Spark (6 page)

“I am. I sing for a living. Some jazz, and I perform
on stage in musicals.”

“Jazz?” The teacher asked. “Thank you for helping by
the way. I’m Christy Parks. I know of one singer, Kendria Bonher,
who is an international jazz singer.”

“Guilty.”

The blonde’s mouth dropped open. “I think I’m about
to have a fan girl moment. Are you kidding me?” She turned to the
group. “Do you remember that jazz singer I played in class? This is
her. Would you sing something for us?” She reached out and took
Kendria’s hand. “I’m so honored to meet you.”

“Thank you, but I didn’t want to interrupt your
practice.”

“Please, we could do with a break.”

“Okay, how about something from
Mamma Mia!
,
one of the last musicals I was in?”

“Please,” Christy said.

She sat at the piano, caressed the keys, and worked
the first few notes, giving herself time to fall in the moment.
With a deep breath, she began singing “The Winner Takes it
All”.

As she allowed the final note to fade from the air,
she noticed two things. One, the entire area had fallen silent, and
two, everyone was staring at her. She cleared her throat before
moving away from the piano.

Everyone applauded, some whistled and stomped their
feet. Beyond them all, she spied Vance striding up to the platform,
a proud smile on his face. She noticed the bruising on his skin and
the busted lip. Still, when he reached up to lift her down, she
went easily into his embrace.

“You’re amazing, kitten.” He slid her along his hard
body to the ground.

“And, you look like you’ve gone a few rounds with
someone. What happened?”

He cupped her face in his hands, the calluses
scraping along her skin with unforgettable familiarity. “Later,” he
muttered seconds before he slanted his mouth over hers and took
possession of it.

҉

Vance stood off to the side, arms crossed, and
watched Kendria as she hung out with Sarah and talked to the people
who came up to speak with her. An international jazz singer. His
gut flipped as he realized she had no reason to stay here, then. He
couldn’t give her the travel and whatever else came with what she
did.

There was no denying her voice, however; she was
amazing. The purity of her love poured into what she sang. He’d
noticed that this morning, as well. He had a dull ache behind his
eyes from the fight earlier and wanted to lie down. Hearing her
pushed it away.

She lifted her head and looked across the field in
his direction, a soft smile playing on her full lips. He returned
it but didn’t move. Vance didn’t know what to make of the feelings
flowing through him when she walked away from the group around her
and approached him.

“Are you okay?” she asked, reaching up to touch two
fingers to the cut above his eye.

“I’m fine.”

“Are you planning on telling me what happened?” Her
touch moved to his lips.

He parted them and drew her fingers in, sucking on
them before he nipped the tips. She trembled, and a light whimper
escaped her.

“Joe’s boys came to the shop.”

Devastation filled her features. “Oh my God. I’m so
sorry. This is all my fault.”

He pulled her into him. “Yes, it is. And, I’ll
extract payment tonight. I need you to sing for me, and me
alone.”

Devilish merriment came into her eyes. “Is that all
you need me to do? I’m up for anything.”

His cock jerked in his pants. “You’re hell on my
libido, kitten.”

Her gaze sparkled as she grinned. “You’re just hell
on my body but in an entirely amazingly and wonderful way.” She
sobered. “Seriously, Vance. Is there anything I can do to help or
to make up for what they did? Is your shop okay?”

“Broken window, few smashed things inside.” He shook
his head. “Not so you feel worse, I’m just telling you. Everything
is fine.”

“I’m paying for the repairs.”

“No.”

“Yes. Bastard knows where I am so no point in hiding
any credit card activity.”

He hated the worry in her tone. “Come on.”

“Where to?”

“Home.”

“What about them?”

“They all have their own places to get to.” He tugged
on her arm and led her away. “They’re not needed for what I have in
mind.”

“My clothes are in Sarah’s bag on her bike.” She
waved at people as they headed off.

“Also not needed for what I have in mind.”

“I charge to sing naked,” she teased as he lifted her
into his truck.

“I’ll pay whatever you require.” He went to step
back, but she gripped his shirt and held him close.

“I’m seriously close to falling for you, Vance
Hendrickson, and it’s scaring the shit out of me.” She planted a
fierce kiss on his lips before pushing him away.

Her words echoed in his mind as he wandered to the
driver’s side and climbed in. In addition, they remained on the
trip back to his house. He was right there with her. He’d already
fallen for her.

They stumbled to the bedroom upon their return to his
home. A home he had already—despite the short time—gotten used to
seeing her in. Having her in his bed.

Vicki stopped by as Kendria took a shower, and he sat
with the deputy in his kitchen. “What’s going on with them?”

“They called a lawyer.”

“I’m sure they did. Are they from California?”

She nodded and leaned back in her chair. “Did Ms.
Bonher say any more about them?”

“Not a word.” He rested his arms on the tabletop. “To
be fair, I didn’t ask.”

“Fuck,” she uttered. “I don’t need this in my town.
This is the shit I left Atlanta because of.” She closed her eyes
and rubbed the back of her neck. “Where is she?”

“Showering.”

A wry smile cracked her mouth. “I’m surprised you
even answered the door.”

“It wasn’t an easy decision, that’s for sure.” He
drummed his fingers on the smooth wood. “Want me to bring her down
to the station?”

“No, I’ll swing by tomorrow. Sheriff ain’t going to
let them get bail tonight. He doesn’t much care for people who
break up stuff in his town either.”

“Thanks, Vicki.”

Her smile didn’t reach her eyes as she stood. “Be
careful, Vance.” She slapped her hat on her head. “I’ll see you
later.”

Vance walked her to the door and waved as she
departed. He appreciated that she was worried for him but wasn’t
about to stop caring for the woman because of who may think Kendria
was theirs. He closed the door and turned to see Kendria standing
across the way from him. His shirt covered her body to
mid-thigh.

The uncertain expression in her eyes threw him for a
moment. Then, as quick as he’d seen it, she blinked, leaving only
desire in her gaze as she neared him.

“I missed you in the shower,” she said, spreading her
hands over his chest.

“Missed joining you. Vicki stopped by.”

Another flash of the indescribable emotion. Her nails
raked along his skin, shoving all thoughts of Deputy Boshay from
his mind. Kendria gave him a temptress smile as she dropped to her
knees and drew down his sweats.

“Kendria,” he ground out her name on a long
breath.

“Shh. Didn’t bring it to me in the shower, I get to
enjoy it now.” Her breath teased the head of his cock seconds
before she took him in her mouth.

The slickness of her mouth had him groaning. “Fuck,”
he uttered.

She swiped her tongue along the underside of the
crown before she bobbed her head, dragging along the shaft, drawing
him in deep. Up and down, she moved, alternating the pressure on
his cock as she fondled his balls with one of her hands.

He dropped his head back to the door, hands sinking
into her curls. He tightened his grip and began pumping his hips,
going until he hit the back of her throat. She remained there,
taking what he demanded, her moans adding to his own pleasure. Her
right hand clutched his thigh, nails biting as he fucked her
face.

Tearing open his eyes, he stared down at her. She
watched him, eyes full of desire and lust. Asking for more. Seeing
his dick slip between her lips did something to him. She looked so
fucking hot pleasuring him, and he wanted more. Wanted to be buried
deep inside her pussy as he came. Wanted that velvet heat around
him, gripping and milking him. His balls tightened, and he knew he
was ready to come.

When he went to pull out, she narrowed her eyes at
him, her grunt of disapproval vibrating along his length, and drew
harder on him. Adding her hand to the base of his shaft, she pumped
him while she continued to suck on the head. He couldn’t hold
himself anymore and shot his load in her mouth with a low roar. Her
gaze never wavered as she knelt there, taking all his seed. Only
when he finished coming did she release him, slowly.

She sat back on her heels and dragged her tongue
along her lips. As she stood, her hand found his length and began
stroking him. “Fuck me, Vance.”

He didn’t want to acknowledge the weakness in his
legs or the way his hands in her hair shook. “All night long,
kitten.” He drew her closer and laid his claim to her lips as he
turned them so her back was against the door.

It was a long night, full of sex. Hard. Slow. Fast.
Gentle. When they finally collapsed into bed, he’d barely had
anything left to get them there and cover them with the blanket. He
tucked her close and shut his eyes, nose buried in her soft
curls.

He woke around six and reached for her, ready to pick
up where they’d left off. The bed was empty. He sat up with a yawn
and gazed around his room. When he checked his entire house, his
mood had fallen past the soles of his feet. Kendria was gone.

Chapter Six

Kendria scowled at her reflection in the elevator as
she rode it up to the top floor of the building. Her fear had
returned, and she wanted to push the lobby button and get the hell
out of Dodge. The doors slipped silently open, and she stepped out
onto the plush burgundy carpet.

Barely slowing to acknowledge the secretary at the
desk, she walked to the large door at the other end.

“He’s in a meeting,” the woman with the pinched face
said, pushing away from her desk, looking to intercept her.

“Get the fuck out of my way, Johanna.” Kendria
glared. “I’m done seeing him only on his schedule. He’ll see me,
but you may want to call the cops anyway.” Grasping the handles,
she threw the doors open.

She blinked and took a few seconds to make sense of
what she saw before her. Joe had a young woman bent over his desk,
fucking her from behind, her red hair gathered in his fist as his
bare ass pumped.

“We need to talk, Joe,” she snapped.

“Kendria? What are you doing here?” He shoved away
from the woman on the desk before him. “This isn’t—”

“I don’t give a flying fuck who you fuck, Joe. We’re
not a couple. Never were. I thought we were friends. But, I’m done
now. You sent fucking goons after me because you want to control
me. They tore up a shop, and I expect you to pay for the repairs.
All of them plus interest for the inconvenience you caused.”

The woman slunk to sit behind the desk, but Kendria
kept her gaze on Joe’s face. “You need to accept, once and for all,
that I don’t belong to you, and just because you use brute force to
get what you want doesn’t mean it will work for me. Or on me. You
come after my friends again, and the entire world will know what
you did to that other man in the parking garage as well as sending
people after me because you have a stupid idea of ownership.”

“Who’s the fucker who called me?” He moved toward
her, oblivious of his nudity.

“What’d he say?”

“Bastard claimed to be your husband.”

Warmth pushed through her. “He didn’t lie. It’s over
between us, Joe. Not that there was anything to begin with. You
aren’t a mobster; stop acting like one. Leave me alone. Go back to
fucking all your interns and secretaries. I just hope they all know
to get checked. Not to mention about your tendency to hit
people.”

His gaze shuttered, and an angry mask settled over
his body. “Don’t be spreading rumors that may get you hurt.” He
stepped closer.

Tired of being scared by this man and running, she
didn’t back down but took a step of her own. “Are you sure about
this, Joe? You’re naked before me. Think very carefully before you
do anything else. I have no qualms ripping off that thing swinging
there. Or kneeing you and putting the heel of my stiletto into your
balls.”

He paled, gulped, and moved back. “You’ve
changed.”

“I’ve learned what a real relationship is like.
Learned what it means to be truly cared for. And, it’s not what you
were doing. Stay out of my life, Joe. Just send him the money. I
know you know where he is, so do it. Don’t make me come back
here.”

She wheeled around and walked out of the door,
feeling freer and lighter than she had in years. Ever since Joe
first walked in on one of her sets at a club. Johanna stood by the
door, eyes wide as she looked between Kendria and the scene behind
her.

“You may need to go in there and help him get up
again, Johanna. I know you’ve fucked him, as well. He seems a bit
shriveled right now, and I don’t think Red in there got her
orgasm.” Tossing her head, Kendria continued on to the elevator and
pressed the button. Stepping in, she sighed as she turned around
and saw Joe and the two women talking before the door closed.

“I don’t know why I waited so long to confront
him.”

That’s not true. I didn’t think I deserved better,
not until I met Vance.

She went to her apartment and took a long shower,
needing to get the vision of a naked Joe out of her mind. Then, she
napped and went down to the theatre to see how things were
going.

This wasn’t her production, but she knew a good
number of people who were going to be in it. Being with them made
her feel better. Although in the back of her mind, she missed
Vance. That didn’t change over the next two weeks as she settled
back into her routine.