real question is what made you think a man like him would ever want somebody like you? Ere’body know you can’t turn a hoe into a housewife.”PART 2Brandon closed his eyes. He took a big swallow of his drink, feeling it burn down his throat. He could still remember the look on her face at the words he’d thrown at her like bullets out of gun. Tears streaming down her face, she’d hopped in her car and spun out of the parking lot driving as if she were being chased by the devil himself.Brandon had screamed Terri’s name, but she’d kept driving. Staring at the back of her speeding car, his heart raced out of control. If she didn’t slow down she was going to kill herself and the baby. Brandon had taken a step towards his own car to go after her, but changed his mind. He had his own problems to deal with.Thirty minutes later, Terri was dead.Sitting on the edge of the couch, Brandon held his head in his hands and slowly rocked back and forward. That day, she had lashed out at him in jealousy, and he’d taken his anger and frustration out on her. The things he’d said to her had been hurtful and unnecessarily harsh. Brandon blamed himself and would probably always blame himself for her death. He was just thankful that the baby had eventually been okay.But the nightmares? When would they stop? Would the guilt ever subside? Brandon dug the heel of his hands in his eyes as if to banish his memory. He’d made an effort to become a better person, to try to give back and make up for the wrong he’d done. He was trying to confront the demons of his past. It was becoming easier, but times like this, he felt as if he were back at square one.He had been using women all his life–and they’d used him back. Unfortunately, Brandon had discovered at a very young age that they were willing to do anything for him. He didn’t have to ask. As he grew older, he’d moved on to wealthy women who threw money at him hand over fist in order to keep getting the pleasure he provided them.He couldn’t help but wonder if his life would’ve turned out differently if his mother hadn’t given them away. Brandon laughed. Of course it would have. He would’ve had the love of a mother to guide him, to direct him, the same as she’d done for RaShaun. But she hadn’t loved Brandon and Brenda enough to do that.Angry at the hurt he felt from that thought, he stood up abruptly, chest heaving. Picking up the bottle of alcohol, he threw it against the wall and watched it shatter. The amber colored liquor ran down and stained his dove gray walls. That’s how Tara found him, moments later.Frightened and still half asleep, she ran into the room. “Brandon! What happened? Are you okay?”He turned around, looking at the woman who held his heart in her hands. A part of him tried to stop the words that fought to escape through his lips, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to. Brandon walked over to her and hugged her tight. He had to tell her.“Baby…” Bewildered, Tara lightly rubbed his back. “Baby, what’s wrong?”It was several moments before Brandon pulled back and stared into her eyes, which were filled with concern. “When I told you I would be truthful with you, I meant it. But first, I wanna tell you that I love you, Tara.”He took her face in his hands and gently caressed her cheeks, memorizing the love he saw in her eyes. It might be the last time she looked at him that way after she heard what he had to say.“I…I got some things I need to tell you. All I ask is that you give me a chance to tell you everything.”“Brandon, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”Brandon grew silent. He was so scared of losing her, but he didn’t want their relationship to be based on secrets. Thinking of his mother, he saw that secrets eventually had a way of coming out.Reaching for her hand, he led her to the couch. Tara had wrapped the sheet around her when she’d heard the shattering of the glass and raced downstairs. She gathered a handful of the material in her hand so that she wouldn’t trip as she followed behind him. After they sat down, still holding her hand, Brandon turned his body towards her.“You know there are things I’ve done in my past. Things I’m not proud of.”Tara squeezed his hand. “And that’s why it’s called the ‘past’. Baby, I know the person you are now. You don’t have to do this.”Brandon shook his head before she even finished the last sentence. It would be so easy to just agree with her and let sleeping dogs lie. But if she ever found out the truth from anyone else…“Tara. Please. I have to… no Ineedto tell you this.”Obviously seeing how important it was to him, she reluctantly nodded. “Okay. I’m listening.”Brandon continued looking at her as he brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “You love me, right?”Tara nodded. “Yes. Very much.”Brandon nodded his head up and down. Taking a deep breath, he started from the beginning. Tara, of course, already knew about how he, Yvonne, and RaShaun met, and how he’d tried to come between Yvonne and RaShaun. She’d been there through the entire thing. What she didn’t know was that it went a lot deeper. A helluva lot deeper.“That night, over a year ago, when I ran into Yvonne and her friends at the club, it wasn’t an accident. Terri and I set it up.”Tara looked at him as if she hadn’t heard him correctly. “Wait, what? You andTerri. What are you saying? That you and Terri knew each other before she became involved with RaShaun and got pregnant?”“Yeah.” Staring at the floor, Brandon nodded. Wiping his hand over his mouth, he lifted his eyes to look at Tara. “She came up to me at a club opening and introduced herself. We, uh, went home together with each other that same night.”“What?” Tara whispered. “You…you slept with Terri? But…I don’t understand.”“It was a casual relationship. We hooked up every now and then but that’s about as far as it went. Eventually, Terri told me about RaShaun and how she wanted him back…and that she wanted me to help her.”“Wait!” Tara slid her hand from Brandon’s and held it up to stop his words. She closed her eyes and went back to what he’d just said. “Help her how? How was she planning on getting RaShaun?”Brandon paused, then said the name he dreaded. “Kiki. She was in on it.”Tara’s mouth hung open as her face closed up. “Kiki. What doesKikihave to do with this?”Brandon said everything almost in one breath. He knew if he didn’t tell it all now, he never would. “Kiki and Terri worked together to break up RaShaun and Yvonne. You know as well as I do that Kiki was jealous of Yvonne, especially after she and RaShaun got together. She knew all about Terri from Yvonne. She looked her up and the two of them joined forces.”Tara’s breathing quickened as she looked at Brandon with disbelief in her eyes. “Are you telling me that you, Terri, and…Kiki…” Her face contorted as she spat out Kiki’s name. “The three of you schemed to break up RaShaun and Yvonne from the very beginning?”Again Brandon nodded.“So when you just ‘happened’ to see Yvonne that night, it was all a part of your plan?”Brandon paused before answering. “Yes.”PART 3Tara turned her head away from him as if she couldn’t stand to look at him. God, please let this all be a bad dream. Please let me wake up now.She took a deep breath and looked at Brandon, but he was still staring at her with eyes that pleaded for two things she didn’t know if she could ever give him: understanding and forgiveness.Her feelings must have been reflected in her face because Brandon stood up and paced a few steps before turning around to stare at her. “Tara, I was a different person back then. You know that. Other than my sister, I didn’t give a damn about nothin’ or nobody. Hell, if the truth be known, I didn’t even care about myself. When Terri came to me about this, to be honest, it was…amusing. No big deal. So I agreed.”“No big deal? Amusing?”Yvonne screeched. She closed her eyes tight. “This is crazy. I still can’t believe it. I can’t believe Kiki was working with Terri all this time. I’ve always known that bitch was a snake in the grass, but no one could tell Yvonne anything. She swore that people just misunderstood Kiki until she found out about all of the lies Kiki had told RaShaun about her. That bitch is lucky Yvonne didn’t kick her ass worse than she did when she discovered Kiki had been coming on to RaShaun. Sneaky, back stabbing, no good skanky whore.”Brandon got quiet. He knew she didn’t like Kiki, but he didn’t realize to what extent. “Tara….”“I mean, yeah, Terri and RaShaun had a history together. ButKiki’sass? What made her think that RaShaun would even touch her with a ten foot pole?”“Tara–”“Hell, she’s slept with almost half the men in town. Fuckin’ slut! No decent man would eventhinkabout screwing her ass.”“Baby, I wasn’t a decent man back then.” Brandon quietly broke into her tirade. Unable to look at her, he stared down at the floor.Tara frowned. Now what? “What are you talking about?”Raising his eyes to meet hers was one of the hardest things he ever had to do in his life. “I said I wasn’t a decent man back then.”The frown on Tara’s face turned to one of comprehension, then disbelief, then disgust. Her voice shook with emotion. “Brandon, tell me you didn’t…”Brandon cleared his throat before telling her everything. The threesome between himself, Terri, and Kiki. How he thought the baby Terri carried could’ve possibly been his at the time. How he and Terri continued to see one another throughout her pregnancy. And then finally, the day he and she had words in the parking outside of Yvonne’s office. His voice became hoarse with emotion when he came to the part about how she sped away and was killed in the car accident minutes later.Tara sat there staring at him with tears rolling down her eyes. She slowly stood up. Brandon walked over to her, but she quickly shook her head and sidestepped out of the way.“Don’t.”“Baby–”“Whoareyou? How could you be so…devious and conniving? You’re no better than Terri or Kiki.” The laughter that burst out of her was stingingly bitter. “What am I saying? You’re just like them.”“Tara, please. I’m not that person no more.”“I don’t want to hear that!” She screamed, anger taking over. “You keep saying that like it automatically absolves you of all responsibility. You expect me to believe you’ve changedthatmuch?” Tara brought her hands up to cover her face. “Oh, God, I should’ve listened to my cousin.”“Baby, don’t…don’t say that.”“Go to hell!” Tara yelled.She averted her eyes from his face. She couldn’t even look at him. Stumbling on the sheet, Tara angrily pulled it from under her feet and balled it up in her hand as she hurried upstairs. She didn’t want to be anywhere near him right now.Brandon was right on her heels. “Tara, wait. We need to talk. I told you everything for a reason. If I were the same person I was back then, I would’ve kept everything to myself.”Tara ignored him and reached for her clothes.“So, being honest with you counts for nothing? A minute ago, you were telling me how much you loved me, and that the ‘past was the past’. But, baby, I didn’t want us to start off with hidden lies and unspoken truths as the foundation of our relationship.”“I don’t even know if we have a relationship. Does fucking each others brains out constitute a relationship?” She sent him a hot glare as she put her clothes on.PART 4Brandon felt as if the air was slowly and painfully being squeezed out of his lungs. He struggled to keep his tone even so that the fear gnawing in his stomach wouldn’t reflect in his voice.“So that’s how you feel. Now youdon’tlove me. Is that it?” he asked, desperately trying to capture her gaze. “Is that what you’re saying, Tara?”When she rolled her eyes at him and tried to walk past him, he grabbed her arm to stop her. Tara slapped his face and jerked her arm away. “How could you do those things? You slept with Terri?AndKiki??” She reached for the door to leave the bedroom.“Baby–”“No. I don’t wanna hear it, Brandon! I said,no!” She screamed when he encircled his arms around her from behind.Brandon just held her tighter against him as she struggled. He didn’t care what he had to do to keep her there. The only thing he was sure of at the moment was if she walked out of that door and left him, he would be losing the best thing that ever happened to him, and after the life he’d led, that was no exaggeration.Finally, Tara’s struggles ceased. She grew deadly still, head bowed, sniffling, and it broke Brandon’s heart in two. He leaned down and brought his face to hers, kissing her cheek even as she tried to turn away.“Please don’t cry. I can’t stand it. I’m so sorry, Tara.”He continued to whisper soothing words of love, regret, and heartfelt promises until she turned around. Tara didn’t look at him, just slipped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest.Brandon reached down and wiped the tears away from her face. “I can’t lose you. Please tell me that you forgive me.”PART 5Tara swallowed hard. Sniffing, she finally eased away enough to look up at Brandon. When she did, she saw the anguish displayed on his face as his eyes anxiously searched hers.She knew he desperately needed absolution, but she didn’t know if she could give it to him. She closed her eyes, but all she could see was him in bed with Terri and Kiki. Shaking her head, Tara abruptly pushed away from him. She couldn’t stand for him to touch her with the same hands he’d so intimately touched Kiki with. If it had been anyone else other than that troll, she cold possibly get over it, but…“Would you have preferred that I not told you, Tara?” Brandon asked her quietly. “I mean, I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t. I’m trying to stand up and be a man, take responsibility for my actions. I know it’s not easy for you to hear, but dammit it ain’t easy for me to say either.”Folding her arms, Tara cast a quick glance at him from the corner of her eye, but remained silent.Brandon took a deep breath. “I have never, in my life, felt about any woman the way I feel about you. Tonight at RaShaun’s house, you heard how my life was and the things Brenda and I went through. That wasn’t even half of it. Believe me, I’m not trying to get your sympathy, I’m just being honest. There was never anyone who ever cared about me, or took time out to teach me right from wrong. Baby, it was trial and error for me. I had to do what needed to be done to survive, to take care of my sister.”Seeing that she wouldn’t even give him an inch, Brandon sighed and went over to sit on the bed. With his face devoid of any expression, he leaned down with his elbows on his knees and stared up at her. “Have you ever wondered how I got into my…profession?”“Brandon, I don’t see what that has to do with–”“You know how old I was when I first had sex, Tara? I was eleven years old. Eleven. Not much older than Jonathon is now. Know who it was with? The administrator of one of the orphanages we were in. Someone who was supposed to be looking out for the welfare of the children she was in charge of.” The corner of his mouth lifted in a bitter smile. “See, men aren’t the only ones who are molesters, and I’ve come to realize that’s just what she was. For three years, she had sex with me every chance she got. She taught me what she wanted and how she wanted it. She told me she’d make sure Brenda and I were taken care of as long as I took care of her. It went on until someone caught us. She was fired and we were moved to another orphanage.“But that was the first of many experiences of exchanging sex and getting something in return so you see, my head was fucked up at an early age. And when I got older, women wanted to pay me for it.” He looked away for a moment, then back at Tara. “Brenda doesn’t know all of it, but that’s how I put her through college. The woman I was with at the time was very wealthy. In exchange for me being at her beck and call, she paid Brenda’s tuition until she graduated. That’s the kind of life I had, so you see, when Terri came to me and told me what she wanted, I didn’t see what the big deal was,” Brandon shrugged. “That shit was child’s play. I’m not sayin’ that it was right, but I didn’t give two shits about somebody gettin’ hurt. Then when Terri was killed in that car accident…”He stared into space as if reliving that time before standing and determinedly bringing his attention back to Tara.“To be honest, baby, if you walk out of that door and never come back, I can’t say that I’d be surprised. My mother was able to do it without too much trouble, so why should anyone else be any different?” He spread his hands out beside him, palms up. “Tara, I can’t be too much more open with you than what I’ve been. This is me. I’m hoping you meant what you said, and that you do love me, at least enough to stay with me and work this out, but…I understand if you can’t.”PART 6Tara opened her mouth to tell him exactly that. That she didn’t think she could be with him after learning everything, but something held her back from saying those words. She thought about what he’d told her. He was right. He didn’t have to tell her any of this. He had to have known there was the strong possibility she would leave him, yet he took that chance and was truthful about everything…Then it hit her. Just like she’d been defending him to everyone else, those words remained the same. No matter what he’d donethen, this was the type of man he wasnow. Strong, loving, and honest.Tara looked at him standing in front of her waiting on her to make a decision. Closing her eyes for a moment, she decided to go with her instincts. They’d honestly never led her wrong, so as difficult as this was, she had to trust her gut. Making up her mind she opened her eyes.“I do love you, Brandon. And we…we can get through this. I’m not going anywhere.”Brandon closed his eyes briefly in relief. He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her securely. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if I’d lost you. I promise on my life, I’ll never hurt you again.”Tara nodded. For reasons she couldn’t explain, she trusted him.They removed their clothes and got back into the bed and held each other tightly until they fell asleep. Brandon felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, and for the first time in a long time, he slept peacefully throughout the night with Tara in his arms.***“Brandon. Brandon…”Grunting, Brandon turned over and pulled the pillow over his head.“Brandon…” This time the persistent hushed voice was accompanied by an insistent tapping on his shoulder.Brandon rolled over and looked through squinted eyes at his sister. So he wasn’t dreaming. Brenda gestured for him to come downstairs before walking out of his bedroom. Brandon looked at Tara to make sure she was still asleep. Seeing that she was, he climbed out of bed and pulled on his sweatpants and walked half blind from sleep to join Brenda. He found her in the kitchen pouring a glass of orange juice.“Hey, Sis. What’s up? Everything okay?” he asked in a scratchy voice. “Damn, what time is it?”“Yes. Everything’s fine, and it’s after eight. Sorry to use my key and let myself in, but I rang the doorbell several times.”“Yeah, we really just got to sleep a couple of hours ago.”“Spare me the details,” she grinned knowingly.Brandon looked at her and smiled. “Nah, we were up talking. I told Tara everything.”Brenda’s eyes widened. “Everything? How did she react?”“She was a little pissed off at first, but I think everything’s going to be okay.”“Oh, Brandon, I’m so glad. I was worried about you not telling her.”“You sure you okay? What are you doin’ up so early?”“Its notthatearly. But…I’m going to meet Diane for brunch. And I want you to come with me.”“Nope.” Brandon took her glass of juice from her hand and went into the living room.Brenda followed behind him. “Brandon, please. I did a lot of thinking, and RaShaun’s right. Maybe it’s best if we make an attempt to move forward. I really think she wants to try and make amends.”“Make amends, Brenda? Tell me how she thinks she’s gonna do that? Look, I understand if you want to see her and get to know her. Fine. Do it. But I’ve met her and as far as I’m concerned, that’s enough.”“But Brandon, she’s our….”“Don’t. Don’t say it because she’s not!” Brandon didn’t mean to yell, but just the thought of that woman wanting to have a relationship with them now pissed him off.“Brandon–”“Brenda, I said no.”“Why not?” Tara asked from behind them.They both turned around. Neither had heard her come into the room. She stared at Brandon, waiting for an answer.“Baby, you already know why not. Now if Brenda wants to forgive and forget, then God bless. We’re twins, but it doesn’t mean we always think alike.”“What happened to forgiveness? And letting the past stay where it belongs?”Their eyes locked and held as Tara sent a silent message to him. “Its not the same thing and you know it.”“No, but the outcome is the same.” She walked up to him and slid her arms around his waist. “Baby, it’s not going to help anyone to hold on to past hurts. You’re trying to punish your mother, but the only thing that’s accomplishing is you holding on to the hurt and anger, and you already know it wont do anything but eat you up inside. You need to do this for yourself. Not Diane. That’s the only way you can truly get on with your life.”Brandon stared at her for several long moments before resignation set in. He looked over at Brenda who was silently pleading with him. “Fine,” he sighed loudly. “But I cant promise anything.”“Thank you, baby. That’s all we ask” She reached up on tiptoe and kissed his chin. He lowered his head and kissed her on the lips before turning back to Brenda. “Give me about thirty minutes.”“Make it twenty,” she grinned.He glared at her, then loudly blew out a breath in irritation before turning to go to his room. Tara and Brenda heard him mumbling about the ‘bossy women in his life’ before he climbed the stairs two at a time.Brenda and Tara grinned and gave each other a high five. At least it was a first step. They sat and talked until Brandon came back into the room. He had showered and thrown on his clothes.“We may as well get this over with. Come on,” he told Brenda reluctantly. He kissed Tara goodbye, before he closed the door, he turned around to look at her. “You’ll be here when I get back, wont you?”“Where else would I be?” she smiled.He returned her smile before walking out.PART 7Brenda and Brandon strolled into the hotel lobby downtown to meet Diane for brunch. Heads turned as the attractive pair walked by, but they were oblivious to the stares their looks attracted; they had become so used to the attention they barely even noticed it anymore.Diane sat at a table and watched their approach. Pride and love filled up her heart until she thought she would burst. She would never forgive herself for giving them up, and could only hope they would give her a chance to be in their lives now, if only in some small way. She smiled as they made it to her table.“Good morning. Thank you for meeting me. It means a lot.”Brenda smiled. “Thank you for inviting us.”Brandon pulled his shades off and ignored her. He pulled the chair out for Brenda to sit down then sat himself.“What do you two have planned for today?” Diane’s voice was overly bright to try and hide her nervousness. “Yvonne and Shaun wanted to make sure I extended an invitation for dinner. If you’re not busy,” she hurriedly added.“I’m busy.” Brandon said without missing a beat.Brenda frowned at her brother, but he kept perusing the menu. Although he felt her stare, he didn’t bother looking at her.“Why don’t we go on and order?” Brandon suggested impatiently. “I don’t plan on being here long.”***Brandon signaled the waiter that they were ready. After they gave their orders, Diane asked Brenda about her job and things she liked to do in her spare time. Before long, they were talking easily and even laughed a little. But Brandon sat there and just stared at his mother. What was her angle? What did she really want from them?Diane caught him watching her with the thoughtful expression on his face. “What about you Brandon? What do you do?”Brenda kicked him under the table. Brandon didn’t look at her but he felt her hard stare. He sighed and swallowed back the sharp retort lingering on the edge of his tongue. “Lets just say I’m in between jobs right now. I’m…making a career change.”“Oh? What did you do before? You’re so well spoken, I’m sure you were a raging success at whatever you’re previous job was.”Brandon’s eyes narrowed. She was pushing it with the ‘let’s get to know each other’ crap.Brenda saw the sudden glint in his eyes and stuttered nervously as she tried to answer for him, but Brandon spoke over her and said exactly what she was trying to avoid.“I was in the male escort business. I fucked rich women for money to keep me in the style in which I’d grown accustomed.” Smiling like a predator that had its meal in its immediate sight, Brandon went in for the kill. “You know. Sort of like you did with your husband when you got pregnant by his best friend.”Diane had been taking a sip of water, but when she heard his last sentence, she gasped, causing her to sputter and choke.Brenda reached over and patted her on the back as she glared at her brother. “Stop it, Brandon!” she hissed.Brandon looked at her innocently. “What, Sis? I’m telling the truth. That’s what this little shindig is all about, ain’t it? Getting to know us. Makin’ amends. The truth is, she didn’t want to give up her fancy life, so in exchange she continued to let her husband fuck her…in more ways than one.” He settled deeper in the chair and grinned. “Maybe I really am my mother’s son.”Diane’s hand slammed down on the table. “That’s enough!” She didn’t raise her voice but there was an unmistakable hint of steel in her tone. “You will not speak to me in that manner.”Brandon’s smile turned cold. “What is that, your ‘Mommy’ voice? Sorry. I wouldn’t know.”“I understand you must hate me right now, and you have the right to feel that way. But no matter how you may feel, I won’t let you sit there and use vulgar language towards me.”Brandon leaned towards her. “And just what in thefuckare you supposed to mean to me? I’ll tell you. Not a got damn thing! So either take me or leave me. Wait. Let me guess which one you’re gonna do,” he said sarcastically.Diane sat there breathing hard as she narrowed her eyes. Brandon looked at Brenda and saw the same exact expression on her face. Brandon smirked at them both, then picked up his Mimosa and took a healthy swallow.Obviously making an attempt to calm down, Diane breathed in deeply and sat back. “You think you have everything figured out? Don’t be so sure. Things are not as cut and dried as you make them out to be, Brandon.”“Oh yeah? Enlighten me,” he said in a bored tone.“Do you think it was easy for me to give my babies away?” Before he could answer, she continued. “Days after I signed the adoption papers, I went into a deep depression. I…I tried to commit suicide twice.”Brenda and Brandon looked at her with wide eyes. For once, Brandon didn’t have anything to say.“I couldn’t live with what I’d done. And on top of that, your father had just been killed. I wasn’t able to mourn him openly, so I kept it all inside. Finally, I felt as if I couldn’t deal with life any longer. On the first attempt, I took sleeping pills. Charles found me just in time and rushed me to the hospital. The second time…” She looked down at her wrists and slowly turned them over so that the back of her hands rested on the table.Brenda and Brandon noticed the very faint but still visible puckered slashes on her inner wrists. Brenda gasped in horror.“I was in the bathtub, had been wondering about where you both were. Praying that you were okay. Crying because I ached to have you with me…I’d gotten to the place where every time I took a bath, I’d bring one of Charles’ razors and set it on the side of the tub. One night, I finally got the courage to use it. By the time Charles found me this time, I had lost a dangerous amount of blood. After they stitched my wrists up, I was put in a psychiatric hospital. Luckily, there was a doctor there who actually cared enough to try and help me. She prescribed anti depressives and worked with me to get to the root of my problems. Eventually, I got better.” She looked at them both. “But I never forgot you. Not for one moment.”Brenda wiped the tears from her eyes with her napkin and reached over to grasp her mother’s hand in hers. Diane squeezed her hand and tried to smile through her own tears. She looked at Brandon and held out her other hand.“Please, please forgive me. I loved you both from the minute you were born. If nothing else, please believe that.”She stared at Brandon until he lifted his gaze from the table. He looked down at her outstretched hand, which seemed to be begging for his. Almost of their own violation, his fingers uncurled from the fist he had resting on the table and slowly moved towards her hand. He hesitated and then slipped his hand in hers. The tears welled up in his eyes as he felt his mother’s touch for the first time in his life.Diane’s tears fell as well. Brenda reached out and took Brandon’s other hand. They sat that way for several long minutes, instinctively knowing that this was the first step towards their healing.PART 8As Brandon drove back to his house, his mind went over the last couple of hours. The visit with Diane had still been a little awkward, but pleasant enough. For the first time, he saw things from a different perspective. It would take some time, but he was beginning to think that maybe, eventually, he would be able to have a relationship with her. Maybe he and Brenda would finally have a chance to be a part of a real family. Just the thought made his heart light with hope.Tara had called and told him she was running to the store for a few things and would be back in about an hour. Brandon pulled his car in the driveway and hopped out. As he made his way to the front door, he whistled a tune under his breath but stopped abruptly when he saw a package sitting in one of the chairs on his front porch. Frowning, he reached down and picked it up. The only writing on it was his name.“What in the hell is this?” he mumbled.Brandon unlocked his door and walked in. After carefully tearing the envelope open, he reached in and pulled out a case with a DVD in it. Now even more curious, he went to the TV and slipped the disk into the DVD player. He backed up and waited for it to start. The image that appeared was the last thing he ever expected to see.“What the…”Terri’s face came on the screen, then his. They were in bed naked. Terri was gazing up at him seductively while performing oral sex on him. Brandon, head thrown back and eyes closed, grasped a handful of her hair.“What the fuck. When did…” He was confused as hell.He squinted as he tried to place when this was recorded. A third person walked in view of the camera. Brandon inhaled sharply when he recognized Kiki. She pushed Terri out of the way and straddled him, but he stopped her and reached for a condom. Once he did, Kiki proceeded to ride him like she was a star in a porno film.Feeling nauseous, Brandon paused the DVD. The envelope he still had in his hand fluttered to the floor. He looked down at it and noticed a corner of a letter sticking out. Reaching down to pull it out of the envelope, he unfolded it and quickly skimmed over the contents. Brandon’s face changed from shock to anger as he slowed down and read it again:Hey, Brandon. I hope you enjoyed our little home movie. I know I do…frequently. Since you obviously think you’re too good for me now, I thought I’d send you this little reminder of how good it was with me…before I send it to the board of directors of Haven House. I think they'd find it interesting to see how kinky the boyfriend of Haven House's Director is.Your sister works there too, doesn’t she? Brenda?I also plan to send a copy directly to that bitch you’re with now. I’m sure she’d love to see how a real woman fucks a man. She probably could use the lesson. Hell, I may even keep a copy in safe keeping for little Faith. When she’s old enough, I’m sure she’d love see what a freak her mother was, haha.So, if you find that you’ve changed your mind, and would like to start a mutually satisfyingrelationship, cum see me, boo. You have two days. Otherwise, copies of these DVD’s will start showing up in the most surprisingplaces. See you soon.Brandon slowly lowered the letter to his side. Blackmail? His face turned dark and threatening. Turning the TV off, he put the disk back in the case and angrily walked to the door and yanked it open.That bitch done messed with the wrong one. The wrooong fuckin’ one. I’mma kill her ass! Brandon thought to himself as he slammed the door behind him.His hand was shaking so bad from fury, he could barely get the key in the lock. “Fuck!”He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, but that did nothing to quiet the rage building up inside him. That bitch actually had the nerve to try and blackmail him. Done lost her got damn mind. But she was gettin’ ready to see exactly what blackmail got her in just a minute.Finally getting the door locked, he turned around and practically ran into RaShaun and Quincy. He glowered from one of them to the other. He was so furious he hadn’t even heard them drive up. What in the hell were they doin’ at his house?Quite frankly, it didn’t matter. Whatever the reason, he wasn’t in the mood for it. Not now.PART 9“What!” Brandon snarled aggressively.“Whoa.” RaShaun raised his eyebrow at the hostile greeting. He thought they had made at least a little progress last night. “Take it down a notch, man. We’re not here to start anything.”“Then why are you here? Believe me, its not a good time right now.”Quincy grimaced at Brandon then looked at Rah. Brother or no brother, he still was an arrogant little son of a…RaShaun tried again. “Look. The women have apparently gotten together at the house to start cooking dinner. Tara said she called but just got your voicemail. Q. and I were going to shoot a few hoops at the park and wondered if–”“Cant. Got somethin’ to take care of. Excuse me.”Brandon tried to walk around them, but RaShaun reached out an arm to stop him.“Hold up, man. Apparently, something’s wrong. Maybe we can help.”Brandon looked at RaShaun’s outstretched arm before slowly bringing his eyes up to meet his. “No. You cant. But what I do need you to do is get the fuck outta my way.”RaShaun’s eyes narrowed as he felt his own temper trying to wake up. “I’m only trying to help. Maybe if you tell me–”“Just cut the concerned big brother act! Less than twenty-four hours ago, you and your buddy here were ready to jump on me and beat my ass. Now, you want to know if you can help me? What you can do is move!”He tried to elbow his way around RaShaun, but RaShaun’s temper won the battle. Yeah, he was trying to take the high road and reach out to Brandon, but that didn’t mean he’d let him talk to him like he was stupid. He pushed Brandon in the chest and walked up on him.“Who in the fuck you think you talking to? Huh?”Q. leaned against one of the white pillars. Apparently this was a pissing contest between brothers. He’d let them handle their business unless it got out of hand.Brandon’s expression became enraged. He pushed RaShaun back, dropping the DVD on the ground. They tussled briefly before RaShaun managed to pin Brandon up against the door.“Man, get the fuck off me!” Brandon growled.“You need to calm the hell down. That’s part of your freakin’ problem. Always running off half cocked and damning the consequences.”Q. raised an eyebrow and looked at RaShaun. Before meeting Yvonne, RaShaun had been the same way when pushed.“I told you I had something to do. Its none of your business what it is or how I take care of it. You think I need you to look out for me? I been lookin’ out for myself since–”“Yeah, I know, since you were a kid!” RaShaun interrupted and finished the sentence for him. “But maybe it’s time you let someone help you once in a while. It would make things a lot easier. And anyway, shouldn’t you be thinking about someone other than yourself now. You and Tara are in a relationship I assume?”“Tara’s part of the reason I’m….” Brandon bit off the rest of his sentence. Taking a deep breath, and lowering his tone, he said through clenched teeth. “Will you please take your arm off my fucking neck?”Amusement slowly faded out anger as the corner of RaShaun’s mouth lifted. He was only pinning Brandon to the wall by the chest, not his neck…this time.“Well, since you asked so nicely…” RaShaun slowly moved back a step, smirking when Brandon rubbed his chest and glared at him. “Now, why don’t we go inside and you tell us what has you so fired up and ready to whip somebody’s ass.”Brandon stared at him for a moment longer. He snatched up the DVD from the ground then turned around and unlocked the door.As Quincy and RaShaun followed him in, Quincy glanced at RaShaun and whispered from the side of his mouth. “Damn, bruh. You had to struggle a little bit more than usual wit his ass. Thought he was gonna take you there for a minute.”“Li’l motherfucka is stronger than he was last time.” RaShaun winced and flexed his shoulder. “Damn. I’m gonna have to start hitting the weights again.”Brandon turned around impatiently and glared at them. When he didn’t say anything, RaShaun gestured with his hand for him to start talking.Brandon rolled his eyes and folded his arms. “Somebody is apparently calling themselves tryin’ to blackmail me,” he muttered.RaShaun froze. “What?”PART 10Quincy immediately turned official and shot questions Brandon’s way. “What happened? Did they send you a note? What are they trying to blackmail you with? Let me see what they sent you.”Brandon hesitated. He still hadn’t had a chance to tell RaShaun the entire story as he’d done with Tara last night. “I appreciate the offer, but I can take care of this myself.”“Cut the shit, Brandon,” RaShaun snapped. “Did you hear anything I just said to you outside? Now tell us what’s going on.”A look of uncertainty crossed Brandon’s face before he came to a decision. If he was going to come clean, he may as well come clean with everything.“First, I need to tell you something.”He looked RaShaun directly in the eye and told him what he’d revealed to Tara last night. He confessed everything from his initial part in coming between him and Yvonne, to the ending when he and Terri had that last argument in the parking lot of Yvonne’s job. Lastly, he told him about the DVD that he’d just received.After Brandon finished, RaShaun stared at him with a long, concentrated look without speaking.Brandon returned the stare and braced himself for Shaun’s reaction. “So. Still wanna ‘help’ me?”“Is that everything?” RaShaun asked quietly. “Is there anything else you need to tell me?” His eyes told Brandon that if there was more, he needed to tell him now, but Brandon shook his head.Seeming to come to a decision, RaShaun nodded. “Alright. We’ll deal with all that later. First things first. This shit with Kiki. You said she’s blackmailing you?”Brandon’s face showed his surprise that RaShaun gave a damn after what he’d told him, but he quickly masked his expression and nodded. “Yeah.”“Why the hell would you let her record you?”“I didn’t know!” Brandon hated to sound defensive, but RaShaun had a way of quietly grilling a person without raising his voice.RaShaun nodded, his expression dark and menacing. “That fucking bitch. She’s been a thorn in my side one way or the other since I met Yvonne. I guess she didn’t learn her lesson when Yvonne kicked her ass.”“I guess she didn’t.” Brandon’s face now held the same look as RaShaun’s.“She’s like a recurring nightmare. Every time you get a few peaceful nights of sleep, it fucking pops up again out of nowhere and keeps you awake. Well, this time, we’re going to make sure she gets the picture once and for all.”Quincy looked from one of them to the other. Damn. Now how the hell did everyone miss the resemblance between the two of them all this time? He decided it was time to step in.“Wait a minute. Before you two go‘running off half cocked and damning the consequences’….” He deliberately threw RaShaun’s own words back at him. “I have a plan.”RaShaun and Brandon turned to look at him. Seeing the intensity in their eyes, Q. shook his head again. Damn. They really are brothers.“Okay. This is what we’re gonna do…”© 2017 S.K. HardyALL RIGHTS RESERVEDAll rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means without the written permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

We mature with the damage. Not with the years.~Author UnlnownEPISODE 10PART 1RaShaun quickly carried his mother to the couch, kneeling on the floor while Charles sat down beside her and gently patted her hand.“Di. Diane. Sweetheart, wake up,” he pleaded in a voice thick with worry. “It’s Charles.”“Mom. Mom, open your eyes.”Tara hurried back with a damp towel and laid it over her forehead. RaShaun looked up at Tara. “What happened?”“I…I don’t know. We were just standing there. Diane saw Brandon and just…fainted.” Tara’s voice trembled. “Do you think we need to take her to the hospital?”Diane let out a little moan. She rolled her head from side to side. “Nathan,” she whispered. “Nathan.”“Mom! Come on Mom, that’s it. Wake up,” RaShaun said in a soft voice.Diane’s eyes fluttered open. She stared at RaShaun then her husband. “Charles…did…did you see him? Was I dreaming?”RaShaun frowned and looked at his father. “Pop, what is she talking about? Did you see who?”Charles ignored RaShaun’s question and focused on his wife. “Di, just lie still.” Gina handed him a bottle of water. “Here. Take a sip.”RaShaun slipped his arm around her shoulders to support her as she sat up and took several swallows of water before lying back down.“Charles…”“Shhh…Not now, Di. Just rest, honey.”“Where is he?” Diane tried to look around him.“Mom. Who? Who are you talking about?”“Nathan. I know I just saw him. Where is he, Charles?” she demanded, becoming agitated.RaShaun looked helplessly at his father. “Pop, please…”Charles just shook his head, avoiding his son’s eyes.“She…before she fainted, she looked at Brandon and called him Nathan,” Tara said.RaShaun frowned. Glancing at Brandon, he gestured him forward. “Brandon, come here.”Brandon hesitated, but before he could take a step, Charles shot up from the couch. “No! I don’t want him anywhere near her!”RaShaun stared at his father, thoroughly confused. “Dad, what in the hell is going on? I want to know right now!”“Keep your voice down!” he whispered. “You’re going to upset your mother!”“She fainted! Apparently she’s already upset!”“Stop it. Stop it, both of you.” Seeing his mother struggling to sit up, RaShaun helped her into a sitting position.“Mom, are you okay?”“Yes, baby, I’m fine. I can’t believe I…” She stopped and looked around. “Where is he?”When she saw Brandon standing a few steps away, she brought hands that trembled up to cover her mouth. Tears pooled in her eyes. RaShaun looked at Brandon for an explanation, but Brandon appeared to be just as confused as RaShaun. “Diane…”“No, Charles. Don’t you see? We can’t ignore it.”RaShaun glanced impatiently at his father then sat down on the other side of his mother. He put his arm around her shoulders and turned her to face him. “Mom, you’re scaring me. Please. Tell me what’s going on.”Diane stared at her son. She reached out a hand and softly touched his face. “RaShaun. Honey. I am so sorry. Maybe we should’ve told you all these years, but…”Heart pounding, RaShaun deliberately kept his voice calm. His mother was the strongest woman he knew. For her to look so afraid, so unsure…He’d never in his life seen her act this way.“It’s okay, Mom. You can tell me now. What is it?”Charles slowly sat down beside Diane and lowered his head, looking at the floor. RaShaun’s eyes never left his mother. She peered up at Brandon again. RaShaun followed the direction of her eyes. What was it about Brandon that she found so unsettling?“You look just like him,” she whispered. “The spitting image.”PART 2Brandon froze. He didn’t even breathe. What was she talking about? Other than Brenda, no one had ever told him that he favored anyone. He didn’t have anyone to look like other than his sister.“I’m the spitting image of who?” His voice was barely audible, but it was dead quiet in the room. Everyone heard the yearning in his voice.Diane’s mouth turned up in a small smile, showing the dimple in the corner of her mouth. She stared at him through big, almond shaped eyes. Her smooth left eyebrow had a high natural arch,and her hair... thick, dark, and curly like…Brandon’s breath caught in the back of his throat. He literally doubled over. Resting his hands on his knees he tried to take deep breaths to get air in his lungs before he passed out.It can’t be.Brandon shook his head to clear his vision. He looked at Diane again, but he could still see it. Tara reached out to put her arms around him but he held his hand up to stop her. If she touched him he’d lose it. Still staring at Diane, he continued to study her face.His sister’s face.“You…” Brandon’s voice came out raspy. Hoarse. The tears he swallowed burned his throat. He blinked furiously to keep them at bay, but they defied his will and slowly inched down his face.Brandon cleared his throat. “You’re my…mymother?” The last word was barely a whisper.“What?” RaShaun stared at Brandon like he’d finally taken leave of his senses. “What tha’ hell are you talking about?”“RaShaun.”“No, Ma.” He turned his eyes to his mother when she called his name. “He’s not making any sense. Why would he think…”When Diane stared at him without answering, RaShaun shook his head. He looked at his father, his eyes begging him to tell him it wasn’t true, but his father continued to stare at the floor.“Pop…”His mother took his hand, then looked back at Brandon who had straightened up. His eyes were blank, almost empty. “Where’s your sister? They did keep you together didn’t they? I made sure of that.”Brandon laughed once, then again. “You…you made sure of that? What do you want, a fuckin’ award!” His voice rose as the laughter turned to anger.RaShaun took an angry step towards Brandon but Quincy stepped in front of him. “Rah. No.”“You watch your mouth!” RaShaun’s voice was full of warning. “Donottalk to my mother like that!”Nodding slowly, Brandon kept his attention on Diane. “Yeah. You’re right.Yourmother.”“RaShaun. Don’t,” Diane pleaded in a soft, tortured voice. “He’s right. I’m…I’m his mother as well. He’s my son…and your brother.”PART 3RaShaun stared at his mother, shock written all over his face. “What are you…what are youtalkingabout? How can he be yourson?” When she remained silent he screamed, “Mother, answer me!”Yvonne hurried to his side. “RaShaun, baby, calm down.”“Calmdown, Yvonne? Did you hear what she just said?” He looked at Brandon again, his eyes concentrating hard as his eyes traced Brandon’s features. RaShaun shook his head. No. No fucking way was this man his brother.“Shaun, I’ll explain everything to both of you. I promise.” Diane looked at her husband. “I’m sorry, but it’s time.”Charles nodded before turning to RaShaun. “Son, this won’t be easy, but I need you to listen to your mother.”“You’re not his father.” RaShaun stated the words as a fact. Not a question.His father hesitated, then shook his head. “No. I’m not.”“Who is? Who’s my father?” Brandon asked.“Excuse me,” Quincy quietly broke in. “I think Gina and I are going to leave so that you all can have your privacy.” He looked at Doug. “Come on, man, I’ll drive you home. We’ll get your car to you later.” The three of them left out practically unnoticed.Tara’s eyes remained on Brandon. His face was cold, his expression unyielding, but she knew, deep down inside, that he was hurting. “Are you okay?”Brandon didn’t answer. All of his attention was focused on the woman sitting on the couch. “I need to call my sister. She should be here for this.”Without waiting on a reply from anyone, Brandon took out his cell phone and dialed Brenda’s number. He walked back towards the kitchen when the line started ringing.“Well at least I know you’re in one piece,” Brenda teased as soon as she answered the phone.“Bren…”“Brandon, what’s wrong?” she asked quickly. The two of them had a sixth sense when it came to the other’s feelings. Something wasn’t right. “Did RaShaun try to start a fight with you again. I should’ve known he wouldn’t be able to act like he had some sense, even for–”“Brenda, stop. I need you to come over to RaShaun and Yvonne’s house. Now.”Brenda held the phone in silence then whispered, “Brandon, what happened? Are you okay?”“This is the address.” He quickly called it out to her. “Got it?”“Yes, but are you sure you’re alright?”“I’m not hurt.”Not physically anyway, he added to himself.Brenda sighed in relief. “I’m on my way.”After they hung up, Brandon stood in the kitchen, gazing unseeingly out the window above the sink. Flashes of his and Brenda’s childhood raced through his mind. Walking hand in hand to yet another foster home. Brandon sneaking into kitchens to steal food for his hungry sister. More than once, they’d been placed in homes where they were fed sparingly to save money; the food was kept under lock and key. It hadn’t taken Brandon very long to learn how to pick the lock. Hunger had a way of making a person do whatever they had to in order to survive. He lost count of the times the two of them ran away only to be returned by the police…“Is she coming?”Brandon didn’t turn around to answer RaShaun. “Yeah.”“Does she know anything yet?”“No.”“How old are you?” RaShaun was obviously trying to make sense of the whole thing.“Thirty-two. You?”“Thirty-five.” RaShaun frowned. “So I would’ve been three years old when you and Brenda were born. This doesn’t make sense.”“Who you tellin’,” Brandon said in a quiet voice.RaShaun stared at him as the ramifications of his mother’s decision began to sink in. “Brandon–”“Brenda just drove up.” Yvonne stood at the doorway looking at them both.RaShaun stared at Brandon for a few moments more before h nodded. He and Yvonne walked hand in hand to go back to join the others.Brandon pushed away from the counter and followed. He needed to be with his sister. Without looking at anyone in the room, he went outside to wait for her to get out of the car.When she spotted him, half ran up the walkway to meet Brandon. Her eyes went over him quickly to assure herself that he was okay. Sighing in relief, she frowned when she saw how upset he looked.“Brandon, what’s wrong?” she whispered in a terrified voice.He reached down without a word and hugged her tightly.“Bran, you’re scaring me. Is it Tara? Did something happen to her?”He shook his head, then leaned back and held his sister’s hands in his. “Our…our mother…” Brandon’s head slowly moved from side to side. “No. Not our mother. The woman who gave birth to us. She’s inside.”Brenda jerked back as if she had been struck. She stared towards the house, covering her mouth with her hand for a moment before saying in a shaky voice, “Our mother? But, how? What is she–”Brandon shook his head to stop her questions. “I don’t know any of the details yet. I told her you needed to be here so that the three of us could hear it at the same time.”Brenda’s mouth dropped. “Thethreeof us?”Brandon held her eyes. “Yeah. I don’t know what’s more shocking. The fact that, after all this time, the woman who gave birth to us is right inside…or that RaShaun Patterson is her son…and our brother.”PART 4With his arm around his sister’s shoulder, Brandon guided her into the house. “You ready?”She took a deep breath and nodded. Giving her an encouraging smile, Brandon led her into the room where everyone was waiting.Tara sat in one of the chairs in the living room, while Yvonne sat on the arm of the sofa, rubbing RaShaun’s back. RaShaun was on one side his mother while his father sat on her other side. They were all entranced with the picture Brenda and Brandon made as they walked into the room. Everyone could almost imagine it was the exact way they must have looked when they were younger and only had each other to depend on.Brenda looked scared, almost lost, as if not knowing what to expect. She leaned trustingly against Brandon, who held her to him protectively. She glanced up at him to gather her courage before she looked towards the couch at the woman sitting there. An audible cry escaped Brenda’s throat.She had tried to imagine what her mother looked like so many times. She had so many questions, things other people with families took for granted. Did she resemble her? Did she have the same nose? The same smile? Did she get her personality from her? Her temperament? Brandon was the hothead, while she was the calm one. Did she get her love of cooking from her?As if drawn to her by some invisible connection, Brenda slowly moved towards the woman. With tears in her eyes, Diane met her halfway, taking in every inch of her. They stopped a few feet apart from each other and just stared at one another.RaShaun slowly inhaled a shaky breath as he looked at them. There it was. That’s why Brenda had looked so familiar to him. She was a younger version of his mother. Why hadn’t he seen it? It was so plain now. How could he not have known that this was his sister? And that Brandon was…RaShaun leaned his elbows on his knees and looked down, staring at his interlocked hands. He still couldnotbelieve this. He glanced back up at his mother and Brenda. He’d have time to dissect things later.PART 5“You’re so pretty,” Brenda told her mother in a small voice.Diane let out an anguished cry and held out her arms to her daughter. She didn’t want to rush things, but she needed to hug her. Brenda slowly walked into her arms, her shoulders shaking from silent sobs. She kept her arms at her side, but she didn’t pull away when Diane held her. They stayed that way for a few minutes before Brenda moved back towards her brother and buried her face in his chest. Brandon’s arms encircled her. He leaned down and whispered something in her ear. She nodded.Diane cleared her throat. “I…I think you two should have a seat, and I’ll tell you everything.”Brandon and Brenda sat on the loveseat facing the couch. Diane sniffed and wiped her eyes as she sat back down between RaShaun and her husband and began to speak.“I was very young when I married Charles, barely twenty years old. He was twelve years older, very intelligent and sophisticated. He and his business partner were just starting their own business, which quickly became a roaring success.To be so young, we were all very well off, but that success came at a price. Charles worked constantly. He had to. He knew the direction he wanted to take his business, and knew what he had to do to get there. To say he was ambitious is an understatement. In the beginning, he would leave home early every morning and sometimes I wouldn’t see him until late at night…if then. I had RaShaun about a year after we were married. Basically, I was a young mother and a young wife who never saw her husband.”Diane paused and looked at Charles. “He and I…we talked about this years ago, so nothing I’m saying is a surprise or a shock to him.” She looked back at her three children. “My days were filled with charity functions, committees, and taking care of RaShaun.”She turned to smile at him, but unpleasant memories seemed to take over to drown the light of happiness from her eyes.“Charles’ business partner was a brilliant man, the same as Charles, but he didn’t have that dedication to the business that Charles had. He worked hard, but loved to play even harder. He wasn’t married and spent a lot of time with our family, including the holidays. We were all very close.”Diane took a deep breath before continuing. “He never crossed the line with me…at first. Then the light flirting began. I was lonely. And bored. He knew this. He began making himself available for me to talk to, making me laugh when I felt like crying until eventually it seemed as if I had something to look forward to every day.”“Uncle Nathan.” The name and a hazy image came to RaShaun. He hadn’t thought about him in years and only vaguely remembered him.Diane nodded. “Yes. Eventually, he made his move and came on to me. Although I had feelings for him, I was strong enough to back away. That is, until he told me that Charles had been having an affair himself. I didn’t believe him at first, but I confronted Charles, and he admitted it. He ended it immediately, but I was so hurt. I wanted to get back at him. So one night, Nathan and I…slept together. As I’m sure you all can guess, I became pregnant. Charles couldn’t have any more children so I knew right away the baby was for Nathan.Charles was furious. Furious, hurt, and betrayed. I was his wife, and Nathan had been his best friend for as long as he could remember. And of course I understood his pain. He left and didn’t come back for days. I was almost hysterical. I realized how much I loved Charles and what a huge mistake I’d made. An affair, yes, maybe he could forgive that. After all, he’d had one himself. But to be pregnant with Nathan’s child? His best friend and business partner? I knew that was an almost unforgivable sin. So I came to a decision.”She looked at Brandon and Brenda. “I could not andwouldnot get rid of my baby. But I also knew, for the sake of my husband and my family, I couldn’t keep it either. When Charles eventually came back home, we talked. I told him that I had decided to give the baby up for adoption. He said if this was my decision, then he’d agree to work on the marriage.”“Mom…” The look RaShaun gave her was full of disbelief. Yes, he was shocked by the affair, but to give her own children up?“RaShaun, please. Let me finish or I may not have the courage to do so later. I know what you’re thinking, son, but those were different times back then. I was afraid. I couldn’t ask your father to raise children of a man I’d had an affair with, a man who he trusted more than anything. I didn’t want to be on my own, and I didn’t want to lose your father.”“You didn’t wan to lose him or lose the lifestyle he provided for you?” Brandon asked bitterly. “Yeah. I guess I can see your dilemma. Stay with your rich husband and keep your perfect life or give up your children to a life of hell. It makes perfect sense,” Brandon said sarcastically. “Please. Continue.”Lips trembling, Diane inhaled a deep breath and resumed the story. “I was always very petite. Even though as the months went by I saw that I was a little bigger than I’d been with RaShaun, I was still smaller than most women who weren’t pregnant, so I was still able to hide it fairly well. When it came to the point that I couldn’t disguise it any longer, RaShaun and I went to stay with my sister until I had the baby.” Again she looked at Brandon and Brenda. “Babies.”“I was shocked when I found out I was having twins, then I remembered that Nathan’s father was a twin. I didn’t tell Charles at first. We never really talked about the pregnancy. When you were born, I…I didn’t want to even look at you. I couldn’t. I knew if I did, I’d never be able to give you up. Charles and I had already found an agency, one that was discreet but reputable. I…I insisted on a closed adoption. No information was to be given to you about me. But I also insisted that you two stay together. The agency assured me that you would have a good life. And I’ve held on to that thought for almost thirty years.”Her eyes lingered on Brandon. “When I walked in the room a few minutes ago and came face to face with you, I just …knew.”“You’re the spitting image of him,” Charles said, speaking for the first time since Diane began telling the story. He studied Brandon’s face. “Your father and I practically grew up together, so I know. It’s almost like he’d come back from the grave and was staring us directly in the face. The resemblance is uncanny.”“From the grave?” Brenda whispered. “He’s…dead?”“Yes.” Charles answered. “He died in a automobile accident before you were born. He never knew about you.”Brenda squeezed Brandon’s hand as tears ran down her face.Brandon stared at his mother. “You’re a piece of work, you know that? What kind of woman gives up her own children? And I don’t want to hear that crap about how you thought you were doing what was best for us. You were doing what was best for you and your family.”He stood up and stared at her with hate filled eyes. “You know what? I could see if there was a legitimate reason for you to give us up for adoption. If you were being abused. If you couldn’t afford to take care of us. If you were sick.” Brandon laughed harshly, but his eyes welled full. “But we were aninconvenience?We didn’t fit into your perfect life and would mess up your perfectfamily?So to solve your dilemma you threw us away as if we were expendable. And I guess in a way we were.” He looked at RaShaun. “You had your perfect child. You didn’t need the burden of two more from a man you screwed just to get back at your husband.”“That’s enough.” RaShaun’s voice was quiet as he stood up and moved in front of his mother to shield her from Brandon’s hateful words. He wasn’t angry with him, but he couldn’t let him talk to his…theirmother that way.Brandon turned eyes full of anger and hurt towards RaShaun. “That’s enough?That’s enough?Oh, no…brother.” He almost spat the word at RaShaun. “I’m just getting started.”PART 6RaShaun still stood in front of his mother. “Brandon, I understand you’re upset, and you have a right to be–”“Upset, RaShaun?? Upset is not evencloseto the word to describe what I’m feeling right about now. You getupsetif you’ve had a bad day at work. You getupsetwhen you have a flat tire. You getupsetwhen you have an argument with your girl…but this shit?” He shook his head. “I would say I have a right to be just a little bit more thanupset, don't you?”“RaShaun…honey, let him speak,” Diane said in a soft voice. “He deserves to be able to say what he wants to say.”RaShaun turned around and looked at his mother then slowly stepped out of the way.Brandon glared at Diane and said sarcastically, “Oh, well thanks. I appreciate that. Tell me something. Did you think about us at all? Did you ever wonder how we were doing?”“Did you ever look for us?” Brenda asked.“Of course I thought about you. Ineverforgot about either of you, but…no. I never tried to find you. I didn’t want to disrupt your lives. I just took it for granted that you were happy.” She gave them a pleading look. “If I had known…” A sob escaped her as she covered her mouth.Brandon’s look held little sympathy. “You want to know howhappywe were? We werehappyto go from one foster home to another, never knowing how long we’d be wanted at any of them. I washappywhen as a kid, I had to stay woke sometimes all night to keep the perverts away from my sister.”Diane’s sobs grew louder when she heard this, and she leaned her head on Charles’ shoulder. The sight of her weeping didn’t faze Brandon in the least.“We were so happy that we were constantly trying to run away until they threatened to separate us if we did it again. Yeah. We were realhappy.”“It’s not going to help to torture her, Brandon,” Yvonne said quietly.“No, Yvonne, but it’ll make me feel a hell of a lot better.” Then he looked at Charles. “And you. What kind of man stands around and lets his pregnant wife go off by herself to have babies, and only agrees to work on his marriage if she gives her babies away?”Brandon looked at RaShaun and laughed harshly. “And you thoughtIwas bad. Seems like you should’ve looked a little closer to home before you judged me, huh? At least I had an excuse for the way I turned out.”“We can’t change the past, though, can we?” RaShaun walked up to Brandon and stopped right in front of him. “I know this is a lot to take in for you and Brenda. Hell, it’s no picnic for me either, but I’d like to see if we could all try to move forward.”“You’dlike us to move forward? I really don’t give a fuckwhatyou’d like, RaShaun. This is one thing you’re not going to be able to control. You with your perfect family, and respectable job, and picture perfect life. You got it all, don’t you?”“I’m not going to deny I have a good life. I love my family.” RaShaun’s eyes found Yvonne, who nodded at him in encouragement. He looked from Brandon to Brenda. “All I’m saying is that whenever you’re ready, I’d like to at least make the effort for all of us to get along with one another.”After a brief hesitation, RaShaun stepped closer to Brandon and placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked towards Brenda and held his other hand out to her. She stared at him with eyes full of uncertainty before standing up and hesitantly putting her hand in RaShaun’s. He gave her a small smile.“I know you two have only had each other to depend on all of these years. But you have a family now. If you want it.”At the mention of the word family, an emotion of possibility flickered briefly in Brandon’s eyes.RaShaun saw it and continued. “In spite of the choices they made, my father and our mother are good people. You both have a niece who loves to be spoiled. The more the merrier as far as she’s concerned.” This time RaShaun’s smile was more relaxed as he thought about his daughter. But it had just the opposite affect on Brandon.Faith. His niece. The niece that he hoped would’ve been his daughter. That thought led to memories of Terri. He wondered how RaShaun would feel if he knew he’d been involved with Terri up until the day she died, had helped scheme to come between him and Yvonne from the beginning. He looked over at Yvonne and Tara as he thought about Kiki. It was as if Pandora’s box was being opened and every dirty deed he’d ever done was itching to make itself known. Brenda squeezed his hand. She knew exactly what he was thinking.RaShaun stared at him as well, then made a decision. “Let me talk to you for a minute. In private.”He took a few steps to leave the room, but turned around when he realized that hadn’t moved and was warily staring at him. He knew Brandon didn’t trust him anymore than he trusted Brandon, but someone had to take the first step.“Ten minutes. That’s all I ask.”Brandon still hesitated. He looked down at Brenda. “You gon’ be okay?” She nodded, but Brandon glanced at Tara, who immediately came over to Brenda and put her arm around her. Brandon gave her a grateful look before following RaShaun into his office at the other end of the house.RaShaun closed the door after him and gestured towards a chair, but Brandon shook his head. “I’ll stand.”RaShaun walked to the front of his desk and half sat on it and folded his arms as he looked at Brandon.Brandon continued to watch him suspiciously. “So, what do you want?”“I want to talk to you about Terri.”Brandon’s face showed his surprise. That was the last thing he expected RaShaun to say.RaShaun paused for a second before continuing. “I’m just gonna come out and say it: I know that you and she were seeing each other.”PART 7Brandon stared at him in shock. He ran his hand over his head as he looked away then back at RaShaun. What the fuck??“How do you, uh…” Brandon was truly at a loss for words as he continued to stare at RaShaun with his mouth open. RaShaun laughed, which made Brandon scowl. “What’s so funny?”“Its just a nice change to see you don’t have one of your irritatingly smart Replies for once.”“And you think it’s funny?”RaShaun just shrugged.“So how did you find out?” Brandon was even more confused at how calm RaShaun was. He had expected his reaction to be a lot different than the one he was displaying.“I’ve known almost from the beginning of her pregnancy.”“And you’re not upset?” Brandon was still cautious and alert in case RaShaun was trying to spring this on him and get him to drop his defenses. After everything he’d gone through and found out today, he’d bedamnedif he took an ass whipping on top of it all.“Why should I be? I knew the moment after I’d slept with Terri it had been a mistake. I knew I still loved Yvonne. She was on my mind the second I woke up in Terri’s bed, but I can’t say that I regret it because then I wouldn’t have my daughter.”Brandon raised his eyebrows in thought as he digested what RaShaun had admitted to him. Wow. Tonight was bringing just one revelation after the other.“After Terri and I had the amniocentesis done to determine paternity, she tried to make mine and Yvonne’s life a living hell. Calling all hours of the day and night. Making demands. She’d go to the emergency room and have me rush over, thinking something was wrong with the baby until I finally caught on to what she was doing. That it was just another one of her sick games to try and get me back.”RaShaun was quiet as he remembered that period in his life. It had been a nightmare.“Once I finally caught on to what she was doing, I talked to Quincy about it. The three of us actually grew up together. Did you know that?”Brandon nodded. “She mentioned it.”“Quincy and Terri never did get along. I was so crazy over her that I couldn’t see the type of person she was, but Q. saw through her from the beginning, and Terri didn’t like that. He and I even stopped speaking for a while because of her. Once I realized the type of spoiled, evil and possessive person she really was, I left her alone. She never did accept the fact that I’d moved on with Yvonne.“Then, when I became aware that she was using her pregnancy to manipulate me, Quincy had an idea. He told me the next time she called at two o’clock in the morning from the emergency room, or saying she wasn’t feeling well to call him.” RaShaun smiled when he remembered Terri’s reaction. She’d been furious. “It only took a couple times for Quincy to show up instead of me before the “emergencies” ceased. She seemed to calm down after that. I think she realized there was no chance for she and I to get back together.”He looked at Brandon. “I didn’t trust a Terri who brought no drama. So I wanted to know why. What she was up to? With Quincy being a detective, it wasn’t hard to find out.”Brandon closed his eyes and looked down, almost too ashamed to look at RaShaun. “And that’s when you found out she and I were seeing each other.”“Yes.”“Why didn’t you confront us?”RaShaun shrugged. “Hell, you were doing me a favor. I didn’t care about Terri in that way. I made sure I went to all of her appointments. She was in excellent health. The baby was healthy. As far as I was concerned, as long as she took care of my baby, she could do whatever she wanted to do.” RaShaun gave him an inquisitive look. “I’m curious. How did you and she become involved with one another?”Brandon avoided his look. That was the last thing he wanted to discuss. Not right now. Maybe later after he’d had time to process everything he’d discovered today.“If you don’t mind, could we talk about this another time? I’d like to get back to my sister.”RaShaun immediately stood up. “Of course. I understand you’ve had a lot thrown at you today. I feel like I’ve been hit with a Mac truck myself. I can’t even imagine what you and Brenda are feeling.”RaShaun still could not believe his mother and father had covered up something like this for almost thirty years. They were some of the most honest people he knew. He had a lot to think about himself.Brandon paused as he went to open the door. RaShaun watched him seemingly struggle within himself before making a decision and turning back to RaShaun.“Does…anybody else know about me and Terri?”“No. I never told Yvonne. There was no need. And Tara doesn’t have to know either.” RaShaun scratched his chin and gave Brandon a direct look. “I mean, its your decision, but maybe its better to just let it all be.”“I don’t want to lie to her.”“You’re not lying to her. I could see if Terri were still alive and there was a possibility that you or Tara would run into her one day. But she’s not. It wouldn’t serve a purpose to rehash the past and cause unnecessary problems.”Brandon looked lost in thought for a moment. He’d consider what RaShaun suggested, then go from there. He looked at RaShaun and nodded his thanks. RaShaun nodded back.As the two men came back into the room, everyone looked at them anxiously. When they saw everything seemed to be ok, a lot of the tension seemed to lift from the room. Brandon noticed that Brenda had just finished saying something to Diane. Diane smiled before she looked apprehensively at Brandon. He could tell she wanted to say something. Brandon looked away. He didn’t want to hear shit she had to say.“You ready, Brenda?”Brenda nodded then stood up. She looked at her mother, who had also stood and moved a couple of steps towards them. “How long will you be here?”“Yeah. We know how you like to just up and disappear from our lives,” Brandon said with in a bitter tone.He almost regretted the words when he saw the hurt pass over her face, but he told himself he had nothing to feel guilty about. She’d made her bed, now she could lie in it for the rest of her life for all he cared. He wasn’t surprised at Brenda’s question. She always did have a forgiving heart. Too forgiving sometimes in his opinion.Diane looked at Charles. Brandon saw the look and rolled his eyes. Did she do anything on her own without getting permission from her husband?Charles saw Brandon’s expression and smiled.Brandon’s eyes narrowed. “What?”“One day, I’m going to have to sit down with you and tell you about your father. It’s an eerie feeling to look at you and be able to read his expressions on your face and see his mannerisms in you. I bet you’re cocky and arrogant just like him.”Brandon glared at Brenda and RaShaun as they laughed. He didn’t find anything funny.Charles glanced at his wife. “We can stay as long as we need to.”Diane turned back to her children. “I know it’s going to take some time, but I hope…I pray…that you can forgive me.” Brandon refused to meet her gaze. Sighing, Diane turned to Brenda. “I’ll be here for a while. You’ll always know where to find me. I promise.”Brenda nodded. Brandon ignored her as they walked through the foyer. When RaShaun opened the door for them, a look passed between him and Brandon.“We’ll talk later,” RaShaun told him.Brandon nodded. Then RaShaun turned to Brenda. He bent down and hugged her. Brenda was surprised by how natural it felt to return his hug.“And I’ll talk with you later as well. Okay?” RaShaun looked at her. Brenda gave him a small smile and nodded.Brandon took a step out the door, then looked back in the room, his eyes finding Tara’s. “You comin’?”Tara shifted from one foot to the other and nervously twisted her hands in front of her. “Do you want me to?”The familiar teasing gleam entered Brandon’s eyes. “I asked you, didn’t I?”Tara almost wilted in relief, but managed to keep her composure. Brandon wasn’t fooled though. He smiled for the first time in hours. Tara quickly kissed everyone goodbye and went to him, walking side by side to the car.“Sis, you’re coming to my place, right?” Brandon asked Brenda.“No. I don’t think so, Bran. I’d like to be alone for a while if you don’t mind.”Brandon nodded slowly. “Okay. I’ll call and check on you later.”Brenda hugged them both before she got in her car and left.Brandon opened the car door for Tara, then got in, but instead of starting the ignition, he turned his head to stare at her.“What’s wrong?” Tara asked.“Are you sure you wanna deal with all of this? I can’t seem to get through one situation before something else pops up.”Tara smiled. “I’m sure. One thing I can say is that life is never boring with you.”He smiled and leaned over to kiss her before he drove off.Brandon and Tara drove back to his house in relative silence. She could tell he was in deep thought, which was understandable, and she was content to quietly give him the time he needed to deal with the shock he’d received tonight.She stood behind him as he unlocked the door, walking inside when he opened it and stepped to the side.“T., I’m gonna call my sister and make sure she’s okay. I really don’t like her being by herself right now, but that’s the way she is. She has to withdraw into herself and analyze the fuck outta shit before she makes a decision about anything.”“Unlike her brother who acts first, and thinks about it later.” She teased, happy when some of the worry fell away from his face.“Must think you know me or something, huh?”“Or something,” Tara shrugged. “Ouch!” She grabbed her behind when he gave her a hard swat. “Hey!”“That’s to remind you who’s in charge.” He sent her a menacing glare, but his eyes sparkled with amusement as he took his cell phone out to call Brenda.Tara threw him a kiss and went to the couch. After kicking her shoes off, she decided to stretch out and rest until he got off the phone. Thanks to Brandon, she hadn’t gotten much sleep last night, and of course this evening had been exhausting. She covered a yawn with her hand, listening to his deep voice in the background until her eyes grew heavy and fluttered closed.When she woke up about half an hour later, her eyes moved around the room. All of the lights were off except for one lamp in the corner that cast off a soft glow. Tara smiled when she saw Brandon, minus his shirt and shoes, sitting in a chair across from her staring into space. Then she noticed the melancholy expression on his face and the aura of loneliness that seemed to surround him like a second skin.As if sensing her gaze on him, he looked at her with tired, weary eyes. The corner of his mouth tugged up slightly, but it didn’t quite make it to a smile. Tara’s heart ached for him, but she knew this was something he’d have to go through on his own.“So you’re finally woke, hmm? Some company you’ve been,” he teased, distracting her from her thoughts.“So you’re going to make me feel, bad? That’s very rude, you know.”“I never claimed to be a good boy.”Tara saw the flash of white teeth as he gave her a devilish grin. She felt her pulse quicken at the sexiness that was as natural to him as breathing. He didn’t even try. He just was. She could see why women fell to his feet like leaves dropping from a tree.Her cell phone rang just as her thoughts were turning X-rated. Seeing her purse on the floor by the side of the couch, she flipped over on her stomach, and after unzipping it, got her phone.Tara glanced at the caller ID and made a face at the number displayed on the screen. She hit ignore and threw it back in her purse. That’s when she noticed the sudden intensity of Brandon’s stare.“Um, did you eat, sweetie? I can whip us up something real quick. An omelet wouldn’t be too heavy.”Brandon ignored her question and asked one of his own. “Who was that?”“Hmm?”His eyes darkened at her evasiveness. He repeated the question slowly and distinctively. “Who was that? On your cell?”“Nobody I felt like talking to.”“Tara, don’t do that. When you avoid my question, it makes me suspicious.”Tara reluctantly gave him an answer. “It was Doug.”Brandon nodded. He figured that.“Brandon. There’s nothing going on between him and myself. There hasn’t been for a long time. I had no idea he would just show up at Yvonne’s house like that.”Brandon continued to stare at her. His body relaxing, he held a hand out to her. “Come here.”Tara stood up and went to stand in front of him. Brandon pulled her down on his lap and leaned his head back against the chair as his eyes leisurely explored her face.“Are you my woman?” he asked suddenly.With her heart thumping in her chest, Tara nodded. “Yes.”“I told you before, I don’t like to share. If we’re together, then it means just that…you and me. Nobody else.”Tara nodded again.“Tomorrow, call Doug and make him aware, once and for all, you’re off the market. Let him know that you and me are in an exclusive relationship and that the next time he puts his hands on you, he won’t be able to use them for a very long time. Understand?”“Yes. But the same goes for you. I wont share you either.”“And you won’t have to, so that’s settled. I trust you, Tara. You can trust me, too. Anything you ever want to know, all you have to do is ask. I won’t ever lie to you.”Tara cupped the side of his face. Holding his eyes, she lowered her head and kissed him softly for several long moments. When their lips parted, their smile reflected the giddiness and excitement of a new relationship and all that that meant.This time when the shrilly ringing of a cell interrupted the silence, it was his. By the ringtone, they knew it was Brenda. Tara got up and kissed him one last before going to his bedroom. After getting one of his t-shirt out the drawer, she went to the bathroom to take a hot shower.Making quick work of taking her clothes off and she sighed in pleasure after she stepped under the hot needles of the spraying water and worked up a rich lather with the scented soap. Humming to herself, she washed her body until she felt squeaky clean, and was almost finished when she heard the shower door slide open. Her breathing quickened when she saw Brandon.“Mind if I join you?” he asked.Her smile gave him his answer. Once he stepped inside and closed the door, Tara noticed that he was already naked…and ready for something more than just a shower. She turned and slipped into his arms. There was no need to waste time pretending. Brandon needed something that only she could give him at that moment. He needed to feel apart of someone that he cared about and who cared about him.Tara sighed when he kissed deeply, impatiently, pulling her hair back and tasting the curved area along her ear and shoulder. Brandon chuckled softly when she shuddered; he knew that was her spot. Tara cried out as pleasure shot down to her very core and energized every nerve ending in her body. He pushed her back against the wall of the shower and continued his journey to her breasts. Tara mindlessly moved her head from side to side. He had barely touched her and she was already incoherent with need for him.“I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you,” she whispered.“I’m gon’ do everything in my power to make sure you don’t.” Giving her a sexy smile that made her heart rate accelerate, Brandon dropped to his knees and licked the beads of water from her stomach. At the same time, he slid a finger between the moist folds of her sex, moaning as he felt the slick wetness that coated his fingers.“You’re always so wet for me, Tara. So ready,” he mumbled against her skin.“Yes. Always.”Tara bit her lip and held on as he lifted her foot and lightly nibbled at the arch along the side of her foot before licking his way to her toes. She closed her eyes tight. God. He made even that small act sensual and arousing.Brandon’s mouth was deliciously warm. He sucked each toe in and out of his mouth, using his tongue to slide in between and lick over the soft, sensitive skin. He intentionally teased her with his tongue. His eyes smiled up at her when she begged him for more.However, once he kissed his way up the inside of her thigh and got to that moist spot between her thighs, the teasing stopped and the real pleasing began. Brandon meticulously and with expert skill extracted her body’s sweet, natural fluids, quenching the thirst that his body craved. She screamed his name when he brought her to the precipice of satisfaction.Tara lingered on the edge for several breathtaking moments, not wanted to let go quite yet, but her body gave her no choice. With one more swipe of his tongue, Brandon sent her freefalling back down to earth. Tara didn’t think she would ever stop. She prayed she didn’t, but once her world righted itself, she watched through half-closed lids as he rose from the floor. Easily lifting her up as if she weighed nothing, Brandon settled her over his throbbing dick and brought her down his length in one achingly, smooth movement.Tara arched her back when he moved inside of her with long, deep strokes. She held on to his shoulders as he circled his hips in a commanding cadence her body heard and obeyed. She felt like she was on a constant merry-go-round. As soon as she became in tune to one movement, Brandon changed his rhythm, changed the depth and intensity of his stokes, grinding her clit until her body was wound tight and begging for relief.“Brandon….” Tara whispered his name over and over again. Her entire body was tense as it readied itself for the type of mind-blowing orgasm that only he could give her.Brandon went deeper. Moved faster. They reveled in the exquisite sensations of her soft body conforming to his contoured muscles, the smoothness of her breasts rubbing against the hardness of his chest. His own body tightened, signifying he was right there, right behind her.“Look at me, Tara.”She tried to open her eyes but snapped them shut, grimacing as the first waves of satisfaction ran through her body.“Tara, please…” He couldn’t explain it but he needed to see as well as feel the connection of her soul to his.Hearing the emotion in his voice Tara forced her eyes to open and look at him as her orgasm finally broke free. Gasping as if in pain, screamed and clawed at his back, but the kept eye contact that was so important to him.Brandon saw what he was looking for. “Say it.” The request rumbled from his chest.She tried to form the words he was waiting on, but they wouldn’t come out. Feeling himself about to cum, he plunged in and out of her warm center as her cream flowed down his thick shaft.He clenched his teeth. “Say it. Tell me.”Her tears of pleasure mingled with the water spraying on her face. “I love you,” she whispered.He growled in satisfaction as he exploded.“I love you, Brandon. I love you.”“Ahh… Ahh…Ahhh….”He grunted as he released his seed into her in spurts that mingled with the sweetness of her body’s honey.Tara writhed against him, tightening her feminine muscles and locking them around his dick. Brandon was a willing prisoner and would’ve stayed there forever if they could have done so. Even as the feelings running through their bodies subsided and ebbed, Brandon continued to move inside her. Finally, holding her tight and secure to him, he brought his forehead down to rest against hers and said words he’d never said to any other woman.“I love you, Tara. I love you, so much.”Feeling her trembling in his arms, Brandon’s lips sought hers, marveling at this new feeling of fulfillment he never thought he would find. Gently setting her down, he helped her out. After wrapping her in a towel, he carried Tara to his bed and continued to love her until she feel into an exhausted, satisfied sleep.© 2017 S.K. HardyALL RIGHTS RESERVEDAll rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means without the written permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

If we can just let go and trust thatthings will work out the waythey’re supposed to, without trying tocontrol the outcome, thenwe can begin to enjoy the momentsmore fully. The joy of the freedom itbrings becomes more pleasurablethan the experience itself.~ Goldie HawnEPISODE 6PART 1RaShaun’s hand tightened on his cell phone. Before they’d taken the paternity test, he remembered that he hadn’t trusted Terri’s calmness regarding this whole situation. He thought it was her calm before the storm. He’d been wrong–it was her calm before the typhoon. The results had barely been delivered an hour ago and she was already blowing up his phone.Glancing at Yvonne, who sat on the couch beside him, he stood and brought the phone to his ear. “Yeah.”“So you got the results.”“I did.”“And?”“And…it would seem that we’re going to need to get together and go over some things regarding our…baby.”“I agree. I’m free now.”“I’m not coming over now, Terri.” There was no way he was leaving Yvonne alone right after they’d found out the news.“Why not? Rah, we need to talk as soon as possible.”“I said not now. We’ll talk, but it won’t be today.”“Oh. I see. What’s wrong, your wife isn’t taking the news well?”“Terri–”“No, RaShaun. You are going to be afather. That means your child comes first. Beforeeveryone. That’s what your priority should be now, not sitting at home consoling your wife.”“I don’t need you to tell me how to prioritize my life,” RaShaun replied with quiet control. He refused to let himself rise to the bait Terri dangled in front of him. He and Yvonne had promised themselves they were going to do their best to keep things civil with Terri, but it was painfully obvious she wasn’t having it.“Apparently Idohave to tell you. You and I both know the reason you won’t come over is because of that selfish, heartless, bitch of a woman you married and–”“That’s enough!” RaShaun’s voice was cold and hard. “Terri, let’s get something straight. I plan on being there for this baby, but don’t think I’m going to jump when you say jump and ask how high. That’s not how things are going to play out here so you may as well cease with that shit now. The sooner you come to terms with that, the better off everyone will be.”When silence dominated the line, he continued after a significant pause. “Now, I’ll call you soon so that we can get together and work some things out, but until then, don’t call my phone every other hour making demands because its not going to work.”“Fine.” Terri’s voice had a definite bite.RaShaun could tell that she was fuming inside, but she wisely held her tongue and left her answer at that. From experience, Terri knew RaShaun, and knew the more she pushed the harder he’d dig his heels in.“And another thing,” he snapped. “Let this be the last time you call my wife out of her name. I don’t want to have to tell you that again.” The threat in his voice was easily heard. “We understand each other?”“Perfectly.”“Good. I’ll be in touch.” RaShaun hung up the phone. He was so frustrated and aggravated with that woman. For what had to be the ten millionth time, he asked himself how he could’ve been so damned stupid to sleep with her again. His lapse in judgment now guaranteed that he’d be dealing with Terri and her devious, conniving ways for at least the next eighteen years.“Fuck!” he yelled.Yvonne got up and slid her hands around his waist and rested her head on his back. “Baby, we can’t let her get to us. That’s exactly what she’s trying to do, you know that.”“Yvonne, of course I know!” he snapped, then just as quickly regretted taking his anger out on her. Turning around, he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, forgive me. I didn’t mean to yell at you.”“I know.”“I don’t know what I’d do without you.” His arms tightened as if the very thought made him want to keep her close.“You wont have to find out. No matter how she tries to manipulate us, we’re not going to let her control our lives this way.”RaShaun nodded in agreement, but he heard the note of doubt that slowly crept into her voice. It made him wonder if she was trying to convince him–or herself.PART 3Two days later, RaShaun went to Terri’s house so that they could sit down and talk. Her next appointment was coming up in a couple of weeks, and she wanted RaShaun to go with her. RaShaun was going to suggest that anyway. He had questions he preferred to ask the doctor himself, and wanted to make sure the baby was healthy.“I was thinking if it’s a boy I want to name him RaShaun Patterson II,” Terri mused.RaShaun felt a twinge of pain in his heart, but didn’t show a reaction to Terri. He and Yvonne had talked many times about one day having children, and she said she wanted to name their son after him.“What do you think?” she prodded when RaShaun remained silent.RaShaun shrugged. “Isn’t it a little bit too early to be thinking of names? Besides, I thought you had one of those books with baby names or something, don’t you?”Terri stared at him, sensing he didn’t want the baby named after him. “I don’t need it, at least not if it’s a boy. I think I’ve decided. That’s what I’ll name him.”Ignoring the comment, RaShaun stood up to leave. “I’ll need you to get those insurance forms back to me as soon as you can so that I can turn them into HR.”“Are you leaving now? If you wait, I can fill them out now.”“No, apparently you didn’t notice how many pages are in the folder. You don’t have to do them all now anyway,” RaShaun answered, walking to the door.“But, Rah, this is important. It won’t take long. Besides, I might have questions. Youdidsay you didn’t want me calling your phone every few minutes, didn’t you?”RaShaun paused and turned around to look at her. “Stop it,” he said quietly.Terri blinked. “What…what are you talking about?”“You know exactly what I’m talking about. You think I don’t know that you’re trying to find a way to keep me here? Didn’t you hear anything I told you the other night? I’m not doing this with you.”“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she snorted.Battling to keep his temper, RaShaun tried once more to reason with her. “Terri, we’ve known each other a long time, since we were kids. We’re gonna have a child together. I don’t want us to be fighting and bickering every other day. It’s not good for you and it’s not good for the baby. I definitely don’t want to have to put up with your scheming and plotting to try to be with me. I’m married to Yvonne. Happily.”“So you say,” Terri snorted under her breath.“I love my wife, and she’s going to be apart of this baby’s life. Nothing–and no one–is going to come between us. I hope eventually, we’ll all be able to get along for the sake of our baby. Yvonne’s willing to try, and I hope you will too.”***Terri went to the window to watched RaShaun leave. She didn’t turn away until his car was no longer visible.“You must be joking, Rah. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I smile in that bitch’s face and make nice. She can rot in hell for all I care. I didn’t work this hard and come this close to just give up without a fight.” She rubbed her hand over her stomach. “I have something that you want, Rah, and she knows it. That’s why she’s trying to keep you away from us. But wewillbe together. You’ll see. Just the three of us.”PART 3Before long, Yvonne and RaShaun’s life managed to settle back into some sense of normalcy for them. The weekend coming up, Quincy and his wife had invited them and a few other couples over for dinner one, something they were both looking forward to. It was nice to get out and laugh for a change.Yvonne was finally beginning to feel as if things would be okay. After she and RaShaun discussed turning one of the guest bedrooms in to a nursery, she’d even gone out and bought a few things for the baby. Warming to the idea, they’d picked out a crib, a bassinette and a changing table. RaShaun had left the colors and decorating of the room up to Yvonne. She surprised herself at how much she was enjoying it.She glanced at RaShaun now, laughing and talking with Quincy and a bunch of his other friends. He must have felt her gaze because he turned his head and winked. Feeling warm and tingly and head over heals in love, she threw a kiss back at him then turned around to continue the conversation with the other women.RaShaun watched her for a moment more, turning to Quincy when he nudged his shoulder. “What?”“Man, look at you. I never thought I’d see the day. You act more like an old married man than I do, and I’ve been married five years.”RaShaun shrugged. “You know I told you I was going to marry Yvonne the first night I met her.”“Yeah, you did. I thought you were crazy at first, but the more time I spent around you two the more I knew how much you loved one another. Hell, the way both of ya’ like to fight other people, you could damn near be a tag team boxing team,” Quincy snickered, obviously thinking about RaShaun kicking Brandon’s ass, and Von stomping Kiki’s.RaShaun shook his head but eventually joined in with a laugh. “Nah, man that’s all behind us. I’m determined to keep the future as drama free– or drama free as I can keep it.”RaShaun grimaced as he thought about Terri. She’d gone to the hospital in the middle of the night a couple of weeks ago, then called him sobbing that she was having cramps. Praying the baby was okay, RaShaun had jumped out of bed and raced to the hospital. Once he’d gotten to her room, he hadn’t known what to expect. The doctor examined her and said everything seemed to be okay, but suggested she see her obstetrician first thing in the morning. RaShaun had gone with her; thankfully, everything turned out fine.Quincy seemed to be reading his mind. “So how’s everything with Terri and the baby?”“It’s good. Her due date is around Christmas.” RaShaun was unaware of how much his face lit up when he talked about the baby.“Rah, just be careful, man. You know I’m not Terri’s biggest fan, but I don’t trust her. I just have a bad feeling about this.” Although Quincy, RaShaun, and Terri had all grown up together, Quincy had never liked Terri and had tried to warn RaShaun many times about how deceitful she was.“Q., come on. I’m the last person you have to warn about trusting–” RaShaun paused when his phone rang. He frowned, not recognizing the number.“Hello?”“May I speak to RaShaun Patterson?”“Speaking.”“This is Regional South Hospital. I’m calling to inform you that Terri Johnson has been brought into the emergency room. She’s had slight spotting and severe cramps, although she seems to have stabilized.”“I’m on my way.”“What is it?” Quincy asked in concern.“It’s Terri. She’s in the emergency room again,” he said before rushing over to Yvonne. Heart racing, RaShaun quickly told his wife that he had to go and the reason why. “Q. said he’ll take you home. I’ll call you as soon as I can, okay?”Giving her a quick peck on the lips, he rushed out without waiting for a reply.Yvonne watched him leave with a frown. Terri calling RaShaun because of complications and having him rush out was becoming a routine. She wouldn’t put anything past Terri, but surely she wouldn’t stoop so far as to fake problems with the baby. But then again…it was Terri. Yvonne had a feeling that, once again, the other woman was manipulating things to turn out just the way she wanted it. And RaShaun, out of fear and concern for his child…was falling for it.PART 4Once again, RaShaun rushed to the hospital, and once again the doctor could find nothing wrong with Terri. The young, African American doctor was the same one who had been on duty a couple of weeks ago when Terri had come to the emergency room complaining of a pain in her stomach. He scratched his head as he finished examining her.“I can’t find anything wrong, Ms. Johnson. In fact, you and the baby seem to be in excellent health, and I don’t see any evidence of spotting. You did say that’s what–”Terri cut him off abruptly. “Yes! Are you saying I’m lying?”RaShaun frowned at her, taking notice of her defensive tone. He had been quiet the whole time, watching and studying her. The moment he walked into the room, she had sat up and smiled at him. Her eyes hadn’t left him until the doctor began telling them his findings.“How long have you been a doctor anyway,” she sneered, continuing to berate the physician. “You look far too young to have had any significant experience.”The doctor’s features turned stiff and cold. He straightened defensively in the face of her attack. “I assure you I’m extremely qualified, ma’am.” He paused and glanced at RaShaun and then back at Terri. “I can’t diagnose something that’s not there.”“What? So youaresaying I’m lying. I want the doctor in charge right now! I don’t know who you think you are but–”“Terri.” RaShaun spoke her name quietly, but Terri instantly stopped talking and looked at him. Then as if remembering she wasn’t supposed to be feeling well, she lay back and closed her eyes.“Dr….” RaShaun paused to read the nametag on the doctor’s coat. “Reynolds. If you’re finished examining Terri, I’d like to have a word with you outside.”Terri’s eyes popped open. She quickly sat up in bed. “Why do you need to speak with him outside? Why can’t you speak with him in here?”With his back to Terri, RaShaun closed his eyes and asked the powers that be for strength before turning around and walking over to her. He gave her a look that caused her to slowly laid back down on the bed. RaShaun used the same quiet tone he’d gotten in the habit of using with her to try and stop from yelling at the top of his lungs from frustration.“I’m speaking with him outside because I don’t want to upset you…although you seem to be just fine now.” His face conveyed the growing skepticism he was feeling about her frequent emergency room trips. “Is that okay with you?”Terri bit her lip nervously and gave him a quick nod. RaShaun and Dr. Reynolds stepped outside and walked a few paces away from the room.“How can I help you, Mr. Patterson?” Dr. Reynolds asked“I just want to be sure that you’re saying you don’t find anything wrong with Terri or the baby? We saw her doctor after the last time we were here, and she said the same thing, that everything was progressing satisfactory.”Dr. Reynolds hesitated. “Can I be frank?”RaShaun folded his arms. He appreciated the brotha’s direct attitude. “Please.”“If I may ask, are you and Ms. Johnson together?”“No, we’re not. In fact, I just got married a couple of months ago and to say she hasn’t taken it well is an understatement.”Dr. Reynolds nodded, his expression showing his immediate understanding of the situation. “Mr. Patterson, I’m going to be blunt. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with her. She seems like she kept herself in excellent shape before her pregnancy, and her health is excellent as well. Those factors have contributed to her having an easy pregnancy so far.”“So, there’s nothing wrong with her.” It wasn’t a question.“Not physically, at least.”A look of understanding passed between RaShaun and the doctor. RaShaun held his hand out and shook Dr. Reynolds hands.“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”“No problem, bruh. Good luck.” His look told RaShaun he was going to need it.PART 5It was almost one o’clock in the morning by the time RaShaun got Terri home. She had taken a cab to the hospital, claiming she had been hurting too bad to drive. RaShaun finally realized all of it was designed for her to be able to spend as much time with him as she could.RaShaun was angrier with himself than he was at her. Terri was just doing Terri. She wasn’t perpetrating anyone other than who she was. He was livid with himself for allowing his fear of the baby’s health to blind him to what she’d been doing.Terri tried to make casual conversation on the way back, but after his grunts, one word answers, and then just out and out silence to her questions, she sat back and kept to herself until they pulled up to her home. After he walked her to the door and waited until she was safely inside, he turned to leave.“RaShaun!”He stopped and turned around to stare inquiringly at her. He didn’t trust himself to open his mouth to answer her. He was that close from going off on her.“You barely said two words on the way here.” The attitude was thick and heavy in her voice. “Look, I’m sorry if me and your child are such an inconvenience to you. I just thought you’d want to know when there was some type of problem. Next time, I just won’t bother you.”RaShaun noticed the conniving gleam in her eye. He knew at that point he was supposed to reassure her that she needed to call him no matter what.Instead, all he said was, “Get some rest, Terri.”Turning to leave, he left her standing in the doorway staring at him with her mouth open.PART 6By the time RaShaun got home, it was close to 2:00 in the morning. A lamp was on in the corner in the living room, and in the dim light, he saw Yvonne curled up on her side asleep on the couch.RaShaun sat on the coffee table in front of the couch and just stared at her. She had been so strong throughout all of this these last couple of months, not just for herself, but for him as well. Many times he would’ve lost his mind if she had not been there to calm him down and give him some perspective.Even when Terri would get on one of her rampages and call almost every other hour, she never once let her emotions get the best of her although RaShaun knew she was tempted many times. He also knew she was doing it more so for him to try and keep his stress level down. Just last week, he had been on his way over to Terri’s house to curse her ass out for yet another stunt she’d pulled, which he was sure wouldn’t have ended well. Thankfully Yvonne had been his voice of reason and talked him down.She stirred and turned over on her back. Throwing one arm up over her head, she kicked a leg from under the cover as she sank further into the couch to get more comfortable. RaShaun smiled. He told her all the time she slept bad as hell, but she denied it to the end.His eyes roamed down her body, clad only in t-shirt and panties. RaShaun loved her body, thick enough in all the places a man loved to grab. Her ass. Her thighs. Her plump breasts. He looked at her exposed thigh again, wanting to feel her legs wrapped around his waist. Without thinking about it, he stood up and pulled his clothes off.Her left leg was bent at the knee and rested against the back of the couch. His eyes went from her knees to the juncture where her thigh connected her femininity. He reached a finger down and softly traced the thin, elastic leg of her panties, before slipping his finger underneath.Yvonne moved her hips against the light pressure of his finger as he touched the smooth lips of her sex. His finger paused when she moaned. He didn’t want her to wake up. Not yet.Pulling her panties to the side, he guided his dick to her opening and slowly but steadily pushed himself inside of her, closing his eyes as her soft and pliable warm flesh enveloped his hard, rigid length.Yvonne screamed in pleasure and opened her eyes. She started to speak but RaShaun kept up a steady rhythm of deep strokes without giving her a chance to fully wake up. He stared into her eyes. The ecstasy he saw reflected there urged him to go faster. Harder. Deeper. Her hips rose to meet his as she threw her leg over the back of the couch. The leverage allowed her to move faster and slam upwards, feeding him her pussy and giving as good as she got.“Damn,” he said under his breath, eyes closed and in awe of how good it always was with her. “Fuck!”“Started something you can’t keep up with, baby?” Her voice goaded breathlessly.He opened his eyes and looked down at her after hearing the challenge in her voice. “You know I ain’t never had a problem keeping pace.”“So you say.” She ruined it with a quick gasp of pleasure, but didn’t let that stop her. “Is this all you got? Show me who this belongs to, Patterson. Think you can do that?”RaShaun’s eyes narrowed. She was really feeling herself tonight. And with the mood he was in, she was getting ready to get exactly what she asked for. He pulled her legs up and around his waist. Her eyes widened as he stood up with them still joined together. Fucking her from a standing position, RaShaun bounced and slid her up and down the long span of his thick dick.“RaaShauunnnn…”Yvonne screamed. “Ooooo babyyy!”“That’s right, Von.That’swho this pussy belongs to,” he replied. “Am I keeping up now, baby? Answer Daddy.”“Ooooo….Mmmmm…Oh…GOD!”“Is that a yes?”“Yesssss. Baby,YES!”“Yeahhh,” he stretched the word out in a deep growl. “That’s what I wanna hear.”He walked her over to the wall, his hands on her ass, sliding her up and down his greased pole. His male ego needed to make a point, and he wasn’t going to stop until he was sure there wouldn’t be any more misunderstanding. And then he might not even stop then.Resting her back against the wall, he gave her a long, slow screw, grinding her clit against the steel pipe of his dick. Slow. Up. Deep. Down. In and to the left. Out, then back to the right.He kept at it until he felt a stream of fluid rolling down his thigh as Yvonne's cream flowed plentiful amid the two orgasms he gave her. Only then did he allow himself to cum just as hard, while her sweet, wet, cunt gripped him tight.Afterwards, Yvonne barely had the strength to wrap her arms around him and hold on as he carried her into the bedroom. He chuckled as tremors continued to quake throughout her body.“Guess you’ll be careful of what you ask for next time, won’t you?” he teased softly“Shut up.” Her words barely came out above a whisper.RaShaun laughed and gently laid his exhausted wife in the bed. She slept like a newborn baby the rest of the night.PART 7The weeks and months passed by seemingly at lightning speed. Towards the end of one workday, Yvonne and her co-workers talked about how crazy it was that Thanksgiving was right around the corner.“My God, before you know it, Christmas will be here, and then New Years. It seems as if this year just started,” Susie, one of Yvonne’s co-workers, complained.“Tell me about it,” Yvonne agreed. “But I love the holidays, especially New Years. I agree, though. Makes you wonder where the time went.”“Funny,” a familiar voice behind her responded. “I was just asking myself the same thing.”Yvonne froze. She swung around and looked into the dark, watchful eyes of Brandon Valentine, just as handsome as ever, standing several feet away.Yvonne strove to keep her tone even. “What are you doing here?”“I was in the neighborhood, so…”When a charming grin accompanied his answer, the other women in the office literally swooned. Blushing and whispering to one another, they all but undressed Brandon with their eyes, but Yvonne remained silent, her expression telling him she was still waiting for an explanation.The smile inched off of Brandon’s mouth in the face of her stoic expression. “Do you think I could talk to you in private?”Yvonne hesitated. She was well aware of the curious audience they had in her nosy co-workers as their heads swiveled from her to Brandon.“I…there’s really nothing for us to talk about,” she said as casual as possible.“Five minutes. That’s all I ask.” When he saw the unyielding gleam in her eyes, he added, “Please.”Yvonne glanced again at her co-workers, before she reluctantly nodded and led him to her office. She frowned as he made himself comfortable in the leather chair in front of her desk. Instead of sitting down herself, she folded her arms and stood waiting for him to tell her what he wanted to talk about. Her stance told him they wouldn’t be long.“How’ve you been, Von?”“Brandon, what do you want?”“Damn. Not very welcoming, are you?”“Look, if you’re here trying to start trouble….”“Wait, wait…” Brandon stood and held his hands up in front of him. “I ain’t here to upset you or nothin’ like that. I just wanted to check on you. See how you doin’.”“I’m great. Wonderful. Never better.” Yvonne pasted an overly bright smile on her face. “If I were any more satisfied with my life and my husband, I wouldn’t be able to stand it. Marriage agrees with me,” she told him pointedly.“And does the imminent arrival of your husband’s lovechild also agree with you?”Yvonne glared at him, her hand itching to slap the taunting smirk off his face. Instead, she turned on her heel with the intention of going to the door. “Get out.”Brandon quickly stepped in front of her. “Hold, up, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” Jaw jumping, he looked at her desk and picked up a picture of RaShaun and Yvonne on their wedding day. “I really do hope you’re happy. Don’t let anybody come between you… no matter how hard they try to make that happen.”“Likeyoutried to do?” Yvonne snatched the picture out of his hands. “I’ve given you your five minutes. I want you out of my office now.”“I'm goin’. I, ah, I’m actually leavin’ town for a while, but before I go…I just wanted to come by and tell you that I’m sorry for–”But before he could finish, the door to Yvonne’s office opened. Both Brandon and Yvonne turned around to see who it was at the same time. Yvonne’s heart dropped when she saw RaShaun standing in the doorway glowering at them. His eyes went from Yvonne, to Brandon, then back to Yvonne. He closed the door…softly.“Am I interrupting something?” His voice had that undertone that told Yvonne a volcano was brewing just beneath the surface.“No.No!Of course not,” she answered quickly. Stepping around Brandon, she hurried to RaShaun’s side, but RaShaun’s eyes remained targeted on Brandon. “Uh, what are you doing here, honey?”RaShaun slowly turned his head to look at her with pure disbelief at her question. “What?”Yvette swallowed the lump that had settled in her throat. “Brandon was just leaving.”RaShaun turned his attention back to Brandon. “What I wanna know is why the fuck is Brandon even here?”Brandon sent RaShaun a look designed to intentionally provoke. RaShaun’s frown grew fierce. He took a step towards Brandon, but Yvonne quickly moved in front of him and grabbed him around the waist.“H-He just showed up. I was just telling him to leave when you walked in.”Brandon didn’t move. It was obvious that he enjoyed the fact that his mere presence seemed to get under RaShaun’s skin.RaShaun loosened his tie. “You have ten seconds to get out of my sight.”“RaShaun, look, like I told Yvonne, I didn’t come to start trouble, I–”“I don’t give a fuckwhyyou’re here!” RaShaun roared. Setting Yvonne to the side, he barged forward and crammed his face in front of Brandon’s. “What part about staying away from mywifedon’t you understand?”Brandon shoved RaShaun in the chest. “Get off me, man. I done told you–”“Mothafucka…” RaShaun shoved Brandon with enough force to send him flying into Yvonne’s desk. “Done lost yourgotdamn mind.”Yvonne screamed when her laptop and papers she had stacked on her desk went flying to the floor. “Stop it!Stop it!”But Brandon rushed towards RaShaun, tackling him around the waist and ramming him back into the wall behind him. By that time, a couple of men from the office apparently heard the commotion in Yvonne’s office and ran in to pull RaShaun and Brandon apart.RaShaun pushed them off of him. Walking backwards a few paces, he nodded and pointed at Brandon with murder in his eyes. “You’re dead. You’re dead, you hear me?”“Shaun, calm down, man!” one of the men said. He shouted to the other two guys holding Brandon. “Hurry up and get him out of here!”Yvonne held on to RaShaun’s arm, but he jerked it away and shot her a venomous look.“RaShaun, it’s not what you think!” Yvonne pleaded in a voice that trembled with emotion. She looked around at her horrified co-workers who had gathered in the doorway to gawk at the action. “Could…Could you all please excuse us?”They slowly walked out whispering amongst themselves about what they had just witnessed. RaShaun walked over and slammed the door closed. He glared at Yvonne, his jaw clenching furiously from anger.“What thefuckwas he doing here?”“Will youpleasecalm down!”“I’ll calm down when you answer my question!”“He had only been here a few minutes, Shaun. I don’tknowwhat he wanted. I can’t believe you made a scene like that! At myjobRaShaun?”“Believe me, Yvonne, me making a scene at your office is the last thing that’s on my mind right now. For the last time, what was Valentine doing here?”PART 8RaShaun looked at Yvonne, pacing and trying to cool his temper. Truth be told, yeah, he trusted Yvonne, but Valentine? Not as far as he could throw him. The fact that he kept finding reasons to show up around Yvonne made his blood boil all over again.“Yvonne, I swear to God, that lil motherfucka is not gonna stop until I kill his ass! I’m tellin’ you!”By now Yvonne, was beginning to get just as angry. “We need to go home and discuss this. I think we’ve given everyone around here enough to gossip about for a lifetime if you don’t mind!”RaShaun opened his mouth to tell her he didn’t give a damn when his cell phone rang. The ring tone told him it was Quincy. He finally realized it had been ringing nonstop almost for the last fifteen minutes, but he hadn’t paid it any attention. As Yvonne stalked to her desk to get her purse, RaShaun answered the phone.“Q., I’m gonna have to call you back, its not a good time–”“RaShaun, wait! I’ve been callin’ you for the last twenty minutes and–”“Quincy, man, I’m gonna have to call you back–”“RaShaun, shut up for a minute! There’s been an accident!” The words rushed out of Quincy’s mouth.RaShaun stopped pacing as the urgency in Quincy’s voice finally penetrated his brain. “What kind of an accident?”“Shaun, I don’t know how else to tell you this. It’s Terri. She’s been in a car accident. Man, she…she’s dead!”RaShaun felt the room spinning until it left his dizzy and unbalanced. He took deep breaths. Surely he’d misunderstood. “Quincy…what?What did you say?!”Forgetting her anger, Yvonne rushed to his side. “RaShaun what is it? What’s wrong?”RaShaun blindly reached for her hand and squeezed it hard as he listened to Quincy.“There was a five car pile up on the interstate. I was passing by when I saw the accident and went to help. That’s when I recognized her car. They rushed her to the hospital, but…I’m sorry, RaShaun.”“My…my baby?” he asked in a hoarse voice. He could barely form the words. “What about my baby?”Quincy hesitated. “You need to get to the hospital as quick as you can, Shaun.”PART 9RaShaun and Yvonne hurried out of the elevator at the hospital, looking around for Quincy. RaShaun had driven like a bat out of hell and made it to the hospital in less than half the time it would have normally taken. According to the information he’d gotten from Quincy, Terri was in surgery now as the doctors performed an emergency C-section to try and save the baby‘s life.“Quincy!” RaShaun took off running as soon as he saw his friend speaking to a doctor.“RaShaun! Doctor, this is the baby’s father, RaShaun Patterson.”“Doctor, how’s my baby? Is he okay? Did he make it?”“You have a daughter, but I’m going to be honest with you, Mr. Patterson. She’s two months premature, and very tiny, a little over two and a half pounds. Of course being born so early, her organs have not fully developed. She’s being put on a respirator to help her breathe, and she’s susceptible to infection. We transferred her to the neonatal intensive care unit a few minutes ago.”RaShaun squeezed Yvonne’s hand as he asked. “What are her chances?”“We’ve made a lot of progress with premature babies, and our hospital has one of the best NIC units in the country. The mother died right before they brought her into the hospital. Thankfully, the EMT’s kept the oxygen flow going or severe brain damage would’ve been a factor. The next few weeks are crucial; it’s going to be touch and go. Only time will tell.”“Doctor, can RaShaun see her?” Yvonne asked.“It’ll be a while. The NICU is on the tenth floor if you want to go there to wait, although I have to caution you, I can’t promise how long that’ll be.”“It doesn’t matter. We’ll wait as long as we have to,” RaShaun responded.***About three hours later, the nurse finally came to get RaShaun, explaining that he could only stay for a few minutes. RaShaun kissed Yvonne, and quickly followed the nurse to get scrubbed and prepped with a gown and mask.Minutes later, he was looking down at his baby girl. His heart swelled with a love more powerful than any he’d ever known. He bent down so that he was eye level and able to see her better through the glass incubator. She was so tiny she could practically fit in the palm of his hand.“Hi, baby girl. It’s your Daddy,” he whispered with tears in his eyes. “Hi, honey.” Her little body jerked and twitched before she became still again.RaShaun’s gaze went over the incubator. So many tubes. The nurse had given him a quick rundown on what to expect, but he was still a little overwhelmed. There would be round the clock care with nurses and doctors monitoring vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and pulse rate.His heart ached for his daughter. She was so little and defenseless and had a huge fight ahead of her in order to survive. He wanted to hold her in his arms so bad, at least touch her. Closing his eyes to pray, RaShaun asked God to stay with her and watch over her and help her grow strong and healthy. He stared down at her again, wishing she could open her eyes and see her Daddy by her side, and know that no matter what, he would always take care of her.“Please God”, he whispered. “Just let my baby survive. Please.”Suddenly, machines started beeping and going off beside her bed. Nurses rushed over. Something was wrong.“Sir, you’re going to have to leave now.”“What’s wrong? What’s happening?”“Sir, please. I have to ask you to leave. Now, please.”A doctor came rushing into the room. RaShaun stepped back and walked to the door, trying to watch them as long as he could. He heard the nurses updating the doctor. The doctor looked frantically at the machines as he began working on the baby.“Her heart rate’s dropping! Come on! Come on! We’re losing her! Dammit, she’s not breathing. If we don’t get her stabilized now…”A solemn silence fell over the team of caregivers. The nurse that had brought RaShaun to the emergency room glanced at him, her eyes expressing her sympathy before she quickly looked away.RaShaun slowly walked out and stood outside the door, leaning weakly against the wall. He pulled the mask down and covered his face, his shoulders trembling with sobs of sorrow.Yvonne raced over. “Shaun, what’s wrong!”RaShaun could only shake his head as he looked at her through the tears that streamed down his face.“Oh, RaShaun. Baby. Is she…”Shaun put his head down and closed his eyes. Tears rolled down Yvonne’s face as well when she saw the hopelessness on his face. She pulled him into her arms and held him tightly as he cried for the baby girl he’d only had a chance to meet for a few brief moments.PART 10One week later…RaShaun and Yvonne stood at the gravesite and watched as the casket was lowered into the ground. RaShaun’s parents had flown in for the funeral. His father put his arm around his mother as her shoulders shook with soft cries. RaShaun could feel his throat burning with the tears he swallowed and not allowed himself to shed.Dark shades covered his eyes as he stepped forward. Drawing one of the delicate pale, pink roses from the floral arrangement that stood beside the grave, he brought it up to his lips and kissed it, then gently threw it down on top of the casket. Closing his eyes, he said one final goodbye then went back to stand beside Yvonne. She reached for his hand. RaShaun clutched it as if it were his life preserver in stormy waters. And that’s exactly what she’d been.She had taken control and made all of the arrangements, including choosing an outfit for her to wear and picking out the casket, which was the palest of pinks. RaShaun had been in no shape to even attempt to oversee such a task.A tear began making its way from beneath the glasses and down his cheek as dirt was thrown down on top of the casket. He turned to leave, not wanting to watch anymore. He held his arm out to let his parents go first as they made their way back to the car. He was stopped every few feet by people who had attended the service.Feeling yet another tap on his arm, he turned around and saw Quincy and his wife, Gina. He reached down to hug and kiss Gina on the cheek, then turned to the man who he couldn’t have been closer to if he were his own brother. They hugged each other tightly in understanding, not having to say a word. Yvonne hugged Gina and then reached up to hug Quincy. They along with countless other people were coming back to RaShaun and Yvonne’s house for the repass.RaShaun stood by the limousine used to bring the family to the service as his father helped his mother inside. Then he glanced back at the gravesite.“Are you okay?” Yvonne asked him softly.“Yeah, I’m fine.” Yvonne moved to get in the car, but he reached for her hand to keep her there. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you. I love you so much.”Yvonne touched his face softly and smiled before getting in the car. RaShaun looked up at the sky. The day had been overcast and rainy, but the sun seemed to be fighting its way through the gray storm clouds. Sort of like life. No matter how dark and gloomy things seemed, eventually light would shine through and cast a warm glow throughout to chase the dark shadows away.A small smile touched RaShaun’s lips as he continued to look up to the sky. Something told him that heaven would never be the same. Turning towards the car, he joined his family and drove away.PART 11One year later…RaShaun unlocked his front door and walked into his house, glad to finally be home. It was Friday, and he had only worked half a day, and even that was only because he had some meetings this morning that couldn’t be postponed. Otherwise, he would’ve taken the entire day off. It was his and Yvonne’s second year wedding anniversary. He had a big surprise planned for her the entire week, and couldn’t wait to begin celebrating…just the two of them.Hell, I might just take off the week after, too. Being a Vice President does have its perks, he thought to himself with a huge smile on his face.RaShaun had been on the fast track with the company almost from the moment he started. His hard work and diligence had paid off when he’d been offered the promotion six months ago.“And just what is that self satisfied smile on your face for…. or do I have to even ask, Mr. Vice President.” Yvonne came out of the kitchen smiling as she saw him. She knew he was still on a high from being named the youngest Vice President ever at his company, and she was so very proud of him.“That’s right. And don’t you forget it,” he grinned as he walked towards her and pulled her in his arms for a kiss. “In fact. The next time you’re at the height of an orgasm, I want you to scream ‘I love you Mr. VicePresident. You da man’ at the top of your lungs.”Yvonne burst out laughing. He was so damn silly. “I’ll try to remember that.”“Are you about ready to leave? Our plane takes off in about three hours. And you know it’s going to take you every one of those hours to get ready,” he teased as they walked to the back bedroom with their arms around each other.“Whatever.” She smiled when he patted her bottom as they stepped into the room.“You know I’m telling the truth. You–”“DaDaDaDa! DaDaDaDa!!”His face lit up when he turned towards the crib with his arms outstretched. The baby was standing up holding onto the railing, her chubby legs wobbling up and down with excitement. Her wide, watery grin showed all six teeth as she held her arms up, ready for RaShaun to pick her up.“Hi Daddy’s Princess! How’s my girl?”He reached down and picked her up out of the crib. She squealed with excitement and happiness from being in her daddy’s arms. Her little body wiggled as she threw her arms around his neck.“Did you miss your Daddy? Huh, baby girl?”Her head bobbed up and down.RaShaun rained kissed over his daughter’s face. She laughed, her full cheeks showing the same deep dimples that her Daddy had in his. His smile was big and full of love as he looked at her.“You did? You missed me? ‘Cause Daddy missed you. Yes I did,” he cooed.Faith LaTerrica Patterson leaned back and patted her Daddy’s cheeks with her plump little hands. Opening her mouth wide, she leaned forward and gave RaShaun a big kiss full of baby drool, which RaShaun claimed was the bestest kiss he’d ever gotten. That earned him another one, even more wet and slobbery than the last. RaShaun and Yvonne laughed.Faith turned to look at Yvonne, as if finally realizing she was in the room too. Seeing that she was once more the center of her parent’s attention as usual, she clapped her hands together and continued to milk it for all it was worth. She pointed her little baby fingers at Yvonne and grinned again.“MAMAMAMAMAMA!” she chanted“That’s right, that’s your Mama. Give Mama a kiss.”Faith leaned over, mouth wide open, and blessed Yvonne with one of her kisses, leaving her wet mark all over Yvonne’s mouth as well. Her beautiful little face, so much like Terri’s, gleamed with love as she looked from her Mommy to her Daddy.It had been touch and go for a moment with her after she was first born. They’d had many close calls, but Faith had fought hard to live. Against all odds, she had survived and thrived. After she’d gained four more pounds and was deemed no longer an at risk baby from the amazed staff at the hospital, RaShaun and Yvonne had been allowed to take her home. She had continued to gain weight and flourished very quickly. By God’s miracle, she’d had no side affects from being born prematurely, and was a healthy, well adjusted baby who became more active every day.With Terri having no close family, RaShaun and Yvonne had taken on the responsibility of planning her funeral. Yvonne had taken care of the details. With the shock of Terri’s death, and unsure if his daughter would even make it, he had been in no frame of mind to do so.After that first night when they had to work to gently resuscitate Faith, the doctor had given her only a slim chance for survival. A couple of nights later, RaShaun had fallen into a fitful sleep and had the strangest dream. He’d been in the room with his baby. She was in the incubator hooked up to the machines while shadows quietly stood in the background, as if waiting on her to join them.Suddenly, Terri had appeared, transparent and surrounded by a subtle glow of light. A serene smile had crossed her lips as she looked down at her baby girl. Terri reached down to pick her up. The tubes that had been connected to Faith’s body had dropped away as Terri held her baby in her arms. The funniest thing is that Faith looked healthy and full of life in the dream, kicking her fat little legs and cooing and smiling up at Terri as if she knew her.Terri had looked towards RaShaun and smiled. Her face had been clear and untroubled. He had never seen her look so at peace. Leaning down, she’d kissed baby Faith and then gently put her back in the incubator. Giving RaShaun a final look, she had slowly disappeared.RaShaun had sat up straight in the bed, looking around as if she was in the room with him. Body drenched in sweat, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. His heart beat double time in his chest. The dream had felt so real. And although his head told him there was no way Terri could’ve physically been there, he did she was there in spirit, looking out for her daughter. He’d never told anyone about the dream, not even Yvonne, but from that day forward, RaShaun inexplicably known that his baby would be okay.He glanced at Yvonne now, his eyes filled with love. “Sweetheart, where’s Mom and Pop?”“They went to the store to pick up a few things. They’ll be right back.”RaShaun’s parents had come to town to keep Faith for the week while RaShaun and Yvonne left for their anniversary trip. Neither one of them knew how they’d make it without Faith for the next seven days.Yvonne looked at Faith. The love she felt in her heart overflowed for her daughter–and that’s exactly what Faith was. Her daughter. When she got older, they would tell her about Terri, and how much she loved her. Although she’d had many faults, Yvonne chose to believe that Terri loved her baby, and would have eventually put the child’s needs above her own. That’s what a mother did.Yvonne placed her hand over her stomach and smiled. She planned to tell RaShaun the news tonight. He was going to be a father again. She looked up at him with a small smile.Feeling her gaze, he turned his head and returned the smile before leaning down and tenderly kissing her. “I love you, Mrs. Patterson.”“And I love you, Mr. Patterson.” They grinned at each other before their daughter reclaimed their attention.Yvonne knew RaShaun thought he had planned a big surprise for her, and she was sure she would enjoy it. But her anniversary surprise for him would be the biggest and best of all, for both of them.(Stay tuned for a sneak peek at the next episode as this dramatic web serial continues...)© 2017 S.K. HardyALL RIGHTS RESERVEDAll rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means without the written permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

The 3 C's of Life:Choices, Chances, ChangesYou must make a Choiceto take a Chanceor your life will neverChange.~ Author UnknownEPISODE FIVEPART 1Von…she’s pregnant.Yvonne looked at him in confusion. “Terri’s…pregnant? Okay.And?Why is she telling you?”RaShaun stared at her, unable to bring himself to utter the words that would destroy her and destroy the fragile start they’d made, but Yvonne quickly figured it out. Understanding dawned on her face like the sun greeting a new day.“Wait a minute. Don’t tell me. That grimy witch is sayingyou’rethe father?”RaShaun nodded. “Yeah.”“No wonder you’re so ticked off. You should’ve let me kick her lying, scheming ass. She must really be desperate.”“Yvonne–”“I cant believe her! If sheispregnant, she probably doesn’t even know who the father is.”“Von–”“I hope you made her feel like the idiot she is. How in the hell could she be pregnant by you? I mean, yes, I know you... slept with her…” Yvonne managed to get the words out without choking. “But you used protection. She must have forgotten about that.”“Yvonne!”She looked at him quizzically. When he just stared at her, Yvonne frowned. “RaShaun?”But instead of answering her unspoken question, he took slow steps that brought him closer to her.Yvonne retreated and held her hands out to stop him from coming any further as a thought entered her head. “Youdiduse protection…didn’t you?”“Baby–”“Didn’t you?” she repeated. “Tell me you used a condom, RaShaun!”“Baby, I’m so sorry.”“Oh my God.” Suddenly feeling sick to her stomach, Yvonne covered her mouth before continuing in a horrified whisper. “Oh myGod! RaShaun,pleasetell me you used a condom.”RaShaun opened his mouth to speak, but ended up just shaking his head. There was really nothing he could say.His admission hit Yvonne like a nuclear bomb. She felt like the breath had been knocked out of her, leaving her weak, dazed, and faint. This time, she couldn’t hold the nausea back. Covering her mouth, she ran into the bathroom, praying she could make it in time. She did, but only barely. Standing over the commode, she placed one hand on the wall and held on as the contents of her stomach came churning up.Wetting a towel, Shaun stood behind her, holding her up until she finally pushed him away and leaned on the vanity for support. Snatching the towel out of his hand, she kept her eyes closed and wiped her face. She didn’t even want to look at him right now. Turning around, she walked out the bathroom.“Yvonne.”“How do you know its yours?” She whirled around, glaring at him. “Are you even sure she’s pregnant?”“She had a letter from her doctor with the results of a pregnancy test. She…she’s going to call the doctor Monday and let me speak to her to confirm it. We’ll be able to do a paternity test in a couple of months.”“A couple ofmonths! Oh my God, this cannot be happening,” she said to herself.RaShaun continued, speaking as if he had to force himself to tell her the rest. “Yvonne, I know her. She wouldn’t volunteer to take a test like that unless she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the baby was mine.”Yvonne literally doubled over in pain as he said those words. She grabbed her stomach as gut-wrenching sobs tore out of her mouth. Over and over again, she kept hearing the deliberately taunting words in her ear:RaShaun is having a baby with Terri. RaShaun is having a baby with Terri.“Baby, please don’t.” RaShaun tried to put his arms around her, but she spun away from him as if he had a contagious disease.“Don’ttouchme!” she screamed. “Don’t youdaretouch me!”“Yvonne–”Yelling like an animal in pain, she ran up to him and slapped him as hard as she could, then slapped him again. When she went for a third time, he ducked his head out of the way, which only goaded her into beating her fists against his chest in pure fury.Trapping her arms to her side, RaShaun  grabbed her. Hugging her tightly against his body, he let her kick and scream until she stopped struggling and collapsed in his arms from sheer exhaustion. They sank to the floor, RaShaun rocking her until her sobs quieted and her trembling ceased.After a while, Yvonne stirred in his arms and pulled away. She stood up without looking at him and walked away to her bedroom, closing the door firmly behind her, telling him without words not to follow.PART 2Unlocking the door to her townhouse, Terri burst inside and slammed it behind her as hard as she could and she let out a loud, shrill scream.“Ughhhhh!! I hate her, I hate her, I HATE HER!”she yelled, slinging her purse across the room.Picturing Yvonne, hair slightly ruffled, walking barefoot into the foyer wearing nothing but RaShaun’s shirt made her throw her head back and scream again. She just didn’t understand what he saw in that disloyal, cheating…skank!She would’ve had to be blind not to know see that Yvonne and Rah had just finished screwing their brains out. Yvonne had worn that sleepy, but satisfied, just been thoroughly fucked expression. Terri could practically smell him on her.Picking up a nearby crystal vase, she threw it across the room so that it smashed against the opposite wall. The act made her feel better, so she picked up another one and did it again. Breathing hard, she stared at the pieces of broken crystal scattered on the dark floor. Too bad the wall wasn't Yvonne.Closing her eyes, she slowly inhaled and exhaled several times. She had to calm down. Getting upset wasn’t good for the baby. She had to remember, nothing else matter but that right now. Terri placed a hand on her still flat stomach. If anything happened to the child she was carrying, she could kiss any chance of being with Rah goodbye.“Calm down, Terri. Just calm down,” she told herself in a soothing voice. “Everything is working out, just as planned.”Once she felt the pressure in her temple start to subside and the tension in her body wan, she allowed herself to review the scene that had just taken place at RaShaun’s house. He’d been shocked, and yes angry, but she knew Rah. Once everything sank in and he got used to the idea of being a father, he would come around. Family was too important to him. He would definitely be a hands on dad…which meant the two of them would be spending a lot of time together. She just had to be patient, not push like she did the last time they saw one another. She had the advantage. The rest would take care of itself.But just in case it didn’t…Terri glanced down at her watch. What was taking so long? She’d made the phone call on the way home, almost as soon as she’d left Rah’s house. Terri let out an irritated sigh. Why were the people in her life letting her down? Did she have to doeverything? She was just getting ready to call again when her doorbell rang.“Well, it’s about time,” she huffed hurrying to the door and sweeping it open. Seeing Brandon Valentine standing on her doorstep only served to heighten her ire.“I expected to you to be here waiting on me when I drove up. What took you so long?”Brandon stared at her for several long moments before pushing past her without a word and stepping into her home. “What’s so important that you had to see me in person and couldn’t tell me over the phone?”“Where have you been? I left ten messages.”“I’m here now, alright? What do you want, Terri?”“What do I want?I want you to do your job,Brandon."He stopped and stared at her as a slow fire blazed in his eyes. “My job?”“Yes, your job! When we first met, I was honest with you. I told you that Rah was my first love and I wanted him back. You promised me you could seduce that little bitch and keep her away from him! Here it is,monthslater, and you haven’t done it!”Brandon continued to glare at her for several moments before his eyes slid away. “It wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. You made it seem like Yvonne was some airhead who would jump on the first dick that swung her way.”“Well, she practically did,didn’t she?""Jesus, Terri, you're so fuckin' dramatic.""I'm telling the truth. All you had to do was keep on her but–”“Look, don’t you think I tried. Yeah, she slipped up a little at first, but bottom line, she wasn’t interested. She’s in love with that asshole of a boyfriend that you’re so infatuated with.”As if mentioning RaShaun stirred up unpleasant memories, Brandon brought a hand up to massage his neck. Even though the bruises had faded and he could finally turn his head without wincing, he still remembered the feeling well. “I thought you said he was some nerdy banker? You didn’t tell me he was also one crazy son of a bitch.”“I never said he was nerdy and it’s your own fault for underestimating him. You weren’t supposed to antagonize him to the point that he tried to kill you. Twice,” Terri added with an evil twist of her lips.Brandon sneered. “You know what? Screw you. I’m outta here.”He started towards the door, but Terri jumped in front of him to stop him. “Brandon, wait. I need your help.”“Nah, you’re on your own, babygirl. I ain’t got time for this mess. I never should’ve let you talk me into it to begin with.”“But things should be easier now. I have leverage.”Brandon eyed her suspiciously. “What kind of leverage?”Terri placed her hand on her stomach. “The kind that’s going to guarantee me at least the next eighteen years in RaShaun’s life.”Brandon took a step back. His eyes fell to her stomach. “You’re pregnant?”“Yes. Now do you see why it should be easier for you to get Yvonne to–”“How far along?”Terri blinked. “What?” she asked impatiently.“How far along are you? How many months?”“Not far. Only about a month, but–”“A month as in around the first time we slept together, Terri?”Her mouth snapped shut. “It’s not yours.”“How do you know?”“Because I know who I’m pregnant by, Brandon, that’s how,” Terri snapped. “You and I used protection. RaShaun and I didn’t.”“The condom broke,” he said fiercely through his teeth. “Don’t tell me you don’t remember that.”“And you pulled out the second it did,” Terri countered. “This baby isnotyours.”“You don’t know that.”“Idoknow. You know what, never mind, Brandon. Just go. I'll just handle things myself.” Terri whirled around and started pacing in agitation. “I don’t need this from you right now.”“Terri–”“Go! Get out! Now!” she screamed, glaring coldly at him.It was obvious Brandon was reluctant to leave, but muttering under his breath he stalked to the door and yanked it open. However, before he walked out, he turned to her and fired one more parting shot.“I don’t think you’re as sure of who the father of this baby is as you want me to believe.”“Please,” Terri scoffed. “Of course I'm sure. It's not as ifyouhave the qualities to be any child’s father.”“Oh yeah? Well tell ya’ what.” He pointed to her stomach. “If that baby turns out to be mine I don’t give a damn what qualities you think I got or don’t got. I plan on being a part of its life. Just so you know.”The condescending smirk slipped from Terri’s face at the surprising hint of steel in his voice that she’d never heard before. They locked eyes for several more moments before he slammed out the door.Once he was gone, Terri felt her stress level escalate again. She suddenly realized that she needed to add one more problem to her ever growing shitlist.  And his name was Brandon Valentine.PART 3RaShaun slowly got up and went to sit on the couch. Picturing the devastation on Yvonne’s face, he rested his elbows on his knees and dropped his head in his hands. He’d screwed up. Royally. She had every right to hate him for what he’d done. Hell, he hated himself. They’d worked through so much already. How could he expect Yvonne to forgive him for this?He got his answer ten minutes later when he heard her coming from their bedroom. He stood up, noting that she’d put on clothes and had her purse on her shoulder.“Von.”She kept walking without acknowledging he’d spoken.“Yvonne.” He took long steps and moved in front of her, blocking her way just before she got to the door. “Babe, we need to talk about this.”Yvonne looked up at him through squinted eyes. “Talk aboutthis? What else is there to say? You fucked that bitch raw, and now she’s pregnant with your ‘break baby’. That just about covers everything, don’t you think?”RaShaun winced at her bluntness.“Please move out of my way.” When he just stood there, she screamed,“Move!”The seconds ticked by as RaShaun stared at her before reluctantly moving to the side. She was halfway to the door when he said, “So everything we’ve been through, everything we’ve overcome to get to this point, means nothing? Those words you told me earlier, about trusting in our love, trusting in us…those were just empty sentiments? What happened to fighting for us, Yvonne? The same way I put everything aside and made up my mind to fight for us you can't do it again one last time?”Yvonne’s hand had just touched the doorknob, but hearing his questions that he belatedly realized sounded more like  accusations, she swung around and walked back to him with her face clouded in anger.“Don’t. You.Dare! Don’t youdarecompare what I did tothis!”“That’s not what I was–”“You implied it! Yes, I made a mistake, but my mistake is not going to follow us for the rest of our lives!”RaShaun finally snapped. His anger at himself and the situation was swiftly directed toward her. “What do you want me to do, Yvonne? Huh? Tell me what the fuck you want me to do!”Yvonne folded her arms and looked away, but RaShaun wouldn’t let her blow off his question.“No! Answer me! If this is my…my child…do you want me to just ignore it?”The hurt she felt at him referencing the child as his showed in her eyes. She turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm and turned her back around to face him.“No, tell me. I wanna know. If this child turns out to be mine, should I just send a check every month and forget he or she even exists? Be a father on paper only?” His eyes pleaded for at least an ounce of understanding. “You know the type of man I am, baby. You know that ain’t me.”Yvonne jerked her arm away. “You want me to tell you what to do? Do youreally, RaShaun? Fine! I’ll tell you! Tell her to get rid of it!That’swhat you fucking do!”Yvonne gasped as soon as the words shot out of. Looking shocked at what she’d said, she covered her mouth and stared at RaShaun.The silence that came over the room was deafening. RaShaun stepped back and looked at her as if he didn’t recognize the person standing before him.“You really mean that?” he asked quietly.She shook her head. “No. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it,” she whispered. Yvonne dropped her purse and covered her face with her hands and began to cry. “Of course I didn’t mean it.”RaShaun hesitated then pulled her to him. He kissed her hair, and brought his lips to her eyes to kiss the tears away. He kissed her cheeks and moved to her lips, gently soothing her hurt.“I’m so sorry for this, baby,” he told her. “I love you so much. I’m not letting you go. I can’t. I promise everything will be okay. I’ll make this right. I promise you.”Yvonne nodded as silent tears continued to run down her face. When RaShaun scooped her up, she wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest while he carried her back to the bedroom and removed all their clothes. Once they were in bed and covered with the sheets, he pulled her to him and just held her in his arms. Whispering to her in a soft voice, he reassured her of his love, asking her not to leave him, begging her to stay, and again promising he’d take care of everything.Finally she fell into an exhausted sleep, her head nestled trustingly on his shoulder. RaShaun lay staring at the ceiling, wishing the last few hours had been a night he’d soon awake from. However, the ache he felt in his chest told him that it was very much a reality– and things would get much worse before they got better.PART 4Early the next morning, RaShaun sat in the chair watching Yvonne sleep. He had on a pair of jeans and a shirt that he’d left unbuttoned. He hadn’t slept at all. His thoughts wouldn’t let him. They’d kept him up all night, taunting him, telling him he’d ruined any chance that he had of building a life with Yvonne.Trust was important. It was the glue that held everything together, allowed the two people in the relationship to feel safe and secure and emotionally vulnerable because they knew no matter what, the other person would be there to see them through difficult times. But now…His attention was suddenly caught by Yvonne stirring in bed slowly coming out of the deep sleep she’d been in. She turned her head and smiled at him when she spotted him in the chair. RaShaun knew the exact moment she remembered everything from last night because her grey eyes became overcast. Sad. Haunted.Damn.However, the next instant a firm resolve seemed to settle over her face. She she took a deep breath, and smiled at him again, albeit tentatively.RaShaun returned her smile…and waited.“Hi,” she said softly.“Hi,” he replied just as softly.She lifted her hand to move the hair out of her eye, then froze. Gasping, she held her left hand out in front of her and saw the ring she’d come across in his drawer that day. She glanced at RaShaun and then back to the ring.Shaun continued to sit quietly…and wait.Yvonne pushed herself up to a sitting position. She held her hand up, admiring the ring’s beauty and watching it sparkle. Finally looking in his direction, she answered his unspoken question.“Yes.”PART 5That next day was Sunday. RaShaun and Yvonne decided to have a lazy, relaxing morning in bed. RaShaun fixed brunch and brought it to Yvonne with a single red rose in the vase. They fed each other, talked about things they needed to do this week, intentionally avoiding the elephant in the room named Terri.They had talked about it in length yesterday, each discussing their feelings about the situation. Yvonne had gone through a vast range of emotions since Friday night when Terri had come to their home and told RaShaun about the pregnancy. One moment she felt strong enough to face anything that came their way. The next, she found herself angry with RaShaun for being so irresponsible.RaShaun understood her anger as well as her fears. If he actually was the father, Terri would try to make their life a living hell. RaShaun promised himself and Yvonne that he wouldn’t let that happened. His main concern right now was protecting Yvonne from all of this as much as he could.He knew Terri felt she had the upper hand; he could tell by her smug attitude last night. If the test proved him to be the baby’s father, the two of them would get things straight from the very beginning. RaShaun planned to contact his lawyer immediately to begin laying the groundwork for joint custody.He looked at Yvonne’s plate and saw that she’d eaten just about all of her food. “Finished?”“Mmhm. Thank you, it was delicious.”After leaning over to giver her a quick kiss, RaShaun took their tray to the kitchen, leaving the glasses of mimosa that neither had finished yet. When he came back, he climbed in bed beside Yvonne and lay with his hands folded behind his head watching her admire her ring. He smiled when she turned her hand this way and that way so that the diamonds twinkled beneath the light.“Did I tell you how much I love my ring?”RaShaun’s mouth twitched. She had barely taken her eyes off of it since he’d slipped it on her finger. “You may have mentioned it a time or two.”Yvonne caught on to his amusement and playfully punched him in the shoulder. “You’re trying to be funny, aren’t you?”Laughing, they lay in bed, enjoying the silence and just enjoying each other. Suddenly Yvonne leaned up and her elbow and stared down at RaShaun with a mystifying smile on her face. RaShaun raised his eyebrows and waited for her to tell him what was on her mind, but she just continued to gaze at him in silence.“Okay, I’ll bite. What?”Yvonne bit her lip, still smiling. RaShaun laughed. She was so damned cute. “What are you up to?”“Well. I was thinking…”“Okay. You were thinking…” RaShaun gestured his hand for her to get on with it.“I was thinking…lets get married.” She looked at him with eyes that shined with excitement.“I thought that’s what we were going to do. That’s usually what happens when a woman is wearing an engagement ring,” he teased.Yvonne shook her head. “No, I mean lets get marriednow.”RaShaun frowned, puzzled by where the conversation was headed. “What do you mean ‘now’?”“Now! Next week! I don’t want to wait, Shaun. I’m ready to be your wifenow.” She crawled on top of him and stretched out, looking into his eyes.RaShaun still wore the same expression. “Don’t you want a big wedding, your friends to be there?”Yvonne shook her head before he even finished. “All I need is you. I don’t need a big ceremony and everything that goes along with it.”He lay there staring at her, excited at the prospect of just doing it. That’s what he would’ve chosen anyway, but he didn’t want to deprive her a large wedding. He thought every woman wanted a big wedding. Then his excitement ebbed away, and the smile fell from his face.Seeing this, hers did too. “Shaun, what’s wrong? Tell me.”RaShaun hesitated. “Are you sure you don’t want to wait for the results of the paternity test? I don’t want you to rush into this, and then regret it if …you know.”Yvonne’s eyes softened as she leaned down to kiss him on the lips. “You know what, things could be worse than a child coming into the world that’s part of you. I love you, Shaun. As long as we stand together and draw strength from each other, everything will be okay.”RaShaun brought a hand up and softly caressed her face. “Are you sure?”Yvonne nodded, grinning down at him.He exhaled in relief and brought his lips up to hers, telling her without words how much he loved her. Lowering his head back to the pillow, he gazed up into her eyes.“Make the arrangements.”PART 6Monday morning, RaShaun was in his office on the phone with Terri and her physician, a Dr. Jenny Wong. He had left instructions with his secretary that he was not to be disturbed.Terri’s doctor confirmed that yes, she was indeed pregnant. Terri had already told her they would need a paternity test as soon as it became safe to do so. The doctor went over the procedure with RaShaun and what would be involved to prove paternity.“How accurate is this test?” RaShaun asked Dr. Wong.“Extremely. 99.9%,” the doctor answered crisply.RaShaun nodded in satisfaction. “Good. No offense, but I’d like the test to be done at an independent clinic. I’m not saying that you would do anything unethical. However, Terri…that’s a different story.”Dr. Wong grew quiet, not quite knowing how to respond.Terri gasped in indignation. “Whatever, RaShaun. Believe me, I have nothing to hide. And I expect an apology when the tests reveal you’re the father of this baby.”“That’ll be a cold day in hell. Dr. Wong, if there’s nothing else…”“Uh…no. That’s, er, that’s all,” Dr. Wong stuttered.“Fine. I appreciate your professionalism. Have a good day.” RaShaun was ready to hang up, but Terri stopped him.“Wait! We need to talk, Rah.”“We don’t have a damn thing to talk about until its time to take the test. Until then, do not, and I repeat, donotcall me. Do you understand?”He slammed the phone down without waiting for a response. He refused to be a puppet that jumped every time she pulled a string. It was time that she realized that, starting now.PART 7A week later, RaShaun opened the door of the honeymoon suite and carried his bride over the threshold. Yvonne had laughed from happiness when he’d carried her through the lobby of the hotel, much to the delight everyone there. They walked towards the elevators amidst a smattering of congratulatory applause for the attractive newlyweds.Wearing a white strapless, knee length silk dress, Yvonne’s face wore an expression of pride and adoration. RaShaun was the epitome of the dashing groom in his dark gray tailored suit, snow white dress shirt, and engraved cuff links she’d bought him as a wedding present. They had gone to city hall and gotten married in a simple, but emotional ceremony attended by a handful of their friends, Tara, her maid of honor, and Quincy, Shaun’s best man.Once they had been pronounced man and wife, Yvonne had tried not to cry too much so she wouldn’t ruin her make up. RaShaun’s huge smile had dominated his face. He’d whisked Yvonne up and swung her around before planting a hot, steamy kiss on her out that had the elderly justice of the peace blushing and clearing his throat.RaShaun and Yvonne kissed and laughed all the way from the elevator until he carried her over the threshold, kicking the door closed with his foot.Yvonne looked around the suite. “Oh, baby, this is sooo beautiful.”RaShaun set her down and watched her look around the suite, taking in the expensive champagne and fruit and cheese tray that had been brought up right before their arrival.He pulled his tie off and threw it on the chair. “Yes. Very beautiful.” Staring at his wife, he said her name just for the hell of it. “Mrs. Patterson. I like that.”“I love it. And I love you, Mr. Patterson.” They stared at each other, the love between them almost tangible.RaShaun started unbuttoning his shirt and slowly walking towards her. “So. We’re legal now. I guess that means I can tear that ass whenever the mood hits me, right?” He pulled his shirt off and threw it behind him.Yvonne’s eyes moved to his chest, loving the way he looked. This man, her husband. So very sexy.“You do that anyway, don’t you?” She smoothed her hands over his smooth chest to move up around his neck.RaShaun pulled her close and just stared down at her. His look was so intense that Yvonne leaned back to get to look at him with a small frown.“Baby, what’s wrong?” she asked.RaShaun shook his head from side to side as his thumb traced her lower lip. “Not a damn thing. Just the opposite. My life has never felt more right than it does at this moment. Know that I cherish you above everything, Yvonne Patterson. Don’t ever forget that.”Picking her up in his arms, he walked towards the bed, and by the time the night was over…she knew this to be true without a doubt.PART 8The next couple of weeks passed by in a blur of newlywed bliss. They couldn’t walk by one another without touching or kissing or exchanging goofy smiles. Even though they’d lived together for a couple of years, there was something about being husband and wife that changed the dynamics of their relationship.One evening, Tara and Yvonne were at the health club, and had just finished an intense workout class. They both swore the instructor had to be a drill sergeant in her former life, but her class stayed packed full because the lady got results. Wiping the sweat from her face, Yvonne glared at her once class was over.The instructor gave them a perky wave as she got ready for her next class. “See you next week, ladies.”Yvonne waited until her back was turned, then gave her the finger.Tara fell out laughing as they walked out. “Girl, you are hilarious. Leave that woman alone.“I swear she gets some type of demonic pleasure from working us until we almost pass out. She’s not satisfied until she hears grunts of pain throughout the room,” Yvonne grumbled.“You know what they say, no pain–”“Tara, I really don’t want to hear that bullshit right now.”“Excuse me, Ms….I’m sorry…Mrs. Bitch. It’s not anyone’s fault but your own that you’ve been on a ‘RaShaun Dick Diet’ since you two got married a month ago. I tried to get your ass to come to the gym, butnooo….you couldn’t tear yourself away from yourhuuusssband.” Tara drew the word out teasingly. At the mention of RaShaun’s name, Tara saw the usual starry-eyed expression come over Yvonne’s face.Tara rolled her eyes.“Ugh! There you go again. That’s what I’m talking about. Damn, ya’ll must fuck more than rabbits. It’s a wonder you two….” Tara suddenly stopped talking and came to an abrupt stop. Yvonne, however, was still firmly encased in her dream world and kept walking.“Yvonne,” Tara whispered loudly.“Speaking of my husband, I wonder what he’s doing right now,” Yvonne mused, smiling at the word ‘husband’.“Yvonne!” Tara called louder.This time Yvonne turned around with a frown. “What, T?”Tara nodded her head slightly to Yvonne’s right. Her frown deepening even more, Yvonne turned around to see what had Tara so agitated. And as soon as she spotted them she knew. Terri and….Kiki?Well, isn’t this cute?Yvonne thought.Apparently, these two have gotten to be thick as thieves.Kiki used to talk as much shit about Terri as Yvonne, but of course that didn’t mean anything considering what Yvonne now knew about Kiki’s true character. Both Kiki and Terri were both walking with a couple of other women who all seemed to be fawning over Terri, who wore one of those sports tops that left your stomach bare. Yvonne gasped when her eyes dropped to Terri’s little pooch of a belly. Terri happened to spot her at that moment, looking thoroughly satisfied at Yvonne’s devastated reaction to the beginning signs of Terri’s pregnancy. She touched Kiki’s arm and gestured towards Yvonne and Tara.Tara leaned towards Yvonne. “Take a deep breath, cous. Don’t give these bitches the satisfaction.”Hearing her words, Yvonne did just that, and exhaled slowly. She tilted her chin slightly and looked them dead in the eye. She’d be damn if she ducked and hid just to avoid them.“Well, well. Look who’s here,” Terri said, rubbing her stomach.“Breathe…” Tara whispered through the corner of her mouth.Kiki looked Yvonne up and down, obviously feeling bold in front of everyone. Yvonne narrowed her eyes, wanting her to say something. She would gladly give her another beat down right here in front of everybody. Kiki, however, decided to fight with words.“Yvonne, don’t you think Terri looks cute pregnant?” She rubbed Terri’s stomach. “She’s going to be such a terrific Mom to RaShaun’s baby.”Yvonne flinched but forced a smile to her lips. “And RaShaun will be a great father…that isifhe’s really the father. That's still to be determined.”She gave Terri a smile designed to irritate the hell out of her. Yvonne had already made peace with the fact that more than likely he was, but she couldn’t resist fucking with this bitch.Terri took the bait. Glaring, she walked closer to Yvonne. “Oh, he’s the father. There’s no doubt about it. I’m in RaShaun’s life forever now, whether you like it or not. So you may as well get used to it. After all, I’llalwaysbe the mother of his first born child.”.“And you may as well get used tome,” Yvonne fired back. She held up her left hand, blinding Terri with the diamonds flashing from her ring and smiled. “Because I’ll be right there by his side helping him to raise his child…who’ll bemystepchild, I may add.”Terri’s face flushed with hate as she looked at Yvonne’s wedding rings.“Von, lets go,” Tara grabbed her arm. A crowd was beginning to gather.But Yvonne ignored Tara. She wasn’t finished. She was going to teach Terri’s ass not to come for her with foolishness like this again. She put a finger to her chin and looked up thoughtfully.“I haven’t decided what I want him or her to call me. Vonnie… MommyVon …or just plain old Mom.” When she looked back at Terri her face was a canvas of pure innocence. “What do you think?”Terri was absolutely livid. “You fuckingbitch!” she screamed. “If you think for one minute you’ll ever lay a hand on my child you’re more stupid than you look!”Yvonne just stood there smiling at her with unconcern, which made Terri even madder.“Oh, you think this isfunny? You’re lucky I’m pregnant, or I would kick your ass, something I should’ve done a long time ago!”Yvonne shrugged. “Don’t worry, I’ll wait on you. And if in, what, seven months, you’re still under the illusion that you can kick my ass…come see me.”Yvonne laughed as she finally allowed Tara to drag her off. She could still here Tara screaming as they turned the corner.PART 9Yvonne got home about an hour later. Tara had spent at least thirty minutes in the car calming Yvonne and then comforting her as she broke down in tears. It had been easy the last month because she and RaShaun had purposely not mentioned Terri’s name, but seeing her just now, her pregnancy beginning to show… Yvonne thought she would go crazy.Finally calm enough to leave, Yvonne promised she’d call Tara tomorrow. She walked in and threw her bag on the floor by the chair and looked around for RaShaun. When she found him in the kitchen, he was leaning against the counter drinking a beer. It looked like he had had just gotten out of the shower. She walked over and placed her arms around his waist, lifting her face up to his for a kiss. He leaned down stiffly and gave her a quick peck.Yvonne frowned. “Hi.”“Hello.”She took a step back at his cold tone. “What’s wrong? Did you have a bad day?” She was trying to be sympathetic, but her day hadn’t been the best after seeing Terri.RaShaun stared at her without saying anything. He took another sip of beer before speaking in a low voice. “Oh, my day was fine. Not bad at all. That is until about an hour ago.”“What happened an…” She took another step back and folded her arms. “Wait. Please don’t tell me that bitch did not call you.”“Yep.”Yvonne continued to peer up at him for a moment before finally catching on that he was highly ticked off…but not at Terri. “Hold up. Are you mad? Atme??” She slapped her hand against her chest. “Is that what this little attitude of yours is all about?”RaShaun sat the empty bottle down then pushed away from the counter without answering her.“RaShaun? RaShaun!”He went to the refrigerator and got another beer before turning to look at her. “You want to know if I’m mad? I wouldn’t say mad. Slightly perturbed?” He brought the beer up to his lips and took a long swallow. “Yes.”“Atme, though?”“Yvonne, why didn’t you just ignore her? Believe me, I know she started the shit. I know that without hearing a word out of your mouth, but just ignore her stupid ass. If you see her, go the other way.”“And just why should I do that!Ihaven’t done anything wrong.” She emphasized the word ‘I’. RaShaun’s eyes narrowed when he caught her meaning, but Yvonne could care less. She had just managed to calm down from the confrontation with that bitch, and know she had to come home and listen tothisshit?“And anyway, why the hell is she calling you? She started it. Her ass thought it would be cute and funny trying to make me look like a fool.”“For the last time, ignore her bullshit. Why let her get to you like that and cause a scene?” RaShaun’s voice rose.“She made the fucking scene! But once I shut her ass down, she decides to come whining toyou?”RaShaun took a visible deep breath. The conversation was getting out of hand. Yvonne knew they both needed to calm down, but his next words added fuel to the fire.“Whether we like it or not, she’s pregnant. They were ready to take her to the hospital to have her and the baby checked out because her blood pressure shot up. You up there arguing with her over petty crap as if you’re in high school or …” RaShaun stopped, apparently hearing how the words sounded. “Wait. I didn’t mean that the way it–”“You son of a bitch! I cannot believe you’re standing there halfway trying to defend her! I was minding my own business when she and Kiki–”“Kiki…” RaShaun looked at her as is he hadn’t heard her correctly.“Yes,Kiki. They were at the gym together. When they saw me, they made it a point to come over and block my path just to talk shit. Her pressure wasn’t up when she was rubbing her stomach in front of me, telling me how you and she were going to raise your child together, and how she was always going to be a part of your life now…” Yvonne’s voice caught on a little hiccup.RaShaun sighed and walked over to her with his hand out. “Von…Baby…”“No! Don’t you dare ‘Baby’ me now. As long as you live, don’t you ever,ever, defend that evil witch to me. I don’t even know how you have the nerve to even fix your mouth to try and tell me how I should act around her.” Yvonne’s words were coming out with the sharpness of a samurai sword. “Since you’re the voice of wisdom, you should’ve spoken it to yourself that night and used a fucking condom instead of letting your dick think for you!”RaShaun bit his tongue to stop from replying. She knew exactly what to say to piss him off, but he also knew he was wrong the way he had come at her about Terri.“Yvonne, I’m sorry. You’re right. I apologize.”“You can take your apology and shove it deep up your ass!” She reached over and grabbed the empty beer bottle he’d sat down and threw it as hard as she could at him before she angrily stalked out of the room.“Dammit!!” He ducked just in time so that the bottle shattered against the wall behind him. A second slower and he would’ve probably been on the way to the hospital. Blowing under his breath, he ran a hand down the back of his head and looked at the shards of glass on the floor.“Okay, Rah,” he whispered to himself. “I think the honeymoon is over.”PART 10After sweeping up the last of the glass and dumping it in the trashcan, RaShaun went to the bedroom to find Yvonne. Hopefully, she had calmed down a little bit so that they could talk. He took the majority of the blame, and rightly so. He had reassured her over and over again that he wouldn’t let Terri come between them, but he’d done just that tonight.When RaShaun walked into the bedroom, he bit back a sigh when he saw her. Yeah. She was still pissed. They usually slept in the nude. Tonight she had on a cotton nightgown. A long cotton nightgown. Buttoned up to the top of her neck. He walked over to her side of the bed and sat down. She wouldn’t even look at him.“Von, I’m sorry. I was wrong, and I apologize.”Silence.“Baby, please talk to me.”Silence.“Will you forgive me? ”Still nothing. At a loss, RaShaun grabbled for something to say to get through to her. When he thought of it, he knew it was wrong, but hell, he was desperate.“We promised never to go to bed angry at one another. Remember?”Yvonne sighed and finally looked at him. RaShaun steeled himself against the anger he saw reflected in the grey depths of her eyes, but he also saw something else. Hurt.“You also promised that you wouldn’t let her come between us. So if you’re not keeping your promise, I don’t see why I have to keep mine.” She flipped over to her other side and presented her back to him.“I’ll get her straight tomorrow. It won’t happen again.”Her only answer was a disbelieving snort.After a few minutes, RaShaun reluctantly got up. He pulled his shirt over his head and was taking his pants off when her next sentence made him pause.“And you can sleep in the other bedroom, too.”RaShaun raised an eyebrow at her back. He blew out a short laugh. Yeah, right. He took off the rest of his clothes and turned the lamp off before climbing in the bed naked.Yvonne flipped back to her other side so that she wouldn’t be facing him.“Yvonne. Baby, come on.”He scooted closer to her so that he could spoon his body against hers. Her body was stiff as a board. He leaned down and started kissing her neck. His hand slid around and cupped her breast. When she jerked away a little, he lifted his head and stared down at her in the darkness, but he could tell she had her eyes tightly closed.RaShaun slid his hand down to her waist, then over the rising slope of her hip to reach the hem of her gown. He leaned down and softly bit her ear as he pulled the gown up and slipped his hand between her legs.Yvonne caught his hand. “Don’t.”He lifted his head again. Frowning, he pulled his hand away from hers to put it back between her legs. Again she pushed him away.“So you’re going to deny me, Yvonne? Is that what this is?”She turned her head to look at him. “Just what makes you think I’m in the mood to have sex with you?”“You’re not?” he asked softly, kissing her shoulder. “You’re always in the mood.”“Well, I’m not tonight.”“Ah, okay. So, if you’re not in the mood, I guess there’s nothing I can do to change your mind, huh? Not even a little bit? Hmm? Not even a little taste?”Yvonne sat up and gave him an incredulous look. “Is that all you can think about right now? Fine. If it’s so important to you to fuck me tonight, hurry up and get it over with.” She flopped back on the bed, pulled her gown up to her waist. Opening her legs, she blew out a hard breath, as agreeing to sex was making a big sacrifice.RaShaun’s eyes narrowed. Little hussy had the smartest mouth he’d ever come across in a woman. “I’m not going to make love to you if it’s not what you want. I know another way I can apologize though, if you wont accept the verbal kind.”He saw her body tense when he slid down between her legs and pulled her panties down. Holding her thighs apart, he got busy with the job of apologizing to her with his tongue. His mouth told her how sorry he. His lips talked to her lips, and they had a conversation that only they understood. Finally, hers lips quivered in acceptance and opened up to allow him to enter and apologize properly as her pleasure began to flow. Even if Yvonne wouldn’t speak to him, her body did. She tried to keep her moans inside, but by the time her first orgasm hit, she was screaming his name, begging him not to stop.After giving her one more body shattering release, he gave her a final lick and got up. His dick jerked in protest when RaShaun went back to his side of the bed instead of sliding that part of his anatomy deep inside her, but he was determined to stop there. Even though he wanted her so bad that he ached, he didn’t want Yvonne to feel like he’d taken advantage.RaShaun lay on his back and tried to go to sleep but was uncomfortable as hell. He’d just about made up his mind to take a cold shower when Yvonne sat up and pulled the gown over her head. She hopped on top of him and straddled his hips without saying a word and slid down the hard, steel length of his dick. They both moaned out loud in relief.Yvonne rode him fast and hard. Toes curling up, RaShaun placed his hands on her hips and let her do her thing; she didn’t need any help from him. Before long, she was the one who had him chanting her name and telling her not to stop moments before he exploded in an orgasm that seemed to go on forever. Yvonne didn’t stop until she’d milked every drop out of his dick.When she fell down on his chest in a heaving puddle, he managed to breathe out, “So does this mean you forgive me?”With an effort, she managed to push herself up. Staring at him, she replied breathlessly, “Depends.”He quirked an eyebrow upwards. “On…”“On how long you can last tonight.”RaShaun grinned. Rolling her over on her back, he rose to the challenge and started getting busy.PART 11The next month passed by more quickly than either of them would’ve expected. Although neither mentioned it, they were well aware that the date was growing near when they would find out once and for all about the baby. RaShaun had made an appointment at a private clinic that his lawyer said came highly recommended. Two more days and they would know for sure one way or the other if he was the father of Terri’s baby.Surprisingly, Terri had been laying low. RaShaun had only spoken to her a couple of times regarding the clinic and to find out what was a good day for her to go. She was agreeable to whatever he said and didn’t cause any problems. This should’ve made him happy, but RaShaun knew it was the quiet before Terri’s storm.Finally the day came. RaShaun walked into the clinic and saw Terri sitting in the waiting room. His steps faltered when he saw how big her stomach had gotten. She wasn’t huge, by any means, but her pregnancy was noticeable. She would be around three months along.They spoke civilly then sat in silence until her name was called. RaShaun went in with her and shook hands with the doctor. He listened as the doctor again explained the procedure pretty much the same way Dr. Wong had explained it. The fetal cells would be collected from the amniotic fluid. Any fears of damage to the fetus were put to rest.An ultrasound was done first. RaShaun hadn’t been prepared for that, and didn’t know what to expect. He watched the screen closely, not knowing what he was looking at until the doctor patiently pointed out the fetus, showing them the tiny developing head, legs, and arms. This was the first time RaShaun had seen anything like that, and he was in awe of the little life growing inside of Terri. For a moment, all differences were put aside as they smiled at each other and pointed at the screen.The amniocentesis procedure did not take long. RaShaun’s blood was drawn. Due to the connections his lawyer had, they would have the results the next day, and would be delivered directly to RaShaun.RaShaun walked Terri to her car, neither of them saying anything. After he’d opened her door for her, she started the car, but before she pulled off she looked up at him.“I assume you’ll be in touch with me as soon as you get the results that you’re the father…”RaShaun stared at her, then turned around and walked off without acknowledging she’d spoken.PART 12RaShaun and Yvonne had both taken the next day off from work, and waited anxiously at home to get the results. For the most part, they didn’t speak much. A little bit before 2:00 p.m., the doorbell rang. They looked at each other. RaShaun leaned down and squeezed her hand before he went to open the door. Yvonne sat wringing her hands nervously. When he came back, he wordlessly held the large envelope up for her to see.“You ready?” he asked, sitting down beside her.Yvonne nodded. She was ready to get the unknown out of the way so at least they could be sure of what they were facing. She took deep breaths to prepare herself.RaShaun did the same. Opening the envelope, he took out the folded sheet of paper with the clinics letterhead and held it in front of them. Skipping all the way to the bottom, he read the results out loud:‘Based on testing results obtained from the analysis of DNA information listed above, there is a 99.998% probability that RaShaun Patterson is the father.’RaShaun continued to stare at the words that confirmed he was the baby’s father. Although he’d known there was a strong possibility it could be so, now that it was confirmed, he didn’t know what to think or how to feel. He looked over at Yvonne.He had expected her to get upset, cry, scream…something, but she just sat quietly beside him. He put the letter down on the couch and held out his hand to her, palm side up. Without hesitation, she placed her hand in his.“You okay?” he asked her softly.“Believe it or not, yes,” she nodded. “I’m just glad to know for sure, one way are the other.”RaShaun nodded his agreement, still trying to wrap his brain around the news. He was going to be a father. He sat back on the couch and pulled Yvonne to his chest and just held her. They sat that way for a while in silence, both of them absorbing the news of what this meant and how much their lives were about to change.After a while, RaShaun’s cell phone rang, breaking the contemplative silence that had fallen in the room. Yvonne lifted up so that he could get it out of his pocket, and when he saw the name displayed on the caller ID, he grew still. A sense of dread flooded his chest. Terri.RaShaun cursed under his breath. “And so it begins…”© 2017 S.K. HardyALL RIGHTS RESERVEDAll rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means without the written permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Sometimes the most importantlessons are the ones we end uplearning the hard way.EPISODE 3PART 1Yvonne glanced at her watch. She would be back to Tara’s apartment in about ten minutes. Reaching for her phone, she called her cousin and brought her up to speed on what she had just found out. The more she talked the angrier she became. Her fingers squeezed the steering wheel in a tight grip that burned her palm as she thought about Kiki’s nasty ass trying to get RaShaun to sleep with her.I’m gonna kick that bitch’s ass, I’m gonna kick that bitch’s ass! She repeated the phrase over and over again like her own personal spiritual mantra.“I told you she wasn’t any good, Von, I told you!” Tara yelled into the phone. She was just as pissed off as Yvonne, but she felt vindicated, too.“I know, Tara, I know. I should’ve listened to you. You never trusted Kiki.”“Hell, nah! Ne-ver! I knew that grimy heffa was up to something. I just couldn’t put my finger on what it was.”“That’s okay, she’s getting ready to get hers. I promise you that. Listen up.”Tara did just that, screaming into the phone with glee when she heard Yvonne’s plan. “Girl, yes! This is gonna be good.”“We don’t have much time, so–”“I’m on it. See you when you get here.”***As soon as she pulled into the parking lot, Yvonne hopped out of the car and ran to Tara’s apartment. Kiki would be there any minute so she needed to hurry.Opening the front door, she rushed inside and saw Tara sitting on the couch talking on the phone. As Yvonne passed her, she gave Tara a questioning look, silently asking if she’d been able to take care of what Yvonne had asked her to do. Tara pointed to the phone and gave her a thumbs up. Yvonne nodded and quickly went to her room.Impatiently kicking her sandals off, Yvonne went to her closet and pulled out a pair of running shoes. After she’d slipped them on and laced them up, she jogged to the bathroom to pull her hair back in a tight bun, and took off her hoop earrings. She didn't want there to be anything that Kiki could get ahold of and pull.Yvonne stared at her reflection in the mirror, hearing RaShaun’s voice again telling her all the things that Kiki had done, the lies she had told, and how she’d come on to him. She was so angry her hands trembled, but hearing the doorbell chime, she settled her face into a calm expression. A moment later she heard Kiki calling her from the living room.“Yvonne...Yvonne!"“Be right there.” Yvonne turned the light out and hurried out of the room.Walking into the living room, she saw Kiki sitting on the couch with her arms folded rolling her eyes at Tara. Tara stood by the door with her hands on her hips staring Kiki down. She glanced up briefly when Yvonne walked in, then went back to glaring fiercely at Kiki. Her foot tapped on the hardwood floor with restless energy.Clearly irritated, Kiki looked at Yvonne. “Damn, heffa. What took you so long? You know your cousin don’t believe in being civil to people.” She looked at Tara again and rolled her eyes.“Sorry, girl, I was in the bathroom.” Yvonne sat down on the couch. Folding one leg under the other, she turned her body towards Kiki. She rested her right arm along the back of the couch and just stared at the woman she had let make a fool of her for so long.Yeah, it was clear now that Ms. Kiki had apparently had her own agenda all this time–to fuck Yvonne’s man. If Shaun had been a no good, scandalous dog he probably would've taken her up on her offer, but that wasn't the type of man he was, thank God.Interrupting her thoughts, Kiki leaned towards Yvonne, eager to get to the meat and bones of the visit. “So girl, what happened? You said you went to RaShaun’s last night? Was Terri there? Did you catch them in the act?"Yvonne lowered her eyes so Kiki wouldn’t see the white hot anger that was surely reflected in their depths. All she could think was that Kiki must really be a fool because bringing up theotherbitch who was after RaShaun only served to add fuel to the fire.PART2“No. She wasn’t there.”“Oh, she wasn’t?” Kiki had the nerve to look disappointed but she quickly changed her expression to reflect one of fake concern. “I’m surprised, though. You saw the way RaShaun was looking at her. He was practically protecting her from you last night–almost like she was his woman.”Kiki twisted the knife in deeper to Yvonne’s wound and looked at her undereyed, waiting on a reaction. Yvonne’s nails dug in her palm, struggling not to give her one.Kiki appeared frustrated. The conversation obviously wasn’t going the way she planned. “So what happened? You said you went there last night. You just now leaving?” Suddenly she frowned. “Did you sleep with him?” The question was more like a demand.“No, I didn’t sleep with him. I let myself into his house to wait for him. Apparently, I fell asleep on the couch. He didn’t wake me up until this morning.” Yvonne sidestepped any reference to RaShaun spending the night with Terri. She wasn’t going to give Kiki that satisfaction.“Well, what happened!” Kiki asked impatiently.“Well, we actually got along pretty well, believe it or not.” Yvonne noticed how Kiki’s mouth turned down in displeasure.“What? Yvonne, what iswrongwith you. That man practically dogged you out last night in front of everybody we know! And then to top it off, he walks out of the club with his ex-girlfriend as if he can’t wait to get her somewhere and fuck her got damn brains out.”Yvonne’s breathing sped up, because she knew that’s exactly what had happened. Unaware that she was writing a check her ass would have to cash in just a minute, Kiki continued.“What about Brandon? I thought you and he were gonna start kickin’ it now that you not tied down. Why are you still running after RaShaun? It’s obvious he’s moved on. Geez, girl, don’t you have any pride?”Kiki curled her lip up at Yvonne as if she were a pathetic, weak, excuse of a woman. Yvonne realized in that moment, that’s exactly what Kiki thought of her. Wow.Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Tara walk over to the window and look down at the parking lot. She glanced her way and saw Tara nod and grab her cell phone. Dialing a number, she went to her bedroom and closed the door. That was Yvonne’s cue.“Kiki? You really don’t know a fucking thing about me.” Yvonne said quietly. When Kiki bucked her eyes at her, Yvonne stared right back.“Wait, hol’ up, Yvonne. Don’t get all snappy with me just because you found out that motherfucka is a dog and not the perfect man you thought he was.”“The only dog I see right now isyou. And we all know the correct term for a female dog...don’t we, bitch?”Kiki’s jaw dropped. She sat up straight on the couch and looked at Yvonne as if she’d lost her mind. “Wayment. Who you callin’ a bitch,bitch??” Kiki’s head twisted on her neck. Her eyes had gotten so big they looked like they were ready to pop out of her head.Yvonne stood up and stared down at her. “Oh, no, baby girl. Why you getting offended? Claim the name and be proud. Wait, let me help you by breaking it down for you.”“A female dog walks around with her tail up in the air, showing everything she’s got and thinking she got that good good.” She looked at Kiki up and down as if making a comparison. Nodding, she made a gesture in the air with her finger.“Check.”“But see, what they don’t realize is that a male dog will screw anything, especially if he knows she’s hot in the ass and in heat. And when she’s in heat, a bitch will get with any stray dog she sees.” Again she looked Kiki up and down and made the gesture in the air.“Check.”“And lets not forget, when they getting screwed, they don’t care where they are, who knows, or who sees as long as they gettin’ the dick, so you guessed it: Check.”Kiki jumped up off the couch, staring at Yvonne more in shock than anger. But Yvonne wasn’t quite finished.“And last, but not least, when every male dog from miles around has gotten some of that tired, worn out, stinky ass, he leaves her and goes back home like the good boy he is, leaving the bitch looking like the tramp she is.” Yvonne took a step towards Kiki and stared her dead in the eyes without flinching.“Check...Bitch!”PART3Screeching, high-pitched laughter cut through the tension in the living room as Tara walked back in clapping her hands. “Damn, cousin!”Yvonne’s attention never strayed from Kiki. Tara laughed so hard she could barely catch her breath. She hadn’t seen this side of Vonnie in a long time, probably since they were kids. Kiki had met her long after she’d calmed her little ass down, but she was being introduced to a whole ‘nother side of Yvonne than the woman she thought she knew and Tara loved it!“Yasss, yasss, yasss, you still got it, girl! That was good!” Walking past them to the front door, Tara paused and leaned back to look at Kiki. Snickering, she sang out, “You ‘bout to get you ass kicked….biyatch! Bwahahaha!”She could be heard laughing outside even after she'd left the apartment and closed the door behind her.Suddenly Kiki nodded as if she’d had an epiphany. “Ohhhh.NowI get it. Your stupid ass done let your cousin blow your head up and convince you that you bad, but you better take note; she ain’t here to save you! I don’t know who thefuckyou think you are, or what thehellhas gotten into you, but let me tell you this…argh…!!”Before she could finish her sentence, she had the unpleasant experience of having the taste slapped out of her mouth by Yvonne. Kiki fell, sprawled back on the couch, holding her face.Yvonne pointed her finger at Kiki. “I don’t need nofuckin'body to help me kick your ass. Believe me. I got this.”Kiki frowned, her face an ugly scowl as she moved to stand up, but Yvonne jumped on top of her and commenced to whippin’ her ass good and proper.Kiki turned her head, bringing her hands up to ward of the blows Yvonne rained down on her. “Are youcrazy?! Get off of me, Yvonne!!”But Yvonne was in that zone where the only thing that registered was the agenda she had to pay Kiki back. Although the other woman was taller and weighed more than her, Yvonne’s frame of mind was the bigger the bitch, the harder she was gonna fall.Straddling Kiki, she grabbed a handful of her hair to try and turn her around. Yvonne separated her words with sharp, hard whacks.“You…don’t…know…who the…fuck…you messin’… with…Ki…Ki…”Screaming, Kiki blindly started windmilling her hands without looking to at least try to make contact. “Yvonne, what’s wrong with you!Yvonnnnne!”Finally, Kiki shoved with all her might and managed to dump Yvonne on the floor. Hopping up, she crouched low with her arms outstretched, dividing her wide eyes between Yvonne then the door. When she lunged toward her escape, Yvonne jumped up and grabbed her shirt. She heard the thin material rip in two as she swung Kiki to the floor.Standing over her and breathing hard, Yvonne pointed a finger of warning at her. “I advise you to keep your ass right where you are.”Kiki opened her mouth, then thought better of it and lay there glaring up at Yvonne, but Von didn’t care how she looked at her, she just better not get her ass up.“You are pathetic!” she told her. “You go to RaShaun’s house andlieon me? Or better yet, let me just stop at the part where yougotoRaShaun’shouse! What makes you think he would want your nasty ass? He’sneverliked you and you know it! If he had his way, your name would’ve never even been uttered in our house, and I wish to God I’d listened to him!”“I saw him first, butnooo. You had to use your ‘Little Miss Pollyanna’ routine that you always act like around men and for some reason they fall for it. You had men lined up to date you! Why couldn’t you just leave RaShaun for me!!”Yvonne looked at her as if she were truly delusional. “Kiki! RaShaun didn’t want you! He never wanted you! What part of that don’t you understand?? You need to come out of your dream world and back to reality! Why would you lie to him and tell him I’ve been sleeping with Brandon?”Kiki laughed. “Because I was never your friend, that’ s why! I can’t stand you! Little Ms. Perfect with the perfect job, perfect body, perfect man, perfect house! Well, guess what, things aren’t so perfect now, are they, Yvonne?”The room grew silent as Yvonne and Kiki glared at each other. Seeing Kiki’s expression of satisfaction, Yvonne let out a shrill scream and went after her again.PART4RaShaun pulled into the parking lot of Tara’s apartment complex and found a parking space. Turning off the ignition, he sat back in his seat continuing to argue back and forth with himself. Why was he even there? He didn’t know what he was doing here or what he expected to accomplish. But he needed to talk to Yvonne again. As hard as he tried, the measure of peace he’d hoped to find after she walked out of his house a couple of hours ago continued to evade him. He had to talk to her.He was just getting ready to get out of his car when his phone rang. Seeing Terri’s name on the caller ID brought his second problem to the forefront. He’d talked to her once and told her he’d call her later on that day, but she had continued to blow his phone up and leave messages until his voice mail was full.He should’ve just followed his first mind last night and taken her home and left her there…alone. But after seeing Brandon kissing Yvonne, the only thing he’d wanted to do was erase the image and replace it with something else. At the time, sleeping with Terri had been it. He’d been determined to drive Yvonne from his thoughts, and it had worked for a couple of hours, but when he woke up the next morning, he’d found himself back at square one: thinking about Yvonne.Sighing in resignation, he got out of the car. He was a few feet from the apartment complex when he looked ahead and recognized Tara. She was standing around three other women who didn’t seem too happy. At that moment, Tara happened to turn her head. She did a double take when she saw him. To say she was surprised to see him was an understatement.“RaShaun?”“Hey, Tara.” He nodded to the other women then turned back to Tara. “Is Yvonne here? I need to talk to her.”He frowned when he heard the words ’bitch’ and ’slut’ come from the mumblings of the three women standing there. Were they talking aboutYvonne? RaShaun looked at Tara for an explanation.“Uhhhh, I...she…Umm…” Tara couldn’t seem to get her words out.Curious as hell now as to what was going RaShaun raised an eyebrow and waited.“RaShaun, she’s a little…busy right now.”RaShaun’s frown deepened abruptly. He should’ve known. “Let me guess. Brandon’s here.”Shaking his head, he turned around and angrily started back to his car, but Tara rushed forward and tugged at his arm to stop him.“RaShaun, wait! Hell no, Brandon’s lame ass isn’t here.”“Look, you don’t have to cover for her, just forget I came by.” RaShaun tried to step around Tara, but she refused to let him pass.“You don’t understand. She’s…Kiki’s up there with her,” she spit out quickly.Now RaShaun was really puzzled. “What is Kiki doing here? When Yvonne left my house an hour ago, she was damn near ready to kill Kiki.”“Well, lets hope she don’t.” One of the women Tara had been whispering with glanced up at the apartment as the others murmured their agreement. “We waitin’ to get our turn to kick that bitch’s ass, too.”RaShaun was even more puzzled. What did they mean by,too?He looked at Tara, determined now to get some answers. “What’s goin’ on, T.?” When her eyes slid away from him to avoid the question she saw on his face, RaShaun ducked his head to catch her eye. “Tara?“Alright, alright! Yvonne is beatin’ that ass, that’s what’s goin’ on!”One of the women yelled, “And after finding out she slept with our husbands and that one’s boyfriend, we here to finish whatever your friend leaves behind!”RaShaun’s lips parted as his eyes went from the women back to Tara. Now he was beginning to understand what was going on. “Oh, shit…”RaShaun took off running, taking the stairs up to Tara’s apartment two at a time. Swinging around the railing, he got to the door and burst in without knocking, and what he saw in the middle of the living room momentarily left him frozen in shock. Yvonne had Kiki in a headlock and was doing her best to twist Kiki’s neck off.“Yvonne! Von, let her go!”But Yvonne was too busy tussling and tumbling on the floor with Kiki for anything else to register. RaShaun ran over to them and reached down to try to unwrap Yvonne’s arms from around Kiki’s neck.Damn, she’s strong, he thought when it took more effort than he’d imagined it would.“Yvonne!” Exerting a little bit more pressure he finally managed to pry her arms away. Reaching down, he scooped her up and held her from behind so that her back rested against his chest.Yvonne struggled like a wild woman. “Let me go, RaShaun! Let me go!”“Von, stop it! What the fuck is wrong with you!” He looked at Kiki, who was struggling to get up. Her shirt was ripped, showing her black lace bra, and her hair was shooting in all directions over her head.“You crazy ass bitch!” Kiki yelled, pointing to Yvonne. “You tried to kill me!”“Oh, your ass bold now that RaShaun is holding me back, aren’t you! Got dammit RaShaun, let me go! I just need a few more minutes!” Yvonne tried to wiggle out of his arms, but he kept them firmly wrapped around her.Looking at Kiki, he said, “You need to get out of here. Now.”“I’m not scared of her!” Kiki bluffed.RaShaun’s expression told her she was crazy not to be. “Do you want me to let her go?” he asked.When he looked like he was going to do just that, Kiki jumped. She limped to the door as fast as she could with one shoe off and one shoe on, looking back to make sure RaShaun still had a hold of Yvonne.“I think you better go down the back way. There’s some pretty unhappy women waiting downstairs for you. Something about you sleeping with their men. Imagine that,” he added sarcastically.Yvonne whipped her head around to glare at RaShaun. Now she was furious athim.“Why did you tell her!”she screamed.RaShaun face showed his bewilderment. He was still trying to reconcile the woman in front of him with the woman he'd known for the last few years. He had never seen this side of Yvonne before, had no idea it even existed inside the sweet, soft spoken women he’d been living with. He didn’t even know who she was…And he’d never been more turned on in his life.Furious, Yvonne watched Kiki open the door and cautiously look to her left, then to her right. After seeing that the coast was clear, she half ran, half hobbled towards the back exit of the building. Once she was gone, Yvonne turned accusing eyes towards RaShaun, who still held her by the waist.“Why would you tell her those women were waiting on her! She deserves a lot more than what she got in here for everything she’s done.”She tried to wiggle away, intent on letting the other women know that Kiki had taken her sneaky ass out the back way. RaShaun swallowed a hoarse moan as Yvonne leaned forward, squirming and twisting her soft ass against his crotch, trying to free herself. She was so angry that his erection didn’t even register.When he momentarily loosened his grip, Yvonne took off for the door. RaShaun didn’t expect her to be that quick. Cursing under his breath, he grabbed her, picked her up, and threw her over his shoulder. Yvonne screamed when she found herself upside down, staring at his back while he held her in place by keeping an arm locked over the back of her thighs.“RaShaun!! Put me down! Put medown! I mean it, RaShaun!!”He didn’t respond as he turned around and started walking towards her bedroom. When they went by the window, Yvonne lifted her head as far as she could and saw Kiki jumping into a cab across the street.Apparently, the other women who had been waiting for her spotted her as well, but the cab pulled off with Kiki in the back seat before they could get to her. Yvonne caught sight of Kiki hanging out the window giving them the finger and licking her tongue out as she passed by. The sight enraged Yvonne even more.“Ewwww!! Thatbitch! Got dammit, RaShaun!” She balled her fists up and started pummeling him in the small of his back and kicking her feet.Cursing because she almost tumbled off his shoulder, RaShaun quickly steadied her with his other hand before giving her a couple of stinging slaps on the ass.“OHHH! You….You….hitme!” Yvonne sputtered.“Yep. And if you don’t stay still I’ll hit you again.”She considered elbowing him in the back, but knew those smacks had been warning. Her asscheeks were already burning. Deciding she'd better take heed and do as he said, she hung over his shoulder in sulking silence.When RaShaun got to her room, he dumped her on the bed before going to close the door and lean back against it with his arms folded. Just as he’d anticipated, Yvonne had jumped up and tried to get to the door before him to leave.“You need to calm your little ass down right now,” RaShaun said quietly.“I will as soon as I finish what I started, so could you please–”“It’s finished,” he interrupted in the same quiet voice. Pushing away from the door, he walked up to her and stared down at her. “What in the hell did you think you were doing?”Yvonne took a step back so that she could look him fully in the face. “What did I think I wasdoing?!” She still had much attitude and it was conveyed in her voice. “I was handling my business with Kiki's lying two faced ass if that’s okay with you. Anyway, what areyoudoing here?”RaShaun ignored the question because he didn’t have an answer. Instead, he went on the offense. “Since when do you pull some ‘girlz in the hood’ shit, Yvonne? You and your cousin calling up ‘Pookie and ‘em’ to come and jump Kiki…”She opened her mouth ready to go off, but he continued before she could say anything.“And before you say it, I don’t give a fuck about Kiki’s ass. She deserved everything you gave her, but all of this could’ve been avoided a long time ago if–”“You know what RaShaun, I really don’t need this shit from you.Notnow andnottoday.”RaShaun’s eyes held hers before he lowered them and ran over her body. Her full breasts heaved up and down from the adrenalin rush that was still running through her body, and her nipples pushed defiantly through the little tank top in order to make their presence known.Only one thought popped into his head:Damn, she’s hot.The shrill ring of his cell phone interrupted the highly charged silence in the room. He ignored it as he stepped back and wiped his hand over his mouth.Come on Rah, get ahold of yourself. Now is not the time to be letting your mind wander to places it's trying to go.But when she abruptly turned around and started pacing back and forth, his eyes fell to her round derriere that filled out the little blue jean shorts to perfection. His hands itched to just…“RaShaun!RaShaun!Did you hear what I just said?” Yvonne was standing in front of him with her hand on her hip glaring at him.He blinked rapidly. “No. What?”She let out an impatient snort. “You never did answer me. What are you doing here? I thought you would’ve bid me good riddance once I left this morning.”Seeing no way to get out of answering he shrugged. “Does it matter?”“Does it…? You know what? Forget it.” Yvonne rolled her eyes as she moved to walk past him to leave. “I don’t need this from you right now. If you came by to make me feel even worse than I already do and reiterate how I broke your trust and shattered our bond, etc., etc., etc., then you can just save it.”RaShaun frowned darkly at her flip tone, but Yvonne either didn't notice or didn't care. She reached around him and opened the door but only managed to crack it open before he slapped his hand on it and slammed it shut. She turned around to stare questioningly at him.“That wasn’t a rhetorical question. I wanna know.Doesit matter to you that I'm here?”PART5Yvonne suddenly felt warm and a little panicky. At the same time, her insides jangled with excitement. He needed to move. He was standing entirely too close.Swallowing nervously, she tried to sidestep around him, but he put his other hand on the door, effectively, trapping her against the door. His cell phone rang again, and as before, he ignored it and continued gazing down at her.“What are you doing?” Yvonne whispered. A spark of alarm rippled down her spine. “RaShaun–”“I asked you a question…” His eyes dropped to her lips. “Which you haven’t answered yet.”Yvonne wished he would move, give her some space. She slipped her hand up under her ponytail and rubbed the back of her neck.Why is it so hot in here?Seeing that RaShaun was still waiting on her to respond she opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She cleared her throat and tried again.“Maybe.” The word sounded like a high-pitched squeak, but at least she’d managed to reply.But RaShaun’s eyes were now focused on her breasts. Yvonne's nipples grew achingly hard under his attention. She wanted to fold her arms over her chest when the corner of his mouth curved up, telling her that he'd noticed her body's reaction, but she managed to curb the urge to do so. A wave of relief, so strong it left her weak, passed over her when he brought his gaze back to her face.“Maybe…what?”Yvonne closed her eyes. She couldn’t concentrate if she looked at him. “Yes…no…I don't know, maybe!”“Open your eyes, Von.”Yvonne hesitated. She didn’t want to open her eyes because she knew if she did it would be over, but unable to stop herself she did as he requested. She watched, as if hypnotized, when he slowly lowered his head down. Without her even realizing it, Yvonne lifted her lips, eager to meet him more than halfway.RaShaun stopped, his mouth an inch away, his warm breath mingling with hers, but before he could bend the rest of the way to kiss her, his cell phone rang yet again.Yvonne’s eyes opened as if in a daze. When he pulled his head back and snapped his cell phone off his belt with an impatient hiss, she felt like screaming. Why was he answering it now of all times?She saw him grimace when he glanced at the number displayed on the caller ID. Without commenting, he sent the call to voice mail.Yvonne looked up from his phone and stared at him suspiciously. “Who keeps trying to call you? Terri?”RaShaun snapped his phone back in the case on his belt. When he didn't answer her, Yvonne’s body stiffened. She boomeranged his words back at him with a crisp snap.“That wasn’t a rhetorical question. NowIwant an answer. Was... that… Terri?”RaShaun studied her for several long moments then said, “Yes. It was.” He paused then straightened up and moved a couple of steps back. “Look, there’s something I need to go and take care of. Do you think we can finish this conversation later?”Yvonne’s eyes narrowed in disbelief. “You're leaving?”“Yes, but–”“And I assume that something you have to take care of is Terri…” Her eyes never left his. Even though her heart felt as if it had been pierced with a sharp knife, her shoulder rose in a nonchalant shrug. “Fine. Go.”When she averted her face, RaShaun placed a finger under her chin to turn her back to him. “It’s not what you think. She and I…we need to get some things straight. As soon as I do, I’d like us to go some place where we can talk…that is, if it's what you want.”Yvonne looked at him with wide, anxious eyes. She wanted to tell him not to leave. She wanted to tell him stay and never see Terri again, but she refused to appear needy and desperate.“I said fine. Just go.”PART6RaShaun dropped his fingers from Yvonne's chin. He wanted to say more because he knew what she was thinking, but when he heard his phone buzz again, his jaw clenched in irritation. This couldn’t wait. When he came back, he and Yvonne would sit down and discuss everything, but right now…Stepping around her, he opened the door and waited for her to go out first. They walked in silence to the living room. RaShaun hesitated, but knowing there was nothing he could say to make things any better, he headed to the front door. He opened it to leave, but before he could, he heard Yvonne call his name.Turning, he looked at her with raised eyebrows. The two of them stared at each other for several long moments. RaShaun read the wordless question burning in her eyes that she didn’t want to ask out loud.“I’ll be back,” he said softly. “Couple of hours, tops. I promise.”He kept his eyes on her until she nodded. After he closed the door behind him, his mind strayed to the possibilities ahead for them. He had no idea how things would work out between he and Yvonne, but he had to admit he wanted to find out.RaShaun was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn’t notice someone had come up the stairs until he heard becoming a familiar voice that set his teeth on edge.“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the pitiful ex.”RaShaun’s body tensed. Looking up, he saw Brandon staring at him with his usual mocking expression. RaShaun immediately fixed his expression to one of unconcerned indifference, but behind his cool demeanor, he fought the urge to wrap his hands around the Brandon’s neck and slowly squeeze until he took his last breath.RaShaun had disliked people before. There were some he couldn’t stand to even be around but tolerated. But this dude….the hostility he felt towards him was almost scary.His hand curled up in a fist. Every time he saw Valentine, it was a struggle to keep control and not lose it because if he ever allowed that to happen and if no one was around to pull him off Brandon’s ass–he would seriously hurt him and probably end up in jail.PART7Brandon saw the fist RaShaun balled up at his side. A look of satisfaction came over his face. It was so easy to rile his anger. The guy was so fuckin' uptight.It was no wonder Yvonne was so unhappy. To be honest, he thought he would’ve worn her down by now. After all, taking advantage of unhappy women's emotions was his specialty. All he had to do was convey just the right amount of sympathy and understanding of their problems until they seamlessly gravitated from being their man’s devoted significant other to a woman curious and ready to pursue the feelings she had developed for him. Yvonne was more resistant than most, but he had not doubt she’d soften up and come around.Deciding to twist the knife further into RaShaun’s chest, he gave him a taunting grin. “Man, what is it going to take for you to get the message that she don’t want you?”“It'syouwho’s not getting the message. We can either do this the easy way or the hard way. Your choice, but we’ll start with easy first. Stay away from Yvonne.” RaShaun spread his hands wide. “See? Simple. Think you can understand that?”“Nah, son. She wantsmenow. Matter of fact, before you left with that bony bitch hangin’ all over you last night, I told you that Yvonne was mine. Remember?”The door to Tara’s apartment suddenly swung open. Frowning, Yvonne stepped out, her eyes going lingering on RaShaun before landing on Brandon.“What are you doing here?” she asked him.“Hey, baby. I knew how upset you were last night so–”“Brandon, stop.” Yvonne raised a hand to halt his words. “I’m not going to stand here and let you intentionally misconstrue things in front of Shaun. I made it crystal clear,before Tara brought me home alone, that I didn’t want to see you or talk to you again, didn’t I?”“She sure did.” Tara walked up behind them, giving Brandon a dirty look as she passed by him to go and stand by Yvonne. “I was right there when she told your lyin’ bitch ass.”Brandon scowled at Tara, his handsome face contorting into an expression of intense dislike. He looked as if he wanted to say something thought better of it when Tara folded her arms defiantly and jutted her hip out. It was obvious she was ready to go word for word with him to defend her cousin.However, Yvonne touched her arm lightly to stop her and sent RaShaun a pleading look that told him she wanted to handle this. RaShaun’s lips tightened, but he leaned a shoulder against the wall and kept his eyes on Brandon. His stance was seemingly casual and laid back, but his body was poised and ready to go at the slightest provocation.“Yvonne, come on now. I haven’t forgotten what you told me about how unhappy you were with him,” Brandon said. “You’re just confused and–”“I amnotconfused,” Yvonne snapped. “Don’t act like you know me because you don’t.”Brandon’s eyes turned ugly and insulting. “You weren’t saying that the night my tongue was so far down your throat that …mmph… Mmmph…Grmphhhh!”Before he could finish the sentence, RaShaun had swung him back against the wall and shoved his forearm against Brandon’s throat. Eyes bucked wide, Brandon started clawing desperately at RaShaun’s arm, his face turning a sickening shade of deep red as RaShaun calmly and methodically blocked his passage of air...and it looked like he had no intention on stopping.PART8RaShaun brought his face, devoid of expression, close to Brandon’s. “Did you know it only takes fifteen seconds or so for a person to go unconscious from lack of oxygen?” He pressed his arm tighter against Brandon’s larynx. “I heard it takes four to five minutes for somebody to strangle to death. Let’s see if that’s true."Panicking, Brandon’s survival instinct kicked in. Gargling and wheezing for air, his body twisted desperately to try and dislodge RaShaun’s arm with little success.“Oh my God! RaShaun!” Yvonne screamed, trying to pull his arm back. “RaShaun, he can’t breathe! Let him go!”RaShaun never even flinched. At first, Tara had been standing there with a grin on her face, but when it became clear that RaShaun wasn’t fucking around she ran over and tried to help Yvonne pull him off Brandon, but it was like pulling and pushing against a brick wall.“Shit, Rah, you're killing him!” she yelled. “He ain’t worth it! Rah!"Brandon’s hands trembled then went slack. His eyelashes fluttered and his eyes started to roll up into the back of his head. RaShaun let out a deep, raw growl before removing his arm and stepping back. Brandon dropped to the floor like a rag doll. Seconds later he sputtered and coughed and gasped for air.RaShaun stared down at him, his hands twitching with the urge to finish the job. But Tara was right Valentine wasn’t worth losing his freedom over.Squatting down, he peered closely at Brandon, slowly dragging his finger back and forth along his lips, squinting as if studying a new specimen. When he spoke his voice was in complete contrast to the uncontrolled rage he’d displayed only moments ago.“I told you we could either do this the easy way or the hard way. You should’ve taken the first option. It would’ve been less painful, but I think I finally got my point across. Don’t you?”Bringing his hands up to rub his bruised throat, Brandon stared at him with a visible wariness in his eyes. He looked as if he didn’t know what to say. Even Yvonne looked at RaShaun as if trying to figure out whether or not he would snap again if Brandon actually answered the question.RaShaun leaned forward with murder burning in his eyes. Brandon flinched and tried to crawfish back but the wall behind him prevented any avenue of escape.“For the last time, don’t call her. Don’t come by. Don’t let her name pass your lips after today. Now do we understand each other?” When Brandon just continued to look at him, RaShaun grew still and his gaze sharpened. “Nod if you understand.”Brandon hesitated for a split second before moving his head up and down.“Good.” RaShaun said. He stood up and stared down at Brandon. “Now leave.”PART9Yvonne stood beside RaShaun as she watched Brandon’s car speed out of the parking lot. She folded her arms around her body to try and stop herself from trembling. Looking up, she found RaShaun staring at her through unfathomable eyes.“You could’ve killed him,” she whispered.“I wasn’t gonna kill him,” RaShaun answered quietly. “But I bet he’ll think twice before he comes near you again.”Yvonne was silent, not knowing what to say at this point.“You alright?” he asked in that same quiet, controlled voice.Yvonne nodded and peered up at RaShaun apprehensively. “Are we?” She watched him closely, afraid that the confrontation with Brandon had created a setback for the tentative truce they’d called.They held each other’s eyes, then RaShaun nodded. Yvonne released a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “Okay. I’ll…I’ll see you when you get back.”PART10RaShaun pulled up in front of Terri’s place and killed the ignition. After the confrontation with Valentine, he wasn’t looking forward to having another one with Terri, but he didn’t believe in putting things off. It was simpler to deal with shit and get it out the way so that there were no misunderstandings or confusion on anyone’s part.He had called Terri and told her that he was on his way. RaShaun could tell from her end of the conversation that she had not taken heed to what he’d told her about last night just being a casual thing between friends. If anything, just the opposite. She was acting like they were already in a relationship. As soon as she’d picked up the phone, she’d begun to subtly question him about where he’d been and why he hadn’t been in touch with her.“I called several times, but you didn’t answer.” She paused as if waiting on an explanation.RaShaun had raised an eyebrow. If she was waiting for him to explain himself to her, she’d have a long wait. Keeping an even tone, he’d ignored the comment and asked, “Did you need something when you called?”“Well…no. Not really. Just wondering what you were doing, and if you’d like to get together later on tonight.”Terri had tried to keep her voice light and casual, but RaShaun heard the hopefulness in her voice. Again, he kicked himself for sleeping with her last night. He’d known Terri had feelings for him, and no matter what she’d told him, her emotions were most definitely involved. They had known each other for a long time and he didn’t want to hurt her, but it was best he put an end to this right now.RaShaun reluctantly opened his car door and got out. He had only taken a few steps towards her townhouse when she opened the front door and stared at him with a welcoming smile.“Hi,” she greeted him softly, moving aside to let him come inside.“Hey. How are you?”“I’m fine, especially now that you’re here.” Closing the door, she immediately threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. “I missed you.”RaShaun rested his hands lightly on her waist. When she lifted her head and tried to kiss him, he turned so that the kiss landed on his cheek. Terri’s smile slowly disappeared as she searched his eyes. “Rah? What’s wrong? What’s going on?”RaShaun reached up and gently pulled her arms from around his neck. “Terri, we need to talk.”He grabbed her hand and led her over to the couch. Once they were sitting down, RaShaun put his elbows on his knees and turned to her.“What’s wrong?” she whispered again, but he could tell from the look in her eye that she already knew what he was going to say.RaShaun came directly to the point. “Last night was a mistake. We shouldn’t have slept together.”“Don’t say that.” Terri scooted close to him and put her hand on his thigh. “I…we’re friends…and friends are there for one another, aren’t they? That’s what last night was about. I know that, but you have to admit that it was good between us, Rah. Better than I remembered. You can’t deny that, can you?”RaShaun caught her fingers and moved them off of his leg when her hand started inching up his inner thigh. “I never wanted to hurt you, Terri, but what happened last night won’t happen again. I made it clear before we even got to that point that Yvonne and I just broke up and I wasn’t ready to jump into a relationship.”He ignored the scowl that appeared on her face at the mention of Yvonne’s name.“I’ll be honest with you , I don’t know what’s going to happen between her and me. Maybe things will work out, maybe they won’t, but it was never my intention to give you false hope that you and I would be together.”Terri’s face went through a series of emotions as she listened to RaShaun talk. “You can’t be serious,” she hissed. “Are you saying that you’re actually considering going back to her after what she did? You saw the way that guy she was messing around with kissed her last night. She probably went home with him. That doesn’t bother you?”RaShaun sat motionless for a moment. The tense silence between them stretched out until he stood up. He had said what he’d come to say. Now it was time for him to leave, but before he could, Terri grabbed his arm and clung to it tightly.“Okay, okay. I’m sorry.” She reached up to touch his face, but RaShaun grabbed her hand and pulled it away. “Just don’t go.”“Terri, don’t…”“Baby, please. It wasgoodbetween us last night. I know you felt it, too. Are you trying to tell me that she makes you feel better than I made you feel?” Terri slipped her arms around his waist and raised her face towards his. “RaShaun, I love you. I’ve always loved you, you know that. You’re everything to me.”“And that’s one of the reasons we didn’t work Terri.” RaShaun pulled her arms from around his waist and held her in place when she tried to launch herself at him again. “I never wanted to be somebody’s everything. You damn near smothered me until you eventually pushed me away.”“Rah! That’s not true!”“It is. Things didn’t work for a reason back then and it’s not going to work out now.” RaShaun hesitated, then spoke the words he knew would get through to her. “I love Yvonne, Terri. I’m goin’ to try to work it out with her.”Tears rolled down Terri’s face. The entire time RaShaun was speaking she shook her head wildly from side to side in denial.“No, no,no! You loveme! Deep down inside you know you do. You just have to give us a chance, baby. Give yourself time, and you’ll realize that I’ve always been the woman for you.”RaShaun abruptly let go of her arms and strode to the door.Jesus. “Goodbye Terri.”“RaShaun!RaShaun!!”RaShaun opened the door and walked towards his car, ignoring her outraged cries and screams.“RaShaun, stop! RaShaun! Ra-SHAUN!”Terri’s voice was hoarse from her screams.He started the ignition and backed out of the parking space. Glancing at her one last time, he saw that Terri had ran outside and fallen to her knees as she continued to scream his name. However, now she sounded more furious than hurt.The sight gave him flashbacks to the years they’d spent together as a couple. Anything would set her off. She’d pitch a fit if he wasn’t spending every spare free moment with her, telling him he preferred his friends over her, constantly accusing him of cheating on her. It got to be too much. If she didn’t get her way with sweet talking words, she’d revert to tears. If that didn’t work, she’d curse and scream and try to fight him. It didn’t matter where they were or who was around. The more he tried to calm her down, the louder she got. Finally he had just learned to walk away when she had one of her tantrums. And that’s exactly what he was going to do today.RaShaun stepped on the accelerator and drove off. He put all thoughts of Terri’s crazy ass out of his mind and thought about Yvonne. He meant what he had told Terri. He loved Yvonne. He wasn’t going to rush things, but…if she was willing he would commit to giving their relationship another try and see where things went from there.PART11RaShaun had barely rang the doorbell before Yvonne threw the door open. She looked at him with relief clearly showing on her face. She knew he said he was coming back, but a million thoughts had run through her mind. What if he saw Terri and changed his mind. What if the confrontation with Brandon made him not even want to be bothered? What if, what if, what if.“Can I come in?” RaShaun interrupted her reverie, giving her an amused smile when she continued to just stand in the doorway staring at him.“Oh! Uh, yeah. Come in.” Yvonne stepped back.RaShaun came in and closed the door. “Where’s Tara?” he asked, looking around.“She said she had some things to take care of at the Youth Center. She loves her work but I’m sure that was just an excuse to give us a little privacy.”RaShaun just nodded. “I appreciate that.”“Would you like to sit down?” She led the way further into the apartment and sat down on the couch. RaShaun followed, but instead of sitting beside her on the couch, he chose the chair opposite of her which, for some reason, made Yvonne even more nervous.“How did things go?"RaShaun shrugged. “They went.”"Is it...over? Between the two of you, I mean.""There was never anything between us. There hasn't been for a long time. Last night..." His voice trailed off before he finished the sentence. He didn't really want to get into it right now and apparently neither did Yvonne.Silence fell heavy in the room before they both started speaking at the same time.“RaShaun…”“Yvonne…”She smiled and gestures for him to go first.RaShaun stared at Yvonne intensely for a few moments. "Are you sure you want to be with me?""Shaun, you have to know how much I love you.""That's not what I asked you. You said you loved me before, but that didn't stop you from turning to someone else." Seeing Yvonne’s body stiffen, RaShaun sat forward and leaned towards her. “I'm not trying to harp on the same thing over and over again. I understand you made a mistake. Like I told you before, mistakes are something we can get past as long as we’re honest and open with one another. But, how do I know it won't happen again? How do I know you won't begin to have feelings of discontent or dissatisfaction with me or this relationship and go to someone else who promises something different?”“You’ve always been it for me, Shaun. Everything I thought I was missing or needed, I had it with you already. I just..." She paused, as if deciding on whether or not to say something.RaShaun saw her hesitation. “If you have something you want to tell me, now is the time to do it.“ His eyes hardened a bit. “Complete honesty, Yvonne. I don’t want half-truths, or you holding anything back, because if I find out later there was something else you didn’t tell me, then there’ll be no going back for us.”Yvonne took a deep breath. “Alright. A couple of months ago I was putting your clothes in the drawer and I saw the engagement ring you bought for me.”His brows lifted in surprise at the fact that she knew about the ring. “And…”“And…to be honest, I freaked out. I know it’s crazy, but…it scared me. I wasn’t sure I was ready for marriage. You know how horrible my childhood was, being raised by two people who only existed in the same house, but were miserable together. I never wanted that for myself. I felt things were already perfect the way they were. In my mind, marriage would ruin everything.”“And instead of coming to me with those fears, you decided to tell all this to another man?”“I know it was a mistake. RaShaun, we haven’t been apart very long, but to me it feels like a lifetime. I want us back the way we used to be. No Brandon, no Terri, just us” she whispered.RaShaun stood up abruptly. Walking to the window, he stared outside as if digesting what she’d said, then turned back to look at her.“Its funny that you only started to feel that way when you thought I was turning to someone else.” RaShaun’s voice sounded slightly cynical. “Why does it feel like you only want me back because you don’t want Terri to have me?”© 2017 S.K. HardyALL RIGHTS RESERVEDAll rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means without the written permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Sometimes the most important lessonsare the ones we end uplearning the hard way.~Author UnknownYvonne glanced at her watch. She would be back to Tara’s apartment in about ten minutes. Reaching for her phone, she called her cousin and brought her up to speed on what she had just found out. The more she talked the angrier she became. Her fingers squeezed the steering wheel in a tight grip that burned her palm as she thought about Kiki’s nasty ass trying to get RaShaun to sleep with her.I’m gonna kick that bitch’s ass, I’m gonna kick that bitch’s ass!Sherepeated the phrase over and over again like her own personal spiritual mantra.“I told you she wasn’t any good, Von, I told you!” Tara yelled into the phone. She was just as pissed off as Yvonne, but she felt vindicated, too.“I know, Tara, I know. I should’ve listened to you. You never trusted Kiki.”“Hell, nah! Ne-ver! I knew that grimy heffa was up to something. I just couldn’t put my finger on what it was.”“That’s okay, she’s getting ready to get hers. I promise you that. Listen up.”Tara did just that, screaming into the phone  with glee when she heard Yvonne’s plan. “Girl, yes! This is gonna be good.”“We don’t have much time, so–”“I’m on it. See you when you get here.”***As soon as she pulled into the parking lot, Yvonne hopped out of the car and ran to Tara’s apartment. Kiki would be there any minute so she needed to hurry.Opening the front door, she rushed inside and saw Tara sitting on the couch talking on the phone. As Yvonne passed her, she gave Tara a questioning look, silently asking if she’d been able to take care of what Yvonne had asked her to do. Tara pointed to the phone and gave her a thumbs up. Yvonne nodded and quickly went to her room.Impatiently kicking her sandals off, Yvonne went to her closet and pulled out a pair of running shoes. After she’d slipped them on and laced them up, she jogged to the bathroom to pull her hair back in a tight bun, and took off her hoop earrings. She didn't want there to be anything that Kiki could get ahold of and pull.Yvonne stared at her reflection in the mirror, hearing RaShaun’s voice again telling her all the things that Kiki had done, the lies she had told, and how she’d come on to him. She was so angry her hands trembled, but hearing the doorbell chime, she settled her face into a calm expression. A moment later she heard Kiki calling her from the living room.“Yvonne...Yvonne!"“Be right there.” Yvonne turned the light out and hurried out of the room.Walking into the living room, she saw Kiki sitting on the couch with her arms folded rolling her eyes at Tara. Tara stood by the door with her hands on her hips staring Kiki down. She glanced up briefly when Yvonne walked in, then went back to glaring fiercely at Kiki. Her foot tapped on the hardwood floor with restless energy.Clearly irritated, Kiki looked at Yvonne. “Damn, heffa. What took you so long? You know your cousin don’t believe in being civil to people.” She looked at Tara again and rolled her eyes.“Sorry, girl, I was in the bathroom.” Yvonne sat down on the couch. Folding one leg under the other, she turned her body towards Kiki. She rested her right arm along the back of the couch and just stared at the woman she had let make a fool of her for so long.Yeah, it was clear now that Ms. Kiki had apparently had her own agenda all this time–to fuck Yvonne’s man. If Shaun had been a no good, scandalous dog he probably would've taken her up on her offer, but that wasn't the type of man he was, thank God.Interrupting her thoughts, Kiki leaned towards Yvonne, eager to get to the meat and bones of the visit. “So girl, what happened? You said you went to RaShaun’s last night? Was Terri there? Did you catch them in the act?"Yvonne lowered her eyes so Kiki wouldn’t see the white hot anger that was surely reflected in their depths. All she could think was that Kiki must really be a fool because bringing up theotherbitch who was after RaShaun only served to add fuel to the fire.Episode 3 will be posted Friday, 3/31/2017.

Lisa sat at the police station waiting for Dorian to be released with Mona and Ray. She looked at her watch. 5 a.m. Smothering another yawn, she jumped up and began pacing again for the umpteenth time. When the desk sergeant shot her an irritated look, she sent it right back to him before ignoring him completely. 

Keith had already gotten word to them that Dorian was being released so what was taking so long?? She was on the verge of asking the sergeant just that when a door opened and Dorian walked out followed by Keith. Lisa ran anxious eyes over him. She'd brought another shirt for him to put on, and other than looking a little tired, he was all in one piece. Relief washed over her in waves.She ran over to Dorian and jumped into his arms, circling his neck as tightly as she could. 

“Are you alright?” she whispered against his chest. 

Dorian nodded as he held her around the waist. “I’m fine. It’s okay.” 

“I was so scared. Dorian, I’m so sorry. I know this is all my fault and–”

“Hey…” He gently pulled her back and shook his head. “Let’s just get out of here. I want to get home and wash the filth of this place off me.” 

Lisa nodded and wrapped her arms around his waist. He held her to him by keeping an arm over her shoulders while hugging Ray, then Mona with the other.

Dorian looked at Ray. “So how bad is it out there?” 

“It’s bad.” Ray reached for the shades and baseball cap he'd brought with him and put them on.He and Dorian had been mistaken for brothers instead of cousins for as long as they could remember. He would act as a decoy to distract the reporters and lead them to the Mercedes Keith was driving in order to give Dorian and Lisa time to make it to an older, nondescript car that would be waiting to whisk them away. Mona would follow in her car. 

Things went off without a hitch. By the time reporters and the photogs realized that Ray wasn’t Dorian, Lisa and Dorian were well on their way. They didn’t say much on the ride home. Lisa left Dorian to his thoughts and contented herself with sitting up under him and resting her head on his shoulder.Thirty minutes later, they walked into the house. The family was waiting for them as soon as the door opened. Dorian’s mother wrapped her arms around him, shooting what seemed to be a hundred questions towards him all at once while everyone else waited on them to answer. Finally he told them that he needed to go and take a shower and get a little rest, promising he would go over everything with them later.Lisa followed him upstairs but instead of him going directly to their bedroom, he turned to the right and went to DJ’s bedroom to look in on him and kiss him softly on the cheek before going to Shania’s room and doing the same. Lisa stood in the doorway and watched, fighting back tears at the prospect of what her family would have to go through in the upcoming weeks. She was more grateful than ever that their parents were taking the children back with them. That way she and Dorian could concentrate on getting this mess straightened out. 

As they walked into the bedroom, Dorian headed straight to the bathroom to take a shower. Lisa stared at him as if trying to will him to say something to her, even if it was in anger. She couldn’t stand this silent treatment he was directing towards her. 

“Dorian.”He hesitated in the doorway of the bathroom then turned to face her. When she saw he still had nothing to say and was just going to wait on her to speak, Lisa searched her mind for the right words. When she couldn’t find them, he turned around and went into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. 

Lisa sat down heavily on the bed and dropped her face into her hands. She couldn’t believe this was happening. It just simply could not be happening. Not to them.Was this her fault?? Did she do this??

She felt like crawling into the bed and pulling the covers over her head to block out every single thing which had happened within the last four or five hours, but she couldn’t do that. Even though she hadn’t taken heed to her mother’s words last night about coming clean to Dorian, she planned on taking her advice now and not letting this wound that had been opened up get any worse than it was. 

Standing, she quickly took her clothes off and walked into the bathroom. The glass doors of the large shower stall were misty with steam. Sliding the door open, she saw Dorian standing there with his hands braced against the wall as hot water beat down on his shoulders before cascading down his back in a transparent curtain. 

He turned his head to look at her. Lisa held her breath as she waited to see if he would tell her to get out. When he just looked back down at the floor and closed his eyes again, she walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. They stood that way for a moment with her cheek resting against the hard, muscled expanse of his wide back.

Lisa pressed soft kisses along his spine before reaching around him and picking up the bottle of Calvin Klein Eternity shower gel. Slipping the loofah mitt over her hand, she squeezed a generous amount of the fragrant gel onto the glove and began to glide it over his neck and shoulders. She circled the fibered sponge over his left then right lat. 

Lisa loved this part of his back. She loved to grab onto it, joking that they looked like a pair of super wings ready to take flight. A smile touched her lips when she remembered how he always replied they were for her to hold on to while he tapped that ass and made her soar to new heights. Lisa shook her head at the corny reply…but damned if she didn’t hold on tight while he made her do just that. 

Soap covered his body as she moved from his back down to his ass and kneeled down to wash the backs of his hard thighs. Lisa thought about how he’d scoffed when she first bought the body wash and loofah mitt, saying real men didn’t use ‘girly shit’ like that, but when she’d replaced the empty bottle with another one, that too had quickly been used up without a word.

Standing up, she ducked under his arm, which he still leaned against the wall. She felt his eyes watching her as she poured more of the soap onto the mitt and began washing his arms and chest. His stomach tightened as the mitt lovingly kissed his skin, making the square muscles of his abs pop out in six-pack formation. 

Lisa dropped to her knees again and came face to face with the heavily, hung masterpiece of his dick. She swallowed hard, but forced herself to run the glove over the fronts and insides of his thighs, then shins, and finally his feet. As she stood up, she let her breasts brush over the tip of his dick, making it jump, knowing that its pussy wasn’t far behind. 

She glanced up at Dorian, quieting the moan that fought to shrill its way out of her when she saw how incredibly sexy he looked standing there with his thick eyelashes spiked from the water and his lips wet and slightly parted. He leaned down towards her, but Lisa ducked back under his arm.She hung the mitt back up on the stainless steel shower caddy before squeezing a silver dollar sized portion of the body wash in her palm. After rubbing her hands together to create a rich lather, she stepped behind him and ran her hands over his tautly muscled buttocks before slipping a finger between the tight crevice of his ass. 

Dorian tensed for a moment then relaxed as she ran the finger up and down what many men would consider a forbidden area before slipping her fingers down further between his legs until she got to the heavy sac of his scrotum. She gently fondled and weighed them in her hands before massaging them lightly until Dorian softly moaned. Dragging her fingers back and again along the crease of his buttocks, she then brought her hand around to the front. She lathered his pubic hairs then circled his shaft with soapy fingers.

Dorian slowly leaned his head back and looked up before closing his eyes as Lisa began to pump the length of his dick from behind using slow, firm strokes. 

“Yessss,” he hissed. His hips began to move in tiny, almost imperceptible circles, thrusting his dick in and out of the tight fit her hand made. 

Lisa’s thumb glided over the tip then tightened at the head, squeezing pre-cum out and mixing it in with the soap. She continued choking his dick with a loose wrist. His groans sounded louder and louder in the confined space of the stall. 

“Oh baby, yes….yes….yes…..” 

Knowing he was almost over the edge, she dropped to her knees and let her tongue follow the path her fingers had taken a few minutes ago. The moment she licked up and down the narrow opening, Dorian’s moans became guttural grunts. Never once letting up on stroking his dick, she pushed the tip of her tongue into his ass and moved it in and out in a rhythmic motion that matched the movement of her hand. Lisa let out small sounds of enjoyment as she drove him fucking crazy. And because he knew she was enjoying it, it made it that much better. 

“Fuck, Lisa!Awwwww shit, I’m ‘bout to cum. I’m ‘bout to cum, baby.”

Withdrawing her tongue, Lisa moved around and kneeled in front of him. She moved her hand out of the way so that his could come down and took over. He grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her head back so that her face was upturned. His fingers tightened around the strands of hair. 

“Look at me…” he growled as he jacked his thick meat a few more times before tensing.Lisa opened her mouth and waited. Seconds later she heard him grunt as thick, white spurts of cum shot from his tip into her mouth. She swallowed quickly then opened her lips again until he’d jerked out the last remaining drop into her willing orifice. Beads of cum that landed on her cheek and chin were washed away by the streaming spray of water. 

When Dorian relaxed his grip in her hair, Lisa stood up and raised her face towards the water, smoothing the strands back before opening her eyes and looking at him. She raised her lips to his when he lowered his head to give her a slow, hungry kiss. 

Seconds went by before Lisa pulled back. She removed the showerhead and rinsed the remaining soap from his body, then turned the water off.Neither of them said a word as she followed Dorian out of the shower stall. He handed her one of the large, fluffy towels from the linen closet before getting one for himself. They dried off and walked back to the room. 

Lisa threw the mountains of pillows down on the floor then pulled the bedding back.Dorian sighed heavily as he lay down on his back. He moved his arm so that Lisa could snuggle up to his side and rest her head on his chest. He pulled her closer then kissed the top of her head. Moments later they were fell into a deep, exhausted sleep. 

****Hours later, Lisa's eyelids fluttered as she moaned in protest at the brightness of the room. She turned over and reached for Dorian, but he wasn’t there. Slowly opening her eyes, she saw that his side of the bed was empty. Blinking she leaned up on her elbow when she heard the low rumble of his voice before spying him standing by the window talking on his cell phone.The only piece of clothing he wore was a pair of jeans. Lisa could tell from the tense set of his shoulders that whoever he was speaking to wasn’t giving him good news. She sat up and leaned back against the headboard, pulling the sheet up over her breasts as she waited for him to finish.When he pressed the button to end the call, his shoulders rose and fell as he inhaled, then exhaled a long breath. He didn’t turn away from the window as he spoke. “I’ve been suspended.”Lisa gasped and covered her mouth with her hand as he continued.“Apparently, I violated the morality clause in my contract when I was arrested last night.”Lisa knew he was speaking of a provision in his contract that basically prohibited any actions in a player’s private life that the league would consider detrimental to the best interests of the team or the sport of baseball. Punishment for violations could mean anything from loss of salary to termination of his contract depending on the severity of the infraction. Endorsements and sponsors would probably be next. All in all, Dorian was, at the most, in danger of being forced out of a game he loved second only to his family. At the very least, the incident would follow him and tarnish an otherwise spotless athletic career.“Dorian. No…”He turned away from away from the window and wordlessly pulled out a pair of socks from his bureau before walking into the closet and coming out with a pair of athletic shoes. He sat down in the chair on the other side of the bed and began putting them on in angry, jerky movements.“On top of that, that fucking asshole had his lawyer contact Keith.” He walked to his dresser and took out a white tank top. He looked at her while pulling it over his head. “His punk ass is suing me for pain and suffering from ‘injuries’ I caused last night.”Lisa’s mouth dropped open. “What?!”Dorian nodded as he walked to the door. “I’m meeting with Keith in a couple of hours to try to…” He shook his head and sighed. “Fuck, I don’t know. Look, I’m going out back to hit a few balls.” Dorian had a batting cage built on the property behind their home. Lisa knew this was his way of working off stress.“Dorian.” With his hand resting on the doorknob, he turned to look at her. “I’m so, so sorry.”His eyes studied her for a moment, then held his hand out to her. “Come here.”Blinking furiously, Lisa scrambled out he bed and walked over to him.“I’m sorry, too.” Lisa looked up at him and started to shake her head, but he held a hand up to stop her. “Yeah, you could’ve handled this thing better, but then, so could I. I should’ve had a stronger hold on my temper last night. I knew better than that, it’s just…”Dorian looked past her, then chewed the corner of his lip. “That motherfucker thinks he’s smart. He knew I would go off if I saw him last night.”“This was his plan all along,” Lisa said with comprehension in her voice.Dorian nodded. “Yeah. One way or the other, he was going to find a way to get to me.” Trying to smile, he leaned down and gave her a quick kiss before opening the door. “Let’s just try not to worry about it for now. Keith doesn’t earn the type of money he does for nothing. He’ll work his magic and fix this shit somehow.” He winked at her and left the room.Lisa covered her face with her hands then slowly walked back over to the bed. She lost track of time as her mind went back years ago and played over a conversation she’d had with John right before he’d asked her to marry him. That crucial conversation was how she was going to take care of the mess she’d put them in.“You must have forgotten what I know,” she whispered aloud to herself. “Or else you don’t think I’d know what to do with it.”Standing up, she quickly walked to her closet to get some clothes to put on. She had a lot of calls to make. She would take care of this herself. Dorian didn’t need to have his hands dirtied and his professional reputation put at stake any more than John had already managed to do.John had mistaken the kindness she once felt for him as weakness–or stupidity. However, by the time she finished with him, he would know beyond a shadow of a doubt exactly who was smarter than whom.***Two days after Dorian’s arrest, Lisa drove to the hotel where John was staying. She tried to quell the persistent nervous tension she felt gnawing away at her stomach.She glanced at the clock on the dash. She didn’t plan on being long. The kids had flown home with their parents yesterday morning and Mona and Ray were coming over in about three hours. That gave her more than enough time to see John and do what she had to do. 

In her mind, Lisa went over what she intended to say to John. If everything went according to plan, and she had no reason to think at it wouldn’t, Keith should be getting word tonight that all charges against Dorian had been dropped. 

As the streetlight changed to green, she tapped her thumb against the steering wheel and let her thoughts wander back six years. She’d finally accepted John’s proposal several months earlier and was happily making wedding plans.That night, she’d been at her favorite restaurant in Chicago waiting on a couple of her friends to meet her for dinner and drinks. She’d gotten to the restaurant a little early and was sitting at a table as she perused the menu. All of a sudden, she’d seen someone sit down. Thinking it was one of her friends, she raised her eyes, but the smile on her lips died when she didn’t recognize the woman sitting in front of her... 

‘Lisa Miller?’

Lisa frowned when the woman called her name. ‘Uh…Do I know you?’Lisa’s voice was hesitant. She was very good with faces. She knew she’d never seen this woman before. She was a very attractive white woman with pale skin and long blond hair. 

‘No. But I know you. You’re engaged to John.’ 

Now Lisa sat back and lifted an eyebrow. To say she didn’t know this woman, the woman seemed to know a lot about her. ‘And you are….’
‘My name is Amy Grayson. That’s all you need to know. I’m here to do you a favor. Whether you listen or not is up to you, but I think its something you should know before you get married.’ 

Lisa’s eyes narrowed as she glanced around the dining room before bringing her attention back to the woman. ‘I don’t know what this is about and I don’t think I care. What I would like, though, is for you to get the hell away from my table.’ 

‘How well do you know your fiancé?’ The woman blatantly ignored Lisa’s request and continued as if she hadn’t even spoken. 

‘Excuse me? I really don’t think that’s any of your business. Now if you don’t mind–’ 

‘John and I have been in a relationship for the last three years, on and off. He recently broke things off with me for good, told me he couldn’t see me any longer because he was getting married…to you.’

Lisa held up a hand. The woman’s eyes went to the huge five carat ring that sparkled on her finger. ‘Look - Amy, did you say? I don’t know what this is all about, but I’d like you to leave. Now.’ 

Amy laughed. ‘You don’t believe me, do you? Were you aware that John has a son?’ 

Now the woman was reaching. Lisa laughed to cover how ticked off she was. She raised her hand to get the hostess’ attention to have the woman removed from the table. Crazy bitch! 

The woman reached in her purse and pulled out a wallet sized picture. ‘This is our son…John Richards III. Ask him. I dare him to deny his son to your face…’

****1024.…1028.….Room 1030Lisa knocked on the door, surreptitiously looking up and down the hall as she waited on him to answer. When a maid pushed a cleaning cart a couple of doors down, Lisa adjusted the large hat and shades she wore and turned her back. She was just getting ready to knock again when the door swung open. Impatiently glaring at him, she pushed the door open and walked inside.John watched her as she strode in with the sexy confident walk that had first captured his attention before anything else. His eyes never left the sway of her hips and slight bounce of her ass while closing the door behind her. Shaking his head, he didn’t know how a dress that covered her from her chest to the tips of her toes could be so sexy, but it was.The halter style bodice was fitted and lovingly cupped breasts that were fuller than he remembered. A tie looped around the back of her neck, leaving shoulders that looked oh so soft, provocatively bare. The rest of the multi colored, brown toned dress was cut to flow loosely over her body while at the same time gently caressing the swell of her hips and ass. Manicured toes in gold colored sandals peeked out from beneath the hem of the dress as she stopped and turned to face him, pivoting gracefully enough to put a model to shame with the attitude to go with it.John pulled his longing gaze away from her body when she began tapping her sandals in an irritable fashion. “Hello, Lisa. I know I told you Saturday night, but sweetheart, you look–”“Cut the crap, John.” Lisa took the hat off and fluffed her hair. She threw it on a chair along with her shades. “I’m not your ‘sweetheart, and you have some nerve even referencing Saturday night to me with a straight face.”John shrugged then winced in pain. He looked at Lisa, waiting on her to comment on the fact that his arm was in a sling and his puffy lip and eye sere horribly swollen.Lisa sucked her tongue against her teeth. “Please. Save it. Am I supposed to feel sorry for you? You deserve every ounce of - wait how did the lawsuit put it? Pain and suffering? That’s it. You deserve every ounce of pain and suffering my husband put on your ass.”“Well, I appreciate the sympathy, Lisa. I guess that thug of a husband of yours is rubbing off on you. I never knew you to be so cold and uncaring.”“You’re lucky that’s all he did. I warned you…several times, in fact. You had no business being there! If you had stayed away, none of this would’ve happened.” Her eyes narrowed as she folded her arms. “But then again, this is exactly what you wanted to happen, isn’t it?”“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”John walked over and poured himself a drink. When he raised questioning brows her way and gestured towards the decanter, Lisa rolled her eyes and turned her head away in answer. Picking up his glass, John walked over and sat on the couch. He laid his good arm along the back of the couch and crossed his legs as his eyes went over Lisa again.What irked him more than anything about the marriage that didn’t take place between them was the fact that he never even got a chance to fuck her. She held out on him for almost a year, telling him she wanted to wait until they became man and wife. He’d masturbated many a nights with the fantasy of how tight that sweet pussy of hers would be that she’d allowed him to taste on occasion…“If you’re finished mentally undressing me with your eyes, I came here because I told you we needed to talk.”“Believe me, sweetheart, I was doing more than undressing you in my mind, but okay. What, pray tell, would you like to talk about?”Lisa saw the self-satisfied set of his mouth as he settled back against the couch.Pompous ass. Probably expects me to beg and plead with him to drop the charges against Dorian.He brought the glass to his lips and watched her over the rim as his eyes danced with merriment. Lisa struggled to keep calm. She knew he wouldn’t find the situation so amusing in a few minutes.“First all answer one question: Why? Why are you doing this?” she asked.John didn’t pretend to not know what she was talking about. “Because I hate that arrogant son of a bitch, that’s why.”The words were casually said, but moments later, agitation crossed his features as he leaned forward and slammed the glass down on the table and began angrily pacing back and forth.“You were supposed to have beenmywife, Lisa.Iwas supposed to be living the life he’s living with you. The children you have should’ve beenourchildren. The bed you sleep in every night while he fucks you should’ve beenmybed.” He paused, letting his eyes drop to her breasts. “The way you looked at him that night….that’s how I want you to look at me. So you ask me why?That’swhy.” John’s eyes lifted and rested on her lips. “Lisa–”“Shut up. Just shut up! That is the biggest load of bull I’ve ever heard. You’re trying to ruin my husband’s career and reputation over delusional bullshit like that? Some fantasy world that you‘ve concocted in your mind all this time?” Lisa took a step towards him. “You want to know why it’s Dorian and not you? Because I never loved you anywhere near the way I love him. You never made me feel anything remotely close to what he makes me feel. It’s always been him. And that? That’s a fact that will never, ever change.”John’s head jerked back as his eyes shone with the hatred he felt for Dorian. “Well, then if I cant have you, I’ll make him suffer for this so called great love you have for him as well as the humiliation I had to go through when you dumped me at the alter in front of my family, friends, and business associates. See, I’ve done my research on your husband. I know aside from you, the other thing he holds dear is that game.” John’s lip curled up in disgust. “How a grown man gets paid in excess of $40 million dollars to hit a ball and run around a field six months out of the year is beyond me. By the time I finish with him, he’ll be lucky if they let him hold the position of bat boy.”Lisa shook her head in wonderment. She didn’t feel the slightest bit of guilt for what she was about to do. As a matter of fact, she looked forward to it. “Do you really think I’ll stand aside while you hurt my husband like that? While you hurt my family?”The smirk reappeared on John’s mouth. The suggestive leer on his face made Lisa nauseous. “What do you propose in return?” He lifted a finger and ran it up and down her arm. “I might be persuaded to drop this entire thing for the right incentive. But I’m warning you. It had better be good.”Lisa slapped his hand away. “Oh, the incentive is very good,” Lisa whispered, moving closer to him. Her lips parted and her lids lowered as she played with the buttons on his shirt. “John?”“Yes?” John’s voice was hoarse and eager. Nothing would make him deviate from his plans to ruin Dorian Bradley, but he wasn’t above letting Lisa think he would if it provided the opportunity to crawl between her thighs.“How’s John Jr.?”John’s body stiffened. “What?”“Your son? Jonathon. He should be, what almost nine years old? Ten? I bet your father is so proud…”****6 ½ Years Ago…‘Tell me, John. Was that woman telling the truth? Is this your son?!’Lisa had left the restaurant moments after the woman and gone straight to John’s high-rise condo. She held the picture up of the obviously bi-racial child who looked to be no older than two years old. He was a younger version of John.She’d taken him off guard and he couldn’t hide the telling expression of shock and surprise that briefly crossed his face before he managed to hide it…The same expression of shock and surprise was on his face now. He took a step back, then two as understanding filtered into his eyes. “You bitch.”Lisa tilted her head and smiled. She felt it. That exact moment when the vibe changed and the control in the room shifted. She had the upper hand. “That’s Mrs. Bitch to you.”John blinked rapidly and turned his back to regroup. Lisa reached into her purse and pulled out the envelope. Taking out the pictures, she shifted through them, making admiring cooing sounds.“Aww. He is so handsome. The spitting image of the Richards men in your family.” John turned around to see what she was talking about, then saw the photographs. “Yes, no denying him, is there?” Lisa looked up then frowned in fake concern. “Are you okay? You look a little peaked…”John had begged, pleaded, and cried that night. Lisa still didn’t know how she’d been able to get past his deceit. His family knew nothing about the child. He’d managed to keep his son’s existence a secret. Apparently, there was a provision in his father’s will, that if any of his children had a child out of wedlock, they would be disinherited. Their portion of the Richard’s fortune would be donated to a charity of his father’s choosing.‘Lisa, my lawyers have been trying to find a loophole for the last couple of years, but so far, they haven’t had any luck. Sweetheart, please believe me. I love my son. I love my son so much. But he deserves to have his share of his rightful inheritance just as much as anyone else. Honey, we’re talking potentially billions! Until I find a way to make that happen, my father can’t find out about him.'Eventually, Lisa had forgiven him. She’d believed him. He’d been nothing but sincere and caring from the first moment they’d met. She believed him when he said he would find a way around the provision in his father’s will so that he could publicly claim his son.****After she’d married Dorian, Lisa hadn’t given the situation another thought, but right after Dorian’s arrest, working on a hunch, she’d managed to track Amy Grayson down. Amy was now married and raising her son with her husband. Lisa heard the contempt in her voice when she’d told Lisa that other than child support, John had no contact with his son. She’d been more than happy to help Lisa.“John. This is what we’re going to do. You’re going to call your lawyer–right now, as a matter of fact–and you’re going to tell him you’ve changed your mind and you want to drop all charges against Dorian. ‘K? Otherwise, I place a call to your father and let him know about the grandson he's never known about.”“You fucking bi-”“Careful.” Lisa held a warning finger up, but her tone remained pleasant. “I’m not going to be too many more bitches.”John shot her a look that said everything he forced himself not to say. He snatched his cell phone out of his pocket. “How do I know you won’t tell my father anyway?”Lisa placed the pictures back in the envelope and dropped them in her purse. “Because that little boy deserves so much better than you, and he has that. He has a mother and a father who love him very much. There’s no way I would disrupt his life for a piece of shit like you.” She sat down and crossed her legs. “Make the call-now.”***Lisa sat listening to John wrap up the instructions to his lawyer. He glared at her the entire time while she sat back and studied the job her manicurist had done on her nails yesterday.When he hung up the phone, his voice was icy cold. “I’ve made the call. Now get the fuck out of my room.” 

Lisa had been reaching into her purse for her cell phone when she looked up after hearing his nasty tone. “I really don’t think you’re in a position to be making any kind of demand for anything. Do you?” 

John glared at Lisa and tightened his lips. Lisa glared back before rolling her eyes. She was pulling out her phone when John's cell phone rang. John slid a look her way then answered it.“Put it on speaker,” she ordered.

Sighing loudly, John complied then answered the phone. Lisa listened as his lawyer told him he’d called Dorian’s lawyer and informed him that all charges would be dropped ASAP. John barked a few more orders then hung up in the lawyer’s face.“Satisfied?” he sneered.Lisa stood up, smoothed her dress down then picked up her hat and shades. “If you try to back out or pull a fast one, I will contact your father with no hesitation? Do I make myself clear?” 

John looked as if he was getting ready to explode, but as Lisa stood there waiting, he reluctantly answered. “Crystal. You’re not worth it anyway. I hope you’ll be very happy with your ballplayer.” 

He spat out the word ‘ballplayer’ as if it were some kind of disease, and although the statement was meant to be sarcastic, Lisa deliberately smiled and nodded. “Oh, I will. Deliriously. We’re so happy we can hardly stand It.” 

She was pulling out her cell phone when a knock sounded at the door. Lisa looked at John as he walked over to answer the door. As soon as he did, she hear him utter ‘Shit! and try to close the door with his good shoulder.

Lisa frowned and took a step forward. “What the hell…” 

She let out a small cry when she saw John flying back and sliding to the floor from the force of someone pushing their way into the room. Her hand went to her chest when she saw Dorian standing in the doorway. He slammed the door then glared down at John.“D-Dorian…” She took a step back when the force of his glare was directed her way. “What are you doing here?” 

Dorian frowned and angled his head to the side as his eyes slowly traveled over her. “What am I doing here?” 

Lisa took a deep breath, but John interjected as he struggled to get up. “This is all very touching, but why don’t both of you get the hell out of my room before I-” Still on the floor, he scrambled backwards as Dorian swung around to him.“Before you what? Tell me. What the fuck are you gonna do?”

John held up trembling hand, cringing as the sprained arm that was in the sling bumped against he floor in his haste to get away from Dorian. “Look–”
“No, you look. What you’re gonna do is get up, sit your ass down over there, and shut the hell up. You understand that?”

“I–”

“Wait, what part of ‘shut the hell up’ didn’t you understand?”

John’s mouth snapped closed with an audible clicking of his teeth.Lisa couldn’t help it. A laugh burst out as she looked at John lying on the floor cowering in front of Dorian. “Now who’s the bitch?” 

John was livid. She could tell, but chancing another look at Dorian, he just pulled himself off the floor and walked over to the couch and sat down.“That’s a good boy,” Lisa smirked, but all signs of amusement left her face when she saw Dorian furiously glowering her way. 

His jaw jumped as he walked over to her and ran his eyes over her again. “You were supposed to call me. Twenty minutes. That’s all I agreed to. After that you were supposed call me.” He leaned down until they were face to face. “Do you not remember that?” 

Lisa leaned her head away as his face got closer. She looked at her watch. “It’s only been twenty-three minutes. And…” she quickly added, trying to head off the explosion she saw simmering in his eyes. She held her hand up and wiggled the cell phone. “I was getting ready to call you before you knocked on the door.” 

Dorian’s eyes left hers for a second and went to the phone. Somewhat pacified, he brought his hands up and framed her face. “Are you okay?” 

Lisa smiled and stood on tiptoe to give him a quick smack on the lips. “I’m good, baby. Everything went exactly according to plan.”The long breath Dorian blew out seemed to release the tension in his body as he visibly relaxed. He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. “I must’ve been crazy to even let you do this. Are you sure you’re okay?” 

Lisa nodded. “Yes, I’m fine.” She pulled back and looked at him. “I told you, just like there’s nothing you wouldn’t do to protect our family, I share that same sentiment. There was no way I was letting him get away with what he was trying to do to you.” Lisa looped her arms around his neck and kissed him again. 

“Oh, God…” John uttered in a low, disgusted voice.They both turned in his direction. Dorian’s eyes narrowed. He gently set Lisa away from him and went over to stand in front of John. “Did you say something?”John started to answer, then took one look at Dorian’s face and thought better of it. When he just turned his head, Dorian nodded. “That’s what I thought.” 

The ringing of the cell phone interrupted what he was getting ready to say next. Cutting his eyes away from John, Dorian looked at the caller ID and connected the call. “Yeah.” 

Lisa walked over and anxiously tried to read his expression as he listened to the other person on the line. After a few affirmative grunts, he hung up the phone and nodded once at Lisa. “That was Keith. It’s done. By the end of the day, everything should be ironed out, and with the charges dropped, my suspension should be lifted.” 

Lisa closed her eyes blinked back tears of relief. “Thank God. Baby, let’s go home.” 

“A great idea,” John drawled. 

Dorian shook his head. He looked at John as if he were shit beneath his shoe. “Tell me something, how can a man deny his own child? I don’t care how much money is involved. What kind of man does that?” 

John’s expression was one of nonchalance. “I can always have other children, but I’ll be damned if I give up my rightful inheritance for a bastard I didn’t even want to begin with.” 

Lisa inhaled sharply at the callousness of his words and Dorian looked as if he had to physically restrain himself from wrapping his fingers around John’s neck. Shaking his head, he slipped his arm around Lisa’s waist. “Come on. Let’s get out of here." 

They were halfway to the door when Dorian stopped and turned around. “Wait a minute. Did I understand correctly? Did you call you my wife a bitch?” He took a step in John’s direction, but Lisa pulled his arm to stop him. 

“Let me.” She walked over to John.He smirked and lifted his chin and pointed at it as if telling her to take her best shot. Lisa smirked back. Putting all her strength into the swing, she punched him directly on the arm in the sling. John howled in pain as he slipped to the floor on his knees, holding his injured arm. 

“And this is for your son.” She pulled her leg back and then brought it forward full force to kick him as hard as she could in the nuts. John fell over like a ton of bricks and looked as if he were going to pass out. 

Even Dorian winced. “Damn,” he whispered. 

Walking back over to him, she raised her brow and cheerfully asked, “Ready?” 

****Hours later, they stood in the front doorway of their home waving goodbye to Mona and Ray. The four of them had enjoyed a carefree evening as they celebrated the fact that Dorian was free and clear. They’d gotten the official word from Keith that all charges had been formally dropped.On top of that, according to their demands, a statement had been released to the press from John stating that the entire thing had been a grave misunderstanding and was blown out of proportion. He took full responsibility for the altercation and sent his sincerest apologies to the Bradley family. The manager of Dorian’s team had called and told him he’d see him first thing in the morning, bright and early.After Dorian closed the door, they walked back through the foyer and climbed the stairs with their arms around each other, slowly exchanging kisses. Out of the blue, a laugh burst out of Dorian. Lisa questioningly looked up at him with a smile.“What are you laughing at?”Dorian laughed again and wiped his eyes. “I was just remembering the way that asshole looked when he fell over after you kicked him in the nuts. Ouch!”Lisa’s smile widened. “You are so silly.” She walked into their bedroom and pulled him behind by the hand. “Enough about him. I don’t want to waste another moment thinking about him. Besides…we have more important things that we need to get started on, Mr. Bradley.” She pushed him down on the bed and crawled on top of him.Dorian groaned as he watched her sit up and straddle him before pulling her dress off and tossing it to the side. His hands slid up along her waist before covering her breasts.“Oh, I agree, Mrs. Bradley. It’s gonna be a long night.”EpilogueOffices of WKLBA week later, Lisa strolled confidently off the elevators, gliding across the floor like poetry in motion in the new pair of four inch Louboutin’s Dorian had surprised her with this morning. With the oversized shades firmly in place and her head held high, she ignored the stares and double takes directed her way. This wouldn’t take long.She stopped in front of Chantelle’s secretary’s desk “Hi. Lisa Bradley, here to see Chantelle Mitchell.”The secretary smiled. “She’s expecting you, Mrs. Bradley. You can go right in.”Lisa nodded and gave her a parting smile as she walked inside Chantelle’s office and closed the door behind her.Chantelle stood up and hurried around her desk to give Lisa an air kiss on both cheeks. “Lisa! How are you? I’m so glad things eventually worked themselves out for you.”Lisa’s voice was as insincere as Chantelle’s. “Thank you so much. And yes, things worked themselves out splendidly.”“Have a seat. How’s Dorian? You guys must be so excited. After last night's game, he now holds the record for most stolen bases in a season.”Lisa stiffened at the sound of Dorian’s name coming from Chantelle's mouth. She knew that the other woman had deliberately set events in motion at the nightclub hoping to have a shot at him. She pasted a saccharine sweet smile on her face and sang out, “Oh, he’s fine, and yes we're very excited.”Chantelle held a finger up as her phone rang. “Oh. Excuse me one moment.”Lisa nodded, and the moment Chantelle turned her attention to the phone call, the fake smile dropped. Lisa studied her with revulsion. She couldn’t stand two faced bitches like her. Chantelle was good. She’d give her that. Lisa was rarely fooled; she’d been in this game long enough to know that the majority of women couldn’t be trusted. The only thing she could think of was that she’d been so excited at the prospect of resuming her career, she’d allowed Chantelle to slip a fast one over on her.But she’d take care of that in just a minute...Lisa had learned a few things about Chantelle once she’d started asking around. The woman was a well known jump off of “balla’s” whose main goal it was to snag an athlete by any means necessary. Women like her schemed and sold their souls to get what they wanted and didn’t care who got hurt in the process.Many wives “adapted” and developed “coping skills” to deal with their husband’s infidelity. Paternity tests, endless phone calls from jump offs detailing how they’d fucked their man…Lisa knew women who went through that every day. To them, it was easier to just ignore it all than to risk having to give to give up the glamour, money, and prestige of being an athlete’s wife. They knew there was always a younger version just waiting in the wings to take their place. Thank God, she didn’t have to go through that with Dorian.Lisa brought her attention back to Chantelle as the other woman stood up. She stuttered and screamed in the phone before whoever was on the other line hung up on her. Chantelle just stood there staring at the phone and looking like an idiot.Lisa fixed a concerned expression on her face. “Is everything okay?”Chantelle looked at Lisa as if she’d forgotten she was even in the room. “I…I’ve just been let go.”Lisa stood up and adjusted her purse on her shoulder. “No, sweetie. Get it right. Your ass has just been fired.”Chantelle blinked in confusion as she tried to comprehend what Lisa was saying. “Excuse me?”“You heard me.” Lisa leaned over the desk and slowly enunciated the words. “Your luck just ran out. You fucked with the wrong bitch.”John having Chantelle fired as soon as Lisa gave him the word had been the last stipulation in their deal. Chantelle plopped down in the chair as she stared at Lisa. Using Dorian’s words, she continued. “I don’t play when it comes to my family–especially my husband. So use this as a reminder of what could happen the next time you try to fuck with someone else’s man.”Lisa spun on her heel and walked to the door. Throwing it open she called out over her shoulder: “Deuces, bitch.”Outside in the parking lot, Dorian stood leaning against his Porsche with his shades on. When he saw Lisa walking out the doors of the building, he got in the car and drove over to pick her up. She hopped inside and gave him a kiss before buckling her seatbelt.Dorian shook his head and smiled at his wifey. “Feel better?”Lisa crossed her legs and grinned. “Hell, yes.”Dorian threw his head back and laughed before speeding away.The End© 2017 S.K. HardyALL RIGHTS RESERVEDAll rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means without the written permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

“Girl, have you lost your ever lovin’ mind?”

Lisa rolled her eyes as she continued running on the treadmill in the home gym Dorian set up with state of the art exercise equipment. Mona walked over to her with a purpose in her step that told Lisa she wasn’t going to be dismissed so easily.

She stood in front of the treadmill with her hand on her hip and tapped the toe of her shoe. Her dreads were pulled back and secured in a bun, and the gray pinstripe designer pantsuit she wore personified the image of a young, confident professional woman. As the CFO of Dorian and Lisa’s company, she made sure the finances were straight and in balance. Her husband and Dorian’s cousin, Ray, was the business manager of DBradley, LLC. He insured that the day to day operation of the company ran smoothly. 

Mona and Ray had married a year after graduating from college. They had settled into comfortable, high paying jobs, but not long after, Dorian made them an offer they couldn’t refuse to move to Los Angles and help him run a company he was planning on starting up. He knew he couldn’t play ball forever and needed someone he trusted implicitly, who he knew had his back, no questions asked.He didn’t want to be blindsided by unpaid taxes, or knowledge that his business had been run into the ground and suffered from financial difficulties. He‘d seen it happen time and time again with athletes who blindly trusted employees to have their best interests at heart, when the only thing they‘d focused on was lining their own pockets first. Hiring Mona and Ray had been one of the best business decisions he’d made. The company pulled in serious paper and had diversified its interests under their direction. Dorian was able to concentrate on doing what he loved­–playing baseball.

Seeing Mona’s chin lifted at an obstinate angle, Lisa sighed as she hit the buttons to slow the treadmill down. She took her pulse as she came to a quick walk before addressing her friend.

“Mo, I already know what you’re getting ready to say. Apparently, my husband couldn’t wait to call your husband and fill him in about John. Damn, did he even let you guys unpack first?” Mona and Ray had gone to a small island in the to celebrate their eighth wedding anniversary and gotten back yesterday morning. “I was going to tell you about it after you had a few days to unwind.” 

“You mean after you’d had a chance to let John down gently and easy with pretty words he‘s gonna just ignore. And no, Dorian didn’t call Ray. You know how my husband is. Almost the minute we stepped in the door, he was calling his assistant to be brought up to speed. You’d swear we’d been gone a month instead of two weeks.” 

With her breathing slowing, Lisa smiled. “Don’t act like you didn’t call Melissa to do the same. Dorian and I almost had to threaten you two to make you take a couple of weeks rather than the couple of days you’d planned.”“Don't try to change the subject, Lisa.” 

Lisa sighed and stepped off the treadmill. Grabbing a towel, she wiped her face and grabbed her water bottle. “I’m not. You knew John had emailed me. Oh, wait! But I know! I was supposed to track you down on that private island you were on and tell you about the other two emails!” Lisa looked at Mona with phony anticipation on her face so that Mona could hear how ridiculous the entire thing was. 

“Look, wench, don’t get smart because you are not funny. One email I could understand. Maybe he wanted closure between the two of you. But three within the span of a week? Lisa, this is a brotha who was sprung like a little puppy from the moment he saw you.” Ignoring the way Lisa cut her eyes at her, Mona continued. “He asked you to marry him barely a month after he met you!” 

“You know I still feel bad about hurting him the way I did, but I'm not crazy. I don’t know why everyone is acting like I plan on having a friendship with him! As I told my husband, it’s been taken care of. I sent John a message this morning. Satisfied?” 

“Hmph. I guess. For John’s sake I hope he gets the message loud and clear. You know how your husband is. If John makes this an issue, that evil Gemini twin will jump out of Dorian in a New York second. Then it’ll be John’s ass.” 

Lisa let out a sound of exasperation but didn’t say anything to dispute Mona’s observation. “Well, it wont come to that. Believe me, I was very direct. It’s done. Over.Fini.Now can we please talk about something else? Like Dorian's birthday party. It's less than two weeks away.” 

“Everything’s practically done at this point. The only thing you two have to do is show up.” 

Dorian would be turning thirty-one in a couple of weeks. Lisa planned on having two celebrations. The first would be an intimate gathering with just close family and friends. They were flying in their parents, who seemed to be more thrilled at the opportunity to spend time with their grandchildren than they were seeing Lisa and Dorian. The kids would be flying back with them for a couple of weeks to spend some time with both sets of grandparents for the summer. 

The second would be held at Club Platinum, one of the most popular clubs on the scene right now. The party had been hyped up for weeks and was one of the most anticipated venues in town. The club fully expected there to be standing room only and were expected to make a killing. 

“Great. I want us to go over a few details I had questions about when you get time. But later for that. Tell me about the trip. Do you think you two could’ve possibly made a ‘lil Ray or Mona’?” Lisa grinned at her friend and let the sentence trail off suggestively.

“Maybe,” Mona smiled. She and Ray had a son the same age as Shania and had just decided to have one more. “If we didn’t, we sure had fun trying.”

The two women continued laughing and talking as they left the gym and went up to Lisa’s bedroom. While Lisa prepared to take a quick shower, Mona kicked her shoes off and stretched out on the bed while she made a few phone calls. On the way to the bathroom, Lisa teased her about looking far from the high-powered executive right about now. Mona gave her the finger while at the same time speaking in a professional voice to her business contact who had just picked up the other end. 

Fifteen minutes later Lisa came out and went over to the vanity table and started brushing her hair as Mona finished up the last call. Sighing loudly, Mona threw the phone on the bed and rolled over on her stomach to look at Lisa. 

“Girl, I’m so tired. I almost feel like I didn’t just come back from a week on a tropical island.”

“Ray tore that ass up, didn’t he?" She laughed when Mona enthusiastically nodded. "You should’ve taken off a few days. No one told you to rush right back to work.” 

“Well, we can’t all be like you, Mrs. Bradley. Some of us have to work for a living.”

Lisa looked at her through the mirror then turned around to face Mona. “What is that supposed to mean? You don’t think taking care of a house, husband and two kids is considered ‘work‘?” 

Mona sat up and frowned. “You know that’s not what I meant, Lisa. Where did that come from?” 

Lisa stared at her for a moment before walking over to the bed and sitting down. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”

Mona scooted over to the edge of the bed so that she could look at Lisa’s face. “That’s okay. Something you want to talk about?”

“Just the same old thing. You know Dorian brought up the subject of us having another baby.” Mona nodded. “Yes. But I thought you two talked about that. You told him you weren’t ready.” 

“Right, but he’s been hinting around at it again, and last night, he just came out and said it. But Mo’, I don’t even know if that’s what I want. I look at you, and Ray, and Dorian….you guys are all doing what you want to do. Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids more than anything, but I can have a career and still be a good mother. Dorian’s completely against the idea of me working, though.” 

Mona knew this wasn’t a new concern of Lisa’s. “You just need to tell him that. Before you left Chicago, you were making quite a name for yourself as a journalist.” 

“Yeah. I’d just been offered the position I’d been waiting on when I left and married Dorian. Then D.J. came along almost immediately, followed by Shania two years later. And now Dorian wants another baby. I told him if I didn’t know any better, I’d think he’s trying to keep me barefoot and pregnant just so I'll have to stay home.” The words were said only half jokingly. 

“I understand how you feel, but Lisa you have to admit you have life that a lot of women only dream about.” 

“And I love it. I love my husband, my kids…but does that mean I’m not supposed to have any career goals whatsoever?” This issue was the one blip on Lisa’s otherwise perfect life. 

“No. I agree with you. But your husband is the one you need to convince. Dorian’s spoiled when it comes to you. He likes knowing you’re always available to him and the kids.”

“Well, he’s just going to have to get over that.” She nibbled on her lip as she looked at Mona, then spat out the secret she’d been carrying around. “I’ve sent out my resume to several television stations and I’ve had a few interesting offers.” 

Mona’s eyes got big. “Really? Lisa, that’s great.” The smile on her face slipped when she saw excitement along with something else on Lisa’s face. “Wait on a minute. You haven’t told Dorian. Have you?” 

Lisa shook her head. “No. And I have an interview next week.”

Mona’s mouth dropped. “Lisa…” 

“I’m going to tell him. It just all happened so fast; they called me a couple of days ago. They made it known that the interview is really just a formality. And when they offer me the job, I plan on taking It.” 

Mona still looked skeptical. “Okay, but I hope you know what you’re doing.” 

Lisa ignored the doubt turning flips in her stomach. “Of course I do. Ultimately, this is my decision. Dorian will just have to accept it.” 


****“No.”Lisa’s eyes flashed when she heard Dorian's clipped response to her news and followed him to the kitchen. Lisa had told him she needed to talk to him, so after he’d tucked the kids in and came back into the family room, she’d told him about the job interview.She impatiently folded her arms while he took a bottle of water out the fridge. “What do you mean ‘no’?”“Just that. You know I don’t want you to work.”“That’s just tough, because I’m not asking your permission.” Lisa was trying to hold on to her temper but she could feel it unraveling bit by bit.“Baby, look, I’ve told you before. If you want to work, why not choose from one of the businesses we own. You can set your own hours and be your own boss.”“Because that’s not what I want to do. I’m a journalist, Dorian. And I’m taking this job.” Her body stiffened when he paused in the act of bringing the bottle to his lips and just stared at her.“And that’s it? You make this decision without even talking to me about it?”“Go on and say what you really mean. You mean without asking you first.""Lisa–""I’ve tried to talk to you about this and you just blow me off. Don’t act like this is something new.”“What about the kids? Lisa, a job like that is a demanding one. You’d be gone before the kids even got up. You‘d never see them.”“Will you stop exaggerating? Yes, I’d have to be up early, but that’s not every morning, and I’d be home before they got home. It would work out.”“I thought we were talking about having a baby. That’s on the back burner now?”“You were talking about having another baby. I told you how I felt about that. Maybe in a few more years, but not right now. Dorian, I’d really like your support.”“I’m always supportive of you. Lisa, I couldn’t ask for a better wife and mother to my kids. But my mother was there for us while we were young and I want the same thing for my kids.”“Will you listen to how archaic you sound? That was thirty years ago, Dorian. I’m not saying there's anything wrong with being a stay at home mom, but I want more than that.”Dorian carefully placed the water down and rested his hands on the dark gray granite countertop. Lisa could tell he was starting to lose his patience, but too bad. She wasn’t backing down from this.“You want more?” His voice was low and controlled. “Exactly what more could you want? I give you everything. All I ask is that you be here for me and the kids.”Lisa threw her hands up. “What about what I need?” She took a deep cleansing breath, determined to keep her calm. “Dorian, just because I have a job doesn’t mean I can’t be a good wife and mother, but believe it or not, I aspire to more than that.” She couldn’t help the sarcasm that accompanied her words. Then she thought about something, and her eyes squinted to thin slits as she went over what he just said. “And I don’t appreciate you insinuating that you’re ‘giving’ me anything. I’ve never needed you, or any other man, to ‘give’ me things."“There you go. See, I didn’t even mean it like that.”“Didn’t you?”“Anyway, where is all of this coming from all of a sudden? Did hearing from your ex-boyfriend stir up feelings that you’re missing out on something? Brought back memories of you two taking the news world by storm?” Dorian was referring to the fact that John’s family owned one of the largest newspapers and publication firms in Chicago. That’s how he and Lisa met.“Oh no. I’m not going to let you turn this around. This isn’t about John or anyone else. It’s about me and my needs. Dorian, you know what? Just….never mind. Regardless of how you meant it, we may as well put this conversation to bed. I’m done talking about it.” Lisa turned around and walked out of the kitchen. When Dorian called her name, she kept walking.“Got dammit, Lisa, no we’re not finished talking about it!” He caught up with her and stepped in front of her.Lisa was pissed off now, and when she became this upset her words were reckless. “Yes we are. As I said, I don’t need nor am I asking for your permission. I’m not one of your children; they’re both upstairs asleep. And I’m not one of your mindless ‘DBrad’ groupies.” She ignored the look of anger that crossed Dorian’s face. “I’m a grown woman who can make decisions on my own. If you don’t like this one, I’m sorry. But I’m taking the job. End of discussion.” She walked out of the room and left Dorian standing there staring after her.Lisa took a long bath to try and calm down, then got in the bed. She lay there for hours, waiting on Dorian to come to bed. She was just getting ready to get up to go and find him when she heard the bedroom door open. He ignored her when she sat up and watched him take his clothes off.“Baby, I don’t want us to fight.”Dorian let out a disbelieving snort as he went to the bathroom. When he walked back out, Lisa tried to catch his eye, but he just turned the lamp off and crawled into the bed with his back to her.Lisa scooted over and slipped her arms around his waist. They had made a pact at the beginning of their marriage to never go to bed mad at one another. At times, one of them had needed to bend to make sure they kept the agreement. This looked like one of the times that Lisa would have to be the one to make the first move, but when she kissed his ear and then the side of his face, he moved away.“I’m tired, Lisa.”“Dorian…”“I have to get up early in the morning. We‘re good, alright.” He turned over and gave her a quick kiss before turning his back to her again.Lisa slowly lay back down and did the same, staring into the darkness. She couldn’t help the hurt she felt over the way he was acting. She knew this was the part where she was supposed to give in and tell him she’d changed her mind, but not this time.Not. This. Time.***“Hi girl. What are you doing here?” Lisa stepped aside and let Mona in.

“I’m here to get my godchildren. Where are they?”

Lisa frowned as she closed the door. “They’re upstairs watching that cartoon they like. Uh…am I missing something? I don’t remember you telling me you were taking the kids.” 

“That’s because I didn’t.” 

Still looking thoroughly confused, Lisa just muttered, “Okayyyy…”Mona sat her purse in the chair and turned to level an appraising stare Lisa’s way.Feeling as is she were under a microscope, Lisa was clueless. “What??” 

Mona didn’t say anything for a moment, then shook her finger at Lisa. “I’m coming to get my godchildren so that their silly ass parents can get their shit together. That’s what.” 

Comprehension covered Lisa’s face. “Mona, I don’t want to hear it.” 

“You may not want to but as your best friend, I’m going to say it anyway.” 

“Mona–” 

“No, Lisa, listen. I don’t want to interfere, but this is crazy. The man’s birthday is in a few days. Both yours and his parents are flying in tomorrow, and you two are hardly speaking to one another.” 

“Don’t you think I’ve tried to talk to him? He’s acting a complete ass, especially once I got word that I’d officially been offered the job. He’s barely speaking to me. I’m not the one who’s wrong here, but I’ve extended an olive branch to him more than once and I feel like I got slapped in the face with it for the effort. So right about now, Dorian Anthony Bradley, II can just kiss my ass.” 

“Ooowee, Mommy. You said a bad word.”They both turned around and saw DJ standing at the top of the stairs pointing down towards his mother. 

“DJ, go back and watch television with your sister.” 

“But Mommy, you said Daddy can kiss your a-” 

“DJ! Now. How many times do I have to tell you to stay out of grown folks business? And if I hear you repeating what I said, you and I will be having a nice long talk. Do you understand me, young man?” 

Pouting and looking the same way his father had been looking the last couple of days, DJ turned to go back upstairs. Mona swallowed her laughter and called his name.“Sweetie, go on upstairs and get your sister. You two are spending the night with me, Uncle Ray, and RayJ.”DJ started jumping up and down and pumping his fists in the air.“Grab a few of your toys and Aunt Mo will be up to help you get some clothes together.” 

The next thing they saw was a blur as DJ dashed back to his room calling Shania’s name at the top of his lungs.Mona let her amusement bubble out and shook his head. “I keep telling ya’ll, that little boy is going to be as fast as his father.”She smiled in Lisa’s direction, then noticed Lisa’s pensive expression. “Lisa, I know Dorian’s been acting like a jerk, but he’ll come around. Sometimes we women have to be the bigger person when our men act like they’ve lost their damn mind. But he’ll come around.” She headed towards the stairs and added, “And just as a side note and reminder: you can catch more bees with honey than vinegar,” she grinned. 

Lisa laughed and shook her head. “Are you telling me to manipulate my husband through sex?” 

“Hell yes,” Mona replied. “Fuck the shit outta his stubborn ass. By the time you finish putting that ‘good good’on him, he’ll be thinking you taking that job was all his idea.” 

Mona smiled when she saw the thoughtful look that crossed Lisa’s face and mentally shook her head. Her work here was done. Those two were so stubborn, always had been. If Ray was doing his job right about now with Dorian, things should be back on track by tomorrow morning. 

****Lisa looked at the clock on the wall in the kitchen. Mona had called and said Ray was talking to Dorian on the phone, and that he should be home in about fifteen minutes. That was ten minutes ago. She hurried from one end of the kitchen to the other, grabbing plates, glasses, and cloth napkins. She cursed when she almost busted her ass in the stiletto heels she had on.She glanced at the security screen mounted in the kitchen and saw the black wrought iron gates opening. Moments later, Dorian drove through. Teetering on the spiked heels, Lisa ran into the dining room. Looking around, she made sure everything was perfect: the lights were dim, candles lit, Dorian’s favorite jazz CD played in the backgroundDorian rarely drank, and his alcohol consumption during the season was zero, no exceptions, so Lisa had taken out a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from the wine cellar, which was his favorite non-alcoholic wine, and it was now chilling on ice. When she heard the front door opening, she quickly ran back into the kitchen to wait on him.****Dorian let out a tired sigh as he walked into the house. He flexed his right shoulder, which had been giving him problems lately. Although only thirty, sports was a young man’s game. Professionally, he was still at his peak, but his body definitely felt a few more aches and pains than it had a few years ago. His plan was to retire in a few years. He was at the top of his game, and he planned on going out that way.Walking further into the room, he was headed to the stairs when he heard Lisa call his name. He dropped his bag to the floor and followed the direction of her voice, which sounded as if it had come from the kitchen.Slowly strolling down the hallway and around the corner, his pace slowed. He cocked his head to the side while he listened. That was the new jazz CD he’d bought but never had a chance to listen to. He frowned as he got closer to the kitchen. And why were all of the lights so low? He’d gotten home earlier than he’d anticipated and had expected the family room to be filled with noise from the kids playing, but…“Lisa,” he called out.“I’m in here.”He was still looking back as he walked into the kitchen. “What’s goin’ on? Why is it so quiet? I know the kids haven’t gone to bed this…”Whatever else he was going to say was forgotten the moment he saw Lisa standing in front of the large island. His eyebrows rose as his hungry gaze slowly ran over her. The only thing she wore was a black apron that tied at the neck and came down to the tops of her thighs, a pair of sky high black ‘fuck me heels’ that wrapped in criss-cross straps from her ankle to her calves…and a smile. That’s it.With his mouth still hanging open, Dorian reached up and smoothed a hand down the back of his head. He brought his eyes back up to hers. “Hey, um…hey.”“Hi baby.”His eyebrows shot up again. It had been about a week since he’d last heard that sexy tone in her voice.“I was hoping you’d be home early.” She smiled and turned to pour him a glass of wine.“Damn,” he breathed when her back was completely to him. Yep. That confirmed it. She was completely naked underneath the apron. His hands itched to trace the graceful curve of her spine on over the significantly sloped rise of her ass and nudge her thighs open. His eyes went to the string that was tied in a bow in the back. All it would take would be one firm tug…Carrying herself as if she was wearing a designer evening gown instead of just an apron, Lisa walked over and gave him the chilled glass of wine then lifted her lips up to his for a kiss. Still wearing his bewilderment all over his face, Dorian returned the kiss with his eyes open. Lisa placed her hands on either side of his waist and looked up at him when the kiss ended.“Why don’t you go upstairs and take a quick shower. When you finish, come back down and we’ll get our evening started.”“Uh, okay. Where are the kids?”“They’re spending the night with Mo and Ray.”Dorian’s brows bunched thoughtfully together. “That’s funny. I just got off the phone with Ray and he didn’t say anything about the munchkins being over there.”Lisa looked at him with an angelic expression. “Oh really? Hmph.” She slipped her arm around his waist and led him out the kitchen. “Well, go on and take your shower. I’ll be waiting on you when you get back.” She reached up and kissed the corner of his mouth again before going back to the stove with a slow, easy stroll.Dorian stood there studying her for a moment. As if she wasn’t aware of him still being there, she opened the refrigerator door and took out some cucumbers and tomatoes. She placed them on the cutting board, which was sitting on the island and hummed under her breath as she began chopping them up.Dorian wiped a hand over his mouth. He wasn’t complaining, but for the last few days, he’d almost felt as if he’d needed to hide all of the sharp objects in the house from her, and now she was standing in the kitchen, cooking dinner for him naked as if it were the most natural thing in the world. In normal circumstances, he would’ve been loving the hell out of it, but…His eyes widened a bit when she looked up at him and caught him staring. She picked up a tomato and took a bite, slowly chewing and savoring the fresh taste. Dorian's eyes followed her tongue as it came out and licked a bit of juice from her bottom lip.“Everything okay, baby?” she asked.Dorian’s mouth opened and closed several times before grunting out what sounded like an affirmative answer. He assumed it was when Lisa sent him a seductive smile.“Good. You’d better hurry. Dinner will be ready soon.”Nodding, Dorian turned and walked out the kitchen. He looked at the glass of wine in his hand, suddenly wishing it was the real thing. Twenty minutes later, he came back downstairs. In his bare feet, he headed back towards the kitchen. He’d put on a pair of jeans and a white shirt, which he’d only buttoned half way up, and his goatee had been groomed and shaped. Halfway down the hall, he heard Lisa tell him to come to the family room where he heard the CD playing. Highly anticipating what was coming next, Dorian walked into the room with a smile on his face, and for the second time tonight, was thrown off kilter.The ambience for a nice romantic evening had been set. The lights were dim, candles flickering, soft music playing…a petite masseuse standing by a massage table with her arms folded.Once again, he looked at Lisa for an explanation and once again she acted as if standing in the middle of their family room half naked in front of a strange little Chinese lady was perfectly natural.“Lis…what’s going on?” When the smile slipped away from her mouth and her lips pushed out in a small pout, Dorian hurried to assure her he didn’t mean the question in a negative way. “I mean, it’s great, but, I…we haven’t exactly been…”Lisa walked over and stood in front of him with a pleading look on her face. “Can we just enjoy tonight…and each other? Aren’t you tired of this coldness between us? Please, Dorian." She tilted her head and blinked up at him. "Truce?”Dorian looked into her eyes. Anxious to put the smile back on her face, he wrapped his arms around her waist, letting his hands grab the curve of her ass to pull her close. “Truce.”He bent down and touched his lips softly to hers before raising his head. His expression became intensely intimate as he brought a hand up to trace the shape of her lips with his forefinger. “I’ve missed you.” They both knew he didn’t mean a physical distance.“I’ve missed you too.”“Lisa–”“Shhh…” She covered his lips with her fingers. “The only thing I want to focus on tonight is each other. We can talk later. Deal?”He automatically mirrored her smile when he saw the dimple in her cheek pop out. Her thick lashes lowered to cover her eyes as she looked at his lips. Dorian was lowering his head again to claim another kiss when Lisa stepped back.“Ming Lee is going to give you a nice relaxing massage while I finish dinner. I’ll be back in just a minute.”Lisa sent him one last smile before walking out the room. Dorian stood there enjoying the booty view. The only thing that pulled him away from the erotic fantasy involving him, Lisa and handcuffs was Ming calling his name.“Mr. Dorian? You take off clothes.”Dorian glanced at her and unbuttoned his shirt before slipping it off. He was getting ready to get on the massage table when Ming Lee practically barked out, “Pants too.”Raising an eyebrow, Dorian took off his pants then stretched out on the table.“Ms. Lisa say you have problem with right shoulda.”Dorian shook his head. His wife was amazing. “Yeah. It’s a little sore.”“Okay, I fix. Just relax.”Lying with his head on his folded arms, Dorian closed his eyes, and moments later, he was in heaven. Although Ming looked like she weighed ninety pounds soaking wet, her hands were surprisingly strong. She worked the tension from his muscles, focusing on his shoulders. He couldn’t stop the groans of satisfaction that rumbled from his throat.“You look like you’re thinking about trading me in for Ming Lee.”Dorian laughed softly as he lifted his head and looked at Lisa. She was standing beside the table running her hands over his hair. “Nah, baby. She’s good, but she doesn’t hold a candle to you. You relax me in ways Ming Lee could never handle.” Dorian glanced over his shoulder. “No offense, Ming.”“None taken, Mr. Dorian.” Ming continued to knead his thighs and calves.Dorian’s eyes latched on to Lisa‘s ass as she walked along the side of the table, trailing a light finger from his shoulder then to his back before letting her hand rest on his taut buttocks. “Mph, mph, mph….” Lisa squeezed his ass then smacked it. “Baby, you are some kind of fine.”Dorian reached back and snatched her by the arm. “Come here.”Lisa giggled and managed to disengage his hand. “You have about ten more minutes, then dinner will be served.”Dorian would’ve gotten up right then to show her exactly what he wanted to eat, but his erection was painfully making itself known. He didn’t want to scare poor Ming out of her mind. Then again, she’d probably enjoy the sight.“Dinner, huh. What’s on the menu?”“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll make sure to feed you all of your favorites.” Turning and strutting out the room, she called out, “Ten minutes, Bradley.”While Ming finished the massage, Dorian managed to get his erection somewhat under control. After hopping up from the table, he thanked Ming again. She smiled and nodded as she began packing her supplies. After he walked her to the door, he made his way to the to the dining room located off the kitchen. He’d left his shirt off and was only wearing a pair of jeans.

Lisa had already set the table and was waiting for him. His stomach growled when he saw the mouthwatering food on the table: lobster tail with garlic butter, red baby potatoes, glazed carrots, and yeast rolls. 

“Damn, baby. You weren’t playing around, were you?” 

“Sit down. I told you I had all your favorites.”After Dorian took a seat, Lisa reached behind her and untied the apron. Food forgotten, Dorian’s eyes were everywhere on her body seemingly all at once.Lisa smiled. “I told you. All your favorites.” 

Dorian started to stand up, but Lisa pushed him back down in the chair. “Help me up.” 

Dorian lifted her on the table so that she sat directly in front of his chair. His mouth went slack as his eyes latched on to her nipples. When she rested a foot on each of his thighs, he ran his hands over the straps that circled around her toned calf.“Very sexy shoes.” 

“You like?” 

“Love it.” His hands traveled up to her knees. Only able to see the top of her mound and a hint of the treasure hidden in her dark depths, he licked his lips and was just getting ready to open her thighs when Lisa placed a hand on the center of his chest. 

“Food first.” 

“What I want to eat isn’t on that plate.” But he moved his hands back down to her shoes, absently caressing her French manicured toes as Lisa twisted to her right where the food was. 

She pulled apart the tender meat from the lobster shell with her fingers and dipped it in the hot, flavorful garlic butter. When the butter dribbled down her hand in a thin line, Dorian watched as Lisa’s pink tongue came out of her mouth and slowly licked it up before bringing the food to Dorian’s mouth. Keeping his eyes locked on hers, his lips enveloped her fingers inside his mouth before sliding his lips back and freeing them.

“Mmmm. Good.” He slowly chewed, opening his mouth again when she brought a whole baby potato to his mouth. Dorian took a bite, closing his eyes. “This is so good, baby. I didn’t realize how hungry I was.” 

Lisa smiled as she continued to feed him. After a while, Dorian became quiet. He sat back and watched her every move, dutifully opening his mouth when she brought the food to his lips. When she dipped more lobster into the butter sauce and went to bring it to his mouth, he caught her wrist and directed her fingers to her mouth.He shifted in his chair, trying to find some comfort from the painful throbbing of his dick. He’d taken about all he could stand of her sitting in front of him butt ass naked and not being able to touch. It was like putting a defenseless rabbit in front of a hungry wolf. She didn’t have much longer to play her little game. Time was ticking down quick. 

When a drop of garlic butter fell on her leg, they both watched as it trickled down to her inner thigh close to her pussy. Dorian placed his hand on her knees, and this time when he pushed her thighs apart, she offered not protest. Lisa’s eyes fluttered closed when he took his time, much longer than needed, and cleaned up the spill. 

“Mmmm…Okay baby, let me up so that I can get dessert.” 

Dorian growled from between her thighs. “I have dessert right here.” His fingers eased thru the protective lips of her pussy and held them apart. 

“B-but baby…” 

“But baby my ass.” Dorian looked up at her with fierce eyes that told her that there had just been a shift of control.Lisa pulled her bottom lip into her mouth as the look heated her to her core.“I appreciate everything tonight. You don’t know how much, but I’m getting ready to show you right now.” 

Dorian stood up and blew the candles out. Placing them in a chair off the table, he looked at the dishes of food. Impatiently shaking his head, he reached out and swiped everything except the small bowl of garlic butter to the floor without so much as blinking an eye. Lisa let out a shriek of shock and surprise. 

“Oh my God! Dorian!” 

Dorian came and stood in front of her. Dipping his fingers into the garlic butter, he smeared both nipples with until they looked basted and ready for consumption. Satisfied, he bent down to take them greedily into his mouth.Lisa gasped again, but this time, it was from the jolt of pleasure that traveled through her body. Oily with butter, Dorian’s hands squeezed her breasts, pushing them together as he took turns slowly licking and suckling the butter off of her nipples. 

Placing a hand to her stomach, Dorian pushed Lisa back on the space he’d just cleared away. Pulling the chair he'd been sitting in back up to the table, he sat down and settled between her thighs. Opening her legs wide, he saw how drenched her pink center was. 

“Now this? This is a meal.” He reached for the butter and slowly poured its rich thickness over her clit, watching as rolled down to her opening to mix with her natural body’s juice. “Hell fucking yes….pussy on a platter. What else could a man ask for.” 

Fascinated by the sight in front of him, Dorian traced the combination of pussy cream and butter. “Damn. I might just have to write my own recipe after this,” he teased in a low whisper as her hips lifted in a silent plea.He leaned closer and blew lightly on her pussy. Watching her closely, he circled his fingers over her clit. The oily slickness felt like wet silk. Dorian reached for Lisa’s hand and brought it to her engorged nub, then moved back a little bit so that he could watch her pleasure herself. She used the fingers of one hand to pull back the clitoral hood. Dorian stood up and quickly took the rest of his clothes off, never taking his eyes off of Lisa, before sitting back down. 

Watching her masturbate never failed to excite him. The more aroused she became, the more rigid the small shaft of her clitoris got. There were hundreds of nerve endings in a woman’s clit; that’s why it was so sensitive. That’s why it needed a light and gentle touch. It wasn’t meant to be rubbed like an eraser moving back and forth over a piece of paper. 



“You look so fucking sexy.” Dorian began to stroke his dick as he watched Lisa work her fingers in and out. “Pussy so wet…so juicy…” 

Lisa’s fingers moved faster. Knowing she was close to climaxing, he lifted her off the table and sat down. With her straddling him, he impaled his curved, rock hard phallus deep inside of her depths. They both groaned loudly at the ultimate connection. Using the rungs of the chair to balance herself, Lisa held on to Dorian’s shoulders and began to get her rodeo on, riding Dorian like he was a wild mustang that needed taming. Dorian’s hands bit into her soft skin, but it was only to hold on as her hips rocked and rolled, up and down. She bounced down as he surged up and clapped her strong inner muscles tight around his shaft.“You like this, baby?” she asked seductively. “You like the way I’m fucking you, D?”“Hell, yeah.” Dorian’s voice was hoarse from excitement. “You know I do.”“Baby…I’m getting ready to cum,” she mumbled against his lips. “Oh, fuck, Dorian….Cum with me….” 

“I’m with you, baby. I ain’t goin’ nowhere.”Lisa threw her head back. “You’re so…deep.” 

Dorian held her tight as he as he plunged upwards once…twice more then erupted. Pressing his stiff shaft against her clit, Lisa followed him as her orgasm claimed her as well. Warm waves of energy seemed to burst out of every pore. Her body tingled as a mini waterfall flowed down Dorian’s length and wetting the chair. Wrapping their arms tightly around each other, they held on until the spasms and trembling subsided.Once Dorian felt as if he’d somewhat gotten the strength back in his legs, he stood up and carried Lisa up the stairs to their bedroom. Once there, he headed directly to the bathroom. He carefully placed her on her feet, then turned the shower on before washing them both. 

After he dried her off, he picked her up again and placed her in the bed. When he got in beside her, Lisa snuggled up against him. She’d missed the closeness they shared more than anything. 

“So when do you start this new job of yours?” he asked in a slow, drowsy voice.Lisa’s eyes opened. She looked up at him and smiled, knowing that was his way of saying he was okay with her working. They talked late into the night about her job as well as a variety of subjects until they drifted off to sleep. Smiling, Lisa’s last thoughts were of bees and sweet honey.© 2017 S.K. HardyALL RIGHTS RESERVEDAll rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means without the written permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.


5 1/2 years later... 


“D.J., honey, hurry and finish eating. We’re going to be late.” 

“But Mommy, I wanna say goodbye to Daddy first.” 

Lisa inhaled deeply before exhaling through her nose. She was doing her best to try and curb her impatience with her precocious son, but she was quickly losing the battle. At five years old, he was showing signs of being just as strong willed and determined as his father. He had a stubborn streak a mile long, but this morning, Lisa wasn’t for it. 

She lifted her daughter out of her high chair and perched her on her hip. Three-year-old Shania was a healthy, happy little girl and the light of her father’s eye. She smiled up at Lisa and reached up to pat her mother’s hair. Lisa gave her a distracted kiss as she turned to head out the kitchen. 

“DJ, we discussed this already…several times. Daddy’s been on the road for three weeks and got back very late last night. He’s still asleep, but you’ll see him when you come home from school.”She glanced over her shoulder and gave her son a stern look that he knew brooked no argument. 
“I’m going to finish dressing your sister. If you’re not ready by the time I come back, we’re leaving whether you’re finished with your breakfast or not. Do you understand me?” 

D.J.’s mouth turned down at the corners and his brows bunched together in a petulant pout. He scooped up a spoonful of cereal and shoved it in his mouth while shooting an unhappy look at Lisa.She stopped, turning completely around to face him, and perched her hand on her hip. “Excuse me, but I didn’t hear you.” 

D.J. cautiously eyed his mother. He knew he’d just about pushed her as far as he could, but being his father’s son, he had to go a little bit further. Mumbling around a mouthful of cereal, he gave her an adoringly innocent stare that didn’t move Lisa in the least. 

“But Mommy…” The words came out a jumbled mess. “You told me not to talk with my mouth full.” His smile was as sweet as an angel's.However, when his mother took a threatening step towards him, his eyes widened and took over his face. He sat up straight and quickly gave her the answer she was looking for her.“Yes, ma’am. I’m almost finished.” 

Lisa raised her right brow and sent him one last long glare for good measure, and was turning around again to leave when she and Shania ran into the hard, unyielding wall of her husband’s bare chest. 
Shania squealed and jumped with excitement as Dorian slipped his arms around Lisa’s waist to steady her while at the same time leaning down to place a quick peck on his daughters nose. 

“Hey, baby. Where you rushing off to?”The question was directed at Lisa, but his attention was on Shania as he made funny faces that had her jumping and falling out with laughter.“Hi Daddy’s girl,” he grinned. How’s my little sweetheart?”

“I’m trying to hurry and get the kids ready, but your son–” 

“Daddy!” D.J. slipped out of his chair and ran full speed towards Dorian.A wide grin split Dorian’s face as he turned towards his son and lifted him up. D.J. squealed with laughter as Dorian threw him up in the air. “What’s up, sport? How’s my li’l man this morning?” 

Lisa sighed as she looked at them. “Dorian, he just finished eating. Be careful.” 

“Awww, he’s fine. Aren’t cha’, sport?” Dorian tossed him up one more time then set him down and began to play box with him.Lisa started to say something, but thought better of it and shook her head as she walked out of the kitchen. It would be a lost cause now to try to make D.J. finish eating. He was in straight heaven now that Dorian was up. As she hurried towards the long winding staircase that would take her to the second floor, Shania began kicking her legs and screaming as she tried to wiggle out of Lisa’s arms so that she could stay and play with her father and her brother. 

Great,Lisa thought. 

Ignoring the large crocodile tears that ran down her daughter’s face, she continued upstairs. Once they’d made it to Shania’s room, Lisa looked around the beautifully decorated area, which was done in soft, pastel colors. A mural of fairies and angels had been painted on the wall, and in the middle of the room was a gorgeous canopied bed with a frilly comforter and loads of pillows.Lisa placed Shania on the bed and went about the task of taking off her nightgown and putting her clothes on. After making quick work of dressing her daughter, she impatiently blew a wayward curl out of her face and picked Shania up. 

One down, one to go, she said to herself as she went back downstairs.Walking back into the kitchen, she glanced over at the breakfast nook where Dorian and D.J. were sitting. She shook her head when she saw her son dutifully finishing up his breakfast without so much as a frown. 

Dorian glanced at her and winked, accurately guessing Lisa’s thoughts as he picked up the now empty cereal bowl and placed it in the sink. A reluctant smile crossed Lisa’s lips. He and his son were like two peas in a pod, and shared a bond that had been established while DJ was still in her womb.

Towards the end of her pregnancy with him, Lisa had been extremely uncomfortable. The doctor had told them D.J. was going to be a long baby; he seemed just as uncomfortable in Lisa’s stomach the last couple of weeks before his birth. He would constantly move, throwing his little elbows and heels against her stomach as if telling her he was ready now. The only time he seemed to calm down was when Dorian would put his large hands and lips to her stomach to talk in soothing tones to him. As if by magic, D.J. would almost instantly stop his restless movements, instinctively recognizing his father’s voice.

“You coming right back after you drop the kids off, babe?” Dorian helped his son slip his arms into the backpack then walked the three of them to the kitchen door leading to the garage. 

“I hadn’t planned on it. I really thought you’d be asleep for hours.” She ran a hand over her hair, smoothing the strands back into the ponytail she wore. “I told Christy I’d meet her at the athletic club for the 9:00 spinning class, and then I was going to beg Louis to squeeze me in at the salon. If I don’t do something with this hair, I’m going to chop it off myself.” 

Dorian was on one side of the Escalade in the garage making sure D.J. was buckled in, and Lisa was on the other side putting Shania in her booster seat. Dorian gave D.J. a high five before closing the door and walking over to Lisa. Just as she reached for the handle to open her door, he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her towards the back of the luxury SUV out of the kids’ line of vision. 

His body pressed hers against the truck. Lisa looked up at him with a question in her eyes, which quickly turned to enlightened comprehension when she felt his erection jabbing at her through his sweat pants.

“Dorian…the kids.” The mild protest was accompanied by a smile as she slipped her arms up around his neck. 

“Come home after you drop them off,” he whispered, nibbling on her ear.Lisa’s lashes fluttered closed as a delicious shiver ran through her body. After all this time, Dorian still only had to touch her to make her lose control.“I’ll give you a workout to rival any exercise you could ever get in some old spinning class. You’ll enjoy it a lot more, too. I guarantee it.” 

““But…I…” Unable to form a coherent sentence, Lisa let out a soft mewl as his teeth moved to her neck.Dorian brought her hand to the front of his sweats so that she could see for herself exactly what he had waiting on her. Lisa’s fingers immediately grasped his thick, rigid shaft through the material. 

“Does that mean yes?” He lifted his head and stared her in the eye as he gently closed his teeth around her bottom lip. 

“Uh huh…” Lisa nodded her head up and down.Dorian smiled and pulled her towards the driver’s side and opened the door. “Hurry back,” he said in a low tone. “You know you got me feenin’ for my goodies, right?” 

Lisa glanced back at the kids to make sure they weren’t paying attention to them. “Baby, don’t act like its my fault it’s been so long. I know things have been hectic, but you know this is yours for the taking whenever, however, and wherever…” 

“Well, I’m here now, so I plan on tearing that shit up as soon as you get home.” Dorian closed the door after she climbed in the vehicle.Lisa’s feminine core tightened in reaction to the look on his face, but now that she’d had a chance to catch her breath, she purposely shrugged her shoulders, giving off an air of nonchalance. 

“Guess we’ll see, won’t we?”

Dorian had been walking backwards when he heard the challenge in her words. He stopped and tilted his head to the side. The expression on his face told her he couldn’t have heard her correctly. “Excuse me?” 

Lisa pushed the remote for the garage door and put the truck in reverse. She struggled to keep the smile off her face as she looked at him through the open window. “You heard me…sport.”A second later, she slowly backed the truck out of the garage, but the words he directed towards her drifted through the garage and into the interior of the truck.“I got your ‘sport’, baby. He’ll be waiting on you as soon as you get back. You just make sure you ready for him.” 

Lisa put the car in drive and retorted, “Promise, promises…”She burst out laughing as she looked in the rearview mirror and saw him staring at her while nodding as she drove away. She knew he would make her pay for her taunts and innuendos the moment she got back home. That’s what she was betting on.****With his good mood restored, D.J. chatted non-stop during the fifteen-minute ride. When Lisa pulled up to the building which housed the exclusive private school where he attended kindergarten, the teacher on duty waved at her and opened D.J.’s door. Seeing his best friend, Jonathan, getting out of the car in front of them, D.J. threw a quick goodbye and ‘love ya, Mom’ Lisa’s way before scurrying down and running to join him.Lisa saw Jonathon’s mother, Staci, waving through the rearview mirror of her Range Rover. Staci held her thumb towards her ear and her pinky to her lips while mouthing ‘call me’. Lisa nodded and waved as they pulled away from the school.The next stop was dropping Shania off at the daycare academy she attended three days a week. Today, her class was going on a day trip to the zoo. After parking, Lisa took Shania to her class, nodding and smiling as Shania tried to tell her about the different animals they would see at the zoo, seemingly without taking a breath in between sentences.Ten minutes later, Lisa was back in her vehicle and on phone with Christy to let her know she wouldn’t be meeting her for the exercise class.“Oh, okay girl. I guess I’ll go by myself, then. How about we make plans to go together tomorrow?”“Welll…I’ll have to let you know,” Lisa grinned.Silence met her on the other end for a moment. “Ohhh, okay. Now I get it. Dorian’s back, right?”Lisa smile grew wider. “Yep. He came in last night and he’s waiting on me at home.”“Girl I swear, you two act like newlyweds! You’re disgusting!” Lisa laughed at the choking sound Christy made. “I’m serious. Even when you’re out in public together, that man can barely keep his hands off of you.”“Hey, what can I say? You don’t hear me complaining, do you?”“Hmph. I wouldn’t complain either if I had ‘one of the sexiest athletes of the year’ keeping me warm at night.” Christy was referring to a popular magazine that had voted Dorian one of the sexiest 100 men who played sports. “I mean, you know I’m crazy over Terry, but that husband of yours is one fine specimen of a man. And I tell you everything, but you never want to dish and give up details. At least tell me if he’s as good in bed as he looks??”“Okay, end of conversation.”“But-”“Goodbyyye, Christy…” Lisa sang out. “I’ll talk to you later, nosey ass.” Lisa laughed and hung up the phone, effectively cutting off Christy’s protests.Shaking her head, it wasn’t the first time the other woman had tried to get in her business like that. Yes, Christy was her friend, but Lisa also remembered what her mama told her years ago, and any advice Justine Miller gave her was the gospel as far as she was concerned. If a woman ran her mouth to her friends about how good her man was, especially in bed, she wasn’t doing anything but whetting their curiosity to find out for themselves if everything they’d been told was true; Lisa had seen it happen before, especially in this business. The only woman she really trusted was her best friend, Mona. All those other bitches? She fed them with a long handled spoon.Lisa had been part of this life long enough to know how scandalous the females were. It was just something about athletes that attracted women like bees focused on a honeycomb. They didn’t give a damn whether or not the men were married, and to be honest, half the men didn’t care if they were married themselves. New pussy was there for the taking, every single day if they chose to take advantage of it, and a lot of players felt they were entitled to as much as they could get. 

As confident as she was of her marriage, Lisa wasn’t naïve enough to put her hand on the Bible and swear that Dorian would never, ever cheat on her. But she trusted him and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt how much he loved her and loved their family to mess it up over a fleeting moment of pleasure.When he’d proposed to her, he’d made it clear that he was ready to settle down and that he didn’t want anyone other than her.It was still hard to believe that he had actually been bold enough to interrupt her wedding ceremony almost six years ago. And poor John. Lisa didn’t think she’d ever get over the guilt of leaving him at the alter and cancelling their wedding. But it had been for the best. John deserved someone to love him the way a woman was supposed to love the man she’s pledging to spend the rest of her life with–and that woman hadn’t been Lisa. She could still remember how horrified she’d been when she’d turned around and spied Dorian standing in the back of the church... 

‘If there is anyone here who objects to this man and this woman becoming man and wife, speak now or forever hold your peace.’‘I know a reason.’ 

The moment had been surreal, like a scene out of a bad movie. When Lisa turned around and saw Dorian slowly walking towards them, she’d felt herself sway, become lightheaded. If John hadn’t held her close, she would’ve surely ended up on the floor surrounded by the satin and lace cloud of her wedding gown.

As if in slow motion, she’d watched Dorian take one step after another, deliberately holding her eyes with his  and refusing to let her look away. Lisa heard the shocked and excited gasps that sounded throughout the church as everyone’s eyes darted from Dorian to her. 

‘Oh my God, isn’t that the professional baseball player? DBrad?’ 

‘No, he is not coming here and interrupting their wedding!’ 

‘Ooowee, where’s my phone? Girl, we can sell this to the Inquisitor and make a boat load of cash…’ 

The murmurs had gone on and on. People took out cameras and their cells phones and began taking pictures and recording the entire episode playing out in front of them. No doubt dollar signs danced in their heads, especially her ghetto ass cousins. Lisa had stood there, frozen in place until she’d seen her father jump up in outrage followed by her two brothers, moving towards Dorian. 

‘Just what in the hell do you think you’re doing! Get out!’ Byron Miller’s hands were clenched into meaty fists, only moments away from knocking Dorian on his ass. He stepped in Dorian’s pathway to block him from getting to Lisa. ‘Son, you can either leave on your own or I’ll throw you out myself!’ 

‘Daddy!’ Lisa took a step towards her father, but John held fast to her arm and kept her by his side.Lisa sent a horrified look Mona’s way, and in turn Mona turned to Ray, who was now her husband, to do something to stop the spectacle Dorian was making of Lisa’s wedding–and himself–but Ray was already on his way to Dorian’s side. 

‘Man, what are you doin’!’ Ray hissed. ‘Are you crazy?’ 

But Dorian ignored his cousin and addressed Lisa’s father in a respectful, but firm voice. ‘Mr. Miller, my name is Dorian Bradley–’ 

‘I know who you are, but what I don’t know, nor do I care to find out, is why you’re interrupting my daughter’s wedding! I wont tell you again to get out of this church!’ Lisa’s brothers’ faces showed their confusion, but they were ready to toss Dorian out on his ass and ask questions later. 

‘Sir, I mean no disrespect, but I cant do that. I love your daughter. I’m sorry, but I’m not leaving here. Not without Lisa.’ 

Lisa gasped when she heard what Dorian said, and before all hell could break loose, she wrenched her arm away from John and hurried to try to stop the catastrophe taking place, which could only be described as her worse nightmare. Mona and a couple of her bridesmaids ran behind her, picking up the train of her gown when she stumbled. John was right behind them. 

‘Daddy, wait!’ Lisa reached for her oldest brothers’ arm and tugged at it just as he grabbed for Dorian. ‘Jeff, stop! Please! You too, Nathan!’

Somehow, she got everyone to calm down. Now that the shock of seeing him had passed, Lisa glared at Dorian with angry tears shining in her eyes. She could tell from the obstinate set of his jaw that he wasn’t leaving willingly. 

‘What’s wrong with you! Why would you ruin my day like this?’ 

‘Five minutes, Lisa. That’s all I ask. Five minutes.’ 

‘You can’t be serious,’ John blustered. ‘Leave now or I’ll have someone call the police!’ 

Dorian ignored John as if he were of little or no consequence and kept his eyes glued to Lisa’s face. ‘After you talk to me, I promise I’ll leave if you still want me to.’ 

‘You’re crazy!’ John sputtered. ‘Someone call the police! I want him arrested for trespassing!’ 

Lisa pulled her eyes away from Dorian and touched John’s arm. ‘John, wait. I don’t want this to be any more of a sideshow than it already is. I’ll talk to him, he’ll leave, and then we’ll finish the ceremony.’ 

‘Lisa–’ 

‘Sweetheart, please.’ Lisa looked beseechingly up at John who reluctantly stepped aside as she walked passed him with Dorian behind her.Lisa gave her mother what she hoped was a reassuring smile as she passed her, then went through a door off to the side. The moment it closed behind them she turned and slapped the ever loving shit out of Dorian as hard as she could. When she opened her mouth to blast him to hell and back, he swooped down and pressed his lips against hers in a hungry, ravishing kiss.

Lisa’s cry of outrage changed to one of longing when his tongue touched hers. Fists that had been balled up and ready to deck him again at the first opportunity uncurled to clench the lapels of his jacket.When their lips finally parted, they were both breathing hard and heavy. Dorian rested his forehead against hers for a moment as he struggled to catch his breath. Lisa inhaled large gulps of air to help her gather her strength before pulling away from him. 

‘Dorian, why are you doing this? I don’t hear a word from you in almost five years, then you show up like this? On my wedding day?’ 

‘You ran out on me, Lisa. You haven’t heard from me because I’ve been trying like hell to get you out of my head, to convince myself what happened between us didn’t mean anything, but–’ 

‘Don’t give me that!’ Lisa’s anger returned. ‘Don’t make it seem like what we had was some great love affair that I ran away from. It was just sex. Nothing more. Besides, from all of the women you’ve been photographed with, I doubt very seriously you’ve been pining away for me.’ Lisa couldn’t help the bite of jealousy that accompanied her words. 

‘They weren’t you.’ 

‘Oh, bull!’ 

‘Are you trying to say that you’ve never thought about me? Never thought about us?’ 

Lisa cut her eyes away from him, unable to lie. ‘I’m getting married. I want you to leave.’ 

‘I never stopped thinking about you. Not once. I’ve kept up with you through Ray.’ 

‘And if that’s true, you knew I was getting married months ago. Why wait now to do this. You could’ve saved us both a lot of embarrassment.’

‘Because I told myself you wouldn’t actually go through with it, that the wedding would never take place. The closer this day came…’ Dorian shook his head as he took a step towards her. ‘I struggled with myself to stay away Lisa, you’ll never know how much I did, but just the thought of not ever having you in my life the way I always thought you eventually would be–’

‘What?? You have some nerve, do you know that? But of course you do. You’ve always been an arrogant son of a bitch. You’ve just proven it by putting your own selfish needs ahead of my happiness.’ 

‘Are you?’ 

‘Am I what?’ 

‘Happy.’ 

Lisa blinked rapidly as she looked away. ‘Yes.’ 

‘Liar.’ 

‘Dorian…’ 

‘Lisa, I love you.’Lisa slowly turned back to him. ‘What?’ 

‘I said I love you, baby. I think I always have, but I was too stubborn to admit It.’ 

‘Don’t…’ Lisa’s voice was a low whisper as she took a step back. 

‘Do you think I would come here and humiliate either one of us like this if I didn’t? Lisa, please don’t marry him. You don’t love him. And maybe I’m wrong, maybe you don’t love me, but I swear to God, baby, I’ll do whatever it takes to make you love me. Just please. Don’t do this.’ 

The two of them stared at each other with an intensity that was almost tangible. Dorian’s eyes were pleading and Lisa’s were scared…yet hopeful. The reason she’d left him without a word all those years ago was because she’d fallen in love with him and couldn’t stand the idea of him walking out of her life. So she’d done it first. But she’d never loved anyone else the way she loved Dorian–the way she still loved him. 

Hearing the door open, neither of them moved, not wanting to break the tenuous spell that had weaving its way around them. Then Lisa heard John call her name. 

‘Lisa? Are you alright? Is he leaving now, or do I need to call the police?’

Lisa finally broke the stare she and Dorian seemed to be locked in and dropped her eyes before turning to look at who she now knew was ex-fiancé with an expression full of sorrow and regret. She slowly pulled off the diamond ring he’d given her and held it out to him. 

‘John…I’m sorry…
Pulling into her circular driveway, Lisa shook her head and tried to banish thoughts of that day from her mind. John had contacted her a couple of years ago to let her know he’d forgiven her and that things had worked out the way they were supposed to have worked out.Sadness still lingered at having hurt him the way she had, but she’d never regretted the decision she’d made. Not for one moment. How could she? She had a wonderful husband who’d given her two beautiful children. No, she wouldn’t change a thing. With that being said, Lisa firmly put the past back where it belonged.Besides, she smiled as she jumped out of the truck and hurried to the front door. What she had waiting inside for her was going to require her full and undivided attention. 

Thoughts of her husband made her quicken her steps. Once inside, she hurried though the house and up the stairs to their bedroom, calling out Dorian’s name. He’d been on out of town for the last three weeks and she’d missed him like crazy. In the years they’d been married, their sex life had not diminished in the least. If anything, it had gotten hotter, more intense…and extremely satisfying. 

They’d been video chatting almost every night since he’d been gone. The kids got a kick out of seeing their Daddy talking to them through their tablet, and after Lisa would put them to bed, it was Mommy’s turn to get her grown up ‘kick’ from Daddy as well. Lisa’s nipples hardened at the memory. If she didn’t get a taste of her sexy ass husband in the next few minutes, she was going to scream! 

“Dorian? Baby, I’m home.” Lisa walked into the huge master bedroom with a look of anticipation on her face for what awaited her.“Honey?” She smiled when she saw him at her desk in the adjoining sitting room. “What are you doing? You’re supposed to be bare ass naked on the bed waiting on me to…” 

The rest of the sentence died on her lips and her steps slowed down when she saw he was reading something on her laptop. She immediately knew what it was. Damn! She’d forgotten to close it in her rush to get the kids ready this morning. Of course she’d planned on telling him, just not like this. 

Dorian stood up and turned to her with a closed expression on his face, but Lisa could see the anger simmering in his eyes. He folded his arms and pinned her with a direct stare that let her know he was indeed hot–but not the way she’d been anticipating. 

“You and John been emailing each other? How long has this been going on?”Lisa opened her mouth and took a deep breath. “Okay, first of all we haven’t been ‘emailing each other’ as you put it.” 

Dorian’s dark brows almost met as his forehead immediately knotted up. Glancing back down at the laptop, he hit the back button with the stroke of a key and scrolled down to two more emails from her ex-fiancé before looking up at her.“He’s sent you several emails.” The words snapped out as he pointed towards the screen. 

Lisa held her hands up as if to head off any potential misunderstandings. “And I only responded to the first one out of common courtesy. It was all very general. When I checked my email this morning, I saw that he’d written me again. As soon as I have a moment, I’m going to send him a message and tactfully let him know I think its best if we don’t communicate with one another.” 

“Tactfully? Lisa, just tell his ass not to contact you anymore. Better yet, block his email address if you have to. What does he think, that ya’ll gonna be buddies or something?”Lisa bit her lip and counted to ten before she answered. “I was going to tell you today, Dorian. I didn’t want to bring it up while you were away from home because I knew this is how you’d react.” 

Dorian leaned against the desk and crossed his ankles, silently studying Lisa when she moved the couple of steps it took to reach his side. She placed her palms on his chest, absently caressing his pecs. “I don’t want to argue. You know you have nothing whatsoever to worry about when it comes to John.”

“I’m not worried about him, but I don’t like the fact that it sounds like he’s trying to be friends with you. Would you be okay with ex-girlfriends of mine wanting to stay in touch with me?” 

“No, but I’d trust you to handle the situation. Matter of fact, I’ve trusted you to handle it on more than one occasion.”Lisa’s not so subtle words were a reminder of the women who, at the beginning of their marriage, had popped up seemingly every time she turned around. For a while it seemed like the only time they talked was when they argued. The first year of marriage was the hardest for most couples anyway; throwing in a never ending array of hungry women whose main goal it was to bed your husband made it an almost impossible situation. 

Lisa had been used to seeing women go crazy over Dorian in college, but the new breed of groupies at the professional level were a different animal altogether. They had no conscience and no morals; they collected pro-athletes as if it were a favorite hobby or full time job. And for some it was.
She lost count of the number of times she’d be standing right beside Dorian and women would dismiss and blatantly disrespect her by propositioning her husband right in front of her. But Dorian dealt with the ones bold enough to do so swiftly, at times cutting the more persistent ones down with words sharp enough to slice them to the bone. 

Eventually, the two of them hit their stride in their marriage. They became stronger and their bond unbreakable. But John remained a touchy subject for Dorian. This was the man he almost lost Lisa to, and he didn’t want him anywhere near his wife. He trusted Lisa. But John? That was a different story.“Lisa, you might think he doesn’t mean any harm, but fuck the ‘cant we all just get along’ bullshit. It ain’t happening. No, wait,” he said when she tried to cut in. “I’m not saying I don’t trust you to take care of it, Lisa, but if you’re going to handle it, then handle it.”Or I will.

Those three unspoken words loomed between them. The tension in the room became thick as they stared at each other. This was one of those pivotal moments where the next words said could either set things off and start an argument or break the ice and warm the chill that was in the air.
Lisa chose the latter option. Her face softened and her hands flattened against his chest before leisurely sliding up and clasping themselves behind his neck. She’d known he would be upset, but she didn’t expect it to be this bad. If he needed to be reassured that John was not a threat, then she had no problem doing that. She refused to let the issue cause discord between them. 

“I’ll handle it today and make sure he understands that I don’t want him contacting me anymore.” She reached up and kissed him softly on the lips. “Okay?” 

After a brief hesitation, Dorian’s arms circled around her waist and the tension melted from his body. He pulled her against him and meshed their mouths together in a long kiss while his hands found their way to her backside. Lisa stood up on tiptoe to deepen the kiss. 

When Dorian lifted his head, she murmured a protesting whine. Dorian smiled, tempted to tear her clothes off right now and give them what they’d been looking forward to the last few of weeks, but he forced himself to get control. 

“I just turned the bath water off a few minutes before you came in so it should still be hot. I know you’ve been a little stressed out while I’ve been gone, so go on and relax for a bit. I’ll be waiting for you when you come out.” 

Lisa frowned. She opened her mouth to tell him the only stress reliever she needed was him buried deep inside of her, but she saw the slight smile that played around his lips. He was up to something. Okay. She’d go along with him and play. 

“Alright. Don’t go anywhere.” 

“I won’t. Take your time.” Dorian smiled as he watched her walk away with that sexy walk of hers that he would watch all day if he could.Lisa deliberately put a little extra swing to her hips on the way to the master bathroom. Knowing he was watching, she decided to give him a show. Slowing her steps, she left a trail of clothes along the way: the tank top she wore ended up hitting him square in the face when she tossed it over her shoulder.Dorian’s laugh was low and sexy. It was obvious he was enjoying the mini strip tease. A low growl came next when she tugged her shorts and bikini panties down in one fluid motion. Lisa stepped out of the articles of clothing when they dropped to the floor, never breaking her stride. 

“Mmmmm….” The rumble of appreciation rolled from Dorian’s chest as his eyes dropped to her more than ample derriere. His dick jumped as images played out in his mind of how he planned to hit all that from the back.

Standing in front of the doorway to the bathroom, Lisa unsnapped the front opening of her white lacy bra and slipped the straps down her arms, letting it, too, fall to the floor. Just before she closed the bathroom door, she slowly pivoted around and gave him a good, long look at what she’d just unveiled for his viewing pleasure. 

Even though he had each and every inch of his wife’s body committed to memory, Dorian never tired of looking at her: 5’3”, almond shaped eyes, flawless milk chocolate skin all within an hourglass frame. She was one of the sexiest women he’d ever met. Her sensuality was innate and he loved that he was the one who’d tapped into that part of her and brought it out.He saw the way men stared at her.Far from being jealous, it brought out the male beast deep inside of him that made him want to beat his chest and yell out to them, ‘Yeah, motherfucker, she fine as hell and she’s all mine’. 

As his eyes traveled from the top of her pretty face on down to the hills and valleys and crevices of her body, he’d just about decided to say ‘fuck it’ and take her right where she stood. He straightened up from his stance against the desk to do just that when a satisfied smile touched her lips. Lisa wiggled her fingers at him and slowly closed the door. 

Dorian laughed when he heard her giggle. Little teasing minx. It was cool, though. He hadn’t forgotten about her little comment this morning as she was pulling out of the garage. He was going to enjoy making her pay for that. 

He shook his head and let out a deep breath, still seeing her naked body in his mind. Then he remembered the email. Dorian turned back to the computer and brought up the last one, silently reading it again: 

Lisa, 

It was good hearing from you. I guess you haven’t had a chance to answer my last email. I wanted to add that yes, I’m glad we made peace with one another years ago as well. I have to tell you though, and please don’t take this the wrong way. You’re one of those rare women who come along once in a lifetime. Your husband is a very lucky man.
I’m glad you’re happy. That’s really all I ever wanted for you. Hopefully, we can always remain friends. Matter of fact, I do quite a lot of business there in L.A. Maybe the next time I’m in town, you and I can have lunch to catch up. I’d love to meet those two adorable kids of yours. 

Don’t be a stranger, and hopefully we’ll talk soon. I’m enclosing my number if you ever feel like calling. Take care. 


John 

Dorian’s jaw tightened when he finished reading it. What the fuck was this dude’s angle? What man tried to be friends with a woman who dumped him at the alter for another man?

I do quite a lot of business there in L.A. Maybe the next time I’m in town, you and I can have lunch to catch up… 

Bullshit! 

Dorian drummed his fingers on the desk beside the computer as he took a deep breath, and held it before exhaling. The only thing he could think of was that the motherfucker had a death wish. That had to be it. Because if he came anywhere near Lisa, he’d get his ass kicked back to wherever he came from. 

His fingers drummed faster. He sat down in front of the computer and was just getting ready to click the mouse to send a replying email telling John just that, but he paused. No. He told Lisa he would let her handle it. But he wanted it nipped in the budnow. Today.Because like he’d told his wife, if she didn’t feel comfortable doing it, he had no problem whatsoever getting’John’sass all the way straight if he had to. 


***Inside the bathroom, Lisa’s smile stayed on her face as she leaned back against the door. The look on Dorian’s face promised a retribution she had no doubt he planned on dishing out. She’d gladly accept her punishment like the bad girl she planned on being.Pushing away from the door, though, her amusement quickly faded when she glanced towards the tub. Her lips parted in surprise when she saw red, pink, and yellow roses floating in the water. With her mouth still open, she walked over to the Jacuzzi tub and trailed her fingers through the water, causing the petals to lightly float around in the ripple. Dorian had added her favorite scented oil, and as he said, the water was still hot.Lisa sighed in utter contentment when she lowered herself into the steaming water and sank down low. She closed her eyes and rested her head back against the bath pillow and just…relaxed. So good to have her baby home. She missed the little things he did to spoil and pamper her.When he was home, and especially in the off-season, he was a hands on dad, which included taking the kids every once and a while so that she could have some ‘me time’. While a cleaning lady came in several times a week to help with the upkeep of the large home they lived it, she didn’t employ a nanny. Never had, which was a rarity in this world. She could count on one hand the number of women she knew who didn’t have nannies to help take care of her children. Some had two and even three.But Lisa was from the old school. She didn’t need anyone in her home to help raise her kids. She was raising them with the same morals her parents had brought her and her brothers up with, and that’s the way she intended it to stay.Languishing in the water for about twenty more minutes, she finally stood up to dry off. She was getting ready to wrap the towel around her when she looked over and saw a pair of sky high black Louies with large satin bows on the back.Lisa let out a small scream when she saw them. Dorian knew she was a self-proclaimed shoe horse; these were simply gorgeous. He’d apparently bought them and put them in the bathroom as a surprise. Beside them was a sheer, black negligee.Deciding to forgo the gown, Lisa quickly dried off then slipped the shoes on before opening the bathroom door to join Dorian in the bedroom. As an afterthought, she went back for a bottle of edible massage oil and a towel. He deserved a special treat for the shoes alone.Dorian was lying on the bed wearing a pair of satin red boxers with one leg hanging over the side and the other propped up on the comforter. One of her favorite songs played softly in the background. He’d been staring up at the ceiling, frowning as if in deep thought with his fingers interlocked behind his head, but when he heard the door open, he turned to look at her with a slow smile pulling across his lips. 

Lisa studied him from where she stood and took in the delicious sight of his body. She lusted after this man almost as much as she loved him. The diamond earring in his ear sparkled as he sat up on one elbow while his eyes visually fucked her and told her just what he planned on doing to her. Lisa’s eyes lingered on the cross he’d had tatted on his chest back in college. When they'd gotten married, he’d added his initials at the top of the cross and hers to the right because he’d told her she was his right hand, his everything. After the children were born, he’d tatted their initials in the remaining points of the cross, making it complete. 

Watching her walk across the room, Dorian’s teeth gnawed on his bottom lip. His eyes dropped to the shoes. “I see you found the gift I brought you.”

Lisa pulled her hungry eyes away from him long enough to answer. “Yes. I absolutely love them. You did good, Mr. Bradley,” she grinned.Standing beside the bed, she held out her hand to him, and when he stood up and took it, she led him over to the large overstuffed chair that sat on the other side of the bed. 

Dorian’s eyes were fastened to the slight bounce of her ass as he walked behind her before sitting down.“What happened to the gown?” His voice was laced with amusement, but the way his hot gaze ran over her body, she could tell he didn’t mind. 

“I’ll save it for another time.”Lisa put the massage oil and the towel on the floor then placed a hand on either side of the arm of the chair. She leaned down until she was eye level with him and gave him a long, wet kiss.Dorian reached up and placed his hand on the back of her neck when Lisa sucked his tongue into her mouth, but when he tried to pull her down on his lap, she placed her hands against his chest and stepped back. 

The next song on the mixed CD Janet Jackson’sAnytime, Anyplace. Dorian’s eyes were smoldering hot. He watched her with an intensity that scorched her body. She felt like she was on the verge of exploding and he hadn’t even touched her yet. Closing her eyes, she reached up and covered her breasts and began to move to the music, letting the words sweep her away: 

In the thunderin' rain… 
You stare into my eyes 
I can feel your hands… 
Moving up my thighs… 
Skirt around my waist… 
Wall against my face… 
I can feel your lips… 
I don't wanna stop just because… 
People walkin' by are watchin' us… 

Her hips swayed seductively. She opened her eyes and saw he’d sat back in the chair and was watching her every move. Just the knowledge that he found her sexy turned Lisa on even more. 

Working the four-inch FMP’s like a pro, she let her ands roam across her skin and explore her body before slowly sinking down and squatting in front of him. Dorian licked his lips when her hands rested on her knees and teasingly spread her legs open to give him a glimpse of what awaited him. She was so wet that her juices reminded him of the sugary glaze on a doughnut. 

Dorian’s hand covered the erection swelling up in the front of his boxers. “Come here, baby.” 

Lisa bit her bottom lip and kept eye contact with him. She got on all four and crawled the short distance to where he was.Dorian settled even deeper into the plush softness of the chair, not taking his eyes off of the sexy picture Lisa made. This was why he had no desire to stray from his wife. Aside from the fact that he loved her more than anything in the world, she was everything he could ever want in a woman. In public, she was the perfect package: gorgeous, funny, intelligent, great conversationalist… 

But behind closed doors, she was anything he wanted her to be. She could be sweet and sexy or his nasty little freak. Nothing was off limits. He watched her slither between his widely spread muscular thighs and kneel in front of him before bringing her hands to the waistband of his boxers. Dorian lifted his hips so that she could pull them off.Lisa reached for the massage oil and poured a generous amount over her breasts so that it ran over her nipples and trickled down the center of her chest to her stomach. 

Dorian’s hand grabbed his shaft and slowly started to stroke and squeeze his dick as he watched her rub the oil into her skin until her breasts were slick and glimmering wet. “Damn, Lisa…” 

Lisa lowered her head and swiped her tongue between the soft slit on top of his dick before sucking her lips just over the head. Dorian closed his eyes but opened them just as quickly so he wouldn’t miss a minute of the visual stimulation she was giving him. He cursed under his breath when Lisa lifted her head and replaced the warmth of her mouth with the warmth of his dick between her breasts.“Awww, yes. Shit.” 

Sandwiching his shaft, Lisa slid her breasts up and down his thick, long, inches. Dorian groaned and pumped his hips in between the tight fit of her plump breasts. His hands took over for a moment, massaging and squeezing her tits, and telling Lisa how good it felt. When he pushed up, she swirled her tongue around the head and licked at the drops of pre-cum gathering at the tip. 

“Baby…” Dorian’s voice grew hoarse. “That shit feels good as fuck.”But not ready to cum just yet, he wrapped his fingers in her hair and pulled her head up, letting her lips slowly slide up until he slipped out of her mouth. Standing, he lifted her up and walked her over to the bed. Lying on his back, Dorian brought her down on him in the 69 position so that her pussy straddled his face and her mouth hovered over his dick.The erotic smell of her sex acted as an aphrodisiac to his senses. His fingers separated the lips of her sex, allowing him unrestricted access to what he wanted. With his mouth opened wide over her opening, he dipped his tongue in and out, licking around the outside of her labia before snaking inside her tunnel while she went back to tasting his dick. Dorian’s groan of pleasure vibrated on her clit, making Lisa raise her head up and moan out his name.
At times like this, she could understand how a man could let his little head take over and run shit, because when it came to Dorian, her kitty ran the show and did his bidding.

“Dorian, baby please….” She knew he was teasing her because he could’ve made her explode moments after touching her if he wanted to. She’d barely gotten the plea out of her mouth, however, when Dorian flipped her over on her back. His mouth never left her pussy.Pushing her legs back, his tongue stroked her clit like the strings on a guitar, and the sounds she made was the music he played. Seconds later, flashes of light went off behind her tightly clenched eyes as she came hard. Dorian held on and continued to devour her sweetness as she writhed and thrashed about on the bed. 

Breathing hard, Lisa opened her eyes when he finally lifted his head and looked at her. “Turn over.” 

Lisa assumed the position she already knew he wanted her in. Once she was on her hands and knees, she glanced over her shoulder and watched him as he stroked his dick while staring at her ass. “I missed you, baby.” 

“Did you miss this dick, too? Because I damn sure missed my pussy.”

“Yes, baby, you know I did.” 

Still holding his shaft, he slid the head up and down her slit. “Come and get this, Lisa. Fuck Daddy’s dick.” 

Wanting him inside of her more than anything else she could think of, Lisa moved her hips back and ran her pussy back on his dick. With his hands to his side, Dorian watched as she fucked him, circling her ass up his length and squeezing her muscles as she slid back down. Dorian let her work his shit for a few minutes before he took control. Holding on to her hips he buried himself inside and fucked her deep and hard just the way she liked it.

“Is this what you missed, Lisa?” 

“Yes, baby…oh, yes, fuck me like that, Dorian. Take your pussy, baby.”
Dorian placed a hand on the small of her back, wordlessly directing her to lie down on her stomach. He moved his legs on the outside of hers. Lisa brought her thighs together, crossing her ankles so that his dick was trapped in her tight heat. Dorian placed his hands on either side of her body and looked down so that he could watch himself move in and out of her pussy, feeding her his dick.

“Daaaamnn baby,” he breathed. “I’ll never be able to get enough of you. You know that?” 

The friction the snug fit created along with his wife’s good pussy sent him over the edge. Dorian moved faster and faster until his body stilled and tensed moments before releasing his cum deep inside of her. His grunts of ecstasy sounded through the straining chords of his throat as he emptied every bit he’d had backed up and waiting to let loose. Feeling as if he’d sprinted across the finish line of a marathon, he collapsed down on her and turned his face to rest on her back. 

 


Lisa’s breathing slowed as she drifted into a light doze. Dorian’s hand ran soothingly along her skin, knowing they were far from finished. He placed several kisses on her back before inhaling deeply and lying back down on her. 

His thoughts drifted back to the emails again. Opening his eyes, his gaze went to the computer. John was trying to fuck with something that Dorian placed above anything. He would hurt a motherfucker who tried to worm his way between him and his family– between him and his woman, and he meant that.Apparently, John didn’t know the rules of the game, but if he persisted with this dumb shit? Dorian would gladly be the one to school and educate him straight from the playbook.© 2017 S.K. HardyALL RIGHTS RESERVEDAll rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means without the written permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.