April 19, 4:00 p.m. Jersey City, New Jersey

This chapter is dedicated to my editor, Clyde Wolfe, from Oregon who writes science fiction novels. He really helped me early  in the process with plot development and encouragement.

The Masjid Muhammed Mosque wasn't a traditional structure. As long as one was among brothers, that was all that mattered. A brick facade with a European influenced entrance led to a large room with high windows and an imam standing in one of the far corners.

Approaching Asr, Sabir unfurled his sajjada against the back wall of the room, and proceeded to prostrate himself East, facing Mecca, behind twenty or so other men. Even though he prayed, he wasn't here to satisfy any devotion toward Islam. When he rose, he sensed a man's presence to his right, but maintained his vision straight ahead. An African-American male knelt down on his prayer mat and began speaking in Arabic.

"We can meet outside when you've finished," the man said. "It's not my intention to disrespect the sanctity of this place."

You already have, he scoffed inwardly. "No. You may speak to me now. Here, or not at all."

He heard the man's breath pause for just a moment. "As we agreed, Ummu delivered your present two hours ago," he said. "A delivery was made to your brothers this morning. We thought you would appreciate it. It's your call as to how to dispose of it."

"Yes. It is appreciated," Sabir said.

"Okay, then. Before you can go back home, Ummu expects you to make a shopping list for her." The man paused, then placed a post-it-note on Sabir's mat. The only sound that broke the chilly, dead air between them was the murmur of men in prayer.

"And when I return from shopping, what then?"

"Ummu will give you more books to study. She loves you for passing the first test, but passing the next one would make her very happy."

"Anything to please her." Sabir finished his prayers, noting when the man had left, along with his mat. When he finished, he slipped on his shoes and walked out.

Jaffa was waiting out front on the sidewalk. "They made a delivery this morning." "Yes. So they said. Is our friend comfortable?" Sabir asked.

"I've given him 'special' treatment with the tools you have provided."

"Good. You are free to make him comfortable but make sure he is still alive when I pay him a visit tomorrow.

"He is and he eagerly awaits Mohammed, Allah...and you."

* * *

Vanessa sat on her queen size bed in her doorman duplex apartment at 53rdPark Avenue and 69th Street barking over the phone to one of her managers. "I want that shoot to go as scheduled. The NuYou commercials need to make the media-buying deadline....that's right, and tell them it better go as planned this time....for your sake, it better be." She disconnected her cell phone and rested it on the nightstand, then disrobed, showing off her pink tank top.

The apartment was a duplex of modern design, a remnant of Vanessa's second marriage to fashion designer Frederich Allon. A very public affair followed by the New York tabloids and industry papers, it was occasional dinners out between his frenetic travel schedule and her time devoted to building their respective businesses. The divorce settlement involved the apartment and a modest seven figure settlement.

She had a first love; a neighborhood kid and high school classmate. Although motivated by an immature need to achieve some degree of conformity, Vanessa dumped him after two and a half years, confiding in girlfriends that he just had no ambition whatsoever to be as successful as she wanted to be.

Her apartment had a specious living room with an open wooden staircase that led to a mezzanine with two bedrooms. Clear glass sliding doors and a window above it looked out onto a balcony with a western view of the fading sunset.

Brooke walked in from the bathroom donning a light pink satin pajama tank top, Vanessa was wrapped in a burgundy velour robe and they both snuggled under the covers. Brooke wrapped her arms around her. Vanessa tensed up. She hadn't moved on from what had happened that morning.

"It's Kate again, isn't it?"

"I can't control her anymore. You told me I should give her the benefit of a doubt but she's not well and I'm ill-equipped to help her," Vanessa confessed.

Brooke craned her neck and kissed her on the cheek. "It's not your fault," she said, turning a blind eye to any responsibility Vanessa may have had in perpetuating Kate's current condition.

"I've fed her, clothed her, educated her, given her a roof over her head. I've given her a life. Yet she shows no gratitude at all."

"You did good, Vee," Brooke said with assurance. "Do not beat yourself up over it." She reached over and pulled off Vanessa's tank top.

Nude, Vanessa read Brooke's eyes perfectly. Her self-pity was suppressed by the urge to lash out. "It was you who convinced me to trust her."

Brooke pouted like a child whose favorite pet had died. "I never meant for your relationship to suffer."

Vanessa's tone dropped another degree. "Because of you, my business is on the brink. Because of you, Kate's morose and miserable. She's become an embarrassment and you know how I feel about that." It had never crossed her mind that she had perhaps cared more about the business than Kate's welfare.

"I'm sorry." Vanessa thought she saw fear in Brooke's eyes.

"I can't relate to what you two have, but I-I know what we have here," Brooke whispered, then kissed Vanessa's smooth, elongated belly. "And I won't let you go."

In the moment, Brooke's entreaties allayed Vanessa's apprehensions. They tittered like school girls. Their lips met, then parted.

"I love you," Brooke said as she lowered herself over Vanessa. She trailed downward, only stopping when she had reached Vanessa's soft spot.

Brooke's deliciously gentle touch was enough to tame Vanessa's frustration. She could no longer resist the impulse to raise her legs and wrap around Brooke's back. "I love you, too," she mumbled before a euphoric moan took her.

Tracing delicate kisses along her jaw line and down her neck, Vanessa didn't stop until Brooke's moan confirmed that her partner was just as ready as she was. Their bodies entangled as they both drove each other to impossible heights.

Shudder after shudder ran through Vanessa until Brooke's undulating cry broke the heated moment. "Oh, God, your power intoxicates me," were her last words before she drifted off into a contented slumber.

"Yes, dear. I know."

It seems like there are more antagonists than we know what to do with, which is what I wanted in the first place. What do you think Sabir's internal plan is? How does this lesbian sex scene play out for you?

Copyright © 2016 by Alan Field. All Rights Reserved.