“I’m sorry for the shit I said Thanksgiving. You left that money, and…it broke my heart. I promised Mommy I was gonna do right by you. I want to.” My eyes went wild. Never had my mother been sentimental with me. Ever. “I should’ve called you for Christmas and New Year, but I been embarrassed. I don’t know when you coming home again—probably won’t be till the summer—but you ain’t gotta sweat seeing no man around no more.”
I nodded, stunned out my ass. “Okay.”
“Oh, that’s me?” she asked. “Tori, they calling me. I’m gonna call you later, okay?”
“Okay, Ma. Take it easy.”
“Okay.”
She hung up, and I pulled the Blackberry from my ear and stared at it. My mother was being a mushy human. I had no idea what that was all about, but it felt so real coming from her. Taking a deep breath, I continued down the hall to Ashton’s door. It was cracked, the slow jam music flowing out into the hall. The smell of candles had me pushing my way inside.
The fish tanks glowed, illuminating the fake trees and rocks inside, and the front area was lit by candles. It wouldn’t have been strange if I didn’t hear voices inside. Hesitantly, I walked down the hall until I could see an older man sitting on the sofa. It was a weird vibe, considering there were rose petals on the floor and candles along the walls. There was nothing romantic about his large frame in a black suit, white dress shirt, and scuffed shoes. His hands were folded at his belly when he noticed me.
Breathy, feminine laughter pulled my attention to the left where, as though timed, a light-skinned, blonde bombshell turned my way. Her bob haircut flew in the air, falling into place around her beautiful face. Her lips were the perfect shade of red, eyes light brown with a dark lining, and teeth gorgeously white. There was something striking about her mouth. And her body… She and Ashton seemed to notice me at the same time. She turned completely around to face me, holding a glass of champagne. Her frame was covered in a cropped red blazer. A chain belt spelling out Chanel hung from her waist. Her tits and hips were generous in a black catsuit. And I caught the red soles of her blue pumps as she spun around.
When I was able to snatch my eyes from the woman, I caught Ashton’s seductive wink my way and one of his hands went into his pant pocket, the other bringing a champagne glass to his mouth. Even after this morning, he still managed to make me feel butterflies in my belly.
“Oh, my! Ashton, honey.” She started my way. “You told me so much, but left out how beautiful this chocolate goddess is!” She circled around me, checking out every angle of my frame. “This ass is perfect proportion to her breasts—and this fucking rack.” She tossed him a filthy glance. “I’m sure you have fun with those. The wet banana split, maybe?” She licked her lips.
My mouth dropped. I knew what that was. We’d done it in New York. Ashton came all over my face and chest and watched it drip from me until he caught his breath. It was hella weird and a damn turn-on. But why would this woman…?
“She loved it. Tori.” Ashton began my way, wearing a smile filled with pride. If I didn’t trust him so much, I’d be weirded out. “This is my friend, the highly acclaimed NormaJean.” He was at my side, heavy hand at the top of my ass. “NormaJean, introducing to you the only Panther lady of boxing and the undisputed middleweight champion in her respective categories, Tori McNabb.”
I felt myself blinking hard.
Fuck…
This was the NormaJean? The one everyone had been whispering about? Ashton’s best friend that he’d clearly fucked at some point in his life. This woman looked like a glass doll, perfect. Too perfect. Her makeup was flawless. Aivery wore eyeliner, mascara, and lip gloss for the most part. But this woman face’s was beat well: lashes, perfectly arched brows, lightly bronzed cheeks.
“KaToria,” she sounded out my full name.
How does she know—
A seductive smile spread across her face as she lifted the champagne glass to her mouth for a sip. When she was done, she caught what her mouth missed with her tongue. That’s when the gravity of all this shit hit me. She was one of the chicks