If You're Willing

by Ivy Symone

  They were only kissing, but not in a way as if it was their first. It was obvious they were already familiar with each other and it was something deeper there. As quietly as he ascended the stairs, he descended them just as quiet backwards.

  By the time he got downstairs, Rock was coming in the house. Jazmin was right behind him. “Hey Jah, did you find it?”

  “Uhm…naw. You go find it,” he told her.

  “Where’s Cassie?” Rock asked.

  “She probably down there with everybody else,” Jah lied. He looked at Jazmin and gestured with his eyes upstairs.

  “Oh. Yeah, I’m gonna go look for it,” Jazmin said. She ran upstairs still yelling, “I’m gonna find it Jah!”

  Jah shook his head in disbelief. Jazmin was hopeless.

  “What the hell wrong with Jazz?” Rock asked.

  “Retarded,” Jah answered. He nudged Rock in the direction of his man-cave. “C’mon nigga so we can watch Golden State get they mothafuckin ass whooped.”

  _____

  Cassie should have gone home before she got sleepy, but she ended up entertaining a drunk Rock on Jazmin’s sofa. He kept trying to persuade her to go in the guest bedroom so they could have sex. She wasn’t trying to sleep with his ass. But he was funny. Tanya had gotten tipsy herself and was feeling Ricky up. And unlike his brother, Ricky was a respectful man. He knew Tanya wasn’t trying to go there with him, and he didn’t take advantage.

  Cassie asked Rock, “Why didn’t you have your kids with you today? It’s Father’s Day.”

  “Cause Melody ass trippin. She talkin’ bout they had plans to go to Michigan to see her daddy. And Jerrica…you know that bitch crazy. I went by to visit him but she wouldn’t let me take him.”

  “Rock, you’ve fallen off. You were doing so well at first with the kids,” Cassie said.

  “I’m still doing good.”

  “Yeah, when it comes to just Rodney. But you done got off track somewhere along the line.”

  “I felt like I was doing better when we were together,” he said. “Then your crazy ass started being even more crazy.”

  “We started off good, but—”

  “Your ass was a bitch.”

  “Really Rock?”

  He gave her a drunken grin then rested his head against her shoulder. “I miss you Cassie.”

  Jah entered the den shaking his head. “Ya’ll mothafuckas still in my house?”

  “He ain’t gon’ be able to drive Jah,” Cassie said.

  “Leave his ass there or take him in the guest room,” Jah said. “And what the hell wrong with her big ass?” He pointed to Tanya who was snoring on the loveseat.

  Cassie laughed.

  “Where Ricky ass at? He need to get his brother and his play-tonic friend.”

  “Platonic Jah,” Cassie corrected.

  “It’s what the hell I say it is,” he mumbled. “I’m takin’ my ass to bed. Me and Jazz tryna make anotha baby.”

  Cassie covered her ears and shook her head. “I don’t wanna hear that.”

  Jah chuckled before heading back around the corner.

  Cassie heard snoring in her ear. She looked at Rock and saw he had fallen asleep. She allowed him to rest against her, while she closed her eyes. She started dreaming immediately about being with Rock and arguing with Melody. Cassie and Rock were supposed to be getting married but Charles, her daddy didn’t want her to. So he was trying to call her. She wanted to ignore the phone but it kept buzzing. It wouldn’t stop buzzing.

  Cassie jolted out of her sleep. Her phone was buzzing in her lap. She picked it up and answered quietly, “Hello?”

  “When are you going home?” Eli asked.

  “I don’t know,” she said.

  “Can you come to the door?”

  “Jazz’s house?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Hold on,” she said. She ended the call. She eased away from Rock letting him slide down to the sofa. He stirred a little but didn’t wake.

  Careful not to cause any disturbances, she went to the front door to let Eli in. She asked, “Did you forget something?”

  “Yeah, you.”

  “Uhm,” she said looking over her shoulder. “You know, some people are still here.”

  “I know. I seen Rock’s car still out there. Where he at?”

  “He’s in the den,” she said.

  Eli took her hand and led her to the guest bedroom, shut the door, and locked it. Cassie didn’t object to anything. She let him back her up to the bed. She reciprocated the same aggressive hunger for him as he had for her. And even though she knew there was a possible chance they could get caught, she really didn’t care. Just like she got a thrill out of sneaking around in his office, she was getting a thrill out of this. She missed him so much and earlier, as they kissed, reignited a fire that got out of control fast.

  With her dressed hiked up and her panties at her knees, he had her bent over the bed. He only had his pants and boxers down enough to be free. She was already wet and ready. His entrance had her body trembling and she released a long moan. He started slamming into her. She cried out.

  He stopped. “You gotta be quiet.”

  “Okay, okay,” she whimpered. He started doing it again. She couldn’t help it. He stopped again.

  He grabbed a pillow. “Bury your face loud ass girl.”

  She chuckled grabbing the pillow just in time as he drilled into her. She bit down on the pillow trying to bear through it.

  “You want me to make it hurt, Princess?”

  “Mmmhmm,” she groaned.

  “But you gotta be quiet.”

  “Mmmhmm.”

  No matter how much she cried into that pillow, or how much she tried to inch away, he wouldn’t let up until she was soiling the comforter. She forgot about the pillow and screamed out. Eli had to cover her mouth with his hand.

  “Didn’t I tell you, you’d have to be quiet?”

  She was spent, but she knew he wasn’t done. All she wanted to do was go to sleep. He ordered her to lay on her back. Not bothering with removing her panties completely off, he held her legs together by the ankles and rested them over one shoulder while he went to work.

  Cassie loved to look up into his face while he stroked her good. She could always tell when it was feeling good to him. His lids would lower lazily while he looked down at her. It made him sexier and it caused her loins to quake.

  Her maestro, she thought. Her master. Mr. Elijah Masters. She smiled and warmth swelled within, followed by her body trembling from a small orgasm. What would become of them? They didn’t know just yet, however, they knew they weren’t ready to walk away. With a baby on the way, it would change the dynamics of their relationship. But if he was willing to try, she would be willing as well.

  She felt him shudder as his pace slowed. He pulled out and she could feel their fluids running down her cheeks.

  “You know Jah and Jazz gonna get you for fucking up their bed,” Eli said.

  “You too,” she said. She remained on her back. He leaned on her and kissed her. She pushed him off. “Boy, get away from me.”

  He rolled over on his back. “Get something for me to wipe off with.”

  “You get me something. My legs are stuck,” she joked.

  “You kill me, lazy ass girl,” he said. “I always—”

  There was an angry pounding on the door and displeased voices could be heard coming from the other side.

  Eli and Cassie turned to each other both wide-eyed.

  Eli chuckled, “Looks like we’re caught.”

  _____

  This was the shit Jah was talking about. Ja-ja woke up and Jazmin nudged Jah out of his sleep. “Can you go get him a bottle? I forgot to put one up here.”

  “Do it yo’self,” Jah barked at her. And he turned over giving her his back. Ja-ja’s cries started sounding as if he was accusing Jah of not caring about him. Hell, he didn’t, not while he was trying to sleep.

  “C’mon Jah,” Jazmin whine
d.

  He got out of bed. This was what he signed up for, and though he acted as if it all got on his nerves, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

  “Why won’t he sleep? Genni didn’t do all this. He get this shit from yo’ side of the family,” Jah griped as he headed out of the room.

  He went downstairs and straight to the dimly lit kitchen to fetch the baby’s bottle. Just as he was about to go back to the staircase, he heard what he thought was moaning coming from his guest bedroom. He stopped and looked towards the door. The moaning grew louder and became a stifled scream. Who the hell was fucking in his house that wasn’t him and Jazmin?

  Then he remembered Rock and Cassie still being there before he went to bed. It was their business, but he knew shit was about to get out of hand sooner or later. First, Rock was fucking Cassie’s mama. Second, Cassie and Eli have been fucking. Third, now Cassie was fucking Rock.

  As he went to ascend the stairs, a heavy knock came from the front door. Who the fuck was this? They knocked again.

  Jah went to the door and snatched it open. “Why the fuck you knocking on the do’ like that?”

  Kris stepped in brushing past him. Her face was tight. “Where is he?”

  “Who?” Jah asked, completely annoyed. “Hol’ up though. Did I invite yo’ ass in here?”

  She ignored him. “Eli. I know he’s here.”

  “Eli ass ain’t here. Lady, you betta take yo’ ass on back to yo house,” Jah told her.

  Now Jazmin had come to the top of the stairs holding Ja-ja. “Who is that?”

  “Kris ass looking for Eli,” he said.

  “Eli ain’t here,” Jazmin said.

  “I know that. Go back to the room,” Jah said. Then he heard feet shuffling towards them. It was Rock looking like he just woke up.

  “What the fuck going on?” Rock asked.

  Kris asked him, “Have you seen Eli?”

  “Naw, why the fuck would I know where that nigga at?” Rock grumbled. He looked at Jah. “Where Cassie go? Did she leave?”

  “Nigga, wasn’t you just in the room with her?” Jah asked. Everybody was getting on his nerves now.

  “Naw, I’ve been on the couch in there knocked out,” Rock answered.

  The look on Jah’s face was enough for Kris to put her own conclusion together. She stormed in the direction of the guest bedroom before Jah could stop her. She started pounding on the door.

  “What is it?” Rock asked, trying to figure out the reason for Jah’s expression and Kris’ behavior.

  Jazmin came to the bottom of the stairs with the baby. “What’s wrong with Kris?”

  Jah went after Kris with Rock following.

  “Hey…hey!” Jah hollered angrily. “Don’t be doing all this shit in my house, man.”

  Kris ignored him and pounded on the door again.

  “Who the fuck is in there?” Rock asked. Jah could see he was starting to get edgy.

  The door opened.

  “What are you doing Eli?” Kris asked angrily. “So this is what you snuck out the house to do?”

  “I didn’t sneak out, I walked out the front door. You saw me,” Eli said with an insouciant shrug.

  Rock said, “Hold up! What the hell you doing down here?”

  “Go back to sleep,” Jah told Rock. “It’s all a fuckin’ dream.”

  Now Kris was trying to get around Eli and screaming, “Is this why you wanna go ahead with the divorce! I knew you were fucking her!”

  Rock saw Cassie behind Eli and it took a minute for it to register. Before he could snap and attack, Jah already had him blocked. Eli remained in place unbothered.

  “Ya’ll ain’t finna do this shit in my house,” Jah said. He pushed Rock back. “Take yo’ ass on Rock!”

  Cassie stepped out of the room and moved away to ensure her safety.

  “You fucking that nigga, Cassie?” Rock asked. He was incensed and trying to figure out how he could get around Jah.

  Cassie didn’t say anything.

  “Just answer the question,” Rock said with spittle flying.

  “What difference would it matter Rock?” Cassie asked. “We’re not together. I can do whatever I want.”

  “But him though? I knew there was a reason I didn’t like yo’ ass,” Rock hissed towards Eli.

  “How you gon’ say ‘but him though’?” Eli asked. He was amazed at Rock’s hypocrisy. “Who you been fucking? But her though. What about that? Don’t fuck with me.”

  “Fuck you!” Rock spat.

  “Ya’ll need to fuckin’ calm down,” Jah said.

  As if she was hurt and on the verge of tears, Kris asked, “How long Eli?”

  “Not as long as you’ve been throwing your twat at Brother Yosef,” he countered.

  “Yeah, how long?” Rock asked Cassie. “Is this mothafucka the reason you keep brushing me the fuck off?”

  “I keep brushing you off because there’s nothing there,” Cassie stated definitely.

  “But it is with him though?” Rocked tried to step closer to Cassie, but Jah wouldn’t let him.

  “Don’t get in her face,” Eli told him in a threatening tone.

  “Or what? Nigga, do something!” Rock challenged turning his attention back to Eli.

  “I’ve already done something. A whole lot of something to Cassie,” Eli taunted. “Now you do something.”

  Jah shook his head not believing this shit. He looked at Rock, “Nigga, I ain’t letting you go until yo ass calm the fuck down. Ya’ll not finna tear my shit up. And if ya’ll wake Genni up, I’ma kick everybody’s ass.”

  Rock looked around Jah with fire in his eyes. “The only reason yo ass is still standing is cause of Jah. You know he ain’t gon let me fuck you up.”

  Kris interjected, “Whatever it is ya’ll had going, ends today. Eli, let’s go home and talk about this.”

  “Naw Kris,” Eli shook his head. “You’re not even supposed to be here. Didn’t I put you out like five times today already? You're talking as if you matter. And I know what your ass is up to.”

  “What I’m up to?” Kris asked innocently.

  “Get out of my face Kris,” Eli said nastily.

  “No, what am I up to?” she demanded to know.

  “You’re trying to pull some fucked up bullshit again. Why would I want to take you back? You were willing to leave your daughter to be with a dusty ass nothing having ass nigga. And now he don't even want you. You’re pitiful and you get no more chances with me. Aren’t you pregnant with his child anyway?” he asked.

  “No,” she lied. “But isn’t she pregnant with yours?”

  “Isn’t she who?” Rock asked.

  They all looked at Cassie.

  “You pregnant?” Rock asked in disbelief.

  Cassie ignored him and spoke to Kris. “I saw you at the ob/gyn doctor I go to. You were there with Yosef and this was a couple of weeks ago.”

  “You didn’t see me,” Kris said maintaining her lie.

  “Yeah I did. They even called your name, Mrs. Masters,” Cassie said.

  Rock was still in disbelief. He was hurt. “You pregnant by him?”

  Cassie answered him with her eyes.

  Rock tore away from Jah and got in Cassie’s face. “You got pregnant by this nigga! You let this nigga go up in you mothafuckin’ raw!”

  At this point, Eli was trying to make sure Rock didn’t try to put his hands on Cassie, but Kris had a hold of him, whispering and begging for him to please come home. Jah pulled Rock out of Cassie’s face.

  “Leave Rock,” Jah told him. “I ain’t finna let you get in Cassie’s face like that. Nigga, you need to leave and chill the fuck out.”

  Eli pried Kris’ fingers from his shirt. “Will you let me fucking go? Get away from me...Bye Kris. And who’s at the house with the kids anyway?”

  “You can have this dry pussy bitch,” Rock snarled. He glowered at Cassie one last time before he turned away.

  “Dry?” Eli asked as if he was insulted. There
was a hint of humor in his voice when he said, “Aw nigga, you must have not been able to get that fountain going. You gotta hit that spot right. Pussy stayed wet for me. Don’t be hating on Cassie nigga. As a matter of fact, Jah, ya’ll need to replace them covers in there. We made a mess.”

  Jah wanted to kick Eli’s ass himself. Why couldn’t he just be quiet? This time Rock used enough strength to get past him and attacked Eli. Both Kris and Cassie had to hurry out of the way as the two men fought. Jah tried his best to separate the two. Eli lost his footing on the runner, and it seemed as if Rock was going to fuck him up. But Eli grabbed a ceramic vase from the bottom shelf of the hallway table and crashed it upside Rock’s head.

  Jazmin, who had been watching everything at the end of the hall, cried out. “No! Not my vase!”

  It didn’t knock Rock out but it dazed him enough for Eli to get away from him. Eli was angry, “That mothafucka bit me. Now I need a goddamn shot.”

  Jah helped Rock up and pushed him towards the kitchen. He had a gash where the vase connected with his head.

  Kris was crying. “My husband is fighting with a man for another woman. You didn’t fight Yosef for me!”

  Eli waved her off as he went back in the guest bedroom. “You sound stupid Kris. Go back to the house, get your shit, and get out.”

  Kris followed him in the room where they started going back and forth with heated words.

  Cassie looked at Jazmin, who was cradling Ja-ja. Jazmin carefully walked over so her bare feet wouldn’t step on any glass.

  Jazmin whispered, “Are you okay?”

  Cassie nodded.

  Sympathizing, Jazmin said softly. “Why didn’t you tell me that Eli was the father?”

  Cassie shrugged.

  “So wait,” Jazmin said. “At the party…When you explained to me and Tanya why Sean kept bothering you, you said it was because he witnessed you at the club having sex with someone that was married. You said he kept messing with you and threatening to tell people how nasty you were. Was the person Eli and you just didn’t want to tell me and Tanya?”