said the agency's photographer with the camera up to his eye.

With a slight adjustment to my body, I peered into the lens of the camera. He snapped the picture then glanced at it before giving me a thumbs up. While he and Jeffery looked over all of the photos, I went to change out of my bathing suit for my clothes.

I'd been at the agency all morning accepting or declining show offers, arranging my schedule for when the ball starts rolling, and updating my digitals. It'd taken us about three hours to get it all done but it wasn't anything hectic. Plus, I was able to learn that majority of the castings I planned to attend were no longer necessary. The designers wanted me to walk their shows, no questions about it, because I fit the bill. That made things a lot easier for me and my schedule.

Once I was dressed back into my clothes, I picked up my phone for any missed notifications. Asani was the most recent reminding me to be at his house by six. I assured him that I would be then emerged from the back. I approached the computer screen to take a glance at my digitals.

"Oh, I look good." I smiled scrolling thru them. "Which ones did y'all pick? I like these."

"Yeah we picked those three and this one. This one will be on your new comp card because this headshot is too gorgeous not to be." Jeffrey shook his head with a smile. "But that's all for today if you're ready to go."

"Okay, thank you guys. I'll see you next week for the campaign shoot, Jeff." I grabbed my purse. "Y'all have a great day."

"Bye Korin!" a few other people waved goodbye. I waved back, leaving the building.

Since I had a few hours to spare, I walked down to the nail salon close by to get my nails and toes done. Asani said tonight would be special but he also made sure to be vague about what would happen, so I wanted to look presentable just in case.

I stepped inside and thankfully it wasn't packed. I was able to go directly to a technician and start the process. With one headphone in my ear, I decided to finally return Giovanni's phone call. He'd crossed my mind, and though I had been sure to keep a distance, I still wanted to talk to him on the low. I thought I would be able to jump right back into talking to him after our meet up but I just couldn't. Especially knowing that he was engaged to be married.

The idea did not sit well with me. I always saw myself marrying him and to know that it wouldn't be with me ached my heart. It shouldn't have, given our separation, but it did.

"What did I do to deserve this phone call? I thought you'd kicked me to the curb already." he answered.

"I sort of did, but it's only because I don't want drama with you and your fiancé. I know how the female friend thing goes."

"You a little too late for that." he scoffed.

"What happened?"

"She cheated on me with her best friend then tried to flip it on me and gave me the ring back."

A wave of relief rushed through me. "Wow, I'm sorry. No one deserves to be cheated on. You okay? Was that why you called me the day before yesterday?"

He shuffled around before speaking, "Yeah I'm cool. Not much I can do about it but move on, but I was calling because my dad wants to see you and invited you to dinner."

"Mr. Jonas is out!? Yes! Tell him to give me a date and I will be there if I can. I'm free any time next weekend."

"I'm a lil jealous right now. I know for a fact you didn't have that much excitement about seeing me."

"Well the circumstances are different, Gio. We may get back there one day, don't rush it."

"I'm not. I just miss the old us...What's that noise? Where you at?" he switched the topic.

"I'm getting my nails done."

Contrary to my belief, we stayed on the phone longer than I expected us to. There were a few awkward moments because I didn't want to speak on certain things while in the public, but the conversation was a good one. It made me miss him more. I wanted to see what all the adult Giovanni consisted of.

After an hour and a half at the nail salon, I was at my condo preparing for the night with Asani. Adina Howard played loudly from my speakers as I stood before my bathroom mirror finishing my makeup. A g-string was the only thing clad to my body allowing me to freely twirl before my reflection.

"Do you wanna get freaky with me baby? Now we can get it on til the break of dawn." I sang along using my brush as a microphone.

The music was interrupted when my alarm sounded signaling that I had ten minutes to be dressed and out of the door. I cursed to myself, grabbing my dress for the night off of the hanger. It was an emerald green, button down dress that I absolutely adored. Once it was on, I removed the scarf from my hair revealing the results of the wet, slick back style I'd attempted on my natural hair.

"Well excuse the hell out of me." I complimented myself, hitting a spin for dramatic effects. "I did the damn thang with this one."

Once I was done admiring myself, I put my heels on, snapped a few photos then collected everything I was taking along with me. The evening traffic would add time to the drive therefore, I needed to get a move on if I wanted to be on time.

I arrived a few minutes late and rung his door bell. He opened it almost immediately, dressed in a white button down and navy slacks. It was apparent that he'd gotten a fresh haircut and his beard was neatly trimmed and moisturized. He looked scrumptious.

"Right on time." he smiled while pulling me inside. "You look absolutely stunning."

"Thank you. You look...edible."

He laughed.

I then took notice of the soft music playing in the background. His lights were dim and it smelled of amazing food. I looked over at him, "What's going on?"

"I thought I would do something nice for you after not seeing you for a few weeks." he led me into the dining room.

"Oh wow...did you cook this?"

"I did. Fun fact, I've taken two years worth of cooking classes." he pulled my seat out, allowing me to take a seat.

"Really? I definitely didn't expect that from your deck of cards. I like it though. I hope it all taste as good as it looks."

Placed on the table was salmon, mashed potatoes, asparagus and crab macaroni and cheese. My stomach nearly erupted with a growl merely at the sight of it all. If anyone ever wanted to impress me, it could be done by cooking an amazing meal. I was a big foodie and for him to have slaved over the stove for it made it even better.

"How was it at the agency?" he asked grabbing the bowl of mashed potatoes.

"We set up my schedule for August and September, and come to find out I don't have too many castings to attend. A lot of the designers I wanted to work with casted me already so I would just have to attend the fittings and rehearsals."

"That makes it easier for you right?"

"Yes! I don't have to run around New York like a chicken with its head cut off next month. Last year I had six castings a day and they all were right behind one another. Talk about tragic."

I finished filling my plate with the food then picked up the fork to taste the mac and cheese first. Never had I tried it with crab meat and I was excited to see exactly what it tasted like. I loved macaroni and I loved seafood so to have both of them together had to be delightful. Asani watched me collect a forkful and place it in my mouth. I touched my chest in astonishment.

"Yo, this is bomb." he broke out into a wide grin. "I need a recipe like now because what?"

"I got you, baby but enjoy the food for right now."

We held small talk while eating and when we finished, we moved into his living room. The wine we'd drunk along with our dinner had me feeling at ease and mellow. Being that I was a light weight, I was feeling the single glass and one side affect was my desire to be touched. It always made me crave affection and the slightest touch could arouse me.

Like now, my feet were stretched across Asani's lap for a sweet massage that I didn't know I'd needed until now. He was working out every sore spot and I was in heaven.

"Oh my god." I moaned closing my eyes. "Put a little bit more pressure right there."

"Right here?"

"Mm, yes. Whew, thank you for this."

"You're welcome baby." he brought my foot up to his lips, placing a soft kiss on it while staring me in the eyes.

A tingle ran along my spine and a throb developed in between my thighs. "Don't do that unless you want to start something."

"Do what? Kiss your foot?" he kissed it again. I licked over my lips causing him to smirk and take a couple toes into his mouth.

"Yo...."

He grinned after taking my toes from his mouth and fingered me toward him. I straddled his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck. He pecked my lips and shortly after, the pecks were tongue kisses that were increasing my arousal. He slipped his hands under my dress and picked me up by ass. On the walk up the stairs, he sucked and kissed on my neck and chest ever so tenderly.

He laid me down on the bed once we reached his room and instantly unbuttoned his shirt. I began to unbutton my dress, taking it off and tossing it to the side. The minute his eyes rested upon my naked body, something in them changed. It was devilish but I was still turned on and wanted him to sex me with everything be had to offer.

He turned around and walked into his closet. I could hear him slightly rummaging around and after a minute he emerged with items in his hand. One was a satin black string and the other handcuffs.

"May I?" he asked.

I was a bit unsure about it. This would be the first time I had sex in years and being tied up was not what I had in mind. However, I I trusted him to be good to me, therefore, I nodded my head. A smirk graced his face before he took a hold of my hands and cuffed them together. He also tied each one of my feet to the ends of his headboard — I was spread eagle with my arms above my head.

Since my g-string was still on, he snatched it off causing me to hiss at the unexpected action. "That was one of my favorites."

"I'll reimburse you." he chuckled, slightly climbing onto the bed kissing my inner thigh.

The simple action hitched my breathing. Especially when his mouth began to feast on my flesh. The lapping of his tongue was one of the best feelings I'd ever felt. I never understood what the hype was about when it came to head, but now that I was finally in the position to receive it, I completely understood.

As soon as the pressure I was feeling reached its peak, he stopped causing me to whimper. In exchange, he laughed.

He removed his slacks and briefs, releasing his hard member and I internally grimaced. It was quiet large — maybe even too large and it was uncircumcised. But it didn't look to shabby because I wasn't disgusted. I actually wanted to see what he could do with it.

He snapped on a condom then climbed back onto the bed. With his thumb, he massaged my clit before easing his dick inside of me. I instantly squeezed my eyes shut releasing a hiss as he deeply groaned. He quickly found a rhythm and I was in a world of euphoria. That was until he started to penetrate too deep for comfort.

I reached down to push him back but he put my arms back in their original place.

"You're too deep." I verbally told him.

I wasn't sure if he even heard me because he was solely focused on what he was doing. His eyes were fixated on the view of him pushing in and out, pleasuring himself, because I was in pain.

When his eyes flickered up to meet mine, the look that he'd given me earlier was there again. He was in another world.

I didn't want to repeat myself but I also wanted him to pull back some so that I could enjoy it as well. Instead of doing so, I reached down to push him back again and this time he smirked.

"Take it all." he gritted, leaning down and giving me a kiss while simultaneously putting my arms back above my head.

"It hurts, Asani."

He stopped. "I'm hurting you?"

"Yes. You're too deep."

"I'm sorry." he pulled back. "This good?"

"Yes."

He started up again and I was back to feeling the pleasure like before. My moans and his grunts combined together like harmonies until he started to plow into me again. Rather than say anything for the third time, I simply allowed it until he was able to get his nut. I didn't even care to cum. I wanted it to be over.

, tapping my fingers against the steering wheel. As bad as I wanted to ignore her call for help, I couldn't. It wasn't in me to do her dirty like she'd done me.

She called me early this morning asking whether I could pick her up from her parents' after she'd gotten into it with her father. He wasn't one to actually sit and talk. He liked to get physical and I couldn't leave her there knowing how bad he'd beaten her once before. I would feel extremely guilty if something was to happen to her – something there was no coming back from.

After a few seconds, I climbed from my car, approached the door and knocked on it. I could hear screams from women and shouts from a man from the other side. I knocked on the door even harder being seconds away from bursting into their home.

"Brielle!" I shouted, attempting to peek thru the front window.

The front door was opened by her younger brother who had tears streaming down his face. "He's hurting her, Giovanni."

I stepped inside of the house to see her uncle standing against the wall asking her father to stop. Yet, he wasn't doing anything to actually help. Her mother sat on the couch with a black eye and busted lip, sobbing. Brielle was pinned under her father while he had his hand tightly wrapped around her throat.

Her father wasn't a small guy compared to her and her family members, but next to me, he was. I towered over him effortlessly and weight much more than him.

Knowing the way he liked to get down, rather than try and pry him off of her, I put him into a headlock. Instead of instantly releasing Brielle, he attempted to get out of my hold.

"Don't try it dawg. Just let her go and I'm not saying it again."

He released a deep sigh then held his hands up. Brielle gasped for air rolling onto her side. I stood to my feet and tossed her father to the floor to aid her. Upon seeing me, she wrapped her arms around me so tight she could snap me in half if she wanted to.

"So you call him over here to whoop me up? That's what this is Brielle?" he glared at her, standing back on his feet.

"No, Papa but I can't stand for you to keep hitting me." she cried, her spanish accent spewing out. "Look at my face. Look at Mama's face!"

"Learn to follow fucking directions. I always told you to find a decent, working man and get married. You don't even know how to do that!"

"I told you I'm tired of hiding my sexuality. I'm gay, Papa! I like women. You can't change that! That's who I am." I discreetly frowned but I couldn't even be shocked when she slept with Zina.

"Ese es el espíritu maligno." That's the evil spirit.

"Papa please...just accept it."

"No."

"Aye, let's go." I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her out of the house with me.

"Leave here again and you don't ever come back." he pointed.

Brielle said nothing in response on our way out. But her little brother stepped in our path crying for her not to leave him behind. "Please take me with you, Bri. Don't leave me here."

I stared at the little boy seeing the same pain in his eyes that I wore once upon a time. I knew what it felt like to be in an environment that left you terrified and ready to risk it all to get away. The only problem was, could Brielle take on the responsibility of her brother. Financially, she could but emotionally, I was unsure. She was just coming to terms with her true self.

"Please." he pleaded once more.

"C'mon on." she grabbed him.

"No! Brandon get back in here right now!" their father shouted nearly shaking the walls.

"No." Brandon quickly shut the door and ran to my car.

From the otherside of the door, their father could be heard tearing the house up in attempt to get to the door. I wasn't sure if he was being held back by his brother but he never made it out.

We all climbed inside of the car and I drove them over to Zina's. The entire ride there, Brielle silently cried while gazing out of the window. I knew that she was in a lot of pain physically and emotionally because just when she thought she was away from the beatings, they'd resurfaced. She also had a little brother that wanted her to help him stay out of harm's ways while also protecting herself. It was a bit much for one person.

"Thank you for coming and helping." she wiped her face. "I just needed someone who was man enough to stand up to him. No one in my family has the balls to."

"It was nothing. I want you to be safe."

"And I'm sorry for stringing you along when I knew I was solely attracted to women. But if it makes you feel any better I do love you. It may not be the same as your love but I wasn't just there, you know. I care about you and I hope you find your true love someday."

I simply nodded. "Y'all be careful."

She caught on to my dismissal and climbed from the car along with her brother. I watched them walk up the stairs to Zina's apartment and walk inside. Afterward, I pulled out of the complex and headed for Pete's house since he and Chad were back in town for a few days.

Unlike Chad and I, Pete actually owned a home out in Newark. Today he and his girlfriend were hosting a day party for family and friends, and that was where I was headed. It was the perfect opportunity for me to get drunk and forget about all of my problems for a few hours.