Love- a Forgotten Art

by Ivy Symone

  “Nobody,” I tell her.

  She side-eyes me. “Mmm hmm…That’s why you ain’t worried about that bitch going out tonight. Who hoe you done snatched up now?”

  “Nobody’s.”

  She assumes it’s a female that’s causing this smile. That’s what makes it weird and makes me nervous about telling her what’s going on. She won’t believe it because all she knows me to ever date are women.

  Natalia shakes her head and hops off the barstool. “Let’s go then; I’m kinda hungry.”

  Before I hop off the barstool, I take the time to reply to a few other texts and inbox messages from other people. I save Prime’s for last. I respond, I can’t wait either

  It amazes me how giddy and excited I feel about this attraction. Not that I haven’t had an interest in a man before. This is more about how natural it feels. It isn’t something I feel like I have to force myself to do. And maybe it has everything to do with Prime and the energy I feel radiating from him; in his presence and over the phone.

  Prime: Can I have you all night?

  Damn. I don’t know how to answer him.

  “Deuce!” Natalia yells.

  I forget she’s waiting on me.

  “Whoever the hell that is must be special,” she says.

  Then I hear Cam ask, “Whoever who is?”

  Natalia and I both look in Cam’s direction. Natalia burst into a taunting laughter and continues down the hall to the rotunda.

  “Whoever who is?” Cam asks again. She glances at my phone in my hand.

  “Nobody,” I tell her.

  She stands at the kitchen’s entrance and looks me up and down. “Where are you going?”

  “I gotta take Natalia home.”

  “What about my money?”

  Of course, she isn’t going to let me forget about that. The idea is to please her in hopes that she doesn’t question me any further. I exit my messages and pull up my banking app. In a few quick taps, I transfer twenty-five hundred dollars over to Cam’s account.

  Heading out of the kitchen, I stop to peck her on the cheek. “It’s sent. Have fun, bae.”

  Cam smiles and calls out to me. “Love you, Deuce.”

  I walk carefully down the hall while replying to Prime: Maybe…

  Natalia waits for me with a cocky smirk on her face. I realize she’s looking past me after she lifts her hand up and flips Cam off.

  Before Cam can retaliate with any obscenities, I push Natalia toward the door. “C’mon and let’s go.”

  Chapter 5: Dasani

  I want to be in complete Dasani mode but the lounge where Prime wants to see me is a place I’ve frequented. They know me as both Dasani and Deuce. Dasani is someone they’re all getting used to as I have recently embraced that side of me as my company has grown.

  To many, it’s odd seeing me with makeup on, my hair being in a twist-out or silk-pressed, and fitting clothes. To others, they praise it and see it as growth. I went from being a fresh to death “d-boy” on the streets moving bricks to a female CEO running a multi-million-dollar beauty company. Who would have thunk it?

  My cousin Khandi who is also Natalia’s sister started it. She was a hairstylist with a lot of ambition. She was driven, professional, classy, and good at what she done. Her clientele was so huge she was able to afford her own salon. She worked around the clock, and depending on the client, she would work Sundays and Mondays. Her clients’ hair received so many compliments. Khandi credited it to concoctions she came up with based on what our grandmama, Pearl, used to use in our hair. She developed different mixes for all hair types, relaxed and natural. Natalia and I both suggested she bottle everything up and sell it.

  My cousin was killed before mass producing the products. She was at the right place at the wrong time when feuding street niggas thought it was a good idea to shoot at one another. Khandi caught a stray bullet to the head.

  It was Natalia that pushed me to pick up where Khandi left off and still make the company happen. Khandi had a vision that needed to live. So, I did. I took my drug money and invested every penny into Mother Pearl hairline. I added my own touches to it as far as bottling design and logo as well as perfecting the ingredients.

  Shortly after, because I had grown accustomed to being around more women at this point, I took an interest in makeup. Not for myself, but for all of the women around me. I saw how makeup and the MUA community had become a trending artistry. I love art. I love painting and drawing in my spare time. I took that love and turned it into lipsticks, eyeshadow palettes, foundations, and concealers. I gave the colors names that referenced everything sweet a person could eat and named the line Khandi Kosmetics in honor of my cousin. With the help of family and friends, the makeup line became popular pretty fast and it grew tremendously. It’s like it became a success over night. And I know most of that is because of the love people still had for my cousin.

  Khandi left two children behind; therefore, a big percentage of the company is in their name and overseen by their grandmother who is Natalia’s mother and my aunt, Tiki. Auntie Tiki is also part owner as well and you can’t tell her shit anymore. I’m just happy I could help make a difference.

  So, I explain all of that to have an understanding that I’m not the same Deuce I once was some years ago. Deuce is still there, but nowadays, I’m more Dasani Withers. It’s all about a different mindset. People like Cam and Walt don’t understand, or they just don’t want to accept it. Cam wants me to be the swagged out Deuce she met two years ago with the bottom grill, cornrows, and fitted caps. That person is dying; and maybe that’s why there’s room for Prime to come in and rearrange even more feelings and desires.

  “Damn, you didn’t tell me so many people would be here,” Natalia says as she looks around the crowded lounge.

  “Hell, I didn’t know, but it’s the Lion’s Den; what’chu really expect,” I respond to her over my shoulder. I lead the way to the bar. As we zig-zag through the cluster of bodies, I see a group of my friends further in the back. I have to go speak to them because I don’t get to really hang with them like I used to.

  They see me approaching and break out in silly banter.

  “Oh shit! Look who decided to come out and play!” Terri greets me with our signature hand slapping.

  “What up, nigga,” I josh back.

  “Look at yo ol’ soft fem ass,” spits Yummy from the club sofa. As usual she’s bookended by two bad ass fems that are more than likely required not to say much; just sit there and look pretty.

  I walk over and give Yummy the same show of allegiance as I gave Terri while Natalia does her own greeting.

  “What’s up, Ms. CEO,” Wu teases with a grin. “You don’t fuck with us no more, huh?”

  “I just be busy,” I explain.

  Meek steps up to me. “What’chu tryna drink on, Deuce? I’ll get it for you.”

  “Cran and vodka,” I answer.

  “That ol’ soft ass shit,” Yummy teases.

  Meek asks Natalia what she’s drinking, and then I watch her small frame walk off and smile. I can’t believe she actually had a baby for her cousin and his boyfriend. Seeing her pregnant had been weirder than seeing me all fem’d up. Meek is as androgynous as they come, but she’s stunningly beautiful whatever gender she appeared to be. A person can’t tell if she’s a pretty boy or a boyish girl with one grey eye and the other hazel.

  Terri, Yummy, and Meek are my best friends in the LGBTQ community. When it comes to that side of me, they are the only ones I can turn to that understand my plight. And just like I used to be, they all are street, especially Terri and Yummy. Terri and her associate, Wu, are a part of the most ruthless circle in Jewel City headed by Zino Okonjo and The Lion. I have mad respect for them both. But from the meeting I had earlier with Walt, I’m sure they weren’t aware of some the company they kept. However, Mother Pearl is my business and that’s what I’ll mind for now.

  “Shit, sit down,” Yummy says as she gestures to her right bookend
to make room for me on the sofa.

  Me and Natalia both sit down. Immediately, my eyes begin to scan the crowd trying to see if Prime is there. I don’t see him, but I notice some of the big boys are in the building. The who’s who of Jewel City seem to be present. The crowd looks different; rambunctious and caked up with money.

  What’s going on? Somebody very important must be in the building.

  “Y’all here for P too?” Terri asks.

  Me and Natalia exchange puzzled looks.

  “That was a dumb ass question to ask Deuce,” Yummy chides. “You know she with his baby mama. What she look like being here for that nigga?”

  Natalia nods with understanding now. “Oh! This where P’s team having their party. It makes sense now. It done brought out all the hoes…including your girl, Deuce.”

  Natalia taps my arm and nods her head toward the front of the club. My head snaps in the direction Natalia is looking and true enough, Cam and her entourage of thot-heads are making their way through the crowd. Although I’m there to meet up with Prime, I’m incensed that my girl got dolled up to impress her baby daddy even though she said she wasn’t going to his party.

  My eyes stay trained on her as she grins up in every nigga’s face. The lime green bandeau top and matching fitting skirt she wears shows too much of her skin; she may as well not even have on anything. But I will give my baby credit; she definitely knows how to stand out.

  “Damn Deuce,” Terri says. “You let baby girl out the house looking like that?”

  I shake my head as I feel the scowl imprint on my face deeper. I want to get up and snatch her ass out the thot line, but I don’t want to cause a commotion and be the talk of the town tomorrow. There’s also the matter of Prime. What will he think if he sees me acting a fool up in this club?

  Meek returns with our drinks. My intention is to sip on it, but I throw that bad boy back and don’t come up for air until it’s gone.

  “Damn Deuce,” Yummy jokes. “Ya bitch got you stressed already.”

  “Fuck that hoe,” Natalia says with a dismissive wave. She shoots me a knowing look. “But I knew her ass was trying to get to P.”

  I’m so annoyed, I don’t see this woman walking up to me. She’s a pretty plush lady with a sweet smile and natural hair piled on her head in what’s called a pineapple. She looks somewhat out of place but very confident in the environment. She shoves another cranberry and vodka into my hand while bending down to whisper into my ear.

  “Prime says have another drink and in five minutes meet him in the security room.”

  I take the drink and I nod my understanding. I ask, “Where is he now?”

  “He’s over in the corner behind you,” she giggles. She rises to her full height which isn’t much. She smiles at everyone around us and says, “Hey everybody. Are y’all doing okay?”

  “Bea, will you go sit down. You ain’t hosting this party,” Wu razzes.

  Bea shoos him playfully. “Oh hush. Have Naeem and Kory came back? I think AB is looking for them.”

  Terri sucks her teeth. “Man, them niggas is probably somewhere knee deep in some hot girl summer pussy.”

  Natalia wiggles in her seat excitedly. “See, that’s what I’m talking about. I need to get my hot girl summer on too.”

  Wu shoots her a toothy grin. “I can help you with that.”

  “Here this nigga go,” Yummy rolls her eyes.

  While they continue with their ragging, I discreetly look behind me. In a more private VIP area, there’s all of the big influence niggas gathered as if they’re having some type of Jesus-and-his-disciples type-of-meeting. In the center of the gathering, is Zino Okonjo and Prime. Next to Zino is Asad “The Lion” Bukhari. On the other side of Prime is a big thick nigga. Next to him is an Arab named Hassan. They are guarded and encircled by their henchmen.

  I don’t know exactly why but seeing Prime with these other men of influence and power made my pussy throb. Not only that, but he’s looking just as fine as he was the night before.

  He appears to be in tune to what’s being said around him, but his eyes are holding mine. He smiles slightly before sexily licking his lips and catching his bottom lip between his teeth.

  I blush and turn away. Now I’m wondering who he is and why haven’t I seen him around before.

  Prime.

  Wait, is he the Prime?

  He can’t be…Although there is a familiarity about him. Like I’ve seen his likeness in someone I know. I look back at him with the street elitist of Jewel City. It makes sense that he is that Prime if he’s amongst them.

  I lean over to Natalia and whisper, “I’m about to disappear for a second, but can you watch Cam?”

  “Fuck Cam!” Natalia exclaims a little too loud. I shoot her a look. She recoils apologetically. “Sorry but fuck her. Do you boo.”

  “Just watch her, please.”

  “Where you finna go?” she asks. “You gon leave me with all these dykes and a nigga named Wu?”

  I chuckle. “You can handle it.”

  Before I can stand to my feet, someone comes up behind the sofa we’re sitting on and whispers in my ear. “Deuce, getcho girl. She’s about to start some shit up here with P’s wife.”

  It’s Jerrica, my company’s receptionist, giving me the heads up. I turn around just in time to see Cam getting in the face of some slim redbone’s face. They get louder and more aggressive. Both women’s entourage is ready to jump in. It causes enough commotion to grab everyone’s attention and alert security.

  While Wu, Terri, and Meek’s messy asses rush over to egg the fight on, Bea motions for me to follow her. I let Natalia know that I’ll be back once more before falling behind Bea. I see Prime jump up from his seat and hurry over to the royal rumble with Poodah and some other men from their team right behind them.

  “Don’t worry about him,” Bea reassures me. “He’ll probably have them put out.”

  Simple as that. But I can’t help but watch as he helps break up the fight. He grabs Cam by the arm and jerk her ass up. Observing this, I’m not sure if I should step in. That’s my girl he’s manhandling but I’m not trying to blow my own cover.

  Cam snatches away from him and proceeds to curse him out. He tries to grab her again, but I clearly read her lips say, Don’t touch me! They exchange more words as Poodah and another guy try to intervene. The guy gently pushes Cam away from Prime.

  I realize that the people I know are connected to him. Does this mean he know who I am too? Wait, is he connected to Cam? Shit.

  This has become odd and uncomfortable, but a part of me still want to see him. It’s that monkey on my back. It’s the itch that I need scratched. It’s a fire that needs dousing. It’s the hunger that keeps growing in my loins.

  Bea escorts me away from all the ruckus and to the security room. Beyond the area where all of the monitors are, there’s another smaller room which seems to be an office. She tells me to wait in there.

  Five minutes later, the door opens and in walks Prime. He looks a little flustered at first, but as soon as we lock eyes, a smile spreads across his face.

  He doesn’t bother to explain to me what had just transpired. Instead, he pulls me to my feet and devours my lips. I don’t object. I succumb to his aggression and allow him to use me how he sees fit.

  He turns me around while still sucking on my neck from behind. His hands fumble with the button and zipper of my white distressed jeans. Before I know it, my jeans and panties are pushed down and he forces me to bend over holding onto the chair I had been sitting in.

  I’m too lost in the passion to make sense of what’s happening. My senses are overly heightened and my pussy aches profoundly. The initial sensation of his intrusion causes me to orgasm and tremble with weakness. How is this even possible?

  After my pussy walls calm down, he’s able to work up a nice aggressive rhythm in a combination of short, long, fast, slow, and deep strokes. Again, I orgasm back to back causing him to stop and enjoy the grip of
my muscles.

  I groan almost in tears.

  He whispers huskily. “It’s okay…I love the way this pussy feel on my shit.”

  He begins moving in and out of me again. I whimper in total pleasure-filled anguish. “Oh my…God…it feels…”

  “Feels what?”

  My eyes roll back in my head. I can’t get the words out, but I feel I must let him know how good he’s making me feel.

  “Bae…” I cry out breathlessly.

  “Yes baby?” he pants.

  I don’t know what I want to say. All I know is—My God! I cum again.

  “Yes,” he sooths. “This pussy belongs to me now.”

  I have to agree. I groan, “Yessss!”

  I can’t believe half of Jewel City’s finest is clubbing it up while we’re in a small office fucking like we’re alone.

  He begins to slam into me at a faster pace and his grip on my waist and hips grows tighter. His breathing becomes shallower. I don’t want it to end, but I know he’s about to cum. When he does, it’s forceful and causes him to release his own whimpers of pleasure.

  He composes himself and recovers quickly which prompts me to pull up my jeans. Silently we both straighten our clothes and make sure we look presentable.

  Prime gently maneuvers me around to face him, and he pulls me in close causing my breath to catch and heart to flutter.

  “You’re going home with me tonight,” he tells me. “Saying maybe or no is unacceptable.”

  I look up at him coyly. “I don’t know you like that.”

  “Didn’t that feel like we already know each other?”

  He has a point.

  “Go ahead and tell your friends that you’re going home with me, and we’re about to get to know each other better.”

  I smile. “What if I wanted to stay here for—”

  He stops me by placing a finger over my lips. “What did I say?”

  Okay, something is officially wrong with me. I have some serious deep-rooted issues because the way he’s talking is turning me on.

  He releases me and slaps my ass. “Go on now. And meet me back in here.”

  I reach for the doorknob, but before I feel it in my grasp, I’m pulled back into his arms. He kisses me again and it leaves me breathless.