He Who Is a Friend (Sadik Book 1)

by Love Belvin

  Her father was a fire-spitting maniac, two shouts away from cardiac arrest. But not Sadik. I’d only known him a couple of months, but I trusted him with my life. I wanted her to have that safety, too.

  Lia didn’t respond, and I didn’t rush. There was now a timer on the bliss of my recent life with Sadik. I was sure of it. This was it for me. The time I’d have to say goodbye to it all. After a spell, she lifted her head, face red and lips trembling.

  “I’m sorry, Sadik.” My heart plunged from my chest at the pain in her wet eyes. “You shouldn’t have been involved in this…” She could hardly finish. “I swear to god, I’m sor…”

  “What the hell is she saying?” her father roared, panicked.

  Lia turned to her father and shook her head, unable to stop the tears. “Daddy, I’ve been lying all this time. I’ve never had so much as Sadik’s number until about a month after I got pregnant.”

  “What the hell?” Earl shifted in stance.

  Irene held a palm to his chest to restrain him.

  “Lia, baby.” Rizzo took a step closer to her. To us. “You don’t have to be afraid. They owe me an explanation.”

  “Not Sadik,” she countered.

  “What the fuck is she saying?” he shouted to the woman with them, I could only assume was Lia’s mother.

  “She’s saying Sadik isn’t the father of her baby,” Tiffany announced.

  “Then who the fuck is?” Rizzo’s head rolled against every syllable.

  I turned to Sadik, whose eyes were narrowed on his brother. Iban’s expression resembled anger, too.

  Oh my god…

  His just wasn’t the type that would pop out and strangle someone to death like his younger brother’s.

  “What the fuck is this, man?” Earl demanded. “Somebody better explain this shit to my muthafuckin’ wife! Now!” His shout was more threatening than the Rizzo guy’s.

  Earl’s command made the floor shake.

  “No!” Monica yelped from behind me. I turned to see her hands shakily reach her face as her eyes widened with perceptible astonishment. “Noooo!” Irene clutched her collar in similar shock. “You heartless motherfucker!” Her scream was of agonizing betrayal, tears falling like a faucet. “You haven’t changed a bit!”

  Oh, no! Monica…

  The moment she jogged off, I went after her. My heart bled for her trouble.

  “No, Bilan!” Sadik reached for my arm, grabbing me so firmly, I stumbled backward.

  I couldn’t stop my anger when I hauled off and slapped the bitter shit out of him. Sadik’s head rocked as his family gasped all around us.

  “Don’t you ever lie to me again, or I swear to Allah, I’m done!” I screamed, tears escaping.

  Sadik took a deep breath. I could see the muscles in his jaw flex beneath his five o’clock shadow as he tried managing his anger.

  “It’s time to go, honey.” His voice controlled, affectionate.

  “But, Sadik—”

  “I said!” He caught his threatening tone, but didn’t change the menacing energy in his eyes. “—it’s time we go.” I dropped my arm in acquiesce, my mind racing to process this night. Sadik stepped toward Iban, index finger in his face. “This will never be forgotten.” After studying his brother for a spell, he made a beeline for the staircase with me clacking behind, double his pace to keep up.

  The ding sounded from the public address system.

  Lynn announced, “The captain has turned off the fasten your seatbelt sign and you can now move around the cab—”

  Before she finished, Bilan, across from me, scrambled to unclick her seatbelt and jumped to her feet. As she stormed off, I was two steps behind her, thrilled by how comfortable she’d grown on my jet. Nothing could kill my joy right now. A weight had been lifted from my shoulders, and there were now no boundaries between my Somali princess and me.

  Even if she’s an ice princess in the moment…

  She slipped into the bedroom, and when she went to slam the door, I caught it with my foot and then chest.

  “What the hell is your problem?” I shouted, closing the door behind me.

  When she turned to find me, her eyes went wild. “No!”

  “Yes.”

  “No!”

  “You think I’m going to give you a moment alone after that shit? At least when you’re next to me, my scent will challenge your instinct to run. But when you’re away from me, anything can happen in that pretty pixie cut head of yours.”

  “I can’t believe she knew! You told her and not me, all these weeks I’ve been struggling with this!”

  Technically, I never told Tiffany. She overheard me outside of her bedroom griping to Rory about it, which was how she’d known. But sharing that with Bilan would have been pointless.

  “Baby, I was going to tell you. I told Iban he had until the end of the week to tell our parents, and to make this right. You were the primary reason for that! Before, I just accepted covering for my brother. I told you I’d tell you the moment I could.”

  “And what if I weren’t there when your parents and hers found out? Your ex-lover, Ms. Diva Tiffany, would’ve learned that first, too!”

  Jealous…

  My Nalib was jealous…for me?

  I moved into her, arms pushed around her waist, down her plump ass.

  “Are we gonna do this?” I pushed my groin into her, kissed her neck. “Are we really going to do this?”

  “I think I am.” Her voice was dry, devoid of the emotional being I’d been coming to know.

  But not even that could deter me.

  I whispered into her neck, “Well, you can’t.” I rubbed my inflating dick against her again. “This is a new beginning for us. I’m so inspired now. I can breathe…finally have that weight off.” My tone turned dreamy, unrecognizable to even me. “We can proceed with nothing between us. The one thing I hated about it was lying to you, seeing your sacrifice of dignity day after day as I pursued you. The way I gave you no choice but to give me a chance.”

  Predictably, Bilan pushed against my shoulders, an act of futility. “Oh, I had choices! You’re not irresistible, Mr. Ellis!”

  I let out a hard ass laugh, clutching her to me. Bilan squirmed against my firm hold. Then I reached for her mouth. She fought my kiss, and I cupped her face with my hands, and ravished her mouth with the dire aggressive need I had for her since our first conversation. As my tongue moved in her mouth, Bilan had no choice unlike she did at the pool earlier. I made it for her.

  And I would continue to until she decided on me.

  “Your mom is fuckin’ pissed, man! Pissed!” my father trilled into the phone, reminding me how young he sounded when affected by his wife.

  “I understand,” I replied, clutching Bilan’s hand in mine as we rode the dark streets to our destination.

  “And you and Iban need to talk this shit out,” he continued. “It’s one thing Rizzo declared war on us, but some other shit when you two at odds. Fuck that! Nothing comes between us.”

  “So, I thought.”

  “You better fuckin’ know, man. Y’all gone get this right, and right a-fuckin’-way, too. You wasn’t ‘posed to leave till tomorrow. Where you at?”

  My eyes breezed past trees blowing, having just passed a quaint row of shops and boutiques. Then the view turned green again. The way I liked it. Seclusion.

  “In these streets, tryna clear this shit up on my end.” I turned to the other side of the car.

  Bilan was quiet, closely watching the scenery, too, only she didn’t have a clue where we were going.

  “Could you at least tell when you’ll be back, bruh?”

  “A few days.” And I meant just a few. I wished I had at least a week down here to crawl inside and consume myself with all things Bilan Asad-Yasin. “Then I’ll be headed out of the country for a few days.” That’s when Bilan’s eyes were on me.

  “Look! Call me when you touch down in Jersey. We will meet—all three of us!

  “Aye
-aye, captain.”

  I disconnected the call as soon as we turned into the driveway. Fatigue began to set in, but my excitement would give me the verve I needed for this. The car stopped in front of a two-story home with stone-exterior and yellow panels. It was lit beautifully on the inside and out, as though fully occupied. It looked better than the pictures. By the time I made it to her side, Bilan was already out of the car, expression stoic, mind preoccupied. As we traveled up the steps to the porch, the half glass and wood-panel door opened.

  A smiling face appeared. “Mr. Ellis, nice to finally have you guys here.”

  “Paul.” I extended my hand for a shake as Bilan observed the vestibule.

  He reciprocated, then handed me the keys. “If you have any questions, I’ll hang around here for a few. I can see myself out.”

  I thanked him, then took to Bilan’s side. “Welcome to Macen Beach, South Carolina, Nalib,” I murmured to her as she gazed into the empty living room with dark wood floors and a fireplace.

  One wall was the same stony paneling as the exterior of the home, the others a light gray. The windows were portioned with the high ceilings and framed walls. Then I followed her into the dining room that was empty as well, the same flooring and large bow windows. The whitewash wall panels lining the hall gave the home personality. She stopped and peeked inside a powder room before proceeding. The kitchen lights were on.

  Bright colors hit us first. Stark white cabinetry, glass doors. A cool gray on the walls and stainless steel appliances. A huge island in the center of the room with a chunky gray and white marble countertop with a splash of a coordinating gray. It was an open floorplan design, causing Bilan to turn to the right, to an empty family room. The windowing was generous and open.

  Bilan recognized the coveted sounds. She turned to me with her mouth ajar. I encouraged her with a nod toward the open sliding door. I followed as she stepped out onto the large wooden deck. Other than a porch swing, the ample space was empty. I watched as her attention moved ahead to the rippling Atlantic, stealing my thunder.

  She shook off her heels with impatience and skipped down the stairs for the sanded beach, stopping at the shoreline. Pushing my hands into the pockets of my pants, I watched enrapt, feeling my head fall to the side. Bilan’s neck shifted left and right, apparently trying to capture it all as she hugged herself. I don’t know how long we stood out there. With so many pending matters of grave significance floating through my mind—my brother’s fuck up, Rizzo’s declaration of war, the lawsuit on Ellis International, my upcoming meeting in Sicily with Marcu Amato, finding Derrick Little, Ab’s boy, who’d recently disappeared—I could use the gentle breeze, the calming sounds of the restless sea, and the gorgeous view of her.

  When she turned to head back for the house, I took a deep breath.

  “You good?”

  She nodded, closed lids stretching. “Beyond good.”

  “Cool. Let’s see upstairs.” I took her by the hand and found our way to the staircase.

  On the second floor, I followed her as we viewed bedrooms ascending in sizes. The first was empty, and had a view of the front of the house. The second was empty, too, and larger with a partial and full ocean view. The last bedroom of the three hadn’t been unaccounted for at this point, but inside the second one was an extra door not belonging to the closet.

  “What do you think this is?” she asked curiously.

  I forged a tight smile she likely perceived as a shrug. I wanted her to discover it for herself. Bilan opened the door and hit a light switch.

  “A closet,” she sang. “A long one.”

  We sauntered inside, observing the empty shelves and racks to the right. An ocean view bay window to the left.

  “Another door!” Bilan shared in her Scooby Doo voice, facial expression to match.

  I chuckled at the sight of her silliness. I wanted to see more. I wanted to see more facets of her personality. I followed her into what led into the largest bedroom; the master suite.

  “Oh, my goodness…” She breathed, sucking in a deep breath.

  I pulled my arms behind my back, clasping my fingers.

  “Sadik!” She turned to me with wide eyes? “How did you— Is that the—”

  She couldn’t finish her questions. I nodded, pleased by her reaction to the bed. I had my assistant rigorously hound the resort in Costa Rica for the manufacturer of the bed in our villa. It held sentimental value for me, and I wanted to hold onto the memory in some way.

  Having this all arranged took an act of God to have sped up nearly twenty-four hours. The bed arrived here this afternoon. We weren’t supposed to touch down in Macen Beach until tomorrow. Rory had to be located and called in right after the Rizzo explosion a few hours ago. That meant the errands I had for her had to be expedited, too, for her to meet us at the airport this evening.

  Then the jet…

  My flight crew wasn’t supposed to be on tonight. Thankfully, the jet had been fueled, and all three crew members were available and able to clear our flight out. Her reaction to a piece of shared sentimental value was worth all the calls and furtive texts done between the time we packed our things at Elliswoods Palace and now.

  Soft tickles, a gentle salted breeze, and the sounds of seagulls and crashing waves didn’t mix with the stirring sensation of my groin. Or did they? It was a blissful concoction. A sudden heavy sigh pushing from my lungs had my lids flickering open. The picturesque sunlight piercing through the open veranda doors of the master suite had my eyes straining. My thighs in the air, spread eagle with a head in between had my spine arching. Heat ripped up my core, my toes curled, and jaw went lax at the pleasure.

  At another attempt to peer down, I caught honeyed irises blazing into me. My hips were cupped in his palms, the sunlight reflecting off the skin of his golden head, and a full bladder intensifying the pleasure. It was all a mood.

  And it happened so fast. My body warmed all over at each stroke of his tongue. Then he began to suck on my clit. My nipples tight like bullets and stinging. My hands, clawing the sheets. I lifted my head, wanting to see.

  “Oh, God!” I cried huskily at the sight of his oral work.

  He sucked on my clit, pulling it to a length I didn’t think possible, shooting shards of pleasure to every corner of my body. The sensation grew and grew, bliss abounding. I rocked my sex into his face, unabashed. I’d come to expect this type of indulgence from him. Possibly needing it more than I needed most essentials.

  “Baby…” I sobbed, rocking and rocking.

  His hands on my butt stroked, my sensitive breasts providing a scenery of erotica as they moved according to my pelvic thrusts. Then it popped. Bliss shot from my core, sprouting outward. Lungs worked to sustain me as my body was wracked with a fierce orgasm. Groin rolling and rolling, pelvis lifting and dropping until my hips collapsed in satiation.

  Sadik shot to his knees, grabbing himself in a stroke. His face tense, eyes dark, and jaw flexing as his other hand pulled me to the edge of the mattress. His dick grisly: swollen, bulbous head, pulsing veins running to his orange bushy root. Watching Sadik stroke himself was an intimidating turn on. But feeling him feed himself to my achy sex was a wonder to itself altogether. I sucked in air as he plunged into me. One leg astride his curving hip, the other extended straight against his tatted chest. His first thrusts were small, hips circling to drive deeper. I relaxed myself around him and opened to his pulsing erection.

  The sight of the strains around his tight eyes, head tossing back, mouth agape, and pecs flexing as he drove into me made me crazy. It empowered me, made me feel supreme and needed by him. In the moment, I believed I wielded a power, which was confusing because each stroke against my quivering walls made me feel helpless to the pleasure he ensued upon me. He filled me, stretching me, dragging against the most amazing nerve endings.

  This. The feel of him plunging into me against the morning sun, the sounds of the oceans, and the singing of beach creatures had my sex quaking. My
core roiled, breasts flapping in the air.

  “I’m gonna come again,” I warned, unable to believe my boldness.

  But I wanted to share it. When we touched like this, I felt the promise of friendship Sadik pledged. When he invaded my body, ravishing it for his pleasure, I felt intimacy I never wanted to be without again.

  My sex lifted and body shuttered, a second orgasm rolling in.

  “Fuck, Bilan!” he groaned as though in pain, teeth gritted, biceps flexing.

  The roar of his cry reverberated in my core as he plummeted into me with blunt force, extending my orgasm.

  This. Is. Bliss…

  When he slowed, the pads of my fingers grazed the goosebumps on his lower arm.

  “God, I needed that,” he breathed. “Felt like an eternity since the last time I’ve had you.”

  As my body tingled, I thought how all of the drama ensued at his parents’ could be a killjoy. But looking at the dew on his golden skin after a release reminded me of all sex involved with Sadik. He was a beautiful sight undone.

  “Don’t bite your lip like that,” he grated, eyes half-mast.

  I didn’t realize I was until then.

  “Why?” I asked, out of breath myself.

  “Because I’m still hard and want to fuck again, but physiologically, I can’t.”

  Eyes tight, I smiled. “Why?”

  Sadik came down, planted a heavy kiss on my lips. “Because we have furniture shopping to do.”

  “For what?”

  He lifted from me, dragging his heavy appendage against the sensitive walls of my sex. I whimpered.

  “For this place.”

  “Why would a rental come without furniture?” Then I thought. “Why would you buy furniture for a rental?”

  Sadik smiled too broadly. “Because I can, Nalib.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. I see people with lots of cents don’t have a lots of sense.”

  “You don’t like the place?” he eyed me especially, sitting next to my splayed body near the edge of the bed.

  My eyes ballooned. “Are you kidding me? Furniture or not, I love this place.”