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“I only said hello to the man, but he does remind me of that statue of David we

saw in Italy. Of course, Isaac isn’t exactly a slouch. I’m no expert on this stuff, but I say go for it with Isaac, and if he retreats, you’ve still got Quincy.”

“I’ve never been this unsure of my feeling. I don’t even know what it is about Quincy that’s so fetching.”

“I just told you. He’s a sophisticated hunk with those piercing eyes that make you feel he’s fucking you from across the room. I feel strongly about you and Isaac because I know him better. I also know he cares. I just don’t know how I would be able to choose between him and Isaac, but I trust Isaac. I’m not sure about this dude.”

“There’s no choice—I’m in love with Isaac. I’m just afraid. I guess Quincy was able to find that insecure spot. When he started telling me how badly he wanted to get me in bed, my tongue became lodged behind my teeth. I even dreamed about him. In fact, I was well into it when Isaac arrived. He was doing things to me that set my body on fire. Isaac reaped the benefit of a mad arousal.”

“I wouldn’t worry much about dreams. You’re under a lot of stress right now.

There’s no telling what goes through your subconscious. I’ve always had dreams about being royally screwed. Young men. Old men. Black ones. White ones. Two at a time. All kinds of shit, especially when I wasn’t getting any. One night I dreamed I was in an accident, taken to the hospital and fucked by the whole male case of Gray’s Anatomy. That was back when Isaiah Washington was on the show. I still can’t look at that show without getting wet.”

Chelsea chuckled. “You never told me that one.” She focused on the memory of

Isaac’s satisfied smile and tried to put her insecurities to rest.

With her hair in a simple chignon and a wearing a strapless red gown, Chelsea waited for her date and gasped with delight when he arrived. His white dinner jacket and open collar black shirt with alabaster buttons gave him an air of distinction. He caught her off guard with a deep, probing kiss.

Dee quickly excused herself and left them alone.

“Keep that up and the only place your incredibly handsome ass will go is the

bedroom. Damn, you look good.”

“I’m glad you feel that way because there’s a lot here I didn’t give you last night.

With the game over and another win under my belt, I’m free to fuck you until it’s time to leave town.”

His dreamy eyes remained on her when they arrived at the gala. Chelsea knew most of the people there and so did Isaac, but one newcomer brought back the strange sense of uneasiness she had tried to shed. Isaac left his glass of champagne on the table and moved down the long buffet table. She took his glass and wandered over to the silent auction items. After writing bids on several pieces of jewelry, she turned quickly when Quincy whispered close to her ear.

“We keep bumping into each other.” His breath was hot on her neck. His voice was

husky with emotion.

“Oh, hi.” She shivered and quickly scanned the room for Isaac.

“Don’t get nervous. Your boyfriend is over near the bar stuffing his face. I think there’s just enough time for me to tell you how incredibly delicious you look and how badly I want to taste your luscious body.”

Thinking of her anger when women fawned over Isaac, she quickly tuned in to Quincy’s disrespect for Isaac, and ultimately for her. Her emotions streamed from nervous to skeptical.

She turned and answered him in a voice filled with annoyance.

“Since you know I’m not alone, don’t you think you’re being rude to me and to my date?

How would feel if we were together and another man did this to you?”

“I would feel that I never should have left you alone, and I’m not being disrespectful.

Blatantly truthful, insistent, maybe a little pushy, but with no intended disrespect toward Isaac, and certainly not to you.”

He leaned forward with his mouth slightly touching her ear. “I see something I want, and I intend to have it. You’re not married or engaged. From my prospective, the field is clear.”

From the corner of her eye, she saw Isaac turn her way. “The fact that you don’t know me well enough to say those things must have dawned on even the least cerebral of minds. We’re not just casual acquaintances. We have a business relationship. We have to face each other in court, and under no circumstance should you ignore the fact that I’m not alone here tonight. I don’t know if you’re involved, but you certainly know I am.”

“This has nothing to do with work, and I’m not just trying to get you in bed. Something happened to me the first time we met that’s never happened before, and I don’t plan to let it go without exploring the consequences. I saw you and my heart stopped. By the time you left the courtroom, I was one breath away from—-”

Isaac spoke from behind her and Chelsea knew Quincy had seen him there.

“What’s going on?”

She smiled at the streak of jealousy in his eyes, but knew it was justified. “Just saying hello to a colleague. Honey, this is Quincy Beckham. He’s a defense attorney.”

Quincy’s eyes did not leave her face. “How’s it going?”

“Do I interrupt something?” Isaac asked, his voice dripping with anger, and his eyes not leaving her face. “If you two need to discuss work or whatever, I’ll leave and give you some privacy.”

“We have nothing further to discuss,” Chelsea said quickly.

“Yeah. I see her at least five days a week. We’ll have plenty of time to finish our discussion.”

Quincy strode away, leaving Chelsea more shocked than she had been on Friday night.

“Want to tell me what that was all about? I think I’m smart enough to know professional from seductive. Who the hell is that guy, and what was he whispering to you?”

“He’s Curtis Hamilton’s defense attorney and what he was doing, I would imagine, is trying to rile me. What I’m doing is trying damn hard not to let him, so just pretend he’s not there.”

“Looks like he wanted to fuck you right here and now.”

“Let’s talk about this later.”

“No, let’s talk about it while he’s standing within reach.” He quickly emptied his hands of the plates he was carrying and used them to emphasize his words. “I trust you completely, but it’s obvious—from the look on that guy’s face and the look on yours—that something other than business was being said. Now, if you two have a relationship, say the word and you can leave with this guy, no questions asked. If he was being disrespectful, I’ll hustle him out of here and kick his slick ass all the way down St. Charles Avenue.”

“I met this man for the first time in court last week and saw him again on Friday night.

Anything that might compromise a case is frowned upon by my department, and by his, so I think Mr. Beckham is trying to—-”

“Did he threaten you? What did he say to you?”

Fearing retaliation, Chelsea quickly tried to calm his anger. “He did not threaten me. He was just being boastful about his level of competence.” She failed to specify courtroom or bedroom. “Calm down. I’m quite accustomed to being the female in this male dominated field. I can handle this.” She flashed her sexist smile. “Honestly.”

Isaac dropped the subject, but Chelsea’s evening was already spoiled. She hated what Quincy was trying to do, but hated herself more for being intrigued. She tried to ignore him for the rest of the evening, but lost the battle several times. He caught her gaze each time she did, which meant he was concentrating on little else. She was not the only one to notice his attentiveness.

“I’m trying to be a gentleman, but I’m getting a little sick of that friend of yours.” Isaac moved directly in front of her and traded places so that he was facing Quincy. “I don’t think you’ve told me everything.”

“Are you calling me a liar?” She caught Quincy as he moved into her line of vision and out of Isaac’s. Giving him a formidable scowl, she hoped he would find someone else to pester.

“No, I’m just saying I think you’re keeping something from me just like you’re been doing with this other thing.”

“That’s different. I’ve seen this man in court. The only thing we said directly to each other was hello. He spoke on Friday night and I introduced him to Dee and Skip. Tonight he began a conversation by commenting that we keep bumping into each other, made a few observations about facing me in court, and that’s it.” She smiled to lighten the mood, but Isaac’s expression had not changed. She wanted to tell him about their dance, but knew that would take Isaac’s temper over the top.

“I do trust you, so I’m going to ask one question and take my cue from your response.

Am I cramping you? If you need space, just say so.”

She glared at Quincy’s knowing smirk, and thought for a second. This was not the first time other men had shown an interest in her, but this time Isaac was provoked. She wondered if it was her silent response that he detected or if his feelings for her had changed.

With her full attention on Isaac’s handsome but troubled face, she shared her feelings.

“There’s only room for one man in my bed. You’re it. If that changes, I won’t hesitate to let you know.” Noticing Quincy’s somber stare, she amended her argument. “For whatever reason, that man is purposely trying to start something, and you’re letting him do it. Think of him as a naughty child clamoring for attention. Pay him no mind, and he’ll go away.” She took Isaac’s arm. “Better yet, let’s dance. I’ve missed you terribly. I want to be close to you for as long as you’re in New Orleans. ”

For the rest of the evening, she felt Quincy’s eyes cutting into her calm, but managed to keep Isaac diverted with talk of Skip, Dee, and the great plays he made during the game, as well as the ones he missed. It was the first time a man had unnerved her. Her line of work did not provide for loss of control. With the courtroom in mind, she decided to set boundaries and not allow Quincy to cross them. She started to relax and noticed that Isaac did the same.

“Those diamonds are dancing on your ears.” He held her close to his on the dance floor.

“You’re ravishing tonight.”

“Thank you for the compliment, and the earrings. I’m so glad you’re home. Let’s not let anything spoil the time we have together.”

She saw a genuine smile for the first time since Quincy entered their evening, and felt his excitement press against her thigh.

* * * *

Isaac Charbonnette had bedded many women. The first was at age twelve when his

cousin, Frankie, caught him masturbating and offered to show him “how to make it happen.”

Since Frankie was seventeen and the female he most admired, next to his mother, it never dawned on him to say no. His mother had gone to church with Frankie’s mother and they had the house to themselves. After closing the door to his room and placing a chair behind it, Isaac had lunged for Frankie curvaceous body.

“No, no, no.” She held up her hand. “I said I would show you how it’s done, but first you have to make me feel as aroused as you are. Don’t worry. I’ll tell you exactly what I want, and then show you how to make it happen.”

She had unzipped her jeans and slowly shimmied them down her legs, giving him a slight glimpse of the curly mass below her navel. He watched her enjoy the effect she was having on him, but was too thrilled to care.

“Unbutton my blouse.”

A full foot shorter than Frankie, his breath came in steamy huffs when she leaned back and pointed her breasts toward his face.

“Don’t be nervous.” She placed her palm over his shaking hand. “I’ve known you

since you were born. Who better to show you the ropes? This is just between the two of us. It needs to stay that way forever. Our mothers would never live down the gossip if folks around here knew about us. Of course, if our ages were reversed, I’m sure I could count on you for a few lessons.”

Isaac tried to touch her blouse lightly while wanting to savagely grab the heaving mounds under his hands. The buttons popped, revealing skin that was black, silky and glistening like a raven’s wing in the sun. Without thinking, he bent forward and pressed his lips to her chest.

“Oh yeah! That’s it. Nice and smooth.” Frankie threw her head back and thrust her chest forward, encouraging his seeking lips. “You know how it’s done. You just needed a live participant.”

His hands were studier as he unhooked her bra and removed her blouse. Thinking he

could never get enough of her naked flesh, he forgot shyness, took her breasts in his hands and began licking, sucking, nibbling until he felt ready to explode. When he came up to take a breath, Frankie pushed him away.

“Take it slow. You’ll get enough. I plan to wear you out so you don’t have to give yourself hand jobs. Learn to satisfy me and girls your age won’t stand a chance.”

She sashayed over to his bed with only the skimp of white material of her panties keeping him from seeing an angel in real life. She bent down and pulled back the Dallas Cowboy bedspread on his bed. He stared, hoping there was no visible sign of self-gratification on the Cowboy sheets. She smiled and curled her finger for him to join her.

“Come to mama.”

The seductive whisper and the sight of her made his blood rush in deafening waves. Not having sisters, Frankie was the female model for what he wanted in a woman. She was the one he had been thinking of when she found him pleasuring himself. Her image had been there at night when he was alone in his room. He had undressed her a thousand times, but reality was far more exciting and frightening than anything in his dreams.

She sat on the edge of his bed and drew him between her creamy thighs. When they were both nude and he wasn’t sure he could refrain from fainting, she pushed him back on the bed, straddled him, and held out her breasts. This time she slapped his hand when he grabbed for her nipples.

“Hold on, stud.” She slid back and forth on his aching cock, saturating him with her juices. “Your first lesson is to slow down and gently, but firmly, take my breasts in your hands.

That’s it.” She pressed against him. “Not bad at all for a twelve year old. I can’t wait to see what it’s like when you grow up. Lie back. I’ve decided to make you more comfortable so I can enjoy this with you.”