Love's Grip

by Nika Michelle

  “I … What … ?” I said.

  Pistol looked me in the eye as he spoke sternly. “I need you to go in the bedroom and pack up some necessities for me. Grab your shit too. I’m gon’ take care of the body, and then we’ll pack up your car. Okay. There’s a duffel bag in the closet in the master bedroom. Just grab some of my clothes and my toothbrush while I handle this. A’ight?”

  I nodded and then scurried off to do as he’d said. My heart was beating so fast, and I knew instantly that I was having a panic attack. Once I was in his bedroom, I sat down on the bed and tried to calm down. If I hadn’t killed that bitch, she would’ve killed both of us. There was no way I’d survived the shit I had for that bitch to just take me out. No fucking way.

  When my breathing was back to normal and the pressure in my chest had gone away, I got up and opened the master-closet door. After grabbing pants and shirts off the hangers, I threw them on the bed. Then I grabbed some of his underwear and socks from a dresser drawer. After I located the duffel bag he had referred to, I threw his things inside. Then I gathered my own things.

  Just then he barged into the room. “You finished?” he asked.

  I nodded. “Where we going?” My voice was low.

  He pulled out his cell phone. “What’s your number? We gotta hurry. This ain’t the hood, so I don’t know what’s gon’ go down.”

  Damn, that was crazy as hell. That nigga didn’t even have my number. I recited it, and he was silent as he did something on his phone.

  “I just texted you an address. Drive your car there, and when you get inside, set the alarm. The code is nine-eight-four-seven-one. I’ll be there after I handle …” His voice drifted off. “Don’t stop for shit. Go straight there.”

  “Okay,” I agreed with a nervous nod.

  He changed his bloody shirt, grabbed our bags, and led me to the front door. My eyes lingered on the dead body, which he had wrapped up in an Oriental rug. My mind was focused, though, and I couldn’t dwell on what I’d done. It was either me or her, and I chose me. Well, part of this was to save Pistol too. Damn if I was going to let that ho shoot him.

  “Thanks, Ma. You definitely returned the favor,” he said before he opened the door.

  All I could do was nod. I wasn’t a killer, either, but I’d been pushed to that point.

  We left his condo and walked to my car, and he put the bags in the trunk. The cops weren’t there yet, apparently, which was a shock.

  “I gotta hurry up and handle that. I gotta clean up and whatnot, so it might be a minute before I get to you. Make sure you don’t speed or do anything that’ll keep you from getting where you need to go. You have enough gas, right?”

  I hadn’t seen the address, but I had almost a full tank. “Is it far?”

  “Nah. ’Bout thirty minutes.”

  I nodded. “I’ll be good.”

  “Okay. Be careful.” He kissed me on the forehead gently and then watched as I got in the car.

  He just stood there as I put the address in my phone’s GPS and drove away. All I could do was hope he’d make it to the address too. I wouldn’t be able to relax until then. The possibility of the police arriving at his place, or Rae and his boys, sent chills up and down my spine. At that point Pistol and I were forever bound, and his hold on me seemed to be tight and secure.

  When I pulled up to a brick mini-mansion in Fayetteville, Georgia, I was in immediate awe. Pistol had texted me while I was on the road to let me know that the cops did end up coming, but they didn’t know where the shots had been fired from. They came to the door, and he told them that he hadn’t heard any gunshots. By that time Niya’s body and her car were long gone, and the crime scene had been washed clean. Still, he felt the need for us to get away from there for a few days.

  Once I got our bags inside the mini-mansion, I made myself right at home. I gave myself a tour of the place, and at every turn, there was expensive furniture and artwork, even sculptures. I especially loved the floor-to-ceiling windows and marble floors. The spot was laid. His uncle had some moola. By the end of my tour, all I wanted to do was get in the upstairs Jacuzzi bathtub. There was also a steam room up there. And the infinity pool on the huge second-floor patio had sold me. Damn, that shit was original. Most pools I’d encountered were on the first floor, not the second floor. If only I could afford to live somewhere like that, I thought.

  When my tour was over, I realized that I was starving, so after checking the refrigerator, which, surprisingly, was filled with food, I made a turkey sandwich. I also grabbed some grapes. It was clear that somebody lived here, and I was hoping that they weren’t going to pop up. While I was eating, I called Pistol.

  He picked up immediately and cut right to the chase. “To be honest, we don’t need to be in Atlanta right now. Shit is hot, and if we both want to survive and stay outta jail, we gotta do what we gotta do. Know what I mean?”

  “Yup, I know exactly what you mean. This place is … gorgeous, by the way. Who lives here?”

  “It’s my uncle’s spot. He’s out of town for a couple of weeks, so he don’t mind if we stay there for a li’l bit.”

  “Oh.” I turned the flat-screen television on in the kitchen, feeling safe and secure for the first time in a while. Maybe it was the mansion’s alarm system.

  “I’ll be there soon. Okay?”

  I nodded, as if he could see me, as I took a bite from my sandwich. “Okay,” I answered, my mouth full. It was a surprise to me that I had an appetite after what had happened. Shit, to be completely honest, I was just glad to be alive.

  “Get comfy and make yourself at home. You’re good there,” he said.

  If only he knew that I’d already done that.

  “A’ight. I’ll see you soon, then.”

  “Bet.”

  We hung up, and I felt better knowing that he was okay. It seemed like that bitch really didn’t mean shit to him, because he was glad that I’d popped her ass. I was sure that I’d find out what had really gone down between them. After what had happened, I was ready for him to spill the tea. But first, I was going to get in that damn Jacuzzi and relax my aching body.

  I finished my sandwich, took a bottle of chardonnay out of the refrigerator, and poured myself a glass. Then I headed up to the master bath, with the glass in hand. After I walked in the bathroom, I examined my face in the mirror. My swollen eye had finally opened and was looking much better. The bruising on my face had lightened up, too. It was a good thing that I healed pretty fast, I thought. After a quick shower, I put on a little bit of makeup to cover the bruises. Then I turned on the water in the Jacuzzi tub.

  While the tub was filling, I placed my glass of chardonnay on one edge, then climbed in. As the water rose up my body, my mind drifted to what lay ahead. After Pistol and I took care of Rae, I was going to get back out there and get my life straight. As much as I appreciated Pistol, I didn’t plan on depending on him or getting too close to him. Shit. Who the hell am I fooling? I thought. Damn. I wanted him bad, and it had been only a few days since my “situation” with Rae, but I couldn’t go there.

  The thing was, he’d shown me more concern than any man I’d dealt with in my whole life. To think that it was unconditional on his part really made me feel something for him. The man hadn’t even touched me in an intimate way. He didn’t have to, though. The way he looked at me alone was enough to set my soul on fire. He’d looked at me like that from the first moment our eyes met. I knew in my heart that he was feeling me too. But it was too deep too soon. And the timing was just wrong as hell. Which was just my luck. Why the hell couldn’t I have met him sooner?

  I aligned my sore muscles with the Jacuzzi’s jets and felt my whole body relax amid the bubbles. This bath was so therapeutic. I was buck ass naked, but I didn’t give a damn. It wasn’t like I’d packed a bathing suit. If Pistol walked in, it wouldn’t faze me one bit. It wasn’t like he’d never seen a naked woman before. From what I knew about him, he’d seen plenty.

  I took a
sip of chardonnay and then leaned back with my eyes closed. Okay, maybe I was taking a note from that dead trick Niya. I’d even shaved my pussy and shit. Damn it, I wanted to fuck Pistol, but I didn’t want to admit it. Shit, I wanted that nigga to come on to me. I wanted to entice him and finally make love to a man. Fucking was all that I was used to, and I needed something more. He needed something more.

  “Mmm. Well, I see that you found the Jacuzzi.”

  I sat up and spun around. There was Pistol’s fine ass. He was standing there, with a cute little smirk on his face. That mu’fucka literally took my breath away. I was playing hard, but I had felt an attraction to him from the first moment he graced me with his presence. He was just too much for me to take. It was like he was too complex for me, and I still didn’t know enough about him. Yet I wanted to fuck the shit out of his fine, sexy ass.

  “Yeah. It’s good for the pain.” I smiled up at him, not caring that my full C-cup breasts were exposed.

  His eyes lingered on them, and he wasn’t trying to hide it. “You, uh … you naked naked?” He scratched his head and licked his lips from lust before turning around. “I’m sorry.”

  I laughed. “Is there any other way to be naked? Don’t be sorry. Take your clothes off and get in with me.”

  “For real?” His eyes were glazed over, and I knew that he wanted to get up in my good good.

  I nodded as I sipped my drink. “For real.”

  That nigga came out of his clothes fast. Damn it, his dick was perfect. It was smooth, dark, circumcised, long, and thick. Still, he didn’t touch me as he lowered his body in the warm, titillating water.

  “Oh, that feels so good.” He looked at me and smiled. “You good?”

  “Yeah. You?” I looked him over, and of course, his body was smooth and ripped like he was a boxer or something.

  “I’m good, Ma. Just ready to get that nigga. So far shit’s been quiet as hell. Mike and Dank owed me one, so they came and got old girl’s body and the car while I cleaned up. I’m just glad you thought fast and shit. I checked her gun, and that shit was loaded. She was serious ’bout killin’ me. You saved my life. Now we even. You ain’t gotta think you owe me.”

  I shook my head. “I still owe you. If it wasn’t for you, I’d be on the street.”

  The scent of his cologne had permeated the air, even though he was engulfed in water. He smelled so good that I almost lost my morals and started to climb on his dick. Instead, I held my composure and drained my glass of wine.

  “Let’s not think about that right now,” he said. “How ’bout we just take advantage of the moment? I can’t even pretend no more, Ma. I want you. I don’t wanna just fuck you and use you to get to Rae. I wanna make love to you and appreciate a real woman for once. You’re definitely a real woman. Not the plastic, fake shit I’m used to.”

  His warm, soft lips were on mine in an instant, and then our tongues became intertwined. I invited the intimacy. Shit, I needed that feeling, although I knew better. I was vulnerable as hell, and I knew that giving him my body was only going to make me feel so many emotions that I wasn’t ready for. Honestly, it was more than I needed to feel, but my body went against my better judgment.

  His hands found their way to my breasts and then my nipples. Then he stopped kissing me. “You okay?” he asked. His voice was a soft whisper.

  All I did was nod, and then his mouth was on my hard nipples. Fuck, he had me right where he wanted me to be. Even if I didn’t want to, I couldn’t help but let him have his way. It was like I lost all control of myself. Damn it. I was his fucking puppet. All he had to do was keep doing what he was doing, and I was putty in his hands.

  Suddenly he stopped. “Earlier today you was all mad at me ’cause you thought I wanted to fuck. What’s different now?”

  “I returned the favor. I don’t owe you shit now, so I’m givin’ you the pussy.” My eyes were on his, challenging him to go for it, despite what I’d said earlier.

  Still, my defenses were up, because of my vulnerabilities. Honestly, I was just sick of getting hurt. Now all I wanted was for him to make me feel good.

  When he lifted me up out of the water and sat me down on the edge of the Jacuzzi, I couldn’t help but get caught up in the moment. He spread my legs wide, shook his head, and then leaned over to indulge. The way his warm, soft tongue felt on my pussy made my insides instantly turn into mush. My overstimulated sex had me trembling all over. At that point I felt no pain, only all pleasure.

  “Ohhh … fuck!” My mouth was wide open as I watched him continuously suck and lick my swollen clit. “My … damn … Pistol … shit.” It felt like I was going to explode into a million little pieces.

  His sexy hazel eyes shot up to meet mine. Thick, long lashes hooded his eyes, adding to his seductive aura. That nigga winked at me, showing off, as he used his tongue tricks to take over my entire anatomy.

  I involuntarily started rolling my hips as warm tingles started to take over my senses. With my hand on the top of his head, I gyrated and moved my pelvis around greedily. It had been a while since a man had eaten me out like that. Shit, Rae had tried, but he wasn’t nearly as good at it as Pistol was. He may not have ever loved a woman with his heart, but his actions with that tongue told another story. That nigga had clearly loved somebody if he knew how to eat pussy like that.

  “Mmm, you taste good as fuck. Just like I knew you would. Mmm … mmm … mmm … mmm …”

  My eyes rolled back in my head as he expertly slurped, sucked, and licked. He held my legs behind my head while his tongue deliberately traveled from my pussy to the crack of my ass.

  “I love this shit.” He stopped for a second as he pushed his pointer and middle fingers deep inside of me. His eyes were on mine, making eye contact again. An instant shiver traveled all over me. “Not only are you fine as hell, but this voluptuous-ass body of yours is so sexy. Mmm.” His eyes slowly roamed over me as his fingers explored my wetness.

  The sound of my pussy popping turned me on, so I could imagine what it did to him.

  “Fuck. I got this pussy wet as hell.” He smiled down at me, exposing white teeth and dimples. “But, like I was sayin’, you’re fine, your body is amazing, you taste good as fuck, and your pussy smell hella good. I’m so ready to feel you, Ma, but let me make you cum first.”

  He must’ve known what I was thinking, because soon he had me literally climbing the fucking wall. See, that was the shit I was talking about. That nigga had me fucked up, all damn ready. After he sucked me into oblivion, giving me an incredible orgasm for the third time, I was trying to get away from that lethal tongue of his.

  “Fuck me … please,” I literally begged.

  He slid a condom, which he’d had stashed on the edge of the Jacuzzi, down his masterpiece of a dick before positioning his perfect body over mine.

  “You know what, Ma? I done fucked plenty of bitches, but this …” His eyes were penetrating my soul. “This here is different. You’re different, so I wanna do something different. I’m gonna make love to you.”

  The way he entered me was so gentle, and I just loved the way he kept his eyes on mine.

  “You okay, baby?” he whispered.

  I nodded as his length and width took my breath away. Soon I was used to his size, and I held on to him as he gently ground deep inside of me. Instantly, he found my spot, and he stayed there. He covered my body with kisses and constantly fed me his sweet tongue. Soon my body was trembling under him from the best orgasm I’d ever felt in my life.

  “Oh shit … damn. Uh … Pistol …”

  His hands were on my hips as he spread my ass cheeks open. His dick was so good. I had no words for how that shit felt.

  “Mmm, damn, Ma. This pussy is … in … fucking … credible.”

  I held on to his ass cheeks and squeezed as he made me cum again.

  For the next hour, he took me there over and over again, before my wet-ass walls came crashing down on his ass. He had stamina, but the pussy was too go
od. I knew because he told me, and given what I knew about Pistol, I believed him.

  “Shit!” His body jerked uncontrollably as he held on tightly to my ass. “Fuck, Ma. Damn!”

  That nigga’s dick was lodged deep up in my shit at that point, and he’d been going in on it before he came. Damn, my pussy was still throbbing as he got soft inside of me.

  “Oh … mmm. Hell fuckin’ yeah,” he whispered in my ear as he slapped my butt cheeks. “You got me hooked, Ma. Best fuckin’ pussy I’ve ever felt in my life. Shit.”

  Chapter 10

  Pistol

  Shit, baby girl’s pussy was good as fuck. I hated the word, but that shit was on fleek. That mu’fucka was snapping and literally biting my dick like nothing I’d ever felt before. It was no wonder that nigga Rae was acting crazy over her.

  I mean, no woman deserved to be beaten, but it made sense why he’d lost his damn mind. If I wasn’t a rational-ass-thinking nigga, I’d never want her out of my sight. The thought of another nigga touching her had me seeing red, and I’d had the pleasure of feeling the pussy only one time.

  The early morning sun was streaming through the venetian blinds, alerting me of a new day. I jumped up and smiled down at the woman who’d finally gotten my attention and given me the desire to surpass the pussy. All I wanted to do was get up and make sure that she was fed, that she was well taken care of. Even deeper than that, I wanted to make her feel happy and secure. I longed to give her something she’d never had.

  When I got in the kitchen, I whipped up a couple of omelets with cheese, turkey sausage, tomatoes, onions, and peppers. I even popped some bread in the toaster. Then I found some sliced pineapples and strawberries in the refrigerator. The coffee was brewing as beautiful Daisha made her way toward me, rubbing her eyes.

  “Mornin’, gorgeous,” I greeted her warmly. It was the first time I’d ever made breakfast for a woman other than my mother.

  With her eyes still closed, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed my lips. “Mmm. It smells good in here.”

  Damn, that was the feeling I’d longed for. That familiarity and comfort with a woman. We hadn’t known each other long, but I already felt that shit. Damn, that had to be as close to love as I’d ever come. What shocked me even more was how soon it had happened.