Black Pearl (10 page)

Devyn awoke on a moan. With her eyes still closed she instinctively moved her hand down her body, meeting the top of Nikola’s head. Gripping his hair, she spread her legs wider, granting him greater access to her pussy. Opening her eyes, she started rotating her hips and panted heavily as Nikola ate at her pussy. He inserted two fingers into her wet core and encircled her clit with his mouth, sucking. Devyn cried out. Her orgasm was close and Nikola knew it. Curling his fingers he stroked her g-spot and alternated between sucking and licking her clit. Within minutes Devyn was cumming. She groaned loudly as he continued to stroke her g-spot as she came. When she finished, Nikola rose over her smiling.

“My pussy tastes good in the morning,” he said before kissing her. Devyn loved tasting herself on him. Their tongues dueled for a long while before Nikola finally pulled away.

“Good morning.” He whispered looking down at her. She smiled and stretched.

“Good morning.”

“You remember what you told me last night?” He asked.

Devyn smiled wickedly.

“I believe I told you a lot of things last night. I told you ‘don’t stop’ and you were ‘God’ among them.” He laughed as he pressed light kisses to her collarbone.

“I’m talking about when you said this pussy was mine.”

Devyn nodded.

“Mhmm. I remember.”

“Still true, right?”

Devyn nodded again. “Yes.”

He smiled confidently and pressed a quick kiss to her lips.

“Good. I want you to quit performing,” he said before he rolled off the bed and walked into the bathroom.   

Devyn was stunned. She couldn’t have heard him correctly. Did he really just say he wanted her to quit performing? She laid there waiting for him to come out of the bathroom and say he was just joking. That moment never came. Instead she heard the shower turn on. As he showered, Devyn got up and rummaged through her bag, putting on a t-shirt and a pair of workout shorts. She grew angrier each second he remained in the shower. Finally, she heard the shower turn off. A few moments later Nikola strolled out with a towel wrapped around his waist. Devyn got caught up staring at his muscles bunching and rippling as he dried his hair with a second towel.

Nikola caught her staring as he looked up and smiled. “You want to go out to brunch before the movie?” They planned to go to an afternoon movie. It was an action film they both wanted to see.

“No. I want to talk about what you just said.” She placed her hands on her waist.

“What did I...? Oh. Yeah, that.”

“What do you mean ‘yeah that’? Did you really just ask me to quit performing?” She said her voice filled with indignation.

He shrugged. “Yeah. What’s the big deal? You could still take classes or something, right?”

“Are you serious?” She asked.

He sighed as if she was the one being unreasonable.

“Yes.” Was all he said before he put on a pair of underwear and sweatpants, and walked out of the room. Devyn followed him.

“Nikola, don’t walk away from me. Why would you ask me to quit performing? If you’re concerned someone from work will find ou–”

“I don’t give a shit about anyone from work finding out,” he growled cutting her off. “I give a shit about you being naked in a room full of horny ass men ogling you. Do you know how hard it was last night not to knock anyone out?”

Devyn rolled her eyes. “So this is about jealousy?” Nikola’s eyes narrowed.

“No, this is about me not wanting anyone to see my woman naked besides me.”

His woman.

Devyn’s heartbeat raced at his calling her his woman. Still, she would not give in on this. They had been together for only a week and he was already making demands of her, and trying to order her around. She’d been there before and was not about to go there again. Not even for him.

“I’m not quitting.”

“Why the hell not?” He demanded.

“Because I like performing. I love it, in fact and I’m not giving it up. We’ve been together a week and you’re already trying to control what I do. I’ve been there before and I’m not doing it again,” she said firmly.

At her last comment Nikola’s eyes closed to angry slits. He stepped closer to her.

“Don’t compare me to
him,”
he spat out the last word in disgust.

“Then stop acting like
him
,” Devyn said the last word just as tersely. She remained unwilling to back down. She would not let another man control her.

“I spent enough time with a man who tried to control everything I did. Make me give up everything I enjoyed because it didn’t meet his standards. I’m not doing that again, so if my performing is a problem for you then we should end this.”

Nikola did not like ultimatums. No woman had ever gotten away with giving him an ultimatum in the past. Still, a part of him knew he was being unreasonable.

“Are you giving me an ultimatum?”

“No, I’m telling you what I am and am not willing to put up with,” Devyn said in a calmer voice.

“Why? Why do you enjoy it so much?” Nikola wanted to know if it was the exhibitionism she got off on or something else.

Devyn closed her eyes and blew out a breath. She opened her eyes, looking at him deciding how much of herself she wanted to share with him. She could tell in his stance, he wanted to prod, but he remained silent. Finally making her decision, she leaned against the wall behind her and began explaining.

“Since I was a little kid I really enjoyed dancing, but after my father died money was tight and my mom didn’t have much to allow me to take the dance classes I wanted to take. When I went away to college, I was busy working two jobs and a full class load to try anything new. When I finally moved to Atlanta and began working full-time, I thought I could finally do something for myself outside of school and work, but then I met Marcus.”

She paused looking at him to see how he was taking what she was saying. His face softened from the irritated mask he wore just a few moments ago.

“We were together for five years.” She shook her head.

“He didn’t like the idea of me taking any sort of dance classes, and because I wanted to make him happy I didn’t. When we broke up, I was a shell of a person. Mercedes thought taking burlesque would help get my confidence back and it did. After my first class I was hooked. I don’t...I don’t like it for the male attention. I like it because I love dancing. I love stepping out of my comfort zone and doing something I never thought I’d have the confidence to do. I love the women I perform with and the people who come to our shows to support us. I do it for me.”

She stopped looking at him. The anger was completely gone from his face. Running a hand through his hair he appeared to look somewhat contrite. Devyn stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his waist. He lowered his forehead to hers.

“Don’t ask me to quit.”
Because if you do, I will have to quit you.
She left off that last part, but Nikola understood what wasn’t said.

Even in this short period of time, he was in too deep. He didn’t want to lose her. He would have to find a way to control his jealousy. He wouldn’t try to stomp out her flame. It was, after all, part of his attraction to her.

“I guess everyone’s going to have to get used to seeing me around The Black Kitty. I won’t ask you to quit, but none of those horny assholes better touch you. I won’t be able to control myself,” he said kissing her forehead.

Devyn smiled and pressed a kiss to his bare chest. “Thank you.”

He grunted and hugged her tighter. “And you say I always get what I want.” Devyn’s smile deepened.

“Andre Collins’ office, this is Devyn how may I help you?” Nikola smiled at her professional tone.

He was a businessman and spent his days with professionals. The buttoned up, business savvy men and women who made up his company are what helped make it the success it was. He knew Devyn was as professional as they come, but he also knew underneath the business attire and professional tone she was a hellion. She didn’t put up with his usual controlling bullshit. He couldn’t run over her like he was used to doing with other women. He was never controlling or manipulative, but he knew he could persuade many people to do things they may not want to do. It’s another thing that made him so good at his job.

Devyn wouldn’t have it. She knew who she was and he could take it or leave it. He opted to take it. Take her. Just as she was.

“You can help me get rid of this raging hard-on I have,” he said seductively.

For the last month he’d been trying to seduce her into office sex, but she resisted. Most times she even refused to be alone in his office with him, knowing that given an opportunity he would happily bend her over his desk. He knew it was only a matter of time before it happened, but he’d let her think she was winning this little tug-of-war. For now.

“I’m sorry sir, I don’t think you have the right number. I believe you’re looking for 1-800-S-L-U-T-S.” He heard the laughter in her voice and laughed.

“I had to try.”

“Of course, you wouldn’t be you if you didn’t. What’s up?” She asked.

“I’ve been swamped all day and had a minute to myself. I wanted to hear your voice. Also, I wanted to ask you to come to my mother’s with me this weekend. She’s been hassling me for not visiting her on the weekends like usual and she knows it’s because I’m seeing someone.” He heard Devyn sigh.

For weeks he’d been trying to get Devyn to agree to go with him to his mother’s for Sunday afternoon brunch, but she refused. She gave him all types of reasons. Everything from ‘
It’s too soon
’ to ‘
the need for discretion
’ because she was an employee. He knew it was really her fear of his mother rejecting her as the woman in his life. He wanted to tell her she had nothing to worry about, but he knew showing was better than telling. He’d called his mother and told her he would be there with a date this Sunday. Now, he just had to convince Devyn.

“Nikola, I don’t know. I just...”

“You’re scared for some reason. You know my mother loves you.”

“Yes, she loves me as Andre’s assistant. How will she feel about me dating her son?” She asked nervously.

“You’re the same person. She will love you even more for putting up with me.”
And for capturing my heart.

“I want to take you to Sunday brunch before I go away next week for business.” He would be going away for a week and the thought of leaving her that long made his chest ache. It was only a week, but a week away from her was too long. He’d finally convinced her to sleep over at his place on weeknights instead of just weekends, though she of course, insisted on driving her own car so they wouldn’t show up to work together.

Devyn laughed. “You’re not that bad.”

He smiled. “Good to know. So it’s settled, I’ll let her know we’re coming this Sunday. I’ll pick you up tonight at 6:00.”

“Nik–”

“Gotta go. Have a conference call in a few,” he hung up in a hurry, not giving her time to talk her way out of brunch. He would pick her up later that night after work, take her to dinner, and spend all day with her on Saturday. He knew his mother planned to have their whole family over for Sunday brunch as a summer picnic, but he left that part out. Devyn was already nervous just meeting his mother as his girlfriend which was ridiculous. His mother loved her already and he suspected his mother wanted him with Devyn all along.

“I thought it was just going to be your mother?” Nikola looked at her as she bit her lip with growing nervousness.

She glanced at all the cars in the driveway of the mansion he grew up in. His mother refused to sell the home after his father died. She said she felt close to him here, and she wanted one of her sons to inherit the home when they married and started their own family. Nikola looked at Devyn. He could picture here her in the home he grew up in. He shook his head to not get ahead of himself. It’d only been a little over a month since he and Devyn had been dating.

Stepping out of his car he walked around to open the car for Devyn. He eyed her legs as she stepped out. Her legs were well developed from weekly dance training and her performances. She wore a pair of red shorts with a lace overlay and a white button up shirt, with matching white platform heels. His woman looked good. Nikola smiled as he eyed her ass in the shorts as she turned to retrieve her purse.

“Nikola don’t look at me like that. We’re at your mother’s house,” she whispered, even though no one else was in the driveway. His smiled widened.

“It’s not like she’s not going to know what I’m thinking anyway. One look at you and my thoughts turn to how quickly I can get you out of your clothes.” Closing the car door, he stopped, resting his hands on either side of her against the car. He reached down and nipped her ear.

“Kiss me,” he demanded

“No,” she turned her head and he seized the opportunity to lick her neck. She moaned, forgetting where they were for a brief second.

“Nikola, stop. You’re going to mess up my makeup.” Her protests were futile, as he finally captured her lips, sucking on her tongue.  He bit her bottom lip before releasing her mouth.

“Now, you have lip gloss on your mouth,” she reached up to wipe it away with her hand.

“It was worth it. You taste delicious.”

Devyn gasped. “Nikola, you can’t talk about how I taste in your mother’s driveway!”

“Yeah, Nik. Don’t you know to save that sort of talk for the bedroom?” Devyn jumped at the sudden intrusion.

They both turned to see Raul standing there with a huge grin on his face. Nikola glowered at him. “How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough to see you harassing this poor woman in your mother’s driveway. Devyn anytime you’re ready to get rid of this overgrown control freak, give me a call,” Raul winked at her. Devyn’s cheeks flushed, still embarrassed from being seen making out with Nikola in his mother’s driveway.

“Yeah, right. Going from me to you would be like going from filet mignon to steak-ums. Complete downgrade.”

“See, and an ego the size the state of Georgia. I don’t know how I’ve suffered through this friendship for so long,” Raul looked at Devyn with an innocent look on his face that contradicted the hint of laughter in his eyes. She laughed at the good natured ribbing between the two men.

“You’ve suffered because without me you would have never made it through West Point,” Nikola said confidently. They’d had each other’s backs since the first day they met. The two were inseparable at West Point, served in the same unit in the Army and fought in combat side by side.

“In your dreams.” Raul stepped closer to Devyn taking her hand and pressing a kiss to the back.

“Devyn you are looking lovely, I must say. My offer still stands. Ignore this guy,” he motioned his head towards Nikola.

Devyn giggled. “It’s good to see you again Raul.” Nikola grabbed Devyn’s hand out of Raul’s.

“Where’s my mom?”

“She’s inside and has been looking for you for the last twenty minutes.”

Raul didn’t mention the fact that the reason he stepped outside was to get away from Iris who was busy trying to hook him up with one of her nieces. She was just as bad as his own mother, who thankfully was back home in Brazil and couldn’t make it today. The two had tag-teamed him in the past when it came to dating. He was not ready to relive that moment again.

“Good. Time to let her know her favorite son has arrived,” Nikola smiled.

“Nah, I’ve been here for a half an hour already. She’ll just be happy to know you’re alive.”

“Jackass,” Nikola said as he grabbed Devyn’s hand and walked towards the front door. Before he could even reach for the door, it opened and his mother was on the other side.

“It’s about time you– Oh, Devyn.” Iris’ gaze went from Nikola to Devyn and her smile widened. Nikola’s chest swelled at the look of approval his mother gave him before turning to Devyn.

“Hi, Mrs. Collins. Thank you for inviting me to your home. This is for you.” Devyn said handing her the bottle of Riesling that Nikola told her was his mother’s favorite.

“Oh, thank you. You didn’t need to bring anything. I’m so glad Nikola was able to finally talk you into coming. It’s our annual summer picnic and the family is here. I know they want to meet you,” Iris rushed on taking Devyn by the arm, and handing the bottle of wine to Nikola.

“Nicky, can you put the bottle of wine in the fridge for later? I want to introduce Devyn around,” she said pulling Devyn along. Devyn gave a quick glare at him over her shoulder. He knew he was in trouble for not telling her he was taking her to a family event
and
that his mother already knew about them dating. He gave her a wink and her eyes narrowed even more. He laughed. She looked so cute when she gave him that look. Noticing the exchange, Raul came up and clapped Nikola on the back.

“You look happy.”

“I am.”

“Good. By the way, I took care of that little problem for you.”

The “problem” Raul was referring to was one Marcus Thomas. After the night of the gala, Nikola saw to it that he was fired from Harrison Security, with a threat to take his business elsewhere. He wouldn’t stand for a security guard assaulting one of his employees, let alone Devyn. Although Marcus was fired, Nikola knew that he could just work part-time security elsewhere, so he had Raul track down all the area security firms and put the word out that Marcus Thomas was not to be hired. Nikola considered filing a complaint with the Atlanta Police Department given that was his day job, but Raul advised him against it. Hopefully, Marcus got the message and from here on out would leave Devyn alone.