The Pleasures of Id

Book One in the Psyche Series Pleasures of Id Coffy Paige

Published by Coffy Paige at Smashwords.com Copyright © 2012 Coffy Paige ISBN 978-1-46890-207-5 This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedicated to all the ladies that grew up thinking they weren’t skinny, pretty, or outgoing enough for the guys they wanted. To my lovely inspirational couple, you know who you are, thanks for the crazy gym tales.

Table of Contents Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Epilogue About Author

Chapter One

The burn in Maizah’s legs stretches from the undersides of her thighs all the way down to her kneecaps. She makes a mental note to stop when the heat reaches her calves. By weigh in after this run she’ll be well past her goal in pounds shed all in less time than she’s given herself. She was never a small girl to begin with, but it didn’t get bad until she was four. Her mother’s death ensues a bitter custody battle her father and her mother’s family in Africa. In the mean time her grandmother felt food would settle any hurt from the loss of her mother and bickering of the adults. When the smoke clears her father was the victor. But like a child that finally gets what he wants but suddenly loses interest, her father can’t be bothered with her once she’s in the states. The thought of being away from her loving grandparents to live with her father and his new wife didn’t bode well with four-year-old Maizy. Her father was never the disciplinarian in the relationship and his own needs always seem to come first over raising a daughter. Her stepmother doesn’t seem to care much for it either so she makes sure Maizy is never too comfortable in her skin. Her eating persisted and Daphne never let up. The arrival of her little sister seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Yet by her first birthday her only words to Maizy, to her stepmother’s chagrin, were ‘fatso’ and ‘blubber’. Over the years even her father joins in on the reindeer games from time to time sealing her fate as the fat outsider. Behind her father’s back, her stepmother and sister tormented her constantly for not only her weight but for her ethnic look and accent. Her father and mother being of African descent gives a cultural look that was very different from what she saw growing up in her southern Alabama town. Every time she tried to not listen to them the more apparent it seemed that they were right. Everything she sees goes so against the grain of what she represents or what everyone seems to gravitate to that she can’t help but believe the acidic taunts. Academics are the only constant that she can depend on. While it makes her a shy nerd in everyone else’s eyes it’s commendable in her father’s. Also, the only positive acknowledgement from him she can get, no matter how small the gesture.

By college she’s free of them but not the mental stigmas and prejudices. Pair this with the fabled college weight gain, the freshman fifteen turned into a sophomore ten, junior stand still, and the unexpected senior twenty. By the end of her college career she reaches the scale at 210 standing only 5’5”. In senior year of college, in a to-do list type of manner, she decides to get rid of her virginity just so her life won’t be as pathetic once she enters the real world as her sister. Her stepmother goes as far as offering to buy her an escort. With much expected disgust and expected despair she thanks them for their thoughts but says she’ll handle it on her own. The lucky winner being a study partner who is just as low on the dating totem as her. The experience is unbearable and not the least noteworthy but she feels she has to take what she can get. She graduates top of her class to land an internship with a fastidious employer that makes her lose 20 pounds just through stress, starvation, and long hours alone. This leads to an opportunity to move to L.A. and start a life more desired instead of a life less loved. It was slow starting but while she acclimated herself in her new job she continued to lose weight. She could finally make time for the gym or fit a run in at the park and on off days, both. Now in L.A. for the better part of a year, every time a personal achievement was met something else in her life would get better. The first two months she admits to going overboard. She pushed herself to a near obsessive mentality. Even she knows she is going overboard when she starts to do some light research on cosmetic surgery Her trainer was constantly on her to slow down and how dangerous her mentality can be for her health. Even though ultimately she fired the trainer, in retrospect she was right. Maizah’s driving force was to live up to other people’s standards especially her stepmother and sister’s. The more she thinks about it the more she fantasizes of being that size 4 like her sister. To show her stepmother she was worthy or anyone for that matter. That’s all behind her now. In only eight months she’s down to a 10. She no longer cared if she reached a 4 or 6 or even 8. The last four months have been just what she needs. The edition of private pole dancing helped curb that mentality in a healing way. With her family still in the south, they weren’t buzzing around her head of impending failure. Plus being able to talk through that pain with someone as encouraging as Char. With her help, she was finally connected to herself in ways no other person could tear her down from, not even her family. She no longer sees herself as fat, nerdy or ethnic but curvy, smart, and exotic.

She reaches the pole room to new and smiling faces. She’s glad that her gym finally put in a pole class because her private instructor, Char’s, schedule has been conflicting with hers lately. The class is new yet she needs something to keep her in tune with the moves she’s learned already. If all goes well, her big unveiling will be tomorrow. The instructor hasn’t come in yet and the girls seem to be practicing some basics from their first classes. The shades aren’t drawn yet either, in fact they seem to be gone completely. Maizy walks over to the window to watch for the instructor and sure enough she seems to be arguing with a gym employee and pointing to the room. No doubt it’s probably about the missing shades. Shrugging, she goes over to a free pole and begins a routine that Char taught her. To say she’s more advanced than the others is an understatement at this point. Attention goes straight to her as soon as she climbs up and glides back down the pole. Maizy, not one to stop with her new addiction to attention, begins showing off. Each trick gets her a new oh or ah an even periodic bursts of cheers. This starts to bring attention to the room as more patrons gather at the window. Her long limbs reveal tautness and definition while her graceful positions create a demure pole ballet. None of the moves are the nasty ones she practices at home. Those she’s saving for someone special. When she finishes everyone cheers from inside and even some from outside of the room. Even the instructor who came to cancel the class is astounded from the skill and asks if she’d like to teach some classes. Laughingly, Maizy says she’ll think about it. The pride of it all makes her chest puff out a bit as she sighs contently and smiles to herself as she walks back out to jump on a treadmill. A manly grunt on the bench press a mere ten feet away catches her attention. Mallory “Neanderthal” James, just the thought of his name makes her almost miss a step on the machine. She winces, as she didn’t know he’d be there today. She wonders if he saw her little performance a moment ago. Mal’ replaces the bar with the help of his friend Cyril then sits up. His loose curly reddish-brown hair reaches just over his ears, which is a breath of fresh air from all the wacky colors and shaved lines he usually adorns his head for his MMA fighting persona. His bright hazel green eyes flash in determination at his reflection while his usually fresh putty-colored lips burn white hot against his fair skin tone. His nose is strong along with his jaw giving him an old English like handsome flair. His build is less like a traditional Englishman and more reminiscent of a football player without looking too stocky or short. It was obvious the gym wasn’t his only line of exercise and it’s because of his fame and swagger the he can carry his muscles so well. Her body and mind go on autopilot as she continues her light jog. Her eyes drift close as a memory fades into her mind…

Four months earlier… Maizah Winston sat at the gym’s juice bar in a sulky manner. Her trainer had given her yet another lecture about going overboard with her workouts. ‘That was easy for her to say,’ she thought. ‘She already has the body she wants…and she gets paid to keep it.’ She ‘humphed’ and slid back in her chair. She really didn’t care what her trainer said. Maizy had already lost sixteen pounds in a month and she didn’t want to stop the momentum. She couldn’t wait for summer to have her first visit with her father and stepmother start with crow for dinner. She sees her protein shake coming towards her and moves to her jacket pocket for cash. The counter attendant, Jenny, stopped her, “Oh no Maizy, it’s already paid for.” Maizy looked up with a confused face and laughed, “What do you mean? Because I get so many you’re giving me one for free?” “Nope…see that fine young specimen over there? He paid for it.” Jenny pointed across the bar to a guy reading the L.A. Times. It was him! It was that guy with crazy hair that bench presses when she cycles. Actually she’d seen him more often in her routine other than the cycle. She was very surprised to see him in her early morning Up Dog yoga class the week before as well. Everyday except the weekends he was at the gym. He’d smile at her and she melt then avoid eye contact. One time he even tried to talk to her, she got so discombobulated that she swallowed her gum and she coughed her way to the bathroom. “What are you gonna do?” Jenny startled her from her reverie. “Um…I don’t know…what should I do?” “You go talk to him! Do you know who he is?” Maizy slowly shook her head ‘no’ as she stared at the hottie unabashedly. She was thankful he was so engrossed with his paper that he didn’t look up. But hey, guys sporting green hair couldn’t say much about not liking the attention. “Uh hello Maizy! Get a clue! That’s Mallory James, AKA Mallory ‘Neanderthal’ James! He’s one of the hottest MMA fighters that’s signed to the CFC with a 30-4 record.” “CFC? What’s that?”

“Complete Fighter Championship. He’s such a nut on television that they’ve given him his own late night talk show on cable. Seriously Maizy, you would have had to been headless not to see his ridiculous promos. Hilarious!” “Child, I don’t have time for television. I mean I’ve seen girls squeal for his autograph so I knew he was someone but I didn’t know he was all about that.” Just as she finished, Mallory looked up and threw one of his devastating smiles at them before turning to the next page. Jenny just waved as Maizy darted her head away. When Jenny looked back she shook her head and laughed, “Maizy, stop it!” “I can’t go talk to him now!” “Why not?” “He’s rich, successful, and gorgeous and I’m-” “Just as gorgeous and successful! Stop putting yourself down sweetie. I’ll encourage you to lose weight for yourself and no one else. I think you’re more than beautiful the way you are and you’re only getting more so by the day. You just got an amazing place paid for in full by your awesome career. You’re a catch!” Maizy eyed her fast forming friend begrudgingly. The pixyish black nymph was gorgeous by model standard. How could she could she ever understand? “Says the size 2…” “Who’s in a boarding hostel because her ex-roommate is addicted to online gambling, that has to work three part-time jobs to make ends meet and is now a size 7 and growing because of it.” Maizy’s eyes softened with apology but Jenny just shook her head again to ward it off, “I’m not looking for a pity party I’m just saying that if I know I’m a catch even with all that drama. You’re drama free and well put together.” Jenny pauses to follow Maizy’s lingering gaze over to Mallory. “Fine don’t talk to him but I think it’s really rude to not at least thank him for the drink.” Jenny knew Maizy hated rudeness of any degree, as she was always the brunt of the infraction…

Maizy scowled at the fairy-like woman and reluctantly slid off her stool. On wavering legs she made her way to his table. She lightly cleared her throat and he turned down a corner with light eyes that surprisingly made her comfortable. He put the paper down as she spoke, “Uh I just want to…well…thank you for the drink.” “No problem, you look like you needed it after your trainer left.” “You heard her?” “No but you didn’t look like you enjoyed the conversation much so I took a wild guess.” He shrugged as his smile deepened. She sat at his table with a sigh, “That’s a pretty good guess…” she looked up as if she suddenly noticed her folly, “Oh I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to just plop down at your table while you’re reading the paper. I’ll go.” She nearly jumped out of the seat as his hand shot out to stop her, “No please. Stay…and talk to me a bit.” The hum that shook through them made their bodies vibrate. They locked eyes and she glided back in her seat across from him. He absently ran his thumb back and forth over the soft skin of the back of her hand. She stifled a groan as a small release of sexual tension was let go. “I’m Mallory James.” “Maizah Winston, Maizy for short.” Her eyes drifted to his hand and he immediately let go. “I’m sorry…I um…would you…I mean how about some dinner tonight?” Maizy gawked at him like he just asked her for a kidney. “Or…maybe another night?” She couldn’t tell if she was more astonished at his nervousness or the fact that he was asking on a date. “Excuse me?” “I’m asking you out Maizah.” “Why?” Her face was upturned in an incredulous frown.

He matched her stare, “Why not? Is it because of my hair?” “No.” Her simple answer with no regard of if she did or didn’t want to go out with him must of made him mad. She didn’t know why and in any other situation she would of told him to fuck off and got up from the table. But for some reason, with him, it was an incredible turn on. Suddenly he squinted his eyes and something kin to annoyance was in the glare. “Is it too weird for you that I’m white?” The manner in which he asked the question was simple yet demanded an answer. “No!” She squeaked out the words from shock. His stance visibly slacked as he settled in his chair with a smirk. “Have you ever dated a white guy before?” “Well no…but it’s only because I barely date at all.” The last part she wanted to bite her tongue in two for saying. He reached over and touched her hand again, “Will you go out with me?”

Chapter Two

The machine beeps its warning that only 30 seconds remain and she opens her eyes to find a familiar male patron grinning at her over the treadmill’s dashboard. Maizy sees more of him in her gym classes these days. She figures it’s because he’s such a player as most of her classes are women driven. He’s a Latin cutie with a deep tan, dark eyes, flashy glamour muscles, and very manicured nails, brows, and facial hair. His name is Alex and they’d already been on two dates. Two dates that must have only went well in his mind because his constant calls and advances for a third date persists. Men were never a high-commodity in her world so she definitely wants to get her feet wet before settling. But drowned never sounds good and that exactly what she’d get with Alex. He definitely thinks he’s going to get something wet and it isn’t his feet. The object of her desire is now sitting upright on the bench press with his eyes on them. His friend Cyril is talking to a gym hoochie who’s giving more eyes to Mallory than him but he’s all in their grill. It’s a hard stare that she can’t misconstrue as anything more than utter contempt. “So Ms. Maizah, it’s been a week and you still haven’t given me any answer about my party invitation.” His thick accent makes her smile in spite of herself. She tries to hide it, knowing that it sends mixed signals when she turns him down. It’s all so new to her. She just wants a moment to enjoy being the object of a male’s attention. He grabs her hand and boldly rubs it between his palms, “Mama, don’t hide that smile. On a cold dreary day like this, it’s all I need to brighten it up.”

Her eyes dart to Mallory whose teeth must be dust at this point because his jaw is tightening and flexing so hard. Feeling caught she moves her hand away as she steps from the machine. She absentmindedly drags her towel’s edges over her dripping face and down to her slightly exposed cleavage and his eyes follow. “Those plans are still on hold. I have to check with my friend.”

A flash of irritation clouds Alex’s eyes. When she fed him that line the last time he told her to bring her friend with a lecherous grin. Obviously he thought she meant a female friend but her hesitation after that comment could only mean one thing. The friend would be her male date. He did well in hiding his true feelings. It annoyed him to know she won’t come off the pussy for him but she’ll wait over a month for a guy to tell her if he would be available. Meanwhile he’s willing to scratch any itch that joker wouldn’t. It’s that thinking that makes him continue to try. With each hopeful invitation to his party, for drinks, or another date, she has the same answer. No. Alex isn’t the type of man that gives up on anything, especially some newly “not to hot” piece of ass that thinks she’s better than him. “But the party is tomorrow.” He trails off with impatience. It’s taking too long to bed this bitch and it’s starting to piss him off.

She notices his slight attitude and registers her dislike on her own face, “I don’t know Alex. When I find out, you’ll be the second to know!” Maizy turns to storm off only to meet the appreciative glances of onlookers. Part of her blushes from the men checking her out but the other part relishes her confident command of the room as some of the women applaud her moxie. Her eyes glance involuntary to Mallory’s smiling face trained on her. She gives a shy smile, wave, and moves to the showers. Just before she ducks inside, the ever-growing harlot, as Char put it, decides to put on another show for the boys.

Mallory watches with a narrowing gaze as her hips sway in the most tempting way. When she bends from the hips to get the towel she just dropped, he bites so hard on his lip he thinks he drew blood. When she’s safely in the women’s showers he spots other various men eyeing his prize, including Alex Huerta. The other guys he didn’t care about, they were just ego-rubbers for her and that’s all they were. Alex is another story though. He was an aspiring MMA fighter some years back now a crappy wannabe coach. A sparring match between the two of them left Alex not able to fight ever again. Of course it was an accident but Mallory couldn’t get that across to Alex. Honestly if the tables were turned he’d feel the same way but that has nothing to do with Maizah. The lecherous dog was probably trying to invite her to his shitty party again. The fact that he keeps asking is a good sign she’s still putting him off but it doesn’t quell his irritation. He growls and backs down on the press once more to bang out a couple more reps. He thought he was finished and so did his friend and fellow CFC sparring mate, Cyril, that’s waiting on the machine. “Mal’ what are you doing? It’s my turn dude!”

“My bad man, I just need to burn off some more energy. I got a lot on my mind.”

“I don’t care man. I got stuff to do today and you growling and slobbering over your little honey dip from afar wasn’t in my schedule.” A flash of annoyance goes over Mallory’s face but Cyril stands his ground. “Mean mug all you want…I’m just saying! You’re stalking this one girl when you have the pick of the litter.” At that moment two beautiful blondes stop to ask for autographs from them both. Cyril being the self-titled black Don Juan makes sure to get their numbers. When expecting the same type of treatment from Mallory they’re majorly disappointed. He actually steps out of the way of them once he spots Maizy exiting the showers in regular clothes. Her hair, once a confined bun is now a mass of wild voluminous curls. A pale coral scoop neck top makes her mahogany hue glow with vitality. Her skinny jeans scrunch at the ankle to accentuate her otherwise short legs in her Louboutin heels. She isn’t paying attention as she tries to fix a scarf around her neck and bumps into a gym rat. While the women stomp off, Mallory fumes at the patron coming on to his woman. Cyril knocks him from his daydream with a low whistle. “Yeah I’d be mad too.”

“What? I’m not mad.”

“Sheee-it! C’mon man, who you think you talking to? Look I don’t blame you. If my dime was being hit on by one muscle-bound hard on after another I’d be pissed too. Especially if Alex is on the scene. That boy has more game than me!”

“She’s not my girlfriend…” He turns to stop the next words from his friend’s mouth, “Yet.”

Shaking his head, Cyril sits back on the bench while Mallory goes over to spot him. “What type of power does that girl have over you?”

He shrugs because he honestly doesn’t know and really doesn’t care. His attention goes back to her as she laughs at something the dickhead is saying but she’s also walking away. Jeez, why did she have to look so fucking sexy. She was showing off her moves in the pole room and it took all his might not to throw bodies across the gym to stop ogling her. From day one he was smitten just from her features. She was definitely African descent, as in first or second generation American. He did a stint of Peace Corp. in Africa and could tell she or her family was probably from the southwest area. Her dark mocha complexion radiates a dark reddish like warmth that calls his attention as soon as she’s in the room. The skin itself is buttery smooth with not a blemish in sight. Her soft lips carry the bee stung look that drives him insane. Mostly seeing her with her long shiny hair in a tight bun, he notices her high cheekbones and almond shaped dark maple brown eyes are more pronounced. When he first saw her he figured she was just a new mom that wanted to lose the baby weight. You know, just some vanity pounds for her husband back home. The curves were voluptuous and if he may be so bold, made for his large hands to play. She has to be every bit of 5’5’’ or 6” to his 6’3’’, making her the perfect pocket size bed companion to snuggle. Contrary to belief with his persona, he’s a mad snuggler and her little frame is all he wants. In the last month, she’s gotten more daring in her gym attire, wearing more form fitting or revealing clothing that accentuates her developmental achievements with her body. She was already too beautiful for words in his opinion but now she was unstoppable. Having to keep his distance this long is killing him. He quickly found out through Jenny that she was neither married nor a mother so he decided to go for it. Something about her said she wasn’t like the other gym skanks or mindless CFC sluts that were usually in his dressing rooms or sponsored parties he had to attend. Jenny informed him that she was smart and accomplished, which made her more alluring. How can someone be such a catch on paper but no guy on the horizon? Maybe she’s actually bat shit crazy was Cyril’s opinion but Jenny didn’t seem too worried about that. It’s been awhile since a woman had truly caught his attention. The thought of her brings him such a thrill. A thrill for the hunt so to speak with some added bonus of getting to know someone on a deeper level. He finally relaxes his stance down a bit once she shoos the prospective competition away and moves to the juice bar. So Cyril needs to know the hold that Miss Winston has over him. He thinks back to their first and so far only date with reverence…

~*~*~

Mallory knocked three times on Maizy’s door and quickly did an assessing pat down of his attire with one hand as the other clung to a bouquet of wild lilies. When she opened the door they were both surprised. She thanked him for the flowers and cradled them like a newborn. It was like she never got flowers before. She invited him in as she went further in the condo to put the flowers in water. She had on a black cocktail dress that flirted around her knees while it tapered to her torso and generous bosom. The box style sleeves gave the impression of a 40s period fashion. Her dark caramel skin added enough contrast to the fabric but lured the eye to the creaminess of her skin. Her hair, which usually curled around her face, was straightened and hung down her back with a middle part. He’d always seen it up in a severe bun or sporty chignon; begging to be taken down by him every time he saw her. Now it begged to have his fingers running through its silkiness. He stood in her den as she brought the flowers in to sit on the adjoining dining room table. With nothing else to occupy her hands, she ran them timidly over her skirted thighs as she finally met his gaze. They stood for a moment looking at each other before she broke the silence, “Oh, can I get you something to drink?” Her nervousness was adorable as always. The strain from his pants made him shift and step closer to her unintentionally. They froze suddenly the mutual tension of being so close so fast. “No I don’t think we have time for a drink. Where we’re going will have tons of them.” Each word took him closer to her trembling lips. He knew she could feel it too, the knotted up ball of desire, tension, and decorum that bounced in the stomach. That feeling of first date jitters mixed with wanting to give in to your baser instincts, yet you don’t want to mess up a potentially good relationship with early sex. Her face had only a touch of makeup with pinup girl kitten eyeliner and mascara hugging her naturally narrow shaped eyes and with a hint of mauve tinted gloss over her full luscious lips.

He couldn’t take much more as the straw to break the camel’s back slowly made its way to him in the form of her aroma. It was a light, clean, and floral scent with an after note of flirt that stirred his pulse. Without thinking, he linked his arm around her waist and gently pulled her to him as he stooped for a kiss. It started out light to gage her reaction then it went near ravenous as they matched the pressure of one another. The taste was just what he imagined, like a sweet wine mixed with starburst candy if there were such a thing. When he pulled back he kept his lips touching hers as he spoke, “Not to be crass but…” “Spoke too soon.” She giggled and the sensation made him groan and pull her body tighter to his. “I just needed to alleviate some sexual tension between us.” He moved them to her door and helped her with her shawl. Her stilled breath from his comment came back when he opened the door for her, “Sexual tension? There’s sexual tension between us?” He gave her a look that said ‘What do you think?’ then led her to his car. Dinner was amazing, he decided on a chic dive bar by the Santa Monica pier. As soon as he walk in it was like a scene from “Goodfellas” but he only knew a couple of the people. It didn’t matter though. With his celebrity status and the magic of his charm, he made everyone feel like a long lost friend. He never left her out of an introduction though and she looked shocked every time her did. Once they sat down they were able to get more comfortable. They spoke of their careers, educations, which was a surprise to Maizy to learn they had similar degree backgrounds. They continued on with his newfound fame, her promotion, their likes and dislikes. It was obvious to onlookers, which were many, that they were hitting it off. Maizy’s nervousness at first made Mallory laugh because he found her so genuine and refreshing. Mallory’s laugh, although boisterously loud and attention grabbing, made Maizy feel good. In no time she’d let her guard down and was joking back with him. It turned out that her laugh was probably louder than his, which surprisingly made him laugh more. From there, conversation was easy and they had more in common than not.

Later in the night when he took her to a bar that he frequents things took a nosedive. Women made catty remarks about anything they could from her weight to the straightness of her hair. Mallory knew women could be mean about other women they felt insecure about but this was ridiculous. The final draw was when he had to be calmed down by Cyril for a disparaging remark made from a male patron. He was glad to have Cyril there to hold him back. He didn’t want her uncomfortable and the near fight happened while she was in the bathroom yet when she came back she wanted to leave. She made up a story of needing to wake up early for work but he knew something must have transpired in the ladies room. One of those plastic surgery addicted clown-faced whores got to her. As he drove her home he noticed how quiet she was. He didn’t press at the time but when he pulled into her driveway and she tried to thank him for a good night and leave he knew he had no other choice or another chance. “Maizah what’s wrong?” “Nothing’s wrong. I have an early day tomorrow and I’m sure you do too.” He began to narrow it down, “Was it something I said or did?” “No of course not. I told you I had a great time…” “Was is something someone else said?” She didn’t answer verbally; she just looked down and shook her head ‘no’. “But you don’t plan on seeing me again do you?” The annoyance in his voice did well by way of covering the sting to his ego. With a sympathetic brow she sighed and looked him in the eye. “I just want to make this as painless as possible” “Painless? We only went to dinner!” “So you mean to tell me the whole time through dinner you didn’t notice the stares? Or at the bar, you didn’t hear the comments” A flash of her own annoyance came through. “The stares were probably because of my hair” His hand slid through his then purple tresses. He made sure not to answer about the other comments.

“Please Mallory! All those pretty girls looking at us…wondering what a handsome guy like you would want with a cow like me. What about the guys at the table next to us? You mean to tell me that you didn’t hear the crack they made? Then the laughter…” the end was stifled and hurt. He was beyond pissed then. Obviously not at her; more at himself for not paying more attention to the fuckwits at the restaurant for making his date feel so uncomfortable. He would of ripped their heads off if his focus wasn’t so stuck on his beautiful companion. “Stop that.” His voice was quiet but insistent all the same. “I don’t care what they think.” “Have you dated someone like me before?” “Jesus you act like you’re a leper or something!” With the tables turned on him he contemplated; asking truthfully, “What does that have to do with anything?” “It will prove my point that we don’t belong together.” “Honestly no I’ve never dated someone like you before but I see that as a good thing.” She shot him a ‘yeah right’ look then moved her gaze down at her hands. He continued incredulously, “Maizah why do you think I even asked you out?” Without skipping a beat she shrugged, “I don’t know, maybe you’re having a drought… maybe curious...” She was still looking down at her lap as she said this. He was beyond repair with anger at that point. He wanted the name of anyone that ever made this gorgeous creature feel like she was anything less. “Okay stop!” He said it so roughly she flinched and he soothingly apologized. He hated when women got down on themselves and he was even more annoyed when he was interested in them. He usually would kick them to the curb because he felt they were fishing for compliments but something told him that wasn’t the case with Maizah. He took a deep breath and continued, “yes most of those people stared at us but I truly believe it was mostly because of who I am and their own insecurities not about any truths that you think I’m not seeing. I wasn’t on a date with most of them. I was only focused on you.”

He pulled her chin up so she could meet his gaze, “You’re beautiful Maizy. Just the way you are. I know I sound like a cliché but you have to be comfortable in yourself before others can be comfortable around you.” He caught her mouth before she was able to reply. This kiss started out on par with the first but the taste of her over took him. She withered under his tongue with a moan that energized him to dive deeper in her quaking mouth. The passion in her kiss well made up for the inexperience he could tell she had. All the raw potential in the world and it was all his. With that realization his cock grew to seam splitting proportions. Instinctually his hand flirted with the hem of her skirt. Light caressing fingers found the tops of her garters. A deep primal groan escaped with that discovery. When he moved deeper her knees jammed together and she ended the kiss. The intensity was subdued but they’re both too hooked on the other’s lips to fully disconnect. “What are you doing? I want to feel you.” He said as he moved down her neck. She swallowed roughly and licked her lips. Her tone was so breathy; he had to strain to hear the words. “I…don’t…we shouldn’t.” He smirked into the valley of her cleavage, she was a fighter…a bad one, but a fighter nonetheless. His mouth trailed kisses back to her succulent lips. “Just feel it baby,” was all he whispered on her lobe before her knees slacked. With a triumphant gleam, his hand goes up her thick thigh until it hits silk. Hot silk. His other hand made its way to the nape of her neck and massaged the knots under the soft skin, which were astounding to him. He made a mental note that once she became his girl she’d have weekly spa visits as a requirement of dating him. Granted it was a requirement that he just made for her but something was telling him she denied her self a lot in life and had no reason to at all. Like a strike of lightening hitting him, he came to the conclusion that she was to be his girlfriend. Sure it was only the first date but truth be told his parents met and married in only seven days time. Overall it was their life he was ultimately striving to have.

He was an intense man, an “alpha male” most said, but he never took much volition in the notion. His sister read about them in romance novels but he didn’t believe they truly existed until now. He was becoming living proof every second in Maizah’s presence. She aroused something in him no other woman had and it scared and excited him into numbness. As his kisses lingered toward her ear, his hooded gaze watched his hand move under her dress but he felt so much more. The pressure from his strongest and longest finger expertly ran circles around her clit. Her pussy tightened and throbbed, as he whispered naughty nothings in her ear like, “You’ve got me so hard with what this pretty pussy can deliver,” or “I can’t wait to get this gorgeous body wrapped around me.” Everything he said was about how her body turned him on. How he couldn’t get enough of her. He drugged her with his comments so much it took her by an unexpected surprise when his middle finger slid past her panty’s edge. “G-Mallory!” She harshly breathed as she clutched his arm. Her eyes shot open and met his astonishment as well. He commented on how she was so hot her core felt cold. He sucked on parts of her neck, loving that his passion marks wouldn’t leave definite marks unless someone was super close on her, which they shouldn’t. He moved some of her delicious cream to her clit for better traction for his thumb while his middle finger pumped in and out of her. He needed to loosen her up because it was all he could fit at the time. Her walls clenched so tightly around that one finger that he knew to not even try to add another until after her first orgasm. Ask for his cock? Forget about it, he’d have to kiss, nibble, and lick her nether parts for hours just to get the head in. Ah the chores of foreplay, how he loved it! He curled the digit inside of her and reached her G spot like a bull’s eye. He knew he hit it because her sexy little whimpers turned to equally shy yet brazen “Oh yes, right there” and what not. He added more pressure to her protruded button with his thumb. Her slippery cove sucked his finger deeper with each thrust and nudge. Her breaths turned to pants and he leaned up to watch the fireworks. Her eyes slit with liquid diamonds pooled at the edges. She was so close. He could tell but for some reason she was holding back. Then with his words, “Take it baby. It’s yours.” She allowed herself the most explosive release they’d both ever seen. A pitch perfect yell, nails biting into his arms, and the most beautiful orgasm face he’d ever seen, did what no other woman could. He came as well. Her total ecstasy turned him on more than getting his own rocks off that it actually did get his rocks off! He was pleasantly excited at what their union would do. By all examples so for, probably burn the house down. He went back to his side of the car and watched as she composed herself. He grinned at his handy work and enjoyed every minute of her fixing her panties, garters, and then skirt. He reached over and moved her hair out of the way and touched her cheek, “Can I come in?”

She kept her eyes averted, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Honestly, she was so attracted to him. Obviously! But he could tell she was still paralyzed with the fear that he’d be so disgusted by her body he’d go running for the hills. The war of emotions on her face told him everything he needed to know. In a whisper he said, “C’mon Maizy. Don’t do this. We’re having a good time.” He read right through her excuse. Her voice trembled with pent up emotion, “I have to get up early in the morning.” They sat in silence as she fought back tears and he stared at her with a pensive glare. When he finally spoke she looked up at him, “Who was it? Who was it that said you weren’t worthy of happiness?” With that she let the first of many tears fall and simply answered, “Me.” He could tell she wanted so much to believe him but the pain of her past ridicules, failed relationships, and who knows what else stilted her. It made him angry to know that she’d been treated so badly because of this shallow world they lived in. “I have to go Mallory.” His eyes darkened and he sat back in his driver’s seat. His gaze went to his steering wheel as she got out of the car and went in her condo. He drove away once she was safely inside.

Chapter Three

From then on he kept a safe but cordial distance from her. He needed to give her time to realize her potential…and he knew just the person for the job to help with that. Someone he knew had his best interests at heart. His sister! She was an exercise instructor and cheerleading coach so she spent a lot of time building up women’s self-confidence. With her newest enterprise of pole dance instructing he was sure Maizy would love it. With Jenny’s help he was able to plant the seed and the rest just took its natural course.

“Yo! Can I get a spot?” Mallory turns back to his agitated friend.

“My bad man. I got you.” They go into a comfortable silence yet Mallory’s attention is only half there and the other is on Maizy at the juice bar.

Cyril breaks the moment with, “Is this your first time dippin’ in the ink?”

An incredulous look springs to Mallory’s face, “What? No! You know I’ve dated black girls before.”

“Correction, you’ve dated sistas before. That girl right there, my friend, is from the mother country. That means differences are expounded on from every angle not just race with a woman like that.”

“Then what about Bowie and Iman?”

“Touché.” Cyril concedes.

“That’s not what it’s about to me anyway. I don’t care how exotic she looks.” He stops to take another peak at her gorgeous smile and reciprocates his own with a quirk of his lip, “but it does help.”

“Ah there you go…” They exchange a friendly chuckle before Cyril goes back to his reps. He finally sits up with an exaggerated breath and a serious tone. “I was just checkin’. Gotta make sure I don’t have to beat your ass if you were trying to just see what it’s like on this side.”

Cyril’s family was from Zimbabwe so Mallory already knows to what he’s referring. Cyril once explained the stigma that African Americans and Africans face within their culture. The concepts of darker and lighter shades of what they define as black can be confusing. As much as he doesn’t want to say he understands, he actually can. As his Irish ancestry is muddled with their own inconceivable and misguided beliefs is what made his own family seek out something better. Still there seems to be more in the subtext of the statement, “Dude you barely met her and when you did you maybe had a paragraph of dialogue with her.”

“I talked to her long enough to know she isn’t the regulars that hang around the biz. It’s not just the color of her skin either, if that’s what you’re thinkin’.”

“It crossed my mind.” Mallory’s brow furrows at what Cyril is saying and about to say.

Cyril stands to his full 6’5’’ height to address Mallory. “As much as I didn’t agree with your scheme, I was pretty confident that it wouldn’t work either.” He pauses to look at Maizah who now has two different guys trying to get her number. “Even though I’m still not sure how I feel about this whole situation with your sister, and the juice bar girl, it’s obvious it’s working. She’s the triple ‘S’ dude! She’s sexy, sophisticated, and smart and she partly has you to thank for it. All I can say is this…” Mallory straightens and folds his arms over his chest in a defensive stance. He hoped his friend’s next words weren’t anything about how he, himself, wants to date Maizy. “If you don’t make your move again soon, someone’s going to reap the rewards of your hard work.” Cyril gets up to make his way to the octagon in the sparring area of the gym to give Mallory time to contemplate his words. By the dazed look in his friend’s eye he can tell that this Maizah girl really has a hold.

~*~*~

Maizah watches from the juice bar as Mallory walks in the men’s shower laughing with his friend Cyril. She jumps at Jenny’s voice, “So tomorrow’s the big day huh?”

“What?” She is so out of it she forgets that Jenny is the only other person that knows of her plan for seduction other than Char.

Jenny gives a questioning stare, “Are you alright?”

“Yeah…I just have a lot on my mind right now and yes tomorrow is the big day,”

“I’m so proud of you Maizy! Look at you girl. Fine and fierce as hell, with all the boys panting after you.” Jenny tickles her friend in the cheek to ward off the blush that warms her toffee skin. She points at the come hither stares from some of the male customers. “Don’t back down from it child, embrace it! You worked hard girl!” Maizah snorts as if to say ‘you got that right’. The past four months became an overhaul for her mind and body…

~*~*~ It started the first day back from the gym after her date with Mallory, which was three days later. She was mortified at her actions on their date and even more embarrassed when all he offered was a polite hello and smile her way. Part of her was glad that she’d scared him off but the other part still wanted to get to know him…in more ways than one. With her raging libido kick started with the class, she was having the hottest fantasies about seducing Mallory. Besides that, he was a really interesting guy. Before her crazy rant and her self-consciousness throughout that night, she was actually having a good time. He wasn’t at all like an arrogant jock he portrays in his fighting persona or TV. He was sweet, smart, hilarious, and worldly. He even knew her family was from Angola! Plus, he did seem like he was really engrossed with her boring stories of her life. And maybe it was the alcohol, the dimly lit atmosphere but she could have sworn he looked like he wanted to jump her bones from time to time. All those thoughts were doused thanks to her neurotic mind. And that bitch at the bar that couldn’t keep her comments to herself. After her shower her first day back, she went to her locker and found a flyer. Someone must have stuck it in the vent and the thought annoyed her until she opened it up. It was for private pole dancing lessons! It read something of unleashing the inner sexy while sculpting the outer sexy. The thought of her grinding on some pole with a feather boa around her neck popped in her mind and she laughed. Thinking it was a joke from Jenny, she laughingly tossed the flyer to her. “Nice! Real nice, I needed a laugh.” Maizah plopped down at the bar as Mallory and some friends came rousing by, fresh off the basketball courts. He was obviously skins as he and three others had their shirts off and the other four still had theirs on. She wished she were a molecule in one sweat droplet that seeped from his pours and got to travel the way down that rippled body. Maizah instantly lost her smile and went into shy schoolgirl mode until they were clear of her. Jenny was still juicing the hell out of some beets as she scanned the flyer that Maizah dropped to her, “What’s that? Are you going to do pole dancing?” “What do you mean ‘what’s that?’ Apparently you think I should do some pole dancing chica!” Maizah started to laugh a bit at her friend’s attempt of keeping her a poker face.

Jenny eyed her through her bangs, as her head was still in the flyer, “I seriously have no idea what you’re talking about but if this is something you want to consider I think you’ll love it.” “Jenny you for real real? You didn’t put this in my locker?” “Naw girl, for play play! Of course I have no idea how that got in your locker.” Jenny went to finish her order for a customer and came back to Maizah. She was looking at the flyer now as if she were really contemplating it. Jenny put her elbows on the counter with a girlish delight, “So! You gonna do it?” Just as Maizah was about to give a ‘hell no’, Mallory walked back by with his shirt still off. He flashed her a heart-melting smile and nodded to both of them as he continued on. Maizah looked at the flyer then back at Mallory’s retreating back. Screw it! If he chose to keep moving at optimal speed no need for her to lose ground either. Yeah it was only one date but he could at least say something to her! “You know… I think I will.” Jenny didn’t let her back down. She even took her to her first private lesson that very day.. She walked into the studio and the scene was rockabilly burlesque with poles on either side of the room in a row. One main pole was in the middle with Charmaine working a routine to loud rock music. Meeting Charmaine, or Char for short, was intimidating at first. The reddish-raven haired beauty was covered in tattoos and only scraps of black latex and fishnets covered or tried to cover the most unmentionable parts. She didn’t even notice Maizy until specific twirls made her come back down to the ground. Turning off the music she confidently walked over to Maizy with her hand out and a brilliant smile, “You must be Ms. Winston. I’m Charmaine Brixby the owner and instructor of the studio.” Maizah takes her hand and tries to reciprocate the smile but the larger than life Glamazon was even more stunning up close. On the pole she looked graceful yet with a deviant-like temptress quality. Up close her face looked All-American gorgeous despite the winding strategically place tattoos all over her body. Maizy was so in awe of the woman she hadn’t noticed she hasn’t said anything yet until Char’s brow rose in anticipation. “Oh! I’m sorry what was that?” “I said that you mentioned this is your first time. Have you been curious for a while?”

“Not really. I’ve heard of it in passing but…” she trailed off because she didn’t want to offend with her next words. With a gentle smile Char picked up, “But you didn’t want to seem like a skank for wanting to writhe a pole?” At Maizah’s agape expression Char bursts out laughing and swoops a long arm around her with a shake, “I’m just messin’ with you! I’m a cheerleading coach as well so outside of my current attire I’m still looked at kinda squirrely at times.” She pointed to a vibrantly colored tattoo on her chest. “Let’s just say soccer moms can be a hard sell so I have to keep a good sense of humor and a stiff upper lip? I’m used to it!” Maizah joins in with the laughter, “Okay, you’re good!” Char led her over to the pole, “What brings you here?” “Honestly? A guy.” A flash of something crosses Char’s eyes yet she tucks it away before Maizah can react, “Oh so you wana learn a sexy little lap dance for the boyfriend at home.” She wiggled her brows for effect. “Not exactly. I want to be confident and sexy at the same time. You know, I’m ready to unleash and sculpt like your flyer said.” She nervously laughed to hide her jitters. “I would first suggest that what you do here not be for anyone but you. Don’t let your motivation be some guy.” “It’s not so much the guy but what it would stand for to me if I could get his attention back.” “Back?” “Well we went on one date and…wait a minute. You really are good.” Maizah was just spilling her guts to the woman and it just occurred to her

“It’s not me. It’s the pole.” She patted the hard surface like a faithful pet and smiled, “Maizah I want you to think of this area as a therapy session. You’re safe here with me.” Being so close to the simplistic metal horizontal line somehow intimidated her. It must have registered on her face because Char spoke on it instantly, “Hey you’re not getting cold feet on me are you?” “I’m sorry, I just…I don’t know. Maybe this was too impulsive for me.” “Maizah impulses are just wants and this one won’t kill you like heroin will.” “Yeah. Wait…what?” Maizah was thoroughly confused. “Well drugs are usually an impulse thing. You want to see what it’s about or you want to forget about the world outside for just a bit but the downside is that it’s addicting and it kills you. This…” Char paused to pet the shiny steel, “this is just as addicting. But it won’t kill you. In fact, if you treat it right it may even show you a thing or two about yourself.” Maizy sort of understood but still thought the analogy a little off. She considered her words as she stared at the reflective surface of the bar. “How about this, you don’t even have to touch the pole today. I’ll just answer any questions you have about pole dancing so we can demystify it together, cool?” Maizy smiles at the strange woman she’s beginning to like “Cool. First question though, will I have to dress like that?” Maizah smiles to show jest as she points at Char’s state of undress. Char reciprocates “Oh honey when your mind catches up with the fact that your body is as sexy as you look you’d be surprised what you’ll want to wear…or not for that matter.” ‘ Sexy’ and ‘Maizah’ were never in the same sentence, except for with Mallory. The fact that a complete stranger was saying the same things cemented her newfound trust with not only a new endeavor but a new friend as well.

Chapter Four

Now here she is, the newly confident and strong Maizah Winston. All fine and fierce as Jenny says, and she feels the benefits of it everyday. She barely hears Jenny as she gushes over all her transitions that year. Maizah can barely fathom it most days herself. Besides her career she’s never found anything that’s so liberating and made her feel so damn sexy at the same time. Hell she never thought sexy would be associated with her at all. She loves it so much she’s planning to get certified to do private lessons part time and who knows after her little exhibition earlier. Char became a fast friend and so supportive in everything. She’s even allowing Maizah to come in and help assist the basics class from time to time. After Jenny finishes a drink she comes back over to drill Maizy on her part in the plan. “Okay so…do you know what you’re going to wear? What shoes? What music?”

“Jeez Jen…Slow down,” Maizy laughs. As comfortable as her job makes her she couldn’t see the sense in buying all of her freak ‘um ingredients from La Perla because it would have cost a small fortune. She chose the Secret that was formally Victoria’s but now is hers for the underneath. “I did everything you said and went to La Perla and Vicky’s and put together a mouthwatering piece. Then I found the most perfect studded heels you told me about…” Maizy stops what she’s saying as she follows Jen’s eyes behind her. It’s Mallory! He has a weird look on his face, as if he’s in pain but he is trying to hide it. When Maizy notices she’s at the register blocking him from ordering she quickly moves, “I’m so sorry Mallory!”

“Quite alright. Hey Jenny Bo-Benny, what’s shakin?”

“The change in my pockets but that’s another story, what can I get you? The usual?”

He nods and Jenny went to work, secretly hating that she can’t see what is about to transpire. The fact that Mallory is so familiar with Jenny when he barely says two words to her irks Maizah. So much so that she narrows her eyes at him without even realizing. The nerves of old her leave and the new her goes to a nearby stool as he looks through his paper. He acts as if she weren’t next to him and that also irks her. “You like to flirt huh Mallory?” What tha-…where did that come from? She doesn’t know but it’s out in the world now and she can’t swallow the words back.

“Excuse me?” He says with mirth.

“I-I just mean…” she wavers for a half step then goes right back on track, “oh c’mon! Jenny Bo-Benny? What’s shakin?”

Mallory turns his whole posture towards her to give his full attention. Maizy stamps down the rising nerves of having his full interest. He grins full on, “Jealous?”

She scoffs, “N-No…”

He looks over at Jenny who’s finishing his drink before leaning into Maizy, “Good, you have no reason to be.” The last part he says with a sweeping gaze of her. Just as he thought, the view is better up close. Her juicy bosom rises and falls and he can catch a hint of burgundy rising from the swell of her cleavage and racing its way up. Jenny comes up with the drink and he never turns his stare away from Maizy as he pays. He walks away from the counter with his paper and drink to sit at a nearby table then he turns back, “You look hot by the way…I mean when you were doing your little dance recital.” She begins to blush even harder but he remedies that with, “You were stunning Maizy. But you were always that.” He takes a seat with his back facing them. He almost busts a gut at hearing Jenny hiss at Maizy to go talk to him and Maizy shushing Jenny then telling her to keep her voice down.

After his first initial meeting with Char about her giving Maizy pole dancing lessons he’d made sure to get full progress reports back on anything that went on. He loves that she loves the class and surprised, but not really, at her quick advancement. He could tell from their first date that she’s ambitious in every facet of her life so why will this be any different? He also loves that his sister and her are becoming good friends. Everything is working out way better than he planned except for two things. Maizy went on two dates with Alex Huerta. Granted it’s only two dates with no prospects for a third. According to Char, she also said didn’t have a good time. That fact still didn’t sate his worry. Alex was with his woman more than he has and that bother him. So much so that it made him drive by her house every Friday and Saturday night to make sure she was home. He also makes Char get as many details about any other guys she likes. Thank the heavens it seems that she only has eyes for him. Maizy would never say names but Char would report back to him about details of himself. He finally knows what it feels like to be giddy and bashful like a teenage girl and doubling down on the fact that his sister has to tell him the gory details. It totally grosses her out but it makes him die with hilarity.

Once again a light clearing of a female’s throat makes him look up from his paper. He meets Maizy’s dainty mocha face peering at him behind her long lashes. “God why does she have to look so fucking sexy” seems to be his mantra every time he sees her. A breath-halting smile appears on her lips as she says, “So I know the last time that we talked was …awkward to say the least…”

“You mean our date. Neh! ” He interrupts jovially, not to be a dick but just to have a little jibbing. She looks down slightly embarrassed and he instantly regrets the comment. He straightens and clears his own throat, “Sorry Maizy. Go ahead.”

“Well I know we haven’t had much interaction since then and I totally understand why you don’t want to talk to me but I’m a different…person now.” She stops to take a breath. “Anyway I was wondering if…well if you’re still interested in me… maybe you would come over for dinner tomorrow?”

He thoughtfully nods, not wanting to betray anything yet secretly he’s singing “Ode to Joy”. When he notices her expectant gaze he realizes he hasn’t answered yet, “Um…” Jesus, he’s speechless, he really wishes Char had given him a heads up on this so he’d know how to handle this. This is totally out of norm for both of them so to save face he continues, “What brought on the change? I thought we didn’t belong together.”

She looks wistfully past him and says, “I’ve had some work done on myself recently. Very therapeutic.” She ends the comment looking squarely at him. Her posture is more confident as she waits again for his answer.

“I thought cheesy kung-fu flix from the 70s and 80s were all the therapy you needed?”

She blushes in shock, “How did you remember that?”

The sincerity in his voice and eyes shine through her. “I remember everything about you Maizy. Your favorite color is Magenta, not for the actual color but for the character from Rocky Horror Picture Show. You have a cat named Bonkers because when you walk in he goes crazy until you pick him up and kiss him exactly three times. If you don’t or try to jip him a kiss, he’ll continue to go bonkers until you do it right.

I remember that you had chicken pox for all of a

day when you were eight and your doctor said you were a medical oddity and you thought it was the coolest thing.” He does remember everything. Every stupid little detail that bores the shit out of other people, he remembers it all. The next comment he makes while leaning into her, as it’s only meant for her ears, “I also remember how your body trembles when I touch you. How you look when ecstasy takes over that gorgeous face. The way your desire tastes…” He trails off as his mind wanders to that night. It generally always does when thinking of her. When he meets her gaze he can tell the last part has her confused. He slyly moves the exact finger he used on her in his car to move past his lips with a Campbell’s soup moan. Maizy’s eyes go as big as saucers as she realizes what he means “So this dinner…”

She shakes her stricken state and says, “Um yeah…it’s at my place. I mean…duh. Of course it’s at my house. I could cook for you then...” Her adorable shyness is taking over again. The fact that she’s approaching him and asking him out this time is a testament to Char’s reports on how well Maizy is doing. As sultry as her exuberance is he still loves the shy side of her. It gives her a sort of renewed appeal to her demeanor.

He had a meeting that evening, “Well I may be busy but…”

Before he can even finish saying that he can make it for a nightcap she rushes on to save face, “Of course, I understand. I don’t know what I was thinking. I have someone else I can ask.”

She goes to run away but he grabs her hand roughly at first then lessens his grip when he realizes the infraction. Flashes of irascibility lace his voice, “I’ll be there. What time?” At this point he’s standing and towering over her.

“I-I was thinking around 6:30?”

He’s slightly aggravated and the feeling is turning to rage from her little comment of inviting someone else. He knows he has to leave before he says something that will blow his cover or get him uninvited. He goes to leave but the barbarian in him won’t allow it to go unfinished. He turns back to her agape expression and cools a bit as not to alarm her. He runs a finger down her jaw, taking in the new light in her eyes. The confident sparkle she’d been missing from the start is finally there. “I’ll be there, got that? Nobody else needs to show up Maizah. I’ll be there with bells, whistles, and fog horns on okay?” With nothing else to say and fear that he looks completely crazy he turns back with a hasty retreat.

She just nods then calls to his receding back, “Just bring you…no need for the…other stuff.” The last part is cut off as he’s already out of the door. He knows she has to be utterly confused at that whole conversation but he can’t help it. Someone else reaping the benefits of his plan, he thinks not! He didn’t hear everything in her and Jenny’s conversation but her heard enough. Something about lingerie shops and spiked heels is enough for him to know that he’s definitely going to be on the receiving end of that shopping jaunt. The image had him grabbing an old newspaper just to hide the erection. “No trips for La Perla and Victoria’s Secret for you buddy boy.” He mumbles as he walks by a scowling Alex. That chocolate beauty is made for him, and no one else. To say that waiting this long for her has been hard is comparable to saying the Menedez brothers have daddy issues. She is and was always the total package. Watching her swan-like transformation and fending off competition in turn makes some changes in him as well. He was going to wait longer before he made his move again but hopefully tomorrow night he’ll be able to unwrap that delightful little package. Mallory’s first stop after the gym is hi sister’s place. He needs to try to get a sense of what’s going on here. He greets her husband and his trainer, Will, with a fist bump and casual conversation about one of his new tattoos until she’s back in the room. Will excuses his self to allow them to talk. Mallory wastes no time. “Do you know what’s going on tomorrow?”

“Nope.” She shrugs before falling on the sofa with a bit too much nonchalance.

Mallory narrows his gaze at his sister. On everyone else that ‘nope’ would have worked but only he knows that’s a 50/50 chance she does know what’s going on. A dead give away is if she bites her nails. As if on queue her thumb goes to her lips, “Ah hah!” Mallory jumps up with a pointing finger, “You know what’s going on tomorrow, you’re just not telling me.”

“I know what I will tell you! Whatever happens tomorrow you better come clean to her or I will!”

That’s when it got serious. For the past month they’ve been constantly bickering over Char’s guilt of betraying her new friend. Mallory can understand really, but wants to tell Maizy in his own way. “Char not this again.”

“Not this again my ass Mal’! That girl is really special to me.”

“She’s special to me too Char. That’s not fair.”

“But you’re not the one constantly lying to her like I am or betraying her trust by going back to you with information! That’s not fair either.”

“Well what do you want me to do? We’re in too deep now.”

Char looks down a bit, “Not exactly. I told her I’ve been busy lately and that’s why I haven’t been able to see her everyday like I used to.”

“So you’re not really busy?” Char shakes her head ‘no’ while practically gnawing her fingers off. “If you like her so much why are you purposely lying to her?

“Because I need to distance myself. I’m too afraid to see what will happen when she finds out the truth.” To that Mallory really didn’t have anything else to say. His need to know if he was walking into an ambush turns to impending dread of having this strange and awkward conversation. All this and he still can’t tell if Char knows more than she’s putting on.

Soon his face expresses his paramount frustration. His hands barrel through his hair as his forearms rest on his knees. “Look Mal’.” She puts an arm around him, “I believe this can be done right if you finesse it. I love you like a brother.” She doesn’t continue until she gets him to at least half smile at that. “But I can’t keep doing this to her, and if you truly want to pursue a relationship then it has to come out some time.”

Char is beyond right at this point. It’s down right gospel. “I know Char, I know. I just think the fear of losing her again before anything starts is more daunting than telling her the truth.” They sit there in silence for a while before he finally gets up to leave.

Before he does though Char stops him, “whatever happens tomorrow is really big for her Mal’. Remember what I said about finesse.” He only nods before he exits the door. This was so not like him, influencing one’s hand to his will. Yet the bigger picture of Maizy feeling just a gorgeous as he sees her seemed like an even split with no one hurt. Hell ultimately the decisions are still all her own. No one ever held a gun to her head to go to those classes. Still, he doesn’t know how to tell her this truth of their involvement.

Chapter Five

The next day leading into the evening is a total whirlwind for Maizy. That morning she wakes to Jenny and Char banging at her door. Like forces of nature they declare a day of beauty ahead of them. The schedule consists of a facial, mani-pedi, and a salon visit. While Maizy is at the salon and spa the girls are back to Maizy’s condo fixing it up for the show and dinner. They work like a covert team in a mission to get Maizy laid. Strangely Char is in tears before she leaves but tells her that tonight will change everything forever. As if that’s not enough pressure Jenny wipes her own tear away and nods. She loves them but finally getting them out of the place does wonders for her nerves. Now he’ll be there any moment. She looks at her reflection in the full-length mirror as she plays with the shot glass filled with Cabo Wabo. She is definitely going to be driving more than 55 thanks to Char’s liquid courage. She looks over to the smoldering joint and jumps to put it out. She only took one puff because to calm her nerves. Once confident she put it out she goes back to her reflection. She purchased the most gorgeous baby doll from La Perla. It’s a creamy beige silk number with Leavers lace at the bust and waist. It hugs in the right places making her once hidden hourglass shape more pronounced. She always had a lot of tits and ass but also a lot of stomach as well. Now everything has more definition and form with some extra meat on her bones. This being the first time she’s had a chance to examine her body besides on a scale, she has to admit she loves what she sees. With a grin illuminating her face, she swings her shiny voluminous curls. Her eye makeup is expertly done with a sultry black smoky look, creating the allure. Her fantasies of seducing Mallory are all she can think about most days. The alter persona she’s created is staring back at her in the reflection and it’s liberating. She smoothes her hands down the bodice of the gown and grins sinfully to herself. She has three parts of this recital and it will require three costumes changes with only two actual costumes. If all goes well he won’t mind that the third will be in her birthday suit. But speaking of ingredients, she quickly dons her shoes and skitters to the kitchen to check on dinner. As she takes things out of the oven and shuts burners off she notices that she has a text. Butterflies flutter her tummy as she reads the message from Mallory explaining he’ll be there in five minutes. She looks at the time of when the message was sent and notices the four-minute gap.

Going on alert she looks around to make sure everything is good. The place looks impeccable thanks to team Maizy. The set up for the “stage area” in the extra room has a theme of naughty but elegant. The table setting is romantic but not cheesy or forced. Thinking about it seems in vain now that it occurs to Maizy. If all goes as planned they won’t use the place settings at all. Scented votive candles are everywhere burning the lingering yet subtle scent of persimmons and sage. The combination is exotically sweet yet sensually dark. Once the doorbell rings her hands are shaking and her under arms are stinging from the impending dread of swamp pit. “Oh gosh!” She admonishes herself before she side steps the front door to her half bath for a quick check and refresh.

Mallory’s conversation with Char the day before haunted him throughout his night. True to form, his sister was the queen of deflecting and even he couldn’t break it this time. Not to mention she actually made sense enough for him to lose his train of thought. What she doesn’t understand is that he plans to tell Maizy everything but in due time. His plan was to pretend like it was some huge coincidence. You know, take her to a family gathering and play dumb to the fact. Yet the only way for that to happen is to make sure Char hadn’t spilled the beans. He just hopes that it isn’t an ambush waiting on him. He looks at the bottle of expensive dessert wine he brought over and the bouquet dove orchids, her favorite flower. He looks down at his watch and realizes he’s been standing at the door for quite some time. When he’s about to ring the bell once more the door pops open to reveal the most tantalizing view known to man. She is in an ankle length silk robe with the heels on she explained from the day before. If he were a cartoon he would have flattened her by his tongue rolling out of his mouth like a red carpet. She washes her smoldering gaze up and down the length of him in a gesture that lets him know that he’s on the menu tonight. Just then a older gentleman walks by and give in involuntary whistle, “Maizah is that you?”

Maizy blushes and giggles, “Yes Mr. Jerry, it’s me.”

“Jesus girl! If I were 20 years younger I’d-”

His comment is cut off by Mallory’s bustling body pushing a still giggling Maizy in her door, “Excuse me…Mr. Jerry is it? Ms. Winston and I have some dire needs to attend to so if you’ll excuse us.” Once inside he unconsciously shuts the door but never wavers his unblinking stare at the phoenix like siren coquettishly luring him deeper into her house. It’s almost worth it not to have had Char tell him this was going to happen. She takes languid steps into her home with him right on her heel. He can smell the scent of her place mingling with her own aroma of vanilla and he instinctually needs to be in her comfort. He fights the urge to start kicking off his shoes and his jacket.

“I hope you don’t mind that my attire is so…relaxed. I just figured since we were staying in that it just made more sense…don’tcha think?” When Maizah finishes her comment she turns and finds him directly behind her. She swallows hard enough to stamp down begrudging nervous energy then allows the sweet fragrance of his cologne to fill her nose and breathe her Phoenix anew. Her eyes lazily go to his thick strong neck. She can see the deep color creep up his collar and his pulse drumming next to his jugular. Seeing him so worked up gives her the final confidence she needs to push through with the occasion. He’s looking at her with the same hooded expression but she can tell that she’s getting to him. She boldly lets her stare drift up to his mouth. Again his lips are just as flushed as the rest of him is becoming.

She keeps her eyes on his mouth as he speaks, “I do think actually. What’s…going on here? Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining but…” Maizy smirks at his hesitation. The shoe is nice on the other foot for a change.

She steps closer to him, eliminating the already small space between them. Next she does something totally out of character and on an impulse. Ignoring his comment she looks in his eyes and him and drives into his mouth. The force of it is amateur at best, then once the shock from both parties subsides, they moan in unison from the pent up desire finally overflowing. The only thing that stops them from moving into each other’s bodies even more is the bottle of wine and her flowers. She moves back then breathes, “Oh, is this for me?”

He clears his dry throat, “uh yeah…it will be great with dessert.” He is so charged from the kiss he nearly forgot the flowers. “Oh and I also got this for you.” He looks down at her long fingers as they curl around the stems.

She holds the soft petals to her nose. “Thank you, why don’t you go to the kitchen and open that up.”

Finding her bravado infectious he coolly walks to the kitchen and asks, “Are we having dessert first because I could definitely go for…” His voice trails off when he comes back to find her disrobed and scantily clad. “Something sweet…” he finishes as his eyes travel the length of her. The sight so alluring, vulnerable, and sensual all at the same time made his thought pattern go off track. Something this fine can short circuit any man’s brain.

“It’s entirely up to you. Would you prefer to eat first or enjoy a little entertainment?” The last word has a slight emphasis on it.

He’s no dummy, “I’ll definitely take the entertainment,” he swallows hard. With heavy lids he lets on that he’s cool as a cucumber. As she takes his hand and leads him deeper into her apartment he prays she can’t feel his racing pulse. By the time they reach a room he’s sure isn’t her bedroom his heart kind of sinks. He was expecting a huge inviting bed that is perfect for ravishing her in the most glorious ways. Once he sits in a chair she designates him to he takes in the room’s charms. It looked to be an office/library/…champagne room?

Maizy watches him carefully as it starts to dawn on him what’s about to happen. She lets the tiniest of grins curl her lips as she lights various candles and lamps with scarves on them to set the mood. She could feel his heartbeat in his hand and she is glad to know she isn’t the only one nervous. It fuels her to know that she causes his nervous energy and thereby stamping out hers. No backing down, and the more she looks in his eyes the more she knows that she can trust him.

The bodice of her slip strains against the weight of her breasts. His mouth is salivating at the thought of those beauties resting on his tongue. They are still more than a handful, a fact he’s grateful didn’t go as she lost more weight. The beats of a popular seductive song filter the room, personifying the atmosphere with a hypnotic yet unique pulse. She wraps an ankle around the pole and quickly scampers half way up. With her other leg demurely crossing the other she glides down painfully slow, “Without you I don’t know if I could have done this.” She moves into another position that makes the hem of her gown rise up, giving him a glimpse of a tantalizing thigh, “am I right?”

He nods ‘yes’, and he swallows a nervous lump. Could she possibly know? He can’t fully concentrate though because of her luscious body twirling the pole. Before she touches the ground again she acrobatically flips her body back up so she’s sliding upside down. His erection is straining so hard he has to discretely cross a leg over the other to hide it from her view. He relaxes again when he realizes this isn’t a real strip club and there is no need to hide his cock. Once her feet plant on the ground she braces her back and head on the pole and gyrates her hips while her fingertips roam over her body to the beat of the song. The digits lift the scrap of material up enough for him to catch a peek of her light French blue Brazilian cut thongs. She chuckles when he almost falls from his chair. Hell he didn’t even notice being that far to the edge. With nothing but her arm’s strength, she lifts her body back up to the top of the pole then effortlessly hooks the back of her knee around the pole and sensually slides back down. Once she’s close to the ground her legs veer out to an almost perfect Russian split. His brows and mouth run from one another at the sight and she giggles anew from his reaction.

This is actually something she’s been saving since before the classes. She’s always been a flexible and limber person despite her size. She even has this over her sister, dispelling any myth that flexibility is only a skinny girl’s game. She goes into a transition and begins her floor work. While still on her knees she makes the short distance to him. The closer she gets the shallower his breath goes. Without an awkward pause she takes off the nightie to reveal costume two. The bra is the same color as the panties with three ruffles down the front. She poises herself on his knee and gathers her bra-clad bust in her hands, “What do you think?”

His brow disappears even further into his hairline. “I-I-love…it’s amazing on you.” He swallows the prickly desert away from his throat. He goes in to feel how amazing she is but she jumps up from his knee and turns around.

Giving him a fine view of her still generous rump she asks coyly, “What about the back?”

“Perfection.” He whispers in a daze. His fingers only graze the globes before she swiftly moves his hands to the arms of the chair.

“There’s a part two Mallory.” She balances her knees on the outer corners of his seat. Her bosom is right in his face and her crotch on his stomach.

It’s all good and well that she’s finally found her voice and confidence but jeez! He’s starting to lose his patience. “Um…okay. Well how many parts are there so I know when to jump in?” His attempt at a humorous warning is rewarded with another sultry chuckle.

A new groove with a syrupy beat this time starts seconds after the last song. Changing the pulse but not the mood of the room Maizy slowly glides down his torso. It makes him feel every curve, and ripple of her body. He groans from a place deep inside and bites his bottom lip, it’s all becoming too much. His head goes back to take the sight of her sumptuous body out of his mind for just a second. Her crotch is hovering over his and the heat generating there makes his hips slowly buck as if magnetic energy powers them. Instead of pulling back she pushes down with even more pressure and even she can’t resist her own moan. He peeps up to see her eyes heavily slit as well. Feeling a bit of triumph he says, “What’s wrong baby? Was dancing on another pole not on the agenda tonight?”

She stills and looks at him with a mercurial gleam but smirk on her lips. She moves back down on his lap and starts grinding. “Oh no sweetheart. I was definitely going to twirl on another pole tonight.” To that revelation his member goes granite. “Oh my…someone had their Flintstones today.”

He is dazed by her gyrating hips and languid movements but he can still hear her banter, “that’s right darlin’. Ten million strong and growing for you.” He bucks hard into her cheeks just to see the jiggle.

“Mallory!” Maizah tries to admonish but she’s laughing all the same. She looks over her shoulder to his heated but amused eyes. “You keep acting up and entertainment will be over.”

“I’m sorry, I had to do it at least once! But if I do it again does that mean I’ll get to eat when entertainment is over?” He says with an obvious double meaning.

“Dinner?” She plays a long.

“Nope.” He leans up and their mouths are only inches apart. “Let’s just say it’s okay to have in bed and clean up’s a snap.” He doesn’t give her time to comment as his tongue delves out to seek her tasty lips. She eagerly accepts him, wanting to make him feel just as he does to her. On fire! She hadn’t kissed a lot of guys in her time but something tells her Mallory is probably the best in the world. His hand snakes around her throat softly. He caresses the swanlike structure and savoring the forbidden flavor of her again. Well forbidden to any one else, this is going to be his new addiction. He didn’t truly realize how much he missed it until he had it again. His other hand goes to her stomach; it’s soft but not flabby, with just enough taut muscle underneath to know she’s working hard. She feels healthy and feminine, not boney or malnourished like he feared. As he rubs the velvety warm skin he groans once more as her hips cause her panty covered seam to straddle his erection moving up and down the length of him.

He breaks the kiss to choke on the sudden lump that forms in his throat at the simulation of the erotic act. She gets up again to straddle him once more, “I take it you like the moves?”

“Like them? Baby, I want an encore performance every night from now on.” He tries to pull her in for a better kiss but he stops dead at her next comment.

“I know now Mallory,” she says softly as the seriousness shines through her eyes.

“You…know…about…” He doesn’t know how to proceed. He had every intention of telling her…by breakfast in bed the next morning. Pretty shitty he knows but he couldn’t take not enjoying her at least one night if she didn’t like what he had to say. Just as he’s about to start explaining himself she stops him with a finger to his lips and she smiles. Thoroughly confused he asks, “w-what does this mean?” His pulse picks up at the thought of the bomb dropping. Could she know?

Chapter Six

With a huge sigh she’s probably done before she says wistfully, “It means that I’m not in the dark anymore. I know what you were saying was true.”

He realizes her earlier comments were eluding to this as well and still confused asks, “Wait…what?”

“I realized that the only person who didn’t see myself like everyone else did was me. I knew it from the beginning; I was the one in my own way. I can blame my family, society, and my own insecurities but those are just symptoms. I had to be my cure. I couldn’t properly be in a relationship if I couldn’t learn to relate to me. I couldn’t love anyone if I didn’t love myself. You were so right Mallory.” She ends with a far away look.

“And now?” he tries to stamp down his warring emotions. He should come clean right now but what if she can’t deal with his dishonesty? He’d hate himself forever and with that he decides to go on with his plan. He is suddenly in disgust with himself to allow his mind to go so low as to telling her the truth after he gets what he wants.

“Now what?”

“Now can you love yourself enough to be in a proper relationship? Enough to be…loved back?” The worry in his eyes betrays his calm voice. He’s hanging on by a thread as he’s looking in her eyes. He’s in love with her and it’s eating him alive not to tell her.

“Well…” She begins as her gaze goes down in a thoughtful manner. Her lashes suddenly fan across her peachy round cheeks as a smile forms. She adds, “I haven’t done well on the dating front so I was hoping you’d do.”

The biggest Mr. Grinch smile takes over his face as he begins to tickle her, “Is that right! Okay, speaking of things to talk about later, we’ll definitely put a pen in that one as well. But right now, I gotta get out of these clothes!” She laughs as they both tug on his jacket and buttons of his shirt with a hurricane’s fury. This is it, he thinks, as she allows him to finish his own undress. He finally gets to touch her the way a man, scratch that, this man should. As he goes in to claim his prize she playfully swats his hands away. He looks up to her like a little boy who just lost his red balloon. She wags her finger in the air to say, ‘no touch’. “Oh this is gonna be harder than I thought” he says in a husky voice.

Maizy wraps her arms around his neck and moves her cleavage towards his nose. He exaggerates his breath like he’s trying to encapsulate her smell into his pores. The firm twin melons make him salivate to her gratification. She giggles as he catches drool that threatens to spill on sight of her nipples poking through the flimsy material. She arches her back, jutting her tits out to slowly grind them in his face. She moans as he shakes his head between them. Not able or really wanting to stop him, she gasps when he captures a turgid pebble through the fabric. Her head snaps back to him making her hair shroud around her like a wanton jungle woman.

He meets her gaze with his own that says, ‘I’m not backing down so you’re going to get used to it quick.’ They continue a speechless communication, understanding each other’s silent needs. She didn’t want to have to say that she wants to see the dominate alpha male come out, so she’s even more relieved that he can read her so well. “Want to go to my bedroom?”

Mallory’s gleam goes relaxed and triumphant, “I’m starting to like this room more.” He nods to the pole. If an alpha male is what she wants that’s exactly what he can give her. Her show was amazing and he can enjoy a tease but he has to admit that he likes being ruler in the bedroom.

“But you haven’t seen the rest of the place, especially my bedroom.” She tries to stand with his hand in hers but he won’t budge. He still has this look in his eye that says he isn’t about to make this easy either. Now that she’s given him the upper hand all she can do is see what’s next. As he’s still sitting in his chair he leans back and begins to pull at his shirt from the back of his collar. In a swoop, the fabric is on the floor and his hands move to the waist of his pants. She doesn’t notice his hands making work with his belt because she’s transfixed with the ripples of his chiseled chest and abs. From their first date on, Maizy googled, you tubed, twittered, and whatever else she could on Neanderthal James. Nothing however could prepare her for the Adonis up close and personal.

He stands her up and allows her to finally see him in all his splendid glory. He wasn’t doing it to brag or show off but he was waiting for a look in her eye before he could continue on with their night. By the look of horror on her face he now knows how to handle her. He can tell by her stance that she’s itching to run. He’s big, to say the least, and he knows that. Again, not to brag but stating facts, he’d lost many a date once they saw what he’s packing. He would tell them he could make it pleasurable, and he wouldn’t hurt them but they’d still run. He didn’t want to make her afraid but he needed to get her body soon and he didn’t want to do a surprise attack. That can be traumatic which he knows from experience. It is now or…later because at this point there sure as hell won’t be a never. Oh yes he is getting into her tight little body if it kills him, he just needs to clue her in on the game plan. After a minute of her still gawking at his penis like an unabashed freak show, his words startle her to his eyes again, “Baby what’s wrong?”

“H-h-how do you…not pass out?” His bark of laughter makes her jump. “Seriously, like your…I’ve never seen anything that big.” The last part is out of breath as her eyes go back to his erection.

“Maizy.”

“Hmm?” Her eyes are in an unblinking stare at his enormous rod.

He has to hold back a laugh as he thinks about his next question. She is just too adorable sometimes. “Sweetie, look at me.”

“I am.”

With a little chuckle he can’t begrudge himself this time he says, “ In my face babe. Look me in the eye.” She does and he goes serious, “There won’t be any questions of us after this will there?”

Maizy allows the enormity of what he’s saying resonate. She looks deeply in his eyes and feels what his words mean. He doesn’t want to pursue a fun time. He wants long haul and that’s what she wants as well. She isn’t the dating kind and the connection is so strong. “No questions at all.”

To beat a dead horse he adds half jokingly half seriously, “Because with this new look of yours I don’t need some wildcat running the streets to make up for lost time.” She laughs and nods her agreement. Her dimples pronounced and eyes sparkling he adds, “and Maizah, I’m truly falling for you in a rough and tumble type of way but I absolutely love it.”

That seals her previous decision, “Bedroom?”

He stands and scoops her up and effortlessly, “Bedroom.” Once in the room he lays her on the bed and says, “A formal tour will have to commence after more dire needs are looked after.” He stands looking down at her from the foot of the bed. With a determined look in his eyes he whispers huskily, “Take off the bra and panties Maizy.” The nervous energy reverberates between the four walls.

Shakily, she sits up slightly and reaches behind her for the bra’s closure. She wants to look away from his gaze yet she can’t. Some morbid curiosity needs to know the scary truth of how he really sees her naked. As far as she’d come with her confidence she still wants him to desire her in an apparent way. Feeling her old negative views coming back to play she thinks of Char’s words of encouragement. Don’t let sexy be an adjective, let it be a noun. In other words, don’t worry about when the heels, lingerie, and pole are gone because it’s you that gave those things meaning not the other way around. Resolute in her next action she unhooks her bra and it carelessly falls. Subconsciously she rubs at her nipples but the hitch in his breath alerts to his satisfaction. She smiles naughtily at her sudden control as she leans back and hooks her thumbs in the waist of her panties. Part of her pities him, it pities the onslaught of pent up passion she has for him. Just as much as their union is a covenant to their relationship, it’s a path to more selfdiscovery. It’s a path of discovering her sexuality with a trusted partner. As she slides one leg out she startles when she finds his hands on her chin, lifting it up for a kiss. Her concentration of the suddenly arduous task of stripping makes her forget he’s there momentarily. The connection of their lips together ignites a new fire in her. Her hands start over both sides of his face as they both go head on into the other’s mouth. Once the kiss ends he leans up and she gives him a devilish look. As her eyes travel down to his stroking palm and the baseball bat in hand she starts to feel that familiar panic from earlier. Maizy is sure that some women, maybe even most, would think she hit the jackpot but to be honest with herself and all her one partner or less brethren, she is absolutely terrified. She swallows hard and sits up on her elbows. “Mallory, maybe I should have told you before we got started but I’ve only…I’ve only ever been with one person.” She looks down modestly, bracing herself for whatever comes next. He can very well be upset that he will have to break her in, for lack of a better term. As it stands now she wants to run and hide from his cock. She looks up just in time to see his back now turned towards her. She sits on her knees and gives in to the urge to explain herself, “I’ve always been sort of book smart, and I studied a lot. So by the time I was a senior in college I had this study partner named Teddy.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” he has a sardonic look as he turns back to her, “Really don’t need to know the guy’s name.” He looks at her again and the pride he felt when she told him she’d only had one other lover comes back. He softens to her once more, “None of that matters anymore Maizy. You know why?” He moves to the edge of her bed, about two feet from her, in the middle. She shakes her head ‘no’ and he continues, “Because anything concerning your tasty pussy is my concern now.” He nods at her shocked expression, “I also forgot to tell you how that sweetness between your thighs receives pleasure only of my volition.” Instinctually her hands cover her privates and he chuckles again at her meek candor to his own dominant blunt force. It’s too late to back down now, he thinks as his predatory gaze zones in on her dark chocolate tips to her delicious casaba melon-like bosom. Honestly he doesn’t see how she doesn’t tip over when she stands but that’s another discussion. “Play with your nipples.” He commands softly while licking his lips. He leans in to enjoy the show while he continues, “I understand your concern… yeah just like that.” He pauses when she tweaks her nipples in a way that really makes him hot. Her eyes are heavy from her own arousal by this point. Good, he wants her so hot and bothered that she’ll be begging for him to get inside her. Now is the time for preparation and he has all the time in the world. “Maizy do you trust me with your pleasure?” She nods and he follows, “Now I’m going to try to keep this as slow as you need it until your ready but baby please have mercy on me.” He finishes with a grin and she blushes.

“We can do it quick like a band-aid.”

“Is that how you did it the first time?” She shrugs and nods. “Jesus Maizy, did you even enjoy it?”

“Well…no…but I very much enjoy this. I’ve never had foreplay before.”

“What?” He’s doesn’t know what he’s more shocked about; the fact that she thinks they’re having foreplay or the fact that she’s never had it all. Who ever this Teddy person is he’d have to send a thank you card or something. “Baby lay back on the bed.” The alarm in her eyes lets him know she thinks they’re about to make love. “We’re not finished with the foreplay yet darling.” Once she’s flat on her back, he crawls over her to take her in. She is so vulnerable yet open to everything he’s about to give her. Starting with her forehead he trails kisses any and everywhere, lingering on different erogenous zones like her ears, chin, neck, and collarbone. At her breasts he makes her chuckle in breathy tones as he eeney-meeney-miney-mos which tit he will feast on first. Deciding on her left first, he palms the juicy orb for the first time. They both let out a groan that urges both of them with fiery elation. His mouth crashes with the nipple, as her fingers mow through his short auburn curls. He breathes a deep breath of satisfaction as the tip of his tongue dances over the soft little ridges of the tiny morsel. Her loud moans of newfound glory drive his head to the other breast. She lets out a gasp of surprise while his pride is swells to bursting proportions from all the raw unleashed sexual desire he’s unlocking in his lover. Her gathers the heft of both breasts together so he can languidly lavish his tongue over both taut little pebbles. Her nails dragging over his scalp make him suck and pull hard enough until they pop and vibrate from his lips.

“I’m so close Mallory!” Maizy is thrashing against the sheets, with one hand clawing at them and the other clawing at him. She doesn’t object when she feels Mallory’s hand nudging her legs apart. She welcomes it as the anticipation of what’s to come moves her closer to that coveted orgasm. “Where are you going?” When she looks down, Mallory is positioning the backs of her knees over his shoulders.

His attention is on her glistening pussy that runs with her dew of arousal. He looks at the area as a whole with it’s neat and trim little patch of hair at the top of where the cleft starts. Her lower stomach rises and falls rapidly from her pants. She wants a release and only he can give it to her. “God your pussy looks so delicious. The lips look like a French puff pastry and your clit…mmm…is that my cherry on top?” He looks up to her heavy lids and can tell that she’s ready now. If he wants to take her he can with no hesitation on her part, but why deny himself this treat? Plus the way the heels of her feet are digging into his back he can tell she wants it too.

His toned arm snakes over the top of her right thigh and his peace sign fingers expose her sex for his viewing pleasure. He’s just about to go in for his first taste when he stops himself and looks up, “Maizy keep your eyes on me. I want to watch you when you come.” She only gives him a heated unblinking stare as she’s too hypnotized by him to not give exactly what he wants. He matches her stare as the tip of his tongue delves into her honey pot. Her breath hitches as his groan vibrates over her clit. Besides a long blink on his part neither broke the eye contact. He expertly darts his tongue in and out while his top lip massages the swollen nubbin. The bottom catches any on her sweet nectar that escapes his tongue. He feeds from her like she has the fountain of youth running from her snatch and she’s willingly giving it to him in gush after gush that he’s demanding from her. Her walls contract on his tongue and he can taste her closeness. Her eyes are shimmering with unshed tears as her mouth falls open in a silent scream. His other hand moves up and presses on her pelvis while he sucks her clit in earnest. A shockwave shiver that starts at the base of her spine riddles its way up. It resonates through her whole body and ends with her voice. Her screams of gratification don’t deter him the least from his actions. They only exert more of his zeal to turn her body into putty. When she’s nothing but a pile of whimpers he leans up to look at his handy work before moving from the bed and out of the room.

Chapter Seven

Maizy doesn’t have the strength to notice Mallory leaving the room. She doesn’t know her name. She wonders if it’s because it’s her first time experiencing oral sex or if it’s because it’s Mallory. Getting a little bit of power back to her body she looks around for him and figures he’s probably getting a condom. She begins to twist at the thought of that thick, long, powerful pole sliding in and out of her. She even gets bold enough to call out, “Mallory, I’m ready!” She’s about to go and find him until he finally appears in the doorway. “What were you doing?”

He holds up the platinum foiled wrapper, “By the way, these won’t be making too many appearances right?”

She grins sheepishly and nods, “I made an appointment for my doctor next week.” She’s blushing from talking so openly about her contraception with him, even if they were moments away from coitus.

His cock jumps at her candor despite her bashful manner. He rips it with his teeth and sheaths himself, all while walking over and getting on the bed between her legs. His eyes never leaving hers and his dominate determination radiating from his body. He scoops each one of her shapely brown legs around his waist savoring the silkiness of her skin. He scoots his thighs higher, causing her legs to move wider for his entrance. His strong hands roam the sides of her up to her arms to wrap around his neck. The heady scent of her arousal mixed with vanilla put him on a tailspin as he guides his length inside his new haven. To keep control on the tightening abyss sucking him in he focuses on Maizah’s delicate face. Watching for any discomfort. So far she looks like she’s on heavy medication, yet her eyes are still bright with passion and desire. Her body hesitantly accepts half of him to both their pleasurable surprise.

The deeper his hips go the more she doesn’t notice her flaws. He definitely doesn’t mind from the strain of pleasure in his expression. The shiny lines displaying her weight loss diminish in her mind. The worry over her boobs spilling in her armpits is all gone.

She can only

concentrate on the intense lovemaking her man is putting on her. She accepts his searching lips to hers with a moan of release. Suddenly, her eyes snap as he slowly bottoms out. He’s all the way to the hilt and she can feel every gloriously thick inch of him.

“I’m sorry if I’m hurting you. I can slow down if you need to,” His voice is tender as he’s gaging her expression. As magnificent as her cunt feels clinging onto his love stick, he’s rather cut off his big toe than hurt her. Her silence is frightening so he tries to pull out.

Her feet press into his buttocks, “No! I mean it does hurt a little but…I-I like it.” Maizy leisurely claws at his lower back causing him to arch with a growl. His hips lift into hers and she winces from the new angle. He again tries to stop but she’s not having that so she rotates around his hard rod. “I can take it baby.” He can’t hold back and gives her a warning thrust that steals her breath. “I never thought it could feel like this,” she cries out with a heaving breath.

A few minutes in that position and he’s confident she’s fully ready for him. Now he just wants to play with her for minute. He leans up on his haunches and looks down at his own pole work, if you will. He sucks in a gasp through a perfect “O”. “Look at that,” he pauses until she looks down. At first she’s hesitant of being so bold then she takes a peek and it holds her gaze. The contrast of their skin coupled with his elation makes her realize the eroticism that they both create. No superficial thoughts of physical hang-ups because they’re futile once stripped bare.

He pulls her until they’re both in a sitting position. She matches the rhythm of his grinding motion with her own as her head leans back. He nuzzles her neck with his eyes closed, enjoying everything of the moment and orchestrating it as well. He knows this position will give her the confidence to claim her desire, passion, and own sexuality yet still allowing him most of the dominance. God she is turning him into a real Neanderthal! A twirl of her hips elicits a guttural moan from them both. He pulls the nape of her neck so she faces him, not too rough just enough to excite. She gives a little confident smirk as he lifts a challenging brow. He falls back leaving her still in her prostrate state. He drinks in his lady. She runs her hands through her long mane slow and seductively then to her heavy breasts. “That’s it baby. Don’t hold back.” His cheerleading is maybe too premature. He’s kind of closer to release than his usual lovemaking sessions from months of pent up lust for this woman. Now to ask her to “not hold back” may not be a good idea. As the thought crosses his mind he tries to take her hips in his to guide her more efficiently.

Maizy brings back her naughty chuckle and moves his hands away. Balancing on his chest, her thighs lift and her legs straighten out to the same split she did earlier during her routine. His eyes bug out as she stops as the tip of his dick still inside. He strangles a curse as she slides down his length. “The tricks don’t stop on the pole sweetheart.” She continues to drag him slowly in and out of her in the same position. This has to be some sort of torture but fuck if he cares. This wanton little strumpet gives as well as she gets. He can’t figure which side he likes more, the sweet meek beauty that’s tongue-tied, or the gorgeously sexy siren with moves all for him. Or were they? His mind suddenly shifts to Alex. Yeah Char assured him that he means nothing to Maizy but what he heard with his own two ears echoes in his mind, “I can ask someone else…” It momentarily takes him out of himself. As if he’s in the octagon and she’s an opponent, he flips Maizy’s body expertly so she’s only inches from the edge. Even her astonished shriek doesn’t wake him from his cloud of possession and jealousy.

Maizy has no clue what to expect next and why he’s growling all of a sudden. His new demeanor is animalistic in nature yet all the more exciting to her. She welcomes it with her jutting hips meeting his brutal thrusts. Soon it starts to feel like that old blues song her father and stepmother used to put on when they had alone time. Millie Jackson’s Hurts So Good is crooning in her head as she chews on a pillow. Her right mind is flying out of the window, as she whimpers, “Please don’t stop Mal’ baby. Don’t ever stop!”

He throws one of her legs up to his shoulder and the other curls around his thigh like a hook. He likes this position because she looks like the vulnerable little sprite he was so drawn to months ago. Mallory glides slowly to her core as a courtesy. He doesn’t want to scare her as he is about to, as Cyril would put, beat it up. He didn’t understand at the time but now it all makes sense. He is about to tear that ass up. He picks up with a hard attack and slow tortuous retreat. Each one of her gratifying whimpers grows his ire to possess and consume her. The responses of her body are so satisfying to more than just his ego. He isn’t usually this aggressive but over the months he has to now admit to himself that he’s becoming more and more like his wrestling moniker than ever. He is going to do whatever it takes until he’s convinced that she knows that she’s his. Maybe he’s always been this way, an alpha-male. He took no stock in it, thinking it was merely the press trying to make their assumptions for the public. He figured it a term for cattle or military until his sister talked about it once. Either way, he truly didn’t buy into it until Maizy. Maybe he just needed her to unlock it. Lord knows the recipe was always there. Even before his father died he was encouraged to nurture this behavior. He taught him how to curtail it with charm for the ladies and fists for any guy that had a problem with it. His domineering ways were never a problem in past relationships because he usually finds out their looking for a meal ticket anyway. He may be a famous jock but his dual Master’s degrees in business and engineering is what made him wealthy before the fights. Now being with a woman that has so much going for her excites him. Yet her demure ways and all the advances of the wolves in the gym, especially Alex, make him immensely protective. Makes him want to claim her. Obviously, or he wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble. His body ravages the innocence of his sweet flower as she’s withering under him. He finally comes to his senses…a little.

She’s enjoying every bit of this and she doesn’t know what she wants more, him to stop or him to continue. He’s looking at her and she feels radiant, sexual, and alive. Yes the changes were all because of her but for some reason the look in his eyes makes it all the more better. An overwhelming feeling to be more connected to him wells inside her. Wanting to let him know how she feels. How she loves him. “Oh Mal’ I-I-…” She stops, not allowing herself to say what she feeling but going back to letting her body feel what she want to say. The bundled nerves between her legs begin to pop like a Tesla coil. With a whimpering cry she calls his name through her orgasm. He closes his mouth over hers for a pledge-sealing kiss. At this point she’s flying so high she doesn’t know how he’ll top this.

Mallory lifts from her lips, now grinding his hips to milk her aftershocks. Once she a bit more alert and her attention is back on him he smoothes her hair back from face. “I love you too Maizah.” He chuckles at her brow-raised expression.

Maizy can’t figure out what’s more shocking, the fact that he said the words or that he read her mind again! He begins to pick up the pace once more and the bud between her petals begins to throb once more. She didn’t know she could come again so fast! “ OH Shit Mallory!” Sounds of their piston-like bodies fill the room a long with Mallory’s primal grunts and Maizy’s second climatic screams. Their eyes lock when he gives knowledge of his own impending release. All his pent up energy starts to hum and glow like a nuclear reactor and she’d be damned if it didn’t turn her on more. Just as her second orgasm subsides, a third is hot on it trail! The whole world can be swallowed up leaving only them and it wouldn’t rock them as much as the burst of their culminating pressure. “Maaallory!” Maizah screams as her spine bends to his undulating body while he too whimpers his release against her neck. Now the only sounds are their heaving breaths and small smacking kisses they gently give one another. Not even by herself has she achieved this type of big O. Now she can tell her sister she knows what “La Petite Mort” is all about.

As she glides back down from her heavens he rolls over to kiss her cheek and neck with his heaving breath over her face. She tries to sit up but she flinches and hisses. “Are you okay? Was I too rough with you?”

The worry is back on his face and Maizy can’t help but feel. “I’m a little sour but I didn’t think it would happen this fast.” She tries to laugh it off, “Maybe it was all those moves you were putting me in. Did you forget that I was a girl and not a fighter?”

He chuckles as he slides from the bed to dispose of the condom. “Sweetness, there’s no way in hell I’d forget you weren’t a girl.” He bends and gives her a quick kiss before he flicks the lights to the room’s adjoining bathroom. Maizah quickly moves the rumpled sheet over her. Without its ambience lighting, old insecurities are coming back. Looking at Mallory all rippling and glistening in his nakedness makes her feel a bit inadequate to him. When he comes back his modesty is still out the window as he saunters over to the bed. He wiggles his brow “And you and me are going to be exploring a lot more positions that that.”

Maizy laughs nervously and tightens the sheet. She can tell that he knows what’s going on but tries to play it cool. “What do you want to do now?”

He half shrugs as he gets back on the bed tugging at her sheet that she has in a death grip, “I don’t know. You want to eat something?”

She suddenly jerks the sheet away from him and narrows her eyes, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Mallory is stunned to bewildered silence, “Um…I just wondered if you wanted to finally eat that dinner you worked so hard on.” He tilts his head to the side as he considers her abrupt change in attitude.

Maizy relaxes but only by a bit, “No, I don’t want to do that.” She crosses he arms protectively over her torso.

The act pushes her bosom up for his tasty view causing him to scoot closer. He trails a finger over her cleavage and says, “Then why don’t we go take a shower?” Maizy tenses up at those words and Mallory simply can’t take it anymore. “Maizah what is this shit.” Maizy is taken aback by his harsh words but he doesn’t back down. “Why are you being so distant now? Do you regret this or something?” Just saying the words almost makes he want to break something.

“No! Of course not!” Maizy leaps from the bed making sure the sheet doesn’t fall.

“Then what’s going on here?” At this point he’s up off the bed as well. They are going to settle this tonight no matter what.

Maizy is pacing, trying to find the words. “I…get nervous around you sometimes. The way I look and the way you look…it’s so ironic to be with you.”

At this point Mallory’s feelings are too hurt to hear her sincere answer. All he can think about is her revealing clothes she flashes at the gym, the men, and Alex. “Bullshit Maizah and you know it! You’re just being a coward!” He almost falters when she gasps and turns away from him. Even the hurt flickering through those soft sable eyes doesn’t stop him. “Were you nervous when you were flashing your shit all over the gym? Or maybe it was the pole dance you gave everyone yesterday! Or maybe when you went on one of the two dates you had with Alex Huerta huh Maizah?”

“Wait…what?” Maizy turns back around to face him.

Mal’s on a roll now and doesn’t notice his slip until after he says, “Oh and now you want be a certified pole instructor but for some odd strange reason, you’re still nervous to be around me?” He finally notices the horrified look on her face and silently registers he fucked up. He thinks fast, “Jenny told me.”

“I never told Jenny about being an instructor or the second date with Alex. How do you know all this?” Her ire is rising as she moves forward on him. Realization dawns on her and she falls to her bed with a trembling lip. “How do you know Char?”

He kneels next to her, “Baby.”

“Don’t!” She holds up a hand and looks at him with a cold stare and tears brimming in her eyes, “Is she an ex you paid to get me all hot and sexy for you? What? You thought we’d like each other enough to what?” She pauses to laugh cruelly, “Maybe we’d all like to hook up?”

He swallows hard at the gravity of the truth, “She’s my sister and I didn’t pay her to do anything Maizy I swear. And it wasn’t for me.”

“Bullshit!” she mocks.

He surges up with his own irritation, “I’m serious Maizah! You’re a beautiful woman that has too much going for her to just roll over and accept some pity fuck from a guy named Teddy.” He ends with a bit of disgust.

“Oh but it’s okay to be lied to and manipulated by a guy named ‘Neanderthal’? Your sister lied and you used me Mal!” At that time she let the tears fall freely.

“I’m not using you. I just needed to get through your defenses.”

“Then why couldn’t you have been a man and just tried a little harder? Why the games? Then you have the balls to call me a coward? ” She had him there and he couldn’t answer.

When she tries to stand he places his hands in her lap to keep her sitting, “Maizah, I know I messed up and I didn’t come forward with information like I should have but please don’t punish us. We love each other.”

Taking a deep sigh, Maizah stands and moves towards the door, “I don’t want to be here right now. I need to think and just not be here.” She moves to her closet to find clothes.

He tries to stand but she stops him again and he sits on the bed with an incredulous look, “but this is your place baby. Please let’s just talk.” When she emerges she’s wearing a simple hunter green tube dress and her hair in a ponytail. “Ah c’mon Maizah. Where are you going?”

Maizy moves around him as if he’s not there. Withdrawing from him again and he can’t stand it. “The key is in the bird feeder. I don’t want to see you here when I get back.” With that she’s out of the room, moving with haste when she sees him moving to the other room for his clothes.

He’s too slow and can only hear the rev of her car outside of the condo. He’s at the door in his unbuckled pants in time to see her headlights disappear and her hand going up to her face to wipe away tears. He hits her doorframe as he goes back in the house. He moves to his phone to try and get Maizy or at least Charmaine to help him find her. He already has a text from Jenny that reads what is going on? Why is she on her way here? With a relieved sigh he kisses the screen, “Oh thank god!” He immediately calls Jenny and gives her a quick version of what’s going on then he calls his sister who finally picks up. They all agree to try to keep Maizy at Jenny’s until they can talk to her all at once. They all understand they have to take responsibility of what they’ve done. They also hope beyond all hopes that the special person whose best interest was always at heart will understand as well.

Maizy couldn’t believe how stupid she was for all of this. Now that she put everything together she can see the resemblance between Mallory and Charmaine in her minds eye. The thought makes her shudder with repugnance. But she still can’t understand why Char would take part in this. She thought that she was her friend. She opened up a lot about her detachment and need for acceptance from her half sister and stepmother, as she barely knew her birth mother. The thought that possibly Char and Mallory were just laughing behind her back takes her back to a time less desired. Her thoughts go back to her adolescent years when the taunting and pranks were really bad, not just from classmates but her so called family. The only other person she has at this point is Jenny. Thank God she hadn’t left for Alex’s party yet.

Chapter Eight

Once at Jenny’s, she wraps her arms around Maizy from the sight of her puffy face and red swollen eyes. “What happened honey?”

“He used me Jen.” Maizy starts to cry anew but Jenny calms her back down.

“Oh no honey. It must be some big misunderstanding. That doesn’t sound like Mallory at all.”

“No it’s true. Char is his sister. I confided in her and she just ran back to him with everything I said.” Maizy is wiping her nose and doesn’t notice the nonexistent surprise on Jenny’s face. She only stares off with puzzlement. “It all started with that damn flyer for her studio. How did he know?”

Jenny stands and starts to pace and wring her hands, “Uh, yeah. The flyer…about that…”

“About what?”

“What if there was one more person that was involved?” Jenny scrunches her face waiting for the onslaught.

“What? Jenny what are you saying?”

“I’m saying that I did put the flyer in your locker after all.”

“Jenny!” Maizy shoots up in fury.

“Maizy wait please! Just listen!” Maizah fumes but holds to wait for an answer.

~*~*~

“What did I tell you Mallory?” Char is doing a bit of fuming herself. She knows she’s just as bad as him if not worse since she did most of the lying but if feels good to vent on him. “I told you not to start this relationship with lies! Now that poor girl is out there probably crying her eyes out because of us!”

“Don’t you think I know that? I want her safe and sound just like you.”

“You don’t understand Mal’…” Char trails off as she stares at her phone screen. She’s been trying to get a hold of Maizy herself but at this point she can’t blame if she’s not answering.

“What don’t I understand? She feels betrayed.”

“No Mal’ there’s more but-” She stops herself. She doesn’t know if she should betray her friend’s trust anymore. Yeah Mallory is her blood but from all the things that Maizy has went through from family to so-called friends in the past, Char doesn’t know if she can continue to be one of those people.

“You can’t just leave it open like that Charmaine. I care about her too. I-I love her.” With that revelation Charmaine’s neck nearly snaps in shock to look at him. “I didn’t grow antlers or anything.” Mallory knows this is a shock to his sister but damn.

“I won’t tell you everything. That’s what has gotten us in trouble now.” She takes a breath, “Her stepmom and half sister really did a number on her Mal’. Like a long the lines of Cinderella with that book A Child Called It. And that was just her home life Mallory. You of all people know how mean people can be.”

That he did. With a name like Mallory he usually had to fight to prove that he wasn’t the girl they wanted to make him out to be. Once at a light Mallory grimaces and shakes his head, “God, my poor baby.”

His comment is quiet and more to himself but it echoes in Char’s head. Her brother never had any more energy for a woman than what she could offer in bed. It was a quality she hated about him but was glad he had with the company he kept at the time. Getting to know Maizy ate her up inside not only because of her part in the farce but because she genuinely knew they were good for one another. She’s the soft to his hard and he’s the strong to her weak in such a complementary way that she didn’t want to see it not happen. She loved her brother and just wanted to see him happy and settled. He needed a family of his own to keep him grounded. He’d never admit it but she sensed for years now that he was jealous of her Will’s marriage. “You really love her don’t you?”

Just before the light turns green he sets his sister with a serious glare, “Of course. How can I not.” He pulls into Jenny’s apartment lot and jumps out. Before Charmaine gets out she’s staring at her brother’s retreating back, too stunned to move momentarily.

Mallory races up the stairs and he’s at Jenny’s door right as she’s walking out. He’s a bit confused, “What’s happening? Where’s Maizy?”

“You didn’t get my text? She escaped! I started to tell her about my involvement with the whole situation and she freaked. I calmed her down enough to explain our side then she starts coughing. When I go to get her some water and come back, she’s gone. I can’t even get her on the phone because she left it here.”

“Fuck! Where do you think she’s gone?”

“I don’t know but my guess is to Alex’s party. I was about to go ”

“No I’ll go. I just want to get her home so we can talk.” Just then, Char walks up wanting to know the score. “Char stay here.”

“No I want to go with you to find her. I have to explain.”

“It’s getting late and I’m sorry for even getting you out of the house. Will is probably pissed as it is.”

“Char I’ll take you home, but Mallory you have to call us to let us know everything is alright okay?” Jenny chimes in.

“No I’m the only one that hasn’t said my side to her yet and I need to do that before my head hits the pillow.” Her conviction is too strong for any on them to deny. They all agree on the new plan and move on. Mallory is worried sick over Maizy that he doesn’t want to argue with his sister. His mind races at the thought of her with Alex. He’s heard things about that guy, like how a lot of his dates really can’t remember the night before. If anything is happening right now he hopes he doesn’t walk in on it because he’s afraid of what may go down. Like divine intervention, a text from Cyril confirms his latest fear with, Yo, Maizy’s here gettin’ jocked hard! U parkin’ tha car or sumtpin’? Without telling everything, Mallory says he’s meeting her there and to watch out for Maizy. Cyril’s reply makes Mallory floor the gas petal. Yep, on it. Alex is already on the hunt…

~*~*~

Truth be told, Cyril could tell something was off with Maizy as soon as she walked out. She was out of sorts and looking around like a deer in headlights. When a guy would approach her to dance she’d shy away and hold herself tightly. He sent a text to Mal’ as a courtesy before he went to investigate more. His response was passable so Cyril decided to hold off on talking to her until Mallory got there. As soon as Alex sets a drink in from of her he knew tonight wasn’t going to end well. He saw him earlier with his drug dealer friend and before Mallory could say it, he knew to keep a watchful eye.

~*~*~

Maizy is playing with her necklace as she trying to focus on what Alex is going on about. He’s bragging about being a silent partner at this cheaply adorned club that his party is hosted by tonight. Her mind keeps wandering back to Mallory, Char, and Jenny. A lot of her anger has subsided but the hurt is still there. Honestly she knows now they probably weren’t making fun of her behind her back. That is evident by the amount of missed calls from them all. Matter of fact...she goes to check her phone but she can’t find it in her purse. A long sigh shakes her body as she realizes she left it at Jenny’s house. She feels like an addict that has just went through an intervention. The shit she was raised with on top of her lack of self-confidence is really doing a number on her. Maybe she needs to try therapy as well? She looks around and the room starts to spin a bit. She smiles at something he thinks is funny and asks to be excused.

“C’mon mama. You barely touched your drink. Have one more sip.”

“Actually I’m fine.” She wants to be polite but something is telling her that this isn’t an ordinary drink. She barely took the one sip that he’s referring to yet she’s feeling more lightheaded by the minute, “I just need a bathroom.” He has a devilish glint in his eye as he points it out.

As she’s making her way over to the restrooms Alex sizes up his prey. She isn’t wearing a bra. The evidence provided by her tight tube dress and her acorn size nipples straining against the fabric. Her round and luscious ass makes the skirt of the dress rise up. She’s constantly pulling it down, not realizing that she’s only drawing more attention to the area. “Mmm Maizah, you’re finally gonna see what a real man’s about tonight.” He knocks back a shot as he’s bides his time. He looks over to her glass and hopes he didn’t put too much GHB. Thank God she wasn’t a heavy drinker or she’d know that a margarita isn’t that salty. Still she hasn’t ingested enough to make a big difference. She’ll only stumble around for a bit. He needs her totally out of it, to the point that he has to carry her out of the club. His plan is to take her to his car, have his fun then leave her in the alley. He looks at his watch and thinks it’s time to go check on Princess Pollyanna.

Maizah splashes cold water on her face one more time. She knows now that Alex has spiked her drink. She starts to tear up, now in fear than anger or sadness. All she wants now is to be in Mallory’s arms and forgetting that any of this bad stuff is happening to her. Now her phone is lost and she doesn’t know anyone but her attacker out there in the club. She can’t believe she let her emotions get so out of control on her. Felling a little better she wipes her face and tries to muster enough strength to get somewhere safely to call a cab. Maybe, just maybe Mallory will still be at her house waiting for her. Looking at herself in the mirror she throws the napkin at her reflection, “Fat chance fat ass,” She mocks her stepmother’s motto for her. She turns and almost loses her footing. There’s a knock on the door and she looks up to see Alex leering at her.

“You okay mama?” He comes closer and tries to touch her cheek.

She swats him away and stumbles again, “What did you put in my drink?”

Alex’s eyes widen then go casual, “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I was fine before I got here and I take one sip of the drink you brought me and now I’m stumbling.”

Alex grabs her by the hips, “I don’t know what to tell you baby. Maybe you can’t hold you liquor huh?” He begins to try to kiss her as she struggles against him. “Stop fighting me you bitch! Tired of this shit!” He tries to drag her to a nearby stall so he can quiet her down. He needs to know that she won’t go to the cops spouting off about his drink tampering. She can’t prove it but he plans on doing some things with the CFC and really didn’t need another mark on his permanent record with them. He gets really mad when she lands a kick in his belly. Enraged, he slaps her across the face a couple of times until she’s just whimpering next to the toilet bowl. “Took some wind outta your sails didn’t it?” Alex chuckles as he rubs his stomach absentmindedly.

As he reaches down to pick her up a large arm comes from behind and puts him in a sleeper hold. Alex struggles at first, so much so that he’s able to turn their bodies towards the mirror to get a glimpse of the culprit. Before he passes out he can make out Mallory who’s choking him and Cyril is by the door watching with a smirk. Mallory whispers harshly, “Well now. Looks like there’s a lack of wind in your sails as well.” After that Alex drops like bricks.

Chapter Nine

When Mallory entered the club Cyril was right there to inform him of what he’d just seen. The knowledge of Maizy stumbling to the restroom and Alex hot on her trail made Mallory run. Cyril had to pull him back and tell him to be cool. Walking in on Alex slapping Maizy had him murderous! When the piece of shit was down he punched him a couple of times before Cyril stopped him and suggested a better plan. Do it old school. Take him to the desert, beat his ass like a biker gang initiation, and then leave him to find his way back. One call to Char’s husband and they had enough muscle to make sure Alex and his little friend didn’t run. Every time Mallory thought that maybe he was going to far he’d take a look at the rearview mirror. The sight of Maizy’s swollen face or whimpers and hisses from pain in her jaw just cemented his wavering decision. Alex was going to pay for what he did and no one was going to stop him.

Mallory hops from Cyril’s coupe and over to his neighboring SUV. They were discussing the game plan on handling the situation. Revenge was sweet but only when you knew it couldn’t come back to bite you in the ass. Precautions had to be made. He peers in to see Char holding an ice pack to Maizy’s jaw, “How’s she doing?”

“Much better. She’s coherent now.” Char gives Maizy the ice pack as she retreats to her husband’s car.

Mallory is looking intently at Maizy while she struggles to meet his gaze. “Are you…gonna kill him?”

Mallory shifts and answers solemnly, “Do you want me to?”

“No!” Maizy jumps up and meets his stare, “Mallory what are you going to do.”

Mallory eerily blinks before saying, “Baby just lie back and rest. I don’t want you seeing this.” He turns to walk away as Maizy leaps from the car to catch up with him. She pulls him back to look at her, “Look! He violated-”

“He didn’t touch me Mal’!”

Mallory continues on as if she weren’t talking, “Honey please go sit in the car.” With that he nods at Char to come over.

Maizy tries to hold her ground but Char soothes her, “Maizy don’t fight this. It’s going to happen. That fucker has it coming to him and this is how they handle things.”

Maizy’s spirited eyes flash back from sister to brother, “But what about civility?”

Mallory doesn’t answer as he strips his shirt off. Char gives the best answer that she can, “It went out the door when he decided to drug and rape you in a bathroom stall.” Maizy’s shoulders slump as that terrifying thought echoes through her mind. Hot tears spring forth once more as shame freezes her over. It’s because of her that any of this is happening. Like the mind readers her and her brother are, Char comforts her as she leads her to the car. “Sweetie none of this was your fault. It’s all ours and this is the only way we know how to make it up to you.”

Tears are now in Char’s eyes as she speaks, “I was wrong to let my bone

head brother talk me into lying to you. But I have to tell you Maizy…I’d do it again if it means that I could still have your friendship when this mess is over.

Maizy looks over to her faltered friend and sighs, “I-I don’t know Char. You and Jenny were the first girlfriends I ever had. I confided so much in you two and…” Char’s lip trembles but she nods her understanding. Maizy feels awkward and honored at the same time. No one ever gave a damn if they hurt her feelings before. Now she has a team of people about to beat a man senseless for her. Whose life is this?

“I think-” Char’s head shoots up at the impending comment, “I think that we can start over and probably have something even more special.” They clutch each other in a deep hug and it’s Alex’s coughing, spitting, and cursing that breaks them apart. Maizy looks out the tinted windshield to Alex on the ground and both Mallory and Will standing over him, “so they’re just going to beat him up right?”

“Yeah hon, no prob. Fractured rib here, broken nose there then we ride off into the dust.” Char’s voice has no emotion behind it at all as she stares straight ahead.

“Broken?”

“Yeah. Mallory’s not going to be dirty about it. He’s going to give him a choice and if it’s the right one it won’t be any different than an actually fight but faster. It’s gonna get pretty bloody.” The alarm in Maizy’s eyes makes Char add, “On Alex’s part not Mal’s.” The nonchalance is still laced in Char. Maizy writes it off to her being used to the lifestyle. Looking out at a shirtless Mallory standing strong and menacingly over her attacker makes her heart beat faster in excitement from the brutal judgment he’s about to hand down. Looking at the pathetic pile of flesh she can’t even call him by his name anymore. She steels her emotions against whatever mercy she could muster. He was scum and didn’t deserve one ounce of her pity.

~*~*~

Alex wakes to the taste of iron and sand in his mouth. He lifts and finds himself inhaling a good bit of sand as well. His eyes strain as he lifts a hand to shield his eyes from the crowding pairs of headlights. Looking around he can tell he’s a ways out from the city. “What tha fuck is going on here?” Alex can’t see much with the lights blinding him.

Mallory kicks at his foot, “Don’t fucking speak until spoken to.”

Alex squints until he can make out the face, “James? Neanderthal you’re ass is mine. Kiss that cushy CFC contract goodbye as well as all your endorsements and that shitty show of yours.” He leans up on his knees and laughs gutturally after spitting out some bloody sand.

Mallory punches him square in the mouth, “I said don’t fucking talk!” Alex falls back while Cyril and Will come running.

Cyril picks up a groaning Alex, “I’d do as he says if I were you.”

“Cyril…what tha f-fucks goin’ on,” Alex sputters while spitting out two teeth. Before Cyril can answer, Will drags Alex’s drug dealer to the group.

The man is terrified as he eyes the three large men looming over a battered Alex. He breaks immediately, “I had no idea he was going to use that on someone. I thought it was for his personal use Neander- I mean..Mr. James, sir!

“You fucking rat bastard!” Alex howls.

The guy rages a bit against Alex, “No fuck you, you dick! Mallory ‘Neanderthal’ James walks in with a bone to pick with you over his girlfriend and you want me to stick up for you? Whatever is going to happen you brought it on yourself!”

Will, a man of little words, speaks for the first time, “We need to hurry this up so we can get the girls home.”

Mallory nods gravely before addressing Alex, “We’re fighting.” It’s common knowledge that Alex was terrified of ever stepping in the ring, most of all with Neanderthal James, again.

“The hell I am! Look at me!”

“Alex you don’t have a choice. Either you fight me willingly or my boys will hold you down while I beat your face in. After that we’re leaving your sorry ass here to find your way back.”

Alex trying to save face yet his voice wavers. “And what’s stopping me from going to the cops?”

“Your personal drug dealer’s testimony among the countless number of girl’s I will pay a P.I. to find.” Mallory dunks down to Alex’s level, “This is happening and I’ve covered all my basis to ensure the utmost secrecy. This is personal and I’d rather dish out my own brand of punishment.” He stands and nods for the men to back off. He waits for Alex to stand, “You just couldn’t leave her alone could you?”

“Tha fuck are you talking about man! H-how was I supposed to know you were dating the bitch?”

As soon as the ‘cha’ in bitch is out, Mallory’s fist connects with Alex’s jaw. “Get your punk ass up!” He retreats into his fighting stance.

Alex quickly recovers with his charging shoulder in Mallory’s gut. Maizy’s shriek is loud enough for everyone to hear yet Mallory seems unaffected. He stands like a brick wall and brings an elbow to the center of Alex’s back. Once he’s on the ground, Mallory crawls on top and pummels him repeatedly.

Maizy’s hands are clamped around her face as her first boyfriend beats the shit out of a guy in the middle of the desert for her. Her shock was more from her shame of liking it than the act itself!

Alex maybe got one good shot but it bounces off like Terminator. Mallory’s rage is so past gone that it takes Cyril, Will, and the drug dealer to pull him off of Alex. With a shuddering sigh he turns to everyone panting and specks of blood splattered across his body. “Let’s go.” It’s a solemn response to end the night’s events. It’s dark, dirty, and bloody in more ways than one. When he goes up to his SUV that has Maizy waiting on him. They don’t say anything for a moment as he wipes away the residue of his savage act away. They all hug and get in their respective cars. Cyril is taking the drug dealer back and also to remind him that his confession is recorded for their use. Once on the road it’s obvious that Mallory and Maizy are searching for the right things to say to one another.

Maizy breaks the lingering silence, “What happens now?”

“Now we go home.” He can tell by her jumpy demeanor that he’s still not calm enough to expound on his feelings.

“What about him?” She looks back at Alex’s stirring figure wallowing in the dirt in pain.

His head snaps in her direction, “What about him?” When the alarm in her eyes registers, he immediately calms down, “I’m sorry sweetheart. When we’re all safely at home, I’m going to call someone to pick him up.”

“What if he tells?”

“He won’t.” His voice is deadly calm. Broaching room for no discussion on the subject after. They sit in silence until they’re closer to the city. He notices her sunken down position in her seat with her little legs under her. Drawn in to the precious bud again. Time for his amends so in a soft voice he says, “Maizah I just want to apologize again for any feelings of manipulation because those were never my intentions babe. I just wanted-”

“Just take me home.” She interrupts as she turns her gaze towards the window.

“Maizy-”

Her voice raises, “Please! I’m just so confused right now. I just need time.” Nothing else is said between them as he drives. It isn’t until she’s getting out that she says, “I’ll call you.”

“Why do I feel like you’re just saying that?” He understands her need for space but not if she’s just saying it to blow him off.

“I promise to call when I’ve figured it all out.” With that she’s out of the car much like their first date. The weeks to come are hell on them both. Maizy throws herself into her job. Most of her workouts were at home or runs in a nearby park. She couldn’t face Mallory because she wasn’t ready yet. When Char came over or vice versa, they focused mostly on their friendship and not on Mallory. Maizy knew that it was killing Char not to talk about it but it made their relationship stronger that she didn’t. Maizy is still trying to figure out if this is what she wants from this relationship. Or maybe she should just slow down all together and find someone her tempo. She missed him so much yet she wasn’t sure if loving someone with his type of temper or directness would be her speed. Every time that thought came to her mind her heart hurt more than when she thought of the situation itself. It kills her to think of him not in her life all together anymore. One thing’s for sure, Mallory definitely wasn’t making it easy on her either. Between calls, gifts, and other wacky declarations of his love she was starting to break.

Mallory can’t focus on a thing but getting Maizy back. By the second week with no sight or contact with her, he begins the daily calls to her voicemail or her assistant. The calls turned to flowers and gifts by the beginning of the third week. Soon after that, he was sending in singing telegrams to her office. It was so public and blatant that when the media caught wind of it they of course blew it way out of proportion. Whenever the press asked him about his mystery lady he was discreet with her anonymity and honest about his feelings for her. He knew he wouldn’t be able to keep her a secret forever but he needed to make sure their life together was for certain.

His patience for that revelation was wearing thin though. Char clammed up tighter than ever about any info concerning Maizy. He couldn’t blame her. There was no reason for the both of them to be on the outs with her. The only saving grace is his training day with Will whom accidentally slips that the girls are all at his house for the day. The wheels start to turn in Mallory’s head and he asks Will, “Hey, you think I can come over after to pick up that DVD I let you guys borrow?”

Will pins him with a knowing look. Chuckling, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He tries to go into fighting stance but Mallory stays upright. Will gives in and stands with a sigh, “C’mon man. Char will kill me if I help you.” Will turns while taking off his gloves. It was painfully obvious training was over.

Mallory runs to jumps in front of his brother-in-law. “Oaky then don’t even mention that I’m coming. I can just come unannounced.”

Will looks skeptical before shaking his head, “No dice. All that estrogen seeing you pulling up to the house and they’ll instantly know I squealed.”

“Deny it. They can’t prove it. And I’ll be cool. I just want to see her. See how she’s doing.”

“I don’t know dude…”

“Please man. I’ll take full responsibility.” Will reluctantly gives in and asks to give him a thirty-minute head start. When Mallory exits the showers he feels like a renewed man. He doesn’t care what it takes but he doesn’t plan on going another day without his woman.

Char, Maizah, and Jenny are sitting around a gallon tub of ice cream while discussing Maizy’s latest office exploits at the hands of Mallory. They’re all laughing over their spoons as Maizy regales her story. “So I’m already expecting something huge because my assistant is looking like she’s about to piss herself when I get into the office.”

“Jenny takes a hug spoonful of the chocolate part before saying, “Wait so everyone at your office knows it’s Mal’?”

“No, they all think it’s a secret admirer.”

Char gets impatient, “Enough of that, what was the assistant antsy about?”

“She’s grinning with all 32 as she tells me my appointments for the day. I figured it’s probably just another bouquet of flowers or a gift she wanted me to open in front of her. She’s so nosy. Well I get into my office so I can shut the door on her but I couldn’t get in.”

Maizy pauses to take a spoonful of ice cream a little too leisurely for the girls’ taste so they prod her frantically. “Maizah!” Jenny yells.

Maizy obviously relishing all eyes on her laughs, “okay okay! It was filled with flowers. So many that I couldn’t get in!” She pulls out her phone to show a picture, “This was taken from outside of my door.” Sure enough there were flowers everywhere in different sizes and kinds. Then he sends me a text about me working too hard followed by an itinerary to a spa day and directions.” Jenny goes “aw” the same time Char sucks her teeth.

Both Jenny and Maizah snap to her and Jen says, “You don’t think that was sweet?”

Char rolls her eyes, “Of course I do but since it’s my brother I have a knee jerk reaction to think it’s cheesy.” They burst into laughter, “Well what did you do?”

“I donated all the flowers to the office, took a half day, then went to the spa.” She shrugs. They laugh again.

“What about Mallory? Are you going to call him soon?” Jenny continues but Char nudges her when Maizy averts her gaze.

“It’s okay Char.” Maizy jumps down from the stool, “It is the million dollar question.” The sudden silence of the conversation makes everyone look to her expectantly. “I just want to make sure I’m making the right choice...”

Char is the first to speak up, “Of course sweetie. No one here will judge you for your choice either way.” She puts her arm around her, “As much as I’d love for you to be my sister, I’d hate to not have you as a friend.”

Maizy begins to tear up, “I’m so glad to hear you say that.” She stops as she considers her next words, “As my friend, I was wondering if I could borrow something for a date tonight?”

Char face goes crestfallen, “What?”

“Oh my god Maizy, your dating someone else?” Jenny doesn’t know whether to be happy or worried for her friend. One thing’s for sure though, Char is crushed.

“No! It’s just a second date type of thing.” Maizy corrects, “I feel that before I can fully know what I want I need to weigh my options.”

Char can’t hold back, “But my brother loves you Maizy.” Her voice shakes as tears fill her eyes. Jenny looks at her hands, feeling awkward for her indifference. “Dating someone else? Is that what you really want?”

Maizy’s threatening tears finally fall, “I don’t know but before I can talk to Mal’ I need to make sure. Please understand Char.”

Char turns towards her kitchen sink. “I’ll meet you in my closet in like five minutes. Just let me get my face together.” She wipes her eyes on a paper towel at the same time Will comes in through the back. She’s able to hide the fact that she was crying just in time. “Hey sweetie, how was training?”

“Great! Um…are the girls’ still here?” He thinks for a second that maybe the crisis will be averted.

“Yeah they’re upstairs. Get this! Maizy has a date tonight!” She starts to firm herself against the thought Mallory’s impending heartbreak. The thought of parties and outings with Mallory along with Maizy with a new boyfriend was intimidating to say the least.

“Oh shit!” Will drags his tattooed palm through his black hair.

Char puts up the ice cream and says, “You’re telling me.”

“No Char. Mallory’s on his way over here to confront Maizy.” He nods at her shocked expression.

“Oh Shit.”

Chapter Ten

Mallory jumps out of his vehicle and walks up his sister’s driveway. Before he gets more than halfway, the front door opens and Maizy appears with Char and Jenny. Everything freezes for a moment as recognition hits everyone. Mallory waves hesitantly before Maizy turns to Char with an accusing glare. “It’s all on me. Will and Char knew nothing about me coming over.” Maizy slowly turns back to him and steps off of the porch. Mallory addresses the group, “Can you guys excuse us?” They wait on Maizah to nod her approval before Jenny goes to her car to leave and Char goes into her home. There’s about five feet of space between them but it feels like more for Mallory. Mallory’s eyes travel the length of her short frame in cut offs and a black boy beater tank. Her velvety chocolate legs and arms gleam in the sun. Only her headband tames her wild hair, “You look good baby. How have you been?”

“Fine. I was going to call this weekend.” Maizy shuffles the dress and shoes she’s borrowing from Char.

He advances slowly, “It’s all my fault Maizy and I just really want us to get back on track.” When a shoe falls from her arms and over to him he bends to pick it up. Looking at its height and style, he could surmise that this wasn’t a work shoe. “What are these for?” She moves up and tries to get the shoe but Mallory wasn’t giving up that easily. He holds them out of her reach. They were fuck-me-heels if he’d seen any.

“Mallory give me the shoe!” Maizy jumps up to try to tip the shoe her way but it makes her soft breasts run up and down his body.

He smiles as her bosom begins to peek out of her tank top. “Jump three more times for me sweetness.” She pauses to look at what he’s gawking at and she jumps back with embarrassment. He laughs as he lures the shoe in front of her and walks backwards. Just before she can grab it he pulls it out of reach in time. He chuckles as she makes one last attempt, “Just tell me if you’re preparing another show for me or not?” He takes the heel and eyes it like Prince Charming in Cinderella.

She cocks back and folds her arms over herself, “Not.” When his face falls so does his hand and she takes that chance to get the shoe. He’s still in shock when she moves around him to go to her car.

He comes to just before she can fully open her door and he shuts it, “You girls going out tonight.” She leans on her car with a smirk and shakes her head ‘no’.

“I have a date tonight Mal’.” Once again he’s shocked to weakness and she’s able to effortlessly push him away from her driver side.

He puts his hands firmly on her open window space. “Maizah you’re not going.” He’s trying to make his voice calm but it still comes out strained.

“Mal’ this has nothing to do with you or us. I just want to make sure that being with you is what I want.” He tries to say something else but she stops him. “I’m sorry Mal’, but I have to go or I’ll be late.” She starts her car and slowly pulls away as Mallory is still trying to get a word in. She looks back into her rearview mirror and laughs at the sight of Mallory in the middle of the street. Telling Char about the date proved to be harder than it seemed. She was crushed when she heard the news, but Mal’s face made for it. They’d get over it in due time. As she turns the corner she takes a look at her arm that’s riddled with goose pimples. She couldn’t wait for tonight.

Mallory just barges into his sister’s house and finds her next to the window with a startled look on her face, “I want you to tell me where she’s going and none of this shit of you not knowing!”

~*~*~

Maizy sits in the darkened booth of the restaurant checking to see if anyone is looking. The quiet Italian eatery is elegant and offers each of its patrons a secluded type experience. The booths are high and the red hue of the single candle offers most of the lighting. Her bosom was presented generously against the vintage share neckline of Char’s blazing red dress. Her hair is straightened and gathered to one in body curls. She has a matching red lipstick that creates a sultry Sophia Loren look.

Waiting for her date, she looks at herself in her compact as an effort

to relieve nerves. A man clearing his throat over her table makes her put her mirror away. Excitement of the arrival of her date makes her giddy. Maizy’s breath catches at the debonair swag of Mallory standing before her. His hair is freshly cut into a stylish coif and bleached blonde. He’s dressed in a pair of nice black slacks, a tailored burnt orange dress shirt buttoned up to the third button, and a sleek sports coat. Her voice is barely above a whisper when she breathes his name.

He looks around with a smug look on his face, “Where is he?”

“Why are you here Mallory?” She back stiffens up and she sits straighter in her chair when he helps himself in the booth next to her.

He gazes on her like a wolf and she’s aptly Little Red Riding Hood. “Is he in the bathroom?” When she doesn’t answer he delights at her reaction as he trails a finger over her exposed bosom. “You think he’ll get the hint if he saw us like this?” Maizy’s breathing is erratic to Mallory’s satisfaction. He knows he has her right where he wants her. Her mannerisms are much like the first time in his car, relenting and unsure. He knows that whenever this clown does walk up he’ll promptly turn right back around, if he already hasn’t.

Maizy’s tries once more half-heartedly, “Why are you here?”

He moves inches away from her mouth, “I’m here to get you. Even if I have to swing you over my shoulder and carry you out in front of everyone.” The words are domineering but they sound incredibly sweet and seductive from his syrupy tone. Their lips touch and it’s like home for them both. Only the sounds of their intense breathing can be heard in their intimate space. His hand slips to the back of her neck to deepen the kiss but a waiter’s approach stops him cold. They ask for another minute before he looks at her wipe her disrupted lipstick off. She hands him a napkin and he follows suit. “So when’s lover boy getting here?”

Maizy’s eyes cut seductively over to Mallory, “He’s already here.” She stifles a laugh when he starts looking around hysterically for the culprit. When he looks back at her with a bewildered stare she lets him off the hook. “It’s you goof ball!” When it’s obvious that he still doesn’t get it she continues with an eye roll, “I only told you, Char, and Jen that I had a date to screw with you guys.” She sits back with a victorious look. “Serves you all right for doing the same thing to me.” Mallory’s face is in an unreadable stare, which makes Maizy a bit nervous so she continues to babble. “You guys hurt me…”

“So you wanted to make me hurt just as much?” Mallory’s tone is serious and quiet. He slowly turns and pins her with a wounded look.

Maizy loses more of her bravado, “It was just to show you how you made me feel. I wanted you to see that your games won’t solve anything.” She looks down with a defeated attitude. “Are you really that angry with me?”

“Angry? Am I Angry?” Mallory repeats with more force. He stares her down and without another word he crashes into her mouth before she can speak. The kiss is just as hungry as the when he first sat down. The waiter once again comes back but keeps walking when they don’t even notice him this time. He slowly pulls back and waits for her eyes to fully open before he finishes, “I don’t think I could ever be angry with you. I love you Maizah and I want to spend a long time proving it to you.” He quickly puts his index to her swollen lips before she can speak once more, “We’ll take it as fast or slow as you need. I have to tell you though that I’m not a patient man.” He stops as she snorts were agreement and they both chuckle at the obvious. “I’m not a gambling man either so I know a sure thing when I see it. We’re a sure thing Maizy, I just hope you see that.”

Maizy moves in, closing off the small space between them, “So you’re up for the job of being facilitator and teacher for all my sexual fantasies and shortcomings?” She revels in the way his eyes go straight to her body. Her nipples strain against the dress’s bodice and the heat between her legs causes her to scream with anticipation. Most of her nights were restless thinking of the lovemaking they shared their first time together. The thought of a repeat performance always got her going. He can tell she’s turned on because her unique smell of vanilla and dove orchid is more pronounced. It radiates from her like a pheromone and his nostrils lift and stretch to snatch every particle from the atmosphere. “Honey if that’s problem then I can’t imagine the benefits.”

“Well I should tell you that one of my fantasies is public sex?” Mallory’s eyes bug out more when she slides under the table and moves in on his crotch than the comment itself. She’s relieved that he isn’t fighting her over this but she’s still nervous. She has never given oral sex before but she was more than willing to try for Mal’. Her trembling fingers clumsily fiddle with his fly.

Mallory is too excited to care about her unfamiliarity of a pant zipper straining from a hard cock. In a breathy whisper he reaches down and says, “Let me help you with that.”

Once its released from its confines, his erection looks like a monolith. Almost like it’s a separate entity she reaches out with her fingertips to stroke the head. She jumps when it moves on its own. “Baby you don’t have to do this.” She looks up to see him peering inconspicuously at her. Her hands steady and go confident as they grasp his thick length.

Instinctually and from what she’s seen in pornography, her lips wrap around the helmet of his member, savoring his flavor. His quick intake of breath makes her jump back once more and she whispers, “Sorry!”

He peeks down and whispers, “No, no! It just surprised me…good surprise though.” He smiles to calm her nervousness. “Try moving your hands too.” He advises quickly before putting his attention to the same poor waiter needing their order. His voice goes up an octave as he finally orders an appetizer while Maizy replaces her mouth around his cock. The first two inches are simple but the next two cause her to gag. Mallory’s hand reaches down to caress her hair, “Don’t try to take too much sweetie. It feels like heaven with what you’re doing.” Her tongue does laps around his girth and she locks the tangy sweet taste of him in her memory. She remembers to move her hand up and down on him as she sucks harder on what she can fit in her mouth. Even from her position she can hear his irregular breathing and it spurs her on. Her throat relaxes and she moves her mouth to take more of the length of what her hands were occupying. His fingers are digging into the back of her head but she’d be damned if it didn’t turn her on more. She wasn’t too fast or slow in her ministration, as this was more to see how comfortable she was with giving him oral sex. Every so often a stronger taste of him would leak out and she’d slurp on him even more to try to elicit more.

She begins to see the power of her actions. To see the true control she holds over him even with his domineering personality. She’d definitely bank this away for a “Neanderthal Tamer” in the future. She gets bolder with it as she drags the pad of her tongue from shaft to tip before swirling around and closing her lips around it. She’s lost in her actions, in trance from the seductive wantonness that he’s unleashed in her and loving every minute. All of a sudden she’s being ripped away by the nape of her neck as Mallory whispers, “Move baby!” He moves her hands from his cock and starts stroking with a vigor that insists that he has an impending emergency. Maizy moves to sit properly in the booth but her eyes never leave Mallory’s actions. Seconds later a string of muffled curses and grunts explode from him as his assaulting fist gives the top of his Johnson short tugs. He takes a napkin to wipe off the evidence of their transgression and dreamily looks over to her, “I don’t know whether or not that fantasy was properly fulfilled but we’ll definitely be recapping it on a much fair basis in the future.”

Laughingly she asks, “So I wasn’t terrible for my first time?”

His eyes go wide then back to normal before reaching out and stroking her chin, “How did I get so lucky?” Before she can answer their waiter comes up with their appetizer in a carryout container and he has their check. He politely says that management told him to ask them to leave. Not the least bit embarrassed, as his antics in other public spots usually got him thrown out anyway, Mallory escorts a blushing Maizy out. The press is there with tons of questions, mostly if Maizy is the mystery woman and if wedding bells were on the horizon. Maizy is hiding her face because she’s sure they will all know about her little sexual episode mere minutes from when it transpired. He stands next to her door as the pictures continue to flash at every angle. He’s in his element but it’s the total opposite of anything Maizy has ever experienced so she just tries to keep her head down. She’s grateful that Mallory gets her safely into his car but his next actions almost have her fainting. “Ladies and gentleman of the press, these last few weeks have sparred tons of rumors of and who I’m dating…” With a toothy grin he turns back to Maizy and their eyes lock then he continues, “yes this is my woman.” The declaration was unsaid between them until now but the revelation still shocks her. The cameras go even crazier at her dropped expression and even crazier when he adds, “And who knows, maybe in a couple of months, Neanderthal could be picking out a tux!”

Maizy thought her eyes were going to pop out of her head at that! He makes some excuse about needing to go and jumps in the driver side to take off. A full five minutes goes by and he still hasn’t said anything about his comment to the press. “Mallory?”

“We’ll get your car tomorrow if that’s okay.”

She nods but continues on, “Mallory?”

His concentration seems to be more on the task at hand than his crazy admission to the press. “Yeah babe?”

“Did you mean what you said? About finding a tux in a few months.”

“I knew that would freak you out. I meant what I said Maizy, I’ll take it however fast or slow you need but I am an impatient man. I’m going to keep trying until I have more than just you but the absolute.”

“And what’s that?”

“I want the dream with you. Marriage, kids, house, I want it all. This time away from you solidified that for me. I never had these feelings for anyone else and that’s how I know they’re genuine.” He looks at her for moment, “They’re genuine and all for you.”

“Mallory I love you.” Mallory goes silent and she waits for his response. She notices that they’re heading away from her condo’s direction and towards Mulholland Drive. “Where are we going?”

With a short chuckle, “Lady you drive me crazy for the better part of a year, got me out here committing felonies and sexual depravities,” they pause to chuckle then he continues with a more serious tone while pulling into his three-car driveway. “Then you invite me into your beautiful body,” he leans in close much like the first time she was in his car. “You finally tell me you love me and let me into your heart.” He kisses her shoulder then looks to his home, “And given your track record for scaring so easily, I’ve decided to take you somewhere you can’t run from so easily.” She cuts a peel of laughter that gets him to join.

In a coquettish jest she says, “Well I guess since you’ve stalked me for the better part of a year, have gotten your sister to corrupt me into her little pole dancing brigade, you scour the city looking for me and kidnap me off to your house in the hills I guess I have no choice. What’s next you gonna club me over the head and whisk me to Vegas to marry.”

She squeals when he playfully grabs her and drags her to him and out of the car. He nuzzles her giggling neck, “Don’t put ideas in my head woman!”

Epilogue Two Years Later

But the idea was already there. In the end of the first month of their courtship they were engaged. By the middle of the second month they were married and expecting. It seems Mrs. James didn’t ever make it to her doctor’s appointment. Her whirlwind courtship to Mr. James may have had a hand in that thought. Life for Maizah switched from a stagnant numbness to a whirlwind of constant surprises. You would think that being married to a professional MMA fighter/television show personality would be enough excitement. It’s actually seems there’s more excitement when they’re together than apart. So much so they are in talks with a national network for a reality TV show about their hasty relationship and life thereafter. Maizy is in therapy to cope with her feelings with herself and other issues with family. Three nights a week she teaches pole dancing at Char’s studio and even became a partner, especially after she won the US Pole Dancing Championship. A feat that makes her sister and stepmother gnash their teeth.

For Mr. James, is it weird that his wife is getting almost just as much attention as him when he fights at the same venues as her competitions? Sometimes, but Mallory certainly couldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. He created the monster so now he has to deal with it and oh what another delight! Sitting in his office looking over scripts, contracts, and schedules, Mallory is actually a bit sad. He lost his last fight by disqualification. It wasn’t his fault though. He couldn’t keep his head in the game. While in the octagon, he spotted a fellow fighter hitting heavily on Maizy. To the point of her having to push him away. After that he pretty much blacked out. When he came to he was outside of the ring. The fighter that he was supposed to be fighting didn’t have a scratch on him. The fighter groping Maizy had both his eyes swollen shut. Somehow they were able to say it was planned and Mallory was made to do an out of court settling to the tune of seven figures. What could he say; he was very protective of his family, especially his kids and Queen.

Still he’s been in a funk lately and he doesn’t know how to get out of it. The competitor in Mallory won’t let his pride go for losing in such a way. He knows he’ll have another chance at the title and lord knows he doesn’t need the CFC to make a living like a lot of his friends. It just sucks to know that his hot-headedness is keeping him from something he loves. He’d do it all over again if the situation came along though. With a sigh he gets up to leave his office and find his family. They’re in the kitchen cooking, well Maizy is cooking and little Mallory is hanging on with one hand and playing with mommy’s earring with the other while gurgling and cooing in her ear. Maizy periodically is checking in with her baby by talking and emulating his sounds. Little Mallory looks over to his father and begins squirming and laughing. Mallory is in the doorway smiling at the sight they present. It’s these moments that put it all back in perspective. So what if he lost a fight? It was over his stupidity anyway. When Maizy turns around she gives him that sparkly cheery look that he can’t stand to be without for over a day. She’s wearing a simple summer dress with thin straps. It stops just above knees and with no shoes on her delicate little feet. It’s funny how he notices everything about her now. Before, when he was dating he never had a fetish for a woman’s particular body parts. With Maizy, she made him a fiend for everything, even her toes! Her hair is longer now because of the baby but hell he never complained about that. Her body a bit more fit because of the competitions yet curvy and soft where he needs her to be. His eyes momentarily go seductively low before she gives him a warning look and nods to their giggling child. He comes over and takes little Mallory with a kiss to his forehead before setting him on his broad chest. He turns to his wife, “Just like I like ‘em. Barefoot and pregnant.” Maizy swats him away with her wooden spoon and a laugh. They were constantly jabbing each other with jokes that would normally horrify people. People couldn’t tell if they were serious or joking and most of the time if they were asked they’d answer in unison, “Both.” They knew their relationship isn’t conventional in most ways but the love they share seems to be doing a remarkable job so far. Changing the formula doesn’t seem like it’s on the horizon. Besides, the joke is befitting as they recently found out Maizy is three weeks a long with their second bundle of joy. They kiss and chuckle over one another’s lips. He bends to give the nonexistent bump of her lower abdomen a gentle kiss. He then notices the smells of some of his favorite African dishes that Maizah’s grandmother made them on a visit the year before. “What’s all this.”

“Well I know you’ve been down in the dumps about your little psychotic episode,” She pauses for effect and giggles at his rolling eyes. “Whatever Mallory, I told you I can handle myself. I even train with you once a week for defense moves. How am I ever going to know if I can do it if you’re always there to save me?”

“Because the mere thought that you will need saving again scares the shit out of me.” The end he makes sure little Mallory’s head was on his should with his hand covering his ears. Alex never did tell authorities and pretty much hadn’t heard anything from him.

Maizy rubs her husband’s cheek, “Babe that was a long time ago.”

“I know but you’re so fragile now.”

“Excuse me?” Maizy cocks a hip and folds her arms over under her bosom. To ward off her wrath he pretends to be distracted by her breasts. She smirks and rolls her eyes as she turns back to the food, “pervert.”

He leans in to nuzzle and nip her neck. Getting the right response of laughter he knows he’s safely in the clear, for now. “Only for you baby,” he whispers before sitting at the kitchen’s island. “So this dinner is to get me out of the depression.”

She gives her own lecherous gleam, “Among other things.” He perks up with that news. He hopes she means what he thinks she means. Just then a doorbell rings and Char’s voice fills the house from the front end. Maizy begins to take off her apron and shut everything off, “honey can you get MJ ready to go with Char.” She gives her baby a big kiss and hugs Char as she comes in then disappears in the back.

Utterly confused at this point, Mallory hands his son his sister, “What’s going on here?”

“God you must have the I.Q. of a Neanderthal too.” She pauses to stick her tongue back out at him before kissing her nephew. “I’m here to take Mallory Jr. to our house so your beautiful wife can reward you for needing you head checked. She thinks some one-on-one time between you two will help.” She says all of this in a soothing babyish voice for her nephew’s benefit and starts bouncing him until he laughs. Now utterly amazed that his wife can read him just as well as he can with her, he scratches his freshly painted neon orange hair and smirks. Char just rolls her eyes and heads for the door with the baby’s diaper bag, “ You two are gross out central! I’ll call when I’m coming to drop him off.” In a bit of a daze he starts to think of all the possibilities of his naked wife running around about 8000 sq ft of home with no distractions. “Mal’ do you hear me? The last time I didn’t get an answer, you guys were on your way to Vegas and I was stuck with a pit puppy for five days.” Just then the family dog, Brutus, trots over to his doggy bed in the kitchen.

“Jeez Char, are you comparing your nephew to Brutus?” Char pauses at his word play but continues to the door without a word. Mallory is silently dying behind her as he walks to the door. He kisses his sister and son goodbye then turns back to his castle, ready to hunt out his Queen. “Maaaizy.” He calls out. His cock is at a semi already and gets a bit harder when he hears the music from the master bedroom. They had a corner of the room set up just for Maizy’s private shows for Mallory. Lately they haven’t had many because of the baby, the loss, and most of Maizy’s practices taking place at the studio. Mallory would feel so bad in asking for a dance after seeing her work so hard that he was happy just to still have her libido in check. As he follows the sounds coming from his bedroom he’s unbuttoning his pants. Once the door is opened, He catches her already warming up in nothing but her clear heels and lace front orange bikini thongs. He bites his bottom lip as she flips and spins around the metal rod to the deep bass of the songs beat.

She glides up and down like a graceful bird and as the last strain strums out from the speaker she finally notices him and smiles. “Why don’t you come over here.” She alluringly walks over to his chair that he sits in when she dances for him. Obviously the show is already starting as she slowly bends from the hips to drag his chair to her pole. The lip of the chair is so close to the pole it’s touching.

The next song starts just as Mallory takes his seat already mesmerized as she climbs the pole to the high ceiling. She sits back in a fireman stance and looks down to him, “What am I going to do with you Mr. Neanderthal James?” With a ballerina’s grace she expertly pike’s and spins half way then curls back into reverse superwoman until she’s face to face with him. He leans in for a kiss and she obliges with a savory connection that has him nostrils flaring with anticipation. Laughing, she moves away when his hands get too familiar on her chest.

“You can do whatever you want with me baby. Whatever you want.” He plunks back in his seat with a groan as he watches her snake back up the pole to the beat of the song. “Just don’t take too long.” Mallory moves a hand beneath his pant and removes his cock from its confining space. He doesn’t have to worry about indecency, as Maizy almost prefers him at his most lewd.

Maizy goes into a leg variation that V’s her strong limbs out. This time she twirls down until her ass is inches from his member. Her ankles and calves lock around the pole as she rubs the seam of her ass against his length. She allows him to get closer and more rambunctious this time. It ignites something in her to rattle his beast in the cage. As awful as it sounds, she’s come to love his wild ways. When he beat up the jerk in Vegas she was more upset that they wanted to suspend Mallory than actually being angry with him. All she can think now is how the tabloids will blow it out of proportion with tales of a stressed home life, as if the situation itself wasn’t enough. For every publicity stunt some whore or jack-off pulled to try to break them up or slander their names, he is there with a bigger stunt just to prove his love. It’s not only for her benefit but also to anyone watching. He told her in the beginning that reason goes out the window when it concerned her and these past two years have definitely proven that. The least she can do is give her Neanderthal a sexy show, especially when mostly all he does now is for her and their family. Mallory palms the cheeks of her ass, guiding her up and down more specifically against his cock. “Do you like your new routine baby?”

“Flawless!” His meaty hand cracks down on a full globe causing it to jiggle the way he likes. He can’t take anymore and he goes in to pull her to his lap but she’s too fast. Maizy does another fireman climb up the pole and smirks down at him. “You think this is funny don’t you.” She leans her head back and her shiny curls hang down like a curtain as she laughs. She looks back up to him and nods. He growls at his chocolate sprite and tries to keep his composure. She hates it when he pulls her from the pole mid routine but he has his limits. He eyes her through a narrowing gaze, “You know what you’re doing don’t you.” Again she says nothing as she flips upside down for an inverted strong hold. She begins a stag spin until she’s face to face with his throbbing rod. When he see that she has the intention of taking him between her luscious lips he squirms with surprised merriment, “What are you-” He doesn’t finish because his gasp extinguishes the sounds that form words. The hot wet cavern of her mouth encases the head of his dick like her delectable body. His head leans on the back of the chair and his eyes rolls to the back of his skull. He can feel her throat contract around him and his hand goes up to tuft her hair in his fist. He guides her suctioning mouth up and down on his length. “God your mouth is incredible!” The strength in her upper body is amazing so he’s not worried of her hurting herself. He takes a peek at the sexual dance she’s concocted for him. He enjoys the sight of her tawny pink succulent lips wrapping loving around his own raspberry pink flesh. “You look so beautiful when you do this. When did I get so lucky?”

Even though the question is rhetorical, a long slurp precedes the sound of his cock plopping from her mouth. “When you gave me all these gifts.” The gifts she speaks of being the life they share, the children they’re blessed to have together, and the unyielding support they offer one another through any rocky road. Finding herself in this position, actually and figuratively, would surprise some even still. The shy, analytical, superego driven girl that once was is long gone. In her place is a sure, sexy, and confident woman with thanks to a pole and her instincts showing her a way to a life all her own.

She goes to place him back in her mouth but he quickly stops her, “Oh no you don’t!” She swings upright into a fireman pose with a curious look as he moves his chair back and pulls his shift over his head from the back of his collar making his triceps and lat muscle more pronounced. She licks her lips from yummy memories of clawing those specific areas. Her reverie is shaken as he stoops and bends her from the waist so that she drapes over his shoulder.

Maizy is laughing uncontrollably, “Careful with the wee one!”

Her impression of his grandmother from Ireland has him joining in with her mirth, “Lady the things I’m about to do to you,” he pauses to pull his pants off. Her expression changes from merriment to heated desire as her eyes travel the plates and discs of toned armor protruding from her husband’s torso. Her hot gaze moves from the pelvic V of his lower abdomen when he speaks again, “The wee one better just cover their little eyes and ears.” The comment is meant as a joke but the intensity of his stare won’t allow her to laugh. She swallows hard from the anticipation. She does feel a bit silly but she can’t help it, it’s her initial reaction every time they join.

Mallory savors these moments, actually any moment with just the two of them. No press, fights or, family, or baby to think about. His manhood bangs against his thighs as it zeros in on its prize. The sound of what she thinks is an inaudible groan makes him grin. His own groan quickly follows when his tip touches the naked folds of her. In a trance, he just revels over the feeling of the immediate contact. This is instant gratification for Mallory but it’s merely a tease for Maizy. “Mal!” She whines keenly. Without a moments notice he surges through to the hilt. She screams out in unbridled desire and Mallory locks his hips to hers to savor once again. Maizy, now less inept about her body during lovemaking, begins to move hips and chest into him. “Baby I need you. Don’t make me beg.”

Begging was never the intention for Mallory yet it definitely has its benefits. “But you know I love it when you beg.” He moves out half way then sluggishly inches back to the hilt, “gimme one ‘please Neanderthal’ and you can have me to your heart’s content.”

With a cheeky pout she blows a breath of mock exasperation. “Mallory I believe your ego is a bit too ooooh,” She pauses as he leers down to her eyes and drags his hips back once more. He’s more than confident that he has her where he wants her then a swish of her hips catches him off guard and the sensation takes over him. Maizy locks her thighs around his waist like a bond girl villain then overtakes his hulking figure until he’s on his back and she’s leering down at him. “As I was saying, your ego is becoming bigger than your britches. No pun intended.” The surprise in his eyes is twofold. She can only assume he can’t believe she perfectly hit one of his grappling moves and her sliding down the length of his personal pole. She keeps her lower half in motion as she leans down with her mouth guiding her direction. Her lips run up the strong column of his neck to land on his angular jawline. When she’s close to his ear she whispers, “But if Neanderthal wants to come out to play…” she leans up enough to catch his gaze, “I wouldn’t of object.”

That’s Mallory’s breaking point. Inviting his alter ego into their lovemaking isn’t uncommon yet it’s still hotter than any other encounter. It’s simply the fact she accepts him in all his psyche manifestations. Whether it’s Mallory the ego, Mal the super, or Neanderthal the Id, she loves them all. Life with Maizy not only completes him but it’s an adventure. The thought of his wife still blossoming right under his nose is a blessing he intends to nurture forever. Their lovemaking goes on for nearly the whole night until Maizy throws her hands up in mercy. Mallory pulls her little frame over his, bodies slick with their sweat. He grabs a handful of her curvy rump to guide his tulip to his liking, “I love you so much Maizah.” One hand goes to her hair to focus on her eyes. “To have you apart of me.” He rubs at her sides to caress the life inside, “Is more than I can stand some days.”

Her Dreamy gaze turns warm and sincere, “I love you too Mallory. Thank you for all this. For my true love, true family you provide, Char included.” They chuckle at that before she continues with a serious tone, “Mallory thank you for helping me find my true self. A beautiful and smart wife, mother, and pole dancer.” The last part is to shake him up a bit until he sees the smile and laugh Maizy holding back. As he tickles her for trying to mess with him, their house phone begins to ring. “I wonder who that is?”

“Probably Barry calling about my schedule tomorrow.” Mallory groans from his impending conversation with his manager. He hates when the real world crashes their cocoon. He looks at the time and realizes that Barry knows to never call this late, especially the house phone because of the baby. Thinking it may be Char calling about Jr. he gets some pep in his step to get to the phone base.

Looking at the caller I.D. screen he immediately wishes he had let the voicemail pick up. Maizah props up on the massive bed as if she’s Cleopatra herself. Mallory doesn’t want to tell her but her expectant look when he doesn’t pick up the blaring phone says that there’s no choice, “Get the phone Mal’, don’t just stand there. Is it Char?”

He hands the cordless to her with an annoyed trepidation, “It’s your sister.” He nods when her face goes crestfallen. Not wanting to hear his wife being openly disrespected he moves to the bathroom to take a shower. Layla and her mother Daphne are probably the biggest pieces of work he has ever had the misfortune of encountering and he can’t understand why Maizy or her father just won’t break ties with them. It’s harsh as Layla is blood to Maizy but after the many family dinners he’s enjoyed he can safely say that Layla is her mother’s child. The blatant abuse his wife takes from their treatment is all he can stand, so much so he refuses to be anywhere around them if he can help it. Maizy’s father, Gregory, is a nice enough man but as of now he can’t respect a man that allows his family to treat each other in such a way. The obvious favoritism of Layla on both parent figures is damnable within itself yet it doesn’t stop there. Between Layla and Daphne’s veiled insults covering obvious jealousy and Gregory’s standoffish approach to his dysfunctional family, he can’t tell which is worse. Intimate conversations with Maizy over two years reveal much more, that apparently unbeknownst to Gregory, that has put her in danger. Maizy’s youth was filled with weight loss summer programs, which were actually slave camps, starvation tactics by Daphne, and food contamination by Layla at Daphne’s will no less! It’s a wonder that she actually made it out alive. Mallory jumps out of the shower feeling only a half better but with hopes of his wife’s conversation with her sister not ruining the rest of their evening. He goes into their room to see Maizy putting the phone back on the base but with her robe on and a deflated yet surprised look on her face. He rearranges his towel on his hips and sighs at the thought of their beautiful evening ending. “Sweetheart you can’t let her ruin our night.”

“No it’s not that. I was talking to daddy that time. Layla was calling to tell me that Daphne left daddy for another guy…” She leaves the comment hanging too afraid of how he’ll take the rest. Thank god the news of her stepmother leaving her father is enough to buy her a little time because what she’s about to say next will not go over well.

He runs a palm through his neon orange locks and whistles low, “How’s your old man? Taking it hard?” Mallory turns to his closet to find some shorts.

Maizy moves to the closet door as Mallory rummages for clothes, “Yeah but he says he’ll be fine. You think you can go over tomorrow after your schedule. You know, have some guy time with him? He doesn’t have many friends.” Her family moved back promptly after her elopement to Mallory. They said it was because they missed her but Mallory knew that it was probably more Daphne’s doing at the thought of hiss wealth.

Mallory snorts at the comment, “Surprise surprise with a woman like Daphne on his arm. If they couldn’t offer anything, in her opinion, they were useless.”

Of course with Mallory’s

money and fame, he was one of Daphne’s favorite people. Mallory looks to Maizy as she chips at her manicure with worry. He walks over but she’s not able to make eye contact. He doesn’t know what it is about these people and the power they have over her emotions but it infuriates him, “Maizah look at me.” When she won’t he pulls her chin up with the tip of his index, “Of course I’ll go over and talk to him but how are you doing?”

“What? I’m fine why?”

He raises a brow and a corner of his mouth at her before he walks past her, “Because I know you talked to your sister before your dad and I just don’t want you getting all depressed on me.”

Incredulously, Maizy comes to attention, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that I’d hate to see two years of hard work with your family, your classes, yourself most of all, go down the drain.”

“Daddy and Layla are my family Mallory. I know it’s hard for you to understand but-”

“Yeah it is hard for me to understand. They don’t deserve you baby!” The sincerity of his understandable frustration is enough to make her concede. Looking up in his eyes, knowing that all he wants is the very best for her makes her think twice of bringing up the notion of Layla staying with them. Maizy knows now isn’t the time to bring up that it would only be until she found another job. She was kicked out of her latest rich boy toy’s place and is staying at a motel. Her pride won’t let her go to their dad and she can’t find her mom. Maizy instead wraps her arms around his neck and he obliges her as he bends to scoop her up. Instinctually she wraps her legs around his waist, “I can’t stand to see you hurt.” He puts her hand to his chest, “I love you too much to watch you hurt like that.”

“I could never hurt as much as I did back then. Especially now that I’m with you. It’s different now…I’m different now. Your love shows me that everyday. I love you Mal’.” She seals the statement with a tender kiss. “Now take me to bed and remind me why we’re so lucky Mallory Neanderthal James.”

Laying her back on the bed and removing his shorts again, his mood is lightened as she bites the tip of her finger to stifle her own primitive moan at the sight of his naked form. “Be my pleasure baby. All my pleasure.” And as he covers her body with his, they mutually give in once more to the pleasures of Id.

###

About Author

Coffy Paige is a Los Angeles dweller with a southern Mississippi girl mentality. With a passion for reading romance novels from a very young age, her urge for writing her own love stories grew. She loves merging unconventional mores with fairy-tale like traditions creating a normalcy to the madness of the story. Her writing platform sways mostly to Inter/Multiracial couples with Alpha-males being tamed by the quirkily innocent and quietly resilient. With constant inspiration from friends’ crazy life, and a very overactive imagination fueled by a movie-addled mind, she’s merely a slave to her laptop. Of course always with a Happily Ever After… Any questions and comments can be directed to [email protected] to get Ms. Paige’s attention the quickest. She answers all her own mail so any rants of raves will be heard! Connect with Me Online: Twitter Facebook Smashwords.com Blog