Charisse
I was stark naked on my knees, on the dining table behind the pot of warm beef brisket, and Val was in front of me, in his usual seat, sniffing through the clothes I wore today.
His eyes were on me the whole time, darkened with fury.
“H-he didn’t touch me, Val,” I whispered, hugging my shoulders for a little bit of decency. “Please don’t be mad.”
He flung the hoody away then picked up my bra and pressed it to his nose.
Embarrassment seared my back. I looked away as he took a strong whiff.
“Did I tell you to look away, Charisse?”
That deep voice intensified the itch between my thighs, and I forced myself to look back.
“S-sorry, Val.”
“Are you embarrassed? Of me? Of how crazy I am about you?” He threw the bra aside and fetched my panties.
“N-no, Val,” I whispered, pushing my thighs together to hide my wetness.
He inhaled deeply, his eyes still on me, and crushed my panties against his nose to take another deep inhale.
And a whimper of shame slipped from me.
“Are you ashamed of how wet you are right now? For me.”
I nodded.
“Because you’re a slut, Charisse.” He pushed the pot of brisket aside. “I smell nothing but you in these clothes, yet I still find it hard to believe you. Spread yourself.”
I knew that he wanted to do a thorough check because he loves me. But I still felt uncomfortable lying naked on my back on the table, displaying myself like this to him. Like a real slut.
Yet, I had to do it, or he’d get upset.
And I don’t want him to be upset. I want him to be happy. He deserves it.
“Wider,” he said, “I need to see everything clearly.”
And I pulled my knees further.
He stared at the glistening pinkness and asked angrily, “Did you fuck him?”
“No!” I choked in tears. “We only talked! I would never let another man touch me! Why would I? I love you!”
“Then, why didn’t you say so earlier?” He towered over me, his fingers caressing my damp cheeks. “Why did you make me do this, baby?”
“I’m sorry…,” I sobbed.
“And?”
I sniffed. “I need to be punished.”
“Because—.”
“I m–made you feel bad. A-and I’m your good slut,” I said as he fished a spoonful from the pot.
“You made this because it’s my favourite, right Charisse?”
“Yes,” I whimpered with a dreaded knowledge of what was to come.
He seemed to see the fear in my eyes and got angry again. “Can I not eat it?”
“Y-yes, you can!” I forced a bright smile. “I made it for you.”
“But I want to eat it with you, baby.”
And steaming sauce struck my raw, wet lips.
A sharp pain shot to my mouth so I bit my lower lip to silence it when his mouth covered the same spot, and he proceeded to devour me.
*****
More warm sauce dripped on my breasts and I arched in painful bliss.
“Why are you stopping, Charisse?” He growled against my collarbone.
I resumed bouncing hard and fast on his thighs as he ate the sauce off my nipples, sucking them with fierce passion.
“I will not… take the job….” I squeezed the back post of his chair to summon greater restraint. “I will not… talk to him… ever again….”
He grabbed my butt and slammed me down on him.
And I screamed as fresh tears gushed down my hot cheeks.
“Can I trust you?” He licked my ear, his gasping rapid and heavy.
“Yes, Val!” I bounced harder. “Yes!”
He sucked my earlobe. “Rip the card, Charisse—.”
“YES!” I was right at the edge.
“And never think about it ever again,” he snarled and sank his teeth below my earlobe.
“COME INSIDE ME, BABY!!” I screamed and shook hard in his arms.
He pounded into me a few more times then climaxed, hugging me real tight as his love juice shot into me.
When he was done, I was pushed off him so he could get up.
My legs felt like jelly but I knew that it wasn’t over because he was searching my sweatpants for Dorian Vellum’s business card.
The second he found it, he read it and snarled, “On your knees, slut.”
I knelt before him, my mind still hazy from all his love-making.
“He only wants to eat your pussy, Charisse, you know that, right?”
“Yes, Val,” I panted, barely able to open my eyes.
“All that talent talk is just to get you into his pants.” He lifted my chin to his powerful rod. “I will kill myself if you go to him, Charisse.”
That sobered me up instantly. “NO! I–I won’t! So, please don’t! Please don’t be sad, Val! I’ll be good, I promise!”
“Then, make me feel better, my good slut.” He bumped my lips to the tip of his cock.
I opened my mouth to take him in, as confetti fell all around me.
I glanced at the tiny pieces of the business card on the floor and said goodbye to my dream job.
Val is my everything. I can’t give him up.
*****
Dorian
At first, I thought she couldn’t afford clothes so she wore whatever she could grab from the recycling bin. They were all men’s size so her petite body was pretty much swallowed up whole by the sweatsuit fleece.
But then she rejected a job that pays double what she’s currently earning, so money wasn’t an issue for her.
So, why the men’s clothes?
The answer was in Charisse Pax’s report.
It was shorter than I expected, barely a paragraph, which said a lot more than what I observed.
Charisse Pax has been living with a man called Valentin Egoton, and a quick check on him produced a report as long as a conman’s.
It’s likely that the clothes were his. A symbol of ownership. That ridiculously tight hair bun and those excessively large specs must be him too. He dressed her up like a weirdo so she would repel men.
“So what does it say?” Alfred looked eager to prove his deductions. “Does he have ten wives? Men like him are the reason why I CCTVed my sisters.”
But I shut my iPad and threw it on my coffee table. “I have no reason to read his bio.” I reached for my glass of whiskey.
He squinted suspiciously. “You’re acting weird.”
“I’m hiring her, not him.” I took a sip.
He deadpanned. “And I was born yesterday.”
I ignored him until he sighed in defeat and leaned back to lounge on my couch.
“What if Charisse Pax said no? That control freak of her boyfriend will definitely talk her out of it. And Frank will not hesitate to fill up that spot for you—with one of his spies.”
I swirled the golden liquid in my glass and said, “Then, Frank will be gone.”
Because no one is taking that spot except her.
CharisseI crashed into a puddle outside the restaurant. My shoulder slammed into the hard pavement but it was my chest that hurt. My shattered heart. But the rain continued to beat down coldly. No one could tell the mental and physical pain from my Beta’s betrayal. How could they, when the rain washed it all away, making it non existent. My devotion towards that man, my love, my entire life. All of it was non-existent. I, Charisse Pax, never existed!But I am here! The pain is real! As real as the soiled dress sticking to my skin, the damp hair on my face!I gripped myself up. I couldn't just give up like this! That woman will not get my Val! I WILL NOT LET HER! I charged towards the entrance door—.But those burly men anticipated my return like I was the kind of crazy they’d often meet as a fine dining restaurant. Their biceps swung in like a leash and I was thrown back on the ground. “Get out of here!” One of them boomed. “Go on!”But I clambered to my feet once more. I
Charisse Huff, huff. I was moving but I couldn't feel my feet. I was breathless, my heart was racing, but it wasn't because I was moving. It was fear. The fear of getting caught… and knowing the truth. Huff, huff.They say a woman's instincts are real. And I wished they hadn't said it, or I didn't hear it. They also say that a woman is a walking contradiction. I wished I had stayed as Val specifically told me to, but I was also glad that I didn't. I stepped off the last step and Val was already out of the elevator on his long strides out the building. He was still on the phone with the person he called ‘baby’. “...oh that?” Val chuckled as though it was a joke. “That was one of the helpers.”My time froze. I am Val’s maid? No, no, no… there must be a mistake. I must've heard wrong. Val laughed. “You know how clumsy they can get. Can't even handle a mobile. Probably never seen one of them in her whole life….”A bitter taste seeped into my mouth. I may be clumsy. But I know
CharisseI stared at the end-call screen with the name ‘Boss’ on it. Thoughts and memories rushed in. Millions and millions of them. Each trying to make sense of what had happened and what I just heard. Then, I figured it all out. ‘Boss’ is a woman who made Val work overtime that particular night when he came home at nine. She felt apologetic because it had to be done so she called to apologise! Yes, that’s it! It must be it. She probably calls everyone in the office ‘baby’, and she should already be sued for harassment by using such intimate terms on male colleagues. I grabbed the phone off the floor and put it back on the desk, feeling much better. Val wouldn’t cheat on me. He wouldn’t because I’m the only one for him—and he’d said this every time we’re together. And if he’d wanted to cheat on me, he would have already left me. But he’s still here!I laughed at my silliness. Overthinking kills, Charisse. You need to stop doing it, I told myself. And then the buzzing started
DorianI turned away to take the call. “What?” “Hey, is your secretary’s husband called Valentin Egoton?” asked Alfred. I glanced at Charisse who was folding the pink dress, a big smile plastered on her face, and muttered quietly, “Yes. Why?” “He made a reservation for two at Saul’s tomorrow night.” I stepped out of earshot as the restaurateur continued, “He asked for a live quartet and some special decor for his table—.”My jaw clenched in frustration. “And you’re telling me this because?” “That’s a bit too extravagant for a birthday celebration, don’t you think?” I kneaded my forehead to stop myself from yelling at him. “Still don’t get your point.” His tongue clicked in disbelief. “He’s gonna propose, man!”I sighed, holding my temples. “Still don’t get why you’re telling me this—.” “Dude, the name of the woman he gave us isn’t Charisse!” I spun around to take a good look at the amazing woman striding back to her desk, unconsciously flaunting assets she wasn’t aware she ha
CharisseI should’ve emptied all the bins on Saturday like usual. Then, I wouldn't have found the receipt for a diamond ring in the bin in Val’s study. A private person he is, one of the things Val loves about me is my respect for his privacy. I've never entered his study without his permission, and I only go in there when it's cleaning time or trash time. But when Val didn't come home at seven for the first time in nine years, I badly needed a distraction. So I did some light cleaning and cleared the trash. It was a secret purchase for a reason—a surprise proposal. And I had spoiled it. Worse, I began overthinking, going through every detail that he’d done out of routine, starting with him coming home late to not making love to me, and wondering if they all had something to do with him being sick and tired of me. Or disgusted with my slutty and inconsiderate behaviour. “Cancel the meeting at four,” Dorian’s voice pierced through. I snapped back, blinking profusely. “The me
CharisseI miss you, Val…. “Baby.” I opened my eyes and Val was right in front of me.That smile. The tenderness in his gaze. It used to give me comfort and peace. Now, all I felt was hair-rising fear. I jolted back. “Val! I–I didn’t mean to doze off! The beef stew will be ready in three minutes—!” Hurry and get him food, or he’ll punch your stomach again! My mind screamed. But as I turned to dash into the kitchen, an iron grip came over my wrist. Immediately, I cowered. A chilling fear seized me. I waited for the blow to my stomach—. “Ssh, baby,” he whispered, pulling me forward. The first touch of his arms stiffened me. Then, as they wrapped around my back to engulf me into his embrace, something swarmed up my throat, threatened to burst through. I didn’t know why I was feeling disgusted. This is Val. The man who loved me more than anyone could and would. The man who would do anything to keep me safe. So I should feel safe, loved and protected. But the ominous feeling rema