She slipped back to the floor at his knees. Waiting. Would he leave? There was no doubt that he was still livid. Watching him, she saw the shadows under his eyes and the sheer fatigue. She knew he’d been on his way to see her but he looked like he’d not had a good rest since they’d left Malibu.
She almost fell back when he stood. His jeans hung low on his hips. He pulled her to her feet. His gaze was cynical and troubled. He was fighting himself. She hesitated to speak. She didn’t want to sway him in any way. Her heart longed to comfort him, but she knew that was the last thing he wanted from her at the moment.
His eyes searched hers. She hid nothing. He sighed, his head hung forward for a moment. “FADE,” she gasped startled as he threw her over his shoulder holding her steady by her ass as he strode from the living room.
What the fuck are you doing, man? He thought to himself as he lay Delightful down on the queen-size bed, unable to tear his gaze away from her hot little body. He should have left. Hell, he never should have come, but he had to hear it from her own lips how she betrayed him. He had so much to do before his charity event. Which would not be canceled no matter what was going on in his life. The people of Shelby-Love, Alabama needed his and Creative Chaos support. They’d finished a plant where they made the chips for all their devices three years ago. They’d built two libraries and a health clinic. A youth center and a veteran center were recently built, and he was going there for the dedication and celebrations that followed.
Part of him coming to Berkeley was to ask her to accompany him there. Hoping this would be the first of many events they attended as a couple. Now that dream was deferred. But this he decided was not out of the question. He would get her out of his system once and for all and be done with this whole fucking mess. Some dreams you just had to give up on.
She spread her legs, and he knelt before her like angels were calling him home. He wanted to worship her pussy and punish it simultaneously. And he would. He slid a finger inside of her as he captured her hardened little nub in his mouth. Sucking and swirling his tongue over her. Her taste was intoxicating. His second finger joined the first. Slowly he fucked her drawing out her want, retreating to barely there flicks and licks when she was close. A soft sheen of perspiration lit upon her body, making her shimmer. She arched, thrashed, her legs scissored as he brought her closer and closer only to retreat.
Sitting back on his hunches his gaze tracked from her weeping slit, past slick tone legs, to plump thighs, her tummy that was sucked tight in anticipation of what he’d do next, her rising and falling chest and full breasts, her nipples high and tight beckoning, begging for him.
“Is there something you need, baby?” he whispered. He smiled, watching her arch against his fingers as he ran light trails of her essence over her nether lips and smeared it over her clit.
“Yes.” Her voice was plaintive. “Please let me come, FADE.”
“Good girl,” he groaned against her as he thrust two fingers in her before ruthlessly sucking the mound of her pussy into his mouth capturing everything she had to give him in strong hard pulls. Then he pulled back and fucked her in tandem with flicks and swirls of his tongue. He pressed her G-spot and flicked her clit.
“FADE,” she cried his name as he made her come hard against his fingers and mouth with her essence drenching his hand and face.
“Turn over.” He growled, his dick slapping against his stomach after he shucked the rest of his clothes. He came to the edge of the bed and crooked a finger.
“Head down, ass up,” he instructed. He saw her hesitation even as she did what he commanded.
“I’ve never…”
He looked at her tight rosette and felt himself hardened to an almost painful degree.
“I’d never ask you do anything you weren’t comfortable with. It’s your hot little pussy I want.” He eased the condom down his straining erection. He wanted to roar with triumph and agony when she rested her head on her folded hands and spread her knees apart to accommodate him. She was dripping for him. He nudged her apart and slid in. She gasped. He groaned. She was so fucking tight, even in this more accessible position. Sweat broke out on his forehead.
“You feel so good, Delightful. I could almost forget…” his words of praise trailed off, and he was lost in the overwhelming sensations of his dick going deeper, as deep as she could take him in spearing increments.
“I don’t want you to forget,” her breath caught on his thrust. He felt a rush of her essence. And thrust again. She was so close. He stilled. “Don’t you fucking come yet, Didi.”
“I’m trying not to, FADE, but I don’t know if I can stop. You feel so good, baby. Let me come on your dick, please,” she pleaded and pushed herself back, impaling herself on him again and again like she couldn’t help herself. He matched her thrust with his own.
“I like the way you beg for my dick, Didi.” He thrust shallow then deeper, feeling his own climax approaching unable to resist the sweet pull of her body.
Gripping her hips, he steadied himself, bracing one foot on the floor and raising the other beside her thigh.
“Let me know if it’s too much.” He whispered, lengthening his downward stroke.
“OhMyGod, FADE,” she cried out, looking over her shoulder, her gaze pleading, and his thrust became relentless. Over and over again he pile drove to the hilt. His body smacking into her. He watched as her ass shook. He reached around stroked her clit in light relentless flicks. “FADE.” Her luscious grip on his dick tightened, making his toes curl. She was heaven. He gave her no quarter, each thrust as hard as the last. He watched as she bit her arm, stifling her cries of pleasure as bliss took over. Seeing her, feeling her come so hard for him sent him spiraling toward ecstasy, his own release nearly making his knees buckle.
Her eyes were cruddy when she peeked. The pink dawn was just barely there, but that wasn’t what woke her. It was the cool, empty space beside her. He was leaving. She’d felt the dip in the bed but assumed he’d just went to the restroom, barely registering his movement. He didn’t return, and he’d gotten his clothes.
She sat up, calling herself ten times a fool. She grabbed her wrap before heading out to the front room.
“You’re leaving.” A statement because it was obvious he was as she watched him pull on his sneakers.
“Yeah.” He tied the last shoe and stood.
He was like a ghost — already gone. So far removed from her he may as well be on the other side. There was no way she could ever reach him now. She knew she had no right. She knew what last night was. A good bye. But still. But. Fucking. Still. Anger rose within her despite the reality she was faced with as she watched him head to the door.
“Without saying anything, like a coward?” She challenged following him.
He stopped and turned so suddenly and turned that she ran right into his chest. He stepped back as if scorched. Then leaned in, tilting his head low, his eyes cold amber orbs and his mouth curving into a cruel smile. “I gave you the best goodbye of your life, Delightful.”
Her hands curled into fists and her nails bit into her flesh, tears smarted. “So much for all that wanting me for twelves years. The first moment something happens, you bail.”
She watched in horror as his hands reached out. Her breath stuttered as he cupped her face. The achingly soft caress broke her. Tears pooled, then spilled over his thumbs. He touched his forehead to hers. “That something was you, Delightful.” Then his lips touched hers in a gentle, angel’s breath of a kiss.
“Goodbye, Didi.”
She could not fathom how she remained standing as he turned and walked away or not ran pleading with him to stay, perhaps the finality of his words. It wasn’t until she heard the car pull away did she crumble where she stood and felt grief like she had only one other time in her life.
Chapter 10
Just Survive Somehow
“We have a fantastic turn out today too, nephew.” FADE despite feeling like his heart had been scraped out
by a rusty spoon smiled at his aunt, Mattie-May. She could not or would not for any reason call him by anything other than nephew or Fernando, which was also his dad’s name, so that became bothersome to her when they were all together. She didn’t hold with rap music or hip hop no matter what he, Ghadi or Flower had done for the family or her community of Shelby-Love, Alabama. Nope. Only gospel music, which was all he’d heard since he’d got into town yesterday for the openings of the youth center yesterday and veteran’s center. Not that he minded. He like gospel, even the old school mass choir joints. He was sure she was trying to save him from the world. She didn’t want to hear anything about what he did for a living if it had nothing to do with his faith. It would take Ghadi, who was way less diplomatic about the issue, to point out how the very same people with square jobs were the ones getting into the most shenanigans. He’d rather not argue, just come every year and give back the best way he could with genuine opportunities to the small rural community that had only one industry before he, Flower and Ghadi decided to place their tech company here instead of overseas. Now Shelby-Love had two major industries that hired more than half the community. Shelby Sugar and the now the Creative Chaos tech factory that created chips and smart devices for everything you could imagine from toys, cinema and NASA.
“Well, I’m glad to hear it. I’m sorry Marchellis couldn’t make it. He had an engagement in Japan that he couldn’t reschedule. I know having the hometown son would’ve meant a lot to these guys.” He smiled over at her as the town car headed up the hill to the event. He saw that she was not kidding about the turnout. There had to be at least five hundred people there. He knew from his conversations with Marchellis that a huge number of vets lived in this area with needs that were vast. Creating a veteran’s center where they could received not only outreach but real monetary help was essential to the area so people would have to travel the almost hundred miles to Birmingham.
He snapped a pic and sent it to his friend, though he knew he’d probably not see it for hours because of the time difference. It surprised him when he got a quick reply.
Marc: That’s what’s up!!! BTW I need to hit you up when I get back.
FADE: Will do. *Thumbs -up*
Pocketing his phone he turned his attention back to the gigantic crowd at least for this area that awaited. This was amazing. They would do a lot of good here. Part of the issue with outreach was reaching people who wanted to go through with the process in this case if they needed therapy. He knew firsthand how integral getting therapy for PTSD could help you live with it and not drown in depression.
The town car pulled up alongside the dais. There was an enormous bow held by ribbons. The mayor, Connor Love, was there along with Dr. Matthias Shelby, a former green beret and hometown hero turn trauma surgeon would head the clinic. They’d lined his security team up alongside both sides of the stairwell. They were unnecessary in his opinion, but Flower would have a fit as would his insurance company if he’d said no.
He stepped out to a wave of cheers and clapping. He helped Mattie-May out of the car and handed her over to one of his security detail as she went to take her place at on the front row. He waved to the people and rushed up the stairs.
“Hey Y’all! Thank you for coming out to the grand-opening to the Carrington Veteran’s Center. As you know my father, Rev. Fernando Carrington served in the army and has dedicated his life to being of service to his fellow service members. Though he can’t be here today, this happened because of him. So, when you see him the next time he’s in town, make sure you shake his hand or offer him a cool glass of lemonade or sweet tea! Now let’s get this place opened so we can help some folks and eat. My aunt Mattie-May made her famous peach cobbler.” He laughed as the crowd’s unrestrained cheering. He loved this place. The south would always be home and Shelby-Love was the place both he and Delightful’s parents hailed. That was why this day was so bittersweet.
Pushing those thoughts away to deal with later, he turned to shake the mayor’s hand and take the oversized scissors he’d use to cut the ribbon of the veteran’s center. He saw a movement in his peripheral vision. He saw a glint of shiny blackness, a flash, then another and another before blinding pain exploded and everything went black.
“BREAKING NEWS” the news crawled across the screen. What followed made Delightful scream and scream.
“Delightful, what?” Lovie-Belle rushed into the room and stopped short at the words of the reporter. Delightful barely registered her sister's matching cry of horror, too busy listening to the rest of the news rocketing the airwaves. “Rap star and business mogul Fernando Anthony Duke Ellington Carrington known as FADE what shot at a two-day charity event last evening in Shelby-Love, Alabama and medivacked to the UAB trauma center in Birmingham, Alabama. There is a news conference scheduled for later today.” She listened as the newscasters went on to speculate at the reasons why the shooter chose FADE and his possible connection to the Savalle syndicate.
“This is my fault,” she whispered, helpless to do anything other than watch as the newscasters and pundits picked apart FADE’s life like he was a common criminal instead of a victim of a violent crime. Then they went into how rap and hip-hop was a stain on the culture.
“I have to go see him.” She rose from the sofa where she had somehow found herself.
“Do you think that is a good idea? You said he left you at the cottage like he never wanted to see you again.” Lovie-Belle’s words though spoken in the softest tone eviscerated her.
“I know,” she sobbed. “But I can’t not go see him.” She strode to her room and closed the door. Walking over to her closet she grabbed a bag tossed in a pair of jeans, a couple of t-shirts, her bonnet and tooth brush. She called an Uber and texted hr cousins to let them to know she’d be staying with them a few days.
“Hey,” she said walking back into the living room, “My ride will be here in a sec.”
“Good.” Lovie-Belle put her phone down and stood in front of the couch. “Sadiq just texted to reschedule our meeting this week. He and Hasan are on their way to Birmingham and said that you could fly with them.”
Delightful closed her eyes in both relief and dread. She’d not talked to either man since the fallout over the leak. They only emailed saying that their production team, Creative Chaos, and the studio were handling the PR and she was to have no further contact with the media unless explicitly allowed to by the team. She didn’t bother explaining her side. She only gave them all her devices so they could do a forensic search to verify that she had not released the information herself. She was well aware that she was hanging on by a very thin thread.
Her phone binged, letting her know ride was there.
“I love you, I’ll call you when we land.”
“I love you back.” Lovie-Belle hugged her back, “I’m going to keep both of y’all lifted.”
“Thank you, sugar,” she whispered into her neck.
“When you get the chance, Delightful. You need to tell him you love him.” Lovie-Belle pulled back, looking at her steadily.
“I will.” She ducked her head under the intense scrutiny of her sister’s gaze, got her bag and went out to the waiting car.
Chapter 11
Just Live
“We’re here.” She started at Sadiq’s gentle touch.
“Ok.” She stood. She couldn’t believe she’d actually slept. She’d been exhausted, and for most of the flight she sat looking out of the window. The Al Rasheed brothers and been kind and had not even admonished her in the least. They’d taken one look at her, she thought, and decided to give her a break. She knew she looked a mess and a half.
“Is it possible for me to freshen up?” She asked, standing before him.
“Sure,” He nodded toward the rear of the jet.
Smiling, she stepped past him and made her way to the restroom.
“Jeeze,” she muttered, looking at the shadows and hollow look on her face. Haggard should have her face beside it in the dictio
nary. She hurried through her ablutions and pulled her curls up in her favorite pineapple style, keeping her hair out of her face and safe from tangles. She was still a sight, but she at least wouldn’t scare small children looking like some witch ready to snatch and eat them. She headed back out to the somber men waiting for her at the front of the plane.
“Any word?” She asked as she approached them.
“Ghadi said he’d fill us in when we got there.” Hasan answered, indicating that she should proceed them out of the plane.
Whatever she wanted to ask melted away when she debarked and looked out at the beautiful city that was her home. She’d missed it and had not found her way back to it very often even though her parents live in a quiet superb of the city. The fact was she could not set foot in her home state without thinking of her brother, how much she loved him and how he should be here. She loved him with everything and his loss left a hole so deep she never thought she’d be able to fill it.
She inhaled, taking the sweet honeysuckle scent that permeated the air. Her chest tightened, and tears filled her eyes. Swiping the wetness away, she finally admitted to herself that the time she’d spent with FADE had been the most content she’d been since Justice’s death. He had been the piece that was missing. She knew that she would never be able to redeem what she’d done, but he would know that she cared enough to come.
The ride to the hospital was quick, the city lights passing them by in a blur. They barely spoke the entire trip, all of them lost in their own world. Sadiq was busy texting and working from his phone and when he spoke after a quick apology to her he relayed information to his brother in Arabic. She didn’t mind consumed with her own thoughts and memories until they pulled into the parking deck of the hospital.
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