Sacrifices of the Soul, Chapter 37
 

" Has there been any change in her condition?", Julian asks the doctor.

" None. And, she's been unresponsive to Dr. Collins' therapy too. Mr. Crane…we ARE doing everything we can for her.", the doctor said with some nervousness in her voice.

" I know you are."

Julian didn't even wait for a response. He walked away from her and towards Eve. He sat down next to Eve, and kissed her hand.

" Eve, how are you today? The doctor says that you haven't been the most cooperative patient. And, at first, I understood this. Everything was awful. Your life had fallen apart. I understand. But, Eve…things are reaching a point of almost no return. "

Julian moved his seat so that he was directly in front of Eve.

" Our son came to see me today. He had a run in with your husband. Seems as if our son has taken his new role as family man to heart, and is reaching out to his sister, Simone. He and Simone spent some time together. From what little he told me, he thought they had a successful evening. But, then, Simone had lied about where she was going, and when TC found out the truth, he blew a fuse. He and Chad got into it, but, Chad made it clear that he had no intentions of not having a relationship with his sister. I was very proud of him, listening to him declare that he would not be discouraged from a relationship with his sister. He totally cares for her, and I think he's been waiting for this opportunity.

Our son came to me and asked me what I was doing to protect you. I told him that I had hired the best lawyer that money could find, but, that most of it was up to you.

Eve, if you don't come back to us. If you don't leave here, you're going to lose what little you have left of your life: your career, and possibly visitation rights were Simone is concerned. Both the Medical Review Board, and TC will take advantage of your recent misfortune. I've stalled as long as I could, but, I can't anymore.

Eve, you DO have something to live FOR. You have your career. Sure, it will be hard, but, you can come back to it. Once we lick the Review Board, then the next step will be to get you re-instated at Harmony Hospital. I have been working on that. I can assure you that I have enough votes from Board Members that your privileges for both the hospital AND the Free Clinic will be restored. But, you have to get past the Review Board first.

What about your patients, Eve? What about all the people that you've helped over the years? Especially in your service to the poor. I never understood what that was all about, but, it was important to you. Before it became 'chic', you were out there, helping others. Don't you care about that anymore? One thing that I can honestly say, there are always poor and needy people around. Yes, I sound like a snob, hell, that's what I am. And, this is about YOU and your personal convictions. People need help, Eve.

You come out of this and I promise to fund your next three projects that you want to do for the needy. See, a chance to spend my money. Isn't that what people dream about?", Julian says with a sad smile on his face.

" Eve, we’re running out of time.", Julian says before he picks up the newspaper and begins reading to her.
 

Kay was sitting in the Bennett living room, when she heard Miguel call from the kitchen:

" Kay, where are you?"

" In here, Miguel."

Miguel came into the living room, to see Kay sitting on the couch, in nothing but a string bikini.

" Uh, Kay, what are you doing?"

" Miguel, I have some great news. Why don’t you sit down?"

Miguel sat on the couch. " What is it?"

" Well, the female sports reporter for the Harmony Herald called. She picked me as one of the ‘model female athletes’. She’s doing a profile for a Sunday edition , going around asking female athletes how easy or hard it is for them."

" Ok, but, why do you have the bikini on?"

" Because, each of the gals chosen has to do a photo shoot. And, one of the pictures is in the athlete in swimwear."

" But, you’re not a swimmer."

" I know, but, you know Miguel, this is what they want. So, as my best friend, I wanted you to help me choose the right bathing suit to wear."

" Me? Shouldn’t you ask Reese to help you?"

" Oh no, Miguel. I need the objectivity of a best friend. You WILL help me, won’t you?"

Miguel looked at Kay, who gave him her most pitiful look. He and Kay were best friends, so what harm could it do?

" Sure, Kay. I’ll help you decide."

Kay smiled, " Thanks, Miguel. Well, I guess we should begin with this one. Do you like it?"

It was bright red, and it hugged Kay just right. Miguel hadn’t noticed, but, Kay had developed a little bit, or maybe he was just noticing for the first time.

" You don’t think it makes me look bad, do you?", Kay said, turning around, giving Miguel a look at her backside.

" No. Looks great. "

" I really like this one." Kay picked up a bat and posed with it. " Too much?"

Miguel laughed, " Maybe."

" Ok, I’ll go change."

Kay went upstairs to her room, and smiled as she took off the first bathing suit and put on another, this one more athletically inclined, like the pro-volleyball players would wear, but, Kay had deliberately gotten it a size too small. Though the cooking classes were going according to plan, every little bit helped, and this article was a gifthorse that she would NOT look in the mouth.

Having let her hair loose, she was holding the volleyball in her hand, and striking a pose that she had seen a pro-volleyball player do in a magazine once.

" Ahem."

Miguel for some reason, had begun at the feet, and his eyes just kept on coming up, following Kay’s long legs. He felt himself begin to flush as the legs kept on lingering. For some reason, an inane conversation that he heard between two of his fellow teammates about the abilities of long-legged girls and what they do to a guy. Miguel turned away, ashamed that such bad thoughts would enter his mind.

" Miguel….is this your way of saying that you don’t like this one?", Kay asked innocently, while her mind was silently wishing that he had turned away because she was affecting him, and he was finally discovering his love for her.

" I really like this one. Makes me look like one of those athletes. I’ve seen Serena Williams and Gabrielle Reese in fashion magazines. Of course, I’m not as beautiful as they are…."

"You’re beautiful, Kay.", Miguel said without thinking.

" You really think so?", Kay said quietly.

" Yes.", Miguel answered, but, didn’t turn to face Kay.

" I think this one makes me look most athletic."

" It’s nice.", Miguel mumbles.

" Well, I have a few more choices."

Kay goes upstairs and selects the lone one-piece in the group of bathing suits. Though it’s a one-piece, there are strategic cut-outs everywhere in the suit, accenting everything positive. Kay decides to wear stiletto heels with this one, waiting though, to get down to the bottom of the stair before putting them on. The lady at the swimsuit section said that a sheer sarong helped this suit, by combining the illusion of a coverup with the reality of the sheer material. Kay put on the sunglasses, and then went back to the living room.

Miguel looked up, and saw Kay, but, he didn’t recognize her at first, because the person in front of him was a woman, not a girl that he played ball with all his life. The glasses added an aura of mystery to her, and the cover-up seemed to send his eyes directly to all the spots where the fabric was missing.  Once again, Miguel didn’t understand why he was becoming hot all of a sudden. He got up off the couch and told Kay,

" I’m sorry Kay. I forgot that I had to run an errand for my mother. I know whatever you pick will be fine.", and he hurried out of the Bennett front door as fast as possible.

Kay went over to the mirror and looked at herself. She didn’t know what to think. She sighed and took off the stilettos, which were killing her. Another scheme, down the drain. ‘ Oh well, there’s always cooking class’, she thought as she went upstairs to change.
 

Simone had spent the day wandering. Due to an emergency, they didn’t have any cooking classes, and even though she and TC had made up, she wasn’t interested in spending too much time around her house.

She had gone shopping, and now that the evening had come, she had called Kay for a cover, and she had agreed, despite all the rukus at the Bennett House in the morning.

Simone put on her new outfit that she had chosen because it accentuated all the right curves. She knew that Hakim would be downstairs playing pool. She had brought enough Chinese for him and his friends.

" Hey Hakim."

" Well, if it isn’t the little girl."

Simone ignored the remark and said, " I brought you some dinner."

Hakim looked at the bag. " Chinese?"

Simone smiled. " It’s your favorite."

" Lemme finish this game, and we can go eat.". Hakim grabbed Simone by the butt, pulling her into a rough kiss that took her breath away.

Simone stood quietly as Hakim won the game, and they went upstairs to his apartment. Simone got everything organized for them to eat, and brought Hakim a beer from his fridge.

" This is good, Baby.", he said munching down.

" I’m happy you like it. "

They went on eating, until Hakim spoke up. " You a little quiet, Baby. Usually, you talkin’ all night long. What’s wrong?"

" My father and brother got into a big fight this morning over me. My father hates my brother."

" Cause that White Man is his Daddy.", Hakim remembered.

" Yeah. My father hates Julian Crane and now he hates Chad."

" Crane? As in the Cranes that run this state like their own plantation?"

" Yeah, those Cranes."

Hakim thought that the food never tasted so good. Not only was Simone young and ripe, but, she was a pipeline to some money. If Big Brother was willing to beat the shit out of him, then maybe he’d be willing to pay him to stay away from Simone…..oh yeah, this was just getting good. And to think he had thought about cutting Simone loose…no way in hell now.

Hakim and Simone finished their dinner, and Hakim turned on the tv, so that they could watch some videos together. He brought out the joints, and began smoking one, sharing it with Simone. Simone took it because she wanted Hakim to know that she was a WOMAN that he could depend on.

After they finished smoking the pot, Hakim turned off the tv and put on some slow and sexy music and began making out with Simone. Simone felt her resistance waning as Hakim continued to use his mouth and hands to drive her wild. Simone responded to his kisses, and before she knew it, Hakim had pulled her off the couch, and without even separating for air, she let him lead her to his bedroom. She backed up and only stopped when the back of her legs were touching his bed. Hakim turned her around, and moved his mouth from hers and to her neck. As he was doing this, he pulled her top from her pants, and in one swift move, over her head and across the room. Next, he unbuttoned her pants, and began kissing her stomach area, making Simone shudder. The pants came off, and Simone was just in her bra and panties. Hakim pulled his t-shirt over his head, and pulled Simone onto the bed with him.

Simone could barely breathe as Hakim’s kisses and hands worked their magic, exciting her, and making her lose all resemblance of conscious thought. He slipped his hands behind her back and undid her bra with ease, exposing Simone’s ripe breasts with erect nipples, which he played with at his leisure, with his thumbs, and then his mouth, eliciting moans of pleasure from her.

He used his very agile hands to slip her panties down her legs and off her body. Feeling in her most sensitive areas, he saw that she was already wet, which made him smile. When she was getting the food together, he looked in her purse and saw that she was prepared: she had gotten herself some birth control pills, and had some condoms, which he already had. Oh yeah, she’s ready, but, Hakim had plans for Simone. He was going to own her, before all was said and done.

Hakim uses his thumb and forefinger to pleasure Simone to first orgasm, and smiles at her and himself as he can feel her coming more  under his control. As she comes to her senses, he begins again, ravishing her body with kisses, and once again gets her into a frenzy, but, this time, he uses himself to satisfy her.He’s been with girls on their ‘ first times’, he holds Simone in his arms afterwards and kisses her softly.

" I know that hurt a little Baby, but, it all goes with being a woman. You were good…damn good, and I know that soon, you’ll enjoy it as much as I do."

" I love you, Hakim. I wanted to show you how much."

" And, you did, Baby. You did."

Hakim snuggles her closely, and as she drifts off to sleep smiles  at the progress he’s made.
 

Kay is reading the latest Cosmo article on ‘How to Get a Man’, when her phone rings.

" Hello?"

" Kay, it’s Chad. Can I speak to Simone?"

" Chad, she’s not here."

" I called the Russells and….she’s with that asshole, isn’t she?"

" Yeah.", Kay says sadly.

" Dammit! What do I have to do to get rid of that punk?"

" I don’t know, but, I wish you’re figure  it out, and soon."

" I will Kay. Thanks."

Chad hangs up, and curses to himself. He has to find  some way of ridding Simone of Hakim.