vittanos willow (15 page)

know we love you.”

Wrinkling her nose, she smiled. “And I love the whole ratty

bunch of you as well. Even when you invade my personal life!”

“Ratty? We’re ratty?!” His dark eyes traveled down his immacu-

late suit and when he looked back up at her, one black eyebrow arched.

“I am
not
ratty!”

“No, you’re a snob.” Ajani only dressed in the best clothes. Rare-

ly was anything out of place on him. He was a proud man and it

showed. His wonderful shape and awesome taste in clothing made him

a very attractive person. But his personality made him even better.

Ajani opened his mouth to protest, only to shut it and shrug.

“True. And we only snoop in your life ’cause you are our favorite

sister.”

Another very unladylike snort came from her mouth. “I’m y’all’s

only
sister!”

“But our favorite one,” he consoled her with a grin.

With an eye roll, CJ got up from the table and walked to the

fridge to pull out the bowls of butterscotch pudding she had chilling in

there. Placing one before her brother, she put the other by her seat. “I’d

better be, for all the trouble you cause me.”

“We cause? Whose name is Chipmunk? Do you know what

those creatures do? Nothing but cause trouble.” He laughed out loud at

her expression. “But they are oh so cute when they are scampering up

trees!”

“I do not scamper,” she thundered affronted.

“Not anymore, but you used to. Lord, I remember trying to keep

up with you; it took all my wits to keep you in sight!” He acted like it

had been a horrible experience.

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Aliyah Burke

“Whatever,” she growled as she dipped her spoon into the pud-

ding and brought it to her mouth.

Later on, she kissed her brother on the cheek as he got ready to

leave. “Thanks for such a lovely dinner, Ajani.”

Returning the kiss, he grinned down at her. “Love ya, Chip-

munk. Take care and I will let you know about Binh.”

“Okay, drive safely.” Her hand held the door as Ajani walked

out into the hallway.

“I always do. Bye.” He left, striding down the hall and disap-

pearing from her view as she went back into her apartment.

Suddenly exhausted even more, CJ sat down on her couch. A

faint beeping reached her ears and it took her a bit to figure out it was

her cell phone, telling her she had a message.

Reluctantly she picked up her phone and dialed her voice mail.

It was Dezarae; and just as she was dialing her number, the doorbell

went off in her apartment. Snapping her phone shut, CJ hesitated. She

was still a bit spooked from school and without her brother around, she

wasn’t sure she wanted to answer the door. Especially at ten at night.

Cautiously, she headed for the door and peered through the

peephole. All she could see were balloons.
What the hell?
“Who is it?”

There was no answer and so she turned away, only for her

doorbell rang again. This time she jerked the door open, ready to snap

at the person on the other side. But her angry words died on her lips as

she found herself staring through balloons and flowers into the dark

sepia eyes of one Osten Scoleri.

“Forgive me?” Were the first words out of his mouth as he ex-

tended the flower and balloon display toward her.

CJ swung the door open further to admit him. “For what?” she

asked as he entered the apartment. Her eyes followed him, taking in his

black leather jacket and black jeans he wore.

Osten set the vase on the table. Turning to face the woman be-

hind him, he allowed his eyes to roam over her figure, just as stunning

as she was in his visions.

Dark purple pants and a lighter purple sweatshirt draped her

form. Her hair was loose around her face, framing it gently. She wore

no makeup and had never looked more beautiful.

“For not being on your arm at the Winter Formal Dance.” He ga-

thered her close in his arms and put his lips upon her temple. “I honest-

ly wish I could have been with you.”

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Wrapping her arms around his waist, she inhaled his scent. “Me,

too, but I had a very handsome man on my arm.”

Osten tensed. “Really? Well I’m glad the Rock made time for

you.”

CJ laughed as she squeezed him tighter. “Well, I don’t think

Binh is that close to the Rock, but hey, I’m sure he will be happy to

know you find him cute.”

Osten breathed a sigh of relief. She had gone with her brother.

“So you aren’t mad at me?”

She shook her head. “I got your message saying you had a mis-

sion. I figured either you did or you didn’t want to see me after you had

gotten what you wanted from me.”

Setting her away from him, Osten stared down at her, a mixture

of shock and amazement in his eyes. “You don’t honestly believe that

do you? That I got what I was after and would just leave you alone?”

CJ was astounded by the amount of hurt she heard in his voice.

Her eyes blinked rapidly as she gawked up at him. “I don’t know,” she

said softly.

“Why would you say that?”

“I didn’t have a clue as to what your reasons would be for not

coming. I don’t know your schedules for missions. I just didn’t know

what to think, so I left it alone.” CJ cocked her head to the side. “Why

does this bother you so?”

“Because I don’t want you to ever think I would be so callous.

Chantoya, what we shared was nothing I have ever had before with

another. It is not something I would just toss by the wayside.” His

fingers brushed tenderly over her cheek. “It hurts to think you would

think me capable of doing that to you.”

She trembled at his touch. “I didn’t want to presume anything.”

Dropping his hands to her butt, he pulled her in close to his

body. “Then presume this—I
want
to be with you. I think about you all

the time. It was your face that kept me sane during this mission.”

Chantoya smiled as she leaned back and looked at him. “What

did I do that made God think I deserved a man like you in my life?”

Osten lowered his mouth until it rested directly over her full

lips. “You were born sweetheart. And you are wrong, I am the blessed

one.”

Tracing the rim of his mouth with her tongue, she whispered,

“Thank you for the flowers and balloons.”

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Aliyah Burke

“I was going to bring chocolate, but I was in too much of a rush

to get here to see you. Sorry.”

“I don’t want chocolates. I want you, Osten. Just you.” Chantoya

pushed the jacket off the broad shoulders of the man wearing it. He

shrugged it off and tossed it over a nearby chair.

“And I want you. More than you will ever know.” Osten picked

her up and carried her gently over to the couch where he laid her upon

the soft cushions and covered her with his own body.

“
Nnnoooooo!
” The wail filled the room, reverberating off the

many monitors set up in there. “Why? Why would you let him touch

you again?!” The man was shaking he was so angry.

“He has to die. He has violated you again; I won’t sit back and

let you allow him to do that.” His muscular body flexed as he rolled his

shoulders. “No. It is time to rid you of this man.”

Standing abruptly, the he moved to another wall that held an ar-

ray of weapons. “I know you think you like him, but you are mine, CJ.

Once was bad enough, but to flaunt him before me, to spread your legs

for him…that is just unthinkable!” The voice dropped to a low hiss as

he gazed over the selection before him.

“You belong to me and it’s about fucking time you start acting

like it!” he shouted as he slammed his fist home in the wall—the same

fist that had busted the glass when he’d witnessed them sleeping

together the first time.

“All of this irresponsibility is just going to make your transition

harder.” He shook his head. “I don’t want it to be difficult for you, but

you keep insisting on making me angry and allowing yourself to be

defiled by the stink of another.”

His eyes fell on a sniper rifle. That would be the way to go. “You

couldn’t just remain friends with him. Now I have to tell you who you

can and can’t talk to. I thought I could trust you.”

Taking down the rifle, he held it close to his chest. “I thought

you were different than other women. I thought you would keep my

trust.” He shook his head. “I should have known. Women can’t be

trusted; they are evil and need to be controlled at all times.”

His face scrunched up like he was in pain. “Why! Why? You

were such a good woman, the one who was going to prove everyone

wrong. But
no
, you had to go and become a slut.”

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103

He kicked over a chair. “Why did you have to become a
slut
?!”

The motions were automatic as he loaded bullets into the cham-

ber. “You are mine, Chantoya. Mine!”

Osten and CJ made love one more time the next morning before

she took her shower and left for work. As she pulled into the school

parking lot, her phone rang.

“CJ,” she said after she flipped it open. It was Dezarae calling for

a dinner date. CJ walked into the school without really paying attention

to her surroundings, and she hung up after they settled on the time,

day, and place.

Because her mind was preoccupied, CJ failed to see the puddle

of melted snow in the hall.

Whoosh!

Her feet fell out from beneath her and she headed for the floor.

Strong hands wedged themselves under her arms and stopped

her descent. “Hang on, I got ya.”

Swallowing her screech, CJ didn’t struggle as the man helped

her back up. “Thank you, Gordon.”

He chuckled as he released his hold on her. “Glad I could help.”

Her savior knelt down and began to gather her scattered items. CJ

squatted beside him and helped. “Sure you’re okay?”

“A bit shaken up. I guess I was so lost in my thoughts I didn’t

pay attention.” She shoved test papers back in her bag.

Holding out a few remaining papers, Gordon stared directly at

her and said, “Well, be careful. We wouldn’t want to lose you.”

Slightly embarrassed, CJ smiled as she tried to take the papers

from his grip. “Thanks for being around, Gordon.”

His eyes warmed as he opened his gloved hand and let her take

the papers. “You are so welcome.”

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105

CJ tried to focus on the fact she was kneeling in the hallway of

the school where she taught. But there was difficulty in doing that.

When did Gordon become so attractive?
Her eyes landed on the small

dimple that appeared in his right cheek as he smiled softly at her.

Blinking, CJ cleared her throat.
Jeez, CJ. The man is married!

“You two planning on spending the whole day down there?” a

sharp voice intruded.

Both of them glanced to see Marvin standing over them with a

glare in his gaze. “Hadn’t planned on it, Whittle,” Gordon said in a less

than civil tone.

Chantoya felt like she had been caught doing something wrong.

Hand in the cookie jar, lusting over a married colleague; that kind of

thing. She stood along with Gordon and switched her bag to the other

hand. “Morning Marvin,” she said politely.

“CJ,” he said curtly. His cutting gaze swung around to fall on

the other man there. “Don’t you have a class to get to, Blake?”

Without hesitation, Gordon responded with the same amount of

hostility. “Don’t you have
another building
to be at Whittle?”

CJ glanced between the two men.
What was their problem?
Her

mouth dropped as Marvin ground out, “Shouldn’t you be callin’ your

wife…you
do
remember her, don’t you?”

“What’s your beef with me, Whittle?” Gordon asked, not biting

at the taunt.

“You need to watch out who you pay such close attention to. I

don’t like you around Ms. Jackson.”

CJ was astonished and outraged. “Excuse me?” she seethed.

“What did you just say, Marvin?” Her hands planted themselves at her

hips while her light pecan gaze shot daggers. “You have
absolutely
no

right to say anything like that to Gordon! He is not only a fellow teach-

er, he is also a friend!”

A cadence began in the hall as her foot tapped on the floor. “I al-

ready have three brothers; and trust me, you aren’t one of them—so

kindly remember that!” Chest heaving with indignation, she took a

deep breath and looked to Gordon. “Thank you for not letting me crack

my skull open.”

Shoving through them, CJ stomped down the hall and to her

room. She wasn’t around to witness the flames of animosity blaze hotter

between the two men in the hall. After they finally went their separate

ways, Samuel walked into view, chuckling, and mopped up the water.

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Aliyah Burke

“I can’ believe he said that!” CJ fumed. “Like I need another man

in my life dictating shit!” She took a swig of beer before stabbing her T-