WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT WHEN CARMA'S INVOLVED?

NUEVE

Do you know how hard it is pretending you didn't see your best friend fcking the woman you are in love with? I have never wanted to put my hands on a woman in my life. When Carma is in my face, somehow, I find the strength to control the urge. Nothing helps the betrayal I feel when I look at her. For the past week, Evan hung at my house, pretending nothing had changed between him and her. I wasn't sure what I was going to do about the whole situation. The more I thought about it, the madder I got. I curb my anger in many ways. The most successful is working out. Having a weight bench in my office comes in handy most days.

Days after Carma and Evan shattered my world, Harmoney walked into my office holding the contracts. Her presence made me forget my misery for a minute. I’ve seen this woman in less clothes and yet, I find her to be more attractive when she’s in her well-fitted suits. Today’s look was black slacks paired with a teal tank top and heels that raised her height by a few inches. Her cocoa-colored hair with its springy curls brought out her greenish blue eyes. For someone who is not my type, I continue to find her enticingly stunning.

My intentions with Harmoney were nothing more than seeking friendship. With my emotions scattered, Harmoney and I stared, admiring one another. I think. The right corner of her mouth rose, forming a half smile, and I saw a dimple that didn’t appear when she smiled big. Needing some type of satisfaction, I wasn’t about to allow her so-called lesbianism to faze or deter me. I could tell just by the way she looked at me, she was fooling herself. I didn’t have to be a mind reader to know my appearance caused dirty thoughts to dance in her head. Mine were dirtier. Half dressed, soaked in sweat, I was turned on by the innocence in her eyes. As she tried to back up further against the door, I saw the bead of sweat drop from her brow when I asked if I made her nervous. She choked on the one syllable word, confirming my suspicion. Taking it a step further, I wanted to know if this lesbian found me attractive. Not to toot my own horn, but others have before.

I've been trying to get this woman to call me by my first name, but she's too damn stubborn. Her voice is smooth like jazz and soulful like R&B. I would be content hearing my name spoken by her just once. At some point, we were going to need to be on a first-name basis and there was no better time than the present. I puckered my lips and planted them on hers. So soft, so luscious, and so very plump. I expected her to push me away and maybe even slap me. When I kiss, my eyes are glued shut. I want to feel nothing other than the pure bliss that is meant to be enjoyed through touch and feeling rather than sight. I had no clue if her eyes were closed, and I refused to open mine and risk the intimate moment ending.

Her nails crawled with ease up my neck and into my hair, where she snatched up two handfuls and guided me closer to her. My damp body, pressed tightly against her clothed one, was tantalizingly erotic. It all came to a grinding halt when she finally pushed me away. Was my boldness wrong? Sure was. Did I care? Not in the least. Should I have told her Carma and Evan were the driving force behind my advance on her? Maybe. There was an attraction we could not deny, but she did and rambled on to tell me so.

My money has always been the epicenter of every relationship, including the one with Carma. Harmoney doesn’t seem like the type to take a single cent from anyone. I find that to be her most desirable trait. Now that I tasted her, I wanted more, and I got it. But I wanted even more than that. There was a way I could have her without having her. Butt tickling is a safer alternative to regular intercourse. I was counting on her answer being the same as every woman on the planet. No girl, woman, female, wants to admit they've tried it, let alone admit it's the best way for them to climax. No matter how many times it's given up, every time after that there's always an argument when a guy asks for it the next time. At my insistence, I wanted Harmoney to think it over before I would accept an answer. I left her hugging the door and resumed my workout.

TWO DAYS LATER......

Harmoney dropped off the bill for her furniture with Kimmie. Yes, she has been avoiding me. My calls go unanswered unless it's work and barely then. She refuses to have meetings in my office. Don’t worry, I have a plan. Her furniture is being delivered today and I could not think of a better time to sneak over and see her. My dad gave her the day off, but she was on call on the off chance something popped up having to do with our case. I had two cases that I needed to resolve today before her estimated ten to twelve drop off.

I was able to convince my first client to accept the final offer from the insurance company. Once he signed the documents, I assured him the money would be in his pocket within three weeks' time or a portion would come out of mine until we received p*****t. My other client married a man of the gold-digging variety. Both husbands cheated, only one was caught on film. The man I am representing is an acquaintance from law school. He's successful and his husband wants custody of their seven-year-old twins, along with more than half his income plus child support. The twins are biologically my clients' children. That meeting lasted all of five minutes when I refused their demands and gave my counteroffer. It will now be settled in court.

It was close to eleven when I arrived at the former hotel and saw the delivery truck being unloaded. I waited outside her door as she told the men to put it all to one side and her husband would take care of the rest. I got a chuckle out of it. If she wanted the ruse to be more believable, she should get a plain band and wear it. The men and I exchanged nods as they exited. Must've thought I was the husband.

Her back was turned when I spoke. “I thought you weren't married.”

A trace of surprise slipped through her otherwise tough exterior when she turned and saw me. She asked why I was there and, being somewhat of a smart-aleck, I asked if she would believe I was out for a late morning stroll. Of course, my attire didn't shout out for a run.

As she spoke, I couldn't take my eyes off her delectable lips. Taking a few steps in her direction, I was about to claim them like I did the other day but was interrupted. It was a good thing too. I already said and done something so incredibly stupid with her. Switching gears, I extended an offer for her to join me for lunch. She was a quick draw with her words as she flat out refused. Looking around the room gave me another idea. Offering to stay and help, she shot me down twice within a few minutes. Ouch.

“I do not need a man to play the hero and do things for me. I can build and move my furniture alone.” I’m no one’s hero. Just trying to build some furniture for a friend.

“I wanted to ask how you were doing. Since you’ve been avoiding me.”

“Just talk?” A moment ago, no. Right now, that's all. Pressing my lips together while forming a smile, I nodded. “Help these bozos get my sh*t up here faster and you can stay. You can buy lunch too.” Boy, does she drive a hard bargain.

Taking off my jacket, rolling up my sleeves, and with a smile she was about to learn I was more than an attorney with a handsome face and tight stomach. There was a little place around the corner that made a mean Blt with fries and onion rings. They also made an amazing strawberry banana milkshake. If she didn't like it, I would have no problem ordering something else for her. The last pieces were going into the elevator. That was my chance to scurry around the block for our food.

As I exited the elevator, the head dude passed me and said I was a lucky man to score a hottie like her. I entered the apartment and Harmoney pointed to a box lying on the floor. Placing the food down, she threw a throw pillow at me. They are called throw pillows. It’s not what you are supposed to do with them. We had a chuckle, then sat down to eat. She is nothing like Carma and I cannot stop thinking it loudly enough. The first bite of her sandwich was a big one. Some mayo clung to the corner of her mouth. I reached over with a napkin to wipe it off. Licking it off would’ve been better, but I restrained myself.

All in all, she loved the food. It was a first for me to see a woman dig in and moan as the flavors melted over her palette before she chewed. The milkshake was a hit too. I needed a distraction from the images of Harmoney dancing under me on my desk as I fcked her senseless. Building her furniture would help with that. Maybe. I wanted to stay, and she pushed me to go. Taking into consideration, I asked for a piece of ass. Literally. Her assumption of guys wanting something in return was not that far off base. To ease her fear that I would require p*****t by way of what I asked for, I reminded her of one important detail in my life.

“I am an unhappily engaged man.”

I assured her I was not going to press or push the issue with her. The answer was clear, though she never voiced it. I accepted it and offered friendship instead. Refusing to take no for an answer, I started by screwing the legs onto her sofa. Concentrating on what I was doing, she asked if I had any real friends. I stopped and dropped my head. I thought I had one. The grotesque scene played again. Harmoney was curious, and I may not have wanted to talk about it, but talking is what friends do, is it not?

“I caught my best buddy, Evan, stuffing my fiancé like a Thanksgiving turkey in my bed a week ago.” Carma is the biggest d*ck magnet when it comes to everyone else, except me. Harmoney must understand why I hit on her so hard now.

That was enough to stop Harmoney from asking more questions. My anger found a home as I built her stupid furniture. Her living room was set up in an hour. I recommended she hang the TV on the wall at some point. I felt her eyes following me the entire time, and she looked genuinely surprised by my willingness to use my hands. Or was it because I built everything without reading the directions and no screws or bolts were left over, besides the extras they put in the package?