Silly Fears

SILLY FEARS

Bridget Midway

® www.loose-id.com

Warning This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. Loose Id® e-books are for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

***** This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable.

Silly Fears Bridget Midway This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Published by Loose Id LLC 1802 N Carson Street, Suite 212-2924 Carson City NV 89701-1215 www.loose-id.com

Copyright © June 2007 by Bridget Midway All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared in any form, including, but not limited to printing, photocopying, faxing, or emailing without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC.

ISBN 978-1-59632-477-0 Available in Adobe PDF, HTML, MobiPocket, and MS Reader

Printed in the United States of America

Editor: Maryam Salim Cover Artist: April Martinez

www.loose-id.com

Chapter One

Yessica kept her gaze down, studying the multicolored flecks in the school’s tile floor. Counting the blocks slowed her racing heart…if only for a moment.

Think about something else. Think about something else. Chewing on her bottom lip, she ticked off the seconds in her head. She would have looked up at the clock on the wall but then she would see it, see him. Damn it. What the hell was wrong with her? She was too old to still be gripped by this fear. Steeling her nerves, she brought her gaze up just to make sure her students were all behaving. If the school hadn’t demanded that there be two teachers to attend a school function then she would have bailed. “What a clown,” Yessica’s co-worker, another fellow kindergarten teacher, whispered. They both sat at the back of the classroom during the rainbow-colored man’s antics. Yessica couldn’t watch him. With each loud, howling laugh he bellowed, her body trembled. Her only comfort came from the follow-up chirpy laughter from the children that trailed his. How the hell had she let her cousin, Marcus, convince her this was a good idea? When he’d begged her to let one of his acts come into her class to drum up business for his all African-American traveling circus, she just knew he would have brought in a juggler or maybe a guy with trained dogs running through obstacles. He knew of her fear of clowns. Coulrophobia. She’d read all that she could on the condition. Still didn’t calm her anxiety about the pasty-faced performers. Marcus used to tease her whenever their parents took them to get kid’s meals at fast food restaurants. Marcus had happily bounded inside of the restaurant that had a demonic-

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looking clown as its mascot. Meanwhile Yessica stayed in the car, sobbing until they came back with her meal in a plain bag. Yessica comforted herself by thinking about what was going to happen later on tonight. She wondered about the man her cousin would hook her up with since she had made a trade-off. She let him bring one of his Soul-to-Soul Circus acts in her class in exchange for a date with one of his friends. He kept talking to her about one of his best friends, an old fraternity brother named Kevin who came from Louisiana. Yessica had never seen the man but from what she heard from Marcus about how his friend was into sports, ran marathons, and was really good to his mama, that was all Yessica needed to hear. She imagined that if he was one of Marcus’s fraternity brothers then he was a true brotha. And since he was into sports, then Kevin probably had muscular legs, a strong wide back, and arms that would be great to hold onto during sex. And if he was good to his mother then the man would probably treat her right. Yessica could always tell the ones who would be a gentleman on a date just from how they took care of their mothers. Now if she could only get through this one clown act, she would be okay. Yessica took in a couple of deep breaths to stop her trembling body. Didn’t help. “God, how long has this guy been on?” Yessica asked Hedda. Hedda glanced at her watch wrapped around her chubby wrist. “I don’t know. Five, ten minutes maybe.” “That long?” Yessica wiped above her brow, now covered in sweat. She felt hair sticking to her forehead, and when she snaked her hand to the back of her head, hot sweat met her fingertips. Damn near panting, Yessica pressed her hands against her thighs. Mid-May in Virginia Beach brought thick humidity to the area. And since Yessica taught at one of the oldest elementary schools in the district, the air conditioning wasn’t always one hundred percent. Today just happened to be one of those days when the A/C went kaput. “Honey, you don’t look so good. You want to get some fresh air or something? I’ll keep an eye out for the kids for a while.” Hedda put her hand on Yessica’s shoulder. Her touch, meant to comfort, made Yessica jump. “You are wound up tight.” Hedda patted Yessica’s back. “Yes, air. I’ll be right back.” Yessica stood. “I see a volunteer in the back of the room!” exclaimed Kee Kee the Clown. By the time Yessica slid from the table and brought her head up, she was face-to-face with Kee Kee. Although dressed in multicolored vertical striped pants and a tent-like top, Kee Kee had an intimidating, hulking height that forced her to peer up. Her gaze connected with his deep, dark, dirt-colored eyes. Here she was confronted with the one thing that truly terrified her. Garish white makeup covered the man’s face. He

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had an exaggerated red ring around his mouth and eyebrows in the shapes of teepees. Clowns. What the fuck were they hiding underneath the makeup and clothes? Unable to breathe, Yessica stood cemented in her spot staring at her demon. “Well, little lady,” he said in a cutesy, sing-song voice. “The audience is waiting.” Yessica’s stomach coiled into a knot until she felt like vomiting all over his long, wide, red floppy shoes. Seeing her blow chunks would make the kids happy, she thought. She flinched but covered her surprised gesture with an embarrassed smile. “Oh, no. Not me,” she said as she waved her hand to shoo him away. “Use one of the kids.” Unfortunately, since she was daydreaming about her fine prospects for the night, the one she imagined with strong legs and broad shoulders, she had no idea what this clown had in store. “No, Miss Battle,” the class said in unison as though coached by Kee Kee. “He needs a big person.” Kee Kee held out his gloved hand. Staring at it, the room and everything in it started spinning. The brightly colored pictures the children had painted that were hung on the walls all swirled together. Yessica planted one hand on the tabletop to steady herself. Looking up at the fluorescent lighting to regain her senses, it was only then that Yessica heard a small sniffle. Peering around the menacing clown, she saw Tiffany, a shy little girl from her class, crying as she sat on the floor. “I’m sorry. You’ll have to choose someone else.” Yessica darted to the child, trying hard not to stumble on her wobbly legs. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go outside and talk about what’s bothering you.” Although Yessica felt like a heel, being happy to have an escape route due to this girl’s pain, it relieved her to not have to face Kee Kee, which would mean facing her fears. As soon as Yessica pulled the child to her feet, Kee Kee grabbed Hedda instead. The children cheered. In an exaggerated motion, Kee Kee clomped through the kids, flopping his red shoes that squeaked with each step with her dear friend trailing behind him. Yessica was sorry to leave her friend in that type of predicament, but there would have been no way she could have gone through with whatever Kee Kee had planned for her. “Come on, Tiffany.” Sitting outside on the front steps of the school, Yessica handed the small child a cup of water. While the child sipped the water in her SpongeBob SquarePants cup, Yessica dabbed the tears from Tiffany’s eyes. “You want to talk about it?” Yessica asked.

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The girl lowered her head. Although she had stopped crying, Tiffany’s breath caught in irregular intervals. Yessica’s heart ached while watching this girl in emotional distress. She never liked to see anyone hurting, especially children. “You don’t have to talk about whatever is bothering you, Tiffany. But you know talking about it might make you feel better.” Deep down, Yessica wanted the girl to keep mum until the clown was safely stowed in his little car and motoring down the street. “I’m scared,” the child said in a whisper of a voice. “Scared of what?” Yessica tried lowering her tone to match the child’s. “Promise you won’t laugh?” The child peered up. Tears filled her big blue eyes. Stray strands of her blonde hair secured in ponytails whipped around her face. “Of course I wouldn’t laugh at you.” Yessica rubbed the child’s back. “I don’t like Kee Kee.” Yessica nodded. Digging down deep, she had to say something to calm this child’s fears, even though she harbored the same dread herself. So instead she thought about it as though the child had said she was afraid of puppies. Wrapping her arm around Tiffany’s shoulders, she pressed the child against her and stroked her hair. “It’s okay to be afraid of things. Lots of people have different fears. That’s what makes us all special.” “You aren’t afraid of anything, are you, Miss Battle?” Yessica squeezed her eyes shut, thankful her student couldn’t see her harried expression. “I have things that make me feel uncomfortable.” Tiffany turned her gaze up. “You do?” Yessica nodded. “Sure. The trick is to tell yourself, if it can’t cook and eat me then I don’t need to worry.” The statement made the girl giggle. “Miss Battle.” “Come on. Say it with me.” The two said the line together. Only one of the two meant it. The child smiled after saying it. Yessica hadn’t. “Kee Kee can’t cook me.” Tiffany shook her head. “No, he sure can’t. Not with me in the room.” Yessica took a deep breath. She felt her insides quivering at her next inquiry. “So are you ready to go back inside?” The child looked down, then back up at her teacher. “Would it be okay if we sat out here a little bit longer?” Yessica smiled. “Sure. We learned about leaves last week. You want to show me what you remembered?”

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With enough enthusiasm to knock a horse over, Tiffany sprang to her feet and ran over to the nearest tree. Yessica stood and followed the child, relieved that she’d at least calmed her fears about clowns. If only Yessica could believe her own advice. The beauty of being a child was that they were so adaptable, flexible in their thinking. The curse of adolescence was some fears carried on throughout a person’s life. Some fears couldn’t be shaken.

***** “Thank you for letting me come play with you today, boys and girls! Kee Kee had fun!” The class cheered and clapped. A couple of the students even stood and jumped up and down. The teacher used as the clown’s little helper earlier, now with her face painted up like a clown, asked for the children to calm themselves. What a party pooper. A clearing throat demanded attention. Marcus. He raised his eyebrows and rubbed his thumb and first two fingers together, the international sign for money. “And don’t forget, boys and girls, if you want to see me or any of my friends, have your parents or guardians bring you out to see the Soul-to-Soul Circus that’ll be in town tomorrow night!” Another eruption of cheers roared from the group. “Okay, let’s thank Kee Kee and Mr. Carter for their time,” the teacher said. In unison, the children thanked them. Then the teacher had them line up to go to the bathroom. Once the room emptied, Marcus marched over to the clown. “Good work today,” Marcus said. Kevin didn’t want to hear it. “This is the last time I bail you out. You know I had plans to get in a good workout before my date tonight with your cousin.” “I know. I know. But hey, what did you think of her? I did you right, didn’t I?” Marcus nodded. As much as he hated to admit his friend was right, he had set him up nicely. Kevin tried hard to get some face time with her before their blind date tonight, but she wasn’t having it. At least she’d turned him down to help a child. Seeing a woman with her maternal instincts kicked into full gear always turned him on. “She’s cute,” Kevin said as he collected his bag of tricks. Cute didn’t come close to describing her. She let her naturally curly hair flow wild and free over her head. Her big brown eyes sucked him in until all he wanted to do was to swim in them. And he couldn’t help but steal a glance at her frame as she walked out the door with the crying little girl. Nice sized tits. High, rounded ass. Long legs that he could see wrapped around his body. Oh yes. A better word to describe her would have been “fine.”

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“She seemed a little skittish. Did you tell her it was me under the makeup?” Kevin hiked his bag over his shoulder and headed out the door with his best friend. “How could she know? I asked you last minute to fill in for my knucklehead of a friend. I’m sure he’s laid up with some chick right about now, which is why he never answered his cell phone.” “I could have come in here and juggled. You know I’m good at that.” “Yeah, only one problem.” Marcus opened the door for Kevin. “Yeah. What’s that?” “You’re white. Can’t have a white guy representing the Soul-to-Soul Circus.” “And why not? That’s discrimination.” “We can argue about that later, Mr. Attorney.” A bell chimed, ending the school day. “For now you need to get yourself home and ready. My cousin likes her dates on time and looking sharp.” “What else does Jessica like?” “She likes for her man to pronounce her name correctly. It’s Yessica, not Jessica.” Kevin got to his Saab and loaded his bag in the backseat. “Oh, I thought you were having a problem with your mouth or something. So you weren’t kidding about her name.” “No jokes, partner. Treat her right. She did a good thing for me and I owe her big.” Marcus trotted over to his huge Hummer. Guess the circus business paid well. “She doesn’t have a lot of other hang-ups, does she? You know how I feel about that.” His friend shook his head. “You still don’t have that save-’em-and-leave-’em deal, do you?” “It’s true. Just like in law. I help a client. I make sure he wins his case. Then they’re gone. Same for women. They come to me with baggage. I help them out. They leave.” “Sounds ridiculous.” “Really? There was Trina who hadn’t talked to her mother in months after they had a fight. I got them back together and she dumped me.” “She did you a favor. That’s a chick who would do everything her mother asks.” “Then there was Wanda who was dealing with the death of her cat. I got her a new kitten and poof, she’s gone.” “That was a cat lady in the making. No one wants to be stuck with the ‘cat lady.’” “Don’t forget Gretchen.” “The nymphomaniac?” Kevin stared at Marcus. At the same time, grins plastered their faces. “I didn’t mind helping her with her problems.”

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Marcus laughed. “I’m sure you didn’t.” “I’m ready for a change.” “Good to know.” “First sign of drama, man, and I’m out of there.” Marcus patted Kevin on the back. “I feel you. Oh, and no practical jokes either. Not every woman is down for seeing fake vomit on her porch or a plastic spider in her purse.” “Come on. I haven’t done something like that in years.” Kevin put his gloved fists to his hips in indignation, a look that didn’t translate well while still dressed as Kee Kee. From the smirk on Marcus’s face, it looked like he wasn’t buying Kevin’s story of redemption either. “Hey, one last question.” Kevin removed his gloves. “What, man?” “She doesn’t have a problem with the white thing, right?” Kevin had assumed that since Marcus had set him up that she wouldn’t have a problem. He’d been through enough double dates with the man where he ended up with the friend of Marcus’s date who wasn’t down for hanging out with whitey all night long. Marcus snickered. “She doesn’t have a problem with the type of white you’re talking about. Have a good time tonight and remember, don’t be late.” With that cryptic line, Marcus sped off in his gas-guzzler. Kevin didn’t know what Marcus was talking about, but he wanted to be damn sure he didn’t screw anything up with this woman. Marcus had monopolized a good chunk of Kevin’s day. Laughing about putting a fake license plate on Marcus’s precious ride that read “Big Gay 1” would keep him in great spirits until his date tonight. Nothing wrong with one practical joke.

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Chapter Two With only a minute to spare, Kevin ran up to Yessica’s front door. After smoothing his hand over his hair and straightening his tie and jacket, he cleared his throat, took a deep breath, then rang her doorbell. He hated getting to her place right on time. Five minutes early to any appointment was his standard. His grandmother wanted to talk his ear off about a girl who lived in her neighborhood, the one who lived by herself and had a female friend who came to see her once or twice a week to spend the night. Kevin didn’t have the heart to tell her that she probably liked her girlfriend a little more than she would have liked him. Instead he managed to slip out of her home in enough time to take a quick shower and change into his suit. Good thing he had his clothes pressed and ready. He heard the tumblers turning in the deadbolt and knob. When she opened the door, air left his lungs for what seemed like several hours but could have only been for a few seconds. Kevin thought Yessica was cute in class. What he had before him now weakened his knees. With her hair swept up in a wild, funky hairdo, it showed off her long neck. In a pink silk shirt where it was obvious from her erect nipples that she wasn’t wearing a bra, he couldn’t take his eyes off of her chest. A black short skirt completed the outfit.

Hello, Miss Battle. “Yes?” she asked. Damn. Marcus hadn’t told her he was white. “Um, hi. I’m Kevin.” He held out his hand. When she was slow to take it, he continued, “Marcus’s friend. He set us up.” “Well, one of us.”

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Kevin’s heart slammed into the floor. “I can see this is a problem for you. I’ll just be going.” “Oh no. It’s not a problem for me. Absolutely not. I just wished he would have said something before he set us up.” She grabbed a small black purse from a side table next to her door. “I’m sorry. I was just caught off guard. Forgive my rudeness.” She closed her door, then extended her hand. “Hi, I’m Yessica Battle.” “Yes, Yessica. I mean, yes, I know, Yessica. Oh boy. I can see I’m going to be doing that all night long.” She smiled and let out this small giggle that reminded him of birds chirping. “You’re cute.” “Cute. I’ll take cute. It’s a good start.” He opened his car door for her. He’d take a good start over a bad finish any day.

***** Yessica shouldn’t have been surprised that Kevin was a white guy. It wasn’t like she hadn’t dated white men before or didn’t know that Marcus had white friends. She had psyched herself out on meeting a big, strong black man and seeing Kevin on her porch shocked her. Then she took a really good look at him. Kevin’s height grabbed her attention first. Once her gaze traveled up his well-toned body to reach his brown eyes, she noticed how deep and soulful they were. He had thick, brown hair that her fingers were dying to swim inside. Then there were his hands, big and meaty. During dinner while he talked, she scanned his body and stopped at his hands. She already imagined them on her body, caressing her skin, palming her breasts, squeezing her ass. Yessica crossed her legs. As she watched him twirling the stem of his wine glass with his fingers, she squeezed her legs together harder. Those long fingers of his would be heavenly delving inside of her, hitting her core, and making her come over and over again. “So what is it that you do?” Yessica rubbed her legs together, easing one leg up and down as she braced her head against the propped up palm of her hand. “You mean besides make you nervous?” Kevin shot back with a sly smile. To his response, she blinked and raised her head from her palm. “You don’t make me nervous.” “Oh yeah? Then why is it that you’ve been looking down all through dinner?” She leaned forward, confident that her opened shirt showed off her breasts. “Maybe something else on you has caught my attention.” “What? My wallet?” He snickered. “Nope. But you’re in the right vicinity.”

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Juices flowed from the apex between her thighs the more she flirted with Kevin. From his grin, he liked the game. “Attorney,” he finally answered. “Oh, no wonder you know Marcus. Couldn’t convince him to go back into law, huh?” She took a slow sip of her red wine. Bitter, but staring at Kevin made the drink taste sweet. “His heart was into his circus. That’s all he ever talked about in college. Just like my mom’s heart was into me taking over Thibbideaux and Thibbideaux.” “And what’s that?” “The law firm my father and his brother started. My dad died when I was a teenager and my uncle kept the business going in hopes that I would fill my father’s spot someday. So that’s what I did.” Yessica caught the longing in his eyes and his tone. “What a terrible loss. My mother passed away during my first year in college. It was her dream that I would finish school and become a teacher. Knowing that was the only thing that kept me in school because I wanted to give up and come home so many times.” “But you didn’t. That means you’re a survivor.” He flashed a sincere smile. She couldn’t help but place her hand on top of his. The warmth of it crawled up her arm and engulfed her chest. At that point she noticed they were both breathing hard and not breaking their gazes from one another. “You want to dance, Miss Battle?” he asked her once the jazz band started to play something slow and melodic. “I would love to, Mr. Thibbideaux.” She took his hand and he led her to the dance floor. Like the polite man she suspected him to be, he took one of her hands into his, then put his hand to her waist. Keeping at least a foot apart between them, he danced a sweet dance. But with this type of music, the way she felt, and the man she had before her, this wasn’t the time for sweetness. She wanted to feel him. Removing her hand from his grasp, she slid her hand up his arm until it reached his shoulder. Then she moved her other hand to his shoulder and wrapped it around his neck. Pressing her body against his chest, she felt his heart pounding. Was he as excited as she was? Or was he scared…like she was? Kevin had tapped the nail right on the head when he’d caught her not so subtle way she avoided looking into his eyes. Getting to know Kevin, she saw herself easily falling for him. She had to stop doing that. Just because a guy seemed like the perfect package didn’t mean he was marriage material. Kevin did look good though. And he did say all the right things. That just meant he had something to hide. No man could be this perfect. As her mama had always said, “If something looks too good to be true, it probably is.”

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Yessica would keep her heart guarded. The rest of her body remained up for grabs. From the way Kevin’s hands slid down her body and rested on her waist right above her hips, she suspected he wanted her to be in his arms as much as she wanted to be there. The man was funny, sexy, and charming. And he smelled like walking sex. A musky, heady scent swirled around him. On instinct or from just pure nerve, Yessica pressed her lips against the side of his neck. She couldn’t tell if it was the drumbeat from the live band or if the rumble she heard came from Kevin. One thing remained unmistakable. The growing bulge pressed against her stomach clued her in that he found her as attractive as she found him. At the end of the song, Kevin slowed in releasing her from his hold. While still in his arms, not ready to leave, she whispered in his ear, “My place or yours? Which is closer?” “Mine,” he growled. “Let’s go.” Kevin finally let her go and paid for their dinner so fast, Yessica thought for sure he’d given the waiter a fifty percent tip. He helped her into his sweet ride and drove her to his modest home in Virginia Beach. Once he opened the door to his house, Yessica didn’t have time to take in his décor before she jumped him. Frantically kissing him as they stumbled back to another room, Yessica helped him remove his jacket. He let the garment fall to the floor as he kept her moving backwards to a different room. With great skill, he never broke the kiss. His firm lips smothered hers. His tongue parted her lips. She tasted the red wine he’d had at dinner, making him taste bitter. Kevin hit a switch on the wall to illuminate the room as soon as they got to his bedroom. He kicked off his shoes with each step, then walked her back onto his bed so that she plopped down on her back on the high, firm mattress. “I don’t ever do this on a first date,” she said, nearly breathless. “Me either.” Kevin whipped off his tie and tossed it to the floor. Not wanting to hinder progress, Yessica undid her strappy sandals. They had so many straps and buckles that she knew they would have taken him forever to get them off. Then again, maybe he wanted her to keep them on during sex. While his hands frantically undid her blouse, her hands made short work of his trousers. When he had her top open, his pants hit the floor with a thud. Clad in only a pair of black silk boxers with a noticeable protrusion, Kevin looked damned tasty. Yessica’s skirt and thong went faster than a blink so now she sat in the center of his bed completely naked. He stared at her for a moment. He gazed at her in awe as though she was the first naked woman he’d ever seen but she knew that couldn’t be true.

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“This is going to sound strange to say at this moment, but I love your cousin right now,” Kevin said and finally discarded his boxers. Staring at his impressive erection, Yessica had a deep love for Marcus right now herself. Before crawling into bed, Kevin, being Mr. Perfect again, removed a box of condoms from his nightstand drawer. Covering her body with his hulking one, he kissed her, devouring her mouth until she got both relief and breathless at the same time. As though sensing his large frame might have been too much for her, although it wasn’t, Kevin rolled to the side, still holding her in his arms. All at once, Yessica felt safe, protected, and cherished. His large hands encapsulated her breast. “So perfect,” he muttered. She reached down. Her fingers wrapped around his thick shaft. Giving him one quick squeeze, he pulsated in her hand. “Yes, perfect,” she said with a smile. With a hard jab, she managed to get Kevin on his back. She grew tired of waiting for the right moments and being afraid of things. Time to take the bull by his horns, or in this case, the bull by his cock. Yessica crawled over his expansive bed toward the nightstand. After ripping the condom box open, she removed one from the strip, opened it, and slithered back to her man. “Fast now. Slow later,” she said as she sheathed him. “Works for me.” With his hands on her waist as he remained on his back, he helped her straddle him. Yessica held the base of his penis and teased herself by rubbing the tip back and forth between her slick folds. Kevin responded with a growl and the same sly smile cocked on the side of his mouth. She inched herself down, impaling herself on him. He filled her, stretching her to exquisite pleasure until she hungered for more. Sliding herself down, Yessica dropped to the hilt and had to grasp his chest while wave after wave of orgasmic bliss washed over her. So she allowed her body to take over, discover what he had to offer, and seize it. Grabbing one of his hands, she placed it on her breast. His palm, soft to the touch, brushed against her nipple. With his other hand, needing a vocation, she placed it on her hip. To brace herself, she rested her hands on his chest as she rode him, slow at first, then faster and faster. Soon a slickness covered his skin. Yessica lowered her face over his and kissed him. Her gold necklace with its heart-shaped locket hanging from it, dangled above Kevin’s body, brushing his chest the closer she got to him. In this position he wrapped one arm around her back and the other cupped her ass.

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“Oh, God! Oh, God!” Yessica’s pussy tightened around his shaft as she felt the orgasm building. Kevin jackknifed upward into a sitting position, holding her close. With his hand still on her ass, he palmed it. “I’m coming!” she screamed. Yessica slid her hands around the back of his neck and fisted his dark hair at the base. Then she came with a wail and a shudder; he soon followed. She slowed her movements until she came to a complete stop. She wouldn’t let him go, wrapping her legs around his waist and holding him close. “Teachers aren’t supposed to be this sexy.” She kissed his shoulder. “Do you really want me to tell you about lawyers?” He laughed. Yessica rested her head on his shoulder, feeling sated and content for the first time in a long time. Stroking the back of his head, she felt something sticky on her fingers. Probably hair gel. Then she gazed at her fingers. Since when was hair gel thick, white, and pasty?

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Chapter Three Even as Kevin eased himself back, reclining on his bed, he felt as though his head floated to the clouds. Never in his life had he ever connected so strongly to one woman. And despite what Marcus might have imagined from their frat days, Kevin never had sex with a woman on the first date. His southern upbringing wouldn’t allow him to waver on that policy. Yessica proved to be a different kind of woman. She exuded strength, confidence, heart, and passion all rolled up in her tight body. He could fall for her quick. As soon as the thought entered his mind, he shook his head. Kevin liked his uncomplicated life without the need to take care of anyone else but himself. It wasn’t selfish. It was self-preservation. Then again, Yessica would be the type of woman who wouldn’t need anyone to take care of her. She was no damsel in distress, and that scared him. If she had no problems and nothing for her to run to when he helped her, she might actually stay with him, build a relationship. That thought never entered his mind. As soon as his head hit the pillow, he let out a long breath. When he felt Yessica slide off of his lap and move next to him, he opened his eyes and turned his gaze to her. His cheerful expression melted from his face when he noticed the way she stared at her hand, glaring at the palm as though it was covered in blood. “Yessica?” She turned her palm to him. Polar opposite from what he had been expecting, Kevin saw white makeup on her fingertips. Damn, he hadn’t gotten it all off when he showered earlier. “What’s this?”

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The suspicion in her voice puzzled him. Her panting breath and wide eyes worried him. He bolted up and put his hand to her cheek in an attempt to calm whatever plagued her. “It looks like -- like -- paint,” she stammered. “Is that what it is?” “Yes.” He must have said the wrong thing because he noticed right away how her hand now trembled. Reaching for her, he tried holding her hand but she shrank back from him, scurrying across the bed. “Why? Why? Why would you have this on you?” She swallowed hard, something he heard from where he was sitting. “Are you a clown?” Watching her terrified expression, it hit him what Marcus meant when he said that Yessica minded one thing in white. “No. I’m an attorney. I’m telling you the truth.” Kevin crawled toward her but she continued retreating until her back reached the corner post on his footboard. “I was helping Marcus out with --” “Oh.” A smile finally graced her face as her shoulders hunched over in relaxation and her natural golden honey color returned to her once pale face. “So he convinced you to help him paint his new house, huh?” Kevin thought for a while. Should he tell her the truth, that although he wasn’t a clown by profession that he did play one that afternoon for her class? Staring at her, gazing over her body, seeing her calm, relaxed expression, he couldn’t muster the words to tell her. He didn’t want to see her spiral out of control again. Besides, if this was going to be the last time they saw each other, he wanted to make it memorable for the right reasons. “I helped Marcus.” The statement, although not exactly the truth because he piggybacked it on her statement, wasn’t exactly a lie. He had helped Marcus out of a jam. The great thing about being an attorney was knowing exactly the right things to say to get out of precarious situations. So why couldn’t he ignore the wrenching feeling in his stomach? How could he have lied to this woman? He should have told her the truth. He had been in clown makeup all afternoon entertaining her young students as a favor for her cousin. As soon as she settled her body against his and wrapped her arms around his waist when he eased back down on the bed, he forgot about being upfront and only thought about keeping her in his arms. “I don’t know what Marcus is holding over your head, but we have got to stop letting him convince us to do favors for him. He’s taking advantage of us.” She chuckled.

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The gentle jerking motion of her body brought his back to life. He held her closer, stroking his hand over her soft hair. What was he doing? If he wanted out so badly, he should have told her the truth.

Don’t forget, Kevin, you don’t want to be in a long-term relationship, remember? “After today, if he asked me to build him an addition to his house, I would,” Kevin answered with a laugh. “I know what you mean. I’ve never felt --” She paused and lifted her head to gain full eye contact with him. Watching her, Kevin knew how she felt and what she wanted to express. “I know. I feel the same way.” After settling her head back down onto his chest, she said, “I’m telling you the truth when I say that I have never done anything like this on a first date. But I couldn’t get past this all-consuming attraction that I have for you.” “It’s my cologne,” he kidded as he rubbed his hand up and down her arm. “It’s something. I’ve just never clicked with a man like this before. So strong and immediate.” “Knowing my grandmother, she probably put a love spell on me.” “A what?” “Love spell. I told you my family and I are from Louisiana. We moved up here about ten years ago, right after I passed the bar exam.” Kevin kissed the top of Yessica’s head. Her hair smelled like warm apples and violets. He could drown in her scent. “Did all of your family move here?” Kevin knew why she asked this question. “My immediate family did. My uncle stopped his practice in New Orleans, came to Virginia, took the Virginia state bar exam, and started Thibbideaux and Thibbideaux here in Virginia Beach. I joined him. I still had some cousins and uncles and aunts who lost their homes after Hurricane Katrina. But even though they lost their homes and all of their belongings, they were lucky. They have family who moved them all here and we’re all taking care of them. We’re helping to rebuild New Orleans again.” With sincerity in her eyes, she stared deep into his. “I want to help. Whatever you do, count me in, okay?” His heart pounded like a jackhammer. He lifted his head from his pillows to plant a soft kiss on her luscious lips. “So tell me about this love potion you think your grandmother conjured up,” Yessica said with a giggle. “Oh right. Like I said, we’re from New Orleans and the place is known for three things: music, food, and voodoo.”

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On the last item in his list, Yessica planted her chin into Kevin’s chest and stared at him with intensity. “Voodoo?” Then she clutched the pendant on her necklace as though it was a cross and she saw him as Count Dracula. “Yes. My grandmother learned about it from a woman who helped her with her garden and flowerbeds. She taught her about the religion and my grandmother still practices some of it to this day. I saw her this afternoon. She threatened me that if I didn’t give her some greatgrandbabies soon that she would do something.” Another worried expression masked Yessica’s face. “Don’t worry,” Kevin began. “She may practice voodoo but it’s just that. Practice.” “I’m not worried about that. I just remembered something about one of my aunts. I haven’t seen her in years but I think she’s still in town.” “You think? You don’t know?” Kevin couldn’t imagine not seeing or talking to a relative at least once a day. Family was all he had. “She wasn’t the type of aunt that you wanted to get close to. I always felt uncomfortable around her. She used to wear these colorful scarves around her hair that she kept in locks. Even seeing a scarf like that to this day makes my stomach hurt.” Yessica rubbed her hands up and down her arms as though a chill nipped her. “She practiced voodoo also but I don’t think she meant to extract good from it. Every time I was around her I felt cold and sick. My mother chalked it up to me getting sick from the scented oils she used to wear. I don’t think that’s what it was.” Yessica got a faraway look in her eyes before she continued, “She was evil. What she was doing was evil. I don’t want to be around anyone who practices voodoo.” That statement made Kevin blink. “So you would never want to meet my grandmother?” Even though she could easily turn her back on her family, Kevin wasn’t like that and would never be that way with his. With every little quirk and statement, Yessica made it easier and easier for him to want to walk away from her. So why couldn’t he? After one date, why couldn’t he call this a great experience and let her go? “If she’s still into voodoo, no, I don’t want to meet her.” All at once her touch felt cold on his body. She must have noticed his reaction. She moved out of his arms and curled her body next to him. “Look, some of that stuff freaks me out too, like the animal sacrifices. But you can’t judge everyone by the actions of one person. All religions and beliefs have some eccentricities and folks that make you want to raise an eyebrow. If you avoided everyone like that, you’d be a lonely soul. You should let yourself go and allow your aunt and my grandmother into your life. When was the last time you saw your aunt?”

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“Not since I was a kid. She came to my birthday party when I was seven years old.” She covered her eyes. “Actually, most of that party was a blur. I just have recollections from stories people have told me.” “I can’t remember anything before I was twenty. I blame that, though, on the typical New Orleans lifestyle of drinking, drinking, and more drinking.” His humor made her nestle back into his arms. Her once-frigid touch returned to the warmth he had come to expect and desire. “All I know was that there was a clown at my party and my aunt tried to give me a present. Whatever she tried to give me made me scream and I wouldn’t stop screaming. Needless to say, there are no pictures of that event in any family album.” “I guess I’m lucky.” Kevin wrapped his arm around her shoulders again. “I don’t remember any bad family events. That’s an amazing statement to make about my family. We’ve been known to fight over a football game. No matter what, we always love each other. We have each others’ backs.” After releasing a long exhalation, Yessica said, “Seems like we don’t have much in common after all.” Kevin raised his eyebrows. Taking hold of her chin, he brought her face around to his to meet his gaze. “I don’t know about you, Yessica, but I don’t want to stop seeing you. You’re the first woman in a long time who has truly sparked my interest. I don’t know where this will all lead, but I know this. I don’t want you out of my life. Even if we’re just meant to be friends, I would like to keep seeing you and watch where this takes us.” “I don’t know, Kevin. What if we find that our differences are too much? What if --” He stopped her rant with a passionate kiss on her lips. His eyes closed; he slid his eager tongue into her mouth. She responded by sucking on it. Immediately he imagined her performing that same gesture on his cock, which was slowly waking up the more he kissed her, held her close to his body, caressed her. When he pulled back from her, he left her with a smile on her face. “Do you always stop arguments with a kiss?” “Not all of them.” He smiled. “Good. If you had I was going to ask to come watch you try a case in court. I would love to see you lay one on the judge.” That statement got a full belly laugh from him. Yes, he would enjoy the time he had with Yessica. She had a great sense of humor, a trait he found attractive. With her negative views on family, he had an easy out with this one. So why didn’t he want to run for the hills? “You should definitely come and watch me in court someday. You might be impressed by my smooth tongue.” He winked. “Verbal skills, I mean.”

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After a quick kiss, Kevin sat up, easing her off of him, then stood. She stared at him with an almost nervous expression on her face as though he wanted her to leave him. Instead he held out his hand. “Don’t just lie there. I have to wash this, uh, paint off.” He had to stop himself from saying makeup. Shaky best described their night, although he wanted it to end on a very high note. “And you promised me a slow session.” Kevin watched her gaze move down his body. Her stare settled on his crotch. Then she brought her attention back up to his face. “I did, didn’t I? I am a woman of my word. Just ask my students.” She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood next to him, her hand in his. “Yeah, you are great to your kids.” He felt her jerk to a stop when he tried leading her to his bathroom. “How do you know how I am with my students?”

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Chapter Four Yessica stared at Kevin awaiting his answer. Even though the man could make her body tingle from the tips of her eyelashes down to the soles of her feet, there was something about him that made her wonder if he was all that he seemed. “Marcus told me how great you are as a teacher,” he answered with the smoothness of a lawyer. “He also talked about your hobbies and interests, what you two did as children.” “I didn’t know you and Marcus talked about me like that.” She squeezed his hand. “He was setting me up with his cousin whom I had never seen before. I wanted to make sure you weren’t crazy, or worse, another lawyer.” She laughed. This guy would be great except for the voodoo affiliation in his family. Although the look of disappointment on Kevin’s face when she voiced her opinion about the religion hadn’t escaped her notice, she couldn’t live her life for him or anyone else. He hadn’t grown up with her strange relative. She had. He didn’t know all of the things Theodora put her family through, emotionally and financially whenever she ran out of money and needed a place to crash. To this day, Yessica believed her mother died, not from heart disease but from constant worry. Yessica’s mother had often fretted that her baby sister would be killed while living her bohemian lifestyle. As much as she had tried talking to Theodora, the woman marched to the beat of a different drummer. And there were days Yessica thought Theodora had been jealous of her mother and how they lived as a family. Enough thinking about Auntie Theodora. Yessica had a sexy man at her beck and call, and she wasn’t done with him yet.

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The rush of water in the shower stall broke Yessica’s thoughts about her estranged relative. How could she think about that woman while standing naked in a room with a man who could best be described as delicious? In his bathroom, with its white walls and black tiled floor, he looked immense. He had to turn his body sideways in order to get his broad shoulders through the shower door. Still holding her hand, he helped her inside, and slid the door closed. The stinging hot water soothed her body as soon as it hit her. Facing the stream, Yessica closed her eyes and turned her face up, letting the steam open her pores and relax her. As soon as Kevin put his hands on her shoulders, she melted. He ground his thumbs into her shoulders until her muscles became useless and her bones disintegrated. She felt the heat from his mouth when his lips touched the side of her neck. A moan whispered through her parted lips as she enjoyed the attention. As soon as she stepped backward, she felt his hard cock pressing between her ass cheeks. Whatever it was, his cologne, his personality, or some damn spell, Yessica wanted this man, desired him like no other. Turning in his arms, she faced him and planted her lips onto his. Her hands gripped his shoulders as he held onto her waist, although his hands made a slow pilgrimage down to her ass in a matter of seconds. He palmed her flesh, squeezed it like he’d done it before. Strangely, her body reacted like she knew his touch. In a matter of hours, she craved him. Turning her around while still kissing her, Kevin broke from the kiss long enough to douse his hair and head under the stream of water. He brought his face forward, then turned to the side and picked up a turquoise-colored shampoo bottle. Tipping the bottle over, he squeezed a green dollop of the gel into the palm of his hand and returned the bottle to its original spot. Starting the lather in his hair, he stared at Yessica and said, “I’m going to need you to help me get all of that stuff out of my hair.” She nodded and reached her hands up to scrub the fragrant shampoo into his scalp. As long as she stood on her tiptoes, she could manage to get a good lather up. However, she was in an awkward position and nearly slipped twice trying to reach the back of his head. “Here. Let me help you.” Kevin stepped forward, making Yessica move backward until the back of her knees touched against something. Peering back, she noticed a small ledge. Allowing gravity to take over, she fell back on the seat, splashing water when she plopped down. Then Kevin lowered himself to his knees in front of her. With no resistance from her, he parted her legs and positioned himself between them. Between her pounding heart and the rushing water from the showerhead, Yessica couldn’t hear anything as she stared at him.

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“Better?” She nodded, unwilling to speak and ruin the electric flow between them. And since it seemed she was also unable to move, Kevin took her hands and placed them in his hair. Slow at first, she worked in the lather, digging her fingernails into his tough scalp. Heat rose from his head the more she worried his hair and scalp. He closed his eyes and let out an obscene moan, one that curled her toes and started a throbbing in her clit. His hands rested on her inner thighs. The more she massaged his hair, the more he massaged her inner thighs. Then he did what she had been anticipating. Kevin lowered his head and nestled it between her thighs, his face mere inches from her pussy. In eager desire, she curved her hips forward and opened her legs wider. Teasing her unmercifully, he placed soft kisses along her inner thigh, going up her trembling leg until he reached her cunt where he simply blew his breath over her aching sex and continued down the other leg. Yessica growled, hoping he wouldn’t have heard it. From his laughter she surmised that he had. “Did you get all of the paint out?” he asked in between hot kisses. She grabbed a handful of his soapy hair and brought his head up so that he could see the intensity in her eyes. “Just do it! Damn it! I need your mouth on me!” She didn’t want to sound like she was pleading but the man knew how to drive her to distraction. “We’ll make a deal. You work. I work.” Before she could respond, his thick finger parted her nether lips. The touch made her body twitch. He then lowered his head until his lips brushed her clit. Yessica fought to keep from closing her legs around his head but the reaction proved too irresistible. To keep her from doing so, Kevin held one thigh with his free hand while his tongue laved over her protruding nub. She understood now why Kevin asked her to wash his hair. Grabbing it, massaging her fingers through it, working her hands through his soft wet locks became an automatic reaction as soon as his mouth worked its magic on her. Shampoo bubbles rolled down the side of his face and his back until they eventually hit her stomach and thighs. The entire shower stall smelled like sex in a rain forest. Kevin twirled his tongue around her clit. The motion made Yessica rotate her hips in concert with his tongue. Once he dipped his skilled tongue inside of her, she bucked her hips, arched her back and screamed so loud she hoped he had his windows closed. Her reaction must have spurred him on. While Kevin continued probing his tongue inside of her, his thumb circled her clit. The sensations kicked up butterflies in her belly. Yessica’s body quivered. With both hands, she scrubbed her fingers through his hair then brought him forward, jamming his face into her pussy.

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His moans vibrated against her. She let one hand travel down his back, clawing at his flesh as he gave her the pleasure she so needed. In a skilled move, Kevin moved his mouth up to her clitoris as his finger sought her opening and slid inside. The feeling of him licking and sucking her clit along with his pumping finger inside of her sent Yessica’s body into a frenzied fit. She undulated her hips, fucking his face and finger until she could no longer stand it. “Oh, God! Oh, God! Kevin! Yes!” The orgasm that hit her came hard and fast despite Kevin’s slow, methodical attempt at stoking her slow burn. Though he continued sucking her, the intensity lessened until her body settled back down. Yessica struggled to regain her normal breathing pattern. “That was incredible,” she said between harried pants. “Is that what I have to do to get my hair washed around here?” Kevin joked. He stood and gave Yessica a quick peck. She tasted her salty juices on Kevin’s lips. Once he rinsed his hair and body, he returned to her. “So what do you think? Real or magic?” “Whatever it is, I don’t want it to stop.” Or did she? Yessica knew that the basis of voodoo, of any religion really, had to do with pure belief, faith. If she didn’t believe, then spells or black magic wouldn’t harm her. However, Kevin seemed to believe in this world. What if what he felt wasn’t real? What if this was all just some hocus pocus that his grandmother whammied on him before their date? “I believe we still have a slow ride ahead of us,” Kevin said as he scooped Yessica into his arms. A slow ride and a short trip. Yessica couldn’t be with a man who wasn’t genuine. If she doubted Kevin’s intentions, then great sex or not, he would be hitting the road. She just hoped she wouldn’t have to give him his walking papers.

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Chapter Five Kevin’s client was a cretin. Each time he looked at the man, his stomach tightened and bile rose in his throat. Had he known he would be dealing with clients like these when he became an attorney, he would have pursued his other dream instead. However, his mother would have had a fit if he told her he wanted to become a guitarist and go on tour with Lenny Kravitz. “Mr. Grimes, the goal in handling your fraud case is to keep it as low key as possible.” Kevin tapped his pen against his notepad, the one where he wrote “pig” across the top and underlined it four times with arrows pointing toward his client. “That’s what I want, too. But why is that so important?” Grimes, an older man who wouldn’t last a day in prison, slicked his hand over his impossibly dark and thick hair. “Shouldn’t we be going for some publicity to show that employees can’t just steal from their employers and think they can get away with it?” The term “steal” made Kevin flinch. Grimes had spent the better part of the last few years embezzling money from his employees’ retirement fund. His accountant had shown him how to do it so that the legal ramifications would be minimal. But one savvy bookkeeper at Grimes’s business found out and busted the idiot. Had Grimes not used the old I-knew-your-father line, Kevin wouldn’t have taken the case. Now he had to put on his attorney mask, the one he wore to help him smile in his clients’ faces when his heart begged him to do something else. “For one, you don’t want to be lumped in the same category as the Enron guys or any other corporate types who have seemingly stolen earnings from their employees. The less press we get, the better it would be for you. You don’t want to get tried in the court of public opinion. You’ll lose.”

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“But aren’t there times when it’s a good thing to let the press in? I think even the Enron guys did interviews afterward, right?” Kevin gritted his teeth. In his head, he counted to ten before answering. “You’re right. There are times when it is a good thing to allow the media to be involved in cases to present your side. In this instance, because you are such a recognizable fixture around town, and because of the nature of this case, it’s better if you allow your case to only be heard in court.” He set his pen down and leaned back in his swivel chair. “Decline all requests for interviews. Keep working. Try not to read the newspaper or watch local TV stations too much.” “Why?” Grimes interlaced his chubby fingers and set his hands on his lap. “Because the media will present your case whether you want them to or not. Some of their information might be inaccurate. Actually, I’m very sure their information will be inaccurate.” Unless they called Grimes a money-grubbing bloodsucker, then they would be right on the money. “I don’t want you feeling compelled to defend statements and assumptions that they make on their shows or in the papers once you take the stand. It’s the nature of the beast to want to defend yourself against attack. This time I need you to take the high road.” “Sounds reasonable.” Kevin nodded. His stomach started to unknot itself knowing that this meeting would be over soon. Grimes always made sure their meetings lasted just under an hour long so he didn’t have to pay for the extra hour. A penny-pinching thief. “But…” As soon as Grimes said “but,” Kevin’s belly did a flip-flop. “But what?” Grimes swallowed hard. His pockmarked cheeks sank into his face. He cleared his throat before continuing. “What if I’ve already done an interview?” Kevin tried hard not to roll his eyes even though the muscles in his eyes strained to do just that. “Who?”

“The Virginian-Pilot. I just answered a few straightforward questions. Anything dealing with the case or my defense, I refused to answer.” “That might work for or against us. By refusing to answer, you may come off as if you’re trying to hide something. Then again, the interview might show that you’re open.” Kevin shook his head. “When did you do this?” “Yesterday. I called your office but you weren’t there.” Yep, about that time Kevin was covered in greasepaint and wearing a palette full of colors as he entertained small children…and Yessica. He wouldn’t have traded in that time for anything. It’s not like the man didn’t have Kevin’s cell phone number. If he was that unsure about the interview, he could have called Kevin first. To him, that meant Grimes wanted to try to steer his own defense, and no matter the client, that tactic never worked. It definitely wouldn’t work with Kevin.

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“Just because you couldn’t get to me does not give you a green light to make a decision like that.” Kevin rubbed his eyes with both hands. “You could sink your case if you said the wrong thing or if the reporter picked up some vibe from you that you didn’t mean to give off.” Grimes’s small face on his huge head squished together. That, Kevin found out after their first meeting, was the man’s angry face. “Young man, don’t purport to tell me how a businessman like myself needs to act in the public eye. I have been in business for over thirty years. I have sponsored large events, controversial events like Republican fund-raisers and the NRA convention.” All conservative things Yessica would have probably hated. Kevin had to fight to keep from smiling at the fact that in between his client’s tirade Yessica popped into his head. No doubt about it. She’d left an impression on him which he savored. “So what are you saying, Mr. Grimes?” Kevin said, interrupting the man’s rant. “I’m saying I don’t need you to babysit me. I’m doing fine on my own like I have been for years.” “Then perhaps you would do better with another counselor. Do I need to get my legal assistant to gather your case files together for you or are you going to learn to trust me?” The man stared at Kevin for a while as though trying to gauge the seriousness of what he’d just said. “I didn’t say I don’t want you as an attorney. I just don’t want you feeling like you have to scrutinize my every move.” Grimes smoothed his hand over his hair again. Kevin feared that whatever dye or chemical Grimes had in his hair to keep it that dark color would eventually rub off onto his client’s hand. “That’s why you pay me the big bucks, Mr. Grimes, so that I can scrutinize your every move. Your case is a chess game. I’m prepared to say ‘checkmate’ at the end of this. I just need to make sure you’re on the same board with me. I can’t win this for you if you set yourself up for failure.” Grimes opened his mouth to refute Kevin’s statement but Kevin didn’t want to argue with this man. He would save his arguing strength for the courtroom. “Okay, no more interviews until after the case.” Grimes nodded. “Even after the case, I don’t want you talking about it. You might come across like you’re gloating. Are you sponsoring anything right now?” Grimes shook his head. “No. I’ve been too consumed with this case.” He glanced down at his watch. “I want you to find a charity event. Preferably something that’s coming up soon. I don’t care if it’s something you make up right now. But if you’re going to talk about anything, let it be that event. And make it a more liberal event. No guns. No Republicans. No big oil companies.”

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“Those are all of my friends.” Figures. “Try making friends with the good folks at P.E.T.A.” “I’ll try.” Grimes snapped his fingers. “I could sponsor a barbeque to save the rain forest or something.” Clueless. “Call me crazy. I don’t think the members in the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals would appreciate a barbeque, even in their honor.” Grimes stood. “Yeah, you’re probably right. They don’t know how to look a gift horse in the mouth.” Kevin nodded. “Yes, it’s them. They don’t know how to appreciate a good thing.” For the fourth time in less than a minute, Kevin’s client glanced at his watch again. “Look, I have to go. Same time tomorrow?” Kevin nodded. “I’ll be here.” The chubby man waddled to the door, stopped, then turned back to Kevin. “Yes, Diane will validate your parking.” Kevin tried to keep the exasperated tone from his voice, but his client was so easy to read. Grimes held up his parking ticket and smiled. “See you tomorrow.” Kevin would have to stock up on his antacid tablets before tomorrow just to stomach Grimes. No preparation was needed to be with Yessica. Being around her made him feel both alive and calm and hot all at the same time. If last night was any indication, they had a lot more hot nights together. He just hoped they would eventually get to the point where they could look back on his one day as Kee Kee and laugh about it.

***** Yessica stared at the quiet sleeping bodies sprawled across her classroom floor. Unlike the rest of the teachers there, Yessica never looked forward to the children’s naptime. She liked them active and asking questions and seeing their curiously wonderful faces. The lights in the classroom were dimmed low. She played a soothing instrumental on her CD player. As the children slept, the sounds of their soft breathing rising and falling in harmony, Yessica tried to go over her lesson plan for the week. Each time she started the plan, Kevin’s image entered her thoughts. First she thought about his eyes, how they smoldered when he stared at her. Then she thought about his smile, those gleaming white teeth. As soon as she recalled his hands, Yessica had to fan her face with a stack of papers. The man was a master at using every part of his body to make love to her. When he’d held her through the night until the early morning, she wanted to pinch herself. What guy

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would do that on a first date? But then again, what kind of woman was she to sleep with him on the first date? With her luck, meeting Kevin was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Although he’d asked for her phone number, she didn’t expect to hear from him. Even though he wrote down her e-mail address, she wouldn’t hold her breath waiting for his e-mail. She needed to just thank Marcus for hooking her up with a great guy last night. It was a shame, really. Except for his grandmother and her involvement in voodoo, the guy was close to perfect. A soft knock on her door got her attention. Yessica peered up and found a young boy peeking into her classroom. She stood and tiptoed toward the door, trying hard not to wake the children. When she got to the door, she cracked it open. She never expected to be met face-toface with a bouquet of roses. “Miss Battle?” the student asked. Must be a fourth-grader helping in the main office. “Yes?” He handed her the glass vase with roses and baby’s breath trumpeting out of it. “Here you go.” “Oh my. Thank you.” Yessica brought the flowers into the room. As carefully as she’d crept to the door, she stepped lightly back to her desk. Once there, she dove into the bouquet to look for a card or note. Tucked in the middle, she found a card held up by a plastic pitchfork-looking apparatus. She flipped it open and smiled as she read it. “You still owe me another slow one. Kevin.” Yessica chuckled, a noise that woke up one child. “Pretty flowers,” a drowsy little boy said. “Yes, they are.” Yessica wanted to say that the man who’d sent them managed to impress her with his gentlemanly ways but she kept mum about how she felt. Besides, she still wasn’t sure if Kevin was the real thing or too good to be true. The flower delivery after their first date impressed her. It would take more than flowers and great sex to sway her. But he was off to a great start.

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Chapter Six Marcus slapped the basketball from Kevin’s hands just as Kevin was heading for a layup. “Foul!” Kevin called. “You can’t do that shit.” “I can and I did.” Marcus shot a three-pointer just to emphasize his statement. “Game, punk. Pay up.” “Yeah, you wait for that one, okay?” Kevin chuckled. He picked up his Gatorade bottle and downed the rest of the fluorescent green drink. Had Kevin kept his mind on the game instead of thinking about Yessica, he could have beaten his friend. Ever since he met her two days ago, he hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind. “So?” Marcus probed. He jabbed his bony elbow into Kevin’s side. “So, what? I told you I’m not paying you. You cheated. I demand a rematch.” Kevin tossed his bottle in a nearby trashcan. Playing basketball at the city park became a regular thing for Kevin and Marcus. They had been playing one-on-one since college and they were both evenly matched when their heads were in the game. A couple of years back they thought about taking up golf. Kevin decreed that the game was too damn civilized and begged to go back to their usual after work pickup game. “Forget about the money, man. What went down with you and my cuz? Did you two hit it off?” Marcus gave Kevin a sly wink. Although they were best friends, Kevin had to remember that Marcus was Yessica’s cousin. Even though Kevin didn’t talk about his dates in intimate details, he knew for damn sure that he wouldn’t be sharing what he and Yessica had done two nights ago. Just thinking about it still made Kevin’s dick swell.

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“Yessica is a wonderful woman. Smart, funny, beautiful, sexy. I could go on but I’m sure you don’t want to hear it.” “You’re right about that. So are you two going to keep seeing each other?” “Why are you so concerned about what we do? Shouldn’t that be our business?” “I just need to know if I need to crack your kneecaps if you break her heart, or plan your bachelor party.” “Neither.” Kevin picked up his gym bag and hung his towel around his neck. “You know I have no interest in getting married right now. Besides, as wonderful as your cousin is, she’s got some issues. You know that’s one of my red flags.” “Issues? And who doesn’t? Did you tell her that you refuse to wash your UVA sweatshirt because you think it helps the basketball team when they play?” “When I don’t wear it, they lose. It’s a scientific fact.” Kevin, although he had kept a straight face, didn’t believe the bullshit coming from his mouth. “Whatever, man. Fact is you have some hang-ups too. So what problem do you have with my cousin? She’s left-handed instead of right? She chews her bottom lip? She hums when she eats?” “All of that would be cute. Why didn’t you tell me about the clown thing?” Kevin clicked a button on his car remote to unlock the trunk and the doors. “Why? Did she find the costume on you?” “No. She found some makeup behind my ears.” Marcus made a puzzled expression. “How did she find makeup behind your ears?” “Uh, never mind. The fact is that you knew and you didn’t tell me.” “Honestly, I didn’t think she would still be bothered by it. It was something she was freaked out about when she was a kid. I thought she would have grown out of it. Guess she hasn’t.” “No, she hasn’t.” “I’m surprised she didn’t call me to tell me she had a problem with the clown in her class. She used to get really freaked out about that shit when she was a kid. So what happened when you told her you were Kee Kee?” Kevin dumped his bag in the trunk and slammed the lid but he never answered his friend. “You did tell her, didn’t you?” “Once she saw the makeup and I saw how freaked out she was I couldn’t tell her. It’s not like I’m a clown in my real life.” Kevin saw Marcus start to say something, more than likely a joke about Kevin’s profession. “And no lawyer jokes.” Marcus chuckled. “You know me too well.”

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“Anyway, once she flipped on the makeup she assumed it was paint from me helping you paint your house. I didn’t correct her.” “Dog, that’s wrong on so many levels.” Marcus shook his head like a father admonishing his son. “Hold up. You aren’t Mr. Innocent in all of this either. Out of all of the acts you could have brought to her class, why a clown? You knew she was afraid of them.” “Man, I told you. For one, I thought for sure Cuz was over that stuff by now. Who knew? Point two: none of my other acts could come in because they didn’t have their supplies. And point three: Auntie Theodora said that this was the best act to bring.” A chill hit Kevin’s spine. Although Yessica never mentioned the aunt’s name who made her feel uncomfortable as a child, Kevin suspected that this Auntie Theodora had to have been her. “Is she the same aunt that Yessica doesn’t like?” Marcus rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell me she laid that bullshit on you, too.” “What bullshit is that?” “Both she and her mother, God rest her soul, thought that Auntie T. was trying to do Yessica some harm. That’s why Yessica wears that heart-shaped necklace.” “Does Yessica know she’s in town?” “I don’t know. I guess. She has to know Auntie T. has been working for me. Half of the clowns I have came from her. I don’t know where she finds these people, but they’re cheap and they don’t complain. Hell, half of the time they don’t talk. That’s cool. A quiet employee is a good employee.” “I don’t think Yessica has any interest in seeing that aunt again. Be sure to tell her that she’s working for you so Yessica will know to stay away.” Kevin recalled the fear in Yessica’s eyes when she talked about the woman. Those types of fears were real, no matter if there was a basis for them or not. “What else should I know about your cousin?” “Mention Auntie Theodora or voodoo, and she’s grabbing for her necklace like --” “Like it’s a cross and she’s holding it against a vampire?” Kevin said, cutting Marcus off. “Yeah, something like that. Why? Did she do that to you?” “You’ve met my grandmother. You know she’s into voodoo.” “I know. Strange for a white woman to be into an African religion.” “Hey, none of that race stuff, all right?” Kevin could talk about anything with Marcus, but he didn’t tolerate anyone talking about his family…no matter how dysfunctional they were. “Anyway, she refuses to meet my grandmother because she practices voodoo.” “Wow. Sounds like you two didn’t hit it off at all. Sorry, man.” Kevin thought about their conversation over dinner, the dance, the amazing sex. They fit. For all of the wrong reasons, they fit. There were things he didn’t like about her life.

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Marcus was right about one thing. Kevin needed to be honest with her. He had to tell her about Kee Kee and see how she reacted. “We actually did get along.” The pulse-pounding sex entered Kevin’s mind. He licked his lips and could almost taste her sweet pussy juices again on his mouth. “When I called her yesterday, I --” “Whoa! Hold it! You broke our twenty-four hour rule? How could you? I know she’s my cousin but a rule is a rule.” “And that’s your damn rule. Not mine.” Kevin hung on his opened car door for a second. “I don’t believe in playing games with women. Waiting to call a woman so she doesn’t think you’re too interested. How stupid. Despite some of our differences, I actually like your cousin.” He thought about her compassionate eyes. Even if they weren’t meant to be together, she deserved so much more, so much better than what he was giving her. “And I will come clean to her.” “Good luck. She may be a teacher but she’s a sista deep down. She will cut you or put a brick through your car window if she thinks you’ve done her wrong.” “I didn’t do her wrong. Not intentionally. She’ll see that and understand.” At least Kevin hoped so. “By the way, thanks for the license plate, asshole.” Marcus punched Kevin on his shoulder. “I had a date with a fine sista the other night. She saw that plate and said I was on the down low and bolted. I’m going to get you back.” As hard as he could, Kevin tried not laughing. He still had it. The next step would be to see if Yessica had a sense of humor to take one of his jokes. That would be the final nail in the coffin. No sense of humor, and it would be easy to walk away from her.

***** Used to be Yessica looked forward to the start of each day. She liked looking into the expectant faces of the small children when they came to class. At this age, they were perfect. They were sponges ready to learn and absorb. However, right now she felt exhausted. Drained was more like it. Then again, she had been tossing and turning all night long thinking about Kevin. Just when she thought he didn’t care for her, especially after what she’d said about meeting his grandmother, he surprised her with the flowers and calling her last night. Thinking about the phone conversation made her smile. Thank goodness the students had all gone home and she sat alone in her classroom. They probably would have asked her what made her happy. And thank God Kevin hadn’t been influenced by her stupid cousin to do that twenty-four hour rule where women were concerned. Kevin had called. With only the low timbre of his voice, he made her pussy juices simmer.

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“Have I told you what an amazing night I had last night?” he’d said. “You may have. But like with my children, I’ll only remember through repetition so say it again.” At that point, he could have read the phone book and she still would have been enamored with him. “I had a really, really good time last night.” Yessica had sighed. Even now, she remembered feeling her warm breath feathering over her bare arms. With her back against the headboard and her legs crossed at the ankles, she settled back to spend another great evening with Kevin Thibbideaux. After getting the pleasantries about work, family, home life, and the roses over, Yessica couldn’t hold back her overwhelming desires any longer. “So tell me, Kevin, why are you calling me?” “I told you. To tell you what a great time I had last night and see if you had gotten the flowers. I appreciate Marcus getting us together.” Yessica felt a “but” coming so she headed him off at the pass. “So what are you wearing right now?” The pregnant pause had lingered longer than Yessica would have liked, especially since she heard a distinct rustling on his end. She chewed her bottom lip in anticipation of Kevin ending the call. Instead he answered, “I just have on shorts and my underwear. I just took off my Tshirt and sneakers. I had to go for a run.” She heard him laughing a bit, kind of like a nervous reaction like when he kept stumbling over her name the first time they had met. “And did you get out all of your anxieties?” she’d asked, lowering her voice to match his sexiness. “Who said I was anxious? Maybe I just needed to keep myself in shape to maintain my endurance.” Yessica thought she heard a squeak on his end like he had sat down on his bed. This time her imagination had run wild, thinking about what he looked like in bed, no shirt, no socks, no shoes, and a distinctive if not impressive erection that pushed against his shorts like a tent. “Why do you need to keep your endurance up? Feeling tired? Did you get worn out?” she’d teased. Kevin let out a full belly laugh. “You think you wore me out?” “I never mentioned me. But since you brought it up…” “And speaking of bringing up…” Yessica moistened her dry lips. “Take off your shorts and boxers. I want you comfortable.”

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“Wait. What about you? What are you wearing?” Even though he’d asked the question as though trying to stall for time, she heard movement over the phone. Scanning down at herself, Yessica noticed her drab, powder blue T-shirt that she wore to bed. Not wanting to lie, she lifted her shirt hem to just below her breasts, then slid her panties down her legs. “I don’t have any panties on,” she’d proclaimed. “Well, neither do I.” “Very funny, smart guy. A remark like that makes me want to put them back on.” “No! No! Wait!” A slight panic laced his voice. Remembering the need she’d heard in his voice made her smile. “Okay, so your panties are down.” He’d stated her current condition like it was a crucial part of evidence for a case. “And your underwear is down too, right?” The rustling returned to the phone before he answered, “Yes.” Yessica yearned for a tall, cool glass of lemonade but she wasn’t about to break this incredible bond with this hot man. “Ah, a naked man right where I want him.” “Even clothed you had me.” Kevin’s admission made her breath catch. She hoped she kept the sound of the gasp from the phone receiver so he didn’t hear it. “Prove it.” The other line went silent for a few moments before she caught a distinct slapping sound. Shortly after, Kevin began moaning. The sounds and her active imagination proved too much for her. As much as Yessica had fought against pleasuring herself, she couldn’t ignore her throbbing clit in desperate need of some manipulation. “What are you thinking about?” Yessica asked. “You. Being…inside…you.” Her fingertips touched her sensitive nub nestled between her slick folds. Her back arched as soon as she made contact. “I’m…stroking…uh…cock.” Even Kevin’s stammered words turned her on. She caught his passion from the few words he could utter. “God, baby, tell me you’re touching yourself too.” “Yes.” And she wasn’t lying. Her fingers dove in between her nether lips. She pushed one digit in between the hot walls of her pussy.

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Soon after, her breathing turned into pants. Yessica squeezed her eyes shut and allowed her fingers to be a poor substitute for the man she wanted on the other end of her line. Clutching her phone to her ear, she tried hard to concentrate on his sounds of passion and need as she continued to worry her pulsating nub with the heel of her hand while her index finger inched deeper inside of her with each plunge. “Talk to me,” she moaned. “I…can…still…oh God…taste you!” he managed to say between grunts and groans. “I want…I want…” “Oh, Kevin!” “Now, baby!” In synch, they both screamed as soon as Yessica came. Thankful to be on her bed, she felt the room spinning around as she struggled to maintain a steady breathing pattern. Yessica didn’t want to open her eyes yet. She held off her impending disappointment of not seeing Kevin next to her. Sure, he had aided her in achieving an intense orgasm, but she wanted him there. “I’m coming over right now!” His words finally triggered the rational part of her brain. Although they had shared an intense date and now a hot phone sex session, she had to end this now. No use getting attached to someone with high devotion to a family she didn’t want to meet. The relationship would never work. Yessica wasn’t accustomed to having a man she only used as a lover. She wanted a loving relationship. Knowing Kevin’s grandmother practiced voodoo, the same thing her Aunt Theodora engaged in the last time Yessica saw her, chilled Yessica to her bones. If she cut Kevin off now, she wouldn’t hurt so much later on. She could just chalk it up to a really good date with a really fine man. “Just give me five minutes to shower,” Kevin continued in a frazzled voice. “Unless you don’t mind the sweaty smell.” Damn, why did he have to say that? The way Kevin smelled came rushing back to her until the memory of his scent, sweaty, musky, sexy, filled her nostrils. She took a deep breath through her nose as though the man were standing in front of her. On the exhale, she regained her composure. “Kevin, wait.” He must not have heard her. He continued mumbling about coming over naked and the ramifications of what would happen if he got pulled over by a police officer. As cute as he sounded, she had to stop him. “Kevin, wait. You can’t come over.”

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The movement on his end finally stopped. “Are you trying to torture me? I need to see you.” She’d had her speech practiced in her head before Kevin had called her. Why couldn’t she deliver it now? To gain some strength, she opened her eyes then jackknifed up so she could see her reflection in the mirror on the dresser across from her bed instead of imagining Kevin. “I’m glad you called and what we just did was --” He cut her off. “Not close to what I want to do to you in person. I can be there in ten minutes.” She took another deep breath to steel her nerves. “I don’t think it’s going to work out between us.” An eerie pause existed on the phone line before he said, “You’re the only woman I have ever had phone sex with in my life.” Yessica knew exactly what he meant, considering she was right there with him as far as this experience went. “Sexual compatibility is great. I just don’t think we have enough in common to sustain a relationship. I’m sorry.” The deafening click when she hung up the phone on him still sounded in Yessica’s ears. She shook her head as though that would muffle the recalled sound until a real one broke her thoughts. “You look deep in thought.” Yessica jerked her head up and saw her friend, Hedda, standing in the doorway. “I just have a lot on my mind.” Yessica couldn’t tell her she had just thought about her amazing phone sex session from last night. “Could you be thinking about your date from the other night? You haven’t said a word to me about it. How did it go?” Hedda moved over some stacked papers on Yessica’s desk, then plopped herself down on the corner. Yessica heard a plaintive moan from the old wood as soon as Hedda relaxed herself on the rickety piece of furniture. To ensure that the relic wouldn’t collapse on her legs, Yessica slid her chair back. “The date went okay. He was very sweet.” “Ah, so you tasted him.” Hedda cackled. Yessica felt her chest, neck, and face get hot in a matter of seconds. “You can’t talk like that here in school.” “Oh, come on.” Hedda waved her hand to her. “The kids have all gone home. It’s just me and you. And if you come outside, it could be me, you, and a bottle of Jack I keep in the trunk of my car.”

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“As tempting as that sounds, I’m going to finish up some work here, then get on home.” Hedda shrugged. “Suit yourself. I’ll see you tomorrow, dear.” Yessica glanced over the papers she’d already completed but didn’t admit that fact to Hedda. Although the idea of a stiff drink didn’t sound too bad, she would rather be alone. Yessica let out a long, loud sigh as she gathered her things. With her attention on getting her belongings together keeping her distracted, she heard the sound of a ball rolling on the floor. Pivoting slowly, she saw a bright red ball cascading across her floor. Staring at the orb, her heart began to thud as though a simple ball could mean something else. “Get a grip, girl. It’s just a ball.” Stomping to the child’s toy, she picked it up and twirled it in her hands. She stopped the ball when she saw the word “Bird” scrawled over one side. Bird used to be her nickname as a little girl. With her classroom next to the school’s front main doors, she heard it slam shut, causing her to gasp and drop the ball. She twirled and started to run toward the window to see if she could catch who rolled in this toy when she stumbled on a desk. Bracing her hand on the small child’s desk, she stared out of the window to see if she could see or hear anything. What the hell was she doing? A child had to have rolled the ball into her room, no one else. What was she going to do, shake down a little girl or boy? She let out a long, harried breath, attempting to calm herself down. “That’s got to mean something.” She snapped her head up and turned back when the voice, definitely not Hedda’s, grabbed her attention. “Kevin.” Where was Hedda when she needed her? Actually all she really needed was that bottle of Jack Daniels.

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Chapter Seven Yessica tossed the ball she held into a toy bin then made her way back to her desk without looking at Kevin. Staring at Yessica now as she frantically packed her briefcase and retrieved her purse from the bottom drawer of her desk, Kevin still couldn’t figure out what it was that he’d done to her to make her afraid or reluctant to have a relationship. He didn’t believe that bullshit she’d said on the phone last night about them having nothing in common. He couldn’t discount the fear in her voice. “I’ve just had a long day,” Yessica said without looking at him once. “Then how about I make it a long evening?” She hiked her purse on her shoulder as she cut him a suspicious glare. Before she could turn him down, he raised his hands in the air. “All innocent. I promise. I just wanted to take you out to dinner so that we can find more things in common with each other. That’s all.” Yessica strolled toward him. It took heaven, earth, and every bit of willpower for Kevin not to scope out her body. From what he could tell, she had on a short-sleeved T-shirt that hugged her frame. He didn’t dare look down at her skirt. Kevin didn’t want to be accused of only thinking about one thing when it came to her. Although he was no altar boy, Kevin wasn’t like Marcus. He wasn’t the love ’em and leave ’em type. Kevin couldn’t deny the overwhelming pull whenever he was around Yessica. Call it soul mates. Call it voodoo. Whatever it was, Kevin ached for more of it. “Look, I had a great time the other night,” Yessica said. “And last night.” He winked. Kevin didn’t mean to blurt out that he had never had phone sex before. Sure, he and other women in his past had made sexual suggestions on the phone before meeting one another but it always stopped before he felt the need to relieve himself.

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With Yessica, he felt powerless to do anything else but touch himself. If she had given him the word, he would have been to her house faster than lightning. “But I meant what I said. I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to see each other again.” She pushed past him and went to the light switch. “Wait. As an attorney you have to allow me to present my argument on why we should still see each other.” Yessica glanced back at Kevin. From the way her mouth twitched, she struggled to keep a straight face. He had her. Knowing that made him smile. “You’re not in court.” She clicked off the light and waited for him to walk out of the room before she closed and locked the door. “You don’t have to present a case to me.” “Oh, but I think I do. I have facts. I have evidence. I could get expert witnesses.” As she hurried out of the school’s front door, she flashed a confused look to him. “Witnesses?” “Yes. Your friend Hedda. I just saw her in the hallway. She said you seemed cheerful after the date. Your cheerful disposition have anything to do with me?” He cocked his head. “Wow, you went from presenting your case straight to interrogating without batting an eye.” She stopped in an instant. “How do you know Hedda and that she’s my friend?” Kevin hadn’t expected for her to ask that question. He couldn’t tell her that he had talked to Hedda while making up her clown face and knew then that they were friends. “She just walked out of your classroom. I saw her in the hallway before I walked in.” The half-truths were saving him, but making his gut wrench. Yessica seemed satisfied with the answer since she turned back around and continued walking. Walking behind her, Kevin finally glanced down to take in Yessica’s body. How could children learn anything with a teacher who looked as good as her? Her skirt, although it went down past her knees, accentuated her curves, mainly that luscious ass of hers. He licked his lips thinking about planting them on her firm backside. “But then again, I figured you would be good at everything you did since you’re so good in other parts of your life.” Her admission perked him up. His heart pounded in synch with his now pulsating dick.

Stay down, Little Kevin. A lady likes to be asked first before you go into her house. Before Kevin could get too excited by Yessica’s melting façade, she opened her car door, threw in her briefcase and purse, and let out a long, exasperated sigh, all bad signs. “Look at me. I’m doing it again.” She covered her face with her hand. “You’re the only man who’s made me feel out of control. I feel like I’m under a spell or something.”

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She stared at him. The look she gave said everything he suspected. She didn’t want to pursue a relationship because of his grandmother. He bet she thought their feelings for one another were fabricated or concocted. Kevin wouldn’t be giving up on his family any time soon so if that was her stance, then trying to convince her was a lost cause. Just because she had her trepidations about his family didn’t mean that he still didn’t want her. It also didn’t mean that he didn’t suspect the same thing Yessica did, that his dear granny finally conjured up a voodoo love spell that worked. He wanted to think, to hope, that his feelings for Yessica were his own and not thanks to a spell or incantation. “I’m also not real keen on your chosen profession.” Yessica shook her head. “There’s truth in the attorney jokes and perceptions. I like you a lot. I would hate to find out that the jokes were on me.” “So wait. Now you’re saying you don’t want to be with me because of my career? That’s not fair. You don’t know what I’m like as an attorney. I’m not the cliché.” Kevin folded his arms over his chest. She let out another long sigh. “You don’t get it.” This time to punctuate her point, she stared at him. “I’m scared.” He caught her frightened expression and couldn’t help but want to comfort her. He took a step closer to her and stroked her cheek. In a millisecond, he automatically switched over to “Saver Kevin” again. Time to swoop in and help this woman. God help him if after he helped her, she left him, too. “Honey, it’s only been a couple of days.” “Yes, I know. And in two days, I’ve thought more about you than any past relationship I’ve ever had. It’s all so weird. Why do I feel this way? Do you think your grandmother --” “I think what we have between us is real,” Kevin said as he moved even closer to Yessica. “I’d like a chance to explore the feelings and not run away from them.” His statement caused her smile to melt. “I’m not running. Just protecting myself.” “Protecting yourself from me?” Yessica got into her car but left the door open. “You were right that first day we met. Something about you makes me nervous. I don’t know what it is. And since I can’t figure it out, that scares me.” Kevin leaned down. “I’ll give you your space but I’m not giving up on you, on us. Whatever this thing is between us, I can’t walk away from it.” He pressed his lips to her cheek. Kevin felt her trembling under his touch. “I would at least like the opportunity to dispel the myth that all lawyers are crooked scoundrels.” “Oh yeah? And how are you going to do that?” “Come watch me work. You’ll see that I have nothing to hide.”

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Yessica chewed her lower lip. “I have the children during the day. I don’t think I could get away.” “I thought that’s what substitute teachers were for.” He stroked her soft hair. Either she needed to drive away or they needed to fuck because just seeing her sitting there drove him crazy. “I don’t know. It’s so close to the end of the year. I don’t know if the administration will let me --” Kevin silenced her with a kiss. When he pulled back, he said, “The door is open for you. You’re invited whenever you’d like to come. No pressure.” He stepped back from her car and headed toward his. He got two feet from his vehicle when he heard Yessica having difficulties starting her car. Before he touched his door handle, Kevin turned around. From Yessica’s hunched over posture as she cranked her key repeatedly in attempts to start her car, Kevin could feel her frustration. Without hesitation, he ran back to her. Since her window remained opened, he said to her, “Pop your hood. I’ll check your engine.” Yessica gave him a furtive gaze before finally unlocking her hood. Kevin propped it open as he stared at the grimy engine. He heard Yessica getting out of the car. Her heels clicked against the pavement to signal her arrival. “It’s never done this before. For as long as I’ve had the car, it’s always started on the first try.” “There’s a first for everything.” He watched her shoulders relax. Yessica let her bottom lip go from between her gnawing teeth. Then she released a smile. “I’m going to check some basic stuff, look at your connectors, and we’ll see if that’ll do the trick.” Yessica nodded to his plan. “I heard what you did to Marcus, the license plate.” Yessica screwed up a smile. “I think that was pretty funny.” “You do?” Kevin couldn’t help but smile with her. She nodded. “I like a man with a great sense of humor.” First Kevin reached for her dipstick and checked the oil levels. “Is there enough oil in it? Is it wet enough?” Innocent question but as soon as she asked it, his blood started to surge through him. He tried hard not to look at her, but he couldn’t help himself. “Oil levels look fine.” He returned the wand back into its hole. “A little low but it shouldn’t have stalled your car.”

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Kevin pushed in connectors and checked plugs. “Are they in tight enough?” This time Yessica leaned in under the hood, brushing her breast against his arm. The blood that raced through Kevin’s body now collected in his cock. He crouched down lower to hide it but either Yessica already caught the bulge in his pants or she felt his need. “I don’t think this will run tonight. Will you take me home?” “I could call you a cab,” he said as he watched her circle her car to retrieve her purse and briefcase from the passenger side. “I mean if you truly don’t feel comfortable around me, I could find you an alternate means of transportation. Or better yet, I could call Marcus.” Either she didn’t hear him or she didn’t care for those plans. She grabbed her bags, slammed both car doors, making sure they were locked then headed to his car where she waited by the passenger door. Not one to keep a woman or his need waiting, Kevin slammed the car hood down, making sure it was secured before running back over to his car. He unlocked Yessica’s door first. Her chest rose and fell with her heavy breathing. As soon as he had her inside, Kevin ran over to his side of the car and hopped in. He hadn’t pulled out of the parking lot before Yessica had reached under her prim skirt to pull down her white lace panties. Kevin tried hard to keep both hands on the wheel and his gaze glued to the road. Instead she grabbed his hand and placed it on top of her heated sex. “Oh, God! Just having your hand on top of it makes me feel good.” Yessica writhed her body underneath his hand. “What is it about you that I have to have you all of the time? I can’t get you out of my mind.” Although Yessica lived less than two miles away from the school, Kevin couldn’t wait to pleasure her. Dipping his finger into her slickness, he received the response he sought. She arched her back, sucked air between her teeth, and ground her pussy onto his finger. His head felt like it was floating on air from just taking in her scent that now wafted inside of his car. The smell of her pussy juices along with her incredible jasmine scent intoxicated him. He couldn’t get enough of her aroma into his nostrils. She held onto his arm, clutching him as his finger worked its magic inside of her, moving in and out although her gyrating hips did most of the work. He felt her body quivering until he got to her house. Parked crooked in her driveway, Kevin turned off the car and the headlights and turned his full attention to her. His mouth covered Yessica’s lips as he quickly switched hands. Her muffled protest when he removed his finger was soon replaced by a satisfied moan when he slid his middle finger from his left hand inside of her. His original finger, still dripping from her juices,

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found its way into his mouth in between kisses. Then he slid his hand behind her long neck to steady her. The passion she exuded made his heart throb. Kevin wanted nothing more than to make Yessica happy, and it wasn’t for just that moment either. He could seriously see himself in a home that they would share together and making love to her every chance they got. Hell, what was happening to him? He never thought about being with a woman longterm. Yessica grabbed the back of his head, breaking him from his thoughts. “Oh, Kevin! Yes!” Yessica twisted her body then froze, tensed, as the orgasm overtook her. Seeing her so caught up in the rapture almost made Kevin shoot a load in his pants. As it was, his penis pressed against the zipper until he thought seriously that he would end up with zigzag marks going down the shaft. “Let’s go inside,” he said as he reached for the door handle. “Don’t move,” she demanded between gritted teeth. She reached down between his legs, a move that brought a smile to his face and more warm feelings throughout his body. He blinked in surprise when, with one hard push, she adjusted his seat further back then crawled on his lap. Once on his lap, she grabbed the seat adjuster and reclined him back faster than he could say, “Whoa, baby!” Her full lips crushed against his. He opened his mouth wider to accept her darting tongue. The distinct taste of mint flavored her mouth. It didn’t matter. Kevin had this sexy woman on top of him, wanting him, needing him. He rotated his hips, pushing them upward to get her closer to him. As she undid his pants she asked, “Is what we’re doing illegal?” “Depends.” Yessica stopped working for a moment that lasted way too long in his book. He quickly specified. “Depends on what we do.” She undid his pants and pushed them down his legs. “Such as?” Just as he was about to answer, Yessica raised her hips and impaled herself on his cock. Kevin gripped her hips, trying to tamp down the desire to come right there and then. The hot tightness inside of her pussy sent shivers up his spine. He gritted his teeth while she undulated her hips back and forth. “If we’re caught by your neighbors, it’s considered a lewd act in public,” Kevin managed to say. “With all of the heavy breathing we’re doing, I don’t think they’ll be able to see us in these fogged up windows.”

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Breaking his gaze from Yessica, Kevin glanced at the windows. Sure enough, they were foggy. Connecting his gaze back to hers, Yessica’s speed increased. “You’re hot, funny, cute, intelligent, and perfect. Oh, God!” Yessica arched her back and gripped his chest. Her body trembled until she could ease herself down onto his chest. Kevin put one hand to the back of her head and the other at her ass as he pumped into her cunt. He couldn’t hold out any longer before he came deep inside of her. For a brief moment that felt like a lifetime, Kevin held Yessica close. With each heaving breath he took, it tossed her hair back and forth. “No use fighting this thing between us, Yessica. If it’s not obvious to you, it’s very plain to me that we belong together. So let’s just try to make this work.” Yessica brought her head up, stared at him and said, “Okay.” Kevin’s face hurt from smiling. “But promise me this. Promise that we won’t jump on each other like wild animals every time we see one another. I really want to get to know you.” “Absolutely.” “It’s got to be more than just sex between us.” “It will.” He held up his index and two middle fingers “Scout’s honor.” She smiled. “Good.” Yessica waited a beat before saying, “After tonight.”

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Chapter Eight After washing the skillet he’d used to fry his special Kevin’s Kickass Omelet, Kevin made sure the food looked perfect on the plates before taking the tray to Yessica’s bedroom. Last night, as usual, was fantastic. If he was going to get her to trust him, he had to go deeper. He just hoped the tactic didn’t get her running to the hills. Using his foot, he pushed open the bedroom door. In the middle of her bed, Yessica was on her stomach. The comforter hit the middle of her bare back. Just the sight of her caramel-colored skin made him want to lick her all over…again. He sat down next to her and placed his hand on her back. “Rise and shine, sleepyhead.” He shook her gently. Yessica moaned at first, then swept her arm over the space next to her. Finding it empty, she turned her head toward Kevin and peeked one eye open. As soon as she saw Kevin, she smiled, half of it hidden by her pillow. “Morning.” She sat up, clutching the white comforter under her chin. Kevin kissed her. “Good morning. I figured you would be totally exhausted.” “Oh, you did?” “You had a really, really rough night.” He winked. “I wonder whose fault that is.” Kevin shrugged. “Innocent until proven guilty.” She ran her fingers back through her wild, unruly hair. “Anyway, I made you breakfast.” He set the tray over her lap. “My famous omelet, which has ham, cheese, peppers, mushrooms, and turkey. You also have orange juice, toast, and your newspaper.”

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“Oh my. How did I get so lucky to have this special treatment?” Yessica glanced over the food before reaching for her fork. “As the saying goes, it’s not about what you know, but who you know.” Kevin couldn’t help but smile with her. “Ah, so I’m in with the right people, huh? Guess I should feel lucky to have sweet people looking out for me.” She kissed him again. Even though she kept her lips tightly together, he felt her passion in the expression. Kevin cupped her cheek and returned an even more passionate kiss. Yessica was the type of woman, the type of person, who could extract honesty. He wanted to be a better person around her. Kevin cleared his throat before speaking. “Yessica, there is something I need to tell you.” Her smile curved down like he was going to let loose some terrible news. He would tell her something bad but he felt she had to hear it. “I saw Marcus the other day.” Kevin took a deep breath before continuing. “Did you know he had your Aunt Theodora working for him?” Yessica gasped. Her eyes widened as she dropped her fork. “No. It’s not possible. Marcus would have told me.” “He thought you already knew. I guess the rest of your family already knows. I just wanted you to know because I thought you might get upset if she were in town.” Yessica’s expression changed from horror to sincere appreciation. With her hand placed delicately on his shoulder, she brought him in for a hug. The hug relayed her gratefulness for the information. “Thank you for thinking about me. You don’t know what this means to me.” She smiled even wider. “I might have to give you some thank you sex for news like that.” Kevin broke into a hearty laugh. Yes, he could easily fall in love with Yessica given time. He had one thing he had to do though. Kevin had to visit Grandma Thibbideaux. Feeling so intensely toward Yessica wasn’t enough. He had to know that the feelings were real and not conjured.

***** Instead of ringing the doorbell a third time, Kevin knocked on the heavy oak door with his knuckles. He would have thought his grandmother wasn’t home if he didn’t hear the wailing guitars and crying harmonica sounds coming from inside. Kevin grabbed the doorknob but had to steel his nerves for whatever he saw inside. The last time he barged in on his grandmother’s place, he found her, a tall, older black man,

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and a very heavy, yet very happy, black woman sitting around naked on the floor in her living room. The images still caused his stomach to churn every now and then. “Okay, Grammy has gotten wiser in her advanced age. She’s not going to be naked. There won’t be naked folks in her house. I won’t leave here screaming bloody murder like the last time. It’ll all be good.” He took a deep breath. On the exhalation he turned the knob and walked on inside. Now that he and Yessica were an item, he hadn’t seen much of his grandmother in the last few weeks although he always called her every day. Looking around her house, everything seemed normal. All of her plants were green and healthy, all blooming and full of fragrant flowers. He took a deep breath. What he smelled definitely was not lavender or lilac. The woman had to be in her seventies or eighties. As a true southern belle, his grandmother never revealed to anyone, not even her family, her true age. His grandfather knew, but he took that secret to his grave. Grammy’s age wasn’t the only thing that made him wonder. How in the world was she still scoring pot? “Grammy!” Kevin stepped over to her media cabinet and turned down her music. “Grammy, are you in here?” Giggling came from a back room. Kevin rolled up his sleeves and stomped toward the back bedrooms. All of the doors were open, so it would make his search less invasive. “Grammy, where are you?” “In here, baby,” she called back. Her voice sounded strong for a woman her age. As soon as he stepped into her bedroom, a thick cloud met him. Kevin retrieved a white handkerchief from his pocket and covered his nose and mouth. “Grammy, come on.” Kevin stared at his grandmother who, wearing only a T-shirt and gauchos, sat on the floor cross-legged along with her spiritual advisor, also known as her gardener. “You can’t be doing this inside of your home. You could be arrested.” His grandmother hopped to her feet, surprisingly spry for a woman who had just been smoking marijuana. Her jiggly but tanned arms matched her tanned legs. At least the woman got outside once in a while. In a quick move, she popped his backside with her hand. “Boy, I can’t believe you would say something like that to your grandma and her guest. You had better not call the po-po on us or I’ll tan your hide like I did when you were kneehigh to a grasshopper.” “Po-po?” Kevin shook his head. Gertie, Grammy’s gardener, laughed so hard the woman fell onto her back. The more she laughed, the more her tie-dyed T-shirt with matching cotton shorts rippled on her ample body like ocean waves. “We’re just in here opening up our mind’s eye,” Grammy said as she gave Kevin a hearty hug.

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Kevin dropped his hand from his face long enough to hug his eccentric grand matriarch. “Try opening up a window in here. Let out some of these fumes.” Again, that triggered another laughing fit from Gertie. They must have gotten some really good stuff. “Oh you are just like your father. You worry way too much. It’s a good thing I showed you how to roll one of these suckers up and smoke it.” Grammy pointed to the small homemade cigarette still smoldering in a clay ashtray, the same ashtray Kevin had given to her when he was five years old. Had he known his grandmother was going to use it to house her lit joints, he would have opted to make a coffee mug instead. “Yes, Grammy, I’ll use that knowledge in my career as an attorney, how to roll a good joint.” He put his arm around her shoulders and led her back to the living room. At least the smell wasn’t so potent there. “You always did have a knack for rolling. You always got them good and tight. I was so proud of you.” Kevin hadn’t rolled his eyes since he was ten but he couldn’t help it after that speech. “You want something to eat or drink? For some reason, I’m famished, baby.” Grammy padded barefooted into the kitchen. “I can’t imagine why you would be hungry.” This time Kevin fought the urge to roll his eyes again, although he did let out a chuckle. “So what brings you by? I haven’t seen you in a while.” Grammy dove into her refrigerator and pulled out a bowl of blueberries, a tray of cheeses, and some sliced ham. “I know. I’ve missed coming over here too.” Kevin took a deep breath. “I’ve met someone.” Then he smiled. He had been doing a lot of that lately. Grammy froze in her spot, then pivoted with the biggest grin on her rosy face. With her newly dyed hair in fire engine red, she looked like a sun goddess, or maybe the goddess’s grandmother. “I knew it. I felt it in my heart that you had gotten connected with another being.” “How did you know?” Grammy pulled out a tub of whipped cream, a baggie of baby carrots, and a bowl of cherry tomatoes. “Like I said, I felt it. I figured something or someone important had to have kept you away for so long. I knew you wouldn’t be all consumed with that case you’re on.” “That’s what I came over to ask you. I wanted to know, well, I needed to know, did you, well, you know, um --” “For a man who makes his living talking you sure ain’t doing a good job of it now. Spill it, boy. Just ask me.” In her last trip inside of the fridge, she got out a pitcher of iced tea, a loaf of crusty bread, and a pound cake.

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Either his grandmother had the worst munchies known to potheads or she was secretly pregnant and going through her cravings spell. “Got enough food there?” Kevin asked and laughed. “I like having options. And don’t change the subject. What do you need to know?” “The day Yessica and I had our first date, I came over to see you and you said some things to me about going out with her.” Instead of assembling the food on a separate plate, like a bohemian, Grammy pulled whatever she wanted to eat from each plate and bowl, standing the entire time as she did this. “I think I told you to have a good time.” “Yes, ma’am, you did. But then you talked about me finding the right woman and getting married and giving you great-grandbabies.” Kevin scratched his chin. “You need to keep that Thibbideaux line going and I ain’t getting any younger.” “What you said, was that some sort of spell or something?” Grammy froze again this time with a whipped cream-covered pound cake heading to her mouth. She set the dessert down, stared at him, and let out a loud, long belly laugh. Her face got as red as her hair. “So the skeptic finally believes,” she managed to say between fits of laughter. “No, not really. It’s just that things are happening so fast for us. It makes me wonder if there’s something else going on to cause that.” “You mean other than human nature?” Human nature couldn’t explain the need for him to want to make love to her every time they were together. He and Yessica did manage to get themselves down to a routine. They would go out to dinner and talk for hours before jumping each other’s bones. Every weekend they would alternate homes. They always stayed inside and ordered take-out. The more they talked the more he liked the woman who had mysteriously captured his heart. “Voodoo, honey, has less to do with black magic and more to do with this.” She held up her index finger. “One? One what?” “One universe. One way of accepting what happens. You meeting and liking this woman is no accident. The only thing I did, Kevin, was wish for your happiness. That’s all. She came to you for a reason and you two complete each other. Voodoo spiritualists believe that your perfect partner should mirror you.” Kevin smiled. “Then I got you. There’s little in our lives that we have in common.” Except for the burning need to please one another but he left that fact out of his statement.

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Grammy wiped her hands off on her T-shirt and approached him. Leaning forward, she put her hand on his shoulder and whispered, “Then you’re not looking deep enough.” He shook his head. “I don’t get all of that stuff. What is voodoo anyway? People always associate animal sacrifices, dolls, and zombies to it.” Grammy huffed. “That zombie stuff is nonsense. You can’t bring people back from the dead, baby. Zombies are people who have allowed someone else to take over their thoughts and behaviors. That’s it. They’re still alive.” Kevin watched his grandmother devour the food on her table. It reminded him of what he really wanted to ask her in the first place. “I’d like to bring her over to meet you.” “That’s fine, baby. I can check her hips out and see if she’s got the good birthing kind.” Kevin ran his fingers through his hair. “Please don’t examine her while we’re here.” Gertie strolled into the kitchen completely naked except for a multi-colored scarf around her head. “Any more jelly beans?” Grammy must have gauged Kevin’s expression. “And we’ll all be clothed for her. I promise,” Grammy said. Kevin felt his lips draw into a tight line. Grammy sighed. “And no pot.” “You should give it up altogether, but I realize you have to take baby steps.” Kevin stood from the table. “My doctor says I have to keep up my appetite. I have to smoke it for medicinal purposes.” She reached over the table, grabbed a handful of berries, and shoved them in her mouth. “Yes, you’re practically wasting away.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll call you when we can get together. Answer your phone.” Grammy kissed him back, then waved a dismissive hand to him. On his way out to the car, Kevin turned up the music. That got some cheers from Grammy and Gertie. He had to laugh at them. They could find a good time in anything. At his car, he settled into the driver’s seat. Before taking off, he scrambled for his cell phone in his pocket. He said Yessica’s name and the phone auto-dialed her cell phone number. “Hi,” Yessica purred. Kevin squirmed in his seat. Hearing her voice elevated his pulse. “Hi yourself. So what’s my favorite teacher doing?” “I can’t be your favorite teacher. I’ve never taught you a thing in my classroom.”

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Kevin imagined her smiling on the other end. Just thinking about her plastered a goofy grin on his face. “I know I have never done any of the stuff I’ve done with you with my former teachers. There was Coach Stalham, but he said he did it with all of the boys in his class.” “Oh gross, honey.” Kevin laughed but it warmed his heart to hear Yessica use a term of endearment when referring to him, a first. “Just teasing. I did actually call you for a reason. What are you doing tomorrow night?” Kevin glanced in his rearview mirror since his car was still backed in his grandmother’s driveway. He caught the sight of Gertie dancing naked by the front bay window. At that point, Kevin started his car and pulled away from the house. “I don’t know. What did you have in mind?” Yessica asked. “A special dinner.” “Oooh, special. You got me interested. What’s this about?” “Oh no. I’m not going to spoil the surprise.” He also didn’t want her balking when he told her they were going to go to his grandmother’s house. In the last few weeks they had been together, although they found a lot of things in common, Yessica steadfastly maintained that she did not want to meet his grandmother. “Tease. Are you coming over tonight?” The dip in the timbre of her voice beckoned him to rush to her side. However, he had research he had to do that night that couldn’t wait.

Down, boy. You should rest, anyway. Kevin patted his crotch to ease his growing erection. “As much as I want to, I can’t. I have a pretty big case and I need to do some research tonight. I’m sorry.” “It’s okay. I’m a teacher so you know I’m all for research. Call me tonight if it’s not too late. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She grunted. “Great. My knuckleheaded cousin is here. Guess he’s looking for some more favors.” “Tell him he owes me a few pickup games.” Kevin hadn’t seen his buddy since he and Yessica had gotten hot and heavy. Thinking about it now, Kevin hadn’t seen much of anyone since dating this beauty. “I’ll tell him.” Yessica giggled. “I’ll call tonight and I’ll see you tomorrow.” His mouth almost formed the words “I love you” before he told her goodbye. “Bye, Yessica,” he said before he could make a fool of himself.

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Had he almost told this woman that he loved her? Kevin had only known Yessica for a little over a month. He couldn’t love her that quick, could he? Maybe he had inhaled too many smoke fumes in his grandmother’s house.

***** Yessica packed her papers in her briefcase. She never saw her cousin unless he wanted something. She had a feeling today wouldn’t be any different. “What brings you up here? Walking me to my car?” “Can’t a man want to visit his cousin every once in a while?” Marcus stood by Yessica’s desk with his hands on his hips. “Besides, since I hadn’t seen my boy in ages I thought I might catch him here.” “If you’re talking about Kevin, he was on the phone. He said you’ve been missing some pickup games lately.” She hoisted her purse and briefcase straps on her shoulder. “I’ve missed the games because he doesn’t come out to play. It’s like he’s dodging me or something.” “There you go being self-centered again. It doesn’t always have to be about you, cuz. Maybe something else has occupied his time. He is an attorney, you know.” Yessica felt the heat rising to her face as she defended Kevin. The feeling, although foreign, felt right. “Self-centered? Oh, no. Not me. Maybe --” Yessica cut him an icy glare. “Don’t you dare say me.” She ushered him out of her classroom then locked her door. “And thank you for telling me about Auntie Theodora. I didn’t know she worked for you.” Marcus blinked and took a step back. “Who told you that?” “Kevin, the same man who actually is considerate of my feelings. He told me the last time you had your circus here in town that she was with you. So since you’re back again, does that mean she’s nearby?” Marcus followed her to her car but kept quiet until she opened her trunk and deposited her briefcase inside. When she turned around, she caught a stare that chilled her to her bones. She reached for her locket, a strange response from a single look. “Kevin has a big mouth. I need to tell him that the next time I see him.” Marcus’s jaw flexed and he took in a deep breath before continuing, “Yes, Auntie does some work for me. She’s not a bad person if you give her a chance. You only knew her when you were a kid. People change as they get older.” As she stared at her cousin with his wild look in his eyes, she had to agree with his last statement. “Yes, Marcus, you’re right. People do change.” She hopped inside of her car, thankful that Kevin had arranged to have it looked at and repaired when it conked out on her a month ago.

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“So I’ll see you at your birthday party, right?” Marcus asked. Yessica had almost forgotten that she’d promised Marcus’s mother that she would celebrate her thirty-first birthday with them. She smiled at Marcus and nodded before backing out of her spot and speeding off. Gazing into her rearview mirror, she caught Marcus’s image as he stood in the middle of the parking lot staring at her car until she rounded a corner and could no longer see him. Yessica thought back to good times with Marcus, all the games they played as children, the favors he’d done her and she for him. Hell, he’d introduced her to Kevin. Maybe the bad vibes she felt had more to do with missing Kevin than anything else. Or maybe their aunt influenced Marcus. Yessica guessed she would be doing double duty at her birthday party. First, she would be introducing Kevin to everyone. Next, she would have to make sure Marcus steered clear of Theodora.

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Chapter Nine Clad in only a robe, Yessica strolled around her home, waiting for Kevin to arrive. Butterflies inhabited her stomach as she wondered what he had planned for her that night. All he would say was that he would be taking her someplace special. Where the special place was located was anyone’s guess. Yessica padded to the kitchen. She poured herself an ice-cold glass of water. The setting sun colored the outside in a gray palette. The long days of summer always made Yessica happy. Eight o’clock at night and she could still see everything outside. Yessica tipped her head back as she drank. Something red caught her attention through the bottom of the glass. Bringing her gaze down as she looked through her back window, she gasped when she saw another red ball sitting in the middle of her backyard. Crickets chirped as she stood still, listening for the sounds of children. Perhaps one kicked or threw the ball in her backyard by accident. That excuse would have been plausible if her next-door neighbors weren’t retired. Maybe it belonged to a visiting grandchild. The image of the red ball on top of the dark green grass cloaked in the dusk sky knotted her stomach. The ball reminded her of the last time she watched a clown act. The clown balanced himself on a ball just like it and rolled around, circling her in particular. He glared at her, cackling at each pass. Every time she saw a red ball, it gave her a start. Yessica took a few deep, cleansing breaths and closed her eyes. “I don’t have a fence so whoever threw the ball back there can go get it.” She swallowed and smiled as she opened her eyes. When her doorbell rang, Yessica juggled her glass in both hands to keep it from falling to the floor and crashing into pieces. The pounding of her heart sounded in her head as she peeked around her wall to look at her front door.

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Tiptoeing to the door, she put her hand on the knob and waited. Wait. What the hell was she doing? It was probably the child who had thrown the ball into her yard asking permission to get it. Or better yet, it was probably Kevin. Yessica grinned and opened the door. No one stood on her porch. She opened her screen door and scanned the area. Once she looked at one side of the porch, she found something tied to the railing. After a hard swallow, she walked to it. A blue, brown, and gold scarf waved in the breeze. Yessica untied the garment and looked at it. The item certainly didn’t belong to her. Who would have put this on her porch and why? In that moment, her thoughts went to her Aunt Theodora. As though the cloth had caught fire, Yessica dropped it from her grasp. Maybe Marcus told her where to find her and this was her aunt’s sick way of letting her know she was watching her. Yessica turned to go back into the house when she ran into something solid. “Oh, God!” she screamed. Kevin put his hands on her shoulders to calm her. “Hey, what’s wrong? You okay?” Yessica’s hands trembled as she wiped her head. “Just some weird stuff happening around here.” She gazed up at Kevin. “When did you get here? I didn’t hear you come up.” “I was tossing some trash in your can at the side of your house. You saw my car, right?” He kissed her cheek. Yessica shook her head. “No.” Her stare had remained on the waving scarf and not on anything in the surrounding area. Bigfoot could have been standing on her driveway and she wouldn’t have noticed. She turned and looked at the wadded scarf on her porch. “Then again, my mind was elsewhere.” Yessica took another deep breath. She wanted to be calm for this date. “Come on inside. Let me get changed.” “Do you have to?” Kevin raised his eyebrows suggestively. “Oh, definitely.” Yessica pulled him into the house. Kevin made himself a drink while she dressed. Having Kevin in the house with her calmed her. She didn’t know what was going on with the ball and that scarf, but it all made her feel uncomfortable. After dressing, she went to the bathroom to apply the finishing touches. Kevin strolled down the hallway and stood in the doorway to watch her. He made a great audience. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” Yessica asked while applying her favorite perfume at the hollow of her neck and behind her knees. Looking at Kevin in the reflection of her bathroom mirror, she caught him smiling mischievously. She rewarded his lascivious stare by spraying another hit of the flowery scent between her breasts. He licked his lips.

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“Nah, I think I like you all anxious.” His lips twisted, trying to hold back a laugh that must have been bursting to come out of him. Yessica ground her teeth together to keep from smiling back at him but her trick didn’t work. “You’re cute, but annoying.” “Judge Hortenberry told me that today, too.” That got a big laugh from her. She turned around in her spot and leaned back against the counter. “Will I like the surprise?” “I sure hope to hell that you do.” Kevin put his hands on her hips and moved in close. His subtle cologne was evident even over her perfume. She inhaled the musky scent until the aroma consumed her senses. With only his touch, look, and smell, her pussy erupted with a familiar wetness that only Kevin could elicit. He ground his crotch against her. Yessica felt his cock stiffen with each slow pass. The man knew how to read her easier than a Rand McNally map. “You’re a little tense.” Kevin pressed his firm lips against hers, then trailed them down the side of her face and to her neck. “Let me relax you.” With her heart racing as he raised her skirt, she said in a staggered breath, “We don’t have time.” He gazed into her eyes and flashed a delicious smile. If her knees weren’t already weak from the prospect of what was about to happen, then seeing his devilish smile buckled them even more. Again, reading her body, Kevin slipped his hands under her skirt, cupped her ass, and hoisted her onto the counter. “Kevin, we can’t. We shouldn’t.” Her pleas would have been taken more seriously if she’d used a more forceful tone rather than the quiet, meek requests. After glancing at his watch, he gazed at her and said, “We have time for one amazing orgasm.” Yessica’s breath caught at the suggestion. He hooked his fingers on the sides of her panties and pulled them down without resistance. To deny what she truly wanted from him would have been foolish and futile. Her body ached. As he inched her skirt up, Yessica parted her thighs, forgetting their promise not to jump on each other each time they met. But she couldn’t help it. An unusual pull drew her to him. Within the last few weeks, with everything he’d said and done, Yessica started trusting him more. Kevin truly did care about her. Time for her to open herself up to him…and to love. Yessica kissed him as his fingers tickled over her thighs. Although she tried to anticipate where his hands would go, Kevin surprised her. Thinking he would touch her

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pussy, she curved her back to open herself up a little more. Instead, he feathered his fingertips down her other leg. Yessica’s body trembled. Her stomach knotted and relaxed in spasms until finally he rewarded her anxiousness by coasting over her puckered labia. All at once her body tensed, stiffened so hard that she felt like a part of the Formica countertop. As though wanting to relax her, he moved his mouth over her cheek and to her ear. She felt his hot breath in her ear, making her close her eyes, and take in the seductive treatment. Not looking back at the mess she’d made, Yessica kept her stare on the man who curled her toes with one touch. Without torturing her much longer, Kevin circled her hardened pleasure nub with his finger. His tongue dove inside of her ear, creating waves upon waves of pleasure in her stiffened body. Yessica bucked her hips into Kevin’s hand as soon as her stomach knotted. She balled her hands into fists. As though he knew she was holding back, Kevin nibbled her earlobe then plunged his middle finger inside her. Yessica screamed in ecstasy. She hoped her neighbors couldn’t hear her. Wrapping her legs around Kevin’s hand, she struggled to maintain a calm breath while her heart pounded and her body trembled. Unless Kevin had a wife or a secret life that would crush her to discover, Yessica couldn’t lose this man from her life. She had to have him, now and always. He slid his long, thick digit in and out of her with a steady pace. Yessica gyrated her hips to fuck his skilled fingers. “Faster. Harder.” Kevin took his instructions well. He made a quick piston motion inside of her, each time rubbing her clit. The feelings accelerated her heart rate. Lights burst in her eyes. To steady herself, she grabbed his shirt, balling it in her fist. Yessica screamed when the intense orgasm hit her. Damn, did they have to leave the house now? She wanted and needed more. Kevin kissed down her neck as Yessica eased down from her magnificent high. “Relaxed?” Kevin’s baritone voice rolled over her body. “Hell, no.” Yessica put a hand to her chest to steady her breathing. “Wherever you’re taking me tonight had better be worth not spending the night with you here.” Kevin smiled. “Trust me. You’re in for an unforgettable night.”

***** Unforgettable was right. Kevin drummed his fingers on the steering wheel the closer they got to his grandmother’s house. He stole a couple of glances at Yessica sitting beside

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him. In her black knee-length skirt and white short-sleeved shirt, she looked wonderful, demure, smart, sexy. Kevin squirmed in his seat thinking about another session with Yessica. He had finger-fucked her not only because he desperately wanted to make love to her as soon as he saw her but also to relax her and to have her trust him. She had to see that he would never hurt her or put her in any danger. Meeting his grandmother was a risk, but it was one he wanted to take. Kevin saw a future with Yessica. He hoped she saw the same thing, too. Kevin’s heart hammered as soon as he pulled into his grandmother’s driveway. Scanning her front porch, he noticed the wind chimes made with little skeletons and the wreath on her door with an African mask in the center were all gone. His Grammy had put in some effort to change for him. “Where are we? Whose house is this?” Yessica asked as her gaze darted from Kevin to the front of the house and all around. When he was slow to answer, she turned to him and asked him pointedly, “Whose house is this?” Before he answered, Kevin got out of the car and went to Yessica’s side. After opening her door, he held out his hand and said, “This is someone who is very special to me. Please don’t be afraid.” “Afraid? Why would I be afraid?” Casting her gaze back at the house again, Yessica’s eyes widened. She grabbed the door handle and attempted to slam it shut. “No! I told you I didn’t want to meet that woman.” Kevin held onto the door, bracing his body in between it and the car to keep Yessica from closing it. His heart broke when Yessica called one of the most special people in his life “that woman.” That woman was the one who had gotten him through all of the hard times in his life. That woman cared more about him than anyone else. That woman had his heart as much as Yessica did. He couldn’t have both of the most special women in his life not talking to one another. “Yessica, please, just come inside and meet her. Don’t base your judgment on her from what you’ve experienced with one person.” Kevin felt her fight to slam the door closed easing up. Thank goodness. As it was, she crushed the door into his shoulder blades and over his arm. He knew she would be afraid. Kevin didn’t expect for her to be this terrified. From her wide pupils and the way her hands shook, he knew he was pushing her limits. But having her meet his family was important to him. “Why are you doing this?” Yessica’s voice cracked. “I told you I didn’t want to meet her.” “I thought you would have changed your mind after all that we’ve been through together.” Kevin crouched down in front of her. As he held her hands, he said, “You know I would never hurt you.” He put his other hand on her chest over her heart. “You know in here I could never take you to a place that would make you feel uncomfortable, right?”

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Yessica kept her gaze from his as she stared down at her lap. “Right?” he asked again. When she brought her head up to answer, Yessica’s eyes were red and tears rested on her lower lids waiting for a blink to release them. Yessica opened her mouth to answer but a gasp caught in her throat. Her eyes widened when she looked over Kevin’s shoulder. Curious and concerned, Kevin turned to see what had startled her. Standing on the porch was his grandmother looking more like the typical grandmother than he had seen in a long time. She wore white pedal pushers and a blue and white vertical striped sleeveless shirt. Her normally spiky hair now had a stylized look to it that brought out the softness in her face. “Are you two going to just sit out here or are you coming in?” Grammy asked. “I can’t promise not to drink up all of the limeade I made especially for the occasion.” Kevin’s mouth watered hearing that his grandmother had made his favorite drink in the world. He had to turn away from staring at his grandmother who had changed her normal demeanor to impress, or soothe, the woman in his life. She wasn’t the woman he knew. She wasn’t even the woman he wanted to introduce to Yessica. Kevin brought his attention back to Yessica. Squeezing her hands, he stared deep into her eyes. “I would never hurt you,” he said, hoping the intensity in his statement would finally get through to her. Yessica took a deep breath, glanced up at the house and its owner again and gripped Kevin’s hands even tighter. “I trust you.” She nodded her head, setting free the tears held up by her bottom eyelashes. Kevin nodded, understanding the weight of her statement. This moment would be crucial for their relationship. Either Kevin made the best move or did something that would make him lose Yessica. “Time’s a-wastin’, young lady.” He smiled to calm her fears. “Let’s go meet my grandmother.”

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Chapter Ten Yessica counted the steps leading to the house. She even ticked off the number of heartbeats in between each step, a harder count since the organ pounded faster than she could think. What was he thinking? Yessica glanced at Kevin. What went through his mind when he thought up this plan to bring her to his grandmother’s house, the one place she specifically told him she didn’t want to go? When she glared at him as they walked to the porch, he flashed her a reassuring smile. Damn! How could she be mad at him when he looked so sexy? Although meeting this woman scared Yessica to pieces, deep down she trusted Kevin. Her heart told her he wouldn’t hurt her. Kevin held the front door open for the flaming-haired woman and Yessica. Inside of the house, Yessica scanned the place, trying to take in as much as she could. Her feet squeaked over the hardwood floor, an aspect that reminded Yessica of her house from her childhood. Her mother had called it her old-fashioned alarm system. She could always tell when Yessica had come home past curfew just from a few squeaks here and there. “Yessica Battle, this is a woman who is very near and dear to my heart, Teresa Thibbideaux.” Yessica glanced at Kevin before extending her hand to his rotund and seemingly pleasant grandmother. She knew what he was doing with his over-the-top introduction. It wasn’t like Yessica didn’t understand the depth of his relationship with his grandmother. Kevin didn’t understand how deep her fear ran. For as long as she remembered, Yessica had always harbored deep fears: fears of clowns, fears of Auntie Theodora, fears of voodoo. At her age, it all seemed irrational to hold

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onto those reservations. How could she let them go if she was never offered a resolution for any of her fears? How her family helped her cope with her reaction was by keeping her as far away from them as possible. No one ever asked her what freaked her out so much by looking at them. Just like no one explained Theodora’s behavior to her. “Theodora was just Theodora,” was what her mother used to say. But that didn’t explain why Yessica got physically ill around the woman. That didn’t explain Yessica’s uneasy feeling. And since the woman was into voodoo, Yessica assumed there was something bad with that as well. Her only saving grace growing up was in Marcus. Sure, he’d teased her a lot. Whenever creepy ol’ Auntie Theodora was around, Marcus was there to talk to her. When she would get upset about clowns, Marcus acted like a big brother at times. Had she known Kevin was going to do this to her, Yessica would have called Marcus. Yessica extended her hand. “Very nice to meet you, ma’am.” When Teresa took Yessica’s hand, Yessica admired how soft it was, soft but strong. The woman had the same penetrating brown eyes that Kevin had. Teresa’s smile lit up the room. Yessica couldn’t help but smile with her. “Ain’t you a pretty thang?” Teresa shook Yessica’s hand vigorously. “Thank you, Mrs. Thibbideaux.” “Call me T.T. like everybody else does.” Yessica nodded. “Okay, T.T.” T.T. pulled her hand from Yessica’s and placed both of them on Yessica’s hips. Not knowing what to make of the strange move, Yessica raised her hands in the air and stared at T.T.’s hands on her hips. “Yep, honey, she’s got some good birthing hips here.” Kevin’s grandmother patted Yessica’s hips like she was thumping a melon. “So when are you two going to give me greatgrandbabies?” Kevin leaned forward and whispered in Yessica’s ear, “Welcome to the family.”

***** To Yessica’s surprise, dinner went off without a hitch. T.T. not only told the funniest and dirtiest jokes known to longshoremen kind, but she was also gracious and cordial. From the way the elderly woman beamed whenever Kevin said anything, she made it obvious how deeply she loved her grandson. Yessica wasn’t too far away from that admiration society. “So how long has my wonderful grandson been hiding you from me?” T.T. asked. Yessica gazed at Kevin before answering. He simply smiled as though letting her know however she answered would have been fine.

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“We’ve been seeing each other for about a month now but it seems like we’ve known each other forever,” Yessica said. For her answer, Kevin reached across the round table and held her hand. When Yessica first found out where Kevin had taken them she wanted out of there. Then, once she convinced herself to give Kevin and his grandmother a chance, she talked herself into staying only twenty or thirty minutes in the home. Two hours later and Yessica didn’t care what time they left. “It’s apparent, honey,” T.T. said. “I can look at the both of you and tell you’re romantic souls. Your spirits have been in love several lifetimes. It’s beautiful.” “Grammy, we’ve only been together for a month. No one’s talking about love yet.” Pink colored Kevin’s cheeks. Even embarrassed, he was cute. In the soft yellow kitchen, Yessica felt calm. It helped that T.T. had some soothing jazz pumping through her stereo. The candles lit all throughout the house gave it a cozy feeling. T.T. set the mood to make Yessica feel comfortable. “Hope you don’t mind, baby, but these shoes are killing me.” T.T. kicked off her espadrilles and crossed her legs in the chair so that her feet didn’t touch the floor, an agile move for a woman her age. T.T. ran her fingers through her hair, or more like purposely mussed it until she felt her coif was comfortably messy. “There’s the Grammy I know. I was wondering where you were hiding.” “Just trying to make a good impression, dear,” T.T. said, then stared at Yessica. The message came loud and clear. “Kevin, did you ask your grandmother to act differently for me?” “Not her personality. Just some things she normally does that would not be appropriate.” “I certainly didn’t want anyone changing for me.” Yessica threw her napkin on the table. “I apologize, Mrs. Thibbideaux, if I’ve made you feel uncomfortable in your own home.” “There you go calling me the name my creditors call me. T.T., dear. And I didn’t do anything I didn’t want to do. At my age, I don’t let anyone rule my life. Well, no one but the one Almighty.” T.T. pointed her index finger in the air then put her hands in prayer form. “Grammy,” Kevin snapped. When T.T. brought her attention to him he hissed, “Not now.” T.T. split her gaze between her grandson and Yessica. The woman’s face relaxed as though a sharp realization hit her. “So that’s what it is. You weren’t afraid of her finding out I smoke pot or run around my house naked. You don’t want me to talk about voo --”

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“Grammy! Don’t bring it up, please. We’re having a really good dinner and conversation. I don’t want the night ruined.” T.T. put her hands up in surrender. “Fine.” Then she twisted an imaginary key on her lips and threw the make-believe item over her shoulder. “Subject closed. I don’t want to enlighten anyone.” “You’re a peach, Grammy.” Kevin slumped down in his chair, then took a big gulp of his red wine. T.T. turned her attention to Yessica. “I don’t want anyone in my home to feel uncomfortable. That’s bad mojo.” T.T. smiled and cradled Yessica’s face in her hands. “I can tell you’re a compassionate, caring young woman. You’re just right for my grandson.” She turned her gaze to Kevin. “And Kevin, you’re the one for her.” With a mother’s care, she smoothed her hand down one side of Yessica’s face. “Now, I used to change this boy’s diapers when he was a baby so I know what he’s working with below the belt. He satisfies you in the bedroom, right?” Kevin spat his wine over the table. “Grammy!” Yessica knew her golden brown skin must have turned twenty shades of red after T.T.’s inquiry. T.T., seemingly pleased with shocking the duo, chuckled as she fell back in her chair. She put her hand on her chest as she continued to laugh. In an instant, the laughter stopped and T.T. jumped from the table, almost toppling her chair. The fear that gripped T.T. stilled Yessica’s heart. Yessica grabbed the table half-expecting the floor to open up and swallow the trio. “Um, why don’t you two go sit out on the porch and I’ll bring out dessert.” T.T. gathered the plates, but from the rattling of the utensils on top of the dishes, Yessica knew the woman’s hands were shaking. The way she moved around Yessica like she had a contagious disease, Yessica knew her discomfort, or fear, had everything to do with her. “Yessica, why don’t you go make yourself comfortable and Grammy and I will clear off the table.” Kevin stood and started to pick up some glasses. “No, I have it.” T.T. reached for one of the glasses Kevin grabbed and dropped the two plates she had in her hands. They crashed to the floor, breaking in tiny shards. “Oh, my. Let me help you clean it up,” Yessica offered. As soon as she crouched down to assist T.T., the elderly woman shrieked and fell back onto the floor. Now Yessica’s heart started to race. Her hands got a cold, clammy feeling. “No, honey, you’re a guest. You go to the porch and we’ll be out there in a bit.” Maybe fresh air would do Yessica some good. As it was, her mind was racing over what could cause T.T.’s sudden mood switch.

*****

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Kevin held onto his grandmother’s hands and made her sit down again. If he hadn’t, he was sure the woman was going to claw off her own skin. Crouched by her feet, he attempted to gain some eye contact with her. But her bouncing knees under his chin kept him from getting too close. Her hands shook so much that he had a difficult time holding onto them. Whatever she saw or thought she saw, it truly spooked her. “Grammy, what’s going on? Do I need to call nine-one-one?” Kevin asked, trying to keep his voice low and soothing. His grandmother mumbled something incoherent and shook her head as though trying to convince herself that she didn’t see what she saw. “What’s going on with you? You need some water? Take some deep breaths, Grammy.” She tried but it came out like pants. If she didn’t calm herself down soon, she was going to hyperventilate and pass out. Kevin stroked her hands. Although inside his heart drummed and sweat poured down his back inside of his shirt, he wasn’t going to let Grammy know that. “Take three really deep breaths. Can you do that for me?” She nodded and tried hard to take in three deep inhalations. They still came out like she was doing quick Lamaze breathing, but she did look a bit calmer. “Tell me what’s going on with you. Is this a panic attack? Have you had them often?” She shook her head. “Let me get you some water.” Kevin stood at the sink and poured water into a glass. While his back was turned, Grammy said, “She’s hexed.”

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Chapter Eleven Kevin turned off the tap but stayed in his position. Thinking he must not have heard her, his grandmother repeated, “She’s hexed. That girl’s got the hoodoo on her. Someone means to do her harm.” Kevin set the glass down. He turned in his spot but stayed planted in his position. “What are you talking about?” “I thought I saw it when she came in.” Grammy finally looked up. Her dark eyes held a deep fear. “She had a black aura around her. I thought I had just read her wrong. But then I saw it.” “Saw what?” “The necklace.” Grammy shook her head. “It’s an amulet but it’s filled with black magic. I don’t think she knows that; otherwise, why would she wear it?” “Wait, wait, wait.” Kevin had to pull out a chair and seat himself to absorb it all. “Are you telling me that you think Yessica has some sort of black magic spell on her and you can tell that from her necklace?” Grammy nodded. Kevin laughed. “This is what happens when you only dabble in these things and not take it seriously. Yessica’s mother gave that to her, and if you look at her life, she’s not doing too badly for herself. She’s got a great job, a nice house, her car could be better but she’s only on a teacher’s salary. And according to you, when she started dating me she hit the jackpot. So what’s the bad thing that’s going to happen to her?” His grandmother opened her mouth, dumbfounded. “I don’t know. I just know that she’s not safe.” Then Grammy’s eyes widened. “But you, you’re meant to be her Ayza, her protector.”

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Kevin held her hands, stared into her eyes, and with as much sincerity as he could muster said, “Lay off the pot, Grammy. You’re getting paranoid and delusional.” “I am not. I’m telling you there’s something going on with that girl.” “You just told me we were meant to be together.” “And you are. But you’re going to have to fight for her. Are you prepared?” As though she cued it, a horrifying scream came from outside. Kevin’s feet moved as fast as his racing heart. He shot through the front screen door, nearly tearing it from its hinges. He found Gertie on the porch pointing at Yessica and screaming. Poor Yessica cowered at the corner railing on the porch. If she could have leapt over the steel rail and run through the bushes, Kevin believed she would have. Kevin ran to Yessica and stood in front of her. “What the hell is wrong with you, Gertie?” “Get her out of here!” Gertie exclaimed. “She’s been marked! Black magic surrounds her. Get her out now!” “What? What is she talking about?” Yessica asked from behind him. Not wanting to answer her just yet, Kevin grabbed Yessica’s hand and pulled her behind him, using his body as a shield between her, his grandmother, and the shrieking woman who had to have alerted the entire neighborhood. “Thanks for dinner, Grammy. I’ll talk to you all later.” Kevin made sure to get Yessica into his car safely, then he jumped in on his side, backed the car out of the driveway without looking, and sped off down the street. It wasn’t until he got to the main highway that he realized he forgot to turn on his headlights. Occasionally he glanced over at Yessica, who couldn’t stop shaking. He touched her knee to relax her. The touch nearly made her jump out of the car window. “I’m sorry it got weird back there. Are you okay?” Yessica put her hand up. “Do you mind if we don’t talk until we get home?” Kevin got the message loud and clear. He promptly removed his hand from her knee and remained quiet. He had a feeling he had some fancy footwork to do to save face.

***** Hex. Black magic. Voodoo. It all came back to the one thing that truly frightened her. Yessica heard that woman loud and clear when she said Yessica had been marked. Kevin’s grandmother tried not talking about it, but Yessica knew eventually the subject of voodoo would come up. Who knew that she would be a part of the conversation though? Kevin slowed the car to a halt in front of Yessica’s house. He kept the motor running as though he wanted an invitation to either come in or leave. Yessica’s head swam with thoughts, fears, ideas. One thing was for certain. She didn’t want to be alone.

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“Will you come inside, please?” Kevin nodded and parked. Yessica hopped out of the car faster than he could get to her to open her door. She had her front door unlocked and was standing inside of her home before Kevin could get to the porch. Yessica clipped Kevin’s heel closing the door behind him. The outdoors never scared her before. Now all she wanted to do was hide under her bed. “We should talk about what happened tonight,” Kevin said. “You want a drink? I need a drink.” Yessica pulled off her shoes and tossed them down the hallway toward her bedroom. She was a woman on a mission and her mission involved alcohol and lots of it. She needed to drown her fears and pain into something she could wrap her brain and her hands around. A shot glass of tequila would do nicely. “No, I don’t want a drink. And I don’t think you should drink either.” Kevin followed her into the kitchen. She pulled out a half-empty bottle of José Cuervo tequila from her cabinet and found a shot glass she’d bought as a souvenir from her trip to Acapulco. “I didn’t think I should go see your grandmother and you overruled me there. Actually, I knew I didn’t want to see your grandmother and you didn’t listen to me.” “I’m sorry,” Kevin said. He didn’t try to further defend his actions or explain himself. Good thing. Yessica wasn’t done with him yet. Yessica knew voodoo was a religion. She knew people used it to gain inner strength and peace. Since her aunt had been the only person Yessica knew who was into it, just saying voodoo still sent her into uncontrollable shivers. Growing up, she remembered how open and welcoming her mother had been toward her eccentric younger sister. Yessica was probably the only child who hated holidays that forced families together. Easter, Thanksgiving, and especially Christmas. While other aunts and grandmothers gave child relatives knitted sweaters and mittens, Aunt Theodora would give Yessica creepy homemade dolls that Yessica knew had to be voodoo dolls. Yessica’s mother, God rest her soul, would tell her that Theodora had no money and making these dolls gave her joy, especially when she gave them to relatives. Having the doll nearby made Yessica physically ill until she had to throw the thing away and blame the missing toy on a friend or simple forgetfulness, claiming she had left it at a friend’s house or at school when she took it for show-and-tell. Theodora was behind her now and so were the woman’s creepy ways. Yessica had a fulfilling life without her and was proud of it. She didn’t need to go backward. “I knew all of that voodoo stuff would come up, and it did.” She poured the rustcolored liquid into the glass and slammed the bottle onto the counter. “First your grandmother looks at me like I have two heads, then that woman comes screaming in my

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face like I’m the Antichrist.” She brought the glass to her mouth, then set it down again. “I just need to know, I mean, I have to know --” She stopped and stared at Kevin. Her world got fuzzy and dark. Fear gripped her body, wrapping itself around her and constricting her until Yessica felt breathless. The fear mixed with anger and regret all spilled out into the tears she’d wanted to shed earlier that evening. “Why me?” she squeaked. “Why me?” Kevin pulled her into his arms. In a comforting move, he stroked her hair while his other hand stroked her back. “It’s okay. One thing I know for sure about any of this, nothing can hurt you unless you believe in it. So don’t believe in it.” Yessica raised her head and stared at him. He seemed to have a halo around his face so it looked like he glowed. With his thumb, he wiped her tears from her cheeks. “Should I believe in you?” Kevin nodded. “It’s the one thing I know for sure.” He took her hand, kissed her palm, and placed it on his chest over his heart. “Do you want me to stay?” Yessica nodded. “I won’t let anything hurt you, ever.” “I know.” She kissed him, softly at first, then it became something more passionate. “Make love to me,” she said in between kisses. “Make me feel like I’m not marked or dirty.” Kevin cradled her face much like the way his grandmother had, but with him, he meant for her to pay attention to every word that came from his mouth. “You’re not dirty or bad or evil. Everything that happened tonight was bullshit, excuse my language.” She cocked a smile. “Just do what you do best: make me feel special.” Without another word, he took her hand and led her back to her bedroom. Kevin took care and ease with her as though this was her first time making love. His treatment felt right. She needed to be taken care of, treated with kid gloves. He removed her clothing very slowly and with great care instead of their normal clawing ritual. Before he undressed, he placed her on her bed and simply ran his fingertips from her forehead down to her feet. The tingling sensations made her body feel alive. When he ran his fingertips over her face, she felt beautiful. The treatment he gave her body with his fingers he quickly replaced with his mouth. He covered her body with light kisses that raised the hairs on her arms. Kevin turned her over and did the same for her other side. By the time he started kissing down between her shoulder blades and before he got to the small of her back, Yessica yearned for him. She knew what he was trying to do for her, but she needed him.

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Even without saying a word, he must have anticipated her need. Kevin quickly disrobed and joined her. As soon as he entered her, she felt whole and complete again like he had been the missing part of her life for so many years. This wasn’t the first time they had made slow, passionate love. But it would be the time she would always remember.

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Chapter Twelve Yessica rolled onto her side. Staring at the fluorescent green numbers of her digital clock did not help ease her mind. 3:53. Too early, especially for a weekend when she was supposed to sleep late. Kevin’s heavy, rhythmic breathing unknotted the tension trapped in her shoulders. As though he knew she was thinking about him, Kevin wrapped his arm around her waist. The immediate security Yessica felt didn’t go unnoticed, although it did surprise her. Kevin wasn’t supposed to be the man who could make her feel safe. As an attorney, he learned the unfortunate skill of talking out of both sides of his mouth. So when he said he cared about her, did he really mean it? Yessica glanced back at him. In the darkened room, the hall light illuminating the space, she caught the peaceful expression gracing his face. If only she could find peace of her own. If only demons, real and imagined, didn’t haunt her. If only Kevin could be her knight in shining armor. What was she thinking? He had sprung into action and protected her. When his grandmother’s crazy friend had yelled at her on the porch, he was there, shielding her, keeping her out of harm’s way. Now if he could convince her that her silly fears about clowns were just that, then she would be happy. Kevin nuzzled his face into her neck and tightened his hold around her. In a gentle manner, she stroked his hair, now afflicted with a bad bedhead look. Yessica twirled a sprig of hair that jutted straight up around her finger. With her other hand, she ran her fingertips down his arm. The sensation was enough to evoke a moan from the sleeping giant. Yessica kissed his forehead, then curved her body close to his. Last night after the dinner fiasco, Kevin had made sure she felt cherished and desired. He kissed her as though he would never kiss her again. He touched her as though her skin was made of silk. And he

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made love to her like he wanted to continue doing it forever. But was that what Yessica truly wanted? She shook her head. Instead of plotting out her long-range future, she needed to take baby steps. Yessica kissed Kevin’s temple. He moaned again, but this time turned up his face so that she could kiss him on the lips. “Nice,” he mumbled. He settled back down, this time lying on his back and pulling her on top of him. “You’re not sleeping, are you?” she whispered. “Was until someone woke me up.” Kevin held her in his arms. The protected feeling made her body tingle all over. If she would let herself, she could get used to this. “Come on. All I did was play with your hair and kiss you.” Yessica rested her hand on his chest. Kevin’s steady heartbeat bumped against the palm of her hand. She pressed her hand down harder to continue feeling the light drumming. “Did I tell you thank you for what you did for me last night?” Before Kevin answered, Yessica kissed his chest. “What do you mean? The sex?” He laughed. “You definitely don’t have to thank me for that. I should be thanking you.” “You know what I’m talking about.” She kissed around his pebble-hard nipple. The touch caused him to suck air between his teeth and arch his back off of the bed. “God, woman, you’re driving me crazy.” “Short trip?” Yessica laughed as her fingers busied themselves twirling around his other nipple. “You are so funny at four o’clock in the morning.” And Kevin’s cock was so hard. Yessica felt it brushing against her thigh and stomach as she slithered down his body. “Thank you for protecting me last night.” She slid between Kevin’s legs. A pause lingered before Kevin finally spoke. “I was protecting Gertie from you. I knew at any moment you would have cleaned her clock had she kept screaming.” Yessica’s heart sank. Just the idea of being a protector over her must have bothered Kevin. Why else would he have made a joke about it? Maybe it was the educator in her, always wanting to bring out the good in people, but somewhere deep inside she knew Kevin couldn’t be that cold and heartless. Yessica wanted to think she could show him how good it could be to offer support. Baby steps. First she had to draw out Kevin’s chivalrous side. To do that, she would have to conquer one of her fears.

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“So I was thinking,” Yessica began. Her fingers coiled around his shaft. Kevin gripped the mattress to keep from jackknifing off of the bed. “I like the way you think.” Yessica made one slow pass of her tongue over his bulbous tip. She tasted the salty flavor of his pre-cum and craved more. “I’ll tell you my idea later.” “Good plan.” Kevin sounded almost breathless as Yessica licked her tongue over his tip again. She cupped his balls in her other hand. As she gently massaged them, she lowered her mouth over the tip. The hand wrapped around his cock stroked his shaft. Yessica felt him getting harder in her hand. When she pulled her mouth off of his dick, she ran her tongue up the underside of his meaty shaft then kissed the tip. The power of having Kevin under her control felt intoxicating. She licked his dick downward, starting with his thick mushroom head and going down to his balls. With care, she smoothed her tongue over his steadily tightening sac. He trembled. The reaction sent a surge of energy through her body. As she massaged his balls, she covered his cock with her mouth, moving it down to her fisted hand, then back up. Her tongue curved around him, sliding over his bulging veins. His dick throbbed in her mouth, pulsating a solid beat. She slid her mouth up and down his long shaft, squeezing her lips around him. Kevin’s breathing sounded haggard. Stammered words like “good” and “God” came out clearly, but everything else sounded garbled. Yessica moved her mouth faster and faster on him. Kevin’s legs thrashed about until he finally released a long scream. “Oh shit!” A heavy stream of cum shot into Yessica’s mouth. She relaxed the pressure around her lips after swallowing every drop of his sweet jism. “Oh man, can I get this every morning?” Kevin asked between heavy breaths. Like a cat, Yessica crawled over Kevin’s body and planted a quick kiss on his lips. Then she hopped off the bed and ducked into the bathroom. “So what was it you wanted to ask me?” he asked as she brushed her teeth and rinsed with mouthwash. Yessica stared at herself hard in the mirror. Was she truly ready for this? Could Kevin handle it? Hell, could she handle it? What she was about to propose would prove if Kevin would be there for her no matter what. Yessica wiped her mouth, took a deep breath, and walked back into the bedroom. “Well?” Kevin pressed.

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She sauntered to the bed and sat next to him. She held his hand as though holding it would keep him from leaving her house and calling her crazy. But she had to do this; otherwise, she would always be haunted. “What is it?” “You think T.T. would take me, well, us, to a voodoo ceremony?” Getting out the question proved easier than Yessica thought. The silence, though, killed her.

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Chapter Thirteen After turning on the light next to the bed, Kevin stared at Yessica. She looked like Yessica. Sounded like her. The intoxicating scent was definitely hers. But there was no way his Yessica could want to go to an actual voodoo ritual. “Run that by me again.” Kevin rubbed his eyes. He wanted to be sure he not only heard what she said, but also see her mouth forming the words. More than her fear of clowns, her repulsion to the voodoo religion proved to be palpable. He’d never seen a seemingly sane woman have so many hang-ups. “You heard me.” Though her speech started off strong, Yessica’s back curved in and she lowered her head. “I want to go to a voodoo ritual.” “After what happened last night, why? My grandmother and her friend scared you with their warped interpretation of voodoo. Why would you want to see that firsthand?” Kevin sat up straighter, pressing his back against the headboard. Yessica lowered her gaze. Her fingers worried a piece of string hanging from the end of her comforter. “Ever since I was little, I’ve let a lot of fears get to me. There’s the clown thing.” She turned her head, facing the doorway. “I have to sleep with the hallway light on at all times.” She faced Kevin again. “Then there’s voodoo.” The fear she showed in her eyes tore at his heart. He reached his hand out to stroke the side of her face, but stopped himself. Although he wanted to comfort her, he didn’t want to weaken that strong spirit of hers by acting like he could make everything in her life better. He was no shining knight. Kevin was just a guy with compassion. Even though he admired what Yessica wanted, her flawed plan might backfire. What if she saw something that horrified her even more? What if she blamed him for taking her to the ritual and not keeping her away? What if he lost her afterward?

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Despite the fact that protecting her was not his forte, he wanted her to remain in his life. If he lost her, he would lose his mind. “Babe, maybe you should really think about this. A woman in her eighties and her gardener scared the pudding out of you. Imagine you’re in the middle of a group of strangers, participating in their rituals. Are you saying that you won’t be scared, that this won’t further traumatize you?” Yessica shook her head. A slight smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “I’m tired of being so afraid. Maybe it’s time I stare down a few of my demons.” “Fine. I’ll take you to the circus so you can see a clown or two and get over your fear.” She blinked at his glib remark. “You know what? Forget it.” Yessica swung her legs over the bed to jump from it when Kevin grabbed her wrist. “Hey, hey, wait.” He didn’t say a word until her gaze returned to his. “I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sorry.” “I wish --” Yessica stopped. “What? You wish what?” He pulled her closer. Fortunately, she slid over to him. Kevin exhaled. “I wish you knew what it was like to have fears that crippled you.” She reached out and smoothed her hand down the side of his face, a gesture he was too afraid to do to her, thinking she would expect something more, something substantial. “Look at you. You’re strong. Nothing freaks you out, right?” Kevin held her hand that she rested against his cheek. “You don’t have to prove to me that you’re strong.” Yessica slipped her hand out of his. “So are you going to call your grandmother or should I?” Kevin picked up his cell phone and punched in the speed dial number, then handed the phone to Yessica. “You talk to her.” Yessica snatched the phone out of his hand. “Are you crazy? It’s four a.m.” “Trust me. She’s up.” Yessica’s eyes widened as she stammered a good morning. Kevin stared at Yessica while she talked on the phone, clumsily explaining her plight and her request. She tucked her curly hair behind her ear, then rested her hand on her bare thigh. “Yes, T.T., I’m very serious.” Yessica kept her gaze down as she spoke to Kevin’s grandmother. Knowing Grammy, she was probably telling Yessica that her willingness to go to a voodoo ceremony was a sign she and Kevin would eventually marry and have a lot of children. Grammy had an amazing gift of associating two unlikely things together.

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“This coming Wednesday at nine?” Yessica stared at Kevin and nodded. “We’ll be there.”

We? Since when did he say he wanted to be a part of this? Though Kevin didn’t believe in voodoo, he loved his grandmother enough to go along with her whims. But he had to draw the line at going to one of her services. Kevin watched Yessica patting her side. “I guess you could say my hips are sturdy.” Time to bail Yessica out. Kevin snatched the phone away from her. “Okay, Grammy. That’s enough for now.” He shook his head. “Guess we’ll see you Wednesday.” “But I was just about to get to the good stuff. I wanted to know what positions you two normally have sex. That’ll determine the sex of the baby.” Grammy cackled on the phone. Yep, now it was really time to go. “Have a good one, Grammy.” Kevin closed the phone and set it back in its spot. “Guess we’re going to a voodoo ceremony, huh?” Yessica nodded. “You’ll be fine.” If only Kevin really believed it.

***** Yessica tried containing the tremors that overtook her body. No matter what she did, deep breathing, crossing her arms over her chest to still herself, or even glancing at Kevin occasionally, it didn’t help. What the hell was she thinking coming to this voodoo ceremony? Was she nuts? Kevin had already said she had nothing to prove to him. And really the only person who she had a problem with being involved in this religion was her Auntie Theodora. Since she hadn’t seen her in several years, she should have nothing to worry about. So why now did it matter? Yessica glanced at Kevin again. This time she stared. In the time she’d started dating him, something in her changed. She wanted to be a better woman for him. To do that, she had to want to improve herself, and that meant conquering old fears. Oh God. Was this love? Did she love Kevin so much that she was willing to face a fear to make him happy? As though he’d read her thoughts or could feel her penetrating stare on him, Kevin glanced at her. He didn’t smile as she had expected. Worry marred his face. Her heart pounded the more she felt his panic. “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked. Standing in the middle of a field somewhere in the rural part of Virginia Beach with different people milling around them, Yessica’s throat closed on her, preventing her from responding right away. “If you don’t want to stay, if you can’t do this, we can go. Grammy won’t think any less of you, and neither will I.” He rubbed his hand over her back.

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Kevin had to have felt her body shaking when he touched her. Yessica tightened her stomach to try to control herself. The voodoo thing was all new to her. No, that wasn’t it. In some way, shape, or form, Yessica knew and had some involvement with voodoo all of her life. What frightened her was finally facing her fears. If she could do this, it would be one battle won for her. Yessica swallowed, hoping that would help her to verbalize a response. “Kevin, I --” “There you two are!” T.T. strutted over to them, barefoot and grinning. “Don’t hide yourself here. You’re among friends now.” T.T.’s gaze dropped down to Yessica’s necklace. Without a word, the elderly woman circled Yessica and stood on the other side of Kevin. Yessica held the locket in her fist. She wasn’t sure what it was about the jewelry that concerned T.T. so much. The woman would have to get over it. Yessica’s mother had given it to her and it held a special value. No superstition or harsh glares would get it away from her. The closer T.T. got them to a group of people by lit torches, the more Yessica realized that if she got freaked out when T.T. and her friend reacted to her necklace, she would be beside herself if a whole group of strangers did the same thing. Before getting to the group, Yessica tucked her necklace into her shirt. “Priestess Dorlinda,” T.T. began as soon as they approached a tall, slender AfricanAmerican woman with golden brown skin and dark brown eyes. “I’d like you to meet my grandson, Kevin, and his lady friend, Yessica.” In her simple white dress with fluttering sleeves and a white scarf wrapped around her head, she almost looked regal. She held her head high as she took Kevin’s hand first, then shook Yessica’s. “It’s a pleasure to have you both here.” Her strong voice matched her persona. “Nice meeting you, too.” Yessica had half-expected the woman’s hand to be cold and hard. Instead she found Dorlinda’s touch to be soft and almost gentle. Then again, she also expected the woman to be spewing blood from her mouth and hacking up live animals when she approached her. She had to stop letting her imagination run wild on her. The same lesson of tolerance that she taught her children, she needed to practice herself. “I hear this is your first ceremony.” The priestess volleyed her gaze between Yessica and Kevin. “It is for me,” Kevin said. “This is Grammy’s thing, not mine.” T.T. responded to his comment by popping him on his backside. “It’s a first for me, too.” Yessica, feeling like a child at the moment, raised her hand as though she were in school. She brought her hand down after feeling silly raising it.

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“Hopefully, you two will learn a lot today. In case you weren’t aware, voodoo is a religion. Just like with any other religion, it is meant to uplift. The spirits help guide you. You shouldn’t be afraid.” Yessica cleared her throat then jutted out her chin, another childish move she couldn’t stop. “I’m not afraid.” She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth to keep it from trembling. “Very good.” Dorlinda nodded. “Most newcomers hear that a ritual is dedicated to them and they tend to worry.” Yessica could be added to that group. “Dedicated to us?” She glanced at Kevin to see if he knew what Dorlinda meant. “Didn’t I tell you two?” T.T. said. She smacked her forehead, then shook her head. “I asked the priestess to do a special service for the two of you. One to get you two closer.” She winked. Yessica felt her cheeks getting hot and the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. So this priestess was supposed to do a ceremony to get Yessica and Kevin to have even more sex? Not possible. “And I asked her to remove your bad luck.” T.T. strolled over to Yessica. “I’m not sure what the story is behind that necklace, but I’m telling you, child, it’s not a good thing to carry around with you. There is something evil associated with it. While you wear it, you will come across terrible misfortunes.” As though not believing in T.T.’s amateur assessment, Yessica stole a glance at Dorlinda. The stately woman smiled and nodded her head. “I’m sure you’re mistaken, T.T. But I look forward to seeing the ritual.” Yessica wanted to be, above all, polite. It didn’t matter that she was scared out of her mind. “And what do you mean, a ritual for us to get closer?” Kevin faced his grandmother. He’d shed his normal attorney attire for this outing, instead wearing jeans and a T-shirt. “Just what I said, boy.” T.T. grabbed Kevin’s chin. “I need great-grandbabies and I need them soon.” Yessica gazed at Kevin and watched his tanned cheeks go crimson in a flash. Good to know he embarrassed easily too. “Grammy, I don’t think we need any help in that department.” Kevin scratched the back of his head. Again, T.T. smacked his backside. “Nonsense. Everyone needs a little pick-me-up in all aspects of their lives, including the bedroom. I guess what I’m trying to say is, let our spirits let your spirits move you.” “Grammy!”

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T.T. laughed so hard, it cued other people around them to take notice. The woman who was at T.T.’s house the night of the dinner sidled next to T.T. Yessica noticed that the woman cut Yessica a suspicious glare before whispering something to T.T. “That’s why they’re here,” Yessica heard T.T. telling her friend. “Forgive me, baby.” T.T. grabbed Yessica’s hand. “This is my friend and personal gardener, Gertie. Gertie, this is Yessica.” Gertie kept a safe distance from Yessica and flashed her a polite smile, then nodded her head. It was when Gertie’s head was down that Yessica noticed the colorful scarf around her head. Could she have been the one who came to her house and tied that scarf to the post on her porch? No, couldn’t be. Yessica hadn’t even met Gertie or T.T. yet. And those scarves were popular. Again, Yessica let her mind run wild. She had to stop and take in this whole experience. “Sister T.T., we’re about ready to start.” Dorlinda walked over to a group next to some tall drums. “Where do we stand? Off to the side?” Kevin grabbed Yessica’s hand and started toward the perimeter of space where the rest of the congregation stood. “Oh no, honey. You and Yessica stay right here in the middle. Like I said, this ceremony is all about you two. We want to make sure your life and progress is healthy.” T.T. pulled Kevin back. She stood next to him while Gertie fell back into the crowd. The first thump on the drums made Yessica jump. Kevin tightened his hold of her hand. “I’m not letting you go,” he said just before the second beat pounded. Yessica nodded just to let him know she heard him and understood. Priestess Dorlinda walked toward the duo holding a lit tall candle in a glass. She stood too far away from Yessica for her to recognize what picture was on the outside of the glass, but she assumed it had to be some revered spirit or guide. Yessica swallowed hard again and moved closer to Kevin. As soon as Dorlinda started her chant that sounded part French, part Spanish, and part African, Yessica’s heart pounded faster than the drummers drummed. As Dorlinda stood in front of the two of them, she stared pointedly at Yessica as she chanted. Yessica stood entranced, unable to move. For a fleeting moment, she wondered if whatever Dorlinda was chanting had something to do with her current paralyzed state. Dorlinda stopped chanting. Yessica let out a long breath, thinking her silence signaled the end of the ceremony. To her surprise, the crowd around them started chanting what Dorlinda had just said. The women in the crowd wore similar looking outfits, except for T.T. and Gertie, who wore shorts and T-shirts. However, the other women’s dresses were full of vibrant colors.

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Yessica knew there had to be some significance to the different colors, but right now her attention remained squarely on Dorlinda. The drums got louder and so did the chants, as though the congregation wanted to drown out the drumming and vice versa. Some of the women in the group broke from the crowd and danced around them, swirling their skirts and clapping their hands over their heads. Yessica felt sweat rolling down the side of her face. She had to come to grips with this situation. The only way she could do that was to relate this ritual, somehow, to something similar in her life. This whole thing petrified her to no end. “It’s okay, baby,” Kevin whispered to her. She gazed up at him. He flashed a reassuring smile. His gesture was the only thing keeping her from falling apart and running back to the car. The music got faster. The chanting became louder. The dancing became more frenzied. The women contorted their bodies in such a way that the movements looked graceful, matching dance moves Yessica had seen before in a dozen interpretive dance productions. The dancers clapped their hands, screamed a chant or two, and continued twirling around Yessica and Kevin. “You two, move back-to-back,” Priestess Dorlinda requested. She circled her finger in the air for them to perform the gesture. True to his word, Kevin did not release Yessica’s hand. He turned so that his back pressed against hers, then he took her other hand in his. From the way his hands gripped her hands, nothing was going to break their bond. Knowing that he wasn’t about to let her go calmed her raging heart just a bit. “You two must be cleansed before the ceremony,” Dorlinda announced. Without saying much more, two young women holding white metal basins filled with water sauntered over to Yessica and Kevin. One disappeared behind Yessica, probably to take care of Kevin. The other stood in front of her. The young woman set the bowl at Yessica’s feet and retrieved a white towel from the water filled with what looked like flower petals, leaves, twigs, and grass. Despite the assortment of earthy items the water appeared clear from what Yessica could tell. “The cleansing will help rid you of former regrets,” Dorlinda said as the woman attending to Yessica wiped the moistened towel over her face. Yessica smelled the earthy, yet fragrant, scent. She wiped the cloth down Yessica’s neck, then across a portion of her chest that she could reach above the neckline of Yessica’s shirt. Then she wiped down her arms, and crouched down to do the same for her bare legs. This felt like a baptism. Washing away the old and allowing a newer, fresher self to emerge. The woman’s attentiveness made her wonder what Kevin was going through right now. For a split second, it also made her thankful that the man wore jeans instead of shorts.

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Yessica couldn’t take knowing another woman was crouched down at his feet and wiping down his legs. Dorlinda called the young women away. In her hand, Dorlinda held a white cloth. As the drummers drummed, pounding out a steady rhythm, she patted Yessica’s face. “I’m glad the two of you are still holding hands,” Dorlinda said. She covered Yessica’s eyes with the cloth, making Yessica close her eyes. Then the priestess slid her hand to the back of Yessica’s neck and tilted her head back. If the woman wanted to slit her throat, she had a great opportunity to do so. “You two are bound to each other’s souls. I feel it as I hold you. Do you feel it, Sister Yessica?” The drum rhythms, Dorlinda’s soothing voice, the sweet fragrance of the cleansing water, and Kevin’s hands all played a part in Yessica’s answer. “Yes,” she said. “I feel it.” The pounding Yessica previously felt in her heart now moved down to her clitoris. It pulsated in its own steady rhythm as Dorlina patted down Yessica’s arms and her legs. “You want this man to be your protector.” Gone was the towel. Now Dorlinda held Yessica’s head in her hands. Even without the towel over her eyes, Yessica kept her eyes closed and her head tilted back. She let the music take over her body. The chanting permeated her mind until pretty soon, she felt herself repeating the droning words, which she had no idea what they meant. “You want this man to be your light.” Dorlinda put her hand on Yessica’s chest. Yessica’s breathing increased. She interlaced her fingers with Kevin’s. His sweat made his hands slick. Oh God, what was happening to her? “You want this man to be your lover,” Dorlinda said. “Yes,” Yessica finally answered. “Let his flesh warm your flesh.” Dorlinda ran her fingertips up Yessica’s arms, tickling her skin. The soothing touch ignited a sensual feeling inside of Yessica. Dorlinda released her hold of Yessica, sliding her hands off of her so slowly, it was as though the two of them had just made love and Dorlinda was the retreating lover. Not more than ten seconds later, Dorlinda returned. Yessica kept her eyes closed, thinking Dorlinda hadn’t given her permission to open them yet and because she felt powerless to open them. “Open your mouth, Sister Yessica, and take this in.” Not even questioning what it was that Dorlinda wanted Yessica to drink, Yessica opened her mouth and allowed the woman to tip a liquid into it. The bitter drink made Yessica cough and sputter as soon as she drank it. It was thick, thicker than wine. Although

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she couldn’t taste any alcohol, it didn’t mean none existed in it. A berry flavor came after she swallowed, but it tasted more like medicine than a social drink, like wine at church. “Let Erzulie come into you, fill you, and make you want your man even more than you do. She is the goddess of sex.” Yessica allowed a smile to surface. Feeling more free than she’d ever felt, Yessica raised her hands in the air, pulling Kevin’s up along with hers. Her body hummed as though the ground vibrated under her feet and shook her body along with it. Before she realized it, she was swaying to the exotic drumbeats. Her heart pounded along with it. Sweat made her shirt cling to her back. “Yes, Sister Yessica, let the spirits move you.” Yessica felt Dorlinda’s hands cup her face. It was then Yessica broke one hand away from Kevin’s, opened her eyes, and turned so that she now faced him. Kevin had a spacedout look that she must have had also. His appearance matched how she felt. Slithering her hand behind his head, she felt the hot sweat covering his skin. With one hard pull, she brought him down to her. She kissed him hungrily. On his lips and tongue, she tasted the same drink Dorlinda had given her. Yessica’s free hand touched Kevin’s chest over his shirt. His heart pounded, too, until the two beats made beautiful music on their own. If Kevin wanted to fuck her right here and now, she would have let him. This feeling, the consuming need to touch, to feel, to connect, felt so foreign to Yessica. Public displays of affection were not part of her makeup. Maybe it was the drink, maybe the music, or maybe even the man, but Yessica didn’t feel the same. Kissing Kevin and feeling this free was everything she wanted. What else could she need? “And love,” Dorlinda concluded. “And fertility!” T.T. screamed from the crowd. Yessica snapped her eyelids open, leaving Kevin with his lips parted and swaying his body back and forth. She had been swept away into a euphoric feeling but she had to come back down to reality. Love? She and Kevin hadn’t even discussed keeping clothes at one another’s houses, or even exchanged keys yet. She didn’t want anything, not even a religion, to force Kevin into feeling something that wasn’t in him before. “Wait,” Yessica said. “What’s wrong, my sister?” Dorlinda put her hand on Yessica’s shoulder. “We’re about to start the cleansing ritual to rid you of your bad mojo. From what I can tell, you are in desperate need of it. Someone means to do you harm.” The seriousness of Dorlinda’s voice did not escape Yessica’s notice. It was that sobering mention that made Yessica forget about her now soaked panties, and how her nipples felt tight against her bra cups.

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“Who?” Yessica asked. Before Dorlinda could answer, something at the corner of Yessica’s eye caught her attention. Someone ran behind the crowd and hid. The only thing Yessica did notice was the colorful scarf. Theodora? Yessica faced Dorlinda again. “Is it someone close to me?” Dorlinda stared at Yessica for a while before she nodded her head. “Could be a family member or friend.” She leaned over to Yessica’s ear. “Could be someone holding your hand.” The idea that Kevin could be the one who was out to hurt Yessica made her break her grip with him and take a step away. Kevin opened his eyes as though he’d been asleep for years. His face glistened, but Yessica wasn’t sure if that wasn’t from sweat or his previous cleansing. Kevin opened his mouth to say something when a wild scream came over the crowd.

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Chapter Fourteen Yessica took several steps back from the direction of the scream. Kevin stepped forward. Although his bravery awed her, the sight of him facing an unknown mad person kicked up the flying bats in her belly again. The crowd moved apart. “Let’s just go,” Yessica said. She grabbed Kevin’s hand and attempted to pull him away, but he wouldn’t budge. More than likely, he wanted to stay out of curiosity and to protect his grandmother. Through the congregation, a shadowy figure glided forward. Yessica’s mind raced with all different ideas: an angry member, the person who wanted to hurt her according to T.T. and Dorlinda, or maybe a zombie. This time she held Kevin’s hands in both of hers while he continued staring at the figure. Once it got close enough to her and Kevin, Yessica released a long breath. “Marcus, what are you doing here?” “Was that you that just screamed?” Kevin asked. Marcus, ignoring both queries, stormed to Yessica. “We need to talk.” “Hey!” Yessica thought the days of Marcus manhandling her were over. When they were children, just like a big brother would, Marcus used to torture poor Yessica. He would put frogs on top of her head as she sat alone to read. He could always scare her by jumping out from behind bushes. The way he snatched her arm tonight, she doubted he wanted to play any sort of games with her. “Let her go!” Kevin grabbed Marcus’s shoulder but her cousin shrugged by him. “This doesn’t involve you, man. Cuz and I just need to talk.” Marcus continued pulling Yessica behind him.

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“Marcus, what are you doing? You’re hurting me.” Yessica struggled to release her arm from his grip.

“I’m hurting you?” Marcus got to a spot next to a row of parked cars and released her. “Can you imagine how I felt when I heard through the grapevine that you and your boy-toy were coming out here tonight? This isn’t a place for you, Yessica.” “Wait. What grapevine? Who the hell would have told you?” Marcus cocked his head. “Okay, let me think. Your man is my best friend, so we talk. And I’m tight with his grandma. How else do you think I would have heard?” Yessica stared at him for a while to see if he would flinch or change his story. She didn’t want to believe Kevin would have told him about their outing tonight. Now T.T., she would have definitely spilled the beans and been proud to do it. The more people she could recruit to the voodoo religion, the happier she would have been. Just in case, Yessica would have to have a talk with Kevin. “Why can’t I be here? Because you say so?” She crossed her arms over her chest, but her upper arm where Marcus had grabbed her throbbed in pain. “No, because you said so. I thought you didn’t like voodoo and the people involved in it. Now I see you here taking part in some sort of ritual, and drinking God knows what. What if they hurt you? You don’t really know these people.” “I think you’re overreacting, Marcus. The drink wasn’t that bad.” Now that she let the beverage warm her body, she wanted another sip of this concoction. “I’m with Kevin and his family. I know they’ll protect me.” Marcus snorted on that assessment. “Kevin? Kid, you really don’t know anything about him, do you? He is not the commitment type, Yessica. I’m your family. They’re just trying to brainwash you.” Marcus shook his head. “Hooking you up with Kevin was a mistake. He always told me his grandmamma was a little nutty. I should have taken that as a sign that he’s just as crazy as she is.” He grabbed her other arm, sending a sharp, shooting pain up her arm. “Come on. I’ll take you home before they can do anything else to you.” “I am not two years old. You are not going to just swoop me up and take me home like some wounded puppy.” This time, Yessica managed to break from the hold. To her good fortune, Kevin was walking toward her when she decided to seek him out. “I’m ready to go, Kevin. I’d like to tell T.T. and her friends thank you for tonight.” Kevin put a possessive arm around Yessica’s shoulders. “Don’t worry about it. I told them thank you for the two of us.” She snorted. “Great. Marcus wants to take me home because he doesn’t approve of the group I’m with, and you want to whisk me away like I’m some sort of shrinking violet.” Yessica broke from Kevin’s hold. “I’ll be back.” She pointed at both of them. “Captain Caveman and Tarzan, you two can talk until I get back.” She turned her back on the duo and headed to the group again.

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“Yessica, wait,” Marcus called after her. She kept on walking, ignoring him like he ignored the fact that she was old enough to make her own decisions, decide what kind of company she should keep. Who the hell did Marcus think he was anyway? And why was Kevin acting so pigheaded? He seriously took a page out of Marcus’s handbook. A slow, steady drum rhythm pounded, getting louder as she moved closer to the group. Yessica had to billow her shirt to cool down her face. Damn humid Virginia air. She wrung her hands, now hot as though she could emit flames from her palms. Sweat covered her body, rolling down between her shoulder blades and the front of her neck. Before approaching Dorlinda and T.T., Yessica wiped her hand over her chest. Her forearm brushed against her nipples, making sparks shoot in her eyes. She licked her lips, then peered over her shoulder. From the way Kevin’s hands waved in the air, and the way Marcus stood with his fists to his hips, she knew their conversation had to be deep. From the way she was feeling, she also hoped it would be quick. Yessica stepped into the same circle she and Kevin had for a short period. As though a wave hit her and knocked her back, she felt an overwhelming crash against her body. Her breathing quickened but that didn’t scare her like she thought it would. Her knees knocked. To keep them steady, she planted herself next to Dorlinda and held her legs together. In order to hide her trembling hands, she crossed her arms and balled her hands into fists. “I, um,” Yessica swallowed. “I wanted to, uh, thank you both for tonight.” Yessica blinked when her vision blurred for a moment. “Are you okay, baby?” T.T. held onto Yessica’s shoulders and tried to gain some eye contact. Yessica wriggled away from her and presented a reassuring smile. “Just fine. A little tired.” Dorlinda replaced T.T.’s spot in front of her and grasped Yessica’s shoulders. “At least let me do the cleansing ritual on you.” She peered over Yessica’s shoulder, then looked behind her as though the bad guys, whoever they were, existed all around them. “The wolves are at your door. You need protection.” What Yessica needed was to get home and get to bed. Exhaustion wasn’t plaguing her. Just the opposite. Whatever Dorlinda used or did in the first ritual gave Jessica an intense sexual urge, an appetite that made her ravenous. “I have to go. Thanks again.” Yessica took a couple of steps back. Before leaving, Dorlinda arrested her attention by only using her voice. “If you won’t remove the necklace, at least protect yourself by limiting contact with the familiar.” What? It didn’t make any sense to Yessica. Did Dorlinda want her to stop seeing her family? To cut all ties? She couldn’t do that, not her entire family. Or was she advising her to

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give up Kevin? That Yessica wouldn’t do, especially not tonight. Tonight, she really needed him. “Thanks for the advice.” Yessica stumbled toward Kevin. She didn’t care where Kevin needed to take her but he had to douse the flame in her body and quick.

***** “You got some major balls coming up here,” Kevin began. He paced in the grassy area in front of Marcus. He feared if he stopped moving, the blood would rush out of his head and back down to his cock again. What was wrong with him? He wanted to rip off every stitch of clothes he had on and run around free and naked. When he glanced at Yessica standing so far away from him, he wondered if she had the same feeling overcome her as well. “Don’t forget that Yessica is my cousin. Family is thicker than anything, more important than image or money or notoriety.” Marcus pushed Kevin’s shoulder back. “What the hell were you thinking bringing her here?” Not one to be pushed around, Kevin pushed Marcus back. “I didn’t just drag her here by her hair. She asked to come here. She wanted to do this.” “Why?” “Because she’s trying to come to grips with her fears and hang-ups. She was doing so well until you fucked it up.” “Fuck you, man. She was terrified. You could see it in her face.” Marcus chuckled and clapped his hands. “Man, I should have seen this coming.” “What?” Kevin stopped for a moment. “It’s just something Yessica does. She loves the attention. What better way to fawn all over her than to put her in harm’s way so that she can be rescued.” Kevin stared at his friend for a second. “Nah, that doesn’t sound like Yessica. She’s levelheaded. She wouldn’t need to play games.” “I’ve known her since she was a baby. I know what she’s capable of and how she extracts sympathy from people. Don’t fall for it, dude. Just smile and nod.” Was Marcus telling the truth? Had Yessica done all of this simply for attention? No way. Kevin had dated needy women like that. Yessica didn’t come off as the type to scheme a way to get pity. Besides, she didn’t seem to be the type to need much of anything. “Do me a favor, Marcus.” Kevin crept over to his former frat buddy and whispered when he saw Yessica getting closer, “Stay out of our business.” “Whatever, Kevin. You need to watch out for her. Yessica is not, uh --” “Not what, Marcus?” Yessica asked. Marcus cut his gaze between Yessica and Kevin.

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“You’re not strong enough to handle all of this.” Marcus raised his hands in the air. “And what would you know about any of this?” She pointed down and twirled her finger. “I know just knowing about voodoo was enough for you to keep a night-light in your room.” Marcus’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell me you still leave a light on, Yessie.” He covered his mouth to hide a chuckle. Yessica folded her arms, then chewed on her lower lip, probably to channel some anger. Kevin felt the heat of his anger simmering in his belly. He wasn’t sure if it was the drink they had given him during the ceremony, the ceremony itself or the fact that Yessica wanted to come here tonight, but Kevin felt a deep stirring in his body that would not go away no matter what he thought about or did. He glanced at Yessica. Even looking frazzled and pissed, she looked incredibly sexy. What was going on with him? Now was not the time and this was definitely not the place to think about sex, although every part of him wanted nothing more than to strip Yessica naked and lick every inch of her flesh. “Thanks for cutting my night short, Marky.” Yessica smirked. “One day you’ll thank me.” Like a pesky older brother, Marcus wagged his finger at her. “Wait for it.” Yessica turned to Kevin. “Will you take me home, please?” As though Yessica triggered his libido with her inquiry, Kevin’s heart hammered as he held open his car door for her. As he walked around the back of the car to the driver’s side, Marcus took that opportunity to say in a low tone, “Walk away, man. You don’t know what you’re getting into.” “I’m a big boy. I think I can handle whatever comes my way.” Kevin ducked into the car. Motoring down the street, the last thing he expected was for Yessica to attack him. One arm snaked behind his head. Her other hand rested high on his thigh. Then she kissed the side of his face and nibbled his ear. At fifty miles an hour down a country road, Kevin wasn’t prepared to handle this.

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Chapter Fifteen Yessica wasn’t sure what took over her body, but she couldn’t contain herself. She felt as though someone or something possessed her and forced her to grab Kevin. Her hand massaged his muscled thigh as she licked in his ear. Yessica half-expected Kevin to try and stop her, hold her hand, plead with her to not touch him while he was driving. Instead he increased his speed. He took her hand that was on his thigh and brought it up to the bulge between his legs. Without instruction, Yessica stroked her thumb down the seam of his pants where his cock pushed against it. “What did they do to us?” Kevin asked in a growl. Yessica wasn’t so sure what they felt had anything to with the ceremony or the drink. It would have been easy to blame voodoo, but would it have been accurate? Hadn’t they always attacked each other like this? The car shot through the empty streets, swerving around the roads, going faster and faster. If Kevin didn’t slow down or stop soon, they were going to crash or get caught. Yessica hoped neither one happened because she wanted this man, needed him, right here and now. “Pull over,” she demanded. “I can get to my house in ten minutes.” Kevin blew through a traffic light that had just turned red. “I can’t wait that long.” Yessica fumbled, trying to undo his pants. Her body jerked. Looking around, she saw that Kevin had pulled the car off the side of the road. The gravel in the parking lot at an old diner crunched under the wheels of the car. He rolled the car behind the building as much as he could, then extinguished the headlights.

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He turned off the car, immersing them in silence except for their heavy breathing that fogged the glass. Without a word, Kevin curved his hand behind Yessica’s head and pulled her close to him. He kissed her deep and hard, crushing his lips against hers. His tongue forced its way into her mouth. Yessica welcomed it, sucking on it as she clawed his shirt. Goosebumps formed on her skin as everything in her body pulsed. Just as she finally got to the clasp on his jeans to undo them, he pulled away from her. Kevin jumped out of the car and ran over to her side. Yessica didn’t wait for him to escort her out of the car. She leapt from it and into his arms. Their lips connected in that same type of passionate kiss they’d shared in the car. Kevin slipped his hand under her shirt. His large hand cupped her breast over her bra and massaged it until she moaned. Suddenly feeling constrained in her clothing, Yessica ripped off her top and tossed it without care to the ground. Kevin parroted her move, removing his shirt as she worked on his pants. She didn’t get a chance to pull them off before Kevin lifted her off the ground and carried her to the front of the car. Kevin laid her on the hood, then reached under her skirt. Like a man possessed, he ripped off her panties. It took him even less time to drop his pants. Before entering her, he let his fingers delve between her slick nether lips. Of course he had to have known she would have been dripping wet at this point. Every cell in her body wanted Kevin. Yessica wrapped her legs around his and squeezed them to pull him in close. Kevin took her subtle hint and slid the tip of his cock up and down between her pussy lips. With one hard thrust he was inside of her. The connection caused her to arch her back off the hard hood. Usually when Yessica got this hot and turned on by Kevin, the initial plunge would be good enough to take the edge off of her need. This time, however, the friction of his thrusts and the heat of the night, combined with her earlier fears at the ceremony, kept her body electrified. Lucky for her, it seemed like Kevin was at that same high. He pushed into her faster and harder, grinding his hips so that he rubbed against her clit. Yessica clawed at his back. To pacify herself, she nibbled his shoulder and the side of his neck. Kevin fisted her hair. She felt his body trembling but knew he wasn’t close to coming, not like she was. Kevin pulled her bra cups down to release her breasts. Hungrily, his mouth encapsulated a breast, his tongue voraciously flicking her nipple as his other hand massaged her unattended breast. Like a snake, Yessica coiled her legs tighter around Kevin’s body. Her clit throbbed as he fucked her harder and faster. Reminiscent of the drumming she’d heard at the ceremony, Yessica’s heart pounded just as hard and as fast. Her body undulated on the hood like the dancers’ bodies had, dancing around them at the ritual.

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A red hue colored her vision. In the darkness, with a small light illuminating the back of the empty restaurant lighting the area, it looked like flames circled Kevin’s head. Yessica blinked a couple of times. Whatever she had drunk must have played with her mind. “Damn, you’re so sexy!” Kevin grunted in her ear. His words were all Yessica needed to orgasm. She squeezed him tighter, then released a long, low moan that got dogs close enough to hear her to howl in chorus. Yessica sat up and pushed Kevin’s shoulders back. As soon as he pulled out of her, she wriggled off of the car hood. “Get on your back.” Yessica pointed to the ground. Kevin didn’t need any further explanation. From the speed of his action, he also didn’t need another invitation. Yessica straddled him and impaled herself on his erection. Her knees scraped against soft blades of grass and a couple of rocks that hid below the surface. Yessica couldn’t care less about hurting her knees. She was making love to her man and that was all that mattered. Her hands rested on his bare chest. His heart thumped so hard, Yessica feared it would jackhammer out of his chest. She squeezed her inner pussy walls around his shaft, an action that made him groan in pleasure. Sweat covered their bodies. The unbearable humidity made it difficult for Yessica to breathe. She kept her mouth open to take in as much air as possible. When she looked down at Kevin, she noticed a drop of water hit his forehead. She didn’t think she was sweating that much to dribble on her man. Then she felt a drop on the back of her neck, then another. Pretty soon the sky opened up and drenched them in a typical summer rain. Steam rose from the ground and gravel. Despite the rain, Yessica didn’t stop grinding on her man. Kevin held her thighs as the raindrops pelted them. He sat up and wrapped his arms around her waist. Yessica never felt so alive and dirty and sexy all at the same time. The soft grass gave way to the dirt underneath that had now turned to mud. She didn’t care. Yessica grabbed Kevin’s wet hair and held onto him as another intense climax hit her and rocked her body. Kevin planted soft kisses on her arm and chest until lightning flashed and loud thunder boomed over their heads. Yessica yelped and tried jumping off of Kevin’s lap. He held her down. “I’m not done with you yet.” He kissed her before allowing her to stand. Kevin stood and took her hand. Holding his pants up in one hand and holding Yessica’s hand in the other, he ran to the diner and cornered her under a small overhang that must have allowed the rain to pelt him in the back but shielded her. Kevin kissed her again, sucking on her bottom lip and dipping his tongue into her mouth until she almost swooned. He scooped his hands under her butt. One hand lifted her leg to encourage her to wrap it around him. He slid his other hand in between their bodies to guide his cock to her pussy.

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As though he planned it, as soon as Kevin thrust inside of her, thunder cracked just as the lightning flashed. Rain beat down harder on the ground. Kevin held Yessica up as he fucked her against the wall, matching his movements with the intensity of the rainfall. “Damn, this is good!” Kevin’s thrusts accelerated. This time when Yessica felt him trembling, she knew he was close. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she held on to him in anticipation of another glorious orgasm. As much as she wanted to fight against it, Yessica was falling for this man, hard. More than the clowns and voodoo, knowing that someone managed to break down her protective wall scared her the most. Would he want to even be by her side once he got tired of the sex? Yessica didn’t want to ruin the moment by thinking about it right now. She had this sexy man giving her the most exciting and pleasurable moment of her life. She didn’t need to clutter her mind with negative thoughts. “Oh, God, baby! Yes!” Kevin increased his speed, then thrust himself deep inside of her. He held himself there as he came. Yessica tightened her hold as her body peaked with ecstasy then slowly settled back down. She rested her head on his shoulder, sated and spent. The rumble of thunder snagged her attention. She knew the storm had gotten forceful. At times, the weather seemed to match their lovemaking. Yessica opened her eyes for a moment. Lightning flashed and illuminated the empty field behind the diner. In the middle of the field, Yessica caught a still figure standing…and staring. Yessica screamed and struggled away from Kevin. “What’s wrong? What’s going on?” Kevin asked as he struggled to hold Yessica while trying to lift up his pants. “Let’s go! Let’s just get in the car and go.” Yessica managed to slip out of Kevin’s grip and run to the car. Her bra still rested under her breasts and her panties were somewhere on the ground. None of that mattered to her. She got to the passenger side of the car and leapt inside. Her body trembled in fear and cold. Kevin bent to pick up several items on the ground before getting in the driver’s side. As soon as he shut the door, Yessica wasted no time in locking them inside. “What’s going on? Did you see something?” Kevin asked as he started the car. Yessica stared out in the field again, waiting for lightning to strike one more time. When it did, the figure she saw before was gone. Was it her imagination? It was dark outside. Hell, for all she knew, it could have been a scarecrow. “Yessica?” Kevin pressed. She reached over and touched his cool, wet arm as she continued staring out of the window. “Just drive. Please. Take me to your place. I don’t want to go home right now.”

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Kevin obliged. Thank goodness he didn’t ask her anything else about what she saw. It was bad enough she thought she was going crazy. After the great lovemaking, she didn’t want to know that he thought she was losing her mind, too.

***** After the two of them showered and changed, Kevin helped Yessica to bed. He watched her sleep. Oddly enough, he sensed that she needed him to be there to protect her. For her, he left his bedroom light on since he knew that’s how she liked it at her house. When her breathing became louder, Kevin pulled his hand from hers and just lay next to her. Even after they had gotten to his home, she refused to tell him what freaked her out behind the diner. Did she see someone? Was it the storm itself? Maybe she saw lightning strike something too close for her comfort, only Kevin didn’t remember hearing lightning striking anything. As he recalled the moment, the only thing he did remember, and wanted to remember, was the incredible sex. Yessica proved that no matter the weather or circumstance, she could always turn him on. Never had Kevin made love in the rain. Sounded corny when he heard it in songs and read it in books. But to experience it, feel the rain on his flesh cooling him down as he was inside of her, hard and deep, felt like nothing he had ever been through with anyone. Staring at her sleeping peacefully, he allowed his fingertips to dance down her flesh. Yessica moaned and moved back against Kevin. Then she did something that made his breath catch. She reached for his hand and held it close to her body, curling him down with her. For Kevin, it felt so odd for a woman to actually need him, not need him to move her to the right zip code or take her to the right parties and social events. Kevin kissed the side of Yessica’s face. There was no use fighting it. He couldn’t live without her in his life. The sex was wonderful. But there was something about her. Kevin just hoped it wasn’t his overbearing need to save the world. Did Yessica need him or just need his big, strong arms around her? Yessica released a long breath and snuggled more into him. Only one way to find out the truth.

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Chapter Sixteen “I don’t think you really want me here,” Yessica said. Kevin had to hold Yessica’s shoulders and seat her in his office. As soon as he told her that he was the attorney in the Grimes case, Yessica damn near bolted from him. Everything Kevin thought about the man, Yessica said out loud, something else that endeared her to him. “I thought it was time that you saw what I did for a living.” Kevin picked up a pad of paper and pen from his desk. “Why? You’ve never seen what I’ve done.” In a defiant way, Yessica folded her arms over her chest. “Yes, I --” Kevin nearly blurted that he had seen Yessica the day he was Kee Kee the clown. But then he remembered that he hadn’t come clean to her yet about his good deed. “Yes, I haven’t seen you work; however, I know what kind of person you are. I know you must be very patient, loving, and kind to your students. I want you to see me in action.” Kevin dialed a series of numbers on his phone. “I want you to see that no matter what, you can trust me.” “What do you mean? I do trust you.” Kevin cut his gaze at her. After the night of the voodoo ceremony, Kevin wasn’t sure of anything any more. He wanted so much to help Yessica, but she refused to share. Wanting her to stay in his life, he had to get her to share, to open up. If she couldn’t see that he could be trusted, he could never reveal he was Kee Kee. If he couldn’t do that, then there was no hope for the two of them. He definitely didn’t want that turn of events to go down. “Good. If you trust me, then you’ll keep your cute little ass in that chair and just listen.” He dialed into the conference call number, then made sure to mute the phone. “Should I be doing this? Will you get in trouble?”

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“Yes and no. I shared with my client that his case would set precedents for other cases, and that a noted scholar wanted to observe at least one meeting.” Yessica cocked her head. “Noted scholar? I teach kindergarten.” “I left that part out. This man loves publicity so much, he willingly agreed to help out your students.” “Let him know that I’ll tell my class that a great knight faced a fierce dragon and won.” Yessica’s smile was infectious. “I’ll be next door in the conference room with Diane.” Kevin knelt down next to Yessica and held her hand. “I know how you feel about this guy.” As much as Kevin wanted to bash his client right now, he knew he couldn’t. Those notions would translate into the call. “You’re going to have to believe that I would never do anything to hurt anyone, and that I’m damned good at my job.” “If the TV reports are right, this guy stole millions from his employees. These people depended on him and he let them down.” Yessica shook her head. “I don’t see how me coming here is supposed to show me that I can trust you when I don’t even like who you’re representing. I’ve been working all day. I’m tired. My feet are killing me. And it’s getting to the end of the school year so I’m having to do a lot of cleaning and wrapping up.” Kevin held up his hand, splaying his fingers. “Five minutes. That’s all I ask.” Yessica looked at her watch. “Uh, hello? Mr. Thibbideaux, are you there?” a voice asked over the phone. “Please?” Kevin pressed again, ignoring Grimes’s whiny voice on the phone. Diane poked her head into his office. “Mr. Grimes is on the phone and so are the plaintiffs’ attorneys.” “Be there in a minute.” Kevin didn’t even turn to acknowledge Diane. The most important thing to him right now was getting Yessica to understand him, understand what it meant for her to be there and listen to him. “Fine. I’ll stay. Just go and do your thing.” Yessica caressed his face. “Do a good job, just not that great of a job.” Kevin kissed her cheek before standing and ducking into the conference room. “Sorry I’m late, ladies and gentlemen.” “My esteemed counsel, folks,” Grimes said in a smarmy tone. Kevin’s gut tightened just thinking about Yessica’s reaction to that. It was okay. Kevin had an ace up his sleeve for this guy, one that would win this guy his case, maintain Kevin’s dignity, and do the right thing all at the same time. “I know it’s the end of the day and you all have plans. Let’s not waste another moment.” Kevin opened a file his assistant handed to him.

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“Yes, let’s,” one of the attorneys on the other line said. “My clients are looking for justice. They didn’t spend over twenty years at your client’s business to be bilked out of their pension.” “Both Mr. Grimes and I are extremely distressed about what has transpired.” “Distressed?” one of the clients chimed in. “I had planned on retiring in a year and now it looks like I’ll have to work for the rest of my damned life! It isn’t fair. Grimes should suffer.” Kevin heard a muffled conversation like someone put their hand over the speaker before they spoke again. “Continue, Mr. Thibbideaux,” an attorney said. “Mr. Grimes and I would like to avoid taking this case to court,” Kevin began. “Of course! The asshole stole millions from us.” Kevin heard a ping noise from his laptop. An instant message popped up on his screen from his client. “This isn’t going well” was the message he received. Kevin knew how to turn this around. “Mr. Grimes and I admit that money was moved from one account to another without the principal parties’ knowledge,” Kevin said. Kevin distinctly heard Grimes clearing his throat on the call. “Uh, Mr. Thibbideaux, we, uh --” “We would be foolish to admit otherwise,” Kevin concluded. The line went quiet on all ends. “It’s unfortunate that Mr. Grimes employed the wrong accounting firm to handle his finances.” “Are you saying that Mr. Grimes’s accountants stole the money, put it in Mr. Grimes’s account, and your client had no knowledge of it? Please, Mr. Thibbideaux. You can do much better than that.” An attorney on the other end chuckled. “As I was saying, it’s unfortunate that Mr. Grimes employed dishonest people meant to handle his finances. As was publicly advertised, and Mr. Grimes fully admits, he was given a corporate bonus of well over five million dollars. Those funds were transferred to his main accounts; however, the money his accounting team siphoned from the pension fund was put in an offshore account that my client had no knowledge of. I can prove that money was never taken from that account, just deposited.” And Kevin knew this because Grimes had slipped up and took a personal call in front of him detailing his plans on what to do with the money once it reached a certain amount. A tightwad all the way.

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Rule one of being an attorney: it didn’t matter if the client was guilty or innocent. It was all about what the evidence proved. However, once Kevin knew the truth about Grimes and what he’d done, he couldn’t go on defending him. His heart wouldn’t be into it. “What I’m proposing, well, what Mr. Grimes and I are proposing is to get that money back from that account and to the employees’ fund as quickly as possible, the lawsuit against my client be dropped, and a joint criminal lawsuit be levied against Post, Hawthorne, Gorlick and Manutu, the accounting firm Mr. Grimes employed at the time of the theft.” The line went silent again. This time Kevin took the opportunity to send an instant message to his client. He said, “This will keep you out of jail and back in business.” A simple “Okay” came back as a response. “How do we know you’re telling the truth about all of this?” an attorney asked. “How do we know to trust you?” “I’ll have my assistant forward all supporting documents to your office. You’ll have all of the evidence needed to win a case against the firm. I just need your assurance that any lawsuit against my client will be dropped.” “We’ll only agree to drop the lawsuit once all of the funds are back in the pension fund and a new accounting firm is hired. Once that new firm is hired, we would like to send our own auditors to the office to review all records.” “Wait,” Grimes began. “You want to go poking around my records? I don’t know if I can --” “Done,” Kevin said, cutting off his client. “So, contingent on those factors, we’re all in agreement with these terms?” A pause lingered before the answer came through. “Agreed,” the group said, almost in unison. Kevin exhaled. “Great. I’ll draft up the paperwork and get it all over to you. Again, thank you for your patience today. Have a wonderful evening.” It took a millisecond after Kevin disconnected his call for Grimes to call him on his personal cell phone. “I have to give the money back?” Grimes screeched. “I never agreed to that.” “I know. And you probably wouldn’t have had I not found all of that information about your accounting firm and where the money went.” Kevin stood from the table. As soon as Diane walked out, Yessica waltzed in with the biggest smile. “Most clients would thank me for getting them out of a jam.” “I wanted you to do that and let me keep the money.” A shiver went up Kevin’s back. “I couldn’t do that, Mr. Grimes. Not with evidence so obviously against you.” Grimes sighed heavily on the phone.

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“For what it’s worth, you’ve cleared up your name. You’ll gain respectability.” “Kid, I never lost it.” Again, Kevin bristled at the “kid” moniker and Grimes’s clueless response. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news after such a great victory; however, I will no longer be your attorney.” Yessica sauntered to him, her smile getting wider with each step. Once she reached him, she wrapped her arms around him. “What? You can’t do this. How will it look in the media if after we come to such an equitable agreement, you drop me?” Grimes’s whining reached an all-time high. Now Grimes was worried about the media? He couldn’t have cared less before. “What will that teacher think?” As Kevin held her, he knew exactly what she thought: that Kevin was a good and decent man. At least that was what he hoped she thought. “You can spin it any way you would like. Tell them I’m taking some time off. I’m exhausted. I have a lot on my plate. Whatever you would like.” “But your father --” Kevin cut him off. “My father would have wanted me to be my own man. I no longer wish to represent you or your interests. My assistant will forward you the final bill. I would be more than happy to refer you to another attorney.” “Fuck you!” Grimes disconnected the call. Kevin closed his phone and set it on the table. “I tried to impress you.” She kissed him. “Trust me. You did.” Her hands rubbed his back. “I’m very proud of you and what you did.” “How proud?” Kevin raised his eyebrows. Yessica looked over her shoulder at the door. “Does that door have a lock?” “No.” Yessica cocked her head as she headed to the door. “But my office door does.” She stopped and turned back to him. “And I’ve always fantasized about having hot sex on my desk.” She came back for him and took his hand. “Ask and you shall receive.” As Kevin followed Yessica back to his office, he turned to his assistant, who was sitting at her desk. “Diane, hold all of my calls, please.” “Yes, sir.” Kevin could tell from the way she smiled that she knew what he and Yessica would be doing behind closed doors. He didn’t care.

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He shut them in his office. Yessica, with her back to him, put her hands on his desk like she was waiting for him to come up behind her. He did just that, slowly wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing the back of her neck. “Thank you for staying. I know it’s been a long day for you.” He kissed up the side of her face. “It’ll be an even longer day for you, counselor.” His hand eased up and cupped her breast. In a surprising response, she pulled his hand away and broke from his embrace. “No, no, no. We play it my way.” She pointed to his chair. Obliging her whim, Kevin sat facing her. “Mr. Thibbideaux, you have to help me.” Yessica sauntered to him. “You see my family is about to lose the farm. The man from the bank says he owns our property.” She sat on his lap. “Anything I can do to keep my family’s home?” Kevin rested his hand on her ass and gave her a gentle squeeze. “If you bring me in the contract so I can review the terms, I can tell you --” Yessica covered his mouth with her hand. In his ear, she whispered, “You’ve already showed me Good Lawyer. Now I want to see Bad Lawyer.” Damn, Kevin loved role-playing! He grabbed her wrist, making her breath catch. “I don’t know if I can save your farm, Miss Battle.” He scanned her body, practically peeling layers of clothes off with just his gaze. “But Mr. Jones at the bank said you were really accommodating.” “I am, Mr. Thibbideaux. I’ll do anything to save my family’s home.” She leaned into him, her hand against his face while her mouth was at his ear. “Anything.” She punctuated her statement by licking the shell of his ear. As though her bad girl antics weren’t enough. She really fanned the flames now. “Really? Anything?” Yessica nodded. He picked up her hand and interlaced his fingers between her slender ones. “You have great hands. You milk cows with these?” Yessica chuckled. “Sometimes. Want to see my technique?” Kevin nodded. She held her hand up, making a circle by connecting the tip of her index finger with her thumb. Kevin shook his head. “Oh no. Show me.” Then he pushed his chair back. As easily as she had climbed on his lap, she slithered down to the floor between his legs. Staring into his eyes, she unfastened his pants and belt. She slid them down to his knees

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along with his boxers. It didn’t take long for his cock to spring to life. Yessica coiled her fingers around his shaft, the tip of it weeping with clear pre-cum. She stroked him, taking her sweet time going up to his head and back down to his balls. The entire time she kept her gaze squarely on his, which made the act even more erotic. “Hmm, you’re a lot bigger than the udders I squeeze every morning, Mr. Thibbideaux. But I think I can manage.” Yessica stroked him faster. She yanked his pants down to his ankles. As she continued to stroke him, she licked his balls. Kevin wanted to spring out of his seat. To keep himself grounded, he gripped the arms of the chair. Her head never moved as she stroked him. Her slick tongue skillfully tickled his sac as he sat there and took the delicious punishment. When her tongue licked up the underside of his shaft, he put his hand to the back of her head. “Don’t stop.” Kevin peered over at the door, thinking his voice might have been loud enough for Diane to hear him. Even if she had heard him, what would she have done, bust in on him and stopped the madness? Yessica licked his tip, pressing her tongue against it. His fingers got lost in her soft hair and his mind got lost in thoughts of making a life with this woman. As she loved him all over, he wanted her more and more. His phone rang in his office. Kevin ignored it, concentrating on Yessica who now had her mouth over his dick. She pulled off of him long enough to stroke him faster and harder. “Like that?” Kevin nodded since his vocal cords failed him at the moment. When he felt his balls tighten, he opened his legs wider. He clawed the arms of the chair again. “Christ!” That was all Kevin could say before finally shooting a load into her mouth. Like the good farm girl she portrayed, she obligingly swallowed every drop. “So do I get to keep my farm, mister?” Yessica wiped the corner of her mouth with her hand. “Hell, yes, young lady. By the way, I’m Mr. Thibbideaux’s assistant. The real Mr. Thibbideaux is on vacation.” He laughed. Yessica rose from the floor, and laughed with him. “That’s a shame. Guess I’ll have to do that all over again.” “Your job is never done.” Kevin gave her a quick peck before directing her to his private bathroom to clean up. “Speaking of job, are you going to come visit me and my class the last day of school?” Yessica ducked into the bathroom.

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“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” This was it. This was the step Kevin wanted. She got to be on his turf today. Now she wanted him on her playing field. Maybe then he can confess about the Kee Kee thing. At this point, she would laugh about it; at least, that was what he hoped.

***** “Okay, class, this is it -- the last day of school,” Yessica announced to the children. Most of them cheered. A few, when they realized that they wouldn’t be seeing her for several months, started crying. It took everything Yessica had not to cry with them. She loved teaching and she loved her students. It would be hard to let them go. When Kevin poked his head into her classroom, she couldn’t help but smile. Having him by her side, especially now, helped her through some tough times. She couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate her birthday than to be with her family and have him by her side. They would love him. She knew they would. “Everyone, this is my good friend, Mr. Thibbideaux.” Yessica pointed to Kevin, who now had to step into the classroom. “Please welcome him, children.” In unison, they all chirped, “Hi, Mr. Thibbideaux.” They followed the welcome with a giggle. Children were so perceptive. “Hi, kids,” Kevin said. “Kids are baby goats,” one little boy said. “I’m not a goat.” The other children laughed. “Are you sure?” Kevin asked. “I can see hairs on your chin like a billy goat and here are your horns.” He gently tugged a cowlick sticking up on the child’s head. The boy and the other students laughed out loud. Yessica crossed her arms over her chest and watched him with the children. He had a way with them that was magical. She imagined what he would be like with children of his own, their children. Her smile widened. “Okay, children, let’s all line up and go out to the buses.” Hedda walked by her classroom and offered to take her students to the bus ramp with her. Hedda gave Yessica a knowing wink as soon as she saw Kevin. All of the children lined up and walked out obediently behind Hedda’s class except for Tiffany. Yessica had a feeling there were going to be one or two students who would lag behind to give her a special goodbye. Tiffany had been an exceptional student with a kind heart. “Um, Mr. Thibbideaux, would you mind waiting for me outside? Tiffany and I need to have a little girl talk.”

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Kevin glanced at the girl who looked at him for a quick moment before returning her gaze to her desk. “Sure. I’ll meet you out front.” Yessica sat in a chair next to Tiffany. The girl continued to hold her head down while Yessica stroked her hair. “What’s wrong, Tiffany?” Yessica asked. The child shrugged her shoulders and sniffed a couple of times. Yessica pulled a couple of facial tissues from a nearby box and handed them to the child. “You know, you’ll have the whole summer to be with your friends and family, play games, go to the beach, eat ice cream, do all of the fun things you want to do. It’s your time to be playful and silly and have fun. Doesn’t that sound great?” Tiffany nodded but kept her head down. “And I’ll be here next term. You won’t get me again as a teacher because you’ll be going to the first grade and you’ll have another teacher.” Yessica patted the girl’s back. “I promise you’ll have so much fun in your new first grade class. Just promise me you’ll come visit me sometime, okay?” The child nodded again but still kept her gaze away from Yessica. “Tiffany, if you’re okay with all of that, why does it still look like you’re upset?” The girl finally lifted her head. Red ringed her eyes as she scanned the room, especially by the door. “Don’t go with Mr. Thibbideaux,” she said with a low voice that was barely audible. “What?” Yessica had heard of children being jealous when a newly single parent started dating, but this was ridiculous. “Don’t go with Mr. Thibbideaux.” “I know he seems like a stranger and I taught you all not to go off with strangers, but really he’s a very good man. He treats me wonderfully. We have fun together. He’s my friend.” Yessica hoped the child understood that. She couldn’t say that the guy put her over the moon as far as sex was concerned. “He’s Kee Kee.” Yessica sat back in her chair. “No, honey, you’re wrong. Kee Kee was a clown.” A black clown, but Yessica didn’t want to go there either. “Mr. Thibbideaux isn’t a clown.” The child nodded emphatically. “Yes, he is. Look into his eyes. I know it’s him.” Yessica’s mind drifted off into the past few weeks. No, it couldn’t be. Kevin wouldn’t do that to her. Would he? He knew her fears. Plus she’d asked him outright and he’d told her no. Kevin. Kee Kee.

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The sound of Hedda’s voice broke her thoughts. “The buses are about to leave. Tiffany, are you ready?” The girl nodded and collected her things. “Just remember what you told me,” the child began. “If he can’t cook you or eat you, you’ll be okay.” She beamed. Had Yessica told that child those words? Everything seemed like a blur now. She couldn’t be sure of anything. Before running off, Tiffany gave Yessica a hug. The girl smelled so innocent, like baby powder and milk. Out of the mouths of babes. Was she right in what she believed? Was Kevin Kee Kee? “Hey,” Hedda said. Yessica brought her attention to the doorway where her friend stood. “You have a good time tonight.” She winked. After this news, Yessica wasn’t sure she could have a good time. She grabbed her purse and briefcase, then stormed out of her office. Good thing her students couldn’t see her now. The last thing Yessica wanted to do on her birthday was fight, especially with Kevin. But she couldn’t have a liar in her life. If he did lie to her, God help him. Looking across the bus lanes in front of the school, Yessica spotted Kevin talking on his cell phone. The buses pulled off, leaving her a clear path to Kevin -- or was that Kee Kee? As soon as she got to him, Kevin closed his cell phone. “I need to meet you at your aunt’s house.” Kevin opened his car door. “There’s something I need to do right now before the party.” “We need to talk, and I mean, right now.” Yessica felt the blood in her body boiling. “We will, babe, at the house. Right now, I’ve got to go.” He gave her a quick kiss before getting in his car. “See you in a few.” He backed out of his spot and took off. Nothing was more important than getting to the bottom of this speculation. Was Kevin actually Kee Kee? Yessica rifled through her purse for her cell phone to call Marcus. Even if Kevin didn’t have time for her, Marcus always did. Her call went straight to his voicemail. Yessica disconnected the call. This issue wasn’t something she wanted to leave on a voicemail message. She needed to talk to either Kevin or Marcus, preferably Kevin, since he was the one with her heart in his hand.

***** Kevin shuffled nervously before going into Marcus’s mother’s house. It was crazy. He’d been in the house before when he and Marcus were in college together. The woman practically called Kevin her son. So why the hell was he so nervous?

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Kevin put his hand on his jacket pocket and felt for the special box he’d gotten from Mortimer Brothers’ Jewelers. After a long talk with his grandmother about what she felt was going on with Yessica’s necklace, Kevin deduced that perhaps a chapter of Yessica’s life needed to end and a new one should begin, one that involved him. He turned his back from the front door, pulled out the long box from his suit jacket pocket, and cracked open the red velvet box. Inside glittered a silver necklace with two large hoops intertwined together and encrusted with diamonds. “I don’t want to replace your mother,” Kevin mumbled as he practiced his speech. “I wanted you to have something that showed how strong our bond is. Happy birthday, baby. No, maybe I shouldn’t say baby. Sweetie? Darling?” “Well, sweetie and darling to you too,” Marcus said from behind him. Kevin flipped around, almost dropping the box. “Shit, dude, you scared the crap out of me.” “Why are you so jumpy? It’s just a birthday party.” Marcus playfully punched Kevin on his arm, then his gaze dropped down to the necklace box. “Oh, snap. What’s in the box, my man?” Kevin took a deep breath then opened it, showing off the necklace. “For Yessica.” He handed the box to his best friend. “You think she’ll like it?” “Like it? Man, she’s going to go bananas over this.” He shook Kevin’s hand as he stared at the adornment. “Cool. I’ve never given a woman outside of my family an expensive piece of jewelry like this. It feels like a huge step.” “You’re not popping the question. Relax. She’ll dig it.” That was the great thing about friends, especially guy friends. Even if they argued, they always had each other’s backs. Marcus was a true friend. He understood that Marcus’s interruption that night at the ritual had more to do about protecting Yessica than him being an overbearing asshole, which he could be at times. “Great. Maybe now she can replace that other necklace of hers.” Marcus peered up. “You think Yessica is going to take off that necklace for you?” “I don’t know. I sure as hell am going to try.” Kevin wiped his forehead. If he didn’t calm down he was going to be a soaking mess before he gave her the gift. “You don’t look too hot. Maybe you should let me hold the necklace; that way, you don’t feel all of the pressure of having it and carrying it around until you present it to Yessica.” “Nah, I think I had better --” Kevin reached for the box but as soon as he touched it, his stomach tumbled over itself. “Maybe you’re right.”

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“Go on in to the house and get you something to drink or eat. Mama’s been asking about you anyway. You’re the son she never had, the son who’s an attorney.” Kevin took in a couple of deep breaths to settle his stomach. “She still isn’t over that after all of this time?” “Don’t be surprised if she tries to convince you to talk me into law again.” Marcus slapped Kevin on the back just as he walked to the house. Having Marcus hold the necklace did take a weight off of Kevin’s shoulders. He breathed easier and felt more comfortable at the party. Damn, if he felt this bad now Kevin couldn’t imagine what he would feel like if he asked Yessica to marry him. Not that he was thinking about it. Not at all. “There’s my baby!” Marcus’s mother, Walletta, screamed. She extended her arms and waited for Kevin to fill them. “How are you doing, ma’am?” Kevin gave her a big hug. “I’d be better if you cut that ma’am shit and call me Walletta like I told you.” After all of these years, Kevin finally figured out why he liked Marcus’s mother so much. She reminded him of Grammy. “Okay, Walletta.” Kevin pulled back from the hug. He felt himself smiling on one side of his mouth like he used to when he was a shy teenager. The buxom, well-kept woman always managed to make him feel like a fumbling teenager. “Can you convince my boy to go back into law?” “He’s pretty happy with the circus thing.” “Yeah, everybody loves a clown.” Yessica walked into the kitchen where Kevin and Walletta stood. “Well, then again, not everybody,” Walletta said and jabbed Kevin in the ribs with her elbow. “Hey,” Yessica said as she approached him. “Hey.” Kevin walked toward her but Walletta’s voice halted him in his tracks. “I heard you two are an item now.” “Yes, ma’am, uh, Walletta. Yessica is really special to me.” “Good. Maybe you two can get married so this family can finally get an attorney in it.” Marcus walked into the kitchen. He rolled his eyes as soon as he heard his mother’s proclamation. “What did I tell you, man? She just won’t let up no matter how successful I am.” Marcus kissed his mother on the cheek even though his voice held a slight longing that Kevin had never heard from Marcus before. Was that defeat? A tug on his sleeve got Kevin’s attention.

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“We need to talk,” said Yessica when he turned around. “Okay,” Kevin said. “Oh, no. I know that whole ‘we need to talk’ thing is code for ‘let’s go in the bathroom and have sex.’” Walletta shoved a bowl of potato salad in Kevin’s hands and a platter of crab cakes into Yessica’s hands. “Y’all take the food out to the backyard where the guests are. We’re about to start this party.” “Can I at least give the birthday girl her kiss?” Kevin asked. Before he could be granted permission, he leaned down and gave Yessica a soft kiss on her unyielding lips. From her stiff lips, Kevin knew that their talk wouldn’t be a good one.

***** Yessica watched Kevin throughout the party, interacting with her family and friends. He fit right in with everyone. If Auntie Walletta hadn’t shoved food at them to take out to the guests, Yessica would have found out right there and then if Kevin had lied to her. Was her young student right? Had Kevin dressed up like a clown and lied about it? She’d found the paint behind his ear. Was it really paint, or had it been makeup? The more she watched him, the more she wondered just how important it was for her to know if Kevin had dressed up like a clown. He did it before they started seeing each other. He probably didn’t know. So why had he lied about it? Yessica could put up with a lot of things, but lying wasn’t one of them. “Having a good time, Yessica?” her aunt asked. “A great time. But I always do whenever you throw me a party.” Yessica broke her attention from her aunt to watch Kevin walk through the gate to the front yard. “Where’s Kevin going?” “I asked him to get more ice.” Aunt Walletta arranged some food on the table. “Don’t worry. He’ll be right back.” She must have picked up on Yessica’s anxiety. Yessica had to know if Kevin had dressed as a clown and, worse yet, had he lied to her. “Time to open presents!” Marcus exclaimed. “No. Not yet. Kevin isn’t here.” Yessica pulled on her cousin’s arm. “It’s okay. We can start without him. We’ll just hold his gift for last.” Marcus winked at her. A gift from Kevin that Marcus knew about? Yessica picked at her fingernails in anticipation. Good gift or not, she wasn’t so sure if she should let Kevin off the hook…not just yet.

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Yessica tore through all of her gifts and gave the right oohs and ahhhs for each one. After each gift, she eyed the back gate to see if Kevin had returned. “I think that’s all, baby girl,” Auntie Walletta said. “What about Kevin’s present?” Yessica asked. “Did you see this one under the picnic table?” Marcus picked up a box wrapped in red and gold striped wrapping paper with a black bow on top. Yessica searched over the box and under the bow for a card or a note but found nothing. “Who is this from?” she asked and scanned the crowd. No one confessed to the present. “Go ahead and open it already.” Marcus jumped from side to side like he used to when he was an adolescent. “I’m going to get a camera to capture this moment and the next.” He winked again. He had to be talking about Kevin’s present. The back screen door to the house slammed as Yessica ripped off the bow and slid her finger underneath the shiny black ribbon. The crowd of her family and close friends remained quiet as they moved in closer. The toads hiding in the woods behind the house croaked. Yessica heard the subtle popping in the yard torches it was so quiet. With the ribbon off, Yessica wasted no time in shredding the paper around the box. The box itself had nothing on it, just plain and brown. “Come on, girl,” Auntie Walletta said and wrung her hands. “Open it already.” Yessica smiled as she ripped the tape holding the top flaps down and opened it. Black crepe paper covered the contents. She pulled it off and had to blink to get the gift in focus. It looked like the inside of a mask. More than likely it came from someone on her father’s side of the family. She had a cousin who owned and ran an African artifacts shop. It was probably one of her masks she carried in the store. Yessica reached into the box and just as she pulled out the item, Marcus came back outside with a camera in hand. “Say cheese!” he said, and clicked her picture. Yessica presented the item to her family before turning it around and getting a look at it herself. From the dismayed gasp from her aunt, Yessica paused a moment before taking a good look at her bounty. “Don’t look, baby!” Auntie Walletta said. But it was too late. Yessica flipped the item around and saw a grisly, terrifying clown mask. Blood-red eyebrows arched over the hollow openings for the eyes. Mossy green ringed the eye holes. Plastic jagged teeth filled the grinning mouth. All of this was set on a stark, white background. Yessica threw the box and mask to the ground as Marcus took another picture.

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“Who would give me something like that?” Yessica asked. She scanned the crowd but no one moved. No one confessed. “Could it have been Kevin?” one of Yessica’s cousins asked. “No one really knows this guy.” “I know that boy and he wouldn’t do something like this,” Auntie Walletta said, punctuating her statement by stomping her foot. Yessica should have been in that same amen corner but her thoughts all jumbled together. She couldn’t think, couldn’t comprehend who would do something so cruel. She peered up at Marcus. “You. It was you, wasn’t it? You’re always playing tricks on me.” Yessica poked her finger in Marcus’s chest. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! I know clowns still freak you out. I talked to Kevin about it a month ago. But you know I will get to the bottom of this. I’ll fix this for you, even if it’s Kevin who did it.” Auntie Walletta snatched the box from the ground. “I don’t think Kevin would do something like this,” Marcus said. Yessica took a deep breath. If Marcus could say that about his best friend, then maybe she had nothing to worry about. “Just because the guy dressed up like Kee Kee that one time doesn’t make him a constant joker, right?” Marcus concluded. Yessica’s world dropped out from under her. Kevin was Kee Kee. Little Tiffany had been right. The child could tell from just looking in Kevin’s eyes. So why couldn’t Yessica see it? Had she gotten so close to Kevin that she couldn’t see his faults? “Man, I told him not to pull any pranks with you. He’s always playing around. I mean, you know what he did with my license plate, right? Then there were the balls and the scarf.” Marcus shook his head. Yessica put her hand to her head. The other hand rested on her stomach. As long as she sat still she wouldn’t vomit all over herself. “Got the ice,” Kevin said as he came through the back gate. “Oh, God! I’m going to be sick!” Yessica ran into the house.

***** As soon as Kevin stepped into the backyard, he felt all eyes on him like he was about to head into a gauntlet. When Yessica ran into the house, his heart dropped. From the scattered wrapping paper on the ground, he knew she had opened presents. Did she hate his necklace so much that it made her ill? Had the whole idea of replacing her mother’s necklace repulsed her?

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“Yessica?” Kevin dropped the bag of ice and tried going after her but Marcus put his hands on his shoulders to keep him in his position. “Marcus, take care of your friend,” Walletta said. “Don’t make me out to be a liar.” “What?” So his present had turned Yessica off. At that moment, Kevin felt like his heart had stopped beating. He’d never meant to hurt her. “Come with me, man,” Marcus said as he tugged on Kevin’s sleeve. “It’s not a good scene back there.” “What the hell happened? Yessica hated the present that much?” Kevin asked as he walked to his car. “The present represented so many bad things to her,” Marcus said with a compassionate hand on his shoulder. “What was up with the mask?” “Mask? You know I didn’t bring her a mask. What are you talking about?” Kevin ran his hand over his sweat-covered forehead. “I wanted the necklace to bring us closer together, not tear us apart.” “I think you’re being set up. She got a present we all thought came from you.” “But you knew what I got for her.” “I didn’t see you when you first got here. And I know what a big prankster you are.” “Come on. You know I wouldn’t do something like that. I would never hurt Yessica.” Kevin thought for a while. The only person he could think of who would want Yessica to be unhappy was her mysterious aunt. “Theodora.” Marcus patted his back. “I think you two need a cooling off period. Just go home and once she gets her head straight, I’m sure she’ll call you. Like you said before, she has issues. Let her work them out.” Kevin peered up at the house again. All he saw through the haze of the porch light and streetlights were angry eyes glaring at him through curtains and blinds. Even if he could get into the house, Yessica’s family would fight him from getting to her. “I don’t know what the hell is going on here but I’ll listen to you, friend. I’ll allow Yessica some time. But I’m not doing that twenty-four hour shit. If I don’t hear from her soon, I’m calling her.” Kevin jumped in his car, took one last look at the house, and sped off home. In a matter of minutes, his life had changed. Who would give Yessica a mask? From her sickened expression, Kevin guessed it had to be a clown mask. Why would her family think he gave it to her? He had to get to the bottom of all of this.

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Chapter Seventeen Yessica sat at Auntie Walletta’s kitchen table long after all the guests had gone home. Too many grotesque images skipped through her mind. First the clowns from her childhood, then the mask in the box, and now Kevin dressed as Kee Kee. “What a night. What a night.” Auntie Walletta fanned her face, glistening with sweat, with her hand. Yessica kept her head down, playing with a piece of string hanging off the kitchen tablecloth. It wasn’t until her aunt put her hand on top of Yessica’s that she jumped. “Baby, I know I’m not your mama but I’m going to give you some advice anyway and you’re going to listen.” Auntie Walletta squeezed Yessica’s hand. “I know deep down in my heart that Kevin did not give you that present. I watched him beforehand and he acted like he had something important to give you, a ring maybe.” She winked. “All I know is that he’s been coming to my house since he was eighteen and getting a hard-on when the wind blew.” “Auntie!” Yessica yanked her hand from under her aunt’s hand. “I’m just saying that the man cares about you. We all do. Family looks out for each other.” “Even Auntie Theodora?” “I can’t say that much for Theodora, but you can’t always explain away family.” She laughed. “You’ve seen Aunt Theodora lately?” Yessica asked. The hairs on her arms straightened to attention. “I haven’t seen her but Marcus has her working for him.” She nodded. Looked like Marcus didn’t have her back either. She would have to thank him for setting her up with Kevin. What a joke.

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Walletta fanned her face with a towel she had around her neck. Seeing the towel reminded Yessica of the scarf tied to her porch that day. Kevin must have done it. He had arrived at her house right after she’d found it. And the balls. She should have suspected him since every time she saw them, Kevin showed up shortly after. Yessica shook her head. She should have listened to Marcus. He’d warned her what a prankster Kevin was. Wait. How did Marcus know about the balls and the scarf? Yessica hadn’t told anyone about them, not even Kevin. Yessica bolted to her feet. No, there were a quite a number of things her cousin had kept from her. And it was time to get to the bottom of the reason he still had the woman working for him after their conversation and how he knew about those items. The only person who could have given her a present like that, a present meant to rattle her nerves, was Theodora. And the only way Theodora could get close to her was through Marcus. Son of a bitch! Here she was suspecting Kevin when she really should have been looking at Marcus, her cousin, her family. “Where’s Marcus now?” Yessica asked as she snatched her purse from the chair next to her. “He mentioned something about checking on the animals at his circus. Are you all right?” “No. But I will be soon.” All Yessica needed were answers. Then she would take care of getting her man.

***** “Hello!” Kevin called out as he walked around the quiet and eerie circus area. The only person he had seen in the whole place was the security guard. If the guy hadn’t been one of their frat brothers from their college days, Kevin wasn’t so sure he would have gained entrance into the place. The guard told him Marcus had definitely arrived here about thirty minutes ago. Kevin would have met him there if he had thought of going to the circus first. Silly him, he went straight home to change into clothes he would feel more comfortable wearing, jeans and a T-shirt. He figured if he had to fight Marcus then he wanted to wear clothes best suited for that activity. Since the party, something funny had been running around Kevin’s head. Marcus said that Kevin had been set up. Kevin never figured out why his name would have come up in the first place. Marcus never explained how Yessica reacted to the necklace. Had she even gotten it at all? “Hey! Anyone here?” Kevin looked around the desolate place.

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The brightly striped tents billowed in the slight evening wind. The thick tarp made a rumbling sound like thunder with each movement. A light peeked between the flaps of one tent. With slow, careful steps, Kevin tiptoed to it. He opened the flap to step inside until he saw Marcus, his friend, standing inside a circle of clowns. He must be doing a meeting, Kevin thought. Although Kevin wanted to storm inside to find out what had really happened at the party, his better business sense prevailed and he waited. What he heard shocked him. Marcus said something unintelligible. Or was he chanting? Maybe it was a prayer but it sounded so unusual. Actually, the longer Kevin listened to Marcus, the more it sounded like the chants from the voodoo ceremony. “The ritual is almost complete,” Marcus began. “All we need now is the sacrifice. That will happen tonight.”

***** The lies. All of this time Yessica thought she couldn’t trust Kevin and it was Marcus, her cousin, who was holding back secrets from her. At this point, she couldn’t trust either one of them. Kevin had plenty of opportunities to tell her he was Kee Kee and he didn’t for whatever reason. Her fears shouldn’t have kept him from telling her the truth. As she stomped through the quiet circus, hearing sounds from the lions and tigers growling in their cages, Yessica kept her arms wrapped around her body. The summer breeze chilled her instead of comforting her from the sweltering heat. Straws of hay stabbed her vulnerable feet through her sandals. She should have changed clothes, but getting to the bottom of what was going on topped her list of priorities. Finding a trailer on the lot with lights on inside, Yessica headed that way. Since it was the only trailer on the lot, she assumed it had to be Marcus’s office trailer. Only the best for Marcus. Yessica stormed to it. After stepping over a ring of stones that circled the mobile unit, Yessica snatched the door open. “You son of a bitch!” she screamed as soon as she opened the door. The trailer was empty except for one person sitting inside. Yessica stared until her whole body became overtaken in tremors. She knew from the graying dreadlocks that cascaded down almost to the floor, the colorful scarf wrapped around the locks, and the orange, black and blue outfit that it could only be one person. “The-Theodora?” Yessica said, then covered her mouth with her hand. She approached the woman, the one person who had changed Yessica’s entire life and how she viewed people. Yessica stood behind her. Although she didn’t speak, Yessica suspected the woman knew she was behind her. How could she not? Yessica’s breathing came out in haggard pants that had to be audible to people walking outside of the trailer.

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If Yessica was going to take control of her life, she had to do it now. She was no longer the girl afraid of this woman. She was a woman determined to get to the bottom of the mysteries in her life. “Hi, Aunt Theodora.” The woman didn’t move. “You don’t have to say anything. Let me get what I have to say out now and then you can state your piece.” Yessica took a deep breath, then clasped her hands together to keep them from shaking. “I used to be so afraid of you as a child. You knew exactly what buttons to push on me, and you did. You used your religious beliefs to frighten me. But as someone very smart once told me, if I don’t believe, then you can’t hurt me any more. So from here on out, I’m no longer going to be afraid. You can’t scare me. I don’t believe in what you believe in. I don’t believe in voodoo.” At the end of her speech, Yessica released a long breath. She waited for Theodora’s comeback. When her aunt remained quiet, Yessica decided to face the woman eye-to-eye. Taking careful steps around her, Yessica stood in front of her. Yessica screamed at what she saw. Looking like the shell of her former self, Theodora’s eyes had a glazed-over appearance, looking nearly white. Her mouth hung open like her jaw no longer worked and hadn’t in some time. Flies flew in and out of her mouth like they had made a home in her body. If Theodora’s lips hadn’t moved, she would have thought the woman was dead. Theodora’s lips twitched up and down. She looked like she wanted to say something but words would not come from her. Her aunt’s hands sat stiffly on the arms of the chair. The rings she used to have on each finger were all removed. One glinting object around her neck caught Yessica’s attention. Swallowing hard, Yessica reached into Theodora’s shirt, her hand quivering during her quest. Inside of Theodora’s shirt, Yessica’s fingers touched something that dangled at the end of her necklace. When she pulled it out, the object looked exactly like the heart-shaped locket that hung from Yessica’s necklace. Yessica held onto Theodora’s locket as she grabbed her own necklace. As soon as she touched her locket, a hand clamped around Yessica’s wrist. Yessica released a scream that came from the soles of her feet. To see her once catatonic aunt now grab her wrist and hold her, shocked her to the core. “H-h-h-help m-m-m-m,” was all Theodora could get out before Yessica let go of the woman’s locket, then her own. As soon as Yessica dropped the pieces, Theodora’s hands dropped back down to her sides. A bevy of flies flew from Theodora’s mouth and filled the tiny trailer. Racing to the door while waving her hands to get rid of the buzzing insects, Yessica only wanted to go home. She didn’t know what was going on and she didn’t want to know. As soon as she hit the door, a blunt force to her chest flung her backwards.

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Landing hard against a small table and bench, Yessica put one hand on her chest and the other to her aching ribs. She turned to the door and saw the one person who had caused all of this. “Hey, cuz.” Marcus.

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Chapter Eighteen “I guess you found out my little secret, huh?” Marcus began. Yessica pushed herself back against the bench and attempted to stand. From Marcus’s menacing glare, she opted to stay crouched to the floor. “In case you haven’t put things together, let me let you in on a little secret. All of this time you’ve been so afraid of Auntie Theodora, it’s been me pulling the strings. She taught me about the good in voodoo, the pure religious side of it. But then I did a little research of my own, found out the dark side, the black magic, the stuff that scares the shit out of you.” Yessica coughed and managed to squeak out, “Why?” “Why? Are you kidding me? Everyone caters to you. Little Yessica is afraid of clowns so let’s bend over backwards to accommodate her. Yessica wants to be a teacher. Great for her. Let’s throw her a party. Meanwhile I start my own business and no one gives a shit about me. They couldn’t care less that I started my business with nothing and made it a top money-earner. It was always about Yessica, sweet little Yessica.” “Jealousy?” Yessica took in deep breaths to expand her sore ribs. Marcus glared at her. “It has much more to do than just simple jealousy. I could never shine because of you. Everyone wanted to be around you and didn’t care about me. And you know what’s so funny?” Yessica refrained from responding, either verbally or nonverbally. “All I really wanted was for you to need me. You would get scared of something and always run to your mother. If you were at our house, you ran to my mother. Neither one of us had siblings of our own. We were supposed to be like brother and sister.” “I thought we were,” Yessica managed to grunt.

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Marcus grabbed Yessica’s hair and pulled her head back. “We weren’t. You didn’t need me for a damned thing. When you were a kid and got scared, you never came to me to console you. When you got older and went off to college, I offered to help you with tuition and you refused. I tried buying you a car and you wouldn’t take that either.” Yessica remained still while Marcus went on his tirade. She figured if she didn’t move, he wouldn’t hurt her again. “So when I got old enough and I learned how to control people with what I learned through the dark side of voodoo, I decided to make you see how much you needed me.” He pointed to Theodora’s limp frame. “What you see over there, she isn’t dead. I’m controlling her and have been for several years. You remember your seventh birthday party with that weird clown, the one that started this whole clown thing for you?” Yessica squinted through the pain and nodded. “He was the first one I controlled. At age twelve, I had someone under my command. I made him scare you so that you could come to me to protect you like a big brother. But no, you ran to your mother. Hell, I thought when she died you would need me then.” Yessica’s eyes got wide. As though reading her mind, Marcus waved his hand. “No, I didn’t have a thing to do with your mama’s death. I loved her. I just wanted you to need me, and scaring you seemed to be the way to do it because you spooked so easily.” “Why?” She reached behind herself and touched something that felt like a canister. A fire extinguisher maybe? Didn’t matter. What she needed had to be heavy and mobile. “Because all of my life, I have felt like a second fiddle to everyone and everything. Your delicate ass came first no matter what we did. We didn’t go to certain restaurants because of you. We didn’t go to certain theme parks because of you. Birthdays all had to be tailored to you. There was nothing I did right. The only reason I started the circus was because I wanted you to see how much you would need me in your life. I figured if you could get past the clowns in my circus to visit me once in a while, I would see that you finally needed me. But you couldn’t even do that. You couldn’t come see me once in all of the times I’ve been to town.” Yessica swallowed and struggled to sit up. “I don’t understand. We’re family. Why couldn’t you just tell me how you felt? I didn’t know. I would have treated you differently.” Marcus reared back and kicked Yessica’s thigh. The intense pain made her eyes water and rendered her body immobile for a moment. But she wouldn’t let him see her buckle. “I don’t want your pity. I want to hear you beg for your pathetic life and then I want you to thank me for being a part of it. Am I clear now?” Tears stung Yessica’s eyes. All of this time she had been confiding in the wrong relative. She thought Marcus loved and cared for her like a brother. Who knew he had such deep hatred for her simply because of her quirks and how others reacted to her.

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“But you hooked me up with Kevin. Why would you do that?” “That’s an easy one. Kevin only cares about Kevin,” Marcus answered. “He fit perfectly in my plans.” Right on schedule, Kevin opened the door to the trailer. His gaze went from Marcus to Yessica on the floor. “And speaking of distraction, here he is now.”

***** Kevin didn’t know what was going on but his heart ached when he saw Yessica on the floor looking hurt and helpless. As soon as he saw Marcus leave his meeting with the clowns, he hung back a while and watched where he went. He thought he was in the trailer by himself until he heard him talking to someone else. As soon as Yessica asked about him, Kevin knew she was inside. Had he known Marcus was going to hurt his own cousin, Kevin would have been in there sooner. “Kevin, always Mr. Do-Right,” Marcus said. “Hell, even my mother loves you. That’s why I got you two together. Ever since I’ve known Kevin, he’s been the love ‘em and leave ‘em type. I don’t think he’s had a relationship that’s lasted longer than a month. And his big thing was not being with a woman with a bunch of hang-ups or emotional baggage. Sorry, cuz. You have that in spades.” “What the fuck are you talking about, Marcus? What the hell is going on?” Kevin attempted to get close to Yessica when Marcus stepped in between them. “Stay back, partner. For once, Yessica is going to need me and not you.” Marcus put his fists to his hips. Then he turned to Yessica. “Kevin was perfect because I knew he would have thought with his dick instead of his heart. I knew you didn’t want a commitment so you would have been in and out of Yessica’s life in a flash. I knew Yessica had too many issues for you to want to have a relationship so pairing you two up was a no-brainer. You would have broken her heart. She would have come running to me to finally save her. It was the perfect plan.” “Marcus, what the hell is going on with you? You’re hurting your family and using people. That’s not you, man.” Kevin tried to put his hand on Marcus’s shoulder but he moved away from him. “Don’t touch me! I get tired of people trying to pacify me. When is it ever going to be my turn?” Marcus pounded on his chest. “I’m not waiting for permission from anyone. I’m taking what’s mine. And you,” he pointed to Kevin, “you tried to ruin everything by trying to give Yessica a necklace to replace the one I gave her.” Kevin felt his eyebrows furrow as he glanced at Yessica. “I thought her mother gave her that necklace.”

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“I gave it to her and told Yessica it came from her mother. I gave a similar one to dear Auntie Theodora over there.” He pointed to a still body sitting in a chair. “You can’t replace me, buddy. I control Theodora and I’ll control her.” “Yeah? And what do you think you’ll do to me?” Kevin put his hands on his hips. He and Marcus had fought before, a long time ago. He wouldn’t mind scrapping with his delusional former friend now, especially for Yessica. Marcus put his hand to his chest. “Me? I won’t have to do a thing to you. I won’t have to touch any of you.” He turned and looked outside. “Now them, they may want to do something to you.” Kevin broke his gaze from Marcus long enough to see a group of people coming across the lot toward the trailer. Their slow, steady if not staggered steps looked creepy even to Kevin. It wasn’t until the group got under one of the overhead lights that he saw they were clowns. But there was something off about them. From their walk and their demeanor, he knew they weren’t themselves. Marcus pointed to Kevin. “You, they’ll kill.” He nodded his head toward Yessica. “I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to have her implicated in your murder or to have her just go catatonic like her auntie. Maybe once you’re dead, the idea will hit me.” Yessica swung a small extinguisher around her body to connect against the back of Marcus’s knee. He cursed and buckled to the floor. Kevin took that moment to jump on him, pinning him to the floor and connecting several punches to Marcus’s face. Kevin only stopped when he heard the door to the trailer rattling. The zombie clowns wanted in. Kevin knew the only way to stop them would be to have Marcus order them to stop. At this point, he knew he couldn’t ask him for help, even though it was apparent that’s exactly what he wanted. Yessica crawled to her knees while Kevin had Marcus pinned to the floor. She struggled to her feet and got to the door. Kevin heard a click like she locked it, but the force of their blows against the flimsy trailer proved they would take no time in getting inside. “I can’t hold them back.” Kevin could not only hear the fear in her voice, it filled the trailer causing a shiver to go down his spine. “You can’t win this time,” Marcus said mockingly. Then he laughed as blood cascaded down his face from his split lip. “The hell I won’t.” Kevin stood, lifting Marcus to his feet. “Why don’t we just give them their leader?” He dragged Marcus to the door, unlocked it, and threw his old frat brother outside among the clowns. As soon as they had Marcus in their grasp, Kevin closed and locked the door. From the pounding on the door again, he realized offering up their Svengali on a platter didn’t calm them, make them retreat. No dice.

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Although he didn’t see a way out of this situation, Kevin would be damned if anyone or anything hurt Yessica. He would die before that happened.

***** Yessica watched Kevin scanning the trailer. “I left my cell phone in the car.” He stared at her with a wild look. “You have yours?” She shook her head. The pounding outside of the doors continued, even moving to the other side of the trailer. The clowns beat against the small windows. One window popped out of its frame. “Do you know if Marcus owns a gun?” Kevin darted from drawer to drawer, looking for something to protect them. Yessica melted. She slid under a table and grabbed her knees, holding them close to her body. Her nightmare had come to life. Clowns were after her, wanting to harm her. She felt powerless. Even after Marcus treated her so cruelly, a small part of her wanted to ask him for his help. One window screen fell into the trailer. Their demonic moans filled the small space. “Where’s that fire extinguisher? I’ll crack them all in their heads.” Kevin picked up the red canister from the floor. “This can’t be happening. This can’t be real.” Yessica reached for her necklace. As soon as the locket touched her hand, a light went off in her head. What the hell was she doing? When she drove to the circus to confront Marcus and Aunt Theodora, she vowed to be strong. Now she was cowering under a table awaiting her fate while Kevin fought for her. She needed to fight for herself. Pulling herself up from under her shelter, Yessica stood tall. She held onto the locket in her fist and with one hard tug, yanked it from her neck. All of these years she had been holding onto the piece like it was supposed to protect her. All the while, Marcus used it to control her, keep her afraid. Fuck Marcus. She wouldn’t be scared any more. The clowns hit the trailer even harder, this time shaking it from its already unstable foundation. “Theodora!” Yessica screamed. She rushed to the woman. Swatting the flies away from her face, Yessica reached under her neck and ripped off her necklace as well. “If you don’t believe, they can’t get you,” Yessica said. She held both lockets in one hand then took Kevin’s hand. When she attempted to open the door, he pulled her back.

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“I know they’re not the dead,” Kevin said. “Grammy said zombies are living people who are being controlled by someone else.” He glanced at Theodora. “Like your aunt over there. But they’re still dangerous. They’ll hurt you. And if they do, I will kill them.” She repeated again, “If you don’t believe, they can’t get you.” Yessica relaxed but held his hand tightly. Kevin unlocked the door and opened it. The crowd of clowns stood still as Yessica fisted the necklaces in one hand. One clown took a couple of steps toward them. Yessica stopped breathing, hoping that her instincts were right. “What’s going on?” he asked. “Where’s my family?” “What am I doing here?” another female clown asked. “Why am I dressed this way?” another asked. As the people talked among themselves, Kevin heard heavy hacking behind him. He and Yessica looked over to see Theodora coming to her feet. She spat and coughed, probably trying to get out all of the flies. “Don’t let Marcus go,” Theodora said between coughs. When Kevin looked out into the crowd he didn’t see Marcus. He had disappeared.

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Chapter Nineteen Yessica stood outside of Auntie Theodora’s hospital room door. For years Yessica saw her as the enemy. Now all of that had changed. Everything had changed. Still missing since the night of her birthday, Marcus had revealed his true self, a person with evil and jealousy in his heart and willing to hurt his family and friends. And she’d judged Kevin, seen him as the liar when all he did, all he’d ever done, was protect her. She saw now that by not telling her he had dressed up as Kee Kee for her class he’d spared her mental anguish. He did care about her. “Still afraid to talk to her?” Yessica jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Damn Marcus for giving her a new fear. She turned and saw Kevin behind her. Her immediate reaction was to run into his arms and have him hold her. Instead, to prevent herself from doing just that, she wrapped her arms around her body and smiled. “You scared me,” she said. “Didn’t mean to.” The sincerity in his voice melted her heart. “The police couldn’t find Marcus. They have his description and they’re keeping a watch on his house. They will catch him.” She nodded but deep down she knew her sneaky cousin, who had managed to keep his aunt and a troop of strangers under his mental control, would evade the authorities until he finished what he started. The thought of Marcus coming after her made her shake. “She’s not the woman you thought she was,” Kevin said and nodded toward Theodora’s room. “You two have been victimized. You should talk to her.” “I know. I know.” Yessica repeated her statement as a way to convince herself that Kevin was right. She knew he was right. Her heart told her that when Theodora pleaded for help last night. Old fears died hard.

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“I’ll stay out here and wait for you. You two need your private time.” “You don’t have to wait. You’ve done so much for me already.” Yessica wanted to kiss him. Oddly enough, she wanted to make love to him right there and then. She needed to feel him, touch him, taste him. Her reaction to him raised another problem. What if how she felt about him wasn’t real? “I want to wait.” He smoothed his fingertips down the side of her face. Where his fingers touched, Yessica’s skin tingled like he brought her back to life after years of slumber. “Wish me luck.” She took a deep breath. “Before you go in, you need something.” Yessica turned back around and watched Kevin fish through his jacket pocket. He pulled out a long red velvet box. Yessica never thought her heart could beat as hard as it did last night, but it was doing double-time now. “When the police searched his car, they found this. This was the real gift from me that you were supposed to get last night. I made the mistake of trusting Marcus to hold it for me.” The situation from last night was all making sense now. No wonder Marcus wanted to take her picture when she opened the present. He’d planted it himself and kept Kevin’s present hidden. Kevin opened the box and revealed a gorgeous necklace, the one Marcus talked about in the trailer. The necklace had two hoops intertwined and hung from the silver chain. It warmed her heart that Kevin would see her that way. “I had this corny speech prepared about how the two rings are us and I didn’t want to replace your mother’s necklace.” He shook his head. “Guess we both got fooled.” Kevin removed the jewelry from its box. “I’m not going to say anything else but happy birthday.” He reached behind her neck and clipped it so that it hung just above her breasts. “It’s beautiful.” “So is its owner.” As Yessica peered up, Kevin cupped her cheek, stroking her skin with his thumb, then brought her in close for a deep, sensual kiss. He’d buckled her knees before with his kisses but this one truly turned her bones into pudding. He stroked his thumb across her bottom lip after he pulled back. “See your family. Heal that relationship. I’ll wait for you.” Dutifully, Kevin sat on the bench. Yessica nodded. She would deal with her aunt first. Then handle Kevin afterward. Stepping into the quiet hospital room, just the heart monitor beeping a steady rhythm, Yessica kept her hands together. She didn’t know what to expect from Theodora. The only thing she remembered was the way her aunt had grabbed her arm, clutching her like she was falling off of a mountain.

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The hospital staff kept Theodora’s room cool. Yessica blamed the air conditioning temperature for her shivering body. When she got close enough to her aunt’s bed, Yessica noticed that she looked off to the side. From where she stood, it looked like Theodora was sleeping. Yessica would use that excuse when Kevin asked her why she was out of her aunt’s room so quickly. Yessica turned to leave when she heard a strangled voice calling for her. “Yesssssica,” the voice hissed. Yessica took a deep breath and pivoted. Her aunt was now facing her. Gone were the crazed, coated eyes. Now Theodora’s eyes were clear. Her light brown eyes twinkled. The woman lifted her hand to summon her niece. Yessica had to take a couple of deep, cleansing breaths before approaching the woman who had given her so many nightmares over the years. Taking tiny baby steps, Yessica reached her long lost relative, and stood by the side of her bed. Theodora reached her hand up, silently summoning Yessica’s. Yessica squeezed her eyes closed then took the woman’s hand. Shocked at how surprisingly warm it was, Yessica found herself leaving her hand in her aunt’s grasp. “Thank you,” Auntie Theodora said. With all of the strength she could muster, she smiled at Yessica. Yessica didn’t have to ask why she was being thanked. She held onto her aunt’s hand a little tighter. “I’m sorry.” Auntie Theordora shook her head. Yessica understood again. “I’m glad you’re home now.” Yessica settled herself on her aunt’s bed.

***** Kevin shifted on the bench after his ass fell asleep. Standing up after sitting for over an hour, he decided that pacing in front of the door would be okay. At this time in Yessica’s life, she needed to see that she could rely on some people. He wanted to be one of those people. Yessica had been in Theodora’s room for over an hour. That must have meant that things were going well. Or what if Theodora did something horrible to her? What if she was really the mastermind behind the whole plot and not Marcus? Kevin approached the door, preparing himself for a quick peek. When his hand touched the doorknob, the door flew open. He stumbled back but tried covering his actions by pacing again. “Everything okay in there?” he asked. Yessica waited a beat, then smiled and nodded. “Everything’s going to be just fine.” Kevin released a long breath. He felt like he’d been holding it in since last night.

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“Good. Now we can go home.” He attempted to put an arm around her but Yessica stopped him. “We need to talk.” Kevin didn’t like the sound of that. “We should stop seeing each other.” Kevin shook his head. “Why?” “I don’t know if what we feel between each other is real or if --” “Don’t say it,” Kevin said, interrupting her. “Of course it’s real.” “How do you know that Marcus or your grandmother didn’t put a spell on us?” “My grandmother already said she didn’t and I believe her.” “But Marcus said he got us together for a reason.” “Marcus said a lot of things that shouldn’t be believed.” Kevin took Yessica’s hand. “One thing you should believe.” He placed it over his heart. “You have this. I don’t want to give you up. I can’t. I love --” “God, no.” Yessica put her free hand over his mouth. “Please don’t say it. I’m having a hard enough time wrapping my brain around all of this. I can’t handle questioning your love for me.” “Yessica --” She removed his hand from her body and ran down the hall.

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Chapter Twenty Kevin paced in his grandmother’s living room. She watched him, staring at his stomping feet as she sat poised on her floral print couch, Gertie by her side. “She didn’t want to talk about it,” Kevin began, partly to himself but loud enough that his grandmother could hear and maybe respond. Although a little eccentric at times, Grammy, when she wanted, could expound some deep revelations that could make the fuzzy seem clear. “I sat there, waiting for her. She came out --” Kevin looked at the duo on the couch. “-nothing. I almost told her I --” He paused. Gazing at his grandmother, her mouth in a tight line but with a Mona Lisa smile peeking underneath, he locked on her gaze. Planted in his spot, Kevin tried finding truth or gaining knowledge from the silence. Grammy put her hand on Gertie’s and it made Kevin blink. Why had he let Yessica go? He knew the idea that Marcus could have put a love spell on them was ridiculous. Like Grammy had said, any spell would speed up a process, not create it. Despite his trepidations about tying himself down to a serious commitment, being tied down was exactly what he wanted. He’d spent almost every waking moment over the last couple of months being with her, talking to her, and thinking about her. That wasn’t magic. It was magical. Seeing his grandmother live her life the way she wanted and how she wanted made it all clear for him. Without a word, she’d helped him once again. “I know what I need to do.” A smile stretched across his face. “I know what I need to do!” He jumped around in his spot then rushed to the cherubic woman. Cupping the side of her face, he kissed her cheek. “You’re a genius, Grammy.”

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She nodded and patted his cheek. “You have marijuana in your mouth, don’t you?” Grammy sat still for a moment, then spat a greenish-mossy glob into the palm of her hand. “It’s about time you figured it out.” She plucked a couple of the leaves off of her tongue. “I thought I was going to have to sit here with this stuff in my mouth for hours. It’d be different if they were in some brownies or something.” Kevin rolled his eyes. “Why did you hide it in your mouth?” “Duh! You get uptight about me having it so I hid it from you.” “No, I get uptight about you using.” “Whatever. It’s my life, baby. No one else can live it or run it but me.” Kevin stood up straight and put his hands on his hips. Grammy sighed. “But it’s nice to know that you care.” She jutted her thumb over her shoulder. “Now get out of here and get your woman. She’s been through enough trauma these last couple of weeks. Now that the bad mojo has been lifted, she really needs to be around people who love her. You do love her, don’t you?” From Kevin’s smile, Grammy nodded her head. “Then go get her. Let her know she’s welcome in my house any time.” “Good. Maybe next time she’ll get properly introduced to the person you really love.” Kevin glanced at Gertie. The zaftig dark woman dropped her gaze and chewed on her lower lip. “It was that obvious?” Grammy asked, and this time held Gertie’s hand. “Very. As long as you two are happy, I’m happy.” He kissed Gertie on her cheek. “But why did you try to hook me up with your neighbor? It’s not obvious to you that she’s playing on your same team?” Grammy waved her finger in the air. “I think she’s bi.” Kevin shook his head. “If you ladies will excuse me, I have a couple of stops to make.” “Hold on.” Grammy dropped her moist pile of pot onto her coffee table. “Come on back here. I need to give you something.” She slapped her hands together to get off some of the illegal substance. Kevin kept thinking about his grandfather, Grammy’s deceased husband, and if he knew about Grammy’s penchant for toking. And did he know about her desire for women or did that happen after he died? As soon as thoughts of a threesome with his grandfather, Grammy, and Gertie entered his mind, a sharp shiver went up his spine. He followed Grammy into her bedroom. On top of her dresser, she opened her jewelry box and pulled out a small blue velvet box. “This was passed down from generation to generation.” She handed it to Kevin.

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With trepidation, he took it from her and opened it. A pink emerald-cut diamond sat on top of a platinum setting with slender white diamonds on each side. Kevin stared at the ring, not able to breathe. “If you’re bringing her into the family, you had better do it right.” Grammy patted Kevin’s hand. “I don’t know how to --” “Thank me? Don’t. It’s been yours for the giving since you were born. You just had to wait for Ms. Right to come along. Oh, and you had to get off your high horse and realize that you can’t just go around poking your pecker into any warm hole and leaving.” Kevin screwed up his lips. “Now you know I’m not like that at all.” “I know. Just like seeing that look on your face.” She chuckled. “But it is high time for you to settle down. Don’t let this one slip by you.” Kevin kissed one cheek then the other and finally planted one on her forehead. He started for the door but stopped in the doorway. “Just because I know she’ll ask, there’s no funny spells or voodoo around this ring, right?” “All I can tell you is that every woman who has worn that ring has been happy. If that’s magic, then I guess you’ll have to tell her that. Or you could just tell her that the Thibbideaux men know what the hell they’re doing with the women in their lives.” “You know me, Grammy. I’d rather prove it.” He shoved the box in his pocket. “Stop flapping your gums and go!” She gave him a playful slap on his backside. Kevin needed no encouragement. He raced out of the house, screaming his goodbyes to both Grammy and Gertie. No time like the present. He had to prove to Yessica that his love, their love, wasn’t conjured. It was real.

***** Yessica sat on a bench on her front porch, a first in weeks. Since that night, the night of her birthday when everything came to a head, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched. Her fears and nightmares all surrounded Marcus. Determined not to live her life in fear, Yessica decided to take that crucial and necessary step out of her house. She needed to start living instead of existing. The threat of Marcus resurfacing or anything else, clowns included, wouldn’t scare her off. She lifted her McDonald’s drink cup she’d gotten earlier when she finally had the nerve to go through the drive-thru for the first time in over twenty years. Looking at the company’s comical spokesman now, Yessica had to laugh. She was afraid of something that looked like that for all of those years? She snickered and took another noisy slurp.

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The screeching tires she heard peeling around the corner on her street made her shake her head. She’d bought this small house because the neighborhood was older and more established. The same could be said of its residents. She knew there wouldn’t be any teenagers with their loud music or drag races down her street…until today. “What the hell?” While still seated, she glared down the street. The gradually setting sun bathed the neighborhood in a warm orange glow. She didn’t recognize the silver car until it came to a halt in front of her house. After coming to grips with her fears of clowns, voodoo, and with Marcus, Yessica now had to deal with Kevin. Determined not to be forgotten, Kevin had flowers delivered to her every day. Flowers didn’t scare her. Dealing with the fact that she had opened up her heart to this man and wanted him in her life did. Kevin hopped out of his car and ran up to Yessica’s porch just as she stood and headed to the door. “Yessica, wait! At least hear me out.” She turned to him. Her gaze moved from his shoes to his shoulders to the top of his head. She would be damned if she looked him in his eyes. “There’s really nothing to say,” she said, trying to keep her voice strong and determined. “You may have nothing to say but I have plenty.” He grabbed her shoulders and led her back to her chair. “Please, have a seat.” “Kevin, I really don’t think --” “Please.” She let out an exasperated sigh. Yessica wondered if he felt her trembling as soon as he touched her. “I know what scares you.” This time she did look up. “Not any more.” She stared directly into his eyes. “I’m not afraid of clowns. And Auntie Theodora is coming over for dinner tomorrow night. See? I’ve set myself free. I’m fine again.” “I’m happy for you. I really am. Anyone who can face down her demons like you did that night I knew would be strong enough to overcome anything.” “Thank you.” Her heart drummed. She wrung her hands when she couldn’t keep them still. “It’s that type of woman I would love to have by my side.” She shook her head. “Kevin --” At that point, he dropped down to his knees in front of her. “I know what you’re thinking. Believe me. I thought it myself right after the whole thing. You think what we felt

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between us, the strong connection, was some voodoo trick or black magic, right?” She nodded. “It’s not. Marcus is long gone. If he did anything, don’t you think you would feel differently about me by now? I still feel the same about you. I still want you like I did from the minute I saw you.” “As Kee Kee?” “As Kevin dressed as a clown to help out someone I thought was my friend.” He took her hands. “If there’s one good thing Marcus did for us it would be that he got us together. I know you didn’t want to hear this before, but I love you.” She tried pulling her hands away from him. “You can’t.” “What I feel for you is real, Yessica.” Kevin took one of her hands and placed it over his heart. “It’s not lust. I ache for you. I genuinely miss you. I miss talking to you and the disagreements we had. I miss you making me laugh. I want you back in my life but not just as a girlfriend.” He let one of her hands go and reached into his pants pocket. As soon as Yessica saw the ring box, her throat closed. Tears stung her eyes and her clit throbbed. Was it possible to be overwhelmingly happy and horny at the same time? “You and I have battled demons, real and imagined. I saw you come through all of that a stronger woman. But I also found a wonderful friend and a passionate lover. I’ve existed these last couple of weeks without you and I hated it. Don’t make me go a lifetime without you. Yessica, will you marry me?” Yessica couldn’t care less about the exquisite ring in the pretty blue box. She couldn’t break her stare from Kevin’s penetrating brown eyes. “But what if Marcus did do something? What if --” Kevin cut her off. “I know what’s in my heart. Do you love me?” Yessica had tried fighting it, fearing it was the last piece of black magic Marcus performed on the two of them. The longer she fought it, the more she realized that she loved and wanted Kevin back. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she nodded like a dashboard hula doll. “I love you. I miss you. I want you.” Kevin slid the ring on her finger. “I missed you so much.” He kissed her hard, sliding his tongue in her mouth. Yessica fell easily into the kiss, pressing her body against him, and wrapping her arms around the back of his neck. “Yes,” she said quickly when she broke the kiss. “What?” Kevin asked when he pulled back.

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“Yes, I love you.” She kissed him again. “Yes, I’ll marry you.” She wrapped her legs around him. “Yes, I’ll fuck you.” Kevin scooped his hands under her ass and stood. “That’s what I wanted to hear.” “I do love you, Kevin,” Yessica said as he walked to her door. “I was afraid to admit it just in case all of this was something make-believe and you didn’t feel the same way.” He shook his head. “Silly fears. That’s all they are.” Yessica would never have to be afraid again. She had her man by her side and, more importantly, she felt invincible.

Bridget Midway Bridget Midway writes what everyone else fantasizes about but won’t admit. This award-winning writer enjoys making her readers laugh as much as she likes seeing them fan themselves down after reading a hot, sexy scene. She writes everything from contemporary romance to futuristic romance, all with multi-racial characters and/or with interracial romances (because when you have a box of chocolates, you have to taste each one and enjoy the differences). To get updates, read exclusive excerpts and participate in contests, please check out her website at www.BridgetMidway.com