Saint And Sinners: The King Angel Child of New York

by Tiana Laveen

  “You got some change?” He grinned sheepishly as he stared at the meter, patting his jacket pocket as if his wallet had grown wings and flown the fuck away.

  “I don’t believe this shit…” Laughing, she dug into her purse. “You are never prepared for stuff like this.”

  “Baby, I’m just playing with you, damn! So uptight.” He grinned and popped a series of quarters in the thing.

  “I’m not in the mood to be played with.” She pouted, a reluctant smile on her face.

  He put his arm around her, and a bit of his weight, too, forcing her to slump down as their feet hit the pavement in unison.

  “…You sure about that? I’ve been exercising my tongue and fingers all morning and afternoon, just for this evening,” he whispered in her ear.

  She rewarded him with a full-on grin. “Okay, something smells really good!” She turned her head to the right as they approached the place, her sensory awareness apparently now fully awakened.

  “Yeah, wait until you taste it.”

  …Wait until I taste you, too…

  Saint opened the door, allowing her to pass in front of him, swimming in sordid thoughts as he focused on Xenia’s ass bouncing in her dark pink sailor bottom pants. She’d paired it with a frilly white shirt and camel jacket. The place was so crowded, she had to speak loudly over the carrying voices to secure them a table. Hands on hips, legs spread, he discreetly pressed himself into her ass, causing her to stir, but she kept focused. He slicked his tongue over his bottom lip, grinning as he glared down at her butt, drawing dreams in his mind of fucking her proper. So he pushed his groin against her ass once more, this time with more force. She rocked on her heels and almost lost her damn balance.

  “AND! Yes…just the two of us.”

  Saint looked away, covered his face to keep from laughing loudly in her ear. He didn’t miss the hostess’ eyes when Xenia kept trying to communicate, like someone suffering from Tourette Syndrome.

  He did it again, for good measure…

  Mmmm, fat, soft ass against my cock. I want to fuck you, baby…

  “Okay, it will be about fifteen minutes.”

  “OKAY! I mean, okay, sorry for yelling.” Xenia smiled goofily at the hostess, turned on a dime towards Saint who’d escaped in the nick of time. He was safe, now a few feet away from her, clapping his hands to the low music that played, pretending to be oblivious to what she could possibly be angry about.

  “Booooy!” She marched up to him and playfully swung her puffy pink purse in his direction. He delighted in the sight of her—hair pulled back in an elegant, thick bun, exposing two shimmery pink dangling earrings.

  Grabbing her around the waist, he brought her to him and pressed his chest into her back, hugging her protectively.

  “There’s nowhere to sit yet, baby, so we’ll have to just stand here and wait.” She playfully pushed her ass into his groin.

  He tightened his hold of her. “Not a problem…”

  She did it again…

  “Now see, you are playing with the snake and might get bit… going to keep messing around and make me make love to you in front of all of these people. Then the police will come and get me, charge me with a lewd act.” He bent low and kissed her shoulder as she laughed lightly. After a short while, they were seated and ordered their dinner. He stared at her glossy lips, overdosing on her smile.

  “You look amazing tonight, Xenia,” he complimented as he grabbed his iced tea and took a sip from the glass.

  “Thank you, baby!” she said gleefully, as if hungry for his approval.

  Reaching for her hand, he observed the perfectly manicured fingers intertwine with his own. And then, he just went back to staring at her. That’s all he could do, for at that moment, her beauty left him speechless. She looked away bashfully, and that turned him on even more.

  “Hey,” he said thoughtfully, reaching for her chin, turning her lovely face back towards him. “I’m lucky to have you. Don’t think I don’t know that.”

  She swallowed and sat back in her seat, her eyes a bit glossy, as if the world had been placed on her shoulders and she wasn’t quite sure what to say or do.

  “Is something on your mind, baby?” he asked, leaning in a bit closer, sensing something sitting in between them, something invisible that he wanted revealed as soon as possible.

  “It’s just…I feel like I’m out of the loop, if that makes any sense.” She exhaled loudly, her sighs heavy with woes as she looked down onto her lap for a brief moment. “I feel like the world is moving and shaking around me, but I have no idea what’s going on, I’m just here for the ride. I don’t like it, Saint. There’s so much going on. You were leaving early in the mornings, being secretive…not talking to me about it. That’s not like you. I just…” She slumped down into the booth seat. “I feel like something is going on, like you are clamming up on me. I need you to be open now, more than ever. I’m just going through things, I suppose.”

  Saint twisted his lips to the side and looked away as he, too, slumped back in his seat. He placed his hand on the table. “Baby, I’m sorry. I just know with everything going on, I didn’t want you any more worried than you are. You can rest assured, I’m not up to anything. I also sometimes don’t know, quite honestly, what you want to know, and what you don’t. Sometimes, you think I tell you too much…details that make you uncomfortable.” He sighed and looked up at the ceiling, then met eyes with her again. “Other times, like now, you think I’m up to something. I was gone those mornings looking at a building in Hunts Point. The mystery is solved. But, do you want to know why?” He clasped his hands together, tilting his head ever so slightly as his eyes warmed, just a tiny bit…

  The woman hesitated, seemingly now second-guessing her desire to push him forward, make him open up like the doors to a store and reveal his goods and discount sales.

  “I’m so glad Traci is here now though, I felt a bit homesick.”

  …And there was his answer. She was no longer interested in the gritty details surrounding his early morning comings and goings. Moving forward, moving on, disconnecting. She knew from the way he looked at her, if she made him walk through and reveal himself, she’d possibly be in a state of panic. And the few gray hairs she already possessed had his name written all over them.

  “Yeah.” He looked out the window. The nighttime had devoured dusk, leaving the streets littered with people looking for good times, great music and complimentary drinks. “I understand. I haven’t been home as much as I’d like. There is a lot of construction going on at the office. I have to be there and—”

  She shook her hand and waved lazily in his direction.

  “Saint, I know, honey, I know. No need to explain. It’s just that—I live here now, you know? It feels…foreign. Even though I’ve been to this city countless times, now that this is home for me, too, it just feels a bit strange. I was hoping, when we discussed it right before the move, that it would go away once we arrived, but I don’t know…” She paused, took a gentle sip of her water. “I’m not unhappy, just having issues adjusting I guess.” A sad smile spread across her face. “Dakarai seems to be the only one who is having no problems whatsoever!” She laughed. “That boy makes friends faster than lightning.”

  Saint nodded in agreement. “Yeah, he is really living it up. I don’t think I’ve seen him smile so much before. I think after Hassani adjusts to his new school, he’ll be okay too, baby. Hassani doesn’t take change well and Dakarai just kind of goes along with the flow. As for Isis, she’s just too young to understand what’s going on. She’s used to being with her grandmother more, and it’s hard for her to really grasp this whole moving thing. She thinks this is just a trip, I believe. She thinks we are going back to L.A. soon.”

  Xenia nodded. “Yup, I think she does, too.”

  “…But back to you and me.” He grabbed her hands once again, seizing them so she couldn’t escape his hold on her. He lowered his head a little, humbling himself before her, his ey
es focused on the prize in front of him. “What can I do to make you feel more comfortable, baby? I want to make it easier on you.”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. I think like you said about Hassani, it’s just growing pains.” She looked out the window, then back at him, a slight sparkle in her dark brown eyes. “I’m making decisions, sorting things out.”

  “What kind of decisions?” His concern grew a notch. He sought her answers, only to feel that same wall growing taller between them. The woman was hesitant, blocking him from entering her thoughts.

  “Just…things.”

  “Like what, Xenia?” He wasn’t going to let her wiggle out of this. He wanted solutions, and he wanted them now. She could give it up willingly, but if necessary, he’d take it by force. He refused to watch her suffer, especially due to her own stubbornness.

  “Like…being your partner, in everything you do. Like, getting over the hurdle of fear. I never thought of myself as easily frightened. I hate this feeling. It’s the unknown…it’s wearing me out. Like, I don’t know…” She shrugged and pursed her lips. “Being on the radio again and interviewing celebrities, that’s easy. The part that concerns me is being a good mother to my most precious gifts, all at the same time. It’s overwhelming at times.”

  “…But you’ve been doing it. You’ve been doing all of that,” he reassured with a smile, his head cocked to the side. “You can’t think you’re ill equipped when you have been meeting the standard, hell, surpassing it actually.”

  “Doing something and doing it well are two different things, Saint.”

  “And who is saying you aren’t doing it well?” His brows bunched. “Certainly not me!” He let one of her hands go and pointed to himself. “You’re a wonderful wife. We have fun together, we are a team, we work well together, baby. I couldn’t have asked for a better woman by my side. Not only that, you’re fun, too, and did I mention how much I love having you to hold and make love to, night after night?” He laughed, softening her a bit. “Our children have a magnificent mother, and they know it…they may not say it all the time, you know how kids are, but they know it, baby. And…shit, you’re a natural when it comes to the microphone. It’s hard being Mr. Xenia Aknaten,” he teased, causing her to dramatically roll her eyes and laugh lightly.

  They were quiet for a few moments. He sighed and crossed his ankles.

  “When is the next conference?” she asked out of the blue as she cast her sights back out the window.

  “In a few weeks.” He gulped down the last of his drink, then looked around the crowded place, wondering where the hell their food was and in desperate need of a refill.

  “Where is it at?”

  “Right here in New York. Matter of fact, the next three conferences are here in New York and the one coming up next is already sold out.”

  She turned towards him, her face tight with something he couldn’t quite make out.

  “…It’s a Rainbeau one.”

  “Yeah, and…this is the part where you ask me about the next Queendom one, right?” He scratched an itch on the outside of his right nostril and brandished a crooked grin.

  “Why did you do that?!” she half protested.

  “Shit, because you’re playing games, little woman.” He grinned. “Had to get into those thoughts of yours. You were stallin’.” He tapped his temple and smirked. “So, you’re thinking about speaking, right? I’ve been asking you to, and now you’re taking me seriously for a change. What made you change your mind?” He cleared his throat and sat a bit straighter.

  “Well, it’s just been on my mind for a while now. Valerie gave me some great words of encouragement, too. She called the other day.”

  “That’s good, glad to hear that. I need to call her in a few days, matter of fact. It’s been like a week or so. Anyway, continue.”

  “It almost feels like something I need to do, not just for the people that may be in the audience, but for myself, too.”

  “I can dig that.” He nodded appreciatively. “Heeeey! Here comes our pizza!” he announced enthusiastically as the waitress floated up to their table with the larger than life pizza pie loaded with bubbling cheese, assorted vegetables and thin slices of chicken.

  “Oh my God! Why does this look and smell so good?! Oh, thank you!” She looked up at the waitress who nodded and laughed.

  “Is there anything else I can get you two?” the young woman asked.

  “I’d like another iced tea. You want anything, baby?” Saint asked as he reached for Xenia’s empty plate and dished out two large slices onto it.

  “Um, I’ll have an iced tea, too,” she answered cheerfully.

  “Of course. I’ll be right back.”

  “So.” Saint licked his thumb and placed two slices of the magical deliciousness onto his plate. “You were saying you were going to give me a blowjob in the car on the ride back home.” He took a big bite of his slice, chewing noisily.

  “What?!” Xenia’s eyes grew large as she gripped her fork. She shook her head in disbelief, causing Saint to burst out laughing.

  “I have no idea why you act surprised when I say things like that…after all this time, too.” He chuckled. “Now, seriously, here is the deal, Xenia.” He placed a napkin over his lap. “The next Goddess conference is about three months from now. You know we try to have one annually now, and it is almost sold out as well. If you want to be on the roster, I will tell them, and they can add your name. I’m telling you, once people find out you’ll be speaking, the rest of those tickets will be gone like that!” He snapped his fingers. “I have no idea what you plan to discuss, and I’d prefer you not tell me. I want to be surprised, like everyone else.”

  “But I wanted to run this past you and—”

  “No.” He put his hand up like a stop sign. The waitress returned, setting their drinks down before quickly disappearing to another table. “Keep it all to yourself.” He sprinkled a few red pepper flakes onto his pizza. “I want you to be led by yourself for this. You’ve spoken at a conference before, so it’s not like you’ve never stood up there.” He picked up the thing, rolled it like a tortilla and took a big, savory bite.

  “But not like this!” she said between clenched teeth as she leaned over the table, staring at him. “I was just up there for like ten minutes last time, and that’s because I owed you an apology and wanted to do it in my own special way, in front of all of those people…to show you how serious I was about making things right!” She gripped her knife and fork, her hands framing her plate as she looked desperately into his eyes.

  “I understand that, baby, but my point is, you got a taste of what it is like. You’re going to do great. You speak for a living. Now, I trust you. That’s all you need to know. I also want you to understand that just because you’re doing this, it doesn’t mean I would expect it…” He took another hungry bite out of his wedge, smacking loudly, ignoring her obvious expression of disapproval for speaking with his mouth full. “It doesn’t mean I’d expect…”—he swallowed, dabbing at the corner of his mouth with a napkin—“…like, for you to do it every damn year. It’s not like that. You do it when you want to do it. You’re not me, you’re you, but I wanted you to at least do it one time, Xenia, and not as a special greeting card to me. I want you to do it because somewhere, deep inside of you, you have an important message for these Queens out here, and it’s important.”

  He pointed a greasy finger at no one in particular.

  “I know that you do. You’ve been through so many things, came out on top. They can relate to you. You’re tangible, applicable, you know?”

  She nodded in understanding as she sliced into her pizza and popped a bite-sized piece delicately into her mouth.

  “You are eating that all wrong!” he chastised. “I can’t watch this for another damn second. It’s sacrilegious. You gotta get your hands dirty, Xenia. Pick that fucker up, fold it, and put it in your mouth…like this!” Saint grabbed his pizza slice, rolled it, and stuffed some into hi
s mouth once again.

  “What a piggish thing to do!” Xenia rolled with laughter. “I’m not doing that!”

  “Woman, look around you, please!”

  She slowly turned and canvassed the place.

  “You hardly see anyone in here cutting their shit with a fork and knife, like this is some fucking filet mignon or somethin’. This is not lunchtime. You don’t have to return to the office real tidy and well put together. This is damn dinner…in Brooklyn. Now, come ’ere.” He rolled up a slice like a newspaper to be used to swat a fly, then motioned for her to lean over the table so he could place the pizza into her mouth. She took a hearty bite, laughing and dabbing at her mouth as gooey cheese went everywhere.

  “That’s right…now you’ve done it justice, you’ve savored it. You look happy now.” His eyes narrowed. “Like you’re pretending it’s my dick.”

  At that, a soiled napkin was hurled at him. He sputtered in mock indignation, almost spitting out a green pepper he’d just picked off and plopped into his mouth. But he was rewarded by her soft smile, one he could hang his love for her onto. She was relaxing right before him, and the conversation became easier, more carefree. They joked, talked about their plans, fell in love a bit more…

  Five slices later, he fell back into his seat and patted his full stomach. “Baby, I know we planned to just go back home after this, but what about doing something else?” he asked.

  “Like what?” She took a noisy slurp of her iced tea, unable to accept she’d come to the end of the delicious lemon-flavored road.

  “I just thought maybe you’d want to take a little tour… to see where I grew up. I was sitting here thinking, you know, and uh, I’ve never showed you. I mean, yeah, we’re in Brooklyn right now but I’m talking about before my parents moved here. I think you should see it, the South Bronx that is.”

  “Definitely.”

  “It’s changed some, well, it’s changed a lot actually, but some stuff is still there. So, are you interested?”

  “You must not have heard me, I said definitely! It ain’t nothin’ but a word. You don’t have to ask me twice. I’m excited, Saint! I wanted you to take me but thought maybe you were too busy, or it was too soon. Anyway, we better call the babysitter then, ask her if it’s okay.” Xenia grabbed her purse and dug into it, searching for her cell phone.