'Til Death

by Dante Tori

  "Where is your room?" I asked.

  "All the way in the back."

  I walked to the back, while Tosh continued to kiss and suck on my neck. I laid her on her queen-sized bed. I removed her clothes, and she removed mine. She touched my chest and traced the claw-mark tattoo on my chest with her fingers. I kissed and sucked on her neck. I rubbed her back softly and appreciated her body. We were both naked, but we weren’t rushing. Tosh had a tattoo that started at the back of her neck and went down her spine and wrapped around her waist. It was stars and butterflies. I pushed her on her back and kissed my way down. I showed her breasts the amount of attention they deserved, because they were so soft and full. I placed my hands under her because I just needed to touch her skin. My erection was throbbing, but I had to take my time.

  I kissed her navel piercing and her tattoo. I finally found what I was looking for, and saw she was completely shaved. I smelled her; she smelled like the freshest garden of blooming roses. I put my finger inside her, and she was so wet and warm, I couldn’t help myself. I stood up and went into the bathroom. I went to the sink and ran some hot water.

  "What are you doing?" Tosh asked me from her bed.

  "I got this. Chill," I said. I poured hot water into my mouth, the hottest I could stand, it and spit it out. I turned the water off and went back to her. My mouth was hotter than normal. I placed my mouth on her wetness and licked her up. I sucked and licked and used my tongue to reach limits inside of her. I used my fingers and tongue to stimulate her. I was trying to make a mark on her. Tosh moaned and grabbed the sheets. She moved away from me, but I grabbed her thighs and pulled her back. She came, and I licked it up. She tasted better than the finest wine. I leaned up. Tosh pulled me close to her and kissed my mouth. My dick brushed against her clit and she shuddered.

  "You sensitive?" I whispered in her ear. I took her earlobe into my mouth and bit her gently.

  "Yes . . .” she whispered back. I entered her slowly, and I felt my eyes roll back because she felt so good. Tosh scratched my back as I buried myself deeper into her. I leaned down and kissed her neck. I grabbed her thigh and hiked her leg up higher. My thrust was hard and powerful; there was no way her next-door neighbors could have slept through our groans. Tosh took my ear lobe into her mouth and sucked. I clenched my teeth and grabbed the pillow.

  "Avery . . .” Tosh moaned my name. She pushed me on my back and climbed on top of me. Tosh took my lips and damn near kissed me into oblivion. I sucked on her bottom lip and grabbed her ass. She pulled away from me and looked down.

  "It’s my turn to do some damage," she said, smiling.

  "Well show me what you can do, Shorty," I said, while smiling. Tosh eased down on my dick and I watched it disappear inside her. She leaned up and grabbed the headboard. She began to ride me as if she were born to do it. I took her breast into my mouth and tried to concentrate on not busting too quickly, but she was feeling so fucking good. I grabbed her hips to stop her. I pushed her off of me and laid her on her stomach. I pulled her towards me. Her face was down and her ass was up. I fell back inside her and increased the rhythm. Her hands were gripping the sheets and she was biting the pillow.

  "Awwww . . . I’m . . . cumming," Tosh yelled out loud. I was cumming too. I couldn’t hold back anymore. Her muscles began to clench on me, and I buried myself deeper inside her. Harder. Faster. Harder. Faster, until I couldn’t hold back. I came inside her so hard that my eyesight blurred. We collapsed beside each other, breathing heavy and inhaling each other’s scents.

  "Just because we did this, don’t mean I like you," Tosh mumbled. I laughed. The feeling was mutual. I heard her begin to doze off. I jumped up and took a quick shower. I put on my clothes and realized that I hadn’t used a condom. I shook my head. I went into my pocket. I left a couple of racks on her dresser and left. I couldn’t lie; that was the best sex I ever fucking had in my life. If Tosh had not been so materialistic and narcissistic, I would wife her up. But it was what it was. I went back to my truck and started it up. Chris Isaak’s song, "Wicked Game," was playing, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

  Lo

  Visiting hours were almost over, and Culprit had to rest. I didn’t say anything; I just stared at the man I loved. I wiped my tears and touched his hand. I got up and left the hospital. It was late, and I was tired. I was still off of work because of my mother’s death, and I needed sleep. I texted Boan, telling him I was leaving the hospital. I knew Boan was going to come up there and be with Culprit until I came back. I drove to my home with the radio off. I was on the verge of losing Culprit forever, and I couldn’t deal. I felt horrible. I kept replaying over and over the last words we said to each other. Instead of going home, I turned around with a new destination in mind. My sadness turned into anger. I pulled up to a small ranch style home in a modest neighborhood. I walked up to the front door and banged on it. He answered, dressed in some pajama pants and no shirt. I looked at his smooth, dark, skin, his trimmed beard, and low haircut.

  "Lo, what are you doing here?" I pushed my way inside his home and looked at Kevin Smith. Officer Smith, as he was known to my friends, was also their biggest enemy.

  "Don’t brush Culprit getting shot as another day in the neighborhood. Catch the man who did this, and cuff him. Another thing, what gives you the right to tell Culprit about us, and to tell him he isn’t good enough for me?" I crossed my arms waiting for him to answer.

  "The same right that you had when you gave me my ring back and told me we were over, without a damn explanation."

  "Why would you want to marry a woman who’s in love with somebody else?"

  "Because I was in love with you, and thought my love would overshadow that." His eyes bore into mine causing me to turn away.

  "What we did and shared was between us. You shouldn’t have ever said anything to him. Was what we had even real, or did you just use me to get more information about them?" My voice was shaky while I asked him the question.

  "I never asked you about Ciara, Boan, or Culprit, so how could you even say something like that?"

  I made my way to the front door, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me closer. "I never stopped loving you. I never will stop loving you." Kevin told me.

  "You can love me, but you have to do it from afar."

  "Not tonight Lorean. Tonight I won’t." Kevin bent down and kissed me. I didn’t stop him. Instead, I let go and gave in. I grabbed him closer and kissed him back. He picked me up and carried me to his bedroom. I watched him watch me. I watched him undress and shower my body with kisses that had my legs shaking. When he reached for that condom, I still didn’t stop him. I opened myself up and got lost in him, hoping I could get lost from the world. But Culprit already made his mark on me. I already made my mark on Kevin, and Kevin was just floating around in the in between. I wanted to be with Culprit, but tonight I was with his enemy, my ex.

  Boan

  I woke up and looked at Ciara. She was asleep with the sheet sprawled out over her, and her hair covering the pillow. I grabbed my phone to take a picture of her. I noticed I had a text from Lo, and I texted her back. I took the picture of Ciara. I put the picture as my wallpaper. I got up and jumped in the shower. I threw on some basketball shorts and a beater. Before I walked out of our bedroom, Ciara shot up out of bed and ran into the bathroom. I walked in the bathroom and saw her throwing-up in the toilet. I walked towards her and pulled her hair back. She flushed the toilet but didn’t get up.

  "Morning sickness?" I asked. She nodded her head. She moved and turned on the shower.

  "When is your doctor’s appointment?" I asked.

  "Wednesday," she said. Today was Monday. I walked out of the bathroom and went downstairs. Heaven was in the kitchen eating a bowl of Frosted Flakes.

  "Enough for me?" I asked. She nodded her head. I grabbed a bowl and sat down next to her and fixed up a bowl of Frosted Flakes for myself.

  "Tosh told me about Culprit," Heaven said. I nodded my head.

  "Sorry
to hear about him. Are you ok?" Heaven asked.

  "As long as he is ok, then I’m ok," I said.

  "Where is my mom?"

  "Upstairs in the shower. She doesn't feel good." Heaven got up and rinsed out her bowl.

  "I’m going upstairs to check on her." I nodded my head. I heard the doorbell and got up to answer it. It was Av. He was riding out with me to go check up on Culprit, and to go look at some vacant buildings. I texted Tosh and asked her to bring Ciara a couple of things when she came by.

  "Yo what's good?" Av asked.

  "Shit, waiting on Tosh real quick. Ciara’s not feeling good today."

  "Tosh," Av said. I looked at him and sat my phone on the table.

  "My nigga," I said.

  "Yea?" Avery looked at me.

  ''You did, didn’t you?" I was hoping he didn't.

  "Son, Tosh was the best pussy I ever had, I’m not gone lie." I shook my head and laughed.

  "I thought you didn’t like her."

  "I don’t." Avery announced a little too quickly.

  "Bro, Tosh good people." I was hoping he'll see that.

  "Boan, I feel that, but to me she seems selfish, and materialistic. I’ve never heard her say anything important or worthy enough to comprehend. I’m looking for a wife, so that was just a onetime thing for real."

  "I can't wait for her to surprise you then, if you think that."

  "Boan, I don’t fall for any tricks."

  "Dawg." I said holding up my hands.

  "My fault." Avery pat his chest.

  I shook my head. Ciara and Heaven came walking into the kitchen, looking like twins. Ciara’s hair was in a sloppy ponytail and she had on sweats. She looked so fucking sexy when she wasn’t even trying. She walked to the counter and pulled out some saltine crackers. She looked at me and I winked at her. She smiled and gave me her middle finger. The door opened up and I heard it slam. I looked at Avery.

  "You didn’t lock the door?" I asked him. He shook his head. I heard heels clicking, and I saw Tosh. She was dressed in a business suit and carrying a stack of cash. She looked pissed. Avery looked up and looked at her. She walked in the kitchen and everybody stared at her. She threw the money and it hit Avery square in his face.

  "The next time you want to talk shit to Boan, how about you make sure Boan’s phone didn’t call me. I heard every fucking thing, and you got a lot of fucking nerve Avery. For one, you don’t know shit about me, and even if I was the best you ever fucking had, you ain’t getting this shit again, you light bright sonofabitch. Fuck you," Tosh said, and turned and walked away. I looked around, and Ciara looked shocked and Heaven looked entertained.

  "Y’all had sex?" Ciara said. Avery didn’t answer. He got up and speed-walked and grabbed Tosh by her arm. I got up, and Ciara followed me.

  "Yo, Shorty what you did was too damn disrespectful," Av said.

  "Me? All that shit you just said about me, and I’m disrespectful? Suck a dick." Tosh pointed her finger in his chest.

  "Who you think you talking to, Tosh?" Avery looked like he was a hot second from snatching her up.

  ''Your New York ass, son." Tosh mimicked his New York accent.

  I tried my best to hold back my laughter.

  "You just hit me in the face with a stack of money." Avery extended his arms pointing out all the money on the floor.

  "The money you left on my fucking dresser after having sex with me. Fuck your racks nigga, I got my own shit."

  "Glad to know you not a gold digger, but it’s pretty obvious you’re a bitch." Tosh slapped the hell out of Av, and that’s when Ciara and I intervened. I pulled Avery away and Ciara pulled Tosh the other way. Heaven went with them.

  "Yo, dawg, chill out." I pushed Avery in his chest slightly so he could back up.

  "Naw, Boan, fuck that bitch. Who the fuck she think she is?" Avery was rubbing the side of his face clearly upset.

  "Somebody worth more than you chump change, bro."

  Tosh

  I was so fucking pissed. You're never supposed to let anybody knock you off your square, but Avery did. I’ve never met any man that could make me so upset. Heaven and Ciara were looking at me. Ciara looked at Heaven and nodded her head. Heaven came over and gave me a hug; I hugged her back, then she left the room. I turned towards Ciara, who looked at me.

  "Y’all had sex, clearly." Ciara broke the silence with stated the obvious.

  "Yes, and it was amazing, but he’s an asshole." I said. There was a long pause between us.

  "How you doing Tosh? For real?" Ciara asked me while bumping her knee against mine. She could always tell when I was putting up a front. I felt tears in my eyes.

  "I think I’m going to catch a redeye tonight to Miami. Go stay with my parents for the rest of the week," I said.

  "Why?"

  "It’s for work. I don’t understand how people can treat children. How could you abuse somebody so innocent? I have a new case; it deals with this older boy, the same age as Heaven as a matter of fact. Anyway, his father passed, and in his father will, the father stated that he wanted his son to live with the older sister. The mother is unfit of course, but she doesn’t like the older sibling. The young man and his older sister really don’t have a close relationship, and he and his mother don’t have a relationship at all. They are both in a custody battle. I’ve talked to the sister, and I don’t know if she really wants him, maybe she just want him because it was her father dying wish. It’s just really interesting," I explained.

  Ciara grabbed my hand and looked at me.

  "I admire you Tosh. I really do. You have such a big heart. You have a lot going for you. You have one of the biggest nonprofit organizations, you own your own social worker company. You give all your love to children, but at the end of the day, who is going to return that love to you?"

  "You and Lo. Duh." Ciara laughed.

  "You can’t fuck me or Lo."

  "I know, that’ll be gay." We both burst out in laughter.

  "I didn’t know any of that." We both turned, hearing Avery’s voice. He was staring at me as if a light bulb turned on in his head.

  "I should get going. I have to get back to work." I gave Ciara a hug before getting up to leave.

  "Wait Tosh," Avery said. I put my hand up to stop him. I stood up and made my way to the door. I looked at Avery.

  "Guess you shouldn’t pass judgment on something you don’t know anything about." I opened up the door and left.

  Ciara

  Avery stood there looking at the door. He reached for the door knob, then turned back around and walked into the kitchen. I walked into the kitchen and saw Boan on his phone, texting. I sat down next to him.

  "I’m about to go to the truck," he said, walking out of the kitchen.

  Boan had on some black basketball shorts with a gray beater. The muscles in his arm were defined, and I looked at his tattoos. He was still texting on his phone. I placed my hand on his forearm. He didn’t look my way. I pulled on his arm and he looked up at me.

  "What?" Boan said. He licked his juicy lips. I looked into his chocolate brown eyes. His eyelashes were so long and his black, wavy hair and goatee were lined up to perfection.

  "Come here." I crooned in his ear.

  Boan leaned close to me. I placed my hands on the side of his neck.

  "What’s up?" he asked.

  "Come here." I repeated.

  He came closer, and I kissed him. Boan’s lips were so soft and I could have kissed him forever. He placed his hands on my thigh. I deepened our kiss, and he pulled me on his lap. I kissed the side of his face and his neck. Boan squeezed my ass, and I took his earlobe into my mouth.

  "Who are you texting?" I whispered into his ear.

  "What?" Boan leaned back and looked at me.

  "Who are you texting?" I questioned him, my voice unwavering.

  "You did all this just to find out who I was texting?" His lip was turned up whenhe looked at me.

  "Why you can’t answer the question?"
>
  Boan picked me up and sat me back in the chair. "Man, get out of here with that shit." he said, while getting up and grabbing his phone.

  "Let me make one thing clear Boan, and listen to me closely."

  "I don’t want to hear no bullshit." Boan waved his hand in the air.

  "Take it however you want it," I started calmly "But if you cheat on me again, I’m done. I’m not doing this back-and-forth shit with you anymore. Stick your finger, tongue, lips, dick, anywhere on or in another bitch, and I’m taking this fucking diamond off and giving it back to you,"

  He nodded his head and walked out of the kitchen. I heard the front door open and close. I walked upstairs and went to Heaven’s room. I knocked on the door. She answered, carrying a book in her hand.

  "You want to go out?" I asked her. She nodded her head.

  "Ok, I’m going to change and meet you downstairs." I went into my bedroom and texted Boan’s mother, Sheila, and Lo, and asked them if they wanted to go out to eat. They both texted back, “Yes,” and I told them I was on my way. I walked downstairs and Heaven was already sitting on the couch. I grabbed the keys to Boan’s Range Rover. Heaven and I left and went to go pick up Sheila first, then Lo. She looked so stressed and I knew she needed this. We drove to J. Alexander’s, a restaurant on the west side of Detroit. We were seated and looked at the menu. I felt somebody standing over us, and I looked up to see Clay.

  "Hello ladies." They all spoke except me.

  "Ciara, you look lovely today."

  "Clay, I look lovely every day," I said, while looking at the menu. Clay smiled and shook his head.

  "Well tonight, I’m having Thirsty Tuesday at my club, and I wanted to, of course, invite you. Only V.I.P for you. Everything on me."

  "I see you're still trying to buy my affection." I pointed out.

  "Once you realize the grass is greener on the other side. But I’ll let you get back to your lunch. I look forward to seeing you later tonight." Clay said, while making his way out. I took a sip of my water and shook my head.