Thin Ice 5 - Checkmate (18 page)

“
Would it make it easier on your guilty conscience when you think about all the nights you fucked me, wishing it was him,” Mook baited once more.

“
You know what Mook,” Kim began. “Fuck you,” she told him simply, stepping around him and walking to the bedroom.

“
Not tonight Miss Kim,” Mook said to her back. “But trust, I think I can handle getting myself fucked before the night is over.”

Kim whirled around to face him, catching the last glimpse of his back before the front door closed behind it. Furious she hurled the ceramic statue sitting on the foyer table at the door, watching it shatter as it connected to the wall. Before she could stop them, the tears came and Kim walked into the bedroom, hurt, angry, and worried all at once. Thankfully darkness came quickly as she cried herself to sleep.

*****

Carlita smiled as she arrived home and dropped her bag onto the couch. Picking up the phone she checked for messages, seeing only a couple from Sheila and one from her boss. There was nothing from Tariq. Not even an answer to the text messages that she’d sent him yesterday.
Why is he trying to make everything so damned difficult,
she thought angrily, calling him from her cell now.

“
Yeah,” Tariq answered brusquely.

Calming herself, Carlita didn’t trip.

“
Hi, I just wanted to let you know I was home,” she told him. “You want to come over,” she asked, praying he wasn’t going to keep pushing her away.

“
Not really,” Tariq replied.

Frowning, but still trying to keep her voice even, she tried again.

“
Tariq, what’s wrong baby,” she cooed sweetly. “Are you feeling guilty about your wife and us being together,” Carlita tried.

Tariq sighed deeply, giving her the false perception she was right.

“
Baby, you don’t have to be guilty,” she began again. “We are so good for each other.”

After twenty minutes more of cajoling and pleading, Tariq finally acquiesced and agreed to come over. Carlita disconnected, picking up a glass and hurling it against the wall.

“
Why the fuck did I have to go through all that bullshit,” she groused aloud. “It’s time to make a move and get this shit off the ground,” she continued to speak aloud as she cleaned up the mess.

Pulling out the bottle of wine, Carlita took down two glasses. She washed them and allowed them to dry.
I’m not losing you Tariq, there is too much at stake for that to happen,
she thought, heading for the shower. Tonight they would make love and she’d make sure his wife knew all about it. Setting up the video equipment when she returned to the bedroom, Carlita made sure it wasn’t visible. Satisfied she set about making herself absolutely alluring. Holding up the fire red lace ensemble, she chuckled to herself at how well things were going.
Once this bitch knows he’s got someone else and it’s over, that should draw her into the open and we can settle the shit, woman to woman,
she mused, spraying herself with the fragrance, just as the soft knock came to the door.

“
Hi baby,” she greeted him as he walked inside, taking in the outfit.

Carlita hadn’t bothered to put on a robe, seeing no need for games. They were lovers, not first time dates.

“
How was your day baby,” she asked sweetly, handing Tariq the glass of wine.

“
Stressful,” he replied simply.

“
Well, I’m here to help you forget all about that, and relieve every bit of stress you have,” Carlita teased, caressing his manhood through his pants.

She was a bit mystified that he wasn’t hard yet, but no worries, she would remedy that soon enough.

“
Why don’t we go into the bedroom and get comfortable,” she told him, taking his hand and pulling Tariq from the couch.

He obediently followed the look of disgust on his face, unseen as she walked ahead of him.

“
Why are you so distant baby,” Carlita asked, examining his face and seeing the disinterest.

Something was wrong and she had to find out what, and remove it quickly. There was no way in hell she was this close and giving up.

“
Nothing,” Tariq lied, willing his body to react as she unzipped his pants and helped him out of them and his underwear.

He took off the T-shirt and lay on the bed as she asked.

Carlita wasted no time taking Tariq in her mouth and sucking his manhood like the pro she was. Closing his eyes, he let his mind take over and soon he was hard and ready to have sex.

“
Mm, that’s better,” Carlita murmured at the magnificent sight.

Kissing him softly up his body, she found his lips again. Tariq kissed her back perfunctorily, no real feeling involved, as she moaned softly.

“
I’ve missed you so much Tariq,” she declared, putting his hand between her legs.

Tariq fingered her like before, readying himself to have sex with her.

“
Where’s the condom,” he asked, just as she was about to mount him.

“
Baby, I’m on the pill,” she lied. Carlita needed to conceive his child; it would make her victory oh that much sweeter over his wife.

“
No,” Tariq told her pushing her off him.

“
OK baby, relax,” Carlita hurriedly told him, grabbing the condom from the nightstand drawer and helping him put it on.

She slowly lowered herself onto his hardness, moaning at the feel of him inside her. Tariq simply fantasized about women he wanted to sleep with, imagining Carlita was someone else. She rode him hard and fast, reaching orgasm quickly. Grabbing her hips, Tariq doubled his effort, simply wanting to get his nut and leave her house. Carlita was still moaning her pleasure as Tariq thrust into her and his mind had its way. Before he could stop the thought, Kim was on top of him and he was sucking her nipple, loving the feel of her tight space. Tariq opened his mouth, crying out loudly as he reached orgasm and came hard, his body trembling from the force. Carlita smiled, knowing it was on DVD and thinking how pissed his wife would be when she saw it. Tariq’s mind was racing behind the closed lids.
What the fuck,
he thought, his breathing trying to slow. He’d never thought of Kim sexually, so where the hell did that come from.
No harm, no foul,
his mind reassured as Tariq dismissed the thought and told Carlita he had to leave.

*****

Tae was trying hard not to cry. Aidan had been fed and changed and was once again asleep on the other double bed inside the hotel room. Jalen was kissing her neck softly as his hand gently caressed her breast.

“
Tae, I want you to know, I won’t hurt you,” he told her softly, kissing her ear after the sentence. “I just want to make love to you,” Jalen began anew, removing the bra now, having removed her shirt earlier.

“
Beautiful,” he murmured looking at her breasts, sucking the nipple gently now.

Tae wanted to scream. She wanted to kick him in the face, shoot him in the nuts, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t do anything but pray for Shells forgiveness and let Jalen do what he wanted. Aidan was the most important thing in the room right now and Tae would do anything to keep her son safe.

“
Relax baby,” he told her, picking up on the tension.

Jalen still kept the one arm handcuffed to the bed. He loved her, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew it would take some time before she realized she wasn’t leaving him and they were destined to be together.

Tae felt him begin kissing his way down her stomach, gently opening her legs now as he went between them with his tongue. She was again inundated with the sudden urge to puke.
Please God help me figure a way out of here,
Tae prayed silently as Jalen continued to taste her.

“
Baby, I told you, relax,” he spoke, looking up into her face.

The statement reminded Tae that her body wasn’t responding. She didn’t want to anger him and she wasn’t free enough to escape just yet.

“
I’m sorry,” Tae replied quietly.

Stopping, Jalen returned to her lips and kissed her again.

“
It’s okay baby, I understand, really I do,” he told her sweetly. “Just let your body enjoy this, can you do that,” he asked, still fully intent to complete his goal.

Nodding yes, Jalen smiled at her kissing her again before returning to her breasts and beginning once more. This time Tae kept her word and closed her eyes, letting Shells play into her mind. His strength was the only thing that kept the bile from escaping her lips as Jalen once again put his mouth on her.

Thinking of the last time they made love, Tae’s body began to respond as thoughts of Shells invaded her mind and helped her escape the prison her body was being held in. Soon she was moaning softly, saturated, as Jalen smiled his approval and kissed her lips. Tae was so deep into the fantasy that even knowing the lips on hers were Jalen’s and not Shells, she didn’t open her eyes. Jalen kissed her neck softly as he entered her.

“
Mmm Tae, baby, so damned tight,” he murmured, thrusting into her.

Tae continued to keep her eyes tightly shut, her mind telling her body that the man inside her was Shells and he was loving her like he always did. As she held onto the fantasy, Tae responded, her softness becoming more and more saturated.

“
Shit,” Jalen murmured loving the feel of her.

Tae’s body finally gave her release as the orgasm hit her and she heard Shells in her ear whispering all the dirty erotic things he always said to her when they made love. Jalen heard her cry out, feeling her body’s offering and began thrusting even deeper.

“
My Tae,” Jalen whispered hoarsely in her ear just as she felt his finish invade her body.

Unable to stop it, the lone tear rolled from the corner of her eye onto the pillow and Tae prayed she wouldn’t pay for this night for the rest of her life.

16

It’d been a long week and Ian was glad everything was said and done with the funerals and burial. Ryan had come back with him, slowly getting back into the swing of the operation. Taking a deep breath Ian checked his reflection once more. The black Sergio Valente looked good on him, conservative but classy. Today was the first day of court. Stepping into his living room he found Ryan relaxing on the couch.

“
You’re not going,” Ian asked as his brother sighed lightly.

“
Not yet,” he replied simply as Ian nodded his understanding.

“
Where the hell is Jalen anyway,” Ryan asked irritably.

Ian told him that was an excellent question.

“
I haven’t been able to reach him since last week,” Ian told him as Ryan again frowned deeply, but said nothing.

“
Don’t sweat it Ice, go ahead to court, let’s get my niece home,” he added as Ian smiled.

“
It’s KiKi, I’m worried about,” Ian told him honestly.

“
Yeah, but not just yet,” Ryan replied alluding to the fact no decision had been rendered.

Ian left his brother and headed to the courthouse to meet Ray and Nikki. He felt very confident after the news they gave him about the judge for the case. He needed this case decided in his favor so he could move on with his plans. His cell vibrated and Ian looked at the instrument, reading with interest the message contained.

“
Hmph,” he said simply, putting the phone on silent as he arrived and got out, walking inside the granite stone entrance to the Municipal courthouse.

Ian went through the metal detectors and stood at the elevators as Kaitlyn and Tariq arrived. Deciding if he should say hello or not, Ray walked up, accompanied by Nikki, immediately ending the contemplation.

“
Good morning Ice,” Ray greeted him amiably.

Ian returned the greeting going on to say good morning to Nikki. They all stood at the elevator banks as Akil walked up to Kaitlyn and Tariq greeting them. The two attorneys gave each other perfunctory greetings as each set of plaintiffs boarded the elevator and headed to the courtroom located on the 5
^th
floor.

The ride was quick in Ian’s estimation as they entered the double doors and took in the semi empty courtroom. Heading to opposite tables each attorney sat with their client and began to review the day’s agenda.

“
Ice, it’s going to get rough, but I need you to stay focused on our objective,” he told him frankly.

Ian sighed deeply but nodded his understanding.

“
All rise,” the bailiff uttered as the chamber door opened and Judge Volena Baiswell took the bench.

Glancing to his left, Ray saw Akil grimace slightly when she entered the room.

“
Good morning everyone,” Volena greeted. “You may sit,” she told them as everyone returned to their seats. “This is the case of Bailey versus Taylor,” she read from the court documents. “Is that correct,” Volena asked looking at each attorney who nodded in the affirmative.

“
Mr. Lockhart, since your client is the plaintiff, we will hear from you first,” the judge told Ray looking directly at him.

Nodding slightly he rose from his seat and stepped in front of the table where Ian and Nikki remained seated.