Pain, Pleasure, and Lies: An Urban Romance Thriller

by Qiana London

  “I can show you better than I can tell you.”

  “Anybody home?”

  “Nope. There’s nothing but space and opportunity over here.”

  “I’m on my way.”

  Diandre arrived an hour later. He walked through the door carrying gifts. I wasn’t expecting anything else. I was under the impression that the ring on my finger was my gift. He sat the presents on the coffee table then took off his jacket, and hung it by the door while I examined the boxes. I was pleasantly surprised when I realized one of the gifts was for my mother. Little did he know, he was making strides in the right direction. He needed to do whatever he could to win her over. She didn’t like his backdoor proposal.

  “Diandre, what’s all this? I thought we were doing presents this weekend. I haven’t wrapped your gift yet.”

  “I know, but I couldn’t wait, and don’t worry about that. You can give it to me later. I got your mother a desk clock for her office and the other two are for you.”

  “What did you get me?”

  “Open ‘em and see!”

  I felt like a kid again. I picked up one of the boxes and shook it close to my ear before opening it. It contained a gorgeous, silver Movado watch. The other one was empty. When I turned my attention back to Diandre, he had already begun unfastening his pants.

  “I couldn’t fit in that box.”

  I smiled and beckoned Diandre over with my finger. I intended to make his Christmas very merry.

  I had planned something special for Diandre once I knew he was on his way. I’d answered the door in my bathrobe and purposely hadn’t hugged him when he came inside. I didn’t want his hands to roam and discover the surprise underneath. When we reached my bedroom door, he walked up behind me and put his arms around my waist. He reached for the belt of my robe and was about to pull it loose, but I stopped him.

  “Not yet, baby.”

  “Huh? Why not?”

  “I want to show you something.”

  I walked through the door first, and he strolled in behind me. I’d converted my room into our very own lover’s den. I had closed the blinds, covered the lamps with red silk scarves, and lit candles all around the room. My desk chair was in the middle of the floor across from the foot of my bed.

  “I want you to sit right there and wait for me, okay?” Diandre looked around the room, smiled at me, and took a seat. “I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”

  I walked over to my closet and removed my robe. I was blocked by the door, so he couldn’t see me. I quickly pulled on black, thigh-high fishnet stockings, before slipping into a pair of black Stilettos. I attached the garter belt I was wearing to the fishnets and pulled out a black Fedora hat. I rested it on my head, leaning it to the side so that it slightly covered one eye. This was the perfect finish to the lacey bra and crotchless panty set I was wearing.

  “Are you ready?” I asked still standing behind the door.

  “Hell yeah.”

  “Close your eyes.”

  “Come on, Dez-“

  “Just close your eyes, baby,” I interjected and laughed.

  “Alright, they’re closed.”

  I peeked from behind the door to make sure he had really closed his eyes. He was cooperating.

  “No peeking!”

  I walked over to my stereo and pressed the button to start the music I already had in queue. Seconds later, the seductive bass line of Goapele’s “Play” filled the room. Diandre’s eyes shot open. I walked slowly toward him and stopped when I was directly in front of him. I stood with my feet shoulder width apart, and slowly rotated my hips to the left and shoulders to the right. On the beat of the music, I squat down then back up. I put my weight on my right leg and moved my right hand slowly up my body. I kept my eyes locked on Diandre who looked like he was holding his breath. I bent my right knee as I continued to raise my hand in the air. I made a cross step with my left foot and turned around so that my back was to him. I put my right hand on my hip and arched my back. I held my Fedora with my left hand and swayed my hips back and forth. I looked to my left and lifted the hat off my head. I tossed it across the room and shook my head back and forth, whipping my hair from side to side. I moved my legs farther apart then bent over to touch my toes, giving him a full view of what waited for him in-between my thighs. I looked at him through my legs and could see that he was getting anxious. I slowly stood up straight and looked at him over my right shoulder. He was leaned back, and his hand was in his pants. I smiled and winked at him before I slowly sauntered over and climbed into my bed. I lay on my back and kicked my legs in the air, alternating them one at a time. I pointed them both up toward the ceiling then spread my legs apart. I hadn’t completely finished my strip tease before Diandre dived on top of me.

  “I can’t take it anymore!”

  I let out a playful shriek then surrendered as he began to kiss me passionately. I held the back of his head as he moved from my lips onto my neck. His warm lips and moist tongue sent tingles throughout my body with each kiss he landed. I moaned as he made his way down my chest. When he realized he could unfasten my bra from the front, he did. He began to bite, lick, and suck on one of my nipples while he used his hand to aggressively massage the other. This was the first time he was being rough with me, and I liked it. I was becoming more and more aroused. He was sending me over the edge, and we were barely getting started. The throb between my legs was beginning to grow. I felt him start to kiss his way down my stomach. I held my breath in anticipation of his lips finding my lower ones, but they never did. Instead, he slowly kissed and licked my inner thighs one at a time. He was driving me crazy on purpose. I knew this because he looked up at me and smirked.

  “You better stop playing with me.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he winked.

  “Keep playing with me if you want-“

  I gasped as Diandre plunged his tongue into the pool that had formed in-between my legs. My head fell back instantly onto the bed. He skillfully moved it in and out of my opening. I couldn’t breathe as he fucked me with his tongue. I could feel my climax starting to rise in the pit of my stomach. My breathing became short and erratic. I began to thrust back with his tongue.

  “Yes! Baby, right there. Please don’t stop!”

  Despite my request, he stopped. You have got to be kidding me! He had me at the peak of orgasm and stopped just as I was about to go over. He pulled back and looked at me.

  “Not yet.”

  “Shit! Why not?”

  The break in action allowed me to catch my breath.

  “Because I’m not done with you yet.”

  He dived in again and went right back to work. He purposely continued to bring me to the point of orgasm only to stop again, a total of four times. I was ready to put him in a headlock with my legs.

  “Diandre, stop!”

  “Stop what?” he teased.

  I made a fist and playfully threatened him with it.

  “Are you ready for me, baby?”

  He raked his tongue across my clit at the end of his sentence. I couldn’t respond. He laughed as he raised himself up off of me and quickly removed his clothes. He climbed back on top of me and rubbed the head of his dick up and down my slit. I moaned and opened my legs wider. He was driving me crazy. He looked me in my eyes before he bent down and kissed me deeply. I ran my nails down his back as our tongues wrestled. He leaned back and looked me in my eyes once again as he shoved his dick deep inside of me. He thrust me hard with long, deep strokes. My eyes rolled up into the back of my head as he slipped in and out of my juicy goodness.

  “Oh yes, baby!” I moaned.

  “Whose is it?”

  I was moaning in ecstasy. I didn’t respond.

  “Whose… is… it?” he said with each thrust.

  “It’s yours, baby!”

  He kept pumping and asked me again.

  “Diandre, it’s yours!”

  I could feel my climax coming.


  “Fuck, baby. You’re so damn wet!”

  His stroke quickened, and his body became tense. I caught each thrust, grabbed his ass, and pushed him deeper inside me. My wall muscles started to contract, and he pounded me harder.

  “Yes, baby,” I moaned.

  “Shit, Dezzy!” he groaned. “Fuuuuucccck!”

  He collapsed on top of me, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. Neither of us moved. We lay there, trying to catch our breath. When our heartbeats and breathing returned to normal, Diandre lifted off of me and rolled onto his back. I lay my head on his chest and intertwined my leg with his. Neither of us said another word. Instead, we lay there and cuddled until we both fell asleep.

  When I woke up, it was eleven o’clock and Diandre was still sleeping. I slipped out of bed and into the shower. I had to meet Lee and Robyn to have the final bridal party fitting. With Diandre asleep, I was able to get more accomplished. I hated to wake him, but now it was time for me to leave. I tried to wake him with a soft kiss on his lips. When that didn’t work, I caressed his dick. His eyes shot open.

  “Hey, babe,” he looked at me. “Why are you dressed already?”

  “I have to meet Lee and Robyn for the final fitting.”

  “Well, I thought we’d spend some time together today.”

  “Don’t worry, baby. You can have me all to yourself later,” I explained.

  “Damn. Don’t you get tired of seeing them?”

  “No,” I retorted. “Is it really a problem? Why are you acting like this?”

  “Shit, Dezzy, I want to spend time with you.”

  “And I said we would later.”

  “I don’t want it to be later. I want to spend time with you now. Why do you always have to put those hoes before me?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Dezzy, I didn’t mean that.”

  He dropped his head.

  “Hoes?”

  “Dezzy, I’m sorry.”

  “Is that how you really feel about them?”

  “No. Dezzy, look–”

  “Can you please leave? I have to go.”

  I was calm.

  “Dezzy–”

  “No. As a matter of fact, I’ll go. Please don’t be here when I get back.”

  My voice cracked, but I refused to release tears.

  Diandre had really hurt me. He knew how much my girls meant to me. Even if he didn’t think they were important, he didn’t need to tell me. I opened my bedroom door and slammed it behind me. I hopped in my car and left before things got worse. Diandre had put a damper on my day, but I promised myself that I wouldn’t let him get me into a funk and ruin what was supposed to be a happy time for Robyn. I would have my moment in the car and pull it together before I reached her so I could be there wholeheartedly for the friend that needed me.

  *****

  We had already finished the final fitting for our dresses, but I was in no rush to leave. I was purposely dragging out the time since Diandre had pissed me off. He had been calling my cell phone repeatedly, but I had ignored his calls. I would eventually talk to him, but it would be on my own terms. In the meantime, I was going to enjoy the time with my girls.

  We were having dinner at the Olive Garden. The wedding was only a couple of weeks away, and we were all excited. Robyn was the first one of our group to tie the knot, so we were living vicariously through her. She repeatedly told us how she thought this day would never come and how her life was just beginning between bites of her salad. She also predicted what order the rest of us would get married, starting with me. She excused herself from the conversation to take a call from Trevell. Watching the way she responded on the phone made me realize how much I missed Diandre. I was still upset he’d called my girls hoes, but I was ready to end the silent treatment. He answered the phone on the first ring. I listened to his numerous apologies as well as his promise to never talk about anyone close to me again. I took his word at face value and forgave him. After I ended my call, we paid the bill, gave one another hugs, and went our separate ways.

  I returned home to grab a few things I would need for my overnight stay at Diandre’s house. I intended to keep the promise I’d made earlier about us spending more time with one another. I had spent plenty of time with my girls, and now it was all about us. This was something I would have to get used to since we were planning to spend the rest of our lives together.

  *****

  When I knocked on the front door, Diandre opened it and hurried back to the living room. He was watching the football game. The score was tied, and he didn’t want to miss a beat. I smiled and shook my head while I took my things upstairs into his room. When I returned downstairs, he was still fixated in front of the television. I took that opportunity to go into the kitchen and pour myself a glass of wine. I took a sip before I walked out into the backyard. I sat down on the wicker loveseat in view of all of the beautiful landscaping. I put my glass on the end table and propped my feet up on the ottoman. I had just closed my eyes when I heard Diandre’s voice.

  “You look right at home.”

  “I feel right at home.”

  “Good, because this is your home too.”

  “Yes, one day it will be.”

  I winked at him and took a sip of wine. I moved over so he could join me on the loveseat. Once he was next to me, I rested my body against his.

  “Wouldn’t it be a lot easier for you to move in now? All of your belongings would already be here, you would no longer have to visit and we could spend more time together.”

  “Why do you want me here so bad?”

  “Well, correct me if I’m wrong, but I was under the impression that married couples live together.”

  “You’re right, but we’re not married yet.”

  “We will be. I’ve already shown you I’m not bullshittin’.”

  He took my left hand in his and kissed it. I sat in silence giving thought to what he’d said. I always planned on moving. Living in my mama’s home was temporary. What I hadn’t anticipated, though, was it happening so soon. I turned to face Diandre. He studied my face as if he was trying to figure out what I was thinking.

  “Okay.”

  Hell, you only live once, right? I quietly asked myself.

  “Okay? What do you mean okay?”

  “I’ll move in.”

  “You will? When?”

  I could hear the enthusiasm in his voice. He stood up and pulled me to my feet. He picked me up and spun me around before I could answer. He had a look about him I’d never seen before. It was a type of excitement I wasn’t used to. I was extremely dizzy once my feet landed back on the ground.

  “I’ll start packing my things tomorrow,” I announced through nervous laughter.

  He appeared satisfied with my answer.

  We remained outside and talked for hours about what our new life together would be like. When the night air became uncomfortably chilly, we finally decided to turn in for the night.

  *****

  I had turned my phone off while I was at Diandre’s house, so I wasn’t aware that I had messages until I turned it back on. I connected my phone to my car’s Bluetooth and drove away as I listened to my voicemail. I was stopped at a red light when I was alerted to an urgent message from Donte. He never marked messages urgent, so I was concerned. I didn’t bother listening to the rest of the messages. I immediately called him back.

  “What’s wrong, Donte?”

  “Dezzy, come home right now. We need to talk.”

  “I’m on my way there now. What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

  “No. Just come home right now.”

  “Okay, okay. I’m on my way.”

  I’m sure I broke several laws getting home. I got there in record timing. I was a bit thrown off when I saw Donte’s, father’s car parked in our driveway. I grew more concerned. I hopped out of my car and made my way to the front door. As I fumbled with my keys, Mr. Sutter opened the door.

  “Hello, Desrinique. How are you?�
��

  “I’m pretty good, and you?”

  I was nervous. Donte’s father was a private detective. He didn’t come around often. Whenever he did, it was usually because he and Donte were working on a case together. My brother was a bounty hunter. I wondered what had brought about Mr. Sutter’s sudden visit. I hoped new evidence hadn’t surfaced surrounding the homicide I had been involved in. I decided I wasn’t going to say anything unless he did. I tried to act normal as I walked past him into the living room.

  “Donte what was so pressing?”

  “Dezzy, I don’t really know how to tell you this.”

  “Just tell me. The anticipation is killing me.”

  “It’s something you’re going to have a hard time accepting.”

  “Let me be the judge of that.”

  “Dezzy-”

  “Damnit, Donte, tell me!”

  I was irritated and scared.

  “You’ve got to watch your back.”

  “I always do. What are you talking about?”

  “Everything isn’t always what it seems.”

  “Okay. What are you getting at?”

  “My dad is still looking into it for me. Let’s just say your boy, Diandre, isn’t the perfect guy you think he is.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Well, do you remember when I thought he looked familiar? My father and I have been doing some investigating, and we found out–”

  “Donte, I don’t want to hear this shit! What do you mean he’s not who I think he is? Who gave you permission to get in my business?”

  “Damn it, Dezzy, don’t be so damn stubborn! Why don’t you listen to what we have to say? Has he begun to have random mood swings yet?”

  I didn’t respond. While Diandre had switched up on me on more than one occasion, I didn’t think much of it. Every couple had their arguments. He and I were no different. We weren’t supposed to agree on everything. I wasn’t going to tell my brother or his father any of this, though. I had no intention of feeding into whatever bullshit they were referring to. “Desrinique, I have reason to believe this man may be dangerous. He allegedly has a history of victimizing women.”