Put A Ring On It (27 page)

“I’m a step ahead of you.” He walked over to the nightstand and picked up Harlow’s engagement ring. “After hearing Jimoh’s story, I can’t help feeling that every diamond from Africa has a germ of crime in it. Tomorrow, we’re going to find you another ring. I could buy you a lab-created, synthetic diamond. Or a colored, conflict-free diamond from the mines of Australia,” Drake said thoughtfully.

Harlow opened her mouth to protest, to confide what was really on her mind, but she choked on the words. “I don’t need any kind of diamond,” she finally said. “A diamond doesn’t validate our relationship, engagement, or marriage. The only thing that matters is our commitment to each other.”

Drake sat next to her. He wrapped his arms around Harlow, hugging her close. “I’m lucky to have you. And I’m going to spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you.”

Harlow buried her face in Drake’s broad chest. She yearned to
unburden her heart, but couldn’t risk seeing the look in his eyes change from love to loathing. Inside his powerful arms, she was protected and cherished. She couldn’t tell her secrets. After a lifetime of being damaged and broken, Harlow was finally loved. She couldn’t risk losing Drake.

D
ealing with a fierce hangover while trudging around in bad weather from one doctor’s office to the next was messed up! But Nivea’s sales were down, and she had to do something about that. Her personal life was a disaster but she wasn’t going to stand by and watch her stellar career go down the toilet. Hangover or not, it was time to get her numbers back up.

She felt like shit, but it didn’t show. The bags under her eyes were hidden by expensive concealer. A clip-on weave hid hair that hadn’t seen her stylist in weeks. She was rocking a Prada business suit that was classy, elegant, and sexy. Looking like she was on top of her game, Nivea glided into Dr. Sandburg’s office.

“Good morning, Dr. Sandburg. How did your patients like the samples that I left last month?”

“No one asked me to write a prescription,” the balding doctor replied.

“Did you tell your patients about the loyalty program my company offers? After six purchases, the seventh prescription is free.” She’d mentioned this new incentive last month and yet her sales were still crappy.

“Yes, I’ve made them aware of that. But the general feeling seems to be, why buy the name brand when you can get the generic much cheaper?” the doctor said, chuckling.

“I see,” Nivea muttered. “Can’t you suggest that the brand I’m representing is superior to the generic?”

“That would be unethical.”

It was unethical for Dr. Sandburg to insist that she give him a personal supply of painkillers. The doctor had become addicted to the freebies he should have been giving his patients. “How are you doing?” she asked, raising a brow.

“Business is great.”

“I was referring to your personal situation. You know, being that you’re middle-aged and all, I would imagine that it’s unpleasant having to contend with ED.”

The doctor face flushed with embarrassment. “I’m offended.”

She touched her chest. “I’m genuinely concerned.”

“I take medication for that.”

“Yeah, but it’s a shame to have to wait a half-hour for your dick to cooperate.”

Dr. Sandburg gasped, and then gave her a condemning glare. “Young lady! I thought I was dealing with a professional, but you’re crass, uncouth, and—”

“My company has a new get-hard-quick drug. In less than five minutes you can be packing wood. Whatcha think, Doc? You wanna give my medication a try?” She poked around in her briefcase and then pulled out a packet of pills. “Here. You’ll be amazed at how fast this little pill works.”

“I don’t want to try it at the moment. I’m working. Leave me some samples—”

“No more samples for you until you start writing some prescriptions for my drugs.”

“I can’t force my patients to take your pharmaceuticals.”

“After you experiment with me, you can push my drugs with a clear conscience.”

“What do you mean?” he asked, backing away from Nivea.

“And I can’t keep giving you free stuff without any compensation.
After you test your hard-on with me, you’ll be able to report to your patients. You can tell them how quickly you obtained a stiff dick. With your word of mouth promotion, all your patients suffering from limp dick syndrome should switch to my company’s brand. Do we have a deal?”

Dr. Sandburg wiped his forehead. “I don’t know. It seems immoral.”

Life had taught Nivea that men had no control over their dicks. They’d fuck whatever was in front of them with no compunction. Impatient with the doctor, Nivea said, “I’ve noticed how you look at me…always undressing me with your eyes—”

He looked offended. “I do not!”

“Oh, yes you do. And today I’m going to make your sick fantasies come true.” She slid down the zipper of her smartly tailored slacks.

Dr. Sandburg’s face turned crimson. “Oh, my! Are you actually trying to—?”

“Uh-huh. I’m real horny, Doc. Take one of those pills so you can give me what I want.” She pulled her trousers down, showing off red satin panties.

“You want to do it here? Right now…in my office?” He sounded appalled.

Nivea winked. “Lock the door.”

“It only takes five minutes, you say?” he asked, popping a pill out of the packet. His face took on a raw excitement, and then he washed the pill down with water. Hurriedly, he locked the door.

“How’s your head game, Doc?”

He gave her a startled look. “My what?” he asked in a voice pitched higher than normal.

Nivea stepped out of her pants and hoisted herself up on the examining table. She slid off her panties, kicked them to the
floor. Her mouth curled in amusement after ridding herself of the confining red fabric. “Come on over here and eat some of this.” She ran a manicured finger up and down her silken slit.

Dr. Sandburg was pulled like a magnet toward the thatch of dark pubic hair between Nivea’s legs. “I don’t engage in these kinds of activities,” he murmured as he lowered his face to her crotch.

“Today is a good time to start.” She brushed her hand down the side of his face. “Taste it, Doc. Keep yourself occupied while we’re waiting for that pill to kick in.”

Tentatively, he dabbed around her pussy lips with the tip of his tongue. As the juices of Nivea’s arousal began to spill, the doctor began lapping and moaning. “Mmm. Ah. Oh, yes. This is good, but I’m not sure if I should—”

“Shh!” Nivea patted the bald spot on the top of his head. “It’s ill-mannered to talk with your mouth full.”

Dr. Sandburg did not have Knox’s tongue skills, but Nivea was determined to get something out of the encounter. Holding the doctor’s neck in a vise grip, while mashing the end of his nose into her clit, she let out a moan of appreciation as she obtained a modest orgasm.

After leaving Dr. Sandburg’s office, Nivea had the bright idea to check on another account. She didn’t have an appointment, but since she was in the area, it couldn’t hurt to stop by and see if she could work her magic again.

Dr. Joseph, a thirty-something, entirely too cute for his own good, and totally egotistical physician, was always too busy to listen to Nivea’s eighty second sales pitch. He acted like he was doing her a huge favor by allowing her to leave samples.

I bet that arrogant bastard will want to hear what I have to say today.

Tapping his pen impatiently, Dr. Joseph sat behind his desk. “What do you have for me, Ms. Westcott?”

Sitting across from the doctor, Nivea cut to the chase. “I’ve been leaving you samples for months. I need you to start writing prescriptions for my drugs.”

“Ms. Westcott, I don’t appreciate your strong-arm tactics.”

Her eyes roamed leisurely over his chest. Dr. Joseph was the full package. Handsome, successful, and as fit as an athlete. His broad chest and bulky arms were apparent beneath his lab coat. Nivea could imagine how hot he was going to look when she stripped his ass down to his birthday suit. She smiled alluringly. “Do you realize that I have a crush on you?”

He didn’t blink. “That’s completely understandable. Most of my female patients experience similar feelings—”

Sucking her teeth, Nivea interrupted him. “I’m not one of your patients.” She came out of her coat and leaned forward. “I drove over here with one hand stuffed inside my panties,” she said in a hushed, sexy tone.

“I see.” He maintained a serious expression, and gave a professional head nod, as if her murmurings were of a clinical nature.

“My pussy is still hot. It’s all wet and puffy from fingering myself while imagining the things I want to do to you,” Nivea whispered.

Dr. Joseph’s shoulders rose as he inhaled a large breath of air. “What exactly do you want to do to me?” He dropped the pen and swiped his fingers across his forehead.

Nivea could see the spark of arousal dancing in his eyes. “You have a boner, don’t you, Dr. Joseph?” she remarked knowingly.

“Uh…not exactly.”

While the doctor stammered a denial, Nivea rose from the
chair and made her way to the other side of the desk. Gazing at his lap, she noticed a moderate bulge that stiffened to an urgent salute in a matter of seconds. Satisfied with the results, Nivea went down to her knees.

“Ms. Westcott, what do you think you’re doing?” Dr. Joseph croaked.

“Call me Nivea,” she said as she roughly unbuckled his belt.

No longer protesting, Dr. Joseph helped Nivea get to his dick. He lifted up from his seat, and speedily unzipped his pants.

Nivea reached into the opening of his briefs and sheaved his erection inside her warm fist. Dr. Joseph had more than a mouthful of manly length. It was the kind of dick that was created for sucking. Not overly big, the right amount of girth for a dick-sucking experience that didn’t involve stretching her mouth to the point of gaping discomfort.

Nivea yanked his pants down. Dr. Joseph’s body tensed when she licked his pre-cum-covered glans. With her fingernails pressed into the flesh of his cheeks, she persuaded him to feed her another few inches of penile skin.

Breathing like a freight train, Dr. Joseph pumped his hard-on in and out of Nivea’s mouth, hard and fast, and without any discernable rhythm.

Unable to control the head she was giving, Nivea accidentally nicked Dr. Joseph’s dick. With both canine teeth.

“Jesus!” Dr. Joseph yelped.

Nivea stopped sucking. Dr. Joseph pulled out. Blood smeared both sides of his shaft. “What the fuck! I think you broke a blood vessel in my cock!”

“Sorry. But you were ramming it in my mouth so fast, I couldn’t—”

“Shit! Look at this!” He glared at her, palming his discolored and sagging rod.

“Wow,” Nivea said, noticing that his dick was turning a sort of purplish color.

“I thought you knew what you were doing. But you don’t! I need medical care.”

“You’re a doctor. Can’t you patch it up?” Nivea said in a placating tone.

“What the hell am I going to tell my wife?”

“That your dick got caught in your zipper?”

“On both sides?” he shrieked in exasperation.

Out of ideas, Nivea threw up her hands.

“Get out! And take your samples with you!” Dr. Joseph yelled. Cradling his injured dick, he limped toward a cabinet and grabbed a first aid kit.

T
he sheets were cold. Seeking the warmth of Shawn’s body heat, Vangie rolled over. Alarmed, she reached for Shawn but found only an empty space. Waking up alone was a jolt to her system.

Yuri was going to freak out when she told him that his father was gone. She flinched, wondering if she’d made the right decision. Maybe she should have waited a few more months before hitting Shawn with an ultimatum. What difference did it make how long she waited? Shawn was adamant about staying single and she was just as adamant about legalizing their union.

Padding down the hall to wake Yuri, she assured herself that she’d done the right thing. It hurt like hell, but Vangie was determined to stand by her principles.

She paused at the threshold of Yuri’s room, and regarded her sleeping child with worried eyes.
Poor little guy. He has no idea that his world has been shattered. It was Shawn’s decision to leave, so I’m going to let him deliver the heartbreaking news to Yuri.

She bent over and kissed her son’s cheek. “Time to get up, sweetheart,” she said in a sugary tone that showed no trace of despair.

Yuri wriggled beneath the covers, and launched into expressions of aggravation. He never grumbled or showed any type of attitude when his father woke him in the morning. He jumped right out of bed like a little man.

“Get up!” She used a stern voice, pulling the covers off of him.

“It’s cold.”

“You’ll be warm in a minute.”

“Aw, Mom,” he whined as Vangie steered him to the bathroom. “Where’s Daddy?”

She let her breath out slowly. “He left for work already. Daddy had to open the shop.”

“Aw, man. I like riding with Daddy.”

“Too bad. Now wash up and brush your teeth.” Vangie sounded a lot tougher than she felt. She dreaded having to deal with Yuri’s terrible morning attitude on a regular basis.