Designer Desires

Jessica Watkins Presents

Designer Desires

Kasey Martin

Copyright © 2015 by Kasey Martin
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof
may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever
without the express written permission of the publisher
except for the use of brief quotations in a book review
.

I would like to say thank you to my husband for being a constant supporter of my dreams, and to my mom for not hiding her romance novels well enough for me not to find them and read them as a kid.

I would also like to thank my friends and family for their love and encouragement,

and God for all his blessings.

A knock on the door brought Korrine out of her thoughts and back to the present. She looked at her clock, thinking,
Damn, Tony got here fast. If we make up, I need to talk to him about his speeding.
Korrine smiled at the thought of them making up. Her heart thumped in her chest. She wanted to see Tony. Not seeing him every day, nor talking to him, was a new kind of torture, and she just didn’t think she had the strength to endure it any longer. Although she was still upset about him calling her ungrateful, she could put her big girl panties on and talk to him instead of storming off and not speaking to him. He was just so damn stubborn, and so was she. Two stubborn people were bound to bump heads. But if this was going to work, they would have to learn to compromise with each other. They were both passionate people that loved hard and with everything they had in them. So, it made sense that feelings that explosive could be more than intense. Korrine hoped they could work out their differences; she really missed Tony these past couple of days.

Korrine smiled wide as she swung open the door.

Korrine’s smile quickly fell from her face when she opened the door and saw a strange woman standing there.

“May I help you?” Korrine asked closing the door to just a crack.

“Why, yes, you absolutely can,” the woman replied with an evil grin spreading across her face.

Korrine didn’t like the look on the woman’s face or in her eyes. She didn’t recognize the leggy blond with the too tight dress. But the woman seemed to be familiar with her, and Korrine didn’t like that feeling at all.

She moved to shut the door all the way when the woman caught Korrine off guard and shoved the door, knocking Korrine off balance while quickly moving inside.

The woman pulled a gun as her evil smile grew wider. Gasping, Korrine took a step back shaking her head at the woman. “Who-who are you?!  What do you want?!” Korrine asked growing frantic.

The woman let out a maniacal laugh that showed she was clearly disturbed before dropping her handbag on the floor while wiping at the invisible lint on her short bandage dress.

“Oh, we aren’t so tough, are we ‘sweetness’? I overestimated you. Since you are from South Dallas, I just knew I would have to ‘scrap’ a little.”

Korrine narrowed her eyes at the woman’s blatant bigotry. “I don’t know what you want, but you can take it and leave,” she hissed through bated breath.

“Oh, I’m going to do just that and more, Korrine. I’m Misty, by the way. We haven’t been introduced since Tony has been hiding you away. You see, I’ve been seeing Tony for quite some time, and I was planning on marrying him. We have a lot in common, he and I. Our families go way back, but he seems to have gotten distracted and strayed from my plans of matrimony. I tried to get him to see that you weren’t on his level. A man of his caliber needs someone with a name and standing in the community. Tony needs me, and I need him. You don’t have the pedigree that I have.” Misty said this as if it was the sanest explanation in the world.

Korrine looked at the woman with a wide-eyed expression. Misty was rambling on as if Korrine should know what the hell she was ranting about.

“Misty, is it?” Korrine asked hesitantly. “Look, Tony and I aren’t even dating anymore. We weren’t even anything official. So I really don’t know why you are in my house holding me at gunpoint. None of this makes any sense to me.”

With her hands in the air, Korrine backed away stumbling over an end table by the door, knocking over a lamp.  The sound of the lamp crashing to the floor made both women jump.  Misty’s hand shook slightly, giving away her true demeanor.  She may have seemed calm, but the look in her eyes was pure insanity. 

Korrine knew she had to stall this crazy person. Tony was on his way and would be there any moment. All she had to do was keep this heffa talking, and then she would be free from this deranged bitch.

“I really don’t know what’s going on or why you are here. Tony never mentioned he was getting married or even thinking about marriage. That’s not something we talked about.”

Misty gave another high-pitched laugh. “You aren’t really that smart, are you? I don’t have time to explain anything to you right now. So
you
look, Tony is probably on his way. I know the goons he has watching this place will be back from their shift change at any moment, so we need to get out of here.”

Goons? Tony has someone watching my place? Why didn’t he tell me? Obviously the threat was more serious than I thought since this crazy bitch is here with a gun. How does she know Tony is on his way?
Korrine’s thoughts were all over the place. The questions were popping in her head so fast that she didn’t realize that Misty was about to slap her.

Whack!

Misty’s hand came hard across Korrine’s face, making her stumble back once again. “I said let’s move, bitch! Don’t just stand there daydreaming! I don’t have time for this shit!”

Korrine stumbled back but didn’t fall. She caught herself, seething with anger.
This bitch thinks she’s bad with a gun. But if it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to knock her the fuck out!
Korrine gathered her composure and narrowed her eyes at Misty before slowly moving toward the door. Once at the door, Korrine whirled around trying to catch Misty off guard, pushing her with all the strength she could muster. But Misty was watching closely and saw the move coming. Misty side stepped her and, although Korrine was able to knock her slightly off balance, Misty didn’t lose her grip on the gun.

She smirked at Korrine and pushed her in the back. “Tsk tsk, ‘sweetness.’ That wasn’t so sweet. You better be glad I still need to get you out of here, or I would put a bullet in your pretty little head. Now move, and don’t try anything else or, so help me, I will find another way to get
your body
out of this shithole you call an apartment.”

Korrine

He slowly slid his hands down the front of her body. He lightly touched her tender breasts, just enough to make her gasp. He chuckled, a low, rich sound that made her shudder. He smiled and continued the butterfly touches around her nipples, which now pebbled under his ministrations.

“Damn, baby, you feel so good…I can’t get enough of you,” came the deep baritone voice.

“Mmmm, baby…
Yes
,” Korrine moaned with pleasure.

“Lift those legs around me, baby. I want to taste you.”

Korrine lifted her legs and placed them around his muscular shoulders. He dipped his head, slowly kissing her calf all the way to her inner thigh. He began to caress her with his tongue, making lazy circles over her sensitive skin. He sucked and licked all the way to her core. Korrine’s inner muscles started to clench….

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

The annoying hammering of her alarm clock jolted Korrine out of her sleep. “SHIT!” As she fought to silence the alarm, she fussed. “Damn! That’s the most action I’ve seen in a minute, and it had to be a dream. UUUGGGGH!!! Guess it’s time to get up and finish this new design.”

With a huff, Korrine stormed out of bed.

Korrine “Korri” Taylor was an up and coming designer. She knew she was destined to be in fashion. As a little girl she used to watch as her mother would get dressed, how she would coordinate her outfits, and sometimes even make her own dresses when she had the time. Korrine started to sneak swatches from her mother’s sewing room to make different outfits for her dolls. She loved creating whimsical designs. Now, that was the main reason she was highly sought after by young starlets, socialites, and fashionistas. Korrine’s designs had an appeal that was both youthful and sophisticated. Her work had intricate details that would sometimes take her weeks to hand sew. However, lately, she had enough orders to be able to outsource some of the more tedious sewing.

She started in her apartment, sketching and sewing her designs by herself. Now she had her very own studio that she was making and selling her clothes out of. The space was located in a warehouse district in Addison, TX. Although small, Korrine loved the location, as well as the space itself. She worked hard to get where she was, and she was proud of all that she accomplished so far.

Korri was in the middle of putting the finishing touches on a one of a kind creation for a popular socialite’s twenty-eighth birthday bash. This particular socialite just happened to also be Korri’s close friend. If she played her cards right, her dress would be all over fashion blogs and gossip sites for weeks to come. The dress had to be right, it had to make a statement, and it had to be perfect.

“I absolutely love this dress, Korri!” Lauryn Cameron squealed as she twirled around like a five-year-old. Her excitement was infectious, and Korri couldn’t help but smile along with the easy going fashionista. Korri met Lauryn at a runway show for an elite boutique over a year before. The two hit it off immediately and became fast friends.

Lauryn could make any outfit that she wore look like high-fashion. She had the perfect shape at 5’7” with long, tan legs, a nice shapely behind, and perky “girls” to top it off. Korrine loved to dress her. Lauryn could’ve easily been a model, but she would rather gallivant around the globe partying and spending her family’s money than actually having a schedule to keep.

“So, Ms. Korrine Taylor, what will
you
be wearing to my oh-so-special birthday?”

“Uh…well…um…,” Korrine stumbled. “I’m not sure yet, Lauryn.”

“Come on, Korri, you have to look great for my big day-”

Korrine cut Lauryn off mid-sentence. “Lo, it’s your birthday, not your wedding. And
I
don’t have to look great…I just need to make sure
you
do!”

“Oh Korri,” Lauryn sighed in exasperation. “You are one of my besties. Not only that, but you are one of the most beautiful people I know. You indeed have to be just as
fly
as me because, my dear, you will be photographed to the heavens when the press finds out that you are the fabulous designer of this equally fabulous frock.”

Korri rolled her eyes. “Since when do you say the word
fly
, Lo?”

“Since I’ve been hanging with such
fly
people,” Lauryn said with a cheeky smile and a wink.

Brandon,
Korrine thought with a smile of her own. Brandon was one of Korrine’s best friends, and one of his favorite words was “fly.” That was mostly because he was one of the “flyest” people she knew.

“Look, Korri, I know that dressing other people is your thing. But I want you to make a little extra effort…for me…pleeeeaaaase?” Lauren whined, bringing Korrine’s thoughts back to the present.

“Why does it matter what I look like, Lo? I don’t need to be the center of anyone’s attention.”

“Well, you remember my cousin, Tony, right?” Lauryn rushed to get out.

“Sure. What does that have to do wi-” Korrine stopped mid-sentence. “Wait. What did you do, Lo?”

“Nothing, I promise.” Yet, Lo’s guilty expression said completely different.

“Lo!?”

“Okay, look, I might’ve mentioned that you were making my dress, and Tony remembers you. And he just asked if, and I quote, ‘My little sexy designer friend would be at my party.’”

“Oh, geez, Lo! Why do you insist on fixing me up? I’m okay with being single,” Korri said, clearly annoyed by her friend’s meddling.

“Nobody is
okay
with being single, Korri. You’re just complacent. It’s time to get you out of this rut and back on the horse. I just want you to have a little fun. All work and no hump makes Korri a dull girl,” Lauryn said with a smirk.

“Excuse me, but how do you know I haven’t had a little hump now and then? And who in the hell said I wasn’t fun? I’m fun!”

“Okay, okay! So let’s
just say
you’re fun. When was the last time you went on a date, had a kiss, or just a romp in the sack?”

Korri narrowed her eyes at her friend. “It’s been a while, I have to admit. However, I’ve been busy. I’m trying to be a
boss
. I don’t have time for ‘romps in the sack,’ as you so eloquently put it.”

“Okay, so you don’t have to have any romps. But a date now and then could loosen you up. Besides, Tony is the type of fun you need. And you can still be a boss…just a boss that’s getting a little bit,” Lauryn responded with a smile.

Korri let out a long sigh. “I’m not making any promises, Lo; I will put in a little extra effort…but…I’m not saying I’m dating anyone. You got me, fly girl?”

“I got you!” Lauryn beamed at Korri before sauntering off.

Korrine was still reeling from the mere mention of Lauryn’s cousin, Tony. Antonio Cameron was sex on a stick…a pure unadulterated hunk of a man. At 6’5”, he was built like a tank with strong everything. The man was H.O.T. He had naturally tan skin so smooth that Korrine lost her breath just thinking about how she could lick him from head to toe and back again. He had strong facial features, a sharp nose, and a chiseled jaw, but it was his piercing brown eyes and dimpled smile that could do you in.

Korrine didn’t necessarily date white men, but Tony was just
so fine
. Who cared what color he was?

However, he was also arrogant and self-centered.

Korrine thought, “
No… one arrogant asshole was enough for a lifetime…Thanks.