"It seems like yesterday when you brought her to Mark's party and messed up my plans for your blind date."

Dane's deep laughter filled the line. They could joke about it now, but the night it happened over a year ago, Dane was livid. Cayson learned not to set his brother up on any more blind dates. Besides, from the moment Dane met Charly, he didn't have eyes for any other female.

"It's been a year and a half. And we're practically living at each other's houses now. We wanted to make it official."

"I have to admit, I never thought you'd date anyone after Nichole's death, much less get married."

He heard Dane's deep sigh. "Me either. The love I had for Nichole was deep, but it's nothing compared to how I feel about Charly. She's everything I want in a woman. I mean, we have our arguments, and we get on each other's nerves from time to time. But I can't imagine my life without her." Dane paused. "She's my reason for getting out of bed every morning."

Cayson had never heard his brother utter such profound words. He wondered how it felt to be so connected to someone like that.

What am I saying? I'm happy playing the field. I don't need to be tethered to some ball and chain.

"I want you to be a groomsman," Dane told him.

"I'd be honored." This would be the second wedding he'd attended in almost as many years. He was the groomsman at Mark and Kendra's wedding too. "The best part is that all we have to do is show up. The women do all the planning."

"We're having an island wedding. Going back to The Maldives where we met."

"Wow! I hate to sound like a chick, but that's really romantic, dude."

"Yeah, I'm that kinda guy. Romance is in my blood."

"Spare me your bulls.h.i.t. Your idea of romance is chugging beers at the bowling alley."

"Don't underestimate the bowling alley. That was where I got laid for the first time."

"Okay, I stand corrected."

"But you were right. It was Charly's idea to get hitched in The Maldives."

Cayson chuckled.

"I hope you can make it. Kendra is getting all of us discounts on rooms and airfare."

"All of us?"

"Ma and Pops. You. Me, Charly, her kids, her parents, and her cousin, Shontal."

"This'll be a real family affair."

"Exactly. That's why I need both of my little brothers there with me."

It had been a long time since any of them had been little. Cayson was approaching thirty. Mark had just turned thirty-four, and Dane was pushing forty. Growing up, Cayson felt both bullied and protected by them. Now, they were thick as thieves. "You can count on me, bro."

"And if all goes well," Dane hinted, "you might get a hot bridesmaid to walk with. Charly's got a good-looking cousin. Not that you need any help with the ladies."

As if prompted by some internal ethics clock, Cayson's timer buzzed on his cell phone. "Oops! Gotta go. I promised Destiny I'd be home early tonight."

"Destiny? Is that the latest victim of the Cayson Sullivan charm? Or should I say curse?"

"Oh, I forgotyou don't know." Cayson gave Dane the quick and dirty version of what happened in court three weeks ago. Unlike the conversation he'd had with his mom, he felt it was safe to give Dane more details. He explained how the Barracuda had him by the b.a.l.l.s with her vindictive judgment.

Dane was incredulous. "Let me get this straight. You turned down some free p.u.s.s.y that landed in your bed in the middle of the night?"

If you're referring to La'Treece sneaking into my bedroom, yes."

"And you have some smokin' hot babe living with you too?"

Cayson chortled. "I didn't say she was hot."

"I know she is. All the bad girls are hot."

"Okay, she's hot." He didn't like talking about Destiny as if she were some random bimbo. But the fact wa.s.she was hot. Long legs. Pretty mahogany skin. A little on the slender side, but that's how he liked his women.

Oh s.h.i.t! What am I saying? She's not my woman.

"At any rate, the Barracuda released Destiny into my custody just to be a spiteful b.i.t.c.h."

"And you swear you're not laying the pipe to this chick?"

Not yet!

"Jeez, Dane. I'm not that h.o.r.n.y."

"Yeah, sure. And now, you're rushing home to answer Destiny's summons."

"It's not a summons. You don't understand. I've been working late, and I promised her I would be home."

"Dude, I've never known you to be at the beck and call of a woman."

Cayson sat up and started packing his briefcase. "It's not like that, bro. I promised I'd take her to dinner tonight. You know how it is."

"Uh huh. Admit it. You may have met your match. Destiny is laying down the law."

"Whatever. I'm hanging up now."

"Wait a minute. Does she have long hair?"

Cayson thought of Destiny's face framed by cascading thin braids. "You could say that."

"Yep. Just like Sampson and Delilah. Delilah brought Sampson to his knees."

Cayson stood. "You dumba.s.s. Sampson was the one with the long hair."

"But Delilah had long hair too."

Cayson hung up laughing. Charly had definitely brought out the fun side of his brooding brother. He had to remember to thank her when he saw her again.

He raced from the office, jumped into his Porsche, and headed toward the freeway. The speedometer barely registered seventy when he was forced to slow down. He joined a long line of brake lights that stretched for miles. Traffic had come to a standstill.

He let out a frustrated breath. He reached for his cell phone, intending to call Destiny to let her know he'd be late. His frustration mounted when he realized his battery was dead. f.u.c.k!

He spotted the hirsute arm of a burly trucker hanging out the open window of an eighteen-wheeler idling to the left of him. Cayson's father had hauled lumber for a few years when he was younger. He knew truckers got all their news from a CB radio system. He rolled down his window and called out to the guy. "Hey buddy. What's going on?" Cayson asked.

"Accident up ahead," the man replied through tobacco-stained teeth. "Radio says it's a ten-car pile-up. Hope you're not in a rush, 'cause we're all in for a long wait."

Chapter 8.

Destiny twirled in front of the full-length mirror in her room. Dressed in a black c.o.c.ktail dress with a slit up one side, she looked ready for a night on the town. And she was. The dress caressed her curves in all the right places. She was glad she'd taken Phaedra's advice and purchased it the day they'd gone shopping. 'Every woman needs a little black dress,' Phaedra had said. The only thing they'd disagreed on was the shoes. Destiny had to have what Phaedra called hooker heelsfive inch high platforms. They made her feel so womanly. And G.o.d knows she needed all the feminine weapons at her disposal to handle Cayson.

She'd pulled on a pair of sheer black stockings and then twisted her long braids into a bun. Her only accessory was the gold locket her mother had given her when she died. She gazed at the image of the pretty lady with cocoa brown skin. "I wish you could see me now, Mama."

She'd never dressed up solely for a man. She frowned at her reflection.

Why am I dressing up for him? It's just dinner. Calm down, girl!

She looked at the digital clock on the night stand. Eight p.m. Still no sign of Cayson. She dialed his number from her cell phone. Her call went straight to voicemail. Maybe he was in a meeting and couldn't be bothered. Or more likely, didn't want to be bothered.

She wandered down the hall to his bedroom. She hadn't got to look around much yesterday. She was too busy closing her eyes and enjoying Cayson's kiss. She stepped into his walk-in closet. On the left side, his suits were lined up so neat the racks looked like something in a retail store. Her hands caressed the expensive fabrics. The man did like nice things. On the right side, an army of multi-colored dress shirts were starched and ready for battle in the courtroom. Destiny loved the way they seemed custom-made to Cayson's well-toned physique. Near the back of the closet, casual shirts, slacks, and a few pairs of jeans hung. All neatly pressed, of course. On one shelf of the closet, sat a tiny cherry wood chest. Destiny opened the lid to find an a.s.sortment of watches and cufflinks, each resting in its own square compartment. d.a.m.n! He was too organized.

She walked downstairs to the living room and rifled through Cayson's music collection. Jazz. Pop. R&B. Rock. Lawyer-man had quite a collection of tunes. She turned on the Bose system and selected a playlist from his iPod. The Best of Michael Jackson. Yeah, everybody liked Mike. She snapped her fingers rhythmically as You Rock My World blasted through the room. She did a few dance moves and pretended to be on the dance floor of a club.

Five songs later (when she got tired of shaking her booty), she plopped on the couch. She glanced at her watch. Nine p.m. Where was Cayson? She dialed his cell phone again, and once more, her call was sent to voicemail. Disappointment washed over her in waves. She'd dressed up for nothing. And skipped dinner antic.i.p.ating he'd be home early. Her stomach growled, chastising her for waiting so long. She walked to the kitchen and grabbed a jar of Nutella from the pantry. The last time she ate was at lunch. She dug a spoon deep into the creamy mixture, and then pulled it out and licked it clean.

Mmm. Good stuff. Nutella never failed herunlike some folks.

She walked back into the living room and reclined on the sofa, careful not to puncture the leather with her heels. Human Nature played softly on the Bose. Yeah, tell me about human nature. Cayson Sullivan's nature.

I shoulda known he wouldn't be here. I have the worst luck with men.

Hot. So hot. Like liquid heat pulsating through her veins. Strong fingers stroked her thighs, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Oh, but it was a delicious feeling. She arched her back and spread her legs, pushing herself closer to the source of her gratification. As the fingers continued to caress her, inching higher and higher toward the crotch of her panties, she purred with pleasure.

"h.e.l.lo beautiful. Sorry I'm late."

Destiny's eyes flickered open and she stared into a pair of chestnut eyes filled with longing. Up until that point, she'd thought she'd been having an erotic fantasy. The man in front of her proved it was no dream, but reality.

She must have fallen asleep waiting for him. She pouted. "Apology not accepted."

"I got stuck in traffic," he explained. "Had I known you'd be wearing this outfit, I'd have chartered a helicopter to get here."

She could scarcely think with him fondling her, but she wasn't letting him off the hook that easy. "That's not funny."

"I was serious. Please let me make it up to you."

"What if I say no?" She had no intentions of saying no. Her coochie was throbbing mercilessly.

"I won't listen," he vowed. "Besides, I can't let these thigh-highs go to waste".

Cayson's hands trailed a path up her thighs, caressing the lacy edge of her stockings. He nibbled on her bottom lip. She closed her eyes again, enjoying the feeling. How did he manage to make her insides turn to jelly? She was supposed to be mad at him, but she pushed her irritation aside as he swooped in and captured her mouth with his. His tongue felt so right wrestling with hers. At that moment she knewhe was worth the wait. She gave in, submitting to his erotic touch.

He reached between her legs and stroked her p.u.s.s.y through the thin material of her panties. Sparks of heat erupted inside her like dry kindling. She moaned into his mouth. His fingers were like magic, deftly finding their way beneath the edge of her panties and pushing deep inside the folds of sensitive flesh. She would have cried out from sheer pleasure if it hadn't been for his tongue greedily sucking hers.

He created a sensuous rhythm, sliding a long finger in and out of the silky wetness between her legs. Destiny grinded her pelvis against his hand. Cayson was all-consuming with his tongue in her mouth and his fingers deep inside her. When he withdrew his hand and licked the sticky mess from his fingers, the erotic gesture made her heart race.

"Is this all for me?" he coaxed. "You're so wet, baby."

He claimed her lips again, and she tasted herself on his tongue. The scandalous act only increased her desire for him. His fingers thrust inside her p.u.s.s.y. He was relentless in his stroke. He pushed deeper. Faster. Harder. She held on for the ride. Every one of her senses was on alert. Her heart pounded. Her temperature soared. A river of hot lava flowed through her. Any minute, she was gonna burst into a full-blown blaze.

Driving her crazy with his touch. Felt consumed with his tongue in her mouth and his fingers deep inside her.

"Is this what you wanted?" Cayson panted against her ear. "Is this what you waited for?"

"Yes!"

"Say you forgive me," he ordered as he fingered her with frenzied movements.

In that moment, she knew she would forgive him anything. As long as he didn't stop his erotic torture. "I forgive you."

The pad of his thumb slid across her c.l.i.toris. It was her undoing. A white hot heat burst through her as he simultaneously rubbed the sensitive flesh and finger-f.u.c.ked her. Her body jerked. Then, spasms of ecstasy flooded through her. "Cayson!" she screamed.

His free hand snaked around her back and held her tight against him. He cradled her as she soared and then drifted back down from her hedonistic cloud. The pulsating between her legs slowed to a steady ebb. Cayson placed tender kisses on the tip of her nose.

"That was incredible," she gushed.

The desire in his eyes had not abated. "Woman, I'm just getting started."

She watched as he kneeled above her and loosened his belt. Her dress had risen above her hips. Her panties were twisted. She was sure she was a mess. But she couldn't take her eyes from the tent pole in his pants, straining to be free. This was it. He was going to f.u.c.k her. Was she ready? Could she handle him? Would he be gentle? Would she satisfy him? She held her breath, antic.i.p.ating the pleasurable pain she would soon feel.

The shrill ringing of the telephone in the study made her jump. Even if she could ignore it, she couldn't ignore the panicked voice of Cayson's mom when the answering machine picked up. "Honey, are you okay?" Irene asked. "I tried calling your cell phone but I kept getting your voicemail. And there was no answer at your office, of course. Call me. I just want to make sure my little boy is okay."

Little boy? Hardly!

"I'm coming over there if I don't hear from you in a few minutes," Irene threatened. "Cayson? Cayson, are you there?"

Irene had definitely killed the mood.

"s.h.i.t!" Cayson muttered as he trotted toward the phone. His unfastened belt buckle flapped as he moved. Frigid air replaced the spot where his lips used to be. "f.u.c.k!" Destiny heard him curse again as he banged his knee into the desk diving for the phone. "h.e.l.lo, Ma. Yeah, you kinda caught me in the middle of something. What's up?"

As Destiny listened to Cayson's side of the conversation, she willed the inferno between her legs to cool. Maybe it was a good thing Irene had interrupted them. Now, she had a chance to clear her head. She'd come so close to sleeping with Cayson. She promised herself she wouldn't get involved with him, but the man was so d.a.m.n hard to resist! Especially when his lips and hands were doing things that made her body hum. To h.e.l.l with being an attorney. He should be a master puppeteer. He sure knew how to pull her strings.