Wolf in the pulpit (1 3)

Wolf in the Pulpit

This is a work of fiction. Names, character, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Wolf in the Pulpit Š 2015 by Teresa D. Patterson All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means whatsoever.

Wolf in the Pulpit by Teresa D. Patterson

This book contains adult content, foul language and profanity, graphic sexual scenes, and extreme violence.

It is not intended to be read by anyone under the age of eighteen.

It’s also not for the faint of heart.

Read at your own risk.

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Prologue Charles Baker entered First Mount Olive Progressive Church before it became overly crowded with hordes of parishioners eager to hear Pastor Todd Bailey deliver one of his passionate sermons. He took a seat in the second row of pews even though they were reserved for the pastor's immediate family and close relatives.

Charles sat down, crossed his legs and pursed his lips. His set face dared anyone to ask him to move. He had a mission to accomplish and was determined to carry it out once and for all.

He went over the mental list of items he needed in order to complete the task before him.

1. Bible. √ 2. HIV test results. √ 3. .22 caliber handgun. √√ He reached into the pocket of his blazer and felt the cold steel. The palm of his hand itched as he contemplated pulling it out and playing target practice with one person in particular.

Teresa D. Patterson He had a hard time talking himself down, but managed to gain control by counting to ten a few times. He even counted sheep for good measure.

By the time he’d cleared his head of visions of murder and mayhem, church services were underway. He sucked air through his teeth when he realized they were going over the announcements. It took them damn near an hour to mention all of their sick and shut-in.

A bunch of old motherfucker must go to this church. Who the hell ain’t sick or shutin?” he thought. Hell, I wish they’d hurry up and let the choir sing or get to a damn message or something. At least let me hear a good sermon before I set it off up in this bitch.

His annoyance was further increased when an older lady wearing a tall hat sat in front of him, blocking his view.

First, this bitch scroll up in here all late, then she got the nerve to wear that ugly as fruit basket on her damn head. No the fuck she didn’t. If this hoe don’t move, I will slap that damn hat off her head. I’m not in the mood today.

2

Wolf in the Pulpit As if on cue, one of the ushers signaled for the woman to move to the end of the pew. He hadn’t been the only one bothered by her big, hideous hat. A few people had complained outright and that’s why the ushers had instructed her to move. By the way her lips poked out, she wasn’t too happy. It served her right. She should have known not to wear something like that into the church. It didn’t even go with her outfit.

Charles grabbed a handheld fan with a picture of Martin Luther King Jr. on the front, sat back and fanned himself. It was hot in the building, but it was about to get even hotter with what he would reveal.

He actually sat through the entire service and threw out a few, “Amens,” “Hallelujahs,” and “Preach it” himself. He even got hyped by the choir and jumped up to do the Holy Ghost dance that was customary in most Baptist churches.

During confession, he rolled his eyes when an alleged gay brother hopped on the mic and declared he wasn’t “gay no mo’” and stated that he’d been “deliveret.”

He didn’t like “menz no mo’.” He was going 3

Teresa D. Patterson to stop carrying a purse, putting on makeup and start dating and love women.

Did this motherfucker even finish school? Charles thought. Can his ass spell GED? What the fuck is that foolishness he just spat out? Ain’t no way he’s going to start dating a woman. And what woman would want him anyway after this? If that man has been delivered from being a homosexual then I’m Dwayne Johnson’s twin. Lawd, let me get on this mic and do what I came to do. This church is full of hypocrites.

He left the pew and strutted up front, waiting impatiently for his turn to step up to the mic. A few of the confessions were longer than some of the novels new selfpublished authors sold on Amazon for .99 cents. He almost jumped for joy when it was finally his turn.

As he held the microphone in one hand, he looked around the church to be sure he had everyone’s undivided attention. He could tell that he did. He bet they expected him to clown like the other gay man before him had, but he wasn’t about to stand up and lie. What he had to say was the whole truth and nothing but.

4

Wolf in the Pulpit “If

we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” the pastor said. “What’s weighing heavily on your heart, young brother?”

“My name is Charles Jerome Baker.

I'm a nineteen-year-old homosexual,” he confessed. Gasps could be heard coming from different sections of the church.

“Don't act so shocked, like y'all ain't never seen no gay man before. One was just up here acting a damn fool a few minutes ago.

Anyhow, I'm just getting started. Get those little handheld fans out cause y'all gonna need to fan yourselves. It's about to get real hot. I’ll wait.” Some people actually grabbed a fan as instructed. He gazed around the church again before he continued. “I am HIV positive and the reason I got infected with AIDS is because of that man.” He pointed an accusing finger towards a handsome, 30-something, clean cut male sitting in the third pew, on the left. “Darrell Dontae Lowe, Dontae Lowe, Ray or whatever his name is while attending church... he gave me HIV deliberately when we engaged in homosexual sex after meeting in a gay 5

Teresa D. Patterson club. I know I got the disease from him because I was a virgin and never slept with a female or male before that encounter.”

The pastor lifted his microphone to his lips and spoke. “What do you mean he deliberately gave you HIV?” he asked.

He turned toward the pastor. “I mean exactly what I said. He took off the condom without me knowing and came inside me on purpose. He intended to infect me with HIV, and I'm not his only victim.”

Every eye in the church was riveted on Darrell when he leapt up.

“He's a liar. He's a motherfucking lying ass faggot,” he said.

More gasps came from the pews. One elderly mother of the church practically fainted on the spot. Just about everyone's mouth hung agape.

“Ushers. I need all ushers to come up front,” the pastor said. “Please escort Mr. Lowe into my private chambers.

“What? Why am I being escorted out?”

Darrell snatched away from the two ushers who grabbed him on either side.

“Y'all gonna let this little sugar booty come 6

Wolf in the Pulpit up in here throwing around these type of accusations? What about my rights? He's lying.”

“I'm not lying. I have my positive HIV test results right here.” He waved the slip of paper from the health department in the air.

“That don't mean you got it from me.”

Darrell continued to evade the ushers and ran toward the front of the church.

“I knew a scumbag such as yourself would deny giving me your nasty virus.

That's why I brought this.” Charles reached inside his jacket pocket and whipped out the gun. “Either the truth will set you free or a few of these bullets in your ass will. It doesn't really matter to me which. You see, I have nothing left to live for, all because of you and your dirty dick.”

“Oh dear God in heaven. Jesus fix it.

The devil is a lie,” a heavyset, brownskinned woman wearing a loud, yellow dress and a purple scarf yelled. “Don’t shoot him. Please don’t shoot him in the church,” she begged, steepling her hands together as if getting ready to pray.

7

Teresa D. Patterson “Lady, you and your praying hands better get out of my way before I cap your ass, too,” Charles warned. “And don’t wear that outfit again,” he added.

To let them know he meant business, he aimed the revolver and pulled the trigger. The loud sound of gunfire reverberated throughout the church. A bullet hit a large cross with a depiction of a Caucasian Jesus hanging from it. The ornament crashed to the floor.

Women, children and some men screamed and either hit the floor or ran.

Darrell hid behind the pulpit with the pastor and deacons.

“They are not going to save your ass, Darrell. Not even God can save you today.”

“Young man, you don’t want to do this.

Let’s talk about it,” Pastor Todd Bailey urged. His hand shook when he held it out toward Charles, expecting him to hand over the gun. “To take another life is a sin.”

“Save your speech, because I’m not trying to hear it today, Pastor. Before it’s all over and done, he’ll kill more people than I ever will with his HIV.” 8

Wolf in the Pulpit “Son, your life isn’t over, but if you pull that trigger, it will be,” the pastor tried to reason.

“Pastor, if you keep talking, I’m going to put a bullet through your dentures.

Now, move out of the way so I can hit my mark. Darrell Dontae Lowe is going to die today. Like I said, not even Jesus can save his black ass.”

Pandemonium broke out. Something hit Charles from behind, but he held tightly to the .22 and squeezed off three rounds. One bullet hit the pastor’s outer shoulder and spun him around. With him out of the way, the next two bullets connected with Darrell Lowe. One hit him dead in the center of his forehead. The other struck him in the throat. Either one could have been the cause of his ultimate demise. He hit the floor with a loud thud.

Several people ran over to check on him, but were hesitant to touch him because of what they’d just heard.

“Don’t touch him without gloves on.

His blood is tainted,” Charles warned, sitting down to calmly await the arrival of the police. “And give him CPR at your own risk.” Everybody backed up and just 9

Teresa D. Patterson watched in horror and fear as the essence of life seeped out of Darrell Dontae Lowe. *** It had been Anthony Frederick Diggs first time attending First Mount Olive Progressive Church. Actually, he hadn’t planned on attending any type of religious service because he wasn’t even sure he believed in God. He’d ducked into the church to hide from the detectives that had been trailing him. As he sat through the theatrics of the good church folk and watched everything play out as if it was a badly written Tyler Perry movie, an idea formed in his head.

Most of the people who’d left the church when shots had been fired returned to be nosey. Some extra people off the streets who’d heard about the happenings now crowded into the church.

Anthony got up and quietly walked out of a side entrance just as the police and medics arrived on the scene. He didn’t even bother to go back to his car. The detectives knew what he’d been driving, and he didn’t want them to spot him and get back on his trail.

10

Wolf in the Pulpit Instead, he walked about a block to Avenue and waited at a bus stop. He hopped on the first bus that came, paid the fare and sat at the back. He heard some people talking about what had just occurred at the church he’d left. Bad news sure did travel fast on the South side.

He got off the bus at Williams Park in downtown St. Petersburg. He took in the park as he walked through remembering how back in the day it once had been a place where they’d held free concerts. As a 10-year-old kid, he’d been only too happy to ride his bike down to the park to listen to the music and eat the free hotdogs and chips they’d given out.

As he passed by the bandstand, it was empty. Well, actually, a homeless man dressed in ragged, dirt-stained clothes had curled up and fallen asleep on the stage.

People passed by looking straight ahead or rushing to get on the next bus before it pulled off and left them. They paid the man sleeping on the stage no mind. As a matter of fact, the entire park was filled with homeless people now.

Anthony wondered if they still held free concerts. With the amount of homeless 11 22nd

Teresa D. Patterson vagrants lingering around, he doubted many people would attend if they did.

They probably feared the homeless and felt unsafe mingling with them.

A man with shaggy, stringy gray hair and missing teeth asked him if he had any spare change and held out his grubby hand, palm up. Anthony just glared at him and kept walking. After taking a few steps, a sudden rush of shame overcame him, and he turned back around. He dug into his left pocket and handed the vagrant everything that was in it, which probably amounted to about fifty bucks.

After counting the money, the bum’s eyes became watery. He ran the sleeve of his dirty jogging suit across his sweaty forehead and thanked Anthony profusely.

“I just wanted a sandwich, is all,” he said, overcome with gratitude. “God bless you.” Anthony just nodded and continued on.

He crossed the street and proceeded to walk the three or four blocks over to the Vinoy Renaissance Resort. He entered the lobby of the lavish hotel and approached the counter. When the front desk clerk saw him, her eyes brushed over him, but 12

Wolf in the Pulpit not with malice. Being extremely handsome, he was used to women of all colors and nationalities flirting with him.

Her look said he could probably easily bend her over in an empty room if he suggested it. She flashed him a bright Colgate smile and pushed her chest out further so he could see her silicon breasts.

“How may I help you today, sir?” she purred, batting her long, fake eyelashes at him.

“I need a room for the weekend.” She pecked on the keyboard with her French manicured nails and let him know what they had available. “I’ll take the executive suite,” he said. When she quoted him the price, he didn’t blink. He used a traveler’s check to finalize the transaction then caught the elevator up to his perspective room.

Entering the suite, his eyes swept over the room. The surroundings were perfect, but he didn’t care about those details. He only wanted to be in a quiet place where he could come up with a game plan. His next move could determine whether or not he got caught and sentenced to prison for the rest of his life.

13

Teresa D. Patterson He placed his laptop on the desk, opened it and powered it on. Once that task was complete, he accessed the website where he’d met those two conniving whores.

He should have known better than to trust online dating, or should he say, online hooking up. The site’s url should have been a red flag in itself.

CraigListSluts.com. He’d regret the day he’d ever responded to an ad promising “a good time” with plenty of “girl-on-girl action,” with “two bad bitches who could squirt” and loved “anal sex and giving fellatio.”

He leaned back in his chair and smirked. He’d taken care of their lying, corrupt asses. The two bad bitches had ended up two dead bitches. No one fucked him over when he’d worked so long and hard for everything he’d earned.

He still couldn’t believe he’d allowed lust to lead him astray. By letting down his guard, he’d had 1.5 million dollars stolen from him in the blink of an eye.

He’d been able to retrieve about $255,000 of it, but that was chump change. He couldn’t retire off that measly 14

Wolf in the Pulpit amount. He’d had his future all planned out, and now he practically had to start over from scratch.

He knew he either had to shit or get off the toilet. He would start over. He just had to figure out the specifics. While he’d been sitting in the church, it dawned on him exactly what he would do. Since someone had swindled him out of his life savings, he saw nothing wrong with swindling other people out of theirs. It was done all the time on a daily basis. All you had to do was watch American Greed to see if for yourself.

He let out a deep sigh. “No use crying over spilled milk,” he said aloud.

He got up and went over to the carry bag he’d left by the door. He took out a pair of scissors and trudged into the bathroom. The beautiful dreadlocks that he’d grown for the last fifteen years of his life had to go. It actually pained his heart as he began to cut. However, he knew it was necessary so he kept cutting and watching each black, coiled loc fall into the white porcelain sink.

15

Chapter One Two years later.

Behind the closed door to his office, Gregory Dunbar sat at his desk thinking over the past two years. He’d taken a church that had less than a hundred attendees and had turned it into a huge congregation with close to ten thousand members. Most Sundays, hundreds of people stood for hours to hear him preach while others were squeezed together in the pews like sardines. The ushers would even bring out metal folding chairs, but there were never enough seats for everybody.

Greg had an upcoming meeting with the church’s board members to discuss buying a bigger building. Once he’d secured the building, he had no doubt he could give both Pastor Paula White and the Bishop T. D. Jakes a run for their money. The thought of becoming a megachurch made his eyes shine with greed as he saw dollar signs.

16

Wolf in the Pulpit He chuckled as he recalled the first Sunday he’d faced his new congregation.

From the jump, he’d reeled them in one by one. The speech he’d recited back then had been weak, but it had worked. A selfsatisfied smirk settled on his face as he remembered his exact words.

“I’d like to welcome you all to Bullet Proof Baptist Church. I’m Pastor Gregory Dunbar. I know that some of you are from the former congregation, so you’re probably on the fence about whether or not I can lead you. I’d hope I can put your fears to rest. All I ask is that you give me a chance.

I understand that people fear change, and sometimes it’s hard to accept. But without change, there is no growth.

One thing about me is, I do things in a different way. I combine old school with new school, but you best believe, I can deliver a sermon that will have you out of your seats and on your feet. Now, I’d like for every single person in here to raise your dirty hands up to God and say “thank you” this morning. Because He didn’t have to let you wake up today. Y’all better praise Him. Amen. Get up on your feet and thank God right now,” he said. “If you don’t remember 17

Teresa D. Patterson anything else I say today, remember this.

You’re at Bullet Proof Baptist Church and even the devil has to wear a vest up in here!”

He’d named the church Bullet Proof Baptist due to an HIV infected member coming in and shooting everything up. The former pastor had tried to talk the enraged young man out of the senseless bloodshed, but he’d gotten shot in the process. He’d been lucky and had completely recovered from the bullet that had grazed him. The man who’d allegedly been infecting others with HIV hadn’t fared so well, though. His brains had gotten splattered all over the church.

Greg shook his head as he reminisced.

The former church had been a hot mess. It had been more of a hookup joint than a place of worship. Everyone had been sleeping around. Husbands weren’t loyal and wives weren’t faithful. They had completely lost their minds up in God’s house. He had stepped in and turned that place up-side-down. If someone didn’t want to go along with his new rules, he told them, “Let the doorknob hit you, where the good Lord split you.”

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Wolf in the Pulpit It had taken him two years…two painstakingly long years of being pretentious and putting on airs to finally have them eating out the palms of his hands. The fact that he was handsome, charming and charismatic worked to his advantage, too. Having quite a bit of illgained cash to flash around hadn’t hurt either.

As the months passed by, he lured more and more people into his church with his sermons. He’d been able to do that because he knew 90 percent of people went to a church to hear the sermons, and 92 percent returned to that church because of them.

He’d preached on controversial topics that had their ears burning and tongues wagging. Many times, the older folk left the church with their mouths pinched like they’d been sucking on an unripe persimmon. The next week, they returned eager to hear what else he had to say, only to get mad all over again. They kept coming back, so he continued to preach and keep it real.

During one sermon, he’d told his congregation: “I want you to take out your 19

Teresa D. Patterson cell phone, send a text to you exboyfriend, your ex-wife, your ex-husband, your ex-friend. Send one to all your exes, and tell them, ‘I’m sitting in church… F you! The new F word in this church is forgive.” He’d riled many folks up, but the next Sunday, he noticed more pews in the church filled than the previous Sunday.

He made it known each time he preached that his sermons would not be about comfort for the comfortable. He told them bluntly, “I’m not going to sugarcoat my sermons for those who have Charminsoft feelings. If you want to be lied to or want syrupy sweet sermons, there are several churches down the street that can accommodate you. Just pick one.”

He continued to preach with his straight-up-no-chaser delivery and it captivated them. When they left the church, they told a friend or a relative and the next week, there’d be even more people sitting in the pews.

His sermon, These Hoes Ain’t Loyal, had doubled the congregation. He’d known it would because who’d think a preacher would construct a sermon around a Chris Brown song? He’d blown their minds with 20

Wolf in the Pulpit that one, left them talking about it for weeks.

Once he’d reeled them in, he took full advantage of their pockets, purses and wallets. In the two years he’d been the pastor of Bullet Proof Baptist Church his salary had continued to increase as more members joined. He’d been able to buy two houses, a BMW, a Mercedes, and his bank accounts held a substantial amount of money.

His followers had grown to love and respect him. Eventually, even the older members had come around. They now looked up to him as a man of integrity, honesty and character and deemed him a trustworthy leader.

Little did they know, he was just using them, and when he was done ripping them off, he’d discard them all like useless garbage.

He wasn’t finished with his gullible followers. Not by a long shot. He wanted them to do whatever he commanded them to, and he knew all of them weren’t quite there, yet. If he told them to eat donuts laced with arsenic or drink Kool-Aid mixed 21

Teresa D. Patterson with rat poison, and they did it without question then they’d be ready.

They just don’t know. Just a bunch of mindless sheep. My loyal herd is about to pay for my new Jaguar. That’s what’s up.

He laughed out loud and reclined back in the leather, executive office chair. He closed his eyes and envisioned driving his new Jag. He could almost feel his hands gripping the steering wheel of the sleek, luxurious car. The thrill that ran through him was almost orgasmic. He felt light and free, almost like he was floating.

A light tap sounded on the door, causing his good mood to dissipate. Greg let out a huff then gritted his teeth. He took a few seconds to inhale through his mouth then exhale out his nose, morphing into a pastor’s persona once again.

“Come in,” he called.

I wonder what kind of ratchetness I’ll have to deal with this time.

It was always something. Single mothers made up two-thirds of his congregation. That meant a woman held down the household and usually wasn’t doing a good job of raising the children 22

Wolf in the Pulpit she’d conceived with some sorry excuse of a sperm donor.

Daphne Cason sashayed into the room. Her teen-aged son dragged his feet as he trailed behind. Gregory made it his business to know the name of every member, especially the single mothers that attended his church. He recognized that shapely figure immediately. A tight, black, maxi skirt hugged her curvaceous hips and round butt. The tops of her, luscious firm breasts leered out of the lowcut, swoop-neck, red blouse she wore.

Damn. Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Parker, he thought.

Gregory shook his head. How could he not look at her breasts and lust for what she had. All of her assets were clearly on display. She didn’t even have enough self respect to know she was offering herself out like a cheap, Publix’s vegetable platter.

When will these women learn? How do they expect to get respect when they don’t even respect themselves?

“Pastor Dunbar, I know you’re busy, but I’m at my wits end,” Daphne said. “I can’t get my son to straighten up. He’s disrespectful to me, to his teachers….to 23

Teresa D. Patterson everybody. He won’t listen. He stays in the streets using and selling drugs.” She let out a sigh. “He’s on a path of selfdestruction and I just don’t know what to do with him. I thought maybe if you had a talk with him, you could be a positive influence. Do you have time?”

“Sure. Come on in, young man. Have a seat.” He indicated one of the chairs lined up in front of his desk. “Sister Cason, do you mind leaving us alone?” His eyes roamed over her entire body and lingered on her luscious breasts before resting on her face, which wore a knowing smirk.

“I’ve found that young men speak more openly and honest when they’re not in the presence of their mothers.”

Daphne smoothed her weaved tresses over one shoulder and batted her fake lashes at him. “I don’t mind at all. I hope you can get through to him because I’m about to just give up.”

He nodded, ignoring her flirtatious ways. He’d deal with Ms. Daphne on another day outside the church building.

He could tell she wanted to fuck him and the feeling was mutual. “I’ll handle it,” he assured her. “It’s going to be just fine. I’ll 24

Wolf in the Pulpit send him out when we’re done talking.

Please close the door on your way out, Sister.”

“OK. Thank you so much, Pastor Dunbar.” She trotted away in her six-inch stilettos. He was surprised she didn’t twist her ankle in those high ass heels.

When the door clicked behind Ms. Cason, Greg stood up. “So, what seems to be the problem, young man?” He walked from around his desk and stared at the sullen boy.

“Nigga, I ain’t tellin’ you shit,” the boy snarled, standing up in defiance. “I don’t even know why my mama brought me in here to talk to yo’ lame ass. You can’t do nothin’ for me.”

He wore a pair of pants that were too big for his narrow waist and they sagged, showing his multi-colored boxer shorts.

His hair was wild and twisted in either plaits or dreadlocks; Gregory couldn’t tell which. Either way, they were unbecoming because they looked nappy and unkempt.

His over-sized feet were stuffed into a pair of the latest, expensive Jordans.

He finished his assessment of the boy before he spoke. “See, I was hoping I had 25

Teresa D. Patterson you pegged wrong, but now that you opened your mouth, I know I’m right. You one of them wanna-be gangsta lil niggas, ain’t you?” Before the teen could answer, his right arm snaked out and slapped him across both cheeks then he wrapped his hands around the boy’s throat, choking him. He gave him a forceful push, which landed him back in the chair he’d deserted. “Look, you lil disrespectful motherfucker. Sit your ass down.” He took his index finger and poked the boy’s nose as he spoke. “You are going to stop worrying your mama and get your shit together. You will go to school and apply yourself to the best of your ability. You are no longer going to be a dumb-ass, problematic nigga.”

He stood so close that drops of spittle hit the boy’s face. The teen just gawked and blinked since the grip around his throat didn’t allow him to do much else.

Greg continued to speak. “You’ll stop giving your teachers a hard time, and you will straighten the fuck up.” He shook the boy and gritted his teeth to hiss, “Bernard, I know all about you. I know the lil fuck niggas you hang with. I know that you sell 26

Wolf in the Pulpit weed and crack.” The boy’s eyes widened.

“Yeah, I know. Mm-hmm. You’re going to stop doing that, too.” He released the boy’s throat and glared at him. “Did I make myself clear?” he asked, and the kid nodded. “Good.” He shook his head. “I’m glad we had this little discussion and came to an understanding. Now, I’ll let you go on about your day.”

Bernard jumped up and rushed for the door, but before he could open it the pastor’s words stopped him in his tracks.

“Don’t even think about telling your mama I roughed you up. She’s not going to believe you.” He opened his jacket to ensure the boy saw the gun tucked in his waistline. “When it concerns me, snitches don’t just get stitches, they get dealt with,” he said, warningly. “Open your mouth, and I will body you, lil jit. Now, get your ass out there and apologize to your mama.” Trembling, the teen snatched the door open and practically ran from the room. “And pull your pants up, boy,” Greg called behind him.

Fifteen minutes later, Gregory chuckled when he thought about the look 27

Teresa D. Patterson on the teen’s face. He wouldn’t be surprised if Bernard had brown shit stains in his boxer shorts when he checked. He was almost a hundred percent certain Bernard would no longer be a problem for his mother or anyone else.

He made a mental note to check with Daphne in a few weeks to inquire about his progress. At that time, he’d make his move on the insatiable Ms. Cason. He couldn’t wait to slide his dick down her throat. Those pretty lips and mouth would go to work over-time to please him. His manhood throbbed and swelled just from thinking about what he’d do to Ms. Cason.

She could definitely get it—and she would.

He locked his office door and strutted toward the front of the church. He should have been the only person left in the building, but knew Anita Wesson would be pretending to work late just so she’d get a chance to see him. She was the part-time evening receptionist that he really didn’t need. Rarely anyone called the church after 5 p.m. He’d only hired her because she was a Brazilian beauty and easy on the eyes.

28

Wolf in the Pulpit “Anita, I see you’re working late again tonight. Are you going to need a ride home?” he asked.

She placed the novel she’d been reading down on the desk and turned toward him. “A ride is exactly what I need,” she purred, letting her eyes caress the front of his trousers. She could detect the hard-on that hadn’t quite gone down.

She gazed back up at his face with a meaningful expression in her eyes.

He stared at her in silence before he said in a low tone, “Be careful what you wish for.”

“What I wish is that you’d bend me over and fuck me without mercy,” she said boldly.

Ten minutes later, they were in the parking lot and he had her doggie style in the back seat of his BMW with her skirt rolled up and panties pulled to the side.

“Back that ass up on this dick. Back it up,” he instructed. He rammed into her not bothering to wait until she’d adjusted to accommodate his length and width. She didn’t care. It seemed the more pain he delivered to her, the louder she moaned and writhed on the seat.

29

Teresa D. Patterson “Oh yes. It hurts so good.” She gave a long, low growl, expressing her pleasure.

“I see you’re a pain freak, huh? I need to get you somewhere where you can make all the noise you want. You got a curfew?”

“No. My husband is working the third shift tonight,” she answered between pants.

“Good. That pussy will belong to me all night long then.” He pumped in and out of her until he busted a quick nut. “Come on. Get in the front so we can get out of here. I’ll make up for the two-minute quickie when I get you to my place.”

“Mmm,” she purred. “I can’t wait.”

They hurried out of the back seat and got up front.

As Greg drove, Anita reached over from the passenger side and began caressing his penis.

“I like that,” he moaned when she unzipped his pants and began to handjack his dick. When he was rock hard, she leaned over and positioned herself so she could suck him off. “Shit,” he swore, watching her lick the shaft. He nearly howled with pleasure when she took him in her hot, wet mouth and began to suck, 30

Wolf in the Pulpit bob and blow. He got so into what she was doing he forgot to keep his eyes on the road and swerved in the opposite lane of on-coming traffic. The jarring brightness of headlights and glaring horns, snapped him out of his trance, and he righted the car and got back into his lane.

“Shit, you about to make me kill us.

Sit back and fasten your seat belt. We’ll have plenty of time for that. When we get to my place, I promise you, you can do like Lil Wayne rapped about, lick it like a lollipop.”

“OK. That’s sounds like a plan,” she said and slid back over to her side, licking his pre-cum off her sticky lips.

Greg switched on the music and they listened in silence while he drove the rest of the way.

When he pulled up to his home and used an automatic door opener to access the garage, Anita’s mouth dropped open.

“Wow,” she exclaimed when he pulled into the garage. “This house is amazing.”

“Five bedrooms, 3 full baths,” he said nonchalantly, parking his BMW in the three-car garage next to a new Mercedes GLA Concept SUV. He pretended he didn’t 31

Teresa D. Patterson notice Anita eyeing it with envy while she got out of the car.

“This place is simply gorgeous,” she gushed, acting like Alice in Wonderland.

“Yeah. It’s all right,” he said, bored. He was used to the reaction because he’d heard it so many times before. “Wait until you see the inside.” People were always awe-struck when they stepped into his house. It was another one of his “worldly” possessions the good church folk had paid for at the tune of $294,000.

He ushered her out of the garage and around to the front because he kept the door connecting the garage to the house triple bolted. He didn’t want any burglars jimmying his garage and getting into his home. He knew first-hand that it could be done by bonafide crooks.

He unlocked the door and watched Anita’s face when she stepped over the threshold. Her eyes lit up like a child’s on Christmas Day when they saw how many wrapped presents had been left under the tree the night before.

Anita saw him staring at her and apologized quickly. “Oh, I’m so sorry.” She stepped out of her shoes.

32

Wolf in the Pulpit “For what?”

“For not removing my shoes. I don’t want to get your white carpet dirty.”

Greg burst into laughter and closed the door behind them. “Relax,” he said.

“It’s not all that serious. These are just things. No big deal. Now, since you’re out of your shoes, let’s see if you can get out of the rest of what you’re wearing. I wanna see that fine body of yours, every inch of it.”

Anita gave him a seductive smile and lifted her dress over her expansive hips and pulled it up over her head, wiggling out of it. She stood boldly in front of him in only her lace black panties and matching bra.

Greg devoured her with his eyes. She could give Kim Kardashian a run for her money. As a matter of fact, Kim who?

Looking at her voluptuous curves and small waist made his dick stand to attention.

She took note of his erection and smiled wickedly. Her tongue circled her lips, moistening them.

“You want it?” he asked, seeing the lust in her eyes. He reached into his pants 33

Teresa D. Patterson to pull his dick forward. “Come on over here and give me some slow smoking head.”

“I’d be glad to.”

“I bet you would.” When she sank to her knees in front of him, he took his dick and slapped her on the cheek with it.

“Slurp on it. Lick it like a lollipop.” She greedily did as instructed. “Suck on it, bitch. Put that big, long anaconda in your mouth and gag on it,” he commanded.

He could tell Anita liked to be treated like a slut. He’d seen how her eyes had lit up when he’d dick-slapped her. She loved it. Most bitches did. He had something in store for the dick-loving, throbbing-pussy trick.

Anita wrapped her lips around him and suctioned like a vacuum cleaner hose.

He was amazed when she swallowed the length of him. She gagged, spit it out and swallowed it again.

“Damn,” he said, as her throat relaxed and it eased down it without her choking.

She bobbed back and forth like a chicken trying to pull a worm out of the ground.

He wasn’t surprised when he busted down her throat, and she swallowed every drop.

34

Wolf in the Pulpit He smirked. No matter how they denied it, most women swallowed when they got behind closed doors. Nasty closet freaks.

While Anita still had his deflated dick in her mouth, he reached down and slid two fingers into her pussy. “You’re soaking wet. You wanna get fucked, don’t you?”

She nodded and continued to work him over with her tongue. “All right. Hey, Marlo,” he called over his shoulder. “I got a hot bitch for you.”

Anita’s face reflected her confusion.

She watched as a brown-skinned, thick chick walked into the room. She wore a form-fitting, black, mini-dress and sixinch stilettos and she carried a pair of handcuffs.

“Hi, sweetie. My name’s Marlo.” She introduced herself. “And I love eating pussy. Sucking dick comes second.”

“Wait, I’m not a lesbian,” Anita said.

She tried to get up from the carpeted floor, but Gregory shoved her back down to her knees.

“You’re in my domain. You’ll do whatever I want you to do,” he said. “Now, lay your ass down on your back and 35

Teresa D. Patterson spread your legs,” he commanded. “You said you wanted to get fucked. So you’re about to get fucked.”

“But, Pastor Dunbar…”

“Don’t call me that shit,” he roared, causing Anita to flinch. “We’re not in church,” he said more calmly. “My name is Greg.”

“Well, Greg. I don’t like women. I’m not a lesbian,” Anita protested.

“That’s OK. You don’t have to be one to enjoy this tongue,” Marlo said.

“Anita, you can make this easy or you can make it hard. Which one is it gonna be? You can lay back, close your eyes and let her eat your pussy while I get my dick hard again so I can fuck you. Or you can resist and it can go down another way.”

“Look, I don’t know what kind of freaky shit you’re into, but I made a mistake coming here. I’m ready to go.” Anita went to get up again. This time, Greg slung her back down to the floor rather forcibly.

“You ain’t going nowhere. Marlo, I see you’re gonna have to tame her.”

“It will be my pleasure.” Marlo sat on Anita’s chest and wrestled her hands above her head. She then secured them 36

Wolf in the Pulpit with the pair of handcuffs. “Relax, baby.

No one is going to hurt you. Trust me.

You’ll love it.” She stuck her tongue out and licked Anita’s face playfully.

Anita turned her head from side to side, trying to avoid Marlo’s tongue. “I don’t like women.”

“That’s what they all say.” Still straddling Anita, she pulled the mini-dress she wore over her head and tossed it to the side. Looking into Anita’s eyes, she reached up and caressed one of her breasts. “You have a banging fucking body.”

“I know. That’s what my husband tells me every night. Husband, bitch. I’m not gay,” she said.

“I’m not gay, either. I just like having sex, a lot of sex, with whoever I feel like having sex with. When I reach an orgasm, I get happy as fuck.” She leaned down and slurped on one of Anita’s nipples. “Just close your eyes and pretend I’m your husband. I can tell I’m going to enjoy your sweet pussy. You might as well enjoy it, too.” She slowly slid her index finger into Anita’s wet pussy and began working it in and out, slow and then faster.

37

Teresa D. Patterson She smirked. “Thought you didn’t like it? You wet as fuck to not like what I’m doing.” She removed her finger and stuck it in her mouth, slurping all the juices off it. “Mm.” She leaned down and began to suck Anita’s other nipple. She then let her tongue travel down the middle of her chest, lower and lower until she buried it between her thighs. When she sucked Anita’s clit into her mouth, Anita’s hips bucked and her lower torso rose up off the floor. She let out a small whimper of surprise and pleasure.

“Eat that pussy,” Greg encouraged. He stood watching them in action, stroking his now engorged dick.

Marlo went to work licking, slurping and sucking until Anita cried out her pleasure. “Aw fuck! I’m gonna cum!” she screamed. Her thighs trembled uncontrollably and she reached an intense orgasm.

“I guess that means it was good for you,” Marlo said, unlocking the handcuffs and taking them off. “And just for future reference, you could have said no.” She gave her a sly wink.

38

Wolf in the Pulpit “She didn’t want to say no. She’s a freaky bitch. She just didn’t know how freaky until now,” Greg said, taking Marlo’s place between Anita’s legs. “You ready for this dick again?” He didn’t give her a chance to answer, just slid it in to the hilt. “You gon’ get fucked like you never been fucked before,” he said. “I told you to be careful what you wished for. You wanted it. Now you got it.”

By that time, Anita was extremely turned on. Feeling the full length of Greg’s dick inside her caused her walls to vibrate in anticipation of what was to come. She grabbed his ass cheeks and pulled him deeper into her. “Give it all to me. All of it, please, Big Daddy,” she begged. She was like a bitch in heat. Her pussy was hot and throbbing and all she wanted was release.

While Greg pumped in and out of her, Marlo walked around and lowered her pussy onto her face. At first, Anita resisted, but soon she just stopped trying to control what happened and just went with the flow.

“What goes on in this house, stays in this house,” Greg assured. “So, you can 39

Teresa D. Patterson just lay back and come as many times as you like. Be as uninhibited as you want.

Eat pussy, get yours eaten by another woman. It’s all good. I don’t judge.”

“Mm,” Anita moaned as Marlo bounced up and down and grinded her pussy against her face until she came. She got off her and crawled over next to Greg.

While he plowed into Anita, she licked his dick and Anita’s clit, taking turns. “Oh shit. That feels fucking amazing,” Anita gasped and came again, hard.

After Greg and Marlo both climaxed again, they all rested. Greg had Marlo roll a fat blunt and they sat back and smoked it in the nude. Once they’d finished smoking, they were ready for another round. By then, Anita had no reservations.

She even initiated the tongue-to-clit action with Marlo and she was the one to give.

Even though she was an amateur, it became obvious that Marlo enjoyed it when she grabbed Anita by the ears, trembled and came.

Greg chuckled. He and Marlo exchanged knowing looks.

“She’s a keeper,” Marlo said, and he nodded.

40

Wolf in the Pulpit “If there’s anything you want or need that your husband can’t give you, I got you,” Greg told Anita.

“I’m good. My husband takes good care of me,” she said, slightly offended.

“Is that so?” Greg gave her a smug look. “Then tell me this. Why are you catching the bus while that nigga driving your car?” Anita’s eyes widened. “Yeah. I know all about your husband, Bruce. He got a lil security guard job and think he’s a cop. Weak ass, lame motherfucker.”

Anita’s eyes flashed. “Wait a minute.

That’s my man, you’re talking shit about,” she said.

“Hey, calm down lil mama. I ain’t finished. You need to be checking ya man.

He only works part-time. The other nights he told you he work, he’s at this strip club in Sarasota. He’s been leaving with a bitch named T-back Toni for the past couple of weeks. So, like I said, if you need anything, all you got to do is ask. You’re on my team now, and I take care of my women.”

“I don’t believe you,” Anita said. Her jaw clenched, and she bit the corner of her lip.

41

Teresa D. Patterson Greg shook his head, and he and Marlo laughed. “They’re always in denial.”

“Yep,” Marlo agreed, giving Anita a sympathetic look when she saw how upset the news had made her. “Why don’t you take her to the club so she can catch him in the act,” she told Greg, and he nodded.

“Go take a shower and get dressed,” he told Anita. “We’ll take a ride across the bridge. You don’t have to take my word for it. You’ll get to see it with your own eyes.” *** “Are you sure you’re ready to find out the truth?” Greg asked as Anita sat stiffbacked in the passenger seat, and he drove across the Skyway Bridge.

“If Bruce is cheating on me, I want to know,” she said through tight lips.

“Like I said, I don’t judge, but why does it matter? You just let me fuck you.

So, technically, you’re cheating, too,” he pointed out.

“But I haven’t been cheating,” she said hotly. “You’re the first man I’ve slept with outside my marriage. He hasn’t been taking care of my needs and I just wanted fulfillment. I didn’t plan to fuck you. It just happened.”

42

Wolf in the Pulpit “I’m sure he didn’t plan to fuck that stripper, either,” Greg said dryly. “When you’re in the strip joint sometimes pussy just falls onto your lap, literally.” He chuckled at this own joke.

“Real funny,” she snapped. “My husband is fucking some skanky stripper and you got jokes.” Her lips jutted out in a pout.

“Look, don’t sweat the small stuff and it’s all just small stuff,” he said. “Since he’s doing his thing, you can do yours without feeling guilty about it.”

“I need proof,” she insisted.

He took an exit off the bridge, drove for a while longer then pulled into a parking space in front of a club call the Pretty Kitty and killed the engine.

Anita’s frown deepened as she stared at the pink neon lights and the blinking words beckoning to potential clients.

“The fucking Pretty Kitty. Really?” She huffed. “I bet it’s filled with a bunch of hood rats.”

Greg turned toward her and spoke in a serious tone. “Let me be clear on what you’re going to do. I want you to follow my instructions to a tee. First, don’t go inside 43

Teresa D. Patterson that club and start clowning like some low-class bitch. Next, don’t let him see you. Last, if you can’t handle the truth, we can just leave right now.”

Anita, took a deep breath, closed her eyes and let the air out slowly then nodded. “OK. I can handle it. I’m going to just go inside and see for myself. If it’s true, I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.”

She let out another deep breath. “I just hope you’re wrong.” She opened the door and got out, but not before she saw Greg pick up a blunt and light it. She gave him a quizzical look.

“What?” he asked, giving the cigar a puff.

“For a preacher, you sure do a lot of unholy things.” Her eyes settled on the blunt. “Save some of that for me. I think I might need a hit if what you told me is true.”

“Whatever you need for your pain, I got it,” he said, smirked and blew marijuana smoke into the air.

She closed the door and walked off.

He reclined back and enjoyed his smoke, watching her sashay her way up to 44

Wolf in the Pulpit the door of the club. He saw her disappear inside and shook his head.

When will these bitches learn that these niggas ain’t loyal?

He didn’t have to lie about most of the no good men. They all cheated. No one was loyal. Not one. Not the teachers, the lawyers, the doctors and certainly not the preachers. So why wouldn’t a regular security guard be any different?

He puffed on the blunt and blew out smoke while he waited. It didn’t take long for Anita to emerge from the club, shoulders hunched with her head held down. He knew from the way she drug her feet as she headed towards the car she’d spotted her husband and the stripper together.

She opened the car door and slid back into the passenger seat. He extended the half-smoked joint to her. “Wipe away the tears and just take a deep drag and hold it in. Like I said, don’t sweat the small stuff.

Fuck him. You’re on my team now. I’ll take care of you.”

His words didn’t seem to sink in. Her eyes held a wild glint. “I want to pack up 45

Teresa D. Patterson all of his shit and put it to the curb,” she said. “Or better yet, burn it.”

“Don’t bother with that petty shit. Just leave that motherfucker. Move out and leave his ass high and dry.”

“I can’t afford to move out on my own.

I work as a part-time church secretary.

You know that.”

“Anita, didn’t you hear anything I just said to you? Look at me.” She turned to face him and her facial muscles relaxed a bit. He tilted her chin. “You’re on my team.

Whatever you want, I got you. Just tell me what you want and it’s yours.”

“A two bedroom house would be nice,” she said. “And a car,” she added.

He nodded and turned the key in the ignition. She scooted back to her side of the car thinking he was full of shit. Men lied all the time just to get what they wanted. He’d already fucked her so he didn’t need to lie to get her to do it again.

She had to admit, she’d enjoyed the threesome she’d participated in, and she wanted a repeat performance. “I don’t want to go back to my place. Can I crash at your house?” she asked.

46

Wolf in the Pulpit “Sure. You ready for round three?” he asked and chuckled knowingly. “I’m sure Marlo will be down for whatever. You kind of liked that clit-on-clit action didn’t you?

You can tell me,” he teased.

“Well, it was different, and I wouldn’t mind doing it again,” she admitted. “I still don’t think I’m gay or anything.”

“You’re not. You’re just freaky. Keep fucking with me and I’ll bring it all out of you. It won’t be long before you like taking it in the ass, too.”

“Ouch.” She made a face and shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

“Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.” He gave a chuckle. “Anal sex will have you squirting gallons of cum. You’ll see.”

“If you say so,” she said doubtfully.

“Can I hit that joint again? I’m still kind of shaken up and need to calm down.”

“I got something that will make you feel real good,” he said.

“Oh, what is that? More of that anaconda you got?” she joked.

He laughed. “No. But seriously. I got a Molly. You pop one, and you’ll be relaxed in no time.”

47

Teresa D. Patterson “I don’t know.” She hesitated. “I’m not really into drugs. Weed is about all I can handle.”

“You’re with me now. I’m not gonna let nothing happen to you, Anita.” He reached over, squeezed her knee then patted it. “I got you. You’re in capable hands.” He gave her a sly grin. “Don’t you trust a preacher?”

“I’m beginning to think you’re not a preacher at all,” Anita said. “But your secret’s safe with me,” she added.

“I’m what they call a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” he admitted.

“You’re a wolf?”

“Yeap. I’m a wolf in the pulpit,” he said, hitting the joint she’d passed back to him. He then quoted a line of Lil Wayne’s lyrics. “When a wolf cry wolf you still see that wolf’s teeth.”

“Can you puff, puff, give Big Bad Wolf,” Anita asked, and they both roared with laughter.

They took turns passing the joint back and forth until it was gone.

“I’m sorry for snapping on you earlier,” Anita said after a while.

48

Wolf in the Pulpit He nodded. “It’s all good. You OK? I mean, it’s not every day you find out your husband is dicking down a stripper.”

She cut her eyes at him. “You sure have a way with words.”

“I never was one to sugarcoat anything,” he said, reaching for some breath mints in the console. He extended the container to her and she took a few.

“Let’s make it back across that bridge.

When I get to the house, I’m gonna fuck you real good and put you to sleep.”

“Depending on how I react to that Molly, I might just fuck you real good and put you to sleep,” she said.

“We’ll see about that.”

“Yes, we will.”

You have no idea what you’re getting into, Anita. Enjoy the ride while you can, he thought. When I bail on your ass, you’ll be on your own. Maybe your lame ass husband loves you enough to pick up the pieces. If not, you’re shit out of luck. Even good pussy has an expiration date.

49

Chapter Two “I thought I had some Mollys, but I’m out. So I need to swing by the church and pick some up,” Greg told Anita.

“You keep drugs at the church?”

He shrugged. “I don’t keep anything other than weed at the house,” he explained. “That way, if somebody decides to rob me, they won’t get much or if the cops do a bust, all they’ll find is a lil weed.

The hard stuff is in my safe at the church.

Who would ever think to look for it there?”

Anita just nodded. Smoking the marijuana had her feeling lovely. It had mellowed her out and her mind wasn’t focused on her cheating husband anymore.

When Greg turned on the street where Bullet Proof Baptist Church was located he saw something to the right that caught his eye. He slowed the car to a crawl to get a better view. “Look at that lil nigga creeping.”

Anita had been lounging with her eyes closed, but his words snapped her to attention, and she opened her eyes. They 50

Wolf in the Pulpit both witnessed a young man climbing out of someone’s bedroom window.

“Shouldn’t you call the cops? Is he robbing the place?” Anita asked.

Greg shook his head. “About the only thing getting taken is pussy and I’m sure it’s being given up for free. But, I bet Regina would like to know about her fifteen-year-old daughter’s extracurricular activities at night.”

“I’d beat the shit out of my daughter if I found out she was fucking at fifteen. I’d beat that boy’s ass, too,” Anita said.

“I’ll be giving Regina a call. In the meantime, we have more important things to take care of.”

He pulled up in front of the church, left the car running then went inside to get what he needed.

While Greg was inside, Anita pulled down the lid to the glove compartment.

Her breath caught in her throat when she saw the gun. She slammed it closed really quickly.

She thumbed through a stack of music CDs in the console. When she picked one up, what looked like a driver’s license fell out. She retrieved it and glanced at it. It 51

Teresa D. Patterson was Pastor Gregory Dunbar’s face, but the name read Anthony Frederick Diggs.

Who the hell did I get myself mixed up with? Anita wondered. He said he’s a wolf in the pulpit. I’d better be careful because I get the feeling he will devour anyone who gets in the way of what he wants. *** While Greg headed towards his office where the safe was located, he dialed Regina Ware’s number. It took a while before the woman answered and as expected when she did, she had an attitude.

“Who the fuck is this calling me this late?” she bellowed.

“Mrs. Ware, this is Pastor Dunbar. I’m sorry to have awakened you, but I thought you’d want to know I just saw a young man climbing out of your daughter’s bedroom window.” He had to hold the cell phone away from his ear or risk her damaging his eardrum because she got so loud. “Calm down, Sister Ware. You can’t beat the child or the powers that be will take you to jail. May I make a suggestion?”

After the woman had calmed down a bit, he convinced her not to confront her 52

Wolf in the Pulpit daughter. He assured her he’d deal with the situation the next day. “I’ll handle everything. Once I have a talk with Vanessa, I guarantee you she’ll do a complete 180.”

He disconnected the call and entered his office. He accessed the safe and took out a baggie of cocaine, Mollys and other drugs.

“Tonight’s going to be a good night.”

He tucked the plastic bag into the pocket of his jacket and left. *** Back at the house, he didn’t wait to get to the bedroom. As soon they walked into the house, Greg pulled Anita to his chest and kissed her, letting his tongue play tag with hers. He snatched her by the hair and tugged it until tears entered her eyes.

“You like a little pain with your pleasure, don’t you?” Anita didn’t answer, but a moan escaped through her parted full lips. He reached under her dress and fingered her now soaking pussy. “Yeah.

That rough shit turns you on. Get on your hands and knees,” he commanded. “I’m about to give it to you just the way you like it.”

53

Teresa D. Patterson Anita wiggled out of her dress and tossed it aside. Greg didn’t even wait for her to remove her panties, he just ripped the thin material off of her. He straddled her from the back and pounded her like a dog in heat. He palmed her healthy ass and gave the right cheek a smack. He could tell she loved it by the way she threw her ass back at him, causing him to sink deeper inside her. He grabbed her hair with both hands and rode her like a filly, tugging her hair and digging into her guts at the same time. She bucked and came all over his dick, trembling uncontrollably.

He reached for the baggie of cocaine while he continued to pump into her.

While he rode her, he sniffed a line of the white powder off his index finger. He dipped his finger back into it and offered it to Anita. She was feeling so euphoric that she didn’t hesitate. She sucked all the powder up into her nostrils and gave a throaty laugh. After a while, she was feeling so horny she didn’t even flinch when he slipped his cocaine laced index finger in her asshole. He worked it in and 54

Wolf in the Pulpit out until she became lubed from her ass juices.

“Sniff some more of this shit,” he offered and she did. “Now, toot that ass up.” At first, her tight ass chute resisted, but he continued to tear into it until he was completely inside. He knew the cocaine had dulled the pain because Anita didn’t even cry out. Instead, she reached back and stretched her butt cheeks apart.

“Fuck my ass,” she begged. “Please.

Fuck my ass.”

He smirked. Women who said they hated anal sex had either never tried it or hadn’t been fucked in the ass by the right one. Like he’d previously warned, he made her squirt cum, and he could tell it was the first time it had ever happened. She screamed, laughed and cried at the same time. He knew she would do whatever he requested because once he’d finished putting it down on her, she was completely dicnotized.

The next morning Anita woke up to find Marlo sucking on her nipples. She couldn’t remember getting in the bed, but she must have because the lower half of 55

Teresa D. Patterson her was tucked under the sheet and comforter of the king-sized bed. “Mm,” she moaned. “That feels good.” She smiled as Marlo continued to administer her tongue action.

“Good morning,” Marlo greeted when she opened her eyes. “You and Greg must have had a good time last night by the discarded clothes and condoms in the living room. Sorry I couldn’t join you two. I was tied up.” She chuckled.

“Good morning.” Anita winced when she sat up.

“Oh, you’re sore this morning? Greg must have broken you in last night. I take it you’re no longer a virgin anally?” She guessed. Anita shook her head. “Anal sex is the best, isn’t it?” Anita just nodded and her eyes glossed over when she remembered her first experience doing cocaine and getting fucked in the ass. “I never thought it could feel so good, either.”

“It was…wow. I can’t even explain it. I don’t know what it is about Greg, but he got me doing things I’ve never done before.

Never even thought about doing, not even with my husband,” Anita admitted.

“He is very charismatic,” Marlo said.

56

Wolf in the Pulpit “I tried cocaine for the first time, too…and I liked it,” she confessed.

Marlo gave her a sharp look. “Don’t like it too much, girl. You don’t want to turn into a crack head,” she warned. “Do that shit every now and then. Don’t end up hooked.”

“I can handle it. I just wanted to forget about everything. Greg was telling the truth about my husband. Bruce is a lying, cheating dog. I saw him with that stripper chick, and I just wanted to forget all the pain. I mean, that’s my husband, and I really do love him.” She felt a wave of sadness wash over her. “I still can’t believe he’s been cheating on me all this time and I knew nothing about it.” She tried to hold back the tears but couldn’t.

“Aw shit. Here it comes.” Marlo knew Anita was coming down from her cocaine high. Her emotions were going to be out of whack for a while. “I think I know what will make you feel better.”

“Marlo, don’t even try to sit on my face right now,” Anita said, sniffing back the tears.

Marlo laughed. “No, girl. I have something for you. Greg told me to give it 57

Teresa D. Patterson to you before he left for church. Trust me.

This is going to cheer your ass up. Get up and follow me.” She grabbed a box of tissues from the nightstand and tossed them on the bed next to Anita. “Here. Wipe your eyes and blow your nose. You look a hot mess.”

Anita managed a smile, taking the tissues. She used a few to clean her face and blow her nose, discarding them in the nearby garbage can. She then pulled the sheet off the bed and wrapped it around her nude body and padded behind Marlo.

“Why are you taking me to the garage?” she asked, watching Marlo’s wide hips sway and big butt bounce when she walked ahead.

“Because that’s where cars belong,” Marlo said.

“So, you’re going to show me your car.

How nice,” she said sarcastically, gazing at the dark blue BMW 330i.

“Anita, did you dye your hair brunette just to fool us because you are acting like a real ditzy blonde? Girl, this is your car.

Here.” She extended a key with an automatic key and alarm toward her.

58

Wolf in the Pulpit “What the fuck? Are you fucking kidding me?” Anita asked in shock.

“Marlo, you’re lying, right?”

“No. I wouldn’t do that to you. This is your Beamer, girl. Greg takes care of his women and you’re his woman now. Don’t just stand there with your mouth open.

Come check out your new car.”

“Oh, my God.” Anita began to jump up and down and scream. “I can’t believe this shit. Oh, my God.” She’d gone from having no car to having a luxury car. She opened the door and sat in the driver’s seat. She leaned back and looked up. It even had a sunroof. “This is fucking amazing. I love it.”

“I’m glad you’re happy, and I want to keep you smiling,” Marlo said. She grabbed Anita’s legs and turned her body around to face her. Removing the sheet, she kneeled between her legs and French kissed the juicy lips below her waist. Anita trembled and spread her thighs further apart. She threw one of her legs over Marlo’s shoulder to give her better access.

“Oh, suck it,” she moaned as Marlo lips closed over her clit. “Oh, my goodness, 59

Teresa D. Patterson Marlo. You’re going to turn me out.” Anita gasped and creamed on Marlo’s tongue.

Marlo smiled and looked into Anita’s eyes. Anita gazed back at her with passion induced lust. “Now, we got to go earn our keep. Greg wants us to meet him at the church. He has a job for us to do.”

“What kind of job?” Anita asked, grabbing the sheet to wrap it back around her nakedness.

“I don’t ask questions and if you know what’s good for you, you won’t either,” Marlo cautioned. “Let’s get ready and go.”

She winked at Anita. “I’ll help you get rid of that anal soreness a bit later. A nice slow tongue licking will make you forget all about the pain.”

Anita gave her a bright smile. “Damn.

This day is getting better and better.” *** Greg sat at his desk gazing at the sullen teen-aged girl. He wanted to bitchslap her like he’d done the disrespectful boy earlier that week, but he refrained from doing so. He really wanted to help her because he realized she was a victim of her circumstances. Her mama was on 60

Wolf in the Pulpit welfare and her daddy was doing time in the state penitentiary.

She suffered from low self-esteem because he knew Regina stayed in the clubs more than she stayed at home.

When she was home, all she did was drink and smoke weed. What type of an environment was that for a teen-aged daughter to be raised in? If the mama barely paid any attention to her, of course she’d seek attention elsewhere. Young girls who missed their fathers and were ignored by their mothers became easy prey for horny teen boys. All that the boys had to do was suck on their necks, grope them and fill their heads with bullshit promises. The panties would come off in no time. He knew because he’d been a horny ass lying teen at one point in his life. He knew the games and the lies.

He wanted Vanessa to understand she was being used, but she wouldn’t tell him the real story. He’d been talking to her for the last half hour attempting to get the truth out of her, but she continued to stick to her lie.

“Vanessa, I know what I saw last night when I was passing by your house. You’re 61

Teresa D. Patterson going to sit there and insult my intelligence by telling me you’re not sexually active.”

“I’m not,” Vanessa insisted.

“Then why was the boy leaving out your bedroom window? Let me guess. He went over there to play the X-box, huh?”

Vanessa shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“I already talked to your mother about this and she agreed to let me handle it.

Vanessa, let me ask you in a different way.

Maybe you don’t comprehend the questions and I need to clarify them.” He got up from his desk, walked over and shoved his face into hers and bellowed.

“Are you fucking, lil girl? Are you giving up the pussy?”

Vanessa’s mouth dropped open in shock. “W- what?”

“Don’t play stupid with me. When a lil jit climbs out of a girl’s bedroom window, it’s because he crawled through it to either fuck or get his dick sucked or both. Which one was it, Vanessa?” He grabbed her by the chin and forced her to look into his eyes. “Did you get fucked last night? Did you give the lil nigga some head? You are not the innocent lil prissy virgin you’re 62

Wolf in the Pulpit pretending to be now, are you? You’ve been fucked. You’re a bust-it baby. He used you. You’ve been had. Tell me the truth, Vanessa.”

“I don’t wanna talk to you. It’s not none of ya business anyway. I don’t know why my mama even brought me here,” Vanessa said.

“I guess we’ll have to do this the hard way since you won’t tell me the truth.”

“What do you mean?”

Two women entered the room from a door off to the side. One of them wore rubber gloves.

When he’d felt he wasn’t going to get the truth out of Vanessa, he’d sent a text to Marlo instructing her and Anita to come to the church. They had arrived.

“Marlo, find out if she's still a virgin,” Greg commanded, going back to his desk to take a seat and watch.

“What the fuck? Them bitches not coming near me,” Vanessa said, leaping up from the chair and making for the door. She tried the knob only to find it was locked. Marlo and Anita advanced on the girl and grabbed her by the arms. “Y'all 63

Teresa D. Patterson can't just touch me. Let me go,” she said, struggling to break free.

The two women wrestled the girl to the floor. While Anita sat on her upper body and penned her arms over her head, Marlo reached under her mini skirt and snatched her panties down to her ankles.

“I don't think a virgin would be wearing a thong,” Marlo remarked. “But that’s just my opinion.” She proceeded to insert an index finger of one of her gloveencased hands inside the writhing girl's vagina and nodded. “Just as I thought, it slid right in. She's good and loose.

Definitely not as pure as the driven snow.”

“You fucking bitch,” Vanessa swore.

“You can’t just do that shit.”

“Watch your mouth before I show you what a bitch can do to you. You lil hoe,” Marlo snapped. She fixed the girl’s under garments and nodded for Anita to release her.

“I ain't no hoe.” Vanessa sat up and hugged her knees.

“Well, you sure acting like one,” Greg said. “What respectable young lady let's these no good niggas bang her like a screen door in a winter storm?” Vanessa 64

Wolf in the Pulpit hung her head in shame. “What did he say to convince you to give it up? Did he tell you he loved you? Is that the lie he told?”

“He do love me,” she said, and sniffed back her tears.

The three adults roared with laughter.

“Yeah. He love you just like he love Pumpkin who live in the projects. Do you know Pumpkin?”

“No.” “Your little boyfriend knows her very well. She happens to be six months pregnant by him. So, do you still believe he's in love with you?” Greg asked. The tears streamed down the girl’s face as what he said sank in. She’d just been an easy lay for someone she thought cared about her. “Close your legs and open your mind. Learn to be more than just a sperm receptacle,” Greg advised. “Now, I won’t tell your mama that you’ve been behaving like a lil thot if you don’t mention what went down in here. If you decide to continue to let these lil niggas slide over your window sill, at least go down to the health department and get on some type of birth control. The broke nigga will leave you with a bunch of snotty-nosed kids 65

Teresa D. Patterson that the state will have to take care of.

You’ll just end up another Section 8, WIC getting, welfare recipient, and he’ll go on with his life fucking another thot just like you.”

“I’m not a thot,” Vanessa said. “I only had sex with that one boy.”

“Let me give you some advice. At fifteen years of age, having sex should be the last thing on your mind. Concentrate on school. Finish your education. Go on to college or become a real estate agent or a licensed cosmetologist or something like that. Forget about these worthless niggas right now. You’re a beautiful young lady.

Know your worth. Don’t ever let a nigga make you his option when you should be his priority. Don’t fall for their bullshit.

Keep your legs closed and your mind open.

I know you miss your daddy, but don’t try to fill the void of missing him by being promiscuous. Would it make your daddy proud to find out his daughter’s already fucking at age fifteen?” he asked.

“No.”

66

Wolf in the Pulpit “If you mess around and get knocked up and became a teen mom, would that make him proud?”

“No. He’d be disappointed in me and so would my mama.”

“You’re right about that. You don’t want to disappoint your parents. I know your father is doing time and it’s hard enough being behind bars as it is. The last thing he needs to do is worry about you.

And your mama is struggling to get you the things that you need. If you got pregnant, who’d have to help you take care of that baby?”

“My mama.”

“You don’t want to add that burden on her, do you?” She shook her head. He lowered his voice and spoke in a gentler tone. “You’re going to be fine. You just got sidetracked for a minute, but you’re going to get back on track. No more having sex until you’re mature enough. No more letting these young fools use you. You are worth more than that. Know your worth.”

He could tell he’d reached the young lady because the scowl had left her face and she spoke with less attitude. All that most of the youth needed was a little 67

Teresa D. Patterson guidance. They needed someone to point them in the right direction. When someone cared, it made a world of difference.

“Now, straighten yourself up, go wash your face and apologize to your mama. Tell her she won’t have to worry about anything like what happened last night ever happening again.”

“OK.” She walked to the door which Marlo had unlocked. She placed her hand on the knob but before she opened it, she turned. “Thank you, Pastor Dunbar,” she said quietly, turned the knob on the door and exited.

As soon as the door closed Greg, Marlo and Anita fell out laughing.

“I hope she really got something from that lecture,” Marlo said. “These young girls be out there fucking and sucking like grown women.”

“That’s because their mamas don’t know how to control them. Either that or they’re following in their whorish mother’s footsteps,” Greg said. “So.” He turned to look at Anita. “Do you like the little gift I got for you?” he asked.

Anita’s eyes lit up. “Oh, I love it. You don’t know how happy it made me.”

68

Wolf in the Pulpit “Come on over here and show me just how happy you are.” He pushed back from the desk and unzipped his pants. “You ever fucked in a church?”

“No,” she said. “But there’s a first time for everything.”

“We are all going to hell with gasoline drawers on,” Marlo joked, competing with the pastor and Anita to see who could get undressed the fastest. *** Anita was lying in Greg’s arms in his big king-sized bed, watching him smoke a joint, blowing the smoke out lazily. They had just finished having another threesome with Marlo, who’d got a call and had to leave.

“Thank you again, for my new car,” Anita said and kissed him on his bare chest.

“I’m glad you like it. I have something else for you, but you have to earn it,” he said, stroking her hair.

“I just licked the rim of your asshole, doesn’t that count?” she asked, giggling.

Greg laughed. “That shit felt good as hell. I don’t understand why most heterosexual men won’t let anything get 69

Teresa D. Patterson near their assholes. Letting a woman play in your ass can lead to the best orgasm you ever had. Anyway, I digress. Let’s discuss business. I need for you to get inside an attorney’s house.”

Alert, Anita asked, “How am I supposed to do that?”

“I have it all planned out. I would have had Marlo do it, but he’s not into African American women. You will make his mouth water. He won’t be able to resist you.” Anita blushed from the compliment.

“Now, this has to go down the exact way I have it mapped out. You can’t afford to make any mistakes.”

“I guess your plan calls for me to seduce him, right?” She circled one of his nipples with her index finger then bent over and sucked it into her mouth. She began to slurp on it and run her tongue around it.

“Mm,” he moaned. “You do whatever you have to do to get him to let his guard down.”

“OK. Then what?”

“Then I want you to kill him.”

Anita abruptly stopped what she’d been doing and stared into his face.

70

Wolf in the Pulpit “Are you serious?”

“Yes. I’m one hundred percent sure that Marcos Ferguson has to die. There is no other way.”

“What did he do to you? Why do you want him dead?”

“He didn’t do anything per se. He just made the mistake of being the prosecuting attorney on my case. He has to die. It’s either his life or mine, and I’m not ready to stop living high on the hog.”

Anita sat up with a pensive look on her face. She shook her head. “I don’t know, Greg. I don’t think I can kill somebody.”

“Look, baby, trust me on this, it’s not going to be all blood and gore. You won’t have to shoot or stab him. None of that.

What I have in mind is real simple. He’ll never see it coming.”

While she contemplated the idea, he reached into the bottom dresser drawer and pulled out a small baggie of cocaine.

“Maybe this will help you make up your mind.”

71

Teresa D. Patterson

Chapter Three Over the next three weeks Anita did as Greg instructed. She made sure to be at the popular beach bar and sports grill on a few different occasions when Marcos Ferguson was there, too. She dressed provocatively and always made it a point to make eye contact with him and let her eyes undress him. She’d wink and blow a kiss at him, running her tongue around the straw in her drink.

On the third encounter, she wasn’t surprised when he slid onto the empty barstool next to her.

“So, what’s your name, pretty lady?” he asked, signaling to the bartender to get her attention.

“Angel,” Anita lied.

“Well, heaven certainly must be missing you, Angel.” The joke didn’t seem so lame coming from such a handsome man. She smiled. “What are you drinking?” he asked.

“It’s a Cosmopolitan.”

“Would you care for another?”

72

Wolf in the Pulpit “I have a two-drink limit,” she said batting her lashes at him. “If I go over, I’m afraid I might not be able to drive home.

Do you have an alternative solution to that problem?”

“You could always follow me to my place which isn’t far from here,” he suggested.

“Are you hitting on me? I didn’t get your name.” She knew his name, but had to play ignorant.

“My name is Marcos Ferguson.” She shook the hand he extended. “And yes, I’m hitting on you. So, what will it be, another drink or no?”

She eyed him up and down. He was quite handsome, tall, muscular build, with even white teeth and a Florida tan. Maybe screwing him wouldn’t be as disappointing as she’d assumed. When Greg had told her he was a lawyer, she’d automatically assumed he’d be some gray-haired, wrinkled old coot. That was not the case.

“I’ll have another Cosmo,” she said, licking her lips seductively.

When the waitress stopped in front of them, Marco ordered their drinks then turned toward Anita.

73

Teresa D. Patterson “I’ve seen you here before and you always come alone. I noticed you leave alone, too.” So he had been checking her out. That meant she really had his interest. She liked the sound of that.

“What’s the deal?”

She let out a deep sigh. “I just recently went through a divorce and I’m trying to get used to the dating scene. But I’m just not good at it. I thought a sports bar would be a great place to meet single men, but no one talks to me.” She jutted her bottom lip out in a pretty pout.

“Tonight is your lucky night,” Marcos said, smiling at the waitress and tipping her when she returned with their drinks.

“You don’t need to look any further.”

After they finished their drinks, Marcos pulled her onto the dance floor. A live band called Act III was performing and they had the crowd moving and grooving.

Anita was impressed by his moves. She was actually having a good time and almost felt guilty about having to kill him later.

Once they left the dance floor, Marcos ordered another round of drinks. Anita pretended to be tipsier than she really 74

Wolf in the Pulpit was. The truth was, she’d only had the two drinks he’d bought her. She’d been drinking seltzer water when he’d approached her at the bar. She needed to be sober for the deed she had to do.

“I’m ready to ditch this joint and continue the party at your place,” she told Marcos, after finishing her Cosmopolitan.

“My pleasure,” he said, leaving another tip on the counter for the bartender. He assisted her in getting down from the barstool. She leaned on him, and he led her outside to his car.

“We can come back and get your car in the morning. I only live a few blocks away from here,” he said, helping her into the passenger seat. He got in on the driver’s side and started the car.

“Great,” she said and giggled like she was inebriated. “That sounds like a plan.”

He navigated the car out of the crowded parking lot and onto the street.

He spoke. “I hope you’re ready for a great time. I don’t usually pick up strange women from sports bars, but you looked so hot and sexy sitting there all alone. You are one beautiful woman. Do you know that?” He took his right hand off the 75

Teresa D. Patterson steering wheel to caress her thigh. She didn’t stop him when his hand went under her mini skirt. “You’re not wearing any panties,” he said in surprise when he felt her moist goodness.

“Is that good or bad?” she asked.

“It’s very, very good,” he said and pressed his foot on the gas pedal to increase the speed, anxious to get her to his place.

When they arrived at Marco’s place, he fumbled with the lock to the door until he got it opened. The two nearly fell into the living room, giggling like they’d just left their high school prom.

Anita barely saw the inside of the place because he ushered her through it to the bedroom. Once inside his bedroom, they got right down to business. Marco snatched at her clothes, nearly ripping them to get her naked. He hurried to get undress and slipped on a condom.

Anita bit his bottom lip then sucked it into her mouth. She raked her long fingernails down his back, leaving welts.

He lifted her up and carried her to the bed with her legs wrapped around his waist.

76

Wolf in the Pulpit Just as her butt hit the mattress, he surged into her. Anita bit down on his shoulder.

“I see you’re a firecracker,” he growled.

“I like that.”

“Really?” Anita flipped over to where she was on top. “Do you like this, too?”

“Shit,” he said.

Anita rode him like a filly, bouncing up and down on his pole until she climaxed. She figured she might as well get some pleasure out of the encounter.

Once Marco reached an orgasm, he got up to go flush the used condom. That’s when Anita took advantage of the opportunity and retrieved the syringe out of her purse. She tucked it under the pillow awaiting his return. She heard him flushing the toilet and running water in the sink.

“Are you ready for round two?” she called.

“I’m always ready.”

Anita smiled. “Are you sure you can handle all this?” She grabbed her ankles and spread her legs apart as far as they could go. But she quickly dropped them 77

Teresa D. Patterson and stared at him in shock. He aimed a gun at her. “What, what’s going on?”

“Who are you and what are you up to?” he demanded to know.

“I told you. My name is Angel,” she said.

“I don’t believe you. Hand me your purse.” When she didn’t move, he waved the gun to let her know he meant business. “Give me the damn purse, lady.”

“OK. Here.” She took the purse from the nightstand and slid it to the end of the bed where he stood. He grabbed it, opening it without taking his eyes or the gun off of her. He located her driver’s license which she’d carelessly tossed into the purse with the rest of her stuff and glanced at it.

“Anita Wesson,” he read, glaring at her. “Anita and Angel aren’t exactly the same. Who are you and what the fuck do you want?”

Anita hadn’t expected for things to go left. However, she wasn’t about to leave without doing what she’d come to do. “I’m sorry I lied about my name. I just didn’t want you to think I was some crazy woman who goes around picking up 78

Wolf in the Pulpit strange men in bars. I would have told you my real name later. Like I said, I just got a divorce. I was horny and looking for some good dick, nothing more. Why are you so paranoid? And please, put that damn gun away before it accidently goes off.” She could tell he bought her story because he put the safety on the gun and laid it on top of the dresser.

“I apologize. I just can’t be too careful.

I’m an attorney and I handle a lot of highprofile cases. So, I’m not everybody’s favorite person. I’m sure my name is on a lot of people’s shit list.”

“Oh, that must really suck,” she said in a sympathetic tone.

“It’s a hard job, but somebody has to do it. Enough of that. So you’re just a horny, single woman looking for some good dick, huh?” He began to stroke his penis until it became fully erect again.

“Did you find it?”

“I sure did.” She cat-crawled to the end of the bed, which positioned her face right in front of his erection. She opened her mouth, he leaned forward, and she sucked him off. When he was almost ready to come, she pulled back. “A hard man is 79

Teresa D. Patterson good to find,” she said and reclined back on the bed and waited for him to place another condom on. Once he’d done so, he climbed between her thighs and gave her the business. It felt so good she almost forgot the main reason she was there. She had to mentally remind herself that she couldn’t get caught slipping again. He’d already pulled a gun on her. If he discovered the syringe…

She reached under the pillow with one hand and it encircled the needle. She didn’t hesitate, jabbing the needlepoint into Marco’s neck, right behind his ear.

His mouth formed in the letter “O” then he fell forward never knowing what had happened. The chloroform quickly did its job as it seeped into his bloodstream.

She rolled him off of her and got out of the bed. She looked at him with regret and picked up her discarded clothing. He’d been such a handsome man with a nicesized manhood that he knew how to work.

Too bad one of the shit lists he’d mentioned being on belonged to Greg Dunbar.

Anita made sure to rid the apartment of all traces of her being there before she 80

Wolf in the Pulpit slipped out. She walked the few blocks back to the sports bar and retrieved her car. After sliding into the driver’s seat, she called Greg’s number.

“It’s done,” she said simply when he answered and disconnected.

She didn’t feel any remorse from taking a life. Maybe it was because she’d done a line of cocaine when she’d gone to the bathroom at the sports bar and another when she’d returned to her car.

She felt numb and that was just fine considering the occasion. *** The next morning, Anita and Greg were lying in bed eating cheese, crackers and grapes when he switched on the TV to Channel 9 News. As if on cue, the reporter announced the death of Marcos Leon Ferguson. He’d been found dead in his home from an apparent “heart attack.”

“Umpth, umpth, umpth. People are dying younger and younger from heart attacks these days,” Greg remarked, shaking his head. “You just never know when it’s going to be your time to go.” He popped a grape in his mouth and chewed it with relish.

81

Teresa D. Patterson “How sad. And he was so handsome,” Anita said.

“Oh, really?” He gave her a sharp look.

“You think he’s handsome?”

“Does it matter if I think he’s handsome or not? He’s dead now. God, you’re so jealous and have no reason to be.”

“I’m not jealous. I’m possessive. What’s mine is mine. Anyway, get showered and dressed. I’m going to give you that present I told you about.”

“Oh, baby, you are spoiling me. I wonder what it is?” she said, as a big smile spread across her face.

A few hours later, Greg pulled into the driveway of a house located in SE St. Petersburg.

“Do you like it?” he asked.

“It’s a nice-looking house. Who lives here?”

“You do.” Anita’s mouth dropped opened. “Close your mouth before a fly flies in it,” he joked. “Come on. Let’s go Christen this baby.”

82

Wolf in the Pulpit When he unlocked the door and they stepped inside, she saw that it had already been furnished.

“Oh, my God. It’s so nice! Is it really mine?”

“Yes. Your name is on the deed. You don’t have to worry about paying any rent.

After what you did for me, you deserve this house and more,” he said.

“Greg. I don’t know what to say.” She looked around. “It’s a dream come true.

I’m just so…overwhelmed.”

“Dry your eyes.” He reached in his pocket and took out a small baggie of white powder. “Let’s celebrate.”

Anita remembered that Marlo had cautioned her about doing too much cocaine, but she pushed her misgivings to the side. She didn’t want to hurt Greg’s feelings by declining. Besides, it was just a small amount, and they were doing it together. There was no harm in it.

The two snorted lines of coke and drank Hennessy. There was a fully stocked bar which made it convenient to refill.

“Get undress and lie on your back for me,” Greg instructed. Anita stood up and did as told. Once she’d position herself on 83

Teresa D. Patterson her back on the carpeted floor, Greg proceeded to snort lines of cocaine off her stomach and thighs. He’d snort then lick.

Snort then lick. By the time he’d finished the Coke, her thighs were trembling and shaking with desire.

“Do you want this dick?”

“Yes, I want it.”

He grabbed her legs and formed them into a diamond, placing her feet together which caused her knees to point outward.

When he sank into her, he immediately hit her G-spot. He continued to stroke, hitting her spot and then he massaged her clit at the same time. It wasn’t long before she exploded from an intense orgasm.

They made love in every room, even the laundry room before Greg had to leave. *** “I really can’t believe this is all mine,” Anita said, hugging herself while she walked from room to room. A feeling of intense joy rushed over her. When she’d been with Bruce, they’d lived in a small one bedroom, crowded apartment. The furniture had been second-hand that they’d bought from garage sales or the thrift store. They hadn’t had a washer or 84

Wolf in the Pulpit dryer. Just not having to go to the Laundromat had her jumping for joy.

She took a long leisure bath, letting her sore muscles soak in the spa-styled tub. She even lit scented candles like she’d seen the actresses on her favorite soap opera do. She leaned back and fell asleep as the water grew cold in the tub.

A vibrating sound startled her awake.

She realized it was her cell phone and smiled, getting out of the tub. She slipped into a fluffy terrycloth robe and grabbed the phone off the sink counter. Assuming it was Greg, she answered without looking at the screen.

“Where the fuck are you?” Bruce’s voice boomed.

Her good mood immediately evaporated. “Wait a minute, motherfucker.

You don’t call me demanding answers to shit. I know all about you and that bitch you’ve been fucking.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb. I saw you with that stripper bitch, Toenail Tammy or whatever her name is. You were all hugged up in the club. She was giving you a lap dance that you were obviously enjoying. You 85

Teresa D. Patterson were so into it that you didn’t even see me.”

“Baby, she doesn’t mean anything to me. I was just out having a good time.”

“It seems like you’ve been having more than just a good time. Not only have you been fucking her, you’ve been driving her around like she’s your wife and not me.”

“Who is giving you all this false information? Anita, come home and we can talk about this. I love you.”

“If you loved me, you wouldn’t have cheated on me with a stripper. You’ve been cheating for months, Bruce. Months.

But you know what? I don’t even care, because I have somebody who treats me better than you do. He treats me like a queen, and he gives me everything I need and want.”’

“Wait. What? Who the fuck is this person?”

“Don’t worry about it. Just know that he’s fucking me like you never did and never could.” She wanted to hit him where it hurt because his infidelity had hurt her.

“I even let him fuck me in the ass.

Remember you tried and failed? Well, he 86

Wolf in the Pulpit didn’t. He fucked me in the ass, and I loved it.”

“What? Who the fuck is this man, Anita? If I find out who he is, I’m kicking his ass.” Bruce sounded livid, which only infuriated Anita more.

“You have no say so it what I do anymore. You took me and my love for granted, and now you’ve lost me.”

“You’re still my wife, Anita. You better bring your ass home tonight or there will be problems, bitch.”

“You got ninety nine problems and me being your bitch is not one.” She ended the call without saying anything further and put it on silent.

I can’t believe the nerve of that motherfucker.

Anita threw herself down on the bed and grabbed the remote off the nightstand. She clicked on the large 52inch wall-mounted flat screen.

“Fuck him,” she said aloud. “I’m already over his broke ass.”

She stared around her new bedroom which was equipped with everything she’d ever desired. She had a beautiful new house, an expensive luxury car, and a 87

Teresa D. Patterson handsome man. The only thing that bothered her was she knew nothing about Greg, except he was the pastor of Bullet Proof Baptist Church. And that obviously was a façade.

She remembered the driver’s license she’d seen with his face and another name on it. Who was Pastor Gregory Dunbar?

I don’t ask questions and if you know what’s good for you, you won’t either.

Marlo’s words came back to caution her.

She shrugged. Obviously, Greg lived a double life. Whatever he did, it wasn’t her business. She’d gone too far to turn back anyway. She’d participated in killing a man. So she couldn’t leave even if she wanted to. Not that she wanted to. She had everything she wanted and was now living the lifestyle she felt she deserved.

Nothing was going to stop her from being happy. Nothing.

She reached inside the drawer of the nightstand and removed the cocaine Greg had given her. After snorting another line, she tried to fall asleep. She was too wired and ended up watching television until daylight slithered through the cracks in the Venetian blinds.

88

Dear Reader, If you have enjoyed reading this excerpt of WOLF IN THE PULPIT and would like to continue reading about Pastor Gregory Dunbar, you may purchase the book here: Purchase Wolf in the Pulpit.

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About the Author Teresa D. Patterson is the author of several novels, novellas and short stories. She is the founder of Edit Again Publications and has a degree in business. She resides in sunny Florida with her family.

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