That Bona Fide Hood Love

by Shvonne Latrice

  “Wow. It’s been almost four years, and you have yet to disappoint me, Kasslyn. You only get prettier.” Jane entered my bedroom, shutting the door behind herself.

  The day I met her in that cafe was the day that my life changed. She groomed me and didn’t send me out on any dates until my 18th birthday had arrived. As promised, all I had to do was go places with rich men, some old, and surprisingly some fairly young, like Jamal. If we wanted, we could have sex with them, but it wasn’t something I chose to do.

  After my situation with Elliot, sex wasn’t something I could see myself doing again. I’d saved it for years and only gave it up because I thought I was in love. Now, I guess you could say I was traumatized, so the last thing I wanted to do was experience having relations with random men.

  My fee was lower because of it, and I didn’t make as much as the girls who’d started with me. Most had moved out, living in beautifully furnished condos in the nicer areas.

  A lot of the men I dealt with, actually most of the ladies who worked for Jane dealt with, were simply lonely. Sex was a plus for them, but a lot of them just wanted some sort of companionship because either their wife wasn’t giving it to them, or they didn’t have a significant other. It was crazy to me that sometimes I got paid to simply cuddle.

  I wouldn’t lie and say a few hadn’t tried to fuck me, because they had, but I always put my foot down. I wasn’t the ballsiest type, but when it came to certain things like my body, I knew how to stand up for myself. It was either speak up or experience something I wasn’t ready for again.

  “Thank you.” I finally smiled gently at Jane as she came behind me in the mirror.

  “Jamal again, huh? I’m thinking of charging him more for you.”

  “No, don’t do that.” I turned to face her, and she fixed the stray hairs on my head.

  “I think I will. It’s obvious he would pay top dollar to see you and be with you.”

  “Yeah, I know, but he’s so nice. He’s one of the only ones I don’t mind hanging out with.”

  Jane stepped back, hugging her biceps as she looked me over. To be only thirty-seven years old, she’d done a lot for herself and was living pretty nicely. This mansion she had us in was only a small portion of what she possessed.

  “Kasslyn, one thing I always tell you ladies to remember is that this is a job. This is not a matchmaking service. You go out, you show these men a good time, and you collect your money. If they want sex, and you do too, then you give it to them. But there won’t be any matches made in heaven through this.”

  “No, I know. I just…” I glanced off, not having anything to say in defense of my comment moments ago.

  “You sound like you like Jamal, so maybe I should put him on to another girl.”

  “No, Jane, trust me. I do not like him like that. I simply think he’s a nice guy and didn’t want to charge him too much or scare him off.”

  Jane stayed silent for a little bit, eyes lowering like she was trying to read me. It was true; I didn’t like Jamal in that way. I was so green when it came to relationships that I didn’t know what type of men I liked. I thought I had this relationship stuff down and knew exactly the type of man I wanted when I met Elliot. But after he blindsided me, I’d been confused, afraid of meeting another wolf in sheep’s clothing.

  “Okay, good. I have someone else for you, but that’s not for a few days. He may want to take things further, however.”

  “Jane, you know I don’t do that.”

  “It’s time you start, Kasslyn. There are girls under me making three times what you do, all because they give it up.”

  “I know, but I can’t. I want it to be with a certain person and—”

  Jane burst into laughter, cutting me off.

  “Honey, no man will take you seriously knowing what you do for a living. Now I suggest you get with the program. Most cases, all you have to do is lie on your back and let them hump you for ninety seconds until they’re done. You’re telling me you can’t think about something else for ninety seconds and make thousands of dollars?”

  “I could.” I nodded. I would say anything for this conversation to be over.

  “Great. So I will put the newbie on your calendar.” Jane kissed my cheek and then switched out of the bedroom.

  I heard my ‘business phone’ chime, so I grabbed it from the dresser to see Jamal was texting to let me know he was approaching the front door of the home. I shoved the device back into my purse after replying with ‘okay’, and then left the room.

  “Wow, okay, girl. You must be about to ask him for some money on the side.” One of the girls named Leila saw me in the hallway.

  I giggled, shaking my head.

  “No. He’s cool, so I do a little extra for him in the looks department.”

  “Well damn, girl. Have fun.” Leila ate some of the fruit in the bowl she was holding. “Can’t wait to hear about him in the morning.”

  She and I had become pretty cool since I’d been here. I guess you could say she was the first real girlfriend I’d ever had.

  I started down the steps, and once I got near the bottom, I spotted Jamal standing with Jane, and they were both grinning up at me.

  “Well here is the lady of the hour.” Jane reached her arm out to welcome me down.

  “Hi.” I smiled bashfully up at Jamal. He looked so handsome. He was a nice height, six feet two maybe, with a low fade and a thin mustache. He was very soft spoken, but his voice still had a deepness to it. He was light skinned, with dark brown eyes and a perfect set of lips.

  I honestly didn’t understand why he needed to pay a woman for a date. I was sure there were plenty willing to court a good-looking man like him who was sweet and made a lot of money.

  “Wow. What did I do to deserve this?” Jamal grabbed my wrists and held them outward to allow his eyes to fully feast on me.

  “Well you two have a good time.” Jane waved the envelope containing the fee charged to have me.

  Jamal took my hand and led me out of the house, to his Mercedes. I waited as he opened the door for me, and then closed it once I was all the way inside. I inhaled his lingering cologne while I waited for him to join me in the car before pulling off.

  Per usual, we didn’t say much during the ride. I’d learned that Jamal liked to enjoy car rides by taking in the scenery and listening to whatever music he had playing. It was usually either jazz without any vocals, or low gospel. He was a very religious man, which I found odd since he was paying an escort. I would think such activities would be frowned upon by a man like him.

  We ended up at Ocean Prime, a steakhouse out in Beverly Hills near Rodeo Drive. And after giving his car to valet, Jamal and I went inside to be seated at our reserved table.

  “Do I bore you?” he inquired as I scoured the menu for something appeasing.

  “Bore me? No.” I grinned and reached across to touch his hand. “Why would you think that? I like you—”

  “Kasslyn, I want you to turn off the act you use for your job, just for a second.” He moved his hand from my touch. “I’m asking because I’m sure I’m your only client that doesn’t ask you for sex.”

  “Yeah, but I like that about you.” Wanting to make him feel better, I added, “Between you and I, I’ve only had sex once, and years ago.”

  He laughed heartily, but it stopped when he saw I hadn’t cracked a smile.

  “Then how do you do a job like this?”

  “Not every man demands sex. There are some, but Jane doesn’t set me up with those. I’m not like purposely attempting to not have sex; I just haven’t had the urge. I guess the right one must come along.”

  Jamal nodded, looking me over for a little bit, showing he was pondering.

  “So nothing? Not even a blow job?”

  “Well, I’ve pleasured myself before, so does that count?”

  “To me it does, but not in the liberal world of today.” He sipped the wine he’d ordered earlier. “We have something in common though. I mean,
sort of. I’m an actual virgin, and you’re more like a born again.”

  “You’re a virgin?”

  “Don’t look so disgusted, but yes. My parents were very religious, so I stayed the course. I have no interest in sleeping with a woman until she’s my wife.”

  “Wow.” I laughed. “I didn’t know there were grown men virgins anymore.”

  “I could say the same about women. I’ve yet to meet a beautiful girl that hasn’t had a few too many partners.” He took another sip then spoke lowly. “Until now.”

  “Cheers to that then.” I lifted my glass, so he clinked his against it.

  I noticed the look in Jamal’s eyes was different for the rest of the night. He seemed to be extra interested in me, more than before, which said a lot. He was acting like he wanted to be my boyfriend versus just a good friend like usual.

  By midnight, he was taking me back home, and I couldn’t wait to get into a hot bubble bath to soak.

  “Hey, I want to see you again next week, but maybe you could stay out with me longer? I was thinking I could pick you up in the afternoon instead of night time.” Jamal grabbed my hand.

  “Uh, I’m sure Jane will want you to pay more.”

  “That’s fine. Money is no object.”

  “Okay, sure. I will ask about it.” I simpered before leaning over to kiss his cheek. He caught me off guard though by turning a little to kiss the corner of my mouth. He’d never done that. “Night, Jamal.”

  “Goodnight, beautiful.”

  I got out of the car, and like always, Jamal waited until I was safely inside of the house before he drove off. Walking through the foyer, I began to think about the night.

  It seemed like Jamal wanted to be with me or something, and even though I didn’t too much feel the same, he could be my way out of this lifestyle. He was a nice guy, so I had no problem dating or marrying without loving him. I would probably grow to love him anyway. I mean, hell, he was rich, cute, and cool, so I didn’t doubt that my heart would eventually open for him.

  Grinning at the thought, I rushed to the back to get approval from Jane for our next date.

  The door to her office was cracked, so I slipped in to speak but my words got caught in my chest.

  The lights were dim, and Jane was bent over her desk getting fucked by some tall, healthy sized, dark-skinned brother. He had tattoos coming up out of the collar of his business shirt, covering his neck. I watched his large hand grip Jane’s tiny shoulder as he hammered her doggy-style, while she let her mouth hang open in ecstasy with her eyes closed. The man bit down on his plump lip, showing his perfect teeth, as his free hand groped and spanked Jane effortlessly. He was like a well-oiled machine, interacting with her body seamlessly.

  I wanted to look away, but by the time I was about to, the man saw me. My clit responded to his eye contact immediately, so I slipped right out of the office, rushed up the stairs, and into the bathroom. Slamming the door behind myself, I pressed my back into it, panting while already experiencing flashbacks.

  I’d never in my life run across a man that made me want to spread my legs again… until tonight.

  Kaseem Banks

  A few days later…

  I smirked, watching my assistant Alexis bend over right by my desk to reach down into the drawer. She was thick as fuck, with a nice, round, plump ass that jiggled perfectly when you hit that shit from the back. I brought her down into my lap, making her giggle and blush as I ran my hand up her supple thighs. The skirt she had on was short as fuck, making me bite my lip at the thought of raising that shit up to knock the bottom out of her pussy.

  “You’re trying to have a redo of last night, huh?” She whispered as I massaged her pussy through her panties.

  “If I do, yo’ ass won’t be able to do ya damn job.”

  “I know. You be having me so weak, daddy.” Alexis whimpered, tossing her hair from one side to the other.

  Just as I was about to lift her skirt, I heard a knock on my office door, so I tapped her ass to tell her to get up. I waited until Alexis fixed her bottoms and collected the papers she’d dropped.

  “Come in!” I hollered out, then nodded for Alexis to dip and get back to whatever the fuck I’d assigned her for the week.

  “Afternoon, Miss Jones.” Alexis smiled at Everly, the head of marketing.

  I owned a bourbon liquor company named Opulence, one of the most expensive and sought-after liquors in the US at the moment. Soon, my shit would be global, but for now, just being popular here in the states had a nigga rich as fuck. And coming from where I did, being the CEO and creator of some shit as successful as Opulence was more than a fucking milestone.

  “I do not like that bitch.” Everly shut my office door behind Alexis, almost clipping her damn heels.

  “Why?” I chuckled, already knowing the answer.

  “Because I know she likes you and wants to sleep with you.” Everly started toward me, setting the file in her hand down onto my desk. “And I don’t take kindly to people interested in my man, Seem.”

  “I feel you, but you know I’m yours and would never fuck with a bitch like Alexis.” I brought Everly closer to me so that she was standing between my legs.

  I met Everly’s fine, smart, brown-skinned ass when I was hiring muthafuckas for my company. She rolled through here, feeling herself, knowing that she was perfect for my marketing department. Her intelligence, and how beautiful her ass was, turned me on, not to mention how she shut a nigga down when he tried to get at her. Like most niggas when presented with a challenge, I hired her ass and kept pressing her until I had her in my crib with my dick in her guts.

  I was used to hood ass females, but Everly was different as fuck from that. I wasn’t tripping off of it, because sometimes a nigga needed a bitch that carried herself a certain way. When I needed to go to events or anything where I had to have a woman on my arm, Everly was perfect for the job. I ain’t have to worry about her wearing some inappropriate shit or beating a bitch’s ass for simply looking at me at the wrong place and wrong time.

  “Oh, I already know. Alexis is not even close to being your type.” Everly fixed my tie before backing away since I was about to grab on her ass. “No, Mr. Banks. We have business to discuss. We can do that off the clock.” She walked to the other side of my desk and took a seat before grabbing the folder she’d placed down moments ago.

  “Aight.” I smirked at her pretty ass and sat back. “What you got for me?”

  Blushing and pushing her dark hair behind her shoulder, Everly opened the folder before displaying the contents.

  “These are a few of the men I’ve chosen to be possible brand ambassadors. They’re all really hot right now and would bring even more attention to Opulence.”

  I picked up a few of the pictures to inspect them, then placed them back down.

  “Schedule some interviews and shit; see who would do the best work.”

  “Yes, sir.” She happily shut the folder and rose up. “So should I come over tonight?”

  “Not tonight, baby. I got some shit to handle.”

  “Shit like what?” Everly cocked her head, blinking repeatedly, which was some shit she always did when bothered by something that was said.

  “Business.”

  “Does it have to do with you driving around late at night and doing something you no longer need to do?”

  And there was the fucking downside to dealing with Everly. Yes, I made plenty of money running Opulence, but no money was as good as illegal money. Everly didn’t understand that shit, so she turned her nose up at anything dealing with my background. That was one of the reasons I could never fully be with her ass the way she wanted me to. Any bitch I fucked with, honestly, needed to accept me in all muthafuckin forms.

  Everly wanted the businessman version of Kaseem and also wanted to make up in her fucking head what the rest of me was. The thought of taking a hood nigga home to her parents made her damn skin crawl.

  The only thing Everly and I had in
common was growing up in a two-parent household, except her people were balling out of fucking control, and mine were living check to fucking check.

  “What I tell you about trying to run me and what the fuck I got going on, E?”

  Looking off, she sighed and then switched her ass out of my office. That was the best thing for her ass to do. She knew better than to keep trying to push the fucking issue.

  Shaking my head, I buzzed for Alexis to bring her ass back in here so I could let some frustration out on her fucking throat.

  Later that night…

  I’d just finished doing a few exchanges and dropping some shit off at the warehouse. Exhaling heavily as I pulled up into my driveway, all I could think about was a hot ass shower and my California king bed.

  As soon as I pulled my whip into the garage, my phone began ringing, and I saw it was Everly’s ass.

  “What’s up?” I climbed out of the car.

  “Are you still angry?”

  “Why would I be angry?”

  “Because I told you, you shouldn’t be running the streets at night. I’m only—”

  “Nah. I’m not angry, because at the end of the day, I’m gon’ do whatever the fuck I wanna do.” I entered the house, going to the kitchen to make myself a drink.

  “I know.” She got quiet. “Do you forgive me?”

  “Always.”

  Giggling, she replied, “Okay. Well I can’t wait to see you at work tomorrow, and then after.”

  “Yep. I’ll holla at you later, baby. I’m tired.”

  “Okay. Goodnight. I love you.”

  “You too.” I hung up and set my iPhone down, just as my little brother Jamal walked into the kitchen.

  “Which one was that?” Jamal shook his head, walking to my fridge to open it up.

  “Everly.”

  “Are you ever gon’ choose one to settle down with? I couldn’t imagine sleeping with all these different women.” He shook his head, downing the contents of the water bottle he’d grabbed.