by Vera Roberts
The first checkmark happened: money. The next two won’t be far behind. “How much?” My eyes narrow at him.
“About eight hundred dollars,” he pushes out and my eyes widened, “I’m good for it, Ari.”
He’s actually not but I prefer not to drudge up the past. “Why so much?”
“Things happened,” Jared is intentionally avoiding answering the question, so everything will be a lie. “And I got caught up in things.”
“Eight hundred dollars worth of things?” I reply. “I don’t have the money.”
“What do you mean you don’t have it?” It’s his turn to be in disbelief. “Even with your TV job?”
“How much money do you honestly think I get paid?” I shoot back. “If I don’t have eight hundred dollars to give to you, I just don’t.”
“Ari, I wouldn’t lie about this,” Jared pleads and yes, he would lie about it. “I really need the money.”
“And I’m telling you I don’t have eight hundred dollars on me I can give you. Between bills and rent, I don’t have any money.” I shrug. “That’s all.”
Jared shakes his head. “What about Desiree?”
“You still haven’t told me why you needed any money at all?” I question.
He shakes his head. “I just told you things happened.”
“What things?” I emphasize. “What things occurred so it’s costing you eight hundred dollars?”
“It’s a business opportunity,” he states as if he was annoyed he had to share that much, “Roderick is opening a dispensary and he wants me to be one of the owners with him.”
“For eight hundred dollars?” I ask. Boy, if you don’t get...
“It’s the starting price,” he finally meets my eyes and I’m totally unimpressed, “there’ll be a lot more but it’s just a buy-in.”
“I don’t have it but I wish you and Roderick luck with that.” I reply. “Was there anything else?”
“Yeah, there is.” Jared pulls out his phone and pulls up the now notorious photo of me and Soul. “What’s this about?”
If Jared can lie, so can I. “It’s nothing. It was a photo shoot he wanted me to do and that’s that.”
“It doesn’t look like anything,” Jared glances at the photo again, “he’s all hugged up on you.”
“Jared, it’s nothing.” I reply. Not sure why I’m lying because it’s not like Jared is being truthful. I feel the need to protect Soul and keep him my little secret, despite millions of people knowing about us.
“Oh yeah?” He glances back at the flowers. “Who gave you those?”
Jared has been in my house for at least twenty minutes and this is the first time he’s mentioned the flowers. I would think he would’ve said something when he saw me exit the car with them.
“A secret admirer.” I reply before I hear Desiree enter through the front door. “That’s all.”
Desiree comes in with a small group of her friends and they all stop in their tracks upon seeing the living room. Behind the fade Desiree often hid in various wigs, was a stud of a woman. She made it very clear to all women if they didn’t eat, she didn’t speak.
She’s an independent rapper with a healthy online following. Her singles have done very well, and she’s been featured on a few other rappers’ albums and songs. Desiree goes by the name Young FemCee and it fits her.
Ever since Jared made a pass at Desiree, he’s been number one on her shit list. My cousin has gang ties so I’m sure if she wanted him dead, she could arrange that with no problem. The whole incident with Teresa made him a further target.
I don’t want that heat on Desiree and Jared isn’t worth any life sentence. Yet, it doesn’t matter to Desi and her crew. They all carry heat or only remove it when it comes time to perform and they have to fly. Otherwise, they stay strapped.
By the way Desiree is looking at Jared right now, I’m sure she wants to unload every bullet in her hidden gun right now. “What’s up, ma?” She’s talking to me but her eyes are on Jared.
“I’m cool.” I fold my arms across my chest. “Jared was just leaving.”
Jared shoots me a look and I don’t budge. I know he’ll be back and this is hardly the last time I’ll see him again. He gets up and grabs his phone. “All right. See you later, boo.” He walks over and gives me a kiss but I don’t kiss back.
He stops and stares at me with question marks in his eyes. He knows something is different with me but he’s not sure if he cares enough to fix it. “I’ll call you later?”
“Yeah.” I nod and he heads out, barely managing to get past Desiree and her crew.
Desiree waits for the door to shut before she addresses me. “Yo, I told you I didn’t want that wigga in my house.”
“He won’t be back,” I softly reply. “He asked for money I don’t have. He won’t come back just because I got paid.”
“He’ll be back,” Desiree plops down on the sofa where Jared sat, “that’s not the tea, though. What’s going on between you and Old Money?”
I love how everyone close to me has a nickname for Soul. It’s rather endearing. “He sent me flowers today but that’s the extent of it.”
“For now,” Desiree says with a smirk, “when are you moving back to Harlem?”
“I’ve never lived in Harlem,” I firmly state, “I temporarily stayed there for a short while.”
“Yeah, whatever,” Desiree dismisses me, “you and Soul love each other. Whatever is holding you back from being with him is a non-issue. If you really want to be with him, you’ll find a way.”
“I wouldn’t say his family and prestige are non-issues. They’re pretty big ones.” I counter. “I can’t just ignore who he is and what he does just because I want to be with him. I know all about his brothers and his parents. They could ruin my life if things go wrong.”
“They could but they won’t. If they want peace in the family and put on brave fronts, they won’t dare say a word. The moment they hurt Soul, he’ll choose you. Please believe that.” She nods. “Anyway, I have a show tomorrow night. Are you down?”
“Yeah, I’ll come.” I haven’t been to one of my cousin’s shows in forever and I forgot how hype the crowd gets when she performs. She’s like a rock star on stage but completely humble when she’s not on it.
Maybe seeing Desiree on stage will distract me from what’s going on in my life. Three days ago, I was set in how things were, even if I wasn’t entirely happy with everything. I wasn’t what anyone would call satisfied, but it was acceptable.
Now with Soul’s reappearance, I have no answers but tons of questions.
Chapter Eight
I really don’t like doing nightclubs.
Too crowded and too much foolishness. I’ve been to more than my fair share to realize with the watered-down drinks, DJs who don’t know what they’re doing, and women vying for the skimpiest, skankiest outfit they can throw on, I’m better off staying at home.
And here I am, almost butt-ass naked in a wrap dress that tells everyone I should probably lay off the burritos as I stand inside Desiree’s dressing room. I’m already realizing how famous my cousin is and it’s not just the YouTube variety.
Hundreds of people are lined up around the EMK club and lounge and that’s addition to the hundreds already inside. The club is completely sold out and the last I checked, people were trying to scalp tickets online.
My cousin is on the cusp of being mainstream famous and I’m so proud of her. She’s been rapping since she was ten. I remember her first rhymes were why Barbies suck. Now she’s selling out clubs. Next stop, stadium tours.
She already did songs with Dolce Gabbana, Jackson Cade, and Mia James. You can’t really get any bigger than them. It’s only a matter of time before her star shines bright and then we have to pencil in times to see each other.
The dressing room is surprisingly quiet. No one is talking. People are on their phones and Desiree is sitting in a chair getting her four braids done. She has her headphones in an
d one hand clasped over the other with her eyes closed.
She’s focused and she’s at peace. This is what Desiree was meant to do. She wasn’t trying to play with rap when she knew what she could do with it. She’s not trying to make a quick buck and exit out of the game.
She’s not selling sex by showing a lot of skin, though she does have her share of suggestive lyrics. She’s not trying to show she’s hood, though she does boast a mouth full of grills.
This is Desiree all day, every day. She’s not faking it for the cameras, IG, or even the fans. And this is why I love her. She has no desire to change it up as her popularity grows nor is anyone forcing her to tone it down.
She reminds me a lot of Soul.
My heart throbs as I think about him. It’s been two days since I’ve heard from him. Day Two Without Soul has been a surprising blow to my spirit, yet I keep pushing. He’s not rushing me or making some insane demands that I talk him and let him know about my status. He’s giving me space and freedom. He’s letting me decide, though we both know I’m going to go back to him.
The question is when?
I can’t just give up my life in L.A. so I can play wifey to one of the most eligible bachelors in the world. I have a career here and it’s a solid one, though it’s not exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life.
Until we both figure out what Ariana Woodward is going to do, I’m going to stay put. It’s an answer Soul doesn’t like but he has to accept. If he wants me to play by his rules, he has to play by mine as well.
“Hey yo,” Desiree pulls out her headphones once her hair is laid to the gods, “let’s gather around for prayer.”
I grab hands with Desiree as her crew forms a circle. There’s about six of us and that’s her intention. She doesn’t like to keep a lot of people around because she never knows who she can trust. Loyalty is important to her.
Another trait she shares with Soul.
I shake my head of the thought as I focus on the prayer. We all say Amen as it ends. “Are we ready to tear up shit tonight?” Desiree yells and we all chime in. “Let’s go! Let’s do this shit!”
We all head out and I follow them. I take my place on the side of the stage as Desiree’s hype man warms up the crowd. The DJ plays a variety of artists from Prince, Kool Moe Dee, Michael Jackson, and Digital Underground.
Finally, it’s time for Desiree to step on the stage. She’s magnetic from the first step. She quickly thanks the crowd before she launches into one of her songs. Immediately, the crowd is hyped and they’re jumping up and down.
Women are frantically screaming and I’m sure a lot of them consider themselves straight, but still want a shot with Desiree. She has a boyish figure, but somehow has big dick energy. I can’t describe it. She can pull a straight woman and has numerous times.
She’s debuting songs from her soon-to-be-released debut album. She’s one hundred percent independent and hustles like it’s breathing to her. She just does it; she doesn’t even think about it.
As I’m enjoying the third song, I get a tap on my shoulder. I turn around and lock eyes with a burly security guard. “Ariana?”
“Yes?” I cautiously answer.
“Come with me, please.”
The security guard is a tall and muscular chocolate brotha with a light beard and baldhead. He’s dressed in a dark suit with a ear pieces in both ears. He doesn’t look menacing, but I’m pretty sure he’s not here to have a cup of tea with me.
No matter how attractive he looks, I know better to let my captor take me to a second location. “Where am I going?”
“Your presence has been requested,” he states, “upstairs.”
“By who?” I ask.
“Mr. Ellison,” he states, “let’s go.”
Chapter Nine
Butterflies flutter my stomach as I follow the security guard. I wonder how long Soul had been here. I also wonder when he knew I was here and why he wanted to see me this way.
The security guard takes me to a private elevator and we go up to the third floor. He gets off first and holds the door open for me so I exit. He leads the way as I quickly try to keep up with him.
We finally reach a private office and he opens the door. He says nothing and just holds the door open for me. He motions for me to walk inside and I silently obey his command. I walk inside and he closes the door behind me.
The office is bigger than I thought it would be, but it’s cozy and warm. The walls have soft colors that I can’t describe other than being kinda brown and kinda white, but not quite tan.
Soul’s back is facing me and he’s leaned over the glass window, resting his head on his forearm. I stop and stare at him for a moment and not say a word. What could I say? Am I allowed to talk? What’s the new protocol around here?
Instead, I stay within the moment. I feel his power, strength, and energy around me. This man is something addictive and I feel my body become so aware of the moment. My breasts become heavy and full. My nipples hardened and poke through the knockoff dress.
I’m speechless yet I don’t know if I would’ve been able to speak at gunpoint. My brain is confused yet my heart is in shock. They’re both telling me this is what I need. Soul is where I need to be.
“That dress you’re wearing,” his deep voice booms throughout the room, “is beautiful.” He finally turns around and my heart stops. Soul is stunningly gorgeous with dark hair and light eyes, that alternate between light blue and grey. Full lips and sculpted cheekbones complete his magnificent face.
He’s wearing a business suit and I’m surprised by the change in clothing. I’m used to him in jeans and Timbs, but that suit fits his body like it was made for it. It does nothing to hide the muscular physique underneath.
All of the Ellison brothers were easy on the eyes, but Soul has a swag that was cultivated by the streets. Two full sleeves and the tattoos even cover his hands. For any other man, it might look tacky and uncouth.
With Soul, however, they add an element of danger yet still classy. He doesn’t come off as some sort or criminal or a man with a shady past. He loves to decorate his body in both clothing and permanent ink.
He walks in long strides and before I know it, Soul is directly in front of me. His eyes darkened to a deep blue color and I feel the sexual energy transpire between us. “The dress would be more beautiful on the floor.”
I swallow hard and push the air that was holding my lungs hostage. My tongue briefly darts out to wet my lips and desire has taken over my body. “It’s only been two days, Soul. It’s also been two years.”
“I also have 28 days to convince you why you should return to Harlem with me,” he steps closer to me and slightly lifts up my dress. He then pulls my panties down to the floor and around my ankles. He lifts each leg to take them off and pockets the lacy pink underwear. “You don’t need this anymore.”
My voice is suffocated with shock and lust as they fight for dominance. Before I can fully process any thoughts, Soul crushes his lips upon mine. His mouth is so experienced and welcoming, while his tongue explores every corner.
He lifts me up and carries me over to a nearby desk. He lays me down and I watch as he slides his body down mine. He spits on my pussy, catching me by surprise, before he quickly goes down on me.
The extra lubrication did something crazy to me. It was unconventional and I certainly don’t need help getting wet. I’m more aroused than before. Soul brought out an animalistic yearning inside of me I never knew I had.
He licked me off to a mind-blowing orgasm and kisses the inside of my thighs. He produces a condom and rips it open. He takes out his hardened, thick cock and sheathes himself with the latex. “This is the last time I’m using protection with you,” he declares.
My body shivers as I think about making love to Soul with no barriers. I’m already addicted to him with boundaries set up between us, both physical and otherwise. I spread my legs wide open for him. I’m not just welcoming him back inside of me, but also back
into my life.
He grabs my face and opens my mouth before he licks inside of it, letting me taste my love. He’s not being disgusting, but he’s marking me. He’s claiming me as his. I lightly spit it back, smearing it all over my mouth and wink at him. If he can be nasty, so can I.
Soul steadies himself and pushed inside of me, catching me off-guard. So thick and so full. I feel him throb deep inside of me and my cunt pulsates around him. “Soul...” My body moans.
“Damn it, Ari.” He leans forward and pressed his forehead against mine. He softly kisses my lips before he pulls away. He moves slowly inside of me and I feel every inch and curve of his delicious cock. I feel like I’m about to be split into two, but I want more. I don’t think I can ever get enough.
Soul lifts up my legs and places my feet on his shoulders. He pushes all the way inside of me and I scream. “That’s my girl,” he purrs as he thrusts faster, “I want to hear you scream my name.”
“Soul!” I hold onto the desk as he rocks me. His thrusts are hard and fast, soft and slow, a combination of the above. Just when I’m used to one rhythm, he switches it up. He stroked into me, claiming me as his once again, and making sure I knew that with each thrust.
The quiver in my pussy throbbed around his cock and I was so close. I white-knuckled the desk and my back arched off it. I couldn’t stop the orgasm and it was driving me insane. Inch by inch, Soul thrust harder inside of me, splitting me apart, and owning my body.
Moments later, I finally came, screaming his name. It wasn’t a soft whimper or groan. It was a full-bodied scream from a woman who’d just received the fucking of her life. Yet, Soul didn’t stop. He still thrust inside of me.
This wasn’t a man in search of his own climax. This was a man who sending a message loud and clear to me. He owned my mind and now he was going to own my body. We both knew it, but he wanted to make sure I understood every delicious inch of his point.
I climaxed again and my body shook. Moments later, I feel Soul’s body tense up and a loud shudder from him. He gently sets down my legs and leans over me, still inside of me. He sweeps his lips over mine in a gentle way.