Saira - TI5 (22 page)

"Yeah, that's me. Why?"

"You're famous now," another cameraman said.

Feeling suddenly important, Binky grinned and posed for a few more pictures before finally trying to call it quits. When new photographers appeared, he frowned and hurried away.

This is crazy,
he thought.

Twenty minutes later, he was walking toward the entrance of the
National Exposure
when he noticed another group of photographers by the main entrance. Ducking his head, he tried to sneak past them but found it impossible. The familiar clicking was getting annoying.

When he finally managed to get inside, the secretary of the editor-in-chief motioned for him to follow her. Leading him to Larry Dunbar's office, she knocked once on the door and then opened it.

"He's here, Mr. Dunbar."

"Show him in," a deep voice said.

She signaled for him to enter and quietly shut the door behind him.

Larry Dunbar was a short, balding man in his sixties. As editor-in-chief of the
National Exposure
for fifteen years, he enjoyed the power of his position. Few people dared to challenge him, and those who did were usually subjected to a form of harassment that proved effective but wasn't illegal. Dunbar would send the paparazzi to hound them, their family, and friends. No place was safe or sacred. Soon, the constant attention became unbearable, and his enemies would give up and call a truce. Dunbar gloried in his victories, knowing he had the power of the press behind him. Today, he wasn't very happy.

"You see those assholes outside?" he asked angrily.

"Yeah. I guess I'm famous, huh?" Binky said, smiling smugly.

"Famous my ass. They aren't interested in you. They're after me."

"Well, they certainly were interested in me at my apartment and when I arrived here."

"Those assholes have been following me around for two days. Everywhere I go, there are people taking pictures. I can't even take a piss in the bathroom here without checking the stalls."

"I didn't realize one photo would create such interest," Binky said. "This is really great."

"Great? Listen, you jerk. You may like the thought of being hounded by these creeps, but I don't. I like my privacy."

Before Binky could reply, they were interrupted by a soft knock on the door.

"What?" Dunbar yelled.

His secretary opened the door and stuck her head in the room. "Sorry, Mr. Dunbar, but there's a Ms. Lysanne and a Ms. Devereaux waiting to see you."

"Shit. Show them in, Denise. We might as well make a party out of this."

The door opened, and two women stepped past Denise and walked confidently toward the two men. The look Yemaya gave Binky sent chills down his back. She removed the envelope from his hands and pulled out the photos. After giving them a cursory glance, she handed them to Dakota.

"It looks like he's trying to pawn off some more fakes."

Dakota glanced at the pictures and smirked. "This doesn't even look like you. I can't believe Dunbar was taken in by the first ones." She sneered and tossed the photos on the editor's desk.

"Hey, those are real," Binky said.

"Yeah, right," said Dakota. "And just when were these taken?"

"Today. A few hours ago."

"Interesting. Well, not to burst your bubble, but Ms. Lysanne and I were in meetings with several newspaper editors all day... well-known and respected editors. I'd be happy to have them confirm this if you want." The glance she gave Dunbar spoke volumes. "So you see, if these were taken today, it couldn't be us."

"These are you two. You're just trying to pull something." Binky looked at Dunbar for support.

"Not at all," Yemaya said. "I can assure you that the photos you took today and the ones this newspaper published are not of us. Neither Ms. Devereaux nor I have ever been in that park. In fact, we weren't even in town the day you snapped the other picture."

Turning toward Dunbar, who had been sitting quietly through the discussion, she placed her hands, palm down, on the desk and leaned toward him. Icy, pale blue eyes burned angrily at him.

"Mr. Dunbar, I have no idea what you paid this man for that picture, but one thing I do know and can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, is that those women in the photo are not us. That means you and your paper are liable for defamation. You have two choices. You can print a front-page retraction, or my attorney will be in contact with your attorney tomorrow morning."

Dunbar snorted. "I'm not afraid of you. I've taken on bigger fish —"

"Then you're a fool," Dakota said.

"I'd be a fool to let two bitches try to threaten me. This comes under freedom of the press, and I know how to use it to my advantage."

Binky opened his mouth, and Yemaya turned her gaze on him. Flinching, he snapped his jaw shut, looked away, and swallowed loudly.

Dakota noticed the change in Yemaya's expression and knew Dunbar was in trouble if she didn't do something fast.

"Mr. Dunbar. Perhaps, before you put any more of your foot in your mouth, you should give your boss a call."

"I don't need to talk to him. I have full autonomy in my job."

"Had," Yemaya growled, struggling to control the beast raging inside of her.

"Huh?"

"Had, Mr. Dunbar. I had a very interesting conversation with Larry Smilax about an hour ago. It seems that he likes his privacy more than you do, and he isn't so anxious to go to court over this, especially after he confirmed what I've just told you."

"Hey," Binky said, "something stinks here. How'd you know about the photos if it wasn't you?"

"I guess we have the same anonymous source." Yemaya gave him an almost evil smile.

"You set me up."

Yemaya's smile widened, and then she turned back to Dunbar. "I suggest you call your boss and talk to him. Afterward, you can call my attorney and go over exactly what you will be saying in your retraction. And just in case you believe you can intimidate me the way you have others in the past, I suggest you reconsider. You would be wise to remember I specialize in making things disappear, and I doubt if too many hearts would be broken if you were one of those things."

Dunbar sputtered noisily. Yemaya straightened up and turned to look at Binky.

"As for you, I believe you need to find another occupation. Once Mr. Dunbar prints the retraction and the details of you pawning those fake photos, I seriously doubt anyone is going to want your services."

She took Dakota's arm, escorted her toward the door, and opened it.

"And, Mr. Dunbar, you and your friends— if you have any — and your family might as well get used to those photographers outside. They're going to be around for a very long time. Maybe it will make you think twice before you put someone else through the same type of misery."

Dakota laughed softly at the sour expression on the editor's face. "You might want to get a refund from Binky, here," she said. "No reason for him to profit from all of this."

Dunbar's glare was enough to tell Binky he was in big trouble. Satisfied, Yemaya and Dakota left.

"I can't believe you threatened him," Dakota whispered.

"It wasn't a threat. Just an observation."

"Yeah, right. Do you think he'll try anything?"

"No. Men like him are cowards. Besides, he likes his job too much to ignore his boss, and for all his arrogance and blustering, Dunbar isn't a stupid man."

"I'm not so sure about that, but I'll take your word for it. So what now?"

"I was thinking," Yemaya said, raising one eyebrow and smiling smugly "There's a certain hotel not far from here that's still holding three days of reservations in my name. How about we go pack our bags and make use of those rooms? We might as well get our money's worth if I'm paying for them anyway."

"Works for me," Dakota agreed, happily.

*
 
*
 
*

Hours later, Yemaya and Dakota arrived at the hotel, luggage in hand. Scamper was at the counter going over the list of customers and the next day's schedule.

"Ms. Lysanne, Ms. Devereaux, I wasn't sure you were coming back."

"And waste all that effort you put into making those room changes?" Yemaya said.

"Well, things happen. I can always cancel them."

"No need, Scamp. We've decided to stay here a few more days and take advantage of your kindness."

"That's wonderful! Oh, a package arrived for you yesterday. I wasn't sure what you wanted me to do with it, so I just held on to it."

"A package?"

"Yeah. It's from the, um, you know, the shop I recommended."

Yemaya looked at Dakota and lowered her voice. "This should be interesting."

Once in their room, Dakota unwrapped the package and opened the box. Inside was a bottle of warming massage oil, a DVD called "Lip Service, the Cunnilingist's Guide to Stroking," and a small finger vibrator, batteries not included. Searching frantically though the box, Dakota couldn't find anything else.

"Can you believe this? No batteries. You'd think they'd buy batteries." She slammed the empty box on the bed.

"Batteries?"

"Yeah. Vibrators don't work without batteries, you know?"

"So who needs a vibrator?" Yemaya walked over to the bed and pushed Dakota backward.

"Uh..."

"Uh?"

"Uh, well," Swallowing hard, Dakota stared into the bluest eyes she had ever seen.

"Maybe I need to refresh your memory."

"Uh."

Leaning down, Yemaya placed her lips next to Dakota's right ear and exhaled softly. Dakota shivered.

"Cold?" Yemaya whispered, her voice low and husky.

"Uh..."

Laughing, Yemaya pushed herself off the bed and slowly undressed, her eyes burning with desire. When she removed her bra and panties, Dakota jumped up and tore off her own tee shirt, pants, and underwear. She tackled Yemaya, and they both fell on the bed and broke into giggles.

"Do you think they have hidden cameras in the room?" Dakota asked, teasingly, glancing at the red light glowing on the smoke detector. "I've always been suspicious of those things."

"If they do, they're about to get the show of their lives." Yemaya bared her teeth in an animal-like grin. Stretching her long body over Dakota's, she straddled her lover and lowered her breasts and stomach until the two bodies barely touched.

Yemaya sliding up and down against her a few times was more than enough to make Dakota gasp. Her skin tingled from the slow caresses of the nipples gliding gently across her skin. Already she could feel the wetness building between her thighs, and she squirmed.

Yemaya smiled her satisfaction and pressed her body firmly against her lover. "Anything special you want?" she whispered softly.

Dakota swallowed hard and nodded. "Yo... you."

Yemaya's eyes narrowed. She was more than satisfied with the response. Nipping Dakota's neck playfully, she proceeded to work her way down her lover's throat and sucked at the pulse at the base of her neck. Feeling Dakota shiver, she moved slowly to her breasts. Tugging gently on the left with her teeth, her low growl turned into a soft purr when Dakota groaned.

Yemaya slid farther down, her wet tongue making its way toward the blonde curls several inches below the slightly rounded stomach. Placing her cheek on the warm, soft belly, she rubbed her cheek back and forth, luxuriating in the feel of the satiny skin.

This is paradise,
she thought, anticipating the next few hours of lovemaking.

Although Dakota couldn't read her partner's thoughts, she wouldn't have been surprised to know they mirrored hers. Shifting slightly, she stroked the dark head resting on her stomach and inhaled deeply. Her eyes closed in anticipation of her lover's next move. Surprisingly, it wasn't quite what she expected. Yemaya suddenly sat up and looked around the room.