She hopped out of her bed and said, “Hell yes! I knew it! I don’t know why you was holding back on the juice. That man is sexy, and I can tell that he is really feeling you. You know I can sense these things. Just like the first time I met Rocco, I told you he was full of shit.”
“All right, all right, I get it. Let me get some bed clothes, please.”
She rolled her eyes and got back in bed. I was too drunk to shower tonight. There was no way I wouldn’t bust my ass for sure. I was beyond tired from work, too. I would shower when I got home.
“Can you take the fucking chain off the door?”
I’d unlocked the apartment door but couldn’t get inside. I swore, Rocco had to be out of his damn mind. He slowly made his way up front. I could hear his feet sliding on the floor. He closed the door, then took the chain off and reopened it. “What are you doing here anyway?” I asked as I walked in.
“I got laid off.”
I rolled my eyes. I could not be in this apartment with his ass all damn day. “Sorry to hear that.”
I walked past him and immediately went to turn on the shower. After brushing my teeth, then taking off my dress, I walked out to get more clothes and nearly walked right into him. “Why you in such a hurry to take a shower? Who were you with?”
“I was with my mama! But we aren’t a couple anymore, so you can find you some business.”
“When did you break up with me? Because I don’t recall you breaking up with me when I was tapping that ass last weekend, or shit, three nights ago.”
“Well, consider that shit done now, since you can’t recall. We haven’t been in the greatest place in a long time. We’re always on this fucking rollercoaster of emotions. I’m sick of it and I thought I said that a couple of weeks ago. We fucked. You don’t have to be a couple to fuck.”
He nodded repeatedly and walked away from me. I didn’t know what that shit meant, but I quickly grabbed some clothes and locked myself in the bathroom. Rocco had never given me these kinds of vibes. I’d never been afraid of him, but at this moment, something in his eyes and mannerisms scared the hell out of me. Right as I was getting in the shower, he banged on the door, almost causing me to hop out my fucking skin. “So, you fucking somebody else?”
I frowned. Where in the fuck did that come from? “No, nigga! But if you think I am and you ain’t happy, you free to leave,” I yelled through the door.
He wasn’t gon’ leave, though. He’d just gotten laid off and he didn’t have nowhere to go. I knew he hadn’t been saving his money. Everything he had left after his portion of the bills, he blew on bullshit. He didn’t say anything back, so I got in the shower and bathed. Because of his attitude, I knew I would be packing clothes to go back to my mama’s house. I didn’t have time for him and his foolishness. When he wasn’t working, which had happened a few times in our relationship, he was that much harder to deal with.
Once I finished my shower, I was getting out and I heard him picking with the lock. Oh, this muthafucka was crazy as hell. I’d pull this shower curtain down and beat his ass with the rod. When he walked in, I stared at him with a hatred that I had never shown him before. His eyebrows went up as he stared at me. “I wasn’t done talking to you, Yuri. You rude as hell.”
“Says the one invading my privacy. I’m done talking to you. It’s the same shit all the time. I’m sick of the repetitiveness of it all. We’ve been having this same argument for months! Why can’t you see how toxic this shit is and just let go?”
“Because I love you! Not having you around is making me crazy! I need you, Yuri. You all I got! Nobody has ever loved me like you do, but I get nervous and insecure. I’m scared that someone is gonna take you away from me.”
When he let the tear fall, my heart turned to mush, but I couldn’t show weakness. “Nobody is gonna take me from you. You’ve pushed me away, Rocco. Your behaviors and abusive words have pushed me to the point where I can no longer be with you. It hasn’t been a one-time thing. That’s what has driven me to the point of no return. I can’t continue to do this dance with you, Rocco.”
When he fell to his knees, the lump formed in my throat. To see a grown-ass man, six-foot-four, three hundred pounds, finally humble himself, was too much for me to handle. It was too late, though. I’d given so much of myself, I wouldn’t have anything left for me. I leaned over and kissed his head, then walked right past him to our bedroom. After packing a week’s worth of clothes, including what I would be wearing for my date with Maverick, I left.
I was still debating on whether or not I would even go on the date with Maverick. With the way Rocco behaved today, I knew if he saw me anywhere with someone else, he was gonna make a fucking scene. While Maverick wasn’t worried about it, I knew this nigga. He was insecure, petty, and territorial as hell. In his mind, I was still his, and until he let go, I would always be his. That thought alone frightened me. Once he felt backed into a corner, I had no clue what he would do to get out of it.
Chapter Six
Maverick
After a few minutes of going back and forth with Yuri yesterday about our date, I didn’t feel as confident about her actually showing up. We decided that we would order in and she would come to my house. She didn’t want to risk her ex-nigga seeing us out and about and making a damn scene. I knew how to fix that nigga, but she would rather avoid the situation altogether. It made me wonder if they’d broken up at all. I didn’t understand why she was worried about him being pissed that she was out with me. But whatever.
If she didn’t want to risk his blow up, she most likely wouldn’t show up at my house alone. How would she feel comfortable with me? We didn’t really talk much throughout the week. Only a couple of text messages and a short conversation yesterday, so I didn’t know what to make of it. However, I still prepared as if she was coming. I had soft music playing throughout the house, candles lit, and instead of ordering in, I cooked. I seared steaks to perfection, made mashed potatoes, and cooked green beans. The leftovers wouldn’t taste as bad as takeout if she was a no show.
For dessert, I’d bought a pound cake with whipped cream and strawberries. I wasn’t as good with baking as I was with cooking. After getting dressed in some slacks and a short-sleeved, pull-over, black shirt, I made my way to the kitchen and dining area to make sure everything was perfect. I took a deep breath, then rubbed my hands together. My nerves were everywhere. I wanted Yuri to enjoy herself and feel comfortable, but there was no way she would feel that way if I wasn’t comfortable.
I poured myself a glass of wine, gulped it, then poured another glass to sip. Wine wasn’t really my drink of choice, but I figured she probably liked it, judging by some of the fruity drinks she’d had at the club last weekend. Yuri was so beautiful, and the visions of her body moving to the music had been saved into my mental rolodex. I was beyond excited to show her what being with a real man was like… a man that appreciated women and exalted them the way they should be. After getting tired of sipping, I gulped what remained and checked the time to see that she was ten minutes late.
Just as I was preparing to spend the evening alone, the doorbell rang. Rubbing my hands together and blowing into them as if they were cold, I made my way to the door. When I opened the door and saw the vixen standing before me, I was in awe. My lips parted as I took her in from head to toe… from the tight chignon she had her hair in, to her black and leopard print, open-toed heels. Jesus. She was perfection. She smiled as her shoulders curved forward under my open admiration. Her knee-length, sleeveless, black dress molded her body perfectly. I knew the moment she sat, that split in the front would present a problem. “Hey. Come on in.”
“Hey. Sorry, I’m late. My mama was trying to make sure I was perfect,” she said as she rolled her eyes and stepped inside.
A car was waiting, then drove off as she entered. She was dropped off. I noticed the small bag she was carrying. Hmm. It was as if she was prepared for whatever would happen between us tonight. If I had my way, she would n
ever leave. Once I closed the door and turned back to her, I grabbed her hand and kissed it. “It’s okay. You look gorgeous.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you like this Capriccio Sangria? It was somewhat sweet, like the drinks you had last weekend.”
“I love it, actually.”
I smiled at her, then poured her a glass. “Are you ready to eat now, or did you wanna chill out for a lil bit?”
She looked up at me, her gaze rendering me speechless. Grabbing me by the hand and leading me to the couch, I assumed she wanted to chill out for a minute. When she sat, just as I thought, that damn dress fell open and revealed the most beautiful, long, chocolate legs I’d ever laid eyes on. Fuck! I sat next to her and watched her eyes take in her surroundings. “You have a beautiful home. How long have you lived here?”
“Almost five years.”
“It looks to be a large home. How many bedrooms?”
“Three. I bought this house with the intent of filling it. I can show you around later if you want.”
Her eyes seemed to mist over at my words. She looked away and took a sip of her wine. When she looked back at me, she said, “I’ve always wanted a family… to have a husband and kids. I’m an only child and my dad has never lived with me and my mom. I always longed for him to live with us. I promised myself that I would do my best to give my child a two-parent household.”
I nodded in response to what she said and watched her take another sip of her wine. “So, what did you order? It smells good.”
“I didn’t order anything. I cooked.”
Her eyebrows went up in surprise as I continued, “You are worth the effort. Plus, that impressed look on your face right now is confirmation that I made the right decision. Hopefully, when it graces your palate, you’ll approve.”
“I’m definitely impressed, Maverick,” she said, then put her hand to my cheek.
I licked my lips slowly as I stared at her. She was gonna have to keep her hands off me. I was so ready to unzip her dress and introduce her body to mine. She maintained my gaze and said, “You’re so handsome. I just want to be careful about not rushing into anything. I just left a relationship.”
“Thank you. But who said you had to rush? Just go with what you feeling, Yuri Joseph.”
I watched her eyes drop to my lips. She wanted to kiss me, but I would let her take the lead on that. I didn’t want it to seem as if I was rushing her into anything. Leaning in closer to me, she slid her thumb across my bottom lip and used her hand to explore my face, caressing my cheek and sliding her fingertips through my beard. My eyes never left her. She was turning me on significantly.
Her hand then made its way to my head, sliding over the waves in my hair, then down the back of my head to my neck. She pulled me to her and laid her soft lips on mine. Kissing me slowly proved to be everything I thought it would. I was doing my best to be respectful and let her lead, but everything in me wanted to pull her across my lap. When she pulled away, she smiled, then exhaled and fanned herself with her hand.
I never cracked a smile. I wanted to feel her insides so badly, I could barely concentrate on anything else. “Maverick… wow. A man that knows how to kiss is my weakness, but it’s also a requirement of mine. And my God… you passed that shit with flying colors.”
“You free to test me on that subject anytime,” I said as I slid my fingertips down her bare shoulder to her arm.
The goosebumps that appeared on her skin let me know how heightened her senses were to my touch. She cleared her throat as she blushed, then took another sip of her wine. “I think we should probably eat, now.”
She giggled softly and I nodded in agreement. Helping her from her seat on the couch, I couldn’t help but stare at her legs. When my eyes made it back up to hers, she smiled again, then drank the rest of her wine. It was like I was in a trance as I watched her. She licked her lips and stepped closer to me, sliding her hand up my chest and around my neck. She was extremely relaxed, and at this point, I was happy as hell that we didn’t go out. As I wrapped my arm around her waist, she laid her lips on mine again, causing me to pull her even closer.
This time, I couldn’t help but slowly slide my tongue to hers. She accepted it graciously and returned the favor. When she moaned into my mouth, that shit took all my good sense. I took the empty glass from her hand and dropped it to the couch, then allowed my hands to roam her back. Holding my face in her hands as we kissed slowly and sensually, her body seemed to mold into mine, just like it had done on the dancefloor.
Yuri slowly pulled away and slid her hands down my chest as she stared up at me. I knew exactly what that look meant. There were no more blind decisions. She would be okay with whatever I did to her body. I slid my hands slowly down her back, holding her gaze, then continued to her soft, round ass. Her eyes fell closed and her head dipped backward, causing me to squeeze it more firmly. I brought my lips to her neck and kissed her softly, gently sucking in places that I knew would most likely be sensitive areas for her.
The instant attraction between us was strong as hell and nothing like I’d ever felt before. But I knew I had to slow down and be sure that this was what she wanted. I didn’t want her regretting a thing. I was ready to fall knee-deep in her shit and claim all of it as mine. Releasing my grip on her ass, I pulled away slowly as she opened her eyes. When her lips parted, I nearly lost my fucking mind. “Come on, Yuri, before we skip dinner altogether. I’m tryna be a gentleman.”
She bit her bottom lip, then released it. “What if I don’t want a gentleman right now?”
“Then tell me exactly what you want, so there’s no misunderstanding then,” I said as I stared directly into her eyes.
“After dinner, you’re free to do with me as you please.”
She thought she was ready, but she was nowhere near ready for the sweet torture I would put her beautiful body through. Pulling her closer, I brought my lips to her earlobe and gently pulled it into my mouth. I said in a low voice, “Yuri, you know I’m gonna make you eat those words, right?”
Her body shivered, and she said, “I hope so.”
Stepping away from her, I led her to the dining room table. For someone that didn’t want to rush, she’d let those inhibitions go rather quickly. I didn’t think anything of it, though, because she’d affected me in ways I wouldn’t have imagined. Maybe I was doing the same to her. Once she sat, I went back to the couch and got her glass, then poured her more wine. As I brought it to her, “Up Late” by Ari Lennox came on. She said, “Oh… this my shit.”
I chuckled as she swayed to the music in her chair. It seemed we definitely enjoyed the same genres of music. After setting her glass on the table, I went back to the kitchen to fix our plates. However, that wine wasn’t doing shit for me. I needed a much stronger drink, especially when she joined me in the kitchen and wrapped her arms around me from behind. I smiled slightly. This whole vibe between us seemed so laid back and comfortable. I loved it. After kissing my back, she said, “Let me help you.”
Glancing over at her, I said, “Well, could you pour me a glass of that Remy on the countertop?”
“So, you get the good stuff and I get the Sangria.”
I laughed. “Naw. I just need it…” I said, turning to her. I let my eyes travel the length of her body and continued, “Otherwise, I’m gon’ strip you down and have you for dinner.”
I could see her swallow hard, like she was actually visualizing and feeling the words I’d said. She turned and poured the liquor in a glass and took a big gulp of it herself, causing me to chuckle. She poured more in the glass, so I turned around and finished fixing our food. Carrying it to the table with her silently behind me, I hoped that I would be able to keep my hands to myself. “Did you want something else to drink with your dinner?”
“Yeah. Water, please.”
I turned to walk away, and she grabbed me by the back of my shirt, pulling me back to her. She was playing with me, but she was unleashing the beast inside of me. I
snatched her to me and led us to the nearest wall, closing my eyes and resting my forehead against hers. “Yuri… I’m not gonna be able to restrain myself much longer.”
Putting her hands to my face, she said, “Good.”
“Man, come eat before it gets cold.”
I led her back to the table, then snatched up my Remy and downed that shit. Bringing it back to the kitchen to re-up, I grabbed two bottles of water and made my way back to the table. Yuri was sitting silently, waiting for my return. I sat next to her, then grabbed her hand and blessed the food. “I’m telling you now, Maverick, if this food tastes as good as it smells, you’ve won me. I’m gonna be at your door, scratching like a stray cat.”
I laughed. “I’m serious. It’s so attractive when a man can cook.”
I nodded and began eating, occasionally glancing at her. When she took her first bite of steak, her eyes closed. She moaned softly as she chewed. She looked over at me after she swallowed. “Damn. It’s so good.”
“Thank you, pussy cat.”
She almost choked as she laughed. I couldn’t wait for her to be glued to my hip. I’d been waiting to have a woman like this for a while. As she ate some of her mashed potatoes, she asked, “So, how do you feel about seeing where this attraction between us goes?”
“It’s what I’ve been hoping for since the first day I saw you. I know you could tell how attracted I was to you. Unless I was face down, I couldn’t keep my eyes off you.”
“I could tell. Could you tell how attracted I was to you?”
“Somewhat. I could see your glances at forbidden territory. It’s not so forbidden now. Hopefully, you’ll make an exception and allow me to still be your client.”
“Of course. You may get the unlawful happy endings.”
She smiled and continued to eat and sway her bottom to the music. “Mmm. I’ll take that whenever you wanna give it to me.”
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