Beautiful Nightmare

by Johnna B

  “Yes. Because I don’t wear clothes in my bed,” she said incredulously.

  “What the hell you mean? Put some damn clothes on.” He couldn’t believe her. Surely, he would lose his mind if he had to sit next to her naked body, knowing the next step would not be sex.

  “I told you. I don’t wear clothes to bed.” She looked at him like . . . duh.

  “Well, you’re going to have to do something. Shit! I’m being a man about the virgin thing. But I’m still a man. Come on, ma. You gotta let a nigga live.” The damage was already done. He was doing just fine imagining. Now, he had the actual image stuck in his head. “You gon’ fuck around and give a nigga blue balls and shit.” She was now laughing at him hysterically, and he didn’t find shit funny.

  “I’m sorry,” she said while still laughing. “I didn’t know it was gon’ be such a big deal,” she said, looking down at the huge bulge building in his boxers. Having absolutely no experience with men, she honestly didn’t know it would have that type of effect on him.

  “Yeah, keep playing. You gon’ get something way sooner than you had planned on.” He was serious as a fucking heart attack.

  “So, you’re telling me you can’t control yourself being around a naked woman?” she said, standing up to walk over to her dresser.

  He closed his eyes. She was playing a little too much for him. He was not with the teasing. That shit was for the birds.

  “Nah, I’m good on being around a naked lady. It’s just, once she naked, there’s usually something that follows or something that happened before it.” He opened his eyes to see her in some boy shorts and a tank top. Her ass was hanging from the bottom, looking so good he wanted to kiss and bite it.

  “That’s a li’l better. You ain’t got no sweatpants or nothing?” He sounded like a little boy whining.

  “You’re pushing it, buddy,” she said as she got back in bed, mad as hell. He ain’t been around two minutes, and he already changing shit, she thought.

  “Can I ask you a question?”

  “You just did,” she said with a faux attitude.

  “Naw, I’m for real. Why are you still a virgin? I mean, like are you waiting for Mr. Right or a wedding date?” He needed to know this, because he figured, nowadays when a woman doesn’t have a man, she’s usually a little crazy in the head. He wasn’t trying to get caught up in a fatal attraction. Yeah, he dug her a lot, but he dug his life way more. He wasn’t into putting his hands on a woman, but, if it came down to him or her, she would be dead wherever she stood.

  “No, it just never happened. I’ve never had the chance, never really thought about it until lately,” she said, looking out the window.

  The stars were shining brightly. One caught her attention. It outshined all the rest, just like the man sitting next to her. She didn’t know what she was doing; she just never wanted to be away from him. Valencia never knew it was possible to fall so hard for someone in such a short amount of time. But here she was, wishing for a shooting star to send true love and happiness her way.

  “What you mean you ‘never had the chance’? You are one of the most, if not the most, beautiful women I’ve ever met. I know niggas be trying to get at you on a regular. Plus, you told me you had a man.”

  “That stuff does nothing for me most of the time. They’re just lusting over my body, and me saying I have a man just comes natural when I’m nervous.” Being new to this, she didn’t know what she was feeling, but she knew she was feeling something, and he was the sole cause of it.

  “What are you nervous about?”

  “This.” She did a sweeping motion with her hands. “The last man to touch this bed is the one who set it up from the department store.” She chuckled a little, never breaking her concentration on the shining star.

  “Ain’t no need to be nervous. I’m not going to rush you to do anything,” he assured her.

  “But what if I am in a rush?” The tears that just rushed the back of her throat were trying to choke her and make their way to the forefront.

  “What’s the rush for? You’ve waited your whole life for that special moment; don’t throw it away just because. If and when you give me your virginity, I would love to think I deserve it, and that it’s not merely happening for convenience.” He knew the value of a woman’s virginity. His mother schooled him on everything a woman goes through and what goes on in her mind. He just didn’t realize it was never her choice to still be a virgin.

  “She’s going to come back.” She finally let a tear fall down her face.

  “Who?” Kidd questioned as he looked around.

  “Never mind. I really just want to be held. Can you do that for me?” She had such an innocence about herself. She was almost childlike. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why he was so drawn to her.

  Noticing that she was on the verge of a breakdown, he didn’t push the subject, but he hoped that whoever she was talking about wouldn’t come back anytime soon. He was making his way into her life and wanted nothing to stop him.

  They lay there in bed together, but their minds wandered off in different directions. Lying as one, he held her tight. This feeling was too right to be wrong. This was the way her life was supposed to be. She was supposed to be in love with the man of her dreams with no threat of it being taken away in the blink of an eye.

  In this short amount of time, Valencia had come to the conclusion that her life wouldn’t be worth living if she didn’t have Kidd in it. He put these feeling in her heart that she couldn’t explain to save her life. All she knew was that to take him away now would be like taking her breath away.

  Chapter 10

  Love under New Management

  Valencia rolled over and stared into Kidd’s beautiful brown eyes. She wondered how long he’d been awake and staring into the dark. He held her tight in his comforting embrace. Apparently, Kidd couldn’t sleep either. Neither one of them made a sound. The silence spoke volumes like a loud siren breaking the silence of the night. The way he looked at her made her feel as if her soul stood in front of him bare down to its core. If she could read his mind, she would want to know what he was thinking at the very moment. That moment in time was perfect, just their energies feeling the empty spaces where words should be filling in.

  “Hey, beautiful,” Kidd finally broke peaceful quietness.

  “Hi” she spoke bashfully as she pulled the covers up over her face, not wanting to breathe her morning breath in his face.

  “Don’t be trying to cover up that dragon tryin’a break free.” He laughed at her trying to cover her mouth.

  “Shut up, fool!” She had to laugh herself. She knew she must have looked stupid talking with the covers over her mouth.

  “Are you OK?” She made him want to make everything better for her. He’d happily take all of her hurt and sadness if she’d only give him the chance.

  “Yes, I’m fine, and thank you for coming to keep me company on such short notice.”

  “No problem at all on my end. Whenever you need me, just call.” He sat up on the bed and took in a deep breath. For sure she would be a major change in his life, and the words his brother spoke kept replaying over and over in his head. Was he really ready for everything that came along with being with Valencia? Clearly, she’d made a move on his heart, and he couldn’t explain it to save his life. All he knew was he needed her like his heart needed its beat. “I’ll let you get ready for work. I have to get going. It’s going to take me three hours to get Moochie’s ass out of bed.” He laughed a little.

  “Oh, OK.” She tried to hide the disappointment in her voice. She wished they could have stayed in the bed all day together and blocked the world out. “Would you like some breakfast?” She would offer him the world to keep him close by.

  Knock! Knock! Knock!

  Instinctively, Kidd reached for his gun on the floor tucked under his pants.

  “You expecting someone?”

  “No, I’m not.” Valencia was confused too. No on
e ever came to her house.

  “You sure you don’t have a crazy boyfriend that I’m gon’ have to shoot?” Kidd asked as he got dressed.

  “Really, sir, no, I don’t have boyfriend. As a matter of fact, answer the door while I use the bathroom. Thank you.” She got up and walked to the bathroom. He watched her ass as it jiggled with the intensity of a bowl of Jell-O. Once dressed, he head to the door.

  “Who is it?” Kidd yelled through the door.

  “It’s me, nigga, open the door!” Moochie yelled back.

  “Man, what the fuck you doing here?” Kidd asked as he swung the door open.

  “You ain’t bring yo’ bald head home this morning, and I don’t know this chick.” Moochie made a mean mug at him, then walked past him into the house.

  “My bad. Didn’t know I needed to check in with my little brother,” Kidd laughed.

  “Don’t get funny now, nigga!” Moochie looked around. “Aye, yo, this shit is nice. She got good taste. Can’t speak for her choice in men, but her décor is sick!” Moochie was really impressed by the colorful marble table that sat in the middle of the living room.

  “Thank you. Glad my taste in décor meets your approval.” Valencia smiled as she walked in. Her smile immediately faded when she saw Moochie standing on her carpet with his shoes on.

  “Oh, hey. Good morning.”

  “Can you please step back over to the door and take your shoes off!” she said with urgency.

  “Is she serious, bruh?” Moochie looked over to Kidd and noticed he didn’t have on any shoes either.

  “Very.”

  “Hell, yeah, I’m serious! Now getcha footsie off my white carpet!”

  “OK. Damn, calm down.” Moochie walked back over to the door and took his shoes off. “This is some bullshit. I ain’t never in my life heard of no shit like this.”

  “Yeah yeah yeah, li’l nigga whatever.” She waved her hand at him and walked into the kitchen.

  “Ha!” Kidd hollered out laughing.

  “Oh, and good morning, Moochie,” she yelled from the kitchen as she looked in the refrigerator to see what she had to cook. “Look at that. Here you are blaming me for the unexpected visit, and it’s for you, sir.” She added leggings to her attire so she could get some breakfast going. “To what do we owe this pop-up visit? You thought I killed him?” she asked as he walked back into the living room.

  “Hey, I don’t know you that well yet, and when a nigga start spending the night, I have to check things out.”

  “Well, are you staying for breakfast?” She hoped he said yeah, because she knew Kidd would have to stay a little longer.

  “Wait, whose is this?” Moochie stared at the PS4 on the entertainment system.

  “Well, it is my home.” She looked at him like duh.

  “This ain’t your nephew’s or little cousin’s?”

  “No, it’s mine, and, yes, I know how to play it and all the games down there.”

  “Yeah, get them pancakes rolling, then, sis, we posted for a li’l bit.”

  “How you know she ain’t got nothing to do?” Kidd asked, but he honestly wanted to stay.

  “Oh, um, I’m good,” Valencia answered with quickness. She’d already been plotting on how to get him to stay a little longer.

  Moochie had already turned the game on and had his feet planted firmly in the carpet.

  “Well, that settles it, then. I needs lots of meat, please, and thank you!” Moochie yelled over his shoulder.

  Valencia busied herself in the kitchen with making breakfast. She could hear Moochie and Kidd in the living room yelling and laughing about the game. Apparently, Moochie was winning, and Kidd wasn’t the least bit happy about it.

  A few minutes, she felt a pair of hands sliding around her waist, and then a strong pair of arms squeezing her around the waist. She could have melted right there on the spot.

  “You must have lost now you in here to mess with me,” she laughed.

  “Something like that.” He turned her around so she was facing him.

  “Can I keep you?” he asked as he put his forehead to hers and looked her in the eyes.

  “I don’t think I’m what you really want,” she said sadly. She pulled her eyes from his gaze and looked at the floor.

  “Let me make that decision.”

  “I’m serious, Kidd.”

  “I’m serious too. Can I keep you?” Silence. “Can I have you?” He pulled his forehead away from hers and began kissing her all over her face.

  Goose bumps formed all over her body at the feel of his lips against her skin. A sudden heat took over her lower regions, and she felt her panties getting moist.

  “Kidd, I—” she started to protest his advances.

  “Stop calling me that. I told you my name.” He pulled her face up so that she was looking up into his eyes again.

  Valencia watched as his face got closer to hers. Oh, bitch, he about to kiss you. Please don’t mess this up. Please please please, kissing gods, be on my side right now, she silently prayed as his lips touched hers.

  Kidd noticed her reluctance and her inexperience. But that was all right with him. He had no problems with teaching her how to love him the right way. Her lips were soft and full, and thoughts of her kissing all over his chest and working her way down had his phallus superhard. He reached under her and picked her up and sat her on the counter without breaking their kiss.

  Valencia’s head was spinning. He kissed her so hard and passionately it felt like he was trying to breathe for her. And if she could give him her breath to breathe for her, she would. She wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him closer. She knew she was doing horribly at kissing, but he never stopped, and that encouraged her to keep trying.

  “Damn, you niggas don’t smell that smoke or hear the fire alarm going off?” Moochie ran into the kitchen yelling.

  “Oh shit.” Valencia jumped down off the counter.

  “Damn, man, y’all don’ burnt all the fuckin’ meat and shit!” Moochie was pissed. The aroma coming from the kitchen had his stomach growling.

  “My bad,” Valencia laughed as she ran to open the windows and doors to let some of the smoke out.

  “You damn right, yo’ bad. I’m hungry as hell. Y’all in here playing kissy face; meanwhile, the house ’bout to burn down,” Moochie huffed as he looked at all the burnt meat.

  “You seem a li’l upset. You need a hug or something?” Valencia asked.

  Kidd spit out all his juice he just put into his mouth all over the wall. He fell out laughing because he would always ask Moochie why he was so mad all the time.

  “Depends on who giving out the hugs. ’Cause I definitely don’t want one from either of you two.”

  “Yeah, OK.”

  “And while you finding me a good hugger, make sure she can make that ass clap appropriately!” he yelled over his shoulder as he grabbed his jacket and put his shoes back on. He was preparing to leave and didn’t see the panic set in Kidd’s and Valencia’s faces.

  Valencia was panicking because she didn’t want to be left alone with Kidd. She didn’t have a clue about what she would do. She wanted him to go but stay at the same time. Would he want to finish what they started in the kitchen or would he leave too?

  Kidd looked over and could see the worry on her face and decided it was time for him to leave as well. He mistook her want for him to stay as a panic for him to leave. He would never force anything on her. He knew she wasn’t ready for anything past second base, and he was OK with that.

  “Yeah, I gotta go back home and change. Can’t be walking around smelling like burnt bacon.” Moochie rolled his eyes. “Then again, it might work in my favor. Cause bitches love bacon.” He chuckled a little. “I’ll catch you next time, sis.” He walked over to Valencia gave her a hug, gave Kidd the middle finger, then walked out the door.

  Valencia loved the way him calling her sis made her feel. She felt she really had family other than Sena now.

  Kidd gra
bbed her by the hand breaking her train of thought. “I’m gonna get out of here.”

  “I figured you would leave like everybody else.” She pulled her hand back with an evil-like glare in her eyes.

  “Huh?” Kidd was baffled by what she’d just said. He didn’t understand the sudden look of disdain in her eyes. The energy in the room had shifted quickly.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” Valencia asked. She could tell something was wrong with him. She prayed she didn’t do anything to make him feel some kind of way.

  “Why did you say that to me?” Kidd searched her face for answers. That remark came out of nowhere when he’d just asked her if he could have and keep her. Why would she think he was going to leave her?

  “What did I say?” She had no clue about what he was talking about. What she’d said seemed to really upset him.

  He stared at her a little longer before he spoke again. “Nothing, man, never mind. I’ll call you later to check on you.” He kissed her on the lips and left her standing in the middle of the floor feeling lost.

  What had she done to make him run off? What had she said to him? Valencia finally had a small piece of light in her always dark and cloudy life. And now she may have ruined it before it even started.

  Chapter 11

  Love Me in a Special Way

  Aphrodite must have been listening to Valencia’s prayers that night. Almost three months had passed, and Valencia had never, in her life, been happier. Kidd was basically a permanent fixture in her home. She and Kidd were attached at the hip. They would sit and talk for hours about anything. He made it his business to keep a smile on her face. He brought so much happiness to her life, but she didn’t know how long it would last. She just didn’t foresee a happy ending. Happily ever after only happened in the movies. Everything was going too perfect for it to last. She couldn’t remember a point in her life where she had been happy at all. Merely existing, not living was her life.

  Valencia could remember, as a child, never being happy, and periods of her life would just disappear. The first time it happened was on her eighth birthday. Apparently, she’d slept the day away and didn’t even know it. All she knew was that her mother’s boyfriend had come into her room the day after and told her happy belated birthday and that he wished he could have been there the day before, so he could have helped bring in her birthday “the right way.” She shuddered at the thought.