Page 1 of Earl

Chapter 1

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Cathy sent him a pulverizing look that had him laughing, golden eyes crinkling and white teeth dazzling against coffee and cream complexion.

“Talk or get out.”

“So touchy!” Justin tsked, lifting the wine glass to his lips. His first sip, had him grimacing. “I should have brought over a proper vintage.”

“No one invited you.”

“Who are you kidding?” Stretching his long legs out, he nudged her with the toe of his Italian loafer. “You were here rusticating in your isolated location. I am here to rescue you.”

“I happen to love my home and the peace and solitude it offers. It helps me to concentrate on work. And why on earth, do you think I need rescuing?” Cathy turned her head to stare at the dazzlingly beautiful man who was also her best friend. Justin Moncrieffe was one of the hottest bi-racial models on the runway.

With his smooth complexion, dreadlocked hair and golden-brown eyes, he turned heads wherever he went. His acerbic wit was also famous and had people determined not to get on his bad side.

“You are in dire need of a man.” He intoned, attempting a second sip of the wine.

“It’s a pity you don’t qualify.”

“Ouch. You don’t have to be such a bitch. We could try…”

“No, we couldn’t.” It was the same banter each time and she didn’t take it to heart.

But sometimes Justin did. Cathy was beautiful. Her caramel complexion was flawless and compared with the thick dark brown hair, tipped in gold at the ends streaming past her shoulders, she was exquisite.

Right now, she was seated on the hardwood floor with her designs strewn all around her, wearing an oversized black shirt opened at the front and showing expanses of her generous breasts, she was mouthwateringly sexy.

She was not thin. Far from it. She was a size twenty female with generous hips and breasts and her thighs were strong and firm. Justin was always surrounded by razor thin models with lackluster personality every single day, so it was a welcome relief whenever he came home for a visit with his best friend.

They had been friends since that fateful day at the group home. He recalled the scene vividly.

Having lost his parents to a fateful vehicular accident, he had been dumped at the home by his only remaining relative, who had decided that taking care of a six-year-old was too much work. The skinny bi-racial kid had been the fodder for all the bullies in the system.

Until Cathy had taken it upon herself to be his protector and defender. He had been curled up on the floor nursing a bloody lip, when she charged in and lit into the three boys who were making his life a living hell. She had been there for him ever since and he had fallen in love with her.

She had helped him through the ribbing, the cruel taunts and later, his own sexual confusion and orientation. She had told him bluntly to deal with what life had thrown at him and make something of it.

“I love you,” he said suddenly, meaning it. She was his family and no matter how far he travelled; he always came back to her.

She swung around to stare at him, eyes quizzical. Her hair, which she had piled haphazardly on top of her head, shifted, and came tumbling down her back.

“I love you too. What brought that on?”

“Just thinking.” He shrugged, his eyes on the untidy strands flowing down her back. “And I think you need a man.”

“Okay, don’t let me regret your coming back,” she warned.

“Darling, when was the last time you got laid?”

“None of your damned business,” she muttered. “I am not a slut like you.”

“True,” he nodded sagely. “But you are getting moldy. Your vagina…”

“Stop right there.”

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