On wobbly legs, she stood and pulled her dress down. She wanted more than thick fingers inside her. She wanted more than the taste of his tongue. Her body hummed for his touch. He was the only man who had brought her to such heights, and made her scream his name. The experience was all-consuming. Yet, she knew it was only the beginning of what he had in store for her. She wanted him so bad, but if she had s.e.x with him then he would know her secret. She would be changed forever. No, she had to hold back. She had to be more to Cayson Sullivan than a piece of a.s.s.

She made her way back upstairs to her room. She didn't trust herself to be around him right now. She locked the door and slipped under the covers. If he knocked, she would pretend to be asleep. But she knew there was no way in h.e.l.l she'd be able to sleep tonight.

Over the next week, Destiny maintained her distance from Cayson. Both at home and at the office, she was cool as a winter day toward him. He couldn't figure out the reason for her mood swing. At first, he a.s.sumed she wasn't attracted to him. But the night he came home to find her asleep on the sofa proved him wrong. It was though he'd unleased a sensual tsunami. The way her body responded to him was something a woman couldn't fake. She wanted him as badly as he wanted her. Then, his mother had called, and doused his ardor with verbal ice water. Talk about bad timing.

Destiny had retreated to her room and his knocks on her door went unanswered. The only thing he could figure was she'd changed her mind. Women could be fickle like thatthough it rarely happened with him. In frustration, he'd gone back to his bedroom to take a cold shower. Not even the icy needles of water pelting his flesh could soothe his raging libido. He finally ended up masturbating while he thought of her lush b.r.e.a.s.t.s filling his mouth.

Now, he sat in his office. His d.i.c.k was rock-hard just thinking about the incident. s.h.i.t, if he didn't get laid soon, he would self-combust. But he didn't want just any chick. He wanted Destiny Jackson.

A tap on his door broke him from his lascivious reverie. Hoping it was Destiny, he looked up with a ready smile. His joy was replaced with disappointment when he saw Phaedra standing there. He beckoned her in.

"Hey, you asked me to keep you posted on the status of Destiny's apartment. Her name got pushed back a little on the waiting list. Her apartment was offered to a woman and her kids who were being abused by her husband. Victims of domestic abuse take priority."

He nodded. "Understandable."

She held a stack of papers, which she shifted to her other hands. "I hope you're not mad."

"Why would I be mad?"

"Uh, because you told me in no uncertain terms to find her a place ASAP."

"Yeah, well I said I understand. Things happen."

"Things happen?" She looked over her shoulder and then lowered her voice in a conspirator whisper. "Did you smoke something before coming in this morning?"

Despite his dull mood, he laughed. "No. Why? Are you offering?"

"Of course not!" Her face contorted like she'd just sucked on a sour pickle. "I'm shocked is all. You never take things so calmly when they don't go right."

"It doesn't do anyone any good to get all riled up over it. Besides, it won't change anything."

Phaedra crossed her arms. Her brows furrowed as she stared at him. "You like her."

"Destiny? Of course, I like her. She's nice. Smart. Helpful. What's not to like?

"No," she pursed her lips. "You know what I'm talking about. You have a thing for her. You don't want her to move out."

He waved her away. "There's not enough office gossip about me already? You have to start rumors?"

She winked. "Your secret is safe with me."

He scowled as Phaedra left his office. There is no secret! I don't have a thing for Destiny.

What was wrong with Phaedra? Just because two people were stuck together for reasons of convenience didn't mean they liked each other. In fact, with the exception of their attempt at the Horizontal Mambo the other night, they were barely civil to each other. Not to mention Destiny was a horrible roommate.

She polluted the house with G.o.d-awful smells from her failed cooking experiments. She dripped water on the bathroom floor every time she took a shower. She drank juice straight from the container and then put it back in the fridge. So what if she was gorgeous? And her skin was flawless? And her laugh was contagious? And she liked watching the same old movies as he did. Or that her skin was soft beneath his fingertips. Since that night he'd had his fingers deep inside her, they'd been tiptoeing around each other, afraid to get close enough and accidentally ignite the spark of l.u.s.t that had been lit. That was all it was pure and simple. l.u.s.t. Between a hot-blooded man and an even hotter chick.

It didn't mean anything. He took a deep breath and tried to ignore the rock in his trousers. It didn't mean anything at all.

Destiny slid into the pa.s.senger seat of Phaedra's Maxima. She snapped her seatbelt in place and sniffed the fragrant air. It always smelled liked strawberries in Phaedra's carcourtesy of the air freshener that hung from the rearview mirror.

"How do you manage to keep this car so clean all the time?" Destiny asked.

Phaedra backed out of her parking spot in the underground garage. "I don't let anyone eat in here, and I take it to the carwash every two weeks." She smiled. "I can't let my baby get too dirty."

"Your baby?" Destiny laughed. "You talk as if this car is one of your kids."

"Please, don't curse me!" She drove out of the parking lot into the bright sunlight. "Taking care of my car is bad enough. I'd hate to have to deal with a child."

"Why? Because you're not married?" Destiny saw nothing wrong with having kids out of wedlock. s.h.i.t happened. She was living proof of that. Her father was one of many faces she couldn't pick out of a crowd if her life depended on it.

"I don't plan on having children whether I'm married or not. n.o.body I know that has kids is happy. The world is too crazy to bring another human being into it. And truthfully, they slow you down financially."

This is where they differed in opinion. Destiny wanted a houseful of kids. She would cherish them and give them the love she missed growing up in foster care. She wished she could adopt all of the kids in the system, especially the older ones. People treated orphans like pets sometimes. They only wanted the cute little ones. No one wanted a preteen.

"Besides," Phaedra continued, "I'm too busy pursuing my career. I'm working on my ten-year plan. What about you? Do you have a plan for yourself, Destiny?"

Destiny had never planned ahead ten years. She'd been too busy surviving. She had goals, for sure. She knew one day she wanted to live in a nice house and have a nice car, and be able to afford nice clothes. But she'd never given deep thought to how to get it. "I don't have a ten-year plan. I guess I never really thought that far in advance."

"Well, there's no time like the present to start. You need to sign up for your 401k and start thinking about your career path too."

"I have plenty of time for that. Right now, I'm just trying to learn my way around."

Phaedra shot her a glance before merging with the street traffic. "You have a prime opportunity here. You need to think beyond this apartment and this job. You want to set yourself up by going to school."

"College? Nah, school is not for me. Not to mention it costs too much money."

"Then learn a trade. You already work at a law firm. Go to school to become a legal a.s.sistant. You're smarter than a lot of those ladies who are already doing it."

Destiny warmed at the compliment. Yeah, I am smart. "Thanks, Phaedra. I just might do that."

"We have a tuition a.s.sistance program. As long as you're taking business or law-related courses, JADE will reimburse you."

"No s.h.i.t?"

"No s.h.i.t."

They both laughed. "You have to have worked at JADE for six months to qualify," Phaedra told her, "but the time you've already spent here counts."

It was hard to believe it had been over a month since she'd met Cayson in night court. It was amazing how her life had changed in that short time. She was living in a whole new world that had previously been closed to her.

"Let's get together next week. I'll help you find some areas you might be interested in."

"Thanks Phaedra. That's very sweet of you."

"We women have to stick together. If we don't look out for each other, who will?"

Destiny couldn't agree more. Although, she had to admit, Cayson was doing a good job of looking out for her. She was grateful for his help, but she couldn't get too comfortable with this arrangement. She had to look out for herself.

After Phaedra dropped her at home, Destiny was feeling confident enough to try out a new recipe. She found Cayson's iPad in the study and she started surfing cooking websites. She found a recipe for Chicken cacciatore. It looked easy enough. A quick glance in the fridge told her she had all of the ingredients she needed. And she had the perfect beverage to go with the dish.

She poured a gla.s.s of Merlot and selected some jazz music from the Bose system. Cayson wouldn't be home until late, but she planned to cook and entertain herself until he arrived. No sooner than she'd taken her first sip, did the doorbell ring. It was followed by loud pounding on the door. Thinking Cayson had forgotten his key, she rushed to the door and jerked it open.

Standing on the other side was a man she never thought she'd see again.

Chapter 9.

Destiny stared at the caramel skin and hazel eyes that had once been her undoing. This handsome brotha rockin' a shaved head and Timberlands was responsible for her arrest a month ago. As he gazed at her through hooded eyes, she wondered what she'd ever seen in him.

"Porter, what are you doing here?"

"Whuz up, girl? You ain't called me or nuthin'. I had to check up on you." He brushed past her, forcing his way into the living room.

Ironically, if not for him, she wouldn't be living here now. "You left me high and dry."

"I knew you'd get off with a light sentence. Me, I can't afford no mo' jail time. You know, all that third strike s.h.i.t. I didn't expect things to go down like that. It was bad luck you gettin' arrested."

"Why didn't you talk to me first?" she demanded. "At least tell me the plan in advance."

He shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his loose-fitting jeans. "Would you have done it?" he asked. "Would you have been down for me, Destiny?"

She shrugged. "Honestly, I don't know. There was a time when I might have done anything for you, Porter. Now, I see you don't have my back."

"I'm here for you now, girl." He scanned the furnishings in Cayson's living room, his hawkish gaze like a predator. When his eyes landed on her again, she could see deceit and calculation there. " La'Treece told me you was livin' large."

"This isn't my place."

"I know. Belongs to some high cla.s.s lawyer."

Destiny stood adversarial, legs apart. Arms folded across her chest. "He got me out of a bind, which is more than I can say for you."

He nodded. "When you git your apartment? You still on the waiting list?"

"How did you know about that?"

"La'Treece told me."

La'Treece had been talking her business too much. She didn't want Porter knowing about her new place. She didn't want him coming over there. In fact, she didn't want him here either. She was still p.i.s.sed with him for putting that jewelry in her purse. "Look," she told him, "I have a lot to do tonight, so you're gonna have to leave." She moved toward the front door hoping he'd follow.

"Leave? Baby, I ain't goin' nowhere. You and me got unfinished business."

"Like what?"

"Like you being a tease." He grabbed her arm and spun her around. He pulled her close, breathing his stale breath in her face. "I remember how you used to get all hot when I kissed you."

Funny, he should mention that. His kisses were lukewarm compared to Cayson's. She couldn't believe she was ever attracted to Porter. She watched his eyes scan her outfit. She'd changed into leggings with an oversized shirt. He licked his lips, letting her know he appreciated the view.

His lips descended on hers. Before she could stop him, he shoved his tongue inside her mouth. She squirmed to get away, but he held on tight, trapping her arms between her body and the solid wall of his chest.

When she finally wrenched her mouth away from his, she was livid. "Stop it, Porter. I'm not feeling you like that."

"I see you still bein' a tease."

She pushed him away. "No, I'm not. I just want you to go, now."

"Nah. Not 'till I get a taste of what's in dem panties. You can't put me off this time."

He lunged for her. She fled toward the study, and tried to lock the door. Porter shoved his big boot through the door opening, and forced his way inside the room.

His hazel eyes were b.a.l.l.s of molten lava. He flew forward, causing her to fall backwards with him on top of her. "Woman, what the h.e.l.l done got into you?" he raged.

She slapped him across the cheek. "Get off me!"

He slapped her back, stunning her with the force of his palm. Her vision blurred as she fought the spikes of pain. She groaned, as her head dropped back and lolled against her shoulder. She gasped for air. She couldn't catch her breath. He was so heavy! Her arms flailed; she hoped to connect with somethinganything she could get her hands on to hit him with. The scream in her throat died when he wrapped thick fingers around her neck.

Lord, please don't let him kill me. Dear G.o.d, if you can hear me, please, please help me!

Cayson bolted toward the loud scream he heard coming from the study. Seconds later, he saw Destiny trapped on the floor beneath some stranger. Rage consumed him as he shot forward and grabbed the man by the back of his collar, and then slung him against a nearby wall. Cayson's precious artwork careened to the floor.

After the man recovered from his initial shock, he snarled and rushed at Cayson. He was a big f.u.c.ker who didn't know how to fight. He wasn't quick enough to avoid the powerful punch Cayson delivered to his jaw.

A crack resounded in the air, and the man staggered backwards, grunting in pain. Cayson was shorter and slimmer than him, but that didn't matter. Years of fighting his big brothers had taught him to strike quick and deadly. He punched him in the stomach. The man doubled-over in pain. When his head fell forward, Cayson brought his knee up to connect with the man's nose. Blood spurted everywhere.

Destiny screamed.

Cayson blocked out everything except his victim who was crouched on the floor gasping for breath. One of the b.a.s.t.a.r.d's knees was flush to the hardwood. The other was drawn to his chest, holding the weight of his hulking torso. Cayson saw red. n.o.body came into his house and terrorized his woman.

When the man pushed himself up and stumbled menacingly toward Cayson, he was rewarded with a flurry of punches as Cayson pummeled him. Each hit only intensified his anger. He was hungry for blood. "C'mon, you sorry motherf.u.c.ker!" Cayson challenged him. "You're not leaving here without getting your a.s.s beat."

When the guy reached behind him, Cayson a.s.sumed he was trying to push himself to a standing position. He wasn't prepared for the gun he pulled from his waistband. Cayson froze as the man pointed the shiny, black Glock in his face.

"No!" Destiny yelled to the man. "Please, I'm begging youdon't do this!"

The intruder stumbled to his feet. Cayson's heart roared in his ears as the man's eyes locked with his. In that moment, he came to the realization that this thug could kill him without a shred of remorse. Then, what would happen to Destiny. She'd be alone and unprotected. He'd never been one to back down from a fight, and even with the odds stacked against him, he wasn't about to start now.

As Cayson's pulse raced, he heard Destiny pleading softly. "Please. Just leave. No one has to get hurt."