Before I could even think about asking

  Wisdom who she's talking about, my phone vibrates. I take it out to see who it is. The name Selena shows up on top of the words

  'Hey baby' I stare at the name and the words.

  Without even thinking about it I open the text.

  Hey baby, I'm sorry for what my ex did to you and not coming to visit you. It's been a hard month. And yes I did say ex. So now we can be together. Why don't you come over tonight and we can pick up where we left off. I promise we won't be interrupted this time.

  The text ends with a winky face emoji.

  I stare at the message a moment longer and then shove the phone back in my pocket. Of course I'm not going to entertain that mess.

  I'm a new man. I follow James out of the restaurant.

  In the car, James puts on his Christian rap. I'm too busy trying to shake this uneasy feeling to enjoy it.

  Maybe I should stop by for a quick second and tell her I'm saved now.

  The thought comes to my head and in a way that makes no sense. Just a few minutes ago I had no intention of hitting up shawty ever again. And the thought is so smooth and silky it almost makes me sick...but at the same time, I like it. I don't know what is going on, but I do know the thought isn't my own.

  “You’re right, it's Lust talking to you,” Wisdom pops in.

  “Oh, Honey, you're no fun.” This time the voice is full out feminine, the idea of sex dripping from every syllable. I hear it like a soft whisper in my ear.

  “Jamal, don't listen to her. Wisdom just wants to take away your joy. She is a big party pooper.”

  The sound of this voice got me thinking about... No! No, I have to listen to Wisdom.

  She keeps me close to God. I should always listen to Wisdom. But... maybe one phone call to Selena won't hurt,

  “Jamal, Don't be fooled by her. This is a trap set by the enemy.” Wisdom practically hisses.

  Okay. I can't talk to Selena anymore, so let me just text her ‘no’. Yeah, that sounds

  good, one little text isn't about to harm nothing. I take out my phone and quickly type out a message. There, it was done.

  I lean back in my seat feeling pretty good about myself. I even start bouncing to the music a little as James pulls up to Dad's house.

  “Jamal, you should not have listened to Lust.” Wisdom's low and serious voice interrupts my thoughts.

  “Oh, come off it party pooper.”

  “Quickly go get your bible and pray for strength.” Wisdom commands, ignoring

  Lust's insult.

  I get out of the car trying to figure out what's the big deal. It's just a text.

  "Ay, bro, you okay?" James looks at me with worry as we walk to the house.

  "Huh? Yeah. Yeah, I'm good," I answer distractedly. My phone just vibrated and I know for sure it's Selena's response. I don't know if I should look or not now that Wisdom has me all worried.

  I look at James and think maybe he can help.

  "Jamal!" Barey runs towards us and grabs my hand. "Dad bought me another game system. Come and see it. You too, James!"

  For a moment I find myself distracted by video games and enjoying myself with my brothers. But night quickly takes the place of day and I make my way up to the guest bedroom.

  There's not much to do so I take out my phone thinking I'm about to start mindlessly scrolling through Instagram when I see I have a new message. I open it without thinking.

  I blink twice before it hits me. I'm looking at the response Selena sent me this afternoon. It's a picture. She's in front of a fulllength mirror, showing off all her curves in clingy lingerie and high heels defining those shapely legs. I subconsciously lick my lips as I read the caption below it:

  ‘That's nice. Why don't you come over and we can talk about it.’

  I hear a whisper somewhere in my heart, but I don't pay much attention to it. I throw my phone down and try to shake the image out my head.

  Suddenly, a red shimmer appears. It swirls around me and eventually gathers by my right side. The shimmer slowly forms into a woman. The legs form first, long and shapely, then the torso appears revealing boobs practically spilling out of a low cut, form-fitting dress. Then her shoulders and head appear. Shawty is thick with curves in all the right places. Her face is heavily made up like she watched a crapload of Youtube tutorials or something. When her hands form she brings one to my cheek. They are soft, and as my hand touches hers the red dress shimmers and disappears.

  My mouth drops as I stare at this...this thing sitting on my bed naked. I snatch her hand from my cheek and scoot to the edge of the bed.

  Her plump crimson lips part into a sly smile. "Relax baby," the words come out in swirls of purple shimmers. Her heavily painted eyes look pointedly at my phone.

  "Why don't we just take another look at that picture one more time? It won't hurt anybody."

  I know this chick has to be some kind of manifestation of Lust. I turn my eyes from her and try not to react to what I'm seeing.

  But let's be real, I am a man. But, I do try some weak attempt to protest.

  "No, I can't." "Come on, Baby. What's so bad about looking at a harmless little picture?" She rubs my leg.

  I start to shake from the effort of trying

  to resist.

  "Pick up your phone and take one more look." Lust's voice loses some of its sugary sweetness as she flat out makes the demand

  on me.

  I almost automatically obey. As soon as my eyes land on the selfie my whole body gets heavy, heat flares up my thighs and travels to my navel. My neck is hot, too. In that moment, I realize I have to see her in person.

  "Mmmmm, she is a work of art isn't she, Baby? Now don't keep her waiting, reply and tell her you're on the way over."

  I start to type the message but stop.

  Wait a minute, I can't go back to Selena. Last time I messed with that woman, I got beat half to death. I mean, I know she said she left her husband, but past experience has taught me that means little. Plus, that picture in the lingerie is telling me she wants to do more than talk.

  "Oh, Baby, you're overthinking things. If she wants sex, so what? You are a man, right? She's giving herself to you. What man in their right mind would turn her down?" Lust continues to rub my leg as she speaks. I almost look at her.

  I have to get this thing out of my head.

  "No, I made up my mind. I can't go back to her. I was almost killed." I shove her hand away from my thigh and stand up to get away.

  "Come here, Baby," Lust words swirl around me and push me back down. Her chest plops on my shoulders. "Ooooh, look at yourself," she purred in my ear, "You can't fool anyone. Your body wants to be with a female."

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  "No. I can't." Wisdom where the heck are you? Lust got me over here backed in a corner!

  "Don't call for that party pooper. Listen, why don't you just save the picture for later and we can find an alternative source of pleasure. There, a little compromise."

  "Or you could get up off me and I can go read my bible." I make the mistake of looking at her in my anger.

  Her red lips part into a wicked smile.

  Her skin shimmers gold and her eyes do the same around the irises. "You can read that silly book later. First, you need to release yourself. Trust me there is nothing in the bible that says you can't pleasure yourself."

  To be honest I don't know if that's true or not. I know I shouldn't, but her sweet innocent voice drives me to save Selena's picture in my phone.

  "Now, how about we take care of your big," she looked pointedly at my crotch and arched an eyebrow, "problem, shall we? I know a couple of sites that will put you at ease. Just type one in your search engine." Lust rattles off a few sites.

  Once again I obey her command. As the first video buffers, I hear her giggle. The shimmer of her golden body glows bright and then bursts into gold specks which turn into a golden mist that drifts up my nostrils.

  You are mine, now.

  Now, don't we feel better? But that wasn't enough for us, we need the real thing. Selena is waiting on us. We don't want to disappoint her.

  "No..." I start to argue.

  “Oh, come off it, Jamal. There's no need to pretend with me. We both know you are not satisfied with these videos. Although, you are clearly enjoying it.” The last sentence was said in a smug manner that I didn't like.

  "N... no."

  “Jamal, stop resisting and text Selena. You know you want to. There is absolutely no point in resisting. Do it, now!”

  I'm about to tell this thing she's crazy when I realize she's right. I do want Selena.

  Even though I know it's wrong, I respond to her text. My flesh grows heavier with every letter I type. In fact, it's like I am on the outside looking in. I have no control over my actions.

  As soon as I send the text my phone vibrates. The corner of my mouth twitches upward at the thought of Selena waiting in anticipation of my text. I read it and my hint of a cocky smile falls from my face.

  “James will let us borrow his car. Just can't tell him where we are really going.”

  Lust prompts me, probably sensing my hesi-tation.

  Selena's text is the name of a hotel that's familiar to both of us. I look at my phone for a bit. It's pretty obvious what's about to happen, but I'm a man. I got needs.

  I know James is still watching T.V. in Dad's movie theater. When I get down there he's sprawled out on the couch watching anime.

  "Ay, bro, let me borrow the car to run to the store real quick."

  It takes him a few minutes to tear his eyes from the screen, but when he does he looks me over for a few seconds.

  "You need me to come with you? I'm not doing anything right now," he finally says.

  "It's cool. I just need to be alone right now and clear my head."

  "Naw, I'm coming with you. Don't want you getting into any trouble." He stands up with a stretch and slowly starts to put on his shoes.

  “That's no good baby, we don't want your bother around trying to talk you out of seeing Selena.” Lust voice sounds pouty in my head.

  We better think of something fast.

  "James, I'm good. To be honest, I just need some time to myself. Where are your keys?"

  He stares at me a few moments longer before reaching into his back pocket and handing me the keys. "Aye, Jamal, don't let him win. When you are ready just say 'Enter the Battle Felid'. But P.W.R first."

  He calls this out to me as I'm walking away. I look back at him. I have no clue what he is talking about, but my mind is so scrambled with lust that I barely pay attention. I nod at him like I understand and head up-stairs.

  In the car all I can think about is Selena. Lust's whispers and my own thoughts if they are my own are becoming one. I don't like the state of mind I'm in, but I don't fight it. The closer I get to the hotel the further I slip into not caring.

  But then I get to the hotel and I sit staring up at the building. Something is tugging at my heart like a whisper. It's Wisdom. She's telling me to rebel against Lust and to turn back around and drive away. I almost do but Lust is louder and more persuasive.

  “Oh, look who finally decided to try and show up. Well, we're already here, may as well see it through.” Lust chuckles.

  Anger burns in my chest. All this time Wisdom has been silent, and now she wants to show up? No! I'm going into this hotel. I may be a Christian, but it's not going to ruin all of my fun. I turn off the car and get out. As I walk I text Selena to let her know I am here.

  I walk into the automatic double doors and head straight to our designated room. I knock on the door twice and wait. A shim mer of purple disappears through the door, and a moment later Selena opens the door.

  "Hey, Jamal!" She smiles and throws her arms around my neck in a hug. "I'm so glad you're okay." She releases me and steps back.

  Her hair falls in dark waves around her oval shaped face. She backs up far enough for me I see she's wearing the same lingerie she took the picture in.

  My eyes roam her form before I notice purple shimmer behind her. Lust is back in her red dress standing in the room behind Selena. She smirks and crooks a finger before turning into shimmering air, swirling around Selena and disappearing into her head.

  Selena smiles up at me, the purple shimmer dances around her eyes as she looks into mines. She grabs my hand and pulls me all the way into the hotel. "Well, don't just stand there."

  She leads me to the bed and whirls around after she pushes me down. "I'm sorry I didn't come to visit you, Jamal. I wasn't sure you wanted me to after what happened...." she trails off as she talks with her back towards me.

  "What happened was your husband and brother almost beat me to death."

  "I know. I know. We had a huge argument about it. Why do you think I am no longer with him?" She hurried to some bottles sitting on the desk alongside two wine glasses, and turns back around. "Look, I brought wine. Want a drink? It will help you unwind."

  I look around the room and notice all the candles lit in various places and the soft music playing somewhere in the background. For a split second I get nervous, but only for a second.

  She pours two glasses without waiting for me to answer. I watch her stride like a model towards me and hands me a glass.

  With a tilt of her head, she watches me drink before she sets her glass down.

  "I didn't visit you and I kinda put you in a position to get hurt, but I am going to make all that up to you, tonight." Lust darkens Selena's eyes as she speaks. I swear I hear Lust's voice coming from her mouth.

  I think I hear Wisdom's whisper as Selena straddles me and gently pushes me on my back. As I fall on the stiff hotel blanket, I fall from grace.

  "Those who are simple, let him turn here! Stolen water is sweeter and bread eaten in secret is pleasant," Lust dances and shimmies around us in glee.