Hitta's Tea Maker / Edwina Fort

I screamed as I tried to run past him, but his big warm hand palmed my belly before he slammed me back against the wall. It wasn’t hard enough to hurt, but it was hard enough to get my attention, not to mention the fact that he was crowding my space in a very threatening way.

He was so strong, his hand still flat against my stomach was holding me against the wall while his other arm rested on the wall just above my head. He leaned in close, trapping me with his big stout body.

Tears filled my eyes when his raged filled face got close to mine. I wanted to scream for help, but I was so terrified the only thing I could do was stand there shivering.

“Where yo’ f***ing brother?” He growled.

And…

Oh, my goodness!

The force of his words had my knees knocking, if his hand was not there on my stomach holding me in place, I would have slid to the ground.

“I—I don’t know,” I cried. “Please don’t hurt me!”

“He’s not here, boss,” someone said behind us.

“It’s cool, go downstairs and wait for me.”

Although I couldn't see anything past Hitta’s big body, I heard the other men as they filed out, leaving me alone with this…this…

Force of nature!

“Please don't hurt me…” I repeated through trembling lips as his gaze raked over my face. He moved back a few inches so that he could look down my body and I saw somethingchange in his eyes.

I bit my lip wanting to cry out again when I realized I was standing there in nothing but my black thigh-high stockings, black panties, and my black halter sweater…his big warm palm was still pressed against my naked stomach.

“Damn…” I heard him whisper as he took in my body.

“What do you want?!” I yelled, not able to take it anymore.

His heated gaze came back up to mine. “Yo’ crackhead a** brotha stole money from me yesterday.”

I closed my eyes…

No, Westly! No!

Oh God! No!

Out of all the people in the world to steal from.

Please, God,…don't let this be true!

When I opened my eyes again, he was biting his lip looking at me with that hungry gaze of his. I’ve never had a man look at me like that before. His gaze took its time taking in my body as his thumb rubbed against my soft stomach.

“Please tell me that wasn’t your money?” I whined.

“Where the f***is it?”

My shoulders slumped. I give up… this was just too much.

“I—I spent it.”

I don’t know why I told him the truth. Maybe because I didn’t want him to kill my brother and I knew he wouldn’t kill me. As if to confirm my words, a deadly grin slowly spread across his face.

“You spent my money, Teacup?”

Although it was the last thing in the world that I wanted to do…I nodded. The look that came into his hard gaze as it once again took its time raking over my barely clad body was that of a conqueror. When his eyes settled on my trembling lips, there seemed to be some kind of hidden pull between us, his head came closer to mine and it looked for a moment as if he was going to kiss me.

I held my breath, terrified, yet…and I really hate to admit this…excited.

“Well now…” he muttered, his lips only inches from mine. “It looks like you… belong to me.”