“Rasheed. Rasheed, baby, please open your eyes for me, look at me. What happened to you? Baby, please, open your eyes.”
Michelle was kneelin’ down beside me and her voice was slammin’ ‘round in my head, makin’ it hurt even worse. Damn, a nigga felt like he was ’bout to be sick again.
“Please, lower your voice, you killin’ me right now.” Michelle was so happy I replied, she grabbed me in a tight hug, but quickly let me go when she realized how much pain I was in.
“Baby, what the hell happened to you?”
Somewhere during the painful trudge from the gazebo to our bedroom doors I’d figured out what happened. Leilani’s jealous husband must have seen us, and I didn’t know how she kept him from killin’ me right there on the spot.
“Baby, I went to get somethin’ to eat an’ got jumped. They tried to rob me. I musta blacked out when someone hit me ’cross the head.”
Ya boy deserved an Oscar. Chelle helped me up and into the house. She already knew not to even mention callin’ the police. What’s done is done when it comes to violence in the streets, or on the beach for that matta. You get caught sleepin’ it’s ya own damn fault. She helped me lie down on the bed and went to get me some water and a towel with ice in it.
“Rah, I was so mad at you, baby. I jus’ knew you were up to no good. I prayed you would learn your lesson one day. I had no idea you were really in trouble. My poor baby.” She started cryin’ and did her best to wipe the dried blood off my head and neck. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep. I thought I smelled coconut vanilla and smiled. He mighta knocked me out, but I still got dat ass. And what a fine mufuckin’ ass it was!
I spent the nex’ three days in bed recuperatin’ and Chelle finally put her job on hold to take care of me. Despite erething, the shit seemed to be workin’ out in my favor. We only had a couple of nights left and Chelle decided we should try our best to enjoy ’em, and I agreed. We spent a lot of time talkin’, jokin’, and really becomin’ friends again. I’d forgotten how much alike we were. We had the same sense of humor, liked the same kinda movies; hell, I’d even forgotten that we were both left-handed.
I was sittin’ at the kitchen table, lost in my thoughts, watchin’ Michelle work around the stove through the steam. Fresh garlic and olive oil scented the air and my stomach growled. I couldn’t wait until that veal Parmesan hit my lips. My phone went off. It was a text from Honey.
Hey, daddy, I’m really missin’ u rite now. Big Baby been a big pain in da ass, wen u commn home?
I laughed and looked up at Chelle.
“Big Baby say he thinkin’ ’bout marryin’ Shiree!” She laughed. If I acted like I was talkin’ to him she wouldn’t pay me any mind. I texted Honey back.
I miss u 2 baby. U keepin’ it tite fa me or u out there givn it away?
She replied right back,Um keepin’ it fa u. But dey sayin’ u wit ya baby momma. I didn’t know u had a baby momma or a baby. Dey lyin rite???
I sighed. I’d kept my family life as far from Honey for as long as I possibly could. I guessed it was time I told her wassup.
Yeah, luv, my bitch-ass baby momma here too. I don’t like mufukaz to kno I got fam. I only got one son an even if his momma a asshole I gotta keep her stupid ass safe 2. Bein’ stuck listnen to her dumb ass makin’ me miss you so much. U don’t evn kno. It’s a big house tho. I stay in my part an’ she stay in hers.
I didn’t get an immediate reply like I normally did. I got up to go relieve myself and walked out of the kitchen toward the study.
“Where you goin’, baby? Dinner’s ready.” Chelle was fixin’ my plate, lookin’ extra right in a snug pink sundress.
“Be right back, gotta take a leak.” She moved toward me as if she thought I might need help. “Damn, woman, I’m not gonna fall in. I’ll be okay, I promise.” I didn’t mean to snap at her. But damn. I needed to feel like myself again. I needed to feel in charge.
A soft humming sound caught my attention as I walked past the cracked door of the study. Chelle’s BlackBerry was lying on the desk next to her laptop, vibratin’ and threatenin’ to shake itself right onto the hardwood floor. I couldn’t help myself. As much as I hated it when women went through my shit, I needed to see who she’d been talking to so much. I tapped the screen, momentarily forgetting that it wasn’t like my own touch screen phone, and found myself feelin’ clumsy and awkward handling her petite pink phone.
The trackball lit up and I scrolled to her message box. “1 new text D.” I immediately recognized Derrick’s number. A dull thud started in my temple that painfully throbbed in tune with my speedin’ heart. I clicked on the envelope.
Take all the time you need sweetheart. I’ll be here whenever you need it.
Michelle had been deleting her messages so I couldn’t find whatever it was she sent to make Derrick reply. What the fuck did she say to him? Sweetheart? Why the fuck wasn’t he backin’ down? My appetite was gone. I deleted the message and put the phone back where I’d found it. I needed to compose myself quick. My palms were cold and clammy and the pain in my head was so intense I was squinting. I splashed cold water over my face and stared at my reflection in the mirror. What’s done is done, an example would be made.
“Smells good, baby. Come feed big daddy an’ later big daddy gonna feed you.” I planted a false smile on my face as I strolled to the table and took my seat.
“Five more seconds and I was gonna come lookin’ for you. Glad you made it back.”
Michelle smiled and pressed a warm, soft kiss against my forehead as she set my plate down in front of me. I picked my phone up from where I’d left it and secretly chastised myself for leavin’ it unlocked. I locked my phone and put it away.
I was finally feelin’ like myself and after dinner, while Michelle cleared the dishes, I went into the bedroom and drew a bubble bath. I poured honey in the water and dropped in a few fresh peach slices I’d found sittin’ in the fridge. Don’t get it twisted, this nigga knew how to get romantic. Bitches love this shit; any nigga who like pussy as much as I did gotta fuckin’ PhD in how to get panties off. I grabbed some petals off a bright orange somethin’ outside the bedroom door and prayed the damn thing wasn’t poisonous as I dropped ‘em in the tub. Chelle was in the kitchen, washin’ the dishes. I walked in and hugged her from behind, scarin’ her outta whateva daydream she was in. She jumped and dropped a plate in the sink, splashin’ dishwater on us both.
“Rasheed!”
“Damn, baby, you act like the boogieman got chu or som’n. You wouldn’t scare so easy if you weren’t so bad all the time. Come take a bath wit’ me.”
We hadn’t shared a bath together since before Trey was born. I ain’t had a taste for Remy or champagne since the night at the mansion, so I’d made margaritas and set ‘em beside the tub. Chelle let her hair hang loose the way I liked it, and walked naked into the bathroom. I admired her as she got in the tub. She was kinda like a tall milk-chocolate Amazonian version of Leilani. I was definitely one lucky mufucka. We were lyin’ back in the tub, soakin’ in the fragrant water. Chelle was sittin’ between my legs with her back against my chest, head under my chin, eyes closed. Her hand was under the water, drawing lazy patterns on my skin that stretched sensually from my calf up to my thigh, when suddenly she stopped.
“Rah, I been meanin’ to ask you som’n ’bout the other night, but wanted to wait ’til you were better.”
My mind started racin’ and my heart sped up, but on the outside I showed no signs of worry. I kissed the top of her head and took a sip from my margarita. “Wassup, baby, ask me?” Chelle took a deep breath. I already knew this was gonna be an earful.
“Well, the night you got jumped, you said they were tryin‘a rob you. But when I undressed you, your phone and wallet were in your pocket. None of your credit cards were missin’. It didn’t look like you’d even lost any money.”
My guilty subconscious wanted to whisper the truth but my mind was screaming, think, nigga, think.
&nb
sp; “I don’t understand how you were assaulted an‘knocked unconscious but they didn’t take shit off you. An’ you had a number written on a napkin. No name, jus’ a number wit’ the word ’Hedonism’ written underneath.”
I know she had to feel my heart beatin’. Leilani left me her number! She musta snuck out and put it in my shorts before they left the mansion. Damn, I needed that number.
“It’s still fuzzy, Chelle. I think I’d found a bar an’ had a drink. The bartender told me the name of a club in the area. I wanted to see how the competition out here looked. Maybe send Big Baby back to open up another spot. It’s real vague. I remember walkin’ down the beach an’ passin’ some kids. I remember the same kids were still there when I was makin’ my way back home. I passed ’em an’ the only other thing I remember is I felt my head explode in pain. Maybe someone spooked ’em before they could take my shit. There was a party a few houses down.” I relaxed. I am the world’s greatest nigga! I could sell sand in a desert! Hell, I could sell pork to a Muslim if I wanted to! Chelle seemed to accept my answer and leaned back.
“Well I’m glad you’re okay, baby. Thank God for angels.”
I smiled to myself. I was thankin’ Him too, for li’l exotic coconut-vanilla-smellin’ angels with pouty dick-suckin’ lips.
“I still wanna check out that club. Did you throw away the napkin?” I held my breath.
“Of course I did. I didn’t know if you were into some shit. I didn’t think we needed anything in the house to link you back to any trouble.” I slowly exhaled. Oh well, so much for that. Short of diggin’ through the trash there was no way for me to reconnect with Leilani. I made a mental note to start askin’ some of my more connected clients about the kind of parties Leilani and her husband catered to. There had to be an easy way to find that woman again.
21
Three’s A Crowd
We had a peaceful flight back to the states, first class of course. A nigga was feelin’ ready to take on the world. I hadn’t heard much from my boy D while we were gone. I had Big Baby give ereone explicit instructions on keepin’ contact to a minimum with me. He did send me a text lettin’ me know the prod’ was almost completely sold out. They were ‘bout to process the last two cases from the shipment and it was time to order more. Other than that, erething was peaceful. Honey even hit me sayin’ she undastood and was cool with me takin’ my baby momma into hidin’ while shit cooled off. She ain’t had her “crack” in a minute. I needed to see her soon or it would only be a matter of time before she started trippin’.
We stopped and picked Trey up on our way home from the airport. My li‘l boy was getting big, and lookin’ more and more like me by the day. His hair was even goin’ from that straight, white-boy-lookin’ shit and it was finally gettin’ a li’l curl to it like mine. Yeah, we got that good shit! It was midafternoon and Chelle had been desperate to get back to the office e’er since we landed.
“Go ‘head, girl. I’ll chill wit’ Trey an’ unpack. It’s cool.” I wasn’t ready to get back to my street life jus’ yet anyway.
“Thank you, Rah. The trip was beautiful, baby, thank you so much.” She kissed me and hopped into her car.
“I’ll be home as soon as I get all the details on the contract squared away.” I worried ‘bout her lyin’ and leavin’ me to see Derrick, so I texted Big and asked him to get up wit’ the nigga and go over plans or somethin’ to see if he declined or accepted. I texted Honey too.
Daddy’s Home! I wanna see you tonite.
I took Trey inside and brought in the luggage. It really felt good to be back home. I sat him down, ordered a pizza, and turned on his favorite SpongeBob DVD so I could start unpackin’ our clothes. Three hours and too many damn bags that weren’t even mine later, I was done. I was too tired to give Trey a bath so I jus’ stood him in the shower with me and washed him up. We were pj’d up, and before I knew it, dozin’ on the couch.
Nightfall crept up on my ass. It seemed like I’d only closed my eyes for a second. I felt panic when I realized Trey wasn’t lyin’ on my chest. I jumped up and ran down the hall to check his bedroom. He was all tucked in and sound asleep. Michelle must have come home and laid him down, but why didn’t she wake me up? My phone was buzzin’ somewhere in the livin’ room, but I couldn’t’ remember where I’d laid it and didn’t see it in any of its usual places. I followed the sound and located it on the floor beside the couch. Musta fell when I was asleep. I unlocked it.
Honey had replied.
I’ll be at the hotel daddy. Meet me after my shift.
It was only eleven. I still had an hour before she got off. I went into the bedroom to tell Michelle I was leavin’, but she was knocked out and snorin’ softly into her pillow, so I jus’ changed into some jeans, threw on a T-shirt, and headed out the door.
I got to room 145 as usual and decided to rub one out before Honey got there. I needed to wear her ass the fuck out, remind her exactly who her nigga was. I ain’t had the patience for all the questionin’ and textin’ me all the time. Yeah, one good dick-down would solve all that shit. I flipped through the hotel’s On Demand menu, passin’ skinny white girls with huge balloon titties and Botox lips before finally deciding on one of the only ones they were showin’ that featured black folk. Before I could even get started, my phone went off. It was Big Baby. The only reason I even answered was because I was certain he might have some info on D.
“B, talk to me.” I held my breath.
“Whatup, Rah, bad news. Mufuckin’ fiends OD’n all ova the fuckin’ place. The news is lit the fuck up talkin’ ’bout mufuckas in the ER.” I let out a sigh of relief and disappointment, still unsure on how I felt about my boy Derrick and all the shadiness. Big continued but I was only half listening to him.
“More than a few of ’em had Inferno packs when they got picked up.”
“Well, damn. It’s a good thang that shit’s new new. It’ll take ‘em a minute to figure out who distributin’ since we switched up our packagin’. Glad I thought of that shit! I jus’ don’t need no mufuckas rattin’ out they sources an’ gettin’ my boys locked up tho’, fuck!”
“Yo, Rah, it’s funny we always get our shipments offa Derrick’s connect. I’m thinkin’ the nigga might be tryin’a set you up.” This nigga read my mufuckin’ mind.
“B, I’m thinkin’ the same thing an’ it might be time we handled this seriously.” There was a knock on the door; it had to be Honey.
“Yo, I‘ma hit you in the A.M. an’ we gon’ finish this convo.”
I opened the door and took in the vision standin’ in the hallway. Gotdamn she was thick. Honey didn’t even bother changin’ after her show. She threw a trench coat on and drove her ass over here like that jus’ for me. A nigga was feelin’ good again.
“Hey, daddy, you gon’ let me in or you gon’ stand there an’ let ya pussy get cold?”
Damn I loved that li’l ghetto baby voice.
“I missed you, girl. Get ya thick ass in here.” I pulled Honey in the room, yankin’ the trench coat down off her body. Either she’d gotten thicker or a nigga memory was gettin’ lax. I got down on my knees, and said a silent thank you—she had on crotchless panties.
“Baby, what chu doin’?” She looked down at me, curiosity written all over her face.
“You’ll see.”
I kissed her just above her belly button, and then let my lips slide down her stomach. I kissed all the way down until I reached the area where the panties gapped open and there was nothin’ but wet pussy. Honey had her fingers in my hair and had closed her eyes. I leaned her back against the door and placed her leg over my shoulder. I used my tongue to separate her moist, hot center and massaged soft circles ’round her clit. I didn’t get a chance to pre-game so I needed to get her off quick. I increased the pressure and knew I was doin’ it right when Honey’s fingers tightened almost painfully in my hair as she moaned my name, lost in what I was doin’ to her. She tasted good. I’d never eatin’ her pussy before and w
as surprised that she was so sweet. It was like strawberries and chicken. I was trippin’.
“I can’t, baby. Oh fuck. Please stop,” Honey half moaned and half whined, but I knew what she meant. She didn’t think she could cum standin’ up. I concentrated and put even more pressure on her clit while reachin’ up to play with her nipple through the thin fabric of her lingerie. She was ‘bout to let go and I was ready. In one smooth motion I picked her up, walked over, and laid her on the bed. I got on my knees beside the bed, put one of her legs on each shoulder, and went back to work while undoin’ my pants. Honey tasted jus’ like honey as I felt her legs tense and start to shake on my shoulders. I quickly got up and positioned myself. I slid in hard and deep just as she climaxed. Honey screamed my name and I started countin’ basketballs in my head.
There was no comparin’ Honey’s pussy to any otha bitch’s pussy—eva. She was so confident in her skin, I could get off jus’ from watchin’ her. She had her head thrown back and her fingers were busy playin’ with her nipples one minute, and then she’d be lookin’ me in the eye tellin’ me how much she loved this dick the next. I couldn’t take it. Too many nights of pullin’ out and finishin’ myself off made me crave this shit. I laid my body down on hers and cupped her ass so I could go deeper. I decided to try somethin’ new and slid one of my fingers into Honey’s ass jus’ to see if she’d like it.
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