Darlene (6 page)

It was actually an old friend of my mother's who'd recruited me to steal a large diamond ring from his old bat of an aunt. The catch twenty-two was that I'd have to break into her house and steal it so that my mother's friend could file an insurance claim on her behalf. Now, I admit, it wasn't the hardest thing to do. He purposely left the alarm off for me to break in undetected, and she was eighty-seven and suffering from dementia. Hell, if she'd caught me, I could have just rattled off some random niece's name and the old lady would have invited me to sit down for tea. Nonetheless, I stole the ring for him. He got his inheritance that he'd been cut out of by his conniving estate attorney of a brother and the insurance check to boot. That's when I figured out that I really liked sparkly things. I also figured out that stealing diamonds was much more lucrative than anything else I'd done before. Needless to say I've branched out since then. Precious stones, semi-precious stones, gold—even high end crystal baubles go for a nice penny when I fence them.

I survey my tools: a bolt cutter, a couple of lock picks, gloves, some rope,
my trusty gadget for rendering key card doors useless. Built by a fifteen year-old wannabe computer hacker, if you can believe it. I'm ready with my gear, bag, wigs, maps, fake IDs and clothes to change into when I need to get out of dodge. And my conviction that this will be my biggest heist yet.

I think about Kevin, allowing myself a few moments to lament. I can honestly say he's the type of guy I'd probably like to settle down with if I were the marrying kind. Maybe it's the whole He's Already Been Married with Kids stability thing that makes him desirable, not to mention that he's fabulous in bed. Falling in love isn't part of my plan, but if it were, maybe I'd pick Kevin. Or, let him pick me. It's so unfortunate that he's going to get caught up in this.

I set my alarm to wake up early so that I can get to Chula and get that key to the rear security door, my entry point. I'm also hoping I can screw Kevin's brains out one more time before I disappear.

Chapter 10

Nelly's uncle Kip's shop sits right in the middle of a strip mall that boasts the usual suburban offerings: a nail salon advertising a $30 mani-pedi special that I wish I could indulge in, a coffee house, a high-priced cupcake store, a bridal salon and a beauty supply. It's typical and I'm glad because I can mill about while looking like the rest of these suburbanites aimlessly spending money on a random Thursday.

I stroll inside and lean on the counter close to where an ambivalent looking kid sits reading a magazine. I have to speak for him to acknowledge me.

"Excuse me."

He looks
up at me, brushing his bangs—far too long, by the way—out of his eyes. "Yeah?" Then, almost as if he'd suddenly realized that I'm probably a customer, he clears his throat and asks me, "Um, what can I help you with?"

"Kip here?"
I say.

"Yeah.
Hold on a minute."

He lazily walks to the back of the store into an office that I can see from the front. A few seconds later, a tall, muscular black guy with a bald head and a ridiculously long beard appears.

"Can I help you?"

I almost smirk at the sound of his voice, which is nothing like I'd imagined for a guy of his size.

"Hi. I'm Darlene." I extend my hand, which he leaves hanging mid air for now. "I'm a friend of Nelly's."

Uncle Kip grins wide, a flicker of recognition in his eyes.
"Oh, yeah. She called me," he responds excitedly, shaking the shit out of my hand in the process. "What 'cha need?"

"Well, I'm sure she told you," I start, pulling the mold from a plastic baggie that had been hidden in my
crossbody bag, "what I needed."

Kip glances at the long-haired kid. "She just said you needed a key."

Good, I think to myself as I step a few inches down the counter where Kip starts to fiddle with some machinery. Uncle Kip is discreet. I'm not worried about the uninterested lanky teen who's since gone back to his reading.

He looks at my mold and says somewhat under his breath
,  "Humph. I don't know about this." His eyes travel to my face. "Might be sticky."

"I know. Do the best you can. It's better than paying to get the locks changed on my unit."

"Yeah," Kip replies. He looks up at me with a look of discernment.

I figure out that he knows I'm lying through my teeth, so I just stop talking. A few minutes and a bit of small talk later, Kip hands me a shiny new key.

"Thanks a bunch. You have no idea how much you've helped me."

"No problem," he says.

"You need a receipt?" It's the long-haired kid talking again. This time, he's got a new magazine.

"She don't need a receipt," Kip offers, giving me a slight nod. "Plus, it's on the house."

"You don't ha—"

"You're a friend of Patricia's
. It’s cool." He waves me off. "Go on, now." Spoken just like an uncle. I can tell Kip's had practice at this.

"Thanks again. Good to meet you."

Outside, I unlock the car I've rented under Nelly's name and head back to the Kimpton to meet Kevin for our lunch date. I'd much rather skip to the dessert.

***

In his voicemail, Kevin had said to meet him in suite 1017, on the top floor of the Kimpton. I knock, anxious about what he has up his sleeve. The door is promptly opened by a white-gloved concierge who extends a hand toward a seating area in the vast penthouse suite.

"Right this way, Miss Haley," he says crisply.

I sit at the table as directed, looking around for Kevin. I don't want to seem too eager, but surely I'm intrigued.

"Would you like a root beer float, Miss Haley?"

I stare at him, confused, although I do manage to reply, "A
what
?"

"I also have sparkling water and ginger ale." His face is serious.

I smile, for the first time noticing the beverage cart. "No, I think I'll take the float."

"Very well then," he replies, turning to fix my drink.

A beaming Kevin walks in, a boyish grin on his face. "Great, I see you've met Jeeves!"

The concierge scowls without even hiding it. I snicker and turn to face a cheery Kevin decked in a bright pink polo shirt, khaki shorts and a pair of cinnamon-colored boat shoes.

"That's not appropriate," I say, playfully scolding him.

"True." He looks at the concierge as a root beer float is also placed in front of him. "Sorry."

Without a word, the concierge scurries off, presumably to retrieve our lunch.

"You look lovely," Kevin says
, fondling the fabrics of my flowing madras skirt and tight-fitting tank top.

"Thanks." I'm smiling
. I've ditched the bra again. I figured there was no point.

"Did I mention that you're absolutely stunning?"

"Maybe a couple of times."

Kevin laughs as our meals come and are set in front of us. I look up and he's watching me for a reaction.

"Really?" I ask. "Burgers and fries?"

"Don't they go well with root
beer floats?" he asks. "Wait—you don't eat meat?"

"Of course I eat meat," I say, shaking my head. "You're certainly not run of the mill, Kevin."

"I'd agree with that. Shall we?" He motions to our plates before dousing his fries with malt vinegar.

I follow his lead, adding ketchup and dig in, taking a sip of my float for the first time. "Delicious. I haven't had junk food in a while."

"I figured that. You can barely get most women with your kind of body to eat."

"I'm not afraid of food," I say, laughing. "You crack me up."

"In a good way or a bad way?"

"Definitely good."

The burgers—juicy, flavorful and covered with aged cheddar—are amazing. We both finish our plates completely, swiping little puddles of ketchup with the equally amazing hand-cut fries. At the end of our meal, I'm stuffed, but Kevin has more surprises. Two massage therapists enter to set up their tables as our plates are being collected. I sit still for a minute, watching the sun dance across the water through the window. I'm a peace right now. Even with the fact that I'm going to steal from Kevin. Everything is absolutely beautiful.

The massage was just what I needed. Sonja's expert hands worked out every kink and tension in my body and the wonderful smell of her essential oils filled the room. As she lays a warm blanket over my back at the end of our session, I turn my head in the direction of Kevin's table to find him watching me. We share a silent smile, happiness flickering in both our eyes. I again tell myself I'm not falling in love. And besides, I really wouldn't know what it would feel like.

Then how do I know I'm not?

I turn my head away from his direction, my thoughts suddenly heavy. I'm aware of his eyes on my back and it's making me uncomfortable.

"That was wonderful," I say, hopping up from the table naked. Kevin slowly peels his body from the table as well.

"Yes, yes it was," he says, quietly.

I turn to face him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"I don't believe you."

"You're not going to let this happen are you?"

I stiffen. "Let what happen, Kevin? What's happening?"

"Us … this right here."
He walks toward me, his stride confident even in nakedness. I can't help but look at his manhood, already throbbing with desire.

Sonja and her cohort slink out, closing the door quietly but firmly behind them. I'd forgotten they were there.

"I don't—"

Before I could finish, his lips find mine, his expert tongue creeps inside of my mouth. Instantly, a creamy release coats my lips and my nipples harden. Grasping my ass cheeks, Kevin pulls me upward to straddle him and I willingly wrap my legs around his strong waist. I don't e
ven think I breathe as we kiss … rapid, hot and hurried, sucking each other like it's for the last time. And I realize that it might be, given my plans for tomorrow.

I squirm, and he releases his grip on me. My mouth makes a wet trail down his torso, finally landing small kisses on his very hard dick. I rub his smooth shaft, allowing it to rub my nipples, my chest, even my cheeks. The tip of my tongue finds the tip of his hardness to taste the nectar there.

"Yessss Darlene," he moans, cupping my head.

I obey again, timing my swirling and sucking with his desired movements, taking more and more of him in gradually. I feel my own wetness slowly moving down my
thigh, hostage to gravity. I keep sucking on Kevin, feeling his body warm in my hands, his dick grow in my mouth.

"Oh, damn!"
Kevin's breathing picks up as his thighs contract, preparing to give me what I want.

My own moans vibrate his shaft just as he starts to come, filling my mouth with
a sweetness I relish. I take it all, patiently waiting for his orgasm to come down, licking him clean before I stand up. I glance down to see that's slightly flaccid, though, and try not to look disappointed.

"Not to worry, love," Kevin grins.

Without a word, I'm led into the steam shower. The warm water hits me with its pleasant caress, trickling down my curves, exciting me all the more. We share a deep kiss as Kevin gently takes my clit between his fingers. It doesn't take much for me right now. I rest my foot on the shower's bench, allowing him full access. He takes a nipple in his mouth, playfully biting and sucking me as my moans intensify.

"Please, don't stop! Please!" I want him inside of me, but I resist for now as his fingers move in and out of me. Instinctively, I contract, gripping Kevin's fingers in place. He smiles just before kneeling to taste me. My groan is deep, almost guttural as I push my hips forward. Swiftly, Kevin presses my knee up in the air as his face disappears between my thighs. It only takes a few laps of his tongue for me to come so hard my legs are completely weak. Kevin takes notice.

"You're not giving in just yet are you?"

I could, but of course I don't dare back down. "Of course not," I retort. "I've got all night."

"In that case …" Kevin kisses me softly. I smile as his gentleness turns rough, loving every minute of it. He flips me around over the huge free-standing tub that sits in the center of the bath suite, plunging into me from behind.

"Oh, yeah!
Like that."

"I thought you'd like that." He grabs my hips, making no time for introductions. This time it's hard and fast. One hand finds my left tit while another caresses the wetness between my thighs. I can't take any more, and I come again. To my pleasant surprise, it only makes Kevin pound me that much harder.

"Again!" He barks from behind.

He's still working me with his fingers, driving me insane in the process. But I'm compromised, so I obey yet again as he slides deeper inside me to a depth I didn’t even know was there.

"Oh, shit!" I yell. I grab his thigh, but it does nothing to slow him down. He has my hair now, pulling it backward so roughly, I wonder for a moment if this aggression isn't something else. But then there's the tender way he licks and nibbles my neck, and I know that it isn't. My nipples are so sensitive that when his fingers twirl them, coupled with his hot tongue tracing love lines onto my back, I come again. My hips jerk back and forth as Kevin grabs them, steadily pounding into me, soaking wet. Now he's coming too as he bends forward, resting his chest on my back, moaning with sheer pleasure.