Femme Tales Read online

  Belinda realized that she had suggested dinner alone with Ebony. They barely made it through the two business-related meetings they had already without Ebony’s unprovoked dislike for her causing tension; how were they going to make it through a casual dinner?

  Ebony returned with steaks still sizzling on the platter. “I already set the table. I was just waiting for the steaks to finish.”

  “Okay. Let me just drop these bags off and I’ll be right out,” Belinda said.

  She walked to the guest room, dropped her shopping bags and backpack onto the bed, then stopped in the bathroom to wash her hands. As she did, she found herself gazing into the mirror above the sink to check her hair and what little makeup she wore, then stopped herself.

  “Stop it! It’s dinner with your client, not a date,” she reprimanded her reflection.

  After taking a deep breath to settle the fluttering in her belly, she walked out of the bathroom. As she reached the dining room, Ebony was just setting a bottle of white wine on the table.

  “I didn’t know what you would like,” she said apologetically. “There’s also beer, soda, or iced tea, if you prefer, and I can throw a salmon steak on the grill if you don’t eat meat.”

  “The wine will be good, and I never say no to a good steak,” Belinda said as she sat at the place setting across from Ebony.

  When Ebony actually smiled Belinda’s heart skipped a beat as that small gesture softened Ebony’s face so much she almost looked like a different person. It was gone just as quickly as it had come, as if Ebony hadn’t realized she’d done it until too late. To Belinda’s disappointment, it was replaced by a frown as Ebony sat and began filling her plate with food.

  “You know, you should do that more often.” Belinda reached for the wine bottle.

  Ebony glanced at her in confusion. “Do what?”

  “Smile. It’s not going to make you any less tough than you already are.”

  Ebony’s brow raised in question. “You’ve been here for one day and you think you know me already?”

  “No, I can only go by what I’ve seen since we first met yesterday. This is really good,” Belinda said as she tried a slice of the steak. “Do you use a marinade or dry rub?”

  Ebony laid her silverware down gazing intently at Belinda. “It’s a special marinade Mama Ellis uses, and what have you learned about me in this short time that makes you think you know me so well?”

  Belinda set her silverware down. If she was going to get herself fired on the first day she might as well go out with guns blazing.

  “Okay, just remember you asked,” Belinda said. “You’re a control freak with a hint of compulsive disorder. You believe that your ‘Beast’ persona is the only reason people take you seriously when you actually depend on it yourself to hide behind and mask your own insecurities. Unless they’re in your immediate circle, you rarely let people in. If you do allow someone into the circle it’s only on the surface because you know it’s only a matter of time before they do something to prove that you can’t trust them. Unfortunately, the only people who get to see the real you, the devoted, sensitive, caring you, are the other two people who share this house with you.”

  Belinda waited, nervously watching the tic that appeared in Ebony’s right jaw and bracing herself for the storm that was about to blow. The last thing that she expected to happen was for a smirk to appear on Ebony’s face followed by a burst of laughter. Belinda watched her in wide-eyed surprise.

  “Well, that certainly wasn’t the reaction I expected, not that I’m complaining,” Belinda said.

  “Well, let’s call it even because that wasn’t what I expected you to say. That hit a little too close to home,” Ebony said.

  “I apologize if I overstepped any boundaries.” Belinda was hesitant to relax her guard. She found herself comparing Ebony to a landscape puzzle where there’s so much detail that you can’t tell one puzzle piece from the next unless you really pay attention to matching the shapes of the pieces within the puzzle. Belinda had always been good at puzzles, and she was beginning to piece together what made this complex woman tick. The extent Ebony had gone to to make sure Miss Ellis was well taken care of, the immense love that showed on her face when she spoke to her sister, the obvious time and care she took in preparing dinner, the unexpected laughter rather than anger in reaction to what Belinda said about her, combined with the serious, philosophical street thug persona of The Beast made up one intriguing and sexy puzzle.

  “No need to apologize. Like you said, I asked.” Ebony picked up her silverware and continued to eat.

  After a moment, Belinda did the same. They ate in silence with Ebony glancing curiously at Belinda every now and then. Oddly enough, the fact that she called Ebony out on all of her issues quicker than the court mandated psychiatrist she had to go to for six months a few years ago after getting into several fights, attracted her even more to Belinda. She was the first woman in a long time who didn’t either quake in her boots from fright or fawn all over her trying to get in her bed or wallet.

  “You’re a very good cook,” Belinda said.

  Ebony shrugged. “Sheree and I couldn’t survive off of PB&J and Chunky soup forever so Mama Ellis taught me how to cook,” she said as if having to raise her sister alone wasn’t a big deal.

  “I read the interview you did for XXL magazine a few years ago. I admire what you did. Not every sixteen-year-old could take on the responsibility of raising a young sibling while staying under the radar of children services,” Belinda said.

  “What’s there to admire,” Ebony said, a little embarrassed by the praise. “I did what I had to do, what my mother couldn’t do.” She suddenly stood feeling uncomfortable with where the discussion was leading. “Are you finished?” she asked

  “Yes, but please, let me help. After all, you did the cooking,” Belinda offered.

  “All right,” Ebony said.

  They had the table cleared in just a few trips. As Ebony packed the leftovers into containers, she looked behind her and almost dropped the salad bowl as she was greeted with the sight of Belinda’s firm, round behind as she bent over to load the dishwasher. As Ebony juggled the dish to keep it from falling to the floor, she jammed her finger on the counter and set the bowl down with a hiss of pain.

  “Are you all right?” Belinda rushed over to her.

  “I’m fine!” Ebony snapped through clenched teeth.

  Belinda held her hand out to Ebony. “Let me see.”

  “I said I was fine.”

  Belinda gave Ebony a look that told her she was not the one to argue with. Without another word, Ebony laid her hand in Belinda’s. As Belinda lowered her head to gently examine and prod her finger, the scent of her hair oil drifted up to Ebony who closed her eyes and breathed in the cocoa and shea butter scent as if it were the most wonderful smell ever. It took her a second to realize Belinda had asked her a question. Ebony quickly blinked her eyes open and found Belinda gazing at her in concern.

  “Uh…what?”

  “I asked if your finger hurts.”

  “No, not really. Just throbbing a little now,” Ebony said.

  “It’s not broken, but you should probably put some ice on it just in case it swells,” Belinda told her.

  “I’ll be fine,” Ebony said, not realizing she had been drawing closer to Belinda until she found their lips just inches apart.

  She was just about to pull back when Belinda closed the gap and pressed her lips against Ebony’s. The kiss was tentative for just a moment, then slowly erupted into an aching, burning passion the longer it went on. When Belinda laid her hands on Ebony’s chest Ebony grasped her hips and brought them flush against her own. Ebony had never felt anything like what she was feeling at that moment as she allowed her own desire to take over where common sense had once ruled. She didn’t care that she had no idea who Belinda truly was or that she was in her employ. The inner beast that she’d managed to tame was rearing its horny head, and she had no desire to s
top it.

  Belinda was not only surprised by what was happening but also by the fact that she didn’t want it to stop. Her body was responding to Ebony in a way it had not responded to any of her previous lovers. Not even her ex-girlfriend Carla’s extensive talents as a lover could make Belinda respond so passionately to just a kiss. Belinda wrapped her arms around Ebony’s neck as Ebony backed her up against the counter to bring their whole bodies flush against one another.

  Ebony slid her lips from Belinda’s, kissing her way along her jawline, and nipped her earlobe, growling sexily in her ear. “Tell me to stop.”

  Belinda’s head was saying stop this nonsense immediately, but the sensations rolling through her body as Ebony’s firm lips traveled along her neckline into her cleavage refused to listen and left her without the ability to speak. Ebony took her silence as permission to continue and ran the tip of her tongue along the rounded low cut edge of her shirt’s cleavage as she simultaneously slid her hands up under the hem of the shirt to stroke Belinda’s already hardened nipples through her bra. Within a matter of seconds, Belinda’s shirt was unbuttoned and lay open to give Ebony better access to her breasts.

  “Mmm…you are so sexy,” Ebony said.

  She didn’t give Belinda a moment to think before she rained passion down once again through her lips. After one more passionate kiss, Ebony cupped Belinda’s behind, lifted her up, wrapped her legs around her waist, and carried her to the guest bedroom without breaking her stride. She laid her on the bed, sweeping the bags Belinda had laid there earlier onto the floor as she did. Ebony paused, waiting with bated breath. This was when most women changed their mind. When they realized that Ebony was far more than they bargained for. When her true beast, her beast of desire, came forward, they ran in the other direction. For just a second, she saw that fear in Belinda’s eyes before it was quickly shoved aside by the same desire that matched her own.

  As Ebony loomed over her, Belinda could see why she was called The Beast. The raw hunger Belinda saw in Ebony’s eyes made her feel as if she would eat her alive and suck the bones dry before she was satisfied.

  Belinda grasped Ebony’s head, bringing it slowly down toward hers. “Tell me to stop.”

  A low growl rumbled up from Ebony’s chest as she lowered her head the rest of the way to give Belinda the kiss she wanted. Belinda didn’t hold back, practically devouring Ebony with burning lips, dueling tongue, and gentle nips. Belinda couldn’t get her clothes off fast enough. Ebony tried to help, but it seemed as if as soon as Belinda bared the slightest bit of flesh Ebony was tasting and touching, driving Belinda to distraction.

  Finally, when the last of Belinda’s clothing was discarded, Ebony stepped away from the bed and said, “Take your hair down. All I’ve been thinking about since you walked into my office was to see you lying naked before me with your hair spread out on the pillow.”

  Belinda knelt on the bed as she removed the pins holding her hair and untangled the locs so that they flowed almost to her waist and around her like a veil. She then lay down and spread them out on the pillow just as Ebony asked.

  “Damn, girl,” Ebony said in awe.

  “Do I get what I’ve been fantasizing about since I met you?” Belinda asked.

  “And what would that be?” Ebony asked as she walked toward the bed.

  Belinda rolled onto her side and propped her head on her hand. “To see if you look as good naked as you do clothed.”

  Ebony smiled as she backed away from the bed again and began to undress. Belinda thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the slow striptease show Ebony was giving her. Ebony’s body was broad but sculpted and there didn’t seem to be an ounce of fat on her muscular frame. With her close-shaven hair, fit body, and intense expression, she made one hell of a sexy stud. Belinda’s palms itched in anticipation of touching Ebony’s body. As Ebony tossed her boxer briefs to the side, she slowly walked toward the bed, her sleek muscular body moving like that of a panther stalking its prey.

  As she climbed onto the bed and crouched over Belinda on all fours she asked, “Do you like what you see?”

  Belinda reached down, grabbed one of Ebony’s hands, and placed it at the juncture of her thighs. “You tell me.”

  Ebony slid her hand down the smoothly waxed mound to the entrance of Belinda’s vagina, holding eye contact while she slipped a long index finger inside. Belinda’s eyes fluttered closed as she moaned deeply with pleasure.

  “Open your eyes,” Ebony commanded. “I want you to watch everything I do to you.”

  As Belinda watched, Ebony brought her finger up to her lips, her long, thick tongue circling her finger, and licked every bit of Belinda’s juices off it. Belinda almost climaxed right then.

  With a mischievous grin Ebony said, “Not yet. You’ll come when I want you to.”

  Belinda’s common sense spoke up once again, telling her to run. That this was not like her. She didn’t have sex with strangers. It took four months for Carla to get in her pants and here she was dripping wet and moaning in bed with a woman she just met yesterday.

  Ebony saw the hesitancy in Belinda’s expression and hoped it was short-lived. After what she’d seen in Belinda’s eyes earlier, she didn’t want to turn back now. Something about that moment had her believing they had a common hunger that could not be easily appeased.

  She leaned forward, placed her lips along Belinda’s ear, and whispered, “I have nothing to serve you but pleasure. Let me feed your passion. Let me ease that hunger I know you’re feeling because I’m feeling it too.”

  Belinda moaned in response. Ebony felt the tension leave Belinda’s body, felt Belinda’s nipples harden and brush along her forearm as she writhed beneath her, and she knew she’d won the battle. She looked down and Belinda’s half-lidded gaze met hers.

  “Remember, eyes open,” Ebony commanded.

  Ebony grasped Belinda’s hands and placed them above her head as she nipped, kissed, and touched her way down Belinda’s body from her lips, to her neck, pausing to pay homage to both of her breasts, down her midriff, until she reached the juncture of her thighs. There Ebony gently spread Belinda’s legs, settled down between them, and looked up to make sure she was watching to find Belinda’s eyes heavy-lidded with desire. Ebony lowered her head just enough to do what she wanted to do while also focusing on Belinda’s eyes.

  Ebony smoothed her hands down Belinda’s sides, grasping her hips as the tip of her tongue slowly teased along and dipped into Belinda’s slick opening. Ebony’s tongue dove in and out of Belinda as her inner walls began contracting, rewarding Ebony with more of the sweet nectar she was craving. Belinda moaned, throwing her head back as her body began to quake with the start of her orgasm. Ebony suddenly stopped and Belinda writhed and groaned in frustration and then looked down the length of her body at Ebony.

  With a mischievous grin, Ebony said, “You looked away so I assumed you wanted to stop.”

  Belinda propped herself up on her forearms and focused her gaze on Ebony who, satisfied with Belinda’s action, then lay back down and continued her ministrations. It didn’t take long for Ebony to have Belinda riding that orgasmic wave once again with her tongue continuing to manipulate Belinda’s pussy as her fingers traveled down to join in the fun by massaging her hardened clit. Ebony could see stubborn determination keeping Belinda’s gaze locked onto Ebony’s as she felt Belinda’s body tense as an orgasm slammed into her body not once but twice. Ebony moaned into Belinda’s pussy as her own body responded to the raw ecstasy in Belinda’s eyes with an orgasm that ripped through her and ended in a pool of wetness between her own legs.

  Belinda’s strength finally fled, and she collapsed back onto the bed as little tremors rocked her body from the aftershock of the intense pleasure Ebony gave, and continued to give, as she leisurely licked Belinda clean. Once Ebony had her fill, she slid her hard body up along Belinda’s until her face hovered just above hers and lowered her lips for a gentle kiss. Once the kiss ended, Belinda slowly opened her
eyes and was met with such a look of tenderness from Ebony it caught her breath, but it was quickly replaced with the dark intensity she seemed to already have gotten used to and was no longer intimated by. Ebony moved to lie beside Belinda, who maneuvered her position so that she lay with her back spooned against the front of Ebony.

  It was obvious Ebony didn’t want to talk about what just happened, and since Belinda wasn’t sure herself of what to say about how they ended up in bed together so quickly, she didn’t fight it and allowed herself to relax within Ebony’s strong embrace. She closed her eyes and, after the long day she had, it wasn’t long before she drifted off to sleep.

  Ebony lay there, her face buried within the cocoon of Belinda’s locs as she slept, amused by the light snores mingled with the steady rise and fall of Belinda’s breathing. So many thoughts were running through her mind that she knew she wouldn’t sleep at all. She lay holding Belinda’s soft curves against her body for a few more minutes then gently slid out of the bed, walked over to the closet, took a blanket down from the top shelf, took one last look at Belinda’s beautiful body, then covered her before grabbing her clothes and walking out of the bedroom. Once she was dressed she finished cleaning the kitchen as quietly as possible then made sure everything was turned off and locked up as she left the apartment. Thinking Sheree hadn’t returned home yet, she left the foyer and porch light on and trudged up the stairs to her own apartment. Ebony was startled when she found Sheree sitting at her kitchen counter with a glass of wine.

  “Damn, Sheree, you trying to give me a heart attack?” Ebony said in irritation.

  “No, but if I did it would be well-deserved,” Sheree said angrily.

  Ebony walked over to her fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. “Look, whatever is bothering you can we talk about it in the morning? I’m too tired for this right now.”

  Sheree ignored her. “You couldn’t even keep it in your pants just this one time? Not even for Mama Ellis?”