Dirty
Date: 2000-01-01 05:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Romance; Fiction; African American & Black; Women; Multicultural & Interracial
Description: *** STANDALONE NOVEL! *** It took many years for 35-year-old Trish to finally admit that her marriage was dead and the man she had married was one big ass. Now, determined to restart her life, she relocates back to Atlanta. While there, she began making money buying and selling real estate...and then came Brayden. Trish was shocked to find the awkward boy she recalled from her youth had grown into the handsome, rich man with the Barry White voice. His eyes spoke a promise of fulfilling her every sexual desire but there was one problem. He was white, which was new to her. And, even if she decid
Publisher: Createspace

Dirty:

Loving Him Against All Odds

A Novel By

Christine Gray

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© 2016

Published by Royalty Publishing House
www.royaltypublishinghouse.com

All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner, is prohibited.

OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR:

The Billionaire Mob Wife, Loving The Bad Boy

Pursued; The Billionaire’s Obsession

Sweet Obsessions; His Beauty, Her Beast

BOOKS UNDER PEN NAME

SAPPHIRE

Don’t Tell My Husband Series

Falling for an Alpha Billionaire Series

Consumed by Love

An Extraordinary Love

One of a Kind Love

Hello Peeps,

This story is a year in the making. Trish and Brayden were created a while back and are finally getting the end that they deserve. In addition to that, you’ll find out if Beau and his father will make up or if he’ll refuse to forgive. Lastly, you’ll catch up with Andreas and Calico, too. For those that will be meeting Trish and Brayden for the first time, have no fear. I wrote the story in a way that you don’t have to read other series to know what’s going on.

Like always, thanx so much for allowing me this opportunity to share my crazy, kinky, humorous, drama filled imagination with you. I hope U all enjoy the ride.

Till Later….

Chapter One

“Well, you can just kiss my ass. How the hell are you going to ask me for a loan when you haven’t given me two pennies to rub together for your three kids? Listen, I can’t deal with you anymore. Go rob a bank,” she grumbled sarcastically before she tossed the phone into the passenger seat.

Trish eyed the 18-wheeler while she sped up to merge onto Interstate 285 South to fight the late morning Georgia traffic. She was heading into Atlanta from Norcross. She couldn’t afford to let her ex-husband, George, get under her skin. He was full of rude comments, baseless allegations, empty threats, and pleas for financial help. For the millionth time, she wondered why she had wasted so much of her life chasing him. Their fifteen-year marriage was a miracle in itself. Hell, maybe it was punishment for all the grief she put her parents through from the day she had laid eyes on him. Even in their junior year of high school, he was a player. He felt his popularity and title of quarterback gave him a pass to do whatever or whoever he liked. He kept that same mentality all through college. How did she know? She had followed him, of course. After he failed to get picked up in the NFL draft, his self-entitled attitude only got worse. He began to place blame for his loss of fame and riches at her feet.

She had too much on her mind that Tuesday morning to give him any more thought. At the moment, her only thought was, how the hell could it be this damn hot so close to December? The heat was overwhelming as she adjusted the air conditioning vents in her grey Audi Q7 toward her face. Coming from Delray Beach, Florida to Georgia, she thought she would adapt to the heat with no problem. However, she realized that she had forgotten just how hot, sticky, and downright miserable the Georgia heat could be in the spring. The realization that it wasn’t summer yet did nothing to remove the frown on her attractive, honey-brown face. She had no doubt that her freshly done blow out would be a thing of the past in a matter of a few days. She needed to cool down – quick! She took a deep, steady breath in an attempt to settle her nerves. She had been doing her damnedest to hold it together over the last few weeks, but with every passing day, it was getting harder to hide her fears of impending doom. It loomed over her like a dark, menacing cloud. She was praying it would pass her by.

Trish had done the one thing she had cautioned herself not to do when she started her real estate business flipping houses. In a short time, she had already made over sixty thousand in profits; but now, she was facing the reality of losing it all if something didn’t happen soon. At the current moment, she was sitting on five houses. Two of the homes were behind schedule on their remodeling to get them on the market. Two were on the market, but hadn’t sold. The fifth house was a short sale, bought sight unseen in Buckhead. It made her stomach churn just thinking about it. She had been so excited when she received a text with the house’s specs and photos. She literally jumped at the price. It never occurred to her that the banker, who helped her secure so many deals, was setting her ass up for the biggest failure of her life. Her hand gravitated to the red folder on the dashboard. It was filled with pictures of the Buckhead home’s interior but before she could open it, she was stopped short by the sound of her cell going off.

She growled as she snatched up the phone and read the text message.

“I know I’m late, asshole!” she shouted into the empty vehicle. This was the last thing that was on her mind. She never wanted to be on the damn college advisory board in the first place. Thinking back to being approached while visiting her son’s middle school, she had been shocked and flattered. She had seen the fashionably dressed, dark-skinned woman with the high-quality Brazilian weave at the school often. They would smile and exchange the normal pleasantries in passing, but nothing that would have warranted a seat on the board at Clark University. Even now, as she pulled into the school’s parking lot, she recalled the dumbfounded expression on her face when she asked the woman why she offered the seat to her.

“Why would you ask me? I mean, I’m sure there’s—”

“Why not you?” the woman cut her off with a friendly smile. “Believe me, I wouldn’t have approached you if I didn’t think you would be good for the board. I like your style. I like the way you carry yourself. And I like the way your boys handle themselves, which is a direct reflection of you,” she had explained. The woman narrowed her brown eyes. “Besides, not only will you be doing something great. But sitting on the board will align you with the right people. The right people to help further your investments,” the woman added with a smile.

“Yeah, it’s helping me alright. It’s helping me sweat off my makeup and eat up my damn time,” mumbled Trish as she looked for the meeting the room. She stopped before door N32. Quickly, she took out her compact, re-applied her pressed powder to remove the sheen from her face, glided on an extra layer of mauve-colored lip gloss, and ran her hand through her layered bob.

Closing her purse, she tapped lightly on the door, then opened it.

“I apologize for being late. I…” she started, only for her words to trail off as she stumbled in her footing. She was face to face with him sitting at the head of the conference table. When she replayed that moment in her mind later, she was sure she would acknowledge that there were other people in the room; but in that second, there was only him.

“You haven’t missed too much,” said Brayden in that deep Barry White voice of his. She remembered him developing that voice when they were in high school. Back then, his body didn’t match the sexy voice, unlike now. He slowly rose to his feet. Trish remained rooted in place, while he introduced her to the other members of the board. If the heat affected him, he surely didn’t show it. She took in the way his dark blue shirt stretched over his muscular, tanned chest and arms. Her brown gaze traveled down toward the black belt and tailored black pants that hung to perfection over his hips. She heard herself swallow hard. She knew how he looked under his clothes as well. She had seen him many times in the same gym she took her kids to for boxing lessons. As a matter of a fact, that’s how she had run into him two months ago.

“I saved you a seat,” he gestured toward the open seat, breaking into her thoughts.

“Thank you for this wonderful opportunity,” she said through a tight smile. She nodded in greeting to the other members sitting at the conference table as she walked toward the empty chair. “Oh, right next to yours,” she glared at him as she took her seat.

“I wanted to make you feel comfortable since I am the only one you know in the room.”

Quickly, her eyes darted around the space. He smiled. He knew she was looking for Sara, the woman that offered her a seat on the board.

“Sara works for me. She’s my assistant.” He wished they were somewhere more relaxed, because he was having a hard time holding back the laughter that was threatening to burst. The look that came across her face when all the pieces began to fit was priceless. She opened her mouth only to clamp it shut.

For the next twenty minutes, Trish sat trying to focus on anything other than the handsome man to her right that was trying his hardest to get her attention. The couple of times he asked her opinion on a matter, she very sweetly declined to respond. Brayden chuckled under his breath as he continued to discuss matters with the other six members of the board. He didn’t have to look at her to know she was watching him. He could feel her eyes on him every time she looked his way.

It didn’t take long for Trish to notice that sitting this close to him was a mistake. He had been chipping away at her armor for the last few months every chance he got when they crossed paths at the gym. He had even found a way of befriending her children through the help of his own son and daughter. Due to his persistence, she felt her resolve weakening. Lately, she found herself looking forward to their weekly song and dance. It was his approach that she found refreshing, as well as downright amusing and shocking at time. Brayden didn’t kiss ass like some men. He was comical and flippant, as well as seductive. Whether it was the way his mouth moved when he spoke, the wicked grin he would flash, or a heated glance sent her way—they all spoke volumes of what he was thinking in that moment, and that made her panties wet. Trish closed her eyes and took a deep breath, hoping to ease the throbbing between her thighs. Instead, she breathed in his heady, masculine scent mixed with his cologne, which only caused the throbbing to intensify. She was used to seeing him sweaty—not clean, commanding, and clearly in his element of business.

“What say you, Trish?”

Her brown eyes flew open at the question that was posed to her.

“I…I really don’t know. I’m new, so I just want to observe today,” she tried to explain. She wasn’t going to admit that she didn’t have a clue as to what they had been babbling on about.

“Come now, you’re a part of the committee. We want to hear your feelings on this very important matter,” pressed the only other woman in the room. She could see that Trish’s mind had been miles away. She wanted to make the newcomer out to be a lazy ass fool to get her off the board to make room for another. If she was honest with herself, she wanted the pretty young thing gone to better her chances of getting with Brayden. She had put in too much work to get that man, and she would be damned if the new bitch was going to waltz in and fuck him instead of her. The fact that she was fifteen years older than him never came up in her mind as a reason to why he wasn’t interested in her lustful advances. She liked them young with a whole lot of stamina. She narrowed her green eyes at the sight of Brayden chuckling before he leaned over to talk to Trish.

“You weren’t listening, were you?” He covered his wide smile with his hand when she threw the mad look at him. “Why are you upset with me?”

“Fuck you,” she hissed.

He leaned back in the leather chair. He tilted his head while he listened to her ask a few open questions in an attempt to figure out what had been said. He wasn’t surprised that no one at the table was willing to supply her with what she needed to know. No one was happy that he had taken it upon himself to fill the empty seat without consulting them first. He had grown tired of the others taking advantage of the fact that they were one short when it came to voting. The last few votes had done more to hurt the minorities in the community than they did to help, which was a shame. Clark University was, after all, an African American school. If it was up to him, he would remove half of the members that filled the seats for prestige and replace them with those who would actually do some good. Of course, getting Trish into the position to get things done was only half his reason. He never claimed to be a saint, so it didn’t bother him that his motives weren’t all completely pure at heart.

His light brown eyes examined her openly while she conversed with the others. He marveled every time he saw her. She was the mirror image of the girl she’d been in high school, give or take a few pounds she’d put on during the years. His gaze traveled to her plump ass encased in skin-tight jeans. He shifted in his chair at the sign of his cock waking up. She looked cool and classy in her all-white ensemble. She had rolled up the sleeves of a white blazer that she paired with a satin camisole that dipped low enough to allow his greedy eyes a peek of her soft, round breasts. He was happy that Trish had kept with her habit of wearing little makeup that only enhanced her natural beauty. You could see she gave her eyes attention to bring out their almond shape, and red gloss covered her full lips. The woman was stunning. She had a natural sex appeal that was too strong for any straight man to ignore.

“Alright, then you agree to extend funding to the high schoolers that meet the requirements that would allow them to participate in a summer program here on campus,” he interjected. This was his way of helping her understand what happened while she was in her fantasy land.

With that being said, she was able to navigate the waters with the other members. He listened closely to her intelligent responses. She asked all the right questions and before long, he noticed that she was able to sway a few members that were on the fence concerning the program. She didn’t argue when challenged. Instead, she retreated and waited for a window of opportunity that would give her the chance to use the comments spoken before to her benefit. He had to fight to keep his face free of the amazement and attraction he felt for her at that moment. Trish was smart, with a gift of manipulation unlike any he had seen in a long time. He cautioned himself to remember that when he started to date her.

His eyebrow went up slightly when Ms. Rosenberg pointed out that the meeting should have been over ten minutes ago. The woman had never minded the meetings running long before. He had no doubt it was because of Trish’s presence. He glanced down at his Baume and Mercier watch.

“Thank you, Amanda, for keeping time,” he said dryly. “Listening to Trish talk was so very entertaining, the time just seemed to fly by,” he added with a crooked smile that had the other men agreeing.

Quickly, Brayden closed the meeting. He watched Trish get to her feet and make a beeline for the door to leave without giving him the chance to engage her in conversation. He shrugged his shoulders unmoved. Today was Tuesday, which meant he would be seeing her again in four hours. He bit his full lower lip. He could hardly wait.

**

Trish shuffled into the gym, followed by her three kids. Her day hadn’t gotten any better after leaving the college. All of her fears were becoming a reality, thanks to that damn house turning out to be a money pit. Upon further inspection, she found out there were major issues with plumbing, flooring, roofing, and God only knew what else. She was starting to see why the house was labeled a short sale. She had played the game long enough to know there were no take backs. The offer had been called into the bank, so there was no turning back. She had been making money hand over fist since first starting this business venture. She obviously had gotten a bit too cocky. She just hoped this bump on her ass would be a small one.

Trish felt his eyes on her long before she even realized he was in the gym. She glanced over toward the punching bags to find him there, watching her. She knew that she should look away. Encouragement and want were clearly written on her face, but at that moment she was too tired and frustrated to care. Brayden had always been cute, but that word wouldn't do justice to the man who was hitting the punching bag. Maybe handsome, fine, tasty, or luscious, but definitely not cute. He had just the right amount of chest hair on his muscular chest that disappeared just over his ripped abs, only to reappear as a thin dark line across his lower stomach. Her eyes followed the trail until the hair vanished under the black shorts that hung low on his hips. She eyed the veins that were visible due to the strain of his workout. Her gaze lingered on the deep cuts he had developed on his muscular torso that women coined as an “Adonis Belt”. His naturally tanned skin was void of marks, except for the gray and black tattooed image of a male angel embracing a woman that dominated his strong back. She wondered if the non-threatening angel was Heavenly, or maybe a demon in disguise.

All you have to do is give him some play to find out, the voice in her head pointed out as she shifted in her chair.

She quickly looked back down at the papers sitting in her lap. She didn't like where her mind was taking her. The fact that it had been taking her there more frequently bugged the hell out of her. It wasn’t as if she didn’t get attention from men wherever she went. However, it was no one that she really wanted to give her time. Either the men weren’t her equal financially—and she definitely wasn’t interested in financing their hustle—or they were the type that she would never introduce to her children. They would be strictly friends with benefits. That option was one that she had been entertaining more and more lately, but it was also a frightening one to say the least. Whereas George had been spreading himself thin and wide with any woman willing to give it up, Trish had always been faithful to him. The idea of having sex with another man was a bit unsettling, but it was something she knew she was going to have to get over sooner or later. Of course, she knew she didn’t have to sleep around, but the concept of never having sex again was one that she and her assortment of vibrators weren’t quite ready to commit to for life.

So why not give that man a chance. You know you want to, said the voice in her mind.

It was true, but Trish had never—

“You know...you don't have to pretend to be so engrossed in those papers to try to put me off.”

The sound of his voice startled her. Trish looked up into his damp face. She hadn't even noticed he had left his workout on the punching bag to start their weekly act. She tried not to smile as she leaned back from him while he pulled up a chair next to her. She could already feel the excitement of talking to him begin to lift her spirits.

“You smell,” she informed him as she wrinkled up her nose. Usually the smell of sweaty men bothered her, but she found herself aroused by his scent.

“Well, you know you aren't doing it right if you don't work up a sweat,” he said in a way that let her knew he was talking about more than exercise.

Damn, he's slick, she thought.

“My friend over there was asking me about you,” he sneered, gesturing with his head to one of the coaches that was working with their children.

“And what did you say?”

“I told him I'll hit him with a barbell if he tried to talk to you,” he answered matter-of-factly.

“I don’t know if I should thank you for that, or if I should be upset about you keeping me from having fun.”

His eyebrow went up as a warning for her not to test him.

“You are so different from school,” she laughed.

“And you've only gotten better with age, Trish. So, when are we going to stop this cat and mouse game? My legs are starting to hurt from all of this chasing,” he sighed as he toweled down his face.

“Oh my God, who the fuck blew all that smoke up your ass? You've got too much swag for me. I can barely breathe from all the stuff you’re saying.”

“And I hope you can do more with that mouth than get flip,” he teased while he stared at her lips. “I can understand why you would be a bit frightened, because I’m a man that knows what he wants. But I promise you, it’s not a game. I’m more than able to follow through with everything I say.”

“Wow, Brayden. I just noticed you lost that st…st…stutter from school. I'm sure that set your parents back a pretty penny,” remarked Trish, each word dripping with sass.

He threw his head back and laughed. Even though that had been a sore spot for him when he was younger, the fact that she mentioned it didn't really piss him off. Now, if it had been someone else, he doubted he would have laughed it off so easily.

Trish blinked in amazement at how he actually got more handsome when he laughed. Straight, white teeth flashed as his full lips thinned when he opened his mouth to laugh. The faint hint of a five o’clock shadow could be seen on his chiseled jawline. His laugh was deep, just like his booming voice. It was that deep, Barry White voice that had caused her to fall for him, secretly, in school. Of course back then, his voice didn't match his youthful self; but now, he had matured into the jaw-dropping man before her. His style fit him perfectly. It was a mixture of refinement with a bit of roughness that showed he still liked to get his hands dirty. There was no flash to him, but the way he carried himself spoke of his successfulness. She watched his movements as if in a trance when he reached up and pushed the damp hair out of his face. His hair was cut with tapered sides and back with the middle and front longer.

“Damn,” she whispered under her breath in awe.

He narrowed his eyes as he looked at her. “What are you thinking?”

“You are fuckin’ handsome,” she let slip before she caught herself.

Brayden immediately saw the shock on her face. He knew she had let her guard down during their playful arguing. He knew it was the excitement of their word play that had relaxed her tongue enough to get her to admit the truth she had been denying.

A wicked grin formed slowly on his face. She thought he looked like the cat that caught the canary in his smug mouth. She felt her heart in her throat as she rose quickly to her feet.

“My babies, I need to check on them,” she stated nervously before rushing off.

He watched her calmly as she walked over to the group of children, which included his two and her three. He took count of the number of other men in the gym also taking note of her. He took a deep breath to steady himself. It was a strange feeling for him to be jealous. He never had the reason to be. He had no trouble keeping a woman. Hell, it was usually him that had to break things off with girlfriends whenever they got too clingy. However, he had never wanted anyone like he wanted Trish. He had to do a double-take when she strolled into the gym that day months ago. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her, while at the same time trying to convince himself that it was actually her. After she left, he had gone to the office to read the name on the forms she filled out. The rush he had experienced upon reading her name was enough to keep him up that night. It was more than the conquest of getting the popular girl from school. No, it was more than that. He shook off his thoughts as he glanced down at the papers and pictures she had left sitting on the chair. He picked them up and started to leaf through them.

“Are you thinking of buying this house?” he questioned her oddly when she returned.

Trish was happy to talk about anything at that moment. “No, I've already bought it,” she grumbled.

“You're in real estate? This must be your first buy.”

“No, actually it will be my eighth buy, which is why I should've known better than to buy this one.”

He listened closely as she read off a long list of what needed to be done to the house.

“May I make a suggestion? I would try to recycle the flooring. And instead of buying new cabinets, go to the Reuse It Building Supply Warehouse.”

“You sound like you know what you're talking about.”

“Well, I should. I own one of the biggest construction companies in Atlanta,” he smirked.

Trisha's goofy, flabbergasted look gave him another reason to laugh, which he did.

“But I thought your family was into cars,” she whispered, leaning close. She no longer cared about keeping the distance between them.

“We are, but everyone can’t fight over the same apple. That gets old, so I started a small business of my own when I was a senior in high school.”

“In high school?” she repeated, her voice high-pitched with surprise.

“Yes,” he nodded. “Shocking, I know, that my head wasn’t planted up some girl's ass. I knew that in time, the sex would come. I was more interested in standing on my own, so I spent the summer with my cousins learning the trade. I had a few uncles that were looking for a way to clean their money—don’t ask,” he held up his hand. “So, they invested in my dream,” he explained nonchalantly.

“And?” she urged him on. She could see now there was a lot more to the story.

“Like I said, one of the biggest. I have three divisions; Georgia Capstone, which handles foundations, sidewalks, and other concrete work. Second is Georgia Elegant Designs, which handles upscale, million-dollar remodels; and last is Georgia General Contractors.”

Trish sat back while she processed everything he just said. Now it was starting to make sense; his confidence, that swag, his sex appeal. It was all from his success. She speculated that he probably got so much pussy on a constant basis that he could bottle it and sell it. Then again, she realized as she tilted her head in consideration, she would have never known if he hadn't told her.

“I'll be more than happy to help you with that house. I'll charge you a good price, and I won't rake you over the coals. It isn't like I really need the money,” he said with a shrug.

He waited and counted while he watched Trish think it over. He kept a straight face as she looked over the long list of work in her hand that needed to be done. She mumbled under her breath as she spoke of the other remodeling projects she had going on, chewing on her bottom lip as the wheels in her mind started turning. He shifted in his seat and placed his towel over his crotch to hide his rising cock. Every time he was near her, it was something about her—her smell, her dress, what she said, how she said it, her look—that caused his lust for her to run wild. Now that he could see his desire so close to being on the hook, he could barely contain himself.

“Were you behind this set up?” she asked out of the blue.

He blinked a few times as he regarded her as if she were crazy before he answered.

“I can see why you would think that after the way I got you on the committee, but no. I don’t mess around with money,” he replied sternly.

“I do need you,” sighed Trish, as she glanced up from her papers. It took her a second to connect his intense expression to her ill spoken words. “I need you,” she continued, “to help me out with this house, and only the house.”

“Surely you know I'm going to try to offer you a whole lot more than flooring and shingles. I just don't want you to be surprised when you're waking up in my bed, and I’m all that you can think about,” Brayden stated in a hoarse tone as his light brown eyes glowed with a heat that seemed to physically touch her.

“I heard somewhere that it was foolish to reveal your intentions to your prey,” she challenged, narrowing her eyes.

“It's only foolish if you know you might not win,” he responded as he reached out and touched her.

He heard her soft intake of breath when his strong hand made contact with hers. She jumped to her feet as if his hand had burned her.

You’re mine now, he thought.

He smirked as he sat back from her. The look on her attractive face made him think of a scared animal that hungered for what was being offered, but was too damn scared to take it out of the hand that was feeding it. He calmed himself. There was no need to push her, and possibly make her run away. He knew he was going to accomplish his goal of having Trish as his own. The plan had already been set in motion. Now they were just going through the dance that would lead him to fucking his days and nights away in between the fine, fit thighs that his brown eyes kept sneaking peeks of. Her pants were so tight that he could make out the outline of her thick pussy lips that were at his eye level. It even amazed him that he was able to continue to have a nonchalant conversation with her while his mind was conjuring up all the different positions he was going to twist her body into.

His gaze took in the sight of their children in the distance.

“I like how they get along.”

Trish stopped her rant about the property. She glanced over her shoulder. She couldn’t help but smile. Over the short time that they had been coming to the gym, the two groups of kids had gotten close. Of course, she was sure that it was mostly due to the constant gaming that her boys did with his son. It was only a matter of time before the girls, both ten, demanded to get linked in so they could play Minecraft and Little Big Planet.

“You’ve done a great job in raising your three.”

Trish turned back and began to regard him strangely.

“Well, I was married, so—”

“That’s also another thing I like about you, Trish. You do your best not to bad mouth other people, even when we both know how big of an asshole they really are,” he hissed, cutting her off.

She narrowed her eyes. The change in him was too obvious to ignore. She tilted her head.

“Don’t tell me you’re having flashbacks of high school and how my ex used to bully you?” she mocked in a baby voice.

“Why don’t you call him by his name?” he asked instead, choosing to ignore her taunt.

“Because I hate the fucker, but I’m not going to bad mouth him to you or anyone.”

“To be honest, I really don’t want to hear about your failed marriage either. I know who you were married to, Trish, so I can skip being told all the gory details,” he mumbled as he got to his feet. “I just wanted to see if you still wanted the man, but I can see that you don’t, because I don’t share. I am very territorial.”

She knew she should have said something, even if it was a joke about how cocky his ass was, but at that moment, all she could do was breath. She had never in her life had a man be that assertive. It scared and excited her at the same time. Brayden’s confidence and sheer appeal were so strong it was almost intoxicating. She opened her mouth to say something, what...she didn’t even know. Thankfully, she didn’t have to say a thing.

“I’ll Google the address,” he said as he slipped the papers out of her limp hand before he walked past her toward his two children.

She swallowed hard.

Please, please fuck him. Just once and then you’re out, a voice in her mind begged.

She swallowed hard, and did her best to shake off the feeling of warmth that was trying to overcome her. It wasn’t just the fact that she hadn’t been with anyone other than her ex-husband, but there was also the issue that he was white.

Well, it’s all still the same in the dark, the voice in her mind pointed out.

Yeah, she had been fucked over in love, but was she ready to jump teams to the lighter, whiter side of things? People did say that it was so much different when you date a white man, and not the kind that thought they were blacker than black at heart.

“Don’t be silly. It’s just skin color. It’s not like I would be messing around with a damn woman,” she whispered to herself.

Her gaze examined him openly as she crossed her arms over her chest. Hell, her best friend, Janelle, had been switching it up for years by dating men outside of her race. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t been attracted to white men. It had been the fear of worrying about what others would think, or the cultural difference that had kept her mind closed to the idea. Then again, a white guy had never been so blunt and downright forceful in his desire of getting with her either. A few had flirted with her, but she would have never classified them with Brayden. Where those men had been timid by treading lightly around the bushes, Brayden just walked out and mowed the damn bush down to make a clear path to what he desired, which according to him was her.

“Maybe just once, then I’m out,” she mumbled as she appraised his cock print from across the room.

**

Three hours later, Brayden closed his room door, pulled off his clothes, and stalked into the bathroom. He needed some time alone to calm the conflicting thoughts that were racing around in his mind after seeing Trish. He stood under the large shower faucet and welcomed the steaming hot water. He had been so fucking sure of what he wanted those months ago when he had confirmed that it was actually her. However, he had noticed that after each meeting, he was feeling a lot more than just lust and rage. He was starting to actually care for her and her damn kids, too. The excitement he had felt when he was in that boring ass meeting while he watched the clock had given him a head rush. He could barely contain himself as he had sat in his chair. He had positioned it just right to ensure that he would have a clear view of the door, and he would be the first person she had seen upon entering.

No, there was no denying that he wanted more than what he had wanted when he had first cooked up the dumb scheme to get into Trish’s pants. What he wanted now went beyond bragging rights. Just the thought of contemplating what he had been thinking about doing made the feelings of guilt and shame he had been battling come rushing back. It took him a very short time to figure out that it had been very childish on his part. She wasn’t the one that had caused hurt upon his family. Hell, he doubted that she even knew about what had happened years ago. He hadn’t found out the truth himself until a year later, and by then it had been too late for revenge. Trish had suffered enough in her adulthood with that motherfucker.

He hadn’t been lying about how good of a mother and person she was. She had thought that he had been just blowing smoke up her ass every time he had the chance to talk to her, but he had been actually testing her to see just what type of woman she was. It was in those conversations that he realized that he wasn’t playing a game anymore. His desire to possess Trish was genuine. She was kind, yet firm. She was street savvy with a smart mouth, yet classy and had an intelligence that was very evident in the way she spoke. She was a strong woman that wasn’t afraid to do it on her own, and from what he saw tonight, she had a code of ethics that was hard to find. He had no doubt that she would be loyal to the man that was able to get her to commit again. She was exactly what he needed in a woman for the family he would be joining her to.

He turned his back toward the stream of water and lowered his head. He wasn’t surprised to see that his dick was hard and jumping, as if it was seeking out the woman his mind was focused on. It had been over a month since he had fucked anyone. His lust for other women had slacked off to the point of nonexistent. The normal choice of women he would get his release from all seemed childish, boring, and downright thirsty to him. He didn’t have to do a damn thing but flash a smile and they were willing to fuck him, no questions asked. They were women that were hoping for a relationship after fucking him on the first date, which always baffled the hell out of him. Why should he? Not to mention that they were girls that he would never bring home to meet his kids.

They’re nothing like Trish, the voice in his mind pointed out.

He smiled and closed his eyes as his hand gravitated to his dick. Suddenly, Brayden’s hand froze in the middle of its upward stroke. He loosened his grip and let his hand fall to his side.

“I can wait,” he promised himself.

He didn’t want to cum alone in his shower as he thought about fucking Trish. The next time his hot, thick cream flowed from the soft mushroom-shaped tip of his cock would be after he had plunged it repeatedly into every one of her willing openings.

Refocusing, he began to wash up.

“New plan,” he said firmly.

He wasn’t going after her for payback. No, Brayden was determined to own her, brand her, enslave her, until she was his, now and forever.

Chapter Two

Trish sighed as she looked over at the clock. She had left in more than enough time to make it over to the job site, but she was still going to be late. She hated being late. This damn Georgia traffic was something she hadn't missed. She had no doubt that Brayden was going to call her later to complain about having his foreman waiting for her, and how it was something he didn't like. Everyone knew that time was money, and the fact that he was doing this job as a favor for her made her being late even worse.

She smirked as she turned off the interstate, thinking about the kind offer he made to reconstruct the house she was tricked into buying. He made it very clear that he wasn't doing the job out of the kindness of his heart, but he was going to use it as his way to get into her pants. He wanted her, and he was going to use every opportunity to get what he wanted. The fact that he was so upfront about what he wanted was very refreshing, and if she was honest, he was one tempting piece of ass. He seemed to have the total package. If only that package was clothed in a skin of the darkest brown, it would be fine with her.

She heard that nagging voice in the back of her head starting up once again while she checked the GPS that was mounted to the dashboard of her car. What's the big deal that he's white? Hell, there are websites dedicated to black women with white males. The white race has been mixing with the Afro race for years, so what's the big deal? She had both family and friends that had been dating across the color line for years. Even her own kids brought up the conversation of liking people that were of different races. Technically, it was all the same. Hell, she should look at it as a learning and cultural experience; she considered all of this as she pulled up in front of the large two-story home.

Trish glanced over at the white Dodge Charger with silver tinted windows parked in front of the two-car garage. The trunk was up, and she eyed all the different tools that were scattered throughout the open space. There was no doubt that this was the home. She made a slow turn and looked at all of the same cookie cutter homes that lined the street. She was surprised that her home was the only one that had a slight but noticeable difference that made the place stand out. It had beautiful stone work all along the front entrance that gave it a Spanish appeal. She wondered briefly how the owner was able to get away with that change to the house plan. Most communities like this one didn't allow the homeowners too much freedom when it came to stuff like that.

“Are you going to waste more of my time standing there?”

Trish swung around to find Brayden standing behind her. She couldn't control her eyes from scanning him. He was so handsome in a pair of loose-fitting cargo shorts, and a graphic printed T-shirt that fit tight across his muscular chest and forearms.

“Where did you come from?”

He blinked at her strange question.

“I came from my car. You walked right past me.”

She glanced over at the Dodge and pointed.

“That’s your car? I thought I was meeting one of your workers out here.”

“Oh, so you have a problem with working directly with me?” he teased as he produced his work belt and strapped it on.

“No, I just thought you would be busy with your other projects, that's all,” she tried to explain quickly.

Shit, even with the tool belt, he looks sexy as hell, she realized, which only served to annoy her even more.

For the first time, she noticed his strong, callused hands. There was something about a hard working man's hands that always turned her on. Maybe it was the roughness of it against her smooth skin that did it for her. She could never stand a man with soft, wet hands, or a man with a weak handshake.

“How else am I going to wear you down if I don't use every opportunity to be with you? Come on, open the door so we can see for ourselves how much payment you're going to have to give me.”

“Payment?” Trish repeated over her shoulder as she unlocked the door.

“Yes, payment,” he responded as he smacked her on her ass and pushed her through the front door.

All of their joking stopped when they walked through the front door. Brayden stole a quick glimpse at Trish and saw her just standing there, frozen with big eyes and a wide-open mouth. He had seen the photos of the place she had printed out that day at the gym, but even those pictures were an understatement of what they were actually seeing. His heart dropped as the magnitude of the damage to the home hit him. He had no doubt that she been set up, and had been tricked into buying this house. It was a money pit that was unloaded in her unexpected lap, and he knew that she didn't have the cash to replace and reconstruct this place in a way that she would be able to sell it. It didn't take a whiz to know what that would mean for her, and for her young business that she was building. He broke the silence by walking over and testing the large stair rail while he thought. He hid the smile that wanted to spread across his full lips as something came to his mind. He would never insult her by forcing her into his bed. Frankly, he really did want that, but with his idea, it would at least make the odds in his favor of actually winning her.

“I think it's safe to go upstairs and see the damage up there,” he offered.

“Why? There's no need. There is no freakin' way I can flip this damn house. Look at it…let’s count. There’s one, two…THREE leaks in the roof, holes in the wall, cracked tiles, and that's just what's in the entryway. Can you imagine what other threats this house holds for me?”

“So, you have enough funds to pay off the loan when it comes due?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

“No, not really. I refuse to call him for a loan,” she mumbled.

Damn right, you won't, he thought. He knew who she was referring to.

“How much do you have for this project?” he asked seriously as he pulled a writing pad from his tool belt.

Trish took a deep breath to steady her voice before she spoke.

“I can do sixty thousand. Maybe more if I can sell some of my other properties.”

“No, don't sink all of your revenue into this job. You'll be fucked again if it sits too long on the market. Okay, so that's how much, huh,” he finished as he took off walking on the ground floor. It was a shame that the house had gotten to this state. With his eye for construction, he could see it at its better state. It was a lovely place, but now it had been vandalized, stripped of its wiring and copper pipes, windows had been broken, what was left of the kitchen was a mess, and he picked up quickly that someone had been living in the place at one time, or maybe even now.

“Do you know if anyone has done a walk-through to ensure no squatters had taken up in the place?”

Trish's eyes got wider at his question. He watched as she reached into her purse and pulled out a Taser, handing it over to him. She then reached back in to pull out a gun. He was able to get over the fact that she was packing heat quickly, but the fact that she gave him the stun gun and kept the actual gun didn't sit well with him. His eyes widened in shock.

“Why do I have this thing and you have that?” he asked as he tested the weight of the device in his hand. He shook his head at her bright smile and gestured for her to lead the way. “Hell, you got the gun, so you can go first,” he laughed at her reluctance to move.

They were both relieved to see that whoever had been staying there had cleared out, and the top level wasn't as bad as they had thought.

Taking out his pad, he began to take notes while she pointed out issues that he was clearly aware of. It took all his willpower not to interject in her speech. Once again, the things she said had him longing to meet the people she had been dealing with on her projects. Her estimations and comments were crazy. Every time he nodded his head and put another item on the list, she was helping him with his plan, but the fact that other people had been using her ignorance to line their pockets didn’t sit well with him. He had always run an honest business when it came to his customers. He never overcharged, or suggested things that would drive up his price. He had fired employees that had done shit like that. Before long, he had compiled three pages of notes; then both of them went over the list, this time numbering the items based on need and want.

“Who the hell told you about this place?” he asked, a bit frustrated.

“It was a realtor friend, actually. They made the place sound like a steal. Shit, I know I should've looked the place over first, but they said that it was a short sale, and I had to move quickly,” she answered with a shrug.

Brayden had been so focused on the work that he hadn't even noticed that she was sweating until now. The white tank top she was wearing was wet with just the right amount of moisture to make the thin material turn sheer against her brown skin. His eyes gazed upon the wetness that had gathered in the valley of her full breasts and ran down into her shirt. He decided there was no better time than that moment to present his offer. He hated the fact that he was getting ready to step into the role of those same assholes he hated in the business by painting a worse picture than what it really was. The house was shit, yes, but he knew how to get the job done for a fraction of the price without doing many of the things that the inspector had listed.

“I'm not going to fake it with you, Trish. This house is going to crush the little business you've created for yourself. There's way too much work that needs to be done for the amount of cash you have.”

She nodded her agreement. She had accepted that fact the second they both had walked across the threshold into the decaying abyss of a home; but she knew that she had to make this work. She just had to!

“For some reason, I feel you have a solution coming. So, what are you thinking?” she stated with so much hope that it was tangible.

He eyed her as she chewed on her bottom lip nervously.

“Yes, I have something in mind,” he started slowly.

Trish caught the sly tone in his voice and rolled her eyes.

Surely, this wasn't the angle he was coming from? Sex in exchange for his handyman services. But would it be that bad of an exchange?

She considered this as she looked him over. The lack of air in the place had caused him to sweat, but nothing like how he usually did at the gym. Unlike then, his hair wasn't drenched. Instead, his soft, dark hair was free-flowing. She turned and walked back through the house and out the door to the fresh air. Even though the Georgia weather was hot, it was much better than being in that stuffy house, and being so close to Brayden.

“I'm not sleeping with you for your help,” she said in a voice that she hoped was believable, but she knew that if that's what he was offering, she just might take it. She knew that sometimes, all a person needed was an excuse to fall from grace.

“Oh please, Trish. Where would be the fun in that?”

Oh no, sweetheart, when you come to me, it'll be of your own free well, he thought to himself before he spoke to her.

“I'm not going to cheapen you like that, Trish. I like you, and I respect you. I made it very clear that I want you, but I want you to want me.”

She examined him with her gaze. “So what is this offer then?”

“All I ask for is time. Time to woo you. Time for you to get to know me, and for you to be honest about how you feel about me. None of those mind games that women play.”

He watched as the surprise of his offer washed over her. He had no doubt that she had been expecting something different from a man of his taste, but he was confident in his abilities to make her fall for him. He didn't need to stack the deck too high in his favor. All he needed was for her to let down her wall and be open to him.

“Time...all of this work in exchange for time?” she repeated, flabbergasted. She cautioned herself not to fall for his offer too quickly.

There has to more to this, she thought.

“Yes, and an open mind, and your sixty thousand,” he added.

He let out a thunderous laugh at her look of dismay. “Damn, woman, I have to have something for my troubles just in case I fail.”

“So, what do you mean by time?” she questioned.

“Okay,” he started with a clap.

He reached into his back pocket, pulled out a contract, and held it out to her.

It took her a few seconds to close her mouth before she was able to speak.

“I see you came prepared,” she mumbled dryly as she looked over the very legal-looking document.

“This job would take about two months. During that time, I want to be able to spend the nights with you.” Brayden held up his hand to stop the stream of words that began to fly from her mouth. “I told you, I'm not forcing you to sleep with me. I'm not going to do anything that would cause your kids to disrespect you, Trish. What I'm offering is nightly dinners, or an opportunity to spend the evenings with you and your kids. We'll see each other on a daily basis concerning the house, you go to the gym twice a week, and we'll have our bi-weekly community meetings, so I know that's all the time I'll need,” he explained slowly.

It took her a while to process what he was saying.

Was he for real?

She had heard that white guys were different in their approach, but this was unbelievable.

“That's it,” he stressed, “and your willingness not to be a tight ass bitch toward me too. So, do we have a deal? Starting tonight, you, me, and the kids for dinner. We can go out to a restaurant before I start cooking for you at home.” He noticed her expression of disbelief. “What's so hard to believe? That I cook, or that I don't want to waste any time getting under your skin?”

Trish's body had no trouble picking up on the change in his tone. His deep Barry White voice was sexy all by itself, but when he added the sexy smooth-as-honey tone to it, it made her pulse pick up its tempo. He closed the space that was between them, seized her by the hips, and pulled her into his embrace. It was the first time he held her that close. Her hands itched to touch his chest to test the muscles that she knew were hard under his shirt.

“The fact that you actually cook and you drive that,” she replied in a voice she prayed hid the effect that he was having on her.

“My car? Why does the fact that I drive a Charger baffle you so much?”

His full lips were begging her to kiss them as he towered over her.

“Brayden, you're too damn cocky, so full of yourself.”

“Oh, don't get me wrong. I have an ego, make no mistake about it, but the difference is I know how, when, and where to let it show. Everybody keeps a little, and shows a little when they're trying to catch a person's eye; you know that, Trish. I’m hoping I don't have to do that with you. I'm hoping you're mature enough to skip all that first few weeks of bullshit,” he responded as he eyed her closely.

He had already taken the time to reach out to a few of his friends that were in contact with Trish, and many of their old classmates. He was able to piece together many of the events of her past thirteen years. He knew what he was getting himself into, and he was hoping that he would be the one to change her life, and in turn get the woman that never gave him the time of day before.

“So, what is the end game?” she smirked.

“I want a wife.”

He felt her body stiffen from the shock of his admission. He was sure she had been expecting him to say something along the lines of wanting a girlfriend. She worked her mouth to say the word wife, but nothing came out.

“Yes, a wife,” he repeated for her as he nodded his head. “We both have children,” he pointed out. “I would never insert myself into your life or put you into mine if I didn’t know what I wanted. I want a family.”

“But, how are you going to say—”

“All you have to do is be open to all that I have to offer you, and everything else will fall into place,” he promised.

“I think you’re taking this a bit too fast. I…I haven’t even been single for that long, and there’s the issue of me being black and you’re—”

He lowered his mouth to hers, stopping her protest with a kiss. His lips were demanding, forcing her to give way to his seeking tongue. She knew she would never forget the way her body responded to him. It was instant. It was surprising. It was mind-blowing. The sound of her moan was strange, even to her ears, as he caressed the inside of her mouth. He broke away to stare into her wide, light brown eyes.

A wide, seductive smile formed on his moist lips.

“There is no fuckin’ issue with color, Trish, so you can lay that excuse down. I see your body really doesn’t care about the color of my skin, and as you can feel, mine finds your body to be fine as hell,” he whispered while he pulled her closer to ensure she felt his stiff cock pressing against her stomach.

He released her and took a step back.

Trish looked at the hand he held out, ready for her to take and shake to seal the deal. She stared at his long, strong tanned fingers and wondered how they would feel when she touched them. She reached out her hand and felt his callused palm as he gave her hand a firm shake. On contact, the butterflies in her stomach began to leap and dance. He reached into his back pocket, and retrieved a pen for her to sign.

Sometimes, all you need is an excuse, she repeated to herself as she scribbled her name on the dotted line.

**

Hours later, she debated following her kids into the gym. It wouldn't have been the first time that she had decided to stay outside and watch a movie on her cell phone, but this time it would be for a different reason. It would be because she was trying to avoid him, and that wasn't part of the agreement. She felt herself walk into the large building. She saw her feet moving, carrying her across the concrete flooring, but her mind was miles away. That kiss he had planted on her, her first experience of being in his embrace, and the feel of his long, thick cock was all that she had been thinking about after they had gone their separate ways.

Could she really date this man? He was sexy, funny, confident, fine as hell, smart, experienced, and he had money, but he was just not the right shade of brown. What would her kids say? Their father was black. All of the guys she called just 'friends' were all black. Of course, there were some family members that had white girlfriends or baby mamas, but there weren't any female members that had crossed the color lines and frankly, that's how it always seemed the more she thought about it. You would see tons of white chicks hooking up with black men, but not too many black women seemed willing to date a white man.

Wait. There is Iman and David Bowie, she reminded herself quickly, making a mental note of the list she had been compiling in her mind.

Not to mention, all the new shows on TV where there were black women with white men. Hell, it seemed as if more celebrities were also making it alright for black women to date outside of their race. It was just that she had never considered doing it. However, now at the age of thirty-seven, why the hell not? Sure, Brayden said he was looking for a wife, but she knew that men said whatever it took to sex you. She was sure he was no different.

“Damn, it must be really serious. I can see the smoke circling around your head.”

His deep voice shook her out of her deep thought and pulled her back into the present. Like always, he went hard when he was in the gym. The man didn't mess around. He was dripping with sweat, and the veins in his muscular arms were throbbing from his intense workout. The veins on his arms weren't the only ones that were throbbing; she realized this as she eyed a vein that ran down his taunt stomach and disappeared wickedly into his basketball shorts.

“Um, I was hoping to get at least three weeks in before I let him come out and play, but if you keep looking at my cock like that, I can't be held accountable for his actions,” he moaned.

Her light brown eyes widened at the sight of his imprint starting to grow under her curious gaze.

“Who's to say you're going to get that far?”

He smirked at her half-hearted comment.

“Let's just say my ego has told me so,” he smiled when she laughed at his words, relaxing her a bit.

“So, what had you so focused?” he asked. “No bullshit, Trish,” he pressed.

She took a second to think of a lie, and then decided there was no real reason to. If he really wanted to get to know her, then why not? She could use a good friend.

But he wants to be more...a lot more than your friendship. Let's test the water, she decided.

“I was just wondering how my family and kids were going to take it when you showed up for dinner someday.” She leaned against the wall and watched him as he took in her words. She was surprised to see that he took a moment to consider her words as he unwrapped his hands from the white boxing tape.

“I take it this is very important to you. So, you've never dated a white guy?”

“And you have...I mean, a black girl?” she corrected herself quickly.

“Yes, I have. To be honest, I've always been attracted to darker skin. I like the way my hands look against it. I like the dark, large nipples, and the way that pretty pink stands out all nestled in between all that brown,” he answered truthfully in a thick voice as he acknowledged the strange look that came over her face.

“What are you thinking about, right now,” he demanded.

“You…you shock me. I think I must be horny or something because you’re affecting me in a very strong way.”

“And you find that odd. Is it because you're remembering the younger me from school, or because I'm white?”

“Maybe a little of both.”

“Well, let me tell you something. The boy from school has turned into a man, so don't confuse the two. And there are assholes in all races. There is no perfect race, no matter what the media tries to tell you.”

“But you have to admit that there are cultural differences,” she pressed.

“Oh yeah, like we like mayonnaise and you all use salad dressing on your sandwiches. That's something that's taught, Trish. I'm not going to wear gold chains, and walk with a side-limp just because I listen to rap and R&B. I think you're overthinking this thing. Try approaching it as a man and woman,” he suggested as he closed the space between them. “I find you sexy, and I can tell that you find me attractive.”

“And how do you know that?” she smirked as she tilted her head to gaze up into his face.

“The fact that you're trying to climb up the wall to keep me from touching you is a pretty good clue,” he whispered as he got closer still. He reached out his hand and caressed her low on her hip. “I like that sound you make when I touch you, like you've just been shocked. I see I'll have to make sure we're alone the first time I make love to you. You're going to be too vocal. Tell me what you’re feeling right now,” he demanded as his brown eyes locked with her light brown ones.

“I feel hot…and, I um,” she lowered her gaze in shame. “My stomach is churning, and my pussy is wet, and it’s throb—”

Something must have clicked in his mind because a second later, he took a quick step back as he glanced over his shoulder to ensure that the children were still working out across the gym. He ran his fingers through his dark hair as he exhaled loudly. His little flirtation had gotten the best of him. He saw now that he was going to have to have a hell of a lot more willpower when it came to her. All of the months of wanting her were starting to take a toll.

“I'm sorry, but to answer your original question, there are tons of women that date white men. And I'm not talking about just on TV,” he stated as he pulled out his phone. After a few moments, he handed his cell over to her.

Trish smiled at the many pictures that were posted on the Pinterest page that he pulled up. The women were of different shades of black, shapes, and ages. She wasn't stupid. She knew that these women were out there, but she just never really acknowledged them in her day to day life; then again, Janelle took no issue with it, and she didn't give a damn about it. In addition to that, her friend had to deal with being gawked at all the time due to her scars, and here she was worrying over something so trivial. She looked over at her kids and marveled at the way that they had no problem making friends, and finding beauty in other races. Maybe she could learn a thing or two from them.

“You need to get cleaned up if you're taking us out to eat,” she said with a firmness in her voice that wasn't there before as she passed his phone back to him.

Chapter Three

Trish sat in her car the next morning with the air on full blast while she made a few phone calls. She had put up no complaint when Brayden had told her to wait in her car outside the house until the home inspector showed up, even though she still didn’t understand why he had told her to get the man back out there. She had put up a bit of a fight, as she mumbled under her breath, and told him her thoughts about his request, taking pains to make sure she didn’t embarrass him in front of his men. She had only been at the house for a few seconds before he began to question the list they had made just the day before. She didn’t know if it was because he didn’t take kindly to her being there with the heated, lustful gaze of his employees trained on her, or if he just didn’t like taking orders from her as she walked through the house pointing out issues. Whatever it was, he had finally turned to her and asked her to call the inspector out. She had doubted that the city worker would come. However, as she caught a glimpse of the truck creeping up the road in her rearview mirror, she figured that the words Brayden had told her to say actually worked.

“Good morning. You say that you have questions about the foundation of the house?” the short, bald man smile as he shielded his eyes from the direct glare of the sun.

The man took in her loose-fitting, yellow jumpsuit with matching sandals as she got out of her car. He never cared for the high-minded attitude she gave off whenever he inspected her houses. It wasn’t anything she said directly, but the way she would address him, and how she walked with a confidence that bugged him—that along with the way she questioned him as if he didn’t know what he was doing.

Well, the joke was on her dumbass, he thought.

He focused his eyes on a blade of grass to make sure she didn’t see the sparkle in his eyes that was mixed with the malice he felt for the woman. He knew that he had been sucking up her profits with his overrated inspections. He got such joy in his heart whenever he drove by her homes, because he knew she was spending thousands more than what was needed to get her homes up to code. She might have the nice clothes and pretend to be more than what she was while she drove around her nice car, but he was the one was getting the last laugh every damn time.

“Yes, please…after the construction company got here, there was a little confusion about the report,” she answered while she began to lead him to the side of the large house.

“You wasted no time, I see. It’s good that you had the funds to get started so quickly.”

“Well, with that long list you gave me, I would have to be crazy to not to.”

The man turned his head to glance into the house next door to keep her from seeing the smirk on his face.

She might not have seen it, but Brayden had. When he had seen the man’s truck pull up, he had gone into the basement, ran into the room that was directly under the spot he had told Trish to take him to, opened the window, and was now waiting to listen. Half the shit that was given to her by the man was just that—a bunch of unnecessary bullshit. That morning, Brayden had told his two foremen to create a crack on the outside of the house. His brown eyes narrowed while he waited to see if the man was going to take the bait.

“I got a call about this,” she started, pointing to the crack in the concrete that ran along the side of the house and disappeared into the ground. “It wasn’t in your report, but the foreman said it’s a crack in the foundation. Please don’t tell me that I have to spend even more money reinforcing the damn foundation,” she whined.

She stood back and watched the man’s reaction closely. He bent down to get a closer look before he let out a long whistle.

“Oh, yeah...you got one hell of a structural issue going on for sure.”

“Son of a bitch,” she hissed.

She was sure that he thought she had made that comment because he had agreed with her, but that wasn’t the reason behind her statement. Trish clamped down hard and began to grind her teeth while she listened to the man go into his gloom and doom speech. She felt like a damn fool. She had done all of that arguing with Brayden when he had told her that the inspector was taking her for a ride with the long list of things he had told her was wrong with the house to jack up the price of the remodel, only to see now that he had been right all along. The worst part about it was that he had inspected all of her other properties in the past. Her head was swimming when she thought of all the countless dollars she had pissed away listening to the asshole; not to mention, the other contractors that had kept their mouths shut and laughed all the way to the bank on her stupidity. She continued to glare at the man as she followed him back to the front of the house. However, the man went deathly silent at the sight of Brayden standing in the front lawn.

“So, what did he say?” questioned Brayden.

“It was just as you said, a foundation issue,” growled Trish.

“Really?” drawled Brayden, his one eyebrow raised.

“Well...I, I haven’t taken a look yet,” the inspector began to stutter.

He had no idea that she had chosen him to do the remodel. Everybody in the home office knew who they could fuck with, and he wasn’t one of the persons on the list. He might come off as a clean-cut, hard-working business man, but the people in the industry knew the truth. The man had some powerful ties, and they weren’t the kind that wrote long, angry emails to get things done. They were the kind that waited for you in SUVs with dark tinted windows. The kind of men that knew how to get things done with a nod of the head and a stern look. The kind that would fuck you up without a second thought.

“No, actually you said that the entire foundation needed to be reinforced, and you were going over to your truck to write it up,” said Trish, correcting the man.

Brayden pinned the man with his cold gaze. He nodded his head slowly while the man began to stumble over his words as he tried to explain himself.

“Tell you what, let’s walk over to your truck and talk while you do that paperwork,” suggested Brayden.

“Well, I um...I have to get going. You see, I had to go out of my way to make this stop so I—”

“And I thank you for that, so let’s get it written up,” pressed Brayden, no longer giving the man the chance to protest.

He nudged the man in the back toward the city’s truck across the street. He gave Trish a warning stare to stay put.

“So, mister,” he paused, leaning forward to read the man’s name tag. “Mister Wyderbox…wait, is that your real name?” he chuckled. “Well shit, no wonder you’re a fucking asshole,” he growled.

Brayden shoved the man so hard against the truck that it rocked.

“Hey, I’ll file a complaint if you—”

“Oh, a complaint,” repeated Brayden as he slammed the man’s truck door closed, keeping him from getting in. “You must have some balls after all the shit you’ve done. I should kick your fuckin’ ass, then get you fired from your job.”

“Look, I didn’t know that you were—”

“You didn’t know that she’s my fiancée.”

“Your fi…fi...fian—”

“My fiancée,” Brayden mouthed slowly for him.

He could see the man beginning to shake out of fear. He stole a quick glance across the street at Trish. He knew he had to wrap things up quickly before she brought her nosey ass over there. He was sure that the inspector was so scared that he was going to piss his pants, but not before the man blabbed about him in front of Trish. He maneuvered himself to block Trish’s view of the frightened man.

“You obviously know who I am.”

“Yes, sir. I know who you are and about your—”

Brayden put up his hand for silence. The inspector quickly clamped his mouth shut.

“It would be most helpful to me if you don’t say that around her. It bothers her when people kiss my ass. Now, I don’t have to tell you this shit isn’t going to fly. We both know that there isn’t a damn thing wrong with this house, and half the crap on that list you made is a bunch of bullshit. So, this is what you’re going to do, Wyderbox. You’re gonna make that inspection you filed and all the others for her current homes pass. Do you understand? Look, I don’t need you to talk, just nod.”

The man stopped his stream of words and nodded his head forcefully.

“Now, if you try to fuck her over again, I promise you that I’ll break your damn kneecaps. Then, when I have your lying ass on the ground, I’m gonna kick your fuckin’ head in. I won’t kill you, but you won’t be right either after I’m done with you,” he stated as he took a step to the side, allowing the man to be seen by Trish. “Ok now, get yourself together, take my hand, shake it, and get the hell out of here,” he commanded. He held out his hand for the man to take.

The inspector painted a fake smile on his face, and shook his hand hard. Quickly, the man got into his truck and sped down the road.

“It’s all good,” cheered Brayden with his hands up in the air.

She tilted her head while she watched him walk across the street and up the walkway toward her. She wanted to ask him for an explanation. She could tell that he and the man were having a pretty intense conversation. However, she didn’t want to question his methods. Given the fact was he had been right and she had been wrong, she owed him a lot for whatever he had just said and done.

“Did you just threaten that man’s life?” she joked.

She appraised him openly. She liked the way his shorts hung low on his hips. She licked her lips and shifted her stance in an attempt to dull the sharp pain of lust that was coursing through her pussy.

“Damn girl, I didn’t know your hearing was that good,” he teased.

She gifted him with a smile. She shifted her gaze to look at the large oak tree that was in the yard. He could see the nervousness in her body overcome her. He glanced back at the house behind her. He could see some of his men standing by the window, watching the two of them. In spite of the fact that he was personally involved with Trish, he had taken great pains to set the tone on the job site. He slipped his hands into his pockets to keep from touching her.

“I’m really sorry about this morning,” she said, at last looking up into his handsome, tanned face. “I came here as if I knew everything, only to see that I’ve been walking around here like a damn fool the whole time,” she mumbled.

“You weren’t that bad, believe me. At least you were willing to listen to me. I promise you, Trish…I want to see you succeed.”

Once again, he was having a strange effect on her. She was so used to George. He never did anything to help or support her, even though her achievements would have benefited him too. He still chose to bad mouth everything she tried to do. She took a deep breath to replace the air that he was stealing from her lungs. He was just so damn perfect, in every way.

“Let me make it up to you.”

A wicked grin formed on his full lips. “You should never begin a statement like that with me.”

“It’s too early for that,” she regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth.

His gaze turned hot, causing her already aroused body to kick into overdrive. It took her a second to moisten her dry throat to speak. The way his eyes were boring through the thin material of her jumpsuit was causing her nipples to harden. She saw his gaze drop to stare knowingly at them. She wished to God she had worn a bra and didn’t care about the fact that it would have shown through the open back.

“I have a change of clothes in the car,” she offered.

His strong hands caught her when she tried to walk past him, stopping her in her tracks.

“And why are you changing?” he questioned with a deep frown creasing his forehead.

“To help out.”

His frown only deepened. He pulled her backwards until she stood in front of him.

“Why do you think you have to strap on a belt and help?”

“Are you saying that I can’t—”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying, Trish,” he cut her off quickly. “What I’m saying is that you don’t need to. Why the hell would I want my woman to get down in the mud and do all this grunt work when she doesn’t have to? Why would I want to embarrass you in front of my employees?” he responded hotly.

“Well, shit…I didn’t think that me offering to help would have caused you to get all pissy.”

“Damn right I am. You seem to think that I’m not capable of taking care of whatever you need,” he replied in a loud, deep voice. He saw her look over her shoulder towards the house to see if the workers were watching them, which only served to anger him more. He had told himself that he was going keep it professional on the job site. However, he found himself wanting to send a message to everyone, including her, that he was in control.

He brought his arm around her, grabbed a handful of her ass, and pulled her to his body. He heard her sharp intake of surprise, but he didn’t give a fuck. He lowered his head until his eyes locked with her light brown ones.

“I can’t wait ‘till I dominate your ass. I’m going to show you what being with a real man is like. I don’t need you to hold my hand to do a damn thing, and I don’t care who’s watching us either. I want all those fuckers to understand just who you are to me,” he growled.

He flexed his hand and softened his hold on her ass. “I’m going to enjoy getting under your skin until you finally give me control, your trust, and everything in between.” He ran his callused thumb over her bottom lip while he bit his. His touch was light as he trailed it down her arm until his hand was in hers. “Come on.”

“Wait! Hold up, we can’t—”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” he chuckled, now back to his regular cocky self. “I told my foreman that we need to go order the cabinets and tile for the bathrooms and kitchen. I’m taking you to where I buy my stuff to make sure you aren’t cheated.”

She immediately stopped fighting him after hearing that. Her sigh of relief was so loud that he tossed his head back and laughed again. He opened the door for her, then walked around to the driver side of his Dodge and got in.

“Please don’t tell me you hate sex?” he asked as the high-performance car roared to life. “Or is it the thought of having sex with me that frightens you?” He watched her work her mouth. “We have an hour drive to the store, so you can take your time in answering.”

Trish shifted in the seat. She acknowledged the fact that she had experienced a rush of excitement, followed by disappointment, when he told her he wasn’t taking her to have sex.

Am I that hard up? It’s only day two, and I’m ready to drop the panties, she thought.

Her eyes went to his hand on the gear shift of the car. They were long, strong, and tanned, and she knew they would feel hot and callus on her skin. He down-shifted for the car to come to a stop in traffic.

He turned to face her, causing her to break from her trance.

“You really should wear those plastic things over your nipples,” he suggested. His hand passed over it, making it perk out even further. He kissed her neck and watched her lean her head back onto the leather seat.

“Oh God,” she moaned when he pinched her nipple hard.

He took her hand and placed it on his leg.

“I think I would cum in my pants if you touched my dick, so this will have to be good enough.”

“Shit,” she hissed.

Kiss him you fool, the voice in her mind screamed.

A knowing smile formed on his lips. He waited for her to make the move, only to hear the cars behind him begin to honk. With a wink and a shrug, he righted himself in his seat, shifted the car into gear, and took off.

“Now, as you were saying,” he said, stealing a glance at Trish.

Her hand felt warm and soft on his hairy thigh. She was sure he could hear her gulp.

“I think you can tell that I have no issues with having sex with you,” she exhaled. She tried to remove her hand from his leg, only for him to stop her.

“I like the way your hand feels on my skin.”

The sound of his Barry White voice combined with his words were making her go crazy. Unknowingly, her hand tightened on his leg for a brief moment.

Dear God, his freaking muscles…goddamn!

“I haven’t been with anyone else since, well my ex…and it’s been a very long time since we were even together,” she added.

“How long are we talking?”

He could feel her hand begin to shake slightly. He didn’t know if it was out of nervousness, or out of need.

“Three years,” she whispered.

He had to have heard her wrong. Her confession hit him like a ton of bricks.

Three fuckin’ years, he replayed it in his mind.

“You haven’t had sex in three years?” he questioned her in awe.

“Well, not with any living male, no,” Trish admitted.

“Fuck,” he groaned.

He didn’t care that he was on Interstate 20 heading toward downtown Atlanta. He jerked hard right, crossed over the right lane, and onto the grassy side of the road to bring the car to a halting stop. He silenced the loud curse words that were streaming out of her mouth with a crushing kiss. His mouth was unforgiving as he devoured her. It wasn’t long before the small fire that had been building between them burst into a brush fire. He controlled his urges to touch her body with more than his mouth. Instead, he let her have her way. The fact that she had been untouched for so long excited him beyond words. He knew that once he had her in his bed, he would be well upon his way to capturing her heart. However, it wasn’t anything that he wanted to force, although she had been all he had been craving for a very long time. He needed her to come to him.

Trish moaned. Her hands began to explore his body, just like she had dreamt of doing since yesterday. She marveled at how hard his entire body was. His muscles felt as if they had been chiseled from a slab of marble. She captured his tongue and began to suck hard on it. She felt him stiffen. Quickly, she pushed away from him.

“I’m sorry,” she stammered.

Brayden blinked at her, a bit confused.

“Sorry? Sorry for what,” he panted.

“For doing that,” she pointed at his mouth.

He looked at her as if she was crazy. He leaned back against the door to stare at her. He bit his bottom lip. “You think I didn’t like it when you sucked on my tongue?” he whispered. “No, don’t just shrug your shoulders at me.”

“I think…no, I have a fear of having sex with someone else. No, correction, it’s not a fear, but it’s more of …” she trailed off as she tried to find the right word.

“You’re nervous,” he interjected.

“Yes.”

“About what?”

“Cause I’m out of practice, that’s what…about not doing something right, or being too freaky, being seen naked,” she replied in a rush.

Trish frowned at the sound of his chuckle.

“Whatever,” she grumbled with a wave of her hand. “I’m sure after I do it a couple of times with somebody, I won’t have any problems fucking anyone else.”

Brayden’s laughter stopped as if someone had switched off the lights. He narrowed his eyes and pinned her with his gaze.

“The only man that will be stretching your pretty cunt will be me,” he hissed, coming off the door to lean toward her. He placed his finger under her chin and lifted her head. “You won’t need your fingers, a dildo, or a cucumber, because I’m going to be fucking you every day of your goddamn life.” He took her hand and pressed it firmly on his hard dick. “There isn’t a part of me that you can’t suck, Trish. I know he’ll enjoy spitting his salty cream in your mouth, and painting your lips white,” he smiled.

Suddenly, he backed away from her. There was a strange light in his eyes that she might have asked him to explain if she wasn’t so light headed. Her hand still rested on his dick enough, though he was no longer keeping it there with his on top of it.

His dick is so big. It’s long and thick, the voice in her mind was singing loudly. Hell, she might have joined in if she had been alone to do so.

Brayden shifted the car out of park, putting it back into gear. Quickly, she moved her hand, but not to her own lap. She moved it back to his leg. With his head turned away from her to watch the traffic to find the right time to speed back onto the road, he grinned.

She’s almost ready. Dear Lord, I hope it won’t be too much longer, he prayed.

He didn’t think his balls or his willpower could take too much more. For the next forty-five minutes, he kept the conversation light and comical. He could see that Trish was confident in many areas of her life, but lacked that same confidence when it came to men and her love life, which made sense. However, the fact that she was hot, eager, and clearly attracted to him was all he needed to breach her walls, but not just to gain entry into her honey pot. His desire to possess Trish, to give her the life, the laughter, and the love that she had been missing was so strong that it was borderline maddening for him to restrain himself. He was never a man that was happy waiting on the sidelines. If things weren’t progressing fast enough, he had no problem setting things in motion himself. He wanted to let the cat out of the bag, and he knew just that patsy to do it.

Brayden turned into the large parking lot and parked the car. Trish happily sat in the car while he walked over to her side.

“Ok girl…oh my Lord, I can’t believe this is happening? Brayden, of all people. Look at his fine ass and he’s so perfect. Please Lord, please let this be real, shit…I wanna just fuck the shi—”

She closed her mouth just in time, and got out of the car.

“Were you just talking to yourself?” he asked, entwining his strong hand in hers.

“I was going over the list,” she lied a bit too quickly.

“Humm,” he chuckled.

He tilted his head. His expression turned serious, which made her falter in her step. “You never have to be scared to be naked in front of me…physically or emotionally. You are a very beautiful woman, you know that?” he whispered, stopping to force her to look up into his handsome face.

He stole a quick kiss, and then opened the glass door for her to walk through.

“Now, let me show you the right way to do business.

**

Carlos pulled off the thick gloves and tossed them on the pile of 2x4s he had stacked up on the pallet. He wiped the sweat from his brow and leaned against the shelf to catch his breath. He closed his eyes and felt the sweet calm of sleep beginning to overtake him. It amazed him that his body was so trained to having an afternoon nap that it was already sending him the signal to started heading to his upstairs office. Unfortunately, the fates had something else in mind for him. There would be no sleeping today. His day was going to be filled with phone calls.

“Hey, hey dude, your cousin just came in here with some black chick.”

Carlos rolled his eyes and cursed under his breath. Why the hell should he care about who was fucking who? Now he was going to have to walk all the way up to the front to handle the order for whoever it was. He marched past the many aisles, looking down each one until he found the family member that was cutting into his daily power nap. He tripped over the standing display when he caught sight of Brayden. He quickly rolled on the ground, got to his feet, and hid at the end of the aisle to watch the couple. His hands shook with pure excitement as he took out his cell and snapped a few pics of the two. He was smiling so hard that he had to wipe a string of spit that began to hang from his open mouth. He looked on, watching Brayden as he held the mystery woman’s hand. He stuck his whole fist in his mouth to keep from making a sound when his cousin pulled the woman into an embrace and started to kiss her on the neck.

“Oh damn, I gotta get that one too,” he whispered, stealing another pic. “Shit, why doesn’t she turn around and face my way?” he groaned.

With a sigh, he shoved his phone into his back pocket, took a deep breath, and walked from out of his hiding place.

Brayden saw Carlos coming his way the second he rounded the corner. Actually, he had saw his short, chubby ass fall on the ground and run to hide, but had played it off as if he hadn’t. It was by no mistake that he had chosen to come here with Trish. He could have just as easily called in the order. No, he had come here so that his big mouth cousin could run his mouth and bring on the storm that he knew being with Trish would bring.

“What up?”

Trish turned to greet the man, as Brayden knew that she would. He saw Carlos eyeing the possessive hand he had on her hip.

“I tried to catch you before you took off upstairs for your nap. I told you that if you come to the gym and drop a few pounds, you won’t have to do that shit.”

“Hell, why should I? The ladies like all this,” teased Carlos as he swiveled his hip.

“I’m not talking about the blow-up kind you be poking at night,” chuckled Brayden.

Trish tossed back her head and laughed.

Carlos rolled his eyes. He extended his hand toward Trish. “I can’t stand his ass. Hi, I’m Carlos.

“Hi, I’m—”

“This is my cousin,” said Brayden, cutting her off. He wanted to be the one that told Carlos who she was. “And you know him. This is Mookie from school.”

Trish’s mouth fell open. She covered it with her other hand as she began to laugh. She remembered him alright, but not like the way he was now. While Brayden had been tall and thin, Mookie had been short and buff, unlike his chunky self now.

“Bullshit, I would have remembered her,” he huffed, still holding her hand.

Brayden pulled her hand out of his. He didn’t like the way his cousin was hanging on to her, and the glare he gave him made the man take a step back.

“This is Reese…Trish,” he stated at last.

He would have laughed if it wasn’t for the fact that he didn’t want to give Trish a reason to question the strange reaction of his cousin. Carlos turned pale, his eyes grew twice their size, and he bit down on his fist from the rush he felt.

“This is Trish…from school,” he pointed at her. “The one that married the quarterba—”

“Yeah, that’s me; but I’m divorced, so don’t hold that against me.”

“Pick your damn jaw up off the ground and help her find some stuff for the remodel I’m doing at her investment property,” mumbled Brayden.

He stood behind Trish to make sure she didn’t see the message he gave Carlos. He pointed his finger at him, made the talking motion with his hand, made a gun out of his fingers, then brought it to his temple before he pulled the trigger.

Carlos nodded his head quickly, then clapped his hands together.

“So, what you wanna get?” he asked as he took off through the store with them following in step.

He was happy that Brayden was there, because he could barely keep up with anything she said. His mind was in a tailspin. He was ready for them to buy their stuff and get the hell down the road, so he could get to calling folks to tell them what was going on. He danced on his feet, no longer tired at all while he took down their order. He was so overjoyed that he gave Trish such a deep discount that he didn’t make any money off the purchases at all.

“Are you sure? I mean, all this stuff for only two grand?” she questioned in awe.

“Baby, why you want to ask him that?” mumbled Brayden.

He snaked his arms around her waist from behind and kissed the side of her neck.

Carlos practically fainted at the sound of her low moan before she elbowed his cousin for him to stop.

“So, was it the house that brought you two together?” He finally asked the question that had been burning a hole in his brain.

“No, we’ve been talking for a few months. Deliver the stuff by Monday,” Brayden replied quickly. He could tell that Carlos was getting ready to pick.

“Hey wait, don’t forget about tonight…at your Mom’s house,” cried Carlos. “We have a lot to talk about,” he grinned.

Trish heard Brayden curse under his breath.

“It’s alright. It’s just one night. I was starting to get tired of seeing you every day anyway,” she teased.

“Hum, but I’m starting to wear you down. Me and my cock can’t afford a setback,” he whispered in her ear.

The sound of his deep voice and his breath on her had an instant effect on her pulse, causing it to pick up. The entire time while they were in his cousin’s store, his hands had been on her—touching, stroking, or holding her tight. She hadn’t experienced anything like it before. Even with George, she had always been the one that showed the affection while he yelled at her whenever she tried to touch him. She realized now, years later, that her ex-husband had never wanted her. If she hadn’t run after him and fought every woman he cheated or flirted with to keep him, he never would have married her. It was nice to be desired, to be wanted, and to be shown it by a man.

“You know I have to play hard to get, for a while anyway.”

She chuckled at the hard expression he gave her. She felt his grip tighten on her hand, as if to tell her not to tease him like that.

“I’ll skip tonight with you, but that means we have to spend Saturday together…the kids and us. We can cookout while the kids swim,” he suggested.

There was a reason behind him picking that day, but he knew she didn’t know that.

Trish opened her mouth to speak, then shut it. She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes.

“How did you know I have a pool? You’ve never been to my house.”

“No,” he said sheepishly. “Not really, but Google Earth might have taken me there once, twice, maybe four times.”

She frowned while she listened to him call back to Carlos to tell him that he would see him later tonight. It wasn’t until they had gotten back in the car to leave that she spoke what was on her mind.

“Why did you look my house up?”

“Because I wanted to see you, even if I was just looking at a satellite view of your house.” He saw the doubtful look that came across her face.

He sighed, “And I wanted to see if you had any late night visitors,” he admitted at last. He put the Dodge Charge into gear.

“And what if I had a visitor,” she eyed him closely.

His expression turned deathly serious. “I don’t fuckin’ share, Trish. When I want something, I’ll fuck a bitch or a motherfucker up over it.”

“And you’re saying you want me?”

“More than you could ever fathom.”

His words caressed her, causing a chill to run down her spine. Her light brown eyes scanned his handsome face while she absorbed his words.

“We have to hurry back to my car. I don’t want to be late picking up my babies,” she said in a strange voice.

Brayden stayed still for a few seconds more while he tried to figure out what she might be thinking. With a shrug, he backed out of the parking lot and drove on. He could see she was contemplating something from the way she was sucking and biting on her bottom lip. He opened his mouth to ask what she was thinking, but her action caused him to freeze.

She made reference to something they had seen in the store as she nonchalantly touched his arm, then rested her hand on his upper thigh. His eyes closed briefly. A sharp spark shot through his gut and stopped at his mushroom-shaped tip that was just inches away from her hand. He knew that she had no way of knowing because his cargo shorts were so baggy, but his cock sensed her presence. It came to life and began to leap in her direction.

Come on Saturday, he thought.

He was ready to put his plan in motion.

Only two days away.

Chapter Four

Brayden sat at the round table in his parent’s house. Their voices were loud, as always. He laughed at the crazy stuff that his family said to one another whenever there was a large gathering, such as the one they were having now, to discuss The Business. In spite of the fact that his mother and father didn’t go around leaning on people, calling the shots, and ordering hits like they did in the old days, they still had pull to make things happen. His mind constantly went back to Trish throughout the evening. Now, all he had to do was wait for someone to let the cat out of the bag. He had to admit that he was surprised that the conversation hadn’t switched to him as soon as he entered the door. He knew that they all knew thanks to Carlos, who was now sitting across from him looking like he was about to go crazy with info that he knew. Thankfully, he knew that the topic that had called them all together was much more important than his love life.

“I’m telling yous, it’s gonna to come to war if Aldo lets Andreas make a move against Wanda,” his father repeated himself for the hundredth time in a heavy New York, Italian accent.

His parents never lost the speech or the accent of their old home, which they said they were thankful for. They said they would rather die than pick up the country twang of Georgia.

“Well, what the fuck should he have done? You would think she would’ve had her shit together all the years she had been waiting and praying for somebody to off that schmuck of a husband,” replied his mother.

She waved the wooden spoon she was using to stir the pot of pinto beans that was simmering on the stove.

“Ah, she was a big-eyed bitch that thought she was able to run the show, but Uncle Aldo was wise to let her try. The others would have cried murder if he didn’t,” his brother Basilio pointed out.

“Alls I’m saying is that action needs to be taken before this shit gets out of hand. The people are losing all respect for the family. She’s just standing by letting other people muscle in on our business,” fumed his father.

“It’s not our business anymore,” Brayden corrected him.

A loud uproar of protest went up due to his comment.

“The hell it is. We laid the fault lines that are still etched in stone to this damn day. I should slap you across your face right now,” growled his father as he drew back his hand.

Brayden rolled his eyes and laughed.

“And if they ain’t making no money, we ain’t getting no kickbacks. Shit, I’m too old to be riding some damn pole for tips,” added his mother.

“And your pussy too dry to be turning tricks too,” shouted her husband over his shoulder.

“If you licked it more often, then I wouldn’t have that problem, you fuckin’ one-minute man,” she tossed back.

Everyone in the kitchen began to laugh and hoot from her comment, including her husband.

“Look, why don’t you have Zita take care of it?” suggested Basilio.

“No, Dre and Aldo want to keep her out of it. She’s like a free agent. We only call on her when needed,” explained his father.

The handsome man with just a touch of grey at his temples shook his leg as he pondered. He narrowed his eyes and stared at Brayden.

“What would you do?” he asked.

Brayden ran his hands through his hair. He knew that his father was asking for his advice, not because he was so smart, but because he was neutral. He had used his uncles’ illegal money to start his first company when he was still in high school. He knew that they were using his business to clean their money, and he was fine with it. However, he put a stop to it as soon as he had grown his business to the point that he didn’t need their financial support. Even still, his brother and Carlos were still allowing shady things to go on in their companies, which meant they were still tied to the family business.

“To be honest, I wouldn’t do anything right now. Let Andreas oversee her area,” he responded.

“You mean, like a mentor?” asked his father, a bit surprised at his answer.

“Yeah, like that. Tell her that she needs to listen to him or she’ll be removed. She could either be a damn puppet or be dead. Besides, this is a bad time for Andreas to be taking over Wanda’s turf and pissing off the other Dons because he’s gotten too powerful. Calico is having issues already with her pregnancy, and it’s close to the holidays. Why add to that stress?” he explained.

Words of agreement went up after his reply was received.

“That is true,” his mother chimed in. She shut off the pot and walked over to the large table they were all sitting around. “I don’t want nothing happening to that baby. Speaking of which,” she paused and leaned forward to spill her cup of tea. “I heard that Beau has a pretty little black girl, too.”

“Well, damn,” cried Basilio, tossing up his hands. “What the hell is going on? Everybody going black,” he smiled, stealing a quick glimpse at Brayden.

Ah, here it comes, he thought to himself.

“You want to know why? It’s because those women are fuckin’ fierce when it comes to their men. You ain’t gonna fuck over a black woman’s man; even if the bastard is no good, she’ll fight for him while he’s screwing her ass over. They’re loyal. Hell, I dated a few before I got with your mother,” admitted their father.

“So, they were good enough to date, but not to marry,” teased Carlos, elbowing Basilio in the ribs.

“It wasn’t that. It was because they were fuckin’ crazy,” cried his uncle.

“And Ma isn’t crazy,” laughed Brayden.

“Well, she hid her crazy until after I married her. By that time, it was too late for me. I was already in love,” his father answered, smiling up into the face of his blushing wife.

“Anyway, he’s coming here to visit her in two weeks, before Christmas, since her family lives here too…and Andreas is coming with Calico. I think they both need to get away for a bit,” she grinned happily. “I can’t wait to have everybody over and to have Calico here so I can rub on her fat belly,” she said, rubbing her hands together with glee.

“I’ll let you rub my belly, and anywhere else later tonight,” her husband teased as he drew her between his legs.

She rolled her eyes and pulled away. She turned and walked back to the stove.

“You need to find yourself a pretty black girl, Bray. Shit at this point, she could be pink with green polka dots,” she remarked.

“Who’s to say he don’t already have one,” smirked Carlos.

Brayden glared at him from across the table. The mood in the entire room shifted as all eyes fell upon him. All the laughter along with the relaxed mood that had been in the kitchen disappeared to be replaced with a serious vibe. He watched his mom as she slapped her open palm with the wooden spoon she picked up off the stove.

“So, when were you going to tell us that you were fuckin’ around with this woman?” she snarled.

“I just decided to let big mouth Mookie do it for me,” he answered as he returned her glare.

“What the hell are you playing at?” she asked, throwing the spoon across the room. It missed by a mile. It bounced off the wall, making a loud noise in the still room.

“Mom, don’t make me have to put you in your place,” he warned in a cold tone.

His father’s eyebrows went up in shock. He held up his hand to silence his wife’s stream of curses. “All I want to know is does she know?”

“No, she doesn’t. She doesn’t know a thing about that, or about the family,” he answered.

“And what the hell do you think she’s going to think when she finds out, cause she will. I’ll tell you. She’s gonna think that you were running a game on her. Is that what you’re doing?” questioned his mother hotly.

“No, this is no game,” his father answered.

His narrowed eyes hadn’t left Brayden’s face the entire time. He could see that the feelings his son had for the girl were strong, and they were real. Brayden had set his sights on that woman and he wasn’t going to change the course, no matter what they said. He leaned back in his chair. He ran his hand over his face and sighed, loudly.

“Is she the one for you, son?

“Yes. I will marry her, make no mistake about it. She’s suffered, too, being with that asshole all these years. She has her problems from being with him, but it’s nothing that I can’t overcome,” he responded.

“I’m telling you that it will never—”

“Shut up!” shouted his father. His wife might have had power in some circles, but he had the last word when it came to his family. “You’re your own man, son. This might be an odd pairing in my eyes, but if she is what you want, then go after it,” he shrugged. “She will be accepted in this home,” he tossed back over his shoulder for the benefit of his wife.

**

Trish opened the door to her home two days later. She moved out of the way of the excited children that came running through into her house. She had been a ball of nerves the entire morning as she cleaned and re-cleaned the house. She had changed from the maxi dress to a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, to a romper, until her kids came into her room to help her pick out her clothes. Her boys could tell that she was at a loss for what to wear, and they knew why. They had been secretly talking about it with Ciro, Brayden’s son, and their friend, for a while. Them being in their early teens, they were old enough to pick up on the tension and the attraction between their parents. They were over the moon with the thought of becoming brothers. Even their sister was happy over the prospect of finally having a girl to play with as a sister. Her boys had pointed out that since they were all going to be in the pool, she should wear her two piece, which they quickly hand to her put on with a sheer cover-up on top.

“Those are a lot of bags,” she chuckled, closing the door behind Brayden.

‘They’re just some change of clothes, toys, and games that the kids asked to bring,” he replied smoothly. “At last, I get to see the inside of your home,” he teased.

She could feel his brown eyes roaming over her body. With newfound confidence, she turned and led the way deeper into her home. She was right to assume that he was watching her. He bit his lips and shifted his hardened cock. The bottom of her neon pink bathing suit showed off just the right amount of her ass to kick start his lust. Her hips swayed seductively. He wondered if she noticed the extra twist in her walk, or if she was doing it for his benefit. Either way, he was enjoying the display she was putting on for his greedy eyes.

“I’m just shocked that it’s still this hot with it being in December.”

“Yeah, it’s strange,” he replied.

He wasn’t going to tell her that around 5 o’clock, the skies were going to turn dark and a violent storm was going to be upon them, bringing sheets of rain, possible hail, and flooding, which was the reason his arm was straining under the weight of the bags he was carrying. He had come prepared to spend the night. He had known about the storm’s arrival since Tuesday, which would be ushering the first cold snap of the winter season. The loud screams of their kids echoed throughout the home.

“This place is really nice,” he praised as he looked around the one-story house. He admired how nicely she had decorated the spaces. “I can’t get upset with your choice of décor.”

She laughed at his meaning. “After so many years down South, I can’t help but fall in love with that Italian Tuscany style.”

“So you didn’t buy all this stuff because you knew I was coming over,” he mumbled as if he was wounded.

She smiled. She caught herself staring at him. He looked good in his tight-fitting dark green tee, heather grey, cotton basketball shorts, and tennis shoes.

“Let me give you the tour,” she offered with a start.

She continued to stare at him, this time openly when he turned away from her to address his kids, while he passed them one of the two bags he had brought with them. She marveled at how his shirt stretched from the movement of the muscles in his arms and strong, broad shoulders. Her hooded gaze traveled to his ass. She knew that it was firm from his hours at the gym. By the time he turned back around, she had hidden her lustful thoughts behind her mask.

He flashed her a perfect smile as he fell in line behind her.

“How many rooms?”

“It’s only a three-bedroom, but the slit open plan, extra rooms, and the backyard makes it feel larger than it is. This was the first home I bought,” she said with pride.

“Did you remodel it too?” he asked, glancing into a small sitting room.

“Yes, although I’m sure you’re going to tell me that I was suckered on the deal,” she said with a deep eye roll.

“Look,” he mumbled as he put his hand around her waist. His hand itched to slide lower to touch her ass, but he fought the urge. “You’ve done great for yourself. Don’t beat yourself up. The main thing is that you know now.”

“And I have you to go to now to help me whenever I get stuck,” she stated in a husky tone that caused a spike in his desire. “This is the master bedroom,” she informed him.

His eyes roamed slowly around the large room. A queen sized sleigh bed with an espresso-colored head and footboard sat on one wall with doors on each side of it. A matching nightstand was placed on the left side next to the bed. The rest of the room was filled with the remaining pieces of the bed set and a comfy chair. The large bay window brought in the sunlight and gave a clear view to the side lawn. He frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t like those blinds. People can still see into the room. I’ll change them out for better ones.”

“How do you that wasn’t the reason way I put them up in the first place,” she teased, standing next to the bed.

His thin eyebrow went up. He glided slowly over the plush carpet to tower over her. She always liked it when he gave her his lazy, seductive stare, which was what he was doing at that moment. This time, he didn’t stop himself from touching her ass. His hands snaked around her body slowly to touch under her cheeks. He moved his hands upward, bringing the sheer cover up with them until he touched her bare flesh underneath. He let the tips of his fingers slip under her bathing suit bottom. He began to nestle her ass while he pulled her against him.

“I have no problem letting people watch. They might learn a thing or two.”

He bit his lip and tilted his head to the side to glance at her ass. “Hum, I wonder if I can stick my dick in you while we’re in the pool without anyone noticing?” His gaze shifted back to her face when she moaned. “Oh, that’s right…you’re a moaner. Well, maybe just a finger, or two then,” he whispered.

Trish was at a loss. At that second, all the things that she had been doubting about being with Brayden went out the window. All she saw was the man that had been consuming her every thought, the man that had been driving her crazy with desire. Her hands captured his head and pulled him downward to meet her lips. He gladly opened his mouth and relished in her heated kiss. All the other times, it had been him that was pouring himself into each stroke of his tongue with her happily receiving it. However, this kiss was different. Now it was her that was communicating the extent of her need, her passion. He lifted his head to glare at her in awe. He hadn’t been ready for the dizzy sensation he was left feeling. He moved to go back in for another kiss, only for the loud sounds of their children to stop him. He groaned then backed away.

“Move,” he ordered, slapping her on the ass. “Damn girl, look at how that ass jiggles,” he teased as he shook her right ass cheek.

They both went into the living room to find five, hyper kids ready to go for a swim.

“Did you want them to eat before or after the pool?”

Seeing how he wanted to take the opportunity to pick up where they had left off, he went for swimming now. With them being able to keep an eye on the kids from the kitchen and living room, he felt everything would be fine. He walked outside and laid down the ground rules. The fact that the pool only went up to four feet calmed a lot of his worries. He hid his readiness to return back into the house until she was finally ready to do so.

“What’s for lunch?” he inquired, following her through the living room and into the open kitchen. He glanced at the large Tupperware dish that sat upon the large granite island that stood between them.

“Hamburgers on the grill with fries,” she offered. “I just have to season the meat.”

“The meat, hum…and how do you take care of the meat?”

There was no doubting that he wasn’t talking about the cool hamburger she had put in the dish last night to cook by the pool today. She watched him follow the tip of her pink tongue as she moistened her full lips. Brayden had never thought that listening to someone tell their list of seasonings could be so downright sexy, but he found out it could be that day. He watched her lips from under his hooded lids as she spoke. It wasn’t what she said, but the husky tone in how she said it that aroused him. His hand went to his cock. He raised his eyes at the sound of her breath catching in her throat.

“That sounds good, but let me tell you how I would do it.”

Trish stood frozen while he walked around the island toward her.

“Do you have an onion and some milk?” he asked.

“Y...yes,” she replied in a shaky voice. Clearing her throat, she turned around to the refrigerator and opened it.

The large door blocked them from the pool and hid them from the view of their kids. Brayden wasted no time using that fact to his advantage. He pushed her forcefully further into the fridge. His strong hands came up to cup her full breasts before he pulled her top down to expose them. Swiftly, he grabbed her by the shoulder and turned her around to face him. She reached down and pulled the cover up to give him access to her body. He opened his mouth wide and began to suckle hard on her nipple. His hands were everywhere. She gripped his hair to hold his mouth in place.

“Lift your leg for me,” he moaned hotly against her flesh.

Without hesitation, she did as he commanded. She shivered at the feel of his hands slowly trailing under her inner thigh. She knew what his destination was, and she couldn’t wait till he reached it. He tugged the suit out of the way. This is when he finally lifted his head from her chest. He gazed upon her shaved pussy as if he was in a trace.

“I’ve laid in bed so many nights, hard as a rock, just imagining how your pussy looked,” he whispered.

Trish almost jumped out of her skin when she felt the first touch of his hand on her quivering flesh. She tightened the walls of her pussy and basked in the sweet pleasurable pain that he was creating in her center.

“My Lord, you’re hungry,” he said through clenched teeth. The tips of his fingers were covered in her juices after running them down the split of her cunt. “Let me help ease some pressure.”

He brought his arm under her raised thigh and held it up. He didn’t want her falling. He entered her body slowly with two fingers. He moved them in and out a few times before he added a third to stretch her wider. He watched her face as he fucked her with his fingers hard. Trish tossed back her head. She held tight to his muscular arms, feeling them ripple and dance under her hands, while she bucked her hips wildly in time with his fingers.

“Oh shit,” she moaned, closing her eyes.

He had shifted the placement of his hand. It was still there giving her pleasure, but it wasn’t the same. She didn’t know how he did it, but somehow he was hitting a spot in her pussy that had never been hit before. With each stroke, he was creating a fire in her that she couldn’t control that ran from the roots of her straightened hair to the tips of her French-manicured toes.

He knew that she was close to her climax. From the ‘in awe’ expression that had come over her face, to the increase of juice that her pussy was producing, to the trembling of her cunt, he knew that him tapping on her G-spot was going to push her over the edge in a matter of seconds. He hooked his fingers and picked up the speed.

“You gotta be quiet, Trish,” he whispered, but he could tell that his words were lost on her.

She wasn’t on Earth anymore. She was floating around on a cloud of bliss. He heard her scream building low in her throat. She opened her mouth as her orgasm overtook her. He covered her mouth with his to muffle her cries as her body shook and jerked, causing the fridge to rock. He slowed the thrusts of his hand, then froze completely until she was done. Trish opened her glazed over eyes to look up into his smiling face.

“And that’s how I take care of my meat,” he smiled.

He stole a quick kiss, removed his hand, and lowered her leg. He made a big show of licking his fingers clean before he reached past her still-stunned frame into the fridge to get the ingredients he needed for the hamburgers. Just like that, he turned away, washed his hands, and went about making the patties as if nothing had happened.

Chapter Five

Trish was a bit shy after their encounter in the kitchen. It took a full hour before she was back to her regular self. Now she met his eyes, laughed, and teased him back. He made sure that while they were in the pool, he kept his physical contact to a minimum. It didn’t bother him that she had experienced a moment of shyness. He was wise enough to understand her confusion and her shame. He was the first one to have touched her that way in a very long time. Then there was her very wild response to his hands being on her due to the three-year dry spell that she was ashamed of—he was sure of it. He actually found her reaction refreshing and cute. It pleased him that she had opened herself to him, and he was able to bring her to such a height of passion. His eyes noticed the dark clouds in the sky, still about an hour away. He smoothly moved them back into the house. He couldn’t have her realizing that there was a hell of a storm on the way ‘till it was too late.

He kept up the steady chatter and laughter while he waited for his plan to take effect. He marveled over the fact that he was genuinely enjoying himself. The loud noise, the drama, the arguing, and the tug-a-war to give attention to all the children was so much like the home he grew up in. The time sped by as they broke up into three teams with him and Trish on one, the boys together, and the two girls on the other going head to head in Just Dance 2015. He dazzled Trish with his sense of rhythm and his dance abilities. All the laughter died immediately at the earth-shaking snap of thunder, followed by a bright flash of lightning across the dark sky. The little girls let out a scared scream and ran over to Trish for comfort.

“Wow,” the boys said in unison as they looked out the front door to behold the thick sheets of rain coming down.

“It looks like a hurricane out there,” stated Trish’s oldest son.

He moved out of the way to make room for Trish to see for herself. She felt the butterflies in her stomach wake up, as a thought took root in her mind.

Maybe it won’t last long, she considered.

She closed the door and walked back into the living room. However, what Brayden said next put that thought to bed.

“It doesn’t look good,” he groaned.

They all stood silently as they listened to the weather alert that was being given by the anchor on the Weather Channel.

“Hey, this means you’ll have to sleep over,” chimed her daughter, which caused the girls to jump and down, while the boys high-fived each other.

Her light brown eyes darted over to meet Brayden’s. A wicked smile came upon his seductive mouth. She narrowed her eyes and smirked back. She closed the space between them.

“Did you know this would happen?”

“Trish, I know what I did to you might have you looking at me like I’m a god, but I’m not.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“Put it this way. In that second bag over there is everything we’ll need to have a cozy sleepover.”

She tossed back her head and laughed. Brayden is relentless, she acknowledged.

“No sex,” she warned.

“Wow, so I see how it is. Nothing for me after you’ve cum all over my fingers,” he whispered in a deeper voice than his normal Barry White tone.

He took a step back when she swayed toward him unconsciously. She was one hot ass piece that was on the verge of popping her stack. He was more than willing to dick her down until his lower back was burning, but not in front of the kids. He watched his behavior and his teasing throughout the night to ensure she didn’t do or say something she would regret later. The rain was still pouring down long after they had cleaned up the kitchen from dinner, the movie was over, baths were taken, and the kids were all in their rooms pretending to go to sleep, but their excited voices still carried into the living room where Trish was helping him pull out the sleeper sofa.

“I’ll use the kids’ bathroom to take a bath,” he said.

He walked over to the bag and pulled out the shorts he had packed for himself.

“No,” she replied quickly. “They need to calm down. You can use my bathroom.”

Her heart felt as if it was in her throat. The mood in the room changed. It was as if the air itself was alive. He nodded and walked out of the room. She waited until he had left the room before she covered her face. She shook her hands frantically while she walked in a circle. She mumbled to herself.

“Ok girl, get it together. Oh, Lord…I want to fuck him so damn bad. His ass…those muscles…our Lord, why, why Father? You know I’m weak and You give me this sweeeeet ass offering. But I can’t have sex in the house when the kids are home,” she rabbled to herself.

She looked at the archway he had disappeared through. Her feet moved on their own as they carried her down the hallway, into her room, across it, and into the bathroom. She could hear the water turning off just as she reached the shower. She could see his body through the steamed, clear glass of the shower door. He could feel her presence in the room even though he hadn’t turned to acknowledge her yet. The expression on his face was strange when he finally turned his head to regard her. It was dark, fierce, and all business. Her greedy eyes roamed over his body. Droplets of water hung from his long lashes, his full lips, and ran down his fit body. He ran his hand through his wet hair.

“You need to leave the bathroom, Trish.”

“Get out.”

Brayden raised his eyebrow. He turned slowly and swung open the shower door. He didn’t move a muscle. He let her examine his body. She started at his collarbone, over his buff chest that was lightly covered with dark hair, over his washboard stomach, to follow the dark trail of hair to his cock. She exhaled at the sight of his dick as it grew even bigger under her heated gaze. He saw her hand move toward him. The air rushed out of his lungs when her sure hands took hold of his dick. In a trance, he allowed her to pull him from the shower by his dick. He cupped her hand, forcing her to grip him tighter.

“Do you know what you’re going to do with that?” he teased. “Lord, yes,” he moaned.

Trish slowly lowered herself to her knees. She traced the thick vein that ran from the root of his dick to the tip. She encircled his mushroomed tip, then nibbled on it lightly. Taking just the tip, she sucked hard on it as if she was puffing on a straw. His hands gripped his thighs to keep them from forcing his cock down her throat. He hissed when she finally opened wide to take his length inside of her hot, moist mouth. His hands moved to cradle the back of her head. His legs went weak. His eyes widened when he noticed that she didn’t stop. More and more of his white dick vanished until his entire shaft was swallowed up by her mouth.

“Ah,” she choked, withdrawing him.

He narrowed his eyes. “Do that again.”

He tossed back his head as his eyes rolled back in his head. This time, it was his turn to moan. His deep voice vibrated off the walls of the bathroom. He lowered his head and watched her under his hooded lids. She sucked him, bobbing her head up and down in a slow tempo. Her saliva ran down his cock to gather in his pubic hair and moisten his tight nuts. He wanted to grab her hair to capture her head before he rammed his dick repeatedly down her throat until she gasped, coughed, and choked, but he didn’t. His legs began to jerk. His breathing became uneven. He knew he was close to cumming. It had been so long since he had jacked off, so it wasn’t going to take him long.

“Stop,” he grunted.

He could see the confession in the depths of her light brown eyes. Brayden pulled her feet. He picked her up, placing her on the sink top.

“You are absolutely amazing,” he smiled. He ran his thumb over her bottom lip.

Trish reached down and pulled him deeper between her legs by his dick. He pushed her hand away, holding his throbbing cock against his stomach. The tip stopped a few inches above his navel. He lifted her face with the finger he placed under her chin. His kiss was slow, deep, and practiced. By the time he broke away, they both were panting. He could barely hear. The loss of blood to his brain was affecting him. He shook his head. A wide smile was on his face.

“You can’t keep me waiting too much longer, Trish.”

She leaned back, propped her left leg up on the sink, and pulled her bathing suit to the side as her answer. Brayden shook his dick in his hand. His gaze burned her pink slit. It flinched and throbbed right before his eyes. His hand dropped to his side.

“Take your bath.”

He saw the look of rejection flash across her face. He stepped back to make room for her as she got off the sink. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him. She chewed her bottom lip. His heart contracted over the fact that she wouldn’t look at him.

“Look at me, Reese…please.”

He waited for her eyes to lock onto his.

“I haven’t had sex in over three months because no other woman could cure me of my lust for you,” he admitted. He removed her sheer cover up. He turned her around to face the large bathroom mirror. “Even after three children, you are stunning. I wish you could see…feel what I feel when I look at you.”

He took a step back and left the bathroom. Trish closed her eyes and let his words wash over her. She knew that he wanted her. She knew that if he wouldn’t have stopped her, she would have sucked him and let him fuck her. In that moment, her feelings for Brayden multiplied. She knew why he hadn’t taken what she had so freely offered. In her time of weakness, he did the right thing in stopping things before they got out of hand out of respect for her, her home, and her children.

Twenty minutes later, she walked back into the living room wearing a pair of sweats and an oversized t-shirt. He had a deep frown on his face as he pushed the buttons on the remote.

“What are you trying to do?” she asked.

“I switched the damn channel from the gaming system, and now I can’t watch my cartoons,” he grumbled.

She sucked her teeth, snatched the remote from his hand, and switched the channel back. He rewarded her with a toothy grin. His gaze scanned her body.

“I tried to pick something non-threatening,” she teased.

Brayden’s eyebrow went up, as if to say that’s not possible. She laughed, turned, and plopped down on the edge of his temporary bed. She stared at the tattoo that dominated his back.

“I always wondered if the angel on your back is good or evil.”

“That depends on the day, I guess. So which one…Scooby-doo, Charlie Brown, or Tom and Jerry?”

She glanced up at the ceiling in deep thought.

“Tom and Jerry,” she chuckled.

She crawled into the bed while he put the DVD in the system. He got into the bed. He reached out and pulled her into her arms. They sat, commented, and laughed at the antics of the cat and mouse.

“I never asked you, how was the meeting at your parent’s house?”

“It was loud, and very informative,” he groaned.

“What does that mean?” she asked, shifting a bit to look at him.

He debated what to tell and what to keep. He turned to lay on his side with his head propped up on the pillow. They looked like a pair of kids talking in bed.

“We were discussing the turf war that’s brewing,” he replied nonchalantly. He was having a hard time reading her expressionless face. “Like as in the Mob,” he added for her sake.

“So what side are you guys on?” she asked in a calm voice.

He was a bit taken back by her reaction.

“Brayden, you did say that your uncles financed your business to clean their money,” she pointed at. “Besides, your dad was like fuckin’ Tony Soprano when we were in school. I’m not dumb. What I need to know is how deep in shit are you?”

“I’m not,” he promised. “My businesses are all legal now. I’m not bull shitting you, but I am very close with my family,” he explained.

“So you have ties to the mob. Well, you can’t choose your family,” she said with a wave of her hand.

He was floored that she wasn’t cursing and spitting over what he had just told her.

Maybe she would be ok with me telling her the rest, he considered.

His pulse began to beat rapidly over the thought. He opened his mouth, only for her to ask him what the war was all about. He sighed out of relief that she had stopped him from telling her.

Chapter Six

Trish tried again to call Jay, her best friend, for the sixth time in the past three days. She really wanted to run a few things by her, but like the times before, it had just gone to voicemail. She wanted to fill her friend in on the relationship that she had agreed to let happen, if it was meant to be a little over two weeks now. She was overjoyed over the fact that everything was going so well. Even the kids were happy to be spending more time with his kids. To them, it was just more fun time. There were only a few times while they were out that she heard the voice of doubt spring up, which it did last night at Red Robin. He had picked that restaurant for its loud, laid back atmosphere, which allowed for the kids to be noisy. She realized right off the bat that he was using everything to his advantage, and that included their kids. He spent a lot of time talking to the children, getting them involved in the conversation, helping them to connect with one another, and showing her three babies that he was on their level in a lot of ways. Hell, he spent more time with them than he did talking to her one on one. Instead, he brought everyone into the conversation, which made for a loud, silly, animated dinner—which pleased everyone. His plan worked. After their sleepover, it wasn't him, but the kids that insisted that the two families spend time together in the evening, which made them getting together look innocent, and kept the true motive under wraps.

Her hairstylist had actually been focused on the time, so it only took an hour and a half compared to the three hours that it usually did to get her short, asymmetrical bob silken. During her hair appointment, she even had her eyebrows and lashes done. She wondered if he would like her with those enhancements. Of course, she told herself her new love interest had nothing to do with her new desire for her personal maintenance, but she knew it was a lie. Whenever she thought about Brayden, which was often, she experienced the same light-headed feelings every time. The weird thing about it all was that he didn't even seem to be trying that hard, or at least not in the ways that she was used to. There was no flash, no pretending, no expensive dates and gifts, but instead they talked, ate, and worked together as if they had been in a relationship for years. It was so natural, and their conversations were so honest. Trish wanted to test the waters about race. In her book, there was no need to get involved with someone that was insensitive about certain issues.

He suggested that just the two of them sneak away while the kids had their session a few nights ago. She could tell he was doing his best to make her comfortable in the small, intimate Italian restaurant that was just a few blocks away from the gym.

“I don't like sharing your attention with other people when I don't have to. I was hoping for it to be just us tonight,” he stated out of the blue.

“Well, I can't help the fact that that woman keeps looking over here,” she gestured with her head at the other table.

“How do you know that she isn't thinking you look good? She could think we make a nice couple. I don't know why you would care anyway?”

“So you're telling me that it doesn't matter that people look at us?”

“Shit, people look at me even when I'm by myself. There's always somebody looking. That's what eyes are for, Trish,” he chuckled.

“Hmm, but it seems to be a lot more on your side,” she scoffed.

“I find it strange that you didn't notice the black couple giving us dirty looks when we were at Home Depot yesterday,” he remarked, a bit annoyed.

The change in his tone didn't go unnoticed.

“They were probably wondering why a fine ass black woman was fucking around with a white man,” she replied with a little attitude.

He ran his fingers through his hair while he tried to calm down. He was getting so tired of her and the race thing. He was starting to doubt that she would ever lay that shit down. Maybe she was just too damn close-minded to make it work. Her fear of what other people were thinking was too much for him to handle.

“I think you fail to understand that there is no master race. Yeah, the powers that be try to make you feel that way, but just because I share the same skin color as them makes no difference. I'm still a piece of shit in their eyes too. Just like people in your race get jealous of one another over silly ass shit, the same thing happens over on my side of the creek. Just like the 'man' does things to hurt and discourage you from fulfilling your dreams, they do the same to me. They bend me over and fuck me in the ass every year, too,” he finished.

Sitting in her car as she thought back to that day, she realized that his answer was truthful. She had worked with and knew whites that struggled just like she had. It was the fact that being with him seemed to be too damn good to be true, and she was looking for something, anything to jump on. He hadn't even tried to pick up from where they had left off that day at her home. After they had talked until the wee-hours of the night, he picked her up, took her to bed, then returned to his bed in the living room. Every time that they were together without the kids, she waited and wondered if he was going to go attempt it, but he never did.

She took out her phone and called her sister. She had to talk to somebody about what was happening, and other than Jay, she knew her little sis could keep her mouth shut.

“What's up?” said Kandace in her husky voice.

“Listen, I've been seeing somebody.”

There was no need to drag it out. Kandace was family, after all.

She could hear her sister get up, walk to a quiet area, and shut the door before she spoke.

“I can't believe it. You like this guy, don't you?” she gushed.

“Yeah, he's different from what I'm used to, you know?”

“Is he good looking?”

“Yes,” she moaned.

“Can he pay his own way?” questioned Kandace, firing off another one.

“Put it like this, he doesn't own just one business, but three large ones.”

“Okay...okay, I'm liking him, so far. What about kids? Does he have those? Then again, fuck that. Shit, you have kids, so that shouldn't matter. So, what's the issue then?”

“Like I said, he's not what I'm used to,” Trish repeated with a sigh.

“So, he’s not a lazy asshole that's jealous of you. He's not like somebody that I will not name. You always had to praise him even though he wasn't about shit? Is that what the problem is?” she asked in a nasty tone.

“I know. I know. I think it's because he's just so perfect, and we haven’t officially had sex yet,” Trish explained, hoping that her sister would switch sides and tell her to run.

“Oh hell, that sex gotta be right or it’s a deal-breaker,” she mumbled. “Then again, he could be letting you set the pace. Have you tried to kiss him?”

“God yes…and it’s amazing. The way he holds me, touches me—shit, and looks at me…the things he says have me about ready to rape his ass,” admitted Trish.

“Well, I say don't walk away yet until you get a taste of the whole buffet,” she laughed. “I got to go, I'm hiding in the bathroom at work talking to you.”

After Trish said she loved her sister, she sat for a few minutes thinking about what her sister said. There was no need for her to continue to fool herself; she was crazy about Brayden, and she wanted to brave the deep waters with him. She smiled when she made up her mind. That night, they had a college board meeting that he asked to take her to. His cousin had agreed to watch their children, so they could both carpool to the meeting. The girl had been an underclassman, but she still remembered her from high school. With it just being the two of them, she was going to see just what his reaction would be. She only had a few weeks until he finished fixing her house. He had already brought up the topic of engagement, which had surprised her. He was serious about not dragging things out between them if they weren’t going to be together for the long haul. The thought of him leaving her to move on with someone else, because she wasn’t open-minded enough to take what he was giving her bothered her beyond belief. She wanted the man. She was hooked.

Happy with her plan, she turned on her white Range Rover and went about her day. She still had to get the shopping done, pick up her kids, do a homework check, get them and herself cleaned up, and be over to his cousin Samantha’s house by six-thirty. With her mind made up, her day just flew by. She took special care in choosing her outfit that night. She wanted to be tempting, but not too much. She didn't want to make her goal too obvious, but she did want something that made her feel sexy and confident. With a wicked grin, she dug deep and brought out a dress she hadn't worn in a while. It was made of lightweight, coral-colored material that had a sheer overlay on top of the same color; with an added white border that ran along the hemline, it stopped about six inches above her knees. Trish always thought her legs looked nice and she took special care in oiling them up with pure shea butter before she slipped on a pair of coral-colored, open-toed heels that strapped around her ankles.

The Rover pulled up to the corner lot house in the mid-size community right on time. She took note of the fact that there was a white, S-Class Mercedes with silver tinted windows parked in the driveway. She figured that this was one of the times that Brayden had spoken of, in which he was ready to flash his status. Like always, the kids were excited about seeing each other, and that took her attention away from seeking him out. She was so focused on talking to Sam, meeting her little girl, checking out the nicely decorated home, followed by laying down the rules to her children, that she hadn't even noticed him. However, he definitely had taken note of her from the second she walked through the door.

His brown eyes looked her up and down lustfully before he realized what he had been doing. She looked too damn good. His hands itched to touch her ass when she bent over to pick up a notebook that had fallen off of the bar stool. The way that the A-line dress hung and swayed with her every movement was alluring, but not slutty, which he liked. He had no idea if she knew that the height of her shoes added a little more of a twist to her already seductive walk, but he picked up on it right away. He always enjoyed watching her walk, but now he was in a trance as he quietly followed her with his gaze. He thought quietly about how he wanted to get under that dress, and inside her so damn badly. The more time he spent with her, the more he wanted her, but she was so damn hard to read at times, and that fact frustrated him to no end. He heard her call his name. He got his feelings masked before he walked out to greet her.

“I've been here the whole time, but you were too busy running your mouth,” he joked in his deep voice.

Trish jumped at the sound of his voice as she turned to greet him. He was dressed in a pair of dark navy slacks, with a light blue and white long-sleeved shirt. He had rolled the sleeves up and left the first three buttons open at the top of the shirt. She wasn't going to waste any time.

“Hey you, you know, I’ve never understood why men do that,” she declared as she strolled up to him laughing. Without a pause, she reached down, grabbed his hand, and preceded to unroll one of his sleeves. “See, your sleeve is already wrinkled,” she frowned.

For the rest of the ten minutes they were there, she stayed close to his side, laughing, teasing, and touching him whenever she could. It took all he had to play it cool with her being so close, and smelling so damn good to boot.

“Isn't it about time we head out?” Trish asked sweetly.

She wanted to get him alone to really put her plan into action. She wasn't dumb, and had all day to think things through. She was ready. She kept their conversation going as she followed him out of the door. Just like she had predicted, he let her walk out the door first with him following close behind. That way, he could continue to hear what she was saying. He went to the left side of the driveway to go to the passenger side of his car to open the car door for her. At the right moment, she made a quick about-face. Her body collided into a very startled Brayden, just as she planned. His right hand automatically went to her waist.

“Are you alright?” he inquired. His eyes stared at her red glossy lips.

“I'm sorry. I thought I left my phone in the house, but I just remembered putting it in my purse,” she lied.

His hand moved slowly up from her waist to the side of her rib cage. He began to rub his thumb just below her bra with the tip of it catching the underside of her breast.

“I really like this dress. You look and smell so damn good,” he whispered.

She knew that the whole plan was to see what he was going to do, and Brayden had done enough. His scent, the sound of his Barry White voice, and being this close to him was enough for her. She didn't care that they had been in that embrace for too long now. She didn't care that there were people walking their dogs, watering their lawns, or whatever their reason was for being outside; she wanted to kiss him. She closed the small gap that was between their bodies, reached up, and pulled his face down for her to kiss him.

Brayden didn't need any priming. He was ready. He gladly opened his hungry mouth to let her seeking, greedy, soft tongue in. He stood there and let her set the pace of the kiss, to let her tongue explore and touch the inside of his mouth. It only took a second before Trish felt his cock begin to stiffen against her body. She let out a deep moan at the feel of it pressing against her belly. This was what she was after. This was what she had needed. He was just playing at being a gentleman, but he was really lustful for her, just like she was for him.

“Damn,” she whispered as she backed away from him.

“I think we should get in the car,” he suggested.

He didn't want the children to see them kissing in the front of the house. With a silent nod, she walked over to her side of his car and got in. He started the car, backed out, and drove down the street.

“Wait,” Trish blurted out when he got to the stop sign, placing her hand on his thigh.

He turned and watched as she leaned over and kissed him again. This time, he didn't just let her have all the fun. His dick hadn't gone down from the first kiss, which Trish realized when she stroked it through his pants. She opened her palm and cupped his balls as she sucked on his tongue. His dick was thick and long in size, and the thought of riding it only served to make her actions even hotter.

Brayden quickly put the car in park and turned in his seat. He ran his hand up her smooth thigh, alongside her leg, and grabbed hold of her ass to give it a hard squeeze. He couldn’t care less about the car that was honking behind them. He was focused on one thing.

“Are you wearing underwear?” he asked wide-eyed and breathlessly.

She pulled up her dress and he saw her sheer, hot pink thongs. The material did nothing to cover her brown, shaved pussy from his hot, steely gaze. He opened her legs and cupped her cunt. He closed his eyes as she opened them wider. He could feel the heat it was giving off.

“I don't want to go to the meeting,” she confessed.

He moaned and shook his head sadly before he removed his hand.

“We have to be there,” he replied. He straightened up in his seat and put the car in motion. He glanced over to see the sexy pouty expression that had formed on her pretty brown face.

“I want to suck on that bottom lip so badly,” he whispered.

“Which set of lips are you referring to?” she questioned.

She watched as he narrowed his eyes. The expression on his face was fierce with unbridled lust. Just a look was enough to make her want to pull off her clothes.

“You have to stop, Trish. I can't fuck you in that meeting, but if you keep this up I'll be tempted to finger you,” he promised as his eyes trailed down her body. His hand rubbed her thigh.

It was her turn to close her eyes under the intensity of his words.

Luckily for them both, the college's main branch was only a mere twenty minutes away because if it was further, he might have been hard pressed to skip the important meeting. It was the night that they were to vote on some budget issues, and he wanted to ensure their votes were counted.

He parked the car, jumped out, and walked over to her side. Trish followed him with her eyes as he walked behind the car. She loved the slow, confident stride of his walk, the way his clothes hung to perfection on his fit body. She caught herself licking her lips at the sight of him.

How the hell am I going to make it through this long ass meeting?

He opened the door and she took his hand.

He pulled her forward hard, causing her to hit his body. He lowered his head and kissed her slowly. She felt her inner desire being to melt and wet her panties.

“I think you like teasing me,” she said in a husky force.

He chuckled as he took a firm hold of her hand and walked toward the building that housed the conference room. The fact that he kept hold of her hand even after they entered the building both surprised and excited her. She was very aware of the only other woman on the board that had been trying really hard to gain his attention. She found herself looking forward to seeing the look on her face when she saw them together. The expression was so priceless, that she had to put her head down to keep from laughing. He made a show of letting everyone there know she was with him by pulling out her chair for her to sit before he took his own next to her.

He didn’t hesitate to get down to business. Usually, the meetings would drag on with back and forth discussions, only for the time to end with nothing being done. He wasn't rude, but when he saw that someone was taking up too much time, he would cut them off nicely. He was so aware of Trish—her smell, her breathing, and the constant impatient shaking of her leg, which was making it very hard for him to stay focused. He knew he couldn't do anything about her presence, so he chose to do something about her leg. He reached under the table and placed his open palm on her thigh. He heard her sharp intake of breath and smiled knowingly.

“Calm down, sweet,” he whispered as he leaned over toward her. Turning to the group, he continued. “Look, we all know how we're going to vote, so let's do so now and after the break, we can move on,” he pressed.

Ten minutes later, the votes had been taken, counted, and everyone got up to take a short time out. The vote didn't go as he would have liked, but he had been prepared for the defeat.

“Let's take a walk,” he suggested as he picked up her purse.

He noticed her blink as if she hadn't realized that half of the people had left the room. Brayden smiled and engaged her in conversation about dinner while they walked down the tiled hallway.

“That's a great idea, but I have to use the bathroom,” he stated.

Trish was in the middle of saying ‘okay’ when he grabbed her arm and pushed her quickly into the bathroom. She swung around just in time to see him push the lock into place. He moved so quickly that all she could do was go along with his demands. He tossed her purse up on the counter top, pulled down the baby changing table and before she knew it, he had picked her up to sit her on top of it. He pushed her dress up in one fluid movement. Without a word, he shoved her legs open and planted his face between her thighs.

He breathed in deeply of her scent before he licked her through her underwear He pulled the thin material aside to split her pussy with the tip of his tongue. Brayden wrapped his arms around her legs to help support her weight as he brought her forward, deeper into his mouth. He didn't take his time. Instead, he ate her wet pussy like a starving man as he lapped, tasted, sucked, and hummed while she bucked wildly into his mouth. She reached down and took hold of his hair with one hand as she covered her loud moans with her other while she watched him masterfully munch at her cunt.

It seemed like forever, but the attack only lasted two minutes. He finally glanced up from his position to look at Trish. Her light brown eyes were glazed over with lust. Slowly, he licked each one of her pussy lips before he placed a light kiss on it, which caused a chill to run throughout her body. He slowly stood up and returned her panties back to their original position. He picked her up by the waist and placed her back on the ground. He backed away from her while he wiped his mouth with his open palm.

“I think I like both sets,” he smiled, making reference to the comment she made in the car earlier.

After she had said that, it had been the only thought he had been entertaining the entire time in the meeting.

“Are you going to be able to make it the rest of the meeting?”

“Says the guy with the rock hard dick that's about to bust his pants,” she pointed out.

Brayden gripped his cock, repositioning it. He followed her with his eyes as she picked up her purse, then started to type something out on her phone.

“You know I've teased myself into a corner, and the only way to get out is to fuck you,” Trish confessed with a wicked smile.

She finished up on her phone, then strolled over to where he was leaning on the wall. She had no desire to fuck him in the nasty bathroom, but she had something else in mind.

“I'm not going back into that meeting,” she informed him.

Brayden tilted his head to the side.

“Oh, and where are you going to be?”

“With you, in the hotel down the street with my face down and my ass up.”

He closed his eyes and bit down hard on his bottom lip as an image from her words sprung into his mind. He felt an electric shock run from his belly to the tip of his cock, making it jump. The sound of the door being unlocked caused his eyes to open. He pushed off the wall and walked over to her.

“The way you have me feeling right now, I won't be nice,” he warned. He was in no mood for candles, hours of foreplay, and gazing into each other eyes. He was planning on sweating out that pretty blowout of hers once he got her into that room.

“You promise,” she moaned while she took a firm grip of his cock, giving it a hard squeeze.

“Let's go,” he replied through clenched teeth.

He opened the door and gestured for her to walk out. Neither one cared about the looks they got when they both walked out of the same bathroom.

“You guys can go on without the two of us,” he shouted down the hall at a group of members. “Where's the room?” he asked in a rush.

“It's the W right down the road on Ivan Allen Blvd,” she responded quickly.

They both speed-walked to the car. This time, he didn't walk her over to her side to open the door. Instead, he pushed the button to auto-start the car and already had the car in drive by the time she had gotten in. He sped through the parking lot, entered traffic on the busy highway, and quickly drove the 1.17 miles down the road to the hotel. He dropped her off in the front, and by the time he parked and walked back up, she had the room key.

He waved the bell boy aside as they raced to the elevator. Trish waited until the door closed before she walked up behind Brayden and leaned against his back. He could see her reflection through the polished elevator doors as her hand snaked around his body to rub his dick. He reached down and held her hand in place until the doors opened. He shoved her off the lift, down the hall, and opened the door to the room, pushing her inside.

She was on him as soon as he crossed the threshold. She pulled him against her, kissing him hard as she grinded her hips against his throbbing cock. He reached down, took her hands, and pinned them to the wall over her head with one hand. With his free right hand, he jerked up her dress in one quick movement and ran his hand along her thong that disappeared between legs. He wasn’t shocked to find the thin material was already drenched.

“Let me play with it,” he ordered as he kicked them open wider with his right foot. “Now let's see how many fingers I can put in your pussy this time,” he whispered in her ear. “That's one. Dear Lord, you're so fucking hot and wet. Are you ready for two?” he moaned before he slid another one in. He closed his eyes as he felt his fingers slide in and out of her juicy cunt slowly.

She shamelessly rode his fingers as he spoke heated words in her ear.

“I’m going to stretch the shit out of this pussy. I know it’s been a long time for you, but all I’ve been dreaming about is smashing your cunt,” he grunted.

She pulled her hands free. Her hands went straight to his leather belt and in a matter of seconds, she had his pants open. She slipped her hand into his slacks and freed his cock. He thrust his hips in time with hers as she massaged his entire length. She shoved him back to give her some room. She didn't get down on her knees, but instead she squatted down and began to lick his dick like a lollipop. His hand came up and cradled the back of her head while he pushed his dick into her mouth.

“Fuck,” he groaned when she began to suck his dick with skill and in earnest. “That's it, Trish. Take it all in. Let me feel your throat. Oh fuck, slow down,” he panted.

This time, she choked and began to gag. His grip on her head tightened when he felt her throat close around his cock, which sent waves of warm saliva down his cock to his nuts. For the first time, he noticed that the wall in front of them was one big mirror. He watched the reflection of the back of her head as it bobbed up and down on his dick. He bent his knees slightly and took charge as he forced his cock in and out of her open mouth over and over again. He held his cock by the root and withdrew from her mouth. He ran the velvety mushroom tip over her full lips.

“Next time I'll cum in your mouth,” he promised.

“That's fine with me cuz my jaw was starting to hurt anyway,” she joked while she stood back up.

“I think something else is going to be hurting soon,” he replied while he tapped his dick on her stomach.

“You talk a lot of shit, Bray, but I only see you standing there holding your wood,” she teased.

Trish tugged her dress off, freed her breasts, and walked over to the bed still in her heels and thong. In a matter of seconds, he had stripped off of his clothes, to her surprise, when she glanced back over her shoulder. She sat on the bed. He walked toward her confidently across the dark hardwood floors. His body looked even better than she remembered it, if that was even possible. Every muscle in his body seemed to flex. She had never seen a man that had hard, deep cut lines at his hips, but somehow he had it. She reached into her purse again and brought out a foil packet before she tossed the bag on the nightstand.

His one eyebrow went up as he took it from her outstretched hand.

“You came ready, I see.”

“But of course, I did,” she answered with a smirk.

He knew later when he replayed it in his mind, he would see just how silly he was. However, the sight of her as she rolled over to get on all fours to offer him a clear path to her pussy bothered him. The thought of her doing the same thing with that asshole of an ex-husband caused a rage to well up in him. He wanted to fuck the memory of that man out of her. Brayden moved in a flash as he grabbed a fist full of her hair to turn her back around to receive his forceful kiss. She opened her mouth wide and tasted her juices from her body on his mouth.

“I don't care who you did or what you did, but after tonight this pussy belongs to me,” he growled.

He took a firm hold of her shoulders, turned her around, and shoved her forward onto the bed. The fact that she instantly came up on her hands and knees pleased him. He didn't pull her thong off; instead, he ripped the fabric from her body. Trish cried out from alarm and glanced back to get a glimpse of him. She watched him put the rubber pack in his mouth, open it, and slid it onto his hard shaft.

“Turn around and put your face down,” he commanded. When she didn't move, he pushed the side of her head down onto the mattress as he entered her body with on hard thrust. “Goddamn,” he mumbled. He rested his chest on her back while he rotated his hips, forcing her cunt open even wider. His hand traveled across her stomach to cup her hanging breasts. He pinched her nipple hard, which caused her to rock back on her knees.

“Oh God,” she moaned, gripping the thick comforter.

“I’m going to ride you like a bitch,” he informed her before he bit down on her shoulder.

His pace was hard, deep, and punishing. His fingers dug into her hips as he pulled her back and lifted her knees off the bed to meet his forward thrusts. It felt as if he was hitting every place in her body; his cock was so thick and long. He watched her ass ripple from every hard smack as their bodies collided. He traced one of her stretch marks to the crack of her ass. He bit down on his lip.

“Your ass looks so good, I’m going to fuck it,” he stated. He passed his thumb over the tight hole and saw it clench even tighter.

“Your pussy is trembling, Trish,” he grunted knowingly.

He quickly withdrew and laid on his side. He pulled her next to him to lay on his arm with her back to his chest. He silenced her faint protest with a deep kiss while he lifted her leg to rest on his thigh. He knew from the amount of her thick, white cum that was on the condom that he wouldn’t have any problem penetrated the tight spot. He watched the expressions on her face as he encouraged her to relax while he began to penetrate her anus with his mushroom-shaped tip. His eyes followed the movement of her hand. She buried her fingers in her quivering center.

“You miss my cock being in your pussy already?”

“Yes,” she responded, fingering her cunt slowly.

He glanced down at his cock. She had only taken half of his length, but he wasn’t going to enter her any more than that. He knew for her to enjoy what he was doing to her, he had to ensure she was at the peak of her desire. He moved her hand to replace it with his own strong fingers. He thrusted them in opposite timing of his dick. The double penetration was mind blowing to Trish. He rested his head in the nook of her neck, while he fought the mounting urge in him to shoot his load in the condom that was currently in her ass. Her high-pitched moans, pants, and words of desire were wreaking havoc on his self-control. She had turned out to be everything he had longed for and more. The way she opened herself to him, the way she pleasured him, the way she cried his name, it was more than he could have imagined. It was at that second that there was doubt in Brayden’s mind. He loved Trish.

“Don’t tighten up,” he warned before he pulled out.

He positioned himself between her legs to sit back on his knees. With a quick jerk, he removed the tainted condom. He brought his arms up under her thighs and forced them back, giving him more space for his thrusting hips. This time, he penetrated her slowly. He held her gaze. She reached up. Her soft hand touched his clenched jaw before it caressed his shoulder to his chest. She marveled at how his muscles flexed under her fingertips as he began to rise and fall.

The skin on skin contact was like Heaven. His dick rubbed with ease in and out of her tight pussy. He had felt her cunt shutter and moisten a few times already, but now it was tightening in a way that he knew that she was building to her main climax. He shifted his hips and shortened his thrusts to hit that spot that he knew would make her scream out. Trish started bucking her hips to meet his downward movements. He bit down on his lip when he felt her nails dig into his back from her excitement. He had no doubt that she had broken the skin.

“That's it...drench my dick with your cum.”

He lowered his mouth and started to kiss her in the same rhythm of his strokes.

She realized that it was the combination of his mouth and his cock moving in time that pushed her over the edge. Her eyes rolled back in her head as she let out a loud scream. Her release was so intense that her legs started to shake as the waves of pleasure overtook her.

He waited for her to come back down from the mountain top. When he heard her breathing start to even out, he leaned up and positioned her legs on his shoulders, and over her head before he started pumping her cunt hard and deep. Trish let out another cry of pleasure and pain. Her eyes widened at the fact that she actually felt herself cumming again, this time with him. She couldn't even remember the last time she had back to back shuttering orgasms. She was still dazed minutes later as he picked up his undershirt to rub her belly clean of his hot cum.

“Was I mistaken, or did you manage to sneak in another orgasm?” he inquired slyly.

There was no way she was going to praise him on his fuckin’ amazing performance. Truthfully, she was still too shaken by the feelings he had invoked in her to comment.

“I think that was just a delayed effect, Brayden,” she responded dryly.

“Bullshit, that was a full-blown orgasm,” he chuckled.

An awkward silence came into the room. She was suddenly self-conscious of her nakedness under his appraising gaze. In her mind, she listed out of the flaws of her thirty-seven-year-old body from her kinda firm stomach, to the light stretch marks on her upper thighs that connected to the ones on her ass. What was she supposed to do now? Should she start to get dressed, or should she remain in bed? Were they going to have sex again, or was he done? Could he even go for a second round? She stole a quick peek of his still hard cock. Did he want her at all? Sure, he had an orgasm; but that was a natural response to having sex. It didn’t mean that he actually enjoyed her. The thought of him dumping her after she just gave herself to him was a devastating thought she didn’t want to entertain. She rolled out of the bed. She hadn't considered the lingering tenderness from their activity. As soon as she got to her feet, she felt it. It took all her power to not let show it in her stride.

But he noticed the difference in her gait. The way she walked with her legs slightly apart was all the proof he needed. He narrowed his eyes.

“Why are you leaving me, Trish?

“What do you mean? I’m just going to the—”

“No,” he said, getting up to tower over her. “You left me the second you started questioning things in your mind,” he explained.

She ran her hands through her hair and stared up at the ceiling, while she gathered the courage to tell him what she had been thinking.

“I don’t know what to do. Do I lay there with you, or do I get dressed? Did you even enjoy it?” she finished. Her eyes touched his at last.

He ran his thumb across her lips. “I didn’t know one person could be so damn blind. No, I don’t think you’re blind. You just can’t wrap your head around the thought that I want you.”

He pulled her into his strong embrace. He pinned her with his gaze. For a very long time, he did nothing but pour himself into her eyes. She felt herself drowning in his gaze. Suddenly, his hot hand began to caress her back. She relaxed and sighed. She rested her head on his chest. She listened to the steady, loud tempo of his heart beats. Trish was amazed at the feel of his chest hair against her cheek. She traveled soft kisses over his hard pecs until she reached his tiny, light brown nipple. She encircled it with the tip of her tongue before she started to suck on it. The sound he made from the pleasure she caused in him gave her a strength she had never experienced.

“What are you doing, Sweetheart?”

“I’m letting you know what I want,” she breathed against his chest.

Brayden forced her head up to look at her.

“What do you want?”

The raw emotion that was spoken in those four words caused the air to leave her lungs in a loud rush. There was no denying the hope that she saw in the depths of his eyes. The hope that she would say that it was him that she wanted. That all the other bullshit that had kept her from falling head over heels for him didn’t matter. She reached up, cupped his handsome face with her hands, and lowered his head until his forehead touched hers. She stared unblinkingly into his eyes.

“I want you, Brayden.”

His arms tightened, crushing her.

“Say it again,” he whispered.

“I want you,” she said breathlessly.

“Again,” he spoke against her full lips.

“I only want you, Brayden.”

“Jesus,” he moaned.

He closed his eyes. She felt the strong shiver rock his body from the effects of her confession.

“Let's get cleaned up,” he suggested.

Not taking no for an answer, he walked her into the bathroom and turned on the hot water.

Trish eyed the see-through shower and tried to come up with an excuse for not getting in with him. His dick was still hard and she was sure he was leading up to a round two.

“I really shouldn’t. I just got my hair done. The steam will mess it up,” she informed him, hoping that that was a good enough excuse.

He walked out of the bathroom and returned with the plastic bag that was used for dirty laundry. “Problem solved,” he smiled.

He waited until she covered her hair before he got in. He reached out his hand, pulled her into the shower, and closed the glass door behind her.

She closed her eyes and relaxed against his body. His hands snaked around her to nettle and massage her breasts.

“I thought we were in here to wash up?” she reminded him.

“Hmm…I only said that to get you in here with me,” he whispered in her ear. She smiled when he began to suck on her earlobe.

He felt Trish stiffen when he lifted her leg and rubbed the tip of his cock along her opening.

“Just one more time. I need to feel you one more time,” he begged while he penetrated into her body, only to stop at the sound of her pain. He instantly dropped her leg and turned her around to face him.

“I’m sorry. I knew that you were sore, but I didn’t know I had done that much damage,” he remarked seriously.

He lowered his head and kissed her to stop her from talking. His hands ran down her wet body to grip her ass. He lifted her off the shower floor and wrapped her legs around his waist. He opened his mouth wide and took one breast after another into his mouth to suckle.

“I won’t say I will be gentle with you every time, but until I break you in, I’ll do my best to go slow,” he promised.

Trish had now become his heart, and he would never do anything to hurt her. He was willing to risk not telling her the truth if it meant him keeping the woman he loved.

Chapter Seven

Two days later, Brayden happily introduced Trish to the many people that had traveled to crowd into his parent’s house for an early Christmas party. He did his best to keep her close to his side to make sure she felt comfortable; or at least, that was what he told himself. He knew that the gossip tree had done its job to make sure everyone there knew who she was. He had to make sure that no one wanted to commit a self-righteous act and told her what he was determined to keep hidden. There was no need to bring up the past. They all needed to mind their own business, including his mother.

He had taken to just glaring at her from across the room after what she had done when he and Trish had arrived. She had made a point of ignoring them, even though they had been standing right next to her. When she did decide to bless them with a greeting, she made sure to not acknowledge Trish until he forced her to. A damn child could sense her cold reception of Trish. She had tossed Trish a quick hello, then dismissed her immediately. He had tried to cover it up by telling her that his mother had been off due to his cousins’ visit. His plan worked. She had completely forgotten his jackass of a mother upon seeing the two black women in the room.

“Trish, this is Calico, and her husband, Andreas,” he pointed to very large, very round, obviously uncomfortable pregnant woman and the handsome man next to her. He glanced through the crowd.

“Where’s Beau?” he questioned.

Andreas shook his head. “You don’t want to be near him right now.”

“Why?”

“Because today is the day,” responded Andreas.

The two ladies saw Brayden’s eyes widen in shock.

“You’re fucking with me. He’s here…where?”

Andreas gestured with his head for him to come close. Being nosy, Trish leaned in to hear whatever the stylish man was going to say. He directed them to a tall, fit older man that was standing in a group of people. The man’s eyes were concentrated on another group of people that were just a few feet next to him.

“Who’s Beau?” questioned Trish.

She locked on to the tall man with a messy hair bun. The pressed tailored pants and sports coat fit his body to perfection.

“Damn, he’s fine.”

She hadn’t realized she had spoken those words out loud until the black girl thanked her for her appraisal of her man. Embarrassed, her eyes want to Brayden. He pinned her with an icy stare. He pulled her hard to his side. He touched his lips to hers.

“You going to pay for that comment later,” he mumbled.

He sucked on her bottom lip and grabbed her ass as a reminder that she belonged to him.

**

The man had been watching Beau from the second he had entered the room with the stunning African-American woman on his arm. He had taken his time while he followed him, working his way into whatever conversation was going on near the handsome man. His eyes roamed over the boy’s form, committing his every feature to memory. He tilted his head to catch the deep-toned words that he spoke. He had to keep telling himself that this wasn’t a dream. He was actually there, just feet away from Beau, his only son. Of course, there was another son he had been raising, but he knew that he wasn’t his. Gloria had gotten knocked up by the man she had been fuckin’ to pay for her drugs.

He danced on his feet. He rubbed his wet palms in his pants. He glanced at Toni, who was among the group of people that was standing with Beau. He started to make his move when someone shouted something at him from across the room. Without thinking, he yelled his annoyed response back. Beau’s head instantly swung around.

His narrowed eyes bore into the unaware man’s back. He chomped down on his jaw. Toni took hold of his arm, only for Beau to glare at Toni’s hand as if he had lost his damn mind. With a nod, Toni removed his hand. The man turned around to come face to face with his son.

Beau’s eyes roamed over the unfamiliar face before him. He had been able to change his face, and clearly his body too. The last memory he had of his father, he was chubby due to the beer gut he carried had been replaced with a thin, fit one. However, there was no disguising his voice. It was the same voice that he heard every so many months through the recorded messages Toni delivered to him. He could see the man visibly shaking and he wondered if it was out of fear of Beau’s response, or if it was out of joy. That question was answered when he took note of the tears that were forming in the man’s emotional eyes.

The silence in the room was deafening. His father gulped hard. He held out a shaking hand toward Beau. He opened his mouth, but the violent force of Beau slapping his hand away cause him to close it in defeat.

“I’ll beat your fuckin’ ass if you give me your hand when I’ve missed so many years of hugs,” mumbled Beau in a thick tone.

Capri covered her mouth to keep from crying out at the sight of Beau and his father engaging in one major bear hug. She knew that his father being missing from his life had created a gaping hole in his heart that even her love wouldn’t be able to fill. Now that they were twenty-three weeks along with their own child, he had been thinking more and more about his own father.

**

Unfortunately, the good spirit of hope, joy, and love did nothing to sooth the bitch called Mama. Brayden was thankful that Trish was too preoccupied throughout the dinner talking to Calico to notice the nasty stares his mother kept shooting her way. He had been listening to the girl explain the feelings of heartburn, lightening, and pain in her lower back that had started late afternoon. He could tell that Trish was really concerned and thought that Calico was in the early stages of labor, but she wasn’t willing to believe that to be true with her still being in her eighth month. It also helped that Trish didn’t understand Italian, but he did. He heard every goddamn comment his mother said about Trish under her breath.

“I’m getting tired of your bullshit. Correct yourself before I cause a scene,” he growled in the foreign language.

Not everyone knew what he said, but those that did sat stunned. No one other than a handful of people had the balls to speak to her that way. She turned her head slowly to glare at him. The loud clinking of her fork hitting her glass commanded all the chatter that was still going on in the large dinner to stop. Trish did a double-take at the murderous expression on Brayden’s face. Her eyes darted between him and his mother. It was obvious that something had jumped off between the two. She was sure from the way she had treated her, that she was the cause of the drama.

“I should come over there and crack your skull,” his mother barked.

“You do and I’ll knock you on your ass. I’m not a fuckin’ boy, and I don’t give a damn who you are. You will not disrespect her,” he thundered.

“You would challenge me over that fuckin’ bitch?” she tossed back.

The old lady actually felt herself flinch at the sudden movement of Brayden raising to his feet; he was forced back down by Beau and Andreas, who had gotten up to keep him from reacting.

She smirked, feeling confident with the two men keeping him in his chair. She switched to English to ensure Trish understood her.

“She isn’t the one for you, son. She’s nothing like your ex. You should have married her, seeing how she was pregnant with your baby.”

He went deathly still. He willed himself not to look at Trish. He felt his cousin’s hands on his loosen up.

“I wasn’t going to marry someone I didn’t love, just because you and her had schemed together to get me to. I think I’ve sacrificed myself enough for your selfish ass. It was a get out of jail card the day she lost the baby,” he replied in a cold voice. He tilted his head, “Oh, you thought I didn’t know. I knew I shouldn’t have trusted a woman that was friends with a big mouth, disloyal bitch like you.

His mother shifted in her chair. She had to change her tactic. She didn’t want the others to find out about what his comment about sacrifice meant. She knew that she would never recover from the knowledge of the others at the table finding out that she wanted nothing to do with her daughter after she got on drugs. Or the fact that she had refused to take in her own grandchildren when they were born. There had been times that she had even seen her little girl. She looked dirty, aged beyond her young years, shuffling down the streets of Atlanta. There were a few times that their eyes had connected. There was no denying the fact that her daughter had recognized who she was. Even still, she drove on or walked quickly away as if she didn’t know her. To her, her little girl was gone. The little girl wasn’t the only one that had to deal with a tragedy being done to her. The fact that she chose to allow one event in her life to break her only proved that the girl was weak, and her mother didn’t do weak.

“And have you told her? Have you told her the truth about us?” she asked instead, hoping that it would be enough to send the girl running.

“I will not stand for this bullshit. I told you that she was welcomed in this home. If you can’t deal with that then—” his father snapped from the other end of the table only to be cut off by Trish.

Finding her voice, Trish straightened herself. The rage she felt at that second of his mother’s embarrassment of Brayden made her absolutely light headed. She could give two shits about the crazy bitch not liking her. She had to deal with George’s mother hating her, pointing out her every mistake, talking shit behind her back, trying to undermine her concerning her kids, and starting drama at every turn, so Brayden’s mom was nothing new.

“If you’re talking about you all being the Mob, yeah…I know. Now, what I can’t process is that you’re lacking so much class that you would call your son out like this. Who the fuck do you think you are?” she roared as she got to her feet, her voice getting loud. “You are one ghetto motherfucker,” she continued, pulling off her earrings. “If you have an issue with me, and if you want to be retched about it, I have no problem fucking your ass up.”

She moved so fast that Brayden couldn’t do a thing to stop it. Trish grabbed up her full glass of wine and flung it across the table, drenching his shocked mother in the face. He moved quickly to stop Trish from crawling across the table to have at his mother. A thunderous round of applause went up in the dining room as everyone cheered her actions of standing up for her man. Trish’s stream of curses mixed with the sounds in the room as he locked her legs around his waist. He supported her weight by placing his hands under her ass. He grabbed up her purse and began to walk out the room. As they passed by, his family patted Trish on the back. He chuckled before he caught his father’s grinning stare.

“Loyal,” Brayden shouted back in Italian.

**

The next day, Trish checked her GPS for the third time to ensure she was going in the right direction. She knew it wasn't because she doubted the coordinates, but it was her nervousness about going to Brayden's house for the first time. It had been a week since they had taken their relationship to the next level in the hotel room. She didn't know what to expect when he suggested for her to come to his place. He told her that his back was hurting, so he was a little slow that morning.

She slowed her SUV and glanced down the gated lane of the house that her navigational system said was her destination. She pushed the code he had given her and like magic, the iron gate started to swing back. She slowly put her ride into motion and drove down the long driveway with the low hanging trees up to the two-story colonial style house with rope swings and rocking chairs on the large front porch. She opened the door and walked in just as he had instructed her to do. The layout of the house was nothing short of beautiful. The large windows that he had throughout the bottom level of the home brought so much natural light into the house; his use of wood for the flooring, and even the furniture made the house look both old and contemporary.

Brayden heard when she entered the house. He gave her enough time to look around before he called her upstairs to his room. He was still laying in the bed on his stomach when she finally walked in. His eyes feasted hungrily on her figure as she twisted into the room wearing a black wrap dress and heels. No matter how many times he saw this woman, every time was like the first time to him. His reaction was so intense. He wanted her so much, and not just for a little while.

“Are you okay? What happened?” she asked as dropped her purse.

“It's my back from decking a roof yesterday, that's all,” he mumbled.

"I don't know why you choose to be out on the site anyway. You should be overseeing, not actually doing the work,” she spoke with her hands on her hips.

She hoped he was just tired, and not hurt; then maybe he'd be ready to have sex some. It was a perfect time with no kids and him in bed already. The possibility of doing it was all that she had imagined the entire drive over. The sight of his tan body against the white crisp sheets and his ass hidden under the covers was making her pussy hurt.

“Don't stand over there. Come over here,” he waved her over.

“I can give you a massage if you think it would help,” she offered.

“Hell, yeah,” he mumbled as he turned his head away.

He could hear her fumbling around for a second. She must be taking off her shoes, he thought. However, he stiffened when the realization of what she had been really doing came to light. A smile formed on his face. He felt her sure, soft hands as they rubbed his shoulders, but it was what he felt on his lower back that made him take note. He let out a low moan when she sat down and moved her hips. He felt the heat and moisture from her cunt on his bare skin.

“I hope you only keep your massage talents for me,” he whispered as he stole a glimpse over his shoulder. His eyes widened when he saw that she only had on her bra. “And here I thought you came over to see about me when all you want is my body,” he remarked jokingly.

“You can't feed a starving woman and then take it away,” she whispered while she grinded her hips.

“Are you hungry, Sweets?” he asked huskily.

He rolled over onto his back. He positioned her on his upper torso. She felt the tip of his cock tapping on her backbone. She reached into her bra and pulled out a foil package.

“You always think of everything,” he acknowledged.

“Well, I don't think you want to have a baby,” she answered.

“I don't know. The idea of having a little someone that looks like me running around wouldn't be so bad. I wouldn't mind nursing on those either,” he replied as he put his arm under his head, refusing to touch her.

Trish looked down into his handsome face confused. He had allowed his facial hair to grow out to include a now tapered full beard, which added to his stunning good looks.

“What do you mean, one? You already have two kids.”

He stared unblinkingly at her. He knew that he was setting himself up to walk into a door that once inside, he wouldn’t be able to escape. After last night, he realized that he would have to tell her sooner or later. He hadn’t been scared for her to find out about his past relationship that had been revealed at dinner. No, there was something that was far worse. There was something that had left deep scars on a lot of people, and although Trish had nothing to actually do with it, the fact that she had been connected to the person that did might affect her by association. He was willing to go as far their conversation took them.

“Ciro and Jessica aren't my kids,” he spoke softly, as if he was sharing a secret he was afraid might be overheard.

“Then...but they call you dad,” she stuttered, not knowing which question to ask first.

“They call me dad because, for all intents and purposes, I am their father. I've been raising Troy since he was two months old, and I brought Jessie home when she was just a day old,” he explained.

She ran her fingers through her hair.

“Okay, slow down and start from the beginning. Who and why?”

Brayden tapped his finger on her hip for a moment while he thought of what to say.

“What I'm going to tell you is something I haven't shared with many people. The kids are from my sister, Brandi. She can't care for them because she's a meth addict walking around Atlanta somewhere. When Troy was born, my cold ass mother didn't want to take him. She claimed it was because my younger brother was still at home. My first business was doing good. I had my own place. I didn’t care that I was only twenty-four and still had pussy on the brain. I adopted them both.”

“Do they know, the truth?”

“They know, but I treat them as my own. I don't want them to be teased about having a drug head for mom and a dad that was probably one of her tricks. I know how bad it feels to be bullied,” he finished sadly.

He gazed upon her face as he waited for her to say anything.

“I always wondered what those wings on your back meant. I guess you're an angel,” she responded softly. This man was beyond anything she could have imagined.

“No, Trish. I’m far from an angel. I'm just willing to fight for the people I love, that's all.”

Trish really didn't know what to say at that moment, so instead she leaned over and kissed him deeply. His hands came up and unstrapped her bra, freeing her breasts.

“I want this to be the last time we have sex for a while,” he spoke against her lips. He could tell she was taken aback from his comment. “I don't want that to be the main focus of our relationship, Trish. I'm hoping for something more stable than that.”

“Brayden, why do you say things like that? I'm—”

“I can say things like that because I know what I want, and I want what I see.”

“You say that now, but then—”

“Then what?” he questioned as he pushed her back further so he could get a good look at her before he spoke. “You think I feel that you're good enough to fuck, but not good enough to offer you a hell of a lot more than making you my bitch,” he stated with an amazed look on his face.

“Nobody said that. It’s just the kids—” she tried to explain, but he cut her off.

“Our kids already know about us, Trish. They're just waiting for you to admit it,” he stated matter-of-factly.

For the first time, she realized that he wasn't just selling wolf tickets. He was serious. She cursed the butterflies that had started up in her stomach.

“Although I’ve never gotten this far with another man, this isn't the first time that I was digging on someone only for it to fall apart,” she confessed.

“And why do you think it did?” he asked, although he already had a good guess why.

“Shit, I don't know,” she cried.

“I can tell you why. It's because you’re a strong woman that doesn't take shit from a man. You make your own money and you make your own way. They don't understand that it’s a blessing to be with you. What you fail to see is that I don't want to dominate you in your life, just in the bedroom. I don't need you eating out of my hand to feel worth something. Actually, I want you to succeed because that's a help to me. That's what that weak, punk ass of an ex-husband of yours could never see,” he paused as he touched her bottom lip with his thumb. “I want you to upgrade me, Trish,” he whispered while he gazed into her eyes.

Who is this man? She was in pure awe. It was as if he had read her deepest desires. Could he really be a demon? However, the heat she was feeling from his body let her knew that he was all man.

Well, he did say no games, she reminded herself.

She opened her mouth and then closed it a few times as she thought of the right words to say.

“The kids and I are going to my parents for a visit. Would you—”

“Yes,” he said happily, not giving her the chance to finish her statement.

The smile she gave him made his heart skip a beat, causing the muscles in his stomach to contract, and his sleeping cock to fill again with life. This time when he kissed her, it wasn't playful. His hands came up to keep her head in place as he rolled her over onto her back. He kissed and licked her until she couldn't contain her desire. It didn't matter what he did—from sucking her breasts, kissing her lips, touching her body, licking or fingering her pussy, to the words he whispered—he was a master at it. She gladly welcomed him into her body as their lazy morning was finally on its way.

Chapter Eight

A few hours later, he pulled out of the drive-thru and handed her the bag of food he bought for the children. They both had been on their phones since getting in the SUV as they tried to figure out what happened on their different jobs sites. They both stole glimpses of each other and marveled at how professional or knowledgeable the other was in their own area. He came to admit that besides the recent mistake she made with her latest purchase, she knew what she was doing. She asked all of the right questions. She was firm in her decision-making, yet respectful. She seemed to have a good relationship with the people she dealt with. A few times, he heard her pause to scribble figures down on her pad in her attempt to decide the right course of action, only to tap him on the leg and ask for his advice.

She had no way of knowing just how good that made him feel. He would put his person on hold, listen to her, ask a few questions, and then give her his advice on the matter. Most of the times she was happy with what he said, but if not, she would press him for more information as to why until she understood. She was like a sponge that wanted to learn more so that she could be better at what she did. She had a vision in mind, and she was willing to work hard to obtain it. It only confirmed once again that she would be an enhancement to him.

Being together to pick up their children from their different schools was a clear statement that they were a couple. Brayden made it very clear that he wasn't worried about his two, but if he was there to retrieve her three, it was saying something for them. The possibility of becoming a blended family was the main draw where they were concerned. He still wanted her two sons and her little girl to see him treating their mother as a respectful woman.

When they went to the park to eat, he held her hand. When he looked at her, he did so in a way that communicated to the children that he had feelings for Trish. He teased her, and told them stories about their days in high school to let them know that he had a history with her that went beyond the short time that he had been in their life. Everything he did that day was in a way to set the tone of what was to come for their children, and he knew that they caught each and everything he did and said.

With that checked off the list, all he had to do was meet her family. He smiled when what he wanted to do was laugh. The weekend just couldn't come fast enough.

**

The morning was shaping up to be a good one. Trish and her kids arrived at Brayden's house right on time. He had been standing in the driveway, shirtless, as he wiped down another white vehicle of his.

“I thought we were taking my car,” she teased as she hopped out of her SUV. She had known that he was going to be pulling out all his tricks to make his first impression a good one, but she had no idea that they were going to be traveling in a Mercedes G-Class SUV.

“Did you think I was going to be pulling up to visit your family in your ride?” he huffed as he high-fived her sons and picked her daughter up, giving her a sloppy kiss.

“By the way, you should put clairvoyant on your list of trades,” he teased.

He opened the vehicle, pulled out his shirt, and put it on. He walked over and placed a kiss on her cheek.

“Calico was in labor. She woke Andreas up screaming in pain. If you let him tell it, the baby’s head was hanging out,” he chuckled. He paused, took out his phone, and swiped through it until he found what he was looking for. “Their baby girl, Neoline, was born late last night. Her name means born before Christmas in Italian.”

Trish took his phone and began to oh and ah over the chubby, olive-toned baby with a head full of light brown curls. Andreas held her in his muscular arms in the photo with a goofy, toothy grin on his face. She began to laugh when she took note of the sleeping Calico in the background.

**

They were on the road soon after toward Decatur. He had already taken his children to his parents' home the night before. She glanced down and laughed at the silly comment that her sister Kandace texted back. Trish had given her family the heads up about Brayden, and now they were all on high alert awaiting their arrival. She was still nervous about how they would feel meeting him, and him being white. It was a standing comment in her family about why the good black guys seemed to go white while the women were left out in the cold. Now here she was, bringing a white guy of her own home; not to mention that her two older brothers were just assholes to begin with that took pleasure in teasing her.

“Are you going to be okay?” Brayden asked as he stole a glimpse of her while she checked her face in the mirror and reapplied her make-up for what seemed to him to be the tenth time.

He was nowhere near as nervous as she obviously was. Sure, he knew the importance of getting along with her family, but in his opinion, he couldn’t really care less if they took to him or not. It was not them that he would be living with and fucking. Just as long as Trish, him, and their kids were fine, he could tolerate the few times she would go back home to visit. He felt the same way when it came to her concerning his family.

He followed her directions and turned onto Ridgeland Avenue, and pulled into the driveway of her childhood home. He remembered the home, but over the years they had repainted the house, making it more modern and up-to-date. Trish waited until the kids ran up into the house before she looked over at him.

“I just wanted you to know that I'm my own woman.”

His gaze fell upon her lips. He leaned over to give her a kiss. She watched as he got out of the SUV, walked over to her door, and opened it. She took his hand, and felt his warmth and confidence flow from him into her own body. This would be the first time she had brought a man into her parents' home since George, her ex. Like always, the house was filled with loud voices. No one in her family ever spoke normal, but chose to shout instead of using inside voices.

They were all assembled and after a quick greeting to her, they all went in on Brayden. She tried her best to run interference, but they just pushed her to the side to have a look at him. It only took them a few question before they realized just who he was. They laughed and teased about the person he was in school compared to how he had turned out. Unfortunately for them, he wasn't going to let them have the upper hand. He had no problem turning the tables back on each one of them as he retold a few stories of his own that had everyone cracking up.

“So, you own construction companies?” Trish's father asked while he sized him with his gaze. He had been watching the young man closely from the second he had entered the house. He had to be honest that he had mixed feeling about meeting the boy, but after seeing him, his fears were starting to fade away. He was happy to see that the man still had his own identity and wasn't one of those wannabe gangsta white boys that thought they were blacker than black.

“Yes, sir. I know my way around a job site,” chuckled Brayden, putting it lightly.

“Good, then come on out here and have a look at this porch. I tell you, my sons don't know what the hell they're doing. The damn thing looks worse now than before they started messing with it. Come on…you too, boys. You might learn a thing or two from watching him,” her father grumbled as he waved his hands and started walking through the house toward the French doors that led to the back porch. Everyone laughed at the way the old man called out his sons.

“Where's Phylis and Kendra?” asked Trish after she heard the door close.

“You know how those two like to create drama, so I told the boys to make them keep their trifling selves home. This is family business,” answered her mom quickly as she glanced over her shoulder. “Honey, that's one fine ass man. I'm sorry, baby. But I gotta say it. I hope he didn't notice how hard I was staring,” she said as she threw up her hands.

“You, shoot…I didn't even care if he did notice...and he has three businesses, and you know I saw what you drove up in. I hope you mess this up because I'll fight you for him,” her sister joked.

“Do you think Daddy likes him?” asked Trish.

“Oh, he likes him; if he didn't he wouldn't have taken him outside. He's probably out there trying to get him to do some cheap labor while he's feeling him out to see what the boy wants out of you. You know how your dad is,” replied her mom.

“Well, he says he wants to get married,” admitted Trish, and she watched as both her mom and sister freeze in amazement.

“How the hell did you manage that?” questioned Kandace, seriously.

Trish started from the beginning and told them about their first meeting, the trip out to her money pit of a house, and his offer to help her in exchange for an honest try at winning her over. She retold their dates, how he treated her kids, how he came to be a father and spared no detail of why, and how well their first sexual experience had turned out. By the time she was done, her mother and sister were laughing and had fallen in love with Brayden.

“Now that's a man, baby. He probably has been with so many females that when he saw you, he was hooked and was ready for a lasting relationship. It's just like I've always said, it doesn't take that long for a man to know if he wants you or not,” her mom remarked as she got up from the table to answer the knock at the front door.

Trish and Kandace both sensed there was something wrong when they couldn't hear their mom talking anymore. They had just gotten to their feet when the tall, slightly overweight man entered the room followed by their mother. It was obvious that she had tried to get rid of him with no luck.

“What the hell you doing here?” asked Kandace before Trish could ask the question.

“I'm here to see the kids.”

“That's a fucking shock when you never cared to be home to see them before,” her sister spat.

“How did you know I was even here?” was what Trish wanted to know.

“Kendra called me,” he answered with a smirk.

“Like I said, trifling,” her mom mumbled as she walked around her ex-son-in-law and sat back down at the table.

“Yeah, she also told me about your white boy, too. Was it that bad that you had to go there? I never did that to you.”

“No, you didn't. I can say that all the hoes you cheated with were all black. Thank you,” she replied dryly. “They're out back with the others,” she added.

They all pretended to go back to talking. After he went outside, they rushed over to the window to crack it open to listen as they peeked through the blinds.

Her father and brothers had already finished playing fierce protectors as they asked Brayden their questions, which he knew they would. The messed up woodwork on the back porch was just their excuse to get him outside. Brayden had listened respectfully to her family as they told him what they expected; then they had switched to asking him their own questions. He didn't back down as he told them his true intentions of convincing her to make things more permanent. He let her father know that he didn't want to date her for a long time; getting the children attached to each other only to break up later was not his desire.

“So how quick are you talking?” her brother, Derrick, asked.

“As soon as I can get her to say yes, which I'm working on. I've been very clear with Trish from day one that I want her.”

After everyone had completed their line of questioning, they turned their sights on the project. The laughter began up again, only to stop at the sight of her ex, George, walking outside. Brayden could tell instantly that there was no love left for the man.

“Why you here?” snapped her father.

“I'm here to see my kids,” he answered, even though his eyes were on Brayden.

“They're over there in the play house,” her father gestured to the tall building that sat in the middle of the large backyard.

George didn't move, but continued to stare Brayden down.

“So, you're the new one, huh.”

“New one? Shit, you make it seem as if she's been sleeping around. Hell, you were the one that was sticking your pecker in every hole out there,” the old man hissed hotly.

Brayden couldn't help but smile at the old man's frankness. He was hoping that the no good asshole would just do what he said he came to do and leave. However, everyone knew that this was why he was here. It wasn’t for his kids that were watching in the distance. Brayden had to remind himself that this man was and would always be Trish's kids’ father. It was their decision to cut the fucker out of their lives, not his.

“I'm sure you remember me, we went to school together,” stated Brayden calmly.

“Oh, I remember you. And you had a sister, too, an underclassman. Yeah, I remember her alright,” moaned George slowly as he licked his fat lips. “How is she now?”

“She's on dope. She just could never seem to get over what happened to her at the senior skip party, no matter how hard we all tried to help her.”

“Shit, yeah, I remember that. Damn, something like that fucked her up that bad?” he teased with a toothy grin on his face, flashing the gold teeth in his mouth.

“Hell, I guess so. But we can call it even now. You and your friends gangbanged my sister, and now I'm fucking your ex-wife. You're a fat ass, deadbeat that couldn't go pro, while I'm the rich white man that’s going to take your family.”

Everyone within earshot of Brayden's comment froze.

"Oh, sweet Jesus," Trish's mother's voice could be heard through the door.

Her eyes darted to look at Trish. A sickened expression came over her daughter’s face.

It all makes sense, the voice in her mind cried.

Her mind kicked into overdrive as she began to rewind every conversation, every touch, every meeting. She felt her feeling of shame return a thousand fold, but this time it brought another feeling it. She felt like a damn fool. He didn’t really want her. It wasn’t his desire to get with her, to be with her, to love her as he said since day one. It was just a set-up to turn her head over heels in love with him and fuck her, just so he could get back at her ex for what his nasty, broke down ass did to his sister.

“Did he just say that? Damn, he ain't scared," Kandace whispered.

For the first time, George had second thoughts about coming over to start trouble. The man wasn't reacting like he thought he would upon seeing him. He didn't even seem to care that he was there at all. He took note of Brayden's state of fitness while he had let himself go, not to mention her two brothers and her crazy ass sister that was still in the house.

“Well, you can have her dried up cunt. Shit, she's the reason why I didn't go pro. Now she thinks she's the shit cuz she's gone and got herself a white boy. Fuck it, you can have all of them...her and the kids. She already got them walking around here thinking they're better than everybody and shit,” spat George.

Brayden bit the bottom of his lip to keep from saying something. He didn't want to make the scene even worse for the children as they looked on while their father cursed their mom and said he didn't want them.

“Get the fuck out of my house before I get my gun!” Trish's father shouted as he pushed George toward the door leading back into the house.

Brayden glanced over his shoulder and demanded the kids to stay outside as he followed close behind the old man with her brothers following behind him.

Brayden knew that it was only words that George was saying. He knew that he couldn't change what happened to his sister, or all things that caused her to lose her actual mind, but the look on Trish's face did something to him. While George was in mid-sentence, he walked up to him. He landed three hard punches to his mouth and face. Blood flowed like a stream onto tile flooring as it ran from his nose and mouth.

“I should put a bullet in your head after I tie you to a car battery to shock the shit out of you,” he snarled. He stomped on his face a few times before her brothers pulled him off. The floor was covered with blood and teeth.

George stumbled to his feet. He wouldn’t dare look at anyone other than Brayden as he backed out of the room, slamming the door on his way out.

“I'm sorry. You don't think the kids heard that, do you?” he asked with a deep frown on his handsome, tanned face.

“No, I don't think so, son,” responded the old man while he nodded his head in approval. “You see how he did that? He waited until he was in the house to kick the motherfucker’s ass, so the children wouldn't see it. I see you can teach these two a lot...fighting, manners, and construction. Can you cook, too?”

“Yes,” mumbled Brayden.

He knew that the man was trying to lighten the mood, which he was thankful for, but the look on Trish’s face reflected the pain that he had been trying to avoid.

“I’ll start cleaning this up,” she stated.

She wouldn’t look at him when she breezed by him to go get the cleaning products.

Brayden let out a deep, frustrated sound. He pulled at his hair in anger. It was just like he had feared.

“You didn't tell that part about your sister,” her father remarked awkwardly.

He just shrugged.

“I hope that wasn't the reason you went after her in the first place,” the old man voiced the same thought that had crossed all of their minds after they heard what George had done to his sister back in high school.

“Honestly, when she walked into my gym that first day—”

“Wait a sec. Your gym? You own the gym, too?” Kandace asked dumbfounded.

“Yeah, that’s why her membership has never been processed. I wanted her to keep coming back,” he stated matter-of-factly. “At first when I saw her, I thought about it, but then I realized just how childish that would be to get her feelings involved over something she had nothing to do with. Especially after I called around and heard how messed up her life had been. I had been watching her for a little minute before I decided to give it a try,” he confessed, his Barry White voice sounding like thunder in the still, quiet room.

“That might be true, but I can tell you right now that she has a good reason to not believe you. You just fucked the pooch, son. You were the first person that had gotten this far with my daughter, only for her to find out that you had a darker reason for running her down. That shit looks bad…real bad,” explained her father.

“Don’t you think I know that,” snapped Brayden.

“Hold up…where you going?” cried her mother.

“For a walk,” he tossed back over his shoulder.

The structure of the house shook from the force of him shutting the door.

“He ain’t running no game,” said Kandace.

Chapter Nine

Brayden tried to bend over backward to get Trish to talk to him, only to come up short every time. He decided to give up over dinner. He knew that all he had to do was bide his time. Her children were spending the night with her parents, which meant they would have time to talk on the way back to his home. She had stopped removing the hand he kept placing on her leg under the table. His constant attempt to pull her out of her thoughts and feelings was making it very hard for her to disconnect herself from him. She had already decided that she wasn’t going back with him. While still at the dinner table, she made her plans known. The kids had left to go watch TV a few minutes earlier. She crumbled up her napkin.

“Come on, Candy. I need you to drive me back,” she ordered.

She felt Brayden’s hand squeeze her leg. Everyone at the table settled in for the showdown.

“Get your goddamn hand off my leg,” she hissed, pushing his hand off.

He turned in his chair to face her. “If you do this, I promise you it won’t end with you winning like you did with my mother,” he warned in a cold tone.

She leaned over into his space. “FUUUCCCKKK YOOOOUUU,” she growled.

His jaw flinched. He tilted his head to the side. A wicked smile formed on his face. The fact that she was showing her anger meant she still felt deeply for him. He could work with anger. He would ride every shout, every curse, even every hit until he made her understand. He pushed back his chair to get to his feet.

“I see,” he smirked.

He tossed down his napkin unto the table.

“Thank you all for the wonderful evening,” he began to say, which made her heart sink into the pit of her stomach.

He’s going to leave me. He never wanted—”

His deep voice invaded her thoughts.

“I see I have a night full of fighting, followed by some Earth-shaking make up sex. Get your ass in the car,” he growled.

Trish stumbled back to keep from falling on the floor when he jerked the chair from under her. She swirled around to face him. He grabbed her by her shoulders.

“I’m not leaving without you, Trish. So shut your mouth and let’s go. I don’t want to have to spank you but I will, so do it for the kids and get yo ass in the goddam car,” he finished slowly.

The others at the table watched as she marched out of the dining room with him in step behind her.

“I think I just had my first real orgasm,” groaned Kandace.

**

Neither one spoke for a while as he found his way back through the large suburban neighborhood. He kept stealing glimpses of her. She was doing her best to ignore him. He just wanted to get the talk over with. He knew he wasn’t going to lose her.

“When are you going to stop letting that voice in your head fuck you? Tell me what you’re thinking,” he pushed gently.

Needless to say, he wasn’t ready for the way she swung on him. Her explosive response had him second-thinking his thought of pushing her to talk while on the busy road. His desire to have worked everything out upon reaching his house to ensure a night of unbridled lust was coming back to bite him in the ass.

“Talk, yeah…let’s talk,” she snapped, turning in her seat to face in. “You’ve been saying no bullshit, but all this fuckin’ time that’s all you’ve been spittin’. You’re the king of shit,” she yelled.

Trish pulled back her hand. She punched him hard in his muscular arm one…two…three times. “Ugh! I so wish you were a bitch. I would bust your ass up,” she threatened through her clenched teeth.

She straightened up in her chair to continue her rant, completely unaware of the rage and hurt that was coursing through him. Brayden decided to let her be. There were many times his grip tightened on the steering wheel. He chose to bite his tongue instead of correcting her of all the false things she was saying about him. He had no idea of the deep hurt and insecurity that she had been carrying around with her that was just lurking under the surface until now. In spite of that, it was true about what his motives had been at first, but it hurt him that she actually thought that the feelings he had developed for her now were all a lie. She finally went quiet for the last fifteen of the forty-five-minute drive.

His SUV was still in motion when she opened the door and jumped out. Brayden quickly turned off the vehicle, hopped out, and was there just in time to block her path to her own car.

“Move,” she demanded.

She fished around for her keys. His body was unmovable. With her keys in hand, she tried to skirt around him. He snatched the keys out of her hand, flinging them into the darkness somewhere.

“Get your ass in the house, Trish,” he grunted as he moved her backwards with his body.

Her protest turned into a scream. No longer in the mind to wait, Brayden picked her up, tossed her over his shoulder, and made a beeline toward the front door. He didn’t let her down until he had locked the door, kicked off his shoes, and was half way up the stairs.

“I don’t think you’re mad enough to jump, so just keep going.”

Trish danced around on her feet while she debated her options for a few seconds before she angrily walked up the few steps. She stopped outside his open bedroom door, refusing to enter. With a sigh, he shoved her through the door. Once again, he locked the door.

“Will you please put away that mad black woman shit,” he hissed.

“Fuck you!”

He was on her in a matter of seconds. His hands on her shoulders were like steel vices. He shook her repeatedly as he shouted for her to listen to him. Suddenly, he backed away as if he had been burned. He cursed under his breath. He knew he couldn’t allow his fear of losing her to cause him to let his temper free. He covered his face with the palm of his hand. She could hear him taking deep breaths to bring himself under control.

“Please, will you take a seat,” he pleaded in a muffled voice.

“No.”

His head snapped up. He closed the space between them. He picked her up by the waist, walked over to the bed, and tossed her backwards onto it. He stopped her from raising up by straddling her hips, pinning her down. He stopped her fists from hitting him. He captured them to hold them tightly against his firm chest.

“Stop it! Stop it,” he thundered. “I know I’ve hurt you. I realized a long time before the house thing that me trying to get into your pants to throw it back in that motherfucker’s face was childish, but you have to understand that I was hurting. You didn’t see my little sister after she was raped. You didn’t see how she lost weight. You didn’t see the scars on her body from cutting herself,” he sneered.

He could see that his words had finally reached her from the pity that shone in her light brown eyes.

“Her mind is so far gone now that even if I did tell her that she’s dying from AIDS, she won’t even understand,” he whispered.

“I had heard about that happening, but I never knew that it was your sister or that George was involved. I swear. I—”

“I know,” he nodded.

He shifted his weight as he brought her hands over her head. Leaning over, he brushed his lips against hers.

“I don’t want to give any more time to that. It has consumed me for far too long. I need you to understand that I love you, Trish. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have taken you to my cousin’s business knowing damn well he was going to blab to my family. I wouldn’t have tried to resist having sex with you. Shit, I would have made you my bitch without a second thought that night in your house. And I damn sure wouldn’t have spent close to two hundred thousand dollars buying those two homes of yours to make sure you didn’t lose your ass,” he pointed out.

Brayden laughed at the crazy expression that came upon her face.

“Lord, I had you pay full price,” she cried.

“Which I was pissed over, by the way…but I did it happily because I fuckin’ love you,” he said with as much passion he could muster as he rubbed his nose against hers.

The emotional response of his confession was beyond anything she had ever experienced before. If she had to describe it, she would say it was the feeling she felt the first time she held her children. It was feeling of love that she knew was freely given with no strings attached from a person that wanted her, accepted her, and wanted her for just her. Unlike the wasted years with George, she didn’t have to do anything other than open her heart to take the heart he was now pleading for her to receive.

“Say it again.”

“I fuckin’ love you,” he breathed.

He released her hands to touch the side of her face. His eyes focused on hers. He bit his bottom lip and closed his eyes at the feel of her running her fingers through his hair.

“Again.”

When he opened his eyes to stare into her light brown eyes, she could see the sign of the tears that he was fighting back.

“I…love...you, Trish. I will neve—”

She brought his head down to silence him. Their kiss was deep, long, and passionate. No longer upset, the flames of desire took control, causing them to grind their bodies together frantically. Trish pushed his back. Her hands tugged his shirt up his chest and over his head to toss it away.

“Now, is it make up time?” he chuckled while he ripped her shirt open, sending the buttons everywhere.

“You got that right, bubby,” she grunted.

Epilogue

Six months later….

It wasn’t just the waves of the sea that were setting Trish’s body to rocking. She laid face-down on the soft bed. Her body had a light sheen of sweat from the love making that Brayden had been giving for the last hour. Whenever she moved, she relished the soreness of her muscles, but as he had stated…

“This is our honeymoon. I plan on keeping you in the cabin for at least the first two days.”

The tongue he was currently running up her spine as he licked the moisture from her body was sending lightning to her very tender pussy. She moaned when he bit her shoulder. He lifted her leg, making way for his body to fit between them. She knew what was coming next. Brayden began to rub the mushroom-shaped tip of his dick up and down her pink, wet opening.

“You should pace yourself. I don’t want you getting tired of me so soon,” she teased.

He scoffed at her comment.

“I’ll never get tired of you, or this juicy pussy,” he grunted while he penetrated her slowly.

“Oh God,” she moaned loudly as she gripped the sheet.

She loved when he took her from behind like this. She loved when he rotated his hips to make a tighter fit, like he was doing at that very moment.

“Besides, I have to make up for the three months of no sex you demanded before the wedding,” he smiled against her ear.

“If that’s the case, why don’t you put more effort into making love to me than you running your mouth,” she teased.

Brayden placed his hands on her hip and began to thrust into her quivering pussy slowly. He closed his eyes and relished in every stroke. His strong hand moved to her lower belly and thought of the baby that was growing on the inside of her body. His baby. Their baby that had yet to start altering the shape of her stomach. Trish lifted her head and turned around to meet this kiss.

“I love you,” he whispered.

THE END!

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***COMING JULY***

“I used to think it didn’t make sense to buy coffee when you could just get it from the break room, but if it means running into you every morning, that’s a price I would be willing to pay,” stated Grayson.

“Wow, did you get that off of a bathroom stall,” smirked GiGi, now more her flip self.

“I’ll happily bend you over in one so you can see for yourself,” he replied in a sensual tone.

You don't want to shy away from this one. This story is NOT your typical Vampire tale. Make sure U you text #‎AFTERHOURS‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ to 22828 to get on the mailing list!

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Table of Contents

- Text ROYALTY

- © 2016

- OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR:The Billionaire Mob Wife, Loving The Bad BoyPursued; The Billionaire’s Obs...

- Hello Peeps,
- Chapter One
- Chapter Two
- Chapter Three
- Chapter Four
- Chapter Five
- Chapter Six
- Chapter Seven
- Chapter Eight
- Chapter Nine
- Epilogue
- Thank You so much for the support.
- ***COMING JULY***
- Looking for a publishing home?

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