Close Quarters: A Novel (Zane Presents)

by Ray, Shamara

  Amir laughed. “I never thought I’d see the day when Terrence would be playing nurse.”

  I joined in. “Why do you have to make the brother a nurse? Why can’t he be playing doctor?”

  “Because that wouldn’t be nothing new. He’s been playing doctor for years,” Lex added.

  We howled, but Melina just smiled.

  “We’re just kidding, Melina. Don’t take anything we say seriously.”

  “I won’t, Amir. You should know I’m used to your brother’s antics by now,” she said, laughing.

  “She does put up with a lot of my shit.” I grabbed her hand and planted a kiss on it.

  Melina nervously blushed at me holding her hand. The gleam from her rock flashed at me and I released it.

  Lex and Amir went quiet, giving each other curious looks.

  “I’m used to his antics by now,” she repeated. “He keeps me on my toes.”

  “I bet,” Lex mumbled.

  “Man, I know you’re not talking. Lex, you’re a cop and you’re crazy. You know you don’t know how to act.”

  Amir gave me a fist bump. “I hear that.”

  “Amir, you’re related to this fool, so you can’t say shit to me.”

  Melina ordered a drink and was laughing right along with me and the fellas. She could adapt when she wanted to. She made it hard for me to convince the brothers she was wound a little tight when every time they saw her she fit right in. My cell phone vibrated. It was Kai. I stepped away from the bar to take the call.

  “Ms. Cooper, to what do I owe this honor?”

  “Don’t get dramatic, Malik. I’ve been inundated with projects, so I was off the grid this week.”

  I wasn’t buying it, but I didn’t feel it was worth debating. “What’s good for tonight?”

  “Me and you. When can you get here?”

  “Give me a few hours.”

  “Don’t keep me waiting.”

  I hung up with Kai and reinserted myself into the conversation at the bar. Lex, never missing an opportunity to give me flack, started ribbing me on my so-called discreet phone call. “That must’ve been Big Daddy’s star pupil just released from her time out.”

  Amir wasn’t going to miss a chance to add his two cents. “Lesson learned, huh? She must be a quick study.”

  I turned to Melina. “Ignore these fools. They don’t have the sense God gave them.”

  “Thank goodness I do,” she said.

  “What’s that mean, Melina?” Amir prodded.

  “It just means that I’m used to your brother’s antics.”

  “You keep saying that,” Amir replied.

  • • •

  I dropped Melina off at home and kept on rolling to Kai’s. She was waiting at the door in a pair of heels and strand of pearls. I closed the door behind me and smiled at her nakedness.

  “I don’t need to ask if you like what you see.”

  “I like.” I shrugged off my coat as I hungrily assessed her outfit. I lifted Kai by her ass and she wrapped her legs around my waist. I carried her to the bedroom while she sucked on my ears and my neck. I dropped her down on the bed and began unbuckling my belt. She stretched out her hand to help and I backed up out of her reach. The last time she took control, not this time. My clothes got tossed into a pile on the floor. I took a condom from the nightstand and covered up my hardhead.

  Kai laid back and raised her legs, crossing them at the ankles. I kneeled on the bed next to her and touched her pussy. It was already hot and wet. I dipped my middle finger inside of her and slowly moved it in and out. “Turn on your stomach.”

  She lowered her legs and quickly rolled over. I grabbed Kai by her waist and pulled her up on all fours. Her big ass was up high and she was moaning before I even touched her. Kai looked back at me, put her finger in her mouth and started sucking. I got behind her and smacked that ass. She moaned louder. I smacked harder and she started backing up into me, rubbing her wet pussy on the tip of my dick. I grabbed her hips and held her still. I played with her, letting the tip of my dick enter her but only the tip. Heat radiated off of her. She tried to reach around and grab my ass to push me inside. I backed up and took my tip out of her. Soft whimpers escaped from her mouth. She stopped reaching for me and grabbed her comforter. I held my dick, rubbed it in her juices, then plunged deep inside of her. She let out a cry and almost collapsed forward. I yanked Kai back up, pulling her into me. I moved her hips back and forth as I plunged and pulled out of her. Kai was chanting incoherently, repeating the same high-pitched phrase with each pump. I hit it harder and faster, drilling deep into her wetness. She tried to lay on her stomach, but I pulled her into me. We were upright on our knees, my chest pressed against her back. I reached around and tugged on her nipples. She popped her pussy with force. I leaned forward, laying her down on her stomach, my dick still up in her. She was pinned beneath my body, arms at her sides, my arms outside of hers. She squeezed her legs shut and raised her ass, tightening her pussy around my dick. I dug deep, as far as I could go and pounded it out. I was hitting her spot. Kai yelped her pleasure. Sweat poured down my face. I wouldn’t relent. She shouted she was coming and I pulled her back up on her knees. I managed to ram her pussy twice before she exploded. I finally released my grip and let her collapse on the bed.

  Kai rolled onto her back, eyelids fluttering. She was struggling to catch her breath. I stretched out next to her. She turned her head in my direction. “Wow.”

  I laughed. “What, you didn’t know?”

  She smoothed her hair down. “Wow.”

  “You said that.”

  “Can’t talk. Need water.” She opened her eyes.

  “I’ll get it.” I got up and slid the condom off.

  “You didn’t come?”

  “Nope.”

  “Why not?”

  “It’s about you tonight. You came, right?”

  “Like a roaring rapid.”

  “And I enjoyed the ride.”

  She was underneath the blankets when I returned with the water. She propped herself up against the pillows. “We make a good pair, Malik. In the boardroom and the bedroom. You and I can be the ultimate power couple.”

  “Yeah?” I sat next to Kai, leaning against the headboard.

  “You don’t agree?”

  Here we go again and this time she decided on a direct plan of attack. Kai was breaking the unspoken rule of our situation. She was beginning to push me and I honestly didn’t know what I thought about us being a power couple. Hell, I wasn’t sure about us being a regular couple. I’d be a fool not to acknowledge that she was the type of woman a man would want to show off on his arm.

  “We definitely got it poppin’ in the bedroom and our collaboration at work was a success,” I said.

  “I feel a but coming on.”

  “No, you don’t. What we got going on is good. A brother can’t complain.”

  “But?”

  “But right now I’m focusing on my business prospects.”

  “I knew you had a but.”

  “I agree with you that our situation works. I’m enjoying you, Kai, but I’m also at a crucial juncture in my life. I’ve told you I’m starting my own agency. That’s not a game to me. I’m about to make a move that will either make or break me.”

  “So you’re leaving Newport and Donner for sure?”

  “Yup.”

  “When?”

  “I’m not ready to leave just yet, but I’m on schedule to launch in the next six to nine months.”

  “Do you have clients lined up?”

  “Of course I do. Newport and Donner doesn’t recognize my talent, but I’ve been making a name for myself in the right circles for a while now.”

  “How many of these companies have officially retained you? I mean you haven’t even launched yet.”

  “If you had the opportunity to commission the hottest designer to make you a one-of-a-kind dress, but her schedule was booked for six to nine months, would you pass up the oppor
tunity or would you schedule the appointment because you know in the end it would be worth the wait?”

  “Point taken.”

  “All I’m saying is that the buzz is building, and when I launch, that buzz is going to turn into a big-ass boom. I’ve secured eight accounts and I’m already receiving referrals.”

  “I know your worth, Malik. You don’t need to convince me. Sounds like I need to convince you how a powerful man like you needs a powerful woman like me by your side.”

  I rolled over on my back. “How do you plan on doing that?”

  “There are many ways, but how about I start like this?” Kai took my hardhead in her hands and snaked her tongue at me.

  She climbed from underneath the blankets and proceeded to make her case.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  MELINA

  I tapped my glass against Dru’s. We were having a little wine with our late lunch at Nobu. I wasn’t sure she’d be able to keep our date after I heard she was under the weather over the weekend, but she called to confirm when she heard she missed me at Rituals.

  “How are your wedding plans coming along, Melina? It’s in April, right?”

  “With Christmas in two weeks I’ve been spending most of my time preparing for the holidays.”

  “You must be inundated with the arrangements. I’m getting angst about my wedding and Terrence and I haven’t even settled on a date yet.”

  “I still have a lot to do, but my mother is coming to visit this weekend to help me with the planning.”

  “I told Terrence I needed a long engagement, so I could orchestrate the perfect event with as little stress as possible. Between seeing patients and my charity work, I don’t have as much free time on my hands as I would like. I’m not going to put any undue pressure on myself. You know what I’m talking about—you run your own business.”

  Dru was a psychiatrist with a private practice. Malik had told many jokes that Terrence had finally met his match, a woman that could analyze his every move and beat him at his own games.

  “Once you set a date are you going to hire a wedding planner?”

  “No, I’m too traditional. I don’t want someone else to plan one of the most important days of my life. I want to pick that special location to say my vows, choose the perfect flowers, create a divine menu, select the most beautiful cake, the music—everything. Down to the minutest of details, I want to plan my dream wedding.”

  “You know, Dru, I’ve always wanted the same thing. Unfortunately, my dream wedding is turning into a nightmare.”

  Dru knitted her brows. “Why, what’s going on?”

  I sighed and shook my head. “My fiancé’s mother has managed to hijack my wedding. She’s acting like she’s getting married. And Ellis, well, let’s just say that Ellis is his mother’s son.”

  “That does sound like a nightmare. Do you want a little advice? And be honest if you don’t because I’ll just keep my mouth shut.”

  “No, I don’t mind.”

  “Melina, this speaks of a broader issue. The wedding is only a component of a much larger dynamic. If you don’t have the support of your fiancé before you get married, do you think it’ll get better after you say ‘I do?’ I don’t want you to answer that question now. I want you to think about it. Give it some serious thought before you take that trip down the aisle.”

  “I’ve asked myself that question a million times. My head already knows the answer, but my heart still hopes things will change.”

  “Have you told Ellis how you feel about his mother taking over your wedding?”

  “Ad nauseam and it doesn’t make a difference. He views it as his mother providing much-needed assistance. I get that he’s trying to make us both happy, but somehow I feel I’m getting the short end of the stick.”

  “You know how those mother-son relationships can be.”

  “Yeah, a pain in the ass.” We both laughed and tapped glasses again. “How do you get along with Terrence’s mom?”

  “When we first met, she kept me at arm’s length. She was pleasant enough, but she made sure I’d be around a while before she warmed up to me. Thankfully, we get along pretty well.”

  “I can only pray that Bebe and I come to amicable terms.”

  “Girl, with each passing day I learn just how important communication is in relationships, especially marriage. Keep trying to get through to Ellis and work on his mother if and when you feel like it. We’ve only known each other a short time, but if you ever need someone to talk to . . . ”

  “I appreciate that, Dru.”

  Dru’s sincerity made me smile. She wasn’t the first person to mention how important it is to communicate with your partner, but considering she was a professional therapist, it reinforced what I already knew. I would make a concerted effort to better express myself to both Ellis and his mother. Maybe they weren’t understanding what this wedding meant to me. Sometimes it’s difficult to think about a situation outside of your own viewpoint—I would make them see mine. I had to make them understand that a wedding is one of the most important days in a woman’s life. It was a day I had dreamt, fantasized and talked about since childhood. I needed to relay my vision for my wedding. I had yet to do that.

  “Okay, I have to ask,” Dru said, interrupting my thoughts.

  “Ask what?”

  “About Malik.”

  “What about Malik?”

  “I’m just curious, I guess.”

  “Curious about Malik? In what way?”

  “There’s nothing between the two of you?”

  I erupted with laughter. “Why would you think that?”

  “Well, I’ve seen the way you are together. I mean, I could be misreading things, but I don’t think so.”

  “That’s funny,” I said with amusement. “We’re just roommates. There’s nothing going on between myself and Malik.”

  Dru laughed. “I’m sorry if I’m intruding. Terrence always says I analyze things a bit too much.”

  “I’m going to agree with Terrence on that one,” I said, still chuckling.

  “He is a fine specimen though, isn’t he?”

  “Yeah and he knows it. You can’t tell Malik he isn’t God’s gift to women.”

  “He’ll settle down eventually. He’s a nice guy. If you listen to Terrence tell it, there’s no one more reliable, honest or dependable.”

  “Malik knows how to push my buttons, but I know if I need him for anything, he’d be there for me.” A smile crept across my lips.

  “You see. It’s that expression on your face right now that made me ask you about Malik in the first place.”

  I was puzzled by what Dru thought she saw. “Dru, please.”

  “I’ve seen the same look on Malik’s face when he’s talking about you.”

  Now I was curious. “Malik talks about me? What does he say?”

  “Well, your interest is piqued all of a sudden,” Dru teased.

  “I can imagine the stuff he says about me.”

  Dru shook her head. “I’ve never heard Malik say anything negative about you. I’m serious. He doesn’t talk about you, per se; he mainly relays funny stories about the two of you. He told us about the shopping cart incident in the grocery store,” she said, stifling laughter.

  “Malik is crazy,” I said, as I replayed the event in my mind. “He does make me laugh and I do enjoy his company. I might actually miss him when I move in with Ellis.”

  “I hope your marriage to Ellis doesn’t mean the end of your friendship with Malik.”

  “We are friends, aren’t we?” I asked pensively.

  “I would say so, Melina, if not more.”

  I playfully swatted at Dru. “Girl, you’re just as crazy as Malik.”

  • • •

  I went back to the office after lunch with Dru. I sat at my desk, leafing through a few spreadsheets, my mind wandering. I thought it was a little strange that Dru asked me about Malik. True, we had been spending more time together than usual, part
icularly going out to events. However, I didn’t think that we displayed any sort of feelings for one another. Malik was fun, and I loved when we got along, but there was nothing between us. I reflected on a few of our recent moments and smiled. I had to admit that I really enjoyed going to the baseball game, dancing with Malik at Terrence and Dru’s engagement party, movies and popcorn at home, and even when he cooked me dinner. I could acknowledge that lately there had been some tension between the two of us, but that’s all it was. Tension.

  I gave this too much energy. I let Dru get in my head. She must’ve been really good at her job because if she had an influence on my thoughts after our casual lunch meeting, I could only imagine Dru’s impact on her patients that were paying for her expertise.

  I grabbed my belongings and told Nadia I was leaving for the day. I had a few errands to run. My parents were arriving in two days and I wanted to be prepared for their visit. I had ordered them plush monogrammed bathrobes and big fluffy slippers that I needed to pick up from the boutique. I was also planning to cook dinner for everyone on Friday night and needed to go food shopping for the ingredients. I had seen a cooking show on television where the chef prepared authentic seafood paella served sizzling in a large cast-iron paella pan. A meal shared family-style, paired with a nice Spanish white wine, would be a great way to stimulate great conversation. We were all staying at Ellis’s for the entire weekend, including Bebe. I was fairly optimistic about the visit. I figured since Bebe was all about putting up fronts that she would be on her best behavior for my parents. I wouldn’t be surprised if she pretended that she loved me to death. I also knew that if Bebe got the slightest bit out of line, my mother would deftly maneuver her back into place.

  After picking up the robes, I stopped to purchase the wine, then for a manicure and pedicure. It was getting late and I still had to pack my bag for the weekend. I decided the food shopping could wait until Friday morning. My parents weren’t scheduled to arrive until late afternoon and Ellis would send the limo to collect them from the airport. I headed home. When I stepped from the car, I glanced up at the steel-gray clouds. Rain had to be on the way. I hurried up the stairs and into the apartment, dropping my bags on the living room sofa.