Tangled Webs

By Ebony Heart

There are different philosophies women and men learn on their winding paths to dealing with relationships.

Cheyenne learned to get what you want you must use what youve got. She never heard the word no unless it came from her own lips.

Lexi never let her wants and needs out of the mental box in which she kept them. Calling herself a rug for men to walk on was putting it lightly.

Devon was more common sense based than street sense. Women usually came into his life because of what he had and his looks, but he still failed to develop long lasting relationships because of his lack of emotional experience.

Adrian felt that his players card was as much a part of him as his skin. Commitment was one word that could not be found in his vocabulary, followed quickly behind by fidelity.

Each one felt they were safe and hidden in their emotional homes. Then, fate or opportunity knocks. Who knows which? Nonetheless, whether opening the door or not means your days are numbered and youll be forced to deal with whatever is outside.

Each of these people felt they had sufficiently protected their secret selves.

But, fate has plans for us all and will force us to deal with our real selfwhether we want to or not.

Some cower and try to hide their secret deeper.

Some emerge like a butterfly and go on transformed.

Some will find themselves consumed by the raging fires of their own ignorance.

May it be emotional wreckage, caged introvert or sexually driven, most of us, like these four people, will find ourselves tangled in our own webs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Sep 13, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477272763

Ebony Heart

Ebony Heart lives in Memphis,TN. They are currently penning the series associated with Tangled Webs and three other series lines for future publication. Ebony Heart is currently working to make sure that they do their fair share to return sex to the regular lives of regular people with these series of books covering many topics involving eroticism in its many forms. Ebony Heart can be found on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/ebony.heart.16. Thank you for your interest, patronage and communications. Ebony Heart will answer communications as quickly as possible.

Book preview

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Chapter 1

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Lexi sat in her dark garage with the car’s engine idling as she contemplated the five-minute drive to Adrian’s house. She had been contemplating for fifteen minutes. During that time, she reflected on a recent conversation with her best friend Melanie, about how men are dogs and only tended to want sex or a substitute mom. Sometimes, they even wanted both. The accolades were heaped on her about how her boyfriend was so nice, handsome and had a great job. She flashed a fake smile and let them pile it on, even though she felt weighed down by the burden of truth behind the lie that she lived.

The conversation had bothered her all day long until she forced herself to stop thinking about it and to sleep. She wanted her mind to be clear for their scheduled rendezvous later this evening.

Two hours later, when the phone rang, she felt refreshed. It was Adrian calling. When she heard his voice, it only managed to grate her raw nerves, and the weight in her heart seemed to grow heavier with each word.

Hey, baby, what’s up? I hope you weren’t sleeping, because you know we have dinner reservations in an hour and a half.

I’m sorry, she began trying in a failed attempt to draw from a happier source within her. I had such a headache and . . .

Don’t . . . don’t even pull that one! I know it’s going to take you damned near all of two hours to get ready. There’s no need in trying to call and reschedule the reservations, it’s Friday and I already know they’re crowded. You know, sometimes I get the impression that you don’t give a damn about how I feel or what I want.

She hated when he interrupted her, and she hated it even more when he was rude. Today was the wrong day to do this, she thought. As her focus was drawn back to the phone, she realized that he’d hung up on her and she was left alone with the recorded voice of the operator telling her to hang up and try her call again.

Without even a second thought, she went to her dresser and grabbed a few pieces of clothing and crammed them into a duffle bag. She quickly dressed and made a mad dash to her car. She had every intention of going to Adrian’s house and giving him the best night of make-up sex that he’d ever had. She even considered doing that oral thing he’d been trying to get her interested in for so long. Yes, tonight was definitely the night.

When she got into the car, the heaviness had begun to smother her as she fought to stay on task. She rolled the windows down slightly on her old Jeep Cherokee and breathed in the musky smell of her closed garage.

He’s not all that bad, she said out loud. He has never raised his hands to me and, apparently, he cares for me. She thought that maybe if she said it out loud, she’d begin to believe it herself. She repeated the statements and, unconsciously, started the car.

As she continued to repeat what was slowly becoming a mantra-like chant, she did begin to feel a little less burdened, and could actually imagine herself going through with her plan to salvage what her friend Melanie had called a good relationship. If Melanie said it, then it must be true.

Wasn’t it?

Boy isn’t that a good question, she thought. Her mind began to drift again.

It wasn’t long before she thought she was hearing voices outside the garage door. Adrian? It couldn’t be. Had he said he was coming over to pick her up? I can just imagine how mad he must be if he came here. That’s so unlike him, she thought.

Open the door, Lexi! I know you’re in there! he yelled. I’m bringing your shit!

Oh, no. I bet my neighbors are out in their yards watching this scene. I’d better do something to quiet him.

She managed to open the car door when the heaviness came back with a vengeance. Something was different this time; it felt more physical than mental. It was hard for her to breathe, her lungs ached and burned. There was smoke all around from the exhaust.

What’s wrong with me? Am I having an anxiety attack? Then, it hit her like a ton of bricks: carbon monoxide poisoning!

The darkness engulfed her as she heard her lungs scream for air, while the car sang its song of death in her ears. Her last thought was imagining Adrian complaining about her being forgetful.

She should’ve opened the garage door.

Lexi opened her eyes slowly and glanced around at the fluffy white clouds that surrounded her. Happiness was the first emotion she felt as she assumed she hadn’t gone to hell. But, quickly, that was replaced with regretful feelings about being dead. She hadn’t wanted to go that way, and she was too young to die. She began to imagine how sad her parents must have been and it made her feel sad, too. The tears that ran down the side of her face made a soft tickle. She wiped at them and felt the beginnings of a new heaviness in her mind.

Sleeping Beauty awakes now, huh? It’s nice of you to rejoin us in the land of the living. It was Adrian’s voice she heard. Did he die, too? Maybe this was hell after all and his voice was being used to torment her for the rest of her eternity in this awful place. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to block the voice out.

Too late. I saw you open your eyes. I know you are awake.

She opened her eyes again, not wanting to accept that she’d been sent to this awful place. The clouds looked smaller now, and they didn’t seem as fluffy. She sat up and looked around. This wasn’t hell or heaven. This was a room, a room on earth as a matter of fact! How could this be? How? I died . . . . the smoke . . . . the darkness . . . .

Hello. This is Earth calling, Lexi.

She looked and saw Adrian standing at the foot of the bed. He looked so alive.

Hello, He waved his arms in a slow, deliberate motion and looked like an air traffic controller. Nice to see you made it back. Everybody has been worried about you.

Where am I? she asked.

Her tongue felt thick and clumsy. She rolled it around in her mouth to loosen it up.

If I hadn’t been there to save you, maybe you’d have a room in Hotel Hell for trying to commit suicide, but instead you’re in a private room, thanks to me, in The Med Hospital.

The words registered in her mind. The Med? Suicide? I never attempted any suicide.

The words burned in her throat as she spoke.

Maybe I’d believe you if I hadn’t found you in a closed garage, with your car’s engine running. He clucked his tongue. If I’d known that you were crazy enough to commit suicide, I’d have never given you the time of day.

It’s nice to know that you still care. Thank you for blessing me with such divine opportunity, your Highness. Immediately, she regretted her sarcastic remark when she realized the comment came from her lips and was not hidden in her head, liked she’d meant. I didn’t mean that, Adrian. I’m sorry.

It is terrific to see that you haven’t lost your sense of humor. Maybe you can find my next statement just as funny: We’re through!

She sat up straighter as she spoke, Adrian, why? I said I was sorry. I didn’t mean to . . .

He held up his hands in resignation. It’s deeper than that. I feel that I must not be what you need, if you are trying so hard to kill yourself to get away from me. So, let me save you from another attempt and make your life less complicated. He moved to the door and turned. I’ll tell your family that you’re awake and they can come in now. I know they’ll be glad to see you.

Adrian, thank you for . . . .

Look, don’t thank me. I’m only giving you what you obviously want. In the next breath he was out the door and out of her life.

I only meant to say thank you for saving my life, she continued, uninterrupted. She really hated when he interrupted, and she hated it even more when he didn’t understand. She slowly lay back on the bed.

Within minutes, her room was filled with concerned family members. Everyone hugged and kissed her. When it came to Melanie’s turn, she lingered and whispered in her ear, I bet my boyfriend wouldn’t save my life. Adrian said he was going to get you something to eat, and he’d be right back. You’re so lucky.

Strangely, she didn’t feel the weight building in her head and she vowed to herself to live with the truth from now on. The truth now was that she’d been given a new life and she wouldn’t live helplessly through this one. This was her release from the habit of fear of the truth.

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Chapter 2

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Cheyenne Fleming glanced at her watch again to make sure that she was on time. She had just finished placing the last of the five hundred twenty-five candles of varying shapes and sizes that would accent her plan for this evening’s event. They were placed strategically, to create the effect of a candle-lit pathway that led to a special point in the house. Along the path were notes that were conspicuously placed to help lead her boyfriend, Devon, along.

At precisely that moment, Devon’s S37 Infiniti pulled into the driveway and skidded to a stop. Cheyenne’s heart began racing as she was seeing the beginning of her plan forming. Excitement thudded softly in her chest as she moved quickly past the candles to her hiding place at the end of the path.

Once he removed his key and the door opened, he was at first surprised by the soft amber glow given off by the many candles he saw arranged on the floor. But he quickly overcame his concerns when he remembered how Cheyenne was occasionally taken into the embrace of romantic notions.

He had always told Cheyenne how he hated surprises, but she insisted that he’d get used to them and her way of doing things. Secretly, he hated feeling that being in love meant that he’d have to relinquish his singular identity and share it. He’d always maintained control over his environment and practically insured the extinction of any possible surprises. That was, until Cheyenne. She’d always managed to render him virtually powerless with her utter feminine mystique. He thought he knew everything there was to know about women since he grew up in a large family, the only male in a house with twelve sisters. Cheyenne proved him to be wrong.

He accepted this new candle setup as another thing he couldn’t control, and eased his way toward the envelope dangling from a string in the middle of the path.

The instructions inside were simple: Take off your shoes, honey. He removed his shoes and set them off to the side of the path. He felt that this was quickly becoming as much a symbolic path as it was physical.

He took a deep breath and moved further down the path. Here I come! he yelled trying to get into the moment. Ready or not, he said to himself as he exhaled.

An uncontrollable smile came over her face when she heard Devon’s voice. It was constantly in the back of her mind that he hated surprises, still she enjoyed the power she could exert over him to make him bend to her will.

Tonight was the beginning of the second phase of the plan she’d been enacting since their supposed chance meeting. Her mind began drifting.

In the first phase of her plan, she wove a painstakingly intricate web of seduction. It all started when she saw a newspaper ad in which he was listed as the most eligible bachelor involved in a charity auction which would help raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. She was in attendance, but her opportunity to meet him was ruined by some greedy widow with a three hundred thousand dollar bid no one dared come close to at the end of a cutthroat bidding war.

Determined not to lose her prize, she waited for him to leave the building and go to his car in the adjoining parking lot. She jogged to her own nearby, conveniently parked vehicle and fell in behind him as he turned onto the empty street.

She trailed him for a few blocks, until he passed under a yellow light which turned red upon her approach.

Damn it she muttered, as she slammed her tightly clenched fist on the wheel. She continued to mutter obscenities as she strained her eyes trying to keep up with his taillights as they rapidly faded into the distance.

The light held for what seemed like an eternity and then, mercifully changed to green. Her tires squealed as she pressed the accelerator. She could see his taillights in the distance as they blinked to indicate a right turn and then were gone. Since she was several streets behind him, she couldn’t tell onto which street he turned. Her speedometer began to climb its way up the incline.

After passing a few streets, she found identifying the street onto which he’d turned to be easier than she’d first imagined. There were several businesses lining the street where she found him, and it was at a small café where she’d notice his car parked. Skipping over two lanes, she turned in behind his car and got out.

When she got out, she tugged at the tiny miniskirt to smooth it out. She pushed up her breasts to expose more of her spectacularly expensive cleavage and fluffed the hair that framed flawless brown skin on which she never wore more than eyeliner and lipstick. This was also the key to her becoming a highly sought—after her model when she was still a junior in high school.

Outside the door, she paused and prepared for the role she felt would make her a very rich woman. Exhaling, she slowly pulled the door open. A brief scan was all it took to see Devon seated in a booth alone. Whether he’d noticed her or not, she couldn’t tell, but to her that was irrelevant. She slid onto a stool at the bar and ordered a drink. The bartender returned empty-handed and leaned toward her as he spoke, The gentleman in the booth requests your company and he offered to cover your check.

Does the gentleman have a name or does he assume I’ll be so taken aback by his forwardness that it won’t matter?

The bartender stifled a chuckle. I’m not exactly sure how to answer that one ma’am, but I can tell you his name is Devon Spencer. Maybe you’ve heard of him?

Should I have or again is that in his plan to appear famous? Her plan was working well. I don’t think I’ve heard the name before. I am usually busy and I’m also new in town.

I can see this is getting nowhere. Maybe . . . He hesitated as his eyes flashed to something behind her. Oh, Mr. Spencer. Um this is Miss . . . He was looking at her, I don’t think I caught your name.

How could you, if I never tossed it?

It took every muscle in her body to maintain her composure and to not look at Devon standing so near her that she was becoming intoxicated from inhaling his Bulgari cologne. She was battling within herself to keep from turning and burying herself in his chest and drinking in his fragrance. She wondered if he sprayed it on his skin or just his clothes. Every inhalation carried a shock that electrified the very tips of her nipples and every single perfectly shaved pubic hair. This was the first time a scent had ever overwhelmed her so completely and gripped her as tightly as this. What the hell would she do? The ends of her toes and fingers were tingling. What else could happen tonight?

Well, may I ask you what your name is? His hand was extended in greeting as she turned to face him.

My name is Cheyenne, my friends call me Chey.

I should think so. Chey does seem appropriate considering how you gave the bartender the third-degree over a friendly offer to share a booth considering we’re the only ones here. I’m Devon by the way.

She hesitated only slightly before taking his hand. She half expected an electric charge to pass between them. Resisting the urge to deny this newly experienced feeling, she stood and spoke to the bartender. I’ll take my drink in the booth if you don’t mind, Alex.

What the hell have I gotten myself into? she thought as he led her to his booth.

After that night ended with them exchanging numbers, she had managed to avoid the inevitable bedding down that she really wanted. For the next month, she had managed to only be available for lunches. Sometimes, just lunch would leave her so anxious that on occasion it would take all of her strength just get in her car and drive away, her legs would be shaking so badly.

For two years, she had managed to relax his ego with doses of her special attention and well-orchestrated sexual episodes. Now, she felt he was ready to make the next step. Since breaking down his emotional defenses, he was ripe for the picking. She had made him into every woman’s dream. Even though he was still quite a womanizer, but that too, would be handled. Becoming Mrs. Devon Spencer would add a weapon to her arsenal that would force him to fear financial castration every time he managed to achieve an erection without her presence.

Damn, girl, how many candles do you have set up? His voice was closer, but still quite a distance from the final destination.

You just keep coming. You’ll get to where I need you to be soon enough. She pushed her breasts up; a habit which had manifested itself since she’d been with Devon, after learning how much he loved breasts.

Well, how far is soon enough? You’ve got me naked and stuffing chocolate and strawberries in my mouth. You didn’t have to go through such an elaborate setup to get Little D all to yourself.

Stop being silly and just follow the path, it’ll be worth the wait. Trust me. Have I let you down yet?

No answer.

I know you hear me, Devon!

No answer.

"See, now you’re playing. Can’t you