S.K. Hardy's Blog, page 2

What Is Intimates by SK?

The purest definition of self-intimacy is feeling connected with all parts of yourself. In order to be intimate with others, we have to learn how to be intimate with ourselves...Intimates by SK is an online monthly subscription service to help you do just that. As an author whose books have gone to the number one spot on Amazon multiple times, it's only natural that I begin ISK with my first love, writing, in the form of captivating serial stories told in weekly episodes.​Of course not everything is for everybody, so let's talk about the benefits of subscribing to weekly episodes. First of all, I've always been a voracious reader, and as most eager readers are prone to do, we sometimes rush through a book and devour it so quickly that we don't give our minds time to absorb what we just read before we're moving on to the next one. Sound familiar?​The episodes I post are appetizing bites that allow you to savor the drama and enjoy the anticipation of the next week's episodes...sort of like your favorite TV show. Does that make sense?​Also, many people don't have time to sit down and read a full length novel. I know you understand me when I say it seems like there aren't enough hours in the day to do the things that are uppermost on our priority list, whether it's family, work, school, exercise, or countless other activities, right?​Let's face it. There are only so many hours in a day. This is where weekly episodes come in. They give you the opportunity to carve out 30-45 minutes during the week to read exciting, dramatic episodes that leave you full and satisfied, like a favorite meal you've been craving. While you're waiting on the next episode to drop, you can mull over the action you've read and get ready for the next round!​So. If this is something you think you may be interested in, stay tuned for more information on this exciting venture. Very, very soon, I'll be posting free weekly episodes for the next four weeks of the first dramatic series that I'll be releasing.If you decide you want to continue, you can sign up for an INTRODUCTORY fee of $3.99 per month. This price will increase, but members who have signed up before that time will continue to pay the same amount as long as you are a member of ISK.Remember, this is ONLY the beginning. Hopefully, you're just as excited as I am! Talk atcha soon, #TeamSK! Until then, be easy.​SK

Rules of The Game

CHAPTER 1



“Okay, Lisa. What has he done now.” Mona shook her head at her best friend of five years as she and her boyfriend, Ray, stood in front of Lisa. “I swear, you and D. can’t be in the same room together for five minutes without having words.”“He started it,” Lisa mumbled with a roll of her eyes.“Ya’ll just need to sleep together and get it over with,” Ray teased.“Ugh!” The immediate sound of disgust and the sharp frown that crossed Lisa’s face told Mona and Ray how she felt about that suggestion.Ray wrapped his arms around Mona’s waist and grinned at Lisa. “Girl, why you gotta be so damn mean? You know you wanna hook up with my boy.” 

Lisa cut her eyes at the two of them when she saw their amused smirks. “Maybe because ‘your boy…’” She raised two fingers on each hand and pulled them down as if writing quotation marks. “Is just that – a boy. If I wanted to ‘hook up…’” Again she drew quotation marks in the air. “With somebody, believe me, Dorian Bradley would be the last man I’d choose.”

“You act like my man is just some goon off the street. Girl, he’s gettin’ ready to go pro. You gotta admit, not bad for a young, twenty-one year old brotha, right?”They were all talking about Ray’s cousin, Dorian Bradley, who’d just been drafted to a major league baseball team in Los Angeles and was scheduled to leave in a couple of months. His friends had gotten together and rented an expensive suite of rooms to throw a congratulatory party for him, and right about now, it was standing room only.Lisa almost had to scream to make herself heard over the loud music.
“Exactly, and I’m not into groupie love. That’s part of his problem now, with his arrogant ass.” 

All of a sudden, Mona let out a loud gasp. “Lisa!” she hissed.

“No, I mean it, and ya’ll know I’m telling the truth. These females drop their panties for him at the snap of his fingers. I will never, ever be a notch on Dorian “DBrad” Bradley’s belt. I promise you that.”

“Lisa!”Now Mona’s voice had a desperate twinge to it. “He’s–”“Heyyy….” Chuckling under his breath, Ray wrapped his arms around Mona and pulled her back against him. His voice deepened so that he talked over her and drowned her out. “Come on, now, it ain’t even like that, Lisa. Both of ya’ll acting like the sexual tension that's been between you since sophomore year is nonexistent. Shit, it's thick enough to cut with a knife.” 

“Okay, now you’re just delusional. I’m not attracted to Dorian Bradley. Believe me, if he were the last man on earth, I wouldn’t–” 

“Careful.” A deep voice breathed out the soft warning from behind her.

Lisa jumped.  Craning her neck around, she saw Dorian standing inches away with his eyes fastened on her face. Although her stomach lurched and quivered from the close proximity of his body to hers, Lisa hid it behind an instant wall of irritation.“Do you always have to sneak up on people? Damn, Dorian!”

The corner of his mouth lifted as he snorted out a laugh. “How am I sneaking up on you? We’re in a room full of people atmyparty. I ain’t gotta sneak.” 

“Whatever. I’m surprised you could tear yourself away from your fan club over there.”Lisa peeked around his shoulder at the group of half dressed woman where Dorian had just finished holding court a few minutes ago. She shook her head in disgust as she brought her eyes back to his face. She had to admit he was a walking, talking wet dream, but the problem was, he knew it. She couldn’t stand a conceited man. 

“Jealous?” 
he asked with a sly grin.Lisa scowled. He’d just proven her point. Dorian truly thought he was God’s gift to women, and had the swagger that proved it. One of these days, a woman was going to take him down a peg or two and she just hoped she was there to witness it. 

“Why would I be jealous? They can have you.” Lisa raised her chin a smidgeon as she looked down her nose at him. “Besides. A hoe knows no gender.” 

She heard Ray and Mona groan behind her. “Here we go,” Ray muttered.

The smile on Dorian’s face never faltered, but his left eye squinted at her as he took a step that closed the distance between them. “You calling me a hoe?” 

“If the shoe fits. And don’t act like you’re insulted. It is what it is. At least you’ll fit in well with the stereotypical professional athletic persona. There’s nothing wrong with that. Do you, boo. That’s just not something I find attractive.” 

“Is that right?” Their eyes held, and for a moment, it was as if they were the only two people in the room. “What if I don’t believe you?” 

Lisa let out a hard laugh, even as she felt her heartbeat accelerate. “I suppose you’re going to tell me the type of man I’m attracted to?”

“Oh, I know the type of man youthinkyou’re attracted to. Boring intellectual stiffs who fit your idea of the type of man you think you’re supposed to be with.” 

“There’s nothing wrong with the men I date! And they’re not boring!” 

“Don’t get upset. Real talk here, right? I mean you so quick to give your opinion about me. If you can dish it out you should be able to take it.”Lisa placed her weight on one leg and put a hand on her hip. “Fine, Mr. Big Time. Say what you want to say. I’m a big girl.” 

Dorian shrugged. “Alright. Bottom line, you wouldn’t know what to do with a real man if he were staring you in the face.” He leaned down until she felt the warmth of his breath on her skin. “Like this.” 

Lisa swallowed hard and forced herself not to step back. She could feel Ray and Mona’s eyes watching them with rapt attention. When she saw Dorian’s eyes drop to her breasts, it was all she could do not to fold her arms over her chest and hide the small beaded pellets of her nipples that she knew were prominently on display beneath the thin silk chemise she wore.When he slowly walked around her, intentionally bumping her shoulder with his and went to stand behind her, she gritted her teeth and forced herself not to move. She knew his eyes were glued to the way her more than ample ass filled out the skintight jeans she wore. Lisa nervously tapped the toe of her stilettos and counted to ten. 

“Damn, girl,” she heard him exclaim in a hoarse whisper.Unable to stand it any longer, Lisa whirled around and glared at him.Dorian licked his lips nice and slow. “Yeah. I could definitely show you what it’s like to be pleased by a real man.” 

Lisa’s mouth worked a time or two before she was able to speak. She didn’t know why she always provoked Dorian because he never failed to leave her flustered and damned near speechless whenever they got into these little tiffs of theirs.She would never admit it out loud, but from the first time she’d seen him, there’d been an immediate attraction that she’d resisted with everything inside of her. They’d met through Mona and Ray. Ray also played college ball, but was in danger of failing trigonometry. Mona had been his tutor, and they’d eventually become a couple. 

Now that they were graduating, everyone was successfully going in their own direction. Ray and Mona had found jobs there at home and Lisa had accepted a job offer out of state. Dorian had become an instant millionaire several times over with the multi-year contract he’d signed. 

Lisa had to admit, as arrogant as he was regarding women, he’d never been braggadocios or cocky when it came to the sport he excelled in. He hadn’t changed a bit even though everyone around him, except for his closest friends, practically tripped all over themselves to kiss his ass. At times when she was at her most honest, Lisa could see herself falling hard for him, but she refused to even fall into that trap. As she told Ray, she was no one’s groupie and would never become one of the hundreds of girls who vied for Dorian’s attention.Suddenly tired of sparring with him, she took a step back and glanced at Mona. “This is ridiculous. I think I’ve had enough of ‘DBrad’ night for one evening. I’ll talk to you guys later.”Leaving them all, including Dorian, standing there staring after her in surprise at her abrupt departure, Lisa turned and made her way through the congested crowd. 

Mona cut her eyes at Dorian and Ray and ran after her friend. “Lisa, hold on a minute…” 

Ray turned to Dorian and shook his head. Dorian returned the look. “What?”

“When are ya’ll gonna stop fuckin’ around and startfuckin’ around?” He made a crass hand movement to demonstrate his point.
Dorian turned away from his cousin’s probing eyes and looked in the direction that Lisa had left in. Moments later, three women were at his side fighting for his attention. Dorian tried to get back into a celebratory mood, but Lisa had taken some of the fun with her. There had always been this “thing” between them. Times like this, he couldn’t help but think what would’ve happened if they’d taken that step and pursued it. 

One thing he finally admitted to himself was that the urge to find out before he left was getting stronger and stronger. 

****Lisa finished smoothing her favorite scented body butter on her arms and then pulled on a t-shirt. She’d just finished taking a long bath and drinking a couple of glasses of wine to help her relax after the episode earlier tonight at Dorian’s party so was now more than ready to crawl into bed and get some sleep.She had just stood up to go to the door to check the locks one last time when she heard the doorbell ring. Lisa frowned as she glanced at the clock on the wall.Who in the world was coming by her apartment at two o’clock in the morning?With her face still scrunched up, she slipped on her robe and cautiously walked to the door. “Who is it?”There was a slight hesitation before the voice answered. “It’s Dorian.”Now looking absolutely flabbergasted, Lisa stood on tiptoe and looked through the peephole. When she saw Dorian leaning nonchalantly against the doorjamb, she paused before unlocking the three locks. After sliding the chain off, she opened the door.Keeping a hand on the doorknob, she gave him a questioning look. “Dorian? What are you doing here? Do you know what time it is?”Dorian straightened up and placed a hand on the door. He pushed it opened and walked inside.Lisa looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “Uh, excuse me?”Dorian’s eyes never left Lisa’s face as he closed and locked all three locks back without even looking. Lisa’s lips parted as she got that familiar feeling in the pit of her stomach.“I…I was just getting ready to go to bed.” When Dorian took a step towards her and started untying the belt on her robe, surprise, then anger flittered across Lisa's face. Her hands covered his as she tried to push them away. “What are you doing?!”Dorian moved her hands aside and pulled the belt free. Lisa clutched at the front of the robe. “Have you been drinking?”Dorian finally spoke. “You know I don’t drink.”“Then–”“Are you trying to tell me you don’t want this as much as I do, Lisa?”Again, Lisa found herself speechless for a moment before she shook her head and pushed against the hard wall of his chest. “This is not happening, Dorian Bradley. I want you to leave. Now.”“You’re scared of me, arent you?”“Why would I be scared of you?”Dorian caught her hands that were still uselessly trying to push him away. “You think I didn’t notice those safe assholes you dated for the last three years? You want me as much as I want you. Admit it.”Lisa’s eyes narrowed when she heard the familiar arrogance in his tone. “This may come as a surprise to you ‘DBrad’, but not every woman wants to sleep with you.”Dorian’s expression blatantly showed his disbelief. “You sayin’ you don’t?”“No! Now I want you to leave….oh!” Lisa let out a startled yelp as he swiftly turned her around to face the wall. “What are you doing? Dorian, I’m not playing with you…”When she felt his body press her up against the wall, her voice trailed off as her breath caught in her throat. She shivered when his lips moved over her skin as he whispered in her ear.“Your curves in those jeans were calling out to me tonight. You know that right?”“Stop it.” Lisa’s voice sounded as if she were choking, even to her own ears. When she mustered the strength to try to pull away, he lightly bit her neck to keep her in check.“You’ve always been a bossy little thing, for as long as I’ve known you.”“Dorian!”“That’s why you choose the type of men you do. Lil lap dogs. Ones that pant in appreciation at the slightest kind word or gesture you give them.”Dorian’s tongue ran along her neck, soothing the skin he’d just nipped with his teeth. Lisa closed her eyes tight and sucked on her bottom lip to stop the whimper that threatened to escape as he continued.“I watched you around campus, you know. Had brothas damn near falling at your feet, turning into mindless idiots at just the hint of a smile you threw at them. Like puppets on your string.”His hands went to her shoulders and pulled the robe down until it fell in a pool at her feet. His eyes traveled over her and lingered at the round twin spheres of her ass cheeks exposed by the thong she had on. Lisa felt his breath quicken on the nape of her neck.“But, that’s not what you want. What you need…is it?”“And I guess you think you know?” Lisa meant the words to come out sarcastically, but instead, her voice sounded breathless with anticipation.Dorian laughed softly. “Defiant to the end, aren’t you? That’s good, though. I like that. But we both know it won’t last.”Lisa turned her head and looked at him over her shoulder. “You’re an arrogant bastard.”Again Dorian’s laugh was low and taunting. “Did you expect anything less?”CHAPTER 2Moments later, Dorian had Lisa’s hands stretched up and pressed against the wall in front of her. He interlocked their fingers, holding them in place. With her still looking over her shoulder at him, he brought his lips down to hers. Their tongues met and danced as if they’d shared a kiss like this many times before instead of it being the first time.Unable to hold it in this time, Lisa let out a hungry whimper, opening her mouth wide against the demanding pressure of his.Dorian's fingers trailed down her arm in a light caress, causing goose bumps to pop up along her skin before bringing his hand to rest on her stomach. Lisa pressed her body back against his, moving restlessly when his fingers slid down even further to the V between her thighs. Her body melted.Dorian smiled and let out a low growl when he felt the moisture that saturated the silky material of her underwear. “Ughhh, shit,” he groaned, rubbing her clit in a circular motion through the fabric. 

“D-Dorian….you don’t play fair at all, do you?”When she heard him chuckle softly under his breath, Lisa spun around and brought her hand up to the back of his neck. She pulled his head down and started kissing him as impatiently as he kissed her. 

“Lisa…damn you feel good,” he mumbled against her lips.Lisa let out a deep sigh, and with breasts heaving, brought her hands up and clawed at his shirt, tearing it open. Oblivious to buttons that popped and flew in every direction, Dorian quickly pulled the shirt off and threw it to the floor. Then he placed his hands on her bottom and lifted her up until her legs wrapped themselves around his waist. Having been in her apartment before with Mona and Ray, he knew where her bedroom was located. As he walked in that direction Lisa bit down on his neck before sucking the skin into her mouth. 

“Shit,” Dorian moaned.Now in the bedroom, he flung her to the bed, his eyes taking in the lust that covered her face. Her expression told him everything he wanted to know, but he wanted to hear it. Before the night was over with he planned on making her admit that this wasn’t just his imagination, that she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. 

Throwing a couple of packs of condom on the nightstand, his hands went to his belt buckle, but Lisa rose to her knees and pushed his hands aside. She fumbled with it until it came loose. Dorian reached down and grabbed the hem of her t-shirt and pulled it off before stepping back to dispense of his jeans. 

“Ohhhh….” she whispered when he was finally naked.Dorian smiled when her eyes remained locked on the heavy length of his dick.
“Is that a good ‘ohhh’?” 

“It’s very good.” 

Dorian’s nostrils flared. “Not yet, but it will be.” 

Joining her on the bed, he stretched out along side her and dipped his head to slide a rock hard nipple into his mouth. Lisa flung her head back as he began feverishly sucking and feeding from her breasts. 

“Yesss. Dorian…that feels so good.” Lisa’s body shuddered as she reached down and curled her fingers around his erection.Dorian moaned against her breasts as she stroked his shaft. His fingers slid down between her legs and parted the swollen lips of her pussy to find the creamy pool of her arousal. Testing the waters, he dipped his middle finger deep, groaning her name when her inner muscles gripped and locked around him. Dorian raised his head to look down at her face as he continued to pleasure her. When he brought his fingertips to her pearly nub, Lisa moved beneath him as he played her pussy like a familiar song.Lisa went wild underneath him. “Dorian…mmmm…don’t stop.”

“Let go, baby. Cum for me,” he whispered seductively. “Cum for me.”Lisa’s hips undulated faster as she neared her peak. She was close. So…close.Dorian continued to talk dirty to her. “I can’t wait to fuck you, you know that, don't you?” he whispered. “To feel your pussy snappin’ around my dick…” 

Lisa jerked. “Ohhh….” 

“Fucking you deep….” 

“Yes, baby…Yes…” 

“And hard…” 

Lisa licked her lips. “Mmmmm…” 

“Takin’ this pussy and makin’ it mine….” 

“Dorian!”

“Writin’ my name over it. All up in it…”

“Ohh shit…!” And with that final scream Lisa tumbled over the edge as her orgasm claimed her body with the strength of an earthquake that had the magnitude value of a ten on the Richter scale.Dorian bit his bottom lip, his eyes never leaving her as he watched the unbearable pleasure that washed over her from the powerful climax. He pressed his fingers firmly against her clit and let her ride it out until she slumped back down on the bed.

Removing cum drenched fingers from her honey well, he leaned over to get a condom, but Lisa grabbed his hand. He watched in fascination as she brought his hand to her mouth and slowly licked his fingers one at a time, sucking them clean.Cursing softly, Dorian grabbed a handful of her hair and brought his lips down to hers in a hard kiss. His tongue plundered her mouth over and over again, greedily tasting the essence of her juices before finally lifted his head and staring at her.“Delicious.” 

Wanting more, he bit and licked a trail down to her navel until he got to her midsection. Opening her legs wide, he separated her pussy lips and took a moment to look at the moisture that gleamed from her pink center.When Lisa whimpered and raised her hips in a silent plea, Dorian lowered his lips to her lips down there and tongue fucked her much the way his fingers had done a few minutes ago, touching every corner of her inner walls.Lisa’s fingers grabbed fistfuls of the sheets, screaming with every swipe, every lick, every stroke of his tongue. 

“You taste like strawberries and cream,” Dorian mumbled against her center.He sucked her clit until Lisa's legs trembled, signifying she was there. Moments later, she exploded. Holding her ass in his hands, he savored each drop that poured from her, letting her taste flow on his tongue like thick honey.Lifting his head he quickly reached for the condom. Lisa watched him through half closed lids as he tore it open and slowly rolled it down his length.

Watchingherwatchhim, Dorian asked with characteristic bluntness, “You want this dick?” 

“Yes.” Lisa’s answer was quick with no hesitation. 

Growling deep in his throat, he crawled between her thighs. Lisa sighed and raised her hips in invitation. Grasping his dick in his hand, he rubbed it up and down her narrow slit, teasing her swollen nub. Extremely wet and slick from her orgasms, his tip slid over the satiny skin of her folds.Dorian’s lips hovered over hers. “Do you know how long I’ve waited for this?” 

“Please….” 

“Whose pussy is this?” he asked through lips that barely moved.Lisa heard the arrogance she knew so well, but again, there was no hesitance in her answer. “Yours.” 

Clenching his jaw, his eyes shone with a possessiveness that was foreign to him, but yet seemed so right with her. Giving them both what they wanted, he plunged deeply inside of her until he was buried balls deep.Lisa’s inner walls jumped and tightened around his shaft.
“Oh my God!Dor-i-aaaannnn!”The answering sound that came from within him was guttural almost to the point of being animalistic as their bodies met and moved against each other's. Dorian clenched his teeth with the effort it took to keep from busting his nut when he heard her mewl and purr in his ear. He had never had pussy this good before. 

“Damn…Lisa…shit!” She was so wet, so tightly wrapped around him.Reaching down, he lifted one leg over his forearm so that he could get deeper in the pussy. He tried to be gentle, but when her fingernails clawed up and down his back, urging him to give her more, he obligingly worked his dick like a jackhammer, pounding into her with an eagerness he couldn’t seem to control.Dorian felt her sweet sugar walls shiver and tremble, and knew she was on the verge of another orgasm, and when they collasped, her contractions milked him relentlessly. Unable to hold on any longer, he finally let go and joined her, cumming strong and hard until filled the condom with his body’s creamy passion.
Once their breathing returned to normal, Dorian collapsed on the bed and pulled Lisa close. Neither said a word, not wanting to break the spell enveloping them in its midst, but they were undoubtedly thinking the same thing: What took them so long?***For the next month, Dorian and Lisa stole away and had sex every chance they got. It wasn’t something they talked about, and by tacit agreement, the change in their relationship was kept between them. Around Mona, Ray and the rest of their friends, they basically ignored one another, but behind closed doors, they couldn’t get enough. 

As the days grew nearer for Dorian to leave for L.A., the sex between took on an intense, almost desperate edge. Their eyes spoke volumes, but the words never crossed their lips. Two days before he was scheduled to leave, his crew threw a surprise going away bash. Throughout the night, his eyes kept skimming the crowd, searching for Lisa. He dialed her cell phone several times but kept getting her voice mail.Finally, he managed to extricate himself from a sea of fans and groupies and pull Mona to the side. Following him reluctantly,
Mona’s feet dragged in heavy steps. Her eyes stayed lowered to the floor.Only focused on where Lisa was, Dorian didn’t notice. “Hey, half-pint, where’s your girl? I thought she would’ve been here by now.” 

Mona glanced up, not quite meeting his eyes and shrugged.Dorian waited, but when she didn’t say anything, he persisted. “You sayin’ you don’t know?” he laughed. “You two are usually joined at the hip.”
Frowning with eyes narrowed, he finally noticed Mona’s evasiveness. “Mona? What’s up? Where’s Lisa, and don’t tell me you don’t know.”

Mona swallowed then met Dorian’s eyes. “D, she’s gone.” 

Dorian froze. He barely took a breath. “What do you mean, ‘gone’?” 

Mona hesitated. Lisa had made her swear she wouldn’t tell Dorian anything, but…“Mona, come on, talk to me.”“Alright! She left to go to Chicago. Her flight took off an hour ago.”

Dorian took a step back as his jaw worked and jumped erratically. He cleared his throat. “You telling me she left town for good? Just like that?” 

“Dorian…” 

But she was talking to Dorian’s back as he turned and pushed his way through the crowd, brushing people off that tried to stop him or talk to him.Not even thinking about what he was about to do, Dorian jumped in his car and drove straight to Lisa’s apartment. After relentlessly ringing the doorbell, he pulled the spare key out that she’d given him and unlocked the door. 

“Lisa…” He called out her name, but stopped once he stepped inside. Everything was…gone.Wearing a look of disbelief, he walked from room to room, seeing that everything had been packed up. Standing in the middle of the living room, his chest heaved up and down and his hands balled up into tight fists until the key cut deep into his palm.Using a practice he'd mastered while playing ball to block out outside interferences, Dorian methodically shut down each thought and question as it jumped into his mind. What was the use? She’d just told him, without words, what the last month had been about. 

“It’s all good,” he mumbled to himself. “Fuck it…and fuck her, too.” 

***Four years later…Hearing the music from the organ began to play the bridal march, Lisa looked up at her father through her veil and smiled.“I love you, Daddy.”“I love you, too, sweetheart. You look beautiful. John is a very lucky man, but I’m sure he knows that already.”Lisa’s smile widened as she thought about her fiancé. They’d met in Chicago three years ago, and although the relationship had started off as a friendship it had slowly blossomed to something more. If it wasn’t the passionate, all consuming love she’d always thought she’d find, Lisa was okay with that. John loved her, and she respected and cared for him deeply. They made a good team. They would have a good life.When she heard her father speaking, she turned her attention back to him. “I’m sorry, what did you say, Daddy?”Her father gave her a piercing look. “Youarehappy, aren't you Lisa?”She nodded and answered truthfully. “Yes, Daddy. I am.”Her father continued to study her face until his features relaxed into a proud smile. “Ready?”Moments later, Lisa grasped his arm tightly as he walked her down the aisle. Looking to her left and her right she smiled and winked at her family and friends who’d gathered to help her celebrate her special day. When she saw the way John watched her approach with such love and adoration, she felt a comfortable warmth invade her heart. He really was a good man. And she planned on being a wife to him in every sense of the word. The rest would come.After her father raised her veil and kissed her cheek, he turned towards John and shook his hand. Giving his daughter one last loving look he took his seat by her mother. Lisa turned to face the minister. She and Mona, who was her maid of honor, changed quick glances and smiles.Everything was perfect. Lisa and John’s vows were spoken to one another flawlessly. They both turned to the preacher, waiting on the final proclamation.“If there is anyone here who knows of a reason why these two people should not be married, please speak now or forever hold your peace….”Lisa and John looked at one another and smiled as the obligatory words were spoken. The preacher’s lips parted to continue when a deep voice sounded from the back of the church, effectively interrupting him and changing the course of the future.“I know a reason.”Everything seemed to happen in slow motion after that. Low murmurs traveled from the back to the front of the church like a raging tsunami that had flooded the sacred room.When Lisa heard Mona gasp, she looked at her and saw her staring towards the back of the church with stricken eyes that showed shock…and dread. Frowning, Lisa turned around to follow her gaze. Her eyes came to a screeching halt when they found their target.Dorian.© 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.

DECEPTIONS (Chapter 2)

Offices of King Entertainment Group...Quinton walked into his office and slammed the door behind him just as his assistant got up from her desk to follow him in. Lori glared at the closed door and slapped the folder she’d been holding down on her desk before resuming her seat.Trey stood several feet away talking to Boogie G., one of their A&R reps who’d been closely working beside him with Lady J. He glanced at Quinton’s office door before bringing his attention back to the rep. “Boog, give me a minute. I’ll buzz you after I finish talking to Q. In the meantime, keep trying to get hold of Lady J.”After Boogie G nodded and headed down the hall, Trey slowly walked over to Lori, who was opening then closing drawers with more force than was necessary. “So I take it his disposition hasn’t improved any. He still in a shitty mood?”Lori slanted her eyes his way. “Shitty isn’t the word for it. You need to do something, Trey. I don’t know what’s wrong with him, but everybody is walking on eggshells around here and giving Quinton as wide a berth as they can manage.”Trey gave the frustrated assistant a bolstering smile. “Come on. It’s not that bad.”“You’re right, Trey. It’s not.” Lori’s expression remained stoic as she leaned forward to make sure he understood her. “It’s worse. Do something.”“Damn,” Trey mumbled, scratching the back of his head.He’d hoped his brother would be in a better mood this morning, but obviously that wasn’t the case. For a week now Quinton had been snarling and stalking down the halls of their office building like a bull in a china shop, leaving nothing but devastation in his wake. After he heard what Trey had to tell him, things would only get worse.Sighing heavily, he turned and walked to Quinton’s office. Once inside, his eyes immediately found his brother standing with his back to the door staring out the window.Quinton didn’t bother to turn around when he heard the door close. “You ever heard of the concept of knocking first?”“Never needed to before.” Trey threw himself down in the chair in front of Quinton’s desk. Propping his elbows up on the arms of the chair, he steepled his fingers together and studied Quinton over the top of them. “How did you know it was me, anyway?”“Because anybody else valuing their job wouldn’t have just walked in my office like that right now.”“Ah. So you realize you been actin’ an ass, terrorizing our employees.”Quinton folded his arms. He made no effort to deny the statement. “You know what, you’re just as annoying now as you were growing up.”Trey laughed. “Hey. What are little brothers for?”“To annoy their older brothers, apparently. Trey, what do you want?”“I want to know what the hell’s wrong with you. No, wait. Let me guess. She’s roughly 5’4 and weighs around one-hundred forty pounds–most of which is carried in that ass, I might add. Mmph!”Quinton turned around and just stared at his brother without speaking. Anyone else would’ve wisely changed the subject. Anyone else who’s name wasn’t Treyvon King, that is.“What, man?” Trey laughed. “I never said the girl wasn’t fine. What I don’t understand is why you’re letting her tie you up in knots. This ain’t you, Q. We don’t roll like this when it comes to bitches so–”“Hey, don’t call her a bitch, alright.”“So I’m right this is about her. Man, you need to forget her. There’s something about her that just don’t sit right with me. I cant quite put my finger on it, but…something ain’t right.”“Trey, why don’t you just deal with those chicken heads you fuck with and let me worry about Kyla.” Quinton sat down in his chair and pretended to go through the emails on his computer. “Since you wanna be so talkative, talk to me about what’s going on with Jazz aka Lady J. Why isn’t she signed yet?”Trey’s expression suddenly turned serious as the conversation took a turn to the subject he’d come to talk to Quinton about. “I can tell you this, it ain’t good.”Quinton’s fingers stilled on his computer as his eyes shot to Trey. “What does that mean?”“Somebody’s in her ear.”“What, she’s asking for more money?”“Not exactly. She wants ownership of the digital master recordings as part of the contract.”“What?” Quinton leaned back in his chair and stared at Trey as if he’d lost his mind. “What did you just say?”Trey shook his head. “You heard me.”“I hope you told her, not just no, buthellno!”“Of course I did. I told her that wasn’t even up for discussion.”“Trey, what the fuck?” The expression on Quinton’s face was ferocious as he glared at his brother.Record labels in general had an interest in building and maintaining their catalog of albums. It was standard practice to maintain ownership of an artists’ digital masters, or original works of authorship, indefinitely. As a result, they had the legal right to reproduce and distribute the work in copies, whether it be literary, musical, motion pictures and such. For “master use”, or sampling rights, everything had to go through the owner–usually the record company that issued the original recording. As a whole, all of that meant one thing: huge amounts of money.The artist formerly known as Prince put it best when he famously went to battle with his label over the rights to his masters: “If you don't own your Masters, your Masters own you.” The majority of artists felt this way but most of the time their hands were tied.Quinton shook his head as he tapped his fingers sharply on his desk. “What gives, Trey? Days ago, Jazz was little Ms. Pure and Innocent who only wanted to get out there and show the world her talent. Now she’s trying to play hardball, demanding shit that most tried and true artists don’t get? Hell...fuckin’…no!” Quinton uttered the words with precise emphasis and pointed a finger at his brother. “Deal with this, Trey. I want it dealt withtoday.”Trey’s frown came quick. “Look, I don’t tell you how to handle your business, don’t tell me how to handle mine.”A tentative knock sounded on the door, interrupting the acidy reply on the tip of Quinton’s tongue.“What!” he barked out in a loud roar.Boogie G slowly opened the door and peeked his head in. “Sorry to interrupt...”“What is it, B.?” Trey asked when the younger man hesitated.Boogie G walked in, taking measured steps as if he were heading into the lion’s den. He glanced nervously from Quinton to Trey.Quinton's glower deepened. “Boogie, what is it?” asked impatiently. “You obviously came in here to tell us something so spit it out.”“Uh...Q…Trey. I just got off the phone with Jazz–Lady J. She, uh, she’s….she’s signed with another label.” The last five words came out in a jumbled rush.Both Quinton and Trey turned deadly still, staring at Boogie as if they’d misunderstood what he’d just said.“What? When?” Trey shot out.“I finally got in touch with her a few minutes ago.  She signed withRuff Streetz Records.”“What?”Trey jumped out of his chair, his body pulsating with restless energy.Boogie jumped when Quinton’s palms slammed down loudly on his desk. “You shittin’ me. Right?” He turned furious eyes towards Trey. “What the hell happened!”“I don’t know!” Trey screamed back.“How do you not know? How did you let her get away! And toRuff Streetz? You should’ve come to me if you thought there was a problem like this.”“Don’t blame this shit on me, Quinton! It ain’t my fault! If your head hadn’t been so far up Kyla’s ass the last couple of days–”“Oh, so this ismyfault? Nah, I don't think so.” Quinton took angry strides around the desk and glared at Trey. Boogie took a nervous step back. “This is all on you, Trey! It'syourjob! This is what you do! Get 'em to sign on the dotted line so that the contract is airtight! If you can’t handle your shit, let me know. I’ll get somebody who can!”Trey’s head snapped back at the slight. “What did you just say?”The two of them stared at one another for several tense moments. Without taking his eyes off Trey, Quinton growled at Boogie, “Get out.”Boogie scurried ou without another wordt. He didn’t need to be told twice.Quinton turned and walked back to the window. The taste of failure was strong in his mouth. In fact, he felt as if he were choking on it. He had wanted Lady J–bad. Truth be told, he hadn’t been this excited over an artist in a long time and had already mentally planned out her path to success. The girl had talent and would’ve been a valuable addition toKing Entertainment Group.He instinctively knew she was going all the way to the top–butKEGwouldn’t be the ones to benefit now.Ruff Streetz Recordswould. Dammit!Before Quinton and Trey stepped onto the sceneRuff Streetz Recordshad been the big fish in a toxic, corroded pond.RSRwas known in the business for using intimidation tactics. WhenKing Entertainment Groupstarted getting noticed,RSRowner Kane Jones, had tried them on Quinton, but Quinton had pushed back and pushed hard. He knew if he didn’t take a stand early on, Jones would run roughshod over his company at the slightest sign of weakness. After they got that straight,RSRstayed out ofKEG’s way and vice versa. Until now.Quinton shook his head as his mind processed what Boogie just told them. “Kane’s crooked business practices and the shady way he deals with his artists is well known. Even Jazz has to have heard how corrupt they are.”“This doesn’t make sense,” Trey agreed.The intercom sounded on Quinton’s phone. He reached over and stabbed the button and answered gruffly. “Yeah.”“I’m sorry, Q., but Kyla is here. Do you want me to tell her to come back?”Quinton sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. Trey had been right. Kyla was part of the reason he’d been in such a bad mood. For some reason, she’d intentionally been pulling away from him the last couple of days. And now, this mess with Jazz.“Send her in, Lori.”Trey threw his hands up. “Really, Q.? We don’t have time for you to visit with your girlfriend right now.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but wewerein the middle of discussing something, right?”“Seems to me it’s a little bit too late for you to be discussing anything with me. The time to do that was before you let Jazz slip through your fingers.” Quinton’s tone was razor sharp and meant to draw blood.Trey’s jaw clenched repeatedly in response. “You know what–”“Um, Quinton...” Kyla stood in the doorway looking at the two of them, obviously reluctant to enter any further. “I can come back if you need me to.”“Nah, stay, Ky. No problem,” Trey growled sarcastically as he walked past her without sparing more than a brief glance. “Guess you a little bit more important right now than what we was dealin’ with.”Kyla slowly closed the door behind him then turned to search Quinton’s face. “What’s wrong?”Quinton leaned back against his desk. He crossed his legs at the ankles and folded his arms while closely studying her face. “What’s wrong? How about you tell me. And while you’re at it, tell me what kind of game you’re playing. Because baby, I’m gonna let you know right now, I don’t like being fucked with.”The pulse in neck sped up. She shifted from one foot to the other under his intense, piercing stare. “I don’t understand.” 

“I think you do.” Ignoring the confused expression on her face, Quinton continued. “Where’ve you been, Ky?” 

“I had to take care of some business.” 

Quinton waited, but when it seemed like that was all she was going to offer him, he let out a short laugh and shook his head. “That’s it? You had to ‘take care of some business’?” 

“Quinton, I just needed a little time.” 

Twisting his lips to the side, Quinton nodded slowly. “Are you seeing someone else, Ky?” 

“What? No. Of course not. Things just got a little…intense the last time we saw each other. I needed time to think.” 

“And did you? Think I mean?” 

Kyla dropped her purse in the chair in front of her. As she walked closer to him, Quinton’s eyes roamed over her from head to toe. The black tights she sported molded to her hips, thighs and calves like a second skin. She wore a black vest over a white button down man-shirt that fit her closely and ended just above her hips. Several buttons had been left undone to show a hint of cleavage, and the silver chain she wore hit the top of her rounded breasts. The super high heeled black shoes she’d chosen completed the outfit.

Kyla didnt stop until she stood several inches away from him. “I realize I’ve been letting baggage from my last relationship affect this one, and I’m sorry for that. You’ve been so patient with me, Quinton, more patient than a lot of men would be in your position.” Hesitating for a brief moment, she placed her hands on his chest and let them slide up to lock behind his neck. “I think we could have something really special. I’m committed to making this work. I mean…if you still want to, that is.” 

“I don’t have time for games, Ky. My life is a mixture of crazy hours and even crazier people. The stress level can be through the roof sometimes. There aren’t many women who could deal with it. That’s mainly why I don’t do relationships. My business is my relationship. My business has always been my woman, the one who gets my time and my attention. Until now.” 

“Quinton–” 

“No, let me finish. There’s this…thingbetween us. It’s been there from the very beginning. I know you feel it the same way I do. You can’t fake an attraction like this. Am I right in saying that?” 

Kyla lowered her lashes and nodded.Quinton released a quiet breath. “I’ve done everything I can think of to prove to you that I'm feelin’ you, but I refuse to deal with bullshit. Either you with me in this, or you not. It’s that simple.” His expression conveyed to her that he meant every word.Kyla pressed her body closer. “I’m with you. If you still want me.” 

The seconds ticked by. Kyla let out a startled gasp when he suddenly reached out and pulled her flush up  against his body. Slipping his hand around the back of her neck, he lowered his head and covered her mouth with his. Quinton’s lips didn’taskfor a response they demanded one. His tongue sipped at the sweetness of her mouth repeatedly, branding her with his mark of possession. By the time he lifted his head, Kyla had to lean against him for support.Quinton’s eyes dropped to the top of her breasts, wanting so badly to peel her shirt away from her body and taste them, but this wasn’t the place…and it damn sure wasn’t the time. He straightened slowly but kept her close to him. 

“So we’re good?” he asked quietly, smiling at the slightly dazed look on her face when she nodded. “Alright. As much as I’d like to continue this right now, I cant. I need to take care of some things and square up a problem between me and Trey.” 

At the mention of his brother’s name, concern momentarily replaced her desire. “I felt the tension when I came in. Is everything okay?”Quinton hesitated for a split second before answering. “No, it’s not. Jazz–Lady J, the female rapper we heard the other night–signed with another label a little while ago.” 

“Oh, no. I’m sorry.”

“Yeah. Not half as sorry as I am.” 

“Who did she sign with?” 

“Ruff Streetz Records.” 

“Kane Jones.” 

Quinton nodded. He wasn’t surprised that Kyla knew who Kane was. You had to have been living under a rock not to have heard the name Kane Jones. “Yep.”

“How…how did that happen? I thought you more or less had her signed.” 

“I thought so too, but she started demanding things that there was no way in hell she was going to get. I mean, two weeks ago, she was spittin’ rhymes on the corner, now all of a sudden she thinks she's the shit?” Quinton shook his head staring past her deep in thought.  “Doesn’t work that way. I don't need any artist that bad, but...” 

Kyla’s expression turned cautious. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know. I feel like I’m missing something here.” Quinton shook his head, but his frown remained. “Look, I’m sorry to have to cut this short, but I need to talk to Trey. Call you later?” 

“Of course.” 

Quinton took her hand and walked her to the door. “You still gonna be able to go to theLoungetomorrow night, right?” TheLoungewas located in one of the most expensive hotels in the area. A private event was being held there for industry bigwigs that Quinton simply couldn’t get out of.“Of course. What time will you pick me up?”

“I should be at your place around 10:30.” 

“Sounds good.” 

Quinton pulled her to him and enfolded her in a tight hug. “We’re not staying very long. An hour, two at the most, then we’re leaving.” He kissed her neck before lifting his head to look at her. “The rest of the night will be a two person party.” 

“Hmmm. Anyone I know?” Kyla grinned.
“Oh, you know both of them very well. And by the time it’s over, they’ll be intimately acquainted.” Noticing how she avoided his gaze and suddenly became fascinated by the buttons on his shirt, he angled his head in order to see her face. “You okay with that?” 

Taking a deep breath, she seemed to come to a decision. Nodding, she lifted her chin and met his eyes. “Yes. I’m very okay with it.” 

“Good.” He kissed her one last time before walking her to the elevators. “I’ll call you later.” 

****Quinton nodded to Jackie, Trey’s secretary, as he moved past her and opened the door to Trey’s office. His brother was on the phone chewing somebody’s ass out and barely looked up when Quinton walked in. Quinton leaned a shoulder against a far wall, listening to Trey’s end of the conversation until his brother slammed the phone down with an angry scowl.“Who was that?” Quinton asked.“You ever heard of the concept of knocking first,” Trey sneered.Quinton smirked when he heard his words thrown back at him. “Never needed to before.”“That was before you questioned my ability to do my job effectively.” Trey’s voice was dry and clipped.“Trey…”“Nope, I don’t want to hear it. Fuck you, alright?” He spared his brother a glance then opened a file on his desk. “Your little bi-” He glanced up at Quinton then bit off the name he was getting ready to call Kyla. “Your good mood has been miraculously restored now that you and your girlfriend patched up your little misunderstanding, huh?”Quinton pushed away from the wall. “I apologize, alright? I know Jazz signing withRSRwasn’t your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong. Like you said, somebody’s in her ear and whoever it was gave her some fucked up advice. She made one hell of a mistake signing with Jones but, hey, that ain’t our problem.”Trey let out a breath and his body relaxed. He and Quinton had disagreements before, but they never stayed angry for very long. This had been one of the worse ones, though.“I agree. It’s just crazy the way the whole thing went down.”Quinton nodded in agreement. “Anyway, I just wanted to stop in and tell you I’m sorry. We cool?”Trey’s familiar grin made its way across his lips. “I guess so. Fuck with me like that again, I’mma kick ya ass, though.”“Yeah. Sure,” Quinton laughed when Trey flipped him off, and just like that their earlier argument was forgotten.“So you and your girl made up, huh?”Quinton shrugged. “I guess you could call it that.”“She still being stingy with the goodies?” When Quinton blew out a long breath and slowly shook his head, Trey let out a deep round of laughter. “Alright, alright, I’ll leave it alone.”“Yeah, you do that.” Quinton looked down at his phone when he heard it buzz with a text message. “Hey, I gotta go. Something I need to take care of. Talk atcha later.”“Peace.”****“And you took these yesterday?” Quinton asked, flipping through the stack of photos.The man in Quinton’s office nodded. “Yes. Everything up until then was pretty normal. She mostly just went to work and back. Don’t know if it means anything or not.”“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”“No problem, Q.”After he left, Quinton studied the pictures he was holding again. His eyes narrowed as he studied the grief on Kyla’s tear stained face. She was kneeling in front of a grave where she’d just placed a fresh bouquet of flowers, and her hand was extended out to touch the headstone as if tracing the name engraved on it.Quinton rubbed his chin in confusion. What in the hell was she doing there? How did she know him and what was the connection because there definitely was one. The expression on her face displayed overwhelming anguish and sorrow.“What aren’t you telling me, Ky? How the hell do you know Robert Jameson? Who is he to you?”Q tapped his fingers on his desk then pressed the intercom to get Lori on the phone.“Yes, Q?”“I need you to get me those contracts for the business transaction we did with Robert Jameson.”“Okay. Something in particular you need?”“No, just bring me everything we have. If I don’t find what I’m looking for, I’ll go from there.”“Get it to you in a few minutes.”“Thanks.”Quinton sat back in the chair and thought about the conversations he’d had with Trey about Kyla. He wasn’t a fool. Something was going on with her, and as she said, he’d been more than patient about alotof things while he waited on her to come clean about what was bothering her.Just move on,Q.,a silent voice advised him.Call it a loss and move the fuck on.Blowing softly, he dropped the pictures down on his desk. The problem was he couldn’t move on. Not yet. He enjoyed being with Kyla, could be himself around her and that was something rare in this superficial world he lived and worked in.Quinton knew she’d been through a lot with her previous relationship, but he’d shown her that she could trust him. If there was any chance of them working this out, Kyla needed to show him that he could do the same. Otherwise, this entire thing with them would be a wrap.****“Wow. You look incredible,” Quinton told Kyla when she opened her door to let him in.“You like?” she asked, spinning around and giving him a butt shot while showing off the fit of the metallic gray dress. The slinky material clung to the hourglass curve of her body and stopped a little shorter than mid-thigh. The front dropped down in a loose cowl neckline, which showed just enough cleavage to tempt and tantalize.“Like? It’s sexy as hell. The only thing I’d like better is to see you out of it.”“I think that could be arranged–later.”Quinton absently rubbed his bottom lip when he saw her eyes shyly drop then meet his again. He was sorely tempted…so tempted…“Damn,” he whispered. “We need to go. Now.”Kyla saw the message in his eyes which told her that was the only chance she would get. If she hesitated too long, she had a feeling “later” would be in the next few seconds.She picked up her small, matching clutch then reached up to lightly kiss him on the corner of her mouth so she wouldn’t mess up her lipstick. “I’m ready.”As Quinton slowly followed her out the door, he muttered in a low voice, “So am I.”By the time they made it to the hotel, things had cooled down between them a few degrees. After throwing his keys to the valet, Quinton took Kyla’s hand and walked amid the flash of cameras to the entrance of the sophisticated hotel and made their way to theLounge. With Q’s arm around Kyla’s waist, they stopped and posed for several pictures before being escorted inside.The rich, dramatic color scheme of the area conveyed a hip, urban feel. Seating in plush, high-contrast upholstered velvets and silky fabrics were set up throughout the huge venue and handcrafted crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings. Burnished gold leaf mirrors and glistening ice statues added glamorous touches.The bash itself was a combination of the rich, the beautiful, and the powerful as well as hip-hop impresarios that equaled a virtual who’s who in the music industry. Keeping hold of Kyla’s hand, Quinton headed in the direction of their table, or at least tried to. Progress through the crowd was slow because people stopped him every few steps to hold a conversation.While he made small talk and laughed with his associates, Kyla boldly met the jealous, catty looks being thrown her way by half naked skanks scattered around them. They seemed to be everywhere and were permanent fixtures at events like this in hopes of meeting balla’s who wouldn’t mind being their newest sponsor and financing the good life they craved. Kyla’s expression clearly told them they could mark Q. off their list of potential candidates. He was taken.“Yo, Q.”Kyla cut her eyes away from a particularly aggressive trio of women who were eyeing Quinton like a bunch of hungry hyenas starving for a meal and turned to watch Trey make his way over with his latest arm piece. Kyla raised a perfectly arched brow. The girl could’ve easily passed for the one he’d just replaced her with last week. In the three months she’d known him, she’d literally lost count of the number of women she’d seen Quinton’s brother with. This one clutched Trey’s arm with possessive desperation; it was clear she didn’t intend on letting him out of her sight for even a second.Smart girl.“Hey man, you made it.” Quinton shook his brother’s hand and did a shoulder bump hug in greeting.Trey gave Kyla a cool head nod before turning his attention back to his brother. “Yeah, I’ve been here for a while, but check this out. You’ll never guess who’s here.”Looking bored and like he really didn’t give a shit, Quinton raised a brow in inquiry.“Bobby Jameson.” Trey supplied the answer with a sneer of obvious dislike.Kyla had just taken a sip of wine when she heard the name Trey supplied. Her breath caught in her throat at the same time she tried to swallow. She sputtered and almost choked to get the chilled liquid down her throat. Quinton put his arm around her and rubbed her back, but when Kyla took a chance on peeking up at him through the thick fringes of her lashes, she saw him staring at her wth narrowed eyes full of suspicion.“You alright?”Kyla nodded, trying to buy herself some time by covering her mouth and coughing. Her mind raced as she tried to decipher the look she’d seen in his eyes.There was no way he could know....was there? And what the hell was Bobby doing there, damn him!Still feeling Quinton’s eyes on her, she mustered what she hoped was reassuring smile. “I’m…I’m fine.”Keeping his eyes on Kyla’s face, Quinton asked Trey. “Where’s Jameson now?”“He’s on the other side over there, chillin’ like he’s a balla or some shit.”Kyla started to panic. She was going to kill Bobby! “Quinton, I…I think I need some air. I won’t be long.”“Kyla, is there something you need to tell–”But before he could finish posing the question Kyla instinctively dreaded hi asking a deep, mocking voice interrupted him midsentence.“Well, well, well. If it ain’t the King brothas…”She felt Quinton’s body tense when he heard the amused drawl behind him. Kyla saw the transformation of his features as he schooled them to hide the instant dislike he obviously felt for the man who’d just joined them.****Turning around, Quinton's eyes passed over the crew in front of them that ran at least ten people deep. His eyes remained cool and detached when they landed on the only woman in the group. It took a moment for him to recognize her. The last time he’d seen her, she’d looked like exactly what she was: a kid off the street who didn’t put on airs and just wanted to make music.Now she resembled every other video model in the game. The tight lycra jumpsuit she wore left not one crack or cranny to the imagination. She still had the green contacts, but the cheap blond weave had been replaced with a realistic black one that almost touched her ass. When she swung it out of her face in an exaggerated fashion, Quinton saw that her face was expertly, but heavily, made up to perfection.Jazz.Quinton and Trey exchanged veiled looks before he brought the glass of Courvoisier up to his lips. He gave the man in front of him a nod before responding in a chilly voice.“What’s up, Kane?”Kane Jones was considered by many to be an intimidating figure. He was a large man, but it was all bulked muscle, not an ounce of fat. He kept his head shaved bald and was almost never without a pair of dark shades. Now was no exception.

“What’s up, Q.? Trey?” Kane smirked.

Shaking his head, Quinton’s eyes ran over him dismissively. Kane was one of those people who felt he deserved fame, respect and every good fortune that came his way–even if he had to beat a motherfucker down to get it.The mocking smile still in place, Kane turned to the young girl standing beside him. “Let me introduce you to my newest artist, the First Lady ofRuff Streetz Records: Lady J.” He paused and tilted his head as if suddenly struck by a thought. “That’s right. I think ya’ll know each…right?” 

Jazz sidled up closer to Kane. He slipped an arm around her waist and let it ride low on her hip. His fingers moved down the slope of her ass, squeezing her butt and giving it a little pat. Kane chuckled and sucked his teeth as he looked from Jazz back to Quinton and Trey. 

Trey let out a low, disgusted hiss. “Trick,” he muttered under his breath. 

Jazz lifted her chin and thrust her chest out. “At last I'mma trick that’s gettin’ paid.” 

Trey’s eyebrows shot up. “Paid?” His eyes went to the spot where Kane’s hand now rested on her ass. “Yeah, I see exactly how you gettin’paid.” Trey's meaning wasnt lost on any of them.When one of Kane’s goon’s took a threatening step towards Trey, Trey and Quinton’s crew materialized out of the crowd as if by magic. Quinton stopped them with one glance.“Chill out. A’int no problem here.” His eyes cut back to the man in front of him. “Right, Kane?”

Kane sucked his teeth again before gesturing for the bodyguard to fall back. “Nah. No problem, Q. But your baby brother need to watch his mouth.” 

“Yeah, I got your ‘baby’,” Trey shot back. 

Kane’s mouth tightened for a minute then as if Trey was of little consequence to him, he turned his attention to Kyla. “And who might you be? You look…familiar. Have we met before?” 

Quinton’s frown came quick. Suspicion flooded his face as he looked at her. Kyla swallowed hard and before shaking her head. “No. I don’t think so.”

“What’s your name, sweetheart?” Kane asked

Kyla peered up at Quinton before answering. “Kyla.”

“Kyla. Kyla…” Kane repeated the name several times. “Hmph. Sexy name for a sexy ass woman.”Quinton glared at Kane in warning. “Watch your mouth, Jones.” 

“Hey, Q, no disrespect intended. It was meant as a compliment.” 

“Keep your compliments to yourself.” 

“Um, e-excuse me, I'll be right back.” Kyla murmured, taking a nervous step back. 

Quinton caught her by the hand before she could move. He lowered his head towards hers. “We need to talk.”

“I’m just going to the ladies room. I’ll be back in a minute.” Before Quinton could say another word, she managed to extricate her hand from his grasp and hurried away. 

Kane licked his lips as his eyes latched on to her ass. “It was nice to meet you…Ky,” he called out softly.

Quinton's eyes shot to Kane when he heard the familiarity in his voice. Switching his gaze back to Kyla, he watched as she expertly maneuvered her way through the crowd of people. He looked at Trey and sent him an imperceptible nod to follow her. Trey gave Kane one last look of loaded contempt then walked away. 

Kane chuckled and looked back at his crew. “Now that is one fine ass woman. Classy but still ‘fuckable’. Know what I mean?” 

Quincy’s jaw tightened. He was about two seconds away from putting Kane on his back. “This is the last time I'll tell you to watch your mouth.”

Kane took his shades off. “Or…what?” 

“Try me and see.” Quinton said quietly. His gaze never faltered from Kane’s. “Go on. Do it.”
The tension was thick and heavy between the two men. A sense of unease fell over the people around them who had been observing the exchange between the two label heads. It wouldn’t take much for things to be on an’ poppin’ because neither seemed as if they were ready to back down. 

Suddenly, Kane smiled, then laughed. “My bad, Q., my bad. Didn’t know it was like that with you and her.” 

Ignoring Kane’s steroid injected posse, Quinton took a couple of steps until he and Kane were toe to toe. “Jones, you and I haven’t had a problem in a long, long time. I’d like to keep it that way. But make no mistake, if we need to air some things out, I don’t have aproblemwith that either.” 

The corner of Kane's eye twitched in anger, but determined to get his point across, Quinton didn’t move a muscle. Finally, Kane tilted his head to one side, then the other to crack  his neck.“Another time, King. Another time. Believe that.”

Quinton shrugged. “Just tell me when.” 

“Oh, it’s coming sooner than you know. This was just the first step.” 

Something in Kane’s tone caused Quinton’s stomach to clench and tighten. “Tha' fuck that supposed to mean?”“All in due time.” Kane stared over Quinton’s shoulder. “Matter of fact, maybe you won't have to wait long to find out Your brother’s back and he does not look very happy.” 

The tiny muscle in Quinton’s jaw jumped as he tried to keep his temper under control. He knew Kane was trying to provoke him, but when he turned and saw Trey's face, he knew something wasn’t right. 

With his back to Kane, Trey leaned forward and whispered in Quinton’s ear. Quinton froze then exchanged a quick look with his brother. Trey’s face showed anger, but Quinton’s conveyed frustration as he tried to figure out what was going on. He was missing something here, but what?? 

Then just like that, a piece to the puzzle snapped into place.
 He remember the pictures he'd looked at earlire .Kyla at the grave site...tracing the name on the headstone…Robert Jameson… 

“Where is she?” Quinton asked Trey.Trey pointed towards the other side of the room. “She’s talking to Bobby Jameson.”“What the fuck?” Quinton muttered when he spotted her.Neither he nor Trey had heard a word about Bobby in over a year, but suddenly he was popped up tonight, talking to–no, more likearguingwith–Kyla.Hearing the satisfied laughter coming from Kane, Quinton turned narrowed eyes his way. He was moments away from shoving his fist down Kane’s throat when he heard the DJ mention the name of one his and Trey’ top selling artist, Javonte’ Howard, whose  last album had gone platinum. He’d just completed his follow up album almost two weeks ago, and it was expected to be an even bigger success.Quinton frowned. He wasn’t aware of any promotions they’d lined up for Javonte' tonight. He sent a confused look Trey’s way, silently asking him what was going on, but Trey was just as bewildered as Quinton.
Then they heard it. The beginning strains of the single they were planning to debut about a month from now, the one that was sure to hype the album up and guarantee it hit double platinum status.Why was the DJ playing it? Better yet,how did he get a copy of it?Trey and Quinton’s eyes collided when they heard the sounds of Javonte’s smooth, distinctive voice filling the room.“Q, what tha'...!”Trey looked around and saw the crowd getting pumped up as they listened to the song. 

Moments later their phones went off in a flurry of text messages. Quinton quickly scanned the messages displayed on his screen. Trey let out a string of curses when he read what Quinton knew had to be the same information:
 Javonte's entire album had been leaked and gone viral on the Internet. 

While Trey shouted and gestured for somebody to get to the DJ booth to pull Javonte’s music, Quinton tuned out everything around him and concentrated.  Music was leaked “accidentally” all the time by record companies in order to build up interest in an album or an artist. They’d done it before themselves. But not this time. This wasn’t an accident.

Quinton’s breathing pattern deepened. His chest heaved heave up and down as another piece shifted into place. Trey had given him a copy of the album just before he’d left to go out town. He’d played a couple of tracks in his car on the way to the airport. Kyla had listened to it with him. When he’d gotten back into town, the cd was still in the cd player where he’d left it. But...Hearing Kane’s taunting laughter again, Quinton looked at him and found the other man slowly clapping as if the entire situation was a great source of amusement for him.
 Quinton’s hands balled up into fists as the final piece locked into place.Rage burned a deep, molten path through his veins as he made the connection. Kane. Bobby…Kyla. The cd was where he’d left it in his car because Kyla had replaced it back…aftershe made a copy…Fury settled deep into the pit of his stomach. His eyes searched the room, targeting the area where he’d just seen Kyla and Bobby Jameson. Then he spotted her. Kyla was hurrying towards the exit to leave. All of a sudden, she paused and looked back at him. Their eyes met and held over the crowd. Even from that distance, Quinton saw the guilt blanketing her face.I'm sorry,she mouthed.With his eyes never leaving hers, he began pushing his way through the sea of bodies. Then he saw Bobby materialize beside Kyla and grab hold of her arm to pull her behind him. 

“Kyla!”

Her name roared from the very depths of his soul as they slipped out the door."KYLA!"If Bobby Jameson was involved, it wasn’t good. The guy was trouble. Always had been, but to do this? Quinton was going to kill him.And Kyla...Oh, she would pay for whatever part she played in it. He didn’t know how she got mixed up in all of this and at this point he didnt care.If was the last thing he did…She. Would. Pay.Copyright September 2015S. K. Hardy

DECEPTIONS

“Is this the one you were telling me about?” Quinton King asked his brother, Treyvon.Both men stood bobbing their heads to the beat of the music as they stood listening to the woman in the sound booth.“Yeah. Lady J.” Trey glanced at Quinton with a satisfied smirk on his face. 

Quinton nodded. “Sheisgood. Where did you find her from again?” 

“We were comin’ out ofMystiquea couple of weeks ago and she just started spittin’ right there. I told ya, Q. The girl’s bad.” 

“That she is, little brother. That she is.” 

They fell silent as the woman’s mesmerizing word game spat out hard enough to lyrically destroy half the male rappers on the scene. Trey’s eyes went to his brother again and noticed he had the “look”. Yeah. Quinton got that look whenever his radar detected a winner, and Lady J was definitely a sure thing.Q’s instinct had helped to make King Entertainment a force to be reckoned with in the music world and was also the main reason why they were still making money hand over fist in an industry that was struggling for its very survival.

As the woman continued to spit from the heart, Quinton’s hawk-like gaze slowly took in her absurdly long blond weave, green contacts, and cheap clothes. The outer package didn’t put him off because all of that was just superficial. It could be changed.What he focused on was the natural raw, biting talent he heard and felt coming from the deliverance of her lyrics. She hadit. That…thing…which hadn’t been seen in a female rapper since the days of MC Lyte. Rah Digga. A young Latifah. The more recent female rappers, Kim, Trina, and Foxy? They didn’t come close to this artist, and that’s exactly what she was. She was gonna change the game, take it back to a time when it wasn’t so commercialized. By the time Quinton and Trey finished with her, people would be saying ‘Nicki who?’ 

“Her flow is phenomenal.” Quinton folded his arms, and directed his attention to the producer, K.B., who was sitting at the soundboard. “You almost finished with this track?”

“Almost,” K. B. nodded.

“Set up an appointment with her tomorrow so that we can all talk,” Quinton told Trey. “I want her signed–ASAP.”

“You got it, Q.” 

Although the two of them were equal partners in their company, Trey preferred to handle the talent and musical end while Quinton handled the business side. The formula they had going worked well; being family was a plus.
Quinton was the oldest by three years and the two were very close. Standing side by side as they were now, no one could ever mistake the fact that the same blood ran through their veins. Both were tall and fit, dark with sharp chiseled features carved into attractive faces.Treyvon was the more outgoing of the two. While women flocked to him, knowing they would be in for a good time, with Quinton, they gravitated like a moth to a flame. His brooding, laid back manner offered a challenge they couldn’t resist.Ten years ago, the two of them had turned a fledgling grind they started in the basement of Quint’s house into a multi million dollar business. Music was their passion but they found out early on that the industry was a cutthroat kill or be killed beast. However, if the situation called for it, they could be as ruthless as the competition. Almost from the beginning they became known as the brothers who had the golden touch. The world was their playground and the sky the limit. 

“How old is she?” Quinton asked. 

“Nineteen.” 

Q nodded. Perfect. “She definitely has the look. Sexy but not raunchy.”They fell silent again, listening as Lady J did her thing. Several minutes later when the door to the studio opened, Trey peeked behind Quinton and raised his brow before a deep scowl settled on his forehead. Quinton noticed his expression and turned to see who’d walked in. His reaction was just the opposite of his brother’s. He ignored Trey’s barely disguised sigh of impatience and let his eyes drift over the woman who’d just entered the room. His baby. Kyla. 

“I should’ve known,” Trey grumbled under his breath. “Just what the fuck is up with you and her?” 

“Trey.” Although Quinton’s eyes never leaving Kyla his voice held an underlying warning that was unmistakable. “Don’t start.”Trey mumbled something else that was indiscernible, but was wise enough to let the subject drop.Quinton’s tongue unconsciously slipped out and wet his bottom lip as he took in Kyla’s hourglass figure. She looked as if she’d been poured into the form fitting black tank and tight jeans. The black sky-high boots completed the sexy picture. Her hair was styled similarly to the cut Halle used to rock. The wispy strands framed her creamy, milk chocolate complexion in a way that made her expressive brown eyes pop out and dominate her face.

Sexy as fuckwas what his expression conveyed to her. His gaze smoldered hot enough to scorch his name on her skin. Quinton squinted when she ducked her head in that shy, yet seductive manner of hers. Even after going out with her for over two months, he still couldn’t get over that contradiction which carried over into her personality. He wanted to tap into that underlying fire he sensed inside of her. He planned on striking the match to do so tonight.

“Damn, man fuck her already and get over it.” The words were uttered low enough to where only Quinton could hear. He ignored Quinton’s angry glare. “Seriously. Unless you holdin’ out on me, she hasn’t even let you hit it yet, so what’s the attraction?” 

Quinton’s eyes cut away from his brother and possessively dipped over Kyla’s curvy frame again. “Look at her. Enough said.” 

“You know what I mean. Yeah, she’s fine as hell, ain’t no denyin’ that, but she ain’t like the chicks we usually fuck with.” 

Quinton looked at Trey as if he’d just answered his own question. “Exactly.”
Moments later, Kyla stood in front of him. She slipped her arms around his waist and gave him a sweet smile. “Hi, baby.” 

Quinton didn’t waste time with words. Pulling her close, his mouth covered hers in a long, delicious kiss. Damn she felt good. He’d been out of town for a week and had missed her like crazy. A slight whimper escaped from her throat. Quinton deepened the kiss before reluctantly lifting his head and smiling at her. When they heard Trey’s hiss of disgust, they both turned to look at him.
Seeing the warning still glimmering in Quinton’s eyes, Trey made an effort to rearrange the knots in his face. “Hey, Ky. How you doin’?” 

“Hi Trey. I’m fine, thank you.” 

Quinton sat down in the leather chair behind him and pulled Kyla down on his lap. “Why didn’t you tell me you were stopping by?” They’d made plans to see each other tomorrow, not that he was complaining. “Did you bring my ride back unscathed?”The question was asked only half teasingly. Quinton had left his beloved sport scar with her while he was out of town. He’d be lying if he said he was anxious to go outside and inspect it to make sure it was still intact.Kyla squirmed around on his lap, causing him to bite back a moan of frustration when her soft round bottom pushed against his crotch. She gave him a look of pure innocence, but he caught the mischievous gleam sparkling in her eyes before her thick lashes dropped down. 

“Don’t think you won’t be paying for that later.” Q's words came out low and full of promise.Giggling, Kyla lowered her head and captured his earlobe between her teeth. She bit down softly before delicately sucking it between her lips.Quinton’s eyes closed tight for a brief second then lightly popped her on the ass. “Behave yourself.” 

“Sorry.” But her expression was anything but. "And to answer both of your questions, yes your baby is the way you left her, not a scratch on her. And two, I missed you so decided to stop by and pick you up. Is that okay?” 

“Hey, you get no complaints from me, babe.” The smile they exchanged was private and intimate before Quinton turned his attention back to the sound booth.Kyla followed his gaze. “Who’s that? New artist?” 

“Not yet.” 

“Wow. She’s good. The real deal, you know?” 

Quinton glanced at Kyla and nodded. In the time they’d spent together, he’d quickly found out she had a good ear for music. He respected her opinions and enjoyed the spirited conversations they engaged in. As Trey said, she was different from the females he usually dated. He liked that. A lot.
“She’s definitely the real deal. Most of the females out now look like manufactured Barbie’s playin’ in the rap game. Little to no true talent. But this one…” He nodded in Lady J’s direction. “She’s gonna be big. Possibly the one to put the rap game back in play. Trey’s gonna set up a meeting with her in the morning. We need to get her name on a contract before someone snatches her up.” 

“Good idea.”They listened a little while longer before Quinton told her they could go on and head out. Trey walked with him to the door, discussing last minute details while Kyla walked in front them. 

“I’ll stay here until J finishes up. What say we meet in the office around ten?”“Sounds good. See you then.” Quinton clasped Trey’s hand and gave him a one-armed man hug.

“Bye, Trey,” Kyla called out softly.

Trey looked at her and gave her a brief head nod. “Take care, Ky. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you soon.”Not missing the sarcasm in his voice, Quinton gave him a sharp glare as he took Kyla’s hand and walked out the door. Kyla gave him the key to his car and waited while he pressed the remote to unlock the door and held it open for her. Quinton rounded the car and climbed into the driver’s seat. He was just getting ready to turn the ignition when he noticed Kyla staring at him. He lifted an eyebrow and waited. 

“Your brother doesn’t like me very much, does he?”

Never one to mince words, Quinton shrugged matter of factly. “Doesn’t matter if he likes you or not.Ilike you.”

“Did I do something wrong?” 

“Nah. Trey’s funny like that. Sometimes it takes him a while to warm up to a person. He’ll come around.” When the frown stayed on her face, Quinton tucked a finger under her chin and turned her his way. “Hey. My brother and I are close, but his personal hang-ups, whatever they might be, aren’t a factor in who I see or don’t see. The only thing that’s important here is you and me. Okay?”Kyla hesitated then nodded. Quinton ducked his head to catch her eye. “Alright?” This time a smile broke over Kyla’s mouth and she nodded more confidently. “That’s my girl.” 

He leaned over and claimed her lips, growling quietly when Kyla opened her mouth to deepen the kiss. Quinton slid one hand around the back of her neck while the other rubbed her thigh. 

“Ky…I missed you, baby.”Kyla’s breathing quickened. She trembled when his lips moved to the corner of her lips, her jaw line and down to the sensitive curvature of her neck.“Did you miss me?” he whispered in a low, seductive voice.
Kyla shivered again when the heat of his breath warmed the side of her neck. She nodded in jerky movements, and tried to surreptitiously squeeze her thighs together to quiet the throbbing heat pulsating from her center but Quinton noticed the movement.“I want you, Ky. Baby, Ineedyou.” Quinton’s hand inched up her leg.

Trying to gain some semblance of control, Kyla whispered his name, but it came out hoarse and barely audible. She cleared her throat and tried again.“Quinton, we…we need to….mmmm, shit.” The protest turned into a groan of torture when his hand found its target at the juncture of her thighs.Quinton massaged her flesh in a circular caress, using every part of his hand, fingers, fingertips, palm, to cup and press into her damp femininity. He knew as well as Kyla did that there was no use in putting up a fight. Her mind might be giving her one set of instructions but her body had decided to revolt and do just the opposite. Her thighs relaxed and fell open. Her hips moved against Quinton’s hand, meeting the tantalizing rhythm of his strokes. When he took little love bites out along her neck, Kyla cried his name out loud.They both heard the intense need in her voice. Whereas it excited Quinton even more, it seemed to sober Kyla with a quickness. Her hand came down to cover his with the intention of pulling it from between the comfortable residence it had taken up between her legs. 

“Quint…no. We have tostop.” The last word ended in a deep sigh. Instead of her treacherous hand firmly removing his, it molded itself against his fingers and settled them even more firmly against her heat. 

“Right there, Ky? You like that?”” he whispered. When she bit down on her lip, he demanded an answer. “Tell me.”Unable to deny the truth she could only nod.“I want to hear you say it, baby.”
“Y-yes. I like it.”A grainy rumble of masculine satisfaction rumbled from his chest. “You’re so hot, so ready. You’re panties must be soaking wet to have your jeans this damp. Are they?”“Quint…” 

“Are they, Ky?” 

“Yes….!”She gritted her teeth when she heard his gruffly arrogant chuckle. 

“My dick is fucking brick hard right now. You have no idea how much I want you. Touch me, Ky.”Her eyes fluttered open and stared into his. He groaned when he saw that damned innocently seductive look on her face again. “Touch me,” he told her again. 

His jaw twitched with the effort it took him to be patient. He had never worked this hard for pussy in his life, had never had to. He understood his brother’s bewilderment regarding his action. Women were a dime a dozen in their line of work. But Kyla was worth waiting for. Otherwise, there was no way he’d be sitting in a parked car necking like a teenager in high school.Quinton’s breath hitched when her small hand covered and squeezed the bulge in the front of his jeans.
“Shit.”His passion-laden eyes glimpsed the flash of womanly knowledge reflected in hers as she teased and stroked his package. Cursing under his breath, he somehow managed to get his next words past his lips.“Your place or mine?”Just like that, he saw the wall go up. She snatched her hand away and this time had no problem pulling his from her disloyal kitty. 

Quinton stared at her in disbelief. No way. There was no way she was even thinking about leaving him likethis. “Kyla…” He leaned over and tried to capture her lips again, but she turned her head and pushed against his chest.

“No. Quinton…please.” 

He froze for a moment then slowly sat back in his seat. Sitting with his legs wide apart to try and ease his discomfort, he dropped his head back against the headrest. He breathed in deeply through his mouth and released the rush of air through flared nostrils. 

“Baby, I’m sorry,” she said again. “I…we shouldn’t have let it get this far. You know I want to take things slow.”

Hearing her statement, he lifted his head and sent her a hard look. “Slow? Ky, we’ve been going out almost three months. Trust, for me, this is slow.”He swiped his hand over his mouth and barely managed to stop himself from groaning out loud when he smelled her scent on his fingers.Shit!

Kyla squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. “You said you would wait until I was ready. You know what I went through with my previous relationship. You said–”

“I know what I said!” Quinton’s words were sharp and brusque. His lips tightened when he saw the hurt in her eyes.  Dammit! “I’m sorry. I didn’t meant to snap at you.”

“I understand.” Her small voice made him feel about ten inches high, and when she looked up at him with wide eyes shining full of unshed tears, he really felt like a pile crap.Reaching for her hand, he laced his fingers through hers. “No, really I’m sorry. It’s just that… He let out a short laugh. “Baby, I’m not gonna lie, I’m horny as fuck. And I want you, Ky, but if you’re not ready, you’re just not ready.” 

“I know there are hundreds of women who would be willing to sleep with you right now. I wouldn’t blame you if…” Her voice trailed off as she peeked up at him, and when he shrugged and nodded in agreement, her mouth fell open. Then she saw the corner of his mouth twitch with the effort it took to hold back a laugh. Kyla slapped his shoulder. “Quinton! That’s not funny!” 

Quint burst out laughing and pulled her to him. “Oh, believe me. It ain't funny, but I couldn’t resist.” 

Kyla pretended to resist his embrace for a moment then moved closer and threw her arms around him. “That was so mean!” She pushed against his chest then stared at him expectantly.
Quinton laughed again. He knew what she was waiting on. “I guess you want me to say out loud what you already know, huh? Fine. I’on want nobody else but you. Okay?” 

Kyla grinned and pulled him to her for a kiss. “Okay,” she mimicked. 

Chuckling quietly, Quinton started the ignition and pulled away from the curve to merge into the traffic. “Did you get your car taken care of?”The day before he’d gone out of town, Kyla had to put her car in the shop. When she’d mentioned that she would be able to catch a ride with a co-worker to and from work, he told her she could borrow his car while he was gone.

“Yes, thank God. I really appreciate you letting me borrow yours…even though that was the first thing you asked about every time we talked.” She mockingly sent him a chastising look out the corner of her eye. 

“Now, see, there you go. It wasn’t the first thing I asked about. The second maybe, but definitely not the first.”

They laughed and continued to talk until he pulled up in front of her townhouse. They walked to her front door with their arms around each other. Quinton held his hand out for her key and unlocked it, then moved aside for her to walk in. He leaned against the doorframe until she put in the code to turn her alarm off. 

“Do you want to come inside for a drink?” she asked.

Quinton’s fell back a step. He stared upwards and closed his eyes. “You’re joking, right?” 

Kyla nibbled on her lip. “Oh. Sorry.” 

Grimacing, he shook his head and held a hand out. “Come here.”

Kyla walked towards him and let out a sigh of contentment when his arms slipped around her waist and pulled her close. Their lips met in a slow kiss. Soon, tongues became involved and the flame between them quickly fanned into a fire. That was always the case with them. The sexual tension had been palpable between them almost from the very beginning. Quinton had wanted her the moment he saw her. He realized he’d told her they could go at her pace, but he didn’t know how much more he could take.Reluctantly peeling her body off of him, he moved her back a couple of steps. “I’d better go, baby.” 

“Quinton…” 

“No. Don’t look at me like that. I’m trying to do the right thing here, but Ky…soon.” His eyes were intense as he conveyed the fact that he wanted them to take that next step.Kyla’s throat worked as she nodded.“I’ll call you later, baby. Go on inside and lock up.” He gave her another quick kiss and waited until he heard the locks turn before heading to his car. 

On the other side of the door, Kyla leaned her head against the wood frame until she heard the powerful purr of his engine speed away. She took a slow, steadying breath. A smile played around her lips as she replayed the last few minutes in her mind. She was so preoccupied that she didn’t hear the soft footsteps walking towards her.

“You fallin’ for this dude, Kyla?” 

Kyla screamed and jumped when she heard the deep male voice, incredulous with the disbelief he felt. Breathing hard, she slapped a hand over her chest and splayed it over the rapid beating of her heart, which thumped like crazy. A second later her eyes narrowed at him in a pissed off glare.

“Are you crazy?” she sneered, standing with her hand angrily planted on her hips. “What are you doing here? You could’ve ruined everything!What are you doing here, Bobby?” 

“What am I doing here?” he asked pointing to his chest. “Looks like its a good thing I am so that I can help you find what you’ve lost.” 

Avoiding his eyes, Kyla brushed past him and went over to the couch to sit down. She unzipped one boot and eased her foot out. “And just what might that be.”

“Perspective, that’s what.”

“Bobby…” 

“Ky, what are you doin’?” 

Her hand stilled in the middle of unzipping the other boot. “I’m doing what we agreed on. Why are you all of a sudden tripping about it?” 

“Because you standing there daydreaming with a sappy ass look on your face is not what we agreed on!” 

“We agreed that I would get close to him, didn’t we? That’s what I’m doing.” 

“Yeah, and you really enjoying it too, aren’t you?”

“Bobby, fuck you.” 

“Hell no. You the one who needs to make sure you don’t get fucked, and I mean that literally.” Seeing her eyes flashing fire his way, Bobby released a breath and went over to the couch to sit beside her. “You avoided my question, and that’s a red flag right there. Are you fallin’ for King?” 

Kyla opened her mouth then closed it and swallowed. “No. At least I don’t think so.” 

“You need to take a step back because I can tell he’s gettin’ all up in your head. I tried to tell you, he ain’t no joke, professionally or personally. We already know what he’s capable of bid’ness wise. He got ho’s for days. Don’t fall for this charmin’ bullshit he’s givin’ you. Right now, you’re a challenge for him. Lets keep it that way for now. “ 

Kyla’s look sharpened. “What do you mean ’for now’?”

“Just that. The minute you give in to him, it’s on to the next. We gotta be smart about this. Ky, you need to remember why we’re doing this. Remember the big picture here.” 

Kyla blinked and looked away. “I haven’t forgotten.”

“Good. That motherfucker is ruthless and doesn’t give a fuck about nobody but his bid’ness and his brother. That’s it.” 

“We need to hurry. I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be able to hold him off.” 

Bobby shrugged before his eyes flickered away from hers. “You might have to eventually…you know…do what you gotta do.” 

Kyla’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “I never agreed to prostitute myself.” 

“It wouldn’t be prostituting yourself. Use him the same way he uses everybody else.” 

“Bobby!” 

“Kyla, damn!” Bobby jumped up and paced back and forth. “Do you think I like you having to do this? I wanted to smash his face in when I saw you two a few minutes ago. But what other alternative do we have? How else would we be able to get close to him?” He stopped and stared at her long and hard. “Are you saying you want to back out?”

Their eyes held as a look of understanding passed between them. This was business–and it was definitely personal. Bobby was right. She needed to get a grip. If Quinton hadn’t stopped tonight when he had, she had no doubt they would’ve ended up in her bed tonight. When she’d called a halt to the activity in his car, she’d used what little restraint she had left and prayed he didn’t push the issue. If he had...Kyla shook her head. It was time to regroup.As Bobby said, regain perspective. She planned on redoubling her efforts to get what she needed and get out because Quinton King was becoming a bad habit, and like all bad habits, he would be hard to kick…if not damned near impossible.

SECOND CHANCES UPDATE

​First of all, my apologies for the delay of SECOND CHANCES and the lack of an update!  This year has been a very difficult one with the loss of my grandmother in Januaary. I feel like I'm just now starting to see a little light at the end of the tunnel and am excited for what's ahead with my future work! :)SECOND CHANCES has been sent to my editor for a final edit so as of now I'm waiting to hear from her. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything will be finished this month. I'm taking a couple of days to relax a bit then will be starting BEING BARRON 3: Taylor & Max. This book will be the third in the Being Barron Trilogy.I appreciate your patience as I continue to work on my website and blog. I also promise to update you guys soon! Hope you can feel my excitement because baby....I'm back!Much luv,S.K.