FEEL THE FIRE #2
She hadn’t turned to face him, but his manly fragrance drew her attention. Slowly swinging a gaze over her shoulder, she sized him up carefully. Not expecting the towering, dark, handsome figure, she pretended not to lose the breath he’d stolen with that magnetic stare she couldn’t tear away from.
Fuck! Eazy had to send a warning to his dick not to show his ass. She was even finer up close. The kind of pretty he didn’t think anybody could ever get tired of looking at.
“I know good and well you didn’t call security on me,” she accused, appraising him with warm, hungry eyes.
“Relax, Lo. This is Eazy.” Jewel introduced them.
“Eazy, as in your partner in crime? Literally.” She licked her lips as a lemon drop was set on the bar in front of her. “Thank you,” she told the bartender, then picked up her glass.
With a little chuckle, Eazy shook his head.
“You make us sound like some common criminals.” His deep, rugged tenor shot sparks to parts of her she wouldn’t dare share with her brother.
“You said it.” Lotus grabbed her glass and brought it to her succulent lips. “You niggas organized like the mafia, rarely even seen together, so y’all ain’t tied to no conspiracy shit.”
“Eazy, this is my sister, Lotus.” Jewel sighed. “Look, just don’t start no shit in here, aight. This job is all a nigga got to keep Rhema, Mama, and Pop off my damn back.”
“Boy, ain’t nobody trying to fuck shit up for you or me. I need my job too.” She sucked her teeth, shook her head, and took another sip of her drink.
Eazy’s gaze roamed her gradually, taking note of everything. She didn’t have to look at him to feel that heat coming off his smoldering eyes. Her rich, golden-brown skin glowed, and he didn’t know what scent she was wearing, but it sent all the blood to his man between his legs.
Alyssa spotted both Jewel and Eazy near the bar and studied them with Lotus.
She waved Jewel over, and he adjusted his vest under his suit jacket.
He and his sister shared the same rich complexion, and Jewel was a couple of inches shorter than Eazy.
Stocky as hell with tapered sides and thick curls on top, with a low-cut beard and goatee, he’d been mistaken for biracial more than once in his life.
“I gotta go mix it up with some people.”
“I ain’t gon’ hold you.” Lotus waved him off.
She was past ready to get the hell out of there, but the Wakefields seemed to be enjoying themselves.
“Do you work here too?” she asked, noticing that Eazy hadn’t budged from his post behind her. “Or did Jewel ask you to babysit me?”
“Why would he do that? You need supervision?” Eazy questioned, watching her hike a brow.
“He’s my brother, and he thinks I do,” Lotus quipped. “You two been friends for a long time, yet this is the first time we’ve ever met. You think that’s a coincidence?”
“What you think it is?”
“Jewel hiding me because he’s overprotective as shit,” Lotus quipped.
“Can’t be mad at that,” Eazy countered, eyes latching onto hers as he leaned against the bar. “I have a sister, and I understand.”
“Mmm, I bet he met her, though.” She scrunched her nose up.
“Lotus!” Michael Wakefield approached with his little sister at his side.
When she looked up, their father stood nearby with his wife and another couple. Michelle talked their ears off while Evren grilled Lotus posted up with Eazy. He didn’t like how she interacted with him, or the fact that Eazy hadn’t taken his eyes off her since walking over.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Her tone filled with immediate concern.
“Dad told me to tell you that Emrys needs to go to the bathroom, and I do too,” Michael announced.
“Okay.” She tossed the rest of her drink back, surprising Eazy.
She had a feeling she was going to need it the remainder of this night. Grabbing Emrys’s hand, she started to lead her away but Lotus shot a playful smirk at Eazy while doing so.
“Duty calls. Nice meeting you, Eazy.” She threw an extra sway in her hips, and his eyes never budged off her as she disappeared around the corner to the facilities.
After letting both kids use the bathroom, Lotus exited with little Emrys and nearly ran over Evren standing outside the door. She was too busy swiping at her dress and smoothing it out with her head down to pay him any mind.
“Hi, Daddy!” Emrys chipperly greeted him as the men’s room door opened across the hall, and Michael emerged.
“Mike, take your sister and go to the front. We’ll be leaving soon,” Evren instructed his son before turning his attention to Lotus.
Fire behind his eyes. She wasn’t sure what was up, but the alcohol flowing through her left her with few fucks to give.
“Goodnight, kids. I will see you Monday.” Lotus waved and waited until they were gone before focusing on Evren.
The hallway was pretty closed off, but there was no way for them to see if anyone was coming. The only giveaway would be footsteps on the marble floors. Narrowing his eyes, he couldn’t shake the vicious pang of jealousy causing his heart to batter his ribs with each beat.
“You seem to be having a good time tonight.”
“Isn’t that kind of the point? I noticed you and Michelle put on a convincing display in front of the world.
” Lotus shrugged. “My role is the dutiful nanny. Nothing more or less. You have a good evening, Mr. Wakefield.” She brushed past him, but he grabbed her arm and slammed her into the wall beside the men’s room and swooped into her space.
Chest heaving, a stoic scowl altered his expression. Watching her wince from the pain in her back, he got in her face.
“Do you think this shit is a game?” he growled.
“I think you need to remember that you have a hell of a lot more to lose in all this than I do.” Lotus pushed herself off the wall and got in his face.
She didn’t know her standing up to him was only turning him on.
He wanted nothing more than to dominate her and show her who the fuck ran things in this relationship.
Whether she wanted it or not, that’s exactly what this was, and Evren wasn’t ready to come up off her yet.
Stepping closer, he backed her into the wall this time.
A slow, wicked grin stretched over his lips when he lowered his head to look into her eyes.
Something chilling swept through her when she caught the devilish glint glowing there.
“Is that right? Well, I’ll tell you what I’m not going to lose, Lotus, and that’s you.”
“Seek help, Evren.” She barely bumped his shoulder to get away from him, and he had her by the neck.
Pinning her to the wall, he breathed heavily on her and pressed his lips against her ear.
“What I tell you this morning, Lotus?” he asked, inhaling the smell of her hair.
“There is no way out of this for you. You’re either in, or you’re in.
Do you understand that? I don’t care where you go, or what you do.
I will find you, and you will always come back to me.
” His words came out slow, in a deep grunt like he was gritting his teeth.
Before she could stop him, his hands roamed between her thighs and up to her panties where he squeezed the lips of her pussy together with his thumb and first finger.
His tongue swiped her ear, and Lotus never felt so violated in her life.
Eyes filling to the brim with tears, she shut them tight when his wet lips sloppily pecked along her neck.
He pulled back to attack her mouth, forcing his tongue down her throat.
“You’re fucking crazy!” With all the strength she could gather, Lotus shoved him away.
“What the fuck is going on here?” Evren’s wife suddenly screamed.
“Baby, I…” He nearly broke his neck facing her.
“Your husband is a cheating, controlling, bastard!” Lotus spat.
“Evren, you better start talking right now before I fuck you and her up.”
“She’s been trying to get at me since we hired her, baby.” He lied right through his teeth.
“Your husband pursued me,” Lotus spoke up. “He’s been like a little puppy begging for a treat since I gave him a sample. I told him this morning this shit was done, and now he’s in this hallway, acting like some toddler throwing a tantrum because he saw me entertaining another man.”
“She’s fucking lying!” he roared, throwing an exaggerated finger at Lotus.
With her arms across her chest, Michelle remained pensive, eyes volleying between Evren and Lotus.
She didn’t believe a word from either of them.
Too many scenarios played in her head. A woman knew when some shit was foul.
Before, she could never prove anything. Whatever was between them was subtle, barely noticeable.
She’d been trying to find dirt to bury Evren but came up short.
There was a clause in her prenuptial agreement.
If they were to ever divorce, she got an additional million every year for the number of years they’d been married.
The only way that was possible was if there was hard evidence of him cheating.
“I came to use the bathroom. Michael and Emrys are at the front door waiting for you. The valet has already pulled the car around,” Michelle told him, tone icy as hell before an even colder glare landed on Lotus adjusting her dress.
Nodding, Evern quickly glanced at Lotus before stepping toward his wife. She inched closer to his mistress, her shadowy eyes scanning her youthful, perfect face. Raising a hand, she swiftly delivered a smack across her cheek, and Lotus’ knee jerk reaction was to swing back.
Slap!
“Bitch—” Michelle bumped into her purposely and went for Lotus’s throat with both hands. “I will end your fucking life and career. Do you understand that?”
“Fuck you!” Lotus spat, pushing Michelle so hard she stumbled in her heels and tripped over her dress before bumping into her husband waiting behind her. “Your own kids don’t even like you! They prefer me over you any day, just like your fucking husband!”
When she tried to lunge for her again, Evren held her back and positioned himself between them.