Dawning and Resurgence (The Collective, #2)

by K.C. Mills

“Did I do something to you that I’m unaware of?” Yes. You had your assistant call me. You ruined my self-induced orgasms. And you smell divine and look yummy.

“You personally calling won't change if and when I’m too busy to make time for you, Omari.” “No, it won’t but you mentioned twice, in a very annoyed tone, that my assistant reached out. My takeaway is you would prefer I be the one to do so in the future. Noted. I’m an observant man.” How the hell had he read me so easily?

“So you’re tight with the city to the point where they’re considering creating a transit line because you asked?” He shrugged, stepping into my personal space. “I have resources so I use them. What’s the point of having favors if you don’t occasionally call them in? It’s counterproductive, wouldn’t you agree?” “I would. I’m just not used to that type of privilege.” “You will be with time.” “I don’t see how.” “You and I will be joined at the hip, Ms. Abraham. My favor becomes yours since there will be times where you’ll be the voice representing BWB and the Omari Corporation as well as others when we’ll be negotiating together. Whatever privilege I have will be used at your leisure.”

I was referring to how flexible I recall you being that night. Dance would explain that flexibility.”

“So you’re not good at everything?” He smirked, turning to face me. “I’m good at a lot of things, far more than the skill set you’ve been exposed to, Jhorie… But no, I’m not good at everything.”

I wasn’t bad, just not as skilled as my brothers. Elias had more edge so he was willing to take the hits, the abuse to his body from being in the ring. He welcomed it most days but Lucas was damn good. He could have gone pro if…” He paused and I was hesitant to inquire further but curiosity got the best of me. I knew of their family but only their privilege. “Did he choose another career over boxing?” “No, he was murdered before he got the chance to pursue it.”

Lucas was the one who you would look at and try to make sense of how he fit, but he simply didn’t. He wanted to. Our father pushed him to be a part of a world he never should have embraced and it cost him his life.”

“So am I but I had no intention to dampen the mood. To your point, everything here is paid for. The building and everything in it. Staff salaries will be fully funded by grants which means qualified staff, skilled in their prospective areas of expertise, will work here. Sports, academics, trades, college preparatory, and life skills. Loyd will be nonprofit so nothing will be expected out of pocket for the families.”

“I figured that would make you happy.” “It does, but it’s also making me like you more than I want. I really want to dislike you.” He threw his head back and laughed so sinfully enticingly that my pussy was angry with me for giving him a reason. “I apologize for being likable but unfortunately I can’t help that you have a bad habit of misjudging me. Technically that’s your fault not mine.” “Maybe but liking you is going to be my downfall.” “I assure you; you will survive, Ms. Abraham. I’ll make it my personal mission to see to it. Now what happens along the way, I can’t make any guarantees but I can promise you’ll be thoroughly satisfied with the experience.”

I didn’t have personal feelings about people I worked with but there was something between Jhorie and me, not just that one very memorable night we shared. Whatever this was extended beyond that.

This Jhorie was the one I appreciated the most. The one who advocated for those she deemed worthy, ready to go to war with anyone who meant them harm. Even me, the man responsible for ensuring she maintained her current career. Not that she worked for me—I’d meant what I said about us being colleagues—but one phone call to Samiya would ultimately change the course of her duties with BWB. I would never pull rank but I could. I was sure she was aware of that small detail and still didn’t back down.

I chuckled, nodding with understanding. My brother was very possessive of his wife. He liked keeping her close. During the last few months of her pregnancy—and for the past six months—Cress had been home. Elias wasn’t dealing very well with the idea of her dancing and touring again. Dance had been Cress’s first love. Although he’d moved into that space, dance was still very important to his wife. He would never stand in the way of her happiness, no matter how much it pained him to share her with the world. “Ahh, so he’s pouting.” She smiled. “Dealing with his separation issues not pouting.”

I smirked and kissed Cress’s cheek before heading to the stairs. “I’m aware and I assure you, when it’s time, I’ll be fully engaged. Stop worrying about me, Cress,” I tossed over my shoulder as I ascended the stairs. “Hard to when you won’t do it yourself and you’re not the dating or single kind. You’re happier when your life is organized which means a full commitment. You need a wife. Good night, Ez.” “Night, Cress.” There was so much truth in her words that I felt the weight of them on my shoulders. Although I hadn’t been pleased about marrying a woman I hadn’t chosen for myself, I loved the idea of marriage. Knowing there was one person I could always depend on and trust settled something in me.

“Thank you for thinking of me.” She didn’t need to thank me or she would be thanking me all the gotdamn time considering how much time I spent thinking of her.

I would take you anywhere you wanted.

Drinks and you dancing at a club would be very painful for me if I didn’t get to touch you like I wanted while enjoying the experience.

The hum of her voice sank into me. I liked the way it felt having her this close and she smelled good. Sweet, but different than I had encountered during our other interactions. This was more natural. A light scent of fruit mixed with her. “You’re not wearing perfume.” “Excuse me?” Those beautiful eyes narrowed on me. “You smell different. Good but different. It’s more you than the perfume you usually wear. Although I like them both, I think this is my preference.”

“You shouldn’t have a preference when it comes to me,”

He was definitely the problem. “I don’t want your apologies. I want you to change your behavior. You’re not going to keep treating me like the people you employ. ‘Here’s some money, go do what the fuck I told you to do.’ That’s not love, Dre.” “Know your place, Jhorie. Love is me providing you with a life most women can only dream of. Don’t think for one minute I can’t replace you. Stop fucking pressuring me. When I’m ready, you’ll be the first to know.”

“You are correct. But seriously Jhor, are you good? A lot has changed. Dre told Jessup you walked away from everything. He also thinks you’ll be back because you need him.”

“I don’t need him…” I defended. “No, you don’t. You’re one of the smartest, most resilient women I know. But he doesn’t understand that side of you which is why he believes this is temporary.” “It’s not.” “When he realizes it’s not, he’s going to lose his shit. He’s busy right now. He and Jessup are in the middle of something which is why he’s not really pushing. I also think he wants you to be the one to fold. He thinks you’ll come back so he doesn’t have to chase you.”

“Jhorie…” “No, it’s fine. What’s between me and Dre’thon or what used to be between us has nothing to do with you.” “You met because of me.” “Did you know he only wanted to fuck me and lock me down because I was a challenge he wanted to conquer and he never truly planned on being the man he initially presented? No marriage, no kids, no real future?” “Of course not.” “Then don’t blame yourself. None of what I’m dealing with is your fault. I love you, Mal. I have to go; I’ll call you soon.”

“Add man who makes shit happen to my list of attributes.”

The way he drank me in said I want to fuck you. The way I burned under his gaze said I’ll let you, right here right now. Far too much sexual tension.

“I like Aso, but mostly his first two albums. The newer stuff feels like he’s reaching.” “You don’t like ‘Make Me’?” He looked me over, eyes lingering on my face before they dropped to my lips. “I do. That’s an interesting choice.” “Why, because it’s about a powerful man willing to hand over control to his woman?” “The power struggle is not just in his life but also in the bedroom. So, again, interesting choice. Is that something that intrigues you, control in the bedroom?” “Maybe.”

Love is Power’ would be my favorite.” “Why?” I knew the meaning of the song. I wanted his thoughts on why it was his favorite. “When a man loves a woman, she’s both his strength and weakness. She holds his fate in her hands. Because she makes him weak, she has the power to destroy him. If she truly loves him, she never will. That’s a beautiful thing and I want that.”

“I know marriages aren’t perfect and sometimes end but they aren’t all bad. You were married, you didn’t have that with your wife?” He studied me for a long moment and his gaze turned cold. “The entire time we were married she was in love with another man, so no, unfortunately not.”

“Are we dancing?” His eyes lowered to my lips then he kissed me softly. “You’re dancing. I’ll be there to make sure no one else gets the grand idea that they can do it with you.”

She danced, grinding her ass on my very hard dick while I held her to me with an arm locked around her waist. I got high off the perfume lightly misting her skin while she leaned into my chest and hooked one of her arms around my neck, claiming me.

“You better not disappoint and if I end up on the internet you better be prepared to pay whatever price to make it go away.” “You have my word.” “Then I would love to cum on your face, Omari.”

“I’ve been trying incredibly hard for us not to end up here. We both have a lot to consider but I’m not sure I can be around you and not want to make you cum, Jhorie.” Uncertainty flared in her eyes and I felt the argument building. “We can figure it out. Don’t overthink. We’re good together in a lot of ways. This just happens to be one of them.” I brought my face closer. “You want me and I want you. There’s nothing wrong with two adults enjoying each other responsibly.”

She didn’t know me so I couldn’t argue commitment was the only thing I wanted with a woman. Especially after my failed marriage. I wanted to be someone’s choice, their priority, but she would never believe that, at least not with her pussy still lingering on my lips and tongue.

“Since Cress, yeah, it is. My life is pretty fucked up at times. It gets dark as hell and that’s something most people will never understand. She does…” “And I don’t?” “Yeah you do but with her it’s different, Ez. She’s my balance. When I’m spiraling, she grounds me. When I’m second guessing or insecure, she’s my confidence. That shit would normally make me feel inadequate but not with her. She’s more than I could have ever imagined being blessed with, Ez.

“She’s nothing like I expected but everything I could see myself wanting. I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing with her and that makes me uneasy. My marriage was fucked up, Lias. It happened for all the wrong reasons but I still wanted it. I was a good husband. I worked to make her happy—” “She was never gonna be happy, Ez. She didn’t want to be, not with you.” Which was the problem.

“I wasn’t who she chose to give her heart to and I want to be chosen. I fucking need that shit. If I do this again, she has to choose me.”

The minute I laid eyes on her I knew she was mine. The rest didn’t fucking matter.”

“Philanthropy is his love child so that means you must be good at what you do if he’s allowing you shared custody.”

I glanced around the space, noticing the massive boutique of flowers in the corner. The display was as large as a toddler, beautiful and most definitely rare. “Who sent those?” “Elias. That’s their thing. He sent something similar to Cress the first night he saw her dance and now he makes sure she has them every performance. Only his are allowed in her dressing room.” He smirked and I grinned at how protective Elias truly was.

“No, you’re not and he hasn’t told me anything other than you were coming tonight. You’re back here because I insisted and I get what I want from the Omari men. The alternative doesn’t really work in their favor.” She winked and opened her water. “You might not think it’s much but you’re here. Ez is very protective of his family. Fiercely protective and he knows Elias is even more protective of me. He’s showing you pictures of my children. He invited you to come see me dance. On the surface those are simple, irrelevant things but to know him? I can promise you they are not. He doesn’t share us with people, yet here you are.” “Oh…” She smiled behind her water bottle. “It’s why I wanted to meet you. I needed to feel you out. To see if you should be shared with us.”

“Ezekiel is an amazing man who is a protector and loves with everything he has. He’s the one person in this family who is always taking care of everyone else. It would be nice to know someone’s taking care of him. We try but he refuses. In his mind it’s his duty to be everyone’s rock. But always being strong has to be exhausting and very lonely. You’re here for a reason.”

Because you like Jhorie and Cress’s acceptance matters to you.

She had no idea just how little she was requesting of me versus how much I was willing to offer.

The thought of anyone harming Jhorie had my muscles locked tightly and ready for action. She wasn’t mine, but I would defend her like she was. Defending her meant physical harm to anyone who was stupid enough to mistreat her.

I want things he will never give.” “Such as?” My eyes burned into hers, waiting. Jhorie could have any fucking thing she wanted from any man she wanted, if they had half a brain, but that didn’t matter… “Marriage, kids, stability, happiness…” “What if he’s changed his mind and is now willing to give you what you want?” She stared at me so intensely I almost regretted asking until she made herself clear. “It wouldn’t matter. Things are different now. I don’t want those things with him.” Would you want those things with me? I almost asked. The question was burning on my tongue, but I pulled back.

When I started moving, she yanked my hand. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing…” She let go of my hand and looked around but I moved in front of her, blocking her view. “Something just happened, you want to tell me what?” “Is that who you’re meeting?” Her eyes moved past me and I assumed she was looking in the direction of McCants. “Yes, why?” “I know him.” I lowered my eyes to hers, asking questions I didn’t have to verbalize. “Not personally but I’ve been around him before with my ex.” I should have asked before now, which was my slip. “What exactly is it that your ex does, Jhorie?” “I don’t know all of it but I know most of what he does isn’t legal.”

“That wasn’t me, Ezekiel. The Mission thing.” “The message came from your office.” “But sent from the powers that be, they’re applying pressure. You’re not doing what they want you to.” “And I never will. I’m not my father or you.”

Nepotism and white privilege is the real issue. One we are put in place to challenge.

“They want Christian out. He hasn’t been playing ball with The Collective for a long time. The trafficking thing is just a way to get it done.” I glanced at McCants briefly. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Ask Christian. He’s family, right?” When my expression turned hard, he chuckled. “I guess all families have secrets. You’d be wise to find out yours before you lose everything behind someone who doesn’t give a damn about his future or yours.”

“They didn’t take too kindly to Christian refusing to take over where his father left off. It’s been years and with the way things are changing, they need him. They offered him a deal to clear his name. A way to fix this shit. Taking the deal can either be considered smart or stupid but that’s for him to decide. It really depends on what he values most.”

They’d offered him a deal. He told me he had no clue where to start with this shit. Christian fucking lied.