Read The Brute & The Blogger for Free Online

cried.
    She cried for the loss of her car.  She cried because a new one would mean a car note, which also meant a delay on buying herself a home. She cried because in a very dark hour, the man whom she made a living persecuting, was here at her side, comforting her.  His hand rubbed her thigh as he leaned back into the cushions of the couch, bearing her weight and letting her cry.
    Several minutes later he was still quiet.  When her tears finally ceased and she cleaned her face, she shifted her weight in his lap and looked at him.  Tino’s eyes were closed as if he was enjoying the moment.  His long, dark lashes sweeping across his cheeks and Ebony wondered how such a serene look could equate to such a mischievous man.  But he was handsome.
    His eyes opened and his hand came up to touch her cheek. Tino sat up as his face came close to hers.  Ebony didn’t pull away as his lips pressed against hers. Tino was kissing her.  Not wanting to be rude, she kissed him back. He sighed deeply as he nibbled on her bottom lip, causing her mouth to open slightly.  It was all the opening he needed as his tongue slipped inside her lips, searching, seeking out her own.  A soft groan came from him as he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss, his tongue darting about her mouth.
    “Ebony,” he whispered. “What are you doing?”
    She was caught in the moment, her hands intertwined in his hair, tugging at the strands trying to pull him closer. “Kissing you back, what are you doing?”
    “Trying to stop...but I can’t...” he said as he exhaled and deepened the kiss still.  His mouth slanted over hers again and again until finally, he pulled away.  He pulled her body to him as he leaned back on the couch, just holding her.
    “Tino, what are we doing?”
    His hand went back to stroking her thigh, “enjoying a truce.”
    “I like this truce...” she told him as she relished the warmth of his embrace.
    They both knew the moment of quietness, even as a respite, was not a good place for either of them to linger.  Both understood that when action junkies found something they liked, it was difficult to not go back for more.  Tino knew he would be back for another helping. Ebony was hoping he would.

8. Who are you angry with me or yourself?
    E bony was angry with herself.  Tino had given her a few days off to stay off the ankle and get everything in order with her car. After the wonderful kiss they shared, he stayed for almost an hour and held her on the couch.  He didn’t kiss her again, but she wanted him to.  She was angry because she wanted to get back to work so she could see him again.  The frustration was building within her because she wanted to create another opportunity for him to kiss her again.  The man had magical lips.  That thought led to her wondering about those big paw like hands and their potential to create magical moments as well.  Before she allowed her imagination to run away with her, she focused on smaller tasks.
    Blog postings. Twenty minutes later, her mind was back on Tino Boehner. She found herself wanting to write nice things. It was a set up.  Bring my defenses down and I will go easy on him . Instead of writing about him, she turned her attention to a local advocacy group that was planting trees in some downtown neighborhoods and creating community gardens. My life does not center on Tino Boehner .
    He gave me the days off, and I am going to take them!
    Ebony loaded up the Gremlin and went car shopping. Four hours and three hundred and fifty dollars a month later, she was the proud owner of a Chevy Equinox.  It was sleek, beautiful and shiny blue. She drove it over to the community garden and snapped pics of herself and some of the organizers, which she added to the blog she uploaded later that evening. 
    She also wrote another blog about being a woman shopping for a car. She posted a few pictures of herself and the new vehicle, making no references to the loaner.  For four days, she