The Pleasure Package — By Denise Essex
On May 17th, Denise Essex returns with a new release and she has a special sneak peek for you to read below.
A car as expensive as the one Claudia owned shouldn’t have broken down on her the way it did. He wondered if she’d forgotten to fill it with gas. The passenger side chair sloshed when Claudia took a seat. He took in her disheveled look and did his best to hold in his laughter.
She turned and glared at him. Malik didn’t break eye contact. Besides, he wasn’t responsible for her wet clothes or her stranded vehicle. This was her karma, and he was quite tickled with the sudden turn of events.
He cautiously pulled his truck back onto the road as a fierce clap of thunder ripped through the sky, almost simultaneously with a bright flash of light.
“The storm is close. We better get off this road.”
“Take me home!”
Malik shook his head again. Couldn’t the damn woman hear? They were in danger if they continued on their current route. Couldn’t she see? There was no way she missed the sight of lightning and the increased downpour of rain.
Malik continued toward Claudia Butner’s half-million-dollar estate. Out of the corner of his eye, he noted her tremble because of her dampened clothes and the unforgiving wind. Malik’s vehicle didn’t have doors on the side, and the more they drove, the more Claudia shivered.
He also didn’t miss the thick ringlets of her natural hair. They hung around her head like a halo. She looked innocent with her hair that way. He reached behind him toward the back seat.
“What are you doing? Focus on the road!” she shouted. He wondered if she was always this bitchy or if maybe she was afraid of the storm and that caused her to kick it up a notch.
He retrieved what he’d extended his long arm for, and a hush settled over her endless complaints. Malik tossed her one of his hooded sweatshirts. She held it for long moments before she finally had the good sense to thank him.
“Thank you.”
“I’m sorry, what!” he yelled. His voice taunted her, and she fought back a smile.
“I said thank you!” She lifted the all-black hoodie over her head and inhaled his masculine scent. Malik’s essence and a bit of his cologne clung to the shirt and embraced Claudia’s body like a warm hug. Her shivers ceased and she relaxed, as much as possible, against the back of the seat.
“What’s a hood body brief?” she asked.
Malik continued to weave the vehicle through darkened roads, illuminated only by the momentary flashes of lightning. He gazed over at her and then back at the road.
“Is this some sort of gang?” Claudia smirked like she was pleased with herself and nearly flew forward when he slammed on the brakes.
“Shut up.”
“Excuse me?” Claudia couldn’t believe the way he’d spoken to her. He needed to get her home before the storm got worse.
“You’re in my ride. You broke down, remember? I’m taking you home because my Yaya would kick my ass if I left you unprotected and in the dark the way you were.”
“What’s a Ya—” Her voice was mocking like he hadn’t spoken a word of English.
“My grandmother. Everything you say to me drips with judgment and entitlement.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but slow paced or not, Malik wasn’t finished.
“Who hurt you?” He glared at her, and she could practically feel the steam coming from him.
She opened her mouth again, then closed it. What the hell was she supposed to say? Being a bitch was her defense mechanism. It was the only thing that protected her from a nervous breakdown after her divorce, and the only way she’d survived her family. But this wasn’t a therapy session. Bump him!
“It must be a gang,” she mumbled.
“Fuck you. It’s not a gang. For your information, Hood Body Briefs is the name for my clothing line.”
Claudia chuckled.
“The clothing line I intend to focus one hundred percent of my energy toward once I’ve saved a year's income. A goal you delayed when you got me fired, Ms. Butner.” Malik’s chest heaved with anger. “You know what? I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
He pulled his car off to the side of the road, splashing pockets of water when he did. Once his car was safely in park, he unbuckled his seat belt and stood.
“Get out.”
“What?” Claudia unbuckled her seat belt, too, but she had no intention of leaving his truck until he took her home. She scowled at him.
“I said get your ungrateful, nasty ass attitude out.” He seethed as he stared down at her. No one had ever gotten him worked up the way Claudia did. His chest visibly rose and fell as she frowned back up at him.
“No!”
He closed the distance between them and grabbed her by the arm. Claudia’s breath caught. The rain continued to beat against the roof of the truck, but the air shifted between the two of them.
Malik pulled her closer and studied her hazelnut features. She’d gotten under his skin, and now all his body wanted was to kiss the scowl off her pouty lips. So, he did.
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