A test of love chasing l.., p.1
A Test of Love (Chasing Love Book 2), page 1
This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
A Test of Love
Copyright © 2023 by Kenya Wright
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof
may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever
without the express written permission of the publisher
except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
All rights reserved.
Table of Contents
Copyright Page
a test of love
Chapter 1 | JASMINE
Chapter 2 | CHASE
Chapter 3 | JASMINE
Chapter 4 | TROY
Chapter 5 | CHASE
Chapter 6 | JASMINE
Chapter 7 | JASMINE
Chapter 8 | TROY
Chapter 9 | JASMINE
Chapter 10 | JASMINE
Chapter 11 | Troy
Chapter 12 | Jasmine
Chapter 13 | CHASE
Chapter 14 | JASMINE
Chapter 15 | TROY
Chapter 16 | CHASE
Chapter 17 | JASMINE
Chapter 18 | TROY
Chapter 19 | JASMINE
Chapter 20 | JASMINE
Chapter 21 | TROY
Chapter 22 | CHASE
Chapter 23 | JASMINE
Chapter 24 | TROY
Chapter 25 | CHASE
Chapter 26 | WENDY
Epilogue | JASMINE
Printed in the United States of America
First Printing, 2023
ISBN 0-9000000-0-0
Chapter 1
JASMINE
Sex and a flowery fragrance drenched the air. Rose petals cluttered the ground. The lamps in Lan restaurant boasted no light, except the one crimson lamp that hovered over our table and bathed us in a red glow.
Chase and I lay entangled in each other’s arms among piles of petals, whispering about everything but what needed to be discussed. We’d avoided the commitment word and talk of what we would do for the future. Instead, we kissed and nibbled each other until our lips were puffy and numb, and nothing existed in the moment but our hearts beating against our chests.
What will we do after this? Are we even back together?
He left the arrangement with his three girlfriends, women who’d attended to his needs and spoiled him rotten. He’d made love to them as much as he pleased, treated them any way he desired, and dressed them according to his strict instructions.
Now all of that’s gone.
He said he had left all of that for me.
But am I enough? I’m only one woman.
“I have to go.” I scanned the dark restaurant for my panties and bra. I’d been “going” for the past hour, and for that whole time, Chase had been distracting me.
“Just let me kiss her before you leave.” Chase moved lower and pressed his lips against the area between my legs. “She missed me.”
I groaned. “Yes, she did.”
A throbbing blaze uncoiled within my core and spread across my skin.
Damn him.
I gasped, grabbing for something to hold onto and only feeling the silky texture of flowers slipping through my fingers. Words balanced on the tip of my tongue, ones like taste and lick, please and now. But I kept them in my mouth. I had to get out of there and clear my mind.
I’ll just let him do this for a few seconds. Fuck.
He slid his tongue between my folds and circled my throbbing bud with lazy, long strokes, over and over.
“Chase.” I trembled under him and forced myself to edge away. “We can’t.”
“We can.” He lapped at me hard with just the right pressure, sending me into a frenzy of pleasure. I wanted to lie back down and let him take me for the fourth time that night, but I couldn’t. I needed space and time to think. If I wasn’t careful, he would devour me just like that and tug me back into his world before I got the chance to figure out my needs.
And I have to check on Vivian.
She’d called three times since I’d been in the restaurant making love to Chase. Hysteria laced her voice. She had an argument with Troy but refused to tell me why. Not that I couldn’t guess. They’d started dating after secretly being in love with each other for all their lives and then later discovered they were brother and sister, all in less than a month. A rollercoaster ride of emotions bridged between them, and I was the maintenance person, contacted by both, whenever the ride became too much.
“I should leave.”
Chase grunted in protest and sucked on my clit. It swelled in his moist mouth. His sucking was pure bliss. He captured my breasts with his hands and fondled the tips of my nipples. The whole time he watched me with those green eyes that boasted amber hues around the irises.
Holy fuck.
He whipped his tongue along the tip of my clit as he sucked.
A scream of ecstasy fled my lips. “Oh, God!”
“God can’t save you now.” He spread me wider and pushed his tongue inside.
Yes. Right there.
I rocked into his face. My focus thrust all other concerns out of the way and centered on his magical mouth, teasing fingers, and his scent—new leather mixed with vanilla. He pulled his tongue out and flicked it up and down over my clit.
This feels so good.
My phone rang.
The noise splashed over me like cold water.
Vivian.
It had to be her.
What was I even thinking? I have to leave.
“Stop, baby.” I moved his hands from my breasts and nudged at his head. His sweat-drenched hair smoothed against my fingers. He lifted his face. My arousal had wet his lips. They shined each time shadows flickered away for light.
My phone rang again.
He tried to go back to licking. I blocked him. “Stop.”
“Stop?” He pierced me with an angry gaze.
“I have to answer that.” I scooted away from him and reached for the phone.
Petals stuck to my butt and the backs of my legs.
“Don’t answer.”
“I have to, Chase. Vivian isn’t handling the situation with Troy very well.“
“She’s had you to herself for all these weeks we’ve been separated, while I sat outside your apartment in my limo like a heartbroken, deranged person.”
“I’m still answering.”
“You have half a minute to find out what she wants and hang up.” No hint of humor glazed his words.
I tried not to laugh at his audacity. “And if I don’t get off the phone, what are you going to do?”
He gripped my thighs with his hands. “I’ll take you while you’re on the phone.”
“You’re insane.”
“You’ve known that for a while.”
Grinning, I held the phone to my ear. “Hello.”
“Jasmine, where are you?” Troy asked.
“Why?” I checked my screen. Vivian’s name glowed in green. “Troy, why are you calling from Vivian’s phone?”
“You’ve got to come now. Viv took something. I don’t know what. It’s just lots of pills all over the coffee table. I called 911 and—”
“Pills?” I climbed away from Chase.
“She took something.”
“Please say you’re joking. This isn’t funny.” I quickly rose from the floor and searched around for clothes. My knee bumped into a chair. “Damn it!”
This can’t be for real. There has to be a mistake. Vivian wouldn’t do anything stupid like this.
“Viv’s foaming at the mouth.” Troy shattered my thoughts. “She sent some crazy text. I called her back to see what it meant. She didn’t answer the phone. I turned the car around to check on her. She didn’t answer the fucking door so I used my key and rushed in—”
“What do you mean foaming at the mouth? Is she at our apartment? Did you call anybody?” My heart slammed against my chest. My breaths came quick, so fast I started to hyperventilate. Chase handed me my panties and bra as he rushed to grab his own cell and talked into it.
“Jasmine, where is he now?” Chase asked me.
I covered the phone. “My place. Something’s wrong with Vivian.”
“Okay.” Chase stood up and said into his own cell phone, “Put Sampson on now.”
I returned to Troy. “You called someone?”
“Yes. Dammit. I called 911 and they said they were bringing someone over,” Troy explained. “They’re still on the line on my phone.”
“I’m coming right now.” I stumbled around, looking for my dress. “I. . .um. . .is her pulse. . .?”
“What?”
“I don’t know. Is it normal?”
“Her heart is beating, but her eyes are just . . .weird,” Troy replied. “I gotta go.”
“But—”
“I’ll call if the ambulance gets here before you.” Troy hung up.
I dropped my phone on the closest table. My fingers shook as I dressed.
Please, God, let Vivian be okay.
I tried to step into the leg hole of my panties but kept missing as I scanned the area for my dress. Chase put on his pants and talked into his phone.
“Get a police escort if you have to, but get there right now.” Chase slid his thumb across the phone’s screen and tossed it on the table. “Calm down, baby. I have some men running over there just in case. My assistant is going to notify the ho spital and prepare a private room for her. We’re taking my limo and we’ll run every red light from here to your apartment.”
“Thank you.” I finally put on my panties and stumbled backward. “I need my dress and. . .shoes. My keys. I don’t know where they are. I think they’re in my purse. Fuck. Where is my purse?”
Chase seized my arms and pulled me to him. My breasts pushed against his chest. “Calm down, Jasmine. Breathe.”
She’s foaming at the mouth.
“I’m fine.” I shoved him away. Tears blurred my eyes.
Vivian, why would you hurt yourself? I was coming. Why would you do that?
Rage mingled with anxiety. My stomach clenched into tight little knots that crowded my core.
You fucking die and I’m going to kill you. Tears streamed down my face. “I have to call Benny and Troy. No. Troy is there. I have to—”
“Breathe, Jasmine.” Chase placed his hand on my chin and steered my attention to him. “I’m here with you. I have people going over there. You don’t need to do anything but get dressed.”
“Benny would want to be called.”
“My assistant can do it.”
“I should call myself.”
“Then you can do it in the limo.”
I wiped at my face and hurried with putting on my bra. “I should’ve never left. I knew she sounded different. I should have—”
“Stop.” He tugged me into him.
I buried my face into his chest and sobbed as I inhaled and exhaled. His scent soothed me. His arms enveloped me in warmth. Calm poured over me, not enough to make my worries disappear, but enough to keep me brave for whatever I had to deal with in the next hours.
“It’s going to be okay.” He leaned away from me and stared into my eyes. “Do you believe me?”
“Yes.” I bit my lip.
“Both an ambulance and my men will get there, and once that happens she’ll be fine.” He brushed strands away from my eyes. “I’ll take care of anything you need me to.”
“Okay.” I swallowed down my fear, spotted my dress, and headed to it.
A knock sounded at the door. I jumped. Chase held his hand out.
“Relax, baby.” He rushed over and stood by the door, but didn’t open it. “It’s probably my bodyguard, Oscar, telling me the limo is ready. Put on some clothes, please.”
I stepped into my dress and yanked it up. Chase waited as I zipped the side. Once I was clothed, he opened the door.
“Mr. Stone, we have a problem.” A huge black man with a bald head leaned Chase’s way and whispered something in his ear. Chase’s calm face shifted to enraged in seconds. He formed his hands into tight fists as Oscar continued to say whatever he was telling him.
“Enough.” Chase backed up. “I don’t have time for this tonight. Get rid of them.”
“Get rid of who?” I leaned my head to the side.
“Don’t worry about it. This doesn’t concern you.” Chase bent down, grabbed my shoes, and handed them to me. “Oscar, tell the other guards to escort them back to their cars, and then take us out the back entrance.”
“Yes, sir.” Oscar stood next to the doorway and raised a small walkie-talkie to his mouth. “Please escort Ms. Benson and the others back to their cars.”
Ms. Benson?
“Isn’t that Dawn’s last name?” I asked.
A scowl plastered over Chase’s face. He picked up his shirt, wrenched it on, and glanced at his watch. “Is the car ready yet?”
“It should be by the time we go outside.” Oscar held the door open.
“Is Dawn outside or not, Chase?” I walked through.
Oscar averted his eyes.
Chase remained tight-lipped and placed his hand on the center of my back, guiding me down a dark hallway with a tiny red light near the exit.
“Are the chef and waiters still here?” Chase looked up at Oscar.
“No, sir. They left over an hour ago.”
“Go ahead and close up once we leave, and have someone deliver the title to Mr. Gabriel Jones.” Chase buttoned his shirt. “Do you have his address?”
Oscar nodded his head, shoved through the back door, and kept it open for us.
“So you’re really going to give the restaurant to Gabe?”
“A deal is a deal. I asked him to get you to me tonight.” Chase’s gaze swept over me. “And he definitely did that. I would give him a restaurant chain if he asked for it.”
Since he had stopped ignoring my questions, I decided to ask again, “Is Dawn here?”
He turned away. “Does it matter?”
A cool breeze hit my face and carried a foul odor my way, reminding me of the smell one got with decaying food and trash that had been out for days. Moonlight glowed over the alley, but still could not brighten the darkness that hovered over me.
“I don’t like this.” I placed my hand on my hip. “You’re avoiding a simple question.”
“No, I’m not.”
A beep came from Oscar’s phone. He put it to his ear, mumbled something into it, and turned to us. “Mr. Stone, the limo just pulled out and is turning the corner.”
“You didn’t answer my question.” I glanced at Chase.
“What question is that?” A wrinkle creased his forehead. He checked the alley from side to side and never looked my way.
“Is Benson Dawn’s last name?”
An exasperated breath left his lips. “Yes.”
“She’s here?”
“Correction. She was here.” He gritted his teeth. “Lucy and Wendy, too. They wanted to talk to us and asked Oscar if they could come in.”
“How did they know we were here?”
“I have a new assistant that Lucy trained. It would’ve been easy for either of them to simply ask him. I never told him to not say anything.”
“Your new assistant is a guy?”
“Yeah.”
Oscar’s walkie-talkie beeped again. He listened to the person on the other line and answered, “Yes? Good. Okay.”
The limo rounded the corner.
“Are they gone?” Chase asked when Oscar finished.
“Yes, sir. They all left in their own cars.”
The limo stopped in front of us.
Chase rushed to open the door.
“Jasmine!” a woman yelled at the end of the alley.
I twisted that way. A silhouette stood down at the opening. She wore a jacket, skirt, and heels. A hat covered her face. I couldn’t make out who she was, but I knew she was Caucasian. I wasn’t sure why; maybe it was due to this side of Oshane City’s being mostly populated by Caucasians.
Or maybe I spotted the color of her pale skin as she raised the gun.
A boom sounded.
“No!” Chase yelled.
Oscar dived in front of me.
Too late.
A bullet ripped through my right arm, traveling through my flesh, breaking apart the bone, and searing a new opening on the other side.
So much pain!
Crying out, I held my arm and slumped against the limo door. Blood coated the air, dripped on the ground, and spilled all over me. Pain blinded me. All I could focus on was the ripping burns that stabbed throughout my arm as if someone held a hot steak knife and sliced me open. Another shot boomed.
Oscar’s body ricocheted against me. Blood sprayed, but I wasn’t sure from where.
Heels clattered against the pavement as the woman ran off. Oscar raced that way with a gun in his hand, screaming orders into his walkie-talkie. I was glad he hadn’t gotten shot in the face or worse.
Chase dragged me into the limo. “Are you okay? Jasmine! Jasmine!”
“Yes.” My arm spasmed. “Shit, this hurts.”
Footsteps stomped.
Gunshots exploded.
People screamed and shrieked.
Horns honked.
Metal crashed against metal. It sounded like a war had come.
Chase tugged me to the floor and tried to shield me with his body.
“Drive, goddamn it!” Chase yelled at the driver.
The limo started.
The engine hummed.
Tires screeched as we sped off.
The limo door swung back and forth. The odor of rubber whooshed in.
I slammed into Chase as the limo raced out of the alley at high speed.
“The door is open!” I tried to get up, my body being slung back and forth by the impact of the limo as it turned again.
“Stay down!” Chase yanked me back and slammed it closed. “Is it just your arm? Where else? Are you okay?”
“Y-yes.” I tensed my shoulders as I hugged my wounded arm. I could see the hole. Torn flesh outlined the gunshot wound. Blood trickled out, staining my dress and painting my arm.
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