"That's it," declared Layla as she stood in front of the bathroom mirror. Looking at her reflection she vowed again. "That's it. I'm done with him."

She'd always known Joseph never put any stock in her interests and what she did. He preferred and believed in science and hard facts. Her holistic, psychic 'lifestyle' was mumbo jumbo. At least his sister, her BFF was a different story. Still what possessed her to go along with Keisha and do a tarot card reading after dinner tonight?

Mentally washing her hands of her seven year crush Layla began to part her braids and plaited them into pigtails before bed. She went through the mundane motions of brushing her teeth, used the toilet and wrapped her hair. Then changed out of her pants, tank and cardigan, pulling over her head a blue threadbare and faded, laced up three-quarter sleeve shirt. She'd lost the laces a long time ago so the shirt dropped into a deep V down her chest. The bold, white letters name of her alma mater, Spellman, across her chest were mostly peeled away. The survivors clinging on as best they can after ever wash. in in bold before she slipped into cotton sheets and turned to her side. All the while refusing to give another thought to the stubborn-blind-fool-who-should-not-be-named.

Too many times, too many years she spent wasted thinking about him. Crushing him. Desiring him. Loving him. Too many times hurting her heart a little and breaking others when she tried to move on with other men. Guess that part she couldn't completely blame on him. From the very beginning there was a third person in her relationships. But no more. She was done. Done. If he couldn't, if he refused to, acknowledge what she knew from the moment she saw him. That he was beautiful. Okay the second realization after meeting him. That they could be great together. Magical even.

Layla turned to her back and sighed. A few minutes later she flipped to her other side and then her stomach. Twenty minutes later she found herself on her back again staring up at her ceiling. That's when she found herself, her butt parked on the kitchen counter orgasming over spoonfuls of vanilla and caramel swirled, crunchy and chocolatey chopped peanuts goodness.

"God," Layla moaned out loud, her voice echoing in the kitchen in a android like warble. "I love Snickers ice cream."

She scooped another large spoonful when the doorbell rang. The thing was as shrill as a banshee making her jump and dropping her spoon. Layla tried to catch it but only caught air. And watched in dismay as it clattered on the floor in a cold, smushed death.

The bell rang again. Layla looked up at the wooden wall clock. Instead of numbers, words were carved on scrolls. Twelve. And in clockwise. The little hand was on 'home' and the big hand on 'garden.' Which meant a very rude someone was about to find out what happened when they come between her and her snickers ice cream.

Who came to someone's house at 10:40 in the evening without even calling first? A dead man. Or woman. She didn't care. That person was dead.

She quickly jumped down and grabbed some towel papers. She cleaned the mess and cursed under her breath at whoever was still at her door ringing that damn bell. Layla walked around the counter, tossed the spoon into the sink and the trash in the black, plastic garbage can under the sink.

By the time she reached the door she already a string of curses prepared to fling at the unlucky person behind the door. But when she opened the door she silently turned those curses on herself, admonishing herself for not going to Home Depot sooner and replacing the door with one with a peephole.

"Layla, are you alright," asked Joseph. "What took you so long to answer the door? And what are you wearing..."

Layla stood in shock. She hadn't heard a word Joseph said. After all, she never thought she'd see him so soon, standing before her outside her door, looking as fine can be. The man always took her breath away. So much so she wondered how she would actually pull it off just being friends with him.

Last she saw him two hours ago he wore a charcoal gray tailored suit that fitted and outlined his muscular form to perfection, over a white buttoned down shirt and an ice blue tie. Now he was standing before her jacket gone and sleeves rolled up his sexily veined forearms. The top two buttons of his shirt unbuttoned and revealing the smooth ebony skin of his throat and collarbone. The sight of which beckoned her to press her lips there. Her mouth went dry at the thought.

Joseph looked disconcerted. His gaze traveling the length of her body. Then realization dawned at what she was wearing. A ratty, old college tee and her underwear.

Layla quickly hid behind the door, closing it partway. "What are you doing here?" she croaked. If she'd known he would be making a late night visit she would have worn something much sexier. No, scratch that, what she was wearing was perfect. She just wished it wasn't so tattered. She'd hate to prove he was right. That her current career choice couldn't even provide her with decent sleepwear.

Joseph opened his mouth to say something then closed it. He closed his eyes as if in pain and Layla had to wonder if what he had to say was so bad. She watched him as he grabbed the back of his neck and sighed in dismay.

She wanted to ask him what was wrong just then. She really did. But became too distracted watching his bicep bunched beneath his shirt, threatening to split it at the seems. She almost wanted to see it. Worse, she wanted to lick it. Badly.

She was insane.

Layla mentally shook her head at her foolishness. If she had any chance of successfully ending her feelings for him she had to start now. Faltering in less than two hours was nothing short of embarrassing. Especially when it came on the heels of the worst dinner she'd been invited to. Roast beef with asparagus didn't go down too well when the man you're secretly half in love and sitting before you viewed you as someone intent on ruining their own life trying to be a wannabe Miss Cleo.

Embarrassment turned into anger then dread like a flash flood when she remembered the little parting gift she left for him after the dinner from hell. Realizing why he came Layla cringed at the amount the paint job of his Maserati would cost.

"We need to talk about what happened tonight." Her body trembled at the words 'we need to talk,' but squared her shoulders to face the consequences with more maturity than she had tonight. "Look, I'm sorry how I treated you-"

"I'm sorry," Layla blurted at the same time, cutting his apology off. "I didn't mean to scratch...wait did you say sorry?"

"Why you saying sorry?" Joseph crossed his arm over his chest and rocked back on his heel. "And what scratch?"

"Nothing." So much for maturity. But if he hadn't seen it yet, then the scratch would be blamed on something or someone else. It was the huge car fees that made her backtrack.

Joseph cocked his brow. Something he always did when he knew Keisha was lying to him. His head slowly turned to his car parked in her visitor's driveway then back at her. Panicking, Layla tried to close the rest of the way but his foot wedged in stopping it. His hand shoved at the door and he pushed his way in, slamming it shut behind him.

Layla backed away from him. Each step she made he closed as he stalked her. He reminded her then of a wild animal. Sleek. Powerful. And alert. Ready to pounce and devour his prey. Unfortunately, the prey on the menu was her. She didn't know whether to be frightened. Turned on. Or both.

"What did you do Layla?" Her legs hit the side of her couch and she almost toppled over the arm. She clutched the sides and held on, thankful for her strong core. She shook her head and said, "Nothing."

Joseph's body pressed forward tilting her backwards. His arms caging her in as his hands clutched the plushy material of the furniture.

"What did you do Layla?" Joseph repeated again, in a voice so low and rough Layla wanted him to repeat the question a third time. It was so sexy and the way her name sounded from his lips drenched her panties.

Stop it Layla. Now's not the time to get horny over him. He's supposed to be a friend now. A friend who's pissed at you. And deserves an apology.

"I'll pay for it." Layla looked up at his beautiful face and couldn't look away as the truth spilled out. "I'll pay for the damages whatever it costs." Layla raised her right arm and crossed her heart. "I promise."

"Oh you'll pay alright." Joseph leaned forward, his hand gripped her waist. His warm breath fanned her face, making her lady parts go off like an alarm. "But what exactly did you do?"

"I might've kicked it," she answered breathlessly, her heart beating a staccato against her chest. "Your car."

"Might've?"

"Okay. I did kick it."

"And let me guess. You kicked it with those walking death traps you like to wear on your feet."

"Say their name. They're called stilettos not death traps."

Joseph tilted his head at her snark and Layla felt immediately ashamed. She did wrong and here she was giving him lip. What was she? A morose teen?

"Sorry," she said then bit her lip hard to keep her mouth from saying something smart again.

"What am I to do with you," he asked as his gaze traveled to plump, tormented bottom lip and stayed there for several seconds then traveled back up to her face and peered down into her eyes

"Forgive me?" she answered weakly torn between two extremes of guilt and lust.

Joseph shook her head and her heart plummeted down to her toes like a jumper whose shoots wouldn't open. Tears welled up in her eyes but she forced them back. Hard to believe she was so angry at him that she took out her frustration on an innocent car. But his refusal to accept her apology truly crushed her.

For all her talk and resolutions, at the end of the day, she didn't want Joseph to dislike her. Her being unable to control her emotions when it came to him now led to him probably not wanting anything to do with her. If she were in his shoes she would've cut him off already. What sane person would continue to let someone who couldn't control her childish impulses be part of their life.

"You...you... are the most infuriating woman I've ever met." Layla sadly tucked her head into her chest and nodded in agreement. His right hand fisted under her chin and tilted her head up, making sure she saw his face as he made his final blow and cut her loose. "You bait me at every turn as if it's an Olympic event. And you aim to win gold, silver and bronze."

At this Layla shook her head. She opened her mouth to explain she liked teasing him but the words wouldn't come out. She only teased him so that he would notice her. If he had pigtails she would've pulled them.

"What am I to do with you," he whispered, his face lowering. "You drive me insane. Still I can't stop wanting you."

Layla gasped in shock. Her parted mouth the invitation he needed to claim her lips in a punishing kiss that blasted apart previous fantasies as child's play.

She wondered if she had fallen asleep and was dreaming the most realistic and erotic dream. If she was she didn't want to wake up.

Joseph stopped kissing her and she missed the feel of his lips on hers. It made her feel bereft. Stripped down to a sorrowful loneliness she never realized had been her companion for years from never being able to have this man.

He pulled away from her and she instinctively followed wanted his warm, full mouth back where it belonged. Cupping her face in his hands, looking down and into her eyes with two black pools of intense need.

"Say something Layla," he growled. His thumbs caressed her cheeks, slowly moving downwards and caressed her lower lip, setting off tingling sparks at his touch. "Tell me it's not too late." He leaned closer, his mouth replacing his thumbs, suckling her bottom lip into his mouth. "That you still want me," he whispered, nibbling and licking her upper lip, "like I want you."

"You want me," asked Layla. She couldn't think straight. His heated kisses were making her so dizzy she was surprised she was able to string three words together. "This not a dream?"

Joseph claimed her lips in another searing kiss, his hand grasping his wrist, pulling her left hand forward and in between them and placed it firmly on the thick bulge of his hands. Layla felt his hardened length straining underneath her hand and shivered.

She could see it in her mind's eye how badly it wanted to free itself from his pants. For her. Because of her. And god, she wanted to free it and feel him skin to skin, palm to steel rod.

"What do you think?"

Layla couldn't think anything except 'oh my god.' She hadn't realized she said it out loud until Joseph started bucking against her hand and told her, "Oh my god is right." He pressed his hand on hers harder against the steel rod of his cock, then made her hand stroke him up and down, outside his pants.

The room filled with their panting breaths and moans. Layla reeled over the obvious proof in her hand how much Joseph wanted her. Probably always had. Just as much, no even more, as she wanted him. "But not yet," he groaned. "I'll make you mean it soon enough."

There was no way in hell this was all a dream. It was too real. Too powerful. And it would be too cruel. Unwilling to only be a half participating clod who didn't know the steps of the oldest and ritual dance Layla launched herself at Joseph. She took his punishing kisses. Hot. Wet. Sizzling. Embracing and welcoming his passion with the pent up zeal of seven years worth of desire and lust.

His hands were everywhere. She tried and reveled at every touch of his firm biceps. His muscular chest. His firm backside. Joseph had the body of a black Greek god and she thrilled to tear off his clothes to fully take him in and enjoy his virile male beauty.

He kneaded her breasts and she cried out as he flicked the hard tips, the twin points jutting out through the thin fabric. Then slowly massaged up her chest and collarbone and then to her shoulders. His thumb hooked into the collar of the shirt then slid it down her shoulders. Freeing her aching breasts as the material pooled around her waist.

Layla watched, her breath ratcheting as his hands took and held the honeyed globes in his hands, enthralled as if he held a gift within them. She flushed at the thought and under his intense gaze. She both wanted him to hurry because after seven years of wanting their relationship to escalate to this point she was impatient to wait any longer to have him. Yet after waiting seven year she also wanted to savor his lovemaking until the end of time.

Layla didn't know what to do but her body did. Her back arched into his hands pressing their bodies closer, silently baring her breasts to him to take what he wanted. Still he didn't move to do anything or remove the growing ache that called out from her soul for him to feast on her.

"Tell me what you want Layla."

"What?" His eyes moved from her breasts and pierced into hers with the raw hunger of a starving man barely restraining himself.

"Tell me," he commanded, taking both hardened nubs between his thumb and forefinger and then pinched her nipples. Hard. Layla hissed at the exquisite pain. "What you want." He pulled her nimples toward and leaned down and claimed her mouth, his tongue sweeping inside the cavern of her mouth like a stealth intruder. "Me to do to you."

He stepped back and clenched his arms to his sides. He'd drawn the line in the sand and would refuse to come closer to touch her again until she followed his demands. It intoxicated her seeing this side to Joseph. She always thought he'd be a gentle lover. But before her stood a sexual warrior intent on bringing her down on her knees in pleasure. And she wanted to experience his unspoken offer and promise. She needed to experience this side of Joseph she never thought was possible and have him catapult her heights of pleasure she only thought were possible in erotic romance novels.

Trembling, she licked her lips and croaked, "Lick them."

His brow cocked and he smiled a feral grin. "Lick what?"

"My breasts."

"What else?"

"Pinch them. Hard. Like before."

"What else?" His eyes traveled down to the black curls between her thighs and her knees weakened at the image of his head between them.

"Lick it." His hands twitched and on a roll Layla continued telling him what she wanted. "Suck it. Put your fingers in me and make me come. Then fuck me with your cock so hard I could still feel you deep inside me afterwards. Make me come again around your cock so hard I can't move. Make me believe this is not all in my head because you inside me, fucking me, feels too good to not be real."

His smile widened, flashing brilliant white teeth and Layla flushed over what he made her say. But her sudden bout of shyness was short lived when as soon as she finally detailed what she wanted, Joseph quickly took off his clothes, flinging them down to the floor without a care. And stooped down to retrieve his wallet from pants pocket, then pulled out several squared black foils. When his body straightened up her eyes trained and widened in shock at the eager, aroused flesh.

Dark and beautiful. It stood erect and at attention. Larger and thicker than any cock she had before. Precum dripping off its mushroom head and down to his balls. Layla felt a pain in her chest to lick the rivulet of its path and wrap her mouth around his cock. She didn't want to waist and spoil a single drop.

"Off." He growled the one word in a hoarse voice as equally pained as she. There was no more time for waiting. Any longer and their obituries will read death due to unrelieved sexual combustion.

Layla jumped up and let the shirt pool down to her ankles. Then thumbed her panties and shimmied them off her hips, stepping out of them and flicked them off, When Joseph strided before her and lifted her up and into his chest by her backside.

"Legs around my waist." Layla compiled and wrapped her legs around his waist bringing his hardened length up against her slit. "Your bed?"

"Upstairs. First door. Your right."

He carried her upstairs and into her room. Then laid her down on her quilted blanket. His eyebrow quirked on the images of snake, raven, gryffin and badger. But whatever he thought about her Harry Potter fanatic tendencies didn't matter. Because as he demanded and she stated, he made love to her breasts turning her into a puddle of need before he next made love to her pussy until her limbs were numb. And as promised he fucked her so hard her bed nearly broke. Then as she came around his cock, he really did catapult her into the stratosphere, but she wasn't alone. He was right there alongside her, screaming her name and grunting his release as they together strove to reach their orgasm. Splitting each other apart with its force to crashland onto Earth sweaty and limp but sated.

                                                         ✋✋❤❤✋✋❤❤

Joseph laid awake in bed with Layla snuggled against him, her head above his heart, legs draped over his waist. And he never felt more of a fool in his life.

Layla snuggled closer, her body moving up his and nuzzled his neck. Unconsciously his arm moved, adjusting her body until she straddled him and her breasts pressed against his chest. Holding her tighter towards him as if he dared not let her go when his brain was screaming that he should.

He was being punished. For his treatment to her tonight. And for lying to himself. Now that he finally succumbed to his obsession and tasted her sweetness and passion, what will come after will be a hell more gruesome than Dante himself ever witnessed.

And he should suffer. Suffer for being so irresponsible to the vibrant woman in his arms, knowing he can never give her what she thought she wanted. She was young. Hopefully she'd understand that their night together will be their last. Maybe she'll finally turn from him, live her life and all its possibilities for her.

There'd be other men too. A burning pit opened up in his chest at the thought paining him. But he reminded himself that was what best for her. As a young woman she needed a man close to her age who can she relate more to- as long they weren't anything like her previous loser boyfriends- to do all the things she wanted to do before settling down.

His arm tensed. Taking a deep breath from his thoughts he prepared exactly what he'd tell her as gently as possible when her scent drove whatever he planned to tell her out of his mind. She smelled of sex and sweat. Of coconut and some unknown exotic flower. It was her signature scent she'd wore ever since her first met her.

Mom! Dad! I'm home!

The door front banged open as if blown by a strong wind. Only one person in the Anders family had the personality of a typhoon which meant baby sis was home for winter break. Joseph left his old room- now a guest room- walked down the hallway and the stairs into a foyer filled with so many luggages Joseph almost thought she was moving back home too.

Yeah right. As if the stooped figure pulling the final luggage in would give up and come home after one semester of college.

She hadn't heard him yet so he came up behind her in a back hug and lifted her up in the air. "Welcome home baby sister!"

He should've known by her stiff posture he got the wrong person. He should've known he got the wrong person when she didn't try to stomp on his foot in reply and answer back 'hello baby brother!' But the woman in his arms smelled...like paradise. It took several long seconds for his brain to catch up to what his body already knew. It instantly flamed in desire. His cock hardened and he knew she noticed by the small gasp that escaped her.

"Bro! What are you doing?" Keisha punched him between the shoulder blades and he yelped in pain, almost dropping her. He gently placed the stranger down. He badly wanted to see her face and see if it matched with the tight butt and lush curves he felt.

Instead he turned around, hunched over and wincing in mock pain, lifting his right arm to rub his shoulder blade. "Damn baby sis. Why your fist so hard? Have you been trying to become a bodybuilder or something since you left for college?"

"If you don't stop manhandling by bestie I wouldn't have to hurt you," she huffed then stepped away from him. He watched in anticipation as his sister wrapped her arm around her friend's waist and turned her around.

His heart race in time of a clock counting down until the final moment. And when it struck it last his heart imploded at the sight of flushed face staring up at him. Her smooth honeyed skin made him want to lick her all over to find out if she was just as naturally sweet. Thick lashes fringed her deep brown eyes which tipped up like cat eyes. Her hair, a black inky mass, brushed her shoulders, framing her face in an innocence that excited him more than he thought possible. Especially so soon after breaking the apartment lease with his longtime high school girlfriend. And wary.

She was beautiful. He wanted her. Needed her. But she was a baby. Much too young and naive for the pleasures of the flesh running through his mind right now.

"Big bro, meet my college roomie and new bestie. Layla, this my brother Joseph."

"Hi," she said breathlessly, looking up at him with admiration.

Joseph knew then it wouldn't take much effort to get her into his bed before their break was over. Probably three - no two- days tops. No, he silently chastised himself. Layla was his younger sister's best friend. No matter how much he wanted her he had to stay away from her. For her own good. His sister's.

And his.

Layla's soft snore broke him out of his memories to the present. Seven years of keeping away from her,even trying to forget her with other women who never measured up and this is what it came down to. The best sex of his life with the one woman in the world he shouldn't be having sex with. Worse still was his cock stirring for her again.

He was a damn fool alright.

Joseph grasped her waist and lifted her up slightly until her breasts swayed in his face, pulling her tightening nippled into his mouth. Loving them. Suckling them. Soon sleepy whimpers turned into cries of ecstasy. Layla bucked against him and when he reached over to her nightstand for another condom, he tore the packet, slid it down his hardened length then impaled Layla on his cock.

He watched her erotic dance as she took him deeper inside her. He wasn't going to last him. Joseph removed his hand, licked his fingers and reached towards the sensitive bundle of nerves above her slit, rubbing her clit.

Speeding up at his touch, Joseph thrusted harder and faster to match her pace. Her cries turned to gulping breaths as she said his name and 'oh my god.' Her pussy clenched around his cock then clamped him fiercely. They both shouted out their release and as her body collapsed against him Joseph silently vowed to pay penance for breaking his promise later.

Now he's finally entered through the doors of paradise he denied himself for so many years. He might as well enjoy it while it lasted before letting her go. He'll cash his ticket to hell later.