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An eRedSage Publishing
Publication
This book is a work of complete fiction. Any names, places,
incidents, characters are products of the author’s imagina-
tion and creativity or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to
actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is fully
coincidental.
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this
book or any portion thereof in any form whatsoever in any
country whatsoever is forbidden.
Information:
Red Sage Publishing, Inc. P.O. Box 4844 Seminole, FL
33775
727-391-3847
The Shadow Box
An eRed Sage Publication All Rights Reserved Copyright ©
2011
eRedSage is a registered trademark of Red Sage Publishing,
Inc.
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The Shadow Box © 2011 by Alexis Ke
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4/151
The Shadow Box
***
By Alexis Ke
TO MY READERS:
One day when I got to work one of my co-
workers walked in with an abrasion on her
forehead. I immediately started joking her
about using a pillow under her face the next
time. She immediately blushed a bright red,
which she always did when anything sexy or
sensual came into the subject. She immedi-
ately told me that she fell out of bed the
night before, actually giving herself a concus-
sion from hitting her head on the dresser.
After I made sure she was okay, I broke out
in giddy laughter. I didn’t care what she told
me, the story that popped in my head was
the Shadow Box. I’ve had some really vivid
dreams, myself, as any red blooded woman
has. So this brought on the birth of my story.
What a wonderful mix, a sexually healthy fe-
male who’s had the hots for her best friend
for years. Something has to give.
READER ALERT:
Afryca didn’t know entering the Shadow
Box would send her secret desires into a
whirlwind of sexual pleasure. The one man
she’s dreamt about has spiraled her into a
glorious, tantalizing awareness she didn’t
think possible. Beware. When reading this
story make sure you have two things avail-
able. 1. A tall ice cold glass of water and two a
change of under ware because you will defin-
itely overheat in the best way.
Chapter One
“Ah, damn, baby. Why do you have on so
many clothes?” His voice slid across her,
heating her to the core. Or was it from the
core to the outside? Afryca Leigh wasn’t sure.
The only thing she was sure of at that precise
moment was that if he didn’t get inside her
quickly she was going to die.
She opened her mouth to answer Simon
when the sound of her Tee shirt ripping
snapped her mouth shut. She moved her
head from right to left, trying to make sense
of it. The pleasure this man gave her was like
nothing she’d ever felt before and probably
never would feel again. Nonetheless, she
wanted, needed more.
Simon pressed his mouth, his glorious
mouth with those full, soft lips, between her
cleavage. She attempted to suck in a steady-
ing breath but it was no use. Her heart
slammed against her ribs. Her lungs burned.
He was killing her.
“I can’t wait to taste you.” He glanced up
toward her face, winked and then lowered
his head to her already hardened nipple.
He twirled his tongue around her nipple,
sucked it into his mouth and nipped it. Her
body jack-knifed off the sofa, a moan poured
from her throat.
“I gotta take this to the bed,” he said as he
lifted her in one swift move and cradled her
to his body.
Sweat beaded his forehead and dripped
down the chiseled muscles of his chest. This
wasn’t happening. She’d dreamt of this day
for over a year. She’d been invisible to Simon
for as long as she’d known him. Sure they
were friends, best friends, but you didn’t
screw your best friends. . . or did you?
“Do you want me to stop?”
God no! Afryca shook her head.
“Then open your eyes and look at me.”
9/151
“I ca-can’t.”
“Than I’ll make you.” She felt her body
pressed against the mattress, felt his body
slide in beside her.
Immediately his mouth was on her. Tast-
ing. Teasing. Pleasing. He kissed his way to
her nipples, giving each one his undivided
attention until her moans fractured the
sounds of his breathing. He caught her
nipple between teeth and tongue and tugged.
The throbbing of her clit rippled to the mag-
nitude of a megaton bomb, yet still it wasn’t
enough. He licked his way to her stomach, a
slow torture.
“Please Simon. Don’t tease.”
“This isn’t a tease, Afryca. This is a prom-
ise.” His hands pressed her knees apart until
they were almost touching the mattress. He
pressed his mouth to the lower pit of her
stomach.
Please. If he does what I’m thinking.
10/151
“You still have on too many clothes.” His
fingers slid beneath the lace fabric of her
panty, while the other hand held her hips.
His mouth kissed each inner thigh and then
her heat. The panty was no obstacle. “Lift
your hips for me baby.” Her panties slid
away.
“Please, Simon. I can’t stand it.”
His tongue flicked across her already
throbbing bud and her mind fractured.
Prisms of pleasure shot through her body,
escalating her heartbeat to a fever pitch.
“You like that baby,” he asked as his
tongue slid slowly from one end of her heat
to the other. It pressed against the opening
and her pussy and paused. He lifted his head
and inhaled. “Damn, you smell sweet. Taste
even better.” His tongue slid across her
again.
“Oh, God. Simon please.” She was reduced
to begging for release. She reached out, tried
to grasp his head, still his motions.
11/151
“Um, uh. You don’t get to demand.” He
crawled up the bed, kissing every inch of skin
along the way and captured her mouth be-
fore she could moan her pleasure.
His hands were tantalizing her, torturing
her. He massaged her breast, tweaked her
nipples. One palm pressed against her
mound and rubbed. The sensations were
mind boggling. Her release was seconds
away. If only he’d slide his cock into her wet
heat. And she was wet. She felt her own
juices soaking the insides of her thighs. He
had to see her arousal. Hear it. Smell it.
Taste it.
He slid a finger into her as if he read her
mind. “Afryca, baby, damn you’re so wet.”
He then slid in two fingers and slowly
pumped his hand.
“Ooh God, Simon. I’m gonna come!”
“Not until I’m in you.” He withdrew his
fingers.
Damn him.
12/151
Simon tugged his shirt over his head,
pushed his pants below his hips and kicked
them off. He quickly pressed his body
between her legs. His cock was as hard as
steel and as thick as a rod pressed against
her opening. He was huge. She wasn’t sure if
he would fit. It had been so long since a man
had been between her legs. She had never
felt such pleasure as the burning in her core
as his cock stretched delicate tissue that
hadn’t felt a man’s caress in years. The toys
she owned didn’t even compare in the
slightest.
“I need you inside!” She grabbed his hips.
She wanted to pull him to her as she shoved
her body up. There would be no wasting of
precious moments this time. She wanted him
in one grand slam.
“I need—”
“And I need you on top.”
Yes! Glorious yes! No way would she ob-
ject to that. She’d have all of him and he her.
13/151
She nodded, a rapid motion of the head, and
closed her eyes. She knew as soon as he
flipped their positions she would be impaled
on him. Her peak was only seconds away. It
had been building from her toes and touch-
ing the tip of her head. One slow glide of his
shaft in her core move that would be it.
Simon grabbed her waist, and started to
roll. The air left her lungs in one swift
whoosh. It was as if she was air born.
Afryca’s moans were replaced by a scream.
Her body slammed against a hard surface,
pain shot through her head and the re-
mainder of air in her lungs was punched out.
Bam!
What the hell?
She opened her eyes and scanned her sur-
roundings. Memory floated back at a snail’s
pace.
Damn.
Double, triple damn.
14/151
The sun flitted past the partially opened
curtains and brightened the room. The
spread and sheets from the bed were half on
the bed and half tangled in her legs, her feet.
She brought her hand up to her face, stared
at the cream coating her fingers. She sniffed
her hand and blushed with embarrassment.
Afryca shook her head and rubbed the other
hand against the knot on the back of her
head. She’d hit it when she fell out of the
bed. Damn.
“Ah, hell.” She pushed the covers away,
glanced at the clock sitting haphazard on the
bedside table. “Shit, shit, shit.” She jumped
up, wavered and grabbed the bed to steady
herself.
Even in her dreams, Simon Ellery made
her scream, cream and come all in one night.
If only she could get him in her bed and
between her legs for real.
15/151
“And he’d gonna be knocking on your
door in forty-five minutes.” She chastised
herself.
She grabbed the covers to toss them on
the bed and her BOB (battery operated boy-
friend) clunked to the floor. More embar-
rassment heated her cheeks. She didn’t even
remember getting it from her suitcase. She
took it everywhere and used it often. After
all, it was a far cry from the real thing, espe-
cially when the real thing was in the form of
Simon Ellery. Simon Ellery, her partner in
crime, her compadre, her co-worker, her
friend. And where the hell where her
clothes? Allowing her mind to run back to
that most vivid dream she smiled to herself.
Last night would be her secret.
She made her way to the bathroom and
turned the shower on full blast. She was go-
ing to need everything at her disposal to get
thoughts of Simon out of her head. If only
she could tell him how she felt. If only he felt
16/151
the same way. But she refused to have her
emotions, her desire put out there for the en-
tire world to see and for what, for him to re-
ject her? No. That would never happen
again.
She stepped into the shower, let the hot
water cascade across and down her back. She
turned in the water, the hot pellets stinging
her everywhere they touched. The stream
touched her nipples and sent a wave of elec-
tric heat straight to her clit. It throbbed and
sensation exploded in her core. Her juices
flowed from her and creamed her thighs, yet
again. She grabbed the shower wall to steady
herself when she felt her knees weaken.
What was she going to do? No way was
she going to be able to spend the next two
days with him in meetings and in cars, on the
plane. Damn, was he going to want her to eat
with him too? She prayed not.
God, he was in the hotel room next to
hers. She covered her mouth when thoughts
17/151
of him hearing her moan in her sleep entered
her mind. Hotel walls can be as thin as pa-
per. How could she face him, carry on a civil
conversation, work with him each and every
day? She giggled and slid her hand down to
her mound. “Might as well get another one in
and finish the job.” She mumbled to herself.
After all, if all else failed, she could get an-
other job. IT people with her experience and
expertise were hard to find. However, deep
down she knew that would solve only one
thing. It wouldn’t cool the blaze she had for
the man she couldn’t have.
Thirty minutes later, Afryca stood in front
of the mirror and finished her makeup, her
mind wandering back to Simon. She
wondered if he would be wearing one of his
tailored suits or jeans. The suits fit him per-
fectly but covered up the cut muscles and
toned, tight ass. The jeans were another wet
dream waiting to happen. He wore relaxed
fitting jeans but they left nothing to the
18/151
imagination. On more than one occasion
they warranted her a good look at his pack-
age. Sure, he’d been staring at another wo-
man but the lust in his eyes and the swelling
in his pants made her cream her panties. If
only he looked at her like that.
She knew him, every single inch of him.
She knew his walk, the sound of his voice
when he was angry, sad, happy, and sleepy.
She knew everything about him, down to the
jagged four inch scar that looked like a ‘Y’
above his right hip to the way he licked his
lips when something tasted good. She knew
everything, except his touch and that was a
stab to her gut, her heart. She swore just one
touch was all she’d need to stave the feelings
she had for him, but that was a bigger lie
than the one she told herself constantly that
she didn’t feel the way she did. After all, why
should she? He certainly didn’t see her the
same way.
19/151
Even when the women at work called him
a dork, a nerd, she saw more. She loved his
geekie Clark Kent look right down to the
thick black framed glasses.
She shivered at the thoughts slamming
through her mind and relished the thought
of Simon’s pink lips suckling her clit, his
cream colored cock pushing pass her wet
swollen folds, stretching her, filling her.
Yeah, like that was ever going to happen. She
wasn’t his type and the day she accepted that
her life would probably be better. No, not
better, just plain old plain.
The loud pounding at her hotel door made
her jump. She dragged in a haggard breath
and blew it out between clenched teeth.
“Okay.” She fanned her face. “I can do
this. After today we’ll be headed back home
to the safety of her own apartment and
office.”
She pulled the bathroom door shut, and
walked toward the living room of her suite.
20/151
The lips of her pussy were swollen and
tender and with each step her clit throbbed.
She really didn’t need this distraction. She
peered through the security hole and shook
her head. Damn, it was going to be a very
long day. He’d decided to wear the jeans.
* * * * *
His nostrils flared as soon as Afryca
opened the door. Damn, she smelled good.
So good he wanted to grab her, throw her
over his shoulder and run back to her bed-
room. Lately, every time he was near her his
heartbeat escalated to the point of pain. At
one time he actually thought, just maybe, he
was having a heart attack. At least that
would explain the way he felt each and every
time he saw her. Who was he kidding? Sure,
it would explain the chest pain but definitely
not the swelling of his cock. He was tired of
having her in his dreams and not actually in
his bed.
21/151
There were only so many cold showers a
man could take and he was pretty sure he’d
met his quota for this life and the next. Yet
there she was, standing in front of him with
her hair tussled and her face impeccably
made with just the hint of makeup. That’s
what he loved about her. She didn’t bathe
her body in imitation coloring and artificial
hair. Don’t get him wrong. He didn’t have a
problem with any woman who thought she
needed those things to enhance herself but
he liked Afryca just the way she was tall, dark
skin and short hair.
His gaze raked across her body from her
face to her hips. He wanted to pause at her
voluptuous breasts but refused to go there.
His throat was already dry from the quick
glance at the way the blouse pulled across
her bosom. With just the right flick of his fin-
ger and the button would pop free and her
glory would spill forth.
22/151
He didn’t have time for another cold
shower and he knew she didn’t see him the
same way so why embarrass himself? But, by
God, she was gorgeous. He loved the way her
espresso skin contrasted against his sun
kissed ivory, her brown eyes to his gray. He
wondered if her nipples and areola were as
dark as her skin. His mouth watered at the
thought that they might even be darker. If
only she knew what was going on in his head
on the few occasions she caught him staring
at her. He wanted to lick her from tip to toe
until she screamed his name. Hell, until she
screamed period, but he’d not stop there.
Drawing her heated, throbbing clit into
his mouth gave a whole new meaning to the
word heaven. He knew it would be great,
probably the best he’d ever have in his life
but it wasn’t going to happen. Not today, not
tomorrow. Not ever. He blinked and stared
back into her face.
23/151
Was she saying something? Her mouth
was moving but the pounding of his heart
clogged his ears and drowned out all sound.
She punched him and brought him back to
reality.
“Are you okay?”
He swallowed, hard, past the lump in his
throat. “Um, sure. Yeah.” He shook his head
and looked beyond her to the far wall. “You
ready?”
Damn, his throat hurt. He needed water, a
beer, anything to help him to sound more
like man and not a high school kid who was
spoken to by the lead cheerleader. And why
did she have to wear a skirt? Didn’t the wo-
man own a nice pair of baggy pants,
something that covered those long legs and
curves?
Now, every time she moved his gaze
would target her ass to catch the sway under
the thigh high loose fabric. Oh how easy it
would be to push it above her thighs and
24/151
slide into her moist heat without any de-
terrents. How easy would it be for her to sit
at her desk and he crawl under her skirt and
have his way with her clit. His cock swelled
with just the thought. He was glad he wore
jeans. He was going to need a lot of room.
Damn, what is wrong with me? Get a
grip.
“I’ll get my bag.” Afryca strolled over to
the small table and grabbed the satchel
hanging on the arm.
Side by side they walked to the area in
front of the hotel. The company they were
wooing was sending a car. Thank God, a
third party.
25/151
Chapter Two
“What’s wrong with your head?” He’d
probably seen her rub her temple and the
back of her head on more than one occasion
that day. Simon reached over to touch
Afryca’s face and she withdrew, pushing her-
self to the far side of the chair. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’ve been rubbing your head all day.
Did you hit it or something?”
She coughed when the memory of how she
got the lump resurfaced in her brain. “No,
just a headache, that’s all.” She lied.
No way would she ever tell him what had
really happened. She laughed at herself and
it pissed her off. The last thing she needed
was her secret feelings for Simon to be
thrown back into her face. She stared at him
for the briefest of moments before cutting
her gaze toward the window and at the
passing cars.
“I think I’m going to grab a rental and
head straight home. This way you won’t have
to go out of your way and drop me off.
“You’ll do no such thing.” Simon steered
the car onto the ramp leading toward the
freeway and her home.
She didn’t want him to be near her home.
Wouldn’t that put him awfully close to her
bed? What if he wanted to come in? Have
something to drink. . . to eat. She shivered at
the thought of him getting any closer to her
than he had the past two days. The days had
been grueling to say the least. Every day it
was something new, something bolder. If he
wore a suit during the day it was jeans in the
evening. At one point she thought he was do-
ing it to torment her, but that would mean he
knew. He didn’t know she existed except as a
friend and he certainly didn’t know how she
felt about him and he never would. There
were no plans in her future to tell him either.
Even if he somehow found out about her
27/151
feelings, he wouldn’t, couldn’t do anything
about it. She would be mortified.
She’d admitted to herself a long time ago
that her insatiable passion for sex a little on
the wild side was not the norm. She loved
her body. She loved how it felt when
aroused. To have a man’s tongue on her,
stroking her, lapping and laving, drove her
crazy. Just thinking about his cock impaling
her drove her to explosion. The thought of
Simon doing her the way she wished was un-
heard of. He was too tame, too quiet, and too
safe.
He’d probably run for the hills and never
speak to her again if she told him her inner-
most secret fantasies of him in her bed,
between her legs, behind her, on top of her
and under her. Or his face buried between
her thighs, or his tongue torturing her clit.
She’d even fantasized about him imbedding
his thick cock in her ass while she rode his
fingers as they stroked her dripping pussy.
28/151
She shivered inward and prayed when she
got out of the car her butt didn’t have a wet
spot on it because she was definitely wet. She
squirmed in the seat.
“Really, you don’t have to drop me off.”
“Stop being a pain. Something’s been up
your ass since yesterday.”
Not you, for sure.
“You’re not upset because we didn’t get
the account, are you?” He gave her a quick
side-glance before refocusing his attention
on the highway stretching out in front of the
car. “Did someone do something to you?” He
gritted out the words, his temper rising. He
gripped the steering until his knuckles
turned white. “Did one of those ego tripping
pricks say something?” his foot pressed hard
on the gas pedal.
She hated it when he was upset. It was
dangerous. “No, on all counts. I’m just tired,
that’s all. I promise.”
29/151
He shot her another heated look, quickly
searching her face for the truth. “I swear to
God, Afryca, if I find out one of those people
were out of place—.”
“No one was.” She wished it were that
easy. “This is something new.”
“What?” He almost laughed.
“You getting protective of me.”
* * * * *
It was new. He wasn’t even sure where his
outburst had come from. But somehow it
had clawed its way to the surface and popped
out. Every time he stole a glance at her his
feelings ran deeper and deeper still. He
couldn’t explain it. He didn’t even under-
stand it himself. The anger that bubbled up
in his gut and tightened a band around his
chest surprised him. He was ready to turn
the car around, fly back to that hick town
and kick some righteous hick ass if anyone
had disrespected Afryca. Damn, he had it
bad for her. He’d never been protective like
30/151
this before, even with women he’d slept with.
Maybe because he’d not had this bond. She
had a fold on his heart like no other. If only
she knew, understood.
They drove for several long minutes in si-
lence. He kept his eyes on the road and
Afryca kept her gaze on the cars zooming by.
Something was up and he was going to put it
at the top of his priority list to find out what.
This was out of character for her and he
didn’t like it. Something had happened,
something bad.
Minutes later he was braking the car to a
halt in front of her apartment.
* * * * *
“You don’t have to get out.”
Simon ignored her, hit the trunk button
and pushed his door open. Jumping out he
strolled to the back of the car, tugged her bag
out and started walking toward the front
door. Damn him. She realized as she
watched him he didn’t walk, he strolled, he
31/151
stalked, but he didn’t walk. She moved be-
hind him, shoved the key in the lock and
kicked the door open. She held out her hand
for the suitcase, hoping he’d hand it over. He
didn’t. Simon pushed pass her, dropped the
suitcase next to the sofa and flopped down in
the soft cushions.
Was he planning on staying? Spending the
night? God, she hoped not. It wouldn’t be the
first time and how would she tell him he
couldn’t sleep over? He’d spent many nights
on her sofa or in her guest bedroom. She’d
never objected then, so why now? He would
certainly have questions.
She sucked in a breath, blew it out and
sucked it up. “Do you want something to
drink? I can put on coffee.”
Simon glanced at the watch on his right
wrist. “Naw, it’s kind of late. It’ll keep me up.
There is something I’d like better.”
Her heart slammed in her chest, causing
the air to rush out of her lungs. Something
32/151
he’d like better. Lord have mercy. She swal-
lowed past the lump clogging her throat. She
opened her mouth, closed it. She swallowed
again. “Wh. . . what do you want?” Me!
“A glass of ice water.”
Ice water?
Damn.
He pushed up from the sofa, walked to-
ward the kitchen and pulled the refrigerator
door open. “That okay?” His head ducked be-
hind the door. “Oh, I’ll take some of this
cranberry juice instead, okay?”
“Get whatever you want.” She grabbed her
suitcase, dragged it to the bedroom and
slammed the door behind her.
She grimaced when the sound vibrated off
the walls. She not intended to slam it that
hard. She unzipped the case, dumped her
clothes on the bed and started sorting them.
Walking over to the dresser she pulled out
the nightgown she planned to wear and then
slammed the drawer shut. Any harder and
33/151
she could have broken it. Maybe if she stayed
in here long enough he’d be gone when she
went back out. She knew there was no
chance in hell of that. She didn’t know what
to do. Her clit throbbed so hard with need
she hurt.
A soft rapping on the door drew her atten-
tion away from her misery. She walked over
to the door, grabbed the knob and snatched
it open. Simon stood there, his eyes quietly
searching her face.
“I know something’s wrong so don’t start
by denying it.”
She felt tears burn the back of her eyes.
She blinked in an attempt to keep them at
bay. “It’s nothing, really.”
“Really my ass, Afryca. You don’t act like
this, not ever. Is it something I did?” He
reached up, and placed his hands on her
shoulders, squeezed. "Tell me if it is and I
will personally kick my own ass.”
34/151
She smiled, a little. Now she really felt stu-
pid. She was mad at him and she didn’t know
why. It wasn’t his fault he was who he was. It
wasn’t his fault he didn’t see her the same
way. You can’t dislike a man for having dif-
ferent desires. Or could you?
Before she could shift her position he
pulled her to his chest, his hands stroked up
and down her back. “Is it something at
work?” She shook her head. “Someone
then?” She was nodding against his chest be-
fore she could stop herself.
“Did you get a call while we were out?”
She nodded again, lying.
He put her at arm’s length, stared into her
eyes. “Do you want me to kick his ass? I will,
you know.” She nodded, pulled away from
him and walked back to the kitchen. She
needed something to drink, anything that
would quench her suddenly dry throat.
35/151
“It’s stupid. Stupid.” She sniffed, glanced
up into his dark brooding eyes. “I think I’m
coming down with a stupid cold.”
“You said stupid three times.”
“That’s stupid, huh?”
“Naw, just odd for you.” He glanced over
his shoulder toward the living room, then
back at her and watched her gulp down the
glass of water. “I think I’ll stay the night if
that’s okay.
She nodded, placed the glass in the sink
and headed toward her bedroom. She’d have
to lock her door tonight. Not to keep him out
but to keep herself in. The last thing she
needed was to sleep walk and find herself in
the bed with him.
* * * * *
Damn it all to hell. He shouldn’t have
touched her. He shouldn’t have stared into
her eyes. He sure as hell shouldn’t have
brought her to his chest and hugged her. All
it took was one small whiff of her scent and
36/151
he was lost. She smelled of flowers and cin-
namon and he almost thought he caught a
hint of arousal but he knew that was his
mind playing tricks on him. He’d imagined
on more than one occasion how her womanly
scent would wrap around his mind, grip his
heart and settle his soul.
He’d imagined on more than a thousand
times how he’d die a happy man and never
ask for anything ever again if she’d allow him
just once, the pleasure of burying his face
between her breast, her thighs. Damn, he
shouldn’t have touched her. He sure as hell
shouldn’t have brought her head to his chest.
Her breast pressed tight against his body, he
thought he felt the hardened pebbles of her
nipples though her blouse. His dick had been
hard all day and now it was painfully so.
He glanced toward the closed door to the
bedroom, wondering what she was doing?
He’d heard the shower moments earlier and
his mind plunged into an abyss where her
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body was covered with water and bubbles.
His cock twitched.
She was acting awfully strange. Who
called her and upset her? Anger sliced his
gut. He’d have to do some investigating of
his own. No way was any man going to upset
Afryca and get away with it. He’d kick him to
high heaven, whoever it was. He turned onto
his stomach, groaned when his cock pressed
between his body and the mattress. That was
not going to work. Pain was one thing.
Misery was another. Starting tomorrow, he’d
focus his attention on whomever it was that
upset her. That way his every waking mo-
ment won’t be concentrated on his imaginary
cock buried deep in imaginary pussy. But it
wasn’t imaginary. His hard cock was very
real. It tormented him every day. Her wet
pussy was very real. Too bad they weren’t
real together.
38/151
Chapter Three
“So, how was the trip?”
Afryca looked up from the computer key-
board she’d been pecking on for the last hour
as she worked out the kinks. She shook her
head and glanced back down at the
computer.
“What? Did you jump his bones and found
out you could have had a V-8?”
“Will you leave me alone, Tess? I really
don’t want to talk about it.” She swiveled in
the chair, grabbed her cup of coffee from the
desk and took a gulp.
And she really didn’t want to talk about it.
Tess was the only person she’d ever confided
in her feelings she had for Simon. She’d
sworn her to secrecy but she always
wondered when Tess would blab. If anyone
ever found out then Simon would find out
and she’d be mortified. She’d have to find
another job in another city and change her
name. She wouldn’t be able to face him.
It was bad enough sitting at her breakfast
table that morning staring at him. He’d sur-
prised her and made breakfast. Her favorite,
waffles with warm syrup and crispy bacon.
He’d even fresh squeezed the orange juice,
and it was waiting for her when she surfaced
from her bedroom fully dressed and ready to
walk out the door. No such luck.
To start your day off bright, he’d said.
Bright my ass. It only made it worse.
She’d tossed and turned the entire night, her
mind wavering from how he made her feel to
what he was doing the next room over. When
her clock illuminated three a.m. she’d tip-
toed across the hall, tilted her head to his
closed door and listened, wondering if he
was asleep. She wondered what he’d do if she
slid the door open and crawled in the bed
with him. Would he actually toss her out or
maybe, just maybe, if he was in a deep sleep
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think he was dreaming and have his way
with her. She could always feign sleep walk-
ing if it didn’t work.
She went back to her bed angrier with her-
self than she’d been when she got up. Now
Tess was prying and teasing.
“I’m kind of busy here,” she caught herself
before she snapped the words out.
“Well, yeah.” Tess walked over to the door
and paused after she pulled it open. “When
you want to talk call me, I may have
something that will make you feel better.”
Tess closed the door behind quietly.
She folded her arms across the desk,
closed her eyes and laid her head in the
crook of her elbow. Maybe she was coming
down with a cold. She felt horrible.
Minutes passed before she opened her
eyes and stared at the closed door. Work had
been grueling to say the least. She’d only
seen Simon once since he left her apartment
that morning but that’s all it took. Her
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emotions were in such a jumbled mess.
Maybe Tess was right. Maybe she should
have told Simon how she felt, knocked him
down and sat on him until he understood.
She chuckled quietly to herself. Yes, she
could have sat on him literally. She closed
her eyes and leaned her head against the
back of the chair and counted to ten. She
opened her eyes, blinked and shook her
head. No. She’d much rather keep Simon as a
friend if she couldn’t have him as she did in
her dreams. Yes. She nodded, blew out a
breath. That was best. K.I.S.S. Keep it simple
sweetheart. That way no hearts would be
crushed and no lifelong friendships severed.
She stood, stretched and returned her at-
tention to the computer on the desk.
“This is useless,” she told herself as she
scribed a note on a sticky pad and then stuck
it to the computer screen and another on the
hard drive. She turned to leave, her heart
still in her chest.
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“Are you finished yet?”
Simon’s deep voice washed over her like
warm air. Immediately her heartbeat poun-
ded against her rib cage and her throat be-
came dry. She swallowed, bringing her gaze
up to his face.
“Pretty much. I can’t fix it here. It’s gonna
have to go back to I.T.”
“Want to grab some lunch?” Simon asked
as he glanced at his watch.
“Naw, I think I'm going to work through
lunch and leave early.”
Simon wiggled his eyebrows, “Got plans.”
She shook her head, “Just busy.”
He arched his shoulders, stepped into the
open door and paused. “Take something for
that cold. I don't like it when you are sick.”
“Me either.” She sniffled, pretending her
nose was stuffy. She'd almost forgotten she'd
told him she was coming down with a cold.
She was such a bad liar.
* * * * *
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Simon pulled the door shut behind him
and headed toward his office. His appetite
had suddenly disappeared. He’d watched
Afryca for a few seconds before she noticed
he was there. The look on her face was like a
kick to his gut. He wasn’t sure if it was fear,
remorse, anger or repulsion. The one thing
he was sure of. . . he didn’t like it.
If only he could find out what it was about
him that she didn’t like. He knew as friends
they were great together. But he didn’t need
any more friends. He wanted a lover, a soul
mate. Not. . . A. . . Friend. He rubbed the
back of his neck and hunched his shoulder.
Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be.
* * * * *
“Tess. When you get a chance come see
me.” Afryca said into the phone propped on
her shoulder. She listened for a second be-
fore continuing. “No. Just come see me.” She
hung up the phone, smiled.
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Maybe it was looking up. Maybe she could
get Tess to go out with her and help her get
her mind off of her troubles. Maybe Tess
knew someone who was looking for a good
woman who was a little kinky, a little wild
and with a lot of heart. Just maybe.
A minute later Tess was in her office, star-
ing at her with amusement on her face.
“Sorry dear. Can’t. Gotta babysit for my sis-
ter and no,” Tess smiled at her, “I can’t call
in sick.”
“I wasn’t going t—” she stifled a laugh.
“Yeah I was.”
“Did you talk to Simon?”
“Urgh!” Afryca ran her hands through her
hair and tugged. “It’s no use.”
“Sure it is.” Tess strolled over to her,
pulled her hands from her hair and patted
her cheek. “Just ask him out. Dinner?
Drinks?”
“No.”
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“Why not? What can it hurt?” Tess stared
at her for a long silent minute. “Ask him out
to a damn movie, but hell you need to take a
step or I’m going to kill you myself.”
Afryca grunted a laugh and allowed the
corners of her mouth to tilt into a soft smile.
Maybe Tess was right. Regardless of what
her gut told her, she needed to do something.
“You’re in love with a man and afraid to
admit it.” Tess interrupted her thoughts.
“Not true. I admit it.”
“Admitting it to me doesn’t count.” Tess
laughed loud, robust and lively.
Afryca joined her. Hearing it come from
Tess made it sound as ridiculous as it was. It
was time to let the man know. Tess was the
only one whom she'd confided, the only one
she trusted with her emotions and secrets.
They’d even talked the sex talk. It was re-
freshing to know she wasn’t the only female
with the desires to have her sex drive fed. If
he didn’t feel the same then so be it.
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“I’m gonna do it,” she mumbled, mainly to
herself.
“I can’t hear you. Did I hear you say
something? Was that a yes?”
“Yes.” She cupped her face with her
hands, embarrassment flitting through her
body. She glanced back toward Tess. “Yes!
Now leave me alone. I’ve got a plan to
devise.”
“Now that’s what I’m talking about.”
Tess closed the door behind her, leaving
her to her endeavors. Afryca glanced at her
watch and realized it was almost four p.m.
She grabbed her tote from the desk drawer,
relocked it and pushed away from the desk.
Walking toward Simon’s office, she formu-
lated the plan in her mind. Step one, find Si-
mon. Step two. Ask him to dinner, tonight.
No. Not tonight. Not enough time. To-
morrow. Saturday would work best.
She thought maybe she’d cook dinner, but
immediately
dispelled
that
thought
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remembering she hated cooking and any-
thing that put her in the kitchen. Well, any-
thing other than sex on the table or counter.
Dinner out would be good. But where?
Several restaurants entered her mind and
were just as quickly kicked out. She didn’t
want it to be too romantic, but a pub and
café meant friend and she was tired of being
his friend.
She paused outside his office door, took a
deep breath and blew it out. Three knocks
and no answer. Three more. More silence.
“He’s not here.”
She turned toward the voice talking to
her.
“He’s not here.” The new IT associate,
whose name escaped her, repeated.
“Oh.”
“He said he had some errands to run. He
left after lunch, said for anyone to either
page or cell phone him. He won’t be back un-
til Monday.”
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“Monday, huh? Well, um. . . Okay. I’ll call
him. Thanks.”
She felt her shoulders slump with defeat.
Now she’d have to build her courage up all
over again. Maybe the phone call would be
better, easier. That way she wouldn’t see his
initial expression when she asked the ques-
tion. Dinner? Dessert? Me?
She pulled out her cell phone and began
dialing his number as she closed her car
door. He answered on the second ring.
“I um.” She swallowed past the lump in
her throat. “I. . . Where are you?”
“Had to do some things.”
“Oh.” Is that all you got? Just spit it out.
She chastised herself. “You wanna go out to
dinner? Maybe grab a movie, dessert?
Silence filled the air.
“You still there?” Her mind ran rampant
wondering what he was thinking, what ex-
pression he had on his face. Was he smiling,
frowning or laughing at her stupid attempt?
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“Sorry. Ah man. I can’t.”
More silence.
“Oh.” God, what was it with the ‘ohs’.
Couldn’t she even come up with a more tan-
gible word? “Okay.” Like that’s better.
“Maybe next time.”
“I’m really sorry. I told a friend I’d cover
for him tonight and there’s no way I can get
out of it. I’ll call you later.”
“You do that.” She hung up the before he
could hear the hurt in her voice. She was
such a fool. She should have known he was
going to say no. It was her pipe dream, not
his. He was probably laughing his head off
that very second. What…A…Fool.
* * * * *
Simon pulled the car onto Interstate 95 N
toward Northern Virginia. He’ds already
slammed his fist three times onto the dash
board. Of all the times for him to have to
work at the club. Damn. The Gods must
really hate him. It would have been the
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perfect time to get Afryca and maybe go
somewhere during the dinner or dessert trek
he’d have enough nerve to tell her exactly
how he felt about her. If that didn’t work,
then he’d planned to take her hand, bring it
to his crotch and let her feel what she did to
him each and every time they were together.
Friends didn’t give friends hard-ons.
Simon flipped his cell phone open,
glanced back and forth from the phone to the
highway stretching ahead, attempting to fig-
ure out who he could call to cover for him. It
was no use. No one would be available at
such short notice and no way could he call
and say he couldn’t make it. That just wasn’t
his style.
He gritted his teeth and hoped he could
make it up to her. She’d hesitated when he
told her he couldn’t do it. What was going
through her mind? What did she have
planned? He hated himself for not seeing
this coming. He should have felt it, seen it,
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and heard it in her voice when he talked to
her earlier in the day. Had something
happened at work? Damn.
He dialed her number back and waited for
her to answer. He’d make up some story. So-
mething she’d believe. She didn’t know about
this part of his life, but, he wished she did. It
would certainly make things easier. Damn, if
she knew about his insatiable taste for pas-
sion he’d take her with him to the club. In-
troduce her to his other half. Shoot, he’d in-
vite her into the Shadow Box and finally get
his fill of her. Or at least satisfy a tiny piece
of his hunger for her.
* * * * *
“Okay, you need to calm down and talk a
little slower.” Tess’ voice boomed over the
phone receiver. “And stop sniffling. You had
better not be crying. What did he say, for
God’s sake?”
She didn’t want to be, but she couldn’t
claim the moisture leaking from her eyes was
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anything but tears. And she hated herself for
it. She didn’t even know why it upset her so
that Simon couldn’t go out with her. After all,
if wasn’t his fault. She didn’t really give him
any notice now did she?
“I’m not crying.” She blew her noise on
the wadded up tissue she found in her pock-
et. “I think it’s my allergies, that’s all.”
“Sure you’re right. Well, this is what I
want you to do.” Tess paused as if she was
thinking what to say next. “My sister didn’t
need me to babysit after all and I was just
getting ready to hit the road.” Silence filled
the air yet again. “Go out with me.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’ve got an exclusive pass to a very exclus-
ive club in Northern Virginia and tonight is
your lucky night.”
“I couldn’t.”
“You couldn’t, but you will.”
“No, seriously. I don’t want to impose on
your night out.”
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“Blow your nose, get dressed and just in
case, toss some extra panties in a bag. I’ll be
there in twenty.”
“Tess wait a—” She was greeted by the dial
tone.
Afryca stared at the dead phone in her
hand. Maybe Tess was right. Maybe she
needed to get away, go to a club, met some
new people. Maybe for once get her groove
on. She swung around in a circle, her head
swimming. What was she thinking? There
was no way she could do this. Her heart
wasn’t in it. The one person she wanted she
couldn’t have. A night out on the town wasn’t
going to change that.
She re-dialed Tess’ number, got a busy
signal. Closing her eyes she tried to figure
out what to do. The options stabbed at her.
One, get dressed and got out with Tess. Two,
stay home. Three, get a life.
“Urgh!” Confusion swamped her. Her
mind was made up. There was no way she
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was going to go out with Tess, especially to
some club she’s never been to and after all, it
was hours away. No. She wasn’t going to do
it.
The ringing of her door bell caught her at-
tention. Had twenty minutes gone by
already? She glanced at her watch, frowned
and strolled toward the door. Swinging it
open she greeted Tess.
“I’m sorry. I can’t go.”
“The hell you can’t.” Tess moved into the
apartment, walked over to the table where
she’d tossed her purse and grabbed it. “Un-
less you want to possibly wear the same
panties tomorrow I suggest you grab a clean
pair and come on.” She held up her hand and
silenced Afryca’s opened mouth. “Not gonna
take no for an answer. Trust me, just this
once. You are going to love this club. If it
doesn’t get your mind off of your. . . troubles,
I will never harass you again.”
She raised her eyebrows.
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“It’s different than the others.” A broad
secretive smile lightened Tess’ face. “Trust
me.”
She drew in a breath, blew it out and
snatched her bag from Tess. “We are not
spending the night.”
56/151
Chapter Four
Almost three hours later, after two argu-
ments about stuff they could only laugh
about
and
debates
that
encompassed
everything from wicked sex to the eco sys-
tem, Tess was pulling into the parking lot of
the club. Her mouth curved into a devilish
smile as she turned and faced Afryca.
“What is this place?” Concern and confu-
sion laced Afryca’s voice and she knew it. She
scanned the front and side of the building. It
didn’t look like any club she’d ever been to.
“It’s an exclusive adult club.” Tess glanced
back toward the front of the building. “I told
you about it.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Yes I did. Remember, I told you about a
wonderful place where we could go to fulfill
our secret desires and not worry about it the
next day.”
She pulled her mouth into a tight frown,
her brain working overtime trying to remem-
ber the conversation. It slammed into her
like a sledge hammer. She opened her mouth
to say something, closed it. “I—I thought you
were telling me about a dream, some place
you made up.”
“Damn, I wish I’d made this place up. I
could retire.” Tess reached behind the car
seat and grabbed her purse. “Come on. You
are in for a wonderful treat.”
“Um, I don’t know.” Afryca diverted her
gaze to the floor of the car, stared at her feet
as if she’d never seen them before. “I don’t
know.”
“Too late to turn back now.” Tess jumped
out of the car, ran around to Afryca’s side
and jerked the car door open. “Come on.
Trust me, just this once.” She reached in,
grabbed her hand and tugged her out of the
car. “If you find you are not loving it, find me
and we will leave.”
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She settled her gaze on Tess’ face, stared
into her non-blinking eyes. “Swear?”
“On your momma’s grave.”
Afryca chuckled, nodded and grabbed her
bag. “This had better be as good as you say or
you will need to find a new best friend come
Monday. How’d you find this place anyway?
It’s not exactly around the corner from us.”
“Same way you did, through a friend.”
They walked toward the entrance of the
club. Nervous butterflies fluttered around in
Afryca’s stomach. She wasn’t sure if it was
from not knowing what she was getting her-
self into or from the anticipation of not
knowing. She knew Tess wouldn’t put her in
any kind of danger but she didn’t like the not
knowing. She’d thought they were going to a
dance club. She could meet a really nice. . .
no, not nice. She was tired of nice. What she
wanted was a really good, toe curling, don’t-
think-about-it-just-do-it, one night stand
with the tallest, best looking, muscle bound
59/151
man she could hook up with. She blew out a
breath and stopped walking, not paying at-
tention to what Tess was saying.
Who was she fooling? She’s never been in-
to one nighters, but there was always that
hope that maybe, just maybe, if she got her
groove on with someone else it would wash
the remnants of Simon from her mind. She
sucked in a breath, fanned her hand in front
of her face and blew it out. The air around
her head, suddenly hot, sent waves of more
butterflies to the pit of her stomach.
“You okay? Tess was standing in front of
her, staring at her with the strangest expres-
sion on her face, like she was staring at an
alien.
“Yeah, I’m cool.” She fanned her hand
again. “Just got a little hot, that’s all.”
“Well, you are about to get hotter.” Tess
pulled the door open, held it for Afryca and
then pulled it tightly closed behind them.
“The one thing you need to remember, no
60/151
matter what you see or do, you are not al-
lowed to talk about it after you leave. They
are going to make you sign a waiver and gag
statement.”
“It’s that secret?”
“Oh, yeah, it gives me shivers just thinking
about it.”
They stepped into the foyer and Afryca
gasped. The outside of the club didn’t do it
justice. The colors and warmth of the interior
took her breath away. The knots in her stom-
ach loosened. She took in every inch of the
room, the walls, the furniture, the lighting.
Oh yeah, it was very nice. Candles flickered
off the walls and a fireplace burned brightly
on the other side of the room. Large plush
chairs were scattered throughout with colors
that blended with the soft gold of the cur-
tains covering the wall space and nothing
else. She hadn’t seen any windows when they
entered so she knew they were just for effect.
It worked.
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She pulled her attention back to Tess.
“How often do you come here?”
“Not as much as I wish. But don’t worry.
After your first visit, I’m pretty sure you’ll
come again and again and again.” Tess
whispered a laugh that was way too secretive
and the nervous butterflies skidded back into
place.
Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. Maybe she
should let Tess go do her thing. She could
take the car, ride around, and find something
to do. She was quite sure there was a real
dance club or even a book store somewhere
in the vicinity. She took a step back, toward
the front door.
“Oh no you don’t.” Tess grabbed her hand,
tugged her forward. “Trust me.”
“Why when you say that, it doesn’t do a
thing for me. I swear, Tess, if—”
“I will not only be your best friend on
Monday, I will be your best friend the rest of
your life.” Tess smiled a broad expanse of
62/151
white teeth. “Now come on. We are wasting
time.”
Forty-five minutes later, papers signed
and instructions given, Tess and Afryca
entered the forbidden area of the club she’d
now learned had no name and couldn’t be
found in any phone book or directory.
Anticipation had her tighter than a drum.
After browsing through the booklets of what
the club offered, she had to admit to herself,
it was intriguing. Who would have thought of
an exclusive adult club like this? Secluded
rooms where you could chose someone to get
your groove on with, a place where others
had the same unsated desires she had, a
place where no one would laugh at her.
Wow! And the neat thing was, you could
even watch if you didn’t want to physically
participate. She giggled to herself at the
thought of sitting in a chair watching Tess do
whatever it was Tess did.
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Was this place like the Bunny Ranch in
Nevada? What would happen if the police
busted it? Suddenly dread started prickling
its way up her spine. The last thing she
needed was to be tossed into jail for visiting
a. . . house. What did you call this anyway?
She wondered who worked at the club? What
type of person took such a job? Did they
work there full time? Did they have secret
families? Double lives?
Afryca stopped, settling her gaze on the
room in front of her. Bondage. Now that was
something she’d never done. She wasn’t sure
if she would like being tied up. She loved us-
ing her hands, touching, caressing. She loved
the sounds the man made when she touched
him just the right way. Shaking her head, she
moved along the hall. Another room had the
word, Anal etched on the door.
Immediately her mind shot to Simon.
Back in the recesses of her mind, she thought
of the late nights when she dreamed of him
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and his thick cock slick with lube and sliding
in and out of her ass while his fingers fucked
her pussy. Just the thought flooded her
panties with moisture. Shaking her head, she
closed her eyes and tried, unsuccessfully to
get the image out of her head. She was on
this crazy road trip to forget about him. It
was going to be hard to do, but she knew she
had to wash that man out of her mind.
She chuckled and took one last glance
through the window. The couple was oblivi-
ous to voyeurs. She tightened her butt cheeks
and moved on. She peered into the next
room and her breath stilled in her chest. Tess
was secured to a wall, a masked man was
standing to the side of her attaching clamps
to her nipples. Sans nipple clamps, Tess was
utterly naked.
You go girl.
She smiled and moved on, complimenting
Tess to herself for getting right down to
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business. She wondered if she would find a
room that grabbed her interest. God, she
hoped so.
It was all great. The rooms were exciting,
but nothing piqued her interest. A room
named, The Shadow Box was next. This
room was set up slightly differently. You had
to go through a door to get to the inner view-
ing room. She cracked the door and peered
in. The room was muted in colors and light.
A cream colored French settee faced a
darkened window. Curious, she walked in. A
small side table held a crystal pitcher of what
she thought was water, and a delicate towel
was draped across the side. Interesting.
She took a tentative step into the room
and closed the door. The lock clicked into
place and a soft light behind the window
flickered on. She opened her mouth, closed
it. What she saw was absolutely beautiful. A
huge brass iron bed sat in the middle of the
floor. Off to the side was a padded chair big
66/151
enough for two people to sit in comfortably.
Satiny curtains floated from the ceiling to the
floor giving the room even more shadows. A
gentle breeze fluttered the curtains, fractur-
ing what illumination there was. The light
was so soft it gave the illusion of a dream.
The room was a fantasy in itself. The almost-
darkness of it made her wonder if she could
be seeing what she thought she was. It was
absolutely breathtaking.
She found herself sitting on the settee,
pulling her legs up and kicking off her shoes.
Okay, this was odd. For some reason it felt
okay to do this. Had she found the room for
her? What was next? No one was on the bed.
As soon as the thought hit her brain a door
she hadn’t seen on the opposite side of the
room opened. A man entered carrying a wo-
man in his arms. All air left her lungs and
her heart stopped beating.
He was tall, maybe six-two, six three. His
cream colored skin was sun kissed as if he’d
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spent time at the beach or a tropical island.
He wore black tuxedo pants with a silver
cummerbund that matched the masquerade
mask covering his eyes. He wanted anonym-
ity. She smiled, understanding. His feet were
bare of shoes and he wore no shirt. She swal-
lowed hard past the dry lump clogging her
throat when her gaze settled on the man’s
chest, arms and abs. He carried the woman
as if she were a feather. Oh God! Could he lift
her as easily? She knew he could. Her heart
slammed against her rib cage. He stepped
over the bed, stopped. He mumbled
something and the woman nodded. He
walked over to the chair and gently lowered
her body to the cushions. Her face was
covered with a mask as well. Were masks
mandatory for this room or an option? She
wondered. He said something else and the
woman's head shook rapidly. He smiled and
it shot heat straight to Africa’s core. He
moved with such confidence and strength,
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and the way the one dimple softened his
smile reminded her of Simon.
She glanced around the room, looking for
speakers, something to allow her to hear
what he was saying. The need to hear his
voice was like a need for oxygen. She jumped
up, moved around the room, searching the
walls, the doors, the window. Nothing. Dis-
appointment settled at the pit of her stomach
and she moved back to the settee, only to see
a button on the side table. Who’d’ve
thought?
She pressed the button and sat back
down. Relaxing, she watched and wondered.
Mister Mysterious kneeled in front of the
woman and lifted her right leg. Immediately,
he began caressing her foot and placing
kisses along the sole. His mouth moved up
her leg from foot to thigh, pausing and mov-
ing back down. The woman squirmed,
moaned.
Afryca squirmed and moaned.
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Embarrassment warmed her cheeks. She
glanced around the room thankful she was
alone. This was wonderful. No wonder this
place is so exclusive, so secretive. Knowing
she wouldn’t have to answer any questions or
hide her desire she lay back on the settee and
continue to watch.
With each press of his lips to the woman’s
skin her stomach tightened. He licked and
laved his way around her body to the point
Afryca thought the woman was going to fall
off of the chair. God, she wished it was her.
She wished it was her body he kissed and
even better if it was Simon doing the kissing.
Her clit throbbed with anticipation of what
Mr. Mysterious was going to do next.
Afryca’s hand slid beneath the waist band of
her slacks and cupped her mound. She didn’t
know who moaned first, her or the woman
on the other side of the window. The orgasm
hit her so hard she flung herself off of the
settee and found herself sitting on the floor.
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Damn. What is wrong with me? She
pushed up, sat back down and straightened
her clothing. She glanced at the window and
the woman was gone. When did that hap-
pen? Had she knocked herself out?
The man turned his back to the window
and took off the cummerbund. A familiar
feeling swept over her. She stood, stepped
closer to the window and stared at the back
of the man. No, it couldn’t be. No way. Her
fingers pressed against her lips, stopping the
scream. Only one person could have a scar
like that. The ‘Y’ shaped scar above his right
hip couldn’t belong to anyone but Simon.
She remembered when he got it, how he got
it, why he got it.
Oh, my God. Is this why he couldn’t go out
with her? Is this why she was invisible to
him? Why would he need her if he had all
this? She wasn’t sure if she was angry, mad,
happy or hysterical. Well, two can play this
game. If Simon wanted to spend his time at
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this club instead of with her, then so would
she. If she couldn’t have him in real life, than
she’d have him in an illusion. Damn, she’d
book this room every day that he was here if
it meant her having Simon’s hot tongue on
her even hotter body.
She straightened her clothes again, took
one last glance around the room and set out
to find someone of authority, someone who
could help her, someone who would tell her
how much and who she needed to write the
check too.
‘Get Me Some Simon’ was now in play.
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Chapter Five
“Oh my God, Shadow. You really worked
it tonight, didn’t you?” The receptionist said
as she passed him in the hall leading toward
the lounge.
Not sure what the receptionist was talking
about he turned, stared at her for a long
humming minute. He always did his best
when he worked at the club. It gave him
much pleasure to pleasure a woman. But to-
night hearing moans and groans was
something that just wasn’t working for him.
Lia, a good friend, was always game to put
on a show with him. He’d hope no one would
visit his chamber that night, but as soon as
he heard the delicate chime of the bell his
hopes were doused. Thankfully Lia wasn’t
busy and like many times before, she allowed
him to utilize her for the show he so magnifi-
cently put on.
She got a kick out of how he put on the il-
lusion of making a woman squirm and
scream and never touching her. He blinked,
refocused and said, “Huh?”
The receptionist giggled, smiled. “A visit-
ing guest was adamant that she had to visit
The Shadow Box, today, not tomorrow, or
next week, but today.”
“Really, is that so?” Was all he could say,
although the smile that broke his mouth was
broad.
“Oh yeah. She seemed really upset that
you were booked the rest of the evening.”
“Is she coming back?” His interest peaked.
He was always a sucker for any female who
requested him personally. However, on the
rare occasion he had to make sure it wasn’t a
stalker situation. One could never be too
careful in this type of work.
“I don’t think she’s even left yet. I think
she’s waiting for someone. I did give her a
voucher for the next time you're here. She
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made an appointment.” She looked up to-
ward the ceiling as if trying to remember
something. She smiled and said, “Tomorrow.
She’s your first appointment.” She giggled
again and strolled away.
He tilted his head up in an acknowledging
nod and headed toward the main reception
area. If any luck he’d get a closer look at his
voyeur. His gut told him this really wasn’t a
good idea, what with the whole mask thing
and all, but something itched along his spine
and for the first time in his life he wanted. . .
needed to see who’d been watching him.
He glanced through the one way mirror.
Nothing. No one sat in the lobby. No one was
moving about. Had he missed her? Swinging
the door open and moving over to the main
entrance he slowly opened the front door
and peered out. The only thing he saw was a
feminine profile turning the corner. Her hips
swayed gently from left to right in such a way
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it tightened the muscles in the pit of her
stomach.
Then she spoke to someone in the hall,
and her voice almost took him to his knees.
The high pitched lilt of it so reminded him of
Afryca that he wanted to chase the woman
down, swing her around and make sure it
wasn’t her. Deep down he knew that wasn’t
necessary. The club was the last place he’d
find Afryca. He could only dream. He
glanced at his wrist watch, groaned at the
fact that his next appointment would be
within thirty minutes and pulled the door
closed behind him. He shouldn’t have
looked. Now his mind was on Afryca. The
last thing he needed. Oh well, it wouldn’t be
the first time he’d imagined her body next to
him and her legs spread for his mouth while
he pleasured another woman.
* * * * *
She had to force herself not to run, skip or
jump her way to the car. She avoided Tess’
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side long glances until they pulled onto the
highway heading south and then she giggled
like a teenage girl who’d just seen her first
male nude.
“So, are you gonna tell me what’s so
funny? I take it you enjoyed yourself. So
what did you think?” The questions Tess
fired at her gave her little time to think,
much less answer.
“Well. . . ” She turned in the seat, crossed
her arms loosely under her breast and stared
at Tess. After forming and re-forming her
next statement in her head she said, “I don’t
know if I should be mad at you or elated.”
“I’m hoping elated.”
“Why haven't you told me about this place
before?”
Tess didn’t answer her question. “You
like?”
She couldn’t hold it in any longer. She
squirmed in her seat. Just thinking about
The Shadow Room and Simon made her
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throb with need. “Oh. My. God!” She rapidly
fanned her hand in front of her face. “It was
wonderful,” she said as she bounced up and
down in the car. Tess burst out in loud rap-
turous laughter.
“Excellent. Then my job is done.”
“Oh, no, far from it.”
“Oh, oh. Looks to me like someone’s got
the voyeur bug.”
“Voyeur, my ass. I want to participate.”
“Well, hot damn. That’s what I’m talking
about.”
Silence slid between them. Tess’ expres-
sion took on a look of a woman musing on
memories. Afryca could only wonder what
was going through her mind. After a few
more seconds of quiet, she asked, “So how
long did it take you to get comfortable. . . you
know. . . there.”
“Longer than you.” Tess’ gaze bounced
from Afryca’s face to the road. “But, I didn’t
have a wonderful and understanding friend
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such as myself to guide me along.” They both
giggled. “Did you find a room that you par-
ticularly liked? Me, personally, I love them
all.”
“Oh, I saw how much you liked a room. I
never saw you as the nipple clamping per-
son, though.”
“My sweet friend, there’s a million things
I’ve yet to tell you about myself.” She smiled,
her expression filling Afryca’s mind with a
gazillion questions.
“Hey, no secrets.”
“Lots of secrets. That’s why I love this
place. You don’t have to worry about your
secrets getting out. So, which room did you
partake in?”
“None, yet.”
Secrets. Yes. Just how much did Tess
know and understand? Did she know Simon
worked there? Was that why she insisted on
her coming there? So Afryca could get a
glimpse of Mr. Nice Guy up front and
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personal? Certainly not. No way would Tess
have kept that away from her, knowing how
much she wanted, needed him. She’d spent
too many nights moaning and groaning
about not having him in her bed for Tess not
to tell her. No. Tess couldn’t know and
Afryca wasn’t going to tell either. Some
things a girl needs to keep to herself. Some
things were best left in the dark, and sacred.
Even if it meant keeping secrets from the one
and only true-to-life-understanding friend
she had.
Pulling her mind back to the present she
realized Tess had been staring at her for at
least the last minute. “What I mean is, the
room I wanted was booked for the rest of the
night. I could come back tomorrow or next
Saturday. . . . ”
“Well?”
“I booked a session for tomorrow.” She
couldn’t help the broad smile that curved her
mouth.
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“Tomorrow. Tomorrow? O-M-G!” Tess
glanced up, hit the turn signal and swerved
the car onto the upcoming exit ramp. “You
bitch. You were gonna come back tomorrow
without me and I’m the one who brought you
here.”
Afryca grabbed the dash board for sup-
port. “Tess! What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m pulling over at this damn hotel and
we are spending the night. What the hell do
you think I’m doing?” She screeched the car
to a halt in the parking lot of a little hotel.
Afryca blinked, stared at Tess, then out
the front window, and then at Tess again.
“Have you lost your ever loving mind?”
“No I haven’t, but I think you have.” Tess
cut the engine and turned in the seat. “I can’t
believe you weren’t going to tell me. You
pig.”
She tried to pout but knew it didn’t reach
her eyes. “I was going to tell you. I didn’t
want you to feel obligated to—.”
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Tess tossed her hand up, palm out in a
‘stop talking’ gesture. She clamped her
mouth shut and tried unsuccessfully to halt
the laugh that bubbled out of her throat.
When Tess cut her gaze at her she said, “I
don’t have any clean undies.”
“Good thing that’s all you were going to
say.” Tess shifted the car into gear, backed
out of the parking slot and headed back to-
ward the road.
“Where are we going now?”
“I think I saw a sign for a Wal-Mart a mile
back.”
“Oh.” Giddy butterflies fluttered in her
gut.
Tess had no idea how elated she was. She
didn’t’ want to go all the way home and then
drive back the next day. There was too much
time to spend at home thinking about what
she was going to do. There would have been
too much time to change her mind. Now she
couldn’t. Tess wouldn’t let her. She let out a
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sigh of relief and closed her eyes. However,
nothing could loosen the knots twisting her
gut with the thoughts of how it would feel to
finally have Simon’s lips and tongue scorch-
ing her already hot skin.
An hour and a half later they were walking
toward their room. She wasn’t overly sure if
she liked the idea of her and Tess sharing the
hotel room, knowing now, she would not be
able to do what she did almost every night,
dreamt of Simon and his hands on her. Only
it would be her hand between her thighs and
it would be her fingers sliding in and out of
her hot heat, dripping with her honey, bring-
ing her to peak and ripping the moans and
scream from her throat. Tonight would con-
sist of her not telling Tess the major secret
she now held next to her heart. The secret
she would take to the grave.
Simon and The Shadow Box.
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Chapter Six
Simon stepped out of the shower and
strolled to his connecting dressing room as
he swiped the towel across his dripping skin.
His mind was in jumbles. He hadn’t gotten
more than three hours of sleep the night be-
fore because of the images of Afryca dancing
through his brain and his groin. The anticip-
ation was killing him. God, he prayed the
woman he’d seen walking away from him
was the woman of his nightly dreams. If he’d
allowed his cock to rule him, he would have
called her up on her cell and asked her. Then
he’d tell her the truth and beg her to come
back. He’d do anything to get her into The
Shadow Box. He’d dreamt about it on more
than one occasion. Luckily, he didn’t let his
dick control his head. . . the other head. No,
he’d wait for her to come to him and pray he
was right.
He sat on the edge of the chair and
thought about the upcoming events. He’d
take it slow and her even slower. He was go-
ing to relish every single second he had her
in his room. When he’d designed The Shad-
ow Box, he’d had her in mind. She was mys-
terious, enticing and alluring. He shivered at
the thought of actually tasting her, sliding his
tongue along the length of her leg, across and
through her folds. He knew they’d be wet.
Probably so wet he’d come in his pants at the
first swipe and if there was the slightest pos-
sibility that that didn’t make him come he
knew the second he got a taste, smell of her
he would. All of the bricks he’d built around
him where she was concerned would come
tumbling down like Jack tumbled down the
hill. But tonight he didn’t care. He knew to-
night Afryca was going to be a temptation, a
temptation no man should have to endure,
but he didn’t care. At least once he’d have
held her in his arms, in his mouth, even if
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she didn’t know it was him. Tonight was go-
ing to be his and only his. He glanced at the
clock, blew out a breath in an attempt to
lower his respiration and shorten his cock. If
he didn’t get it together it was going to be a
very long night, with a very hard dick. He
stood and walked over to the closet to re-
trieve his pants, a broad smile straining the
muscles in his face.
* * * * *
Afryca was as nervous as a virgin
locked in a male prison. She’d glanced at the
clock over a hundred times. Tess had already
threatened to knock her on the butt if she
didn’t stop pacing. But what was a girl to do?
This was her dream come true. It should
bother her that Simon didn’t know what she
knew. It should bother her that she would
exploit him to the fullest if it meant that at
least once she would actually have his mouth
on her body. She knew it should bother her
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that this opportunity might never come
again. But. . . she shrugged her shoulders.
It didn’t.
Before the night was over she would
have Simon’s mouth on her hot skin. He
would make her moan and squirm and come,
hopefully more than once. A thought hit her
like a bullet in her chest. Could there pos-
sibly be another man with the exact same
scar in the exact same location?
No.
There was no way the Gods would
play such a trick on her. She shivered at the
thought. Absolutely not, there was no way
that could possibly happen. Could it?
Certainly not!
She allowed a soft smile to curve her
mouth. Tonight she would enjoy. Even if it
never happened again she would have her
memories of the Shadow Box and Simon’s
hot tongue imbued into her soul forever.
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Once again she stared at the clock. Damn,
could the time move more slowly.
“What time can we leave?” She asked
Tess.
Tess rolled her eyes toward the ceil-
ing. “You have another hour before your ap-
pointment. Or did you want us to go sit in
the parking lot like some stalkers?” She
glanced at Afryca, laughed and said, “Abso-
lutely not.” Both burst out into boisterous
laughter.
“I’m sorry. It’s just… it’s just…” Geez,
she didn’t know what to say to Tess without
giving away her secret. “It’s been a long time
since I’ve had so much fun.”
“I know that’s right.” Tess glanced at
her wrist watch. “We could go grab a bite to
eat. By then it’ll be time to head to the club.
Afryca had her handbag on her shoulder and
her hand on the door knob before Tess could
finish the sentence.
* * * * *
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Simon took one last glance around the
room, making sure everything was in place.
The soft music he’d downloaded into the hid-
den CD gave the room more of a romantic
feel than erotic. He knew Afryca was going to
love it. Although he’d never heard her men-
tion as a favorite the specific musician blow-
ing into the sax, he knew she loved slow jazz
as much as he did.
He allowed the soft smile to curve his lips.
He’d waited forever for this one night. He
didn’t want to blow it. Finally, he’d have
Afryca in his arms, her hot skin under his
lips and her moist heat under his tongue.
Life couldn’t get any better. Realization hit
him. He sucked in a breath, blew it out. Life
could get better. If only Afryca would come
to him without the shields of the mask,
without the shadows and with full knowledge
of who he was and what drove him. He grew
hard, painfully so, with the thought of her
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sitting outside his room, watching, waiting,
wanting.
But what if the woman he craved was not
the one turning the corner? What if his de-
sire for her had clouded his mind so much
that his wishful thinking and burning need
drove him to make up the illusion that
Afryca was at the club? Dread washed over
him tightening a band around his chest. He
couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think straight. He
shook his head. He wouldn’t think of such a
dreadful thing. It was her. It had to be her.
He’d die a thousand deaths if it wasn’t her.
But what if it wasn’t?
The soft buzzing of the alarm snapped
him back to the present and announced the
arrival of his first and hopefully his only ap-
pointment. After an encounter with Afryca
all other woman would pale. His heartbeat
escalated and slammed against his ribs. He
really needed to get it together. If he didn’t
he was going to shoot a load right there in
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his pants. That had not happened to him
since he was a raving, craving teenager. He
blew out a breath, thought about the taste,
and the smell, and the feel of Afryca Then he
moved toward the door leading to the Shad-
ow Box.
He peered thought the one way window.
There she was, sitting on the chair, her back
stiff, and her lips in a slight smile. His
dream. Even though she wore a black mas-
querade mask that covered the top half of
her face he knew from the shape of her
mouth, the small dent in her chin and the set
of her ears that it couldn’t be anyone but her.
He glanced toward the ceiling and shot up a
prayer of endurance. He didn’t want her to
know it was him. He didn’t want to scare her
or make her self-conscious. If he had known
about this side of her, the secret part of her
she’d kept from him he’d have given more of
himself. And he’d have taken more.
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He grabbed his mask, slid it over his eyes
and slid the door open. He paused in the
doorway, leaning his tall frame against the
doorjamb. He swallowed past the dry lump
clogging his throat.
“Love, are you ready?”
Afryca didn’t answer.
He moved his gaze from her eyes to her
mouth, and then to her throat. He watched
her swallow several times before he spoke
again. “What is your pleasure?”
She was nervous. Good. That meant this
wasn’t something she did often. He knew
he’d never seen her there before, but that
didn’t mean she had not visited some other
club. The thought of another man touching
her stabbed at his gut, flipped his stomach
and sent a wave of anger up his spine. But he
could not think about that now. Now he’d
only think about her and the things he was
going to do to her and for her.
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“Is this your first time here?” He drew the
words out slow, seductive, and his heart
soared when her breath hitched and she
slowly nodded her head. “Excellent. Then I
will give you my special attention.”
The smile that curved her lips almost
made him pull his mask off, and reveal him-
self. He wanted nothing more than to have
her in every way known to man. He wanted
to make her his because he knew he already
belonged to her.
He strolled over to her, stopped just short
of her and inhaled, trying to capture her
scent. Saliva pooled in his mouth. Her co-
logne, a soft tropical blend wafted up his
nostrils to his brain. He’d never smelled it on
her before, but he loved it. It reminded him
of sunshine and the ocean, fresh and beacon-
ing. This was going to be hard. Probably one
of the hardest things he had ever done in his
entire life, but he was going to love every
single second.
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“I want you to relax, enjoy and believe I
won’t do anything you don’t want me to do.”
In one swift move he lifted her into his arms
and cradled her warm soft body against his
chest. Damn she felt so good. “Can you trust
me?”
She rapidly nodded.
“Good. I’m going to make you feel so
good. I don’t want you to hold anything back.
Do you understand?”
“Ye-yes,” her voice cracked.
“If at any time you want me to stop you
just say so.”
Afryca closed her eyes behind the mask,
rested her head on his shoulder and sighed.
On normal occasions he’d ask the woman if
she wanted to sit in the chair or lie in the
bed. Not this time. He wanted her sprawled
out on the bed. He wanted her to have room
to writhe and squirm under his touch. He
wanted to see if her body bucked when she
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came. He laid her down in the middle of the
bed and sat beside her.
* * * * *
She couldn’t think, she couldn’t breathe
and she knew her heart had stopped beating
the moment her almost-mystery man
stepped so quietly into the room. God he was
gorgeous. His sun bronzed skin. His muscled
chest that begged her to lick it. His lips.
Damn he had wonderful lips. All she wanted
was to feel them against her skin. Immedi-
ately she wondered how much she should
participate. She wished she’d asked. She
closed her eyes and slowly inhaled the scent
of him. Oh yes, it was Simon. She’d embed-
ded his scent into her brain a long, long time
ago. Sure, it just might be possible that two
men had an almost identical scar but no way
could they smell the same, too.
A sigh escaped her throat before she could
stop it. She should have been embarrassed.
She wasn’t. And then he spoke. He
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whispered something but she didn’t under-
stand him. For some reason she couldn’t
wrap her head around it. Was he talking in a
foreign language? Was that French? When
did Simon learn French? Nonetheless, no
other man had his deep bass voice, the voice
that would charm the panties off any woman.
It was him. All doubt fled her mind.
“Les choses que je veux faire à toi…" He
smiled, leaned down and placed is mouth to
the side of his neck. She almost came right
then and there. “The things I want to do to
you…” He barely touched her and that tiniest
touch sent a wave of sensations through her
body, so strong that the room swarmed
around in her head. She closed her eyes
tightly together.
“No, love. Keep your eyes open. I want you
to see what I am doing to you. The things I
will do to you. Les choses que je ferai à toi.”
He touched the lapel of her robe and she
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stiffened. “Oh, love. Don’t be afraid. Shall I
stop?”
She opened her mouth to say no and only
air floated out so she shook her head.
“Good. I have so much more to do to you.”
He slid the plush fabric from her shoulders
and she thought she heard him sigh, or was
it her? She wasn’t sure because her heart
thrummed so loud in her ears she thought he
might hear.
He settled his shaded eyes on her face for
the briefest of seconds and then tilted his
head and pressed his mouth between her
breasts. Ever so slowly he delivered butterfly
kisses in a trail from her breast to her belly
button. He paused, slid his tongue around
the rim of her navel and then continued
south. Oh, God! What was he doing to her?
Everywhere he touched it awakened a mil-
lion sleeping nerve endings—nerve endings
she thought would never feel the touch of his
body.
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He blew a hot breath across the thin patch
of hair at the top of her pubis and she
thought she was going to go mad. If he had
this effect on her when he hadn’t even really
touched her yet, what was going to happen
when he finally did?
Ohhh, that.
Her body jackknifed off the bed only to
have his strong hands hold her in place. His
tongue flicked across her throbbing nub,
shooting balls of fire up to the pit of her
stomach. Her breath rushed out of her lungs,
becoming ragged. The room was spinning on
its axis. She couldn’t stand it. His tongue
separated her moist folds and slid between
them. When he moaned it shot her into outer
space.
Her honey gushed from her and he lapped
it up as thirstily as a traveler across the
desert might lap up a glass of water. Was he
faking his thirst or was he enjoying this as
much as she was? She didn’t know and she
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told herself she didn’t care, but deep in her
heart she hoped he was. To have Simon en-
joy her body gave new meaning to her life.
Oh sure, loving someone for her mind was all
right, and she wanted that, but she needed
more. He spoke more words in French and
now the spasms didn’t creep up her body
from her toes to her head, they ran full force,
knocking her into another realm of time and
space.
Immediately she knew nothing would be
the same between her and Simon. She
wouldn’t be able to look him in the eyes with
a straight face. She’d have to change jobs or
go bankrupt spending all of her money driv-
ing to Northern Virginia to visit the club. If
this was the only way she could have him
then so be it. Again her body tensed. It was
ever so slightly, but she knew he felt it. He
paused in his assault and kissed the inner
sides of her thighs.
“No, don’t think. Just enjoy.”
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“I know. I am.”
“Je sais que je suis.”
Without pause her body relaxed to his
soothing words. Simon had always had that
effect on her.
“That’s right,” his voice purred against her
skin. He bowed his head and again his
mouth started working on her body. His fin-
gers separated her folds as his tongue jetted
in and out of her heat. The ripples of pleas-
ure built slowly, rising gradually again until
she knew her body was going to explode.
Then he stopped. He paused over her and
blew on her clit as if that would put out the
fire raging between her thighs, in her belly
and throughout every nerve ending in her
body. As the sensations abated he flicked his
tongue across her clit. He twirled his tongue
and flicked it, twirl and flick, and twirl and
flick.
“Oh God! Schadenfreude!”
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He stopped, blinked up at her, then cap-
tured her nub between his lips and sucked.
And then without warning he pressed a fin-
ger into her core, teasing it against the side
of her inner walls and sending her over the
ledge to spiral out of control.
Her breathing ceased. Her heartbeat es-
calated. Her mind snapped. She’d gone blind
and prisms of light danced across her line of
vision. She couldn’t move, couldn’t think. Se-
conds passed, maybe minutes, before she
could open her eyes.
And he was gone.
* * * * *
It was Afryca. He’d had to get out of there.
She was killing him. Simon pulled the mask
from his face, tossed it onto the table and
flopped down in the chair. He ran his hands
across his face and through his hair.
Every time she moaned, each squirm she
made, he thought he was going to go mad. At
first he wasn’t one hundred percent sure it
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was her. Sure, the way her eyes stared at him
though the mask, the way her breath rushed
out of her lungs reminded him of her, but the
mind is a powerful thing. It played games
and made you think things were one way
when in actuality they were another.
Ecstatic hopes alternated with nagging
thoughts that maybe it wasn’t Afryca after
all, then she blurted that stupid schaden
word and his world fell apart. Schaden-fuck-
en-freude is how he teased her with it. Some
word she’d read about or heard from her
father after his stint in Germany always
made him laugh. Schadenfreude. She only
said it when she was excited or mad. Taking
joy in the suffering of others.
And now he was the one who was suffer-
ing. The way his cock strained his pants,
surely he was he was in much more pain
than she was. He wanted to snatch his mask
off and show her he was the one with his face
between her legs, but he couldn’t. What if it
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frightened her? What if she didn’t want him
to know she visited the club? What if she
never wanted to see him again? No way
could he disrupt her illusion that she was
there in total anonymity.
He stepped over to the sink, splashing
cold water on his face and not caring that it
ran down his over-heated chest. A soft smile
curved the corners of his mouth. Oh yeah, he
took a lot of joy in making her suffer. Hell,
he’d suffered for years just being around her.
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Chapter Seven
Afryca crept into her office Monday morn-
ing and locked the door behind her, her head
still swimming with the events of the week-
end. She wasn’t ready to see anyone, espe-
cially not Simon. She hadn’t talked much on
the way home that night. She knew Tess was
a little worried but she lied between her teeth
and swore she was okay. She was not okay.
She would never be okay for the rest of her
life.
“Did you enjoy yourself?” Tess had asked.
“Um hum.” She could barely get even
those non-words out. She didn’t know that to
think or what to do. When he’d touched her
the way he did, the way she’d dreamed about
for so many years her body had erupted.
She’d never in her life had such a strong or-
gasm, didn’t know it was possible.
Her body still felt the effects of his tongue
twirling a hot line across her clit and his
finger, oh God, his finger was the destruction
of all thought and breath. She squirmed in
her seat, stretched her legs out and squeezed
her thigh muscles. Soft ripples, echoes of the
best orgasmic pleasure she’s ever felt,
fluttered across her clit, making it throb with
need and dampening her panties.
She’d wanted to pull her mask off, show
him it was her he was pleasuring but she
couldn’t. She wouldn’t. He was there an-
onymously. Undercover. He didn’t want any-
one to know he was there. He definitely
didn’t want her to know. If he did, he would
have told her. Wouldn’t he?
Why had he left so abruptly? Was it that
bad for him? He’d seemed to enjoy it when
she watched him with that other woman.
Was she that unappealing? She thought
she’d heard him moan, and it had sounded
so erotic, but maybe her ears had played a
dirty trick on her. What was she going to do?
She couldn’t leave her job, although the
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thought did enter her mind. But that was ri-
diculous. It was almost as crazy as thinking
she could have something with Simon.
Dreams were dreams and she had to face the
facts. The only relationship she would ever
have with him would be at the club.
A soft rap on the door snatched her back
to reality. She glanced at the clock, wonder-
ing how long she’d been locked in her office.
Time always escaped her when Simon was
involved. Damn, what was she going to do?
She stepped over to the door, paused with
her hand on the knob, sucked in a deep
breath, held it for a few seconds and blew it
out. She blinked, rotated her head to loosen
the tight muscles in her neck, and hoped her
poker face was in place. Swinging the door
open, she waved Tess into the office, relieved
it wasn’t Simon.
Tess locked the door, grabbed her hand
and tugged her to the chairs facing her desk.
Pushing her down in one, she took the other.
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“Now you’re going to tell me what the
hell’s going on.” She held up her hand to stop
Afryca when she opened her mouth to object.
“Don’t even try to lie to me, and don’t tell me
nothing.” Tess patted her hand, soothing
some of the tension. “Look. I know you and I
know when something’s wrong so spill it.”
How much could she tell Tess? They wer-
en’t supposed to discuss the club outside of
the club; however, Tess was Tess, her best
friend and a frequent visitor to the club. She
should be able to confide in her. Afryca
closed her eyes and thought for a minute.
“Look. I had a great time, really I did.” She
stared at the far wall of the office, avoiding
Tess’ hard gaze. “It’s just, it’s just it was too
good and I…” her voice trailed off. “He was
very familiar.”
Tess straightened in the chair. “You think
you know him. Wow. Afryca, look at me.”
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She shook her head. She knew if she
looked at Tess she’d know everything, every
detail of what happened.
“Did he hurt you?” Anger laced Tess’
voice.
“No, on the contrary.” Maybe her heart. “I
was wonderful. I don’t know what to do.”
“About?”
“Do I go back or just leave it the way it is,
a great memory?”
“What do you want to do? Who do you
think it is? Do you think you can go back
knowing he might be an acquaintance?
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I think so.”
“Well girl, you gotta do more than think
so. Who the hell do you think it is? Is it
someone I know?”
Afryca diverted her gaze to the floor and
started worrying the fabric at the hem of her
blouse. She couldn’t tell Tess. Her mouth
wouldn’t form the words. She had promised
herself not to betray Simon’s ruse.
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“OMG.” Tess shot up out of the chair,
walked over to the door and tested the knob,
making sure it was locked. “It’s Simon isn’t
it?”
“Please don’t tell.” She buried her face in
her hands and rocked back and forth. “What
am I going to do?”
“So he doesn’t know you know. Are you
sure? I thought you wore a mask in the Shad-
ow Box.”
“I could tell. Some things a girl knows,
even if we’ve never been that intimate.”
“How sure are you?” Tess flopped back on
the chair and stretched her legs out.
“At least ninety-eight to ninety-nine per-
cent.” Afryca laughed at how ridiculously
analytical her words sounded. Tess joined
her.
“Sounds to me like you’ve got yourself a
problem. What are you going to do? Tell
him?”
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“Oh God no. I don’t even know if I can
look him in the face today.” Although she’d
love to go back. She wanted to visit the club
everyday if it meant feeling Simon’s mouth
on her body, his fingers in her core. She
shivered inward from the thought.
“Are you sure he doesn’t know it’s you?
No, I guess he couldn’t. He would have said,
done something.”
“This makes everything so complicated.”
“It was complicated before you even got in
the car to go there.” Tess stood, walked over
to the door. She paused before pulling the
door open.
“What the hell is he doing there anyway?
Even better, what the hell are you doing
there?
“Tess pulled the door open, stepped out
into the hall and turned her head back to-
ward Afryca. “Who do you think told me
about it, gave me my first invite?” She closed
the door before Afryca could respond,
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leaving her with her mouth gaping wide open
like a damn fool.
* * * * *
If he hadn’t had so much on his calendar
he would have stayed home. No way was he
ready to face Afryca after the way she made
him feel Saturday night. One more night
jerking off in the shower shouldn’t have
made a difference but it did. Now he had her
scent in his brain and her taste on his
tongue. He would never be able to satisfy
himself again. Damn, why’d she have to
come to the club? It was bad enough know-
ing she was a floor away from him, but now,
now knowing intimate details of her was
murder. Throughout the night he heard her
moans and short erratic pants of breath. He
smelled her cinnamon cream and tasted it on
his lips every time he slid his tongue across
them. Even now his cock throbbed from the
memory. He wanted nothing more than to
slid his engorged shaft between those
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heavenly folds, knowing she would welcome
him and meet him thrust for glorious thrust,
pump for glorious pump.
No man should have to go through such
hell when it came to a woman. He glanced
down at his pants and the slight tenting of
the fabric. Damn, no way was he going to be
able to leave his office like that. He shook his
head, closed his eyes and willed it to behave.
It didn’t.
Damn you, Afryca.
He glanced at his wrist watch. He had a
meeting in twenty minutes and then a con-
sult and fix an hour after that. He hit the but-
ton on his computer to show his calendar. If
he’s lucky he’ll be too busy to worry about
her. He blew out a breath. Great. The day
was going to be filled with work, not Afryca.
He paced around his office, working off
the excess energy she’d caused. Again he
checked the time. He had to get moving.
Time was not going to stop because a woman
112/151
had his mind wrapped around her body and
his cock wrapped in something else.
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Chapter Eight
Simon stepped into the conference room
and all thoughts of distraction were defeated.
Afryca sat at the end of the table, her face ex-
pressionless. Damn. He’d had many im-
possible days, but this was going to be the
worse one yet. How was he going to sit
across from her, carry on a business conver-
sation and not lay her on the table and have
her? God he wanted her and he would only
be fooling himself if he said otherwise. He
had been successful in dodging her all week.
Sure he considered it very cowardly but what
was he to do?
If he told her the truth he took the chance
of losing her, their friendship, everything.
What if she wanted to keep her secret side,
just that, secret. To confide in her that he
was Shadow could crush her and that was
the last thing he wanted to do. He would
rather die than douse the spark he had seen
in her eyes and heard in her voice when he’d
trailed his mouth along her hot skin.
No, he wasn’t willing to do that. She
meant too much to him, even if it meant his
misery for the rest of his life. He quickly
glanced her way and then diverted his atten-
tion to the others in the room. His heart
cracked a little more each time he caught her
looking at him. He sucked in a breath, held it
and blew it out between his pursed lips, but
quietly, so she didn’t notice it.
“Afryca, gentlemen.” He smiled and tilted
his head in a gentle nod.
She smiled back and immediately his
groin tightened even more and this time to
the point of pain. It was going to be a very,
very long meeting.
“I haven’t seen you much this week.” She
pushed up from her chair, walked over to
him and placed a cup of coffee on the table in
front of him. “You’ve been busy I take it.”
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Like the fool he was he could only muster
up enough energy to nod. A single, geeky,
forced nod. If he didn’t get it together she
was going to start suspecting something was
wrong, and then how was he going to answer
to that? Oh, no Afryca. Everything is fine.
It’s so fine I want to push you right down on
this table and slam my cock—yeah the one
that’s been like a pole since I saw you at the
club— into you and screw you until we both
scream.
He’d already lost his mind, so what else
was left? He needed to get it together. Never
had a woman had this effect on him. The
jumble of emotions slamming in his heart
and head were foreign to him. How was he
supposed to respond to them? He glanced up
into her gaze, took the cup and lifted it to his
mouth. After a sip he said, “Sorry. It’s been
an extremely crazy week.”
“You want to grab a movie tonight and a
bite to eat?”
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He hesitated a second too long. She stared
at him and raised her eyebrows. “What’s the
matter, you got a date or something? If you
can’t make it tonight how about this
weekend?”
There was something in her voice that
wasn’t usually there. It sounded as if she was
toying with him. He knew he was imagining
things because if that was true then it must
mean she knew he was the Shadow. But that
was impossible. Only one other person knew
his true identity and he would bet his last
dime there was no way Tess would break that
confidence. Tess enjoyed the club too much
and she knew it would mean immediate and
permanent barring. They had an under-
standing. While they were friends, they
would not let that interfere in the business
side of their lives. A promise was a promise.
He caught himself as she reached out to
touch him. He leaned back, out of her reach.
117/151
“Tonight would be good,” he blurted out be-
fore thinking.
She chuckled and said, “That’s great,
cause I’m hoping to go out of town this week-
end.” There goes that smile again. It was just
enough to make a man wonder what a wo-
man was thinking about. It was just enough
to make him wish she was thinking about
him.
He lifted an eyebrow, knowing she wasn’t
about to divulge where she was going or
what she had planned. After all, he helped
the club write the policies that each employ-
ee and client must adhere to.
“Okay, tonight it is. You pick the movie
and I’ll pick the food.”
Without another word she nodded and
took her seat at the opposite end of the table.
Two hours later all t’s were crossed and i’s
doted and he was locked in his office yet
again, feeling a coward for not facing his di-
lemma head on.
118/151
The ringing of his phone startled him back
to life. He grabbed the receiver and brought
it to his ear. “Ellery,” he answered with a bit
too much urgency.
A frantic voice clamored in his ear. “Oh,
my God! It just crashed! I’ve lost everything.”
“I’m going to need you to slow down, take
a deep breath and tell me exactly what
happened. What did the computer do?”
“It hiccupped and then shut down. I can’t
get it to reboot or anything. Oh my God! My
report!”
He wasn’t sure but he was thought he
heard a sniffle from the other end. Certainly
the man wasn’t about to cry. However, it was
possible. He remembered when he first star-
ted out and he’d had a few too many com-
puter crashes. Tears used to come to his eyes
too. After several attempts to guide the poor
man through a series of tasks in an effort to
remotely fix the problem, he knew he was
going to have to go out.
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“Which location are you in, sir?” He
cringed at the address and glanced at his
watch. It was all the way on the other side of
town. No way was he going to be able to get
there, diagnose and fix a computer problem
and then get back in time to take Afryca to
the movies. He shook his head. “I’ll be there
in about an hour.” He sat for a few more
seconds and listened to the expletives spew-
ing from the man’s mouth, knowing it was
frustration and nothing more. “That’s the
best I can do. I’m not on site.” He hung up
and began gathering his belongings.
Minutes later he was standing outside
Afryca’s office dreading knocking. Just how
upset was she going to be that he had to can-
cel? Very. She was always upset when he
changed their plans. He wasn’t sure if he was
upset or relieved. From the moment he’d
made the date to go to the movies he hadn’t
been at all sure how he was going to sit next
to her and carry on a simple conversation.
120/151
He’d had visions of blabbering like a fool at
her simplest questions. A ‘how was your
day?’ would probably have him in tears. So
maybe this was a good thing, not being able
to make such a fool of himself in front of her.
After all, she always ended up with her
head on his shoulder or something cozy like
that. What would he do with that? Certainly
not what he wanted. So, yeah, it probably
was a good thing that they weren’t going out.
He was an idiot to even ask, to even imagine
thinking he could act as if everything was
okay.
It wasn’t.
He rapped on her door and pushed it
open. She was not there. Damn. He hated
leaving her a note to explain but what else
was he to do? He glanced at his watch again
and shook his head. The hour was fast tick-
ing away and if he didn’t arrive within the
next forty minutes the fee would be cut. So
121/151
he did the last thing he wanted. He left her a
note, promising to call her from his car.
“Whatever, Simon!”
“I’m sorry, Afryca, really I am.”
“And you couldn’t get someone else to
go?”
“You know it doesn’t work like that.” One
of the things their company boasted about
was the person who answered the phone
would be the service person to fix the prob-
lems. They swore it cut down on the issue of
having to talk to a million people before you
got satisfaction. Until that moment, Simon
had believed in it.
“I’ll make it up to you, promise.”
* * * * *
Damn straight you will. Afryca stared at
the phone for another moment before
hanging it up it. It was bad enough that she’d
almost called him Shadow at the meeting
earlier that day but now she wasn’t sure if
she was upset because she was mad or
122/151
because she thought it might be fear. Had Si-
mon really received a service call at the last
minute or was this his way of backing out.?
He’d acted strange the entire first part of
the week. Had he found out she’d visited his
secret club? Did he disapprove of her that
much? Her stomach lurched from the
thought that she could possibly repulse
someone so much. But damn it all to hell,
she wanted Simon. He may have it in his
head that she wasn’t what he wanted but she
was going to prove him wrong. She had too.
123/151
Chapter Nine
The week went by in a blur. She’d barely
seen Simon after he’d cancelled their movie
date and on the few occasions she did he was
hurrying off to one meeting or another. She’d
finally gotten up the nerve to call him but he
was never home and he didn’t return her
voice mail messages either. Her body ached
from the need to see him, talk to him. She
wanted to be angry with him but couldn’t.
This wasn’t the first time they’d not talked
during the week. On more than one occasion
his schedule had run opposite hers.
But she knew it wasn’t that. She knew that
he was avoiding her. She’d asked Tess if
she’d told him her secret. Tess swore she
hadn’t, promising she’d take it to the grave.
Afryca was mortified at the thought that
maybe he’d found out and it repulsed him
that she would visit such a club. Her heart
told her otherwise. If he was a member, then
certainly he was open to it.
There was only one thing to do.
She pulled her car onto Interstate 95 and
headed north. There was only one way to
scratch her itch. Maybe if she got one more
visit with Simon, then he and his Shadow
Box would be out of her system. This was
what she told her head, but her heart and gut
said something else. She’d never get enough
of Simon.
Two and a half hours later she braked to a
stop in the parking lot. She sat in the car for
another twenty minutes gathering her cour-
age, and wondering if Simon ever particip-
ated in any of the other rooms. Thinking
back to the many rooms she’d seen that first
day, she smiled at her visions of Simon tying
her up, pinching her throbbing nipples with
clamps or sliding his pole-hard cock into her
ass while his hand toyed with her clit. She al-
most came just thinking about it.
125/151
Her anxiousness turned to dread the mo-
ment she stepped into the club.
“Oh, Ms. A., I’ve been trying to reach you,”
the receptionist said, her voice hurried.
“Shadow had to cancel his appointments
today.”
“Huh?” No, she wasn’t hearing what she
thought she was hearing. Didn’t she just
drive almost three hours to get to this club?
“What did you just say?”
“I’ve been trying to reach you. I know you
came a long way.”
Anger bubbled in her gut so that she
couldn’t even hear the woman. “Why didn’t
you call?” She tried to keep her voice calm
when all she wanted to do was grab this
bearer of bad news, pull her over the desk
and slap her. “I don’t live around the corner,”
her voice wobbled with dread.
“I am truly sorry. I’ve been calling for two
hours. I left several messages on your voice
mail.”
126/151
“Well it’s not going to help me to call my
home phone when I’m on the road now, is
it?” Her voice hitched as she pulled her cell
phone out of her purse, then slumped, sud-
denly deflated.
Her cell phone was on vibrate and she
hadn’t heard it tucked in the bottom of her
pocketbook. There were several missed calls,
even a couple from Tess. She brought her
gaze back to the woman’s face.
“I’m sorry.” She swallowed past the lump
in her throat and hoped the tears at the back
of her eyes would stay right where they were.
Hidden. “I guessed I missed the calls.”
“Yes, and we are sorry for that. We want
our customers to get the best experience pos-
sible. I would like to reschedule this appoint-
ment, free of charge, of course. How does
that sound? Or you may visit any of the other
rooms today if you so please.”
Her heart was pounding in her chest so
loud she barely hear the words coming out
127/151
woman’s mouth. “When will Si—when is
Shadow’s next available appointment? Does
he work in any of the other rooms?” She
didn’t want another room unless he was in it
with her. She knew it was silly but if her life
was going to be in a shambles then at least
she was going to get some pleasure out of it.
“I’m not sure.” The receptionist frowned.
Her once concerned demeanor turned cool
as if Afryca was now bothering her with in-
appropriate questions. “He’s actually asked
for some time off. Indefinitely.”
Afryca opened her mouth to speak but
nothing came out but hot air. Did she say
he’d quit? Just like that? No more Shadow?
What about the Shadow Box? What was go-
ing on?
Too much was happening. None of it
made sense. “Why would he do that?” She
grabbed the corner of the desk in an attempt
to stave off the dizziness squeezing a band
128/151
around her neck cutting off her much needed
oxygen.
“Ms.?” She was shoved into a chair before
she could object and her hands were
wrapped around a glass of cold water. “Are
you going to be okay?”
She wanted to yell no, not ever again, but
instead, she took a tentative sip of the cool li-
quid and nodded her head. She gulped the
remainder of the water, placed the glass on
the corner of the table and ran toward the
door. Never again. Sudden fatigue washed
over her and she wondered how she was go-
ing to get home. A three hour drive home
was a long ride when you had no reserve.
Reserve you were hoping to get from Simon.
How dare he do this? She was not going to
stand by and let him get away with it. It was
one thing to avoid her at work. He didn’t
have to even talk to her except on a profes-
sional basis.
129/151
Yet, she’d thought their friendly relation-
ship could withstand any storm. She guessed
she was wrong.
She hit the expressway doing eighty miles
an hour. She dared any trooper to pull her
over. It would be the day she went to jail.
Anger wrapped around her fogging her vis-
ion. No way was Mr. Simon Ellery going to
get away with this. Sure, he didn’t know it
was her, but he was going to know. If he still
hated her then so be it. She’d wash her hands
of him and move on with her life. Who
knows, she might even revisit the club again.
They did owe her an appointment. And if not
that club, then another. She’d find them, all
of them if need be. From what she’d seen and
what Tess had told her, Simon wasn’t the
only man who knew how to give pleasure.
Who was she fooling? She was miserable.
Nonetheless, before the day was over, Simon
was going to know who it was whose honey
had coated his tongue.
130/151
* * * * *
Bleary eyed Afryca pulled into the nearest
parking spot in front of Simon’s apartment.
Somewhere along the ride home her anger
had started to abate but as she spotted the
light glowing behind his curtains it rushed
back with a vengeance. Damn him. She
pushed the car door open, stormed up to his
porch and banged her fist on the door. Her
finger punched the bell numerous times. But
he didn’t answer. She snatched her cell
phone from her pocket and dialed his
number.
“Simon. I know you’re home. You are such
an asshole.” She snapped the phone shut,
turned and ran back to her car.
She needed to get as far from him as pos-
sible. Tears stung her eyes, threatening to
fall. God, she didn’t want to cry. How’d she
get to this place? Leaving angry messages on
Simon’s voice mail. Hating him.
131/151
Thirty minutes later and feeling a lot bet-
ter she braked to a stop in her driveway. She
blinked and stared at the car parked in front
of her house. Simon? What the hell was he
doing there? This was why you should never
give people keys to your house. They showed
up when you didn’t want them to, when it
would tear at your heart to look in their eyes.
She pushed her door open, stepped in and
stopped dead in her tracks. He was sitting
there staring back at her.
“What are you doing here?” her voice
came out harder than she anticipated.
He opened his mouth to answer and she
cut him off with the flick of her hand.
“You know what, Simon? I don’t really
care. You haven’t spoken to me in over a
week.” She stormed over to him and jabbed
her finger into his chest. “You can leave.” She
didn’t want to see him. She didn’t want to
have that conversation with him. Maybe
after a few weeks, months, years she’d get
132/151
over him. She turned to walk away and
swung back around. “I don’t need friends
like you Simon. Not ever.”
He stood there, his gaze hard on her face.
“But I need you.”
“Yeah, right.” She took a step and he
grabbed her arm, pulled her back to him.
“Let me go, Simon.”
“Why are you angry at me?”
“Why? Why?” She tugged her arm from
his grasp, moved over to the sofa and flopped
down.
He sat down beside her and she jumped
up and moved over to the chair. “Leave me
alone.”
“Not until you tell me what’s wrong.”
“No.”
“Yes.” He kicked his legs out, folding his
arms across his chest.
She stood, walked over to the door, pulled
it open and waited. “I was at that club. All
right?”
133/151
“I know that.”
It was as if a needle popped a balloon.
Everything swished out of her body. Her
mind went blank. “You are such a liar!.”
“I’ve never lied to you a day in my life.”
“Well, there’s always a first. I know Tess
told you.”
“Tess?” He walked over to her, grabbed
her hand. She tried to pull it out of his grasp
but he wouldn’t release it. “I haven’t talked
to Tess all week. And I haven’t spoken to you
because I was afraid of what you would think
if you knew I was Shadow.”
She swiped away the tear that had the
nerve to breach her eyes. “I don’t need you to
lie to me Simon. I’m a big girl. I can take it.
And even if you did know, you certainly
didn’t do anything about it.” Her breath
hitched. She sucked in a deep breath, blew it
out. It was hard but she’d get it out. Had to.
“It’s even okay if you don’t see me like that.
I’m used to it. You aren’t the first who
134/151
couldn’t take me and my insatiable sexual
appetite and you won’t be the last.
“Please leave.” She walked toward her
bedroom not looking back. Her breath stilled
in her lungs, her heart ceased to beat. She
stood in the doorway of what used to be her
bedroom. It had been transformed into the
Shadow Box.
Sheer curtains hung from the ceiling
throughout the room. The lights were off and
several candles illuminated the room. The
same soft jazz filtered from the stereo. Plush
pillows adorned her bed. She blinked. Was
this a dream, a trick? She jumped when Si-
mon’s arms snaked around her body and
pulled her back to his hard chest. He’d taken
his shirt off.
“I thought I saw you the first night you
came to the club.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“I wasn’t sure.”
“When did you figure it out?”
135/151
“’Schadenfreuden.’ You blurted out that
stupid word when you came.” His lips
pressed against the side of her neck and her
legs buckled. “Oh, no you don’t.” In one swift
move he swung her into his arms and
cradled her against his body. “The things I’m
going to do to you.” He mumbled something
in French again. She flung her head back,
ready to fight him, but then, just like that,
the anger was gone. It was gone, and he was
touching her, and to her amazement, she
giggled.
“When did you learn French?” she asked.
“You said something to me that night. What
was it?” Her body was heating up to fervor
pitch.
“I told you, but I think your mind was pre-
occupied. He repeated his words in French
and then said, “Oh, Afryca, the things I’m go-
ing to do to you.”
He sat her in the middle of the bed,
tugged her blouse over her head and with the
136/151
flick of a hand, released her of her bra. His
mouth immediately captured a nipple. She
moaned and coupled the sounds escaping
her throat the sounds escaping his throat
matched hers.
“You have no idea how many nights I’ve
jerked off wishing, dreaming it was your hot
tight pussy milking my cock.”
“Why did you leave the club?”
“I want you all to myself. I can’t stand the
thought of you being with anyone else.” He
smiled. “Even if that’s me.”
“Oh, Simon.”
He trailed a line of kisses from one breast
to the other, sucking, laving, and tugging.
Each swipe of his tongue sent a ripple of de-
sire to her core. Her clit already throbbed
with the need to have him in her. She
couldn’t stand it.
“Simon, please.”
“Why didn’t you tell me what you liked,
what you wanted?”
137/151
“Same goes.” She said on a pant.
“Touché.” He moved down the center of
her body, his mouth leaving a hot trail in its
wake. “I hope you don’t have any plans for
tomorrow.” He glanced up into her face and
smiled at her confused expression as he
peeled her pants and panties from her body.
“When I’m finish with you, you won’t be able
to walk.” He shoved his pants down his legs
and dropped them on the floor.
“Oh…”
He chuckled at her response and then
blew a hot breath across her clit and it shot
straight to her head. Her body vibrated with
the need for release. His tongue toyed with
her, flicking back and forth across her nub,
swirling around and parting her dripping
folds. She fisted her hand in her mouth to
stop the scream about to erupt.
“Please Simon. I need you in me. Fill me
with something please.”
138/151
“Not yet.” He pressed a finger between her
folds and into her heat, his mouth still lap-
ping and laving her womanly core. “I need to
taste you again when you come.” On those
words he sucked her clit into his mouth and
her body shot off the bed.
His hands held her hips against his face.
There was no escaping what he was doing to
her. It didn’t start like the little ripples she
was used to. No, her body imploded and
spun out of control.
“God you taste so good. My ambrosia, cin-
namon and honey mixed together.”
She heard the words but couldn’t respond.
She barely felt him push her legs apart. He
ripped a condom open with his teeth,
sheathed himself and in one move planted
himself between her thighs. The large
bulbous head of his penis pressed against
her, sending more sensation through her
body. He leaned down, captured her nipple
139/151
and slid home. God he felt so good, silk over
steel.
He started moving slowly in and out of her
core, teasing her. She couldn’t stand it. He
was driving her mad. She tried to pick up the
pace but he refused her that pleasure.
“You want a sudden release.” His voice
was deep and strained as he stilled above her
body. “I’ve wanted this too long for it to be
rushed. I won’t allow it.” He pumped back
into her. “I want you to come like you’ve nev-
er before. I’m the one, Afryca, no one else.
Do you understand?”
She nodded and wrapped her arms
around his back. She’d give him this. He’s
wanted her as much as she’s wanted him.
Long moments later his breath hitched, a
strained moan escaped his thoat. He was
close but still he worked to give her
everything.
“Oh, God, Simon. I can’t stand it.” The
rippled started slowly, like a soft burn and
140/151
grew rapidly. He reached between then, his
thumb searching and finding her clit. One
flick and one pump of his cock into her and
she screamed. Her world fractured. Her body
bucked and twisted, yet, still he continued to
pump in and out of her.
“That’s right, baby. Give me everything
you got. I want it all.”
He was branding her, making her his.
There’d be no other, this she knew. She
panted for air but there wasn’t enough to fill
her lungs. Simon slowed, stopped pumping
then pulled out of her. The sudden empti-
ness her core felt saddened her.
“Simon,” she said after she caught her
breath. “You didn’t come.”
“I’m not finished.” He turned her onto her
stomach, pulled her up to her knees and
kissed a line down the center of her back. So-
mething cool slicked between her butt
cheeks and then his finger pressed against
the tight opening. “Naw, baby. Relax for me.”
141/151
He placed more kisses on her back. His
other hand slid between her folds, pumped
in a couple of times, urging her to relax for
what was to come next. He slid a lubricated
finger just pass the opening of her ass,
worked it in and out and then pressed it fur-
ther. She sucked in a breath, blew it out,
sucked in another and repeated the same. He
added another finger, working them pass the
tight muscles. The pleasure filled burning
sensation was something she’d never experi-
enced in her life. A soft moan floated her
mouth and he groaned.
Simon withdrew his fingers and her hips.
Against her will she pushed back toward
him. “Oh, baby, you’re gonna kill me when
my dick is in your ass.” He rubbed more lube
between her butt cheeks and on his cock and
then positioned himself directly behind her.
The head of his cock pressed against the
tight ring of muscle. “Blow out for me baby.”
142/151
She did as he asked, panting with the need
for him to have her in any way he so desired.
He held her hips, pushed his pelvis toward
her and his cock popped though the tight
ring. A loud moan escaped her throat and he
paused.
“I won’t hurt you, Afryca. Do you want me
to stop?”
The burning sensations were overtaking
all thought processes. She wanted to say yes
but her body betrayed her. It felt too good.
She shook her head, shoved her hips back
and imbedded his cock in her balls to cheeks.
This time it was Simon who yelled.
“Damn!” He held her hips still when she
wanted to work them. She wanted the slow
burn to escalate to a full force fire.
“Don’t stop, Simon. I need to feel it.
Everything. Please.”
He blew out a breath, sucked one in and
gyrated his hips against her body. With each
glide and slide of his hips, she met him pump
143/151
for pump. Sweat dripped from his face to her
back. Her sweat dripped from her face and
chest to the bed. Simon slid his hand around
to her front and cupped her mound.
“I can’t hold it much longer, baby.”
She rotated her hips and he groaned. She
reached between her legs and rolled his balls
between her fingers. Simon’s body stiffened
and loud moans of pleasure spilled from his
mouth along with several expletives. His
hand rubbed against her clit and then he
dipped two fingers into her core. One more
flick of his thumb across her nub and again
she exploded. Her essence spilled out and
over his hand. He rapidly pumped his fingers
into her while his cock pumped into her ass.
Her orgasm was so strong her body almost
flung itself away and off of him. He held her
tight to his body. A second later he followed.
Exhausted and spent, he lowered her to
the bed and curved his body to hers, his cock
still tucked neatly within the sheath of her
144/151
ass. When he pulled out another orgasm shot
through her body. All she could do was close
her eyes and enjoy the ride.
She wasn’t sure how long she’d lay in Si-
mon’s arms. She opened her eyes and
listened to the soft purrs of her breathing.
She glanced around the room and brought
back into focus the magnificence of it all. The
soft curtains moving in a breeze. The candle
almost burned down to nothing. She turned
to glance over her shoulders and captured Si-
mon’s gaze. His dark eyes were staring at
her, unreadable. Uncertainty attempted to
flutter back into her consciousness but she
refused to allow it.
“What are you thinking about?” She asked
him when he smiled.
“I was wondering why I didn’t know this
side of you. How could I have been so blind?”
“Are you sorry?” Uncertainty crept back
in.
145/151
“Only sorry I’ve missed so many years of
this.” He tilted his head and captured a
nipple.
She fanned her fingers though his thick
hair and held his mouth to her. Already her
body hummed with the excitement of having
him take her again. He released her nipple
and smiled up into her eyes. She started to
push up and he grabbed her arm.
“Where are you going? Don’t even think
about leaving this bed.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Good, cause if you can then that would
mean you can still walk and my job isn’t
done.”
“Neither is mine.” She flipped him onto
his back, and in one swift motion had his
cock between her lips.
He groaned and laid back on the bed,
closed his eyes.
146/151
“Oh, no, Simon. Open your eyes. I want
you to see everything I do to you. And the
night is young yet.”
He moaned, opened his eyes and stared
down his body and watched her mouth take
him to the balls. When she finished with him
that night he wasn’t going to be able to walk
either. And if she played her cards right, the
next night or the one after that either. Each
and every night would be better than the one
before. This she knew. She had her man.
She’d had him all along.
# # # # #
147/151
About The Author
Sexy, Saucy, Spicy, Undeniably delicious
bestselling author, Alexis Ke has been writ-
ing since 2006, after being birthed as an au-
thor from a vivid imagination, a passion for
romance and the belief that every woman
and man has a wild side. Her first erotic ro-
mance, The Young and the Restless was full
of excitement and heat and received 4 stars
from Romantic Times. She believes passion
and love have rules of their own and she
thrives in bringing that out in her books.
Alexis has nine published books to her
credit. When she is not writing, or thinking
about writing, she works as a case manager
in a local hospital.
She resides in Tidewater Virginia with her
husband. She has two adult sons and one
grandson. Alexis loves hearing from readers
and
she
can
be
reached
at
alex-
is.ke@hotmail.com. Visit her website at
www.alexiske.com
149/151
Red Sage Publishing
The Leader in Women’s Erotic
Romance
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Featuring the best in women’s ultra sensual and spicy fic-
tion, satisfying your desire for more.
Visit our website and discover delicious temptations and
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